by Rita Sawyer
“What happened?” she repeated, walking into the room.
Jessie turned back to Jake. “There’s a fire at your place.”
“How bad?” She heard Jake ask as she ran back into the bedroom.
“They’ve got it contained to the garage right now.” Victor’s voice carried down the hall.
Bobbie tugged on a pair of sweatpants and stepped into her sneakers. She grabbed Jake’s T-shirt off the bed and rushed back into the other room.
She threw the shirt at him. “Let’s go.”
“No. We need to stay here where you’re safe.”
“Fine, I’ll stay here with Victor and Jessie. You go home and make sure everything is okay.” She shoved him toward the door.
“She’s right. You’ll drive yourself crazy up here wondering what’s happening,” Jessie said and Victor nodded in agreement.
Jake groaned and tugged the shirt over his head. “Do not let her out of your sight for a second. All the same rules apply. Don’t go anywhere.”
Bobbie nodded. She’d agree with anything right now to keep him calm. He took her hand and she walked with him to the door.
“Stay put. I’ll come back as fast as I can.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
His peck left a lot to be desired, but it was enough to make her sister go bug-eyed. If the situation hadn’t been so dire, Bobbie would have smiled. Now wasn’t the time to dissect Jake’s every move. Most likely, he didn’t even think before kissing her good-bye. When he realized what he’d done, if he did, she hoped he wouldn’t regret it. She stood just inside the door and watched him run to where the Quad Runner was parked.
Jessie joined her by the door. “I take it you guys have worked out some of your issues.”
Bobbie shrugged. She would have liked a little more of some type of commitment from Jake. Even if it turned out they were just a couple for now, but that hadn’t come. He drove into the woods, and she grabbed her jacket off the peg by the door.
“Let’s go.” Bobbie and Jessie were halfway out the door when Victor grabbed them and dragged them back inside.
“No. We’re staying put. I promised not to let you out of my sight and I meant it.” Victor sounded really firm on his decision.
Bobbie smiled up at him. “I know, that’s why you’re coming with us.”
“Bobbie…” He turned to his wife, probably thinking he’d get further with her. “Jessie, Jake asked us to stay here.”
“I know, but he’s going to get there and start worrying about her. We can go down to his place and stay in the truck where he can see her.”
“No. I promised.” He turned back to Bobbie. “And so did you.”
“Not really. Besides, think about it. Do you really think he believes I’m going to stay here?”
“Fuck me.” Victor’s feet thudded with each step he took to the door.
“Maybe later.” Jessie patted his chest as she walked past.
“Not a chance.” Bobbie giggled as Victor’s cheeks turned bright red.
“You’re getting your way, you little minx, so don’t push it.” Victor closed the door and followed them to the pickup truck parked a few feet away.
* * * *
Jake shouldn’t have left her. Damn it, she was his responsibility and this didn’t change that. He was tempted to turn around and go back even though he was close enough that could see the smoke from his place drifting out of the trees. The closer he got, the stronger the acrid scent grew.
When he reached the ATV trail that could take him into town or to his place he headed for home. The way the red lights from the trucks reflected off the leaves made it look like they were flashing. By the time he pulled into his yard, the fire seemed to be almost out. Firemen, most of them volunteers, and even the chief were rushing around.
Jake climbed off the four-wheeler and walked over to where the chief, Gerry, stood talking to Jake’s deputies, Clint and Fred. “What do you know?”
“Shit, Sheriff.” Fred spun around, almost slamming into Clint and Gerry.
“Jake.” Gerry nodded. “There were two ignition points. One was set behind the garage and the other was on the backseat of your truck.”
Jake glanced around, taking in the damage. He was damn lucky that they had managed to keep the blaze contained to his garage and truck, which were both destroyed. Whether it had been chance or the skill of the guys—he wasn’t sure and he didn’t care—his house had escaped any major damage, though one side was a bit scorched. It would take some work, but it could be repaired.
