Brian pulled into the drive leading to the Big House two days later, knowing he’d procrastinated as long as he could. He’d gotten a voice message from Ms. Patti, all but demanding his presence, and she was the one person he couldn’t say no to.
Parking beside the large white Escalade, he noted the pickup truck parked on the other side of the Escalade, realizing Douglas must be home. Looked like he’d be facing both Boudreau parental units. Fingers crossed they’d forgive him for what he’d put Harper through. The woman might not be a Boudreau, but like him, she was an extended part of the family, and nobody messed with the Boudreau family.
The front screen door opened before he climbed the last step to the front porch, and Douglas stood framed in the doorway.
“Morning, son.”
Man, it still gets to me when he says that.
“Morning, Douglas. Ms. Patti summoned me.”
Douglas’ lips quirked at Brian’s words. “She told me you’d be stopping by today. That’s why I’m here. Figured I could run interference if she doesn’t like your answers.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Let’s just say she’s wondering why you’re messing with one of her girls.” Douglas leaned forward as Brian started to walk past. “Always a mistake to leave her in the dark. You should have known better.”
Brian blinked at Douglas’ pronouncement. He’d already figured out Ms. Patti had a soft spot for Harper. Next time, he’d trust his instincts and simply tell her the truth from the start. Except he’d been doing his job, dang it. He worked for the FBI, for crying out loud. People feared him, answered to him. Yet here he stood, practically trembling in his boots because of a five-foot nothing blonde dynamo who made him feel like a naughty five-year-old, instead of a respected federal agent.
“I’ll do better next time.”
“She’s waiting for you in the kitchen.”
Why does it feel like I’m heading to my own execution? I doubt she’s got a firing squad waiting to mow me down in a hail of bullets. Besides, she wouldn’t bother hiring somebody else to take me down, she can do it herself with a simple look.
Turning left just past the front door, Brian walked into the kitchen to find Ms. Patti seated at the round table, the coffee pot and three cups in front of her, along with a plate of cinnamon buns.
At least I’ll get a last meal.
“Brian.”
Uh oh. No good morning, no touching her cheek for her kiss. She must really be upset.
“Good morning, Ms. Patti.” Ignoring the tension in the room, he bent and brushed his lips against her cheek.
“Douglas and I would like to speak with you. Go ahead and help yourself to coffee and a roll.” He watched as she poured two cups and doctored them with cream and sugar, before passing one to her husband, blessing him with a smile.
“I understand there’s some nonsense about Harper being in trouble with the authorities. I’m sure there’s some misunderstanding, because she’d never hurt anyone, much less commit something as atrocious as…killing someone.” The look of disappointment on her face clearly stated he’d made a big mistake even suspecting Harper.
“Ms. Patti, I’m only doing my job. I must follow the evidence. And before you castigate me for thinking Harper guilty, let me disabuse you of that thought immediately. I do not and have not believed she is anything but innocent. But there’s a lot of circumstantial evidence mounting against her. Honestly, if it had been anybody else looking at this case, she’d already have been arrested. I kept my investigation off the books for as long as I could, but it’s out of my hands now.”
His answer seemed to mollify her, at least for the moment. She’d have questions, lots of them, and he’d tell her what he could, but the entire investigation was classified. Smiling, he realized she’d probably get the answers anyway, since Chance was now Harper’s attorney.
“Tell us what you can, son. You’ve been collecting evidence. But we both know that sometimes the evidence lies.”
Brian took a large swallow of his coffee, black and strong, just the way he liked it. He let the peace of the Big House settle over him, like a warm blanket fresh from the dryer. Though he’d only been at the Boudreau ranch for a short time, mere months, it had made a huge impact on his childhood. Enough that he’d fantasized about being a part of this family for the better part of his life. He’d even toyed with the idea of changing his name, the way most of the sons had, but felt that would have been overreaching, and he wouldn’t do anything that might hurt the couple seated before him. Not now. Not ever if he could prevent it.
