“Do you believe when it comes right down to it, Audrey Dohner will actually turn on her uncle?” Mitch asked. “I’ve seen pictures of you two together. You were pretty close to her, weren’t you?”
Hardy didn’t like what the sheriff was implying. “Not like you’re suggesting.” He tried to hold onto his temper. “I’ve already explained it to Haley, and she understands. That’s going to have to satisfy you.”
The other man gave him a measuring look. “I won’t pretend to know what your life was like back then, so I can’t judge you.”
Hardy’s ringing cell phone kept him from replying. He stood up and answered his phone, his heart in his throat. It was too early for Elliott to be calling.
“Beau.” It was his sister.
“Is Dad okay?” He couldn’t imagine what else would prompt a seven-fifteen a.m. call, even though she hadn’t used the emergency signal.
“He is now, but I have to tell you something.” There was urgency in her voice. “Dad gave me a message for you, and he wants you to know right away.”
That surprised him. “What did he say?”
“He got upset right after his friend left, and started saying Tell Beau cheese is water and Carries is water. I honestly thought that’s what he said, Beau. I was afraid Dad was having another stroke or something.”
“You didn’t call to tell me that.” At least she better not have.
“Of course not.” She was offended by the suggestion. “Mom came back from breakfast when Dad was really starting to get upset. She understood what he was saying. He was saying, 'Tell Beau, she’s his daughter.' Do you know what that means, Beau?” Trepidation was in her voice. “You don’t have a child, do you?”
“That would be impossible.” Seeing as how he’d never partaken of the activity that produced children.
Callie sounded relieved. “Mom and I didn’t think so. So, do you know who he’s talking about? Who 'she' is, or whose daughter she is?”
Probably because he was waiting for Audrey to turn herself in, hers was the first name to pop into his mind. But that didn’t make any sense. “Tell Beau she’s his daughter. What did Mom think the rest of what Dad said meant? Carries is water.”
“She said he’s still saying his daughter, but we can’t make heads nor tails out of the rest.” She seemed deeply regretful. “I asked Mom if Dad was upset because he’d found out you had a daughter. I’m sorry, Beau.”
Hardy fought back the frustration brought on by her words. After all, the lifestyle his family must have assumed he lived while undercover would lend credence to the possibility of him fathering a child. He’d never explained the exact nature of his relationship with Audrey to any of them—not even Elliott. They would have seen pictures of the two of them together and assumed the worst. What had he expected? “I understand.” He couldn’t help but think of how his sister and mother’s misassumption would hurt Haley if she knew. “If Dad says anything else or you figure out what he’s saying, please call me again. I don’t want to tie up my phone too long now in case Elliott tries to call.” Maybe Audrey would show up early just to get it over with.
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.” The line went silent for a moment before his sister’s soft voice came back. “I hope that woman shows up at the office right away, Beau. I really do.”
“Thank you, Callie. So do I.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but overhear part of what you were saying,” Mitch hesitantly offered. “I think I might know what your dad is saying.”
The sheriff had Hardy’s undivided attention. “What?”
Mitch appeared uncomfortable. “It sounded to me like he’s saying 'Tell Beau she’s his daughter. Carrie’s his daughter.'” He leaned forward in his chair. “Do you know anybody by that name?”
Carrie—no, Kari’s his daughter. He will hurt you. She’s his daughter. Be careful. Kari’s father wanted revenge. It made perfect sense . . . except Hardy had no idea who the “his” H.B. was referring to. “You’re right. He’s probably referring to Kari Jeffries, the . . . young lady in the . . .” He couldn’t finish. “But as far as I know, she lived with her mom. Her dad wasn’t in the picture. He wasn’t even mentioned in her obituary.” It made him feel even more guilty to know a mother had lost her only child and didn’t have a husband to comfort her. “I need to call my sister back, Mitch.”
The sheriff nodded and stood up. “I’ll just go out here and speak to Haley. She needs to know about Crystal, and since it was my decision I’d like to be the one to tell her.”
Hardy barely heard him, already intent on dialing his sister’s number. The rest of her words had sunk in. One of his dad’s friends had just left when H.B. became agitated and told Callie to tell Beau about Kari. And his mom had chalked his father’s last bad spell following the visit of his friends to a flashback. But what if it were something else?
His heart sped up as he waited for his sister to answer. Could it possibly be that one of his dad’s friends was Kari Jeffries’ father? And what if H.B. had somehow found out? Hardy wasn’t a doctor. Nonetheless, he couldn’t help but wonder if discovering that might have brought on the stroke in the first place. And the attempt on his dad’s life could have been to silence him. Things were starting to make sense.
“Hello?” Callie answered.
“Callie, I just need to know one thing.” His mind was racing. “Which one of Dad’s friends visited him this morning? It’s important that I know.”
“I’m not sure.” His sister sounded confused. “It was one of those guys he spends time with, but I don’t know which one.” Her voice cleared. “But it wasn’t Dr. Tarp! I know him.”
“Can you ask Dad?” At that moment, Hardy couldn’t even remember the other two men’s names.
