Expired Cache

by Lisa Phillips

  And until he was sure it was relevant here, he had a right to privacy.

  Apparently she didn’t think so.

  Jessica and Dean’s brother stared at each other longer than he thought was necessary. It was like looking at Juliet and Romeo, only, if he had to guess, it seemed they were taking a break from the whole relationship thing.

  He needed to go back to working on setting up his therapy center. If it wasn’t for the fact he’d been injured in this as well, he’d be out the door.

  This wasn’t just about a woman he respected and was attracted to being in danger anymore.

  This was now personal.

  Dean dropped his arms, sticking his thumbs in his pockets. It didn’t hurt that much less than folding his arms.

  Conroy said, “First of all, is everyone all right?”

  That wasn’t where Dean had thought Conroy would start. He nodded. Jess tugged a chair toward her sister and sat. “I’m better now.”

  “You’re on medical leave until further notice.”

  “But—”

  Conroy held up his hand, and she closed her mouth.

  Dean said, “Good idea.”

  Conroy twisted to face him. “If you were one of my people, you’d be on the bench too.”

  “But I’m not.”

  “From now on, everything that happens gets run by me.”

  Dean saw Jess’s smug smile. He ignored it. “Fine. My backup is OUTCONUS right now anyway, so we could use the help.”

  Conroy said, “That is becoming apparent.”

  Ellie raised her hand. “I have a question.” Conroy waved her on, and she said, “What does OUTCONUS mean?”

  “Outside the continental US.” By way of explanation, Dean said, “I live with a private security team. They’d come in handy right about now if they weren’t on a job.”

  “Oh. Yes, I’d imagine they would.”

  Conroy said, “This is beyond what each of you can handle, so we’re going to work this together.”

  Dean nodded. “If we ID each of the men from the photo, we can interview them. Find out which one keeps trying to attack us. And why.”

  He, for one, was tired of getting a new injury each time he went somewhere. Now Ellie’s cabin had been destroyed. Would she even be able to figure out her grandfather’s secret? It was a good thing they could at least investigate and hope to find the perpetrator. She could solve her little mystery on her own time, finally safe.

  Then he could go back to his work knowing he’d done everything he needed to. A good woman would be safe again, and he’d get on with his life’s work. Keep moving forward. Dean needed to be in motion or bad things happened. He didn’t need a resurgence of the nightmares or his other issues.

  “And your friend who left?” Ellie said, “Is he okay?”

  Dean pulled out his phone. “He got home.”

  “Who is he anyway?” Jess threw the question at him like an accusation.

  “Someone you’ve never met yet.” Dean shrugged but saw Ted eying him out the edge of what he was seeing. Dean said, “Which is his business.”

  Jess grabbed a paper from the desk closest. “What’s his last name?”

  Dean didn’t answer.

  She looked at him. “And his date of birth.”

  Dean kept his lips pressed together.

  “Is he part of that security team? Someone you picked up on the side of the road?” Jess waved a pen as she gesticulated. “A criminal you’re hiding up there at that huge house?”

  “His. Business.”

  “So you are covering for him.” Jess glared at Dean. “Keeping his secrets and protecting him.”

  Beyond Jess, Savannah eyed Dean in a way he didn’t like while Ted fidgeted. The kid had never been able to keep a secret and apparently that hadn’t changed. None of the cops needed to know that Stuart lived in their house.

  “Lying about this, like you lied about that photo.”

  Beside her sister, Ellie shifted. Uncomfortable even though she’d called him on the same thing.

  “Privacy and lying are two different things,” Dean said. “Stuart’s business is his own, and under the legal strictures that bind me in the work I’ve done with him, I’m unable to divulge anything about him.”

  Jess’s eyes narrowed. “He’s one of your patients.”

  Dean said, “Stuart lives at the house with us.” He motioned toward his brother. “But that doesn’t mean you can grill Ted about him either.”

  His brother lifted both hands. “I know nothing.”

