“Yeah, we won’t be able to reach the bottom, but there might be something floating around there. It’s worth a shot. You sure you’re up to it? I could always get Will . . .” He stopped and shook his head. “I keep forgetting he has to stay in the bunker. It seems wrong.”
“It is wrong. We’ve got to fix it. No one else is going to do it.” Coffee in hand, she headed for the door. “I’ll drop my gear at the dive shop and make sure everything is ready to go.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Though his tone was casual, she stopped and stared at him. “I’m a trained law enforcement agent, Reid. I can take care of myself.”
“I don’t doubt it for a minute, but we might be dealing with more than one person. I’d feel better if I had your back until your new officers are up to speed. When are they starting?”
“Monday.”
His concern touched her, but she didn’t want him to know. “I’m just going to my place to get my dive gear. You can come along if you want. I need to get Parker’s dog food and a few other things as well since it appears we’ll be out at the compound for a while. Do you need anything from your house?”
“Wouldn’t hurt. We threw things into bags so fast, I’m not sure I got everything.”
He followed her out into a light rain. “Hey, I just thought of something. I did a documentary with NOAA. There are some deep-sea robotic submarines in use out there. If we don’t find anything tomorrow, I’ll call my contact and see if she can come take a look.”
She? Jane jerked her gaze away so he couldn’t read her expression. She was afraid the green monster she’d stuffed back down might have been visible for half a second.
* * *
Had Jane stepped closer emotionally just a bit? Reid couldn’t quite tell.
Sunlight glimmered on the Bon Secour River as he got out of Jane’s SUV. “You want to wait here while I take a walk-through?”
She sure was pretty with the sun glowing on her light-brown hair. Her hazel eyes were tired though, and he knew her duties weighed heavily on her shoulders. He wished he could lift the burden in some way, but all he could do was pray for her and make sure Will stayed safe. The rest of it was all hers.
She shook her head and shoved open her door. “I should sweep the house before you go in and make sure there are no intruders.”
She held out her hand for the key, and he passed it over. It felt wrong to let her step into danger instead of him, but she was more than competent, and she’d be offended by any hint that he felt a need to protect her. He stuffed his hands in his pants pocket and forced himself to stand back while she unlocked the back door and pushed it open.
Gun out, she disappeared inside, and it seemed an eternity before she reappeared in the doorway to motion him inside. “All clear.”
He moved through the rooms to the office off the hallway, where he grabbed his laptop and files. “I really need to circle back to Elliot and see how the editing is going on the footage we shot on the platform. I want to review it and see if anyone seemed to be taking an unusual interest in the search for Keith.”
She followed as he deposited the items in the living room before he went upstairs to grab more clothing from the bedrooms. “Should I call Will and ask if he wants anything special?”
“Wouldn’t hurt.” Reid listened as she placed the call and chatted with their son.
She ended the call. “He beat his grandpa in the video game and they’re fixing dinner—Cajun chicken Alfredo, my dad’s specialty.”
“Sounds good. Does he want anything?”
Her frown deepened. “His baseball jersey. When I asked why he wanted it, he said just in case things cleared up in time for him to join the final tournament game.”
“The boy always likes to be prepared.”
“You don’t suppose he’s thinking of sneaking out, do you?”
“He’s never done anything like that. Will has always been obedient.”
“But he’s a teenager,” she pointed out. “They’re apt to be unpredictable. And they think they’re invincible too.”
“I’ll keep a close eye on him. And who knows—maybe we’ll figure this out in time.”
He ducked into Will’s room and retrieved the baseball uniform along with baseball cleats and glove. While he was there he grabbed more jeans, tees, underwear, and socks. He took Will’s Nintendo and games too. It was new, and there were several games his boy hadn’t played much yet.
When he stepped back out into the hallway, he didn’t see Jane, but he found her standing in his bedroom with a framed picture from his nightstand in her hands. It was of him and Will in front of their first real house in Nevada.
