by Marnee Blake
“Listen, if you’re using me as a spy with the Forest Services, then it is my concern.” The way his father was acting, there was more there. “I’m not telling you anything else unless you tell me what’s going on.” He didn’t add that Heidi Sinclair didn’t want anything to do with him and that was going to make getting information difficult.
If his father could hold details, so could he.
Lyle lowered his phone. “There have been incidents.”
“I heard. Two suspicious fires on the reservation.”
“Five. And they’re not suspicious. They’re arson.”
Dak imagined his return glare looked a lot like his father’s. It’s where he learned the art, after all. “Does Special Agent Sinclair know this?”
Lyle shrugged. “She knows what she needs to know. This is tribal business. Not something for the Forest Services.”
Apparently his father hadn’t changed, still held more secrets than classified documents. Dak gritted his teeth. “So this fire? Is that something for the Forest Services?” Because he hated that they were trying to keep this from Heidi. He’d only known her for a day, but she didn’t deserve being cut out.
His father’s beleaguered sigh took him back a decade. “It would be easier if it was.”
“But is it?”
Because that was the real question. Exactly how much was his father hiding from the organization that employed Dak? And why?
“The less you know, the better.”
“For plausible deniability, you mean.” He snorted. “Why did you involve me in this, Dad? You’re not on the tribal council, not in the government there. An arsonist on the reservation is below your pay grade, isn’t it?” He didn’t remind him that he worked for the Forest Services. He doubted that his father would care if it put Dak’s job at risk.
His father sized him up, and Dak wondered what he saw. It had been years since he’d stood under his father’s microscopic stare. But while his insides used to squirm, now he only waited. Lyle Parrish might hold the key to him being able to see his mother again, but he didn’t control anything else in his life. When he moved away, he’d vowed to never let the man make him feel small again. He’d keep that promise.
“You know who it is.” It was the only explanation. His father was protecting someone.
Lyle stepped closer. Since Dak got his height from his father’s side, they stood eye to eye. “There are things here you don’t understand. You’ve been gone a long time. Watch your step, or I won’t need to keep your mother from you. You’ll cut her out of your life yourself.”
Dak’s jaw ached from clenching his teeth. As he stared his father down, he realized how inevitable this conversation had been. “It’s Mikey, isn’t it?”
Years ago, his brother Mikey’s delinquent behavior had been the wedge that came between Dak and his father. After another in a long line of destructive incidents, Dak had implored Lyle to stop paying people off and get Mikey some help. His father had refused, and the blowup that had occurred between them had been epic. Dak had packed his bags and left the next day.
Why else would his father get involved, if not to protect Dak’s brother? And wasn’t that just history repeating itself? Especially considering what happened in Washington…
“I’m going to pretend that you didn’t say that,” his father whispered. “Think long and hard before you ever make that kind of accusation again. Remember what happened the last time.” His father stormed toward the door, and paused there. “I’ll be in touch.”
He left, leaving the door open behind him. Dak didn’t bother to watch him drive away, and he resisted the urge to slam the door. It was his place after all.
Silence remained as he sifted through the information he had. He had planned to get out of this. Heidi had made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him and didn’t need his help. But, if this was his brother… His father might be fine protecting him, but Dak wasn’t.
There was no way he could stay out of the investigation now.
The police. Surely they would need to get involved, if he told them…what? He didn’t know anything. There was juvenile delinquency from twelve years ago—which probably wasn’t even admissible—and his suspicions based on his father’s strange behavior. Which was basically nothing and would only serve to make him look bitter and keep him from his mother.
So how was he going to find out the truth? His family had completely cut him off. This kind of information required a real investigator, real access to legal information.
He needed Heidi. She could get access to the things he couldn’t, if he helped point her in the right direction. She could make sure that his brother was held responsible, if he was responsible.
And if she was doing the investigation, his father wouldn’t be able to hold it against Dak. Therefore, no reason to keep him from his mom.
Maybe it was for the best that she’d shot him down. He’d been as surprised by asking her out as she had been. Now, there would be no way he could ever start anything with her, not if he couldn’t be honest with her. Not if he wanted to see his mother again.
He needed to be able to see her, make sure she was fine.
Ask her for forgiveness.
He hated that he was dragging Heidi into his family drama, but he couldn’t see any other way. He’d have to do his best to keep her from getting derailed. He didn’t know her well, but she struck him as a straight shooter. She didn’t deserve this, but he didn’t have a lot of choices. No one at Warm Springs would help him. The Forest Services was his best bet.
Heidi.
He strode into his bedroom, and swiped his car keys off his side table.
It was time to get her some backup.
* * * *
At midafternoon, Heidi hung up the phone, irritated. It would still be a day or two before the soil test results came back, they said. Though she’d tried to express to them how important it was that she received the results as soon as possible, she’d been met with red tape. Nothing worked that fast, not there.
