Читать книгу Dark Tide - Susan Sleeman - Страница 14
ОглавлениеFOUR
Gina heard Mitch greet Ethan Justice on his way out. Mitch was returning to Lilly’s boat to supervise evidence collection. He’d asked her to recount her harrowing nightmare and had asked for clarification on a few points, but overall, the questioning had gone better than she’d hoped. She believed it was in part due to his standing in the Justice family. True, Mitch was a member by marriage, but she could see he was loved and respected and that he returned their respect by treating her kindly.
Ethan, Derrick’s oldest adopted brother, shuffled into the house carrying a car seat and a large shopping bag with stuffed animals peeking over the top. “Where do you want all of this, Dani?”
“By the stairs is fine.” Dani took the bag from his hands and faced Gina. “I arranged for items that Sophia might need tonight.”
Gina stared openmouthed as Cole followed behind, the second Justice brother loaded down with more items.
“You didn’t buy all of this, did you?” she asked.
“No. Ethan bought it for his son,” Dani answered. “A big, strapping baby boy like his daddy. His name’s Bobby, and he’s three months old.”
“That’s great,” Gina said sincerely. Back when she and Derrick had been dating, she’d always liked Ethan. “I love that he’s named after your father.”
Sadness darkened Dani’s eyes, and Gina felt bad about bringing up the loss of their adoptive father, who was killed along with his wife in a home invasion.
Dani set the bag on the floor and appraised Gina. “I’m surprised you remembered his name.”
“Trust me. I haven’t forgotten a thing.” Gina’s words slipped out before she thought about how Derrick would take her answer. She glanced at him in the kitchen to see if he was listening, but if he’d heard, he didn’t let on.
“That’s everything.” Still exuding calm and focus that Gina associated with Ethan, he stepped over to her and stuck out his hand. “I’m Ethan, in case you’d forgotten.”
She shook his hand. “I appreciate your kindness, but don’t you need these things for Bobby?”
“Don’t judge us—” he shoved his hands in his pocket as a flush crept up his neck “—but with this being our first child, we went a little overboard.”
“Ha! A little?” Cole joined them. “You could care for all of the babies in a third world country with the stuff you bought.”
Ethan frowned. “Suffice it to say we’ve got two of a lot of things.”
“Then thank you for your generosity,” Gina said earnestly. “I’ll take good care of it until we’re free to go back to San Diego.”
Cole offered his hand next. His handshake was quick and firm, his face displaying no emotion as he gave his name.
A man of few words, this was so typical for him that Gina didn’t take offense. “Nice to see you again, Cole.”
The front door opened and a tall, broad-shouldered man as good-looking as the Justice men stepped into the room. Gina didn’t recognize him, but the others clearly did.
“Luke.” Dani rushed across the room. “You didn’t say you were coming over.”
“Self-preservation. If I wasn’t here to speed things along, you’d never get home.” He grinned and pulled her into his arms.
Cole rolled his eyes. “Dani’s husband, in case you didn’t catch that.”
Luke kept one arm around Dani and smiled at Gina. “Luke Baldwin.”
“Nice to meet you, Luke.”
Gina wasn’t surprised that Ethan, Kat and Dani had married. All of the Justices were interesting, caring people. She glanced at Cole’s finger and spotted a wedding ring, too.
“So everyone but Derrick is married now,” Gina said before thinking it through.
Dani looked at her twin. “And it’ll be a million years before that happens. He’d have to quit making up reasons to break up with a woman first.”
Brow furrowed, Derrick joined them. “Kat will be here any minute,” he said, referring to Mitch’s wife, the last Justice sibling, “so let’s finish taking care of the baby stuff and get seated.”
Dani looked at Luke. “Would you be a sweetie and carry the crib to one of Derrick’s spare rooms? That way Gina can put Sophia down before our discussion gets loud and wakes her up.”
“Anything for you, sweetheart,” Luke said with a smile.
Dani grinned back at him and seemed to get lost in his eyes.
Derrick faked a prolonged gag, but Gina felt a pang of jealousy at Dani’s happiness. A happiness that had always been out of Gina’s reach.
Luke grabbed the crib. “Follow me, Gina.”
“You’ll want a baby monitor to keep tabs on her, too.” Ethan rifled through the large shopping bag as Gina picked up Sophia. She took the monitor and followed Luke up the stairs.
Thankfully, Sophia didn’t wake when Gina settled her into the crib and set up the monitor. After one last look at the little sweetheart, Gina tiptoed out of the room. She approached the stairs and heard Kat greet the others.
Gina tensed. Of all the siblings, Kat had been the most vocal in her condemnation when Gina had broken off with Derrick. A warm welcome was the last thing Gina expected. Kat had always been the defender of the family, watching to make sure no one messed with her siblings’ emotions.
