by Debra Webb
That would take a big load off the Colby Agency. Both Lucas and Victoria were bearing a significant burden with this case. For a retired couple, they worked damned hard. One death during the course of a Colby investigation was one too many.
“Hayden.” Mike Kelso, a waiter, paused at their table. “You might want to check what’s going on outside. That guy from last night is messing with your Jeep.”
“Thanks, Mike. I’m on it. Don’t mention this to Laney.”
“No prob.” The waiter hustled to the next table, the tray loaded with beers balanced in one hand.
“Go ahead,” Lucas assured Joel. He pushed to his feet. “I’ll check on Buddy and stick close to the bar.”
“Appreciate it.”
Joel made sure Laney was preoccupied before crossing the room and heading out the door. He didn’t want her following.
The parking lot was well lit. A small crowd of onlookers was gathered a safe distance away to watch Terry Kingston wave what appeared to be a tire iron. A blonde female dressed in a super-short skirt, a halter-style top and thigh-high boots was trying to talk him into leaving before trouble started. Evidently her powers of persuasion were proving futile.
Joel cut around behind the arguing couple and approached from the rear.
“Really, baby, let’s go,” the woman urged. “I can’t be caught in no trouble. I still got three months of probation.”
Joel came up behind Kingston and snagged the tire iron before he could swing it. “I’d listen to your friend if I were you.”
Kingston spun around, stumbled. He stared at his hand and then at Joel’s grip on the wrench as if he couldn’t understand how the transfer happened.
He looked up at Joel, squared his shoulders and cocked his head. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re messing with the wrong guy, hotshot.”
Joel figured Kingston was too drunk then and maybe now to remember anything from the previous night. “Actually, I know exactly who you are and that’s my Jeep. So I think you’re the one who doesn’t understand who you’re messing with.”
Realization dawned on the man’s face. “You may think just because you and Laney have hooked up that you got some say over my son, but you’re wrong. I will find a way to get you.”
Joel tossed the tire iron aside and grabbed Kingston by the shirt. “We need a word.” Holding Kingston far enough away that he couldn’t get a swing in, Joel said to his female companion, “Get his keys and drive him to wherever he’s staying. If you don’t and something happens, I’ll make sure the police know you were with him.”
Her eyes widened. “I got the keys.”
“Good. Where’re you parked?”
The woman led the way to another snazzy sports car, this one as nice as the one that was no doubt in the shop after Laney took that Louisville Slugger to it. Kingston tripped and stumbled all the way to the car, mostly in an attempt to connect one of his fists with Joel’s face.
Joel slammed the guy against the car, rattled him for a moment. “You listen to me, Kingston. I don’t want to have to say this again.”
Kingston swore at him. Joel had him pinned to the vehicle so he wasn’t moving.
“As long as I’m with Laney,” Joel warned, “you’d better stay clear.” Before Kingston could interrupt he went on, “I’m not trying to keep you from your son. This—” Joel looked him up and down “—is keeping you from Buddy. Get smart. Find some help and this time stick with it.”
Kingston told him where he could shove his advice.
“This is your mistake to make, pal,” Joel cautioned, “but next time I won’t be so nice.” He released the fool and stepped back. Beating up on a guy too drunk to defend himself would be wrong, even if he deserved it.
Kingston smoothed his hands over his shirt. “I’ll be back. You can bank on that.” His threat fell short of the mark when he staggered sideways.
“And I’ll be here,” Joel promised. “Now go before I call your friends in uniform.”
Joel waited until Kingston had loaded into the car and his girlfriend had driven away. Despite having won this round, he understood that the fool would be back. When the taillights had faded in the distance, he turned and headed back inside. A round of applause from the crowd of bystanders followed him.
Laney’s gaze collided with his and he knew she’d heard about the trouble outside.
* * *
LANEY COMPOSED HERSELF and moved on to fill her next order. Hayden looked no worse for the wear. Whatever had happened outside, obviously he’d handled it without violence.
Her hands stilled on the lever as the suds overflowed the glass. Why couldn’t Terry get his act together? Her son would need his father at some point and the man lacked the skills to provide that necessary element.
She wiped the foam from her hand and delivered the beer, producing a smile for the customer. Between the bank, Terry and this…other…thing, she was a mess.
With two more beers delivered, she stepped from the bar and hurried to her office to check on Buddy again. He slept like an angel. He had no idea of the storm brewing in their lives.
Careful not to let the latch click too loud, she eased the door shut and joined Mr. Camp. She didn’t have the exact chain of command but she got the impression that Camp was Hayden’s boss. The man was really something.
When she’d first met him earlier in the evening he’d fooled her. Given his limp and the dark hair peppered thickly with gray, she’d expected the typical old man. Boy, had she been wrong. Lucas was not old by any definition. He was charming and intelligent and a gentleman all the way.
Laney strolled up to him. “We caught up for the moment?”
