Secret Dad

by Victoria Pinder

  A moment later, he hopped into the driver's seat, started his Escalade, and backed out of her driveway. As he turned onto the narrow street, he handed her his cell phone. "I programmed my phone to run known enemies against the Morgan family. If it beeps while we drive, I might have you read the names to me."

  Her hands clutched the phone like it was a lifeline. "Okay. Oh look, Peter has a visitor."

  He gripped the wheel tighter as he nodded at Peter's guest as she stepped out of a silver Maserati. The dark-haired woman in the long, sleeveless dress that showed off her figure was unmistakable. "Jennifer."

  Liz's eyes widened as she turned to face him. "She's waving at you."

  "We went to school together." This was all he could say about Jennifer. Whatever she intended to do with Peter wasn't his business, though he knew she'd be hurt in the end. He had protected her all his life, but he couldn’t shield her from her own choices.

  Liz’s voice sounded cooler. "Seems Peter keeps all his high school friends."

  He shook his head. He'd never be friends with a Morgan. His shoulders tightened when he turned the car onto the highway and they left Star Island. "I wasn't friends with Peter, ever. I steered clear of friendship, but he's always been nice."

  "Why did you steer clear?"

  The gas under his foot wouldn't catch fast enough for him to speed out of this one. He kept his gaze glued on the highway and realized his son needed him to be cautious. He inched off the accelerator. "Your father probably killed my father.”

  “What? What makes you think that?”

  “It’s a hunch. I think Mitch Morgan made him “disappear” like your mother, only permanently.”

  She made a sound of pity that echoed through the car. "That's awful. I didn't know. What do you know about what happened to him?"

  At least she hadn't argued with him over the possibility. She knew how evil her dad had been. She accepted what he said though it was all suspicion. "He was working the night your mother disappeared. He never came home."

  She touched his shoulder. "Did you ever ask my mom what she saw?"

  No one had asked him about his, ever. Not even his mother who knew he had questioned Isabelle Morgan the day she returned to Miami, what, a week ago now.

  It was a topic that had been avoided in the Soliz household but now that he was asked, Rafe took a deep breath and answered, "She said she remembered him working on one of the cars when she stormed out, but doesn't know what happened to him after she was taken."

  Without one argument, she followed his thought pattern. "So he probably saw exactly what happened to my mom."

  "And your father left no witnesses." Mitch Morgan likely had killed his dad. And even dead, Mitch might have been behind the plan to have Brandon kidnapped. Rafe’s online search would alert him to well-known associates in Miami connected with the two dead bodies last week. Any matches could be a clue.

  Liz gazed at her son in the backseat. "I hardly knew Mitch. I thought he was my uncle that took care of all the financials for my brothers and me. I didn't know he was my father until after he died."

  “You didn’t know.” He tapped his fingers on the wheel. "In Vegas?"

  “I’d have said Marshall then.” She adjusted her stud earring. "No. Does it make a difference?"

  "A little." He winked at her and loosened his hold on the wheel. "It makes me feel better, and I guess I trust your brother more now with my sister. I always found that she knew him as Marshall strange."

  Liz blinked and explained, "Our mother's maiden name is Marshall."

  No more words were exchanged as he drove off Biscayne and inched closer to the water. He parked his car in the beach lot and then went around to open her door. "We're here. Ready to see how middle class people live?"

  She sucked in her breath as he picked Brandon up from the backseat. As she closed the door, she said, "This is in Coconut Grove, Rafe. I don't think this qualifies as middle class. Despite his faults, my father must have paid well."

  True. He flinched as he stared at his high rise condominium that was mostly home to out of town millionaires and more in Miami on vacation. She was right. He grew up on Brickell and his condo was on the beach in Coconut Grove.

  None of his police friends lived anywhere near him, and honestly, he never gave it much thought. How had his mother fronted the down payment as a single woman on a maid's income? Unless, the House of Morgan paid extremely well. What Peter offered him was generous—perhaps his mom had financial secrets that she never shared. He was supposed to have met with her over a trust fund at Christmas. He probably should find out more.

