Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Jesslyn was released from the hospital shortly after eight Monday morning. They’d kept her to be sure she’d have no adverse reactions to the smoke inhalation. She was well armed with instructions on how to care for her wounds and the supplies to do it. And of course, she had Lainie to rely on if she needed to.
At home she took off most of the hospital bandages from her hands and simply used large Band-Aids. Much easier to navigate the laptop keyboard and phone.
With two off-duty officers on her house thanks to Cole’s connections, and Lainie and Kenzie in her kitchen, she was well covered. Aunt Carol had wanted to come, but Jesslyn was antsy about having the woman around her outside the hospital. All precautions would be taken. No one was assuming Kenny was the arsonist. If he was, great, they had their guy, not just a scared kid running from the scene.
And if it wasn’t Kenny, she didn’t know if her attacker would take out his anger on others close to her. This was one situation where she’d err on the side of caution and keep Aunt Carol away. She didn’t want to risk her law enforcement friends either, but at least they all had guns.
Kenzie, laptop in hand, walked into the den and settled into the recliner across from the couch where Jesslyn had made herself comfortable. “So that piece of jewelry Nathan showed you Saturday. What did you think of it?”
“I’ve definitely seen it before.”
When she’d awakened this morning, Nathan was there in the hospital room, snoozing in the chair Aunt Carol had been in when Jesslyn had fallen asleep. She wasn’t sure what noise she’d made to indicate she was awake, but he’d blinked and met her gaze while her heart nearly set off the machines at how handsome he was. Like a mussed little boy waking from his nap.
Then he blinked again and the little boy was gone, the look in his eyes going from sleepy to smoky hot at the speed of light. Heat crept up from her throat and into her neck, heading for her cheeks, and she buried her face in her hands under the pretense of wiping the sleep from her eyes.
Nope, he was all man for sure.
While she was trying to rein in her runaway attraction, he talked some more about the other fire and they looked at the picture of the piece of jewelry again.
“I just wish I could remember where I saw it.” She paused. “The fire at the bank is confusing, though. I’m not connected to it, so I don’t understand the relevance.”
“If it wasn’t for the Molotov cocktail thrown into your car, I’d say maybe it’s time to rethink whether this is about you. But...”
“Right.”
“You’re definitely a target.”
“But how does the bank fire factor into my life, that’s the question.”
“You don’t bank there.”
“No.”
“Have a safety deposit box there?”
“Nope.”
“Know anyone who works there?”
“No.” She shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve ever set foot in that branch.”
She blinked away the memory and pulled her laptop from the end table, intending to do some research after she made a phone call.
Lainie walked into the room, tucked her phone into her back pocket, and dropped into the matching recliner on the other side of the fireplace. “What’d I miss?”
While Kenzie filled her in, Jesslyn stretched out on the couch and made a phone call to her aunt.
Carol answered on the last ring, sounding out of breath.
“Are you okay?” Jesslyn asked.
“I’m fine. Was just doing my exercise video. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m settled at home with all of my babysitters in attendance.” From the recliner, Kenzie stuck her tongue out, then went back to whatever she was doing on her laptop. Jesslyn smiled. “Anyway, I have a question. Do you know if I ever went to the Tradition’s Custom Touch jewelry store with Mom or Dad?”
“I ... um ... I don’t really remember. Why?”
“It’s just a memory I have. At least I think it’s a memory. I found some pictures of the store before they renovated it and I remember being there.”
“Well, it’s possible. Your dad gave your mom a few pieces of jewelry during their marriage. I guess he could have gotten them from there.”
Jesslyn frowned. “Do you still have some of those pieces or did they get destroyed in the fire?”
A low breath reached her through the line. “She kept a lot of her jewelry in a safe deposit box, so yes, I have everything in that. She put my name on the box in case ... well...”
“And you haven’t taken them out in all these years?” And why hadn’t she offered them to Jesslyn?
“No. I haven’t.”
There was something she wasn’t saying, but she could address that at another time. “Okay. Do you mind if I go look at them?”
“Why the sudden interest in the jewelry?”
“It’s a long story. I can explain later. So, do you mind?”
A pause. “No. Of course not.”
Memories flickered at the back of her mind and she wanted answers. “Aunt Carol, I remember my parents fighting quite a bit before the fire. I don’t know how long before, but I just remember bits and pieces. Like Dad storming out of the house and slamming the door. Mom crying. When I asked her what was wrong, she just shook her head and told me not to worry about it.”
