A Necessary Lie

by Lucy Farago

  “Did you tell the police that?”

  “I remembered after they left. I figured they’d have access to her phone records.”

  “Did you notice anything funny about the call? Her reaction, I mean,” he asked.

  “No, sorry. I was taking someone else’s order when I heard her answer her phone. She’d asked for a top up but after I’d told Tommy, that’s our cook, my new order and then went to fill her cup, she waved me off, put a twenty on the counter, and left. I guess that means she wasn’t keen on whoever made the call.”

  He didn’t know if he agreed with that observation but it did sound like she’d left in a hurry. “Thank you. We appreciate your help.”

  Grace echoed his sentiment and they left.

  Outside, Grace offered her own opinion on the call. “Unless someone faked her text to me earlier than we suspect, Jessie wasn’t upset by the call.”

  He’d thought the same thing. “She messaged you after she’d eaten and told you she was going shopping.”

  “Precisely. How off-putting could the call have been?”

  “Right, but more importantly, who else is looking for her?”

  “That one I know.”

  That surprised him. “You do?”

  “My father hired a special investigator to help out with his case. It had to be him.”

  “Since when do the cops hire out?” And what the hell was Irvine up to?

  “They don’t. My father did it for me. I overheard him on the phone.” She went on to explain, looking a little guilty. “There’s this agency called ICU. I did some digging. On the surface they appear… sketchy. I’m not sure if they do that on purpose, to throw people off. But they have an amazing track record. Did you ever hear about that rum heiress who was kidnapped in Colombia? Her father was a U.S. citizen? It was a few years back.”

  He hadn’t been an integral part of that mission, but he had flown everyone back to Florida. He shook his head.

  “Well, it doesn’t matter. But the rumor had it ICU mounted that rescue.”

  “And you think they’ve been brought in to find Jessie? I doubt a company like that comes cheap.”

  “No, it doesn’t, but I think my dad called in a favor. That’s what it sounded like anyway. I didn’t hear everything.”

  And for that he was grateful. If she had overheard correctly, he wouldn’t be standing here right now. And he wanted to be standing here. Stupid considering what he had to lose should anyone figure out who he was and start asking questions as to why he left.

  “Let’s hit the mall. Then you and I can buy clothes for the party.” Or rather Ryan could buy them both outfits. The SOB might complain, but he’d fork out the cash either way. The man was generous. Cowboy couldn’t fault him there. Elsewhere for sure, but not his wallet.

  *

  At the mall, Cowboy had debated telling Grace they should separate. He knew exactly the stores Jessie had shopped at, thanks to Monty. Instead, he chose the nonchalant approach to which stores they entered. Grace knowing Jessie’s tastes helped, and she’d been bang on, even at the stores where no purchase had been made.

  “She bought me boots,” Grace said after they’d left the shoe store.

  “How do you know they weren’t for her?”

  “Shoe size. Jessie’s a size six, she bought a seven and a half. What did she think I was going to do with pink cowboy boots?” She shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips.

  “I’m sorry we didn’t find anything to lead us to her.”

  “We tried,” she said, clearly disappointed.

  “We’ll figure this out.” But it was wrong of him to assure her of anything. He wasn’t convinced they’d find Jessie alive. He mentally slapped himself. Starting to think of them as a team wasn’t a good idea.

  “You know, Jessie collected these glass figurines. She had them all over the apartment. There’s a shop in this mall that he might have gone in.”

  “It’s worth a shot.” She hadn’t bought any, but she could’ve window shopped.

  The boutique store was on the first floor and clearly not designed for a man of his stature. Not wanting to break anything, he waited outside. Ten minutes later he found himself holding his breath and praying to anything and everything holy that the woman coming toward him with Grace didn’t recognize him.

  “Daniel, this woman says she knows Jessie. Can you believe it?” Grace said, obviously thrilled with having made the connection. “This is… I’m sorry,” she said, “I’ve forgotten your name already.”

