Drake, page 14
He fell asleep with Cassie’s body pressed to his, thankful for another day with the woman who had so quickly become his life.
Chapter 13
Cassie woke to sunlight streaming through the window, filling the room with a happy glow that made her want to embrace the day.
The sense of joy was compounded as a muscular arm tightened around her, pulling her close to the man to whom she’d given her heart.
Having almost died the day before, the terror of being swept down a mountainside in a sea of rock and boulders seemed almost inconsequential in comparison to the fear of falling in love again. Yet, here she was, in his arms, loving and being loved by a man so special she didn’t know what she’d done to deserve him.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said, his voice deep and rumbly.
“Good morning,” she said, turning over to snuggle in his arms. “I wish we could hide in this room for a couple of days.”
He nodded and tightened his hold. “Me, too.”
“But we’re not on a deserted island. We’re in Hank and Sadie’s house, and we’ll be expected to join them for breakfast and fill them in on what we learned in Idaho.” She sighed.
“Or we can stay in this bed and make love until they come banging on the door to kick us out for making too much noise.” He nuzzled her neck, his hands smoothing down her naked back to cup her ass.
“Mmm. I like the way you think.” She slid her calf up to his thigh.
His cock grew and hardened against her belly.
Cassie rolled him onto his back and straddled him, poised to take him into her and ride him like the stud he was.
He gripped her hips and stopped her short. “Protection?”
Her eyes rounded. She’d almost forgotten in her mind-number desire. “Your wallet?”
He shook his head. “We used the only one I had last night.”
“Can’t you just withdraw at the last second?”
“Sweetheart, when we’re ready to talk children, I want it to be a deliberate decision, not an accident of lust. I want you to want me for me and not be in this relationship because you feel you have to for the sake of a child.”
Cassie sighed. “I hate it when you’re so logical.”
“And I love that you’re on top.” He slapped her ass playfully. “Save it for tonight when we have what we need.”
“Deal.” She leaned forward, kissed him hard on the mouth, and then rolled off the bed onto her feet. “Let’s make the most of this day. I feel we’re so close to solving this case that today might be the day.”
A knock sounded on the door.
“Cassie,” Sadie’s voice sounded through the panel. “I brought you clothes I think you can wear for the day. I’ll leave them outside your door. And Hank found some for Drake, too. I have breakfast started but take your time. Don’t feel like you have to hurry.”
Cassie’s gaze met Drake’s as they stood on the other side of the door from Sadie, completely naked. A giggle rose in her throat. She covered her mouth and waited for the sound of Sadie’s footsteps to recede.
Drake grabbed Cassie around the waist and rolled her onto the bed. “You heard the woman…take your time.”
Cassie laughed and pressed her body against his. She loved being skin to skin with him. “Nothing would give me more pleasure than to lie here all day with you.”
“With an unlimited supply of condoms,” he kissed her long and hard then got up. He held out his hand. “Come on, woman. We have a killer to catch.”
She laid her hand in his and let him draw her to her feet, her lips twisting into a wry grin. “You know how to sweep a woman back onto her feet.”
He grinned. “Just keeping it real.” Drake crossed to the door and opened it wide enough to grab the piles of clothing left there.
After closing the door, he carried the items into the bathroom and switched on the shower.
They got in together and lathered soap all over the other’s body. Cassie’s hands lingered on Drake’s engorged shaft.
“You’re making this harder than it has to be,” Drake grumbled.
She laughed. “No kidding. But we can fix that.” Cassie reached behind him and turned the faucet handle to cold. Then she jumped out of the shower, laughing as he swore.
Toweling dry was just as much fun, taking longer than it should have.
By the time they were dressed, their hair combed and shoes on, Cassie could smell bacon.
Her stomach rumbled.
They descended the steps hand in hand and followed the yummy smells to the kitchen, where Hank manned the skillet with the bacon, Sadie stirred fluffy yellow eggs in another pan and two children played with wooden spoons and plastic mixing bowls on the floor.
