by Donna Grant
“I hope so.”
“Here,” he said and handed her a piece of paper. “It has my cell phone number on it. Call anytime.”
She wanted to believe he was interested in helping her. Still, past experience had taught her that people in his position only wanted to help their loved ones—even if that meant committing a crime.
“You won’t use it,” Cooper said with a wry smile. “But you have it anyway.”
Without another word, he got out and closed the door behind him. Marlee turned her head to watch him, amazed to find that he’d parked right next to her. He didn’t tarry. Instead, he drove away as soon as he was done with her. She thought about Cooper’s visit as she finished her breakfast, washed it down with the remaining coffee, and ate the last donut hole.
Only then did Marlee allow her mind to drift to the case. There had been no additional reported kidnappings the previous night, which she deemed a win. That didn’t mean it hadn’t happened. The kidnappers took from all walks of life—the rich, the needy, the poor, the homeless, and most especially those in the country illegally.
Marlee dialed the friend she had in the FBI and put it on speaker as she put her car in reverse and then headed to the hospital.
“Marlee,” Stephanie said when she answered the phone.
Stephanie Smith had been Marlee’s first contact in the FBI after her sister’s murder. She and Stephanie had remained in contact through it all and had established a friendship. Marlee didn’t take advantage of that fact, however. She was always careful about how she asked Stephanie for information.
“Hey,” Marlee said with a genuine smile on her face. “It feels like forever since we last spoke.”
“A week. Tell me how you are, girl.”
“The usual.”
Stephanie grunted. “That good, huh?”
“Livin’ the life, girlfriend.”
The two shared a laugh. Then Stephanie said, “You’re calling about the recent murders and infant kidnappings.”
“Yeah.”
“I figured you might. I pulled some data on them as soon as we got notice.”
Marlee breathed a sigh of relief. “Steph, you’re the best.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
“Why?” Marlee asked, suddenly wary. Whenever Stephanie said that, it meant bad news was coming.
Stephanie’s voice lowered, and it sounded as if she covered her mouth with her hand. “I think I found another woman who was killed with her infant cut from her. A man was seen near the mother, obviously distraught and trying to revive her. By the time the cops came, he was long gone.”
“You sure he wasn’t the perp?”
“Based on reports from witnesses, it sounds like they’re illegals.”
Marlee flattened her lips. “They’re terrified of being deported, so they won’t go to the cops. Shit.”
“It gets worse.”
“How can it get worse?”
“They found three more murdered women, all pregnant. One of the babies didn’t make it and was left with the women. The three females and the infant were found in an abandoned building in Houston.”
Marlee’s stomach churned with the news. “Let me guess, all illegals?”
“Yep. There could be more. We just have no idea because those in this country illegally won’t come to us.”
Marlee pulled into the hospital lot and found a parking spot. She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Thank you.”
“I can get in a lot of trouble for giving you this.”
“I know. I won’t be stupid. I know what to do.”
“Do you?” Stephanie asked, her voice harsh. “You’re out there on your own. No one should be without a partner in this. Especially you.”
It was a reminder of the time she had been attacked by a member of the family she was investigating. “I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Marlee, you’re only one woman. Sure, you’ve solved cases, but how much longer do you think that can happen going out on your own as you are?”
“Well, you can always quit the FBI and join me.” It was a running joke they’d had for years.
Stephanie chuckled, her voice lightening. “Then who would you get all your information from?”
“Good point. I’ll check in soon.”
“You better,” Stephanie threatened.
Chapter 11
If Marlee was surprised to find Cooper at the hospital with Brice and Naomi, she didn’t show it. Not that Cooper thought she would. She was nothing if not professional. He wanted so badly to ask her about her sister, but that was something only she could share. If she wanted to talk about it, she would.
And why would she discuss it with someone she barely knew? Someone she still deemed working against her? She wouldn’t. He wished he didn’t know about it. He wished Jace hadn’t told him, but he knew why his friend had. It helped him understand Marlee a little better, as well as gave him insight into what drove her.
Because each of them had something that guided them.
“Damn,” Jace whispered as he leaned over to Cooper. “She is stunning.”
Marlee’s bourbon eyes briefly landed on Cooper, and she flashed him a slight smile—the only thing she did to acknowledge him.
“Yikes,” Jace said and flicked his hand as if he’d burned his fingers. There was a smile on his face when he looked at Cooper. “I think I’ve got a shot with her now.”
Cooper was surprised by the fury that rose within him. He bit back his reply to his best friend, the order to stay away from Marlee, but just barely. Instead, he walked away, trying to figure out why he had reacted so violently to a jest.
“Everything all right?”
Cooper turned his head to find Clayton standing beside him. Though fifteen years his senior, Clayton could probably still kick his ass. Clayton had been a Navy SEAL and was damn good at his job. He was an even better rancher.
“Yeah,” Cooper replied and found his gaze redrawn to Marlee, who was now speaking with a doctor, Naomi, and Brice.
