Protecting You (A McCord Family Novel Book 1) (17 page)

She watched as they both exited the white barn. An angry glare settled on Zane's face when he saw her swinging.

He stomped up the steps and growled, "I thought I told you to lie down."

Ava smiled at him, pushing her foot lightly to keep the swing going. "I told you I would rest, not specifically lie down. This is me resting."

Austin laughed. "She has you there, man. She did say that. She is resting."

Zane glanced at Austin with his glare still present. "I wasn't talking to you, Austin. She needs to lie down. Her body needs to rest—to heal still. It's been a few months, but she went through a lot of trauma and it was a grueling night last night. Even today." He blew out a small breath and changed his expression to anguish. "Please, Ava. Just lie down for a while."

"I'm fine, honestly. Please stop worrying about me."

"You know you can always lay down together," Austin said with a loopy grin at Zane. "I wouldn't mind."

Zane whipped his head at Austin. "Shut the hell up, Austin. You're not helping."

"I don't see how I'm not helping. You look tired. She's tired. You want her to rest. Lie down with her and problem solved," Austin said, winking at Ava. She couldn't manage to hide her blush and glanced away.

Zane stalked up to Austin and got in his face, whispering menacingly, "You're being ridiculous. You're embarrassing her. Just because you think—"

Austin cut him off and whispered back just as forcefully. "I don't think anything, Zane. I know. You love that woman. Tell her already and show her. She's tired. You can see it. She's not going to give in. I joke about it lightheartedly so I don't frighten her. Did you ever think why she doesn't want to lie down by herself?"

Zane backed up a step as his face contorted into apprehension.

"Yeah, that's right. She might actually fall asleep and have a nightmare. You've been sleeping with her every night and she hasn't had one. Maybe she's afraid she'll have one if you're not there. Don't push her if she doesn't want to. Or, you can go lie down with her," Austin said, maintaining a low voice.

"Are you two done whispering about me yet? What are you talking about?" Ava asked from behind Zane.

Zane turned around to find her within arm's reach. He grabbed her hands. "Nothing. It's nothing. I am tired. Austin was right. Let's go lie down for a while. The animals are good for the day. We could all use a little rest, even Austin, I'm sure."

"I don't want to lie down. You can, though," Ava said quietly.

"Why are you arguing with me? I just said I wanted to lie down with you," Zane insisted.

"What did you two just say? Maybe I will lie down."

Austin stepped up from behind Zane. "Ava, we worry about you. Don't be embarrassed or concerned that I know Zane sleeps with you at night. I don't mind. I really don't. I know it helps. I've seen it with my own eyes. You've flourished here since you stopped having the nightmares, and the only reason they stopped is because of this man right here holding your hands," Austin pointed out with concern.

"So, you think I don't want to lie down because I'm afraid I'll have a nightmare if Zane isn't there?"

"Yes. I don't mind lying down with you. Let's go rest," Zane said softly.

"Maybe I am a little afraid, but I'm okay not sleeping right now. I may not get out of bed until tomorrow because it'll hit me hard if I do lie down." She twisted her hands in uneasiness as she felt his protection stand strong, gripping her hands tighter. "Maybe I should by myself. What am I going to do when I leave here? Are you coming with me to New York so I can sleep soundly?"

She glanced into his eyes as the terror morphed slowly in his depths. Either from her leaving or having to step foot in New York. She wasn't sure which it was.

"Who said you had to leave yet? We can worry about that when the time comes. For now, if it works, why mess with something good? Unless you don't want to lie down," Austin piped in when Zane still hadn't responded.

Ava reluctantly let go of Zane's hands and sat down on the swing. "I really don't want to lie down. I'm fine, like I said in the beginning." She pushed her feet to start a slow swing, refusing to look at Zane, or even Austin.

Zane remained speechless. She refused to dwell on why he couldn't answer her questions. The pain inside would go away eventually. It had to. A throat suddenly cleared, grabbing her attention. A man she didn't recognize stood at the bottom of the steps.

