When Noonday Ends: A Southern Romantic-Suspense Novel - Nantahala - Book Two

by Carmen DeSousa

  Bearns stopped his brooding and turned to his computer. He needed to find something that would connect the dots. Anything that would point him in the correct direction.

  Shelby Castle didn’t drown her ex-husband, shoot a man, and then bury his body in her backyard all by herself, then call it into the police. No, she’d had help.

  Two people jumped out at him as logical choices. Clayton Castle for one, but it didn’t make any sense that Clayton would kill his own son, even if he were sleeping with his daughter-in-law; he didn’t seem cold enough to do that.

  After doing his research of any other relatives in her life, the other obvious choice was Shelby’s brother, Andy Montgomery.

  If he’d known that Carlin had been abusing her, it’d make sense. Bearns knew that if anyone touched a hair on his sister’s head, they’d feel his wrath. No way would he stand by and let a man, any man, abuse a woman.

  Bearns typed the name Andy Montgomery into Google’s search bar. When he’d started his detective agency, he paid for a website that he could do a deep search on people, could even see their income tax return if he wanted, but Google always worked well to start. If you ever hiccupped in public, it was there.

  Nothing came up but Andy’s employment and home address. He’d been at the same job, a family farm, since the age of fourteen and had lived in the same house his entire life it seemed.

  Other than that, Andy Montgomery didn’t exist. He typed his info into his paid database. No collections, no loans, no arrests. Nothing. Andy was just a good ol’ country boy, like him. He smiled. He hated technology and credit cards. Although, he had to admit, the Internet sure made his job easier.

  Two more names popped up at the same address. Shelby, under her maiden and married name and a Patricia Montgomery, their mother, he assumed.

  He typed in Patricia’s name. Same thing. Nothing on Google. He typed her name into his people searcher and waited while her life history filled the page. Patricia hadn’t worked at a job in over twenty years, but her last place of employment had Bearns smiling. He’d found his connection.

  He decided his first stop after Chad’s work would be Michelle Turner. If anyone knew where Tom was hiding, it’d be his sister. Well, other than Chad, that is, and Chad had sworn that he didn’t have a clue. And Chad was as honest as they came.

  When he’d interviewed Chad about his wife’s disappearance more than a year and a half ago, he’d known he was telling the truth, but his first suspect always had to be the nearest family member or friend in a missing or murdered person’s case. Because, unfortunately, more times than not, it was.

  As he knocked on the door, he shot a quick glance in the glass at his reflection. He’d forgotten to check himself before getting out of the car, and he’d just remembered how attractive Michelle was. When he’d been here last time, he’d been interviewing her as a suspect, so he had no interest, but now—

  The inner door swung open and animated voices filled the air. “Well hello, Detective Bearns,” Michelle drawled.

  For some reason, she had a strong southern drawl unlike her brother, even though they’d both lived in North Carolina about the same time. Maybe because she’d received her education in the military, not college.

  The tall blonde, only a few inches less than his six-foot frame pushed open the storm door. “Come on in.” She stooped to pick up a few toys, tossing them into a basket, and then lowered the volume on the cartoons playing on the T.V. “Sorry the place is such a mess. I don’t have company often.”

  He stepped through the doorway. “Hello, Miss Turner. And that’s quite all right.”

  “T.T.,” a little girl screamed, but then stopped in her tracks when she made eye contact with him, then hid behind her mother’s leg.

  “This is Samantha. Samantha, this is Detective Bearns. Can you say, ‘Hi’?”

  The little girl shook her head behind Michelle’s leg.

  “Hello, Samantha.” He offered a tiny wave, as he would do with his little girl when she was that age.

  She giggled and waved her tiny hand.

  Michelle reached for the child, swinging her up onto her hip. “What can I do for you, Detective?”

  Bearns smiled. “Call me Jason, please. And I’m no longer a detective; I’m self-employed as a private investigator.”

