Chapter 7
The roar of the rain pelting against the tent rustled Delaney awake. Or maybe it was the man who had his arm draped around her middle, his hot, moist breath tickling the back of her neck. And of course, she had to pee, which only added to her discomfort. She had no idea how on earth she’d sneak out from under Josh’s grasp without waking him. Not to mention the issue of staying dry, as the outhouse wasn’t all that close.
“I can hear you thinking,” Josh whispered.
“That’s impossible.”
“Maybe. But you’re restless and tense,” he said. “What time is it?” His warm lips brushed against her skin. He didn’t move his arm or his legs, which were tucked up behind hers as if it were normal for them to wake up this way.
“I have no idea. Can’t even tell if it’s light outside.” She did feel safe in his arms, even though she knew he’d never be able to forgive her, much less forget how they met. Had it been a chance meeting, she would have wanted to know him, and she thought he might have felt the same way, too.
“Then go back to sleep.”
“I can’t,” she said.
“Why not?”
“I need to use the outhouse.”
“That sucks.” He rolled to his other side, giving her the opportunity to scoot out of her sleeping bag and start looking for her shoes. “It’s only five in the morning,” he said.
“Seriously?” She rummaged through the bag Stacey had packed, but there wasn’t anything she could use as an umbrella. “It’s pouring out there.”
“We can use these.” He held out two garbage bags. “Not great, but they should protect us a little.”
“I can go by myself.”
“Well, now that you’ve woken me up, I’ve got to go, too.” He flashed a grin. “Only, I could just sort of hang it out the tent flaps.”
“That’s disgusting,” she muttered.
He laughed. “Put the bag over your head and just run.” He handed her a small flashlight. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Once outside, she didn’t turn back to see if he followed her. Under the pitter-patter of the rain, her bladder screamed in agony, letting her know she didn’t have long before it released its own wrath.
She fumbled with the outhouse door, holding her breath. She couldn’t think of anything grosser than an outhouse. It wasn’t just the smell, either. Making sure her skin didn’t touch the seat, she did her business, but she needed to set the flashlight down, along with her plastic bag, to use the toilet paper. When she straightened her legs, she knocked the flashlight into the hole. It landed somewhere with a wet thud before the tiny bathroom went black.
“Fuck,” she whispered. She hated that word. It almost never came out of her mouth, except for the occasions where she’d managed to do something stupid, like this.
Opening the door a tad, she yelled, “Josh?”
“What’s wrong?”
“I dropped the flashlight, and I can’t find my bag to help stay dry.”
He pulled open the door, and the yellow beam of his light landed on a garbage bag that she hoped was covered in mud, and not something else. “Well, we’ll have to share,” he said. “Where’d you drop—”
“In a place you don’t want to go fishing.”
“Glad I didn’t give you my phone.” He ripped apart the garbage bag, handing her one end. “Come on. Let’s go back to the tent.”
“Don’t you have to—”
“Being a man, and all, I don’t need to use the outhouse, so I’m all good.” He looped one arm around her waist, holding the bag with the other as they power-walked, hips occasionally bumping, back to the tent. He could be attentive and kind, even when she knew he what she’d done to him had been about the cruelest thing another person could do. His thoughtfulness tossed her emotions into a blender.
He bent over, unzipping the tent and holding the flap open. She scooted in backward, kicking off her shoes, before slipping her legs back under the sleeping bag and sitting cross-legged. She watched Josh as he crawled in, his blond hair messy from sleep and damp from the rain, which seemed to come down faster the moment they had gotten back to the campsite. He wore a pair of shorts and no shirt, something she hadn’t noticed when she’d raced to the bathroom.
As he climbed into his own sleeping bag, reaching across his body, she noticed a couple of scars, identical to the ones on his biceps. Without thinking, she reached out and touched one of them. “The bullets went all the way through?”
“A couple did.”
“Who shot you?”
He rolled to his side, propping himself on an elbow, setting up his iPad. “Doesn’t matter. She’s dead.”
“A woman did this?”
He glanced up at her with an arched brow. “You don’t think a woman is capable of trying to kill someone? Funny, coming from you, considering what you had planned for me.”
She had no retort for that statement.
