Ivy was one of those women who was never afraid of anyone. She would push people to the brink -- because that’s who she was – and never give it a second thought. Archibald was different, though. She sensed he was unbalanced. Even worse, she worried that he was a sociopath to boot. He was obviously getting off on terrorizing her.
It was difficult, but Ivy managed to refrain from looking at him a second time. Instead, she navigated her way to the highway, making sure she obeyed every driving law known to man.
He followed her.
The pounding of her heart turned into a deafening drumbeat and her knuckles turned white as she remained focused on the road. It would almost be better if he did arrest her, Ivy rationalized. At least then she wouldn’t be waiting on pins and needles. She half expected him to turn on his siren at some point and pull her over, if only to terrorize her further.
He didn’t, though. He followed her to the edge of the Bellaire city limit and then pulled over to the side of the road, ominously watching but not taking any action.
Ivy kept checking her rearview mirror, convinced he was playing with her. She thought for sure he would start chasing her at some point. This was all designed as psychological warfare, after all. He didn’t follow, however. Eventually, he turned around and headed back to Bellaire.
Ivy kept looking at the mirror for the entire fifteen minutes it took to get home.
JACK WAS READY FOR A LUNCH BREAK BY one. He usually tried to go right at noon, but he was late today ... mostly because he’d spent two solid hours going through Archibald’s case files. He didn’t tell his partner that’s what he was doing. He knew Brian, while understanding, would admonish him that it wasn’t a good idea. Jack already recognized it wasn’t a good idea, though. He simply didn’t care. Something felt off and he was afraid.
He was lost in his own little world as he left the station. He planned to go to a local deli and pick up a sandwich and then return to his research. As he crossed through the town square park, though, he felt a pair of eyes on him and slowly raised his chin.
He was surprised when he saw her ... and delighted. She had a blanket spread out under a large maple tree and was clearly waiting for him. She smiled when she caught his gaze, and the expression was enough to make him breathless. She was so pretty she stole the oxygen from his lungs at times. There was so much more to her than that, though.
She was smart ... and warm ... and wickedly funny. Even though she had a tough exterior she was unbelievably sweet. She said witty things and was comfortable in her own skin. She enjoyed reading, hiking in the woods, and simply spending an hour sharing a chair with him because she enjoyed his company.
She was his everything ... and she’d brought him a picnic.
“Well, this is a surprise,” he said as he moved to the blanket, his eyes immediately landing on the potato salad. “Three different kinds, huh? You must be bucking for us to make up.”
Ivy held out her hands and shrugged. “I didn’t know if we were fighting but ... I definitely want to make up if we are.”
He gave her a small smile. “Do you think we’re fighting?”
“I ... don’t ... know.” Ivy opted for honesty. She was still unsettled after her run-in with Archibald. “I really don’t want us to be fighting.”
“I don’t either.”
“So ... let’s not fight, okay?”
He stared at her for a beat. “Okay. I ... oomph.” He was surprised when she threw herself at him. His arms immediately went around her and the frown that took over his face when he realized she was trembling was pronounced. “What’s wrong, Ivy?” His fingers were gentle as they brushed through her hair. “What is it?”
“Archibald. He followed me for a bit.”
Jack clutched her tightly against him. That was exactly what he’d been afraid would happen. She didn’t need a reminder of that, however. She needed him to make her feel better. First, though, he had to be assuaged that she was okay. “Did he touch you?”
Ivy shook her head, her lower lip trembling as she pulled back far enough to stare into his eyes. “He just followed me.” She told Jack about what happened, her voice stronger than she felt. When she was finished, she turned sheepish. “I don’t know why I’m being such a baby. I was just rattled by it, I guess. He made me uncomfortable.”
“He meant to make you uncomfortable.” Jack pulled her against him a second time, pressing his hand to her back and lending her a bit of his warmth. He hated that she’d been terrorized. It opened the door for an important conversation, though. “Are you okay?” His eyes were somber as he pulled back. “Do you want me to file a formal complaint against him?”
Ivy immediately started shaking her head. “No. That will just make him all the more intense when he comes after me.”
Jack gently brushed the hair away from her face. The emotions bubbling up in him were strong, although he didn’t know how to deal with them. “I don’t want him around you,” he said finally. “He strikes me as someone who might be dangerous.”
“I don’t doubt it. He’s still in charge of Bethany’s investigation. He could tear us apart, Jack.”
“No.” Jack shook his head and pulled her close again. “I won’t ever let that happen. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Ivy knew he meant well, but it was impossible for him to make that promise. “Jack, if he wants to take me into custody, there’s absolutely nothing you can do.”
“That may be true, but there’s no evidence against you. He won’t be able to hold you.”
“What if he manufactures evidence? I mean ... he’s already laying the groundwork. I didn’t realize what he was doing until I talked to Bethany’s neighbor, but he’s obviously working off a theory that he has no intention of discarding.”
Jack slid his arms around her legs and shifted her so she was lodged squarely between his thighs, her back to his chest. It was easier for him to hold her in this position while also listening. “What theory?”
