by Jen Talty
Sirens flared and flickered as a fire engine and sheriff’s car pulled in. Blaine waved at them and then pointed at Dave. “Not technically, but I could arrest you for obstruction of justice.” His grip increased. “Don’t push me to that. I know there are a few things you’re not telling me.”
“You don’t understand. I can’t tell you. I do that, and he’ll for sure kill you.”
“I understand you’re in way over your pretty little head. And if you try to go it alone, I will be investigating your murder. I’m not prepared to do that.” He gave her a good shove toward the house. Shima and Emma stood at the front door with their arms crossed, both staring at her.
Kaylee glanced toward the garage. Dave and Toby stood with hoses as dark smoke filled the air.
“Get in the house,” Blaine ordered.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” Emma said, opening the door. “Don’t you get it?”
“I think she does,” Shima said quietly, closing the door behind her. “What she doesn’t get is we all are here to help her.”
“Pretty stupid to go running off into the night when someone just lit the house you’re in on fire.”
“We don’t know she’s the target,” Shima said, as she poured some hot water into some mugs.
“We all know I’m the target.” Kaylee grabbed one of the cups, stirred the dark liquid, and then blew on it.
“Have you told Blaine what’s really going on?” Emma asked.
“Some of it,” Kaylee admitted.
“Why’d you try to run off?” Emma turned to face her. She really was a pretty woman. Her hair fell to her shoulders, and her light-brown eyes were soft and caring. This Emma Kaylee could like.
“I figured I could walk to the station, get my car, and run off to the guy who’s behind all this. Finally putting an end to it,” Kaylee said.
Emma shook her head. “You realize how stupid you sound?”
Kaylee nodded. “Yeah. I actually thought about calling Nino and asking him to send his sidekick to come get me and take me to my car.”
“More like take you right to the morgue,” Emma replied.
Kaylee laughed. It wasn’t funny. Not even close. Emma smiled and let out a slight chuckle. It was a nice sound.
“Ladies,” Shima said, looking quite shocked. “I don’t know who this Nino character is, and I don’t understand what is so funny.”
“I’m sorry.” Kaylee placed her cup down and stood next to Shima. “Nino is a guy I used to work for, and he hired someone to scare me when I found out he worked with the mob and I got my fingers in things I shouldn’t have.” Kaylee realized she needed to spread some honesty. Trying to leave was beyond stupid. She didn’t want to put these people in danger, but since they weren’t going to go away, they needed to know a little more of what her situation was.
“What?” Shima dropped the bag of marshmallows on the floor. “You’re involved with the mob?”
“I was,” Kaylee said. “But not by choice.”
“Good God.” Shima sat down at the kitchen table.
“Anyway, I thought if I left here, you all would be safe since it’s me he wants.” And all the stuff I took.
Shima looked up at Kaylee. Her eyes filled with love and concern “But you wouldn’t be safe, and what the hell good would that do?”
“I know.” Kaylee grabbed her mug and sat down. “But no matter where I go, I’m not safe. Nor is anyone who is with me. I hate doing that to all of you.”
“I got shot at by a client once,” Emma said.
“I got threatened by a student with a loaded gun,” Shima added.
“This isn’t making me feel better about the situation.” Kaylee knew they were trying to tell her everyone’s been in danger at some point. “And don’t start in with what a crazy man Toby is or how it’s Dave and Blaine’s job.”
“Okay,” Shima and Emma said in unison.
“But you have to tell Blaine the whole truth,” Emma said, patting Kaylee’s hand.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” Emma asked.
“He’ll have to arrest me.”
“I think I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.” Shima rubbed her temples.
“Maybe you and I should talk,” Emma added. “Alone.”
“That might be better.” Kaylee rose and leaned against the back door, staring out across the yard. The cold air seeped into the house, giving her the chills. It appeared the flames had been put out and the firemen were pulling out of the driveway.
Toby and Blaine started up the stairs to the apartment as Dave headed toward the main house. He looked worn and tired. She flung the door open for him while he brushed the snow off his coat. “The fire was contained to the car. You girls can go back to Blaine’s.”
“They didn’t find the guy, did they?” Kaylee asked, knowing how good Nino’s guys were.
“Toby tracked him and got a plate number. Jonesy’s running it now.” Dave kicked off his boots. “But for the moment, I think we should all try to get some sleep.”
“Are we safe here?” Shima asked.
“I’ve got Jonesy and a part-timer to hang close. The State Police said they’d up their patrols in this area.”
“You girls be careful, okay?” Shima hugged Kaylee and whispered, “Don’t run from your problems. They only follow you wherever you go.”
Didn’t she know it? “You be careful, too.”
Emma locked her arm with Kaylee’s as they slowly made their way across the yard.
“Can I trust you?” Kaylee asked.
“Yes,” Emma said. “Whatever it is you’re afraid to tell Blaine, you can tell me. But let’s do it another day. You kind of ruined my night with my boyfriend, and I’d like to get back to that.”
“You and Toby?” Kaylee shook her head. “You do know what he’s like, right?”
