Shelby's Secret (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 4) (14 page)

“But—”

STOP WHINING!

Slapping his head, he said, “Don’t yell at me. It hurts.”

Too bad. Stop being a pussy and get back to work. Shelby will return and then you can do whatever you want.

“I need to know where she is. What if she never comes back? What if—”

But he couldn’t finish because his vision started blurring and he knew he was losing control. The shadow inside was fighting to come out, and it was winning. He gave his head a hard slap, but it was too late. He’d been so focused on where Shelby had gone that he hadn’t been vigilant enough.

As he slid backward, he felt the rock and gravel dig into his back. He was on the side of the mountain again, looking down into Shelby’s room. But he wouldn’t wake up there. He never remembered what happened when the Shadow Man took over, but the outcome was always bad. Sometimes it was even worse than he could imagine.

***

Mike had been doing some fancy maneuvering, and with the help of his friends, he’d avoided being alone with Shelby since the incident in the moonlight two days before. Even if he felt like a damned fool, he knew his weaknesses, and Shelby was number one on the list. He was falling under her spell. Giving in was not an option, but sleeping with an eternal hard-on was really fucking uncomfortable.

At this point, he was afraid to leave his room in the middle of the night. He’d lain awake for hours, listening to the house and any movements within last night. Convinced everyone was asleep, he’d crept out for a beer. Mike figured he’d watch TV and drink a single adult beverage for relaxation. Just one beer was all he’d wanted. But Shelby had been there ahead of him, in little more than a couple strips of lace that had tied his tongue and made the situation in his pants so much worse. He’d hobbled back to his room and an ice-cold shower before she’d even had a chance to get up off the couch.

Now he stood in his office, watching everyone have fun outside. The kids were playing with the kittens again, this time right outside the barn doors in the sunlight. Mama kitty stretched out in the sun, while the kids had the kittens bouncing around, chasing string. Zach and Jesse were cutting wood, each trying to out-do the other with single chops to split each piece. The women were having fun yelling encouragement or groaning when the log didn’t split open the first time.

Mike was hiding. Again. The relief he felt when his cell went off was ridiculous. Finally, something to do besides stare at Shelby. “Hanson,” he answered. And if his tone was abrupt, it was too fucking bad.

“Whoa, who pissed in your Wheaties?” Damon Dupree said.

“No one.” Mike tried to interject some humor into his voice, but failed. “Sorry, buddy. I’m on edge with this case.”

“That’s understandable, because this case just got a whole lot weirder.”

Mike had known Damon would come up with something. His friend was smart and resourceful. And so was his wife. “Whatcha got?”

“Two mysteries, not one.”

“That’s all I need.” He moved away from the window, sat in his chair, and rubbed a hand over his tired face. Then he pulled out a pen and notebook.

“Sorry, man. That detective Shelby Lynn hired was a high-priced hack. His office was fancy, but the guy specializes in cheating spouses, not missing persons. Dani got up in his face and read him the riot act for taking money he hadn’t earned and not doing a goddamn thing that was useful.”

“Nice. I bet that was a sight.” Mike shook his head. He wondered why Madge hadn’t handled the investigating with her normal efficiency, but then decided Shelby had likely handled that aspect of it herself. Due to her guilt.

“I love that woman,” Damon said. “What info do you want first?”

“Tell me about Abby.”

“She was good at hiding her end of the relationship, but her douche-bag boyfriend wasn’t as careful. His name’s Charles Weston. We learned he was a small time musician who did minor gigs pretty much everywhere. He worked with a few in-studio house bands, but he and Abby met when he was hired by Shelby’s opening act. He was on the tour for almost a year, off and on. For him, that was the ‘big time’.”

“He was just part of the crowd, that’s why no one saw them together. Or why no one really noticed.”

“Exactly,” Damon replied. “But the guy we talked to says he was always bragging Abby was just a stepping stone. He wanted an introduction to Shelby Lynn.”

“Damn. I’m not telling her that part,” Mike said. “Were you able to locate him?” Because that type of guy could easily turn into the kind of stalker that went violent. And if what Shelby told him was true about Abby’s bruises, then he was already a violent man.

“Yeah.”

Mike heard the pause. That wasn’t a good sign. “And?”

“And he’s dead. That’s the second mystery.”

“I’m guessing his death wasn’t an accident or something simple then?”

“No, and this is where the case gets odd. At first the local PD thought it was a robbery, because clear evidence showed his wallet and all his money were taken. He was found alone in his studio apartment, with no signs of forced entry. But enough takeout remained to make them believe that whoever killed this guy stuck around for a couple of weeks with the body.”

Mike dropped his head and rubbed his neck. This whole situation was getting stranger. “Do they have any leads?”

“Not a single one.”

Mike cocked his head to the side. “What haven’t you told me?”

“Charles Weston has been dead exactly one year.”

“The same time Abby went missing,” Mike said. “What did the police say about that?”

“They can’t tie Charles to Abby by as much as a carpet fiber.
If
he was living in this apartment when they were together, then she never set foot in the place.”

“They don’t know how long he was living there?”

Damon sighed. “The place is an old textile warehouse that was turned into studio apartments. The landlord is shady as hell. He’s cash only and keeps lousy records. He said Charles had been there a number of years, but he couldn’t give an exact time. I’m going out there today to check out the place and nose around a little.”

“And nothing new on Abby?”

“I have feelers out to a few other departments in the outlying areas for any Jane Does, since nothing came up around Nashville. I figure her body was dumped a lot farther out.”

“Sorry to drag you into all this, but everything you’ve found really helps.”