  Chapter 10

  Liz followed Rafe across the marble lobby of the condo, a gold chandelier glimmering from the ceiling. A uniformed security guard waved them toward the posh elevator bank, his expression friendly, professional and discreet. Liz looked from the man to Rafe, who bounced Brandon as if nothing was out of the ordinary.. If Rafe was a Miami PD detective, then his lifestyle didn't match. Brandon giggled in his arms.

  There was no way police officers made enough money to afford this place. Her heart beat faster as they rode up to the fourteenth floor. Hadn’t he realized that he had all of these perks? Now compared to her family’s wealth, this was nothing, but for a police officer who lived on a salary, this home made no sense.

  “Rafe, you are neighbors with people who could be friends with my family."

  “I see that. Truthfully, I’ve never lived any place my colleagues have. I’ve never struggled.” The elevator opened into a spacious condo where she could see the turquoise ocean stretching as far as the eye could see. This was exactly how she’d imagined the wealthy people she’d gone to school with lived. She'd grown up with a trust fund but no parents, but once in a while she was invited to visit others.

  Her life had been simpler before she found out her last name was Morgan, though she had always had money. Rafe's condo reminded her of her old life, before Brandon.

  Rafe pointed toward a living room area as he went to the kitchen. "My mom used some from my trust fund."

  Alarm bells rang in her ears. Her own father was still the most likely suspect of who initiated Brandon’s kidnapping, but what if there were other suspects? How did Rafe have this money? "You have a trust fund?"

  "Yeah, not that I know what's in it exactly." Rafe shifted Brandon to his other hip as he took out the gallon of milk from a high-end refrigerator. She opened the diaper bag for an empty bottle, handing it over. He nodded and filled it. "She gave me the paperwork at Christmas but I haven’t had time to look it over. I know I need to buckle down and see what's going on there. Mom called me the other day to see if I had any questions, but I was busy finding Brandon."

  She looked around at the leather couches and silk rugs. "Why haven't you read the papers since then?"

  He handed the bottle to Brandon who stayed attached to Rafe. "I’ve been working, Liz. It hasn’t been a priority."

  This wasn't anything to get upset over. Rafe hadn’t kidnapped her baby, only to give Brandon back, then call her while he was with her in a trick. Relax. She rolled her shoulders and fished out a burp cloth from the bag. "I'm sorry if I sound suspicious. That time without my baby makes me question everything. And with the new threat?"

  "I get it." He handed Brandon to her. "I question everyone and everything all the time. My mom was a well-paid maid, but that's what she was, the help. It seemed normal that we grew up on Brickell, and now I live here. I never scrutinized my own affairs and just assumed my mother was good at saving for the future."

  Perhaps he was right and that his mother made good investments. Her father had been great at financial dealings and Pilar would have heard just about everything that happened in the Morgan house. She fixed the bottle so Brandon wouldn't spill all over her. "Are you good at saving?"

  He nodded his head like it was obvious. He certainly lived like he had plenty. "Yes I've been putting money in my savings account since I opened it."

  Savin
g meant he thought about the future and would teach that skill to Brandon as well. Once again, Rafe was a better choice than she had realized. With a smile, she hugged her son. "That's good."

  Rafe passed by her and the scent of oak trees wafted beneath her nose. The smell was all him. He placed his hand on her arm and pointed to the living room. "I have to figure out what to pack, which could take a while. Grab a seat, make yourself at home."

  She nodded and took Brandon over to the couch as she called out, "Jeans and t-shirts mostly, or shorts. Be comfortable as Brandon gets messy."

  His voice echoed down the hall, "You already said that."

  Teasing him was fun. She ruffled Brandon's hair. "You haven't seen the evidence for yourself yet. You will after staying with us."

  Brandon found a cartoon on her phone to watch as he drank his milk, so Liz scooted off the couch and explored the living room. The few photos Rafe had on his desk were of his mother and sister. She recognized both of them immediately. At least he cared about his family, and that boded well for Brandon.

  The landline rang, startling her. She glanced immediately at the wall near the elevator where the phone came from.

