by Harte, Jenna
“Hard? If life is so hard with me—”
He cut her off by rolling away from her. He scrubbed his hands over his face, looking tired and unhappy. Maybe she was being too hard. She could go with him. It would protect him, which is what she wanted.
“Fine, I'll go with you,” she said.
“Maybe you should stay.” He stood, grabbing his phone and his clothes. “It will only cause more angst.” His detached, cool voice felt like a slap in the face. But she didn't want him to see her hurt, so she gave him a curt nod. He left her to shower and dress. As she waited for him to finish, she searched her mind for something to say. She hated fighting with him and wanted to reach out to him. But all she could think about was his cold demeanor as he prepared to visit a former lover in the middle of the night.
“She's being watched,” Tess said as he reached the bedroom door.
He didn't turn to her. “I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm tired of people thinking that I am.”
Chapter Four
Jack downshifted even as he pushed the accelerator through the turn. There was a time when driving fast, even recklessly, was the only thing that got his blood pumping. Tess had changed that. She'd brought life back to him when he thought he was dead inside forever. He took another turn, and heard the squeal of the wheels as they worked to hold the road. Now the speed and power wasn't about breaking the deadening numbness. It was about aggression and anger.
Why couldn't Tess trust that he knew what he was doing? Why did he feel like he had to bring her along to chaperone just so she could see that Liv was only a friend? The more he thought about it, the more resentment built. He shouldn't have to prove his love to Tess. It's practically all he'd been doing since they'd reunited. And for what? He knew she planned to move back to her own house when it was finished because she couldn't bring herself to trust his love. If she didn't believe in him by now, she probably never would.
And because of that, she was going to help Daniel. Jack snorted at the thought of Daniel. He must be beside himself with glee that Tess has asked to work with him. Jack's muscles bunched at the thought of the two of them working together. He wanted to be thrilled that Tess had never slept with Daniel, but he knew it didn't matter how intimate they'd been. Daniel loved her regardless and would always try to undermine their relationship.
And now Jack was adding fodder to the fire. He knew someone was probably watching Liv's every move. Not only was he about to give Daniel more ammunition, if he was seen at the hotel with Liv, he'd give the whole community something to talk about. He should turn around, get Tess and bring her with him. Assuming she was still at his house. He banged his hand on the steering wheel. It would be like her to move out or at least to the guest room when he got back. Was his friendship with Liv really worth that? Tess may be unreasonable, but he was certain he couldn't live without her. He pressed on the brake, slowing the car to turn around.
Except the anger and the hurt wouldn't quite let him. Damn her. He wasn't doing anything wrong. He didn't need a chaperone. If she didn't trust him, then the hell with her. He'd done all he could to convince her he loved her. If she couldn't get that through her stubborn skull, well, that was her problem.
~~~~
“Jack, thank you so much for coming. Tess wasn't too upset was she?” Liv said opening the door as Jack stalked up her front steps.
“Not at all. Is that your suitcase?” He didn't wait for her to answer. He picked up the bag, and turned back to his car. He put the case in the back and then got in on the driver side of the car.
“You know, you could just stay on the couch and then we wouldn't need to drive into town,” she said as she got in the car beside him.
“Tess is waiting.”
“Of course.”
They drove in silence until Jack reached the main road to Jefferson Tavern’s city center.
“I didn't realize that you and Tess were living together.”
“Yes,” he said, even though Tess didn't see it that way.
“It's serious?”
“It is for me.” He winced as he realized that he might be giving away the strain in their relationship.
“But not for her?”
“No. It's for her too. I'm just tired. It's been a long day.”
“You're right about that.”
“Did you call the lawyer?” he asked.
“Yes. He agrees with you and Tess. I just can't see why. I wasn't even in town.”
“Keep him on retainer.”
“Why? Do you know something?”
“I just know that when the police get something in their craw, they work it and work it.”
“That's right. You were recently accused of murder too.”
He nodded. “The police are fair, but that doesn’t mean that they always interpret the clues correctly. Don't talk to them without your lawyer.” He pulled in to the parking lot of the hotel.
Jack got out of the car and retrieved her bag.
“You don't have to go in with me. I can take it from here.”
“Are you sure?” Jack tried to hide his relief. Each minute he was away from Tess, he felt her slipping further away. He needed to get back and fix things with her. Somehow.
“I know we haven't kept in touch, so it means so much that you're here.”
“You were there for me. I'm just returning the favor.”
She reached over and touched the side of his face. “It's not quite the same, but thank you, anyway.”
At first he thought she was going to hug him. That is until her lips met his.
~~~~
Tess sat on the back porch off the bedroom trying to reason out her feelings. She knew there was jealousy and annoyance that Jack would leave her in the middle of night— after making love, no less— to help Liv. And because she understood him, his loyalty and kindness, she worked to keep those feelings in check. But there were more feelings and she couldn't quite make sense of them. She was unsettled, agitated even. She couldn't attribute them to Jack's actions or Liv's. At least not directly. While the issue with Liv had caused strain, so far they'd been able to focus on what was important. Jack had told her many times that people in love could disagree and survive. She believed him. So why did she feel like she was twisting in the wind, without roots?
