Fatal Reunion

by Jessica R. Patch

  Luke put his arm around her and caressed her shoulder. “We’ll find him. I’m more worried about you.”

  Piper stood and rubbed her cheek. “I should have been paying attention. I didn’t even notice the van. Not when it opened. Nothing.”

  Luke hugged her closer as he led her down the alley. “Let’s get you back to Riff’s. Get something to slow that swelling down, Speedy Gonzales. You need a doctor.” But he already knew she wouldn’t go.

  Piper’s face scrunched and she kicked a can next to the door. “I’m better than that.”

  “You got out of that van. That’s pretty good.” Relief washed over him.

  Inside Riff’s, Luke guided Piper to a booth. “Don’t do anything while I’m getting you some ice. You might have a concussion.”

  “I’ve been hit harder than this.” Her face softened, and she smiled. “But thank you. Getting that shot off gave me a smidge of time.”

  Luke’s heart was pretty much toast. “I’ll be back.”

  When he returned, Piper’s head leaned against the seat, eyes closed. He stole a few seconds to simply watch her. Her bravery had dissolved, her face was pale and her hands trembled. As if she knew he was staring, she opened her eyes and caught him. Heat crept up his neck and he held up the ice. “I bring gifts.”

  Piper brushed her fingers against his when she accepted it and flinched. Had she felt the connection, too?

  Pressing the pack to her face, she groaned. “Now what?”

  “Any idea who that was? Did you see any faces?”

  “No. Everything happened so fast. I can only think of one person who wants to hurt me.” Her bottom lip trembled and she sucked it inside her mouth. “Do you think Derone was working with whoever was in the van?”

  “I don’t think so. He had no idea we’d look here for him. And he didn’t get into the van. But he might be indirectly connected since he knew Christopher Baxter.” Did Piper realize the biggest concern yet? Someone was tailing her.

  Luke needed more information on Derone Johnson. On that van. Chances were whoever was driving it probably didn’t hang out here, but Piper was in danger. He’d bark up any tree no matter how high. The undercover DEA agent throwing darts with some roughnecks might have information. But how to extract it without blowing his cover?

  “I can get us some answers, and I promise not to keep them from you, but I need you to hang tight and not interfere.”

  Piper studied his face. She’d trusted him once—or had she? If she’d trusted him, why give him that bogus address?

  “What are you gonna do?” Lowering the ice, she peered up at him.

  “Trust me. I mean it, Piper. Don’t interfere. No matter what. Not even a ‘Freeze. Police.’”

  “Caught that, did you? I figured it was worth a shot.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” He touched the bruise forming on her cheek. “Stay put.”

  “Fine.”

  Her mouth said “fine.” Her face said no such thing. He released a frustrated breath and pulled his shield, then strode toward the undercover agent. “Holt Renard, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  He clenched his teeth just before Holt’s fist made impact. Pain sprinted into Luke’s head like a camera flash. If Holt was going easy, he’d hate to see a real punch to the face from this guy, and Luke knew punches. He’d boxed in college.

  Luke seized him by the arm, twisted him around and cuffed him. “I’m so glad you did that,” he hissed in his ear and prodded him through the crowd. He caught Piper’s curious gaze as he pushed his way toward the front of Riff’s.

  Was she buying this? Would she stay in the booth?

  Luke led Holt to a small parking lot, crammed him into the back of his Durango and jumped in the driver’s side.

  “You got something against me, McKnight?” Luke rubbed his jaw, then uncuffed him.

  “Keeping it real.” Holt sniffed. “What’s so important you’d risk my cover?”

  “Derone Johnson. And a blue van. But they probably aren’t directly related.”

  The passenger door opened, and Piper climbed into the seat.

  “I told you to stay put,” Luke growled.

  “Hey, it’s Mr. Miyagi.” Holt grinned and concentrated on her bruise. “Wow, that’s gonna look bad in the morning. Told you not to go chasing down Wheels.”

  Piper lasered in on him then Luke. “What is going on?”

  Luke sighed. “Do you ever listen?”

  “No.”

