“That’s a very good question.”
“It’s also a frightening one. I’m starting to think that Simone Graham is off her rocker. That only makes her more dangerous. You need to be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
“Be a lot more careful than that. I mean it.”
Fourteen
Jack’s mind was busy as he followed Ivy home. They drove to town separately so he had to drop Ivy back at the barn so she could reclaim her vehicle. Given the circumstances – and Simone’s fury – Jack made sure to watch while Ivy got in her car and then followed to make sure she didn’t have any trouble on the ride home. He doubted very much anyone would tamper with her vehicle, but he refused to be complacent.
He was lost in thought when they pulled in to the driveway, only paying attention when Ivy flew out of her vehicle and let loose with a loud exclamation. He dragged his eyes to the front of the house, frowning when he saw the toilet paper hanging from the trees and what looked to be spray paint on the front door.
“What the … ?”
Jack pocketed his keys as he hopped out of the truck, his eyes wide.
Most women would be scared or upset to find their home vandalized. Ivy was absolutely furious. “I can’t believe this!”
She raced toward the front door, her hands balled into fists. Jack was alert as he turned to his left and slowly scanned the entire area for hints of movement. While Ivy stomped her feet and cursed a blue streak on the front porch, Jack took a moment to study the driveway. It was hard to tell if anyone else drove over the packed snow because no fresh powder fell throughout the day. Still, the house was isolated enough that someone could be hiding in the thick trees that surrounded the house.
“I’m going to kill her,” Ivy exclaimed, finally getting Jack’s attention. “I’m going to rip every hair out of her head – every single one! – and then I’m going to give her a big, fat lip to go with her big, fat ego.”
“Who?”
Ivy met Jack’s gaze with an incredulous stare. “Who do you think? This has Simone written all over it. I mean … look at what she wrote.”
Jack moved closer, his eyebrows drawing together as he read the insults on the front door. There was nothing odd or overtly threatening about the words – most were just derogatory, calling Ivy things like “slut” and “witch,” amongst others – but he understood her anger. “Honey, we don’t know that she did this.”
“Who else?”
“Well … .” In truth, Jack’s first inclination was to blame Simone. Given the story he heard over dinner, this almost seemed like a tame reaction. “You’re probably right, but we need evidence to prove it.”
“What do you want her to do?” Ivy asked, planting her hands on her narrow hips. “Should she sign her name to the insult about me being a witch? She’s been saying that for days, by the way. It has to be her.”
“I get that and I don’t disagree with you.” Jack forced himself to remain calm. The idea that someone would come to their home, their sanctuary, and do something petty like this over a pageant irked him to no end. Even more than that, though, he worried that Ivy would somehow become a target for violence. So far, no one had died. That didn’t mean the culprit wouldn’t step up his or her game now that Ivy was in charge. “I’m going to call Brian and get him out here.”
Ivy balked. “You’re going to call him out here for vandalism?”
“I am,” Jack confirmed. “I want you to take photos with your phone right away and then try to wash off that front door. If we’re lucky, the paint won’t be dry and we won’t have much of an issue getting it off. You need to take photos for documentation first, though.”
“Oh.” Ivy felt mildly foolish. “That’s a good idea.”
“Then get on it,” Jack instructed. “I’ll start handling the toilet paper after. We need Brian as an independent third party, though.” What Jack didn’t say out loud was that he also wanted Brian to immediately track down Simone and see if he could catch her with the supplies on her person. “I’ll be over to help in five minutes. Just … give me a minute. It’s going to be okay.”
JACK FILLED TWO GARBAGE bags with toilet paper by the time Brian pulled in the driveway. Jack recognized his official vehicle right away – and the woman sitting in the passenger seat. He wasn’t surprised that Brian insisted on bringing Simone out to the scene of the crime. What did surprise him was the vehicle that pulled in behind Brian. He recognized that truck, too. It belonged to Max.
“Great,” Jack muttered under his breath, running a gloved hand over the back of his head. “This isn’t going to end well.”
