Cold Case Reopened

by Caridad Piñeiro

  He swung her arm playfully. “I’d tell you I’m vegan, but you already saw me chow down at Deck’s.”

  “I did, and I hope you’ll love this place also,” she said, and with another tug, urged him into the restaurant.

  The host at the podium, a youngish man in his late twenties, raised an eyebrow as Rhea came in with Jackson. The man swung around the podium to give her an effusive hug. “Rhea! So good to see you! And who’s this?” he asked, shooting a warning glare in Jackson’s direction.

  With a playful shove, she pushed the host away. “Easy, Randy. This is Detective Whitaker. He’s helping me with Selene’s case.”

  Jackson shook the other’s man hand and tried not to be too stung that Rhea hadn’t said he was a friend. But then again, he wouldn’t be too happy about being friend-zoned, either, since he wanted more from her.

  “Your favorite table is free,” Randy said, grabbed some menus and guided them to a spot right by the windows where they could have dinner and people watch, as well.

  After they were seated, Jackson leaned close and over the top of his menu whispered, “If you and Randy—”

  Rhea chuckled and skimmed her hand across his forearm. “He’s just a friend. A friend who’s probably way more interested in you than me.”

  Jackson peered at the man, who smiled at him.

  “Oh, okay. I was worried he might think I was competition or something.”

  Rhea smiled, and it was the smile of a seductress. Her crystal blue gaze darkened and her voice was husky, sexy, as she said, “No one can compete with you, Jax.”

  Wow, definitely not friend-zoned. “I can say the same about you, Rhea. My one wish is that we hadn’t met the way we did, but I’m glad we’ve met.”

  “Me, too,” she said and set her menu down.

  The waiter approached at that moment and said. “Good to see you again, Rhea. The usual?”

  “The usual, Sam,” she answered and handed him the menu.

  “What about you, sir?” the waiter said, his tone not anywhere near as friendly, warning that Rhea had another possible protector.

  “The porterhouse. Medium rare,” he said. As the waiter rushed away to place their orders, Jackson picked up his water glass and glanced at her over the rim. “You have a lot of defenders.”

  Rhea grinned and shook her head. “They’re just not used to me bringing a man here,” she said and then covered her mouth. He thought he heard her mutter, “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” It brought a smile to his face, since it made him special and since it confirmed that Rhea lacked guile.

  He took hold of her hand. “I’m glad I’m special. I am special, right?”

  With a chuckle, she twined her fingers with his. “And dense, if you don’t know that yet.”

  Sam, the waiter, returned with a wine bottle and made quite a show of opening it. “Courtesy of Randy. One of our best cabernets.”

  They both offered their thanks, and Jackson took the first sip. “Excellent.”

  Sam filled their glasses and walked away to give them privacy. Jackson raised his glass and toasted. “To friendship.”

  She tapped her glass to his and surprised him again with her boldness. “To friendship and more, Jax.”

  With a dip of his head, he said, “To more.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jackson lounged on Rhea’s sofa, his muscled arms resting along the top of the cushions. He’d taken off his denim jacket and carefully folded it to cradle the holster he also removed. The pile of the jacket and holster sat off to the side, a very masculine contrast to the brightly colored pillows tucked all around him.

  Her belly was full with the fabulous filet mignon and wine she’d had for dinner, as well as the cheesecake slice she’d shared with Jackson. In truth, she was a little sleepy and, dare she say it, at peace for the first time in months.

  Hard to believe, considering she still didn’t know what had happened to Selene and someone was trying to either kill her or drive her off the investigation.

  But with Jackson there...

  So many different emotions raced through her in addition to the peace. Comfort. Need, especially as he settled his gaze on her. His gray eyes were dark, almost black as he invited her to join him on the couch. Invited her to more.

  She didn’t hesitate, taking hold of his hand and snuggling into his side, her head pillowed against his chest. His heartbeat loud and beginning to race beneath her ear.

