by Stacy Green
“There are still things I can do,” Dani said. “You said John James was a Civil War hero, Grace?”
“Oh yes.” Grace’s pale eyes lit up. “He served in several battles, but the one he’s remembered for is at Chancellorsville.
“John James rode with Stonewall Jackson to attack the Union flank from behind. He was there when one of Jackson’s men accidentally shot the general.” Dani noticed Grace’s accent grew thicker when she talked history, and her hands flittered around with excitement. “Helped get him off the front lines and brought him back to the medical tent, even though John James himself was injured. Still, he wouldn’t leave Stonewall’s side until the doctors forced him to.”
“Jackson lost an arm and then died of pneumonia, right?” Ben said.
“Yes,” Grace answered.
“You said John James was injured too?” Dani asked.
“That’s right. He’d been shot in the leg.”
“Did he lose it?”
“No. He refused to let them amputate.”
“I didn’t realize the soldiers had a say in the matter,” Dani said.
“John James was a Lieutenant Colonel, and he’d tried to save General Jackson. Infection set in quickly, but he fought the doctors, and the story goes that General Robert E. Lee himself is the one who said to leave the leg alone. That John James had earned the right to decide for himself.”
Chills swept down Dani’s back at the heroic story. Was it bravery or sheer stubborn will that had saved John James Laurent?
“He got extremely lucky.” Ben shook his head. “Between the lack of sterilization and the doctors going days without washing their hands, infection was pretty bad.” He looked at his mother. “You sure all that’s true, though? How much of it is just legend?”
“John James told your grandfather himself.” Grace stuck out her chin. “Daddy always remembered that story because John James used to say he was walking around with a piece of Yankee iron in his leg.”
“What?” Dani sat up straight.
“He said they weren’t able to remove all of the bullet, not without cutting the bone, which John James refused. The leg healed around it. He walked with a limp the rest of his life.”
Dani looked at Ben, and she could tell by his expression that he was thinking the same thing. “So if that’s true, his leg bone would not only have bullet fragments, but also whatever scars an infection would leave.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Grace said. “If the bone hasn’t turned to dust.”
“Which leg?” Ben asked.
“The left, I believe. Yes, Daddy always said John James had a cane for his left leg.”
“Were any leg bones recovered?” Ben turned to Dani, and she finally looked him in the eyes. They were a lighter blue than she’d originally imagined, with fine laugh lines that only accentuated his looks. They were opened so wide Dani wondered if his interest was put on for her benefit. His ash-blond hair was cut short but still long enough to see the natural wave. A smile played on his lips, but the slant was more predatory than sweet.
She turned back to Grace to clear her head. Perhaps the woman’s irritation with her son was affecting Dani’s impression.
“I’m pretty sure a femur was found, but I have no idea if it was the left or right. Cage might know.”
Ben made a low sound in his throat. “Isn’t he considered a suspect right now?”
“Cage?” Grace’s voice pitched an octave. “He would never do such a thing.”
“He wouldn’t be the first person around here to shock everyone,” Ben said. “Don’t forget about the Ballards.”
Dani’s ears perked up, but before she could ask, Grace’s anger filled the room. “I don’t want to hear a word against Cage. And I don’t want to discuss what happened in June, either.”
“Cage is only a suspect in the technical sense.” Dani needed to clarify. “He did have access. So did Lee Walker. The police have to look at everyone. Meanwhile, the bones are forgotten. Even if they don’t belong to John James, the victim deserves justice. Or a decent final resting place. I’m stuck in purgatory while Captain Barnes investigates Ironwood. I might as well do some digging.”
Ben scratched the light patch of stubble on his chin. “It’s worth looking into.” He gave her another captivating smile. “Say, with the house off limits, where are you staying? I think we’ve got an open room, don’t we Mom?”
“We do,” Grace said. “I’d be more than happy to put you up if you need a place, Dani.”
