Southern Sass and a Battered Bride Read online

  I’d come to trust Javier, and it was rooted deeply. That Mama agreed gave me more confidence in my discernment. Still, she puzzled me with the statement that he was here for a reason. My phone rang, and my sister’s face showed up on the screen. I glanced at Javier, who gave me permission to answer it with a nod.

  “Jena Lynn, are you okay?”

  “Marygene, oh my God! We’ve received a bomb threat! The diner is swarming with plainclothes officers.” Her voice shook. “They’ve evacuated our entire side of the square. It’s bedlam.”

  “I’m sure. Are you home yet?” I couldn’t help the tears. Hearing my sister so shaken up rent my heart into pieces. This was all happening because of me, because I hadn’t followed the instructions. I needed her safe.

  “I’m driving there now. Honey, are you okay?”

  I sniffed. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Just go home and snuggle with Olivia and Zach.”

  “You come over too. We need to be together at a time like this.”

  Boy did I want to. “I’ll try. The detective will want to speak with me first.”

  “Right. Okay. I just pulled in and Zach’s here.”

  I let out a silent thank-you. “Good. That’s good.”

  “Love you, stay safe, and get over here at your first opportunity. I don’t care what time it is.” Jena Lynn recovered enough to use her mama voice on me.

  “I will. Love you too.” The second I hung up, I nearly collapsed.

  Javier scooped me up in his arms. “It’s okay. We’re going to get this guy. I swear it.” Determination and anger shone through in his tone. I held on to him and sobbed until nothing was left inside.

  My cottage was swept for recording devices. And if anyone was watching the house, they wouldn’t know the detective, his crew, and Javier were inside. They came to my cottage on the beach side as discreetly as they could manage, anyway. We’d been over the plan about a dozen times, but still, it was hard to fathom I was in this position and would be the one entrapping the evil person behind these heinous crimes. Eddie would have never allowed me to do anything like this, and once he got word, he’d be mad as the devil. Still, it was our best chance.

  I stared at my reflection in my bathroom mirror. I’d taken a hot shower and just finished drying my hair. My eyes were a tad red from crying, but the release had been warranted. I felt a little lighter.

  A light rapping at the door caused me to pause with the comb in my hair. “Are you dressed?” Javier’s soft accented voice broke the silence. “Everyone’s gone.”

  I put the comb down and slid open the pocket door, putting me face-to-face with the handsome man who had been by my side since this whole ordeal began. The one who sat with me while I waited to see if my father would make it through surgery, who tried to help me even at the risk of his own career. I recalled his earlier words. One day you’ll stop wasting your time with the wrong men and see the right one standing in front of you.

  “You okay?” He brushed a strand of hair from my forehead lightly with his fingertips.

  “Yes, and I think I’ll stop wasting my time with the wrong men.” I slid my arms around his neck and slanted my mouth over his.

  He crushed me to him and, for a long few moments, we were totally lost in each other. Until he abruptly jerked away and put half a room between us.

  “Damn. Your timing is god-awful.” He ran a hand over his mouth, and I could tell he was struggling to keep his distance. His eyes kept glancing from me to the bed. He pointed a finger at me. “We’ll revisit this at a better time. When you’re not vulnerable and are thinking clearer.”

  I shrugged. “Suit yourself.” I turned and walked into the kitchen, desperately in need of a glass of wine. Anything to numb the anxiety niggling within me.

  “Do you want to talk about tomorrow? Have any questions you want to ask that you didn’t feel comfortable asking the detective?” Javier asked as I pulled the bottle from the fridge.

  “No, Deputy Reyes.” My tone was thick and a little husky. “I’m going to indulge in a glass of wine and try to settle my thoughts. I would have chosen to indulge in you over the wine, but you said no.” I poured a glass and offered him one.

  “I didn’t say no. I’m being respectful of your situation.”

  “How chivalrous of you.” I walked past him and out onto my back deck. The sounds of the ocean and the salty air swirled around me as I sipped chardonnay. Tomorrow would be here before I knew it, and I needed to settle my nerves.

