7. Jaxson
CHAPTER 7
Jaxson
“ A ny word from your former partner?” Michael sits down at his desk, a fresh mug of coffee in hand.
“Got a text from him this morning. He’s having trouble getting the warden to agree to send over the visitor logs without a warrant. And as of now, the judge is refusing to grant it on the off chance there’s a connection.”
“Probably because we’re all the way across the country,” Elijah says.
“My thoughts, too,” I agree. “With the Finches’ permission, I drove out to their house this morning and walked their yard as well as the area where Kleo was found.”
“Anything?” Lance asks.
I shake my head. “No playing card that I could find.”
“I know we don’t like it, but is it possible that the card is a coincidence?” Michael questions. “Something some kid taped there? ”
“My gut says no,” I say. “But I do know that I’m closer to this one because of my past. So if you guys want to look at other avenues, we can do that.”
“I’m with Jaxson on this.” All eyes turn to Silas. “A coincidence like this would be highly unlikely.” The former SEAL crosses his arms. “It’s possible Kleo is not victim number one, but that we’re missing something.”
“I’ve been running through all of the recent missing persons that fit the description,” Elijah replies. “Wrote a script to help eliminate the ones that don’t fit. It should be done running today.”
“Great.”
“Then we operate as though Kleo Finch is a potential victim until proven otherwise.” Lance leans back in his chair. “Jaxson, your theory on the window at Emigh Pillar’s house was right. We took a closer look today and the scratches were only surface level. Whoever did that was trying to set off the alarm. And they chose the baby’s window because it would be the scariest for the mother, would be my guess.” His jaw is set, his eyes hard. I imagine he’s thinking about what would happen if anyone came after he and his wife’s new baby.
“I second that,” Michael replies.
Lance sits up straighter. “I looked into the file of the killer you put away. He was methodical and followed a specific process. I can’t figure out why there wouldn’t be a body if he was behind it.”
“I’m not sure if he is,” I admit. “Alaric confirmed that he’s still in prison. Once we have the visitor records, we’ll be able to discern whether or not he’s had any flagged visitors.”
“Here’s hoping we can get our hands on those records before a body shows up.”
Elijah grins at Lance. “On it, boss.”
That’s how Knight Security operates in high-profile cases like this. They’ll try the legal route, and if that doesn’t work? They do what they need to do. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to come and work here. There’s nothing more frustrating as a cop than knowing someone is guilty and being unable to cut through the red tape to prove it.
“All right, that’s all I’ve got today.” Lance stands. “If anything pops, let me know,” he tells Elijah who gives him a salute.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” I stand and grab my keys from the top of my desk, then head for the door.
Michael stops me before I can open the door. “How’s Margot?”
“What? How would I know?”
Michael grins, amused. “Because you live under the same roof.”
“Different apartments,” I say quickly.
“You’re a bit jumpy today, Payne, everything okay?”
“Fine. Sorry. This case has me worried.”
Michael’s grin falls just slightly. “I get that. Listen, man, I know she’s not blonde, but?— ”
“I’ll keep an eye on your sister.”
He breathes a sigh of relief, and I immediately feel guilty. Does he know how I feel about her? How could he? I don’t even know how I feel. “Good. Thanks, man. Times like this, it makes me feel better you’re there. God knows she wouldn’t let me watch over her. Stubborn woman.”
I smile, remembering how I’d called her just that this morning. “That she is. Call me if you guys find anything.”
“Will do.”
I’ve never been more grateful to not be useful with a computer as I am now. Because not being good with technology means I get to leave early and get ready for a dinner I’ve been looking forward to all day.
It seems ridiculous to be nervous when I know it’s not a date. I mean, Matty will be there. However, I am most definitely nervous.
After making my way into downtown, I pick a spot that will give me a bit of time to stretch my legs in my walk to the bakery, then climb out and take a moment to breathe deeply. Salty sea air fills my lungs, settling a bit of my nerves.
The ocean is a balm to my soul.
“You look happy.”
I turn to see Lanetti standing behind me, wearing a colorful sundress, her hair in loose waves around her face. “It’s a good day,” I reply.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
I start down the street toward the bakery, and she falls into step beside me. “How is your day?” I ask, because not inquiring about her seems rude.
“It’s been long,” she says softly. “My mom is on me about whether or not I’m planning on going back to college—I dropped out last year because she wanted me to go to nursing school and I have no interest.”
“It’s important to do something that will make you happy.”
“See, you get it.” She gently touches my arm. “What made you want to be a cop?”
I shrug. “When I got out of the Marines, I knew that I wanted to do something that would help people. I’d also been injured, so completing the physical fitness portion of the academy was a goal of mine.”
“Injured? How.”
“IED,” I reply.
She gasps. “That’s terrifying.”
“By God’s grace, I made it through.”
“And now you’re in our small town.” She beams at me. “I couldn’t imagine leaving a big, exciting city like LA to come here.”
“The city is great at times,” I admit. “But it can’t compare to this place.” I reach for the door of the bakery and turn to tell Lanetti goodbye.
“What happenstance,” she says with a smile. “I’m coming here, too.”
Oh, boy. Opening the door for her, I step aside so she can go in, then step in behind her .
“I’m not sure what I want yet, so go ahead if you do,” she tells me.
“Jaxson Payne!” Kyra Redding, the pastor’s wife, greets me with a wide smile as she comes up behind the counter.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Redding.”
“How many times have I told you to call me Kyra?”
Chuckling, I nod. “Fair enough. How are you doing, Kyra?”