A flush ran up her neck, and she set it back. “Sorry. I saw this from the doorway and couldn’t resist. You still had hair in this. Will was what—maybe five?”
Warmth curled in his belly at her gentle tone. “It was the first day of kindergarten.”
“The two of you look so much alike.” Her gaze lingered on him. “When did you shave off your hair?”
If he laid out the bare facts of when, maybe she wouldn’t ask why. “About ten years ago.” He rubbed his head. “You don’t like it.”
The color in her cheeks intensified, and she averted her gaze. “It looks good on you.”
Though the compliment sounded grudging, he had to fight to keep a grin from spreading. “I guess I’ll grab a few more items of clothing.” He removed a duffel bag from the closet and stuffed Will’s things inside before he put more of his own clothing in it.
Jane still examined his room. Was she trying to cipher more about him or what? Her manner had thawed slightly over the past two days, and he could only pray that the defrosting continued.
He slung the duffel bag over his shoulder and turned toward the door. “I’m ready.”
She followed him downstairs and toward the back door.
He paused as they passed through the utility room. “I need to give you back the bolt cutters Will borrowed to work on that science project.” He picked them up and carried them out the door to where the SUV sat at the end of the curving driveway. He stopped short when another vehicle pulled in behind Jane’s vehicle.
With one smooth draw, she had her gun out. “Get down!” She grabbed his arm and pulled him down with her, using the SUV’s engine block as a shield.
The door to the gray car opened, and he gritted his teeth when he recognized the shapely legs emerging from the vehicle. Lauren.
The bolt cutters dangling from his hand, he advanced to block her. “What do you want? I thought you were out of town by now.”
She tipped her blonde head to smile up at him, but when he didn’t respond, she tossed her cigarette to the ground and scowled over his shoulder at Jane. “I see what’s happening here. You’ve found someone new, haven’t you?”
Jane holstered her weapon and came to stand by Reid. “I can wait in the vehicle.”
He put his hand on her arm. “I have nothing to say to Lauren.”
“I’m the mother of your child! There will always be something to discuss. You might talk to your attorney. There’s new information on the case.” Her green eyes gleamed with triumph.
Nothing was attractive about her twisted expression.
Jane straightened. “Actually, I’m Will’s mother. His real mother.”
Lauren gasped. “That’s impossible.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t heard the news around town.” Reid found himself enjoying this moment way too much. “Jane is the underlying reason I came to Pelican Harbor. And why I’m still here. Will is thrilled to have found his real mother.”
Lauren’s eyes widened, and she got back into her car without another word. She slammed the door behind her and peeled out with a glare their way.
Jane grinned up at Reid. “That was so much fun I’d like to do it again.”
He smiled at her, and the moment between them stretched into something charged with attraction. If he could keep his hands a
t his sides, he might be able to resist the compulsion to kiss her until they were both breathless. He moved his right hand toward her shoulder, but her phone rang and he dropped it back to his side.
His only consolation was the glimpse of regret in her eyes. It’s Megan, she mouthed to him.
He nodded and put the bolt cutters in the back of her SUV. It was always something, wasn’t it?
Twelve
Jane and Reid jumped out of the SUV and ran to the school. Olivia was already there on a bench with Megan in front of the building when Jane and Reid arrived, breathless and sweating in the heat.
Tears ran down Megan’s face, and Olivia held her. Jane didn’t like the way Olivia’s legs trembled.
“Where’s the text?” Jane asked.
Olivia handed Megan’s phone to Jane. “It’s all there.”
Jane glanced at the screen to see a picture of Tyler holding a knife. He wore a menacing expression, and she took it the same way Olivia and Megan had—as a warning. “Did you see him at school?”
Megan nodded and wiped her wet cheeks with her palms. “He acted fine in French class.”
“When did you get this?”
“When I called you. I know he doesn’t mean it, but it scared me. He’s not himself.”
