Games of Zeus 02- Silent Echoes

by Aimee Laine

  “No.”

  Her eyes widened for a brief moment before they narrowed into slits. “I can’t just let him walk away. He’s my friend. He paid my bond. He’s all I ha—”

  “If he’s your friend, you’ll let him keep his conscience clear. He knows that. Gets that. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left.”

  She yanked away from Ian, but he held on to her wrist. “Let. Me. Go. Ian.”

  “You want to hear what he’s going to learn soon? Or want him to lose his job?”

  “Go to hell.” She stormed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. In the bedroom she’d been offered, she threw the door toward its frame, but grabbed it to prevent it from slamming.

  “Ugh!” Taylor dropped to the mattress and screamed into the pillow.

  • • •

  “Damn women. I can’t figure you out.” Ian plopped himself into Tripp’s favorite chair again.

  “Gonna go after her?” Emma asked.

  “No.”

  “Why not?” Lexi asked as Emma said, “But, you just promised Riley you’d take care of her.” The scornful looks they both gave him should have made him cringe, but he’d learned to ignore them as often as possible. Their status as ‘almost sisters’ let him do so.

  “I’m not going to let anything happen.” He gazed straight at Emma. “You of all people should know I’m a man of my word.”

  Emma and Lexi huffed breaths, stood and walked up the stairs all at the same time.

  “Ennnh,” Tripp mimicked a buzzer. “Wrong answer.” He didn’t rise to follow them, though.

  “What the hell? You, who doesn’t do anything the politically correct way, want to tell me—”

  “I’m not the one with a relationship hanging in the balance.” Tripp’s head moved back and forth.

  “One—or two—kisses doesn’t—no, forget I said anything. I don’t even know why she’s mad.”

  “Dude, even I know that one.” Tripp’s voice took on his complete I-told-you-so tone.

  Ian hung his head. “Do I want to know?”

  “Yes, but with a beer.”

  Ian pushed from his seat. “I’ll get them.”

  Two bottles and a bag of tortilla chips later, he returned to the living room. Tripp had overtaken his chair, so Ian took the couch.

  “Gonna share what info you got from that phone call?” Tripp drank from the ice cold container as Ian grabbed a handful of fried corn goodness.

  “I was going to before … she went off all half-cocked when her boyfriend decided to do his job instead of your job.”

  Tripp gave Ian a head bob. “Okay, so what if Michael was in this pickle, and someone said I couldn’t handle his case due to ethics? What would you have done?”

  “This isn’t about me.”

  “Didn’t say it was. Just answer the damn question.”

  “I’da probably told ‘em to fuck off. You’re his attorney, and his friend and—”

  Tripp crunched on a chip. “Exactly. So, you kinda did the opposite there. You heard her, didn’t you? Everything about her says she loves him, trusts him … you managed to push him away without a second thought.”

  “Wasn’t that the point? To keep him on our side but on the inside?”

  Tripp extended a finger toward the ceiling. “Yep.”

  “Then what the hell did I do wrong?” Ian pulled from his beer, closed his eyes and leaned back.

  “Not a thing.”

  “So, that’s your big revelation? I did nothing wrong, only stuff to help this woman, and now she’s pissed at me?”

  “Yup.” Tripp took a long swig from his bottle.

  “So, what was your advice going to be?”

  “To drink a lot. ‘Cause after May thirty-first, it’s not going to get any better.”

  Ian set his bottle on the coffee table. “You keep mentioning that date. What’s so significant about it?”

  Tripp chuckled. “Not a thing. I just like to up the ante on my bets … as you know.”

  “You’re gonna lose.” Ian snagged a chip. “Let me ask you something.” He waved the corn circle in the air.

  “Anything.”

  “What was your first reaction to meeting Lexi?” The sigh caused Ian to meet his friend’s gaze.

  “Since we were outside, on the beach at two a.m., it was like a big-ass wave came up out of the ocean and sucked me right in. Damn woman.”

  Ian huffed a laugh. “That’s what I thought. It’s the most ridiculous shit I’ve ever dealt with.”

  “So, you’re chicken, then?” The creases at the corner of Tripp’s mouth brought a smile to Ian’s.

