by Angela Smith
“You know as well as I do that it was all my fault. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have said what you said.”
He dropped his hands and looked at her. “I only said what I said to be a jerk.”
“You succeeded quite well.”
He smiled, but the dip in his cheeks didn’t flash to his eyes.
“There was a whole slew of investigators searching for that girl,” he continued. “If they hadn’t hired you, the body might have never been found.”
“Really? Overworked and underpaid investigators who have hundreds of missing children cases a year. Is that why you’re putting your trust in them?”
Jake stood so abruptly he knocked the chair to the floor. It crashed with a loud bang and buzzed through the condo, venting its anxiety after absorbing the tension in the room.
“We’re wasting time now,” Jake said.
“I’ll make some phone calls and see what I can find out, and I’ll let you know what I decide. I still recommend you hire someone else. I can’t devote a hundred percent of my time, and if you want a field investigator to help in the search, you need someone besides me. Too much time has already passed as it is. We can only hope her mother has her and she’s in safe hands.”
Jake’s look turned sour. “If her mother has her, she’s definitely not in safe hands.”
• • •
Thunder clapped a dreadful beat in Winona’s heart. She lay in bed with the drapes open, propped up on pillows and avoiding the day. Lightning illuminated a gray-tainted sky that hadn’t yet opened for rain.
She loved summer thunderstorms, but today she wanted to curl up under her sheets and listen to the rain pound her roof. She didn’t have time for that luxury. A list of activities awaited her, including the decision she’d have to give Jake. A decision she hadn’t yet made.
She’d told him she’d let him know by today so he wouldn’t keep wasting his time trying to make her change her mind. She’d hoped her decision would come to her in a dream, but no such luck.
It would be hard to tell him no again, but a yes answer would be a huge sacrifice.
She wasn’t ready. She never planned to be ready. That part of her life was over now, and she was completely happy tending drinks and helping defenseless animals, even if the urge for something more left her restless. She never again wanted to go through the heartbreak of finding a child when it was too late.
Her phone rang and she considered ignoring it, but she recognized Chayton’s ring and knew his resulting visit would prevail over the thunder if she didn’t answer.
“Hello.”
“Everything okay?”
“Fine.”
“Naomi said she saw Jake leaving your place around midnight.”
Jeez, she had no privacy around here, especially because her brother and Naomi lived next door. Tattletale.
“Yeah,” Winona said.
“So?” Chayton’s voice told her he expected to be told more.
“So what? You knew we were meeting. We decided to meet here instead. He thinks I can perform some kind of miracle and find his godchild.”
“You’re grumpy this morning.”
“You think?”
“I’m sending Naomi over with coffee.”
“I have my own coffee. I don’t need yours.”
“Mine’s better. And I’m sending her over anyway.”
“Tell her to let herself in. I’m gonna take a quick shower.”
Everyone had a key to her condo. Well, it wasn’t exactly her condo. It was Reagan’s condo, Naomi’s cousin. When Reagan married Garret, Chayton’s brother, Naomi moved in but then hooked up with Chayton and moved in with him.
Winona really did have no privacy.
She showered and dressed. Naomi was sitting at the dining room table with coffee when she stepped out of the bedroom.
“Hey, thanks for telling Chay you saw Jake leaving at midnight.” Winona snatched the cup from the table and plopped her butt down on the chair besides Naomi. She took a sip and, discovering it had cooled considerably, downed the drink. She plunked the cup on the table and swiped her hand across her mouth. “Like we were having a fling and he was sneaking out late or something.”
“Whoa, what I said was nothing like that. Were you having a fling?” The teasing lilt of Naomi’s voice reached her eyes but didn’t bolster Winona’s mood.
“No.”
“Well, that explains your mood.”
Winona narrowed her eyes at Naomi, but her heart was light and full of love for this woman.
“All I said was I that I saw him leaving. I didn’t expect Chay to turn psycho-brother on you.”
“What were you doing out at midnight?”
