Gabriel shook his head. “Don’t go there, Jess. If that had been her on the floor, whoever else was there would have come after you. Then there would have been two dead instead of one. You did what you could. I would have had to watch two bodies being dragged from my pond.”
“Now that Scott is in place, I’m hoping he’ll be able to get to the bottom of this. I’m less than impressed with our police chief’s progress.” Josh sat on the arm of the chair where Jessie was.
Not long ago, she would have shoved him away. But now she was glad he was here.
Kira settled against Gabriel. “I’ll let y’all know what the autopsy says as soon as the police chief receives it. At the moment, he’s considering Mary Lou’s murder separate from Mrs. Williams and Heather. I’ll be showing him Mary Lou’s letter tomorrow. I think that connects them, especially in light of Heather ending up in the pond.”
“No. Please don’t until I tell Rebecca about the letter. Although it was addressed to me, she would be hurt if she heard about the note from someone else.”
“Can you talk to her in the morning?”
“Yes, then I’ll let you know,” Jessie said. “Bill’s gonna want to know why you didn’t show it to him before.”
Kira frowned. “Yes, but he knows there’s something going on in Pinecrest involving drugs, and the recent murders might be part of it. Did you find anything else at Mary Lou’s?”
“No, just the letter.”
“I’ll take care of Bill. If we find anything else, we’ll need to immediately take it to him.”
“And don’t forget Scott needs to know.” Josh clasped Jessie’s shoulder. “After what’s happened in Pinecrest this past year, the city council needs to reconsider the police chief’s position. As a member, I’ll be looking into that. I’ve seen him in action, and I’m not impressed. He disregarded what Jessie saw at the Williams’s house. He shouldn’t have taken the aunt’s word without investigating further. He jumps to conclusions based on how he feels about a person. Maybe Captain Doyle would do a better job. He’s been with the department for twenty-five years.”
“Hasn’t he talked about retiring in a few years?” Kira asked.
“Yes, but it would give the town council a chance to find a qualified police chief.”
Gabriel locked gazes with Josh. “You know why Bill got the job in the first place. Your mother wanted him in the position. Are you going to deal with her?”
Josh’s hand on Jessie’s shoulder tensed. Her brother was finally accepting Josh, and she didn’t want that to change. She used to feel it was a good idea because of Abbey, but after the kiss they’d shared, she wondered if she also wanted it because she cared about Josh.
“I’ll take care of Mother. Frankly, the reason she’d wanted him as the police chief was so that she could control him. I don’t think that comes as a surprise to any of you.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “No. This time last year that was apparent.”
Kira pushed to her feet. “Tomorrow will be a long, trying day. We don’t need to add to it.”
Jessie swung her attention from her brother to Josh. “The past is over with. We need to put it behind us. Right?”
Josh nodded, then Gabriel.
The intensity in the room eased, and Jessie released a long breath. “Good. We have enough to deal with. Fighting among ourselves shouldn’t be one of them.” She stood. “Josh, I’ll walk you out.”
Jessie grabbed Mary Lou’s leather coat from the peg by the front door, shrugged into it, and stepped onto the porch with Josh.
“You need to go back inside,” he said when she did.
“I will in a minute.”
“No, now. Someone put Heather in the pond on your ranch. That’s too close for my peace of mind.”
“And mine, but I’m not a threat. I didn’t see the person in Heather’s house. Tomorrow, after I tell Rebecca about the letter, Kira’s giving the letter to the police chief, and by afternoon, the whole town will know that there’s a big drug problem in Pinecrest.”
He closed the space between them. “That person in Heather’s house doesn’t know for sure you didn’t see anything. You could be next.”
“Gee, thanks. You know how to make a gal feel safe.”
“It’s because I care what happens to you. Think about staying at my estate. It’s fortified.”
She caressed the side of his face. “I appreciate the offer but—”
He placed his forefinger against her mouth. “Don’t say it. Just think about it. Promise?”
The feel of his finger pressing into her lips shivered down her. “I’ll think about it, but that’s all I’ll do.”
“Thanks.” He kissed her forehead then turned and started down the steps. “Go back inside, Jessie.” At the bottom of the stairs, he looked up at her. “I’ll leave when you do.”
At the door, she smiled back at him then went inside and up the stairs to her room. When she sat on her bed, the trembling started in her hands and spread through her body. So much was happening on so many fronts, but the one that stunned her most was her developing feelings for Josh. They were doomed. She and Josh lived in different worlds.
Warm, she withdrew one arm from the leather coat and then wiggled free of the other sleeve. This was only the second time she’d worn Mary Lou’s jacket. As she folded it over, she felt something in the left pocket. She stuck her hand in and withdrew a scrap of paper with a set of numbers on it. What did they mean?
Chapter Nine
Josh entered the dining room, hoping to see his niece. By the time he’d returned home last night from the ranch, Abbey had already gone to bed. He wanted to make sure for himself she was all right even though his mom told him she was. Mother’s idea of what was okay wasn’t his.
He poured a cup of coffee then took a chair across from his mother. She studied the tablet next to her for a moment then lifted her head and looked at him. Her stiff bearing put him on alert. “Good morning.” He took a sip of his drink.
