by Regan Black
Later, she looked up the phrase and learned it meant Of Their Own Accord. The motto of the Seventy-fifth Ranger Regiment. At least she finally understood why Kyle thought he had to do everything on his own.
The next day dawned bright and beautiful, with the promise of heat later in the day. Nicole decided to drive into town and have a word with the sheriff, assuming he was working. Surprisingly, her mother had called, asking if she could babysit Jacob for a few hours that morning. “I’d really like to spend some time with my grandson,” she said. “I’m really sorry for what happened.”
A tiny spark of hope flared in Nicole’s breast. Her mother truly sounded genuine. Add to that the fact that Fran wanted to visit with Jacob in her home rather than somewhere publicly, and Nicole allowed herself to believe.
Once she’d verified that Fran planned to stay home with him, Nicole agreed to drop him off. After that, she planned to visit both the sheriff and the fire department. She needed to get things moving so she could get back inside her own home.
Sheriff Cantrell did not look happy to see her. No, judging from the downward turn of his mouth, he’d rather be somewhere else entirely than trapped in his office with her.
“What can I do for you, Mrs. Mabry?” he asked, steepling his hands in front of him on his desk and regarding her with a weary expression.
Since he didn’t offer her a chair, she continued to stand. “I came to see if you were able to find out if Bill had a mistress.”
“I can’t comment on an active investigation,” he began.
“Really?” A spark of anger fueled her words. “My husband is killed. I find suspicious credit card statements. Someone breaks into my house, and then sets it on fire, shoots at me, and all you can say to me is that you can’t comment? Do you see anything wrong with this picture?”
At least he had the grace to appear abashed. “What I can say is that you’ve been cleared. You’re no longer a suspect.”
She snorted. “As if I ever was. And I can well imagine that Theresa and Dan Mabry have been in here on a regular basis, demanding answers. I’m sure you don’t try this ‘can’t comment on an active investigation’ with them. If you did, I know there’d be hell to pay.”
When he looked down, a muscle in his jaw working, she knew she had him.
“Have a seat, Ms. Mabry,” he finally said. “I’ll tell you what I can. It’s not a whole lot, but it’s something. I will need you to promise not to get hysterical when I tell you what we’ve learned so far.”
Hysterical? Reminding herself that this man didn’t know her at all, she pulled out a chair across from the desk. Once she’d taken a seat, she placed her hands demurely in her lap and waited to hear what he had to say.
“You were actually correct,” he began. “Your husband did have a lady friend. Don’t ask me for her name, because I’m not at liberty to say. We’ve also been investigating some other ties he apparently had.”
“Ties?” she questioned. “The kind of ties that would make him empty our savings account?”
“Yes. We subpoenaed the bank records and saw that.” He didn’t look away, though his expression had softened. “He left you and his child with nothing. Even the house is heavily mortgaged, as I’m sure you’re aware. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
The mortgage. Something she hadn’t even thought about. How on earth was she going to come up with the money to make payments?
“I’m sorry too,” she murmured, filing that particular worry away for later. “But to get back on track, what exactly were these ties?”
He shook his head. “Again, I can’t speculate at this time until we have proof.”
“Then whatever it was is illegal?” she guessed. Though he didn’t speak, he nodded.
“You cannot mention any of this to anyone, do you understand? If word gets out, it could seriously hamper our investigation.”
“Of course,” she murmured. She shouldn’t have been surprised that Bill had extended his reach into drugs. “He also had a serious drinking problem, you know.” Looking down at her hands, she forced herself to raise her chin and meet the other man’s gaze. “He got mean when he drank.”
Squinting at her, the sheriff finally gave a slow nod.
“We’re investigating all his known associates,” he continued, as if she hadn’t spoken. “And we haven’t entirely ruled out your boyfriend either.”
He spoke this last so matter-of-factly that at first, it didn’t register.
When it did, she sat up straighter. Now it was her turn to narrow her eyes. “I’m assuming you mean Kyle?”
“Yep. Unless you have another boyfriend.”
She let that one slide. “First off, Kyle is not my boyfriend. Not anymore. I’m staying with him because some psycho made my house unlivable. And second, he wasn’t even in town when Bill was murdered. Finally, Kyle had no motivation.”
“Really, now?” Sheriff Cantrell leaned back in his chair, eying her as if assessing her intelligence. “How do you know that?”
“Because he told me.” Realizing how that sounded, she shook her head. “I’m sure it will be pretty easy to verify his whereabouts. He drove here from Georgia and I’m sure he had to stop at least once, if not more, along the way.”
“That’s the thing,” he drawled. “He did show us a motel receipt. But that only puts him in Mississippi two days before your husband was murdered. He had plenty of time to arrive here in town and do what he had to do.”
“But…” Stunned, she could only stare. “I don’t think you understand. Kyle was in a coma for months, then rehab. He had no idea I was even married, never mind to whom. At least not until he got here.”
“Funny thing, that’s not what your mother says. She says ole Kyle called for you from his hospital bed, shortly after he regained consciousness. She also said she passed on the news to him of your marriage then.”
