“Hell, man, at this point in the investigation,” Brant said in an edgy tone, “I’ll take anything I can get.” He paused and took a drink of his coffee, then shoved it aside. “I still wish I could hit the pavement,” he added in a mutter, a dark scowl clouding his features.
“Are you suggesting my men aren’t doing their job?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m suggesting,” Brant said, though a smile tweaked his lips.
Thurmon grinned openly. “That’s another thing I’ve always liked about you, you bastard. Your honesty.”
Brant merely shrugged.
“Look, you know I’ve taken an active role in this thing with Jessie.” Thurmon’s face and tone took a serious turn. “Especially after her skull was nearly crushed. Veronica insisted, though I would’ve anyway.”
“I appreciate your efforts, too,” Brant responded on a sigh. “And I know you’re on top of the situation, as much as you can be, with no evidence. So far this creep’s just been smarter than us, and that gets my goat.”
“But we’re closing in, narrowing the field.”
Brant straightened. “Oh?”
“Yep.” Thurmon leaned in closer. “It looks like Roy’s been ruled out.”
Brant felt his adrenaline kick in and was about to speak when Thurmon held up his hand. “Hold your horses. Hear me out. Roy was in jail on a traffic violation that day.”
“My gut’s been telling me all along that Roy-boy wasn’t the one. Even though he hacked around with Jessica’s credit, I saw no signs of him having e-mailed her from his house. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything, considering it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact source of the e-mails or calls.”
Brant paused. “Still, Roy doesn’t have the balls for the heavy stuff. He’s a spoiled, overgrown kid who’s just interested in getting the money he thinks he deserves.”
“But with her out of the way,” Thurmon posed, “wouldn’t it be clear sailing on his trust?”
“I don’t think so, not the way Kincaid had it set up. His attorney would take over. And I don’t figure he’d be nearly as lenient as Jessica.”
“So we’ll scratch Roy.”
Brant rubbed his jaw. “Yep. Let’s just narrow our focus on the cops and Curtis Riley.”
“Anything new on Riley from your end?” Thurmon asked.
“I don’t think he’s our man, either. He’s much too smart to dirty his hands that way. Also, I suspect he may have political ambitions of his own.”
“He could’ve hired someone to handle his dirty laundry,” Thurmon pointed out.
“Well, that’s certainly more his style. Still, he doesn’t get my nod, though I’m not totally ruling him out. Not quite yet.” Brant got up and reached for the coffeepot, then raised it toward his friend.
Thurmon shook his head, covering his cup. “No more for me, thanks. As it is, I’m barely hitting the ground.”
“I bet you’ll be as glad as I will when this is all over.” After having said that, Brant felt his stomach clench. While he sorely missed his home and his solitude, the idea of distancing himself from his son again was something he didn’t want to think about.
And Jessica. He shuddered inwardly. He didn’t want to think about leaving her, either.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Brant replied darkly.
“Yeah, right.” Thurmon’s tone was sarcastic. “You know better than to try and outshit a shitter.”
“None of your business, then. How’s that?”
Thurmon laughed. “I’m gonna miss you, you know, although I haven’t given up on keeping your ugly ass here.”
“You’re wasting your time.” Brant’s tone brooked no argument.
“I’m not so sure,” Thurmon said with a display of outward confidence. “It’s going to be tough to leave Elliot, especially after you two have made peace.”
“Whoa! Hold on. We haven’t made peace, at least not in the sense you mean.”
Thurmon’s big features scrunched into a frown. “Ronnie said the outing went great. And even you said—”
“What I said was that Elliot had a great time. We didn’t get to talk personally about anything.”
“Oh, I see. Anyhow, you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, my friend. The fact that Elliot even went is a plus.”
“Jessica gets the credit. She’s terrific with him.”
“Ah.” Thurmon’s eyes took on a glint. “Now that’s interesting.”
