Protective Custody Read online

  As Jarity walked away, Ed briefly contemplated shooting the son of a bitch in the back. Nah, not worth the bullet. He’d do the man’s dirty work, but he wouldn’t let him hurt anyone. He could never scrub something like that off his conscience.

  ***

  Megan woke to her stomach’s demanding growl. Stretching her arm across the bed, she touched only the cool sheets. The room was dark but for the light spilling in from the hallway. She threw back the covers and shivered. She pulled on a sundress, then padded down the hall. She followed the tap, tap, tap noise of fingers on a keyboard and found Will in the living room hunched over his laptop.

  Those sparkling green eyes met hers. “Hey.”

  She climbed onto the couch beside him and folded her legs, Indian-style. Breathing in his scent, she recalled the massage Will had given her and all that came after. Smiling at the memory, she leaned her head on his bare shoulder and rested her hand on his denim-covered thigh. “What time is it?”

  “A little after midnight.” He shut the computer and slipped his arm around her. “I’ve been doing some investigating.”

  She straightened. “Investigating?” Curiosity niggled at her.

  He twisted to face her. “I started thinking about the murder, about that vacant store. You said the responding officer checked both doors, and the locks hadn’t been tampered with, right?”

  “Right.” She scrunched her brow. Where was he going with this?

  “So obviously someone had a key. The company, Henderson Leasing, is owned by the family the street was named for. Specifically, Ruth Ann Henderson Jarity.”

  Didn’t she serve on the city council or something?”

  “A while ago. Maybe ten or eleven years back. But she lost her reelection bid because of some shady businesses her husband owned with his brother. Namely a topless bar in Pensacola and another near Gainesville. They sold the places, but it was too late.”

  She gestured toward the computer. “You found all this out online?”

  “Some of it. The Jaritys belong to my parents’ country club. I was away at school when the shit hit the fan, but I remember a Christmas party at the club when all the members were talking about it.”

  She flinched at the mention of the country club as she recalled his mother’s angry rant. Shaking off the painful memory, she tried to pick up the thread of Will’s revelations. “So you know them?”

  “Just by sight. I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to any of them.” The way he eyed her told her there was more.

  “What aren’t you telling me, Will?”

  His lips flattened into a line. “I was searching the recent Jane Does in the state.”

  “And?” Her pulse quickened.

  “And a woman’s body was found that resembles the woman you described. She had on a pair of earrings that sound similar to the one you picked up behind the shop.”

  She couldn’t hold back a gasp. “It could be her, Will.”

  “Cops found this one three weeks ago.”

  “But…then it can’t be her.”

  “No, it can’t. Just one hell of a coincidence. I left a message for Ed to look into it from his end.”

  A chill rolled over her skin. She sensed the brewing storm in the distance, moving closer every minute.

  Chapter Nine

  Will shuffled to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee, then scanned the room for anything to make breakfast, but the cupboards were mostly bare. They’d eaten the few food items they’d brought from Megan’s place the day before. He returned to the bedroom, carrying a cup of coffee for Megan and one for himself.

  “What?” She sat up.

  “Nothing.” His stomach growled. “We need some food. I’m not half-bad in the kitchen, but I can’t make breakfast with no ingredients. Why don’t you throw on some clothes, and we’ll head to the convenience store up the road?”

  She shook her head. “You go. I’ll stay here and clean up.”

  “Not a chance.” He handed her a mug.

  “Will, nobody knows we’re here. I’ll be fine for the few minutes you’re gone.” She sipped her coffee.

  “I’ll just wait for you to get out of the shower.”

  “You’re being ridiculous.” She threw back the sheets. “You want to keep me safe? Then you’d better feed me. Seriously, I’ll be fine.”

  “Go get breakfast. And lock the door when you leave.”

  After pressing a kiss to her lips, he headed out. Moments after he pulled onto the road, his cell rang. He answered, fearing Megan was having second thoughts.

