Josie complied and opening the wallet pulled out an old tattered envelope enclosed in a plastic zip-locked bag. The writing on the envelope was smudged and faded. She opened it and pulled out a letter creased from folds, holes worn through in the corner folds."
"That letter caught up with me five months into my first deployment in a war zone," Jack said. "I've carried it for the last seventeen years as a good-luck talisman, along with this." He picked the chain up from his chest and showed it to her. It was his military identification tags along with the St. Christopher medal she had included in the letter.
"All those years," Josie whispered. "Why?"
"Because you cared, and there wasn't another soul in the world that did," Jack said truthfully. "You reached out to me when my father died. I was in Kuwait, and Iraq, although that was not public knowledge at the time. The Navy informed me of his death, but we were in the middle of a critical mission and they couldn't extract me from the team. I still don't know what decision I would have made, had that not been taken away from me. I was still very angry in those days. It took the letter a while to reach me and, when it did, I was in the hospital. The good luck charm was too late for that incident, but you were so sweet in that letter, so naive in your writing. You wrote that you were proud of me. I was a long way from home, even if it was a home I didn't want to return to, and I needed a connection. Your letter was sweet and honest. Kuwait was anything but that. It seemed fitting that it was you. As weak as the connection was between us, I needed to keep it close. It mattered."
"Why didn't you write or come home?" Josie demanded.
"I thought it was better to let you get on with your life," Jack admitted. "You did. I did. Everything works out in its own way in its own time. I'm back, Josie, and I'm staying. I'm not dealing with a child or adolescent girl anymore. I'm dealing with a grown woman. Back then, those eight years between us was a wide chasm, now they don't mean anything and they don't put up a barrier between us. I want you, Josie."
"You have me," Josie admitted.
"No, I mean it. I want you permanently and physically in my life. I don't take relationships lightly. I want you as mine. I want all of you. I am a dominant man who believes in domestic discipline, but I'm not a chauvinist. I respect women and I'm very proud of your accomplishments. That said; I still can't shake the idea that it's my responsibility to take care of you. I can't show you a truer respect than wanting and needing to protect you, care for you, and love you. Whatever you need from me, Josie, it's my job to provide it."
Josie captured Jack's lips in a sensuously simmering kiss, savoring him. She took pleasure in titillating his senses. She withdrew at last and felt his erection, hard and ready, seeking her. She pulled herself up and straddled him, taking him slowly into her body, torturing him and enjoying being in control.
"Josie?" Jack gasped.
"You can have me, Jack. If you need to claim me as your woman, I'm yours. I need to claim you as my man too, and I need one other thing."
"What," Jack demanded.
"Time," she whispered.
Groggy from lack of sleep, Josie slapped at her cell phone until she realized it wasn't her cell phone ringing, but the house phone. The house phone, which of course, was not in its docking station as none of the house phones ever seemed to be! She rolled out of bed, following the sound until she found a receiver under a stack of books beside the window seat.
Jack got up and went to the bathroom, catching her attention as he was gloriously naked and had a butt truly worthy of admiration. She finished her call and wished she hadn't taken it. She walked into the bathroom and stood outside the shower.
"Jack!"
"Join me." Jack reached for her, but she stepped back, looking serious. "What?" he demanded.
"Finish up and get dressed," Josie said in a serious voice. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
Jack knew something was wrong when he entered the bedroom, and Josie came in from another direction still damp from the shower, toweling off and getting dressed in her uniform. She had gone to another bathroom instead of joining him in the shower.
"What's wrong?" he demanded.
Josie looked up. "That was Sheriff Malone. The crew that Fire Chief Miller left at the fire were raking through the debris early this morning looking for hot spots that might reignite. They found a body."
"A what," Jack exclaimed. "Who?"
Josie looked distressed. "They don't know. Right now, they can't even tell if it's male or female. The state police investigators, fire inspectors and arson investigators—it's all under county and state jurisdiction now. They're on their way. It's your house, Jack, so you're going to be the first-line suspect."
