Evan pushed his plate of biscuits and honey closer to Josie. “You’re welcome to some if you’re still hungry.”
“Are you sure? Because I’d hate to lose a finger or two reaching for one. You boys are hungry this morning.”
Dare took another bite of his hash browns. “You’ve got that right. But we’d never snap at a lady. Each other? That’s a different story. Reed or Seth reaches for my food? They’re gonna need a doctor.”
Patting her stomach, Josie shook her head. “Thank you but I’m full.” She glanced at Evan who was still demolishing his link sausage. “Actually I’d love to hear what you’ve found out. That is, if you can talk about it.”
Reed leaned forward after checking out the neighboring diners. The restaurant was particularly loud this morning with the sounds of clanking dishes and the raised voices of the patrons trying to be heard. No one was paying any attention to their group at the back corner table.
“We can talk but please understand that what I’ve found out is preliminary. I’ve got a friend who is working more on this and he’ll call if or when he finds something new.”
“Jared?” Evan asked in surprise. “You called him in?”
Reed nodded. “A guy who has this much money and political clout is beyond my skill set. We needed the master to come in for a search like that and he was happy to. But I did get a few interesting tidbits. You were right—Lydell is a grade A asshole.”
Josie rolled her eyes. “I could have told you that. He marches around our state like he owns it.”
“What Reed found out was interesting,” Seth piped up after swallowing a mouthful of waffles. “The guy has business and political connections that are extremely powerful. I made a point to watch a few of his speeches from when he was in the Senate and I’ll be damned if I can figure out what the guy is for or against. He says a lot of words but never actually says anything of substance.”
That sounded like every politician she’d ever seen.
“That’s how he was elected to the Senate in the first place,” Dare observed. “He’s known for taking both liberal and conservative positions so people think he can work across the aisle. From what we could find, he simply votes how the person or group with the most money wants him to.”
“Welcome to the current state of politics.” Josie wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I lived in a city that was drowning in it.”
Seth leaned forward, his hands wrapped around his coffee mug. “Do you have any idea why Amy was in possession of that tape, Josie? Or how she came to have it?” He sighed and rubbed his chin. “I know this is going to sound bad so feel free to reach across the table and smack me. Did Amy have money troubles? Might she have been trying to blackmail Lydell?”
Josie didn’t want to think that about her friend but she didn’t take offense. Now that she’d spent a little time with these guys she could see they were good people who only wanted to help Evan, and that meant helping her by extension. Nobody was giving her the side-eye as if they thought she was secretly guilty.
“I can’t be angry at you for something that crossed my mind as well. Until that night, I had no idea my friend had possession of anything like this. The only thing I can think of is her boyfriend was a reporter and he may have somehow gotten his hands on it. How it ended up with her though would be a mystery.”
“Did she know Lydell or his family?” Reed asked as he pulled out a notebook from his shirt pocket. “Maybe someone that worked for him?”
“Not that I know of,” Josie replied, trying to remember any details that Amy might have divulged other than that people in politics often had giant egos. The only political people that Amy liked hanging out and talking to were the ones lower in the ranks. “She had some sort of assistant job to the accountant guy for a government entity. Amy had a finance degree.”
Evan tapped his pencil on the table. “Maybe she knew something about the financial records?”
Perhaps but that didn’t explain the video.
“But that’s not why they…”
Josie voice drifted off, not wanting to say the word. She was still in some weird state of denial about what happened that night. A part of her expected Amy to send her a text or call. Maybe post a funny status and photo on social media.
Seth patted her hand. “We’d like to get any phone numbers and email addresses she might have had so we can look into who she was communicating with. Can you do that?”
“Yes, although I don’t know how much help they might be.”
Reed slid the notebook across the table along with a pen. “You never know what might give us just the lead we need. Is there anything else you can tell us about Amy or her job?”
Painstakingly, Josie tried to draw a picture of her gregarious friend who always had a smile and a friendly word for everyone. Nothing about Amy had been unusual, right down to her middle class upbringing, her two siblings, and her divorced parents. She’d been a normal girl who liked to have fun with her man and friends and dreamed of settling down and getting married. Sometimes Amy and her boyfriend Billy had talked about getting a cat.
Her job hadn’t been any more interesting. Amy complained about the bigwigs that threw their weight around and disrupted the office when they were in town, which luckily wasn’t often. She liked her boss though and they worked well together.
Josie finished scribbling down every number and email address for Amy that she knew along with all her social media profiles. “Were you able to find out who the girl was in the video? Is she okay?”
Seth grimaced and shook his head. “Jared and Jason have some contacts and they’re running some facial recognition software. Hopefully we’ll know something soon. I’ve been checking the recent missing persons reports and haven’t found anything, so we’re hoping she’s alive and healthy.”
The image of watching the light go out in Amy’s eyes had tears gathering in Josie’s eyes. “From what you’ve found out so far, do you think Lydell killed that poor girl?”
