Chapter 2
Jonah let the back door to the office close and latch then leaned against it—every shallow breath sent a bolt of pain through his chest. The doctor hadn’t even cleared him to return to work full-time so, aside from the six o’clock phone call he’d received from a frantic homeowner, he still couldn’t figure out why he’d bothered to drag his ass out of bed. His father had already seen to everyone’s workload and Jonah knew that, despite the accusations that had been flying around when he was assigned the position, his investigators were perfectly capable of carrying out their jobs.
However, the responsible control freak reared its head, and since he couldn’t enjoy sleeping anyway, at least office drama would keep him occupied.
Even if it wouldn’t come close to taking his mind off the pain.
He saw Cole across the room, staring down at her phone, and nodded in her direction when she glanced up. She smiled back faintly, but there was something off about her. He hadn’t known her long, but now she seemed hollow and pale compared to the girl he’d met on his first day in the office. Kaylyn had been a handful from the very beginning—hot headed and stubborn—but Cole took the work seriously, she was always chipper and easy-going. When the sisters were together, they naturally played off each other’s opposing personalities. He wondered for a second why Kaylyn wasn’t with her, until he rounded the corner and saw her at the coffee table standing next to a wide-shouldered man with short black hair.
Kaylyn glanced in his direction and smiled—it was tight and wary, as if she didn’t know what to expect or say.
“Morning,” Jonah said, nodding to them both while he watched Cole out of the corner of his eye. “You’re early.”
“And you look half dead. Are you sure you’re good to be up and around?” Kaylyn’s voice was slightly higher with concern as she looked him over.
“It’s only a few fractured bones,” he said, and while true, that didn’t make the injury any less painful. “But I’m not cleared for full duty—four hours a day, max. I’ll only be here long enough to go through paperwork and make sure everyone’s on track.”
“Which could take all day,” Kaylyn said, quirking an eyebrow.
She was too right, but he didn’t want to consider the possibility. He looked over the vaguely familiar man next to her, but before he could place the face, Kaylyn spoke up.
“Leon Franklin, my old training partner.”
The man stepped forward and offered his hand. “I believe we met in passing, years ago.”
“Jonah,” he replied, with a handshake. “So, you managed to survive this one for three years?”
“And her sister for a year and a half. I see you barely made it a week—although,” he slid a sideways glance to Kaylyn, “I do have to commend you on whatever impression you made.”
Kaylyn’s eyes widened and she turned to the coffee pot to refill her cup, which was undoubtedly filled with more cream and sugar than coffee.
Leon jabbed her in the side. “I was alluding to the fact that you’re early and professionally dressed—after only a week in charge, that’s commendation worthy.”
Jonah held back a laugh, knowing the pain would nearly topple him over. “If only the council saw it all as an accomplishment. I directly went against them twice in my first week here; they’re not thrilled to say the least.”
Kaylyn spun back around. “But you also saved my ass, more than twice. They have to give you credit for that.”
“I’m sure that’s my only redemption. They’ve gone quiet so, with any luck, they’ll forget the whole thing.” Jonah leaned against the wall near the table, pressing his back into a straight line that took some of the pressure off the fractures. “Dad said you helped him organize the office files last week. You were supposed to be taking some time off as well.”
Kaylyn bit her lip then took a long drink of coffee before speaking. “I couldn’t sit at home for a week with all the unanswered questions. He put me to work every time I hit a dead end with research.”
None of that was surprising. Jonah had barely lasted a week, and even he had to admit to sneaking in some computer time to try to find some answers for the remaining mysteries. “Thank you for helping him,” Jonah said, forcing a smile despite his physical discomfort. “Did you manage to find the answers to any of those questions?”
“Not really,” she said slowly.
He also wondered if she’d opened the envelope of information that his father had brought her, but didn’t want to bring such a sensitive issue up in front of everyone.
When Kaylyn refused to meet his gaze again, he stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll keep investigating it when we can, but right now, we need to keep moving forward and not give the Council any reason to look twice. I think I have a new case for you and Cole to start on today. If you both are up to it.”
“Want us to run the office so you can heal?” She cocked an eyebrow to match her devilish smirk as she stared up at him with her dark brown eyes.
He glared back—surely, he didn’t have to respond to that.
Cole finally joined the group and leaned against the table next to her sister, slouching down and leaning against her older—and shorter—sister’s shoulder.
“I got a call this morning,” Jonah said, “regarding a local farmhouse where the family has been experiencing disturbances. They believe someone was attacked last night.”
Cole straightened. “Are there kids in the house?”
Jonah nodded. “Two. An eleven-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy. It was their uncle who was attacked; he moved in with the family since they’re trying to get the place fixed up before planting season. Are you both up to it?”
They answered in unison with a “yep” and a “yes.”
With that taken care of, Jonah turned to Leon again. “I don’t have anyone to pair you with at the moment, but since you’re used to working with the girls....”
“I’d be happy to help them out. I take it you don’t have any objections to my returning.”
It was actually a relief. “We could use your experience.” First, Jonah had some other business to attend to. He stepped back toward his office. “Kaylyn, can we talk for a moment?”
