Ivy Morgan Mystery Box Set 5

by Lily Harper Hart

  “No. He’s probably out there watching us right now, fuming and furious.”

  “Which means he’ll figure out a way to move on Amy that goes around us. We can’t let that happen.”

  “Oh, we’re not going to let that happen. This guy has terrorized his last woman. He’s a plague on humanity and should be treated as such.”

  AMY WAS DELIGHTED WHEN Ivy let her into the cottage.

  “Oh, wow, look at this place. It’s … magical.”

  To Ivy, it was simply the house she grew up in. It was so small, Max was moved to the basement when he got older as a child because there were only two rooms on the main floor. Since moving in, Jack had started (and finished) a massive basement remodel and there were now several serviceable rooms in the basement, including a man cave area just for him … although he rarely used it. He much preferred hanging out with Ivy upstairs, although she figured that might change once they had a few kids and they spent two days in a row trapped in a small house during a snowstorm.

  “I like it.” Ivy sent Amy a warm smile as she locked the door, making sure to test it before ushering Amy further into the cottage. “This is where Max and I grew up. I bought it from my parents when they decided they wanted to move to a townhouse because it was easier than keeping up on their own yard.”

  “It’s wonderful.” Amy ran her fingers over the mantel. “I bet you and Jack spent a lot of snowy days in front of this fireplace over the winter. I’ve always wanted a fireplace.”

  “We definitely enjoy a roaring fire. I like to read in front of it, too. Jack is happy just sitting next to me and watching a game.”

  “Maybe one day I’ll get a fireplace, too.”

  Ivy’s heart went out to her. “I’m betting that will happen sooner than you think.” She thought of her brother’s house, which was small and something of a bachelor pad. “I bet, once things are settled, Max finds a bigger house.” She hadn’t meant to say it out loud. It was more of an internal muse than anything else. She had a big mouth, though, and the words escaped before she realized her error.

  “What?” Amy’s eyebrows drew together in puzzlement. “I don’t understand. Are you saying that Max will get a house for all of us? You can’t be serious.”

  Actually, Ivy was deathly serious. “He really likes you.”

  “He doesn’t know me. Not really.”

  “I don’t think that’s true. You’ve definitely kept him out of the loop on the big secret but once he finds out, it’s actually going to make him feel better. Not about what you went through, of course, but about why he didn’t feel you wanted to share information with him. This is a big secret.”

  “Yeah, but … I have a child. My son. JJ is the most important thing to me. That’s not going to change.”

  “Of course it’s not. Max happens to love kids, though. You’re going to be fine on that front. I bet he and JJ bond so fast it will make your head spin.” Something occurred to Ivy. “How did you manage to keep Max from finding out about him, though? Didn’t Max pick you up at the lake house for dates?”

  “No.” Amy turned sheepish. “I told him I was nervous about not having my own vehicle so I met him for the first few dates. I wasn’t planning on going out with him at all. He was persistent, though. He kept coming in and sitting at the bar so he could talk to me. This went on a full two weeks before he even asked me out … and then it continued even after he asked me out. It was like a game to him, or at least that’s what I told myself.”

  “Max likes to play games,” Ivy acknowledged. “He wouldn’t play games like that, though. I know you’re afraid to tell him – and I honestly don’t blame you – but I think you’ll be surprised by his reaction. It will just make him like you more, marvel at how strong you are, and embrace your son right from the get-go.

  “It was smart to meet him at restaurants and stuff,” she continued. “Keeping your son safe is important and you didn’t know him other than to think he was a nice guy who liked to flirt with you. Still, you spent a few nights at his house, didn’t you?”

  “I did. Caroline thought it was a good idea. I’d never spent a night away from JJ before that. I thought he would have a lot of questions, but he never asked one. Caroline is really good with him.”

  “I’m glad. I’ve always thought she was a nice woman. She’s safe right now. JJ is safe. That’s what you have to keep reminding yourself. Pretty soon, you’ll both be safe forever. Jack and Brian will make sure of that.”

