Don cocked his head. “Okay.” He dragged out the word.
Conversation turned to football and the weather until the server returned with their orders.
Jerrod’s mouth watered at the aroma of the burger and onion rings on his plate. He’d eaten half his burger before he brought up the subject he wanted to talk about with his son.
“Jack knows about the situation with Jill Barlow, Don.”
“I wondered if I could discuss that issue. I haven’t made any more inquiries about Representative Stevens. After you told me Jill suspected someone in the Austin office was corrupt, I’ve held off. If she has a copy of the flash drive, our next step is to convince her to give it to us, so we can access the information.”
“Don’t hog the ketchup over there.” Jack said.
“Sure.” Don passed the bottle. “If it’s the way she says and someone in the Texas office should’ve followed up, I’ll talk with my boss. Stan will know how to handle things without putting her at risk.”
“Riley, the Fort Worth homicide detective told me her Fort Worth home was broken into before her store or house in Woodstock.” Jack paused to stuff several fries slathered in ketchup in his mouth before he went on. “Whether we can find the connecting dots or not, it’s too coincidental not to be related.”
“Dad, you’ve got to find out where Jill has stashed the flash drive, so we can look at it.”
Damn it. Just when he’d decided to cut back on his involvement with the woman, here was Don pushing him into her path.
“Shouldn’t be hard to get her to come clean with her staying at your house.” Jack polished off the last of his fries.
“She’s staying with you? Thanks.” Don nodded to the waitress when she left their tab then pulled his billfold from his hip pocket. “I’ll get this, guys.”
Maybe the interruption will side track his son, and Jerrod could avoid a response.
“Why’s she doing that?” Don lay down enough money to cover the bill including a generous tip.
Damn. Jerrod tried a distraction. “That’s way over the customary percentage.” He nodded toward the money.
“Yeah, but she’s a good kid, goes to college part time, and struggles financially. I do what I can. You were about to explain why Jill Barlow was staying at your house, Dad.”
One of the reasons his son was such a good FBI agent was his tenacity. He dropped nothing of possible significance, whether anyone else agreed with him.
He glared at Jack. Why couldn’t the man have kept his mouth shut? Jerrod had to say something to satisfy Don, or he’d never let it go. “I was afraid for her to stay by herself at the Woodstock Inn. Karen and Tim are too far out from town. I didn’t want to involve Mother and possibly put her in danger. That left me.”
“Good choice. We could have some random thing going on, but hell, I’ve never known so many coincidences not to have meaning.” He slid from the booth and waved to the waitress. “When’s Ms. Barlow moving back to her place?”
Jerrod and Jack followed Don out of the restaurant.
“Monday.” Jerrod said. “Tommy Tomlinson will come then to install a security system. She should be set after he’s finished.”
“Has Jennings, the real estate agent, contacted the owners about this plan?” Jack asked.
“He’s tried but hasn’t reached them. If they give us static, we’ll deal with it then. Since you don’t have the staff to station someone outside her house full time, Jack, we’re out of options.”
“Sorry, Jerrod.” The sheriff shook his head.
“That’s it then.” Jerrod nodded once. “Thanks for supper, Son. We’ve got to leave so I can meet Jill when she gets off.”
“Good luck convincing her to give us that drive, Dad. If you can’t bring it up here, I’ll drop down. Jack, great to see you.”
He walked in the direction of his office. Jerrod and Jack climbed in Jack’s SUV.
“Will she give you the flash drive?” Jack steered down the road toward Woodstock.
“Don’t know. I’ll give it my best shot. She’s still deep in denial any of this has to do with her father or her.”
“Hard to admit someone is out to get you. If she doesn’t take this serious, I’m worried about her safety, and Riley in Fort Worth is so concerned he’s paying us a little visit.”
“Yeah, so you said.” Jerrod’s tone was sharper than he’d intended. What was behind the detective coming?