“You know I tend to keep my eyes and ears open for anything that comes across that mentions Shiloh Springs.” He didn’t bother adding that included anyone with the last name of Boudreau. “I’ve got a buddy at the bureau. He owed me a favor. Good with computers and search algorithms, he wrote a program to ping me if anything ever comes through. It was a simple homicide case, not even a blip on the FBI’s radar. Businessman in Oklahoma City. The only connection was his girlfriend, who was in town for a girl’s trip, and one of her friends was from Shiloh Springs.”
“Harper.”
He nodded to Ms. Patti, knew she was listening to every word. “Yes. I did a little digging—on my off time because I didn’t need the FBI wondering why I was looking into a case I had no business asking about—and found out Harper met with the victim only hours before he was killed. The police never considered her a suspect, didn’t question her. Probably never knew she met with Adamson. But she didn’t have an alibi.”
“Doesn’t make her a killer. How was this Adamson killed?”
“He was stabbed, Douglas. One blow, straight through the chest. Nicked the heart. No one saw him again between the time Harper met with him and the time his body was found the next day.”
“Seems a rough way for a woman to kill a man. Face to face, he’d probably have seen it coming. Harper’s not exactly a large woman, could have been easily overpowered by a man. Why didn’t this Adamson fight back? Were there defensive wounds? Where was he killed? Stab wounds usually tend to bleed a lot. Were any of Harper’s clothes bloody?”
“You’ve been watching those cop shows on TV, haven’t you, Ms. Patti?” He smiled to let her know he understood where she was coming from. He’d had the same questions himself, though not a whole lot of answers. The local cops had dropped the ball on doing an in-depth investigation.
“He was killed in his condo. No, there weren’t any defensive wounds, which meant there probably wasn’t a struggle. I have no idea why he didn’t fight back, unless his assailant was somebody he knew and trusted. Yes, stab wounds bleed profusely in most cases. Unfortunately, this weapon is—unique. Slender, round, pointed tip. Made a small opening, which punctured cleanly, and there was no arterial spray. Yes, there was blood from the victim, but probably didn’t get on the killer.”
“We know there’s more than one victim. What else do you have pointing to Harper?” Ms. Patti leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest, her expression guarded. Her blonde hair was teased up in the same style she’d worn for as long as he’d known her. The extra few inches gave her the illusion of being taller, and she sprayed it to within an inch of its life. Nobody commented on the outdated style because big hair was a Texas tradition. The higher, the better.
“There are a total of five cases where Harper is a person of interest. The latest was this past weekend in Flagstaff. Yes, Harper was there, and she may have an alibi. We are verifying it. Unfortunately, it’s taking longer than I’d like. But I do have some good news.”
“About time,” Douglas murmured but Brian heard him loud and clear.
“I had a long talk with Harper Sunday afternoon. After the official meeting at Rafe’s office. Everybody went home, but I hated that Harper believed I thought she was a murderer. I don’t. I haven’t. I’ve been doing my best to clear her name because I believe her.” He shook his head. “I’m no expert on homicide, not my field, but there’s no way somebody like Harper could cold-bloodedly kill one person, much less be a serial killer. It’s ludicrous.”
“Chance ain’t happy you talked with her when he wasn’t present. I believe he plans to have a chat with you about it.”
“Well, he should be happy because we figured something out. Something that could point the finger at somebody else.”
“Really?” That got Ms. Patti’s attention and she leaned forward in her chair, her expression eager and filled with hope. “What is it?”
“First, let me tell you the FBI and the police have photos of Harper in each city where the murders occurred. Not necessarily at the scene of the crime, because then she’d already been in jail awaiting trial. But it’s more than a coincidence she was not only in the same city as each homicide, sometimes she’d been in the same building where the killings occurred. Pretty big coincidence. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to connect the dots.”
“Mighty big coincidence. Almost sounds like it prearranged, planned for her to be in a certain place at a certain time, doesn’t it?”
