Another Man's Treasure

by Jay, Wendy

  Miranda kissed Jude gently on the lips. She turned toward Ross and hugged him. This man… Ross Guthrie? Trevor Wilkes? She owed him her life. Jude and Ross bumped fists. It’s all good.

  “Thank you for protecting me, Ross. Can I ask if you have additional proof of all this besides the tapes?”

  Ross never had the chance to answer Miranda. A sound of someone clearing their throat caused them all to turn. In the doorway stood a tall, leggy blonde dressed in tight jeans, a tee-shirt and cowboy boots, holding a manila folder. This time it was Ross’s jaw that fell open. There stood Francine Hedley-Marsh, in the flesh.

  Fuck me, this is one gorgeous woman.

  “I think I can help with that answer, M. Yeah, there is proof and I’m holding a piece or two in my hands. Hey, you must be Ross Guthrie? I’m Frannie Marsh.”

  Ross stood up and took Frannie’s hand. He hated shaking hands. Ross made a practice not to do it…but he just had to touch that lovely hand extended towards him. It felt like a bolt of electricity went through his body when he touched her. Frannie held his gaze and smiled the most dazzling smile. She was more beautiful than any picture he had seen.

  “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Marsh.”

  “Oh please, it’s Francine or Frannie, if you prefer. Miranda and I have been best friends since high school. So this is what the Feds are hiring these days? Shit, I am in the wrong business! I have documents you might be interested in, Mr. Guthrie.”

  “It’s Ross and yes, let’s take a look at what you got.”

  Francine raised her eyebrow and laughed.

  “Not until you buy me dinner.”

  “Frannie! For god’s sake!” Miranda chastised Francine and laughed.

  Jude shook his head. He had seen Ross like this just one other time. Yeah, he was a goner. Jude could tell just by the tone of his voice that Ross was interested in Francine. Ross looked at the kitchen counter, seeing all the preparations Miranda had made for dinner.

  “Well, Francine, I think Miranda and Jude have taken ce hng all are of the dinner part for me. Shall we eat first or have show and tell?”

  Chapter 26

  After dinner, Ross picked up the manila folder Frannie had brought. Frannie touched Ross’s hand, shook her head no and motioned him into the living room. She sat beside him on the couch and whispered quietly.

  “Ross, there are some inconsistencies in the documentation. I work at the same company as Jude, just in a different division. I have some connections and called in a couple of favors. David’s financial records are abnormal to say the least. I think you and Jude should look them over and I will stay with Miranda. I also gave you the original death certificate for my late husband Sam. Do you have a copy of David’s death certificate?”

  “Yes, I have it with his birth records, along with adoption papers and such. Why do you want to see David’s death certificate, Francine?”

  “To compare all the records with Sam’s. Something isn’t right. I know Sam’s are accurate. I was with him from the time he was diagnosed with leukemia, all the doctor’s visits, hospital stays...you name it. He never went to one single appointment alone and for the last 6 months of his life, I was on leave from work and with him 24/7.”

  “According to the records, David died of leukemia. That’s too fucking coincidental. Thanks, Francine, for the heads up. Where can I look all this over in private?”

  “I will grab Jude and send him in here, and I will stay with M. Fix this, Ross. Miranda is my best friend.”

  Francine reached for Ross’s hand and squeezed it. He could see by the look in her eyes she was honest and sincere. He squeezed her hand back and felt that jump in his gut. Fuck, this is one gorgeous woman...good heart too.

  “Don’t worry, Francine. Jude and I have been friends a long time. I have been protecting that girl for the last 3 years. I got this.”

  Francine smiled, got up from the couch and walked back into the kitchen. Ross couldn’t take his eyes off her body as she walked away. His eyes started at her cowboy boots then travelled up and locked on her firm, hard ass. He sat and stared long after she left the room. Jude walked in and laughed.

  “Dude, stop staring at me that way. I know my ass isn’t that fine.”

  “Fuck if you aren’t right again, Delaney. I need to grab my briefcase from the car.”

  “Come with me. Frannie tells me we need some privacy to talk. She will stay with Miranda. Let’s go out through the study, so not to alert the ladies.”

  Ross followed Jude to the back door and grabbed his briefcase, and then they settled in the study. Ross opened the briefcase and took out several file folders, all marked Case #CJ-RG-102. He opened the folder Francine gave him and thumbed through until he found Sam Marsh’s death certificate. He located the death certificate on file for David Jones and set them side by side, comparing them. Ross’s brow furrowed. He looked up at Jude with a raised eyebrow and motioned for Jude to look at the documents.

  “Jude, I think your friend Frannie just gave me a big piece of the puzzle. Come look at this. See here and here? The watermarks are different. Seeing them separately you would never notice it. One of these certificates is false. Want to take a guess which one?”

  “Holy fuck, Ross. What does this mean?”

  “It means someone faked David’s death certificate to cover up how he died, and I will bet you I know who did it. I need those tapes, Jude. That rotten fuck Castile is going down and going down hard. I am going to put him away for so long, he will be everyone’s prison bitch.”

