by Katie Ashley
When I finally came back to myself, Aunt Vivian was saying, “This is Annabel’s daughter, Julianne St. James. She’s here from Texas for the summer.”
Jackson thrust out his hand. “It’s so nice to meet more of Bryn’s family.”
“It’s nice meeting you, too,” I said, shaking his hand.
His smile, unlike his mother’s, was genuine, and I got the feeling he meant it when he said, “Maybe Bryn and I can show you around the city a little. You know, when she’s not busy with all her apprenticeship stuff and socializing.” An edge crept into his voice when he mentioned Bryn being so busy.
“I would really like that.”
Aunt Vivian glanced between us before saying, “And Jackson, I’m sure you’ll be at the party on Friday night.”
He nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Then I can count on you to introduce Julianne to some eligible young men.” Cupping my chin, she said, “Somehow this beautiful girl is single, and we need to rectify that.”
Oh no, she didn’t. I seriously wanted to strangle Aunt Vivian. Although I rarely blushed, I felt warmth creep up my neck and into my cheeks. When I dared to meet Jackson’s eyes, he appeared just as uncomfortable. He ducked his head. “Um, yeah, sure I can.”
“Wonderful!” Aunt Viv said, clapping her hands gleefully. “On that happy note, we better get on back to the house.”
Lynette gave a short nod while Jackson beamed his best smile at us. “See you Friday,” he called.
I waved back. As soon as we were out of earshot, Aunt Vivian said, “Now isn’t he a slice of heaven?”
In my mind, all I kept seeing was Jackson’s shirtless physique. “Oh yeah, he is.”
“Bless his heart, he’s had a rough year, but he’s weathered it remarkably well. I was afraid after what happened with his father…” she trailed off.
Once again my bounty hunter senses heightened. “Wait, what about his father?”
“Oh, he just got himself in some trouble with the law.”
I wanted to argue with her that it was a lot more than a little law trouble, but I bit my tongue. “I hate to hear that.”
“Yes, it’s quite sad.” After we walked along for a moment, the corners of her mouth turned upward in a wicked grin. “Jackson and Bryn have been dating for a year, but I detect some trouble in paradise.”
I stopped. “Are you actually advocating that I try to make a play for Jackson?”
She nodded. “He deserves someone who will treat him better. Someone who is… less of a bitch!”
“Um, hello, Bryn is your niece, remember?”
Wrinkling her nose, Aunt Vivian said, “Oh yes, I remember. Truth be told, all of Lenore’s kids are spoiled and selfish, but Bryn is especially wretched. It’s unfortunate that they’re the ones who live closest to me. Allan’s kids are off in Virginia, and then you and the boys are in Texas. It leaves much to be desired in the grand-niece and nephew department.”
I couldn’t help agreeing with her. I mean, my Uncle Allan’s kids were a lot older than me, but he had also married “beneath him”, as my grandparents would have said. In other words, he had bailed on Savannah and married someone who didn’t come from society or a trust fund.
And in case you’re wondering, my grandfather had a huge obsession with Edgar Allan Poe. So much so, that he named Mom and Lenore for women in Poe’s poetry and gave my uncle the lovely Edgar Allan Percy moniker. I probably would have moved away too.
Aunt Vivian nudged me. “So you think you can try getting to know Jackson a little better?”
I laughed at her persistence. “I guess I can try!”
Chapter Five
The next morning, outfitted in my best running clothes, I tried to blend in with the locals as I jogged along Whittaker Street. At seven am, there weren’t many people stirring in the Historic district, so I figured it was a perfect time to do a little spying on Mr. Jackson Marshall. It was only my first full day in Savannah, but I wasn’t going to waste any time.
As my feet pounded the already scorching pavement, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was looking for. I mean, it wasn’t like I was expecting Emmett Marshall to be hiding out in their guesthouse or something. But getting Jackson’s license plate number might be helpful, especially if his dad was on his car title. Of course, if I was really high tech, I could put a GPS device on his car to track where he was going. But unfortunately, I didn’t have the funds for something quite that excessive. So, it was back to tailing him old school style.
