Mint Juleps and Justice (5 page)

Brooke slid behind the wheel and twisted the key in the ignition as Jenny climbed into the passenger seat. The car didn’t turn over. “What else could possibly go wrong?” She knocked twice on the burl wood console to ward off any more bad luck. If the divorce had taught her anything, it was not to tempt fate.

Jenny said, “Is it in park?”

Brooke slapped the shifter. She must’ve been so distracted she’d shut it down in gear. She grabbed the leather-wrapped knob and pushed it back up to the letter
P
.

“Now try it.”

The car started right up. Brooke pressed her lips together, and rolled her eyes. “How stupid.”

“Not really. All those years hanging out in the garage with Granddaddy paid off. People do that all the time. Now, take a breath.”

Brooke plopped back against the seat.

“Are you sure you can drive? You’re so upset. I don’t mind driving back.”

“No. I’m fine,” Brooke said.

“Okay. So what are you going to do?” Jenny pulled Stitches into her lap.

“I’m going to drive us home, then I’m taking a long, hot bath so I can pull myself together and then I’ll figure that out. If I don’t decide to drown myself and put myself out of this misery.”

“Not even funny. But I’m not surprised to hear you’re headed to the bathtub. When things aren’t working,
ker-splash
. I swear you’re part mermaid.” Jenny closed her eyes, and put her fingers on her temples. “Then I predict you’ll fire up that computer and type up a plan.”

“Fine. Fine. I get it. I’m a little predictable,” Brooke conceded. She eased onto the interstate and set the cruise control.
No sense letting her mood earn her a speeding ticket tonight on top of everything. “I can’t believe Keith still hasn’t signed the divorce papers.” Brooke toyed with the buttons on the console. “This should have been over a long time ago. I think it’s time to call an investigator like my lawyer suggested and prove he’s up to no good once and for all.”

“Sorry, sweetie. I know he’s getting under your skin.” Jenny placed her hand on Brooke’s arm. “Hey, I can make my famous Kamikaze on the rocks when we get home. If that doesn’t make you forget him for a while, nothing will.”

“No. I just need to slow down and figure out what to do next. Sorry I messed up our dinner plans tonight.” Brooke stroked Stitches, who could just barely keep her eyes open.

“That’s fine. It’s not about the dinner anyway. This is the most unusual girls’ night we’ve had in a while though.”

“True.” Brooke nervously scratched the shape of a question mark in the center of her steering wheel.

“I’ll call Connor Buckham in the morning and get that investigator guy’s number.”

“Good. If Keith did put Stitches in the hot tub, he could do something to hurt you next.” Jenny raised her hand. “I know. Don’t say it. I’m just saying, it’s a possibility and there’s no sense putting yourself in that position.”

“He just wants me to think he’s in control. I don’t think he’d ever hurt me.”

“How can you say that? He could’ve killed Stitches.”

Brooke’s words came out just above a whisper. “He was my husband.”

“Tell that to Laci Peterson, or OJ’s wife or…”

Something that felt akin to a glop of cold oatmeal sat in her belly. “Fine. I get the point. When you’re right, you’re right.” Brooke looked at the horseshoe-shaped crystal and beads that hung from her rearview mirror.

Brooke’s good luck philosophy on life had rarely let her down. Yeah, her friends could tease her all they wanted to about making decisions based on the presence or absence of lucky signs, but they worked. She had the charts to prove it.

“You’re a walking contradiction, my friend.” Jenny inhaled, clearly preparing to continue the lecture.

But Brooke wasn’t up for an argument or a lecture. “I’ll call Connor. I’ll get that investigator’s help and take back control of this situation.”

“And I’ll help.”

A short while later they pulled into the driveway at Brooke’s house. “Thanks for coming with me. I don’t think it did any good. Just a waste of time and gas, but I had to do something.”

They both got out of the car. “You going to be okay?” Jenny asked. “I can stay the night.”

“I will. I’ll let you know what I’m going to do, and I promise I’ll be smart about it.”

“Good. I’ll call you in the morning.”

Brooke walked Jenny to her car and gave her a hug. Jenny waited until Brooke got to the door and opened it before she pulled away from the curb. She lived around the block in an apartment over the new yoga studio. Brooke might have really been crazy by now if Jenny hadn’t made the move to Adams Grove too.

Brooke looked out the window into the night sky, and said a quick prayer for a shooting star to get her through another day.

CHAPTER EIGHT

M
ike looked up from his desk. Footsteps echoed from the hall. His first after-hours customer? Hunter sat up from under the desk and let out a soft woof.

