False Truth 8-10: 3 Action-Packed Romantic Detective Mystery Thrillers To Keep You Up All Night (Jordan Fox Mysteries Series)

by Diane Capri

  Jordan hustled to Tom’s vehicle and slid into the passenger seat, but she left the door open. He looked good. Really cute, in a comforting, ordinary way. He wore a casual shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms, and jeans. Jordan’s stomach flipped around like a kid waiting for an amusement ride.

  She put her hand on his arm and static electricity snapped between them. She pulled her hand back and he pulled his arm back at the same time. They both laughed. Really laughed.

  Man, that laughter felt good. You should do that more often.

  Jordan touched his bicep this time and felt his muscles through his shirt. “Tom, I’m sorry. I should have called, but I wanted to explain in person. I can’t go out with you tonight.”

  “Did something happen?” Concern knitted his eyebrows together at the bridge of his nose. “What’s wrong?”

  She felt relaxed with Tom Clark. He was trustworthy. Honest. She could tell. They’d had an almost instant connection when they first met. Every meeting and conversation since then had reinforced her feelings.

  Theresa vouched for him, too, which helped. Theresa was about as level-headed as anyone could get.

  Besides, nothing about El Pulpo was a secret. No reason not to tell him.

  Go with your gut, Jordan. Don’t overthink this.

  She told Tom quickly about being kidnapped by El Pulpo and how one of the kidnappers had died in jail. She told him about someone trying to kill Evan Groves and how Clayton was worried about her safety and had organized a Tampa P.D. protective detail.

  “So yeah.” She wrapped up the story. “I might be a target.”

  His nostrils flared and he raised his arms and waved them around. “Were you going to tell me any of this?”

  She shrugged.

  Tom’s face remained stone cold for a moment. “I think you’re underestimating how much danger you’re in.”

  “Good news is that I’m not staying at home right now.” She told him about her house-sitting job.

  “Does the house-sitting mansion have an alarm system?” Tom was easy going, but he was careful, too. She liked that about him.

  Jordan nodded. “It’s like Fort Knox if you try to drive in. But the house has an open backyard where boats can easily approach.”

  Tom scowled. “That’s it, I’m staying there with you tonight.”

  Warmth radiated through Jordan’s body and she realized she’d been a little uneasy about staying alone after she’d heard Clayton’s news. But she stood firm on her plan. “I’ll be okay, really. I can call Clayton and ask him to have a police boat drive by every so often.”

  “Why do you think this cartel is gonna let police catch them when police have failed so far? No way.” Tom gestured for her to close the door. “I’d invite you to stay with me but you’ve got better security than I do. If this mansion is as big as you say it is, there will be plenty of room for both of us to sleep far, far apart.” He winked. “Though I’m not sure I’ll get much sleeping done, keeping an eye out for El Pulpo.”

  Jordan grinned. “And what exactly will you do when you see El Pulpo arrive?”

  “Probably pee my pants and call Clayton.”

  They both had another good hearty laugh, and Jordan felt beyond satisfied about the decision to let Tom stay. She would feel better having someone with her in that empty house. He cared about her, he had a great sense of humor, and he wasn’t afraid to admit that he was weaker than a cartel.

  That last bit didn’t make her feel more secure, but she liked him for saying it.

  “You’re a very persuasive guy, Tom Clark. But I need to drive my own car.” She closed the passenger door and clicked her seatbelt firmly into place.

  “Which way do we go?” He put the SUV in drive and rolled toward the parking garage where she’d left Hermes. Jordan ducked to look in the side mirror and watched the cruiser follow closely behind.

  She transferred to her own vehicle and the three-car parade rolled out. Ten minutes later, she stopped at the guard station to explain the two cars behind were with her. After checking ID and taking fingerprints and slapping the bar code sticker on Tom’s SUV, they drove through the neighborhood with the cruiser behind.

  Jordan and Tom parked in the driveway. The cruiser parked across the street.

  “Wow!” Tom said when they met at the fountain. “This is quite the house.”

