Meant to Be: Southern Heat Series (12 page)

“Even your mother?”

“Yes. But if you tell her, I’ll deny it.”

Chelsea laughed. “Come in. Hello, Doctor Preston.”

“Please, call me Sydney.”

Mitch handed the bag to Chelsea, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“I guess you’ve heard about Jenny Taggard.” Chelsea took the bag to the kitchen.

“Yes. Fortunately, Kevin says she’ll pull through.” He glanced at Sydney, giving a quick shake of his head, hoping she understood that he didn’t want her to share any details of what was going on.

“As if there was any doubt. That girl is stronger than an ox.”

Sydney walked over to look at the pictures sitting on Chelsea’s piano. She studied them, smiling at the one with Mitch and Chelsea’s brother, Brian, covered in mud, grinning like loons.

“That was after a football game in high school.”

“Did you win?”

He gave her an affronted look. “Of course.”

“No other teams could beat them with Mitch at quarterback and Brian at receiver.” Chelsea shouted from the kitchen before coming back into the room. “Can I get you coffee or something?”

“No. I need to get Sydney to work.”

“Will you be seeing Jenny? Is she taking visitors?”

“I planned to see her, but I don’t know the visiting routine.”

“If you call before you go, the hospital should be able to let you know if she’s accepting visitors,” Sydney said, as Mitch pressed a hand to her back to guide her toward the door.

He didn’t miss the speculative look Chelsea gave him and then Sydney. Once Chelsea told Lexie about his and Sydney’s visit, he’d have some explaining to do. Not that his denials of a relationship would do any good. Ever since Lexie found her own happily-ever-after, she was determined he’d have one too.

“I’ll be by in a couple days to deal with the lawn.”

And again, she sighed. “You really do spoil me, Mitch. You go above and beyond.”

He smiled, leaned over, and kissed her head. “I’d do it for Lexie. I’d do it for you.” She was his sister now, since her brother wasn’t there to help her anymore. She smiled, and he winked in return.

“
T
hat was
her brother in the football picture?” They’d been in the truck for several minutes before Sydney asked the question.

“Yes.”

After a few moments, she asked, “He’s the one with you in the picture in the Middle East on your fireplace mantle.”

Mitch gritted his teeth. Up until a couple of days ago, there were two topics that were off limits with him. One was Sydney. The other was Brian. “Yes.”

He waited for her to ask more questions, but she remained silent. He glanced at her. She was looking out the side window. He frowned, hoping that she understood without him saying that he didn’t want to talk about Brian.

They arrived at the hospital and pulled in next to her car.

“I want to take a look at it.” Mitch put the truck in park. “It doesn’t appear Jenny made it to the car, which is why it wasn’t taken in as evidence, but still…” He dropped off as tears welled in Sydney’s eyes again. “It’s not your fault, Syd.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.

She gave a strangled laugh. “I hope you get more for Christmas. I may go through them all.”

“I’ve got plenty.” Mitch helped Sydney from the truck. “Don’t touch the car yet.” She stood to the side as Mitch rounded the sleek black Audi. He knew from the investigation the night before that Jenny was found several feet away from the car. In the backseat, a stack of magazines sat untouched. Proof that Jenny hadn’t made it to the car. “Are these the materials she was coming to get?”

“Yes.”

Mitch moved away from the car toward the area several feet away where Jenny was found. Rain had washed away the blood and, unfortunately, any other evidence that could have been there. But Mitch looked anyway. “Unless the first responders found something last night, he didn’t drop anything, or if he did, it got washed away.”

Sydney remained quiet so he looked up.

“You okay?”

“No. But there’s no fixing it.”

He stepped to her and rubbed his hands down her arms. He meant it to be a comforting gesture from a cop to a victim. But the moment he touched her, he wanted to pull her into his arms and make all the ugliness go away.

She didn’t help by leaning into him, resting her head on his chest. “I’m sorry I’m not stronger.”

“What?” He gently pushed her back so he could see her face. “You’re strong as hell.”

She shook her head. “If I was stronger, I wouldn’t be going through your handkerchiefs like there’s no tomorrow… and… I wouldn’t be so afraid.”

“Syd.” He used the crook of his finger to tilt her head so she could look him in the eyes. “Being sad or afraid isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign you’re human and smart.”

“Still. I should be able to hold it together.”

“Why?”