“I heard commotion. Opened the door to take a peek in the hall.”
“You were being nosy.”
“Well, honestly, I thought you were on your way home. I knew you and Jake had a meeting, and I thought you’d gone to meet him. So I opened the door to talk to you, but saw him leaving your place.”
Winona stood and fixed another cup of coffee. Thunder boomed and she jumped. Her spirit lightening, she laughed.
“Well, we didn’t even kiss, just so you and my little brother know.” She stressed the word little and returned to her seat across from Naomi with the entire coffee carafe and creamer in hand.
Naomi eyed the carafe like she thought Winona was crazy, but she carried on. “Maybe you should.”
“Or not.”
“Why not? You afraid you may end up something like this?” She thrust her hand into Winona’s face, her smile wide and eyes beaming.
“Ohmigod.” Winona parked the cup and carafe on the table and snatched Naomi’s left hand.
“He proposed last night.”
Winona jumped out of her seat and pulled Naomi out of hers, performing a little dance-jump as she oohed and aahed over the ring, and hauled Naomi into her arms. She gave her a big hug and didn’t let go. “That’s awesome. I’m so happy for you. Does Reagan know?”
“No. I’m having lunch with her today and will tell her then. She’ll be furious if she knows I told you first.”
“My lips are sealed. Do you have a date set?”
“Not yet. But I hope you’ll be a bridesmaid. I’ll ask Reagan to be my maid of honor.”
“Absolutely.” Winona hugged Naomi again. “I’m so happy for you both. And you’re the only one who can keep my little brother rational.”
Naomi laughed and pulled away to look at Winona. “Sometimes. He’s gotten easier to manage. He’s still having a hard time with your mother’s death.”
Winona nodded as tears filled her eyes.
“I think it’s also helped him learn not to be so hard-headed,” Naomi said softly. “And to appreciate the small things while you have them.”
“I’m glad he got to meet her,” Winona said.
“He is, too. Well, I didn’t mean to get so melancholy.”
Winona wiped a tear from her cheek. “Me neither! This is your time, and we shouldn’t be sad.” She grabbed Naomi’s hands again to do a little skip-jump on the floor. “I just hope you don’t have as hard a time as Reagan did finding a wedding dress.”
“Darling, I know exactly what wedding dress I want. I’ve been in the fashion biz so long, I’ve been dreaming of the day I had a reason to wear it. Do you want another cup?” Naomi grabbed the carafe Winona had left on the table.
Winona sat at the table and grabbed her phone. “Oh yes, please. I’d love one. I’m going to check my email right quick.”
“I’m not good enough company for you?” Naomi teased.
“It’s not that. I’m waiting to hear from Sergeant Lamb.” She’d sent an email to the sergeant late last night after Jake had gone. She’d known him for years and he’d been a frequent contact for her when she worked in Wyoming. He was the only one she knew who might be able to help with Jake’s situation, but he wasn’t on the police force in Jackson, Wyoming, where Amy had been taken.
No ema
il from Sergeant Lamb, but plenty of junk. She opened her browser as Naomi poured coffee.
“How is the situation with Jake going?”
“Not so good. I’m worried that Jake is wasting his time here. And I’m worried that it’s too late for him. And I’m worried that—” She stopped speaking when she saw Amy’s picture on her browser’s home page. She felt her face melt.
“Winona?”
The picture loaded, along with the press release that Amy had been found.
“Oh my God.” She jumped up, but the earth wasn’t any more balanced on foot than it was with her sitting. Her blood drained.
“What is it?” Naomi asked.
“Amy’s been found. Will you turn on the TV?”
She read through the rest of the article and surfed other articles, hoping for a video. Naomi perused the TV stations and Winona finally found an online video.
“Is she okay?” Naomi asked.
“Yes. She’s alive. Appears to be safe. I have to tell Jake.”
“Do you want me to call him?”
