Losing Ladd (23 page)

Glancing about the immediate vicinity,
Malcolm dropped his voice and said, “Listen, there’s something I
want to discuss with you.”

Troy walked closer, horses in tow,
closing the space to a mere fence line. The horses stood idle but
their eyes were keen on Malcolm. Once again, the severity of the
incident hit hard.

“
Yes, sir?”

“
We need to discuss your
trial. It’s set for next week, but we need to look into a
continuance.”

“
A continuance? What
for?”

“
On account of your star
witness is lying in a coma.”

“
Oh no...” Troy absorbed
the significance. It was the instant vulnerability of a child who’d
just learned the worst. “She isn’t gettin’ any better?”

“
Not yet, and the doctors
can’t give us any more detail other than she has swelling in her
brain and it’s serious. They might have to take her to surgery.”
Troy looked away, clearly pained by the news. “I’m sorry, Troy. I
know you two are close.”

“
She’s like a momma to
me,” he murmured, refusing to make eye contact.

She was also the key to his freedom in
his case against Jack Foster. “I’ll keep you posted on her
condition, but I wanted you to be aware of what was going on with
your case.”

“
Thank you, sir.” Troy
hauled his gaze back to Malcolm, his eyes glistening beneath the
shadow of his black hat. “I appreciate everything you and Mr.
Harris are doing on my behalf.”

“
Wouldn’t think of doing
anything less.” Malcolm was only sorry Troy’s parents hadn’t been
more supportive in the beginning, but now that he and Nick had
hired the big guns, the Parkers were fully vested. Not that Malcolm
could blame them. Of modest means, they couldn’t afford to hire the
kind of legal team he and Nick could, but more, they were caught in
the middle of small town family feud. Delaney had given him a
rundown of the players and positions. The Parkers were friends with
the Ladds, but they were also friendly with the Shores. The Shores
were friends and allies with the Fosters, their son, Officer Gavin,
the tool being used as a wedge between Jack and Delaney. While
Delaney and Gavin went way back, he held a grudge against Nick and
Malcolm for not revealing Jeremiah’s gambling troubles. Gavin could
have rounded him up but instead had to receive the order from his
commanding officer. His ego had taken a hit.

Across the board, loyalties were being
tested, morality was being fought, and all for public consumption.
If Jack Foster didn’t drop his charges against Troy, the Fosters
would have to own up to the ugly behavior of their son, Jack. The
Shores would be caught in the middle, but either way Troy could end
up in jail. “He said-she said” didn’t sell well in a courtroom
stacked against you.

Overwhelmed by the slate of
negativity, Malcolm brushed it from his mind. Right about now he
needed a dose of positivity, and there was no better place for that
than at home with his wife, Lacy. He swore her spirit was loaded up
with enough to cleanse the whole town of this rotten business!
“Anyway, I wanted you to know. Once Delaney’s out of the hospital,
we can go forward.”

In Troy’s gaze Malcolm felt the brunt
of what was left unsaid. If Delaney didn’t make it, Troy could be
going to jail for a very long time.

Chapter Twenty

Felicity stood outside the hotel room,
riddled with doubt. The air around her was mired in a mix of heat,
warm rubber, exhaust fumes and dead calm, making the seconds drag
by as she waited. His truck was here. He was here. Would he answer
the door?

Biting her lower lip, she
wondered about this encounter as she stared at the tan-painted
metal door, the peep hole he might very well be staring through
this minute. What if he didn’t let her in? What if he didn’t fall
for the ruse? He could get mean. He could take it out on her.
Felicity’s heart thwacked with an irregular kick. But he wouldn’t
hurt her—she was his daughter, his own flesh and blood. Spouses had
issues that parents and children didn’t. He wouldn’t do anything to
harm
her
. After
all, he’s the one who championed the value of family, of blood kin.
He was the one who insisted she should meet with her grandparents
and rebuild their relationship. Why would he doubt her
now?

He had no idea what she knew. He’d
regard her as an innocent. So long as she acted innocent. Her
spirits drooped. But it looked as though she’d never get the
opportunity to find out. As she turned away, the door swung open
and a look of shock burst into Jack Foster’s eyes. He searched up
and down the sidewalk, his brown eyes registering her presence with
obvious uncertainty. “Felicity. What are you doing
here?”

Swallowing hard, she was overcome by a
waft of his cologne. Rich and expensive, it underscored the slacks
and tailored button-down he wore, the tan color glimmering like
satin cream in the sun. “I came to see you,” she replied softly,
her voice overwhelmed by the engine of a passing truck.

Breaking into a friendly smile, he
welcomed her heartily, “I’m glad you’re here, but I wished you
would have called. We could have met somewhere...more
suitable.”

“
No—this is fine,” she
said.

A hint of suspicion moved between
them, and Felicity wished she hadn’t spoken so quickly.

Eyeing her a bit more guardedly, he
offered, “I guess I should ask you to come in.”

“
Thanks.” Hesitating, she
reprimanded herself to come across more sincerely. This was never
going to work if she didn’t watch her every word!

Walking in, Felicity remained very
aware of his nearness. This was his space. His personal space,
cramped and transitory as it was. Beds were made, but littered with
her father’s belongings. A suitcase sat open on a luggage rack in
the closet. Papers lay strewn over the guest room desk, a black
computer bag sat off to one side of his open laptop. Felicity
gulped. Was he researching his case against Troy?

Nonchalantly as she could, she sniffed
the air for the scent of smoke. His clothes would have reeked from
the blaze. Hers had.

“
Something
wrong?”

“
What?” She tried to dish
out a smile. “No. I just thought I smelled something.”

“
Something in particular?”
he asked.

“
No, of course not.” A
flutter of doubt flitted through her heart. Was he taunting her?
Did he know that she knew?

