Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Laura Scott

  The prints hadn’t come back yet on Jared’s watch, and the fibers hadn’t turned up anything that would lead them to the location where he’d been murdered. Colt’s team had received the video footage of Dandy’s carjacking and murder—which Georgia declined to watch, preferring the CliffsNotes after the team viewed it.

  The summation was whoever killed Dandy likely killed Harry Benard. The knife wounds were identical and the assailant’s stature from the video matched the likeness of the man who attacked Georgia on that Friday night.

  The killer had approached the car with a knife and forced Dandy inside. An altercation broke out. Dandy appeared to go on the offensive, but she’d been stabbed and the killer exited the vehicle. He’d worn dark clothes and a solid-colored ball cap. Not one angle had revealed his face. Georgia shivered, thankful she hadn’t watched.

  The only trace evidence found at Dandy’s crime scene were fibers from Wrangler jeans, which could be purchased anywhere by anyone. But due to new information, the MPD was going to look at new angles as well. Their investigations would now overlap.

  With the information Ryan Sedgwick had given Monday night, they were going to talk with Chance Leeway again. Ryan had no intentions of admitting to Chance that he ratted him out, but he knew it would probably come to light in further interviews.

  Georgia toyed with her picture key chain. Wyatt and Doc sitting on her porch steps. While she missed them terribly, even after visiting them yesterday, she decided to let Dr. Reed kennel them for a few more days. She couldn’t risk her babies getting purposely hurt or indirectly finding themselves in the crosshairs. Dr. Reed had a huge area for play, and they would have fun with other dogs, but she wanted them with her and knew they’d want to be with their person. Sometimes decisions were hard but for the best.

  Like the decision not to pursue anything in the present with Colt. Monday night’s kiss circled back to the forefront of her heart. That kiss had revealed more than passion. More than the need to connect. It was full of hope and promise.

  And then she remembered the lung-crushing panic as his shoulder had bled from a gunshot wound. This time he was safe. But what about next time? Or the next? Maybe not today or tomorrow, but next year or five years from now.

  She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t take the risk. Revealing the truth of the past was the right thing. Kissing him hadn’t been. Because all it gave was false hope and a watery promise. Georgia had been protecting herself and him all those years. She’d done it the wrong way—with a lie. But by not getting involved now, meaning no more kissing, she was protecting them both again. Her from triggers and a life saddled with constant anxiety, and Colt from being tied to all that entailed. Talking her off one ledge in the woods was nothing compared to dealing with her worry and fearfulness over him and his job on a daily basis.

  Her phone buzzed. Charlie. Since the drama had unfolded, he’d absorbed her responsibility of the classifieds so she could focus on the big story. She read the text and laughed.

  Why do so many people want John Deere equipment?

  “What’s so funny?” Colt asked and entered the room, looking like a solid ten. Gray dress pants and a royal blue button-down that brought out his eyes. He’d rolled the sleeves and held a dollar in his hand as he approached the vending machine. He was not helping her remain strong.

  “Farm equipment.”

  He smirked as the machine ate his money and coughed out an oat and honey granola bar. “What have you been in here thinking? I know your mind’s been turning something over.”

  The kiss. The one neither of them had mentioned had built a thin wall of tension between them, but not enough to keep them from working together or discussing the case. But it needed to be talked about—as in talking about it not happening again. It would only end in more heartbreak.

  She’d lead with other thoughts. “Chance’s secret.”

  “Me too.” He opened the green package and offered her one of the crunchy bars.

  She accepted, and her stomach growled in an anticipation. “A phone call to Jared doesn’t make him a murderer. But what he did after the call was obviously worth ten grand each to Ryan Sedgwick and Joey March. Still might not make him a murderer, but he’s guilty of something he doesn’t want discovered. Not then and not now.”

  Colt smiled and broke off a piece of granola bar. Crumbs fell to the floor. “Go on, Detective.”