“Apparently Bethany likes married men.”
“The neighbor told you that?”
Ivy nodded. “She was kind of funny. I mean ... I can see ending up just like her when I’m that age. That should probably frighten you.”
“Nothing about you frightens me.” He kissed her cheek. “Tell me about the married men.”
“Apparently Bethany purposely went after married men so she could blackmail them. She would sucker them in with her looks and make them feel like they were special ... and then turn on them. When the men realized she wasn’t what she pretended to be, they would try to break up with her ... and that’s when she would blackmail them.”
“How did she manage that?”
“She apparently filmed them during sex and then threatened to show their wives if they didn’t buy her things.”
“Well ... that’s lovely.” Jack moved his hands to the back of Ivy’s neck and began to rub at the tension there as he thought over the new wrinkle. “That gives a lot of people a motive to kill her, I’m guessing. I mean, I don’t care what she did and don’t think anyone deserves what happened to her, but that takes the pressure off you. You don’t have a motive.”
“Don’t I?” Ivy cocked an eyebrow as she glanced over her shoulder. “According to Archibald, you’re my motive. He believes that you were having an affair with Bethany. He actually said that to me.”
“First off, I would never cheat on you.”
Ivy chuckled at his somber expression. “I know that, Jack. If there’s anything I know in this world, it’s that you’re completely and totally loyal to me. I would never doubt that.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Right back at you.”
“Besides, when would you have the time? When you’re not at work, you’re with me. Other people think we’re a little codependent, but I happen to believe that’s going to work in our favor this time.”
“Yeah.” He blew out a sigh and rested his chin on her shoulder. “I still can’t believe he thinks
you’re a suspect. That’s just ... ludicrous.”
“I don’t know if he really believes I’m a suspect or not,” Ivy hedged. “It’s obvious that he doesn’t trust me, thinks I’m acting out of sorts. I don’t know if he watched me talking to Eleanor. I didn’t see him until I got to the grocery store.”
“It’s possible he saw your car when he was driving past or something,” Jack offered. “I mean ... I guarantee he knows what you drive.”
“Yeah, but the last time I saw him was at the hospital in Traverse City. Then I went back to Bellaire to check out Bethany’s house once I got a name. I honestly don’t think he followed me from the hospital. I think that means he has to be staking out Bethany’s house.”
“Maybe,” Jack conceded. “It honestly doesn’t matter, though. You need to let this go. You can’t insert yourself in this situation. Today proves that.”
Ivy shifted, uncomfortable. “I don’t know that I can promise that, Jack.”
He made a growling sound deep in his throat. “You have to promise. It’s the best thing for us.”
“That makes sense on paper.”
“But?”
“But I saw her get shot, Jack. She was only a few feet from me.”
Jack tightened his grip on her waist. “I know. Whenever I think about it, my blood runs cold. You could’ve easily been killed. You were obviously in shock as it was going down and there would’ve been nothing stopping that guy from hurting you and Dorian if he decided that’s what he wanted to do. Speaking of that ... how did his reunion with Felicity go?”
Ivy smiled at the memory. “Good. It was like they were in their own little world. She couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.”
“Maybe you butting your nose into her business will work out after all.”
“Maybe.”
“I don’t feel the same about the Bethany situation,” he stressed. “I know you feel a kinship with this woman because you were there when it happened. I know you want answers for her as much as yourself. It’s not safe, though, Ivy. Not only are you a potential suspect as far as this dim-witted detective is concerned, but you’re also a potential target because you’re a witness.”
“I get everything that you’re saying.”
Jack blew out a sigh. “And yet you’re still going to chase this, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know if I could live with myself if I didn’t at least try to find answers.”
“Ivy ... .” He sounded exasperated, to the point where he wanted to yank his hair out.
“Just listen to me a second.” She took his hand and laid it flat against the spot above her heart. “Do you feel that?”
“Your heart? Yeah. I want it to keep beating ... and I always want to be able to feel it. That’s not going to happen if you’re taken away from me.”
And that, Ivy realized, was the true root of his worry. “It’s going to be okay. I have faith. I’m going to figure this out and we’re still going to have a lifetime together. Some things are meant to be. You’re the one who told me that.”
“I believe we’ve said that to one another more than once,” he countered. “Don’t give me credit for that statement ... especially if you’re going to use it against me.”
Ivy’s lips curved. “You’re so cute.”
“That’s my line about you.” He pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth. “That doesn’t change the fact that I think this is a horrible idea.”
“I know but ... I can’t be anything other than what I am, Jack.”
His earlier conversation with Michael flitted through his mind. Her father had basically told him the same thing. She’d always been like this. She was incapable of changing. Honestly, he didn’t want her to change anyway. He fell in love with her fiery nature. He liked that she was independent and did her own thing.
He still wanted to shake her sometimes.
“Okay, how about we try something new?” he suggested after a beat. “How about you promise to try really hard to keep your nose out of this. We both know it’s unlikely, but I’m going to feel better if you at least pretend you’re putting in the effort.”
