Trouble with Nathan

by Anna J. Stewart

  Laurel sagged in his arms.

  “That woman is insane!” The driver cried and scrubbed a hand down the side of his face where a chunk of glass had cut him. “We’re just here doing our job, man. Service call for the house on the corner back there.”

  “Liar!” Laurel screeched, her anger reigniting. “You were here hours ago and besides, that one was lurking in the bushes.” She jabbed a finger through the window and felt a certain amount of pride when the second guy shrank back into the door, pale face wild and panicked. “You said someone’s been taking pictures of your family. Of the kids,” she said to Nathan, whose arm suddenly relaxed. He lowered her so her feet were solidly on the ground. “Check his camera, Gage. You’ll see I’m right.”

  “As the lady said,” Gage ordered and held out his hand. “Let’s see the camera.” When the driver hesitated, Gage’s entire stance changed. He seemed to grow three inches as he stepped over the driver, shadows playing against the pavement as three of the party guests—Gage’s onetime task force—headed their way. “Give me. The camera,” Gage said again.

  “It’s not worth it, man,” public enemy number two cried from the passenger seat. “The money ain’t worth this shit. Keep her away from me!” He pointed at Laurel as she made for him again. Nathan held her back, but not with as much force as before. The driver smacked his camera into Gage’s hand, sending her a scathing look that only irritated her.

  “Degenerates,” Laurel spat, kicking out at his shin and he danced out of reach. “Cowards hiding in the bushes stalking children. Children!” Damn but she wanted that bat back.

  “Okay, now you’re scaring me,” Nathan murmured but she couldn’t let go of the last threads of anger.

  What had they been doing? Who threatens children? Was this her fault? Were they there because of her? Was this her warning? Was this what was going to happen to Joey?

  “Let Gage deal with this,” Nathan said. “Dad?”

  Laurel felt another hand fall on her shoulder. She looked to the side and found Jackson looking down on her, an expression on his face that both confused and scared her in an entirely different way.

  “Let me tell you your first mistake.” Gage turned the camera around and clicked the view window open. His tone was so frigid Laurel felt her skin go cold. “That house on the corner?” He pointed down the street. “I know the owner. He owns a construction company so he wouldn’t hire a shoddy outfit like yours on a bet. Secondly, taking photos of kids who aren’t yours is generally frowned upon in society.”

  “Listen, man, we aren’t—”

  “Do not mistake this for a conversation,” Gage snapped. “This is me telling you where you went wrong. I’m betting whoever put you up to this didn’t tell you their father is a retired cop.” The men’s faces both went white. “But them?” He gestured to the odd combination of three cops standing nearby, Gage’s former investigative unit. The twentysomething cover-model-looking Bouncer, to middle-thick Rojas, and the quiet yet intimidating Peyton. “They’re still on the job. What do you know? Laurel was right about the pictures.” Laurel could see Gage’s hand trembling, as if he were barely controlling his anger. “What were you up to, gentlemen?”

  “You keep your mouth shut,” the driver tossed over his shoulder to his partner.

  “Nathan, give Laurel her bat back.” Gage took a step back.

  “You can’t do that, man!” The driver held up his hand despite Nathan never moving. “You’re a cop!”

  “Retired.” Gage clarified.

  “Well, they’re—” The driver looked to Gage’s backup.

  “On vacation,” Bouncer said in a tone similar to Gage’s.

  “On disability leave,” Rojas added.

  “Retiring in three months.” This from Peyton who seemed to be toying with the safety strap of his holster. “Not much of a pension to lose. Want me to call this in, boss?”

  “How long since I left the force and they still call me boss.” Gage sighed. “Want to bet how many other cops and lawyers owe me favors in this town? Now tell me who hired you or I’ll call a patrol car and have you both hauled in—”

  “I don’t know his name!” The passenger leaned over, the desperate expression on his face telling Laurel he really was one sad, unfortunate patsy. “I met this guy”—he jerked his thumb at his partner— “on the inside and when we got out, he asked if I was interested in some fast cash. He told me he answered an online ad down in Los Angeles. Surveillance work, he said, working for some retired Fed. I was supposed to get my money after we mailed the photos to some PO box.”

