“I’m not staying at a hotel anymore?”
His eyes flared. “Where are you staying?”
“At a house.”
“By yourself?” He planted himself next to Jessie, sitting in the chair behind the desk.
“No, Robert is there and another guard, Nat.”
Gabriel opened his mouth to reply.
“And Josh. We decided it was better for us to be together and protected in one place than for us to be separated.”
Gabriel’s face reddened. “We? Or him?”
“He came up with the plan, and I agreed. Someone tried to kill both of us. If you’re worried, I stay in a bedroom upstairs while his is downstairs. There are two bodyguards there, too.”
He towered over her. “Why didn’t you let me know sooner? Is there something between you two?”
“Do you mean am I falling in love with him?” Jessie stood and pushed him back. “He isn’t his mother, and yes, I am falling in love with him.”
“If your feelings are because you’re grateful for his help, just remember I have offered mine. You don’t have to feel that way.”
“Hold it right there. Gratitude has nothing to do with my emotions.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Because she could trace her interest in Josh back to when they were staying in Florida.
“And what does Ruth have to say about all this?”
“She’s disowning him.”
“And you think he’ll be happy with that. Look at his sister and what happened with us. I don’t want that for you.”
“Why does every man I know thinks he knows what’s best for me?” She pushed past her brother and marched into the hallway. “Robert, I’m ready to leave.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She walked back to the office and poked her head through the entrance. “Don’t forget. Scott is coming over tonight. We need to get to the bottom of what’s going on so we can all get back to our lives. Whatever that is.” She shot her brother one last glare and stalked toward the front door.
She’d had enough of this feud between the Morgans and the Michaels. She wanted her life back.
* * *
Josh opened the front door to his house, and his niece threw herself at him. He nearly lost his balance, but the feel of her arms around him was priceless.
“You’re okay. I told Daddy I’d bug him until I saw for myself.”
Josh glanced at Gabriel. “I’m glad she wore you down. Come in. Everyone is here. Jessie will be when she gets off work. Abbey, I have a gaming system set up on my TV in the den in the back. Can you entertain yourself for a while, and then I’ll play any video game with you that your dad says is all right? We’ll be in the kitchen. Nat will show you.” After his niece and Nat left, Josh started across the living room.
Gabriel stepped in his path. “What kind of game are you playing with my sister?”
Josh’s first impulse was to shrug his concern away and make light of it. But if anyone knew what it felt like to lose a sister, it was him. For months, he’d turned his anger wrongly at this man while the real killer terrorized the town. He wouldn’t let his emotions get in the way this time. “A very serious one. Your sister is important to me. I don’t want anything to happen to her. I never want to feel like I did when I watched her truck go off the road and hit a tree.” He moved around Gabriel. “In the past, you and I have had a rocky relationship. I hope we won’t in the future.”
“What’s this about your mother? Jessie told me this morning she disowned you.”
“I had a falling out with her over Jessie. This break should have happened years ago, but I made a promise to my father before he died to watch out for my mother. Sometimes, I don’t understand how those two ever got married. My dad was totally different from her. While I was at the hospital, I did get her to agree not to fight for custody of Abbey again.”
Gabriel grinned. “Kira told me she didn’t have a leg to stand on.”
“True, but Mother is a very determined woman. If there was a small chance, she’d have looked until she found it. You’re one lucky dude. Kira will be a great mother for Abbey.”
“I’m not gonna argue that.”
At the door to the kitchen, Josh paused. “Will you put our past behind you? I’d sure like to.” He held out his hand.
Gabriel shook it. “So long as you treat my sister as she deserves. She kept my ranch going when everything else around me was falling apart. I owe her.”
“She’s an amazing woman.” Josh patted Gabriel on the back then entered the kitchen.
Scott and Kira sat at the table and stopped talking when they came into the room.
Gabriel took the chair next to Kira and kissed her on the cheek. “Abbey and Nat are in the den playing video games.”
Kira shifted her gaze from Gabriel to Josh. “Scott and I were talking about the security cameras in the vicinity of the community center. He’s looked at the feed from one, and there was nothing he could see to show who tampered with Jessie’s truck.”
“I have another place I’m going to check tomorrow. If the dry cleaner across the street and down the block doesn’t have anything, I’ve exhausted that possibility.” Scott relaxed back against his chair.
“How about the traffic cams?” Josh asked, wanting some kind of break to help them solve at least who was behind Jessie’s wreck.
“They aren’t pointed at the community center at all,” Scott answered.
“But maybe they caught the cars traveling on that street around the time the truck was sabotaged. It might give us a list of people who could have had access.” Josh rose, went to the counter, brought the coffeepot to the table, and then refilled his mug. “Anyone else?”
Scott took it from Josh. “I’ll make a list, but the assailant may have parked on one of the side streets. They aren’t covered like that main stretch of road.”
“Why doesn’t the community center have better lighting and security cameras?” Kira poured more coffee into her cup then passed it to Gabriel.
