Oakley: Marshall’s Shadow – Jaguar Shapeshifter Romance (Marshall's Shadow Book 3)

by Kathi S. Barton

  “Just like that. You believe me?” He asked her if there was a reason he shouldn’t. “I don’t know. I guess not. But no, they don’t seem to want to hurt me. There are two of them in here now. I have a feeling one of them killed the other and then himself.”

  Taking her hand into his, he felt her squeeze his hand back. Trying to think about what he should do now, he looked in the direction she was looking. He didn’t see anyone, but that didn’t mean much. They’d not bonded or even touched all that much. Turning back to Lach when she said his name, he could see she was as confused as he was.

  “Do you think this has anything to do with the hole in my head?” He didn’t know and said that to her. “They’re talking to me, Oakley. They’re telling me I can talk to them. I’m scared shitless right now. I just want you to talk to me. About anything. Your list. Tell me about your list for the store.”

  “I need to get some milk. I just eat cereal in the morning, but I’d change that up if someone were there with me. I like to cook.” He thought of where she’d been when she’d gotten hurt. “You like to cook? I’m not assuming you do. Just because you work in a restaurant, that doesn’t mean you enjoy putting together—”

  “You’re babbling.” He smiled and then leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. “That was tricky of you. I’m calmer now. The man that has been shot said he’d like me to tell the police where his body is. The smell, he said, will not be pleasant much longer. The other man—he said he was his brother—told me I’m not to do that. He’ll be in trouble.”

  “Does he realize he’s dead, and there isn’t much more trouble he can get in?” Her laughter made him smile. “Ask him why they did this. I mean, was there a problem that led to them being dead?”

  Oakley didn’t know if it was morbid of him to be enjoying himself, but he was. Lach spoke to the men and nodded several times before she looked at him. There was something very charming about her smile, which made him want to make her smile all the time.

  “His name is Taylor. He doesn’t remember his last name. The killer is Carl. Taylor said they’re both ill. They’ve been trying to make it on what is coming in each month, but their medications are more than they can pay. Poor guys. I wish I could have helped them.” Oakley said he did as well. “They’re at their home. But since neither of them knows their last name, I’m not sure what we should do.”

  “I’ll contact Harris. She’s head of the FBI around here. Perhaps she can figure it out.” He reached out to her and told her what was going on. Even telling her that Lach was calmer now that he was there, and figuring out that she could see the dead. So, if you could keep this under wraps for a little while, at least until she gets used to it, I’ll be forever grateful.

  I don’t even know what to say to this. I’m looking it up now. Do you suppose that since they found her, they’re close? I mean, that would— When Harris paused, he waited too. Ask Lach if one of the men can tell her if their last name is Howard. If so, then I found their address. Christ, Oakley. She might be right on this. They’ve not been seen in three days, according to the local reports I’ve tapped into.

  “Taylor said that was his last name. Howard. They’re both very happy that they know it now.” She looked at him after a few minutes passed. “Ask Harris if she’ll be careful of going to the house. Carl was afraid he’d not be able to kill himself, so he rigged the house. Tell her to go into the house from the basement, and he’ll tell her—he’ll tell me, then I’ll tell her how to disarm the bomb he made. I don’t think she should do this, Oakley. It’s dangerous.”

  After explaining to Harris what Lach had said, Oakley laughed when she started cursing. It was funny to hear her do it too because Harris was that good at cursing. Some of the words he thought she was making up as she ran out of ones she knew. By the time she was ready to speak again, he’d told Lach what was going on. Lach had a wonderful laugh too.

  Okay. I have a team of men with me. Tell Lach I’m going to be careful, but she is as well. I don’t know how the hell she’s doing this, but she more than likely saved a lot of lives by warning me.

  It took Harris ten minutes to get her team ready to go in. Once she was ready, Oakley relayed what was being said to Lach to Harris as to where to find the bomb. Oakley knew the exact moment Harris found it. He could feel her terror. When she spoke to him, it was nothing more than a whisper.

