by Lynn Shannon
“Standing guard.” He rubbed his head and yawned. “You don’t have a security system yet, and with everything that happened yesterday, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have extra eyes on the house.”
Heat radiated through her chest. He’d stayed with her through everything yesterday and now this… “Todd, you didn’t have to.”
“I know.” He took the mug from her hand and drained it before flashing her a smile. The dimple in his left cheek winked. “You make the best coffee. Don’t suppose there’s more where this came from, is there?”
Her lips twitched. “I’ve got a whole pot with your name on it.”
They were on the porch when Callie let out a bark and streaked off. A Sweetgrass Police Department SUV turned into her drive. Janet whistled, calling her dog back, as Chief Rod Jackman climbed out. Mid-forties with a shaved head and a fondness for aviator sunglasses, he’d taken over as police chief last year. His reputation was solid, but his choice in employees made her leery.
Her spine stiffened when the passenger side of the SUV opened and the reason for her misgivings came into view. Winston Maxwell had a wad of Skoal tucked in the bottom of his lip and spat out a stream of dark spittle before swaggering around the vehicle. His handsome good looks were offset by a rattlesnake’s temperament. She’d done her best to avoid him, but it seemed her luck had run out.
Shaking off the bad vibe, she focused on Chief Jackman. “Any news?”
“Not yet, but I have a few follow-up questions to ask, if you don’t mind.” He nodded to Todd standing nearby. “Duncan.”
“What questions?” Janet asked.
“Ain’t you gonna invite us inside?” Winston rested his hand on the butt of his gun. He glanced at the mug in Todd’s hand. “I hope Southern hospitality hasn’t disappeared.”
The idea of him anywhere inside her house made her skin crawl.
“My house is a mess at the moment because of the construction.” She tilted her chin up. “Here’s fine.”
Todd slanted a glance in her direction, his brow furrowed. It wasn’t like her to be rude and he knew it. He edged closer until the two of them were side by side.
“Suit yourself.” Chief Jackman removed a piece of paper from a manila folder in his hand. “Are you sure this is the woman you saw on the road yesterday?”
He flipped it around. Janet’s breath caught. The sketch artist she’d worked with from the sheriff’s department had managed to capture the woman’s features, as well as her sense of terror.
“It’s her.” She tore her gaze away from the rendering to study the chief’s expression. His eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses, but his mouth was in a tight line. “Why?”
“She’s not a local and no one matching her description has been reported missing in the county for the last twenty years.”
“What does that mean?” Todd asked.
“It means we don’t have an ID on her. I’ve had search dogs out to the location where the incident took place. They didn’t pick up on anything. Normally I’d assume it was because the perpetrator transported her by car, but you didn’t see or hear a vehicle.” He gestured toward the road. “Your property is on one side and on the other is Mabel Bertrand. She didn’t see or hear anything.”
“Mrs. Bertrand is ninety years old. I’d be surprised if she had heard or seen anything.” Janet crossed her arms over her chest. “It doesn’t mean someone didn’t cut across her property.”
“Then the dogs would have picked up on it.” Winston’s mouth twitched, and he rocked on his heels. “If you need to tell us something, now would be the time?”
Heat flooded Janet’s veins and rose in her cheeks. Beside her, Todd stiffened. “Are you accusing her of lying?”
“Hold on, hold on.” The chief lifted his sunglasses and shot his officer a dirty look before focusing back on Janet. “Let’s not go off the deep end here. Listen, the tox screen at the hospital didn’t show anything in your system. However, you did hit your head when your vehicle fishtailed. That kind of injury can cause a person to hallucinate—”
She smacked her hand against the porch railing. “I did not hallucinate her. I did not dream up the attack or being drugged.”
She closed her eyes. She was letting her temper get the best of her. Not a great way to convince them she was telling the truth.
But it was just so insulting.