  “I didn’t say no, Marygene.” Javier joined me on the deck.

  When I thought of Paul, I should have felt guilty, but I didn’t. Even though he’d been all over Lucy while we dated, until he was safe I should be more respectful. And would. It also wasn’t fair to Javier. “I know you’re right. I’m not in the best headspace at present, and I was just making light of jumping you.”

  Javier took my face in his hands and kissed me lightly on the lips. His breath danced on my lips. “Jump me any other time, mi corazón, and I swear things will turn out differently.”

  CHAPTER 30

  The next morning, I dressed in jeans and big baggy T-shirt to hide the wire taped to my midsection, which ran up to the top of the sweatshirt. Javier had slept on the couch while I tossed and turned in my bed until I gave up and made some coffee.

  “There. Is that comfortable?” Javier placed a tiny object in my ear. He would be there, in my ear, if I were to freeze up or forget something.

  I glanced up. “It’s fine. Guess you’re my handler, huh?” I made a sad attempt at humor to add a little levity to the heaviness in the room.

  “You don’t have to do this. We can find another way.” His words were sweet, and I smiled.

  He and I both knew I had to go through with it. He’d done his best to persuade the detective to go with another plan. One that wouldn’t put my life at risk. It felt nice to know he had my back.

  With his big hands on my shoulders, he gave me a look I feared I’d never see from a man again. One that said, If you say the word, I’ll damn the world to save you. “Promise me this. If you ever feel threatened in any way, use the code word and I’ll get you out.”

  My code word was coffee. My idea. I was to yawn and say, Wow, I could really use a cup of coffee.

  “I promise,” I choked out as my phone rang with Eddie’s ringtone.

  With our gazes still locked, I fixed a smile into place and lifted the phone to my ear. “Hey, Eddie. How are you feeling today?”

  “Hon, it’s me, Lindy. Your dad is doing very well. So well he’s become a pain in the butt to deal with. We’re having a hard time keeping him from watching the news or reading headlines. He wants to talk to you. Please try and keep the stress off him.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of adding to his troubles. The department has it all in hand and he’ll be glad to know they can manage while he heals.” I turned away.

  “You know how he is. Unless he’s in the middle of whatever case that’s being worked, he’s out of sorts. Thanks for understanding. Are you okay, hon? Sam was so enraged by what happened at the diner that he didn’t come by last night.” Lindy sounded like a concerned mother, and that made me smile. She’d taken a bit of ownership over Sam and me.

  “I’m perfectly fine. The shock was earth-shattering, for sure, but I’m trying to hold it together, and I’m just grateful no one was hurt.” I walked outside onto the deck and lifted my face toward the sun. The wonderful rays always made me feel whole.

  “I’m so glad, honey. The last thing you need in your life is more trauma. You’re a strong woman and can handle whatever is thrown your way. I just want a bit of peace for you.”

  I smiled. “A bit of peace sounds heavenly.”

  “Your dad’s yelling for the phone again.” Her voice went up a couple of octaves. “It was wonderful talking to you too. Here’s the grumpy old man.” She chuckled.

  Boy, were we all going to pay when he found out.

  A couple seconds later Ed
die came on the line. “I’m not grumpy. Y’all are treating me like an invalid.” I heard a little more grumbling in the background followed by, “Pumpkin, where’ve you been?”

  “I’ve had a cold. Your immune system doesn’t need anything else to fight. I’m positive Lindy and Sam told you. How are you feeling?” I kept my tone upbeat and my smile fixed into place.

  “I’m right as rain.” Typical Eddie. Downplaying anything to do with his health. “I need to see my baby girl. You don’t sound all that sick. I think you should come see your old man. I’m home now and nearly losing my mind watching Lindy’s home improvement shows.”

  I laughed and Javier poked his head out the doorway. I held up my finger. “I promise I’ll be over the second I’m completely well. Lindy would skin me alive if I brought illness into the house. And—”

  “Hang on a second, pumpkin. Lindy, could I have a cup of decaf ? Thank you, darlin’.”