“No. I’ll go to the B&B and tell him in person.” She hugged Naomi. “Thanks for everything. And congratulations to you both. You’re the best. I’ll catch up with you this afternoon.”
• • •
Winona considered the best way to tell Jake that Amy had been found as she clambered up the stairs of the bed and breakfast. She stopped at his door, urging her heartbeat to settle. She couldn’t let him see her so shaky or he’d think the worst.
She took a deep breath and knocked, using the force of her emotions to strengthen what would have otherwise been a weak knock. A cocktail of happiness and fear coincided in her chest, morphing into indigestion. She was thrilled Amy had been found, thrilled she was still alive and Winona wouldn’t have to take the job, but also worried. Because whoever had killed Jake’s cousin was still out there, and now it was all over national television that the only living witness was alive.
If Jake didn’t know, she wasn’t sure how to tell him.
Jake opened the door, and Winona hesitated. “Hey, Jake. Can I come in?”
He stepped aside. Thank God he was wearing a shirt, though it was tight around his chest and shoulders, revealing striations that shouldn’t be possible.
“Have you seen the news?” she blurted.
Jake’s eyes narrowed, his face paled, and those brawny shoulders she’d admired earlier fell, as if the weight of the world had crushed him. “No.”
“Amy’s been found. Alive. She’s safe.” A gust of emotions rushed through her. “She’s with her mom, back home. I watched a news clip. She’s okay.”
Jake dropped to a chair and pressed his palms into his yes. She kneeled beside him and placed her hands on his knees.
“She’s okay?” He raised his head to look at her, his eyes wide and uncertain. She felt his pain, the slow trembling of his body heating hers.
“Yes. She’s fine.”
“When?”
“Early this morning.”
“Dammit.” He banged his hands on the chair and pushed her away as he stood. “Lillian should have called me.”
“I’m sure she’s been busy.”
“Yeah, I’m sure she has. Wondering how she’s going to get away with murder.”
Winona didn’t respond, didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t know Lillian, didn’t understand Jake’s animosity toward her. She couldn’t decipher the emotions flashing across his face. Relief, uncertainty, fear. She recognized those only because she felt them herself. But the others—the others were too scary to name.
“I … I need to know for certain.”
Winona turned on the TV and flicked through the channels, but nothing was mentioned. She grabbed her phone, found her recent search, and thrust it into his face.
Jake sat, his face impassive as he read the news reports.
“Are you okay?” She scooted another chair up and sat next to him.
He nodded and returned the phone. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just shocked. Uncertain. Unsure what to do now.”
“Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
“No.”
“How about we go grab a bite to eat? Discuss what’s next.”
“What’s next with what? I have to see Amy.”
“Let Amy get settled again before you try to see her. You said you suspected Lillian of being involved. We can discuss what’s next as far as with Lillian. Do you still want to investigate her?”
“I want to kill her.” His voice was soft and edgy, almost imperceptible. A whisper of warning skated along her spine, but she didn’t move away, didn’t react. The air conditioner droned a low hum, welling into a shiver in her belly.
Winona suspected something else was going on that Jake hadn’t told her, and for now she had to accept that he wouldn’t tell her. If she were to commit to an investigation, she’d have to know everything. But right now, she wasn’t sure there was an investigation to commit to.
She didn’t think he was crazy, but didn’t know him well enough to know whether he meant it. If Lillian ended up dead …
Winona stood. “Well, you know how to find me if you need anything. Good luck, Jake.”
She walked out the door without looking back. She understood exactly where Jake was coming from. She knew he’d pack his clothes in a hurry and flee as fast as he could to get home to Amy. And possibly Lillian. Who knew what kind of relationship they really had? Whatever passion he felt for them both bordered on frenzy. She didn’t need to get involved in that.
Chapter Six
Jake watched her go. He felt bad involving Winona in any of this, but he feared it wasn’t over. Amy wasn’t safe until she was out of Lillian’s hands.