“No, but thank you. I’m staying with Jaymee Ballard.” Her voice died out on the name.
Grace and Ben exchanged a look. “Nice of Cage to send you over there.” Surprise colored Grace’s accent.
Dani wanted to ask what their secretive glances were about, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear about the history between Cage and Jaymee. Or what happened in June. She’d had enough shocks to her system.
“On that note, I’d better be going,” Dani said. “It’s been a long day, and I need a shower and some rest. Thank you so much for talking.”
“You’re welcome. And good luck on your digging, although I doubt you’ll find anything you can use.”
Dani thanked her and stood. Ben stood as well. “Let me walk you out, please.” He rested his hand on her elbow, and she was too charmed to say no, allowing herself to be led through Oak Lynn’s decorated halls.
Ben paused at the door. “You know, for what it’s worth, I always thought Ironwood did have a secret room. If not a room, then some sort of compartment big enough to hide valuables.”
“I think so, too,” Dani said. “It’s common for the age.”
“Well, don’t you think if CaryAnne did have a secret about her father, she’d have stored the evidence in that room?”
Something in his eyes made Dani both nervous and excited. “You may be right.”
“If I were you, I’d be searching for that room,” Ben said. “Your best chance at answers is there.”
He was right, but Dani had no idea how long it would be before she had access to her home. “I’ll have to figure out how to get started on that.”
“I’ll be in town for a few days if you…need any help.” Ben glanced down at his expensive shoes and then back up at Dani with what had to be a patented look. “Or if you’d just like to grab something to eat, that would be great too.” His voice lowered, his accent heavier, his gaze intense.
Cartwheels in her stomach made her feel like a schoolgirl giddy from the attention of the popular jock. Guys like Ben Moore–the quarterback or whatever his talent had been–never came after her. She wasn’t unattractive by any means, but she also didn’t spend her time seeking attention and worrying about what the boys thought. She supposed she carried that with her into adulthood, and her independence probably made her standoffish to some men.
Dani remembered Grace’s attitude toward her son, and her bubble popped. So he wasn’t the perfect son. Who was? That didn’t mean he wasn’t a decent guy. And he was willing to help her search Ironwood. Might as well get to know him better.
“I’d love that. Let me give you my number.”
17
Mutt’s barking woke Dani up out of a deep, hard sleep. Rubbing her bleary eyes, she sat up. The room was dark. Whatever sense of time she had completely shattered. She twisted in confusion, trying to remember what time she’d come up here.
She reached for her phone. 6:42 p.m. For a brief second, she thought she’d lost an entire day, and then she saw the date.
She’d barely slept an hour.
Mutt barked again, and she heard rumblings of movement downstairs. Jaymee must be home. Dani rolled out of bed, combed her hair, and headed downstairs.
Jaymee was in the kitchen, still in her uniform from Sallie’s, her long, tan legs looking amazing in the black shorts. She stood at the counter stirring a tall pitcher of tea.
“Hey there,” Jaymee said. “Figured you’d crash. Sorry if Mutt woke you up. Only ti
me he ever barks is when I come home. Some watchdog. You want some sweet tea?”
In all the Southern fiction Dani had read, sweet tea was nearly a secondary character, as synonymous with the South as the cotton and the live oak trees. When she’d signed the papers to purchase Ironwood, Dani had envisioned herself sitting on the porch drinking sweet tea and listening to the sounds of the evening. “Yes, please.”
Jaymee handed her a full glass. “It’s real sweet, now. Probably different than what you’re used to.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it.” Dani took a large gulp, tipping her head back. The liquid hit her throat, and for a moment, all she tasted was cold. And then a sweet concoction that tasted like maple syrup fried to a crisp. She choked and spit the tea back into the glass.
Mortified, she looked at Jaymee. “I’m sorry!”
Jaymee erupted in laughter. “It’s all right. I told you it would be different than what you expected.”
Embarrassment threatened to flood her eyes. “Pretty much everything down here has been.”