  She returned his smile. “How interesting.” She walked off toward the kitchen, gesturing that he should follow. “You want coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

  He pulled out a chair in the eat-in breakfast area. “I never refuse coffee, Ma’am.”

  While strapping Samantha into a highchair, she peeked up at him. “And you can call me Michelle. I’ve been out of the military a while, and I’d prefer not to hear ‘ma’am’ ever again.”

  “Yes, Ma’—chelle.”

  She laughed. “You take your coffee black, I assume.”

  “Is there any other way?”

  “Nope!” She turned and sauntered off, swaying her hips. Either he’d been out of action way too long and was dreaming or Michelle was actually flirting with him. She returned to the table, toting two mugs of steaming black coffee, a sippy cup for her daughter, and a box of Entenmann’s donuts. “So, what brings you here?”

  No way she didn’t know why he was visiting her, but he answered anyway. “Your brother.”

  She lifted her coffee mug and took a sip, her eyes narrowing through the steam. “What about him?”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. He’d forgotten what a firecracker Michelle was. When he’d questioned her about Cassandra’s disappearance, she’d actually laughed at him, telling him she’d win Chad back on her own; she didn’t need to hurt a little thing like Cassandra.

  “Well, Michelle, you must have heard that he’s gone missing at the same time Shelby Castle took off.”

  Michelle shrugged. “He’s a big boy. He knows what he’s doing.”

  “So, do you know where he is?”

  She blew on the hot liquid and peered up at him with beautiful light hazel eyes set in an oval face with perfectly arched brows and soft pink lips, and yet there was a strength in her features, a take-no-prisoners attitude. He liked it. “Maybe…but I’d never tell. You know that.”

  “The police found evidence. Tom may be helping a murderer.”

  “I’m a marine, Jason. You know we don’t give up our own.”

  A knock on the door had them both looking toward the glass storm door at a man he instantly recognized from his driver’s license image and the fact that he could be Shelby’s twin, even though he was a few years older than she was.

  “Excuse me,” Michelle said, narrowing her eyes and standing. “I don’t normally leave the main door open, but now this salesman obviously knows we are here.”

  Bearns stood and motioned for her to stay. “That’s not a salesman, Michelle. May I?” He walked toward the front door without waiting for her consent.

  As he opened the storm door to walk outside, he pulled the main door closed behind him. He didn’t like unannounced calls to a woman’s home. Well, unless he was the person doing the calling.

  The man sized him up as he stepped in front of him. “I’m looking for Tom or Michelle Turner. Is that her inside?”

  “And you are?”

  The man bladed his body and planted his feet. “Andy Montgomery. I’m looking for my sister.”

  “So am I, Andy. And I was just coming to see you. You can drop your defenses; we’re on the same side. Name’s Jason Bearns.”

  “Ain’t no one on my side.”

  “Well, Tom Turner hired me to clear Shelby’s name, so I’m on her side anyway, as long as she’s innocent.”

  “You a cop?”

  “No. I’m a private investigator.”

  Michelle opened the door. “Well, aren’t I the lucky one. Two men on my doorstep. Do you two know each other?”

  “This is Shelby’s brother, Andy.”

  Andy hadn’t offered him a friendly handshake, but he reached his hand out
toward Michelle. “Mornin’, Ma’am.”

  “Call me Michelle.” Her eyes roamed the entire length of his body, and then she licked her lips, gesturing toward the house with a tilt of her head. “Y’all come on in and have some coffee.” She turned and walked inside, not bothering to hold the door for either of them.

  Bearns scratched his head and they both stared at each other for a moment. The man definitely looked like Shelby with his long blond hair, thin but rugged frame, and pale blue eyes. He shook off the fact that he was sizing him up as competition, not someone he was supposed to interrogate.

  It was obvious that Michelle had given Andy a once-over as if she were a cat with a big juicy mouse within her grasp. Bearns opened the door and held it for the younger, clearly more attractive, man. “After you.” The man did a little sizing up as well, but then walked past him into the house.

  Michelle motioned to the table. “You gentlemen can have a seat while I put Sam down for a nap.”

