Loved by Darkness

by Autumn Jordon

  Jolene turned to Norris. “When will your people start showing Lia’s picture around?”

  “About an hour ago.” He winked.

  She laughed. “You are sly, Stiles.”

  Her enjoyment chipped away at the ice with which his ex had encased his heart. “You want to ride with me?”

  “Where to?”

  “I’m going to check out the rented beachfront properties.”

  She held up a painted nail. “Let me call Martina and make sure Lia is okay. I told her I’d only be an hour. I’ll meet you outside. I want to use the facilities first.”

  “I’ll wait here. It’s cooler.”

  “Right.” She smiled and rose.

  Jolene walked toward the ladies’ room and Norris took the opportunity to admire her backside. The view was grade A, as Pickett had mentioned yesterday. He had to admit he was glad she offered to stay and work the case. This case, and her presence, somehow had brought back to life parts of him that had been stomped to hell a year ago.

  He wanted to solve Lia’s case.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Jolene relaxed against the cushioned seat and appreciated the warm breeze flowing in through the open window. She couldn’t see the ocean. The view was blocked by homes and shrub-covered dunes, but she could smell its unique scent in the air. She did her best to ignore it though. The salty, fish-infused odor brought back memories from yesterday. She had to work past them if she was ever to enjoy the beach again.

  She drew in a deep breath, expanding her chest and then slowly exhaled. Norris was one interesting guy. She respected that he didn’t back down when Carter pressed to gain control of the case. Most backwoods lawmen she’d dealt with were more than happy to hand off a case to the Feds and go home to their dinners. Norris wasn’t them though. He intended to see this case through.

  Recalling the tension on the two men’s faces made her smile.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  She raised her eyes from his hands that gripped the steering wheel, to his smile. He had nice lips. “Not much.”

  “It made you laugh.”

  “Did I laugh?” With the wind whipping around them and the Jeep’s canvas flapping overhead, she hadn’t realized he could hear her chuckle.

  “You did. Tell me. I need a good laugh.”

  She pulled her sunglasses from on top of her head and placed them on her nose. She lied, not wanting to tell him the truth: “It was nothing. Something my sister told me about Lia.”

  “What was it?”

  Great. What the hell was she going to tell him? Her mind tripped over things Martina had said earlier in the day. “Nothing really. Lia and my niece were playing house and insisted they serve the afternoon snacks. She had to eat a cracker layered with peanut butter and a dill pickle slice.”

  Norris chuckled. “What a combo. Where did they come up with that?”

  She shrugged. “Who knows.”

  “You like her, don’t you? Lia I mean.”

  Jolene shrugged. “Sure. She’s sweet. I’m glad she is staying with us. She had such dreadful nightmares last night in the hospital. Today she acted as if nothing had happened to her, except the sunburn. It bothers her sometimes. She’s too busy playing with Clara to notice it most of the time.”

  “That’s good. Maybe this nightmare will be over for her soon.”

  Jolene studied his profile. “Are you hoping she is the Burgess girl?”

  He braked for a car turning into a driveway. “Sure.”

  With the road in front of him clear, he glanced her way again. “It would make for a happy ending and she would be back with her parents.”

  He pushed down on the accelerator.

  She spoke louder over the whipping canvas. “But you don’t think she is their child?”

  “No.” His lips turned down and he frowned. “I don’t. But I could be wrong.”

  She understood his feelings. Hope that the world would right itself had been her constant companion since childhood. It’s what had driven her to become a U.S. Marshal.

  Jolene turned and gazed through the passenger side window. Norris was a nice guy. She wondered why some woman hadn’t snagged him from bachelorhood and married him.

  You couldn’t have what couldn’t be gotten. Wasn’t that the old wives’ tale? So maybe it was something about him. Being a law enforcement officer was hard on marriages and families. It took two special people to make it through the years together, even without the stress of an angry world knocking on your door every single day.

