Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dean
We reached the end of the driveway, and I slowed as we approached the circular paved area in front of the house. A covered parking lot stretched along one side, and I pulled my beat-up truck in next to a row of pickups and SUVs.
We had a plan. But I wondered if Keira knew the old military adage: No plan survives contact with the enemy. If she didn’t, I wasn’t going to bring it up.
I would be ready for anything. My top priority was Keira. Second, getting inside Donny Phelan’s head. On methods, I was flexible.
As we got out, Keira’s gaze lingered on the vehicles. She stopped beside a black Ford Explorer, her expression hardening.
“That one,” she said quietly. “Matches the description of the getaway car the shooters used. It’s spotless. Like it was recently detailed.”
I studied it, then shook my head. “Would’ve been pretty stupid to just park it here, don’t you think?”
“True.” She exhaled slowly. “Then again, Owen hasn’t been able to get a search warrant, so maybe Phelan really is that overconfident.”
Which meant I had to be on my guard to ensure Keira’s safety here. I kept my eyes on the vehicles as we walked toward the house, cataloging details.
Beyond the parking area sat a massive garage, large enough to hold a boat or RV the size of a city bus. All the garage doors were closed, revealing nothing of what lay inside. Yet these vehicles were parked outdoors.
The front entrance of the house loomed before us, all wrought iron and dark wood. Oversized lanterns flanked a door that looked like it belonged on a medieval fortress.
I was surprised nobody had stopped us yet. With this guy’s media empire and massive ego, I’d almost expected security checkpoints and guards with clipboards.
I pressed the doorbell and heard it echo inside. Keira glanced up, tilting her head. “Camera.” She nodded toward a small black dome mounted above the door.
I gave a slight nod back. We were already being watched.
A moment later, a female voice crackled through an intercom speaker. “Can I help you?”
“We’re here to see Mr. Phelan,” I said.
“I don’t believe you have an appointment.”
“It’s a casual visit.”
Keira stepped forward, her voice taking on a lighter tone. “I met Mr. Phelan about a month ago. He might remember me. I’m Keira Marsh. Um, Deputy Marsh, but I’m on leave. We’d be very grateful if he would give us a few minutes of his time.”
I hid a smirk, hoping the camera hadn’t picked up her eye-roll.
A few seconds later, the front door opened. A middle-aged woman in a crisp skirt suit appeared in the doorway.
“You can come in.” Her expression was professionally blank, her posture rigid. “I’m Mr. Phelan’s assistant, Natasha.”
“I’m Keira. And this is Dean.”
Natasha stepped aside to let us in. The interior of the house opened up into a dramatic vaulted entrance that made me tilt my head back to take it all in. Chandeliers made of antlers hung from the ceiling, not unlike the ski resort lodge in Silver Ridge.
Natasha led us into a sitting room. Deep burgundy leather couches sat arranged around a coffee table made from what looked like a single slab of wood, polished to a mirror shine.
“Mr. Phelan will be with you shortly,” Natasha said, then disappeared.
Keira and I looked at one another. Communicating silently. There were no cameras in sight here, but it was wise to be careful.
Fancy place, Keira’s eyes seemed to say. No expense spared. What a showoff.
Be careful, I tried to convey back. Don’t underestimate him.
She smiled.
Less than a minute later, Donny Phelan made his entrance.
He strode into the room in a light blue cowboy hat, a diamond stud winking from his ear.
His jeans looked fresh from a high-end boutique, paired with a thin t-shirt with the word Armani subtly embossed across the chest. If you could call that subtle.
“Mr. Phelan. Thank you for seeing us.” Keira’s tone was polite, even apologetic. I was impressed with her acting skills. “Wasn’t sure if you would remember me, but—”
“Deputy Marsh. Of course I remember you.”
I studied him as he approached, wondering if this was the man who’d ordered the attack on Keira.
“I heard about what happened to you. Just terrible.” Phelan looked at her arm in its sling, and then his gaze continued to slide over her in a way that had me tensing.
“But I suppose you make a lot of enemies as a police officer. It’s a risky job.
” He paused, his smile sharpening. “A lot for a young woman like you to handle.”
Keira blinked and glanced away. She was being careful, like she was supposed to, but now anger flared hot in my chest.
Fuck this guy for saying shit like that to her.
“We’re sorry to interrupt your day and come unannounced,” I said.
Phelan focused on me. “And you are? I didn’t catch your name.”
“Dean Reynolds.” I stepped forward, holding out my hand. Then, on impulse, I added, “I’m a fan of your show.”
Phelan’s entire demeanor changed, his chest puffing up. “You don’t say. Always a pleasure to meet a fan.”
