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STEVE ENTERED THE BEDROOM and crossed to the bed where Jennifer was still curled up under the covers. He took a seat on the edge and brushed her hair out of her face and she stirred, stretching like a cat. Her morning smile and her sleepy green eyes always warmed his heart and he found himself smiling back at her.
“Good morning,” he whispered and planted a kiss on her forehead.
“What time is it?” she asked and yawned.
“A little after ten,” he said.
She sat up and looked at the clock and then back at him. “Is Tom’s lawyer here?”
“Yes, they’re talking downstairs.”
“And you didn’t wake me?” She threw the covers back and tried to slip past him, but he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him.
“He wants to talk with Tom alone right now,” he said and kissed her bare shoulder.
She pushed away from him enough to meet his gaze. “What are you doing?”
His cheeks warmed, and he shrugged. “Killing some time.”
Her eyebrows shot into arches and she laughed, peeling herself out of his grasp. “That is so not appropriate right now,” she said and headed toward the bathroom, shutting the door on his suggestive leer.
Steve grinned and glanced out the window, taking the opportunity to eavesdrop on her thoughts. His smile faded, and he sighed, taking her silent cue, he stood and made the bed. “Sorry, honey,” he whispered.
The bathroom door opened, and she looked out at him. “Your timing sucks.”
“I know. But you just looked so cute and cuddly this morning.” He offered her a shrug.
“Have you spoken to Ron, yet?” she asked and walked into the closet.
“Yes. Tom has no concrete alibi for any of the murders,” he said and heard her curse under her breath.
“So, what now?” She stepped out of the closet in jeans and a t-shirt, looking every bit as sexy as she had in her silk negligee.
He met her gaze and shook his head. Her question set off a dozen answers in his mind all of which were laced with sarcasm, but he kept them in check and offered the only honest answer that came to mind. “I don’t know.”
Worry lines etched into the corner of her lips and she crossed the room, stopping in front of him. “Tom’s innocent. You can’t let them convict him of something he didn’t do.”
“I feel just as helpless as you do,” he said and stood, crossing to the window. His gaze landed on the harbor and the glistening water. “And there isn’t a thing I can do about it right now.” The frustration of those words bloomed in his stomach, souring his breakfast.
Her warm hand landed on his shoulder and he reached up covering it with his.
“Russ called this morning,” he said, changing the subject and turning toward her. “He saw the news story about Ty.”
Jennifer’s eyes widened. “It made the news already?”
“Yep, and that’s not the only thing that made the news around here. We’ve got a flock of reporters out at the gate.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No. Some jackass leaked the details of Tom’s arrest.”
Her features hardened, and the mamma bear returned. “Damn them,” she whispered. “Don’t they know what the media will do to our sweet boy?”
“He’s not a boy anymore, and having his face splashed all over the airwaves may work in our favor.”
“How?” She stepped away putting distance between them.
He looked out at the ocean. “It’s going to draw the killer out,” he said and met her gaze. “One way or another, when that bastard strikes again, Tom will be exonerated.”
“And what if he comes after Tom?”
Steve considered this and looked back at the ocean. The only place the killer would be able to get to Tom was on their home turf. He swung his gaze back to his wife, “I don’t think the killer is dumb enough to attack us here.”
Her eyebrow rose, and she crossed her arms. They both knew he had underestimated the brashness of a killer before and it had cost them dearly.
“This isn’t the same,” he started and closed his mouth. He turned back to the scenic view and assessed the likelihood of an attack on their home. The bluff wasn’t steep enough to deter a good climber, and the boys had trekked down the winding path next to their house with a canoe plenty of times, so a water attack was possible, and this killer knew how to use the tide to his advantage. He surveyed the rock wall and then turned back to her. “The only way the killer could come is from the water. The rest of the property is pretty secure.”
She wrapped her arms tighter around herself and glanced out the window.
“The alarm system on this house is first rate as well.”
Jennifer nodded, but he knew this didn’t calm the unease building in her.
“Either CJ or I will be here with you and Tom at all times.”
She turned her gaze to him. “Promise?”
“I promise,” he said and pulled her into his arms. He leaned in to give her a morning kiss but a knock at the bedroom door stopped him before he could taste her lips. Steve closed his eyes and sighed. “Come in,” he said.
CJ stepped in the room, looking dejected. “Tom and his lawyer asked me to leave,” he said and flopped in the rocking chair near the dresser.
“You’re not alone, I got kicked out as well,” Steve said and gave Jennifer a quick peck on the cheek before letting her go. “Your grandfather called this morning,” he said, focusing on CJ. He took a seat on the side of the bed.
“Why?”
“He asked about your father.”
CJ’s head cocked to the side and then his sleepy expression hardened. “It’s all over the news?”
Steve nodded, and CJ turned toward the flat screen. It turned on, tuning in to Fox News. The top story of the day was about his father, and Steve watched CJ’s reaction to the speculations tossed around by the newscasters.
“They don’t know shit,” he said after the story transitioned to the political state of the union. He sent a nod toward the television and it turned off.
“No, they don’t. It’s all just speculation at this time and I don’t want you to say a word to the press about your father or your brother. Are we clear?”
A crease appeared between CJ’s eyes and he stood, crossing to Tom’s room. Steve followed in time to see CJ push the curtain back and stare at the sea of reporters. “No wonder it sounds like I’m in an assembly,” he said, his voice lowering in disgust at the view and even more so by the thoughts of the crowd.
Steve glanced out the window, allowing the thoughts to make it through the barrier he’d built up over the years. The low din of white noise increased until it sounded like an intense sporting event with thoughts screaming over each other and he turned away, buffering his mind against the noise, letting the curtain fall again.
“I’m serious, not a word,” he said, meeting CJ’s gaze.
CJ glanced back out the window. “But...”
“Tom’s going to need your support and provoking the press isn’t going to help,” Steve said.
“What about you? They’re already speculating you’re dirty and questioning your career record on national television. That’s just not right.”
“I can take care of myself. Right now we need to focus on your brother and let this situation fall where it may,” Steve said.
“What if they arrest you?”
“Then it’s your job to keep Jen and Tom safe.”
CJ stepped back, blinking and looking between Steve and the window. “Safe?”
“Yes. Remember what you said last night about the hype from the press?”
CJ nodded.
“With all this, Tom may become his next target.” Steve waved toward the window and sighed. “I was hoping to keep his arrest under wraps for as long as possible, but I guess that’s blown to hell now.”