Guarded (19 page)

A
DAM PUT HIS
car in drive and slowly backed out of the swamp. He drove the mile back to the public parking lot. His tires crunched over the gravel as the sun beat down on the hood of the black SUV. Pulling into a spot between two minivans, both black, he put the car in park with the engine running, and waited.

He’d heard from Kenny, the mechanic, about the teens getting their cars stuck in the swamp last night. He nearly choked on his lunch when Kenny’s older son, Marcus, described the spectacle of the four cars buried up to the door handles in the mud. Kenny and his kids were heading back after lunch to dig out car three of the four.

When Adam had offered to come help, the hick actually appeared grateful. So here he sat, waiting for the men to appear in their beat-up red tow truck.

His pulse thumped steadily. While Adam had been terrified the mechanic might have figured out what he had done, it quickly became clear that Kenny had no idea. He honestly thought Adam only wanted to help.

What Adam wanted was for this part to be over already. But until all three of the bodies were discovered, he didn’t dare risk leaving town. Someone might, quite rightly, start looking at him for the crimes.

He would call the sheriff’s office but couldn’t risk doing that without incriminating himself. How could he know where the body was, unless he had put it there? But it had been four months, and the fucking department hadn’t found the body. Fuck, for his plan to succeed, every body needed to be found before he exacted punishment on the last man.

Then there was Tomás. His body needed to be found, too, but that required that nosy little bitch to go to her fucking car. Where was she? Any other time the vet would be hounding him.

A horn blared musically, reminding Adam of that old television show his mother had liked when he was a small child. Except instead of an orange Dodge Charger with a Confederate flag painted on it, a beat-up red tow truck pulled into the lot.

Adam cut the engine, pretending to have just arrived, and exited the vehicle.

“Thanks for the help. Hop on in, son,” Kenny said, using the moniker he gave to all men under forty.

Adam ground his teeth to bite back the angry retort. He wasn’t this small-town hick’s son. And the only reason Adam did not kill him for the insult was because Kenny wasn’t on his list or in his way.

He forced himself to smile as he climbed into the passenger seat of the cab. “Where are your boys?”

“Ah, they’ll be along right soon enough,” Kenny managed between snaps of gum. The man chewed gum like a cow gnawing on fetid grass. “We’ll just head over to the site. Boys thought they saw somethin’ in the dark last night. Somethin’ other than them four kids’ cars. Figured we could have a look before they get here. Sound good?”

Adam smiled a genuine, relieved smile. Finally, something was going right today. “Works for me.”

And it did because if the old coot couldn’t find it, Kenny would make sure to stumble across the body of that asshole of a retired D.A., John Wallace.

*   *   *

D
EV WASTED TOO
much time at the station. Rush’s widow was out of town and couldn’t be reached. His inbox was overflowing with bureaucratic forms that basically repeated one another on the station’s new computer software system. Why the hell had they switched systems? It only made his job harder. Instead of logging in and glancing over records, Dev played hide-and-seek with the needed files.

“Kid, you’re supposed to be on vacation,” Seth teased, tugging on his jacket.

Dev glared at his partner, who, two months ago, would have glared back.

Today, Seth just laughed. “Come on, Jones. Jules closed the shop early. She’s making dinner at our place. Let’s go eat.”

Dinner? Dev glanced at his watch. “Christ, it’s nearly five. I can’t believe I’ve been sitting here for four hours.” He scrubbed a hand down his face.

“I can. Jules has called me twice in the past half hour. Seems Shelley is worried about a
ferret
? I thought you two found a kitten this morning.”

“Crap.” Dev closed down his program and hopped out of his seat. “I forgot Lucy, the attack ferret, is locked in my house. Shelley doesn’t have a key to my place. Damn thing is probably hungry. Or she’s eaten her way through the cage and is now munching on everything of value I own.”

“Attack ferret?” Seth grinned.

“I’ll explain later. I’ve got to get my car and pick up Shelley. Can you drop me off at Doc’s?”

“Jules can take Shelley over to our place, while you get your car and the ferret.”

Dev shook his head. “No.
No
. Shelley has to get her ferret. Lucy doesn’t exactly like me as anything other than a chew toy. Besides, I don’t know if you want that beast in your place.”