  Lindy mumbled something and there were kissing noises. Guess they’d made up.

  “All right, we’re alone now. Tell me what in the hell is going on?”

  “N-nothing. I’m just getting ready to go in to work.”

  “Don’t lie to me, young lady. Lindy won’t let me have the remote or my cell phone, she keeps taking calls out of the room, and Sam’s face nearly cracked in half, trying to keep his smile in place. He looked like the joker or an escaped mental patient. His constant yes sirs tells me something is going on. I want to know everything this minute.”

  “Eddie!” Lindy came in and saved me. “Let the girl go. You’re getting yourself all worked up.”

  “She’s my daughter and I want to know what’s going on, and she’s going to tell me.”

  I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I must have had a helpless look on my face because Javier held out his hand. I took the out he was offering me. “Look who’s here! Javier wants to speak with his sheriff.”

  “What’s he doing at your house? Has he overstepped his bounds?”

  I shoved the phone into Javier’s hand, mouthed a silent thank-you. And rushed inside to hide.

  CHAPTER 31

  The square was eerily silent as I took the roundabout and drove toward the credit union. They’d reopened most of the businesses after the buildings were swept for active devices. The Peach sat empty this morning, even though it had been cleared. I parked in a space close to the financial establishment where all this would be going down and took a second to exercise a little deep breathing.

  “It’s going to be okay,” Javier said, and I picked it up crystal clear in my earpiece. “You’re going to walk across the street and into the credit union like you would any other time. I’m here watching your every move, and there are several plainclothes officers inside the building.” He reminded me of everything we’d previously discussed.

  My hands were shaking in my lap. Being consumed with the fear that I’d somehow screw this up and Paul would suffer or someone else might die made it impossible to reduce the tremors.

  I adjusted my rearview mirror, giving me a view of the Peach’s catering van, where I knew the crew had set up shop. Javier and his team were inside and could be at the scene in under a minute. That gave me some comfort. Still, it was me going into the red zone. They were counting on me. Me.

  When Mama appeared in the passenger’s seat, I nearly leaped with joy.

  “I don’t like this.” Mama shook her head, and the joy faded. “I don’t like this one bit. Why in the world do they need you to do their jobs for them? My thinking on Deputy Reyes has changed with this asinine plan. He and that detective have everything they need to apprehend those two morons. It’s right under their noses.”

  My eyes went wide. Mama knew who was behind this! How could I communicate with her without sounding completely insane? She vanished and I sucked in a breath.

  I bolted from the car, glancing around frantically. Oh, come on! The energy around me lasted for a few long seconds before I spotted her several feet ahead of me. As I caught up to her, I gave her a look she’d understand. The one kids gave their parents when they felt like shouting what the hell but refrained because it was disrespectful.

  “Slow down,” Javier said, calmly.

  “Marygene, my word, wipe that ugly look off your face. Your eyes are bugging out like a Pekinese. It’s mighty unbecoming.” Mama strolled across the parking lot with her shoulders back and her head high, carrying herself like the lovely Southern woman she was.

  I followed behind her, feeling like a scolded misbehaving child.

  Mama paused in front of the large white columns framing the Peach Cove Credit Union. “Come on now, let’s get this over with.”

  I let out a derisive snort.

  “Marygene. Everything okay?” Javier broke into my reality, reminding me that to others, I appeared like a mental patient, therefore adding validity to old rumors.

  “All good.” I kept my tone low and my cheeks burned as I caught up with my mother. “Just wish I had someone on the inside who could shed some light on who was really behind this. That would make my life easier.” I glared at her.

  “I’m here. We’re going to get the guy.” Javy’s words did nothing to calm me. And when I overheard a deep voice saying, “She’s losing it. I knew she couldn’t pull this off,” I nearly turned and ran back to my car.

  Then Mama ignored me completely, and I wanted to scream. Really? Wasn’t this the reason she was here? To help? I gave myself a mental shake. She was helping. I knew that. She’d been there with Eddie in his time of need. And for that, I could never repay her. Anxiety stirred deep within my gut and began to spread like tentacles throughout my entire body. My chest and face were on fire. Not now. I had to pull myself together.

