For the Birds: Rose Gardner Investigations #2 (Rose Gardner Investigatons)

by Denise Grover Swank

  “Which explains why he’s working at Walmart,” I said.

  “Exactly. But the thing about Scooter is he never wanted much.”

  His words piqued my interest. “Wait. It sounds like you know Scooter personally.”

  Buck shifted in his seat again. “I may have befriended him in an attempt to get some secrets about his brother, but that was a couple of years ago.”

  “I presume everyone knows Scooter is Skeeter’s brother,” I said. “And it’s no coincidence that someone took me so soon after he went missing. I need the name of the other guy who snatched me. And all the information you have about both of them.”

  “Why would I give you that?” he asked in a bitter tone.

  “I’m gonna need everything you know about Scooter’s disappearance and my kidnapping if I’m gonna look for him. There’s no sense in me duplicating the work you’ve already done.”

  “You’re gonna look for him?”

  “I’m not doin’ it to save your sorry butt. I’m doin’ it to keep peace in this county.”

  “I still expect you to report your results to me.”

  That seemed fair, but it also felt traitorous. “I’ll keep you in the loop.”

  “What’s your price?”

  That caught me slack-jawed. “You plan to pay me?”

  “I said I was hiring you, didn’t I?”

  I knew we were on the south side of the county—we’d passed several familiar landmarks—but I was surprised when he flipped on his turn signal as we approached the old fertilizer plant.

  “What are you doin’?”

  “I’m sure as hell not gonna risk taking you any further into town and runnin’ into Malcolm’s men. You’ll be safe here until Malcolm comes to get you.”

  He drove onto the abandoned complex and stopped in front of the office. This place had seen a lot of criminal activity in the past, so I wasn’t sure how safe it would be, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. I wanted out of Buck’s car.

  I opened the door and scrambled out, ignoring the gravel poking the soles of my feet. Thank God my leg was still numb.

  Buck rolled down his window.

  “And how is anyone supposed to find me here?”

  He held up his phone. “You’re gonna make a call. But first we need to work out your price.”

  I was about to tell him I wouldn’t take a cent from him, but then I realized he had something more valuable to offer than money. “I want a favor.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I don’t know yet, but if I call in my favor, you have to do it, no questions asked.”

  He remained silent.

  “Let’s be honest, Mr. Reynolds,” I said in a dry tone. “You want me to find Scooter to save your butt, yet you can’t deny that you’re also tryin’ to get one over on Skeeter. You seem to think I’m his girlfriend, so it would be quite the feather in your cap if you got Skeeter Malcolm’s girlfriend to do your biddin’.”

  His mouth pinched into a flat line.

  “But I am not Skeeter Malcolm’s girlfriend. Neely Kate and I investigate things. On our own. So I’ll do this, but when the time comes, you will do a favor of my choosing, no questions asked.”

  “Only if you prove I didn’t take him.”

  “Done. I’ll start lookin’ tomorrow.” I held out my hand. “Now I need to make that call.”

  Buck handed me his unlocked phone, and I pressed Skeeter’s number in the list of recent calls.

  “Malcolm,” he grunted.

  “James. I need someone to come get me.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m at the fertilizer plant.”

  “Since you’re using Reynolds’ phone, I take it he’s there with you.”

  “Mr. Reynolds is just about to leave.”

  “Sit tight.” Then he hung up.

  I handed the phone back to Buck, but rather than let go of it, I grabbed his wrist and held on. This was my opportunity to get some answers, and I’d be a fool not to take advantage of it.

  I closed my eyes and focused hard, asking, Does Buck have information on Scooter? The vision didn’t come immediately, and Buck tried to pull away, but I dug my fingers in until a vision burst into my head.

  I was in a living room with Tim Dermot and Kip Wagner, holding a beer bottle in my hand.

  “You think she’s gonna do it?” Kip asked.

  “Yeah,” I said in Buck’s voice, then took a sip of beer. “She’s too damn cozy with Malcolm to suit me, but I think she’ll find his brother, if for no other reason than to make Skeeter happy. And it’ll save our skins in the process. Win-win.”

  The vision faded and I said, “You think I’m too cozy with Skeeter.” Then I released his hand and took a step back.

  After opening and closing his mouth a couple of times like a guppy, he said, “That may be true, but I expect results sooner rather than later.”

  I gave him an indignant look. “You still don’t get it, do you? You asked for my help. That makes me the person calling the shots. Don’t get too big for your britches.”

  “And the same could be said for you. I just saved your life.”

  “We’re gonna call that a gesture of good faith.” I pointed to his hand. “I could have kept your phone and given it to Skeeter so he could go through all your contacts, but I didn’t—my gesture of good faith.”

  He looked pissed but kept his mouth shut and drove off. I was surprised he’d stuck around so long, truth be told. He risked getting caught by James’ men.

  I didn’t have to wait long for someone to arrive. Less than ten minutes later, I was sitting on the curb in front of the office part of the plant when I saw James’ car speed around the corner. He skidded to a stop in front of me and was out of his car faster than I could get to my feet.

  He took one look at my bloody skirt and his face twisted with rage.

  “I’m going to kill the fucking bastard.”