  “Lois,” the woman smiled at Cowboy. “Lois Danielle.”

  His mother.

  Grace grinned, completely unaware of what this was doing to Cowboy.

  “Funny, you two share a name.”

  He didn’t feel like laughing, but a part of him, the stupid part, was glad to see his mom. She’d changed since his father’s funeral, the laugh lines around her eyes more pronounced, but then he hadn’t been this close to her. Although, greying hair and all, she was still beautiful. At sixty-two, she didn’t look a day over fifty, and never one to shy away from hard work, she had a physique far better than women half her age.

  “Jessie’s dad was Mrs. Danielle’s pastor. She recognized her from the picture I showed the sales lady. By the way, the woman is full-time and doesn’t recall Jessie going in there. But this nice lady saw Jessie at a gas station on the 410, you know, close to where we just were?”

  Yeah, he got her meaning. His mother was at the station Monty had spoken of. He nodded, unable to speak, his heart was pounding so damn hard. Would she know him? Did mothers instinctively recognize their kids no matter how much they’d changed?

  “You’re…” his mother said, sending his pulse into overdrive as her brow furrowed in concentration. “You’re very tall,” she finally finished with an awkward smile.

  Had she seen the kid he’d once been and thankfully couldn’t reconcile it with the man who stood before her? How should he stand? What expression should he wear? How fast could he get away from her? And how did he stop himself from throwing his arms around her and asking for forgiveness? “Yes ma’am” was all he managed to say.

  “Mrs. Danielle thinks Jessie looked upset.”

  “Oh?” he said, afraid his curiosity would be his undoing. He needed to get away from her.

  “Yes. When I asked her what was wrong she just smiled, putting on a brave face, I think, and said it was nothing. Mind you she wasn’t as upset as the last time I’d seen her. Of course, then it had been understandable. She was burying both of her parents. A very sad day for all of us who loved them. Senator Stanton himself had come to pay his respects. I hear tell he even paid for the funeral.”

  Grace and Cowboy exchanged the same what the hell look.

  “That was generous of him,” Grace said, managing to recover far faster than he.

  “Yes, but before politics took him away, his family was there every Sunday. His mother was especially active in the church. I guess he felt it was his duty since he owns half the town.”

  Although he never remembered it bothering his mom before, it seemed to bother her now.

  “He promised to use all his resources to help find the man who’d struck their car, but nothing came of it. It looks like God will have to deal with him when his time comes.”

  “I don’t understand,” Grace said. “Jessie told me her parents were in a car accident.”

  “They were. They were run off the road and into oncoming traffic. We assumed it was a drunk driver too afraid to stop or come forward with what they’d done. We’ll never know. Well, I best be on my way. I hope you find her. Jessie is a lovely girl and I’ll pray for her.”

  Grace thanked his mother and nodded. Cowboy watched her leave, the ache he’d long ago thought gone returned with a vengeance. The ache and the guilt for what he’d done. How he’d left her wondering what had happened to her son.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here,” he said, taking Grace’s hand and tugging her towar
d the exit.

  “Aren’t we going to talk about what the woman said? Why did Stanton pay for the funeral?”

  “I don’t know, but maybe it’s like she said. He felt it was his duty. If they owned half the town, maybe they’d built the church too.” They had, of course, along with the small hospital and an elementary school.

  “Okay, then why did Jessie not tell me her parents were involved in a hit and run?”

  “I can’t tell you that. Maybe she didn’t want to talk about it.”

  “We talked about everything.”

  Not everything. “I don’t know, Grace. She was your friend.” He wanted out of this mall and far away from his mother.

  “And I thought we were shopping,” she said once they were outside.

  “We are, but not here.” He wanted to do something nice. Grace deserved it, and what said nice better than a designer dress? Ryan didn’t know the bullet he’d just dodged. This shopping spree was on Cowboy.

