Yellow Ribbons (17 page)

“I can handle things here if you’d like to leave. You and Master Gunnery Sergeant Landess have been through the wringer the last couple of days.”

He had no idea. “Thanks. I will. Once the NCIS team arrives, you can call it a night and let them process everything unless they need further support.”

“I’ll advise Special Agent Beck, ma’am.”

“No need. I’ll talk to him. Double-check the MPs to make sure they’ve talked to all the neighbors hovering about.”

“Will do, ma’am.”

They split off in two different directions. Lani had never seen the man more confident. Thank God he’d finally stepped up to the plate.

She found Jordan staring at the crime scene, lost in thought, furrows permanently etched between his eyebrows.

“Greg duking it out with Pattison and Juarez?” he asked.

“No. They’ve gone.”

“Good. The last thing I want right now is those two up my ass.” He huffed a fake laugh. “Any more than I suppose you and Greg want me up yours.”

Did she really need to respond to that?

“I need to go thank him for intervening.” He cracked his back as he stretched upright.

“He’s gone too. He took the dog home.”

That cold, calculating mask she’d grown to hate returned. Lani wouldn’t let him make something out of Greg’s concern for the dog.

“We need to have a word.”

“Very well.” His features relaxed with his nod.

Lani walked on without waiting. He caught up quickly, yet said nothing until they stood by her car away from eavesdroppers.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Let it go, Jordan. Please.”

To his credit, he didn’t feign innocence of what she was speaking.

“He’s a good man, Jordan. He’s helped so many people over the years. Helped shape hundreds of marines who’ll carry that legacy on. Don’t ruin all the good he’s done.”

“The two of you violated the UCMJ. The general—”

“It’s over between us. What does it truly matter? Look… Do what you want to me, but please leave Greg out of it.”

He stared down at her, his face void of expression, like she was a suspect he wanted to trip up. Maybe she was. They had violated military rules. An out-and-out confession would clinch the deal for him.

“I’ll consider it.” Jordan left her standing there, his spine ramrod straight as he marched back to the house.

It was the best she could hope for.

Lani watched the activity from a distance, searching for anomalies among the crowd. What could have sparked the killer’s interest about this woman? She’d only returned from overseas that afternoon. No yellow ribbon draped her door. Jeanette Shepard had removed it herself. No emotion existed in this killing. The murder was determined and methodical, as if he was trying to prove a point. But why this woman and not another, equally alone female across the street with yellow ribbons strung all around the house? Because Shepard was drunk and didn’t fight back?

She nodded. A possibility. In the close quarters of base housing, someone would have heard a struggle. Shepard was defenseless, passed out from booze. Smothered, then posed with yellow ribbons binding her. Different from the previous murders, yet the same. A killer evolving.

Lani shivered at the thought. She didn’t have the stomach or the expertise to deal with a serial killer. They’d have to call in the FBI. They could have it. She doubted that would sit well with Jordan or Pattison, or Juarez either, since he’d decided it was time to prove himself. They could hash it out between themselves. Lani was done.

The word punched her in the gut. Maybe she and Greg were over, but not like this. Not without talking about what lay between them. Jordan was occupied. No one would know she’d gone to Greg’s. If Greg wouldn’t let her past the door, so be it. But she had to try. What they’d had didn’t deserve to be ended with harsh words. If she would never see him again, never know the pleasure of his touch, the warmth of his body pressing into hers, then at least they could part on good terms with memories to last a lifetime.

She reached his house in record time. Inside and outside lights greeted her. Lani briefly considered ringing the bell. Instead, she used her key for what would be the last time and walked in the front door. Two stainless steel dog bowls sat out of the way on the kitchen floor. One contained water; the other was empty. She heard Greg in the laundry room telling Mita what a good girl she was and that it would be over soon.

Lani walked that way, then leaned against the doorjamb to watch Greg try to towel dry the cocker. Tail a wag, Mita shook. Droplets exploded to the four corners of the room, catching Lani in the fallout. She didn’t budge.

“Now here comes the hard part,” Greg told her. “You’ve got to sit still while I brush and dry you. Don’t worry. I’ve got Lani’s high quality blow-dryer here, and I can assure you, she won’t mind us using it.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Would you?”