  They rode in silence for the next few minutes. Then Jolene felt the Jeep slow down.

  He veered off the main road and made a right turn into a driveway. As he did, the muscles in Norris’ forearms flexed and the tattooed lynx came to life on his arm.

  He braked suddenly and she put her hands up in front of her so as not to hit the dashboard.

  Eight cars filled the half-moon driveway. The shrubbery alongside the driveway had kept them hidden until they turned in.

  “Looks as if there’s a party going on.”

  Norris inched his Jeep forward, careful not to tap the bumper of the Dodge Caravan parked in front of them. He maneuvered around it and drove alongside the line of cars. He stopped next to a cherry-red van sitting near the front door then shifted the Jeep into park.

  The moment the engine cut, cries for help became clear in the distance. Jolene grabbed her purse from the floorboard and pulled her gun and badge from inside. She glanced back as her sandaled foot touched the pebbled drive. Norris’ door was already closing behind him and he rounded the front of the vehicle.

  Only the sounds of crashing waves filled the air now.

  They stood side by side, muscles tense, listening.

  A blood-curdling scream cut the air.

  “What the hell?” Norris sprinted forward.

  She followed, backing him up. The snap of his holster sounded and she checked whether he’d drawn his gun. He hadn’t. She understood why he hadn’t. They were in a beach community which catered to families. Until Norris knew what they were facing he kept his weapon sheathed. Jolene followed suit and shoved hers into the waistband of her capris and looped her badge around her neck.

  Immediately her heart thumped against her ribs. It always did the moment she entered an unknown situation that had the potential to turn deadly within seconds. She scanned the windows of the house while they kept moving around to the side in the direction of the cries for help. She saw no movement.

  The house appeared deserted except there were eight vehicles in the driveway and someone was calling for help from the back of the two-story brick home. A picture-perfect cover for a meth lab, she thought. She wondered what was running through Norris’ mind.

  “That sounds like a child,” Jolene whispered, falling into step behind Norris. Cautiously they followed the narrow brick-lined path to the rear of the house. She especially hated the drug producers who used their kids as fronts. She’d witnessed scenes where labs had blown up and children had been badly burnt or found dead later. Her stomach knotted, praying this scenario wasn’t going to play out the same way.

  At the rear corner of the house an eight-foot planked fence had been constructed to keep out those seeking beach access. Heavy undergrowth lined the fencing to the south, making access more difficult. However, a small handle insert and a slightly wider space between the boards indicated there was a gate. Norris lifted the latch and the gate gave way.

  The sun was at their backs, so whoever was on other side would need to face into the sun.

  With his hand on the handle, Norris looked back over his shoulder at her, his look asking if she was prepared for what was on the other side.

  The child’s scream pierced her eardrum and caused her nerves to twist tighter in anticipation of a confrontation. Then through the wailing she heard a man order, “Do not move.”

  Jolene nodded to Norris that she was a go. With one hand resting on his back in case she needed to yan
k him back from an assault of bullets, she slid her other one over the butt of her gun and drew in a breath.

  Slowly, he cracked open the gate and peered inside.

  She felt his back muscles relax before he stood taller. With a nod, he indicated she should look.

  Jolene released her grip on her gun and peered around him.

  On the other side of an inground pool, a man stood next to a built-in grill with a click lighter in his hand. He was clean cut, shaven and wearing expensive beachwear with a Phillies baseball cap. A few feet away a little boy, about four years old, sat on a lounge chair with a towel wrapped around him. Tears glistened against his sunburned cheeks. He pulled his legs up under a plush beach towel and huddled further into it.

  “Your mother told you not to go down to the beach without us...” The man continued his lecture while he lit the gas grill. “You have no idea how powerful the ocean is. I don’t even know the extent of it and I’m ten times your age.” He waved his hand toward the ocean, the child and then himself. “And I don’t want to find out. You could’ve been seriously hurt. You need to listen to us. We love you and don’t want you to get hurt. Do you understand, Trevor?”

