Curveball

Ericka Stone

Case #011

By

Felicia Rogers

Curveball

Ericka Stone

Case #011

Copyright ©2024 by Felicia Rogers

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

Contact Information:

Website: http://feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com
Email: feliciarogersauthor@yahoo.com

Published by:

Felicia Rogers

Cover Design by For the Muse Designs

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

The author, Felicia Rogers, does not consent to any artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, and machine learning.

Dedication…

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

And to my family who continues to support me through this writing journey.

And to my father, who left this world too soon.

Table of Contents

Other works by Felicia Rogers

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Excerpt: Ericka Stone Case #012

Other works by Felicia Rogers

Stand-alone works:

All I Have

The Holiday Truce

A Month in Cologne

Andrews Brothers (Regency Romance)

The Ruse

The Rescue

Southern Hearts Series (Civil War Romance)

Millicent

Amelia

Cora

“Justice” and Miss Quinn Mysteries (Regency Romance)

The Case of the Missing Cross (FREE ebook)

The Case of the Puppet Constable

The Case of the Secret Love

The Case of the Chinese Boxes

The Case of the Hidden Treasure

The Case of the Lost Island

The Kenelm Chronicles (Regency Romance)

The Golden Goose

The Silver Moon

The Bronze Heart

Hudson Hunts: The First and Last

Secret Defenders (Paranormal Romance)

Cian and Arin: Beginning (prequel)

The Key

Mara’s Secret

Iceas’ Victory

Meaningful Numbers Series (Christian Romance)

One of Forty

One of Twelve

One of Three

The Haywood Brothers Series (Christian Romance)

Love of a Businessman

Love of a Detective

Love of a Rancher

Redeemed Soldiers (Christian Romance)

Diamond Mine

Pearl Valley

Emerald Street

Ruby’s Way

Amethyst Cove

Sapphire Shoals

Opal Obsession

Ericka Stone Cases (Clean Detective Stories)

Freelance

Pendant

Treasure

Escape

Reunion

Reckless

Discovery

Detour

Journey

Vanished

Curveball

Unresolved (coming Dec 2024)

The Board Series by F. A. Rogers

(novellas are listed in order)

Maralie (FREE on Amazon)

Reuben

Vanessa

Simon

Darla

Daniel

Irving

Levi

Francesca

Benjamin

James

The Return to Eden’s Hollow

Chapter One

Director James Manis stood before the five teams that had made up his office. Pain shot through his chest. He’d thought recently that he was having a heart attack, but the doctor had diagnosed him with panic attacks, expressing that the job of running the Police Assistance Unit was too much for him. He’d advised him to step down.

James had refused.

He’d also not shared the recommendation with anyone. Not his bosses, and not his son.

He massaged his chest as he stood before the group. Some were still trickling into the conference room. The design of the offices when he moved in had not been his idea. Chief Ron Wexell, the liar and murderer, had designed the offices before he was found out. Then James and his teams had been forced to deal with the arrangement.

The rooms were design to separate the people. The more distant they were the less likely they were to work together. That meant that less was accomplished. The plan had been brilliant. It had worked.

Today the teams would be even more separated. One of his worst regrets was that Tito wasn’t on the same team as Ericka. After everything that had transpired between him and that lying captain of the White Lily, maybe it was the for the best. Maybe he needed a break from women.

Then again maybe not.

Blake Hager, team lead for Beta Team, eyed him with a cocked brow. He had his leg cross, and his foot bounced with an intense level of impatience. There was another one he worried about. That boy was going to get himself in trouble. This new assignment out west might do him in.

Then there was Greg’s team. They sat together and laughed. They looked so comfortable in a shared space. Ericka leaned heavily against Greg. Something had transpired between them recently. He’d noticed it. Love was in the air. Sometimes he wished he was on their team.

And with everything they had been through of late, it had only made their bond stronger. Detective Ericka Stone was one tough cookie. She had come through the loss of her parents stronger than before.

They weren’t really gone; they just couldn’t be a part of her life.

After Morgan’s brainwashing and Robert’s attempt to bring her in without government help, they were both lucky to not be in jail. He’d helped with that, but he wouldn’t be telling anyone else. That was his secret to keep.

“Director, what is this about? We have cases to get to.”

“No, you don’t.”

“What?” Nick blurted it out before anyone else.

He fancied that he was another Blake Hager, but he wasn’t. Blake somehow lived a charmed life. He’d survived many times when he shouldn’t have. But Nick wasn’t him.

“Orders have just come down from above. For the time being the PAU is being dismantled.”

Now everyone was saying “what.” They were leaning forward in their chairs and talking all at once.

“Your cases have been given back to the appropriate authorities. You are being assigned new cases, in, um, new locations.”

Burle McKay rubbed his hands together. His retirement package had fallen through in the last few months. No one was sure what the hold-up was, but James had an idea. It was this. The plan to send these teams all over the country had come from the highest level. And they wanted Burle with Beta Team, at least for now.

James held up his hand and the room quietened. “I know you all have questions. I promise I will answer them, but one at a time. Now let’s get down to business.”

****

Ericka fanned her face and knocked away the gnats that threatened to get in her eyes, her nose, and even her ears. What was wrong with these creatures?

“I can’t believe this.”

“What can’t you believe?”

Maggie tied a wet rag around her head. Water dripped along the side of her face. “Where have they put us?”

“They have a department store. I’m pleased.” Fanny smiled broadly. The woman had lived so much on her own out in the boonies that a store was all it took to satisfy her.

Ericka needed a little more. She needed less bugs!

“I’m glad someone is happy. This moisture is terrible for my piano. How do people live like this?”

Ericka didn’t know how any of them would survive. They’d only been in town for a week and had decided to take a hike in the Cherokee National Forest. They had taken time to stop and visit Gertrude, Cade, and Felix Hastings. They’d offered refreshments but the group had declined. Now she wished she’d stayed there instead of coming on this hiking trip.

“Ah, take a whiff of that mountain air.”

“All I smell is poop. Wonder what kind of poop? I bet it’s cow. Yep, smells like cow. But I don’t really care, because I don’t like the smell of any poop. And it’s there.”

The group laughed at Maggie’s antics.

They’d been sent to the small city of Clifton. It was nestled between huge mountains in the foothills of Tennessee. It reminded her of Greg’s childhood home. He’d grown up in a northern part of Tennessee, so the area was comfortable and familiar to him. And conveniently not too far from their current location.

“Let’s get our hike on.”

“Are you sure? I mean there could be snakes.” Maggie studied the ground.

“Yup, there probably are.”

“What about bears?”

“Could be those too.”

“Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my.” Quinn sang the phrase from the Wizard of Oz and earned a hearty slap from Maggie across the chest. Quinn rubbed the area as if he’d been seriously injured.

“Do not play with me. I don’t do wild animals. I’m a city girl.”

“Cows. Now that is a wild animal.” Tristan snickered under his breath and Maggie came at him with her fists raised and poised to strike.

Ericka enjoyed the camaraderie. It was nice to be part of a group that enjoyed each other’s company. As they talked and joked, she noticed that Greg had started leading them down a trail. At first the land was flat, and the dirt path was wide. The farther they went, the narrower it became. Weeds grew high in places. Prickly leaves and dark thorns tugged at her shorts and pricked her legs.

Maggie’s arms went rapidly around her face and head. She slapped at her exposed arms and legs. “I’m going to invest in a bug spray company.”

“That might be a good idea.” Quinn slapped at the creatures as well.

Fanny whistled. “What are you guys talking about? I don’t see any bugs.”

“Did you use spray?” Quinn moved closer as he asked the question.

“Nope. They just naturally don’t like me.”

“Lucky.”

The narrow trail broadened and dumped them out into an area with odd-shaped rocks in no particular order. The sound of rushing water reached Ericka’s hearing. She took a step backward, and Greg grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close.

She thought the gesture was romantic, and she was leaning forward to kiss him when his eyes widened, and he moved them a couple of steps backward. She faced the way he was and drew in a swift breath. The cliff had appeared out of nowhere. On the opposite side of them was a waterfall. The water cascaded into a shallow pool twenty feet from where she’d stood moments before.

“Let’s not go head over heels just yet.” He smiled, but she could sense the relief that he’d caught her.

She was relieved as well. Falling wasn’t something she’d planned for the day. Falling in love was enough for now.

That sounded corny in her own head. She was glad she hadn’t said it out loud.

Maggie clapped her hands. “Why don’t we have lunch here and then head back down? The sun won’t be with us much longer, and I’m kind of tired of the bugs.”

“I second that notion.” Tristan removed the pack from his back and set it on the ground. Then he and Maggie began drawing out food items.

Each of them had packed something in their packs so that no one person had to carry the entire load. It was kind of like their lives right now. Everyone shared the load so that no one person had to do it all. It was working well so far.

“Did anyone pack utensils?” Tristan shuffled through his bag.

Fanny held them up. “Got them.”

They sat down on the randomized boulders. Greg offered grace and each of them dove into the plate they’d created. Once they finished, Ericka would be too full to move.

It had been a good day.

Except for the bugs.

Gnats should be destroyed.

Greg had suggested the hike since he knew that tomorrow would be their first official workday in the small town of Clifton. Once work began, they didn’t know how intense or time-consuming it would be. This last attempt at relaxing might be all they had for a while.

She planned to enjoy it.

****

Greg tried to enjoy the meal, but he couldn’t stop looking at the cliff that Ericka had almost walked off. He’d known that once they started dating his outlook would change. He’d already worried about her more than he should. And with good reason. She was constantly getting into trouble and getting hurt. It was as if her mission was to drive him insane with worry. Or to put the insurance company out of business.

But now that they were officially together, he worried about her even more.

Matters weren’t exactly helped by the new living and working conditions. They’d both temporarily had to give up their houses in New York. They’d decided to rent and share a storage unit. Almost everything but their clothing had been left behind.

Now they were supposed to live above their workplace. So, they would be together every day all day. He wasn’t sure how that was going to work out.

If they’d had time to get to know each other in New York when they could go home and rest from one another it would have been more ideal. But it was his fault. He’d wanted to tell her about his feelings.

Waiting, always waiting.

It constantly got him in trouble.

Now telling, telling was probably going to cause some trouble.

The group was talking about some odd flower or bug or something. He tried to pay attention, but he couldn’t. Ericka was so beautiful. She wore her hair in a ponytail showing off her youthfulness. Some fine strands had come out and fallen into her face, so she kept moving them behind her ear. He wished he could reach forward and wrap a silken strand around his finger. Then maybe bring it to his face, breathe in deeply and—

“Earth to Greg! Earth to Greg!”

“What?” He knew his voice was deep and he sounded angry, but they had interrupted his fantasy. What did they expect?

“What is this bug?”

Maggie was still looking at it, so she didn’t see his face. Probably a good thing.

“I don’t know about bugs.”

“But you were outdoorsy and stuff. Way more than us. You have to know something.”

“Nope, not into bugs. But I think it’s time we got back. Looks like rain.”

The sky was turning a nasty black color. He could just see them sliding on their butts down the narrow dirt trail once the rain hit. That was something he didn’t want or need.

They gathered the stuff quickly and put their packs on their backs. The first step they took the sky lit up. Then the thunder boomed. Fanny jumped. Maggie gasped. Ericka started mumbling.

Lightning.

Thunder.

“Fifteen.”

“Fifteen what?” Tristan was in the middle of the group.

“Fifteen seconds between the lightning and the thunder. It means the storm is about three miles away. And unfortunately, we can’t exactly avoid the trees.” Ericka bit her lip as she looked around the area.

Greg knew they should probably find shelter. The due diligence of the area might have helped, but he’d picked a random trail and decided to just go. Plus, the area had no cell towers so there hadn’t been a way to check for potential weather.

“Let’s keep going. I think we passed some lower trees.”

The thunder continued, but the lightning they could see soon passed. Greg heard Ericka release a sigh as they rounded the last bend in the trail and their vehicles came into view.

As soon as they stepped from the tree cover, the sky opened up. In the few steps it took to reach the cars they were drenched.

Greg and Ericka got in his car and the others went to the SUV that Quinn was driving. It was closer and they got to it first.

Inside the sedan, Greg cranked up the heat. He could hear Ericka’s teeth chattering. He would have offered his extra shirt that he carried for her to change into, but then she would have had to change in the car. That was something that he couldn’t take right now. Not after the recent fantasy. The seeing might be his end.

“You ready to go home, Ericka?”

“I am.”

The motor roared to life. The trip back to town took triple the time with the bad weather, but they all made it intact.

Home.

That had a nice ring to it.

Now the real fun could begin.

Chapter Two

Ericka held her clothes and stood outside the bathroom door. Fanny had arrived first. Maggie had gone next. The men had been nice enough to let the ladies go before them, so there was that. But they were all outside the door dripping in the hallway. Someone would need to clean that up.

She was pretty sure they didn’t have a maid coming to help them.

When Maggie exited the bathroom, Ericka rushed inside.

They had been placed in the rooms above the office where they would soon work. The biggest disadvantage was having only one bathroom for six people.

At least they each got their own bedroom.

Ericka stepped beneath the spray and bit back a yelp. Ice cold water struck her already chilled skin. She wet her hair, cut the water, lathered, and put the water back on only long enough to rinse out the soap. Fanny and Maggie had been conservative on their bathroom time. So, she didn’t think they’d used all the hot water. However, it was possible.

But they’d arrived the day before, so they hadn’t had time to test everything. This gave Ericka the idea that the hot water tank was super small, or they didn’t have hot water. Either of which wouldn’t work with six people needing to shower around the same time.

She stepped from the shower and turned the wall heater on. The coils lit red, and Ericka moved as close as she dared. A white scar on her leg reminded her of a time that she had been forced into one of those heaters. It hadn’t been a pleasant experience. And it wasn’t something she cared to repeat.

After she warmed up, she dressed rapidly and stepped from the room. Tristan was next. She wished she didn’t have to tell him, but she would.

“The water is cold.”

“Oh.”

“Sorry. I had no hot water either.”

“Did anyone turn on the hot water heater before we left?” Quinn interrupted.

“What?”

“The owner of the building said he didn’t like to leave it on because he was afraid to. He said to turn it on in the morning, use the shower at night, then turn it off when we went to bed.”

“That’s crazy.”

Quinn shrugged. “It’s an old building with old equipment.”

“Couldn’t the PAU spring for something better?”

“Guess not.”

Greg was silent on the matter. Instead, he stared at her. The heated gaze took her aback, but she wasn’t sure why. He’d been doing it since they arrived in the area. She wasn’t sure if he was upset or if it was something else. If they ever had a moment alone, she would ask him.

“I’ll go turn it on.” Quinn disappeared down the long hallway.

If he turned it on now it wouldn’t be warm until morning. Maybe they’d have hot water for dishes or something.

With slumped shoulders, Tristan entered the bathroom with his armload of clothes and toiletries.

Ericka looked along the long empty hallway before she approached Greg. He took a step back as she came toward him, not stopping until his back touched the wall. She leaned into him. Only a sheet of paper could have fit between them.

“What’s up with you?”

“Um, nothing.”

“Uh-huh.” She took one step back and swirled her finger in front of him. “This is not nothing. You keep staring at me. It’s making me worry that I have something peeping out of my nose.”

He shook his head.

“Tell me what’s wrong. Did I do something? Did I say—”

His hand snaked out and wound about her waist as he spun her around until her back was against the wall and she was pinned against him on the opposite side. He lowered his head and smooshed his lips against hers until she let him part her lips.

When, finally, he pulled back her heart was racing, and she was breathing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath. His forehead leaned against hers.

“What was that?”

“Something I’ve wanted to do for years.”

It wasn’t like the other casual, yet heated, kisses they’d shared. This one held restrained passion that expressed the depth of his feelings for her. She wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or scared.

She placed her hand on his cheek. Her thumb moved back and forth across his lips.

He closed his eyes. “It’s good that we’re here with so many other people.”

She snickered. “Is it really?”

“Oh, yeah. Otherwise, I might go all caveman and whisk you to my cave. I might beat my chest a little so you’d know how manly I am, then I would make you mine forever.” His pupils had dilated.

Ericka didn’t know what to say. She thought a little more dating was in order. They’d known each other a long time, and there was no doubt an attraction was there. If she did anymore squirming her panties might fall off, but this wasn’t the right time. She really wanted to wait. She wanted to be married. She wanted it to last forever. This wasn’t just a one-time or afternoon deal for her.

How could she tell him that without causing him to be upset?

****

Greg bit his tongue until he tasted blood. He’d come on too strong. This was what came from waiting too long. Now he had to be slow after all the buildup and anticipation of being with her.

Again, separate houses were a better plan. As soon as the door opened and Tristan walked out, he released her and raced to the bathroom. He didn’t want the water to have time to warm up. He welcomed the cold shower.

He’d seen Ericka’s face when he pulled away, but he couldn’t talk. Not yet. He’d tell her later that he was fine with waiting. He could do this.

All of this.

The shower was indeed still cold. It didn’t take long for the frigid water to cool his ardor. His mother, sister, and even Dr. Ellen would have been appalled that he’d come on so strong.

Oh, well.

He loved Ericka.

He wanted to be with Ericka.

It was simple biology, but also so much more.

He finished his shower. Dressed with his stuff packed to take out, he hesitated. What if she was still out there and he had to come out and face her now? He might run back inside the bathroom.

He was such a chicken.

“Come out, dude. She left.”

Greg stepped out of the bathroom. Quinn stood there with his eyebrow cocked and his bare foot tapping the plush nineteen seventies rug.

“You took my spot.”

“I had to.”

“I guess so. Ericka had these rosy cheeks, and her hair was all messed up. I’d ask what you two were up to, but that is none of my business.”

“You’re right.”

“Although, I will say that if you don’t want everyone to know, you shouldn’t be mumbling so loud about it in the shower. Or kissing her in the hallway.”

“What?” Had he been talking out loud?

“I heard some language I didn’t think you used anymore. I know that military is ingrained in you and all, but we’re in a community place now.”

“You’re kidding? I don’t remember saying anything.”

Quinn snickered. “Gottcha.”

Greg punched Quinn in the arm. “Get in the shower.”

“Yes, boss.”

Quinn entered the bathroom, and Greg started toward his room. He passed an open doorway and stopped when Ericka walked out. She had her arms crossed over her chest and she looked mad. Like really mad.

“Are you mad?”

Wait. What had she said?

“Greg, are you mad? I mean, we haven’t discussed how this relationship was going to work. And I like kissing like that as much as the next girl, but—”

He put his finger over her lips. “I’m not mad. I’m glad you’re not upset. Let’s just take it slow. Get to know one another. We have all the time in the world for passion.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that. I mean, you’re thirty and I’m almost there and—”

He hadn’t planned it, but it was the only way to shut her up.

He leaned forward and planted his lips against hers. The slow movement encouraged her, and she placed her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He didn’t take the bait. He squeezed his clothes in his arms. When the kiss ended, and she leaned back the smile she gave reached her eyes.

“You know, I think I’m going to really enjoy this part of getting to know each other.”

“So am I.”

Greg stepped back and blew her a kiss, which she pretended to catch and bring to her lips. She turned and went into her room, and he walked on to his. He wasn’t sure how this would work out, but at least she wasn’t upset by his touch. That was a plus.

Now to get some supper and a good night’s sleep before the real work began tomorrow.

****

The bare bulb swung on a single wire. It highlighted the green velvet on the playing table. Tyson dealt the cards and leaned back. The fat cigar hung from his lip. He didn’t smoke it. He just enjoyed the taste. And the cool factor.

“Whattcha got?”

The men playing the game were new tonight. He made it a point to invite new people every few weeks, so they never caught on to his tricks. In fact, he had so many come to visit that he rarely could remember their names.

Tyson laid down his hand. “Pair of queens.”

The others threw their cards into the pile, and he scooped the money to his side. He’d known he would win before any cards hit the table. It wasn’t because of talent. He was a cheat.

A good cheat.

A cheat with technology.

“Again.”

Tyson allowed someone else to deal. It didn’t matter who dealt the cards. The glasses that he wore allowed him to see through the special design to the other side. And the cameras around the room didn’t hurt either.

Sometimes he let others use their cards so he would lose. Losing allowed people to believe that he was just like them.

But he wasn’t.

The next hand the pot was small, so he lost on purpose. The next pot was huge. He needed the win for his next venture.

He laid down his cards. The man who he’d coined Miami Vice for his style of dress rose from the table and flipped back his chair. Then he grabbed Tyson by the collar and hoisted him to his feet.

“You cheat?”

Tyson raised his hands. “I don’t cheat. How do I cheat?”

Miami looked up his sleeves. He looked in his pant legs. He looked everywhere but at his glasses. When he was done, Miami shrugged his shoulders and stepped away from the table. He put his fingers to his eyes then at Tyson. “I’m watching you.”

Tyson nodded. He didn’t mind. He’d been watched before.

The other participants didn’t seem amicable to playing after that stunt.

“Game next week?” Tyson waited.

“We don’t think so.”

“How come?” He narrowed his gaze. That was not what he wanted to hear. He needed the games, the money.

“Words out, Tyson. Your games are rigged. You win too many times.”

“Says who?”

“Doyle Mahon. He says you cheat.”

“What does Doyle know? He runs a dry cleaner.”

“I hear that he used to be a big boss somewhere.”

“What kind of big boss?”

“Like in the mob, dude. You don’t want to mess with him.”

Tyson laughed. Doyle Mahon running a mob operation was laughable. It was as about as likely as him being a jet pilot after just going to the sixth grade of school.

The men filed out of the room and Tyson packed everything up. His comic business was failing. He had to make some more money. His gambling debts would be called in soon. If his newest venture didn’t pay off, then he wouldn’t live long enough to bet again.

He also needed to get Doyle to back off. He was going to ruin everything.

Chapter Three

Ericka yawned behind her hand and stretched her arms over her head. She wrinkled her nose. Sunlight streamed through her window and struck her in the face. She blinked and rose before she started sneezing.

The smell of pancakes and maple syrup hit her. She slipped on her robe and her slippers before making her way down the hallway to the kitchenette. Six bedrooms, one bathroom, and one kitchenette made up the entire top floor of the building. They were lucky to have it, she guessed. She’d looked up rentals in the area and there weren’t that many choices. Beggars couldn’t be choosers.

Cold from the floor slipped through the thin rubber of her slippers. One thing about the old building, the air conditioner worked well.

She pulled the robe tighter as she entered the already full kitchen.

“Hello, sleepyhead.” Greg smiled while holding up a spatula. “Pancake?”

“Yes, please.”

She squeezed into one of the free chairs and scooted up to the table. Greg wore an apron that said, Kiss the Cook. As he handed her the pancake and smiled again, she had a hard time resisting the apron’s command.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He paused. “Coffee or juice?”

“Coffee.”

“Coming up.”

“Hey, if you’re serving everybody, I’ll take some freshly squeezed juice.”

Greg turned and growled at Tristan. He held his hands up in a defensive posture.

“Excuse much.”

Maggie stood. “I’ll get it for you.” She took the next pancake that Greg made and got Tristan some juice.

“Thanks, doll.”

“You’re welcome.” She bent over and planted a tiny kiss on Tristan’s waiting lips.

Quinn and Fanny looked on. They already had their food and were forking pancakes in layered bites into their mouth. It was interesting to watch the two of them doing almost the exact same thing at the exact same time. Their meeting, while by chance, had been meant to be.

Ericka topped the pancake with a spoon of butter and smothered it in hot syrup. Greg had seriously thought of everything.

The pancake practically melted in her mouth. Soon, Greg finished cooking and brought his own plate to the table. He moved as close to her as he could, which wasn’t easy at the cramped table.

“Where did this mix come from?” Tristan asked as he looked down at the slightly yellow pancake.

“From the store.”

“When?”

Greg cocked one brow and reached into his pocket. He handed over a receipt.

“Oh, you went and bought this today.”

“I did. Any more questions?”

“Nope.” Tristan forked his own bite into his mouth.

Ericka was impressed until she realized that Greg probably hadn’t slept much in order to go to the store and make the entire breakfast all before seven.

She started to ask him but stopped when he put his hand under the table and squeezed her thigh.

He leaned over. Hot moist breath struck her ear and the side of her neck. “Relax. I’m fine. I just needed an extra, um, distraction. I like to cook when I, um, need a distraction.”

“Oh.” Heat flushed her cheeks, and she used her coffee to hide it.

He needed a distraction because of her. She thought she was flattered by the thought.

“What’s on the agenda for today?” Quinn asked before he took a swig of juice.

“Today we go downstairs and meet our new bosses. They work down the street a ways, but they’re stopping by. They have a few cases they want us to support. Once we finish these then we’ll be on to our next spot.”

“We’re lucky.” Quinn squeezed Fanny’s hand.

“How so?” Greg asked.

“Our significant others can work from anywhere and they got to come with us. Burle had to leave his wife. Emerson from Echo Team had to leave his wife and new baby.”

“I see what you mean.” Greg stuck another pancake bite in his mouth.

“I don’t understand how the upper echelon could think this was a good idea.”

Everyone agreed with Quinn’s assessment. Ericka hadn’t thought of that. She should have. But she was so happy to be with Greg she hadn’t. She wished there was something she could do for the others. Right now, she might just have to focus on the task at hand. If they finished quickly maybe they could go help out the others and they could return home quicker. That might work.

Greg looked at her from under his dark lashes. She lowered her gaze to her plate to avoid his heated stare. Cooking was his distraction. She needed to find her own and quick.

****

Greg almost bit his tongue a few different times. He needed to concentrate on chewing or just eating in general. He’d not tasted one bite of his food. Nothing was distracting him from Ericka.

He might need to ask to change teams.

On second thought, no way.

The food finished, he offered to wash dishes. Everyone else left to clean up and dress. He’d already turned on the hot water and had him a shower. Not a hot one so there should be plenty of warm water.

Once everyone finished getting ready, he, Maggie, Quinn, and Ericka walked downstairs. Fanny and Tristan stayed upstairs and worked on their own projects.

Greg flipped on the lights. The room looked like an old police station. There was a tall wooden bar in front of the glass doors. The area behind the bar held several desks. Most were covered in old papers and dust. The chairs behind the desks were wooden and on wheels that looked like they’d seen better days.

“They didn’t clean.”

“They did not.”

Maggie pulled out a chair and dust kicked into the air causing her to go into a fit of coughing. “This isn’t going to work.”

“I see that.” Greg looked around the room for cleaning supplies. If they were going to put them there maybe they thought, they would clean up. He had no problem with that.

The bell above the door rang. He hadn’t known the door was unlocked.

The gentleman that opened the door held up a key. Greg nodded in his direction.

“Sorry, for the state of the place. We haven’t had time to clean the downstairs, but we brought some people to help.”

About ten people with mops and dusters entered the room. Greg and his team scattered to the wall to get out of the way.

“Why don’t you come to our office, and we’ll discuss cases while the cleaning happens.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

“We heard that one of you is allergic to dust. We wouldn’t want anyone to have an episode.”

Maggie added, “No, we would not.”

Greg was impressed with the efficiency of the men. They were well prepared. A couple of blocks away they entered another more modern office. Inside, they were escorted into a private conference room and told to find a seat. Greg deliberately didn’t sit next to Ericka. But he sat across from her. That was almost as bad. Probably worse.

Two men entered behind them. One was shorter and a little round, the other was tall and lean. They almost looked like Laurel and Hardy. Now that he’d seen it, he’d never unsee it.

“Hello, my name is Emett Bagger, and this is Russ Thomas.”

Greg held out his hand. Emett took it, but the shake was lackluster. They didn’t want the PAU there anymore than they wanted to be there.

Interesting.

Greg dropped his hand to his side before gesturing to the others. “Nice to meet you. I’m Sergeant Greg Kane. This is Detective Ericka Stone across from me. Agent Quinn Miller to my left and Agent Maggie Hart to the right of Detective Stone.”

“Welcome, welcome. We are happy to have you.” Bagger took a seat at the head of the table and Thomas sat next to Ericka.

Happy?

Greg wasn’t so sure about that.

Russ Thomas was tall and fit. He adjusted his jacket and smiled broadly at Ericka as he settled in the chair. Greg tapped down his jealousy. He was being silly anyway. He’d be the one kissing Ericka later, not this gangly fellow.

If he could slap himself without looking stupid, he would.

Bagger laid thick files on the table. “Let’s get started. We’ve been working on this case for a few months now. We’ve had people infiltrate the games, but they still can’t figure out how the one running the illegal poker games is cheating.”

Maggie blinked. “Why don’t you arrest him for running the illegal game? Does it matter how he is cheating?”

“Of course it matters! We know that he’s trying to sell this technology to others. We figure there are bigger fish in the pond, and we want them all, not just the plankton.”

Fish metaphors.

Fantastic.

“All right, case one, find out how he’s cheating. What else?”

“Well, we think we have a mobster in town.”

“A monster?” Quinn leaned in.

“No, a mobster, boy. Can’t you understand me?”

Quinn lifted his brows and leaned his head back like a turtle. He must be struggling with the accent. Greg had more practice. But even he would admit that Bagger’s thick accent was difficult to catch.

“So, a mobster?”

“Yes. He and his family moved in about a year ago and opened a dry-cleaning business. Something ain’t right with that place.”

“How so?”

“Well, I don’t know. It’s just not right and they look all dark haired and stuff.”

“I see.” Greg sensed some profiling, but maybe they were right. Sometimes intuition was correct.

“Anything else?”

“Well, one more. Probably the biggest thing.” Bagger nodded his head at Thomas.

“Oh, yes, um, well it’s our baseball team.”

“Baseball team?”

“Yeah. We’re a few players short.”

“You want us here to play on your baseball team?” Maggie sounded the most shocked.

“You make it sound dirty? You’re here anyway and,” he placed his hand to the side of his mouth and lowered his voice, “there ain’t that much to do in this town. You might want the extra activity.”

Greg could think of plenty to do. More to do if he could convince Ericka to have a quick wedding.

“I’ll play.” Ericka spoke first. “Tell me where to sign up.”

“You any good?”

“Is that a qualifier?” Maggie leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Well, no, but it might not hurt. We haven’t beaten the other towns in some time, and I’d like a chance this year. It’s embarrassing.”

“Maggie, leave them alone. We’re here anyway.” Quinn finally added to the conversation.

Greg looked at Ericka. The words uttered by Bagger about whether she was any good echoed in his ears. He smiled. “She’s good at everything she does.”

She cocked her brow but didn’t reply.

Thomas clapped his hands. “I guess that seals the deal then. We’ve got a team.”

****

On the topnotch camera, Tyson watched the skinny cop wiggle and worm outside the door. Tyson tapped his foot on the tiled floor and counted to thirty. He wanted the boy to be good and stirred up before he came in.

