The door opened. A boy and girl stepped into the hallway in front of Alyssa. They looked just like her. Both slender, long legs, blond hair, but the boy was taller than his sister. It was easy to see they were twins and they stuck close together. They walked slowly and carefully toward him.
After the Justices had rescued him from the foster system and made him part of their family, he’d bolted out of the classroom on early release days from school, eager to get home and play in their big yard with a rope swing. But the twins both seemed wary. Alyssa wouldn’t have told them what was going on with Saunders, so maybe they were simply naturally cautious kids.
Cole pushed off the wall and waited for them to join him.
“Guys,” Alyssa said when they reached him, her hand on both of their shoulders. “I’d like you to meet my friend Cole Justice.”
The boy looked up at Cole then stepped in front of his sister and stuck out his hand very much resembling an adult. “Riley Wells. Pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Cole took the small hand in his and shook, surprised at the boy’s firm grip.
Riley tipped his head to the rear. “And this is my sister, Brianna. But she doesn’t like to shake hands.”
“Hi, Brianna.” Cole smiled at the precious little girl.
She smiled shyly and stepped behind her mother.
He felt his heart melt, and for the second time in as many days, he was surprised at the intensity of his feelings.
“How do you know my mom?” Riley asked.
“I met her on the beach,” Cole said, giving the answer they’d decided on during the drive to the school.
Riley’s eyebrow went up and Cole could swear the kid was more grown up than many adults he’d met. Before Riley could probe deeper, Cole gestured toward the exit. “We should get going if we’re going to stop at the grocery store on the way home.”
The trio set off, and thinking about Riley, Cole followed. The boy reminded Cole of Derrick when he and Dani joined the Justice family. Nearly ten when their parents died in an auto accident, Derrick thought he had to take care of Dani. He still did. Sticking up for her and protecting her, but now Dani balked at his overprotectiveness in the same way she did with Cole.
At the front door of the school, Cole stepped in front of them and made a quick sweep of the parking lot. He tried to act casual, but Riley watched his every move and suspicion lighted on his face. Maybe this wasn’t about Cole. Maybe he was suspicious all the time. Losing a parent could cause that kind of behavior. So could living with a mother who was a drug addict and being shuffled from foster family to foster family. Cole knew that firsthand.
He opened the door and moved them quickly to his car. Once on the road, he listened to Alyssa share her expectations of them while staying with him. She reminded him of his adoptive mom, who’d often done the same thing with them on family outings. How he missed his adoptive parents. Life would be different if they were here. For one thing, they wouldn’t put up with the two-year funk he’d been going through.
Had he been dishonoring their memory and everything they’d done for him by not trying harder to get over Iraq?
He drove into the grocery store lot and returned his attention to ensuring the little family’s safety. Their stop for groceries was quick and uneventful, and they soon neared the rental house driveway.
“Wow,” Riley said staring at the house. “You must be rich.”
Cole chuckled and Alyssa frowned. “That’s exactly the kind of thing I don’t want you to say, Riley.”
“Don’t know why not. It’s not a bad thing to be rich, is it?”
“No, but it’s not something people talk about.”
“Why not?”
“Because they don’t.”
Riley’s eyebrows drew together. “I don’t get grown-ups sometimes. If we had a house like this, I wouldn’t care if anyone said we were rich.”
“I don’t care, either, Riley,” Cole said easing past another Justice Agency vehicle in the driveway. “But this isn’t my house. I’m renting it.”
“Oh.” He sounded so let down that Cole wished he did own this house and the kid didn’t have to be disappointed in yet another thing.
Wondering which siblings’ car sat in the drive, Cole opened the back door of his vehicle for the twins. Riley jumped down, his backpack already settled on his back. Brianna looked afraid of the height and Cole offered his hand. She slipped her fingers in his, her hand so tiny in his palm that it gave him a moment’s pause as he helped her down. Brianna kept hold of his hand, even after she reached the ground.
Alyssa watched them, her careful motherly look in place as if she didn’t trust him with her child. And why would she? Especially after Saunders inflicted his damage on her emotions. She didn’t know enough about Cole to know he’d never harm a child.
“I need to get the groceries,” he said to Brianna, expecting she’d let go, but she clung to his hand.
“I can carry them.” Riley snagged the heavy bags, pulling down his shoulders, but he held up under the weight and trudged toward the door.
“Let me take one of those bags,” Alyssa offered.
Riley stepped out of reach. “I can do it, Mom.”
She followed her son inside, and Cole brought up the rear with Brianna. He looked at her hand in his. Listened to her little footsteps tapping on the concrete in an effort to keep up with his bigger stride, and his heart constricted over all he was missing in life. All the things his parents had wanted for him.
Inside the family room, Riley pointed at Dani standing next to their surprise visitor, Derrick. “Look, Bri. They’re just like us.”
Brianna broke away, joining Riley.
“Derrick.” Cole watched his little brother carefully to determine the reason for his visit. “I didn’t expect you.”
“Couldn’t wait to see my favorite brother.” Derrick came across the room and gave Cole a good-natured punch to the shoulder.
