Authors: Jamie Hill
Joss followed his lead, sitting before dropping into his arms.
He caught her, held her tight for a moment,
then
released. They stepped to the floor and faced each other. He raised his flashlight. “Let's put these where we can find them again.”
“On my dresser.”
She led him downstairs.
Joss set both flashlights down and looked in her bureau mirror. “I'm filthy.”
He chuckled, pushing back a strand of her hair. “You look good to me.”
“Then you're the crazy one. I'm going to wash up before we leave.”
“I could probably stand a little of the same. Meet you downstairs.”
“Thanks, Jake.” She smiled at him.
His heart leapt. Damn, she's pretty, dust-covered or not. He smiled back and went to the first floor bathroom, where he glanced in the mirror. He was as dirty as she was. The attic was obviously not a high-traffic area. But someone had been up there recently, and he wondered if it was simply scare tactics, or if there was another motive.
He changed his shirt and washed up, then met Joss in the kitchen where she was drinking tea.
“Get you anything?” She held out her glass.
“Yes.
A cold beer.
I want one now more than ever. Maybe some crab legs to go with it. What do you say?”
Nodding, she set her glass on the counter and reached for her purse. His cell phone rang, and they looked at each other. “I say, answer your phone.”
“Novel idea, thanks.” He flipped the phone open and punched the talk button.
“Gilford!”
“This is
Taylor
. You were working up a report on the Newsome case, and I need it.”
“Fuck,” he muttered to his boss. He'd forgotten about that case when he was assigned this one. “I'm off today, Chief. Actually, I'm with Joss Wheeler, and we're working on her problem.” He raised his eyebrows, and she covered her mouth with one hand to quiet her laugh.
“I've got to be in court first thing tomorrow morning. I need that report now. Can the Wheeler girl wait?”
Jake stifled a groan. “Sure, boss. I'll be right there.”
“By 'right here' do you mean now, or in an hour, Gilford? Just so I know. My kids are waiting for me at home.”
“I'm on my way, Sir.”
“Thank you.” He hung up, and Jake poked his phone off.
“Don't tell me.” She looked at him.
He gave her his best puppy dog eyes. “I have to go into the office for a little bit. It won't take long, I promise. I'm really sorry.”
“Can I go with you?”
“You'd do that?” He was surprised.
“Sure. I'm ready for a break from this place. I was just getting my mind wrapped around crab legs and beer.”
He grinned. “Okay! Let's go.”
On the drive to the department, he asked, “Have you seen your father's will?”
“I haven't seen it, exactly. His lawyer told me what was in it.”
“Who's the lawyer?”
“His name is Roland Watkins. He gave me the keys to the house.”
“But not a copy of the will.”
It was more a statement than a question.
“I didn't think. I should have asked for one.”
“We'll call him tomorrow, and arrange to get one right away.”
She looked at him. “You think it matters?”
Jake nodded. “Someone was going to inherit your father's estate before you showed up. I'd like to know who it was.”
“I never thought about that.”
He hadn't thought of much else, but hadn't voiced the speculation. “We can't do much about it on Sunday. We'll call Watkins tomorrow.”
“Sure,” she agreed, and glanced at the big building next to where he parked.
He led her in, showing her up to his office. “Have a seat.” The waiting area had several chairs, a coffeepot and magazines. “I'll hurry.”
“Take your time.” She sat and looked around.
He rummaged through his desk for the chief's report. It was nearly done. He added a few details, and handed it over to his supervisor.
“Thanks, Gilford. Sorry to drag you in on your day off.”
He shrugged. “It happens.”
“So what's the story on Edward Cooper's house? Is his daughter as nutty as she sounded the other day?”
“I don't think so.” He nodded toward the waiting room, where Joss leafed through a magazine. “She's terrified, but something strange is going on.”
Taylor
raised his eyebrows at her. “She said the house is haunted.”
“Yeah, I know. I finally got her talked out of that. Someone's behind the spooky happenings she's experienced, I'm sure of it. First thing tomorrow, I'm going to speak with Cooper's lawyer. Someone must have been set to inherit everything before Joss showed up. That's the person I suspect.”
The chief nodded.
“Sounds reasonable.
If you need back up, let me know. Edward was a good man. I was surprised to learn he had a daughter. He never told me about her, but his lawyer verified it. Now I see why he kept it a secret.”
“You didn't know her mother was black?”
“No! But that explains a few things. I couldn't figure out why he never mentioned the girl.”
Jake scratched his chin. “If race was such an issue with him, why would he sleep with her mother to begin with?”
“Well now,” the chief said with a raucous laugh, “Why does any man sleep with a particular woman? Shall we count the reasons?”
“Not necessary.” He tried to change the subject. “So, do you know the lawyer?”
“Watkins? Sure, we've met a few times.”
“What's your take on the guy?”
He shrugged.
“Seems decent, for a lawyer.
I've never dealt with him, but never heard of any problems, either.”
“Okay, just wondering.” Jake moved back toward his desk. “I'm going to take off.”
“Me too,”
Taylor
followed him, glancing out to the reception area. “Sorry you have to hold her hand this weekend. Hope you get things settled soon.”
“No problem.” He pretended to straighten his desk so the boss would leave ahead of him. He didn't feel like making introductions, and couldn't take any more apologies for being forced to spend time with Joss. There was no place he'd rather be.
A couple of minutes after Taylor left, Jake went to the front of the office. “I'm ready. Thanks for being so patient.”
