“She’s in my class,” Jade said, smiling. “I’m glad he was able to get through to the mom. I haven’t had much luck.”
“You okay, Belle?” Jillian asked, noticing that Belle was more quiet than usual.
Nodding quickly, Belle’s eyes stayed on the ballfield, seemingly unaffected by the girls’ conversation. Jillian did not want to embarrass her friend, but wondered at her silence.
“This is all sweet,” Katelyn said facetiously, throwing her hands up into the air, “but I still want to know about the dead man they found.”
“Wow Katelyn, way to pick a gory topic to discuss,” Tori said, wide-eyed, to which Katelyn initially looked contrite, but then just crossed her arms, expectantly.
“All we know is that he was the lawyer for the man caught carrying drugs through the Shore,” Tori replied. “Mitch figured he was working for a drug gang or something like that.”
“Yes, but why here? Why was he shot and dumped down here?” Katelyn prodded, lifting her long dark hair back from her neck before letting the weight of it drop down her back again.
Jillian sighed, knowing her best friend was like a dog with a bone when her interest was piqued. “I swear you should just go work for Gareth or open your own PI business!” she joked.
For once, Katelyn did not have a ready quip, instead sitting with her lips tightly pursed, her face turned away.
Before the conversation could continue, the game was over and the crowd dispersed. As Jillian stayed to wait on Grant, she stared at the retreating backs of her friends, still wondering who might be right for Oliver.
Chapter 21
Grant grinned at the sight of Jillian’s scooter parked next to his house. Stepping into the entry foyer, he toed off his dirty shoes at the door. Not normally fastidious about his footwear on the old wooden floors, he was still wearing cleats from the game. He had driven Karly, Junior, and Bobby to their houses before heading home. The smells emanating from the kitchen drew him toward the back of the house, where he paused in the doorway at the sight of his mom and Jillian working side by side in the small room.
“What a view to behold!” he exclaimed, walking first to his mother and kissing her cheek before moving to Jillian and bending to capture her lips. “The two most beautiful women in the world right here in my kitchen.”
His mother playfully slapped his arm, causing a giggle to erupt from Jillian. “You flatter just like your father,” his mother accused with a grin.
“What can I say? I learned from the best,” he boasted, leaning his tall frame over the two shorter women to peek down into the pot of bubbling chili on the stove. “Damn, that smells good.”
“I got home and your mom was here with the chili, so I asked her and your dad to stay for dinner,” Jillian explained. “And there’s so much, we also invited Tori, Mitch, and his parents to come too.”
Marcia cried, “The more the merrier!”
Jillian noted the distressed look on Grant’s face and leaned over to whisper, “Was that all right?”
Nodding, he sported a sheepish grin, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah…just hope there’s enough food, I’m hungry!”
Now it was Jillian’s turn to roll her eyes as she shook her head. “Don’t worry, there’s plenty! In fact, your mom suggested I invite my parents over as well, since they just got back from their trip.”
His eyes bugged out at the thought of being with Jillian’s parents for the first time after he had caused their daughter so much heartache.
Taking pity on him, she leaned up and kissed his jaw, whispering, “It’ll be okay. I promise.”
“I think I just lost my appetite,” he declared, nerves hitting his stomach.
She laughed as he poked his head back over the huge pot, eyeing it as though to ascertain how much chili was cooking. “Go shower and change before everyone comes. I promise it’ll be enough!”
Twenty minutes later, he bounded down the stairs just as Mitch and Tori entered the front door, Tori’s hands filled with a platter of brownies. Shaking Mitch’s hand and kissing Tori on the cheek before she headed to the kitchen, he offered Mitch a beer. After retrieving two from the fridge, they walked toward the back deck where everyone had gathered.
Mitch’s parents, Nancy and Ed Evans, as well as Marcia and Toby Wilder were already there, setting up the picnic table in Grant’s small backyard. Jillian’s parents, Claire and Steve Evans, newly back from their trip to New England, showed up a few minutes later. Claire had an apple pie in her hand, which she set quickly on the table before greeting her daughter. Seeing the two women together, it was easy to tell they were mother and daughter—thick blonde hair, blue eyes, trim bodies, and ready smiles. Plus, Claire was wearing a bright green sweater paired with sky-blue pants.
