by Debra Webb
Kayla thought of those first few months after graduating from Athena, when her pregnancy could no longer be kept secret. It hadn’ t been so easy then. Though her parents had accepted her situation more readily than Kayla would have guessed, there had been some amount of strain. And yet, each and every member of her generous family had pitched in, gone above and beyond to help. When Jazz had turned one, Kayla had known she couldn’ t wait any longer to get on with her life. She’ d gone to the police academy and had acquired a college degree in night school. And when she’ d finished, Collin Masters had just been elected county sheriff and had invited her to join his department. It hadn’ t hurt that he was a longtime friend of Kayla’ s father.
She loved her job and hadn’ t looked back.
Until now.
She couldn’ t help wondering how life might have been different if things hadn’ t happened as they had. What if she’ d never met Mike Bridges? Never fallen for the cocky jerk?
She wouldn’ t have Jazz.
Just then, Jasmine Ryan came bursting through the school doors.
A grin split across Kayla’ s face as she watched Jazz hurry toward her through the sea of students. It didn’ t matter what might have been. All that mattered was that she and Jazz had each other. No way would Kayla’ s life have been complete without this little girl. No way.
“ I hate boys!”
This announcement was made scarcely before Jazz plopped into the passenger seat.
Kayla smothered a laugh. “ Really? Now, why is that?”
Her brow furrowed with concentration, Jazz buckled her seat belt. “ Because they’ re stupid.” Her task complete, she leaned back and folded her arms over her chest. “ Why would I like a stupid boy?”
Kayla resisted the urge to encourage her daughter to keep that attitude. She pulled away from the curb and pointed the Jeep in the direction of home.
At age eleven, boys could seem awfully silly. By twelve or thirteen a girl’ s outlook on the subject always changed. She glanced at her daughter. Nature had a way of working its magic. Poor kid. She had no idea. There wasn’ t much parents could say to prepare their children for adolescence.
During the drive home the conversation shifted to Christmas. Friday was the last day of school, Jazz reminded her. Like Kayla could forget. That meant she had to get the last of her shopping done this week.
She parked in the short drive in front of their small bungalow.
“ I’ ll get the mail!” Jazz unbuckled herself and bounded out the door. She slowed only long enough to tug her backpack onto her shoulders. Since she’ d gotten that pen pal from Croatia she couldn’ t wait to check the mail every day.
Kayla eased out of the vehicle a bit more slowly. The aches and pains from this morning’ s bust had settled into her muscles and joints. She’ d hit the ground hard after Hadden made that lunge into the open. He’ d left her no choice. Mentally swearing, mostly at him, she pushed his image aside. She wasn’ t going to let him creep back into her thoughts any more than she would the ongoing investigation into Athena Academy. Her time with her daughter was far too precious. There would be plenty of time to mull over the day’ s events after Jazz was tucked in for the night.
Kayla had just unlocked the front door and pushed it inward when her daughter raced up beside her.
“ Yours.” Jazz thrust a handful of mail at her. “ Mine.” Her face beaming, she held up one envelope for her mother to see the overseas address. “ I gotta go do my homework.” She sprinted through the door like a gazelle.
Inside, Kayla flipped through the envelopes, tossing a couple in the trash and a couple more onto the stack where next month’ s bills waited. The last one brought her up short. She scrutinized the elegantly embossed return address, her heart pounding.
Athena Academy.
Her fingers cold and shaking, she tore open the envelope. By the time she unfolded the enclosed letter her knees had given way, forcing her to seek a place to sit down.
It is with great pleasure that we extend this very special invitation… .
Jasmine Michelle Ryan…
… seventh-grade class commencing in September of the upcoming year…
Attendance at Athena Academy was by invitation only. No amount of money… no amount of power and influence got a girl through those doors. Only the best… only the ones considered special were invited.
Kayla knew her daughter was exceptionally bright. Extremely athletic. Those qualities combined with her age made her the perfect candidate.
But… God… Kayla wasn’ t ready for this. Not now.