  They both plopped onto chairs at opposite ends of the dinette.

  Bearns rested his elbows on the table, his hands clasped in front of his chin. “So tell me, Andy. Did you know your mother worked for the Castles?”

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Shelby stood on the front porch, fuming. In between pacing and cursing, she screamed at herself. What had she been thinking?

  The high pitch of the dirt bike hit her ears, and she felt her blood pressure rise. A few seconds later, Tom drove all the way to the porch, almost touching it.

  She crossed her arms and glared at him, imagining steam rolling out of her ears.

  Tom hopped off the bike, removing his helmet as he climbed the porch steps, and then set his backpack on the wooden planks beside her, his eyes narrowing at her glower and tapping foot.

  “Hello, beautiful,” he said, uncrossing her arms.

  She stepped out of his reach. “Don’t ‘hello beautiful’ me.”

  He whipped his head to the side as though she’d hit him. “Wow. Well, I’m happy to see you too. Didn’t you see the note I left?”

  “I saw the note.” She picked up his backpack and pulled out the food he’d bought as she marched into the cabin. She searched the bag for anything else he may have bought and then pushed it away from her as Tom stepped inside the house. “Well, that settles that,” she said.

  “What on earth is wrong with you?” he whispered, looking around the cabin, obviously wondering if Justin was awake. “What did I do?”

  She stepped in front of him and poked her fingers into his chest. “You didn’t use protection, that’s what.”

  His mouth turned up on one side. “I didn’t hear you complaining either time last night.”

  “This isn’t funny, Tom.”

  He wrapped his arms around her. “Oh, I think it is. What the heck are you worried about, Shelby?”

  “Getting pregnant and getting stuck again.”

  “Seriously?” He cocked his head at her. “Your lack of faith in me is starting to tick me off.”

  Since he still had her locked in his arms, she dropped her head against his chest. “I just—”

  Tom lifted her chin, cutting off her words. “This isn’t the way I was hoping you’d greet me. Justin’s still asleep?”

  She nodded.

  “’Cause I was kinda hoping if he was…”

  “Tom…”

  “Shelby…”

  She half-whined half-laughed at their silly game with their names. “What if I get pregnant?”

  “Then we’ll have two munchkins. Isn’t it normal to have children about two to three years apart, so they play together? ‘Course, Michelle and I mostly fought. Well, she did the fighting…I mostly ran. She’s so mean.”

  Shelby laughed, but then sighed. “Stop making me laugh.” She gawked at him, wondering how he could joke at a time like this…and even think about having kids. “Technically speaking, I guess it’d be good for Justin, but—”

  Tom swept a few stray hairs away from her forehead, lightly caressing the side of her face. “Shelby, we can do whatever you want. If you want protection, I’ll wear protection. I brought some.” He kissed her softly once and then leaned back to look at her. “Now, how about welcoming your man home as if you actually missed him.”

  “I did miss you, but then I was scared for a second that maybe you’d abandoned me. And then I started thinking what if I was pregnant, and then I just got upset.”

  “I’m not leaving you,” he groaned.

  A tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. “I’m scared, Tom.”

  He brushed away the tear. “I know. I am, too.” He took her hand and led her to the couch, pulling her beside him. “Authorities know we are together, and the newspaper says that you kidnapped your son.” He motioned her head up with his finger. “But we were right to leave. They have evidence. It didn’t say what. But it read that due to evidence, you are now a person of consideration in the death of Roger Hale.”

  “What? I don’t even know him. I’ve never even been in the stable.”

  “Shelby, is there anything you’re not telling me?”

  She shot up from the couch. “You know, your lack of believing me is starting to tick me off too. I told you I didn’t kill Carlin. If you don’t believe me—”

  Tom jumped up and grabbed her hand as she started to walk away. “I do believe you, Shelby. It’s just that the evidence is stacked up against you. A woman claims to have seen you with Carlin, and the investigators found evidence putting you at Hale’s grave. How can I defend you if I don’t know the entire truth?”

