“If it is one of their friends or enemies, I’m going to have a little chat with their parents,” Logan said with a scowl. “If Colt or Brianna did anything like that, they’d be grounded for a year. And they’d be doing chores to pay for that window.”
“I doubt the camera picked up enough details to know who it was for sure. Our street isn’t the best-lit, although the motion lights would have come on if they came up in the yard. Did you watch the video? I’d like to see it, too.”
He hadn’t closed the app so it was easy to cue the video again so she could watch.
“I think it was a Honda,” Ava said after the second run-through. “Or maybe a Toyota. Definitely a darker color.”
The motion lights had come on, but they hadn’t been strong enough to illuminate much of the street where the vehicle was parked.
Note to self: Get brighter fucking lights.
“I’m leaning towards a man,” she said. “Or a tall female because of how their height was compared to the bushes out front.”
“I agree but we still have nothing. So much for our state-of-the-art technology. First thing when we get home, I’m going to change the lighting and get a better camera.”
“There is one good thing that came out of this,” Ava said. “If this has anything to do with the murders, then they don’t know that we’re not home. They don’t know we’re in Florida.”
Leave it to his wife to see the bright side of any situation. She did, however, have a point. Whoever had decided to harass them - about the murders or not - didn’t know they were on vacation.
Just that slimy reporter knew. And he wasn’t going to talk. Not after the way they’d put the fear of God into him last night before they’d tossed him out.
Hell, they just might get that peaceful vacation after all.
20
“I can’t believe that happened to you,” Presley said in amazement after Ava recounted the story later that morning. They were all hanging out on the beach, and it was a beautiful but hot sunny day. “What a way to get woken up.”
Rayne waggled her eyebrows playfully. “Personally, I prefer other kinds of wake-up calls.”
Misty giggled and elbowed her best friend. “You are such a horn dog.”
“I can’t help it. Dare is just that good,” Rayne boasted with a grin. “And I’m even better.”
Maddie was laughing so hard she almost spit out her mimosa. “I have a feeling that all our guys are pretty good.”
“And so are we,” Kaylee said with a wink. “But seriously, is everything okay at the house? Was it just a window?”
“Just a window,” Ava confirmed. “Ryan went there early this morning and boarded it up with some plywood we had lying around in the garage. He’s such a sweetheart. He even cleaned up the broken glass in the living room. I just assumed that we’d do that when we got home.”
“That was nice,” Misty declared. “Ryan is a good guy. Maybe Jared can enhance the security video so you can see the license plate or make out their face.”
“Logan’s going to talk to him about that but I have to say that the video is really dark. Now that this has happened we’re going to do a better job with exterior lighting, but that doesn’t help us now.”
“Do you think it’s…you know…,” Presley said. “About the case?”
Ava shrugged helplessly. “I have no idea. Logan is suspicious and I don’t blame him. But it could just be a—“
“Coincidence,” they all said at once, then laughing.
“Yes, a coincidence,” Ava replied. “And you know how our men feel about those.”
Presley’s gaze turned to the shore where the kids were splashing in the surf. “It’s nice that Brianna’s friend was able to join in today. They look like they’re having a good time. Her family is here on vacation, too?”
Brianna had introduced her friend Katie this morning. Katie was petite with big blue eyes and a huge mass of blonde hair. She seemed like a nice girl, although two years older, a gap that Ava wasn’t sure she was happy about. Fifteen and seventeen were further apart then they appeared. A whole lot happened to a teenager between fifteen and seventeen. Including a driver’s license. Katie had driven herself here today.
I’m being a helicopter parent. Brianna is going to get her license soon, too.
And I’m going to worry about that as well.
Still Katie seemed nice and polite, shaking Ava’s hand and trying to make small talk about the weather and asking if they were having a nice vacation. Brianna was so excited to finally meet her online gaming friend in person and Katie seemed to be fitting into the kid group just fine. Even Colt was being nice to her. But then, Katie was attractive and Colt had noticed. So had Josh and Ben, apparently. They were all vying for her attention. To her credit, she didn’t seem to be basking in it, playing one boy off the other. She was spending time and talking to all of them equally. Katie seemed like a level-headed young woman.
“Apparently, so. They all seem to be having a good time together.”
It stayed that way all day, that evening, and into the next day - the teenagers playing frisbee, swimming, and hanging out on the beach. Katie and Colt even made a sandcastle with some of the younger kids. Colt was definitely smitten. At dinner, Katie had talked about her experience taking her SAT exams and was planning on applying to a nearby state school. She wanted to be a physical therapist.
So when Katie, Brianna, Josh, Colt, and Ben said that they wanted to go to the mall the next day to eat lunch and do some shopping, all the parents easily agreed. Lizzie and Amanda had also been invited, but they’d decided to stay behind with a few of the other kids they’d met on the beach that week.
“It’s weird how quiet it is without the older kids here,” Josie remarked as she and Ava heated up lunch in the condo. Everyone was taking turns fixing meals and Ava and Josie had picked up several frozen pizzas since they were quick and easy. “Not that the younger ones aren’t plenty loud.”
“It’s not so much the decibel level as it is the constant activity. They have so much energy. I wish I still did.”
