CAISEY STOPPED AT the door to Gram’s living room later that afternoon. The TV was tuned to a decades old British show that featured a group of old men who spent episodes walking around their country village and getting up to mischief. They reminded Caisey of how precocious Jake had been at grade school age. Grams sat in her armchair, her chin dipped as she snored lightly. The air in here was warmer than the rest of the house, since Grams ran her floor heater all day.
Caisey saw the open Bible on the coffee table, but didn’t look to see what verse of Luke Grams had highlighted. Instead she eased down onto the couch, trying to be as quiet as possible. There was something about being here that made what constricted her chest ease. It felt more like home than her bedroom, probably because it wasn’t just her in here. Living in an apartment alone in Utah had been torture, when here she had the richness of annoying, in-your-face family.
She toed off her brown boots—the ones with the orange design stitched on the sides—stretched out and closed her eyes. Why had Jenna been so ticked that Caisey stood up for her, anyway?
She got that customers were important. The spa kept Jake in winter coats and jeans that didn’t show his ankles. Jenna’s salary paid the utilities too, while Caisey took care of the mortgage. It was a good system, but her mom was in the running for Worst Mom of All Time, so what was the big deal about one sale? Caisey sighed and squirmed deeper into the ancient couch. At least they were good now. Jenna never would have hugged her if they weren’t.
She should tell Liam her travel plans, but it could turn out to be just a vacation where she provided support for the team. There was only a slim chance the killer would make his move in Buckshot when he could be anywhere by now and may not have even taken the missing girl anyway. But if he had and he did come for her, Caisey was going to take care of this in a way that meant no one else got hurt—especially not Grams, or Jenna or Jake, Liam or Andrea.
She could still feel the thud of a man’s fist hit the bones of her face, her ribs. There was no way she would let anyone hurt her family. She wouldn’t fail. She couldn’t. It was enough that Jenna knew where she was going.
Caisey’s eyes flicked open, pulling her mind from the depths of the impromptu nap. Grams stood over her. She set a full mug down on the coffee table and sat. “All right, ducky?”
“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”
Grams stared at her. “Maybe because you were stabbed in the leg two weeks ago?”
Caisey swallowed. “I’m trying not to take anything for it.”
“It’s not a wonder. Your dad never liked painkillers either and I’ve never liked them.”
“Guess it’s genetic.”
Grams made a non-committal sound. “Wouldn’t be the only thing.”
Caisey waited.
“Your father was stubborn right down to the marrow in his bones. Never let anything go. Never let anyone get away if he thought there was more to be done.”
“I know that.”
“You also know what it did to him to see a case go the wrong way. To see someone hurt when he should have protected them. A handful of the people he arrested wound up walking free. Your dad would come in here, fuming, pace the room and when he settled he’d lift you out of your crib in the corner and sleep on that couch with you on his chest.”
Caisey squeezed her eyes shut.
“After he got you back from your mom he’d always check on you when he got home. He’d come in with that look, like he’d seen something he needed to erase from his mind. Didn’t matter what time it was, he would kiss your cheek and touch his hand to the side of your neck to feel your pulse under his fingertips.”
Caisey’s chest felt like an elephant had taken up residence there, pushing her heart to her throat and tears to her eyes. “But he—” Her voice broke.
“It as good as killed him, what they did to you.”
She clenched her teeth. “I know.” Too little, too late. “He said he was sorry, but it didn’t erase what happened.”
“He failed you. He didn’t protect you.”
A tear slipped down Caisey’s cheek. “You have to forgive him.”
“I have.”
“Because he took Jenna in when she needed a family? There was no way he was going to say no to you given the state you were in. If Jake’s big wide eyes were staring up at you, rimmed in bruises and asking you for the impossible, are you telling me you wouldn’t do anything and everything you could to get it for him?”
Caisey swiped her cheeks, stood and grabbed her boots. “I have something to take care of, I should be back in a few days.”
Grams studied her face. “You are driven by your need to not fail to protect this family. I can see it in your eyes, because I saw the same thing in your father.”
“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.”
Grams pressed her lips together. “All things in moderation.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Caisey crossed the room and kissed Grams on the cheek. “I’m sorry. I am trying.”
Grams started to chuckle.
“What?”
“I said the same thing to your grandfather.” She touched Caisey’s cheek. “No one is expecting miracles. But answer me one thing?”
Caisey nodded.
“If your dad’s job as an agent meant you got hurt, why would you decide to do the same thing? Aren’t you worried something could happen to me, or Jake, or Jenna because you’re an FBI agent?”
“I won’t let it.”
“You can’t control what happens, Caisey. It isn’t up to you.”
She straightened and took a step back, her boots swinging in her grasp and looked at the empty cup on the table beside Grams. “Maybe not, but I’m going to do everything in my power to level the playing field. I became an agent because it’s what I was born to do. Dad might have failed once, but every other day of my life until the day he died he was right there one hundred percent. I forget sometimes, when the memories try and suck me under. I’m glad you reminded me. He always did the right thing and that’s what I’m going to do, too.”
