Chapter 12
Craven’s face resembled a tomato, and Tabitha worried he was going to blow all his gaskets.
She stepped in front of Trista, but he bypassed them for Craig’s trailer.
He banged on the door, yelling Craig’s name.
Several cast and crew stopped to see what the yelling was about.
When he got no answer, he turned toward Major’s trailer.
Tabitha sighed. She had been thrilled in the beginning to guard Trista, thinking being on a movie set would be exciting. It was, just not in the way she expected. There was more drama behind the scenes than would be in the film. “I’ll handle him if you want to make yourself scarce.”
“Thanks.” Trista rushed off, and Tabitha intercepted the irate director.
“They aren’t here,” Tabitha called out as she closed the distance.
“Where the fuck are they? Sarah said something about an offsite meeting. Craig is being stalked, for fuck’s sake. He needs to be—”
“Craig has Major and a deputy with him. I can send him your way when he returns?”
“Fine.” Craven slunk off, kicking at rocks as he went.
Tabitha returned to her own trailer to wait.
She wished she were at the station with Major.
If they had already exchanged mating bites, they would most likely be able to speak with their minds the way some of the other couples could.
Since they hadn’t and they couldn’t, Tabitha had to be patient.
She texted Mason, informing him she would no longer be needed by Trista after she dropped her at the airport and why, then she kicked back and called Cailín.
It was odd she hadn’t at least received a text from her friend.
“’Sup?” Cailín answered.
“That’s what I want to know. You don’t call. You don’t write,” Tabitha joked.
“Because I was hoping you were getting hot and heavy with your hottie.”
“Right. Since we’re both on a job, we have so much time together. Are you on a job?”
“No. I was hoping you were calling to have me spell you.”
“I won’t even have this job after tomorrow.” Tabitha filled Cailín in on the latest details.
“Good for Trista. I mean, not good she’s having to shell out a shit-ton of money to break her contract, but good for her standing up for herself.” Cailín released a long sigh. “I think I met my mate.”
Tabitha did an ab curl, dropping her feet to the floor. “What? Who?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know. I hugged Elle at the celebration and felt like I was going to toss my snickerdoodles.
Since she’s Tony’s mate, we know it’s not her.
And there were dozens of people at Lilly’s house who could have and probably did hug Elle, so I figure I was getting their residual scent.
The thing is that everyone at the house is someone we all know, and if I were going to feel something, I would have before now. ”
“Aw, Boo, I’m sorry. You’ll figure it out.” Tabitha’s phone buzzed with a text. “Hang on a sec. Harlow’s texting.”
Harlow: Major and Craig were under attack leaving the building. They’re safe now. Everett has the shooters in custody. Incoming email.
Shooters? What the actual fuck? Tabitha scrambled off the sofa to open her laptop. “Dammit. Major and Craig were shot at leaving the police station. Harlow assured me they’re safe, but she’s sending me an encrypted email.”
“Read it to me. Please. Get my mind off my woes.”
Tabitha didn’t make fun of her friend because mate issues were no joke.
“She wrote, ‘Major is relocating Craig to a safehouse. Coordinates will be at the end of this message. We knew about Brad and the Mixon brothers being in foster care together. There was also a female, Carmen Lawrence, who kept in touch with them after they all aged out of the system. Carmen was found dead after a welfare check when she didn’t show up for work after three days. There was a suicide note naming Craig as the father of her unborn baby. Toby Mixon is the one who came forward, adamant she didn’t kill herself.
She was a social worker who advocated against drugs since her hooker mother died of an overdose, thus landing Carmen in foster care.
That note was the reason Everett wanted to question Craig.
Everett called Mason and filled him in on what happened at the police station.
Major voiced Craig, and he denies knowing Carmen.
Craig’s wife assured Everett that Craig was home at the time of the murder, stating she could prove it with in-home security cameras.
Major and Everett believe that Brad went after Craig because of the note, thinking he killed her to keep his illegitimate love child a secret. Since Major voiced him, we know Craig is innocent. Major thinks it was Daniel posing as Craig, but until he can be questioned, that’s just speculation.’”
Daniel had left Talmet because he got someone pregnant, so it wasn’t that far of a stretch to believe he’d done it again, but did he hate his brother enough to steal his identity? Since Cailín didn’t know about the brothers’ past, Tabitha filled her in before she finished reading the email.
