Sinister Secrets
Page 13
Noah tore his gaze away from Fiona and stood. “I’ll walk you out.”
After kissing Fiona on the head, Noah led Harley to the front door. Fiona peered over the chair to eavesdrop.
“Thanks for staying with her today,” Noah said.
“Thanks for staying with her last night,” Harley responded as they shook hands. “And it’s nice to meet you. We’ve dubbed you Fox at Black Rose. Hope you don’t mind.”
“I have a feeling that if I did mind, it wouldn’t matter.”
“Yeah, we’re a stubborn bunch.”
“You’re a hell of a bunch. And, it’s nice to meet you, too. I hear you were one hell of a forensic photographer back in the day.”
Harley cocked a brow. “You’ve been doing your research.”
“For Fiona’s sake, only.”
“Good man. And, yeah, that was my previous life before Black Rose recruited me.”
“Well, they’re lucky to have you.”
Harley winked. “Fiona’s lucky to have you. At least, she better have you.” With that veiled warning, Harley grinned and walked out the front door.
Fiona slid back into the chair as Noah walked into the room.
“Sorry. We’re all really protective of each other.”
“That’s good. I admire how tight-knit you all are.” He pulled the coffee table, sat on the edge and put his hand on her knee. “Did you sleep?”
“God, all day. Off and on, at least.”
He nodded, his eyes filled with stress.
“Tell me,” she said.
“Are you sure you want to hear everything now? It can wait—
“Tell me.”
He took a deep breath. “We found a small camera at James’s house, with several recordings of him and Misti.”
“Recordings? Like, recordings?”
“Oh, yeah. Forever etched in my brain, let me tell you. You remember the slit in Misti’s purse?”
“Yeah.” Her mouth dropped. “She was blackmailing him?”
“Bingo.”
“And he had her killed for it. He paid Joel to kill her?”
Noah solemnly nodded. “We found a transfer of thirty-five thousand dollars in a secret account under Joel’s name. Traced it back to an account under Norris’s campaign, set up by James Miller. They met months ago at a charity golf game in DC, not long after Joel had been let go and that’s when everything started.”
“James paid Joel thirty-five grand to kill Misti.”
“To kill her, and deliver the camera with the evidence. The cemetery was the meeting place. Like we thought, James stole the house key from Shay, dropped it at the cemetery, and after Joel did the deed, he went to return the key. That’s when James shot him and dumped him in the ravine to throw us off.”
“Where’s the money?”
“Found it in a safe in James’s house.”
“What about the burner phone found in Joel’s car? What about Steph calling Joel?”
Noah snorted and shook his head. “Steph is practically the madam for an undercover prostitution ring with politicians statewide. She scheduled the meeting between Joel and James. Confessed to everything, scared out of her mind. She also confirmed James had Joel book his room at the Towering Pines. Part of the deal.”
She shook her head. “What about Norris?”
“Clean as a whistle. He’s cooperating and giving us full access to whatever we need.”
“What about Patrick Brown?”
Noah snorted. “Clean. Cooperating, too, and has promised to be a better driver in the future, but that’s beside the point. Anyway, this thing has legs, possibly all the way to the white house. Shit is going to hit the fan.”
“And Misti and Joel get justice.”
“And you do, too.” With a frustrated growl, he pushed off the coffee table and ran his fingers through his hair. “Fiona.” He turned to her, desperation squeezing his face. “When I saw you being dragged into that car… I lost it. I fucking lost it.”
Her eyes widened at the emotion pouring out of him.
“I haven’t cared for anyone since my ex-wife, and that’s been over a decade ago. A decade, Fi. But you… Fiona, I never forgot that damn kiss. I never forgot you, and when I thought I could actually lose you… Lose the only person to make me feel again. Dammit.” He ground his teeth. “I lost it.” He walked over and fell to her feet. “I’m sorry you had to see that. My temper… it’s a horrible part of me. Sometimes I feel like I’m held captive by it. I’m so sorry you had to see that side of me.”
She grabbed his hand. “Me, too, Noah. But, you’re forgetting something. You didn’t let your temper win. You pulled away before it was too late.”
“Because of you. Because of your voice, Fiona.”
He leaned up and kissed her softly.
“You’re stronger than you think, Noah.”
“With you, I am.” He blew out a breath and laid his head in her lap, like a child.
She gently stroked his hair, her heart breaking for him. Finally, he looked up, his eyes rimmed in red.
“Will you forgive me?”
“You saved my life, Noah. I already have.”
He smiled and kissed her again. “I love you, Fiona.”
“Noah,” she cupped his face in her hands. “I’ve loved you since you pinned me on the mat.”
He grinned, a twinkle in his eye. “I’ve got a few more moves I can show you.”
She met his grin. “Not if I show you first.”
CHAPTER 19
Harley clicked on her high beams as she drove through the mountains.
She glanced at the clock—7:17 p.m. She was running a bit early, but it wasn’t like her uncle ever left the house anyway.
She picked up the phone and dialed again—no answer.
She frowned and tapped her phone on her chin until it buzzed with an incoming call.
“Harley here.”
“Hey, it’s Ace. How’s Fi?”
“Good. Fox just got there… although you probably don’t care to hear that.”
“Hey, he saved our girl’s life. He’s totally redeemed himself in my book.”
“Good, because I get the feeling he’s going to be around a while.”
Ace sighed. “You and me, Sis. We’re the only single ones left in the bunch.”
“Wanna do that thing where we get married if we haven’t found someone by… I don’t know, forty-five or something?”
“Sounds like a plan… As long as Krestel doesn’t destroy us first. Which brings me to why I’m calling. You get the peppers? Shit goes down in forty-eight hours.”
“On my way to get them now.”
“What?”
“What?”
“Something’s in your voice…”
Nothing got past Ace. “It’s just that I told Jep I’d call on my way, and I’ve tried three times, and he hasn’t answered.”
“Doesn’t your uncle just sit at home all day and watch the news?”
“When he’s not gardening, yeah.”
“Maybe he fell asleep or something.”
“Maybe.” She chewed her lower lip. “Anyway, I’ll let you know when I’ve got them.”
“Okay. Forty-eight hours, Harley. We’re all laying low until then, okay? We can’t allow anything to screw this up. Two days, then this thing will be over.”
She took a deep breath. “Amen to that. Talk soon.”
Click.
She checked the phone again, then set it on the console as her stomach did a little dip, a faded warning of doom lurking in the shadows.
She shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“Get a grip, Harley,” she whispered to herself. “What the hell could happen in forty-eight hours?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda McKinney
Award-winning author of Romantic Suspense and Mystery, Amanda McKinney wrote her debut novel, LETHAL LEGACY, after walking away from her career to become a writer and stay-at-home mom. Her books inclu
de the BERRY SPRINGS SERIES and BLACK ROSE MYSTERY SERIES, with many more to come. Amanda lives in Arkansas with her handsome husband, two beautiful boys, and three obnoxious dogs.
Text AMANDABOOKS to 66866 to receive Amanda’s newsletter and get the latest on new books, promos, and freebies!
www.amandamckinneyauthor.com
If you enjoyed Sinister Secrets, please write a review!