Athena wanted Jazz.
Chapter 3
F or a long moment Kayla watched her daughter sleep. It was 6:15 a.m. Fifteen minutes past the time she usually woke Jazz for school. Somehow she couldn’ t seem to bring herself to move forward into this morning.
It wasn’ t even light outside, wouldn’ t be for another hour or so. Mornings like this Kayla wanted nothing more than to crawl back under the covers and snuggle with her sweet child. But there was life to contend with. Work for Kayla, school for Jazz. Even at the ripe old age of eleven there was still the occasional morning during summer vacation or winter break that the two of them enjoyed a few extra minutes together, giggling and cuddling.
How much longer would her little girl indulge her mother’ s sentimental need to cherish those swiftly vanishing moments of childhood as the child became a woman?
Jazz was growing up so damned fast. Kayla’ s heart squeezed painfully in her chest. Where had the time gone? It seemed just yesterday she was in diapers and squealing in delight the moment Kayla walked through the door to pick her up after work. Now they talked about boys and argued over what clothes were appropriate for a girl who had outgrown corduroy overalls and pigtails but who hadn’ t quite made it to high heels and highlights just yet.
“ I’ m not a baby,” Jazz would argue. She wanted to dress like her favorite pop diva. A pretty scary idea to Kayla’ s way of thinking.
But not nearly as scary as some things.
Kayla crossed the room and stared out the window, watched the dark split apart as the sun reached ever upward, sending forth fingers of light, banishing the final remnants of night. She’ d spent that night, most of it anyway, tossing and turning, mulling over the past as well as the future.
She’ d loved her time at Athena Academy. No question there. She’ d formed bonds that would never be broken this side of the grave. Had learned and experienced far more than a student could hope to in public school. For years Kayla had secretly wondered if her daughter would receive an invitation as she had. She was one of the only two Cassandras who’ d done the motherhood thing, and Darcy, the other mother, had a four-year-old son. Were the others wondering if Jazz would be invited to attend Athena? Had it even crossed anyone else’ s mind?
Kayla would have to ponder the concept awhile herself before she went to her parents for input. They had once been faced with this same decision.
She needed to get used to the idea. To talk it over with Jazz, see how she felt. She’ d shared stories about her time at the academy with her daughter. Especially the survival courses at Yuma. Jazz loved to hear about those. Kayla considered that as a student at Athena her daughter would have access to the kind of math and science classes most high school students didn’ t even know fell into the categories, like astronomy and cryptology, forensics and genetics. The field trips and other courses, such as weaponry, martial arts and foreign languages, were just a few of the perks. The expectations and level of higher thinking were far broader and deeper than even the best private schools in the country.
And it wouldn’ t cost Kayla a penny. Her child would receive all these wondrous benefits simply because she’ d been invited.
But what if Kayla learned that Athena was deeply involved in what had happened to Rainy? Could she assume her child would be safe there? She had been safe. Outside her own imprudence, no harm had come to her at Athena. Only good.
Kayla moved back to the bed and smiled down at her child. And even her foolish behavior during her senior year had resulted in a very good end.
This wasn’ t a decision she could make right now. There were far too many considerations. Would Jazz even want to leave her friends? Kayla had struggled with that aspect of Athena life, as most of the students surely had. Admittedly, new, strong bonds had been formed by all. But did that make it the right thing?
A heavy sigh pushed past her lips. Being a parent was a tough job. She leaned down and kissed Jazz’ s cheek. “ Wake up, sleepyhead,” she murmured. “ Time to get up.” Her daughter roused slowly, reluctantly, giving Kayla a fleeting glimpse of the child who still lingered on the edge of Jazz’ s grown-up attitude and maturing body.
While Jazz had her breakfast, Kayla strapped on her weapon and pulled on her jacket. Her uniform consisted of khaki pants and shirt with a black jacket. The black utility belt and rubber-soled shoes were her only accessories other than the khaki-colored baseball cap that sported the county sheriff’ s emblem. There had been a time when all sheriff’ s deputies had worn round-billed headgear that looked a little like a Smoky the Bear hat, but not anymore. Thank goodness.
