This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
World Castle Publishing, LLC
Pensacola, Florida
Copyright © Kathi S. Barton 2021
Paperback ISBN: 9781955086691
eBook ISBN: 9781955086707
First Edition World Castle Publishing, LLC, August 9, 2021
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com
Licensing Notes
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.
Cover: Karen Fuller
Editor: Maxine Bringenberg
Prologue
Every time Dwayne looked at his brother, he laughed. There was no point in holding back anymore, either. Everyone had seen and heard him react to Gunner and Hodge popping out of the book, so there was no hiding the fact that Sawyer had been the perfect stodge to have pulled this on.
Gunner had told Sawyer to put the book on the floor. Not questioning his brother, he did just what he’d asked him to do. Then Sawyer, falling hook line and sinker for whatever reason Gunner had told him to say abracadabra over it, was just too funny. Gunner and Hodge had just appeared, something akin to being sprinkled from the ceiling. Sawyer had leapt back from them, fallen over the coffee table, breaking it, and screaming like a little girl seeing a spider. Dwayne would forever hear a child scream like that and think of this day.
“Keep laughing it up, and I’ll give you a good reason to be sobbing over your supper later.” He couldn’t help it. Dwayne laughed all the harder. “I’m going to knock the shit out of you.”
“Behave, the two of you. It was fun. You have to admit, there haven’t been that many fun things around here of late. Not with us trying to hunt down a killer, people getting their asses shot to fuck, and things like recording devices showing up in the strangest places.” Dwayne noticed that his mom didn’t say anything to the girls for their potty mouth, as she called it. He thought that Andi had the worst of it. Hearing it from men all the time was something he could understand. Sometimes he’d forget she was a woman.
Andi didn’t look manly or anything like that. Nor did she have a haircut that would make it difficult to tell what gender she was from behind. Her hair was as beautiful as any sunset he’d ever witnessed, and her figure in those tight pants that women wore nowadays was perfect on her body. Not that he was looking too hard.
“I need to ask you a couple of questions.” Dwayne told Chandler he was all ears. “I don’t want to alarm you, but you have a family following you around. A woman, two children, and a man. None of them seem to be upset or anything like that. They’re new to you. I mean, all of us have a ghost or two hanging around, with the exception of Andi. But this family is new to you.”
“Why not Andi?” He said that neither of them knew. “So, you think she’s not ever hurt anyone or caused their deaths? I haven’t either. Not that I know of. And this couple, what do they look like? What I mean is, my age? Older? Tell me something so I can remember them.”
“They’re all four dead, of course. I’m thinking some sort of toxin killed them.” Dwayne watched as his brother had a conversation with, he assumed, one of them. “Carbon poisoning. You do know them in a way. You tried to save them when you came upon their car. Do you remember that?”
“Yes.” He looked in the direction his brother was still looking. “If you can hear me, I’m still trying to reach your sister, missus. The number I found in your home was old and no longer assigned. The police have your cell phone. As soon as they turn it over to me for the few minutes they said I could have, I’ll call her.”
“What happened?” Dwayne told Chandler what had happened. “I saw that in the paper. Where they were homeless and living in their car, right? I didn’t see your name mentioned in the article.”
“I asked them not to. I don’t know the family at all. I wish I could have done more for them, but they were all dead by then, with the exception of the wife, and she didn’t last that long after I got to them. The children were bundled up in the back seat. The husband had…he killed himself, I think when he figured out what he’d done. The missus asked me to call her sister to let her know. Brooks is trying to get the police to allow me to call her for them.” Chandler asked if he could help. “I don’t know. I never thought of asking you guys, but you do have an in with the station house. I just need it to get the phone number for a woman by the name of Brit. I might have heard that wrong, but I’m hoping I’m close enough to it that I can call her.”
“You have it. It’s Brittany Handle. She lives in New York.” Chandler said that would help. “I’m going to make a call now to the station and see what they can tell me. If they’d just get you the number, that will have next of kin notified.”
“Yes, that would be great. If it’s all right with the family.” Chandler told him that their last name was Lance. He asked him if he wanted their names as well. “It might go a long way in convincing the other woman that I’m not a crackpot. Please. Get it for me.”
Dwayne followed Chandler to Sawyer’s office. His brother had been doing work with the police station for weeks now, and his office looked like a crime scene to him. He knew that pictures of the scene were helpful, but the ones on his brother’s walls were bloody and vivid.
“Have you seen Gunner’s office? Andi took all his medals that he no longer wore and had them framed with the information on the back as to why he received each one of them. I had no idea that Gunner was such a hero.” Dwayne said he’d not seen them yet. “You need to have a look at it. It’s beautifully done and very tastefully out there that he’s been saving lives for a decade.”
While his brother talked to someone on the phone, Dwayne had a look around this office. It was filled out nicely. He even liked the fact that there was a nice couch across from the desk rather than just chairs. Dwayne envied his brothers’ tastes. Everything in this room said a man worked in here. It wasn’t for show. He supposed if he ever got around to fixing his office up, he’d have a nice one too. Right now, all he had in the room was a few boxes of books, as well as an office chair.
