“You’re the sister of the murderer with the dangerous ex-boyfriend. And you have an incredible singing voice,” Josh said matter-of-factly. “I threw in the last part. It’s like a bad game of telephone, you have to add something every time you hear the rumors.”
“Nice. So all these people we’ve been seeing all morning, who have been graciously declining, have been actually judging the hell out of me the whole time?”
“If judging were an Olympic sport, Edenville would medal every year,” Josh said casually, shrugging his shoulders at the unavoidable truth.
“Great.” Willow rolled her eyes and flipped her long hair off her shoulder.
“You’ll get used to it,” Josh promised, settling his face even further into the nice guy look.
“I don’t intend to be here long enough to get used to anything.”
Betty patted her leg and smiled empathetically. “I know it sucks, dear.”
“Sucks?” Willow and Josh asked in unison.
“Yes, kids say that. I’m trying to be relatable. Bobby says I have to stop saying stuff like people in this town can be as mean as a skillet full of rattlesnakes over a campfire. I’m trying to say more current things, to keep up with all you kids.”
After an uncomfortably long pause, Josh cleared his throat and dove into a new topic. “Willow, how is Jedda doing? Has he seen a therapist yet?”
“No, he’s worried about how his mental health could be misconstrued and used against him. He hasn’t had any problems since we left that day and he’s trying to stay as relaxed as possible. He’s been working out again. So far so good.”
“That can’t be easy when his sister is in danger,” Josh said, his face painted with concern, but his words cutting Willow like a knife.
“I’m not in danger. I’m fine, and that has nothing to do with Jedda. I don’t intend to have him fight my battles for me. I’m not a little kid chained to the wall anymore.” Willow stood suddenly and unwelcomed tears filled her eyes. What had just come over her? These exact words had run through her mind for hours last night as she lay staring at the ceiling in Jules’s pink childhood bedroom. But she hadn’t intended to say them here. It was like having a loaded gun. She wanted the ammunition in the chamber, the words practiced and ready if she felt cornered and needed to use them, but clearly, this was not the right scenario. This was an overreaction that she didn’t know if she could get out of.
“Chained to the wall?” Josh asked in a quiet and empathetic voice that made Willow feel even worse. “I’m sorry.” Josh gestured for her to sit down again. “I didn’t mean anything by it and I shouldn’t have been so inconsiderate. I’m just worried about him. Untreated stress and anxiety can be dangerous. But it wasn’t my place to imply that you were the cause. Way out of line.”
Willow wasn’t accustomed to apologies. She’d lived in a world of privilege for years and in that odd realm of reality very few people tended to take responsibility for where they went wrong. Most times people felt entitled and above any kind of wrongdoing on their part. This earnest exchange took her by surprise.
“She forgives you,” Betty said as she stood and looped her arm with Willow’s. “She doesn’t look like she does, but she does.”
Willow couldn’t find the words, but she nodded almost imperceptibly in agreement as Betty turned them both and headed for the door.
“Don’t forget those extra clothes for cleanup duty. And you better come early to help set up,” Betty called over her shoulder as they headed through the office lobby and to the street.
“Well weren’t those some interesting fireworks between you two,” Betty said, nudging at Willow’s ribs.
“I don’t know what came over me. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Sweetie, you can act all you like as though nothing is wrong and that you have all this figured out, but occasionally the truth is going to bubble up. It’s okay. Josh is a good man. He won’t hold it against you. As a matter of fact I think he likes you.”
“What?” Willow asked, her cheeks flushed and hot at the thought of it.
“I just thought there was a bit of a spark there between you two. Oh, maybe I’ll make him your assistant at the wedding instead. He can carry your music equipment. And don’t you worry, like I said, he’s a real good man. Good to his mama, kind and compassionate in every way. As long as you can overlook his profession.”
“What are you talking about?” Willow asked, stopping in her tracks and tugging slightly at Betty’s arm that was still looped with hers.