Ivy, a bucket of soapy water on the porch next to her, toiled over the door. Jack believed she got all the paint off long ago, but she still plugged away to make absolutely certain. He figured having something to do calmed her fury. He realized he was wrong when she caught sight of Simone.
“You are un-freaking-believable!” Ivy yelled as she bounded down the steps and strode toward the car. “What is the matter with you? Why do you insist on acting like a teenager?”
Jack caught Ivy around the waist before she could launch herself at Simone. Under normal circumstances, Jack would trust Ivy to conduct herself with a modicum of maturity and respect. For some reason, Simone irritated Ivy to the point where she became deranged. The last thing Jack needed was for Ivy to physically assault Simone in front of Brian. She could end up in jail if she wasn’t careful.
“I found Simone,” Brian offered, pursing his lips as he surveyed the cleanup efforts. “She was just pulling into her driveway. She had Sadie with her.”
Jack struggled against Ivy’s wriggling body, working overtime to keep her close. “Did you find any vandalism supplies?”
“I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t dump them while out,” Brian said, his expression mild. “Simone didn’t seem surprised when I told her why I was there.”
“I see.” Jack flicked his eyes to Max’s truck, but the older Morgan sibling showed no signs of getting out. Coward, Jack internally cursed. He was about to make things ten times worse and he didn’t have the courage to face his sister’s wrath. “Well, Simone, would you like to account for your whereabouts over the past three hours or so?”
“Not really.” Simone folded her arms over her chest, defiant. “I don’t believe I have to account for my whereabouts because I’m not guilty and you can’t arrest me without proof.”
“Wow. Did you get a law degree when no one was looking?” Brian drawled.
Simone ignored the dig. “I had nothing to do with this. Why would I do something like this?”
“Why would you do anything?” Ivy challenged as she fought Jack’s strong arms. “Why did you rush the stage when Hannah Landry won the title? Why have you alienated Sarah? Why are you so desperate to keep your claws in that pageant?”
“Ivy, knock it off,” Jack warned, his arms threatening to give way. Ivy wasn’t overly tall or muscular, but she was unbelievably strong. She was also tenacious, which meant she would probably outlast Jack over the long haul. “You can’t go after her.”
“Oh, I can go after her,” Ivy gritted out.
“No, you can’t.” Jack lowered his mouth so it was next to Ivy’s ear. “You could end up in jail if you’re not careful. I know you’re upset. I’m upset, too. I need you to calm yourself, though. Please.”
It was the “please” that did her in. Defeated, utterly exhausted and annoyed, Ivy ceased fighting and let her hands fall to her sides. “Fine. I’m done.”
Jack was leery as he relinquished his grip. Thankfully Ivy didn’t throw herself at Simone. She merely stood next to Jack and rubbed her hands together to warm them. Instinctively, Jack grabbed her hands and gripped them between his.
“You have motive,” Brian pointed out to Simone, doing his best to ignore the potential domestic situation across the way. “You were removed from your position as pageant coordinator several hours ago. Ivy was handed the reins.
You’ve never gotten along.”
“That’s because she’s a witch and I like to fight evil beings,” Simone said with false bravado.
“That’s funny,” Jack said, collecting Ivy’s phone from her pocket and scanning through the photos. He held up the phone when he found the snapshot he was looking for. “That’s the exact word someone used when they painted the door.”
For the first time since arriving, Simone looked uncomfortable. She rubbed her cheek as she leaned forward and stared at the writing, her eyes temporarily flashing with something Jack couldn’t identify. After a few moments of quiet contemplation, Simone recovered.
“I didn’t write that. Why would I? It’s just … ridiculous.”
“It is ridiculous,” Jack agreed. “You still haven’t answered the question. Where were you over the past three hours?”
“It’s really none of your concern, but since it’s cold and I’m sick of being here – this place is straight out of a horror movie, by the way – I’ll tell you.” Simone looked smug, which worried Jack to no end. “After leaving the barn, Sadie took off with some of her friends and I ran to the grocery store.”
