Whispers of the Falls: Book one (Twelve Oaks Farm Series 1) (14 page)

“Josh!” Grant raced forward, wrapped his arms around the man, and gave him a bear hug. “God, it’s good to see you.” He pushed him to arm’s length and looked into his brother’s face.

With a huge smile on his face, Josh replied, “You look good. I think the fresh air and work’s been good for you.”

Grant dropped his arm over Josh’s shoulder and turned toward Nina and Juan. “This is my brother Josh.”

The only resemblance Nina saw that proved they were brothers was the dark chocolate eyes and the extreme height. Josh was slimmer and darker than Grant with olive skin, but just as handsome.

“This is Nina, she owns the farm.” He pointed toward Juan. “And this is Juan.”

Josh ruffled Juan’s hair as she had seen Grant do on many occasions. “Nice to meet you, young man. Then he held out his hand and she gave him hers. He gave her hand a firm squeeze, his eyes sparkling mischievously. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

Josh shifted his weight and tore his eyes away from Nina to look at his brother. “I thought I’d surprise you. Found myself between jobs and thought I’d hang out with you for a couple of days.”

“Come on and we’ll get you cleaned up before lunch.” Together they sauntered toward the motorcycle. Over his shoulder he yelled, “We’ll see you at the house.” Josh threw his leg over the motorcycle and Grant climbed on behind. The engine revved and they bounced over the bumpy ground.

How strange. Nina watched the two as they disappeared from sight. Grant had said very little about his brother, yet they seemed close. Only thing she knew about him, he was from Richmond, Virginia. For him to show up unannounced had her curious. Always neat and well groomed, Grant seemed so out of place next to his disheveled brother. He had a-two day stubble and his hair was mused from wearing the helmet.

“Is something wrong?”

She peered at Juan as he handed her the empty basket. “No, everything’s fine.”

****

Out of hearing distance, Grant asked, “How’d you get here so quick?”

Uncle Tate sent the chopper to Richmond. The pilot landed in a pasture just up the road, helped me unload my bike, and I rode in from there.”

Grant laughed. “Why the ragged clothes?”

“You said you didn’t want Nina to know I was a homicide detective. I was going for the free spirited drifter thing.”

“You look like a hippy from the 70’s. I didn’t even know you had jeans with holes in them.” The clothes were so out of character for his younger brother. He had always had a taste for the finer things in life and that came across in his attire.

“You said it was only going to be for a few days. I wouldn’t look like this for just anybody. Besides, if your lady saw how much more handsome I am, she would drop you in a heartbeat. I am the hotter one.”

“What makes you think she is my lady?”

Josh snorted, “Please, the sexual tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.” His voice became deeper. “Is it serious?” Josh parked the motorcycle in front of the barn where Grant gestured.

Grant opened the door to the barn and stepped to the side for his brother. It would be just like his brother to get right to the point. He wasn’t the type to pussyfoot around. “I like her. I like her a lot. She’s a very special woman with strength and beauty, but I don’t think I’m ready to commit. I have a lot on my plate right now.” His brother knew just how much of a mess he was at the moment. No man in his right mind would want a permanent relationship when they had his troubled mind. Besides, he had never been interested in a long-term relationship.

Josh let out a whistle. “Nice place. When you said you were renting a room in a barn, I imagined you sleeping on a bale of hay. Pretty elegant.”

“It’s comfortable. I like it here.”

Grant opened the door to the bedroom and took Josh’s backpack. He threw it on the bed. “Are you sleeping in the house, or is she sneaking out to the barn?”

“A gentleman never tells.” To change the subject, Grant asked, “Are you still sleeping with everything in skirts?”

“You know me. I love variety.”

Grant shook his head. “I’m glad you came. Did you have trouble getting the time off?”

“No, I told them I had a family emergency. I’ll deal with the questions when I return to Richmond.” Josh moved to the window and opened the blinds. He seemed enthralled with all the animals that dotted the pasture eating the rich green grass. “A man could get accustomed to waking up to this every morning.” Silence followed until he asked, “Tell me what’s going on with the gorgeous Nina.”