  “I hope so.” Amy’s expression was wistful. “I’m just afraid that Max is going to turn his back on me because I lied.”

  “You didn’t lie. You just didn’t tell him the truth.”

  “Isn’t that the same thing?”

  “Not exactly.” Ivy internally debated how much she should tell Amy and then decided that the only way to make the woman fully trust her was to open herself up. “Jack and I didn’t tell each other the truth the second we met. That took a bit of time.”

  “It did? See, I would’ve thought you and Jack were in sync from the start.”

  “In some ways we were. In others … well … it wasn’t that easy.” She took a deep breath. “Did Max tell you why Jack moved to Shadow Lake?”

  Amy looked taken aback by the question. “Um … I don’t think so. He just said that Jack used to be a detective with the Detroit Police Department and got tired of the nonstop crime and violence so he moved here.”

  “Is that all he said?”

  “He also said that you and Jack were like magnets and couldn’t stay away from each other and he thought it was weird.” Her smile was small and girlish. “He made me laugh when he was reenacting some of the scenes he witnessed. He said Jack was practically panting after you.”

  “I think it’s fair to say that Jack and I were panting after each other,” Ivy clarified. “When we met, it was like lightning struck. I knew I was attracted to him, but I fought it because I wasn’t really looking for a boyfriend. He felt the exact same way about me.”

  “That’s how I was with Max.”

  “And yet he chased you.” Ivy smiled as she pictured the full-court press her brother must have put on the young woman, wearing her down until she finally agreed to go out with him. “Jack and I both fought it … until we found out we were sharing dreams.”

  Amy’s face was blank. “I don’t understand. What do you mean? You’re saying that both of you wanted the same things and then somehow realized it, right?”

  Ivy shook her head. “No. That thing I did today, seeing your past when I touched your son’s bear, that’s only one of the things I can suddenly do. It started with sharing dreams with Jack. I thought it was happening in my head, but it was happening in both our heads.”

  “No way. How?”

  “I still don’t know.” That was the truth. “Jack called me to him somehow. He was suffering from nightmares. It was the same thing over and over. He was in a dark alley, a man he knew and trusted pulled a gun, and he shot him twice.”

  Amy was horrified. “What a terrible dream.”

  “Yeah, except it wasn’t a dream. That’s what really happened to Jack in Detroit. His partner was dirty and shot him, left him for dead. Jack was stuck in a loop because of it and I sort of helped him along.”

  “And you were really in the same dreams together?”

  Ivy chuckled at the incredulous look on her face. “Yeah. Something slipped one time and we realized it was really happening. Ever since then, we’ve been together. It seemed somehow kismet.”

  “That’s not what’s happening with Max and me, though,” Amy countered. “We weren’t magically drawn together.”

  “Weren’t you?” Ivy wasn’t so sure. “My brother seems to think so. How else do you explain hooking up with him and finding me?” Her smile was broad. “I mean … other than being an absolute delight, I’m the only one who could’ve seen what you were really hiding and confronted you. You weren’t ready to open up yourself, but the universe realized you needed h
elp. That’s why it sent you Max.”

  Amy had never spent much time thinking about things like that, but she couldn’t stop herself from laughing. Ivy sounded so sure of herself. “Do you really believe in destiny? Like … really and truly?”

  Ivy nodded without hesitation. “I believe that Jack and I were always meant to find one another. I think it was supposed to happen this way. He unlocked something inside of me and it’s continued to grow over the past year. More than that, though, I unlocked something in him, too. He’s my match.

  “As for Max, I think there’s a reason he was drawn to you from the start,” she continued. “I think sometimes two souls recognize each other. I believe there’s magic all around us and you and Max happened to meet at the exact right time.”

  “I care about him a great deal,” Amy admitted. “I didn’t want to. I planned on keeping him at a distance and making sure he didn’t get too close. I failed, though. I found myself looking forward to every visit … and laughing when we talked on the phone … and wanting to be near him every moment of the day. I’m still afraid.”

