Harlequin Intrigue July 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Carol Ericson

  “I think that’s a great idea. And in the meantime,” Samantha said, inching toward the kitchen, “I think we deserve a treat for all that we’ve been through today.”

  “Oh yeah?” Gregory couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of her sweet, mischievous grin. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I don’t know,” she shrugged coyly. “Maybe two cups of Hannah’s Heavenly Hazelnut coffee and a couple of her frosted cinnamon rolls. What do you think?”

  “I think that sounds delicious.”

  “Good. Follow me into the kitchen?”

  “I’m right behind you.”

  Gregory stood up and let Samantha lead the way, forcing himself not to eye her curvaceous backside as she sashayed in front of him. “But let me help you.”

  She spun around and gave him a wink. “Oh all right, if you insist.”

  “I absolutely insist.”

  As the detective entered the kitchen and pulled two mugs down off the shelf, he mentally rewound the day’s crazy developments. From the moment he’d heard Samantha’s frantic voice mail message to finding out she’d broken into Collin’s house to learning that Collin and Chief Wentworth were running a drug ring together, it had by far been his wildest day in Gattenburg.

  But now, Gregory was just glad that he and Samantha were on the same page and had come to an agreement on how they would proceed with their joint investigation.

  Joint investigation.

  Those were two words the detective had never thought he’d speak again when it came to partnering with a woman. Yet here he was, finally ready to move past his painful experience in Chicago and take on the investigation of a lifetime with Samantha by his side.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Samantha was so irritated that she could literally feel her skin crawling.

  She had called Kenzie several times, leaving voice mails then following up with text messages, making it clear that she really needed to talk to her. But Kenzie still hadn’t responded.

  Whether Kenzie was avoiding her or not, Samantha was determined to share with her the new developments in the investigation of Jacob’s death and see if it would help shake loose any other information. So much so that she’d driven down to Westman’s Automotive Factory and was sitting inside her car, waiting for Kenzie to come outside for lunch so that she could make one last-ditch effort to speak with her.

  Samantha craned her neck and stared out the window from her discreetly parked car, which sat half a block away from the factory. Her eyes were glued to the back door that led out into the parking lot.

  Kenzie usually left the factory sometime between eleven and noon to head over to Victor’s Café for the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. Samantha’s plan was to follow Kenzie to the restaurant, delicately approach her before she went inside and ask if they could sit down and talk.

  Samantha’s stomach turned as she anticipated Kenzie walking out the door at any given moment. She knew she was probably doing too much by showing up at her job unannounced. But Samantha wasn’t too proud to admit that she was getting desperate. She and Gregory were getting too close to cracking Jacob’s murder case and busting Collin and Chief Westworth to turn back now. Samantha just hoped she could convince Kenzie to spill whatever information she may have been holding, which could ultimately help solve the entire investigation.

  She peered in her side-view mirror and noticed a white van coming toward her. Flashbacks of the incident at Hannah’s flooded her mind. Samantha’s heart began to beat so furiously that she could feel it in her pulsating temples. She quickly slumped down in her seat and turned away from the window, hoping that whoever was driving the vehicle wouldn’t notice her.

  When the van sped past her, Samantha emitted a deep sigh of relief, not realizing that she’d been holding her breath the whole time. She slowly sat back up and noticed the back door to the factory open. Her cell phone buzzed, but she ignored the call and kept her eyes glued to the exit.

  Several men walked out into the parking lot. Samantha peered through the windshield, looking to see if Kenzie would follow them. But the door slammed with no sign of her.

  “Ugh,” she moaned. “Will you come out already?”

  Samantha glanced down at her watch. It was after twelve o’clock. She’d been sitting in that spot for over an hour, and her body was tweaking with impatience.

  She jumped at the sound of her cell phone buzzing again. Samantha pulled it from her handbag and saw a text message notification from Ava displayed on the screen.

  They hadn’t spoken since running into one another at Hannah’s. Samantha wasn’t planning on telling her or Kenzie that she’d gone into Collin’s house and found the drug ledger. She would just have to figure out some other way to let them know she’d discovered his drug operation.

  Samantha swiped the security code into her cell phone and tapped on Ava’s message.

  “Please have some good news for me...” she said aloud. Her voice trailed off as she began reading the text.

  Are you available to meet up? We need to talk ASAP! I just spoke to one of Jacob’s old friends at Westman’s and found out Kenzie is missing! I’m really worried about her, especially after hearing that those missing workers were found dead...

  Samantha inhaled sharply as her eyes stung with unshed tears. “Wait, wait, wait,” Samantha uttered, scanning the message over and over again as if she’d misread it. “This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening!”

  She tightened her grip on the phone as her hand began to tremble and anxiously dialed Ava’s number. The call went straight to voice mail.

  Before she could leave a message, the phone vibrated against her ear. Samantha pulled it away and checked the screen. Another text from Ava popped up.

  Sorry, can’t talk. In a meeting. Can you meet me at Hannah’s in 30 minutes?