"Why me?"
"I know you didn't have anything to do with it," Josie explained. "I'm merely warning you. An investigator's initial suspect is the easiest target because more than forty percent of the time that is the guilty party. It's your house. They'll target you first."
"Christ, Josie, I've only been back for a few days and most of that time I've spent with you!"
"I know, and I'll tell them," Josie said, "but you're going to have to go down to the sheriff's office. We'll wait there together. In a couple of hours, all hell is going to break loose."
Josie, Jack and Jimmy Richards sat in the sheriff's office for hours. The first investigator to come in was Rich Webber from the Kiowa County Homicide division. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations sent their homicide detectives, Gene Tooney and Louisa Gains.
Since Josie, Jack, Jimmy and his crew were the only people known to be on the site, the investigators questioned them each separately and extensively. Up next were the fire and arson investigators, Wayne Allen and Leon Bridger. Both of them asked questions similar to those from homicide, and they received similar answers.
Everyone repeatedly went over Jack's whereabouts for the last several months until he'd had enough. He demanded to see all five investigators together and he let them have it.
"Mr. Rawlings, this is highly irregular," Gene Tooney began, but Jack cut him off.
"I don't give a damn," Jack exploded. "You're getting pissy because I won't answer your specific questions. For the last time, this is my explanation. Until eight days ago, I was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy. I came home on medical leave three and half months ago and stayed in Rawlings exactly twenty-two days until I was called away because of my grandfather's, Amos Rawlings, death. Two days after that, I was under military orders and on assignment for the next two months. I have already informed you of all the the details I am permitted to divulge. Anything beyond that will have to come directly from the Navy."
"Those orders—" Louisa Gains interrupted.
"Are orders I cannot discuss," Jack barked out in his I'm in charge voice. "I cannot discuss orders or missions since they are classified information. I am bound by my oaths to the U.S. Navy and to my clearances. My oaths to those clearances are for life. They do not expire simply because I am no longer actively in the service. I cannot and will not violate those oaths. I am not allowed to discuss any missions during my time as a member of the SEALS unless those orders have been declassified. To my knowledge, none of those orders have been declassified. If you have a problem with that, you need to take it up with Commander Clinton Doubleday or Rear Admiral Douglas Wasserman. I will be glad to supply their phone numbers. Am I clear?"
"Very clear," Louisa Gains replied. "I believe, Ms. Raintree, as a former member of the CIA, you are also under those restrictions?"
"I am," Josie answered. "It's standard policy. We're not trying to hide anything, but certain areas of our former professions are off limits. I'm fairly sure you won't get past an acknowledgement of employment and the time frame of that employment. I have been separated from the CIA for eighteen months and have lived in Rawlings for fifteen of those months consecutively."
"Mr. Richards, are there any restrictions to investigating your past?"
"No, ma'am," Jimmy declared. "I've liv
ed here all my life and haven't strayed far. The most I ever traveled was to take my kids to Disneyland in California, and I've never been in the service of any kind."
"Mr. Rawlings, I apologize if you felt we singled you out unfairly, but your sketchy answers are a concern in our investigations. I will contact your superiors. I'll be in contact with Sheriff Malone after the medical examiner has finished," Gene Tooney explained.
"We'll be here," Jack replied, as he shook hands with all of the Investigators before leaving the room.
The arson investigator, Leon Bridger, followed him. "Mr. Rawlings, I need to know the name of your insurance carrier."
"Truthfully, I have no idea," Jack admitted. "I was overseas when my father died and since we were estranged, I let Mr. Gilders, my father's attorney, handle everything. He sent tax statements each year and copies of the property leases. Frankly, I didn't pay much attention until it was time to file my taxes each year. Even then, I turned my paperwork over to a taxman, signed on the dotted line and went about my business. If it didn't require money out of my pocket, I was okay with how Mr. Gilders handled the property business. We would have to ask him about the insurance."