  The boy sniffled and nodded.

  “Good. Then go inside and get changed.”

  The boy didn’t need to be told twice. He scrambled off the chair and dashed toward the slider door. That’s when he saw Norris out of the corner of his eye—and slid to a halt. “Daddy. There is a man.” He pointed toward them and Jolene backed up.

  The man turned and jerked his free hand up to shield his eyes from the sun. Immediately his relaxed demeanor turned defensive. “Can I help you?”

  Norris tugged his badge off his belt while he opened the gate wide, exposing both of them. He raised his hands, displaying the insignia in his palm. “I’m Chief Stiles,” Norris said, identifying himself. “I’m sorry to interrupt your afternoon, but we stopped to gather some information and heard the boy scream. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah. Just the usual stunts,” the man responded, putting the clicker down.

  The boy seemed frozen in place. His head, up to his nose, disappeared into the towel much like a turtle retracts its head. His curious blue eyes remained wide above the white roll. He studied Norris, looked to his dad and then back to Norris.

  “May we come inside?” Norris took a small step forward, indicting he was going to anyway.

  “One second.” The man quickly crossed to his son, opened the sliding door and while ushering him inside, told Trevor to go get his uncles. Once the door closed again, he motioned for them to enter. “Information about what?” he asked.

  The sun’s rays were no longer directly in the man’s face and Jolene saw him blink a few times.

  Norris stepped inside the area far enough to leave her room to stand in the gateway. It was his way of letting the man know they were no threat, and to keep her safe if trouble showed up. Also, she could watch his back.

  He pointed to her before clipping his badge back on his belt. “This is U.S. Marshal Jolene Martinez.”

  The man’s gaze had been drifting down over her but at Norris’ introduction it snapped up to her face. “U.S. Marshal?”

  Jolene was used to people’s surprised expressions when they learned she was a Marshal. She lifted her badge from her chest and smiled. “Yes, sir.”

  “We have a few questions to ask, if you don’t mind?” Norris asked, stealing the man’s attention from her.

  “Sure.”

  The door slid open and four more men stepped outside onto the cement patio. They varied in height and weight, but one could tell by looking at them that they were related. They had the same deep-set dark concerned eyes and hairlines that cut back sharply on each side of their foreheads.

  The man quickly told his relatives the little he knew and they looked to Norris and Jolene.

  “What do you need to know?”

  It was quite amusing how each man then folded his arms across his chest. So much so, Jolene had to grind her teeth together to keep a smile from forming on her lips.

  “Are you Gary Webster?” Norris asked.

  The man blinked his surprise that Norris knew his name. His brothers passed a look between them and then at their brother. The expressions on their faces clearly asked the question, “What the fuck did you do, man?”

  “I am.” Gary’s tongue swiped his bottom lip. “How did you know my name? What’s this about?”

  “I got your name from the property owners.”

  Gary’s shoulders relaxed with that information.

  Norris pulled out his phone and began to tap away on it which seemed to make the man all the more nervous. “You’re renting this house, right?”

  Norris was putting Gary at ease asking him no-brainer questions.

  Gary looked between her and Norris. “Yes, for a week.”

  Even though her attire was less than professional Jolene kept her stance and expression all business. She knew the men facing the sun couldn’t see her eyes behind her sunglasses so she took in every detail of their appearance and the surroundings. One brother had come outside with a towel wrapping his waist. The other three wore nylon shorts and T-shirts that hosted various sports teams—unlike their brother Gary who clearly dressed on the higher end of style. If she had to guess, she’d say Gary was footing the bill for the house rental.

  Jolene relaxed a little, sensing this truly was a family vacation. On the outside however, she remained on guard.

  “How long have you been here?” Norris continued his questioning and tapping. She studied the man while the beep of Norris’ phone filled the brief periods of silence between them.

