TRUE TO HER WORD, Millie was right.
Jack was waiting in the hallway when I opened my room door the following morning. He leaned against the wall, his hands behind him, and offered a wan smile when I met his gaze. “I’m sorry about last night.”
Everything I thought I believed about men flew out the window. “You’re … sorry?”
“I am.” Jack didn’t seem keen on the idea of delivering the apology, but here he was all the same. “You have to understand, I was worried when I found out you were gone. It took me a bit to realize Millie was with you. That made me feel worse, not better, and I reacted. I’m sorry for yelling at you.”
Wow. That was way too easy. “Oh, well, that’s okay.” I moved to slip around him. “I don’t blame you for being upset. We were out a lot later than we thought we’d be.”
“Well, I’m still sorry.” Jack caught my arm before I could move too far. “I’m also not an idiot.” He lowered his voice so no one inside the rooms to either side could hear us. “I know you two were up to something big last night. I want to know what it is.”
Hmm. It seemed Jack wasn’t the foolish sort who would apologize and walk away after all. “I’m not sure what you mean,” I hedged. “We were just out to … get some air.”
“You’re full of crap.” Jack spun me around so I had nowhere to look but his serious face. “I know very well that you were out in the middle of the woods last night. At first I thought you went back to the campsite – I mean, you were parked kind of close to that location – but when I ran the GPS information I found that you parked near a house. Do you know who owns that house?”
If that was his version of a trick question he needed to work on his timing. “I have no idea whose name is on the deed.”
Jack scowled. “Charlie, are you trying to kill me?”
I shook my head. “No. I can’t even figure out why you were looking for me last night. Is it because you wanted to get me in trouble? I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone when I left. I simply … needed to get some air.”
I had no idea why I kept coming back to that lie.
“Air is outside.” Jack gestured toward the wall. “There’s plenty of air out there. You don’t need to drive to get to it.”
“Maybe I wanted a change of scenery. Did you ever consider that?”
“Not even a little.” Frustrated, Jack dragged a hand through his long hair. “Charlie, I came to check on you last night because I was worried. You were off the entire day. In fact, you’ve been off the better part of the last three weeks, ever since you fought off Zach and managed to save the day.
“Now, most people would chalk that up to you coming to grips with your mortality,” he continued. “I thought that was a possibility. The thing is, you lost your parents when you were young. I think you’ve already come to grips with your mortality. I think something else is going on.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” I lied, averting my eyes. “I don’t know why you’re worried about me.”
“I don’t know why either,” Jack muttered, “but I am. You’ve been moping around for weeks. I thought you’d eventually tell me what was bothering you, but so far that seems to have been a fairytale.
“Then, out of nowhere, you perked up yesterday,” he said. “You had your little talk with Millie and you were back to your old self. I have no idea what she said to make you feel better, but I was grateful.
“Then you wandered away,” he continued. “You disappeared in the woods, and I thought it was a stroke of luck that I managed to follow. You weren’t alone, were you? You were with that woman and her kid. And you were pale enough to see through. I know something happened out there. I want to know what it was.”
I always knew Jack was the observant sort, but I was flabbergasted by the amount of attention he’d clearly paid to my life the past few weeks. I didn’t even notice him watching, which was probably why he was so good at his job. “I’m okay. I’m not moping around or anything. I’ve just been … thinking, I guess would be the best word … about everything that happened in Texas.”
“What have you been thinking about? Have you been having nightmares?”
I shook my head. “I’ve been thinking about the Chupacabra and how no one believes I saw it.” I knew it was petty, but I couldn’t stop myself. “As for yesterday, you’re right. I was a little off my game. It was hot and I was searching for footprints when that woman and her daughter caught me off guard. I was simply surprised – and embarrassed because I practically jumped out of my skin because of it. Nothing else was going on.”
Jack searched my face for a long moment. “I think more than that is going on, but I won’t press you. You’re not the quiet type, so I figure you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”
“Seriously, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re going through the motions and desperate to find a way to be fine,” Jack corrected. “But you’re not fine. As for Zoe Lake-Winters, I’m not sure what’s going on with you and her. I saw the looks on both your faces and there was definitely something there. Do you know her?”
“How would I possibly know her?”
Jack shrugged. “I have no idea. There was more than surprise on your face, though. And, as good as that woman is at masking her feelings she was clearly upset about something. The only one who didn’t seem to be upset was the kid.”
“Well, kids are often mistaken for sociopaths simply because they don’t express standard emotions,” I offered. “I learned that in a psych class, by the way. It’s totally true. Look it up.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “Good grief. You’re not fooling anyone.”
“I’m not trying to fool anyone. I’m simply trying to be a good worker.”
“And that’s what you were doing last night, right? You were working.”
I nodded without hesitation. “We were definitely working.”
“Fine.” Jack’s forehead puckered as he massaged a finger in the spot between his eyebrows. “I am not going to lose the entire day arguing about this. That’s not productive.”
