Meant To Be (18 page)

Ethan scampered inside, his smile faltering when he caught sight of Jessica. “What?"

"Do you know where that bear is? The one Jessica gave me for the baby?"

He cast Jessica an odd look before shrugging his shoulders. “I dunno."

Sara crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. “Where's the bear, Ethan?"

Jessica almost smiled. Ethan couldn't put a thing past his mother, and the red stain creeping up his neck was all the proof needed that he knew exactly where the bear was.

"I-I was playing with it, and it accidentally fell in the mud."

He looked near tears, and though she seriously doubted the bear landing in the mud was an accident, Jessica felt bad for him.

Sara cast her an apologetic look. “Ethan James, go get the bear. I'll throw it in the washing machine.” She looked back at Jessica. “I'm really sorry."

"Don't even worry about it. I'll wash it.” She smiled at Ethan. “Could've happened to anyone."

"But I don't have it.” Ethan shuffled his feet and glanced longingly at the back door, no doubt wishing he were anywhere but there. “I gave it to Muriel. She said she'd make it look good as new."

Sara frowned. “Uncle Luke took Muriel out for dinner and a movie. They probably won't be back for hours."

Jessica waved it off. “No problem. I'll get it from her tomorrow."

"Dammit, Jessie, I want that bear back tonight!"

Jessica walked past Wade into the kitchen and put on a pot of water for tea. Lyle stared at her from the kitchen table, his face expressionless, his gaze so intense she could nearly feel his filthy hands on her. She resisted the urge to race into her bedroom and lock the door.

"Wade, I know that bear has no sentimental value for you, so why don't you just tell me the real reason you want it so bad."

He glanced at Lyle who gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Wade hobbled toward her on his crutch. “None of your damn business. Just go get that bear, and I mean now."

She avoided looking at him as she dug a new box of tea bags out of the pantry. “The bear is in one of the neighbor's houses. It's a long story, but I'll get it for you tomorrow. Then you and your brother can get the hell out of my house and out of my life.” She finally met his gaze. “For good."

A sneer curled Wade's upper lip. “I'd be nice to me if I were you. I have a feeling your cop boyfriend wouldn't so much as spit on you if he knew what you used to do for a living."

"You rotten bastard,” Jessica whispered, her throat constricting with long buried shame.
"Not that I'm into strippers."
Garrett's words replayed in her mind, and she knew he could never know about her short-lived past profession.

"Who has the bear, Jessie? Tell me, and we'll be out of here by tomorrow. Don't, and I let all your new friends know just what kind of a slut you are.” Wade hobbled over to the table and slowly lowered himself onto a chair. He picked up his cell phone, and motioned her forward. Jessica could only watch in stunned silence as Wade clicked picture after picture. The perv had several old shots of her on the stripper pole!

Jessica stared at him, tears burning her eyes. How could she have ever thought she loved this man? She knew exactly what the two of them would do if she told them who had the bear—break into Muriel's house. The only question was, why were they so desperate to get their hands on Marky's bear? Did it really matter, though? Muriel and Luke were out of the house, so it's not as if anyone would get hurt.

"Fine, you win. But after I tell you, I want those pictures deleted."

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Jack watched with interest as one of Jessica's houseguests appeared from around the side of her house and crept across the darkened lawn, being careful to stay out of the glow of the streetlights. Instead of climbing into Jessica's truck, which was parked in the street, he continued down the block until he reached the second house from the corner. After a quick look around, he sneaked up the driveway and disappeared from sight.

Jack opened his car door and did a fast jog toward the house, arriving just in time to see the guy climb in through a side window. Having just served a seven-year sentence, Jack was more than reluctant to follow him inside. But he didn't have a cell phone, and the idiot would probably be long gone before Green Bay's finest morons showed up.

A strangled scream followed by a loud thump took the decision out of his hands. Jack hoisted himself through the window and crept up the stairs. He came upon the guy standing over an unconscious woman lying on the floor. He looked up at Jack, and his deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression would have been comical if his hand hadn't been resting on the zipper of his pants.
The sonofabitch.

Jack tackled him without second thought.

