Zane left Caroline’s house and drove to the Bull Pine Tavern in downtown Cobalt. The old bar looked just like he remembered it. Fake split logs covering the outside of the building. Fake plaster snow slapped on the roof. Fake icicles hanging along the eaves that looked pretty grimy when you got up close to them.
He hadn’t been by the place in years. It was located on a short side street that didn’t lead anywhere he ever wanted to go. Back when he was a little kid his dad had dragged him there most nights of the week.
If Lee Coleman was back in town, someone at the Bull Pine would have seen him. It was his favorite kind of place. Dark, noisy and frequented by people who at most just wanted someone to chat with while they drank. Nobody was inclined to stick their nose into anybody else’s business. If they did, they’d probably get it broken.
The inside of the bar also looked pretty much the same as it did years ago. Low lighting and bright neon beer signs. Loud country music blasting. The ATM at the end of the bar was new, though. So were the flat-screen TVs mounted near the ceiling in several corners, playing country music videos.
The old fake moose head still hung on the wall, with dusty blinking Christmas lights woven through its antlers. Those stayed up year-round.
When Zane was very young his dad would leave him sitting in a chair beneath the moose head where he’d curl up and fall asleep despite the loud music and people all around him. As long as he stayed in that chair and didn’t bother anybody, the bar’s owner didn’t care. None of the patrons complained and nobody ever reported the situation to the police. When Zane turned eight his dad started leaving him home alone when he went out drinking.
Zane walked over to the bar, pulled out a bar stool, sat down and ordered a beer. He had no intention of drinking it, he was here to ask questions. Caroline’s survival could depend on the answers he got. And if he wanted answers, he needed to blend in.
If there was any kind of scam or shakedown going on around Cobalt, Lee Coleman would likely know about it. There was a good chance if outside muscle came to town, particularly in the form of professional hitmen, he’d know about that, too. One of his many friends would know something. And if Zane couldn’t get hold of his dad, or if Lee wasn’t dialed in to the local criminal network anymore, he might try to track down some of his dad’s old connections himself and see if they knew anything.
Zane took a deep breath and shifted his weight on the squeaky barstool. The police knew the kind of clientele the Bull Pine attracted and they might have already been here, trying to drum up a lead on the attacks on Caroline or even on her brother’s murder.
But maybe Zane could scare up a useful tip where the career cops couldn’t. He was here as a private citizen. And since most of his work with the police department reserves involved search and rescue, it was unlikely he’d had a run-in with any of the patrons here that would make them think of him as a cop.
He glanced around at the other patrons at the bar and the tables behind him, trying not to be too obvious. He didn’t see his dad. But there was a whole other section around a corner where there were more tables and games. He’d check there, too, before he left.
While he was looking around he saw a handful of people drinking and laughing and appearing to have a good time. The rest sat alone with their attention fixed on the glass or bottle in front of them, looking as if they just wanted to disappear into it. That probably would have been him, too, if it hadn’t been for Sergeant Henry busting his chops back when he was a clueless teenager and pushing him toward a better life. Certainly it was a much brighter path than the one that led to drinking your troubles away. That didn’t work. Zane had tried it.
The first two years after he’d left Caroline and Cobalt were rough. He’d made some bad choices along the way but eventually he’d figured some things out. Now he was back home with the opportunity to build the kind of life he’d always wanted.
Caroline deserved that same opportunity. And he would do everything he could to protect her and stop the attacks against her so she could live out her dreams.
The bartender returned with Zane’s beer and set it on the bar in front of him.
Zane pulled out his wallet to pay and asked, “Does Lee Coleman ever come around here?”
The bartender squinted at him with a face devoid of expression. He was a tired-looking middle-aged guy with a light brown beard. “Why are you asking?”
Zane gave a slight shrug. “I haven’t seen him for a while. I’d like to catch up.” Hearing his words spoken aloud, Zane was struck by how pitifully true they were. In spite of everything that had happened with his dad, including the fact that he’d made threats against Caroline, he still wanted to talk with Lee. There was still that tiny bit of hope his dad had changed. That they could have some kind of relationship.
“Who are you?” The bartender rested his hands on his hips.
The guy wasn’t anxious to help, but at least he hadn’t claimed he didn’t know Lee. Zane reached for his wallet again, pulled out a twenty and tossed it on the bar. “I’m his son. Tell him I want to talk to him. Get me a pen and I’ll write down my number.”
