Colby Roundup: Colby RoundupColby Agency Companion Guide

by Debra Webb

  He tightened his fingers on hers. “Let’s go. It’ll be dark soon. We’ve pressed our luck already.”

  With him leading, she hung on to that big strong hand of his and lamented her foolish fetish for high heels. Not that she’d exactly planned things this way. The decision to search for those former grave sites had been her going with her heart instead of her brain for the first time in a really long time.

  Once they reached the yard she realized how late it actually was. The sun had dipped low in the sky and a crisp breeze had kicked up. Limbs of the old tree at the back of the house were swiping back and forth against the neglected siding, making the sound she knew so well from her dreams. She hadn’t precisely known what the sound was until she came here today and saw the tree. Many things about her dreams had cleared in her mind.

  But she was no closer to the truth than she had been yesterday. She drew Russ to a stop midway across the backyard. When his full attention rested on her, she asked the question she’d set aside to come here. “Do you think the other woman Mrs. Samson thought she saw was Janet Tolliver?”

  “That was my thinking,” he offered. “We don’t have any photos of Janet when she was young. If the agency had suspected who she was immediately after her murder, we might have been able to get a photo from her great-niece. The house she lived in has been packed up and everything moved to storage so it won’t be so easy now. I sent an update to Simon via text. He’s going to contact the niece and see if she can help us.”

  “Could she have been hiding out here? Involved in the murders? Why wouldn’t Clare or Rafe mention that at trial?” Of course, Rafe hadn’t said a word but Clare had said plenty. Never once had she mentioned another female presence in the house. Olivia had read a copy of the trial transcript and there was nothing there about another woman, blonde or otherwise.

  “We may never know. There’s always the chance that Mrs. Samson was mistaken.”

  “Do you think we should go against Mrs. Samson’s wishes and contact her daughter?” Olivia didn’t want to hurt the woman or her daughter but this was too important to ignore what had been swept under the rug.

  “I think we should do whatever we have to do.”

  Olivia’s chest welled with gratitude. As much as she respected her boss, he was a good boss and a friend. But he felt Olivia’s digging into all this was a mistake. Having this man on her side meant a great deal. “Thank you.”

  Confusion lined his face. “What for?”

  “Supporting me as well as playing the part of protector. And if,” she said before he could respond, “you say it’s your job I might just punch you.” He had a smudge of dirt on his jaw. His blond hair was tousled. As ridiculous as it sounded, he looked good all messy and unpolished.

  “I won’t pretend to know how difficult this is,” he said in the gentle voice that was so unexpected from a big cocky-looking cowboy like him. “But I know when a person needs a real friend. Today, you needed a friend. In addition to a bodyguard.” That prized grin spread over his face.

  She reached up hesitantly. “You have dirt…right here.” She wiped it away with the pad of her thumb. “There.”

  For a long time he stared straight into her eyes. And for the first time in too long to recall she wished for more. Most of the time when she got those stares of longing she just turned away. But not this time. This time she wanted him to look his fill and then she wanted him to kiss her. To put those powerful arms around her and hold her tight the way he had when he’d carried her out of that awful room.

  “What I want to do right now is definitely not part of my job,” he said softly.

  “I’m sure it’s after five o’clock.” She moistened her lips. That he watched the move so intently had her heart racing. “Even a bodyguard has to have a break.”

  His arms went around her and his mouth crushed onto hers. She didn’t have time to catch her breath but she didn’t care. She wanted to feel something real. Something warm and alive. She wanted to feel him holding her this way, his mouth devouring hers with the same intensity she’d seen in his eyes.

  When he at last drew his lips from hers, resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “I’m going to need a lot longer than a quick break to do this right.” He inhaled a heavy breath. “And unfortunately now is not a good time to be that distracted.”

  The way his hands cupped her bottom, keeping her pelvis pressed solidly against his warned that he wasn’t happy about the choice but it was the right one to make. The contact also revealed that he wanted a whole lot more than just a kiss. Anticipation swelled inside her.

  She licked the taste of him from her lips, couldn’t help herself. “As soon as this is done, I expect you to make good on the implication your hips are making, Mr. St. James.”

  “Count on it.”

  He dragged his arms free of her body, maintaining the intimate contact for as long as possible before turning to head to the SUV. That he held on to her hand did strange things to her pulse rate.

  As they neared his SUV, he stalled. “What the hell?”

  Olivia leaned around him and tried to determine the problem. Her gaze latched onto the front tires. She gasped. Both were flat. They walked around the SUV. The rear tires were flat, as well. He crouched down to inspect first one, then the next on the driver’s side.

  “Someone isn’t happy to see us.”

  “Slashed?” That was her first thought.

  He stood, gave her a nod as he withdrew his weapon and took a long look around. “I’ll put in a call to my motor club and see if they can get someone out here ASAP.”

  Ice filling her veins, Olivia turned back to the house. She sure hoped so. Staying here after nightfall was not something she could do. She hugged her arms around herself in an effort to block the cool breeze. Out here in the middle of nowhere it might take some time to get roadside service. Her fingers tightened into fists. Who would do this? Could have been Tony Weeden, maybe. He and Clare could be lurking about. Olivia surveyed the property and then the woods and pastures that bordered the road for as far as the eye could see. They could be watching and waiting for the cover of darkness.