  I can, Samantha replied. I am sick to my stomach right now after hearing that Kenzie is missing. I’m actually sitting outside Westman’s. I was hoping to run into her and get more info on the factory. Is it okay if Detective Harris meets with us, too? I want him to hear everything about Kenzie’s disappearance.

  She sent the message, then looked back up at the parking lot. Collin’s huge pickup truck was parked crookedly across two spaces. She glared at it, imagining herself smashing the windows and lights out with a baseball bat.

  Just as her phone buzzed again, Collin came strolling out the door. Samantha’s eyes narrowed in disgust at the sight of him spinning around arrogantly and high-fiving several of his cronies who’d walked out behind him.

  She stifled a sob, watching while he threw his head back and cackled loudly as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He and his boys jumped inside his truck, and Collin turned the music up full blast, revved the engine, then sped out of the lot.

  The familiar sound of that thunderous roar caused her body to shake in a fit of anger.

  “You animal!” she yelled while hot tears burned the corners of her eyes.

  Samantha checked her phone and saw that Ava had responded to her text, confirming that she was fine with Gregory joining them.

  Okay, thanks, she wrote back. I’m heading to the coffee shop now. See you there.

  She started the engine and sped down the street, fighting off the urge to catch up to Collin’s truck and ram her car into it.

  * * *

  SAMANTHA FELT AS though she were in a daze. She was sitting at a discreet back corner table in between Gregory and Ava, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular.

  The coffee shop was fairly packed. Gregory had suggested that they meet elsewhere so not to be seen by law enforcement or one of Westman’s workers. But Ava was in between conference calls and needed a quick, convenient place to talk.

  Hannah sat the group as far away from the front windows as possible. Once she assured Gregory that her shop was too bougie f
or the automotive factory workers and too short on doughnuts for the Gattenburg PD, he agreed to stay.

  As convincing as Hannah had been, however, Samantha still found herself jumping out of her seat every time the front doorbell jingled and a customer entered the shop.

  There was a frigid chill lingering in the air. Samantha was still wearing her hat, coat and scarf but couldn’t seem to warm up. Not even the piping-hot mocha latte she’d been sipping on could stave off the cold.

  Hannah swore she’d turned the heat up full blast and even started a fire in the wood-burning fireplace. But Samantha knew that it wasn’t the coffee shop’s temperature that had her blood running cold. It was the news of Kenzie’s disappearance chilling her to the bone.

  “So this friend of Jacob’s you spoke to,” Gregory said to Ava. “Did he mention the last time he’d seen Kenzie?”

  She took a deep, wavering breath. Her shifting eyes and downturned mouth were a clear indication that she was terrified.

  “He did, actually. It was over a week ago. They work on the same assembly team, so of course her not being at the factory stood out to him.”

  Gregory slowly nodded his head before taking a sip of his double shot of espresso. “Did he ask anybody around the factory whether they knew anything, or if she was out sick or on vacation?”

  “No, unfortunately. Those factory workers aren’t stupid. They see what’s happening around there. Plus, they’re all afraid of Collin. They know what he’s capable of. And they also know that Chief Wentworth is going to have his son’s back no matter what. So no one wants to risk putting that type of attention on themselves.”

  Samantha’s left eye began to twitch uncontrollably. She felt as if she was about to implode. “We have got to do something about this. What’s this guy’s name you’ve been talking to?”

  “Taylor. Hudson Taylor.”

  Gregory quickly pulled a notepad and pen from inside his bomber jacket and wrote the name down.

  “Did Hudson mention whether or not Kenzie’s family has reported her missing?” Samantha continued.

  Ava lips twisted in clear frustration. “So here’s where the situation gets murky. Hudson is friends with Alex, who you all know is Kenzie’s boyfriend. According to Alex, Kenzie sent him an email a little over a week ago claiming that life was getting to be too much for her. She just wanted to get away from it all. Ditch Gattenburg and start a new life elsewhere.”

  “Oh please,” Samantha grunted, rolling her eyes at Ava. “I hope Alex didn’t fall for that. Does he actually believe that email was sent to him by Kenzie?”

  “He doesn’t have reason to think otherwise. Kenzie never shared with him her issues with Collin, or Westman’s, or the missing men who turned up dead. All Alex knows is that Collin’s her ex. Which in turn means he hates him. So she went out of her way to never bring him up.”

  Gregory continued writing notes furiously in his pad before looking up at Ava, his forehead crinkling with concern. “Is this the same boyfriend I’ve heard about who’s allegedly very controlling?”

  “Unfortunately, yes,” Ava responded, “it is.”

  “Umph,” the detective grunted. “Well, I need to start by checking to see if a missing-persons report has been filed on Kenzie’s behalf.”

  “I seriously doubt it,” Ava said. “Kenzie is estranged from her family. She’s been in and out of trouble over the years. Her volatile relationship with Alex was the final straw. Between his substance abuse issues and erratic behavior, her family refused to stand by and watch her ruin her life again after she’d gotten clean.”

  “I didn’t realize Kenzie was dealing with all those issues,” Samantha said. “That is really sad.”