We shook hands, and I forced myself to grin, hoping my face wasn’t revealing too much. Such as, the way I wanted to plant my fist right in the center of his smug expression.
Stick with the plan.
“We were hoping for your help,” I said. “I understand you were at the same bar and restaurant as Keira on the night she was injured. We were hoping you might’ve seen something, anything, that could point us toward a lead.”
Phelan tilted his head. “Sounds like the sheriff hasn’t made any progress.”
Keira shifted beside me. “You did refuse to answer Sheriff Douglas’s questions.”
Phelan narrowed his eyes at her. “On the advice of my lawyers. That’s all.”
“Then I’m sure you wouldn’t mind talking to us,” she countered. “Unofficially.”
I put a hand on her arm. “Keira and I are here as civilians. Just fellow residents of Hart County, asking for your assistance.”
“Dean, what’s your connection to Miss Marsh, exactly?” His gaze bounced between us. “Are you here for moral support? She and I had some strong words the night in question, so I wouldn’t blame her for being nervous about coming here alone and begging for my assistance.” He smirked.
Keira made a low sound in her throat. “Begging? I’d be happy to show you—”
“I’m her boyfriend,” I interrupted.
Keira started coughing.
I slid my arm fully around her shoulders. “You okay, babe?”
“Oh yeah,” she wheezed. “Just great. Babe.” Her glare told me I was going to pay for this later.
But too bad. I wanted to leave Phelan with no doubt about my loyalties, even if I was pretending to kiss up to him.
As far as he was concerned, Keira was mine.
“So your boyfriend’s a fan,” Phelan said to Keira, sounding more amused than suspicious. “What a coincidence.”
“Sure is.”
“I suppose you didn’t know who I was when we first met.” Phelan held up his hands in mock modesty. “But we all make mistakes. Let’s sit down. Natasha!” He raised his voice. “Get our guests something to drink. Anyone hungry? My chef baked up some buttermilk biscuits for lunch. There are leftovers.”
“That sounds downright homey,” Keira said sweetly, “but I’ll pass. What about you, babe?”
Her eyes warned me that if I took one of those biscuits, she might make me choke on it.
“Just some iced tea,” I said.
We sat on one of the ornate couches. The leather creaked under our weight. Phelan perched across from us in a high-backed chair, settling into it like he was sitting on a throne. Natasha reappeared with a crystal pitcher of iced tea and poured three glasses with exaggerated care.
“Seems like you’re creating a real empire,” I said. “Hart County’s lucky to have you.”
Keira snorted, then covered it by taking a gulp of tea.
Phelan either didn’t notice or chose to ignore her.
“Thank you. I needed space, and this property has it. The house is coming along. The original structure had good bones, but it needed vision, you know? I’m having tennis courts built outside.
” He gestured vaguely toward the windows.
“And I’m expanding the wine cellar. You have to think big if you want to achieve big things. ”
I nodded along. “That’s what you always say on your show.”
“Exactly right.” He leaned back, warming to his topic.
“I’m helping my followers reclaim their power.
It’s about taking back what’s rightfully ours from the domineering women who want to control us.
And you know what? I really love helping people.
That’s why I do this. The money’s great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s about the mission. ”
Keira started coughing again, her shoulders shaking.
“You sure you’re okay?” I asked, patting her back.
She nodded, eyes watering. “Actually, I need to use the bathroom. If you don’t mind, Mr. Phelan.”
Oh hell, what was she up to?
He waved a hand. “Natasha will show you where it is.”
I caught her eye as she followed Natasha out of the room. But Keira’s expression was neutral.
Once they were gone, Phelan leaned forward slightly. “I wish I could do something to help Deputy Marsh with her situation. But I didn’t see anything suspicious that night at the bar.”
“You’re sure?”
“Completely.” He paused, his expression turning knowing. “She’s got a fiery temper, doesn’t she? Quite a mouth on her. Probably pisses people off wherever she goes.”
“She does have a mind of her own.”
“It can be a problem. Women like that need strong men to keep them in line.”
I shrugged, forcing a rough grin. “I’ve been working on it. Trying to keep her safe.” That much was true.
I stood and strolled around the living room, examining the expensive objects scattered on various tables and shelves.
Phelan leaned back in his seat, relaxing. “Maybe your Keira shouldn’t have poked her nose into business that wasn’t hers. But that’s a lesson she needed to learn.”
I stopped, turning my head slowly to look at him. My body had gone rigid.
“A lesson, huh? But those men who invaded her home and hurt her, they had nothing to do with you, right?”