by Judy Kentrus
“How did he get your email address?”
“The email was sent to police headquarters and forwarded to me. My reply was a question. Did you run out of bimbos, asshole? I never got a reply, and haven’t heard from him since. Right now, I’d like to contact that shithead and find out what the hell is going on.”
“I can understand your reasoning, but that wouldn’t be smart. He might get suspicious. Once we get solid evidence, we’ll talk to the chief.”
Jessie ran the tips of her fingers around her temples, trying to ease some of the pounding in her head before she gave Linc a slanted look. “Tell me you’re done.”
“Almost. Don’t get angry, but I had a surprise visitor when I got home the morning we found the mayor’s body. I walked into Treig’s fist.”
His announcement caught her totally off-balance. “My brother knows you’re alive! How did he find out? Better yet, what was he doing in the area?”
“To make a long story short, Treig and his partner Nate Haines, ran into Samantha. One thing led to another, and Treig called Sallie Mae. I suffered a sore jaw, but everything is good between us. He is working undercover on a smuggling case involving stolen, un-taxed liquor and cigarettes. Is there a connection between the vodka hidden in bread that we discovered and their investigation? It’s worth discussing with your brother. The company under investigation is shipping the contraband by truck and boxcar. Sam Morlock is working the train angle for Nate and Treig.”
Jessie flipped up a hand. “Hold it. Sam Morlock? Lisa Kay’s almost fiancée?
“Oops, on the QT, Sam is a retired ATF agent. His family has been in railroading since the 1900’s, and he’s quite well off.”
“Does Lisa Kay know this about her soul mate?”
“That’s up to him to confess. I’m pouring my heart and soul out to you.”
Jessie got up from the couch, reached for a cookie, and took a bite. Heart and soul, she liked the sound of that. “All of this has been going on under my nose. Unbelievable!”
“Don’t feel bad. The chief had the same reaction.”
“My first inclination is to kick you and my mother in your asses. I hate to repeat myself, but is there anything else you haven’t told me?”
“The same morning your brother punched me in the mouth, I met with Treig and Nate at the Last Chance motel. While Nate filled me in on their case, Treig went to pick up food from the Spoonful. On his way back, some one took shots at my truck.”
Jessie stared at him wide-eyed. “Shots! It’s obvious you didn’t report the incident or I would have heard about it.”
Linc flipped a shoulder. “It was no big deal. We examined the dents and determined they were only warning shots. The bullets didn’t penetrate the door.”
“Stop right there! First you get a note telling you to get out of town, then they use your truck for target practice. Leon Price was wearing a pair of your briefs. If I’m reading this correctly, that was a blatant message that said ‘you are a dead man!’ “ Jess looked horrified at her conclusion.
Linc wasn’t surprised she’d figured it out so quickly. “I came to the same conclusion. If we find out who went through the garbage, we might get a lead on who murdered Price and Humperdinck.”
“It would be a good idea if you carried personal protection. Are you licensed to carry in PA?”
“Yes, but I don’t like guns. I prefer to carry a nasty little knife in my boot. One last thing. Your mother has agreed to let Adams Security install an alarm system in the house and the garage. Since it’s a division of my company, I am footing the bill.
Linc expelled a very big breath. “I’ve finished bringing you up to date.”
Jessie leaned her butt against Sallie Mae’s desk, crossed her arms over her breasts, and studied Lincoln. He’d crossed his leg over his knee and rested his arm across the length of the couch, looking more visibly composed than when they entered the room. Supposedly, he’d told her everything, bullshit. It was time to call his bluff.
She crossed her feet at the ankles and relaxed further against the desk.
“I believe you left out a couple of things. Rather than accuse you of deliberately withholding information, we are going to play a game of twenty questions. Every time you say no, you have to take off an article of clothing.”
“You’re kidding?” Lincoln hoped he wasn’t blushing.
“Question one: Do you own a company by the name of Adams Plumbing?”
