Truth Is Found (17 page)

He grabbed his phone from the bed stand as he kept her against him. “We’re going to talk.”

She was confused.

This man somehow made the shouting abate. Her head was silent. It was barely a whisper in her mind, and she wanted to celebrate.

No, she wanted to weep.

“We’re going to stay right here until you tell me what’s going on,” he demanded. “Are we clear, Nyx?”

She didn't know what to say.

Everything was so damn confusing. How was he silencing her demons?

Why did his simple touch stop the madness?

She stared at him. “Beau…”

He shook his head. “No. You’re going to explain everything, and we’re going to go from there. You have a lot to tell me, Nyx.”

“But…”

“I have all day, and now so do you.”

He dialed his phone as she leaned against his body. Before they left that bed, she was going to tell him everything. It took a lot to get him angry, but now he was.

She tried to leave this life, and deep inside him, he knew they’d dodged a bullet.

Nyx Nightingale was meant to be there.

She was meant to live.

Beau couldn’t let her die.

There was one simple reason that he couldn’t ignore.

He was pretty sure that she was meant to be his.

CHAPTER Eight

When they woke, the morning light was streaming into their room, softly cascading across their bodies. It was the best way to wake up.

Julian Littlemoon wouldn’t trade it for the world. He’d have to be crazy. After all, Tori was curled around Julian’s naked body, lounging against him. It was pretty damn amazing.

When his phone rang, she reached for it before moving back against his body. She wasn’t ready to abandon her sexy Native nest.

She wanted to enjoy it for as long as she could.

“It’s Christina,” she said, hitting speaker as she placed the phone on his chest.

“Bosses, I have the information that you requested,” she stated. “I ran the psychic, and I came up with some interesting dirt. I think you’re going to find it fascinating.”

Julian couldn’t wait to hear this. He was beyond curious when it came to the woman. Nyx Nightingale was part of this, and he needed to know her role.

“Let us have it,” he said, running his fingers up and down Tori’s bare back.

“She’s totally legit. I know you never thought I’d say that, but I can’t even find one complaint against her. Usually, you’ll have people post nasty things online about fake psychics stealing their money, but she doesn’t have a single one. When she gets a customer, they get their money’s worth.”

Yeah, they knew why.

Nyx Nightingale
was
the real deal. They’d seen her in action last night. She wasn’t running a con or grift. She was communing with the dead--
just like Tori did.

“We suspected as much,” Julian stated, not telling Christina about what the woman said to them about Tori and Beau’s brother. It was no one’s business but theirs. While they loved their work family, this was Tori’s story to tell. It was her past, and he wasn’t going to out her.

It wasn’t happening.

“What else did you dig up on her?” Tori asked.

“Not much when it comes to her business. She’s spotless. The girl doesn’t even have a single parking ticket to her name.”

They bought that too.

“But…”

That had their attention.

“What did you find?” Tori asked, sitting up. Julian followed suit, pulling the sheet around both their naked bodies.

“I found some newspaper articles about her past. They’re incredibly disturbing. They made my skin crawl.”

Julian lifted a brow. “Are we talking Charlie Manson disturbing?” He knew it had to be something bad if Christina was freaked out.

Christina didn't even laugh.

That said it all.

“No. Her parents are dead.”

Tori didn't want to ask, but she had to. “She didn't kill them, did she?”

“No, but she watched them die. It appears that the Nightingales’ were victims of a horrible B&E gone wrong. Two men entered the house with the intent to rob it.”

They knew where this was going.

They both worked in law enforcement.

“During the home invasion both of her parents were killed.”

“And?” Julian asked.

“The son was killed in his bed.”

They knew she was hesitating, and that meant there was something ugly coming. Christina didn't have that bouncy effervescence like she normally did.

“Their only daughter was taken. When she escaped them, she was in pretty bad shape.”

Julian glanced over at Tori. “How bad was she?”

“She was a minor, so the details aren’t out there, but I called in a favor and got the dirt. She was sexually assaulted, and they tried to kill her. They left her in an abandoned building to die of starvation and thirst.”

They were both sick to their stomachs.

“How old was she?” Julian asked.

“Sixteen.”

Kane’s voice came over the line, “We couldn’t find anything else on her. We’re assuming she went into the system, and then here she is today. There are no college records, and everything about her is spotless. For someone who had such a horrible trauma, she’s kept her life on the straight and narrow.”

They all knew how odd that was. When a child experienced that kind of devastation, there was always something there to leave a permanent scar. She’d been raped and watched her family die. That could lead to a life of chaos, but with Nyx Nightingale, she’d stayed clean.

That alone earned their respect.

“Want me to keep digging?” Christina asked.

Julian had more work, but not regarding that woman. “I do need more searches, but I want them run on the guests here. Let’s leave Ms. Nightingale alone. She’s in the clear.”

That’s what his gut told him. Plus, she’d earned her privacy. Julian didn't want to dig into her life.

“That we can do, bosses. Who do you want me to research?”

Tori continued, “We have Allene and Brandon Bunchen here as guests. They seem harmless, but they were more than happy to point out AngelCake wineries having a similar wine. We know that someone stole the formula, but it’s odd that someone brought it up.”

There was scribbling on the other end.

“Okay, who else?”

“I ran into a Mitch Pettigrew and Roman Remington. They’re a married gay couple and seem on the up and up, but we’re not taking any chances.”

“Got it,” stated Kane.

“Last are Cara Wirth and her husband Gino. They’re from New York, and she works as a matchmaker.”

Christina giggled.

“Yeah, she wanted to find me a new husband,” Tori teased. “Julian was not amused.”

