WindSwept Narrows: #16 Anna Carson & Catherine Jenkins

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “Hey…just think of them as the means to an end…we’re invited along, right?”

  “Meet me at Barrows’ headquarters at one. Damn straight we’re invited,” she said, sliding her feet inside and starting the engine.

  ****

  Three male heads went up when the powerful roar of the quiet engine broke into their greeting. Aaron closed his eyes and swore softly.

  “You shouldn’t have told her if you didn’t want her here. We’ve been trying for days to get him to talk to us,” Bobby said, hands hitched in his pockets as she did her best to storm toward them but somehow the cane took the edge off it looking lethal.

  “Hi, guys…fancy meeting you here,” she said through a brilliantly smile that never touched her eyes. “I should be able to arrest you both…”

  “We save those games for the bedroom, dear,” Aaron teased, kissing her before she could recover, Bobby’s laughter taking the edge off.

  “We can easily pass Bobby off as an associate…” Carter said as they entered the bustling campaign headquarters.

  “And Catherine can be my sweet little piece of eye candy,” Aaron decided with a chuckle.

  “Careful…she likes playing bad cop,” Bobby warned with a matching laugh.

  “Now why am I not surprised,” Aaron returned, taking her hand and placing it on his arm as they walked.

  “And she’s damn good at it,” Catherine growled under her breath.

  “Now there’s a shocker,” Aaron patted her hand gently.

  “We’re only here to look things over and offer some veiled threats,” Carter said firmly. “I don’t want to do anything to make him aware of your information.”

  “Spoilsport,” Catherine muttered, digging deep and applying her best home coming smile. “I should have dressed up…more bimbo style…”

  “Now, that I can’t wait to see,” Aaron arched an eyebrow.

  “Pervert.”

  “Children…” Carter raised his voice. “Mr. Barrows…Carter Shipley and my associates, Robert Morris and Aaron Carson, his fiancée, Catherine. It was good of your organization to make time to speak with us.”

  Catherine felt Aaron’s fingers tighten around hers. He sensed it was very difficult for her not to step into investigator mode. Her other hand was wrapped around the hook of the cane, a saving grace as she didn’t have to shake hands with him. Smooth, she thought instantly, but behind the eyes she saw the calculation, the suspicion. She thought it interesting because those same words she and Anna would easily apply to both Aaron and Carter, but not in the same bad sense that she got from standing in front of William Barrows.

  “I’m always available to meet interested supporters,” he assured them, shaking hands around the three males. His eyes swept over the casual jeans and tee shirt, the loose fitting leather jacket and the cane, concern in his voice that never reached his eyes. “I hope you’re not hurt.”

  “Recovering, thank you. Hunting accident,” Catherine said softly, keeping her voice low on purpose. A tiny trace of satisfaction lit into her eyes at the look that crossed his features.

  “Now that is unexpected. Somehow I didn’t imagine you a member of the NRA,” William Barrows said thoughtfully.

  “I’m sure there’s a great deal about one another that we don’t know, Mr. Barrows,” Catherine kept her tone even, glancing around casually. “Do you mind if I look around while you discuss…whatever it is you’re discussing? I can’t imagine all the organization it takes to pull this all together.”

  “Not at all, Evan, show Catherine around our camp, would you?”

  “My pleasure,” the younger man came from behind, gesturing for her to come along.

  She walked with him, but carefully apart from him. Asking casual questions, making general observations and keeping the ever vigilant eye out on everything she saw. After thirty minutes, they made the round back to where the men stood, her leg throbbed and while Aaron and Carter and Bobby looked calm, there was a dark storm in Barrows eyes that had her glancing quietly at Aaron.

  “I think you’ve been on your feet too long, Catherine,” Aaron went to her side, his arm sliding around her waist. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I’m alright.”

  “We’ve finished our business,” Carter said tonelessly. “Mr. Barrows understands our position.”