She turned her head away. They stood silent for a moment.

Then she took a deep breath and looked at him. “I’ve got rounds to make.”

Despair haunted her hazel eyes. Like her whole world was ending. He wanted to make it easier. A minute hadn’t gone by since he’d first seen her in Charlotte Tavern that he didn’t want to kiss her. But the urge to do so now was beyond any he’d felt so far. He wanted to kiss away her fear and guilt. He wanted to see her smile and laugh.

It wasn’t the time or place, but Mitch wasn’t one to conform to convention. He slipped a hand along her neck, using his thumb to tilt her head. His other hand banded around her back and pulled her against him. He had a moment to register the surprise in her eyes. But when his lips touched hers, she didn’t pull away. The softness of her lips, the taste of her mouth, and the small mewing sound that escaped her throat wrapped around him, creating an escape for him as well as her. He forced himself to keep the kiss gentle, soothing, even though with each caress of his lips on hers, he wanted more. Her fingers clung at his shirt, holding him tight. With effort, he lifted his head.

Her puzzled eyes stayed on his when he pulled away.

“You have rounds to make.”

She stared at him another moment, but then, with a shake of her head, she started toward the hospital. Mitch fell into step with her.

“I don’t need an escort into the hospital.”

He flinched at the terseness of her voice. Especially since he was pretty sure she’d found as much comfort in his kiss as he did. “No. But I want to visit Jenny and Kevin.”

She let out a huff and brought her hand to her brow, as if rubbing away a headache. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

He studied her as they walked. “It’s okay. I’m going to let hospital security know to be alert for anyone suspicious and to escort you between buildings.”

She looked at him.

“Someone tried to kill you… nearly killed Jenny, during the day in this parking lot. You shouldn’t be wandering around between buildings without someone with you.”

“Yes. You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Be safe.”

They walked the rest of the way into the hospital and to Jenny’s room without talking.

“Hey.” Jenny’s weak but friendly voice greeted him as he poked his head in the door.

“Mitch. Any word?” Kevin sat by Jenny’s bed. The messy hair and stubble on his face suggested he’d been there all night.

“Sydney is with me.”

“Yes, please come in.” Despite everything, Jenny was still able to muster a smile. It was like a piece of the sun lived in her. It was something Mitch thought he’d had once, but it burned out long ago.

Sydney rushed to Jenny, and the two women clasped hands and chattered.

Mitch nodded for Kevin to step to the corner of the room to discuss the case. He knew Jenny would want to know, but he’d let Kevin share with her what little they had.

“What have you learned?”

Mitch put his hands on his waist and looked down for a moment and then up into Kevin’s dark eyes. “Not much.” He studied Kevin to see how well he’d take hearing that Sydney was the intended victim. Kevin wasn’t a hothead, but when it came to matters of the heart and nearly losing the love of your life, Mitch knew emotions could get the best of people. He didn’t want Kevin bowling Sydney over with accusations. She was doing enough of that herself.

Deciding he looked okay now that Jenny was going to be fine, Mitch shared what he knew. “It looks like the attacker mistook Jen for Sydney.”

Kevin glanced over at Sydney with narrowed eyes. “They don’t look alike.”

“She was wearing Sydney’s raincoat and heading to her car.”

Kevin looked back at Mitch, anger and sorrow mixing in his eyes. Just in case, Mitch shifted himself between Kevin and Sydney.

“Who’d want to hurt her?”

Mitch shook his head. “She doesn’t know.”

“Then why do you think she was the target?”

“She was attacked in New York several months ago. It was similar. She was in the parking lot. A stab to the back.”

“Jesus.” Kevin ran his fingers through his already-unkempt hair.

“I haven’t talked to the detective on the New York case yet but, according to Sydney, they thought it was a random attack.”

“Random attackers don’t normally follow their victims around the country.”

“No. I’ve got a list of possible suspects. Sydney doesn’t think any of them would hurt her, but it has to be someone who followed her from New York to here.”

“That would be a small list.”

Mitch nodded, and hesitated for a beat before asking, “Did you talk to Jen?”

“She says she didn’t see or hear anything.”

“Nothing?” Mitch tried to keep the disappointment out of his tone.

“She said it was raining hard. She felt the stab…” Kevin paused. Mitch waited, knowing Kevin was picturing his wife’s attack. “She felt it. Went down. She couldn’t even say what direction the person left in.”

