Deadly Secrets (New York State Trooper Series Book 3)

by Jen Talty

  She shook off the negative feeling and continued to search through current town records. If an offer was accepted, it would show up pretty quickly. A counter wouldn’t show up, but when she called Charlie’s office, she got voicemail, so she left a message. She’d called a distant relative on the zoning committee. He only knew rumor and rumblings. She pulled up the deed and the title, noting the changes over the years. Any request to change the current land configuration, including height and placement of buildings, would require all sorts of variances that every homeowner in this area would fight.

  The sun had started to set behind the mountains, and even though the night air was cooler, she felt spring approaching. April was an odd month, swinging between warmth and snow. Some days, boaters would enjoy temperatures approaching fifty. Other days, it snowed, and only the diehard fishermen braved the unforgiving, freezing lake.

  The doorbell disrupted her thoughts. She checked the time. Reese was early.

  She walked down to the lower alcove, slowing down as she saw it wasn’t Reese, but a girl with a large bouquet of flowers.

  No one ever sent her flowers. Ever. Black-thumb Harmon had been her nickname ever since she’d single-handedly managed to kill a cactus and then an Aloe Vera plant. Reese knew about her inability to keep any plant alive. He’d teased her about it, so he wouldn’t send her flowers.

  “Patty Harmon?” the delivery girl asked.

  “Yes.”

  “These are for you.” The young woman handed her a basket filled with flowers, or maybe plants, since it was in a pot of dirt, but it was blooming. Patty had no idea. But Reese would know, and she always found it odd that Reese knew and enjoyed everything about gardening. When he’d moved into the Lacy’s trailer, the first thing he had done was put in flowering bushes and an herb garden. And Reese was an excellent cook. Another thing that Patty wasn’t very good at, though she gave herself an A for effort.

  “Thanks.” Patty put the large arrangement on the floor, then plucked out the card.

  Make it happen—Keith.

  The veiled threat left her unnerved.

  “Who are those from?” Reese kicked off his boots in the alcove.

  Before she could snag the card and the flowers, and head back up to her apartment, Reese snatched the card right out of her hands.

  “Who’s Keith, and make what happen?” A hint of jealousy lingered in his voice, and she kind of enjoyed it.

  “Keith is the reason I asked you to stop by.”

  He stopped in the middle of the steps. “Do I need to be worried about this Keith guy?”

  “Yes, and maybe no.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” he said.

  “Reese McGinn, are you jealous? Because it sounds like you’re a little jealous.”

  “Yep,” he said. “Got any lunch meat?” he asked. “I’m starving. Haven’t eaten all day.”

  “Help yourself.”

  She put the flowers on the table in the family room and waited for Reese. Might as well let the man have his food since he was always cranky when hungry.

  He sauntered in from the kitchen carrying a plate in one hand with a very thick sandwich, turkey and ham flowing over the sides, and a beer in the other. He sat on the floor, resting everything on the coffee table. “So, tell me about the guy who is sending the mother of my baby flowers, and why I shouldn’t be jealous, but it has you upset.” No sooner did he say the words than he stuffed his mouth. She liked this playful, more engaged side of Reese. He’d always been fun, but never with any depth to it, no real emotions. Just gentlemanly gestures, and while valued, they weren’t loving. Sitting with him, right now, she felt loved by him. He was a tad jealous, but he had no reason to be, and that concept made her heart flutter with affection. With hope of what could be.

  More importantly, he was upset.

  Let’s back track. “Conrad tried to fire me today.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Because Keith told him to.”

  “And who is this Keith guy to Conrad?

  “Keith Holland—”

  “As in Holland Development?” Reese put half his sandwich on the plate. “The owner of Holland Development is sending you flowers?”

  “Someone saw us at the Heritage, and Mr. Holland thinks I gave you the heads-up that he was thinking about buying the place.”

  “But you never told me a thing. Want me to go talk to them? Really, that’s ridiculous.”

