She smiled at Robert, sitting in his chair across the hall. “This nightmare is over. Coach Mathis was the head of the drug ring.”
“How do you know?”
She told him what Kira said.
“That’s good.” Robert grinned for the first time since she’d met him.
She went into her office and glanced down at her hand holding the grant application. In all the news, she’d forgotten why she went to the gym. Quinn was probably in one of the locker rooms. She left again, telling Robert where she was going. “If you see him, tell Quinn I’m looking for him.”
Suddenly she stopped.
How had the coach heard about Aaron being found?
Probably Kira unless Josh called someone about where he was.
When she walked into the gym again, Quinn was standing near the weight training room door while the boys who were playing basketball earlier filed inside. She crossed to Quinn. “Are you doing Josh’s class?”
“Yes, he told me he might be out of town and asked me to fill in. Is that the grant application?”
“Yes, I’ll mail it before the post office closes if you’ll sign it.”
Quinn scanned the document then scribbled his name on the appropriate line. “Good. Send it overnight mail. I’ll feel better when we get the rest of the equipment for our security. Too much has been happening lately.”
“Then I’m off for the post office.” With a glance at her watch, she noted she only had ten minutes to get the letter overnighted. She scurried into the main corridor and signaled Robert to join her. “I’ve got to get to the post office before it closes. Let’s go.”
As Jessie emerged from the building, she glimpsed a police car driving away—one with 10025 on its side. Someone was in the backseat. Connor?
Her stomach plummeted. Was that Connor’s brother driving him away? If so, where was Captain Doyle?
* * *
“This won’t end well for you. You’re not going to get away. Aaron is gone. He’ll bring back help.” At least Josh hoped so.
Taylor sneered. “Not if I find him first.”
“Then you’ll have to get by me,” Josh said as Nat crept out of a room behind the police officer.
“Put the gun down,” his bodyguard ordered. “It’s one hundred percent a sure thing that you won’t survive if you fire that gun. If he doesn’t kill you, I will.” Nat pressed his weapon against Taylor’s head.
The police officer’s demeanor deflated, and he dropped his arm to his side. Nat grabbed his gun, took the police officer’s handcuffs, and snapped them on him.
Josh didn’t relax until the assailant was secured. He stood over Burly Man while Nat untied Mrs. Coleman and used the rope on the second attacker.
“Where’s Aaron?”
“He’s okay. He’s sitting in your car.”
Josh helped Mrs. Coleman to her feet. Pale and shaky, she collapsed against his side. “You’re all right now. And as you heard, so is Aaron.”
Sobs poured from Mrs. Coleman. Josh sat her on the couch, asked Nat to call the state police, then settled beside her to comfort the woman who had thought she was going to die.
“I need to see my son. Please.”
Josh stood and assisted her to her feet. He felt an urgency to return to town and make sure Jessie was all right.
“Nat, I’d like to get back to Pinecrest. Can you stay and deal with the police when they arrive? I’ll let Scott know so he can fill them in from his end.”
“Where’s the thug’s car, Mrs. Coleman?” Josh asked.
“Parked behind the cabin.”
“Go, boss. I saw it.”
Aaron flew out of the vehicle the second Josh and the kid’s mother came into sight. Mrs. Coleman ran toward her son and hugged him.
Josh took out his cell phone to call Jessie and let her know he was all right. He saw her voicemail and listened to it. Coach Mathis was behind the drugs the teenagers were using. He’d called him a friend. What a betrayal!
“Mr. Morgan, the police officer wants to talk to you,” Nat called out.
Jessie was okay. Josh would call her later. “You two, go to my car. I’ll be right back then we’ll leave for Pinecrest.”
When he returned to the cabin, both assailants sat against the wall by the door. Josh towered over Taylor. “What’s so urgent?”
“I want a deal.”
“Sure,” he said with a chuckle. “You must think I got hit over the head. That was your buddy, not me.”
“I’ll give you the name of the guy who runs the drug ring.”
“I don’t need it. I already know who it is.”
Derek Taylor’s eyes grew round. “Who?”