  He skimmed his hand across her hair, smoothing it. Slipping beneath the hair at her shoulders to her neck, where he massaged her muscles and then shifted his hand downward again to hug her close.

  She snuggled in tighter and higher, until her lips were barely inches from his. Laying her hand on his chest, she pressed upward to trace the edge of his jaw with her mouth. Beneath her hand, his muscles tensed.

  She looked up at him. Found the question in his gaze. “I’m sure, Jax. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

  Her words released his control. Urgently he slipped his hands to her waist and urged her upward. Their first tentative kiss, one of invitation and acceptance, quickly flared into one of heat and passion. They kissed over and over, mouths meeting ruthlessly, hungrily.

  As Jackson brought his hand around to cup her breast, she moaned and moved to straddle his thighs. His body was hard everywhere. Strong. So strong and insistent against hers.

  She shifted on him, needing him. Needing to release her control and savor what this amazing man could provide.

  Jackson groaned as Rhea moved on him. He clasped her hips with his hands and urged her to still. “Rhea. Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I am. Come with me.” She eased from his lap and tugged him off the sofa.

  He willingly followed, needing Rhea like he had no other woman. Wanting to explore the complex woman he’d only known for a few days. Humbled that he could feel so much for her in so short a time.

  In her bedroom, she went straight to the bed and offered him a smile that was both welcoming and hesitant. He bent and tasted that smile. Accepted the invitation and hoped to ease her sudden reluctance, because if he couldn’t...

  He wouldn’t pressure her.

  He turned to sit on the bed, bringing her face-to-face with him.

  Cupping her cheek, he gentled her and welcomed her into the V of his outspread legs. Gently he strummed his thumb across her cheek. Soothed his other hand up and down her side.

  She laid her hands on his shoulders before leaning close and kissing him again. The kiss tentative at first until passion ignited need so intense, it was impossible to stop.

  Kissing was interrupted only to remove clothes until flesh was against flesh, and Jackson slipped on protection. He covered her with his body, joining with her. Breaths caught with the union. Exploded as Jackson moved within her, pulling her ever higher. Pushing them closer and closer to the edge until, with a final thrust, they tumbled over the edge together.

  Rhea cuddled tight to Jackson’s side, her thigh tossed over his. Her head pillowed on his muscled chest. He draped his arm down her back, holding her near. He laid his other arm across hers, pinning it against his chest. His touch soothing as he grazed his hand along her upper arm.

  “That was...nice,” she said, unable to find the right word to describe what she was feeling. Satisfied. Peaceful. Expectant.

  “Ouch. Just nice,” he teased, laughter in his tone and in the shake of his body beneath hers.

  She leaned an elbow on his chest and glanced up at him. “Okay, maybe more than nice. But don’t let your ego get out of hand.”

  He inched a dark brow upward. “A lot more than nice?”

  Chuckling, she settled back onto his chest and drifted her hand down his midsection and lower. “Maybe. Want to try for way more than nice?”

  He rolled her beneath him. “Definitely.”
<
br />   THEY WERE HEADING back to Rhea’s apartment after visiting her gallery the next morning when the call came from his cousin Sophie.

  “I hope this is good news,” Jackson said as he answered and paused by the entrance to the building.

  “So nice to talk to you, too, primo,” Sophie teased.

  “Sorry, cuz. It is nice to hear from you. How are you?” he said and looked in Rhea’s direction. With a dip of his head, he confirmed it was the call for which they’d been waiting.

  “I’m fine, and so are you. Robbie and I managed to get some images off the hard drive of that woman whose photo you sent. It wasn’t easy. We had to get the corrupted data off the drive, rebuild the FAT table and—”

  “Sophie, English please,” he said, teasing her about the geek speak.

  Sophie chuckled and said, “I’m sending the photos via email, and I’ll text them to you, as well.” He heard the click-clack of keys to confirm the dispatch of the images.

  “I owe you big time.”

