Delivering Justice (12 page)

Who in their right mind would come out this far from the city and into this unknown? If her sister had been taken, and Jessica was fairly certain that was the case, then this would be the perfect place to dispose of a body.

Focusing on the worst-case scenario wouldn’t help their investigation or her mood, so she did her best to shove those thoughts aside as she plucked her heel from the slick soil. It was impossible to move through the vegetation without making a sound. Every time she stepped, it was as if the ground refused to let go.

Tyler squeezed her hand and stopped. The light from the flashlight disappeared, plunging them into utter darkness.

Jessica’s heart beat in her throat as she took a tentative step forward. Trust wasn’t her strong suit but desperation had her willing to do pretty much anything to find her sister. The total blackness ignited her claustrophobia and if it wasn’t for Tyler she would’ve had to stop right there and turn around.

If Jenn had been on her own she’d have called. There was no doubt about that in Jessica’s mind. It had been two days since her sister had gone silent. A lot could happen in forty-eight hours.

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness enough to see outlines by the time the trees thinned. She counted three sheds and her sister could be in any one of them. Then there was the main building, a relatively small two-story structure with a handmade sign on the porch that read The Bayou in big white letters on what appeared to be a large piece of driftwood. That was about the only thing she could see clearly because the trees around the house formed a canopy in the swamp making it impossible for light from the moon to shine through.

Two vehicles were parked in back, an old Toyota pickup truck and a Volkswagen van that looked like a relic from the sixties. Thankfully, there were no dogs on the premises or Jessica and Tyler’s presence would already be known.

Tyler squatted down behind the Volkswagen and motioned for Jessica to come over. He flashed the light. The license plate on the VW read, Big Beau.

Jessica tried to wrap her mind around what this could mean. Her sister had mentioned The Bayou and then Elijah had referred to Big Beau. This had to be the place.

This could be a trap
, a little voice said. Maybe she was right where Elijah wanted her.

Did that mean that Jenn was here somewhere?

Was this some kind of headquarters or meeting place for the group who was after the Infinity Sapphire?

A hand covered Jessica’s mouth. Before she could scream she was dragged backward. She spun around out of her assailant’s grasp, landed facedown and fumbled for the SIG Sauer she’d dropped in the struggle.

“Shhh. Don’t scream. I’m here to help you and your sister. Don’t say a word,” the unfamiliar deep male voice said.

Tyler was there in the next beat, his gun at the man’s temple. “Where do you think you’re going with her?”

“Stay calm and we’ll all get out of here alive,” the man said.

From her vantage point, Tyler seemed the one in charge so it was bold of this guy to give orders. Her hand skimmed the surface of the ground until landing on her gun. She picked it up, sat up and pointed it directly at the male figure.

“I’m Big Beau. And if you want to know where your sister is, you’ll keep quiet. We need to get out of here right now. If they know I’m talking to you I’ll end up floating in that swamp. If the gators don’t haul me off, the mosquitoes will.”

“I have a car nearby,” Tyler whispered.

She wasn’t sure how Tyler knew to trust the guy. She had her own doubts, but desperation had her ready to do almost anything to find Jenn.

“Let’s go before somebody wakes,” Big Beau said. The guy was huge. Tyler was somewhere around six foot four so he was significantly taller, but Big Beau had the belly of a grizzly bear.

“Not so fast.” Tyler patted the guy down to check for a weapon as Jessica scrambled to her feet.

“You won’t find anything on me. I left my AR15 inside and there’s more where that came from. But if you’re smart, you’ll move it along. If we wake anyone up or they know I’m helping you, I’m dead. And so is Jenn.”

Chapter Twelve

At the SUV, Tyler kept his gun leveled at Big Beau. Getting a closer look at him Jessica saw what a big, burly man he was. A patchwork of scruff covered parts of his jaw and neck. He wore a flannel shirt with the sleeves cut off. His eyes were pale blue, his hair dirty blond. Jeans rode low on his hips, tucked underneath a pot belly.

“I know what you’re thinking and I ain’t like them others,” he said, holding his right hand toward Tyler as if it could stop a bullet.

“Prove it,” Tyler shot back, keeping his gun aimed at the big guy. “Tell us where she is.”

“She ain’t far. Unless they’ve moved her.”

“Who has her?” Jessica asked defensively.

“It’s complicated but I remember you from the first time your sister brought you here,” he said.

“How? That was so long ago. I don’t remember you at all,” she said honestly.

Big Beau held back a laugh. “Your sister came out here and talked about you all the time since then. I hoped you’d figure out she was in trouble and come see me.”

“If that’s true, then why doesn’t anyone else know me?” She seriously doubted Jenn spoke about her to anyone.

He rolled his big shoulders in a shrug. “Reckon she had her reasons. She never talked about you where anyone else could hear and always asked me to keep it a secret.”