  “Stuart is a referral. A friend of a friend.” Dean said, “More than that, you’ll have to ask him.”

  “I will,” Jess said.

  Savannah leaned back in her chair. “Is he the reason you went to look behind that biker bar the other night? I heard about what happened at the gym.”

  “You think his needing my help at the gym is related to a murder you’re investigating?”

  “How did you know there would be a body there?”

  Dean said, “If you want to interrogate me, then arrest me as a suspect. Because this conversation is over.”

  He was legally required to keep Stuart’s confidence, as his therapist and trauma counselor. Even a court order couldn’t force him to break it.

  Savannah started to speak. Conroy lifted his hand, “Back to the topic we’re supposed to be on. Which are the repeated attempts of harm directed at the two of you.” He moved a finger back and forth between Ellie and Dean.

  He wanted to be tied to her, but not like this.

  “Based on the phone call Ellie received, we know these attempts on her life are because she’s been looking into her grandfather’s history ever since his will was read.” Conroy glanced at her.

  Ellie said, “I know something happened, and he was deeply ashamed of it. But I don’t know what. Yet.”

  He liked the hope in her voice. “Conroy, did the former chief ever divulge any secrets to you?”

  Conroy said, “Pretty sure I’d remember.”

  Mia shot him a compassionate glance, but she appeared to be busy with paperwork. Half her attention on their conversation and half on her own business.

  “But you think the town’s founders are who we should be looking at?” Ellie shook her head. “Because of a connection between my grandfather, Dean and Ted’s father, and the lawyer?”

  Conroy nodded. “It’s the first connection I’ve seen.”

  Dean wasn’t so sure. “Maybe. But history aside, someone right now is trying to hurt us. To keep Ellie from finding out this secret. That’s the most current issue, right?”

  She shifted in her seat. “But if we find out what happened, then we know what this is all about.”

  “Can’t do that if you’re in the hospital, like Holmford. Or dead.”

  Ellie swallowed, as though everything going on hit her all over again. She wanted to be sick. What was with her? It was like she ignored reality in favor of…something else…and then had to face it when reality smacked her in the face. She didn’t need to get hit with it like that, so suddenly, if she was willing to see what was right in front of her.

  Jess laid a hand on her arm. “No one is going to get to you. So far Dean’s done a passable job of protecting you while he gets hurt himself. Now the whole police department is going to pitch in. We’ll keep you safe.”

  “Dean is the reason your sister is alive, Jess.” Ted’s face reddened. “And talking about him like he’s not even here is rude.”

  Dean said, “Maybe you could go see if you can locate Dad.”

  Ted shot him a look. “I thought you said he wasn’t part of this?”

  “Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know where he is.”

  “And you want me to use police resources for my personal business like that?”

  Conroy said, “Ted, I’d like you to identify and locate each of the founders of Last Chance.” Before anyone could voice an objection, he continued, glancing around at the group as he spoke, “First
of all, I’m the chief so I can use police resources however I deem. Second, it may just be a theory, but it’s also the best lead we’ve got. A connection between Chief Ridgeman, Mr. Holmford, and Last Chance County. Add in Dean and Ted’s father—who I’ve never even met, by the way—and I’m even more sure it could be less of a theory and more an actual lead.”

  Savannah said, “I’m out to chase a lead of my own.”

  As she walked to the hall that led to the back exit and the parking lot, he pulled his phone out and sent Stuart a text. The guy didn’t need to be blindsided.

  “I’m going to do some work of my own,” Ellie said. “See if I can dig up a newspaper series about the founders. Find out as much as I can about them. After that, I’ll go through what I have of my grandfather’s again. If I find anything that might point to what might’ve happened, I’ll let you know, Chief.”

  “I’d appreciate that, Professor.”

  She smiled up at him, as though he’d given her an “A” for her extra credit assignment.

  “That’ll help you with the will. It doesn’t ensure no one attacks again.” Dean said, “Whoever it is, they know their way around a hunting rifle. They can rig gas to leak and cause an explosion. I’d be willing to bet they’re connected locally.”

