Lucky Like Us

by Jennifer Ryan

  “Shit.”

  “That pretty much sums it up. It’s exactly how I feel. I had to tell her parents.”

  Sam knew how Tyler felt. No one wanted to tell a parent their child is dead. “What happened? Was it the prom king?”

  “No. Believe it or not, his father. She told the boyfriend—well, ex-boyfriend—she was pregnant, so he would get back together with her. The father came home and found her crying in the driveway, his son long gone. She told the father she thought she was pregnant, and she needed to get Chris, the boyfriend, back. A teen father himself, the father decided he didn’t want his son’s life ruined by having a child so young. He wanted to see his son go to college and make something of himself. Anyway, he hit her in the head with a hammer. Then he took her to his workshop where he strangled her, wrapped her in plastic, and stuffed her into a wood chest and left her in the basement. When we finally got the guy to talk, he said she’d sworn she’d lied about being pregnant. She said she was only trying to get Chris to take her back. He didn’t believe her.

  “The coroner will determine if she was pregnant or not. I think she told the truth when she said she lied about the pregnancy. She desperately wanted to hold on to Chris. She was a kid in love for the first time with a boy who was only looking for the next conquest. The father could have sent her home to her parents and found out later she wasn’t pregnant. His own past clouded his reasoning. He killed her believing she was pregnant with his grandchild.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Sam slurred sadly. “Maybe you should come over for a few shots. You’ve had a hell of a night. The young ones are the hardest. It’s such a waste to lose them when they have their whole lives ahead of them. That’s how I feel about Elizabeth. She should be home baking cookies, getting married, and making beautiful babies.”

  “That’s a little sexist, don’t you think?”

  “Why? She owns a bakery. She should be baking up pastries and pies. She’s beautiful. I don’t know why she isn’t married already. She loves kids. She bakes cookies every Thursday for the children’s hospital. She should be baking for her own kids. She’s going to be a great mother.”

  “Why don’t you marry her if you think she’s so great?”

  “Funny. Actually, I told Dickweed I’m marrying her.”

  “You should. Who is Dickweed?”

  “The stalker guy, Jarred. I forgot to ask her father if he got the restraining order restored.”

  “Let’s hope so. He’s trouble.”

  “Yeah. So how did your psychic do on the case? How did the father turn out to be the King of Hearts? And was the Rose Princess under the grand oak?”

  “You’ll love this. Morgan’s unbelievable. You know Dianne was the Rose Princess, because of her name and how it relates to Princess Diana of Wales, aka ‘England’s Rose.’ That and the pendant she wore in the picture pretty much makes her the Rose Princess. The King of Hearts reference is for a tattoo the father has of a heart with a crown.”

  “No shit.”

  “No shit. Not only that, he had vanity plates on his red Mustang that said KNGHRTS.”

  “No way. Your psychic chick is creeping me out.”

  “That’s not all, don’t forget the grand oak. The father owns a furniture business. It’s called The Oak Warehouse. It’s huge, as in grand.”

  “That’s just weird.”

  “There’s more. We found Dianne in a wood chest, a large oak tree carved on the lid surrounded with a wreath of roses. Very detailed, beautiful. Literally, she was beneath a grand oak. When I saw the chest with the carved roses and tree, I almost lost my mind. I couldn’t believe how much Morgan had gotten right. I can’t even call to thank her. If it hadn’t been for her message, I would never have solved this case. Her message was the catalyst for figuring everything out and knowing where to find Dianne.”

  “Too bad we can’t call and ask her about a few of our other cases. She’d be handy to have on speed dial.”

  “Nothing would please me more than to know where she is, and how to get in touch with her. I never got a chance to thank her for saving my sister’s life. For some unknown reason, she won’t speak to me directly. This is the sixth time she’s helped me. I don’t know why she chose me, or how she knows about my cases, but I’m grateful to her.”

  “We could certainly use her help with the Silver Fox. I want to kill the bastard for what he did to Elizabeth.”