When I got to his house, I hid behind a blooming hydrangea bush. Peering over the petals into the driveway, I saw that his car was already gone.
Jeez, where could he have gone so early in the morning? But then I remembered he attended a military prep school. I’m sure he was more than used to getting up at the ass crack of dawn. And that meant if I wanted to tail him anywhere, I was going to have to get up extra early myself. Ugh.
I continued on, keeping my eye out for a taxi. I needed to get downtown to talk to Raye about any leads he had on the Marshall case, and there was no way I could ask Andrew to chauffer me down there. I hailed one on the corner of Whittaker and Harrison, then glanced down at the text Dad had sent me with Raye’s address. “81 Seawright Avenue,” I told the driver.
The Chatham County jail was on the other side of town, a world away from the Historic District. Posh mansions faded into the more urban area of Savannah. The further we went the more I realized that the cab ride was going to be costly, but luckily, I’d stuffed a wad of twenties into my sports bra before I headed out.
The driver eased up to the corner and let me out. Raye’s bonding company was in a seedy strip mall filled with pawn shops and quick loan businesses. As I pushed through the office door, a bell tinkled over my head and a blonde secretary with cleavage jacked up to her chin glanced up at me from a magazine. “Yeah?”
“Um, I’m Jules St. James, Raye’s cousin. He should be expecting me.”
She arched her bleached eyebrows at me. “I’ve met all of Raye’s family, and I ain’t never met you before.”
Fabulous. I was getting the third degree from some flunkie secretary who looked like Dolly Parton’s lost twin. “That’s because I’m from Texas.” When she continued to look skeptical, I said, “If you must have the family tree, our grandfathers are brothers, and my dad’s a bondsman in Waco.”
She finally appeared convinced and offered me her hand. “Oh, you’re Nathaniel’s daughter. Well, I’m Sherry, Raye’s girlfriend.”
I shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
With a jerk of her head, Sherry said, “Raye’s in his office,”
“Thanks.” I could feel her eyes boring a hole in my back the whole way down the hallway.
When I reached Raye’s door, I rapped lightly. A voice boomed, “Come in!”
I drew in a deep breath and opened the door. Raye was sitting at his desk. He looked exactly the same way he had the last time I’d seen him. He was probably 6’5, 250 pounds, and with his bulging biceps, he looked like he could choke the life out of a dude just by putting him in a headlock.
When he glanced up at me, Raye’s face broke into a wide grin. He immediately rose from the desk and was in front of me in two long strides. “Little Julianne,” he said, as he grabbed me into his burly embrace.
“I’m not so little anymore,” I said, my voice muffled against his pecs.
“I can see that.” He pulled away and grinned at me. “You’re still the spitting image of your mother.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “So I’ve been told.”
“Take it as a compliment. She’s a beautiful woman.”
Changing the subject, I said, “Dad tells me you might have some more information on Emmett Marshall.”
Raye nodded as he sat back down into his massive desk chair. “I tried to put together a few leads for you.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I can’t say I totally agree with Nathaniel putting you up to this.”
“Because I’m a girl?” I huffed.
Raye shook his head. “No, it’s more because you’re a kid.”
“I’m sixteen.”
“Like I said. A kid.”
I leaned in on his desk, my face inches from his. “Yeah, so what if a kid can get more out of informants or trail a jumper because no one gets suspicious of them?”
We stared each other down for a few seconds before Raye grinned. “You got balls, girl.”
“Um, thanks, I guess.”
He laughed. “I see why Nathaniel puts so much trust in you.” He swiveled in his chair and picked up a blue manila folder, then motioned for me to sit down in the chair across from the desk. “A white collar jumper is an entirely different animal from your usual lot. For one, you don’t have a bunch of low life squealers willing to turn over a friend or family member for a few bucks. Marshall has the dough to hide in concealed places and buy people off to keep quiet.”
“So you think he’s bribing people?”
