Mallory closed her eyes, her brain sifting through the multitude of images from only hours ago. Some were good, some were neutral, and some were downright horrifying.
“There were other people there,” she said. “Carter pulled up in front of the building and parked the car. We both got out to check the tires.”
“Was it quiet?” Jason asked. “Or loud? Did you smell anything?”
Olfactory memories. She’d read that they were the most powerful and could last an entire lifetime.
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” she replied with a shake of her head. “But it was quiet. Everyone was orderly and minding their own business.”
“No, there was a smell,” Carter contradicted. “It was leaves. It was faint but I thought I smelled burning leaves.”
Her lids fluttered open and she frowned, trying to remember. “Yes, I know what you’re talking about. It was so faint, though. Like from a far distance.”
“Everything is important,” West stated. “Did you tell the police about the smell? There’s a small neighborhood a few miles away it could have come from.”
“They didn’t ask,” Carter answered. “They only wanted what we saw.”
“Okay,” Jason nodded easily. The entire family sat quietly, listening to their stories but not interrupting at all. “What did you see when you got out of the car? Who was there?”
To her relief, Carter replied. “There was a family parked to our right and down the way a few spaces from the victim.”
“What kind of car was it?” West asked.
“A minivan.” This time it was Mallory who answered. “Maroon. It was a fancy one with the DVD player in the back of the seats so the kids could watch television. A movie I didn’t recognize was on but they were asleep.”
Thank God they had left before the violence started.
“How many kids?”
“Two. A boy and a girl.” She anticipated his next question. “I’m not good with ages, though. Maybe…around ten or twelve? I’m not sure. I didn’t get a good look at them and it was dark.”
“Would you recognize them if you saw them again?”
Would she? Could she?
“No,” she said after a long pause. “I just barely glanced at them. I don’t think I’d know who they were.”
But West didn’t stop there. He peppered her with more questions, in far more detail than the cops had asked. Did she remember what the children were wearing? What about shoes? What were the adults wearing?
And on it went. When she couldn’t answer, Carter would try but his focus had been on the flat tire and not their surroundings.
“Okay, was there anyone else there?” Jason asked. “Besides the family?”
Carter answered first. “There was also a sedan to our left with a man that was rummaging around in his trunk, along with the vehicle that had pulled in right behind us – a dark-colored Malibu with a female driver.”
“It was blue,” Mallory added. “Dark blue. And don’t forget about the other woman in the SUV. It was silver.”
“Right,” Carter nodded. “But she was already behind the wheel and left while I was changing the tire.”
“She could have come back while you were in the restroom,” Jason said. “Or she could have pulled behind the building and turned off her engine and headlights waiting until the other guy was alone.”
“She didn’t know he’d ever be alone,” Mallory pointed out. “No one could possibly know that.”
“She could hope,” Carter said. “Lie in wait. But I think she left.”
“Did you actually see her drive down the ramp to the highway?” West challenged.
“No.”
“Then you don’t know.”
Carter rolled his eyes. “You’re being more of a dick than the cops. They just took our stories down and canned the editorial comments. You’re not the investigators here.”
Easton laughed and stood to refill his coffee. “Since when has that ever stopped them from acting like it?”
West shrugged. “It’s a habit. Sue me.”
“I’m simply interested in the details of the case,” Jason remarked, a smile playing on his lips. “I’m not looking to hunt this guy down. Assuming it’s a man.”
She’d been thinking about this for hours now. “I think it was the guy who was rummaging in his trunk. That’s pretty suspicious behavior, don’t you think?”
Carter’s brows almost went to his hairline. “No, because I was doing the exact same thing. Do you think I killed him?”
Now he was being a drama king. This was more like the guy she’d had dinner with.
“Of course not.”
“Then let’s not label any behavior as suspicious.” He was silent for a long moment. “Although I kind of agree with you. He never made eye contact with me. The guy with the family did. The mother did. The woman in the Malibu did, but he didn’t.”
“That’s not a sign of guilt,” West said. “It could mean many things. Hell, he might be the killer but it doesn’t mean anything. Not everyone is as friendly as you are to strangers.”
Kathy, who had been quiet this entire time along with Carter’s father, elbowed West.
“It might simply be his gut telling him that. Aren’t you always talking about a lawman’s gut instincts?”
“I am,” West readily agreed. “But Carter isn’t a lawman.”
Peter sat up in his chair and cleared his throat. “He’s an Anderson and that means that he’s no fool about people.”
I’m not so sure about that. He was kind of a jerk tonight.
Carter was rubbing his temples as if he had a headache. “Dad, West has a point.”
Peter nodded and then stood up. “Of course, he does. So do you. The fact is none of us know shit. Excuse my language, ladies.”
Rock on. I could use a few cuss words myself right about now.
“When you came out of the restroom, Mallory, what happened then?” Jason asked. “Everyone was gone and you were alone.”
This. This right here was what she wasn’t sure she ready to relive. Those images… She might never sleep again.
She hadn’t said a word but Carter, sitting so close their arms were touching, seemed to sense her unrest. He patted her hand underneath the table and then gave it a squeeze.
