by Jen Talty
“It makes all of this so real. Not just her being dead, but that someone killed her. And that person is still out there, but all that cop cares about is nailing my ass to the wall and making it look like you helped somehow.” He stared into her milk chocolate eyes. They should be enjoying the newness of each other. He’d always known Stacey was special. Unique. He hadn’t known how much she meant to him until now. “I wish I could hold you right now.”
“You can,” she said.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea. We’re in a public place.” He looked around. The only people he saw were Jim and Jared.
“We’re friends. Friends hug all the time.”
“I just want to keep us between us right now.”
“I don’t feel the same way as you do about keeping our feelings to ourselves.” Stacey glided her hands along his hips, sliding them around his middle and giving him a hug. He rested his hands on her shoulders and his chin on the top of her head. “They are going to have to clear you,” she said.
He scanned the parking lot one last time before caving to his desires. When he wrapped his arms around her, her body conformed and molded against his as if she were the last piece of his puzzle. “Just do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Don’t go off half-cocked at that guy. He’s bigger than you.”
“I’m sure I can take him.” She laughed. “I bet I could still beat you in a game of leg war.”
“I always let you win.” He kissed the top of her head. “You should go.” He released her and then watched her walk toward Jared and the patrol car. She had a way of making him believe everything was going to be all right.
Even when nothing in his world was all right.
Chapter 7
DOUG HAD DONE nothing but eat pizza and watch television in bed. He had wanted to wait up for Stacey, but she texted him that there was a huge accident on the Thruway, and she probably wouldn’t make it home until midnight. He’d gotten up once around one, and her car was in the driveway, her bedroom door closed. He had stood outside the door for a long time before he decided she needed her sleep.
He and Jim had decided they needed to go into the office first thing before getting to their respective sites. Jim wanted to wrap up a few things at one site before helping Doug make headway at the Heritage. They were now even farther behind schedule, so Doug barely got to see Stacey in the morning. He was heading out the door as she was coming down the stairs for coffee. Not even enough time for a stolen kiss.
“Are you listening to me?” Jim asked as he tossed his sub on the table at Lake George’s best local deli and sandwich shop. They’d snagged a table outside, a rare occurrence on such a nice fall day. The main drag was less packed than in summer, but people were out enjoying the warm weather.
“Sorry. What were you saying?”
Before Jim had the chance to answer, a shrill, familiar female voice said, “Twice in the same week. How odd.”
Alice Ricter.
Not only had seen been a bad secretary, she was also annoying. Never knew when to shut up. She had no concept of social clues and wouldn’t know a blow off if it slapped her across the face. “So sorry to hear about your wife. That must have been terrible for you,” she said.
“Thanks,” Doug said.
“Jim,” she said. “How have you been?”
“Fine.” Jim looked at her briefly before turning his attention to his sub, taking a good-sized bite.
“How’s your daughter?”
Jim pointed to his mouth and kept chewing. Doug found the whole thing amusing. Normally, Jim picked discreet women for his short affairs. So discreet that half the time, even Doug didn’t know they existed. Rarely did he date the kind of woman who was clingy, needy, or wanted a ring. He also had a thing for women a few years older, so when Doug found out about him and Alice, it had seemed like an odd hook-up.
It turned out to be a nightmare for Jim.
“I hear she’s a State Trooper. I can’t imagine you were on board with that.”
Jim swallowed. “I’m very proud of her.
“Business going well?”
Jim nodded.
“That’s good. I started a new job about a year ago. I love it. I’ve gotten a couple of promotions. It’s going very well. I’m also seeing someone.”
“Good for you.” Jim looked at Doug and discreetly rolled his eyes.
“He’s really great. Highly successful.” She leaned in and whispered, “I think he’s going to pop the question.”
“Happy for you,” Jim said.
“Congratulations,” Doug added, nearly choking while he tried not to laugh.
“Well, I best be going. I’m picking up lunch for us. We’re going to have a picnic.”
“Nice to see you again.”
Doug couldn’t contain himself after she left. “I can’t believe you were banging that one.”
“And we all have our mistakes.”
“She was a huge mistake.”
“Weird,” Jim said. “She started off really nice, but after about two weeks, she would flip out if I didn’t call or talk to her at the office. She didn’t understand the word discretion. I think I was just getting antsy with Stacey going off to college, and all. Won’t be making that mistake again.”
“What about Jillian?”
Jim kept his stone face, but his tell had always been his eyes. They widened slightly. “What about her?”
“You like her.”
“I do. But right now she’s your attorney.”
“And you talk to her more than I do.”
Jim opened his mouth, but said nothing.
“You’re forty years young. It’s about time you started living your own life instead of constantly worrying about me and Stacey.”
“You and Stacey keep getting yourself in situations where I have no choice but to worry.”
“That’s a cop-out,” Doug said. “Go for it. Jillian is smart. Attractive. And I’m pretty sure she’s got eyes for you as well.”
Jim smiled. “A couple of weeks ago, I agreed to introduce her to you and Stacey. Things are moving along, slowly. But moving.”
