“Mary’s armed and dangerous.” Will laughed. “Shooting has been her hobby since high school. She has a license to carry and she has a black belt in karate.”
Jacqui’s eyes widened. “Good grief, that’s a lot of accomplishments. How old is she?”
“Twenty-nine,” Norm said. “She has a habit of going to school. She’s taken all sorts of courses. Mom gets on her sometimes to just pick something and make a career of it.”
“But it might not be the right something.” Jacqui hadn’t met Norm’s sister, but she could so identify with her. How did a person know what they really wanted to do in life until they’d tried a few things?
“Yep, you two would get along great,” Will said. Then his smile sobered slightly. “While I’m in the city, I’ll see about having lunch with Marcus Roth.” He’d directed that comment to Norm, but then he looked at her. “Roth owns a similar agency to ours, with a slightly different clientele. He’s mentioned a time or two in the past that he might be interested in a partnership.”
“So maybe he’ll be willing to buy your company outright?”
“Maybe,” Will said.
“But what would you guys do then?”
“We’re not sure,” Norm said. “I’ll do a bit more research online while Will’s gone. But this mess with Wilde? That’s been the proverbial straw, as far as we’re concerned.”
“The sooner we’re out of the ego business, the better,” Will said.
“And you haven’t heard anything more about that creep?” In Jacqui’s book any man who beat on a woman was the lowest of the low.
“No.” Will’s attention was caught by something behind her. His smile faded. “But that might be about to change.”
Jacqui looked up just as Adam Kendall came over to their table. He nodded to all of them.
“Gentlemen, I have some news on the situation.” He turned to Jacqui. “If you wouldn’t mind giving us a few moments, Miss Jacqui?”
Before Jacqui could respond to that, Will shook his head. “No. Sit down, Adam. You can speak in front of Jacqui. She has our full trust.”
Adam scowled—not at Jacqui but at Will. After a moment he shook his head, heaved what she took as an exasperated sigh, and sat beside Norm.
Jacqui knew from the expression on his face that no one was going to like what he had to say.
Chapter 14
Will still had Jacqui’s hand in his, and that was fine with him. It was clearly fine with her, too, judging by the way she wrapped her fingers around his and held tight.
“I got a call from Detective Cruz about a half hour ago. Apparently, Rick Wilde has jumped the latter of criminality from assault up to suspected murder.”
“Who did he kill?” Norm asked the words that didn’t want to come out of William’s mouth.
“A lowlife drug-dealing friend of his named Marco Lido. Guy lived above a mom-and-pop grocery in Queens, and was a known associate of Wilde’s before he got his big break. Neighbors reported seeing Wilde arrive, and then leave a couple hours later, in Marco’s car. The cops who processed the scene said it looked as if a fight broke out when they were both high. There were drugs scattered about, as if strewn during a melee. The victim likely wouldn’t have felt much when that knife pierced his heart. The NYPD will get back to me when they have the results of the toxicology screen, but at this point they’d only be surprised if Lido wasn’t full of drugs when he died.
“Investigators have no idea how much junk, and how much money Wilde liberated from the place before he left. They do know he stole Lido’s car—a late model Ford. So they’ve got a bolo issued for it as well as for Wilde.”
Adam leaned forward, his arms folded. “Every state police force between New York and here has been alerted. If he decides to try and drive all the way to Texas, and makes it through somehow, it will take a week or more for him to get here. From here on out, we consider the bastard very dangerous—I don’t care how stupid y’all say he is. Stupid doesn’t exclude deadly.”
Adam was right. If Wilde had graduated to murder, there was no telling what he’d do. “All right. What do you want us to do?”
“What you normally would do. No offence, but you don’t, either of you, have a military background, nor are you trained cops. So you’re going to leave the planning to those of us who are. Lusty isn’t that big.” He shook his head. “The last time we were expecting a threat, we didn’t cover all the bases the way we should have. That’s not going to happen this time.”