Finally, Tyson rose from his chair and walked toward the front room. He slowly turned the deadbolt. Before he could open the glass door, the boy was pushing it and rushing in.

“You shouldn’t make me wait outside so long, I might get caught.”

“Who’s going to catch you this late in the hour, hmm?”

“Look, it doesn’t matter. I have the team. They’re good. I promise. Just bet on us, and you’ll win every time.”

Tyson held his hands together in front of him in tight fists. He wanted to make sure that Thomas saw how big they were. He could easily snap the boy’s neck if he wanted to. But he wouldn’t. He needed him. At least for now.

“You’re sure? You’ve seen them play?”

“Well, no, b-but they’re from New York! And they said they were good.”

“I see.” Tyson walked behind the counter and leaned his elbows on the glass. “Why don’t I reserve judgement until after the first practice?”

“What about my debt? I promised a team and I delivered.”

“Hmm, not yet you haven’t. First practice.”

“First practice.” Russ Thomas was backing up and out of the store.

Tyson drummed his fingers on the glass counter. Then he rolled his shoulders a few times. Landing in this dump selling comic books had not been his first choice of career. Pro baseball. That had been what he’d wanted to do. Then that stupid cop, Emett Bagger, had taken him down. He’d torn his rotator cuff, and Tyson had never been the same. Now Tyson was going to dismantle his organization from the inside, piece by piece.

The first thing had been hooking his lowly underling. That had taken one poker game. The next was taking away his precious baseball team. After Tyson made some money, of course. He had his own debt to consider.

Now he just needed to find that practice schedule. Once he bet and they won, then his life could finally start over.

Chapter Four

They walked the few blocks back to the office. Ericka opened the door and let out a gasp. The office smelled like lemon pine and shone like a freshly waxed car.

“Who did they hire?” Maggie was doing a full circle with no sneezes. She looked like Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music, minus the mountain and the dress.

“Wizards and witches, that’s who they hired.” Quinn swiped his finger along one of the shiny desks leaving no trail of dust or streaks.

Greg seemed impressed, but he also seemed focused. “It’s clean. That’s great. Now pick a desk and let’s get to work.”

There were two desks sitting on opposite sides and facing each other. Maggie sat on the side with Greg putting Ericka on the side with Quinn but facing Greg. In fact, she looked right at him. She wasn’t sure that was the best idea, but there they were.

Greg opened the file of the small-time gambler on his desk. “Who can play poker?”

Ericka raised her hand. She hadn’t wanted to, but she could play so she had to say so.

Maggie leaned back in her chair and threw her arm over the back. “Seriously? Is there anything you can’t do?”

“I bet she learned that in the military, right?” Quinn seemed to want to know, but he might have been trying to give Greg the opportunity to say he had skills.

“No, I learned it in my days of foster care.” She leaned forward and whispered. “It’s where I learned most of my tricks.”

Greg snickered. “Okay, Ericka, you’ll infiltrate the poker game. See if you can figure out how Tyson Grunley is cheating. Next.”

He opened the next file. Every time he rolled his eyes or sighed. She admitted that compared to the other cases they’d worked, these seemed small time. But one thing she’d learned, there were no small cases.

“Who wants to go to the dry cleaners and check out the mobster?”

“I’ve already been doing some digging, and the entire business is odd. They haven’t been there for more than a year and I can’t find where they ran the business before. It’s just like they appeared out of nowhere.”

Maggie walked round and sat on the edge of her desk. “What about a search on the business owner’s name?”

“Looked that up too. Doyle Mahon, thirty-one, dark brown eyes and hair. That’s about all I can find on him.”

“Nothing else?”

“Nothing else.”

The entire thing sounded odd to her, but then again, the locals thought the guy was a mob boss. It was supposed to be a little odd.

“Maybe we should do some dry cleaning?”

Greg replied, “Sounds like a plan. You two go pick out something and make it super dirty and difficult to clean. We need to pick a fight with the owners. Ericka and I will find a way into the poker game.”

Ericka almost balked at the suggestion. Them being alone and working together didn’t seem like the best idea. But she didn’t have to say a word.

“Boss?” Quinn spoke up from behind his computer.

“Hmm?”

“I think I should help Ericka.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, I won a couple of poker championships in college.”

“You did?” All three of them said it at the same time.

“Well, don’t act so surprised. It was one way I paid for school.”

“Well, then. I guess you should go with Ericka. Come on, Maggie let’s go get something dirty.” Greg pushed out his chair and rose to his feet.

“I’m with you, boss.”

Maggie and Greg left the office, the bell dinged above the door as they exited. Ericka immediately turned her attention to Quinn.

“You did not win any tournaments in college.”

Quinn shrugged. “Who said?”

“I said. You don’t have a poker face. In fact, you can’t hide your guilt when you finish off the cereal box. What gives?”

“He doesn’t need to be alone with you right now. You know it, I know it. Besides,” he shrugged, “I have you. You can play poker and I’ll be your bodyguard. You are the ace in the hole.”

Yeah, the ace in the hole. She was getting fed up with that role. Despite their thoughts, she wasn’t good at everything. Most days she felt terribly inadequate.

Quinn shut down his computer and stood. “Let’s go get some fancy clothes and rent a hot car. I have the perfect idea for getting you into that game.”

“I can’t wait to hear it.”

****

Greg knew that Quinn hadn’t won a single game of poker in his life. He’d just been trying to keep Ericka and him apart. Maybe it was for the best. He’d been trying to get them together and look how it was working out.

“Stop moping.”

“I’m not moping.”

“You so are. I know you would rather have been with Ericka.”

“Can we drop it?”

“What for? Don’t you think we all want to be, I mean be, with our partners? We just also want to wait that’s all.”

He wanted to wait too. That’s why he was already planning the wedding. It didn’t have to be anything big or elaborate. They could do that later. Maybe Quinn could get his license on the internet to marry them now…

“Get your mind off it. There isn’t a rush. Just get to know each other first.”

He’d known Ericka for a long time. They could clearly skip that part. But Maggie was right. The anticipation was going to drive him crazy, and he was going to make a mistake. One that might make them break up before they even had a chance to realize their relationship potential.

“You’re right.”

“I know. I always am. I keep telling everyone that.”

Greg laughed under his breath.

“So, do you have a plan other than something dirty and a fight with the owner?”

“Not really. Although this will be a multi-step process. Today we take in the clothes. Tomorrow or whenever, we pick them up. Then we find the owner. Then we fight.”

“You don’t think the owner will be working the store? Most of these places aren’t very big.”

“Maybe. But if they really are a mobster, why would they want to be seen?”

“Or maybe because they are a mobster they want to be seen.”

Maggie had a point.

Greg pulled up to a secondhand shop. They entered and a woman looked up over the rim of cat eyeglasses before returning her attention to her paper.

Maggie cocked her brow, but immediately went to a beaded gown she saw hanging on the wall. “This would be dry-clean only.”

“True, but I was thinking of something more like a suit. Beaded gowns might be rejected because of the beading. If it has been drycleaned before they might not do it because it can melt the beading.”

“You know a lot about this.”

He shrugged. “My sister, Susan, wore my mother’s wedding gown when she got married. Mom had had her dress preserved. It was a problem getting it cleaned before the wedding.”

“I see.” She paused. “So, a suit?”

“Works for me.”

They went to the suit section. They picked a pair of black pants with a white jacket and black bow tie and took it to the counter.

“Nice choice. This just came in. It was used one too many times at the funeral home.”

Maggie reached for hand sanitizer on the counter, squirted it, and rubbed her hands vigorously.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, when someone doesn’t have an outfit for their loved one the funeral home lets them borrow one. It’s all very polite. Although they do charge for the service. But afterward they can’t just give the suit away, so they take it off and bury the individual in their own clothes. The suits are worn four or five times before they donate them here. The dry cleaner on Main Street services them before they come in.”

Maggie breathed a sigh of relief.

“So, this one has already been cleaned?”

“Yup.”

Greg almost put it back, but he decided against it. If they’d already cleaned it, they would have no qualms doing it again. Plus, they were going to get it dirty. That would be the fun part.

The lady wrapped the suit in plastic and handed it over the counter. “Hope you enjoy it.”

Greg knew that wouldn’t be a problem.

Once outside, Maggie looked at the bag. “Do I have to ride in the car with that?”

“Afraid so. And I was thinking we’d play baseball.”

“Baseball?”

“Yup, I’ll put it on and slide in the dirt a couple of times.”

“You’re going to wear that?”

“It was cleaned.”

“Only a man.” She shook her head, sending strands of her hair around her face.

Greg wasn’t offended. They had a job to do, and he would do it. The quicker they did the work the sooner they might get to move somewhere else. He’d not spoken to the other groups, but surely, they had been given better jobs. The cases Bagger forked over could easily have been conducted by local law enforcement. He felt like they were being punished. For what he wasn’t sure.

They drove to the baseball field. There was a team there warming up. It was a team of older guys. Probably one of the teams they had agreed to play against. He didn’t know and didn’t care.

He stepped from the car and grabbed the jacket. He laid it across his arm before grabbing a bat from the backseat.

“What are we going to do now? The field is taken.”

He looked around. There was a playground nearby. Rain had created several puddles.

“Puddle jumping?”

“Seriously?”

“Oh, yeah.”

He put the bat back in the car before pulling the pants from the plastic and pulling them on over his clothes. When he got back to the office he would be taking a serious shower. How clean could mobsters really get one’s clothes?

Was there a school for that? Mobsters come here and we’ll train you to clean clothes! For some reason he had his doubts.

He pulled off his shoes and grabbed some old shoes he kept in the trunk. At the playground he drew in a deep breath and jumped. Water and mud splashed all over his pant legs.

He turned around to ask Maggie how it looked, but she had a mudball in her hand. She threw it at his chest and then placed her hands over her mouth as a giggle threatened to escape.

“Can I do it again?”

The mudball slipped off the jacket and fell to the ground with a thud.

“Go for it.”

Over and over, she slapped the white jacket with mud. Several kids joined her in the fun before they’d finished. Once the jacket and pants were completely covered, he stepped from the water and slogged bowlegged back to the car. Removing the wet items wasn’t as easy as he’d thought it would be. Once they were shed, he was still wet. He grabbed towels from the trunk and dabbed the damp areas.

“Do you have everything back there?”

“I travel prepared.”

“I can tell.”

He covered the seat before he climbed in. Fortunately, the office wasn’t that far away. Once he was clean, they could go to the cleaners. He chuckled under his breath at the thought.

****

Tyson studied his books as the bell above the door rang. The numbers weren’t adding up, but he’d have to study them more later.

He closed the book and shoved it under the counter. Before he looked up, he plastered a fake smile on his face. “Hello, how may I help you?”

A woman in a tight white dress with a white fur wrapped around her neck snapped her fingers. A gentleman behind her removed the fur. She then pushed sunglasses on top of her head. Next, she removed white gloves and slapped them against one free hand.

She lifted her chin high. “My name is Nova. I’m here for your poker game.”

Her voice was smooth and sent chills along Tyson’s spine. He coughed a couple of times. This woman clearly had money. The car she’d pulled up in was a Mercedes with tinted windows. That did not take into account her clothing and the bodyguard/driver she was hauling around.

But poker? How had she known?

“I’m sorry, Nova, did you say?”

“Yes, just Nova. I dropped the last name. It wasn’t important.”

“I see.” He scratched a spot between his brows as he tried to reason an answer.

“Poker, darling. I’ve been in this town for a full week without a single drop of entertainment. If I must do it for another second, I may fall dead from boredom. I’ve heard you have the best game in town. Don’t keep a lady waiting.”

“I-I do, but it only happens on Thursday.”

“Thursday? That is…” She looked over her shoulder at her bodyguard.

“Three days from now, Nova.”

“Three days. That’s just enough time to contact the bank. Hans, please add that to my list.”

“Of course, Nova.”

The woman redirected her attention to Tyson. “You will be ready for me, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Time?”

“Time?”

“Yes, what time are the games, darling?”

“Oh, they start at seven.”

“Wonderful!” She clapped her hands before drawing her white silk gloves back on. “We’ll see you then. And remember, Nova will be here.”

He nodded as fast as his head would go. He followed her with his eyes as she exited the building with a sashay that would rival any movie star. He would need all his high stakes rollers for this one. If everything went well, he would pay off Mahon and not even need to bet on the baseball games.

It was a good day.

Chapter Five

Ericka slid into the backseat and threw the fur boa to the side. Once they were away from the comic bookstore, she laughed. “That was too much fun.”

Quinn laughed too. “Agreed. Did you see his face when he looked at the car?”

“Or when I removed my gloves. I didn’t even show him the diamond!”

“We’ve got him. Now we just have to waste time until Thursday’s game.”

“I think we need another outfit. Plus, we should probably be watching the store and monitoring calls. We need to know who is coming to play before they get there.”

“And you need to practice your game.”

“I need to practice my game. You’re right.”

Ericka hadn’t played serious poker since her days on the streets. It had been one way that she’d made money for those extras people needed. Things like toothpaste and soap.

Then she’d been pretty good. But she hadn’t been playing a cheat.

“You worried?”

Ericka pinched her fingers together. “Just a little.”

“Don’t be. Even if you don’t win, we just need to figure out how Tyson is winning all the time. That was our job, right?”

“Yes.” Ericka knew everything he said was true. But what if she wanted to win? Playing the game would be something to distract her. She’d not had a lot of wins lately, either. Some encouragement that she wasn’t a complete and utter loser and failure couldn’t hurt her ego.

They pulled into the office parking lot. Greg’s car wasn’t parked amongst the others, meaning that he and Maggie were still on their mission.

Quinn had the front door unlocked before she approached. They entered and went straight to work. She called the courthouse requesting a phone tap and was put on hold. She drummed her fingers on the shiny desktop. Quinn was on the phone as well trying to get access to local cameras that might be pointed at the comic bookstore.

His brows fell and his eyes narrowed. That proceeded the phone receiver slamming against the cradle.

He opened his mouth, but Ericka held up her finger as someone came on her line.

“Courthouse.”

“I’m Detective Ericka Stone and I’m working with the local police department in Clifton. And I need to speak to someone about requesting a phone tap.”

“Phone tap?”

“Yes.”

“And who do you think would give you permission to do that?”

“Um, a judge?” She really tried not to sound sarcastic, but she was afraid that she missed the mark.

“There is no judge in this county that will order that.”

“I see.”

“Tyson Grunley is a pillar of this community. He is being railroad by political adversaries.”

“You don’t say?”

“I do say. It is one of those big conglomerates trying to come in and put him out of business.”

“All right then. Well, thank you for your time.”

“You’re welcome.”

The line went dead in her hands, and she looked at the receiver.

“I think you got the same answer I did.”

“Yup. No way in heck are they going to help us with this.”

“That’s the vibe I got.” Quinn leaned back in his wooden chair and drummed his fingers on the desktop.

“Did you get the ‘Tyson is being railroad by a conglomerate’ speech?”

“Uh, no, I got the ‘you aren’t using my cameras to spy on local citizens’ speech.”

“I guess this means we’re going on a stakeout.”

Quinn sighed. “I guess so.” He paused. “You know I hate stakeouts, right? I mean, I always have to go pee. I try not to think about it but knowing I can’t go makes me want to go and then I have a horrible problem.”

“That is too much information.”

Quinn snickered behind his hand then coughed as if to hide it. “Sorry. We’ve been friends for a while now so I thought it might be helpful to know.”

She nodded.

Friends.

He was her friend.

It felt good.

“Any suggestions for what else we can do besides a stakeout?”

Ericka leaned back in her chair. Short of following Tyson she had nothing. Without permission to listen, anything they learned wouldn’t be admissible. But they were going to need more than a cheating poker game to bring him down. At least in her opinion. If cheating and poker were going to bring him down, why hadn’t the locals done it already? It didn’t make sense.

“You got nothing?”

“I got nothing.”

Quinn snapped his fingers and picked up his phone. “Guess I better text Fanny that I’ve got a long night ahead.”

She would have texted Greg, but it seemed he was going to have his own long night. Maybe that was a good thing.

****

The bell above the dry cleaner’s door announced their arrival. Greg and Maggie had ran through a few puddles on the way over, but having a different vehicle, one less official would have been better.

“Hello. I’m Ann Marie. What can I do, wait. What happened to that suit? Did you hang it out your car window and go muddin’? I told Horace and Von to give up showing city slickers that. They’re going to get someone killed or at least maimed.”

The young pale girl with blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail talked as fast as she chewed gum. Greg struggled to keep up.

She slapped a pad of paper on the counter. “Name.”

“What?”

She rolled her eyes. “I need your name. So, I can fill out the work order, duh?”

Maggie backhanded him across the chest. “Yeah, honey. The work order. Let’s tell her our name.”

The one thing they hadn’t discussed—names.

“Well, this here is Daisy and I’m Luke.”

“I see.” The girl wrote it down while shaking her head.

So, he’d watched Dukes of Hazard when he couldn’t sleep. And it was the fastest names he could come up with.

“Is your last name Duke?” She snickered.

“Of course not, that would be silly. Last name is Whistler.” Maggie pulled the name from somewhere and he worked to control his laughter. It wasn’t easy.

“Hey, okay. I imagine Daisy and Luke Whistler that you want the suit cleaned?”

“It’s just Luke Whistler. And we do. We need it by tomorrow.”

“Why the hurry?” Ann Marie wrote the request on the work order.

“Well, that’s simple. We’re getting hitched.” Maggie dragged him to her side. He’d never agreed to this plan. This was a small town. They might be forced to play the part until they brought the dry cleaners down. Even one day was too long for this ruse.

“I think you should have taken better care of the suit if—”

“Look, our habits ain’t none of your business. We had a clean suit.”

“Fine. I’ll put a rush, but it’ll cost extra.”

“Anything as long as it’s done on time.”

Ann Marie took their phone number before turning away in a dismissive manner. They walked out the door and climbed into the car. Going to the carwash was first then back to the office for a shower. He should probably call or text ahead so the hot water would be on.

“Daisy and Luke, really?”

“Whistler?”

“Happy Days was on behind her. It was all I could come up with.”

He guessed it could have been worse.

As he drove to the carwash Maggie opened her phone and started checking messages.

“Quinn and Ericka got a spot on the poker game.”

“Perfect.” He didn’t like that he wasn’t watching her six. Quinn was a good agent, but Fanny had become a distraction of late.

“They’ll be fine. Ericka is one of the best agents I’ve ever met.”

Greg nodded. Maggie was right. Ericka could play the game and protect herself, but she shouldn’t have to.

He kept his eyes focused on the road while pride swelled in his breast.

“Stop worrying.”

She slipped farther into the seat. He pulled into the carwash. The brushes rolled over the top and along the sides, brushing away the dirt and debris. If only the bad things in life could be eradicated as easily.

When the wash ended, and they pulled into the sunshine Greg was more than ready to return to the office. He found he looked forward to hearing about Ericka’s day. He wanted her to curl up beside him on a couch in front of a warm fire and tell him everything.

Of course, that couldn’t happen until he got back to his couch or found a fireplace. He’d have to suffice for sitting across from her at the small kitchenette table. It was better than nothing.

Now they just needed to make it back without incident. Shouldn’t be too hard in the sleepy little town.

****

Tyson contacted his regulars about a planned game. A few declined the invitation. It was as he’d assumed. The ones who had lost recently were hesitant to return so quickly. It didn’t matter, he had others.

He lifted the phone to his ear. “Hey, Horace, what would you and Von think about joining a game?”

“When?” The voice sounded groggy as if Horace had just woke up.

“Tomorrow night.”

“Buy in?”

“I’d say a thousand.”

“Hmm… let me think about it.”

The line when silent in his hands. Tyson knew what that meant. Horace and his trouble-making brother, Von, would be at the game but first they had to make the dough.

The way they commandeered the cash was completely out of his hands. He ran an honest game, except for his own cheating. Having Russ Thomas in his back pocket wasn’t hurting a thing.

He called a few others. There were enough acceptances. When he put down the cradle, he used his cell to text Nova, just Nova. The high-society lady had some weird delusions of grandeur or something. He didn’t mind. The grander she was, the more money he stood to make. Simple really.

A reply of, “Wonderful,” came over his phone.

He set the cell on the counter and settled back on his stool chair. No customers. Other than Nova and her bodyguard, no one had walked through the door all day. If it wasn’t for his side gig there wouldn’t be a comic bookstore.

The bell above the door rang and he jerked his head upward. A young boy who held his parent’s hand tightly entered. They went to the wall of baseball shoes. It was the only thing he sold that wasn’t comic book related. It might be the only thing keeping him in business. The town was fanatical about baseball.

The season would start soon. As soon as it did Tyson should be set. Russ had assembled the perfect team according to him. Tyson would believe that when he saw it. A bunch of overweight, donut eating cops huffing around the field didn’t seem like a perfect team, but if they could win, he didn’t rightly care.

“Sir, do you have these in a kid’s size six?”

“Let me check the back.”

In general, he didn’t stock more than what was on the floor. Anything he needed he could order in a day and mark up by fifty percent. These yahoos could do the same, but they never seemed to think about ordering it themselves and getting it cheaper.

He looked on the shelf. Lo and behold there were a size six that he’d yet to put out. He brought the box out to the front.

“It’s your lucky day.”

The kid bounced with excitement as Tyson rang up the shoes and handed them over.

“Here you go, son. Now you have to take good care of them.”

The boy nodded his head vigorously.

“Thank you.” The father looked at Tyson with a smile.

Tyson forced his own until the door closed behind them. Why people were so happy over some shoes with spikes, he would never know. He’d never wanted to sell comics or shoes, but his buddy had left it to him. And baseball was out of reach. So, there he was.

Stuck.

Stuck in the store.

Stuck in the town.

Stuck in this life that he’d never wanted.

But all that would soon be over. Over very soon.

Chapter Six

“Let me get this straight, you’re Nova, Quinn’s the bodyguard, Hans, and you’re going to play poker tomorrow night?”

Ericka nodded as she took a bite of the sub sandwich that Tristan and Fanny had put together for lunch. The entire team had gathered for the meal in the upstairs kitchen. The door downstairs was locked so they couldn’t be disturbed.

It was nice.

Fanny looked at Quinn. Her voice lowered, but Ericka could hear what she said. “Why aren’t you playing poker? You’re amazing.”

Hmm.

Ericka had thought he might be. With his mathematical mind he probably counted cards way better than she did. And she’d asked him, but he’d said no. He’d pretended like he hadn’t won those games after he said he had. Why would he do that?

“Fanny, let it go.”

“No, I mean it. Why won’t you stand up for yourself?”

“Fanny. We get paid the same no matter who does what. And Tyson and the other players will likely be men so…” He tilted his head toward Ericka.

He thought the guys would be distracted by her looks. So did she. In fact, she planned to make dang sure they were.

“I don’t like you being passed over.” Fanny crossed her arms over her chest.

“Oh, don’t worry. Quinn isn’t being passed over. He’s going to get his chance in the sun. In fact, a call just came in from Emett Bagger. He wants one of us to go on a ride along with him. And it looks like you’re up Quinn.” Greg had entered the room and thrown the hand grenade.

Honestly, Ericka wished he hadn’t done it.

Quinn wadded his napkin and threw it on the table. He wasn’t really upset, Ericka knew that. But truthfully, Fanny didn’t understand what she was saying. If significant others were going to be in the way of them working, they might have to go back to New York and wait for their return.

Greg bent forward and kissed Ericka’s cheek. “Sorry, love, I’m getting called away as well.”

“Is your suit ready for you and Maggie’s nuptials?”

“Ha, ha. No, I’m going on the ride along too.”

“I see.” Ericka had no idea why he was going too, but if he thought he needed to then he was the boss.

“Wait. Maggie and Greg plan to marry?” Tristan looked back and forth between those at the table.

Maggie rolled her eyes. “It was the part we planned to get into the dry cleaners.”

“Oh, that’s good.” He lowered his head back to his plate. “Why did you need a part to get into a dry cleaner? I’m pretty sure you just walk through the door.”

Ericka wouldn’t have thought that Tristan was that naïve, but lately he’d been acting insecure. He’d had the job as a piano player in a church as well as the Backstreet Jazz Club. He’d left all that to come here. He was still writing songs and selling them, but it wasn’t the same as playing for people.

Ericka thought about asking for his help while the other guys were gone, but Maggie had already whispered something in his ear and a smile shifted across his face. She was glad he was happy, but that was going to leave her with Fanny and quite frankly, she wasn’t happy.

The computer-loving girl was friendly, but she didn’t talk a lot. Or do much that Ericka could tell.

Maybe it would be a good time to go for a run.

Greg and Quinn left and the rest of them finished lunch in relative silence. When the meal was over, Fanny said she was going to her room. Maggie and Tristan rose, locked arms, and just walked downstairs.

Ericka was left to clean up the table. Once the kitchen was put back together, she went downstairs and looked at her desk. The workday wasn’t over, but there was very little she could do until tomorrow. She already had her outfit ready for Nova’s gambling debut. They attempted to surveil Tyson through non-human means and been given a no. She couldn’t do a stakeout on her own or in broad daylight.

A run was looking more and more appealing.

Upstairs again she dressed in workout leggings and a tank top. She used a sun visor instead of a hat so that her ponytail could come out the top. She topped that off with sunglasses. It wouldn’t do for Tyson to see her and recognize her out and about in normal clothes. Although it might not matter. She didn’t look like a cop at the moment.

The area was inundated with sidewalks. There were also signs that told the distance from walking trails, the river, and a local park. She took the trail to the park.

It took about ten minutes to reach the area. Once there she found a gravel path that led around a small pond. The pond was filled with ducks as well as other animals. Fish jumped on their tails when children threw pellets into the water. One child skipped a pellet almost across the entire pond before a catfish jumped into the air and caught it.

Instead of getting in the way of those enjoying the pond she took the wooded trail. Trees overshadowed her and gave shade and cooler temperatures. Still, it didn’t take long for the sweat to bead on her forehead or to run down her back.

As she rounded a corner, the sounds of sirens reached her ears. A part in the foliage showed a gravel road. A red sports car sped past followed by a cruiser with lights blazing. If she didn’t know better, she’d say she saw Greg and Quinn in the car.

She moved back onto the path and increased the pace of her run. Getting back to the office seemed like it might be important.

****

Greg squeezed the headrest in front of him as Bagger took the curve on two wheels. They were in a residential neighborhood. A kid or an adult could walk out on the street at any time, and they would be crushed. The speed limit said thirty and he knew they were doing sixty easy.

“Don’t you think we should slow down through here?”

“Can’t.” Bagger turned the wheel, his arms trembled with the strain of keeping it from coming back on him.

“Why not? People live down here. And I think I just saw a face peep out of those trees.”

“You might have. That’s the other side of the park.”

“The other side of the park…” Greg drew in a shaky breath. They couldn’t be racing like this around kids at a park! What could be so important that Bagger wouldn’t slow down?

“I think you need to explain before I have you pull this vehicle over.”

“All right, I’ll explain. That car right there belongs to Horace and Von Tremell.”

“And?”

Finally, Quinn spoke. He was being shifted from side to side in the front seat. He had a grip so tight on the console, Greg feared he might set off the air bag.

“Well, they just robbed the convenience store on Market Street. They got away with a good chunk of change.”

Greg understood the need to chase them down, but he thought they could have easily found them since they knew who had done the deed.

They rounded a corner and Bagger slammed on the brakes. A tractor trailer was going through a four-way stop and blocked the entire road. They came within inches of hitting the vehicle.

Bagger slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “That makes the second time this month.”

“Excuse me? Why don’t you go after them at their home? Do you have to wait until they rob a place to pick them up?”

“It ain’t exactly that. Now that we’ve left the store, the store owner will delete the footage of the robbery.”

“What?”

“The entire town is afraid of those two boys. If I don’t catch them after they do it, then I generally have zero proof to hold them.”

Greg didn’t care for small-town police life if this was how it was run. They seemed to accomplish very little other than going after the same people over and over for the same things.

When Bagger pulled back out on the road he did so at a much slower pace. “I guess we’re back on patrol.”

Quinn’s mouth had dropped open. “Why don’t you let me hack into the cameras and download the proof?”

“Nah, couldn’t use it in court. We’ll get them on something. May be a while, but we’ll get ’em.”

Greg had his doubts. The court system in Clifton didn’t work like normal places.

“So, where do we go now?”

Bagger drove back into the downtown area, which was filled with old brick buildings and one-way streets. It was easy to get turned around.

“We just drive and wait for trouble to be called in.”

So, they could do absolutely nothing to stop it. Greg didn’t say it out loud.

A call came over the radio. “Bagger, domestic disturbance out at the old Holden place.”

Bagger sighed. “All right, Thomas. We’re headed over.”

“This sounds like repeat offenders.”

“You could say that.”

Quinn shifted in his seat. His legs were a tad too long for the vehicle. “Can we have some background?”

“Background? How about this? Mr. and Mrs. Holden get riled up about every couple of months. He wants more children, she doesn’t. That kind of thing.”

“Oh, yeah. That kind of thing.” Quinn rolled his eyes.

Greg understood. The entire situation was foreign. Not that he hadn’t been part of a domestic disturbance or two, but over having a baby? That was a new one.

They pulled in front of the two-story farmhouse. Quinn’s eyebrow rose. Like he was expecting something completely different. Truthfully, Greg hadn’t expected such a nice place either.

Raised voices reached them before they touched the grassy lawn.

“Look Hazel, we need more kids for the farm.”

“More kids! That’s what you said last time. Now we have toddlers running wild everywhere. When Jessup do you think they’ll be taking care of the farm? Hmm?”

“Well, now look, we don’t have to have kids. I’d just like a little bit of…” Jessup’s voice lowered until Greg couldn’t hear.

Hazel fisted her hands to her sides and stomped toward Bagger. “You do something with him, ya hear? I want him gone at least overnight. There ain’t going to be no lovey-dovey going on here!” She turned around, lifted her nose to the air, and stomped toward the house. Once inside she slammed the door. The bolt sliding into place could be heard at the car.

Jessup faced Bagger. “Why does she get like this? Every time I asked for a little of her time, she goes and does the same thing.”

Greg asked, “How many kids do you have?”

“Last count…” Jessup held up his fingers and ticked off one by one. “I think it was seven or eight. But that’s not the point.”

Quinn nodded his head toward the house. “She’s thinks it’s the point.”

“Bagger, who are these two inconsiderates you brought to my house?”

“They were on a ride along with me. Had to bring them.”

“Well, you can tell them this is none of their business.”

Greg cocked his brow and put his lips together. He wouldn’t be giving any more of his opinions, but he had one.

“Do you want to come to the station and sleep until Hazel cools off?”

“Nah. I’ll just go to the barn. I’ll have the cats and the mice to keep me warm, I guess.”

Jessup stomped off muttering obscenities all the way.

