Darke Heat (16 page)

She’d made it past several doors, and the nurses at the station only smiled at her, so the doctor must not have put her on bed rest. Wait, wasn’t that for pregnant women? Anyway, she continued the slow walk down the hall, reading names on doors. After passing several, she found the one with Prescott on the plate. She knocked.

“Come in. I’m decent,” said the voice from within.

“And the other option is...?” was her sarcastic reply.

“Paige, are you supposed to be out of bed yet? Are you okay?” he fired off in rapid succession.

“Yes, to both your questions. How’re you doing?” she asked, while taking in all the different machines they had monitoring him. It hit her again that she’d almost lost him. It was like walking a knife’s edge to want to go and hold him tightly, and knowing she couldn’t because there was an ocean of secrets between them. But oh, how she wanted to lie in his arms and feel his heart beat, and know he was okay. The world was a better, brighter place because this man wanted to make a difference, and she couldn’t lie to herself anymore…she loved him. She always had. Now she just drank in the sight of him.

“I’m glad you’re okay. I talked with your brothers and they’re willing to stay at your place and keep you safe.”

“I know, and I’m grateful. More importantly, they’re here, home and safe.”

“I, for one, am glad they are. Paige, the men who kidnapped you said some things about Sharon’s death that have me wondering what really happened. Not just after she came back, but before she and I married.”

“Bryce, I left shortly after you married Sharon, so I don’t know any more about her activities after I left than you do.”

“Yes, but you know her activities before I married her. I think you know a lot about Sharon that I’m only now starting to put together. I know we can’t change anything, but we should damn well learn from our mistakes, and find the clues to who killed her.”

He paused, but she wasn’t about to offer any explanations.

“Can you tell me more about why you left your aunt Libby’s?” he asked into the quiet that settled around them.

“Because I was tired of living with the psycho hose beast.” She didn’t tell him how, once he’d married Sharon and was no longer visiting every weekend, Aunt Libby had let her true colors shine, and they were nasty. The drugs, parties, and booze were out of hand, and when the police came, she’d blamed it on Paige. She remembered one police officer in particular, George Spencer. He would agree with everything Libby said. She saw that, if she didn’t leave, she was going to end up in jail for things she hadn’t done. She let her aunt keep the money her brothers sent for her care. She’d gotten out of Dodge, and considered it payment for her freedom.

“I know she wasn’t a saint, but you weren’t even sixteen when you moved out. You hadn’t even finished high school.”

“I would hate to disillusion you with the truth, so I’m not going to answer that.”

“Sharon always said you were jealous of her, and resented her mother.”

“I’m not going there with you. You have a perception of events which differs greatly from mine, so I’ll keep mine and you keep yours.”

“Paige, I want the truth: both to put the past behind me, and to get justice for Sharon’s murder.”

In her mind, Paige heard the line from
A Few Good Men
, in which Colonel Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson, said, “You can’t handle the truth!” It pretty much summed up the current situation. What a mess the lie of omission can be. “It’s not a secret that there was no love lost between Sharon and me, and there was open hostility between Libby and me.”

“Your brothers thought that was a good environment to put you in at thirteen.”

“Bryce, my home life was putting me in the hospital. Libby kept me out of the foster care system. As long as the twins and you came around once in a while, she acted like she was really trying to be a good influence. She did sign for the twins to go into the military, and then took a cut of their pay for my upkeep. Once you stopped coming home every other weekend, she got nasty. My
upkeep
was spent on a lot of booze, drugs, and men.

“I started spending time out in the woods, more and more, to get away from it all. Finally, I got a work permit and started working at the diner off route ten. Libby found that money and it was gone, taken right out of my dresser. She told the police I stole from her and had wild parties and men, lots of men. Everyone believed her. So I left. Got a room at a boarding house and worked in a truck stop. No more Libby. Eventually I got my GED, saved up and went to New Orleans, as far from Libby as I could get. End of the adventures of Paige Conner.”

As he listened to the telling, he realized he’d believed the lies Libby told about Paige. He felt ashamed. A little girl was left with a witch, and every member of her family had left her. His admiration for all she’d accomplished was off the charts. What she’d done with her life and the kind of person she’d become, was due totally to her own strength of character.

“Paige, we were wrong. You should’ve had your family there for you.”

“Bryce, I don’t need pity or concern. I was raised to be independent, and I am. Let’s discuss what you found out about the dog, the kidnapping, or the blowing up of your house,” she said to change the subject

“Ballistics hasn’t gotten back to us yet. Blake was trying to get that and any info on the kidnappers to me, but then the house blew up and I ended up here. I’ll call him to see if he can update me.”

“It’s okay. You need to recover. I’m sure the police are doing all they can.” She could see that he was in pain, and trying to fight it. “I’m going to head back to my room and get some rest. You should do the same.”

“I’ll let you know what I find out.”

She left feeling tired now that she’d bared her guts to him. What a stupid thing to do. But she’d always wanted him to know she didn’t do those things that Libby accused her of. Her aunt had always tried to make Paige look bad to Bryce. He was always disappointed by Libby’s reports, and didn’t try to hide it.

At least she’d cleared her name with him. She’d given her brothers the truth a long time ago, when they came home on a furlough, and found she’d moved out. All the terrible things Libby had accused her of in her letters couldn’t have been her, since she wasn’t living in the same county when the supposed events happened.

Her brothers had been furious. Paige made them keep paying Libby so she wouldn’t report a minor living on her own. They reluctantly agreed, since they couldn’t take care of her with their military careers sending them to unknown places, but they came and visited every chance they got. Then she entered college and felt safe for the first time in her life.

“Hey, bro, check out my room. It’s tan and blue,” Colt said like a kid getting a present.