  “You do, so how about you come visit and bring your lady friend, as well?” Sophie said, laying on the guilt.

  “My mom told you to say that, didn’t she?”

  Sophie’s husky laugh confirmed it. “Call us if you need anything else, primo.”

  “I will, Sophie. Thank Robbie for me,” he said and hung up to peer at the images she had sent.

  Jackson angled the phone so Rhea could see the grainy black-and-white photos. The first was of Selene inside the pub, sitting and eating. There were other patrons nearby, including two heavily bearded and long-haired men who seemed to be looking in Selene’s direction. The second photo was similar to the first, but in this one there was no doubt that the men were staring at Rhea’s sister. The last three images were from the exterior of the pub. Selene near her car and, after, another one showing her pulling away, but in the background, the two bearded men again. They were leaning against what looked like a Jeep. The final photo created a blast of memories through Jackson’s brain.

  The Jeep was backing out, providing a glimpse of its front bumper.

  It was that bumper that had piqued his interest, since it was way too similar to what he’d seen only moments before they’d been rammed and almost driven into the back of the logging truck.

  “Is that—”

  “The SUV that hit us? I think it might be,” he said and used his thumb and forefinger to zoom the photo and enlarge the bumper section.

  “A definite maybe,” he said.

  Rhea wiggled her forefinger at the phone. “Go back to the earlier images. I think I’ve seen that man before.”

  He did as she asked, and she nodded. “He was in the police station when I came to speak to the chief.”

  Jackson zoomed the image to focus on the faces of the two men. Their heavy beards and long hair hid many of their features, but there were some similarities in the shapes of their eyes, noses and lips. “They could be brothers,” he said, tracing those features with his forefinger.

  “They could be. And I had a witness who said she drove by and noticed another Jeep by Selene’s car that night. We’ve been thinking that it was Matt’s Jeep, but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was this Jeep.”

  “There’s only one way to find out. You have contact info for that witness, don’t you?”

  Rhea nodded and skimmed through the info on her phone. “I do. I guess we go see her.”

  “We do, only...” He wanted to tell her not to get her hopes up, but that would be unrealistic. The photos and connection to their attackers was beyond coincidence. It was a solid lead, and one they had to follow.

  “Let’s go,” he said and held his hand out to her.

  Her smile was grim as she slipped her hand into his. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

  GAIL FRAZIER WAS a sixtysomething LPN who worked at an assisted living facility in Regina and volunteered with an organization that provided meals and companionship to seniors. She had been coming home from one of those volunteer assignments when she had seen Selene’s car and the unidentified SUV.

  “What time do you think you left Mrs. Wilson’s home?” Jackson asked as they sat with the LPN in her workplace’s cafeteria.

  “Much later than normal. Mrs. Wilson was a little despondent that day since it was her husband’s birthday. He passed several years ago,” Gail explained.

  Rhea nodded. “That was so nice that you stayed to cheer her up.”

  Gail sniffled, and her eyes filled with tears. “I lost my own husband two years ago and started volunteering to fill the empty hours. My assignments help me as much as I help them,” she said and picked up her coffee mug that said “#1 Nurse.” She took a sip and after said, “I think I was there until about nine. Maybe a little earlier. I got Mrs. Wilson settled in bed, cleaned up a bit and then drove home. That’s when I saw the cars by the lake.”

  Jackson pulled out a photo of Selene’s sedan. He laid it in front of Gail. “Is this the car you saw that night?”

  Gail nodded, her head shifting up and down emphatically. “I think so. I didn’t think anything about it that night since people stop to look at the lake at all hours.”

  “What made you reach out to me and not the police?” Rhea asked.

  Gail shrugged and pointed to the photo. “At first I didn’t think it was unusual. But then I ran across your posts on Facebook asking for any additional information. It got me thinking about that night.”

  Jackson considered the older woman, judging her sincerity. “So you suddenly remembered a second car months later.”