He continued to swipe and tap on his iPad while she sat there, twiddling her thumbs, wishing for a nice, tall cup of coffee and a chocolate chip muffin.
The wind kicked up, shaking the tent. She shivered, though she wasn’t cold. His silence only added to her confusion, but, it gave her mind room to examine the last couple of years of her life and her brother’s actions, which, she had to admit, seemed odd.
“Who is this man?” Josh shoved his tablet into her face. His tone had gone from level to a deep growl.
“Where did you get that?” She reached out with shaky fingers and took the iPad, staring at a man she wished she’d never met, much less dated.
“So, you do know him?”
“Duh, I think that’s obvious, considering I’ve got my hand on his thigh,” she said. “That’s Kirk, my ex-boyfriend.”
“Kirk Rossi is your ex?”
She nodded. “How do you know his last name?” The picture had been taken in the first few weeks of their relationship, when he’d been attentive and sweet, and seemed to enjoy her shyness. He thought it was cute, and he had no problem waiting for her to be ready. That only lasted a few weeks. Why she’d stayed with him for over a year, she had no clue.
“You know what he does for a living?”
“Yeah. He owns the restaurant my father used to own.”
“What?” Josh jumped to a sitting position. “Your parents used to own Esposito’s? Your dad was Anthony Esposito? You said your name was Mervis.” Josh’s brow furrowed as he drew his lips into a tight line.
“My name is Mervis. Anthony was my stepfather. He raised me, and he’s the only father I’ve ever known.”
“Why didn’t you tell me when I said I recognized your brother?”
“Because it wasn’t relevant…at least, I thought it wasn’t.”
Josh grabbed the tablet from her hands then started tapping heavily on the screen. “Okay. Esposito died a few years before my uncover assignment, so I really don’t have much on him, other than that he was gathering information… Wait, she’s… Your mother wasn’t listed as his wife?”
“They were never married.” She swallowed. “Go back to how my father was gathering information. About what?”
“Anthony had given information to the FBI regarding Craypo and his operation. He was willing to testify. The Feds were about to pick him up, put him a safe house, but it was too late. Anthony had been killed in a car crash, one we don’t think was an accident. We—”
“That’s ridiculous. What on earth would my dad know about this Craypo jerk? He was a restaurant owner, not a criminal.” Delaney’s head spun as if she were on one of those rides at a carnival. Black, squiggly lines danced in her vision. She shifted her gaze between the tablet and Josh’s unforgiving glare.
“Your father’s restaurant was used to launder money, and the basement has been used for the storage of illegal weapons.”
She shook her head. “That’s impossible.” Mentally, she pulled up every negative memory she could of her parents. They weren’t perfect. Their family had their share of crazy, but…working for an arms dealer?
“You’re kidding, right? You date the notorious Kirk Rossi, who uses that restaurant the same way your father did, and is also an integral part of Craypo’s organization, and you’re going to act as if this is all news to you?”
She held up her hand. “Notorious? What the hell is he notorious for? Mediocre food?”
“You’re really going to play dumb?”
“I’m not playing anything!” Her heart beat so fast, she thought it could spontaneously combust. She glared at Josh.
He cocked his head, narrowing his eyes. “When did you date Rossi?”
“Right after my parents died. It lasted a year.” She shifted her gaze and pulled her braid out, twisting her hair tightly between her fingers as she held her anger in check while she tried to make sense of Josh’s words. “Why do you think my parents’ car crash wasn’t an accident?”
Josh stopped fidgeting and stared at her with wide, angry eyes. “Your parents’ death was too convenient.”
“What does that mean?”
“Anthony was on his way to meet the Federal Agent he’d been speaking with when his car got T-boned—”
“We were told an eyewitness saw a man running from the car that hit my parents…” She let the words hang in the thick air. “They never caught him.”
“We don’t think the crash killed your parents. Some inconsistencies in their injuries. The medical examiner couldn’t explain who both victims could die of strangulation. The bruising from the seat belts across their neck didn’t fit, but there was no other explanation.”
“I know what happened to my parents. I was the one who had to identify them in the morgue.”
“I’m sorry.”
“This is crazy.” She tugged at her hair. “My father would never be involved with criminals like that. My brother and idiot ex might be assholes, but working for the mob? Do you know how crazy that sounds?”