By the time Grant had given Josh a full account of the danger surrounding her, Juan knocked on the door. He opened it a crack and peeked in before announcing, “Mama has lunch ready.”

Juan looked at Josh with interest. Grant knew he probably had a hundred questions he wanted to ask but refrained from asking them. Now that his brother was there he felt better. A decorated officer, he would be able to protect Nina, Juan, and Maria while he was dealing with Collins. It was like having a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders.

****

After Nina and Juan left to deliver the okra crop and the last of the tomatoes to the farmer’s market, Grant called Uncle Tate to meet him in Raleigh. No way would he be back before Nina returned, but she would think he and Josh had gone somewhere together since his brother had orders to stay out of sight until he returned.

He put the windows down and enjoyed the breeze. Together again with Josh had him feeling carefree as they were in their youth. After their father’s death, they had forged an even stronger bond.

It took forty-five minutes to get to Raleigh. After making sure he had not been followed, Grant pulled into the parking lot at Sunshine Park and walked to the bench under the shade of a huge oak. From behind him he could hear the laughter of children. A merry-go-round piled with children of various ages twirled. His stomach rolled because he had never been able to handle spinning in circles. Unable to watch, he turned his back and sat on the bench.

A couple of squirrels circled a huge oak loudly chirping. It was a peaceful scene, but he found himself missing Nina and the seclusion of the farm. Maybe he was in deeper trouble than he first thought. It seemed she was constantly on his mind. Swamped with distress, he wished he would have held part of himself back instead of letting Nina slip into his heart. Sex had a way of clouding a man’s mind.

In the distance he saw Uncle Tate walking toward him. He stood and embraced his uncle. “You look good. I’d say the time away from the battles has been just what you need.”

“I feel great. Thanks for giving me a reason to get my life in order. It beats sitting on mama’s couch watching TV. Twelve Oaks Farm is quiet and secluded. I can relax there.”

“You might not think so when you hear what I have to say.”

Grant took a deep breath to control the rapid beat of his heart. Did his uncle have proof that Nina was involved with Collins? By his demeanor, he had some terrible news.

“Maybe you should sit down.” Tate sat beside Grant and took off his sunglasses tossing them to the bench. He opened his brief case and pulled out a manila envelope. He peered over his shoulder to make sure no one was in the vicinity to see what he had in the envelope. He handed Grant a stack of pictures. He took his time flipping through the violent scenes.

“Last night someone took out ten men associated with the Mendez Cartel.” Some of the dead men were no more than boys. “It was a bloodbath.”

One particular photograph caught his attention. The boy in the picture wasn’t old enough to be involved with drugs. It was a gruesome scene. “Who is the Mendez Cartel?”

“They cross into United States in a plane from Mexico. Then they parachute four or five men to clear areas for the planting of marijuana. Next they plant the seeds and take care of the crop until harvest time. They live in tents, never leaving the crop. When it is time to harvest, they dry the crop in nearby trees. The only time they leave the area is when it is time to transport the crop to a warehouse, usually in the middle of the night in boxes. For years they only parachuted into the wilderness of the western states. Pablo Mendez has moved into North Carolina and surrounding states because of the drought in the west. We have been trying to catch him for years.”

His stomach twisted. The pictures brought back the terrible battle that Grant lost his men. Ben McKenzie was only twenty-eight years old and left behind two small children. He blinked so he could get the image of Ben bleeding out in the desert of Iran out of his head.

Some of the faces he found himself looking at couldn’t be more than sixteen. After he was released from the hospital, he visited the families of his three fallen comrades. It had to be the most heartbreaking thing he had ever done.

“Do you know who killed them?”