  “He’s hiding in plain sight. I don’t know what that means exactly. It’s not as obvious as the message on Dianne’s case. What about the double threat to Elizabeth? Does the first attack and now the second mean there’s no more threat to her, or does it mean two people are the threats? I think in this case our best bet is with Elizabeth herself. She’s given us the most information. I hope she can help us more when she wakes up.”

  “If she wakes up. You didn’t see her. She’s worse. I wanted to die. Listening to the machine breathe for her was torture. That slow hissing sound along with the slow beep of her heart monitor were more than I could take. With each breath the machine gave to her, I was reminded I wasn’t there to protect her. I promised her I would.”

  “You know she meant when she went home. We thought she’d be okay with security at the hospital.”

  Sam poured another shot and downed it while he stared out the window. He couldn’t see the hospital where Elizabeth was being kept alive by a machine, but it was out there. “Yeah, well, we were wrong. I don’t want to be wrong again.”

  “Neither do I. Hey, maybe Morgan will call with another cryptic message. Stranger things have happened.”

  “She’s strange. I wouldn’t mind hearing from her though. At this point, I’ll take anything I can get to help Elizabeth and catch this bastard. He’s already killed eight people we know of for the insurance claims. Who knows how many we don’t know about?”

  “We’ll get him. Are you going to see Elizabeth tomorrow?”

  “I don’t know.” He couldn’t tell Tyler it was too hard to see her like that, the weight of everything crushing down on his chest. “I’m supposed to have dinner with her family. Can you believe they want me anywhere near her? Well, her brother, Daniel, will probably give in to his urge to punch me after what happened.”

  “You better sleep it off, so you’ll at least stay on your feet if he does. It’s embarrassing to see an FBI agent hit the deck.”

  Sam couldn’t help it if the corner of his mouth lifted. “Funny. He won’t get a chance to take a shot at me, because I’m not going just so I can sit there watching her. She’s invaded my every thought already,” he admitted.

  “Go. Maybe she’ll wake up for you. When she heard your voice on the phone when we were there with Vernet, her whole body relaxed and her eyes softened. You two have something. Go see her. Talk to her. She needs you. It couldn’t hurt. Go to sleep. I’m home now. I need to crash and forget this day ever happened.”

  “You solved the case. Her parents will be thankful they know what happened to her. You gave them that much at least.”

  “I hate cases like this one.”

  “We all do. Have a beer and get some sleep,” Sam slurred.

  “You skip the beer. Go straight to bed.”

  Tyler said goodbye and landed on his back on the couch. He hadn’t even bothered to turn the lights on in his apartment. Propping the pillow behind his head, he put his arm over his eyes and tried to block out the day. He thought about his ghost, Morgan, and wondered where she was and what she was doing. He needed to talk to her.

  The ringing of his phone startled him. He grabbed it off the coffee table and hoped it wasn’t the office calling to tell him to go out on a new case.

  “Reed.”

  “You should really try to get some sleep,” came a woman’s silky, low voice over the line.

  Tyler shivered. A man could be talked into doing anything by that sultry voice.

  “Who is this?”

  “The Rose Princess wants to thank you for finding her
. She left you a gift on your pillow in your room.”

  “Morgan? How did you know I found her?”

  “She can rest in peace now that you’ve given her back to her family. I knew you’d help her.”

  “How did you know?” A million questions ran through his mind.

  “I have a gift for knowing things. Don’t be sad. You did a good thing, something many people wouldn’t be able to do. You should be proud. Anyway, she said thank you. After the day you’ve had, I thought you should know. Get some sleep, Tyler.”

  “Wait! I want to talk to you.”

  “You’ll only ask questions I won’t answer. Some of your questions don’t have answers. Others have answers you won’t like. I called you tonight because I knew you were down and thinking about me. Stop thinking I’m creeping you out. You and the blonde agent are peas in a pod.”

  “Can you help me with the case I’m working on with him? The woman was attacked again. I’ve narrowed down the suspects, but I need something more than he’s hiding in plain sight.”