They rode in silence. Jerrod needed to convince Jill that turning over the flash drive would go further to protect her and her kids than keeping it hidden. Safety was the key to bringing her around. He’d take advantage of her staying in his house the next couple of days to make his case.
Be tricky trying to gain her confidence at the same time he resisted his desire for her. Of course, maybe all the problems would be resolved when the big snows hit. So far, they’d only had a light dusting by Vermont standards. The big ones could drive her away. They had done so to other people.
The idea of her leaving him sat like a wet log in his chest. The weather might not be the deciding factor anyway. After she found out that he’d shared her story, she’d never want to speak to him again.
Sooner than Jerrod expected Jack pulled up in front the Woodstock Public Safety Building. “Thanks for driving. Sorry we didn’t get more information.”
“Yeah, but Don paid for our dinner.” Jack chuckled and slapped Jerrod on the shoulder. “Anytime you can get your kids to pay for a meal, you’re ahead of the game.”
Jerrod nodded agreement, waved, and ambled down the walk toward his mother’s —no. It was Jill’s store.
“THOUGHT YOU AND JERROD were eating out tonight, Jill?”
“We were, Sally, but he left a message on my cell saying plans had changed, and he’d meet me at his house.” Disappointment enveloped her at the news. She shouldn’t expect to lean on Jerrod. He didn’t owe her anything. They had nothing between them, except maybe a little old-fashioned lust, which embarrassed the heck out of her. What had she been thinking? While she was glad for the evidence her hormones still functioned, she’d be wise to keep them from influencing her decision-making.
Easier said than done was a major understatement of the year.
At nine, Jill walked to the front of the store and turned the “Open” sign to “Closed.” A dark shadow appeared in the window, and the door pushed in against her before she turned the lock. She sprang back, her heart racing.
“Hello, Jill.”
What an idiot she’d been. Jerrod. “Hey.” The word came out a breathless huff.
“I didn’t want you to walk home by yourself.” He did a quick survey from her shoes to the top of her head.
Two different messages sent by this intriguing man. His words said he wanted to keep her safe. In the depth of those crazy dark eyes, she read a different story. Her breathing quickened. She’d be a fool to trust the second message, regardless of what they’d experienced last night. That way led hurt.
“Thanks. Sally and I will be finished in a few minutes. Come on back, while I fix tomorrow’s coffee pot.”
“Hey, Jerrod. You providing escort service? Our Jill seems to attract bad karma.” Sally threw the words over her shoulder, barely taking her attention from the computer screen.
“Seemed like a good idea, Sal.” Jerrod leaned against the door jam.
“I’ll be done in about ten minutes. Business has slowed down.”
“It always does after Columbus Day. Traffic tapers off, and the first big snowfall sends the rest of the early tourists running.” He settled into one of the wingback chairs.
Sally and Jerrod talked about the tourists while Jill pushed away the picture of him standing naked, talking on the phone after they’d made love. Now he seemed relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, an ankle balanced on his knee. Ripping off his clothes to jump his bones didn’t seem an appropriate reaction. Heat flooded her cheeks.
“Okay.” Sally shut down the computer. �
�Got it done for another day.” She angled toward Jill. “You coming down with something? Your cheeks are flushed.”
Damn. “No, I’m fine.” Jill grabbed her coat, handed Sally’s to her, and dashed into the showroom. “Let’s go. We’ve kept Jerrod waiting long enough.”
Not any too soon for her, they stood on the sidewalk in front of the store. The air, cold and crisp like an apple, cooled her fiery cheeks. She and Jerrod walked Sally to her car and waited until the engine pinged away before they turned down Elm Street toward his house.
The silence sparked between them. He didn’t take her hand.
“Do you want to stop anywhere? You hungry? I’m sorry for bailing on you earlier.”
“No need to apologize. You’ve done more than I can ever repay. And I’m not hungry.” At least not for food. “Sally and I ate frozen dinners. Nutritious, tasty, and not too many calories. Perfect.”
“How about a glass of wine when we get in?”
“That’d be nice.”
