The Ranchers: Destiny Bay Romances Boxed Set vol. 1 (Destiny Bay Romances - The Ranchers)

by Helen Conrad

  Outside the room she stopped, caught between exasperation and laughter.

  “What were those ladies doing?” Jimmy asked, his eyes still round as saucers.

  “Uh...” She did laugh then. “I don’t know, Jimmy. But whatever they were up to, we don’t want to see. We’re going to find someplace else to wait, okay?”

  “Okay.” But he gave a longing look to the silk room as they started down the hall.

  There were other rooms, but one had voices coming from inside and another was locked. The third door Jessie found yielded to her touch and they slipped in. More voices, coming down the hall. Jessie looked around the room and found another door. They quickly went through it.

  The room they ended up in was empty, but one wall was covered with monitoring screens, obviously surveillance on most of the rooms in the suite. Only two screens were on, the one covering the room they’d just left, where the two half-naked women were still lounging around on the sofas, waiting for men, and the room where Michael was talking to a plump, bald man with a cigar in his mouth.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  A Marked Man

  Michael had a bad feeling about the interview from the moment he walked into the man’s office and saw the framed pictures that filled the wall. Familiar looking pictures. Pictures very much like those Sky prized above all others.

  “You were in the Air Force,” he said to Ted Nargeant, who greeted him with a fairly cordial handshake.

  “You bet I was,” the man responded, waving for him to come around the desk and take a look. “I served with Sky Matthews. He was our squadron leader. There he is.” He pointed him out in a picture of a group of men standing in front of a bomber. “There I am. And there’s your father.”

  That was his father all right. Michael couldn’t ever remember seeing him looking so young and carefree. But the identification was unmistakable. He’d had no idea there was going to be this tie-in between this casino owner and Sky—much less his own father. Fate was strange. He glanced from one picture to the next and his heart sank. He wasn’t going to get anywhere here.

  Turning, he met the older man’s steady gaze. “You knew I was coming.”

  Ted Nargeant nodded. “I keep abreast of the news. I’ve heard about you, and when I heard Sky was after you, I got curious.” He gestured at the visitor’s chair. “Sit down. We’ll talk.”

  There wasn’t much choice but to do as the man suggested. He was deep in the heart of Nargeant territory. There was no way he could escape if Nargeant didn’t want him to. He sank into the leather chair, but his gaze never left the man on the other side of the desk. “Are you and Sky still friends?” he asked bluntly.

  Nargeant smiled. “We’ve done business over the years. He does a favor for me. I do a favor for him. You know how it is.”

  “I see.”

  He shrugged. “I kept in touch with your father, too. I knew all about the way you took the rap for him a few years ago, did his jail time. I liked that. You were a good son to him.”

  Michael flushed, anger fueling the rush of color to his face. “How did you know?”

  Nargeant smiled. “I just know. I knew your father. I can read the signs. Anyway, I’ve kept track of you over the years, and I know now that you’re running from Sky, but I’m not real sure why.”

  Michael’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll be glad to tell you why, Mr. Nargeant, if you tell me where Kerry Carter is.”

  Nargeant’s eyes narrowed, too. “Why do you want to find Kerry Carter?”

  “Because he can back my story and help keep me from going to jail again.”

  Nargeant leaned over his desk, his chin in his hand. “Mmm” was all he said.

  “He’s been to see you recently, hasn’t he?” Michael challenged.

  “Yes. He has.”

  Michael took a deep breath. There was no point in beating around the bush. Either he got help here or he was in big trouble. In any case, it was time to pull out all the stops. “Was he trying to get your help to fight Sky?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “That’s exactly why he came to me.”

  Michael felt relief and excitement at the same time. “Well?” he asked impatiently. “What did you tell him?”

  “Sky Matthews is an old friend of mine. We went through a lot together during our time in the service. It wouldn’t seem right to turn an old friend in for various illegal activities that never hurt me personally.”

  A dreadful coldness swept through Michael. “So you’re a crook, too,” he said angrily.