“Coach Mathis.”
“No, there’s someone else above him.”
“Why do you think I’d believe you?”
“Because I’m the only one left who knows his identity. But I’m not talking without a deal.”
“Then I guess we’ll do this without the head person. If I have anything to do with your conviction and sentencing, you won’t see daylight for years. You aren’t walking away from what you did, and I have connections in Pinecrest. I’m leaving.” He turned toward the door.
“Wait! If I tell you, will you testify that I helped you at my trial?”
“Yes.”
Nat stepped forward. “I will, too.”
Taylor’s shoulders sagged. “It’s Captain Doyle. He recruited Coach Mathis because he was in debt and his nephew. The captain hired me as a police officer to be the enforcer and go-between with the coach.”
Josh tensed. “Did you beat up Aaron?”
“No, a few of the football players took care of it. Obviously they weren’t effective.”
Josh covered the distance between them, drew back his fist, then smashed it into Taylor’s face. The police officer fell against Burly Man.
“I’m leaving now.” Josh quickened his step, made it to his car and started it. “Ready? I’ll be breaking the speed limit, so make sure your seatbelt is on.”
Once on the two-lane highway, Josh placed a call to Kira while he floored his accelerator.
* * *
“Kira, Robert and I are following the police car with 10025 on its side.” Jessie kept her eye on the squad car several vehicles in front of them. “We’re on the road that leads to Pinecrest Lake. I didn’t see who’s driving it. I think I recognized Connor in the backseat. Earlier Captain Doyle told me he was going to take Connor in for questioning. I don’t know where the captain is.”
“He’s driving 10025. I got a call from Josh. Captain Doyle is the top guy in the drug ring, not the coach.”
“The coach wasn’t involved?”
“No, he was involved. Aaron confirmed it. Josh is bringing him and his mother back to Pinecrest.”
“They’re turning onto Sooner Road.”
“Good. Don’t go down it. It dead ends at the lake. State troopers are on their way.”
“But what if the captain kills Connor?”
“They’re ten minutes from your location.”
“Okay.”
Jessie ended the call. “Robert, pull over. Let’s park there.” She pointed to a dirt road a hundred yards away.
“Why are we parking here?”
“To make sure the captain doesn’t get away.”
When Robert turned the car off, Jessie climbed out of it. She walked into the woods without a backward glance. She didn’t know what she would find, but she didn’t think the captain was driving Connor to the lake for its view. Connor could be in danger.
The sound of a car door slamming shut filled the air. She glanced over her shoulder. Robert was following her as she hoped. She couldn’t sit here waiting for backup when a kid might be in trouble.
Robert caught up with her slower pace quickly. “I should haul you to the car.”
“You won’t. You’re a good guy. We’ve had too many bodies dumped in water. I don’t want another teenager found that way.”
&nb
sp; A blast reverberated through the trees. Both she and Robert increased their pace. His longer legs chewed up the distance.
He burst through the brush, weapon raised. “Drop your gun.”
Jessie came up behind Robert as the captain stood over Connor, who lay on the ground. Captain Doyle still held his gun.
“State police are minutes away. You can’t escape. Everyone knows that you’re behind the drug ring.”
Connor’s arm moved. He was still alive.
“Do you want to add a murder to the trafficking charges?” she asked.
The captain, a tall thin man, straightened to his full height. “I’m not going to prison.” Lightning fast, he raised the gun and pulled the trigger.
Chapter Fourteen
The second Josh entered the police station Jessie hurried to him, throwing her arms around him. He embraced her and held her tight against him.
“Robert told me what you did. You could have gotten yourself killed,” Josh whispered in Jessie’s ear.
She shifted so she looked him in the eyes. “And I heard about your day. You could have gotten yourself killed.”
“Touché.” He touched his forehead against hers. “I don’t want to lose you. I love you, Jessie Michaels.”
“I love you, Josh Morgan, and you aren’t going to lose me. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m sorry you had to witness Doyle killing himself—”
She put her fingers on his lips. “I’m okay. Is Derek Taylor giving the police names of people involved in the drug ring?”