  “What unit you with, Miyagi?” Holt’s eyes and polished tone oozed flirtation. He was known as a wild card and a ladies’ man. Luke didn’t like it being practiced on Piper. Not. One. Iota.

  “I’m not a cop. But you are, aren’t you?” She didn’t seem mesmerized by Holt. “And don’t call me Miyagi.”

  “Do I look like a cop?” Another movie-star grin.

  Luke raked his hands over his face. “Enough.” Piper hadn’t followed orders, and now Holt’s cover was about to be blown, at least to her. “He’s undercover as Holt Renard, and you can’t say a word. Not to anyone.” He could taste his promotion slipping away.

  “Give me a break. I can keep a secret.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” Luke shot back with more venom than he meant. He was frustrated and feeling guilty for not protecting Piper better. No wonder she doubted his efforts.

  Piper’s face colored with anguish and she turned to Holt. “Derone Johnson. Where can we find him? I lost him over on Front Street.”

  “Why you chasing him when you aren’t a cop?”

  “I have my reasons.”

  “Will you have that drink with me?” Holt arched an eyebrow and shrugged when Piper didn’t answer. “That wasn’t me pretending. But I admit I was trying to steer you clear of the back room. Now you know why.”

  “I can hold my own,” Piper said with smugness.

  “I saw that.”

  “What drink?” Luke demanded as his ire rose. Green sludge spewed from his gut clear up to his eyes. Enough with Holt’s advances. Luke explained everything that had transpired. “So?”

  Holt’s stare lingered on Piper, then turned to Luke. “Derone runs a smooth drug operation. Much like the Black Mafia Family out of Atlanta. I’ve been trying to take him down for the last fifteen months.” He glanced at Piper. “You mind stepping out of the vehicle?”

  Little late for that.

  “You mind me going inside and telling everyone who you really are?” Defiance flared in her eyes. Piper might back down if it concerned only her, but Mama Jean had been injured. Damage was done anyway. And here he was once again letting protocol slip because of this woman. He had to get a grip and fast. Luke wasn’t going to jeopardize his career or the promotion.

  “Fine.” Holt rubbed his wrists where the cuffs had cut in. “I can’t say that I know the Baxter dude all that well. But if he’s mixed up with Derone, it’s drug related. Derone stays in the Hickory Hill area sometimes. No permanent residence. Got people to hide him if necessary.”

  Could all this have to do with drugs? “Name Tyson Baroni ring a bell?”

  Holt nodded. “Yeah, but he wasn’t into drugs. Boosted cars and chopped them up in his shop over in Midtown. Probably done some car work for Derone, but I’ve never seen them together.”

  So a connection between them was possible. But that didn’t answer the question of why Piper’s business card was on Tyson or why she was attacked in the hospital parking lot. Was this Boone character working for one of these guys?

  Piper shifted in her seat. “Derone must’ve thought I was police. He ran. Question is, was he guilty of the drugs or hurting my grandmother...or both?”

  “Well, you did come in with some serious swagger. Sure you don’t want that glass of water?”

  “Still no
t thirsty. Thanks.”

  Holt shrugged. “Your loss. Ransom, drop me in the parking lot by the Orpheum. I can’t go back in Riff’s tonight.”

  Luke drove Holt to the theater happily. His hand ached to return the punch. “If you see Derone or a van that fits the description, call me.”

  “Will do.” Holt hopped out and leaned back in. “Ice that jaw, dude.” He gave one last tenacious look at Piper, winked and hauled it to the parking lot.

  Luke grimaced. “Why did he offer you a drink?”

  Piper rolled her eyes. “Maybe I looked parched. Or he’s hospitable.”

  “If you weren’t hunting down Derone, would you have had one?”

  Piper scowled. “What does it matter to you?”

  Luke’s irritation tightened his already-coiled shoulders. “It doesn’t.” It shouldn’t. But the thought of Piper sharing a drink, even just water, with Holt drove him crazy. He cleared his throat. “Now what?”

  “Now I’m going to call Harmony.” She dug out her phone, made the call and a few seconds later hung up. She chewed her thumbnail. “I’m worried.”