  “Almost ready,” Rafe called down the hall. " Can you answer that? It's the doorman. I must have a package or something."

  "Sure." She crossed the room and picked up the phone. "Hello this is Rafe Soliz' condo."

  The doorman told her, "I have Jose Perez here to visit Mr. Soliz. Is he available?"

  "Hold on." Company was not something she’d expected, especially the man who hadn’t solved her case. "Rafe, Detective Perez is here to see you.”

  "Interesting he’s the one being sent. I’ll set up a time to talk to him alone about Brandon’s case." Rafe walked into the hallway and explained, "For now, he's here to take my gun and badge to the station for me."

  If he intended to protect them, he might need the gun. She held that thought and instead asked, "Why?"

  "Just let him in."

  She spoke into the phone. "Okay. Send him up." She hung up and then paced toward Rafe’s bedroom. "Why are you turning them in?"

  Rafe popped his head out, a folded t-shirt in hand.. "I have to take a leave of absence while I stay with you."

  She inched closer. "Can you afford that?"

  He scratched his flat stomach and leaned against the door jamb. "Can I afford not to? And besides your brother has been offering to quadruple my salary, so don't worry about it."

  True. If Rafe loved being a detective, once the threat was over, she’d figure out how to deal with it.

  The elevator dinged and she rushed toward Brandon, relaxed on the couch. She remembered Jose’s cold eyes from when he’d taken her information before, but now she’d prefer to avoid him. She hovered in front of the door, clutching her boy, as the door opened. A tremble rushed through her, though she held out her hand to shake his. "Hi. It’s nice to see you again. I'm Elizabeth, if you remember."

  He shook her hand, his sweaty palms leaving her cold and unwelcome. "You're Elizabeth Morgan? Here. At Rafe’s house?"

  "Yes. You interviewed me." She took her hand away and didn't introduce her son. Instead she hugged him closer to her chest and refused to let go. "Rafe's in his room waiting for you."

  "Thanks." Jose nodded, stared at Brandon in her arms, and walked past her.

  A few more minutes passed. Rafe hadn't come out. She sat on the couch and took the now empty bottle from her son. Then she cleaned him up, holding him close.

  After a few more minutes and Rafe still hadn't come out of the bedroom, she whispered, "Brandon, let's go see if your dad needs our help. He's been in there a while."

  Brandon clapped his hands. "Da."

  "Guess that means you agree." She hugged him as they made their way quietly down the hard wood floors of the hall.

  Near his bedroom door, she heard Jose’s disbelieving voice. "You're going to protect a Morgan?"

  "Yes." Rafe's simple answer stirred her heart.

  Jose then said, "I thought you hated that family."

  Footsteps sounded across the tile in the bedroom and she wondered if she should return to the living room before getting caught eavesdropping.

  Rafe said, "Jose, my sister wanted Luke in college. She wants him now. There is nothing you can do about it. But don't hold the whole Morgan family responsible because she's dating Luke."

  "That's not the point."

  "It is,” Rafe said. “You're upset because you lost your chance with her. I know you were hoping for that before Luke came into her life."

  Liz held her breath. She shouldn't eavesdrop. She hadn't meant to. She took a step to go back to the living room as she heard Jose, again. "Now you're leaving the job you love because of another Morgan. Rafe, think hard about this."

  "Why was I not given her case a week ago?” Rafe asked. “Why did you work on that one without me when you know Peter always requests me to work their cases?"

  "I thought you needed a break from them and when the call came in you were out with Jennifer. She’s hot."

  "You thought wrong." Rafe sounded defensive. “Jennifer is too much drama for my taste.”

  "I don’t buy it. Any guy would want a girl that hot in his bed! She’s a prize.”

  “We’re talking about handing over the case, not Jen.”

  "Guess I thought giving you the opportunity to get her back was my mistake. I was handling the kidnapping. The kid was safe. You know, I’ve always wondered about your connection with that family.”

  “What?”

  “You don’t like the Morgans, but always work their cases, and you live in luxury. I find that suspicious.”