Reed sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “No, I don’t think he did. From what I’ve been able to dig up so far Lydell is the kind of guy to get other people to do his dirty work. He doesn’t like to be on the front lines if you know what I mean. So I think there is a pretty decent chance she’s alive and well, but sporting a black eye and bruised ribs. He’s still lower than a rattlesnake’s belly, make no mistake. I’m just saying he doesn’t seem to have a lot of balls.”
“I kind of got that impression just seeing him on television,” Josie murmured, her thoughts on that night. She wanted desperately to remember something that might help these men who had volunteered to help her.
“Even the media doesn’t care,” Dare shrugged. “A retired politician that’s a total jerk. No one would be shocked. If anything, they’d be surprised if he wasn’t. We don’t ask much of our public servants these days. Sad, really.”
Josie glanced down at the sea of plates and bowls on the table. Empty. These boys could put away some chow.
“I just want to thank you guys for coming.” She linked her arm with Evan’s and gave his hand a grateful squeeze. “You dropped everything at a moment’s notice and here you are. I’m overwhelmed. I know you’re really here for Evan but I’m also going to be the recipient of your hard work and I don’t want there to be any confusion about this. I’m incredibly grateful. I didn’t kill Amy and I don’t want to go to jail. It scares the hell out of me. And those men that want me dead? They terrify me too. Basically I’m a lily-livered shit.”
Reed shook his head and smiled. “Lily-livered? I don’t think so. You managed to run and hide all this time, plus find someone you instinctually knew you could trust. That’s damn brave if you ask me.”
All four men were grinning and Evan was even tugging on her ponytail playfully. She was going to like having all of them around. She hadn’t felt this safe in a long time. These three men were like the big brothers she’d never had.
“Awww, you guys are so sweet,” s
he teased. “How about a group hug?”
Laughter, warm and rich, filled the air and caused several heads to turn, if only to take a closer look at the newcomers. Strangers were always news in this town and this morning wasn’t an exception. Add in the fact that four gorgeous, strapping men sat at the table with her and she was the envy of every female in Cypress Corner.
“I have a better idea.” Evan slapped the table lightly to get everyone’s attention. “How about a group meeting? We need to talk about what the plan is to keep Josie safe. Actually, I was planning to head into Ocala to the hardware store and pick up some items to make the house more secure. Maybe we should all go.”
The other three men exchanged glances but Dare was the one who spoke up. “We already stopped and picked up some things we thought you might need on the way here from the airport. We didn’t want to waste any time. We were the first through the doors of the hardware store this morning.”
Josie didn’t know which one of them to hug first.
“I know we got off to a rocky start but I really like you guys.”
Seth winked at Evan. “She’s a keeper, bro. She’s got damn good taste in bodyguards.”
Josie wasn’t sure about that but she was sure that her taste in men was improving. Evan Davis was a keeper indeed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The drive back to the house only took a few minutes and Evan took the opportunity to watch Josie interact with his friends. She’d been scared and prickly at first but now she’d fully embraced them, confident that they weren’t here to extricate Evan from a sticky situation he wanted out of. Frankly, the last thing he wanted was for Josie to go. After last night, he needed her to stay. What they had deserved a chance to grow and flourish.
Seth pulled the SUV into the driveway and Evan climbed out, followed by Josie, Dare, and then Reed. The stack of hardware supplies stowed in the back of the vehicle meant a busy day ahead but Evan was damn grateful his friends were here to help.
“Should we get all these boxes and bags unloaded?” he asked, heading for the rear of the truck. “All my tools are in the garage. I’ll open it up.”
Reed opened the back and began to sort through the supplies. “We have some cameras to place around the house and property, plus some exterior lighting. In one of those bags over there are some motion sensors to place on the doors and windows.”
Seth stood on the other side of Evan. “There is one thing we don’t have. To get here quickly we had to fly which means–”
“I understand,” Evan nodded, getting their meaning immediately. “No firearms or ammunition. Don’t worry, Granddad was a collector. We’d be fine for the zombie apocalypse if it came to that.”
Josie shuddered and peered over his shoulder to see what was in the boxes. “Wow, that’s a lot of stuff. Do you really think we’ll need it all?”
Evan didn’t have a chance to answer before a car appeared on his long driveway, pulling up behind the SUV.
The unexpected visitor drove a nondescript sedan that made Evan instantly suspicious. Cars like that were driven by government people.
He ought to know. He’d driven every American made four-door, boring as hell vehicle in his career. Supposedly it made him blend in to the surroundings, but the cars were so plain it was almost a calling card.
“Go inside the house, honey.” Evan put a hand on her arm. “Upstairs in the bedroom where it’s cool. We have company.”
He felt a tremble run down her arm and he dropped a reassuring kiss on her temple. Even before reinforcements had arrived, he wasn’t planning to let anyone near her but now he knew he could actually keep her safe. These were three of the best cops he’d ever had the pleasure to work with. They knew their business and he’d trust them with his life.
“Who is it?” she whispered, trying to see through the windshield even as he blocked her view.
“I don’t know and that’s why you’re going upstairs.”