She deposited the magazine on a table and stood. “No problem. Was that Chief Taylor?”
“Yes.”
“He was in a hurry.”
Jake smiled. “He doesn't like working Sundays, either. He's got two small children.”
“Really?
I thought he was my father's age.”
“I think he is. He also has a couple grown children from an earlier marriage.”
She nodded, and they headed out. “What about you, Jake? Never wanted to go the wife and family route?”
He grimaced. “That's a loaded question. Let's just say, I may have wanted to, but circumstances always seemed to get in the way.” He opened the car door for her, and she got in.
He entered his side and she continued, “Was that a yes or a no? Do you want children?”
“'Course I do, eventually.” Starting the engine, he drove to a restaurant he liked, for an early dinner.
“When the circumstances are right?”
He couldn't help but smile again, and glanced over at her. “I guess so. What about you? Are there little ones in your future?”
“Eventually.
I'd like to do a few more things with my life, first. Mama wanted me to become a nurse, like her, but I could never get past the emptying bedpans part.”
He parked at the Seafood Shack, and turned to her. “I'd imagine it's a lot more rewarding than that.”
“Sure it is, but it's not very glamorous. I'm not one to shy away from work, but personally, it's just not my thing.”
“Fair enough.”
He escorted her into the restaurant, where a young, gum-snapping waitress seated them. They ordered crab legs and beer, and he continued talking. “What would you like to do with your life?”
“I don't know. I've had lots of jobs, but nothing that ever truly excited me.”
The waitress brought their beers, and Jake raised his glass in a toast. “Here's to discovering what excites you.”
She snickered. “I'll drink to that!”
He grinned over the rim of his glass, and they drank. Their food arrived, and they ate while continuing to chat.
After dinner, they walked down to the bank of the river. The temperature was mild, with the hint of a crisp autumn nip in the air. The late afternoon sun caused reflections from nearby businesses to glisten off the water in bright, twinkling spots.
“It's so pretty here,” she said, in a dreamy tone.
He slipped an arm around her waist. “You're the pretty one. You look even better out here in the fresh air, away from the house.”
“I feel good. I wish we didn't have to go back.”
He held her by the waist, turning her to face him. “We don't have to, tonight. We could go to my place and forget about things for awhile.”
“I'd like that.” She curled one hand around the edge of his shirt and raised her face.
He bent, lowering his mouth to hers. Their kiss was slow, lingering, and Jake hated to pull away. The idea of taking her back to his place was exciting. He was ready to go. “Mmm, you taste like crab and beer.
Two of my favorite things.”
She smiled, still clutching his shirt. “Wonder if there's room for movement on that 'favorite things' list?”
“Oh yeah,” he replied, leaning in for another kiss. “I feel things shifting already.”
With reluctance, Jake let go of Joss long enough to drive back to his house. It was a short distance, but by the time they got there, he was ready to burst. The evening ahead held great promise.
Joss glanced around as he led her to his front porch. “This is nice.”
“Nowhere near as big as your place.”
“Not as scary, either.”
He couldn't argue with that. He unlocked the door to his ranch-style home, and they stepped in.
“Oh Jake!
I love the way you've decorated.”
It was a modest bachelor's dwelling, but he'd furnished it in a Southwestern motif with careful attention to detail. The shades of blue and brown were his favorite, and he was pleased that she seemed to like it. He thought it looked good, and he felt comfortable there. “Thanks. I like it.”
“You know what I like? Not one wild animal in sight.”
He tossed his keys on the table and grinned. “Well, maybe one.”
She giggled and faced him. “I think I can handle him. If he plays his cards right, that is.”
Jake shook his head, backing her into the hallway. “I don't want to play cards.”
“Oh yeah?”
She stood on tiptoes, slipping her arms around his neck. “What do you want to do?”
He pressed his mouth against hers. “I want to make love with you,” he murmured, their lips touching.
She wrapped one leg around his butt, pulling him closer. “I want that, too.
More than anything.”
He lifted her from the floor, and carried her to his room.
Chapter Five
At six a.m., on Monday morning, Jake's alarm clock buzzed. He slapped it off, rubbed his eyes, and glanced around.
Joss slept soundly next to him.
No loud noises to disturb her.
She'd probably gotten her first good night's sleep in weeks.
I did, too.
That was for damn sure. Making love with Joss was exhilarating and exhausting. When he finally allowed sleep to take him he was relaxed, and more sated than ever in his memory.
He rolled against her, kissing her neck. “Good morning.”
“Not morning yet,” she replied sleepily.
“Okay.” He planted one more kiss on her nape,
then
moved away. “I have to go to work, anyway. You might as well sleep.”
“Sleep, mmm…” She nestled into the pillow.
Jake grinned as he slid out of bed, tossing the covers over her sleeping form. He admired the view for a moment. Sprawled in his bed, hair tousled, softly snoring, she looked sexy as hell. Unfortunately, he needed to spend tonight in her house looking for the source of that damnable noise. Hopefully, there'd be time for other things later. Shuffling to the bathroom, he closed the door behind him.
* * * *
There was a weekly meeting he needed to attend at the office and some paperwork to dispense. He briefed
Taylor
with the most pertinent details of Joss's case,
then
drank some coffee while making small-talk with the other detectives. When nine a.m. rolled around, he knew the lawyer's office should be open, so he phoned Joss on her cell.