“She’s lying.” Nicole hadn’t meant to speak her thought out loud, but once she had, she couldn’t exactly unsay it. “My mother has never liked Kyle. I know for a fact she wouldn’t have been able to resist telling me about that call if it had really happened, if only to rub it in.”
“Young lady.” Sheriff Cantrell sat up straight. “You are aware of the consequences if you’re covering for him. You can be named an accessory to murder and do serious jail time. You’d best ask yourself if he’s worth all that.”
“You can’t be serious,” she shot back. “Please, check out the telephone records. I’ll bet when you do, you won’t find any record of that call.”
Gaze cool, he stood. “We’re in the process of doing exactly that. While Kyle Benning isn’t our only suspect, he’s definitely one of the prime ones. I’d advise you to confess if you know anything.”
Confess. She had no words left. “Thank you, Sheriff. Please keep me advised if you turn up any valid leads.”
On the drive home, she could scarcely contain her agitation. While she had no idea who really killed Bill, damned if she was going to let Kyle be railroaded into taking the blame. Because while Kyle might have been furious to learn she’d married Bill, his anger wouldn’t have been for her husband. No, Kyle had been furious with her.
And her mother. Forcing herself to stay within the speed limit, she drove to her mother’s house. When she arrived, she let herself in. Fran was sitting in the rocking chair, holding Jacob. She looked up when Nicole walked in.
“He’s been changed and seems sleepy, but I didn’t want to put him down for a nap, so I’ve been rocking him,” Fran said happily. “He really is a sweet boy.”
“He is,” Nicole agreed. “Mom, I just left the sheriff. He claims you told him that Kyle called you from his hospital bed, right after he woke from his coma. Is that true?”
Fran’s expression turned mulish. “You need to push him out of your life, Nicole. If you don’t, he’s going to ruin ev
erything.”
“Mother, you didn’t answer my question. Did you tell Sheriff Cantrell that Kyle called you from his hospital bed and you relayed the news that I’d gotten married?”
The older woman pursed her lips but didn’t speak.
“You know you’re not supposed to lie,” Nicole pressed. “Please, tell me the truth.”
“Fine. I did say that. I really want that man arrested and away from you.”
“For a crime he didn’t commit?” Nicole crossed her arms. “I want you to call the sheriff and tell him the truth.”
When Fran didn’t respond, Nicole pushed harder. “Mother, he’s already checking the phone records to see if there was any such call. You’re going to get caught in a lie anyway. You might as well come clean.”
Finally, Fran’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Here. Take your baby. I’ll call right now and clear things up.”
Jacob woke as his grandmother passed him back to his mother. He smiled up at Nicole, his eyes sleepy. As she placed him back in his car carrier, he went back to sleep.
Nicole listened as Fran spoke to Sheriff Cantrell, explaining she’d been confused. Kyle had actually come to her house as soon as he’d arrived in town, and had no idea Nicole had gotten married until she had told him. This was, as best as she could recall, shortly after Bill had been found murdered.
Imagining what Kyle must have thought made Nicole’s heart ache. She could well understand how betrayed he must have felt. No wonder he’d been so furious with her.
Something of her tumultuous emotions must have shown in her face. After ending the call, Fran shook her head. “Don’t look so stricken. You were married. It was the right thing to do. It’d would have been different if he’d gotten in touch with you before you married Bill.”
“He was almost killed and then he was in a coma for months, Mom. And when he did try to call, my cell phone had been disconnected. Remember, Bill made me get on his plan as soon as we got engaged. Everything was under his name, so there was no way for Kyle to find me.”
“That’s not true,” Fran argued. “He could have called the house. I don’t understand why he didn’t.” Her lip curled. “I mean, if he was so in love with you, you’d think he would have made more of an effort.”
“Your number is unlisted. Even if he used directory assistance or the internet, he wouldn’t have been able to find it.”
Pursing her lips, Fran finally shrugged. “I don’t understand why you’re still involved with him. You had a life, a very good life. Why would you want to take a step backward, into the past?”
“Mom, what do you have against Kyle? You’ve always disliked him.”
“He was a hoodlum,” Fran answered.
“Mom. He wasn’t. And he joined the army after graduation. He became an Army Ranger, which isn’t an easy feat. He served our country.”
“True enough,” Fran admitted. “But tell me honestly. What is it you see in him?”
There were several different ways Nicole could have answered that question, but every single one of them led back to the same place. Love. She’d loved Kyle from the first day she’d met him. Her love had never gone away, even when she’d mistakenly believed him dead. She wasn’t going backward at all, but into the future. The future that the two of them always should have head.
But eying her mother, who stood with her arms crossed, waiting, Nicole knew Fran would never understand. She’d never been a fan of what her daughter saw in that “boy from the wrong side of the tracks.”
“Never mind,” Nicole responded gently. “Just promise me, Mom. No more lies.”
Fran opened her mouth as if to protest, and then closed it. Finally, she nodded.
After kissing her mother on the cheek, Nicole left.
As soon as she got back to Kyle’s house, she hustled herself and Jacob inside. Kyle was in the kitchen, making himself a sandwich. Gus sat right next to him, looking up with a hopeful gaze. “Hey,” Kyle said, smiling. “What’s up?”
