Bed of Lies

by Pam Champagne

  Exhausted, Brenna gave up picking up clothes and sank to the mattress. She studied her brother’s face, searching for the fun-loving, innocent boy he’d once been. Blue eyes, once clear and bright, now were cloudy and dull. And at the moment, nervous. She was no expert on drugs, but she’d guess Colin needed a fix. “Exactly how much does Anson have on you?”

  “Like you said. He caught me snorting lines of coke.”

  “Just using? You been dealing, as well?”

  Brenna doubted Colin could fake the horror that spread over his face.

  “Of course not. I’d never do that. You’ve got to believe me, Brenna.”

  “I’ll tell you what I believe. You need help professional help. At a rehabilitation hospital.”

  “I’m clean, Brenna. Have been for a week.”

  “And it’s killing you. You can’t fight your addiction alone. There are people trained to help.”

  He gripped the bedspread until his knuckles turned white. “I can’t be locked up in a hospital. I’d go insane.”

  “Maybe Ace can help. I think we should talk to him.”

  “Bull. He’d turn me in just for the fun of it. He’d get a big kick out of putting a McKenzie in jail.”

  Brenna made a quick decision. “It’s time you know the truth about Ace.”

  “You mean the truth as he sees it?”

  She frowned at the bitterness in her brother’s voice. “No,” she said quietly. “The actual truth. Listen to me. Dad lied. To me and to Ace.” Brenna held up her hand when he tried to interrupt. “Let me finish. Do you remember when I was admitted to the hospital right after the fight between Billie and Ace?”

  At his nod, she continued. “I signed an affidavit clearing Ace of any wrongdoing. I signed it in front of a witness and a notary. They said they’d bring it to the judge.”

  She laughed harshly. “Now I realize how naïve I was. Dad must have paid off the notary, the lawyer and the witness.”

  “Go on,” he said. Brenna sensed interest in his voice.

  “Ace spent six months in jail before Dad brought my affidavit to the court.”

  “So?”

  Brenna reached out and put her hand on Colin’s arm. “Don’t you see? Dad let me think Ace was released from jail right after I signed the affidavit. Let me believe he took off as soon as he was free. The truth is Ace thought I’d deceived him.”

  Colin slid off the bed. “It’s history. Why bring it up now?”

  Brenna closed her eyes and counted to ten. “Because Dad may have ruined the best thing in my life.”

  “Come on, Brenna. You know damn well there’s no future for you and Bear. Not then, not now. He’s an Indian, for Christ’s sake.”

  The words hit her like a punch to the stomach. Why had she thought she could penetrate the years of bigotry her mother and father had grilled into her brother for twenty-four years?

  “Forget Ace. Let’s concentrate on you. Where do you get the cocaine?”

  “Don’t go there, Brenna. The less you know, the better. Ace nosing around will make some people nervous.”

  “I’m telling Ace all I know. You can either be on our side—or not. Your choice.”

  “You’re making a big mistake. If someone broke in here, it means…”

  “You told me you were off the drugs.”

  “I am, but I still owe plenty. If I could pay them off—”

  “I’ve got no money, Colin. And even if I did, I’m not sure I’d bail you out. Did you hear Roger and Shawna Shay are dead?”

  The color bleached from his face. “Dead?”

  “Of a heroin overdose.”

  “I’ve never touched heroin.” Sweat beading on his forehead gave her reason to doubt his denial.

  “Think it over. You’re either with me, or you’re not. I’m going to Ace tomorrow morning to tell him everything I know.”

  Before Colin could respond, a shrill voice freewheeled up the staircase. “Brenna? Colin? Get down here now.”

  “Great,” Brenna muttered. Just what she needed to end a second horrendous day. Another round with her mother. “Let’s go face the music. Ace was probably the topic of conversation at her bridge club.”

  Brenna trailed Colin down the stairs. He stopped abruptly in the entry and she bumped into him. Two state troopers stood by the door. Her mother leaned against the wall, wringing her hands.

  “These men have a—”

  The younger of the two stepped forward. “We have a search warrant.”