“Exactly, Douglas. Anyway, I showed Harper a picture of herself in the hallway outside the second victim’s home. The photo looks like her. Long blonde hair, spilling over her shoulders in curls. The colorful highlights she loves to put in. You know what I’m talking about, right?”
“Yes.” Ms. Patti reached across the table, patting his hand. I know exactly what you’re talking about. All those bright, lovely colors. Perfect for an artist like Harper. I’ve been tempted to let her put a couple in my hair.”
“Don’t you dare, Momma. I love your hair just the way it is.” Douglas leaned in and pressed a kiss against Ms. Patti’s cheek.
“Those colorful extensions she wears might clear her, at least from one of the homicides. Which should bring reasonable doubt into the rest of them. The photo I’m referring to was taken in April and showed her with dark purple highlights. Threaded amongst all those curls, they are very distinctive.”
“I remember. I loved the purple, it’s one of my favorite colors and looked so pretty on her.”
“Well, it turns out Harper didn’t have the purple color in her hair in April. She changed it to blue at the end of March. Her photo is timestamped, a selfie on her phone. I’ve had her forward it to Chance, so he already knows she’s got proof to help clear her in at least one case. Plus, he’s got all my private files, too. The ones I didn’t hand over to the FBI or local authorities.”
“See, I knew you had a reason for keeping this from us.” She shook her finger under his nose, giving him the dreaded “mom” finger. “Just don’t do it again.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She shared a look with Douglas, a silent communication only two people who’d been together for decades managed, before turning back to him. “Is there anything we can do? I—we—have connections that reach far outside Shiloh Springs.”
“I’ve got a buddy from my army days. We’ve kept in touch. He knows a lot of people.” Brian had the idea Douglas wasn’t talking about just legitimate and completely legal sources. He couldn’t help chuckling at the thought of the Boudreaus skulking around dark alleys, making covert deals with shady characters.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve already got help.”
Ms. Patti nodded and turned to Douglas. “He means Heath. Your son told me yesterday that he’s been helping Brian. Keeping an eye on Harper, though if you ask me, I call it spying.”
Brian bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud at the emphasis Ms. Patti put on the your son part of her sentence. Looked like she wasn’t happy about Heath keeping her in the dark about what he knew. Heath was in the doghouse right there next to him. It wasn’t fair, he knew, but it was partially Heath’s fault for being sneaky and catching him in the act when he’d been watching Harper. For such a large man, he moved like a cat.
“Heath’s been helping, but he’s not the only one.” Brian hesitated because Gage hadn’t wanted anybody to know about him helping, but he hadn’t definitely said he couldn’t tell Ms. Patti and Douglas, and he didn’t mind giving the other man props, because he deserved the recognition. At least it would earn him some brownie points with the Boudreaus.
“Really?”
“I’ve been working with Gage.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m happy our boys are working together.”
“Ms. Patti, we’re not working together. We aren’t even in the same branches of the government. I’m FBI, he’s CIA. Occasionally our paths have crossed, but I don’t see him that much. I mentioned something to him when we were helping with Ruby’s case, about looking into somebody in Shiloh Springs, and he insisted on helping.”
“Of course, he did. You are both warriors in your own right, helping the people who need it. Protecting the ones others abandon or leave behind, because you understand better than most what it means to feel that way.” Ms. Patti walked around the table and wrapped her arm around his shoulder, squeezing him tight.
“I—thank you.”
Returning to her seat, Ms. Patti poured more coffee into each cup. Douglas leaned back against his chair, his arm resting along the back of his wife’s. Brian couldn’t help but envy the connection between the two people he secretly looked on as his parents, even if they had no clue the importance they’d played in his young life. There was a spark, even after all their years together, a unique bond no one could break. He found himself wondering how they’d met. What had drawn them together? Had it been some grand adventure, or a simple meeting of two people who were destined to be together, to love each other forever?