“Do you mind telling me something? When did you learn I’d gotten married? Did you call my mother?”
“No.” He didn’t even blink. “I tried several times to call your cell phone, but kept getting a recording that it had been disconnected. I didn’t remember your parents’ number, and I called directory assistance, but it was unlisted. When I got to town, I drove to your parents’ house. Your mother answered the door and she’s the one who gleefully told me.”
“Interesting.” She relayed what Sheriff Cantrell had said earlier. “I stopped by my mom’s house on the way home and after I got her to admit to lying, I made her call the sheriff and confess the truth.”
Kyle’s jaw tightened. “Thank you. But I don’t understand why your mother would say such a thing. Especially to a law enforcement officer investigating a murder.”
Nicole took a deep breath. “Because she has never liked you. Not when we were kids, or teens, or now that we’re young adults. She’ll do whatever she can to keep us apart.”
“Even try to put me in jail?”
“Yes. Even that.” To her annoyance, she found herself blinking back tears. She forced herself to continue. “I’ve never understood how a mother could not want her own daughter to be happy, but she’s never wanted you and I to be together. She did whatever she could to keep us apart. Remember how I had to sneak out to see you?”
Gaze never leaving her face, he nodded. “I remember. You used to make jokes about it.”
“To hide how much it hurt,” she admitted. “I’ve never been able to figure out what I did to deserve her treating me that way, her own daughter. It wasn’t only that I got pregnant out of wedlock, because she started treating me like her enemy from the time I reached puberty.”
She took a deep breath. “When we received word that you’d been killed in action, she was so happy. She tried to hide it from me, but I could tell. Even while I grieved, she was making plans to marry me off to Bill Mabry.”
Without another word, he crossed the space between them and pulled her close for a hug. She let him hold her, basking in the warmth of his embrace, his touch chasing away those lingering feelings of regret.
“Okay?” he asked, pulling back enough to see into her eyes.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Thank you. I still can’t believe she was trying to frame you for murder.”
“It’ll never happen.” He sounded so certain, so positive that she almost smiled. “I didn’t do anything. All the lies in the word can’t change the truth. Your husband’s real killer is out there. If the police are focused on the facts, they’ll catch him.”
“Sheriff Cantrell did seem to be investigating every possible lead.” She told him about Bill having a mistress, and also what the sheriff had said about possibly illegal dealings. “Of course, no one can know this. If word got out, it could hamper the investigation.”
“I understand,” he said. “And I won’t say a word.”
* * *
That night, Kyle had one of his realistic nightmares. Same as always. A flash of light, left side. Ringing in the ears. An explosion, knocking him off his feet. Even though he knew what was coming next, he couldn’t seem to wake up. What was the point? Even when he finally managed to force himself to wake, he couldn’t shake the feeling of terror or get the horrific images out of his head.
Heart thundering in his chest, he wanted to run. To let his feet pound the pavement, until he could no longer breathe.
But the last time he’d done this, after lacing up his sneakers and heading out into the night, everything had gotten worse. Too many shadows and menacing figures. He’d become jumpy, for the first time ever glad he hadn’t grabbed his pistol.
No, he’d stay in the house. He could better wrestle his internal demons to the ground when secure inside four walls. No other menace to deal with but himself.
Drenched in sweat, h
e got up and roamed the house, pacing, craving a cigarette even though he’d given up the habit almost as quickly as he’d started it while in basic training.
Gus, who’d come awake instantly, followed him from room to room, toenails clicking on the wooden floor. The dog appeared relaxed, but alert. Kyle wished he found this comforting, but he was locked too deep into the frenzy of his own inner torment.
To release some of the swirling madness inside him, he needed to hit something, so after a frantic look around the room, he began pummeling the sofa pillows.
On the floor near him, Gus whined. Distracted, Kyle’s blows faltered as he glanced down at his dog. As if sensing an opening, Gus pushed his nose under Kyle’s elbow. He whined again, tilting his head sideways before nudging Kyle again.
Kyle dropped to his knees, letting Gus lean into him. He buried his fingers in his pet’s black fur, and Gus licked at Kyle’s face, washing away tears Kyle hadn’t even been aware were there.
He didn’t know how long he sat there, arms wrapped around Gus. All he knew was gradually, some of the panic and fury leaked out of him. His heartbeat slowed, his breathing evened out and he felt safe again. Almost normal. Maybe Nicole had been right. Maybe Gus could help him find a way out of this darkness. He’d check out training on the internet, though he wasn’t sure Gus actually needed any. The dog appeared to be doing just fine on his own.
“Are you all right?” Nicole asked.
Kyle started, though he kept his arms wrapped around Gus. He glanced up to find her standing in the doorway, her hair tousled, her eyes still full of sleep. She wore only an oversized T-shirt, her sexy legs and bare feet telling him she’d come straight from her bed.
“How long have you been there?” he asked, his voice as rough as if he’d smoked a half pack of cigarettes.
“What?” She took a couple more steps into the room. “I just woke up. I had a feeling…” She stopped and dragged her hands through her already mussed hair. “I had a feeling something was wrong, so I came to check.”