Greg and Quinn climbed back in the car. Bagger jogged to the front door and knocked. It cracked a hair. Greg assumed he was telling Mrs. Holden the situation.

When he returned to the car, he strapped in and put the car in gear without many words.

“How old are the children?”

“I think the oldest is about ten.”

“Ten?” Quinn’s shock was a little over the top, but Greg didn’t point it out.

“Yeah. They’ve only been married about eleven years.”

Greg bit his own tongue. If a person wanted a big family and they could care for them, more power to them. But it didn’t seem like Hazel was hungry for any more kids or the activity that produced them. Maybe she needed a break.

Quinn opened his mouth and Greg quickly reached up and squeezed his shoulder. He knew something was about to come out that was better left unsaid.

“Um, yeah, um, what next?”

Greg nodded, just in case Quinn could see him.

“We just drive around and wait.”

Greg had leaned back against the leather seat in the back. If they had a prisoner, they would have to call another car. This one was fitted to haul people, but not with him inside. And he hadn’t seen many patrol cars at the station either.

“Is this a typical afternoon or do you normally have more activity?”

“Normally less.”

“Oh.”

Greg should have known. A highspeed car chase and a domestic disturbance couldn’t happen every day. It might ruin the town’s reputation.

The people couldn’t have that.

****

“He loves me, he loves me not. He loves me, he loves me not.”

Each white petal she pulled off the daisy got caught by the wind and drifted away. Every time her question ended the same… not.

The grass on the hillside tickled her bare legs. She’d worn the denim skirt and the cowgirl boots to get his attention. It was like after the first time, he’d moved on. She shouldn’t be surprised.

She’d given in too easily. All the other girls had said to play hard to get or that he was just a player and to avoid him all together. They had been so right.

Below her the lit-up barn seemed to rock with the loud music. Through the barn doors she could see the inebriated bodies swaying to the sound.

She’d been in there not that long before. The rough wood had rubbed her back as she put herself there to hide and wait. Her neck hurt from the times she looked at the door trying to deciding whether to go or stay put.

Here she was in a crowded room full of people, but she felt so alone. People smiled. People offered tiny waves. They knew her, but they weren’t her friends. At least not anymore.

She opened her phone a few times. She thought about calling people she considered friends to come to the party, but then she put it back in her pocket.

In the end, she left. She walked to the hillside and sat down in the field of flowers.

“Ann Marie? What are you doing out here?”

She looked over her shoulder. A smile teased her lips. Maybe her mind had conjured him. She didn’t know, she didn’t care.

He was here.

Now she could tell him what she’d been needing to tell him…

Chapter Seven

Ericka and the team had a late supper and went to bed early. There wasn’t a lot of talking, at least as a group. Quinn and Fanny separated into a twosome. Maggie and Tristan went in another direction. Ericka and Greg gave each other a peck on the cheek and went to their separate rooms.

He'd expressed that the afternoon of driving around with Bagger had been an exhausting and depressing experience. He wanted to go to his room and maybe compose an email. It might be his resignation or a request to leave and go back home.

She’d just let him talk.

When he finished, she expressed how she understood. And how they probably both needed rest. The next day was going to be full. She had a poker game. He had the dry cleaners. Even thinking the words made her feel silly.

The night flew by. Sunlight streamed through the windows and struck her face. She rolled onto her back and stretched her arms over her head. She stretched her legs as far as they would go. The ancient alarm clock beside the bed began to play, “At Last” by Ella James.

Ericka hummed it under her breath. A smile teased her lips. The words were finally true. She rose, held out her arms like she was gripping Greg, and danced around the room. Eyes closed, she swayed back and forth to the music.

The knock on the door caused her to stumble. She caught herself on the headboard with her thigh. She gasped.

“You all right in there?”

Why was Tristan knocking on her door?

“Yes.”

“Greg said that the bathroom is empty. He suggested you go or you’re going to be late for getting downstairs. I’m not sure if he was making a joke or not.”

“Thank you.”

What else could she say?

She heard him walk away and she went to her drawers and her closet and dragged out her outfit for the day. First would be her white shirt, blue jacket, and dressy slacks, combined with her loafers. Later she would wear the fancy dress she’d chosen for the poker game.

The hallway was empty when she entered. She made a beeline for the bathroom. Fortunately, it was still free. Inside the tiny room, she undressed and climbed beneath the hot spray. Now that was a blessing.

She tried not to be too long in case someone else needed in. She cleaned and got out, drying while standing on a towel. Once dry, she dressed and opened the door gasping for air.

The bathroom needed a window, or at least an exhaust fan. The moisture that built in that tiny room with a hot shower was overwhelming. Maybe lukewarm would be for next time.

From down the hall in the area off the kitchenette, sounds similar to yesterday’s came. She moved closer and entered the room. Today was eggs and bacon. As she scooted into a chair at the table, a plate was placed before her. She could get used to this kind of treatment.

“What’s on today’s agenda? You guys going to run around town and leave us here all day again.” Tristan forked eggs into his mouth.

Bitter.

He sounded very bitter.

Maggie patted his hand and whispered something.

Greg stood poised above the skillet holding the spatula. She saw that look that said he was about to say something he’d later regret.

The sound of an ambulance rushing past the window had them all jumping out of their seats. Following the ambulance were two cop cars. They sped down Main Street. Pedestrians and cars barely had time to ease off to the side of the road.

Quinn opened his mouth right as all of their phones went off.

En masse, they rushed downstairs. No one spoke as they grabbed their weapons from a secure locker and ran to Greg’s car. The text gave them a location and told them to come immediately.

Ericka sat in the passenger seat. Greg had programed in the address. He took the curves like a manic and she held to the dash for support. Maggie and Quinn slid across the slick leather of the backseat, smashing into each other with every twist.

“We can go a little slower.”

“Not sure if we can. The text wasn’t clear, and the ambulance and the other cars were flying. Kind of seems like we need to get there quick.”

Ericka didn’t argue, but she didn’t necessarily agree. The town didn’t have real emergencies that she could tell. Probably when they did have one, they might go overboard, but she’d been wrong before.

The road dead ended at a farm.

Ericka was about to ask about the farm from yesterday, but Greg said, “Nope, not the same place.”

Ericka nodded. He’d read her mind. A little scary actually.

Greg parked with the other cars in front of a large farmhouse. The paint flaked off in multiple places. Parts of the roof were lifted and bent, or just missing altogether. Men in uniforms and suits stood on the slanted hillside overlooking the property. They appeared to be looking at their feet.

From Ericka’s vantage point all she saw was a hillside covered in white daisies. She remembered when she found the cross on the side of the road. Daisies had lain behind it. That entire situation had turned out to have a happy ending. For some reason she didn’t think this scenario was going to work out quite the same.

They walked two-by-two with their hands in their pockets and their heads down. Once they drew close enough Bagger stepped away from the others. It was more than just him and Thomas. Where the other officers had come from Ericka didn’t know. She hadn’t realized there might be more people in uniform in the town, but in this case, she was sure it was going to work out to their advantage.

Bagger pushed his cap back and massaged his forehead. He drew in a shaky breath.

“What do you got?” Greg had one leg bent at the knee and the other straight steadying himself on the hillside.

Ericka saw the tip of a shoe pointing straight up from the flowers. She leaned to the side and peered through a crack in the wall of men. She closed her eyes but didn’t squeeze. Then she opened them. There in the grass was a young girl. Her straight blond hair was fanned out around her. Her hands were folded over her chest. She looked like she was asleep, only Ericka knew she wasn’t.

Ericka looked down the hill at the nice house and the barn before she turned back to the girl in the flowers. The sleepy little town just woke up.

****

Greg forced himself not to wrap his arms around Ericka. She was a police officer, but she was also the woman he loved. He didn’t want her to see such things as what lay in the grass.

Thomas stepped to his elbow. “The medical examiner will be here soon. There’s a barn full of teenagers that need to be interviewed. You think your group can handle that?”

Greg would have said they could handle much more, but he remembered they were guests. And not everyone wanted them there.

“We can absolutely do that.” He started walking and the team followed.

“Boss, we should have—”

“Agent Hart, we’ve been asked to interview the teenagers in the barn and we’re going to interview the teenagers in the barn.” He kept as even a tone as possible. It wouldn’t do for his team to know how aggravated he was as well.

They approached the barn. Kids stood at the double doors trying to push past officers. Where did these people keep coming from? Where had they been hiding? Officers were everywhere. Greg didn’t understand it.

In the background, “Cry to Me” was playing. Greg could feel his foot start to bounce. There were some kids feeling it as well. They had moved to the dance floor, and they were moving in a fluid movement against each other. If he’d been alone, he would have grabbed Ericka and shown her a slow dance like she’d never seen before.

“Greg?” She was elbowing him in the side.

“Yeah, sorry.” He cleared his throat in hopes it would clear his mind. “How many of these kids have been interviewed?”

The guard at the door scrunched up his face and pointed to his chest. “Are you asking me?”

“Yes, I’m asking you.”

“Well, thank you. The answer is none.”

“None?”

“None.”

“All right then. Team, let’s divide and conquer.” Greg pointed left, right, and to the back. He gave each of them a section. He took the kids at the door trying to get out.

“Back up. Back up.”

They reluctantly complied.

“Now, find a seat at those tables.”

The boys flopped into the chairs and slammed their forearms on the top of the plastic tables. A couple of them physically sat on the table and snickered until he used his finger to point at a chair.

“All right this is how it’s going to go. You want to get out of here. I want to get out of here. So, I’m going to ask each of you a few questions. Once you’ve answered them to my satisfaction you’ll be allowed to leave. One at a time.”

A collective groan rose. Then one guy in a baseball jersey spoke up. “Why are we being detained? Did someone stomp on Mrs. Crabby’s flowers?”

Those close by gave him a high-five as they shared in hearty, enthusiastic laugh.

The officer that had been at the door leaned in. “Mrs. Velda Crabtree owns the house and the barn.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Greg faced the rowdy teens again. “I’m afraid that is not the case. Mrs. Crabtree hasn’t complained to my knowledge although I wouldn’t blame her.”

“Then why are we being held. My father knows the chief of police. Maybe I’ll give him a call.”

“Go for it. The chief ordered me to do the interviews.” And least he thought the chief had. Bagger seemed to be the senior officer so who else could the chief be.

“Whatever.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Greg crossed his arms over his chest and mimicked the teen. The group around him burst out in laughter that made the teen blush. Greg might have gone too far, but he didn’t care. The boy needed to show some respect.

“Well, get on with it. I have a TV dinner waiting for me at home.” Baseball jersey kid spoke again.

In his experience the one with the loudest voice knew something he shouldn’t, but Greg would reserve judgement.

“For all those ready to split there is a young girl up there on the hill.”

“So?” Baseball jersey slumped in the chair.

“She’s dead.”

“What?” That made him straighten.

Greg waited for the light to hit everyone’s eyes. Then he remembered. He’d caught a brief glance of the girl himself. Where had that been? Now he remembered where he’d seen her. At the cleaners. It was Ann Marie. It was the sassy little girl that had taken his suit. He barely held back his sigh of realization.

“It’s Ann Marie.”

Eyes grew large around the waiting group.

“So, before you think about leaving I have a few questions.”

****

His heart hammered in his chest. He hadn’t thought she’d be found so soon. She’d been eying him all afternoon. He’d seen her go to the hilltop. He’d thought about going to see her. But he hadn’t. Or he didn’t remember doing it.

The blackouts could be getting worse. How would he know? The doctor had said another hit during baseball, and he could suffer permanent damage. Maybe he’d been right.

He massaged his throbbing temple. Alcohol didn’t go well with his medication, but that hadn’t stopped him yet.

The officer was approaching him. He needed to get out of the barn and go somewhere, anywhere. If he answered questions, they would think he did it even if he hadn’t.

He hadn’t hurt her. He knew that. That he remembered. They had talked. She’d shared a secret. A secret he was supposed to pass on.

But who was he supposed to tell…

Chapter Eight

Ericka hadn’t wanted to leave until the medical examiner arrived, but Bagger and his new friends had different ideas. Once down the hill and in the barn, Ericka felt even worse. It was like a scene from a bad teen movie. If she thought really hard, she could see Carrie, from the Stephen King novel, on the stage and a bunch of popular kids preparing to dump blood on her head.

Greg had gotten his kids to listen, hers she was still having trouble with.

“Lady, what’s this all about? I told my ma I’d be home by eleven. If I miss my curfew again then my pa won’t let me out for a month!”

Ericka kept from bristling at the comment by biting the inside of her cheek. Once she relaxed, she pulled out her badge. “Do you see this? This says I’m a detective and I can keep you here past curfew.”

Ericka heard the profanity spewing from the guy but pretended she didn’t. “Now, let’s get started. The sooner I talk to you, the sooner you can leave.”

The guy who had called her lady raised his hand. “Can I go first?”

“Sure. Why not?”

She motioned him toward a table with a few chairs. He flopped into the metal seat and practically laid down. She cocked a brow, and he immediately straightened.

“Name?”

“Charles Xavier.”

“As in Professor X from X-Men?”

“Dang, I didn’t think you’d know that.”

“Let’s try again, name?”

“Jaxon Ryan.”

“You play baseball?”

“I do. How did you know?”

She looked up from her notes. “Your jacket.” She knew he was being sarcastic, but taking the bait wasn’t something she planned to do.

“Oh, that.”

She tapped her pen end against the paper. “Can you tell me what you were doing here tonight?”

“Partying.” He smiled and rubbed his hands across one shoulder then the other.

She narrowed her eyes.

“So, you can see that. I guess you could say we were celebrating. The season is about to start. Long practices. Early runs. We just wanted to get together and relax, chill, you know, before it all starts again.”

“How do you know Velda Crabtree?”

“Oh, Mrs. Crabtree. Yeah, she retired from teaching and her son used to be on the team so once a year she lets us meet here.”

Ericka paused. Giving away what had happened to Ann Marie wasn’t something she wanted to do right away. She wanted to see reactions when the kids found out the news. It was important that she phrased everything just right.

“You got any more questions. You just don’t understand my folks.”

“Strict, are they?”

“Sort of, but more like protective. My brother, well, he died when he was young and now, they watch me like a hawk. It’s a miracle they even let me play ball.”

Ericka could understand that protective nature of a parent although she’d never experienced it personally. “Well, let’s see if we can finish up. Here is my last question.” She leaned forward on her elbow and lowered her voice. “How did you know Ann Marie Hudson?”

He shrugged. “I knew her like everyone else. She worked at the cleaners. She went to school. Not much else to know.”

“What if I told you that she’s dead and lying up there in that field.”

“What?” He leaned forward, his eyebrows were raised with clear shock. “That can’t be right. She wasn’t invited to the party because she didn’t make the cheer team this year. Why would she be here? You’re pulling my leg.” He leaned back and relaxed like he knew the answer so why was he stressed.

Ericka didn’t reply or move.

“What? You’re not kidding?”

“Sadly, I’m not.”

He rose to his feet and started pacing back and forth. Words came from his lips so fast that Ericka couldn’t made sense of them.

“Slow down, what are you saying?”

He stopped and looked at her. “I’m not saying another word.”

She tucked her chin and blinked. “Excuse me?”

Jaxon fell into the seat and crossed his arms over his chest.

“So, you don’t want to answer any more questions, but you’re giving me the sense that you know something. No problem.” She grabbed his arm and jerked him to his feet, then she turned him around, and cuffed his wrists. “You are under arrest for the murder of Ann Marie Hudson. You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney, if you can’t afford one, one will be provided to you…” She kept going. She hoped he would speak up for fear of his parents, but he said nothing.

An officer came up to her and she handed him over. “I want you to take him and book him.”

“Um, Detective Stone?”

“Yes?”

“Can I speak with you for a moment?”

Ericka stepped away from her prisoner. “What is it? I have other people to question.”

“Well, his father is the biggest lawyer in the county.”

“And?”

“Well, he’ll have him out in an hour.”

“That’s okay.”

“It is?”

“It is. Now take him to the station.”

“All right, if you say so.”

Ericka turned back to the waiting group of teens. “Who’s next?”

Their eyes were glued to Jaxon as he was escorted from the barn. Her point had been made.

****

Greg witnessed the perp walk, but he didn’t think that was the perp or Ericka would have alerted them all and stopped interviewing. The kid being hauled out did get the attention of the others in attendance. He hoped Ericka had a good reason for arresting the kid. He heard whispers that taking that kid in could cause big trouble. They didn’t really need any more of that, but they had a murderer to catch, so let the trouble roll.

“Hey, what did he do?”

“I have no idea. Let’s talk about what you’ve been doing… um…”

“October Williams.”

“Mr. Williams, can you tell me about this afternoon?”

“We were having a party until all these cops showed up.”

“I see that. Thank you. Why do you think the cops are here?”

“Well, you said that someone was killed.”

“I did. Ann Marie Hudson was murdered on the hill overlooking the barn.”

He blinked. “Say what?”

“I said—”

“No, I heard you, but what was Ann Marie even doing here? I mean, she wasn’t supposed to come. Only cheerleaders and baseball players were allowed, ’cause it was a beginning of the year celebration. And she quit. Up in the middle of the season. She threw up one time! The cheerleaders start practice before us. Then they do it with us. But I mean, one time she throws up and then she just stopped coming to practice, quit the team, everything.”

“I see.” He paused. “Wait, baseball has cheerleaders?”

“It’s like unofficial. We do fundraisers to get money for uniforms, but they don’t run out on the field like at football games.”

“All right, that’s a new one.” He looked at his paper then raised his head. “Did Ann Marie have a boyfriend on the team?”

“Yeah, Michal Lewis.” October pointed to him.

It was baseball jersey guy. Why was Greg not surprised?

“Can you think of any reason someone would want to hurt Ann Marie?”

He shrugged. “Not really. She didn’t have any enemies that I knew about. Just hurt some feelings, that’s all.”

“All right, thank you.”

“I’m free to go?”

“Yes, you’re free to go.”

He hurriedly wrote out some notes before pulling the next kid in to talk. But he had his prime suspect. That was Michal Lewis. Something about his earlier demeanor and attitude spoke volumes to this situation.

****

Sweat beaded on Michal’s brow as Jaxon was hauled out of the barn and October was released. The officer who’d just finished talking to October sent a curious glance his way. No doubt October had shared that Ann Marie had been his girl. Of course that was over now. Heather and he had started something just a few days before. And he wasn’t a cheat.

Michal cracked his knuckles. If he got the opportunity to talk again, he knew exactly who he’d be pointing fingers at. Half the team had banged Ann Marie or so she liked to say. The boys didn’t talk about it in the locker room, so he couldn’t be sure she’d told the truth, but she liked to mix it up quite a bit. He had no qualms throwing them all under the bus.

The officer who had busted Jaxon made her rounds. Next up in her group was Beverly. That should make for an interesting event. He wished he was close enough to hear it.

Chapter Nine

Ericka approached a girl in a short pleated two-colored skirt and a top that looked like something a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader would wear. She cleared her throat and waited to be noticed, but the girl was mumbling a cheer and then kicking her leg up into the air and touching her toes with her hand.

“Excuse me?”

“Excuse yourself.” She turned away.

Oh, this one was going to play difficult. And she was going to do it on a day that Ericka was not in the mood. She was supposed to go to a poker game in a few hours and beat experts. Then she was supposed to play awesome in a baseball game. Then who knew what else she was supposed to do. Putting up with this girl’s crap was not something on the list.

“Are you Beverly Willis?”

“Yeah, what’s it to ya?”

“Oh, I’m Detective Ericka Stone, and I’m investigating the murder of a girl who looks a lot like you. It could be a serial thing. But I’m sure you don’t need protection. You’ve got that whole foot kick thing going on.”

“What?”

That got the girl to stop and look, but then she added, “I thought it was Ann Marie who got whacked. She doesn’t look anything like me.”

This girl was a real gem.

“I need you to come and sit down with me. I need to ask you a few questions.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so?”

“If you need to know something, ask me while I cheer. The state competition is like, next week. And I have to be ready.”

“Um, you’re a fake cheerleader for a baseball team. What kind of competition could you possibly go to?”

Her hand went to her hip, and she began shaking her entire body and wagging her finger. “I’ll have you know that I also cheer competitively at a local place and we’re going to competition. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.” Beverly went back to her cheer pose.

“All right, if you won’t answer my questions, I’ll arrest you like I did Mr. Ryan and then I’ll call your coach and make sure she knows that you won’t be out in time to compete.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Her voice took on a shriek that could have broken glass.

She started to say try me, but Maggie walked by and answered, “Oh, she would. Trust me.”

Beverly moved her arms back and forth like an upset toddler until she found a seat and flopped into it. “I don’t know why you’re questioning us. The girls couldn’t or wouldn’t have touched Ann Marie. She was our girl. Sure, she stepped aside for a season, but that was it, a season. Like, her mom was sick, or she was sick or something. Who you should really be talking to are the boys on the team. You know she was with like every one of them, right? She loved to gloat that she could have them all.”

“Go on.”

“And then there was her hot boss. That guy is smokin’!” She fanned herself before continuing. “Anyway, we all just figured the boss was making her quit the team so that she could focus on work or something. She didn’t talk to us much after she quit.”

The answers were getting more and more interesting.

“Anything else you want to share?”

“Well, just that,” she looked around then leaned in closer, “Michal and Ann Marie were like a thing until two weeks ago and suddenly he flips and goes with Heather. I mean, what’s up with that. I figured that if she did come to the party, it would be to ask, what the heck? I mean, Michal proposed! He did so on the baseball field. Then he just took it away in private. As if!”

Ericka had no idea what that meant, but this Michal character was becoming suspect number one. And the fact that Jaxon had refused to point him out meant that he didn’t want to accuse a teammate or perhaps himself. Ericka understood. Or at least she felt like she was getting a clearer picture.

She released Beverly and looked at her list. One of Bagger’s officers had provided her with a list of names for the people in her group. She scanned the names. There in the middle was Heather Worley.

This looked like a good person to interview next.

****

Greg eyed his list of names. Michal Lewis kept being drawn to his attention, not only by others but by Michal himself. He’d been the one in the jersey making smart aleck remarks from the beginning. Why would someone draw attention to himself if he’d committed murder?

Unless he thought he wouldn’t get caught.

Drumming his fingers on the table, Greg gave himself a few moments. He wanted to make Michal nervous. He questioned him once, but now he was hoping maybe he’d slip up.

“Michal Lewis…”

“Stop right there. What are you doing questioning these children without parents present?” A man asked as he entered the room. He wore an Italian business suit and was followed by Jaxon Ryan who had just been escorted out not ten minutes prior.

That was the quickest bail release in history.

“Hello, I’m Sergeant Greg Kane and—”

“I don’t care if your Ghandi. I didn’t give you permission to question these kids, and no other parent did either. Kids, get your things and leave.”

Greg held up his hands. “Stop right there. They aren’t in custody, so they don’t have to have a parent present to be questioned.”

“Um, um…”

“That’s right, I know a bit about the law. Now, if you like you can sit and wait with your child. I have no problem talking to him in your presence.”

The parent walked with Jaxon to a bench. They huddled their heads together and looked as if they were having an intense conversation.

Quinn sidled up to him. “I think someone said Jaxon’s dad is a lawyer.”

“I can see it in the clothes, but he’s not a very good one.” Greg had beaten him with one sentence.

“I would tread lightly. We’re strangers in town, you know.”

“I know.” Greg understood the ramifications of getting the townsfolk on their bad side.

“I’ll question the rest of these kids. You talk to Jaxon again. Although I wish I could be a fly on the wall when you do it.”

Greg chuckled under his breath. Then he grew solemn. “Pay special attention to Michal Lewis. I know that kid is hiding something. It might not be murder, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important.”

“Got it.”

Greg approached Jaxon and the man he presumed was his father. He held out his hand and waited for the lawyer-looking guy to take it.

“Arthur Ryan, Esquire.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Sure.”

“Your son was in custody.”

“He was.”

“I see that you got him released.”

“I did.”

“Before he made it to the station, apparently.”

“Do you have something you’d like to say?”

Greg raised his hands. “No, I don’t have anything to say. But I do have some questions.”

“Like what?”

“Your son was asked about Ann Marie and if he knew anything about someone who would like to hurt her, and instead of answering the question he refused to speak.”

Arthur sent a scathing look at his son and slapped him across the chest. “You answer the officer. Do it now.”

“Dad!”

“You’re not going down or losing your scholarship for anyone here. Do you hear me?”

The boy rolled his eyes and shot a breath from his nose. “Fine. She and Michal Lewis were an item until last week.”

“Now, was that so hard?” His dad smiled.

“Why did you think that wouldn’t come out without you?” Greg’s curiosity made him ask. He already knew about the relationship. If this was all Jaxon was hiding, they had nothing.

“I don’t know.”

“I think you know something more.” Greg prayed he knew something more.

He squirmed in the seat.

“Son?”

“Dad, I can’t.”

“Oh, you can, and you will.”

He leaned over and whispered something in his father’s ear.

Then his dad jumped up and paced. He looked at Greg, muttered, then sat again. “I think we need a lawyer.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why do you say that?”

Greg didn’t understand this at all. Arthur Lewis was a lawyer. Why did they need one?

“Look at your son. He doesn’t have any dirt on his knees or his shoes. He has hay and sawdust. I don’t think he had anything to do with the actual murder, I think he knows who does though.”

Greg was going off the cuff. He thought his words were accurate. It didn’t mean that the boy hadn’t done it, but he couldn’t see it on him.

“Fine. My son, he blacks out. He’s been hit in the head a few too many times.”

“I see.” Then maybe he did do it.

“He said that he went up the hill and saw Ann Marie.”

That set Greg’s nerves tingling.

Arthur licked his lips. “He didn’t do anything to her though, but she told him a secret.”

“What was it?”

Arthur rolled his eyes to the ceiling, before looking at him and whispering, “She was pregnant.”

Greg sucked in a breath. “Did she say who the father was?”

Jaxon studied the hay on the floor. So, he knew but he didn’t want to answer again, or he didn’t know. Finally, he shook his head.

“So, she didn’t tell you?”

“I-I told her I didn’t want to know.”

“Why?”

The boy laughed. “Because I loved her. I wanted to marry her. She was too good for Michal. She was too good for any of these guys.”

“So, you didn’t tell anyone about the pregnancy thing.”

“Well…”

****

Michal had breathed a sigh of relief when Mr. Ryan entered and declared he could go home, then the relief ended as soon as it started. Now he was talking to the officer too!

What was happening to their tightknit, never give anyone up, group?

It was being tossed aside, that’s what.

Heather appeared at his side and locked her arm with his. “Why don’t we sneak out of here? I’m tired.”

“I don’t think we’re allowed.”

“Oh, please. What are they going to do? Throw us in jail? There aren’t enough cells for all of us.”

Heather was a devil may care kind of girl. Fifty-fifty and she didn’t care either way. He was more of a he wanted to be good and get a scholarship and leave this town kind of guy.

“I would rather not risk it.”

“Fine. Party pooper.”

Sometimes she was very childish.

“What about a drink?” She pulled a flask from her waistband.

“I don’t think so.”

“What is wrong with you?”

“Let’s see, Ann Marie is dead. And all fingers are going to point to me.”

“Why would they point at you?” Heather furrowed her brows and took a sip from the metal flask.

“I don’t know, because we were a couple then suddenly, we weren’t.”

Heather smiled. “Do you think they’ll look at me as a suspect? That would be so fascinating.”

Michal looked at Heather with his eyes wide. She was demented. How had he not seen that before?

“Heather Worley, please come back to your group. I’m ready to talk to you.”

She sighed and re-hid her flask. Then she tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek. “See you on the flip side.”

He nodded. The intense stare from the sergeant grew even more intense after something that Arthur and Jaxon had told him.

Michal swallowed.

He needed to get out of there quickly. He couldn’t be questioned again. He didn’t have any answers, but he would look guilty.

He felt guilty.

Dumping Ann Marie to be with Heather was going to make him look even worse.

He ran his hands through his hair. Maybe an escape with Heather wasn’t such a bad idea.

Chapter Ten

Ericka waited until Heather came back before pointing to a seat. The girl plopped down pretty much like the rest of them had. But instead of waiting, she pulled a flask from her waistband and began to drink.

“Do you have alcohol in that?” Ericka couldn’t stop her incredulous tone.

“’Course not. I’m under eighteen.” She smiled, showing a row of perfectly white teeth. She took another swig from the metal flask.

“Under eighteen. Got it. Needs a breathalyzer test, a DNA swab, blood test, and residue test.” Ericka spoke the list aloud as she wrote it in her notes.

“Wait, no… no, I don’t need that stuff.”

Ericka looked up from her paper with one eyebrow lifted. “Why don’t you need that stuff?”

Heather swallowed and hid the flask in her waistband once more. “It’s water with a little flavoring to mask the metal flavor. I have an image to maintain.”

“What kind of image is that?”

“Tough. I would think you of all people would understand that. We’re women living in a man’s world. It’s not easy.” The girl leaned forward and shook her upper body in some kind of cocky manner.

Ericka barely kept from rolling her eyes as she shook her head. This girl thinking that drinking from a flask made her tough made Ericka want to shake sense into her. But she didn’t even try to explain. She knew it wouldn’t do any good and she needed to get back to business.

“Tell me what you know about Ann Marie.”

Heather leaned back in the chair. She threw her legs up onto the table and crossed them at the ankles. “She was a world class ho. I mean like taking everyone’s man.”

“It was my understanding that you took her man.”

Heather dropped her feet and straightened in the chair. “Now, you wait a minute. I didn’t take him; he came to me freely after Ann Marie quit the team.”

“I see.”

“You have no clue. Look, that— I won’t say the words, tried to date every guy on the team. Even if they had a girl, Ann Marie thought she was better than everyone else.”

“Did you hate her?”

“I didn’t like her, but I also didn’t kill her. That would have taken effort and thinking about her, and I just don’t think about her that much.” The flask came out again.

If that thing was filled with flavored water, then Ericka was a monkey’s uncle. She could smell the alcohol from her seat. Reporting her in this town seemed like a waste of effort.

There wasn’t much more she could gather from the girl; Ericka could sense that. However, she would be one to watch.

“You’re free to go, but I wouldn’t leave town.”

Heather laughed. “I have nowhere else to be. Baseball season just got underway, and I’m the cheer captain. I have to be here.”

Cheer captain for a baseball team. Ericka withheld the sigh that threatened to erupt. Apparently, baseball really was a big thing in this town.

Heather and the others in the group stood up and walked out of the barn. The fact was, the group was tightknit. There was no way that any of them would give up the other, except for a few things. Like, who Ann Marie dated and that she’d quit the team. And of course, none of them were at fault.

She rose from the chair and walked to where Quinn, Maggie, and Greg huddled in a group and talked.