“That’s your alibi?” Ivy was understandably dubious. “You spent three hours at the grocery store?”
“I’m not finished,” Simone growled. “I spent twenty-five minutes at the grocery store and then I drove out to M-88. I had a date and went to his house to fix him dinner.”
Understanding clicked into place inside Ivy’s head and she darted her eyes to Max’s truck. As if sensing he was needed, Max opened the door and hopped out. His expression was sheepish when he glanced at Jack, and while Jack felt genuine sympathy for the man, he was loyal to Ivy. Wisely, Max avoided meeting Ivy’s murderous stare.
“She was with you?” Jack asked, his hand instinctively moving to Ivy’s hip in case she decided to scrap with her brother once she heard the answer.
“She was,” Max confirmed. “I ran into her in the parking lot and she was upset … crying really … and she suggested cooking me dinner.”
“And you’re never one to turn your nose up to a free meal,” Ivy groused.
Max ignored the snark. “She made steak and potatoes. She was at my house from about five until seven. Then she left.”
“I was just returning to my house when you found me, Detective Nixon,” Simone said sweetly. The look she shot Ivy was full of giddy triumph. “I picked up Sadie because she was done with her friends and we headed straight home. I called Max when I realized you wanted me to come out here and I would need him to verify my whereabouts. Does that serve as an alibi?”
“I guess,” Brian said, shifting from one foot to the other. The tension in the yard was palpable. “You’re not completely off the hook, though. We’re going to want to talk to Sadie, too.”
“Sadie?” Simone’s smile faded. “Why?”
“Because if you didn’t do this, that means one of the girls in the pageant probably did,” Brian replied, not missing a beat. “I’ll question her tomorrow. If you want to get back in the car, I’ll take you home now.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” Simone supplied. “Max will take me home. Isn’t that right?”
Max looked caught, his eyes briefly locking with Jack’s as he silently pleaded for help. Jack refused to step in.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Jack said, stooping over to collect the garbage bags. “We’re done here. There’s no reason for anyone to hang around.”
“Great.” Simone clapped her hands as she turned to Max. “And you thought we were done for the evening. It must be your lucky night.”
“It must be,” Max said, his eyes following Ivy as she turned on her heel and stalked toward the house. “Ivy … .”
She didn’t answer, or turn around.
“Leave her be,” Jack said, his voice low. “She needs time.”
“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Max protested. “I just … she was upset.”
“You don’t have to make excuses to him.” Simone wrinkled her nose. “Who you date is your own business.”
Max never tore his eyes away from Jack. “Will you talk to her?”
“Talk?” Jack barked out a hoarse laugh. “I don’t think there will be a lot of talking tonight. Throwing things? Screeching? Yeah, I think that’s what I’m in for.” Jack transferred both garbage bags to one hand and used his free one to clap Max on the back. “I want to thank you for this. We had big plans for romance and quiet. I don’t think that’s in my future.”
“That’s what happens when you date a witch,” Simone sang out.
Jack pretended he didn’t hear her as he turned to follow Ivy. “I’m really starting to get sick of this stupid pageant and all the drama associated with it,” he grumbled as he moved toward the house.
“It’s not a stupid pageant,” Simone called after him.
“It’s definitely a stupid pageant.”
JACK HAD FEW OPTIONS when he walked into the house. Ivy, her face lit with fury, sat on the couch with her arms crossed over her chest and glared at the dim fireplace.
Jack took his time, carrying the garbage bags through the kitchen and slipping them into the big containers at the back of the house before returning. He discarded his coat and gloves, slipped off his boots, and watched Ivy with a studied gaze. She was absolutely livid. She steamed cold sometimes, like when she was really angry, and that’s how she looked now.
Instead of addressing her right away, Jack strolled down the hallway and headed toward the bathroom. He started the water, picking a high temperature before pouring some of Ivy’s clove-scented bubbles into the water.