  Jordan smiled. “It looks even better in daylight. Follow me.”

  As they walked in the back door, Jordan’s phone dinged. One new voicemail. “It’s from Linda. The homeowner.” Jordan played the message on speakerphone.

  “Jordan.” Linda’s voice sounded urgent. “LFC Cleaning called to say they were looking for Maria, the new girl who cleaned the house. She didn’t show up at her next assignment. When you get a chance, tomorrow morning maybe, could you call LFC and let them know whatever you know or don’t know? I’ll text you their phone number when I hang up, okay? Thanks for taking care of things.”

  Jordan’s brows pinched together. “Maria’s missing?”

  “Who’s Maria?” Tom asked.

  “One of the two girls who cleaned the house today. The younger, more…fragile one.” Jordan paced the room. “Maria left with Edith when they finished cleaning. Their supervisor picked them both up in a company van.”

  “But Linda’s message said the company is looking for Maria. That doesn’t make much sense, does it?”

  She threw her hands up. “Not to me. Think I should call LFC tonight?”

  “Might as well wait ’til morning. I doubt they’re open this late.”

  Jordan felt a little queasy about waiting, though. “Her supervisor? His name was Felix. Real creep. He might have done something to her.”

  “How was he a creep?” Tom’s breath came out in a little spurt through his nose.

  Jordan remembered something. She’d snapped those photos when Felix picked the girls up this afternoon. She pulled her phone out, found the photos, and showed them to Tom. “Tell me that guy doesn’t look like a creep to you.”

  “Wish I could say that. He looks like a perv, for sure.” Tom nodded slowly. “Which one of the girls is Maria?”

  “The shorter one.”

  “She’s so young.” Tom flipped through the photos several times. He enlarged the best picture of Maria standing near the back of the van. “What’s that on her wrists and ankles? Tattoos?”

  Jordan swallowed hard. “Bruises.”

  “Changed my mind.” Tom looked up from the phone and handed it back to her. “Call your guy Clayton. This is not right.”

  Hearing Tom confirm Jordan’s gut made her nervous in more ways than one. She was used to people telling her she was imagining things. She liked having a guy around who believed her and saw things the same way she did.

  But in this case, she’d wanted to be wrong. For Maria’s sake.

  “There’s beer in the fridge. Grab a couple while I call.” She dialed Clayton’s personal cell.

  He picked up on the first ring. “What’s up? You’re okay? On my way.”

  “No. I’m fine. Really. I’m calling about something else.” The last thing she wanted tonight was him riding over here on his white horse. But he was concerned about her and protecting her, just like he’d promised. Which was a good thing.

  “What is it?” He seemed a little annoyed now. He probably knew Tom Clark was here. The guys in the squad car would have told him.

  Keep it professional, Jordan. “A girl is missing. She was here working today and she didn’t show up for her next cleaning job.”

  “I didn’t know you had a cleaning service.” Like that was relevant.

  “I’m house-sitting for Linda Pierce. It’s her cleaning service. Lemony Fresh Cleaning. The girl’s name is Maria.” Jordan took the cold beer that Tom handed her and raised it toward him in a silent toast. “She left here about, oh, maybe one o’clock. I haven’t seen her since.”

  “Okay,” Clayton said. “I’ll check it out. You call me if you need any
thing.”

  “Thank you, Clayton. She’s young. And she looked exhausted and frightened.” Jordan took a sip of the beer.

  “Got it. And Jordan?”

  “Yes?”

  “Since there’s a canal behind that house that feeds into the bay, we’ll be sending a patrol boat by. Didn’t want you to be worried about it.”

  “Thank you,” she said again before he rang off.

  Tom leaned against the counter, arms crossed, sipping his beer. “Clayton agreed to look into Maria’s disappearance?”

  “He did.”

  Tom cocked his head. “But you’ll look into it yourself in the morning, won’t you?”

  She smiled. “You know me pretty well already.”

  They both seemed to be on the same page about morning, as in they didn’t want it to come too soon. So they watched a scary movie and sat an awkward distance apart on the couch. Jordan felt like she was in high school or something. It had been so long since she’d dated.

