Chapter 10
TEN
Jackson’s words haunted Piper for the rest of the day and into the evening.
She swiped the kitchen counter with a sponge before rinsing her hands in the sink. Dinner had been a simple affair of hamburgers and salad. Piano music filtered in from the living room. Finn was practicing a new song for Sunday church service. Based on his broken starts and stops, it wasn’t going well.
She sympathized. The investigation into Elena’s murder wasn’t going smoothly either. They’d interviewed most of Elena’s friends and a few members of her extended family. Unfortunately, none of them knew anything about her dating life and no one could provide the password to her cloud storage. Piper was extremely frustrated by the lack of progress.
So far, Shawn was their strongest suspect, but they couldn’t even prove he’d been having an affair with Elena.
Truth was, Piper couldn’t see the pristine lawyer luring his mistress to a field, beating her, and then shooting her to death. Shawn was arrogant and he had a temper, but he wasn’t the kind to get his hands dirty. Money had always been his solution to any problem. In school, he’d paid a fellow student to do his homework. Rumor had it, when he ran into legal trouble in his twenties after stealing a car from a dealership, he’d bought the vehicle at above asking price. He settled disputes with employees by increasing their severance package.
If Shawn wanted Elena’s silence, he’d buy it. Worst case scenario, he’d hire someone to murder her, not actually do the killing himself.
The hum of the washing machine meant the clothes weren’t ready for the dryer yet. Dishes done, and the kitchen clean, Piper had a few minutes. She settled at the table and opened her laptop. A few moments later, she accessed Elena’s social media.
The young woman hadn’t posted often. Maybe she’d been too busy with her college classes and work. Piper looked for pictures she was tagged in, making a list of additional friends to interview the next day. From the looks of things, Elena was well-liked, but there was seriousness to her that radiated from the images on the computer screen. It reminded Piper so much of herself…
Was that what was bothering her? The nightmare from the other night rushed back into her mind. The melding of Elena’s murder and Piper’s assault. Heart racing, she zoomed in on a photograph of Elena.
Curly blonde hair, blue eyes. Petite and slender. Their face shape was similar as was the curve of their lips. The resemblance was uncanny. They could be sisters. Additionally, they’d grown up in the same neighborhood. And Elena was nineteen, one year older than Piper had been at the time of her assault.
An icy finger of dread touched the back of Piper’s neck.
No. It couldn’t be.
With trembling fingers, she called Derek on video chat. Her boss picked up on the first ring. He was in his office, a stack of paperwork in front of him. The top button of his uniform was undone and his sleeves were rolled up. He offered her a smile with his greeting, but it was strained with exhaustion at the edges. “What’s up?”
“Lionel Islip was the man who attacked me, right? You’re certain?”
Derek froze for a moment, the question obviously catching him off guard. “Yes. Why?”
“I’ll explain, but take me through it. Why are you so convinced?”
“His fingerprints were all over the house. He’d made threats against you several times, had a violent history with women, and was known for breaking into houses to steal things. Neighbors reported seeing him in the area at the time of the assault. We found your necklace in his bedroom.” Derek’s tone was gentle and reassuring. “It was him, Piper. I’m certain.”
She desperately wanted to believe him. Derek wasn’t just her boss, he was also her friend. He’d known her since she was a teen, and when her mother brought home another loser or began using drugs again, he’d rescued Piper from more dangerous situations than she could count. He was the epitome of a caring, thorough, and dedicated law enforcement officer.
But they’d never talked about her case. Not really. Piper had never needed to, but now those niggles of doubt in the back of her mind wouldn’t be silenced. “You didn’t get a confession.”
Lionel had pulled a gun on the police when they drove up to his house to arrest him. Derek had nearly been shot during the incident. She hadn’t known that at the time. She’d been trapped inside her own fear, running as far away from Rock Fort as her rusted-out Ford would take her. It was only later, after moving back home, that she learned how close Derek had come to losing his life to get justice in her case.
Piper forced herself to say the words lingering on her tongue. “Is it possible you got it wrong, Derek? Lionel’s fingerprints were in our house, but he had been my mother’s boyfriend for months before they finally broke up. He could’ve stolen my necklace at any time, and I never saw the attacker’s face since he wore a mask.”
Derek was quiet for a long moment. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
“Jackson is convinced Elena’s killer is coming after me because he’s afraid I witnessed something in the woods, but what if that’s not true?” She fumbled around in her laptop bag before removing a copy of Elena’s driver’s license photos. Piper held it up next to her. “Look at us. We could be sisters. Elena lived in my old neighborhood, was roughly the same age as I was at the time of my assault, and the perpetrator beat her before shooting her.”