“No sense of height? Gender?”

Kevin shook his head.

Mitch put a reassuring hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “It’s okay. We’ll find him. I’m heading in to call the New York detective, see what I can get, and share what I know. In the meantime, I’ve set up protection for Sydney and will be talking to hospital security about being extra diligent.”

Kevin nodded.

“You okay?”

Kevin looked over at Jenny, as if he wanted to make sure she was still there. A twinge of jealousy pinched at Mitch. Had he and Sydney once looked at each other like that?

“We’re good.”

“Take care of Jenny. I’ll call you later.” Mitch patted Kevin on the arm and then went to Jenny’s bedside. “How you doing?”

“I’m feeling blessed at the moment.” Jenny was one of those glass-half-full people. In fact, the glass could be empty and she’d still be glad to have a glass.

Mitch nodded toward Kevin. “He treating you okay? Because, you know, I can take you away from all this.”

“I love having you as my backup, but so far, Kevin’s a keeper.”

Mitch smiled, leaned over, and kissed her on the cheek. “Get better.” When he straightened, he directed his gaze toward Sydney. “Call me when you’re done. I’ll pick you up.”

“I have my car.”

“You can follow me home then.”

Jenny’s eyes widened in surprise.

Mitch nodded toward his partner. “Kevin will explain.”

M
itch walked
into the Charlotte Tavern Police Station and headed directly to his desk.

“McKenna! My office.”

Had Beth narced on him after all? “Sarg.” Mitch entered the office.

“What’s the word on Taggard?” Sergeant Wallace nodded for Mitch to sit.

“Jenny is going to be fine. I saw them both this morning.” He sat on the edge of the seat to avoid a rogue spring in the chair.

“And the case?”

“It appears to be mistaken identity.”

Wallace’s perceptive cop eyes narrowed. “Who’s the intended?”

“Doctor Sydney Preston. According to her statement, she lent her raincoat to Mrs. Taggard and sent her to her car to pick up some reading materials.”

“Why would anyone attack the doctor?”

“She doesn’t know, except she was attacked in a similar fashion several months ago in New York.”

Sergeant Wallace sat back. “Does she have ideas?”

Mitch shook his head. “No. I’ve put together a list and will call New York. But she says she hasn’t had any threats before or since the attack in New York.”

“It has to be personal.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Keep me posted.”

“Yes, sir.” Mitch stood. Once dismissed, he headed back to his desk.

Several officers asked him about Jenny and Kevin on his way, but he was focused on the next task at hand. He stopped by Detective Kripke’s desk.

“Do you have the evidence from the scene of Jenny Taggard’s attack last night?”

“I’ve put a report on your desk. No forensics and nothing from the canvass of potential witnesses.”

Just what he was afraid of. “Do you think you could pull traffic cams on McAlister and Casper streets, checking for the car owned by Jagger Talbot? And can you contact the car rental place at the county airport to get the information on a rental from Doctor Patrick Andres? Check if either of the cars are on cam from noon to 4 p.m. yesterday.”

“The rental place might not give the info without a warrant.”

“Let me know if you have a problem. I’m going to talk with Andres and will get it then if necessary. Let me know if there are any other vehicles that seem suspicious.” Mitch left Kripke, returning to his desk.

He sat and pulled out his phone to get the number Sydney had given him for Detective Fletcher.

“Fletch, here.”

“Detective Fletcher, this is Detective Mitch McKenna of the Charlotte Tavern Police in Virginia. I’m calling regarding Doctor Sydney Preston.”

There was a brief pause, and Mitch imagined the detective trying to remember Sydney. To Mitch, Sydney was unforgettable, but he supposed, in New York, there were thousands of beautiful victims of crime.

“Attack at Memorial Hospital.”

“That’s right. Doctor Preston is currently on a sabbatical down here and we believe was the intended target of another attack.”

“Intended?”

“A nurse was stabbed yesterday, but we believe the attacker thought she was Syd… Doctor Preston.”

“That changes things.”

“Yes. I was hoping to talk to you about who you looked at. I’m happy to share what we’ve got as well.”

“Can you hold on? I’m just walking in and have the file at my desk.”

“Sure. Thanks.” Mitch poked the files on his desk with his pencil. He had a few cases, mostly involving theft. He imagined it was nothing like what was on Detective Fletcher’s desk.

