by Vella Day
His heartfelt comment nearly toppled her. Jenna searched his eyes for the depth of his caring. She blinked then cast her gaze downward. Did she want him to care? Was she falling under his spell?
Reason intruded. He’d dump her once he found out she’d been lying to him. Tell him. Now.
Sam touched her shoulder. “Jenna, are you okay?”
“Peachy.” Her courage disappeared with his dreamy look. Before she did or said something dumb, she shoved her chair back. “I’m going to see Carla.”
“Aren’t you going to finish your breakfast? Or is eating important for only me and not for you?”
“I’m not hungry.”
Sam stood. “Let me clean up, and I’ll drive you.”
“Crap. I forgot I don’t have a car.” Until she received her insurance check, she couldn’t afford to buy a new one. And she sure as hell wouldn’t ask Dad for a loan. She threw the cereal down the disposal and left the dishes in the sink. After picking out a warm jacket, she stepped outside to wait for Sam. The cold, overcast day matched her mood, since she didn’t want the good weather to bolster her depression. For some reason, she needed to wallow in her pain for a while. She deserved it. If she’d been able to tie Deidra to the killings, none of this would have happened.
Sam trotted out the door. “I want to install a security system for your place.”
“You going to pay for it?” She hadn’t meant to sound bitter, but her Holliday spirit was beginning to flag under the pressure. She waved a hand. “It’s a good idea. I’ll call for quotes on Monday.” And figure out later how to pay for it.
“I want to stop at the lab first if that’s okay.”
“Sure.”
When they pulled up to the front, Marlon Giombetti was standing by the main entrance. Crap. What the hell was he doing here? He’d give her away for sure.
“I’m...um...not feeling well. Would you mind taking me home?” Jenna covered the side of her face with her hand to prevent Marlon from identifying her.
First his brows furrowed, and then rose. He must have seen through her deception. “What’s wrong?
She rubbed her belly. “My stomach is suddenly upset.”
Stupid Marlon was waltzing toward them. Damn, damn, double damn. He’d blow her cover for sure. Guy never could keep his mouth shut.
Sam’s gaze shot from her to Marlon and back again. “You know him?”
Think. Think. “Yes, we went out a few times.”
“Good, then you’ll feel comfortable having him shadow you.”
Anger ripped up her spine. “Shadow me? As in by my bodyguard? Are you sh—kidding me?”
“Nope.”
“Is this your doing?”
“I asked Phil to find someone to escort you. I know you have places to go, and I have work to do. I’m not taking any chances that something might happen to you.”
Sam’s tender tone did soften her frustration. “Did he have to find Marlon of all people? The guy couldn’t shoot the side of a barn, and he’s afraid of his own shadow.”
Sam tilted her face toward him. “How do you know how well he shoots?”
“He, ah, took me to a shooting range once.” Good catch.
“Fine. Then Mr. Straight shooter can take you to see Carla. Tell him to keep his gun in his pocket.” A quick lift of his lips implied he meant the double entendre. Super.
Arguing would only make things worse. “Fine.”
Marlon—of all people. If the cop touched her, she’d have to deck him. She took a peek at Sam. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned someone she dated was going to be spending time with her. Maybe she had misread his interest.
Before Marlon blew her cover, she took the offensive. She eased out the car and waved to him. “Hey, Marlon.”
The guy smiled. Really smiled. “Hi, Jenna.” If he hit on her, so help her God, she might have to deck him, or tell him the truth about why they never could be a couple again—Sam or no Sam.
She turned to the man who held her interest, leaned up against his solid chest and gave him a peck on the cheek. “We’ll be back.”
The moment Sam ducked inside the lab, she dropped the nice act. “Who picked you to be my bodyguard?”
He held up his hands. “I volunteered. I figured we could work on the case together. After all, you’re the one who said the Jackson case might be related to the theft of your mom’s skull.”
She didn’t need this aggravation. “Me and my big mouth.” She wanted Sam to guard her, not Marlon. “I need to visit my friend at University Community Hospital. Do you mind driving me?” As if she had a choice.
