Intentions (Carpenter/Harding Book 6)

by Barbara Winkes

  “I am sorry it was this hard to find me.” She was mid-forties, a surgeon, returning from a humanitarian mission…Her mother had never adopted the name of the father Deborah and Becca had in common, and the sisters had had little contact during long periods of their lives. “I wanted to stay in touch with Deb, but let’s say, it wasn’t easy. She was impulsive, often chasing new ideas and changing her mind about said ideas and the people involved.” She paused. “I miss her so much.” The admission came out of left field, softening her features.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Ellie said, thinking that Agent Strickland’s assessment of Deborah had sounded different. Lilah had described her as a mother who would do and risk anything to remove her daughter from the cult’s clutches, and give her a chance at a new life.

  “How did you hear about Ariel in the first place?”

  “My husband heard the story on the news. Deborah had broken off all contact around the same time she’d met that guy, Nathan, almost fifteen years ago. I did try to find her, but I never could. She’d just vanished, and I wasn’t even sure if she…” Dr. Crane swallowed hard. “So here I am, somewhere in the desert with no cell phone reception for months, and the next time I get to a phone, I hear that I have a niece who is at the center of some high profile trial…I didn’t even know about Ariel! I came back as soon as I could.”

  “Why exactly did Deborah break off the contact?” Ellie asked, well aware she was heading into hazardous waters. However, the woman sitting across from them didn’t seem fazed.

  “That’s a legitimate question, of course. You see, we grew up under very different circumstances. I’ve been blessed with parents who could open up a wealth of opportunities to me, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. Deborah, I think, felt like she had to catch up and was failing. I never wanted her to feel this way, but I guess…” She sighed. “I probably didn’t make myself clear enough.”

  Ellie wondered why the father had not extended the same opportunities to his other daughter. She could read the questions in Jordan’s face as well.

  “You have a daughter,” Jordan prompted.

  “Yes, Mariah. She’s excited to meet Ariel. You can be certain that she’ll have a good home with us. It’s the least I can do for my sister. I understand that you were supporting her through all this, and I wanted to thank you for it. I was under the impression I’d meet your husband too? Mr. Carpenter?”

  An awkward silence ensued.

  Jordan cleared her throat. “Detective. Jordan Carpenter. That would be me.”

  Realization set in, and Ms. Crane quickly schooled her features into a neutral expression. “I see,” she said. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate…anything. It’s good to know Ariel would have had someone to take care of her if we hadn’t found her, but I’m glad we don’t have to worry about that. I hope all the legal aspects will be sorted out in a matter of days. You’ll agree that this will be best for Ariel.”

  Had something in the air changed? Ellie wondered. Maybe she was tired and grasping at straws. It was likely. The doctor had apologized for her assumption.

  “Ariel is incredibly smart and savvy, but you have to understand that she has lived for years in a context where everyone, especially women and girls, have been systematically manipulated.”

  “There was a murderer among them,” Ms. Crane said. “Someone obviously didn’t take their Commandments too seriously.”

  “That wasn’t all though.”

  “I understand. I know, there will be challenges, and I can assure you we are well equipped to handle them. I have a request though. Please understand I don’t mean to downplay everything you’ve done for Ariel, both in your job and on a personal level. My husband and I appreciate it so much. Nevertheless I have to I ask you not to contact her for a while unless it’s absolutely necessary for police business. Ariel has been tossed around for some time now. She deserves to be in a stable and permanent home, with her family.”

  “I’m not sure—” Ellie started, but Jordan stopped her, laying a hand on her arm.

  “This is hard for us, too, but we want what’s best for Ariel. We will respect your wishes, but we’d like to say goodbye to her.”

  “Thank you, and of course you can say goodbye. I can give Ariel some of her history. I have pictures from when Deborah and I were younger…and I think this will be important to her, knowing that her mom had a life before that cult.”

