Chemical Attraction (22 page)

“You and Sylvia will go. You have a choice of how. You can either fight us or make the suggestion yourself.”

“I volunteer?” David asked.

Joe paid for the pizzas and handed the boxes to David. “Not only will it show you can be a team player, it will put your mom at ease. She’s scared. I haven’t mentioned this to your parents yet. That can be your idea.”

“Fine,” David replied as they walked out the door.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Madeline asked after Joe and David left the driveway. She didn’t want to think about her and Joe. It was too confusing.

“There’s not much to tell.” Eva hit the switch to lower the garage door. They walked back into the kitchen and sat at the table. Matt sensed their need for privacy and left to make some calls to his officers about her assault. She quietly held Eva’s hand. “He enjoyed punching me and told me that as soon as he got the okay he’d give it to me good.”

“Did you hear him call Matt?”

Eva looked down at her lap. “Yeah, I heard every word. I also heard the phone call from his boss. He was angry afterward and took it out on me.”

“Did Larry say why he was so angry?”

“He said the boss saw the sheriff take evidence from our house.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” Matt said quietly from the doorway.

Eva wrapped her arms around her abdomen. “I haven’t had the chance. Do you think someone is watching?”

“I’d say somebody is keeping a close eye on all of us,” Madeline replied. She filled them in on the last two days of travel. Matt cracked a smile when she told them about flashing her badge at the police post.

“How many stops did you make?” Eva asked.

“Thirty-two with eight or more boxes still in the truck.”

Matt rubbed the back of his head. “No wonder we’re making them nervous. That’s a lot of money.” Hearing Joe’s car, he opened the garage door and had closed it behind them before they got out.

“These smell so good,” David said, carrying the boxes into the kitchen.

While Eva set paper plates and napkins on the table, Madeline took drink orders. “I filled them in,” she told Joe.

“It’ll take some time to organize surveillance of the sites with the locals,” Joe said, taking a big bite of his supreme.

“I’ll find out tomorrow if Larry will tell us who he’s working for,” Matt replied.

Eva rubbed the bruised side of her jaw. “This is getting very dangerous. We don’t even know if it’s a few people or the entire company.”

David looked at Madeline. “I was thinking that maybe I should take Mrs. Folkert somewhere, like Aunt Taylor’s, so Madeline won’t worry about her.”

“Oh, David, that would be a huge relief knowing she’d be safe,” Madeline replied.

With tears in her eyes, Eva nodded at the idea. “I’ll call Taylor,” she whispered.

“I’ll do it,” Joe said. “We’ll need a plan, so they aren’t followed.”

Joe didn’t like the idea of bringing Stuart and Taylor into the situation, but he needed someone he trusted. As a former Marine Lieutenant, Stuart knew how to protect the family. Returning to the kitchen, he heard Madeline say she’d go over and talk to her aunt. “Not without an escort,” he said. “Nobody goes anywhere alone.”

“Let’s get that taken care of before we discuss the next steps. David has a few good ideas,” Matt replied. Joe patted David’s shoulder when he left to pack.

After Joe parked the car in front of Sylvia’s place, Madeline kissed his cheek. “I’m glad you helped David save face. You’re a great guy.”

“I know.” He smirked.

Rolling her eyes, she hiked up the path to the porch steps. “Do we tell her the truth?”

“Do you want her to know we’re secret agents?” He chuckled.

She glared. “Scientist, not agent.”

“Yeah, whatever you say, baby.”

She groaned. “I guess I’d better come clean,” she replied, stepping into the cool house.

Finding Sylvia in the kitchen drinking iced tea, they sat down with her. From the beginning, Madeline explained the missing three months after college, the reason for his stay in town, and Eva’s recent abduction. Every time Madeline paused, Sylvia said, “Oh my.”

After the fifth “Oh my,” Madeline stopped. “Aunt Sylvia, are you upset with me?”

“No, dear. It just explains quite a lot about Joseph and you,” she replied, staring past him.

“Then why keep saying ‘Oh my’?” he asked.

“I imagine what you’re doing is dangerous?”

“Yes, it is,” he said, sitting forward in his chair.