  The man raised a hand. “Hold on there. I’m no crook. I run a legitimate operation here. I might have done a few things in my youth that I regret now, but this place is clean and so is everything else I do these days.”

  “But you won’t help Kerry and me.”

  “I didn’t say that.” He sat back in his chair. “Tell me, what do you say Sky Matthews is up to these days?”

  “Smuggling. Mainly arms.”

  Nargeant shrugged. “So what? He’s been doing that for years, supplying this little country and that little country, anyone who was itching to start a little war. They were going to get the weapons somewhere, why not from Sky?”

  So everyone else in the world had known about it all along. Michael felt sick to think he’d been so blind for years. “Because it’s against the law.”

  Nargeant nodded. “But I’m not a cop. I’d say this matter is between him and the law. How does this affect me?”

  Michael ignored that question. “What he’s doing now is a lot worse than running guns,” he told the man. “It has the potential to affect you and every other citizen of this country.”

  Nargeant was looking at him steadily, his gaze bright and watchful. “Go on.”

  “I’ve seen evidence that he’s selling secret information on embargoed computers and computer systems to middle eastern countries. He’s supplying them with a technology they haven’t been able to develop themselves, giving them a major boost in the ability to control weapons systems, missile launching operations, et cetera.” Michael leaned forward. “And that’s not just illegal, Mr. Nargeant. That’s traitorous.”

  For a moment he thought Nargeant hadn’t heard, but the man finally moved, nodding, his expression vacant, as though he were far away. “You’ve seen this with your own eyes?” he asked softly.

  “Yes. I stumbled into a warehouse and saw the crates being prepared for shipping. When I confronted Sky, he didn’t deny it. In fact, he seemed quite proud of himself.”

  Nargeant was silent again. “And these charges against you?” he asked quietly.

  “Completely false. He’s just trying to scare me, to keep me from going to the authorities.”

  Nargeant nodded. “Interesting.”

  Michael moved restlessly in his chair. “How about Kerry?” he asked. “Where is he? Where can I find him?”

  “I don’t know. He came to me for help. I turned him down. From what I’ve heard, he’s been trying to contact others here in Las Vegas for help, and not having a whole lot of luck.” He shrugged. “I don’t know where he is.”

  “But surely you could find out.”

  The ghost of a smile flickered across his thin lips. “Possibly.”

  Michael waited, then made a sound of impatience. “Why won’t you help me?”

  “I’m not sure I want to help you.” Nargeant looked him up and down. “You see, Michael, I’m a cautious man. I’ve known Sky for years. I loved the man once. He changed. I didn’t love some of the things he was doing, but I didn’t interfere. It was none of my business.” He shook his head. “But I’ll tell you, selling secrets to the other side is going a little far. I’m going to have to think about this. You’re going to have to give me time.”

  “Time is exactly what I don’t have.”

  “I know that. And I’m sorry. But you’re going to have to wait.”

  Michael rose. It was obvious he wasn’t going to get anywhere here. “If you won’t tell me where Kerry is, I’ll f
ind him on my own.”

  Nargeant rose, too, nodding. “You’ll do what you have to. And so will I.” He stuck out his hand. Michael hesitated, but finally shook hands with the man. “Come see me later,” Nargeant told him as he ushered him out of the office. “You look for Kerry Carter, then come back. We’ll talk again.” His face darkened. “And listen... be careful out there. Watch your back at all times. Okay?”

  Jessie was still in the room with the monitors, trying to figure out how to work the controls. She turned one knob, then another, but before she could find the one that would let her hear what was going on in Nargeant’s office, Lenny appeared in the doorway.

  “That’s a no-no, Jessie,” he admonished, coming forward and turning off both screens before her eyes. But he grinned. “I should have known you’d be in here.”

  Jessie was beginning to take it all in stride now. She felt as though she were living in a TV movie. Something strange and different was happening at every turn. Hoodlums who claimed to have had crushes on her in high school, women who made a living entertaining men in the altogether, threatening bodyguards, eavesdropping devices—nothing else could faze her now. Even Lenny.