  “That’s all I have for you right now. She’ll be all right. She needs that blonde agent, but he needs her more. She’ll give him what he’s always wanted. He’ll be the man she never thought she’d have.”

  “He’s crazy about her. It’s become quite obvious to everyone but him. She responds to him. He’s lucky.”

  “I’m sorry you’re lonely tonight. Things will get better for you.”

  “Are you watching me?”

  “Not in the way you think. I’m not stalking you. Let’s just say my gift allows me to feel you. I can’t actually see you, but I know things about you.”

  “So instead of a ghost, you’re my guardian angel, watching over me. Like you always know where I am, and how to contact me. How come you don’t call me direct? You always leave a message. Half the time I think you’re a figment of my imagination.”

  He couldn’t hold back his frustration. She came into his life whenever she pleased, and she wouldn’t tell him anything about herself.

  “Wow. You really need to get some sleep. Listen, I’ll help you when I can. If you don’t want my help or for me to call you anymore, then say so. I leave you messages because it keeps things simple.” Morgan couldn’t tell him how connected she was to him, or why. From the moment she’d touched him in that restaurant years ago, he’d become a part of her. How could she tell him, or explain it to him, when she didn’t understand it herself?

  “I’m sorry, Morgan. I do want your help. I was thinking about you tonight because I wanted to thank you for helping me. Not just with the Rose Princess, but also with my sister and all the other cases you’ve helped me solve. You’re amazing at giving me clues. You don’t have to leave me messages. You can call me. I’ll try not to ask you too many questions.”

  “Like I said, the messages are for a reason. My reasons. Your sister will have a good life. She’ll be happy. She made a mistake and took a turn down a path she wasn’t destined to go. You can stop worrying about her.”

  “She’s my sister. I’ll never stop worrying about her. But hearing you say she’ll be happy makes a difference. And what about my path? Will it ever cross yours again?”

  He hoped he’d get to see her again. Soon.

  “Our paths are destined to cross, Tyler, like they did in the restaurant. I’m not what you think I am. Get some rest.”

  She hung up before he said anything more. Yes, their paths would cross, but Morgan knew that crossing would be dangerous and tumultuous at best. At worst, it could cost her her life. He would ask her to face a past she had desperately run away from and was still running from today. She didn’t know if she could take that path with him.

  Tyler stared at his phone, disbelieving she’d hung up on him. She didn’t give him any answers and left him feeling more alone. He rose from the couch and stood in his bedroom doorway, staring at the bed. He’d forgotten about the gift left by Dianne until he saw the snow-white rose on his pillow. Stripped of his clothes, he picked up the flower and sprawled on his back on the bed. He held the rose on his chest over his heart. The sweet, heady smell drifted up to his nose, and he inhaled deeply. Eyes closed, sleep creeping in, Morgan whispered in his head, “You’re not alone.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  * * *

  Sunday, 3:30 P.M.

  SAM’S MIND LOCKED him into the dream again. Elizabeth, under the car with him, the knife in her hand. The shot rang out and everything went black, but he still heard her scream. The echo reverberated all around him, but this time it was different. Instead of just a scream, she screamed his name. He woke up with a start to find his niece, Lily, standing beside the bed, her eyes wide with fright.

  Should have known that flimsy lock wouldn’t stop Jack.

  “Uncle Sam, are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

  “I’m okay. Just a bad dream.” He rubbed his gritty eyes, trying to scrub away the nightmare. “What are you doing in here, honey? Where is everyone?”

  Sam glanced at the clock. He’d slept the day away. The headache pounding in his head and the sour taste in his mouth told him it was the whiskey’s fault.

  “Aunt Jenna says it’s time to get up. You’re supposed to have dinner with Elizabeth.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Lily wore a frown on her angel face. “I feel bad you’re so sad,” she said, breaking his heart. He hated putting that look on her face.

  Sam tried for a smile when he pressed her little nose like a button, letting her know in a small way he appreciated the sympathy.

  “I thought you were going home today.”