  Then, mid-movie, Tom started talking as if he’d been thinking about something else the whole time. “How old are you?”

  “What?”

  He smiled. “You heard me. I get to know the age of the woman I’m sleeping over with, right?”

  “OVER is the keyword there, buddy,” she said, jabbing his arm. “I’m twenty-two.”

  “Perfectly respectable.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  They both turned on the couch, now seated cross-legged and facing each other.

  “I’m three years older than you and you’re perfect dating material and I can’t imagine why no one has snatched you up yet.”

  Jordan’s stomach turned backflips. She liked this guy. A lot. She leaned in and kissed him. It was the only response she could—not even think of. It was the only response possible.

  Just one simple kiss. One slow, extended peck on the lips, eyes closed. Besides her ex, and that crazy spontaneous thank-you kiss she’d given Clayton, Jordan hadn’t really kissed another man since—what—freshman year of college? She’d almost forgotten how much she liked kissing.

  This guy was sweet and so perfect, he probably liked baseball—her dad’s favorite sport. Regardless, her dad would like him for sure.

  Sometime soon she’d have to explain that she couldn’t date seriously right now. And she wanted to get back to her mom’s hard drive.

  But she didn’t have to do either of those things just yet.

  CHAPTER 14

  Jordan woke up the next morning when her bedroom door creaked open. Tom came in carrying two cups of coffee. He’d slept on the couch downstairs even though there were plenty of other bedrooms. Of course, Jordan didn’t invite him to her bed. Way too soon for that.

  “I figured out how to work the fancy coffee machine here.” He smiled. “I know a lot more about brewing beer than coffee, but I think it just might have turned out all right.”

  “Caramel? With a hint of citrus?” Jordan sniffed audibly as she blinked to meet his gaze and adjust to the morning’s sunlight. Her hair was probably a mess and she was sure she had eye makeup smeared around her face. But she really didn’t care.

  A guy who brought her coffee in bed? Jordan would have fallen head over heels for that alone. She wiped underneath her eyes. Maybe she did care. Just a little bit.

  He sat on the edge of the bed. She propped herself up, processing everything that had happened the day before, and sipped the coffee.

  Last night they’d kissed. Briefly, but they’d kissed. Now he’d expect more. It wasn’t that she didn’t like it, but…she needed to do things like take care of her dad. She needed to go home and check on him. Now, actually. She was scheduled to work today. Clayton had said to call him to check on Maria. And, oh yeah. Focus on staying alive.

  “Mmmmm. The coffee’s great.” She sipped again. “Is that girl still missing?”

  Tom frowned. “Maria? I don’t know. I should have checked the news or something. I’m sorry. You want your phone so you can call the cleaning service?”

  He unplugged her phone from the charger and handed it to her. Jordan called the number Linda left on the message last night.

  “Hi, I’m returning a call about an employee who I’m told never showed up to her next assignment? Maria. Is she still missing?”

  “Yes, she didn’t show up for work today. She was last seen at the Pierce house. Is that you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Could you please confirm what time she left?”

  “About one. Her supervisor picked her up in the van along with the other girl, Edith.”

  “I see. Thank you, I will pass the word along.”

  “Wait. Is this a missing person case? If it is, I want to help. But I don’t want to get her in trouble.”

  There was a pause on the other end. “You’d have to ask her family.”

  Curious answer. Because why wouldn’t it be a missing person case?

  Jordan suddenly felt more focused on work and less on Tom. Now was a good time to break everything to him.

  “I’ve gotta go home.” She scooted out of bed and pulled the covers up. “My dad lives there and he’s in a wheelchair so I have to check on him. Then, I need to get to work and see if we can help with Maria.”

  Tom frowned. “Is your dad okay?”

  Jordan rummaged through her bags to find clothes for the day. “He had a stroke after my mom’s murder so he’s still rehabbing. It’s a long process. But he’s learning to walk again. Which is a recent development, actually, so we’re hopeful.”