  So instead of trying to explain, trying to justify, she merely sighed. “We had to leave that place where you left us,” she told him. “I didn’t think Jimmy needed to be exposed—so to speak—to a bunch of naked women.”

  Lenny looked truly distressed. “Oh. Sorry about that. Those are the welcome girls. They’re supposed to come in whenever there are visitors and make them feel at home.”

  “At home, huh?” She made a face at him. “I guess you all have a pretty hip home life around here.”

  “Hey.” He snapped his fingers, obviously thinking she was impressed. “It’s life in the fast lane, baby. You know what I mean? But I guess you’re a little young for that, aren’t you, kid?”

  He mussed Jimmy’s hair, and when he turned away, Jimmy very carefully brushed it right back to where it had been.

  “Well, come on, I’ll take you to your Michael Drayton again.”

  Leading them from the room, he pointed out the way and then let Jimmy go a bit ahead down the hall. “Listen, Jessie,” he said, his eyes sharp as a bird’s, “I don’t want to bum you out or anything, but I got to warn you. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I got to for old times’ sake, you know?” He shook his head. “Your boyfriend’s a marked man.”

  Even this hardly surprised her. She’d been expecting it all along. “What do you mean?” she said calmly.

  His fingers circled her arm, reminding her of a vulture’s claw. “He’s hot, honey. There’s a contract out on him. In fact, I know a few guys with a case of the greeds that are looking for him right now. Better keep him under wraps as best you can. Let him out on the streets and he’s going to wake up with an ice pick in his back.”

  Everything went white around her. She kept walking, but she couldn’t feel the ground.

  “Hey, here we are, just like I told you.”

  Michael swam into her view and she wanted to reach for him, but something kept her arms stiffly at her sides. She felt like a robot.

  They were on the elevator again and she wasn’t sure how they’d got there. Lenny was waving.

  “Take care, Jessie. Hey, listen, call me someday. We’ll do lunch.”

  “Sure, Lenny.” That was her voice, sounding normal. She shook her head and turned to find Michael gazing at her, one eyebrow raised.

  “You certainly do have some strange friends,” he noted.

  She was beginning to get her bearings again, but her brown eyes were filled with concern as she looked back at him. She couldn’t fall in with his teasing right now. She was too worried. “Michael, he said some things...”

  “Later,” he warned, glancing at Jimmy. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  Later might be too late. She felt panicked. Suddenly every face she saw might be the enemy. They started through the casino and Jessie felt Jimmy’s hand slip into hers and give a tug. “You said you’d play the slot machines,” he reminded her.

  She glanced down at him distractedly. “Not now, Jimmy.”

  Outrage swept across his face. “Jessie, you promised!”

  She’d promised. He was right. “Oh...” She pulled a quarter out of her pocket. “Just one,” she said, leaving him behind in the viewing area while she ran down to put the coin into the slot. Turning away before the reels had even stopped spinning, she was already wording her regrets to Jimmy, when the look on his face stopped her.

  She whirled. Lights were flashing. Sirens were going off. For a moment she stood dumbfounded as people began to yell all around her. She’d hit the jackpot.

  Money. Jessie’s eyes got big as she watched the quarters spilling into the tray, but the way the lights and sirens were going, she knew there was much more involved in this win. Money. Big money.

  “Come on.”

  She looked up blankly as Michael grabbed her arm and began to pull her away.

  “Jackpot,” she murmured. “I hit the jackpot.”

  “We’ve got to get out of here,” he told her, steering her away from the noise. “Don’t look back.”

  But she couldn’t help it. “My jackpot,” she moaned as he led her quickly away from the casino and out to the pickup. “Michael, that’s enough money to—“

  “To hang us both,” he growled, opening the door to the truck and shoving first Jimmy, then Jessie inside. “Come on. We’ve got work to do.”

  The truck careened out of the parking lot and turned quickly onto a quiet side street. Jessie curled up in the corner against the door and whimpered.

