by Beth Ciotta
She nodded.
“Still think he’ll show?”
“He hasn’t called to say otherwise. So, yes. I’m glad, actually. I want a chance to give him hell.”
“I’ll be there.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
She licked her lips. “Okay.”
“Where’s Maddie?” he asked.
“With Mrs. Carmichael. She’s going to spend the night.”
“Why?”
“Wanda tracked me down and asked if I could work late tonight. I said, yes. I need to keep busy, Jack. And I…I want to shield Madeline from tomorrow. From me. I worry I’ll be a basket case tonight.”
“I’d be happy to look after Maddie.”
“I know, but you should pay attention to your own life, too. Kylie’s a nice girl, Jack. Don’t blow it.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Just because your marriage to Amanda failed, that doesn’t make you a failure at love, Jack.”
“Sounds like something Dad would’ve said.”
Cheeks flushing, she glanced away. “He had such high hopes for me and now look at my life.”
This time Jack acted on impulse. He walked over and pulled his sister into his arms. “You’ve got a sweet, beautiful daughter and you’re intent on being financially independent. You’re resourceful and strong. He’d be proud, Jessie. I’m proud.”
She hugged back. “That means a lot coming from my perfect brother.”
Oddly, the lack of sarcasm made him uneasy. “I’m not perfect.”
“Yes. You are. I always hated that about you.”
“And now?”
She eased out of his arms and quirked a small smile. “I think Dad was right. There’s more to you than meets the eye.”
Jack laughed, thinking how their dad had used the same observation on each of them. Vic Reynolds had never understood the rivalry between his son and daughter. Jack wished he could see them now.
Jessie tucked her sleek hair behind her ears, then motioned to his snoring dog. “I was wondering if I could borrow Shy. Madeline would feel better if—”
“Sure.” He coaxed Shy off her cushion and Jessie coaxed her out the door. He wasn’t surprised that the dog so easily abandoned him. She seemed to latch on to those who needed her most.
He started to see Jessie to her car, but midway through the administration area, his administrative assistant blew in.
“I need to talk to you,” Dorothy said, hooking his arm.
“Don’t wait up for me,” Jessie called as she and Shy hurried out.
“I was going through some of the papers I’d boxed up of Chief Burke’s,” said Dorothy.
“Isn’t this your day off?” asked Jack.
“Hope I didn’t step on your toes, Chief,” interrupted Ziffel. “But I’d heard some rumors and then I read your notes and—”
“You did good, Ed.” It was all Jack managed before Dorothy shoved him back in the office and slammed the door shut. “What the hell, Ms. Vine?”
She slapped a manila file folder onto his desk. “It’s about Travis Martin.”
RATHER THAN OBSESSING ON the characters who’d spooked her this morning or Faye and her injured dad or the whereabouts of Travis and the wonder of his gift, Kylie had plunged into work. No matter what else was going on in her life, she had a family business to run. Tomorrow she’d reopen the store and Eden would get its first peek at the renovations and her new merchandise. She clung to Travis’s prediction that McGraw’s Shoe Shoppe would be a hit. Increased sales would help to smooth things over with her family for not consulting them about major changes. It would also reinforce her confidence in her professional instincts.
As soon as she started unpacking the best of her previous inventory and the bulk of the new, ideas sparked and burned. Inspired, Kylie arranged cool displays for several different styles. Formal. Casual. Trendy. She was especially pleased that the new McGraw’s was so diversified. Practical, comfortable, yet trendy. Trendy, comfortable, but not-so-practical. Designer shoes, quality shoes—at a reasonable price. Shoes for men and women. Young and old. And after her Bada-Bling! imports arrived tomorrow—shoes for teens and tourists. Kylie had no idea if her dad would approve. She tried not to care. She focused on the future. On steady sales. Her gut told her quality, versatility and a low price point were key. She considered every factor. At this point, only time would tell. She was arranging a display meant to entice the ladies of the Eden Garden Club when someone banged on her door.