“I agree. We should drop it.”
“That doesn’t mean I’ll forget about it,” Jack sneered. “Did you see anything of interest while you were hanging around the Winters house last night?”
Now that right there was an interesting question. “No. We didn’t see anything of interest. Er, well, Aric Winters was shirtless and Millie thought that was pretty much the best thing she’d ever seen in her entire life. Other than that, no.”
“And what about you?”
“I thought he was impressive, too. He’s very clearly devoted to his wife. They’re joined at the hip.”
Jack scowled. “Not that. Did you see anything other than a shirtless man that piqued your interest?”
There were so many ways I could go with that question I didn’t know where to begin. Ultimately, I merely shrugged. “No. Not so far. We didn’t see much.”
“Well, I guess that leaves us with an endless pile of opportunities when it comes to planning our day.” Jack stroked his chin, thoughtful. “Chris will want everyone to split up and focus on different things.”
“Well, I want to be with whatever group goes to the woods and checks on the campsite again,” I said. “I think there’s more to discover out there.”
“That’s what you want, huh?”
Uh-oh. I recognized the look on Jack’s face right away. “I … um … want to do whatever is best for the team.”
“That’s good.” Jack’s lips curved. “I think what’s best for the team is if you go with me.”
“Are you going back to the woods?”
“No.”
Crap! “Are you making me go with you so Laura won’t want to go with you?”
Jack’s smile widened. “That’s simply an added benefit.”
Crap on toast. “And where are we going?”
“Oh, don’t worry. I think you’ll really enjoy yourself on our little adventure. I know I will.”
Tha
t didn’t make me feel much better. “You’re going to punish me, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.”
11
Eleven
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I slouched down in the passenger seat of the Jeep and glared at the huge Winters Lumberyard sign that towered over the log cabin building, which felt as if it had been plopped down in the middle of nowhere. In truth, it was located about four miles from the Winters house and five miles from the campsite.
“I thought you’d be pleased.” Jack beamed as he pushed open his door and hopped out, pocketing the keys as he fixed me with a pointed look. “Are you ready?”
“Ready for what?”
“We’re here to ask questions.” Jack was matter-of-fact. “We have a missing couple who disappeared from the woods. This is one of the few businesses in the vicinity.”
I wasn’t about to fall for his just-business act. “And are you going to question everyone else who owns a business up and down this stretch?”
Jack shrugged, noncommittal. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“So why focus on this business?”
“The owner is the son of the man who sits on the board of the group that owns the land in question. That means he’s doubly of interest.”
Huh. I hadn’t considered that. It sounded so reasonable. Of course, I knew better. “I think I’ll wait in the Jeep while you do the questioning. I’m not really in the mood to hang out with lumberjacks or anything. You can do that on your own since you think they’ll be of help.”
“Oh, no.” Jack made a tsking sound as he shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s still early, but it’s supposed to be a scorcher today. You’ll die of heatstroke if I leave you in the vehicle too long.”
“You could fire up the engine and turn on the AC.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Jack was clearly enjoying himself at my expense, something that set my teeth on edge. “I’m afraid you might take off with the Jeep without telling me – that is your way, after all – and I don’t want to be left stranded.”
And we were right back where we started. He was good. I had to give him that. “Fine.” I heaved out a sigh and threw open the door with some force. “I want you to know that I get what you’re doing and I don’t like it.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” Jack closed his door and waited for me to join him, ignoring the way the Jeep shook when I slammed my door. “I’m simply trying to find answers. I think you’d understand that. I mean, if we can find this couple before something terrible happens, that’s a win for us all, right?”
“Whatever.” I scuffed my shoes against the packed dirt in the parking lot and trudged toward the main office. “This is absolutely ridiculous.”
“Yes, well, I thrive on being ridiculous.” Jack held open the door for me. I was braced for some sort of explosion when I walked into the cool office. Instead, five heads turned in our direction … and I didn’t recognize any of them.
Hmm. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. Aric Winters was the owner of the company. That didn’t mean he showed up to work a shift every single day. That’s not how the big boss structures his days, right?
“Can I help you?” A man with the name “Teddy” embroidered on his black polo shirt strode in our direction with a smile on his face. “Are you working on a home project and need some help? If so, you’ve come to the right place.”
“We’re not working on a home project,” Jack replied.
“We don’t share a home,” I added, cringing when Jack slid me a questioning look. “What?”
“Do you really think he cares if we share a home?”
I shrugged. “I was just making conversation.”
“Whatever.” Jack pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead before collecting himself. “We’re actually here for a different purpose. Is the owner in? I believe his name is Aric Winters.”
Teddy’s smile didn’t diminish. “He is. Can I tell him what this is about?”