“Well, there was a man here yesterday asking questions. First, he wanted information about the B & B as if he wanted a room. Then, he asked about the types of people I rented to, specifically Joseph.”

He stood and paced. “What did he look like?”

“He was in his late forties and wore a black suit with a red tie. I thought it was odd. He wasn’t sweating in it.”

“Aunt Sylvia, what exactly did he ask you about Joe?” Madeline asked, hiding her trembling hands on her lap.

“He wanted to know what types of jobs my boarders had and then asked about the man staying with me now as an example.”

Joe tightened his fists and continued to pace. “What did you say?”

“I didn’t tell him anything. My patrons’ lives are private. I’m no gossip, Joseph.”

“I need you to pack a bag,” he said, folding his arms. He’d drag her out of here if he had to. Another reference to a guy in a red tie, it couldn’t be a fluke.

“I don’t understand.”

“Aunt Sylvia, you and David are in danger. These people don’t like us nosing around.”

“Oh dear,” she said, standing up. “Where are we going?”

“I’ll explain while we pack,” Madeline replied.

Taking her cell from her pocket, she handed it to Joe. Madeline anticipated his next move. He needed a partner like that, he thought, as he dialed Matt’s cell. “Hey, we have another problem. Sylvia says a man has been asking questions about me. Driving is too dangerous, but I’ll make a couple of calls. Our only advantage now is that he doesn’t know we’re aware of him or that the FBI’s involved.”

“Yeah, I understand. This really stinks, Joe. One of us is going to get seriously hurt.”

“Not if we stay smart and a step ahead.” He called in a favor, which he knew he’d pay dearly for. Then he called Stuart with the changes. He hung up as Madeline carried Sylvia’s suitcase down the steps.

“Are you sure Taylor won’t mind us staying with her? She’s a new mother, you know.”

“With you and David keeping Lily busy, it’ll be a big help,” Joe replied.

“What about my place?”

“We’ll play house and keep an eye on everything.” He smiled. Pink-faced, Madeline shook her head and looked at the suitcase.

Sylvia chuckled. “All right, but if you make a mess, you clean it up. Joseph, you play nice.”

Madeline stuck her tongue out at him. Laughing, he set the bag on the porch and looked around slowly. Making sure that the street and yards were empty, he quickly put the suitcase in the backseat. Madeline and Sylvia strolled out the door as if going for a Sunday drive.

David watched the driveway and waited for his uncle to return. His dad had said there was a change of plans and Uncle Joe would explain. Maybe he’d get to stay and help after all. Seeing his uncle pull into the driveway, he hit the button to raise the garage door. Joe drove in before the door was fully up and indicated to lower it. Once down, they got out.

“Where’s your dad?” Uncle Joe asked.

“He’s trying to get mom to rest. It’s not working though.”

“Go get ‘em.” Mrs. Folkert and Madeline sat down at the kitchen table. Scratching the back of his head, Joe paced until the rest joined them. “Here’s how we’re going to do this. I’ve arranged for a plane to pick David and Sylvia up at the municipal airport. It’ll take them to Ann Arbor. Someone will watch the house as an added precaution. I’ve already talked to Stuart and he’ll pick them up.”

“What time?” his dad asked.

“Not until one-fifteen tonight. Madeline and I will drop them off.”

“Why the change?” his mom asked, standing to make coffee, knowing it would be a long night.

“Aunt Sylvia met a man who asked questions about Joe’s line of work.” Madeline described him for the group.

“Was it a pinstripe black suit?” David asked. The group stared at him.

“Yes, it was, David. Do you know this man?” Mrs. Folkert asked.

“Not exactly,” he said, standing. “Just a minute and I’ll show you.” He left the room as his mom hugged herself, standing by the sink. Returning, he spread the drawings out on the table. Searching the pile, he pulled one out. The group looked at a rough crayon sketch of the man. “Nate drew it yesterday.”

“Did they say who it was?” Uncle Joe asked.

“No, they have a hard time talking when they can’t hear. That man scared them. The little guy, Stevie, started crying when I held it up. Kim and I tried to figure it out, but they clammed up and didn’t even want to play anymore.”

“Who is this guy? And who does he work for?” his mom asked.