Seth laughed. “Look at you. Big, bad cop afraid of a little weasel.”

“Yeah, we’ll see how much you laugh when Lucy goes for your balls.”

*   *   *

“A
RE YOU SURE
you want to take Callie with you?” Shelley asked, holding the kitten in her little makeshift box-bed, while Jules locked the front door to April’s Flowers
.
“Have you ever owned a cat this young? She’s going to take some work.”

The door clicked and Jules set the alarm. She turned, arms outstretched. The sun had set forty minutes earlier, and the early evening sky blazed with colors from pale pink to deep indigo. The streetlamp on the corner buzzed to life, shining on Jules’s smiling, eager face.

“Shelley, you told me yourself you have a ferret. Seth and I have been talking about getting a dog. I think Callie will fit perfectly in our life,” Jules said, hugging the box close to her chest.

“A dog and a three-week-old kitten aren’t the same.” Shelley wasn’t sure why she was arguing. Jules was right. Lucy would never stand for a kitten invading her home. While most ferrets were good with other animals, Lucy was different. She tolerated the guests at the clinic because she knew that at home she reigned supreme.

“Don’t worry. If Seth doesn’t want her—and I know he will—I have other people who will. My parents, April and Big Jim, are definitely cat people.”

“Big Jim?” Shelley asked.

Two sets of headlights flashed across their faces, as two cars pulled into the parking lot. Jules waved with one hand, while holding tight to Callie’s box with the other. She glanced back at Shelley. “Remember all the Jims who fostered us? Well, Big Jim—whose real name is Ernie—was my last foster dad. Great guy. You’ll love him and April when you meet them. They’re out of town this week, attending some writers’ convention in Baltimore. Big Jim announced about a month ago that he’s secretly been a romance novelist for years. April’s read his stuff and thinks he should make a go of it. Anyway, they’ll be back next week. And you’ll see them at Christmas.”

A twinge of something cold and painful settled in Shelley’s chest. Jules sounded like she expected Shelley to stick around. “Jules—”

“Ready to go, Precious?” Seth’s voice cut across hers.

Shelley stepped back. The couple shared a kiss that was at once passionate and pure. As if they were doing more than greeting one another. They were reaffirming their commitment to each other.

Not wanting to be a voyeur, Shelley swung her gaze to the parking lot. Dev was crossing toward her. The sight of him made her stupid heart skip. The expression of heat in his eyes made her idiotic pulse race. Thank God she maintained enough self-control not to do anything foolish.

Then it happened. He was bathed in a warm red glow. Sexy and alluring. It made her mouth go dry and her core wet. Until it hit her that she was once again seeing things that couldn’t be. She blinked her eyes and the color disappeared.

“Hey, Shells,” he said. His incredibly sexy voice rumbled low and deep.

She strove for casual. “Hey, yourself, Monk.”

The heat vanished. He laughed for some reason. “Ready to get Lucy? Jules and Seth invited us to dinner at their place.”

“Okay, but I need to check my messages. My cell phone died, and I left my charger at your house.”

In truth, she needed a little time away from Jules. Not because the reunion had been difficult. It hadn’t. Whatever Shelley had been expecting, an insurmountable chasm maybe, hadn’t happened. It had been wonderful. The few hours she’d spent with Jules had resurrected memories and feelings she’d buried long ago. Not put away out of pain but out of necessity for survival. Everyone she’d ever loved had left her. Everyone. And now she was being given an opportunity to rekindle her relationship with her sister, but how long could that really last?

It had been shockingly easy for Shelley and Jules to fall right back into their old roles, like no time had passed. Yes, they were both adults now, but that bond they’d shared as children was still there. And Shelley didn’t know what to do. Besides run, before it all went to hell again. Run and rebuild the walls around her before Jules could leave her first.

Dev moved closer, draped an arm around her waist and whispered, “Did everything go okay? You seem upset.”

At the moment, her body burned where he was casually touching her. Other than that, she was definitely not okay. Yet she couldn’t seem to convince her body to break the contact that felt so fracking good.