  “I’m not—”

  “Boc-boc-boc-boc.”

  “You did not just do a stupid poultry sound.”

  “Boc-boc.”

  “I’m not playing second fiddle. There’s a thing with Riley. You even said it.” Ian jutted out his chin. “He loves her. I can see it.” With a gulp to swash down whatever stuck in his throat, Ian said, “Never mind, screw it. Michael wants a DNA sample from Taylor. Wants it over-nighted.”

  “That what he called for?”

  Ian shook his head, took another swig of the hops. “Nope, not just that. If she hadn’t run off like some girl, I’d have told her the good news.”

  Tripp leaned forward, his beer clutched between his hands. “And that would be?”

  “Michael says there is no way she had anything to do with those bones. Said it wasn’t obvious at first because they were really well preserved, but he ran some thingamajig to date them, and they’re at least a hundred years old.”

  A slap to Tripp’s knee startled Ian enough to make him blink. “Hot damn!”

  “He’s stumped, though, on one point.”

  Tripp leaned back in his chair. “Uh-oh.”

  “Yeah. He has no idea why the bones were so well preserved, but the dating is inarguable. The team he’s gathered is going to run some more stuff. Says we’ll have Taylor in the clear in a few days, week tops.”

  “So, all we gotta do is keep her out of harm’s way until then.” Tripp held up his beer. “To teamwork.”

  Ian clinked it. “Yeah. And to a clean five mil.”

  10

  Free but not free. Independent yet reined in. Enclosed but not at home.

  All the stresses built up until Taylor could barely contain the judders of her body or the desire to throw a hammer through a window just so she could fix it.

  Soft voices arrived outside the door and continued for what seemed like ten or more minutes. They rose. They faded. They whispered. Emphasis took hold of one, punctuated the other and ended with a ‘shhh’.

  Taylor’s lips curved as she listened to Lexi and Emma argue over whether or not they should intrude or leave Taylor on her own—a rivalry that befit any two sisters. For a moment, she wished she weren’t an only child.

  “This is ridiculous. I’m going in.” Lexi’s firm decision came just before a tentative knock and the creak of the door as it opened. “Taylor? It’s Lexi and Emma.”

  Taylor’s giggle refused to stay inside after having listened to them argue and strategize for so long. “Come in.”

  Emma bumped Lexi out of the way as she took the bedside Taylor left unused. “How you doin’?”

  With a slight nod, Taylor said, “About as well as a deer caught in the crosshairs.”

  “Doesn’t sound so good.” Lexi’s slide onto the end of the mattress dipped it just a little.

  “It sounds downright pitiful,” Emma said. The glare Lexi gave Emma could be none other than a sister would give. “What?” Emma shrugged as if she didn’t know. “She’s sad. That’s a good analogy. I’d be more pissed than sad, if I were her, and Ian hadn’t come running up here like an actual man.”

  “Ignore her, Taylor.” Lexi offered her sister another deep glare before giving Taylor her full attention. “Ian got some information he wants to share with you. Tripp’s going to make this all go away. Riley …” Her head inclined to the side. “Well,
if he loves you enough, stepping awa—”

  “That’s not it.” Taylor’s head hit the wall as she leaned back.

  “That sounded like it hurt.” Emma’s matter-of-fact voice broke Taylor’s lips into a smile.

  “Don’t listen to the wiseass.” Lexi patted Taylor’s feet.

  “Riley and I aren’t a thing.” Taylor opened her eyes again. “We never have been.”

  “It’s okay if you are,” Emma said and earned another glare.

  Taylor drew in a breath. “We really aren’t. We’ve been friends—brother and sister like—since we were—since before we were tweens. And this isn’t about Ian, either. It just all caught up with me. Not being able to go home. Not being with my friend. Not having choices. Leaving my fate in someone else’s hands.” Her hands flitted up and dropped to the bed. “It just crashed on me, and I took it out on the wrong person.”

  “So, is Ian a hot kisser?” Emma asked.

  Taylor’s laugh came out full and loud.

  “You did not just ask her that, Em!” Laughter bred more as chuckles came from Lexi and Emma.

  “Why not? She’s obviously past the brood phase of the day. We might as well get somewhere better.”