The woman’s face flashed in her mind. Janet sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “Listen, I know the story sounds crazy and there are things I can’t explain, but Chief, the woman is real. She had rope burns on her wrists and bruises on her face. I think she’s in serious danger.”
“Unfortunately, at the moment, I have no physical evidence collaborating your version of events.” He placed his sunglasses back on his face. “Until I do, there’s nothing else for me to investigate.”
The two men ambled to their vehicle, and she watched them go with a burning knot in her belly.
They might not investigate, but she would.
This was far from over.
Four
Todd pried his fingers from around the coffee mug and flexed them. He was surprised it hadn’t shattered in his hand, grinding into pieces of dust under the force of his anger. Those jokers were the town’s law enforcement? He wouldn’t put them in charge of a neighborhood watch group, let alone a police department.
He slid a glance at Janet out of the corner of his eye. Her curly hair was loose, framing her face and highlighting the color in her cheeks. Shadows from a restless night’s sleep marred the skin under her eyes and her lips were flattened into a hard line. She turned to go back inside the house.
“I know that look,” Todd said, following. “It’s the same one you get when we fight about the construction and you’re determined to get your way.”
Inside, it smelled like a mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and fresh coffee. Tarps were spread over the furniture in the living room, and several paint color samples graced one wall. Callie bolted in. Janet grabbed her before she could cross the house.
Taking a towel from the coat hook, she wiped the dog’s feet. “I refuse to accept nothing can be done to identify the woman or find her.”
He shrugged out of his jacket. “What about your brother? Isn’t he in law enforcement?”
“Yes, but Grady’s recovering from a gunshot wound in Nashville with my older sister. I don’t want to involve him if I can avoid it. I could go to the sheriff’s department, but I’m not sure they would take my side over the police chief’s anyway. Law enforcement tends to stick together.”
She rose from the floor and folded the towel. “Maybe I should go to the news? I hate the idea of going public, but it would put some pressure on the chief and maybe someone from the surrounding counties will recognize her.”
Going public was a bad idea. Janet had already reported the attack, and Todd feared if she kicked up a fuss, the assailant might decide letting her go had been a huge mistake.
“Do you have a copy of the sketch?” he asked.
She nodded. “I took a photo with my cell at the police station yesterday.”
“Send it to me. An army buddy I served with opened her own private investigation firm. Charlie’s incredible and has lots of connections in Texas. Maybe she can find out who the woman is.”
Her whole face lit up right before she wrapped her arms around him. “That would be amazing.”
The hug was meant to be friendly, but Todd’s heart sputtered like his old truck’s engine. Janet smelled like a field of wildflowers and the soft strands of her hair tickled his cheek. Alarm bells clanged in his head, and he gently extracted himself under the guise of sending his friend Charlie a text.
Yesterday’s events had shaken him, as had the depth of his feelings. He never should have stayed in town so long, and now with Janet in danger, he couldn’t leave until it was certain she was safe.
“You know, we can also go and chat with Mrs. Bertrand ourselves,” he suggested, once he’d s
ent the message to Charlie. “Maybe she didn’t see anything last night, but the chief may not have questioned her thoroughly. She might know something without realizing it.”
“Good idea. I’ll take some cinnamon rolls with me. She loves them.”
His stomach rumbled. “Got one for me?”
“Of course.”
He followed her into the renovated kitchen. He snagged a cinnamon roll for himself and guzzled another cup of coffee while she prepared a plate for the neighbor. A few minutes later, they were back outside, sans Callie, who watched with mournful brown eyes from the window as they went down the driveway.
“You did a great job on the kitchen, by the way,” Janet said, as they crossed into the neighbor’s property. “With everything going on, I didn’t have a chance to tell you.”
“Thanks. The bathroom’s next, so—”
The unmistakable sound of a shotgun being pumped cut him off. Todd whirled, guarding Janet with his body. An overweight man with a tangled beard stepped out from behind a tree and hefted the weapon to his meaty shoulder.