“How long have you…” Doug’s light mood quickly turned sour as he looked across the street. “Stacey’s right. That guy is a fucking douchebag.”
“I hate that word,” Jim said.
“Look over your shoulder.”
“He’s heading this way.” Jim tossed his napkin onto the table, then leaned back and folded his arms. “You don’t get to talk.”
Doug made the executive decision to pull out his phone and send a text to his lawyer. He contemplated sending one to Stacey, but if she were anywhere near the Village, sirens would be blaring within minutes.
“Looks like you made a speedy recovery from yesterday’s events,” Gregory said.
“Life goes on for the living,” Jim sparred back.
“I suppose.” Gregory stood beside the table, his stance wide, his hands in his pockets. He sported a cheap, white short sleeve button down-shirt with a bland grey tie. Even if there were no murder hanging over Doug’s head, he wouldn’t like the guy. “Who was the woman?”
“What woman?” Jim asked.
“The one you were just talking to.”
“What’s it to you?”
Doug was impressed with Jim’s hard-ass attitude. Physically, Jim’s build was intimidating. Broad shoulders. Thick muscles. His personality could be intimidating, too, but overall, he preferred to take the high road and avoid confrontation. But mess with his family and he’d turn on you in a second.
While Gregory took his time pondering his next sentence, Doug decided it was time to leave, so he stood up and started clearing off the table, tossing a few things in the garbage can.
“Just thought Doug’s girlfriend—”
Jim interrupted Gregory, “I wouldn’t finish that sentence.” His tone menacing. Like a snarl, or maybe a growl. Jim remained in his chair, arms folded across his chest.
“No.”
Doug didn’t like how this conversation was going, but he heeded Jim’s recommendation on keeping his own mouth shut. He stood next to Jim, who remained seated.
“Good. Now, tell me, how long has your business partner been screwing your daughter?”
Jim leapt up from his chair, sending it crashing to the ground. “Shut the f—”
“Let’s go.” Doug grabbed Jim’s arm, but Jim shrugged it off.
“I saw the two of them together in the parking lot yesterday. Maybe your daughter helped—”
“That’s…” Doug started, as he stepped between the cop who wanted his ass in jail and Jim, who pushed the table out of the way, sending a couple of plastic cups to the ground. Jim wasn’t backing down as he tried to shove Doug.
“Let it go,” Doug yelled, pushing Jim as hard as he could, sending him a couple of steps backward.
“I just might have to take you in for assaulting—”
“This is police harassment.” Out of nowhere, Jared, in full uniform, was standing with Doug, helping to keep Jim from making a another huge mistake. “I suggest you leave before I decide to haul your ass in.”
Gregory lifted his hands and took a few steps back. “Just stopped by to say hello.”
“Like hell,” Jim said.
“Sorry if I offended.” With that, Gregory strode back across the street then got into his unmarked car.
“Thanks,” Doug said, keeping an eye on Jim, making sure he didn’t race across the street. “Where did you come from?”
“Lucky for you, this is my favorite place for lunch,” Jared said. “He okay?”
“No,” Doug said.
Jim had finally calmed down enough to pick up the table and chair and apologize to the customers and the people working at the deli for the spectacle he’d made.
“What happened?” Jared asked.
“Gregory made a comment about who his daughter might be sleeping with, then went on about how she might have helped me… How she might be in on it…”
“I get the picture,” Jared said.
“Sorry about that.” Jim had joined them.
“Nah, no need to be sorry,” Jared said. “I would have hauled off and knocked the man to his knees. I’m going to have a little chat with his superior.”
“Don’t think that’s going to stop him,” Jim said.
“He doesn’t fight fair.” Doug looked around, noticing all the people who were staring at him, but trying to hide it.
“Right now, he’s grasping at straws. That’s a good thing.”
Doug couldn’t see how anything in this mess was good.
* * *
Stacey entered the station house with a bad feeling in the pit of her gut. It was never good when your boss asked you to come in a half hour before your shift ended.
Jared usually left his door open, so it surprised her that when she entered his office, he closed the door. “Take a seat,” he said.
“I don’t like the sound of this.”
“You’re not going to like any of this.”
She turned the chair then straddled it. “What happened?”
“Gregory got into it with your dad. If Doug hadn’t of intervened, your father would be sitting in county lock up for assault of a police officer.
“Go, Daddy,” Stacey said, fist pumping the air. “How do you learn of this encounter?”
“I was getting lunch and had to help Doug keep your father from hitting Gregory. Seriously. He knocked over a table. Thought he was going to tackle Doug just to get to Gregory. I had no idea Jim was so strong.”
“Freakishly strong,” she agreed. “What led to the argument? I mean, what did Gregory say? You know my dad. He doesn’t go off on people unless they pushed him over a line.”
“Two comments. One about you, and one about Doug and you.”
She tried to interrupt, but Jared stopped her. “He implied you helped Doug in the murder of his wife, along with a few other hot buttons.”
“That’s borderline harassment.”