  The driver clenched his fist as his jaw tensed, long black hair almost obscuring the murderous look in his black eyes. “Idiot. You should have kept your mouth shut.”

  “Supposed to?” Gage glanced at Jackson and Nathan before returning his attention to the driver. “So this is your first day on the job?”

  “Here. Take it.” The driver took out his phone and tossed it at Gage. “It was in the van when we picked it up. Don’t know there’s anything on it you can use.”

  “Gage? A word?” Jackson’s voice took them all by surprise as he gestured for Nathan and Laurel to join them off to the side. “They were set up,” Jackson said quietly. “We’ve never seen anyone else taking pictures. Either someone wanted them caught or . . .”

  Laurel swallowed hard and scrubbed a hand over her eyes. Alastair. Bile rose in the back of her throat. Was Alastair behind this? Was he really going so far as to threaten Jackson’s grandchildren during a family event?

  “Or someone doesn’t care if we find out who hired them.” Nathan squeezed his arm around Laurel’s shoulders and for a moment, she leaned against him. The desire to run and to stay struck in equal measure and made her legs shake. “I’ve been watching for tails ever since you showed us those pictures, Dad. I haven’t seen a trace of anyone.”

  “I have.” Laurel swallowed hard as three pairs of steely eyes landed on her. It was time to start telling the truth before someone really got hurt. “Not them, but I’ve spotted him a couple of times since I’ve been in town. Odd-looking.” Shifty. “Like a fat ferret.”

  “Would you recognize him if you saw him again?” Nathan asked.

  “Definitely. Even if he wasn’t wearing that crappy brown suit.” Despite the warm sun, the temperature around her plummeted a good ten degrees.

  “Brown suit, you said?” Gage’s fingers clenched around the camera. “Balding, paunch, looks like he got kicked out of a bad seventies porn movie?” She couldn’t stop the strained laugh that escaped as she nodded. Were there any good seventies porn movies? “I thought maybe he was on something or drinking. Just got really bad vibes.”

  “Kolfax?” Jackson asked.

  Kolfax. Finally, she had a name.

  “That FBI agent who went after Morgan earlier this year?” Nathan looked in disbelief at Gage.

  “He was going after the entire Tremayne family, if you remember,” Gage said. “Seems as though there might be more than one person out there with the same agenda where this family’s concerned. Nathan, I’m getting the feeling we’ll be having that family sit-down sooner than later.”

  “This guy didn’t give off a Fed vibe at all.” Laurel didn’t understand half of what they were talking about.

  “Because the FBI had enough of his screwups and booted him out of the agency,” Gage said. “I’ll give Agent Dyson a call tomorrow and see what he can tell me. In the meantime.” He looked at Jackson. “Am I right in assuming that arresting these two would create more problems than it would solve?”

  “I need some time,” Jackson said.

  “For what?”

  “A week, Gage,” Nathan said. “Just give us a week to shut this down.”

  Laurel swallowed hard. Would a week be enough time to break free of the grip Alastair had on the Tremaynes? On her? Given Gage’s thunderous e
xpression, it was going to have to be.

  “Fine,” the ex-cop said. “I’ll have Rojas run the tags and their prints on the QT, see what info Bouncer can get on Kolfax, and I’ll get you the information. One week.”

  Laurel had no doubt if they went one minute beyond that time limit, Armageddon would descend.

  “You heard him.” Jackson drew Nathan and Laurel aside as Gage returned to the van and handed over the phone and cameras to Bouncer and Rojas. “You have a week. If you don’t find the crown by then or if Alastair rears his head, it’s over. I’m turning myself in and taking the hit. For everything,” he added with a pointed glare at Nathan.

  Laurel looked between them. There it was again, that . . . invisible reference. What didn’t they want the rest of the family, want her, to know?

  “Dad, you can’t—”

  “I can and I will. This is my decision, Nathan. If I’d stepped up years ago and taken responsibility for my actions, none of this would be happening.”