“Hey, man, I owed you. Besides, Dani’s having a little too much fun playing detective. She’s good at it, though, or maybe it’s all that red hair and big green eyes. It’s amazing the way everyone just opens up and starts answering all her questions.”

“Are you still coming out for the concert?”

“We’ll be there, and I’ll be ready.”

“Alright.” Mike would have to find Damon a nest at the concert, somewhere up high enough that he could see the whole arena. The logistics of sneaking him and his sniper rifle inside would be a nightmare, but Mike would get the task handled. “Call me if you find out anything else.”

“You got it.” Damon disconnected.

Mike slowly put down his cell. Now what? Someone else was involved, but who he was, and how, was unclear. Two mysteries.

Shit.

He would have to call in all the favors owed. Not that the guys would look at his request that way. When a Marine needed help, his brothers would always be there. That was their way. Their code.

Right or wrong, he would protect Shelby during her shows any way he could. And while he trusted his brothers in blue to handle most of the regular security, they weren’t as good as his friends.

The late morning had turned into afternoon, and it was time for lunch. He couldn’t hide much longer. Either Beth or Lily would come drag him out. Or worse, Shelby would come for him which ran the risk of being alone together. Alone with a desirable woman. One he knew intimately. How she tasted, how she smelled. How she moaned when she came.

Damn.

He adjusted his jeans when he stood and strode outside.

Time to join in and show Zach and Jesse how to chop wood. The work and axe would keep his mind off a certain sexy singer. Yeah right. He’ll be lucky if he doesn’t sever his own leg.

Chapter 12

Shelby wasn’t sure how he did it, but Mike had tactfully avoided being alone with her for two days. She was getting a complex about it.

“Good God, those are some handsome guys,” Lily said. “I’d bring out my camera, but then they’ll just get worse with their antics.”

“That’s true,” Beth chimed in, “but they might take off their shirts.”

She sounded so hopeful that Shelby laughed.

The two women leered at their husbands from the shade of the porch while drinking homemade lemonade.

Shelby was privately jealous of the obvious love she saw between the couples. They were openly affectionate with one another, as well as all the kids. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Mike with his shirt off again.”

That brought Beth’s head around and her eyes widened. “Again?”

Lily grinned. “Do tell.”

“Nothing to tell.” Shelby sighed, making it properly dramatic, and she fought a laugh. She hadn’t had this much fun talking with anyone since Abby. She pushed away the pang thinking of her friend inevitably brought, and instead focused on the smiling women in front of her. “Hard not to see something when you’re living with a man, even temporarily.”

Lily and Beth shared a look.

Beth grinned and winked, “Have you noticed the shower is big enough for two?”

Shaking her head, Lily reached out and put her hand on Shelby’s. “Beth’s obsessed with the showers. All three houses were built by the same contractor, and he apparently thought the guys needed showers big enough to do aerobics in.”

“Hmmm, aerobics,” Beth said with a lascivious smile.

Shelby shook her head. “You
have
been married for a while, right?”

“Over six years now.”

Lily threw back her head and laughed. “You do remember what she writes, don’t you? Zach is her willing victim every time she wants to “work out” a scene.”

Shelby covered her face, “Now I won’t be able to read those scenes without thinking of you and Zach.”

“The downside of knowing the author.” Lily sympathized. “I can’t read them either, not anymore. But I have all my signed copies sitting on my bookcase.”

“Speaking of signed copies,” Beth said. “We’d love it if you signed a couple of our CDs.”

“Only if you sign my copies of your books when you come for the concert. And I know I have an Arizona Highways magazine around somewhere in the house in town, Lily. I’d love to have your signature as well. You take amazing pictures.”

“Aren’t we just a talented group?” Beth said, but she eyed her husband as he shoved Mike.

“Can I confess something?” Shelby asked.

The women looked at her with bright glances and raised eyebrows.
 

“Mike and I were a thing when we were younger.” She waved her hand in a circle. “Before all the fame. But I’m guessing you might know that already.”

Lily nodded. “We knew and were kind of hoping you being here was a good sign.”

“Mike never brings anyone home,” Beth said.

It warmed her heart to hear it, even though Mike told her that. And she had a feeling these ladies would be on her side with her request. “I have a rather rude request, then.”

Beth grinned. “You’d like us to take our kids and husbands and leave?”

Shelby returned the smile and nodded. “Am I horrible?”

“Not at all,” Lily said. “Sometimes you have to smack them over the head to get them to your way of thinking. And Mike is exceptionally hard-headed.” She stood and stretched. “We’ll be out of here as soon as lunch is over.”

“Which is now. Shelby, why don’t you call in the kids and have them wash up, and we’ll start laying out the food,” Beth said. “Then we’ll drag our brood home.” She winked and went inside the cabin.

Shelby really liked Beth and Lily. They were so nice and understanding and genuinely cared about Mike. He didn’t have many friends growing up, and now he had a core group that would lay down their lives for him, just the way he would for them.

That kind of rapport was something she wanted. She and Abby had it and she missed it. But she had Rebecca and Madge. And while she truly liked her band and crew—that was work. This was family.

And home.

***

After lunch, Shelby lost track of Mike and Rebecca. The same thing happened a couple of times yesterday as well. She’d see Mike bend down and talk to the little girl then he’d hold out his hand. Rebecca, who was normally shy, slipped her hand into his large one with no hesitation and they disappeared together. Shelby wanted them to like each other, so she’d left them alone. She worked on her music or napped, since she still wasn’t sleeping much at night.

Today, she was curious.

Just the three of them were here now, and Shelby decided to follow Mike and Rebecca to discover what was going on. Rounding the enormous barn, she saw a round corral with the little Shetland pony saddled up and waiting.