Clayton made a sound in the back of his throat. “I’ve known you and Jace for as long as I’ve known Caleb and Brice. And you know I think of all of you as my younger brothers.”
“I know. Jace and I feel the same about all of you.”
“Good. So, hear me when I say that while I’ve seen all of you bicker and fight among yourselves, I’ve never seen anger like you just had on your face toward Jace. I know you aren’t okay.”
Cooper ran a hand down his face and turned to Clayton. “Honestly, I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.”
“What did Jace say?”
“Just that he had a shot with Marlee.”
Clayton suddenly smiled. “It appears you’ve got a thing for her.”
“I barely know her.”
“It sometimes takes even less.” Clayton turned his head to his wife of eighteen years. “I still remember the first time I saw Abby. When she walked into the interrogation room with Danny at the sheriff’s station, all I could think about was how gorgeous she was. I didn’t want to talk about Brice being arrested for cattle theft. I just wanted to ask her to dinner.”
Cooper watched love fill Clayton’s pale green eyes. “I don’t think you ever told me that.”
Clayton shrugged and returned his gaze to Cooper. “Sometimes, it merely takes a look. Sometimes it takes a meeting, and sometimes it takes longer. But it all ends up the same—with people finding each other.”
“I’m not looking for anything. Hell, I don’t even know what I want to do with my life.”
“Do you have any idea what you do for all of us, Coop? You’re there to help out at my ranch, the Rockin’ H, your mom’s salon, and with Jace without having to be asked. You instinctively know when an extra hand is needed. I won’t even go into the many things you’ve done to help both Danny and Ryan. You might not have a job you clock into every day, but you do have a job. I just wish paying you wasn’t an act of God.”
&n
bsp; Cooper chuckled. “I help my friends. Getting paid for it just seems wrong.”
“Have you thought about why you know when you’re needed somewhere?”
He thought about it for a moment then shrugged. “No.”
“It’s because you read people, and you’re damned good at it. You also assess situations and see the weak links. That’s when you fill those holes.”
Cooper crossed his arms over his chest. He appreciated Clayton’s words, but he still felt as though he had yet to find the thing that would put him on the right course for the rest of his life. Though he wasn’t dissatisfied with his current state of affairs.
“Now,” Clayton said, “when it comes to Marlee, you need to think about what’s really bugging you.”
Cooper frowned as he dropped his arms to his sides. “What do you mean?”
“Are you still pissed because she made sure to be at the café last night to accidentally run into you? Are you irritated that she’s looking into your friends and the fact they might have gotten themselves into a sticky situation without meaning to? Or are you so tightly wound because you like her, and you don’t think she’s interested in you?”
“Before I answer that, are you angry at all about this?” Cooper asked and waved his hand around.
Clayton shot him a dry look. “You know I am. But I also realize that if Family First gave Brice and Naomi a kidnapped child, they’re not going to know what hit them. We’re going to come down on the adoption agency like a hammer. In the meantime, we’re going to make sure the child is returned to his rightful family by helping Marlee do her job. This isn’t her fault.”
“I know it isn’t.”
“Do you?” Clayton asked as he quirked a brow.
Cooper nodded his head. “I do. I may not act like it, but I do. As for your earlier questions, I think my ego’s bruised from her using me. And, if I’m completely honest, I don’t think she’s interested.”
“I don’t need to tell you to give her some space. I also talked to Jace earlier. He told me what you and he are doing. Don’t crowd Marlee, but I don’t think it will take her long to realize that you’re helping her. Give her time to trust you. She doesn’t have a reason to yet.”
“That’s what I intended.” Cooper squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Did you talk to Ryan?”
“I spoke with Danny. He told me about Marlee’s past after learning about her from Ryan. I don’t think she’s going to like that we’ve done a background check on her.”
Cooper glanced at Marlee to see her still talking to Naomi. Their body language said the tension was gone, though the worry still shone on Naomi’s face. “Marlee knows. She’s a PI. She’ll realize we’ve checked up on her, especially with us knowing Danny and Ryan.”
Marlee started their way, but she halted before reaching them. Clayton slapped Cooper on the back as he nodded at Marlee and headed off. She made her way to Cooper’s side, her smile hesitant as if she wasn’t sure what to say.
“You were right,” she said. “Naomi and Brice just want to help.”
Cooper grinned. “How long until the hospital is finished with Nate?”
“Another few minutes, and then Brice and Naomi can take him home.”
“You worried they’re going to bolt?”
She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “That’s always a worry. But I hope their close ties to family and friends and how they handled things here means they won’t.”
“If Nate is the child you’re looking for, they’ll be crushed, but they won’t run. What we’ll do to the adoption agency is something else entirely.”
“I wish all jobs were this easy.” She gave a shake of her auburn curls. “So many start off saying they want to help, but they never really do. Some have waited years to adopt a child.”
“You’ve seen some ugly situations. Does that make you not want children?”
