“Flirtatious compliment. Nice touch.”
“Not that it helped. Got two more thumbs-up and promised votes at the hardware store.”
Dev’s lip twitched. “‘I’ll have a talk with her.”
Jayce would have seen the humor in Daisy’s bulldog campaign if he hadn’t been hampered by that monster of a secret. “Candidates typically dig for dirt in hopes of sullying the reputation of the competition,” he said, wanting to shed greater light on his concern. “Granted, I told Stone I wasn’t running, but if the rumors persist, he may think I’m plotting some sort of last-minute bid. I’m not keen on Stone rooting in my past, Dev. If he finds out about the cover-up regarding my parents’ accident…” Jayce blew out a breath, blew off the guilt. “I can take the heat, but I’m worried about your dad.”
Dev’s face clouded. “What the hell’s gotten into Gram? First Chloe. Now you. Did you tell Rocky?”
Jayce frowned. “Tell Rocky what?”
“About Dad’s illness.”
“Jerry’s sick?”
“When you said you were worried about Dad, I assumed … Damn.” Dev rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. Dad’s been ill. He didn’t want the family to know, didn’t want us to worry or to hover or show pity. You know Dad.”
“Strong and proud.” Jayce’s heart swelled and cramped as he mentally ticked off numerous other admirable qualities regarding the man who’d treated Jayce like a son. “Thought there was something going on with you,” Jayce said. “Are you the only one aside from your mom who knows?”
“I had to pry it out of Mom,” Dev said. “Gram pried it out of me and then the other day she slipped to Chloe. I thought maybe she slipped to you as well.”
Jayce shook his head. “But now that I know, can’t say that I feel right about Rocky and Luke being in the dark. How bad is it?”
“Bad, but getting better. Early retirement was a ruse. Mom and Dad relocated to Florida so he could undergo radical treatment with specialists. Thank God, he’s beating this thing. Should be home by Christmas. Maybe sooner.”
“So he’s going to spring the news on the family over the holidays? Brush it under the rug and never bring it up? Not for anything,” Jayce said. “But both of those options suck.”
“I know. I’m going to have a talk with him. Do me a favor and sit on this. I want to tell Rocky and Luke myself.”
Jayce eyed his friend. “Heavy load you’ve been carrying. And Jerry … Even more reason to keep anyone from rooting in my past. Looking back, I wish I wouldn’t have allowed your dad to use his influence—”
“He did what he thought was right, Jayce, and Sheriff Crawford, rest his soul, didn’t fight him on it.”
“Still—”
“Let it go.” Declaring the subject closed, Dev switched focus. “You said
concerns.
Plural. What else?”
Jayce tried to shake off the past, tried to adjust to the knowledge that Jerome Monroe was currently fighting some serious ailment. He rolled back his shoulders and focused on the present. “Your sister.”
Dev quirked a brow. “Let me guess. You’ve only been living together for two days and Rocky’s already driving you crazy.”
“First of all, if she was here, Rocky would remind you we’re not
living together,
she’s just staying with me until renovations are complete on the Clover.”
“But if you had your way…”
“We’d be married.”
Dev grinned, a genuine smile that eased the tension in the room. “Have you broached the topic?”
“She’s not ready. And besides, knowing her, she’d spin it as a ‘dutiful’ proposal. My way of protecting her.”
The smile faltered. “From?”
“I need to talk to you about something and I need you not to freak out.”
“Well, when you lead with an intro like that … Hell, Jayce.”
“Sorry. Especially since I’m about to heap on your already-existing worry, but here’s the thing. Someone’s bullying Rocky.”
Dev blinked. “What, like cyberbullying? Sending her rude e-mails or messages on Facebook?’
“I almost wish.
That
I could track. No. It’s more elusive than that. I’ve got three incidents and two suspects.”
Without dramatizing, Jayce relayed the events the night Billy pulled Rocky over for the broken taillight. The same night he warned her to watch her ass. Next, the night Rocky heard a car outside the house but saw no headlights. The night she’d called Jayce because she’d been certain she was being watched. Last, and the most concrete of threats, her thong and the damned note promising to crush her life.
To Dev’s credit, he didn’t raise his voice. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”
“Until Tuesday’s note, I wasn’t totally convinced there was a serious threat. Rocky’s still not convinced. She thinks it’s a prank. Or at least, that’s what she wants to think. She asked me to try to identify the culprit, which I would’ve done anyway.”