Gina steeled herself and marched down the stairs. Kat looked up, her eyes following Gina down the stairs. Gina forced herself to relax. She wouldn’t let Kat’s attitude deter her from offering a friendly greeting.
“Thank you for coming, Kat.” Gina smiled and set the monitor on a table by the sofa.
Kat nodded, but it was clipped. “Let’s get down to business. The sooner we figure out what’s happening, the sooner you can go back to your old life.” And get out of ours was the unspoken subtext.
“So grab a seat, everyone, and we’ll get started,” Derrick said cheerfully, but the look he gave Kat didn’t reflect his tone.
Gina expected coming back into the Justices’ lives would be fraught with turmoil. But actually experiencing it? That was more difficult than she’d thought. Maybe she really would be better off finding someone else to help her.
When all of them had taken a seat, she ran her gaze over the group. “I’m guessing my past with Derrick is the reason you decided to stop by instead of simply taking the case. Maybe it would be better if I found someone else to investigate and protect us.”
“No!” Derrick shouted.
His family members stared openmouthed at him.
“I mean, no,” he said calmly while peering at Gina. “We’re the best investigators you can find. Plus you’d lose valuable time by looking for someone else.” His eyes radiated passion and pride in his work.
He really was the man she’d once fallen in love with. A man who put helping others ahead of his own personal strife. The kind of man who would put her first at all times. The kind she fell for and fell hard.
But he’ll disappoint you again, she reminded herself. Just like Ben. Men always lead you on then disappoint.
He came to his feet and surveyed his family, his focus lingering on Kat. “Anyone have a problem with taking this case, speak up now.”
When no one said a word, Gina decided to acknowledge the elephant in the room. “I appreciate your help, especially with how I treated Derrick in college. I can only say I was young and thoughtless. I was trying to protect myself, but I could have—should have—found a way to do so without hurting him like that. If I could have a do-over, I would handle it much differently.”
Everyone except Kat visibly relaxed a notch.
Fussy baby sounds came over the monitor, and Gina said, “I hate to keep you here longer than necessary, but would you mind if I check on Sophia? After everything that’s happened in our lives lately, I’m a bit paranoid about her safety.”
“Go ahead,” Ethan said. “If my wife and I’d been through what you’ve experienced, we’d do the same thing.”
“Thank you.” She climbed the stairs and felt all eyes on her, but she resisted looking back. She didn’t need to hear their conversation to know what they were saying to Derrick. She hurt you, they’d say. Why are you so adamant about helping her? She doesn’t deserve it. Let her find someone else like she suggested.
At least that’s what she’d be telling a sibling of hers in a similar situation. More than ever, she was thankful God provided people like the Justices with skills to protect her and find Jon’s killer. She could only hope they would be able to look beyond her faults and work together to keep her alive.
* * *
Derrick preempted his family’s questions by updating them on the case—including Mitch’s involvement. When he’d finished, he sat in his favorite leather chair, planted his hands on his knees and waited for the first comment.
“With the investigation into her friend’s disappearance just beginning, you must have considered she could be the killer,” Kat said, sounding less than pleased.
Before Derrick could answer, Cole’s focus zeroed in on him. “Do you think she’s telling the truth?”
Though Derrick had waffled at first, he believed Gina’s story. He nodded.
“I believe her, too,” Dani said. “And if we’re going to work with her, it’s time for us to leave the past behind.”
Derrick eyed his twin. She’d changed since she was nearly murdered last year. This willingness to easily forget about someone who’d wronged him was proof of her new approach to life—to only stress over the important things.
“Then that’s good enough for me.” Cole leaned back and propped a leg on his knee. “You can count on my support.”
“Really?” Kat raised an eyebrow. “Just like that. Mr. Skeptical is taking her word for it?” She swung her gaze to Dani. “And you want to forget what she did to Derrick?”
Cole shrugged. “What can I say? After meeting and marrying Alyssa, I’m a changed man.”
“Love will do that for you.” Dani leaned her head on Luke’s shoulder, and he pulled her closer.
Right. If only change could be that simple, Derrick would be married by now.
Change wasn’t simple for Cole. The thought popped into Derrick’s head. Cole had tough issues—real issues from Afghanistan—to work out. If he freed himself from his problems, so can you.
Doubt immediately set in. Cole knew his issues and could face them directly. Derrick wasn’t even sure why he couldn’t commit to a long-term relationship or where he’d start to fix it.
Gina came down the stairs, her focus zooming in on him. She was seeking comfort again, and his passion for helping the underdog screamed out for him to take her hand and offer it.
A boneheaded move.
He shifted his focus back to the case. “I brought everyone up to speed. We’re ready to make a game plan to find Jon’s killer and protect you.”
