Chapter 34
Thirty-Four
The sharp rat-a-tat-tat on the doorframe startled Mo, and he shoved Bronwyn behind him and pulled his weapon from his waistband in two frantic seconds.
“Yo, Mo! You in there?” Cal was at the door.
Bronwyn sagged against his back, and her arms snaked around his waist. “To be clear, that kind of experience is not helping my fears.”
“Mo! Bronwyn!”
“What?” they both yelled back.
Cal knocked again. “I don’t want to see anything that will make me need to bleach my eyes. Is it safe to enter?”
Mo slid his gun back into place and jerked the door open. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at work?”
Cal stood there with his hands on his hips. “Why aren’t you answering your phone?” He turned on Bronwyn. “Or you? What’s wrong with you two? Everything has gone haywire, and you’ve fallen off the radar.” He tapped on the phone in his hand, then made a phone call.
Mo slid an arm around Bronwyn. “We were busy. What’s happened?”
Cal leaned a hand on the doorframe. “Give me a second. I raced over here.” He’d put the phone on speaker, and the ringing came through loud and clear.
“Give me good news, Cal.” Meredith’s barely calm tone sent guilt spearing through Mo.
“Mer, we’re fine,” Mo said. “What’s going on?”
A pause, then, “I’m going to superglue your phone to your hand, you moron. You’re never out of touch. Never. And you pick today of all days? What were you doing?”
“I was kissing Bronwyn. A lot.” Mo hoped the words would shock the fear out of Meredith.
Cal reached through the door and pulled Bronwyn away from Mo and into a hug.
Meredith, however, was not as easily appeased. “It’s taken twenty years to reach this point,” her voice came through the phone.
“Not quite that lo—”
“Do not interrupt me, Montgomery Quinn. I am on a very, very thin edge right now. Cassie called. Every Pierce she’s ever seen has descended on The Haven.
June called her and asked if there was any way she could spare a few of the Hideaway staff to help the breakfast kitchen for an hour or so because they’ve all settled into the large conference room and started ordering food and drinks. ”
Bronwyn pulled away from Cal, took the phone from his hand, and jogged toward Meredith’s house, telling Meredith something he couldn’t make out. Mo looked at Cal, and they took off after her.
“Meredith, I’m handing the phone back to Cal. And I’ll call June as soon as I get my phone. Please call Gray and tell him what’s happening. We might need law enforcement.”
She paused on Meredith’s porch, tossed Cal his phone, and focused on Mo. “Please call Cassie.”
“On it.”
Bronwyn ran inside.
Cal pointed toward his truck. “I’ll drive.” He sprinted to the driver’s side.
Mo didn’t argue. He was in no condition to drive. Bronwyn was too distracted to get behind the wheel. And there was no way to keep Cal from coming, regardless.
Bronwyn ran out the door, phone to her ear. Mo took her hand and led her to the passenger seat. As soon as she was in, he closed the door, then climbed in the back of the King Cab.
Cal drove with a focus that Mo appreciated.
Mo dialed Cassie’s number, and she answered with a breathless, “Mo, where are you?”
“On my way, sweetheart. Hang in there. Fill me in. I heard that the family is causing a ruckus.”
“I’ll say. It’s chaos over there. I don’t know who they think they are!”
“Cassie, they own the place.”
“Doesn’t matter. The guests come first. Everyone knows that.
” The sound that came through next was a little bit terrifying given that it was coming from his usually bubbly cousin.
“Here’s what you need to know. If the food orders are any indication, they’re settling in for a siege.
Also, June has Marcus standing by, presumably to keep the family safe, but we all know it’s so he can report back to Bronwyn. ”
“Smart. I’ll tell her.”
“Here’s the other thing. There’s a couple of people who’ve been here for dinner the past two nights that give me a bad vibe.”
“The reporter?”
“Yes. He is creeptastic.”
“Agreed. Who else?”
“Security for one of the guests. He says his name is Bob, but there’s something off about him.” She wasn’t wrong about that. “You’ll fix this, won’t you, Mo?”
“You know it, sweetheart.”
“You’re the best. Oh . . . Donovan’s calling.”
“Answer it. Tell him what’s going down. Bye.”
Mo hung up and leaned over the seat so he could see the conversation Bronwyn was having with June via text.
I can do that.
Hang in there. We’re ten minutes out.
Mo looked around. She was right. Cal clearly wasn’t worried about getting a speeding ticket.
Bronwyn let the phone drop in her lap.
“What did June say?” he asked.
