Heard it Through the Grapevine (18 page)

“Hey, boss, where are you? Where’d you get off to in such a
hurry?”

Colt ignored the second question. “I’m stuck at the light around the corner. I never got a chance to talk to you and Romano before I left. What’d you find when you checked the convenience stores?”

“A dead-end,” Danny said. “No one remembers selling a pre-paid phone to anyone who seemed unusual. Just your average ‘live from paycheck to paycheck’ kind of people.”

“I was afraid of that.” Colt tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “This guy’s too smart to get tripped up by something that simple.” He inched forward a few car lengths, then cursed under his breath when the light turned red again.

“So, what’s next?”

Colt rubbed his forehead. “Try checking the Lakeview and Kendal stores. You might even look at Roanoke.” He sighed. “It’s a long shot, but that’s all we got.”

“Will do, boss. After Phil and I grab some lunch, we’ll head that way.”

“Call if you uncover anything promising.” Colt disconnected when the light finally turned green. He pushed his foot down and raced forward in time to get past before the yellow light turned red again.

Halfway to the station, he debated what he’d say to Maddy to make sure she got the message to give up the ridiculous hunt for Tessa’s killer.

Damn!

He’d forgotten he needed to save his best arguments for Lainey. She seemed to be the one with all the big ideas and the free time on her hands to follow through on them.

The thought of another go round with her like the previous night
stirred up mixed feelings. On one hand, he knew he had to convince her, even if it meant threatening to throw her in jail for a few days to keep her out of trouble. On the other, he wasn’t ready to go up against another of those kisses.

A man only has so much willpower.

He pulled the car into his space and dialed his mother. She’d picked Gracie up from school to take her shopping for new spring clothes. Seems like the child had grown three or four inches overnight.

“Hey, Mom, how’s it going?”

“Great, son, but I’m pretty sure you’re not going to like it when you get your credit card bill next month.” She clucked her teeth. “Since when did little girls’ jeans cost more than a week’s grocery bill?”

Colt laughed. “Welcome to the twenty-first century. Don’t let her talk you into more than one expensive pair. A few cheap jeans won’t kill her,” he said, knowing his warning was falling on deaf ears. His mother spoiled his daughter worse than he did.

“Do you think Gracie can spend the night with you? I’ve got some business I have to take care of and won’t be home until late.” Okay, maybe that wasn’t entirely true. He did have business, but it would take place at home and he didn’t want Gracie around if it got out of hand.

“Great idea. She’s got her eye on an adorable pair of pink pajamas. Since we won’t have time to swing by the house to get hers, I’ll have to charge that, too. They aren’t cheap either.” She laughed. “Oh well, gotta run. See you tomorrow.”

He was still smiling when he entered the station. There was no reason why his mom couldn’t run by the house to get Gracie’s things.

Why was it he could face down a criminal any day of the week, but when it came to the women in his life, he became putty in their hands?

His daughter, his mother, Lainey.

_____

“I’ve paid a lot of money, and so far, I have nothing to show for it,” the man said, unable to disguise the anger.

“I know. I told you this wouldn’t happen overnight. Don’t get impatient and ruin everything.” He hoped he could convince the man. He was so close to getting the job done and banking the rest of the three million they’d promised.

“When can I expect good news?”

He hesitated. Things had not gone as he’d hoped. With Porter dead and Thornton out of the picture, he only had two contacts left to work the deal.

And then there was Tessa’s sister snooping around. He’d forgotten she was some kind of reporter. Thought she’d hightail it out of Vineyard after the note.

He’d been wrong. Now she was stirring up the shit along with the other three sisters. It was time to take off the gloves.

But his biggest problem was the Vineyard Police Department. He’d counted on Winslow’s inexperience, but somehow, the man had risen to the challenge. He was getting too close for comfort. Fortunately, he had an insider reporting back on every new development in Tessa’s murder investigation.

So far the body count was minimal—a whore who sapped the life out of every man she came in contact with, a drunken idiot who couldn’t find his ass with both hands, and a wannabe gangster who started every conversation with his hand out for more money. If it came down to it he wasn’t above arranging an accident for the sheriff. All he had to do was say the word, and the guy on the other end would get it done.