“Did you get anything?”

“Let’s see, Ann Marie was a slut, ho, and backstabber, who liked every guy on the team.”

“Oh, I got one better. Ann Marie was dating the guy who owned the dry cleaners.”

From Ericka’s vantage point she could just make out the body bag being hauled down the hill. That young girl had lost her life, and there wasn’t one person saying anything good about her. While the three continued to consult one another, Ericka stepped out of the barn and drew in a deep breath.

Death.

Senseless death.

It was something she would never get used to.

A car skidded to a halt in the parking area. A woman jumped from the car and ran toward the men coming down the hill.

She dropped to her knees. “No!”

The tortured scream rent the air. Bagger and a few of the other officers helped the woman up and walked her away from Ann Marie.

“Wh-what happened? What happened to my baby?”

The mother.

Ericka should have guessed.

Bagger pointed at her and then gave the mother a slight push down the hill. Ericka stood her ground. She wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Officer Bagger said you might know what happened to my daughter?”

Ericka would repay him for that later. “Ma’am, I’m sorry to inform you that your daughter was murdered.”

The woman covered her gaping mouth. Her shoulders went up and down in violent sobs. “Why was she here? I thought she was at work. She quit the team.”

“I’m not sure, ma’am. But I promise you we will find out.” That was a promise that Ericka would keep.

She turned and faced the body as it was placed in the back of an ambulance. The mother hadn’t introduced herself, but she was in shock. She also didn’t say anything else. Her shoulders straightened and she walked back to her car and climbed inside.

“Who was that?”

“The mother, I think.”

“That reaction was odd.”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

“Quinn and Maggie are going back to the office to make a few calls. Do you want to stick around a little longer or…”

“Yes, yes I do.”

Once everyone left, she planned to climb that hill and do a little investigating on her own. Something wasn’t right.

She could feel it.

****

Foolishly, Greg had believed that moving to a sleepy little town would provide sleepy little cases. Boy, had he been wrong. In all his days of working in New York he’d never had a case that was so sad. Ann Marie, despite what the others said about her, had been a beautiful girl with a future ahead of her. Whether it was bright was another story.

Ericka’s desire to stay behind matched his own. He wanted to walk the woods and look for prints. Someone had to have come from down the hill or from below. With all the people traipsing everywhere it would be impossible to tell who else might have come along.

But Ericka was a decent tracker. She might be able to recognize a pattern that was different from the others.

Bagger approached as they were about to ascend the hill.

“Sorry about that. That was Lynda, Ann Marie’s stepmother. She’s been with Ann Marie for a long time.”

“So, they are close then? Like real mother and daughter?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that. What I will say is that while Ann Marie’s father was stationed overseas Lynda stepped up and took care of her.”

“Is her father home now?”

“Sadly, he was killed in action.” Bagger looked up before looking down.

Greg noted that Ericka didn’t have anything else to say after that. Another father lost to their child. It would affect her. There was no way it couldn’t.

“Are you two sticking around?”

“For a bit. We just want to search the area.”

“We’ve done that all ready. And as you can see it won’t do much good now. There are too many prints.”

Greg wouldn’t comment on the mess they’d made of the investigation. Allowing people on the hill before taking pictures had been a mistake.

“Greg, come take a look at this.”

He stepped away from Bagger, but Bagger followed.

“This boot print. The heel is worn down on one side but not the other, like they turn their foot in when they walk.”

Greg nodded and she kept going.

“And look. It goes up the hill and away. Not like the other shoe prints where we were standing.”

Bagger pushed his hat back from his brow and scratched. “Well, I’ll be.”

“Did you guys send anybody that way?”

Bagger shook his head. “Nope. We sent everyone down the hillside because we figured it had to be someone who came from the party. Why would someone come out of the woods and attack a girl they didn’t even know would be here.”

Greg thought that was an excellent question. He would have asked, but Ericka was already following the different set of prints. As she went, she took pictures. She also pulled a ruler from her pocket and laid it beside one of the footprints before taking a picture.

“That’s a nifty trick.”

Greg would have thought it was an obvious trick, but he didn’t comment as they continued up the hill to the tree line. Large cedar trees rimmed the edge of the property on this side. Ericka squatted next to the base of one. She lifted something up with tweezers and Greg pulled a baggy from his pocket for her to drop it into.

“What’s that?”

“Cigarette butt.”

“Cigarette butt…” Bagger repeated Ericka with an incredulous voice inflection. Then he added, “Couldn’t be any of the baseball players. They wouldn’t smoke. The coach is really particular about that. Smoking gets them kicked off the team.”

Ericka still squatted next to the tree. She moved leaves around. “Has one of the players been removed recently? The people at the party seemed surprised that Ann Marie was even here since she had removed herself from the so-called squad a couple weeks before.”

“Hmm, I guess so. We could call Coach Denton and see.”

“Do that please. Also, if anyone else has quit or just graduated from the team within the last couple of years, we need a list of those people as well.”

Ericka rose to her full height and looked down the hill. “Greg, will you stand here.”

He moved over.

“What do you see?”

The sun was blinding him so he couldn’t see anything but the top of the barn. However, it wouldn’t have been like that a few hours before. “I see the spot where Ann Marie was sitting.”

“I can’t see it because I’m not tall enough. That means our perp must be at least as tall as you.”

She turned and paused again. She leaned forward and looked at the tree bark. Greg noted it was brown and scaly looking. Between the scales was a tiny piece of fabric. Ericka pinched it out with tweezers and Greg opened another evidence bag.

“We need to get these things to a lab.”

“And get a judge to issue a request for DNA of the players and ex-players.”

Greg was happy they were thinking almost alike. If they’d been alone, he would have bent down and kissed her right on the mouth. But they weren’t alone.

“Uh, you aren’t going to get a judge to give you a DNA sample of the players.”

“Why is that?”

“The judges are invested! They have a stake in our team winning this year. Our team is the best in the league. They won’t risk messing that up.”

“But a girl was murdered!” Ericka’s voice rose and echoed in the valley.

Greg heard their argument, but he also heard something else. If the person on the hill had been talking it would have echoed throughout the valley below. The person in question had stood on that hill waiting for their opportunity to approach Ann Marie for whatever reason. If they didn’t kill Ann Marie, then maybe they knew who did.

****

Tyson checked his watch for the tenth time that day. The poker game was set to start in a few hours. Nova and her bodyguard would be his secret for this game. He would take them for most of what they had this time and wait for the next game they played to take the rest. There was only one problem. Rumors of Ann Marie’s death had circulated around town. It had already knocked Russ Thomas out of attending. Tyson had no idea who else might not come because of it.

Ann Marie…

She had been a slice of sweet pie.

If she’d been just a tad older, he would have asked her out. But he didn’t go for young girls. Too much of a chance of getting blackmailed later.

Although, he was aware some of his clientele didn’t feel that way. He’d seen them eyeing the girl on his chance meetings in town or at the cleaners. And the baseball team! That was where her real enemies lay. That girl’d had every guy wrapped around her finger and every girl hating her guts.

He checked his watch again. Thirty minutes and he was closing the store and setting up the table in the back. He’d been looking forward to it all day.

He enjoyed taking other people’s money. One might say it was his favorite pastime.

Chapter Eleven

Ericka’s get ready alarm went off on her phone, vibrating her side from her pocket. Bagger was on a tangent about how no judge would help them.

She was starting to get sick of this town. A young girl had died, and all they cared about was baseball. Whoever had done her in, knew this perfectly well.

“These judges, they have kids on the team. Scouts come out for the games. It’s a big deal. It could be the ticket out of town for some of these kids.”

Ericka let that idea mull over in her mind.

A ticket out…

She would run the theory by Greg in the car.

She grabbed his arm. “Sergeant Kane and I have a previous engagement. We’ll get back to you about the case tomorrow.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Sadly, we must, right Kane?”

He looked at her. She widened her eyes hoping he would understand why they had to leave.

“Oh, yes, we do. Maybe we can return after our appointment.” They started to walk back down the hill and Greg paused. “Bagger, you need to leave a detective or an officer here at the scene overnight. We don’t need anyone coming in and trampling on any evidence.”

“Oh, yeah, yeah, right. I’ll do that.”

Once down the hill a way, Greg asked, “Why are we leaving?”

“The poker game.”

“Ah, I forgot.”

“And I have a hunch that a lot of things are connected in this town.”

“I’m getting the same vibe.”

In the car, Greg fired up the motor. Ericka waited until they left the farm before she got really animated.

“I know you’ve been holding it back. Go ahead.”

“You could tell?”

“I could see your jawline tense, and it looked like you were biting your cheek.”

Heat rushed to Ericka’s cheeks as she recognized that he had looked at her so intensely he had noticed all that.

“Now I’ve embarrassed you. You remember that I’m a detective as well, right? I’ve been trained to notice body language.”

She remembered. It was just having him notice her body meant she needed to watch how she presented herself. There were certain emotions and feelings she didn’t want shared, yet.

“You better tell me the theory before you forget or before we get to town.”

“Good point. So, here is what I’m thinking. Bagger said that baseball could be the ticket out of town. What if, just speculating, but what if Ann Marie had something on one of the people that wanted out of town. Something that would keep them from achieving their dream.”

“Like what?”

She bit the inside of her bottom lip, but quickly stopped as she noticed him smiling. He’d probably noticed her tells for years. She was good at hiding it around strangers, but she’d relaxed with him, so it was harder.

A thought rushed into her mind at the same time as his because they both shouted, “She’s pregnant!”

Greg slapped the steering wheel. “It makes perfect sense, and this is what Jaxon Lewis’ dad said as well.”

“Good to have confirmation.” She wished he’d said something, but he really hadn’t had time. Ericka kept going. “She stopped being on this fake cheer team because she didn’t want to hurt the baby.”

“She needed to tell the father, so she goes to the party.”

“She tells him, and he isn’t happy. I mean, he lost his out, right?”

His smile broadened. “We make a good team.”

She nodded. They had always made a good team. Now they were just two types of teams. Sometimes she worried that being together all the time might make for a bad personal relationship. She’d dreamed about it for so long she had to give it a shot, but she prayed that it didn’t ruin their friendship.

That was one thing she would never want to lose.

****

Greg waited for a response to his team question, but Ericka just smiled. He didn’t want to push her. The last couple of weeks had been stressful enough. The move. Getting settled in a tiny living space. Seriously, he’d thought that part of his life was over. Sharing a bathroom was on his top ten things not to do ever again. But here was.

He squeezed the wheel as he drove around the tight curves. A text came over the car. He pushed the button for the car to read it, but it stalled.

Ericka lifted her phone. “No service.”

“Hmm.”

How far did the no service area go? The farm had service, or the officers couldn’t have called him. Or they could have called from a landline. But would all those teens have been there without cell service? He hadn’t seen a phone.

“Did Ann Marie have a phone?”

“I didn’t see one. And I was just thinking, did the farm have service? I don’t remember anyone calling anybody.”

“Do you need to go back and check?”

Greg shook his head. She had to get to that poker game. They couldn’t have Tyson getting suspicious.

“I can go later, or I’ll have Quinn look it up from the computer. Nope, I forgot, he’s going with you.” It still rankled that he wasn’t the one going with her. But he understood. They were too close to one another.

Of course, it had never stopped them before.

“I think we should get a court order to look at every kid’s phone that was at the party.”

“All right, reasoning?”

“What if Ann Marie tried to text the father and tell him she was pregnant, but he didn’t respond. That would give a reason why she drove out here and waited. She would have reasoned that it was the day of the party and the only way to tell them would have been in person. She wasn’t going to practices, so the party was the only way to see him.”

“Why not wait?” He agreed with her, but someone playing devil’s advocate often gave them more information.

“Because she didn’t want anyone else to know, or she was afraid for anyone else to know before she had support?”

“Her stepmother.” Greg had seen how crazy that woman had acted. He would put her on the suspect list but survivors of violent crimes acted weird so they would tread lightly.

They went back and forth with ideas and possibilities until they reached the office. Once there Ericka looked at her watch and jumped from the vehicle. She turned on the sidewalk and blew him a kiss.

He hadn’t left the car.

Before he could exit, his phone rang. He lifted his to his head without looking at the name.

“Hello?”

“Greg, dear, is that you?”

“Mom. Is everything all right? Are you okay? Dad?”

“Everyone’s fine. Can’t I just call and see how you’re doing in Tennessee? I’m a tad jealous. I told your father we might need to come visit while you’re there. He said no that he wasn’t sharing a bathroom with all those people.”

“I don’t blame him!” Greg snickered. “You know I could put you up in a hotel if you really wanted to come.”

“We’ll think about it. But we’ll probably just stay at the old home place. It needs to be cleaned, of course.” There was an overly long pause. “Greg…”

“Yes?”

“I just want to say that I love you.”

Greg tried to tap down his worry. His mother had worried about him and his career choice for years. If she’d felt this way the entire time, then he would have felt terrible. It wasn’t a fun experience.

“I love you too.”

“We’ll get together, right? Now that you’re closer to us physically, you’ll come?”

The question lingered in the air. Had he implied that he wouldn’t do that?

“I guess you need to go. I’ll let you go. Love you, honey. Sleep well.”

The phone went dead in his hands, and he looked at the receiver. The call had been so strange. Even though she’d said everything was fine, he was having trouble believing it. He’d have to call his sister later and see if she would give him a heads up.

He climbed from the car and entered the building. Ericka had just come down the stairs decked out in her shiny, black, silk, body hugging gown. The upper half wasn’t as tight on her body as the lower half, but it left one creamy, white shoulder exposed. A fur wrap lay across her shoulders. She was bent over doing something when the bell above the door rang.

“Um…”

She looked up. A strand of heavily sprayed hair fell over her eyes. “Yeah, what’s up?”

“It was my mother.”

She straightened. “Is everything all right?”

How was he supposed to answer that question when she looked like she did? If he wasn’t careful, his heart might stop right there.

“I’m guessing everything is fine.” She smiled then a red hue covered her cheeks. “You can stop staring.”

“What if I don’t want to?” He moved across the floor avoiding desks, chairs, and all things of no consequence.

“Well, then I would say—”

“We ready to go?” Quinn jumped from the last step and caused a loud plop. “Oh, um, should I come back later?”

Greg had almost made it to Ericka. He had his hand out ready to grab hers and pull her into an embrace. He’d almost made it.

An alarm on Ericka’s body, one he’d like to go hunting for, began to ring.

“I’m assuming that the answer to Quinn’s question is yes.”

She sighed and lifted her phone which still rang. “Afraid so. We don’t want to be late. Or rather we do. Not sure when the others will arrive, but I’m preparing to make an entrance.”

“Oh, you’re going to do that.”

There was that red flush across her pert nose and cheeks. He needed to release her. They were there for a job. He’d insisted she wear that dress later and they could go somewhere special, just the two of them.

“Go. Work.”

She nodded.

“Thanks, boss.” Quinn raced passed and opened the door for Ericka. If anyone saw her inside the building, they could say she was being questioned about a crime. Maybe that would work.

****

Tyson checked the lighting, and the table set up two, three, four times. The chairs were in perfect position. He had the special cards ready. He had the cameras set up to display on his AI glasses and to talk to him at the same time.

The phone on his hip rang. He pressed the side of the glasses’ frame. “Hello?”

“Grunley?”

“Thomas?”

“I can’t make it tonight.”

“I figured. I heard about Ann Marie. A tragedy. Any idea who did it?”

“It’s an active investigation.”

Tyson would have pointed out how that had never stopped Thomas from sharing before but refrained. The young officer seemed more stressed than usual.

“Of course. And we’ll be fine without you tonight.”

“I’m sure you will.” The phone clicked.

Tyson looked at the room once more then left and flipped the switch. The glare of the cameras from the light needed to be avoided. He’d brought in special lighting for the games. He called it mood lighting but really it was hiding lighting.

The bell above the door rang. He thought he’d locked that.

He faced the door and froze.

A creamy, smooth shoulder was exposed as the fur wrap was removed and the burly fellow behind her took it. The sleek, black gown hugged almost every curve. And boy, were there some curves. Tyson could barely control his salivary glands. He bit his tongue to keep from whistling. He shouldn’t have worried so much about tonight. She was the perfect distraction.

She rubbed her hands together vigorously. “Let’s get this party started.”

He concurred wholeheartedly.

Chapter Twelve

Chill bumps dotted Ericka’s skin. Tyson stared at her like a meal to devour. It was almost the same as Greg. But vastly different. There was no love in Tyson’s expression only desire.

She had to be careful not to tremble. Although doing so might help with the image she was currently trying to portray.

Earlier, as she walked out the door of the office, Greg had said, “Knock ’em dead.”

She’d managed little more than a nod.

Now she was here with a piranha. Knocking him dead didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Quinn closed the gap. He was the perfect bodyguard. “Miss Nova, you need anything?”

“I’m good, but thank you, Hans.”

Tyson led them to a back room. Yellow lights embedded in the low ceiling highlighted the table. Oddly no light struck the walls.

“I saved this seat just for you.”

Quinn moved in and pulled it out. She sat and he pushed it in. He stood directly behind her.

Tyson frowned.

They were blocking his view!

Good. She needed every advantage she could get. And it was a clue in how Tyson was winning so many games.

Slowly others began to trickle in. No one in the group was someone she’d met, which she realized was a good thing. Why was she just now realizing this had been a possibility. Because she was off her game, that’s why. Working and relationshiping took a lot of mental capacity.

Apparently, more than she’d realized.

“Well, well, well who do we have here?” The gentleman wore all black with a black fedora. He sounded like a cowboy but looked like a gangster.

Ericka held out her hand. “Nova.”

She expected a shake, but the man in black lifted her hand to his lips and gave her a quick peck on the knuckles.

When he looked up, he said, “Just call me Mystery.”

She cocked her brow.

He leaned in. “We don’t usually use our real names or personas. This little activity isn’t exactly legal in our town.”

Ericka covered her rounded mouth. “Oh, thank you for telling me.”

“No problem, sugar. I’m betting your real name ain’t Nova anyway, but you could go with Star since you’re as bright as one.”

She smiled. “I’ll consider it.”

The dude had charm; she’d give him that. Corny charm, but still charm.

More individuals entered with names like Cricket, Casper, Headly. Each was more lavish or ridiculous than the last.

Playing a game of poker wasn’t illegal, however, betting on it was. And with the amounts they were prepared to spend in this room, with good reason.

Quinn busily tapped the sides of his glasses taking secret snapshots of the players. They needed to know their true identities so they wouldn’t run into them on the streets. At least in the next little bit while they were figuring things out. Although she had a cover—she’d say she was a dirty cop. Everyone would believe it. They expected that to happen a little too often.

Tyson shut the door and came to the table. He tapped the frame of his glasses. Quinn shot her a look with a raised eyebrow as he moved around behind him. Then he came back around Ericka. He squeezed her shoulder. Apparently, he knew how Tyson was cheating.

Using Morse code by tapping, she communicated they couldn’t leave yet. Ericka figured Tyson would throw a few bones at first. She could detect a pattern and beat him, but then he would know something was up. She just needed to play the game and see where it went.

****

Greg sat on the edge of his desk and reviewed Ann Marie’s financials. They weren’t very extensive. She had barely been a senior in high school. She’d only worked part time at the dry cleaners. According to her debit card and the location where money was spent, money had gone out on normal girl things. Hair care, body care, a few pleasantries.

“Medical records.” Maggie dropped them next to him. She only stared a moment at his position.

“The lighting is better here.”

“Uh-huh. Are you sure it’s not because you have a better view of the door?”

“Whatever.” He sat behind the desk. The wood was getting uncomfortable anyway.

“No word?”

“Quinn sent photos of the players. We need to match them to the town’s rich and famous. Apparently, some pretty big bucks are being dropped.”

“I’ll do that.” She moved back to her computer.

“Why don’t you visit Tristan? Maybe have supper.”

“Boss—”

“Don’t worry about me. You need a break. We’ll switch places if you like later. After you visit.”

“Hmm.” She leaned back in the office chair.

Greg lowered his voice. “Look he’s come down the stairs twice, sighed, and disappeared. He’s lonely. I don’t think he got that job he was looking for. So…”

Maggie stared at the stairwell. “Making him come was a mistake.”

“I wasn’t aware you made him come. I thought he wanted to.”

Maggie shrugged and shuffled papers on her desk.

“Go.”

“All right. I’ll go.”

“Good. I’ll just review these records and come up afterward.”

She nodded and made a beeline for the stairs.

Greg leaned back in the chair and perused Ann Marie’s medical records. Her mother had kept up with shots and physicals until she was eleven. There wasn’t another appointment until last week. Urine sample, blook work, pregnancy test. All were administered at a local clinic attached to the county hospital. He flipped through the pages but there were no results.

He lifted the phone receiver and dialed.

“Colson Labs, how may I direct your call?”

“Who do I speak to about lab results?”

“Date of birth?”

He rattled off the number.

“Name.

“Ann Marie Hudson.”

“You’re Ann Marie Hudson?”

“No, I’m a police officer working her murder.”

“Please hold.” Was followed by the worst elevator music. Then, “Can I help you?”

“Look, I know Ann Marie Hudson had testing at your lab earlier this week. I need the results. You didn’t send those over.”

“The family requested we hold those.”

“Excuse me?”

“If you need more information feel free to come by with a court order.”

The phone clicked off and he replaced the receiver. Why would the family, specifically Lynda Hudson, not want law enforcement to know the results of her step-daughter’s tests? The baby maybe, but this level of secrecy seemed like something more. What, Greg couldn’t fathom.

****

That bodyguard blocked Tyson’s angle. He couldn’t see the cards Nova held. But he saw the rest. It would have to be enough.

“Full house.” Nova laid down her winning cards for the third time in a row.

“You may have met your match, Grunley.” Mystery leaned back and pushed his hat further on top of his head.

Tyson smiled. Maybe losing wasn’t bad for his overall game, but for his overall goal it was a disaster.

Nova motioned for her man to lean down. Then he disappeared out the door. Tyson could finally see all the cards. Now was his shot. He was going to make this right.

Once he won for the night, he would be almost finished. He just needed a little more.

Chapter Thirteen

Ericka had Quinn move once she was certain why she was still winning. She sent him outside to call about the players. Tyson looked as happy as a lark.

Ericka lost the next game. She could have won the next two but refrained.

“Sorry. Looks like you lost your mojo, lady.” Mystery actually looked sad. “I guess you won’t be coming back.”

Ericka shook her head and let out a whimper as she bit her knuckle. Once the night ended her purse was considerably lighter. She rose to her feet. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”

Tyson leaned back. “Come back anytime.”

Her eyelid twitched. She thought it was a nice touch. “Oh, I’ll be back.”

Heat from the other players stares struck her back, but she kept going. Cool air from outside hit her flushed cheeks. Outside, Quinn opened the car door, and she slid onto the cracked leather. Once he was behind the wheel, he said, “Did you lose?”

“I’m proud to say, I finally did.”

“Did you figure everything out?”

“I think we did that too.”

“I guess we had a good afternoon then.”

“What about you? Any information on the players?”

“I had to research on my own, but yeah. Mystery owns the local dog grooming shop. The others are all local business owners of places I don’t see us frequenting on this work trip.”

Ericka nodded but she really focused on what the other two were doing while they were away. They couldn’t go to the dry cleaners in the afternoon because they closed early. If they hadn’t been able to search out the people who’d been at the game, what were they doing?

“We should go to the office. This polyester suit is starting to chaff.”

Ericka laughed under her breath as he started the motion of wiggling and scratching in the chair.

“You think this is funny? Well, maybe.” He pulled out into traffic.

They were really close to the office. Once they arrived, he would have to return the rented car otherwise it might be spotted. Especially since local business owners had been at the game. She would need to be careful.

They arrived at the office. An alarm blared. The shrill sound pounded in her head and caused her ears to hurt.

A huge gaping hole in the front tinted glass let light stream onto the sidewalk. Sharp shards of glass poked up from the metal frame. Some lay on the walkway.

Quinn was out of the car first and running to the door. He pulled the glass door open, and the entire thing fell off the hinges in his hand. He cast it aside as he continued to enter.

Ericka moved slower. If Greg was in there, she didn’t want to rush in. Her movements felt like they were in slow mo. It was almost as if her body wouldn’t work properly. Once she reached the door, she scanned the room. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears.

She couldn’t lose him.

Not now.

She rotated. Her vision hit the stairwell. And there he was. He ran toward her and put his arms around her. He smoothed her hair and muttered soft words in her ears.

“It’s all right. We’re all all right.”

She swallowed. She didn’t want to pull away, but she wanted to know what happened, so she muttered the question against his chest. “What happened?”

“We left to go upstairs and heard a pop and a crash. We’re not sure exactly what happened.”

Her eyes landed on a hole in the wall. She moved out of his embrace. When she reached the dark paneling, she placed her finger in the hole and moved it around. Out came a large slug.

“A thirty-eight.”

“Someone shot into the office.” Greg ran his hands through his hair and made a complete circle.

“They don’t want us to investigate Ann Marie’s death.”

“So, it would seem.”

“Too bad for them.” Ericka held out the bullet and dropped it into an evidence bag that Greg had opened.

Tristan and Fanny came down the stairs with a gym bag in their hands. Quinn was behind them.

Maggie came to Tristan’s side. “We’re going to the local bed and breakfast for the night. I think the office is going to put us up.”

Ericka agreed it was a good idea.

Greg said, “You two go pack, I’m going to wait until Agent Bagger gets here. We need to document the scene. And I’m not leaving until I know what they find.”

“I’ll stay as well.”

Greg looked her up and down.

“I can change.” She rolled her eyes.

“Just pack up. I’ll deal with everything here. On the off chance someone from the game arrives we don’t need them finding you.”

He had a point, even though she didn’t necessarily like it.

“I’ll get my things.”

She rubbed her upper arms as she reluctantly moved away from the warmth. Upstairs, she threw her clothes in her go bag. Then she went to the bathroom and grabbed her toiletries. She heard Quinn muttering under his breath as he did the same.

“That glass should have been bulletproof. Why did I bring Fanny? This is too much, too much.”

Ericka moved to the wall and leaned against it. She placed her head back against the ancient dark paneling. Tears clogged her throat, but she pushed them back.

Safe.

They weren’t safe.

No matter where they went, their jobs put them in danger. Tristan and Fanny wouldn’t be safe with them either. They needed to go back to New York or make peace with that fact.

Fanny might make peace with it easier. Her life had been dangerous for a long time. Her brother and his choice to do the right thing had brought that on her. On the other hand, Tristan didn’t have a clue what life could be like in regard to danger. Other than playing football, his most dangerous activity was getting a papercut from sheet music.

She pushed herself off the wall and closed her door. The dress she wore came over her head easily enough. Quickly, she pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. The slinky heels were replaced with white sneakers. When she finished, she shoved the dress and the shoes in her bag and made her way into the hallway. Quinn had entered the bathroom, and she followed behind him.

She leaned against the door facing. He didn’t seem to notice. She placed her hand on his arm, and he jumped.

“Oh, Ericka. Sorry, I didn’t know you were there.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

He ran his face down his hand and looked at the stairs. No one was coming up. He leaned in close. “I need Fanny to leave. I can’t have anything happen to her.”

“I understand.”

He shook his head. “You don’t. You can’t.”

“Tell me.”

He guffawed painfully under his breath.

“You don’t have to.”

He nodded. “You’re right, I don’t. But maybe it would help you to understand me. I-I, had a girlfriend in high school. Not odd, right?”

“Nope.” She smiled.

“This girl, she’s why I decided to become a cop. She, well, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Someone came through, took a shot, and hit her by mistake. She didn’t make it. They never figured out who did it.”

“Oh, Quinn, I’m sorry.”

“I can’t lose Fanny too. That was a dark time in my life.”

“I understand.”

He touched her shoulder gently. “I know you do.” He sighed and removed his hand. “I guess we better get going. They are waiting on us.”

Ericka grabbed her shampoo, conditioner, soap, and dental hygiene items and shoved them in her bathroom bag. Once she had done that, she quickly ran to catch up with Quinn. He had his arm around Fanny and his head lowered. She could imagine that he was whispering words of encouragement.

Warmth spread over her side. Greg’s hot breath struck her cheek. “Are you ready?”

“I guess so.”

He took her bag from her hand. He’d already shouldered his own. When he walked before her, her heart swelled. She swallowed. He’d taken her bag. Why was that so romantic?

****

Greg held the door open, but Ericka wasn’t moving. She stared at him with tears coating her eyes. He would have rushed over to see what the problem was, but he was hampered by her bag and his own. Finally, she started to move toward him.

“You need anything?”

She shook her head.

He let the door close behind her. He thought about locking it, but he realized that it didn’t matter. The large gaping hole in the glass pretty much meant that a locked door was useless.

Ericka climbed into the front seat of his car. Her shoulders slumped as she slipped farther onto the seat.

He stowed their items in the trunk before walking around and sliding behind the wheel. “I guess that you’re trying to keep from being seen.”

“I am. Although I don’t know if there is much of a point. Quinn and I figured out within the first five minutes of the game how Tyson Grunley is cheating.”

“Impressive.” He paused as he took a sharp curve in the road. “Want to tell me about it?”

He was happy when she started talking about the case. It might keep her mind off other things. It was working to keep his mind off other things.

“Tyson has a series of cameras in the walls of the room. He is controlling them with artificial intelligence glasses. He clicks a button on the side of his glasses to flip between the different cameras. The reason no one notices a lens glare is because he’s put in special lighting.”

“I see.”

“I did win the first few rounds where Quinn was blocking his view. However, Tyson seemed pleased that I won. I imagine it gave him a legitimacy that he needed for the game.”

“You’re amazing.”

“Well, thank you. I try.” She swooped her hair to the side in a silly gesture. Then she grew all serious. “In all honesty, though, how could anyone in law enforcement not figure this out? I think we’re being punished by being sent here.” She crossed her arms over her chest, and he could have sworn her lip protruded in a pout, but only for a second before her tough girl persona was back in place.

“Maybe, but now we have Ann Marie, and this town needs our help to catch her killer.”

“That’s for sure. The officers don’t seem to have a clue what they’re doing.”

He would have argued they had a lack of experience in certain crimes, which wasn’t really a bad thing when one thought about it. Not having a high crime rate was really a good thing.

“Who found the bed and breakfast place for us?”

“Tristan.”

She nodded. “Good. If it had been someone in town or on the force I would have been concerned.”

Greg understood her worry, he’d had it too. But Tristan had apparently been looking for better accommodations for a while. He didn’t like Maggie coming home with work right below her. It was too easy for her to leave again. Greg would have explained that in her line of work it would always be like that, but he decided not to.

“So, who is investigating the bullet hole in the office?”