  “You think whoever did this is still out there somewhere?” She shuddered. Russ was with her and he had a weapon.

  “Maybe.” He surveyed the area again. “Depends on if it was Weeden or just some local who wants us to know he isn’t happy we’re here. One thing you can count on, if whoever did this had wanted to do either of us harm he had the perfect opportunity while we were in the woods. Chances are he did this and got the hell out of here.”

  Olivia stayed close to him as he made the necessary call. If anyone was watching them they were hidden in the woods. The road was deserted in both directions. Another of those creeping shivers rushed over her skin.

  “They can have someone here in an hour,” he announced, drawing her from the troubling thoughts. “Give me a minute to check it out and if I don’t find any hidden explosives or other anomalies, we’ll load up and have some of those snacks and bottled water I have tucked in my backpack while we wait.”

  Her stomach responded to the suggestion. She hadn’t thought of food in hours. “I hope you have potato chips.”

  “Never leave home without them.”

  Her lips curved into a smile. How he did that under the circumstances was beyond her. He spent a good long while examining the undercarriage of the vehicle, then beneath the hood. He’d scrounged up another flashlight from beneath the front seat. While he checked the SUV, she kept an eye out for any movement.

  When he was satisfied that it was safe, he unlocked the SUV and opened her door. While she made herself comfortable, he opened the door behind her and rummaged through his backpack.

  “Just what the lady ordered.” He passed her a bottle of water and a bag of chips.

  When he’d rounded the hood and climbed behind the wheel, she asked, “Do you think someone followed us here?”

  “Don’t think so. I kept an eye on the tra
ffic behind us as we neared Granger. No one followed us from the Samson home. My guess is she called someone and mentioned that we were here.”

  “Someone like a family member of one of the victims?” She downed a gulp of water to chase the salty chips. “Or someone like a local cop?” Her money was on the cop. The two she’d attempted to interview had let her know in no uncertain terms that they were not happy with her digging.

  “Hard to say. Slashed tires are far less troubling than having automobile parts end up all over the yard.”

  She could vouch for that. “But how would anyone, even the police, know we were here unless they got a call? Mrs. Samson is the only person who knew we were in town.”

  He reached into his pocket and retrieved his ringing cell. A glance at the screen and he said, “It’s Simon.”

  Olivia found herself holding her breath as she listened to his side of the conversation. Didn’t sound like the kind of news he’d wanted to hear. His voice had turned somber. His profile looked grim.

  He ended the call and placed his phone on the console. “We’re about to have company.”

  “The police?” How she made that leap based on a call from the Colby Agency, which was in Houston, she would never know.

  “Not yet, but they’ll be next. Someone leaked to the press that you’re here. As in here. Several stations from surrounding areas are en route. And we’re stranded.”

  Olivia stared at the house. She would not go back in there. “How do you know the police will be here next?” The salty taste of the chips turned sour on her tongue.

  “The petition for the stay of execution just hit the wire. Word is spreading like wildfire. The local cops will feel compelled to intervene in the event that reporters aren’t the only folks who show up out here before roadside assistance arrives.”

  “You mean like protesters?” That was a strong possibility if her presence was known.

  “Yep. And irate family members of the victims.” He showed her the depth of his concern with his eyes. “Some won’t take this well. You need to be braced for that.”

  For two weeks she had been certain she was braced for anything. Now she wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter Thirteen

  8:45 p.m.

  “She’s on the news.”

  Clare roused from the doze she had slipped into. She sat up on the side of the bed. “What did you say?” She and Tony had driven back to Houston, since fading into the background in a large city was far easier than in a small town. There were many more cheap motels to choose from, as well. No one asked questions in places like this.

  “Olivia is on the news.” Tony gestured to the television set. “She and the man from the Colby Agency.”

  Clare peered at the dim screen. The reception was quite terrible, leaving the images snowy and wavy. But he was right. It was Olivia. Her heart leaped. Her oldest.

  The breath trapped in her lungs and twisted like a corkscrew. “She’s at the house.” She leaned closer still to the fuzzy images. “The police are there.” Blue lights flashed against the night. “Do you suppose something has happened?”

  “Listen and we’ll find out,” he snapped.

  Tony had been very irritable this evening. She supposed his shoulder ached. But that was no reason to ignore her the way he had and then jump down her throat the first chance he got.

  He’d been very withdrawn since the shooting. It was as if he blamed her. She hadn’t told him to hurt anyone. If he hadn’t shot at that man watching over Lisa—Laney, she called herself now—none of this would have happened. Maybe Clare could have spoken to her daughter and explained how they had rescued Buddy. But as it was Clare hadn’t gotten the chance and she’d been terrified that Laney or her precious little boy would be hurt.

  She dismissed the disturbing thoughts and paid attention to the reporter. Someone had damaged the vehicle Olivia and the man were driving. The police were there to protect them from further trouble, according to the reporter.