“Yes. It’s an alias cover name we use in certain situations.” Linc already knew what she was trying to find out.
“Question Two: Do you have an assistant who is a ditzy blond?”
“Yes. Cindi Pearl acts like one when she answers that line and she has blond hair. I couldn’t get along without her.”
“Question Three: Are you a philanthropist like your grandfather?”
Lincoln sighed heavily. “No.”
“Lose the sweater.”
“How come I don’t get to pick what article I have to remove?”
“It’s my game. Strip.”
Linc removed his cable knit black sweater and set it on the seat cushion beside him. Now, he was getting nervous.
“Question four. Did you have Cindi Pearl contact Principal Wayne?”
“Yes.”
“Question five: Are you the secret benefactor paying for the shirts and banner for the fishing derby and anti-bullying campaign?”
“I’ll answer your question truthfully, with the stipulation that you can’t tell anyone. When Jessie nodded, he answered. “Yes.”
“Question six: Have you been putting candy bars in my lunch?”
“No.” He wasn’t about to admit he had an entire squad of secret helpers.
“I thought you might be the candy bar fairy.” Jessie tapped a finger against her lips. “Lose the jeans.”
Now, Linc did panic. “What about my boots?”
“My game, remember?” Then she realized he was blushing. Jess put her hands to her cheeks and burst out laughing. He was commando! She moved to the couch, pushed his leg down, and made room for herself on his lap. “Are you nekkid under your britches?”
“I refuse to answer on the grounds I might incriminate myself.” Linc wrapped one arm around her waist and put a steady hand to the back of her neck. “Are we good?”
“Almost.” Jess very carefully removed his eye patch. “Look at me with both of your beautiful eyes and tell me the truth. Do you forgive me for not telling you Edie is your niece?”
“Yes. But I need a promise from you.”
“What?”
“Some day you will tell Edie about Jenny. I promise not to pressure you, or bring up the subject again. I trust you to know when the time is right. If you didn’t hear me the first time, I trust you.”
“Oh, Lincoln, thank you.” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “I trust you, too.”
Lincoln heard the words, but sensed hesitation and reserve in her statement. What more could he do to prove his trust and ultimate love?
Chapter 19
They made it home just before the school bus. Edie ran into the backyard, yelling at the top of her lungs. “Mommy! Mr. Lincoln! We’re getting shirts for the bullying campaign! They used my slogan. Principal Wayne said it is a gift from a unanimous donor.”
“That’s anonymous donor,” Jessie said, hugging her daughter. Edie went to pull away, but Jessie tightened her arms and kissed the top of her daughter’s head. Yes, her daughter.
“Mommy, you’re squishing me!”
“Sorry, sweetheart.” Jessie cupped Edie’s chin. “I’m very proud of you.”
“We’re both very proud of you.” Lincoln’s eye fell on Edie in a brilliant new light. His niece, a living breathing part of his sister.
“Can Mr. Lincoln have dinner with us? We can’t let him starve.”
Jessie glanced at Lincoln, leaning against the driver’s side door of his truck. Were the pot shots just a warning? The shooter didn’
t know her brother was driving. She needed to visit Treig. “If you don’t have plans for the evening, would you like to go with me to the hospital?” When Lincoln didn’t respond, she understood. He had the biggest smile on his face, his attention solely on Edith Amanda. She didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking. Jessie brushed the back of his hand with her finger. “Are you free this evening?”
Jessie’s casual touch was enough to draw his attention. “I’d be glad to go with you.”
“I almost forgot.” Edie threw her arms around Linc’s waist. “Our double wishes came true! There are men fixing the bandstand. Now we can go back to wishing for a husband for my mom and a dad for me.” Edie stepped back and frowned at her mother. “Somebody put a picture of you and Mr. Lincoln on Facebook.”
“What picture?”
“I heard Miss Linda, our bus driver, talking to the bus monitor. It’s you and Mr. Lincoln in the parking lot by the bandstand. She said it was so beautiful. The person put in a comment, Arrest of the Heart. What does that mean?”