She yanked the hair tie out of her hair. It had been wet when she left her apartment this morning, so she’d twisted it into a bun. Now, she ran her fingers through it, shaking it to spread it out, let it dry the rest of the way. Leaning back in her chair, she stared at the stained ceiling tile.
There had to be something else, but she was out of leads. The police force at Warm Springs was investigating and they said they would let her know if they found anything or if there was any new information. At least that’s what Sergeant Kirk had said and considering she’d been rerouted to him on her two calls today, what he said seemed to go.
It didn’t take an investigative genius to see that Dusty Kirk wouldn’t be too forthcoming.
The investigator that was supposed to come in to assist her had come down with the flu. So, he wouldn’t be in until at least tomorrow. Another delay.
Which left her nowhere. At least right now, until she got the soil samples back.
Except, even if she did find out that the soil was steeped in lighter fluid, she had no suspects. She’d have to wait for the next fire. If it happened on the reservation, she wondered if she’d even hear about it. Kirk was taking obstruction and red tape to a new level. She’d put in a call to his boss, but that hadn’t been returned yet either.
She hated waiting.
At the back of her mind was the nagging reminder that she could call in other special agents, pick their brains. But, she’d spent all day going over it. There wasn’t anything else. Reaching out to them wasn’t going to do anything but prove to everyone she was a newbie in over her head.
“Knock, knock.” Dak leaned against her doorway. “Can I come in?” This morning, when she’d left him at his truck at the air center, he’d been dirty, tired. Now, he was clean shaven, dressed in cargo pants and sneakers. If she’d thought he was good l
ooking before, covered in the remnants of a fire, now he was too much.
More than once throughout the day, she’d debated whether she should reach out to him or not. Every time she picked up the phone, though, she’d shied away. She had already been insanely attracted to him before, when they were hiking. Sleeping all night next to him, listening to him breathe…God, she’d wanted him.
Hence, she hadn’t called. Being around him made her want him more, and she couldn’t afford that. Because she wasn’t exactly good at keeping her thoughts to herself. She was bound to end up confessing how into him she was, and then she’d have to field a bunch of unprofessional questions about why and how and why not. Questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.
Therefore, she should keep her mouth shut and stay away.
But that wasn’t how investigations got done. She needed new leads. If she was going to get anywhere, she’d have to use the resources available.
Dak Parrish was a resource, whether she liked it or not. She’d just need to learn how to keep her mouth shut.
Something she’d been incapable of during the past twenty-eight years. So this should be a train wreck.
“Sure.” She motioned to the chair in front of her desk. “I should have called.”
“Probably wouldn’t have called me either.” He sank into the seat, propping his ankle on his knee. He managed to make sitting look as graceful as he made everything else look.
Surprised, she laughed. “Why is that?”
He shrugged. “You didn’t want me to be involved in your investigation in the first place. I’m in your way.”
Well, that would be a convenient explanation for why she hadn’t reached out. In fact, it was more than she could have hoped for. If he believed that, maybe he would leave her alone. It would definitely be easier to do her job without a good-looking shadow around.
“That’s not why I didn’t call.” She snapped her mouth shut. Why didn’t she just shut up? “I mean, you’re right. I didn’t want you around. But you’ve been helpful. I mean, thank you for going with me to the point of origin. That was nice.” Seriously with the rambling again. Why didn’t words form properly when he was around?
“If it wasn’t the investigation, what was it?” His mouth quirked up.
She got the impression that she entertained him. That should annoy her, but instead, she loved the way he looked with that smile on his face. “Because you asked me out.”
His brows lifted. She closed her eyes. God, so stupid. This was not how it needed to go. Professional. She needed to work on being professional.
Exhaling, she tried again. “Anyway, there isn’t much of an investigation to get in the way of if I’m being completely honest.”
“No?” Apparently he was going to let her off the hook with that.
“I’m still waiting on the soil test.” She tapped the phone on her desk. “Still, even if I got that, I have no leads.” It pained her to admit it. She liked to think she was independent, that she could handle this by herself. But the truth was that she was nowhere.
“Then you have time for coffee.” He motioned with his hand, coaxing her to get up. “Let’s go.”
“I really shouldn’t.” She trailed her hand across her desk. “Some reports, an issue with forestry I should look into—”
“Come on. It’s only coffee. And I think you’ll like the place. Best coffee in Oregon.”
She searched his face, trying to gauge his motives. “Really, Dak. Like I said yesterday, I’m not in the market.” The words tapered off because her resolve wasn’t really that strong.
“Just coffee, not a marriage proposal. Not even a date.” He nudged his head toward the door.
She should stand firm. But she was still only a twenty-eight-year-old woman, and the pull of his friendly grin and rangy male body was hard to resist. He was right after all; she could use a friend and some help with this investigation.
And it was only coffee.
Decided, she pushed away from her desk. “You know what? Coffee would be great.” His grin widened, and she lifted a hand. “Slow yourself. Just coffee.”
“That’s what I said.”
Right. She grabbed her bag and keys. “So tell me where we’re going.”
