Chapter 5
FIVE
Fifteen minutes later, Jackson pulled up to the Jensen house at the end of a cul-de-sac. Light poured from the windows on the first floor. The grass was overgrown, and the bushes needed a trim, but the blue shutters had been recently painted. A bicycle lay discarded next to the front stoop.
Moxie, who’d been calmly lying in the back seat, rose to his feet and gave an excited bark.
“Someone’s happy to be home.” Piper popped out of the vehicle before Jackson could circle the vehicle to open her door. She released Moxie and he ran to the front stoop, tongue hanging out.
Jackson would swear the dog was smiling. His own lips lifted in a grin.
“Come inside.” Piper closed the rear door of the SUV. She’d been quiet for most of the car ride, but now seemed to get a second wind. Or maybe, like Moxie, she was relieved to be home. “I made lasagna for dinner, and I’m sure there’s leftovers.”
His stomach growled at the mention of food. Jackson had skipped lunch and breakfast. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“You aren’t. Grandma Mary will be perturbed if I don’t invite you in. Don’t sentence me to a lecture.” Her lips twisted into a teasing grin. “Besides, the only thing open at this hour is Mo’s Diner on the highway. I wouldn’t wish that food on my worst enemy.”
He laughed. Mo’s was a dingy watering hole with greasy food that always made Jackson’s stomach hurt. Piper’s lasagna sounded much better. She’d always been an excellent cook, a side effect of practically raising herself. Besides, it might be better to hang out a bit at her house. It would give Derek time to search the woods and update Jackson. It was highly risky to come after a law enforcement officer, but Elena’s murder had been brutal.
Jackson wouldn’t take chances. “Dinner would be great. Thanks, Piper.”
She led him inside the house. It had an open floor plan with a large living room and dining area. Music and singing came from the kitchen. Moxie ran ahead, his tail disappearing around the corner. An excited squeal followed. A little girl, if Jackson had to guess.
“I’m finally home,” Piper called out. “And I’ve brought a guest.”
Mary appeared, holding a dish towel in one hand. Her once dark hair had surrendered to the soft silver of age and lines creased her skin, deeper along the edges of her eyes and mouth. Everything about her was soft. From the pastel color of her blouse to the delicate knot holding the apron around her waist. Warmth mingled with worry as she took in Piper’s disheveled appearance.
She rushed to give her surrogate daughter a hug. “I’m glad you’re home safe and sound.” She pulled back. “I’ve been praying on and off since Derek called to say there’d been an incident in the nature preserve. Are you okay?”
“I’m desperate for a shower and some food, but otherwise, I’m fine.” Piper lifted her lips in a smile. “Don’t worry, Grandma Mary.”
“Not gonna happen, baby. It’s part of the job description.” Mary laughed lightly, as some of the tension drained from her shoulders. She glanced at Jackson, seeming to register his presence for the first time. His eyes widened as a broad smile creased her cheeks. “Well, now, Jackson Barker. It’s been far too long since you’ve darkened our doorstep.”
He removed his cowboy hat. “It’s good to see you, ma’am. Sorry for dropping in unexpectedly.”
“Nonsense. You’re always welcome.” She gave him a motherly hug and then backed away to stare him in the face. “My word, you’re the spitting image of your granddaddy. It’s uncanny.” Her broad mouth split into a grin. “Did I ever tell you he was the most eligible bachelor in Rock Fort? But he only had eyes for Bessie. From the moment those two sat together in English class, it was love at first sight.”
“That’s exactly what Grandad used to say.” Jackson had fond memories of his grandmother. She’d passed when he was in middle school and his grandfather was never the same.
“Jackson is a Texas Ranger now.” Piper toed off her dirty tennis shoes. “He’s helping on the case. I promised him some lasagna.”
“Well, there’s plenty left?—”
“Aunt Piper!” A shout came from across the room. A little girl with pigtails and an impish grin appeared. She tackled Piper with an enthusiastic hug.
Piper’s smile widened and she hugged the little girl with abandon before tickling her. Peals of laughter poured out. The obvious joy brought a smile to Jackson’s face. He couldn’t remember a time he’d ever seen Piper so content. So happy. After the scare they’d had in the woods, it was a welcome respite.