Kat’s eyes lasered in on Gina as she took a seat. “Don’t think because we’re taking your case that we’ve forgotten how much you hurt Derrick.”
“Kat fails to remember we’re all grown-ups,” Derrick said, hoping to take the added stress out of the room. “She still thinks she needs to protect all of us.”
Kat crossed her arms. “Someone in the family has to do it.”
“Since you’re appointing yourself as our guardian,” Dani said with a smirk, “maybe you should partner with Derrick on Gina’s protective detail.”
“Be glad to,” Kat answered, clearly surprising Dani.
“Protective detail?” Gina’s hand flew to her chest.
Derrick nodded. “One of us will be with you 24/7 until this is resolved.”
“It will mostly be Derrick, but we’ll all help,” Dani added.
“Oh,” Gina said, and quickly looked away.
Great. Gina’s unwillingness to look him in the eye said she didn’t want him around. That was bad enough, but he didn’t want the sibling most likely to antagonize Gina working the investigation with him, either. He had enough drama with Gina. He didn’t need Kat’s, as well.
“I’ll expect your full focus, and you’ll have to back-burner all of your other cases,” he warned.
“Ethan can reschedule the important things. Right?” She pressed her lips together and watched Ethan.
He nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
“It’s what I want,” she answered decisively and looked at Gina with a pinched expression.
Gina picked at her fingers, a sure sign she was nervous, but the smile she gave Kat didn’t reflect it. “Thank you for offering. I appreciate your help and dedication.”
Kat scowled and tightened her arms. Derrick tamped down a smile over how well Gina was managing Kat.
“Can we get to the plans for the investigation so I can get Dani home?” Luke asked.
Dani smiled at her husband. “I’d say finding the elusive log is our obvious first step.”
Ethan looked at Gina. “Derrick told us about Jon’s buddy Quentin. Can you think of anyone else who might know about the log?”
“No, and I’m not even sure Quentin knows anything,” she answered. “Quentin and his wife are close friends, and I hate to think he could have anything to do with Jon’s death.”
“You said he lives next door to you,” Derrick stated. “Was he home last night before you were attacked?”
“Yes. In fact, before the attacker broke in, when I turned off the lights to go to bed, I saw him standing outside.”
“What about size and build of your attacker?” Dani asked. “Is Quentin of a similar build?”
“Yes,” she agreed, but her tone lacked any conviction. “The attacker disguised his voice, so I suppose it could’ve been Quentin.”
“Right size and build.” Cole dropped his foot to the floor with a thump that shook the boat. “Acting suspicious. Disguising his voice as if you’d know him.”
“So you think we’re looking for someone she knows?” Ethan asked.
Cole shrugged. “It’s not unheard of for an attacker who’s familiar with police procedure to disguise their voice to avoid being picked out of a voice lineup.”
“Voice lineup?” Gina asked. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“It’s just like a visual lineup of suspects but the police have the suspect and a few other men speak, in hopes that the victim can identify the voice.”
Gina shuddered. “Will I have to participate in one of those?”
“You might,” Derrick said, hating to see her fearful expression. “But it may not be necessary if we can gather sufficient evidence as we work the investigation.”
“It sounds like interviewing Quentin should be our first priority,” Kat suggested.
Gina’s eyes narrowed. “But why would he want to kill Jon? Or me, for that matter?”
“Money is always a good motive for murder,” Derrick offered. “Has Quentin engaged in any lavish spending lately?”
Gina’s eyes widened. “He bought a very expensive speedboat last month. That’s not something he could afford on his Coast Guard salary.”
“Motive,” Derrick said, putting force in his word for emphasis. “We’re definitely talking to him ASAP.”
“You can do that while I focus on finding the log.” Dani leaned forward, letting Luke’s arm fall behind her. “Since Gina saw a digital photo of a log, it’s likely the file was transmitted to Jon electronically.”
“Unless, of course, he took a picture of the log and sent it to himself,” Kat said.
“Why would he do that?” Gina asked.
Kat shrugged. “Maybe he didn’t want to take the log on board his ship. Or maybe he was worried the actual log would be destroyed.”
“Though those are good possibilities,” Dani said, “I think I should still try to track it electronically, too.”
“Agreed,” Derrick jumped in. “So how would he have received an electronic copy?”
“Through email. Or a text maybe,” Dani said and Derrick could almost see the wheels turning in her head. “He could also have copied it from someone else’s computer or downloaded it on the internet. If I’m lucky, I’ll find a cybertrail. If Quentin’s involved, it could lead straight to him.”
Cole’s eyes glassed over at the mention of technology, and Derrick was surprised his were the only ones. “If anyone can track down an electronic lead, it’s you.”
“Usually I’d be the first to agree with you,” Dani replied with no modesty in her voice. “But Jon likely had a military email address. If he received the log at that account, I won’t be able to access it without hacking into the Coast Guard’s database, which—”
“You could do that?” Gina interrupted.