"Boys, wondering if we can talk. Sorry if I'm interrupting something."

"No, it's fine, Chief. How's everything going?" Zane asked as he walked down the steps, Austin right behind him.

"Wish I could say good. I'm real sorry about the barn, the fields out back. I hope you didn't lose too much money out of this setback," he said, as Ava joined them and took a spot next to Austin.

"We'll be fine, Chief. We all have a little hardship at times. It'll all work out in the end," Zane said confidently.

Ava smiled at those last words. They sounded so familiar. Jimmy must've gotten that from his big brother, or maybe Zane got it from Jimmy. Either way, it made her smile.

"That's true. And whom do I have the pleasure of meeting here?" the man asked as he held his hand out to Ava. "Chief Tanner with the St. Joseph's Police Department and a good friend of these boys' father when he was alive. Good man he was. Good men he raised."

Ava grinned with affection as she shook the chief's hand. "Ava Rainer. I totally agree with those words. The best men I've ever known, especially Jimmy. I worked with him in New York. I run the crime lab there. He was one of my best friend's."

"Well, then I'm sorry for your loss, Ms. Rainer. I hear he was a damn fine cop," Chief Tanner said with respect.

"He was the best. Nobody was better and I believe that with my whole heart." Ava sucked in a deep breath to hold in the tears that suddenly threatened to overflow. "Let's change the subject, though, Chief, and explain why you wish things were good. What did you find out there?"

"You don't miss a beat, do you, Ms. Rainer? You said you work in the crime lab?" Chief Tanner asked.

"I rarely miss anything, Chief Tanner, and when I do, I make sure it never happens again. Yes, I work in the crime lab. Evidence is my forte and my instincts are telling me you found something," Ava said.

"Is that true, Chief? You guys find something?" Austin asked, concerned.

Chief Tanner shook his head. "Yep. I hate to say it, but the fire chief told me there's evidence the fire was set deliberately."

"What the hell do you mean deliberately? Who would do that?" Zane yelled.

"Don't know, Zane. That's why I'm coming to you boys and wanted to ask you that same thing. Anyone you know who would want to hurt you like this?" Chief Tanner asked as the concern filtered out in waves.

"No. No one. We get along with everyone," Austin said, confusion mixed with distress displayed on his face. Zane had the same look mirrored in him.

"What sort of evidence? What accelerant was used?" Ava asked all business-like. Getting back in the game, sort of. It felt good.

"Looks like a Molotov cocktail was used to start the fire in the woods. He found shards of glass where he thinks it originated. Gasoline evidence was present around the field and around the barn. That's why it lit as fast as it did and not the house. They spared the house for some reason." Chief Tanner sighed in relief.

"No other evidence around the point of origin. How about where they likely entered the woods? Any little thing lying around out there, trash, cigarette butts, anything? Have we checked all points of access into the woods?" Ava demanded.

"Slow down, Ms. Rainer. We know what we're doing," Chief Tanner said with confidence.

"She knows that. She's just wondering," Zane snapped in her defense.

"I never suggested you didn't know what you're doing. Force of habit, I guess. Not to mention this family means the world to me. I'm fuming right now that someone would deliberately try to harm them in any sort of way," Ava said without remorse.

"We're doing everything to find out who it was. I assure you," Chief Tanner replied.

"Good. And I assure you, Chief Tanner, that I better find it up to my standards or I'll run over you so fast you won't see me coming," Ava said with a sweet smile, yet the intonation was clear.

"I have this feeling you're not joking, Ms. Rainer. You're probably something else in New York, but this isn’t New York, and I'll arrest you if I have to if you step on my investigation here," Chief Tanner said with a smile on his face.

"I have no fear of being arrested, Chief. You don't scare me. I stand by my words. You have no idea how I was in New York. Nobody messes with my crime scenes—or my family. Learned it all from my dad," Ava replied.