“It’s okay, boy,” Mike said. “Down.”

Hunter lay back down under the desk.

The doorknob twisted and Rick Joyner walked inside. “What? I have to hear from your dad that you set up shop in Adams Grove?”

“Rick. Good to see you, buddy.” Mike came around the desk and shook his hand. “It’s been too long. I was going to call you.”

“Sure you were. Your dad said you’ve been back for a while.” Rick looked around. “From the looks of things you’re pretty settled in too. You avoiding me?”

“No. Just busy.” But maybe he had avoided facing Rick. They’d been friends since their school days, and even though Rick swore he’d never blamed Mike for his sister’s death, Mike had still carried that guilt. “Trying to figure out what the hell life is going to be from here on out.”

Hunter let out a soft woof from under the desk.

“Come here, Hunter. We have company.”

The dog bounded out into the middle of the room. All legs and ears, the seven-month-old puppy greeted Rick like they’d been friends forever.

“Pretty dog. Never knew you to have a dog though.”

Mike nodded. It was true. Jackie had always wanted one but he’d never given in.
Another regret.
“I had one assigned to me when I was overseas. Good dog. Good partner. Guess the Marines changed that in me too.”

“I’m sure the Marines will miss you.” Rick shrugged. “After seeing your dad, when I drove by and the light was on I had to stop. Hope you don’t mind.” He scanned the office and gave the dog a pat on the head. “Looks like you’ve got yourself set up right nice here.”

“It’s working.” Mike shifted his hip up on the desk. “It’s actually been a pretty big adjustment back to civilian life.”

“I’m glad you made it back. Everyone will be glad you’re back, as soon as I spread the word. You shouldn’t have kept it such a secret.”

That was just like Rick—always the one to get the gang together. Large and in charge. Mike said, “I’m just taking things a little slow. It’s an adjustment. You get it.”

“Sure. I get it. Your dad mentioned something about giving up the job of the century to play
Magnum P.I.
”

“He doesn’t get it. I’m just not the white-collar type.”

“But are you the investigator type? That’s the question.” Rick’s face grew serious. “Don’t think it’ll bring back too many memories, do you?

“I’m taking it a day at a time.”

“Well, don’t be a stranger.” Rick plopped down into one of the chairs in front of the desk. “Your dad had a rather attractive old gal fawning over him when I ran into him in town. He’s getting more action than I am. How sad is that?”

“Must have been his new lady friend, Beth. He tricked me into dinner with her and her daughter the other night. I think all the ladies in town are spoiling him. I think he spends more time driving them around to different things than he does at home anymore.”

“I should be so lucky,” Rick said.

“He’s probably the only single senior who still has a car. I never pictured him with anyone but Mom, but he sure seemed to be enjoying the attention.”

“I guess a guy with a car is just as big of a deal at seventy as it is at seventeen, but you Hartman men always did have a charming way with the ladies.”

“Guess I’ll have to work a nice ride into my retirement budget to hedge my bets.”

“You and me both.” Rick laughed and looked around. “Wouldn’t have pictured you as a private investigator. So, you spying on cheating wives? Shit like that?”

Mike laughed. “Guess it could come up, but mostly it’s been cases Perry Von has been too busy to handle. The lawyers downstairs have also had me on a few things. I’ve been locating missing relatives, looking up a few bond skips. Nothing too sinister.”

“Your dad is really glad that you’re back. He worried about you when you were in Iraq. We all did. I think he was afraid you wouldn’t be careful.”

“I didn’t take any unnecessary risks. No one needed to worry.”

“I don’t know, man. When you left…none of us were in a real good place.”

Mike shook his head. “Let’s not go there.”

“Fair enough. So, you’re back for good?”

“I better be. I’m building a house here.”

“You rebuilding over at the old place?” Rick looked surprised.

“No.” The old place. He couldn’t build there. He hadn’t even been able to bring himself to drive by the property. Under the circumstances he wasn’t sure why he’d hung on to it, but selling it just seemed wrong. “No, man. I’m having one built over in the new neighborhood.”

“That log cabin you always wanted?”

“Exactly. I think it’s time to settle down in one place. This ought to tie me down a little.”

“Shackles couldn’t tie you down, but I’m sure that’ll set you back a pretty penny.”

“You got that right, but you only live once.” Mike stood up.

“Your dad said you aren’t seeing anyone.”

“I’m not. I’m busy. He’s way more worried about it than I am.”

