“How can a man use his children . . . So, he was afraid you’d see it?” She still wasn’t getting a clear picture.
"It's no secret that I have a gift of excellent memory. Weston feared me seeing him named as Kari's father. I'm pretty sure I'd have figured out enough to turn him in. With the insurance companies already investigating, my reporting it would have been enough at least to tie the money up, or maybe completely nullify the policies. He needed to get rid of me once and for all."
Haley shuddered at the thought of losing the man she loved. She bit back a sob. “I love you so much, if . . . if . . ."
As though he'd read her mind, he leaned over and softly kissed her. “I’m right here, and I'm staying. God gave us this love, so he’s for us. Isn’t there something about if God is with us, we have nothing to fear?”
“You know there is.” The past Sunday, the Delgado family set up their instruments and sang a song with a catchy chorus about God being with them so who should they fear. Beau hummed it off and on all day.
He winked right before he hummed a few bars of the song.
As he sat back up, a frightening idea struck her. “What about your mom? She's already up in arms about his gambling. She would have figured it out, too."
"I've been trying to figure that one out, myself. Maybe Weston didn't have the heart to have my mother hurt." He shook his head. “It’s a mess, Haley."
"A convoluted mess," she agreed. “Has everything been explained? Because I feel like I'm listening to those two old comedians with that "Who's on first" routine."
"We know what happened." He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Please tell me."
Beau sat straight. “It might be the craziest scheme I've ever seen, but we have it straightened out." His chest rose as he took a deep breath. “Weston hooked up with a crooked cop named Sam Weiss. Weiss says he hired a couple of guys who regularly did his dirty work, but it looks like Vince Samuels was the Janitor."
That made no sense. “I thought he was supposed to be big, and that guy your mom fought off wasn't as tall as you."
"It’s downright bizarre to discover he was the other man at the convenience store. Especially with Weiss's budget, that certainly doesn’t seem like a job the Janitor would have taken.”
"How did their prints leave the system?" She hadn’t spoken with the state police lately, and they were running them through again and the last time she checked, still had no responses.
Beau shook his head as if to clear it. "We can thank our crooked cop for that. He somehow managed to get fingerprints out of CODIS temporarily and make Kari’s records disappear. When he saw the bodies piling up, he figured Weston wasn’t going to cut him in on the insurance any more than he planned to with the others."
"That man had no thoughts of anybody but himself."
"Weiss figured he’d probably end up as the fall guy if things went south. So, last night he turned himself in to try and make a deal. That’s how we know everything.” He reached with his free hand and swept hair off her forehead.
“These men gave money the top position in their lives, and would do whatever it took, even murder, to get it.”
“Money bugs you?” He had a strange look on his face.
“I don’t like the handling of it, but it’s useful if stewardship is used.” She knew lots of wealthy people who used money as a tool, not as the center of their lives. There was one last question to ask. “Who killed the Janitor?”
“I don’t know.” Beau didn’t appear too happy about his answer. “There’s still a chance Dohner was somehow involved, but unless our undercover guys find something out, we may never know.”
“At least we only have Dohner to worry about now.” Haley never thought she’d be thankful only one hoodlum was after Beau.
“I have more news, too, sweetheart.”
Haley didn’t like the troubled expression that had come to his eyes. “What? Does Ted Dohner know where you are?”
He caressed her cheek. “The undercover guys say he still doesn’t know I’m alive for sure, but just in case he figures it out, one of them has a story ready for him. He’ll be looking for me in Idaho.”
Her heart resumed a normal rhythm. “Then what do you need to tell me?”
“First, remember you know the truth about my undercover life.” His eyes searched hers.
“I remember.” Why did she think she wasn’t going to like his news? “Please, Beau, just tell me.”
He took a deep breath. “Audrey Dohner showed up at the FSA office late yesterday afternoon. She brought a bunch of paperwork with her and has a lot more hidden in a safe place.”
“But that’s good news, isn’t it?” Haley was confused.
His expression pled with her for understanding. “The thing is, she found out I’m alive. She won’t give up any more information or testify until she sees me. I have to go talk to her, Haley.”
“She loves you.” Tears came to Haley’s eyes. “Of course, she does. How could she have spent that much time with you and not fallen in love? And she thought you were dead. Now that she knows you’re alive—” Her heart nearly stopped. “What if she won’t go through with a deal unless you’re back together with her?”
“Haley.” His voice was tender as he reached up and wiped a tear from her face. “Audrey doesn’t love me. She wouldn’t even consider going into witness protection unless they promised her boyfriend could go with her. I don’t know why she wants to see me, but it isn’t to try and rekindle a relationship that never existed in the first place.”
“How do you know she’s not with her boyfriend as a second choice? She thought you were dead, and now she knows—”
Her words were interrupted by Beau’s mouth pressed firmly against hers. Then he softened the kiss and made it so gentle it brought even more tears to her eyes.
“I love you.” His words were certain when he finally pulled away from her. “I don’t believe she sees me like that, but even if she does, there is no way I’ll ever do anything to jeopardize what you and I have. I won’t go if it’s going to hurt you.”