“Yeah, well mine’s tan and green.”

“Paige went to a lot of trouble to make it nice. That was sweet of her,” Dane said. He walked around, and saw the different items from their childhood. She’d put up newspaper pictures that highlighted different sports they’d been featured in. She’d had them blown up into large black and white photos and framed. Each room featured the man it was intended for. There were bookshelves with several books of interest. It was a thoughtful touch.

“It would be perfect if it wasn’t for all the yellow crime scene tape,” Colt said.

“The busted windows kinda distract from the ambiance,” Dane said, looking out the window at the chicken coop and shed. “Colt, I’m going to look around in the woods. Tracking’s more my thing.”

“I’m going to look at some of those outbuildings. How about we meet in the barn and check out the pit?”

“Sounds good to me.” Both men took off to look over the place and try to piece together what was going on.

Dane followed the path to the lake and then backtracked to the path through the woods that went around to the other side of the lake. He took note of footprints, boat imprints, and blood—from the injured dog he supposed. This lake fed the Locke, so the water was always moving. He went back to the small dock and looked at the three little islands. They were no more than thirty yards across with brush and some hardy trees. He then turned back and headed to the barn. Later he’d make a point to check out the islands.

Colt took in everything around the kennel before entering it. Any useful tracks were long gone. The extra bowls Paige had used to feed and water the dogs were there.

Next, he checked the shed. This time the glass was on the outside. So the perp was inside when he got caught. He checked the lock where scratches around the mechanism proved it was picked.
Someone with skill, small skill, but skill. Nothing else of note on this one. Bryce would have had this scene tagged and bagged. This had to be from the incident where he and Paige were getting shot at
, Colt concluded. All the shell casings were gone and no more to be gleaned, so he headed to the barn. Once inside, he looked around. He’d made a general sweep when Dane entered. They both turned as they heard tires coming up the gravel drive.

Colt walked over to see who was visiting.

“Damn, Dane, it’s one of those local cops. I don’t think we’re ready to receive guests do you?” he said in a sarcastic tone.

“Sure, bring it. I feel like maybe getting some answers.”

The officer got out of the vehicle, took a couple of steps, and paused surprised. Then he smiled in genuine pleasure.

“Well damn, I didn’t realize Paige Conner was related to you two. Once again showing the ineptitude of this operation.”

“Blake, man you’re the new cop in town?” Dane said in disbelief.

“I’m undercover so don’t blow it for me.”

“So what branch are you?” asked Colt.

“I’m FBI, I’ve worked a couple of assignments that overlapped your brother’s. If you don’t mind my saying it, you two are like, creepy identical,” said Blake as he looked from one to the other.

“Nah, I’m the pretty one,” Colt said with a straight face.

“So the FBI wants a piece of this hot mess?” Dane asked.

“Yeah, this one is a mess, and your sister’s place is right smack in the middle of it.”

“Is there anything you can tell us?”

“Officially, no. Unofficially, this one stinks. The good ol’ boy system is alive and well; haven’t seen such entrenchment since that bust in Texas. The Sheriff is clean, but the whole department is questionable. The gangs he’s up against are the Blades out of Detroit and the Dragons out of Chicago. Agent Prescott pegged them right away. Same MO, and of course, the tattoos. I was going to call in reinforcements, but there’s another case that’s taking the man-hours right now, so I’m it. Damn, I’m glad to see you, Dane. What brand are you in?” Blake asked Colt without even hesitating.

“I’m NSA, but I’m not here in an official capacity. It’s personal…they shot at my sister,” he said.

“I’m not here officially either, but if I have to call it in, I will. Bryce is a friend of ours from childhood. So is Jack Markham, and I wouldn’t step on his toes, but if Paige is threatened again, the game’s up. I’m going to pull rank and take jurisdiction. You going to fight me on it, Blake?” Dane asked.

“Dane, I’ve a lot invested in this case, but if you have what it takes to bring ‘em down, go for it. I’m not glory grandstanding. I’m just hoping to take ‘em down hard. These perps are scum; total bottom feeders.”

“Well, I’ve a couple of things to check out, but I’ll call it in. With the dog fighting and the drugs, it needs back up, but I want Bryce in on it. From what I can gather, these guys took out his ex-wife. She was a cousin of ours. We weren’t close, but for Bryce, well, it would be good for him. I’d just as soon stay out of the limelight, but I’m not letting any of it get a pass. I’ll keep you posted as to what they say at head office. Go ahead and let your superiors know. We all work for Homeland so we should be able to get cooperation.” Dane took off to make the phone call. So much for time off. This was more important. Little Paige wanted a home. She was in full nesting mode, and that meant she needed her family to help her, even if she didn’t want their help, he thought with a smile.

Blake, Colt, and Dane all agreed to meet back at the house after dark, without lights, to scope out the action and set up a sting to get one of the gangs, which would hopefully lead to the capture of the other.

While they were killing time, Dane repaired the windows in the kennel and Colt worked on the pit in the barn. The dogs would need to be brought back over eventually. They got most of the mess cleaned up and then went inside for something to eat, and to get ready for their stakeout.

Shortly after dark, they heard a soft knock at the back door. Dane opened it to find Blake dressed like them in dark clothing. They agreed on places to hide and observe. They would have three points of visual reference. Each man was packing a firearm as well as supplies for a long night, if needed. They laid out their plans, and then set off for their perspective spots to wait.

Dark in Ohio didn’t come early, but it did happen quickly. Within minutes, daylight was gone, and since the farm was so far out of town, there was no light pollution. Dane saw a car pull up without lights on. Then another vehicle arrived. He heard the voices of the man in the first vehicle and the woman who came in the second as they got out, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.