“William rolled in an hour ago, strolled into the large conference room, told her to prepare for a family meeting, then sat down.” She twisted in her seat to face Mo. “She’s not sure what’s wrong but says he’s in there cussing a blue streak.”
Mo knew his face gave nothing away. He’d perfected the blank stare when he was in the Army.
But somehow Bronwyn saw through it. “What did you do?”
“What do you mean?”
She laughed. Amid all the chaos and turmoil, her laughter filled the cab of the truck. She reached for him and pulled him toward her. He went as far as the seat belt allowed. She managed to kiss his nose. “What did you do?”
“Both of you quit fooling around. With the way I’m driving, you need to stay in your own seats. It’s dangerous to be twisted around like that.”
Bronwyn turned around and crossed her hands in her lap. “Sorry, Cal.”
Mo continued to lean forward. “I’m not.”
“Are you going to answer her question?” Cal asked. “Seems like she should know what’s up before she walks into chaos.”
“Whose side are you on, man?”
“I’m a neutral party. No. That’s not it.” Cal’s hands tightened on the wheel as he navigated through a tight turn. “I’m on both sides. Except in this. In this, I’m totally on her side.”
“Thanks, Cal.”
His response was a grunt. “He’s probably done something sketchy, and it’s better for him to tell us now so we don’t accidentally incriminate him.”
“Mo?” There was real concern in Bronwyn’s question.
“Hey! You said that to get me in trouble. I’m a white knight. I’m one of the good guys. I don’t do illegal hacks.”
Cal didn’t say anything.
“I did, however, block all access to most of The Haven’s files unless you have the new passcode.”
Bronwyn turned around again. “When?”
“Yesterday, before Aunt Carol threatened me. I wasn’t sure when I could log back into the system, and it seemed prudent.”
“You didn’t pick one of those passcodes my phone is always trying to convince me to use, did you?” Cal honked at a driver who was taking up their half of the middle.
“I did not.”
“Did it ever occur to you that Bronwyn might need to log into the system and, under the circumstances, you might not be around to give her the code? What then?”
“She could figure it out.” He looked at her. “I picked something she would expect.”
“Beep?” Cal asked.
“If it’s what I’m thinking, it’s not that obscure.”
“Not to you. But it would be to them.”
“Is it Catherine’s Falls thirteen?” Bronwyn narrowed her eyes at Mo. “No spaces, with the apostrophe, and with the number not spelled out.”
“Got it in one.”
“How?” Cal’s outrage would have been more believable if he hadn’t been so obviously impressed.
“It’s . . .” Bronwyn stopped. It wasn’t a secret. It had been, at the time, but that was a long, long time ago.
Mo squeezed her shoulder. “It’s up to you.”
“You don’t have to tell me. I can guess.”
Bronwyn turned back around in time to catch Cal’s grin.
It could have lit an entire stadium. “You were thirteen when everything changed between you,” he said.
“And given the way Mo here reacted to that photo at your place, I’m going to go way out on a limb and say whatever changed happened at Catherine’s Falls. ”
“It was innocent.” Bronwyn didn’t like the way he made it sound . . . scandalous. All they’d done was hold hands.
Cal reached out and patted her knee before returning his hand to the wheel. “I never thought anything else. And I agree with Mo. He chose a password you would come up with but one they never would. It’s diabolically brilliant.”
“I’m not sure if I should be offended or charmed,” Mo said. “The more important issue is that they’re trying to hack into the system. And they’re doing it very much in the open. What’s changed?”
Cal glanced at Bronwyn. “I know privacy is important to you, but there’s no way I’m dropping you off and leaving you to your fate. So you might as well bring me up to speed. Are they going to try to vote you out?”
“They may try, but Grandmother, of all people, reminded me to look at our bylaws, and unless they can prove I’m guilty, they can’t get rid of me.”
“I thought they could?” Cal took the final turn to The Haven at an alarming speed.
“So did I. And they could have until a few months ago. But I’ve been there long enough now that they have to have legitimate cause.”
“Like tenure?”
“Sort of. It isn’t that they can’t get rid of me, but it’s much, much harder. And I’m not sure they realize it. We could be facing two wildly different scenarios. One is that they think they have to schedule a vote, vote me out, and it’s done.”
“Is it bad that I’m hoping for that option? Because how fun would it be for you to swoop in there and wave the bylaws at them with a flourish and say, ‘Think again.’ It has a very superhero-like vibe to it. What’s the second scenario?”
“The second is not as much fun. That one is that, regardless of whether they know they need legitimate cause or not, they think they have it. They plan to confront me with ‘proof’”—Bronwyn made air quotes when she said the word—“and use that to either oust me or bring me to heel.”
