Small-Town Secrets

by Linda Randall Wisdom

  “Something tells me you’ve done this before,” he commented after she’d finished her last call.

  “I take the Fifth.” She added a few more notes. “Hope you don’t mind stew.”

  “Anytime I eat something I haven’t cooked means I won’t suffer food poisoning.”

  “Just be prepared to hear all about the movie,” she warned him. “Cody will give us a detailed review.”

  “Hey, Fitzpatrick.” He smiled at her. “Your kids don’t terrify me.”

  “They should. There are days when they completely paralyze me.” She chuckled. “There’s a reason for those Tshirts saying You Can’t Scare Me. I Have Teenagers.”

  “Mom!” Cody ran into the room and leaped into his mother’s arms. Only her quick reflexes kept her on her feet as she swept him up. “You shudda come with us. It was neat.”

  “It was, huh?” She glanced sideways at Cole. “All sorts of cool fighting machines?”

  “Yeah, and really yucky aliens. Sara said they were stupid.” He wrinkled his nose. “And you know what? When the movie was over and we were going out of the theater, we saw the sheriff.”

  If Cole hadn’t been watching Bree so intently, he would have missed the slight stiffening of her body.

  “Really?” she said casually as she set her son down on his feet. “Did he see you?”

  “Yeah.” Cody picked up a robot and started rolling it across the coffee table. Bree took it from him and set it on the floor. “But he looked mad.”

  “Did he say anything to you?” She glanced at Cole, her expression now unreadable.

  Cody shook his head. “Can I have Coke with dinner?”

  “Did you have any at the movie?”

  His hesitation told her the truth before he revealed it. “Yeah.”

  “You know the rules. You have Coke at the show, you have milk for dinner.”

  “Okay.” He ran out of the room.

  “Coke and, I’m sure, candy that David bought him will have Cody riding a sugar high all evening.” She breathed a deep sigh. “I need to go in and finish up a few things for dinner. Turn on the TV if you want. Being a man, you’ll have no problem finding the remote, I’m sure,” she said with a teasing smile as she left the room.

  As predicted, Cole easily found the remote control among magazines and puzzles on the coffee table, and switched on the news. Even with the commentator droning on about world events, he could hear a low-voiced exchange between Bree and Sara.

  “There was no reason for me to go with them to see that movie!” Sara’s furious whisper easily reached his ears.

  Bree’s murmur was less distinct, but he guessed she was warning her daughter to be more discreet.

  “—never do anything!” The last part of Sara’s retort was full throttle.

  “Sara’s on the rampage,” David said, walking into the room. He fell back into a chair with the practiced slouch of a teenager. But his probing gaze was one Cole was familiar with. He’d seen more than one cop sport that look. “If we’re lucky, she’ll only pout during dinner.”

  “Not having a sister, I guess I missed out on all that fun.” He pressed the mute on the remote.

  “What do you want Mom to do for you?” David asked suddenly.

  There were a variety of answers Cole could have given him. None of them true, but plausible enough that the kid would have believed him. Except David Fitzpatrick wasn’t just any kid. He’d grown up in the law enforcement world. Cole doubted these kids were completely shielded from the darker side of life.

  “Some local deaths listed as accidents or by natural causes don’t strike me as that. I asked Bree if she’d be willing to look into them,” he replied.

  David nodded in understanding. “So that’s why Sheriff Holloway is mad at her. He said there’s nothing wrong there. You’re saying there is and she’s thinking the same because of you. You trying to get her fired?”

  “Not at all. I just want some answers.”

  David’s gaze never left his face. “Mom’s good at what she does,” he said bluntly. “She once said her rabbi told her open cases were an insult to the investigator. Not rabbi in the religious sense. A rabbi in the police world is a mentor.”

  Cole nodded. “Is law enforcement what you plan to do?”

  David smiled. “The FBI and I have talked. Same with the DEA and CIA. But I have college ahead of me. We’ll probably talk again in three or four years and I’ll make my decision then.”