“Okay. Doctor Preston. We looked at several men but don’t have anything hard. Witnesses, including Doctor Preston, didn’t have details. There was no helpful evidence left at the scene. How about down there?”

“Same. It was raining. The victim didn’t see her attacker. Syd… Doctor Preston reported she hadn’t seen hers either.”

“That’s right. We looked at her male acquaintances, but there’s nothing solid on any of them.”

“What about the doctor who followed her from Jordan? A Doctor Singer.”

“Yeah, he was high on my list. He has an alibi. It’s soft, but hard enough to keep us from going further.”

“And Doctor Andres?”

There was a pause, and Mitch imagined Fletcher was reviewing his notes.

“Longtime friend. She stayed with him after the attack. Same thing, soft alibi. Says he was running in the park. She insists it wouldn’t be him.”

“Did you ever have Jagger Talbot on your list?”

“As in G.W. Talbot’s grandson?”

“Yes.”

“No. Why would he be on the list?” Fletcher’s voice held both surprise and intrigue.

“He’s currently in Charlotte Tavern. And he and Sydney are acquaintances.”

“I don’t know anything about Charlotte Tavern, but that sounds like more than a coincidence.”

“That was my thinking. I’ll be talking to him.”

“Don’t let the Talbot family lawyers know or you won’t get within a mile of him.”

Mitch knew Jagger came from a famous-for-being wealthy family, but for the most part, he’d known him as the kid he’d hung out with during summers. Still, Jagger was no dummy, and Mitch would need to tread lightly if he wanted to interview him.

“I’d appreciate hearing about it if it leads to anything,” Fletcher finished.

“Will do.” Mitch hung up and then dialed the Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. The hotel was able to confirm a shrink conference but needed a warrant to give confirmation that Doctor Andres was in attendance. He needed to talk to Patrick in person but wasn’t looking forward to driving to Washington, D.C. and back. First, he’d pay Jagger a visit and make arrangements for another officer to check on Sydney while he was gone.

C
harlotte Tavern was a small
, rural city nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia. For the most part, the town was populated by what the rest of the nation would call country folk. Over the last ten years, it had become a popular retirement spot for Yankees wanting less harsh winters, although Charlotte Tavern got at least one good snow a year. The outskirts of town were dotted by horse farms and large estates owned by the rich and sometimes famous. For the most part, the only year-round residents of these homes were the caretakers.

Such was the case of the Talbot estate, bought by Jagger’s grandfather, G.W. Talbot, during the 1970s, when Secretariat made horse racing popular. The horses had been sold off long ago, mostly because old man Talbot lost interest and his son, Jagger’s father, who, as far as Mitch knew, had never been to the farm, wasn’t interested either.

Like many of the wealthy families that owned land and property in Charlotte Tavern, the Talbots’ farm was a vacation home to get away from their busy lives in New York. When Mitch was in his teens, Jagger spent most of his summers in the area. Mitch had always been wary of the rich folk, mostly because they kept to themselves and always seemed to look down their noses at the local residents. But Jagger hadn’t. He and Jagger, along with Chelsea’s brother Brian, had become fast friends and spent most of their time together during the summers, swimming in the quarry, fishing, exploring the woods, and doing all the things boys enjoy doing.

Jagger had developed an interest in girls earlier than Mitch, but Mitch soon learned to appreciate spending time with the opposite sex. While they still fished alone, most of the swimming was done with the companionship of blossoming teenage girls. But once they graduated from high school, Jagger rarely visited Charlotte Tavern. In fact, Mitch couldn’t remember seeing him there since that last summer when they were both seventeen and Mitch had finally lost his virginity, apparently later than most boys.

Now Jagger was moving to Charlotte Tavern permanently. Mitch knew Jagger’s grandfather had died recently and wondered if he’d inherited the house. Jagger’s world, like Sydney’s, was in New York. For most city Yankees, southern living was too slow. Even his brother-in-law, Drake, occasionally whisked Lexie away up North, usually saying something about needing good pizza and a Broadway show. It made no sense to Mitch. They had pizza in Charlotte Tavern, although why have that when you can have barbecue?

Jagger had also suggested he was ready to leave his womanizing ways behind and find a wife. Mitch didn’t quite believe that. Jagger was still young, just over thirty, like Mitch. It was strange he was willing to give up big city life, unless it had to do with Sydney.