Raye nodded. “You can bet on it. Marshall’s family owns property all over Savannah, Tybee Island, and South Carolina. We’re talking big bucks. He’s only third generation money, which some society snobs will turn their noses up at, but it’s still big money.”
“Great, he sounds practically impossible to find.”
“Every jumper has an Achilles heel. You just have to find it. And for Marshall, it’s his sons.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Sons? Dad only mentioned Jackson.”
“That’s because most people only know about Jackson—the perfect son.” Raye slid a picture across the table. I picked it up. A sweet faced young man with Down Sydrome smiled out at me. “That’s Evan—Marshall’s oldest son and Jackson’s half brother.”
As I slid the picture back, I asked, “Does he live with Emmett?”
Raye rolled his eyes. “No, neither one of Marshall’s socialite wives wanted to deal with Evan—including his own mother. For most of his life, he’s spent his time between Marshall’s parents’ home and a group home in South Carolina. But just after Emmett’s arrest, he was pulled out and placed somewhere else.”
“Let me guess, that’s where I come in.”
“Getting close to Jackson as well as finding out Evan’s whereabouts could really help you.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Yeah, that’s going to be a little harder than I originally thought.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because he’s dating my rich bitch cousin, Bryn.”
Raye leaned back in his chair, a smirk stretching across his face. “And all is fair in love and war. Why can’t you make a play for him?”
“Jeez, you sound just like my Aunt Vivian. Doesn’t fidelity or monogamy mean anything anymore?”
Shrugging, Raye said, “It’s not like they’re married, Jules. You guys are all just kids. It’s perfectly normal to play the field when you’re young.”
I toed a frayed piece of carpet with my tennis shoe. “Look, I don’t have a lot of experience with guys. Okay, it’s more like I have no experience with guys. I suck at flirting and putting myself out there. I have absolutely no game, and Bryn is a master player. She’s this goddess that always looks perfect.” At Raye’s skeptical expression, I said, “Trust me. She’s Tiffany’s, and I’m Target.”
He snapped his fingers. “And that might be your ticket in the door with Jackson. You may look just like your mother, but you’re totally different from her and that society world. That may be just what draws Jackson to you.”
I gulped and shifted in my seat. Raye smiled. “Don’t sweat it too much, Jules. You’ve already been given an easy setup to the Marshalls with your mom’s society connections.”
Heaving a sigh, I rose out of my chair. “Okay, well, I better get back home before they miss me.”
Raye stood up to walk me to the door. “Listen, I may have been skeptical about your abilities at first, but I’d love to have you research some leads for me—if you can find some time to spare.”
I nodded. “That would be awesome. Anything to drag myself away from society central.”
Raye laughed. “So call me anytime you need me.’
“Thanks, I will.”
As I started out of his office door, I glanced up at his wall of felons. “Wow, that’s an attractive one!” I exclaimed, as my eyes honed in on a heavily tattooed man’s picture.
Raye shook his head. “Yeah, we like to call him Tattooed Timmy. Loves to pickpocket tourists. Every time I bail him out, I swear I’ll never do it again.”
“I don’t think he’s one I’d like to help out on.”
“I don’t blame you.”
I gave a quick wave to Sherry before walking out into the sunshine. I hailed another cab back home and made sure to have the driver let me out about a block away from the house. I didn’t want to run the risk of being caught and having to explain why my morning run involved a cab ride.
When I got back to the house, Mom and Aunt Vivian were eating a late breakfast. Fortunately I didn’t see Aunt Lenore or Bryn. “I’ll just go catch a quick shower,” I said, as I grabbed up a piece of toast and some bacon.
Mom nodded. “And after you finish, we’re going shopping.”
“Can’t wait,” I called over my shoulder as I headed up the back staircase.
Mom and I were back on speaking terms. Last night after I’d gotten in from my walk with Aunt Vivian, I’d marched up to Mom’s room to apologize. She seemed genuinely appreciative, even if she might have guessed Aunt Vivian had something to do with it.