  “If you’d taken responsibility forty years ago, none of us would have been born,” Nathan muttered. “Dad—”

  “I trust you to get this done, Nathan. There’s no one I trust more.” Jackson reached out and squeezed his arm. “You’ve got the best advantage we could have hoped for standing right beside you. Make the most of it. And you.” Jackson stood directly in front of Laurel and took her shoulders in his hands, pulling her in and pressing a kiss on the top of her head. “Thank you for protecting my family. Now I don’t have to worry. I know you keep your promises. Maybe now you can trust us as well?” He arched his brow in a way that, had Laurel not stopped herself, might have made her confess all right then and there.

  Laurel couldn’t breathe. She didn’t want the responsibility, the obligation of belonging. She didn’t want this family’s livelihood and future in her hands. But her actions today had done just that. She’d taken them on. Now what was she going to do?

  “High praise indeed,” Nathan said with a strained attempt at humor. “Come on, Laurel. Nope.” He held the bat far away from himself after picking it up as he turned her toward the house. “I think you’ve had enough for today.”

  “I could get it bronzed.” Her knees wobbled as the adrenaline faded. The shakes started and she leaned against him for support. “Would have been nice to bash that guy’s head in.” Not as nice as it felt to have Nathan’s arms around her. But that was a weakness she couldn’t afford.

  “With your record? Talk about three strikes.”

  Returning to a crowd in the yard made Laurel feel as if she were some celebrity making a surprise appearance. “Um. Sorry for ruining the party.”

  “Ruining the—” Theresa Juliano sputtered and pushed her way through the guests, folding her into a hug so tight Laurel couldn’t help but return it. “Wherever you came from, I’m glad you found us.” She caught Laurel’s face between her palms as Laurel scanned the other party guests and landed on Morgan’s pale face. “A warrior you are. This one, she’s a good one, Nathan. Don’t screw it up.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Nathan said as his face lost a bit of color.

  Morgan offered a shrug as Laurel glanced her way. “There are no words.” But the hand pressed to her chest said it all. “Come on, everyone. It’s cake and ice cream time.” She ushered everyone back to the house.

  “Wait!” Kelley popped up in front of Laurel and tugged tiny fists into her shirt. “You protected us.”

  “I didn’t mean to scare you.” Laurel glanced at Nathan for guidance.

  “Scare us? It was awesome!” Aiden pronounced and earned a smattering of laughter as his brother joined them. “You’re a real-life superhero.”

  “Right?” Kelley squealed and wrenched the bat out of Nathan’s hands. “This is yours.” She shoved it at Laurel, who honestly didn’t want to touch it again.

  “I don’t understand.” Laurel looked for help as Nathan chuckled and Morgan rolled her eyes. Drew took pity on her and came over, presenting the bat to her over the top of his forearm as if it were Excalibur.

  “Your secret identity.” Drew bent down and scooped Kelley off the ground.

  “My what?” She shook her still-spinning head.

  “Oh, come on, Laurel. You of all people should get it.” Nathan grinned and planted a firm kiss on her startled lips. “You’re Batgirl.”

  ***

  “You look like you could use this.” A glass of white wine appeared in front of Laurel’s face as an elegant redhead in skintight jeans and a blue and white polka-dotted tank sat in the chair beside her on the front porch. “It takes a lot of energy to be the talk of a party like this. I’m Veronica Harrison by the way.” She crossed her legs and offered a stunning smile before sipping her own wine. “Welcome to the family.” Laurel shifted in the white Adirondack chair. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop her thoughts from spinning between ominous vans, familial praise, a hyped-up Wonder Woman who made her miss her own daughter so much it hurt, and . . . well, the rest of her life. What was she doing, torturing herself like this, playing at being a part of this group of people who, when all was said and done, were sitting bull’s-eye center of her carefully placed target.

  “I think that welcome might be premature.” She didn’t want to belong. Didn’t want to know what it felt like to belong. She’d been better off on the sidelines. Alone. What Alastair was having her do was agony. Instead of feeling more at ease, all she wanted to do was run. For as long and far as she could manage.