  “Clearly. I’m sure you can find your own way out,” he said coldly, turning a shoulder to them and disappearing into a back office, the sound of a loudly closing door making a statement in itself.

  “Well…I take it you boys had a nice chat?” Catherine didn’t fight the hands that escorted her to her car. She leaned heavily on the fender, unaware of the long breath she let free.

  Bobby shook his head. “These two together are scary. I was just an observer.”

  “It’s all that combined college…lots of fancy words strung together,” Catherine looked from one to the other. It wasn’t hard to see the cold anger in them both at the moment. “He knows who you are,” she said, looking carefully at Aaron.

  “He does. And he knows I’m no longer four years old.”

  She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. “Donor list…key donors…the Austins.”

  “We could have guessed that, Catherine,” Aaron shoved his jacket back.

  “Anna’s on her way to the nursery to unload,” Carter glanced at his phone and then his wrist. “I’ve got a couple appointments to clear up. Leo’s with her and will drive her home.”

  “I’ll be in touch,” Aaron promised with a nod.

  “Wait a minute,” Catherine’s voice was up and hard, her gaze sweeping from one to the other. “Exactly what did the two of you hope to accomplish by talking to him?”

  “To scare the shit out of him,” Carter said succinctly, even white teeth bared and gleaming. “It’s an age old male thing and it generally works. I’ve got work.” And he strode to his car without looking back.

  “He’s worried about Anna,” Aaron extended his palm to Bobby. “Thanks for being in there. I don’t know if I feel as confident about it as Carter, but it did feel good to know he was shaking inside.”

  “I’ll write it up, Cat and copy you,” Bobby decided a safe distance from the explosion would be smart about now and headed to his waiting car.

  “Hmm…looks like I need a ride home…”

  “Hope you have taxi money then,” she returned, shoving up and wobbling which only made her growl again.

  “How was the doctor appointment?” He waited until she unlocked the car and slid into the passenger seat.

  “Stay off your feet, let it heal, no the stitches cannot come out yet…blah, blah, blah,” she mimicked, starting the engine before throwing her head against the headrest. “I don’t like this…it should have been kept official….but the problem is, I don’t have crap for evidence about any of this and no judge in his right mind is going to order DNA sampling based on the drawings of a four year old from thirty years ago,” she let all the words rush out in a frustrated sweep tinted with anger.

  “We need to go to the nursery, Catherine,” Aaron pulled the seatbelt into place, his features grim when she glanced over at him, her hands starting the car immediately.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know,” he repeated with a tinge of frustration.

  “Alright, we’re on the…damn…the murder cops,” she reached for the flashing light and flipped the switch, taking the car through traffic with long practiced skill.

  “Murder cops?”

  “What I was called out to this morning. Dead guy…he had one of Anna’s card crushed in his palm,” she said simply, her focus on the cars around them as she drove.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Aaron kept quiet, staring straight ahead and grateful when the large parking lot of the nursery came into view. Anna stood with her hands waving, gesturing as people unloaded the large black SUV she’d filled with plants. He saw the two guys, one older one thei
r age approaching her from the side.

  “Anna Carson?”

  “Yes?” Dark eyes turned at her name, blinking and knowing instantly they weren’t customers. “What can I do for you?”

  “Detective Mcgee, homicide,” he pulled a photo from inside his pocket, holding it out to her. “Do you know this man?”

  “Homicide…” Anna looked at the photo, head tilted slightly and then shaking. “No, I’m sorry. Is he a customer?”

  “I don’t know. That’s what we’re here to find out. He had one of your cards.”

  Anna smiled patiently, pulled her gloves free and caught sight of her brother and Catherine coming in from the side. “Sorry. My cards sit on the desk there by the register. Anyone can have one.”

  “Would you take another look, Miss Carson?”

  “McGee…” Catherine glanced at the photo and then at Anna. “You don’t know him?”

  “Doesn’t look like a plant person,” she said with a pair of delicately pursed lips. “Sorry.”

  “Can you tell us where you were last night?”