“How do you feel about Harper?” The look on Ms. Patti’s face made it clear, the business portion of their little tête-à-tête was concluded, and they were on to the personal grilling of his private life. Yay. He looked to Douglas for help, but he simply grinned. Smart man, he wasn’t about to try and stop the freight train that was Ms. Patti when she wanted answers.
“I don’t know how I feel about her if you want the truth. She confuses me. She’s smart. Funny. Like a breath of sunshine when she smiles. I barely know her. We probably haven’t spoken more than a handful of times, but I find her fascinating. Is that what you wanted to know?”
“She confuses you. Befuddles you every time you’re in the same room. One minute you’re on top of the world, and the next you can’t catch your breath because she steals it away with a simple glance.” Douglas smiled before nodding his head toward Ms. Patti. “That’s how it was for me. She stole my heart the first time I saw her, and I’ve never wanted it back.”
“It was the same for me.” Ms. Patti leaned her head against her husband’s shoulder. “He was a tall, handsome man in uniform when I first saw him. All the girls flocked around him, wanting his attention. The first time we met it was fireworks. Undeniable sparks, something that had never happened to me. Our courtship wasn’t smooth sailing, far from it. But we both knew we were worth fighting for, and I’ve never regretted it. Not for one second.”
Brian stood. “And on that note, I’ve got to head out. I’m going to meet Chance later today, try and map out a strategy, figure out how we can prove Harper’s innocent.”
“Let me walk you out, son.”
Ms. Patti hugged him before whispering, “I’m glad you’re here. No just in Shiloh Springs, but back here where you belong. I wish—”
“It’s okay. You did nothing wrong, none of it was your fault.”
“Still…”
“No regrets. Life is far too short for recriminations about what happened in the past.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re back. And I’m glad you have Gage to watch your back, and you’ve got his. That makes me feel better.” She turned to look at Douglas. “And you, don’t think you’re running off to the job site. Liam’s got things covered, and the doctor told you to take it easy.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Douglas leaned and brushed a kiss against the top of her head, and again Brian found himself envying the simple expression of love.
They walked down the steps of the porch and over to his car. Brian paused before getting in, looking closely at Douglas. He’d had a health scare not that long ago, and they’d all worried they might lose him. But Douglas Boudreau was too stubborn to give up that easy and was on the mend. Obviously, he wasn’t too happy with the restrictions placed on him by his doctor, but he agreed with Ms. Patti. Douglas taking off the time from work, even if it was kicking and screaming to keep him away from the building site was better than the alternative.
“I meant it when I said there are plenty of folks willing to help if you need it. Every Boudreau’s standing by, ready and willing to do whatever you need. I’m not naïve, I know there are bad people in Shiloh Springs, just like every other town. But Harper isn’t. No matter what the evidence says, in this case it’s wrong.”
“I agree. Thanks for the offer, and if I need help, I won’t hesitate to ask. I’m going to keep pressing, figuring out a way to prove she’s innocent.”
“I have no doubt. Drive careful. I better get back inside before my wife comes out and drags me there.”
Impulsively, Brian pulled the big man in for a hug. It was a spontaneous thing, and he couldn’t explain for the life of him why he did it, but it felt right. They’d grown closer in the past couple of months, especially since he’d reconnected with the Boudreaus during the whole fiasco of Tina’s abduction. Since he’d been the one who kidnapped her in the first place, things might have turned out a lot different, but since it meant he’d gotten the chance to reconnect with Ms. Patti and Douglas, it had been worth it.
“You listen to Ms. Patti and your doc. This family needs you around for a long time.”
Douglas nodded and a slow smile creased his lips. “I will. Have I mentioned how happy I am that you’ve come home? Because Shiloh Springs is your home.”
Brian nodded, afraid if he tried to speak, he’d end up a blubbering fool. He’d never expected to be accepted back into the fold, so to speak, and he wasn’t entirely sure how the rest of the Boudreau sons felt, but he was starting to feel hopeful that he might finally have the one thing he’d never had in his life.
A family.