  Brenna gasped. “For what?”

  “We’ve reasonable cause to suspect that Colin MacKenzie has been selling heroin.”

  Brenna’s head started to spin. She grabbed the banister for balance. “That’s crazy—”

  Colin stepped forward. “I have nothing to hide. Search all you want. My room’s the second on the left.”

  “Ma’am, if you’ll move out of the way…”

  “Someone broke into the house earlier… I was just going to call the sheriff.” They ignored Brenna, and she was forced to step aside when one of the troopers started up the stairs.

  The ten minutes he was gone dragged on like ten hours. No one spoke until the officer trucked back down, holding a ziplock baggie in his rubber-gloved hands. It contained a white powdery substance.

  “Colin McKenzie, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you…” The trooper droned on, reading Colin his Miranda rights. After a quick body search, they dragged his hands behind his back and handcuffed him before hustling him out the door.

  “Brenna,” Colin pleaded over his shoulder. “You’ve got to help me. It’s not true. I’ve been set up. Please believe me.”

  She stood in the open doorway, oblivious to the cold, and watched the cruiser drive away with her brother in the backseat. Brenna’s heart wept tears while her mother sat at the kitchen table and sniffled into a tissue.

  “What will we do?”

  How the hell do I know? “Were you aware had Colin had a drug habit?”

  Her mother’s gaze skittered away. Brenna took a deep breath. “Guess that answers my question.”

  “Call Anson. He’ll post bail and get Colin a good lawyer.”

  Brenna’s jaw clenched. Anson could very well be the one who set Colin up for a fall. He had access to the house last night. And so had Ace not more than an hour ago, a little voice nagged. “No.”

  “What do you mean ‘no’?” Her mother’s screech grated on her frayed nerves.

  “I’m not involving Anson in any more of our melodramas. I have no intention of asking for or accepting his help. The price is too high.”

  “This isn’t the time to think of your wants.”

  Brenna tried and failed to gain control of her anger. She grabbed her mother by the shoulders and shook. “Listen to me. I’m not bailing Colin out of jail for drug crimes. If he broke the law, he’ll do the time. Do you understand?”

  “You’d let your own brother go to jail when you could prevent it?”

  “Stop it how, Mama? By selling myself?”

  “You could do worse than marrying Anson.”

  Brenna shook her head. “You just don’t get it.”

  “So it’s true…what everyone’s saying.”

  Brenna stiffened her shoulders. Here we go again. “More than likely.”

  “You’ve hooked up with that no good Ace Bear. Didn’t you learn your lesson the last time?”

  Brenna’s head throbbed and nausea hit the back of her throat. “Don’t even say his name to me. You and Daddy ruined my life once. You’ll not do it again.”

  Her mother grabbed for Brenna’s arm. “What are you talking about?”

  She shook off the hand, grabbed her coat off the back of the kitchen chair. She patted the pocket to make sure the keys were there and hurried from the house, deaf to her mother’s protests.

  Chapter Seven

  Brenna burst into the cabin. Ace glanced up from sharpening his knife. He’d been expe
cting her. Outside a short while ago splitting wood, he’d heard her old truck pound the road a mile away. From the speed she traveled, he knew her mood would be volatile and wondered what had set her off. He figured he was about to find out.

  Her face was flushed, her eyes wild with fear or anger, he couldn’t decide which. “Did you turn him in?” she demanded, her chest rising and falling.

  Ace tested the sharpness of the blade with his finger. “Turn who in where?” He slipped the knife into its leather sheath.

  “Don’t, Ace. Don’t play the dumb fool.”

  Her voice hitched as if she held back tears. He never could resist Brenna’s tears. “Sit down. Tell me what’s got you so riled up.”

  She released a loud sigh. Her hands shook, so she clasped them together on the table. “State cops just arrested Colin.”

  I’m not surprised. “On what charge?”

  “Two troopers came to the farm with a search warrant. Said someone had given them a tip. How convenient that they discovered a huge amount of heroin in Colin’s room.”

  He frowned. “And you think I set him up?”

  Her gaze wavered before she broke eye contact. “No.”