  “He’s right.” Jess didn’t seem to like that, though. “The guy who tried to break into my house owed West a favor, and that was how he was repaying it.”

  “Who hired him?”

  She turned to Dean then. “If I knew that, I’d know who was doing this, wouldn’t I?”

  “I meant, did he say?” Dean said, “I’m not a cop, nor was I one in the Navy. I’ve never interrogated anyone. But I can imagine what it feels like.” He smiled at her, but none of this was amusing.

  Conroy said, “If this is connected to West, we need to know. The person targeting Ellie could know West’s identity, and that could put us one step closer to taking him down.” He lifted a hand, palm out, and Dean saw that Ellie had raised hers to ask a question. “That’s a different case. If it relates, and we get intel, that’s one thing. Your safety is the priority here, though. Nothing else.”

  He glanced at Dean. “Not even your issues with your father.”

  Dean said nothing.

  “Which may very well play into all this.”

  “Why is that?” Ellie glanced around.

  Dean said, “The photo you found, of that group of Vietnam vets?”

  “The one with your father and my grandfather in it?” One eyebrow lifted, her opinion of what she saw as his deception still clear.

  Dean nodded as though he hadn’t seen all that in her expression. “My guess is, those are the town’s founders. I need Conroy to confirm if it’s even true. But if it is, then my father might know the answer to what you’re looking for.”

  She pressed her lips together. Taking the thoughtful approach while Jess huffed beside her, venting her opinion of him aloud.

  Dean wanted to ask Ellie what she thought about that and maybe discuss it further. But how would that get answers? They should work this. Like all the cops were doing.

  He’d go back to protection detail.

  She could do her history professor thing and find out what someone wanted to remain buried. He would watch her back while she did so. Jess and Conroy could do the cop stuff, since that was what the city paid them for.

  She finally spoke. “I’d like the chance to uncover this by myself.”

  “As long as that’s the safest course of action, I have no problem with it.” Dean figured it was best to get that out up front. “But this has escalated to someone being hospitalized, and we don’t know yet if Holmford is going to make it. Which means, as of right now, you’re in protective custody.”

  Jess rose to her feet. “You may not—”

  “You put me in charge of her safety, and I’ve more than proven myself.” Why were some people never satisfied? “But if I’m going to continue to put my life at risk, we’re going to do things my way.”

  Ellie laid a hand on her sister’s forearm. “It’s fine, Jess. You have a job to do.”

  “She’s right. You do.”

  Jess narrowed her eyes.

  Dean said, “Interview the remaining founders and figure out who is doing this.”

  “While you stand there and look pretty?” Jess said, “Sure. I’ll do my job. The one I’ve been doing this entire time.”

  Ted interrupted. “Jess—”

  She said, “I don’t need him insinuating I’m lapse in my duty.”

  “Like you insinuated I’m not worth anything more than standing around to get in the way of whatever comes flying at your sister?”

  Ted tried again. “Guys—”

  “Ding ding ding.” Conroy sighed. “Everyone back to your corners.”

  “I’m taking Ellie back to the Ridgeman residence,” Dean told Conroy. “Though given all that’s happened, I’m thinking she should pack her things, and I’ll find a safe place where she won’t be found until she’s figured this out.”

  “Just one stop on the way.”

  He turned to Ellie, not liking how guarded her tone was. “Where?”

  She lifted her chin. “I want to look at Mr. Holmford’s house.”

  Twenty-One

  “This is kind of creepy.” Ellie looked around Holmford’s entryway. “While he’s in the hospital, we’re in his house without him knowing.”

  “Welcome to my job.” Jess shrugged. “Creepin’ on other people’s lives. Usually on the worst day of their life.”

  Ellie turned to her sister. “That’s…”

  “Yeah, don’t worry about it.” Jess said, “Where’s Dean?”