She heard the door shut and his steps as he came up the stairs.
“Tess?” his voice sounded tentative.
He poked his head through the porch doors. She wasn't sure what he saw in her face, but his worry immediately changed to anger.
“Daniel called, didn't he? That bastard. She kissed me in gratitude. That's it.”
Tess felt a little pop in her heart that she wasn't able to disguise.
Jack winced, then turned away, running his hands through his hair as he did. Finally he turned back to her. “He didn't call, did he?”
She shook her head.
He dropped to the chair next to her. “Then why are you out here looking like you're contemplating leaving me?”
“I'm not contemplating leaving,” she said. She wanted to ask him about the kiss, but remembered that she promised herself she wasn't going to act jealous.
The room was silent except for the night. She heard him sigh. “I was dropping her off at the front of the hotel. I thought she was going to hug me, but…she kissed me. I pushed her away. She's clear on my feelings for you.”
“I believe you.” She wasn't lying. The reason she'd dared to allow her heart to love him was that she believed in his honesty and loyalty. It didn't mean he'd love her forever, but he wouldn't betray her. That she was sure of. It still didn't remove the sting of another woman trying to take her man. It would be hard to keep that feeling in check as she sought to put Liv in jail.
“I'm sorry I left the way I did,” he continued. “I was frustrated.”
She nodded. “I know the feeling.”
“Is that why you're out here? Frustration?”
How could she explain her feelings to him, when she wasn't quite
sure what they were herself? “Just couldn't sleep.”
He didn't look convinced and she could see he wanted to question her more. Instead, he stood, moved in front of her and reached out his hands. Instinctively she took them and let him pull her to a stand. “It's late. Why don't we go to bed?”
She nodded.
“Tess.” He dropped his forehead against hers. “Don't build walls.”
The problem was she felt she needed them, but she was too emotionally exhausted to erect them. Instead she nodded.
He gave her a weak smile and pressed a tender kiss to her lips, then guided her to bed.
~~~~
The next morning, Tess walked into the police station hoping Daniel had good news. That morning she was excited to have something to do instead of hanging around Jack’s house and pondering her career prospects. She was especially eager to get details of the case so she could determine just how much trouble Liv could create for Jack. As she walked out the door, Jack wished her luck, but it sounded forced. In fact, the entire morning felt forced where Jack was concerned, and Tess was at a loss about what she should do.
Daniel's eyes narrowed as Tess approached his desk. “I didn't think you were coming.”
“Why not?”
“Well…” he motioned for her to sit. “Last night…”
“What about last night?”
He studied her as if he was trying to figure out what to say. Then it dawned on her.
“Oh, you mean Jack taking Liv to a hotel. She called because you trashed her house and she couldn't stay in it.”
“So it's my fault?”
“It is what it is,” she said, more interested in finding out if Daniel had talked to the Commonwealth's attorney yet. But Daniel continued to look concerned. Finally he picked up the morning paper and tossed it to her.
“Did you see this?”
Tess had a sinking feeling in her stomach. It wouldn't be the first time her and Jack's personal business ended up in the paper. Sure enough, there was a blurb about the recently widowed Mrs. Danforth and her former lover, Jack Valentine, who, of course, was living with the recently unemployed and homeless Tess Madison. At least the picture didn't catch the kiss. While Tess believed Jack, the fact that the kiss was too fast for a photo meant Jack had detached from Liv's lips quickly.
“Slow news night.” She tossed the paper at him.
“I thought that maybe you and Jack…”
“What? That I dumped him because his ex wants to get her hands on him? As a man you won't appreciate this, but everywhere I go, there are women who want to get their hands on him.”
“How many of them does he meet in the middle of the night…or kiss?”
“She kissed him.”
“That's what he told you?”
“That's the truth. So, did you talk to Carter?” she said, hoping to move on to the reason for her visit.
“I did.”
“And?”
“And he told me to have you sign these. Officially you're helping his office, not us.” Daniel passed a folder with papers to her. They were standard contract papers, but she still took the time to read every word before taking Daniel's pen and signing them.
“Most people don't read everything,” he said.
“That's why they end up needing lawyers.” She handed the papers back to him.
“Are you sure Jack is okay with this?”
“Would it matter to you if he wasn’t?”
He gave her a pained look. “It would matter if it mattered to you.”
“He doesn't agree with me, but he supports me. So where do I start?”
Daniel picked up another folder and stood. “Follow me.”
He guided her to an interrogation room. “We don't have office space for special investigators, so this will have to do. Here's a copy of everything we have so far. Read it and let me know what you think.”
Tess set her purse down and sat at the table.
“Do you want some coffee or something?”
She shook her head. She was too used to the good stuff to swallow cop mud.
“I'll leave you to it then.”
