Another Man's Treasure

by Jay, Wendy

  Jude also knew Miranda would fire questions at him so fast he wouldn’t have time to answer one before she asked another. Yup, that’s my Miranda…I am going to have to kiss her between questions to get her to shut up. Jude smiled to himself and thought this wasn’t such a bad idea…question, kiss…question, kiss. He pulled into the driveway of Miranda’s house and took a deep breath. Here we go. Jude walked in and looked around and shouted to her.

  “Miranda, where are you?”

  “I’m upstairs unpacking.”

  Jude ran up the stairs and found Miranda in the spare room surrounded by boxes. He sr b="tairs tood in the doorway with the flowers he purchased in town and grinned. Miranda was sitting on the floor with paper and belongings strewn all over the place. She looked like a kid on Christmas morning. Jude crossed the room, sat next to Miranda and placed the flowers aside. He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her fervently. The kiss was tender and filled with love and passion. Jude handed Miranda the flowers and smiled.

  “For you, baby.”

  “Wow, what did I do to deserve this? You have only been gone 2 or 3 hours. Did you miss me that much?”

  “I miss you every second I am away from you, Mandy. Besides, we need to celebrate.”

  “Celebrate what?” Miranda searched Jude’s face for some hint. “Are you going to tell me or just grin at me, Jude?”

  “Come downstairs and let’s have something to drink. I can’t wait to tell you what we found out!”

  “Jude… c’mon, tell me!”

  “I will Mandy, I will tell you everything, but let’s go downstairs first. I could use a beer.”

  “Cold beer sounds good right about now.”

  Jude kissed her quick and they went downstairs. Miranda sat on the couch. Jude grabbed two beers from the refrigerator, sat next to her and opened them. He took a long drink of the beer and a deep breath. Jude cupped Miranda’s face and kissed her long and deep, getting lost in her touch.

  “Jude, I would love to sit here and kiss you all day, but you are killing me! Tell me what you found out. Is it David…Hank? Good news…bad news? WHAT?”

  Before she could fire off one more question, Jude kissed her quickly and laughed.

  “One question at a time, Mandy. Better yet, let me just tell you what is going on.”

  Jude told Miranda about David’s work records, financials and deposits to the banks in California. He explained about Singles LLC, how Hank was the CEO and found about her existence by chance. Miranda watched and listened to everything. Her brow furrowed and she looked confused.

  “Mandy, don’t you see? David never sold you like Hank said on the tapes. Castile stalked you for a long time prior to your meeting at the real estate office and before you danced with him at Singles.”

  Miranda’s eyes were brimming with tears and she tried to blink them away. Stay strong girl…you can do this.

  “Jude, what about David’s death certificate? Ross was pretty interested in seeing it and how David died.”

  “It was faked. Ross compared it to Sam Marsh’s death certificate. Frannie gave him a copy of it last night.”

  “David nev>“Davier had leukemia, did he? How did he die?”

  “Ross sent all the information to his partner or boss at the FBI; I think his name is Culver. Ross is waiting for verification.”

  “But, he suspects something?”

  “Ross thinks Castile had him killed.”

  Miranda’s mouth went dry. She picked up her beer to take a drink, but she was shaking so hard she could barely get it to her lips. Tears streamed down her face as she took a sip and looked at Jude. He took the bottle from her, set it on the coffee table and took Miranda in his arms.

  “He killed my brother. Hank killed the only family member I had left. He killed his own blood brother. Why?”

  “Ross thinks Castile used you as a bargaining chip to keep David in line. David wanted you to come home, but Castile thought he would tell you everything.”

  “Everything? What else is there but the drugs and prostitution? Is there more I should know, Jude? Please, tell me everything. I need to know once and for all so I can put these fucking ghosts to rest.”

  “Yeah, there’s more Mandy, but Ross is waiting on verification.”

  “Tell me, please.”

  Jude took a deep breath and shook his head. Fuck, I don’t want to do this.

  “Ok Mandy, I will tell you, but this is really fucked up. You sure you want to know?”

  “I think I have to know, Jude. If I don’t know, the past will always haunt me.”

  “Back when your parents were still alive, Castile had David running drugs for him. David backed out and Hank went ballistic having his East Coast connection shut down. Castile wanted to prove to David he could get to him no matter what happened. “

  “What did he do…?”

  “Castile never knew about you. He didn’t realize your parents had another child other than David. He sent someone…he had your parents killed. The car accident was no accident. He did it to gain control over David, and he did it in a way that would never implicate him. Before we graduated I found out about the drugs and confronted David. That’s when he blamed me and sent you to live with your aunt.”