  Taylor’s mirth continued to toy with her gut. “I can get behind that. And, yes, he is.”

  Emma offered Taylor a light backslap to the shoulder. “The man has moves. I’ve seen him in action, though I can’t say any of them were used on me.” Her hands crossed over her heart. “He can wine and dine with the best of the bachelors.”

  “Then why is he one?” Taylor angled her head in Emma’s direction.

  She positioned those hands over her mouth. “Probably said too much.”

  “Why not let every cat out of the bag then, Em?” Lexi’s playful tone returned.

  Emma stuck her tongue out at Lexi. “Well, I happen to know Ian’s been … a bit celibate for the last few months. Since the wedding, actually.” She ticked off her fingers. “That’s been almost six months now.”

  Lexi leaned forward. “And, that’s a record according to Tripp.”

  The tension in Taylor’s shoulders and neck disappeared as the two around her gabbed.

  Girl time. Real girl time. With smart, vivacious women. Taylor had needed that.

  On and on they chatted about Tripp and Ian, as much brothers yet nothing by blood. Boys, no matter their age.

  Taylor stiffened when Lexi moved a hand to her middle and a small crease grew at her temple. The simple look Taylor received, while Emma continued on, suggested she should stay quiet.

  “So … Riley … Is he available, then? I mean … well … you know.” Emma’s eyes glittered with interest.

  Lexi and Taylor both burst out laughing.

  “Actually,” Taylor said. “He says he’s not. He’s mentioned a girl a few times.”

  “Damn.” Emma snapped her fingers. “All the good ones gettin’ away.”

  “I haven’t met her. So, I don’t know that I believe him,” Taylor said.

  More giggles ran through the three of them.

  “Maybe we should get downstairs and find out what’s going on with the boys? And whatever that phone call was?” The mattress shifted as Lexi slid from her spot.

  A dark red blotch covered the place beneath where she’d sat.

  • • •

  “Tripp!” Emma’s yell came from upstairs with a panic that set Ian’s heart to frantic.

  Tripp didn’t hesitate. He jumped from his seat, took the stairs two at a time, Ian following.

  The beating inside Ian’s chest didn’t stop when he made it to the door behind Tripp.

  Taylor gathered blankets into her arms as Tripp whisked Lexi into his. Emma chased them both back down the stairs.

  One look to Taylor and Ian read worry and fear.

  “Can you help me with this bedding?” She continued to pull, right down to the lower layer. A small patch of red graced the mattress. “I’ll just get this cleaned up for her.”

  Ian moved to the side as Taylor marched through—her familiarity with the house letting her take charge. She stuffed the duvet into the washer first and started it. She grabbed cleaner and a rag and turned. “Oh! Didn’t realize you’d followed me.” She inched past him back toward the bedroom. “Sometimes, this happens in early pregnancy, Ian.”

  His heart hammered harder. “What?”

  Taylor blinked, the bottle and gloves still in hand. “She didn’t tell you.”

  “I thought maybe … well … something else.” He knuckled his temple. “How did you know?”

  “Saw her at the doc’s. When you and Tripp came by the other day, he said, “Lexi said to tell you, ‘yes’.”

  Ian inclined his head.

  Taylor rolled her eyes. “I asked her at the doc’s office if I should plan to build out a room as a nursery anytime soon, and she said she’d get back with me. I figured that’s what his cryptic message was all about.”

  “Oh. But, what about—” Ian waved a hand in the direction of the blood.

  “Could be nothing.” She went back into the bedroom and sprayed the circle, no larger than a salad plate, but enough to have soaked into the top layer.

  Ian leaned into the doorframe. “Why are you so calm about this? About everything?”

  “I’m only collected on the outside, Ian. What’s inside is running at the pace of a moonshine still with the cops barreling down upon it.” She scrubbed until white foam built up on the top. “But there’s no sense in letting on if it will do me no good. And, if I wash this little spot now, it’ll be gone when she gets back. One less thing for her to worry about and one more favor I can pay back.”

  “They don’t work like that. Lexi and Tripp, that is. Or me.”

  Taylor’s head bobbed as if she agreed, though she didn’t say so.

