Out of Eden

by Beth Ciotta

  How was he going to tell his sister that her husband had been murdered and dumped in the lake?

  How was he going to break it to his niece that her daddy was in hell?

  One thing he knew for sure. Frank Cortez hadn’t earned a place in heaven.

  Skully came up behind him and peeled off his latex gloves. “Thoughts?”

  “Lots of them.”

  “I’m interested in the ones pertaining to your brother-in-law.”

  “Thought you were interested in Tommy Mancini.”

  “What if they’re connected?”

  He thought about Frank’s porn collection. “They had a couple of things in common. A background in law. A taste for men.”

  “Your brother-in-law was gay?”

  “He had fetishes. Not for common knowledge,” Jack added.

  Skully nodded. “So maybe Cortez’s return visit was twofold. The divorce and Mancini?”

  Jack worked the pieces of the puzzle. “Maybe Frank drove in a day early to visit Travis, but Travis was already gone. Maybe the wiseguys saw him coming out of the house or driving away from the house and snagged him, thinking he was Mancini. A case of mistaken identity.”

  “That’s thin,” Skully said. “It would mean the wiseguys didn’t know the Artful Dodger that well or refused to believe Frank when they told him they’d pinched the wrong guy.”

  “Maybe they didn’t give him a chance to talk.” Jack braced his hands on his hips, stared up at the rain-swollen clouds and indulged in dark thoughts. “Kylie said one bruiser was angry because the other whacked their guy before they got the money. They wanted money.”

  “Mancini had money,” Skully reminded him. “Lots of it.”

  “And Frank needed money. A shitload.” Jack told Skully about the flashdrive he’d been given by Pete Unger, about the accounting files he’d reviewed early this morning. “Frank was in debt up to his eyeballs. Gambling. Prostitution. There were notes, names I didn’t recognize. Aliases, probably. What if he owed a shark?”

  “Possible. And potentially dangerous.” Skully crossed his arms, angled his head. “Maybe he went to Manicini for a loan. Or maybe he was blackmailing him, sex secrets. Cortez split Eden, but Mancini was still trying to keep up the pretense of being the straight, redneck widower.”

  “Maybe those wiseguys snagged the right man,” Jack said. “What if they were after Frank all along? Time to pay up. Not the Mancini or Gambelli family, but an unknown faction.”

  “Speculation,” said Skully.

  “A shitload of speculation.”

  “It’ll shake out.”

  “You sound awfully sure.”

  “I’m good at my job and so are you.” Skully eyed him. “Looked into your history before I got here.” He noted the county sheriff and his team. “For a region that hasn’t seen a murder in more than a decade, they’re doing all right.”

  Jack didn’t comment. His head was jammed.

  “Meanwhile,” Skully said, “someone needs to break the news to your sister.”

  Jack ignored his throbbing temples, palmed his cell and autodialed Kylie. He wanted to ask about Jessie’s mind-set and their exact location.

  She didn’t answer.

  The phone beeped and Jack switched over to call waiting. “Jack Reynolds.”

  “You’re fucking my little sister?”

  Spenser. Christ. Jack distanced himself from Skully. “There’s more to it than that.”

  “Spare me the details. We’re talking about, Kylie. My sister.”

  “Would it help if I said I’m in love with her?” Jack shifted as the silence stretched on. “Still there, Spense?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And where is that, exactly?”

  “Too far away to kick your ass.”

  Jack’s lip twitched in spite of the tension. “Who told you?”

  “Ashe Davis. Went out of his way to get me the news. Fucking prick.” Spenser paused, blew out a breath. “Love, huh?”

  “Still trying to wrap my mind around it.”

  “Kylie must be thrilled. She’s been hot for you since she was fourteen.”

  “Twelve.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind.” Jack glanced at Skully. The man looked deep in thought as he watched Frank’s body being loaded into the coroner’s van. “I have to go, Spense. How about if we touch base in a couple of days?”

  “After I’ve had a chance to wrap my mind around it? Good idea. Oh, and when you see Davis, tell him I said to go screw himself.”

  “Will do.” Jack disconnected, only to get another call. Kylie, he hoped. “Yeah?”