Jack left with Mr. Bridger to walk across the street to Mr. Gilders' office. "Did you find evidence of accelerants in the house?"
"Yes, but that information won't be official until the labs complete their analysis," Mr. Bridger said. "I'm not making any accusations, Mr. Rawlings, and there's not a lot of evidence to gather. I am here to investigate the possibility of arson or insurance fraud. The fire was arson, but nothing fits a pattern, so far, for insurance fraud. You and Ms. Raintree spent weeks stripping anything of value from the house and moved it offsite. If you wanted to burn the place down for the insurance money, you would not have been so open about your actions. You'd already made arrangements for demolition. According to Mr. Richards, the house was boarded up until recently. Both you and Ms. Raintree were diligent about boarding the place up according to county regulations when you were through with it. That doesn't follow the pattern of someone wanting to rip off the insurance company."
"Can an insurance claim be made on a condemned and collapsing house?" Jack asked and later dismissed the question as Mr. Gilders explained that the only insurance policy covered the one barn that was still intact. The other barns and outbuildings were also collapsing, and Jack had not authorized repairs on them.
"That takes it off the table," Mr. Bridger said as he shook Jack's hand. "The three of you said someone was repeatedly removing the plywood coverings. That someone might have been using the place as a flophouse or for some other purpose. Are you sure you never saw any drug paraphernalia? The house could have been used as a meeting place to sell."
"This is Rawlings, Mr. Bridger. We're off the beaten track and not close to a major highway. I've only come back to the area recently, but nothing changes much around here. People would notice strangers. They would certainly pay attention to a stranger wandering around looking homeless, drunk or drugged. In this town, they'd drag them to church to save their souls, get them in the AA program, or find them a safe place to live. On the other hand, you can be an alcoholic or a son of a bitch, but as long as you don't bother anyone or cause trouble people leave you to your business."
Mr. Bridger nodded his head in agreement. "I live in a small town, so I know the ground rules, but an empty house is an open door to crime everywhere. In this economy, more and more people think they have the right to move into an abandoned property and live free for a while. Drug bosses have scouts out looking for properties abandoned or hung up in foreclosure to be used as labs or plant farms. I'll finish up my reports as soon as the lab results come in, and you'll receive a copy as the property owner."
Jack returned to the sheriff's office, but Josie had already gone to pick up Alex from his sleepover-camping trip. He headed over to her house to find a boy full of questions and excitement about the discovery of a body.
"Alex!" Josie exclaimed after his third inappropriate inquiry.
"What?" the boy demanded. "This is news! It's the most exciting thing that's ever happened in this one-horse town!"
"It's not exciting that someone died," Josie scolded. "Some poor person died a horrible death. That's not exciting. Please show some respect and compassion."
"Oh," the boy said, unrepentant and a bit discouraged he was not going to get any details. "Have you contacted the baseball camp, yet?"
"I have," Josie said. "If you go clean up your room, I might tell you the results."
"That's blackmail!" Alex complained.
She grinned. "Fine, you live in a dirty room and I'll keep my results to myself."
Alex glowered at her, but trudged off to his room.
"Good play," Jack said admiringly. "Are you going to let him go?"
"I use what I can," Josie admitted. "Yes, I have one more source to call before I completely make up my mind, but it's looking good. Everyone says the camp is outstanding."
"Do you have to go back to work today?" Jack asked.
"No," Josie said. "Oh, I forgot!" She dialed Charles Malone.
"In all the excitement, I forgot to ask," Josie exclaimed into the phone. "Did you find Aiden? Oh, good, no, I'm only checking out of habit. It's your baby now. If you need me, call," She disconnected the call.
"Aiden is okay. He says he has the flu, but didn't bother to call in," Josie reported. "If I'd done that, he'd have jumped all over me. I'm going to change out of this uniform for good!"