“These messages disappear, don’t they?”
Megan nodded. “I took a screenshot though so it’s saved. I emailed it to you.”
Jane gazed at Olivia, who was straightening her left arm, which was twitching. “You okay?”
“Just a muscle spasm.”
Her slurred speech was difficult to understand, but she’d been talking fine this morning.
Jane forced her attention back to Megan. “Did you talk to Tyler today?”
“After school he kept trying to give me his ring back, but I reminded him we’d broken up. He rushed off, and I went to the coffee shop. He showed up and came toward me, and I ran off. I probably shouldn’t have. A few minutes later I got that message.”
Megan was sounding stronger and less panicked. Was Tyler really a danger? Jane didn’t want to believe the nice kid would hurt anyone, but with that head injury, she wasn’t sure. He needed to be assessed.
“How’d he know you were there? Did you tell him you were headed for coffee?”
Megan shook her head and punched the screen on her phone. “There’s a map where your friends can track you.”
“And where a stalker can find you. Megan, you should know better than to use that app. Your mom has seen and heard every horror story possible in her years in dispatch. Can you disable that feature?”
“I don’t think so.”
Jane read the mutiny in Megan’s hard expression. “I want to keep you safe, Megan.”
“I’m fine. All my friends are on here. I can’t stop using it.”
“You can if you want to.”
Olivia reached for the phone, but her fingers wouldn’t curl around it. “Honey, listen to Jane. Tyler might be dangerous.”
Megan rose and stuffed her phone into her book bag. “I’m sorry I called you, Jane. It was nothing. He’s just a little weird since his accident.”
Jane grabbed her arm. “It’s disturbing, and I can’t let this go, Megan.”
“Whatever.”
“How about you and your mom come for dinner tonight at my dad’s? Will and Dad are making chicken Alfredo, and it’s going to be good. Will could use some company and school news.”
Megan tightened her ponytail. “Really?” She glanced at her mother. “Mom?”
“Sure, we’d love to, Jane.” The slurring had improved a bit.
“I’ll drive you out and bring you back later. Wait here, and I’ll get my vehicle.”
Should Olivia even be driving? It appeared these symptoms could intensify at a moment’s notice. Jane walked back toward her SUV with Reid beside her with nothing to say. He seemed lost in thought.
She paused and called up her email, shot off the picture to Augusta with instructions, then sent it to Steve. “I’m going to have Augusta get Tyler assessed. I’d like to believe he’s not dangerous, but a doctor should make that call.”
“You going to give Steve a heads-up?”
“I already sent him the picture.” She called the number she had for Steve.
His voice was wary when he answered. “Chief.”
“I just sent you a picture Tyler sent Megan. I’m sorry, but a doctor will have to assess him. I know it’s upsetting, but that picture was threatening.”
“That’s ridiculous! Tyler wouldn’t hurt Megan.”
“If you’re at your computer, check out the photo.”
He paused and papers rustled. “I know it looks bad, but I’m sure it’s a prank.”
“I can’t take that chance, Steve. Augusta will pick him up, and you’ll need to accompany him. Where is he now?”
“Home, I think. I got a text from him. Can we meet Augusta rather than have her take him in a police car that will get the neighbors talking?”
“Augusta can meet you at the hospital.”
“Thank you.” He hung up.
She texted Augusta the new instructions, and she and Reid climbed into the SUV. It was a sauna inside, and her forehead instantly beaded with perspiration.
She started the car to get the air revved up. “I don’t like to see Olivia that shaky.”
“I noticed. She’s not good, Jane. ALS can move so fast.”
“I don’t want to believe it’s really ALS. She’s going to see a Lyme disease specialist next week.”
He said nothing, and she knew he thought she was grasping at straws. Maybe she was, but the thought of Olivia’s light being snuffed out of her world nearly made her heart seize.