  “At home…from four-thirty until about seven this morning with Carter. Then I was in Olympia with Leo there…buying plants, as you can see,” Anna swept her hand at the full load of containers inside the SUV. “We just got back.”

  “Carter who?”

  “McGee, you’re on the wrong track here,” Catherine said evenly.

  “Lieutenant…”

  “She doesn’t know him. He hangs in alleys and drug houses, McGee. Someone planted that there,” Catherine looked from one to the other. “Get with Bobby Morris. He has some associates you can look into.”

  “Yes, sir,” the men grudgingly turned away.

  Anna gestured to a couple employees. “Take these all to the holding area, please. I’ll sort them either this weekend or next week…and get them watered for me, Crystal.”

  “Can we go to your office?” Catherine shifted to the side with a noticeable wince.

  “Interesting watching you work,” Aaron said with a chuckle.

  “I got cuffs, too,” she said with a wink, grinning at the giggle from Anna.

  “Be still my heart,” Aaron drew one finger along the back of her neck. “I’ll meet you in your office,” he told them, detouring to where he knew the restrooms were.

  “So what has you two together on a Friday afternoon?” Anna pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and offered one to Catherine before pushing a wheeled chair across to her. “Sit down before you fall over. I’m not good at unconscious people.”

  “Thanks…” she took the water. “I need to know if you could handle meeting the Austins, Anna?”

  “Wow…” she slid onto her desk, feet swinging slightly. “I suppose so. I don’t know what to expect from them…what they want from us…do you need to talk to them?”

  “I want to talk to them…and having you and Aaron there would be a plus so I can watch and observe,” Catherine said honestly, the sight of him in the corner of her eye making her sigh. “He’s so sexy…”

  “He’s a brother…” Anna said with a raised brow. “As for the Austin’s…we don’t know them…I can’t explain why I haven’t wanted us to know them, I just…it’s a feeling that’s hard to label. Just a kind of…” she shivered a little. “Off…just off…I’d say it’s because they’re related to the parents, but we were friendly with the Ellison’s without a problem or eewww factor. They laughed and played with us. Sometimes it felt like they were uncomfortable about it, but they were okay.”

  “Carter has a luncheon set up for Sunday with the Ellison’s at their house on Mercer Island,” Aaron said when he entered her office. He watched his sister draw in a long, slow breath.

  “Alright…” Anna smiled when he moved to stand behind Catherine, his hands moving over her shoulders. “I suppose we can have him do the same with the Austin’s so you can ask questions, Catherine. You want it public or private? I know there’s a political fund raiser tomorrow night…I bet they’re going to be there.”

  “A dress two days in a row…not sure I can handle that,” Catherine murmured, sighing and half closing her eyes. “You have half an hour to stop that, mister.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind.”

  “Guess I better come browse through my closet…lots there for you to borrow, Catherine. We’re the same coloring, but for the eyes,” Anna saw Leo coming toward her. “I can meet you there…I’ll pull a couple to take with me…this multiple closet thing is starting to wear on me,” she grumbled, finding her pack and tapping the light switch as they left the office.

  Catherine parked the sports car off to the side, pushed the door wide and tried pulling her brain back from the puzzle. Aaron didn’t seem to mind that she drifted, chewing on her lip as she drove them home. Home. She thought about the little apartment compared to the wide, large open house he owned. But she knew it wasn’t about a place, it was about them, and she smiled when he held his hand out to pull her up from the low riding seat.

  Anna went inside, tapping light switches and opening her phone. She’d sent Leo home but she tapped up Carter with a smile in her voice.

  “I’m going to go through my closet and help Catherine find a couple dresses and I’m making some dinner…want to join us?”

  “How can I possibly refuse such an invitation,” Carter told her, guiding the car into the port before the front door. “Let me change and I’ll be right there. I can bring whatever Deann’s cooked up for us.”

