“Not one word,” Shae angrily said as she spun around with her index finger pointed his way. “Does this kind of behavior usually work for you? Do the women you hang around with find that type of attitude attractive? No, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know what kind of women you socialize with.”
Jace would have answered had she not walked across the street to his Range Rover. She yanked open the passenger side door and settled herself inside, leaving him holding her purse. He’d gotten what he’d wanted, and now he would have to live with the consequences.
“Flowers are usually your best option.” Tobias Essinger appeared out of nowhere. He was an older gentleman who Jace recalled had an affinity for westerns. According to the book he was carrying around in his hand, that was still the case. “Judith always forgave me after receiving a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. That might work for you.”
“I’ll take that under advisement, Tobias.”
Jace highly doubted that flowers were going to fix his problem. Shae was independent to the nth degree, which he highly respected. She was doing what she felt was right for her, while he was left behind to deal with his own concerns that the killer might very well take what independence she had away by cold-blooded murder.
There was no doubt she’d struck a nerve about the whole civilian thing. She’d taken a potshot at an obvious weakness. He mulled over her accusation as he walked across the street. It was a low ball, even for her by referring to her experience with returning veterans. Given her profession, she understood it wasn’t easy to acclimate to civilian life and had played that knowledge to wound him.
“I would absolutely love to spend the next few weeks moving into my new place given to me by my overly generous parents, take my time renovating the barn before the weather turns, all the while spending time with my family while deciding on what I’d like to do with my future,” Jace shared with her after settling in behind the steering wheel. He set her purse down on her side of the floorboard before continuing when she normally would have interrupted. “My brothers are adjusting to being home, just like I will, given time and forbearance of the good people of our hometown. Unfortunately, fate has other plans for me at the moment. My main concern is that you don’t end up dead like Whitney Bell and that you don’t antagonize a vicious killer, regardless that it might very well be your intention. Which, for the record, is exceedingly foolish even with that revolver in your purse. As for my attraction to you? Well, that’s a totally separate issue that I’d like to explore at a later time, if you’re still alive. So please, don’t confuse the two.”
Jace turned over the engine, and it wasn’t long before he was driving them toward his dad’s homestead. He’d had his say, and exchanging arguments over two separate issues wouldn’t make this afternoon any more pleasant.
“I apologize for what I said.” Shae’s words came out as soft as the breeze coming in through the window. The two things almost blended together. “I know you’re worried about me, Jace, but I’ve waited too long for answers. I’ll go with you to your dad’s place, but you’re taking me back to town afterward. I’ll give Detective Kendrick a call to tell him that I’ll take him up on his offer to have an officer trail me for the next few days. That will solve both our problems.”
Jace figured his best course of action was to remain silent. Her solution wouldn’t solve anyone’s problems, but she didn’t want to hear the truth. She’d all but admitted twice now that she would do whatever was needed to draw out this killer. It was as if she were determined to be the next victim.
Well, he would do whatever was necessary to keep her from fulfilling her death wish.
*
“Let me guess,” Shae remarked wryly to Mitch as he took the seat next to her, “Jace sent you over here to talk some sense into me.”
Mitch was the oldest of the Kendall siblings, and his dominant aura said as much. Physically, he resembled all his brothers and sisters. Tall, dark hair, blue eyes, and very attractive features. There was no denying that the Kendalls were blessed with gorgeous physical attributes, but they were also fortunate with the endless compassion they all seemed to possess. And while there was something in all of them that broadcasted they were born to lead, Mitch had that quality in spades.
“I wasn’t here when Emma went missing.” Mitch crossed an ankle over his knee, indicating he didn’t mind how long this conversation took. He certainly got straight to the point, though. “I would never assume to imagine the anger and grief your family went through twelve years ago, but your parents don’t deserve to lose another daughter because she was too headstrong to listen to sound advice.”
They’d all gotten the pleasantries out of the way hours ago, even eating grilled steaks and potatoes larger than her head—not that she ate after having done so with Julie moments before they’d arrived at Gus’ residence. It was a welcoming home unlike any she’d ever witnessed before. She’d once heard Brynn refer to the Kendalls as the Waltons. She hadn’t been exaggerating in the least bit.
She’d been out to the Kendall residence once or twice for a birthday party here and there during her teenage years. She recalled that Mary Kendall loved lilacs, honeysuckle, and tea roses. The former two were out of season, but the tea roses were still in full bloom and giving off the most beautiful scented fragrance.
Unfortunately, Mitch took that pleasure away from her by driving his point home in a very emotional manner. No parent deserved to go through the grief her parents had experienced back then, and now she was tempting fate.
“You always were a straight shooter.” Shae regretted not getting a ride back into town with Brynn. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have right now. “I would never want my parents to go through that grief again, regardless of what you might think. With that said, I’m not a naïve young girl who isn’t prepared to defend herself. I’m a grown woman who is taking precautions while I seek to find the answers I’ve been searching for over the course of the last decade.”