“I mean, he kind of stares at hoo-has all day, but it’s very clinical. You shouldn’t let that bother you at all.”
Willow let out a little laugh, “Betty, I think Josh is probably a great guy. He’s good looking and—”
A familiar voice cut in from behind them and it sent shivers down Willow’s spine. “Moving on already? I thought for sure you’d be caught up on me a little longer,” Brad said as he grabbed Willow’s arm and in one move spun both she and Betty around to face him. “Looks like you don’t have your shotgun this time, Mrs. Clampett.”
“I don’t need a shotgun, boy. This here is downtown Edenville. The place I lived my whole life, the place my folks lived their whole life. All I need to do is let out a whistle and people would come running to string you up.”
“Word is people here think you bring trouble to their quiet little town. Are you sure they’d be so quick to come to your rescue?” he asked, raising his eyebrow, daring her to answer. He turned his attention back toward Willow. “I was hoping your brother was here. I’m dying to meet him.” He sneered and pulled Willow by her elbows into him. “I gave you a chance to turn over what you had on your laptop and you didn’t. Now I’m thinking you probably told all your little slack-jawed local yokels here what you know. Big mistake.”
“I haven’t told them anything,” Willow insisted, her head turned away and her eyes closed in anticipation of what might come.
Brad freed one of her arms and ran a finger across the soft exposed skin of her collarbone. “I forgot how nice your skin felt.” He looped his finger around the chain of the necklace that hung on her neck and yanked it, breaking the clasp and tucking it into his pocket.
“Is there a problem here?” Josh demanded, stepping out of his office door and folding his arms across his chest as he stared down Brad.
“Oh, is this the guy you have the hots for?” Brad asked, tightening his grip on Willow’s arms and brushing his lips against her ear. “He can’t do what I do to you, baby.”
“Why don’t you move along,” Josh said firmly as he took another step forward.
“And what are you going to do about it if I don’t?” Brad asked, not even sparing a glance in Josh’s direction.
“Are you asking if I plan to kick your ass? The answer is no; I hope I don’t have to. You know why? I’m a goddamn grown-up, and this is my place of business. So I’m doing the adult thing here and telling you to move on. Let her go and keep walking.”
“Fine, I’ll go, but Willow is coming with me. We have some things to talk about,” he said, yanking her forward.
“Like hell,” Betty snapped as she grabbed a handful of Brad’s hair and pulled it down until his head bent awkwardly to the side.
“Whoa,” Josh said, stepping forward to separate them.
“Break it up,” an officer shouted as he stepped around the corner toward them.
“R.D.,” Betty said, releasing Brad’s hair and pointing accusingly at him. “You get this boy’s hands off her right now and you throw him in jail. Get that damn restraining order.”
“No need for that, officer,” Brad insisted with a devilish smile, “just a friendly chat and a hug.” He pulled Willow’s body into his and whispered into her ear. “You just got all these little buddies of yours in deep shit. My dad’s getting involved and you know what that means. Hope you’re ready for this shit.” He let her go, forcefully pushing her backward into Betty’s arms. “See ya,” he called over his shoulder.
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“Oh, I don’t think so, you little piece of shit, get your ass back here right now,” R.D. shouted, pointing to the spot on the sidewalk just in front of him.
“Excuse me?” Brad asked, turning back to face them and twisting his face in confused arrogance.
“Get your pretentious, pretty-boy ass back here right now before I toss you in jail. And it’s a bumpy ride to the holding cell. I can almost guarantee you’d be beat to shit by the time you got there,” R.D. said as he pointed again to the spot in front of him. Brad walked reluctantly toward him with his hands jammed into his pockets, looking down at his feet as R.D. continued. “You don’t run this town. You’re not even welcome in this town. If I ever see you put your hands on anyone, in any way, ever again, I will personally drive your ass back to New York and make sure you never have a passing thought about stepping foot in Edenville again. We have our own brand of justice down here, and if you mess with one of ours, we make sure you pay. And not even your daddy has enough money to pay that debt, trust me.” R.D. was speaking down into Brad’s face like a father might scold a child. Through gritted teeth and narrowed eyes, the threats were hitting their mark. “Now go on.” R.D. tossed Brad backward the same way Brad had just done to Willow.