“It doesn’t sound crazy to me.” Josh pursed his lips, cocking his head to the side. “If my memory is correct, Anthony was muscled into working for Craypo. His restaurant was in trouble. Craypo loaned him money, putting Rossi on the inside—”
“No.” She put her hand up. “You’re lying.”
“Why would I lie?”
She blinked a few times, staring at Josh, his fierce scowl pierced through her like a lightning bolt. “To get back at me?”
He laughed. “Yeah, right. Because protecting you from a killer is such a great form of revenge.”
“You could be trying to hurt me.” Her stomach tightened, causing a wave a nausea. Bile smacked her tonsils. She swallowed.
“Are you serious? I have no desire to hurt you or seek some twisted revenge. I resent what you did, and I’m pissed, but my only reason for doing anything with you is in an effort to keep us both alive. If you want to take your chances out there alone, by all means, go.” He pointed to toward the tent flap.
Her lower lip quivered. She sucked it in, biting it, trying to keep back a guttural sob. “I suppose I could believe Kirk was involved with these people somehow, but my father? No way. He was a good man. Kind. He…” She searched her childhood memories for anything that could prove to Josh he’d been wrong about her father, but instead, her mind bristled with memories and feelings she’d spent a lifetime trying to squelch.
Never blindly trust anyone, especially if they say they can solve all your problems. Words spoken by her father.
Before you let anyone in, make sure you know everything there is to know. Everyone has a hidden agenda. Everyone…and remember, if it seems too good to be true, it’s very, very bad. Words spoken by her mother.
“He was secretive about his work, wasn’t he? Never introducing you to his business associates. Telling you to stay away from the restaurant.”
She nodded. “He didn’t like having us there. He said when he was with family, he was with family. No business allowed. Having us at Esposito’s made him feel like he had to split his time.” Anytime she or her brother mentioned the restaurant, or her brother would talk about working there, her father would wave it off, saying he wanted something better, easier, for his children. That owning a restaurant was more work sometimes than it was worth.
“How long have you known Kirk?”
Pulling her knees to her chest, she hugged them tightly. Her brain churned over her entire childhood, searching for answers to questions she didn’t know she’d had. “I first met him when I went to college. I wanted to surprise my father for his birthday, and I showed up at the restaurant. Kirk was there, and he flirted with me. I was stunned he would even be remotely interested in me.”
“Why?”
“I was eighteen. He was thirty. Big age gap.”
“I’d say.” Josh arched a brow.
“Whatever.” She waved her hand. “My father begged me not to date him, and not just because of the age difference, but I’m sure that had a lot to do with it.”
“So, that was about ten years ago. When did your relationship start with him?”
“Not until after my parents’ car accident.” She dropped her chin to her knees, closing her eyes tight. The last person she wanted to think about, much less talk about, was Kirk. “There were some issues with my father’s will and some other problems with the restaurant. We didn’t know my father had a partner, nor did we know the restaurant had ever been in trouble. There were things with the books that didn’t seem to add up, but since I didn’t want to own a restaurant, I was happy to sell.”
“And your brother was good with this?”
“No. My father left his part to me with instructions to sell it, but not to my brother,” she said.
“I imagine that didn’t go over well with your brother.”
“He and my father hadn’t spoken in a couple of years. I was a little shocked, but my brother was downright pissed. In the end, Kirk offered me a decent amount of money to settle any issues outside of court. I split it with my brother. I was happy to be done with it, but Liam wanted more, and somehow, he managed to get Kirk to hire him.” She shivered. “Right after the settlement, Kirk showed up at my apartment with a dozen roses, full of kind words, and offered to take me to dinner. Since he paid me more than what my share was worth and offered my brother a good job with a big salary, I figured I owed the guy.”
“That’s the kind of man who collects on his debts. I wonder if he had something to do with Craypo sending you here to destroy me. I mean, a sex tape could have hurt you just as badly.”
“I’m… I…” She balled her fist as she drew her lips into a tight line. “Kirk Rossi is an asshole, and if he had anything to do with this, I’ll personally make sure the man can’t hurt another woman. Ever.”
Josh sat cross-legged in front of her. “What did he do to you?”