“Meet you back at my place?” Seth called out, startling her.

Shelley did move then. Out of Dev’s arms and several more feet away.

Jules and Seth were halfway to his car, the kitten box now in Seth’s arms. A loving smile on his face as he glanced at his fiancée.

“See you in thirty.” Dev waved at them, then turned and extended his elbow to Shelley. “Come on, let’s get Lucy. I can drive you back to Elkridge after dinner.”

A
S SOON AS
she arrived at Dev’s place, Shelley let Lucy out of her cage and set her on the bed. The ferret yawned and stretched before slinking across the covers. Shelley watched her from the corner of her eye, while she pulled out her cell charger and plugged it into the wall.

The phone beeped, indicating it was taking a charge. She turned it on and waited impatiently for it to come up. No messages.

She tried to stem her frustration, but frack, why hadn’t Tomás called? With effort, she kept the annoyance out of her voice. “Hey Tomás, it’s Dr. Morgan again. Please call me when you get this message.”

Shelley paused, phone in hand. Where was Kenny? He was supposed to have called when he picked up her car. She dialed him. He answered on the first ring. “Hi, Kenny, it’s Dr. Morgan.”

“’Evening, Doc. Sorry, but I can’t talk right now.” Kenny, normally slow talking and friendly, sounded cold and nervous. His speech fast and clipped. “I ain’t got to your car yet. I’ll call you tomorra when I getta look at it.”

Something in his tone made her empty stomach knot. Kenny was never ruffled. He was definitely upset now.

“Kenny, are you all right? Are your boys okay?”

“Yeah, sorry, Doc.” Kenny lowered his voice and said, “Marcus and Terry are fine. We, uh, found a body out here in the swamp, and the police want to talk to me. Seems old John Wallace didn’t run off. Somebody killed him.”

“John Wallace?” The name rang a bell, but she couldn’t remember where she’d heard it.

“The retired D.A. that went missing last summer,” he said, then paused. A muffled sound of someone putting a hand over the receiver crackled in Shelley’s ear. A thunking sound and then Kenny spoke again, “I gotta go. I’ll call you in the morning when I get a chance to tow your car. I’m sorry I didn’t get to it today.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Shelley’s mind reeled. Someone in her little town had been murdered? “Take care of yourself. Have your sons call me if you need anything.”

“I do appreciate it,” he said, then hung up.

Dev knocked on her bedroom door. “Shelley, are you ready to head over to Jules’s and Seth’s?”

Lucy’s head popped up at the sound of Dev’s voice. She wriggled down on all fours as if ready to spring into the air. Shelley grabbed her about the middle and held her close before opening the door.

“Yeah, I guess. I just hate leaving Lucy locked up again. She’s not used to being in such a small cage for so long.”

Dev eyed Lucy with distrust. He brushed a hand through his sandy-blond hair, sighing. “If you want to bring her along, it’s fine. I’d already mentioned the possibility to Seth. But you might want to bring her cage just in case she decides to attack anyone else.”

Shelley laughed. “Lucy’s a very loving animal. She doesn’t usually attack.” Lucy pushed all four paws against Shelley’s chest, as if preparing to launch herself at Dev again. “On second thought, maybe she should stay here. They’ve got the kitten over there now.”

Bringing Lucy up to eye level, Shelley said, “I’ll give you some extra treats and let you run around when I get back.”
I also don’t want you attacking Dev anymore.
She sent the thought winging into the ferret’s mind.

Images of Lucy’s hammock, munching on treats, and snuggling with Shelley came flying back in response. She’d started to smile until another image hit her—of Lucy latching onto Dev’s jeans in Shelley’s apartment.

That’s not funny.
She mentally scolded Lucy, who sent back an image of her doing the weasel war dance . . . Lucy’s way of laughing.

“Yep, she’ll be fine here,” Shelley said, glancing at Dev as he opened the door. A soft blue-white light surrounded him. At first she thought it was coming from the lamp in the hallway, until the colors shifted around him, appearing to cling to him as he moved into the room.

Lucy squeaked and her little body tensed, threateningly. Shelley quickly tucked her back in the cage and latched the door.