“Because she was ashamed of me,” Jessica said quietly. Then she glanced up apologetically. She hadn’t intended to say that out loud.

“Ashamed?” He shook his head. “Proud’s more like it. She went on and on about how smart you are and what a success you’ve made out of your family’s business to help your parents.”

“I had no idea she felt that way.” True, she had expanded the cleaning business from houses to office buildings so her mother wouldn’t have to do the heavy lifting anymore. And she’d hired two dozen workers, jobs she was happy to provide to people in order to boost the local economy.

Big Beau looked like he was examining Jessica and it made her uncomfortable. “I’m sorry for staring, but you two look so much alike. I’m surprised at how different you think or that you don’t know how proud she is of you. She talks about you like you walk on water.”

“Me and my sister have always been close but I didn’t know.” Jessica wiped an errant tear as it rolled down her cheek. She’d always loved her sister and had known on some level that Jenn loved her as much, but hearing that her sister was proud of her overwhelmed her with emotion.

“Jenn used to say all she had to work with was her looks,” Big Beau continued. “And that she had to play her cards right or she’d end up with nothing. But you...she thought you hung the moon.”

Jessica couldn’t stop the sob that tore from her throat. Tyler moved to her side and put his arm around her protectively.

“I’m fine.” She ignored the confused look on Tyler’s face as she sidestepped out of reach. “Really. It’s just very sweet to hear and my sister’s in trouble. I let my emotions get the best of me but I’m good now.”

Tyler eyed her up and down, clearly not convinced, but not ready to push the envelope either.

“Why didn’t you do anything to help her?” she asked Big Beau, needing to redirect the conversation to something more productive.

“It ain’t right how they’re setting her up to look like she stole that necklace. They plan to kill her as soon as they get hold of it and make it look like suicide. As far as helping her, that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

“She’s innocent?” Jessica knew she shouldn’t sound so surprised. She wanted to believe in her sister, but after learning about the affair, it was hard. “Who’s behind this?”

She was so close that he could reach out and grab her if he wanted, but she didn’t care.

“Ashton Brasseux. But now that Randall Beauchamp’s involved it’s a mess,” Beau said, and turned toward Tyler. “She’s my friend and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. My family don’t feel the same way. Everyone’s afraid of Mr. Beauchamp so they do whatever he asks. They don’t have no trouble with her personally but he said to find her, so they did.”

“What’s Beauchamp’s involvement in this?” Tyler asked.

Big Beau shrugged. “All I know is he has a buyer for that stolen necklace and now that it’s gone missing he’ll do anything to get it back.”

“Is she hurt?” Jessica asked Big Beau. “Did he do anything to her?”

“I can tell you where I believe he’s keeping her, but that’s as far as I can go. I have no idea what shape she’s in. My guess is not good. If he knows anyone from my family helped you out he’ll have us all fed to the gators.” Big Beau shivered.

“But she’s alive?” Jessica could barely ask the question.

“She was last I heard,” he said honestly. “No way was she involved in this. Ashton used her.”

That made a lot of sense.

“You can trust us. No one will know the information came from you,” Tyler promised.

Big Beau half smiled and nodded. “My life depends on it.”

“Why are you helping us?” Jessica asked.

“Your sister’s a good kid.” Big Beau’s face broke into a smile talking about Jenn. She had that effect on people, and especially men. She was charming and beautiful, but there was something else about her that drew people to her. “She don’t mean nobody harm. It’s a shame what’s happened to her and it’s even worse that my family’s to blame. I’ll give you the address where we took her.”

Big Beau relayed the coordinates of a place he said was in town.

“Elijah told us about you. He was trying to set a trap for us, wasn’t he?” Jessica asked.

“He doesn’t know Jenn and I are close, so I figure he thought he was sending you to your demise. Nobody’s going to find out you were here from me,” Big Beau said. “Unless the gators start talking, I reckon no one will ever know.”

He winked.

“Thank you.” Jessica hugged Big Beau. Not because he would cover their tracks but because he cared about Jenn and had opened Jessica’s eyes to a whole new side to her sister. Jenn had always come across as so confident, letting everything roll off her. Inside, she was far more fragile than Jessica realized and she wanted to protect her sister.

He seemed taken back by the gesture and stiffened. “Go on, now. Find Jenn and get her out of the state until this whole mess settles down.”

“Do you know James Milton?” she asked.

“He that no-good lawyer she messed with last year?” Big Beau asked.

“He tried to kill me when he thought I was Jenn,” she supplied.

“I reckon lots of folks want to get their hands on that missing necklace,” Big Beau said, his anger evident on his face. “That’s a stupid move, though. Everyone knows Beauchamp wants it.”

“I thought he might be working for him.”

“Doubt it. He could be trying to get in his good graces, though,” Big Beau said. “Or pay off a debt.”

“He’s a gambler,” she said, remembering the news they’d received from the sheriff.