The second Brant mentioned Jessica in a personal light, he knew he’d let his mouth overload his ass, something he didn’t make a habit of. But when he did, it was wholeheartedly.
“So is something going on between you two? Ronnie’s suspected that for a while now, only she hasn’t had the nerve to ask Jessica. I’m not nearly as tactful.”
“No shit.”
Thurmon chuckled. “Hit a sore spot, huh?”
“No,” Brant said harshly. “So don’t go getting any ideas.”
“You could do a lot worse, you know.”
A scowl darkened Brant’s face. “You’re really meddling now.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. So Ronnie’s right.” Thurmon grinned. “You two are sharing sheets.”
Brant forced himself not to react, not be conned into saying something else he would regret. Thurmon’s investigative nature had a way of doing that to unsuspecting people. But he wasn’t just anybody, and he sure as hell wasn’t unsuspecting.
Thurmon stood, that grin still in place. “You’re a piece of work, old buddy, to be able to pull that off.”
“Get outta here,” Brant muttered, getting to his feet.
Thurmon’s grin broadened, then faded abruptly. “Just so we’re on the same page, is anything coming up with Jessica’s schedule that I need to know about?”
Glad to be back on solid ground, Brant felt his stiff posture ease somewhat. “Tons of meetings, as usual. Plus the all-important council meeting. It’s looming. And there’s Roy. We’ve been back and forth to the hospital.”
“Is Jessica going to file charges on the little bastard for credit card fraud?”
“Oh, I doubt that. She’s planning on getting him into a treatment center. If he makes it, that is.”
“Do they have any leads yet on who might’ve worked him over?”
“The woman he’s been shacking up with, the one who supposedly got him hooked on the stuff, is being questioned. The detective who’s handling the case is keeping Jessica updated.”
“Hopefully they’ll find the bastard and Roy will have learned a valuable lesson.”
“For Jessica’s sake, I hope you’re right. But I’m not holding my breath.”
Thurmon headed for the door, then turned around. “Oh, before I go, I meant to ask if you’d talked to Elliot since the outing. I don’t think you ever said.”
“I tried, but Marsha said he was out.”
“She’s not about to cut you any slack, is she?”
“Not one ounce. If Elliot and I patch things up, it won’t be with my ex’s blessing, that’s for sure.” Brant’s tone was as bleak as his features.
“Well, feel your kid out, and if he can fit it in around his ball schedule, I’d like the three of you to come over for hamburgers one evening soon. I’ll have Ronnie mention it to Jessica.”
“I’d like that, but we’ll have to wait and see how things go.”
“Later, then,” Thurmon said and walked out.
Brant took care of their cups, then headed toward Jessica’s office proper. Seeing that it had emptied, he turned to Tony, who was conversing with Millie. “Is the mayor free for a few minutes?”
Tony flicked his wrist, exposing his Rolex watch, then said in his prim tone, “She has thirty minutes.”
“Thanks,” Brant mumbled, walking toward Jessica’s open door, all the while feeling Tony’s eyes shooting daggers in his back. Brant smiled to himself. Jessica wasn’t the only one who would be glad to see him go. Hovering Tony
hadn’t liked him from day one.
“What did Thurmon have to say?” Jessica asked without mincing words.
Brant thought she looked tired, even though the dark circles under her eyes added to the sheer beauty of her skin. Of course, the peach-colored suit that hugged her slender frame enhanced the entire package.
He was going to miss her. Jerking his thoughts out of that dangerous mode, he answered her question, updating her.
Brant was about to feel her out about Thurmon’s invitation when her phone jangled. Jessica punched the intercom button. “Who is it, Millie?”
When Jessica hesitated, Brant asked, “Is it our guy?”
“No.”
“You want me to leave, then?”
Shaking her head Jessica lifted the receiver. “Hello, Curtis.”
