“Let’s start with the messages.”
Sabre read the first one aloud. “You are stunning. Let’s meet.” She laughed. “He gets right to the point.” She looked at his age. He was sixty-four. “That’s not him,” she said.
She opened the next message: You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. We could make beautiful babies together.
He was twenty-two. Sabre deleted his message. “This will take forever. I think I’ll go through them quickly and eliminate the ones who can’t possibly be Nesbitt.”
“Based on what?”
“Age, for one thing. He’s not likely to put too young or too old of an age. Also, we know he’s about five-ten. So, I’ll take out anyone under five-eight or over six-feet.”
“That makes sense.”
Sabre moved quickly through the messages, glancing at the profiles without reading the descriptions. “That leaves twenty-two messages. Two do not have photos. I’ll check those out first, since he didn’t put a photo last time.”
The first message read: I think we’d be a good match. We like a lot of the same things. Please respond if you have any interest.
“He was polite but didn’t give me much to go on.” Sabre read through his profile description. “That didn’t help much either.”
“Just leave him in there and come back,” Elaine suggested. “What’s next?”
“The other one without a photo. His handle is ImReady.” Before reading it out loud, Sabre skimmed the message:
Hi TwinGirlsMom,
Please don’t skip my profile because theirs no pic but I can explain. I’m a important attorney at a big law firm in town and I don’t want clients to see me on here I like to keep my personal life seperate from work. I am attractive man I assure you. you won’t be disappointed. As beautiful as you are I’m sure your girls are as you say You are very lucky I hope someday to have children of my own.
Shaking her head, Sabre showed the message to Elaine.
“He sure doesn’t write like any attorney I know,” Elaine said. “He needs to have someone edit his messages before he sends them. He can’t spell, and he doesn’t know what a period is.”
Sabre read through his profile, which also explained why there was no photo, but he used much better grammar and punctuation. One of his interests was photography. “This could be Nesbitt.”
Sabre hit Reply and typed:
Hi ImReady,
Thank you for your interest. I’m not concerned about your photo. There are a lot more important things in life than how someone looks. Besides, I’m sure you are as attractive as you say.
Reading over her shoulder, Elaine stuck her finger in her mouth, making a vomiting motion.
Sabre had just looked at the next message when another email came in. “It’s from ImReady. That was quick.”
“Open it.”
They both read the text: I spend so much time on the computer doing important legal work so I don’t like being on here for this. Can we meet? How about dinner tonight at Island Prime? It’s a very nice restaurant on the ocean.
“Seriously?” Elaine scoffed. “Doing important legal work. He doesn’t even know what the terms are. This guy is definitely not an attorney, but he did pick a nice restaurant.”
“That fits Nesbitt’s M.O. too. Bob said he took Laura to a real nice place the first couple of dates. I guess his profession pays well.”
Sabre keyed in a response: I’m sure you’re very busy. That’s a tough job you have. I’d like to hear more about your work. I’m busy tonight though, and through the weekend. How about coffee at Starbucks on Monday at 1:30?
“Are you actually going?” Elaine asked.
“What have I got to lose?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Your life. Your handsome boyfriend. Your twin girls.”
“He’s not a murderer. He’s a sick photographer,” Sabre said. “But I’ll either tell JP or Bob. I won’t go alone, or they’ll both flip out.”
Chapter 26
Sabre stood near the pool in Harley’s backyard. Sabre’s mother and Harley had been dating only a few months, but they seemed to be a good match. She watched them as they moved through the guests, making sure everyone was at ease. It was a beautiful day for a barbeque.
Sabre scanned the yard for Morgan. She was playing with Mandy, Harley’s granddaughter on the zipline Harley had made for his grandkids. Mandy was almost five, and Morgan was helping her on and off the zipline. She seemed to be letting Mandy take two turns to her one.
“Your niece is a good kid,” Sabre said as JP walked up.
“She’s all sweetness and light, that one,” JP said. “I’m proud to be her Uncle.”
“The sun’s about to set,” Sabre said. JP stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. They looked at the city and the ocean in the distance. Pink and orange clouds streaked across the sky, where the sun was going down. “What a gorgeous view.”
“It sure is.” JP was looking at her, not the sky.
She turned, and he kissed her gently on the lips.
“I was talking about the sunset.”
“Oh yeah, that’s gorgeous too.”
Just then, Ron walked up. “Oops, did I ruin a moment?”
“You’re good,” Sabre said. “Mom seems happy, doesn’t she?”
“You know her. If she’s entertaining, she’s in her glory, and Harley likes to help. They work well together.”
“Who all will be here today? Do you know?”
“Just Harley’s son and his wife, plus their neighbors, Manfred and Toni.” Ron nodded toward a stout, blond man and a woman with short dark hair. “The only one not here yet is Chloe, who’s always fashionably, or sometimes unfashionably, late.”
“You and Chloe seem to hit it off. Have you asked her out yet?” Sabre asked.
“I’d like to, but it seems kind of awkward since she’s Harley’s daughter. If he and Mom got married that would make her my step-sister. Or worse yet, what if we started dating and it didn’t work out? That could be really uncomfortable at family gatherings.”
