Finding Justice

by Rachel Brimble

  He continued to glare, his mouth pulled into a tight line. The fraught silence stretched like a rubber band around them, threatening to snap and leave a great red welt of their failure in its path.

  He tipped his head back to look at the ceiling. “You’re in serious danger here, Cat.”

  Cat’s heart swelled with love for him. “I know, but we won’t let that stop us finding who did this.”

  His gaze locked on hers. “The guy has your number. He could be watching the cabin right now for all we know. We’re pinning your hopes on nothing.” He shook his head. “How the hell are we supposed to find money hidden on a couple of miles of sand? It will take hours of manpower to search an area as big as Cowden Beach. Sarah might as well have tossed it in the damn sea.”

  Irritation simmered inside her and Cat struggled to keep it in check. Attacking him, shaking him wouldn’t help either of them. “It will be in one of the places we used to go as kids. I’m sure of it. If she wanted our help, was scared for her life, it makes sense she’d want us to find it before anyone else.”

  He crossed his arms. “We don’t know that.”

  “But it’s somewhere to start. If we can get ahead of Bennett and his team, I will be even happier. I want us to be the ones who find her killer. Don’t get me wrong. If Bennett finds him, great, but wouldn’t it be peace for us knowing we did that for her? That we brought her killer to justice even if we couldn’t save her life?”

  “Of course it would, but by the time we scour every inch of the places we used to go, you’ll be called back to Reading and then what?” He pushed his hand into his hair and held it there. “I can’t do this on my own, Cat. We have to solve this while you’re here or I’ll go insane, I swear.”

  “We’ll find it.” Cat took his hand, willed him to believe. “We will. We just need help. Help from people you and I can both trust...”

  An idea so preposterous it could only be right, filtered into her mind. Could they?

  Cat smiled. “I’ve got an idea.”

  Jay shook his head. “Uh-oh, you’ve got that look on your face.”

  “There are two particular people we both know who love nothing more than sticking their noses in everyone’s business and will practically combust thinking they have superior knowledge over Bennett.”

  He stared at her for a moment before comprehension lit in his eyes and a smile curved his lips. “Please tell me you’re not thinking of letting Marian and George in on this?”

  She grinned. “Why not? They are an elderly couple with the gumption of two people half their age. Who’s going to suspect them of being up to anything at the beach? They’ll fly under the radar, Jay.”

  He grimaced. “I don’t know. This could be dangerous.”

  “I know. I know.” Cat whirled away from him and paced the room. “But it would work. I’m sure of it. Marian strikes me as the kind of woman who doesn’t quit. As for George?” She turned. “He’ll do anything for either of us. I know this is dangerous, Jay, but it’s for Sarah.”

  “And if anything happens? It goes wrong?”

  “It won’t. We can’t think that way. If I thought that way, I wouldn’t do my job and I wouldn’t expect my team to risk their lives every day. No one will take any notice of them. This is not the best option, but damn it, it’s the only one we have to gain us more time. If Marian and George are looking for the money it frees us up to find out who Sarah was seeing and what hold he had over her to make her get involved in something so dangerous.”

  “And what about you?”

  She frowned. “What about me?”

  “If Bennett—hell, if your boss finds out you put not one, but two civilians in such a precarious position you’ll be kicked out of the force.”

  Cat stared, adrenaline pumping through her veins. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take for my best friend. We have to do it if we stand any chance of catching her killer sooner rather than later. It’s only a matter of time before he leaves the Cove with or without that money. It’s been almost three weeks since Sarah died. The money could already have been found, but it’s unlikely. It will be somewhere another adult wouldn’t think of looking. We can get Marian and George to search all the places we can think of.”

  He came toward her and took her hand, leading her back to couch. He pulled her down beside him. “Okay, we’ll ask them. They might shoot us down in flames, but knowing them as we do, that’s highly unlikely. It makes me sick to my stomach to think Sarah might’ve actually loved this guy.”

  Tears burned behind Cat’s eyes. “I know. Love shouldn’t get you killed.”

  He turned and stared into her eyes. “Why not? I’d die for you.”

  The room fell into silence and Cat attempted to pull her hand from his but his fingers clamped on tighter.

  “Jay—”

  “Don’t panic.” He smiled softly. “Take it as a given and move on.”

  She tugged on her hand and he let her go. What was she supposed to say to that? She couldn’t deny he would risk his life for her. In her heart she knew his words were true. He’d said he’d do anything for her seven years ago and he said it now.

  She met his eyes and promptly drowned in the sincerity, the care, the love shining back at her but fought to the surface to survive.

  “I have to go back to Reading, Jay.”

  “And whatever is going on back home is stopping you from fighting for this new chance for us to work, right?”

  Heat pinched her cheeks. “No, of course not.”