“Sir.” Clint’s tone had Jake following his gaze to where Victor’s truck was pulling to a stop at the end of the driveway just beyond the fire trucks.
“Son of a…Watch her like your job depends on it, because it does.” Fred took off running at Jake’s command.
Jake turned his attention to Gerry. “Show me what you’ve found.”
Gerry led him and Clint to the side of the garage. Jake glanced back once to see Victor, Jessie, and Bobbie talking with Fred. He should have known the little witch wouldn’t have stayed at the cabin. The rest of Bobbie’s family had arrived and were currently getting out of their cars. Gerry explained his suppositions and told him nothing was conclusive yet, but after some tests, he was pretty sure his guesses would be proven right. Gerry had been doing his job for years, and Jake trusted his opinions.
“I’ll give you a preliminary report for your insurance company, but they probably won’t be able to do anything until we file a final summation.” Jake knew they’d get it done as soon as possible.
There were still some glowing embers, but basically, the blaze was out. Jake could only think of one person who hated him enough to do this. The question he was asking himself was if this was the extent of Patrice’s plan? Somehow, he didn’t think so. He knew she wasn’t the most creative criminal, but still, he thought there would be more malicious and personal intent to her revenge than this.
Jake stood there unable to say a word as the guys knocked his garage down board by board. From experience, he knew they wouldn’t leave until all that was left would be charred hunks of wood and all his ruined stuff. Just thinking about the thousands of dollars’ worth of tools he’d lost made Jake want to hit something. Over and over, his gaze was drawn back to Bobbie. She stayed safely off to the side with Fred and her family, who had all showed up over the past hour. Even with the distance between them her presence had a strange soothing effect on him.
Her sisters stood together in a small group, talking. Her brothers-in-law were all busy helping the firefighters in whatever way they could. Jake kept scanning the crowd looking for a face that shouldn’t be there.
Statistics showed time and again that people who committed crimes often stuck around to see the devastation they created. Patrice was just stupid and vain enough to do just that. It was one of the reasons he’d told Bobbie to stay at the cabin. If Patrice was there he didn’t want to give her the chance to get close to Bobbie. Jake turned to find Fred standing by his side.
Jake didn’t even give him time to explain why. “Where’s Bobbie? I told you to stay by her side.”
“She took her sister, Samantha, in the house to use the bathroom. Bobbie said you wouldn’t mind, and she had a key so I thought it would be okay.”
“It is. Sorry I jumped on you like that.” He quickly apologized and slapped Fred on the shoulder. “You did the right thing.”
Fred nodded and Jake hoped that meant he was forgiven. “Thanks, but actually, I came to talk to you about something I’m not sure how to handle.”
“You’ve been working for me for what, three years? I trust your judgment. Go with your gut.” He watched Fred take a deep breath and glance at the house.
“Those women are up to something,” Fred blurted out.
Jake laughed, wondering if the poor guy expected him to blast him again. “Dude, when aren’t they? Do you have any idea what it is this time?”
“They were doing a lot of whis
pering.” Fred shrugged. “I caught a few bits and pieces. After midnight, keep it quiet, don’t tell the guys, Jake won’t be happy. It was when Frankie said Bobbie wouldn’t be happy either that I got worried.”
“We should all be.” Jake knew they probably thought what they were going to do was for the best. “Once I get things wrapped up here I’ll find out what their plan is.”
“I’ll get back to Bobbie.” Fred took off to temporarily do Jake’s job.
Jake probably could ask Bobbie and she’d tell him, because even though Fred had hinted that she didn’t know, she most likely did. Bobbie always knew what her sisters were up to even if she pretended not to. Still, if this was something that might make her angry he’d rather know about it up front, but it would have to wait.
