The Best of Us (15 page)

“
Matt is bringing over some paperwork that he needs me to sign.”

Stone felt it best to just change the subject. Matt was Rissa’s best friend, but he’d almost gotten her killed last year, something Stone didn’t plan to just forget.

“
So, what’s got you leaving work in the middle of a case? Something bothering you?” Rissa knew him too well.

As they got comfortable in the living room, Stone said, “Yeah. I’m missing something. This case seems like it should be straight forward, but it’s not. We have a woman everyone likes, brutally murdered in her store and the backroom is trashed. We have an ex fiancé admit to later breaking into said woman’s apartment after her death to try to steal a ring, and in the process scares ten years of the best friend of the dead woman when he chases her out of the apartment, causing her to severely sprain her ankle. Then while we are looking for the ex, someone else breaks into the store and totally destroys everything in it. It sounds like the ex is responsible for it all, but my gut tells me he’s not. Plus he has an airtight alibi for the murder.”

“
You say he was in the apartment looking for something…was he messy?”

“
Messy? What?” Stone was confused. What did that have to do with anything?

“
Just hear me out. When you were working on my case, the profile helped you solve the case. If it weren’t for that and your hard work, and don’t forget that famous gut of yours, I might not be here today.”

Rissa stood up and paced a bit. “So, just humor me. Was the ex-fiancé messy when he was going through the apartment?”

“
No. He was keeping things where they belonged…” Rissa could tell Stone had withdrawn into his own thoughts. She let him be and just watched. Oh how she loved that man! He was the most honorable, steadfast and sexiest man she’d ever met. Right now she could tell he was, mentally, off on another direction he hadn’t taken yet in this case.

“
Well da…ng!” Stone muttered. Rissa couldn’t help but smile. She wasn’t a prude, but Stone tried not to cuss around her, so she knew he had hit on something.

“
I can’t believe I didn’t see it. Of course they weren’t done by the same person. It’s obvious! Man, I’m an idiot.”

“
Stone, stop it! You know sometimes when you’re too close you miss what’s right in front of you. It happens to all of us!”

“
Thanks hon. I gotta run!” He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. He suddenly stopped and looked back at Rissa. She was standing there smiling at him and his heart melted just as it always did when she looked at him like that. “Thanks.” He said again with emotion. He leaned down and kissed her passionately. He always felt better after being with her. “I owe you.” He stepped out of the door and turned back once more, “I love you.”

Rissa watched him get in his truck, his mind back fully on the case. She smiled again and said to herself, “I love you too! And maybe once this is over, he can explain what just occurred to him.” She was still there smiling, even though he was long gone, when Matt pulled up.

Carly was able to go back to the store and apartment two days later. She and two of the firemen from Daniel’s station were there trying to clean up. Daniel would be by shortly, but he had some business at the station to deal with. Carly was having a hard time looking at the damage done to Jenna’s dream. She knew it had never been her dream, but she had loved this store because Jenna had loved it.

The bell over the door, one of the few things left unharmed, chimed. Carly turned to see who had come in and was startled and irritated to see Trent standing there. He had a look of shock on his face but it seemed he was only putting on an act for Carly’s benefit.

“
Well, my goodness. Someone certainly did a number on this place.” Trent said, almost condescendingly, as he gingerly stepped over broken bits and pieces.

“
Well, yes Trent, I would say someone certainly did.” Carly snapped at him.

He paused in mid step, giving her a startled look. “Now Carly, I didn’t mean anything.”

“
What do you want Trent? I’m busy.”

The two firemen had stopped and were openly watching the exchange. Rick, the new fireman Carly had danced with was one of the two firemen and he’d taken a couple steps closer to Carly.

“
I heard you were in the market to sell. I figured now would be a good time for you to get out from under this monstrosity. There is more damage than it’s worth to try to fix this place up.”

“
I’m not in the market to sell.”

“
Now Carly, we both know that you’ve been considering it. I’m ready to offer you a fair price.”

“
And just how would you know if I’ve been considering it or not?”

“
I’ve just heard it around.” Trent seemed very uncomfortable with that question.

“
Just heard it around huh? Like, maybe from our old school buddy Mason?” Carly’s ears were burning; she was once again reminded how small towns worked. “You know Trent, even if I were selling; you are the last person on God’s green earth I would ever sell to! You are an abusive, arrogant, lousy excuse for a man and I want you out of here.”

Rick and Joe, the other fireman, now flanked Carly, but Trent didn’t seem too bothered by them. He took a couple of steps toward Carly, rage twisting his otherwise handsome face.

“
How dare you! How dare you judge me!” Trent’s neck was beet read. His voice was low and had an edge to it, almost menacing. “I’ve never done anything to you and you have the gall to stand there and judge me? All I’ve ever done to you is ask you out to dinner and offer you a fair deal on something you want out of anyway.” Trent kept clenching his fists as he walked toward Carly.

