Chapter Two
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It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Leann Anderson had come home to Tremont for her fifteen year high school reunion to see a few old friends and catch up with her family. She’d made a few fleeting visits in the last couple of years but never anything that lasted more than three or four days. This time she was planning on staying two whole weeks.
She could end up staying even longer. For a long time now she’d missed her family terribly. It might just be time to move back to Tremont. She’d been making preliminary plans but that was a deep, dark secret she wasn’t ready to share with anyone yet, least of all her family.
But she wasn’t partying with her high school friends today. Her mother and father had met her at the airport this morning with horrible news. One of her classmates, Carole Russell, had been brutally bludgeoned to death outside The Tin Cup last night and a memorial service had been quickly thrown together by the reunion committee. That’s why Leann was sitting on a metal folding chair in the Tremont Community Center. Bitty Glover, senior class president, was standing up at the podium crying and telling a story about her and Carole on prom night. They’d drank too much spiked punch and ended up puking on their expensive dresses.
Moving back to a town with a killer on the loose didn’t seem like the brightest idea but West, her brother and mayor of Tremont, had already pressed her oldest brother Jason into service. He ran a law enforcement consulting agency and cases like this were his specialty.
Sniffling, Bitty blew her nose and gave the somber crowd a watery smile. “I’ll miss Carole more than I can ever express.”
Leann and Carole had been friends back in the day, but not “best” friends. They’d socialized in the same circle and ended up at the same parties, even had crushes on the same boys. However, she wouldn’t characterize herself as someone Carole confided her innermost secrets to. That had been Bitty. They’d been friends since kindergarten and their mothers were best friends as well.
“I know Carole would be overwhelmed to see so many of you here today. She was the kind of person who was friends with everyone.” Bitty gestured to the long buffet table off to the side. “There’s coffee, punch, and cookies. Please sign the large card on the table at the back for Carole’s family. Also, we’re taking up a collection to plant a tree in Tremont Park in her honor. Thank you for coming. The happy hour tonight at the hotel is still scheduled as are the rest of the events. I think Carole would have wanted the reunion to go on.”
Everyone seemed to stand up at once, so Leann waited until her row had cleared out before making her way to the back of the room where Jason stood along with one of his employees. Zach Gibson. He was West’s brother-in-law, which actually made him more than just an employee. He was family. In a way.
Tall, with light brown hair and shoulders as wide as a city bus, he was an imposing figure. Having met him at a few family get-togethers, Leann knew he was a black belt that had done a stint in the military before taking some personal security jobs for celebrities. Then he’d accepted a job with her brother Jason, and from what she was hearing was a model employee.
He was also gorgeous as hell and she turned into a stuttering teenage girl whenever she talked to him. It was sort of appropriate that he was here at her high school reunion. Her teenage self would have had a major crush on him.
But grownup Leann was going to act like an adult.
“Any leads on who did this?” she asked Jason and Zach quietly as her classmates milled around, chatting and drinking punch.
“No one saw or heard a thing,” Jason replied grimly, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “The one thing her friends did say is that it seemed like she had drank far too much and was sweating and slurring her words.”
“Is that how she ended up behind the bar when her car was in front?” Leann asked. “She got confused?”
Jason’s brows raised. “I’ve got a theory about that. When we questioned the waitress, she said that Carole had switched to soda at some point in the evening. She should have been getting more sober, not less.”
“And?” Leann prompted. “What does that mean?”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Jason sighed heavily. “Zach thinks Carole might have been dosed with a date rape drug. We’ve got the medical examiner looking for it in the tox-screen.”
“That’s awful. She might have been…assaulted before he killed her,” Leann said, appalled at what she’d learned. “Do you think she fought back and that’s why he…?”
Zach shook his head. “Doubtful if she was drugged. She wouldn’t have been able to. In fact, she was probably doing well to stay conscious.”
Jason patted her on the shoulder. “Hell of a thing to come home to. Are you okay, Sis?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet. I haven’t seen Carole in years so it seems quite surreal.” She took a deep breath. “Do you think this guy is going to strike again?”
“That’s a question for Zach. He’s become quite the profiler in the last year. I’m not sure whether to be happy or scared to death that he can get into these nut jobs’ heads.”
The man next to Jason shifted on his feet as his cheeks turned red. “I’ll take that as a compliment. As for this killer, I’m not sure yet. I’m still questioning whether the murder was premeditated. Either way, this guy got a taste of killing last night and he might have liked it. There’s also the open question as to whether Carole Russell was the intended target. If so, he may be done. He killed the person he wanted dead and that’s that.”
“I know I haven’t talked to Carole in a long time but I can’t imagine why anyone would want to hurt her,” Leann replied, her mind running through images of the dead woman from the past. “She really was a nice person like Bitty said up there.”
Zach’s gaze went over her head to the crowd. “One thing I’ve learned over the years is that what a person allows you to see of their life is rarely the truth. Everyone has secrets. Even you and me.”
That made Leann laugh. “My life is an open book. A boring one, so don’t read it when you’re sleepy.”
Rubbing his chin, Jason cleared his throat. “So about this case… Leann, I need you to do me a big favor. It would really help out the investigation.”
