He should have told the Internal Affairs team that he had some personal feelings for Liv. That would have been smarter than simply accepting the case. He’d been angry at Kornekewsky’s gall—taking advantage of innocent people—and if Liv was involved, he’d figured it was better that he learned that before he got himself entangled with her. It might have been dumb of him, but Jack had honestly thought that his sense of justice would overrule his attraction to her. Besides, it was his chance to prove himself and start pressing charges against dirty cops. That was why he’d joined the force to begin with, wasn’t it? He was close enough that he could taste it. He just hadn’t counted on justice feeling like such a betrayal.
Apparently, he’d been wrong about his dedication to pure justice, because while his head told him to keep his distance, every other part of him was drawn to the woman...including his heart.
The door opened, and Jack glanced back to see Chief Simpson come inside. Jack stood back while his boss took a seat. He didn’t want to sit down. He was coiled as tight as a spring, and he crossed his arms over his chest, scowling at the receiver and recording equipment.
“...the baby shower is the day after tomorrow,” Marie was saying. “I know it’s short notice, but you can’t organize a shower for a woman who hasn’t confirmed her pregnancy, and Viola held out on us!”
“And no one asked?” Liv again.
“Well, after what happened with you...”
What had happened with Liv? The women fell quiet and there was the soft clink of silverware against glass. Eating? Cleaning up? Tea? It was hard to tell, and McDonald stayed posed over his notebook, waiting. The chief looked at Jack.
“Have you spoken with any of these people?” the chief asked.
“Marie Hylton,” Jack confirmed. “This is the first I’ve heard of a Viola. I could look into her if you want.”
“The more we know, the better,” the chief said, turning his attention back to the speaker as the conversation resumed again.
Liv’s voice sounded restrained. “Not celebrating someone else’s baby doesn’t make my grief any easier, you know. You don’t ever get over the loss of a child.”
“I know,” Marie replied. “I’m sorry, Liv. In our defense, we didn’t know how to address it when you lost your baby, and you didn’t really talk about it. We thought that when Viola was ready to tell us about this pregnancy she would. But she didn’t. Pregnancy isn’t always simple, is it? And maybe avoiding the subject wasn’t the right move... Liv, dear, is this going to be too difficult for you?”
“What am I supposed to do?” Liv’s voice trembled. “Stop celebrating when my friends and family have children because I couldn’t? No, I’ll be there. And I’ll put a smile on my face.”
It seemed clear that Liv had lost a baby...and Jack hadn’t known that. There was a lot that happened in a marriage that no one on the outside was privy to. And maybe that was a good thing to remind himself of. Just because Liv had been done wrong, that didn’t mean that she was innocent. McDonald kept writing in his notebook, and the chief’s face maintained its expression of concentration.
“In your last report you mentioned that Ms. Hylton saw a woman with a baby stroller outside her window,” the chief said suddenly. “Could it be related to her state of mind?”
Jack cleared his throat. “I was going to ask if that was a police plant.”
“No. Not us.” The chief shot him a shielded look.
“She thought the woman looked similar to Kornekewsky’s new wife. So... I don’t know.”
Had Liv imagined it? Was she carrying around so much grief that she was starting to see ghosts of the life she’d longed for? That was a heartbreaking thought. Or perhaps it was connected to the case somehow.
Liv was talking again: “Seeing that Evan was cheating on me, maybe I should be glad he didn’t want to try again for a baby. But I still want to be a mom, Auntie. Is that selfish?”
“Well, it isn’t like you’re exactly shriveling up with age just yet,” Marie replied. “And you have Jack, who seems downright smitten with you. How serious is it between you?”
Jack felt heat creep up his neck, and he wasn’t sure why. This was part of the job—he’d played the role well if Marie was convinced.
“Oh...” Liv sounded embarrassed. “We aren’t.”
“He was here this morning—”
“Yes, but... I just mean, you never know where a relationship will go.”