Instantly Brant felt his hackles rise. He averted his head so she wouldn’t see his reaction. Wonder what that bastard wanted? Probably to beef up the pressure on her about the land. No matter. Besides the fact that Riley hadn’t yet been dropped from the suspect list, he just plain rubbed Brant the wrong way. Ever since he’d grabbed Jessica and kissed her, Brant had wanted to hurt him.
Actually he’d wanted to do that the second after the man had walked into her house.
“Thanks, but I think it’s best if I just see you there.” Jessica listened a few seconds longer; then she said goodbye and hung up.
“Where is ‘there’?” Brant asked before she could say anything.
“A charity ball to raise money for The Children’s Hospital.”
“And he wanted you to go with him.” A flat statement of fact.
“Yes.”
She angled her head and peered at him through unreadable eyes. Dammit, did she want to go with Riley or not? He couldn’t tell.
“Do you have a tux?”
That question took him aback for a second. “Not on me,” he said with dark humor.
“Then I suggest you rent one.”
He suppressed a groan, breaking into a premature sweat. The last place he wanted to be was in a ballroom full of people with overstuffed egos that rivaled their overstuffed pocketbooks.
Great. Just fucking great.
The ball had been in full swing for an hour before Curtis made his appearance. Jessica looked on from a distance and watched him smile and greet several of the councilmembers who were present.
She had been moving from person to person, group to group, herself, doing her job, which was to shmooze with the contributors and thank them for their patronage.
An easy task, as The Children’s Hospital was a pet cause of hers, and she chose to visit it often. She’d also done work behind the scenes for Hospice, another of her favorite charitable endeavors.
Curtis, however, had a far different motive, a hidden agenda, trying desperately to swing the council vote in his favor. He just might pull it off, she forced herself to keep in mind. If so, then she would have no choice but to concede defeat.
But not yet. Anything could happen between now and the all-important vote, especially as Curtis remained on Brant’s suspect list.
Unwittingly her gaze went to Brant, who was leaning against the wall nearest her. When she moved, he moved. His constant shadowing should have been comforting.
Only it wasn’t.
Every time she looked his way, which was often, her breathing turned ragged. He looked so ruggedly gorgeous, but so uncomfortable. But then, he’d told her up front that he hated wearing monkey suits.
If he only knew how well that monkey suit suited him, he wouldn’t have griped. She noticed more than one woman giving him the eye. She couldn’t imagine his wife letting go of him so easily.
Suddenly Jessica tore her gaze off him and moved it onto Curtis, who was striding toward her.
“Good evening,” he said in his smooth voice, his eyes trailing over her. “You’re stunning in that dress.”
“Thank you,” she said with a forced smile. And while she knew she was at her best, having chosen a plain, but backless, long black dress, that showed off her creamy skin and slender figure, Curtis’ compliment didn’t set well with her.
“Will you dance with me?” he asked.
“I’d rather—”
“Come on. I refuse to take no for an answer.”
In order not to make a scene, Jessica let him lead her onto the ballroom floor, which was shy of dancers, she noted with dismay. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brant straighten and narrow his eyes.
He wasn’t happy. Although she hated having Curtis’ arms around her, she sensed that Brant hated it even more. Was he jealous? Crazy as it was, that thought brightened her spirits.
It seemed like forever since they’d made love. God, she ached to know those feelings he’d evoked in her again.
“So how are you, my dear?” Curtis asked, guiding her smoothly across the floor.
At least he was a good dancer. “I’m fine.”
“Looking forward to the showdown, I imagine.”
“Aren’t you?” she threw back at him, her eyes meeting the challenge in his.
“There’s nothing I can do to make you change your mind?”
“No, Curtis. And though you want to take my stance personally, it’s not meant that way. What I’m doing is for the good of Dallas. No ulterior motives exist.”
“I wish I could believe that,” he said bitterly, a strange glint appearing in his eyes.