"I would say your dad taught you well unless he forgot to tell you how not to get arrested," Chief Tanner said more forcefully this time.

"Nobody's getting arrested. You won't arrest her if I have anything to do with it. She—" Zane started to her defense again.

"She will do anything for this family," Ava shouted, surprising Zane and Austin at her fury as they almost backed away from the shockwave of her outburst. "My dad did teach me everything I know. He's a cop, too."

"Well, a little ol' New York cop isn't going to bail you out here, Ms. Rainer," Chief Tanner replied annoyed, yet with an underlying respect in his tone.

"I wouldn't call the Police Commissioner a little old cop," Ava said with a little arrogance. She sighed. "I think we got off-track here. I'm sure we both know where each other stands on the matter. As long as I see things progressing as they should, I'll stay on my porch swing with no worries."

"Fair enough, Ms. Rainer. I would hate to arrest you for interfering with a police investigation. I have a feeling I'd be arresting Zane here as well by the look on his face," Chief Tanner said amused.

"Yeah, I would hate to have to punch you in the face if you touched one hair on her head," Zane said through clenched teeth.

Chief Tanner laughed. "You're lucky I know you, Zane, or I'd find a reason now to lock you up for talking that way to me. I see Ms. Rainer means a great deal to you."

"To both of us, Chief. I guess we could all share a cell together," Austin said with a grin.

Chief Tanner laughed even harder. "Good to know."

"So back to possible suspects. I have two for you to start checking out," Ava said, back to business.

"Two? Who in the world do you think would do this to us? You haven't even been here that long." Zane's face swiftly turned into panic. "Unless someone from New York followed you here."

"Settle down, Zane. Nobody followed me here," Ava said reassuringly. "I met people here already that you two know. And the two that come to mind didn't like me very much. So, maybe it does have to do with me. Sandra and Dani, ring a bell?"

"What? Ava, come on now. That was nothing," Austin said shocked. "Dani would never resort to violence of this sort. She's not like that."

Ava raised her eyebrow, as Chief Tanner asked, "What was nothing? Who are they?"

"It was nothing. We saw them at the Fourth of July festival. Ava and those two had some words," Zane replied.

"What sort of words?" Chief Tanner asked as he gave Ava a knowing look.

She grinned at him. "Words they needed to hear, just as you did, Chief Tanner. They were despicable. Apparently, these two don't know how to pick suitable women to date. I informed those two women they wouldn't be around as long as I was around."

"I never dated Sandra. She wanted to, but I never liked her that way," Zane said defensively.

"Point one against her." Ava glared at Zane. "She obviously didn't understand that fact because you told her you were leaving and walked away from her. She saunters up like that never happened, holding a damn beer for you, and has the audacity to glare daggers at me while you were holding my arm."

"Is that true?" Chief Tanner asked Zane. "Any other problems from her at any other time?"

Zane sucked in a breath. "No. She's nothing to me."

"What Zane is trying to say is he doesn't date much because he's particular in the kind of woman he wants. Sandra could be pushy with him. He was always polite to her and extracted himself from the situations as such. At the festival, well, it was the first time things didn't end as nicely," Austin explained.

"Which is why she's a good suspect," Ava pointed out again. "Also, Dani—"

"Now come on, Ava. Let's not bring Dani into this," Austin interrupted.

"Austin, get your head out of your pants for once. You may be God's gift to women, but not all women appreciate that fact when they see competition," Ava retorted.

"What competition? You? You're Zane's woman," Austin exploded.

Ava looked shocked by that comment, while Zane looked angry.

"Alright, everyone calm down," Chief Tanner said, glancing at Ava. "What problem did Dani have?"

"She was instantly jealous of me, and no, he wasn't even holding me as Zane had. She was rude and condescending until she thought I had been Jimmy's girlfriend," Ava replied.