“I know you all want every detail but I think Mallory is exhausted and frankly, so am I. We need to get a few hours of sleep and then maybe we can resume our discussion about this.”
Carter Anderson, you’re not a bad guy. You might even be a good one.
Jason winced and rubbed his chin again. “Shit, I’m sorry. Of course, you’re exhausted and need some sleep. It’s the former agent in me that wants all the details. I really apologize.”
Peter slapped Jason on the back. “Both of you should get home to your families. They’ll wonder where you are when they wake up.”
“Brinley already knows,” Jason laughed. “The phone woke her. She has the hearing of a wolf. Any little sound and she’s wide awake.”
“She has the hearing of a mother,” Kathy contradicted. “I’m betting that Gigi knows where West is, too.”
His cheeks red, West nodded in agreement. All eyes seemed to turn to Easton who was standing at the counter wolfing down the leftover bacon like a man who hadn’t been fed in days.
“What?” he said, chewing and swallowing the mouthful. “Dizzy was blissfully asleep when I left. And if any of you tell her how much bacon and eggs I ate here today I’ll totally deny it all and call you a liar. She’s got me on a juice cleanse.”
Mallory didn’t know who Dizzy was but apparently the statement was hilarious because everyone laughed. The party – or whatever this was – was officially breaking up. Everyone stood and the coffee cups were rinsed and placed in the sink. Kathy paused in front of Mallory, her arms held out.
“I know your parents aren’t here to give you a hug. May I?”
Mallory wasn’t much of a hugger. At least, her family hadn
’t been. Her parents loved her, she knew that without a doubt, but physical affection wasn’t something they displayed often.
Do I want a hug? Yes, I think I do. It can’t hurt.
Mallory opened her own arms and was wrapped in a lovely but gentle hug. And yes, it felt better. Human contact was good and what she needed. Her stress level dropped slightly, although she was still tense and agitated. There probably weren’t enough hugs to get her to completely relax and forget.
Carter’s family filtered out, climbed into their cars, and drove away just as the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon. She’d been up a full twenty-four hours and she felt like a walking zombie.
Closing and locking the door behind him, Carter pressed a few buttons on the wall panel and the security system green light came on.
“Let’s get you to bed.”
Interesting statement. Earlier this evening it would have been a giant warning sign about a womanizing blind date. Now?
It sounded hopeful but in a completely different way. She’d never sleep again.
Chapter Eight
‡
Carter had tried to sleep but that had been a futile effort. Every time he’d tried to close his eyes, he’d think about what he’d seen. It played out like a movie in his mind, and it was so fucking real. The sounds, the smells, even the colors seemed brighter and more vivid. It was as if he was reliving it over and over, forced to watch when there was nothing he could do to stop it. Eventually he’d given up and headed into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.
He’d stopped by the guest room where he’d put Mallory and opened the door just a crack to check on her. She probably wouldn’t be all that happy about him doing it but he was worried. She’d experienced even more than he had and she’d clearly been shaken up by it. The entire time they’d spent talking to his family, he could feel the tension radiating from her slight frame. She’d been holding it together, but barely.
Luckily, she had fallen asleep at some point probably from sheer exhaustion. When he’d looked in on her, her eyes were closed and her long dark hair was strewn across the white pillowcase like a halo. But sadly, her rest wasn’t peaceful. Her breathing had been fast and shallow as her fingers clutched at the sheets. For a moment, he thought about waking her but then changed his mind. Rotten sleep was better than no sleep at all.
He’d ended up in the kitchen, sipping coffee and staring out of the window. Not much was happening outside. A few birds and some squirrels for Tiger to bark at but even the canine had lost interest and had laid down on his favorite cushion by the fireplace and was taking a nap. Carter was alone with his thoughts, a state that he usually avoided as much as possible.
Matthew Montgomery.
Carter hadn’t known the man, and now never would, but he’d been a real person with a real life. Like so many, Montgomery had hopes and dreams, plans for the future. He had people that loved him, maybe even someone waiting at home for him. That was all gone. In just a few seconds, everything had changed.
Introspection wasn’t a thing that came naturally to Carter. He didn’t spend much of his time pondering the questions of the universe or any of his life decisions. He was basically a man of action, preferring deeds over words. But this had turned him around and pulled him inside out. Matthew Montgomery’s life was over. Carter was still alive.
But what the fuck was he doing with his life? Sure, he worked hard, busting his ass every day to make the family more money when they really didn’t need it. He built things and that had always been satisfying for him. Structures that would still be standing long after he was gone, even if it was only a condo or an office. It was still permanent and a sign he’d been there.
Other people had children as a legacy, Carter had buildings. And what about kids? He wanted a couple, although he hadn’t much thought about when. Most of his friends had settled down and were starting families but until recently he’d been content to taste the nectar of as many women as he possibly could. Variety was fun and monogamy was the enemy. He’d turned thirty-three six months ago and he was finding that his taste in entertainment and people were beginning to change.