She should have known she couldn’t get past his ninja senses. “I don’t mind at all.”

“I collected what evidence I could from her.” He motioned to the evidence bags on the opposite counter. “Blood on her paws. I did a comb through, clipped her nails. Didn’t find anything in her teeth. She’s been a good sport about it all. She’s a good dog.” He flicked on the blow-dryer. Mita dutifully sat, eyes closed, sucking in the warmth as Greg groomed her.

“You realize Shepard’s husband will probably want her back.”

“I doubt it. Shepard told me that he loved Mita too, but didn’t want to be tied down with a dog. He and his girlfriend wanted to be free to come and go as they please.”

“The two of you talked a lot this afternoon.”

“She talked. I listened.”

Greg brought that out in people. They naturally wanted to confide in him. Lani couldn’t fault him for that.

“I should have stayed with her,” he said. “My instincts told me not to leave her alone. I ignored them. I had to get that stupid list to Seaberg. If it weren’t for that, she might still be alive. I was rattled after I talked with him. All I wanted was to get home.”

To her, and she’d screwed it up by jumping all over him the minute he’d walked in the door. Followed it up by a rash, childish act. Look what it had gotten them. She longed to wrap her arms around him and tell him it was all right, that there was nothing he could have done. If she’d been surer of what remained of their friendship, Lani would have done so. It killed her to stand there and do nothing.

“Want me to put out some food for Mita?” she asked.

“A handful, please. I want her to feel comfortable but don’t want to risk upsetting her stomach. I hated to give her a bath, but…”

The bloodstained tufts of fur around her paws made it necessary.

“I didn’t get much to eat tonight. I imagine you didn’t either.” Lani rubbed a sudden chill from her arms. “How about some grilled cheese sandwiches and a glass of ice-cold milk?”

“Sounds like a deal to me. We won’t be long.”

Uncharacteristic tears flooded Greg’s eyes. He turned off the dryer while he blinked his vision clear. His heart ached for Lani’s arms around him, comforting him, telling him it was going to be all right. Hell, it was never going to be all right again.

Mita hooked her paw over his forearm—a request that he get back to business. Greg managed a chuckle and clicked the dryer on.

“Sorry. Don’t know what I was thinking.”

Yeah, he did. He was thinking of Lani. Always Lani. Somehow her scent had cut through that of the dog shampoo when she’d walked up to the door. Or maybe he’d heard her over the running water. No, none of that. He’d sensed her. Like the very essence of who Lani was had wriggled through his body. He’d wished for her to come to him, and here she was. Greg was afraid to ask her why she had come, afraid she’d tell him she’d come to pick up her things. His heart couldn’t take that right now.

Mita’s sigh said she wished he’d hurry up. Greg tried to accommodate her. Her owners hadn’t gone with the traditional cocker spaniel cut. No long furry feathers dragged her down. She was cut for comfort, well cared for, well loved. Shepard’s husband might have second thoughts once he learned Jeanette was gone. Greg tried not to get attached to the cats and dogs that wandered his way. This one was going to be hard. He’d grown very fond of Mita in such a short time.

“All right, girl. Good enough.”

He set her on her feet. Mita shook for good measure, then darted to the side door when he opened it to his fenced yard. “Scratch at the door when you’re ready to come back in.” By the marks on Shepard’s sliding glass door, he presumed she was used to that routine. If not, he’d check on her in a few minutes.

Greg never got the chance. He’d barely cleaned up the mess and was on his way to return Lani’s blow-dryer to the master bathroom when Mita scratched at the door. Once he opened it, she made a beeline to the kitchen and the handouts. He found her at Lani’s feet, her big brown eyes focused on the four grilled cheese sandwiches coming off the stove. Lani chatted her up, telling her there was no way she was getting a taste. Mita’s stubby tail wagged all the same. Her food bowl had been licked clean.

Lani had stripped off her cammie blouse and removed her boots, like Greg had when he’d gotten home. It comforted him to see her settling in. This was normal. Mita’s presence made it more so. It was also a lie. Nothing was normal.

“All ready.” She pinched off a minuscule tidbit from the corner of one sandwich. “Want a taste?” she asked, and Greg knew that she
accidentally
dropped it on the floor when she brought the tidbit toward his mouth. Mita snapped it up in a heartbeat. Lani’s eyes gleamed. “Oops.”

