Degrees of Darkness, page 36
“You gonna answer me?” She crossed her arms and cocked a hip.
Remy strode down the aisle. “Before you write me off as a lunatic, hear me out.”
Deep lines creased her face and her green eyes lost their fighting spark. “What are you talkin’ ’bout?”
He grasped her shoulders. “Just don’t say anything and listen.”
Her arms hung at her sides, her guard had dropped. “Fine. I’m listening.”
The faint scent of citrus mingled with the musty odor of hay and manure. He couldn’t get a woman more down-to-earth than Cody. His hands slid down the length of her shirtsleeves, and he cradled her gritty hands in his.
“For the next few weeks, I want you out of town. Far from here. Find some rodeo or barrel thing far away. Canada, whatever. Can you do that?”
Cody’s frown lines smoothed into disbelief, and she blinked rapidly. “Uh … ” She coughed and moved to pull her hands out of his. He tightened his grip and stilled her.
She glanced at their connection, then up. “You … I … ” She heaved a frustrated sigh. “Weren’t you the one bellyaching about me running away from my problems?”
“I did — ”
“And telling me to come home?”
His turn to sigh. “Cody.”
She ripped her hands free. “I’m home three days, and suddenly, you’re trying to run me off like a leper.”
“No I’m not.”
“Oh? Then what the hell do you call this?”
This was going to be a battle from the start. Saying nothing always proved easier than trying to track the lies.
After a few moments of silence, Cody shook her head. “Forget it.” She grabbed up the buckets and sloshed past. Water pelted his pant legs.
Shoving down his irritation, he trailed her to the stall she entered. “I’m worried this new case might become a repeat of the … ”
Finished hooking the bucket on to the clip, she faced him. White splotches peppered her skin. “Like the last one.”
He found a spot on the wall above her head.
“I see.” She left the stall, placed the other bucket on the floor, and walked to the tack room.
Those two words split him wide open. On the heels of her ugly battle with PTSD, she now faced a new danger that would not only exacerbate those problems, it would actually kill her this time. Remy drove his fingers through his hair. And this situation, despite what anyone might think, was his fault.
Cody emerged from the tack room carrying a halter.
“Is that all you’re going to say?”
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye as she passed, then entered her colt’s stall. With her, the nearly wild horse was a docile pet. But if anyone else tried to touch his stall door or enter, they were attacked.
Remy backed into a corner when she led the colt out of the stall. CG Flyer’s dark-chocolate coat glistened under the barn lights. His head hung low, the bright white star in the center of his forehead a stark contrast to the rest of him. The colt kept a wary eye on Remy until he left the barn. Nothing new there; the animal had never liked him or any other man for that matter.
Okay, so she wanted to give him the silent treatment. Her point came through loud and clear. He’d demanded much and expected her to comply without explanation. What a couyan.
Cody returned, the halter hooked over her shoulder. “Remy, you wanted me to promise to trust you with whatever you asked. I’m guessing this is the time, or one of them?”
“Something like that.”
She rolled the lead rope between her fingers, staring at the silky cord. “I can’t leave. Not now.” Her attention left the rope and settled on him. “Kim is in town. I haven’t seen her in almost a year because our schedules never allowed it. I’m not going anywhere.”
“How long is she going to be here?”
“I don’t know. But I’m not planning on going back on the road until May. JC and I were thinking of going to Athens this weekend. But with Kim back, it’s not likely.”
Now what did he do? The box and the attack on him were warnings. How did he protect her from what was certain to come?
“You’re trying to protect me, I get it. But I’m a big girl, Remy. I need to learn to take care of myself.”
“Doing it alone is the worst thing you can do.”
“You underestimate me. If I’m to be a whole person again I have to do this my way.”
“Not like this you can’t. You’re underestimating the situation.”
“How can it be worse than last time?”
He fell silent.
She reared back a step. “Well, maybe I’d understand it better if, for just once, you would open up and tell me what in tarnation is going on. Why do you feel so compelled to keep me locked out of your past?”
“There’s nothing for you to know. It’s done and over with. I’ve moved on.”
“Have you? Because from where I stand, it sure don’t look like it.”
Remy curled his fingers into fists, then rammed them into his jacket pockets. “I’m not getting into this with you. I drove out here to check on you and ask you to leave. Since you feel the need to do whatever the hell you want, then I’ve got to go.” He brushed past her.
“You always do this. Shut me out and leave me high and dry. For no reason.”
He halted inches from freedom and glared at the door. Staying a minute longer could make this whole discussion blow up in his face. But something stalled him.
“Most of my life has been laid bare to you. It’s time you do the same,” she said.
Weight pressed on his neck and shoulders. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
He spun, slashing the air with his arm. “Because it’ll get you killed!”
The expected reaction from her didn’t happen. He wanted her to back away, appear shocked and hurt. He didn’t want to see the hardened stare, the tilted chin, and stiffened body. Or maybe he did want it. Then it meant the real Cody had resurfaced. Or was it all a façade?
“If there’s one thing I’m certain of, Remy LeBeau, is we all die one day.”