The bartender shook his head. “It’s not like I see him every day. Come back in a week. Bring another twenty and I might tell you what he said.” He grabbed the twenty and put it in his pocket.
Zane nodded. It might just be a scam to get forty bucks, but it was something.
He stood up and walked toward the part of the bar that was out of view from where he’d been sitting. There were several people back there, but none of them was his dad. There was, however, one person who looked familiar. He sat a table with a couple of other men.
It took Zane a minute to figure out how he knew him. When he did, he walked over, pulled out a chair and sat down uninvited.
Bill Perry, the boyfriend of Owen’s former wife, gave him a look that was curious but unafraid. His two companions didn’t look scared exactly, but they looked concerned. Given the reputation of Perry, and the Bull Pine Tavern, there was no telling what kind of business deal Zane might have been interrupting.
Perry wore stylish clothes, had an expensive phone sitting on the table in front of him and would have looked more at home in one of the nicer lounges in the resort, hanging out with the beautiful people. Which pretty much confirmed to Zane that he was here conducting the kind of business that needed to stay under the radar.
One of his companions slid his hand under the table. Possibly reaching for a gun. Zane kept him in his line of sight, but mostly he focused his attention on Perry. Cold anger settled in the center of his chest. It was entirely possible this idiot was tied to the attempts on Caroline’s life and to Owen’s death. Perhaps he and Michelle planned to get Owen’s money by getting rid of first Owen and then Caroline.
An oily smile slid across Perry’s face, but the expression in his eyes remained hostile. “You were at Owen’s house the other night. With the cop. Are you a cop?”
Zane didn’t want to deny it, but if word got to his dad that he was associated with the police department in any way, Lee would have nothing to do with him. So he just ignored the question and asked one of his own. “Did you have anything to do with the attacks on Caroline Marsh?”
“No.” Perry dropped the phony smile and shook his head. “I’ve got nothing against her. Nothing against any of that family.”
“Well, your girlfriend’s got a grudge.”
Perry turned to his companions. “I need to talk to him for a few minutes. It won’t take long.”
The two men stood up and walked toward the bar. Perry sat up straighter in his chair and leaned forward so he could be heard without having to yell over the music. “Look, Michelle is my girlfriend. For now. When I get tired of her, which might be soon if she causes me much more trouble, I’ll find somebody new.” He laced his fingers together. “If she really does get custody of that little boy, it’s over between us. I’d give her money to not take the kid.”
“She’s angry that she didn’t get money from Owen’s estate.”
Perry shrugged. “How can I make it plainer to you? I don’t care. She’s entertainment for the moment. You know how it is.”
Was Perry telling the truth? Zane wasn’t sure. But he obviously wasn’t getting any further information from the guy so he stood up, gave Perry a slight nod and then left.
Walking through the bar toward the exit, Zane’s thoughts returned to his dad. He would likely be a more useful source of information. If he would talk to Zane.
Meanwhile Zane couldn’t help worrying about Caroline. As the investigations into Owen’s death and the attacks on her continued, whoever was behind it all was bound to feel threatened. They had to be caught before they lashed out again.
* * *
“I’m sorry to put you through all of this.” Caroline propped the handle of a rake against the side of Owen’s house and rubbed her hands together to knock off the dirt and bits of grass she’d picked up cleaning the yard. She looked into Zane’s eyes. “If you haven’t talked to your dad in years, it’s probably for a reason. I don’t want you to have to talk to him because of me if you don’t want to.”
“Don’t apologize. You didn’t start all of this trouble. And if he can come up with useful information it will be worth it.” He rested his hand against the side of the house and leaned down toward her. “I’m helping you because I want to.”
Caroline had been looking into his eyes, but now that he was closer she had to glance away. The compassion in his eyes made her heart beat a little faster. The way he’d been playing with Dylan for most of the afternoon had already set her mind wondering what he’d be like as a father and a husband. And now those hard-to-miss muscles under his long-sleeved T-shirt were just inches from her face. Gratitude, longing and affection were colliding in her heart and threatening to override her brain.
Zane had regained her trust. Absolutely. After years of thinking he’d never really cared for her and that he wasn’t the decent human being she’d believed he was, she now knew he truly was one of the good guys.