  “Maybe she lost her phone.” Doubtful, seeing the fear in her eyes... He had to try to act optimistic.

  Piper poked her lips out and cocked her head. “And couldn’t even call from the hotel?”

  “Which hotel? Call and see if they’ll ring her room.”

  She lightly rapped her hand on her forehead a few times. “I can’t remember the name, but the information is at Harmony’s.”

  “Guess you won’t need a cab after all.”

  He parked in Harmony’s drive and followed Piper inside. She flipped on the kitchen light and snagged the hotel information. “The Bellagio. I should have remembered that.”

  Luke slunk in a chair at the kitchen table while Piper made the call.

  “Yes, could you ring Harmony Fells’s room, please?” Piper’s face turned ashen. “I see. Are you sure?”

  She laid the phone on the counter, a haggard expression on her face. “Luke...she never checked in.”

  FIVE

  Turning left onto Walnut Grove, Piper spied the Starbucks where she was meeting Luke. Neutral location. A place they’d never visited together. Going back to Riff’s the other night had brought a wealth of memories. Had Luke felt them, too?

  Days had ticked by. The hurry-up-and-wait game was growing excruciating. Every second Harmony’s chances for survival faded away and the probability of another attack on Piper grew. Sleep was as nonexistent as the leads Piper and Luke tracked down. Some of the animosity dissipated between them after Piper discovered Harmony had gone missing. Luke had put on a pot of coffee and worked with her, not against her. It only deepened the ache.

  Harmony never boarded her flight from the Memphis airport, but her car was in the paid parking garage. Monday, after Luke had dropped Piper off at the mechanic to pick up her own vehicle, he’d had the crime-scene unit out to print and send fibers to the lab before taking Harmony’s car to the police impound lot.

  Piper had forced Harmony to go, thinking she’d be safer. Now she was missing. Guilt devoured her inside out like a swarm of locusts. She should have let Harmony stay and maybe Piper could have protected her better. Luke said the video footage had her in the parking garage, but after that—nothing. Maybe Chaz was coming after everyone left from the old crew. Tyson. Harmony. Piper. Sly was in prison. Couldn’t get to him. That was the only explanation she could muster.

  Piper’s attention webbed in a million directions.

  At least Mama Jean was secure in the new facility, with a lush garden. She’d love that. It hadn’t taken much to settle her in. After the deed was done, Luke and Detective Hale had returned and questioned Mama Jean.

  Piper had perched by her side, barely listening. Compassion lightened Luke’s gravelly voice. He’d kept his eyes trained on Mama Jean, not letting a single word fall to the ground. If only he’d listened to Piper in that way instead of commanding her to leave him that night he’d caught her running from the Strosbergen home. If he hadn’t assumed the worst about her.

  His patience with Mama Jean as she’d struggled to recollect information settled like sunshine into Piper’s wintry bones. One of the attributes Piper admired most about him, something she had little of herself.

  She spotted Luke at the door and he opened it for her. Smells of freshly baked vanilla scones, blueberry muffins and the delicious scent of caffeine welcomed her along with Luke’s smile.

  “You find it easily?”

  “I did.” After placing and receiving their orders, Luke led Piper outside to a wrought-iron table with two chairs and a green-and-white-striped umbrella to shade them from the sun. April was almost turning into May and the temps had begun to rise.

  “Please tell me you have some good news.” Piper plucked her green stopper from the cup and sipped on her white-chocolate mocha.

  “I wish I could. I talked with Harmony’s managers at the Realtor and insurance agency. They assumed she was in Vegas.”

  “I don’t understand. Was no one else going to that conference?”

  “One. Tom Deluka. Left two days earlier to make it a mini vacation with his family. It’s a big conference. He never noticed Harmony’s absence.”

  Piper’s coffee unsettled her stomach. “This is my fault. I made her leave, thinking she would be safe. But...”

  Luke tilted forward, hesitating to speak, forcing Piper to look him in the eyes. “You are not to blame. Understand?”

