Cold Fear

by Susan Sleeman

  Jackson leaned forward. “What about his name or the shop name?”

  She shook her head. “We did this on the spur of the moment and got whoever was taking walk-ins.”

  “I remember the general location of the shop,” Riley said. “But that’s it.”

  Leah didn’t know if this information was even important. “We weren’t regular clients, and it was seven years ago. Surely he’s forgotten all about us and wouldn’t be stalking me.”

  “I agree,” Riley said. “Plus tattoo artists are independent contractors who move around a lot. Even if we could remember his or the shop’s name, he might not be at the same place.” Riley turned to the board. “But I’ll jot it down, and we can come back to it if the other leads don’t pan out or if our research points his way.”

  “I’m in agreement.” Jackson looked around the table where the others nodded. “But I think we should still consider that the stalker could be a tattoo artist and should proceed in that direction.”

  “How?” Eryn asked. “Check every tattoo place in the country? Even if we think he might live in the Midwest because he showed up at concerts in that part of the country, that doesn’t narrow things down enough, and we can’t handle visiting or even calling that many places.”

  “Then let’s backburner this,” Gage said. “And hope Piper’s contact is able to give us a clear picture of the stalker because we really don’t have much else to go on in finding him.”

  He shifted his focus to Leah. “Since the killer is targeting people you’ve had a falling out with, now would be the time to tell us if there are others on that list so we can make sure they’re safe.”

  Leah didn’t like his comment. “You make it sound like that’s a long list.”

  “Is it?” Gage’s eyebrow rose.

  “I can’t imagine you can get to where you are without making a few people mad,” Coop added.

  “But I did nothing to make Jill or Carolyn mad. They were the ones who wronged me.” Leah crossed her arms and tried not to look upset.

  “Sorry, if I offended you.” Coop raised his hands. “I didn’t mean anything by it, just that there has to be people who could want you to suffer or the other way around.”

  “Sure, but who?” She looked down at the table to avoid all the gazes locked on her and think. “One other person comes to mind. A promoter who totally screwed up my last tour. We had to cancel several concerts, and I sued him for breach of contract and won. He paid back the costs, so I have nothing against him. His name is Bruce French. He lives in L.A. I can give you his contact information.”

  “Sounds like he might have a grudge against you,” Coop said. “What better way to pay it back than to kill people and make it look like you did it?”

  “Seriously?” Leah asked. “You think he’s behind the killings? That’s a stretch.”

  “Or he could be the next victim,” Riley said. “Either way, we need to let Blake know so he can take appropriate actions and another person doesn’t lose their life.”

  14

  The next morning, Riley rested his shoulder on the wall while Leah sat across a small table from Kraig in his hotel room. Riley wanted to give Kraig a fair shake, but as he sat there wringing his hands, Riley had to wonder if the guy was upset due to killing two women or because he was a suspect and Blake had questioned him.

  “I don’t have an alibi for either murder.” He paused and swallowed, like he could swallow away his part in these murders, if indeed he had a role. “I mean I was backstage and plenty of people saw me, but can any of them vouch for me the entire time? I don’t know, and I was close enough to kill Jill and get back to my spot before you found her. The sheriff must think I did it, right? I’ll be accused of murder.”

  “Did you do it, Kraig?” Leah asked, the pain of betrayal in her voice. “Did you send those letters to Carolyn and the ticket to Jill?”

  He flinched. “Are you kidding me? Of course I didn’t. I can’t believe you would even ask me that.”

  Leah crossed her arms. “Then how did the letters and ticket get to them?”

  “I should have told you.” Kraig ran a hand over his hair—today he gathered a portion in a top ponytail and the back hung down to his shoulders.

  “Told me what?” The suspicion in Leah’s voice was cutting.

  “About the break-in. Someone broke into the office. We didn’t think anything was missing, but now…now I gotta figure someone took your stationery and some tickets.”