Cassie’s chest tightened at the scene of this beautiful family making breakfast together. She realized she wanted that. If what they had continued to be as good as it felt now, could this be them in a few years? The idea was scary, exciting and desired.
Cassie and Drake helped set the table and pour orange juice into glasses and coffee into mugs. Hank laid platters of bacon and toast on the table and went back to the stove to collect another Sadie had filled with scrambled eggs.
Sadie lifted their dark-haired little boy from the floor and fitted him into a highchair while Hank helped the golden-haired little girl into a booster seat at the table.
Everyone took a seat and helped themselves to the food.
While they ate, Cassie and Drake filled Hank in on what they’d learned in Idaho, careful about what they said in front of the little ones.
“I’ll double-check with Margaret and find out if Greenway Construction did work in Idaho Falls twenty years ago,” Cassie said.
“It had to be Greenway,” Drake said. “Why else would a heavily pregnant Beth Anderson come all the way to Eagle Rock, Montana?”
“Margaret might also know who worked the job in Idaho.” Cassie’s gaze met Drake’s. “It could’ve been a smaller subset of the crew working the Lucky Lady Lodge addition.”
Sadie smiled as she pushed to her feet and started collecting plates. “Sounds like you two have your day lined up.”
“Let us know if we can be of assistance.” Hank stood and helped his wife. “And if you have time and want to come back out here, we’re having a barbecue tonight for the Brotherhood Protectors and the crew of spec ops folks working on the lodge’s renovations.”
“Thank you.” Cassie drank the last of her orange juice and pushed to her feet. “You two have been too kind.” She grinned. “And I love the outfit.”
Sadie smiled. “You can keep it. It was one of the outfits from the movie we made last year.”
Cassie shook her head. “You’re both so amazing. I don’t know how you juggle your lives between movies, the Brotherhood and your beautiful children.”
Hank slipped an arm around Sadie and dropped a kiss on top of her golden-blond hair. “We love each other enough to make it work.”
“Don’t get us wrong,” Sadie said. “It’s not always easy.”
Hank stared into his wife’s beautiful face. “But it’s worth it.”
Drake carried his dishes to the sink and rinsed them before placing them in the dishwasher. “Whatever you’re doing is working, and we really appreciate what you did for us last night.” He turned with a grin. “It was almost like old times and made my heart proud when that helicopter came over the ridge and landed in front of us.”
“I’m lucky to have a great support system in Eagle Rock and Bozeman. We have access to planes and helicopters when we need them.”
“You’re making a good sales pitch for coming to work for Brotherhood Protectors,” Drake said.
Hank held up his hand. “Not pitching. Just stating the facts. You committed to helping Molly and Parker for the duration of the lodge renovation. When that’s done, you’ll be hearing the official sales pitch.”
“We hate to eat and run,” Cassie said, “but I feel like we’re really close to finding out who was behind Beth Anderson and Earl Hensley’s murders.”
“And possibly behind the explosion that triggered the landslide that almost killed the two of you,” Hank added. “They have to be connected. I don’t believe in coincidence.” Hank dug in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Take my truck since yours was buried in the avalanche.” He tossed the keys to Drake.
Drake caught them with one hand. “Thank you, Hank and Sadie. We hope to see you this evening if things work out.”
Cassie hurried out the front door and into Hank’s truck, anxious to get started.
Drake slipped into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“I feel on edge,” Cassie said.
Drake shot a glance in her direction as he turned the truck around. “Like we’re on the verge of cracking this case?”
“Yes. I’m eager to get to the truth and, at the same time, apprehensive.”
Drake nodded. “Whoever we’re dealing with has killed and tried to kill us in that avalanche. We’re getting close, and it’s making him nervous.”
Cassie laughed. “Me, too.”
“Where to first?” Drake asked. “Margaret’s place or the sheriff’s office?”
“Sheriff’s office,” Cassie said. “I need to check in and see if he’s heard anything more from the M.E., and we need to tell him what we learned in Idaho.”
