Chapter 2
“What’s wrong, Nancy?”
“Sheriff Jericho, thank you for coming. I’m beside myself with worry.” The fifty-something woman pressed her palm against her heavy bosom. The wrinkles around her eyes were deep. “Won’t you come in and I’ll explain.” She opened the screen door and stepped back for him to enter.
“Sure.” He slid off his hat and strolled into the neat and tidy house, glancing at the row of framed pictures hanging on the wall. “I can’t believe your daughter graduated this year. Where has time gone?”
“Deandra is the reason I asked you to stop by.” Nancy closed the door. “My daughter…she’s changed, Sheriff. I blinked and she morphed. She first lost her job, then her apartment and she had to move back in here with me. I didn’t mind her being here, but I knew things weren’t right. Call it a mother’s intuition if you will.”
“What do you mean?” He held his hat against his chest.
She stared at the graduation picture of Deandra, tears misting the mother’s eyes. “I realize she’s an adult and I have no control over who she sees or where she goes. My girl used to be so happy. I can still see her with pigtails and missing front teeth playing in the backyard. It used to be chocolate candy she’d hide, but today it’s something far worse. I wasn’t snooping like she accused me of doing. I was only cleaning her room and happened across the needle.”
“A syringe?”
Nancy turned, a look of fear making the creases around her eyes more prominent. “I asked why she had it, but she didn’t answer. I’m not a fool. I watch those investigative programs on ID every night. Kids getting into drugs. Dangerous people lurking at every corner. I pushed Deandra to give me an explanation, but she only became angrier and lost her temper. She threw a vase at me, then packed her bags and told me she wasn’t coming back because I can’t respect her privacy.” She pulled out a crumpled tissue from her pocket and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “This new crowd she’s hanging out with…I don’t trust them.”
“Have a seat, Nancy.” He led her to the couch, then took a seat on the chair. “So, you think Deandra has been using drugs?”
“Ever since…”
“What, Nancy? Anything you tell me stays between us if I can help it.”
“Hugh, this probably isn’t something you know. I adopted Deandra when she was still in diapers. That was a few years before my husband died. I worked two jobs to make ends meet. There were times I wasn’t here to tuck her in at night. How do you explain to a child that a mom must work to put food on the table and clothes on her back? Kids don’t understand things like that.”
“We all do what we must to survive.” He patted her hand.
“There’s something else. Recently, Deandra’s biological mother tried to reach out to her. I never told my daughter that she was given to me. I guess I never saw the point and certainly didn’t think she’d be broken hearted. She was hurt, angry. Different. I tried telling her that I couldn’t love her any more if she came from my womb, but she could only focus on the fact that I had lied.”
“Is this when you suspected that she started using?”
“Six months ago, sure as the nose on the center of my face. I came home from church and she was pacing the floor like she was about to jump out of her skin. After that, it became more often.”
“And you have no clue where she went? Could she be with her biological mother?”
“No. I called her and she hasn’t seen her. I’m hoping you’ll find her. At least keep your eyes open and let me know if you see her. I’m worried sick. She doesn’t understand I’m not the same without her here. We’re all each other’s got in this world.”
“I’ll do my best, Nancy. Colton is only so big.”
“I know I can count on you. I was so happy when you were elected Sheriff, son. This town needs someone like you leading. You and your brothers have always been good boys.”
“Thank you, Nancy. If you hear from Deandra make sure you give me a call. Okay?”
“I will, Sheriff. How about I grab you some homemade cookies for the road?”
“If you and others keep giving me food I’m going to have to order new uniforms.”
“Oh, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
When Hugh climbed into his truck, he placed the small box of cookies on the passenger seat, then rubbed his forehead in frustration. Turning on the engine, before he sped away from the street, he picked up his phone. Deputy LaGatta answered. “Carol, I just left Nancy Newman’s. Her daughter, Deandra, is missing. Let’s keep our eye out for her. Pass the word on to Ben.”
“You bet, Sheriff. Are you coming back to the office?”
“I’m heading home for a few hours. Let me know if you need me.” He clicked off and dropped the phone into the console.
Anger rolled through him. If it was the last thing he did, he’d find the bastard who was supplying Colton with drugs.
~~~~~
“Thanks for the interview Mr. Reed. You caught me just in time. Johnny and I were wrapping up today and ready to head out.” Adira stood up from the luxurious leather chair across from the large mahogany desk where Marshall sat sliding his fingers along an unlit cigar. His eyes were on her, penetrating her in a way that made her uncomfortable.
“Come now, Miss Miles. Call me Marshall. May I call you Adira? That’s such a pretty name.” He stood and rounded his desk. “I’ve never heard it before. Were you named after someone?”
“It’s Hebrew and it means strong. My parents wanted me to have a unique, sturdy name.”
“Ah, excellent choice.”