Greg sighed. Bagger had called that he wasn’t coming over but to give an update. The cameras that were installed near the building and pointed at the front door hadn’t been turned on yet. So, there was nothing to look at. There were no skid marks or any other evidence. No one saw the car race away because it was dark. Basically, they had nothing to go on. Not that he was surprised. They’d invaded the town’s space. They weren’t wanted or needed according to some. He hadn’t expected a warm welcome.

The parking lot of the bed and breakfast was almost empty.

“Let me go in and get registered. I’ll be back out to get the bags.”

“I can carry my own bag.”

“I know you can, but I want to, all right?”

“All right.”

Her smile was large and bright. He’d never seen her beam so much over such a simple thing. He’d asked Maggie later why a woman would look like that. For right now, they needed rooms and he was determined his woman would have the nicest one.

****

“Why did you have to go and do that?” Von threw down his leather glove making a popping noise against the floor.

Horace shrugged right before replacing the weapon in his gun cabinet. Those people from New York City had no right to come into his town and try to start bossing everyone around. They’d done been chased from their favorite spot. What else could happen?

Von slapped his arm. “Are you hearing me? They are going to be investigating every troublemaker within a fifty-mile radius to find leads on Ann Marie’s death and you done went and made us suspect number one.”

“I didn’t kill Ann Marie.”

“Of course not! Why would we do that? She was pretty to look at. But that ain’t my point! The fact is that we’re the biggest troublemakers in town, you idiot. They are going to be knocking on our doors by morning.” Von went off muttering to himself.

If Pa could see them now, he would have rung Horace’s neck. But Pa wasn’t there. After Ma passed, he ran off with some stripper and he hadn’t been back. Now Von and he had to fend for themselves. They weren’t doing too bad since that last run. Maybe shooting out the window was a mistake. But he knew he wasn’t going to hit nobody. ‘Course that lady walked down the stairs at the last minute, and he came within a hair, but he didn’t hit her.

Just a little broken glass. And a whole lot of scaring.

Besides Von had to be wrong. Those people would crawl into their holes and cry like babies. They might even go home and not come back. That was what he was hoping for.

It could happen.

It would happen.

Chapter Fourteen

Ericka wasn’t leaving town until she found out who took their office away and who killed Ann Marie. After the night she had she would never forget what the people had done to the team.

The bed and breakfast was quaint. The mismatched quilts, the original hardwood floors, the old-timey portraits on the wall. The decorations matched the theme of small town. Her lips quirked upward in a smile as she placed her bag on a paisley highbacked chair. The dark walnut wood had a few scratches but otherwise looked in perfect condition, just like everything else in the room.

The wall opposite her already contained Maggie and Fanny’s bags. That was one downside, still no privacy. Apparently, they were staying at a peak vacation season.

Greg’s voice came from the doorway. “Everything okay in here?”

“It’s beautiful, thank you.”

He nodded. “I understand every room has its own bathroom. And before I forget, breakfast is in the morning at precisely seven. Being late is not an option, even though the food is buffet style.”

“Good to know.” Since they’d start dating most of their conversations seemed awkward. Although what they were doing didn’t really seem like dating. They spent time together, at work. They kissed, at work. They held hands, at work. There wasn’t much besides time together at work.

Was that really dating?

He stepped into the room and put his hands on her waist, pulling her closer to him. “What do you say when this case is over that we take a few days just for ourselves? We can go to dinner. Maybe catch a movie. I feel like since we started formally being a couple we’ve had less personal time together.”

“You feel it too?” She was kind of glad to hear that she wasn’t the only one that felt that way.

“I do. So, you agree to date days?”

“Oh, I totally agree. And I want you to teach me how to camp and fish.” She studied the buttons on his shirt. Looking him in the eye seemed too difficult.

“Camping and fishing, huh? I thought you’d never ask.”

She laughed under her breath as heat flushed her cheeks. There was that awkward embarrassment again. When would that stop?

He nudged her chin upward. “None of that. It’ll take a while for us to feel like a couple. We’ve been co-workers and friends, but this is new territory. We’ll get there.”

Did he know everything? How she felt? How to make her feel better? Everything about relationships? But she wasn’t going to say that. Instead, she said, “Truthfully, I’m not sure I ever knew how to be a couple.”

He shrugged. “Since I haven’t had any successful relationships maybe I don’t either. I guess we’ll figure it out together.”

She smiled. “Sounds like a deal.”

Quinn’s voice came from the hallway. “Hey, guys, we’re about to grab a late supper. You two want to go?”

Greg hadn’t released her. He looked down at her. “You hungry?”

“I could eat.”

Greg turned. “I guess we’re going to join you. Where are you guys going?”

“Some country club that Fanny found online.”

Greg cocked his brow.

Quinn added, “They have steak.”

“I’m in.”

Ericka chuckled. Greg loved steak. She liked it as well, but she was more about the cheesecake.

“Give us a few minutes and we’ll be down.”

Quinn nodded and walked away.

Greg focused on her again. He removed a hand from her waist so that he could put a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I wish you could wear that slinky number you had on earlier.”

Again, she fiddled with the button on his shirt. She couldn’t look at him. She just couldn’t. When he was sweet and romantic, it was almost her undoing.

“I think I might stand out.”

“Well, who knows? It is a country club.”

“Uh-huh, sure, in this small town. Plus, it might get me recognized. I’m thinking I should dress down, take my hair down, muse it a little, and smear some dirt on my face.”

He laughed and scratched a spot above his eyebrow. “Dirt, huh?”

She pinched her fingers together. “Just a little.”

“Nah. But I think I could muse your hair.” His hand came behind her neck as he lowered his head. His lips touched hers. Heat pooled in her belly as he deepened the kiss.

The kiss seemed to go on and on. Until someone cleared their throat. He pulled away and placed his forehead against hers.

“We are definitely going camping and fishing. We’re going far into the woods. Really far.”

Ericka would have laughed, but she kept it in. Being with him alone in the woods might be more than she could handle. They hadn’t spoken of the future. What did he want from their relationship? She couldn’t see him interested in a fling, but he was a man like any other.

Soon, they would need to have the conversation. But not tonight. Tonight, they had other things to take care of.

Her stomach growled.

“Oh, the princess has spoken. We should go.”

“Yes.”

“You want to change?”

She looked down at her baggy clothes and almost decided to wear that but thought better of it.

“I think so. Can you give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you downstairs?”

“Of course.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back. “I look forward to it.” His smile seemed to light up the room.

She hated seeing him close the door on it. She fell on the bed and stared at the ceiling. If this was what being in love felt like she wasn’t sure how she was going to make it. It felt almost too good to be true.

****

Greg needed to wipe the smile off his face before it froze that way. But he couldn’t stop the happiness. He’d known admitting his feelings for Ericka would change things, but he couldn’t believe how well things had changed. He was in love with a wonderful, kind, caring woman. Nothing was going to change that.

He grabbed his sport coat from his room before continuing downstairs. The others were gathered around the door. Quinn had donned a pair of sunglasses and a fedora. Fanny was messing with it. She wanted it sideways, apparently, Quinn didn’t.

The stairs creaked. Greg turned. Ericka descended the stairs. She wore a pair of tight jeans with high heels. The shirt was a little purple button up. Her hair had been let down to lay around her shoulders. The corner of her lips teased upward.

He held out his arm and she wrapped hers in his. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Good to know.”

“So, we ready to go? I think the country club is only open for a few more hours.” Tristan expressed an impatience that Greg found unusual and out of character.

Maggie leaned forward. “He’s hoping they have a piano.”

“Oh.” Greg guessed that made sense.

They got in the car. Tristan and Maggie rode with Greg and Ericka. Greg reached over and grabbed Ericka’s hand. She didn’t let go and he allowed the feeling of contentment to surround him.

There wasn’t a lot of conversation. Maggie kept leaning over looking at Tristan’s phone and whispering. Once they parked in the lot, the two of them jumped from opposite doors.

“What’s up with them?”

“I think that Tristan is hoping to get a piano gig. I heard him talking to Fanny about needing to do something with his time besides writing songs.”

“I see.”

Greg felt for the guy. Fanny could do her job anywhere, and Tristan could as well, but he didn’t seem to like traveling gigs.

They entered the room and stopped. Tristan was behind a grand piano. He was singing Benson Boone’s, “Beautiful Things”.

Ericka paused.

She swallowed.

There were a lot of beautiful things that she’d lost in her short life. He hoped to make things different for her. He wanted to give her the family that she’d never had. Maybe his parents visiting was a good idea. They were physically closer at the moment. He wanted to see them. They liked Ericka. He loved Ericka.

He had yet to tell them he was dating Ericka. But seriously, what could go wrong?

Tristan finished that song and went into another slow song. Maggie looked at them and made some kind of weird hand motions.

“I think she wants us to dance.”

“Here?” There wasn’t a floor. It was the lobby of what looked like a hotel. The doors to the restaurant were open. The aromas filtering through made his mouth water. And Maggie wanted them to burst out in dance?

“Come on. Let’s just slow dance one time. Then we can eat.”

He looked up and to the side like he was put out, but he wasn’t really. Any chance to get Ericka into his arms was a dream come true.

He put his one hand on her waist and the other in her hand. He tugged until their bodies touched. He swayed around the floor, he twirled her out and in, then swayed more. When the song ended, he dipped her. The crowd erupted into impromptu applause. They bowed.

Maggie rolled her eyes.

“I think we stole Tristan’s thunder.”

Greg groaned. How could he constantly try to help this guy out yet mess it up every time.

“Come on, let’s eat. He can play and get his own attention.”

Greg gladly agreed with that idea. They entered the dark restaurant and settled at a table near Fanny and Quinn. Then Quinn waved them over. Greg could have said them sitting together would make them more recognizable just because he wanted some alone time with Ericka, but he kept his mouth shut.

Fanny looked over the menu. She bit her lower lip in concentration. Quinn had his eyes riveted to her. Obviously, he would have like some alone time too.

“What are we ordering?” Ericka was looking at the menu as well, but without biting her lip.

“Wait.”

Ericka looked up. “What?”

“Do you remember looking at Ann Marie’s lips?”

Ericka narrowed her eyes. “Not particularly, why?”

“I think they looked like they’d been bitten.”

“Like she’d been biting them…”

“Or like someone else had.” Greg lifted his phone to his ear right after dialing Bagger. He moved from the booth and stepped to a quieter place in the restaurant.

“Detective Emmett Bagger.”

“Detective Bagger it’s Greg Kane.”

“Kane. What can I do for you?”

“I just wanted to ask if the medical examiner took a swab of Ann Marie’s lips.”

“I don’t follow.”

“I think that before she died, she was kissing someone, in fact I think they bit her.”

“Bit her?”

“You know, like a love bite.”

“No, I don’t know. But I’ll call the ME and draw his attention to it.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now enjoy your dinner. Order the steak, it’s the best in town.”

Greg drew in a swift breath. How had Bagger known where they were eating? He looked around and didn’t see Bagger at any of the tables or anywhere in the vicinity.

This place was starting to give him the creeps.

****

Russ Thomas shivered. The morgue was cold, aside from other things.

“So, this out-of-town detective is dictating what you guys do? I think you guys were doing just fine on your own.” The medical examiner, Dr. Miles Rose, tugged out the drawer then placed a swab on Ann Marie’s lips.

While he was over here talking about how good they were doing, he hadn’t done the thing that Sergeant Greg Kane had suggested. Figured.

Russ had seen Ann Marie a couple of times at the dry cleaners. He’d been going in there to find out what scheme the new owners were up to. And because Tyson had asked him to.

But he hadn’t minded looking at the young girl. She had been too young for him, but he was just looking. One day, one day soon, she would have been old enough.

Whether anything had ever come of that or not didn’t matter. The fact was that Ann Marie was a member of their town and her life had been taken. They had an obligation to figure out who had done it. And here the guy with all the answers at his fingertips was just blowing it off. That didn’t sit well.

“I’ll send this to the lab. Should be back in a few weeks.”

“Weeks?”

“Yeah. We don’t have a lab here, you know. And they have to pull the DNA if there is any and put it into the database and then find a match and all that computer type stuff.”

“I see.” He knew that Rose didn’t care for technology.

“I’ll just put this in the fridge and take it over to the post office tomorrow. The sample will only be good for so long.”

“Shouldn’t someone deliver it in a cooler or something?”

“Are you volunteering?”

“Well, no, but I thought that was your job.”

Dr. Rose reared his head back and laughed. “I am not a delivery boy.”

The voice had deepened expressing an anger that surprised Russ. He scratched his brow to hide his surprise. But he wouldn’t let the sample be contaminated and thereby let a killer escape.

“I’ll take the sample. Package it up.”

“You’re going to drive it now?”

“Yeah. I’m going to drive it now.”

“All right then. I’ll tell them you’re coming.”

“Thank you.”

Russ had no idea where he was going, or what he’d committed to. But he took the cooler to his car and strapped it into the front seat. He plugged the address Rose gave him into the GPS and sighed when he realized it was a few hours away.

It could have been so much worse.

Maybe after this they would have some answers. In fact, maybe he’d be the one to solve the case. That would help the big wigs know that they didn’t need no city slickers telling them what to do in their town.

Chapter Fifteen

Ericka used the serrated edge of the steak knife and sawed the steak. Greg had heard from someone that it was the best steak in town. It was also the toughest steak in town. She thought they’d cooked it hours ago and heated it up after her order. In fact, the only thing on her plate she could really bite into was the potatoes. They were broiled with butter and a little salt and pepper.

“This isn’t that good.”

“It’s not. But I didn’t want to say anything.”

Greg reached under the table and squeezed her hand. “You can always be honest with me.”

She wasn’t sure about that, but it was a nice thought. Sometimes he was so nice that it was almost painful. At times she wished that things were like they were before they started dating.

The bickering back and forth.

The heat.

His sweetness was great. But like the “Beautiful Things” song she couldn’t stop worrying about losing it all.

She wasn’t the type of person who got a happy ending. It didn’t happen for her.

“Do you think they got the sample we asked for?” She would redirected attention to work. At least she understood that.

He used his fork to punctuate his words. “Good question. If I had a guess, they didn’t do it until we suggested it.”

Ericka nodded. They hadn’t been sent to train the officers in the area, just to help them. The three cases they’d been given upon showing up were nothing cases. The locals should have been able to do those in their sleep. If it was to be believed the death of Ann Marie was something that never happened in the sleepy town. Maybe if they just had more training then Ericka and her team could leave. It was a nice thought.

“Have you heard from Tito?”

“Yeah.”

“Where did they wind up?”

“I think they are in Texas, somewhere around Houston.”

“Oh. Going to be lots of crime there. They are probably needed.”

“I’m sure.”

He cocked his brow. “What gives? You’re normally all chatty at dinner.”

She laid her fork on her plate then took the napkin from the table and wiped off her mouth. She placed it in a perfect fold next to the plate. Stalling, yes, she was totally stalling.

“If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine too.” He dabbed his mouth then lowered his napkin in the same smooth move as he lifted his hand and called for the check.

The waiter rushed over. “Yes?”

“Can we get the check?”

“For just you two?”

Ericka looked at the other plates. Maggie and Tristan had disappeared and had not returned.

“I guess everyone at the table.”

“Of course, sir, I will be right back.”

Ericka put her hands under her thighs so they wouldn’t move around so much and telegraph how nervous she was. They hadn’t been alone that much since starting the dating process. How could she not have anything to say?

“Where do you think Maggie and Tristan went?”

“I have no idea.”

Greg signed the receipt when it came then pocketed his credit card. He shook his head and sighed the entire time. The other two hadn’t even come for their meal. Just left it on the table. Not that it could get any tougher or easier to eat by waiting.

“I’ll text Maggie.” Ericka pulled out her phone. Within minutes she got a reply that they were on the balcony looking at the moon and that she and Greg were free to leave anytime.

Greg leaned back and put his arm along an empty chair beside him. “They took off to be alone, didn’t they?”

“Yup.”

“I guess that means if we leave now, we’ll be alone at the bed and breakfast.”

“Yup.”

“Why don’t we go for a walk? There is a place that I’ve really been wanting to check out.”

“Okay.” That seemed less worrisome, but she wasn’t sure. “Wait, where did Quinn and Fanny go? They were going to sit with us then poof, their gone too.”

Greg rolled his eyes and pulled out his phone. He texted Quinn, waited, then texted again.

“They’re walking the grounds. He said that Maggie and Tristan could ride back with them.” He lifted the keys and dangled them from his fingers. “Ready?”

“I’m ready.” She didn’t feel ready on the inside. Her insides jittered like she was on vibrate. But she rose from the table, and he pushed in the chairs. Being the gentleman he was, he waited for her to take the first step toward the door before walking. He also opened the glass doors and before they reached the car pulled off his jacket and placed it on her shoulders.

Ericka was getting used to the attention.

She’d had all kind of unwanted attention in her years as an abandoned child then as a teen when she’d been put in the group home. Then in the military. Which was followed by all the attention from her job.

And she’d dated.

She wouldn’t lie about that. She’d gone on numerous dates with several different guys. Why then did the attention from Greg seem so different?

So out of place?

He drove through the town weaving through one lane streets and under two or three different one lane bridges. When they reached his planned destination, they were next to the river and beneath a large green metal bridge. A few streetlights lit the area, and the moon did the rest.

Before she could open the door, he was there doing it for her.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She tugged his jacket tighter around her shoulders and held tightly to the lapels. His hands thrust into his pockets. Perhaps he wanted to do something different with them, but he didn’t push. She was sort of glad.

For all her flirting in the past years and recently, now she felt vulnerable.

“It’s a pretty place.”

“It is.” He stared at her, then focused on the water that rippled in tiny waves before them.

The wind moved ever so gently making her hair blow in her face and sending leaves raining down onto them. Summer seemed to have disappeared overnight, and fall was rearing its head.

“I love fall. All the warm sweaters, the pumpkin spice, and the roaring fireplaces.”

She cocked her brow. “Wow. I thought maybe it was because of the hunting.”

“Oh, that too.”

She chuckled.

“My dad loves to hunt. I think in all his life he only brought home one deer. He wouldn’t take the shot unless he thought he could get it safely and not make the animal suffer. And of course we ate the meat.”

“Of course.” She nodded.

“What about you? Do you like to hunt?”

“I’ve never been. I haven’t had the opportunity. But I wouldn’t mind trying it sometime.” If it was something he liked, she was willing to try it at least once.

“My dad would love to hear you say that. Honestly, for him I think he just likes sitting in the tree stand in the woods enjoying the quiet. Now that he’s in Florida they don’t do that so much.”

“Do they plan to visit you while you’re here?”

“They mentioned it.”

“What did you say?”

****

If he thought about it, he hadn’t been very encouraging, more like he’d discouraged it. Maybe in the back of his mind he wasn’t ready for them to know about him and Ericka. It was too new, too fresh. They might scare her off or seal the deal to where he could never change his mind.

Not that he wanted to.

Even though sometimes he got the impression she wanted to.

He said, “I told them to wait.”

“Probably a good idea. With the murder and the uncertainty.”

“Yes, the murder and uncertainty.”

She kicked at loose rocks, then said, “What do you think we should start with tomorrow? I mean, we’ve got our irons in a few fires.”

“True. However, you and Quinn already solved the gambling case. I’ll let Officer Bagger know that information tomorrow.”

“Good. And I think that we should go to the dry cleaners. We need to question them about Ann Marie.”

“Yes, we do. But neither Maggie nor I should go. We have to go a different day to get the information we need.” About the mob link. It was ridiculous, but they were almost done, so might as well finish.

“True. You’ll give away your identity.”

“I guess you and Quinn can go and question them. Just need to be careful that no one from the game is there.”

“I don’t know that they’ll recognize me, but they might. It wouldn’t matter at that point. If Bagger does his job, then Tyson should be shut down before I even arrive.”

“Yeah.” He wasn’t sure that Bagger was doing his job. If he had been, these simple cases could easily have been solved.

A duck landed on the water and dipped its head forward. Then another and another. Each came up with a fish flapping wildly in their bill. Water splashed over Ericka, and she lifted her hands to fend it off, giggling the entire time.

She ran up the hill to distance herself. Greg followed behind a little slower.

“Did you still want to go for a walk?”

“If you want to.” Greg would let her decide.

“Let’s do it.” She actually held out her hand.

He reached down and grabbed it. He squeezed only slightly as they took off down the darkened path. The sound of animals scurrying out of their way would have overwhelmed him, if Ericka hadn’t started with a running monologue.

“We had a place like this close to the Drust house when I was younger. Harrison and I used to sneak off and hide in the trees some nights. Most of the time we were hiding so that Cecilia wouldn’t whip us. Then she’d find us and break a limb out of the tree we were in.”

He widened his eyes, but she couldn’t see them in the darkness. He couldn’t imagine a childhood like Ericka had experienced.

“I used to sit in the tree and watch the water move across the pond and imagine what my parents were doing. Once I imagined they were international spies, and they were hiding in the woods while foreign agents sought them. Then I thought that maybe they were world class swimmers, and they were attempting to swim the English Channel. I imagined that would take a lot of practice. I had all kinds of theories.”

“I’m sorry, Ericka. I know that finding out the truth didn’t work out the way you’d hoped.”

She guffawed under her breath. “Nah, it sort of did. You see, I never imagined us being a family. They always had something more important to do, and that’s how it worked out, right?”

She pulled her hand away and shoved it in her coat pocket. He didn’t try to reach out and get it back. When she stopped at the water’s edge, he couldn’t help himself. He reached for her and pulled her back against his chest. He placed his arms around her and just held her. He could feel her body shaking with sobs. He didn’t talk.

He waited.

One day her life would be different. He’d thought about it often. If she’d allow him to, he would make her life very different.

****

He rubbed his finger across his dripping nose then rubbed the snot on his thigh. The couple across the river held each other like they liked each other.

Most people didn’t come to the water’s edge at night. Too many rumors about people falling in and disappearing or getting eaten by a bear kept them away. But these were those city slickers, and apparently, they didn’t know any better.

Marty watched them.

He’d seen them at the party as well and they hadn’t seemed that lovey-dovey. But then again, they had been on the job.

Was every couple that way?

Ann Marie had been lovey-dovey for a while. Of course, as he’d come to find out, she’d been lovey-dovey with everyone for a while. He hadn’t liked that. As soon as he realized she’d moved on to Jaxon, he’d dumped her.

Then the rumors.

All the rumors of her going to that special lady doctor in the next town. Everyone on the team started avoiding her. No one could afford to have a kid attached to their name. Scouts that came to see them play weren’t interested in taking on a high schooler with a family.

The last scout to watch them had told them so.

Now that she was dead none of them had to worry if the rumors were true or who the father might be. Still…

Marty couldn’t help but wonder.

It had to be someone on the team. No one else would have it out for Ann Marie like they did. Heck, they hadn’t even invited her to the party, and she had been at every party since she was like eleven. Her older brother had been on the team before joining the service. If he came back to town and found out who murdered his little sister before the cops did, that wouldn’t be a good thing.

A small hand appeared on his bare shoulder. He tried not to moan in pleasure in case his voice carried.

“Are you coming back to the tent?”

“In a minute.”

“Please don’t be too long…” The feminine voice trailed off.

Tomorrow he would go to the cops and let them know that he had nothing to do with Ann Marie’s death, but he would listen for gossip to help them solve the murder. He wouldn’t let his good name be tainted. He needed a baseball scholarship to get out of this town.

Despite his current female companionship, he wanted nothing more than to run as far away as possible.

Chapter Sixteen

Ericka forced herself to stop crying as Greg wrapped his arms tightly around her. His chin rested on the top of her head as they watched the ripple of the water. A couple of times she thought she saw something on the other side. Not yellow eyes like from an animal, but human eyes.

Anything was possible but knowing that someone might be watching them made her shiver.

“Are you cold?”

He’d already given her his jacket. The nice button up shirt that he wore couldn’t be keeping him warm.

A hot flush covered her face as she envisioned him taking off his shirt and wrapping that around her as well. She’d seen him on base without his shirt. His stomach muscles were defined. Each layer of abs had rippled with his every movement. It had been enough to make a girl swoon!

Several times she had to turn away before she ran to him. He’d talked about girlfriends, a fiancé, there was one in particular that he waited to go back to. She didn’t want to be that girl, the one that took away the man while he was away in the military. But she’d dreamed of it more than once.

His hands began to rub up and down her arms. “Ericka? Earth to Ericka?”

“Oh, yeah, um, I’m fine.” She was more than fine. She’d finally secured the man of her dreams. Now if only she could get over the nervousness of being with him. Or get over the fact that it might not last, things would be better. But that was trivial compared to other people’s problems.

She yawned behind her hand. Had he seen that?

“Cold and sleepy. Maybe we should go back. This little jaunt has helped me get sleepy.”

She knew that he was saying all that for her benefit. Greg Kane was never tired, at least that she’d seen. But she’d go along with it.

“Maybe you’re right. We have a big day tomorrow. Besides, I kind of feel like we’re being watched.”

“You feel it too?”

She shivered for effect.

“Let’s head back.” He grabbed her hand, and she didn’t resist.

They walked back toward the car. Moonlight lit their path, along with a few streetlights. She released him, grabbed a pole, and twisted around it, doing a pose she’d seen in a movie.

He chuckled. And when she stepped down and enacted a bow, he followed what she’d done and wrapped a circle around the pole as well.

Once they were both on the path, they held hands again. This time it felt much more natural.

“Your goofy side. I’ve always loved that.”

“Oh, really? I thought my goofy side bugged you.”

“Nope. But I can’t tell people that I enjoy your goofy side. At least when it’s on the job and I’m in charge, you see?”

“Oh, I see how you are.”

He snickered under his breath and scratched a spot next to his nose.

She knew full well about his own goofy side. When he’d been pretending to sing to give her the confidence to do it, the goofy side had been fully revealed.

They reached the car. He opened the passenger door, and she climbed in and wiggled against the cool leather. The driver’s side door opened, and he slid under the wheel.

“Do you think the person watching us had anything to do with the case?” Greg started the engine and backed out of the spot.

“I guess. Truthfully, it could be anyone.”

The park had been surrounded by woods. Anyone could have been skulking through the trees. However, it could very well have been someone from the case.

Greg pulled into the parking lot of the bed and breakfast. The ding on his phone had him pulling it out before he even turned off the motor.

After reading the text, he laid his head back against the head rest and sighed. “So, apparently Quinn and Fanny came home with a cab and Maggie and Tristan took the car to a club and now it won’t start.”

Ericka groaned. She’d been looking forward to the warm sheets in her room. Even though it turned out that she’d had to share it. They had less space now than they had before. Those were the breaks.

“I guess we should go get them. I mean, we’re already in our going out clothes.”

“You sure? I could beg Quinn to get them.” Greg enacted that little sideways smile of his.

She would have loved to have gone in, maybe sit by the fireplace with some hot chocolate and just study the flames before rushing off to bed, but they were needed. They were always needed.

“Let’s just go get them.”

The drive to the club was only a few miles. Conversation halted while they waited outside for the couple to come out.

At the club, a sullen Maggie and an upset Tristan climbed into the back seat. Neither looked at each other on the drive back to the B&B. When they parked in the lot, they fell out opposite sides and moved in close enough to whisper. Ericka thought they bickered, but she couldn’t be sure.

Their voices carried on the evening wind. At least enough for Ericka to discover that Tristan wanted to return to New York. Maggie wasn’t happy about the choice, but she agreed not to stop him.

What could Maggie do, other than quit her job?

Which was a question that Tristan put forth.

Greg reached over and grabbed Ericka’s hand. Neither of them wanted that to happen, but they both understood.

Then the two of them were inside.

“I guess we should go in now.”

“Yeah. I’m glad we waited. I don’t really want to be a part of that argument.”

Ericka and Greg entered and walked up the stairs together. Greg gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and they parted ways. Ericka entered the shared room. Everyone there seemed to have a lot on their minds. In fact, so much had been on her mind that she tossed and turned the entire night. Maggie hadn’t been much better. Poor Fanny. Every time Ericka faced her way, she was looking at the ceiling in a perfectly still pose.

Ericka wondered if the guys fared any better. The night went by way slower than she’d hoped. In the morning she sat on the side of the bed and yawned over and over behind her hand.

“Sorry, ladies about the rough night.” Maggie had her feet on the floor and looked over at them from the fold out couch.

Fanny looked at her hands as she propped herself up in one of the double beds. “I can’t say I blame him. I’m ready to go back too. All Quinn does is work. I barely see him. It wasn’t like this in New York.”

“How so?” Ericka couldn’t stop herself. As far as she could tell they were together way more than they were before. And Fanny’s statement without facts in evidence meant that she and Tristan had been talking about his desire to leave. Not surprising since they were together most of the day.

“There was down time. He would come over and we would talk about normal stuff. Here, it is like the entire town is all consuming. I hate it!” She stomped to the bathroom and slammed the door.

Ericka cocked her brow. She hadn’t realized how this was affecting the others.

“Well, that was interesting.” Maggie rose to her feet and shuffled to the window. She looked out and frowned. “I guess it doesn’t matter now.” She pointed.

Ericka rose and went to the window as well. Outside, Tristan carted a large bag to a car that had just arrived.

“I guess he found a rental.”

“I guess so. And now he’s leaving.” She faced Ericka. “Should I go with him?”

Ericka lifted her hands. “Oh, no. You can’t ask me that.”

“But I am. You’re my only female friend. I need to know what you would do.”

Ericka pulled her chin back to her chest and pointed at herself. “What would I do? I have no idea what I would do. And I don’t have to live with this situation, you do. What do you want to do?”

“She wants to stay here with you guys, duh?” Fanny reentered the room. She plopped her suitcase up on the bed and unzipped it. Unceremoniously, she started throwing clothes in. “I get it. You’re like a family. That means there really isn’t any room for anyone else. Maybe one day you’ll wake up and realize that was a mistake.”

Then she was out the door. It closed with a distinct thud. Ericka and Maggie just stared at it.

Then Maggie said, “Is she going with Tristan?” She quickly turned to look out into the lot. “Yup, she’s going with Tristan.” Maggie moved away and ran her hand through her hair over and over. Then she went to the door. “I’ll catch you later. I need to talk to Greg.”

“Of course.”

Ericka watched her leave. Before she could think about it too long, she found her clothes and went to the shower. The hot water did nothing to heal her hurt. Not that that had ever helped before. She’d just hoped.

Once she stepped out, dried, and dressed, she went into the room and grabbed her badge and gun. Greg knew she was going to the dry cleaners, so she didn’t need to tell him her intent. And Quinn probably wouldn’t be in attendance since he was busy with other things.

What would he do? Fanny had been the only girl that he’d been in a relationship with since Ericka had met him. He wouldn’t want to end something so special. Ericka couldn’t blame him.