Spitting a curse, he stalked to her, grabbed her shoulders, and gave her a hard shake. “And there’s one thing I’m certain of, Cody Lewis, is that your blood will not stain my hands.”
“You don’t get to make the choices.”
Releasing her, he took a step back. “Let go of the fantasy. It just poisons your mind.”
“Go to work. Like you said, I’m not getting into this with you.” She turned her back on him and entered one of the stalls, slamming the slide lock home.
Remy grunted and left the stable. Climbing into the Corvette, he sat there, hand on the key, but not starting it, staring at the sun as it came up over the horizon.
She was right.
He didn’t get to make the choices.
• • •
Through the binoculars, The Assassin watched LeBeau start the car and pull out of the driveway. Why he’d come here to this ranch was a mystery. Maybe it had to do with the woman who’d walked out of the stable earlier, leading a horse.
Rocking back on the Kawasaki Ninja, The Assassin rummaged through the backpack and withdrew the smartphone. A quick search revealed the owners of this wretched cowboy haven. Logan Lewis and his precious daughter, Cody.
Cody’s name triggered more links. Apparently the woman had seen her fair share of tragedy in the past few months. She was a witness to the Rodeo Sweethearts serial killer and almost became a victim. And who worked that case from start to finish?
A smile lit up The Assassin’s face. Well, damn. LeBeau got more than another gold star to his record. He got a piece of ass. From the moment The Assassin started tracking LeBeau’s movements, this Cody Lewis hadn’t shown up. And an electrical scan of his condo revealed the highly sophisticated alarm system, so breaking in was out of the question. Hell, the man was prepared for an all-out invasion, or another attempt on his life.
How did The Assassin miss this woman?
Wait. There had been a day The Assassin hadn’t stuck around LeBeau’s condo. His trips into his garage proved to be nothing more than a yawn fest. He’d made no calls to this woman in the last few days.
The squeal of hinges, clear in the early morning silence, brought The Assassin’s attention back to the stable and the binoculars back up. Sunlight filled the sky, revealing the woman’s features.
“You sure know how to pick ’em, LeBeau.”
Cody led three more horses from the stable to a large pasture. Once she released them, she watched them tear through the field. Dirt clods flew from the horses’ hooves. She’d provide the perfect way to keep LeBeau off his game and really screw with his head. And if she was as important to him as his wife had been, then all the better. From what The Assassin could tell the pictures hardly did jack-shit in deterring him. Time to raise the stakes.
Stashing the phone and the binoculars, The Assassin dismounted from the bike and began to scout for the perfect position to monitor this woman throughout today.
Jared would love this latest news.
Chapter Fifteen
According to their parents, Cody and Kim had been best friends since they were in diapers. Inseparable, the two of them would sneak off to each other’s houses and had usually been found riding horses or goofing off. When JC entered the picture, Kim pitched a fit. A few childish fights ensued between the girls until their mommas found out the real problem: Kim had thought she was being ousted by a boy. Eventually she’d warmed up to JC, and their families branded them the Three Amigos.
Cody stepped onto the porch the moment a brilliant fire engine-red Dodge truck came to a halt in a cloud of dust and grit. A genuine, heartfelt smile emerged on her lips at the sight. She could count on Kim for a pick-me-up whenever she came home. The former Miss Rodeo Texas never did anything halfway.
Once the dust cloud dispersed, Kim flung open the door, stood on the running board of her truck, and waved. “Cody Lewis, what did you do to your hair?”
Cody fingered the shortened strands, and a piece of her withered inside. She hadn’t told Kim the whole story. Could she relive those moments again in the retelling?
Hopping down from her fancy ride, Kim dashed up the pea-gravel walk and launched herself onto the porch. She embraced Cody and squeezed the air from her lungs. After sufficiently suffocating her, Kim thrust Cody back at arm’s length and gave her the once over. “It looks like a Saint Bernard chewed you up, spit you out, and slobbered all over you for good measure.” She fluffed Cody’s hair. “But I love the new ’do. Kinda trendy for you.”
Cody swatted her hand away. “New truck?”
Kim faced her vehicle. “Isn’t she a beaut? A little present to myself after a successful year.”
“Is that the big news? Your truck?”
She swung back, her sleek dark brown hair flying. “Nope.” People always compared the color of Kim’s eyes to sapphires. And they twinkled just as brilliant as the precious stones. “Remember what I told you I always wanted to do when I grew up?”
What she always wanted to do? Good grief. Kim changed her dreams, plans, and outlook on life as often as the wind shifted course. How was Cody supposed to guess?
“You don’t remember?”
She shrugged. “Hey, a lot has happened in my life. I tend to forget what went on yesterday.”
Impish mask in place, Kim’s Cheshire grin widened. “Right.” Hooking her arm with Cody’s, she dragged her toward the porch steps. “You know what I really want to do first?”
“What?”
“Go on a long trail ride. We haven’t done that in ages, and it’ll give us a chance to talk.” She bumped Cody’s shoulder. “I wanna hear all about this Remy.”
Cody bumped Kim’s shoulder, too. “Remy, huh? You came all the way out here for me to tell you about my nonexistent love life.”