  “Listen, it’s not going to be easy.” Ivy’s tone was measured. “He’s going to have a lot of questions. He’s going to ask why you didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth. He’s going to be upset for a little bit. He’s going to get over it, though.

  “My brother is the most easygoing guy out there,” she continued. “Sure, he has a few high-maintenance tendencies, but he’s one of the best guys I’ve ever met. You’ll see. A year from now, you’ll be laughing at the fact that you were so afraid.”

  “I hope so.” She rolled her neck and stared toward the grocery bags on the table. “So, should we start making Jack’s potato salad? I get the feeling he’s going to be crushed if it’s not waiting for him when he gets home.”

  “That sounds like a plan.” Ivy patted her shoulder before moving toward the refrigerator. “We need big pans for the potatoes and eggs. Jack is a fanatic for eggs in his potato salad.”

  “Is there another way to make it?”

  Ivy laughed. “I think you’re going to get along with everyone just fine. Don’t worry about that. It will all work out. Trust me.”

  Sixteen

  Jack let Brian and himself into the cottage shortly after noon. He picked up takeout for lunch – an apology of sorts for invading the house – and smiled when he caught sight of Ivy and Amy cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

  “Are these chunks small enough?” Amy asked, gesturing to a bowl of something she held in her hand.

  “That’s great.” Ivy beamed at her. “Jack is particular about his potato salad eggs. He’s kind of a baby that way.”

  Jack’s smile slipped. “Oh, really?” he drawled.

  Ivy didn’t seem startled to see him. In fact, the look she pointed in his direction was downright mischievous. “Am I wrong?”

  “You heard us coming in,” Jack noted, placing the takeout bags on the table and moving around it so he could give Ivy a kiss. “You’re a snarky little thing, aren’t you?” He tapped her chin and grinned. “That smells great, by the way. Is it ready? I brought food for everyone because we need to talk and I didn’t want you to get stuck making lunch. I wouldn’t mind a sneak preview of tonight, though.”

  “It’s nowhere near done.”

  “Aw.” Jack made a pouty face and looked over Amy’s shoulder at the bowl. “It looks like it’s almost ready.”

  “We still have to peel and chop the potatoes, add the dressing, and then stick it in the refrigerator for several hours to chill. You have a long time to wait.”

  “That’s a little disappointing. I guess it will be worth the wait, though.” He moved his hand to Ivy’s back as he slid his gaze to Amy. “How are you doing?”

  “Oh, I’m a nervous wreck,” she admitted, carefully placing the bowl on the counter. “I’m afraid to see Max. Ivy called him and told him I would be at the barbecue but … I feel horrible. This whole thing is such a mess.”

  “Maybe it’s not a mess any longer,” Ivy countered, pinning Jack with a questioning look. “Did you find him?”

  “He was definitely staying at the Pine Cone Motel,” Jack replied, moving to the table to collect a plastic bag. He’d been carrying it with the takeout and looked reticent as he turned back. “He wasn’t in the room at the time. We know he’s driving a blue Ford pickup truck. We’re not sure what year, just that it’s an F-150.”

  “Will that help you find him?” Amy asked, concern etching lines onto her pretty features. “I mean … can you put one of those all points bulletins out for him?”

  “It’s already done. His photo has been sent to all the news outlets. We’re actively searching. We just don’t know where he is at the moment.”

  “There has to be something you’re not telling us,” Ivy argued, her eyes narrowing shrewdly. “You’re upset about something.”

  “I don’t know that ‘upset’ is the word I would use,” he hedged. “The thing is, I need you to look at some photographs. We found them in Jeff’s room. He left his computer behind, too, and we’re going to go through that after lunch. These photographs are cause for concern, though.”

  Amy kept her eyes on Jack for a long beat and then took the plastic bag. Her heart sank into her stomach when she realized what she was looking at. “Oh, my … how did he get these?”

  Ivy abandoned the potato salad preparations and joined her new friend. “Can we take these out of the bag, Jack?”