“Nice to know I’m not the only one who’s a sucker for big brown eyes.”

“Whatever do you mean?” She batted her eyes and carried the plate to the breakfast bar. Mita followed her every move.

Greg poured two large glasses of milk, grabbed the bag of chocolate chip cookies from the cupboard, then sat across from Lani. Eating was now the last thing on his mind. He picked up the sandwich nonetheless, bit into the heaven of melted cheese, and looked for the words to explain himself.

“I was eighteen and right out of boot camp when I met Denise.”

Lani set her sandwich down and met his gaze.

“I was young, dumb, and full of cum. I was a marine and sure I could conquer the world and everything in it. God’s gift to women. A little short-tempered, very cocky. She got pregnant. We got married. I got orders. It was wrong from the start. When I got back, she wasn’t there to meet me. I went to the house and found her in bed with someone else. I knew then what a fool I’d been. She told me that while I was gone she’d miscarried. I knew it was a lie. She confirmed it later. Told me it wasn’t mine anyway, and that it shouldn’t matter. I lost control, Lani. Went ape-shit crazy. If it weren’t for Lieutenant Colonel Seaberg and Colonel Turner, I wouldn’t be sitting here as a marine today.”

Lani slipped her hand over his forearm, giving him the comfort he’d longed for in the laundry room. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Greg put his sandwich down, wiped his fingers on the paper towel, and covered her hand with his. “It would be an underestimate to tell you I’m ashamed and embarrassed about that period of my life. I am
mortified
by it. The last thing I ever wanted was to tell you something so horrifying about myself, especially considering the control you place in my hands. I was scared to death to see indecision and fear in your eyes. Disgust. Hatred. Afraid I’d…”
Lose you.

She turned her hand and laced her fingers through his. “I should have found a better way to ask you about it, rather than attacking you when you came in the door. I was shocked when Jordan told me. I couldn’t believe you would—”

“Lie? Because it was a lie not to tell you.” Greg freely admitted that. “I behaved like an ass today. All those things about myself I thought I’d buried long ago came raging to the surface.”

“And I was a vindictive bitch. Lashing out, hurting myself as well as you in the process.” She snorted. “Aren’t we the pair?”

“Yeah, I suppose we are.” Greg gripped her hand, afraid she’d jerk away when he uttered the only words he could, the ones he’d longed to tell her months ago. “Lani, I love you.”

Her breath came out in a whoosh. “I love you too.” She bit her lower lip.

Greg leaned forward and kissed her, a simple touch of lips that squeezed his heart until Greg thought he’d die. It was Lani who broke free, butting her forehead against his.

“To what end?”

He cupped her face, gently tilting it upward. “Does there have to be an end?”

Lani whimpered when he nipped at the corners of her mouth. “There will be consequences.”

“There are already consequences, sweetheart. We’ll deal with them tomorrow. Tonight is us, here, in love. The rest of the world doesn’t exist.”

“We… We can plan that secret vacation.”

Joy and despair raged inside. Secret liaisons were all they’d ever have. It was better than nothing. Greg was determined to see they kept it. He’d do whatever it took to get Jordan to keep his mouth shut.

Lani leaned against the padded headrest and watched the stars overhead. Warm bubbles swirled around them. Greg was so still, she wondered if he’d fallen asleep. She sure wanted to. Relaxed, a full stomach, a fuller heart, and one hell of a day. Mita ignored their invitation to come outside and had curled into a deep sleep of her own on a pile of old blankets in the corner of the living room. She and Greg had talked of Maui, researched an itinerary, set the date. The only things remaining to be done were to coordinate with their siblings so their asses would be covered when they left and to put in leave requests.

Oh, what a dangerous game they played. The success of which depended on keeping Jordan quiet, of lying low, and hoping no one else discovered their secret. What would buy the silence of a man like Jordan? For all she knew, he could have already filed his report. One e-mail would ruin them both.

She and Greg had yet to speak of it. They’d fallen into the game of pretending they were a normal couple with a normal life tonight, hiding behind the walls declarations of love erected around them. A pretty illusion, nothing more. Not the love, that was real. It was the rest of the game that was going to bring it all tumbling down.