  Chapter Eleven

  Grace examined herself in the long mirror of the changing room. He had to be kidding. She’d allowed Daniel to pick the dress. Hell, she’d allowed him to pick the store. She knew nothing good could come of her forfeiting control to him, but he’d been insistent and she’d thought it was only shopping. Had she known “Let’s go to Nordstrom” meant a designer dress it would take weeks to pay off, she would have said, “No, let’s go to Macy’s. Hell, let’s go to Target.” But he’d argued Ella’s sweet sixteen wasn’t hot dogs, a clown, balloons, and over-iced cake. She’d gone along, not thinking. She twisted her arm reaching for the price tag on the label, then sucked in air. No way could she afford this.

  She took another peak at herself. The palest shade of blue, the lace dress with its full skirt, boat neck, and sleeveless bodice made her look like a modern-day Cinderella. The message was not lost on her. But Prince Charming wasn’t paying for it. Regrettably, she’d put it back. She slipped it off, hung it back on the hanger, and left the changing room wishing she wasn’t so practical. She handed the attendant the dress and found Daniel waiting for her on a settee.

  He stood with a comical pout on his face. “I thought you’d come out and show me. It doesn’t fit?”

  “No, it fit.”

  “You didn’t like it?”

  She should lie and tell him she didn’t, but that was her pride talking. There was nothing wrong with admitting the dress was out of her price range. “I’m a tag shopper.” At his look of confusion, she added, “If I can’t afford the price on the tag, the tag stays in the store. But I saw a really nice black dress.” In the section for normal people. “I’m going to try that one on. Aren’t you going to shop? Standing around waiting for me can’t be fun.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t even look at the price tag. I just…” He shrugged. “I could imagine you wearing it. And I thought you deserved something nice. I was planning on paying for it.”

  She didn’t know whether to be insulted or flabbergasted by his generosity. But after a few seconds of silence, it dawned on her that he meant well and she hadn’t done anything to make him think she was the kind of woman who would take such a gift from a near stranger. “That’s very generous of you. But I couldn’t accept a gift that extravagant. It wouldn’t be right. It’s a stunning dress but a budget-breaking stunning dress.” She laughed, wanting to dispel the sudden tension between them. She had no reason to be embarrassed and neither did he. “Why don’t I meet you outside the store in…” She glanced at the clock on her phone. “Half an hour? Do you need more time than that?”

  “Don’t you? I would figure women like to try on all kinds of stuff before they decide.”

  “No, that’s not me. I know what I want, what will and won’t look good, and how much I’m willing to spend. I have an idea which dress I’m going to buy, but I’ll need shoes and those suckers take a little longer. What looks great on display doesn’t always translate to walkable shoes. You okay with the time?”

  He smirked. “Fine by me.”

  “What?” She crossed arms.

  “Nothing.” He held up his hands. “I’ve just seen the shoes women wear and no one, no how is going to tell me they’re more comfortable than a good old pair of cowboy boots.”

  “You want me to wear cowboy boots with an evening gown?” Not that she’d wear cowboy boots with anything.

  “No, that’s not what I imagine you wearing cowboy boots with.” His face took on this evil boyish grin that told her not to ask what he was imagining. It would only get her in trouble.

  “Never you mind cowboy boots.” She grimaced, trying to cover the tremor that slid from the crown of her head, zigzagged down her back, pounced between her legs, and tickled her toes. Ah hell, she was already in trouble. “I buy shoes I can walk in,” she said, forcing her brain back to the task at hand.

  “What’s the fun in that?” With a very sexy smile he tipped his hat and went his own way. “Half hour,” he said without turning back.

  And since he wasn’t looking, what would it hurt to admire the view. The man had serious swagger. It made his ass and back muscles move in all the right places. When he was no longer in sight, she noticed she hadn’t been the only way staring. Several salespeople, two women and one guy, had also enjoyed the way Daniel filled out his jeans. Yup, swagger.

