They’d been present when their grandfather was murdered. They’d hidden in the darkness of a basement, heard all the chaos going on upstairs, and then even hid from police. It was traumatic and would stay with them forever. Maybe she would come back to see them again tomorrow. She understood what it was like to witness such violence. She thought about Wynona. Why couldn’t she just let it go and start living her life?
Because her killer is still out there. Perhaps he’s even struck again, and that’s why I can’t stop thinking about Wynona.
Chapter 2
Murdock walked into the kitchen, pulling on a hooded sweatshirt. It was cold this morning. The fall temperatures were beginning to feel more like winter. He couldn’t sleep and had heard one of his brothers up before the crack of dawn and then smelled the scent of fresh-brewed coffee.
“Shit, did I wake you?” Mitch asked, looking up from the kitchen table. He held a dark cobalt-blue mug in his hand.
“Nah. Couldn’t sleep.” He opened the cabinet door to pull out his own mug, the same color as Mitch’s, and then poured himself a cup.
“Sorry I couldn’t meet you at the airport with Tiegen or at Crossroads for dinner.”
“No problem. I’ll be here for a while. We’ll get some time to hang out.”
Mitch nodded and then ran his hand along his shoulder as if trying to unknot tight muscles.
“You okay?” Murdock asked him then took a sip of hot black coffee. It eased down his throat and slowly began to take away the chill of the early morning.
“Just a bad case. Thought we had good enough evidence to catch these guys, and it’s like they disappeared off the face of the earth.”
“Does this have something to do with the home invasions?”
Mitch nodded. “There have been over six in the past few months. They’ve gotten worse, and yesterday a man was killed, and his grandchildren were in the house.”
Murdock squinted his eyes and pursed his lips, appearing angry. “Were the kids hurt, too?”
Mitch shook his head.
“They hid in the basement.”
“Shit.”
“I know it was bad, but we wound up getting a lot of information from them, including a make of the truck, a partial license plate, and full description.”
“Seriously? After something so traumatic like that?”
Mitch nodded, and then he ran his finger along his coffee mug.
“A forensics photographer got the kids to open up to her. She was incredible.”
Murdock heard something different in Mitch’s voice.
“You know this forensics photographer well?” he asked, and Mitch looked up.
“Worked with her a few times.”
He got quiet, and Murdock wondered why.
“Davie was going to question the kids. Came across off intense and confrontational like he would with an adult. She stepped in, and that was it. The kids instantly trusted her, leaned on her, and she did her thing. Got full descriptions and it was impressive.”
“Davie has always acted like an attack dog.”
“Yeah, well, Mia put him in his place fast. Anyway, I’m heading into Yarland this morning to check out this one location Toro found out about. Seems these guys that match the description of our perps help run a scrap metal business there. Some shady characters around.”
“You going alone?”
Mitch stood up to pour another cup of coffee.
“Don’t have much choice. We’re all working on any leads we get in, and the manpower is low with two guys leaving town.”
“I can go with you if you want.”
Mitch turned to look at him and then gave a small smile.
“Yeah?”
“Sure. I won’t be heading to the dojo in Portland until later in the week anyway.”
“Okay, we leave in thirty. That good?”
“No problem.” Murdock swallowed the last sip of coffee from his mug.
“Where is Tiegen?”
“Beats the hell out of me. He never came in last night.”
“It’s pretty disheartening to know there are so many fucked-up people out there that you guys are always out investigating.”
“Says the soldier who’s always leaving for another assignment.”
“It gets tiring after a while. Leaving you guys, risking my neck for shit and half the time I don’t even know why.”
Mitch looked at him and nodded. “You’ve served your country, and you’ve gone through heavy shit. Some recently if those scratches on your cheeks and bruise by your eye are any indication. But hey, anytime you want to come join Tiegen and me in the family business you let me know. I’ve got connections in the department.”
Murdock chuckled. “We at this again, Mitch?”
“I’ll keep trying to get you to stay here in Wellington where you belong.”
“More like where you can keep an eye on me?”
“Well, that too. But like you’re getting tired of fighting for things and risking your life for things you don’t even know about, Tiegen and I are getting tired of seeing you leave and wondering if you’ll return home in one piece or at all.”
Murdock swallowed hard and felt the tightness in his chest. He had been feeling the same way lately, as though perhaps it was time to retire from the military. He’d let his commander know he was considering it before he headed home this time. His commander understood.
“I’ve been thinking about it, too, Mitch.”
Mitch smiled. “Maybe after today, and you see how cool it is to be a detective, you’ll want to follow in my footsteps. I can teach you the ropes.”
Murdock chuckled. “I think I may be the one to teach you a thing or two. I’ve got training you couldn’t even imagine.”
“Ohh…starting that shit, huh? Okay, Special Forces, we’ll see.”
Murdock chuckled and then put his mug in the sink.
Then he felt Mitch’s hand on his shoulder. He looked at his brother, instantly feeling that deep connection and bond that he, Mitch, and Tiegen had shared since forever.