  I shook my head, unable to speak past the burning lump in my throat. Everything that had happened over the last couple of hours hit me at once. Now that James was here, I could let my guard down because I knew in my heart he’d die before he let anything happen to me. It only drove home how much I’d missed him. I hadn’t seen or talked to him in three weeks, and every day had been agony.

  I took a step forward and reached for him. He was there within seconds, and I flung my arms around his neck, collapsing into his chest as I started to cry.

  He wrapped me up in his arms, holding me as I sobbed.

  Some brave woman I’d turned out to be.

  “Are you hurt?” His voice sounded strangled. “What did they do?”

  “I’m okay,” I choked out. “Just hold me.”

  He cupped the back of my head and pressed my cheek to his chest as I cried my heart out. The reality that I’d almost been murdered multiple times tonight was sinking in. I had to be strong with everyone else, but I could let my guard down around James. I knew he wouldn’t take it as a sign that I was weak or incapable of taking care of myself . . . and I was fairly certain he felt the same way about me.

  He stroked my back, whispering in my ear, “You’re okay. I won’t let anything happen to you again.”

  But he couldn’t promise that unless he locked me away somewhere, and I refused to agree to that.

  I let myself have a good cry, then made myself settle down. I tried to take a step back, but James’ arms were like a vise.

  “I’m okay now,” I reassured him.

  “I’m not.” He pulled me close again, resting his cheek on the top of my head. “Give me a minute.”

  We stood like that for another half minute before he looked down at me with worry in his eyes.

  “Your leg . . . Is that your blood?”

  “I’m okay.”

  He broke loose and started to lead me to his car, only to stop and pick me up with my hurt thigh on the outside. He set me down on the trunk and checked the bottoms of my bare feet. “Where are your shoe
s?”

  “I lost them somewhere between when I was kidnapped and the warehouse in Louisiana.”

  His gaze jerked up to mine as he gently lowered my uninjured leg. “You sure it was Louisiana?”

  I gave him a half-shrug. “That’s where Buck Reynolds said we were, and the road signs on the way back confirmed it.”

  “I need to know exactly where they took you.”

  “I paid attention as we were driving back. I can tell you how to get there, although I’m not sure what’ll be left. Tim Dermot and some other guy stayed behind to clean up.”

  He gave a nod and placed his hands on my knees. “What happened to your leg?” His question was direct.

  “James, it doesn’t matter.”

  “It sure as hell matters to me. I want to see it.” I knew he was warning me that he was about to push up my skirt. I expected him to do it matter-of-factly, like Dermot had done, but he grabbed the hem with his left hand and slowly slid it up, the knuckles of his hand lightly brushing the inside of my thigh. A fire ignited inside me, and I sucked in a breath of surprise.

  He ignored my reaction as his right hand followed the left, skimming my outer thigh, and I released a low moan before I realized what I was doing.

  His gaze lifted to mine, full of a fire that had nothing to do with anger, but he glanced down when he reached the edge of my bandage. He pulled off the gauze, then stiffened. “What happened that made you need stitches?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “The hell it doesn’t.” He used his phone to shine more light on the wound, and his gaze jerked up to mine. “A gunshot wound?” His voice sounded strangled.

  I cupped the sides of his face with both of my hands. “I’m okay.”

  “Who stitched this?”

  “Tim Dermot. He gave me antibiotics and some painkillers too.”

  His eyes hardened, but he didn’t pull away. “Like hell you’ll take those. I’ll get you some myself.”

  “He wouldn’t give me anything to hurt me. They saved me, James.” My voice cracked.

  He stood between my spread legs and rested his hands on my hips. “It could have been a setup.”

  “I wondered that too, but Buck and Tim were just as curious about the men who took me as I was.”

  “And who were they?”

  “I only IDed one of them—a man named Elijah Landry. I saw him outside of Momma’s house this afternoon. He must have been looking for an opportunity to snatch me. But the big surprise is that he was from Shreveport.”

  “Shreveport?” He shook his head, lifting his hand to my face. “When your call cut off . . . I’ve never been so scared in my life, Rose.”

  His admission shocked me. “I was pretty scared too.”

  He paused; then his face hardened. “Do you think they planned to kill you?”

  “I don’t know. They were apparently guarding the office door after they shut me in there. If they were going to kill me, then wouldn’t they have just done it?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe not.”

  I knew what he wasn’t saying—not if they’d planned to torture me or interrogate me first. Not if someone else had been on their way to the warehouse to do those things.

  “Listen, I know you think Buck took Scooter, but he didn’t. I suspect the guys who kidnapped me did. And if they were waiting on someone to join them, then we can still find whoever took Scooter. I think there’s a good chance he’s alive.”

  His eyes widened.

  I wondered why he looked so surprised, and then it occurred to me that we’d never discussed his brother’s disappearance. “I know about Scooter. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He didn’t answer. We both knew why.

  I decided to be honest. “You hurt me at the parley, James.”

  He swallowed. “I know.”

  “I know what you were doing. You were trying to push me away.”

  Pain filled his eyes. “I know,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

  I moved my hand from his cheek and slid it into his dark hair. “I’ve missed you.”