Instead of bothering anyone else, she went on her own. Downstairs, she had the B&B owner call her a cab. She didn’t want to ask Greg for his car, and she still didn’t have one of her own. That was becoming real problem.

Within what seemed like minutes, she was outside the cleaners. She paid the cab driver and told him to wait until her return.

She tugged on her jacket and entered. No one was behind the register, so she rang the bell that rested on the counter.

She tapped her foot and looked out at the road. Cars traveled by frequently. Not many stopped outside. Apparently, dry cleaners weren’t as popular as they once had been.

“Hello, welcome. How may I help you today…”

That voice.

Ericka couldn’t breathe. There was no way. It couldn’t be. He was in witness protection. He was hidden away in some foreign place where he could never be found.

It couldn’t be happening.

It just couldn’t.

“Ericka?”

She rotated. Her feet almost came out from under her.

“Joey…”

“Nope, it’s Chet Mahon. Nice to meet you.” His hand trembled as he held it across the counter and waited for her to take it.

A tear slipped from her eye and onto her cheek. How could the New York department send her to the place that Joey Malone and his family was in hiding? Who oversaw this ridiculous operation? When she found out they wouldn’t hear the end of it.

****

Greg arrived at the office. He’d not told the others he was going, but he thought they’d figure it out.

The door opened and Maggie entered. She went into a rant about Tristan leaving. Greg barely listened but he got the drift.

He sighed. “Maggie, I know you need to do what you have to do but stop and think about this before you just leave.”

“I love him, Greg. He’s leaving because of my job.”

“I get that, I do. But if you go running after him and you lose your job, how will you live? Is he going to marry you?”

“Well…” She looked at the ground and shuffled her feet.

“Exactly. Let him cool off for a while. You can do the long-distance thing. I’m already reaching out to Director Manis about the situation, and I think he is trying to get us back home. It is just taking longer than he thought it would.”

It was true.

He’d called him that morning.

After the Ann Marie case was solved, they wanted out. The town could easily take care of their everyday problems. And clearly the Local Leos didn’t want them there.

“Fine. I’ll wait. But I won’t wait long.” She turned on her heel and headed to her desk.

The office window had been replaced with cardboard and duct tape. Greg would have argued they needed a temporary office, or that they could share one with local law enforcement, but he thought better of it.

Maggie settled in the chair behind her desk, palmed her chin, and stared intently at the computer before her. Quinn had yet to arrive as had Ericka. He’d almost called Ericka to check on her but stopped himself. She had a right to privacy and time to think. There was a lot to think about.

“I got an email from Russ Thomas. He got the ME to rush through that DNA from Ann Marie’s lips and it turns out there was something there.”

“What?” Greg squeezed his hands before him. If they found answers they might get to leave sooner than they planned.

“It doesn’t say.”

Greg moved closer and leaned over her shoulder, studying the screen. Indeed, the email was devoid of any real information. Just they had found something, but not what or from whom.

“I guess that means we need to go for a ride.”

Maggie rose and grabbed a lightweight jacket. “Good. I’m ready. I’m in the mood to bust a few heads.”

Greg didn’t comment on her statement as he grabbed the keys from his desk and went to the door. Locking it seemed a little foolish since anyone could just push through the cardboard and get to their stuff. Mostly it was the computers. High-priced equipment that was easily attached to their emails. Not really safe.

Outside in the morning sunshine, Greg took his time going to the car. Maybe they should walk. The air might do them good. But then again, they might get hit by a car. Not a lot of people seemed to want them around.

A tomato smashed into the side of his car and slipped to the ground. Greg turned in time to see one of the Tremell brothers lean back in the passing car window as the vehicle sped away.

Maggie jumped from the car. “What was that? Are you all right?”

Greg sighed. “It was just a tomato. Hopefully, the acid won’t ruin the paint.”

He climbed behind the wheel and pulled out onto the road. The sound had mimicked a gunshot. Maggie had every right to be concerned. They all had the right to be concerned. Life had sent them a curveball. One they definitely hadn’t been expecting. If they survived this one then he never wanted to leave home again.

****

“Nice shot, brother.”

“Good driving, brother.”

Von beamed at the praise. He had completed an excellent throw. It would have been nice to do it while they were moving, but Horace had to slow down. Now they were sure to be caught. Wonder what the punishment for throwing a tomato at a cop car was?

And despite telling Horace he needed to keep them off the police radar, he’d been the one to suggest tomato throwing. He wanted them out. Maybe this would encourage them to leave.

“What now? I mean, we have all day left.”

Horace was correct. They had all day to drive around and get into mischief. Their mother had said that was all they were good for. It wasn’t exactly true, but it was close.

They had no goals.

No job.

No life, really.

He’d tried to make a life with Ann Marie. Sure, she’d been too young for him. That hadn’t stopped her from being with half the county in some form or another. Of course, with him he only got a little bit of flirting. She was so pretty; he hadn’t really minded.

He would have married her and made everything legit. Even with the rumors that she was carrying a bun in the oven. He would have made her bona fide. But she wasn’t into him like that. He’d told her so. In fact, after he kissed her, she’d smacked him and punctuated it a little more.

“Stop your brooding. I’m sure we can find something to do.”

“Why don’t we go home? We got chores that need doing.” The thought of not ever getting married and having no life plans sobered him like he hadn’t thought possible.

“You want to go home and do chores? You feeling well?”

Von felt just fine. He was just growing tired of the bad boy routine. Maybe it was time that he told Horace how he felt. He wanted to get out of dodge and start a new life.

It was possible.

Maybe…

After this next baseball season when he got noticed he’d have all kinds of offers to leave. He had gotten himself put on the police team as a model prisoner. Of course, if he kept throwing tomatoes at officers, he would probably lose that privilege.

There was the classic apology. That might work.

“You really want to go home and do chores?”

“I really do.”

“All right then. We’ll go home.”

Horace whipped the car around in the middle of the road among honking and swearing at other drivers. It came through loud and clear over them Bluetooth thingies in the cars.

If he made it home, then maybe he’d take the time to tell Horace he was done. He wanted a better future. Surely, a brother would understand.

Chapter Seventeen

“Nice to meet you, Chet Mahon. I’m Detective Ericka Stone. I-I’m working with the local police to solve the murder of Ann Marie Hudson. Since she was your employee, I just need to ask you a couple of questions.”

Joey’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the ancient counter. “Of course. What do you need to know?”

Ericka had questioned many suspects and just people in general, but this was the hardest questioning she’d ever had to do. Not long after arriving in New York and starting her new job, she’d been forced to go undercover with the Malone family. At that time, she’d thought she was in love with Joey Malone. He’d thought about taking her away and being with her forever until his father decided to give up a mob family and they’d had to be put into federal custody. That had ended any romantic notions.

Why had she let him go?

Because at the time she was still trying to find her family. Now she’d found them, and she didn’t have them either. How things had changed.

“Um, I-I need to know did Ann Marie have a boyfriend?”

“Several. Probably a different one every week.”

“She talked about them?” Ericka shifted from side to side trying to make the questions flow naturally.

“Yes. And they came in to visit her.”

Ericka jotted down notes on a pad, even though she didn’t need them. Or maybe she did. She had a feeling that she wouldn’t remember any answer he gave after she left. She’d only remember how he looked. His dark, soft hair had been cut so that it was shaved around his ears and thicker on the top. It had a wave to it that she didn’t really remember. There was a sadness around his eyes that definitely hadn’t been there before.

“Anything else?”

“Oh, yes, do you know anyone that might want to hurt Ann Marie?”

“All the girls on the cheer squad? I’ve never seen a cheer squad for baseball. But this town, this town, is crazy about the sport. Most of the clothes that we dry clean are baseball uniforms.”

“Oh.” She should have had a follow up question to that, but her brain had stopped working.

He reached across the counter and took her hand that held the pencil. He massaged a spot on her wrist. “How have you been?”

She swallowed.

“And what are you doing here? I know why I’m here in the armpit of the earth, but you, you should be in some classy place living in luxury. You should have your every whim catered to.”

“Now you sound like Frankie.”

He chuckled. “You mean Doyle.”

“Doyle?” Her eyes widened. She knew that Frankie would hate that name. And he would hate working in a place like this even more.

“Yup. It seems to have worked for him. He’s met a dozen girls. Of course, he never gets too serious. You know Fr— Doyle.”

“What about you? Do you have a special someone?”

Ericka felt her throat wanting to close with emotion.

He reached out and cupped her cheek. A smile tugged at his lips.

She should have pulled away. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t. But when the phone rang, she jumped two feet back like she’d been scalded by hot water.

“I-I have to take this. Excuse me.”

She put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

“Ericka, it’s Greg. We’re headed over to the local police department. They have information on the DNA that was on Ann Marie’s lips. Where are you?”

“I’m at the dry cleaners.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. Did you find out anything useful to the case?”

“Useful to the case, not really. I’ll fill you in later.”

“Sounds good. Can you meet us at the police station?”

“I can.”

“And call Quinn. See if he’s coming in today. If not, I need someone on computers. We’ll have to call for some kind of New York backup. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can leave. I hope.”

Why did that not set as well as it had just ten minutes before?

“Will do.”

“See you there. Love you.”

She licked her lips and opened her mouth to reply but the line had gone silent. She was almost relieved.

“New beau?”

She twirled so fast she almost dropped the phone on the checkered tile floor. “It was Detective Kane.” Guilt filled her. Detective Kane, indeed.

“Oh, he’s here too.”

“We all got temporarily transferred here.”

“That must have been tough.”

She shrugged. “It hasn’t been easy.”

“Have the locals mentioned the dry cleaners?”

She looked at him. He looked nervous. She shouldn’t tell him. They were investigating them as well.

“Why would they do that?”

He shrugged. “Just wondering. When a new business comes into this town the locals seem to try to make waves to get them kicked out. We’ve watched several businesses come in and leave almost immediately.”

“I see.” She paused. “Is the comic book shop new?”

“Nah, that business has been around since before we came. I do know that they have illegal poker games in the back room, but they don’t do anything about them because Russ Thomas is one of the regulars.”

“The police officer, Russ Thomas?”

“Yup, the very one.”

Ericka opened her mouth to say more but her phone buzzed her in hand. She looked at it and read the question about whether Quinn was coming. It was a group message with the question sent to Quinn.

“You need to go.”

“I do.”

“Will you come back?” His eyes glistened with tears that didn’t fall.

She reached over and grabbed his hand. “I want to.”

He nodded. “I’ll be here.”

She walked backward until she reached the door. The cab waited across the parking lot. She didn’t feel like climbing in the car with him. She looked down the road. The station was just across the railroad tracks. She needed the alone time. She needed to think.

She leaned into the open window and handed him more money. “Thank you for waiting, but I think I’m good.”

“If you say so, lady.” He snatched the bills, then he was gone.

She lifted the phone and called Quinn. “You coming in today?”

“Ericka, I don’t know what to do.”

“I know that Fanny is upset. I know she left with Tristan. I don’t know where you are, but I’m going to the station to get the DNA results from your idea.”

He sighed.

“Do what you need to. But Greg wants to know.”

“I’ve never really loved anyone like this before.”

“I get it.”

“Do you? It seems like you’ve had quite a few relationships over the years. None that panned out. Maybe it was because you thought of yourself and not them.”

Ericka choked back tears. He wasn’t wrong.

Look at Joey. She could have left with him. She could have lived her life with him wherever he went, but she’d chosen herself over him.

Plain and simple.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. This is not your problem, or life, it’s mine.”

“It is.”

“I’ll call Greg.”

“Very well. Good luck.”

Ericka hung up the phone. She straightened her shoulders and sniffed back her tears. When had she gotten so weepy. It was a recent thing, she was sure of it.

Sunlight struck the back of the metal sign announcing the police station. She just needed to make her feet walk there. She could do it.

After she got this hiccup solved then she needed to figure out what to do about the Malones. The locals thought they were mobsters. Amazing how close they were to the mark.

****

Greg peeked through the glass window of the police station and saw Ericka hoofing across the railroad tracks and headed their way. Behind her at the dry cleaners he could make out a figure looking their way.

He narrowed his eyes as he approached the glass, but he couldn’t make out who was in the other window. Why they were staring at Ericka was also a good question, but one he had to table.

The bell rang above the door as she pushed it open. He turned. Before he could speak, she blurted, “Quinn isn’t coming. At least not right now. But he said he would call you.”

He nodded. He had considered that would happen. He’d asked Manis for a replacement but was told that since they were only working on this one case, they could just wait until they got home and then work it out. The fact that Quinn had abandoned them wasn’t going to look good when they returned, but he had to do what he had to do.

Officer Emmett Bagger stepped from the back. He sauntered up to their counter and leaned on it with his full body weight. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Greg started. “We got an email that the DNA from Ann Marie had returned.”

“From whom?”

“From the medical examiner or from Russ Thomas.”

Ericka tensed at the sound of Thomas’ name. Greg would have to ask her about that later.

“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. Can you show me?”

Maggie pulled up the email on her phone. “See?”

Glasses perched on the tip of his nose, Bagger scanned the email. “Wonder why this didn’t come to my office.” He handed over the phone and went to his computer. “Well, here’s your problem. That’s not a legit email from the medical examiner.”

“Are you saying that was a scam?” Maggie’s voice rose to shriek level.

Greg took a position between Maggie and Bagger. She was about to go postal on the guy, and he didn’t even notice.

“Can I see your email?”

Bagger stepped back and held out his hand.

Indeed, the email addresses were different. However, Greg wasn’t convinced that it wasn’t true. “Is Thomas around?”

“I think he went out to investigate a burglary. But he should be back soon.”

Now there was a burglary in the town. He didn’t know whether to ask if they needed help, or just wait to be asked to do their job. For now, he kept his mouth shut.

“We’ll wait.” Greg, Ericka, and Maggie plopped into the black faux leather chairs with rusted metal arms. The material caused them to slip against the back. He tried to scoot forward only to be sent backward again.

He wanted to ask Maggie what happened to upset her. He wanted to ask Ericka why she made the face when Thomas was mentioned. None of that could be done in this office with Officer Bagger paying so much attention to their every move.

Bagger lifted the phone to his ear then rotated his chair so they couldn’t see his face. They could still hear his every word.

“Did you send an email about DNA?”

Pause.

“Why did you send it to them, you big dummy! We needed to figure this one out to get these people out of here.” Bagger rotated around and offered a smile.

Greg kept his expression neutral. He didn’t want the guy to know they knew exactly what he was saying, and he was the big dummy.

“Get over here and explain what this email means. And you better do a good job.” The phone sounded like it cracked when it struck the cradle.

“He’s coming over.”

Maggie said, “Who?”

Good going. Now they would know who he was talking to.

“The medical examiner.”

Ah. So, he and the medical examiner were working to get them out of there. Really, it was the entire town but at least they knew now who was at the top of the ticket.

Maggie and Ericka crossed their legs and got comfortable. He crossed his at the ankles and settled back in the chair. They didn’t have to wait long. The medical examiner popped into the office; his smile faded quickly.

“Oh, you’re all here.”

“Of course. You emailed us.”

“I-I did.” He swallowed and looked at Bagger as if seeking permission.

“Well go ahead and tell them. Not like they won’t find out now.”

Dr. Rose redirected his attention to them. “Well, you see, I checked the lips like Thomas suggested…”

Greg didn’t interrupt. That had not been Officer Thomas’ suggestion, but he’d let it slide. He wanted answers and justice for Ann Marie more than he wanted to be right.

“And…” Maggie crossed her arms over her chest, letting her impatience shine through.

“And… there were numerous samples on her lips.”

“What?”

“I mean, she’d been kissed multiple times since her lips had been wiped.”

“Any names?” Greg wouldn’t question like Bagger. He just wanted information.

“Well, there was Von Tremell.”

“Von!” Bagger’s eyes widened. “He wasn’t at the party.”

“While he might not have been there, but he had kissed her fairly recently. And, um, a number of unknown male samples that I don’t have matches for. And then, um, well, um…”

“Spit it out, boy.”

“Russ, Russ Thomas.”

Officer Bagger’s swift intake of breath voiced how they all felt.

“We need to get a warrant to test every male at that party,” Greg stated.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll work on that.” Bagger didn’t look happy about the situation, but at least he was going to help.

“And you need to get Thomas back in here for questioning. He needs to tell us why he didn’t mention kissing Ann Marie.” Greg waited for Bagger to reply.

Bagger nodded as he lifted the phone to his ear.

The medical examiner came closer to them. “I’ll send you the official report as soon as I type it out. I’m sorry that I was so vague. I didn’t know how to well, you know—”

“Say that Thomas was involved?” Ericka blurted out the question.

Dr. Rose nodded. “Exactly. But now I guess it doesn’t matter. Plus, it seems that Ann Marie was on a kissing frenzy the day before she died. It’s very strange.”

Then he walked out the door. Bagger retreated to a back room. Ericka leaned in.

“We need to call the school.”

“Why?”

“Think about it. She kissed all those guys in one day. The baseball team was about to start the season, so they were celebrating. What if the school had a carnival, and—”

“Ann Marie was at the kissing booth!” Maggie smiled as she produced the answer that it seemed Ericka had been going for.

“Exactly.”

Greg rose. “I’ll call the school. You two wait for Bagger. I have a feeling that this isn’t going to be an easy or quick task.”

Investigating a fellow officer was never easy. But when it was the only officer that was supposed to be helping the town, that made it ten times worse.

****

Russ stopped at the donut shop. Tyson entered behind him. He whistled under his breath and dropped a piece of paper at Russ’ feet.

Russ bent and picked it up as Tyson was leaving the store. He unfolded it.

ME just found your DNA on Ann Marie’s lips.

Russ folded the paper and shoved it in his pocket. He purchased his coffee and donut to go and walked as quickly as he dared to his patrol car. Once inside he reread the note.

He remembered that day. The school carnival. The kissing booth. Everyone was kissing that girl. He was supposed to be working security, but some of the guys from the school baseball team dared him to pay to kiss her, so he had.

Now that was coming back to bite him in the butt. He was too old for her. Story of his life.

He didn’t have to question why Tyson would warn him. He was Tyson’s money ticket. Although that ticket had been punched, Tyson just didn’t know it yet. While he was away, the new group of agents snuck in and figured out his system. They had turned it over to the authorities before he’d known anything about it.

Russ hadn’t warned Tyson because it would have been obvious it was an inside job.

How Tyson knew about the ME and what he’d found was a complete mystery. But Russ couldn’t get any more involved. Tyson would find out when he found out.

The text that came through on Russ’ phone demanding he return to the office meant that Bagger knew the information now as well. If he’d remembered he could be implicated he never would have suggested the DNA swab. Maybe that was the way to play it. Completely innocent and not stupid enough to implicate himself.

He hadn’t killed Ann Marie. In fact, he’d been at the police team’s baseball practice the entire afternoon. It had been an emergency practice. They wanted to look good for the New Yorkers joining them. It hadn’t gone too well.

That meant they would have to find someone else to pin it on.

He was more than ready for the questioning. Bring it on.

Chapter Eighteen

Russ Thomas wasn’t going to know what hit him. Ericka had requested the opportunity to question him. The poor officer thought it was all going to be about Ann Marie and kissing, but she wasn’t even going to ask about that. The school had sent video, and it just happened to be trained on the kissing booth. Or trained on it enough so they could see every person that got in line to kiss Ann Marie.

No, she had an entirely different line of questioning that she was going for.

Russ entered the room and took a seat. He slouched back like he was comfortable in this element. Like he had nothing to worry about.

She almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

“Look, before you start talking, I’d like to say that I was at baseball practice the afternoon that Ann Marie was killed and about twenty people saw me there and will vouch for me. As for the DNA, I kissed her at the school kissing booth.”

His smug smile had her balling her fists under the table, but she regained control and placed her hands on the tabletop.

Ericka offered a smile of her own as she said, “Thank you for that bit of information, but we already confirmed all that.”

Ericka thought she heard Bagger gasp from the other room, but she wasn’t sure. He would really gasp when she was finished.

Russ leaned forward with his elbows on the table. “If you didn’t bring me in to question me about that, then what?”

“I’ve heard through a private source that you’ve been working with Tyson Grunley. Not only have you been gambling with him, but you supply him with people and keep the cops at bay when they get too close.”

Thomas swallowed. “Uh, uh, I don’t know what you mean.”

“I mean you work for Tyson Grunley.”

Sweat beaded on his upper lip. “You don’t have any proof.”

“True, I don’t have any yet. But the video that he uses during the games has just been confiscated. Within the hour I will have all the proof I need.”

“B-but, I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Nah, you just broke about a dozen of the laws you were sworn to protect.” She paused for effect. Then she drummed her fingers on the table. “You know, it might help if you could tell me what you know about Ann Marie and Tyson Grunley’s relationship.”

“Relationship? They didn’t have a relationship. She was totally in love with Jaxon Ryan then she loved Michal Lewis. That was until Heather Worley stepped in. Which wouldn’t have happened if Ann Marie hadn’t gotten pregnant.”

Ericka cocked her brow, and Russ slapped his hand over his flapping mouth.

“Do tell.”

“Look, the baseball field is full of rumors. I try not to listen, but it’s impossible. And with the adult/teen game coming up, the kids are everywhere talking even more.”

“Why didn’t you come forward with this information?”

“Because I don’t have any proof. Kids break up and date someone else all the time. It doesn’t mean they killed somebody.”

“True, but in this case, someone was killed and I’m going to find out who did it.” Ericka wouldn’t stop until she solved the crime.

“Good for you. Then you can leave and never come back.”

“Sounds good to me as well. Not that you’ll notice since you’ll be enjoying your many years in prison.”

Ericka scooted the chair out and left the room. Once in the hallway, she looked at Emmett Bagger. “Are we still part of the police team?”

“Um, yes.”

“Good. When is practice? It sounds like we need to be there.”

****

Greg hid his pride for Ericka as she came out of the room and immediately asked Bagger about practice times. She was correct that they needed to go. If there were that many rumors floating around then they might be able to find out exactly what they needed to know, just by showing up and practicing.

He really didn’t want to play baseball with a bunch of people who hated him, but what the heck, once or twice might be kind of fun. Not like he hadn’t done something similar before.

Football in high school might have given him the rep of being popular, but it had been a nightmare behind the scenes. Snide looks and comments had flowed every time he caught the ball and ran to the endzone. Several on the team thought there was a conspiracy to make him, and only him, look good because his dad was a bigwig in town.

Dad had been on the city council! He’d own a small business. Nothing more. Yet…

Snapping before his face had him coming back to himself.

“Greg, what now?”

“Now we wait.”

They planted themselves in the uncomfortable, black plastic chairs and watched Bagger as he made call after call. Greg could read the body language. If they had not been there, he wouldn’t be making the calls at all.

Asking a judge to authorize the collection of saliva samples from a multitude of popular teenagers wasn’t going to go over well in this town. If Bagger ever wanted to run for sheriff, he might have blown his chances. Greg would have told him to his face, too bad. Ann Marie deserved justice, and no one, not even a great teenage baseball player, was above the law.

An email came over his phone and he pulled it from his pocket.

“It’s the video.”

He traded places with Ericka and sat between her and Maggie. Maggie had been oddly silent during the questioning. In fact, most of the time she’d looked at her phone. Tristan had left the B&B for places unknown. No doubt she was waiting for word on his destination or his future plans.

When the video started, Maggie and Ericka both leaned in. Ann Marie was at the kissing booth. She wore a crop top that was tied under her breasts and a pair of Daisy Duke shorts. In between guys, she refreshed her lipstick. She didn’t look uncomfortable as she kissed every guy that came to her booth and forked over money.

Each guy she kissed a little different. A few looked like they only got a peck. Others she went full blown French kiss. Ericka had a pad of paper noting the ones that got special treatment.

When the video ended, Ericka said, “That’s a lot of guys.”

“All of the baseball team got the special kisses.”

Maggie had noticed what was happening and jotted down the ones that only got a peck.

Von Tremell had been in the video. He’d tried to place a hand on Ann Marie’s waist, but she’d pushed it away and barely given him a peck on his rough, beard covered cheek. Russ Thomas hadn’t got much affection, either.

“We need to visit the medical examiner to see if he did a DNA test on the baby.”

He could have slapped himself for not thinking of that before. Being with Ericka was distracting. He wasn’t on his game.

“I’m calling now.” Maggie stood up and stepped away. They heard her asking questions as she walked outside, and the glass door slammed behind her.

“Does she seem okay?” Greg followed her pacing through the clear window.

“Nope. I think she’s going to quit and meet up with Tristan.”

“Oh.”

That would mean that just the two of them would remain. That wouldn’t really be good for them. Being alone could cause them to get too close too quick. They really needed to learn about each other before they jumped into other parts of a relationship. He was a firm believer in a lasting relationship and not something fleeting. Although earlier he’d felt differently.

He massaged his temples. Relationships were confusing.

Maggie reentered. “The ME took samples, but never tested them. Honestly, I don’t think this town wants to find who killed that girl.”

Greg agreed. If they did find the killer, it could mean that their most popular team didn’t make it. Baseball had put them on the map, and that was where they wanted to stay.

****

“Hey, Dad.” Heather stepped into the medical examiner’s office.

“Heather, what are you doing here? You’ll contaminate my samples.”

Heather lifted a petri dish. She let it drop a little harder than she should have. A crack appeared on the side, and she rushed to hide it.

“What sample is this?”

“Heather! I told you not to mess with those. Now I’ll have to take another swab.”

Heather moved away and rolled her eyes. Dr. Miles Rose was engraved on the plaque her mother had given him for Christmas. Her stepfather was such a twit. She really hated him. But he could prove useful. Especially now.

“What do you need? I thought your mother said that you were headed home. She didn’t mention you dropping by.” He paused. “Why are you dropping by?”

“What? Can’t a girl just stop by to see her father?”

“Heather…”

“Fine. I need twenty bucks.”

“What for?”

“I need to get my nails done for the game tonight.”

“There’s a game tonight?” He was already digging money out of his wallet.

“Well, it’s a practice game, but it’s just as important. I still need to look good, right?”

She probably could have asked for a lot more. She probably should have asked for a lot more. One day, it wouldn’t matter. She would have everything. The boy. The house. The family. She would have everything she’d ever wanted. She was working on it now.

“Here.”

She took the money and shoved it in her pocket. She would have taken the sample, but he was looking right at her. Instead, she said, “What is that anyway?”

“DNA from Ann Marie’s fetus.”

Heather narrowed her eyes at the glass dish sitting on the counter. That little dish would prove who the father of Ann Marie’s spawn was. Not that Heather cared. It had happened before she got with Michal or Jaxon or any of the others. But she didn’t want anyone of them implicated. Pointing a finger at one of them would point it at all of them.

They were in this together.

“Is that really necessary?”

“Yes, it’s necessary. There will be a court order so I’m getting ahead of it.”

She leaned close and pouted. He took a step back. She’d been trying to come onto him since he’d married her mother, but he never reciprocated. Such a shame, really. They could have gone places together.

She backed up and skipped to the door. She opened it and blew him a kiss. “See you later.”

The door closed on his disgusted look. She didn’t mind. She had the information she needed. Jaxon’s dad would know what to do, especially if the sample implicated Jaxon. Otherwise, she would get help from someone else. There was always someone willing to help her.

Chapter Nineteen

Ericka stretched her arms above her head and leaned back and forth then from side to side. Players were entering the field. Soon that would be her.

Baseball.

How had she let herself be talked into this?

Why had she gone along with the suggestion they should attend? Or did she suggest it? She couldn’t even remember now.

She especially shouldn’t be doing it when she had bigger things on her plate. Like Joey Malone being in town. There hadn’t been one moment to explain that to Greg or to Maggie. They hadn’t even noticed when they went in the shop before. Probably because Ann Marie had been up front. That had been a nice touch. It was another way to hide them being in town. Although, the idea that another mob member would ever show up there was highly unlikely.

Quinn appeared at her elbow. He held a bat and practiced swinging it. She opened her mouth, and he interrupted.

“Don’t ask. I’m here for the game. That’s all I can tell you for now.”

Ericka nodded.

At least he’d come for that. But there wasn’t a game, it was practice or so she thought. However, the younger team they were up against looked extremely serious as they entered the dugout. And their cheerleaders were in attendance, which was even crazier.

“Greg…”

“I know. I see them.” Greg began moving toward Bagger, but there was no need. Bagger came to them.

“This is the first scrimmage of the season. We help the high school team practice and in turn they help us hone our skills.”

“We’re playing the high school team, not watching a practice?” Ericka couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.

“I thought you knew that.”

Ericka shook her head.

“Well, now you do. So, suit up.” Bagger thrust a bag toward them with no sympathy.

Ericka opened it and pulled out uniform T-shirts for each of them. The kids in the opposite dugout were gritting their teeth and spitting in the dirt. Ill prepared. That’s how she felt. Ill prepared.

Quinn’s breath struck her neck as he leaned close and whispered, “What is happening?”

“I think we’re about to play baseball.”

“Talk about a curveball,” Quinn mouthed from the corner of his flat lips.

From where she wasn’t even sure, Tristan and Fanny appeared.

“We’re here to help you guys out.” Tristan grabbed a shirt. “Do not take this as an acceptance of this intolerable situation.”

Maggie grinned. “I wouldn’t dare.” Then she leaned up on tiptoe and planted a chaste kiss on Tristan’s cheek. “I’m glad you decided not to get on the plane yet.”

“Humph.”

Fanny whispered to Quinn as she grabbed her shirt. When she faced them, she looked disappointed. Ericka had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“Let’s play ball!” The fully garbed umpire shouted and pulled down his mask.

“Wait, who are these people?”

Greg answered first. “Our team.”

“Since you won’t really be on the police team after this little debacle, I guess it doesn’t matter.” Bagger moved away, and when he returned, he handed Greg a bat. “We’re up to bat first.”

“Do you think that’s fair?”

Bagger cocked one brow. Apparently, he didn’t think they could hold their own. He hadn’t even seen one hit and already he questioned.

Ericka would admit that she didn’t know the lingo or jargon of baseball, but she knew how to hit and run. In her opinion that was all that mattered. This game might prove her wrong, but she would wait and see.

Greg stepped up to bat. He tapped his shoe, he tapped the plate, he stuck his butt out and wiggled. She wouldn’t be doing all that.

October Williams stood on the pitcher’s mound. He wound up his arm and let the ball fly. It zipped past Greg so fast it looked like the wind from it lifted the tail of his shirt.

Greg had sucked in his stomach right as it passed, or it might have hit him. He turned and narrowed his eyes at the kid. Williams shrugged his shoulder like it was an accident, but Ericka didn’t think so, and—she could tell from his narrowed eyes—neither did Greg.

“Watch it, Williams.” The umpire obviously noticed as well.

“No problem, Ump.”

The catcher on the mound threw back the ball. October went for the wind up again. This time it was farther out. If Greg had tried to hit it, then it would have only touched the tip of his bat.