Steve walked over to Grant and clapped him on the shoulder. “Good to see you, son,” he greeted.
Smiling to hide the fact that his stomach knotted at what her parents must think of him and Jillian together, Grant shook Steve’s hand. Even though they decided to put it behind them, facing her parents brought a whole new tension when considering his behavior over the past year. “I know Jillian’s glad to have you back in town.” He held her dad’s gaze and firm handshake.
Steve stared into Grant’s eyes, taking his measure, before breaking into a smile. “We’re glad to be back too.”
Feeling as though he had passed a test, Grant relaxed. “Need a beer?”
“Always!”
As they made their way outside also, Grant watched as Steve fondly hugged Jillian and breathed another sigh of relief as he overheard her father say, “Glad to see you so happy, sweetheart.”
The large gathering soon sat at the oversized picnic table in Grant’s backyard, laughing and sharing. Jillian leaned over as the large bowls of chili were dished out and taunted, “See, I told you there would be enough!”
“I can’t wait to see the shop,” Claire said. “It sounds like the galleria is really taking off.”
“Oh, mom, you must come tomorrow! The artists are fabulous and I love being able to showcase the local work.”
“I saw the article in the newspaper,” Marcia added. “I think the pottery is beautiful. We’ll have to meet the artist sometime.”
Grant scowled at the thought of Jillian’s mother, or his for that matter, meeting Oliver, but before he could retort, Steve asked about the recent drug problems that landed the small town in the news.
“Hell, boys, Claire and I’ve been vacationing for two months and while we’re gone, it’s like the Eastern Shore has become a damn French Connection!”
“Steve! Language!” Claire spouted, trying to shush her husband.
“Woman, there’re no kids around until your daughter or nephew get busy,” he retorted, causing both Mitch and Jillian to grimace in unison.
“Uncle Steve,” Mitch said, “We’re working on the drug case. We’ve made a few arrests so far. Some people are using the Eastern Shore to avoid the Washington, D.C. section of Highway 95, so we’re working to keep us from being a stop on their run by keeping an eye on the kids and others who’d be likely to buy and deal.”
“Well, it might be interesting for to you to know that the stories of a man getting gunned down on the courthouse steps and now a body showing up on a local beach hit the national news. Hell, we were in a bed and breakfast on Cape Cod and heard about Baytown! You all ended up being on CNN!”
Steve shifted his gaze between Mitch and Grant, appearing to want to say more, but a grunt was all that left his mouth as Claire elbowed her husband in the stomach. Rubbing his abdomen, he turned to her and said, “I just want to know that these two have things in hand and are protecting my daughter!”
“Dad!” Jillian protested, her eyebrows dipping down as she pursed her mouth. “You need to—”
“Babe, it’s okay,” Grant assured her, wrapping his arm around her chest and pulling her back against his. Holding Steve’s eyes, he said, “You’re right, Steve. This is pre
cious, and I’m doing everything I can to make sure Jillian and the whole town is safe. You can count on that.”
“Well, then all right,” Steve boomed, sending Grant a wink. “Now, where’s the dessert?”
*
Hours later, Jillian curled into Grant’s arms as they lay tangled in bed. Her hand played with his chest hair as her fingers traced the distinct muscles of his pecs, next to where her cheek rested over his heart. “Did you have a good time tonight? I know it was completely impromptu and unexpected.”
His arms tightened in response as he shifted her slightly so that she was lying on top of him. “With what we just did, I’d think you had your answer,” he joked, his hands pushing back the hair from her sweaty forehead.
“Well, sex to a man doesn’t have to mean he did or didn’t like something,” she quipped, her grin meeting his.
“Oh, so you’re an expert on men, now? His hand slid down her back, squeezing her delicious ass.
“Nope, just you.”