  Ellie wasn’t ready to give in yet. “Could I talk to you for a moment?” Those words were directed at Jordan. She was tired and conflicted, but she had to admit Becca Crane did have a point.

  “Ellie, let’s just do this, okay?”

  Dr. Crane smiled uneasily. “Thank you so much for understanding. Ariel is having a hard time now, but with the right guidance, she will thrive.”

  “I’m sure that’s right,” Jordan said, and between wanting to snap at her, and forcing herself to take a deep breath, Ellie understood that there was some sort of a plan. Which was good. Ellie was usually the one with the plan, but she hadn’t been that good coming up with anything lately.

  “I need to speak with Ms. Sherman some more, so you can take a few minutes if she says it’s all right. We all have a lot to do now.”

  * * * *

  “I have no choice, do I?” Ariel’s shoulders were slumped.

  “Your aunt wants to concentrate on getting you home as soon as possible,” Jordan admitted. “Please remember that everything we said is still true. If you feel uncomfortable at all, let us know.”

  “How will I do that? Aunt Becca says I’m not supposed to call you or anything. It’s going to be a whole new chapter in my life.”

  “With this.”

  Ellie’s jaw dropped when Jordan took a cell phone out of the pocket of her jeans and handed it to Ariel.

  “Honey, if you never needed it, that would be the best case scenario. You don’t have to feel obliged to keep in touch with us. But if you ever want to talk, you use this, okay?”

  Ariel, obviously used to secrets, nodded.

  “Thank you. I think that’s the first time ever I have a plan B. I appreciate it. Please, look out for the other girls if you can. Not all of them had a mom like I had.”

  Ellie didn’t know what to say—at all. The words she found eventually seemed insufficient, considering the circumstances.

  “I think your aunt might need a little time to adjust as well, and when she’s a little more comfortable, she might be okay with us talking.” Jordan and Ariel looked doubtful, and Ellie wondered if they knew something she didn’t.

  They heard voices in the hallway, and Ariel jumped to her feet. “Like I said, thank you. I’ll let you know how it all works out, and I promise I won’t bombard you with texts. Thanks for everything.” She hugged them both quickly before the knock on the door preceded Crane and Sherman into the room.

  * * * *

  “I didn’t see that one coming,” Ellie admitted when they were driving back, on the way to catch up with colleagues at the Night Shift. “When did you get that?”

  “Lunch break.” Jordan looked chastised. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”

  “Wow. We could get in real trouble over this.”

  “I know, but I don’t think that will happen. Ariel’s smart. She’s not going to let Mrs. ‘Where’s your husband’ catch you.”

  “You don’t know how she meant that. It could have been an honest mistake.”

  “You saw her face when she realized there was no Mr. Carpenter?”

  “Yeah,” Ellie admitted, leaning back into the seat with a sigh. “And if we were this wholesome straight couple, she might not have asked us to keep away.”

  “We’re wholesome all right,” Jordan said, sounding momentarily amused. “Okay, where were we? If this ever gets out, I’ll take the fall—and I don’t want you to argue with me on this.”

  “Fine, I won’t, but only because I have something to tell you as well. Kate called…an
d having the worst timing ever, she asked me to join her for a couple of days. Me and Libby.”

  “Oh. Weren’t we supposed to be painting this weekend?”

  “I know, but I guess since Ariel isn’t moving in, we could move it up one week?”

  “We’ll see. Derek already said he’d help. We can do the rest when you’re back.” Jordan quickly solved the problem.

  “Thank you.”

  * * * *

  Early in the morning, they had breakfast with Libby, who had come to pick up Ellie, and Derek, who had dutifully shown up for the paint job. After the meal, they drove to the house to show Libby around.

  “I really wanted to help with that,” Ellie said, appropriately chagrined, as they stood by the car.

  “Don’t feel bad about it.” Jordan kissed her. “We’ll leave some for you. We are good on the colors, right?”

