Chapter 13
Both Liv and Jackson were on edge in the aftermath of the library fire. With the scene handed over, Liv approached Jackson, who was helping roll up the hose. “You and Michael okay?”
“I guess,” she sighed. “One more vial, just like the ones we found before. It”s becoming too eerie.”
Jackson swiped at his face. “This is getting out of hand, Livvy. Michael may be right. I can”t shake off this feeling of being hunted.”
“I’m sorry about him.” She twirled a piece of her hair. “I need to talk to him. I think he may be feeling something more…” She shook her head. “We need to stick together until this is sorted. Minimize risks.”
They made a brief stop at Liv”s place to shower off the remnants of the smoke and soot. “Pack a bag. We can stay at my place tonight. Tomorrow we can stay at your place. We can keep them guessing.” Jackson frowned, but Liv didn’t disagree.
At his place, he took charge, determined to provide some sense of normalcy in the midst of the craziness. He joined her in the living room. “Alright, let”s see what I can whip up. You hungry?”
“Starving, actually. Neither of us ate anything after breakfast,” she admitted.
“I”ll sort something out. Sit tight.”
He prepared a simple dinner of spaghetti with what he called cheater meat sauce. He sauteed a pound of ground beef with some salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, and basil, and mixed it with a jar of sauce.
While he did that, Liv put together a salad. “I’m glad we came back here. Your fridge is better equipped than mine.”
“I can’t eat crap anymore. I’m too old for that.” He offered her a taste of the sauce.
She licked the spoon. Time froze a moment as he leaned down and kissed her.
Their conversation was tinged by the library fire and the unsettling discoveries made there. “That fire, Liv... we were so close to being right in the middle of it. I’ve walked into flames for almost twenty years, but this one unnerved me.”
Liv crinkled her brows. “How so?”
He shook his head, not prepared to elaborate. Then the water with the pasta bubbled over, and he turned to deal with it. He drained the spaghetti and served up a bowl for each of them.
“It”s delicious, by the way.” She twirled a bite into her mouth.
After dinner, they did the dishes. “Livvy, you asked me why the fire unnerved me.” He dried his hands and placed a meaty palm on each of her hips. “I could’ve lost you.” His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.
He lowered his mouth and pressed his lips against hers. “Livvy, I couldn’t bear losing you.” He trailed kisses down the length of her neck, his tongue swiping at her pulse point.
She cupped his face between her hands and pulled him closer. “You protected me.” Her tongue licked his lips and pressed into his mouth. His words were similar to Michael’s but carried different weight.
Their tongues dueled as he lifted her against his body. Holding her head against his heart, he carried her to his bedroom. After setting her on her feet, he undressed her, revealing her porcelain skin. Her perfect pink nipples formed taut points. His lips wrapped around one and then the other.
Liv’s hands slipped beneath his shirt. Her fingers skated across his well-honed muscles, teasing his nipples. He groaned as he stripped off his remaining clothing.
She smiled and pressed him backwards toward the bed. His knees hit the mattress, and she pressed him backwards onto the pillows. She crawled over him until her breasts hung over his chest.
He did his best to concentrate, reaching into his bedside table for a condom while suckling one breast, then the other. His hands skimmed her belly and against her mound. She mewed as he slipped his fingers between her soaked folds.
“Jackson,” her voice turned lusty.
Liv took the condom, tore the wrapper and rolled it down his length. With a sly smile, she centered herself and guided him to her entrance. His eyes almost crossed as she lowered herself onto him.
Unable to delay his pleasure, he lifted his hips and filled her channel in a possessive thrust. She leaned back, her long hair brushing his knees. She tilted her hips and rode him, taking him deeply as her clit rubbed against him. Her skin heated more with every stroke.
His eyes fixed on hers as he rolled his hips to meet hers. Their bodies came together slowly. Her mouth met his. Fingers explored each other. Her breaths came faster, her face flushed with hunger.
He slipped his hand between them, rolling her clit between his thumb and forefinger. “That’s it, Livvy, come for me.”
At his touch and the sound of his voice, Liv’s eyes closed, and her core rippled around him, her breath stalling in her chest. Jackson flexed his hips, increasing the depth of his thrusts. She met him thrust for thrust and squeezed him tightly, bringing him over the edge. He filled her with an explosive climax.
After she used the bathroom and he disposed of the condom, they lay in each other”s arms. His hand rubbed her back as her head rested against his chest. Together, they fell into an exhausted sleep.
* * *
At 3:30, Jackson”s phone rang, jolting them from their peaceful sleep. “Reynolds,” he answered.
“Jackson…” It was his mother, panic lacing her voice.
“What’s wrong?” He was already on his feet, getting dressed as she spoke.
Her breaths were coming in fast pants. “The garage is on fire.”
“Did you call it in?” He listened. “Okay. Stay across the street with Mrs. Weber. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
Liv was already dressed. “What is it?”
“It’s my mom. Her garage is on fire.”
“Oh God. I’ll call Michael on the way,” she said.
The scene at Jackson”s mother”s house was tense. They arrived to find the fire department already there and the flames extinguished in their detached garage. Michael stood speaking with two other detectives and Molly as Liv made her way over to them. Their expressions were grave.