There was an awkward silence. Would she cave in and tell her aunt the truth—or at least the truth as she knew it? The silence stretched for a moment or two, and then Marie broke it.
“He’s handsome, though,” Marie prodded. “You two look good together.”
“Oh, he’s very good-looking,” Liv said, and Jack breathed a sigh of relief. “Very, very good-looking. But I’ve been married to a cop before, and I’m not going down that path again.”
McDonald looked back at Jack with a grin, and Jack scowled back at him. Yeah, yeah. The guys would rib him about this—the handsome cop, ever so good-looking. And that chafed, because in another life, he’d have given his left leg to hear Liv say that about him.
“So why are you dating him?” Marie asked.
There was a pause. “Like you said, he’s gorgeous. All that muscle and those eyes that lock you down... I’m divorced, not dead.”
His eyes could lock her down? He hadn’t realized that. And now that he did, he wasn’t going to be able to forget it too easily. There was something in her voice—something almost like a growl—that told him she felt the chemistry between them, too. He shouldn’t be enjoying that.
“You might able to use her attraction toward you to get her to open up,” the chief said thoughtfully. “You’d have to walk the line, obviously. Nothing that could jeopardize the case. But if she trusts you and starts talking—”
“No.” Jack hadn’t meant his tone to sound so harsh, and he winced.
“No?” The chief rose from his chair and nodded toward the other side of the room. “Is there a problem, Talbott?”
Jack followed the chief into relative privacy and glanced over at McDonald, who was taking notes of the women’s conversation as it continued. Jack could hear Liv’s soft tones filtering toward him, even though he couldn’t make out her words.
“It’s not a problem, exactly,” Jack replied, turning back to his boss. “I can’t manipulate her romantic hopes for the case, though, sir. That’s crossing a line.”
“I didn’t ask you to cross any lines,” the chief replied with a frown. “I never would. That would jeopardize the case.”
“I’m attracted to her, sir,” Jack admitted.
“She’s a beautiful woman. It takes a certain mental fortitude to do this job,” the chief replied. “Do you have it?”
“I have the fortitude, sir,” Jack replied. “But I’m asking for you to trust my instinct on how close to get to Ms. Hylton in order to get the information we need.”
“Fair enough,” the chief replied. “You’re the one in the field, and IA wanted you for a reason.”
“Thank you, sir.” Jack nodded curtly.
“Talbott,” the chief said, his tone softening. “Do you need to step back?”
Jack paused, considering for a moment. This was his chance, if he needed to take it. He could simply say that he was more personally involved than was good for the investigation and back out. It would cause some friction. The investigation would be set back by weeks. They might not ever regain that ground. Jack shook his head. “No, sir. I’ve got it under control. If you swap me out for another officer at this point, you won’t get her trust.”
“I agree, and I’m glad to hear it,” the chief said, slapping him on the shoulder. “You have our support, in whatever form you require. Get yourself centered, and then get back in there.”
The case had to come fi
rst. He’d deal with his emotions later when he could safely take the lid off that bubbling pot inside him. But right now, he knew what his job required of him, and he knew why it was important.
That would have to be enough.
CHAPTER TEN
WHEN AUNT MARIE left that morning, Liv stood in the center of her living room for a few beats, her thoughts swimming. Marie had made a big effort to make up beyond just saying she was sorry.
They’d talked about a lot of things—Evan’s cheating, the children Liv had yearned for but never had, this ruggedly male cop in her life... Marie wasn’t the kind of woman who sided with a cheating ex, and for that Liv was grateful. Marie believed in right and wrong, and Evan had proven himself an unredeemable scoundrel in her aunt’s eyes. If only Tanya felt the same—Liv suspected her single cousin was slightly in awe of Liv’s sophisticated ex.
But Liv had realized something as she’d chatted with her aunt over breakfast: she was starting to fall for Jack. It was stupid—he might be acting the part of her boyfriend, but he most certainly wasn’t. And if she were faced with the choice of whether to legitimately date him or not, she’d say no thanks.