Eventually Kayla intended to work her way up to county investigator, but she was in no hurry. She liked staying around Athens, being close in the event Jazz needed her. Moving up to the position of investigator would require that she work all over the county. For now she wasn’ t interested in working cases that far away from home. Later, maybe. She’ d reached the rank of lieutenant a year ago and that was about as high as she could hope to go if she wanted to stay local.
Her partner, Jim Harkey, had never bothered with anything beyond the sergeant’ s exam. He liked being a sergeant and wanted no part of the political crap, as he called it, of obtaining a higher rank than his current one. He had no interest whatsoever in becoming a part of the brass. No offense to her, he would always tack on to the statement. Kayla took no offense. To each his own, she told him.
This morning after she dropped Jazz off at school she had follow-up work on yesterday’ s larceny bust. On her lunch break she intended to drop by the Academy to talk to Betsy Stone once more. Kayla had no idea how much good it would do since she’ d already talked to the nurse on two occasions and gotten zip, but she had to try again. Try being the operative word, since the nurse almost always managed to be gone when Kayla popped in. Every instinct told her Betsy knew a hell of a lot more than she was telling. And Christine was hiding something as well. Maybe nothing significant… but something.
Dr. Reagan was the key to this. She knew it with every fiber of her being. Reagan had overseen the surrogates.
Too bad he was dead.
Kayla’ s gut told her that there was something mighty suspicious about his sudden death four years ago. No one seemed to know where he was buried. Hopefully, his files would hold some answers. All she had to do was find them. The storage facility that housed retired files from numerous physicians in the Tucson and Phoenix area and that had Reagan’ s files listed in their inventory could not explain the missing files. They were simply gone. Another dead end.
“ I’ m taking your backpack to the car,” Kayla called to Jazz. That was her official ten-minute warning. Once the backpack was in the Jeep the clock was ticking down. 7:15. Kayla liked being on her way no later than 7:30. That gave her time to drop off her daughter and get to the office before eight.
“ I’ m brushing my teeth!” Jazz shouted from down the hall.
It was the same routine every morning. Jazz took her time with breakfast, which was okay with Kayla, then finally decided upon one of the three outfits they’ d gone round and round about the night before. Narrowing it down to three without an all-out war was the best the two headstrong ladies could do before bedtime.
Just something else Jazz had inherited from Kayla’ s side of the family, a stubborn streak a mile wide.
By ten-minute warning time her daughter was generally ready to roll with the exception of brushing her teeth and one final check to see that she had everything she would need for the day.
Outside, the sun had peeked over the hills and chased away the lingering dusk. A few shadows still hung around, mostly from the neighbor’ s two-story house and the scattering of trees between the two homes. Kayla breathed in the crisp morning air. She loved it here. Felt safe in a way big-city living could never offer. Alex and Tory might like the faster pace of the city. Rainy’ s career and marriage had taken her to Tucson. Josie lived wherever the Air Force assigned her. Darcy had moved to a small town to escape her abusive husband but Kayla suspected she would move to a bigger city and expand her P.I. business now that he’ d been arrested. Kayla would take her small-town home over anything else.
She tossed the backpack into the front passenger seat but hesitated before closing the door. Chill bumps whispered over her skin. She frowned. Shook herself. What the hell?
Kayla couldn’ t say what it was for sure, but she had the almost overwhelming sensation that someone was watching her. She resisted the urge to whip around and survey the neighbors’ yard.
She shook herself again. Had to be her imagination running away with her. But then, this wasn’ t the first time she’ d felt someone watching her. Each time she’ d rationalized the episode away. Now she wondered if Hadden was lurking out here in her yard somewhere. If so, she might just have to kick his fine-looking backside.
Slowly she closed the door and turned back toward the house. Nothing moved. As she headed in that direction she covertly scanned the yard, hers as well as the neighbors’ . Nothing.