He pointed to his squad car. “At your service.”
When they arrived, Jenna tried to smile, to show she appreciated his willingness to keep her safe. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be.”
“Take your time.” He patted a racecar magazine next to him on the seat. “It’s a new issue I’ve been wanting to read.”
Some bodyguard.
At the front desk, Jenna asked for Carla’s room number. Even though Sam had told her which room Carla was in, Jenna hadn’t been able to remember her own name yesterday, let alone which floor she was on. She sped past her old room where she’d spent time recovering from the fire at Sam’s house. That seemed like forever ago his place burned down. A small tremor rattled inside her chest at how close both of them had come to death.
Room 329 loomed in front of her. Jenna knocked and entered. Carla’s face was waxy white, and her body limp. At least her chest rose, albeit slowly and evenly.
“Carla?”
Her friend’s eyes opened halfway. “Hey.” Her gaze looked behind Jenna. “Did Chance come with you?”
“No.” Guilt slammed her. How could she tell this weak woman that Chance, the man of her dreams, was dead?
“He said he’d feed Drake and be right back.” Carla’s eyes widened and her mouth opened. “Did something happen?”
Rapid feet sounded outside the door. A second later an older man and woman burst in. Both of them rushed to Carla’s side—well, the man rushed, the woman shuffled. Jenna let out a long breath, happy she didn’t have to answer Carla’s question.
“Oh my poor baby.” The woman, an older version of Carla, collapsed on the edge of the bed and took Carla’s hand. “What happened?”
Time to disappear. “Carla, I’ll come back later.” Jenna waved goodbye.
A flash of fear crossed her friend’s face. “No, don’t go, please?”
Obviously, the two new visitors were her parents. Jenna didn’t know why Carla wanted support from someone she’d only met a few times, but she didn’t mind staying if Carla needed her. “Sure.”
Carla turned to her parents. “Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?”
The older man sat on one of the chairs. “Your boyfriend, Chance, called us and said you’d been stabbed.” He clasped a hand to his heart. “Mom and I jumped in the car and drove all night to get here.”
Carla grimaced. “I feel so bad you came all that way, especially this time of year, with all the snow on the roads. You didn’t have to come. I’m fine. Really.”
Her mom pushed back hair covering Carla’s face. “You’re our daughter. We love you. You needed us and we came. The weather didn’t matter.”
“I don’t deserve you.” Carla sounded unconvincing, but her parents didn’t seem to notice.
Mr. Pendowski cleared his throat. The mother turned back to look at him. “The doctor told us how sorry he was that you’d lost the baby.”
If possible Carla’s face paled even more. “Yeah, about that.”
“Why didn’t you tell us you were pregnant?” her mom said. “Is Chance the father?”
Jenna’s body stiffened. An emotional war was about to ensue, and Jenna was sitting in the middle.
18
Just as things began to turn dicey between Carla and her parents, Jenna slipped out of her newfound friend’s hospital room. Hearing confessions were not her thing, and being in th
e middle of chaos was the last place she wanted to be.
Outside the stuffy hospital, she inhaled the clean air. When had the gray sky disappeared? Marlon sat in his cruiser, windows up, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. She rapped on the passenger side window to get his attention, and he jumped. Wonder cop opened the door.
“You’re back so soon.”
She curled her lips. “Didn’t I give you enough time to finish the magazine?”
“You don’t have to get snippy with me. Where to?”
“To HOPEFAL. Just drop me off. I’ll stay with Sam for the rest of the day.” If she needed to go anywhere, maybe Gina could give her a lift.
“You sure?” His fists tightened on the wheel.
Marlon seemed upset that she wasn’t desperate enough to go out with him. Whatever. “Yes.” At least he was a careful driver, which counted for something.
When she entered Sam’s lab, Eric Markowitz and he were huddled over a pile of photographs spread out on the counter.
“I think they’re different,” Sam said, tapping one of the photos.