  You tell Lach I’m going to give her a big fat kiss when I see her. This bomb would have taken out the whole neighborhood around here, it’s that big. He told Lach, who also looked worried. All right. I’m ready. Just please don’t tell Shep about where I am. Not until I’m out of here. If I get out of here.

  It took the longest five minutes of any of their lives for Harris to say the bomb had been disarmed. The bomb squad was called, and they were on their way when he felt Harris’s relief. It was so profound he knew his brother had to have felt it as well.

  Kissing the back of Lach’s hand, he told her the bomb squad was on their way. She, too, was relieved, and laid her head back on the pillow behind her and cried. Relief, she told him—she was so relieved she couldn’t contain it.

  ~*~

  Lach had asked that Oakley be with her when she spoke to her mom and sister. She didn’t know how they were going to take having twins, but Lach was very excited for them. Twins. One of each. It would be like a dream come true for her.

  Not that she’d ever thought of having children. In fact, she’d not once thought of even being pregnant with her own child until she’d met Oakley. Not having any idea what she was going to do about them being mates, she was willing to think about it. He smiled at her when she’d said that. It made her feel like she’d won the biggest lottery in the entire country.

  When he’d left her last night, she laid in the bed alone and thought about calling him back. As she tried to reason with herself, telling herself that they had just met, all she could think about was having him near her. As her door slid open, she could hear him speaking to someone on the other side. Then he was in the room with her.

  “Don’t leave.” He said he didn’t have to. “I don’t know why, but I want you to stay here with me. I’m sorry I’m selfish about you having to sit in that uncomfortable chair all night, but I can’t stand the thought of being alone.”

  “I can find out if I can have another chair, and that way, I can at least prop my feet up.” He didn’t tell her no, he wasn’t staying. Not once did he give her a look like he wasn’t going to at least put up a fight. Instead, he went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. Not only did he have another chair, but he had two pillows and a blanket too. “They said I could stay if it kept you happy. I’m glad. I came back to see if I could steal a goodnight kiss and to pick up my list, but this is so much better.”

  “I want you to heal me.” He told her he could do that. “But not until I speak to my sister and mother. I guess Roger, her husband, is coming in as well. I don’t particularly care for him. I call him oily, but I’m not married to him. Thankfully.”

  “I would love to marry you someday soon.” She giggled, feeling light and free for the first time in a long time. Lach asked him about that. “You’re safe, and you know it. I think it also has a lot to do with us being meant for each other. I know I feel better since I met you. Sort of like I’ve gotten all my ducks in a row, and I can sleep well.”

  “That’s how I feel too. Like everything is aligned.” He set up his bed while asking her about a home. “I only have a little apartment. It’s not big—you’d make it seem smaller too, I’m thinking. But whatever you have now is fine with me.”

  “I want a home. Do you have any sort of rights to visit your babies?” She told him she’d never even thought of asking that. “If you have your contract someplace where I can have someone look it over, I know some pretty savvy attorneys. One of them works for Harris, so you know he’s good.”

  “I’d
like that. I’ve never signed it. I should also tell you I was tricked into carrying her babies. My mom forged my name to the paperwork the doctor needed to impregnate me. They lined it all up, so when I went in for my yearly exam, things were ready for them to do their thing. I did wonder why I had to take such heavy doses of vitamins before I went in. I just assumed with the bloodwork that had also been ordered, they found out that I was deficient in something.” Oakley asked her if she wanted to sue them. “I’ve actually been thinking about it. I mean, to hear Rita talk about this whole thing, it was life or death for her. Then I found out from a friend of mine that there isn’t anything wrong with Rita at all.”

  The door opened, and she stared at the man in the doorway. She didn’t know him, so looked at Oakley when he stood up. The man, an older gentleman, was staring at her like she was something he’d never seen before.