“Ooo. This is sounding more interesting. Do tell.”
“You know, there are two horses in dire need of a long ride. And one of them likes to race the other.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not getting out of telling me about Remy and everything else I’ve missed around here.” Kim dragged her into the stable where they kept the horses used for random jobs for the ranch. “Do you still have Bandit?”
“Yes, but she’s pregnant.”
“Oh, then I’ll ride Rusty. You go get your new stud I heard you bought. I wanna see him move.”
“Uh, no trail ride then.”
Kim planted her fist on her hips. “Well, why not?”
“That stallion isn’t proven on trails. When we get back, I’ll put him through his paces in the arena. Sound good?”
“Oh, all right. Go saddle someone. I need to ride.”
Cody jogged over to her barrel horses’ stable and caught her gelding, Maverick’s Flash. The poor guy was in need of some exercise, having been ousted by S’mores in the barrel racing department. Saddled and ready to go, Mav kicked out into a trot. They met Kim riding Rusty outside the indoor arena.
Bent over the sorrel gelding’s withers, Kim stroked his long well-muscled neck. “This boy dances like a dream. Too bad you didn’t have him while I was competing for queen.”
“Dad wouldn’t have let you ride him, anyway.”
Kim blew a raspberry. “Your daddy was always a pushover when it came to me.”
“Right.” Cody clucked to Mav, and he slid into a smooth lope.
They rode past the broodmare pasture and skirted the edge of the newly sprouting hayfield. The creak of leather, their horses blowing at the flies and swishing their tails joined the choir of nature.
Cody let the sway of Mav’s body and the warm, earthy scent of Texas prairie and horse lull her. The tension melted from her shoulders and sloughed off onto the ground behind them.
“I miss being here all the time.”
She pushed her hair out of her face and considered her friend. “Stop gallivanting, and stay home.”
Kim grinned and shook her head. “Funny you should say that.” She tipped her face to the sun. “If all goes well on Saturday night, I’ll be home for good.”
“What’s going on Saturday night?”
“You know Glory Reardon?”
Cody rocked her upper body back as Mav eased down the creek embankment. “Who in Fort Worth doesn’t? I’ve bought most of my barrel racing shirts from her family’s store.”
The horses splashed into the creek. Cody and Kim reined them to a halt and let the horses drink.
“Glory and I are going into business together. She’s going to design western clothing and oversee the production. I’m the market, business, and PR end.”
Cody gaped a moment, bringing herself out of her self-induced trance with some fast blinking. “When’d this come about?”
Kim shrugged and fiddled with Rusty’s mane. “I’ve been kicking the idea around for about four years. Glory and I’ve talked off and on, but she didn’t make a final decision to cash in on the idea until last June. While I judged the queen contests, I managed to get enough backing to open the business.”
“So, lemme get this straight.” Cody crossed her arms on the saddle horn and leaned against them. “You’re going to own a clothing company?”
“Based right here in Fort Worth. Got the building, got the suppliers, and got the know-how. Saturday night is the grand opening–slash–fashion gala.”
“Wow.”
Kim scowled. “You sound skeptical.”
“No-no-no-no. It sounds like you’ve got this all figured out.” Cody tucked a coil behind an ear. “I just never pictured you doing this. Guess I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do, ’cause you had so many ideas.”
“Well, took me fifteen years, but I finally made my decision.”
“I hope it lasts.”
Kim beamed. “It will. I know, I know, I know. There’s a lot of good steady businesses out there doing the same thing, and I’m bucking the competition. But I think Glory and I have a corner on the market in a certain area.”
“And what’s that?”
“Well, while you’re having fun at the gala, you’ll find out.” Her brows formed a V and she ogled Cody head to toe. “Oh, and by the way. You’re wearing a dress.”
Cody reared back in the saddle. “Who said … ? Oh, no you don’t. I’m not wearing a dress.”
The fiendish cackle from Kim reminded Cody of the Wicked Witch of the West. “My gala, my rules. It’s formal. And that means, a dress.”
“You know I hate those things.”
“Didn’t stop you from wearing one to our senior prom.”
“Ha! Shows you. I didn’t wear a dress.” Cody smirked.
“JC said it was.”
Cody rolled her eyes. “JC wouldn’t know a hole in the ground from a button.”
“True.” The imp returned. “So, spill on the Cajun boy. And he’s also invited.”
Lifting the reins, Cody squeezed her knees. “If he can peel himself away from work.” Mav exited the creek and bucked up the embankment.
Kim’s horse fell in step next to them. “You know, I never pictured you with a cop, much less a city slicker. Always thought some rodeo guy would snag you up.”
A smile tipped the corners of Cody’s mouth. “Remy’s not the city boy he tries to be. From what little I’ve gotten from him, he grew up on the bayous.”
“Meh, I guess that’s country.”
They both laughed, startling a flock of birds.
• • •
The Assassin winced at the squawking birds overhead. The two women rode off, but this time The Assassin didn’t follow. There were plenty of photos and enough conversation to satisfy Jared’s blood-lust.