“I want Abbey to stay here. In fact, with all that’s been going on at that ranch, she should live here permanently. She isn’t safe. I’m going to see my lawyer this morning. This latest development shows a pattern.”
Mother wasn’t a woman for pleasantries, but he hadn’t expected her to jump right in to waging another battle with Gabriel. “No, Mother. I won’t support you. Abbey belongs with her father. Kira will be a good stepmom for her. She was Marcie’s best friend. I can even see my sister approving.”
His mother glared at him. “We’ll talk about this later. Abbey will be down soon. I need you to take her to school today.”
“Nothing you say will change my mind. My niece doesn’t need to be in the middle of a tug-of-war contest. Gabriel will protect her with his last breath.”
“Since when have you become a fan of his?”
“He didn’t kill Marcie. I’ve put the past behind me. I was wrong, so were you. If I hadn’t gotten caught up in the blame game, maybe those women would still be alive, and Marcie’s real murderer would have stopped with her death.”
His mother shot to her feet, her chin tilted up. She stared down at him. “Abbey is better off here. We can provide her with anything she needs.”
Josh gripped the arm of his chair. “How about a father and mother and unconditional love?”
The sound of footsteps nearing the room kept Josh from saying anything else. Instead, he glanced at the entrance from the hallway and smiled as his niece hurried into the room, setting her backpack by the doorway.
“Sorry I’m late.”
His mother walked to Abbey and patted her shoulder. “Your uncle is taking you to school. Maybe you’ll be able to stay here another night.”
Abbey’s smile faded. “Daddy will get lonely without me.”
“He’s an adult. He’ll be fine.” His mother marched out of the dining room, leaving behind a pall hanging in the air.
“Grandmother is mad at me.”
“No, at me.
She’ll be okay. You don’t need to worry about her.” Josh checked his watch. “We’ll need to leave in twenty minutes. I don’t want to be responsible for dropping you off late.”
She giggled. “You might get sent to the principal.”
“Well, then you and I need to hurry. Besides, I’ve got some people I need to see before going to work.” Josh lifted his cup and sipped.
“Do you like Aunt Jessie?”
He nearly spewed his coffee but managed to swallow it instead. “Of course I like your aunt. People who are special to you are special to me.”
“She’s been sad lately. I want to do something to cheer her up.”
“That’s a good idea. Do you have anything in mind?” Josh dished up scrambled eggs with lots of cheese for himself and his niece. The cook always prepared it when Abbey was here.
“No, not yet. I was hoping you could help me.”
“Let me think of what we could do. I know I always like it when you draw me something special.”
Her smile spread across her face. “Thanks, Uncle Josh. I bet Aunt Jessie will, too.”
Fifteen minutes later, he dropped Abbey off at school on time then headed for the high school. He wanted to solicit Coach Mathis’s help in trying to cheer up Aaron. Jessie wasn’t the only one affected by what was happening in Pinecrest. He was worried about the kid, especially in light of Heather’s murder.
He entered the athletic facilities inside the football stadium and headed for the coach’s office. He was usually there during the high school’s first hour. As he approached, he noticed through the large plate glass window that Coach Mathis was meeting with Harris Doyle. Was the police captain here because something happened with Aaron? Then he remembered that Harris was Bryan’s uncle on his mother side. Whatever they were talking about was heated. The coach waved his hand toward the door. When Harris pivoted to leave, a flush colored his cheeks. He hurried from the office and plowed through some of the football players getting ready to go to class.
Josh waited a couple of minutes before going inside to speak with the coach. “Is everything all right?”
Bryan raised his head and sighed. “Yes. My uncle has been on edge lately. You know—with all that’s been going on in Pinecrest. What can I do for you?”
“Although Aaron didn’t say anything concrete, I think he hasn’t returned to school because he’s scared of the persons who jumped him.”
“Who?”
“He says he doesn’t know. All he told me was a pillowcase was slipped over his head. He’s sure it was more than one.”
“Any idea how many?”
“No, but maybe some of his teammates have heard rumors. You have a good relationship with your players. If anyone can find out something, it’s you. Will you ask around? If you hear a piece of information that might help me give Aaron the support he needs, I’ll be in your debt.”
The coach’s eyes lit up. “Ah, more new equipment. Let me see what I can find out. I’d expected Aaron back yesterday, but since he didn’t return, I plan to go by his house again and check on him.”
“I’m sure he’d appreciate it.” Josh reached across Bryan’s desk and shook his hand. “Thanks.”
When he left the athletic facilities, he decided to pay the police chief a visit at the station. Maybe he would know something new, especially if he’d put a rush on the autopsy. He placed a call to his secretary to let her know she would need to move his nine o’clock meeting.
Bill spied Josh as he came into the police station and signaled for him to follow him to his office. The second he shut the door behind Josh, Bill rotated toward him. “I don’t know what killed Heather yet. The toxicology report takes time.”
“How about physical evidence? Do you know anything there?”
Poised behind his desk, Bill threw his shoulders back and scowled. “Maybe I should ask why you have such an interest in Heather Williams. Lately, you’ve popped up everywhere she’s concerned.”