“It’s okay, Teddy,” a gravelly voice offered from the back of the showroom. I jerked up my chin and recognized Aric right away. His gaze was intent as it bounced between Jack and me, finally settling on The Legacy Foundation’s taciturn security chief. “I know why they’re here. You guys can come back this way.”
“Thank you.” Jack nodded at Teddy and then put his hand to the small of my back to usher me forward. I got the distinct impression he thought I might bolt and wanted to make sure that didn’t happen. I was well beyond bolting now.
“Hello, Charlie.” Aric grinned at me as he held open his office door. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“You, too,” I muttered. “I wish it was under different circumstances.” Or no circumstances at all, I silently added.
“I’m sure everything will be fine.” Aric didn’t appear worried about our sudden appearance. He offered us bottles of water before sitting behind the expansive oak desk in the center of the room. “So, what can I do for you?”
“Well, for starters, you can tell me what Charlie was doing at your house last night,” Jack replied, taking me by surprise when he cut straight to the heart of matters.
Aric arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t spend much time with her, but I believe she had a conversation with my wife.”
“And this would be your wife, right?” Jack gestured toward a framed photograph on Aric’s desk. Three familiar faces smiled back from it. “She’s the blonde, isn’t she?”
“Well, since the other person in the photo is my daughter, and I believe she was ten at the time that was taken, I should hope so.” Aric was jarringly calm. He had a presence that wasn’t easily discounted. Jack was used to being the strongest personality in the room, or at least the toughest nut to crack. I had a feeling Aric Winters could give him a run for the title.
“You know what I mean,” Jack pressed. “This woman is your wife, right?”
“For fourteen wonderful years. She’s an absolute joy and the light of my life.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing at Aric’s expression. It was clear that he understood Jack’s reasons for being at the office, but he wasn’t about to make things easy for him.
“Okay, well, we saw her in the woods yesterday,” Jack plowed forward. “She was with your daughter.”
“True?” Aric held out his hands. “I’m not sure what you want me to say to that. Our house is surrounded by woods and Zoe hates working out, so she considers a walk in the woods exercise.”
“Yes, but she was near the spot where a couple went missing,” Jack persisted. “No one knows what happened to them and the police are considering an animal attack.”
“My understanding is that no blood was found at the scene,” Aric noted. “If an animal attacked, there would be blood.”
“So you’re not worried about your wife and daughter wandering around the woods when two people have gone missing?”
“My wife is capable of taking care of herself,” Aric replied. “She also has a mind of her own. I learned a long time ago that ordering her around wasn’t going to work for anyone, least of all her. Actually, I should rephrase that. Technically it works least for me because the punishment that woman can mete out when things don’t go her way is downright terrifying.”
Aric seemed so amiable, so rational, I wanted to believe everything that came out of his mouth. Jack was another story.
“And you don’t have a problem with her dragging your daughter along for the ride?”
For the first time since we’d entered his office, Aric showed signs of temper. “Are you suggesting that I don’t care about my daughter?”
Jack was taken aback. “No. That’s not what I was saying at all.”
“Are you suggesting that my wife is somehow negligent and putting my daughter at risk?”
“No.”
“Then what are you suggesting?” Aric seemed to grow in stature as he glared at Jack. “W
e have no idea what happened in those woods. That couple could’ve taken off together and purposely left their families with unanswered questions because … simply because that’s what they wanted to do. We have no way of knowing what went down without more information.”
Jack held up his hands. “I think we got off on the wrong foot.”
“I think we did,” Aric readily agreed. “I’ll give you a pass, though, because I don’t believe that you’re calling my wife’s parenting into question when you ask these questions. What I think you really want to know is what Charlie was doing at our house last night.”
“I wouldn’t mind an explanation for that,” Jack admitted.
“Well, I can’t tell you what she was doing there because she talked to my wife in private,” Aric supplied. “If you want to know what went down, why not ask Charlie? She’s sitting right next to you.”
My cheeks burned when I realized I was suddenly the focal point in the room. “I told him I just needed some air.”
“Ah.” Aric smirked. “Well, that seems fair enough. The heat has been stifling. It gets cooler after dark. Fresh air is always best when it’s cooler.”
“Oh, come on.” Jack made a face. “I know she was there for another reason. Something happened in the woods.”
“That’s my wife’s business.” Aric shot me a kind look. “And Charlie’s business. Even though you’re clearly in charge, I believe she visited on a personal issue. I can’t imagine that you’re entitled to know everything she does every moment of every day.”
“That’s not what I said.” Jack turned pouty. “Whatever. I can see you’re not going to tell me what went down so I’ll let it go.”
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”
“Then let’s talk about the land itself,” Jack prodded. “My understanding is that your father owns it. Clearly he should want to be involved in the investigation and yet the inquiries I’ve made seem to suggest he’s only made a cursory call.”
Aric shook his head. “You’re misinformed. My father doesn’t own the land. He is, however, something of a caretaker of sorts.”
The Werewolf Whoops Page 10