“Yes, Bill and Kira are with him right now. He’ll get a few concessions, but thanks to him the Pinecrest and state police are rounding up the suppliers and dealers as we speak. He also told them, the captain was the one who put the bug in Kira’s office. There was one in the police chief’s, too.”
“It’s good to have answers. How’s Bill taking this?”
“He told me he’s retiring after this case is over. Being police chief isn’t for him anymore. He’s lost his perspective. I offered him a job at Morgan Industries. Mother created this problem. I felt the Morgan family should do something for the man.”
“It sounds like you’ve forgiven Bill.”
“I guess I have.”
She patted his chest over his heart. “You’re a softie, but I won’t tell anyone.”
He chuckled. “I’m going to need my tough guy attitude. I have to head to the estate to talk with Mother and arrange for the rest of my possessions to be moved to my house.”
“So are you cutting ties with her?”
“If she can’t accept you then yes.”
“I don’t want to come between—”
This time he stopped her from saying anything by pulling her against him and planting his lips over hers.
She leaned back, savoring the kiss. “Okay, I’ll leave your mother to you. I have a niece to hug.”
“Save some for me.”
All the way to the estate, he kept his thoughts centered on Jessie. He could have lost her today. His life looked bleak without her. If his mother didn’t understand that, then so be it.
* * *
Jessie stood next to Kira at the Pinecrest Community Church the following week while her brother pledged himself to Kira. As Jessie listened to them, she knew she wanted to marry Josh. She glanced over her shoulder at him in the audience with Abbey on one side and his mother on the other.
The “small” wedding had grown to fill the whole church. If Josh had his way, they would be married as soon as Kira and Gabriel returned from their honeymoon. But Jessie planned on getting married only once, and she wanted to savor the moments leading up to it. Josh finally agreed he would wait for a May ceremony.
When the preacher announced Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Michaels to the crowd, a cheer went up, filling every crevice of the church. Kira and Gabriel walked down the center aisle with the biggest smiles on their faces.
The past fourteen months had been a trial Jessie hoped never to repeat. The town would recover. Scott Collins planned to take over the position of police chief at Josh’s persuasion. And much to Jessie’s surprise, Ruth Morgan apologized to her.
Jessie hooked her arm through the best man’s, and they followed Kira and Gabriel from the sanctuary. Out in the large foyer, Abbey raced through the crowd and hugged both Kira and her dad.
“I wanna go with you, Daddy.”
“Not this time, but we’ll have a family vacation this summer. You need to do what your aunt says, and I’ll bring you back something special from Hawaii.”
Jessie clasped Abbey’s shoulder. “Your uncle Josh has some special plans for you and me.”
“What, Uncle Josh?” Abbey spun toward him.
“The answer is in the reception hall. Here’s the first clue.”
Abbey snatched the sheet of paper and read, “What is white and has a bride and groom on top?” She giggled. “That’s easy. A cake.” She whirled around and hurried through the crowd.
Jessie faced Josh, her hand on her waist. “If she ruins the wedding cake looking for a clue, Josh Morgan, you will rue the day—”
Abbey ran back with a tiara and glass slippers in her hands. “We’re going to Florida to my favorite place to see Cinderella. Just wait, Aunt Jessie. You’re gonna love it.”
As Abbey showed the tiara and slippers to Kira and Gabriel, Josh wrapped his arms around Jessie. “I hope you have a good pair of walking shoes. You’re going to need them.”
She tugged his head down and whispered in his ear, “As long as I’m with you, I’ll be fine.”
—The End—
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About the Author
Margaret Daley
USA Today Bestselling author, Margaret Daley, is multi-published with over 95 titles and 5 million books sold worldwide. She had written for Harlequin, Abingdon, Kensington, Dell, and Simon and Schuster. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Carol Award, Holt Medallion and Inspirational Readers' Choice Contest.
She has been married for over forty years and has a son and granddaughters. When she isn't traveling, she's writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at www.margaretdaley.com.
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