“For the last few months, he’s been all mine.” Emma looked up toward the garage apartment. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Kaylee followed Emma up the stairs and into Blaine’s apartment where she took off her shoes and hung up her coat. Blaine and Toby both leaned against the kitchen counter, beers in hand and a pile of nachos between them.
“Damn asshole shot at me,” Toby said. “I really hate being shot at.”
“Glad the asshole missed and hit the snowmobile instead.” Emma eased her way over to Toby and tucked herself under his arm. Toby kissed her temple as he pulled her in tight.
Kaylee leaned against the side wall.
“Hit the gas tank, and now we’re stranded here for the night. The roads are horrible, so taking Blaine’s truck is out of the question. Besides, it’s just going to get worse out there.” Toby continued to stroke Emma’s arm.
Kaylee didn’t mean to stare, but when she knew Toby, no girl could get within five feet of him without permission. He didn’t date a girl more than once, maybe twice if she was lucky, but never did Toby ever show any public displays of affection.
“You can stop staring,” Toby said. “Emma’s been drugging me. Only way to make me act like a fool in love.”
Emma laughed. “You wish that was your excuse.”
“Did you just use the word love?” Kaylee asked.
“Much to everyone’s surprise, I am human.” He eyed the room. “But I’m more concerned about where I’ll be sleeping tonight.”
“The couch folds out into a bed,” Blaine said.
“That takes care of me and Emma. What about you and Kaylee?” Toby smiled, as if amused by the situation.
Blaine’s face tightened, and he tossed his beer cap on the counter. “She can have my bed.”
“I’ll take the floor,” Kaylee blurted out. She understood why he was mad, her trying to run off again. She couldn’t blame him.
Blaine shrugged. “Have it your way.” He rinsed his beer mug, tossing it in the sink. “There’s a sleeping bag in the closet, along with a small bedroll. Good night.”
“Asshole,” Emma said.
Blaine stopped halfway up the stairs, but didn’t turn when he said, “She can have the bed if she wants. It’s her choice.”
Kaylee got herself into the bathroom, found her muscle relaxants, and popped two. She forced herself to follow her routine, showering, changing, and brushing her teeth before she re-entered the family room, praying Blaine had remained upstairs.
“We thought you might have made a window,” Toby teased.
“I’m not going to try to run again.” Kaylee wasn’t in any mood to go at it with the ‘good-natured-nothing-affects-me’ Toby. She grabbed the sleeping bag from the closet and started to roll it out.
“Sleep with Emma on the sofa bed.” Toby touched her shoulder. When she looked up at him, she saw a depth inside his eyes she’d never seen before. “Girls can do that shit all the time. I’ll take the floor.”
“It’s okay, Toby, really. I’ll be fine.” She forced back the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks. The floor felt hard against her butt when she sat down on the bedroll, but sometimes the hard floor was exactly what her back needed. “So, tell me, how did you two hook up?”
“I hired him to help me investigate a case, and he just wouldn’t go away. He was like a stray dog and no matter what I did, he kept showing up.”
Toby laughed. “Like I said, she’s drugging me.”
Kaylee glanced between Toby, who was standing near the kitchen, and Emma, who had climbed onto the pullout. Emma was petite and gorgeous, but in a very reserved way. Toby was rough and big, like a grizzly mountain man. They looked like complete opposites, but when you looked at them, they seemed to fit.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Kaylee said. “What’s the history between you and Blaine?”
“I don’t want to hear this,” Toby grumbled something, then got himself a beer and headed for the bathroom.
“It’s a pretty simple story. We dated for a while. It didn’t go well. He’s always been hung up on you, and I got tired of competing with you. He kept saying he was over you, but I doubt he’s ever truly gotten past you running.”
Kaylee let out a huge puff of air. “We didn’t communicate with each other very well, especially after our son died.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks,” Kaylee said. “Seems to be some resentment between you and Blaine. At least that is what I sensed when I first met you.”
“I was defending this guy who’d been accused of beating and raping his wife. My job was to give him the best possible defense, and Blaine had been the arresting officer.”
“Ouch,” Kaylee said, knowing how Blaine felt about domestic violence. “While you were dating Blaine?”
Emma nodded. “The problem was I knew he was guilty, but I was able to get him off on a technicality.” Emma glanced at the loft as if she could read Kaylee’s mind, wondering if Blaine was listening to the whole conversation. “Anyway, the next day he fatally beat his wife and daughter and then tried to kill himself. It took almost a year and a half to get a final sentencing.”
“Has Blaine ever considered blaming the system? Instead of the people who use the system?” Kaylee wondered out loud.
“Actually, he blamed himself because the technicality had been faulty police procedure, but he got ticked at me for using it, and now two innocent people are dead.”
“I can see how that would end a relationship.”
“Not sure you could call what we had a relationship. It didn’t last very long, and it was really over before it started.”
“You love Toby?” Kaylee asked.
A broad smile came across Emma’s face, and a sparkle filled her light-brown eyes.
“She’d better,” Toby said, leaning on the doorjamb. “Otherwise I might have to do something crazy.”
“You are crazy.” Emma threw back the covers. “Shut the lights off.”