  Another emphatic nod answered him. “I did. I wish I had made the connection earlier, but I didn’t. Like I said, nothing seemed off until I saw Rhea’s post and started thinking about it.”

  Which would make her testimony in court totally vulnerable to challenge. Any good defense lawyer would chip away at it to attempt to prove she imagined the second car as a way to help Rhea. She was a caregiver by nature and liked to volunteer to help others. Giving Rhea that info totally fit her nature, even if the veracity of the information might be doubtful.

  Jackson tried to push her some more. “You thought the other car by the lake was a Jeep. One like this?” He slipped a photo of Matt’s Wrangler in front of the LPN.

  She laid her hand on the photo and drew it near for a closer inspection. With a shrug and a small frown, she said, “Like this one, but not this new or nice. The one I saw looked older. More beat-up.”

  Jackson shared a look with Rhea. If Gail was right, Matt was moving further down on the suspect list with each new bit of information they gathered. Opening his folder, he drew out a photo that his cousins had provided. “What about this SUV?”

  Gail peered at the photo, squinting at the image. She picked up the glasses hanging on a bejeweled chain around her neck. Slipping on the cheaters, she said, “I don’t really need them, but use them just to be sure of the directions on some of the patients’ medications. The print is just too small and this photo... Well, it’s quite grainy.”

  With the cheaters in place, she perused the photo for a too-long minute before she set it down and gestured to it. “Like that one.”

  Rhea leaned toward the other woman and placed her hand on the photo. “Like that one? So you don’t think this is the SUV you saw?”

  Gail got snippy. “I didn’t say that, did I, young lady?”

  Rhea inhaled deeply, held her breath and then in a gentler tone said, “I’m sorry, Gail. I truly appreciate that you came forward so we can find out what happened to Selene.”

  Seemingly chastened by Rhea’s statement, Gail picked up the photo once again and reexamined it. When she set it down, she said, “I think this was the car. I remember it having that weird bumper thing.”

  The same weird bumper thing that I saw just before we were rammed, Jackson thought.

  “That’s important
, Gail. Thank you,” Rhea said and shot Jackson a look, as if saying, Tag, it’s your turn.

  He ran with it. “Did you see anyone near the cars? Selene? Anyone else?”

  She shook her head. “Just the cars. I didn’t think to look at the lakeshore. Like I said, it didn’t seem anything was out of the ordinary and truth be told, I was tired. I just wanted to get home and get some rest.”

  “We understand. You do hard work here and with the volunteering... You must be exhausted late at night.” Rhea laid a hand on Gail’s, offering her thanks with the touch.

  “I am, but like I said before, it helps me, as well. If there’s anything I can do, please let me know,” Gail said and glanced at her watch. “I really should get back to my patients. It’ll be lunchtime soon and I have to get their medications ready.”

  When she rose from her chair, Jackson and Rhea did the same. Jackson shook her hand and said, “We appreciate the time you took. If need be, would you be willing to testify to what you saw?”

  Gail peered at Rhea and said, “I would and I’m so sorry for your loss. It must be difficult for you.”

  Rhea’s lips were in a tight line, her voice choked with emotion as she said, “Thank you again, Gail. I appreciate you coming forward. It’s been truly helpful.”

  With a quick nod, Gail slipped away to return to her patients, and Jackson and Rhea left the facility. At the cruiser, Jackson crossed his arms and leaned against the fender, facing Rhea. She stood before him, arms wrapped around herself defensively. “I know this is upsetting.”

  Rhea shook her head and her dangling silver earrings danced against her neck. “It is, but I can deal.”

  “Can you deal with the possibility Matt wasn’t the one who killed Selene?” Jackson pressed, hating to hurt her, but needing her to acknowledge he was likely not their suspect any longer.

  “She’s not dead,” Rhea said, which shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did.

  “Rhea, please,” he urged and reached for her, but she brushed off his touch and stepped away from him.