  “Here’s the scoop on this group,” Veronica said in a voice that hinted at the British Isles. “They’re a bit like the mafia. No, wait hear me out.” She held up a hand when Laurel began to protest. “This analogy has taken a bit of thought on my part and I’m rather proud of it. They seem impenetrable, as if they’re a microcosm of impossibility. And then bam! Next thing you know, you’ve done something, said something, fallen for someone.” She dropped her chin and peered at Laurel over her slightly pointed nose. “And you’re in. No way out. That, my dear Laurel, is exactly why you’re sitting out here, all by yourself, wondering what you’re going to do next.”

  “You know what I’m finding really freaky about you all?” Laurel curled her legs under her and leaned an elbow on the arm of her chair, appreciating the veiled request for honesty. “How well you read people. And you’re right, by the way. This family doesn’t want me anywhere near them.”

  Veronica laughed, peering over her shoulder as Kelley raced around the corner of the house, Sheila right behind her. “No one is above acceptance, Laurel. Any woman who put that look in Nathan’s eye isn’t going anywhere. There’s my superhero.” She set her wineglass down and opened her arms as Kelley threw herself up the porch steps and into Veronica’s lap. “You need a new wig, my darling.” Veronica plucked the matted black wig off Kelley’s head and smoothed a hand through short, dainty curls. “Look at that. It’s almost all back.”

  “I was sick,” Kelley told Laurel. “Leukemia. But I’m all better now.”

  “With more energy than three suns.” Sheila panted as she dropped onto the bottom step. She reached back and dragged her hair off her neck as she fanned herself. “Geez, it’s hot.” Given there was a cool breeze blowing, Laurel couldn’t agree. Veronica, who was busy straightening Kelley’s shirt and gold belt, didn’t seem to notice. When Laurel glanced back at Sheila, she saw Nathan’s sister swallow and blink, as if she couldn’t keep her eyes open. “Sheila? You okay?”

  Laurel uncurled from her chair and darted forward just as Sheila’s eyelids fluttered and she pitched to the side.

  “What the hell?” Veronica pushed Kelley off her lap as she jumped to her feet. Laurel managed to grab hold of Sheila’s arm and keep her from toppling to the ground.

  “Kelley, can you go get a big glass of ice water?” Laurel said, keeping her voice calm as she gave Sheila a sharp shake. Sheila blinked, shook her head as Laur
el pushed her back against the railing. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” Sheila murmured. “Dizzy. Wow.” She pressed a hand against her stomach and shook her head. “That’s the weirdest . . .”

  “I’m going to get Malcolm.” Veronica headed inside, but Sheila stopped her.

  “No,” Sheila called out, waved her back. “No, I’m fine, really. He’s having such a good time today. I don’t to give him something to worry about.”

  “What would he have to worry about?” Veronica asked as Kelley returned, a tall glass of water spilling with every step she took.

  “Here, Aunt Sheila.” Kelley shoved it at her, water spilling onto Sheila’s bare legs, but Sheila didn’t seem to care as she drank greedily.

  “Thanks, sweetie.” Sheila knocked her gently on the nose when she was done. “You know what would be great? One of those ice creams Morgan was scooping earlier.”

  “Can I have one, too?” Kelley asked.

  “Of course. In fact, eat yours first then bring me mine, okay?”

  “’Kay!” Kelley raced back around the side of the house.

  “What would Malcolm have to worry about?” Veronica repeated, taking a seat on the other side of Laurel.

  “This isn’t the first time you’ve felt this way, is it?” Laurel asked, remembering those weird sensations all too well. “Sheila, are you pregnant?”

  “Pregnant?” Veronica squealed in such an unexpected tone both Laurel and Sheila laughed. Until Sheila stopped, brow furrowing as she shook her head.

  “No, it can’t be. I mean, we haven’t been back together that long—”

  “Doesn’t take long if I remember correctly,” Laurel said before she could stop herself.

  “No.” Sheila had this dazed, confused look on her face. “You don’t understand. The doctors told us we’d probably have to do IVF if we wanted to conceive naturally. That Malcolm probably wouldn’t be able to—”

  “Probably isn’t definite,” Veronica said. “And you and I both know when Malcolm puts his mind to something . . . ” She winked at Laurel, who couldn’t help but smile.