Jack captured Josie as she walked past him and lifted her up to set her on the kitchen counter.
"Ouch!" Josie exclaimed.
"Problem?"
Josie squinted at him. "Yes, I've been standing all day for a reason." She looked around to make sure Alex was not lurking around, but still lowered her voice. "I'm sore, Jack!"
"Good, maybe you'll learn a lesson. It could have been you out at that house, you know. The arson investigator said that the house was probably being used as a flophouse or a crime site."
"We don't know that," Josie denied.
"Has anyone else been reported missing," Jack demanded, "besides your idiot mayor?"
"Hey, he's not my personal idiot mayor," Josie complained. "I didn't live here when he was voted into office! You live here now, so that makes him your mayor, too."
"I'm not taking the blame for him either, and don't change the subject. Has anyone else come up missing?"
"No," Josie admitted. "So the investigator is probably right."
"Yeah and so was I," Jack agreed. "It was dangerous for you to be out there by yourself for multiple reasons. What do I have to do to be able to stay the night?"
"I don't know," Josie said seriously. "I'm going to have to talk to Mrs. Tarry, but we can't carry on an intimate relationship in front of Alex. Children Services won't allow it. We're going to have to be very discrete."
"What if we're engaged?" Jack asked. "Or we could skip over that part and get married."
"Wow! You're moving a little fast," Josie back peddled.
"I've been waiting twenty years, Josie. I'm all in, and I'm not sneaking around playing hide the salami."
"Oh, that's so gross! If that's a proposal, it's a frickin' lousy one, so you'd better try harder," Josie complained hotly.
Jack grinned. "It's not a proposal, yet. When it is a proposal, there won't be any doubt in your mind. Call Mrs. Tarry. If I know the government, there are probably regulations in place for this kind of thing."
"There are lots of rules and regulations," Josie admitted. "To be a foster parent, you can be single, divorced or married, there's not much middle ground beyond that. You cannot openly live here as long as Alex is in the house. You would also have to submit to several investigations and background checks, fingerprinting—the works. I know that's not a big deal with your background, but it's still a pain in the butt and a lot of paperwork. In addition, you would have to go through foster-parent training. Even if we got married, Jack, you'd sti
ll have to be investigated and go through the training, and I'd lose Alex while you were going through the process. It might be easier to wait and see if the termination of parental rights goes through. If it does I can file to adopt Alex. Once I adopt him, the state and county are out of the process. Is that something you want to be part of?"
"I'll go along with whatever you want, Josie," Jack agreed. "Don't lose sight of my goal. I want you, permanently. I figure Alex comes as part of the package and besides, I like the scruffy little gnome."
Josie smiled and kissed him. "This is why I asked for time. We're in the middle of a battle between county services and a boy's rights versus his mother's rights. It could get ugly in court if Marcy Carter carries through with her threats. Her ambulance-chasing attorney is playing her as the poor victim and me as a rich bitch trying to steal her son. Never mind that Marcy put that son through hell for eleven years."
"Won't that all come out in court?" Jack asked.
"Absolutely. Although, I'm hoping Marcy will back down and put her son first for once in her life. Alex's child-advocate attorney has a great reputation. Only a dozen or so cases like this one have gone through Oklahoma courts where the child has asked for the termination of parental rights. She has an impressive record of court wins. I haven't told Alex yet, but his mother has also skipped out again. She has been released from the Retention Center in Centreville, but she hasn't shown up for her court-ordered AA meetings or her meetings with her parole officer. She's left the halfway house where she was placed, and is now under an arrest warrant.
"Mrs. Tarry said if his mother can't be located, she would co-sign with me for the authorization for Alex to go to camp. As his foster parent, I have the right to make those decisions on a day-to-day basis but for five weeks, it's skirting on the edge of the law, so she'll add her weight by co-signing. Personally, I think a five-week camp would be the best thing for him right now."
Full Circle Page 11