Dev stood and walked to the beverage bar. He poured coffee, then added a splash of whisky. “Want a hit?”
Jayce shook his head, rolled back his shoulders. He didn’t blame his friend for needing liquid fortification. By nature, Dev was overprotective of family. Knowing someone meant his sister harm had to be tying his guts in knots. Jayce knew the feeling.
“Obviously Billy is the natural suspect. He’s always been a bastard and there’s the longtime feud between the Burkes and Monroes.”
“He’s also tight with Tasha,” Jayce said, “and you know how Tasha feels about Rocky. It added up until this latest incident. The message:
You crushed my life, now I’ll crush yours.
How has Rocky crushed Billy’s life? She can’t think of anything. Can you?”
Dev shook his head.
“And the thong. That’s intimate, Dev.”
“No shit.”
“As in personal. What’s the significance of Rocky’s underwear unless…”
“A past boyfriend? Rocky’s never been one for relationships. Nothing serious anyway. I’m trying to think who…” He glanced at Jayce and frowned. “Adam Brody?”
Jayce shrugged.
“Can’t see it.”
“What do you know about him?”
“Probably as much as you. Grew up in Sugar Creek. Moved away. Moved back. Successful sports instructor.” He raised a brow. “Good friend of Luke’s.” Dev sat and sipped his spiked coffee. “I assume you did a background check.”
“Nothing suspicious or nefarious while living in Sugar Creek. Information on the years he spent in Alaska is sketchy.”
“From what I remember, when he was younger Adam was a bit of a geek.”
“He’s not a geek now.” And he’d been Rocky’s freaking “friend with benefits.”
It was just about sex. Christ.
“His social-networking accounts were pretty innocuous. Mostly posts about sports.”
“You hacked into his social networks?”
“His Twitter feed is public and his security settings on Facebook are low. Hey, we’re talking about your sister’s safety.”
Dev blew out a breath. “What about Billy?”
“No social networking.”
“E-mails?”
Tougher to crack, but doable. “A lot of racy notes to Tasha.”
“His dad’s wife. Could be a new low for Billy. She reply?”
“History shows some flirty responses. They taper off, though. No recent replies.”
Dev grunted. “So she got bored and blew him off.”
“Or wised up and laid off traceable e-mails.”
“Think they’re having an affair?”
“Haven’t found any proof.”
Dev leaned back in his chair, absorbed. “Think about everything you’ve told me today, Jayce. All signs—including his questionable character—point to Billy.”
“I’d agree except for that note. Do me a favor and talk to Luke about Adam.”
“Accuse one of his best friends of terrorizing his sister? That’ll go over well.”
“Don’t accuse Adam of anything. Manipulate the conversation so Luke offers an opinion on his friend’s state of mind.”
“And I’m doing this instead of you because?”
Jayce dragged a hand down his jaw. “Luke’s aware of some hostility between Adam and me. Not to mention your brother doesn’t hold me in the highest regards.”
“Since when? Since you took up with Rocky? He didn’t say anything to suggest he had a problem with you two dating.”
“Pretty sure he’s holding a grudge regarding the off-limits topic of the past. Trust me when I say Luke will be more open with you than me.”
Dev shook his head. “Fine. But I don’t think it’s Adam.”
“Jealousy can drive a man to crazy things,” Jayce said while pushing out of his chair. “I’ve seen it. Meanwhile just help me keep tabs on Rocky this weekend. As best you can without being obvious. We need to keep this low-key for several reasons.”
Dev stood and followed him to the door. “This is hard to take in, Jayce. You realize that, right? We’re talking Sugar Creek. Probably the lowest crime rate in all of Vermont. Any chance the underwear and note could’ve been a warped prank, something unconnected to Billy’s taunt or the fact Rocky got spooked one night?”
“Rocky wondered the same thing.”
“Considering where you lived, all you’ve seen and experienced … Any chance you’re blowing this out of proportion?”
Jayce paused on the threshold and turned. “If you’re asking me if I’m paranoid about losing the woman I love, then, yeah, it’s possible.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
From the time she’d been a little girl, Rocky had been a sucker for the Spookytown Spectacular. She was a sucker for all holidays, especially Christmas, but there was something special about Halloween or, more specifically, the way Sugar Creek celebrated Halloween.
