Blazing Summer (Darling Investigations Book 2)

by Denise Grover Swank

  “Are you sure Trent wasn’t lyin’?” Teddy asked. “He’s probably got her locked in his room. Did you hear anything? Did you snoop around?”

  “He doesn’t have her, Teddy. He loves her.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Yeah, I thought so too, but he was pretty convincin’. Or at least he loves her as much as he’s capable of love. I believe him.”

  He started to protest, but I held up a hand. “I could explain it all to you, but I think you should just watch the video.” I hopped down, and Bill backed up and motioned for Teddy to head over to the front passenger seat. Sure enough, the laptop was out. I grabbed it and sat down next to Teddy. Bill walked over and entered the password, then stepped back and resumed filming.

  Thankfully the software was similar to basic video software. To my surprise, I realized the minicamera was still recording. I turned it off, then moved the cursor to the beginning and let it play.

  Teddy watched the video, stone-faced. His jaw twitched when Trent dropped his pants, and he about leaped off the tailgate as he watched Trent try, again and again, to pull me into the hot tub.

  I put my hand on his forearm and leaned my head into his shoulder. This was going to be equally hard and justifying for him. “Just wait.”

  We finally got to the part where Trent admitted to what his brother had done, and Teddy immediately went rigid. I was pretty sure there was a passing chance he might head down to the cemetery to beat the shit out of Troy Dunbar’s body.

  We got to the part when I asked Trent who else knew about what his brother had done, and when Elijah started talking, I pressed “Stop.”

  Teddy shot me a dark glance. “Who was that, and why did you turn it off?”

  “Because the next part is liable to piss you off, and I’m scared of what you’ll do.”

  His eyes became narrow slits. “Let me watch it, and then you’ll find out for yourself.”

  “Teddy . . .”

  He glanced up. “Bill. You just press ‘Play’?”

  “Yeah.”

  I almost fought him on it. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea for him to see this in the Jackhammer parking lot, especially when Garrett was about to show up at any minute, but I also wanted his advice on how to handle the situation.

  Teddy pressed “Play,” and I was sure my cousin was going to have a stroke. When I ducked and punched Elijah in the crotch, Teddy wrapped an arm around my back and leaned his head on top of mine. “That’s my hotheaded Summy.”

  He laughed when I pushed Elijah into the pool. “Remind me never to piss you off.”

  “Keep watching,” Bill said. “There’s more.”

  He grinned from ear to ear when we pushed the truck into the pond, but his face clouded over again when Elijah raced after the car and tried to snatch me. I played it all the way to our escape before stopping the footage.

  He was silent for a few moments, then said, “You can definitely take care of yourself.”

  The pride in his voice made my eyes sting. “Thanks.”

  “Elijah is a dangerous loose cannon. We have to take this up with the sheriff’s department.”

  “We can’t,” I said. “Sure, he threatened me, but my temper got the better of me, and I ruined his truck. I could get arrested for that.”

  “I have friends in the department, Summer. I’ll call them.”

  “No. Deputy Dixon has a bee in his bonnet for me, and I don’t want to press my luck.”

  “You plan to let this go?” he asked, his voice rising. “Someone like Elijah Sterling doesn’t let things go, Summer.”

  “Just like Troy Dunbar.”

  Realization filled Teddy’s eyes.

  “They were best friends until Troy died,” I added, “and Elijah certainly made it sound like they knew each other’s secrets.” What if Trent’s daddy had convinced Mayor Sterling to hire Elijah to help protect the Dunbars’ secrets?

  And just like that, Elijah Sterling became my suspect number one.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  I opened my mouth to tell Teddy what I was thinking, but Garrett’s car pulled into the spot on the other side of mine. Our time to talk privately had ended.

  Teddy leaned into my ear as he shut the laptop. “We’ll continue the discussion about Elijah later.”

  I nodded as Garrett got out of his car and headed toward us.

  “Thanks for meetin’ me here,” he said, looking slightly flustered. “I had a devil of a time getting off. My boss is getting ticked about me bein’ gone so much.”

  “Really?” I asked. “But you’re performing a public service.”

