This was incredibly disturbing on so many levels. First, because she couldn’t help but think that something Julian and she had done caused a target to be drawn on the man. Then, because the person who did this was now playing for keeps, and their team was on the ground and in the middle of it.
This was horrible.
Tori tried to think positive and believe that maybe the bookshelf simply fell on him. Yeah, things like that happened every day.
Somewhere in the world, right?
Unfortunately, the cop in her wasn’t falling for that rationale either. It looked like suspicion and paranoia would be winning out once more.
Pulling out her cell, she knew that there needed to be two calls. The first one would be to nine-one-one, and then the second call to her husband.
Julian was going to lose his damn mind.
This time, she couldn’t blame him.
* * *
Kane was pacing like a caged tiger.
Everything that they just found was stirring him up and making him a nervous wreck. The last thing that he wanted was the woman who was going to be his wife and mother of his child in danger.
The mere idea of someone using her as a target was putting him over the edge.
He thought about the little life already growing inside her, and he couldn’t help but already be in love. If anything happened to his child, there wouldn’t be a moment’s peace in his life.
It would make him into a monster.
There were few boundaries in his life that he wouldn’t cross for Christina. Now, toss a baby into the mix, and he was willing to throw all the rules out the window just to keep them safe.
“What are you thinking about, big guy?” she asked from her spot on the bed. When they returned back to the room, he got her lunch, and then they decided to go through some more of the journals.
“How mad would you be at me if I asked you to catch a flight home?”
Her sweet man was worried about her. “Come here, Kane,” she said, patting the bed beside her.
When he didn't put up a fight, she went into his lap and stared into his brown eyes. “I’m going to be perfectly safe, and so is our little baby. What you need to do is relax, breathe, and stop making yourself a nervous wreck.”
He wasn’t sure that he could do that. This was all super new to him, and he was off balance.
“We’re going to have bigger issues on the horizon.”
Kane wasn’t sure what she was talking about.
“Raising a baby and worrying is stressful. Now, we need to think about daycare, baby issues, and all kinds of things that having a child brings up.”
He blanched. “I assumed that you would be retiring from the job. It never occurred to me that you planned on staying at the agency and working. ”
That made her laugh.
“I was serious,” he added, not finding anything about this conversation entertaining.
“Yeah, that’s not happening, cuddle cakes. I would go insane, and I think you know that.”
The nickname made him laugh, even if he didn't really want to do it. Christina always had a way of making him smile, despite his mood.
“We have to sell my house and get a place more permanent than an apartment. Children need space. We’re cramped as it is.”
He knew she was right.
“When we get back, we go into planning mode. Until that time, I’m still your partner out in the field.”
It was times like these, where he wished the woman he loved wasn’t so darn independent. He wanted to blame that on working for the FBI.
“Okay, but I want you to stick by my side and go nowhere without me.”
Christina kissed him lavishly, taking his mind off of anything that was bothering him. When she pulled away, she could feel his heart thumping beneath her hand.
“I love you, Chrissy,” he pledged. “I only want to make you happy.”
How could he think she wasn’t? With Kane in her life, she was reborn and a new person. “I’m very satisfied with my life, Kane. I’ve never felt happier or more content, now that we’re officially going to be a couple for the rest of our lives. I’m getting an amazing man.”
His heart skipped.
“You complete me.”
She was already well aware. “Want to roll around a little and try to get our minds off all of this?” she asked, running her hands through his long brown hair.
He glanced over at the wall and lowered his voice, “What if someone is watching us?” he asked.
Christina was creeped out about it, but she wasn’t going to miss a second of life with Kane. Not even for a peeping Tom. “If they’re going to watch, then you better make damn sure you impress them,” she teased, nibbling more on his earlobe.
He grinned wickedly.
Yeah, that he could do.
* * *
All in all, Julian’s day wasn’t going so bad.
The conversation, when a bunch of men got together, generally headed to a few basic areas. So far, they had covered cars, women, and sports.
That was one of the good things about being a guy. You didn't have to rationalize anything you said. If you liked redheads, it was perfectly fine. If you thought your buddy’s car was cool, you said it.
Men were easy.
With women on the other hand, they tended to want to make you feel. You couldn’t just like the color blue, you had to explain why you did. It made you feel light and airy, or it reminded you of the cloudless sky. It was never just because you liked blue.
Men didn't roll that way and if anything, Julian found himself missing his brother even more now. He made a mental note to call him later, trying to disturb him while Justin was climbing all over his wife.
While they always had each other’s back, there was no reason that they wouldn’t torment the living hell out of each other as much as possible.
It was a brother thing.
At the ringing of his cell, Julian could tell by the song playing that it was his wife. He had specifically picked some mushy love song to remind him of her.
In fact, it was the song that they danced to at their wedding.
Men being men, they immediately began busting his ass when they heard it.