She blinked and scrunched up her nose. “I think I gave up the idea of a private life the moment I started down this path. I don’t even have my own place because I’m never there. All of my things are at my parents’ house. How can I have a relationship or even children when I’m always on the road for some case or another? I fly all over the country.”
“Not internationally?”
“There were a couple of cases where I had to leave the country, but they went cold after that.”
He glanced down at the floor. “That might not happen if you had a team.”
“A team?” she asked, her brows knitted together.
Cooper nodded as he leaned against the wall. “Since I’ve not seen anyone with you, I gather you do this on your own. Think of how many additional cases you could solve, or solve faster, if you had more people working for you.”
“You’re the second person today who’s said something like that.” She chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I think I’d just lose focus on the cases because I’d be worried about those working for me doing their jobs properly.”
“You’d have to hire good people.”
Her bourbon eyes cut to him, and he saw a teasing light there. “You applying for the position?”
“Maybe.” The word was out of his mouth before he realized it.
Both of them were so shocked at his reply that they stood in silence for a few moments. Then Marlee said, “I’ve thought about having a partner, but this line of work takes a special kind of dedication. Most who work just one of these cases never do it again. Even the authorities that get child kidnapping cases all inwardly cringe because they know the statistics. And those are generally older children. It’s even worse for infants and toddlers.”
Cooper wasn’t sure how to reply to that. Thankfully, he didn’t have to because a nurse came out of the back with Nate in her arms and handed him off to Naomi. She promptly put him into the carrier as Brice finished signing the papers.
When Marlee walked to the couple, Cooper went with her. He nodded to Brice and peered inside the carrier to find Nate sleeping soundly while sucking on a pacifier.
“Thank you again for doing this,” Marlee told the couple.
Naomi smiled, though it was tight. “How long are the tests going to take?”
Marlee shrugged. “I’ve no idea. Sometimes it’s a day. Sometimes up to four.”
“So we could only have one more day with him,” Naomi told Brice.
Brice wrapped an arm around her. “Let’s go home, love.”
Cooper moved out of the way to let the couple pass. Clayton and Abby fell in step behind them, leaving Jace and Cooper with Marlee.
Jace held out his hand to her. “I know you know who I am, but we’ve not been properly introduced.”
Marlee chuckled and clasped his palm. “I’m Marlee. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” He released her hand and gave her a nod before he glanced at Cooper and followed the others.
Marlee watched him before her gaze slid to Cooper. “I really hope your friends don’t run. I can see by their faces that they want Nate.”
“They won’t run. And if they do, I’ll track them down myself.”
She didn’t smile. Her lips parted like she was going to say something, then she seemed to change her mind. She shot him a tight smile and started toward the exit.
Talking with her, seeing what was happening to his friends made Cooper want to get to the bottom of whatever was happening more than ever.
And nobody could stop him.
Chapter 12
“She’s here.”
The deep voice on the other end of the line made Stella go cold with anger—and a little bit of dread. Marlee Frampton was a thorn in her side that she hadn’t been able to dislodge in over a decade.
“Do you want me to take care of her?” Chuck asked.
Stella gripped her cell phone tighter and leaned back in the office chair. “Leave her alone.”
“Why?” he demanded, anger making his voice go even deeper. “She’s gotten close to us more times than
I like to admit. The fact that she’s sniffing around here tells me we need to get out. Now.”
“No.”
“Why the fuck not?”
Stella looked out the window of her rented home to the pasture beyond. The house was out of the way and difficult to find. Just the kind of place for her. “I don’t owe you any kind of explanation. You work for me, Chuck. And if you want to quit, then by all means, do it.”
“I’m only trying to protect things,” he replied gruffly.
“Killing Marlee would bring more attention to us. We’ve been able to use our friends to keep a step or two ahead of her. We’ll keep doing that for as long as we have to.”
Chuck blew out a breath. “I can make sure she gets another lead somewhere and then do it.”
“No, and I’m not going to tell you again.”
“Why are you protecting her?”
“I’m not protecting her,” Stella answered tightly. “I’m protecting us.”
Chuck made a sound in the back of his throat. “Nope. You’re protecting her. I could’ve killed her multiple times already. Instances that never would’ve led anyone to us because our friends would’ve made sure of it.”
“I’m not having this conversation again. I’ve told you my decision, and I expect you to follow my orders as you always have.”
“You’re going to look back one day and realize that you should’ve heeded me on this,” Chuck said and hung up the phone.
Stella tossed her cell on the desk and leaned back, slipping her fingers into her short blond hair. She stared at the ceiling for a few moments before she lowered her arms and sat up straight. She might have acted nonchalantly with Chuck, but the truth was, she was worried. Very worried.
Marlee had no idea how close she had come to destroying everything Stella had built for over two decades. And it was true, she could’ve had Marlee killed many times over. She wished she could get it done, but she just couldn’t. It would destroy Diane. After what’d happened to Diane and her husband after Macey was killed, Stella couldn’t bring more harm to the family.
But if it came down to her survival or Marlee’s, Stella wouldn’t hesitate to do what had to be done.