  “They’ll never know what hit them.” Cole chuckled. “My money’s on you.”

  “Then think about what you’re putting Mom through. We’ve got somebody watching the house. I felt like we’ve been watched other times.”

  Cole’s interest sharpened and a chill slithered down his spine. “When?”

  “At some of Cody’s soccer games. A few times when we’ve been in town after school. Nothing definite. Just a feeling.”

  “I trust your feelings more than I’d trust most peoples’. Does your mom know?”

  David nodded. “For the time being, Sara and Cody don’t go anywhere without Mom or me or a trusted adult with them. They’re not allowed to go anywhere even with friends. Cody doesn’t care much. Sara’s the problem. She doesn’t like the restrictions, but she doesn’t like much of anything lately. I guess it’s all due to you. She has trouble with Mom dating.”

  “Then I guess I have to say I’m guilty as charged.”

  “Come on in for dinner,” Bree called from the kitchen.

  David pushed himself out of his chair. “One other thing you might want to consider,” he said. “Mom’s a crack shot. She’s won awards.”

  Cole followed him out of the room. “I’ll see if I have a Kevlar vest in the closet.”

  His previous time with the Fitzpatrick family hadn’t prepared him for this evening. They didn’t believe in standing on ceremony during dinner.

  Cody chattered about the movie, while Sara sighed dramatically and David alternated bites of dinner with knowing glances at Bree and Cole. Bree noticed her stepson’s attention directed at her, and flashed him a pointed look of her own, but he refused to back down. Cole had to give him a lot of credit. At the young man’s age, Cole might have thought twice about standing up to Bree, who looked her most formidable at that moment.

  He was so engrossed watching them, he didn’t notice Sara lean over and whisper something in Cody’s ear.

  “No!” the little boy wailed. He shot an accusing glare at Cole. “I don’t need a daddy!” He jumped out of his chair and ran out of the room.

  Bree didn’t waste any time before turning to her daughter. “Good going, Sara,” she said tightly. “Two dollars to the Cuss Jar.” She held up her hand to halt the expected protests. “Your behavior warrants a little loss of money. You will go in there and apologize to your brother for whatever you said to him, and you have dish duty all week. And you can’t use the dishwasher.”

  Sara’s face tightened. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have me flogged?”

  “Don’t tempt me.”

  “Then excuse me. It appears I have amends to make.” With her head held high, she left room.

  “And to think my mother complained about having three boys.” Cole was the first to break the silence.

  “Must be that time of the month,” David muttered, then winced when he encountered his stepmother’s eyes. “Sorry.”

  “Damn straight, you’re sorry.” Bree turned to Cole. “And I’m sorry you had to see them like this.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t write one of those stories on life with a sheriff’s detective’s family for the next issue.” He forked up his last bite of stew.

  Bree turned back to David. “Cody said he saw Sheriff Holloway when you came out of the theater.”

  He shrugged. “I think he’s pissed at me for getting his son in trouble. I guess he thinks he’s intimidating me.”

  “Just don’t do anything to get him really angry,” she warned.

  David ga
thered up plates and carried them over to the sink.

  “Don’t worry, I’m leaving them for Sara,” he said as he left the room. “I’ve got a paper to finish. With my suspension over, I don’t have a decent excuse for it to be late,” he joked. “’Night.”

  “David, don’t forget David Boa needs to be fed,” she reminded him.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ll do it tomorrow when Cody isn’t around.”

  Cole lifted a brow. “David Boa?”

  “Boa constrictor,” she explained. “Cody thinks the snake is cool, but he doesn’t like to think what D.B. eats. I don’t blame him. I’m not too keen on it, either. As long as I don’t have to feed it or handle it, I’m fine.”

  “You’re one cool mom,” he complimented her.

  She smiled. “Let’s sit outside. Coffee?”

  “Sounds good.”

  Jinx walked out in front of them, his ears twitching forward and head lifted as he sniffed the air.