Cole smiled, it was the first positive emotion he’d seen her display since she walked in. “First day, Kay. And you’re already getting pulled into the principal’s office—seems familiar.”
Kaylyn playfully punched her sister in the arm, and Jonah shook his head. Sometimes they really were like corralling a bunch of high school students. “I really should have encouraged you all to be afraid of me.” He nodded toward the doorway, “Kay.”
She straightened, “Yes, boss.”
At least it was better than “Sir Ass,” he thought with a sigh.
Kaylyn closed the door behind her and took a seat while Jonah carefully sat down, trying not to jostle his ribs and quickly discovering that a spinning office chair was not suited to his current situation. He perused through the papers his father had left on his desk as he spoke. “You remember our agreement—your terms for coming back to work?”
She rubbed the back of her neck. “I have to be honest and tell you if there’s something you should be concerned with.”
Although Jonah wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, there was still a small part of him that doubted that she’d ask for help, even after everything they’d been through. She seemed as boxed up as she had when they’d first met. “Did you have a chance to explain everything to Cole?”
“Mostly,” Kaylyn fidgeted. “She hasn’t been taking it so well, mostly because of her fiancé’s family. Kinda hard to explain a random missing body, when there isn’t really any rational explanation to give.”
“You think she’s up for this? The last thing I need is—”
“She is,” Kaylyn interrupted. “We’ll do everything by the book, and keep you up to date.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
She half-s
miled, sinking back in the chair as if she was waiting for the conversation to take a turn for the worst. They hadn’t gotten off to a good start as far as work relationships go, but he was hoping that enough had changed that she’d at least be comfortable talking with him. He never expected her to become an easy-going people person—the distance and nervous twitches were something so deeply inherent in her that he couldn’t quite pinpoint their origin. He’d begun to notice them, even when she was around Cole or her former partner—both people she knew and trusted, yet she didn’t seem able to drop down that last bit of guard around them.
Not wanting to draw things out longer than necessary, he jumped right to the point. “What can you tell me about Leon?”
She frowned and narrowed her eyes, but didn’t speak.
Apparently even candid, open questions were still going to be a problem. “You’ve worked with him, I haven’t, and we both know how unhelpful personnel files are around here. I want to know what he’s like.”
“You’re not planning on turning me into your mole are you?”
Jonah tilted his head and pressed his lips together—they still had major trust issues to work out. “Is there something I need to know?”
“No,” she said, her tone clipped.
“I’m not trying to get dirt, Kaylyn.” Attempting a steadying breath only made his chest hurt more. He dug his fingers into the arm of the chair. “I get that there are things you don’t want to dredge up, I know Cole’s training partner transferred out of here because you two had been in a relationship. And I don’t really want to know the details of why Leon left and got a divorce—”
Kaylyn’s mouth dropped open, her eyebrows twisted into a pained scowl. “That had nothing to do with me. Or Cole,” she added. “Leon has been more like family to us.”
That implication wasn’t exactly what he’d been trying to convey. Jonah shrugged one shoulder, trying his best to stay composed. “All I want to know about are his strengths as an investigator.”
Kaylyn’s face relaxed into a calmer expression, but the tension still coursed through the rest of her body. “He’s great—works well with people, good intuition. He’s patient, and a good teacher—though I probably could have been a better listener.”
“That’s all I wanted to know,” Jonah relaxed back in his chair as much as she dared and watched Kaylyn do the same—even though she didn’t stop gnawing on her bottom lip. He told himself to mind his own business, not to get caught up in it all, and keep his mouth shut. “You really think I’d ask you to be a mole?”
Her eyes dropped to the floor, and Jonah cursed silently. He’d already gotten inadvertently caught up in her life because he refused to let her back away—he’d forced her to tell him about her blackouts and dreams—the haunting images she hadn’t shared with anyone else. If he hadn’t, he was sure she’d be dead. But now, he didn’t know how much farther to push her.
“I don’t know why I jumped to that conclusion. I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Defense mechanism, I’d guess.” Jonah cocked his head, watching the silent girl. He had hoped they’d gotten past all of this nonsense. “It’s a new start, Kay,” he whispered, “All I need to know is that you can do your job, and I fully believe that you can.”
Keeping her head lowered, she took a deep breath then straightened with a nod.
“Can you send in Leon? I’ll get the information for the case into the database, so you should be able to access the file via the network.”
“Sure,” Kaylyn straightened her clothes as she stood and reached for the doorknob.
“How’s the new house?” Jonah asked before she could open the door.
She paused for a moment. “It’s fine. All protected with your family’s secret juju and everything. No more crazy spirits breaking in and burning down my kitchen.” She stared at the floor for a moment longer. Already the secrets had begun.
“And?” Jonah asked, hoping he was misjudging her avoidance.
She met his eyes. “I’m still getting used to it. I’ve always hated sleeping in new places.” With a shrug, she opened the door, “I should get to work.”
After she disappeared, Jonah rubbed his hand over his face and shook his head.
A few minutes later, Leon rapped on the doorframe, waiting for a nod of acknowledgment before entering and closing the door.