Anything she could do to help, she would. He ought to know that but he was acting like he was about to ask for pint of blood or her firstborn child.
“Whatever you need, big brother. I’d love to be able to be of some assistance, although I’m not sure what I can do.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” Jason shot a glance over his shoulder and then took her arm, leading her into a small alcove with Zach on her heels. “Listen, are you still planning to attend the reunion events this week?”
“I am. That’s why I came home.”
“Do you have a date?”
“No,” she answered carefully, watching Jason’s expression. What was her brother up to? Did he want to tag along?
Jason smiled triumphantly. “You do now. I need you to take Zach to the events so he can observe and mingle with the reunion guests. One of our theories is that the killer is one of your former classmates.”
Startled by her brother’s request, her gaze flitted to where Zach was leaning against the wall, a patient look on his face. Apparently he wasn’t as sure about this plan as Jason was, which was kind of a letdown. It wouldn’t be a hardship to take him, although it wouldn’t quell the attraction she felt for him but that was her problem. Perhaps if she spent more time with him she’d find out he picked his teeth and belched after meals. The old familiarity breeds contempt argument.
It was just that…
“No one is going to believe that we’re dating,” she pointed out. “I’ve been gone and he’s been here.”
“We’ve thought about that,” Jason replied. “If anyone asks, tell them that you met him at the wedding and that he’s traveled to visit you a few times. He’s gone on business quite a bit so it’s a good cover story. Will you do it?”
She couldn’t say no. This was a murder investigation, for heaven’s sake. There wasn’t one good reason not to and she did want to help. She turned her attention to Zach who so far hadn’t said much, but then he didn’t talk much around her.
“You know that you’re going to be bored stiff listening to stories about people you’ve never met before?”
Zach nodded. “That’s the plan. I’m looking for someone who might have had a beef against Carole Russell and decided to use the reunion to get some revenge. You won’t even know I’m around. You don’t have to babysit me. I can take care of myself.”
Leann would definitely know he was around. He was too big and muscular to ignore. She wouldn’t want to meet him alone in a dark alley and he had a sinister vibe that kept people at arm’s length.
Zach looked like a mean dude that could kick some ass. Intimidating as hell.
“Okay,” she capitulated with a sigh. “But I want to apologize up front about all the crazy stories you are going to hear. And if you hear one about me? It’s all a lie. Lies, lies, lies. Don’t believe a word anyone says. I was an angel back in high school.”
As far as her family knew.
* * *
Zach would bet his next paycheck that those stories about Leann were the truth. A cute little redhead like her probably had a million guys chasing after her in high school, plus just as many friends to party with. Her teenage years, unlike his own, had been happy and carefree. Her biggest worry was what she was going to wear to the big game or maybe whether her latest crush liked her back. He’d been busy simply surviving, for himself and his two younger sisters.
Jason nodded toward Leann where she was chatting with a few friends. “You’re okay with this, right? Leann’s a good girl and she’s easy to get along with. She’ll be able to answer any questions you have about her classmates.”
“I’m fine with it as long as she’s okay with me tagging along.”
“She doesn’t mind,” Jason assured him. “Believe me, she would have said something if she did. She’s very direct. She doesn’t play those mind games that other women do. You can count on her to tell you the truth.”
Okay, that was a weird statement from Leann’s brother. Why would Zach need to know she wasn’t like other women? This was an assignment, not a date.
Zach was well aware of the bro-code. A guy didn’t express romantic interest in a friend’s little sister. Period. He might think Leann was beautiful and sweet and just the kind of girl he’d like to get to know better, but he wasn’t about to ask her on a date. A real one. She was off limits and in a way, it made things easier. After all, there was no point in getting involved with a female that wasn’t going to stay in Tremont. Leann would be gone in a few weeks and Zach would still be here. He’d grown to love this little town.
“What’s your gut saying about our theory?” Zach asked as he studied the interactions between people. This was his favorite part – reading their body language and facial expressions. “Do you think this murder has to do with the reunion?”
Grimacing, Jason shrugged. “If you want a true gut check, you have to talk to Logan. He’s the one with the almost perfect instincts. But I do think the timing isn’t coincidental. Carole lives in town and the killer could have done this at any time but he chose last night. What are you thinking?”
“I’m not ready to say what I’m actually thinking. Not yet, anyway. I do think we need to go through the usual suspects. Statistically the most dangerous person in a woman’s life is her husband or boyfriend.”
“We talked to him,” Jason pointed out. “He seems to be genuinely tore up about her death.”
“Just in case we should have Jared check out the family finances. Look for any insurance policies or large debt. I don’t think he did it but I want to rule him out early if we can. I’m also going to talk to her coworkers this afternoon. Maybe they might know a few of Carole’s secrets.”
Jason chuckled and shook his head. “On the contrary, you are going nowhere. Logan is already at her workplace questioning her friends and boss. You are staying here with Leann. You’re her date for these festivities, remember? Your assignment starts now.”
Zach’s second surprise of the day. He hadn’t realized just how serious Jason was about mingling with this group of former classmates. If this is where his employer wanted him to be then that’s what he’d do. He spotted Leann across the room, talking to three other females. Time to make his presence known and get to know some of these reunion-goers. One of them might be a cold-blooded killer.