  “Most dogs race around the yard,” Cole commented.

  “No, he’ll patrol the perimeter.” She led the way to the patio table. “Once he’s reassured everything’s all right, he’ll settle down.” She looked up when the patio door opened. Cody walked out, holding the kitten in his arms.

  “Eartha Katt has to go potty,” he announced.

  “Sweetheart, we have a litter box for Eartha now,” Bree reminded him.

  “Sometimes she wants real grass.” He walked over to a corner of the yard and set the kitten down.

  “He’s a lot like his dad,” she said softly, watching her youngest. “Analytical, studies things from every angle before making his decision. They’re all like Fitz. Even Sara.” She laughed softly.

  “Are you still mourning him?”

  Cole’s question had Bree’s head snapping upward. The only light was the spillover from the kitchen window and patio door. Cody’s whispered conversation with his kitten warred with the cicadas singing in the distance.

  “Would another guy ever have a chance with you?” Cole murmured.

  She didn’t answer right away. Both adults were so intent on each other, they were barely aware of Cody picking his kitten up and going back into the house.

  “Fitz will always be in a special corner of my heart, but my mourning him is over,” she said finally. “As for anyone else, I honestly haven’t given it a lot of thought. I have enough going on in my life without adding too much more to it.”

  Cole sat back, one ankle resting on the opposite knee.

  “Then I guess I’ll just have to do what I can to change your mind.”

  Chapter 12

  Bree hadn’t expected to get lucky when she took some personal time to do some quick grocery shopping. Running into Renee Patterson made her feel as if she’d just won the lottery. She couldn’t have asked for a more positive sign.

  “Renee.” She greeted the woman with a warm smile. “It’s good to see you. How are you doing?”

  “Bree, I’m doing fine, thank you. It’s good to see you, too.” Her smile was faint. She gestured toward Bree’s navy pants and cream-colored blouse. A cell phone was clipped to her belt, along with her weapon. “You look very official today.”

  “They still wouldn’t let me cut to the front of the line,” Bree joked. She studied the shadows under the woman’s eyes and the lack of color in her face. “Do you have time for some coffee?”

  Renee hesitated. “I really shouldn’t,” she murmured.

  Just at that moment, Bree looked up and saw Cole coming out of the dry cleaners with a handful of plastic-covered shirts draped over his shoulder. She willed him to look her way. As if he heard her, he did just that. He stowed his shirts in his truck and started walking toward her.

  “There’s Cole.” Bree infused surprise in her voice. “Cole! Hello. Care to join Renee and me for coffee?”

  “Sure,” he said, not missing a beat. “Hey there, gorgeous. How’s my second favorite woman?” He draped his arm around Renee’s shoulders and kissed her on the cheek. “Where’s Joshua? I’ve been trying to get hold of you for two days now. Bree and I were hoping you’d double date with us one night,” he joked.

  “Where else would he be on a lovely day like today but at the golf course?” She patted his shoulder. “Why aren’t you at the office?”

  “I’m out here getting the impressions of the people on that new bond issue,” he said glibly. “Do you have anything inspiring to tell me? So far I’ve only heard negatives about the bond.”

  “Don’t get old,” Renee said.

  At first Bree thought she should smile, as if the older woman had just made a joke. But something in Renee’s eyes told her that wasn’t the case.

  “I don’t think we have an option. My kids are already convinced I’m older than dirt,” Bree said. “I’m just biding my time until it’s their turn.”

  “Best thing to do,” Cole agreed, steering Renee and Bree toward the Coffee Spot. “If we’re lucky, Greta has some of her great pastries left.”

  If Renee thought of protesting again, she didn’t have a chance as Bree and Cole sandwiched her between them. Cole waved at Greta and herded the women toward a small table in the rear.

  “What will you have, ladies? My treat,” he declared with a winning smile.

  “I’ll have a latte,” Bree decided.

  “I’ll have one, too,” Renee said.