  Her slight hesitation brought a stab of pain. “You believe someone planted the heroin?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you call the police to report the break-in?”

  A flush spread across her cheekbones. “I didn’t have a chance. Colin and I talked for a while. They came soon after you left. I tried to tell them then, but they wouldn’t listen.”

  Damn. He should have coordinated with the state police. Colin would be more use on the outside than in jail. “Where’d they take him?”

  “I…I’m not sure. I didn’t think to ask. Machias? Maybe Bangor.”

  “Any idea why someone would want Colin in jail?”

  Brenna twisted the hem of her jacket. Was she about to tell him the truth? He hoped so.

  “He’s been using cocaine. I’m not…I don’t know how long. He swears he’s not dealing. He says he’s been clean for a week.”

  “Go on,” Ace encouraged.

  She kept her eyes downcast. “Anson knew about it. He’d threatened to have Colin arrested. That’s the reason I was marrying him.”

  Had she told him everything? He saw no lies in her eyes when she raised her head and met his gaze.

  “Right before the police came, I’d told Colin we should talk to you.”

  Ace gave a start of surprise. Did she know he worked for DEA? “Me? Why me?”

  Her blue eyes sparkled with tears. “I’m clinging to the memory of the man I once knew. I want to trust you, Ace.”

  Laughter rose from his throat, the sound harsh to his own ears. “That’s unwise. That man no longer exists.”

  “Traits like honesty don’t disappear.”

  The words hit him harder than a sucker punch to the stomach. He rose from the table and went to the stove to pour two cups of coffee. When he placed a mug in front of her, she pushed it away. “I want something stronger.”

  At his questioning look, she pushed away from the table and moved to the closet by the bed. She got on her hands and knees, and Ace admired her heart-shaped bottom in the faded, tight blue jeans. She dragged out a bottle of Jack Daniels and brought it to the table. She grabbed a glass in the cupboard and poured a good three fingers.

  “I’m impressed,” he said, after she tossed it down in one swallow. “Not a cough or even watery eyes. A new habit of yours?” He covered her hand with his when her fingers closed over the neck of the bottle. “Let’s talk first.”

  She nodded. “My mother picked up Anson at the hospital and brought him straight to the farm. He wasn’t too steady on his feet. My mother’s a bitch, but I don’t think she’d help set up her own son.”

  Bitterness engulfed Ace as he remembered how Brenna’s mother had deceived her daughter twelve years ago.

  “Since I didn’t plant it and Anson didn’t have the opportunity, that leaves whoever broke in this afternoon.”

  Unless Colin’s lying through his teeth. Ace came up short when he attempted to share Brenna’s faith in her brother.

  “Will you help Colin? Will you tell the police that someone did break in? I’ll be suspect if I tell them now since I didn’t report it right away.”

  Saying no to Brenna always had been a problem. “I’ll talk to Colin. Listen to what he has to say.”

  Hope brightened her eyes. “Let’s go.”

  “Not tonight. One night in jail won’t kill him.”

  “But—”

  “No, Brenna. I’m not going anywhere tonight. And neither are you. I was outside earlier and heard you coming. I’d guess you were doing fifty over those dirt roads. I’m surprised the truck’s doors are still attached. You’re in no condition to go anywhere.”

  Her gaze slid to the bed.

  The memory of lying next to her last night brought a smile to his face. “We shared it for a while last night. Tonight will be no different.”

  “You never used to read my mind,” she whispered. “I’m not sure I like it.”

  He chuckled. “I don’t have to read your mind. Your expression tells me all I need to know.”

  “Do you believe me? About Colin being innocent?”

  Ace chose his words with care. “There’s a possibility he’s been set up. I don’t how innocent he is.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I’m not convinced he hasn’t been on the selling end of the drug problem in Spruce Harbor.”

  Her jaw tensed. “Can I trust you’ll keep an open mind?”

  Another harsh laugh escaped him. “I’m one of the few in this town who doesn’t a problem with that.”

  Ace took another glass from the cupboard and poured them each a shot of whiskey. He raised his glass. “To the future.”