Ivy studied him for a beat and then slowly nodded. “I can promise to try. I just can’t promise to follow through.”
“Fair enough. In turn, I will promise not to fly off the handle when you invariably do get involved.”
“That sounds fair.”
“We also need to come up with contingency plans.” Jack was firm. “No, I don’t trust Archibald. I know I’m supposed to always side with my fellow officers, but in this case I don’t think that’s possible. I know too much.”
“Like what?”
“Like he’s a terrible police officer. He’s got more reprimands in his file than I’ve seen carried by full departments consisting of multiple men.”
“How do you know that?”
His smile was rueful. “I might have called in a favor with a guy I know at the state police.”
“John Winters?”
Jack’s grin widened. “The state police have files on small-town police officers because they’re the ones called in when an internal investigation needs to be carried out. I wanted to know if there was any dirt on Archibald ... at least more dirt than what Brian already supplied me with.”
“What dirt did Brian supply you with?”
“That is a long story, too.” Jack shifted his eyes to the large clock in the center of town square. “Can we eat while talking? I’m starving and you did buy me three kinds of potato salad.”
“Absolutely.” Ivy moved to pull away, but Jack held onto her for a beat longer. He pressed a kiss to the tender spot behind her ear and then reluctantly released her. “I wish there was a way I could eat without my hands. Then I could hold you and get my nutrients at the same time.”
She laughed at his expression. She was feeling lighter already. “Maybe you’ll figure it out one day.”
“Maybe.” He grabbed the nearest container of potato salad. “John could only tell me a few of the highlights, but he’s getting me the full file. I told him what was going on and he said Archibald wasn’t to be trusted. I happen to believe he’s right ... and I need you to be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
“You need to be way more careful than that. I happen to believe that Archibald isn’t above framing someone to clear a case and I don’t want you to be the person he frames this go-around.”
“Tell me about the other times you think he’s framed someone.”
“Okay, but only because I want you to be careful. This is weird stuff and it’s supposed to stay under wraps. You can’t tell anyone.”
She raised her hand, three fingers pressed together. “Scout’s honor.”
His grin was back. “You’re really cute.”
“I know. I still want to know the dirt.”
“How did I know you were going to say that?”
10
Ten
A romantic lunch together was just what the doctor ordered for both Ivy and Jack. He found he was much more settled when he separated from her, a shared kiss and a few whispers promising a different sort of quality time later that evening.
Brian found his partner tossing the garbage from the picnic when he returned from his own lunch hour.
“I see you and Ivy put on a nice display in the town square, huh?”
Jack slid his partner a look. “What do you mean?”
“I saw you together,” Brian replied simply. “I was having lunch with my wife at the diner and you were the talk of the place.”
Jack wasn’t sure what to make of that. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that people were falling all over themselves to gossip about the two of you. Ivy’s arrest has people titillated.”
Jack scowled. “I don’t like that being brought up. It’s not fair to her. She was saving Maisie’s life, for crying out loud. It’s not as if she’s a legitimate criminal.”
“No,” Brian agreed. “Most
people think she’s a hero. Only a handful are pressing the criminal narrative.”
“Like Maisie.” Jack’s expression darkened. “I don’t understand why she has to be so difficult. Ivy saved her life, for crying out loud. She should be grateful.”
“If you want to know the truth, I think that Maisie is embarrassed by the entire thing.”
“She doesn’t act embarrassed.”
“No, but think about it,” Brian prodded. “Maisie and Ivy have been enemies for years, decades really. Ivy still saved her. That means Maisie should be beholden to Ivy ... but that’s not the sort of person she is. She can’t admit when she’s wrong.”
“Well, I don’t really care what Maisie thinks.” Jack’s tone was breezy. “I had a lovely time on my picnic.”
“I know. You guys were practically mounting one another.”
“We were not!” Jack was scandalized. He didn’t care about public displays of affection, but he would never engage in public sex acts given his position. “If Maisie said that ... .”
“Oh, Maisie was in rare form,” Brian countered. “She was going on and on about how Ivy cast a spell on you. It seems she believes that Ivy used magic to find her that day.”
Jack stilled. In truth, Ivy had used magic to find Maisie. How the librarian knew about it, however, was anybody’s guess. “I ... don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Brian rolled his eyes. “We both know Ivy is coming into her own as ... whatever it is that she is. I don’t like talking about it because it makes me uncomfortable. That doesn’t mean I’m not aware.”
“I don’t want to discuss it.” Jack was firm. He had other things to worry about besides Maisie spreading gossip. “I have a hard time believing anyone would simply take Maisie’s word on anything.”
“For the most part, that’s true,” Brian conceded. “Everyone thinks she’s a crackpot, to the point where they’re snickering behind her back. That’s good for both of you. I still thought you should know that she’s spreading gossip about you.”
“Gossip that Ivy used magic to snare me.”
Wicked Reunion Page 9