  Bree noticed Renee nervously twisting her shoulder bag straps. She stared toward the counter, where Cole stood talking to Greta. She turned back to Bree.

  “Have you and Cole been dating long?” she asked brightly.

  “Longer than I expected,” Bree replied, looking up when Cole said something to Greta that had her laughing. “I think he’s beginning to grow on me. Like a fungus,” she said wryly.

  “That boy is the salt of the earth,” Renee murmured. “He cares about people. Probably cares about them too much.” She suddenly reached across the table and grasped Bree’s hand in a tight grip that was almost painful.

  Bree was stunned to find the woman’s fingers ice-cold to the touch.

  “Please, dear, do whatever you can to keep him safe,” she said fervently. “Cole tends to jump in without any thought of the consequences. I can tell you have a level head. You have to, with your work, don’t you, dear? You’ll make sure he doesn’t do anything that could get him hurt, won’t you?”

  “Of course I will,” Bree replied, startled by the older woman’s plea. “But I can’t imagine that Cole would do anything that would get him into trouble.” She prayed this lie wouldn’t come back to haunt her.

  Renee laughed softly. “I’m afraid I know Cole better than you do in that respect. The man dodged bullets for so many years he doesn’t know how to act unless he’s in some sort of danger.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Right now, he’s looking into something that could get him badly hurt.” Her gaze burrowed into Bree’s eyes. “And I think you know it.”

  The hairs on the back of Bree’s neck stood up. Her favorite barometer for trouble hadn’t let her down.

  “Renee, what is going on?” she asked, keeping her voice low. “Please, tell me. Let me help you.”

  The woman looked around, then straightened up and reverted to the bright voice she’d used before. “I am so glad I ran into you today. So many people at the senior center have commented on the safety speech you gave. I’m hoping you can come speak to us again sometime in the near future.”

  “I would be happy to speak to them again,” Bree replied, smiling her thanks at Cole as he set cups down in front of them. He set a plate filled with a variety of cookies in the middle of the table.

  “You had to, didn’t you?” Bree groaned, even as she picked up a cookie and bit into it. She murmured appreciatively as the rich flavors of chocolate, pecans and walnuts mingled in her mouth. When she looked at Cole, he shot her a silent question. She gave him a slight shake of the head.

  “I’m surprised you let Joshua head for the golf course
without you,” he commented to Renee. “Used to be you had your clubs in the back of the car if he even whispered the word golf.”

  “I had things to do today, so I thought I’d let him go on his own.” Renee sipped her latte. “I doubted he would have a problem finding someone to play with him.”

  “Not around here, where golf clubs are found in just about every household,” Cole joked. “Except mine. I never had the patience to learn.”

  “Joshua and Cole’s uncle tried to teach him some years ago,” Renee told Bree. “It wasn’t a pretty sight.”

  “I told them I’d rather watch paint dry,” he said.

  As Bree listened to Renee, she noticed the woman seemed more animated, more relaxed than she had been before. But there were still shadows in the back of the woman’s eyes. Bree felt that if Cole hadn’t returned when he had, she might have been able to learn what had upset the older woman.

  At Cole’s appearance, Renee’s demeanor had changed to that of a smiling woman without a care in the world.

  “Have you and Joshua lived in Warm Springs a long time?” Bree asked.

  “We moved here a little over ten years ago.” Renee’s fingers lingered over the cookies before she chose one. “We’d come down one weekend to visit friends, and liked the area so much that when Joshua retired, we decided to move down here.”

  “When did you get involved with the senior center?” she asked.

  “About six months after we moved here. Joshua was asked to give a seminar on financial planning. The center was in a small storefront then and not very well attended. I talked to several women who wanted to get more going on in there, and we started working on setting up various classes, day trips to Laughlin. We even arranged shopping trips and theater jaunts to San Diego. At the same time, we worked to find the proper building for our new center. We moved into our present accommodations three years ago,” she said proudly. “We offer at least ten different classes or workshops a week.”