  She tugged on his arm, but he refused to release her. “Stop running from me and talk to me.”

  Planting her feet, Shelby sucked in a deep breath. “How many more times can I tell you? I gave Carlin four Benadryl, tried to leave, Clayton stopped me, and I went to bed. The next morning I woke up and he was floating in the water. That’s it! There’s nothing else to tell!” she screamed.

  Tom stared at her and then his eyes opened wide. “I believe you.” He dropped to the couch. “Oh my God, Shelby.”

  “What? What happened?”

  “They’re not looking for you; they’re looking for Andy.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “That woman. She didn’t see you. She saw Andy. The next day. When he showed up at the station and said he did it, not you. He was covered in dirt, and they found Roger Hale in a grave behind the house.”

  Chills surged through her body, causing her to shake. She shook her head. “No. Andy wouldn’t have hurt anyone.” Tears overflowed her eyes, running down her cheek. As Tom reached for her, she collapsed against him. “Oh my God. He wouldn’t have. I can’t—” She choked on a breath as she remembered the way Andy had looked and smelled the morning she’d discovered Carlin’s body. I can’t let him—” She tried to move, but Tom locked his arms around her again. “Tom, I have to go.”

  “You’re not going anywhere, Shelby.”

  “But I—”

  “Andy’s not been arrested. I’m the only one he confessed to. We’ll wait.”

  She gasped a breath in between the tears. “How can I just sit around here and wait?”

  “Because you don’t have a choice. If you go back, they’ll arrest you. I bought a disposable phone today. I’ll drive into town tonight and call Chad at the ROCK. I know what time he’s in the office, so I’ll call the direct line. Until then, all we can do is wait.”

  “Ma…ma!” Justin called from his crib. Shelby was almost relieved to have the distraction.

  Tom grabbed her hand again. He wiped away the tears on her cheek. “Don’t let him see you upset. Children can sense these things. Trust me, okay?” He brushed her hair away from her face. “Bearns will figure this out. If you’re right and Andy really isn’t capable of hurting anyone, he’ll be okay.”

  She nodded and swallowed her tears. “I’ll get Justin.” Shelby walked down the hallway, drying her tears and putting on a happy face as
she’d always done for her baby. He didn’t deserve to have to deal with all of this.

  “Mama,” he squealed as she walked into the room. He was holding his blanket in one hand and a tiny bear in the other. She hadn’t put that in there, so Tom must have.

  “Who’s that you got, baby?”

  He tried to look around her and giggled. “T.T.”

  “The bear’s name is T.T.?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “T.T.,” he said with a rise in his voice, lifting his arms.

  “I’m T.T., remember?” Tom said behind her. He stepped past her and pulled Justin into his arms. “Good morning, little man. You want coffee for breakfast?”

  “Noooo…” Justin said, laughing.

  Shelby stood awestruck as Tom strolled out of the room with her son in his arms. Coming to her senses, she ran out of the room after them.

  “Then what would you like to eat?”

  “Cookie!”

  “Hmm…somehow, I don’t think your momma will go for that, but how about we eat breakfast and then have a cookie?”

  Her son nodded, then squirmed to get down. Tom lowered him to the floor, and Justin ran right into her arms. “Mama!”

  She squatted in front of him. “Hey, baby boy. You’re awfully happy today.”

  He squeezed her while she placed a kiss on his head, and then he tilted his head so she could put one on his cheek, as was always customary. And then he ran the length of the hallway, back to his room, obviously ready to play with the toys.

  “Happy kid,” Tom said, pulling her upright in front of him.

  “Not usually.” She shook her head. “I mean…he’s a happy kid. He’s just not so…joyful. It’s weird.”

  “Told you munchkins like me.”

  “And you like them?”

  “Now that’s a silly question. Of course, I like them. I love kids. I take Sam every Sunday, unless I’m rescuing damsels in distress.” He rested his hands on either side of her face. “I’ll be a great father, Shelby. I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “And a great husband if you give me a chance.”