  “It is,” Ava agreed. “And Alex seems to believe that email really came from Kenzie. So as far as he’s concerned, no crime has been committed.”

  Samantha felt a burning wave of anger wash over her. “You know, as crazy as he may be, I seriously doubt that Alex has anything to do with her disappearance. This is about Collin, Westman’s and what she knew. So I hope that law enforcement doesn’t try and put this off on him.”

  Samantha suddenly felt her body beginning to overheat. She tore off her hat and scarf, then glanced over at Gregory, waiting to hear what he had to say. He nodded his head at her and pointed at Ava.

  “Do you think there’s any way your friend Hudson could get Alex to forward a copy of that email to him?”

  “I don’t know, but I can certainly ask.”

  “Good,” he told her. “Then if he can send it to you, I can take a look at it and have a computer forensics investigator check it out.”

  Samantha felt her chest tighten at the thought of Gregory pulling someone from the Gattenburg PD into their investigation.

  “Wait,” she said to him, “do you think that’s a good idea? Especially with the, uh—” She paused, glancing over at Ava. “The new intel we just received?”

  Ava sat straight up in her chair. “What new intel?” she asked, her head swiveling back and forth from Samantha to Gregory as if she were watching a tennis match.

  Samantha hesitated. She glanced over at Gregory. He didn’t chime in, but his soft, sympathetic expression silently told her that it was okay to share what they’d uncovered about Collin.

  Just don’t mention breaking into his house, she reminded herself.

  “Ava,” she began before looking around the shop then lowering her voice, “what I’m about to share with you must remain strictly between us. Okay?”

  “Of course.” She patted her hand against her chest and took a long sip of her caffè macchiato. “Now I’m getting nervous...”

  “Collin is running a major drug ring, and we need your help. And we think that has something to do with Jacob’s murder as well as the Westman’s employees who turned up dead after they OD’d on drugs.”

  “Actually,” Gregory added, “we think that has everything to do with Jacob’s murder and the factory workers who turned up dead—after OD’ing on lethal drugs we believe they got from Collin, no less.”

  Ava’s mouth fell open, but nothing came out. Tears pooled along the rims of her eyes. Samantha reached over and held her hand.

  “That dirty mother...” Ava whispered. “But honestly? I’m really not surprised. What I don’t understand is how Collin’s drug ring would tie into Jacob’s murder, though. He wasn’t involved in anything like that.”

  “Are you sure?” Gregory asked, his low tone filled with skepticism. “Because you never know what he may have been doing behind your—”

  “I’m positive,” Ava interrupted firmly as she glared at him. Her stone-cold expression silenced the detective immediately. Samantha gave Ava’s hand a squeeze.

  “Hey,” she said softly, “Gregory didn’t mean to offend you. We just want to make sure no stone is left unturned.”

  “When it comes to my brother’s death,” Ava snapped back, “there are no salacious stones to turn. So let’s just drop that whole theory. Why don’t we talk about finally taking some serious action against Collin instead?”

  Samantha gradually removed her hand from Ava’s grip and sat back. She watched as her friend began to unravel, abruptly scooting to the edge of her chair and waving her hand wildly in the air.

  “Detective Harris,” Ava continued, “do you think you have the guts to confront your boss and tell him that his son is out here killing people? I know you’re new to the force and all, but we need some new blood to step up and straighten out Chief Wentworth. Because a majority of the men who’ve been working for him are too weak to do it. He’s got them all wrapped around his finger.”

  Gregory closed his notepad and folded his hands on top of the table. Samantha knew he was hesitant to tell Ava the extent of Chief Wentworth’s involvement. So she took it upon herself to do so.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” A
va asked Gregory before turning to Samantha. “What’s going on?”

  “Ava,” Samantha began, “we believe Chief Wentworth is a part of Collin’s drug operation.”

  Ava stared back at her blankly. “Wait, what? W-why do you think that?” she stammered, her voice trembling with shock.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t divulge that information. Please understand that Gregory and I are working hard to get to the bottom of it.”

  “Which is why it’s so important for you to try and get that email Kenzie supposedly sent to Alex to me,” Gregory told Ava. “The origins of that message could be the key to solving this case.”

  “Meaning it could finally prove once and for all that Collin is our culprit?” Ava asked.

  “Exactly,” Samantha confirmed.

  Ava’s cell phone buzzed. She dabbed the corners of her eyes with a napkin, then stared down at the screen.

  “Oh no,” she moaned. “My conference call started early. I need to get back to the office.”

  “Well, thanks for meeting with us,” Samantha told her, “and for sharing that info about Kenzie.”

  “Yes, thank you, Ava,” Gregory added while tapping his pen against the table.

  “You’re both welcome. And, uh... Detective Harris? I apologize for snapping at you the way I did. It’s just—I guess I...”

  “I understand,” he said as her voice trailed off. “But an apology isn’t necessary. This is tough for you. That’s why we’re doing all that we can to solve your brother’s murder and get to the bottom of these disappearances.”

  “And I truly appreciate it.” Ava stood up and slung her red suede handbag over her shoulder. “I’ll reach out as soon as I hear back from Hudson on that email.”