“The last time, I believe, you didn’t listen to Nancy when she pointed out one very big flaw in your plan.” Jacqui leaned forward. “So my advice would be to invite the women to whatever planning session y’all are going to have. Women see things differently than men do, Sheriff. And considering the number of times it’s been the women in this town who’ve come through in the pinch, the smart money would be on them to come through this time, too.”
“I won’t say you don’t have a point, Miss Jacqui. But the truth of the matter is, sooner or later the luck that has protected the women of this town from getting seriously hurt is going to run out. One of you is going to pay a heavy price when that happens—and that is a price that is far too dear, in a situation that is completely unacceptable.”
Jacqui nodded. “I agree. So include them, Adam, and manage them so you can be on hand when that luck does run out.”
Adam looked at Will as if he somehow could stop Jacqui from voicing her opinion or—and this was a scary thought—acting, with some of those women, on that opinion.
But he couldn’t. Hell, even if she was his wife, he couldn’t—not if he wanted a good, solid relationship with her built on equality, mutual trust, and respect.
“Hell.” Adam shook his head. “Think I really will take a page out of Hank Stinson’s book and set up self-defense classes for the women. Novice for some of you, and a refresher course for those born and raised here. But that can’t happen until after we get this scumbag in custody and behind bars.”
“You give classes, sign me up.” Jacqui smiled. “Sign these guys up, too. They need a hobby other than roller skating.”
Adam looked from him to Norm. “Roller skating?”
“Well, in our defense,” Will said, “you don’t seem to have a lot of ice rinks around here.”
Adam shook his head. “Trust someone from up north to think there should be ice rinks in Texas.”
“That’s not necessarily so,” Norm said. “I hear they had one in Waco over the Thanksgiving weekend last year. Of course, it wasn’t real ice, but they called it an ice rink nonetheless.”
“An ice skating rink that wasn’t real ice?” Adam didn’t sound as if he’d heard about it.
“I think it was a high sheen, very strong polymer that will take the abuse of skate blades. They’re actually used in some places for training pads for skaters and hockey players. And in case you didn’t know it, Texas has several professional ice hockey teams, and the larger cities also have arenas for hockey and figure skating.”
“God help us,” Adam said. “The north is creeping down.”
Will grinned at his Texas cousin. He hadn’t had a real opportunity to show that he knew how to fit in with the family before now—although he and Norm had taken notes the few times they’d been invited to Sunday dinner at the New House.
He patted Adam on the back. “Don’t worry. I don’t think that particular experiment in Waco was a very big success. So there’re still a few hours’ drive between you and a real ice pad.”
“But we are thinking of trying to talk the Town Trust into building an ice hockey arena in town. With real ice. Ice that will be maintained year-round.” Norm looked as serious as Will had ever seen him.
Will couldn’t let his closest cousin show him up. “We can buy a Zamboni machine from California, believe it or not, instead of upstate New York or even Pittsburgh. And we can teach all the men in town how to operate it so they can all take turns.”
“I’m going back
to my office. Do some thinking on the matter at hand so I can push the horrible images you just put in my mind clear to the background.”
“You mean you’d choose to deal with a drugged out egocentric spoiled brat who is probably a murderer over discussions of our ice hockey rink and the best use of a Zamboni?”
“In a New York minute,” Adam drawled. He tipped his hat to Jacqui and made a hasty retreat.
“Now that was just plain mean,” Jacqui said.
“No, that was cousin-speak,” Norm said. He looked as pleased as Will felt.
Then his cousin gave him a high-five, to put the cherry on top of the victory. Jacqui laughed, and Will felt a measure of satisfaction in that. He didn’t want her worrying about the asshole who may or may not be on his way to fuck up all their lives.
* * * *
This is stupid. We’ve only just started seeing each other and he’s going to be back in a couple of days.
While that was all true, what was also true was that Jacqui missed Will far more than she ever could have imagined she would.
“Here, sweetheart.”
Norm slid one arm around her waist from behind. In his other hand he held a glass of wine.