Still, that insistent internal alarm wouldn’ t let go.
The front door slammed.
Kayla jerked at the sound, her eyes instantly going to the small covered porch.
“ I locked the door!” Jazz flew down the steps. “ Don’ t forget I have choir practice after school.”
Kayla let go the breath she’ d been holding. “ Got it.”
Forcing the disturbing feeling from her mind, she dropped her daughter off at school and drove to the office.
The satellite station that served Athens wasn’ t very large. Just a couple of small rooms that shared an even smaller lobby and bathroom and a sort of conference room designated so merely by virtue of the long table and mismatched chairs sitting about. A coffeepot and soft drink machine occupied one corner of the lobby. Shirley, who served as a receptionist and a liaison to the community, kept a tidy desk in the center of the lobby. Five upholstered chairs and a couple of large plants took up the rest of the space.
Kayla shared one of the offices with her partner while a second office served as a workroom for files.
“ Good morning, Shirley.” Kayla offered her usual smile and saluted the middle-age lady with her takeout coffee cup. It wasn’ t that Shirley didn’ t make good coffee, it was just that Jim usually beat Shirley into the office and his coffee made paint thinner smell good. Kayla’ d never worked up the nerve to try it.
“ Morning, L.T.” Shirley said this with nothing more than a cursory glance over her morning newspaper. “ Heard about the excitement yesterday. Thought you had the day off.”
“ L.T.” was Shirley’ s way of showing off that she’ d spent twenty-plus years as a military wife. She referred to Kayla as her husband had the lieutenants in the Army. Her remarks about yesterday’ s little bust were nothing more than roundabout inquiries as to what Kayla had been doing working on her day off without her partner. Which also meant that Jim and Shirley had talked. The two considered her their errant cub that needed guidance as well as protection.
“ You know how it goes,” Kayla offered nonchalantly, but there was nothing casual about the way she braced herself for facing her partner. He’ d already said plenty on the phone. He’ d no doubt saved his best disciplinary remarks for this morning when they would be face-to-face.
In reality Kayla outranked Jim, but he’ d been in this business twenty years longer than her
so to his way of thinking, he was senior.
Couldn’ t argue that. Most of the time, anyway.
“ Good morning, Jim,” she said, all smiles and as chipper as hell as she strode into their office. If he wanted a fight he’ d have to start it.
He growled something that resembled “ morning” , then folded his newspaper into a wadlike mass and tossed it aside.
“ So tell me again how you got this anonymous tip.”
Kayla sat down at the desk that faced her partner’ s. She propped her feet on the edge and crossed them at the ankles, then took a long swallow from her coffee. Might as well let him stew another few seconds. She swallowed and made a contented sound in her throat. Jim’ s left eyebrow arched, indicating his patience had reached an end.
Eventually she shrugged. “ I was at home minding my own business and the phone rang. End of story.” The statement sounded like a truly bad lie but it was the God’ s truth. She understood that it was unusual. But a good cop took tips anywhere she could get them. They didn’ t always pan out but this one had.
His elbows propped on the arms of his chair, Jim steepled his fingers. “ It didn’ t cross your mind that the whole scenario went down a little too smoothly?”
“ Sure it did.” She sipped her designer coffee blend. “ I figure the snitch was someone the perp had pissed off. Somebody who wanted revenge.”
“ Or maybe someone who wanted to throw the cops off his own scent.”
That had entered her mind as well. “ It’ s possible.”
“ Investigator Devon says one of the guys is trying to cop a plea. He wants immunity for what he knows.”
Kayla sat up, her county-issue shoes slapping against the tile floor. “ Does he have anything that important?”
Jim kept his expression closed but Kayla didn’ t miss the flicker of a smile around one corner of his mouth. “ He says he can give us the number one player, who deals not only in bikes but cars.”
Now that would be a major coup. “ We should go down and see what he has to say.” Anticipation bubbled like an uncorked bottle of champagne.