Andie rose from her chair and gave her mother a hug, folding her into her arms with Bret in between them. “I love you, Mom. Once I remember what my dreams are, I’ll follow them.”
* * *
Cade sat across from his new lawyer, Owen Williams. The guy was a good ol’ country boy from Louisiana who was self-deprecating while cracking jokes—clearly someone police and opposing counsel underestimated.
Unfortunately, Cade was in no mood for down-home bonhomie.
“Can we cut to the chase and get me out of here?” Cade said.
Owen took out a white handkerchief and wiped his sweaty forehead. His face was already beet red, and he wasn’t even in court.
“Not a problem. The evidence is circumstantial. Witnesses reported a big man, football-player-sized, wearing dark glasses, shipping a package at the post office. Do you have any idea who might have used your credit card?”
“Maybe my brother, Donnie. Although I haven’t missed any cards.” Cade clenched his fists. “I haven’t seen him lately, and he usually asks to borrow money.”
“Anyone else have access to your cards? Or your account number? These days they can create a card with the number encoded on a magnetic stripe and not actually have your card.” Owen twiddled his fingers.
“No idea.” Cade shrugged. He had all his accounts on auto-pay and rarely monitored them, relying on the card companies to notify him in case of fraudulent use. “It could be any random hacker. That happens a lot.”
“Not when it’s tied to a heroin package mailed to your house.” Owen pursed his lips and blew out a breath. He tapped his head with a finger, indicating he was thinking hard.
“Like, duh,” Cade huffed. “If I wanted to give my mother heroine packets, why would I go to the post office wearing dark glasses and mailing them with my own credit card? Do the police think I’m stupid?”
“Not unless they thought you were purposely trying to draw attention away from yourself,” Owen said. “Framing yourself to prove you didn’t do it.”
“That’s way too convoluted.” A gnawing feeling shuffled inside Cade’s stomach. Sounded like a bad mystery novel, but it apparently got Owen thinking, because he twirled his mustache and hummed, then kicked back and studied the ceiling before burping and wiping his forehead. Cade was surprised he hadn’t scratched his balls.
After a few more seconds of down-home man grooming, Owen said, “I think someone wants you out of the way so they can go after your mother. You’re cramping someone’s style. The police say an anonymous tip led them to you.”
Obviously, someone was framing him. Why were the idiotic police detaining him and not out there finding the real criminal?
“The charges are bogus.” Cade slammed his palm on the table. “As my lawyer, you should get me out of here.”
“I’ve some investigations to do, and I will present my findings to the judge and district attorney. Anything else you need?”
“Yes, can you find out who’s taking care of my baby, er, I mean, Bret? My girlfriend and her mother were caring for him, but they need to go home to New York. The last thing I want is for Bret to go into foster care. His birth mother, Roxanne Cash, is not that trustworthy. I’ve been worried.”
“Sure thing. I’ll stop by right away.” Owen nodded. “In fact, I’d like to speak to her. What’s her name again? Andie Reed?”
“Andie Wales.” Cade gritted his teeth. “As far as I know, she never took her husband’s surname.”
It hurt him even to refer to Declan as Andie’s husband.
“Very sad case,” Owen said. “Ronaldo said she lost her memory and thinks she’s still married to him.”
“She was trying for a divorce, but yeah, she has no memory of anything that happened for the last two years.” Cade shifted in his seat. “I broke up with her, now that I’m in so much trouble. I don’t want her spending money to bail me out.”
“Whoa, wait.” Owen snorted. “You’re getting out of here soon, no bail needed. Whoever called in the tip was lying. Do you have an alibi for the time when the witness claimed you mailed the dope?”
“I don’t. It was during a break in practice. The post office was close to the stadium. Any football player could have done it. Don’t they have security cameras?”
“Not this one.” Owen rubbed his nose. “The thing is, you have no motive. Someone’s framing you. I’ll go through the list of your teammates, starting with the other quarterback and his buddies.”