  Leah uncrossed her arms and leaned closer. “You’re telling me your office was broken into, and you didn’t mention it to me?”

  “You were already freaking out on the sales numbers and the upcoming tour. I couldn’t add to your stress. Besides, we didn’t notice anything missing. How could we know it had anything to do with you?”

  “You mean, other than the fact that you have a ton of my personal information in your office? I needed a heads up in case any of that ended up in the news.”

  “I’m sorry, okay?” Kraig twisted his hands so tight that they turned white. “I screwed up.”

  “Pretty convenient, isn’t it?” Riley asked. “This break-in is suddenly a way to explain away the stationery and ticket.”

  “You have to believe me.” He shoved up his glasses and peered at Riley. “We filed a police report. It happened about four weeks ago. I’m getting a copy for the sheriff.” He shifted to look at Leah. “I’ll give a copy to you, too.”

  “Yeah, I want to see it.” Hurt strangled her voice, and she rubbed her forehead.

  Riley wished he could fix it. People kept disappointing her, and she had a lifetime of disappointment before she was eighteen. She didn’t need more.

  “You really don’t believe me.” Kraig cringed. “Man, why didn’t I tell you? If you want to end our professional relationship, I totally understand.”

  Riley didn’t want to believe her manager. Riley would rather have a solid suspect, but he did believe the guy.

  He got out his phone and opened the picture of Leah jogging and held it out to Kraig. “Do you know anything about this picture?”

  He studied it. “I mean it’s obviously Leah and Neil jogging, but I don’t know anything else.” He looked up. “Should I recognize it?”

  Riley shrugged and brought up the tattoo found on Jill’s arm to display it. “What about this?”

  Kraig stared at the screen then looked up at Leah. “You got a tat?”

  She shook her head.

  “But this…”

  “Is something else,” Riley answered before Leah mentioned the tattoo appearing on Jill’s arm. “What do you know about Bruce French?”

  He frowned. “He was one of our concert promoters who royally screwed up Leah’s last tour. She sued him and won.”

  “Do you think he’s holding a grudge?”

  “Yeah, sure. The guy won’t arrange a tour for her again. Which is a real pain. With some promoters being regional, it makes things hard for us to schedule concerts in the northeast, but we’re working around it.”

  “Other than making things hard for her, do you think French would try to get payback?” Riley asked.

  “You mean like breaking into the office?” Kraig frowned. “No, wait. You mean like committing murder, don’t you?” Kraig shook his head. “No. That’s crazy. Just as crazy as thinking I did it.”

  Riley didn’t believe either thought was crazy. Far-fetched maybe, but then, he’d seen more ridiculous reasons for murder. As far as he was concerned, neither Kraig or Bruce French were off the hook. Not unless Blake called to say French was dead. Then that was a whole other story.

  Not more than an hour later, Riley held Owen closer and paused at the training facility door. Riley appreciated Hannah’s kindness in preparing breakfast and gathering everyone together so Riley could introduce Owen, but Riley was sweating over the announcement.

  Would they respond with outrage? Disappointment? Until two days ago, Riley didn’t know about Owen and hadn’t kept hi
m a secret from them, so they shouldn’t react that way. Technically, that was incorrect. He did tell Hannah, Gage, and Eryn, so he had kept the others in the dark.

  “Something wrong?” Leah asked.

  “Just nervous.”

  She took his hand and smiled at him. “They’ll be okay with this. You didn’t hide it from them.”

  He appreciated her support, squeezed her hand, then let it go. He wanted to keep holding it, but that would draw too many questions and give his teammates the wrong idea.

  “Go.” Owen wiggled. “Hungry.”

  Riley opened the door, heard the team laughing in the conference room, and caught the smell of bacon. Usually bacon fixed almost everything, but today was an exception. He walked toward the room. He knew once he stepped in, everyone would recognize that Owen was his son. What they wouldn’t know was that Leah was his mother.