Shae didn’t want to have this discussion with Mitch or Jace. She wanted more than anything to put down her glass of sweet iced tea and demand Jace take her back into town so that she could retrieve her car. She had things to do, and the Kendall clan had a private family celebration to enjoy.
Mitch had been in the service for sixteen years, and he was finally returning home after sustaining an injury that forced an early retirement. He deserved this time with his family. He shouldn’t be worried about her wellbeing. It made her sad to know his homecoming was overshadowed by an evil that had haunted Blyth Lake for far too long.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors around town, but the board voted me in today as the pro-tem sheriff of Blyth Lake.” Mitch wasn’t the easiest man to read, and she wasn’t sure that trait was a good thing or a bad thing, given his assignment as the town’s newest public servant. His expression remained neutral as he continued talking. “In around an hour, I’m heading into town to meet with Deputy Warner, Deputy Foster, and Deputy Perling. Finding Whitney Bell’s killer will be our top priority for those who stay under my command.”
Shea could only imagine the changes Mitch would implement to the sheriff’s department. Glenn Percy hadn’t exactly run the tightest ship. The only reason that office had remained afloat or sustained its credibility was because of Patty. That woman certainly had a handle on those deputies.
“You and I both know that whoever killed Whitney is responsible for Emma’s disappearance, as well as all those other girls.” Shae hated that she had to keep referring to her sister’s tragedy as an abduction. They had all accepted Emma’s death a long time ago. “I can help you, Mitch.”
“By opening yourself up to attack and making yourself a sacrificial lamb?” Mitch had already begun shaking his head well before she ever finished speaking. He didn’t seem to care that the killer had reached out to her, basically opening a dialogue of conversation. “Coming back to town to take over the reins as sheriff was never my intention, Shae. But I c
an’t in good conscience allow my hometown of Blyth Lake to turn into ruins because no one wanted a thankless job cleaning up after years of neglect. I can’t stop you from talking to old friends and neighbors. That’s up to you. But don’t you think for a second I won’t step in if I believe you’re putting your life in danger. I’ll put your ass in a cell if you start acting foolish.”
Shae didn’t miss the shared look between Mitch and Jace. They were doing their best to look out for her, but she wasn’t their responsibility—not even the new sheriff’s responsibility. In the end, it wouldn’t matter what any one of them wanted to see as an outcome. Whoever was murdering those young girls had been in control for over twelve years, and she didn’t see that changing anytime soon.
“Mitch, whoever took Emma understood exactly what he was doing by leaving those boots in that apartment over the bar. All of you believe we know the killer, as do I. And I have no doubt that the sick bastard thought I would either crumble in my grief or be scared enough to leave town.” Shae was willing to make concessions, as proven by her phone call to Detective Kendrick earlier. But she wasn’t leaving town. “I’m a professional. I’ve treated the criminally disturbed in my practice. I can provide insights into his behavior, as well as expand on the profile that you have undoubtedly received from the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit at Quantico. I grew up here and have a unique appreciation of the people living in this town. You’d be an idiot not to use my expertise. And I’m willing to continue to stay at Jace’s house, but I won’t stop visiting those people on my list who I believe may know something that could help us uncover who the killer is pretending to be in the interim.”
Mitch nodded his consent, though she wasn’t looking for his approval. Something told her that he would be perfectly okay with her leaving town tonight and returning to Lansing, Michigan.
“I’m meeting Detective Kendrick later this afternoon to go over all the evidence collected up to this point. You and I both know that he can’t afford the manpower to have someone follow you around twenty-four-seven. We can all see the state police cruiser at the end of the driveway, but he’ll be gone by tonight. I think staying at Jace’s house is for the best until we obtain more information on who left those boots for you at your other accommodations. Besides, I know that you and Jace were friends back in the day. Having that kind of friendship and support is invaluable.”
Shae was relieved to know that Jace hadn’t said a word about what happened this morning to Mitch. Not that they had a personal relationship other than an old friendship Jace now mistook for something more because she’d told him the truth. One kiss didn’t change anything. A glance his way had her rethinking that belief, as she caught him studying her from afar.
After their heated argument from earlier, it was a wonder the electricity traveling between the two of them wasn’t visible to everyone.
Jace was standing on the sidewalk in front of the porch saying goodbye to Lance, who was heading into Gus’ workshop. Well, technically the workspace was used by both of them now that it was a father and son business. Lance was more interested in the fact that Gus had opened the screen door, leaving her to believe that Jace’s interest in her discussion with Mitch was for his own self-interest.
She wasn’t ready for a man like him. He was everything an alpha male was supposed to be, according to her training.
What made her think she could have handled him as a teenager?
She liked structure. Strike that, because so did Jace. She craved easygoing. Yes, that was a better description of what she desired from a man. She didn’t need someone who constantly kept her off balance. Case in point—Jace’s reaction earlier this afternoon. That was totally unacceptable, despite how it warmed her from the inside out to know he truly cared what happened to her.