Flipping over, he held her arms over her head as he nipped her kiss-swollen lips and nuzzled her neck. “I loved it, babe,” he answered, lifting his head to gaze into her eyes, now seeing her smile reach their blue depths. “Coming home to you is a treat anytime. Coming home to a houseful of family and friends…perfect.”
“My dad can kind of be…well, a bit strong,” she added, biting her lips as she held his gaze.
“Steve? Don’t worry about him,” Grant assured. “He loves his town, he loves his family, and he’s protective. I’d like to think I’ll be the same when we have kids.”
The words were out before he could pull them back in and heavy silence hung between them.
Grant’s heart pounded, wondering what she thought of his implication. “Babe, I—”
“You want children?” she squeaked, her eyes wide. “With me?”
Chuckling, he rolled slightly to the side to ease his weight off her. “Yeah, Jillian. Now that I’ve finally accepted that you were the only one for me all along, I’ve got no intention of letting you go. I love you.”
Her face beamed as her lips curved into the most beautiful smile. “I love you too. But, then, you know that.”
“I can never hear it enough,” he confessed.
“So…um…kids?”
“Hell yeah, babe. I want it all with you. Marriage, kids, the house, the dog…everything.” His smile became tight as he searched her face. “Is…well, is that what you want?”
“Grant, when I was twelve years old, I used to doodle your name in my school notebooks. By the time I was fourteen, I would scribble my name with your last name, just knowing I wanted to be Jillian Wilder.”
“A lot’s happened since then, babe,” he said, his voice carrying a trace of sadness.
She reached up, cupping his cheek, feeling his stubble underneath her fingers. “Maybe we just needed to travel different paths for a while to end up on the same one again,” she whispered, leaning up to plant a kiss on the corner of his mouth before her head plopped back to the mattress. “I love you, Grant. I always have and always will.”
With a light heart, he claimed her mouth, exploring every sweet crevice before claiming her body once more, long into the night.
Chapter 22
“It appears the FBI has made a connection between Stanley Martino and Juan Munoz, a known drug lord in the New York area. According to what Colt just told me, Juan has had Stanley on retainer for the past year, using him when necessary to try to work out deals.” Mitch looked at his officers, before adding, “I’ve talked to Gareth, but the payments between Stanley and Juan were either cash or offshore, so that’s why nothing turned up in his searches.”
“Any idea why his body was dumped here instead of Baltimore?” Ginny asked.
“Gotta be because of that latest prick I chased down, who’s now sitting in the same jail as his predecessor, Isaac,” Grant growled, leaning back in his chair, his long legs stretched out.
“Or maybe a warning or threat to all of us to back off the investigations,” Burt surmised.
“Fuck that,” Grant and Mitch said in unison.
Sam stood to grab another cup of coffee from the counter before sitting back down with a donut in his hand. “Look, I get how this all sucks with the drugs being run up and down our area, but other than an inconvenience, how does it involve our town?”
“My fear is that the meth lab found in the next county will just move here. Meth is the poor man’s cocaine,” Mitch added.
Huffing, Burt commented, “And Lord knows, we’ve got the poor here.”
Grant nodded as the group quieted for a speculative moment. Growing up, he never thought about North Heron County as the poorest county in Virginia—it was just home. His parents were firmly middle-class and, now that he thought about it, he never considered if his friends and classmates had money or not. Their school ball uniforms were old and worn but that never affected how many games they won. No one worried about what to wear to prom—they just wanted to show up with their favorite girl. His friends’ parents had been farmers, shopkeepers, policemen, fishermen…Hell, Callan’s dad had been the janitor at the elementary school. It just never mattered; but times had changed.
“Meth has replaced alcohol for some people,” Ginny added, rubbing her forehead as she sighed. “So, there’s a good chance it’s here in our county.”
Burt turned to Grant and asked, “Did you find out more about that guy in the trailer park?”
Shaking his head, he replied, “He hasn’t been back home for a week and his stepmom didn’t seem to know anything. I’m getting to know the little sister, but I’ve been reticent to ask her outright. I was hoping she would trust me enough to talk to me on her own.”