“Emma Grace, how many times do I have to tell you not to shout in the house?” Ava limped into the room. Her blonde hair, the same shade as Piper’s, was pulled back into a low ponytail, but unlike her younger sister’s curly locks, Ava’s was pin straight. She had dark brown eyes and high cheekbones. A brace placed over her soft cotton yoga pants stretched from her right ankle to upper thigh.
The worry lines creasing her forehead eased as she greeted her baby sister. “Hi, Piper.” Her brows lifted at the sight of Jackson, but if she was surprised by his presence, she was too polite to say so. “Jackson, it’s been a long time. You’re looking well.”
“Thank you. Piper told me about your accident. I’m glad you’re recovering. ”
“This little munchkin is Emma.” Piper wriggled her fingers, causing another peal of laughter. Then she gestured to the lanky boy standing close to Ava as if worried she might fall. “And this is Finn. Kiddos, I’d like you to meet Texas Ranger Jackson Barker.”
Finn stepped forward to shake Jackson’s hand. The youngster resembled his mother with large dark eyes and blonde hair. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
Jackson nodded, pleased by the boy’s manners. “You too.”
Emma eyed him up and down. “What’s a Texas Ranger?”
He crouched to her level. “It’s a fancy name for a police officer.”
“Oh, like Aunt Piper. Except she works for the sheriff. And she’s a detective. Are you a detective?”
He chuckled. “Kinda.”
“Is Aunt Piper the boss of you? She’s the boss of me when my mommy isn’t here. Or when she’s sleeping.”
“Aunt Piper isn’t the boss of Ranger Barker.” Ava pulled Emma toward her with an apologetic look in Jackson’s direction. “It’s time to get ready for bed. Say goodnight, please.”
There was a flurry of activity as Mary and the kids went upstairs to start the bedtime routine. Ava followed at a much slower rate, sitting on the stairs one at a time and pulling herself up backward. Moxie followed, his tail wagging wildly, as he repeatedly kissed Ava’s cheek.
Jackson toed off his boots to avoid tracking dirt on to the faded carpet. “ Nice kids.”
“They are.” Piper grinned. “Sorry about Emma. Her favorite game is twenty questions.” She gestured to a door near the staircase. “There’s a small bathroom, if you’d like to wash up for dinner. Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
“Take your time.”
Jackson dipped inside the tiny room and scrubbed his hands. His chin bore thick whiskers and his shirt was rumpled after tramping through the woods. He needed a shower, but that would have to wait. Probably for hours. The investigation into Elena’s murder was just getting started, and after dinner, he’d return to the crime scene.
Distressed cabinets, dated appliances, and a small kitchen nook gave the space a homey feel. A picture window overlooked the backyard. The scent of warm pasta and tomato sauce caused his stomach to growl. The sounds of footsteps overhead indicated Ava and kids were moving around on the upper floor.
A moment later, Piper joined him. She must’ve taken a quick shower before changing into a soft pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. Her hair was dry—she hadn’t washed it—but the blood was gone from her hands and arms.
“Sorry about the noise. Sounds like a herd of elephants.” Piper raised her gaze to the ceiling. “It’s mostly Moxie. And Emma. If only I had the same level of energy they did.” She shook her head affectionately before glancing at Jackson. “What can I get you to drink? There’s soda and water. Or I can make a fresh pot of coffee.”
“Water is fine for now. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Nope, it’s all ready. Have a seat.”
He settled in a chair and watched her bustle around the kitchen. It was strange to be with Piper. Unsettling and yet familiar too. Her movements were graceful and efficient. She’d been through an ordeal tonight, but looking at her now, no one would know. Piper had always been good at compartmentalizing her emotions. Clearly that hadn’t changed in the last ten years.
“Here you go.” Piper set a plate on the table in front of him. It was piled high with lasagna, a side salad, and fresh garlic bread. She’d fixed a smaller plate for herself. Within moments, she had silverware and glasses filled with water on the table too.
Once everything was ready and Piper was seated, she met his gaze. “Why don’t you lead us in grace?”
Jackson nodded and then bowed his head. “Lord, we thank you for the food we are about to receive. May it nourish our bodies. We also ask that you watch over the investigators as they gather evidence, and we pray for Elena’s family. May You be with them in their heartache. Amen.”
“Amen.” Piper’s eyes uncharacteristically shimmered with tears. Derek was right. The incident in the woods had shaken her more than she would admit. For good reason. Elena had died in her arms.