When he answered, he was grinning. “Hey, honey, how’s that hat adventure going?” he asked, keeping their cover.
“Julian, we have a big problem,” she said softly.
That made his adrenaline pump, and not in a good way.
“After I tell you, I need you to just say ‘okay, honey. I’ll take you jewelry shopping’.”
Julian listened and prayed that he could pull it off. “Go ahead.”
“I just picked up our book, but someone got here before me.”
He didn't comment. In his head, he was thinking the place was tossed as they searched for the book that William promised them. His worst case scenario was that someone stole the book before they could read it.
“Okay, that sounds good.”
The men were staring at him intently, curious to see what was going on.
God, he hoped his voice didn't give him away.
“He’s dead, Julian. I just found him crushed beneath a big bookshelf. William is still warm and hasn’t been gone long. I called the police, but you need to get down here, but don’t make a scene, okay?”
How the bloody hell was he supposed to not react to that? “Of course I’ll meet you and take you shopping, honey. Whatever makes you happy.”
The men all began laughing. A few of them muttered ‘whipped’ as they busted him. He honestly didn't care, as he headed off.
“Hurry, Julian. The police are coming. We have a million more problems now than just what happened on the estate,” she urged. “There’s a good chance we just got that poor man killed.”
She didn't have to tell him, since he was already thinking it. “I’ll be right there, Victoria. You just stay out of trouble and out of the jewelry store without me! You know how much trouble you tend to get
into alone.”
“I’m staying right in front of the storefront until the police arrive. Just drive safe and don’t look like you’re racing out of there. We need to keep our cover.”
How his wife wasn’t freaked out about finding a body still astounded him. Yes, she was used to death, but most women would still react.
Not his Tori.
She was calm and cool under pressure.
Unlike him, when it came to her safety.
Now, he only had to pray that whomever did this to William wasn’t right there watching his wife.
This was a whole different game that the person was playing.
It just went from watching to murder.
And Julian had to admit.
He was scared shitless.
Chapter Ten
Thursday Afternoon
Julian couldn’t get there fast enough. As he tried not to run for his car, making anyone suspicious, his heart was pounding in his chest. At that very moment, his woman was all alone in a building with a corpse, and some nutjob could be watching her.
It was official.
She wasn’t leaving his side for the rest of the assignment. He wasn’t taking any chances that she was going to get hurt or ripped from his life.
That’s the last thing he needed.
It would culminate in a nervous breakdown.
As he parked their car, he saw her sitting on a bench outside the building. Beside her was a raven haired man, and he was a little too close to his woman. He was leaning over her, and they appeared to be whispering about something.
All the fear and nerves bubbled up. He wasn’t sure which frightened him more, losing his wife to a killer or another man. It was just proof of how out of control he truly was.
As Julian tried to get under the police tape, he was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy. Since he didn't want to scream like a maniac to get her attention…
No, wait, he wanted to scream, alright.
Instead, he whipped out a text to his wife. When she pulled out her phone, her eyes found his in the crowd. Talking to the man beside her, Tori motioned toward him and the man headed his way.
“Let him in,” he stated, pointing at the Native man. “He’s her husband.”
Julian didn't give the guy any chance to ask him questions. Immediately, he rushed his wife, wrapped his arms around her, and proceeded to hold her against his body. In her ear, he whispered, “Are you okay? Christ, Tor, you scared the hell out of me!”
She soothingly ran her hands up and down his back as their bodies pressed together as one. That contact helped ease both of their fears. “I’m good, Jules. You can relax.” It touched her that he was so worried about her safety.
“Excuse me, Mr. Wilshire? I need to finish getting your wife’s statement on the situation, and then you’re free to take her home,” stated the raven haired man beside them.
“Yes, of course,” Julian replied.
“I’m Sheriff Beckett Rand. I appreciate your patience on this matter.”
Sitting down, Tori pulled her husband beside her and tried to look like she was scared shitless. If the sheriff only knew that he was using kid gloves on someone who used to eat lunch in autopsy, he wouldn’t be dragging this out so much.
“Now, from the beginning,” he urged. Beckett was trying to be calm, but something about these two was sending off alarms in his brain.
It was almost as if he saw them before. The woman specifically, was so very familiar to him. He prided himself on remembering every gorgeous female he came across.
But where?
“I told you, Sheriff. The other day my husband and I stopped in to visit Mr. Macavoy. He was recommended to us by someone at Hesser House. I wanted to learn more about the legend of the ghost.”
Okay, so far everything they shared with him was accurate. When working undercover, it was best to keep as close to the truth as possible.
Just in case.
“Please continue,” he urged.
“I walked in and called to William, but there was no answer. He told us that sometimes he got distracted, so I walked back to see if he was reading or working. That’s when I found him.”
Julian was proud of his wife. She actually shivered and clung to him like she was scared out of her mind.