Jenna cleared her throat. He looked up and smiled. “How did the visit go?”
She shrugged. “Carla’s parents showed up so I split.”
“They came, huh. I’m glad for her sake.”
“Me too.” Ever curious, Jenna stepped over to where the 8x10 glossies were displayed. Bloody shots of a dismembered man were next to photos of Rodrico Evans. “And these would be?” She kept her voice even, pretending she didn’t recognize the lime encrusted man.
Sam pointed to a pile on the left. “Creighton Jackson before he ended up as bones. And these belong to Rodrico Evans who was found mostly dismembered at Ballast Point.”
“Any comparison?”
Sam glanced at Eric who shook his head. “Eric and I have agreed to disagree. I think two different people did the deed. He thinks the same person hacked them both.”
“That’s scary. Do you know how this one died?” Jenna pointed to Rodrico Evans.
Eric nodded. “Most likely shot in the head—which we don’t have. There were no other wounds that would indicate cause of death. It’s the only logical conclusion.”
Somehow the image of Deidra wielding a gun didn’t compute. Did that mean the woman was innocent?
After eating a malnourished snack from the machine, Sam thought a real lunch for them was needed. To save money, they headed back to Jenna’s where he made a ham and Swiss on whole wheat for both of them. The moment they finished their meal, the doorbell rang. Jenna dropped her napkin and froze. Sam held up his hand. “Let me check it out.”
He raced to the kitchen window and looked out. “It’s a woman and a baby.”
“Ohmigod. Maybe it’s Shelby!” Jenna jumped up and winced.
Sam was by her side in a flash. “Take it easy. You sit, and I’ll answer the door.”
The short redhead smiled brightly and introduced herself. “Is Jenna home?”
“Yes, come in.”
With the baby huddled between them, Jenna and Shelby hugged. “Ohmigod. He’s so cute. What’s his name?” Jenna tickled the baby’s belly and beamed when the child smiled.
“Dominick.”
For a split second Sam wondered what it would be like to have a family. The problem with that dream was that he’d never get out from under his debt to afford one. He slipped into the spare bedroom to catch up on some reading while the women chatted. When he heard the visitor’s car door close an hour later, he returned to the living room. Jenna was watching television, looking like a vision in her pink tank top and short shorts. Her hair was the way he liked it, all spiky and sexy. The red marks on her face were fading and, except for her sore ribs, she seemed to be healing well.
She looked up, smiled, and clicked off the television. Lust grabbed him hard as Jenna rose and slinked toward him. He didn’t move a muscle. When she ran her hands down his chest, he grabbed her hands and kissed her knuckles. “I need to shower. Then we can talk.”
The sparkle in her eyes faded. “What have you been doing for the last hour?”
You’re a cad, Bonita. He could have washed up then. “Doing calisthenics?”
“Right.”
After turning on the water, he slipped into the shower, dumped a handful of shampoo on his head and lathered his body. In mid scrubbing, Jenna opened the bathroom door. Even though she’d seen him naked, Sam shifted his body away from the glass shower door. “Jenna?”
“I was getting lonely out there.” She slipped the tank top over her head.
“Jenna, this isn’t a good idea.”
The phone rang. “Aaargh. I’m not getting it.”
“It could be the lab. Would you mind?” Please obey for once.
Jenna shook her boobs, ran a hand over her hips, and smiled. “For you I will.”
Once she disappeared, he turned the water colder and willed his erection to shrink. As he was toweling off, Jenna rushed into the bathroom, her gaze not on his crotch, but rather on his face.
Panic and horror collided on her features. Tears streamed down her face. “My dad’s been shot.”
19
Sending Sam back to the house after he dropped her off at the hospital had been the hardest thing Jenna had even done, but she knew if he learned her dad was a cop, Sam might put two and two together and figure out she was one too. She’d told Sam she needed to be alone and convinced him she’d be safe once she was inside the hospital, promising to ask the guard at the hospital to escort her to her father’s room. He seemed mollified, and thankfully didn’t insist that Marlon be by her side.