  “When was the last time you checked the answering machine at your apartment, pray tell? Have you even been there? Really, Will. Don’t you know I worry? I know, I know, you’re a grown-up, but a mother never stops worrying about her one and only son…” His mother’s voice made him inwardly groan.

  He held the phone away from his ear until her rant was over. “Sorry. I’ve been busy.”

  “Well, I hope you remember to show up tomorrow morning for your father’s birthday brunch at the club.”

  Shit. He’d never hear the end of it if he missed it, but what choice did he have? “Look, Mom. I’m going to be tied up with…with a work thing, but I swear I’ll make it up to him. I’ll take you both to dinner when this is done.”

  “What?” Her shrill shout instantly sent a stabbing pain to his forehead. “I’ve been planning this for weeks. Weeks. And you promised you’d be there. You can’t convince me Mr. Dawkins isn’t able to put someone else on the case. Your father’s going to be heartbroken if you’re not at his party.”

  He was reasonably sure his father wouldn’t care. The man hated parties, especially when he was the guest of honor. “I’m sorry, but this is something I have to handle myself.”

  “I insist you tell him to take you off the case.”

  Why had he answered his phone? “Look, Mom, the case is…well, it’s personal. I’m staying with someone who’s in danger, and I can’t leave.”

  “Personal? Are you in some sort of trouble? If you are, maybe we can help.”

  He shut his eyes a moment. “I appreciate that, but this is something I have to handle myself.”

  “Who is it?”

  He wasn’t a child, so he refused to lie. “It’s Megan, actually.”

  “Megan?” The distaste in her tone turned his stomach. “I should have known that girl would lead you to trouble. I told you that months ago, didn’t I? Did she get herself into some legal trouble? She’s not worth it. Whatever it is, she’s not worth it.”

  He clenched his jaw. “Don’t talk about her like that. None of this is her fault, and that’s all I’m going to tell you.”

  “So she’s more important than your father, hmm?”

  “I didn’t realize I had to choose between them. Hey, you know what? I don’t. And until you understand that she’s part of my life, I’m not discussing her with you.”

  She sputtered and huffed. His mother was rarely speechless, but he liked it.

  “I have to go, Mom. I’ll come by to wish Dad a happy birthday after I get this situation under control. But don’t worry. I’ll be sure to call him on his birthday. Love you. Bye.” He disconnected, then shoved the phone into his pocket. Cutting his mother off like that wasn’t his style, but he absolutely would not tolerate her disrespecting Megan.

  Megan stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. Burying her face in it, she breathed in the fresh scent. She dried her skin, then wrapped the towel around her body. As she smoothed lotion on her legs, she picked up another scent.

  Smoke?

  Her first instinct was to reach for the doorknob, but tendrils of smoke curled beneath the door.

  The piercing beep of the smoke detector sounded from another room. She touched the surface of the wood door and felt the heat. She dared not open it. Alarm stormed through her and kicked her into action.

  Think.

  There was only one other way out. She glanced at the tiny window in the shower stal
l and wondered if she could fit through it. She climbed into the tub and lifted the bottom panel. Definitely too small.

  Heart pounding wildly, she picked up the toilet-tank lid, surprised at her strength. Praying for luck, she bashed the porcelain slab against the top pane making a decent-sized hole. She used the lid cover to clear the rest of the metal and glass. Smoke filled the tiny room. She held a washcloth over her mouth and nose, then climbed onto the ledge of the tub and crawled through the window. She fell to the ground outside, and broken glass cut into her calf and her arm.

  This had to be the work of that sick bastard. Her anger flared. Picking up a shard of glass, she scanned the surrounding woods. “Where are you, you bastard?”

  Will’s heart stuck in his throat when he pulled in front of the cabin. He wasn’t able to suck in a single breath until he found Megan around the side of the house. In that terrifying instant he knew he’d move mountains to keep her safe. He couldn’t walk away from her.