  Miranda sat deathly still, staring straight ahead. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. The man I lived with for three years had my parents killed…because of drugs. My whole world gone…because of drugs. Miranda’s voice was barely audible when she spoke.

  “Ross can verify this?”

  “He’s waiting to hear from Culver. Mlver.&nbandy…what can I do, tell me. What can I do to help you through this?”

  Miranda looked Jude with an expression he had never seen on her before. Even though she had been crying, there was a steely coldness about her eyes.

  “Kill the son of a bitch.”

  “Ross said Castile will be in prison a long time when all this is processed and verified. The tapes and the information Frannie found clinched it.”

  Just then, Ross and Francine walked into the house in time to hear Miranda’s request. Francine went and sat by her best friend and took her hand. Miranda was held by the two people she loved more than anyone on earth as she fell apart. Ross walked over and stood in front of Miranda and waited for her to collect herself.

  “Miranda, when the tapes are processed and voice tested we will have enough to put Castile away for a long time. The other prison inmates will eat him alive. He hasn’t got the balls to survive there. Hank has had someone doing his dirty work for years. He’s a coward and all his connections will roll on him rather than do time themselves.”

  Miranda nodded at Ross. He had protected her more than she had ever known. She took a deep breath and stood up. With Miranda being approximately 10” shorter than this colossus of a man, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. Ross held her for a minute and comforted her. Miranda, I won’t let you down.

  “I don’t know how to thank you, Ross, for all that you have done for me. Not just now, but for the last few years. I know you have protected me one way or another. I owe you my life.”

  Francine had tears in her eyes. Jude just looked at his friend and bumped fists with him. Ross nodded at Jude and smiled.

  “You don’t have to thank me, Miranda. All in a day’s work.”

  “Jesus, I am glad to be unemployed then.”

  Ross stepped back with a smile and laughed. Francine looked at Ross with a gleam of admiration in her eyes and bit her bottom lip.

  Those damn lips of his...that smile. Damn if you don’t just stand there and turn me on and you aren’t even trying. Ross looked at Francine and could almost read her mind. His blue eyes were trained on hers as he took a deep breath.

  “There is one thing you can do for me, Miranda.”

  “Anything, Ross, you name it.”

  “Promise me you will show up in court and help me put that piece of shit Castile behind bars.”
r />   “Only if I can kick him in the nuts first.”

  Jude, Ross and Francine started to laugh. Ross raised his eyebrows and looked stunned. Francine let out a whoop.

  “Damn Jude, she’s harsh.”

  “It’s the color.”

  “Can you fix it?”

  “Nope, gotta live with it.”

  “Well, better Castile’s than mine.”

  “We will buy us the pointiest pair of heels we can find. Jude can back you up and Mr. Muscles here can hold Hank still,” Francine piped in as Ross and Jude laughed. Miranda sat back down beside Jude and leaned her head on his shoulder.

  “Deal, Frannie. I am wearing a bulletproof vest. These ladies mean business.”

  “You won’t need that kind of protection from me.”

  Ross knew exactly what Francine was insinuating. His smile turned serious, sensual. Francine bit her lip as the corner of her mouth turned up in a half smile.

  Challenge accepted.

  Chapter 31

  “M, I am sure you don’t feel like cooking for all of us tonight. How about I rummage around and see what I can whip up? It’s raining, so grilling is out.”

  “I’m ok; Frannie, but I would love the help. How does everyone feel about pasta primavera? We can whip that up in an hour and have a green salad to boot.”

  “Yummy! Let’s hit the kitchen.”

  Jude gave Miranda a quick kiss and smiled. My Mandy. Francine gave Miranda’s hand a comforting squeeze and went into the kitchen after brushing up against Ross. He only gave her a peripheral glance as she moved past him. Miranda followed Francine and gathered the items they would need for the salad and primavera. Miranda sat down at the kitchen table, still stunned from the revelation about her parents.

  “Shit, Francine, this is just a fucking nightmare. My parents dead by the hands of the man I lived with in Cali. That’s fucked up. Hank was always controlling and abusive, but a psychopathic murderer? I‘m lucky I‘m still alive.”

  “You’re lucky you had Ross there to protect you and Jude back here keeping tabs on your welfare. M, have I told you how glad I am to have you home?”

  “Have I told you how glad I am to be home? When I first came back, what a culture shock, but this is home. I have no desire to go back to the city life. Being here with my friends and Jude is all I want and need.”

  Miranda stood up and hugged Francine. They held each other and cried, making up for the years lost between best friends. Jude and Ross walked in to grab a couple beers. Jude approached the girls, concerned about their tears.

  “Everything ok in here?”

  The girls parted from the embrace, wiped their eyes. Francine waved him off with a sad giggle.