Chapter Eleven
Jake wiped sweat and grime from his brow with his forearm. He kicked a charred piece of wood and growled as he watched it splinter. Someone was going to pay for this as soon as he found out who Patrice had gotten to do it, because he was damn sure she hadn’t done it on her own. Cameron had checked on Beau’s place and reported back that everything was fine. The crew that had managed to contain and put out the flames was just starting to leave. It had taken four hours before the fire marshal had been convinced the fire was completely out and there was no more danger of it spreading. Jake glanced around the yard. Bobbie’s sisters were sitting on his porch, while her brothers-in-law were shaking hands and thanking the firemen as they headed for their trucks.
The one person he didn’t see was the person he wanted to see most. Fred stood beside his front door, so she was probably inside. After he got something to eat and slept he was going to sit down and tell her about the decision he’d come to.
Clint walked over and handed him a bottle of water. “So have we come to conclusion that this was probably done to lure you and Bobbie out into the public?”
“We have.” Jake took a sip then poured the rest over his head and crushed the now-empty bottle in his hand.
“What would have been your next move?”
“I would’ve already made it.”
“Me, too, which brings me to my next question. What is she waiting for?”
“I don’t know, but something just doesn’t feel right.”
“Agreed.” Clint might be young, but he had good instincts. “I’m going to walk around and see if anything is amiss.”
“You do that. I’m going to check on Bobbie. I’ll meet you out back.” Jake headed for the house, his sense of unease growing with each step.
“Victor and Trent will get this cleaned up once you give them the okay,” Jessie said as he reached the porch.
“Thanks. Where’s your sister?” He looked at Fred, who tipped his head toward the house.
“She had to use the bathroom.” It was Sam who answered his question.
Jake walked into the house, leaving them all outside. Her family probably had just as many questions as he did, but he didn’t have the answers. The door to the bathroom off the kitchen stood wide open, and Bobbie wasn’t anywhere to be seen. He knew she was smart enough to use the one upstairs if she wanted any real privacy. Jake yanked the fridge door open and grabbed a bottle of water. As he twisted the top off he leaned against the counter.
He took a long drink and glanced around the room. Like every other room in the house, he’d painstakingly chosen each and every detail in this room. To say he was thankful it hadn’t all gone up in flames would be a huge understatement. Whatever happened here tonight, he intended to get to the bottom of it. Right now, though, he was going to go upstairs and make sure Bobbie was okay.
He took the stairs two at a time. The second he hit the landing he knew something was wrong. Everything looked fine, but his gut told him something was off. He checked the bathroom and his office and all three bedrooms. Bobbie wasn’t in any of them.
“Fred!” He had no doubt his deputy and probably everyone else heard his bellow.
Fred was waiting for him before he hit the bottom step. “What’s up?”
“When exactly was the last time you saw Bobbie?” He pulled his phone from the clip on his belt.
“About ten minutes before you went into the house,” Fred said.
Jake glanced at Bobbie’s sisters, who were standing just inside the door looking worried. “Stay in the house with Fred. Under no circumstances do any of you leave until I come back.”
Jake’s phone crackled to life as Clint answered his page. “Hey, boss, nothing to report yet.”
“Where are you?” Jake walked out onto the porch and scanned the front yard.
“At the property line between your land and your brother’s. What’s going on?”
“Get back here. Bobbie’s missing.” Jake disconnected the call.
He jogged across the yard to where her brothers-in-law were standing by their cars. “We have a problem. Bobbie’s gone.”
“What?” Tyler asked.
“Sometime in the past fifteen minutes or so. She went into the house and now she’s gone.”
“Do her sisters know?” Cameron glanced at the house.
“Yeah. I told them to stay inside with Fred, but it would probably be smart to send one of you in to keep them calm and from doing anything that would put them in danger anymore.”
“I’ll go.” Trent didn’t wait for an answer. He bolted for the house.
“The rest of us are going to start looking for her. I have a stash of flashlights in…” He dropped his head back and groaned. “Fuck, they were in my truck.”
“I have mine,” Clint said as he joined them.
