I was surprised to see the tears glistening in her eyes as she smiled at me. “I will. And I look forward to it.”
I left her warm house for the cold rain that was now falling. I’d barely made it out of her neighborhood when my phone rang. I wasn’t surprised to see it was the sheriff’s department.
“I’m on my way in now,” I said as I answered.
“That’s good, sir,” the front desk receptionist said. “Because there’s a woman who insists that she see you.”
“Who is it?”
“She won’t say, but she says she’s not leaving until she’s said her piece.”
I wasn’t in the mood to deal with disgruntled county citizens. “Isn’t the sheriff in yet? Hand her off to him.”
“She insists on you.”
“Great,” I grumbled, wondering whom I’d pissed off this time and why. “I should be there in fifteen minutes. But since I have you, can you patch me through to Deputy Miller”
“Sure.”
Moments later, Deputy Miller answered.
“Miller, I have a special job for you, but I want you to keep it between us.”
“Of course, sir.”
“I think Mason Deveraux is still in danger, but I’d prefer not to make it widespread knowledge in the department. I’d like for you to keep tabs on him periodically throughout the day. If you discover anything suspicious, you answer directly to me.”
“Do you have any idea who has it out for him?”
“No. I’m hoping you’ll be able find something for me.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
I knew he would. He was probably one of the most dependable men on the force. I still needed to tell Mason, so I pulled into a parking lot and sent him a quick text.
I’m not certain the threat to your safety is eliminated. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, let me know. I’ve got Miller monitoring you so don’t be surprised if you see him in the background.
I wondered if I should tell him more, but other than knowing my father was involved, there wasn’t anything else to tell. Mason knowing about my father wouldn’t keep him any safer.
The streets of Henryetta were emptier than usual, most likely because the citizens were worried about icy roads, so I made it to the sheriff’s office quickly. When I entered the lobby, I wasn’t prepared to see the woman sitting across the room from me, grinning at me like she was up to nothing but trouble.
My sister Kate.
Chapter Eight
Joe
“Hello, big brother,” she said, getting to her feet and adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder. She wore jeans covered with holes, a flannel shirt and a tan jacket.
“I’m surprised to see you here.” It was an understatement.
“After your meeting with dear old Dad, you ran out of the house like a man on fire. We didn’t get a chance to have our little chat.”
I shifted my weight. “You never thought to pick up your phone and call me? You could have easily gotten the number from Mom.”
“Nah, I prefer a face-to-face meeting.”
I glanced toward the door leading to the back offices. I knew I didn’t have anything pressing waiting on me and I was still a bit early for my shift. I could take Kate back to my office, but I preferred to keep the Simmons family chaos as far from my work life as possible. “Judy,” I said to the receptionist behind the glass partition. “I’m going out for a bit. Call me if you need me.”
She barely glanced up. “Will do.”
“Have you had breakfast?” I asked my sister, gesturing to the door.
Kate followed me out to the parking lot. “No. Are you going to take me to some quaint Podunk restaurant?”
I stopped and turned to face her, my back muscles tight. “I live in this town and county. If you are bringing our parents’ small-minded attitude with you, just get back in your car and drive back to wherever it is you came from. Because I’m not putting up with it.”
She held up her hands in defense, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Down, boy. I didn’t mean it like it sounded. Sometimes the snark slips out unchecked.”
I gave her a brisk nod. “Okay.”
“But I really do want to eat at a small-town restaurant with down-home cooking. Like Roberta used to make.”
I watched her for a second. She hadn’t mentioned Roberta since she left when we were teens. What was she up to? “We can go to Merilee’s in the town square. They make great pancakes and waffles.”
“Sounds great to me.”
I gestured to my sheriff’s cruiser behind me. “I’m technically on duty, so we better take separate cars.”
“Don’t want your sister sitting in a police car, tarnishing the Simmons name?” she sneered.
“No, there’s a chance I’ll get called in. If that happens, I don’t want to leave you stranded.”
“Oh.”
I pushed out a heavy breath. “Look, I appreciate that you drove out here, but maybe you should just go.” I wanted to talk to her, but I didn’t like her here on my turf. The truth was, I didn’t trust her. Until I knew she wasn’t up to trouble, I wanted her as far away from my new life as possible. I’d just arrange to talk to her on more neutral territory.
Her cockiness slipped away and she gave me a genuine smile. “No. I really do want to see you. Sorry. Old habits are too easy to fall back into.”
Hilary came to mind. “Tell me about it.”
She cocked her head and winked. “I promise to be on my best behavior, and if I do misbehave, you can put me in jail.”
I shook my head and grinned. “That seems like an excessive punishment.”
“Then come up with your own. I really want blueberry pancakes. Tell me this Merry’s place makes blueberry pancakes.”
I laughed. “Merilee’s makes fantastic blueberry pancakes…not at good as mine, but pretty doggone good anyway.”
“Nobody likes a braggart.” But I noticed she didn’t correct me. She’d tasted my pancakes when we were teenagers.