“I definitely like option one.” Cal glanced at her. “Front entrance or employee?”
“Front. It’s faster.”
“On it.”
Bronwyn turned in her seat. Mo had gone quiet while she talked. “You okay back there?”
His grunt wasn’t particularly reassuring but interrupting whatever he was doing on his phone didn’t seem like a good idea.
She leaned around Cal when he rolled to a stop at the gate. The security guard, Klaus, stepped forward. When he saw her, his eyes widened. “Ms. Pierce.”
“Anything I need to know?”
“Security is on alert throughout the resort. Guests are unaware of anything unusual.”
“Thank you.”
He pressed the button that opened the gate and gave her a small salute.
“Klaus is a good one.” The typing didn’t stop, but Mo kept talking. “He has a solid background.”
Was that information for her or Cal? Maybe both.
“Anyone I need to be wary of?” Cal pulled through the gate and floored it.
“Anyone with the last name Pierce.” Mo reached forward and squeezed her shoulder. “Sorry, but it’s true,” he said. “I won’t risk your life to spare your feelings.”
“I know. And you’re right.”
Mo settled back in his seat. “Here’s what I know for sure.
William has committed some crimes. Nathan may or may not be complicit.
Grandmother Pierce is on Bronwyn’s side at the moment, but her loyalty is unpredictable.
Bronwyn’s parents are too weak to be counted on to do anything right, including standing up for their own child.
It’s possible there’s blackmail involved, but I can’t say for sure. ”
Mo’s head appeared between Bronwyn and Cal as he leaned forward again. “Peter Brown is not a reporter for anyone, and if you see him, assume he’s dangerous. As for Bob, he looks clean as far as I can tell. But I’m not sure enough of that to take any chance with him.”
“What’s our role here?” Cal pulled into a space and put the truck in park.
“We’re Bronwyn’s muscle. She can handle these people better than we ever could. We’re just backup.”
“You aren’t just anything.” Bronwyn corrected Mo. “Never just.”
Mo’s smile was a thing of galaxies and waterfalls. Wondrous to behold. Breathtaking to witness.
“Game faces.” Cal barked the command in his most Marine voice.
To her surprise, Mo’s face sharpened, and his salute was crisp. “Yes, sir. Let’s go.”
Bronwyn stared at the cars in the office parking area. “My parents are here. So is Uncle William. Uncle Ronald. Nathan. Beatrice. Candy. Oh good grief, Aunt Luna is here.” She looked at Mo. “I honestly don’t know if any of them are on my side.”
“Well, we are.” Mo grinned at her.
“Then let’s go.” Bronwyn waited for Mo and Cal to join her before she walked into the main office building.
June stood when Bronwyn walked in. She was usually pale, but today her cheeks and neck were flushed a bright pink. June was furious.
“Ms. Pierce.” Her voice was calm. “Could I provide you and your guests a beverage?”
“No. But thank you.”
“June.” Mo’s low voice wouldn’t be picked up by anyone else in the building. “Perhaps you should go visit Cassie. I believe Donovan will be joining her soon.”
“I can stay.” Her eyes flicked to Bronwyn, confusion, and maybe even a little hurt, evident in her posture. Then she straightened and said, “I want to stay.”
“You’ve done all you can.” Mo’s voice was gentle.
“Above and beyond. Please do this. Go to Cassie. Text me when you’re with her.
Stay there until we give you the all clear.
I don’t want you out here alone. Anyone could come through those doors, and I can’t leave you to face that.
Please help us keep you safe for the next little while.
I promise we’ll fill you in on everything. ”
If he hadn’t already held her heart, this act would have sealed the deal. How could Bronwyn have ever doubted this man? “He’s right. You’ve done more than enough. Go to Cassie.”
“Cal, why don’t you go and stay with her and Cassie until Donovan takes over?” Mo suggested. “Then you can come back and stay close in case we need you.”
“Sounds good.” Cal turned to June. “Let’s go.”
June wavered for a moment, then grabbed her bag from behind her desk. She pointed to Mo but spoke to Bronwyn. “If he wasn’t with you, I’d refuse to go. But I want him to focus on you, not anyone else. So I’ll leave. But I’ll be back in a heartbeat if you need me.”
“Thank you.” They waited until June and Cal were out of sight. Then Bronwyn opened the conference room door and entered into chaos.
Every family member who had anything to do with The Haven was present. Her parents sat at one end of the long table. Uncle William and Nathan were at the other. In between were a string of cousins, aunts, and uncles who held various positions from sales to marketing to interior design.
And at least one of them wanted her dead.