Josie laughed. “I’m at the age where if I don’t get a decent night’s sleep I’m worthless all day long.”
“Me too.”
“I heard Colt talking about getting his driver’s license. You’re a brave soul to be able to face that two times over and at the same time.”
Ava didn’t feel brave.
“Then I’m a better actress than I give myself credit for. When I hear them talking about driving, all I want to do is curl up under my desk and hide there for awhile. I’m terrified of handing one of them the keys. They’re doing well learning to drive but even if I completely and totally trusted them I don’t trust all the other crazy drivers on the road.”
Josie groaned and rolled her eyes. “Florida roads can get dicey. At least we don’t have any snow or ice to make it worse.”
“I’m just taking this parenthood thing one day at a time.”
“Smart. No sense worrying about something that isn’t a thing yet. Live in the moment. Good advice.”
“Whoa, I’m not giving any advice,” Ava said, holding up her hands in surrender. “I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. I’m just trying to do my best.”
“You look like you’re doing great. Like you have it all together and figured out.”
Then I have everyone fooled.
It was obvious Colt had a crush on Katie. Brianna could easily see it and she was sure everyone else could, too. He was acting loud and brash to get her attention, bragging about his grades and sports prowess. Katie didn’t seem to return his feelings, which wasn’t a surprise. He was almost two years younger, after all. Katie had already told Brianna that she was more attracted to older guys. Her last boyfriend had been a freshman at the local community college.
To her surprise, however, Josh and Ben seemed to like Katie as well. While she didn’t think Katie would give Josh any attention, she was a bit more worried about Ben. T
hey had more in common, talking about college.
“You should go for it,” Katie said, giving Brianna a nudge under the table. They were all sitting in the food court of the mall, eating and chatting. “He’s cute. Funny, too.”
“He’s not interested in me,” Brianna whispered with a shake of her head. “And he already has a girlfriend.”
Katie glanced at Ben and then shrugged. “So? They wouldn’t be the first couple to break up. If you want something, you have to make it happen. No one is going to hand it to you on a silver platter. That’s what my mom always said to me.”
Brianna didn’t like the idea of breaking up a couple. If Ben was interested it would be one thing, but he wasn’t… She couldn’t force him to like her. To him, she was still just a kid. He wasn’t mean or condescending about it, but he definitely didn’t look at her like he might have feelings.
“I’m not that interested. He’s cute but he also lives too far away. I wouldn’t want a long-distance boyfriend.”
There. That sounded like she’d thought about it but decided against it.
“That would suck,” Katie replied, shoving her last fry in her mouth. “Better to stay with a guy that can spend time with you.”
The boys wanted to check out the latest phone at the technology store, but Katie suggested that she and Brianna look at clothes. She wanted to buy a new bathing suit and she wanted to get Brianna’s opinion. Colt looked a little more interested when he found out that Katie would be trying on bikinis, but Ben shook his head. They weren’t going to hang outside of a ladies’ fitting room like three perverts.
“We’ll meet up with you in a couple of hours,” Katie told them as they finished lunch. “By then we’ll be ready for ice cream.”
Brianna eyed the restrooms. “I need to make a stop first.”
“Perfect,” Katie said. “How about I grab us a couple of sodas while you’re gone?”
“Sounds good. I’ll be right back.”
Brianna ducked into the women’s restroom, trying to be as quick as possible. After washing her hands, she pulled a comb from her purse, running it through her long hair and freshening up her lip gloss. She rushed back out to find Katie sitting on a bench waiting with two sodas. She held one out when she saw Brianna.
“Are you ready to shop?”
Brianna certainly was. They hit the first department store, giggling as they pawed through the racks of bathing suits. Katie chose a couple to try on while Brianna combed through the clothes looking for something that interested her.
“If I like either of these, I’ll let you know. I want your opinion before I buy anything so don’t wander too far.”
While Katie was trying on the suits, Brianna stayed close, sipping her soda and looking at clothes. Her friend seemed to be gone a long time, and Brianna wasn’t feeling that well. She was a little woozy and tired, her eyelids heavy as lead. The room tilted a few times and then righted itself, leaving her a bit nauseous. By the time Katie returned, Brianna had to hold into a clothing rack to stay upright.
“I didn’t like either one of—Hey, you don’t look good. You’re really pale. Are you okay?”
As much as Brianna wanted to say that she felt great and they should continue shopping, she couldn’t lie. She didn’t feel good at all.
Brianna rubbed at the back of her neck which had become damp with sweat. “Actually, I feel a little sick. Dizzy and tired. Maybe we should head back? I think I need to lie down.”
Katie put her palm on Brianna’s forehead. “You do feel a little warm. Maybe you ate something at lunch that didn’t agree with you? What did you have? I don’t remember.”
“Fish tacos.”
Katie grimaced. “Maybe you got a bad fish. Let’s get you back home so you can rest. But keep drinking because you don’t want to get dehydrated.”
“What about the guys?”
“Let them shop or whatever. I can come back and get them after we make sure you’re okay. You’re getting paler by the second and I don’t want to wait for them.”