“He may work at BennTech, but other than that I haven’t a clue. In the DVD that we found at Larry’s house, he talks to a guy and refers to his red tie,” Uncle Joe said.

“Madeline, do you know anybody at work that wears a red tie and suit all the time?” his dad asked, shifting the conversation away from Uncle Joe’s break-in.

“I don’t pay that much attention,” she said, looking through the drawings. “Joe, look at this.” She slid the picture over to him.

“That barn looks like the distribution center in Three Rivers. I’ll talk to them tomorrow,” Uncle Joe replied, scanning the other pictures.

“I think maybe Dad should. As they drew, I did, too. I wanted to keep them distracted. In my pictures, I drew Dad in uniform, so they would trust him. In others, I drew him playing catch and football.”

“Excellent,” Uncle Joe replied.

He grinned. “They already like Mom. She saved them from the sheriff.”

“That ass tried to intimidate those boys. Luckily, David was there to call me.”

“David’s turning into quite the policeman,” Mrs. Folkert said.

“Too much so,” his dad said, folding his arms. “I’ll check on the boys first thing tomorrow morning. Then I’ll have a chat with Larry.”

“We’ll hang out here. I can make my calls. Eva and Madeline can talk about what a great guy I am.”

“Sorry, great guy, but I have an all-day meeting that requires my attendance,” Madeline replied.

“You can’t miss it?”

“I have to talk to our board of directors about my project, so they’ll continue funding. I don’t know if I’ll still be there, but it’s important research.”

Uncle Joe continued to pace while the group threw out more questions.

MONDAY

AT ONE IN THE MORNING, Joe backed his car out of the garage. Madeline sat next to him in plain sight. David crouched on the floor in the back and Sylvia stretched out on the seat. He stopped for a couple of minutes at the B & B and looked around for any movement. He then headed for the small airport outside the city limits across from the high school. Instead of pulling into the airport’s drive, he parked in the school’s lot. Turning off his lights, they quietly waited. Right on time, a Cessna Conquest landed next to the outbuilding. Leaving his headlights off, he drove across the road onto the dark runway.

“You two stay put. Madeline and I will be right back. No talking.”

As they walked toward the plane, two people jumped out to meet them. A voluptuous woman with spiky black hair rushed to him as a tall wiry man stood behind.

“Hey Joey,” she said, hugging him.

He stood back from her. “Thanks for coming on such short notice. This is Dr. Madeline Pierce. Dr. Pierce, these are Agents Ray Anderson and Rita McMillan.”

Ignoring Madeline, Rita continued. “Joey, I had to call in a few favors, so I expect your attention later.” She placed her fingers on his chest and slid them in the direction of his jeans.

He grabbed her hand and pushed it aside. “Ray, make sure someone watches the house from a distance. Stuart Morgan will meet you. This is extremely important.”

“Sure, Joe,” Ray said, walking closer to Madeline. “It will be my pleasure to protect you, Maddy.” He placed his hand at her back to escort her to the plane.

He scowled. “Ray, it’s Dr. Pierce.”

“As much as I’d enjoy a ride with you, I have to stay here. I’ll introduce you to your cargo,” she replied, guiding him to the car.

Clenching his jaw, Joe watched Ray’s outline and told Rita her destination. Ray returned with Sylvia’s suitcase. David had his bag and backpack while Madeline held her aunt’s hand. Ray helped them into the middle section of the small ten-seater Cessna.

He ignored Rita next to him and poked his head though the open door. “David, stay alert. If you sense anything unusual, talk to your Uncle Stuart. Sylvia, give the kids a big hug from me.” He reached in to squeeze her hand.

“Joseph, take care of my niece, and no wild parties. You’ve definitely brought excitement into my life.”

Ray held Madeline’s hand and whispered in her ear as she smiled. Flexing his hand, Joe helped Rita up the narrow steps. “I expect a personal reward for helping you, Joey.”

“Stop calling me Joey and keep your bird fired up. I may need you to bring the guys at the end of the week. Be ready.”

“I’m always ready for you, Joey.”

He stalked to his car. “Ray, get going and pay attention to your job.” He walked with him while Madeline sat on the trunk.