She trembled as she closed her eyes. “He’s not a nice man. He pretends to be a good person so he can get what he wants, but once he has it, he’s controlling and a jerk, and I’d rather not talk about him. One of the reasons I’m not close to my brother is because of Kirk.”
“Did Kirk hurt you?”
Now that was a loaded question, and on more than one level. “I don’t want to talk about it. The relationship ended badly, and my brother still works for him.”
“Did he hit you?”
“It was an ugly break-up.” She opened her eyes, knowing they were moist with tears. “It has no bearing on what you are telling me about my father. Do you have proof that my father was working for this Craypo guy?”
“I don’t, but you’re changing the subject.” He fiddled with his iPad before handing it to her. “I do have some information on your ex.” He pointed to the screen. “If the tablet locks, my passcode is 873587.” When he scooted to the end of the tent, she noticed the rain had nearly stopped. “I’ve got a tarp in the boat, so I’ll put something up over the picnic table and start a fire. Maybe make some coffee.”
The zipper screeched as he drew it down, leaving her alone. Her hands trembled as she stared at the iPad screen, her finger hovering over a file marked Kirk Rossi. She clicked it, and the first thing she saw were images of him with Gray Eyes. Scrolling through the pictures, she recognized the lawyer who’d told her to settle with Kirk over the restaurant, but what took her breath away was a picture of her father shaking Gray Eyes’ hand.
* * *
Josh sat on the picnic table under the tarp he’d strung up with the help of some tree branches. The rain had reduced to a slow drizzle, making it easier to start a decent fire. He palmed the tin mug, holding it up to his nose, smelling the bitter coffee that tasted more like tar. Gray clouds covered the sky, and frog floated across the lake. He fought a battle raging in his head regarding Delaney. She had an innocence to her, but she was also smart. Smart enough to figure out things weren’t kosher with her father and his restaurant.
The sound of a zipper ripping open drew his attention to the tent. Delaney slipped on her shoes before standing, wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt, a pair of shorts with a low waistband, and his baseball cap with her flowing blond ponytail tucked through the opening in the back. She had his iPad in one hand as she stomped toward him with a scowl.
“You knew I’d see a picture of my dad with Gray Eyes—”
“You mean Bobby Getz.”
“Don’t care what his name is,” she snapped. “You knew I’d see him with my father.”
Josh nodded. “It’s not proof of anything, but it should at least help you understand that I’m not making this shit up, and that your father was in over his head.”
She shoved the iPad at him. “You might want to know that the lawyer who counseled me on selling the restaurant was in those pictures as well.” Her eyes glowed with a fierce rage that scared him a little.
He took the tablet then set it on the table. “Who?”
“Steve Barbaro.”
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Anyone else you recognize?”
“A few people Kirk introduced me to. I can go through the images and tell you who I’ve met, if you want, but I doubt I could give you any information on them.” She sat beside him. “Is that coffee?”
He handed her the mug. “It tastes like shit.”
“Well, that goes with my mood.” She took the mug. Her fingers brushed against his skin, but he ignored the impulse to slip his fingers through hers.
“There is more coffee on the fire,” he said.
Minutes ticked by, neither one saying a thing to the other. He glanced at her a few times, but she stared straight ahead, eyes narrowed as she took a sip of coffee, choking.
“That’s worse than the outhouse,” she said, handing him back the mug. “I have to be the dumbest person on the planet. When I think back over my childhood, I can see things that should have been red flags with my father, but I ignored them.”
“You were a child.”
She let out a short laugh. “I always thought it was weird my father never wanted us at the restaurant. I wanted to have my sweet sixteen there, but he refused. When I showed up there for his birthday during my first semester in college, he got so angry, he practically shoved me out of the restaurant. I thought maybe he was ashamed of me, or there was something there he didn’t want me to see. I thought he was having an affair. I asked my mom why he didn’t want us at Esposito’s, and all she had to say was that it was never a good idea to mix business with family life.”
“It sounds like he was trying to protect you.”