The idea that Jagger might be the one stalking and trying to hurt Sydney didn’t make sense to Mitch. But he had expressed an interest in Sydney, and, like her, had packed up from New York and relocated. It was too much of a coincidence.

Mitch pulled through the gates of the Talbot Estate, driving along the tree-lined road. He remembered the exterior, including the driveway, had been used in a period-piece movie several years ago. He parked in front of the house and half-expected footmen to meet him. But no one came. In fact, it was Jagger, not the usual butler, who answered.

“Hey, Mitch.” Jagger looked beyond Mitch at the Charlotte Tavern assigned police vehicle. “Is this a professional call?”

Mitch nodded. “Yes.”

Jagger frowned but opened the door wider to let Mitch in. “Excuse the mess. I’m having work done, but apparently, none of the workers are coming today.” He sounded annoyed. “I have coffee. It’s been sitting a bit, but it’s still hot.”

“Sounds good.” Mitch followed Jagger through the expansive foyer toward the back into a kitchen larger than his house. “Is it just you here?”

“For now.” Jagger grabbed two mugs from the cupboard. “I have staff coming in a week or so.”

Staff. The idea of it boggled Mitch’s mind. That world was so different. It was Sydney’s world. It had been Drake’s world, although he seemed to have adjusted to just having a housekeeper while in Charlotte Tavern.

Jagger handed Mitch coffee. It tasted like it had been sitting but was still a better quality brew than he usually bought.

“Should we talk here?” Jagger motioned to a set of bar stools sitting at the corner of a large island.

“This is fine.” Mitch pulled out a stool and sat.

Jagger did the same, sitting kitty-corner to him.

Deciding to get right to it, Mitch avoided small talk. “Where were you yesterday between two and three in the afternoon?”

Jagger’s brows rose over the rim of the coffee he was sipping. “That sounds ominous.”

There was no missing Jagger’s disappointment in being considered capable of committing a crime. But Mitch was on the job. He couldn’t let personal feelings get in the way. And if he was honest with himself, while he’d known and liked Jagger when they were younger, he didn’t really know him as an adult, except what he heard about Jagger’s exploits from residents who liked to follow him in the tabloids.

Jagger let out a breath. “I was here, where I always am these days.”

“Anyone see you?”

“No.” The disappointment morphed into annoyance. “What happened?”

“What about in New York. On December fifth?”

Jagger’s expression asked,
Seriously?
“I’d have to check my calendar. That’s around my grandfather’s death, so I was probably meeting with lawyers. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“There was an attack at the hospital yesterday.”

Jagger sniffed. “And because I’m an outsider you think I did it?”

Mitch shook his head.

“I read about it in the paper this morning. I don’t even know that woman. And by
know
, I mean not even as an acquaintance.”

“I know. I don’t believe she was the target. Sydney was.”

Jagger stopped his mug mid-raise. “What?”

“I believe the perpetrator was after Sydney.”

“Why?”

“Did you ever ask Sydney out?”

“Jesus, Mitch. You really think I’d hurt Sydney? Anyone?”

He didn’t. Not really. But one lesson Mitch had learned well was no one could be trusted. Even his instincts were suspect. “I’m just following leads.”

“And a lead brought you here? Because I asked Sydney out?”

“When?”

“What?”

“When did you see Sydney last?”

Jagger dragged a hand over his face. “Sunday. I stopped by Sunday morning. She was just getting back from a run and we talked in front of her place.”

“What did you talk about?”

Jagger gave him the stink eye. “You know what we talked about. Is this really about this attack or are you just mad that I’m interested in her?”

“This is about the attack.” If he said it enough, he might believe it.

“We talked. I asked her out. She said no and I left. I’m sure that’s what she told you too.”

“You’re not a man who’s usually rejected.”

Jagger laughed. “Not often, but it wasn’t the first time.”

“She said you were annoyed.”

“Did she? Well, I was. But not because she said no. I was annoyed because the reason she said no was that I’d seen her friend a couple of times.” He shook his head. “Of all the women—”

“What do you mean?”

“Julia is beautiful and fun, but… well, you know me. She had a harder time than most when I moved on. The fact that she still impacts my life is irritating.”

“Sydney isn’t a woman you love and leave.” Mitch couldn’t keep the censure from his tone.