“Are you getting anywhere with her?” Ray whispered. “Of course you are. You’re the King-of-All-Players.” Ray stopped laughing when Joe grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

“Shut your mouth and do your job. If you screw this up, I will destroy you. Do you understand me?” he whispered, before letting him go.

“Jeez, Joe, what’s your problem? Of course, I’ll do my job. Lighten up.”

They watched the plane take off, then headed back to her aunt’s place. “What’d he say to you?” Joe finally asked as they parked along the street. His white knuckles gripped the steering wheel.

“The usual lame one-liners. What’s the deal with little Miss Hotty?”

“Nothing, she’s the only pilot I knew on short notice,” he replied, watching her closely.

“Okay.” She shrugged.

She found her keys at the bottom of her purse and unlocked the door of the B & B. Not bothering to turn on the light, she waited for him to unlock his Blue Room. Once inside, she tossed her purse in the chair and stepped into the bathroom. Did he expect a fight about Rita? She knew he played the game. He was good at it. She was learning to play, too.

In bed, Joe pulled her body closer. “Are you mad at me?”

She sighed at the comfort. “For what?”

“The Rita thing,” he whispered into her hair.

She took his hand and kissed it. “Are you mad at the Ray thing?”

“Yes, but at him.”

“I trust you, Joey.” She giggled.

“Don’t you start. Joey is what my sisters and Lily call me.”

She laughed. “So I shouldn’t call you that while we’re in bed?”

“Only if you want to creep me out.”

In the early morning hours, Deputy Kurt Lawson lay half-asleep in the back room on a makeshift cot. The silence of the department lulled him after a long day of paperwork. The county jail full to capacity caused them to use an old holding cell in the front office for Larry Murphy. Sheriff Benton wanted him isolated anyway. Someone needed to stay. Kurt had volunteered so he could sleep in peace for a change. His newborn daughter kept him up at night with colic. It was a shitty thing to do to Barbie, but he would get the overtime. It would pay for a weekend getaway.

Larry had finally settled down. He had ranted incoherently most of the evening about his groin pain. They had taken blood for a tox screen. He had to be high to pull a stunt like that. To grab the chief’s wife, he had to be nuts and drugged out of his mind. Chief Connor adored his petite beauty. Kurt had seen her strong will at various functions dealing with doctors, lawyers, and even the sheriff, so it didn’t surprise him that she fought back. Kurt drifted off into a deep, inviting sleep.

Larry Murphy sat quietly on the cot in his cell. His damn kid had given him away. All he wanted were a few beers at the Hartford. He had liked hitting her and wanted to screw her, too. He thought he’d have the last laugh until Chief Connor crashed through the door. Then she kicked him. His balls throbbed. He still didn’t know who’d broken that glass.

He decided in the morning he’d make a deal to a lesser charge. That had kept him from serious jail time before. He knew a name that would make them hard. If he played his cards right, he’d walk out those doors tomorrow afternoon. He lay on his cot and thought of different ways to rub his freedom in the face of Chief Connor and his wife.

Larry’s nagging headache grew worse. He bolted from the cot and grabbed the side of his head. Shutting his eyes, he fell to his knees beside the bars. Anger at Eva Connor overcame him as the pain pierced his skull. He couldn’t even yell for help. He rammed his head against the metal. For a split second, the pain lessened. Taking extreme measures, he continued to whack his head against the bar.

After only a few hours of sleep, Joe drove Madeline to her apartment to shower and change into dress clothes. He dropped her off in front of her research building and warned her to stay around other people.

“I know, I know, I’ll be careful. I’ll call you later, Joey.”

“You’ll pay for that!” he yelled back.

He pulled into the garage next to Eva’s car. He wanted to make some calls. Later, he figured he’d distract his sister by talking about Madeline. “I need coffee,” he said, reaching for a cup by the half-full pot. Matt leaned on the counter.

Wearing one of Matt’s t-shirts as a dress, Eva sipped her coffee at the table. “Any problems?”

“No, Stuart called me as soon as they got to the house,” Joe replied.

After Matt adjusted his utility belt, Eva hugged him tight. “Be careful,” she whispered.

“I love you, too,” Matt replied before leaving for the hospital.

