Love Inspired Suspense June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2, page 51
“Right up to the point where he detoured and the contents mysteriously disappeared,” Trey snapped.
Pete opened his mouth, but Alex shook his head. “The contents aren’t his responsibility.”
“They are when he either organized or performed the theft,” Trey said.
Pete leaned forward, a bead of sweat easing down his brow. “I only did what I was—”
“Don’t say another word or I cannot help you,” Alex instructed.
Pete slunk down in the seat and resumed fingernail biting and knee bouncing.
“We have security-camera footage showing Pete pulling up at the hospital twenty minutes after the expected arrival time. That gives him plenty of opportunity to drop off the remains somewhere else. I will recommend charging your client with obstruction of justice, among other things.” Trey stood.
Pete jumped up. “No!” He addressed Alex. “You said—”
Alex placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder, pulling him down. “I said we would handle this.” Then to Trey, “My client may have information on the body’s location, but before we say anything, I want the assurance that he will not be implicated in any way.”
Justine jerked to look at Trey, desperation in her expression. “We need the remains.”
As if that were news, but Trey agreed. Charging Lucas would only delay the exhumation. Still, allowing him to go unpunished somehow rewarded the Nolans. Trey leaned back and crossed his arms. “If I get information—solid, verifiable details—and the remains are recovered in their entirety, I will not recommend charges against him.”
Alex slapped both hands on the table and Pete startled in his chair. “Very good. We’ll be in touch.” Alex stood. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Trepidation hung in Pete’s eyes, but he willingly followed Alex from the room.
Justine rose and peered out the door, then closed it. “What if he doesn’t provide anything?”
“He will.”
Ten minutes later, a text message rang through with GPS coordinates from an unknown number. “Chicken,” Trey mumbled.
“He sent the information?” Justine looked over his shoulder.
“Possibly. It came from a blocked number. I’ll ask Sergeant Oliver to handle it from here. You and I need to leave for the funeral.”
Justine glanced down. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Oliver answered on the first ring. “Well?”
“Alex Duncan’s representing Lucas,” Trey began.
Oliver mumbled something unpleasant. “Did he give you anything?”
“Yeah, as long as we don’t charge Lucas. I had to agree to it, boss. We need the remains.”
“That should’ve been my decision, but I’d have done the same. And?”
“I’ll text you the message with the location that Alex sent over.” Trey concluded the call with the request to have Oliver accompany Taya.
“Consider it handled. I’ll stay with her through the examination, as well. Please give Justine our condolences.”
“Will do. Thanks, boss.”
“Everything okay?” Justine asked.
“Yep.” Trey offered his most encouraging smile, and they walked out to the truck.
The funeral home wasn’t far from the patrol office, and a few cars filled the parking lot. They’d arrived early enough to avoid the mourners.
Trey and Magnum accompanied Justine to the business office, where she paid the bill. He stood outside the door, but his cop instincts took over and he listened in. When Krendal announced the amount due, Trey sucked in a breath. Her mother had apparently spared no expense since Justine was responsible. A slow simmer of anger welled inside him.
Justine made no qualms about it but silently handed over her credit card. Trey wondered how the drain on her finances would affect the repairs to the ranch. As much as he wanted to rush in and settle the bill for her, Trey knew it wasn’t his place.
“Mr. Krendal, would it be possible for me to pay my respects before the visitation?” Justine asked.
“Absolutely.”
She exited the office with a blank expression. Her gait was stiff, almost robotic, as Krendal led them to the viewing. Soft music played, and an open casket stood at the front of the room.
“Take your time.” Krendal closed the doors behind them.
“Would you like me to go with you?” Trey asked.
Justine shook her head.
He waited with Magnum at the last row.
She didn’t move for several beats. Then, in painfully slow steps, she approached the casket. Trey’s heart squeezed, desperate to help her and completely clueless how to do that.
She’d nearly reached the casket when a slender woman with strikingly similar features to Justine’s entered from a side door. “You’ve got a lot of nerve. Don’t touch him.”
“Hello, Mother.” Justine’s voice was steely, but Trey recognized the vulnerability beneath the tough exterior.
He stepped forward. This was Victoria Grammert? “Excuse me.”
Victoria’s lip curled. “This is my husband’s funeral. I have the right to say who can and cannot be here, Officer.” She practically spit the last word. “Did you handle the bill?”
“Yes,” Justine answered.
Satisfaction covered Victoria’s face. “Good. Then you’re free to go.” She waved them off. “Don’t waste your time pretending you care about me or your father.”
Justine held her chin high. “I’d like to pay my respects.”
“Why? I haven’t had a daughter for twenty years. You’re a stranger, and strangers aren’t welcome here.”
People began filing into the room.
Justine stood frozen just a few feet from the coffin.
Trey moved to her side. “Let’s go.”
Victoria stepped forward, blocking Justine. “Get out! You’re too good for us. Always have been. You turned your back on us. You kept him behind those prison walls! You stopped him from having a real life, just to hang on to your bitterness.” Victoria’s voice rose with each word.