  Twenty minutes later, she had a new pair of comfortable yet sexy, strappy silver sandals and her dress. It wasn’t as stunning as the pricey one but she wasn’t going to the party to turn heads. She just needed to fit in. Expecting to wait for Daniel, she was surprised to meet him at the front door of the store.

  “Perfect timing.” She noticed he wasn’t carrying a bag. “Didn’t you buy anything?”

  “I did. It’s being delivered.”

  She lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the late afternoon sun. “Why not just take it with you?”

  “The pants had to be tailored. They’ll drop them off in time for the party. You got everything you need?”

  She rattled her shopping bags. “Shoes were on sale too.”

  “Then let’s go.” He held out his arm.

  She expected to feel awkward, looping her arm through his, but she didn’t. She was getting comfortable with a man. She never did that. She didn’t trust people but more so men. She never allowed a man to buy her a drink in a bar. She didn’t even dance with strangers. Mostly because her father taught to be on her guard, but she also didn’t like to draw attention to herself. She liked being in the shadows, observing how others behaved. It gave her a good handle on what went on around her. Jessie was one of her few friends who understood that, understood her. Grace definitely had spent some time observing Daniel but not for any reason other than to admire him like some horny teenager.

  “Are you hungry now? I think we’re done retracing Jessie’s steps up until when she told you she was packing to leave. I talked to the hotel she stayed at and the front desk remembers her checking out. They messed up her bill and she came down to fix it, luggage by her side. The time stamp from her credit card is near when she sent you that text.”

  “When did you do that?”

  “When you went up to your hotel room earlier today.”

  “And they just gave you that information?” That wasn’t like hotels.

  “They knew she was missing. The police already spoke to them. I showed the real nice lady at the front desk the picture of you and told them my wife was frantic about her friend.”

  “Your wife?”

  He nodded like he hadn’t just lied through his teeth. “The other woman in the picture.”

  How he managed to keep a straight face was beyond her. “You told them I was your wife?”

  “Hey, they weren’t going to divulge that information to just anyone.” They arrived at his SUV, where he opened the door for her. “After you, Mrs. Bailey.”

  “You keep saying that with a straight face and I’m going to start questioning everything you say or do.” If he could lie that
well….

  “Why would it be hard to call you Mrs. Bailey without laughing?” He closed her door and came around to his side.

  “Because we’re not married,” she said after he was inside.

  “Do you have a point you’re trying to make, ’cause I’m not getting it.”

  What exactly was her point? Just because the thought of being married to him made her want to giggle like some twelve-year-old girl with a crush on the captain of the football team didn’t mean he’d have the same reaction. It was a dumb physical response. “No, no point. Let’s get something to eat.”

  *

  Seated at a Tex-Mex place Grace had chosen, Cowboy stacked their dirty dishes and passed them to the waitress, who’d returned to ask Grace how her third margarita was. He could tell Grace was getting a glow on but he wasn’t her daddy and he saw no harm in her letting loose. Her friend was missing and she felt helpless. Everything they’d discovered today he’d pretty much known by the time she’d met him in the restaurant in the hotel. Monty was fast as well as efficient. Remaining undetected while she shopped had taken a little more effort than he normally exuded. But no way was he leaving her alone. He’d ordered the same pants he had at home and given his inseam for alterations, all before she’d come out of the dressing room with her little black cocktail dress. It was cute, sexy even, but not like the number he’d picked out for her.

  He sipped his beer and enjoyed far too much how Grace scooped the sugar off the rim of her glass then sucked her finger clean with a satisfying hum. He liked it far, far too much.

  “I love sugar and lemon juice,” she said. “Don’t know how anyone can drink salty margaritas.” Then she took a healthy slurp from her straw.

  “Want another one?”

  “Yes.” She covered her lips with her fingers. “No. You’ll be carrying me back if I do.”

  “Lightweight?” It wasn’t a challenge. It was just that he couldn’t see her getting drunk.