  He frowned. “What are you gonna do? I love puttin’ out fires and protecting the town.” He paused and turned solemn. “Sorry about Dixie.”

  “She didn’t do it,” I said defensively, handing the computer off to Bill.

  He gave a slight nod and a tight smile, but I knew he was just placating me. Still, he had information, and I had to be polite until I had what I needed.

  “Do you mind goin’ in?” he asked. “I’m starving, and it’s wings night.”

  “Yeah . . . sure,” I said, gesturing toward the building.

  He grinned, his gaze scanning me up and down. “Ladies first.” But then he glanced back at Bill, who was still recording. “But no cameras. This is off the record.”

  Bill’s gaze caught mine, and his eyebrows lifted. He was waiting for orders from me.

  “Take a break. Why don’t you and the guys get some wings and a beer?” I held the pendant at my neck, flipping the switch on the back.

  Bill grinned. “Thanks, Summer. Sounds good. I’ll just wait out here for the other guys to show up.”

  Garrett and Teddy followed me inside, and I chose a table close to the stage. It was early enough that the live entertainment hadn’t started yet. Teddy and I sat on one side, and Garrett sat across from us.

  A waitress came over, and Garrett and Teddy put in their orders. I glanced up at the waitress. “Do you have bottled water?”

  She laughed as her nose scrunched. “No. This ain’t California, Isabella.”

  “My name’s Summer, and bottled water isn’t just a California thing. The Kum and Go has bottled water just down the street,” I said with a sweeping gesture.

  “Then feel free to head down the street to get one, because we don’t have any here.”

  “Just get her a glass of water,” Garrett said in a patronizing tone.

  Oh, hell, no, he didn’t. I turned and shot him a glare so dark Teddy looked like he was hurting himself trying not to laugh. “No.” My tone was sharp. “Bring me a bottle of beer. Unopened.”

  She put a hand on her hip and looked down at me like I was a fool. “You plannin’ on takin’ it home? It don’t work like that.”

  “Just bring it.”

  She walked off grumbling, and Garrett shot me a confused look. “What’s the big deal?”

  But I caught Teddy’s gaze—I wouldn’t need to tell him I was worried about being drugged. He gave me a tiny nod, then turned to his friend and said, “Thanks for meetin’ us, Garrett. I know you’re beat from workin’ two fires in such a short period of time.”

  “Three, if you include Bruce’s,” I said, the only olive branch he was getting from me.

  “Yeah, it’s been crazy, but I know you’ve got two interests in this, and I want to help.” He gave Teddy a sympathetic look. “I know Dixie means the world to you.”

  Teddy nodded once, his face blank. “Thanks.”

  “This can’t be on your show,” Garrett said again. “What I’m about to give you could get me in trouble.”

  “We know,” I said. I wouldn’t use the footage from the necklace camera on the show, but we could analyze it later.

  “And again,” Teddy said, “we appreciate you tellin’ us.”

  The waitress showed up with our drinks and dropped a plastic container filled with buffalo wings and fries in front of Garrett. She handed me a still-closed bottle and gave me a
n annoyed look. “I suppose you want me to bring you a bottle opener?”

  “Nope,” Teddy said, reaching for the bottle. “I’ve got it covered, Olivia. Thanks.” Then he opened it on the edge of the table and handed it to me.

  “What’s with the bottle thing?” Garrett asked.

  As far as I knew, only a few people knew that Dixie had been drugged. I wasn’t ready to let the information out into the wild. I was about to make up some story, but Teddy beat me to it.

  “It’s a California thing,” Teddy said. “It keeps the beer colder a little longer.”

  Garrett gave him a look of disbelief. “For about thirty seconds longer.”

  I gave him a shrug, then lifted the bottle to my lips and took a drink. This was one situation where I was perfectly satisfied letting someone think I was a diva.

  Garrett glanced at the door. “I’m not sure we should talk about this here.”

  Teddy leaned his forearms on the table. “You were the one who suggested we come here.”

  “That was before he showed up.”

  I glanced over my shoulder and saw Luke standing a few feet from the front door, scanning the room.

  Great.