  Jude watched Ross as he went through the mound of paperwork. Shaking his head and mumbling, he went to the wall safe and opened it to gather the tapes. He set the box on the edge of the desk and watched Ross smile.

  “Go get him, you big bastard. You are like watching a wild dog feeding on fresh meat. I am going to grab a couple beers and be right back.”

  “I love this shit when it all falls together.”

  Jude walked out the room as Ross grabbed his phone and made a call. He hesitated in the hall for a split second.

  “Culver? It’s Guthrie. We got the son of a bitch. Yeah, tapes and all. This bastard is going down. Wait for my call.”

  Jude continued down the hall and smiled. I am glad he’s on my side. Fuck, he is one tough son of a bitch.

  **********

  Miranda and Francine were in the kitchen cleaning up and chatting. Mitinan>What the hell is going on in her life? Francine watched her move about and knew her mind was spinning in a thousand directions. She grabbed a bottle of wine and poured two glasses.

  “Come on Miranda, this can wait. Let’s go out on the porch and talk. None of this mindless chatting shit. Really talk.”

  Francine walked behind Miranda and noticed Jude walking up the hall towards them. She shrugged her shoulders at him and continued with Miranda to the porch swing. Miranda sat and Francine handed her a glass, then sat next to her. Miranda took a drink of the wine and a deep breath escaped her lungs.

  “Frannie, what did you have in the folder that would help this mess? Please tell me. I need to know.”

  “M...I found some financial abnormalities in David’s records. Large sums of money coming and going. He wasn’t that smart at hiding it. Looks like everything Ross said about the drug running is true. I also gave him Sam’s death certificate to compare with David’s.”

  “I can’t believe David and Hank were blood brothers. It never entered my mind about David being adopted. He was older, but Mom told me she had a hard time conceiving. Why did you give Ross David’s death certificate?”

  “I honestly think what your mom said was true. My Mom said your parents were pretty shocked, but were thrilled when you came along. Your Dad doted on your Mom hand and foot. Mom said she had never seen two people more in love than your parents. Remember when we found out about Sam and David both dying of leukemia? Ross compared the two certificates. David’s is fake.”

  Miranda had tears running down her cheeks when she laid her head
on Francine’s shoulder. Frannie put her arm around Miranda and continued to swing in silence. Jude peered out the door and watched them for a few minutes. Ross walked up behind Jude and looked over his shoulder. Ross spoke in low tones, not to alert Miranda and Francine.

  “She’s going to be ok, Jude. This is some heavy shit for her right now, but I saw strength come from that girl in Cali that you just can’t believe. Hank was a bastard and she stood her ground.”

  “Did he hurt her, Ross? Did Hank Castile abuse her?”

  “That miserable excuse for a man abused everybody...mentally and physically. I never saw any marks on her face, but there were times...”

  “That son of a bitch will pay for that, mark my words. She still has night terrors, Ross. How many of those are due to Castile?”

  “I don’t know. I can tell you this. If those tapes have the info I think they do, he is going away for a long, long time. Let’s grab those beers and head back to the study.”

  Jude and Ross turned back towards Miranda and Francine and simply stared at them for a moment. Miranda sat up straight, then looked at Francine and smiled. Francine said something and Miranda g aards Miranspit out her wine and laughed. Francine motioned towards the door with her head and Miranda turned and saw Jude and Ross in the doorway. Francine winked in their direction and waved at them. Jude smiled and rolled his eyes. Ross let out the deep breath he had been holding and shook his head. She was going to be trouble...just the kind of trouble he liked.

  “Oh, that one is trouble, my friend,” Jude laughed. “And she isn’t even a red head.”

  “Hey, Delaney! Don’t make me sorry I introduced you to my bestie years ago.” Francine stuck her tongue out at Jude and laughed.

  “Frannie, take your best shot.” Jude laughed harder. “Don’t forget I got the big guy here on my side.”

  “Do I have a say in this at all?” Miranda enjoyed the thrust and parry between them. “Ross, do you think you and I have a chance in hell with these two?”

  “I think they both better be careful what they wish for, Miranda. We may be more than either of them can handle.”

  Ross stared directly at Francine, boring holes through her with his piercing blue eyes. Francine felt herself shiver as Ross’s gazed never wavered. Jesus, he was a gorgeous man. I would love to see what he had to handle. Ross and Jude turned to head back to the study, but not before hearing the girls giggle.

  “Think they are giggling about us, Ross.”

  “They had better be, Jude.”

  The two friends laughed at the women on the porch. One redhead in love with a gorgeous, kinky dark-haired man, who was playful and fiercely protective. One leggy blonde intrigued with this tall hulk of a man, with desires that ran so deep even he was unsure of their depth. Lust...for now.

  “Frannie, why did David do this? The lying, sending me away...do you think it was just all about the drugs?”

  “Well, to me it sounds like Hank was the controlling brother and David was his pawn. I wonder what he was holding over his head to make David send you away.”