But he had made it clear he didn’t want to revisit the past. He wanted to move forward with his life. And she needed to keep moving forward, as well.
She already had plenty to keep her busy. First and foremost, she needed to stay alive. Then she needed to help raise a little boy. All while launching a business. She had no time for a relationship. Not that Zane was offering one.
Matt walked up to them. It was odd seeing him in civilian clothes with two little kids tagging along behind him. “Think it’s about time to fire up the grill? Looks like we’ve got everything taken care of.”
Caroline nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Great.” He headed over to the grill he’d brought from his own home.
They were in the backyard. Officers and other employees of the Cobalt police department, members of the church Owen had attended and some of Owen’s friends had organized a work day to do some minor repairs to Owen’s house and get the front and back yards cleaned up and ready for winter. Of course Zane was part of the work crew. And he’d insisted that Caroline stay in the backyard where he thought she was safer. In the front yard, she’d be vulnerable to anyone who wanted to drive by and take a shot at her.
Today was the first time she’d seen him in a week. He’d had work to do at the ranch. The police department had stationed a reserve officer outside the house 24-7 during that time. She’d missed Zane, but told herself it was just because he was someone with whom she could talk about her brother. When he stood close like this, though, that little story she told herself was hard to believe.
“I went back to the tavern before I came here,” Zane continued. “But the bartender I talked to before had the day off. I’ll try again tomorrow.”
He hadn’t told her ahead of time that he was going to try to track down his dad. And he hadn’t told her about his trip to the Bull Pine Tavern and conversation with Bill Perry until just a few minutes ago. She wasn’t certain why he was so hesitant to talk about it. Maybe he didn’t want to get her hopes up that he’d be able to gather useful information from his dad. Or maybe it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with the painful relationship he’d had with his father.
She turned her gaze back to Zane. He wore a half smile as he watched Dylan and his dog race into the house with a new little friend, Matt’s son, running along beside them.
She could see that Zane was a good and caring man. And yet...he’d left her. He’d let go of the connection he’d had with her family as if they’d never meant anything to him. Questions still lingered in the back of her mind. Was there some other reason for his leaving? She had to know for certain before she could completely let go of the past and build a new relationship with him.
“Tell me something,” she said. He turned his attention back to her. They had a little bit of privacy while Matt and a couple of other cops were on the other side of the yard lighting the grill. “Were you being honest when you told me the only reason you left town all those years ago was because you believed my family wouldn’t fight to help and protect you?”
“Yes.” He crossed his arms and lifted his chin slightly. Maybe he didn’t want to talk about it. Maybe he expected an argument.
“You really couldn’t see how much we valued you?” How could that not have been obvious? She’d spent every spare moment with him. They’d planned their futures together. Her parents had issued him an open invitation to come to the house for dinner anytime he wanted to.
They’d been engaged.
“I know you have trouble understanding that but, yeah.” He nodded. “You grew up in such a different way, with parents and a brother who loved you.” He took a breath and let it out. His features hardened a little. “I could try to explain it using a million words, but you’d probably never understand.”
“You’re right.” She couldn’t understand, not really. But she could believe he was telling her the truth. And knowing he’d felt that way made her eyes start to burn and she quickly blinked away the unshed tears. Right now he was looking to her for understanding. Not something that looked like pity.
“But now I know I’m a child of God,” he said. “And that I’m not worthless. I really know it, in a way that I didn’t know it before.” He took in a deep breath again and let it out. “Life experience finally helped me realize that.”
The back door slid open and people walked out, some of them carrying tables and chairs to add to the patio furniture that was already outside. Zane gave Caroline a lingering look and then walked into the house and came back out a few seconds later carrying a couple of chairs. The evenings were cool this time of year, but they weren’t too cold for a barbeque. Not just yet.
As the sun set and everyone dug into their hamburgers and barbequed chicken, she thought about how blessed she was to have the family she still had left. And to have these friends who were helping her and trying to keep her safe.
Determined not to get attached to Zane, she ate with a friendly trio of ladies from Owen’s church. She’d just finished eating and happened to glance at Matt, sitting with his family on a blanket on the grass, when he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He glanced at the screen and then looked directly at Caroline as he brought the phone up to his ear.
