Chapter Three
The roadhouse Seth and his sheriff-friends usually met at one Sunday each month was open during the week so they had to find somewhere else. The group ended up in Griffin Sawyer’s tiny town sitting on metal folding chairs on the stage of the local theatre. Griffin’s wife Jazz, herself a former actress in Hollywood, had opened the venue a while back and held acting and music classes as well as local productions utilizing not only adults, but children too.
Griffin flipped open a small cooler filled with ice and sodas. “Since I’m the host today this was all I was able to put together at the last minute. Sorry it’s not more. Jazz says we have the place for two hours, by the way.”
That would be plenty of time. This wasn’t a regular meeting, but rather one that Seth had called for a specific reason.
For years now, these lawmen had been meeting on a regular basis to share information and help one another out. Although they ran separate towns, their issues and problems were often similar and sometimes connected. They’d become exponentially more effective at their jobs since they’d decided to work together. Seth didn’t quite remember how it all got started. He’d known Tanner Marks for a long time and had played football against Reed but the details of the decision to start meeting were fuzzy. He only knew that these were some of the best friends he had in the world and he would trust them with his life.
He would trust them with Presley, Ben, and Lulu’s life. That was saying something.
“I’d like to thank everyone for coming on such short notice,” Seth said to open the meeting. “I know you all are busy and had other activities planned today but this is important and could affect not just myself, but all of us. I got word early this morning that Danny Harbaugh was paroled from prison.”
The group erupted, all the men talking loudly at once, the sound bouncing off the walls of the auditorium. Seth tried to get their attention so he could continue speaking but had to resort to an ear-piercing whistle to get them to finally stop talking.
“I get it,” he said when they’d quieted down. “I’m not happy about it either. Harbaugh is trouble and we all know that. Even if he didn’t threaten me, he’d be up to no good on the outside. We all need to be vigilant because I have no doubt he has something planned besides putting me six feet under.”
Three worried expressions – and one scowl – stared back at Seth. Tanner Marks was the oldest and most experienced lawman and the unofficial leader of the group. Griffin Sawyer, Reed Mitchell, and Dare Turner – the one who was scowling – were all about Seth’s age and level of experience.
“We need a plan,” Tanner stated, his gaze roaming around the circle. “We don’t want to be caught with our pants down, so to speak.”
Reed nodded in agreement. “We do but I don’t like the idea of sitting around waiting for this douchebag to come at us. How can we go get him?”
“He has to do something first,” Griffin replied, tapping his chin in thought. “Has he reported in to his parole officer yet? We need to talk to him or her.”
Dare was an ornery son of a bitch, although more mellow since marrying Rayne, a local tattoo artist, but he currently looked as unhappy as Seth could remember. “That’s not why Seth called us here.”
Yes and no. It was part of why Seth had asked to meet but the more important reason he hadn’t spoken about yet.
Sighing, Tanner nodded. “Presley and the kids. Jesus, you don’t think he’d come after them, do you?”
“Seth calls Harbaugh a sociopath,” Dare retorted. “I just think he’s plumb insane. He’d go after them or the President of the whole United States if he thought that’s what he needed to do.”
Seth had replayed that shootout in the alley over and over a million times in his head and he still hadn’t figured out how he’d shot Lyndsey Harbaugh. He hadn’t been aiming in her direction but she’d shot out from behind their vehicle, trying to take closer cover behind a garbage can. Needless to say, she hadn’t made it and Danny had been livid.
“Yes, I’m concerned about him going after my family,” Seth stated. “I don’t worry for myself but Danny’s not playing by society’s rules anymore. My guess is he feels like he has nothing to lose.”
“And completely convinced he’s in the right,” Reed added. “He has a cause, whereas before he was just a thug. Now he’s a thug on a mission.”
“The most dangerous kind,” Griffin said grimly.
“So we need to figure out how to handle someone who is unpredictable, erratic, and zealot-like in their decision making,” Tanner said, bringing the group back around as he always did. “We need to put together a plan to protect Seth’s family and then also a way to be a shitload more proactive in this situation. Like you, I hate the idea that we’re sitting around on our asses waiting for this guy to hurt a few people or knock over a liquor store. Seth, we’re going to need the trial transcripts. Can you get those? There might be a clue there as to where or who he might go to now that he’s out.”
“I’ve got them at the station. I also have our case file and the parole hearing paperwork from the governor’s office. What I don’t have is the prosecution’s file.”
Reed raised his hand. “I can help with that. I have friends in the county office.”
“We need some deep background on Harbaugh,” Dare said, pulling out his cell phone and tapping in a note. “I’ll see what I can dig up with some web searches.”