“I’m glad you’re home. Everything feels right when the three of us are here and in one piece.” Then he released his shoulder and walked away before the emotions got to him.
Murdock watched him walk out of the room.
He had some decisions to make, and he hoped he could handle civilian life and one day could feel normal instead of feeling like a professional killer.
* * * *
Mia was a little nervous about visiting the two kids, Cassy and Luke. But once she was inside their home and saw their huge smiles right before they ran to hug her, she was relieved. She talked to them about regular things and about being strong. They shared stories about their grandpa and showed her pictures, too. That was when Mia noticed the sign behind their grandfather in one of the pictures.
“Your dad was a financial advisor?” she asked their mother, Courtney.
She took the picture from Mia’s hand and nodded. “He did that for years, but he suffered a heart attack last year and decided that the stress was too much for him. But my dad loved working, so he took on some clients locally. But not too many.”
She nodded. “And your mom?”
“My mom is into art galas and collecting antiques. In fact my father purchased that house in Portland Place because their smaller house in Yarland is filled with antiques and things. She liked throwing parties there though, so she could show off her collection.”
“I like antiques, too,” Mia said.
“Do you collect as well?” Courtney asked her.
“No. I live in an apartment right now, and the antiques that always catch my eye are out of my price range.” Mia chuckled.
“That never stopped my mom from buying pieces. I remember my dad would get so upset with her and say she was spending their retirement savings on furniture.” The tears filled Courtney’s eyes, and she wiped them away then looked toward the kids.
Mia placed her hand over Courtney’s.
“You’ll get through this.”
She nodded and then held Mia’s gaze. “You were so good with the kids. I couldn’t even imagine what they’d gone through. I can’t even sleep at night knowing what they experienced and heard. I can’t grasp the fact that my father is gone.”
“That’s understandable. The best thing to do is to be there for them and to talk to them. I don’t know if anyone left you any papers or anything, but I brought along this paperwork on a counseling service that’s great for families, especially for kids. An art therapy type of thing. It may be helpful.” Mia placed the paper down onto the table, and Courtney smiled.
“Thank you so much, Mia.”
As Mia left the house and got into her car, she couldn’t help the ideas and questions that were spinning through her mind. She headed out of the driveway and then made the left instead of the right to head back to Portland Place. Instead, she headed into Yarland.
In one of the pictures of the kids’ grandparents, they were standing in front of a piece of furniture and behind them was a delivery van. The letters that she could make out were “RLAND.” Other letters were missing, but she thought perhaps they were “YA” and together spelled out YARLAND.
As she made her way through the winding roads and into town, she admired the beauty of another small town and all it had to offer the locals and even tourists. There was an antique store, a small grocery store, and other little places, but despite the size, it had an upscale look to it. Even the buildings coordinated with the landscaping and the colors of burgundy and gold in the flowers. The fall colors with mums and cabbage in planters looked appealing against the backdrop of large trees with yellow, orange, and red leaves in abundance.
It was when she passed a small side street that something white caught her eye. She stopped, put on her signal, and made the turn. As she slowly drove closer, three things hit her simultaneously.
One was the white van with the words YARLAND Deliveries on it sitting outside of a building that had no name on it but looked old with one large garage bay. Two was the sight of Mrs. Phillips handing over an envelope, appearing as if she was giving orders and rushing the men along. Mia’s gut clenched. She thought it looked suspicious and wasn’t certain why. Maybe because her husband just died so why would she be out here? It didn’t seem right, and Mia followed her gut instincts and looked at the men. There were three of them, two of whom looked like the description of the men who’d broken into the house and killed Mr. Phillips. She couldn’t be sure unless she got closer, but the one guy lifting things into the back of the van had a chain hanging from his front pocket to his back pocket, just as Cassy and Luke described. This was more than coincidence. She just knew it.
Mia’s stomach tightened, and she pulled to the side, hoping they hadn’t noticed her. She wondered what she should do. She thought about Mitch and reached for her cell phone. If this were a case of foul play, she would need backup and quickly. They looked about ready to leave.
* * * *
Mitch was laughing at something Murdock said when his cell phone rang. They were about five minutes outside of Yarland. He saw the caller ID and smiled then felt that instant tightness in his chest. It was Mia.
“McKay.”
“Mitch, it’s Mia. I’m in Yarland. I was in Portland Place visiting the kids and Mr. Phillips’s daughter when they were showing me pictures and…”
He listed to what she was saying and tried following her rambled speech.
“So you think that the wife was involved?” he asked.
“The wife is here right now, I believe with the two guys that match the description the kids gave, and there’s a third guy, too. Did you know that Mr. Phillips was a financial advisor? That his wife collects expensive antiques?”
“We pulled a lot of info together last night. Where are you exactly? I don’t want you to make a move without us.”
“Us?”
“My brother Murdock is with me.”
“He’s a cop, too?”
“No, but he’s carrying. Just sit tight. I’ll be there in a matter of seconds.
“Shit, they’re starting to leave. I have to stop them. Come to High Avenue.”