“
So tell me,” he asked, a
trace of humor in his voice, “what really brings you
by?”

“
Well,” she began, trying
to begin as she rehearsed on the way over. “I’ve been thinking a
lot about the importance of family and what you said about us being
close.”

Dark eyes dancing, he arched a brow
but said nothing.

“
I know you and my mom
have had your problems, but that shouldn’t prevent us from trying
to have a relationship.”

“
That’s what I was trying
to tell you before,” he said with a healthy dose of skepticism in
his gaze.

“
I know.” She gave a few
quick nods of her head, brushed her hair behind an ear. Hugging
arms to her body, she reminded herself to remember this was a man
familiar with the seedy side of people. He was street smart and
savvy. If she didn’t keep her story as close to the truth as
possible, he’d see right through her. “I don’t think I really
understood what you meant until my mom wound up in the
hospital.”

“
Your mom is in the
hospital?”

Struck by the tone of his reaction,
Felicity almost believed his surprise was genuine. “Y-yes,” she
stumbled, trying to read his response. “She got hurt in the fire
last night.”

“
What fire?”

“
The one at the
stables.”

“
What happened? Someone
drop a match in a hay bale?”

Try
lighter
, she mused bitterly, irritated by
the continuation of his act. Of course he knew. The least he could
do was pretend to be upset for show!

Chuckling softly, he said, “Can’t be
too careful about who you hire these days.”

She wanted to slap the
smirk clear off his face. His callous disregard for her mother’s
well-being was unbelievable. Unconscionable! But seriously, had she
expected anything less? If the man was willing to attack his
ex-wife, set the stables on fire, potentially harming the horses,
compassion for others would be last on his list. But Felicity
refused to be put off from her mission. She was here for a reason.
A reason that included pinning
him
with the responsibility he deserved. “Yes, well,
it was horrible. She got hurt when one of the beams fell
down.”

“
Sorry to hear that,” he
said, strolling to the opposite side of the far double
bed.

Looking around the room for clues—his
clothes from yesterday, something, anything—she continued
cautiously, watching for signs of his acceptance of her lead. “Like
I said, it makes you realize the importance of family. I guess it
got me to thinking about you and Troy and...” Unsettled by the
rigid edge that had entered his stance, Felicity persisted in her
ruse. There was no going back now. “Well, I’ve been thinking how
unfortunate the situation is.”

“
Your friend is a punk and
I intend to teach him a lesson.”

Felicity steeled her
emotions against the insult.
He
was the punk, not Troy.

“
And listen, about your
mother,” he said, not breaking stride. “I hate to be the one to
tell you, but he might have something going on with
her.”

Felicity gaped at him.
“What?”

A glimmer lit up his dark eyes as he
smiled. “He was with her that night in the stables. It’s why he
shot me, to prevent me from talking. Did she tell you? Did
he?”

Troy and her mother? That was
ludicrous—he was in love with Casey!

The pounding at the door
stopped Felicity’s heart.
Was that
Jillian
?

Jack slid a wary gaze to the door then
back to Felicity. “Expecting someone?”

“
Me? No, of course not,”
she snapped. Heart-pounding, she walled off her eyes from seeking
the door.

“
Funny. Neither am I,” he
said and strode across the room.

Felicity suddenly felt trapped, like
this had been a mistake. It never occurred to her that Jillian
Devane might walk in while she was here. No telling what she’d do
if she found Delaney Wilkins’ daughter outside the protective
shield of her mother—not to mention Felicity would lose all hope of
finding evidence.

Jack opened the door.

Ohmigod, ohmigod,
ohmigod
. What had she been
thinking?

“
Felicity
,” Travis expelled
breathlessly.

Jack flashed back to her. “If this is
your idea of a game, I'm not amused.”

Travis stepped in between them. “What
are you doing here?” he asked her.

Jack glowered at him and demanded,
“Thought you could put your girlfriend up to conning me out of
putting your brother away?” Brown eyes glinted. “Bad move. He’s
going away for a long time, leaving you on my radar.” He snickered.
“Which means I’d be careful if I were you.”

Reeling from the
unexpected sight of her boyfriend, she cried out, “Travis didn’t
know anything about this! I came here on my own.
Honest
.”

Her father cocked his head. “Nice
try.” Grabbing the door knob, he said, “But if you’ll excuse me, I
have more important things to do.”

Standing with a hand to the door, his
dismissal was clear. Stuck in time, Felicity hung in place. Should
she leave? Try and stay? How did he know where to find her? Why had
he barged in on them?

“
I’m not messing around,”
Jack said, directing his animosity to her.

Swallowing against the rock in her
throat, she slinked by him, avoiding his heated gaze as she passed.
There was no way she could salvage her case now. He wouldn’t
believe another word she said!

Travis followed her out and the door
slammed closed. “What the hell were you thinking, coming to see
your father?”

Anger flared hot in her breast. “I was
here looking for evidence! Until you barged in, that is. What are
you doing here, anyway?”

“
What
evidence?”

“
Setting the fire?” Hello?
Had he been knocked stupid? “Malcolm and Nick think Jillian had
something to do with the fire and that my father is hooked up with
her. Makes sense he had something to do with it, don’t you
think?”

“
No I don’t ‘think’ and
neither are you.” Travis whipped a gaze to the closed door. “You
don’t know what you’re doing coming here like this. Your father
doesn’t mess around.”

“
He’s not going to hurt
me,” she asserted, not fully convinced of what she was saying but
angry that Travis didn’t trust her. All he cared about was telling
her how
wrong
she
was to have tried—which she wasn’t. “If he had something to do with
the fire, his clothes would smell of smoke. There might have been
evidence in his room, evidence I was in the middle of looking for
until you stopped by.”