Griffin elbowed Dare, who only scowled in response. “Look who thinks they’re Jared all of the sudden.”
Jared Monroe had been another sheriff in their group until he started his own consulting firm.
“Who do you think taught Jared everything he knows?” Dare mocked, tucking his phone back into his breast pocket. “It’s only the internet, dude. Don’t let the ones and zeros intimidate you.”
“Can we focus here?” Seth asked. “It’s only the lives of my wife and kids at stake.”
“Yes, we can,” Tanner said, giving a warning look to Dare and Griffin. “Now let’s get to work. We have some preparations to make. Looks like we’ll all be pulling some unofficial overtime until this guy is back behind bars.”
With any luck, it wouldn’t be long.
* * * *
Presley’s mother-in-law Marion lifted the bubbling lasagna out of the oven, the smell of tomatoes and garlic permeating the air making her mouth water. Seth and his dad George were out in the living room with the kids watching Scooby Doo cartoons and Presley wasn’t sure who was enjoying it more, Ben and Lulu or the men.
“Thanks for inviting us over for dinner tonight,” Presley said, setting the large table in the kitchen. It was only the six of them tonight so they didn’t need the even longer table in the dining room. Seth’s brothers and their wives were eating in their own homes tonight.
“It was my pleasure,” Marion assured her. “George loves lasagna but we can’t eat a whole pan of it on our own and even with leftovers it can go to waste.”
“It won’t with Seth around, and I am grateful. If you hadn’t called we’d be having frozen pizza for dinner.”
Marion’s expression turned sympathetic. “You know all you have to do is ask for help and we’d lend a hand. Your sisters-in-law said the same when they were here for Sunday dinner.”
Sarah and Cindy had offered to help but they had their hands full with their own growing broods. It didn’t seem fair to ask others to spend their precious free time working at the coffee shop.
“I know but you’re all so busy. Eliza and I will get it all done. We painted today and things are coming along. It’s just not as fast as I’d hoped. I’m just impatient, that’s all.”
Bustling over to the refrigerator, Presley retrieved the pitcher of iced tea along with a jug of milk for the children and filled the glasses.
“Just know that we’re here for you.”
Stowing the beverages back in the refrigerator, Presley gave Marion a huge hug. “I know you are and I’m grateful. I really am. But you shouldn’t be worried about me or the coffee shop. You should be thinking about your vacation. Don’t you leave the day after tomorrow?”
Huge Elvis fans, it was time for George and Marion’s yearly trip to Graceland. They’d only missed once in the last twenty years and that was eight years ago when George broke his leg.
“We do and I have to admit that I’m excited,” Marion sighed happily. “We’ve made friends there that we only see during this trip, plus we have a line on a new collectible dealer that we want to meet. We’d love to add something to our collection.”
Presley’s in-laws had an Elvis room in their home filled to the brim with items they’d lovingly collected during their marriage. The King was much more than a hobby for George and Marion. It was a passion they both shared.
“Do you think you have the room?” Presley teased with a grin. “You may need a bigger space.”
“Then I’ll have George knock down a wall. He needs a good project. Since he retired and handed the ranch over to Sam and Jason, he’s been underfoot constantly. I have to make up errands for him just so I can send him into town and out of my hair.” Marion’s eyes lit up. “Wait a minute. Why didn’t I think of that before? I’ll send George over to the coffee shop to help you.”
If the older woman only knew. George had taken to hanging out at the coffee shop with Eliza and Presley for the same reason Marion sent him on errands. They were still getting used to all the togetherness that retirement created. It was for that reason Presley had been prodding Seth to help his dad find a hobby.
“Where do you think he goes when you send him to the hardware store or the market? He comes to the shop where I absolutely waste no time in putting him to work.”
“Then I owe you one.”
The family sat down to dinner and as always it was a lively meal. The Reilly clan wasn’t the type to sit quietly at the table and barely speak. They talked about everything under the sun whether they agreed on it or not. In fact, Presley wasn’t sure they enjoyed the topics they didn’t agree on more than those they did. Nothing excited a Reilly man more than a good debate and a fine meal. It explained a hell of a lot about Seth…like how he always wanted to be right.
“Do you need help loading the minivan, Dad? I can stop by tomorrow night and give you a hand.”
George Reilly lowered his chin and gave his middle son a hard stare that had Seth – a grown man – squirming in his chair. “Just because I’m retired doesn’t mean I’m so feeble that I can’t load two or three suitcases into the back of a van. We’re not packing up the whole house, just enough to get us through a couple of weeks.”