A wily smile crept across his twin’s lips. “I’m sure I could, but I won’t.”
“Still,” Cole said, “I can tell you’re chomping at the bit to get your fingers on the files.”
Smiling, she nodded. “I’ll start on it the minute I get home tonight.”
Derrick nodded. “Gina mentioned the San Diego detectives didn’t believe she’d been attacked, so I’m thinking they didn’t thoroughly process the scene. And with the backlog at most labs, I don’t think we can count on the detective to request priority processing for any evidence they did collect.”
“Sounds like a trip to San Diego is in order to question Quentin and gather evidence ourselves,” Kat said.
Derrick looked at Gina. “We’ll hire a private lab to run the tests and get the results in a matter of days.”
She sighed. “This is all so complicated. I’m so thankful all of you understand it.”
Luke looped his arm over Dani’s shoulder. “Not only do they understand it, but for some odd reason, it’s also what they live to do.”
Dani punched his knee. “I don’t knock your SEAL days, so don’t knock our law enforcement background.”
He saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
The family laughed, but excitement at moving forward in the case had Derrick ignoring them. “So we’re agreed that Gina and I will travel to San Diego?”
Kat made eye contact. “I’ll go with you.”
“Of course. I’m glad to have help in protecting Gina,” Derrick said. “Before we go, we should discuss backtracking Jon’s and Quentin’s movements. If we can see where they’d been in the weeks before Jon’s death, it might give us a lead on how and where the log was transmitted.”
Ethan yawned and stretched his arms overhead. “I can dig into their cell phone and credit card bills first thing tomorrow.”
“Would be good if you got Quentin’s full financial picture to see if he needs money or if he’s received a large sum recently,” Derrick added.
Ethan nodded as another yawn escaped.
“Kat, can you call in favors from your Portland P.D. buds to get the official report for Jon’s accident?” Derrick faced Gina. “Kat’s a former Portland police officer and she still has contacts on the force.”
“Glad to.”
“Has anyone thought about this being related to the Coast Guard?” Dani asked. “Jon dealt with apprehending drug dealers on a daily basis. One of them could’ve wanted revenge.”
Gina’s eyes widened, and Derrick held up his hand to stem her concern. “That’s not something we need to worry about yet, but it’s an angle worth investigating.”
“I still have military connections,” Cole offered. “Let me see what I can dig up about Jon’s and Quentin’s military careers.”
Ethan yawned again. “Sounds like a good start.”
“Tired, old man?” Derrick teased.
“You try getting up with a baby every night and see if you’re not tired, too.”
“Bobby’s not sleeping through the night yet?” Gina asked.
“Not all the time.”
Gina launched into her past struggle to get Sophia on a regular schedule. For the first time since reconnecting with Gina, Derrick realized how tough being a single parent must be.
“Not that I don’t find the baby talk fascinating,” Luke said with a smirk, “but I’d like to take my wife home. So are we done here?”
Derrick nodded. “I’ll make San Diego flight arrangements for Kat, Gina and me. Hopefully I can get us on the first flight tomorrow. I’ll text everyone the time to be here to assist in her transport.”
“Which means, with your schedule obsession, everyone can arrive fifteen minutes later,” Kat said as she stood.
Derrick cast an irritated look at her. “Please don’t.”
“Lighten up. I was just kidding.” She squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll head home to pack and then come back to spend the night here as reinforcement.”
It was a logical decision to have both of them on hand at all times, but Derrick picked up on Kat’s hidden motive. She didn’t trust Derrick not to succumb to Gina’s charms tonight. Despite Kat’s heavy-handed approach, he didn’t mind having someone to run interference. “Then we’re good to go. We’ll keep in touch from San Diego by a daily video conference call unless anyone has urgent news to report.”
“Let’s get going before he changes his mind.” Luke tugged Dani to her feet.
“Night, all.” She headed for the door.
As Gina continued discussing babies with Ethan, Derrick watched Dani and Luke depart. He was glad Luke was a stand-up guy, and he wanted his sister to be happy. Really he did. But he missed the close relationship he’d had with her. Not a very manly thing to admit. But, come on. You go through life connected in a way no one can match, and suddenly that connection no longer matters compared with the new man in her life?
Or maybe you’re just miffed that you don’t have someone special in your life like everyone else in the family.
Was that why he’d been irritated for months? Not because they’d moved away from him, but because he couldn’t move forward himself? If only he knew how to change. He certainly didn’t want to let it continue to eat at him and make him miserable, but what other choice did he have?
He needed either to get over his commitment issues or stop wanting a wife and family. He didn’t have a clue how to accomplish either one. He’d have to be careful not to let his frustration over it distract him while he was in charge of keeping Gina safe.