  “Chief? It’s Ziffel. Big doings here. Some guy suffered a heart attack in Kylie’s store. Guess who called the station house? Travis Martin. He wants to talk to you.”

  Jack dragged a hand over his head. What the fuck?

  “Chief Reynolds?”

  “Tommy Mancini?

  “You know who I am,” said the other man.

  “I do. Why’d you come back?”

  “Because I didn’t want to fail Kylie the way I failed my wife. I couldn’t shake the fear that I’d put her in harm’s way. I came back to admit my past to you and to take charge of my life. My life. No more dodging. I came straight to the store and…face-to-face with my past.”

  Jack started moving toward his vehicle. “Who had the heart attack?”

  “My brother. Carmine.” He cleared his throat, lowered his voice. “They’re loading him into an ambulance. He came here to find me. To make amends. Only, he thought I was dead. I’m having a hard time making sense of it. There’s a woman here. My brother’s mistress, I think. She’s hysterical. Deputy Ziffel said Kylie claimed she saw two goons stuffing a body in a trunk.”

  “Just found the car and the body,” Jack said, against his better judgment. “Frank Cortez.”

  “Shit.”

  “You two have a history?”

  “We do. Did.”

  “I need details,” Jack said.

  “I’ll give them to you. Later. I don’t think my brother’s going to make it. I need to go with the ambulance. Those goons,” Travis said, “I’m thinking they mistook Frank for me. I don’t know who they are, but I know they’re associated with the family. If Kylie witnessed…she’s not safe. Tell me you’ve got her under police protection.”

  “She’s protected,” Jack said. But he suddenly feared, not well enough. His phone beeped with another incoming call. “Put Deputy Ziffel back on.”

  “Chief?”

  “Don’t let Travis out of your sight, Ed. I’ll be in touch soon.”

  “Right-o.”

  Jack clicked over to the incoming call. “Yeah?”

  “It’s Andy, Chief. Big trouble.”

  Jack listened as the officer relayed a message from Kylie. He shelved his chaotic emotions as he whistled Skully over and checked his sidearm. After relaying instructions to Andy, he pocketed his phone and slid behind the wheel. “You armed?” he asked as Skully climbed in the passenger seat.

  “Armed and dangerous.”

  KYLIE HAD THE PEDAL to the metal. She didn’t dare glance at the speedometer. Guessing she was going ninety on the narrow back road and knowing it were two different things. However, she did check the rearview mirror. Just to make sure Andy wasn’t on her tail, siren whirring. That’s when she spied the dark sedan.

  Was it them? Or at least one of them, keeping tabs on her while the other guarded Max? Only, they or he wasn’t being the least bit discreet. The car was gaining speed, closing in. She squelched her panic and focused on the road, on getting to Max. That’s when she spied the farmer’s slow-moving monster tractor taking up more than half of the road.

  Just. My. Luck.

  If she braked, the sedan would slam into her bumper. She veered into the opposite lane, saw another SUV racing toward the intersection. Jack? She swerved to avoid a collision, spun around and ended up speeding down the crossroad. The road that led to Francis Slocum State Par
k.

  The scene of the crime, her mind whispered.

  After that her thoughts blurred. She needed to turn around, to get Max, to save Max. Although if Jack had been driving that SUV she’d almost crashed into, then he was speeding toward Max. It’ll be all right, she told herself.

  Unless Jack recognized his sister’s car and did a one-eighty.

  She felt a hard hit, gritted her teeth and squeezed the steering wheel. The sedan was trying to muscle her off the road. What the hell?

  “I’ve got him. You get her. And, dammit, make it clean!”

  Kylie couldn’t get the goons’ voices out of her head. They hadn’t grabbed her after she’d caught them stuffing a body in a trunk, so this was a fresh attempt to eliminate the only witness to their crime. They were trying to kill her, to run her off the road, to flip the car—crash and burn.

  Kylie chanced a look in the mirror, saw an arm and a gun. Crap! They were going to shoot out her tires or race up and shoot her through the window. Either way, she refused to die at their hands. She gunned the SUV and zoomed toward the bridge that spanned the narrowest part of the lake.

  She heard shots.