  “Oh yes. No more changes.”

  “Are you sure? We’re not going to do this twice.”

  “There’s no need. Don’t get into any trouble while I’m away.”

  “I’ll try not to,” Jordan said, amused. “Have fun. I’ll see you Monday.”

  Ellie and Libby got in the car and drove away.

  Jordan stayed outside for a moment longer, lost in thought. She hadn’t yet processed it all, the good and the bad. She was thrilled that she and Ellie would finally have their own home—but Ariel most likely wasn’t going to share it with them. She wished she’d asked Ellie to postpone the weekend with Kate. The honking of a car jolted her out of her musings, and she was surprised to see Jack pull up at the curb in his truck.

  “Hi, Jack.”

  He answered the obvious question before she could ask. “If you still want to gut the kitchen, I could help today.”

  “That’s…awesome.” Frankly, Jordan hadn’t given the specifics much thought.

  “The sooner it’s done, the sooner you can move in…unless you changed your mind?”

  “No. No, we didn’t. Thank you.”

  “Hey Jack. How are the plans for Carpenter’s going?” Derek, who had come back out, asked, and Jordan shot him a quizzical look. First of all, that name wasn’t going to stay, and second, how did he even know about it?

  “We ran into each other last week,” he explained, aware she had questions. “I think it’s a great idea.”

  Jack smiled. “Thanks. Plans are moving along. How about we get to work then?”

  Jordan and Derek went upstairs where they started the task of taping off baseboards and covering the wood floors before getting started with the primer coat. The rooms were fairly square and leveled, so the area was done sooner than they had expected—or maybe it was because they were so carefully avoiding some conversation topics, focusing on the task at hand. The noise from the kitchen downstairs helped as well.

  After a lunch break, they went to help Jack while the first coat was still drying, then came back up for the second.

  Jordan stood in the doorway of the third bedroom for a moment.

  “Please don’t say it’s the wrong color,” Derek commented.

  “This was supposed to be Ariel’s room.” She shook her head. “From the moment we told her, to now, it’s still rather surreal. We wanted this so much.”

  “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. Would this be a good moment to ask why I was supposed to do a background check on Rebecca Crane?”

  She spun around, all of a sudden guiltily excited. She shouldn’t hope for…something to turn things around.

  “You got it?”

  “You’re not answering my question.”

  “I’d rather not. What does it say?”

  “The woman’s squeaky clean. Never late paying a bill, gives money to the church, has worked in hospitals all over the world. Can I at least ask what you were hoping to find?”

  “Nothing. I hoped you’d find exactly nothing.”

  Derek didn’t look convinced, and Jordan asked herself if she’d told the whole truth. She wanted Ariel to go to a good home, with caring adults. Rebecca Crane and her family seemed to fit that bill, so why did this result leave her with those nagging doubts?

  Crane’s reaction, if only a minute change of expression, had told volumes.

  “I’m not sure I like her,” she confessed.

  “For any reason other than that she’s taking Ariel?” Derek set down the can of paint. “Do you have any suspicion, anything why the girl shouldn’t be with her? In that case, now’s the time to act. Actually, I’m surprised Ellie is going on a trip now. It’s not like you to give in so easily.”

  “I know! What about the church?”

  “Mainstream,” Derek said with a shrug. “I don’t know the specifics, but it doesn’t sound like the Prophets, or any of those “everyone but us goes to hell” folks. Remember it was Deborah who got involved with the cult, not the good doctor.”

  “Yes, and Deborah recognized her mistake soon enough.” Jordan raked a hand through her hair. “Crane told us to cut ties with Ariel.”

  “You’re going to do that?”

  “I told her yes. And I gave Ariel a phone. Yes, I know this is all a mess, but it freaked me out to think she’d be on her own.”

  “With family.”

  Jordan didn’t have to say anything for Derek to understand what was on her mind.