She shook her head. “You have to go. The FSA needs her too much.” She took a deep breath and fought back the tears. “I love you, Beau, and I trust you. You go do whatever you need to do to make things safe for you.”
Beau kissed her again before speaking in a husky voice. “I’d like to go in the morning and be done with it. Would it help if you went with me?”
It was tempting. Haley would see Beau with Audrey Dohner, and know once and for all. But she’d told him she trusted him. “You’ll have to be careful the way it is. You don’t need to worry about taking me with you.”
His eyes searched hers. “Are you sure?”
Haley made up her mind. She either trusted him unconditionally or not at all. “Yes. You go do what you have to.” She reached up and ran her finger across his lips. “Just promise to come back home to me.”
A light shone deep in his eyes, and she knew he spoke the truth. “Nothing could keep me away from you. I promise.”
She managed to sit up far enough for him to wrap his arms around her. Neither of them said a word; he just held her. And she knew everything was going to be okay.
Chapter 59
The years hadn’t been kind to the woman sitting across the table from Hardy. Her once long, healthy, black hair looked dry and brittle. And eyes that once sparkled with victory at having fooled her uncle were now dull and lifeless. Audrey looked ten years older than the thirty-two Hardy knew her to be.
“I thought he killed you.” Those were the first words she’d spoken since he walked into the room and sat down. “I thought Ted found out where you were and killed you.”
“I’m sorry.” Those two words had been a long time coming. “I’m sorry I had to lie to you all those years, and I’m sorry for using you like I did.”
Her smile looked as though it might be painful. “We used each other, Joe. Remember?”
Hardy sl
owly nodded. “But you didn’t know exactly to what extent I was using you. I could have been leaving you in a lot of danger when my cover was blown. Did your uncle think you knew I was a cop?”
She looked past him for a moment before focusing on his face. “What he did to me wasn’t your fault. He knew I was keeping a secret from him, but he believed me that it wasn’t your real identity. He’s been trying for months to catch me with Cass. We haven’t been able to spend more than a few minutes together. That’s one of the reasons I’m ready to see my uncle go to jail.”
“So, you’re still with Cass.” Hardy had assumed she and Cassidy Rhine were still together.
Her eyes wavered for a moment before fixing on his again. “We’re married. Not even the FSA knows it, but we’re married.”
Audrey had just surprised Hardy. “You should tell Stephens. They’ll be sure to give you an identity of a married couple.”
“Okay.” She frowned. “How about you? Have you found a woman who knows the real Joe Ryman? Or should I say, Harding Davis?”
Now he could tell her the truth. “I’m engaged to an amazing woman. She knows everything about me, and we’re very much in love.”
“Did our fake relationship cause any trouble?” she asked hesitantly. “I can talk to her if you need me to, explain that it wasn’t real and didn’t mean anything to either of us.”
His heart soared with the knowledge he could give her the answer. “I’ve already explained it to her, and my word is enough. She trusts me.”
“Good.” Audrey slowly nodded. “Go get your agent friends. I’m ready to tell them where the rest of my paperwork is hidden.”
Hardy had to ask a question first. “Why did you want to see me, Audrey?”
She shrugged. “I’ve always wondered if somehow, my uncle found you and killed you. I guess I just needed to see you with my own eyes and know you’re alive and well.”
So, he wasn’t the only person who’d been struggling with guilt. “Okay.” He stood up. “Have a good life, Audrey.”
“You too, Joe.”
He turned and walked out of the room, the knowledge he would most likely never see the woman again giving him peace of mind. That was one chapter of his life he could close.
After telling Rich Stephens and Tom Fowler that Audrey was ready to talk to them, Hardy walked into Elliott’s office.
“So, how’d the visit with your old flame go?” Elliott asked, his brow lifted.
Hardy gave his brother-in-law a level look. “First of all, she’s not, and never was my flame. But she’s talking to Stephens and Fowler right now.” He sat on one of the chairs across the desk from Elliott. “So, tell me what you found out. What happened in that laundromat, and where is Matt?”
Elliott slid a folder across his desk. “You can see for yourself. It gives me a headache if you want to know the truth.”
Hardy felt a profound sense of disbelief as he read the papers he pulled out.
Matthew Ashford had been born in Rochester, New York—in nineteen-two. The social security number he had given to Sky Trucking was bogus, as were his past residences and places of employment. The prints they had been able to obtain from his abandoned semi came up empty. Matthew Ashford didn’t exist.
While it was still too soon for definitive findings, the coroner’s initial report said both Timothy Miller and Robert Weston died from a single gunshot wound to the front of the head. Unless Tim Miller’s arms were significantly longer than they had appeared, suicide was impossible.
“We have a BOLO out for Ashford,” Elliott spoke quietly. “I’m sorry, Beau. I know he was your friend.”
Hardy closed the file and pushed it away, along with the possible implications it provided.
“Do you have any idea how long it’s going to take for Dohner and his gang to be out of business? How long will it take before I can be Beau Davis again?”
“In a hurry to give Haley your name?” Elliott asked.
Hardy remembered the joy Haley expressed about buying the surprisingly well maintained house. “Yes. We have a farmhouse picked out. She thinks we’re going to have to go into debt to buy it, though.”