“Maybe,” she said, “but what about Liam? He and my father had a horrible relationship near the end. Liam wanted to work for him so badly, but again, my father refused. I wonder how long Liam has known about the connection to Craypo, considering how close he and Kirk have been over the years. It’s always pissed me off that he liked Kirk so much, especially after what he did to me”
He stared at her, waiting for her to finish her statement, but she drew her lips into a tight line. Tension seeped from her skin, chilling the air. “What did he do to you?” He curled his fingers around her biceps “Tell me.”
“Does it really matter?”
He leapt off the table then started to pace. “Jesus Christ, of course it matters. I’ve met the jerk a few times, and what I’ve seen about the way he treats women. Just fucking tell me what he did.”
“Why do you care?”
He stopped dead in his tracks and snapped his head in her direction. “I can’t believe you’d ask such a question after everything we’ve been through in the last few days.”
“You don’t understand,” she yelled. “My entire life has been turned upside-down. Everything about who I thought my family was—who I thought I was—is, poof, gone.” She held her hand over her head and snapped her fingers. “I feel like a fool. My parents lied to me, and I brushed it under the rug. My brother has probably been a part of this mob, Mafia, whatever ring, for a few years, and most likely set me up to do the most disgusting thing I’ve ever done in my life. And let’s not forget my ex is a gangster, and I never knew it. Tell me, Josh, how would that make you feel?”
He opened his mouth three or four times, but nothing came out. Not a single noise or word, because he knew exactly how that felt. He rubbed one of the scars on his side.
“Cat got your tongue?” she asked with a smirk.
“Did Kirk hit you?” No way would he drop this.
“Yes. A couple of times. You happy?”
“That’s not fair.” Josh shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “I take it that’s why you broke up.”
She closed her eyes briefly, letting out a long sigh.
“You took him back, didn’t you?”
“Sadly, that is a fact I can’t deny, and I can’t even justify it in my own mind. I might not be the most-worldly woman, but I let myself be pressured by what little family I had left and the desire to be loved.”
“Did he rape you?” Josh went between the desire to take her in his arms and the need to wrap his bare hands around Kirk’s neck.
“No,” she said. “After I took him back, things were worse than before, when it came to sex. Actually, we didn’t have it, because I developed a new problem.”
“What problem was that?” He balled his fists, picturing them landing on Kirk’s face for how he treated a beautiful woman…how he treated someone as special as Delaney.
She pulled the baseball cap down over her eyes and lowered her head. “I’d rather not say.”
“You couldn’t get aroused at all?”
She blinked a few times as she breathed deeply. “Something like that.”
“Either you could, or you couldn’t. Which is it?”
His constant prying should have been annoying, and she should have told him it was none of his business. But talking about it with the man who showed her what lovemaking could be like, it seemed rather appropriate to fill him in on her horrid past.
“He got angry. Called me a dried-up prune. Said he was going to take me anyway, and tried forcing himself on me. He slapped me a few times and pinned me down on the sofa, holding my arms over my head.”
Josh took long, slow breaths in and out of his nose, trying to keep his pulse from exploding. His finger twitched, and he visualized pointing a gun at Kirk’s face and pulling the trigger. “How’d you stop him?”
She let out a dry laugh. “I just laid there for a few moments. His hands were all over me, making my skin crawl, but I pretended I was into it until I could knee him right where it counts, told him I never wanted to see him again, and then I ran.” Her body shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Did you report it?”
She held his gaze, raising her chin. “I just wanted him out of my life. The next day, my brother shows up and tells me how upset Kirk was over me breaking up with him. I told my brother what happened, but he didn’t believe me. Liam wanted me to go to Kirk and beg for his forgiveness, but there was no way in hell I’d ever go back. Not after that. It took a year of therapy before I could even go on a date—”
“You really weren’t faking with me?” He hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
“You might not believe this, but I doubt I could have slept with you unless I liked you and trusted you. I’m sorry about the video, and after those guys”—she held her cheek—“beat me up, I’m not sure I could have given it to them.”
“But you could have, before they attacked you?”
“I honestly don’t know. I believed Liam was in trouble, and while he might have been a shit brother, I had no reason not to believe he wasn’t being held hostage.”
Josh paced in a small circle. The need to pull her into his arms and hold her tight was so strong, he wasn’t sure he could keep control around her. He didn’t hold her naïvetés against her when it came to her father, or even her brother. Love did powerful things to a person. So did loyalty, even if it was misplaced.