Trey put an arm around Justine’s waist. “Come on. Let’s go.”
She nodded, shuffling beside him. A woman ran to the front to comfort the now-wailing Victoria, and the other mourners looked on with curiosity.
The trip to the truck was excruciating.
“I’m so sorry, Justine.”
She released a bitter laugh. “I walked into that.”
“You did the right thing, and you did not deserve that attack.”
“Maybe I did.” Justine glanced down, one hand rubbing her arm.
“Don’t let Victoria do that to you. She’s angry and hurting. I’m sure she didn’t mean those awful things.” Trey hoped that was true, but something told him Victoria intended the cruelty and the show.
“Oh, she did.” Justine looked up, tears welling in her eyes.
Trey reached for her, and she crumbled into his arms, her body racked with sobs.
He shouldn’t have encouraged Justine to attend the funeral. Seeing her hurt was agonizing, and he longed to take away her pain. Lord, I need wisdom here.
He turned so Justine’s back faced the people filing into the building. Several glanced at them. Did they know Justine was Ignaseus’s daughter? A few pointed and shook their heads.
He held Justine tighter, anxious to guard her from their judgmental faces. And in that moment, Trey realized he needed Justine in a way he’d never needed anyone before.
She was much more than a colleague. He cared what happened to her. He wanted her to be happy. He wanted to protect her.
He wanted to be a part of her life.
But what if she didn’t feel the same way? She’d established defined boundaries of their relationship.
Yet they’d shared a kiss. One that had rocked him to his core, igniting a place in his heart reserved for only Justine.
Trey’s cell phone rang, dragging him to the present, but he didn’t move.
Justine leaned back. “Answer it. I’m okay.”
“It’s Oliver,” Trey said, glancing at the screen. “Sir.”
“The body has been secured. Dr. McGill-Stryker will begin her examination immediately.”
Trey exhaled relief. Finally, some good news. “Outstanding.”
“Jackson, you should know the Nolans have gone to the colonel.”
“With what?”
Oliver sighed. “They’re accusing you and Miss Stark of an inappropriate relationship, claiming it’s interfering with the case and the profile.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Trey paced an area beside his truck, feeling Justine’s eyes on him.
Were the Nolans following them?
“I’m a realist, Jackson, and it wouldn’t be the first time romance invaded a case,” Oliver said, referring to Trey’s brother, Slade, who’d fallen for a murder suspect.
“That’s not what’s happening here. Miss Stark and I are purely professional and platonic. Neither of us has any romantic interest in the other.”
Justine faced him, hurt in her eyes.
“See that you keep it professional. Otherwise, I’ll have to take you off the case.”
“Understood.” Trey disconnected.
Justine folded her arms, donning her clinical exterior. “Now what?”
He reluctantly gave her an abbreviated version of the discussion.
“Of course there’s nothing going on between us. We shared a kiss—that never should’ve happened—but surely they didn’t see that? Even if they did, it meant nothing.” Justine’s tone hardened.
“Are you upset with me?”
“No. We’re partnered on a case. I appreciate the kindness you offered for my father’s funeral. It won’t be needed again.” Justine gripped the truck door handle. “Let’s get moving.”
Trey loaded Magnum and slid behind the wheel.
Justine sat erect in the seat, face set like flint.
“There’s good news. Kayla’s remains have been recovered, and Dr. McGill-Stryker will start the exam immediately.”
Justine nodded. “Great.”
“You’ve had an awful day. Let’s head back to the ranch so you can rest.”
“No, we have to keep working. I need the distraction, and if the Nolans are as unreliable about the seventy-two hours as they have been about everything else, we can’t risk running out of time. We have the case files—or what’s left of them after the water damage—with us. Let’s find a place to go through them.”
“We can return to the patrol office so that we’re close to where Dr. McGill-Stryker is working.”
“Perfect.”
The drive was too quiet, but Trey was at a loss for words.
Once seated in the room, they spread out the files.
An insurance document caught Trey’s eye. “The Nolans had a life insurance policy on Kayla.”
“How much?”
“Seven hundred thousand.” He scanned the document. “It was paid out to them—” he pointed to the case file “—just prior to Drazin’s retirement date.”
“The amount is odd. Not a million or half a million?” Justine asked.
“An off amount would deflect from suspicion?”
“But why? They’re not in dire straits. Who’s the beneficiary?”
“They are.”
“They could’ve hired someone to kill Kayla or...” Justine hesitated, a pen pressed against her lips. “You said it was paid out before Drazin retired. What if he was the recipient?”
“It should be easy enough to trace.” But Sergeant Oliver’s warning rang in Trey’s mind. He couldn’t accuse Drazin of taking a bribe, and as much as he didn’t like the guy, he didn’t believe he’d murdered Kayla. “We need the Nolans’ financial records.”
Trey typed an email to Sergeant Oliver, making the formal request.
“May I look at the insurance policy?”
Trey passed her the document.
Justine’s eyes widened. “Hmm, interesting. There’s a Slayer Rule to the policy.”