“You remember that? You couldn’t have been more than six or so.”
“I know, but yes, I remember that.”
Her aunt fell quiet, and Jesslyn wondered what she was thinking. “Oh, hon,” she finally said. “I don’t suppose it will hurt to tell you that your parents’ marriage was in a really bad place before the fire. It was getting better, but for a while there, it was bad. You must be remembering some of the bad parts.”
She didn’t know why she wasn’t more shocked. “I suspected. Do you know why?”
A pause. “Yes.”
“Will you tell me the reason?”
“It’s not pretty, Jesslyn. I know you have this picture of your family in your head. Your heart. And I’ve not wanted to do anything to ... damage that.”
“Carol ... please...”
“Do you really want to know? Because once I tell you—”
“I want to know. I ... need to know.”
Carol went silent once more. Jesslyn waited. “Okay then,” Carol said. “Your father was cheating on your mother. Had been since shortly after they were married.”
Jesslyn closed her eyes and let the words sink in. “I’m sorry. What? You mean...”
Carol’s answer was short. “Yes.”
“Whoa.” It was a good thing she was sitting down. Her heart thundered. Focus. Process later. She gulped in air and finally found her voice. “Well, that explains the fights, I guess.”
“I’m really surprised you remember so much.”
“I do. Some in detail. Some just by the tension that was there. I knew something was wrong between them. Of course, I had no idea what it could be, but now it makes more sense than they just didn’t like each other anymore.”
“I’m sorry.” Her aunt’s voice caught and she cleared her throat. “I didn’t want you to know. I wanted you to go on believing you had the perfect family.”
Jesslyn scoffed. “I never believed my family was perfect, but they were my family and I loved them.”
“I know, sweetie. But your dad had a lot of issues stemming from his childhood and it made living with him hard sometimes.”
“Then why encourage me to develop the youth center? Why agree to help with everything that will honor him like that?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.” She blew out a long breath. “It’s a fairly long story. I’ll tell you later, but if you truly want to see the jewelry, then I need to go.”
“Fine. Sounds like we both have stories to share.”
“Yes. Sounds like. I can meet you at the bank and open the box for you.”
“Which bank?”
“Second National.”
Surely, meeting her aunt at a bank would be all right, wouldn’t it? They’d enter at separate times. If anyone was watching Jesslyn, there wouldn’t be any way to put the two of them together at the bank. And someone could watch the street to see if anyone followed her. But what if someone had been watching them at the hospital? Then they’d already know who Carol was. The thought chilled her. “When?”
“I have a pretty full day today since you sent me packing and wouldn’t let me stay with you.”
“Aunt Carol—”
“I can do it in a couple of hours if you can wait that long.” She paused. “Or I can just go by the bank and pick up the pieces and bring them to your house.”
No way. She bit her tongue on the words. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” It was a very, very bad idea for more reasons than one. “How much is the jewelry in the box worth?”
More silence. Then another sigh. “Today? Probably forty or fifty grand.”
Jesslyn choked. “What?”
“Your father had a lot of groveling to do, Jesslyn.”
She flinched, glad her aunt couldn’t see her reaction. She just realized Kenzie and Lainie had moved back into the kitchen to give her privacy. Tears pricked at her eyes. How she loved her friends and their thoughtfulness. “I’ll meet you there, but don’t leave your house until I text you, okay?” The extra caution might be the equivalent of shutting the barn door after all the horses were out, but with the threat she’d received and Kenny on the loose, Jesslyn didn’t figure it would hurt.
“Sure.”
She hung up. “You guys can come back in.”
They returned and took their former seats while she sent a group voice text to James, Cole, Nathan, Kenzie, and Andrew.
I need to run an errand related to the case. It’s about the jewelry found at the scenes. But I need help. Are any of you free?
Kenzie looked up and Jesslyn smiled at her. “You don’t have to answer to the loop.”
“Okay.”
The thumbs-up emojis started coming in. The only one not available was Andrew. And he sent a sad face with a tear on his cheek. It was fine. With the others, her plan should work.
Cole
Do I need to bring any of the other guys?
The SWAT team? It was probably a little too much for this. She responded with a negative, then outlined her plan by voice text again. Kenzie nodded and Lainie frowned. Clearly she wasn’t a fan.