  Heat ballooned in her cheeks, but she was on a roll. “It’s possible he didn’t do anything criminal the night of Jared’s death, but because of his threats, he needed a solid alibi to prevent him from becoming a suspect. His college career was about to take off, and that kind of heat could have kept him from being accepted to Ole Magnolia. And with Jared out of the picture, Chance was good enough to play QB. So maybe twenty grand was a logical idea to a shady criminal attorney.”

  Colt’s amusement showed in the quirk of his right eyebrow and the flicker in his eyes. “Done?”

  “For now.”

  He chuckled. “You present a solid idea. How about we go see for ourselves? Have us a little chat with him. Shake him up on his own turf.”

  Georgia broke off another bite. “Yes, because here’s the deal. If the money was given in exchange for a solid alibi so the police wouldn’t look hard at Chance, then why didn’t he come clean to his friends about what he was actually doing the night Jared died? If it wasn’t criminal, why continue to keep it a secret?”

  Colt cocked his head. “You have something there, Detective. Definitely onto something.”

  His faith in her and the fact he truly listened didn’t help her in the feelings department. “Thanks. But I know we have to cover all our bases. Chance is only one. The recruiting ring is another. Third base—any other enemies of Jared’s?”

  “Everyone loved him, Georgia. You know that.”

  “Do I? Jared kept secrets before he died. The money. The concert tickets. Not to mention he’d been extra irritated at Amber, and they usually got along famously.”

  “Siblings fight.”

  “Yeah, but once she said she wished they hadn’t been fighting. That things might have been different. I thought she meant their relationship, but what if she meant something else, Colt? I’m only bringing it up now because nothing has been as it seems. Fifteen years ago, no one thought for a second it would revolve around illegal football recruiting, but here we are.”

  Colt ran his tongue across his upper teeth. “Well, let’s talk to her again, then we’ll talk to Chance.”

  Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Amber’s.

  Amber opened up, serious-faced, but then she beamed at Colt and hugged him. “I’m glad it’s you investigating, Colton.”

  “Thanks. I’m doing everything I can.”

  She invited them inside her cozy living room. Colt and Georgia perched on the love seat.

  “Karen and Dad said you’d reopened the case and had new evidence. I’m guessing that’s why you’re here and to get my story from that night.”

  They made a few minutes of small talk then got down to business.

  “Where were you that night that he died?” Colt asked.

  “Grounded. At home.” She shrugged and half laughed.

  Georgia hated to bring up uncomfortable memories, but... “Amber, I told Colt what you said. About how if you and Jared hadn’t been fighting, things might have been different. What exactly did you mean?”

  Amber ran her hand across her face and slumped on the couch, shaking her head. “Seventeen-year-old girls do dumb things. You know that, Georgia.”

  Did she ever.

  “Go on,” Colt encouraged.

  “Remember Scott Hazer?” Amber asked.

  “The drug dealer who hung around the high school?” He’d only been about three years older than them, but he was trouble with a capital T. “What about him?”

  “Wel
l, back then he was just a good-looking bad boy and...” She tossed her hands up. “I thought underneath that tough exterior he was a sweet guy who needed some self-esteem.”

  Colt raised his eyebrows.

  “In my defense, I was seventeen and stupid, and he was great-looking.” Amber’s cheeks turned pink. Seemed like she still had fond memories of him. Scott had been handsome—still was. Occasionally, Georgia spotted him around town. Back then, he’d given her the creeps lurking around school dances and football games.

  “Connect the dots, please,” Colt insisted.

  “I went out with him a few times, and Jared caught us together. He warned me to stay away, and he had words with Scott to leave me alone. But the Friday night before he died, he caught us talking after the football game. Jared made me leave and wait in his car, but I saw them arguing, and Scott pushed him. Jared didn’t tell me what they said, but told me Scott wasn’t going to bother me again, and if he found out I was initiating contact, he’d tell Dad.”

  Georgia’s gut clenched, and she caught Colt’s eye. “Did Jared threaten Scott concerning the drugs he peddled?”

  Amber’s eyes grew wide, and her face blanched. “I didn’t hear him say that.”