Fear turned the food she’d just eaten into a brick in her stomach. Please, no. Please let it not be yet another person she cared about dead or in trouble. Please let it not be some kind of threat that would put her friends and family in danger. A chill passed through her as he continued to look at her.
Her heart hammered at the base of her throat and she tried to tell herself it might be good news. Maybe the cops had a lead on whoever was behind Owen’s death or the attempts on her life.
But when Matt got to his feet and headed toward her, she knew better. Zane, who’d apparently been watching from over on the other side of the yard while talking to his cop buddies, arrived at Caroline’s side just as Matt did.
She set her plate on a side table and stood up from her chair. Her knees were shaking. “What is it?”
“Your former sister-in-law.”
“Michelle?”
He nodded. “She’s back. The man we have stationed at the front of the house intercepted her. She’s demanding to speak to you. And she wants to see Dylan.”
“She’s doing this again?” So much for her hope that Michelle would give up on her attempt to get control of Dylan and his future inheritance.
She glanced over at her nephew. He sat on his grandmother’s lap, resting his blond head against her shoulder. He looked sleepy. “Michelle’s not going to see him tonight. That’s for certain.” She squared her shoulders. “I’ll go talk to her.”
Zane and Matt followed her to the front of the house where Michelle was pacing back and forth on the lawn. Was she drunk? High? Caroline couldn’t tell.
“It’s not enough that you keep my son from me, not to mention the money I should have inherited? Now you’re trying to make the cops think I’m a killer, too?” Her voice sounded especially loud in the quiet evening. “They came by the house to talk to me a little over a week ago. My boyfriend wasn’t thrilled about that. Then your boyfriend tracks him down to the Bull Pine Tavern and stirs up trouble there. Now he’s saying he doesn’t want the hassle from all of this. If he breaks up with me I’ll be left high and dry and I’m not going to let that happen.”
It looked like she was dressed to go out to the clubs, in a glittery deep blue dress and spike heels that kept sinking into the grass with every step she took, causing her to stumble. Finally she stopped pacing and stood still, fuming.
Zane, Matt and Jeff, the new reserve cop assigned to watch the house, had all positioned themselves so they could both keep an eye on Michelle and keep an eye on the street to watch out for any other threats to Caroline.
“Michelle, this isn’t a good time.”
“Why? Are you busy burning up the money I should have inherited? I see you’re throwing a party.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to see my son!”
Caroline shook her head. “Not now. Not when you’re like this.” For about the millionth time she wondered how Michelle and Owen could have ever been a couple. They’d skipped a formal wedding and gotten married at the courthouse three months after they’d met. Afterward, they’d taken a trip down to California. She had seen Michelle a few more times after that, but they hadn’t talked much and Caroline had never felt like she really knew her.
Maybe someday if Michelle kicked all the substances she was addicted to, Caroline would agree for her to see Dylan. Closely supervised. If it was something Dylan wanted.
Until then, no.
Caroline shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “Michelle, you don’t legally have any visitation rights at all with Dylan. Maybe that will change one day. But in the meantime, stop coming by this house uninvited. If you show up and cause a scene again, I’ll look into taking out a restraining order against you.”
Michelle’s mouth twisted into an ugly sneer. “You’ll regret that.”
“No, I won’t. If you ever sober up, if you ever get the chemicals out of your system and are capable of genuinely caring about Dylan, maybe we’ll talk about you getting to see him. In the meantime, for Dylan’s sake, I’ll be praying for you.”
“Ha!” Michelle made a scoffing sound. “Don’t embarrass yourself. I know you don’t like me.”
“I don’t just pray for people I like.”
Michelle stared at her for a few seconds, dumbfounded. Then she frowned. “Look at you, giving yourself one more reason to think you’re better than me.” She shook her head, then turned and stalked off toward a battered old sedan parked on the street. The boyfriend, Bill Perry, and his expensive truck were nowhere in sight.
“Let’s get you inside.” Zane stepped up beside Caroline. He was looking at the small stand of trees across the road as if he thought they might be hiding a sniper waiting to take a shot at her.
Caroline felt fear, sharp and icy, settle into the center of her chest. She was afraid of Dylan or her mom getting hurt. She was afraid for her own safety. She was afraid of running Owen’s business into the ground. And she was afraid Michelle might somehow convince a judge to hand over custody of Dylan to her.
She walked with Zane into the house, feeling like she’d been living in fear for a very long time.