She bit back a yelp and ignored the shivers icing down her spine. Mobsters wouldn’t knock.
“We’re closed!” she yelled.
“It’s Jack. Open up.”
She nearly tripped over her feet racing to the door. They’d only been apart a couple of hours. It felt like two days. Plus, no one messed with Jack Reynolds. If those two goons were lurking outside, they’d think twice before trying to shut her up, not that anyone believed her story.
“Hi!” Normally, she wasn’t comfortable with public displays of affection. But normal, for Kylie, had flown out the window on her birthday. She launched herself into Jack’s arms and kissed him full on the mouth. Since making love, suppressing a lifetime of yearning was more difficult than ever. Fire shot through her system as he suckled her tongue and swept her inside. He kicked the door shut and her stomach fluttered with naughty anticipation. Was he going to ravish her against the wall? On the floor? Crazy thoughts, spurred by her adrenaline-charged day.
She was disappointed and dazed when he eased her away and asked, “Where’s Travis?”
“What?”
“You said you expected him later this afternoon. Is he here? Did he show?”
“No, and no.” Kylie bristled when Jack moved around the store, looking in the storage room, her office. She followed him, confused and insulted. “You don’t believe me?”
“I believe you.”
“Then why—”
“Just checking.”
“For what?”
Instead of answering directly, he grasped her hand and urged her to sit. Then he pulled up the only extra chair in the room and sat across from her, their knees touching. “I’m going to tell you something,” he said, still holding her hand, “and I need you to promise that you’ll keep it between us. For now.”
The hair on her arms prickled. “Okay. I mean, I promise.”
“Travis Martin isn’t who you think he is.”
“Okay.” She’d suspected Travis had led another life before Eden, but Jack, as the chief of police, confirming this didn’t bode well. “Who is he?”
“I don’t know. Yet. What I know is that he’s in the witness protection program. Travis Martin is an assumed identity. WITSEC gave him a new life and planted him in Eden.”
Kylie’s heart bumped to her throat. This was insane. But even as she questioned Jack’s news, she sensed it was true. A new identity would account for Travis’s dyed hair and suppressed designer skills. For his and Mona’s tendency to keep to themselves. Although Kylie was pleased to discover the reason for Travis’s aloofness, she worried Jack thought the worst. He’d always had a bug up his butt about the man.
Kylie scrambled to show her friend in the best light. “The program is designed to protect people, right? It means Travis did something good. Testified against bad guys, right?” She’d watched her share of cop shows and movies. She had a basic grip on the concept.
“Essentially,” Jack said. “Thing is, only forty percent of those in WITSEC are innocent citizens. The other sixty percent—”
“Travis is in the lower percentage,” Kylie blurted.
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
You may hear some ugly truths in the future about my past….
No, she didn’t
“Bottom line,” Jack said, “if Travis was in the program, then he testified against major criminals as in drug traffickers, terrorists or organized cri
me members.”
Kylie noticed the subtle emphasis on the latter. She flashed back on this morning’s scary encounter. Oh, no. Pulse racing, she pulled away from Jack and pushed to her feet. “It wasn’t him. I know what I said I saw, and maybe you believe me now, which is great, but the stiff in the trunk was not Travis. First, he doesn’t wear Italian loafers.” Although, she supposed he could afford them. He’d gifted her with an expensive plane ticket and oodles of cash, plus he apparently had reserves.
“What did you used to do?”
“You don’t want to know.”
She shoved away nefarious thoughts and focused on: I’m a good man at heart.
“Second?” Jack prodded.
She started to say he’s not even here. He’s out of the country. But she didn’t know specific regulations pertaining to the witness protection program. Was he allowed to travel? Had he obtained permission? If not, had he broken a rule that would land him in hot water? If whoever he’d testified against learned he was out and about would his life be at risk? “It wasn’t him,” she repeated, glad she’d locked away his letter and money in the office safe. She didn’t like keeping secrets from Jack, but at the same time she felt compelled to protect a friend. It really bugged her that Jack wasn’t willing to give Travis the benefit of the doubt. Did his cynicism extend to believing the worst in anyone he didn’t know?