He then moved to the bedroom, stripped out of his clothes, and strode into the living room naked. For the first time since Max and Simone left, Ivy reacted to something external and widened her eyes at Jack’s nude form.
“Are you just giving up on romance tonight?” she asked dryly.
“No, but I’m not going to coddle you either.” Jack moved to Ivy and, with little preamble, yanked off her coat. He then proceeded to remove each item of clothing. Ivy didn’t put up a fight, but she didn’t exactly help either. Within three minutes, they were both nude and Jack swung Ivy up in his arms before he walked down the hallway.
“What are you doing?” Ivy was understandably confused.
“Taking a bath. That was what we talked about over dinner.”
“That was before my brother betrayed me,” Ivy argued. “I don’t want to take a bath.”
“You’re taking a bath.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I’m not. In fact … .” Ivy screeched when Jack practically tossed her in the tub, sputtering as she surfaced and shoving her wet hair out of her face. “You could’ve killed me by doing that!”
Jack chuckled as he grabbed two towels from the cupboard and dropped them on the floor next to the tub. He shoved Ivy forward so she had no choice but to make room behind her, letting loose with a long groan as he got comfortable and situated Ivy so she could rest her head on his chest.
“There we go.” Jack smiled brightly. “This is much better than whatever you had planned, isn’t it?”
Ivy glowered at him. “We’re going to have a long talk about this later you … Neanderthal.”
Jack forced out a laugh. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“You won’t be when I’m done.”
“Oh, honey, you won’t even remember why you’re mad when I’m done. Now … shh. Put your head down and enjoy the water. This is only the first step on our trek to ultimate romance.”
Ivy offered up an exaggerated face. “That was unbelievably schmaltzy.”
“I know. You’ll learn to live with it.”
Ivy’s expression softened, although only marginally. “We’ll learn to live with it … together.”
“You’ve got that right. Now … do as I say. I’m in charge tonight.”
Ivy’s scowl was back. “We’re
definitely going to talk.”
Fifteen
Jack was all smiles when he dropped off Ivy for pageant rehearsals the next morning. After her initial reluctance, he wore down her defenses and they had a pleasant evening together. In the bright light of day, you couldn’t tell the house was ever vandalized. He was thankful for that because Ivy seemed determined to remain in a good mood as they headed for town.
“You didn’t need to drive me,” Ivy said as she gathered her things. “I’m perfectly capable of driving myself.”
“Maybe I like playing chauffeur,” Jack said, grabbing the case of bottled water from the back of the truck and heading toward the barn. “Have you ever considered that?”
“I think you’re worried about me taking off and doing something stupid.”
“I would never worry about something like that,” Jack lied. “You always keep your head, even when you’re angry, and you never run off half-cocked.”
He was so earnest when he delivered the words Ivy couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “That sounds nothing like me.”
“Which is exactly why I drove you.” Jack watched as Ivy unlocked the barn door and then followed her inside. The building was empty – it would be for another hour or so – and he found the structure cozy when it wasn’t filled with screeching teenagers. “For the record, I wasn’t worried about you going after Simone. I’m pretty sure you’re over it.”
“I wouldn’t use that word, but she clearly couldn’t have been the one to vandalize the house. That doesn’t mean Sadie didn’t, of course. Heck, she could’ve done it under orders from her mother, for all we know. Simone had the best of alibis, though, didn’t she?”
Jack didn’t miss the edge in Ivy’s voice. “Honey, your brother is an adult. He’s allowed to date whoever he wants. If he’s truly attracted to Simone … .”
“He might be attracted to her, but he doesn’t particularly like her,” Ivy said, cutting off Jack before he could get a full head of steam and admonish her for trying to run Max’s life. She expected him to take that tack the night before, but he wisely skirted the issue. “You saw his face when he got out of the truck. He was ashamed.”
Wicked Hearts (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 9) Page 13