Madeline had just enough time to gather her notes from her office and hurry to the large conference room. Hoping for a seat in the back, she found researcher Sydney Collins waving her toward his saved seat in the last row. The room consisted of long lines of seats for the seventy-five researchers. A microphone and podium divided the room in the middle with the board of directors and administration in the front on a dais. Intimidation and fear filled the room. Researchers went through this bullshit three times a year for the shareholders. The first two years she had wanted to vomit from nervousness. Now, she gave her update knowing it was out of her hands.

“I know you liked the back,” Sydney said.

“I could just kiss you,” Madeline replied.

“Yuck, you’re gross. Go get some coffee.” He laughed.

She set her folder on the seat and walked to the side table for coffee and donuts. She glanced at Dr. Vandeen, who was conversing with Dr. Russell by the podium. Returning with her coffee and two long johns, she handed one to Sydney. “I am so tired,” she said.

He nibbled his pastry. “You have bags under your eyes. Are you tired from worrying about your project or from that handsome hunk everyone’s been talking about?”

“What are they saying?”

“That you and that delicious piece of meat moved in together.”

Splurting out her coffee, she laughed. “Wow, news travels fast. Did you happen to see where I am on the presentation list?”

“I’m sixteenth. I saw yours on the fourth page at sixty-seven.”

“Damn it. Those bastards do that to me on purpose.” She sighed and glanced around the room. Many researchers looked pale and ready to pass out. Most continued to scan their notes and prepare for questions. Everyone waited quietly.

Amanda jumped up and slid open the OccHealth window. “How is she? We heard Larry beat her up.”

“She has a purple jaw and some bruises, but she’s tough,” Matt replied.

“Why would he do that to her?”

“She doesn’t know. He was here last week for a physical. My guess, he didn’t like her rebuff.”

“Are you going to make him pay?” she asked, making a fist.

“If I don’t, she will. She’s taking a few days off, though,” he replied. “Have you heard how those boys are doing?”

“They left late last night. Someone picked them up.”

He stormed around the corner and down the hall to the nurse’s desk. Nurse Janet Mercer stood with her hands on her hips. “Chief, I don’t like it one bit. Those boys still hadn’t gotten their hearing back and little Stevie needed more time to recover.”

“Who authorized their release?”

“The doctor sure didn’t. Let me double-check the chart.” She walked over to her desk and sorted through a stack of files. “This says the sheriff signed for the boys’ uncle.”

“Were you here when it happened?”

“Yeah, those boys looked scared.”

“Damn it, what did the guy look like?”

“A short guy with a dark goatee and dirty clothes. I’m sorry, chief.”

“No red tie?”

“He didn’t seem the type to own a suit and tie.”

With a copy of the form, he shook his head and mumbled thanks. His anger grew as he crossed the parking lot toward the Sheriff’s department.

In silence, Eva stared out the front kitchen window. Joe stood to hug her. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he said.

“I’m glad you and Matt are working together. I’m just so scared.”

He stepped back to look at her face. “So he did more than punch you.”

“He didn’t rape me.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he said, pulling her back into his arms. He set his chin on top of her head. “You and Taylor never once let me lose my fighting spirit. I don’t want you to lose yours either.”

“You’re right,” she said, wiping her eyes on his t-shirt.

“Of course, I’m always right. I keep telling Madeline that, too.”

“That makes a lot more sense to me now,” she said, standing back from him.

“What do you mean?” he asked, sitting at the table.

She paced around the kitchen deep in thought. “Well, let’s see. You were instantly attracted to her at the benefit. Then, you found out she’s your contact.” He put his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his thumbs. He hid his smile with his hands while she continued. “Mixing sex with an assignment seemed harmless, right? Both looking for some fun, but then you realized you have genuine affection for her.”

His hidden grin wasn’t so big now, and that amused her.

“So now you have feelings for Madeline, but she doesn’t believe your sweet words and it’s killing you. I warned you that it would bite you in the butt someday, Mr. Player.”

His amusing smile twisted into a glare as he shifted in his chair. Grinning, she walked behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. “I know you deflected to this subject on purpose. Now, just tell her you love her and get it over with.”