But it was the only thing she could think of that would keep her aunt—and herself—safe while doing a necessary part of the investigation. Which was her job.
NATHAN GOT THE TEXT while he and Andrew were scouring security footage from the homes and businesses around the Endurance Empire Gym. “What is she up to now?” he muttered.
“Sounds like she’s got a plan about something,” Andrew said, even though Nathan hadn’t expected an answer. “Sorry I can’t help.”
Andrew had already told him he’d promised to help his folks with their bookstore and would be leaving as soon as they were done with the footage. Nathan tapped back that he was available and turned his focus back onto the screen. One person had caught his eye a few seconds before he stopped to check his messages. He used the cursor to drag the footage back to the part where he thought he recognized someone. “Hey, check this guy out. He looks familiar to me. What about you?”
Nathan enlarged the frame as much as he could without distorting the image, and Andrew narrowed his eyes. “Kenny?”
“That’s him, yes, but we knew he was there. What about the guy standing a little bit back from him?”
His partner leaned in and took a closer look at the area where the cursor pointed. “Is that the other guy from the student center? Brad Granger?”
“Pool Table Brad.” He nodded. “That’s him.”
“Interesting he and Kenny were there at the fire together.”
“Isn’t it, though?”
“I’m guessing you want to talk to Brad again?”
“I do. Kenny’s phone might be offline, but that doesn’t mean he’s not finding a way to communicate with his friends.”
“The officers who went to pick him up said all his friends denied hearing from him but also said it wouldn’t surprise them if they were lying.”
“Me either.” Nathan hesitated, then glanced at his watch. “I have time to go talk to Brad before I have to head over to Jesslyn’s. Let’s go.”
It didn’t take them long to reach the campus and wind their way around to the student center. When they walked in, only a small somber crowd gathered on the sofas and chairs around the fireplace. No one played pool or any of the video games lining the wall. The café was quiet.
The door opened and Nathan turned to the young woman who’d entered. Her puffy eyes said she’d been crying. “Miss?”
She looked at him. “Yes?”
“What’s going on? Why is it so...” He waved a hand. “Quiet.”
“One of our friends died.”
Nathan exchanged a look with Andrew. He was thinking the same thing. “I hate to ask, but could you tell us who?”
“Brad Granger.”
Nathan stilled. “No. I’m so sorry. What happened?”
“He jumped off the roof of his dorm, which is completely unbelievable.” She swiped a tear. “Brad wouldn’t jump.”
“When did this happen?”
“Late last night—or early this morning.”
Nathan exchanged a stunned look with Andrew. He didn’t surprise easily, but he had to admit, he hadn’t expected this. “Did anyone see him jump?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“Heath is his roommate, right?”
“Yes.”
“You know where he is?”
She shook her head.
“Right. Well, thanks for letting us know.”
She nodded and moved on to the group near the fireplace. Two female students made room for her on the nearest couch and she sank onto it.
“All right then,” Andrew said. “First move. Find Heath and have a chat with him? Ask him why Brad was at the fire?”
“Yes, then find out who’s investigating this and ask to be updated on anything they find out.”
“I sure would like to ask Kenny about his friend being at the scene with him.”
“And see his reaction when we tell him Brad is dead.”
“You think he doesn’t know?”
“I have no idea.” Nathan clapped his partner on the shoulder. “Let’s find Heath.”
It took them thirty minutes to track the young man to the math and science building. He was in Professor Derek Morgan’s office. When Nathan rapped his knuckles on the open door, Heath jumped to his feet. It was obvious the kid had been crying. He palmed his eyes, then shot them a glare. “What do you two want now?”
Professor Morgan rose to his feet. “Hey, Heath, don’t.”
Heath settled back into his seat with a scowl, and Morgan rested a compassionate gaze on him before turning to Andrew and Nathan. “Special agents, right?”
Andrew nodded. “Yes, sir. We’d like to speak to you, Heath, about your friend, Brad, if you don’t mind.”
“I mind. I’ve already talked to the detectives who were here this morning and I’ll tell you what I told them. Brad wouldn’t have jumped. There’s no way he killed himself.”
Nathan raised a brow. “Then would someone want to cause him harm? Because if it wasn’t suicide, then it was—”
“Murder. That’s exactly what it was. He was always going up to the rooftop at night. Almost every single night. To study or just talk on the phone, whatever.”