But he wasn’t ready to kill a cop. At least not yet. More than likely, that would bring in the Feds, and he was positive his contacts wouldn’t hold up under that much scrutiny. Although he’d taken a lot of precautions to keep his identity under wraps, it still could get messy.

“Well—when?”

He focused back on the question. “My sources tell me we should hear something in the next week or two.”

The man paused. “You’d better be right, or you’ll find out the hard way how I handle failure.”

He held the receiver long after the other man hung up on him, taking slow breaths to calm his racing pulse. Now wasn’t the time to panic. Not when he could smell the three million dollar payoff.

He knew exactly what he had to do to take care of Tessa’s sister. The other problem would require more finesse.

A slow grin crossed his face as a plan hatched in his mind. He picked up the phone and dialed the police station.

nineteen

Colt examined Jerry Moretti’s
cell phone records and found six calls to Charles Prescott over the past two days. He didn’t know what was going on between Jerry and Tessa’s probate lawyer, but the phone calls had to be a conflict of interest. Prescott was supposed to be representing Lainey and Gracie.

He scribbled a note to himself as he glanced at the clock above his door. Nine-thirty already. He’d only meant to skim Porter’s file but had ended up with everything he had on all three murders strewn across his desk.

Yawning, he stood and stretched. It had been a long day. Tomorrow was soon enough to confront both Jerry and Charlie about the phone conversations. More than likely, it would be something as innocent as a will or another pre-nup.

He walked into the main room at the station just as Phil Romano sauntered in.

“Hey, boss, anything new on the case?”

“Nothing much.” Colt eyed his number two guy. Romano had been with the force about a year longer than Colt and had partnered with him those early years before Colt was elected sheriff.

Married with three kids, Romano was always searching for ways to make extra money. As much as Colt discouraged off duty work, he couldn’t blame the man for taking the security job at the Texas Corral on the weekends.

Kids can get expensive,
Colt thought, remembering his mother’s comment about Gracie’s jeans costing as much as her weekly grocery bill.

“Find out anything at the Conquistador?”

Rogers and Flanagan had spent the afternoon interviewing the guests and employees at the hotel, hoping one of them remembered something that might help.

“Nope. Most of the guests were already in bed and didn’t hear a thing.” Romano slumped into his desk chair. “Any luck on that prepaid yet?”

Colt shook his head. “We knew it was a long shot, but maybe we’ll get lucky and someone will remember selling a phone like that. More than likely, whoever bought it used an alias, but you never know. I want you and Danny to expand your search to the surrounding cities.” He picked up the duty roster. “You’re not on tonight. Aren’t you supposed to be working at the Corral?”

Romano pointed to the stack of files on his desk. “Yeah, but things don’t get hopping until after midnight. They gave me a couple hours to catch up here.”

Colt figured the owner would probably bend over backward for him. Despite the honky-tonk’s reputation for drunken brawls and dance-floor shenanigans, Romano had whipped it into shape, and now, they rarely had to jail anyone. The year and a half Romano had been running security had changed the Corral into a respectable hangout, attracting crowds from across North Dallas.

“Besides, I’ll get to sleep in tomorrow,” Romano added. “Denise
and the kids are spending the weekend with her sister in Fort Worth.”

Colt laughed. “Ah! A little peace and quiet for a change.”

“I heard that.” Romano grinned back. “Have a great weekend, Colt.”

“I’ll be here in the morning,” Colt responded, shaking his head. “You’re not the only one with loose ends to tie up.”

Romano’s grin faded. “Aren’t you the one who always harps about the importance of stepping away from the job occasionally?”

Colt shrugged. “Apparently, I’m better at preaching than practicing.” He headed for the door, saying his goodbyes to the rest of the evening staff along the way. “Don’t stay too long, Phil.”

He exited the station, breathing in the brisk night air, enjoying thoughts of a long hot shower, which was exactly what his tired aching bones needed after the grueling day.

Then he remembered one last thing he had to do before falling into bed.

He had to convince his ex-sister-in-law to back off and that might mean playing hard ball with her.