“You left your vehicle there, right?”
“I did,” she said.
“If it’s all right with you, I’ll leave you with the sheriff and let you give him the updates while I run out to talk to Margaret.”
Cassie nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll have my vehicle if I need to go anywhere or if we need to meet somewhere.”
As they drove into Eagle Rock, it looked the same as it did every day to Cassie. But it felt different. So much had happened in the past week. So many revelations. The small town she’d known all her life held secrets she’d never expected.
Drake pulled into the parking lot in front of the sheriff’s office.
“Good, the sheriff is in,” Cassie said as she unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed down from the truck. “See you in a few,” she said with a wave and entered the building.
“Deputy Douglas…Cassie.” Sheriff Barron crossed the room and pulled her into a crushing hug. “Woman, you scared the life out of me last night.”
She laughed. “You can’t possibly be as terrified as I was as we were swept down the hill in that avalanche.”
The sheriff set her at arm’s length, his gaze raking over her. “Have you been to see a doctor? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine other than a few bruises. Drake’s truck is toast. Buried to the windows in the half of the mountain that slipped down that hill.” She studied her boss.
The man actually had tears in his eyes.
“I’m okay,” she assured him. “I lived to work another day. You won’t be stuck manning all the shifts.”
“Shifts be damned. It’s you I was worried about. This case is getting too dangerous. I’d pull you off it if I thought that would keep you out of trouble.”
Cassie shook her head. “You can’t pull me. We’re getting too close to the answers. We know who the victim is. Now, we need to nail her killer.”
“The fact that you’re getting close is what has me scared and has the killer worried. I don’t want what happened to Earl to happen to you.” He gripped her arms. “And it almost did. That avalanche happened on purpose. I’ve heard from a number of sources that they heard a cannon go off right before the landslide.”
“We heard it, too,” Cassie said. “And I believe it was aimed at us.” She lifted her chin. “All the more reason to push to the finish. He’s scared and trying to keep people from knowing the truth. His actions are going to get him caught.”
The sheriff’s eyebrows formed a V over his nose. “Let’s catch him before he claims another victim. I don’t want the next victim to be you.”
Cassie’s heart warmed at the sheriff’s words. The man had taken her under his wing after her parents’ passing. He’d given her a job as a deputy and put her through the training, knowing she might eventually go back to law school and finish her degree. He wanted her to be successful, even if it wasn’t with the sheriff’s department.
He cared.
“Come into my office and tell me everything you got from your exciting trip to Idaho.”
The sheriff settled behind his desk, and Cassie sat in one of the chairs in front of him. In the next fifteen minutes, she told him everything they’d learned about Beth Anderson and her love affair with a construction worker.
When she finished, Sheriff Barron shook his head. “Her life was cut way too short. So, let me get this straight…she was eight and a half months pregnant when she disappeared from Idaho Falls. Seems to me we still need to solve two riddles—who the killer is and what happened to Beth’s baby.”
Cassie nodded. “Drake’s on his way out to Margaret’s to see if she remembers a Greenway Construction project in Idaho Falls. If so, we hope she can remember who worked on that project.”
The sheriff’s frown deepened. “Margaret came by the office yesterday and said she was afraid to stay at her house because she’d been getting too many threats.”
“Damn,” Cassie pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “Do you know where she is?”
Sheriff Barron nodded. “I do. I sent her to my fishing shack with a cooler full of beer and snacks, a fishing pole and bait.” He grinned. “She was pleased to go. Said fishing relaxed her, even if she didn’t catch anything.”
“Can you shoot the location to Drake on his cell phone?” Cassie asked. “We really need the information only she can provide.” She sent Drake’s cell phone number to the sheriff’s phone.
Moments later, the sheriff had Drake on his way out to where Margaret would be happily fishing.
The sheriff’s cell phone buzzed in his hand, and he lifted it to his ear. “Sheriff Barron speaking. Hello, Marnie. Whatcha got?”