Jessie knew exactly what it meant, but didn’t want to go there right now. “It means it’s time to go in the house and get ready for dinner. Grandma should be home soon, and then Mr. Lincoln and I are going to see Uncle Treig.”
Linc put his hand to the back of Jessie’s waist when they headed for the back door and he leaned close to whisper, “You can arrest my heart any time you want. I’ll even let you cuff me. That would lead to some very kinky sex.”
Jessie kept her eyes forward and aimed an elbow at his gut, but pulled back at the last moment. They were back to normal…almost.
When they exited the elevator onto the floor for Treig’s room, Linc lowered his head and breathed in her familiar scent. “You look beautiful and smell delicious.”
“Stop, we’re in a hospital,” she said half-heartedly. She’d purposely gathered her hair atop her head to draw attention to the sweeping scooped neckline of her lime green and navy print dress. Her woven wedge sandals brought her head to just above his shoulders.
Talk about delicious. The nurses and female aids couldn’t take their eyes off the imposing, handsome devil. He’d paired his black dress trousers with a neck hugging black turtleneck, but it was the bullet gray jacket that added to his sexy drawing power. The rich leather was butter smooth. This close, the musky scent of his cologne made her feel lightheaded. With all her heart, she wanted to shout “he’s mine,” but couldn’t. The thought was depressing.
They were surprised to see Treig awake and quite alert. His leg was in a white cast and propped in a hammock-like support. The standard intravenous line was in the back of his hand. He’d turned up the television to block out the annoying chorus of beeps from the machines that monitored his vitals.
“You look like you’ve been hit by a ton of bricks,” Linc said. His friend was banged up, but alive. For that, he was very grateful.
“Don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much. Since you’re with Jessie, she knows about us meeting last week.”
Linc shook Treig’s hand. “We had a long talk this afternoon. It was pretty intense, but we cleared the air.” He winked at Jessie. “We’re good.”
“He knows about Edie?” Treig confirmed.
“He knows.” Purple and chartreuse bruises had blossomed on the right side of his face, offsetting the reddish bearded growth on his cheeks. Jess silently thanked God her brother was alive. “This is a stupid question, but how do you feel?”
“With my hands,” he grinned, then winced. “Damn bruises are on the inside and out. I’m getting great drugs. I push this button and like magic, the pain goes away.” When his sister studied the morphine drip, he squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry, I have no plans of becoming a drug addict.”
“Do you have any idea when you will be discharged? You’re coming home, and don’t argue with me.”
“I’d like that, sis, but I’ll be going to a rehab unit from here. The doctors can’t promise that everything will heal perfectly. A cane will be my sidearm for a while, and there’s a possibility I might have a permanent limp. I won’t be able to chase the bad guys, so my value as an undercover agent is pretty much shot to hell. Don’t even suggest I could train, and I’m not one to sit behind a desk.” Treig’s voice hitched. “I’ll be giving my notice as soon as I get out of rehab.”
Jess knew how much Treig loved his job, and her heart was breaking for him. She squeezed his hand. “Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse?”
“No. I’ve got to face reality.”
Linc, too, understood exactly how his friend felt, but Adams Security didn’t follow bureaucratic guidelines when it came to hiring employees. That’s why they were so diversified and unique. “I’ve a company that would be lucky to have you. I’ll triple your salary to begin with, bonus every six months. My agents put in long hours, oversee security for influential and temperamental clients, travel all over the world, and don’t always work under ideal undercover assignments. You will have a great boss, and people who will stand behind you one hundred percent.” He paused and looked at Jessie. “Since I have to spend the next year in Laurel Heights, I’ve plans to open a satellite office.” Linc held out his hand to his oldest friend. “Welcome to Adams Security and Investigations.”
“You’re kidding, right? You would hire a cripple?”