Marion smiled and patted her husband’s hand. “In other words, thank you for the kind offer but we’ve got it. George, Seth was being a thoughtful son.”
Now it was George fidgeting in his seat under the watchful eye of his loving wife. “Thank you, son, but I’ll be fine.”
“I wish we could take the kids to Graceland,” Seth said wistfully. “They both really like Elvis. But I don’t see that happening for at least another year, maybe two. You love Elvis don’t you, Ben?”
Just as Presley was trying to get her oldest child’s mouth wiped down, he burst into a fairly decent rendition of “Don’t Be Cruel”, complete with giggles and gyrations that had him almost falling out of his booster seat.
Sometimes the hardest part of being a mother was trying not to laugh when she was supposed to be an adult and in charge. She should be wiping the tomato sauce and cheese off of his cute cheeks and grubby hands but he was simply too adorable when he did his Elvis impression.
Lulu was also singing along, a little off-key but still just as sweet. She jumped off her chair and wiggled her hips like she was wearing a rhinestone studded white jumpsuit and sideburns.
My beautiful babies.
Marion’s smile widened and she clapped her hands together. “Why don’t we take them with us?”
Wait. What? I don’t think I heard that right.
“Take them with you?” Presley repeated, unsure as to what Marion could be talking about. “I don’t follow.”
“They could go with us.” George was grinning too, as was Seth. Apparently, she was the only one not getting thrilled. “It would be great. A trip with Grandma and Grandpa just for them—plus that would give you more time to work on the coffee shop. It’s a win for everyone.”
It wasn’t a win for her. They were talking about taking her babies not just out of town, but to another state. Thousands of miles.
“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to bond with their grandparents, honey,” Seth urged. “They’ll have the time of their lives.”
But Presley wouldn’t be there to see them have that fun. She wouldn’t be tucking them in at night or getting kisses from her tiny angels.
“What if they get sick?” she finally asked, the words sticking in her throat. “Or they hurt themselves?”
“Mom raised all three of us,” Seth assured her. “I’m sure she can handle Ben and Lulu.”
Marion nodded in agreement. “The kids will be fine, sweetheart. We’ll take good care of them. This is so exciting. Their first trip to Graceland.”
As far as Presley was concerned nothing had been decided yet. She was still in the thinking about it mode. But why was Seth so all-fired up about this? Why was he pushing? Was he really so bored with her and family life that he wanted to ditch the kids for a few weeks? A night here and there made sense. Everyone needed a break but George and Marion would be gone for two weeks. Or more.
“They’ve never been away from us that long,” Presley protested. “Just a few days here and there. This is at least two weeks, maybe longer.”
George and Marion liked to take their time coming back from Graceland and often stopped along the way to see the sights and visit friends.
The smile had disappeared from George’s face, replaced with a frown of concern. “I hope you know that we’d take the best care of them, Presley. Nothing is more precious to us than our grandchildren.”
“I know that.” Great, she’d insulted her in-laws, which was not what she’d intended. “It’s just that two weeks is a long time. For them. And me.”
Her gaze traveling to her two children, Presley’s chest squeezed tightly as she watched Ben and Lulu giggling and laughing as they danced and sang, this time to “Blue Suede Shoes”. Two whole weeks? How was she supposed to do without them all that time?
“We could do that Skype thing,” Marion suggested. “Sarah has it set up on the laptop. That way you could not only talk to them, you can see each other too.”
“That sounds like a terrific idea,” Seth stated, a grin on his handsome face. He was definitely pushing for the children to go. “With modern technology we can keep in touch anytime and anywhere.”
Presley wanted to tell her husband what he could do with his modern technology but she managed to keep her mouth shut in front of the family.
“Give me the night to think about it,” she said firmly. “Is there any reason the decision has to be made right this minute?”
George and Seth looked like they wanted to argue but Marion cut them off at the pass.
“That’s fine. There’s no difference between deciding tonight and tomorrow morning. None at all. Now who wants pie for dessert?”
Everyone wanted pie, of course. Knowing Seth, he wanted two pieces with ice cream on top.
That was what was bothering her. Presley knew Seth…his moods, his funny affectations, his stubborn, controlling nature that he didn’t much bother to hide. This Seth, however, was someone new. He wanted his children to go on a vacation for two weeks without him.
In fact, it had been his idea. He’d been the one to sort of suggest it. Even more strange.
Something was definitely going on and dammit, she was going to find out. If he was tired of being a husband and a father, if he wanted to buy a Harley and be free as a bird, he needed to nut up and just say it.