“The one thing about all of this I still don’t get is why Brad isn’t talking.
Why hasn’t he defended himself by mentioning the fact that Carmen detested drugs, and he knew she wouldn’t kill herself?
It’s not as though he’s protecting her by remaining silent.
It’s the opposite, actually.” Her phone vibrated again.
“Major’s calling. I’ll talk to you later, okay? ”
“Yep. If you need me, I’ll be there.”
“Thanks.” Tabitha switched over. “Hey, Hottie. I hear you had an adventure without me.”
Major chuckled. “I did, but I’m glad you weren’t there. I don’t want you anywhere near flying bullets.”
“I can’t say I want to be near them either. Harlow filled me in. How’s the safehouse?”
“It’s a two-story farmhouse situated well off the road with no surrounding trees. Perfect to notice anyone trying to approach.”
Tabitha was thankful for that instead of the last safehouse she’d had to use. It had been a boring parsonage behind a dilapidated church. “I have to drive Trista and Marilyn to the airport in the morning. I could head your way after.”
“Mason mentioned that, and he said he would keep you on standby. Since Murdock wants me to question Brad to find out why he isn’t talking, you should be the one to come sit with Craig.”
“Speaking of Everett, Harlow said he handled the shooters. Do you know if he interrogated them?”
“No, I haven’t heard anything yet. I’m sure if he does, he’ll let Mason know. I was going to get someone to cover Craig long enough for me to drive back to Atlanta, so if you could do it, that’d be even better.”
“That’s the perfect excuse for me to head that way after I leave the airport. Cailín isn’t on a job, so I’ll see if she wants to tag along. Do you want me to grab your things from the trailer?”
“Since I have no idea how long we’ll be here, yes, please. Let me speak with Craig, and he may want some of his things as well. Why don’t you call Mason, then call me back?”
“You got it. Talk soon.” Tabitha disconnected, then dialed Mason.
He agreed that Tabitha should meet Major at the safehouse with his and Craig’s clothes and watch over Craig while Major drove to Atlanta.
He had yet to hear from Everett regarding the shooters, but he would message Tabitha and Major when he did.
After speaking with Major, Tabitha went to his trailer to gather his things.
She folded his clothes and added them to his duffel.
When she entered the bathroom for his toiletries, Tabitha stopped short.
Major had printed a selfie they took during their weekend together, and it was taped to the small mirror.
Tabitha carefully removed the picture and ran her finger over Major’s face.
She should have known the fates wouldn’t have chosen someone for her who wouldn’t be all in.
Now, if they could have some alone time where they could seal the bond.
Once she had his items gathered, she tossed the duffel in her trailer, then went to Craig’s. She was punching in the code when Sarah approached. “Hey. I didn’t know Craig was back. I’ve tried calling, but he’s not answering.”
“He’s not. He and—”
“Then what are you doing?” Sarah gestured to the door.
“I’m gathering his things to take to the safehouse.”
“Safehouse?” Sarah looked around before stepping closer. “Where is he? Why does he need a safehouse?”
“He and Major ran into a little trouble when they left earlier. It’s just a precaution.”
“Craig’s okay? Tell me where he is, and I’ll take his things to him.”
Tabitha leaned her back against the door. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. Until this mess is—”
“But I’m his assistant! Craig trusts me.” Sarah’s face turned blotchy, and she stomped her foot.
Tabitha softened her voice. “I don’t doubt that Craig trusts you, but his safety is paramount at the moment, and we cannot risk someone following you. You wouldn’t want to inadvertently lead someone to his location, would you?”
“No, but—”
“I’m sure he’ll call you when he can. You might want to make sure Craven knows the situation? He was looking for Craig earlier.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Sure. Let me get yelled at. Again.” Still, she headed in the same direction Craven had gone earlier.
Tabitha punched in the code and entered Craig’s trailer.
If she snooped while gathering his belongings, well, that was the private investigator in her.
She didn’t find anything incriminating, nor did she see anything exciting.
No books. No laptop. No e-reader or music player.
Although he hadn’t asked for it, Tabitha grabbed the script that was lying on the dinette table and added it to his bag.
He didn’t have many clothes, but she figured Daniel would retrieve those from the hotel, if he hadn’t already since he’d not arrived at the set.