  “Hello, Lachlan, my darling. You’ve grown up.” She didn’t know the man. Nothing about him was familiar. When he smiled at her, however, Lach sat up straighter in the bed and hurt herself. “Don’t do that, child. My goodness, just lie still. If you want, I can go and come back some other time. I’ve been trying to work up the nerve to come see you for a couple of days now, but I didn’t know how you’d feel about that. So tonight, I told myself that if you were sleeping, I’d just—”

  “Dad.” Lach heard his teeth snap close. “I’m sorry I didn’t know who you were at first. I’m glad to see you. It’s been so long.”

  He took her hand and hugged it to his face. “I’ve been hearing all sorts of things about you. The newspaper surely did paint you in a different picture the first time I read about your being hurt.” She didn’t know what he was talking about but nodded. “Harrison Marshall called me and told me that you had been hurt. Then she went on to tell me it was well past time that I came to see you. She’s a very pushy woman.”

  Oakley laughed and said she was. “Harris is my sister-in-law. She is head of the FBI in this area. Here, take one of my chairs.” Her dad sat down but didn’t let go of her hand. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to—”

  Both she and her dad told him no at the same time. Oakley laughed and sat back down. Lach didn’t know what to say to her dad, so she told him how she’d ended up in the hospital. He seemed to know all about that.

  “Harris. She’s been keeping me updated on things. I wanted to come to see you sooner, honey, but I didn’t know what sort of reaction I’d get from you. I know your mother and sister won’t be happy about me being around. I didn’t care what they thought. It was you that I was concerned about.” Lach told him she was glad to see him. “Thank you. You’ve no idea how much I’ve thought about you over the years. I wish now I’d fought harder in keeping you with me. You were never going to be anything like the two of them.”

  The three of them talked until she had to get her blood pressure taken again. The nurse said it was coming down, which made her happy, and that her temperature had gone down a degree. She told her that she’d take what she could get.

  Dad stood up when the nurse left. “I should go back to my hotel for a little while. I’ve not been sleeping well, thinking about how you would react to me being around. I have a feeling I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.” Dad kissed her on the cheek, then shook hands with Oakley. “Thank you for being here with my little girl. She is one of the best.”

  “I know that too, sir.” After her dad left, she asked Oakley if he could ring for the nurse. She was in a great deal of pain right now. “You’ll need to stop putting it off—the meds, I mean. It’s easier for you to get smaller doses than one large one if you keep taking them on time.”

  “The nurse told me the same thing. But I don’t want to miss anything.” She laid back when the nurse came in and watched Oakley as she was drugged up. “Oh my, that feels so much better.”

  “Close your eyes, Lach. Let them take you under.” She did as he told her. “Before you nod off, where are Carl and Taylor?”

  “They disappeared when Harris told us the bomb was disarmed. I think they just wanted someone to take care of them.” She yawned again, feeling the pull of her burns on her back. “Tomorrow, I’d like for you to fix me up, Oakley. I don’t want to hurt like this anymore. Can you ask your grandda about it?”

  “I will, love.” She was fighting to stay awake. The pain was still there, but it was muted now like someone had started to make it better and was still working on it. “I’m in love with you, Lach. I wanted you to know that as you slumber. Tomorrow I will make sure you’re not in as much pain, and then I’ll get to take you home with me. I have a home I’m working on right now. It’s not anywhere close to being finished. Would you like to go house hunting with me too? I would rather, to be honest, have a house that the two of us picked out together.”

  She wanted to answer him but couldn’t make her mouth move. There were sounds of moving furniture, and she knew he was getting ready for slumber too. What a funny word, slumber. Lach decided she’d call it that from now on. Going to slumber sounded so much more relaxing than going to bed. Tomorrow, she thought. Things would be better tomorrow.

  Something woke her. The nurse or whoever they were told her they were taking her blood pressure again. She spoke to Oakley quietly, but she didn’t understand what they were saying. It took her only seconds to fall back to sleep.

  It happened again. This time she was awake enough to know her blood pressure was fine, and her temp had gone down again. They had been worried about her getting an infection. Lach was grateful for that news. She looked at the shadow standing over her as her arm was being unwrapped from the bandage.