There was no way Rick or Joe would have let Trent near Carly, but before either of them made a move, a booming voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

“
Trent, I told you once not to come around my sister or my family; that includes Carly.” Harm stood there with Carter, fresh from his latest assignment, both ready to do battle. All three of the Wayne boys had wanted a piece of Trent since they found out about him beating their baby sister, and it looked like they were going to get their chance. And from the look on Rick and Joe’s faces, there was no help for Trent.

“
Why don’t we take this outside?” Carter said, his voice calm, belying the anger pulsating through his veins.

“
Look guys, this is between me and Carly. She wants out of this place and I’m here to offer her a way out.” Trent wasn’t backing down, but his whole demeanor had changed. He was still aggressive, but no longer vibrating with rage.

“
Well, it seems to me that Carly isn’t the only one with a say in that.” Daniel walked up behind his brothers. He looked like a warrior facing down his enemy on the battlefield. It both excited and scared Carly. She wasn’t sure what he’d do, but she wouldn’t be the one stupid enough to try to stop him. Seeing the three Wayne boys standing there, ready to do battle with the enemy, Carly couldn’t help but be awed by their very masculine and powerful presence they presented as a united front. She’d bet on the Wayne boys in any situation. She was suddenly overcome with emotion for these three men, how she loved them all dearly. She felt a steel resolve stiffen her spine, her chin rose higher and she turned to stare down Trent just as the men did.

“
What do you mean?” Trent looked at Carly for her rebuttal of what Daniel said, then took a second look at the defiant look on her face.

“
I believe he’s referring to the fact that he is fifty percent owner of Treasures and the apartment.” Carly said matter of factly.

“
What?” Trent looked like his temper was building up again. “Since when? Jenna never told me that Daniel owned half of this place. You are lying.” Trent made the mistake of taking a step toward Carly. Before he could take a second step, Harm and Carter each had an arm and were escorting him outside.

“
Daniel,” Carly said as Daniel started to follow his brother’s out.

He smiled charmingly at Carly, “Don’t worry honey; we are just walking him out.” He winked at her and headed outside. It took two seconds before Rick and Joe were hurrying out to see what was going to happen.

Carly wasn’t sure of what to do. One thing was certain, none of the Wayne boys would be stupid enough to do anything they could get into trouble over…would they?

The boys didn’t mention anything about their ‘walk’ with Trent, but Joe and Rick seemed to have a new found respect for all of them. Carly was fine with that, and she didn’t want to know what had happened that day. All she knew was that they didn’t do anything illegal…she hoped.

Daniel called and told Det. Stone about Trent’s interest in the store and apartment. They left out some of the details that weren’t important for Stone to know. But when they told him about Trent beating their sister, Stone could only imagine what he’d have done to anyone that did that to his baby sister…or his older sister for that matter. And if his brother ever raised a hand to any woman, Stone wouldn’t hesitate in setting him straight. Even though he’d have had to take action if the Wayne brothers had done something to Trent, he’d have done it grudgingly.

Stone and Wright picked up Trent, from the bank during the busiest time of the day. They couldn’t have planned it better if they’d…well, fact was, they’d planned it that way. Neither one of them could stand a man that would beat a woman nor did they want to be discreet. Trent was ready to explode, and would have if half the town didn’t appear to be in the bank at that particular moment. He was actually trying to hold on to his dignity and reputation. If Stone had anything to say about it, everyone would know what kind of a low life Trent was.

“
What is this about? Can’t we just talk in my office?” Trent was trying to make it look like he was welcoming them and not like he was being led out by the cops. It didn’t work. Stone and Wright escorted him to the police station where they decided to ask him some pointed questions about abuse, breaking and entering, destruction of private property, harassment, and finally, murder.

“
This is absurd!” Trent was still arrogant, but Stone planned on fixing that.

“
Sit down Mr. Wakefield.” Stone said in a tone that left no room for argument. They’d been in the interrogation room for just under two hours. Or rather, Trent had been in there for just under two hours. Stone had just come in after watching Trent stew through the one way glass on the wall. Trent didn’t do too well in the small, drab, dingy, grey room. Stone admitted that it was a depressing room, but when he was interrogating, he was glad for it. It made people nervous and their only thought became how to get out of the room. It usually ended in a confession if he didn’t run across a criminal with a steel resolve. For the most part, Landon Falls didn’t boast too many hardened criminals. They were usually people guilty of minor infractions, domestic abuse, drinking and driving, stealing, etc. But this was the second murder case in less than a year, and both had landed on Stone’s lap since he was lead detective. The first one introduced him to his future wife, but he’d been just as flummoxed by that case as he was by this one.