  “I’m okay,” she called as he sprinted toward her.

  Thank God. He phoned in the emergency, then crouched next to her. Her hair was wet, and she had a couple of cuts on her leg, but she was all right. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I’m so sorry I left you, baby. From now on you won’t be alone for a second until this bastard is behind bars.”

  “How could he have found me, Will?” Her tears dripped onto his arm.

  “I wish I knew.” As trembles racked her body, he tightened his embrace. The killer was ramping up his game. Next time they might not be so lucky. He prayed Ed would have some answers for them. Soon.

  ***

  Bile burned in the back of Ed’s throat when he walked into his house.

  I don’t want to do this.

  Snooping through people’s belongings was what he did for clients who suspected their spouse was cheating. He’d never expected to have to resort to it with his own wife.

  She’s keeping secrets from me.

  And he had to know exactly what they were. Drawing a deep breath, he steeled himself for his task. “Hello? I’m home.”

  Her purse lay on the counter. He reached inside and grabbed her cell phone, then stashed it in his jacket pocket.

  He found the day’s mail on a table near the front door and shuffled through the envelopes. Three credit-card bills and two late notices. He clenched his jaw.

  “I’m in here,” she called from the bedroom.

  He headed in there.

  Veronica stood before the three-way mirror, wearing a blue dress with the tags still attached. “I’m not sure if I like the way this makes my butt look. What do you think?”

  When he read the tag, he nearly had a heart attack. How could she spend three hundred bucks on another dress when she already had a closet full?

  “Honey, you look gorgeous in everything, but that’s not the most flattering style for you. Take it back. Where’d you buy it?”

  “Trendsetter Alley.”

  “Yeah? They’re having a big sale. Heard it on the radio on my way home.” He sat on the bed.

  “You don’t mind if I go?”

  He loosened his tie.

  “What are you doing home so early?”

  “Bad headache.” Which wasn’t a lie. “I’m gonna take a nap.” He kicked off his shoes and turned down the bed.

  “Well, as long as you don’t mind, I’ll head to the mall.” She stripped off the dress and put on a pair of shorts with a short-sleeved sweater, then slipped into a pair of high sandals that made her legs look a mile long.

  He didn’t even care. In more than thirty years of detective work, he’d always been careful not to assume someone was guilty just because evidence pointed that way. But it had never been this personal before. In his heart, he believed she was up to something. Question was—what?

  He shut his eyes and pretended to go to sleep. Veronica left a few minutes later, but he waited until the garage door closed before climbing out of bed. He put his shoes back on, then switched into work mode.

  The first places he looked were the obvious ones—her dresser and vanity drawers, the kitchen canisters, the stack of boxes on the floor of her closet. But nothing out of the ordinary turned up.

  She was way smarter than she appeared, so he tried to get into her head, think like she would. She wouldn’t risk keeping cash—or any record of it—somewhere he might stumble on to it.

  He scratched his head as he looked around their bedroom. She was tall, nearly his height, so chances were she kept things high rather than low.

  He carried her vanity chair into the closet. Endless pairs of shoes and purses lined the high shelf. Most of the items looked familiar, except a couple of handbags at the back. He reached for a green one and examined it. Covered in a layer of dust, the only clean area was around the clasp. He opened it and peered inside. Wads of white tissue paper filled the inside, but he pushed it aside and found a zippered pocket.

  Sweat trickled down his forehead, as he eased open the zipper and found a thick bundle of cash. He carefully removed it and counted out seven thousand bucks. After he’d replaced the money, he set the purse exactly as he’d found it, then moved on to the next one.

  And the next.

  By the time he was finished, he’d discovered more than thirty-eight thousand dollars and one box of condoms, but they hadn’t used protection since his vasectomy years ago. Struggling to hold himself together, he put the chair back, then sat on the edge of the bed.

  Their bed.