_____

Lainey threw another Milk-Bone toward Ginger before plopping onto the porch swing. Glancing toward Colt’s sprawling acreage, she noticed the outline of several head of cattle grazing in the back pasture, barely visible in the fading light of dusk.

She wrapped Colt’s sweater tighter around her as the cool air nipped at her body. She was glad she hadn’t returned the sweater since the temperature had taken a dive after the sun went down.

Her attention was diverted when Fred’s wet nose nuzzled her hand. Reaching for the box of treats she’d picked up on the way home, she threw one his way. “Okay, guys, that’s all you get for now. I’m already in enough trouble with your daddy. If he thinks you’re too plump to protect his ranch, he’ll have my head,” she explained to the doggie duo.

The sight of the canines sitting obediently beside her, tongues out and tails wagging, made her smile. Colt’s adorable labs were about as threatening as a pack of toy poodles, even though each weighed over a hundred pounds.

Speaking of getting fat, what’s up with Deena?

Lainey glanced over as Tessa slid onto the swing next to her. “Kate said Deena and Mike have been fighting a lot lately. Deena always was an emotional eater.”

He’s a jerk-off. She should have left him a long time ago. Especially after you told her he was making nice with what’s her name.

“She loves him,” Lainey defended. “A woman tolerates a whole lot more when her heart is involved.”

Whatever! You should talk to her before she turns into a blimp. Feeding an empty heart is never a solution.

Lainey remembered interviewing the author of a book by the same name. She’d come away with a whole new outlook on eating when you’re upset.

Dropping her foot to stop the swing, she turned to her sister. “Since when did you start reading books about emotions?”

Tessa lowered her eyes.
I’m just saying I hate to see her go through this alone like I did.

Lainey attempted a smile. “No one who knows you would say your heart was ever empty—or your bed, for that matter.”

Tessa’s head snapped up.
Just because I slept around doesn’t mean I didn’t feel alone, Lainey.

Lainey softened. Whatever Tessa had done wasn’t her business, and she had no right to judge her. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. I just meant that to your friends and your family you always came across as confident and happy with your life.”

Looks can be deceiving.

They sat in silence as Lainey contemplated Tessa’s last statement.

God help her! She didn’t want to go down this road, but something was pushing her. It was almost as if she had to know, had to get it out in the open in order to move on.

She lifted her leg and the swing began to rock again. “What really happened with you and Colt?”

Tessa raised her brows in surprise.
What does it matter? I’m dead now and out of the picture.
A veil of sadness washed over her face as her attempt to be glib failed miserably.

This was a side of her sister Lainey had never seen, and she couldn’t let it go. “Were you always in love with Colt, or did you set your sights on him after you read my journal?”

Tessa laughed.
You think I married him to spite you?

“Didn’t you?”

Hell, no!
Tessa turned away.
I married him because I had to. He—

“I thought you said he wasn’t Gracie’s father?”

This conversation is old news, Lainey. Let’s talk about something way more important, like how you’re going to find out who killed me.

Same old Tessa. Even as a teenager, she’d always found a way to turn the attention away from herself when the situation got sticky.

“So, why’d you have to marry him?” Now that she’d started, there was no turning back.

You’re not going to give up, are you?
Tessa blew out a full breath.
Okay, here it is. Hope you get a big laugh out of it.

Lainey waited. Something told her she wouldn’t be doubling over.

I fucked up. End of story. Are you happy now?

“How? Your life was my dream.”

Tessa’s sarcastic laugh echoed in the quiet of the night.
Your life, little sister, was my nightmare
.

Lainey turned to stare at her. “Why do you hate me so much?”

The sound of the rusty chains sliding across the swing’s hardware suddenly magnified as Lainey held her breath, waiting for an answer to the question she’d wanted to ask for over nine years.

I don’t hate you, Lainey.
Tessa’s voice was low, full of raw emotions.
I spent three days in Savannah watching you, being proud of you and resenting you all at the same time.
She looked away.
I wanted to be you.

There it was again. Both sisters dreaming about being more like the other. Both wasting precious moments fighting off the green-eyed monster.