  “That’ll be good…it’ll be a nice buffet…see you in a bit,” she told him, opening the freezer and pulling out some good stuff to munch on. She set the oven and dumped things onto trays before sliding them into the oven. Her hands went to the computer without thinking, tuning up some fun music before disappearing into her bedroom.

  “She makes it look so easy,” Catherine breathed, having watched Anna buzz around without pausing.

  Aaron laughed, his jacket draped over the banister. “You make cop stuff look easy, Catherine. It’s all degrees, trust me. Right now, she’s dancing around in her closet. Go join her and find something you like, if not we can go out shopping in the morning if you intend to make the fund raiser tomorrow.”

  “After what you guys did to him, you really think we’d be welcome?” She looked at him with one brow arched. But she already saw distraction in his eyes, his hands came up and took the cane away, leaning it against the desk before folding her against him, placing her hands around his neck as he moved to the music. “Aaron….”

  “Shhhh…listen…what do you hear?” He asked, holding her as close as possible as he moved to the modern pop tune.

  “Music…” She said carefully, knowing she was missing a clue.

  “The words, my sweet beauty…listen to the words,” he told her softly. “You make me smile…that’s what I felt the first time I saw you on the break-way.”

  Catherine tilted her head, listening to the words. Forget how to breathe…I see the best of me inside your eyes…she felt her eyes begin to tear up. Dance like a fool…smile like the sun…yes, she knew the feelings in the words.

  Carter came in the front at the same time Anna came out of the bedroom with an arm full of long gowns.

  “Oh, geeze…you guys…” Anna giggled and dropped the dresses over the back of the sofa before crossing to take the large pan from Carter with a quick kiss. “It’s contagious…”

  “I sincerely hope so,” he teased, following her into the kitchen and leaving Catherine and Aaron alone for their dance. “So…that looked pretty good out there…” He said, taking up her palm and swinging her against him, effortlessly guiding her to the new jaunty two step around the kitchen until they were breathless and laughing.

  “Well…guess you’re feeling pretty good tonight,” Anna said, taking things to the dining room and getting things set out. “We got wine and a couple sodas…not sure what kind…and juice and water and…I think Aaron has ale in the cooler.”

  “I’ll check,�
� Carter went into the kitchen while Catherine found a chair and sunk down with a long drink of one of the goblets of iced water Anna had set out. “Perfect…you want one, Aaron? Catherine?”

  “None for me…water’s good…” She watched Anna and shook her head.

  “Just fill a plate and eat…I’m serious about the closet, Catherine. Openings and events…I have tons of dresses in there. Use them, please.”

  “I’m going to get your clothes moved next week, Anna,” Carter told her, taking a forkful of the thick stew he’d brought with him. “And anything else you label. Then we won’t be bothering Aaron and Catherine.”

  “It’s not a bother,” Catherine said immediately. “It’s your house…”

  Anna laughed softly, her hands busy with one of the easy croissants she’d fixed. “No, I don’t think so. Not anymore. It’s Aaron’s and yours now, Catherine.”

  “I…”

  “Breathe, Catherine,” Aaron filled a plate and sat down at her side, raising his bottle of ale and tapping it against Carter’s. “This is good. You have a cook?”

  “Cook, housekeeper…” Carter answered. “Leo’s wife. They live above the garage.”

  “We need at least a cook and housekeeper,” Aaron commented, ignoring the coughing from his side. “It’s considered spreading the wealth. Two professional people earn help.”

  “We didn’t,” Anna commented, leaning back with her plate in one hand.

  “We weren’t a couple. One of us was always off doing stuff, the other was here puttering around,” Aaron pointed out with a shrug.

  “Hmm…yeah, I guess so…we crossed at breakfast and sometimes at night. It is really convenient not to worry about stuff but I still like going to the grocery and shopping,” Anna said casually.

  “I am so out of place…” Catherine looked from one to the other, her mouth opening when Aaron held up a piece of his croissant.

  “Naw…you fit in perfectly,” Anna told her firmly. “Besides, you’ll feel generous when I ask to borrow your car.”