  No shattered glass, no blown tire. No blood.

  But she did take another hard hit.

  Her tail end swung.

  Compensating at high speed, Kylie missed the bridge, instead sailing off the edge of the embankment.

  The strangest thought slow-moed through her head as she went airborne. She’d always thought if she ever pulled a Thelma and Louise, Faye would be strapped in the seat beside her. Instead, it was a bedraggled teddy bear.

  JACK HAD BEEN SPEEDING toward Max’s place when another SUV almost broadsided him. Recognizing his sister’s car, realizing it was Kylie and seeing that sedan on her tail, he’d joined the chase. Skully took out the rear tires on the wiseguy’s car. Still, the bastard managed to ram the Escalade, pushing Kylie off course, before crashing his own car, head on, into a tree.

  In the same instant that car exploded into flames, Jack experienced a new brand of numb when he saw Kylie’s car disappear over the embankment.

  “Shit,” Skully said. He called 911, relaying their location as Jack raced the Aspen down a narrow rugged path to the lake’s edge.

  “Fuck,” Jack breathed as he skidded to a stop. The front half of the Escalade was already submerged.

  He jumped out of the car and dove into the chilly lake. A gruesome image of Kylie strapped in her seat, unable to open the car door due to the water’s pressure, crowded Jack’s chaotic thoughts. Fearing the worst, he died a thousand deaths as he pumped his arms and legs in a ferocious effort to get to her. His future flashed before his eyes, a future without Kylie. In that instant he knew he’d risk anything and everything to share a lifetime with the risk-taking caretaker who wore flowered glasses and crazy shoes.

  His brain barely registered the sight of that woman’s head breaking the surface of the lake. Relief surged through him as he lunged forward and snagged her.

  Gasping for air, she clung to him. “Jack,” she croaked.

  “I’ve got you, baby.”

  Skully was there, too, and together they guided a limp Kylie toward shore.

  Shy was swimming toward them, and when Kylie saw the dog, she burst into tears. As they neared the shore, Jack hauled Kylie into his arms and carried her to dry land. Shy whimpered and plopped in the grass alongside Jack and Kylie. “There’s a blanket in the back of the Aspen,” he told Skully.

  “Max,” Kylie choked out as she shivered uncontrollably.

  Always putting other people first, Jack thought as he held her close. “Max was never at risk, hon. It was a ploy to get you away from us and out of town so he could strike.”

  “He?” she asked, looking dazed. “Only one?”

  “Only one in the car, and that guy’s dead.”

  “I should probably feel bad about that, but I don’t.”

  “Good. As for the second guy, we’ll track him down.”

  “What about the other dead guy?” she asked in a weak voice. “The one in the trunk? Was it Travis?”

  “No,” he said as Skully returned with the blanket. “It was Frank.”

  “Cortez?” Her shivering continued even after he wrapped her tight. “Why would mobsters kill Frank?”

  “We’re still piecing that together,” said Skully.

  Kylie’s crying escalated to sobs.

  Jack rocked her. “Don’t mourn Frank, Tiger.”

  “Not that,” she croaked. “Thought I was going to die before I told you.”

  “What, baby?”

  She looked up at him through dazed tears. “I love you, Jack,” she whispered. “Always have, always will.” Then she passed out.

  Panicked, Jack checked her pulse. Strong.

  “Shock,” said Skully. He glanced toward the road. “Ambulance should be here soon.”

  “Fuck that,” Jack said, carrying Kylie toward his SUV. He transferred her to the marshal’s arms as Shy leaped into the back seat. “I’ll drive. I know a shortcut.” His hands trembled as he threw the Aspen in Reverse.

  “She’ll be okay,” Skully said in a calm voice.

  “I know,” Jack said as he peeled onto the back road. But that didn’t stop him from worrying all the way to the hospital.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  KYLIE WOKE UP DISORIENTED. She blinked to clear her vision, reached for her glasses, then remembered they were at the bottom of the lake. She squinted at the man hovering next to her. “Officer Anderson,” she croaked.

  “If I weren’t so happy to see you awake, I’d blast you for giving me the slip, Kylie McGraw. You scared me to death, plus I’m in deep shit with the chief.”