“Mia,” he exclaimed and then heard the phone click off. He explained what was going on to Murdock and then gave him the number for the Yarland police to respond.
As he pulled along the side street, he found High Avenue then he caught sight of Mia surrounded by the three men, two of which were holding large sticks or bats. He also saw an older woman getting into her car and trying to reverse out of the parking spot.
“Oh fuck.”
He slammed his car into the older woman’s vehicle, and Murdock jumped out of the passenger side of the car.
It happened so quickly. He caught sight of the older woman leaning her head against the steering wheel, obviously hurt. Then he saw Mia defending herself as two men struck at her and she fought back, knocking one down with a high kick and another with a forearm to the throat, but the third struck her across the mouth and then grabbed her, wrapped his arms around her arms and midsection, and lifted her up in a bear hug.
“Stop. Police. Let her go,” he yelled as Murdock knocked out one guy with one punch to the nose. He reached for the other guy, and Mitch went for the one holding Mia. But Mia took that moment to slam her head backward, causing the guy’s nose to break and splatter blood as he released her. She turned and jabbed him in the scrotum. The guy went down to his knees and then slammed his arm against her legs, knocking her onto her back. Mitch tackled the guy to the ground, turned him over, and cuffed him.
The sound of sirens blaring and cars pulling up quickly alerted them that help had arrived.
Mitch turned to look at Mia, who was slow to get up, her lip bleeding. There was dirt all over her blouse and pants.
“Are you okay?” He used his knee to get up off the guy he’d cuffed and pulled out his badge to identify himself to the local police.
She used the back of her sleeve to wipe her mouth. “Fine.”
Murdock approached. He reached his hand out to her. She stared up at him and was going to refuse his brother’s help as she didn’t reach for his hand right away and tried to maneuver up herself, but then she cringed. Murdock grabbed her hand and pulled her up slowly. She pressed against him, and he held her.
“You have a mean right hook, sweetheart.”
“And a few dirty moves,” Mitch added, and she glanced at them.
“A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”
Murdock snorted low and looked a little angry.
“You could have been hurt badly, even killed.”
“You should have waited,” Mitch added.
“They would have gotten away.”
They heard some yelling and then turned to see Mrs. Phillips banging the steering wheel and having a tantrum.
“So you were saying something about foul play?” Mitch asked her as he reached for her chin to look at the damage to her lip. She looked so sexy, and he noticed Murdock kept his hands on her hips as he stood pressed against her back, being supportive..
“So, we’re going to go over what went down and try to figure out how you pieced this together,” Mitch stated.
“You stupid bitch. You ruined everything. Everything,” Mrs. Phillips yelled at Mia, and Mia stared at her as a police officer held her by her hands that were cuffed behind her back.
“Got a large envelope of cash in here and some files, too, Detective,” one of the other police officers yelled to Mitch.
“And you ruined your daughter’s life and your grandchildren’s lives by killing your husband for money to buy antiques.”
Mrs. Phillips growled, and the officer pulled her away to place her into the back of the patrol car.
“Despicable woman,” Mia said through clenched teeth and then cringed as she pressed her fingers to her lips.
“Mia, once we wrap everything up here, we’re going to have that drink.”
“What?
”
“You heard me, Mia.” He stepped closer and ran his thumb along her chin. He leaned closer and kissed her temple then inhaled against her, trying to ease a concern he had for her safety by absorbing her scent. She shivered.
“You scared the hell out of me,” he scolded as he looked down into her dark-blue eyes.
“It was fine, and I was fine.” She then gasped and turned toward Murdock, who must have given her hips a squeeze.
“My brother is right. I wouldn’t deny a direct order from him.”
“Really?” she asked and then looked between them.
“We have a first aid kit over here, Detective,” one of the local officers told them, interrupting them.
Mia pulled away and followed the officer. Mitch looked at Murdock, who just stared at Mia as she walked with the officer then looked over her shoulder at the two of them.
“Does Tiegen know about her, too?”
Mitch smiled and couldn’t help but feel excited because even Murdock was attracted to her. They could make their fantasies become a reality with Mia.
“He sure as shit does. You keep an eye on our girl. I’ll give Tiegen the heads-up about her, and we’ll get this mess cleaned up.”
“Our girl, huh?” Murdock asked, and he didn’t look so sure. He actually looked a little worried as he watched Mia.
“She’s going to answer to me for that little stunt she pulled not waiting for backup. Mark my words.” He then walked over toward the van to help try to figure out exactly what Mia had done to finally put these men behind bars once and for all.
* * * *
Mia held the ice pack against her lip as the police officer asked her where else she was hurt. She told him nowhere because she didn’t want him fussing over her. She said thanks, and he headed over to help the others. Murdock, Mitch’s brother, stood next to her with his arms crossed in front of his large chest. He was tall, like six three or something, and very muscular. From the military-style haircut, and tight, long-sleeved shirt that showed off chest and ab muscles, he was in super shape. But it was his dark-blue eyes and that look of experience—or was it mystery or a lost look?—that caught her full attention.
Crossroads 4: Shot Through the Heart (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