Dwayne was working with Holly. Not for her, she told him, but with. She had not really hinted but outright told him that she was grooming him to take over her businesses when she’d had enough. Dwayne thought she was kidding. Apparently, she didn’t kid around about money and how she made it.
“I knew the second I saw you that you’d make the perfect replacement for me. I bet if I were to ask you anyone around here’s name today, you’d be able to tell me what it was.” He said they knew who he was, so it was only fair that he learned their names. “That, right there, is what I’m talking about. You’re not just a good replacement, Dwayne, but a person that I can be proud of. My son, as you know, doesn’t want it. He said he’s busy learning to live since that horrid wife of his was sent off to prison. Not that I blame him. Being shackled to her should have killed him. But he is being a good son and grandfather to those children.”
“Molly loves him. She is having so much fun with her sister and brother that I’m surprised she ever gets out much. Raven said she’s been the best big sister she could have ever hoped for.” Holly told him that was the
way it should be. “I agree. My parents love them too. Molly goes to their home several times a week just to hang out with them. I hope if I ever get a mate, then children, they’re like her. Molly is a wonderful kid.”
“I’d like to take full credit for that, but I can’t. Don’t tell her I said this, but I think Raven did a wonderful job of raising her on her own. I helped when she’d let me. Also, Raven doesn’t have all those stupid rules that keep me from having fun with her daughter.” Dwayne didn’t mention her other grandmother. That was a sore spot for all of them. “Did I tell you that my son is going on a cruise with me next month? We’ve never done that before. I think he’ll enjoy it too. While I’m gone, you’ll be running the business.”
“Dwayne?” He looked at his brother, being pulled from the panic attack he had every time he thought of running the business. “Here’s the number. The phone doesn’t have service, and I don’t think it has for a long time. The captain there had to plug it in for it to come on. The battery was shot.”
Taking the number from his brother, he laid it by the phone and took in a deep breath. He’d never done anything remotely like this before—called someone to let them know their family member had passed away. Chandler left him there. He also told him that he was alone in the room. Picking up the phone, he glanced at his watch as he only just realized he was happy it wasn’t too late.
“Brit Handle’s office. How may I help you?” He was shocked for a moment but gathered himself up quickly. Asking to speak to Brit on a personal matter got him nowhere with the person on the other end. “Do you have any idea how many men call in here thinking I’m a sap and I’m going to hand the phone over to my boss? Plenty. I like my job very much, and the person I work for. So come up with another story, or I’m hanging up.”
“It’s about her sister and her family.” There was a long pause, and Dwayne was terrified she’d hung up on him. She told him, however, that she was Brit. “I’m sorry, Ms. Handle. But they died the day before yesterday.”
“How? I’m assuming that fucktard did it.” Dwayne told her how he’d found them and that her sister, while alive, didn’t last long. He did ask her who fucktard was. “Her father-in-law. Howie Lane. Even his name is lazy sounding. It’s his name too. Howie. I’m babbling right now, so bear with me, all right?”
“Yes, of course. Your sister’s dying wish was for me to contact you.” He heard a door shut, cutting off the noises that were in the background of the call. “The police usually do this, call the family, but I’d been asked to contact you, and I wanted to do that for her. If it helps you to know, it looked as if the children had simply fallen asleep and died that way. Not that having children die is a good thing. Now I’m babbling.”
“It’s hard to take. I mean, we weren’t really all that close. You said they were in a car. Do you know if they were living anywhere?” He said they couldn’t find an address for them anywhere. Also, the plates on the car had been expired for a few years. “It sounds like Howie kicked them out. Howie wanted to make his son pay for putting him in prison. I’m guessing he’s finally gotten his wish.”
“Howard had been shot in the head. I just assumed it was self-inflicted when I saw that he’d been shot. Do you suppose Howie had anything to do with that?” She said she didn’t know but wouldn’t put it past him. “The coroner has released their bodies to me. I’ve made arrangements to have them taken to the local funeral home. Other than prepping the bodies, there hasn’t been anything done. Nothing in the paper either.”
“Good. I’m going to be there in a few days. I can’t leave right now because of things going on here. Isn’t that the way it always is? Anyway, I have a lot going on here that requires my attention. When I get my flight information, can you arrange for us to be picked up? I’ll be bringing my son with me. Is that all right?”
“Yes, of course. I can either put you up in a hotel or a bed and breakfast. Either one will be ready when you arrive. May I ask how old your son is? That way, I can figure out if he needs a crib or not.” Her laughter made him smile. “I take it he won’t need a crib.”
