Marina stared down her nose at him with her arms folded across her chest. “Ah, so there’s the motive behind the choice.”
“Maybe a little.” He winked.
“I trust you.” Her words caused her to jump. She trusted him? When had that happened? Trust and Marina weren’t synonymous.
Steven grinned. “You trust me, huh? That says a lot.”
She was in deep now. He’d noticed her slip up. “You have no idea.” She’d crossed over into new territory. Trusting anyone right now was big. Trusting a cop after her past experiences was huge. “If my parents were here, I could stay with them. But then again, they’d be in danger.” She groaned. “I guess I need more friends, don’t I?”
“All you need are a few good ones.”
“Yeah, well, clearly the ones I choose aren’t that great.”
Steven clicked his tongue. “It happens. You aren’t responsible for Iris’s betrayal, you know. I’m sure you’ve been a good friend to her.”
“Maybe too good.” Marina tapped her fingertips against each other. “Do you know who sent the flowers or why they would have sent them?”
“No, the florist said they paid with cash. Said a little kid came in and ordered them.”
“A little kid?” Marina frowned. “Who would use a child for something like that? It’s obvious they were sending a message they’re watching me. That’s horrible. I wish we could figure out if all these things are connected.”
Steven opened the console as he turned on Magnolia Road and pulled a pretzel out of its bag. “I may have a way of figuring that out.”
“How?”
“I found something where the pickup crashed into the tree.”
Marina didn’t want a reminder of that horrific incident. Her life could have ended that night. “You mean where the pickup almost killed us?”
“To be precise, yes.”
She could have stopped the conversation right there, but her curiosity wouldn’t let her. “What did you find?”
“Besides the drugs, which we’ve charged Kemar with, we found a pack of cigarettes. Inside the pack was a jump drive that contained a list of names and dollar amounts.”
Marina’s interest was piqued now. Could these names relate to Iris somehow? If only she could tell Steven about the gambling. Maybe that’s all that was going on and not drugs. No, she couldn’t tell him what Iris confided in her. “Drug debts?”
“That’s the direction I’m leaning. There was no traceable evidence to lead us to the owner of the storage device. Kemar won’t rat out whoever was in the truck with him. But we’re almost positive they belong to the shooter.”
“How can I help?”
“Tell me if you recognize any of the names on the list and how they might be connected to your company.”
“Sure, yes, I’d be happy to look. Anything I can do to solve this mystery.”
“Anything?” He arched an eyebrow and smirked.
She squeezed her eyes shut. “Anything except do more spying.”
He held up his right hand in surrender. “Message received.” Steven grew quiet as he turned into the park.
Maybe she’d finally gotten her point across to him that she didn’t want the answers enough to risk her life or to betray Iris yet.
“But I won’t stop asking.”
Her face warmed and needle pricks bombarded her feet. How was she supposed to play along with his fake date plan when he wasn’t respecting her boundaries? “I won’t stop saying no.”
“If I get a warrant, you’ll have to comply.”
There it was—the true motive behind his friendliness. He didn’t care. Solving his case held the most importance for him. He was as bad as his brother. “That’s the only way I would.” Marina folded her arms across her stomach and shot Steven a fire-infused look.
***
Steven’s comment about the warrant wasn’t an empty threat. He’d get one if he had to. But he preferred Marina’s voluntary help, so he could solve the case without dragging her down with whoever was behind the illegal activity. With her assistance, he wouldn’t need a warrant, and he could move ahead with an arrest much sooner.
If he wanted, he could sweet-talk her into allowing him onto her property with every officer and agent he could gather. She didn’t know he had little except his suspicions right now and, therefore, couldn’t move forward without her cooperation.
No, he couldn’t lie to her and break her trust, nor could he manipulate her. His only alternative was to continue sitting outside the business and waiting for something concrete to transpire.
If Iris and Jarvis were involved, which he suspected they were, nothing would occur while they were out of town. But he could be wrong about that. With the business closed this week and Marina out of the office, this could be a perfect opportunity for something big to happen. Iris and Jarvis could’ve planned a major drug swap to coincide with their vacation, so they’d look as innocent as Marina if the police made an arrest.
Once Marina confronted Iris about the money and the checking account, Iris could return home and start trouble with her or try to destroy possible evidence. Steven needed to secure Marina at John’s house with Sharon and a few officers after the cookout and go with him to stake out the business. He’d worked too hard and spent too many hours to let this case slip through his fingers, and he’d already let two unwatched nights slip away.
The man behind this had never encountered Steven and his team before, and by the time the game was over, would regret his choices.
Steven bit off the end of the pretzel and tossed it into the cup holder. He pulled into a parking place in front of the covered pavilion set into the woods and put his SUV into park. Ten cars filled the surrounding spaces, which meant the festivities had already started. He waved at a couple of the guys who walked with their children to the playground area down the hill.
“Marina, I apologize for how harsh I sounded. I’ve been working on this case for so long that I’m obsessed with it.” He shouldn’t have threatened her, but he needed to do his job, and she didn’t understand the importance of this case.