“Shae?” Mitch calling her name for probably the umpteenth time just proved that Jace upset her equilibrium. She gave him an apologetic smile as she tried to focus on the conversation at hand. “Who else would you like to speak with while you’re in town? I’d really like a look at that list, if at all possible.”
“Mitch, could I see you in the kitchen?”
For a brief moment, Shae thought Mitch was going to refuse his father’s request.
“Of course,” Mitch answered, lowering the black boot on his right foot as he prepared to stand. He was sporting a white dress shirt rolled up at the forearms. His darker shade of jeans fit his personality, but all in all, his attire reminded her that he hadn’t been home for more than four hours. He had a long evening ahead of him if he were to take over role as sheriff. “Shae, please supply me with that list so that I can compare them to who was at the Cavern last night.”
Shae could have answered him immediately, but Mitch was already following his father inside the house. Everyone on her list had been inside the bar at one time or another last night. It was still hard to fathom that someone they all had trusted had absolutely no hold on their sanity.
Motion from where Jace and Lance were standing told her that she was about to have company. Lance seemed to have changed his mind about work and joined Noah and Reese on the other side of the porch, who’d given Mitch time alone with Shae. She wasn’t surprised to find Jace joining her, but she was stunned by his admission.
“I’m sorry I caused a scene at the diner. It wasn’t fair to you, and I made both of us look ridiculous.” Jace leaned forward to rest both of his forearms on his knees. She wanted to tell him to stop, that she didn’t need an apology. They were both at fault, because they were both very headstrong. “What I’m not sorry about is worrying about your safety.”
“Jace, I’ll stay at your place until I decide to return back to Lansing.” Shae needed him to understand something first, because she wasn’t emotionally capable of handling anything more than what was already on her plate. “As friends, though. Nothing more.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jace took his time walking around the house, noting all the video cameras added to the outside in the form of overhead lights. They had used the existing wiring to power them while replacing the fixtures. No one was gaining access to his property without every second of his or her presence being recorded offsite. Unfortunately, it still didn’t provide the security he needed to keep Shae safe while staying under his roof. Security was a matter of layers and denying the perpetrator the opportunities he needed to access the target.
Jace should be grateful to Mitch for talking Shae into residing at his house for the duration of her stay, but he didn’t like the barrier she’d put up between them. Of course, the roads they had traveled on over the years had taken different routes. That didn’t mean their friendship had faded or that they should ignore the simmering attraction that indicated something more.
“That was a very nice homecoming you and your family gave Mitch today.” Shae was sitting out in the open on the top step of his porch, as if she’d been waiting for him to finish his walk around the perimeter. She wasn’t doing so just to piss him off. It was clear she wasn’t finished going over the rules she’d established in her head. “I’m sorry that I had to be dragged along to something that was meant for family members.”
Jace didn’t bother to point out that there were other non-family members in attendance to greet Mitch at the house. Brynn was like family and Reese had joined the ranks when she decided to take on Noah as her lesser half, but they still didn’t carry the Kendall surname.
“Everyone there was family in every way that counts.” Jace wasn’t going to sit there and listen to her pick apart relationships and the differences between them. He maintained his distance by standing a few feet in front of the porch steps. “Have you spoken to your parents? Do they understand what happened yesterday? Or are you keeping them in the dark?”
Jace hadn’t seen Shae use her cell phone last night or today. He understood about protecting family, but the reverse was also true. It was inherent that a mother and father shield their children from the atrocities of this world.
“I didn’t want them to worry, so I’ve kept it to myself for now.” Shae held up her hand when he would have given his opinion on her poor choice. “I’ll call them in the morning when enough time has passed to reassure them that nothing else has happened. Them thinking I’m in danger would only either have them asking me to return to Lansing or them making the trip down here. They don’t need to be in Blyth Lake right now. They shouldn’t have to visit the same place their youngest daughter died.”
Jace wouldn’t argue with her on that point. Neither would he disagree with her assumption Emma had been killed in this town. The boots left for Shae to discover was all the evidence he needed to confirm that Emma was no longer with them and that her killer remained free to slaughter another.
“Mitch called an hour ago.” Jace didn’t want to talk about the Emma, Sophia, Whitney, or even the case in general. Obsessing over what ifs or what could bes could very well make a rational person doubt his or her sanity. “Dad gave him the keys to the Decker residence.”
“The large plot of land right before the welcome sign?” Shae smiled, telling Jace he did the right thing in talking about something completely different then her reason for being in town. “I always thought that land was magical with its wraparound porch and the white picket fence that goes on for miles.”
“You should have heard him, Doc.” The nickname he’d used for her slipped right off his tongue, but he wasn’t sorry in the least. It suited her. Just as the property chosen for Mitch matched his personality. “I’ve never heard so much emotion in my brother’s voice.”
That wasn’t technically true. Mitch had spoken at their mother’s funeral, and there hadn’t been a dry eye left in the church. Jace didn’t doubt that was one of the most difficult speeches Mitch had ever given in his life.
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