He laughed. “No, he wasn’t. I happen to be fond of my wife, and the baby she’s carrying. I’m crazy like that. Marriages shouldn’t be recyclable.”

Kane snorted. “Is she dead? Did Tori kick her ass around the room? Did you take pictures?”

“No, but next time, I just might. Get me all you have on those six people. As we start wandering around, we’ll have more.” Tori didn't doubt they’d be running many people before the week was up.

“Speaking of research,” Julian began, “are we any closer to the missing girls?”

“I wish, boss. You’d be surprised how many missing children there are in that area over a twenty-year period. Plus, you don’t have names, so narrowing it down is going to take days. Unless…”

They knew what she was asking.

If they wanted to get closer to finding the missing girls, they needed to ask their friendly ghost.

Julian didn't look amused.

“I’ll get you the names. I can’t promise it’ll be their full names, but I’ll do what I can,” Tori replied.

“Thanks, boss!”

Julian was curious how the office was doing. After all, it was his baby too. “How’s everything going there?” he asked.

There was some hesitation.

Neither of them missed it.

“Well, Lena just got in. She looks like she spent the night rocking it out, but she’s awake and her feisty self. Beckett and your sister rolled in twenty minutes ago, and they’re just starting to go through the case files. We’re having a meeting in a little while.”

“And my brother?” Julian asked.

“I can’t answer that since he’s not here yet.”

That didn't sit well with them.

“If he doesn’t show, call me. I’ll call Vivian and see if he’s around.”

They didn't say anything else. This was a family thing, and while they were close, Justin was Julian’s brother. They knew the man would want to handle it.

They were keeping out of it.

“Just hold down the fort for now, guys. You’re doing a really great job.”

“Watch your backs out there,” Kane said. “Who knows what you’re up against?”

They were well aware.

The second they hung up the phone, it rang again. Apparently, it was a busy morning, and they were popular. A part of Julian was hoping it was his brother.

When it wasn’t, he sighed. “It’s Beau,” stated Julian, tossing her the phone as he headed toward the shower. He’d let Tori handle it while he tried to figure out what to do about his twin.

The second she answered the phone, she heard it in his voice. “What’s wrong?”

Julian stopped at the bathroom door. He didn't look away from his wife. She looked concerned.

Something had to be up.

“Okay, Beau, we’ll cover for you. Don’t stress it. I want you to stay put and make sure you’re both safe. We totally understand. Great job.”

When she hung up the phone, her eyes showed her concern. “Julian, we have a problem.”

They usually did, but most of the time, it didn't affect his wife like this.

“What happened?”

“After we left last night, Nyx tried to end her life. Beau stayed, and he saved her.”

She told him the rest.

“Jesus. That can’t be good.”

“He’s got her at his motel room. He’s afraid to leave her side because she’s struggling. Trey is slowly killing her.” Saying those words were foreign to her, and they squeezed her heart. Trey, in life, would never cause anyone pain.

Now in death…

It was a hard pill to swallow.

Julian didn't know what to do. They needed Beau on the inside digging around, but they also didn't want Nyx Nightingale to die. She’d given Tori peace of mind, and they knew her past. They needed to protect her too--apparently from herself and a dead man.

Who knew?

Their lives were getting weirder and weirder.

“We’re going to have to dig for him,” he stated. “I hope you’re ready to subtly interrogate everyone downstairs at breakfast.”

Tori was always ready for an interrogation. “Let’s get showered and down there.”

He was right behind her. They had work to do, and it was all on them now.

Julian only hoped they could pull it off. They should be good as long as nothing disastrous happened.

What were the chances?

       
        
* * *
  L   i   t   t   l  e  m  o  o  n  * * *

Darkwood Monastery

One Hour Later

Downstairs in the main area, the winery had set up tables for their guests to have breakfast. Everything was cooked with one of the house wines, and there were even bottles adorning the tables.

She was amazed that people would start drinking this early in the day.

Tori wanted to laugh. Who, in their right mind, had wine with breakfast?

What kind of world was she living in?

Instead of eating anything flambéed or sautéed in booze, both she and Julian opted to have Raisin Bran and coffee.

Breakfast was supposed to be simple, wasn’t it?

As they took a seat beside the other guests, they all looked hung over. It appeared that they had drunk a little too much wine. Now they were hitting it again.

That couldn’t be good.

Then Tori noticed something. One of the guests was sober. Roman Remington appeared to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. That was interesting since they’d watched him drink last night.

But that wasn’t all…

He also had mud on his shoes. Tori noticed it the minute he walked into the room.

That was odd. If he’d come from his room upstairs, why was he sporting the dirt? His partner wasn’t. Mitch was pristine in his dress shirt and khakis.

Hmmmm…

“We’re going to be taking a tour of the wine room,” stated Daniel Nelms. “I hope you’re all ready to taste more wine.”

Julian wanted to groan, but he knew he had to take one for the team. At least his wife was going to be able to focus on the case.

“I can’t wait,” stated Mitch Pettigrew. “We’re dying to get in there. I want to learn how wine is made. Maybe we can make some at home, honey.”

Roman agreed. “We can try. I love seeing how things work.”

“Yes, it’s a fascinating process,” stated the owner.

Just then, Sheila stormed in on her stilts in a tizzy. She was pissed, and it was clearly written on her face.

Angrily, she pulled her husband aside and lowered her voice, so only he and Romeo could hear.

Unfortunately for her, Tori had really good ears. She could clearly hear the conversation from behind her bowl of Raisin Bran.

“I can’t find Pearlie. She was supposed to do the tour this morning. I went to her room to get her, but she wasn’t around.”

Julian couldn’t hear them, so his wife softly whispered what they were saying. They probably shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but it was second nature.

This was their job.