Marina stared out the window in silence with her arms folded across her stomach in a defensive nature. She’d shut herself off to him when she’d been accessible before.
He closed his eyes and squeezed his hands into fists until his nails cut into his palms. He didn’t have time to nurture this woman. She could stay mad at him if she wanted. She’d be better off if she remained distant anyway. That way he couldn’t hurt her.
But he needed her help or at least her cooperation, so he had to smooth out the ruffled edges he’d created. He tapped on the console. “Will you accept my apology?”
She kept her attention directed to the play area. “That depends.”
“On what?”
She shook her foot and pursed her lips. She was on the defensive more than he’d realized. Kind of like a rattlesnake. He should have expected that reaction, though. His request was no small one.
“On whether you’re sorry or not. You can apologize all day, but if they’re just words, then I don’t accept.”
“They’re not empty words. I’m sincere. I’m sorry I sounded harsh. I’m an officer of the law, and I have a job to do. Sometimes my goal blinds me, and I plow through people like a bowling ball knocking down pins.”
Marina uttered a tiny laugh and unfolded her arms. “That describes you to perfection.”
Steven half-grinned. He’d broken through her defenses. “So do you accept?”
She faced him and arched an eyebrow. “I suppose. But only because it’s the right thing to do and because I need your protection.” Her shy smile revealed she forgave him. But he was no amateur with women. The hurt had carved a notch in her heart, and she wouldn’t forget it.
He turned off the vehicle and pulled the keys from the ignition. “Ready to meet everybody?”
“I’m readier to eat. I’ve barely had anything the last two days. If John’s wife�
��”
“Sharon.”
“If Sharon’s food is as good as you say, I may never go home.”
“Oh, it’s that good ... no, better.” He jumped out and went around to the passenger’s side to let Marina out of the SUV. When he opened her door for her, he fought the urge to take her hand and help her out of the car, fought the urge to pull her close to him. He fought because this wasn’t a real date. It couldn’t be. Not ever. She’d gone out with Mark, after all, and she didn’t trust him. Didn’t seem to trust anyone. He steadied and pushed whatever tried to creep to the surface back down into his heart.
Marina slid out of the seat, hopping to favor her ankle. So much for staying off her feet for a few days. Steven and John would have to make sure both she and Sharon spent time relaxing in front of the television with a bowl of warm cobbler or something chocolate after they went home.
“You’ll love Sharon. She’s great. Everybody’s great. John and I tend to collect friends who have our same sense of humor.”
“You mean you have one?” She must not be too annoyed with him to make a joke like that.
“Funny.”
“So naturally I’ll adore them?”
“Naturally.” He laughed and motioned for her to lead the way down the walkway. When they made it to the threshold, he stepped into the pavilion in sync with Marina. “We’re here,” he announced with a wave.
Marina might bolt back to the SUV and hide at any minute, but Sharon, deep in her third-trimester of pregnancy, enveloped her in a hug before escape became an option. John must have given her notice that Steven was bringing Marina to the cookout.
Sharon released Marina from the hug, and a smile spread across her face. “Welcome! I’m glad you came.” She had a special way about her that made people relax and feel like part of their group. She’d done it before when Steven had brought women with him to their gatherings, and she’d remained friends with some of them even after the relationships had ended.
Marina tucked her hands into her jacket pockets, a polite but closed off response to Sharon’s expression and gift offering of friendship. “Hi, good to meet you. Thanks for letting me join.”
Sharon smacked Steven on the shoulder. “Are you kidding? Any friend of Steven’s is a friend of ours.” She grabbed Marina’s forearm. “Come on, and I’ll introduce you to the girls. Can I steal her from you for a few?”
Steven smiled at the woman who was more like a sister to him than a friend and motioned for Marina to go with her. “Make sure to bring her back, though.” He winked at Marina, and even though her face lost color, she went with Sharon.
He surveyed the surrounding woods from the entrance of the pavilion. Even while hanging out with friends, he had to stay on full alert. Since many of the leaves had fallen from the trees, they didn’t have as much coverage as they would have had in the summertime, so they could be oblivious targets. He shoved his hands into his front pockets. Though Marina would be safe with Sharon and the other women, he wouldn’t relax until she was by his side again.
Chapter Fourteen
Marina braced her mind for the introductions as the pixie-like Sharon dressed in a paisley maternity dress and slip-ons and sporting a burgundy-colored bob pulled her into the gang of suburban women. If she’d known this was an outdoor gathering of friends, although Steven would have objected, she’d have taken the time to change into something more cookout-with-the-Joneses appropriate instead of being in her workout clothes—clothes she’d wallowed in on the floor. What did it matter, though? She doubted she’d ever see any of these people again.
A few days could make such a difference in how a person responded to strangers. If she’d met them three days ago, she’d have shaken each of their hands with confidence, offered them her business card and asked them about their landscaping needs. The pre-accident, pre-betrayal Marina would’ve smiled and made eye contact with confidence. She’d have laughed with no worries holding her back.