“Maisie’s. In Warm Springs.”
Chapter 4
Dak offered to drive her, but Heidi insisted on taking her own car. He wouldn’t want to be trapped either. He liked his independence. Any other time, he wouldn’t care.
Except, with Heidi, it bothered him.
Not that she should trust him. It probably said something about her that she was wary. He wasn’t going to be able to tell her why he’d suddenly asked her to come to Warm Springs for coffee. No, he was going to let her think he was being helpful, when really, he was walking a fine line between his family and his job.
She pulled into the parking spot next to him. Joining him on the sidewalk, she stared at the General Store in front of them. “This place has the best coffee in town?”
He could understand her skepticism. They were at a grocery store. It wasn’t much if your expectation and experiences consisted of mostly Starbucks, but he wasn’t kidding. Maisie made French press like no one else.
“Trust me. Maisie knows how to brew.” He tucked his keys into his pocket, motioning for her to go ahead of him. “But we didn’t only come here for the coffee. We came for the gossip.”
Because Maisie had the scoop on everyone. If something was happening in Warm Springs, she’d have the details. Whether she would give them to them was another story entirely.
Earlier, when he told her he would be stopping by, her answer had been noncommittal. Maisie would be able to help as long as she believed he was still worth the intel. He hoped that was the case.
The bell on the door jingled. The place looked exactly the same, as if the past decade hadn’t happened. He wondered if the cereal was in the same place, if Maisie still had the same freezers, even the ice chest that housed his favorite ice cream bars.
The squeal of a chair in the back was also familiar. Dak rubbed the back of his neck, trying to soothe the ache of having been gone this long. He should have come by sooner to see her. This is where he’d gone in high school when his family had been too much. He’d spun on the stool in her office and Maisie had let him eat all the watermelon Jolly Ranchers.
Why had he avoided her since he’d moved back?
“Well, look what the wind blew in.” The signs of time were written on Maisie’s face. Lines etched the skin around her mouth and eyes, her hair was grayer, and her stance more stooped. But she hurried forward and folded him in a hug that was exactly the same.
He tucked her head under his chin and the tension he’d carried since arriving back in Oregon began to uncurl from his spine.
This was why he’d stayed away. If he hadn’t gotten this hug, it would have destroyed him. Now, he saw how foolish he had been to fear she’d withhold it from him.
“Hey, Miss Maisie,” he whispered, afraid that if he spoke louder, his voice might crack and give him away.
“Don’t you ‘Miss Maisie’ me. Where the hell have you been? This place has been downright boring without you.” She glared up at him, her wrinkled hands holding him at arm’s length.
He chuckled at her gruff tone, but she was right. Even if things hadn’t been good with his family, even if he hadn’t visited them for lots of reasons, he should have come. Maisie had been a surrogate parent to him.
“Out making my fortune,” he offered.
She laughed.
“I wanted to introduce you to Heidi Sinclair. She’s new in the area, and since I haven’t been around for a while, I thought you might be able to help her get acquainted.”
Heidi stepped forward, offering her hand.
“You’re the new special agent with the Forest Services, aren’t yo
u?” Maisie’s eyes had narrowed and, as usual, she got right to the point. He grinned. Still as sharp as ever.
God, he’d missed her.
Maisie’s stare was the one she’d given him when he and Jimmy got busted drinking down by the hydroelectric plant. It said, I see you. Never fail, it had made him question if he was acting right.
Sometimes he hadn’t been.
“I am.” Heidi’s hand fell. She didn’t look away, standing quietly and expectantly under Maisie’s assessing gaze.
His admiration hitched up. He’d seen grown men wither under Maisie’s glare. His girl didn’t falter, though.
Not that she was his. He needed to keep the reins tight on stuff like that. Sure she impressed him, but he couldn’t afford to think of her in any way that wasn’t professional. Not while he kept so much from her.
Finally, Maisie nodded, reaching her hand out. “Thought so. Jesse Broadridge told me about you. Was wondering how long it would take you to find your way here.”
Heidi’s lips twitched as she studied the grocer. “So this is the inevitable destination, is it? Surprised it took me so many months.”
“Me too.” Maisie snorted. “Not much of an investigator if you can’t find where the best place for information is.”
Dak had been holding his breath, but apparently he needn’t have worried. The two of them were going to get along great.
As Heidi laughed and Maisie joined in, the sound warmed his chest in a place he hadn’t realized had been cold. Being in Heidi’s company was as soothing as being in Maisie’s. The two women had similar straightforward approaches. Growing up in his family, where no one said what they meant, he found it incredibly refreshing.
It had been the right decision to bring Heidi here. She deserved a chance to do her job and Maisie would do what she could to even the playing field. And because his father was involved, he needed to know that the deck wasn’t stacked against her.
Convinced that they would be fine now, he squeezed Maisie’s shoulder, glancing between them. “Is it all right if I leave you two alone for a little bit? I was going to run a quick errand.” He hadn’t come all the way to Warm Springs to chicken out now.