  She gave a weak nod. “Are you any closer to finding Boone or Derone Johnson?”

  “I have a BOLO—a be on the lookout—out on them both. We’ll find her, Piper.”

  Luke’s hand covered hers—masculine, slightly rough, warm. Would he use his thumb and stroke her knuckles like he used to?

  No. He jerked his hand away and into his hair as a muscle in his cheek twitched.

  Sliding her hand into her lap, Piper willed the familiar sting of rejection away. “I hope when we do, she’s alive.”

  Luke licked his bottom lip. “There’s something else, Piper. Boone Wiley has more of a connection to Harmony than you realize.”

  Luke had discovered the convenience-store robbery. Information Piper should have confided, but kept quiet to spare Harmony the humiliation. Luke would be furious, trust her even less, wonder what else she was withholding. “I know.”

  “You do?” Faint lines in his forehead deepened.

  “Harmony told me. But she didn’t know until it was too late. I didn’t think it was relevant.” Until now.

  Luke squinted and cocked his head. “You didn’t think Boone and Sly Watson sharing a cell for a period of time was relevant?”

  Piper’s world spun. “What?” Sly Watson—Chaz’s old buddy—who had been in prison for almost killing Ellen Strosbergen during that last job, had shared a prison cell with Boone Wiley? “No. I didn’t know that.”

  Luke’s face relaxed. “Then what are you talking about?”

  Piper needed Luke’s trust. To stop whoever was behind these attacks and to bring closure to the past that had careened into her present. And because the agony had never subsided from that night. Piper carried the dull ache every day.

  She explained about the armed robbery and Harmony breaking things off immediately.

  Luke rubbed his chin. “They’re all tied together. They have to be. The attacks on you prove Boone isn’t just a jealous boyfriend scorned.”

  Piper’s chest tightened. “I’m thinking the same thing.”

  Luke tented his fingers on the table. “I’m going to start digging again into Ellen Strosbergen’s attack.” He waited a beat, searched her eyes. “If there’s anything you need to tell me...now is the time. I don’t want any surprises. Any more surprises.”

  “Yo
u won’t get any.” Her phone rang. She grabbed it from her purse. Braxton. “I need to take this.”

  She answered.

  “I’m glad I got ahold of you, Piper.” Braxton’s voice sounded rushed and slightly panicked. “You in Memphis?”

  “Yes.” Something was wrong. Piper glanced at Luke, his features turned to granite.

  A whoosh of air filled the line.

  “What’s the matter?” Piper asked.

  “Someone broke into your house. The police came by looking for you. Said your neighbor called them. I gave them your cell. They left, like, five minutes ago.”

  Piper’s stomach dropped. “You’re kidding me.” What did they think she had?

  “Wish I was.”

  She finished the conversation and hung up. “I can’t believe this.”

  “What happened?”

  Her phone rang again. Jackson number. “Piper Kennedy,” she said. The police. After giving them the information they requested, she hung up. “I guess you got the gist of it.”

  Luke snagged their empty cups and tossed them in the trash. “Piper, I want to believe in your innocence. But every time I start to, something happens, and it makes me think you aren’t being completely honest. Again.”

  Piper refused to cry, but she could crumble right here. Was that all he saw? Her dishonesty? Hadn’t she been crushed just as much with what he’d done? More like what he hadn’t done. He hadn’t given her the benefit of the doubt. Hadn’t even asked questions. Hadn’t thought she might be trying to protect him the only way she knew how. “I have to go home. I’m sure paperwork is involved, cleanup and insurance stuff to deal with.”

  “Okay. Let’s think. You say you don’t know anything. If you had to guess, what would they be after? Why now?” The plea in his voice wasn’t lost on her.

  Piper racked her brain. “I wish I knew.”

  “I don’t want you going to Jackson alone. Can you wait until tomorrow? I could go with you after my shift. Make sure everything’s taken care of.”

  Piper fell in line with him as they walked to their cars. Go with her? He couldn’t even touch her hand without shrinking away. How would he survive a whole weekend? “Who do you think has been taking care of things for me the last ten years? Me.”