Heard it Through the Grapevine (20 page)

Danny leaned forward. “You know how I try to make it to all my nephew’s soccer games?” When Colt nodded, Danny continued. “Well, this morning, they played in Lewistown.” His eyes lit up with pride. “You should see him, boss. That little six-year-old can fly. He’s faster than the bigger kids on the team.”

“That can wait, Danny,” Colt interrupted. “What did you find out that was important enough to barge in here?”

“On the way home, I stopped by a convenience store in Shakerville to get a slushy. Just for the hell of it, I asked the clerk if he’d sold any prepaid phones lately.”

Colt’s eyes narrowed. “Go on,” he urged.

“As it turned out, he was the owner. Said he’s thinking about taking them off the shelves because nobody’s buying them anymore.”
Danny paused before explaining. “The phone companies have low
ered their prices on the calling plans and most of them come with a free phone.”

“Another dead end?”

Landers scooted to the edge of the chair. “Don’t rush me. Everything needs a little foreplay.”

Colt couldn’t help chuckling. If his young officer only knew how close to home that remark hit after last night. “The day’s only so long, kid. Get on with the story.”

Danny glanced out the window at the three or four people milling around the station, then got up and shut the door. Instead of sitting back down, he leaned over Colt’s desk. His voice dropped to a whisper. “He sold one about a month ago.”

Colt’s interest escalated. “Please tell me the guy used a credit card to buy it.”

“Better than that.” Danny beamed. “You have to register for a prepaid phone. Unfortunately, when I ran the guy’s name through our computer a few minutes ago, it turns out he’s been dead for six months. Heart attack.”

“Dammit! I thought we were going to catch a break.” Colt slid back in the chair. “Any relatives in the area that might have used the name?”

“The guy was staying at a hotel off Highway 114. Some kind of business conference. His family all lives back in Boston.”

“Hmm,” Colt mused. “Who walks into a 7-Eleven and buys a phone with an out of town dead guy’s name and personal information?” He turned to Landers. “Did he use the Boston address or a phony one?”

“The Boston one.”

Colt opened one of the files on his desk and read silently. When he looked up, Danny was staring, waiting for his follow-up instructions.

“Chances are slim this is even the phone we’re looking for,”
Colt said, more to himself than the young deputy. “Find out who was at the conference, which hotel exactly. Then dig around to see if you can connect the dead guy to Porter or Thornton.”

Danny flopped down in the chair, a self-satisfied grin on his face. “Don’t need to.”

“Damn it, Danny, this isn’t a game,” Colt reprimanded, unable to hide his annoyance. Danny Landers was a good cop when his youth didn’t get in the way.

“The owner said he got nervous watching the man fill out the forms. The guy kept looking around to make sure no one was standing behind him. When he walked out, the owner glanced out the window more from curiosity than anything.” Danny hitched his brows. “Here’s where it gets interesting, boss. It was a cop.”

Colt’s body stiffened. “What made him think that?”

“The guy drove off in a Vineyard Police cruiser.”

twenty-one

Out of breath, Lainey
opened the door and stared at Dan Maguire as Ginger and Fred checked him out in their own unique way. She’d only had about thirty minutes to take a quick shower after he’d called from the airport, and her hair was still damp.

“You’re beautiful without makeup,” he said softly.

She rushed over and fell into his arms, enjoying the way he cradled her. “I’ve missed you, even though I forgot how good a liar you are.”

When he bent down to kiss her, she turned her head slightly, and his lips brushed her cheek. The questions in his eyes tore at her heart. Dan was a beautiful man inside and out. She owed him the truth.

She pulled away and tugged at his arm. “Come over here and sit.”

Reluctantly, he allowed her to drag him to the kitchen where she guided him to a chair.

“I’m sorry I don’t have coffee, Dan, but there are a few packets of hot chocolate in the cupboard.”

“I’m all coffee’d out, anyway,” he replied. “Hot chocolate sounds nice. I didn’t expect Texas to be this chilly.”

She grinned. “By this afternoon, you’ll wish you hadn’t worn that long-sleeved shirt.”

As she heated the water in the microwave, Lainey felt his intense gaze on the back of her neck. She dreaded what she had to do.

Setting the steaming cup in front of him, she slid into the chair opposite him and took a small sip of her own drink. This wouldn’t be easy. She loved this man, just not in the way he wanted.

“Dan, I …”

He inhaled sharply. “I’m not sure I want to hear what you’re about to say.”

She fought to keep her brimming tears from falling. “You know I love you.”

His eyes begged her not to add the “but I” part he obviously heard in her voice.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met another man as totally unselfish as you. I will always be grateful I have you in my life.”

“But?” he asked, his voice resigned.

She attempted to smile as a lone tear won the battle and slid down her cheek. “I’m not
in
love with you,” she blurted, reaching across the table and taking his hand in hers. She massaged the tanned skin on top, kneading the soft palm underneath. “I’m sorry.”

“How long have you felt this way?”