After I got upstairs, I took a quick shower and made myself as presentable as I could. I actually donned some capris rather than my usual jeans. When I got downstairs, Mom and Aunt Vivian were waiting on me in the sitting room.
“Ready?” Aunt Viv asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
My lack of enthusiasm wasn’t due to a hatred of shopping or clothes; I have actually been known to enjoy both, under the right circumstances. It was more that I hated anything that took time away from what I saw as my only purpose in Savannah--the Marshall case. And then there was the fact that I would rather have a root canal than step foot in high-end, designer stores or wear expensive designer labels.
Andrew brought the car around. Mom and I piled into the backseat while Aunt Vivian slid into the front seat next to Andrew.
“This is going to be such a fun outing. Three generations of Percy women unleashed on the streets of Savannah!” Aunt Vivian gushed.
Mom and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes.
After a short drive, Andrew pulled up in front of a boutique with a green striped awning. The women coming in and out of the store were high class and highbrow. We’re talking serious money.
“Aren’t you coming, Julianne?” Aunt Vivian asked.
I shook my head. “This is one of those stores that’ll take one look at me and not let me shop. You know, like in Pretty Woman!”
Mom laughed. “Honestly Julianne.” She turned to Aunt Vivian and shook her head. “She’s inherited the drama gene from you.”
Aunt Vivian grinned. “I would tend to agree.” Waving her hand at me, she said, “No one will keep you from shopping in here. They know how much all the Percy women spend.”
Sighing, I slid across the seat. “Okay, if you say so.”
As we entered the glass door, a man behind the counter glanced up from the catalogues he was perusing. At the sight of us, a broad grin stretched across his overly tanned face.
While I hung back trying to hide behind a mannequin, Mom barreled on up to the counter. “Good morning, Gerard,” she said pleasantly.
“Good morning to you too, Miss Annabel. How are you this fine morning?” He leaned in and air kissed Mom on both cheeks, then moved on to Aunt Vivian.
Mom smiled warmly. “Just lovely. Thank you so much for asking.”
“And what can I do for you today?”
“Today we’re on
a special mission for my daughter, Julianne.” Mom turned but didn’t see me behind her. She swiveled her gaze until she honed in on the mannequin. With a jerk of her head, she motioned for me. Busted, I stepped out from my hiding place.
As he sized me up, Gerard’s dark eyebrows shot up, and he slowly shook his head from side to side. “Oh my, you’ve certainly brought me something interesting.”
“She needs a wardrobe for the summer. You know, some items that are casual, some that are more formal.”
Gerard pursed his lips. “I think we can handle that.” Tapping his finger against his chin, he closed his eyes and appeared deep in thought. “I see some pastels—some lavenders and pinks. But with her hair and coloring, I think some striking primary colors like red and green would do quite nicely as well.”
Mom clapped her hands gleefully. “That sounds fabulous. I put her in your very capable hands.”
Gerard whipped out a tape measure. Before I could step back, he started invading my personal space by wrapping the tape around my chest. Fighting my instincts to throw a disabling move or give him a karate chop to the head, I kept my hands pinned at my sides. Once he finished feeling me up, he moved on to my waist and hips. He scribbled down the measurements and then gave me a beaming smile. “Lovely figure, darling.”
“Oh, um, thanks,” I replied.
After immersing herself in the racks, Mom glanced up at Gerard. “Now I want something very, very special for this Friday night. Do you have anything fresh from a designer? I want Julianne to have something unique and not off the rack.”
Gerard bobbed his head. “I have just the thing. It came in on Monday, and I haven’t put it out yet. It might need some alterations, but we could make it work.”
He disappeared into the back room, and a moment later an enormous light pink dress emerged from behind the curtain, followed by Gerard, who was straightening and fluffing the dress as he approached us. The dress was strapless with a tight fitting bodice filled with intricate beading. It had a full, poofy skirt with a satin bottom. The same sequins and beading were woven into designs along the dress’s skirt. It was like something out of a fairy-tale.