“Ball!”

“Ump! That was a great throw.” The coach for the teens stalked out onto the field. He threw his hat to the ground followed by a big wad of spit, which barely missed his hat. When he finished, he said, “How did I do? Did I act like Coach?”

“You did great. Just wait a little longer before coming out to the field. He doesn’t get quite so upset so quickly.”

Ericka blinked.

Bagger said, “Max is the drama teacher at school. Coach Denton didn’t have time to come to the game, so he agreed to coach.”

“I see.” Apparently, the guy thought method acting would help.

Several of the teens rolled their eyes. Then October’s arm started again.

“Come on, Sergeant Kane! Show them how it’s done!” Ericka cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled.

Greg hit the ball dead on. It sailed through the air toward the fence. One of the teens ran backward with glove outstretched, but it was gone.

“Home run!” Bagger yelled louder than any of them.

The scorekeeper changed the number on the board. Greg ran all the way around the bases to home plate and received congratulatory hand slaps. Pride swelled in Ericka’s breast. She hoped she could make him just as proud.

Tristan was next to the plate. Three throws, three strikes, and he was out.

Fanny was next. She hit a single. When she reached the first base, she swayed back and forth as though ready to run. Quinn was able to hit and send her to second. Then Maggie did the same.

Ericka was up and the bases were loaded. No pressure.

Greg came behind her and massaged her shoulders. “You’ve got this.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“No, I mean it.” He rotated her in his arms and placed his hands on either side of her face. “No matter what, it’s going to be fine.”

“I need to tell you something.” She hadn’t told him about Joey yet. She really needed to do that.

“Come on, lady. We aren’t getting any younger waiting on you to bat.”

Greg turned her and patted her butt. “Get ’em girl.”

Well, she couldn’t tell him now.

She did a sideways grin and walked to the plate. She’d played baseball in gym at school and in the back yard of the group home. She knew how to hit, but not great or hard.

She settled beside the plate and gripped the baseball bat.

Greg appeared. “Too high, honey.” He moved her hands down.

“Hey, no helping!”

Greg snarled. “It’s a scrimmage!”

“Whatever.” October waved at him.

Greg whispered, “Do you know how to do this?”

“A little.”

“Oh, boy.”

“I’ll wing it.”

“Yup, wing it.” He stepped back. That earlier confidence seemed to have departed.

She would get it back. Well, maybe.

October dug his toe into the mound, she had no idea why. Then his arm started to wind. She watched the movement. Then it was as if the ball moved toward her in slow motion. She took her moment and swung. The crack of the ball against the bat almost sent her backward. Then there was yelling and shouting. Fanny was running toward her. Her arms were waving, and she was yelling something.

Finally, Ericka’s ears opened, and she heard the word, “Run!”

“Oh, yeah. I’m supposed to run!” She dropped the bat and ran as hard as she could to first base. When she got there, she stopped, but everyone looked at her.

The first base player leaned forward. “You got a homerun. Keep running, lady.”

She started running again, this time a little slower. Heat flushed her cheeks, and the wind stung. Tears fell from her chin as she rounded the corner. Greg was standing there with his arms open and directly behind him at the fence was Joey. He was clapping as hard as he could.

She’d waited too long.

Greg was about to find out her secret.

****

Greg swooped Ericka up into his arms and swung her around. When he lowered her to the ground, he noted the tears that coated her eyes. He used his knuckles to wipe them away.

“That was amazing. I knew you could do it.”

“Hmm, are you sure?” The question appeared to be playful, with the head tilt and the half smile, but he could tell she was serious.

He moved a strand of hair from her face and allowed his smile to broadened. “Never a doubt.”

She laughed. A red hue flushed her cheeks. He would have continued to stare at her forever, but something at the fence line caught his eye and he peered over her head. The smile he’d just worn, morphed to a frown. “It can’t be.”

“What?” She gripped his arm and poked her nails into his flesh.

“It’s my mother.”

“What?”

He turned her around. In the parking lot was his mother and someone else. His heart hammered in his chest. That could not be who he thought it was. No way. This was not the time. If any time was not the time, it was now.

“Who’s that with her?”

“Nikki Post.” Could Ericka hear the feelings in those two words? The unresolved feelings.

“You’ve never mentioned her.”

“Nope.”

Ericka gave him a push. “Why don’t you go say hi?”

“Can’t. The game isn’t over.”

He grabbed a bat and waited beside the dug out for his turn. He waved to his mother, but no other acknowledgment. What was she thinking? Why would she bring Nikki? Truthfully, what was his mother even doing here? Sure, she’d wanted to come visit and it was closer than coming to New York, but this wasn’t a good time.

Not a good time at all.

She hadn’t even asked! What if he’d been in the middle of a big murder investigation? Oh, yeah, he was.

Greg took a swing. With all his pent-up rage it should have been a homerun, but it was a double. On second base he shifted from side to side.

Quinn batted. He hit a single and Greg brought it to third base. His mother and Nikki were going crazy on the sidelines. Heat flushed his cheeks.

Nikki.

The prom queen.

The valedictorian.

The girl who got away.

He’d joined the army, and she’d gone to college. He’d asked her to marry him, but she’d said after college. Then time separated them. He’d come home and she was engaged to someone else. He’d stayed away.

Now here she was with his mother cheering at a game just like in the old days. His eyes darted to her hand. No ring caught the light. Did that mean she hadn’t married after all?

Maggie batted or Tristan or someone, he wasn’t sure. Mechanically, he ran and slid into home plate. After that the game seemed to creep by. He kept praying it would end. After nine innings they lost by one run. The drama teacher reamed out the teens for barely winning. They were supposed to be the greatest team in the state, so he could see why Coach Denton would be upset. The drama teacher, oh man, he was taking his role a little too far.

He would have scanned for scouts in the stands to see if the guy had a reason for his attitude, but there wasn’t time. His mother met him at the dugout and wrapped her arms around him.

“Greg! That was amazing. You’ve still got it, son.”

“Thank you.” There was that facial warmth again. He felt like a lovesick teenager. If acne popped out on his face, he was done.

She stepped back. “Oh, where are my manners. You remember Nikki Post.”

“I do.” He faced her. “Nikki.”

“Greg.” She lowered her chin and let her hair fall in front of her face. She’d worn her hair long before as well. She knew that he’d always loved her long hair.

Running his fingers through the strands…

Smelling her hair…

He cleared his throat hoping it would refocus his mind. “What are you guys doing here? Not that I didn’t want you to visit, but…”

“But you didn’t want me to visit. Look, I know, but I couldn’t help it. I missed the home place. Susan came to check on things and we just came along. Plus, I knew Nikki was going to be in town. So, I thought if I came up, we could all get together.”

“Mom—”

“No, don’t ‘Mom’ me. You invite all your people to the house, and I’ll fix a big home cooked meal.”

“Mom, we’re working a case.”

“I heard. Ann Marie Hudson. Poor girl. You don’t have to stay long, just come for a bit.”

Greg couldn’t deny his mother. Besides, she’d traveled all the way from Florida. “All right. We’ll come as soon as we’re done here.”

“Perfect.” Mom turned and Nikki followed her.

This wasn’t good. Not good at all.

Quinn appeared at his elbow. “Was that Nikki Post?”

“How did you know?”

“You used to talk about her all the time. I’m guessing that you didn’t tell your mother that you were finally dating Ericka.”

He swallowed. That was one thing he hadn’t gotten around to yet. And with Nikki here he didn’t know how he was going to do it now either. He ran his hands through his hair and prayed for a miracle.

****

Heather cheered from the sidelines. After each cheer she went to the dugout and acted as if she needed a break. Really, she was gathering DNA. She planned to make the police’s discovery process very, very difficult.

She gathered stuff in a small plastic bag and shoved it into her waistband.

Chet Mahon from the dry cleaner burst out clapping when that detective lady hit a homerun. It seemed odd how excited he was.

Ann Marie had said something was odd about the guy and his entire family. It was another mystery that Heather would need to figure out. The information might help her in her own pursuit of burying evidence. Or at least contaminating evidence.

A smile teased her lips. She’d already arranged for Ann Marie to be cremated. It was the least she could do.

Chapter Twenty

Ericka followed along with the others as they climbed in separate cars and headed for the B&B. Tristan and Maggie had entered the back of Greg’s car.

“I guess we’re taking showers and going out to Greg’s old homeplace for supper.”

It was the happiest that Tristan had sounded in weeks. Maybe he just wanted some different food to eat. If that made him happy, then great. Then they wouldn’t lose Maggie. But if not…

Ericka didn’t want to think about it. The family she’d started to develop was slowly being torn apart. It was a curveball she hadn’t planned for.

Only a few moments passed before they parked. Quinn kept sneaking sideways glances at her. Every time she caught him, he would lower his gaze quickly as if trying to hide.

Something was definitely off.

They entered the B&B as a group and ascended to the second floor. Maggie and Tristan whispered to one another. Fanny and Quinn held hands. Greg gave her a peck on the cheek and rushed away. Ericka sighed and went to the shared room.

In the bathroom, she showered and changed. When she came out of the bedroom, Maggie was still in the hallway whispering to Tristan. She quickly stopped when Ericka appeared at the open doorway.

“Okay, that’s enough. No more whispers from you two. No more sad looks from Quinn. What gives?”

Maggie sighed. “Don’t make me say.”

“Um, I think you better. It seems like I need to be prepared for something. I don’t like surprises.”

“This one you really won’t like.”

Tristan slapped Maggie’s arm, and she frowned and rubbed the spot. “Tell her.”

“It’s not my place.”

“I would want someone to tell me, so I didn’t go in completely unprepared.”

“Fine.” Maggie pulled Ericka next to the wall and leaned against the light-colored paneling. “Nikki Post was Greg’s old flame from high school. He proposed and she said not until after college. He came back from the military and thought she was engaged, but she wasn’t, at least I overheard her say that to his mom, Martha, and now she came and found his mother in Florida to find him.”

“Oh.” Ericka licked her dry lips. Was it hot in there?

“Tell her the rest.”

“But—”

“Maggie Shade Hart.”

“Shade?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Tell her.”

“Fine, fine. Greg didn’t tell his mother that you two were dating.”

“What?” The shriek that left Ericka made her cringe.

The sound of a door closing down the hallway had them all turning. Greg stood there. She could smell the cologne on him from her location.

“We ready?”

Ericka would have run into her room and locked herself in, but it was too late. And she wanted to see how it played out. She might not like surprises, but she didn’t back down from a challenge or a fight. Now she needed to decide if Greg was worth fighting for.

Maggie rushed into the room as Fanny was coming out. When Fanny had slipped into the room and showered, Ericka didn’t know. She’d missed the entire thing. Tristan also rushed away.

It seemed like an eternity that she stood there with Greg in the hallway waiting, but only like fifteen minutes had passed. Quinn and Fanny kept conversation alive.

Finally, they were all ready. They exited as they had entered. In the car, she looked out the window at the passing trees. Tears rolled down her face and fell onto the car door. Quickly, she swiped them away before anyone could see them.

Tough girl.

That was her.

She’d lost everything and almost everyone, but she kept going. She was definitely not one who cried when her boyfriend didn’t tell his mother they were dating.

But why hadn’t he told her?

Ericka got the impression when they were in Florida that all Mrs. Kane wanted was for them to date.

Maybe it wasn’t them in particular. Maybe anybody would do?

“So, Nikki Post. That’s a surprise.” Quinn shifted his focus from the wheel to Greg who sat stiff in the passenger seat.

Fanny reached forward and squeezed Quinn’s shoulder. Must be warning him to stop talking. Ericka could have told her not to bother. Quinn was a detective. He was detecting, getting to the bottom of this conspiracy. He’d been one of their strongest advocates for being a couple. This wouldn’t sit well with him.

“It is a surprise. I haven’t seen or thought of her in about fifteen years.”

That would have been the time that he returned from the military. Which matched what Maggie had said. And meant that Nikki could have been the girl he was always talking about on base.

She lowered her head and studied her lap. Before she could think much more the car came to a sudden halt. A reflection on the window showed a large two-story white house with a wraparound porch. The entire place looked almost identical to the one in Florida.

“What? How can this place be the same?” Quinn’s curiosity again.

Bless him.

“My grandfather used the same blueprints in Florida that he used to build this house. He said he liked it, so he did it again.”

“Well, that’s different.” Fanny climbed out of the backseat.

Quinn soon followed. He had his hand at the small of Fanny’s back and was walking her toward the door before Ericka could even move. Greg hadn’t moved either.

“This is going to be awkward.”

“Already is.”

Greg looked straight ahead. He ran his hand through his hair. “I need to tell you something…”

The thought stopped as the door was jerked open and Steve, Greg’s brother, reached in and pulled him out.

“Steve? What are you doing here?”

“Well, duh, we all came to visit.”

“All… came… to… visit.”

“Well, of course! And Mom couldn’t drive that whole way by herself. We just took time off, loaded up in the RV, and came home for a bit. Good to see you, man.”

“Yeah, good to see you too.” Greg embraced his brother and gave him a pat on the back.

Greg didn’t sound happy about the turn of events. She didn’t mind visiting his family, but the introduction of Nikki was well…

Steve opened her door, pulled her out, and wrapped her in an embrace. “Hey, my girl!” He leaned back and gave her a high-five. “Are we ready to play some football? I heard you guys killed the young team in baseball. You didn’t win, but you came close. That’s awesome.”

“Yeah.” Heat flushed her cheeks at the warm, unexpected welcome. He released her and she took a step back. She kind of expected Greg to be there to walk in with her, but he’d been surrounded.

His nieces and nephew had circled the wagons.

“Uncle Greg!”

“Hey, guys. How are you?”

“Happy to be in Tennessee. Not as many bugs.”

“Not true, Lucy, it’s different bugs.”

“Mom!” Lucy rolled her eyes at her mother, Susan, as she stepped onto the porch.

“Well, brother, good to see you finally decided to visit us.”

Greg opened his arms and received a hug. “It would have been quicker if I’d known you were here.”

Susan frowned. She whispered something that Ericka couldn’t hear. Being kept in the dark looked like it was something that was going to happen from now on.

“Come inside. Mom has been slaving in the kitchen all morning. It’s going to be yummy.”

Greg kissed Susan’s forehead. “You know how to get me.”

Ericka’s stomach growled, and she started to step toward the house then paused as her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out, but it said unknown number. She answered just in case.

“Hello?”

“Ericka?”

She knew immediately that it was Joey, and she couldn’t remember his witness protection name, so she said, “Yes?”

“I might have some information on Ann Marie’s death, but I need you to come to the shop and come alone.”

Ericka looked at the people in front of her. Greg had gone inside without waiting for her. Quinn had lingering back on the porch. Maybe he waited for her, or he was doing something else; either way she walked up him.

“Quinn, I have a lead, but I need to go back to the office. Could I have the keys to the car?”

“So, you’re not going to come in?”

She shrugged. “It doesn’t seem like they were planning for that, so I’ll just do my job and catch up with you later.”

It sounded like sour grapes. She knew it did, but what else could she do. The warm welcome from Steve had been nice, but it hadn’t been enough to make her feel comfortable staying around.

“I’ll tell Greg.”

“Thanks.”

She took the keys and started the car before she spoke into the phone. “I’m on my way.”

She passed Maggie and Tristan coming down the long drive. She didn’t even wave. With their appearance no one would even notice she was missing.

****

The first thing Greg noticed when he entered the house was the smell of fresh biscuits. Next was sausage and maybe sausage gravy, but he couldn’t be sure.

“I thought we’d do breakfast for dinner. Sound good?” Mom was at the stove. She wore a flower covered apron and held up a spatula.

“It does.” What else could he say?

The next thing he noticed was that Nikki was sitting at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee. A red hue dotted her cheeks. He would have gone to her and said hello, but that was when the others entered, and he noticed other things. Maggie and Tristan had arrived, and Ericka hadn’t come inside.

He cocked his brow in Quinn’s direction. He took out his phone and started typing. Then Greg had a ping. He looked at the text.

Ericka took the car back to the office. She has a lead.

Greg frowned. After all they had been through in the town it didn’t seem like a good idea for her to go back alone. Besides it was an hour and a half away from them. Now they were down to one car. They would have to all five ride back in the one sedan. Or his mother might coax them into staying the night, which he really didn’t want to do. He couldn’t do that if Ericka was back in town working alone.

“Come in everyone. Find a seat. We just finished supper prep. Let’s eat.”

Everyone gathered around the long table. Dad said grace and everyone filled their plate. While the food looked delicious, his mouth was watering, and his belly was growling, he didn’t feel that hungry.

“It’s good to see you again, Greg.” The sound of Nikki’s quiet voice and the heat of her breath came at him from his side. She’d squeezed in beside him on the picnic style bench seating.

“You, too.” He took a sip of the hot coffee and cringed as he burned the tip of his tongue.

“Burned yourself, huh? You always were in a hurry.” She sipped her own drink while not removing her gaze from his face.

He let his shoulders slump and continued to look forward as he said, “Nikki, what do you want?”

“What do I want? You’re kidding, right? You were supposed to come back for me after your stint in the military. I waited. Then I find out you moved to New York and became a cop. A cop! We never talked about that.” She’d lowered her voice and moved in closer, but still she was loud enough that some others turned their heads.

He lifted his brows, and kept his guffaw held in. They never discussed that. Like he had to go over his life plans with her after she said no to the engagement. She hadn’t changed much. Everything had to be her way or the highway.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“Maybe we should take this outside.”

“Sure. I’d love to. We can go out to the tree where you gave me my first kiss. Or to the lake where you gave me my first hickey. Or maybe to the porch swing where you tried to propose.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

She seemed angry over something, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why. She’d been the one to move on.

He’d waited.

He’d come home.

She’d been taken.

He almost threw the chair backward against the floor with a crash but caught it right in time. He grabbed her hand and tugged her until she started walking to the back porch. In his memory nothing had happened between them there. However, he was about to make a new memory.

She stepped out and let the screen door slam shut.

“Speak.”

“Is that how you talk to women now? I remember you being nicer.”

“Let’s see, you’ve weaseled your way into my mother’s good graces and got her to invite you here to make me feel guilty about something, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it is. So, please just say what you want to say so we can move on.” And he could tell his mother that he was dating Ericka. That he didn’t need help with his love life, he was doing just fine.

“I saw how you looked at that detective on the ballfield. The one that didn’t show apparently. I guess she’s too chicken to be in the room with an ex-girlfriend.”

He ran his hands through his hair. The strands were thick and getting a little longer than he liked. But he only liked his barber in New York, which posed a problem.

She moved in closer leaving only a few inches between them. Her smell of lavender hadn’t changed. Only he didn’t care for lavender now.

She ran a nailed finger into the V of his neckline. He should have buttoned it up to his neck. Who cared if he could breathe?

“Tell me that you don’t feel anything for me? Tell me that and I’ll leave.”

“I don’t feel anything for you.”

She moved back and swung her arm in the air between them. “You lie!”

He leaned his head back, studied the ceiling and drew in a deep breath before looking back down at her. “Look, I’ve moved on. I did come to look for you after my time in the military before I left for New York, but you were with someone else. You had a rock the size of Gibraltar on your finger, so I left. Seemed like you were where you wanted to be.”

She licked her lips and tried to move in close again. “So, you did come looking for me.”

“I did. But that was then, and this is now.”

“Are you saying that we don’t have a shot?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Again, she leaned back and crossed her arms at her chest. “What if I told you I had to drop out of school because I had your child while you were gone.”

He snickered. Then he burst out laughing. “I’d say you were living in a fantasy. I know you didn’t have my child.”

“How?”

“Pictures that you sent like every day for the first year. And your graduation photo. No baby bump.” He moved his hand over his own stomach in an arc.

All these questions made him wonder something. A look at her finger showed the distinct line of where a ring had been. He’d play the hunch and see where it went.

“Let me see if I can get this right. You got married after college, had a kid maybe more, and now you’re divorced. You thought you’d try to reconnect. Maybe get a new baby daddy.”

She bit her lip and moved into the shadows of the porch. “You always were too perceptive.”

“I’m not sure whether to be hurt or flattered.”

“Neither.” She turned and spit at his feet. “I wouldn’t have married him if I’d known you came back for me. He was a poor substitute. But I was tired of being alone. Now I have three kids and no one to help me. I can’t work. I can’t make money. He has them half the time, so I’m stuck.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Of course you are. You’re living the life I wanted in New York! Big hotshot cop. I could have been a big hot shot lawyer, if…”

She stopped talking. He finished.

“You’d finished law school.”

She balled her fist. He saw it coming but was too late to stop it. It struck his jaw with a pop.

The door opened at that moment. “Nikki!”

“Martha, I’m sorry.” Nikki ran down the back steps and around the house.

“What in the world happened out here? What did you say to her?”

“Mom—”

Mom held her hand up, palm facing him. “I do not want to hear it. Just come in and finish eating before I get more upset. I just now found out you’ve been dating Ericka.”

The door slammed. Mom continued to mutter to herself.

Greg swallowed and followed his mother inside. The scolding to come already hurt.

****

Heather entered the dry cleaners. Through the opening past the counter and through the hanging clothes, she could make out Chet Mahon. He leaned forward and studied a black and white image on a large TV screen.

She swallowed.

That image was of her and the guys at the Crabtree farm. There were pictures of the field as well.

That meant…

Heather pushed air out her nostrils and pulled her shoulders back. Quickly, she used one finger to unbutton the top of her shirt. Since no one else was there and no one was coming to the counter, she marched around it and straight to the office.

There were cameras, she could see them.

She hoped they saw her.

She moved in a slinking type of motion toward Chet. He was on the phone.

“Can you come over? I think I have something you might want to see?”

Heather’s heart thundered rapidly in her chest.

Most cameras didn’t have sound, right? She just needed to strike the correct pose with her body and her voice. She could do it. She’d been practicing for her big screen debut. She had this.

“Joey Malone.”

Chet turned. His mouth formed a thin line. “There isn’t a Joey Malone here, you must be mistaken.”

“Oh, I’m not mistaken.” She ran her long-lacquered nail along the neckline of his shirt. “My cousin, Russ Thomas, told me exactly who you are. Little Joey Malone and the mob Malone family from big New York City.”

Joey gritted his teeth. “What do you want?”

“Oh, nothing much.” She hitched her hip up on one side and scooted onto a low bookcase.

He didn’t move.

“What?”

“You see, I don’t want that video there to fall into the wrong hands, you get my meaning.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then I’ll spell it out. You keep that video to yourself, and we’ll be all good.”

“What will you do if I don’t keep it to myself?”

“Let’s see. I did a little bit of research, and I bet the cartel would love to know where the Malone family is hiding out after putting them behind bars.”

His eyes darkened and he fisted his hands at his sides. He didn’t seem happy with the threat. But she didn’t care.

“Chet, did the food arrive?” An old woman entered through a back room.

Joey didn’t move anything but his mouth as he answered, “No, Ma, not yet.”

Heather left the room, rebuttoning her shirt as she went. The bell rang above her as she exited onto the sidewalk. She probably should have grabbed the zip drive, but she knew he wouldn’t show it. The man was in witness protection. If the cartel knew he was here, then he and his family would be in danger. Love for his ma would keep him from doing anything stupid. She was sure of it.

She sashayed along the sidewalk, practicing her runway walk. When she married her baseball star husband and he was signed to the L.A. Dodgers, she really wanted to live in L.A., then she would take a job as a runway model. She was perfect for it.

She had the walk down and everything.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ericka opened the door to the dry cleaner’s and stopped. Joey and his family stood at the counter with suitcases nearby. Frankie and his father were arguing. They didn’t notice her entrance, but Mary did. She poked Joey in the ribs.

He looked up from what he’d been doing, securing a suitcase she thought, and sighed. Then he closed the gap between them. “Here.”

She opened her hand, and he dropped a zip drive into her palm. “What is this?”

“It’s a video of the Crabtree place. We’ve been living there for a while. We’ve continued to let the baseball team use it so as not to blow our cover, but when we heard about Ann Marie, we opened up the security footage.”

“What did you see?” Ericka gripped the drive harder than she should. More was going on here than just giving her information.

“Not much. More than a few people visited Ann Marie on the hill. It really wasn’t possible to tell who killed her from the footage. But I know who did it.”

Ericka shook her head. She wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.

“Heather Worley.”

“The teenage cheerleader girl?”

“Yeah, one of many. She came in today and threatened to tell that we were in witness protection if I gave anyone this video.”

“I see.”

“As I live and breathe.” The sound of Frankie’s voice had Ericka turning her head. “What are you doing here? And still looking as fine as ever.”

Heat rushed to Ericka’s cheeks. “Still the flirt, I see.”

“Doesn’t really matter, does it? I heard that you were dating that Detective Kane.”

Joey gazed at her, sadness filling his eyes.

“Don’t worry,” Frankie continued. “We’re leaving. So, we aren’t going to affect your time with your new beau. Joey here decided that the threat was too much to stay. I told Russ Thomas that we shouldn’t be here.”

Joey frowned and faced his brother. “What? Wait, you’re the one who told Russ?”

“Yup. I couldn’t stand another day of being Doyle Mahon. Doyle? Really? Do I look anything like a Doyle?” Frankie wore a silk suit and ran his hands up and down in front of his frame.

“You look like an idiot.” Mary slapped him with the back of her hand. “I just made friends and now we have to move again. Your father just remembered his new name!”

They took the bickering to the back room and Joey returned his attention to her. “Kane, huh?”

Ericka nodded. “Yeah.” Although she wasn’t one hundred percent sure about that at the moment.

“Sounds like a good choice.” Joey turned away, but not before she’d seen his pinched look of sorrow.

If he thought about it long enough, he would realize that he’d only ever been a mark. She had started to like him at the end, but nothing could ever have come out of it. He was a criminal in a manner of speaking, and she was a cop.

Plain and simple.

“Did you ever like me?” He’d faced her and she’d not noticed.

“I did.”

“But you knew nothing would come of it, right? The whole point of you being in my life was to find my father and get him to turn.”

“I won’t lie. Yes, that was the point of our first encounter.”

He ran his hands through his hair. Then he straightened his spine. His voice deepened with an emotion she wasn’t sure of.

“Our handler will be here any minute. I suggest you go. Take that video. See if your computer wizard, Quinn, I think it is, can figure out the point where Heather does the deed, then take her down.”

Ericka nodded. “Thank you.” She turned to walk toward the door before tears spilled over her eyes. She was crying more lately than she had in her entire life. Maybe she needed her hormones checked.

“One more thing.”

She turned.

“Heather’s stepfather is Dr. Rose.”

“The medical examiner?”

“The very one. I wouldn’t put it past that girl to change evidence. Don’t give her the chance to do it.”

“I won’t. And again, thank you. Maybe one day we’ll meet again.”

“Sorry to say, I hope not. That’ll mean I have to move again.”

He turned away, and she hurried to the door. By the time she reached the car, she could hear the bolt turning and locking her out. In the car, she leaned against the steering wheel and watched them moving around through the tinted glass.

Mary had a cane. Big Tony had one as well. Both parents were in bad shape and the team’s intrusion into their town had caused them to be shipped elsewhere.

If someone back in the New York office knew that they’d been placed here, then Alpha Team should never have been sent. That had put their entire family in jeopardy.

She turned the key, and the motor roared to life. She needed to return to the office and get Quinn to come there as well, but he was an hour away. She also needed to get to the ME’s office and protect the DNA samples.

She put the phone to her ear and made a call as she drove. The decision to go to the ME’s office came as she drew near to the four-way stop. Cars were parked outside Dr. Rose’s office.

Lots of cars.

One car was a hearse.

Something was wrong. She could feel it.

****

Susan had kept the homeplace in spotless condition, although, it seemed she was in Florida more than she was here now. Some of the furniture was still covered in sheets.

“Stop pacing, Greg. You’re going to rub a hole in the carpet.”

Mom had told him that on multiple occasions and a few times already today. He didn’t care if he wore a hole. Ericka had been gone for hours and hadn’t even texted. The entire thing was unlike her. Especially since they’d started dating. Since then, she texted or called all the time.

Maggie came and patted his shoulder. “I think we should be getting back.”

“Have you heard something? Anything?”

“Sadly, no. I just have a feeling in my gut that maybe we’re needed.”

“Better not go against your gut.”

She nodded.

Maybe she’d noticed that his gut was saying something was wrong and they needed to move. Whatever had happened, he was grateful for the assist.

“Mom, we’re going to have to run. I’ll try to get back by while you guys are in town.”

“I’ll make sure of it.” She gave him a big hug.

He hugged back.

Nikki had hidden in the corner of the room after their encounter. She didn’t speak to anyone that he could tell. He was sorry for her plight, but he couldn’t fix this mess for her. If he thought about it, he’d been fixing messes for her for a long time. In school he’d been the one to keep her on the straight path. He’d helped with homework. He’d helped her study for tests. She wouldn’t have gotten in college if not for him. He didn’t regret helping her, but he was glad that life path hadn’t worked out.

In the car, he let Quinn drive. He squeezed in the back with Tristan and Maggie, who were scrolling through Tristan’s phone looking at houses like excited school kids. He wanted to ask what was happening, but felt doing so would be intruding.

Fanny had no such qualms. “What are you guys looking at?”

“Oh, we’re just dreaming of the future.”

“Ah, the future.” Fanny reached over, and Quinn grabbed her hand.

That was when Greg saw the ring. It caught the light and bounced around the car in a cascading rainbow of color. Maggie reached up and grabbed her hand.

“You proposed!”

Quinn smiled and pulled Fanny’s hand to his mouth and kissed the back. “Yup, we’re going to tie the knot. We haven’t picked a date yet. Maybe next fall.”

“Or next summer.”

“Uh-uh.”

Greg kept looking back and forth between the two couples. He couldn’t believe that Quinn had proposed so quickly to a woman he’d just met. They hadn’t even known each other for a year. Of course, if they were engaged until next year they would, but still.

“What about you two? If you’re looking at houses, what are you waiting for?”

“Oh, I already proposed. Maggie has the ring, but keeps it locked away for fear that she’ll lose it while working.”

“What! Why didn’t you tell us?” Fanny rotated completely in her seat. The two women started talking venues and flowers and entourages.

Suddenly, Greg realized he was in trouble. At the moment he had no intention of proposing. Maybe in the future, but now definitely wasn’t the time. He wasn’t even sure they would be dating once they met up again. Especially since he hadn’t even told his mother they were dating. That could have caused some hurt feelings.

He could have squealed with relief and delight when they parked outside the B&B. That was until he noticed that his car wasn’t outside.

“We need to drop Tristan and Fanny and drive to the office.”

The two being dropped groaned, but they stepped from the car. Quinn only hesitated a moment before putting the car back in gear and driving to the office.