“Great. I have to get out of here. My mom’s in more danger with me in here, and there’s Bret and my dog who need caring for.”
“Your mom’s safe at the rehab facility with the extra security,” Owen said. “I’m going to talk to Andie and her mother. Maybe they have some ideas. After all, they discovered the drugs in the diaper bag. What if they’re the ones who are framing you?”
“No way.” Cade’s heart launched to his throat. “Go easy on Andie. She’s had a traumatic brain injury.”
“Sorry, can’t go easy on anyone.” Owen blinked, shaking his head. “Everyone’s a suspect until I clear you.”
“Except Andie. What motive would she have to frame me?”
“You never know.” Owen scratched his chin. “Maybe she wants Bret all to herself. Some women have a hyperactive maternal instinct. Ever heard of the ones who attack a pregnant woman, cut the baby out and keep it for themselves?”
“Forget it.” Cade’s voice lowered to a growl. “Leave Andie out of this. She’s going home anyway.”
“Not if I subpoena her, she isn’t.” Owen’s voice also grew raspy. “She had means and opportunity. All I need is a motive and believe me, I’m a going to ferret it out quicker than a coonhound treeing Daniel Boone.”
“Forget it. You touch Andie and you’re fired.” Cade narrowed his eyes and huffed steam from his nose.
“Don’t be stupid.” Owen didn’t blink. “I’m betting she’s a lot stronger than you give her credit for. Besides, according to my timeline, she was in the hospital when the drugs were mailed. I just wanted to see your reaction to suggestions of her guilt.”
“Leave her out of it. She has enough on her plate.” Cade’s heart cringed at the thought of Andie being disturbed.
“Oh, I’m sure she does. No worries. I’ll be gentle with her, but I’ll speak to her just the same.”
Chapter Four
“Hey, Andie,” her mother said from the door. “There’s a lawyer here to see you. Owen Williams.”
Andie had just returned from walking Gollie and Red. The two dogs barked and lunged for the door despite still being leashed.
“Hush, you two.” Andie strained to hold them back. “Let me send them out back. Is this about Cade?”
“Yes, he’s Cade’s lawyer,” her mother said. “I’ll let him into the living room.”
Andie shooed the dogs outside and washed her hands. Cade’s lawyer was here? This was important. Hopefully he had good news and Cade would be out of jail in a jiffy.
“Miss Wales,” Owen said, holding out his pudgy hand.
“Call me Andie. It’s nice to meet you.” She shook his hand and took a seat while her mother brought two tall glasses of ice tea. “How’s Cade doing?”
“He’s holding up.” Owen glanced out the window at Red and Gollie. “Sweet dogs. I’ve always wanted an Irish Setter.”
“Yeah, well, he’s Cade’s.” Andie took a sip from her tea. “Are you getting Cade out of jail soon?”
“Trying.” Owen pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead. “I’m interviewing everyone who’s involved with him, picking their brains to get evidence which I’ll present to the judge. I might even go after them for wrongful arrest.”
“Great. I can help. I hope.” Andie folded her hands together. “I have a theory, and I’ve been researching everything I can about Cade. I believe it all started with that interception he threw in the Super Bowl. I bet it has to do with the gambling scandal. Someone’s trying to make him take the blame, even w
hen he was cleared by the commissioner.”
“I’m thinking the same thing.” Owen wiped his lip. “Who do you think is involved?”
“Cade’s mother knows something. Remember, it was his sister who was jailed for running the bet. She’s a little fish. The question is, who was she working for and why are they trying to silence Barbara?”
“That’s what we have to find out. Who’s profiting from the gambling. You’re right. Cade’s mother is probably involved or knows something. She could even be blackmailing someone.”
“Oh, no!” Andie’s jaw dropped. “No wonder someone wants to knock her off. With Cade conveniently put in jail, they’ll be able to move forward without interference.”
“Exactly. You know what I’m thinking?” Owen’s eyes brightened. “Football season starts in less than three weeks. Whoever made a pile of money on the Super Bowl loss might want to start betting again.”