“We have a new body and a vial found beneath it.” Molly watched her assistant wheel the stretcher with the body into the ME’s hearse.
Jackson escorted his mother into his childhood home. He sensed nervous energy radiating off her in waves. Her hands trembled slightly as she clutched his arm, seeking reassurance in his presence.
“Are you sure it”s safe, Jackson?” his mother’s voice quivered with anxiety.
“Yes, Mom, I”ve checked everything. The damage was to the back two walls and the roof. The fire was caught in time. We”re safe here,” he reassured her, offering a gentle smile. It was clear she wasn’t aware of the dead body.
Once inside, Jackson guided his mother to a cozy sitting area, where they could talk in peace. The tension eased from her shoulders as she settled into the familiar surroundings, the warmth of the room enveloping them like a comforting embrace.
Sitting beside her, Jackson listened as his mother expressed her fears and concerns about the fire. “I just can”t shake the feeling of dread, Jackson. What if it happens again?”
“We”ll be okay, Mom. I”ll make sure of it,” Jackson promised, his voice steady and reassuring.
But even as he spoke, Jackson couldn”t shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. This fire was personal. If she hadn”t noticed, if she hadn”t acted quickly... his thoughts trailed off.
His mother reached out and placed a shaking hand on his arm. “I’m so glad I redid the front bedroom into an office. I was tired of trying to get out there in the bad weather. We’re safe, and the fire didn’t damage anything important. The smoke didn’t even make it inside the house. That”s all that matters,” she said softly.
Dad’s old office.As he looked into his mother”s eyes, Jackson made a silent vow to protect her at all costs. Then, as the situation settled and the fire trucks pulled away, Liv knocked on the door.
It was approaching six o’clock in the morning when Jackson opened it and welcomed Liv inside. “Mom, this is Olivia Everhart.”
“I saw you at the dedication and Jackson’s promotion and medal ceremony, but I remember you when you were a little girl.” Martha Reynolds smiled. “Can I get you something to eat or drink?”
“I’ll make some coffee,” Jackson offered. “Why don’t you and Livvy stay here in the living room?” Turning to his mother, his expression turned resolute. “Mom, we need to know more about the history of Waverly Junction. What do you know about what really happened between the Waverlys and the Ashcrofts? About my roots?”
Martha’s brow furrowed in thought. “Jackson, why are you?—”
“Mom, please,” he begged. “It’s important for our investigation.”
“You think the history might explain the recent fires—including our garage?” Martha sat in her chair and pulled a throw onto her lap. “I’ll start from the very beginning.”
She looked at Liv as Jackson went to brew the coffee. “The poverty and the scarcity of jobs in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains put many families, including the Waverlys and Ashcrofts, in a tough place. Faced with the challenge of making ends meet, they made a decision to leave behind everything they knew. Their only choice was to start a new journey.
“In the early 1800s, the Waverly and Ashcroft families, and some of their neighbors and friends, packed up everything they owned and set out across the country. Their destination was an area here in South Dakota, a place that held a fresh start and the potential for economic stability.
“Upon arriving, the exquisite landscape unfolded before them, vast and promising. They met challenges with grit, working tirelessly to establish themselves in their new surroundings and build a community. Surviving the trek across country created a sense of belonging and support, a glaring contrast to the hardships they faced in Appalachia.
“In their newfound homestead, the Waverly and Ashcroft families forged connections, finding work and contributing to the community they designed. One side of the river was Ashcroft Crossing, and the other side was Waverly Junction. They lived happily. In 1952, floods damaged most of the state. The Waverly River overflowed, destroying Ashcroft Crossing. Supposedly, that’s when the fight over the land began. When the waters subsided, it came up to referendum, and the vote was to call the town Waverly Junction.”
Liv’s brow rose. “Mrs. Reynolds, you said ‘supposedly’?”
“The Ashcroft Crossing land that survived the flooding was desired for its rich soil and location. It was ideal for agriculture and lucrative for development. The federal government sponsored the rail and highway development. The fight worsened when the Ashcroft family cited rights of first settlement. On their way west, they made promises to each other. Once they began to rebuild after the flood, the verbal promises were broken. The Waverlys contested the Ashcroft”s claim, arguing that they had invested in the area and had plans for commercial and residential development that would greatly benefit the town”s economy. That’s what made it into the courts.”
Jackson handed her a mug of coffee. “Thank you.”
Liv cocked her head. “You said that’s what made it into the courts.”
“Mom, what?” Jackson asked.
She blew out a breath and looked at Jackson. “The real fight was more personal.” She leaned down and pulled an album from beneath her chair. “This would have been in the garage before I moved the office upstairs. When we spoke last week, I got to thinking. I brought it in here to look at and to give it to you. Jackson, you deserve to have this.” She handed the book to him. “If I’d left it in the garage…it may have burned.”
She continued her story, “Generations ago, the feud between the Ashcrofts and the Waverlys went well beyond the property dispute. There were secret romantic entanglements and forbidden affairs between members of both families and some of the townspeople. The sad thing was the Ashcroft family wasn’t very prolific. The family started to die off.”