But today’s Marina was different. Wounds—both physical and emotional—made her leery of strangers and hesitant to connect with people even if they came recommended by one of the few people she trusted.
Like her outlook on things, Marina’s circumstances weren’t like they had been a few days ago either. Today, although she’d ridden in the vehicle with the handsome detective, she wasn’t meeting a date’s friends but a protector’s backup instead. Once everyone found out the truth behind why she was there, they’d view her as a victim. Their affections wouldn’t be genuine or would be short-lived at best and full of pity, and they’d whisper about her and her case when she left.
Without thought, Marina zipped her jacket, warding off the expected chill she’d receive from these women. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. She was trapped here until Steven decided to leave. She’d be lucky if she could eat one bite of Sharon’s food.
The unexpected laughter and the aroma of burgers and chicken on the grill which spilled out from underneath the pavilion, however, lured her out of her anticipated rejection and out of the defense mechanism of desiring isolation. She couldn’t help but feel welcomed.
Barbecuing with friends was something she hadn’t done in ages. Would she be entertained by their interactions with each other and with Steven? They were a curious bunch in that the men congregated at the playground, and the women grilled. That alone sparked an interest in her. She’d never witnessed anything like this.
Her cares melted away as Sharon introduced her to ten women, named their spouses and children, and summarized their lives like in a mini-profile on social media. How could she remember them all?
Beneath the wooden pitched roof of the timber frame pavilion, at a picnic table about twenty-five feet long, Marina sat with her new acquaintances and chatted.
“Can you believe this gorgeous unseasonal weather?” One of the women asked.
“Thank goodness we’re not getting rains from the weather front that’s coming up from the Gulf,” another added.
They continued with talk of the latest romantic comedy and the price of groceries. But even with babies on hips and toddlers demanding attention, these women couldn’t be deterred for long from begging for all the juicy details of the day she’d met Steven.
“John told me you’re a new friend of Steven’s. Right?” Sharon brushed her brow with the back of her hand and flipped the burgers.
Although they’d met before, what they had was new, but it’s definition wasn’t friendship. Of course, Marina couldn’t divulge that information. “You could say that.” She tipped her bottle of water up and sucked in the cool refreshment. It’d take her a week to recover from the neglect she’d shown her body the last few days.
A platinum blonde in a frosted-pink dress leaned forward with an inquisitive gleam in her eyes. “When did you two meet?”
“Officially? A few days ago.” Were they curious about her or was it Steven? He appeared to be the last bachelor of the bunch, and perhaps they all rooted for him to end his single days. “But we met a few years back, briefly.” No need to fill them in about Mark.
A model-like brunette with piercing blue eyes and a hidden newborn swaddled against her chest in a wrap directed her attention toward her as she swayed. How had that woman given birth to a child sometime in the last week or two? Marina had more meat on her bones than she did. “And he already invited you to our cookout? Usually, he keeps his girlfriends a secret until he thinks it’s getting serious.”
“Julie, if they just met, I doubt she’s his girlfriend … yet.” Was the spray-tanned woman in sandy-blonde braids and the cutest fall wrap she’d ever seen coming to her defense? She faced Marina with the same inquisitive look Julie had given. “Right?”
Julie shrugged. “You never know, Ann Marie. It is Steven we’re talking about.”
A chorus of laughter erupted from the women.
As much fun as tormenting the ladies all day would’ve been, she couldn’t lead them to think Steven was a real date. “Right. We’re
only … friends. All my family and close friends are out of town this weekend, so he let me tag along.”
Sharon pulled the last of the burgers off the grill and added the chicken breasts to it while sharing a sympathetic smile with Marina.
Julie patted her baby’s bottom and inched her way toward her. “You didn’t say where you met.”
Marina glanced up at her. “That’s right. I didn’t.”
Sharon put her hands on her full hips. “And she’s not going to, girls. Stop prying.”
***
Steven’s back and shoulders ached, and his legs burned like he’d run a marathon due to the sleepless nights he’d had since Friday. He’d stepped over the line somewhere between then and now, and he viewed Marina as more than a victim. This case couldn’t come to a resolution quick enough.
John and the other men occupied the playground, and he made his way down the hill to them. After handshakes and shoulder whacks with the other men, talk of the latest Falcons game and hunting successes, Steven pulled John to the side. “We’ve got a problem.”
“What?” John kept his gaze directed at the rope course where Bart Shelton’s two sons under the age of seven competed to see who could get to the end first without falling off.
Steven nudged him with his elbow gaining his full attention. “I don’t think Marina’s going to help us with this case.”
John faced him and shrugged. “She already said she wouldn’t. What’s new about that?”
Why wasn’t John more concerned? “We had a confrontation over it in the car on the way over here. I told her we suspected a marijuana operation at her nursery, and she said she’d help, but she won’t spy on Iris or Mack. She’s more concerned with finding out what happened to the money Iris transferred.”
A roar of shouts came from the dads and kids surrounding the rope course. Bart’s sons had reached the end. Why couldn’t life be that carefree?
“How are we going to get in there then? We don’t have enough evidence for a warrant.”
Grafted into Deceit Page 16