She sighed, releasing his hand. “I’ve been questioning myself for a while,” she said. “I’m a coward and not nearly as unselfish as you. When I’m in your arms, I feel so safe, so secure. I want to stay there forever.”

“Then why don’t you?” His eyes sparkled with a ray of hope. “I love you, Lainey. I knew you were special the moment you walked into my office and convinced me you could send the ratings at KSAV through the roof. I just didn’t realize how hard I would fall for you.”

“I felt the same way about you, even with all the false bravado that day.” She watched his steel gray eyes hold her captive, begging her to say what he wanted to hear.

She couldn’t. She loved Dan too much to deceive him.

“But,” she started.

“There’s that negativity again,” he said, turning away from her to dab his eyes.

She choked back her own cry, nearly losing her resolve to continue.

“Truthfully, I’ve known for a while,” he finally said when he faced
her again. “I felt it in your touch, saw it in your eyes. I just didn’t want to believe it. I thought you would learn to love me as much as I love you.” The hope disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a cloud of sadness.

“You can’t make your heart feel something it doesn’t,” she said, her own heart aching with sorrow. “God knows, I’ve tried.”

She stood and circled the table, embracing him from behind. For a while, neither spoke until Dan finally broke away.

“Are you still considering the Florida job?”

She shrugged. “They agreed to wait another week to interview me. I’m hopeful things can get wrapped up here in Vineyard by then.” She had almost forgotten about the job interview. It had been rescheduled for this Friday.

Dan turned and met her gaze. A cold blade sliced through her heart with the sudden realization of what she was giving up. Reality hit her like a splash of icy water.

She pushed a stray lock of hair off his forehead. “Nothing’s
definite yet, Dan. I can change my mind all together and come begging at your doorstep before then. Who knows what will happen?”

Even as she said it, she knew it wouldn’t happen. The driving force for their on-camera relationship had been the chemistry generated by their off-camera one. After today, that relationship was gone.

“Are you sure there’s nothing I can say to change your mind?”

She shook her head. “As much as I’m gonna regret giving up on us, we both need to move on.”

He glanced at his watch, then reached for his cell phone. She
studied
his face as he punched in a number, listening as he changed
his plane reservations. When he disconnected, he almost looked relieved, as if he had known this moment was coming and was glad it was over.

Lainey smiled sadly. “You’re leaving at eight tonight?” When he
nodded, she sighed. “That gives me the whole day to show you around
this little town I grew up in.” Her smile faded. “Unless you’d rather not.”

For the first time, he laughed out loud. “If you’ll feed me before you drag me all over town, count me in. Peanuts just don’t cut it,” he said, springing up from the chair. “Come on, woman, tempt me with some of that great Texas food you’re always gushing about.”

“Ruby’s!” she exclaimed. “You haven’t lived until you’ve tasted
her chicken-fried steak.” Lainey grabbed her jacket and nudged him
toward the door, stopping to plant a quick kiss on his cheek before closing it behind them.

As she slid into the passenger seat of his rental car, her mouth
watered, thinking about Ruby’s delicious home cooking. She prayed
Colt wouldn’t decide to have lunch there today. She wasn’t ready to introduce the man she had been sleeping with for the past two years to the man she had slept with less than twelve hours ago.

She couldn’t hide the grin that spread across her face. What did that say about her?

_____

She jumped when her cell phone blared “Before He Cheats,” nearly dumping a half full cup of Diet Dr Pepper into her lap. “Hello.”

“Hey, babe, where are you?” a sleepy voice asked. “I rolled over and you were AWOL.”

“I had to run a few errands before my hair appointment this afternoon. I didn’t want to wake you, especially after you worked so hard last night.” She was glad he couldn’t see her face.

Worked so hard, my ass.
All he had to do was plug in the damn vibrator and put it on the right spot. Even an idiot like Jerry could figure that out.

“Daddy knows what you like, don’t I?”

Any moron can turn on the switch
. “You sure do, baby. I can’t wait to get more tonight.”

“What time will you get back? Maybe I can sneak away from the office early, and we can do the nasty before dinner.”

Even his voice irritated her. “I’d like that,” she lied.
Fat chance of me making it home before dark.
“Gotta run if I’m gonna make that appointment. Love you.”

“Hurry home, lambkins. Dirty Harry misses you already.”

She hung up and huffed. Little Harry would be more like it, she thought, referring to the name he’d given his dick.

She raised the binoculars up to her eyes, just as Lainey and the
guy who had arrived about an hour ago headed out the door. When
Lainey reached over and kissed him, she smiled.

And they call me a whore!

She’d driven out to Colt’s ranch to try to talk Lainey into selling her half of the winery. She thought maybe if she sweetened the pot with money on the side, it might work. From all indications, Lainey had no plans to stay in Vineyard despite what she told Jerry.

Her forced laugh was dry and cynical. She could spot a well-conceived plan a mile away, and Lainey definitely had a scam going to get Jerry to up the ante for what was rightfully his.

Rightfully hers.

