by Chris Taylor
He’d be thrilled if she accepted his invitation. Spending more time with her was something he was eager to do, but he wouldn’t force her into it. Convincing Toby to move in with him would be easier if she threw her support behind the idea, but he understood her reluctance to uproot her life with very little discussion and no firm idea how long the arrangement would last. But Toby was right, Hannah could be in danger too.
“Hannah?” He posed the question softly, without inflection. This had to be her decision.
The seconds of silence dragged out until he almost couldn’t stand it. She was going to turn him down; she didn’t want to be in close confines with him or take the risk that something else might happen—that they might continue, or even finish, what they started in his truck. And then she looked at him. Her eyes were huge and somber in her face.
“Okay, I’ll do it,” she said and his heart took off in flight.
With an effort, he reined in his jubilation. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, looking a little more convinced. “Yes. If it means keeping Toby safe from Bobby, I’ll do it. And I trust you.”
Jacob allowed himself a small smile of relief. She trusted him? “Great. I guess that’s settled then. I’m working late tonight, but I have the next couple of days off. I can help move a few of your things over then, if that suits.”
She nodded hesitantly, still clearly far from certain that she’d made the right decision.
“I guess so,” she responded slowly. “I could pack up some stuff tonight and come over tomorrow, but I don’t think I’ll need any help. I’ll throw some clothes and a few other things into a suitcase and drive us both over. Are you sure you’re okay if I bring Pepper?”
He nodded. “Of course. Like Toby said, I’m fine with cats.”
“Great,” she replied. “What time suits you?”
Jacob shrugged, forcing himself to remain nonchalant. “I’m usually an early riser. Does nine sound all right?”
“Sure, I guess.” Hannah looked at Toby. “Are you okay with that?”
The grin on Toby’s face split him from ear to ear. “I’ll be ready whenever you are, Hannah! I can’t believe it! The three of us are going to live together! Whoopee!”
Heat crept up Jacob’s cheeks. He risked a glance in Hannah’s direction and was perturbed to discover she’d compressed her lips. Toby’s suggestion that they were all one happy family hadn’t gone down well. Jacob vowed silently to make her see he was worthy of her attention and that he was so much more than the irresponsible teenager who’d caused the death of her boyfriend.
“What about work?” asked Toby, breaking into Jacob’s musings. “I’m not going to give up my job. I love working here. You can’t make me give it up.”
Impatience once again surged through Jacob. He clenched his jaw tight in an effort to stem it. “Bobby works here, too, Tobes. It’s not safe for you to be here with him.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Hannah said. “I’ll still be working. I think he’s probably safer here, where I can keep an eye on him. It isn’t feasible for either of us to take an extended leave of absence from work and if we leave Toby at home, we won’t know where he is during the day. At least if he’s here, I can watch out for him, make sure he doesn’t cross Bobby’s path. I could also speak to Max,” she added. “He told me he was going to report the matter to the police. I’ll find out whether he did so and who he spoke to.”
“That would be good. I already mentioned this to Lane. He was going to look into it, too. If you find anything out, let me know and I’ll pass the information on to Lane. Whoever your boss spoke to might be able confer with Lane, share resources. Get this asshole behind bars that much faster.”
The door behind Jacob swung open and a mountain of a man filled the narrow space. “Who’s calling who an asshole?”
Jacob stared at The Bobster. The man had aged drastically since he’d last seen him. They were close in age, but the passage of time had been far from kind to Bobby. Even more scars criss-crossed his face and arms.
His eyes were bloodshot and weepy. It looked like he hadn’t shaved for more than a week and his hair hung long and lank. The rank smell of body odor wafted across the room and Jacob breathed through his mouth. The Bobster looked almost as bad as Toby had the first time Jacob had spotted him in the ED. If the half million dollars had indeed gone into The Bobster’s bank account, it was clear he hadn’t spent any on himself.
The Bobster’s gaze scanned the room and finally landed on Jacob. It took a few moments, but Jacob knew the instant his former cellmate recognized him. Bobby Grace’s eyes widened and his mouth gaped.
“Jacob Black? Is it you? Where the fuck did you come from?” Bobby looked from Jacob to Toby and back again. His brow creased into a frown. “What the fuck? You’re twins?” He narrowed his eyes on Toby. “I knew I’d seen you somewhere before.”
Toby moved closer to Hannah, who still stood against the counter. Jacob clenched his fists and stepped forward. He’d had enough of Bobby frightening his brother—or anyone else. He moved even closer, until he crowded The Bobster’s personal space. Bobby held his ground, but Jacob refused to feel intimidated.
“Stay the hell away from my brother,” he growled low in his throat.
Bobby moved back slightly, eyeing Jacob uncertainly. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Jacob’s anger stirred. “Don’t give me that bullshit. You know exactly what I’m talking about. The life insurance policies? I’ll tell you again, friend or no friend, when it comes to my brother, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him. You were good to me in jail, when I really needed a friend, but you touch my brother and you’ll regret it for as long as you live.”