She’d known it already, on some level, but saying it out loud clarified it in a way that was inescapable. “Goodnight, Grams.”
“I love you, dear.”
“I know you do.”
**
Caisey was loading the backpack stuffed with extra shirts and jeans in the back of her car, wondering if she needed to bring extra blankets when her phone rang.
“Lyons.”
“Going somewhere without me?”
“Conners.” She sighed and glanced up and down the dark street looking for his car. Liam was parked two houses down, smoke pumping from his exhaust. He flicked his lights on. “You know you’re supposed to shut the engine off when you’re on a stakeout.”
“It’s cold out here.”
His engine revved and he parked blocking her drive.
“Smooth.”
He walked over with a grin on his face, tucking his phone back in his pocket. “Andrea seems to think so.” His eyes narrowed. “So where’re you going?”
“My dad’s old hunting cabin.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Then you’re not going to like this, either. It’s in Buckshot.”
Liam actually growled. She must be rubbing off on him.
“You don’t have to like it, but I’d rather you supported me since I’m going to do this either way.”
He shook his head. “Charming.”
“What?” Caisey lifted her chin. “If you want me to beg you to agree with me, or not do anything until you approve of it, you picked the wrong partner.”
“You think I picked you?”
“I’m just saying.”
Liam folded his arms too and stood toe to toe with her. “I’ll just follow you.”
“You could.”
“It just so happens I already have a bag packed in my trunk. I’m supposed to head to Buckshot today with the team and I could stand to get a head start. Maybe I’ll confirm it’s not our guy and they won’t need to make the trip.”
Caisey pushed out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine, you can come. I guess.”
**
Jenna set her coffee down and lifted the ringing phone, her finger hovering over the answer button. She knew the number well, but hadn’t dialed it in years or seen it on her display. She used to sit on the carpet floor of his office with her toy ponies while he made calls. When she got older they went out once a month to dinner, just the two of them.
“You gonna answer that?”
She jerked so hard she dropped the phone. Jake swiped it up and looked at the screen, so Jenna made a grab for it. “Give me that.”
He didn’t. “Who was calling?”
“No one.”
“Seriously?” Jake unlocked it and pressed buttons, probably going to her call history. “You’d never let me get away with that.”
“Which is why I’m the mom and you’re the son.” Jenna held out her hand. “Now give me my phone.” He didn’t respond. His eyes widened at whatever was on the screen. “Jake.” He bit his lip, what was that about? “Other children listen to their parents. Sometimes they even do what they’re told.”
He looked up and smiled. “I obey when it’s important.”
“This is important.”
“Who was calling?”
Jenna stared back at him. He’d never asked before, not once in all these years. Like there was some unspoken rule that they never talk about it. And yet, she did see the questions in his eyes when he thought no one was looking.
She took a deep breath. “It was my dad.” He waited for her to continue, but she didn’t know where to start.
Jake sighed and turned away. “Fine, don’t tell me. It’s not like I want to know who I am and the people I come from or anything.”
Jenna caught up to him at the kitchen door. “It’s not like that. This is hard for me.”
“You think I don’t know that? You’ve had years to tell me, but you haven’t said word one about it. So either it’s so bad you can’t even say, or you don’t think I need to know. Well I do. I need to know, Mom. I need you to tell me.”
“Okay.” She almost closed her eyes, face to face with the passion she’d fallen in love with in his father—a passion that was going to change the world. “Let’s sit.” She led him to the kitchen table and he waited while she composed herself. “I haven’t spoken to my parents since the day they kicked me out.”
“I know about that. It’s why Caisey got Uncle Samuel and Grams to take you in.”
Jenna nodded. She told him about her mom’s visit to the spa and with a roll of her eyes, how Caisey stood up for her.
“Good. If I was there I’d have given her an earful too. I can’t believe they kicked you out just because you got pregnant.”
Jenna laid her hand over his. “I made peace with it a long time ago. And honestly I’d do it all again so you could grow up in this house instead of the mausoleum I grew up in.”
“So why did he call you now? Maybe he wanted to apologize or something.”
“I doubt it. He’s never called me before. Then I run into mom and all of a sudden he feels bad?” Jenna shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“I guess not.”
Jenna studied him. “Have you ever Googled them? Tried to find out who your dad is?” The reaction was immediate; flushed cheeks and eyes that flicked to the side. “What do you know?”
He pulled his hand out from under hers. “That your dad is Congressman Alan Cartwright. He’s retired now, but still does charity work and plays golf.”
Jenna swallowed. “What about your dad?”
“I have no idea who he was. I asked Caisey, but she got mad at me for bringing it up.” His jaw flexed. “What happened?”
The knot in Jenna’s stomach had grown. Some days the stain of betrayal was a speck she could almost forget about. Right now what was there felt more like a whole bottle of red wine splashed on a wedding dress.
“His name is Nicholas Arturo.”
Jake sat completely still.
“I can see him in the shape of your face.”
Jake swallowed. “Where is he?”