  “Then what is it, Cat? Is it me? My addiction? Because if it is, I understand—”

  “We’ve both changed so much, that’s all.” Her gaze wandered over his face, taking in every line, every blemish, every perfection. She wanted him; her entire body screamed for him. “We’re living entirely different lives than we were before.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  She cupped a hand to his stubbled jaw. If only her mum... She forced her hand back onto the couch.

  “It’s not you.” She pressed her fingers into the soft cushions to keep them out of trouble. Thoughts of the life waiting for her when she got home pressed down on her chest. “Thinking about starting a relationship now... What if I hurt you?”

  “You wouldn’t—”

  She shook her head, firmly shutting the door creaking on its hinges in her heart. “I can’t do this. I can’t take that risk.”

  Cat turned and stared ahead at the huge stone fireplace. Sadness enveloped her. They would never work. It would be too much for both of them. She shifted the subject as far away from the personal as possible.

  “Sarah’s letter might not have given me the name of who she was helping, but we’ll know when we find the money. She left the name of her killer with the money.”

  “What? Why would she do that?”

  She turned. “Think about it. Whoever found the money would know who killed her and have a serious decision to make. Would you want to hold on to fifty grand when it was with a letter signed by a woman naming the man who likely killed her? A woman whose face has been all over local television for the past three weeks?

  “She worked this out, Jay. If we find it, we have the name. If somebody else finds it, then they have a name and fifty grand cash to hand into the police. If the killer finds it—”

  “He could take the money and the accusation and run.”

  “Exactly. So, out of those three options, we hope to God it’s not the last one and the
money is still somewhere waiting to be found.”

  “We’ll find it. I promise.”

  She smiled at the renewed optimism shining bright in his eyes. He was so handsome, so strong. Conquering his addiction was like a wrongful aphrodisiac to her. It made him fifty times as attractive to her messed-up mind, body and soul. God, she wanted him. Wanted him more than he realized. Just having him near her brought feelings she had buried under a sea of pain, hurt and frustration.

  She closed her eyes and battled the need for him as it poured hot and reckless into her blood.

  “Sarah says in the letter she took the money from the person as ransom. She’d only tell him where it is if he stopped what he was doing.” She opened her eyes. “Someone must have seen her with him and Marian and George are as good a starting place as any.”

  His eyes darkened with regret. “I can’t think of anyone. I saw her cross the street if she saw me coming toward her. I saw her leaving the bakery without speaking to me. I saw her, but she didn’t want to see me, so I haven’t a clue who he could be.”

  “Was she always alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re sure? Maybe she was with the same person so often it hasn’t registered. Maybe you know the person and think it couldn’t possibly be them.”

  He turned away and emitted a low, guttural moan of frustration before shaking his head and staring at the ceiling. Cat stared at his profile. As a young woman, she’d thought him her idol, and now, older, wiser and a cop, he was her constant. The man she still loved.

  He blew out an exhausted breath and turned to look at her. “Just kiss me.”

  Her breath caught. “What?”

  He inched closer. “I said, kiss me.”

  Her center ached and her nipples tingled. “Jay.” A pathetic whisper of a laugh escaped. “Don’t be ridiculous. Didn’t you hear what I just said? We can’t do this. The kiss in the forest—”

  His lips crushed hers before she could speak another word. Delicious shockwaves of pain and pleasure rocketed through her. He pulled her forward in a tight grip, pulling her on top of him as he fell backward onto the couch. Guilt scratched at the periphery of her conscience, but she ignored it, pushed it away. Her breasts crushed against his hardened chest with erotic disregard, and she scored her fingers into his hair, bringing him closer.

  As she melted against him, her internal protestation against them being together stormed inside her mind. She couldn’t let this happen. Couldn’t risk her heart and his this way. Yet, where her intentions were strong, her body and heart were weak. Just one time. Just one moment of being someone else. The desperate need to be the woman she was before her father died broke wide open.

  His tongue found hers and she met its ardent warmth with animalistic hunger. Memories and familiarity flooded her brain and emotions. A primal moan escaped him and vibrated against her chest and into her mouth. They took what they needed without finesse or tenderness. Sarah was dead. They clung to each other as physical heat and need overtook their senses. Her body ached for him; her heart wept for him.

  Cat was forced to pull away for breath. Her blood rushed into her mind, putting in a heady, exhilarating state of want. She met his eyes.

  “We can’t do this.”

  “We can. And we are. Let’s go to bed.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  WITH HER FINGERS CAUGHT in his, Cat let Jay lead her into his bedroom. They moved straight to the bed. The jade-green drapes lay wide open; a single bolt of moonlight split the dark silken duvet in two. She eased her hand from his and crawled onto the bed, her heart slamming hard against her rib cage, her stomach knotted with want and crazy abandon.

  He stood immobile by the side of the bed and stared down at her. Despite his face being in shadow, his admiration swept over her and Cat felt beautiful.