Darkness filled the room. Kaylee lay on her back, arms folded on her stomach. The floor wasn’t that bad. As long as she didn’t move. The wind rustled the tree branches outside. She focused on that until she heard the stairs creak. She tipped her head up to see Blaine coming down the steps.
“Bathroom,” he said.
“Shhh.”
“Oh, shush yourself,” he said, slamming the bathroom door.
“He’s in a mood,” Emma said.
“Kaylee running out on him tends to piss him off to the point of being an asshole,” Toby said.
“You could have said that nicely,” Emma said.
“It’s all right.” Kaylee let out a long breath. “Toby is right. Had I not run off, we all might be sleeping in a bed.”
Toby laughed. “Just go up there. He’s not going to kick you out.”
“True,” Kaylee said as she rolled herself to a sitting position just as the bathroom door opened.
Blaine took two steps toward her, bent over, and lifted her into his arms. “One more word from anyone in this room about any sleeping arrangements, and I’ll handcuff you for the night.”
“Put me down,” she said.
“I guess you like handcuffs.”
“I didn’t say anything about sleeping arrangements. I just told you to put me down.”
A few muffled laughs came from the other side of the room as Blaine carried her up the stairs, then gently placed her on the bed.
“Move over.”
“What is wrong with you?” she whispered. “Why are you being such a jerk?”
“Because the make-up sex with you is soooo good.” He slipped between the covers, pulling her close.
“You do realize that other people can hear you,” she whispered.
“Do you think I care?”
“Maybe I care.”
“Then stop talking and go to sleep.” He tucked her backside up against him and actually let out a sigh.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m done running.” The lights from the yard filtered through the window. Blaine rolled her to her stomach and lifted the back of her shirt, tracing his fingers across her scars. He kissed her shoulder then cupped her chin, tilting her head upward. “Running from De Luca? Or running in general?”
She sucked in a breath. The implication of his words cut as deep as the scars he was gently rubbing. “You’re asking if I’ll stay here.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know,” she said.
“If you still want to leave after we figure all this out, I won’t stop you.”
“There are some things you should know.”
“In the morning.” He kissed her lips. “Sleep.”
9
Blaine didn’t dare stir. The warm body sprawled out over him brought back memories he’d been trying to forget. But now he wanted to bring them all to the present and make them his future.
He peeked open one eye, thankful the room was still dark. Prying open both eyes, he glanced at the clock. Only five in the morning. He should be good for another hour, so he relaxed and tried to drift back to sleep only to be roused by his cell.
He managed to keep one arm around Kaylee while he snagged the vibrating gadget. Dave’s number appeared on the small screen.
“Was that your phone?” she whispered.
“Go back to sleep,” he said. “Hello?”
“Sorry to have to wake you,” Dave said.
“No problem. What’s up?” Blaine wrapped his free arm around Kaylee, nestling her head to his chest. It was like she’d never left ten years ago.
“We need to get out on patrol. Everything is going to be shut down. The other side of the lake is without power, and we’re asking for no unnecessary travel.”
“Give me five.” Blaine flicked on the small reading lamp. “Toby can hang here with the girls and my mom.”
“My brother’s coming to get Shima to take her to the farm.”
Blaine thought about that for a moment. She would be safer at the Whitcomb Horse Farm since most of the help lived on the property, along with Dave’s brother and his family.
“I can have
everyone transported there,” Dave said.
“Actually, I’d like to get Kaylee over to her father’s house and have her go through it. Can you take Kaylee, Toby, and Emma to the Mead residence before your brother takes my mom to the farm?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem. Now get your ass in gear.”
Blaine dropped the cell phone on the nightstand.
“I don’t really want to go back to that house right now,” Kaylee said.
“I need you to.” He ran a hand through his long hair, pushing it from his face. “I’ve got a theory.”
“I think we both agree it’s Nino who is behind all this.”
“Probably, but I need you to start looking for something specific.” Adjusting the covers, he looked at her. Waking with her had been natural, like she should be there with him every night, but at the same time, he knew he had to pull away from her. He had a job to do.
“What?” She sat up, pulling the sheet up to her chin. “What am I looking for?”
“Secret room. Phone records, credit card bills, old letters—anything dated back from about a year before you were born until right after your extended hospital stay when you were six.”
“I wouldn’t have a clue as to where he kept those things.”
“Hadley’s looking through old tax returns and anything he has, but he swears he doesn’t know who your father could be.”
“You don’t believe him, do you?”
“I believe he thinks he’s doing the right thing by your parents. His loyalty runs deep, but he’s also hiding something. I’m afraid he might be putting himself in an awkward position.”
“I can relate,” she muttered. “I need to tell you something,” she said, pushing at his chest.
“Don’t tell me, tell Emma. Your lawyer.”
“But—”
“No.” He kissed her good and hard, making sure she’d be speechless when he came up for air. “Tell Emma and let her deal with it. I’ll deal with it after I’ve figured out who killed your father.”
“What about Nin—”
He covered her mouth with his hand. “I suspect all this is highly criminal, which is why I haven’t pushed too hard. Best to tell Emma. She can protect you legally. She’ll let me know whatever it is I need to know.”