“The only person I can think of is Collins. The Mendez Cartel is a huge organized operation. Word on the street is someone warned them to pull out of North Carolina, or suffer the consequences.” He tapped three of the images on the picture. “Mendez’s three sons.” Uncle Tate visibly shuddered. “An old red truck was parked in the drive. Mendez’s wife peered under the canvas draped over the truck bed. Can you imagine the shock when she saw the bodies of her sons and seven other men we assume worked for Pablo Mendez? The neighbors heard her screams and called the police.”

Whoever was responsible had to be one cold hearted son of a bitch. Killing them and then leaving their bodies for their mother to find was vile. Grant had sensed Randal Collins was evil, but he didn’t believe he could do something so heartless. The man was no more than a vicious dog that didn’t deserve to live. To think that Nina had once been involved with the man caused his stomach to knot. Grant handed the pictures back to Tate unable to stomach the violence any longer.

“Collins didn’t want the competition.”

Grant raked his fingers through his hair. “Do you know where the killings took place?”

“No, not yet. A lot of blood was spilled last night. Forensics has the truck looking for any evidence. Hopefully someone left some DNA behind. Collins is trying to send a message.”

“Why are you so sure it was Collins?”

“In reality I have no evidence.” Tate returned the pictures to the manila envelope and dropped them into his briefcase before snapping it shut. “Deep down in my gut I feel it is Randal Collins. I want to take him down for more than drug charges. I want to send him to prison for life.” In a cold voice, he snapped, “These men were no more than thugs, probably never worked an honest day in their lives. More than likely they are as evil as Collins, but Officer Shaw was another matter. He was a good man with a family. If for no other reason, I want him put away for Shaw’s death.” As an afterthought he added, “If his father Matthew is involved, I also want him to go down with his son. Trouble is he was seen having dinner with his wife in Raleigh last night at the time the murders took place.”

Grant eased back onto the bench and crossed his legs. “That doesn’t mean he didn’t have anything to do with the murders. He could have ordered the hits.”

“I agree. He was probably giving himself an alibi. Still, I feel he’s involved.” In a stiff tight voice, he asked, “Have you had any luck with Miss Reynolds?”

“No, she’s not involved.”

“Are you turning a blind eye? You barely know her but you are defending her. I’m aware of the affection you feel for her, but people’s lives are at stake. I asked for your help to end the bloodshed. Did you bother hiding the bugs in her house?”

His words hung in the air. “Trust me, she’s not involved.”

His uncle narrowed his eyes in warning. “You didn’t answer my question. Why didn’t you hide the bugs? Are you trying to keep something from me?”

Grant couldn’t very well tell him because he was sleeping with Nina and didn’t want the FBI to know. “No, I’m not keeping anything from you. As I told you before Nina and her sisters are innocent. I’d stake my life on it.” Not wanting to continue the conversation about Nina, he stood. “Walk me back to my car.”

Uncle Tate fell into step beside him. “This is getting too dangerous. I want you and Josh to go home. I regret asking for your help. Now it is the responsibility of the FBI to take down Collins.”

His sense of honor kept him from leaving Nina in a situation that he may have caused. “I’m in for the long haul. I’ll not leave Nina until I’m sure she is no longer in danger.”

“You are too emotionally involved. Even though you have given me the evidence I hoped you would, I regret asking for your help. None of this is worth you losing your life.”

Grant stopped and faced his uncle. “Thanks for providing Josh with transportation. I feel better having him around. It’s possible Collins might try to harm Nina. The man’s obsessed and I don’t feel comfortable leaving her at the farm without protection. I’ll go back out to the marijuana crop tomorrow and see if Matthew Collins makes an appearance.”

“At least let me send in an FBI agent. I fear this is more than you can handle.”

“You asked for my help. Besides, I’m not on the payroll so you can’t fire me. Now that I have come this far, I am not leaving.” Pulling his keys from his pocket, Grant asked, “Did you find out anything about Clay?”

“Yes, Clay Myers is Collins’ cousin on his mother’s side. He has been in and out of prison since he was eighteen for various crimes. He was suspected of murder once but was released because of lack of evidence.”