Lainey decided not to pursue it. “You still haven’t told me if you loved Colt.”

Tessa smiled
.
What’s not to love about him? I knew he’d be the perfect father for Gracie.
She sighed.
I was right.

“Who really fathered her?”

You’re asking a helluva lot of questions that are none of your business, sis. Why not leave it at me being a whore and move on.

“I may have given up the opportunity of a lifetime by not heading to Florida for that job interview to maybe get shot or killed trying to find out who you pissed off enough to kill you. And for what, Tessa? So you can fade away into wherever the hell people like you go when they die?” She threw her hands in the air. “At the very least, you owe me an explanation.”

Did you know Mom called me every time something good happened in your life?
Tessa looked beyond the porch into the open field.
I don’t even think she was aware of it, but she made sure I knew every time she received your grades from Mercer University, every time you won some stupid award for your stories.
She paused.
I got sick of hearing what a wonderful daughter you were and what a total screw-up I was.

“Talk about old news, Tessa. Didn’t we just have this conversation?” Lainey didn’t wait for a response. “I can’t help it if Mom did that to you. Hell, I wasn’t even aware she was doing it. I only know every time she called me, I heard about how many rich boys you were hanging out with—how you were modeling for Macy’s for extra money.” Lainey ran her hands through her hair and sighed. “So our mother wasn’t June Cleaver. Get over it.”

Tessa glared at Lainey.
Did you know I flunked out of college the day you made the dean’s list the first time?

Lainey’s heart softened, remembering how hurtful it had been to be
compared to her beautiful sister and to always come up short. “I didn’t know
. I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t face Mom and tell her—at least not without a shitload of booze in me. I found the alcohol easy enough in Waco on my way home from Temple, along with a married trucker who smelled like diesel fuel.
She laughed.
Between him and the tequila shooters, I felt special until I woke up in the back of his cab with a bitch of a headache and a man I would normally never glance twice at blowing foul-smelling breath all over my naked body. Tell me, how much lower can you get than that?

“We’ve all done things we regret,” Lainey said, hating that she was now thinking about being sympathetic to a sister she’d spent so many years resenting.

You can’t even imagine the regret, Lainey,
Tessa continued.
By the time I hit Vineyard, I must have taken six showers trying to get his stink off my body.
She paused.
Six weeks later I discovered not only was I a whore but a pregnant one to boot.

“Is he the father?”

Who the hell knows? Before it was over, I banged a few more lowlifes, all in the name of feeling special
.
She shrugged.
How ironic that a beautiful child like Gracie was the result of drunken sex.

Both sisters glanced up as Colt’s pickup rounded the corner and turned onto the gravel driveway. Lainey jumped up and headed for the door.

“I can’t face him tonight,” she said, but Tessa had already faded to wherever she lurked when things got heated.

Pushing the door open, Lainey scurried inside and leaned agains
t
it as soon as it closed. She was in no mood for another go round with
that man. All she wanted was to crawl under the covers and rehash the conversation with Tessa, to try to make sense of it.

She had no idea her sister’s life had been so messed up. She wondered why Tessa hadn’t told any of her sisters about her dilemma. That’s what sisters were for. If she hadn’t had her younger sister all these years to confide in, to lean on, she would have been lost.

A sudden sadness rushed through her as she realized that Tessa had never felt close to any of them growing up. Lainey had Kate and the two older sisters were tight, but Tessa had always been the loner, keeping the others at a distance.

Why hadn’t she at least confided in her best friend? Maybe she had. Maybe Carrie had been as judgmental as Lainey when Tessa told her.

She gasped and turned toward the door when Colt’s knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Lainey?”

“I’m already in bed, Colt,” she said quickly, then slapped her head. What kind of idiot excuse was that? He’d probably seen her scamper into the house as soon as he’d headed down the driveway.

“This won’t take long.”

She’d have to face him sooner or later. Might as well get it over with.

When she opened the door, his scowl might have scared off a lesser adversary, but she swallowed hard and met his gaze full on.

His eyes swept her body like a CT scanner. “You always sleep with your shoes on?”

Damn it!