  His shaky exhalation broke the silence. “I feel as though we’ve wasted a lifetime.”

  Smiling, she held out her hand. “Then get up on this bed before my common sense comes back.”

  He slid his hands onto the bed and his body followed. Lying down beside her, he cupped his hand to her jaw and Cat watched him watch her. His thumb moved higher to graze softly against her bottom lip and she resisted the urge to trap it between her teeth.

  “I’m going to make love to you, Cat Forrester. I should never have let you go.”

  His lips came down on hers, claiming her, and Cat surrendered to the emotions, need coursing through her blood and heating every hungry, desirous inch of her body. Her breasts ached for his touch, for the release only Jay could give her.

  She returned his kiss, gently teasing him with the soft provocation of her tongue against his, pulling back to tease his lower lip, then plunging back inside, her tongue an appetizer to everything her body wanted from him.

  He groaned and pulled her over on top of him, his hands tugging her blouse from her skirt so his fingers could slide over her back. Her skirt was a crumpled mess high on her hips as her naked legs welcomed the harsh scrape of denim. The cool air sliced across her skin, ironically fanning the flames burning beneath her semi-exposed panties. All that separated them was a scrap of cotton and the thick denim of his jeans. Cat pressed her groin to his.

  She opened her eyes and watched his closed lids flicker and jolt, as he moved his hands from her back to grip her buttocks and draw her closer. The distinct coolness licked at her core, readying her. She increased the pressure of her mouth, taking more of him, fueling his arousal and hers. He needed to know how she wanted this. Needed to know this was as much for her as it was for him, despite everything she said minutes before. She hadn’t lied to him. They couldn’t last, but they could have this. A moment she’d hold in her heart and never regret.

  Her mum, her real world, felt far away. Hidden in another place where Jay need never discover it. There would be pain, there would be hurt, but for the joy singing in her heart and forever in her memory right then, it would be worth it. Jay cared for her. Always had.

  Cat didn’t want the gentle, caring lover who worried about hurting her, worried about being her first. That was before. She’d been with other men since and today she was a grown woman. Exhaling as his teeth nipped at her neck, she relished the erotic pain mixed with pleasure as it washed over her senses.

  “I want to touch you,” she whispered. “All of you.”

  Drawing away from him, she inched back until she sat upright against his groin. Feminine power roared through her blood as the delicious feel of his erection through his jeans touched her naked thigh. With her gaze locked on his, Cat slowly unbuttoned her blouse. His eyes widened and his jaw grew tight as she tossed it to the side and reached around to unhitch her bra.

  She flung it to the side, her nipples tightening under his gaze. “Your turn.”

  He sat up and their faces were barely inches apart. Lust swirled in his eyes as hunger raged and desire burned. He clasped one naked breast in his hand, massaged it possessively, swallowing Cat’s shocked gasp with his mouth. Her arousal skyrocketed and she fumbled for the hem of his T-shirt before roughly yanking it over his head. Their lips separated for seconds before reclaiming as they fell back onto the bed.

  Her breasts and torso nestled against the soft brush of hair running across the middle of his chest and down his washboard stomach. Her heart swelled and her mind emptied when he moaned her name.

  He tilted her to the side so she lay on her back and Cat fell into his gaze, unaware of anything b
ut him. The sexy lift at the corner of his mouth sent her insides into a girlish loop-the-loop as their connection slammed into place and locked. She fought the fear of it, the resistance; they were joined in finding their friend’s killer, and they were joined in their anger and passion. They were joined.

  However temporary, it didn’t make what was happening less tantric. His fingers smoothed over her thigh and she clamped her teeth together. His progress was tortuously slow, her body trembling with anticipation.

  Silent understanding passed between them and Cat disregarded the emotional tidal wave rising inside her, threatening to destroy every intimate barrier she’d so meticulously erected since her mum’s downfall. This was Jay. Her Jay. He wouldn’t hurt her, wouldn’t ask for more than she could give. She was safe. She swallowed. Safe as a wooden house in the line of a smoldering fire.

  Her breath caught when his fingers roughly tugged her cotton panties aside and he plunged his fingers deep. Tenderness was absent, possession was rife and Cat’s eyelids grew heavy as he rediscovered her by moving within her, his thumb simultaneously smoothing over her silky wet nub.

  “Oh, God, Jay.”

  He covered her mouth; his tongue sought hers. Cat clasped her hand to the back of his head, demanding he kiss her longer, deeper. He teased her with diligent precision. In and out, around and around. He massaged her to a near frenzy until Cat’s toes curled and her heart raced.

  Cat exhaled. “Take them off. I want you.”

  He moved from the bed and stood. His eyes feasted on her as he yanked his belt from its buckle and snapped open the buttons on his jeans. He tugged the denim and underwear over his hips and muscular thighs in one slick motion. Cat’s gaze shamelessly zoomed in on his arousal.