“No. The doctor gave him something to help him sleep,” Callie replied. “He was afraid Dad might have another stroke because he was so agitated.”
“Then, please ask Mom.”
He could hear Callie speak to their mother before she came back on the line. “She didn’t see who was here, but she said if it wasn’t John, it either had to be Rob Weston or Phil Welsh. Why, Hardy?”
“It may be nothing.” Hardy didn’t have time to explain. “I’ll call you back pretty soon.”
“Is something wrong?” Mitch stood inside the door, concern on his face.
Hardy needed another opinion on his theory. Maybe he wanted to find an answer too badly.
“My dad has become very upset two times, both following the visit of at least one of the men he fishes and golfs with. Today, he told Callie about Kari Jeffries’s father right after one of his friends left. I believe that man is the one Dad’s talking about.”
Mitch appeared interested. “Is his name Jeffries?”
Hardy shook his head. “But there could be lots of reasons for her having a different last name.”
“So, who is your dad’s friend?”
“There are three of them, but Callie only knows one—John Tarp. She said he wasn’t the one visiting my dad. That leaves two possibilities: Rob Weston and Phil Welsh. I’ve only just met Weston once, and I don’t really know Welsh very well.” Hardy searched his mind, trying to remember his impression of the men. “Can I stay at the station for a while, Mitch? I’d like to use a computer to do some research on these guys.”
Mitch’s gaze remained level. “If you find Kari Jeffries’ father, you most likely will have found the person responsible for all that’s gone on in Shadow. You realize that, don’t you?”
He did, but hadn’t really processed it yet. “I just hope I’m not going on a wild goose chase.”
“I don’t think you are,” Mitch said assuredly. “Go on out to the dispatch station, and give Haley one of the names. Tell her what you need. Then you can come back in here and use my computer to research the other one. You’ll find what you need in half the time that way.”
It felt good to
know his boss believed in him. “Thank you.”
It took Hardy a few minutes to explain the situation to Haley. Like him, she didn’t remember the men very well. Only that his mom had disagreed with them. It encouraged him to hear his mother had referred to them as not being able to settle down with one woman. It was much easier to imagine one of them fathering a child without taking responsibility. In fact, Haley had given him another idea.
“I’m going to ask my mom.” Why hadn’t he thought of it before? She would be able to tell him which one of the two would have more likely fathered Kari.
Haley’s eyes lit up. “That’s a good idea. I’ll go ahead and get started on Rob Weston, though.” She made good on her word and sat down at the computer and started typing.
His mom answered on the second ring.
“Oh, Beau, I’m so sorry for thinking even for one moment you could have fathered a child,” was the first thing his mother said.
“Mom, it’s okay.” He didn’t have time for this. “I just need to ask you a question.”
Sharon sounded puzzled. “Okay.”
“Which one of Dad’s friends would be more likely to father a child and not give her his name?”
“I don’t understand.”
Hardy drew a deep breath and counted to ten. “I think one of Dad’s friends is Kari Jeffries’s dad, and he’s out for revenge. That’s what Dad’s been trying to tell me. And I think it’s whoever visited him this morning. Now, which one do you think it would most likely be?”
He was met with a couple of minutes of silence before he heard his mother’s fear-filled voice. “But that means one of your father’s friends is responsible for those men down there robbing and killing and—”
“I know, Mom.” Hardy saw the sympathetic look Haley threw over her shoulder and immediately calmed. “Please tell me who you think it is. Rob Weston or Phil Welsh?”
“Well, I’ve never allowed myself to think of such a thing happening.” It sounded like Sharon was starting to cry. “But the way they’ve both always been with women, I can see either one of them fathering a child.”
“Would one of them be more likely to want revenge for his daughter’s death? Even though he never gave her his name?”
“Oh, Beau, I just don’t…I don’t like their lifestyles, but these are your father’s friends.” Her voice became steadier. “Your dad is stirring. I’ll see if I can rouse him enough to find out who he’s talking about.”
“Please do.” Hardy’s heart was pounding so hard Haley must be able to hear it. He felt like he was on the edge of something crucial.
“She’s asking Dad,” he told Haley as he listened to his mom speak to her husband. “I hope he can wake up enough to answer her.”
Haley immediately stood up and placed her arms around his waist, laying her head against his chest. “Your dad will answer her. I just know he will.”
Forget proper office decorum. His free arm went around her and pulled her snugly against him. “I’m so glad I have you.”
She pulled back from him far enough to look in his eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” What would his life be like had God not brought this woman to h
“Beau?” His mom was back.
“Yes.”
“He’s talking about Rob Weston. Rob Weston is Kari Jeffries’s father.” A sob broke through. “Rob was here this morning, Beau. The man who tried to have H.B. killed was right here in this room this morning.”
“Mom, call the city police. Elliott and Stephens are both tied up with the Audrey Dohner case so they won’t be able to help. But you know Dad’s co-workers will take care of you.”
A muffled noise made him realize how tightly he had pulled Haley to his chest. He relaxed his hold to let her step back.
“I’ll call as soon as we hang up,” Sharon promised him. “You have enough to worry about today without your father and me being among them.”