Jackson started to page through the book. It was filled with photographs and newspaper articles. He turned pale. “Mom, how do you know all of this?”
Liv knelt in front of him. “What’s wrong? Are you alright?” She pulled the book from his lap to see what he was looking at. The article, dated from 1975, was about the Waverly family and their rise in fortune. Pictures of the family included one of Sinclair Waverly, who, at the time it was taken, was about fifty years old. Jackson could have been his twin.
Jackson’s hands shook. “God, Mom, what did you and Dad do?”
“Honey, we adopted an orphaned infant. Rainey Bradshaw was working as a maid in the Waverly house. No one realized she was using her great-great-grandmother’s last name. After the Ashcrofts lost their legal battle, they picked up for Pierre. It was only after we looked to find relatives of yours did we realize none were left.”
“Mom, it’s a small town. How did no one recognize her, or, for that matter, me?” Jackson was confused.
“You were a source of speculation. But Sinclair Waverly made a declaration and even signed paperwork saying you weren’t a Waverly. As for Rainey, when Christopher declared her an Ashcroft, well, no one did background checks back then like they do today.
“There were countless rumors. No one knew why she was working in the Waverly home. All anyone knew was she was pregnant when she started to date Christopher Waverly. An unwed pregnancy in 1979 was a huge scandal. But Christopher and Rainey were really in love. He announced his intentions to marry Rainey after she had the baby.”
Jackson reached for Liv and pulled her from the floor. “So who is Jackson’s birth father? Christopher?” she asked.
Martha Reynolds shook her head. “David and I thought it was Christopher’s grandfather, Sinclair Waverly. He was a mean drunk. He’s probably in his eighties now and can’t attack women anymore, thankfully, but in his younger days, he was known to take what he wanted. Now he barely makes an appearance in town. Christopher’s father, Silas, was and still is a weak man. He is married to Jule, and she makes the decisions.
Martha turned to Olivia. “The fire at the Waverly mansion was terrible. When Jackson’s dad and your dad were wrapping up Rainey’s body, they found Jackson beneath her. He was in critical condition and couldn’t breathe without help.
“I was working in the NICU at the hospital that night. When they rushed Jackson in, I worked over him with a team of doctors, and then, when my shift was over, I sat beside that crib and prayed. He had this fighting spirit about him.
“His dad and I had been trying to have a child for years. The hospital social worker suggested we adopt him, so we contacted an attorney, Robert Kendrick.”
Olivia shuddered. Jackson’s brows rose when he looked at her. The body he and Turk found was Kendrick, but the name hadn’t been made public yet.
Martha continued, “He advised us to put a legal notice in our local and state newspapers asking for any Ashcroft relatives. Silas and Jule Waverly and their attorneys provided a release from any claim for you. Sinclair also easily signed your rights away, even though Christopher had wanted Jackson badly. When there were no claims on the Ashcroft side, the court let us legally adopt him. He was such a blessing.”
She sipped her coffee. “After his first-grade school photo, Jackson’s dad and I were looking at his picture. The resemblance to Christopher was uncanny.” Her voice cracked.
“What did you do?” Jackson asked.
“Nothing. You were our son. You are our son.” She took a deep breath. “But we started to research the family trees. That’s when we found out about the other affairs.”
“And the fire that killed Christopher and Rainey?” Jackson’s brows knit.
“The town believed it had to do with the land dispute. Christopher announced his intentions to finally develop the land, the Ashcroft land that survived the flood. And he announced Rainey was an Ashcroft. With their marriage, they would end the feud and share in the fortune.”
Liv swiped some hair from her face. “That had to anger the Waverlys.”
“More than the Waverlys. There was a lot of investment money tied up in that land.” Martha sipped her coffee.
Jackson leaned back. “The Waverlys never went through with developing that piece of land after their son”s death.”
“But with Rainey’s death, the legal fight ended?” Liv suggested.
“The land remains untouched. Why, no one knows. The taxes remain paid, and the land is taken care of.” Martha sighed.
“Do folks know I’m an Ashcroft?” Jackson chewed his lip.
“I assume if some looked deeply into your history. We didn’t hide anything, but we didn’t announce it either. We wanted to protect you. Mr. Kendrick had us add a clause to your adoption agreement that, once you became ours, you were a Reynolds. Your rights to the Ashcroft legacy and, for that matter, the Waverly legacy were null and void.”
Jackson shuddered. “Was that legal?”
“Mr. Kendrick and the court said so,” Martha insisted.
Liv’s eyes widened as she shared a look with Jackson. “Rainey? Are you sure she was an Ashcroft?”
Martha chewed her lip. “Come to think of it, everyone went by what Christopher said. Honestly, I don’t know,” she admitted, sounding upset. “I never thought of that before.”
“Mom, you need to try to get some sleep. Livvy and I will stay here,” Jackson advised.
“Okay.” She stood, walked over to Jackson and leaned down to kiss his head. “We never wanted to hurt you.”
“I know.” He walked her up the stairs. A few minutes later, he returned.