The image of a masked man standing over her in the kitchen, the gun in his hand, flashed in her mind. Her heart rate increased.
Piper shoved the memory away and continued, “Yes, there are differences. He lured her to a field before assaulting her, but the perpetrator could’ve adapted his methods. There are enough similarities between my attack and Elena’s murder that I have a sick pit in my stomach. So, I’m asking because I need to be sure.”
Derek met her gaze. There wasn’t a trace of anger, only sympathy. The sheriff’s badge on his shirt shimmered in the fluorescent lighting and this tone was authoritative and confident. “I’m sure, Piper. The man who killed Elena is not the same one who attacked you.”
She let go of the breath she was holding. Her mind was conjuring theories and horrors that weren’t based in reality. It’d been ten years since her assault. The attacker wouldn’t have waited so long before striking again. Someone like this kept going until they were dead or in prison. So yes, there were similarities between her case and Elena’s, but two very different perpetrators.
Piper rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry, Derek. I… well, there’s no reasonable explanation for my paranoia. Chalk it up to being shot at today.” She dropped her hand and gave him a weak smile. “It won’t happen again.”
“Never apologize for testing plausible theories. I know Jackson is worried about the attack today, and I understand his logic, but I’ve questioned Marcus and there’s nothing to indicate he purposefully targeted you. He was high and not in his right mind. I don’t think there was any rhyme or reason to what he did.”
His observation confirmed Piper’s initial theory. Some of the tension left her shoulders.
“Deputies questioned the gun shops in town,” Derek continued. “No one sold Marcus the Glock, which means someone must’ve given it to him. I’m working on figuring out who.” He tilted his head. “Get some sleep, Piper. You look worn out.”
“Pot meet kettle.”
“Yeah, but I’m the boss. Someone has to keep this department running.” Derek’s mouth quirked up. “I have an explanation for your paranoia. Finn must be driving you crazy with that piano music. He’s played the same notes fifteen times since we started this conversation.”
“Has he? I learned to tune him out.”
“Good for you. I’d go batty listening to that for hours on end.” Derek’s words were critical, but his tone was full of affection. “He’s determined. I’ll give him that.” He paused. “How’s Ava?”
Piper arched a slight brow. “She’s doing well. The doctor says she may be cleared to drive next week.” She glanced up to make sure her sister wasn’t within earshot. “You know, if you have a crush on Ava, you could ask her out. It’ll be easier than keeping track of her through me.”
Derek’s cheeks heated. “I don’t have a crush on Ava. I’m just being neighborly.”
“Of course you are. Just like you were being neighborly when you fixed the gutters last week. Or when you brought her flowers when she was in the hospital. And all those home-cooked meals?—”
“Cut it out.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m a nice guy. That’s all.”
“My sister could use a nice guy.” Piper couldn’t believe she was playing matchmaker, but Ava and the kids had been through a lot. They deserved someone solid and dependable. Someone who’d take care of them. Piper had seen Ava and Derek flirt from time to time. She knew her sister was interested, so she didn’t feel the least bit guilty in meddling.
Heaven knew, Ava would do it in a heartbeat.
“I… We’re friends and I don’t want to screw that up…” Derek seemed to struggle for a moment, and then he shuffled some paperwork on his desk. His cheeks were fire-engine red. “We shouldn’t be talking about this. Forget I brought it up. See you in the morning.”
After he hung up, Piper said a silent prayer that Derek would find the courage to ask Ava out. The two would make a great couple. Then her gaze landed on Elena’s photograph. She breathed out, the twist in her stomach making it ache. She added to her prayer, “God, I really want to find Elena’s killer. Help guide me.”
Moxie came running around the corner and nudged Piper’s hand with his nose before walking to the door and standing next to it. Finn was still banging away on the piano. Now, the notes were getting on her nerves.
She rose from her chair. “Looking for peace and quiet, boy?”
He barked in reply. Piper shrugged on her coat before opening the back door. Moxie took off into the yard as she stepped onto the porch. Derek’s assurances had gone a long way to making her feel better. Still, there was no harm in doing a perimeter check of the property.
Cool air caressed her cheeks. A full moon was out, painting the neighborhood in an ethereal glow. Piper kept an eye on Moxie as she circled the house to the front yard. The Labrador pranced beside her. “Don’t get into anything you aren’t supposed to. I’m not giving you a bath because you bothered a skunk.”
She could swear he grinned in reply before stopping to sniff at some bushes bordering their property line. Piper reached the driveway. The street was quiet. Overhead an owl hooted. She breathed in the crisp air and let the silence wash over her. Exhaustion seeped into her muscles. Derek was right, she was tired and should go to bed.