“I’ll stay there with her,” Dare offered, placing his hand on Josie’s arm. She allowed herself to be led into the house and hopefully upstairs.
But she was far from safe as only Evan was currently armed.
Seth, Evan, and Reed stood shoulder to shoulder as if a wall between their visitor and the house. The driver’s door of the sedan opened and a long leg clad in skinny jeans and ankle boots appeared and then a second. Evan knew those legs and the person they were attached to. He inwardly groaned and stepped forward, giving his friends a put-upon look that told them they could stand down.
But Josie needed to stay in the house.
“Marisa, I had no idea you were coming today.”
Evan greeted his former partner as she climbed out of the car. Along with her dark jeans and boots, she was wearing a white blouse with sleeves that were rolled up almost to the elbows. An oversized brown leather handbag that matched those boots was thrown over her shoulder, finishing off the ensemble. To this day, Evan had no clue how Marisa could stay so unwrinkled. She’d probably been in the vehicle for hours but she looked like she’d just pulled on her clothes.
“That’s because I didn’t tell you. I was afraid you’d have a million excuses as to why I shouldn’t come. So give me a hug and tell me all about your handsome friends. Oh hello, Seth. It’s been a long time.”
Of course Marisa would notice them. Evan quickly introduced her although she’d already spoken to them on the phone about trying to convince him to return to the Marshal Service. She gave Seth a hug and he looked quite uncomfortable about the whole thing. Presley and Seth had never warmed to Marisa.
Tugging at her collar, Marisa nodded toward the house. “I’ll never get used to the heat down here. How about we go inside and catch up?”
Evan had a feeling catch up meant something very different to each of them.
“And you always overdressed for the climate,” Evan observed, pointing to her boots. “Sandals probably would have been a better choice. Shorts too, for that matter. You’re off duty, after all.”
“Shorts and sandals? I don’t think so.”
Some things never changed and Marisa was one of them. She loved her blue jeans and would probably be buried in her favorite pair.
“It won’t be much better in the house, I’m afraid. No air conditioning.”
Evan almost laughed at Marisa’s appalled expression. It spoke volumes about how close their friendship was that she didn’t bother to hide it. After all, they knew some awfully intimate things about each other after working together almost daily for two years.
Her eyes went wide and she seemed to gaze at the house in a whole new light. Not a good one. “How can you live there without air conditioning? It’s going to be absolutely miserable in a couple of months.”
Evan laughed and pointed to the upstairs. “I have a window unit in the bedroom but I don’t think all of us would fit on the mattress. How about we head back into town? We can sit in the air conditioned diner and have a cool drink.”
He’d whisk Marisa off to the diner and the other men could keep Josie safe while he was gone. The last thing he needed was for his former partner to get a close look at Josie and start asking uncomfortable questions. Hopefully Marisa would simply think Josie was Reed’s woman.
“That sounds like a perfectly wonderful idea. Is everyone going?”
Evan glanced back at his two friends but they’d already figured out the plan. Seth and Reed shook their heads and mumbled something about calling their wives and checking in with the office. It sounded plausible enough and Marisa seemed happy with the explanation.
“Let’s just take your car.” Evan moved toward the passenger door and elbowed Reed on the way, the other man giving him a grin of understanding. “I’ll even let you drive.”
It was a running joke that Evan liked to drive everywhere but today he simply wanted her out of his driveway and he didn’t care how that happened. He’d listen to her sales pitch about returning to the marshals and then nudge her home to Tampa. He had no
intention of going back and he was going to make that crystal clear this morning and stop all this nonsense. She was sticking her nose into his personal life and dragging his friends along with her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“They’re gone,” Reed, or maybe Seth, called up the stairs. Josie didn’t know their voices well enough yet to tell them apart through a closed door. “You can come down if you want.”
Dare shrugged and grinned. “Up to you. It’s awful nice in this cool air. We didn’t sleep much last night between the flights and the drive so I could curl up on this floor and nap.”
A knock and then the door opened, Reed sticking his head in. “I heard that, Dare. No way are you taking a nap. Just because Evan left doesn’t mean we don’t have work to do. We can get started on those lights and cameras but if you want to stay in the cool a little longer, you can install those motion detectors on the windows.”
Giving her a wink, Dare lumbered to his feet, seemingly unconcerned about being scolded by his friend. “Sounds like a plan. Josie, have you ever wanted to learn how to install motion detectors and cameras?”
Sitting by herself didn’t sound like fun but asking these men all sorts of questions about Evan? That was tempting.
“How did you know? I’ve always wanted to learn how to do that. It’s on my bucket list.”
“Then it’s your lucky day,” Reed laughed, turning back to the stairs. “Let’s see how much of this we can get done before Evan gets back. Hopefully he’ll be able to shake Marisa off after a coffee and a piece of pie.”
That’s how Josie found herself handing tools and supplies up to Seth who was perched on a ladder leaning on the side of the house. He was installing some lighting and a camera that could be remotely accessed from a laptop or even a phone.
Justice Reborn (Cowboy Justice Association Book 8) Page 14