“I have three disabled Iraq veterans in my New York Office, two in Chicago and three in LA. I only have one eye. Who am I to discriminate?”
“Hot damn, I accept. I’ve been feeling sorry for myself, thinking that my life is over, and my best friend offers me a second chance.” He grabbed Linc’s hand and shook it a second time. “Thanks, man. I’ll work my ass off for you.”
“I’ve no doubt you will, but with all of your experience and knowledge, I’m the one who is getting the better deal. Now, settle back. We need to talk about your current case.”
“Why?”
“We’ve a situation in Laurel Heights that might have a connection to your stolen liquor,” Linc said.
“You mean the case I was working on?”
“That’s just semantics.” Jess told him about finding the empty bottles of high grade vodka and bread loaves in the old boathouse and in the field close to their murder scene.
“Damn! I knew we were close. Nate and I tracked a trailer load of bread into Pittsburgh, then it magically disappeared. I need you to call Bill Latham, my supervisor. Let him know what you’ve found, and make sure you tell him you’ve already spoken with me. ABC has no problem working with the local force. This really pisses me off. I’m laid up in a freaking hospital bed when I should be out tracking those thieving bastards.” Treig’s voice took on a wistful tone. “Nate’s boss stopped in to give me an update. They reset Nate’s dislocated shoulder and his hip and leg were pretty messed up. He’ll be out of work for at least six to eight months. The task force is letting the scent cool down to give the company false confidence that they’ve been taken off the radar. All our months of work shot to hell!”
Jess put a soothing hand to his shoulder. “Calm down. If we knew you were going to get upset, we never would have asked you about the case. We’ll be your eyes and ears and keep you up-to-date on our progress. Mom will be coming to see you tomorrow night. Is there anything you need?”
“To get out of here.” Treig reached for the triangular support brace above his head and tried to adjust his aching butt. “Both of you listen up. What you’ve uncovered is a tiny thread in an operation that is a lot bigger than liquor hidden in loaves of bread. They’re also shipping cartons of un-taxed cigarettes all over the country. ATF is involved in that part of the operation. Whoever is behind this isn’t afraid to murder someone if they get too close. Nate and I were expendable, but through some miracle, we survived. Other truckers weren’t so lucky. Watch your asses.”
“We will.” Jess kissed his cheek, the side without the colorful abrasions. “Let us know when you are being transferred to the rehab center
. Now, get some rest.”
They were just about to walk out when Treig called out. “Thanks for the job!”
“That was really nice of you to hire Treig,” Jess said, just as they got on the interstate. “When were you going to tell me about your plans to open an office in town?”
Linc put his blinker on to cross over into the third lane of traffic, wanting to make some time. “It’s another one of those I forgot things. Sam is rehabbing the warehouses by the old train depot and agreed to sell me the one on the opposite side of the road. It will be a satellite office, but I plan to expand our security monitoring and installation operations. It would create job opportunities in Laurel Heights, even more so when they approve the drilling for natural gas. Workers are going to need places to stay, so Sam’s condos will be leased before they’re even built.”
“Would you work there permanently?” Jessie found herself holding her breath in anticipation of his answer.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“You.”
“Why me?”
“Other than the stipulation in Buford’s will, I need a reason to stay. You said you trust me, but deep down, I sense there’s a part of you that is still unsure. I’d like to show you and Edie my life outside of Laurel Heights.”
Jess twisted in her seat so that she could face at him. “You’re right. I don’t know the man Lincoln Adams. I want to know where you went when you left town, how you became friends with Scott and Russell, and everything else.” Jessie swallowed, not wanting to choke on what she was about to say. “Before our blow-up this afternoon, I thought we were getting close, especially after we made love. It was the most beautiful experience of my life. I didn’t trust you, but I gave into my raging female hormones. God,” she sighed, “I can’t believe I just said that.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Linc chuckled.
Jessie punched him lightly in the arm. “Don’t let that go to your head. I’m trying to be honest here.”