“Yes. Of course.” Andie picked up his train of thought. “And with Cade’s sister in jail, they’re going to need someone to run the bet.”
“Yes, someone no one would suspect.”
“Someone who can infiltrate their gang and expose them to the FBI.” She rubbed her hands together. They were getting somewhere. Yes!
“You think?” Owen hooked a significant glance at Andie.
“Definitely.” Andie’s heart thudded with excitement. “I can do it. Let me visit Cade’s sister in prison and find out how she did it.”
“Meanwhile I’ll get in touch with the FBI and set up a sting. Then we can put the bad guys away forever.”
Andie raised her fist for a bump. “Let’s do it.”
Owen bumped her fist. “Let’s do it real good.”
* * *
A day later, Andie sat across from Cade’s sister, Joanie, at the state prison for women. She and Owen had driven four hours to the facility in Chowchilla. The entire way, Owen had cheered her up with jokes and stories. The guy was a redhead too, balding, with bulging baby blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and a theatrically curled mustache.
“So, you’re the girl who captured my brother’s heart,” Joanie said with a wry expression marring her face. “He’s never, ever let his guard down.”
“How would you know?” Andie lifted her eyebrow, undaunted by the implied challenge. “Did you grow up with him?”
“I watched him long enough. What do you want from me?”
“Someone tried to murder your mother. Someone framed your brother. You know something or someone.”
“What if I do? You think I don’t want to live?” She shrugged and rolled her eyes.
“Of course you do. You’ll want to meet your nephew. He’s the sweetest little cherub.”
“Yeah, right. Cade never wanted a baby. I’m shocked he’d take responsibility.”
“There’s always a first time for anyone.” Andie studied the woman in front of her. Oh, she thought she was tough, and that she didn’t care—hardened and cynical, but she seemed to know a lot about what Cade wanted and didn’t want.
“Your mom seems happy about it. Cade had her babysitting before she overdosed.”
“That’s a shock.” Joanie wagged her head. “I never understood how Cade got snagged into this. He was always so careful.”
“You play, you pay. It happens all the time.”
“I guess. But still, I figured he’d just pay her to go away or something, like those other guys. You know, pay child support and have nothing to do with the brats.”
“What other guys?”
Joanie’s eyes clouded over and she waved her hand. “You know, you hear about it all the time. Some rapper gets someone pregnant. They do a deal under the table and life goes on. I mean, he supposedly cared about you, so why would he inject a baby into his life?”
“Beats me.” The talk about the baby wasn’t getting anywhere. Cade was obviously more mature than Joanie pegged him to be. Andie leaned toward the plastic partition. “The reason I came to see you is that I need some cash now that Cade’s in the pen. Thought I might get into some of the stuff you were into. You know, with the bets?”
“You seriously think I’m going to talk about it in here?” Joanie exaggeratedly glanced around the visitation booth. “Like this place is bugged.”
“Whatever. Maybe I’ll wear a wire. Do it for the cops, you know.”
“You crazy? They check for wires, and if they find one …” Joanie made a cut mark across her neck.
“I’ll take my chances,” Andie said. “I’m sure they’ll pay me well to be the go-between. How do I go about it? Say I need to place a bet for someone, but it has to be untraceable. What do I do?”
Joanie whistled and rolled her head on her neck. “Don’t let Cade know I told you. He’ll kill me himself.”
“You haven’t told me anything.”
“You really want in? Because I want my cut.”
“You got it.” Andie held the other woman’s gaze. “Who do I talk to, and where do I go?”
“I’ll have my people put out the word you’re interested. Word will get to the guys running the bets. Then, on game day, you go to the Sparks Casino in Vegas and wear the jersey of the team you’re rooting for. When half-time ends, sit at roulette table number four. Place your chip on the line between zero and double zero. Keep placing it there until a member of the casino staff invites you to a private game. They’ll strip search you and give you further instructions.”
“Like what?”