He respected her for how she handled Kirk. The resolve in her voice when she talked about her ordeal seemed more than genuine. “I believe you didn’t know about your father or your brother’s involvement, or Kirk’s connection to any of it. I know you felt like you had no other choice but to do what Craypo and Getz asked of you.” He closed the gap between them, tilting her chin so he could see her eyes. “Not only am I going to nail Craypo, but I’m going to make sure Kirk spends a long time in prison.”
“And how do you propose we go about doing that?”
“We? There is no ‘we’ when it comes how this is all going to go down.”
“That asshole fucked with my life, and then used me to fuck with yours.” She poked Josh in the chest. “If you think I’m sitting back and doing nothing, you are sorely mistaken,” she said as her face turned red.
He hadn’t predicted this side of her. It took a lot of energy to keep from cracking a smile. Not to mention, he was slightly turned-on by the intensity of her tenacity, though the thought was entirely inappropriate. “You need to let me and the other law enforcement officers handle the situation.”
“Right, because you’ve handled it so well, thus far.” She spun on her heels then headed for the tent.
“No, you don’t.” He grabbed her arm.
“Don’t you dare touch me.” She twisted, yanking her arm free.
“Look.” He held his hands to the sides. “My fellow officers and I put our lives on the line. It’s what we do. But it’s not what you do, and I’m not going to let anything happen to you, which is also my job.”
“I—”
He pressed his fingers against her lips. “I promise that whatever plan my buddies and I come up with, I will keep you informed of every detail.”
“I appreciate that. But understand, my entire life, I’ve ignored the things that bothered me because I wanted to believe in sunshine and roses, and maybe if I hadn’t, my par—”
He took her by the shoulders. “You are not responsible for your parents’ death. None of this is your fault. There is only one man to blame, and that’s Craypo, and I’m going to take him, and everyone in his organization, down.”
She smiled, laughter belting from her mouth.
“I don’t see what’s so funny.”
“Oh, it’s not funny. It’s freaking ridiculous. It’s worse than a bad made-for-TV movie.”
“Like the ones on that girly channel?”
She nodded.
“My mother loved those movies. Her favorites were always the ones where the woman had been played by some guy, and she had to…” He paused to remove the ball cap from Delaney’s head. “I’ve always been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and those movies are probably why.”
“I might be in a little bit of distress, but I’m no damsel. Not anymore.”
“Yeah, but I’m still a sucker.” He wrapped his arms around her thin waist. “Let’s go inside the tent,” he whispered in a deep, throaty growl. He traced his thumb over her lip, across her cheek, then cupped the back her neck, drawing her against his firm chest. “You really are the most beautiful woman I have ever had the privilege to look at.”
She opened her mouth, but she never got the chance to speak as he melded their lips together. Her mouth welcomed his tongue in a fury. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any woman.
Beeeep. Beep. Beep. Beeeep.
He jumped, turning his head toward the noise. “We’ve got company.” Josh pointed to a boat slowing down as it approached the island.
“Who is that?”
“That’s Stacey’s boat, and it looks like Jake Prichard is with her.”
“Is that good?”
“I don’t know.” Josh pressed his hand against the small of her back, guiding her toward the picnic table. “Wait here.” He glanced toward the sky, as if the dark gray would tell his lips to stop seeking out hers.
By the time he made it to the dock, Jake had already jumped out of the boat and secured it.
“I don’t think you being in a lip-lock with her is a good idea,” Stacey said as she took his hand then stepped on to the dock, carrying a large bag that smelled like bacon.
“Save the lecture,” Josh said.
“Not a lecture.” Stacey always had an opinion and wasn’t afraid to voice it, and her opinion was generally right on the money. “Until this is over, I’d squelch whatever attraction you have for her because it will cloud your judgment.”
“This, coming from the woman who believed Delaney’s story from the beginning.”
“Believing her and trusting her are two different things. Everything she’s told us checks out, but I’d think twice before going to—”
“Josh is a big boy and capable of making his own mistakes…I mean, decisions,” Jake said.
“Both of you, back off.” Josh headed back up the short, muddy trail.
There was a long, awkward silence around the picnic table as Stacey pulled out a couple of trays with homemade French toast, eggs, sausage, and bacon, along with two mugs of fresh coffee.