Bobby stepped back and raised his hands in surrender, still looking confused. “You’ve got me mixed up with someone else, buddy. Either that, or you’re not right in the head. I thought I was the only one who got knocked around like that, but I’m beginning to wonder if you didn’t take a few that I didn’t hear about. I don’t know anything about insurance policies. What the fuck would I want with something like that?”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Lane spied Samantha Coleridge striding toward him and nodded a greeting. The noise of the excavator that was in the process of exhuming the coffin containing the remains of Christopher Lowrey precluded conversation. The fact that the body had only been in the ground for a couple of months was in their favor. Samantha had a better chance of discovering evidence of foul play when the decomposition wasn’t so advanced.
Still, it wouldn’t be pretty. Even with the cooler temperatures and the fact the wooden coffin was almost airtight, Lane was glad he didn’t have the job of carrying out the autopsy.
“How are we today, on this bright, sunny morning, Detective? Can you think of anywhere else you’d rather be?” she asked, smiling.
Lane chuckled, appreciating Samantha’s humor. If Lane hadn’t been bowled over by his wife, Zara, and if Samantha were single, he’d have given her more than a passing glance. Like Zara, Samantha had dark coloring, with midnight hair and golden skin. And she was as smart as she was beautiful. Another thing she had in common with his wife.
“I’m glad it’s you doing this and not me,” he admitted, eliciting a wry grin.
“I live for these moments, Detective. At least it’s given me something else to think about other than the last time I had my head over a toilet bowl.”
Lane glanced down at the gently protruding belly that was outlined against her black slacks and chuckled. Next to Zara, his twins were the best thing that had ever happened to him.
“What else do you know about this guy?” Samantha asked, focusing on the cheap pine coffin that was now exposed to the air.
“His body was claimed by the Max Grace Funeral Home. Robert Grace signed the paperwork and collected it from the morgue. In itself, that fact isn’t necessarily sinister. After all, Lowrey was a destitute case. The police couldn’t track down any nex
t of kin. As his employer, Max Grace came forward to claim the body. And I understand he covered the funeral, including the cost of the plot.”
“It would have been cheaper to cremate him,” Samantha murmured.
“Yes, but the funeral home doesn’t accommodate cremations. It’s strictly burials.”
“I guess that explains it,” Samantha said.
Lane compressed his lips. “The problem is, and the reason we’re here, is because Robert Grace took out a life insurance policy on Christopher Lowrey. He pocketed a cool half million last week when the life insurance company paid up.”
Samantha’s dark eyebrows rose in surprise. “That’s a fair incentive to hasten a colleague’s death.”
Lane nodded grimly. “Exactly. Let’s hope you have enough to determine whether our guy fell over drunk and went under the wheels of that truck, or whether someone gave him a helping hand.”
* * *
Max took a sip from his coffee mug and surveyed the mess of papers scattered across his desk. A sense of anticipation surged through him. It was only Tuesday. The week still had so many possibilities… He smiled at the thought. A knock on his door interrupted his musings and he looked up and spied Hannah standing in the open doorway.
“Good morning, Hannah. What can I do for you?” he asked.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course. I always have time for you,” he replied and waved her in with a smile. “What’s happening? Are you staying out of trouble?”
Hannah cleared a space off the only available chair and perched on the edge. “Not much. After all, I spend most of my waking hours here. How much trouble can I get in to?”
She smiled. Max smiled back. He knew her well enough to know that she was teasing. She loved her job and he’d always treated her well. He was sure she had no complaints about her employer.
“Is there something you wanted to speak with me about?” he asked in an effort to prompt her.
She regarded him nervously, as if unsure where to start. He frowned at her strange behavior and a faint stirring of unease made itself known in his gut. “Hannah, is there something wrong?”
“No. Yes. I mean… It has to do with your nephew. I’m not sure how to say it, but I recently became aware Bobby’s spent time in jail and has a considerable criminal record. He’s been convicted of a number of violent offenses.”
She blushed with embarrassment and Max could tell she was uncomfortable revealing such things to him. He wondered how she’d come upon her information. Not that it mattered. After all, it was the truth. He schooled his features into an appropriately repentant expression.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I should have told you. I’m well aware of the boy’s violent past. I was hoping… I thought if I gave him a job and helped him find a place to stay, he’d try harder to keep out of trouble. I wanted to give him a chance to start again.” He shrugged sadly. “I guess it didn’t work.”
Hannah’s expression filled with remorse. “I’m sorry, Max. I wish I didn’t have to say anything. I can’t imagine how awful you must feel. After all you’ve done for him… It’s just that, I’ve always felt uncomfortable around him and now, knowing his history and the police suspicions, I’m even more afraid of him and what he might be capable of.”
“I’m not sure that he’s dangerous,” Max stated, deliberately sounding unsure, to convince her of the opposite. He had to conceal a smile when she responded in the way he hoped.
She frowned. “But what about the insurance policy? The one you found in the bottom of his desk drawer?”
Max forced his expression into one of thoughtful concern. “Yes, you’re right. That is rather strange. There doesn’t seem to be any reasonable explanation for that.”
Hannah frowned. “Did you go to the police, like you said you would?”
Max nodded and lied straight to her face. “Of course I did. I have the detective’s card right here.” He hunted around through the papers on his desk, pretending to search for it.