  The golf ball–sized lump in his throat refused to go down. He shouldn’t be surprised. How many times had people snickered when he took Veronica out in public? He’d ignored the snide glances and the whispered comments.

  Why would a beautiful young woman like Veronica have anything to do with a guy like him? He was so in love with her that he’d convinced himself she felt the same way.

  What a fucking fool I’ve been.

  She probably had a fat bank account somewhere with more of the money she’d weaseled out of him, maybe even a young lover who laughed at the old fool who’d been gullible enough to believe she loved him.

  He fished her phone out of his pocket and scrolled through the incoming-call log.

  One of his clients had a cheating husband who’d assigned his girlfriends male names on his cell in case she checked. Maybe that was what Veronica had done. Why else would she have condoms hidden away?

  There were no calls from Atlantic City. He picked up their bedside phone and hit the caller ID. Nothing there either.

  The bitch had made it all up. Anger and hurt swirled inside him. Did she plan to leave him? The notion of being without her cut through him like a knife to the gut.

  I can’t live without her.

  But could he pretend everything was fine?

  He paced the floor, clenching his hands at his sides. He wished to God he’d never walked into that topless club. She’d laughed at his corny jokes and told him how smart he was. The first time he’d fucked her he knew he’d never give her up. The sex was like a junkie’s first hit of heroin—there’d been no turning back.

  She’d driven him deep into debt, deceived him and maybe cheated on him. Yet he still craved her, loved her. He needed her like water and air.

  Damn her. Without her, he had no reason to live, nothing to look forward to.

  God, I’m pathetic.

  Even knowing she’d deceived him, knowing she’d played him like a lovesick fool, he’d do anything to keep her.

  Anything.

  ***

  Megan was self-conscious wearing Will’s T-shirt and a pair of drawstring shorts in front of the firemen, but her suitcase had been destroyed, and she’d had no choice but to put on the spare clothes from his truck.

  Will pulled her aside and kept his voice low. “You didn’t let Betsy know where we’d be, did you?”

  Megan crossed her arms. “Of course not, but she knows which units are occupied and if a key to a particular house is missin
g. Wouldn’t take a genius to figure it out.”

  “Do you think she might have some connection to the murderer?”

  “I can’t imagine that she’d do anything to hurt me.”

  Will grasped her shoulders. “I want to test her. That okay?”

  She didn’t care for the tactic, but they needed to learn how the killer kept finding out their whereabouts. “Go ahead.”

  Will strode away and called Betsy. Minutes into the conversation he turned, and she read the answer on his face.

  She gritted her teeth, but at least a tiny piece of the puzzle was solved.

  “I’m sorry, baby.” Will started to slip his phone into his pocket, but she held out her hand and dialed the office.

  She didn’t wait for the regular greeting. “It’s me, Betsy.”

  “Hey. You don’t sound good. What’s going on?”

  Will’s hand on the small of her back gave her the strength to do what she had to. “A man called a minute ago, and you told him where I was. Why?”

  “Oh my God. Was that a freaking test? That’s so…underhanded.”

  “I could have been killed today because you’re not capable of keeping your mouth shut.” Megan’s shoulders knotted. The silence was deafening.

  “Why, Betsy?”

  Betsy was crying. “I don’t know.”

  “You had to have a reason. What is it?” Anger took more of a foothold in her heart.

  “I’m sorry, Megan. Please forgive me. It wasn’t intentional.”

  She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Pack up your things. You’re fired.”

  Betsy gasped. “What? But it was an honest mistake.”

  “No, it wasn’t. I can’t have someone working for me who I don’t trust.”

  The phone went dead. Will took it from her shaking hand.

  “We have to go back to town. I shouldn’t leave her alone to pack her things. God knows what she’ll do.”

  “Sorry. I’m not putting your life in further danger so you can make sure Betsy doesn’t swipe a stapler.”

  “Will, that’s not what I mean. She might vandalize the place. Who knows?”

  He took back his phone and placed a call.