“Just follow me.”
“Yes, sir,” she said with a salute.
I sighed. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret this.” And as I drove to the Henryetta town square, I already did. My life in Fenton County was my Joe McAllister world. Hilary had already botched that by renting a house close to the courthouse, but now my sister was here too. I might have felt better about the whole thing if I knew what she was after, but she was a total wild card. We hadn’t gotten along for years, and her entire mission in life had always been to aggravate our parents and Hilary. Given everything she’d said the day before, I wondered if she was here to stoke my rebellion as another act of defiance.
I pulled into a parking space on the square, casting a quick glance at the RBW Landscaping office across the street. Rose’s truck was parked in front of it and I felt a pull to go see her. But Kate had already gotten out of her small car and was walking toward me. She looked over her shoulder to see what had captured my attention, and the last thing I wanted to do was have that conversation with her.
“Let’s see how good your Merilee’s actually is.” She looped her arm through mine and we walked into the warm restaurant together. The hostess seated us by the window, which seemed to delight Kate, if the grin on her face was any indication. We slipped off our coats as the waitress walked over.
“Good morning, Chief Deputy Simmons,” she said with a warm smile. “What can I get for you and…” She glanced over at Kate.
I had no intention of filling in the blank. The less this town knew about my family, the better. And once word got out that my sister had been here for a visit, it would be a subject for all the gossips. But Kate had other ideas.
She glanced up at the waitress, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Kate. I’m just dropping by to check up on my big brother.”
The waitress looked relieved. “How nice to meet you, Ms. Simmons.”
“Just Kate. And I would love a cup of coffee, Bonnie.”
She read off the poor girl’s nametag, then turned to me. “Joe?”
Bonnie glanced down at me. “Deputy Simmons, do you want your usual coffee and juice?”
“Yeah, that would be great, Bonnie.” She nodded and smiled before walking away.
“You have a usual,” Kate said, lifting an eyebrow. “So you’re a regular here?”
“It’s a small town and I spend a lot of time at the courthouse. Not to mention the food is good.”
She held up her hands and leaned back in her chair. “No need to get so defensive. I was just asking.”
Bringing her here had been a huge mistake. “What are you doing in Henryetta, anyway, Kate?” I asked, sounding tired.
“I’m hoping to eat blueberry pancakes if Bonnie ever comes back with my coffee and your usual.”
“You can get blueberry pancakes anywhere. Why are you here harassing me?”
Her smile fell. “Is that how you see this? Me harassing you?”
I placed my forearms on the table and leaned toward her, lowering my voice. “Look, you left two years ago after making my life hell and letting me know you were done with me and the rest of our family, so you can’t be surprised if I’m a bit suspicious.”
Her lips twisted as she seemed to consider my statement. “Fair enough,” she finally said. “But I assure you that I come in peace.”
“Forgive me if I reserve judgment on that.”
“Challenge accepted.”
Her statement made me trust her less. My sister considered everything in life a challenge or a game. The real question was what she hoped to gain at the end of this particular “challenge,” because I sure as hell had a hard time believing it was me.
Bonnie came back and set a cup of coffee in front of Kate and a coffee and a glass of orange juice in front of me. “Are you two ready to order?”
I poured creamer into my coffee. I’d had a cinnamon roll at Maeve’s, but this day was already turning out to be crap. I could use more comfort food. “I’ll take fried eggs and a side of bacon.”
Kate leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “I hear you make exceptional blueberry pancakes.”
Bonnie grinned. “I don’t personally make them, but Glenn does a pretty decent job.”
“Then give me an order of those with a side of bacon.”
“Gave up the vegan stage?” I asked.
Kate gave me a withering glare. “You saw me eat turkey yesterday.”
“You’re presuming I paid attention to what you ate,” I countered, even though I had noticed.
Bonnie laughed. “You sound like me and my brother. We bicker like cats and dogs, but if someone messes with us, we’re the first ones to come to each other’s defense.”
After Bonnie disappeared into the kitchen, I glanced at Kate and realized she was staring at me with a strange expression.
“What?” I asked as I picked up my coffee.
“Why aren’t you and I like that?” The words sounded more serious than anything she’d said since showing up at our parents’ house the previous day.
I took a sip, then put the cup down. “Maybe because you always hated my guts.”
“I did not.”
I shrugged. “Typically the older sibling finds the younger one annoying. The roles were reversed in our case.”
She was quiet for several seconds.
“Why are you here, Kate?”
“I told you.”
“You wanted to chat.” I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest. “Let’s start with you. Two years ago I tried calling you, only to discover your phone was disconnected. Then I stopped by your apartment, and your roommate said you’d moved out. I stopped by the shop where you worked and your boss told me you’d quit. No forwarding address. You didn’t even pick up your last paycheck.” I sat upright and put my hands on the table. “Who does that?”
Her eyes filled with defiance and she shrugged. “Someone who wants a fresh start.”
“I filed a damned missing person’s report on you, Kate.”