  “So you have to be home with him to make sure he doesn’t fall and stuff?”

  “Basically. We have a home nurse, too, who comes and goes. But, you know, he needs my support. I only recently left him overnight for the first time and that was when I went to Haiti for work. And it helps when I can cook for him.” Jordan gathered the day’s supplies.

  Tom nodded slowly, lingering as if he was digesting the news. “Um, well let me know if there’s any way I can help take some of the pressure off you. You’ve got enough going on watching your own back. I didn’t realize you have to watch his, too.”

  She paused and looked at him. She really liked him. But seriously. There was little he could do to help besides provide her with endless beers, which would only lead to hangovers which would be counterproductive. “To be honest, just spending time with you helped take some of the stress off.”

  He beamed. “I hope to spend time with you again soon. Text me later and let me know you’re okay, will you? I’ll head out now.” He walked toward the door. “And keep me posted on Maria, will you?”

  “Definitely.” She walked him to the bedroom door. “You can see yourself out?”

  He nodded and stepped back toward her. “Really. It was nice spending time with you.”

  She took a step toward him and bowed her head. “Thank you for keeping an eye out for me.”

  They both moved in for a hug, or a kiss, but at separate times. It didn’t work.

  Tom Clark left without so much as a handshake. Jordan groaned and held her head in her hands as she heard the back door close behind him. Her life was a disaster.

  She had plenty to deal with today. She’d see him another time. Soon.

  She grabbed her phone and called Clayton.

  “You’re okay?” he asked. “What’s up?”

  “Two things. First, thank you. Really. I felt a lot better knowing police were watching over me last night.” She took a deep breath. “But I don’t want you guys following me around during the day. It’s not necessary. And I have a life, Clayton. A job. I need to be able to move around without a police escort.”

  She stopped talking because he hadn’t said another word. She heard him breathing, though.

  “Clayton? Are you sleeping?”

  “What? No. Well, kind of. Late night.” He yawned. “But okay. If you need anything, just call. And we’ll be back at the end of your shift tonight.”

  She nodded.
That was easier than she’d expected.

  “Something else?” He sounded like he was nodding off again.

  “What did you find out about Maria? Anything?”

  Another yawn. “There’s a missing persons report. So far, no reason to suspect anything criminal. But we take missing women seriously. Especially young ones like Maria. There’s too much human trafficking that goes on around here, with the port and all. We’re on it.”

  “You’ll call me the moment you learn anything about her? I’m really worried.” As soon as she said the words, Jordan realized they were true. She had a bad feeling about Maria and she wanted her situation resolved. Soon.

  “You bet. But I’ve got to get some sleep. Let’s talk later, okay?”

  An hour later, Jordan walked into her own house. The faint hint of Old Spice wafted to her nose from the kitchen. “Hiya, Dad.”

  “Well aren’t you chipper this morning?”

  Jordan smiled and leaned in for a hug.

  “I’ve missed you.” He was sitting at his computer, in an actual computer chair, which she hadn’t seen him use at all since the stroke. Progress. Major progress.

  Still, he spent too much time alone. He needed a good friend. His age. Hell, maybe it was even time for him to have a lady friend.

  Jordan never thought that would cross her mind, but after one semi-romantic night with a new guy, she’d been reminded how good the right companionship could be. Hmm. Something to mull over.

  She went to the kitchen where her loyal half of a grapefruit waited for her. “Thanks for the fruit, Dad. Did you get the rest of your breakfast yet?”

  He threw his head back and let out a single whoop of laughter. “Are you kidding me? Hours ago. I’m almost on to lunch now.”

  It was ten o’clock. Later than she’d thought.

  CHAPTER 15

  Nelson was in a good mood. She saw his walker near the desk chair. “Have you gotten much practice using your walker lately?”

  “I’m almost as fast as a well-fed turtle.”

  Jordan grinned. “I want to talk to you about something.” She pulled up a chair next to the computer and swallowed hard. “I found some information that might lead to clues about Mom’s murder.” She flinched as spoke the word out loud.