It was always the last weekend of October. A three-day event that officially kicked off on Friday night with food and craft vendors, carnival rides, and Haunted Hall. Saturday and Sunday featured more of the same but with special events like the costume parade, scary storytelling, pumpkin carving and decorating, and horse-drawn hayrides. Family fun and spooky sensations. Something for everyone.
She was actually glad that Highlife Publishing had sent their crew to film this weekend. Yes, the focus of their shoot was the Cupcake Lovers, but she hoped with snippets of the Spookytown Spectacular included as well, the documentary would also benefit tourism—a key source of revenue for Sugar Creek businesses. Even the Monroe family store, J.T.’s, benefited from tourism.
Knowing she had a full night ahead of her and knowing Jayce planned on attending the festival, Rocky had left Brewster with Molly. Not trusting him home alone yet and not keen on putting the dog in a crate—even though Jayce had assured her it was a “safe haven”—Rocky had been overjoyed when her new boss had volunteered to pet sit. Mind at rest on that score, Rocky had packed up the cupcakes she’d baked that afternoon and headed into town.
With his obnoxious trophy wife at his side, the mayor of Sugar Creek, Randall Burke, had kicked off the festivities at 5:00 p.m. sharp, reminding those present that most of the shops and boutiques would remain open until 9:00 p.m. and the way to get free goodies at the food and craft booths was by visiting the shops whose employees had decorated their storefronts. Each shop gave out different “goody” tickets, and all you had to do was ask a salesclerk for one. While collecting “goody” tickets for their kids, a lot of adults browsed the shops and bought merchandise. Rocky had always thought the ticket and goody exchange a clever marketing ploy. As always, the “goody” tickets for the Creepy Cupcake booth were available at J.T.’s.
“So all a child has to do,” Tasha said while cheesing it up for the video camera, “is hand a Cupcake Lover one of these numbered orange tickets and they get a free cupcake. This year we’re featuring Sam McCloud’s creation—Monster-Mash Cakes.” She presented a sample to the interviewer—Amber—then passed the cupcake to the kid who’d given her the ticket.
“Where’s Rachel?” the little girl asked.
Tasha retained her fake smile. “Rachel’s not here.”
“But Mommy said she’s a Cupcake Lover.”
“She is,” Tasha said to the girl, then looked to the mom. “But she’s not here.”
“Can I have my ticket back?” the girl asked.
Tasha blinked. “Why?”
“I want Rachel to give me my cupcake.”
“Sorry,” the mom said with a self-conscious glance toward the camera. “Laurie attends Sugar Tots and she misses Rachel. We thought…” She squeezed her daughter’s shoulder. “Just say thank you, baby.”
“Can I have my ticket back?”
Red-faced, Tasha handed the kid a ticket.
At least she didn’t ask for the cupcake back,
Rocky thought.
Points for Tasha.
One of Highlife’s people stepped over for a word with the mother, and Amber motioned for the camera to “cut” before turning back to Tasha. “Did we meet Rachel last night? Was she on the fondant team or cupcake team?”
“The cupcake team,” Tasha said. “Although I don’t think … Wait. I know I saw her.”
Rocky added the last of her Choco PB & Pumpkin Cupcakes to the “Cupcakes for Charity” display, then interceded. Thus far, she’d allowed Tasha free reign with the camera crew. As much as Rocky hated to admit it, her longtime foe had been saying and doing all the right things. But in this instance Rocky worried Tasha would make poor Rachel look bad. “She left early,” Rocky said. “Just after you arrived. She wasn’t feeling well.” Or at least that’s what Rachel had claimed when, head lowered, shoulders hunched, she’d made her apologies to Rocky, Chloe, and Judy and scooted out the back door. Rocky had called to check on Rachel this morning, and she’d been better. Good enough to work at the Sugar Shack tonight.
Go figure.
“That’s too bad,” Amber said. “But, she’ll be working the booth at some point this weekend, right? Brett specifically asked for a cameo appearance, at least, of every member.”
“She’ll be here,” Tasha said.
Rocky shot her a look.
“At some point.”
“Hey, Amber!” one of the camera guys called. “That woman wouldn’t sign a release form. Doesn’t want her kid in the film. Said she was impolite.”
“That’s a shocker,” Amber said. “Most parents nowadays wouldn’t care about their kid’s manners if it meant getting them some media exposure.”
Tasha brightened. “We’re going to be an Internet sensation,” she said to Rocky.
“That’s what Highlife’s hoping,” Amber said. “Excuse me. I want to get a shot of the line forming and … check out the Moose!”