“Word on the street, from some of the kids that hang out at the basketball court over at the Church of God, is that there’s a big time dealer making inroads into this area. Running, dealing, distributing,” Sam said.
“Stanley’s execution was definitely a warning,” Mitch stated. “That’ll make it harder for anyone to do any talking, for sure.”
“You know, what sucks is that when we investigate the runners like Isaac, or even the crooked attorney’s part of the drug trade, I sometimes forget how it can affect the ones right here. Like Karly, the little girl that gave us the tip about her stepbrother. The kids are the innocent ones that get caught up in this.” Grant’s frustration was papable.
Pushing his chair back, Mitch nodded to his officers, adding, “Stay alert. I’ve got a feeling we’re just touching the surface of what’s coming through our city.”
The group dispersed, Ginny and Sam heading out for patrol, Burt leaving to go home, and Grant sitting at a desk, firing up the computer.
Typing in Jermaine’s dad’s name, he wanted to see what he could find out about Hugh Hubbard. His wife said he worked for the railroad…let’s see if she’s right. A few minutes later, he discovered Hugh Hubbard did indeed work for the Canton Railroad Company. After an hour of searching, he found little else. No arrests. No priors. Not even a traffic violation. Leaning back, he rubbed his chin, wondering what Gareth would ferret out.
With a wave toward Mildred, he drove to the Seafood Shack, buying a couple of take-out lunches before heading to Gareth’s business. The PI welcomed him, glad to see the lunch boxes.
“Damn, man, just what I need!” Gareth greeted, hustling over to take the lunches from Grant. “You got something for me to check?”
Laughing, Grant ducked his head. “Yeah, sorry. I guess it looks like I’m bribing you with lunch.”
“Hey, I’ll never turn down food!” The two settled into chairs in Gareth’s office. Once appreciative bites of fried clams and fries had been consumed, Gareth nodded toward Grant, saying, “Go ahead.”
“I need to see what you can find out about a man here in town. He’s not a suspect but his adult son, you remember I mentioned Jermaine Hubbard, may be involved in drugs and I want to check out the story his wife told me.”
“Sure.” Gareth quickly began searching, rattling off what he was able to find without too much digging. “Works for the Canton Railroad Company in Baltimore.” Seeing Grant nod, he said, “Guess you knew that much.”
“That and only that he has no criminal record.”
“Okay,” Gareth nodded. “Let’s see what else comes up on an easy search. Credit is good. He’s a union man and makes decent money. Basic checking and savings accounts and has a 401 retirement plan.”
“He makes good money?” Grant asked, his eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“Yeah. For this area, it’s good money,” Gareth confirmed. “Why?” Looking back at his computer he said, “Oh, I get it. He lives in the trailer park. Hmmm.”
“Nothing wrong with the park,” Grant commented. “Lots of those places are real nice, but it seems like he could afford more…but, then, his wife did mention medical bills.”
“Well, she worked part time as an aide at the nursing home, but gets disability now due to a fall last winter that injured her back. Hugh also has an apartment in Baltimore…not a big one, but if he’s paying twice on housing, that might be why they are renting a trailer.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Grant murmured. He sat quietly while Gareth worked.
“He’s got a son from a former marriage…name’s Jermaine—which you knew. He’s eighteen. Didn’t graduate from high school. His address is listed as the trailer park.”
“He hasn’t been there in a while. Can you dig up anything on him?”
After a few more minutes, Gareth shook his head. “Not much. No employment. No bank account. I’d say this looks pretty sketchy.”
“The mom said he helped out with rent sometimes.”
“That’d be hard to do with no employment. So he’s got to be getting money from somewhere.”
Grant stood, wadding up his lunch trash and tossing it into the trashcan. “Yeah, I was afraid of that.” With a thanks and goodbye, he drove back to the station to report to Mitch, determined to do what he needed to do to keep Karly safe.
Just One More Chance: Baytown Boys Series Page 19