To be honest, Brianna was in agreement. As wobbly as her legs were, she didn’t think she’d make it to the car if they had to wait for the boys. The room was spinning, and the sweat was running down her back.
“Here, why don’t you lean on me? I’ll help you to the car.”
Gratefully, Brianna let Katie help her out to the parking lot, the Florida summer sun beating down on them the minute they exited the cool air-conditioned building. The heat and humidity almost took Brianna’s breath away and seemed to make her stomach even worse, almost losing her lunch and her dignity. Luckily, Katie was able to get them both to the car, immediately starting it up so they could turn on the air conditioner. Katie flipped all of the vents so they were blowing on Brianna, hoping to make her feel better.
“Are you going to puke?”
“Maybe,” Brianna admitted, sinking back against the warm seat and letting her eyes finally close. It was such a relief to be sitting, her jelly legs no longer having to support her weight. Even if it had only been her partial weight thanks to Katie’s help. “I’m not sure.”’
“Take a few more sips of your drink.” Katie had carried Brianna’s soda for her. “It might help your stomach.”
Brianna accepted the beverage, taking a few sips and then placing the cold styrofoam against her forehead.
“I just need a minute. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m really worried about you. Let’s get your seatbelt on so we can go.”
Katie helped Brianna on with her seatbelt before backing out of the parking space.
“We’ll be back home before you know it,” Katie said, taking the cup dangling from Brianna’s hand and placing it into the holder between them. “Just hang in there.”
Another wave of nausea and fatigue, and this time Brianna didn’t even have the energy to reply. She opened her eyes just a little to see Katie exiting the mall before letting them close again, her entire body going limp.
She’d just sleep for a few minutes. A few minutes, that’s all.
21
The group had finished lunch and was lounging on the beach under a couple of umbrellas when Logan’s phone vibrated with a text from Brianna.
Please come get me. I don’t feel well. We’re at her family’s rental home.
Then a second text came in quickly after the first with the address. Logan immediately tapped out a reply.
I’m leaving right now.
“Brianna isn’t feeling well,” he said, levering up from the chair. “She asked me to come get her.”
Ava frowned. “Not well? Did she say what was wrong?”
Logan shook his head. “She didn’t but remember how we always said that we’d go get the kids no matter what, no questions asked? I figured we might be in that territory today.”
Both he and Ava had always told the twins that no matter where they were or what time of the day or night, if they wanted to leave their friends and come home all they had to do was call. No questions asked. They wanted them to feel comfortable to call if there was alcohol or drugs or who-knew-what-else going on and they didn’t want to be there for it. Even if it was something as simple as a disagreement between friends.
“No, you were right,” Ava replied. “I just hope she’s okay. Will you text me when you pick her up?”
“Absolutely. I’m just going to run upstairs for my car keys.”
Tanner stepped in Logan’s path. “You shouldn’t be driving, my friend. Didn’t you just finish a beer a few minutes ago?”
Shit, Tanner was right.
“I’ll drive you,” Tanner offered. “It’s no big deal. If Brianna doesn’t feel well, she might need all of your attention anyway. This way you don’t have to try and do two things at once.”
It sounded like a good plan. Ava offered to drive as well but Logan was fine with Tanner doing it. She hadn’t imbibed any alcohol today, but she was in her swimsuit and covered in sand from making a sandcastle with the younger kids
earlier. She’d need to shower and change, which would only delay them.
“We’ve got this,” Logan said. “I’ll send you a text as soon as we pick up Brianna.”
Tanner retrieved his keys from the condo, and they headed out in the rental car to the location. Logan had looked up the address on GPS and luckily it wasn’t all that far. Just a few miles past the mall. He also sent a quick text to Colt to ask about Brianna, but his son replied that they’d all split up after lunch and he hadn’t seen his sister in awhile. Katie and Brianna were fine and going to look at swimsuits. Logan texted back that he’d be in touch as soon as he could about picking them up. Katie had been their ride to the mall, but she’d taken Brianna to her vacation rental.
I wish she’d just brought her home.
“Why don’t you send a text to Seth? He can pick up the boys while we get Brianna.”
Before Logan had a chance, his phone was ringing. It was Eli on the other end.
“We finally have a break in the case, boss.”
Maybe something good would happen today after all. Logan put the phone on speaker so Tanner could hear as well.
“Talk to me. Tell me something I’m going to like.”
“I’m not sure how much you’re going to like this actually.” There was a pause before Eli continued. “The DNA sample came back and it’s a partial match…to Wade Bryson. As in a fifty percent match. Male. It’s Bryson’s son.”
It was probably for the best that Logan wasn’t driving.
“Bryson’s son? Are you sure?”
“They’re sure. I’ve already called the sheriff in that little Florida town where they’re living. He’s going to bring Gavin Witlock, aka Jake Bryson in for questioning. If he’s even in the state. We’re looking for him here as well. Bryson must have been doing it for some sort of twisted revenge against you guys.”
“I guess so. Ava must have been right about the initials.”
“I’m flying down there as soon as I can but if you want, I can ask the sheriff if you can be present for the questioning if he finds him. You’re not too far from there.”
Forgiven Justice (Cowboy Justice Association Book 14) Page 16