Before Jaymee could respond, the sound of the front door echoed through Magnolia’s wide halls. “Jay? Dani? Ya’ll in there?”
“In here,” Jaymee answered.
The same excitement Dani felt when she’d left Ironwood earlier rushed back. She patted her mouth with the back of her hand, making sure she didn’t have any leftover tea on her lips.
Cage appeared, hair pushed back and a fine sheen of sweat on his face. He smelled like the outdoors–warm and tinged with the sweetness of magnolias. Her pulse fluttered.
“Shit, Jay, you gave her sweet tea?”
“She wanted to try it. Did you walk here?”
“Needed to clear my head.” Cage sat down at the table and eyed the tea. “That stuff is pure nasty. Never have understood why it’s such a Southern tradition. Of course,” his cocky smirk was directed at Dani, “I’m not surprised you wanted to try it.”
She scowled at him. “Where did you hurry off to while I had to deal with Landers?”
“How’d that go, by the way?”
“Excruciatingly slow. Best I could tell, he didn’t find anything. We had a scuffle over going upstairs, but I managed to convince him to hold off until the structural engineer comes tomorrow.”
“I bet you had to kiss some ass to get that accomplished.”
Dani wrinkled her nose. “I’d rather not talk about it. Answer my question.”
“I went to see Lee Walker at the historical foundation.”
Jaymee sat down at the head of the table with a glass full of sweet tea. “What were you trying to find out?”
“A few things. Some I already knew. Lee’s a member of the church board. Has been for almost as long as he’s been with the historical foundation. And he was completely against selling Ironwood.”
Dani blanched. She’d never heard this. Lee had practically insisted she purchase the place. “What changed his mind?”
“He didn’t have much of a choice. Sounds like he was outvoted.”
“What was his problem?” Jaymee asked.
“He says it’s because he was afraid the house would fall further into ruin, if not be torn down altogether. He did routine checkups on the place every week, renters or not.” Cage glanced at Dani. “He pushed Ironwood onto you because he thought you would treat her right.”
“But you’re thinking there is more to it?” Jaymee asked.
“You know me so well.”
“Since you were in training pants.” Jaymee made a face.
Dani’s insides heated at their exchange. She didn’t like being a third wheel. “What do you mean, more to it?”
“I asked Lee about the original locks and keys. He claimed he’s never seen them.”
“So?” Dani said.
“So, he also said those sorts of items aren’t a priority when doing a restoration. Which I found really interesting because all the doors at the historical foundation look to have their original hardware.”
“Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand?” Dani said. “Anything authentic is key during a restoration, especially if we are trying to get a house listed on the National Historic Register. Lee of all people would know that.”
“You’d think so. And I got the feeling he was lying.”
“Why?”
“I’ve known Lee a long time. His body language changed. Stopped looking me in the eyes. Got all fidgety and practically ran me off.”
“Why on earth would Lee lie?” Dani asked.
“Good question.”
“You’re not thinking Lee Walker is a suspect in these murders?” Jaymee said. “I mean, he’s in pretty good shape, but he’s in his early fifties. And just…not the kind of guy who would do something like that.”
“Jay,” Cage’s voice grew soft. “You know as well as I do that sometimes–”
She held up her hand, face tight with tension. “Don’t.”
They stared each other down, unspoken words churning between them. Dani wanted to scream, and that was infuriating. She had no right to be jealous over the secrets Cage and Jaymee shared. Why did she give a damn about their history? The answer crept around the back of her mind, far more intense and carrying repercussions Dani wasn’t quite ready to deal with.
“What about motive?” Dani said. “What motive would Lee possibly have?”
“Hell if I know,” Cage finally stopped glaring at Jaymee. “I’m not saying he did it. I’m saying he’s hiding something. We’ve just got to figure out what.”
“We?”
“You’re his new superstar, right? You’ll have access.”