“I can answer that.” Jessie entered and crossed the room to sit next to Josh. “The lighting outside worked until the day before my wreck. Quinn had someone coming to fix them, and now they’re fine.”
Scott frowned. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Neither did Josh. Jessie’s attack wasn’t spur of the moment. “How about the security cameras? I’ve seen a few mounted on the building. Were they disabled, too?”
Jessie turned to Josh. “They have never worked. Quinn’s trying to get funding for the recording system, but he has a limited budget. I’m putting together an application for grant money, which will help. He thought the appearance of the cameras would stop someone, but with my wreck and Aaron’s attack, he had me put a rush on the application.”
“Who knows that the cameras aren’t functioning?” Kira asked.
Jessie lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “I’ll see who has access tomorrow. Quinn even had it rigged that the recording light was on.”
“Find out, Jessie, and then let me know.” Scott took a sip of his coffee. “I’ll do the same thing with the traffic cams leading to the Colemans’ house. I canvassed the neighborhood, and no one had security cameras, but then I didn’t expect them to.”
“If you compare names on these lists being generated and one name appears on all of them, then we might have a suspect,” Gabriel said.
“Or a coincidence that really is one. The Coleman and Williams’s houses as well as the community center can be accessed from other directions that wouldn’t show up on a camera. I’ve already done it for the Williams’s house. Again no security cameras in the area but I found a couple of traffic cams several blocks over. But that one really is a long shot.”
Jessie shook her head. “I can’t believe how much legwork investigations take.”
Kira and Gabriel exchanged a look.
“I found out the hard way,” her brother said. “Kira’s house became our ‘headquarters.’”
“I know you put a BOLO out on Mrs. Coleman’s car. Anything yet?” Kira asked Scott.
“No. She has a white sedan. Pretty generic. Tomorrow, I’m also interviewing the staff at the pharmacy again. I think two of them know something, but they’re scared.”
Jessie shifted in her chair. “Do you blame them? Several deaths and assaults would have me jumpy, too.”
Josh could feel the tension pouring off of her. He grabbed her hand and clasped it. “So one of their streams of drug supplies was through the pharmacy, but most likely not a huge amount came from there. You can doctor the books just so much. So where are the other drugs coming from?”
“The supplier probably has several sources. If one dries up, he can still get drugs to his customers.” Gabriel stood. “I’m checking on Abbey.”
“Scott, we need a list of people arrested on drug charges in the past year.” Josh tried to think if there was anything else they could do.
“Kira and I have been working on the names for the last two years of ones that might have sought medical help.” Scott dug into his pile of papers and slid it across to Josh and Jessie to see. “This is what we have so far.”
Jessie pointed to Heather’s name then moved down the list to Lily’s. “Both were seen in the emergency room.”
Josh glanced at Kira. “Why weren’t charges brought against them?”
“They weren’t illegal drugs. Heather took too much of an upper and Lily had mixed prescription drugs that you shouldn’t take together. Besides, they were fourteen and the parents, or in Heather’s case, her aunt, were horrified and were trying to get them help.”
“I don’t think Heather got any help, especially since her aunt could have supplied her with prescription drugs. I’ve talked with Lily, and of course, she never mentioned that they were both at the ER on the same night last October. A coincidence or were they together?”
Scott wrote something down on a piece of paper. “I’ll check further into it.”
“Lily told me that she and Heather were good friends until around October when she claims Heather changed. I may be able to track her down and have a talk with her. She used to come to the community center but not since October. I can see why she didn’t return.”
Gabriel came back into the kitchen. “Little sis, only if it seems natural for you two to be talking about it. You don’t want another bull’s eye on your back. Oh, and your bodyguard needs to go with you.”
“I’ll be careful, brother dear.”
“I’m glad he said it. I agree with Gabriel.”
Jessie shot a narrow-eyed look at Josh. “I don’t need you two ganging up together. I’m not looking for a repeat of that wreck or something similar.”
Josh’s gaze linked with hers. “I hope not.”
“But we’re rattling a few cages. Be extra cautious, Josh and Jessie. That goes for all of us,” Kira said.
“That’s on the top of my list. I have to be your maid of honor. I’ve never been one, and I won’t miss that next week.” Jessie covered a yawn. “I’m going to say good night to Abbey then go to bed. Josh will tell me tomorrow if I missed anything important.”
“Actually that’s a great idea. I might be thinking better then.” Kira joined Jessie as she rose.
When they left the kitchen, Gabriel said, “I hope we can find out something before my wedding. I can’t see how Kira and I can leave for our honeymoon if this is still going on.”
“I do. Leave it to Scott and me. I’ll increase security here, and Abbey can stay with us.”
“I guess I could postpone the trip until later.”
“Don’t, Gabriel. I didn’t give you and Kira a honeymoon to Hawaii so you could wait.”
“It was you? I thought it was Grams.”
“Well, technically I gave her the money, and she purchased the trip. Don’t tell Kira. You two need some alone time away from Pinecrest with all that’s gone on. And before you argue, remember our truce for Abbey’s sake.”
“If I had known, I would have said no.”
“You aren’t now, are you?”
