Chapter 22
The hot Florida sun beat down on Wyatt’s head, his hand on the small of Teslyn’s back as he steered her and Ivy past a turquoise birdbath and onto the wide porch of his father’s Florida home. Ivy skipped up the porch steps behind them, Jett on a leash by her side.
Wyatt wasn’t sure what made him more uncomfortable—involving his father in this, or Teslyn’s plan to meet up with Pritchard face-to-face later this afternoon.
Jax and Logan from HERO Force had joined them in St. Augustine, but Wyatt was still nervous about putting Teslyn firmly in harm’s way to catch a killer.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have any better ideas.
The door opened before he could knock. “Come on in,” said his father.
J.R. Sorenson was a gruff of a man long before he’d been old, but now his exterior matched the rawness of his personality.
He pushed the screen door open for them to enter, and Wyatt was afraid this had been a bad idea for more reasons than one. What if Ivy didn’t like the old codger?
“I hope you don’t mind, Dad, but I brought my dog, Jett.”
J.R. bent down and scratched Jett behind the ears. “What a handsome fella.”
Ivy followed them inside, her chin down close to her chest as she looked uncertainly at J.R. The old man braced himself on his knees and got down to the girl’s level. “You must be Ivy. Do you like dolls?”
Her eyes shot to Teslyn, who nodded. Ivy shook her head enthusiastically.
“Well, that’s good. Because I just so happen to have a doll here for you.” J.R. straightened and crossed to a formal dining table, then picked up a box with a clear front panel displaying a beautiful brown-haired doll.
Wyatt watched as his father encouraged her to open the package, the girl clearly besotted with her new toy. He leaned closer to Teslyn. “And here I was worried they wouldn’t get along.”
“Ivy lost her doll in the fire. That’s so perfect that he got her one.” She looked at Wyatt suspiciously. “Did you do this?”
He shrugged. “I might have mentioned it.”
“You’re a good man, Wyatt.”
If he’d known Teslyn would look at him as she was doing now, he would have suggested his father buy out the whole damn toy store. It suddenly felt as if years had passed since he’d touched her, and he longed to take her to bed at the earliest opportunity.
Just get through this day first.
One day at a time.
They stayed for a while to make sure Ivy was comfortable, but by the time J.R. pulled out Wyatt’s childhood Legos, their presence was clearly not needed any longer. They got back in Wyatt’s truck and headed toward Pritchard’s house. The rest of the team would meet them there.
Teslyn pulled out her cell phone. “Nothing to it, but to do it.”
Wyatt was feeling agitated. They’d put their heads together and decided Teslyn should call Pritchard and tell him what she knew, then ask for a meeting. “I don’t like the idea of you meeting with him alone.”
She sighed. “We’ve been through this. You, Jax, and Logan will be right outside. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
“I should come in with you.”
“He won’t talk if you’re there.” She eyed him from head to toe and back again. “You look like military. He doesn’t know you. He’ll clam up. I’m dialing.”
“Wait.”
“You know as well as I do, our best chance of proving Pritchard was behind the trailer fire that killed Marilyn is to get him to confess, and I’m the best person to make that happen.”
“And what if he kills you, too?”
Her eyes went wide. “That isn’t going to happen, because you, Jax, and Logan aren’t going to let it. Now be quiet. I’m calling.”
“Put it on speaker.”
She dialed and did as he asked.
“Hello?”
“Yes, hi. This is Teslyn, Marilyn Gleason’s daughter. Do you remember me?”
There was a long pause on the line. Wyatt’s grip on the steering wheel was so tight, it drained the blood from the skin covering his knuckles.
“I don’t know anyone by that name.”
“I remember you, coming to visit my mother every Christmas. You were old friends from high school, the prom king and queen. Isn’t that right? And now you’re a congressman.”
“What do you want?”
“I just want to talk to you.”
“So talk.”
“Not on the phone, in person. I’m in St. Augustine. I can be at your place in ten minutes.”
“You can’t just show up on my doorstep—”
“Is your wife home? Is that the problem?”
He cursed and grumbled something unintelligible. “The Danforth Marina in twenty minutes. Come alone.” The call disconnected.
Wyatt spoke the address into his GPS, then called Logan and told him about the change in plans. “It’s thirteen minutes from here, and we still need to get you wired up.” Wyatt floored it in a desperate attempt to gain time, his mind running through possibilities. “Why the marina?”
“I don’t know. Why not the marina?”
“Whatever you do, don’t let him take you on a boat. Do you hear me, Teslyn? We won’t be able to follow you. I can’t protect you if you leave the scene.”
“I’m not stupid, Wyatt.”
“He’s planning something. A boat would give him the upper hand, and make it relatively easy to get rid of you. Just talk on the docks. That’s all.”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Got it.”
His phone rang. “What’s up?” he asked.
“There’s a gravel parking lot five hundred yards up the hill from the marina. Meet us there to place the wire.”
“Will do.” He managed to make up two minutes on the journey, leaving them with enough time to wire Teslyn with the remote recorder. They hopped out of the truck. Logan and Jax were already waiting for them.
“I need you to unbutton your blouse,” said Logan, crossing to Teslyn with several wires over his arm.
Wyatt began to pace.
Logan tore off a piece of duct tape with his teeth.
“The whole unit is waterproof, except the wireless transponder. If you go into the water, we’ll lose our connection, and only the physical recording will remain.
Do you understand?” He taped the wire down her belly, a tiny microphone anchored between her breasts.
“I understand. Don’t swim, don’t get on a boat. Got it.”
“Definitely don’t get on a boat.” Logan shook his head. “You’d go out of range, and we wouldn’t be able to get to you quickly.”
Wyatt put his hands on his hips. He felt powerless, and he hated nothing more than feeling powerless. “If you need us, you say, ‘sunshine’. You got that? Sunshine.”
“Sunshine. Got it.” Her eyes shot to his, and he felt the connection humming between them like a bolt of electricity.
“It’s not too late to scrap this plan, Tess.”
She shook her head. “I’m okay.”
Logan pulled the sides of her shirt closed. “I’m finished. You can button up.”
Wyatt stepped forward and buttoned it for her, aware of the stares of the other men. “Just get him to admit he’s Ivy’s father, and get the hell out of there. No hero bullshit. You got that?”
“Got it.” She held out her hand. “Keys?”
He reached in his pocket and handed them to her. Pritchard had demanded she show up alone, so show up alone, she would. “Be careful. You still owe me a dance.”
She smiled. “Do I get to pick the song?”
“Sweetheart, as long as you come back, you can pick anything you like.”
She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “See ya.”
Wyatt shoved his hands in his pockets as she climbed into his truck, started the engine, and drove away, doing his best to control his fear. As long as she didn’t get in Pritchard’s boat, they would be fine. “Let’s roll, gentlemen.”