  Brenna touched her glass to his and downed the contents. “Can we move beyond everything that’s happened and be friends?”

  “It’s time to let go of the past…and embrace the present,” he replied and wished he could practice what he preached. The whiskey burned his throat, and he willed it to take away the hollow yearning deep in his heart. He wished that life had been kinder to both of them.

  Disturbed at the direction his thoughts veered, Ace rose and cleared the glasses and mugs from the table. “I’ll go get some more wood for the stove.”

  Heat prickled Brenna’s body. Restless, she got up and walked to the sink. Steam rose from the tea kettle on the wood stove, so she washed the few dishes. Ace hadn’t said he would help Colin, but he hadn’t refused either. A man unwilling to commit until he had answers to his questions. She respected that.

  Dishes done, she moved across the rough planked floor and sat on the mattress. She shed her clothes, leaving on her bra and panties. Her head spun from the combination of whiskey and the knock on the head. Smothering a yawn, she crawled beneath the covers. For the first time in months, she felt safe and hopeful that the future might not be as bleak as it had seemed in recent days.

  She smiled at the crack of the ax splitting wood outside. The wood pile outside would heat the cabin for the entire winter. Ace was nervous. Knowing that made her feel better.

  Brenna floated on the brink of sleep when Ace returned. Like the night before, she watched him move around the small interior. He stacked wood next to the stove before taking off his boots. She ogled his lean, hard body. She’d grown accustomed to his long hair, pulled back and tied with a thin piece of rawhide. When he moved to blow out the kerosene lantern, she sat upright, the blanket falling to her waist.

  He spun around, his eyes widening. A hardened expression spread over his features, adding years to his age. For a brief moment, her bravery faltered. No. After all that had happened, honesty between them was vital. Plain and simple, she wanted Ace. As much, if not more, than when they’d been kids.

  She held his gaze and refused to back down at the cold amusement in his eyes. The loud, slow tick of the windup a
larm clock filled the room. He may not like it, but passion flared in his eyes, convincing her that he, too, remembered the hot sex they’d once shared.

  He came toward her in the dim light. “People will talk,” he whispered.

  The sexy huskiness in his voice sent a thrill straight to her belly. “You think I give a damn?”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m tired of the way we’ve been circling each other. We’re adults now. We know what we want.”

  His mouth curved into a smile. “Hot sex?”

  She shook off the feeling that the smile held a hint of sadness. “You remember. Back then it was more than that.”

  He knelt on the floor beside the bed and stroked her cheek with fingers still cold from being outdoors. “And now?”

  “I don’t know,” she lied.

  Ace captured her hand and brought it to his lips. Her breath hitched at the wet warmth of his tongue on her palm. He released her wrist and kneaded her shoulders. “You’re beautiful. Back then you were a girl. Now you’re a woman.”

  “And you’re now a man, no longer a boy.”

  His mouth twisted in a half smile before he buried his face in her hair. He trembled against her. The hands clutching her body gave away his need. Did they have another chance at love?

  Ace trailed kisses down her neck to the necklace that hung in her cleavage before returning to her mouth. His kiss held the same hint of sadness as she’d seen in his smile. The kind of kiss that had once seen a hot fire and now hoped to fan the burning embers.

  She drank in his kisses, an occasional moan of pleasure escaping. Just when she thought she’d explode from want, his fingers burrowed beneath the blankets and closed around her hips. She kicked off the covers, craving cool air on her overheated skin. Ace bent and trailed his tongue across her navel.

  Need overwhelmed her. She swallowed the sob that rose in her throat. “Ace, please.” Her fingers clutched wildly at his hair.

  Without warning, he tugged her to the floor. She scrambled to her knees so they knelt, facing each other. Her stomach somersaulted at the intense hunger in his eyes. Their gazes locked. Her heart beat in time with his erection throbbing against her.

  Ace feared detonation any second. His erection pounded, demanding release. He forced himself to loosen his tight grip on Brenna’s shoulders. Surely, she’d have bruises. Such soft skin, never meant to be treated harshly.