  Then the woman launched into the breaking news that her station had learned that all three of the Barker girls were alive. The eldest, Olivia, had petitioned the courts for a stay of execution on her father’s behalf.

  The rest of the reporter’s words were lost on Clare. How could Olivia be so foolish? Rafe should die! He should burn in hell for all eternity! Who had filled her head with such nonsense?

  The Colby Agency. Olivia had only done this foolish thing after becoming involved with them. The Colby Agency was keeping Laney and Sadie out of Clare’s reach.

  She had to do something. Wilting onto the side of the bed, she twisted her fingers together to stop their shaking. How could she talk to her daughters if they were being kept from her? He had summoned the aid of this Colby Agency. He did not want her to succeed in bringing her girls together as a family again.

  “You see what she’s done?”

  Clare jerked from her troubling thoughts. Tony was staring at her, his eyes wild with fury. “She’s under the influence of that Colby Agency,” Clare argued. “She’s confused, that’s all.”

  “She wants to hurt you,” Tony challenged. “I’m the only one who really cares about you. Don’t you see that?”

  He had suggested that same nonsense after that man had shot him. Clare didn’t like when he talked that way. “I think we’ve gone about this all wrong. I should have called each one as soon as I was released from prison and told them the truth.”

  “How could you?” he mocked. “You didn’t even know where they were until I beat it out of that old bitch.”

  He was right. Clare’s hopes fell. Janet had tried to keep the truth from her. If not for Tony she would have had no idea where to look. As soon as she was released he had found Clare. He had known her release was imminent and he had made numerous arrangements. She had scarcely thanked him. How could she be frustrated with him now? He was only trying to protect her. He had told her over and over that none of the trouble in Beaumont had been his fault. Hadn’t he gotten her away from that man who had been watching her in Copperas Cove? That Lucas Camp from the Colby Agency. Yes, her boy had helped her tremendously.

  He had risked much to help her. He had given up his job and done whatever she needed. He’d had no control over the turn of events in Beaumont when Laney’s child had been taken by his no-good father. Tony had rescued the boy.

  Then that awful Colby Agency man had tried to cause trouble by interfering. No one would have been hurt if not for him. Tony was right. He had been protecting her. Rafe had hired the Colby Agency. They were on his side, which meant they were against Clare.

  No one was ever going to believe the truth. She had no way to prove what really happened. Rafe had turned their home into hell. He and that whore sister of hers.

  Rafe would take the truth to hell with him and Janet was already in hell. Perhaps if Tony had been more careful, Janet would still be alive and Clare could get the truth out of her. But he’d had to stop her interference. Janet had intended to warn the girls and threatened to make sure they never spoke to their mother. She would have, too. She would have done anything to ensure Rafe got what he wanted.

  She had turned him into the monster he became. Her and her sexual deviance.

  Clare wished she had ended her evil existence a long time ago. Before she ruined everything.

  It was too late for that now. Clare had to focus on the future. She had nothing to take to her daughters in the way of proof of what she knew. Somehow she had hoped they would remember certain things. Particularly Olivia. She was the oldest and should have remembered something.

  But she hadn’t so far; otherwise she would not be taking her father’s side. Perhaps her memories were blocked…buried. Too painful to look at. But she wanted to remember or she wouldn’t have gone to the house in Granger.

  She had to be searching for the truth whether she was conscious of it or not.

  Clare had read a little about memory triggers. Smells often helped with recalling people and events. Sounds d
id, as well.

  Hope bloomed in her chest and a smile lifted her lips. There might be hope. If only she had thought of this before.

  “I want to go back to the house,” she announced.

  Tony glared at her as if she had lost her mind. “We can’t go back there.”

  She stood, squared her shoulders. “We can and we will. There’s something in the house I have to find.”

  He growled. “I hope it’s worth going back to prison for.”

  He had no idea, but it was worth anything and everything. It might very well be her only chance.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The Boxcar Motel, Granger, 11:00 p.m.

  Russ clicked off the television and paced the small room. His SUV wouldn’t be ready until morning. Simon had ensured a rented sedan was delivered to the motel but it was too late to head back to Houston by the time it arrived. Russ didn’t like the idea of staying the night in Granger, but it was the most reasonable option.

  Tomorrow he was getting Olivia out of here. She’d put on a brave face throughout the ordeal of being bombarded by the reporters. The two police officers who had arrived to make the report had been less than sympathetic because Russ and Olivia had been trespassing. Russ had kept the part about going inside the house out of their statements. Spending the night in lockup for breaking and entering was about as appealing as going head to head with another flock of reporters. The investigating officers hadn’t bothered to go beyond the first floor inside the house. Russ would have had a heck of a time explaining the flashlight he’d dropped in that bedroom.

  To her credit, Olivia had fielded their questions with strong, noncommittal responses. She hadn’t denied having a hand in the petition for Barker’s stay of execution but she hadn’t confirmed it, either. She’d explained with strength and conviction that she had only just learned she was, in fact, Olivia Barker. Her legal persona had taken over despite the circumstances and their state of dishevelment.