Jackson couldn’t stand it. He placed a hand over hers. “I’m sorry, Piper. I meant what I said earlier. You did all you could. ”
She squeezed his hand and then pulled away to take a sip of water. Her gaze avoided his. Jackson didn’t know what he’d hoped her response would be, but discussing emotionally charged topics had never been her forte. Anything that couldn’t be changed went into a vault.
They discussed lighthearted things for the rest of the meal. The weather, Emma’s new artwork hanging on the fridge, and Jackson’s vacation to Hawaii. Eventually, the quiet settled over them, punctuated only by the scrape of the fork against their plates. The footsteps upstairs stilled. As Jackson’s stomach filled, his energy returned. He’d been hungrier than he realized, and the lasagna was the perfect dinner after a long day. “You outdid yourself, Piper. The food is amazing.”
“Thanks.” She cleared her throat and then took a drink of water. Fiddled with her napkin. “Truth is, it was a way to get a quiet moment with you away from the scene.” She took a deep breath and raised her gaze to meet his. “I owe you an apology, Jackson. For leaving like I did.”
He pushed away his empty plate. “It was a long time ago, Piper. You were hurting. I understood.”
The trouble was, he did. Piper never had it easy. Her childhood was spent bouncing between her mentally ill and drug-addicted mother’s house and Grandma Mary. She’d endured nasty gossip from some of the less well-meaning townsfolk. Through it all, she held her head high and fought to be respected.
The assault shattered her. Her feisty and determined nature had been subdued. She’d jumped at her own shadow and suffered through fresh whispered gossip from neighbors. So no, Jackson didn’t blame her one bit for fleeing a town that held such terrible memories for her.
What really hurt was that she never asked him to go with her.
He would have. In a heartbeat. Yes, they’d been ridiculously young, but he’d envisioned dating throughout college. Marriage. Supporting each other’s careers and, eventually, children. The way Piper left… breaking up with him in a letter … it’d punched a hole in his heart. And maybe that was the crux of the entire problem. He’d loved Piper more than she had him.
All of that was ancient history. Jackson had forgiven her a long time ago, and there was no need to rehash their mistakes. “I appreciate the apology, but it’s unnecessary. There are no hard feelings on my part.”
Her shoulders sagged. “I’m glad. It’s bothered me…”
“No need to let it trouble you one bit further.”
His cell phone beeped with an incoming text, interrupting their conversation. He scanned the message from Derek. “There were no signs of footprints in the woods near the parking lot. No indication that anyone was hiding in the trees.”
Piper relaxed against the kitchen chair with a sigh. “Moxie must’ve just caught the scent of an animal.”
Jackson nodded, relief unfurling inside him. Piper wasn’t in any danger. He rose from his chair. He’d been away from the crime scene for too long. “I should go. Thank you for dinner. ”
“It was nothing.” Piper followed him to the door. She chewed on her bottom lip. “I meant what I said earlier. I’d like to be involved in the investigation.”
Jackson settled his cowboy hat on his head. A small part of him wondered if Piper had offered the apology to wriggle her way back into his good graces, but he quickly quashed the notion. She was many things, but manipulative wasn’t one of them. No, he’d seen how upset she was at the crime scene and then again during the prayer.
How could he deny her the opportunity to catch Elena's killer? They were both adults. Professionals. Whatever feelings might arise while working together, he’d handle it.
He shrugged on his jacket. “I’d be happy to have your assistance, Piper. Let’s convene tomorrow morning to discuss what we know so far and who we should interview first.”
Warmth filled her expression, drawing attention to her eyes. They were deep blue. Almost purple. The color of bluebonnets at the height of their flowering season. Faint lines branched out from the corners, delicate and distracting. Jackson tore his gaze away to open the front door. “See you tomorrow.”
She stopped him with a hand on his arm. Heaven help him, he felt the heat of her palm straight through his jacket.
“Thank you, Jackson. It means a lot.”
Oh man. The appreciation in her expression twisted his insides in funny ways. Jackson nodded, not trusting his voice, and then fled into the cool night air. He waited on the porch for the lock to snick into place. He sensed Piper was standing on the other side of the door. Several feet and a plane of wood were all that separated them.
That and a pile of hurt. Misunderstandings. Heartache.
Jackson took a deep breath. He’d made mistakes over the years. Had regrets. But this… a tiny voice in the back of his mind whispered this might well be the worst of them all. Working with Piper would test every one of the walls around his heart.
He prayed they’d stay intact.