He’d rather spend a quiet evening at home, maybe watching a movie and cooking dinner. He didn’t want to whoop it up with his friends at some loud, smoky honkytonk until closing time and then drag his ass out of bed in the morning. Usually next to a woman he could barely remember. He didn’t know who he was becoming or what he wanted out of life but he sure as shit didn’t want to be that guy… The one that was older and kind of creepy, hitting on girls in their twenties. No one wanted to be him, least of all Carter.
That was one of the reasons he’d agreed to go on this blind date with Mallory. Someone who didn’t hang out in bars or know much about the Anderson family. For one night at least, he could just be himself with a person who didn’t have any expectations.
But he wasn’t getting any younger and the clock on the wall was ticking away. Montgomery had found that out. There were no guarantees. Carter had to wake the fuck up and stop walking blindly through his life, instead grabbing it by the balls and making it his bitch. If he wanted something he had to make it happen. No putting it off for another day. That day might never come.
“Is there more coffee?”
So lost in his maudlin thoughts, Carter hadn’t heard Mallory join him in the kitchen. He swung his feet down from where he had them propped on a chair and hopped up to pour her a cup. “There is. Cream and sugar?”
Rubbing at her eyes, she looked delightfully sleepy. Satin skin with just a flush on her cheeks, hair tumbled from her restless nap, she was completely adorable. Only a thin line of smudged mascara under her eyes gave away that she’d been wearing makeup last night and hadn’t had a chance to wipe it off. He’d loaned her a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt that were far too big and it made it hard to walk. She had to hold up the bottom of the pants as she walked into the kitchen and sat down.
“Cream and two sugars. Thank you. I really need this.” She took a sip. “You should have woken me up.”
He set the steaming mug in front of her before refilling his own tepid brew.
“I hope you don’t mind but I did check on you about an hour ago. You were sleeping and I didn’t want to disturb you.”
She grimaced and made a face. “I would have welcomed it. I had a nightmare which I guess isn’t all that shocking. It would have been a surprise if I didn’t. What about you?”
“I never got to sleep, but I’m glad you did. Even if it wasn’t peaceful, you needed the rest.”
“I’d rather stay awake. In fact, that’s the plan for the foreseeable future. What’s the record for staying awake?”
He settled in the chair across from her. “I have no idea but I don’t think it’s a long-term kind of plan. Eventually you’ll need to rest. Maybe the doctor can prescribe something for you.”
“No way.” She shook her head. “I don’t like taking anything. When I take cold medicine it gives me weird dreams. I can’t imagine what would happen if I took some now. Nothing good, I bet. What were you doing?”
It was a decent question. Carter was sitting all alone in the kitchen, no radio, no television, and no newspaper. Just sitting.
But he didn’t play glib or funny. Better to be honest.
“Thinking. About last night and Montgomery. I would imagine that’s what you and I are going to do for awhile.”
Wrapping her hands around the warm mug, she nodded. “I guess so. Were you wondering what he was like? I do. I wonder if he had a wife and kids. That would be awful.”
The police hadn’t told them anything about the victim. He ought to check the news. They’d have all the details.
“I guess something like this just makes you think about your own mortality,” he said. “It would probably be strange if it didn’t.”
They didn’t speak for awhile, seemingly content to sip their coffee and stare out of the window. There was still unfinished business between them, h
owever. He’d promised himself that he would apologize.
“If it’s not too late…I’d like to apologize about last night. Looking back over the evening, I was a lousy date. I don’t have a good excuse but I do have an explanation, if you’re open to hearing it.”
Her brows raised in question. “I’m listening.”
“A buddy of mine from college, his wife went into labor last night in Denver. He was super nervous and kept texting me over and over all the details of what was going on and I was trying to reassure him that it was all normal, although I don’t know jack-shit about childbirth. He just needed someone to be there for him. They had his wife’s family all there but he doesn’t have many friends in Denver yet. They just moved there about six months ago. Anyway, that’s why I kept getting those texts. I ignored you and that wasn’t right. I’m really sorry. I’m usually better on a date.”
Mallory seemed to carefully consider his story and then finally nodded. “That’s actually a pretty good excuse. Did she have it yet? Was it a boy or a girl?”
“She had the baby about midnight. A boy and thank you for being so nice about it.”
A playful smile turned up the corners of her mouth. “Of course that doesn’t explain the waitress at dinner.”
Fuck.
“Did you know she followed me into the ladies’ room at the restaurant?” Mallory asked. “She told me that you were a womanizer and if I was smart I would call a cab and leave you at the table.”
Damn. Women were vicious.
“That was Anna. She and I only went out a few times.”
“You made quite an impression then.”
He didn’t know how to explain without sounding like an ass.
“Anna is a nice girl but there was never anything serious between us.”
“Did she know that?”
“I hope so,” he snorted. “We only went out two or three times. That’s hardly a great love affair.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
Ah, the million dollar question.
“Does it matter?”
That seemed to amuse Mallory to no end. For the first time in hours, she was smiling and chuckling, her shoulders shaking with mirth.
Road to Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 8) Page 4