He opened his mouth to ask Maggie to call Ericka, but she said, “Already doing it.”

Greg waited, but he didn’t hear the click of an answered call. What he heard was voice mail?

His heart hammered in his chest. She hadn’t told any of them where she was going or what she was doing just that she had a lead. He should never have let her leave alone.

Nikki Post strikes again…

****

Heather waited in the bushes outside her stepfather’s office. The funeral home had arrived. They had the paperwork she’d forged saying that Ann Marie was to be immediately cremated. She’d seen her scrawl through the binoculars she’d pulled from her car.

Worry gnawed at her gut. The funeral home dudes had been in the office a long time and not come out.

Then another car arrived.

It was that snooping detective!

Heather fell onto the ground and chewed on her fingernail. Once she reached raw flesh she went to the next one.

She needed help. Someone who would do anything she wanted or needed.

She lifted her phone to her ear.

“Hey, whattcha doin’?”

“Nothing much. Whattcha doin’?”

“Oh, I’m at Dad’s office, and that detective chick is messing up things for me. I was wondering if you would mind helping a girl out.” She made her voice low, deep, what she hoped was sexy.

“And what do I get in return?”

“Why, anything you want.” She’d promised that on a few occasions. So far no one had collected. She didn’t mind if he did though.

“Anything, uh?”

“Yup.”

“What do you need me to do?”

She explained in great detail what she wanted. He listened without interruption. The two boys shared a phone. She was glad the less intelligent one had answered, or it might have been a serious problem.

“I can do that.”

“I’ll forever be in your debt.”

“Oh, I know.”

The sound of an engine revving and topping the hill surprised her. Apparently, Horace had been closer than she thought. He practically jumped the road as he appeared over the hill. The car was headed straight toward the detective’s car and the building.

It was going much better than she ever thought possible.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ericka turned in time to see the car jump the hill and head straight for them. Her car was hit first and sent straight into the front glass of the ME’s office. She jumped over the counter and slid into the back room in one smooth movie like motion.

When she settled, she was twisted like a bad pretzel. She wasn’t the only one in trouble. Dr. Rose wasn’t in good shape. A piece of glass had pierced his side, and he grabbed it and tried to pull it out.

Ericka scooted toward him. “Dr. Rose, Dr. Rose! Look at me! Leave it.”

He finally quit once she grabbed his hands and said the words directly in his face.

With one hand she held him, and with the other she dragged her phone from her pocket and dialed 9-1-1. The sound of sirens came quickly as if they’d been nearby waiting for the call. In slow motion, people entered the broken window, crunched through the opening, and appeared behind the counter. Dr. Rose was taken first. She pushed the EMTs away.

“I’m fine. Just check on him.”

“I disagree. She needs to be checked out.”

Greg. He was there with his arms crossed over his massive chest. Where had he even come from?

“What have you got yourself into now?”

She lifted her brows and pointed to herself.

“Yes, you. I can’t leave you alone for one minute or you’re getting into an accident.”

He helped her out of the debris field and outside to a waiting ambulance. He wasn’t going to let her get out of being checked, so she gave in. It would be over soon. At least this was one time she wouldn’t need to go to the hospital.

Horace Tremell was being cuffed and carted away to a waiting police car. “Wait! You can’t arrest me. I was doing what Heather asked! She said that her father was being held hostage and this was the only way. You have to believe me!”

“I believe him. Officer, stop.” Ericka rose to her feet and hobbled toward the officer. Maybe she’d twisted her ankle with that amazing move. “Horace did you just say that Heather put you up to this?”

“Yeah, to save her father. She promised me anything I wanted.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.” His grin broadened.

Ericka bit her bottom lip. Heather had to be close by to have known she was there. She’d threatened Joey and his family because she knew she was about to get caught for murder. Now she’d tried to kill Ericka so she wouldn’t get caught.

This girl wasn’t that smart.

“Officers, spread out and find Heather Worley. She’s wanted in the death of Ann Marie Hudson and the attempted murder of Dr. Rose and a police officer.”

The officers only shot her a fleeting glance as they moved to spread out over the area and start the search.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Greg tapped his foot on the pavement. The trembling of his hands was the only indication that he’d actually been worried.

Ericka chose to ignore his concern.

“Oh, yeah, I’m going to tell you. First, we need to secure Horace in a cop car then we need to find Heather. I know she’s here.” Ericka could feel the girl’s eyes on her.

In the next moment, Heather was dragged by a uniformed officer from the bushes. She was kicking and yelling the entire time. “Let me go! I didn’t do anything.”

Ericka directed the officer to put her in the back of a cop car.

“Let’s go to our office. We have a lot to discuss. And that one needs to be under lock and key.”

Ericka didn’t wait for an answer. Briefly, she looked at the car she’d arrived in. It wasn’t going anywhere. The engine block was crushed, and fluids leaked all over the pavement.

“I guess you’ll have to ride with me. Think you can stomach it?”

“I’ll give it my best shot.”

Ericka climbed into the seat, and he closed the door behind her. She knew they had a lot to talk about. From Joey Malone being nearby, to him not telling his mother about them. But part of her wasn’t ready. The relationship they’d been trying to build seemed more fragile than ever. How did anyone make it?

****

Greg had left the others at the scene. He took the car and drove him and Ericka back toward their own office. He had to get her away from the chaos.

As he navigated the roads, he opened his mouth and shut it more times than he could count. What could he say to get the ball rolling?

Sorry?

What have you been doing?

Did you know that the other couples are engaged?

None of those words seemed to pan out in his mind the way he hoped. Now he was having conversations with himself. Seemed about right.

“Sorry I didn’t tell you where I was going. Everything happened so sudden. Joey handed me the evidence, said he suspected Heather, told me she was related to the ME, and I just went.”

“Joey?” He couldn’t have heard that right.

“I tried to tell you when we arrived at your parents’ home, but we were, um, interrupted.”

He’d vaguely remembered her trying to tell him something. That was before his nieces and nephew had surrounded him and escorted him into the house.

“Joey Malone and his family were stationed here as part of witness protection.”

“No way.” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

She nodded. “They run the dry cleaners.”

“The dry cleaners that’s supposed to be selling drugs? And run by mobsters?”

“Yeah, I think that was Frankie’s doing. He told Russ Thomas that they were in witness protection, and he might have mentioned the mob connection and maybe even drugs, so they could be moved again.” She shrugged. “His new name was Doyle Mahon. Not sure if I can blame him much.”

“I see.” He paused. “You know someone made a major mistake by sending us here. We could have given them away without even thinking about it.”

“That’s what I was thinking. But that is a mystery for another day. Today’s curveball, you see what I did there…”

“I see, baseball reference. Odd how this entire case seems to be centered around that sport.”

“I can’t believe it either. I think Heather found out about Ann Marie’s pregnancy and it was going to ruin her plans of marrying one of the players, so she killed her.”

“That’s what you think?”

“That’s what I think.”

“Why do you think that she sent someone into the medical examiner’s office with a car? I mean, how does that help her?”

“Maybe it contaminated the samples?”

That was a great guess. It was probably one thing that happened.

“Did you see the hearse?”

“Hearse? There wasn’t one when I got there.”

Ericka drummed her fingertips on her thigh. “What was the name of that funeral home? Think, Ericka, think.” She paused. “Smith! That was it.”

“We need to call and see why they were there.”

“I’ll do it.” Ericka dialed it on the car so they could both hear.

“Smith Funeral Home.”

“Yes, this is Detective Ericka Stone. I was just at the medical examiner’s office, and you had a hearse there earlier. Would it happen to have anything to do with Ann Marie Hudson?”

“Why yes it does. We just received the order for her to be cremated. Oh, lookie there. The body just arrived.”

Ericka’s eyes widened. Greg started talking. “Belay that order.”

“We can’t. It’s from the family.”

“If you cremate that body before this case is over, I will personally throw you under the jail.”

“You’ll have to talk to the family.” The phone line when silent.

Ericka was already dialing who Greg hoped was Ann Marie’s stepmother on the car phone. Then she dialed her own phone.

“I’m calling a judge.”

They needed to stay that order, or all the evidence would go up in smoke.

****

Heather rubbed her raw wrists. She had been across from Horace in the lobby. His stares hadn’t been as pleasant as she’d hoped. Apparently, he’d realized that she’d tricked him.

Oh well, they might soon be sharing a cell together. Or at least sharing an address with the same prison name.

That detective lady had surprised her, and that didn’t happen often.

The door to the holding room opened and her lawyer walked in. She’d had him on speed dial since she could remember, but she’d never called him.

“Hello, you called me saying you needed a lawyer?”

“Yes, I believe I do.”

“What have you done?”

“Nothing, sir, not a thing.” She batted her lashes at him.

He chuckled. “I see. Innocent. Aren’t they all? Well, here is the deal. You want help, you tell me the truth and the entire truth. Then we’ll go from there. Anything you tell me will be kept secret. That’s the law.”

“Good to know.”

She started to spill her story. She told all the details. The lawyer took a few notes, but didn’t comment.

When she finished, she leaned back. “So, what do you think? Have I got a chance of getting off?”

“Hmm, good question. I’m a good lawyer, but it will depend on the evidence.”

She squirmed.

“Do they have evidence?”

“Maybe.”

He made a note, but didn’t comment.

The door opened, and a male detective walked in. He settled in the chair on the opposite side of the table. He twisted his head as he looked at her, then he shot a glance at the lawyer before standing and walking out.

That didn’t seem like a good sign in her favor.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ericka and the Team had returned to Bagger’s office. Now she handed over the zip drive. Quinn cocked his brow.

“I’ll explain where I got it later, right now just pull it up and find the place where Ann Marie starts getting visitors on the hill.”

Quinn tilted his head and did what she asked without question.

It didn’t take him long to find the part that she’d meant. Different camera angles flashed on the screen. One showed the kids gyrating in the barn. Then the next showed the empty front porch. Then another shot was of the yellow daisy-filled hillside.

“There she is.” Quinn squinted at the screen and tried to enlarge the image. “Who is that coming to talk to her?”

Ericka’s mouth thinned into a narrow line. “That’s Horace Tremell.”

She recognized him from the car that had almost squashed her just an hour before.

“What is he doing?”

Ericka leaned in. He sat beside Ann Marie and placed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She slapped him away. He jumped to his feet and moved toward the woods. They could only see his back after that, but he didn’t seem to be returning.

The screen flipped back to the barn. If they didn’t have a clear view of Heather performing the act, she might walk. She’d hired the shadiest lawyer in town to represent her, at least according to Officer Emmett Bagger.

After the empty porch, the camera returned to Ann Marie. Several males from the baseball team came to sit next to her. It took several run throughs, but one sat next to her that she faced, said something, and he jumped angrily to his feet. It seemed like he was yelling.

“Is that Michal Lewis?”

“Oh, yes, it is.”

“Isn’t he dating Heather now?”

“I think he is.”

“There’s the motive. The baby was his, and Heather didn’t want him getting any ideas about leaving her for Ann Marie.”

“Doesn’t look like he planned to do that. He looks furious.” Ericka noted his fisted hands at his side. Sweat beaded on his brow glistened in the waning light as he stomped back toward the barn.

One camera angle caught him entering the barn and motioning at Heather. He wrapped his arms around her and started dancing while leaning in close to her ear.

“He told her!” Quinn gasped.

Ericka agreed with that sentiment. Why would he tell her something like that? He knew that it would upset her. Unless…

The empty porch.

Then the hill again. Ann Marie was there pulling petals off a flower. Next thing her eyes widened, and she fell over.

“Wait, what just happened?”

“Look…” Quinn pointed to the corner of the screen.

A hand had flung a knife, and it struck Ann Marie in the side.

“Zoom in on the hand.”

Quinn complied.

“You see that?”

“I sure do. What is it?”

Ericka smiled. “It’s a class ring. Look at the initials.”

“H.W.” Quinn leaned back in the chair. “We’ve got her.”

****

Greg entered the computer room as Quinn and Ericka made their discovery. “So, we do have something?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Might want to check all the other girls at the school with that ring and those initials.”

Quinn punched keys on the computer. “I’ll get right on it.”

Ericka gave him a smile. “Ann Marie will get the justice she deserves.”

“Did we get the judge to stop the cremation so we can make sure we have enough proof?”

“Yes. Maggie just called. She was leaving the courthouse and headed to the funeral home.”

“I hope it’s not too late.”

“I have an idea. Will you follow my lead?”

“Always.” Greg knew it sounded corny, but he’d said it anyway and he meant it.

They moved together down the narrow hallway and entered the interrogation room. The lawyer had told her not to talk, Greg was sure of it. But maybe they could offer her a deal. One where she didn’t spend as much time in jail.

Greg sat down and held his hands tightly on the desk. He was giving Ericka the lead and he was supposed to follow. He just hoped he could keep up.

“Hello, Heather.”

“Detective.”

She looked so smug. Greg hoped that Ericka wiped the floor with her.

Ericka opened a folder. It had a picture of Ann Marie clipped to the top. Nice touch. Her hair was teased, and she looked like she was ready to go out. Beneath that picture was one of her on the metal slab. Heather didn’t even flinch.

Ericka folded her hands over the image. “Heather, we have footage of you flinging the knife that killed Ann Marie.”

“That’s impossible! I’m going to send that Joey Malone back to New York and have every mob leader in the nation take him down. He promised not to give that to you.”

The lawyer sitting beside her tried to stop her, but it had been no use.

That had gone much quicker than Greg had thought it would.

“What do you want?” The lawyer’s voice held defeat.

“We want a signed confession that she killed Ann Marie and therefore killed Ann Marie’s child.”

“That little witch!” Heather rose to her feet and slapped the table. “She was just trying to take Michal away. There wasn’t a baby.”

“Oh, no, Heather, there was a baby. No matter what your boyfriend told you. He just wanted you to get rid of her so that his career wouldn’t be over. He used you.”

“Yes, he used me.” She fell back in the chair.

“If you agree to testify against him, then maybe we can get you a reduced sentence.”

“I’ll do it!”

The lawyer rolled his eyes. “I should have asked for payment before you guys came in here.”

“What is your problem? This helps me, right? I mean, I’ll only get a couple of years or something. And I’m only seventeen so they’ll probably try me as a child. I’ll be out in a year.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“You could get the death penalty.”

“What? B-but they said…”

“Reduced sentence. Which could mean life in prison or possible parole in fifty-one years.”

“Fifty-one years…” She drew in a deep, shaky breath. “B-but I didn’t mean to kill her. I was just mad. And Michal said that we wouldn’t get to move to L.A. and I wouldn’t get to be the wife of a Dodger. And that’s my dream! My dream!”

Greg opened the door, and the officer outside came in and took Heather away. The lawyer grabbed his briefcase.

“I don’t know how these kids are getting more and more dumb.” He shook his head. “What do you need from her?”

“Signed statement of guilt with information on Michal’s part in the murder. We’ll ask the prosecutor to take the death penalty off the table.”

“That’s what I figured. I’ll let her know.”

Greg closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Can you believe we’ve only been here a few short weeks, and we’ve already had our office and housing destroyed, solved three cases, and found people we should never have found?”

“Sounds like our lives.”

“What should we do for an encore?”

He laughed, pulled her to her feet, and wrapped her in an embrace. “We could get engaged?”

She cocked her brow. “That’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t trying to be funny. Well… maybe I was.” He stepped back and released her before she slapped him. “Quinn and Fanny just got engaged. Apparently, Maggie and Tristan have been for a while.”

“What? Since when? Why didn’t she tell me?”

“No idea. I found out in the car on the way from my parents’ house.”

“About your parents…”

“I’m sorry. I wanted to take you down and tell my mother we were dating in person. Then we got sent here, and I’ve only talked to her once and she wasn’t making sense that day and I didn’t have time to tell her and…”

The kiss came out of nowhere. Suddenly her lips were moving on his. Her hands were at the nape of his neck weaving up through his hair. He placed his hands on her waist but didn’t move them. He was afraid to get any closer. He might drown in her.

When she pulled back, she said, “You talk too much.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Let’s go book this girl and see if there is, anyway, we can go home. I have a feeling if we don’t, we might have a mutiny on our hands.”

Greg agreed. The two couples now in their midst needed more stability. Traveling the country solving cases wasn’t going to work anymore.

They needed to go home.

****

Marty Benton was making a report when Heather Worley was dragged in wearing cuffs. With all the commotion in town, some idiot had run into the medical examiners office. The New Yorkers office had been destroyed days ago and now everything was being conducted by at the original police station.

After seeing the couple in the dark at the park, he’d made the decision to turn Worley in. He’d seen her climb the hill and throw the knife at Ann Marie. Ann Marie hadn’t deserved that. But his current girlfriend was buddies with Heather, so Marty had played nice.

Until today.

“Are you done?” The officer went to take the paper from him.

Marty grabbed it and ripped it into tiny pieces. “You know, I don’t think I need to make that statement anymore. Thank you for your time.”

“Suit yourself.” The young officer went back to answering the phones.

Marty walked onto the street and started to whistle.

****

Director James Manis opened his email and read about the trouble in Clifton. He’d sent Greg there because his mother wanted to visit with him. It hadn’t been ideal, and he shouldn’t have done it, but she acted like it was important.

Now he discovered that it was because she was trying to hook him up with an old girlfriend. He barely kept his fury at bay. Reading how they had solved a murder helped. At least his officers were continuing to prove their worth.

Reading the part that they helped to blow the Malones’ cover made things worse once more. That explained why the witness protection office had been calling him.

He needed to bring Alpha Team home anyway. He had a case in town that was brewing, and it was something that the entire office would need to be involved in.

The other teams were scheduled to arrive within the week. He’d tell Alpha Team to come home as well. From the rumors he’d heard they would be ecstatic to hear the news.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Run!” Ericka cheered for the Clifton baseball team. The members were a little thin, but those who remained were still excellent players.

All the team members who had visited Ann Marie on that hill had been questioned and released except for Michal. Many of the other members, despite their lack of personal involvement in the murder, had been removed from the team’s roll. Arthur Lewis, Jaxon’s, father had threatened to sue the school, but it hadn’t done a bit of good. He’d been removed from the team as well.

Ericka rose to her feet as one of the kids hit a homerun. She participated in the wave with the crowd. Greg stood and did it with her.

He smiled and laughed and acted goofy with her. She liked it. She liked it a lot.

“You want something from the concession stand? I’m getting a little parched.”

“Sounds good. I’ll take a diet cola and maybe some nachos and cheese?”

“Will do.” Greg left the full stands.

Ericka refocused on the game. Their luggage at the B&B was packed, and they were ready to roll out first thing the next morning. They were happy to go. The locals were happy for them to go. It was a win-win.

Across the field, Ericka spotted a dad helping a little girl tie her shoe. When he finished, he stood and took her hand in his and walked her back to a waiting car. Those were the kinds of things that she’d missed as a kid. Just the simple things. Where someone took care of her for no reason.

A woman close by ran her hands through her hair over and over. She turned from side to side. She cupped her hands and yelled. The little girl that was being held by the man, turned slightly like she heard her name.

Ericka didn’t hesitate. She jumped over the three bleachers and ran toward the man. If she made a mistake and it was his little girl, then no harm. If she didn’t then she was saving a girl from being taken.

When she reached them, she was gasping and had to bend over and try to catch her breath.

“Can I help you, miss?”

She looked around at the mother who was still looking frantically for her child.

“Um, yeah, I think, I think that I might be lost. Can you help me?”

“Of course. Where do you want to go?”

She looked back at the lady again. She held a puppy in her arms, and she was smiling broadly.

Ericka relaxed and straightened. “I think that I just found it. I was looking for the concession stand and it’s over there. I got all turned around in this heat.”

“No problem. That’s why we’re leaving. Roxy said she was getting hot.”

The little girl did look really hot. In fact, she didn’t look well at all.

“I think maybe she needs to go to the hospital. I think she’s going to faint.”

“No, she’ll be fine. I just need to get her to the car.”

Ericka pulled out her phone and dialed 9-1-1. The guy’s eyes widened.

“Now, why did you have to do that? Everything was fine. She’s fine.” The gun that flashed when he moved to the side caused Ericka to pause.

Right then the girl collapsed. Ericka caught her before her head slapped the pavement.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ericka saw Greg. He was running, jumping over benches, weaving around people. He looked almost like he was flying, he was going so fast.

“I-I got to go.”

“But your daughter. She’s sick.”

“You keep her!” the man shouted over his shoulder as he started to run.

Sirens from the ambulance echoed around her. Ericka held tightly to the little girl until an EMT tapped her shoulder.

“Can I have a look?”

“Yes. Please.”

He took her vitals. “We need to get her to the hospital now.”

“Can I ride with her?”

“Do you know her?”

“No. But I think she was kidnapped, and I’m not going to leave her alone until I find her parents.”

“Very well. Let’s go.”

Greg ran past her. “I’ll catch up!”

“Get him!” she yelled.

Inside the ambulance, she caught one more glance of Greg as he entered a copse of trees and disappeared from her sight.

****

“How does she do this? We’re just watching a baseball game! A game! Then she spots a kidnapper.” He mumbled some more, but he was getting out of breath, and it was getting more difficult to talk and keep up his pace.

He entered the trees and slowed. A chip of wood popped off a tree and he moved to hide.

“Just let me go. You’ll be happier if you do!”

Ah, the kidnapper.

How had Ericka spotted the man so quickly? He’d been at the concession stand when the lady came by screaming that someone had disappeared. One glance at Ericka running around the field, and he knew that she’d noticed the situation.

They were supposed to be going back home tomorrow. Now that wasn’t a possibility. She’d have to be interviewed as a witness and placed on the stand. They’d have to go back and forth more than once.

“Are you leaving?”

“Are you coming with me?”

“That wasn’t my plan.”

“Oops, seems like we have different plans.”

“Dude, let it go. I need to leave.”

“Afraid not.”

He could hear the guy’s sigh from his location. He must be fairly close.

“Let’s just go in peacefully. I’m sure you have a reasonable explanation for taking the kid. If you come in without a fight, it’ll help.”

Although he had already shot at an officer and tried to kidnap a child, so Greg doubted it.

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

“Well, I’ve met some less than intelligent people in this town, so I wasn’t sure.”

“Maybe you should ask that chick why she wasn’t watching her, um? Why doesn’t anyone ever ask that question?”

“Oh, that question will be asked. Trust me.” Greg had wondered that himself. It seemed that the lady thought her child was waiting by herself on a blanket at the side of the field while she went to the concession stand. That was not cool.

“I’m not going in. I’ve been in jail before. I didn’t like it.”

“So, what’s your plan? Run for the rest of your life?”

“The thought crossed my mind.”

“You don’t think you’ll get caught?”

He laughed. “With the officers in this town, highly unlikely.”

Greg groaned. The guy was right. And here they were leaving the town with no one to defend them against criminals like this guy. Maybe he should call Manis and say he couldn’t come back. His family was only an hour away from this madness. They would suffer as well. The crime could spill over into the next town.

Why did he and Ericka need to go back? They could settle in the little town of Clifton. Sure, it would be a curveball in their plan, but it could be done.

“What are you plotting over there, lawman?”

“My future.”

****

“Roxy! Roxy, are you okay? Daddy’s here, I’m so sorry. Don’t your worry, that nanny is so fired.”

“Um, excuse me, who are you?”

He noticed the woman hidden in the shadows of the corner. “Oh, forgive my manners. I’m Colin Ryner. I’m running for Mayor.” He held out his hand. The strange woman had a firm grip. One that shot tingles up his arm and along his spine. “And you are?”

“Detective Ericka Stone.”

“Oh, you’re who I have to thank for saving my daughter.”

“Daddy?” The meek voice from the bed sounded on the verge of hysteria.

“I’m here, Pumpkin. You’re all right.” Roxy launched herself into his arms and he held tight. He smoothed her hair. It smelled of baby shampoo. It was the one thing he’d insisted on with the nanny because he knew his wife would have wanted that.

“Do you know who tried to take her?” He mouthed the words above her head in hopes that she wouldn’t hear him or understand.

“It was Uncle Jerry.”

The detective heard. He could tell because her eyes almost bugged out of her head.

“Jerry?”

How was that possible? How had he come back to town without Colin knowing about it?

The heat of the detective’s gaze was enough to express that he had some explaining to do, but he wasn’t in the mood to do that now.

All he wanted right now was to hold his little girl and never let go.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ericka stepped out of the room to allow the daughter some privacy with her father. Plus, she wanted to check the validity of the man’s claim. Not to mention the Jerry that rolled off the little girl’s tongue. She’d known the person who took her. That’s why she’d gone so quietly.

Maggie and Quinn were there outside the door. Maggie vigorously shook her head. “You just couldn’t wait one day. Just one day to find another case.”

“Well, she did stop a kidnapping.”

“True, true, but if she’d let the locals do it…”

“Might have saved some trouble.”

“Is this a new routine you two are working on? One where you talk to each other and ignore me? It’s quite good. Maybe consider taking it on the road.” The road that was farthest from her. She had other things on her mind.

“We were trying!” Maggie seemed the most genuinely upset.

Her actions might have cost them a few more days. In her opinion, it didn’t warrant the grief they were dishing out.

“Look when you guys can listen, I need to know if Colin Ryner is really Roxy’s father.”

“Yup, he is. He’s also the biggest business owner in Clifton and running for mayor.”

“He mentioned that.” She paused. “He also mentioned someone named Jerry. Roxy said Uncle Jerry took her. She didn’t put up much of a fight, so a relative makes sense.”

“Then how did you know?”

“It was a fluke. All a fluke.”

“Nah, she has great instincts.” Greg’s deep voice injected from close by.

“Greg?”

“I got him.”

“Oh, good.” Now Ericka could breathe.

“Not really. He’s not talking.”

“Doesn’t really matter. I saw him take her.” Ericka planted her hands on her hips. This perp wouldn’t walk. She’d see to it, if she had to stay close to testify.

“I think there may be more to the story.”

Maggie groaned.

Quinn cringed.

“What is up with you two?”

“We got called back to New York, remember? And we have fiancées that have already left and are headed back.” Maggie’s tone wasn’t understanding about this new curveball in their plan.

“Fine, go. Greg and I will figure it out then come later.” Ericka locked arms with him and moved closer to his side.

They could do this together, no problem.

****

Greg looked forward to working with Ericka, to spending time with her with no one else around, but he wasn’t sure this was the way. Their suspect was lying in a hospital bed. He’d walked into a bear trap and almost lost his leg. Greg had gotten him help before it was too late.

“Greg, are you sure about this?”

Staying would help the locals finish the case quicker; however, they might lose their relationships. He didn’t want that on his conscience.

“Yes, Ericka and I got this.” He didn’t want to contradict her in front of them.

“We can help until tomorrow. What do you need us to do?”

Greg and Ericka went back and forth with a list of items that would help.

When they finished, Quinn said, “I don’t think we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Maggie sighed. “I don’t think so either. Guess we better call our significant others and give them a heads up.”

“Agreed.”

Greg watched them walk away. “I almost feel bad.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“We should talk to the father.”

“We should.”

Greg led the way. When he opened the door, he stopped. “Colin? Colin Ryner?”

“Greg Kane. Long time no see. What are you doing here?”

“Ericka Stone is a detective on my team.” He would have said more but it didn’t currently seem appropriate.

“Explains why she’s so good.”

Greg smiled then grew serious. “How’s your daughter?”

“She’s getting better.”

“How’s Megan?”

His features grew sad. “She passed away last year from cancer.”

“Oh, Colin, I’m sorry, man.”

Ericka squeezed his hand.

“Yeah, it’s just Roxy and myself and the occasional nanny now. Apparently, I’m going to be hunting another.”

“Look I hate to do this, but—”

“But you need to ask me some questions.”

“Yeah, we do.”

Ericka started. “Roxy mentioned Uncle Jerry took her.”

Greg narrowed his eyes. “Megan’s brother? That’s who I’ve got in custody.”

“Look, Kane, it’s not what you think.”

“I sure hope not. Whatever it is, it’s causing me and mine a lot of trouble, so you better start talking.”

Colin explained a family squabble that got out of hand. Greg wasn’t sure if he was buying it or not.

“So, you’re saying Jerry got out of prison, wanted to visit his niece, you said no, so he tried to kidnap her?”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.”

“You know I’m going to check all this out.”

“I do.”

Greg talked a little longer before leading Ericka out of the room and into the hallway. One good thing about the story being true was it meant they were going home faster.

“What do you think?” Greg asked as they stepped out of the room back into the hallway.

“I think when life gives you lemons you make lemonade.”

“What about when life sends you a curveball you swing the bat?”

“Oh, that’s corny and too close to home right now.”

“You think so?”

“Oh, I know so.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Now, I need some lemonade.”

“I think I saw some in the cafeteria.”

“Then let’s go get some, darling. We’ve got all the time in the world to figure this out.”

He knew the words weren’t true, but they felt good to say.

He never wanted to lose the feeling that they had forever together. The perfect mate only came along once in a lifetime, and he’d finally found his. He planned to never let go.

Excerpt: Unresolved, Ericka Stone Case #012

“I’d like to offer the award of valor to Detective Ericka Stone for her swift actions in rescuing my daughter, Roxy Ryner. Come up on the stage, Detective Stone.”

Lights blinded Ericka’s vision, and clapping filled her hearing as she made her way around a sea of full tables to the stage. Colin Ryner placed the medal around her neck instead of pinning it in place. Normally, Director Manis would have awarded the medal, but Colin had flown to New York and insisted he do the placement.

Ericka didn’t step to the podium but walked back into the crowded room and took a seat. Maggie and Tristan, Quinn and Fanny, all smiled back at her. Greg’s seat was empty. He’d just been called to the front to accept his own award for apprehending Jerry Hardson.

The man was now back in prison for trying to take his niece. Ericka had tried often to put the case behind her, but something didn’t feel right. She just couldn’t figure it out.

Greg appeared beside her at the table. “Still worried?”

“More than ever.”

Everyone was on their feet clapping. Greg stood and forced her to do a half bow with him.

When the applause and speeches ended, Ericka and Greg moved across the dance floor. Halfway through, Tito cut in. Greg let him, which was the real surprise.

“Good to see you.”

“You too. Are you glad to be back?”

Tito dipped her, twirled her, then pulled her close. “So, I can do that, absolutely.” Then he laughed.

She would have punched his arm in different company. “No, seriously. How was the Wild West?”

“Wild.”

“That’s all you got to say?”

“It is. We brought back a case that may need all our skills to complete.”

“I guess it’s good we made it back then.”

“Yup. It’s good. Although I heard Greg put in a request to transfer to Clifton permanently.”

“What?” Her heart skipped a beat.

“You didn’t know?”

No, she hadn’t known. There was only one reason he would do that without telling her.

Or maybe two reasons.

His mother or Nikki Post.

Neither sat well.

Not well at all.