“I bet Mom and Dad loved that,” she sneered. “Their ne’er-do-well daughter makes the trashy tabloids.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. It barely made the news.”
“After a little Simmons intervention, no doubt.”
I didn’t deny it, although I’d had no part in it. “Last summer I ran into one of your friends who told me you’d gone out to California.”
She lifted her eyebrows and said, “You really are a detective.”
“Cut the shit, Kate. Why did you run off to California?”
A twisted smile lifted her lips. “I was just following the example set by the Beverly Hillbillies. Arkansas family makes good on oil, then runs off to the land of the beautiful.”
The only way she was going to give me an answer was if she wanted to. As I’d learned long ago, Katherine Elizabeth Simmons could not be forced to do anything she didn’t want to do.
“So what have you been doing out there?”
Her shoulders seemed to relax and the hint of a grin lifted the corners of her mouth. “A little of this and a little of that. But that’s all behind me now.”
“That’s specific.”
She winked. “I’m not sure an officer of the law would appreciate what I’ve been up to.”
“Taking after our father’s footsteps?”
Her face hardened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shook my head. “Never mind. So you left California. What are you up to now?”
“I’m still trying to figure out my next move.” She poured sugar into her coffee cup and waved her hand toward me. “So you gave up all the prestige of being a detective for the Arkansas State Police to become a deputy sheriff in Fenton County.” Derision laced her words. “And when I say working for the state police was prestigious, you have to know it’s little better than a step up from garbage removal.”
“And you ask why we aren’t close,” I said dryly.
“Hey, for most people, I’m sure it’s perfectly wonderful. But you’re a Simmons.” She narrowed her eyes. “Groomed for greatness.”
“Nobody asked me if I wanted that life. It was just presumed I’d live it.”
“I don’t recall you putting up much of a fuss.”
My pulse pounded in my head. I really didn’t want to have this conversation. I spread out my arms and looked her in the eye. “Take a good look. This is what it looks like to slum it in Fenton County. Now that you’ve had your laugh at my expense, you can leave.”
“Don’t be so defensive.”
“You’re insulting where I live and what I do.”
She patted my hand on the table. “Okay. Okay. I get it. No insulting anything in Fenton County, no matter how hard it is to resist.” She cocked her head. “Please tell me that does not include Hilary, since she claims to live here too now.”
I had to stop my grin. “I think we can make an exception for her.”
“Thank God.”
Bonnie returned with our food and I was thankful for the reprieve. The sooner this meal ended, the better.
As Bonnie moved on to another table, Kate asked, “So what brought you here in the first place?”
“It sounds like you already know. I was undercover in Daniel Crocker’s garage posing as a mechanic.” Then I remembered something she’d said to Hilary. “You said Hilary messed up the report. How did she mess it up, and how do you know about it?”
She gave me a cocky grin, obviously pleased to have the upper hand again. “You didn’t read it?”
“I gave my statement.”
“But Hil-Monster was in charge of the entire thing. She left off a ton of information …information that put a certain someone in danger when Crocker broke out of prison.”
The blood drained from my head. “Rose?”
“Yeah, Rose Gardner.” She snapped her fingers. “You know her, don’t you?”
“Cut the crap, Kate. I don’t have time for your bullshit. How did s
he put Rose in danger?”
She picked up her fork and sliced into her pancakes. “She left things out of the report.”
“You said that already. What kind of things?”
“Details about Rose’s interactions with Crocker. The extent of her relationship with you. The police and sheriff’s department didn’t have the full information. The reason they didn’t adequately protect her in the beginning was because they underestimated Crocker’s obsession with her.”
I shook my head. “How do you know this?”
“I have my sources.”
“Who?” I repeated through clenched teeth.
“All you need to know is that I have connections. My connections fill me in on things that pertain to you. I caught wind of this little drama and started to do a little digging.”
“Why the hell would you be interested in anything to do with me?”
She shot me a look of disgust. “Don’t look so surprised. I’m your sister. It’s my job to care.”
“If you went out to California in the hopes of breaking into Hollywood, this little performance explains why you’re back.”
She laughed, a genuine laugh that caught the attention of the other restaurant patrons. “You really have changed. You’re not the prick you were when I left.”
“Didn’t you leave off arrogant? That was always one of your favorite insults.”
She took a bite of her bacon. “Nope, that part still seems to fit.”
This was my second conflict of the day, third if I counted the tense part of my conversation with Maeve. This would have been a record for me even back in my hardass days, and I was weary of all the contention. She was right. I was a different man. I wanted peace and contentment now; I craved it. The realization startled me.
But at the moment, it was vital for me to find out what Kate knew and how she knew it. “You said Hilary changed the report.”
“More like made it very abbreviated.”
“And doing that put Rose in danger.” I’d never looked at the full report, only my own portion of it. It had never occurred to me that I needed to check. But I planned to get a copy the first chance I got.
Ripple of Secrets: Rose Gardner Mystery Novella #6.5 (Rose Gardner series Book 3) Page 7