“It’s okay, honey. I’m here now.”
“So, you’re affiliated with the Hessers?”
Great.
This was the last thing he needed. That family was a royal pain in his ass. Beckett had so many complaints about the cousin, that the man had his own file drawer. Practically every decent woman in the area had a run in with him.
“We’re staying there. We made a donation, and they’re hosting us on the estate while we enjoy the derby festivities,” Julian added, nuzzling his wife.
Beckett Rand made notes.
“Can I ask, was it bad?” Julian inquired, trying to keep up the illusion of soothing his wife at the same time.
He hesitated but conceded, since the woman already had an eyeful. It was better to be truthful than allow gossip to race out of control. “It looks like the bookcase collapsed and buried him. It doesn’t appear like he suffered long. The coroner is in there checking it out. It was probably an accident, and it’s a good thing that your wife happened along. William was alone in life, and would have been buried for a while.”
Again, Tori shivered.
“If I need to ask you more questions, will you be up for it, ma’am?” he asked, watching at her.
The more time he spent with her, the more familiar she looked. There was something about her face, and those stormy blue eyes. He would bet his badge on it.
“Absolutely, Sheriff. We’re here until after the derby, but I can leave our address if need be.”
The man nodded before heading back inside. At the door, he turned around. “I suggest a good stiff drink as you try not to think about it, Victoria,” he stated. Death wasn’t easy to forget, he knew that for a fact.
Julian began leading her toward the police tape. “It irritates me when men call you that, like they know you,” he muttered, leading her away.
Tori fought hard not to laugh at him. Her husband was over the edge, since it was her name. What else was he supposed to call her? Tori didn't think it was a good time to point that out, especially when Julian had a scowl on his face.
After opening the Mercedes door, he helped her in and crossed to the driver’s side. Once inside the tinted vehicle, he glanced over at his wife. “Okay, spill it.”
Tori went into job mode. Gone was the act, and she was back to being her tough self.
“When I entered the back room, I immediately smelled death. I carefully checked his pulse, and he was gone.”
“He wasn’t cold?”
“No, so I’m going to guess and say that it didn't happen much earlier in the day, or he suffered and held on for as long as he could. If that’s the case, I wish I would have found him sooner.” There was a little regret, but nothing that would impede her from doing her job. Tori was used to some people living and some dying. At this point in her life, she stopped questioning fate.
“I wish we could get some information after the coroner looks at him.”
She pulled out her phone. “I took pictures.”
He started laughing. “I don’t know if that should creep me out, or if it should turn me on,” he teased. “My wife was definitely in the Army, since she’s ready for just about anything.”
Tori felt a knot form in her chest as her mind went to sex, and what happened between them. Instead of letting him see how hurt she was feeling, Tori opted to go with humor. It was an all-around better option at the moment. “You should be completely creeped out.”
Handing him the phone, Julian flipped through the pictures, analyzing what Tori had been able to document at the crime scene.
“You can see the point of impact on his skull right there,” she said, pointing at one wound. “Now, if it killed him, that’s something maybe Chri
stina could help us with. I’m good with death, but she worked in the lab with Doctor Leonard. We might luck out, and she might be able to pick something up out of the pictures.”
Julian handed her the phone back. “Lorelei called for a mandatory dinner tonight to discuss the plans for the weekend. We should probably head there first, and then meet up with Kane and Christina.”
She agreed.
“Except that I don’t want to risk a rendezvous in the house with someone possibly watching us. It looks like we’re going to be having a secret meet up outside in the dark. Think they’ll be up for it?”
Tori laughed. “It’s dead body pictures, and the opportunity to be spy-like. That’s right up Christina’s alley. In fact, we’re paying her to do what she loves more than anything in the world. Well, not more than Kane, but she gets to do it with him, so that’s her trifecta.”
Sending the text, Julian wanted to just take a slow ride back to the estate. His nerves were frazzled, and he didn't think he could take much more excitement for the day.
All he wanted was good news and calm at this point.
For some reason, he didn't see either of those things coming to fruition in the near future.
Their simple case of finding a missing book was getting messier by the minute. Now, they needed to find proof of an heir and a murdering lunatic.
Damn!
This was out of control.
Back at the house, Kane was just getting out of the shower. After rolling around with his woman, he relaxed under the incredibly hot spray. It felt good to drain away all the tension building in his body.
While the incredibly hot sex had been cathartic, Kane was still stressed out over what was going on around him. Walking into the room, a towel slung low on his hips, he was greeted with giggles.
It immediately made him smile. The way his little sprite loved his body, always gave him a sense of peace.
“Your phone was beeping, big guy,” she said, still lounging on the bed lazily.
“Who was it?”
She looked at him like he was crazy. “I didn't answer it, so how would I know?”
Lost & Broken (LIttlemoon Investigations Book 2) Page 16