“I’m not in the mood to drag this out so, how do you feel about taking the lead here this week?”
Leon smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. “You barely know me.”
“Kaylyn assures me that you’re a good investigator and a good teacher. Right now, that’s good enough for me.”
“Her word must hold a lot of clout with you,” he snorted. “Especially after she put you through the ringer last week.” His expression softened, and he took a seat in the chair, leaning back and crossing his ankles. “She’s a good kid. Stubborn, prone to trouble, and very good at hiding her soft heart.”
Drumming his fingers against the desk, Jonah stared back at Leon. “I get the feeling there’s a warning in there somewhere.”
The man shrugged. “Just my observation. In three years, I barely managed to get her out of jeans and T-shirts for formal occasions. I don’t know what happened since you came here, but she’s changed. You got to her.”
“That wasn’t entirely my doing,” he stumbled on the words. It was his doing, but he knew the sudden change probably had more to do with the fact that Kaylyn felt like she owed him. “She needed help, and I stepped up.”
“I respect that, and I’ll do whatever you need, boss,” Leon said, clearly imitating Kaylyn.
Jonah groaned. Either the pain was making him cranky or he’d picked up a new difficult employee. “Thank you. And in the future, if you want to tell me something, come out and say it.”
Leon relaxed, stretching out in the chair. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, and I hope you’ll be a good influence on her. I just....” He pressed his lips together and didn’t continue.
“She’s a tough girl”—Jonah filled in what he assumed Leon was thinking—“and more vulnerable than she cares to admit. I’m not blind, nor do I have any intention of taking advantage of her trust or respect.” That is if I do truly have either. Leon seemed more confident in that than Johan felt at the moment.
“Then, we should work well together,” Leon lowered his voice. “Considering her reputation, not many people feel that way.”
And my own reputation, Jonah thought, his throat tightening as he tried to swallow. He wasn’t sure why the news of his transfer hadn’t spread like wildfire, but he had a feeling the very person who had arranged the transfer was also doing a lot of whitewashing to cover it up. And for that, Jonah wasn’t going to complain.
Leon stood, but kept his eyes on Jonah. “No offense, but you really do look like death.”
“And I feel it,” he muttered, feeling a jolt through his entire body as he inhaled. The last of the pain medicine was clearing from his system. “The girls’ case will be a priority this week. You should find anything else you need on the network and I’ll be available by phone if you need anything.”
“You’ll be passed out on pain killers.”
Jonah closed his eyes, imagining for a moment what it’d be like to sleep without pain. “I haven’t been ‘out’ in a long time. Sleeping with broken ribs is hell.”
“Don’t I know it? Mine were before Kaylyn’s time though. I’ll go through your notes and keep everyone on track. Get some rest.”
Taking orders from an employee.... Jonah didn’t have the energy to argue and with Leon in charge, at least that was one worry off Jonah’s plate.
Now he just had to wonder what Kaylyn was trying to hide.
Chapter 3
“Looks like we’re investigating a farmhouse out on Hellwig Road,” Kaylyn’s foot squeaked against the chair as she adjusted in her seat. The file notes from Jonah’s early-morning intake interview covered the screen, while Col
e fiddled with a pen on the other side of the table.
“Appropriate for a haunting,” the younger sister replied dryly.
Kaylyn lifted a brow—usually, she was the distant smart ass, but lately Cole was giving her competition in that area. Given recent circumstances, Kaylyn understood the change even though she didn’t have the slightest idea how to deal with it, or whether or not she was supposed to. Every time she tried to talk to Cole, they were interrupted by some new distraction—usually Cole’s fiancé or his family. Hoping that the mood would eventually pass on its own, Kaylyn chose to concentrate on the case and continued reading. “They moved in a month ago but only noticed little things. Over the weekend, things escalated and the owner’s brother was attacked in the attic. All activity seems to be worst in the attic and basement.”
“Attacked?” Cole asked, dropping the pen on its end. It bounced across the table and landed on the floor in front of the doorway, where two large black boots stopped. Leon’s wide shoulders nearly filled the door frame, which creaked as he leaned against it.
“You with us, Lee?” Cole asked with a faint smile.
“I am.” He nudged the pen with the tip of his boot, rolling it across the floor back to Cole, “It also looks like I’m acting commander until Jonah feels better,” he eyed Kaylyn, and she dropped her eyes to the computer. “What’s your plan?”
“Interview the family,” Kaylyn replied. “Get a good sweep of the house then reassess where to go from there.”
Cole nodded in agreement. “We’ll have to assemble a full history on the house so we’ll have more information to work from.”
“Cassidy and Gina are finishing up paperwork on their last case,” Leon said. “They can pull records while we’re talking to the family. We need to make sure they aren’t in danger, so this is our top priority for now.”
Cole started to speak, but her vibrating phone captured her attention—an all too often occurrence lately. She tapped it a few times then tucked it away. “If it’s okay with you two, I’ll meet you at the house. I have something to take care of. It won’t take long, promise.”
Beyond the Divide (Fractured Legacy Book 2) Page 2