  “Yeah, sometimes that doesn’t mean anything, but from what I understand, she’s a far cry from your biological family. Maybe there is something good in this, and after they’ve all settled in, she won’t be so opposed to your checking in on Ariel.”

  “Ellie said the same thing.”

  “Yeah, well, trust your woman. We’re going to finish this room or not?”

  “I guess. Let’s get going.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kate had a cozy apartment upstairs in her grandparents’ house, complete with a balcony and a guest room big enough for twin beds. After she had introduced everybody, and Libby and Ellie had time to freshen up, they left for the restaurant where Kate had reserved a table.

  “How are you doing?” Ellie finally asked.

  “Frankly? I’m great for the most part. I have stayed away from the news best I could, though I did hear about the trial. Those poor women.”

  Kate looked better than she had in a long time, Ellie had to admit, though she wasn’t sure if helping out in the grandparents’ hardware store was all she’d ever want to do. Maybe that was just her. Whatever the job had thrown at her, she couldn’t imagine doing anything else, but their situations differed greatly. Ellie had found love. The same job had made Kate a widow before she had a chance to say yes. The thought made her shudder.

  “We hope all of the men, and some of the women will serve prison sentences,” she said. “After all they knew about the underage marriages, if not the serial killer under their roof. But, let’s talk about something else.”

  “Yes. How’s it going with Ariel?” Libby asked.

  There hadn’t been much time to update all of their friends on the latest developments.

  “Not good, I’m afraid. An aunt of hers came forward, and she’s going to live with her.”

  They had the first bottle of wine on the table, a context that seemed too nice and bubbly to catch her friends up on the newest development.

  For a moment, both Libby and Kate were silent.

  “I’m sorry,” Libby mumbled. “I didn’t mean to—”

  “No, come on, it’s not your fault.”

  “Perhaps there’s a silver lining in that.”

  Kate’s statement put Ellie on the defensive.

  “Why do you say that? We both have steady incomes, and we just bought a house. We even showed her a room that would be hers. What makes you think that we wouldn’t be able to take care of her?”

  “Ellie, slow down. I can hardly judge anyone on their life choices right now. I was just thinking…with the house, and the new job you’re going to get sometime soon, it would be a lot. Sure, she’s a teenager, that’s not like
having a baby, but she had to deal with a lot of crap. You guys aren’t really home that much.”

  It was an uncomfortable thought.

  “I know…but she was so brave, and she had no one. We would have made it work. We still will if the aunt doesn’t work out.”

  “What makes you think that?” Libby asked.

  “I don’t know, the fact that she’s a surgeon who flies around the world to help poor people, or the nice house she and her husband have?” Ellie sighed. “Yeah, right. I think I need a refill.”

  “You guys are going to be all right, and so is she.” Kate patted her shoulder.

  “I know. So what are you going to do about Derek? It’s really over with you two?”

  “Okay, I guess that’s a fair question. I don’t want to come back to the job, but I might move back to town at some point. I don’t know yet, but we didn’t have much of a chance to talk, and…I’ll give him that if he’s still interested.”

  “I think that’s a good idea.”

  Ellie was wondering if, at home, Jordan was having the same thoughts. There was nothing left they could do other than hope that Ariel would be happy with her new-found family. Because they’d promised her that she mattered most.

  * * * *

  That nagging uncomfortable feeling didn’t go away, not even after she’d had a brief conversation with Ellie on the phone. It intensified when she and Derek went for a beer at the end of the day, and Marcus Holmes was once again sitting at the bar.

  “You want me to talk to him?” Derek asked, and Jordan gave him a wry smile in return.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  She was aware that Holmes had watched her, though he turned to the bartender only seconds before she had reached the counter.

  “Detective Carpenter,” he said without looking at her. “We meet again.” There was a smile in his voice.

  “Why do you keep coming to this place?”

  He shrugged. “I like it. Good drinks, food…company sometimes. I actually enjoy talking to you.”