“You’re afraid,” Rick said. “You were in the Marines, not a monastery, man. You need to get back in the game. Life’s too short to live it alone.”

Rick was the last person he wanted to discuss this with.

“Jackie wouldn’t like you to be alone. She wouldn’t like it at all,” Rick added.

She would have said that. Rick was right, but if it had been the other way around, she’d have understood. It’s one thing to say it. Another to live it. “I’m working on it.”

“If you say so.” Rick didn’t look convinced. “Eight years is a long time to be alone.”

“I’m not pining away. I even asked someone to the Ruritan Club steak dinner Friday.” Mike didn’t know why he’d offered up the information. It was no one’s business, and he hadn’t even meant to ask her, but somehow he felt like he needed to prove that he was okay.

“Really? Guess the old man didn’t know about that. Someone serious?”

“No. Just met her. Nothing serious. First date.”

“Mike, it’s okay if it is. It’s been a long time since Jackie died. You can move on.” Rick started laughing. “But it is kind of funny. Showing up at a Ruritan dinner is like ringing the bell on the gossip line. Everyone will be talking about y’all whether it’s serious or not. Hell, I’d have at least done coffee or something easy to get out of.”

“Kind of didn’t think about that part. Too late now.”

“I’m just giving you a hard time. It’ll be fine.” Rick’s face grew serious. “It’s really good to see you, man.”

“Yeah. It is.” The old friendship hadn’t changed despite the years since they’d last spoken. “Can I get you a beer or something?”

Rick raised a hand. “No. I’m not going to stay long. I’m just glad you’re back. Wish I’d known. I’d have thrown you a big welcome-back barbecue on the farm. It would have been better than the high school reunion, which you missed, by the way.”

Mike cast him a sideways glance. “Maybe that’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“Seriously, don’t be a stranger. It’s been too long.”

“I’ll stop by one day next week,” Mike said. They’d been like brothers at one time. In a way, they’d always be family.

“That would be good. You won’t even recognize the farm. I’ve done a lot while you’ve been away.”

“I’m thinking a farm looks like a farm.”

“Oh, no. I gave up the hog farming, thought my luck with the ladies might change after that, but it hasn’t. Tore down all the hog barns and replaced them with a state-of-the-art horse barn.”

“I hadn’t heard you’d gotten out of hogs.” Mike had done a stellar job removing himself from everything he left behind when he’d joined the Marines, and that had felt good at the time, but now it was making it hard to ease back in.

“I’m just doing the horses and running a few cattle now.”

“Small world. I’m farm-sitting over at Kasey Phillips’s ranch. They are getting ready to stable some racehorses on that property.”

“Racehorses? You’re not talking about Denise Hill’s new location, are you?”

“Yeah, exactly. She’s Cody Tuggle’s mother. He and Kasey are building a new place down the street, and his mom is going to use that acreage. I’m working with the extension agent to ready the pastures and stuff while they get everything figured out.”

Rick’s face lit up. “I’ve been talking to Denise Hill about buying an interest in one of the Hillcrest racehorses. Put in a good word for me.”

“I don’t think I have any pull, but I’ll mention you if it comes up. Least I could do.”

“Call me if you need any help over there. It’d be good to work on a project together again.”

“I will. Thanks, man.” Mike knew Rick would be as good as his word. He always had been. “So, when are you going to quit being so picky and settle down?”

“I haven’t found a woman who can keep up with me, who wants kids too. I might be forty by the time I find her. I just hope I haven’t already found her and was too stupid to realize it. Maybe now that you’re back you can be my wingman and I’ll find Mrs. Joyner.”

“Like the old days.” Mike grinned at the memory. They’d been a hell of a team back in their Virginia Tech days. “Don’t you worry. When you find the right woman, you’ll know it.” Mike felt that familiar pang deep in his chest…in his heart.

He walked Rick out and then locked up.

“Load up, Hunter,” Mike said. The shepherd pup ran into his kennel and lay down. Mike gave him a pat on the head. “Good boy.”

Back in his bedroom he got undressed and pulled back the comforter. He sat down on the edge of the bed and lifted the picture of Jackie that sat on the nightstand. “Maybe it’s time. But damn, it’s hard to say good-bye to you.” He slipped the picture in the top drawer of his nightstand, then got up and walked over to the kennel.

He unlatched the kennel door. “Come on, buddy,” he called to Hunter as he walked back into the bedroom with the pup at his heels. He got into bed and patted the edge. “It’s okay.” Hunter leaped up and curled up next to Mike. “Just for tonight.”