“You have a point,” Sabre said. “What do you think, JP?”
“You never build the outhouse too close to the porch.”
“That clears it up,” Ron said with a laugh. “Oh, there she is now. I’ll see you later.”
Ron walked straight to the newcomer, a beautiful girl with big hair. Just before he reached her, a man stepped up and put his arm around Chloe’s shoulder. Sabre heard her say “my friend.” Ron shook the man’s hand, they spoke for a moment, then Ron walked away.
“Looks like that decision was made for him,” JP said.
“Maybe it was just as well. When he falls for someone, he falls pretty hard. I’d hate to see his heart broken again, especially with someone who would be constantly there to remind him.” Sabre turned toward the expansive view, and they stood for a while with JP wrapped around her. He was more quiet than usual. She turned and stepped back to look at him “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a lot on my mind.”
“Work?”
“Actually, it’s Gene. I need your help.”
“What can I do?”
“We haven’t really talked about how long you’re staying with Morgan and me, and I don’t want to be presumptuous, but I need to get out at night and see if I can find Gene.”
“I’ll be there as long as you need me. Besides, I like taking her to school. She’s so delightful that time of morning. She sure is a funny kid.”
“She has her dad’s sense of humor. He was always the funny one.” JP’s voice dropped and he muttered, “Let’s hope that’s all she got from him.”
Chapter 27
JP dropped Sabre and Morgan at his house and drove over to Derek Bloome’s, only to find his silver Colorado was not there. He drove back to The Conversation bar and found Derek’s truck in the parking lot. He wasn’t ready for Derek to see him, so he waited outside, watching his vehicle. He’d been there nearly an hour w
hen Soper and Rankin came out of the bar. Rankin pulled slightly to the right as he walked, then overcompensated, swaying as he moved toward a dark Dodge Ram pickup. Soper got in the driver’s side and Rankin in the passenger’s.
JP was watching the two men so closely he almost missed Derek coming out of the bar. Derek got inside his pickup and followed the Dodge Ram out of the parking lot and onto the street. JP followed Derek. The convoy stayed on side streets until they reached Interstate 8, where Soper headed east.
The three trucks kept their distance for about five miles on the freeway, at which point, Derek sped up and passed the first truck. JP chose to follow Derek, so he did the same. When Derek took Exit 23 to Lake Jennings Park Road, JP followed. They continued on old Highway 80 for about a half a mile, until Derek pulled into The Renegade, a well-known country western bar. Derek exited his truck and hurried inside. JP followed, watching carefully so he wouldn’t be spotted, and got a whiff of the steaks grilling on the chuck wagon out back.
JP had not been to The Renegade since it had been remodeled. He was impressed with what they had done—a unique stage backdrop and a charming country feel. It reminded him of the old bars in Texas, and he felt at home. He glanced around, searching for Derek in the crowd and the mass of western hats. Fortunately, Derek was tall enough to stand out, and JP spotted him just before he went out the back door to the patio. Derek walked toward another man standing against the railing. The deck was crowded, making it hard to see who the guy was. JP walked up behind Derek and overhead his conversation.
“I came to give you the heads up,” Derek said to other man. “Soper and Rankin are on their way here. At least I’m pretty sure this is where they’re headed. I followed them out of the bar, then passed them on the highway. I had no trouble beating them here because Soper drives like an old lady on downers.”
JP stepped sideways so he could see who Derek was talking too, although he had a pretty good idea. “Hello, Gene,” JP said. “Fancy meetin’ you here.”
“Dammit, Jacky. What the hell do you want?”
“I want you to help me figure out who killed Bullet.”
“I don’t know who did it. What do you expect me to do?”
“Man up and help your son!”
“You should leave before those two idiots get here,” Derek said to Gene. “They’re looking for a fight, and Rankin is just drunk enough to start something.”
“Then I’ll have to kick his ass,” Gene said.
“And violate your parole, get arrested, and go back to prison.” JP shook his head. “Derek’s right. You need to get out of here. Let’s go somewhere where we can talk.”
“Just what I want to do—talk to my little brother, the cop. Whoop dee do.” Gene raised his beer bottle, mocking him.
“You just might be able to help your son,” JP said through clenched teeth.
Gene gulped down his beer and stepped forward.
“Do you want me to stay here and take care of those clowns, or go with you?” Derek asked.
“You don’t need to come with me, but don’t let those two idiots goad you into anything. It ain’t worth it. They’ll get what’s coming to them.”
“Then I think I’ll just leave. They can spend the next hour or so trying to find you in this crowd.” Derek turned and headed for the door. JP and Gene followed him out.
In the parking lot, JP asked, “Where are you staying?”
“None of your business.”
“Did you drive here?”
“A friend dropped me off. What’s it to you?”
JP’s jaw tightened again as he looked at Gene. “You’d have to get smarter, just to be stupid.”
“I’m not the one who lived within miles of his family for years and didn’t know they were there.”
JP raised his usual soft voice. “Because you kept them from me.”
“And I’m not the hot-shot PI who can’t get his nephew out of the clink.”