Tess opened the file and started with crime scene photos. Charles Danforth sat in a chair, looking as if he were sleeping, except for the bloody hole in his chest made by three .38 caliber bullets. She pulled out her notepad and began to record her thoughts and questions.
The medical examiner estimated the time of death between noon and 2:00 p.m. Saturday. The statement of the estate's caretaker, George Boone, indicated he'd seen Charles Danforth sleeping in his office Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. He entered Danforth’s office because the lights and air conditioning were on. Boone was surprised Danforth was there because he’d planned to go fishing with his business partner, Bobby Wilson. He said he thought Danforth was sleeping so he cut off the lights and turned down the air. But that evening, about six, he saw Danforth through the window and got worried when he realized he hadn't moved since morning. Boone tried to wake Danforth, which is when he noticed the blood-soaked blanket and called the police.
Liv gave the same line to the police that she gave to her and Jack at dinner, including the white egg omelet and the eight after the eights weather report. The business partner said Charles was supposed to meet him to fish at Crawford Pond early Sunday morning, but never showed. He said he wasn't worried because Charles often blew off fishing if one of his horses needed attention.
The police spoke with Danforth’s son over the phone, who indicated he was out of town when his father was killed. The son was planning to attend the funeral and Tess made a note to ask to go with Daniel and Sam when they talked to the son and his wife in person.
The phone call with Danforth's ex-wife didn't yield much. They'd been married only a year or so when they divorced. According to her statement she hadn't seen Charles since their son's wedding, nearly two years earlier. Cromwell, she and Danforth had bred a few of their horses together. She said she hadn't seen Charles in several weeks. Tess wondered why Daniel and Sam felt the need to talk to this woman unless she and Charles were more than horse-breeding partners. She made a note to ask Daniel about it.
The interviews with the trainer and grooms all said the same thing. Charles cared more about his horses than anyone or anything else, although there hadn't been anything pressing happening with the horses that would cause him to miss his fishing date. Except that he was dead, Tess thought. They wouldn't have defined the Danforth’s as happy, but neither could they report any fighting or other signs of strife.
Tess was finishing the last few pages of the file when Daniel entered the room.
“So, anything of interest catch your eye?” Daniel asked.
“The more I see it, the more I think it's her.”
“See the proof?”
“No.” She sat back and hoped she didn't look like she was pouting. Then, not wanting to be discouraged, she went back to the file. “See this?” she said, pointing to an autopsy picture.
“It’s a hole in his chest.”
“In his heart. Three shots right into the heart. Those three shots had to be personal.”
Daniel nodded.
“It's odd, isn't it, that the caretaker didn't notice he was dead the first time he checked on Danforth. He even entered the room.”
“He said he thought he was sleeping. Apparently Danforth slept there a lot.”
“So he didn't approach the body.” She pulled out a crime scene photo. “He's in his chair covered with a blanket. Looks like he's sleeping.”
“Yes.”
“There's no sign of disturbance. Even his desk is neat. So he must have been sleeping when he was killed. She just tiptoed in and let him have it.”
“The problem is that the time of death clears her.”
“That's the kicker.”
“Perhaps she hired someone.”
“Maybe. But I don't think so.”
“She couldn't have pulled the trigger, Tess.”
That still nagged at Tess. “But three into the heart? A hired gun would mostly like shoot in the head. More efficient.”
Daniel sat back. “So maybe she told him to shoot him in the heart?”
“Why? If it's going to be done like that, you'd want to do it yourself.” Tess sat back again. “Unless the killer didn't want anyone to notice he was dead. Maybe she knew he slept there a lot and the caretaker wouldn't disturb him. So she covers the wound. It's harder to cover a gunshot to the head than the chest.”
“It still doesn't tell us who did it,” Daniel said, but she noticed he was thinking about her idea that the shot to the chest and the blanket were part of the killer's plan.
“No, it doesn't.”
“So what's next?” Daniel asked.
“Next, I want to talk to the caretaker and Bobby Wilson.”
“About something specific?” he asked.
“Not really. I just want to hear their statements directly from them. The caretaker found him and Wilson was his partner. Partnerships often are like marriages. They can go very wrong as well.” Tess thought back to the partnerships she helped dissolve in her law practice, and in many ways, it was like a divorce.
“Do you need me to go with you?”
“No. But I would like you to go with me to talk to Liv at some point. And I'd like to tag along when the son gets to town.”
“Don't want to talk to Liv alone?”
“I just want her to be clear why I'm there.”
“Right.”
“Also, can you tell me about Theresa Cromwell? What does she have to do with Danforth's murder?”
“Mrs. Danforth suggested that she and Charles were more than business acquaintances.”
“And what was your opinion after talking to her?”
“We talked by phone, so I couldn't assess anything by body language. But I think it's possible that Mrs. Danforth was right. Cromwell is supposed to come to the funeral and Sam and I plan to talk to her then.”
“Can I sit in?”
He nodded.
“Can I get copies of this stuff to take with me?” she asked.
“That's your copy. But…”