Jerrod pushed open the front gate and took her elbow helping her over the uneven path. Inside, he let go.
“I’ll start the fire in the parlor then get the wine.”
“Be right back.” She headed upstairs. She was one lucky woman. Odd she could say that, given what she’d been through, but she’d found such a supportive group of friends in Woodstock. Moving here had been the right thing for her, if not for the town. Despite the way she jumped at shadows whenever Jerrod came around, she was doing well.
She hung her coat in the closet and slid out of her shoes, flexing her toes in the socks. It had been a long day on her feet. Feet that welcomed her comfy loafers. She opened the bedroom door and jumped back startled. Jerrod stood there a wine glass in each hand and a bottle under one arm. Oh my.
“I hope you don’t mind.”
Jill shook her head. “We can sit by the window.” Sitting on the loveseat, she pulled up one leg underneath the other, and wished she’d worn something more glamorous or sexy than her slacks and sweater.
Did she want Jerrod to see her sexy? She cast a glance at him over the top of her glass. Well, yeah. But did he? He’d followed to her room. That had to mean something. Lord knew sparks combusted in the living room last night.
He made quick work of opening the bottle and pouring the wine. She cupped the wine glass between her palms, rolling it back and forth.
Jerrod’s eyes narrowed, a slight frown appeared between his eyebrows.
“Jill, we need to talk about a couple of things.”
That didn’t sound romantic. Get a grip, woman. “What about?” She was proud how strong her voice sounded.
“Tell me where you’ve stashed the flash drive your father sent you.
“Why? It’s safe where it is, and nobody knows.”
“If someone is tearing apart your house, your store, and your home in Fort Worth, Jill, it must be important.”
“What do you know about my home in Fort Worth?” Jill hopped from the loveseat, stumbling in her haste to get away from Jerrod. Went to show letting your hormones rule wasn’t a good idea. How ironic if she’d taken shelter with someone who’s FBI son might know who killed her husband and father.
“Jack told me.”
“How’d he know anything about my Fort Worth house?” Was the sheriff involved?
“Detective Mike Riley filled him in on what happened.”
She gasped, her legs gave, and if the bed hadn’t been behind her, she’d have slid to the floor. “Mike Riley.” She grabbed her glass, swallowed too big a gulp, and coughed. Pushing away from the bed, she turned toward the windows on the front of the house and gazed down Elm Street.
A lovely town. What a mess she’d brought with her, scarring its tranquility.
Jerrod came up behind her. Her took her glass and set it along with his on the dresser. Still she didn’t turn around. His hands ran from her shoulders down to the tips of her fingers and back up. He massaged her shoulders. She couldn’t keep the sigh inside. Tension ran through every part of her body at any thought of her father or the flash drive.
What was it about Jerrod Phillips that she gave him so much power? She should still hate him for accusing her of such ugly things when she first arrived, but she’d gotten past dislike a couple of months ago. Now she wanted to lean back against him, let him fix the things wrong with her life, the way his massage took care of the tightness in her neck and shoulders.
Jerrod dropped his hands and stepped back before forcing her around.“We’ve got to talk, and then I’ll do more of that.”
“Bribery?”
“Does it work?”
She eased toward the door.
“You gonna run off, Jill? I’ll catch you.”
“Trying to scare me?”
“Just the truth, which is what I need from you.”
“I haven’t lied to you, Jerrod.”
“You damn sure haven’t been honest with me. Or with Mother. Does Karen know about the business in Fort Worth and Austin?”
“She knows George and my father were both murdered.” She gritted her teeth to keep her chin from trembling. She wouldn’t fall apart in front of him. He couldn’t make her say anything to put his family and her friends in danger. If she had to leave to keep them safe, that’s what she’d do.
Damn, but she wanted to stay in Woodstock. Traitorous moisture formed, and she blinked to keep tears from falling. She loved living here. Loved her store. Loved her friends. Yes, she even loved the idea of something developing between her and this grim-visaged Yankee. Guess it wasn’t to be. She walked over to the dresser and picked up the wine glass. Took a small swallow before she faced him.