She was tired of being a cop’s wife, always coming in second to the job, and then second to the mistress! Forget it. When she was ready to date, she was going to find a nice stable guy with an ordinary job who could tell her about his day without using phrases like “classified information” and, when he’d open up about something, “civilian-level clearance.”
Marie had had one last piece of advice before she’d left that morning: Then don’t toy with him, dear. It isn’t nice.
Liv had almost told her aunt the truth then, but something had stopped her. Jack was doing his best to protect her, and she needed to cooperate. He’d asked her to play along. Liv wasn’t a heartless woman toying with a besotted boyfriend—she was a woman being threatened by some unknown stalker. She had no choice but to have Jack around...even if it tarnished her reputation somewhat in the meantime and even if it was starting to affect her own emotional equilibrium, too.
“I need space...” she told herself.
All she wanted was some time to think...some time away from her frustratingly masculine bodyguard who made her feel feminine and beautiful just by looking at her. That wasn’t what she needed. She was supposed to be acclimatizing to the single life!
Liv grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and scratched out a note:
Jack,
I’m going out for a drive around the lake. I’m sure I’ll survive it. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.
Liv.
She dropped it in the middle of the kitchen table and reached for her purse. She felt lighter already. She locked the door and trotted down the stairs and outside into the cool fall air.
After her divorce, her dreams of opening the bookstore had given her hope, given her something to work for. The store was not only a dream fulfilled, but a chance at a different kind of life. She looked up and down the street, and in the bright, cheerful sunlight, all her worries about threatening letters seemed far away. Nothing terrible could happen on such a beautiful day, could it? Besides, she’d have her bodyguard back by the time the sun set.
Liv’s car was parked behind the building. She tossed her purse onto the passenger seat, then got in the driver’s side. This was her one day off, and she wanted to make the most of it, get her mood back in order. Whoever was threatening her could not win this—they wouldn’t take away her ability to enjoy the new life she’d worked so hard to put together for herself.
Liv pulled out of her parking space and onto the main street. She headed south, past the old laundromat, a local history museum run by volunteers and a few hotels that catered to the tourists who came to ski. The hotels were virtually empty this time of year, when school was in session and the weather wasn’t cold enough to make a trip to the mountains appealing to most people.
Back when Liv had been a teen working at Eagle’s Rest’s one and only McDonald’s, she’d hated this tiny town with its limited options. But now, it just felt like home, and after her time in the city, her marriage, her heartbreak and her subsequent divorce, these familiar streets felt less suffocating and more soothing. They were her safe haven...or so she’d thought until those letters started to arrive.
The town quickly melted away into winding mountain roads. She took a fork to the left that curved around the crystal blue mountain lake. Eagle’s Rest Lake was aptly named, since the towering spruce trees that carpeted the mountainside housed a large number of the majestic birds, and if people knew what to look for, they could spot the twiggy nests high up in the branches.
Liv’s cell phone rang, and she touched the button on the dash to pick up the call via Bluetooth.
“Hi, Mom,” Liv said.
“Hi, Liv, honey. How are things going over there? I’ve been worried.”
“Oh, it’s fine,” Liv replied, checking her rearview mirror. The road was empty behind her. “I’ve had Jack with me nonstop, so I’m perfectly safe.”
“Is he there now?” her mother asked.
“No,” she admitted. “I’m taking a drive. I just needed some space.”
“I wish you wouldn’t evade the police protection,” her mother said.
“I know, I know. I’ll head back soon. I’m driving. What can happen? So how are you?”
“I was calling to talk to you about something, actually,” her mother said. “You know that old cottage by the lake—the one your Uncle Ned left to your dad?”
“Sure.” Liv instinctively glanced toward the lake that shone like dazzling crystal through the trees.
“You know we’ve been trying to sell it—”
“Did you find a buyer?” Liv asked, her interest perking up.