“Heath, stop.” Professor Morgan walked around the desk to rest a hand on Heath’s shoulder. “Son. Don’t do this to yourself.”
Nathan ignored the professor and looked the young man in the eyes. “So, what you’re saying is that there was a pattern and someone who knew it could have ...”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. We even called it Brad’s roof.” Heath shook his head and stood. “It’s not right. He wouldn’t have jumped.”
“Do you mind sharing with us why you feel like that?” Nathan asked.
“We were making plans for the summer, talking about graduation.” He threw his hands in the air. “Why make all those plans if you’re just going to end it?”
People usually didn’t, but it wasn’t unheard of.
“Derek, I need your hel—” The woman’s voice came from the door. Nathan turned to see a blond woman with green eyes and flushed cheeks. She stopped when she saw them and blinked. Then grimaced. “I didn’t realize you had visitors. I thought you were going to introduce me to the dean.”
Morgan looked from Nathan to the woman. “Sorry, Sam, just give me a few more minutes.” He waved his hand at Nathan and Andrew. “This is my sister, Samantha. Sam, this is—”
“Nice to meet you,” she snapped with a quick glance at Nathan and Andrew. She turned back to Morgan. “I don’t have all day.” She was gone as fast as she’d appeared.
“I-I’ll be right there.” He rubbed a hand over his lips. “I’m sorry about her. She’s kind of a menace. I have to go. Is there anything else?”
“Was he seeing any kind of doctor for mental health issues?” Andrew asked, looking at Heath. “Taking any meds?”
“No. And before you ask, yes, I would know. He wasn’t.”
Morgan confirmed Heath’s answer as he backed toward the door.
Nathan made a note to ask about any drugs—prescription or otherwise—found in the dorm room. “Where are you staying right now? I’m assuming your dorm room is off-limits?”
“Yeah, the detectives let me grab some of my stuff before they locked me out. Said I can come back tomorrow.” He sniffed. “I’m staying with Jeff and Kenny.” He frowned. “When is Kenny coming back?”
Nathan shot a look at Andrew, then back to the student. “He was released a while ago. You haven’t seen him?”
“No. I mean, those other cops came around asking about him, but I haven’t talked to him in a couple of days.”
So he probably wasn’t back on campus.
“Will you let us know if you hear of anyone who may have witnessed Brad’s death?”
“Derek?” Samantha was back at the door. “Seriously?”
“I’m coming. I’m coming. I promise.”
She huffed away and the professor gave a slight shrug. “Sorry. I promised to introduce her to Dean Fitzpatrick. There’s a job opening she’s interested in that she doesn’t have the slightest hope of getting, but she insists that I...” He waved a hand. “Never mind. Sorry.”
Heath’s gaze turned back to them. “To answer your question, I-I’ll ask around to some of the others and find out if he really had a death wish and I didn’t see it.”
Poor kid. “All right. Thanks for your help.” Nathan nodded to the professor. “What about you, Professor Morgan? You were pretty close with Brad, weren’t you?”
“Yes.” His jaw tightened and a sheen covered his eyes. He blinked. “Very. Look, I have to go.” He motioned to the door. “When she gets upset, she can be ... difficult.”
Nathan was starting to think Eli might not be so bad after all. “Did he confide in you about any suicidal thoughts?”
“No.” Morgan frowned. “He did seem preoccupied lately, but when I asked him about it, he just said he was fine.”
Andrew nodded. “What about Kenny? Still haven’t heard from him?”
“No. I haven’t. Now, I have to—”
“Right. You have to go. Thank you.”
“Of course.” He practically ran out of the office. “Sam—”
“All right, Heath,” Andrew said, “thank you for your time. You know how to reach us if you have anything else to add.”
They left and walked to the vehicle. “What do you think about that?” Nathan asked.
“I think something fishy is going on, but I can’t determine where the smell is coming from.”
“Yeah. Same.”
“We’ll keep after it. Something’s bound to rise to the surface before too long.”
Nathan just hoped it was before another attempt was made on Jesslyn’s life.
His phone buzzed . A text from the chief of police.
Picked up Kenny Davies. He’s in interrogation room number one.
He showed it to Andrew, who raised a brow. “Let’s go.”