  “I’m going to fix your arm for you now. You’ve been moaning in your sleep about how it hurts. All right?” Nodding, she let him take her arm and lay it over her bed. “Don’t freak out if you see my cat, honey. He’s going to take the pain away for you.”

  She wanted to see his cat, but he explained to her that someone might see him if she were to turn on the lights. Agreeing with him, she felt the room tighten, like she had been squeezed, then felt his warm tongue on her wound.

  Looking at the cat beside her bed, she was surprised at how big he was. His eyes glowed brightly in the room, and she reached out with her other hand and scratched him behind his ears. The purring made her laugh a little.

  “I didn’t know that big cats purred. You sound like a well-oiled machine.” He told her he thought all cats, no matter the size, purred. Then Oakley explained to her that he was going to wrap her arm back up until after her family left. “Good. I don’t know what they’ll say to me if I’m suddenly well. They’ll say I’ve been faking it, I think.”

  Her mind was a little fuzzy when she felt the bandage being wrapped around her arm. Moving her fingers, it didn’t hurt all that much. Before Oakley, she couldn’t even point with that hand. Closing her eyes again, she fell asleep knowing in the morning she’d have Oakley close by if she needed him.

  Chapter 3

  Oakley was looking out the window when the door behind him opened. He didn’t know who the man was, so he asked him if he could help him. The look he gave him made even Oakley’s cat snarl. He didn’t know why, but he immediately knew it had to be Lach’s brother-in-law.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Oakley let just enough of his cat go to show the man he wasn’t going to tolerate being spoken to like that. “Where is my sister?”

  “Since I haven’t any idea who you are, I couldn’t tell you where she might be. Even if you had one.” Roger rolled his eyes and asked where Lach was. “They took her down to X-ray about an hour ago. They’re making sure the nick to her skull hasn’t caused her any swelling to her brain.”

  “And you are?” Oakley was tempted to tell him it was none of his business but told him his name. That was all too. He didn’t feel he should have to explain himself to anyone. “Why are you in her room? And don’t fob me off, either. I have a connectio
n to her, and I won’t have you hanging around making trouble for us.”

  “I don’t know if you’re aware of this or not, but Lach is a grown woman. She can and does make decisions on her own. Between the two of us, I’m positive that if it came down to one of us being kicked out, it wouldn’t be me.” The man snorted at him, and Oakley laughed. “You’re not too terribly grown up yourself, are you?”

  When the door opened again, he knew this was her mother and sister. He didn’t like them any better than he did Roger. Rita ignored him in favor of bitching about the size of the room. Her mother talked about all the flowers in the room and checked to see if they were for Lach or not.

  “I could have sworn she didn’t have anyone who would care enough to send her flowers. I’m sure they’ve put them in here to make her room better. It certainly could use some improvement.” Rebecca looked at him. “Why don’t you go out and find us some more seating? Once you have us enough chairs to go around, then you can leave. I don’t want you around here while my daughter is here. Rita doesn’t need you upsetting her.”

  “No.” Oakley took one of the two chairs in the room and looked at the others. “I don’t know that you can get any more chairs in this room once Lach is back with her bed. But if you want to, you can ask one of the nurses.”

  “He told me he’s going to be staying no matter what I tell him to do. Rebecca, if she’s going to be hanging out with riffraff, then I’m going to have to have a conversation with her about our child.” Rebecca told Roger he might have to. The three of them ignored him over talking amongst themselves. “Where the hell is she? Doesn’t she know we hate to be kept waiting? I bet she scheduled this so we’d have to wait in here like we have nothing else to do today.”

  I have a question for you. He told Harris what he was currently doing and who was with him. Good for you. Roger is a prick. I’ve been talking to some of the people that work with him, and he’s not a very good boss. If he worked for me, I’d have his ass fired. You know what, I think I’m going to own his ass here in a few minutes. My question for you. There is a house not far from our home that has just become vacant. Before you ask, no, I didn’t have anything to do with it. But I will tell you if you get it, I’m going to be super jealous. It’s beautiful.