  “He said he was going to walk around outside.”

  “Guess that means I’m clearing the house.” Jess held up a hand. “Stay here and don’t move until I get back.”

  Her sister wandered off, not relaxed. With those strong lines of tension in her shoulders and legs. Gun out, ready to face down whoever might be here.

  While Ellie stood around uselessly.

  She pressed her lips together and studied the entryway. Peter Holmford had lived alone for years. No wife, not even a girlfriend. His house smelled a little musty, not something she wanted to dwell on. The décor was utilitarian. Card table in the entryway, on which was a collection of keys and mail. On the floor underneath was a pile of shoes—boots and tennis shoes.

  Life, set up in a way that meant he did what was convenient with no concern for aesthetics. Because if no one came over, then there was no one he needed to impress. Right?

  Her own apartment was comfortable for her. Her decoration consisted of periodically adding another bookcase until they all overflowed. It was set up for comfort, the way Holmford’s was set up for function.

  She didn’t have time to think about what that meant before Jess was back. “It’s all clear.”

  Ellie nodded. They walked through the sparse living room and reasonably clean kitchen—though it was hard to leave a mess when there wasn’t much food in the house beyond a couple of condiment bottles in the fridge and a box of pasta in the cupboard. No sauce.

  “I’m trying to marry this—she waved her hand around wildly—with the put-together man we met.”

  Ellie agreed, “He clearly saw no need to impress anyone with his home.”

  “Probably put all his money into sprucing up the office and didn’t have any left for a house he never invited anyone over to anyway.”

  “So it’s an appearances thing?” Ellie was stuck on what her home and office said about her. Was she superficial, or did she not care what other people thought as she’d always told herself?

  “Maybe.” They found the bedroom. Not difficult, considering there were only two and the house was one story. Jess opened the dresser drawers but didn’t move his things around.

  Ellie slid the mirrored closet door aside. Rows of suits hung on the rail, two suitcases and a duffel on the floor. Maybe he’d only had one pai
r of work shoes. One pair of sneakers, one pair of work boots. Enough suits to get through the work week while the dry cleaners took care of the ones he needed cleaning.

  Above the clothes, a shelf had been packed tight.

  Jess moved to stand by her side. “Grab that one.”

  Ellie looked at her.

  “You’re taller than me. You can probably reach it.”

  “I’ll get it.” Dean was suddenly there, pulling down the shoe box Jess had indicated with one hand. “I’ll put it on the bed. Anything else?”

  Ellie moved to the shoe box and flipped the lid off. Inside was a collection of Army memorabilia she recognized as being from the Vietnam War. “Do we know if he was in that photo?”

  Jess said, “Conroy thinks so, but I believe he’s confirming it with Army records.”

  Dean moved beside her. “Anything we should know?”

  “There’s nothing in the rest of the house about his service.” Ellie said, “It’s all here in one place, tucked in a shoebox he had stuffed in a closet.” She shifted some of it. “Uniform. His discharge papers and service record. A Vietnam service medal and a Purple heart—so he had to have been injured somehow.”

  Jess folded her arms. “But he hid it because he didn’t want anyone to know. Instead of being proud of what he did, serving his country, he never told anyone.”

  “It was a tough time,” Ellie said. “There was a lot of public outcry. Those who did serve were drafted, so many of them never would have enlisted if they’d been given the choice.”

  Jess made a face.

  “Not everyone will jump to fight—and possibly die—for their country.” She said, “It takes a certain kind of person.”

  “I know that.” Jess frowned. “I put my life on the line every day for the people of Last Chance.”

  Ellie nodded. She knew that, but if she said as much then she would just be repeating what Jess had said. She didn’t know what they thought of her, considering Ellie had never done anything like it. Her grandfather had served in Vietnam. He’d come here after and served for years as a cop. Now Jess was a cop as well. Dean had been military and still gave all his energy to help others. Meanwhile, Ellie still had her nose in a book, pretending the world didn’t affect her.