Todd raised his hands. “Hold on—”
“You’re on my property.”
“Buck?” Janet poked her head around from behind him. “What are you doing?”
Mrs. Bertrand’s son. Todd had never met him, but Buck had been in and out of trouble with the law for years and suffered from mental health issues.
“I’m guarding my land. You’re trespassing.” He glared. “Who are you?”
“He’s my friend and a new neighbor, Todd Duncan.” Janet edged out from behind his back. “He’s helped your mom out a couple of times by fixing things around the property.”
“Todd, huh? You repaired the fence on the west end.”
“I did.”
The burly man grunted and then lowered his shotgun until the barrel was pointing at the ground. Todd’s stomach muscles relaxed, but he kept on alert, unwilling to give Buck the benefit of the doubt.
“I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to startle you.” Janet lifted the plate in her hand. “We came to give your mother some pastries.”
“She’s sleeping. She hasn’t been feeling well, but I can take them up to the house for you.”
“I’m sorry to hear your mom’s sick. I was hoping to talk to her. Do you think I could stop by later?”
“You wanna discuss the incident from last night, huh? The chief was already over here.” He scratched his unruly beard with a dirty hand. “Did you get hurt?”
“No, but I’m worried about the woman who disappeared.”
“Sorry, I can’t help you out. Mom and I didn’t see anything.”
The Bertrand property was thick with trees, the road hidden from view almost as soon as someone wandered off the driveway. Since the attack happened at night, and during a thunderstorm, it wasn’t unreasonable to believe it’d gone unnoticed.
“When did you get into town?” Todd asked.
“Last week.”
From the way Janet’s mouth tightened, the information was news to her. He also hadn’t heard about Buck being back. Sweetgrass wasn’t tiny, but neighbors kept an eye on each other. Had the man been hiding out? Could he be responsible for the attack on Janet? Possibly.
“Where were you last night?”
The other man’s shoulders stiffened under his overalls. “Here. Taking care of my mother. We were tucked in the house, watching TV.”
“Have you seen anything strange since coming back home?” His gaze dropped to the shotgun. “Any people wandering the property that shouldn’t have been?”
“Just you two.” He gestured to Janet for the plate and she obliged by handing it over. “I’ll let my mom know you stopped by.”
“If you see anything, Buck, please call the police.” Janet bit her lip. “I’m worried about the missing woman.”
He grunted but said nothing. Todd placed a hand on the small of Janet’s back and led her back down the drive, keeping his body between hers and the shotgun.
He felt the weight of Buck’s stare boring into him until they turned the corner.
Five
“Are you sure about this?” Todd asked, as they weaved their way through the pet expo in downtown Houston’s convention center two days later. “The woman in the sketch might not be Valerie Coons. Charlie said the family never filed a missing persons report.”
“I know.” Janet scanned the faces around them, fear nipping at her heels as she moved farther into the crowd. “But it looks close enough to be her twin. I’d like to see what a member of the family thinks.”
A large stage on their right was being set up for a presentation, and the air was scented with a mixture of cologne and the hot dogs being served at the cafeteria. Janet tucked an errant curl back under the silk scarf with trembling fingers. It was a sorry excuse for a disguise, but it was the best she could come up with at short notice.
A Huntington Pharmaceuticals sign hung above a corner booth. Easels with different animals ranging from dogs to cows were on display along with a list of products the company manufactured. Lacey Huntington, the CEO, was in the back of the booth eating a salad and studying her phone.
“Want me to come with you?” Todd asked.
“No.” Janet let out a breath. “She’s more likely to speak with me if I’m alone.”
“I’ll stick close. Whistle if you need me.”
She nodded and straightened her shoulders. It was risky talking to Valerie’s stepdaughter in such a public place, but Janet wasn’t sure who to trust. Showing up at the corporate offices could’ve tipped off the attacker. Janet hoped the sheer number of people at the expo would help shield the interaction as merely business.