When Brad was out of sight Josh put his hand on Willow’s shoulder, but she quickly shook him off. “Are you all right?” he asked, trying to get her averted eyes to connect with his, but to no avail.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m fine. I’m not some battered woman. You don’t know what this is all about.”
R.D. and Betty stepped aside to have their own conversation. Willow could see it consisted of an enormous amount of crazy hand gestures from Betty.
“I’d like to know, if you’d tell me,” Josh said, lowering his voice slightly. “Maybe there is something I can do to help you.”
“You sound like everyone else right now. As if this is just something you can swoop in and fix. Trust me, if it were that easy I’d have already taken care of it myself. You’ve been here your whole life, you don’t understand the world I’m coming from and the power people like Brad and his father have.”
“No one is completely above the law. You heard R.D., he’ll arrest him if he gives you any more trouble. All I’m asking is to know more about what’s going on.”
“You want to know about me, watch the news. Search my name on the Internet. It’s all there, every messy detail of what they’ve twisted into my story.”
“I don’t want that version. I don’t want the version they tell at the diner or what some reporter on television is saying. I’m just trying to—”
“Don’t. Stop trying. It’s ridiculous and impossible.” Willow’s nerves were fried and her heart was still racing at an unimaginable speed. The hand Josh was reaching out to her didn’t feel like a lifeline, it felt like just one more attempt at fixing her that wouldn’t work. One more set of disappointed eyes that would be staring at her when all this was over.
“Well that’s the spirit,” Josh shot back, pulling open the door to his office and slipping back inside.
R.D. and Betty moved back toward her looking as though she was made of fragile glass. “Miss, I’m sorry you’re having trouble. I’ve let all my men know to keep an eye out for Brad and make sure he’s not causing you any more problems.”
“Thanks,” Willow said, rubbing at the sore spots on her arms.
“You should know though,” R.D. started, but stopped abruptly when Betty slapped at his arm.
“I told you not to tell her.”
“She needs to be aware of the situation. Miss, Brad’s father called in some favors and in the process tried to send a very clear message to the police department here in Edenville. His son was not to be arrested or harmed in any way. He was throwing his weight around, mixing it up with a whole bunch of promises and threats.”
“I figured it wouldn’t be long until he got to you guys too,” Willow said, shrugging off the news.
“A year or so ago, that would have been true but we’re a new department now. We don’t bend to power and we don’t trade for deals. Those days are over. The law is the only thing that drives us. Now, the flip side of that coin is that his father will be looking for something to happen to him down here, and now that he’s pissed at our response he’ll bring all he’s got down on us if his boy gets hurt in anyway.”
“How would he get hurt?” Willow asked, not understanding R.D.’s warning.
“You’ve got a lot of people looking out for you. I doubt they’ll stand by and watch Brad try to hurt you in one way or another. All it will take is one of them flying off the handle and striking out against Brad and this tinderbox will blow. The worst-case scenario is if Jedda does something. Thomas Angelo will bring down hell on this place, and Jedda won’t stand a chance. I hear he’s got buddies with cameras trying to catch us all stepping a toe out of line or being unlawful toward him.”
“That’s why he mentioned my brother,” Willow said, shaking her head in disbelief. “So he wants someone to attack him? He’s goading everyone on. Especially Jedda.”
“We’re not going to let that happen. Now that we know his game, we’re not going to play,” Betty assured her as she patted Willow’s back tenderly.
“Nothing we can do about it right now,” Willow said, stepping away from them and heading down the street.
“You’re coming to the wedding right, R.D.?” Betty asked over her shoulder as she hustled to catch up with Willow.
“Yes ma’am,” R.D. called, tipping the front of his hat down in her direction.
“Good boy, R.D., good boy.”