“My brother, Derrick,” Cole said to Alyssa.
“And I’m guessing Dani’s twin, as my son aptly pointed out.” While taking the grocery bags from Riley, Alyssa introduced her kids to Derrick and Dani.
“Always good to meet fellow twins.” Derrick ruffled Riley’s hair.
Riley took a step back and stuck out his hand to shake. Derrick seemed puzzled by Riley’s behavior but recovered quickly and clasped Riley’s hand then moved to Alyssa and did the same thing.
After the handshake she lifted one of the bags. “I bought some food for the kids’ afternoon snack. Would it be okay if they sat at the counter to eat?”
“Sure,” Dani said.
“And can they use the bathroom to wash up first?”
Dani nodded. “C’mon, guys. I’ll show you where it is.”
Alyssa went into the kitchen and Dani led the way to the bathroom.
Once they were out of earshot, Cole turned to Derrick. “I’m glad you’re here. When the kids are settled I’d like to talk to you about an idea I have to end this thing with Saunders.”
“Why wait?” Derrick asked.
“Alyssa needs to be included in this conversation and it’s not something we should talk about in front of the twins.” Cole glanced at her in the kitchen and saw the tight pinch of her mouth. Cole didn’t want to burden her with details, but this involved her. No, that wasn’t right. This didn’t just involve her. It was all about her. No matter how much it hurt to talk about Saunders, Cole wasn’t about to exclude her from a life-and-death decision.
* * *
Alyssa set a plate of cheese and crackers on the counter in front of the twins. The room sizzled with tension, but thankfully, the twins were unaware. When Alyssa and Dani made eye contact, Dani gave her a comforting smile. A smile that said Derrick had already told his sister about the secr
etive discussion he’d had with Cole earlier. After several of those smiles, Dani moved closer. “Why don’t I stay here while you talk with Cole and Derrick?” Dani didn’t wait for agreement but grabbed a cracker and leaned on the counter in front of the twins. “So you two are like in high school, right?”
Brianna giggled while Riley rolled his eyes. “Try first grade.”
“Guess I was way off then.” Dani shoved the cracker in her mouth and shooed Alyssa out of the room.
She went into the family room and found the brothers seated in chairs facing the ocean. Derrick not only looked like Dani with his blond hair and eyes the color of roasted coffee beans, but his expressions were the same, too. As the mother of twins, she knew he must possess unique mannerisms, but right now she could only see the similarities. The one thing he had in common with Cole was his rigid body language and a wary expression darkened his face when he looked up and saw her coming his way. They both quit talking, and she hoped Cole wasn’t going behind her back and had decided to keep her out of the loop.
“May I join you?” she asked, trying to play down her unease.
Cole patted the cushion next to him “That would be good. We need to talk.”
Alyssa ignored the rising tension and sat on the plush sofa.
Cole stretched his arm along the back of the sofa. “I asked Derrick to do a background check on Saunders and other key players.”
“By other key players you mean who exactly?” She leaned forward in anticipation of the answer.
“Your former husband and you,” Cole answered matter-of-factly, keeping his focus on her.
She felt Derrick watching her, too, so she met his inquisitive gaze. “And I take it by your expression that you found something troubling.”
Derrick stretched out his long legs, looking at ease, but she could see the same tension that gripped Cole. “Cole asked me to start with Saunders and I did. I located an old friend of his who’d moved to Portland and is now doing time for narcotics distribution. Prison records show he’s still in contact with Saunders via the phone.”
“And who is this friend?” Alyssa asked.
“John Wilmer. Ring any bells?”
She thought about friends she’d seen with Nolan, but couldn’t come up with a John Wilmer. She shook her head. “I know there are Wilmers living in Pacific Bay, but I’ve never heard of a John.”
“With his incarceration, his family probably doesn’t talk about him,” Cole offered. “We’re thinking he got Saunders involved in the drug game.”
“And we also think the only way Saunders has escaped the same incarceration as Wilmer is because he’s a police officer and the police chief’s son,” Derrick added.
“So it looks like Nolan really is dealing drugs and getting away with it, then,” Alyssa said, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Cole’s concerned expression said she hadn’t managed it. He reached out a hand as if he was going to take hers to offer his support, but then he glanced at his brother and dropped his arm to his side. “If we try to take Saunders down, his department will likely close ranks. We’ll need to involve outside law enforcement if we’re to get him off the street. Even then, his fellow officers could make life difficult for us by covering for him.”
Alyssa swallowed hard. “As much as I hate to admit it, I think you’re right. I’ve known Chief Saunders for years. He dotes on Nolan and would do everything he could to protect his son.”
“Even if it was illegal?” Derrick asked.
“Yeah, even then.” She sighed and wondered how on Earth they were going to stop Nolan.
“Then let me share an idea I have.” Cole scooted closer to her. She could feel the warmth from his body, giving her a measure of comfort. “I believe our key to bringing Saunders to justice is to try to turn one of his men against him. Since Frank Gibson expressed interest in getting out of the group last night, he’s our best candidate. Can you tell me anything about him that might help us succeed with him?”