“We did...” Her mother sounded wary. “Evan.”
“Evan!” Liv pressed her lips together in irritation. “Evan? Where on earth is he getting all this money from?”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s been buying up all sorts of properties around here. I mean, I know he inherited some money when his uncle died, but all those down payments... You’ve got to do the math!”
“I’m supposed to know?” her mother asked. “That man always was secretive.”
“Why does he want some run-down cabin, for that matter? That place doesn’t even have electricity!”
“I didn’t ask,” her mother replied. “He called us and asked if it was still for sale and offered to take it off our hands.”
“For how much?” Liv demanded.
“For less than we were asking, but I don’t think we can be choosy right now,” her mother replied.
“And you never stopped to think that I might not want my ex-husband around?” Liv said, then suppressed a sigh. “Look, I’m sorry, Mom. I know you guys need the money, but—”
“I was wondering if you and Evan were reconnecting,” her mother said sheepishly. “I thought maybe he was trying to get close to you again.”
“He’s remarried, Mom,” Liv replied curtly. “I’m not exactly the ‘other woman’ type.”
“I know. But if he realized that Officer Hot Pants was nothing compared to you, broke up with her and asked for you back—”
“I’d tell him to get lost,” Liv retorted.
“Good. Good. I wasn’t saying it’s a good idea,” her mother replied. “I had to check. So...should I tell your father to find another buyer?”
Liv sighed. Her parents were retired now and living in California. The money from the sale would help their retirement a great deal, and she hated the thought of them waiting for even longer to find a buyer for that old plot of land. It was lakeside, granted, but it wasn’t zoned for anything more than a cabin. Still, her gut tingled with suspicion.
“Mom, why do you think Evan is buying up so much land in Eagle’s Rest?”
she asked.
“I don’t know... I know you two bought some properties together for when you retire—”
“He’s bought at least two more properties since we split,” she replied.
“So he’s still buying up land around there,” her mother said, then sighed. “I don’t know, dear. I wish I could explain it. That man has never made sense to me.”
“I’d gladly stop caring what he does, if he’d just get his hands off my town,” Liv said irritably. “But, no, I don’t want Evan and Hot Pants sunning themselves in Eagle’s Rest every summer. That would be misery.”
“If he’s bought other properties out there, you might not have a choice,” her mother said. “But I’ll tell your dad to forget it. He can sun himself somewhere else. I’m sorry to even have brought it up, honey.”
“It’s okay, Mom. It isn’t your fault. But thanks for that. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
They said their goodbyes and hung up.
Would Evan never go away? He wasn’t dangerous like Jack seemed to think, he was just...nagging, annoying, always seeming to have his finger in the pie next to hers. And the very last thing she wanted was to share her hometown with the home-wrecking Hot Pants. Or Evan, for that matter. A divorce was supposed to end things, especially when there were no children in the mix. She should be able to be free of him.
Was that what the offer of those first editions was about? Was he trying to soften her up so she wouldn’t encourage her parents to find another buyer for that land? But why would he want it, anyway?
It didn’t add up!
A flapping sound alerted Liv to a problem with the front right wheel. The steering wheel tugged to the side, and Liv slowed, put on her hazard lights and pulled to the side of the road in the chilly shade of mountain evergreens. A flat. Great!
Liv sat for a moment, both hands on the wheel. A pickup truck rumbled past, not even slowing down. These roads were narrow, and when drivers drove at high speeds, the side of the road was far from safe. But she was only about ten minutes outside town.
When the road was clear again, she got out of the car and headed around to the trunk. Liv knew how to change a tire, and she busied herself with pulling out the spare and the jack. A squirrel chattered at her from above, and when Liv peered up at it, she saw an eagle take off from the upper branches of the trees. She stopped to watch as it rose into the sky, and then vanished from view. She’d seen many eagles in her years here, but they never ceased to take her breath away.
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