  “But you must have thought so if you felt like y’all’s arguing over Scott might have been the difference between him living and dying. You think Scott killed him, don’t you?” Georgia asked.

  “I don’t know. I don’t think so...but I can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind.”

  “We’re going to look into it now,” Colt said. “Anything else I need to know?”

  She shook her head.

  Georgia’s gut wasn’t so sure Amber wasn’t still hiding something. She should have come forward with this back then, but she’d been a scared girl afraid of her parents and what they might do if they found out she was seeing a known troublemaker and drug dealer. “You sure?”

  “Georgia, if I knew who killed Jared, I’d tell you. I’d have told the cops. But I don’t know anything for certain.”

  “Did you see Scott again?” Georgia asked. “After Jared died.”

  Amber’s eyes watered. “Yes. A week after he died, Scott got in touch with me. He was oddly quite comforting and kind. No underlying motives or anything. It obviously went nowhere. But I do see him from time to time, and I don’t know, it seems like...maybe regret in his eyes that things hadn’t worked out.”

  Or that he killed her brother. If only she knew what Jared and Scott argued about and what would keep Scott from attempting to see Amber again. Even if they interviewed Scott, they’d never know if he was telling the truth.

  “Thanks for your time. It was good seeing you again. I hate it was under these circumstances.” Colt hugged her, and they let themselves out.

  “Chance Leeway, Coach Flanigan and now Scott Hazer all look equally good for the crime,” Georgia said as they backed out of the drive. “I had no idea Amber even had a crush on Scott. She should have told me.”

  “She knew you’d worry,” he said softly. “You were always a worrier.”

  Colt hadn’t meant it to sound negative, but it had been a negative thing in her life and in his. It continued to hold her back from things she might want in life, and it controlled her more than she’d admit. The battle was never ending.

  “I’ll get Scott Hazer’s address and we’ll drop by. In the meantime, let’s go see Chance and break the news that we know he lied about his alibi.”

  A storm was brewing, but this time, they had the upper hand.

  Didn’t they?

  NINE

  Southern High was located in the southern half of Magnolia. The Tigers had been a good team, but never as good as Courage High—and maybe that was because someone at Courage High was poaching players. Were all of Coach’s wins due to cheating instead of growing talented players? Was it Coach who was poaching, or was he truly in the dark about the falsified addresses?

  Colt pulled into visitor parking, and he and Georgia exited the vehicle. Aside from coaching, Chance taught Algebra I and II.

  They entered the school office, and he showed his creds to the secretary. She told them Chance was in his planning period in his office on A Hall. The school smelled of bleach and sweaty boys. The tile floors had recently been buffed, and only a few black sole scuffs were visible in spots.

  Now that Harry Benard had passed, Chance would more than likely move up to head coach. Better pay. Better position. Colt wasn’t so sure Chance had killed Harry, and even if he did—they strongly suspected whoever killed him also killed Dandy. What would Chance’s motive be for killing her? He had nothing to do with an illegal recruiting ring fifteen years ago, and that was what she’d been looking into. Unless what happened over a decade ago could link somehow to Chance and his secret.

  The hall was quiet. Banners hung above the lockers, paying respects to Coach Benard. He’d clearly been beloved. Voices coming from Chance’s office echoed in the hall, and Colt put his arm out to halt Georgia from entering.

  “Just keep your mouth shut,” Chance said with venom. “My dad takes care of you, doesn’t he? Have you ever done one day of time? No. And you won’t unless your lips loosen.”

  “Don’t threaten me, Chance. I don’t need your dad or you. Remember that. But you need me.”

  Colt and Georgia shared a wide-eyed gaze. That voice sounded vaguely familiar. Colt inched closer to the door to get a peek at who was in the room.

  No. Way.

  He whispered, “It’s Scott Hazer.”

  Georgia gaped. Colt swept into the office. “Hey, sorry for coming by unannounced. Didn’t mean to overhear, but—”

  Scott charged Colt and pummeled him to the ground, obviously having spotted his gun and badge on his belt. Georgia shrieked outside the door, and Colt jumped to his feet—his ribs were gonna feel that later. “Don’t you go anywhere,” he barked at Chance and tore out of the office. Georgia was getting to her feet. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, go!”

