Chapter 35

Matt had a few last minute details to take care of, but he still pulled up at her house right on time. She answered his knock, and he stepped in. “Sadie, here’s my number. If you need anything call.”

“Thank you. You two run along and have a nice time.” She waved from the sofa. “I’m going to watch a show on TV.”

He bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Call if you need us.”

“I will, but I doubt if I’ll need you,” Sadie whispered in Matt’s ear. “Put the roses back in her cheeks.”

“I’ll do my best,” he whispered back.

“What are you two whispering about?” Jessie tapped her foot. “Grams, what are you up to now?”

“Nothing, dear. I just told him I wouldn’t be calling him.” Sadie smiled at Matt.

“Where are we headed?” Jessie took his hand after he shut the door.

“You’ll see.” He opened the car door for her. “I missed you.” He closed the door, got in, and started the engine. “How are you processing the events of the last few weeks?”

Jessie looked pensive. “I still feel some guilt. It’s hard not to feel guilty about Mallory. I had a vest on, and he didn’t know it because of the jacket I was wearing. He didn’t need to risk his life.”

“I wondered if you were feeling guilty. I guess that answers my question.” He looked at the expression on her face. “Jess, I think he did need to risk it. Reading your paper on Mallory and all that he suffered as a kid; seeing what I saw when he was dying, saving you might have saved him in some odd way. It gave him peace in his death, if nothing else. His life was not good, and he did some bad stuff. He killed people, maybe several. To find some peace at the end might have been the best he could hope for.” He touched her hand and then backed out of the parking space.

“That was the nicest thing you could’ve said to me.” She smiled at him, moisture filling her eyes.

He grinned. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. All the stuff you see in this job can mess with your head. I guess that’s why I keep remodeling my house. It’s good therapy for me. I finished the master bedroom and bath that I started during the last case. There’s nothing left for me to redo. Maybe I’ll start again or better yet, restore a car.”

“Running is what works for me. I’ve had to run on the treadmill, which isn’t as therapeutic as running outdoors. It’s been too cold and icy.”

Matt pulled into his driveway. “I hope you don’t mind coming here. I thought it would be a good place to talk. It’s too cold for a stroll on the beach.”

“I don’t mind.” She looked around and smiled. “Your house is beautiful. So much of your personality is in every room of it.”

“Welcome, to my humble abode.” He smiled and opened the door for her. A fire crackled in the fireplace, two wine glasses placed next to a chilling bottle of wine and a beautiful bouquet of red roses in a crystal vase were on the coffee table. The ambiance was perfect. “May I take your coat?”

“Only, if you promise to give it back.” She chuckled. “I wouldn’t exactly call this humble.” She glanced around the room.

He draped her coat over the chair. “Mm, you smell good. Do you mind,” he said putting his hands on her shoulders, “if I just hold you for a minute before we talk?”

She walked into his arms and nestled her head on his shoulder. “I’m glad you made it tonight.”

“It’s just how I remember it. You fit perfect.” He smiled when she sighed, then led her over to the couch, and poured wine into their glasses.

“I don’t know where to begin—so much has happened. I should start by telling you that the way you ended up in Evan’s dream seems to have been the real deal. I can’t explain it logically. Someone was obviously looking out for Adriana and wanted you involved.”

“It’s so weird.” She took a sip of her wine.

“What do you mean?”

“I used to wonder what would happen if we were more aware of the people around us. There would be limitless possibilities to help people in need. I never thought it would happen the way it has to me, but it saved Adriana, so I’m okay with it.”

“You can ask me questions. Maybe I’ll be able to focus on something besides how hot you look in that dress, or the color of your eyes, and the smell of your hair.”

“Let’s start with Mallory.”

“Mallory is a good place to start. He fell for you the first time he saw you when you interviewed the professor. I can’t say that I blame him. He was already blackmailing Irwin because he knew about his problem with Adriana and several other young women. As luck would have it, Mallory ended up serving time in the same prison with Jason Cummings and Ed Jones. He was about to leave as they were coming in.”

“How did they meet?”

“Mallory had read about the club from your articles. He had them all. He was obsessed with you. We found almost everything you had ever written in a scrapbook inside his house in Rocky Pointe.” He glanced at the fire. “Mallory was impressed when he met Jason Cummings in the cafeteria. Jason bragged about all the money they’d made and the lifestyle they had enjoyed in the club. Mallory was hooked and introduced Irwin to Cummings when he came to visit.”

“I don’t understand why Irwin would visit Mallory in prison if he was blackmailing him.” She sipped her wine, slipping off her heels and rubbing her foot as she did.

Matt watched her every move, taking a deep breath before he spoke again. “At some point after Irwin left the college, they became friends. I’m not sure that’s the best word to use to describe them. Irwin figured out he could manipulate Mallory, and Mallory needed someone to care, however, strange that it was. They muddled along together. They lived together in Rocky Pointe.” Matt sipped his wine. “Besides knowing Irwin’s fascination with young college-age women and Adriana, of course, he also knew he had killed his first wife and another woman when he tried out his cultic ritual on them. Their house was a wealth of evidence.”