Cassie watched the man’s expression as he listened. Halfway through Marnie’s message, he shook his head, indicating it had nothing to do with the case Cassie was working.
“Tell her I’ll be there as soon as possible. Thank you, Marnie.” The sheriff ended the call and gave Cassie a crooked grin. “Someone took Mrs. Crabtree’s Cadillac for a joy ride last night. She wants me to dust for fingerprints and arrest the kids who did it.” He sighed. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Cassie shook her head. “Never a dull moment in Eagle Rock.”
“I could use a few dull moments,” the sheriff said as he left the building.
Intent on joining Drake out at Sheriff Barron’s fishing shack to interview Margaret, she left the building and turned to lock the front door.
Cassie’s cell phone rang in her pocket. She dug it out and noted Abby Matson’s name on the display. She answered, “Hey, Abby, how’s it going?”
“Not good,” Abby said, her voice catching on what sounded like a sob. “Can you come to my house? I need you to come now.”
“Are you okay?” Cassie ran for her car with the phone pressed to her ear.
“I’m okay,” Abby said. “But Mom—Linda isn’t.”
Cassie jumped into her SUV and started the engine while trying to hold the phone to her ear. “Where’s your father?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t come home last night. Cassie, he was so angry.”
“You asked him about the DNA results?” Cassie pulled out of the parking lot and onto Main Street, heading north. Abby lived with her father and Linda two miles north of Eagle Rock on a five-acre tract of land. Frank had built a four-thousand-square-foot house on a hill with views of the Crazy Mountains in his backyard.
Cassie had never been inside the home, but she’d passed by it often. The stately structure on the hill rose above the trees surrounding the base.
Less than five minutes from leaving the sheriff’s office, Cassie drove up the concrete driveway, parked beside the home and ran toward the front entrance.
Abby burst through the front door and ran down the porch steps, her eyes rid-rimmed, her hair in disarray. She flung herself into Cassie’s arms and shook with the force of her sobs. “She’s lost it. Linda’s completely lost it. And she’s got a gun.”
Cassie stiffened and moved Abby to arm’s length. “Where is she?”
“In the living room. She’s smashing everything. I tried to get her to stop, but she smashed the front of the gun cabinet and took out one of the handguns.”
“Do you know if it’s loaded?” Cassie asked, moving Abby to the corner of the house, out of sight of the living room windows.
“It wasn’t, but she found the drawer with the bullets. I tried to reason with her. I even knocked the box of bullets from her hand, but she wouldn’t listen. She yelled at me to leave her alone. She said I wasn’t her daughter and never was, and if I didn’t get the hell out of the house, she’d kill me like she killed her.”
Cassie’s gut clenched. “Did she say who she killed?”
“No, but she said she should’ve killed me when she killed her.”
“Sweet Jesus,” Cassie murmured. “The baby.”
Abby gripped Cassie’s arms. “What did she mean?”
“I’m not exactly sure.” Cassie tried to pry Abby’s fingers from her arms. “You need to let me handle this.”
“No. You know something. What is it?” Abby’s voice rose, her eyes wild. “If Linda isn’t my mother, who is? You know, don’t you? Did Linda kill my mother? Is that it? Linda killed my mother and raised me as her own? I should’ve known. I should’ve fucking known.” Abby spun away, burying her face in her hands. “No wonder she hated my father and me.”
Shots rang out from inside the house.
Cassie grabbed Abby, dragged her to the other side of her vehicle and pushed her to the ground. “Stay down. I’m going to see if I can disarm her.”
Abby’s fingers clutched at Cassie’s arm. “No. Don’t go in there. She’s crazy. She’ll kill you.”
Cassie removed Abby’s hand from her arm. “She’s not going to kill me.” At least Cassie hoped she wouldn’t. “We can’t help her until the gun is out of her hands. If you want to help me, do so by staying low and out of range. I need to worry about Linda. I can’t do that if I’m worried about you.”