  I knew it was too much to hope we wouldn’t cross paths. He was still wearing his jeans and T-shirt, and something deep in my chest tightened at the sight of him. But I couldn’t give in to my feelings. Dixie was counting on me, and time was running out.

  He headed straight for our table, and the look on his face suggested his mood hadn’t improved any since he’d stormed out of my office.

  Stopping next to our table, he skipped the customary pleasantries and lifted his cell phone. “Summer, know anything about this?”

  On his screen was a photo of Elijah’s truck nose down in the three-foot pond.

  How should I play this? Feigned innocence or outrage? Outrage was more likely to ring true. “And why would you think I’d know anything about that?” I asked with plenty of sass.

  Garrett leaned closer, his mouth gaping. “Is that Elijah Sterling’s truck?”

  Teddy got a good look, then burst out laughing.

  Luke’s eyes narrowed. “Well?”

  “Are you kiddin’ me?” I asked in a huffy tone. “Someone drives their truck into a giant puddle, and you immediately think, ‘Oh, this must be Summer’s doin’?’”

  “That and the fact Elijah Sterling texted this photo with the message, ‘Ask Summer what she knows about my truck.’”

  Well played, Elijah. Time to feign innocence. “And I just told you.”

  “No . . .” Luke sat in the seat next to Garrett, directly across from me, and grabbed my beer bottle off the table. “You didn’t.” He took a drink and glanced around the room. “What are y’all doing at the Jackhammer while Dixie’s missin’?”

  Teddy bristled. “I don’t see that it’s any of your damn business. And seein’ how you’re the only law enforcement at the table, what the hell are you doin’ harassin’ my cousin about a piece-of-shit truck when you should be out there lookin’ for my sister?”

  Regret washed over Luke’s face, but he didn’t apologize. Instead, he sat back in his chair. “It’s funny you’re both hangin’ out with Garrett Newcomer.”

  “Not so strange,” Teddy said, barely containing his rage, “considering Garrett and I are friends.”

  Luke’s mouth twisted, and he gave a slight shrug, then took another sip of my beer.

  Garrett eyed him cautiously.

  “What do you want, Montgomery?” Teddy asked.

  “I want to know what happened to Elijah’s truck.”

  “Then what the hell are you doin’ sittin’ here for? You asked Summer, she gave you an answer. Now get the hell out.”

  “I saw Bill out front.”

  My breath caught. “He’s waitin’ for the rest of my crew so we can go to our next location.”

  “I showed him the photo of Elijah’s truck too.”

  “You must be pretty damn proud of it since you seem to be showin’ it to everyone,” Teddy said. “Envious, Luke?”

  Luke ignored him, keeping his gaze on me. “His reaction was interestin’.”

  Do not take the bait, Summer. “Huh.”

  “His first reaction was fear, then he looked a little nervous.”

  I tilted my head. “Bill’s been a little nervous over everything since getting shot. Besides, maybe he has a thing for old trucks. If you showed me a photo of a pair of Louboutins dropped into a big puddle like that, I’d likely have the same reaction.”

  A grin tugged at the corners of his lips, then he took a long drink of my beer.

  My phone buzzed with a text, and I took a quick peek at the message from Elijah.

  Two can play that game.

  Luke tried to glance at my phone over the table, but I stuffed it back into my pocket and rolled my eyes.

  “Seein’ how you’ve drunk almost all my beer, I think I’ll walk up to the bar and get a new one.” Hopefully Luke would follow, and Garrett would loosen his lips. Teddy could fill me in later. We wouldn’t get it on film, but we couldn’t use the footage anyway.

  I walked up to an open space at the bar and leaned both elbows on it. The bartender was at the opposite end, but I felt Luke walk up behind me. Lightly pressing his chest to my back, he rested his hand on my left hip and leaned into my ear. “Did you have another altercation with Elijah?” The worry in his voice was unmistakable, and I spun around to face him.

  “I’m fine.”

  Anxiousness filled his eyes as his hand resettled on my hip. “That much is obvious, but if he’s harassin’ you, I need to know.”

  “I took care of it.”

  “By drivin’ his truck into the Dunbars’ pond?” When he saw the surprise in my eyes, he added. “I’ve been to the Dunbar ranch enough times to recognize the landscapin’.”