“Strange.” She sat forward and smelled the roses. “They’re lovely.”

“Those are for you, by the way.” He gently pulled her back against him. “Where were we?”

“Irwin was introduced to Jason Cummings by Mallory, and then what happened?”

“It was during that meeting Jason found out about Irwin’s extensive travels overseas and his dabbling in the occult. When he left, the club decided that Irwin could be useful, and Jason set their outside person to work on recruiting him.” He took another sip of his wine. “Do you remember your first run-in with Irwin? The fear you felt before you took control and fought it?”

“I do.” She reached forward for her wine glass.

“We know of two men who died when it happened to them. Irwin’s wife and another woman were also victims. There might be others, as well. We’re still gathering information.” He felt her shiver. “Irwin is going up on murder charges along with attempt charges for what he did to Tony, Carter, and you. His efforts at mind control made the interrogation process an unholy nightmare.” Matt grimaced at the thought. “He was still angry that you had rendered him powerless.”

“This is starting to get interesting. Do you mind?” She tucked her legs under her when he shook his head and leaned in closer to him. He draped his arm around her shoulder. “Who was running the Collector’s Club from the outside and who was doing the recruiting?”

“None other than our sweet little Southern Belle, the one you had doubts about from the beginning, Jayla Conner.” He heard her intake of breath. “With the bank’s president Bob Sievers help on the financial end, they were starting to build and recruit. They were all in awe of Irwin’s ability to control things. He would suddenly just be there and take over.”

“What do you mean” She lifted her head to look at him.

“I mean they never saw him coming. He would just appear, which might explain how Henderson was taken by surprise and Irwin got away so fast the night he killed Mallory. It also explains why Adriana never knew who her stalker was.”

“A little spooky, don’t you think?”

“Weird, if you ask me, and its right up there with,” he frowned, “guns that don’t fire. Jordon Daniels, his real name is Mike Dickerson, was involved in it all, but Randy was too afraid of Irwin or getting his hands dirty. He stayed clear of the club and had put in for a transfer.”

“It looks like your feelings about Jordan panned out. I’m surprised about Bob, though, he seemed like such a nice man, and so willing to help us. Did you get to punch Jordon?” She chuckled. “You wanted to that day.”

“No, but it was a pleasure to see him in handcuffs.” Matt’s lips twitched.

She rubbed her foot again. “Please continue.”

“Irwin came into the bank all the time. The four of them would meet and make their plans. When the bank transferred Adriana from one of its other branches, the obsession started up again for him. He hatched the plan to have Mallory abduct her and take her to Palm Springs. Not because you were going there, but because they were planning something big in May. The others had no knowledge of Irwin’s plan for Adriana.”

He heard her take a deep breath. “So how did I find myself in the middle of it again?”

“Well, it seems that Jason and Ed were both worried about you and your keen sense for news. They decided to preempt any problems. They put the video equipment in your store and house so they could hear what you were doing. It was the perfect opportunity when you landed in Palm Springs. They figured Mallory could scare you off. I guess they didn’t learn anything the first time. It didn’t work then either, did it, sweetheart?” His voice took on a husky timbre.

She turned around to look at him. Their eyes met and so did their lips. He kissed her passionately then took a deep breath. “I’ll never get through this if you keep looking at me like that.” He gently turned her head around away from him.

She smiled. “Finish your story and I’ll only interrupt you with questions. After you’re done, however, all bets are off.”

“Mallory was paid handsomely to scare you. That’s where all the notes came in. Irwin actually wrote them. Mallory would place them in your suite using a key he had stolen. Irwin tried to put a curse on you, which you fought off.” He smiled. “You gave him fits.”

She shivered at the memory. “Why was Irwin there?”

“Here’s where it gets interesting. Irwin was there at the same time as you to claim Adriana, which the others at that time knew nothing about. Mallory took Adriana to that old trailer leased by Jordon Daniels. The club had stored some of the munitions and parts on the site in an underground bunker as well as several other desert locations. Jordon had stolen and acquired them over a period of years from his days in the military. His specialty was explosives. The army gave him a dishonorable discharge when munitions went missing on his watch.”

“No wonder you didn’t like him.” She reached for her wine glass.

“Jordon had changed his identity, social security number, and everything because the army was looking for him. He was able to keep one-step ahead of them. Jordon, Mallory, and Irwin went to Palm Springs every now and again, to work on the project that was going to make them rich.

“I didn’t do anything to Irwin. Why did he try to kill me?”

“Irwin was angry at Mallory. He had bungled the job when Adriana escaped. The episode with Maria and Rodney didn’t score him any points either. It all hit the fan when the news carried Adriana’s rescue. Irwin was starting to take heat from the others in the group and was told to handle the problem, Of course, none of them knew about Radar’s ability. Imagine their shock when he found the trailer, their stash of weapons, and the body of Irwin’s wife.” He paused when she held up her hand to stop him.