“I want you to leave now, Jerrod. I’m exhausted, and I have to open the store in the morning. Thank you for letting me stay here. Two more nights and I’ll be back at my place and out of your way.”
“I can’t let this drop, Jill. Sticking your head in the sand is not going to keep you safe. You’ve got to talk. Tell me where the flash drive is. Let the sheriff and me look at it, and we’ll figure out what’s the best thing to do.”
Jill set the glass on the bureau with more force than necessary. It hit the marble with the sound of a gunshot. “No one is figuring out what’s best for me, but me.”
“Damn it, woman. Where’s the flash drive?”
“What flash drive?”
Chapter Thirteen
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15
“Mitch, I appreciate you driving me around today.” Jill climbed into his truck. “Have you been to Dillon’s studio before?”
“Nah, but Mom gave me directions. I didn’t have anything else to do today anyway. Funny how things happen.” One edge of his mouth turned up in what passed for a smile from Mitch.
“You can drop me off at the store when we finish. It’s been crazy of late. I sure need things to get better.”
If the situation deteriorated, she’d decided she’d have to find somewhere else to live. She’d learned a lot from this move, enough so she’d make it difficult for someone to follow, despite what Jerrod said.
Though he didn’t know the reason, Gary had set up an offshore account for her, so she’d have access to funds if she had to split. Money not easily tracked. It wasn’t enough she’d blocked her cell number from anyone she called. She’d pick up some of those throw away, untraceable phones. The idea of leaving made her stomach clench and her heart ache. She pressed her hand against her chest.
Mitch had been correct. They had no trouble finding her artist. They spent longer than she’d expected, and a light snow began to fall. Dillon wanted to show her some new pieces he was working on. Mitch didn’t seem to mind. She paid for his gas. It was the least she could do.
When they got to the restaurant, Mitch and she walked around on the outside. The cold wind on the balcony blew straight through her. The awesome view made her heart pump faster. Large white flakes swirled in the air.
“What a beautiful and unique place, Mitch.”
“Yeah. I’m going in. Too cold.” He pulled at the door and went inside.
Well, maybe he’s seen this before, but she hadn’t. The water crashed on the solid granite and shared its power with her. She stood taller. Confident she’d handle whatever came her way.
Jill drew her coat around her closer, reluctant to end the experience. But return she must.
“Sorry I kept you waiting, Mitch.” Jill settled at the table the hostess led her to.
“No sweat. I started without you.” He tipped a beer bottle in her direction. “Want one?”
“No thanks.” They ordered, and Jill made small talk.
“Well, I vote with your mother about what a great restaurant this is. Thanks for suggesting we eat here.” She slid away her empty bowl. “The squash soup was beyond delicious.”
“Yeah, it’s an okay place. You about ready to shove off?” he asked.
“Sure,” Jill nodded. “I’ve taken a lot of your day already.”
He didn’t protest when she paid the bill.
“Say, don’t we need to head back south?” Jill glanced through the back window of his truck when he pulled out of the parking lot and headed north.
“We could, but I know a short cut.”
“Okay.” She looked out the front window, the windshield wipers making short work of the snow. “Don’t you love living here, Mitch? It’s so beautiful. We almost never got this kind of snow in Fort Worth. Ice? Oh, yeah. A couple of times a year.” A long sigh escaped. “This may be my favorite place anywhere.” The idea of leaving ripped at her insides.
“I’d rather be in Vegas.”
His words, swift and hard, startled Jill. Of course, many people liked the place, and everybody who went wasn’t involved in crime. Still it troubled her when she remembered what Jerrod said about his brother’s gambling problems.
“Do you see the shows when you go?”
“Nope.”
“What do you do then?”
“Gamble.”
“The whole time?”
“Yep. Nothing like drawing to an inside straight, making it, and having the dealer shove a large stack of chips your way. God, nothing better in the whole world.” His fingers tapped on the steering wheel.
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