  “Thanks,” she said, “but there is only one way I’ll get my job back, and that’s if I can convince you to take back your offer. That’s what he meant by ‘Make it happen’ on the card.”

  “And you agreed?” His tone remained even, but laced with a hint of hurt.

  “I didn’t disagree,” she said. “He didn’t threaten me, but it felt like a threat, so I opted to say nothing and come home. Tomorrow, I’ll tell them I couldn’t, and I’ll be out of a job.”

  “This happened when you asked me to come over.” He glanced at his Apple Watch. “What, over four hours ago, and you’re just telling me now? When did the flowers come?”

  “Two minutes before you showed up.”

  Reese hoisted himself off the floor then joined her on the sofa. “What, exactly, did he say that made you feel threatened?”

  “It wasn’t what he said as much as what he implied. He said a woman in my condition, being single, would need the income from regular employment, so get it done.”

  “He knows you’re pregnant? You told Conrad?”

  She shook her head. “That’s what freaked me out. The only people who I’ve told are you and Lacy. No one else knows.”

  “That’s not entirely true.” Reese rubbed his hand across his head. “Jared knows.”

  “You told Jared?”

  “I might have told a few other people that night I found out and got shit-faced at the Mason Jug.”

  “Oh, shit.” She closed her eyes. “So, everyone in my family probably knows and is wondering why I haven’t told them.”

  “Sorry about that,” he said, “but let’s stick to what Conrad and this Holland guy said. If you get me to back off, you get your job. What if I don’t?”

  “I get a good severance package.”

  “So, not really a deadly threat, but definitely implied pressure, and totally unfounded,” Reese said. “They can’t fire you for something you didn’t do. Really, it’s ridiculous. You should hire a lawyer.”

  “I work for a lawyer,” she said, “and honestly, it was so hard being back there. They covered Matt’s blood with a floor mat. I can’t relive that day constantly, but I need the insurance.”

  “I’ll take care of that,” he said.

  “I don’t want your money.”

  “Okay, it’s not for you, it’s for our baby. Your need for health insurance is for the benefit of our baby, and if that asshole is going to fire you and I can’t make you fight it, then you have to at least let me pay for that. Can I do that?”

  She bit back a giggle. She could get used to this Reese. “Yes,” she said, but her relief was quickly squashed. “There’s something about Mr. Holland I don’t like...and the guy that shot Matt used to work for Holland.”

  “We’re on the same page about that.” Reese leaned forward, resting one hand on his knee, the other rubbing his neck. She knew that pose, and it frightened her. “We’re still doing background checks on that guy. Seems Conrad found out he was skimming off a construction site, and Holland fired Terry—the perp who broke into your office and held you captive.”

  “Holland said he’d never met the guy.”

  “Possible, in a large company like that, but for now”—Reese wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in tight, leaning back on the sofa—“just tell them I wouldn’t back down, take the severance package, and don’t look back.”

  She raised her feet onto the sofa and rested her head on his chest. Things were different. And that was good. She wasn’t ready to go full-swing, but this was nic
e, a start in the right direction. “Who the hell is going to hire a pregnant woman?”

  “You’ll find a job,” he said. “Come to think of it, I’ll need a manager for the hotel.”

  “I’m a paralegal, but thanks for the offer.” She tilted her head and looked into his eyes. “This is nice, but don’t go getting ideas.”

  “Too late.” He kissed her softly.

  “Slow. As in we date. Like real dating.”

  “I guess that means I’m not sleeping here tonight.”

  “Nope.”

  A pounding at the door startled them both. It was Frank, and he looked none too happy.

  “What are you doing here?” Patty asked. “Don’t you have that thing with Andy?”

  “Something came up.”

  His tone indicated that whatever suddenly came up was pretty unpleasant. She also sensed it was about her. “Good. Reese is here. I can kill two birds with one stone.”

  “What does that mean?” Reese asked.

