CHAPTER NINE
– JAXIE –
By the way Seamus is gripping the steering wheel I’d say my words hit him differently than I intended.
My father mentioned Seamus a few times in the past, and I know he was the best at what he did.
Hence the reason why my father turned to him.
Maybe it’s guilt, then Seamus’s reaction would make sense.
My thoughts are tugged in a different reaction when my phone starts to light up.
I have two, my own that has no reception when I’m on the mountain, and my father’s satellite phone.
The messages and missed calls are all from Elodie.
Dammit, how could I’ve been so stupid not to have given her the number of the satellite phone?
I thumb through the messages, and I can’t help the gasp ripping from me.
“What? What’s going on, Jaxie. Talk to me,” Seamus urges and ping-pongs his gaze between the road ahead and me.
The alarming things in Elodie’s messages make me unable to talk, and it’s why I tap the call button.
A breath or two later Elodie’s voice fills the tight space.
“Jaxie, oh thank fuck. You won’t believe the shit that happened over the past few days.
I’m packing as I speak. So, I hope you’re ready for me to come early.
” She snorts, but it sounds as if she’s on the verge of tears.
“Ready or not, I’m getting in my truck within the hour.
” Her voice is a mere whisper when she adds, “Someone killed Goat.”
“What?” I gasp.
“Who’s Goat?” Seamus asks.
A heartbeat of silence follows before Elodie states, “Hey, you’re still with Jaxie?
Good. Good. Goat is...was...my horse. Maybe you could protect me too.
Ugh. I don’t have the money. Hey, could you throw in a freebie, two for one deal, since you’re already watching my friend?
Friend...maybe you have a friend who could protect me?
It might be better under the circumstances. ”
My attention is on Seamus as he checks the rearview mirror before hitting the brakes as he guides the vehicle off the road.
“Elodie, you need to tell me all the details right now,” Seamus demands.
Elodie releases a sigh. “I’d rather not relive the whole thing. The sheriff advised me to stay with friends for a couple of days. That’s why I’m leaving early. Everything is cleared with my job; I don’t have to work the final two weeks. Problem, solution. So, any chance you’d work a double shift?”
A muscle in his jaw jumps and he’s staring at me when he says, “Hold on.”
He reaches for my phone and taps the mute button, shutting Elodie out of the conversation.
“She can’t stay with you, Jaxie. I’m still researching shit. It might seem there’s nothing going on after only one fucker showing up at your cabin, but who knows? And if she’s wrapped up in trouble as well...”
Seamus glances out the front window, and I take the opportunity to say, “Y-you can p-p-protect us both.”
He shakes his head. “Too risky. There’s a reason why I retired, Jaxie. I’m not at full strength. My leg is still recovering from the complex femur fraction. I can’t give chase or last long in hand-to-hand combat if they kick my leg. Protecting you is my one and only priority.”
“Y-you can,” I insist. “P-please. Elodie is my o-only friend.”
Seamus releases a frustrating sigh and taps the screen of my phone. “Elodie, Jaxie has your address?”
“Yes,” she instantly fires back.
“Stay put,” Seamus orders. “I’m sending someone to get you.”
“Thank you,” Elodie says with a load of relief.
“Don’t thank me for sending an asshole who will get on your last nerve within the hour,” Seamus warns.
Elodie snorts. “Clearly you haven’t been around me for long.”
The corner of my mouth twitches when Seamus looks confused.
I let him know, “S-she can be very p-patient and u-understanding during therapy. T-though she also latches on to something t-to drag it o-out of you and get to the heart of t-the matter if n-needed.”
“Dude. Nice talking and all, but you should spill less about me. Especially my qualities ’cause it’s considered a spoiler alert,” Elodie grumbles.
“Expect Murray to show up, and don’t open the door for anyone else. I’ll also give him your number. He will message before knocking on your door,” Seamus rattles and taps the screen to end the call.
He takes out his satellite phone and punches numbers before he brings it to his ear.
“Murray. I’m cashing in the favor you owe me.
... Yes, now. ... I don’t give a flying fuck.
I’m going to message you an address, get your ass there as soon as possible.