Victor walked with him to his truck and the two of the came back with flashlights for everyone. They needed a plan. Jake assumed she had gone out the back door, and though there were no signs of it, he’d bet big money it hadn’t been willingly. He’d taught her well, and she’d shown him up on the peak that she knew exactly what to do in a situation like this.
“Are you sure she’s not inside?” Hal asked. “We could all see the front and side yards from out here, and one of us would have noticed her sneaking off.”
“I’m sure she’s gone. The only way for her not to have been seen would have been to go out the back door.”
“The tree line is close enough that she could have made it without anyone noticing.” Clint was right, but Jake knew Bobbie wouldn’t have done it if she had a choice.
“She’ll leave us signs. Look for anything out of the ordinary. Snapped branches, drag marks. Bobbie’s smart. She’ll think of something.” Jake ran his hand through his hair.
As they walked toward the back of the house, Tyler asked, “So this bitch issuing the threats, you think she has Bobbie?”
Victor didn’t give Jake time to answer. “Either she does, or someone else does, because with all this going on there’s no way she would have just left.”
Jake’s phone rang and they all froze. He yanked it from his belt and pressed the Connect button.
“Hello.” There was no response. “Hello?”
He lowered the phone and looked at the display. It was Bobbie’s name and number, but more importantly, the call was still active. He put it back to his ear and listened.
“Do you even know where you’re taking me?” His relief hearing Bobbie’s voice was tempered with the confirmation that someone had forced her to leave.
“Stop talking and just keep walking.”
“And if I don’t? Seriously, if I turned and ran you might get a shot at me, but I know these woods like the back of my hand. So I think the advantage would be mine.” Fuck, Patrice had a gun.
“Probably, but I’m a good shot and I don’t think Jake would want you risking yourself.”
“I can’t help but wonder who the hell you got your information from.” Bobbie let out a laugh.
“So far every bit of it has been correct,” Patrice snapped.
“Obviously, whoever it was left a few things out about how things stand between Jake and I,” Bobbie
dismissed Patrice’s comment. “To start with, they should have warned you that he’s usually not happy with the way I choose to do things. They also should have mentioned I don’t weigh every decision I make based on how Jake might react.”
“All that matters is that he comes after you.”
“Comes after me. Did I miss you leaving some kind of note telling him where to go before you demanded I go with you or you’d shoot my sisters?” There was a pause and he wondered if Bobbie was waiting for her to respond. “I hope wherever we’re going is close by, because we shouldn’t walk around in the woods at night.”
“We won’t be walking much longer.” Jake didn’t like the sound of that.
“Do you have a car or something nearby?”
“How about you just shut up? Now!” Patrice was clearly irritated.
“Sorry. I tend to babble when I’m nervous. If you take the gun out of my back it might help.”
“Turn right.”
“That’ll take us up around the lake.” If Bobbie could keep feeding him information it would make it much easier to locate them.
“So?”
“The moose frequent that area.” He knew the spot Bobbie was talking about.
“I guess you need to decide whether you’re more afraid of getting shot or facing a moose.” Patrice didn’t sound like she cared which one Bobbie chose, but he didn’t like either option.
Jake covered the phone with his hand so there was no chance Patrice would hear him. “Good girl. They’re headed to the far side of the lake.”
“I’ll take Victor and Tyler and go around the other way.” Clint nodded and the three of them headed off at a quick, but silent jog.
Hal and Cameron stayed close to Jake as he headed for the trail that wound its way to the lake. Jake kept the phone to his ear, hoping Bobbie would be able to slip them more information. They couldn’t be too far ahead of them.
* * * *
Bobbie was glad the bitch was behind her. She was even happier that she’d tucked her cell phone into the pocket on the hooded sweatshirt Sam had practically forced her to put on. Turning the phone on and dialing Jake’s number had been risky, but it was one she had to take. Luckily, it paid off. She wasn’t sure how much of what was being said he was getting, but she glanced at the display quick enough to see the call was still connected.