“Everything okay, Shells?” Dev asked after she straightened. He stroked a finger down her cheek. “You’re flushed.”

Little did he know his touch was making her blood race. It took every ounce of restraint she possessed, and the knowledge that Lucy was watching them, for Shelley not to give into her seemingly never-ending urge to kiss him again. And again. And again.

His full lips quirked up into a sexy half smile that mesmerized her. His gentle caress of her cheek slid down to her neck. He cupped her chin in his hand, tilting her head back until she stared into his sensual gray eyes. The light around him, which had been a pure blue-white light pulsed to a clear, vibrant red that seemed magnetic. Drawing her closer to him.

Deciding restraint was the losing part of valor, Shelley brushed her lips against his.

The light touch, barely a kiss, exploded through her. Every one of her senses was on fire. His taste, salty and clean, made her hungry for more. Driving her fingers into his silky hair, she tugged him down and kissed him again.

Dev groaned, then his arms went around her, lifting her off the ground. He tugged her tight against him, surrounding her completely. Yesterday’s kiss had been hot. Tonight’s was scorching.

He kissed her like he’d done it a thousand times before, but would never get bored. He kissed her as if it were their first time touching, pure and raw. And still he kissed her until she was drowning in the sensation of pleasure. And she prayed he’d never stop.

But he did. Slowly. Carefully. First setting her on the floor again, then unwrapping his arms and cupping her face between his huge, warm hands. Finally, he pulled back from her lips, taking care to kiss each of her cheeks, her forehead, the tip of her nose.

Shelley, awash in sensation, couldn’t open her eyes. The pleasure was too much.

Dev chuckled. “Wow.”

She peeked an eye open then both flew wide at the sight that greeted her. Dev was bathed in a deep red light that encompassed his body. It seemed to emanate from the center of his chest and pulse like a heartbeat.

Shelley stepped back from him, tripped over her duffle bag, and nearly fell on Lucy’s cage. Lucy chattered at her angrily.

Dev extended a hand to her. A distinctly non-glowy hand. Whatever color she thought she saw was gone.

I’m losing my fracking mind.

“Sorry,” Dev said, when she didn’t move fast enough. “I’d always wanted to sweep you off your feet, but that’s not quite how I pictured it.”

“Oh, that was bad.” She laughed and accepted his proffered hand. Once standing on her own, she said, “If not for being named Shelley Grace, I’d have no grace at all.”

“I don’t think that’s true.” Dev’s watch beeped. He pressed a button on it and said, “We’d better hurry. Jules is making her mother-in-law’s lasagna, meatless-style in your honor. If we’re late, Seth might just eat the whole thing.”

He grabbed her by the hand as if he’d done it a hundred times before, and escorted her down the stairs, out the door, and to his car. He opened the door for her like she’d seen men do in old black-and-white movies.

Sliding into the car, Shelley’s body hummed with pleasure. Pleasure from his touch. Pleasure from his attention. Pleasure from the sense of belonging she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

She decided not to examine that last too closely. Everything ended.

*   *   *

T
EN MINUTES LATER,
Dev parallel parked his car outside of Seth and Jules’s brownstone apartment building. Shelley hadn’t said a word since he climbed into the car. The ride over had been quiet but companionable.

He cut the engine and Shelley reached for her door handle. He stretched across her body, covering her hand with his. “Let me.”

She glanced at him, one eyebrow arched. A slow, seductive smile curved her lips. “I appreciate the offer. Lord knows, I don’t want to risk chipping this fine manicure on your Lexus.”

She waved her short, unpolished nails in the air. Damn, she was beautiful. Without makeup or polish, she was the sexiest woman on the planet. And her sense of humor jacked up her beauty to a full-on eleven.

“Can’t have that, now can we?” Dev laughed and hurried out of the car.

He’d just opened her door, when he heard the noise behind him. Somewhere down the sidewalk, just beyond the lamp post a dog growled. The guttural sound was menacing.

Shelley had already slammed the door closed before Dev had a chance to warn her. The dog growled again, lower. Louder.

“Where is it?” she asked, becoming a human statue beside him.

As if in answer, a large German shepherd stepped out of the shadows. The fur on its body stood up in a line down the center of its back. Its tan and black coat appeared more sinister beneath the twilight sky.