“Thanks.” She took one sip, then sighed and laid her head back on his shoulder. The view out of the back patio door was of sprawling fields, waking up from their winter sleep. While it was true that generally speaking, this far south, winter lacked the punch she’d heard they got up north, it was still a season. A few trees lost their leaves, and some vegetation turned brown.
She loved the springtime best, because it was a time of renewal, of awakening—and of nicely warm-to-hot days before the awful sweltering of summer began.
“It’s kind of strange, in a way, not seeing snow. To look out and see some trees still green.”
“I was kind of thinking similar thoughts, though I don’t really have any idea what your winters up north are like.”
“They’re beautiful and evil at the same time. The snow is lovely, especially those first few snowfalls. But when the weather turns, it can be deadly. I’ve slid off the highway more than once during a storm, and that can be scary all by itself.”
“I just can’t imagine that degree of cold.” She realized what she’d said, and then snickered. “Pardon the pun.”
“When we’d visit the farm, we’d be expected to help with the chores. You learned quickly to dress in layers—back in New York, in my dresser drawers, are several pairs of thermal underwear.”
“I don’t know. The way we’ve been having cold snaps the last couple of years here in the south—you maybe should have brought some of them with you.”
Norm laughed. “Maybe.”
“I recognize that laugh, Norman Kendall. You’re laughing at my calling the ‘cooling trend’ here in Texas cold.”
“Baby, would I laugh at you?”
“Yes, if you thought you could get away with it.”
“All right, guilty. Come and help me fix supper.”
Norm stepped back and held out his hand. It was time for her to stop moping and to enjoy the moment. When she’d begun to consider trying on these two men for a time, she’d told herself she’d want some one-on-one time with each of them.
That’s before I knew what it would be like being naked between them.
“So what are we making?”
“Well, this will be the second supper you’re going to eat here. I wouldn’t want it to be a repetitive experience.”
Jacqui laughed. She recalled her comment the last time she ate here—that occasion was their first date, and she couldn’t believe it was only a few weeks ago.
“So it’s steak, then?”
“Yes, ma’am. I used to love my steak with lots of fat on it—until I found out what the impact was on my LDL. So now it’s mostly lean and grilled, or—as in this case—lean, sliced thin and mixed with a lot of veggies.”
“Mostly.” She grinned at him.
“Yep. I reserve the right to sink my teeth into a big old fat-drenched rib steak every once in a while.”
“Wise man.”
“I am wise. I have a T-shirt back in New York that reads, ‘Eat healthy, exercise regularly, die anyway.’”
“Uh-huh. My dad has one that reads, ‘Eat, drink and be merry. Just sayin’.” Jacqui had no idea why she’d told Norm about that shirt. The comment had just slipped out. She shot him a sly look. He was busy unwrapping the package of steak he’d taken out of the fridge.
Just change the subject. “So where are the veggies? I’ll start chopping.”
“I cheated. I bought one of those packages of stir-fry veggies.”
“Please tell me they aren’t the frozen ones.”
“No, actually they’re fresh. I just picked them up at the store here in town this morning.”
“Good. Ok, I’ll rinse them off and dry them. Do you have a wok?”
“Nope. We’ll have to make do with a frying pan.”
“You really should invest a few dollars in some proper cookware. It makes the job so much easier.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will bow to your superior expertise in the kitchen. Maybe sometime we can hit one of the malls in Waco and you can show us what we’re lacking.”
Jacqui snickered, then turned and met his gaze. She raised one eyebrow.
“That didn’t sound, out loud, the way it did in my head before I said it.”
“I hate when that happens,” she said. “But I kind of got what you meant. And while a few weeks ago I would have told you I didn’t know where you could buy a clue, today I’ll just say, sure, I’d like to go kitchen shopping with you and Will.”
Thoughts of her other lover reminded her of the situation the two men were facing. The police weren’t sure if Rick Wilde had left New York state or not. They did know he wasn’t in Texas.
“He’ll be all right, sweetheart. Although Adam made quite the point of the fact we don’t have police or military experience, he omitted mentioning that we’re both proficient with firearms, and are trained in self-defense. The latter was our mothers’ idea, to give us a grounding in martial arts and the mental discipline that goes with it.”
