Chapter Two #3
“It’s a hit with me too.” I took a seat on the high-back chair by the island, and she cut me a steaming slice and topped it with vanilla ice cream. “Christ, this is so good.” I moaned at the comforting feeling it brought me.
“So gingerbread is what it takes to get you home?” Lainey stood by the doorway with her arms crossed. She was a clone of Mom, with short, dark, wavy hair to her shoulders, a slim nose, and deep-brown eyes.
“Be nice.” Charley kissed her cheek. “She’s here now—that’s what matters.”
I leaned back and pulled a bag of her favorite cookies from my purse. They were from a famous bakery in the city that she loved. “I brought a peace offering.” I handed it to her.
“Oh, yum!” She snagged the bag and dug one out.
“See?” I shrugged at Mom. “I’m not the only one who can be bought with sweets.”
She hugged me again, a little longer this time, and planted a noisy kiss on my head. “Why don’t you get your things and get settled in your room? Once the trail ride is over and Patrick is back, we’ll have dinner.”
“Sounds good.” I washed my plate and headed out to get my belongings.
Dad had obviously beaten me to it and had loaded my suitcases into a wheelbarrow. It was parked at the bottom of the porch steps.
“You’re back,” he said from where he sat on the porch chair. His still-handsome face was weathered from the sun and hard work. His faded Weber-grill ball cap was pushed up like it often was when his day was nearing the end.
“I am.”
“For how long?”
“Few weeks.”
He nodded but made a point to look at the heap of luggage that had come with me this time. “Doesn’t look like a few weeks.”
I leaned my shoulder into a post and took in the gorgeous sunset that could be seen through the colorful trees. “Robert called me.”
“Oh yeah?” Dad sipped his coffee. “What does the good old captain have to say?”
“Guess there’s been a couple homicides in Sheffield.
His boss is breathing down his neck about making things right, and he asked me to officially lend a hand.
” Dad’s eyebrow arched as he took another sip and patted Finley, who was happily draped over his lap.
I knew what he was thinking, but thankfully he didn’t go there.
“Doesn’t surprise me—you’re one of the best PIs in the state.” He shifted, and Finley jumped down. “You stay for as long as you want.” He stood up and kissed my cheek. “All I ask is no drinking in the loft.”
“Sure, Dad.”
I swung my legs over the end of the loft door and handed Patrick a cold beer, which he happily took.
With a full stomach thanks to a delicious dinner, I felt it was time to check in with my twin.
We sat there above the barn like we’d done as kids and looked out together at our property.
There was a great view of the fields lined with fences, the lake, and the trees.
I breathed deeply. I really loved this place, and I knew my brother did too.
“Where’s Maxine?” My brother had married my childhood best friend. It was a little strange at first, but Maxine was an amazing person, and after a love-filled summer I knew she was perfect for him.
“She picked up a shift at the hospital. I guess they were short staffed again, and we could use the overtime.”
I nodded. I knew Maxine was a hard worker, and if they were short staffed for nurses, she’d give up her day off to help out.
“You were quiet over dinner.” He twisted the cap and took a swig. “Must feel strange to be back after all these years.” His dig hit hard in the center of my chest. I deserved it.
“You could have visited,” I whispered.
“So could you.”
“I did.”
He made a wry face and shook his head. “Right, three times in twelve years. It’s a long time to leave your family.” When I didn’t respond, he sighed, and I could see he fought to let his hurt go. “At the risk of driving you off, can I ask you something?”
I shot him a cautious look. “Depends.”
“Do you think it’s a wise idea working a homicide case? You know . . .”
I looked away and cleared my throat. “It’s my job.”
“No, missing runaways is your job. Real investigator work could have been, though.” He stopped himself when he realized he was being a dick.
“Sorry, I know you do more than work with missing teens. And I know you work sometimes with the NYPD. That last case must have been pretty cool to be a part of.” When I looked surprised, he grinned.
“Cap filled me in.” I nodded with a rueful smile.
“Can you just explain why someone as smart as you would drop out of the FBI program?” His gaze moved to my white-knuckled grip on the beer bottle.
“Okay.” He shook his head. “I’ll drop it. ”
“Good.”
He was right that I hadn’t dropped out because I couldn’t hack it, though.
But I had found a place for myself after I quit the FBI.
It happened quite by accident when I heard about a missing kid and decided to try to help after the police had given up on him.
It didn’t take that long to figure it out.
I found I was good at thinking like a troubled teen.
Runaways became my thing, and word got out, and I soon was getting calls from desperate parents who had nowhere else to turn.
My heart was full when I brought their children back to them, and I lived for it.
“I know, it’s not my usual gig, but I need a change.
” I hesitated. “A challenge. The fact that Robert asked me personally means something. He knows I have an eye for detail. Besides, sometimes a person like me can dig around on the outside without the boundaries of law. Carefully, so as not to mess up the case, of course.”
“Sure, and that’s cool and all, but don’t you think it’ll dig up past—”
I cut him off. “Nope.” I didn’t want to even go near that thought with him.
“One more thing”—he eyed me as he drank—“I know you said you wanted your files you kept after—”
“I did.” I didn’t want him to finish the sentence.
“I didn’t realize there were potentially three more Barbed Wire victims.”
“You went through my files?” I’m not sure why that bothered me. Patrick knew pretty much everything that had happened.
“Of course I did.” He brushed me off. “Guess I blocked that part of it out.”
“Lucky. Look”—I leaned my head against the wood frame—“I just want my family right now. I need this.” I waved my hands around at the horses that grazed in the field. “I need to reset and reboot. Is that okay with you?”
I felt a little guilt seep in at the thought of my family. My parents, who were getting older but both still had to work hard. My sister, Lainey, and her husband, Charley, one of my favorite people. My twin brother and his beautiful wife. They were all dedicated to keeping this place going.
He looked away and finished off his beer, then reached for another. “Promise you’ll let me know this time before you leave?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll take over some of the barn work.” He tilted his head at me.
“Yes.”
“You’ll let me drive your sweet truck?” My brother’s smile returned.
“No.” I laughed, and he joined in. “Yeah, sure.” I relaxed a little and thought how good it would feel to be in my own bed.
A high-pitched squeal drew my attention, and we both looked in the direction of the truck that had just pulled up. I turned to my brother. “What the—”
“That’s Kevin, the noisy pig. He’s got a serious love affair goin’ for Finley and Dad.” The pig in question had jumped out of the passenger side of Dad’s truck and was headed straight across the driveway toward the border collie pup.
“Christ, he’s fast for such little legs.” I smiled around the mouth of the beer.
He chuckled. “Wait for it. Dad takes that little potbelly everywhere. People know Kevin.” He snorted.
“Jesus.” I shook my head with a laugh. “What did I come home to?”
“For fuck’s sake”—Dad looked up at the two of us—“are you two drinkin’ up there?” he called from below.
“No,” we said in unison.