  She vaguely remembered waking up on a stretcher and seeing Jack hovering over her in wet clothes. He’d kissed her forehead and told her she was okay. He’d told her to get some sleep. “Where is he?”

  “In the hospital chapel with Jessica Lynn, breaking some bad news.”

  Kylie focused on her surroundings. She was in a hospital room, in a hospital bed. She felt okay, except her throat was dry and sore and she felt a little dizzy. The bad news was about Frank Cortez. Dead. “Do you know any details about Frank?” she rasped.

  “No,” he said, moving closer. “You?”

  “No.”

  “Shoot,” they said in unison.

  “Where’s Marshal Skully?” she asked.

  “Out tracking some mobster named Turk.”

  Kylie massaged her pounding temples. “Turk?”

  “I don’t know details about him, either.”

  Hearing a familiar whimper, Kylie pushed up to her elbows and saw Shy curled at the bottom of her bed. “Um. I don’t think they allow dogs in hospitals,” she whispered.

  “You’re right. But Shy snapped at the attendant who tried to remove her and Chief Reynolds threatened to shoot anyone who called animal control.”

  In spite of her splitting headache and sore throat, Kylie smiled. Then she thought about the way Jack and the dog had swum to her rescue and tears sprang to her eyes.

  “Oh, hell,” Andy said. “Should I call the doctor?”

  “No, I’m fine. Just emotional. And…thirsty. Could you get me a soda?” She really wanted a minute to herself to collect her thoughts and wits. All she knew was that Frank was dead and Travis wasn’t. One goon was dead and the other, Turk, was on the loose. Skully was chasing him and Jack was breaking bad news to his sister. Oh, and she’d confessed her forever and always love to Jack. She was pretty sure he hadn’t returned the sentiment. She’d never felt so vulnerable.

  “I’m not supposed to leave you alone.” He poured her some water from a pitcher. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” She drank, and though the cool water soothed her throat, it didn’t stop her tears. “I need some privacy, Andy.”

  “But—”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, just stand outside my door and don’t let any goons in. Five minutes. Please.”

>   He narrowed his eyes. “You won’t sneak out the window, will you?”

  “I’m not even sure I can get out of bed.” A lie, but she was desperate for a private cry.

  He sighed. “I’ll be right outside the door.”

  He left and Kylie fell back on the pillow and let the tears flow.

  Her brain had done some humdinger buzzing when she’d been swimming for her flipping life, and she’d decided if she got out of that mess alive, she’d go for what she really wanted. That included a long-term relationship with Jack and ownership of McGraw’s. She didn’t know how she was going to attain those goals exactly, but she was going to give it her full attention. Faye was right. Her priorities and dreams had shifted. Sure, she’d enjoy touring Asia, but she no longer wanted to do it alone. Maybe someday. With Jack. That’s if he didn’t bail on her.

  She’d always thought Jack Reynolds was the most courageous, most amazingly gorgeous man in the universe. She still thought that, with the exception of a few flaws. Yes, he was brave when it came to facing physical danger, but matters of the heart? She was pretty sure if she peeled away his tough-guy, superhero exterior, she’d see a six-foot-two marshmallow.

  He was particularly partial to rescuing and protecting women. His sister, his niece, the dog. Her. Showing her the orgasmic stars wasn’t a traditional rescue, but he had breathed new life into Kylie’s sensual being. She’d never felt more alive than she had this past week, even when she was flirting with death. The water tower. The encounter in the woods. The car chase. The plunge into the lake.

  Kylie bolted upright. “That’s it,’ she said to Shy. “Jack’s Achilles’ heel.”

  In spite of his strength, physically and emotionally, losing someone he cared about would bring him to his knees, especially a woman. What had he said about his last case, the one that had burned him out on big crime, the one that had spurred his return to Eden? Not much. Just that it had involved a young woman. A victim of a mob hit.

  “Holy cow.”

  Whatever had happened to that woman, whatever he’d seen and felt and done, haunted Jack. Until he faced up to the ghosts of his past, he’d never be able to fully commit to a future with her. No wonder he wasn’t willing to risk marriage or children. “How am I going to get him to talk about it?”