“We are.” He flashed a killer smile, his gray eyes shimmering with kindness. “I think the boss needs a break.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Of course. I can handle this.” It was almost midnight. He’d been all over town looking for leads on that woman…Clare Barker. Her mother. Unfamiliar emotions clogged her throat. “I didn’t think, Mr. Camp. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
The man laughed. “Call me Lucas. And I’ve got plenty of kick left in me. I meant you needed a break.”
Laney’s hand went to her throat. “Well…” She hadn’t sat down all night. Five minutes off her feet would be a blessed relief. “I shouldn’t impose.”
“Go,” he ordered in a tone she doubted few dared to ignore. He nodded toward the far side of the room. “Hayden’s holding a seat for you.”
“Okay. Five minutes.” She started to back away. “If you need me before then—”
Lucas gave her a look and she turned tail and headed through the crowd. Though she had never heard of the Colby Agency, she was definitely impressed. If these two were any indication of the caliber of folks who worked there, they were the best. Her feet slowed as she neared Hayden’s table.
He was watching her move toward him and something about the intensity on his face took her breath away. When his gaze made the slow, thorough journey up her body and connected with hers, she stopped. Only a few steps away but she just couldn’t make those last three or four strides.
He stood, the movement slow and fluid, and closed the small gap between them. When he was toe-to-toe with her he smiled, stealing her breath all over again.
“You okay?”
She nodded. I will be as soon as I catch my breath. “What happened outside?” Truly she didn’t want to know. It wouldn’t be good. But it was her responsibility to be aware.
One of those sluggish, syrupy country love songs floated from the jukebox and he reached for her. At first she was so startled she couldn’t respond. But when he pulled her into his arms her whole body responded.
His arms were strong around her and she felt weak with need. He left the smallest margin of space between them but she closed it. She needed to lean on him. She needed to close her eyes for just a moment and let the rest of the world slip away.
He moved with the rhythm of the music, slow enough they
could have been floating on air. His body felt warm and inviting and so powerful. She hadn’t been held like this in so long. Maybe she’d never known this sensation of pleasure accompanied by a feeling of safety. She’d been on her own for too long.
She rested her forehead against his jaw. The late-night stubble made her shiver, made her want to reach up with both hands and explore the lean and intriguing contours of his face. She longed to get lost in all these wondrous sensations… . To forget the world.
He stopped moving. Her whole being protested. A couple of seconds were necessary for her to realize why he’d broken the trance… . The music had stopped.
Time and place flooded her senses, washing away the pleasant escape. Humiliation singed her already-flushed face. What had she been thinking? Thankfully no one had stopped to stare. They were just another couple in a packed house.
“I should get back to the bar.”
“Take a break in the office with Buddy.” Hayden glanced around. “The crowd is thinning. Lucas and I can finish out the night.”
Laney started to argue, but he was right. She needed a few minutes away from the demands of the crowd… . Away from how he made her feel.
Tuesday, May 28th, 1:00 a.m.
“LANEY.”
Her eyes opened to Hayden leaning over her.
Laney sat up. “Sorry. I guess I dozed off.” She’d curled up on the narrow cot with Buddy for just a second… . Or so she’d thought.
“Come on. I’ll get Buddy.”
“What about cleanup?” Good grief. What had she been thinking? Her staff must be frustrated with her for abandoning them at closing.
“It’s all done.” He took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
By the time they were loaded in his Jeep, her brain was working again. Everyone had gone for the night. Lucas stood in the doorway watching them go. He would be staying the night.
With her son buckled into his car seat in the backseat and still sound asleep, Laney relaxed and considered that she hadn’t allowed herself to collapse like that in ages.
Everything around her felt out of control.
Not that her life had ever been sedate or organized, but usually there was some amount of structure to her chaos. Certainly not now.
“You got the receipts and the cash?” For God’s sake, she hadn’t even taken care of the books for the night.
“It’s all taken care of. You had a particularly good night judging by the previous two or three Mondays’ takes.”
At least there was some good news. “Thank you.”
Funny, she mused. This man had brought a whole new layer of uncertainty and disruption to her life, through no fault of his own, yet he’d also somehow injected a bit of new hope. Not so funny was the idea that she desperately needed him.
Strong, independent, ambitious Laney never needed anyone.
How had that happened in the space of a few short days? However it happened, he was a godsend. She glanced at her hero. Problem was he was only temporary. He was here for his job. So was his boss. She couldn’t dare allow herself to get too attached. Laney felt reasonably sure that surviving any more loss and heartache was not in her.
She’d had enough for several lifetimes.
“What’s it like…” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. She cleared her throat. No point stopping now. “What’s it like growing up in a normal family? I mean, past early childhood?”
He glanced at her. “Some days it’s a pain but most it’s reassuring. You always know you have each other. Even if you have a knockdown drag-out with a sibling, you know if the chips were down, he would be there for you. I can count on my brothers anytime, anyplace.”
Since she was ten, Laney hadn’t known that kind of support. Since she’d had no siblings—none that she’d known about—she’d missed that special bonding.
“What’re they like?”
He glanced at her. “My brothers or your sisters?”