Despite Jerry’s promise to promote her after Tessa was out of the way, thanks to Lainey, that hadn’t happened. He said she was the Vice President of Marketing, but she wasn’t born yesterday. He was merely placating her.

Maybe he really had no intentions of making her part of management. If that was true, the man had a big surprise coming.
Nobody screwed with Roxy Moretti and got away with it. She would
get what was owed her no matter what she had to do.

Roxy shivered and pulled the jacket closer. When she’d left the house this morning, she didn’t know she would be sitting behind a row of trees spying on Lainey. She’d only meant to wait until she
saw Colt’s car leave, then approach the woman for a talk. She’d been
surprised to see Colt leave Lainey’s house so early, still buttoning his shirt.

Lainey was so much like her sister it was a sin.
Even I don’t go straight from one man’s bed to another’s.

Who was this new guy anyway? Since she knew most of the men in Vineyard, she figured he must be an old lover from a
neighboring city.

Ducking as the nondescript car backed out of Colt’s driveway and headed down the gravel road, she waited a few minutes longer so the dogs wouldn’t be alerted to her hiding place. She’d purposely stayed far enough away so they wouldn’t pick up her scent.

Thank God for the binoculars Jerry kept in the car. He probably used them to peep into windows.

As she walked to her car, parked off the road farther down the highway, she thought about the way she’d tricked both Colt and Lainey into thinking she was stupid enough to allow Carrie Phillips to blackmail her. Hell, she’d known Carrie was behind that scheme almost the minute she found the pictures on her desk. Since no one else had entered the office, even a retard like Jerry could have figured it out.

It was a brilliant idea to throw them off, and it had worked. Quin
ton’s death had screwed up the plan somewhat, but everything was back on track now. When she worked out the oil deal with Quinton’s boss, Jerry would have to take notice and promote her to head of marketing for real. She’d worked too hard to accept anything less.

A smile spread across her face as an idea popped into her mind. She knew exactly how to get Tessa’s half of the vineyard back into Jerry’s hands and claim what was hers.

———

“What was so damn urgent you pulled me off the golf course, Colt?” Prescott’s eyes flashed with anger. “It’s not like I’m able to get away any day of the week to play.”

“Sit down, Charlie. I need to ask a few questions.” Colt pointed to the chair and waited until the lawyer was settled. “Let me see if I’ve got this right. You are the lawyer on record for Tessa’s estate, right?”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Prescott shifted in his seat, a gesture Colt immediately recognized as a common occurrence when he made someone nervous.

“So, you wouldn’t have any reason to be dealing with Jerry Moretti on anything while you’re still acting as executor, right?” Colt saw a flicker of fear in the man’s eyes.

“What are you inferring, Sheriff?”

A minute ago, he’d addressed him as Colt. A sudden shift away from a familiarity usually indicated he had broached a touchy subject. He shoved Moretti’s phone records across the desk with the calls to the lawyer highlighted. “Maybe this will refresh your memory.”

Prescott, suddenly looking older than his fifty-something years
, grabbed the papers and fished in his pocket for his reading glasses. When he finally looked up, Colt noticed a drop of sweat beading on his forehead.

“Why is this important? It has nothing to do with Lainey or the will.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”

Prescott took a deep breath and wiped at the perspiration now
visible across his entire forehead. “You have anything cold to drink?”

Colt picked up the phone and asked Rogers to bring in a bottle of water. He sat in silence until Prescott had taken a long swallow.

“About a month ago, a man called my office looking to hire me to broker a deal on a future real estate project.”

“What kind of real estate project?”

“I’m not in a position to divulge that information, Colt.”

So, it’s back to Colt now.
“Who was this guy?”

Prescott finished the water in two gulps and placed the empty bottle on the desk. “I can’t tell you that, either.”

Colt studied the man he’d known all his life. The man whose only son had graduated with him from Vineyard High. He wished there was another way to find the facts, but he couldn’t see it. “You are aware I’m investigating three separate murders, right?”

“I read about them,” Prescott admitted.

“As a lawyer, I don’t have to remind you how obstruction of justice works, do I, Charlie?”

The older man flushed. “Now look here, Sheriff. I know the law. What do I have to do with your murders?”

Colt leaned back in his chair with his hands clasped behind his head. “Maybe nothing. But that’s my call, not yours.” He smiled. “I have no qualms about throwing you into a jail cell faster than you can say ‘Mulligan’ unless you answer my questions. Or you could be headed back to the country club before anyone even misses you.” He raised his hands in the air. “Your choice.”

Awkwardly, Prescott cleared his throat. “His name’s Marcus DuPont. Said he’s the middle man for a conglomerate of foreign investors.”

Colt tossed that around in his head. “What does this have to do with Jerry? Wasn’t he working a deal with Porter to set up the oil drilling rig on his property?”

Prescott eyed Colt for a few seconds. “Before you go off on a tangent, let me explain. Never once did I let my involvement with Tessa’s estate become a conflict of interest.”