  He entered the room. Half of the team were at a buffet table right inside the door, the rest were seated at the conference table. Coop, sitting closest to the door, was the first to notice them. He dropped his fork on a plate piled high with scrambled eggs, hash brown casserole, and bacon. “Oh, man. Just man. Like wow.”

  Sitting next to him Alex looked up, and his mouth fell open. “You have a son.”

  Riley nodded, and one by one, the team fell silent and stared.

  “You all know Leah and I were once engaged,” Riley said. “I’d like you all to meet our son, Owen, who I just met this week myself.”

  The team openly gaped as the room got pin-drop quiet. A few of his teammates cast angry looks at Leah.

  Riley didn’t want to provide details with Owen in his arms so he simply said, “Leah had a good reason. I’ll share it with you later.”

  The hostility lessened and questioning looks slipped into place.

  Owen scooted closer, clinging to Riley. He hadn’t thought about how coming into this group of big men would intimidate a small child. This father thing was going to take some time.

  He smiled at Owen. “Hey, Bud. It’s okay. There are a lot of people here that you don’t know, and some of them are kinda big and scary looking. But I work with them, and they’re my friends. So you’ll get to know them when you visit.”

  Owen planted his hands on Riley’s face and looked into his eyes. “I want to live here with you, Daddy. I like the cabin. And Mia and David. And Barkley, too.”

  Riley felt Leah clench up beside him. “We can talk about that later. But now we need to eat before the food gets cold. What do you want for breakfast?”

  Riley moved to the buffet table as if nothing had happened and waited for someone to start talking again.

  “Did anyone catch the Timbers’ game last night?” Hannah asked.

  Riley could hug her for bringing up Portland’s professional soccer team that was sure to get the others embroiled in a heated discussion, and the focus would be off Owen. At least for the moment.

  “Riley turned to Leah. “Go ahead and get your food. I’ll get mine and Owen’s.”

  Leah looked uncertain.

  Eryn approached and smiled at Leah. “Hey, take the help while you can.”

  Leah’s face relaxed, and she headed for the buffet table.

  Eryn joined Riley and gave him a big hug. “Owen is adorable. Congratulations again. You’re going to be the most amazing dad ever.”

  “Hey, now,” Trey said from behind her, a big smile on his face. “That’s what you tell me.”

  She released Riley and turned to snake her arms around her soon-to-be husband’s neck. “I meant the most amazing dad to Owen. You’ve already earned Dad of The Year in my book.”

  “Nice save, Calloway,” Jackson said as he stepped into line and looked at Trey. “You’re gonna have your hands full with this one.”

  “I know, and I’m up for the challenge.” Trey planted a kiss on Eryn’s head. “Are you planning to stand here all day, Glen, or get this line moving?”

  Riley appreciated the good-natured jab as it meant things would be okay with the team. At the buffet table, he set Owen down next to him, grabbed two plates, and soon discovered the challenge of getting his food and filling a plate for his child.

  “It gets easier,” Eryn said. “Or at least the challenges change.”

  Riley looked at his hands. At the plates, utensils, napkins, cups, food, drinks. At Owen who reached up to stick his hand in the fruit bowl.

  “Wait—” He grabbed for Owen’s hand which was already fisted around something. “Hey, Bud, tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you.”

  Riley would have to take Eryn’s word. Right now, being a dad seemed daunting.

  Owen popped a strawberry into his mouth and smiled up at Riley. Daunting or not, Riley knew he was up for the job. He couldn’t wait to really delve into the whole dad thing and become, as Eryn said, the most amazing dad ever.

  Shortly after breakfast, Leah looked at the happy picture in front of her. Owen and Riley sitting on the sofa together, a book in Riley’s hand. She could stand all day and watch them with their blond heads nestled together, but she had a job to do. One she couldn’t ignore no matter how much she wanted to. Even if her bank account hadn’t been nearly drained, she had fans counting on her. She couldn’t let them down after all the support they’d given her over the years. And staff counting on their job’s, too.