“How are Rodney and Maria doing?” Her eyes met his.

“Maria is doing well and Rodney has improved considerably. He went home from the hospital a few days ago.” He turned her head gently back around again.

“You were going to tell me why Irwin wanted to kill me.” She leaned her head against him.

“Irwin never intended to let Mallory have you; his plan was to kill you all along. You were the carrot Irwin dangled in front of him to manipulate him. When Mallory messed up, he threatened to kill you. He belittled Mallory to keep him under control. They had a strange relationship.”

“I think that Mallory let people believe that they could control him, but he would explode when he’d had enough.” She looked thoughtful.

“Exactly. When Irwin threatened Mallory, he called him some pretty awful names. It was still bothering Irwin once he calmed down. Irwin watched you the night of the street fair and got angry. He found it hard to believe he couldn’t control you and blamed you for the trouble he was having with Mallory. His anger got the best of him, and he decided to kill you in one rash moment. Irwin had no clue that Mallory was watching him. After he had killed Mallory, Irwin turned his hatred on you. Mallory may have had an obsession, but it was Irwin’s that brought down the group.”

“Do you mean his obsession with Adriana?”

Matt nodded. “Among other things. Mallory may have suffered from mental illness from his early abuse but Irwin was a sociopath. He believed he was invincible.”

“I wonder why he stayed there after Mallory’s death. It was risky.”

“Yes, but remember, Irwin has a big ego. He decided to stay around and finish the group’s main reason for being in Palm Springs. Irwin believed he could handle it, he told the club not to worry, and remained in the area to finish the last of the three buildings. They had big plans. The timers would be coordinated to all go off within seconds of each other during the Annual Golf Tournament. With the size of the event and its popularity, the news wire would cover it globally, and their potential buyers would see on the TV news exactly what damage the weapons they purchased were capable of inflicting.” He ran his hand up and down her arm and felt her shiver. “Zach’s computer gave us the list of potential buyers, all contacts made by Irwin when he was in the Middle East. Your idea of weapons sales was right on. The Collector’s Club was in its infant stage, so it was easy to shut it down. Left to grow, it could have become significant and dangerous. Between you and Mallory, you saved many lives.”

“How so?” She glanced at him.

“Irwin had a key to the store. The club had worked there undetected for months. He honestly believed he could control the situation. Early in the morning hours, he left the store for a short time to get something to eat. He misplaced the key. That’s why he was at the front of the store when the owner opened up and why he took the hostages who weren’t hostages at all. He had decided to use them and a few theatrics to his advantage. He was rigging another bomb to go off inside the store so he could get away. His diversionary tactic without the club’s knowledge. What is strange is he didn’t need the key or the diversion. No one knew he was there. When you taunted him, his anger got the best of him. He forgot about everything else in his hatred for you.”

“A stupid plan, wow! Sometimes you have to wonder about people.” She took another sip of her wine.

“The main thing is Palm Springs would have been filled with celebrities the weekend that they planned to set off the explosives. I can’t even imagine how many lives could have been lost.”

“Did Irwin tell you all this?”

“He told us some. Jeremy found out more in his research, Zach’s computer revealed a lot as did Jordan Daniels. Dylan was the one that found Jordon’s record in the military. Jayla, bless her sweet little heart, became a songbird when the pressure was turned up, and she let the cat out of the bag.”

“No one would have known had Irwin not seen Adriana again. Life is too strange.” She sat forward to gaze into the fire. “Every action has a cause and effect.” She stood and walked toward the windows. “Look at the moonlight over the water. You have such a beautiful view from here. It’s simply breathtaking. You were smart to have had these windows put in.”

“It’s more beautiful at this moment than I’ve ever seen it.” He heard her intake of breath as he walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on the top of her head. “Jess, you mean more to me than ever. I realized that watching you tonight. You’re kind, intelligent, and fun. A man couldn’t ask for more.”

“I seem to have brought my share of trouble to this little spot in the world. I mean, how could I have known all those years ago that one interview and one angry man could impact my life and yours today.” She frowned out into the night. “It makes me wonder if there are any more surprises waiting for me from my past.”

“If, so we’ll handle them together.”

“I’m not sure it’s fair to ask that of you.”

“You’re not asking me. I’m volunteering. I love you, Jess, but you already know that. With my declaration comes the responsibility to hang in there with you through the difficulties of sharing a life together. I’m not asking you to marry me today,” he murmured. “I’ll wait until you’re ready. But I want to share every moment that I can with you—the good ones and the not so good.”

She turned around to face him. “I want that too.” She snuggled in close, pulling her head back just enough to see his face.

“Good.” He gazed into her eyes. “I’m going on record right here and now that I won’t put up with any shenanigans from our little Irish friend, Liam, even if he’s your best friend’s brother. I’m not usually the jealous type, but when it comes to you, I have a feeling all bets are off.” His voice trailed off, her scent was driving him crazy.

“Hmm, that’s nice…” She pulled his head down and kissed him passionately, rocking his world—and he was of a mind to let her.