Midnight Shadows (7 page)

“How could you go undercover without them knowing more about you?”

“Because my cover is good and my credentials impeccable. Remember I told you that when I became a private investigator, I wanted to make sure nothing I did ever touched my family in Midnight?”

She waited for his nod before she continued, “I created several covers for myself. Only used them once or twice. Had never used my Lilah cover, so with just a little online manipulation, I updated everything and it passed without a hint of doubt or speculation.”

“You think Walker knew what would be expected of you? Think that’s why he agreed to use you instead of another cop?”

“Yeah, I do. I think he knew exactly what Cruz would want to do. If another cop had gone undercover with him…was sexually assaulted and/or killed, there would’ve been too many questions. I was just an insignificant nobody. I made sure they knew that Lilah Green was alone in the world. I was disposable.”

He was silent for so long she wondered if an explosion would be coming soon. She knew she'd almost gotten herself killed. If not for Ian, she might be at the bottom of the ocean along with Cruz. Which suddenly brought to mind a very important question. “How did you know where to find me?”
 

“GPS tracker in your shoe.”
 

“What?”
 

“The heel in your left shoe. I used it to follow you.”
 

She supposed she should be angry with him. He had violated her trust. But how very stupid to be angry when he had saved her life. She was a lot of things, but she wasn’t stupid. Ian had saved her once again.

“So what are you going to do?”
 

“I'm going to tell our client, Lauren Kendall, that Cruz is dead and that she’s safe.”

“Sounds like she’s had a rough time of it. Maybe she can get her life back now.”

“I hope so.”

“And then what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go back to Midnight and make sure my family is safe.”

“That’s it? You’re not going to report that Walker was a dirty cop or who killed him?”

“What would I tell them? That a crooked cop killed Cruz and then a man named Marsh killed that crooked cop? That I don't know who gave the order for their deaths or why? They'll find the bodies without me telling them, but there's nothing I can tell them that would help in their investigation.” She shook her head. “I need to get back home and make sure my family is okay. They’re my priority.”
 

“What are you going to tell your sisters? Savannah and Samantha will want to know what happened.”
 

“I’ll tell them as little as possible. Cruz is dead…that’s the main thing. His death ends our investigation…our part. The less they know, the safer everyone will be.”

She cupped his face in her hands. “Promise me, Ian, that you won't tell anyone.”
 

He didn't want to make that promise, but she was right about one thing. They had no real information. “I promise.”
 

She gave him a brilliant smile of thanks and settled back into his arms.
 

Ian held her tight again and thought about the upcoming investigation. There were some seriously evil people involved here and if they ever found out about Sabrina, they would kill her. Ian would do everything in his power to make sure that never happened and that meant finding out who these people were and putting a stop to them.

Chapter Five

Five Months Later

Midnight, Alabama
 

With graceful, color-filled abandon, dawn broke over the lush, serene landscape of Midnight. Shades of yellow, orange, and light crimson brushed the sky with a delicate artist’s stroke, sending a blush of warm golden light over treetops.
 

Farmers were just beginning their chores of milking cows, plowing fields, feeding livestock. The shirt factory was in the midst of changing shifts. Faye’s Diner and other early opening restaurants were baking their first batch of biscuits. And if one listened carefully, the shrill whistle of the steam plant ten miles away could be heard. Midnight was waking to a brand new day.
 

Sabrina loved mornings in her little town, before the bustle and busyness could begin. It seemed peaceful, almost storybookish—as if nothing bad could ever happen here. The Wildes knew that wasn’t true better than anyone.
 

Evil had come to Midnight more than once. Sabrina was determined she would not be the cause of it happening again.
 

As usual, her duties began on Wildefire Lane, at the Wilde mansion where she was raised and now lived again. Making sure her home and loved ones were safe was her first priority. Once she had ensured that all was well, she expanded her search, covering the entire town. Though Midnight wasn’t large, going down each street with a thorough and careful eye took some time.
 

It was earlier than usual to be making her morning rounds, but to accomplish everything she needed to do today, an early start was a necessity.
 

Some might find her caution laughable, others would call it paranoia. What others thought of her ceased to matter a long time ago. She lived by her own standards, her own rules. At ten years old, she had learned the most difficult lesson of all—actions have consequences. Her life had been shaped by events she never could have anticipated. Those events drove her to protect those she loved at all cost. And because of her reckless behavior five months before, that protection now included the entire town of Midnight. She refused to be responsible for once again causing devastation.

Two hours later, assured that her loved ones and town were safe for one more day, Sabrina raced through the small grocery store with an overloaded cart. For the next few days, company would be calling and she wanted to be prepared.

Her thoughts going in a dozen different directions, focus off what was in front of her, she rounded a corner. The crash was inevitable. Stacked cans of pork and beans collapsed like a demolished high rise and rolled speedily in every direction as if making a long awaited escape.
 

Cursing beneath her breath, Sabrina dropped to her knees and began the arduous task of restacking cans.

“Sabrina, I just heard about Savannah's baby being born.”

She stopped stacking for a moment to give attention to one of Midnight’s sweetest citizens, Heidi Pruitt. “Hey, Miss Heidi. Yes, Camille Sage was born on Tuesday night, weighed in at six pounds, three ounces, and twenty-one inches long. Both mama and baby are doing great. In fact, they’re coming home today.”

“Well, now, that’s just wonderful. Please extend my congratulations to both Savannah and Zach. I’ve got a little something I made for the baby. I’ll bring it over tonight, if that’s all right.”
 