Unbidden fear rose in Jessica, and she stiffened. Underneath that smooth facade of charm and flirtation, danger lurked. “Look—”
Her word was slammed back down her throat by Brant. He planted himself next to Curtis and said in a brusque, unyielding tone, “I need to speak with Mrs. Kincaid. So I’m cutting in.”
For a second Jessica stood paralyzed, watching as another mutinous expression darkened Curtis’ face. Please don’t make a scene, she cried silently, struggling for a way to diffuse the flammable situation.
No way was Brant going to back down. So that left only one alternative. Miraculously Curtis complied with a shrug, and a smirk, before letting go of her. “She’s all yours.”
Brant didn’t respond. Instead, he circled her trembling body with his arms and stared down at her. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“And if I did?” she asked, a trifle breathlessly.
“It wouldn’t matter,” he muttered in a guttural tone. “I can’t stand seeing that bastard’s arms around you another second.”
Jessica’s stomach bottomed out.
Thirty-five
“Hey, son, how’s it going?”
“Okay.”
Brant tried not to be disappointed at Elliot’s aloofness, but he was. He hadn’t talked to him since the outing, though he’d tried, leaving several messages. His son had returned none of them.
“When will you be leaving?”
The question took Brant by surprise. “I’m not sure. As soon as we find out who’s trying to harm Jessica.”
“Man, that boat’s super. I’ve been telling my friends all about it.”
“Maybe next time you might ask a couple of them to come with us,” Brant said, knowing he was speaking way out of turn. First off, he could be gone at any time. And second, Jessica had made no mention of a repeat outing.
But he hadn’t wanted to dampen Elliot’s enthusiasm; he was too excited at carrying on a conversation with him that wasn’t one-sided. “You know, I have a similar boat at my place.”
“You do?” Elliot sounded astonished.
“Yep. I take her out just about every day, too.”
“Do you catch a lot of fish?”
“Most days, then I go up to the cabin and fry them for supper.”
“That sounds like lots of fun.”
Elliot’s tone had taken on a bleak note, which tore at Brant. That was when he took another chance on speaking out of turn. “How would you like to come stay with me for a few weeks when ball season’s over?”
A silence followed his invitation. O
h great, Brant thought, here comes the hatchet job.
“Mom wouldn’t let me.”
Though he sounded cautious, he hadn’t said no outright. Hope flared anew. “Is that the only thing that would stop you?”
“Guess so.”
Brant felt his heart swell. “I bet your mom wouldn’t mind as long as the visit didn’t interfere with ball or school.”
“Want me to ask her?”
Brant could hardly contain his excitement. “Why don’t you let me take care of that?”
“What about Jessica?”
Brant’s breath left him. “What about her?”
“Would she come to Arkansas, too?”
Not in this lifetime. “I doubt that, son.”
“Oh.”
“But we can talk about that later, okay? Right now, I called to see when your next game is.”
“This coming Friday. We have the early one.” Elliot paused. “You coming?”
“If it’s at all possible.”
“You bringing Jessica?”
“It’s more like she’ll be bringing me. That’s the way it works in this business.” Somehow Jessica had touched a chord in Elliot, which was fine, but he wanted his son to feel that way about him, too. Patience, he told himself. Patience.
“I know she’d like to come.” Now Brant used caution, realizing if something happened and he couldn’t go, then he would have lost the ground he’d gained. He’d made too many promises in the past that he hadn’t kept. Somehow, some way, he had to make it to this game.
“Well, guess I’ll see you, then,” Elliot said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Sure hope so. I’m looking forward to it. Until then, you take care of yourself, you hear?”
“Okay.”
Once his cell phone was back in its case, Brant sat down, feeling like all the blood had been drained from his body. This emotional shit was for the birds. He hated feeling as though his heart was in a vise, something that was totally foreign to him.
But God, he cared about that kid. Seeing Elliot, again, being around him, had made him realize the precious gift he’d sacrificed for his job. He wouldn’t let him go again. He swore he wouldn’t.
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