“Fantastic. Got to spend the morning with my granddaughter, and it was lovely. How about you?” The woman is a literal walking beam of sunshine. It’s impossible to not feel at peace in her presence. Which is probably why she made such a good therapist in her pre-bakery days.
“I can’t complain.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She grins at me. “What can I get you?”
“Any chance you know what Margot’s favorite pie is? I promised to pick up dessert, and I have no idea what to go with.” I scan the case before me, looking from the apple to a blueberry.
“Lemon meringue,” Lanetti says.
I turn toward her, noting that she’s smiling, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Really?”
She nods. “It was always her favorite when I was babysitting Matty. My mom used to send me with one for her occasionally.”
“Great. Thank you so much.”
“Sure,” she replies. “I’m actually going to be right back, that reminds me that I need to see if my parents want anything. See you later, Kyra.” She leaves quickly, and I stare after her, knowing that it was me who upset her and hating that I did, even as I know I haven’t done anything to mislead her.
I turn to Kyra. “A lemon meringue, then, please.”
“You got it.”
“That’s when Mom fell off the pier,” Matty says with a bright smile.
Margot’s cheeks are bright red, her smile stretched as wide as I’ve ever seen it. “It wasn’t my fault!”
“But it was,” Matty replies. “Because you didn’t reel in the line like you were supposed to.”
“I’m with Matty on this,” I reply. “You should have reeled it in.”
Her gaze locks with mine, and something passes between us. What? I’m not sure. But my blood warms, and I catch myself gripping my knees beneath the table.
“I told you, Mom,” Matty says as he stands and starts gathering plates.
“Honey, I’ll get that,” she insists, and starts to stand up.
“You will not. You cooked.” He kisses her on the top of her head, then carries the stack of plates into the kitchen, leaving us sitting at the dining room table.
“He’s been in a great mood today,” Margot tells me. “Every day that passes, I see a bit more of the boy he was before Chad left.” She stares at the door he’d just walked through, a soft smile on her face.
“He’s a great kid,” I tell her. “You should be proud.”
“It’s all God,” she replies, turning back to me. “I can’t take any credit.”
“You can,” I tell her. “Because He chose you to be Matty’s mother knowing the type of man you would help him grow into.”
Her eyes fill, but she quickly blinks the tears away.
Matty comes back in. “Dishwasher is loaded, pie leftovers are in the fridge, and I have homework to do. Thanks for an awesome game of chess,” he tells me. “I look forward to beating you again soon.”
I laugh and shake his offered hand. “I’m going to practice.”
“Good. Because I’d like it to at least be somewhat of a challenge next time.” Matty leans down and hugs his mom. “Love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, honey. I’ll come check on you in a few.”
“No rush. Homework time. See ya, Jax.”
“See ya.”
Matty leaves the room, but not without giving me a wide smile behind his mom’s back. I have a feeling he thinks this is more than a friendly dinner, and a part of me truly wishes it were. I could see myself with them every night. The three of us as a family.
“I grabbed this today.” Shoving those impossible thoughts aside, I reach into my back pocket and withdraw the cashier’s check I’d grabbed at the bank on my way to the Finches’ home earlier today.
She takes it, her cheeks flushing with color. “It’s not too late to back out.”
“I don’t want to back out.”
“I have paperwork for you to see. As well as an agreement I signed to pay you back. It wasn’t drawn up by a lawyer or anything, though if you want one that has been, I can contact mine and have her?—”
“Margot, it’s fine. I told you, I’m not worried about it.”
“This is a lot of money, Jaxson. How are you not worried about it?” Her eyes fill with tears. “How can you possibly be so okay just handing this over to me?”
I get up from the seat and move around the table, then squat down and take her hand in mine. “Because in the time I’ve known you, I’ve watched you raise a wonderful son, run a successful business, and take care of literally every single person around you. Including me. And for once, Margot, I want to take care of you. Even if it’s just alleviating some of the stress you so readily carry on your shoulders.”
The tears break free, and she throws her arms around my neck. I’m not expecting it, so I fall backward—taking her with me. By the time I hit the floor, my arms coming around her instinctively to keep her from hitting it alongside me, we’re both laughing.
“I am so sorry!” She pushes up from the ground, though her slender body is still pressed against mine.
I swallow hard, wondering if it would truly be the worst thing in the world to kiss her right now. To lean forward and press my lips to—my phone rings, the tone slicing through this moment between us.
Reaching into my pocket, I withdraw my cell and answer it, not bothering to look at the readout.
“Payne.”
“We need you to get down to the office,” Lance says. “Now. It’s an emergency.”
I’m pulling into the parking lot of the lighthouse ten minutes later. I’ve no sooner put my truck in park than I see that something is clearly wrong. There are two sheriff’s vehicles in the parking lot, as well as the vehicles of every member of Knight Security, and a blue sedan belonging to Bianca Theodore, a trauma surgeon from the Army who now works at a veterinarian’s office here in town.
And then I see Pastor Redding’s car, and my heart plummets.
What happened? Did the killer strike for keeps this time?
I know Margot is safe.
So my thoughts drift immediately to Lance’s wife Eliza and their son.
To Elijah’s wife, Andie.
To Michael’s, Reyna.
Throwing my door open, I slam it behind me and race up the steps and into the lighthouse. “What is it? What happened?” I demand.
All eyes turn to me, and Lance reaches down to lift an evidence bag bearing a three of hearts.
The walls close in around me and my heart hammers. Despite every impossibility that Morah is behind this, I know it’s him. It has to be him.
“Who did he take?”
“Lanetti Ester.”