Delaney went right for the mugs. “Now, this is coffee.”
“I take it Josh made the coffee this morning.” Jake had perched himself on the far side of the table. “He can’t even boil water.”
“He made me a good cup the other day,” Delaney said.
Josh groaned while Jake and Stacey laughed.
“He gets it from the restaurant below him,” Stacey said.
Delaney tilted her head. “But it was in a regular mug, and you… It was there when I… There was more in the coffee machine.”
“I went downstairs with my coffee thing, and they filled it. As I do every morning.” Josh shrugged, turning his attention to Stacey. “Thanks for bringing breakfast. I was dreading having to cook.”
“We’d all rather eat leather than your food,” Jake said.
“Food can’t be the only reason you two drove all the way up here this morning, when both of you are off duty and could be home with your families.” Josh stuffed half a slice of the French toast, along with a full piece of bacon, into his mouth. He glanced at Delaney, who had sat next to him, but all she did was push the food around on the tray. He nudged her arm with his elbow.
“Don’t mean to be rude,” Jake said, “but I’m not sure this is a conversation we should be having with her at the table”
“I promised her I’d keep her informed. Besides, this affects her just as much as it affects me.” Josh glanced between Jake and Stacey, making sure they both understood he wasn’t budging on that point.
“All right,” Stacey said as she sat next to Jake, clasping her hands together. “Jared got a call from your old sergeant at six this morning, informing him that Liam has filed a missing persons report on his sister, Delaney. Last seen in Lake George with—”
Josh interrupted. “Let me guess. Me.”
“Oh, it gets better,” Jake said with an arched brow. “He gave the NYPD an image that supposedly came from Delaney’s phone with a picture of her and you together.”
“That’s impossible,” Delaney said.
Stacey held up her phone. “Someone took this picture of the two of you on the docks at the Heritage Inn.”
“Shit.” Josh took the phone and stared at a picture of him in uniform with his tongue clearly in Delaney’s mouth.
“They were watching me the entire time?” Delaney pushed her food aside. “Oh, my God. Do you think they could somehow have that recording?”
“Not with the device they gave you,” Jake said. “While it had Wi-Fi capabilities, it wasn’t connected, and the file would have been too large to send over a phone.”
“When this is all over, one of you is going to have arrest me, because I’m going to kill my brother.”
“Don’t joke about that.” Josh pushed her plate back in front of her, handing her a fork. “Eat.”
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
By the glare she gave him, he opted not to push. “So, when is someone coming to question me, and who?”
“We believe the paperwork will come through the State Police,” Stacey said, “but not our office, so no idea who will be assigned to question you. Could also be a local. Jared has you on vacation, which the press could have a field day with, but the story hasn’t broken here because thus far, everyone has seen the two of you together and thinks you’ve just gone off to be alone.”
“Why would Josh being on vacation be a problem?” Delaney asked.
“I was awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor. It’s the highest honor a public servant could ever receive. Any kind of scandal regarding me could become the story of the century, but I suspect it’s less about ruining my career, and more about flushing us out.”
“That, we can agree on,” Jake said, “but Craypo could easily leak false information to the press, like suggesting you’re running because you did something to Delaney.”
“But I could just come forward and tell them they’re all wrong,” Delaney
“And that’s how they’d draw us out of hiding.” Josh couldn’t control his desire to touch Delaney any longer, so he slipped his hand under the table and onto her bare thigh. Stacey noticed the gesture and cocked her head, but said nothing. “Which I don’t want to do yet. Not until I have a solid plan.”
“We can play this any way you want,” Jake said. “You’ve only got two more nights here, but I wouldn’t stay that long. I’ve got a cabin in the Adirondacks that you can crash at for a few days.”
“That should give me enough time to figure some things out.”
“Keep in touch,” Stacey said. “Whatever you need, we’ve got your back.”
“Thanks.” Jake nodded to his friends as they made their way down the dirt path to the dock.
“What are we going to do?” Delaney asked. “I can’t run forever. I’m supposed to go back to work in eight days.”
“Once I’ve got everything in place, we’re going to turn your phone on and confront Craypo and his men, face-to-face.”