  “I know Patty’s pregnant. The whole town knows, thanks to your drunken ass.” He turned to Reese. “I was fine with it until I found out what a total asshole you are.” His voice was eerily even, though the words cut through the air with a dark edge.

  “He’s one of your best friends,” Patty said. “Why would you say that?”

  Frank turned to Patty, taking an envelope out of his coat pocket. He looked only at Patty. His lips pursed, and he clenched the envelope in his hands with such anger it flowed through the room like the wind ripping in off the lake.

  “He’s not the stand-up guy I thought he was.” Frank held up his hand when Patty opened her mouth. “As a matter of fact, he’s a lying bastard and has had us all snowed.” Frank shook his head, his eyes closed and his fists balled tight. He opened his eyes. They were on fire, but there was something else that flickered behind that rage, and Patty recognized it immediately. Betrayal. “I was okay with this until I found out who that man really is. If Reese had been honest up front, things would be different, but he’s a liar, and not worthy of you or that child.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Reese asked.

  Frank handed the envelope to Patty. “He’s never been honest with you, and I’m not sure he would have told you about this, ever.”

  Reese stepped a few feet closer. “What are you talking about?”

  Patty ignored the two men yelling at each other while she opened the contents of the envelope. There was one picture and one document, but they spoke a thousand words. “Where did you get this?”

  “It was delivered by messenger to the station today,” Frank said.

  “What is it?” Reese reached for the papers, but she jerked them back, looking at them again. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “It’s your marriage license,” Frank said, “and your wedding picture.”

  Patty’s heart sank. She blinked a few times, but the words on the document didn’t change. Nor did the picture of Reese all decked out in a tux next to some redhead.

  And what was worse, Reese just stood there, shock registering on his face, then slowly turning into shame. He looked like a man who knew he was busted, and there was no point in trying to deny it. Guilty as charged, but only because he was caught.

  “So it’s true,” she whispered. Her voice trembled. This was worse than when her mother had left. Her best friend had just stabbed her in the back.

  “Bastard,” Frank yelled, inching closer to Reese.

  “Who sent these to you?” Reese didn’t back down, the look of shame turning to a rage she’d never seen on him, and it was beyond horrifying.

  “No idea,” Frank said, “but someone who gives a shit about Patty, unlike you.”

  “Both of you shut up,” Patty said, but Frank lunged toward Reese with a right hook.

  Reese’s head snapped to the side and he stumbled back, tripping over the ottoman, knocking over the lamp, then finally landing on the floor. He wiped his lip, now split and bloodstained. “You should have come to me first,” Reese said. “Let me explain.”

  Patty pushed in front of Frank as he was about to hoist Reese off the floor and most likely hit him again. “I need you to leave.” She held Frank’s shoulders, feeling them tremble with rage. “I appreciate your defense, but I need to talk to Reese alone.”

  “I’m not leaving you with this lying, cheating bastard.”

  “Yes. You are.” Patty escorted Frank to the door, leaving Reese on the floor to lick his wounds. She hated to admit it, but considering the recent turn of events, she was glad Frank had punched him. Though she still considered giving him a good sucker punch in the gut, but not until after she told him exactly where he could go.

  “I’ll be right downstairs.”

  “Thanks.” She closed the door and watched Frank until he disappeared into his apartment before unleashing her own rage on the father of her baby.

  Chapter Six

  “YOU’RE FUCKING MARRIED?”

  Reese wasn’t sure if he’d ever heard Patty drop the F-bomb before. The words echoed in his ears, cutting straight to his aching heart. He had hoped to take care of the situation before having to tell her anything of his sham of a marriage. Then again, she probably would have reacted just as she was right now.

  He hoisted himself to the ottoman, feeling a trickle of blood roll down his chin. He wiped it with his sleeve. He had managed to collect the license and wedding picture from Patty. He’d had his reservations about marrying Jessica. Hours worth of lectures from Grandpa and Nana about her being a gold-digging hussy had been painful to hear, because part of him thought it was true. The day he married her, his grandparents changed their wills, leaving him nothing. That same day, they tore up those wills.