  She joined Riley and Owen. “I need to get packed and on the road with my team.”

  “Wait a minute.” Riley gawked at her. “You’re not planning to go through with the next concert.”

  “I have to. My future depends on it. And so does my mom’s and Owen’s.”

  Owen looked up at her. “Can I stay with Daddy?”

  Her heart creased yet one more time with her son’s recent newfound preference for his father, but she knew that would abate when he realized his dad was here to stay. And after Riley took on a disciplinarian role, too.

  Riley looked at Owen. “I have to go with Mommy.”

  “I can go, too.”

  “Sorry, Bud. I think it’s best for you to stay here with Grandma. We’ll be back tomorrow.”

  Owen’s lower lip came out. “Don’t wanna stay here.”

  “Why don’t you have Grandma help you make a list of toys you want at my cabin, and I’ll get them?”

  “Yippee.” Owen shot off Riley’s lap.

  Leah cast him an admonishing look. “You need to figure out how to say no without resorting to bribery, or we’ll have one spoiled child.”

  Riley nodded. “I was thinking…” His face turned serious. “Now that I know about Owen, I’m glad to pay child support and maybe you can work less.”

  She put up a hand. “I don’t expect that of you when we’re doing fine.”

  “But you just said your future was hanging in the balance.”

  “Only if my career tanks, and I won’t let that happen.”

  Riley crossed his arms and eyed her. “When will enough be enough for you?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” She eyed him right back.

  “You’ve succeeded. Made a name for yourself. Everyone who teased or belittled you now wishes they hadn’t. They want to know you and be in your world. Isn’t that enough?”

  Did he think she was so shallow? That really hurt. “You really think that’s the only thing that’s motivated me all these years?”

  His eyes narrowed. “I know you’ve always loved singing, and you were tenacious enough to make it to the top. But I also know having plenty of money is important to you—I thought it was because of the past ridicule.”

  She believed he’d once understood her, but now she didn’t know. “Sure, money is important to me, but not because of what people thought of me. I was hungry every single day. I worried constantly as a kid—an innocent little kid like Owen—if I would have a roof over my head and food on the table. I was always scared that social workers were going to take me away.” She shook her head. “I won’t have that for Owen.”

  Riley
shot to his feet and planted them firmly on the wood floor. “I would never let that happen.”

  “My father once said something like that to my mom. And where was he when we needed him? Where is he now? We don’t have a clue. So I need the security of a large bank account. My popularity is already waning, but if I can amass enough savings and live a modest lifestyle like I’m doing now, we’ll be set when my celebrity status fades. We both know it’s just a matter of time before it does. It’s already on a downward swing.”

  He rubbed his forehead as if she was giving him a headache. “Where does your faith play into this?”

  “Faith? It doesn’t. That’s separate. After all, God wasn’t there when I was hungry, why should He be here now when I’m not?”

  Riley dropped his hand. “But you still believe in Him.”

  “Sure I believe in God. I question a lot of the things He does, but I believe. But I also know He gives people abilities and skills and expects us to use them the best way we know how. And singing is what I know, so I will do it to the best of my ability and make that nest egg for my boy until I can do it no longer.”

  “God doesn’t tell us to lay up oodles and oodles of money just in case. Like my father, hoarding it when using the cash to help others could do much more good. Instead, God says to trust Him to provide for each day.”

  She crossed her arms. “And there you have it. Trust. I don’t trust anyone but myself. The school of hard knocks taught me that, and it will take something major to make me change on that point.”

  Riley blew out a long breath. “So here we are again. Where we keep finding ourselves. Our philosophies of life are completely different and money stands between us.”

  “I never pretended I’d changed, Riley.”

  “But you hoped I had, right? That I could now see things your way?”

  “Sure, yeah. Since we’re now parenting a child together, it would be nice.”

  Riley frowned. “How will we ever do that and not saddle Owen with all of our baggage?”

  “We have to figure it out, or I’ll have to go back to parenting alone.”