“Maybe if his father would try to help a little, instead of being such an ass, we could figure this out.” JP lowered his voice back down. “Look, I’m just trying to find a place where we can have a private conversation.”
“Why didn’t you just say that?” Gene asked. “Let’s go to Ginny’s. She’s not there. I can spend the night and regroup in the morning.”
JP didn’t know whether Gene had been goading him the whole time, or if his brother was genuinely angry at him. It doesn’t matter he reminded himself. As long as he’s willing to help.
Chapter 28
JP had so many questions, he was anxious to get to Ginny’s and get some answers. Besides, he had Gene captive in the truck, so he might as well take advantage.
“How and why do you still have Dad’s gun?” JP asked, as he pulled onto Interstate 8 and drove west.
“Remember that night…”
“Of course, I remember. How could either of us forget it?” JP growled.
“Don’t get your knickers in a knot, little brother.”
“Dammit, Gene. You say it like it was some fun adventure we had. That night changed our lives forever.”
Gene raised his voice. “Don’t you think I know it? Look where it’s got me.”
“I know life hasn’t been easy for you since then,” JP said softly. “But maybe you can do something now to help your son. Stop the cycle Dad started.” JP paused. “Or maybe Grandpa Torn started. We both know Dad didn’t have it so good as a kid.”
“Dad’s still paying for being born a Torn. I guess we all are.” Gene shifted and changed the subject. “How is Conner?”
“So far, he seems to be holding up okay. He’s scared. And at first, he was more worried about Morgan than himself, but he feels better now that she’s with me.”
“That’s my son. He’s been the father to Morgan that I haven’t been.”
“Morgan worships you. Her eyes light up when she talks about you. It makes me think you’ve done something right.”
“Not much.”
JP didn’t want the conversation to get too maudlin. “Conner has a 707 hearing next week. That’s when they’ll decide if he should be tried as a minor in juvenile court or go downtown to adult court. Sabre will fight like crazy to keep him in juvenile, but not too many murder cases get tried there.”
“What’s the difference in outcomes?”
“If he’s convicted in juvenile court, they won’t keep him beyond the age of twenty-five. And even though he would likely go to a pretty strict juvenile camp, he’d get far more services than in state prison.” JP thought about how unsophisticated Conner was and what it would do to him to be locked up with hard core criminals. He felt an ache in the pit of his stomach. “As an adult, he could get life in prison.”
“How do we keep him in juvenile court?”
“Sabre is gathering all the information she can to use on his behalf—such as school records, information about his character, and his criminal sophistication.”
“He has no criminal sophistication. He’s never done anything illegal in his life. He doesn’t hang with rowdy kids or gang members. He can’t survive in that world.”
“Sabre will do everything she can to prove that.”
“And that could make a difference?”
“It’s a combination of factors. The court will consider them all.”
Gene went quiet.
“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing. I’d just like to help him.”
“You can help by answering my questions,” JP said. “I thought Dad’s gun was gone. What happened? How could you possibly still have it?”
“After I got out of that group home, I went back to where I had hid it. I’d stashed it pretty well in a hole in an old tree, and I almost couldn’t find it. But I kept looking, and there it was. When we went back to Texas, I took it with me.”
“When I visited you in Norco, you told me you threw it into the ocean near the cliffs.”
“Yeah, I lied about that. I didn’t want you t
o know I still had it.”
JP hit a pothole and cursed the road. “And you kept the gun all this time?”
“It served as a reminder for me. Whenever I saw it, I’d remember what happened when we were kids, and, believe it or not, it kept me on the straight and narrow.”
“Gene, you haven’t exactly lived an exemplary life.”
“But it could’ve been a lot worse. What happened when we were kids with that gun changed my whole outlook.”
“For the worse. And now it’s ruining your son’s life.”
“I never expected this to happen.”
Of course you didn’t, JP thought, but didn’t say. “What did you do with the gun when you were in prison?”
“Roxy had it most of the time. I put it in a shoebox, all tied up. I don’t know if she even knew what was in the box, but she schlepped it from place to place for me.”
“How did it get out?”
“I don’t know.” Gene took a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and removed one from the pack.
“You’re not smoking that in my truck.”
Gene grumbled and put it away.
“Whoever shot Bullet had to know about the gun,” JP said. “That makes it unlikely it was Rankin or Soper.”
“Except Roxy has a big mouth. If she found it, she probably blabbed. She could’ve told Muriel, who told Bullet, who told his buddies. I don’t think either of them are off the hook.”
“Or you could be lying about the whole thing.”
“I could be, but I’m not. I didn’t do this one, little bro. I’ve done some pretty crappy things in my life, but I didn’t do this. And I’m sure as hell not going to repeat what Dad did to us.”
JP wanted to believe him, but Gene had lied to him in the past so many times. It didn’t matter anyway. What mattered was that Gene was willing to help.
“Wait a minute.” JP looked toward his brother for a few seconds and then back at the road. “When was the last time you actually saw the gun?”
“A year ago, maybe. It’s not like I was planning to use it for anything. I just assumed Roxy still had it in the shoebox in the house somewhere.”
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