The moment she learned of her father’s injury, her pent up anger toward him had evaporated. She still wasn’t ready to forgive him for cheating on Mom, but he had raised her, and blood was blood.
Marlon Giombetti was in the waiting room when she arrived. He rushed up to her and grabbed her hands. “I’m so sorry.”
“What are you doing here?” He’d met her dad once when Marlon picked her up for a date, but that was it. He ran his hand across his eyes and down his jaw. For a moment, he reminded her of Sam—tall, sandy blond hair, and good Italian coloring. Too bad, he had no social skills.
Marlon stopped his pacing and sat next to her. This time he locked his gaze with hers and visibly inhaled. “I was at the scene when your dad was shot. I’m waiting to see him.”
“Why were you at the scene? My dad would only be there if the sheriff’s department was called in.” Marlon was police.
“Someone got their wires crossed and both the sheriff’s department and TPD were called in about a dead body. I responded to the call as I was close by.” He leaned forward on his elbows. “It was like a blur. Mrs. Eades, she’s the neighbor lady, said she’d heard gunshots. She ran next door and looked in the window and could tell the guy was dead, so she called 9-1-1.”
“Did he look dead?”
“Definitely. His face was mostly gone from a gun blast to the face.”
Jenna tried not to show any emotion. “Then what?”
“Your dad and I arrived at the same time. Not wanting to get in a pissing match about whose jurisdiction it was, we both went in to clear the scene before we could let the paramedics in.”
“Standard operation procedure.” So far Marlon had done nothing wrong.
He leaned back, his eyes misty. “Your dad took the kitchen where the victim was, and I checked the two bedrooms. I swear to God I didn’t see the scumbag anywhere.”
Obviously he didn’t check thoroughly enough. “Go on.”
“I went back into the kitchen and told your dad the place was clear—only it wasn’t. As I went to find the paramedics and to call for the CSU team, I heard gunshots and sprinted back inside.” His voice wavered and she thought he’d start balling. “Someone had shot your dad in the back. Blood was pumping out. I heard footsteps and the back door bang shut, but I had to tend to your dad first.”
From the amount of blood on Marlon’s pants, he
was telling the truth. She placed a hand on Marlon. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry it went down that way.”
“Me too.”
The air mostly cleared, Marlon sniffled, stood and headed toward the snack machine. He brought her back a candy bar and a soda and handed it to her as a peace offering, she guessed. Man, her blood sugar would spike for sure, but she didn’t want to turn down his attempt at a reconciliation.
An hour later, an older doctor dragged through the hospital swinging doors. Shoulders slumped, his eyes were slightly blood shot. “Ms. Holliday?”
“Yes?”
“Your dad’s out of surgery.”
Jenna jumped up. “How is he?”
“It was touch and go, but I believe he’ll pull through.”
Her legs nearly gave way. Thank God. “How extensive were his wounds?”
“He took two shots. The first ripped through his right kidney, which we had to remove. The other bullet lodged in his intestines, but we were able to remove the bullet and patch him up without any significant damage.”
Poor Dad. “When can I see him?” She knitted her fingers together.
“Maybe in an hour, but only for a few minutes. He’s still groggy. He needs his rest.”
“Thank you.” How had her anger for her dad disappeared so quickly? Was it because the thought of losing him was too much? She squeezed her eyes shut and forced her mind to sort through her issues. Marlon cleared his throat. Shit. She didn’t need him to see her fall apart. “You don’t need to stay.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, go change.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded. “Call me if there’s any change.”
“I will.”
She waited the required hour before tiptoeing into her father’s antiseptic smelling room. His normally ruddy complexion was wan, his cheeks sagged, and his mouth hung loose. Despite the pent up anger she’d built around her heart, her stomach nearly heaved. Seeing him broken made her defensive shield crumble. Just because he’d been wounded shouldn’t erase what he’d done to Mom, but having him so close to death unnerved her.