“I’m not going to go snooping around my new boss’s office. I certainly can’t afford to lose my damned job.”
“I’m not saying snoop,” Cage said. “I’m saying search the records for the locks and see what you find out.”
His cocky smile was impossible to refuse. “Fine, but I’m not sneaking around. And I’ve got other things to search for too.”
“You’re not seriously talking about the damned secret room again.”
“Hey,” Jaymee piped up. “Why are you so against Ironwood having a hideaway? Magnolia House has them. So does Evaline. It’s common.”
“Ben said the same thing.” Dani’s cheeks heated against her will.
“Ben?” Cage and Jaymee echoed. His expression darkened, and Jaymee looked ready to jump into the middle of a fight. Dani stared back, apprehension washing over her. So Grace wasn’t the only one with a problem with Ben.
“Ben Moore. I stopped to see Grace on my way here.”
Jaymee sucked in her cheeks, lips pursed, her eyes on Cage. “So Ben Moore is back in town? Far as I know, he hasn’t been around much. Not since the big Semple deal.”
“What was he doing at Oak Lynn?” Cage’s mouth flattened, and the vein in the center of his forehead bulged.
“Visiting his mother, I guess.” Dani shrugged.
“I bet he was. What did you all talk about?”
His tone put Dani on the defense despite her own questions about Ben, and she struggled to keep her voice light as she shared the conversation from Oak Lynn.
Cage listened with narrowed eyes and hard breaths, drumming his fingers on the table. His already tense expression twisted into a grimace every time Ben’s name was mentioned.
“I’d forgotten about John James being wounded at Chancellorsville. Interesting that Ben remembers it. Not surprising, but interesting.” Jaymee spoke through the heavy silence when Dani finished.
Cage waved her off and turned his angry eyes back to Dani. “What else did Grace and Ben say?”
Dani repeated the ominous warning CaryAnne had given shortly before she died.
“CaryAnne said that?” Jaymee’s eyes were wide. “The truth was buried in Ironwood?”
Dani nodded. “Granted, she was dying and half out of her mind, but you know, sometimes people get very clear at the end. And even if she wasn’t talking about her father’s burial, I thi
nk she was admitting that something was hidden at Ironwood. Ben agreed.”
“Of course he agreed,” Cage snapped. “Ben Moore would love to find some treasure in Ironwood.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dani demanded.
“Means Ben Moore is ruled by the Almighty dollar. What else did he say?”
Scowling at the malice in Cage’s tone, Dani continued. “He said that if CaryAnne was telling the truth, her secret is more than likely in the hidden room. What better place to stash it?”
“Except if her secret is burying her father in the basement, there’s nothing left for the room,” Cage said.
“Unless she kept a journal,” Jaymee said. “Or some kind of family records.” She turned to Dani. “You need to search the historical foundation and county genealogy records, see what you can find.”
“Like what?” Cage said.
Jaymee shot him a dirty look. “If I knew, I wouldn’t be telling her to search. But John James was a Civil War hero. There’s got to be records about his burial, maybe even an obit. Even service records. At least there will be something to start with.”
“If I can find proof of his leg wound, we might stand a chance of identifying those bones as John James,” Dani said. “Cage, what other bones were found with the skull? Do you know if the femur was right or left?”
“Arm bones, Jeb said. Some vertebra and tiny bones that he thought looked like metatarsals. No clue on the femur.” He’d crossed his arms over his chest, chin sticking out and eyes snakelike.
Dani figured she might as well kick the elephant out of the room. “So what’s your problem with Ben?”
“Personal. Don’t want to get into it right now.”
Whatever. She’d contact Jeb Riley herself, and she’d make up her own mind about Ben. “I’m going to get online and do some research in some of the databases. Maybe I can at least find his service records and confirm the battles he was in. After that, I’ll head to the historical foundation, see what we have in the archives.”
“Do you need help with the research?” Jaymee asked. “I have tomorrow off.”