  “Yes, we’re fine. Just girl talk!”

  Ross raised his eyebrows and joked sarcastically.

  “Girl talk? Fuck, I’m outta here, Jude. I don’t want to hear about cramps and mini pads.”

  “I’m right behind you.”

  Francine picked up a mushroom and threw it at Ross. He caught it, popped it in his mouth and smiled.

  “Oh, appetizers!”

  “Hey, where’s mine?”

  Francine picked up another and threw it at Jude. He in turn caught it and ate it. Miranda laughed at Francine’s annoyance.

  “You guys are lucky we weren’t fixing the sauce. Frannie’s aim is pretty good.”

  Ross laughed at Francine when she stuck her tongue out at him.

  “I am an expert marksman. I always hit my target, Mrs. Marsh.”

  “Do I need to show you the target or are you part bloodhound too?”

  Ross and Jude started to sniff around and howl. They both burst out laughing like two kids and went back to the living room. Miranda and Francine just stood there, shaking their heads.

  “Oh dear god, those two are going to be impossible together, M.”

  “Yeah. They are going to torture us, you know.”

  Miranda and Francine high fived each other and laughed.

  “Game on!”

  “Challenge accepted!”

  They went back to preparing dinner and smiled as they listened to the two guys in the living room reminiscing about college days.

  & &nnbsp **********

  “You were right about one thing, Delaney. Miranda is one tough woman.”

  “She is amazing, Ross. She’s pretty easy to love.”

  “You never stopped loving her. That says a lot about you too, buddy.”

  “I fell in love with that girl after our first date. I knew then and there I had to make her mine. What about you, Guthrie? I see how you look at Frannie.”

  “She is something else. Not like the girls in Cali. They try so hard to catch your attention and it all just comes naturally to Francine.”

  “Nothing like a good country girl to rock your world, my man. She’s completely different than what you went for in college.”

  “Yep, my choices in college were flawed to say the least.”

  “Well, Frannie is interested. She was asking Mandy about you. Think the lady was fishing for some info. I told Mandy the basics, nothing specific.”

  Ross and Jude laughed. Some things never changed.

  “Yeah, I got the idea she was interested when she rubbed my thigh with her foot at lunch today. That and a kiss that about knocked me over.”

  “No shit? That’s our Frannie! For all the years I have known her, she has never been considered shy. When she sees something she wants, she goes after it. But I will tell you one thing. You could do worse. Frannie is loyal to a fault. She’s a good friend.”

  “Yeah, we’ll see.”

  Jude looked at Ross and knew that the past still plagued him.

  “Ross, you gotta let go of the past. Francine is not Daphne. She is the complete opposite. I think Francine would be good for you.”

  “Did you tell Miranda about Daphne?”

  “No, dude. I just told her it was an old girlfriend that left you for some Latin guy. I never told her that she was your fiancée and that she was pregnant with the asshole’s kid.”

  “Yeah, let’s leave that alone for now. See how it goes. I don’t want to go all in and go through that shit again. I could fall for Frannie. I gotta be careful.”

  “Careful? I say go for it. You have been single long enough.”

  “What about you, Delaney? Unless I am mistaken, you’re still single.”

  “Not for long, Ross. Not for long.”

  Jude pulled a small box out of his pocket and handed it to Ross. He opened it an opened d inside was a gorgeous diamond ring. Ross raised his eyebrows and whistled.

  “Wow, Delaney, that’s one hell of a ring. When you gonna ask her?”

  “Soon. Look, Ross...you’re the only family I’ve got. I want you to be my best man.”

  Ross leaned over and put his fist out. Jude slammed his on top of Ross’s and nodded.

  “My honor, dude. I would love to be your best man. Don’t you think you should ask the girl and see if she says yes?”

  “She will say yes.”

  “How do you know?”

  “The red hair doesn’t lie.”

  “Can you fix it?”

  “Nope, gotta live with it.”

  “Thank god.”

  The two laughed over the old joke between them. They were the only family each other had and now it was about to expand.

  “I never had a sister. I can’t think of a better choice, Jude. Miranda is quite a woman.”

  “That she is, Ross. Let’s go see how dinner is coming. If it isn’t ready, we can torture them some more or at least stare at their asses.”

  “Sounds like a deal to me. Either way, I am hungry for both.”

  Jude and Ross walked back to the kitchen and found Miranda setting the table and Francine tossing the salad. Frannie turned and looked at the guys as they stood there grinning like Cheshire cats.

  “Dinner is almost ready, guys.”

  “Great, Frannie. We will just sit here and enj
oy the show until it is.”

  “The show?” Francine looked at Miranda, questioning Jude’s statement.