She darted around a couple of Huntington employees and beelined straight for Lacey. The other woman glanced up from her phone, the fork hovering halfway to her mouth, and frowned. She scanned Janet’s blouse, probably looking for a name tag.
“Hi. I’m sorry.” Lacey lifted the phone. “I’m in the middle of preparing for our company’s presentation at the main stage, but I’m sure one of my other employees can help you.”
“No, they can’t.” Janet reached into her purse and pulled out a printout of the sketch. “I need to talk to you about your stepmother, Valerie. Is this her?”
Lacey glanced down at the drawing and her perfectly arched brows lifted. “Where did you get this?”
Janet took a fortifying breath. Please, Lord, help me find the words. Quickly, and in a low whisper, she told Lacey about the attack.
“Is this some kind of sick joke?” Lacey’s cheeks grew pink and she half rose from the stool. “Because if it is—”
“It’s not a joke. Please, you need to listen to me. You can call the Sweetgrass Police Department and verify my story. I filed a police report detailing the entire incident, although I didn’t know the woman’s name. Look at the drawing. It has the officer’s name and the date.”
Lacey scanned the drawing again and sank back down to the stool. “I don’t understand.”
Janet glanced around to ensure no one was paying attention to them. Todd stood within shouting distance, scanning the crowd. His beat-up leather jacket and steel-toed work boots were out of place in the sea of business attire. Seeing him there, standing guard, bolstered her courage.
She turned her attention back to the other woman and whispered, “I think your stepmother is in trouble.”
“That’s impossible.” Lacey shoved her half-eaten salad to the side. “Valerie is traveling in Europe.”
Janet’s stomach churned. Did they have the wrong woman? It seemed hard to believe. Even Lacey thought the drawing was of Valerie.
“When did she leave?”
“Two weeks ago. My father…” She bit her lip and blinked rapidly. “My father died six months ago, and Valerie took it hard.”
Marcus Huntington had passed away from a sudden heart attack. The announcement had been in one of the articles the private investigator had forwarded on. The company he’d built
from the ground up went to his daughters, Lacey and her younger sister Katherine, in equal share.
“I’m sorry.”
Lacey cleared her throat. “Thank you. Anyway, Valerie needed a change of scenery, and she’s taking a three-month trip around Europe. I’ve been in contact with her since she left via email and text.”
She pulled up an app on her phone and did a search. Correspondence between her and Valerie flashed across the screen. The last one was sent yesterday. They gave Janet pause, but email and text were easy to fake.
“What about by phone?”
“We don’t normally speak. We’re both busy, and with the time difference…” She fiddled with a sapphire ring on her finger. “Why am I even explaining this to you—?”
“Your stepmother—your family—is worth a lot of money.” Janet kept her gaze locked on the other woman’s face. “If someone has kidnapped her, and she momentarily escaped, it would explain how she ended up on the road that night. Have you received any demands for ransom?”
Something flickered in Lacey’s expression. A slight twist of her mouth so fleeting, Janet would have missed it if she hadn’t been looking for it.
Bingo.
“No one has contacted me.” Lacey’s chin tilted up. “My stepmother is fine and this conversation is over.”
Janet placed a hand on the other woman’s arm. The muscles underneath the silk fabric were rigid. With fear? Or with something else?
Janet pitched her voice low. “You need to go to the police. If she’s being held in Sweetgrass, then it gives us a starting point to find her.”
Lacey shook off her hand. “I’ll say it again, Valerie is fine and—”
“Sis?”
Both women jumped at the interruption. Katherine Huntington stood off to the side, her full lips pulled into a frown. The cerulean-colored pantsuit matched her eyes and, when she brushed a strand of blonde hair off her face, the diamond ring on her wedding finger shimmered.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Lee has arrived and we need to head over to the stage for our presentation.” Her gaze flickered to Janet and her brow creased. “Have we met?”