“Not hardly. He’s twelve going on thirty. He’s the type of kid that keeps his mom straight. His name is Jamison, but he goes by Jamie. Calling him Jamison will make him roll his eyes at you. But the bed and breakfast sounds better than a hotel. Also, can you do me a favor? If you can’t, then that’s fine too. I’m sure you have more important things to do than help a woman out with a kid. But if you could find a local cemetery that will let them be buried there, that would be wonderful. I don’t know where they were living, but they don’t have anyone around here either.” Dwayne was taking notes on what she wanted when she laughed. He paused in writing down calling the cemetery. “I don’t even know your name. I’m so sorry.”
“That’s fine. It’s Dwayne Bishop. My family is well known around here in the event you wanted to check us out before coming here.” She asked him if he was in the habit of calling strangers to tell them that their family had died. “No. This is my first call. I just don’t want you to think I’m trying to scam you.”
“Mr. Bishop, I’ve been scammed by the best of them and have come out on top. I just want to get my sister and her family someplace where it’s nice and then come back here. Dealing with Howie is going to take up a great deal of my time, but he is going to pay. I have a feeling he’s the sole reason they were living out of their car.” He told her he’d find out for her. “Do you have a crystal ball, by chance?”
“No. But I do have some very well connected family members. I’ll see what I can find out for you before you arrive.” She thanked him three times before he was able to get off the phone with her. “I’ll see you in a few days, Ms. Handle.”
After hanging up, he asked Sasha if she’d help him out. When she came into the room with him, he told her what Ms. Handle had told him, as well as what he might need in the way of answers from the family.
“All right. I can do that for you. But before we go too far, Mr. Lane didn’t kill himself. He wants that known so that he can be buried next to his family. I wasn’t sure what he was meaning by that, but I got it figured out. Also, they think they were murdered. The mister’s father had been trying to do that since they married.” Dwayne asked her if she knew why. “Not yet. They’re still trying to remember details about things. The little ones haven’t said a word since they showed up with you. I’m thinking it’s the norm for them to be quiet all the time. Also, the missus, she said to thank you for calling her sister.”
“She’ll be here in a few days with her son.” Sasha asked him if he knew if there was a husband. “I didn’t ask. Why?”
“I don’t know. I was thinking she might be yours or Quincey’s mate. I mean, that’s the way it seems to go, don’t you think?” He told her he didn’t have time for a mate. “You make sure you tell her that when she arrives. All right. Ask your questions, and we’ll go from there.”
Chapter 1
Looking over the paperwork he’d been given last night for this meeting, Dwayne was startled when he looked up and found his dad sitting in his office. Smiling at him, he asked if he’d been there long.
“Not really. Watching you talk to yourself. What are you doing there, son?” He told him. “So you’re going to meetings and making people see reason. You were always good at that as a boy too. Especially when it came to you kids having something to argue about, which was more often than not. What are you doing for lunch? Want to have some with this old man?”
“Dad, I’d love to have lunch with you.” Dad lowered his head and said maybe next time. “Dad? What’s going on? You don’t want to have lunch now? I’ve not eaten, and it’s well past noon.”
“I thought I was going to hear a ‘but’ in there.” Dwayne stood up and pulled his jacket off the hanger. “You sure do spiffy up well. I know all you boys look good in a suit, but you take it to a new level.”
“Than
ks. I’m getting so used to wearing one that I think I’m naked when I don’t. By the way, you invited, but this is on me. I’m a lucky man to have lunch with my dad. We need to do this more often.” Dad said he’d like that, but Dwayne could tell he had something else on his mind. Letting him think about it, the two of them walked across the street from the office building and into the steak house. “This place has the best steak sub, Dad. Mom’s is better, but this one is a close second. They have pie too. Usually apple and something else.”
They were seated, and Dwayne was talking about all the things he had encountered in the contract he’d been reading, knowing full well his dad wasn’t really paying attention. When he finally looked up at him, Dad looked straight at him with tears streaming down his cheeks. Dwayne got up and sat in the chair next to his dad rather than across from him.
“Tell me what’s happened. If I can’t fix it for you, I’ll get one of the others to do it.” Dad shook his head and blew his nose on the large red and white handkerchief that he forever had on him. “Dad? You’re scaring me. What’s happened?”
“I’m useless.” Dwayne just stared at his dad when he spoke. “Your mom has a job. She told me yesterday that she was loving not being at home. What’s a man supposed to think when his wife says that to him? Even little Holly has a job she goes to with them babies. I’d like to say I could do that, but I’m not as energetic as I used to be. Honestly, I love them, I do, but they wear this old man out.”
“First of all, stop calling yourself an old man. You’re not. Secondly, have you tried finding you something that you enjoy? I know it’s too late in the year for you to help with a garden, but you have that to look forward to.” He said he wasn’t a baby. “Sorry, Dad, but the way you’re acting right now, I’m hard pressed not to be thinking that.”
“That ain’t even nice, son. And here I was thinking you’d be kind to me.” He asked if he’d gone to one of the others. “Sawyer first—he told me to get my head out of my butt. I don’t even want to tell you what Raven said. Then Quincy. He told me I was being childish too. I’m a grown man.”
Dwayne: Bishop’s Snowy Leap – Paranormal Tiger Shifter Romance Page 1