  “Yeah. We’ve already processed fingerprints on a few. You guys can look at those.”

  Amy’s hands were shaking as she tried to open the bag, but Ivy offered her a helping hand. “Here.” Ivy was calm as she removed the stack of photos and immediately handed them to Amy. “When were these taken?”

  “I don’t know.” Jack sank into a chair as Brian started removing containers of food and doling them out. “I was hoping Amy could tell me. You’ve been here six weeks, right?”

  “Eight,” she corrected. “I spent two whole weeks hiding in Caroline’s house once we arrived. I was paranoid because I was sure he’d somehow followed me.”

  “We can’t be certain until we take him into custody, but I’m willing to bet he figured out you were in Michigan,” Jack offered. “I don’t think he could find your exact location, though. I think he hired someone to take these photos. That’s why he had snapshots printed out instead of on a flash drive or disc. They were sent as tangible proof.”

  “Who are you thinking?” Ivy asked, legitimately curious. “Who would help him?”

  “We’ve been talking about that,” Brian interjected. “The safest bet would be a private investigator. My guess is he was going from region to region to search for her … unless he was aware of your parents’ friendship with Caroline.”

  Amy immediately started shaking her head. “No. I know I never mentioned her. It’s not like we ever had a lot of heart-to-heart talks. The only reason I thought it was safe to flee here is because I was certain he didn’t know about her.”

  “Then he’s flying blind and lucked out by finding an investigator who somehow managed to track you down,” Brian noted. “The thing is, all those photos are taken in your place of business. None are taken at the lake house … and none are of your son. Can I ask … did you take extra precautions when you were leaving the bar after your shift?”

  Amy emphatically bobbed her head. “Every night, without fail, I drove twenty miles out of my way and took a roundabout trek to get to the lake house. I know it sounds ridiculous but that’s the only way I felt safe.”

  “It doesn’t sound ridiculous at all. I think that’s what kept you safe. We need to figure out what private detective he hired. If you can recognize a face, then we can track that individual down and get answers from him.”

  Amy wiped her wet hands on the seat of her pants. “I can try.”

  “That’s good.” Brian pulled his phone out of his pocket. “There are four in the area who are known to advert
ise. I would assume Jeff would go with one of them because they’re the most visible.” He showed her a series of photos. In turn, she shook her head. On the third photo, though, she grabbed his phone and brought it closer to her face.

  “I recognize him from the bar. He came in at least four or five times while I was there.”

  Brian took back the phone and stared. “Darren Gibson,” he intoned, wrinkling his nose. “I’m not surprised it’s him.”

  Jack was out of the loop. “What do we know about him?”

  “He’s a jerk,” Ivy answered before Brian could. “He’s a complete and total jerk. Oh, he’s also a pervert, too. He got expelled when we were in high school because he put a secret camera in the girls’ changing room and was trying to sell the footage to the other boys in the school.”

  Jack made a face. “I’m sorry but … what? Why isn’t he in prison?”

  “Because his parents pleaded that he was a good kid who just got caught up in some terrible hormonal imbalance,” Brian replied. “I pushed for him to be prosecuted but lost. He got away with it. He was a slacker, though, and never amounted to anything. Being a PI was basically the only option he had.”

  “Are you going to track him down?” Ivy asked.

  “He doesn’t have an office,” Brian pointed out. “He works out of his car most of the time. I’m going to send a uniform over to his house, but I doubt he’ll be there. He’s a paranoid little turd. We can call him, but he won’t return the calls. We’re going to need to track him down on the road, and that won’t be easy.”

  “I don’t understand how he doesn’t have an office,” Jack complained. “Who can be in the service industry like this and not have an office to meet clients at?”

  “The sort of clients he takes on are the types that are perfectly happy meeting at a strip club or bar,” Brian answered. “He’s not helping anyone with any high-class problems.”

  “That sounds exactly like the sort of person Jeff would hire,” Amy confirmed. “The sleazier the better in his book. He would especially like someone who was willing to work outside of ethical lines.”