  Should I tell him about Trent’s confession about his brother? Part of me wasn’t ready to do that. I knew how profoundly it would affect Luke. Much better for me to break the news in private than in the middle of a bar.

  “You went to see Trent.” It wasn’t a question.

  “You know I’m investigatin’. Same as you. Just usin’ different tactics.”

  “And he let Bill in with his camera?”

  “Bill didn’t go in.”

  His left eye twitched. “You were alone with Trent and Elijah?”

  “I don’t know why you and Teddy think I’m some delicate flower, but I’ve proven many times over that I can take care of myself.”

  His gaze was on my lips, and his hand tightened on my hip. “I know, but I still worry, Summer. Elijah Sterling is more of a hothead than when we were kids. He must have done something to you before you did this to his truck. Why won’t you tell me what happened?”

  Because I still wasn’t sure if I could trust him, and while Trent’s confession was illuminating, we weren’t any closer to finding Dixie. The footage wasn’t going anywhere.

  “I’ll show you later,” I said.

  “As much as I’d like that to be a dirty reference, I suspect you got some video even if Bill wasn’t at your side.”

  “I got something very useful. Two somethings, and you wouldn’t have either one without my cameras—the ones you claimed I was using to take advantage of Dixie’s misfortunes.”

  Regret washed over his face. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  I cocked an eyebrow. “Can you repeat that? I could have sworn you just apologized.”

  A sad smile lifted his mouth. “I’m so used to doin’ things by the book . . . I refused to think outside the box. By the time I got to the police station, I knew I’d screwed up, but I wasn’t sure what to do about it.”

  “So you tracked me down at the Jackhammer to ask me if I vandalized Elijah Sterling’s truck?”

  He made a face. “So I’ve got to work on my technique.”

  I gave him a wry grin. “I’ll say.”

  “I was worried about you, Summer. Elijah was
taunting me with that photo, and I’m pretty damn sure it was a threat to you. What happened?”

  “I don’t think I should tell you in here.”

  “My truck’s out back. Why don’t we go sit out there while Teddy quizzes Garrett about the fires?” My eyes widened, and he laughed. “You didn’t think you were foolin’ me, did you?”

  “Well . . .” I sent Teddy a text saying I was going to wait outside with Luke, then left before he could send me a dirty look.

  Luke wrapped an arm around my lower back and guided me toward his truck in the back of the lot. I reached up and flipped off the switch on my pendant. Bill and the guys didn’t need to see what happened next.

  After opening the passenger door, Luke grabbed my waist and lifted me up so I was sitting with my legs over the side of the seat. His gaze took me in before he said, “I thought I lost you with my idiocy.” Then, before I could respond, he kissed me.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close, savoring his gentle kiss.

  “I was lookin’ forward to spendin’ time with you tonight,” he said. “If you want, you can still come over after you finish for the night.”

  I leaned back. “I want to. You have to know that, but I don’t want our first time to be with Dixie missin’. Not like this.”

  “I know,” he said with a soft smile. “I understand.”

  “I’m scared we’re not gonna work out,” I said, deciding to at least be honest about my fears. “You got mad and just left, and I was pretty sure you were walkin’ out on me for good.”

  He lifted a hand to my cheek. “I know, Summer, and I’m so sorry.”

  “If we’re gonna try this, I need to know that you’re committed to it. We might not work out in the end, but if I’m gonna put effort into us, I have to know that you’re not just gonna bolt at the first sign of trouble.”

  “I swear to you that I’m all in, but you also know that when it comes to you, sometimes I’m quick to react and slow to come to my senses. I’ll promise to do my best to keep a lid on it, and I also promise that if I get mad again—which, let’s face it, we both know I will—that if I walk out, I’m not walking out on you, okay? I’m only leaving to keep myself from saying something I’ll regret later. And if . . .” He took a deep breath, and sadness filled his eyes. “If we don’t work out, we won’t officially end things in a fit of anger, but in a calm discussion.” His expression turned fierce. “But you need to know that I’m goin’ into this plannin’ on forever, Summer. You are the love of my life, and I only want you.”