  "I am not on the take.” His voice grew deeper, like he was in total control. “And your murder case—when you had the boy at the station. You didn't put two and two together to see the dead couple had kidnapped the baby?"

  "No!” Jose shouted with anger. “How did you figure it out?"

  "The picture of the boy and the one I met. Why wasn’t the sister’s information logged into the computer?"

  "Ugh. Ran out of time. I'll go through my case log when I get back."

  "Do it, and forget about Caro. My sister's happy."

  She hugged Brandon to her chest. She’d heard too much to knock and pretend otherwise, so she tiptoed back into the living room.

  Rafe opened the door. "Look I'll talk to you later,” he said. “Thanks for picking this stuff up."

  Rafe walked with Jose down the hall. As Jose passed, Elizabeth said, "Good-bye."

  Jose muttered something in Spanish under his breath, but then he said, "Bye."

  A moment later, the other man was in the elevator and gone.

  Rafe started down the hall to his room, but she reached out to take his hand. "Rafe, do you need our help?"

  He placed his hand on her shoulder and a warm breeze reentered her heart. She swayed closer to him. "I'm almost done with the suitcase."

  As he dropped his hand from her, the electric bolt of energy she experienced remained. "Can I come in?"

  He tilted his head as he invited her down the hall. "Of course."

  Hugging Brandon, she entered Rafe’s room and put their son in the center of the king-sized bed, where he continued his cartoon.

  Rafe tore off his powdered shirt and put on a soft gray and blue t-shirt. His ab muscles were washboard tight and her body grew warm. She turned as Rafe stuffed a few plain t-shirts into his bag. Stylishly placed mirrors over his bed that would reflect the light of the sun and bring the brightness into his bedroom in the evening. "I overheard part of your conversation with Jose. He liked Caro?"

  He shrugged his shoulders and zipped the bag. "My sister never wanted him. In a way I'm glad she's dating your brother as I don't have to run interference so everyone stays on speaking terms."

  There was something about Jose that sent a shiver of apprehension through her and she credited it to the detective blaming the Morgan family for the loss of his girlfriend. "How close
were you two at work?"

  "We were like brothers. He had my back, and I had his." The cop in him said exactly what she expected. "But you and Brandon are my priorities. I won't let anyone harm you."

  A sigh of relief escaped her lips. "Thanks, but if you are so close why didn't you tell him about the current threat?"

  "He suspended me for the kidnapping case and kept me out of the loop. My instinct was to keep anything current to myself until we find who is really responsible." Rafe shouldered his bag, lifted Brandon from the bed, and then gave her a wink.

  Those brown eyes of his had hypnotized her once before, and honestly, he’d charmed his way into her life again. This time she'd not walk away from him and pretend she felt nothing. She needed him.

  Chapter 11

  As Rafe drove to Liz’s house, the day repeated in his head. Evening was starting to settle into the sky and his son was napping in the backseat as Liz checked her phone for messages.

  Right now things were calm and as they should be. He turned onto Star Island, where Jennifer waited for them outside Liz’s home. Rafe hoped she wasn't here to talk about Peter or their past. Tonight he had every intention of sitting on the sofa with Elizabeth after Brandon went to bed and they'd sip a glass of wine together, then call it a night. Just them.

  Liz turned and stared at him from the passenger seat. "She’s never come to visit me before. Do you think she's involved with the threats?"

  To most women he’d dated, Jen was a threat. It happened often. He almost didn't want to tell Liz, but his gut clenched. He let his jaw go slack and decided to tell the truth. "Jen calls me every day and no. I've known her for years."

  She put her phone in her bag. "You're that close?"

  How Liz glanced at him made him feel guilty. He swallowed. Jen was the long-ago past. "We dated in high school, but that was a long time ago. We are friends."

  Her gaze softened as she nodded. "She wants my brother, Peter."

  “That’s clear as day.” His face heated. Liz had no idea how right she was. "Before Peter met or married Belle, Jen and your brother were in a “not dating” relationship for years. Jen ended it to prove to him that they were more, and then your brother fell in love with Belle."