Jack moved in behind her and wrapped her in his arms. “I contacted County. I don’t have the resources to adequately investigate a compromised crime scene. Also, as you know, the forest and lake are in their jurisdiction.”
“Maybe it isn’t a crime scene at all.” Suddenly, she didn’t want to believe what she thought she’d seen. “Maybe you were right. A role-playing game. Two guys obsessed with Omertà.” It was possible. Probable, even. Just a bunch of crazy coincidences.
“Maybe,” Jack said.
Mollifying, Kylie thought.
“Regardless, I called the U.S. Marshals Service, left a message for the inspector assigned to Martin. Dorothy found a document buried in Chief Burke’s possessions. Dates back seven years. Notification alerting the local law of a witness’s presence. No mention of a criminal history or specific circumstances. Secrecy as a precautionary measure is common, but given recent developments, I need to know what I’m dealing with.”
Recent developments meaning her run in with the goons.
Jack tightened his hold, kissed the top of her head, then nuzzled her ear. “I want you safe, Kylie. I want my sister and niece safe. Along with every other citizen in Eden. It’s not just my job, it’s personal. It’s like breathing, this need to protect. Do or die.”
“An admirable quality,” Kylie said. Attractive, too. When she was eleven, she’d watched him take on three teens who were shooting BBs at a dog. It had been the first of many times she’d thought, “My hero.” Yet here she was withholding information that might make his job easier.
“This morning when you mentioned the mob, I wrote off what you thought you saw because I didn’t want it to be true. My last case involved a young woman, a victim of a mob hit. If there’s any chance…”
He trailed off, causing Kylie to turn in his arms. She looked up and met his intense blue gaze. “Nothing bad is going to happen to me, Jack.” She didn’t want him to worry, and she didn’t want him to think she couldn’t handle his past demons or future nemeses. She did what she was best at, shoved down her own needs and worries and focused on someone else’s.
Jack’s.
“Even if what I saw was the real deal, surely those wiseguys are long gone. They’d dispose of the body and hit the road. Or maybe they took the body with them and disposed of it over state lines. Like you said earlier, why would they stick around, knowing I’d report a crime? Surely not to silence the witness,” she noted for herself as much as him. “Especially one who’s sleeping with a cop. Why risk getting caught?”
Jack brushed a thumb over her cheek and quirked a tender smile. “Nice try, Tiger. But until this thing shakes out, we’ll proceed on the side of caution. Between myself, Deputy Ziffel and Officers Hooper and Anderson, you’ll be protected 24/7.”
She started to argue, but deep down she felt relieved. Having someone watch her back for a day or two, just until the county police solved or discounted the alleged murder, would ease her worries so that she could concentrate on the store. Then again, she felt bad hogging the attention of the local law. There’d be an influx of people with the opening of the Apple Festival. Not that there was ever any real trouble. But there had been some minor accidents and altercations, instances where the EPD intervened. She also felt bad about wasting Jack’s time. He’d no doubt launch an intensive search for Travis, wanting to talk to him about his involvement in WITSEC or, when he didn’t find him, concluding he was the stiff in the trunk. By looking out for her friend, she was also obstructing an investigation.
“One thing’s for certain,” Jack said, “you’re not sleeping in the middle of nowhere tonight. You can stay with me, at your mom’s or at the Orchard House, but that secluded trailer is out.”
Kylie worried her lower lip. If she was in trouble, she didn’t want that trouble anywhere near Jessica Lynn or Madeline. As for the Orchard House. “Faye’s dad was in an accident. She’s on her way to Orlando with the kids for a couple of weeks.”
“Sorry to hear that. Is Mr. Collins okay?”
“I think so. I hope so. Anyway, I don’t want to impose on Stan. I’ll stay at Mom’s.” The house was currently unoccupied but smack in the middle of a crowded block in town. She kept some clothes and toiletries in her old bedroom. She’d be set.