  Scott was halfway down the hall, the heels of his shoes squeaking along the tile flooring as he headed for the gymnasium. Colt gave chase. Scott burst through the exit doors that led outside to the football field as Colt entered the gym.

  Colt drew his weapon and hollered for him to stop, but as usual, criminals ignored law enforcement’s commands and he kept on trucking toward the football field. Thankfully, Colt hadn’t given up long-distance running, and he gained on Scott until he reached him and tackled him like it was a Friday night, his gun slipping from his hand.

  Scott elbowed him in the chest and went for the Sig Sauer. Colt lost his breath but grappled for the gun lying on the field. Colt retrieved it and growled under his breath, “You’re under arrest for assaulting an officer of the law. Nice going, idiot.” He pulled his cuffs and secured Scott in the bracelets. He called in backup, and within eight minutes they’d arrived and hauled Scott into the back seat of the squad car.

  Colt met Georgia by the back doors. “Chance?”

  “In his office. But he called his dad, so you know. I stuck around to make sure he wouldn’t run. I was worried about you.”

  “I’m right as rain.” His shoulder throbbed and burned from having to manhandle Scott, but he refrained from sharing that with Georgia. It would only ramp up her worry. Colt wiped the sweat from his brow. “Chance might be dangerous. You should have gotten out of there. If you’re going to fret, fret over that.”

  She pursed her lips and touched his shoulder. “You might have torn a stitch. You’re bleeding.”

  So much for her not distressing over him. “I’ll look at it when I get time. Come on.”

  She opened her mouth to protest but remained silent and followed him inside and back to Chance’s office. Chance sat smugly in his office chair, as if he hadn’t been caught talking suspiciously to a known drug dealer. “Well, I can bring you in the
back of a squad car or you can come discreetly on your own, but we’re definitely going to have a conversation,” Colt said. “We know you lied about your alibi. One of your buds came forward. We also know about the ten thousand your dad paid Ryan and Joey in exchange for their lies.”

  Chance didn’t miss a beat, didn’t even flinch. “That was a scholarship from his firm and you can’t prove otherwise. The paperwork will show it’s legit. You’re gonna have to do better than that.”

  This guy got all under Colt’s skin. “Maybe. But that doesn’t explain the fact you lied and said you were at the Dairy Freeze all night when we know you weren’t.” Colt motioned for him to stand. “Don’t try anything stupid, Leeway. Go straight to the station and be thankful I’m allowing this courtesy.”

  Chance narrowed his eyes and collected his keys and wallet.

  Within fifteen minutes, Colt was in the interview room with Scott Hazer. Rhett sat in with him. Georgia and Mae watched from behind the glass. Poppy was in with Chance. She knew football and how to work an arrogant suspect.

  Scott’s jaw hardened as he rubbed his dark scruffy cheeks, hair disheveled. He smelled like stale cigarette smoke and sweat. This was the guy Amber had crushed on? She’d spoken of regretful eyes, but the only thing radiating from Scott’s glare was belligerence and disgust.

  “I’d like to talk to you about Jared Toledo.” Colt tented his fingers on the metal table.

  “Jared Toledo is dead and I didn’t do it.”

  “I’m not saying you did.” Yet. “But we know you had a thing with Amber Wilcox and Jared didn’t like it. The two of you tangled, and I want to know how mad you were over it.”

  Scott licked his bottom lip and folded his arms across his chest, letting his glare bounce between Rhett and Colt.

  Colt had overheard Chance talking about his dad being Scott’s lawyer. New approach. “Chance Leeway and his father have a lot of connections and money. If Chance is involved in Jared’s murder, they’ll want to find a fall guy. And it’s obvious that the two of you have history and some sort of relationship now—likely drug use. His daddy may be your lawyer who has, and can, get you out of jams, but he’s Chance’s father. Who do you think he’s going to defend first and fiercest?”