“Is Callie still there?”
“No. She went home about twenty minutes ago.”
“After you call the police, please call her and tell her to stay home. She and the kids will be safest there. I’m going to make some calls, and we’re going to catch him, Mom. I promise.” Since Hardy could put a face and name to the man who’d been doing his best to make Hardy’s life miserable, he felt better equipped to fight. “Now, go ahead and call. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Beau.”
He shoved the phone in his pocket and looked at his curious fiancée. “It’s Rob Weston, Haley. He is Kari Jeffries’ father, and he’s been doing all this to get even with me.”
“Get even for what?” She was incredulous. “You got shot trying to protect that girl!”
“I guess he doesn’t see it that way.” He reached over and gently touched her cheek. “He sees it the way I did before you came into my life.”
“Well, he’s wrong,” she declared. “And I’d just like to sit him down and tell him.”
Hardy chuckled, in spite of what he’d found out. “Somehow, I don’t think a lecture from a beautiful woman will do much for rehabilitating the man, sweetheart.”
“Maybe not.” She crossed her arms. “But praying will.”
He nodded. “Prayer always helps.” He brought his mind back to what he’d learned. “I need to talk to Mitch. We need to have the state put out a BOLO for Rob Weston. I want this guy in jail before he hurts anybody else.”
“I’ll call state dispatch right now. It’ll be on the radio before you even finish telling Mitch about it.”
He left her on the phone, telling the state dispatcher what was needed. Rob Weston didn’t know it yet, but he was finished with his scheme of supposed vengeance. For Hardy had one paramount factor on his side. God was with him.
Chapter 54
Thank you, Hank.” Haley spoke to the young deputy who had followed her home and walked her to the door of her apartment. He even waited while she opened the brand new solid steel door and left her standing just outside as he walked through to make sure there weren’t any uninvited guests.
“Remember, you promised you’d stay here,” Hank sternly reminded her. “Hardy will have my head on a platter if anything happens to you.”
“I won’t leave,” she promised. “Now, you’d better get back out there and help look for that man. The sooner he’s off the street, the sooner our lives can return to normal.”
He gestured for her to go inside, and she knew he was still right outside the door when she fastened the deadbolt and chain locks. As the doorknob twisted and she realized Hank was testing it, she said a silent thank you to the Lord for the friends he’d brought into her life. If she hadn’t insisted Hank was needed in the massive state-wide hunt going on, Mitch would have assigned him as her personal bodyguard. It was only after Haley assured him and Beau she would remain safely locked in her apartment all evening they had relented.
“It’s been a long day, Harriett.” It looked like the angelfish could care less, but Haley wanted to talk. “Beau is still waiting to hear from Elliott or Rich Stephens. I don’t know why that woman is taking so long to do this. All she has to do is walk into the office. They’ll take care of her just like they have other people. Beau says they’re even letting her boyfriend go into witness protection with her.” Maybe Ozzie would pay more attention. “And it’s not even like she’ll have to be in it for that long. It won’t take more than a couple of years for everything to be over. What’s two years in the grand scheme of things, Ozzie?”
Since it didn’t look like either fish was interested in her, Haley decided to feed them and leave them alone. It wasn’t until she picked up the empty container she remembered the new can she’d left in her car.
“Now what are we going to do?” The fish hadn’t been fed since yesterday morning. She didn’t know how long a fish could go between feedings, but she didn’t want her kissing fish to go the way of the septic system.
“I’ll be right back.” She turned and walked
to her front door. If Beau or Mitch ever found out what she was about to do, they would put her through the grinder. But she would be careful, and she’d only be outside for a couple of minutes—just long enough to run to her car and get the fish food out of the front seat.
The only thing visible through the peephole was a distorted image of an empty sidewalk and her car parked in its space. Since she lived on the end of the building, Haley only had one next door neighbor, and he worked second shift at the tool factory. So there wouldn’t be anybody close enough to bother her.
Even though she’d told herself it was perfectly safe, she was so flustered that she dropped the fish food on the ground. Then she had surely set a speed record for herself when she hunkered down and grabbed the small gold can before it rolled completely under the car. Her heart was pounding in her ears when she shut the door and locked it a few minutes later. It was okay, though. Mrs. Vickers, who lived three apartments down, had been carrying her groceries in, but Haley hadn’t seen anybody else.
“I guess I’m not as courageous as I thought,” Haley told the fish as she fed them. “Don’t look at me like that, Ozzie. You just try running outside like I did. It’s not as easy as you think.”
It had been a long day, and she needed a shower. Since Mitch was keeping his men on the roads looking for Rob Weston, she didn’t expect to see Beau this evening. She decided to have dinner and make an early night of it. A good night’s sleep would be wonderful.
Haley felt very relaxed when she got out of the shower and dressed in her comfortable pajamas. She looked skeptically at her nightwear. Once she and Beau were married, she’d need to start wearing something more feminine than cotton pants and T-shirts. And the bunny slippers would definitely have to go. She could only imagine what he’d say about the large ears sticking straight up from her feet.
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