“Fine,” said Jack. “Listen, Jessie’s working a night shift, so for dinner, it’ll be you and me, Maddie and Mrs. Carmichael. Sound good?”
“Sounds great.” Moving along with previous plans, acting normal, helped to temper Kylie’s nerves.
“Hooper’s sitting in a squad car outside. Don’t hesitate to call him or me for any reason. I programmed the numbers in your cell.”
“Where are you going?” Kylie asked, cursing the nervous flutter in her voice.
“I need to make a run to Travis’s place.”
Kylie was torn between doing the right thing—clueing Jack in on Travis’s trip overseas—and the right thing—protecting a friend whose life was in danger. She couldn’t silence Travis’s voice. “I know about trying to live up to family expectations. I know about not being appreciated for who you are.”
He’d given up his identity. He’d lost his wife. Surely he deserved a slice of happiness. She couldn’t betray him. Not yet. Not until he’d safely reached his destination. Once he was out of the country, he’d be out of reach. Distanced from both the bad and good guys, right? The neutral zone? She just needed to buy him some time, a day at most. In the meantime, maybe it wasn’t a bad thing if people thought he was dead. Six feet under and forgotten.
Kylie hugged Jack tight. She couldn’t look him in the eye and lie, so she looked away. “Be careful.”
“Always.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
JACK DIDN’T CALL FOR THE REST of the day. No news on Travis. No updates on Jessica. Kylie was dying of curiosity and a little peeved that he’d left her in the dark on both counts. Then again, he’d warned her that he was swamped and that was before he’d learned about Travis’s involvement with the witness protection program.
Still, she wondered what Jack had discovered while searching Travis’s house. Did he glean clues about his real identity? Did he suspect Travis had skipped the country? Had he heard back from the U.S. Marshals Service?
And what about Jessica? Why was Jack being so secretive about whatever happened at her house? Why was he leery of her being alone?
On top of all that, even though she really wanted to believe the role-playing scenario, Kylie had to contend with the knowledge that she’d possibly witnessed a real murder. Had the county police turned up any evidence to support what she thought she’d seen? Had they
found a body? If so, who was it?
It was enough to drive a girl crazy.
Instead of obsessing on what she had no control over, Kylie concentrated on McGraw’s. She worked her tail off preparing for the grand reopening. Luckily, the afternoon passed without drama. No goons. No crisis.
Before she knew it, it was time to leave the store and change for dinner. Officer Hooper gave her a lift to her mom’s house.
“I’ll wait out here until Chief Reynolds shows,” he said after walking Kylie to the front door. “Don’t worry. No one will mess with you on my watch.”
Kylie was touched by Hooper’s diligence, but she felt a little silly. Maybe she was being overly optimistic, but she wasn’t anticipating a visit from Bruiser number one and two. Either they were long gone or they weren’t the real deal. Still, she could hear Spenser saying, “Better safe than sorry.”
“Thanks, Hooper. I appreciate it.” She jammed the key she’d had since she was a kid into the lock and hurried inside. She smelled Lemon Pledge and green apple carpet deodorizer. The house was clean, as always, but cluttered with framed photos, collectibles, mementos and too much furniture. Her grandma had refused to give up her belongings when she’d moved in, and her mom had refused to scale back. So they ended up with two homes jammed into one house. Kylie liked it. Every item reminded her of various moments in her life. Even though her mom and grandma weren’t here, she could feel them. She also felt the presence of the male McGraws.
Feeling nostalgic and safe, she raced up the stairs and ransacked her old bedroom closet. She found the red dress she thought she’d remembered stashing there. Not too casual. Not too dressy. A perfect match to the red pumps she’d snagged from the store. The perfect ensemble for dinner at Wong’s.
She showered and dressed in thirty minutes, ten minutes before she heard Jack knocking. She opened the door and suddenly all the worries she’d spent so much energy fending off slammed into her with blinding force.
Even though Jack was dressed in civilian clothing, there was nothing casual about his demeanor. Was he in bodyguard mode? The bearer of bad news? Or just in a cranky mood?