  “David blamed everything on Jude. He said that Jude was bad and dealing drugs. David wanted me away from him, so I wouldn’t get caught up in it. What he did was send me into the fire. Why, Frannie? Did David hate me?”

  “No, David didn’t hate you, but I think he was scared shitless of Hank. What was Hank like, Mandy?”

  “At first he was very attentive and so sensual. He called me 10 times a day and texted me even more. I loved the attention. Later, I realized that was his way of controlling me. He was watching my every move. I couldn’t go anywhere without him finding out and flipping his cork! Even going to the corner store without telling him pissed him off.”

  “Do you know how he found out? Who was watching you every minute? Think about it, Mandy. Who has been tailing you the last three years?”

  nt>ze="+0"

  “Oh my god...Trevor!”

  “Who the hell is Trevor?”

  Miranda’s eyes grew wide as she put her hand over her mouth to muffle her shock. Francine stared at her, confused.

  “Miranda...Mandy...WHO IS TREVOR?”

  “It’s Ross Guthrie. Ross is Trevor Wilkes.” Miranda’s mind spun out of control. She couldn’t keep up with her own thoughts.

  “Frannie, no wonder Ross is so intent on protecting me. He was Hank’s informant about my whereabouts. There were times I would leave Hank’s place to go visit friends or go to parties and Hank never said a word.”

  “Jesus, M, Ross really did protect you. He never told Hank where you were or who you were with. What would Hank have done to you if he found out you were at parties?”

  “Hank would have hurt me again.” Miranda lowered her head and started to cry. Francine sat and held her friend’s hand and let her cry.

  When Miranda continued, she talked in between sobs.

  “Ha...Ha...Hank found out once early on in our re...re...relationship about me going to my fr...fr...friend Marcy’s party. That ni...ni...night he beat the sh...sh...shit out of me. It only happened the one time.”

  “After that, Ross never told Hank again, I bet. He kept his mouth shut to protect you...he risked himself. Wow, Mandy, Ross is quite a man.”

  “Frannie, I love Jude with all my heart. I don’t want any secrets from him. How do I tell him that I was so fucking stupid to stay with a man for three years after he beat me?”

  “Miranda let me tell you something about Jude. He never dated a woman for any length of time. Dates, yes. Seriously dated, never. After college, he moved back here, concentrated on his work, dated casually...that’s it. Jude loves you, Miranda, more than you will ever realize. I can see it in his eyes. He has ‘redhead fever’.”

  Miranda looked at Francine and they both started to laugh. Francine was good at making Miranda laugh.

  “Frannie, you’re the best. I love you so much, girl. You make me laugh even when I don’t want to.”

  “Come on, M, let’s go inside and relax in front of the tube for a bit. You’re exhausted.”

  Miranda and Francine went inside and watched a comedian improv show. Miranda curled up on one end of the couch and drifted off to sleep. Francine grabbed a blanket, covered her friend and kissed her cheek.

  “Sleep my bestie, I’ll let myself out.”

  Chapter 27

  Ross and Jude were concentrating on the tapes when they saw movement from outside. Ross immediately reached for his glock and went to the back door. Quietly, he opened the door and slipped outside as Jude ran to find Miranda. Jude found Miranda sleeping, curled up on the living room couch, but no Frannie. He reached down to touch her hair then he heard Francine yelp, followed by Ross’s angry voice.

  “Francine, what the fuck are you doing out here?”

  “Shit, Ross, you scared me to death! Holster that damn Glock before you shoot someone. I am headed home, for shit’s sake. Miranda finally fell asleep, so I was leaving quietly not to disturb her or you guys.”

  “Sufferin’ Jesus, Frannie!” Jude exclaimed. “It’s just you. Can you meet me at the office tomorrow to do some investigation work about 10 am?”

  Frannie looked up at Jude and let out a deep sigh, then laughed.

  “Did you send Mr. Muscles out here to shoot me if I said no? Yeah, 10 am is fine. G’nite guys.”

  Francine turned to jump in her Jeep when Ross caught her arm. The softness of her skin made his gut clench and he took a deep breath.

  “Look, I’m sorry. This whole Castile thing has me a bit jumpier than usual. I know how his twisted mind works. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “It’s ok, Ross. I understand. Miranda is important to all of us for different reasons. She has been my best friend since junior high and even being parted for so long, it’s like we were never apart. Friendship with her is just that easy.”

  Ross looked into Francine’s eyes as she spoke. He really wanted to kiss her and shut her up. She smiled at Ross and ran her hand against his forearm. Holy
shit, Mr. Muscles, I would like to see what’s under that dress shirt. Ross smiled back at Francine and reached up and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

  “How about I make it up to you? Lunch tomorrow, your choice.”

  “I would love that. How about I pick you up when Jude and I are done at the office?”

  “Great, Francine, see you then.”

  Francine motioned to Ross with her finger to lean in closer. The thought of her kissing him flashed through his body like a wild fire. She leaned in and whispered in his ear.