“I’m sure they’d love to see you. I’m cooking up a storm so be sure to come hungry.”

“Aren’t you the sweetest thing? I’ll just do that. I’ve got a strawberry rhubarb pie I made just this morning. I’ll bring it over, too.”

As soon as Miss Heidi strolled away, Sabrina resumed restacking the cans she’d spilled. Scrunching her nose at the less than artistic pile she’d created but satisfied that they at least wouldn’t tumble over again, she stood and resumed her shopping.

“Hey, Sabrina. Tell Zach and Savannah congratulations on the new addition.”

Sabrina jerked to a stop before the she hit the elderly man standing in front of her. “Thank you, Mr. Milford. I’ll be sure to do that. They’re coming home today.”

“I’ll tell the missus. I know she’ll want to come visit for a spell.” Noticing the overflowing grocery cart, Mr. Milford grinned. “Looks like you're getting ready to feed an army.”
 

Not an army, but possibly half the town. Once word got out that Savvy and Camille Sage were home, the visits would begin. Sabrina wanted to be prepared. It was the least she could do.
 

“I’m making Faye’s gumbo.”

His eyes lit up. “Well, now, that sounds awful good.” He patted his thick belly like a man who knew what he was talking about. “That Faye can sure make a fine gumbo.”

“Then be sure to come by the house. We’ll have plenty.”

“Thank you kindly. We might just do that.”
 

Sabrina pushed her overflowing buggy to a checkout counter and began unloading it with swift efficiency.
 

In between working several cases in Atlanta, her sister Sammie was in the midst of wedding preparations. Quinn Braddock, Sammie’s fiancé, was busy setting up his private practice in Midnight. On top of being a new dad, Zach had his hands full as chief of police. Sabrina figured cooking for the massive amount of company that would come calling was her responsibility. Fortunately she loved to cook.
 

Besides, if she didn't do it, Aunt Gibby would try. Not only did the elderly woman not need to be working that hard, no one in their right mind would accept anything to eat if they knew Gibby made it. So far Gibby was the only person in Midnight who didn't know she was the worst cook in Alabama. No way did Sabrina intend her aunt to ever learn the truth.
 

Thankfully Gibby was with Zach and Savvy at the hospital, getting ready to bring the baby home.
 

The Pick-Quick, the town’s newest grocery store, was well stocked. It was on the bypass and a few miles out of her way, but she’d drive ten times that distance to prevent having to go to the other grocery store in town. Even if she didn’t have a morsel of food in the house to cook, Henson's Grocery wasn't a place she'd ever shop at again. The owner, Ralph Henson, was an evil, vile man who should be in jail.
 

A slightly nasal, elderly female voice called out, “Bri, I heard that Savvy and Zach left the hospital about ten minutes ago.”
 

Sabrina held onto her laughter with difficulty. The tiny, wizened woman standing in front of her stood barely over five feet tall and was so thin she didn’t look like she should be able to push an empty cart, let alone a full one. Her denture-filled mouth gleamed with a bright, infectious grin. Inez Peebles was Midnight's most notorious gossip. It didn't surprise Sabrina in the least that Inez had informants in Mobile, too.

“That's right, Miss Inez. They're coming home today.” She nodded at the multiple sacks the grocery bagger was quickly filling. “I'm headed home to cook up a few meals.”
 

“You tell Savvy I wanted to come see her in the hospital, but I've had the sniffles all week and didn't want her or the baby to catch anything.”
 

“I'll be sure to do that. I hope you're feeling better.”
 

“Still stopped up a bit…other than that, feeling almost good as new.” She huffed out a breath and Sabrina forced herself not to jump back at the strong scent of garlic. The woman was convinced that garlic had kept her alive and healthy for all these years. “Not that my ungrateful son cares a whit.”

“I'm real sorry to hear that, Miss Inez. I know you were a good mama.”

Grateful that her groceries were sacked and she could soon leave, Sabrina turned back and made her payment. Inez Peebles would talk as long as anyone was willing to listen. Most times she was entertaining, as she knew more about the residents of Midnight than anyone. However, once she got started on her no account, good-for-nothing, ungrateful son, it was best to hightail it away from her as quickly as possible.
 

As Sabrina walked out the door, she glanced back at the elderly woman. “Be sure to come by when you're feeling up to snuff, Miss Inez. I know Savvy can't wait to show off Camille Sage to you.”
 

Her wrinkled face wreathed in a bright smile. “You can count on it.”
 

Pushing her massive cart to her SUV, Sabrina took a second to savor the peace. Something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in what felt like forever. The last few months had been rife with worry. After being so afraid that she had made a massive mistake and evil people would descend on her little town, she had barely left the city limits. She had used the excuse that she didn't want to be away from Savvy if she was needed. And after what Sammie went through, she had trouble letting her sister out of her sight.
 

Besides, their fledging security agency was finally taking off and she needed to be here to work cases.
 

Her family had allowed her the excuses. She was thankful the questions had stopped about Armando Cruz and what had happened to him. Still convinced the less they knew the better, she hadn’t shared with them anything other than her initial statement that the man was dead.

Ian was the only one who knew everything. Well, not everything. She had yet to share what she’d been doing in her spare time. That was one benefit of not sleeping much—the extra time to work on her secret project. She would need to involve Ian soon, though—just not yet.

Turning onto Wildefire Lane, Sabrina laughed at the banner hanging from the rafters above the mansion’s front porch. No doubt Sammie and Quinn's doing. ‘
Welcome home Camille Sage’
was a beautiful sight.