“Can you talk to it?” Dev whispered from the corner of his mouth. He inched slowly to his left, hoping Shelley would do the same.

“I’m trying, but I don’t think it’s working. All I’m getting are random images of him leaping into the air and devouring a steak. I can’t be sure, but I think
I’m
the steak in that scenario,” Shelley replied back. “Where are we going?”

“Into the building. If this dog is going to attack, let’s make him work for his meal.”

Shelley exhaled a breath that puffed white in the chilly night air. The temperature was so cold, the hair on the back of Dev’s neck stood up.

The dog whimpered then pawed the ground. Oddly, it backed into the shadows as if it had changed its mind.

Dev took Shelley by the elbow and urged her sideways up the short flight of steps to the building’s front door, keeping his gaze on the shadow where the dog had gone. Dev twisted the knob and pulled open the door when the dog launched itself at the steps.

Sharp, white teeth dripping with spittle aimed for his face. Dev threw up an arm to shield himself, only to tumble backward through the open doorway. Just like that, the door slammed closed and the dog barked ferociously, throwing itself against the glass.

“Did it bite you?” Shelley, who he’d fallen on top of, squirmed out from under him. She scooted around, then bent over him, her hands sliding up his arms and chest, searching for wounds. “Are you bleeding?”

“No. How did you
pull
me inside?” Dev glanced to the door where the dog was still barking and scratching on the glass pane. Then he recognized it. “Holy shit! That’s Theresa’s dog.”

“The door just sort of popped open, and I grabbed you.” Shelley sat back on her heels, trembling. “Who’s Theresa?”

“Seth’s daughter.” Dev sat up, dug his cell phone out of his pocket, and dialed. The moment Seth answered, Dev cut to the chase. “Seth, T’s dog is down here. I think it’s gone crazy or something. It tried to attack Shells and me.”

“Crap! I’ll send her down.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Dev argued, but was talking to static.

Above them, a door opened and slammed closed. The sound of feet pounding down the steps preceded three people—Seth, Jules, and Theresa appeared on the landing. Theresa, Seth’s curly haired, brunette daughter, let a leash dangle from one hand as she stared open-mouthed out the window at her dog attempting to claw its way inside.

“Wait,” Shelley said, rising to her feet. “I think it’s me. Give him two minutes after I leave, and I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“What’s going on?” Theresa asked, confusion all over her face. “I’m so sorry. He got out. He’s never attacked anyone before. Are y’all hurt?”

“No, T. Everyone’s okay.”

Shelley turned to the girl, apology written all over her face. “Look, Theresa, I didn’t do anything to your dog. I think I scare him for some reason. I’m positive once I’m out of sight, he’ll be back to normal. Is there a back door out of this place?”

“You’re not going outside until the dog is on a leash,” Dev said, afraid Shelley might just sneak out through a window if she couldn’t find a door.

“Dev—” Shelley began to protest but Jules cut her off.

“Dev’s right, Shelley. Come with me. We’ll let Theresa and the guys sort this out.”

Shelley nibbled on her lip as if uncertain, but allowed her sister to lead her up the stairs.

“What the hell happened?” Seth asked.

“I’m not sure. Shells got out of my car and the dog was there. It just sort of, uh, lost it.” Dev tried to explain without getting into too many details. He wasn’t sure how much Theresa knew about her father’s fiancée or their inherited family crifts
.

Outside, the dog stopped barking and sat down on the stoop.

Theresa glanced at Dev, then at her father, then up the stairs, then back at the animal. “Do you think it’s safe?”

“She said wait two minutes. Let’s do that.” Dev scrubbed a hand through his hair. It was going to be an interesting dinner.

*   *   *

“D
OES
THAT
HAPPEN
to you often?” Jules asked as she led Shelley into an apartment on the second floor. It was sparsely furnished but clean and neat. On the wall over the fireplace hung a picture of a blond Jules and two other people.

“It’s not usually that bad,” Shelley admitted, stepping nearer to examine the painting more closely. Upon inspection, she realized it wasn’t a painting at all, but a photograph on canvas.