  “We arrived three days ago. Tuesday afternoon about two,” Gary stated. “The owners let me in early. My brothers and their families arrived later, around five.”

  Webster dropped his arms to his sides and took a step forward. “What’s this all about?”

  Norris looked up at him, ignoring his question. “How many children are here?”

  Jolene saw Webster swallow. The others dropped their arms to their sides and seemed to become fidgety. They darted looks at one another again.

  “Ten,” Gary Webster responded, stepping back to his brother’s side. “If this is about the house only holding eighteen, we didn’t think we needed to include Luke’s twins,” his voice took on a friendlier tone. “They’re only three months old. Luke and his wife, Alice, only decided to join us at the last minute.”

  The door opened again and five women exited the house. Each took a stance next to their mates. Questions filled their eyes.

  The brothers had very different tastes in women, Jolene noted. Gary’s wife, Alice, was tall and slim while the others carried more weight and were shorter than their spouses. Most of them were blond, except Alice. She had dark hair similar to her son Trevor’s.

  “Are all the children accounted for?” Jolene asked, studying Alice.

  Gary’s face tightened. “They are now. Trevor, my son. The one you heard me screaming at decided he wanted more play time on the beach and slipped out while my wife and I were showering.”

  Alice’s face brightened. “He is a handful.”

  “Again, Chief Stiles. What is this about?” Gary stuffed his hands on his hips.

  “We’ve found a missing child.” Norris swiped his finger across his phone’s screen.

  He produced a smiling picture of Lia which Jolene had taken after lunch and forwarded to him. It was a much better picture for him and his officers to show people than the one he had taken of Lia in the hospital.

  Norris crossed over and held the phone up for all to see. “Have any of you seen her before? Maybe on the beach?”

  They all shook their heads.

  “Was she kidnapped?” one of the women asked.

  “That we don’t know, Mrs.—”

  “Webster. We’re all Mrs. Webster.” The full-figured redhead giggled. “I’m Brandy.”

  Jolene’s spine stiffe
ned at the woman’s attempt to get Norris’ attention. Behind her sunglasses, Jolene narrowed her eyes. She had figured Brandy was a flirt even before she batted her eyelashes at Norris.

  He totally ignored her. For some reason that made Jolene feel better.

  Brandy’s Mr. Webster—the one wrapped in a towel—seemed not to care or had no clue his wife was coming on to the chief.

  “If you recall seeing her, please call the station,” Jolene said, drawing everyone’s attention toward her.

  Norris’ lips curled slightly.

  She pasted a big old friendly grin on hers.

  “We’ll let you get back to your vacation. Enjoy your stay in Cape James.” With a jut of his chin, Norris indicated she should lead the way. He stopped at the gate and then turned back to the group. “I’d try to secure this gate. It opened easily. You don’t want Trevor or one of his cousins to wander out front. Route 177 is busy this time of year.”

  “We’ll contact the owners right away and get it secured. Thank you.”

  Norris dipped his head again. “Thanks for your help.”

  They walked back to the Jeep in silence.

  “That was a total bust.” Norris climbed inside the vehicle.

  She shrugged. “Checking out leads is what we do.”

  “The other house isn’t too far north. We’ll check it too before we head back into town.”

  “Fine by me.” Jolene latched her seatbelt.

  Five minutes later, they pulled into the driveway of the second home. The house was a large two-story cedar-shingled Cape Cod with a front porch wide enough to host a party. It sat back further from the road, giving the renters more privacy from the traffic that whizzed by. One could tell by the home’s exterior and landscaping that this house was built using a very large construction budget. Chain linked fences, partially hidden by large scrub pines and fast-growing exotic grasses stretched out from the rear corners of the houses and along the sand dunes for a few hundred feet.

  There were no cars parked in the driveway and with the shades lowered halfway in the over-sized bay windows the house looked empty.

  “It doesn’t appear anyone is here. I’m going to check anyway.” Norris unlatched his seatbelt. “Wait here if you want.”