She took a step toward the door. It wasn’t every day she met a man who made her skin crawl, but he was one of those people. Not since she’d left Preston two years ago had her instincts been more on alert. Her ex had been charming, almost sickly sweet at times, but he had a mean streak and she’d been on the receiving end a few times. He’d never raised a hand to her, but his cold, brutal words were a verbal beating that eventually caused her to pack her bags and leave their condominium in Chicago. Soon after, she’d hired Johnny and together they traveled making films, mostly investigative material.
Since Preston, she had spread her wings, met many new people. He’d called a few times, using the excuse that he was “catching up”, but Adira had kept those conversations vague and to the point. When he asked where she was, she always brushed off the question. She couldn’t believe that at one time she’d thought about marrying the successful banker.
“I better get going. Johnny is waiting outside for me.” Another step toward her exit.
“I have an idea. Why don’t you stay and have lunch? I promise I’m an open book. You can ask me anything.” His smile reminded her of a Cheshire cat.
“That’s very gracious of you, Mr.—I mean, Marshall, but you gave us a very thorough interview. I’m sorry that you’ve had your problems with the Jericho clan. Sometimes small towns can be that way when there’s a limited amount of land and jobs. Again, thank you for your time, but I really should be—”
He stepped between her and the door, still wearing the grin that made her stomach roll. “What can I do to convince you?”
Her patience thinned. She didn’t like it one bit when a man couldn’t take no for an answer. “As I told you, we’re leaving Colton today and I need to go back to the bed and breakfast to finish packing up.”
Some of Marshall’s grin faded. He took a short step closer. He was a tall, broad man who could easily intimidate someone, and she at five two, he was a giant compared to her, but she held her ground. She was no longer the meek, naïve girl that suffered Preston’s brutality. “I think you’ve misunderstood my intentions, Mr. Reed.”
“Let’s not beat around the bush, girly. I’ve been thinking about you.” He slowly lowered his gaze over her, lingering on her breasts before bringing his grey eyes to meet hers again. He scrubbed his clean-shaven jaw. “I’m sure a pretty woman like you wouldn’t mind sticking around long enough for us to get to know each other better.”
“Wow…that’s some invitation, but I’m a girl who needs to pay her bills. I have another job scheduled soon and I have research and preparation. A businessman of your position would certainly understand.”
“Oh, I do. If it’s money you need, darlin’, I have plenty. I’ll make it worth your while.” His smile became slicker and his eyes slightly wider.
She blinked. “Again, I’m not making myself clear. I’m a working girl, but not that kind of working girl.” She started to pass, but he reached out and grabbed her wrist, not in a hurtful way, but still, the touch invaded her space.
He reached out and skimmed the back of his knuckles down her cheek, pausing at the corner of her lips. “I don’t think I’m wrong with the idea that you and I could have a lot of fun together. I could show you around Colton. We could use my plane and take a trip. I bet a smart woman like you would find interest in what Texas has to offer. Wine country escapes. Unique castles. Sandy beaches. I own a place on South Padre Island.”
“Quite some resume you have there.” She gave her hand a jerk, removing his hold from her. “But no thank you, Mr. Reed. I’m not interested,” she said firmly.
He was proving that he wasn’t used to being rejected. His smile fizzled and his brows scrunched. “I have enough power and influence that I could see your career booming by the end of the year.”
“Look, I get that a man of your…well, caliber isn’t used to meeting women who aren’t looking for a free handout, or some alone time with you, but I don’t know how to make it clearer. I’m just not interested. Now, if you’ll step aside, I must be on my way.”
She didn’t reach the door before he was behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist, dragging her back against him. Her throat tightened and her stomach turned. “Let go or else,” she pushed through clenched teeth.
“Or else what?” His laughter teetered through her.
Without thinking, she swiveled on her heels and drew her fist back, slugging him in the jaw. He jerked back, holding his face, his mouth twisted.
“What the fuck was that for?”
“Have you never been told that you don’t have the right to touch a woman unless she gives you permission?” Anger coursed through her. And her hand smarted. She had never struck anyone, not once in her thirty years. She hoped he finally got the message that she didn’t like him, let alone want his sweaty hands on her.
“You’re going to pay for this, you hear?”
“You don’t scare me, Reed. You think you own everyone, and everything, in this town, but you don’t own me! And as far as the Jericho brothers are concerned, I know why you don’t like them. You can’t stand the fact that you walk in their shadow. They are real men who don’t need to force their intentions on a woman.”
He stood straight then, dropping his hand to his side, and his gaze filled with a hatred that she couldn’t quite ignore. The hair on her nape lifted and acid burned the back of her throat. “Is that so? We’ll see what you have to say after Sheriff Jericho arrests you. Now, get out of my house, you bitch!” he slurred.
“Oh my, such hard language. You’ll make me cry. My daddy always said I was a bit too sensitive.” With a smile, she turned and strolled out, hoping she hadn’t broken a finger on the bastard’s hard cheek.