“That was an interesting parenting decision.”
“Our mothers are interesting women.” Norm came over to her and eased her into his arms. “Uncle Derek planned to pick up Will at the airport, with a gun for him to use there—one he’s licensed to carry. And the Town Trust has a shooting range here—we’ll be outfitted for protection here when he gets back.”
“You must think I’m being stupid. I mostly have every faith that everything will be all right, but…” She simply didn’t want to complete that sentence. She couldn’t explain why, ever since lunch and the news Adam had brought, she’d felt…well, scared. Down to her toes scared. It didn’t make a lick of sense.
“Yeah, but. It’s okay, sweetheart. We’ll watch each other’s backs.”
The mood had become entirely too serious for Jacqui’s tastes. Her emotions were all over the damn place today, and aside from being out of character for her, that couldn’t be good.
She gave a quick look around the kitchen. They hadn’t actually started cooking anything yet. Therefore nothing could burn.
“Did you say we could watch each other’s backs, or wash each other’s backs?”
“I’m flexible.”
“So am I.”
“Mmm. Let’s just see how flexible you are in the shower.”
Jacqui’s laughter burst out of her as Norm scooped her off the floor and more or less tossed her over his shoulder. When he began to jog toward the stairs, her nipples tightened into tiny nubs of pleasure, and her slit leaked her juices.
If she was very lucky, Norm’s passion would burn away the worry that filled her heart with fear. At least for a little while.
Chapter 15
“It’s been more than three weeks. I can’t believe they haven’t found him yet.”
“Real police work isn’t anything
like what you see on television or in the movies, Jacqui.” Adam leaned against the table behind him. This was the second meeting he and Matt had held to keep everyone with an interest apprised of the manhunt for Rick Wilde.
She wondered how surprised Adam had been that first time, when so many women had shown up to hear what he had to say.
Will had come back safely from New York State, and Jacqui had felt a slight easing—but only a slight easing—of the tension that had gripped her when he’d left. But that hadn’t lasted.
She couldn’t logically explain why she felt worse and not better as time went on. There’d been no word of the fugitive, no sightings. The last update they’d had was that the car Wilde had stolen had turned up at a mall in Virginia. That had been nearly a week and a half ago.
“There are no sure things, and despite the fact that a bolo has been issued in every state between New York and Texas—including Virginia—sometimes, perps aren’t located.”
“He’s wanted for murder, and because of the threat that was overheard by witnesses and the attack on Miss Brown which shows his intent, he’s pretty high up, priority wise.” Matt looked over at Adam.
“But even so, budgets are stretched thin everywhere. There really are only two logical conclusions we can come to at this point. Either Wilde will eventually show up here, or he won’t. That’s it. We only have Lusty, and the surrounding area that we can watch. All we have to do, and all we can do, is stay vigilant, and keep our eyes open.”
“That doesn’t sound like much.” Jacqui knew she was grumbling. She knew she was on edge. What she didn’t know was why everyone was putting up with her the way they were lately.
Someone probably should have told her to get a clue by now—she knew if she was someone else listening to her constant complaining, she sure would have done so.
And holy crap, how screwed up am I that I just had that thought?
“Here’s what’s happening.” He indicated the map of Lusty that had been put onto a whiteboard at the front of the room. It showed the town and a chunk of Benedict County that surrounded it. “We’re keeping an eye on this entire area, including a ribbon of land surrounding the town. Now since that incident we had involving Nancy last year, we’ve replaced the fencing along the county and FM roads so that there’s no easy vehicular access to town that’s not on an actual road. We have eyes on every vehicle that comes into Lusty. Volunteers are positioned at either end of Main Street, just before the crossroads. As you can see, any car passing through town, has to pass these points. License plates are noted, and then any that aren’t familiar, are run. We do get cars passing through every day. Sometimes, they stop—generally at the grocery, the drugstore, or the restaurant. Everyone knows what Rick Wilde looks like. We’re watching for him.”
Love Under Two Extroverts [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13