Wow. Sisters. “My sisters.”
“Sadie, the youngest, lives in Copperas Cove. She has a small ranch and she rescues horses. Olivia, the oldest, lives in San Antonio. She’s a paralegal. She spends a lot of time working for those who can’t afford legal aid.”
Impressive. “Do we look anything alike?” There had been a couple of photos with her and the others, but only when they were really young.
“Hair color is the same. Sadie’s is a little lighter. You and Olivia have the same brown eyes. Sadie’s eyes are green like Clare’s.” He seemed to consider the question a bit. “You’re obviously sisters but you’re each also unique. You’re the tallest. Sadie is kind of petite. Olivia falls somewhere in the middle.”
“It’s funny. We all rescue something just like our parents did.” The Barkers had rescued cats and dogs. Sadie rescued horses and Olivia those in need of help with legal troubles. Laney rescued things. Old houses. Furniture. All sorts of things. She’d tried to rescue Terry but he’d almost drowned her in the same cesspool he couldn’t seem to drag himself out of.
He made the turn into her driveway. “That’s because you’re all three good people.”
For the spawn of cold-blooded killers. But she didn’t bother pointing that out.
He shut off the lights and the engine, leaving nothing but the moonlight to illuminate the house. She felt suddenly afraid to go inside for fear of finding some awful message from her recently released-from-death-row mother or her crazy ex.
Not once had she ever thought twice about arriving home at this hour and being afraid.
Hayden was already at her side of the Jeep before she snapped out of the disturbing thoughts. She unbuckled Buddy from his car seat and lifted him into her arms. She walked beside Hayden to the front door. He unlocked it and went inside ahead of her. Once the lights were on, she followed. Those old fears of the dark were back with a vengeance.
He locked the door and checked the kitchen as well as the back door for signs of forced entry before leading her deeper into her own home. A place where she had never felt anything less than safe.
“All clear,” he assured her.
Frustrated with herself, she moved ahead of him to Buddy’s room. There were only two bedrooms in this old house and the first one as she entered the hall was his. She flipped on the light with her elbow and her little boy’s magical realm enveloped her. His things were here. His scent. It was home. Maybe she’d never had siblings or a real family life after the age of ten but she had it now.
She moved to the bed, threw the covers back and snuggled her little boy against his pillow. He burrowed into the soft sheets and never roused. She covered him and kissed his sweet forehead. Yes, this was their home and she would not lose it.
Then and there she decided that she wasn’t going to play the victim here. Yes, she had to do as Hayden said until the issues with her biological parents were resolved. But she intended to take charge of this financial crisis. No one was taking hers and Buddy’s home.
She moved to the other side of the bed and switched on the night-light. Something crinkled beneath her foot. She looked down and made a face.
Some of Buddy’s artwork had fallen on the floor and she’d stepped on it. Dang it!
She picked it up and stared at the drawing. It was different from his usual highly imaginative drawings. Just a row of stick people. The first was obviously a woman. Next to her were two more slightly smaller girl stick figures. Then a little one, a boy since he didn’t have the triangle shaped dress. Then another girl stick, the same size as the second and third figures.
How strange.
“What’s this?”
Hayden moved to her side and studied the drawing.
“Something Buddy drew…I guess.”
Hayden rushed from the room. What the…?
Laney wandered into the hall just as he burst from her bedroom. “What’s wrong?”
“Stay right here.”
She studied the drawing. Had something about it set him off?
By the time he returned she was more than a little freaked out.
“Someone tampered with the lock on the back door.” His face was grim.
“You think someone came in my house?”
He nodded. “Whoever did it was good. He knew what he was doing and left very little evidence of his handiwork. And he locked it when he left.”
Laney didn’t understand. “Why did this drawing make you feel the need to check the doors again?”
He pulled his cell from his pocket and opened the photo library. “Lucas sent this to me after he found the place where Clare Barker and Tony Weeden stayed last night.”
Laney stared at the image in disbelief. Hundreds of stick figures, exactly like the ones in the drawing she’d found in her son’s room, marred the walls of the motel room. Only the ones from the motel had been crossed out.
What did this mean?
She stared up at Hayden. “They were here.”
He nodded. “They were here.”
Chapter Eleven
Beaumont Independent Bank, 10:00 a.m.
The small waiting area outside the bank president’s office was nothing more than a hallway, a narrow one at that. On the other side of the glass wall in front of her was the bank’s VP guiding a client through a mountain of paperwork. Laney wondered if that client, too, would be sitting here a few years from now wondering what would happen next.
Behind Laney was the president’s office. She noted a client in his office when she’d taken her seat. Obviously that appointment was running long. The delay gave her a few minutes more to bolster her courage.
She understood that times were hard, but why make it even more difficult for a working woman to keep her head above water? Whatever happened to teamwork?
Speaking of which, Joel Hayden had happily agreed to take Buddy across the street for ice cream at the Dairy Dip. How had she gotten so lucky to have a man like him show up in her life at this pivotal moment?