“Did you see Megan’s face light up when she heard Will would be there?” Jane smiled. “She has it bad.”
“I noticed.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure Will has noticed there’s another gender yet. Baseball is the most important thing in his life right now.”
“Megan wants to make him notice.”
Jane parked in front of Olivia and Megan, then got out to open the door for Olivia. Megan helped her mother up and put her arm around her waist to support her as she staggered to the car. Her gaze caught Jane’s, and the sorrow in her eyes broke Jane’s heart. Especially since she felt the same way.
She had to do something. Being helpless didn’t sit well with her.
* * *
Jane hadn’t brought up Lauren’s visit, and Reid wasn’t about to open that can of worms.
Would the shock of discovering Jane was present in Will’s life be enough to send Lauren away for good? He hoped so, but she’d proven him wrong by coming back this time. Her persistence seemed to have no bounds.
The garlic and cheese aroma of the chicken Alfredo and bread wafting from the kitchen made his mouth water as he watched Elliot ready the footage they’d captured aboard the oil platform. Will tinkered with the electronics alongside the young videographer, and Megan sat close beside him. So far, his son hadn’t acted like it was anything special to have a pretty girl show up out of the blue.
Jane had gone to take a shower while her dad finished food preparation. After being with Will all day, Parker had followed her as if he didn’t want her out of his sight. Olivia lay sleeping in the recliner. Good. Maybe she’d wake up feeling better.
“Dank place here,” Elliot said. “Can I move in too?”
Though Reid had only been around him three weeks, he’d already figured out some of Elliot’s slang. Dank didn’t mean dark and wet but really cool. The bunker’s living room had high ceilings, a nice rug, comfortable furnishings. It would have looked nice in Reid’s house.
Will rolled his eyes. “It looks cool when you first check it out, but the walls start closing in when you know you can’t leave.”
Elliot nodded. “Gotcha. Lots of time for video games or reading.” He squirted sanitizer into his palm and rubbed his hands together.
Reid plugged in the monitor. �
��Speaking of video games, I brought your Nintendo and the games you got for your birthday.”
“Good. Any progress on finding the guy after me?”
Reid put his hand on his son’s shoulder and shook his head. “Sorry, buddy. You know your mom though—she’ll ferret him out of whatever hole he’s hiding in.”
He pursed his lips. “I really want her to get him by Saturday morning.”
“She’ll do her best.”
Blasted baseball game. Reid didn’t want to tell him the chances of her finding the guy by then were slim to none. Better to take it a day at a time. It would crush Will to miss the game, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Here we go.” Elliot leaned forward and jiggled the mouse. “I brought all the footage, even what I’ve edited out for the documentary. You sure you want to watch all of it? I’ve got about five hours’ worth.”
“I need to see people’s expressions. Is there a way to fast-forward and only look at people?”
“Sure.” Elliot did his magic, and the video sped up, then paused as people came into view.
Reid pulled up a chair and settled in to watch the people parade across the screen. He didn’t remember most of the names, though Elliot had gotten permission notices signed and logged. He could check those later if he found something interesting here.
Jane appeared in the doorway. Wet tendrils of hair escaped from her bun. She wore yoga pants and a red sleeveless top that showed off her toned arms. Reid tore his gaze away before he started drooling. Reid’s neck went hot at the knowing expression in Elliot’s eyes and shook his head when the videographer started to say something.
Reid nearly knocked the chair over scrambling to his feet. “Smells great. I’m starved.”
“I watched Gramps make all of it so I could recreate it at home,” Will said. “He uses cream cheese in it. Wait until you taste it.”
“You’ll make some lucky woman a good husband,” Megan said.
Will gave her a sidelong glance and a slight smile lifted his lips.
“Can’t wait to taste it.” Reid clapped an arm around Will’s shoulder and walked into the kitchen with him.
Jane made a detour to wake Olivia. Reid heard them talking, and Olivia wasn’t slurring her words now.
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