Alyssa chewed on her lip and considered what she knew about Frank that could help. “He’s all about family. Last night he said he was feeling guilty and begged Nolan to let him off their team. He said he’d only joined up because he needed money to pay for his son’s leukemia treatments.”
“And what is his son’s status now?” Derrick asked.
“He’s in remission, thankfully. Frank said last night that their bills were all caught up and they don’t need the extra money anymore.”
“Then it’s time I pay Gibson a visit,” Cole said forcefully. “Hopefully I can persuade him that turning on Saunders is in his and his family’s best interest.”
Cole’s words settled in and Alyssa felt a chill run through her body. “You’re not going alone, are you?”
He gave a solemn nod.
Her stomach clamped down on the cheese she’d just consumed. She made eye contact with Cole and hoped it transmitted her worry for his safety. “Won’t that be dangerous?”
“Not likely,” he answered.
Derrick snorted, and Alyssa snapped her head in his direction. His look contradicted Cole’s denial.
“You can’t let Cole go alone,” Alyssa pleaded with Derrick.
Derrick watched his older brother for a minute. “Maybe Alyssa’s right, and I should tag along, bro. Just to be safe.”
Cole shook his head. “It’s more important for you to stay here to help Dani.”
Derrick’s eyebrows went up. “I’ll stay if that’s what you want, but I’m not sure it’s the best move.”
“It’s what I want,” Cole said firmly, then met Alyssa’s eyes for a long, lingering look. “If I’m going to be out of the house, Derrick will be needed here. Your safety comes first.”
Alyssa appreciated Cole thinking of them first, but after Nolan’s betrayal, she knew people were unpredictable and dangerous. When pushed to the wall, even those closest to her could commit murder. And right now, she feared that included Frank Gibson.
EIGHT
Cole turned into Alyssa’s neighborhood. She’d surprised him when she’d said Gibson lived in her subdivision. Apparently so did several other officers on the force. This reasonably priced neighborhood was one of the few in an area where most properties were out of reach of the working class.
Nearing her duplex, Cole spotted a police SUV in her driveway. He came to a stop and dug out the list of vehicle numbers Alyssa provided earlier. He checked the list then looked at the car to confirm.
What was Gibson doing at Alyssa’s house?
Only one way to find out.
Cole pulled to the curb and eased out of his SUV. He quietly approached the house and tried the doorknob. Unlocked.
Was Gibson’s car parked out front to lure Cole or Alyssa into the home? If so, he wouldn’t fall for it. He silently released the knob and crept to the back door leading onto a small deck. The lack of window coverings on the sliding patio door allowed him a clear view inside the house.
A bald-headed man wearing a cop’s uniform sat at the small dining table, confirming the man’s identity as Officer Gibson. His back to Cole, he’d drawn his gun and had it fixed on the front door. If Cole had opened that door, Gibson could’ve plugged him. Even wearing his vest, Cole could’ve been killed. But Cole didn’t think Gibson was here for him. More likely he was lying in wait for Alyssa.
The thought of Gibson anywhere near Alyssa sent rage barreling through his chest. He hurried to the side door of the garage. With lock-picking tools, he was inside in under a minute. Drawing his gun, he padded down a short hallway and crept up behind Gibson.
He pressed his weapon into the man’s neck. “Set your gun on the table. Nice and easy now.”
Cole ground his gun deeper and Gibson moved slowly. Once he’d set his service weapon on t
he table, Cole shoved it in his belt.
Keeping his gun trained on Gibson, Cole stepped in front of him “Well, well, well, Officer Gibson. Care to tell me what you’re doing in Alyssa’s house?”
Gibson didn’t say a word, but Cole saw his gaze move around the room, looking for a way out, as any good cop would in this situation.
Cole took a step closer. “I see Saunders has you doing his dirty work again. Too bad you’re the one who’ll take a fall for him.”
“I have a key to the property given to me by the owner so you don’t have anything on me.” He crossed his arms and looked at the floor.
On the off chance they didn’t know that Alyssa was the one they’d been chasing on the beach, Cole couldn’t admit to Alyssa overhearing their meeting or he’d implicate her. So he’d go on a fishing expedition and see what he could turn up on Todd Wells’s murder instead.
“But we do have something on you, Gibson. And that means when we finalize our investigation you’ll be doing time right along with Saunders for the death of Todd Wells.”
Gibson’s head shot up. “I didn’t have anything to do with that.”
“But you know who did and since you’re in business with him, you’ll be hard-pressed to prove you weren’t involved,” Cole said, baiting the man in hopes of getting him to turn on Saunders. “At the very least you’re going away for the meth distribution.”
Gibson scoffed. “No one on the force is going to arrest me.”
“True, but lucky for me I have contacts in other agencies. They’ll be only too happy to haul you in.”
Gibson raised a challenging eyebrow. “You don’t have any credible evidence. If you did, I’d already be sitting in a six-by-eight.”
He was right. He would be sitting in jail, but Cole wouldn’t let him know that. “Don’t I? Or am I simply waiting until I’ve gathered enough evidence to bring down the whole operation?”
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