  Nana was going to have his head.

  “Jessica—”

  “I take it that’s your wife’s name.” Bitterness dripped from her words, far more painful than Frank’s punch.

  He nodded. “It’s not what—”

  “I’m sure it’s exactly what I think,” she said.

  He knew he didn’t deserve any compassion from her. And maybe telling her the truth wouldn’t garner any, either. But it was time to put all his cards on the table. “I married her because she was pregnant—”

  “That does not help,” she said. “Please don’t tell me you have a child out there somewhere who you never see.”

  “Jessica never had the baby.” Reese sat on the edge of the ottoman, dabbing the blood from his chin. The moment he walked out on Jessica, he’d never looked back. He got over the pain and shock, and eventually he stopped thinking about her altogether.

  But he never forgot what she had done.

  He looked up at Patty. She stood in front of the picture window, her back turned.

  “Did she miscarry?”

  “I met Jessica when I returned from my first tour in the Middle East, when my mother was dying. I was barely twenty years old.” He paused, waiting for any kind of reaction. He got nothing. “I was young and stupid, and more importantly, angry.”

  “About what?”

  “About having been lied to about who my father was,” he said. “My mother had been in and out of my life for years, leaving Nana and Grandpa to take care of me. I was already resentful of my mother, but her last words cut deep. She said the man I called Dad was in federal prison, serving two life sentences for murder, and my real father would have been worse. She slipped into a coma and died a few days later.”

  “That’s cruel.”

  “It was,” Reese said.

  “What does this have to do with your wife?” Patty’s tone was as cruel as his mother’s words. Only this time, he deserved it.

  “Jessica was a waitress at a bar where I met the PI I hired to find my real father. If there was any truth to the story my mother told.”

  “Didn’t your Nana know?” She still refused to look at him.

  “She said she had no idea. I did a paternity test, and sure enough, Allen McGinn was not m
y father.”

  “Did your dad…Allen…know?”

  “That he wasn’t my father? I don’t know. I guess so. I visited him once after my mother died. He didn’t have much to say, just that he was sorry for everything.”

  Patty finally turned, briefly made eye contact, and then sat on the sofa, where she stared at her thumbs as she twirled them on her lap. “I can see this deeply affected you, but still don’t know what it has to do with the fact you are married, or why you never told me, especially after I told you about the baby. Especially after last night. More importantly, that you married a woman just because she was pregnant.”

  “For two months, Jessica was always there when I needed her. I thought I was in love with her, so when she told me she was pregnant we got married. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

  Patty snapped her head up. “Like sticking around here, being all honorable because of a baby.”

  He shook his head. “I was thinking about sticking around here before I knew about our baby. I was just too scared, and you didn’t seem to want me anymore.”

  “Don’t put all that on me.”

  “I’m not.”

  “So, how long after she lost the baby did you run out on her?”

  “She didn’t have a miscarriage. Nana hated Jessica and thought we were moving way too fast, and after everything with my mother, Nana hired her own investigators who, about six hours after we’d gotten married, let me know at my wedding reception that a week before the wedding, Jessica had terminated the pregnancy.” He closed his eyes, remembering that day more vividly than he wanted to. When he had confronted Jessica, she accused his grandmother of doctoring the records, but Nana would never stoop that low.

  “I’m sorry. I really am. It doesn’t change the fact that you chose not to tell me. That hurts.”

  “I’ve never understood why Jessica did it. Aborted our baby before our wedding, and still married me. I never asked. I volunteered for another tour of duty, and that was that. I never looked back. Until now.”

  Patty went green then raced to the bathroom. It was a small apartment, so he could easily hear her vomiting. The only other person that knew, besides Jessica, had been his Nana and her investigators, but no one ever talked about it. The few times Nana had brought Jessica up, the details had always been buried so deep he couldn’t allow what Jessica had done to their child to surface.