Lillian had hated when Brandon left on his trips as a sports agent, often throwing in his face how she hadn’t wanted to be a mother and she shouldn’t be stuck with a kid. He’d never been able to prove Lillian’s recklessness. Amy’s bruises were always the result of her clumsiness. Brandon had practically given up his career so he wouldn’t have to leave his child with her mother, yet when he had filed for divorce, Lillian had turned the tables and made him out to be the bad guy.
Jake woke this morning feeling hungover, and he hadn’t had an ounce to drink. Massive headache, irritability, overall body aches, and a jagged hole in his gut were the first signs he was about to lose it. The relief of hearing Amy had been found, combined with his uncertainties, made him feel vulnerable and stupid.
Temptation told him a drink would make it all better. It would all go away. His problems, his future, even his past. He’d feel better, if only temporarily. Temporary could turn to forever if he tried hard enough.
He took a shower, hoping to ease his restlessness. It didn’t work.
He opened the window blinds, but the sun hadn’t reached over the mountains yet and the heavy clouds stifled any chance of sunshine. He should get out there and run. Run across the mountains as far as he could, then return to the B&B and dive into their cold pool. Sweat would pour the sorrows out of his body, only to return when his heartbeat stabilized.
Fuck that. He wasn’t going to go out there and exercise. He needed to call Lillian and get it over with. He needed to talk to Amy.
He picked up the phone and flicked through his contacts for the bitch’s name. Shoulders taut, he rolled them back, breathing deeply as the phone rang.
She answered on the second ring. Her voice sounded desperate, as if she was waiting for someone.
“Lillian,” he stated, pouring every ounce of animosity into the phone line.
“Yes?” she asked, pretending not to know who was calling. He knew she recognized his name, if not his cell number.
“It’s Jacob.”
“Oh, Jacob,” she screeched, as if relieved to hear from him. Jake knew that wasn’t the case. They’d never liked each other—she hated him mostly because she knew he knew she was a farce and called her out on all her manipulations.
He had to stay one jump ahead o
f Lillian. Maybe it was time to hire an attorney. Invoke rights the cousin of a dead father wouldn’t normally have. Amy was not safe with Lillian. If she’d had anything to do with Amy’s disappearance, she’d also had everything to do with her being found and thrust into the spotlight.
“Glad you’re home,” he said, the sarcasm lolling on his tongue like sugar left over from a lollipop, thick and sticky and gross.
“Yes. It was quite an ordeal.”
“I bet it was. Still is, probably. Lying to the media. Pretending you’re something you’re not. Where’s Amy?”
“In her room, resting.”
“I want to talk to her.”
“No.” Her voice changed abruptly, from the sweetness of a woman who thought she could charm the stripes off a tiger to a tiger ready to attack.
Jake hated this woman. Brandon had been a good-looking guy with a bright future and a good head on his shoulders. He could have had any woman he wanted, but the Lillian he’d known was sweet and supportive and naive. He’d been blinded by lust at first, and then Amy was born. His love for his child overruled every other decision he might have made. Brandon had refused to destroy her life.
“I’m her godfather,” Jake said. “And I will see her.”
“She’s been through enough with her kidnapping and with losing her father.”
“Exactly. Which is why she needs to be with someone she trusts.”
“She trusts me.”
Jake’s breath loitered in his throat, bitter and festering and ready to spew out words he wanted to control. “She’s probably scared out of her mind, and as usual you don’t give a damn about anyone but yourself. Are you afraid she’ll tell me who killed her daddy? You and Dillon?”
“You’re out of your mind, Jake. Why would you think I had anything to do with Brandon’s death? What do you think, I kidnapped Amy, too?”
“Yeah, I damn sure do. You tried to hang Brandon out to dry in court, but that wasn’t happening fast enough for you. Did your gambling debts get out of control? You thought maybe you could still collect life insurance on him since the divorce wasn’t final and having a dead husband is better than being divorced. Am I close? Kidnapping Amy is a good alibi for you, is it not? I mean, her own mother wouldn’t have done such a thing, would she?”