  “Sorry about that,” Michael said, watching the rearview mirror. “We couldn’t risk it.”

  “I know,” Jessie said sadly. “Just let me mourn a little.”

  “Wow,” Jimmy said again, his black eyes sparkling. “That was neat.”

  Michael took another corner and gave Jimmy a quick grin. “How are you doing?” he asked the boy, realizing he must wonder what all the commotion was about.

  Jimmy’s wise eyes were alight with excitement. “Great,” he said chattily. “You know what? While you were in talking to that guy, we saw naked ladies.”

  Michael’s startled gaze rose to meet Jessie’s, and she nodded.

  “Naked ladies, huh?” Michael murmured, taking another sudden turn and keeping track of what else might have turned behind him. “How come I missed out on that?”

  Jimmy shrugged. “I don’t know. They came out and talked to us. They were only naked on top. And they said that Jessie could get a job there, too, only then they looked at her and said she was borderline.”

  “Borderline?” Michael choked out, forcing back his laughter.

  Jimmy’s head spun and he frowned at Jessie, whose cheeks were scarlet. “What’s that mean, borderline?” he asked in all innocence.

  Michael sputtered, then got out, “It means Jessie’s too good for that job, Jimmy.” Across the boy’s head he gave her the once-over and mouthed, “Borderline?”

  Jessie scowled at him and refused to comment, preferring to stand on her dignity.

  Michael pulled the truck into a parking space in front of a hamburger stand and gave Jimmy money to go up to the counter.

  Once the boy was out of earshot, Jessie turned to him. “Okay,” she said, her dark eyes examining his face, searching for clues. “What did you find out?”

  He stretched his long body behind the wheel and grimaced. “Not a whole lot,” he said at last. “He knew who I was. He knows Sky. He knows the whole situation. But he couldn’t tell me where I could find Kerry. And that was all I really wanted to know.”

  They were both silent for a moment, then Michael turned to Jessie. “So what did the remarkable Lenny have to say?” he asked.

  She swallowed hard before answering. “There’s a contract out on you. People are looking to kill you for the money.” Just saying the words brought the panic back again. How could this be? T
hings like this didn’t really happen.

  But Michael nodded, as though that didn’t surprise him. “Okay. I’ll have to be careful.”

  That didn’t stop her panic, or even soothe it very much. “Why would this Sky person want you dead?”

  “Why do any of these crooks do anything? To cover his tracks. Sky’s probably hoping I get eliminated before I get arrested, because he definitely doesn’t want me to talk.”

  She looked at him. His face was set, hard, but suddenly so precious to her. A wave of nausea came over her when she thought of what might happen to him. This was crazy. “You’ve got to go to the police,” she said. “This is no game, Michael. This isn’t just cat-and-mouse, cops and robbers. These people mean business.”

  His eyes, when they met hers, were expressionless. “The police don’t believe me, Jessie,” he said slowly, as though to a backward child. “They want to lock me up. And if they do, I’ll be even more vulnerable to the people who want to kill me.”

  “I can’t believe that.”

  “The only hope I have is to find Kerry,” he said as though it were his last word on the subject. “Here’s Jimmy. Let’s eat.”

  They did. Jimmy finished quickly and ran off again to play on the slide at the front of the restaurant. Jessie tried to think, but fear was clouding her mind. The thought of something hurting Michael was more than she could bear.

  “What now?” she asked him as they pushed their trash into one bag to throw out.

  “I’ve got to go casino crawling, I guess.”

  “You can’t,” she protested. “After what Lenny said?”

  “What else am I going to do, sit in a room and wait to get killed?”

  The word plunged into her like a dagger. Closing her eyes, she turned away.

  Michael hesitated, then touched her cheek. “Hey, come on,” he murmured. “Be ‘tough as a guy’ for me, okay?”

  She could feel tears threatening, but she refused to give in to them. She never cried. It was her hallmark. Turning to Michael, she lifted her chin and answered challengingly, “If you’d ever listened to Janis Joplin, you’d know that a woman can be tough, too.”