Hannah looked relieved. “Oh, thank goodness! I’m so glad! Toby’s brother, Lane, is a police officer. He’s been looking into the matter for us. He might be able to confer with whoever you spoke to and pool resources.”
A police officer? That explained where she’d gotten the information about Bobby’s criminal record… He nodded in response to her suggestion, keeping up the pretense of support. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea. If only I could find that card. It must be here somewhere…”
“The truth is, I’ve moved in with some friends because I feel safer than living on my own,” Hannah confided. “At least, until this thing with Bobby’s resolved one way or the other. I’m not saying he’s guilty,” she added hurriedly and flushed.
Max hastened to reassure her. “Of course not.” He needed her to keep thinking they were both on the same side. “We both know Bobby’s not an angel and the evidence against him is far from weak. I’ve been wracking my brain to come up with a reasonable explanation about why he’d own an insurance policy with Christopher Lowrey as the insured, but I can’t.”
“It isn’t only Christopher,” Hannah said softly. “Lane Black discovered Bobby also owns a policy in Edward’s name and there’s one for Toby, too—all with the same company.” She paused and then added, “I don’t have to tell you how things worked out for Christopher and Edward. I have fears for Toby. I don’t want him to be next.”
Surprise and concern surged through Max when he heard the police had discovered all three policies, but he forced his face into a neutral expression and responded in the manner expected.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I had no idea it was that bad. It’s even worse than I thought. I’ll have to ring the detective right away. If I can just find his card…” Once again, he made a show of looking for it.
“Did you talk to him about it?” Hannah asked, curiosity frank on her face.
Max frowned. “Who? The detective?” he asked, deliberately misunderstanding her.
“No, Bobby.”
“Oh. Bobby. Yes, of course. He denied knowing anything about it.” Max shrugged. “I’m no closer to the truth. It’s the reason I decided to report it to the police. They know how to get to the bottom of these things much better than I.”
He drew in a breath and regarded her somberly. “I might be a silly old man, but my gut’s telling me something isn’t right. Bobby’s my nephew, but I’m not prepared to sit by and ignore what’s right before my eyes. I’m more and more afraid he murdered those boys for the insurance money and the knowledge breaks my heart.”
Hannah stared at him, shock flooding her face. Max suppressed a smile of satisfaction. No doubt she hadn’t expected him to put all the pieces together, yet alone offer such a candid disclosure.
“Now you can see why I’m so frightened for Toby,” she said. “I wanted to ask you if you could possibly keep Bobby away from here—just until the police have enough evidence to arrest him.”
Max was quick to assure her. “That shouldn’t be a problem, my dear. He’s hardly ever here, anyway. He’s been such a disappointment and to think he’s my only heir. I don’t know what I’m going to do with this place now, when I’m gone.”
Hannah waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t talk like that, Max. You have plenty of good years ahead of you, yet.”
Max sighed and ran a hand through this thick, white crop. “I’ll be seventy-six next birthday, Hannah. Not exactly a spring chicken. My Eileen’s been dead nearly fifty years. She died on my twenty-sixth birthday. I’ll never forget it…”
His voice drifted off. This time, he didn’t have to fake his reaction. Eileen had been his whole world. Her death had hit him hard. In fact, if he were being honest, he’d admit he’d never gotten over her untimely death. It was one of the reasons why he’d recently given up living a clean and honorable life and had turned to the dark side. He was through with doing good. It didn’t get him anywhere worth anything.
“What happened?” Hannah asked softly.<
br />
“Cancer,” he replied. “I buried her next to our son.”
Hannah blinked in surprise and he understood her reaction. She’d worked for him for six years. Apart from Bobby, she knew nothing of his family.
“How old was your son when he died?” she asked gently.
“Three. He was three years old.”
Hannah’s face reflected her sadness. “Oh, Max! What happened?”
Max remained silent, remembering that awful time. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh. “He drowned. In the swimming pool. We were both there—Eileen and I. We were both watching him, but somehow, neither of us noticed he’d pulled off his floaties and had climbed back in the pool. It all happened so fast. One moment, he was splashing and playing and laughing in the water and the next he was lying on the bottom. We tried to resuscitate him, but it was no use. He was dead.”
Hannah shook her head slowly back and forth, her eyes glinting with tears. Max’s throat constricted at the sight. She was such a beautiful girl, inside and out. She reminded him of his wife.
“Is that why you reach out to so many people who are down on their luck?” she asked softly. “Christopher? Edward? Even Toby. They aren’t the usual type of people a stranger would choose to help.”
Max looked up at her and conjured up some tears. “I guess so. I see someone like Christopher or Edward or Toby and I just want to help them out. I think about my own son and I wonder what might have become of him if he’d been given the chance to grow up.
“Would he have followed me into the business? Would he even now be tallying up the bills? Or would he have followed a different path entirely? I like to think, if he’d fallen on hard times, someone else might have offered him the hand of friendship, like I do. I guess that’s what drives me to do it, over and over again.”
Hannah swiped at the moisture that had gathered in her eyes. “You’re a good man, Max Grace and don’t let anyone else tell you differently.”