Garrett wasn't sure why Sutton was sitting in his car watching Jessica's house, and while he didn't exactly trust the guy, he didn't believe he was a threat either. But when he shot out of his car and ran down the street, disappearing up Muriel's driveway, Garrett knew he couldn't take any chances. He put in a quick call to the station, grabbed his pistol, and raced down the block after him.

He approached cautiously, not wanting to do anything foolish. The window on the side of the house that led into Muriel's guest bedroom stood open, and just as Garrett leaned in to take a look, a body crawled out as if the hounds of hell were on his heels. Garrett grabbed him by the back of the neck and yanked him out the window. Sutton.
Damn.

"Let me go, you moron, he's getting away!” Sutton delivered a quick jab to Garrett's mid-section and tried to jerk free. Garrett grunted but held onto Sutton with all his might.

"Nice try, asshole. You know, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt until I realized you were casing Muriel's house—"

"It wasn't me,” Sutton insisted as he struggled to free himself. “Didn't you hear what I said? He's getting away thanks to your incompetence.” Jack let out a string of curses, before finally settling down.

As soon as Garrett relaxed his grip, Sutton threw a punch that nearly knocked Garrett off his feet. Sutton took off running just as two squad cars peeled into the driveway, blocking his escape. All four officers jumped from their respective vehicles and advanced on Sutton, guns drawn.

"Down on the ground, now!” Officer Hank Hamilton demanded. Without taking his eyes off Sutton, he said, “Hey, Garrett, what the hell's going on?"

Garrett stuck his own pistol back into the waistband of his jeans and made his way to Sutton's side. He shook his head, more disappointed than he cared to admit. “Possible B&E. I caught him slipping out the side window. Couldn't have been inside more than a few minutes, though. And Muriel's out with Uncle Luke, which Sutton here already knows since he's been sitting in his car across the street for the past few hours."

"You're making a huge mistake,” Sutton insisted from his facedown position on the driveway. “I didn't break into this house; I was following one of the idiots staying with Jessica. Go check inside, for crissake. There's a woman lying unconscious in the upstairs hallway."

Garrett's heart skipped a beat. Muriel? Couldn't be, she was out with Uncle Luke.

He raced around to the back, yanked open the screen door, and kicked in the door. “Muriel?” he called out as he sped up the stairs. His breath rushed out in relief when he saw her, leaning up against the wall, her head cradled in her hands. He dropped to his knees beside her.

"Jesus, are you all right?” He gently checked the back of her head. She winced when he found the goose egg-sized knot behind her left temple.

"I-I think so. I'd feel a whole lot better if my house would quit spinning."

Garrett helped her to her feet and into the bathroom. “You were attacked. Do you remember what happened? And where the heck's Uncle Luke?"

Muriel laid her forehead against the side of the bathtub and let out a low groan. “We headed up to Krupp's for a drink before supper when my daughter called and asked if I could babysit Hannah. Luke dropped me off and then ran across town to pick up Culver's. Hannah loves their french fries."

Jack had been sitting in his car for at least three hours, so he had to have known Muriel was home. Why would a guy who'd just been released from prison after seven long years risk a trip back to the slammer for something as stupid as burglary? Especially a young guy with his whole life ahead of him?

"Any idea who assaulted you?” Garrett stepped past her and glanced out the window. Hamilton and Dreyer had Sutton cuffed and sitting in the back of their squad car, and the second squad was just backing out of the driveway. He turned back to face her.

Muriel climbed slowly to her feet and wet a washcloth. She held it against her goose egg with a grimace and let out a whopper of a curse. “No clue. I saw a shadow move beside me, and I screamed. That's when I got clunked on the head.” She frowned. “So, how did you know to come check on me? Did you catch the perp?"

"I caught a guy climbing out your window, but he swears he's not the one who attacked you. That's why I was hoping you'd seen him.” That, and Garrett had a strong feeling Sutton was telling the truth. “Hamilton and Dreyer have him in custody out front. I'm sure they're just waiting on word about you before hauling him in to the station."

"I'm sorry, I wish I could help."

"I'm just glad you're all right. I think we'll have you checked out at the ER though."