“I let his superior know what went down, hoping it would get Gregory to ease up a bit. He managed to push back, and if I want to have skin in this game—”
“You’ve got to put me on leave, or temporarily transfer me.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.” Jared leaned back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head. “The other way is, we can put you to work with Reese. Got to remember our job is to question all suspects. Follow all the leads. But we’re limited in what we can do as troopers.”
The light bulb went on. “Reese and I, once again a team.”
“I like the sound of that,” Jared said.
“So, what do you suggest?”
“You’ve got two weeks of vacation you haven’t used. I suggest, starting tomorrow, you take one. We’ll see where we stand after that.”
“What about my shifts?”
“Covered.”
“SCUBA—”
“Prichard is on board.”
“It’s settled,” she said.
“You took that better than I thought you would,” Jared said. “I was prepared for a few tongue lashings.” He opened his drawer then held up a roll of duct tape. “I came prepared.”
She laughed and went back to her desk to finish her paperwork. Just as she was heading out of the station, Reese texted.
On her way home, she picked up Reese, who constantly checked to see if they were being followed. She opted not to comment. She knew the answer. It was the longest car ride she’d ever had with Reese where he didn’t talk the entire time, or tell her how to drive.
“We need to talk before we face your dad and Doug,” Reese said as she put the car in park.
“You had a whole twenty minutes to talk. Time is up,” she said.
Reese reached across the car then laced his fingers around her bicep. “Gregory showed his hand, and he’s coming after Doug. And he’s coming after you.”
“I know,” she said, shrugging his hand off her arm. “But my dad and Doug don’t need to worry about every little detail.” She hated being rude to Reese. He’d always been her biggest supporter, but she needed him to back down and keep quiet.
“I disagree. We need to tell them everything, including why you are taking time off work.”
She paused. All she wanted was for her father and Doug to be able to go about life as usual. But that wasn’t possible. Reese was right. Keeping things from them would only make it worse. “Fine,” she said. “Now, tell me what do you think of Doug’s lawyer.” She snagged her backpack from the back of the car then flung it over her shoulder, feeling the weight of her research smack her in the back.
“I think she’s one of the best in this area,” Reese said, opening the back door for Stacey. “I did a little research on her, and it’s impressive.”
“That’s good to know, because she’s dating my father.”
“That, I didn’t know,” Reese said. “My skills must be rusty because I looked for a boyfriend.”
“Not your skills,” Stacey said. “My father is just that good at keeping his love life a secret.”
Doug, her father, and Jillian sat at the kitchen table at her father’s house while papers were passed about. Doug glanced up and smiled. It wasn’t his normal grin, but it was something. Jillian was the first to speak.
“Whatever is discussed here is not to be discussed at the office, Stacey.”
“I took a week off.”
“Why?” her father asked.
Reese glanced in her direction while she hung up her gun belt in the back closet. She said nothing as she stepped into the laundry room then quickly removed her uniform, replacing it with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from the load of clean laundry she’d done earlier in the day. When she returned to the kitchen, all eyes were on her.
“Answer my question,” her father said with a stern tone.
“Jared
gave the Sheriff’s office a little nudge when it comes to Gregory. Gregory pushed back, and Jared decided it was best I take a week’s vacation and work with Reese, because from what we can gather, Doug is the only suspect and lead they are following…” She paused for a moment before adding, “…and Gregory formally said I’m on his short list of accomplices.”
“Ridiculous.” Doug slammed his fist on the table, then leaned back in his chair. His eyes conveyed an anger Stacey had never seen before.
“It’s the reality we need to deal with and change,” Jillian said. “Having Reese and Stacey looking for evidence of someone else will help us, and since Stacey is a cop, she’ll have to bring back anything she finds to her superior officer as well as the sheriff’s department.” Jillian sat next to her father, while Doug was on the other side. Stacey noticed Jillian wore a sleek, expensive black skirt and white blouse. Both times she’d meet Jillian, her professional tone and demeanor had impressed Stacey. Always focused on the issue at hand.
Reese sat the end of the table, near Jim. Stacey plopped her backpack on the table. She decided a glass of wine was in order. “Anyone else want wine? Beer? Drink of any kind?”
“I’ll take some wine,” Jillian said.
“Beer for everyone else?”
The three men nodded. Stacey also took it upon herself to place some cheese and crackers on the table. She was starving, and figured no one had eaten yet. “What did we miss?” she asked as she poured two glasses of wine.
“We need to construct a time line of events as best we can, and I suggest we do it for Doug, Stacey, and Jim.” Jillian was the kind of woman that commanded the room. She talked, and people listened. That was the kind of lawyer you wanted in a courtroom. Stacey noted her father had looped his arm around the back of her chair. She wished she could savor the moment. Her father with a woman. Interested in a woman. Bringing a woman home. But the circumstances of their meeting sucked. Made it impossible to enjoy anything.
“I’ve got mine written down.” Stacey sat next to Doug, shoving her seat just a little closer and leaning toward him, but not touching him. Anger seeped off his skin. “I suggest we each give them to you, and then you can compare to see where there are holes they could poke.”