“What to do with the chips you win.” She leaned all the way forward. “Go to room four hundred forty-four. You’ll be blindfolded and tied up. When the cleaning service comes to set you free, the chips will be gone.”
Andie gulped and swallowed. “In other words, you don’t know who it was?”
“Obviously, not. I’m still alive, aren’t I?”
* * *
“You got what you were looking for?” Owen asked Andie as they walked away from the women’s prison. “Not that you have to tell me. Unless you want to.”
“I have to do this,” Andie said, fortifying herself and holding her head high. “But before I do, we have to get my mother out of the way, and not let Cade suspect.”
“Obviously. How will we accomplish that?”
“He broke up with me already, so I’ll just have to move out.” Andie dabbed her nose with a tissue. Even with the air conditioner at full blast, she was sweating and jittery. “How long is he staying in jail? I need to find a place to live before he gets out.”
“The police are not ready to drop the charges, but I’m working on it, casting doubt by throwing suspects their way.” Owen steered the Lincoln Town Car he drove onto the freeway and headed south.
“That’s good, I guess.” Andie leaned back and took a deep breath. She hated this charade, but someone had to expose the real crook. Everything had dragged on too long, and without the sting, she wouldn’t be able to figure out who would want Barbara out of the way and had it in for Cade.
“Even if you move out, Cade’s still going to be wanting to keep you safe. He’s said over and over again that he doesn’t want to jeopardize your safety, that he thinks there’s organized crime involved and that he’s willing to take the hit as long as his family is safe.”
“Take the hit? Like go to jail forever? No way.” Andie slapped the dashboard. Her temper flared red hot like her hair and she wasn’t about to let Cade be framed by someone—possibly someone close to him.
“Look, I’m just the messenger. Don’t shoot me.” Owen lifted his hands from the steering wheel.
“Sure, sure, hold onto that thing, will you?” Andie said. “I’ve been in a horrible wreck and I still get nightmares of the airbags punching me, and rolling and rolling off a cliff, not to mention a big black hole in my memory.”
“That sucks. Is anything coming back to you?” Owen quirked a sidelong glance.
She leaned the passenger seat back and closed her eyes. “Free association. Snow. Dogs. Cade. Library. Books. King David.
Chicken wings. Weights. I get random flashbacks, but nothing in sequence.”
“Too bad.”
“Yeah, too bad.” Except she wasn’t going to share the erotic dreams and the ones where Cade had her tied to a bed, blindfolded and soaking wet with need. Those could be either memories or fantasies. Who knew she was into such stuff?
“Maybe the police will solve this case and you won’t have to take any risks,” Owen spoke, more to himself than Andie. “Maybe the crooks will slip up and get caught or Cade’s mother will talk.”
“Does she even know Cade’s in jail because of her?” Andie couldn’t help kicking her feet. “Because it just burns me if she knows something and she’s letting him hang.”
“Well, if their motive was to keep her silent, then they’ve succeeded. She’d rather let Cade serve time than be dead.”
“True, except I’m not willing for him to rot away in jail for the rest of his life.”
“You’re a brave woman and a true friend.” Owen sighed. “What are you going to do the next two weeks before this goes down?”
“Figure out how to stay away from Cade so he suspects nothing.”
Chapter Five
Two days later, Andie brought in the mail while her mother cooked. She flipped through the envelopes and found the DNA reports for the paternity retest she ordered.
Her heart froze and she swallowed, suddenly nauseous. Declan or Cade? Should it even matter? She was already in love with Bret, and soon, she and her mother would leave, or appear to leave, in her case.
Cade was due to be released tomorrow since the judge ruled the police didn’t have enough evidence to indict him. Either way, she’d break his heart, at least temporarily. Besides, it was necessary so that the criminals would have no suspicion she was working on his behalf.
They needed to believe she was desperate for money, that she’d been a gold digger all along.
She took a deep breath, one so deep it ached her sides, and walked into the kitchen.
Intercepted by Love: Part Five: A Football Romance (The Quarterback's Heart Book 5) Page 3