  “We’re leaving in an hour. Cameron took the jet somewhere, so we have to wait for them to get the plane ready again.”

  “You like flying on Jenna’s plane?”

  The kids loved it. Who wouldn’t? It was a nice jet. Jenna tried to keep things normal for the family and the kids, but when you had money like Jenna, there were some things you couldn’t give up. They made life easier and more convenient. Like having your own jet and avoiding flying commercially with four small children.

  “It’s a lot of fun. I get to watch the pilot fly the plane. Why are you sleeping in your clothes and shoes?”

  Sam had managed to get from the chair to the bed, but apparently he’d forgotten to take off his clothes and boots. “I guess I forgot to change clothes, honey.”

  “It’s time to get up now. Everyone wants to say goodbye. You have to go see your friend.”

  “I’m not going to see her.”

  “That’s not nice, Uncle Sam. She’s sick, and you should go and see her.”

  Assertive as any adult, but she was just a little bitty angel. “I don’t want to,” he grumbled.

  “Why are you being mean? We came to see you when you were in the hospital. You have to go see her.”

  “I don’t think she’ll want to see me.”

  “Why? You’re nice when you aren’t grumpy, like now.”

  “Grumpy, huh.” So everyone had sent the six-year-old to make him go see Elizabeth and stop wallowing.

  “She’s probably scared. I bet the doctors have given her a dozen shots by now. She’d probably feel better if you were there with her. I don’t like to get shots, but it’s better when Mommy is with me.”

  “Elizabeth is really sick. I don’t think my being there will help her. Besides, her family is with her. She doesn’t need me.”

  “Everyone needs a friend,” she said, a little sage advisor in the making. “Why don’t you want to go? Don’t you like her anymore?” Lily put her chin on her hands on top of the bed, her big blue eyes staring at him.

  “I like her. I like her a lot.” He didn’t want to think about that. It was futile. She’d go back to her life, and he’d go back to his. If she ever woke up.

  “What do you like about her? Is it just that she’s pretty? Mommy says just because someone is pretty it doesn’t mean they’re a good person. Tom, at school, said he liked Mary more
than me because she’s pretty, but I think she’s mean. She’s always saying mean things to people.”

  “I think you’re the prettiest girl there ever was and Tom is blind if he can’t see that.” He gave her hair a tug and smiled. The kid didn’t buy it. “Elizabeth is pretty, but there’s a lot more to her. She’s got a great sense of humor, she’s nice, she’s smart, and she’s got great strength. She’s pretty on the outside and on the inside where it counts. Like you, honey.”

  “Then don’t be mean to her. Go see her and tell her you think her insides are pretty.”

  Sam held back a laugh at her wording.

  “Girls like it when you say nice things to them.”

  Dating lessons from a peanut. “Did Aunt Jenna tell you not to leave here until I said I’d go see Elizabeth?” Sam was very suspicious of the little angel. Relentless, he had no doubt someone had put her up to it.

  Lily smiled broadly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The tone was very reminiscent of her mother’s, his sister.

  “I’ll bet you don’t. Go on now. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  “And you’ll go see her?”

  “Yes. Okay? I give up. I’m going.” Sam sighed and sat up on the edge of the bed. Grabbing his niece, he hugged her fiercely.

  Lily wrinkled her nose. “You need a bath. You smell really, really bad.”

  “Thanks. Get out, so I can take a shower. I’ll be out in a while to say goodbye to all of you.” Lily headed for the door as Jack and Caleb came in. “Are you two the next wave of assault? Figured you’d soften me up by sending the kid in first?”

  “That was Summer and Jenna’s idea,” Caleb said smiling. “We’re supposed to drag your ass out of bed if Lily couldn’t get you to get up on your own.”

  Jack took in the nearly empty bottle of whiskey sitting on the table next to Sam’s chair and reading lamp. He gave his brother a once-over and determined Sam was hung over and looking like he’d had a hard night. Bloodshot eyes, wrinkled clothes. Sam rubbed at his temples, probably to ease the pounding headache. He deserved a little pain for his stupidity.