Chapter Ten
Jedda kept reminding himself that Crystal could do better than him. Much, much better than him. Like a skipping record, his inner voice relentlessly repeated the chants of a reality. You’ll ruin her life. She deserves more. Occasionally though, those words were drowned out by the sound of her sweet voice saying his name. Or her laugh dancing across the spring breeze.
Today they had a job to do, and Jedda liked that. He enjoyed knowing what was expected of him, and even more he enjoyed the companionship of Crystal. They’d been tasked with clearing the path that would lead to the field for the wedding. Jedda had found a handsaw and some work gloves in the shed. Crystal, her hair tied back with a purple bandana, had borrowed a pair of overalls from Jules and work boots from Betty.
They’d been out under the sun for two hours and though it wasn’t a particularly hot day, they’d both worked up a sweat. Jedda had cut down all the limbs that had grown across the path while Crystal pulled them away and snipped off any small tangled vines that could trip someone up. Thorns scratched at their skin and mud matted on the knees of their pants, but judging by the smiles on their faces, a passerby might assume they were having a romantic picnic, rather than doing manual labor.
“I haven’t worked like this in years,” Crystal said as she wiped her gloved hand across her forehead, leaving behind a trail of dirt. “I used to love to garden with my grandmother.”
“You just smudged mud all over your face,” Jedda laughed, pulling off his own glove and using his hand to brush away the mess on her face. He hesitated there for a minute, letting his fingers linger before dropping his hand quickly down to his side.
“Thanks,” she said quietly as she looked longingly up into his eyes. She was begging to be kissed. It was plainly written on her face. Her skin smelled like fresh flowers and every time the breeze blew, the scent would distract him and he’d have to close his eyes to refocus.
“Do you hear that?” he asked as he turned toward the house. “I think someone just pulled in. Maybe Willow and Betty are back from town.”
Crystal smiled and pulled off her gloves, tucking them into the pockets of her overalls. “Let’s go see.”
They walked the path side by side, showing their hard work was finished. Their arms were touching slightly, just brushing occasionally as they moved. Jedda’s desire to reach out and hold he
r hand was so powerful the only way he could avoid doing so was shoving his hands deep into his own pockets.
“That’s not Betty’s car,” Jedda said, stopping in his tracks and taking his hand from his pocket to swing an arm up to block Crystal from taking another step. “It’s Brad,” Jedda whispered, tucking Crystal back into the thicker woods.
As he stepped forward he was met with her quiet protest. “Where are you going?” she asked him, clamping down on his bicep as if she were holding on for dear life.
“I’m going to see what the hell he thinks he’s doing here. He’s probably looking for that laptop and who knows what he’ll do to the house. Not to mention, Willow and Betty could come home any minute.”
“You’re right,” Crystal agreed, but didn’t let up on his arm. “That’s why we’re going to go up there together and talk to him. But that’s it. Do you feel like you can control yourself?”
“No,” Jedda admitted, “but I’m going to try, and judging by your grip on my arm, even if I can’t, I’m pretty sure you can keep me in line.”
They walked slowly toward the house, Crystal just a step behind Jedda, whose arm was still protectively stretched across the front of her.
“What are you doing?” Jedda boomed as he watched Brad peer inside the windows of the front of the house.
“There you are,” Brad answered with a maniacal grin. “Ah, and I can tell the note that was left for you didn’t do the trick. Getting fired wasn’t enough?” he asked, gesturing with his chin over at Crystal.
“You’ve got no business being here, Brad. You aren’t welcomed,” Crystal said in a solid voice as she felt Jedda’s hand clench into a fist.
“I’m here to get something that’s mine.”
“It’s not here,” Crystal answered as she took a step forward. “Michael’s already taken the laptop. I’m happy to give you his phone number and you can take that matter up with him”
“She gave it to the fucking lawyer?” Brad snapped as he slammed his fist into the wall of the house.
“Yes, so there is nothing here for you.”
Finding Freedom (Book 4) (Piper Anderson Series) Page 10