Elodie is Jaxie’s friend. She was supposed to move in with her at the cabin in less than two weeks.
... No, someone killed her horse. The sheriff advised.
.. yeah. Okay. ... Fuck, no. How would I know? Keep your cock in your pants, asshole.”
Seamus ends the call and hands me his phone. “This is Murray’s number. Message him Elodie’s address and number.”
I take the phone and Seamus guides the vehicle back onto the road. Making sure Murray has Elodie’s information, I quickly send him a message through Seamus’s phone. The line Seamus told him before he ended the call is also something I add before I hit send.
Somehow it feels like throwing oil on the fire. I find myself smiling at the thought. Weird due to the circumstances, and my heart aches for Elodie. She owned the horse for as long as he lived, which was twenty years.
“What’s the smile for?” Seamus asks.
I hand him his phone back. “I m-might have repeated your w-warning.”
Seamus chuckles. “Good. Murray is a horndog.”
“W-were you one?” The question tumbles from my lips before I can swallow the words down.
“Were.” Seamus bobs his head. “If my life didn’t take a turn, I’d still be one.”
I bob my head and whisper, “Sorry.”
He throws a glance my way, but I turn my head and stare out the side window. Time passes where we both seem to be lost in thought until finally I get to dig out the remote to open the gate for the house I grew up in.
I loved living here...until my father died. Seamus parks in front of the porch and when I step out, I mentally brace myself. The first thing I will see once I open this door is the stairway where I found my father’s body.
“Breathe, Jaxie,” Seamus says, and places a hand on my lower back.
I take a deep breath and slowly let it flow out. Taking the keys from my purse, I raise my arm while my hand starts to shake. Seamus’s large, calloused hand covers mine and he takes the keys from me. He opens the door and then his hand is on my lower back again to urge me forward.
Once I step inside the place feels different. My hands are numb, my legs are shaky, and it makes me lean against Seamus to seek his strength. Gah, why did I want to come back here?
My steps falter when I notice the open door of my father’s office. It’s never open.
“What’s wrong?” Seamus questions.
I swallow hard due to the tightness in my throat. “T-the d-door. His office. It’s...it’s o-open.”
Seamus’s voice goes hard. “Stay here,” he rumbles and reaches for his gun.
I watch how he moves, one arm leaning on his cane, the other aiming his gun in the direction of my father’s office. My gaze strays to the bottom of the stairs and my eyes start to burn.
“Jaxie, eyes on me,” Seamus snaps.
Without thinking I turn my head in his direction.
“Good girl. Now, tell me why you wanted to come here so we can grab it and go.” His voice sounds harsh.
Blinking a few times, I try and shake the memories and know why I came here. “The d-discussion you and M-murray had. I r-remembered a file I s-saw on my f-father’s d-desk and I wanted to l-look for it.”
Seamus winces. “Yeah, you’re not going in there.”
I frown at his weird response. “Why not?” I try to step around him. “It’s my o-own damn h-house.”
He steps in front of me to block my path. “It’s trashed, Jaxie. Whatever was in there they took it.”
“Let. Me. See,” I grit word for word with a load of anger.
A sigh rips from him. “Fine. But we’re heading out as soon as you cast a look inside.”
Brushing past him, I murmur, “Shouldn’t we...” my words falter once I glance inside my father’s office.
A tornado happened. There’s no other way to describe what I’m seeing. Papers are scattered all over, there’s not a book on the shelf, or a plant, photographs, everything is trashed. Even the desk is thrown upside-down as if they wanted to rip it apart as well.
For a moment my heart stops and fear feels like a noose tightening around my throat.
Until I notice the secret safe. The thick wooden shelf is still mounted to the wall.
Everything that was once on it is on the floor.
Stepping over everything, I let my fingertips glide over the underside of the thick shelf.
“What are you doing?” Seamus asks from behind me.
Instead of answering, I press a button and the side of the shelf pops open. Reaching inside, I take out a file and close the hidden safe.
“Motherfucker, that’s damn smart,” Seamus whispers.
Ignoring him, I open the file and glance through the information on the first page. Motherfucker, is right. This is why my father got killed, and I have a pretty good idea who has motivation to be the killer.