Muriel shook her head and then groaned, grasping onto the bathroom sink for support. “I can't, I'm watching Hannah tonight, remember?"

"Sara can watch Hannah until you get back. Ethan would love the company. And Uncle Luke should be back soon, so I'll have him run you up to St. Mary's.” When she looked as if she would argue, he added, “Don't even waste your breath."

Jessica panicked when she heard the back door slam shut, then Wade and Lyle whispering furiously. A sense of dread drove her from her room in search of answers. She stepped into the living room in time to see Wade whip a beer can at Lyle's head.

"You moron! Couldn't keep it in your goddamn pants, could you?"

"What in the world are you talking about?” Jessica said, looking from one to the other.

Lyle scowled at her, then walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. “I'll go back for it another night,” he said, ignoring her question.

"Christ, you're dumb as a box of rocks.” Wade shook his head, then hobbled over to the window and peeked out.

That's when Jessica realized red and blue lights were dancing across the walls.

She strode past him toward the front door. “What are the cops doing—"

"Get away from the door,” Wade snapped, shooting another look of disgust Lyle's way.

"Dammit, Wade, I wanna know what's going on right now. He was supposed to grab Marky's bear and...” Wade's words of a moment ago finally sank in.
Dear Lord, please, it can't be. She wasn't supposed to be home!
“Tell me he didn't hurt Muriel. Wade, tell me she's all right!"

"Oh, stop with the dramatic bullshit,” Lyle said as he collapsed onto the rocker-recliner. “She's fine. I clunked her on the head, but before I could look for the bear, that idiot who drove you home the other day showed up and jumped me.” He took a swig of his beer, and an evil smile twisted his lips. “He's being arrested right now by your next-door neighbor. How funny is that?"

Bile rose in Jessica's throat. Lyle's black soulless eyes were enough to give her nightmares for life. She took a deep shaky breath and escaped into the kitchen. If Lyle was telling the truth, Muriel was safe, but Jack was being arrested for saving her from Lord only knew what. The injustice of it made Jessica want to scream.

Once Muriel was on her way to the hospital, and a thrilled-to-be-able-to-stay-up-late Ethan was teaching Hannah how to play Combat Commando, Garrett climbed in his truck and headed to the station.

Hamilton sat at a desk punching in the police report while Sutton slumped forward in his chair, hands cuffed behind his back, quietly resigned. When Garrett walked up, Sutton flicked him a disgusted look, but remained silent.

Garrett sat down next to him, leaned back, and crossed his arms over his chest. In a low voice he said, “Let's just say for argument's sake I believe you. That still doesn't tell me why you were staking out Jessica's house. Didn't I tell you to stay the hell away from her?"

Sutton remained stubbornly silent. Garrett gave him a full minute, then stood up and said, “Don't say I didn't give you a chance."

He took two steps before Sutton finally spoke. “She's scared. Those two aren't staying in her house because she invited them."

Garrett sat back down and propped his elbows on his knees. “Care to elaborate?"

Sutton shrugged. “She made a couple of odd comments the other day when I drove her home from the restaurant. When I asked her where she lived, she said, ‘Hell, at the moment'."

"Not exactly a surprising comment considering it's her ex-husband. If living with him were heaven, they'd probably still be married."

With a quick shake of his head, Sutton said, “You didn't see her face. She wasn't just annoyed or put out. She was scared, plain and simple."

Garrett frowned and leaned back in his chair. Could Sutton be right? Could Jessica be in some sort of danger with those two staying in her house? The thought drove a bolt of fear straight up his spine. “You're sure it was her ex's brother who attacked Muriel?"

"Positive."

"So the guy's a thief. Great."

"Maybe."

Garrett swung his gaze back to Sutton. “Something else you'd like to share?"

"Depends.” Sutton met his gaze. “You gonna let me sit in a jail cell for something I didn't do? Again?"

"Don't even go there.” Garrett let out a disgusted sigh. “Fine. Spill it."

Sutton cast a quick glance back at Hamilton, then leaned forward in a conspiratorial manner. “Bastard was about to rape her. He was standing over her with his fly unzipped when I got there."