  “We have a team working with one of the bones from your house.”

  Her head snapped up. “How—”

  Ian held up his hands. “Don’t ask. Anyway … my brother, Michael, tested it, and it’s at least a hundred years old.”

  Her hands stopped moving.

  “We’re going to send the results to the police anonymously.”

  She started scrubbing again.

  “He’d like a DNA sample from you so he can run some other tests. More fuel for the defense’s fire is good, right?”

  The head bob started again.

  Ian put his hands on her biceps and squeezed. “Trust them. Trust me. Seriously, trust me.”

  She stopped. “But what if—”

  “Hey.” Ian tilted her chin up with a finger. “In my world, we only play the ‘what if’ game when there is opportunity. Like … what if there’s treasure buried in a cave three hundred feet beneath the ocean’s surface? Can we find it?”

  Taylor’s lids fell. Ian inched closer. Her eyes opened again. “Do you want to go to the hospital? Shouldn’t you be there for your friend? I can clean up.”

  Ian shook his head. “She has Emma. She has Tripp. Anything happens, they’ll call me.”

  Taylor went back to cleaning the spot, though not a blotch of red remained.

  Expecting the task kept her mind off Lexi, Ian opted to continue on about their find. “So, one of the questions Michael asked was how old you are. I told him early thirties.” He cringed as her head whipped around to him.

  The corners of her mouth creased. “Don’t you know—”

  “Don’t play that shit with me. You and I both know you don’t care.” Though how he knew that, he had no idea.

  He just knew.

  A small laugh bubbled up from her. “Thirty-one, thank you very much.” She dropped the rags and grabbed some light blankets.

  Ian coughed into a closed fist. “So, Michael says those bones were preserved so well it had to have been in soil so compact they hadn’t been touched in at least seventy, maybe eighty years.”

  “So, a grave fits then, right”

  Ian considered the simplicity, though for some
reason, he knew it wouldn’t be. “Could be.”

  “That’s what I thought at one point.” Taylor tucked blankets around the bed, leaving the wet spot uncovered. “With it being so old, will they put any time into it at all? Wouldn’t they just file it away into some dark corner and focus on newer, more pressing cases?”

  “No idea.” Ian took the other side and tugged the same way she had. “That’s not my area of expertise. But I will say, with Tripp on the case, we’ll have the inside scoop in no time flat.”

  Taylor pinched the bridge of her nose. “I really can’t thank you enough. I know I shouldn’t have called him for this, but it felt … right.”

  Ian gave her a nonchalant shrug. “S’okay. He takes whatever cases he wants. It’s how he rolls.”

  She stood straight. “Oh! Does this mean they’ll get off my property?”

  “Don’t get your hopes up. We gotta convince the authorities here that the data is real first.”

  Her shoulders fell as if the weight of the world crashed back down on her. The open-mouthed yawn suggested sleep would be the most useful tool.

  “You can rest if you want. I’ll go downstairs—”

  “Actually, I’d love a shower.” Taylor tugged at a lock of hair. “Or a bath. A massage. Something relaxing that can’t even remotely get messed up.”

  “You installed the claw-foot tub in Lexi’s bathroom. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you used it.”

  “You think?” Taylor asked.

  “Positive. Then, when they get back, we’ll both be … refreshed. Ready to help. Or whatever they need. Lexi makes a terrible ward. Been there. Done that. We’ll want to take the time now.”

  “We?”

  Ian went to the desk, grabbed his laptop, sidled to the bed and sat on it. He scooted up until he could lean into the headboard. “Oh, yeah. I never get off easy when Tripp’s got his claws into something, and when those claws are around his wife? Damn if I get a moment free.” He opened the laptop. “Unless you want me to join you in that tub.”

  Taylor smiled. “I’ll take a rain check on that part.”

  Ian chuckled. “If you change your mind, come get me. I’ll be here … doing nothing … but more research.”

  Taylor’s hips swung as she walked to the door. Ian couldn’t help but admire them. Head cocked, he tracked her steps to Lexi and Tripp’s bathroom, and seconds later, the splash of running water. Once the sounds quieted, telling Ian that Taylor had closed the door, he gave his full attention to the screen in his lap.