  He didn’t answer for a few seconds. “I don’t know what to do about you, Rose. You drive me crazy. I can’t think straight. You’re dangerous for me, and God knows I’m dangerous for you.”

  I sucked in a breath, but I couldn’t bring myself to say I was sorry.

  “You called me a coward for trying to ignore what’s going on between us. Maybe you were right.”

  “Did you just admit that I’m right?”

  He quirked his brow. “I said maybe.” He took a step closer, and there were only inches between us now. “I thought I’d lost you, Rose. And I couldn’t handle it.”

  He softly pressed his lips to mine, as though giving me a chance to back out. I tugged him closer instead.

  His kiss became demanding and his tongue explored my mouth. I released another moan as he slid his hand behind me, cupping my butt cheek and tugging me firmly against him. I wrapped my legs around him and locked my ankles together, thankful I didn’t feel any pain from my wound.

  He groaned and his hand slid up and under my shirt. The sensation of his warm fingers on my bare skin sent a shiver through my body.

  “You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever known,” he growled into my ear. Then he leaned in even closer and nipped my earlobe. A shot of lust shot through me, but he pulled back and looked me in the eyes. His gaze was tortured. “And you have no idea how much I want you, but we still can’t.”

  “Buck Reynolds thinks I’m your girlfriend,” I said, my hand still holding the back of his head. “I assured him multiple times that I’m not, but I know he thinks you find me valuable, which makes me valuable to use against you.”

  “He’s right.”

  “About which part?”

  “All of it. You are valuable to me. My most valuable asset. Why do you think I had Jed following you all the time? He’s the only man I trust.” He lifted a hand to my cheek again and gave me a soft caress. “I’ve been careless with your life. For that I’m sorry.”

  “Asset? You mean for my visions?” I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

  “You really believe that?” His thumb lightly brushed my neck.

  No, but I wanted to hear him say it. I leaned into his touch. “We’ve been at odds, and someone still took me,” I murmured. “Your plan didn’t work. Maybe there’s no need for us to keep away from each other.”

  “Three weeks isn’t long enough, Rose. We need to give it more time.”

  I pulled him close and rested my head on his shoulder. He was probably right. If we allowed more time to elapse, people would eventually forget. They’d think James, who was notorious for keeping company with a lot of women, would move on. Three weeks hadn’t been long enough.

  He’d betrayed me over the necklace to make me stay away. Well, if we needed to put distance between us, it was time for me to step up and help carry the burden. And it was time for me to try and protect him like he’d always protected me.

  I lifted my head and looked into his face again. “Dermot found me on the phone with you. He said they’d been counting on me callin’ you.” I paused. “I gave them more proof that there was a connection between us because I did call you. You were the first person I thought of.” I shook my head. I felt like my heart was ripping in two, but I forced myself to keep talking. “I can’t call you when I get into trouble anymore. From here on out, I need to rely on myself.”

  The truth had hit me as I said the words. The thought of not having him there to save me made me feel naked and terrified . . . which was exactly why I needed to learn to do without him.

  Despite the pained look on his face, he didn’t argue.

  I put my hands on his chest and pushed him slightly, not enough to really move him, but enough to get my point across. I felt nauseous, not in my stomach but deep in my soul.

  We couldn’t do this, whatever this was. I couldn’t have an open relationship with the king of the Fenton
County crime world. A secret fling might be exciting in the beginning, but eventually I’d want more. Because this was James, and my feelings for him would only grow. They’d already grown too large for me to put in any box.

  Even if we started a relationship, it wouldn’t be anything like the one I’d had with Mason—going to bed together every night, date nights at Jaspers and Little Italy, dropping by each other’s offices just to say hello. We’d be stuck in the shadows, sneaking around like we were cheating. And yet . . . while I’d always wanted marriage, kids, and a simple life, that kind of existence seemed too quiet for me now. Maybe there was nothing wrong with something more nontraditional . . .

  The sticking point was that James was firmly on the wrong side of the law. It didn’t matter how moral he appeared to be. And while I’d skirted over the line a few times, I was still seen as a law-abiding citizen. I had two businesses. I had friends and my family to consider. I had a lot to lose, and if word got out that I was sleeping with Skeeter Malcolm, I could set fire to my entire world.

  It was a lot to risk.

  “Take me to the office,” I said, my voice heavy with unshed tears. “I’ll figure out a way home.”

  “No. I’ll take you home.”

  He started to lift me off the trunk, but I put a hand on his. “There’s something I need to tell you first.”

  His gaze lifted to mine, waiting.

  “Buck Reynolds hired me to perform a task for him. That’s how he found me. He saw Landry and the other guy snatch me.”

  His anger was back. “What’s the job? And tell me you said no.”

  “At your parley, I said that I was there to broker peace for the county. That I didn’t work just for you.” He remained silent. “If we really want to sell this—that I’m not connected to you—then we need to prove it. Which means I have to go through with it. I need to look like a free agent.”

  His body stiffened and his eyes narrowed. “He knows about your visions?”

  “No. Only that I’ve completed tasks for you and found his necklace when he couldn’t.”

  “What does he want to hire you to do?”