An unfamiliar vehicle at the end of the street caught her attention. It hid in the shadows. An SUV judging from the size. The front-end was angled toward her house, giving anyone in the driver’s seat a perfect view of her property.
Piper’s pulse skittered and her fingers brushed against the weapon at her hip as she eased down the driveway. The feeling she was being watched this morning might not have been in her head after all. She lengthened her strides, intent on confronting whoever was in the SUV.
Moxie shot ahead of her. Before she could call the mutt back, the driver’s side door opened .
A man emerged.
Her hand tightened on her weapon as she undid the button on her holster. “Rock Fort Sheriff’s Department. Identify yourself.”
Moxie barked with excitement.
“It’s me, Piper.” Jackson stepped into the moonlight. He’d shed his cowboy hat and his jacket. A button-down shirt molded to his broad shoulders and accented his narrow waist. Tousled hair and a five-o’clock shadow added a rough edge to his appearance that was all too appealing.
Attraction shot through Piper, fueling her irritation. “What are you doing here?”
He patted Moxie, who was dancing around seeking attention. “Keeping an eye on things.”
“That’s unnecessary. Derek interviewed Marcus and confirmed he wasn’t targeting me. The attack was random.”
“He told me.”
“Then?”
He shrugged, as if to say it didn’t matter, and his mouth quirked. “Don’t worry, Piper. I’ve done stakeouts under rougher conditions. The seat in my SUV leans back, I’ve brought snacks, and there are a ton of reports to go through. Chances are, it’ll be a quiet and boring night.” Jackson leaned against his vehicle. “What did you find out from Elena’s social media accounts?”
He was attempting to distract her with the case. Piper didn’t intend to veer off track for very long. “There’s a woman who pops up frequently. Kylie Reynolds. She and Elena lived in the same neighborhood, a few streets away from each other. I think we should interview Kylie in the morning. We can also question some neighbors. If Shawn and Elena were having an affair, maybe someone saw him going and coming from her house.”
“Good idea. In the meantime, my boss, Lieutenant Rodriguez, has assigned some additional rangers to aid in the investigation. They’ll be here tomorrow afternoon.” Jackson turned away. “See you in the morning.”
“Wait…” She leveled him with a stern look and crossed her arms over her chest. “This is ridiculous. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a trained law enforcement officer. There’s no reason for you to stand guard outside my house. I can handle things myself.”
“I never said you couldn’t.”
“Then why?—”
“Why do you think?” Jackson snapped. “I care, okay, Piper? There, I said it out loud. I care about you. In spite of everything, and as foolish as it makes me, I still care. You were nearly shot to death in front of me today. Do you really think I can get a good night’s sleep at the hotel? It would be impossible. I’d lay in bed and worry that some lunatic was heading to your house to kill you.”
Her heart squeezed tight. Without thinking, Piper stepped forward until she had her arms wrapped around his waist. His breath hitched and then Jackson returned her embrace. His arms were warm, his presence steady. Nothing was going to hurt her tonight. Not under his watch.
Relief swamped her, causing unexpected and unbidden tears. She was scared. Terrified, actually. It didn’t make sense. There was no evidence anyone was targeting her, and yet, the last two days had left her on edge.
Jackson pulled her closer. His heart thumped against her ear. She didn’t deserve this. Didn’t deserve him. She was damaged goods with a cloud of trouble that followed in her wake. It’d been true ten years ago. It was still true today.
Piper wrestled with the emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She should put a stop to this, but there was no wall big enough to keep Jackson out of her heart.
She swallowed hard. “I care about you too.”
“I know. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t fight so hard to keep me at a distance. Jensen.”
She huffed out a laugh. “I knew something was bothering you this afternoon.”
His lips brushed against the top of her head. “Go inside, Piper. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow. One of us has to be conscious enough to interview Kylie Reynolds.”
She reluctantly stepped out of his embrace. “I feel bad leaving you out here.”
“Don’t. It’s my decision.” He gently turned her toward the house. “And take Moxie with you. I’m covered in dog slobber.”
“Ewww. You hugged me.”
“Actually, you hugged me.” He winked. “See you in the morning.”
Piper whistled for the dog before crossing the street back toward her house. She reached the front door, and with one last glance at Jackson’s vehicle, ducked inside. The locks slid home easily. Piper armed the alarm. Then she parted the curtain to view the street.
Quiet. No sign of trouble. She was safe. Locked inside her house, with an alarm on, and a Texas Ranger standing guard. Still a sense of overwhelming dread pressed on her sternum. It’d plagued her since the move back to Rock Fort and, after Elena’s murder, had only gotten worse. It wasn’t logical. The conversation with Derek should have silenced all her doubts. Her attacker was six feet underground in the cemetery. She was safe.
So why on earth did she feel so scared?