“Are you threatening me? As a city council member, my interest lies in what’s happening in Pinecrest.”
Bill waved his hand in a circle. “Well, then maybe you should ask Jessie Michaels.”
Josh ground his teeth together and waited a moment before he replied. “What are you implying?”
“Ever since she discovered the letter from Mary Lou, two people have been murdered.”
Josh skirted Bill’s desk and got in his face. “Again what are you implying? Be careful what you say. I was with her at the Williams’s house. You will not railroad her like you did her brother.”
As though all the air had been released from his body, Bill sank into his chair and dropped his head. “For the past couple of years, something has been different in Pinecrest. An undercurrent.”
“We had a serial killer.”
“No, something else besides him. Drugs are moving through our town. I’ve heard a few rumors but nothing concrete. I’m not totally clueless, but I don’t have a handle on what’s happening.”
Was this an act, or did Bill really believe that?
“Last year, my priority was the serial killer, and it seems the drugs have become entrenched in Pinecrest in that time.”
Josh stepped back and took a chair, pulling in deep, calming breaths. He needed Bill to do his best on the case. He couldn’t shake the feeling Jessie could be a target. “Was there water in Heather’s lungs?”
“No. She died somewhere else. It wasn’t from drowning. I had the medical examiner check for any needle marks. Although not an easy task because she’d been in the water a while, he found one on her arm.”
“So she might have been drugged.”
“Yes, the toxicology report will tell us more. But it won’t necessarily tell us if she overdosed or someone drugged her. We’ll get the screening report back soon, but if there’s more in-depth testing needed, that’ll take several weeks.”
“That long?”
“It’s not like on TV.”
“Who’s working on the case?”
“Everyone I can spare. Harris is heading it up and reporting directly to me.”
“Why Harris, not you?”
“Because after my encounter with Jessie at the Williams’s house, I realized I needed to step away even before the city council expressed their concerns. I’m not objective when it comes to the Michaels family. I know Gabriel is innocent, but he made Marcie’s life miserable, and I can’t forgive him for that. I don’t see why you’re so chummy with them. They’re bad news.”
It took all his willpower to remain seated and quiet. “My sister played you, Bill. You need to realize that and move on.”
Bill’s eyes grew round. “How can you say that about your own sister?”
“I loved Marcie, but she had her problems. Last year I believed that Gabriel killed her. He didn’t, and we nearly destroyed my niece’s father trying to prove he did. I won’t be a part of something like that concerning Jessie. She wants to discover who murdered her best friend. That’s why she was contacting Heather.” Josh pushed to his feet. “Let me know what the toxicology report says. Good day.”
Josh resisted the urge to slam the police chief’s door, especially with a couple of officers eying his departure. Was someone here on the police force being paid to look the other way as far as drugs were concerned in Pinecrest?
* * *
Jessie sat back in her desk chair at the community center, staring at the number she had just written down over and over as if that would help her figure out what had been plaguing her all day. What did the numbers 10025 mean? Why would Mary Lou write it down and put it in her coat pocket? It wasn’t a phone number. It wasn’t a license plate number either. Did it even have anything to do with Mary Lou’s death?
Maybe it’s a zip code.
She took out her cell phone and ran a search for the 10025 zip code. New York City. What in the world would that have to do with Pinecrest, Oklahoma, halfway across the country?
She noticed the time on her pho
ne and leaped to her feet. The center would be closing in a few minutes. She wanted to catch Josh before he left and tell him about her discovery. She’d been busy before his class.
As she headed out of her office, she received a text from Kira. “I’ve asked Josh to bring you to Al’s Diner for a late dinner with Gabriel and me. Think of him as your date. Tell you why when you get here.”
A date with Josh? Was Kira playing matchmaker? Nah, that wasn’t her.
Okay, then why were they meeting out in plain sight for everyone to see? Al’s Diner was always busy, even at eight-thirty at night.
She was halfway across the gym floor when Josh’s students emerged from the weight training room. Slowing her step, she waited until everyone left then went inside. “Did you get a text from Kira?”
“Yeah, right before I started the class. What is she up to?”
Jessie shrugged. “She must have her reasons.”
“Are you shutting the center down tonight?”
“Yes, Quinn had to leave a half an hour ago. I told him I could. It really isn’t too hard, especially if I have help.” She sent him a quick grin.
“Is that your way of asking me to help?”
“You’re such a smart guy.”
Ten minutes later with the community center cleared of teenagers and the building locked, Josh stood outside and slung his arm around Jessie’s shoulder. “I have instructions from Kira to make this look like a date. I’ll drive and bring you back after dinner. No sense both of us driving out of our way.”
Make it look like a date. She was going to wring her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s neck. What was Kira thinking?
After Josh settled behind the steering wheel and started the car, Jessie dug the scrap of paper out of her pocket. “I found this last night in Mary Lou’s leather coat. It has 10025 written on it. She loved this coat. She wore it everywhere. Do you think the numbers could mean something?”
“To the case?”
“Maybe. That’s all I’ve been thinking about today. I’m desperate for any clue to who killed Mary Lou.” She shook her head. “Oh, just forget it. I’m grasping at anything to help us.”
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