Gabriel smiled. “No. Both Kira and I need this trip.”
“I’m leaving, too. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.” Scott gathered his papers and put them in his backpack. “I’ll let you know if I find any names on all or most of the lists.”
Josh let Scott out as Kira, Gabriel, Jessie, and Abbey came from the back. His niece skipped ahead of the adults and hugged him again.
“I love ya, Uncle Josh, and I really like this house. You have a pool. I can’t wait until summer. I can come over and swim in it.” She motioned for him to bend down, cupped her mouth, and whispered, “Daddy says it’s time to go home. You’ll have to help me finish building my zoo on the game another day.” Then she quickly gave him a kiss on his cheek.
While Josh watched Kira, Gabriel, and Abbey leave, he took hold of Jessie’s hand. “That’s what I want.”
“What?”
“A family. Most of my life I’ve done what others wanted—first my dad and then Mother. I put what I wanted on the back burner. I want a wife and kids.”
Jessie shifted toward Josh, shock stamped on her face. “You do?”
“Yes, with you, but I don’t want your answer now. When we figure out everything and the criminals are behind bars, then we’ll have time to explore our options.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Is that all?”
Josh laughed. “Sadly, yes. With you, everything must be done right and proper.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the only woman I’ve told that I love her.” The words were alien to his lips, but he never felt surer of them.
Chapter Thirteen
Josh sat at his desk at Morgan Industries, wading through work that had piled up since he’d been gone because of his injury. He didn’t know how long he would be in this position as president. He owned shares in the company, but his mother had the majority, and she could be vindictive. Until then, he would do his best because a lot of employees depended on him.
Staring at his computer screen with the cursor blinking, beckoning him to answer the e-mail, he couldn’t put aside thoughts of Jessie. More and more she invaded his mind to the point all he could do sometimes was stop and dwell on her. Not that he didn’t like doing that, but he had to come back to the office after his weight training classes at the community center to finish his work.
His cell phone rang, jerking him out of this discourse about working. He picked it up from his desk, not recognizing the number. But he only gave his private one out to people close to him. He started to decline the call, but at the last second, hit the accept button and answered it.
“Josh, I don’t know what to do. Can you help me?”
The sound of Aaron’s voice momentarily sent relief through him until he assimilated what he’d said. “What’s wrong? Where are you?”
“My mom’s gone. I think someone kidnapped her. She never came home from the grocery store.”
Josh’s heart rate revved up. “How long has she been gone? Maybe she was just delayed.”
“She went early this morning. She needed her medication refilled.”
So about three hours. Not a good sign. He never thought Mrs. Coleman would intentionally leave her son unless something was wrong. “I’ll be there. Where are you?”
“Goose Creek, north of Oklahoma City. We weren’t gonna stay long. I’m scared.” Aaron’s voice quavered and ended on a sob.
“Where are you in Goose Creek?”
“Outside at a cabin near a small lake…”
When Aaron didn’t finish his sentence, Josh asked, “How do I find the cabin?”
Aaron gave him directions. “We broke in. No one is around in the winter.”
“I’ll be there in about ninety minutes.” Maybe sooner if he drove fast.
“Please come alone. I don’t want anyone coming after us.”
Josh pushed to his feet. “Who?”
“Someone broke into the house. Hurry.”
The connection went dead. Josh tried calling back and the phone went to voicemail.
Did someone break into the house where Aaron was now or the one in Pinecrest? Either way, Josh was going, but he would take Nat in case someone kidnapped Mrs. Coleman and was coming after Aaron. He should have told Aaron to leave the cabin and hide nearby. He tried the number again and still got voicemail. He left a message and hoped Aaron went outside and hid.
* * *
Jessie, with Kira accompanying her, met with Emma Sutherland in the librarian’s office at the high school. They decided beforehand to let Jessie’s friend know about their suspicions concerning a drug ring with teens involved, probably selling while here. Jessie didn’t think Emma would be that surprised because drugs, legal and illegal ones, were becoming an epidemic in this country.
“I’m glad you could meet with us, Emma,” Kira said as she took one of the chairs at the round table.
“If nothing else, I wanted to appease my curiosity. Jessie sounded so mysterious this morning on the phone.”
“This is time sensitive.” Jessie glanced at the closed door. “And something we need to keep quiet. I need to talk with Lily Hopkins. I worked with her when I was here before, and she told me some things about Heather Williams.”
“The girl who was found murdered recently?”
Kira nodded. “We need to talk to her without anyone knowing. This is important to a case.”
“She’s a minor.”
“I know and nothing is on the record. We’ve been friends a long time. I wouldn’t ask you if we had a better way. Is there any way you can send for her? We could talk in here. It wouldn’t take long.” Jessie was asking Emma a big favor. She’d thought of going to see Lily after school, but she didn’t want to be late to the community center nor did she want anyone seeing them together.
“Jessie Michaels, you owe me big time. You’re going to have to volunteer a lot for me.”
“Sounds great. I can during most of the school day.” She could rearrange her time at the Flying Eagle.
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