Chapter Seventeen
Sierra idly moved her pretzels on her plate, forming a carbohydrate moat around her grilled cheese sandwich.
Beau set his spoon in his now-empty bowl of tomato soup and slid it across the kitchen table out of the way. “You told me you loved grilled cheese. You haven’t eaten a single bite.”
“I ate the soup. It was good. Thanks.”
He shook his head. “I can open a can and heat it with the best of them. What’s wrong?”
“Other than the obvious? Someone wants to kill us and it may or may not be my own brother? Oh, wait, and my father may be trying to kill him?”
“Guess I deserved that. I should have asked what else is wrong? Are you getting sick?”
“More like I’ve lost my appetite because I’m feeling guilty. My formerly dead brother is very much alive and I haven’t really thought about whoever is buried in his grave. I can only hope, pray, he truly was dug up and his skeleton used by my brother as opposed to my brother…hurting him.”
She pushed her plate back and straightened in her chair.
“We need to find out who’s buried in the Covington family cemetery and notify his family.
To them, he’s either…missing…or he died a long time ago and his true grave is empty.
Either way, they deserve to know what happened, or at least, where he is so they can give him a proper burial in his own plot of land with his own tombstone. ”
“I agree. Which is why I asked Collier last night to get paperwork ready so that once we have tangible evidence to prove the body isn’t Esteban’s, we can get a court order to perform an exhumation.
He’s also searching for missing persons reports in neighboring counties around the time your brother’s alleged remains were found to try to narrow down potential identities for our John Doe.
Where is your family cemetery? That address will be needed for Collier’s paperwork. ”
“On the acreage behind the Covington mansion outside of Memphis. Pretty much a direct walk from our back door. But it’s a long walk.”
“Huge back yard I take it?”
“Reminiscent of Central Park. It’s quite beautiful.”
“I’m sure it is. I’ll let Collier know when we’re online in a few more hours.”
“Do you think they’ve found my brother yet?”
“Doubtful. If they had, they’d have been knocking on our door to let us know.”
A knock sounded at the door.
They both looked at each other in surprise, then shoved out of their chairs.
Beau pulled out his gun. “While that could be Collier or the others,” he said, keeping his voice low so no one outside would hear him, “until I know for sure, stay out of sight. Go to the bedroom and wait there.”
He moved to the window to the left of the door in the kitchen area and peered out the blinds. He swore when he saw who it was.
The sound of the door creaking had him jumping back just as Sierra swung it open.
“Esteban!” she cried out.
Beau grabbed Sierra’s waist and yanked her away from her brother.
Esteban stepped inside just as Beau was whirling back toward him. He dove at Esteban, tackling him to the floor and shoving his right arm up between his shoulder blades.
“Don’t move,” Beau growled, pressing the bore of his pistol against the other man’s temple.
“Beau, stop it,” Sierra cried out. “He’s unarmed.”
“Which is the only reason I didn’t shoot him. Yet. Stop squirming, Covington.”
“You’re breaking my damn arm, cop.”
Beau eased his arm down a fraction. “Better?”
Esteban glared at him, his cheek plastered against the hardwood floor. “A little,” he gritted out.
“Sierra,” Beau said, not taking his eyes off her brother, “get my handcuffs. They’re in the nightstand, my side of the bed.”
Esteban’s eyes widened. “Your side of the bed? You bastard.”
“Oh, now you’re worried about your little sister. After making me think you were dead all this time!”
“You don’t understand.” Her brother jerked against Beau’s hold and tried to get up. Beau shoved his arm higher again.
Esteban let loose with a string of curse words, half in English and half in Spanish.
Sierra ran out of the room. When she returned, she gave Beau the handcuffs.
As soon as he had them on his prisoner, he jerked Esteban to his feet and holstered his pistol. Then he proceeded to pat Esteban down, checking for weapons.
“I’m unarmed, cop,” he practically spat out.
“Cop sounds far less insulting coming from your sister.” Beau forced him to sit on the couch, facing him.
“I knew you were trouble,” Esteban said. He looked at Sierra standing beside Beau. “And you. Screwing a police chief? What were you thinking?”
“Watch your mouth,” Beau growled. “Treat her with respect. Anything happening between her and me is our business, not yours.”
“My sister is definitely my business. Keep your hands off her or answer to me.”
“Shut up, Esteban,” Sierra told him.
She stepped closer to Beau’s side, surprising him with her show of support.
Her brother aimed a hurt look at her. “You have no idea what I’ve been through, what I’ve risked to come here. And you’re taking his side? Have you no loyalty anymore?”
She rolled her eyes. “Loyal to who? You’re dead. Right?”
“I know, I know. I put you through a lot by letting you think I’d drowned. But I had no choice. I was trying to protect you.”
She sighed and started toward him. Beau grabbed her hand and tugged her to the other couch that formed an L with the first one.
“You can let go of her now,” Esteban bit out.
Beau let go, then settled his arm around her shoulders.
Esteban narrowed his eyes.
Beau smiled.
Sierra pushed Beau’s arm off her. “Enough. Stop it, you two. Esteban, you said you went through a lot to come here and what you did was to protect me. Explain. Tell us what the heck is going on and why in the world you let your family believe you were dead.”
A loud, rapid knock sounded on the door.
“Who the hell’s here now?” Beau stood, then hesitated. “Sierra—”
“I know. I know. Don’t trust my brother.” She pulled her pistol out of her ankle holster.
Beau blinked. “I thought I took that away after the safe house. How long have you had it? I didn’t see it last night when I took off your shoes.”
“I’ll kill you!” Esteban said.
“Shut up,” Sierra and Beau both told him.
He mumbled something under his breath.
“I took it when I got the handcuffs,” Sierra said. “I wanted to make sure I could protect you if my brother was a jerk.”
“Sierra!” Esteban complained. When they both turned toward him, he said, “I know, I know. Shut up.”
“Be careful,” Beau reminded Sierra. “Remember rule number two. Heck, rule number one as well, depending on who’s at the door. For that matter, number three. I told you to go to the bedroom, not open the door earlier.”
“You’re getting far too bossy.”
“What are all these rules?” her brother asked.
“Shut up,” they both said again.
“Stay here, Sierra,” Beau said. “I mean it.”
“I’ve got this.” She pointed her gun at the floor, her gaze locked on Esteban.
He gave her a bewildered look.
The loud knock sounded again. “Open up,” a man called out. “It’s Rafael. I know my brother and sister are in there.”
Beau stopped in surprise at the door and slowly turned to look at Sierra and her brother. “Rafael? What is this, a family reunion?”
She lifted her shoulders in a helpless gesture. “I have no idea what’s going on.”
Esteban swore.
“For once, I agree with you,” Beau told him.
He aimed his pistol at the door and jerked it open.
The dark-haired man standing there raised his hands in the air. “I left my gun on the porch, over there. I’m unarmed.”
“You don’t mind if I verify that, do you? Turn around.”
“Um. Sure.” Rafael turned around, and Beau roughly patted him down.
When Beau stepped back, he motioned Rafael to come inside. “Welcome to our humble abode, Covington. I’ll get the beer and chips,” he said, sarcasm dripping from every word. He yanked the confused-looking man across the threshold and slammed the door behind him.