“You haven’t told her about your money?” The FSA agent’s face was a mask of astonishment. “Don’t you think that’s something your fiancée should know?”
“It’s not like I have as much as you do,” Hardy felt the need to remind his brother-in-law. “It’s just I made some good investments with what I had. We can live comfortably on our incomes. Or mine, if she decides she’d rather stay at home.”
“I still think you’d better tell her right away.” Elliott’s expression was grave. "Callie would have killed me if she hadn’t found out about my money until after we were married.”
Hardy shrugged. “Haley isn’t Callie.” The image of her beautiful face filled his mind. “In fact, she isn’t like anybody else, Elliott. She’s the woman God put on this earth for me.”
And he was going to thank his Lord for her every day for the rest of his life.
Chapter 60
The convoluted nightmare was over. Haley had told herself that every day for the past two months. And soon even the possibility of some of Dohner’s people coming after Beau out of revenge would disappear. She had a lot to be thankful for.
Haley stood back and frowned at her reflection. Why she’d let Missy talk her into a purple dress was beyond her. It seemed like a good idea at the time, given that Mitch and Tessa’s wedding was going to be in shades of lavender. But now she felt like a . . . Grape! Maybe she had something else suitable to wear.
She had taken a few steps toward her bedroom when her doorbell rang. Wonderful. Beau was right on time. Her fiancé was going to see his future wife resembling a fruit whether Haley liked it or not.
“Be quiet, Ozzie. You’re no beauty yourself,” she instructed her fish. She walked over and opened the door. Her breath immediately caught in her throat.
“Wow.” Her man cleaned up nice, but what a tux did for him went beyond words. “You look . . . Wow.”
He smiled lovingly at her. “You look beautiful.” His eyes swept her length. “Is that the dress you and Missy found?”
Haley rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to be polite. I’d fit right in on a cornucopia.”
Surprise shone on his face. “I’m not just being nice, Haley. You do not look like a grape. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Impishness took hold of her as she grinned. “Good. I’ll just have my wedding dress made with the same pattern.”
“You can wear one of my shirts as far as I’m concerned.” Her face grew warm at the image. “I don’t care what you wear as long as you’re ready to say ‘I do’ in four weeks.”
“Four weeks?” Her heart soared. “Do you mean . . .”
“You are now engaged to Harding Beauregard Davis Junior.” It gave him a deep sense of satisfaction to tell her that. “The Dohner organization is all but finished. The few members who didn’t turn on Ted or get caught themselves, have fled the area. They’re going to be too busy watching their own shadows to worry about Harding Davis.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Does that mean you’ll have to do a press conference, like Rich said you might? I’m still worried too many people will see you that way.”
“I’m afraid so.” His gaze held hers. “But it will be a blip on the radar because I’ll be gone. Newshounds aren’t going to care what a small-town deputy is doing, believe me.”
Her frown grew. “A wealthy, small-town deputy.” Haley shook her head. “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me about that sooner, Beau.”
He suddenly grew serious. “Does it change the way you feel about me?”
That got her dander up. “You know it doesn’t. I’d love you if you lived out of a shoebox!”
Beau’s smile returned. “Then, you can love me even though I’m not. We’re not. Because what’s mine is yours. Remember?”
“Are you sure the farm is a
nice enough place to live? You can build a dream house or—”
“Haley.” His lips silenced her. A few minutes later, his voice was unsteady when he spoke. “I like the farm very much, and any house you live in is a dream house. Okay?”
She had barely caught her breath. “Okay.”
“Now, are you ready to go see our friends get married?” His smile warmed her heart.
“I’m ready to go anywhere with you, Beau.” And she found she honestly was. God had given her a wonderful man, and she was very thankful for him.
“Let’s go.”
Epilogue
Three shots and it would be over. He carefully lined the sight of his rifle on the heavy-set man walking up the courthouse stairs. The other two targets were on either side of his primary one.
Shoot. Aim. Shoot again. Aim. Shoot again. All in rapid succession. Three men lay on the courthouse steps with pandemonium erupting around them. Three men who would be found to have died from single gunshot wounds to the head.
He broke his gun apart and returned it to the duffel bag. Nobody paid the slightest bit of attention to the middle-aged, black-haired man leaving the three-story sports gym, dressed in his workout clothes and carrying a bag.
For the first time in his life, he felt a sense of satisfaction that had nothing to do with money. He’d already taken care of Robert Weston and the “gang” he put together, and now Ted Dohner and his two top henchmen were dead. The organization, already sinking due to the FSA and Chicago PD’s efforts, would now go completely under. If another one arose to replace it, the people in it would have no interest in a former undercover policeman and the woman he loved. The woman both of them loved.
It was time for the Janitor to retire for good. He wished he could have spent more time with her. With his daughter. She would never know how much her parents loved her. That the mother who had given her those bright blue eyes and beautiful dimples died giving her life. Or that he had loved her enough to keep her away from his ungodly, unsavory existence—to give her to his sister and her husband to raise as their own. Haley would forever think she belonged to the Johnsons. He had hurt a lot of people with his sinful life, but his daughter would not be one of them.
Living in Shadow Page 35