  “Now look at her, she’s frozen.” The voice came over loud and clear. Followed by Javier sending a harsh and not polite warning for the jerk to shut his mouth and hold his position.

  I glanced around, with no luck, for a visual of where the jerk was positioned. “Everyone’s a freakin’ critic. I said I was good.” I yanked the door open and stepped into the coolness of the bank and stopped, surveying the area. I forced my feet to move toward to the small area where people filled out bank slips and deposited their checks old-school. I couldn’t spot the officers among the handful of people in the building. Mama stood next to me, cautiously glancing around. I couldn’t speak verbally to her, but there were other means of communication. I took a pen connected to the table and scribbled on the slip. Nothing happened. I picked up another and again, out of ink. Seriously! For heaven’s sake!

  “I’ll be back.” I actually reached out for Mama before she disappeared and forced my hand to drop by my side. That was when I spotted Trixie. She was filing her nails at her station. I moved through the little roped-off line, even though there wasn’t anyone in line. When I reached her desk, she appeared annoyed.

  “Hey, Trixie.”

  “Hey. What can I do for you?” She put her file down and smacked her gum.

  “I need to get a safety deposit box, please.” I smiled.

  “Alrighty,” she said unenthusiastically. “Did you fill out a form? I don’t see one.”

  “Oh, yes.” I dug through my bag and pulled out the prefilled form I’d been given by the detective and presented it to her.

  Trixie slid it over to herself with her super-long acrylic nails painted a mirrored blue color. “You didn’t sign it.”

  “Well, the pens back there are out of ink, and I don’t have one with me. Can I use yours?” I held out my hand for the pen next to her.

  “They’re so cheap.” She handed me her pen with a pink pom-pom on the tip. “We shouldn’t even be open today. Y’all closed, right? I mean that bomb could’ve taken all of us out.”

  “Change the topic of discussion,” Javy said.

  I quickly scribbled my name on the bottom of the slip and slid it back and nodded. “We’re closed. We were asked to as a precaution.”

  “Well, we should’ve
taken the same precaution. Our lives matter just as much, right, Jodie?” Trixie rocked back in her chair to speak to her older coworker. “We should walk out.”

  “Shut that down,” Javy barked, and I jumped.

  “How?” I squeaked.

  Trixie made a face at me. “We just walk out. God, Marygene. If we all did it, they’d have to listen to us, like a union.”

  The older woman grunted and grabbed her mug. She took her time rising. She placed a closed sign in front of her window. “I’m taking my break.”

  “That Jodie, she’s such an old hag. Her life is already over anyway. Mine’s not! I’d just walk out myself if I didn’t need this stupid job.” She shook her head. “I miss Lucy.”

  I nodded sympathetically. “She was a good coworker, I bet.”

  “Not really. She was a real witch, but she hated this place as much as me. We went out for drinks and talked trash about this place. Security here is a joke. I mean, if we wanted to, we could walk out of here with every dime.”

  I kept shaking my head.

  “Seriously. Our dumb bank manager is hardly ever here. And he cheaps out on everything. Not just the pens. The bill for security software went unpaid for nearly three months, leaving the customers vulnerable. He finally got that straightened out a few weeks ago. It was only by luck he managed to halt the robbery. And with the amount I heard they attempted to steal, this place would have gone belly-up.” She leaned closer, placing both arms on the counter and whispered, “I don’t even bank here. What’s that tell ya?”

  A throat cleared in the line behind me. She looked in their direction. Two men dressed in casual Hawaiian wear sold at the new souvenir shop that opened last spring—it was unmistakable. Now I knew who the officers were. Though the criminals probably wouldn’t.

  Trixie made a face in his direction as a couple of others joined the line. “Rude tourists.” She slid the chair back and stood. “Can I just hand you the keys? There’s nothing to it. You just go around the corner there, use this key to unlock the gate, and then this one will be for your box. The number on the key will match the box.”