“You lost me.”
“If the Nolans are found to be involved in Kayla’s death, they’d have to repay the money. Let’s park this for now until we can get a hold of their financial records.” Justine’s phone rang. “It’s Alex Duncan.”
“Put it on speaker.”
“Hello, Alex,” Justine said.
“Miss Stark. I need to talk to you.”
“We’re here at the patrol office.”
“No. You and Trey must meet with me in person. Enough is enough. I have what you need, but if the Nolans discover I’m the one who gave it to you, I’m a dead man.”
“Alex, why should we believe you?” Trey asked.
“You shouldn’t, but I can tell you that without the evidence I have, you’ll never solve the case. With it, you’ll have everything you need for a conviction. So I guess you’ll have to decide if it’s worth it to you.”
Justine met Trey’s eyes. He gave a slight nod.
“Okay. Where?”
“I’ll send you the address. Meet me there at ten o’clock tonight. I have one chance to right the wrong done to Kayla.”
TWELVE
“Remind me why we’re doing this.” Justine walked the perimeter of the abandoned warehouse, her footsteps echoing. The dank smell of dust and mold filled the atmosphere.
“I’m asking myself the same question, but Alex has evidence. Maybe he grew a conscience or got tired of Susan’s antics. Who knows? At least this time we’re prepared with backup.” Trey withdrew his gun and checked his magazine.
“I’m amazed you requested Eric Irwin’s help.” Justine peered through a corner of a spiderweb-covered window. She searched the parking lot, but Irwin was nowhere to be seen. Not that he would be, since he was hidden, watching the exterior.
A comfort and a concern.
“Okay, let’s not confuse technicalities. I didn’t request Irwin. I requested backup and Oliver offered Irwin. Big difference,” Trey clarified.
She chuckled. “Duly noted. It’s progress for your relationship.”
“Doubtful.” His cell phone buzzed, and he placed the call on speaker. “We’re in position.”
“Same here,” Eric replied. “No one has gone in or out. Sure you don’t want Apollo to do recon?”
Trey rolled his eyes and Justine stifled a giggle. “No, we’ve got it, but if you see anything—”
“We’ll come to your rescue,” Eric concluded.
Trey visibly bristled. “Or just cover us.”
“Roger that.”
Pocketing his phone, Trey said, “He’s nothing if not enthusiastic. There’s still time, if you’d rather stay with Irwin. Magnum and I can handle Alex and you’d be at a safer distance.”
“No way.” They’d had this conversation ten ways from Sunday already.
“Stay here. I want to do one more run-through.”
Justine hopped up onto a cement dock space and watched as Trey and Magnum moved through the small warehouse, clearing it with expertise and precision. An office near the back was void, except for a file cabinet, and the rest of the building was a large open area. A few pallets littered the floor. Otherwise, it too was empty.
Trey returned to her side. “He’s running late.”
“What’s the evidence Alex is holding?”
“I don’t know, but it better be good.”
Magnum sat panting at Trey’s feet, clad in his camouflage-patterned, patrol–K-9 vest.
“Poor guy. It’s hot in here. I can’t imagine wearing fur and a vest,” Justine said, petting the sweet dog.
“The vest gives me a way to carry him in an emergency, and it’s bulletproof.”
Justine straightened. “In that case, keep it on him. He seems to be moving better, not favoring one side as much.”
“I noticed that too.” Trey glanced at his watch. “Alex’s got five minutes, and we’re out of here.”
Justine reached into her pocket and withdrew the diary. “Can I borrow your flashlight?”
“How about teamwork? I’ll hold. You read.”
“Works for me.” Justine inspected the book, careful to separate the pages. “It’s dry and most of the pages are legible.” She flipped to the end and pressed the journal flat on her thighs. “Oh, there’s a little damage to the back cover.” A corner of the last page was lifted. “Hey, move that light here.”
Trey did as she asked, and Justine gently wedged her fingers beneath the crinkled paper. “It looks like these extra pages were glued down on purpose.”
“Why do that?”
Justine further separated them, revealing a small silver key. “What do we have here?” She pried the key from the tiny pocket and passed it to Trey.
“It’s too small to open a door. A lockbox? Or a padlock?” He handed it back, and she turned it over in her hand.
“I don’t know. But it’s obviously important.” Justine peeled the paper back even more. “And she wrote Underwood Machler beside it.”
“A name? Location?”
Justine shrugged.
“Did she write anything about the key in the diary?” Trey asked.
“I don’t think so. I didn’t memorize the book, but I don’t remember anything that said ‘by the way, I hid a key that has whatever in it,’” she teased.
“Funny.”
Justine slipped the key into the diary and dropped it into her pants pocket. They hadn’t talked about the Nolans’ accusation or Trey’s emphatic denial of a romantic relationship. Logic told her there was nothing wrong with what he’d said, but her pride stung. The shared kiss was an impulsive, emotional action. Nevertheless, she’d enjoyed it and imagined he had too. Still, she wouldn’t jeopardize his career over a kiss, especially because the Nolans fought dirty.