“Well then, he might be trying to get himself out of trouble,” Big Beau said.

“My sister sent me with him as a distraction. She wanted him out of town. You know anything about that?” she asked.

“Sure don’t.”

“What else do you know about my sister?”

“Not much. She liked to mix with men who wore shiny shoes and fine suits. Most of them hang in the same crowd and do a little too much sharing. She didn’t like to be reminded that she was really just one of us,” Big Beau said. “A man with shiny shoes usually has a slick tongue in my experience.”

Jenn must’ve liked having some reminders of her past because she’d made friends with Big Beau. Jessica was less trustful of men in general and rich men in particular. She’d seen the way prominent men manipulated others. That was half the reason she stuck around to run the business she’d grown with her mother. Greed was powerful and she’d seen the damage firsthand.

“I best get back,” Big Beau said. “Be careful who you trust. Folks around here have a way of knowing each other. Families, connections, they sometimes make no sense but go way back.”

“We will,” Jessica reassured him, as if she needed to be reminded there was no one she trusted besides Tyler and Big Beau.

Tyler set the coordinates in his phone as Jessica started toward the side of the SUV. She turned around to thank Big Beau once again but he wasn’t there. He’d already disappeared into the bush. The thought of making that journey again sent a shiver down Jessica’s spine.

* * *

T
YLER
HAD
BEEN
expecting another place near the swamps and was shocked when he pulled into an upscale family suburb with rows of white colonials. If Jenn was here, she was being held in plain sight.

“You sure this is the right area?” Red asked, echoing his sentiments.

“These are the coordinates.” Tyler motioned to his phone, which had been giving the directions aloud.

Tyler’s ringtone sounded. He pulled to the side of the road, turned off his lights and kept the engine idling. He glanced at the screen. “It’s my brother, Austin.” He answered the call. “Yo, what’s up, Ivy League?” His second oldest brother had gone to college in the northeast, earning the nickname.

“Russ called me because you didn’t show up this morning,” Austin said. His voice sounded as though he’d only been awake a few minutes. “Everything okay?”

Damn. Tyler had meant to touch base at the ranch and ask someone to cover his area for the next few days. “Yeah, fine. Had a last-minute trip. Personal business.”

“Lyndsey?”

An awkward tension filled the cab of the SUV. “No. That’s long finished.”

“You sure about that?” Austin pressed.

Now was not the time to discuss her.

“Positive. That the only reason you called?” Tyler didn’t mean to sound defensive.

“Can a man check on his favorite brother?” Austin scoffed, his sense of humor intact. “This is what happens when people wake me up before the sun comes out, by the way.”

Tyler chuckled. Austin was no early riser. “Yeah. I’m good, though. No need to worry about me.”

“Then I won’t stress about the stranger who’s been asking around in town for Tyler O’Brien,” Austin said.

“You catch a name?” Tyler asked as Jessica shot him a concerned look.

“All I know is Tommy called and said you were helping out a woman who was in trouble. Next thing I know a stranger is looking for you and you’re not showing up to work, which I don’t have to say is unlike you,” Austin said, more than a hint of curiosity in his tone.

“Janis didn’t tell you that I’m out of town?” Tyler asked, thankful he’d remembered to talk to her. He wanted to tell his brother what was going on but needed to speak to Jessica about it first.

“It must’ve slipped her mind,” Austin said.

“In her defense, I called after I left and never said I’d be gone long.”

“Give Tommy a call when you can. He didn’t sound himself,” Austin said.

“I plan to touch base with him after breakfast.” It wasn’t a lie, even though Jessica shot him a cross look. She couldn’t object to him bringing in Tommy after they found Jenn. Jessica’s concern so far had been that whoever had her sister would kill her if the cops were chasing them. No one would get rid of her until they had that jewel.

“You hear about the Infinity Sapphire going missing?” Austin asked.

A pleading look came from the passenger seat. Jessica’s hands folded into prayer position.

“I read something about it the other day.” Playing dumb would only make Austin suspicious. He knew that Tyler read the newspaper every day, just as he did. They’d also had the Brasseuxs at the ranch, so Tyler would notice a story about the prominent family.

“I wondered about the Brasseuxs after the gala,” Austin said.

“You did?” Tyler was shocked. He hadn’t heard anything and his brother had been quiet up until now.

“I overheard him telling his wife that her spending was out of control,” Austin said. “And then her necklace worth millions goes missing a couple months later.”

“You think he was involved in an insurance scam?” Tyler wasn’t sure if he should tell his brother that the Brasseuxs might be in trouble, but he was certain about that call to Tommy later. Maybe his friend had dug up more information.

“Who knows? The only thing I’m sure of is crossing them off the list for next year’s gala.” Austin chuckled and then paused when he didn’t hear Tyler do the same.

Right. His comment was meant to be funny.

“You sure everything’s okay?” Austin asked.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?” Tyler tried to laugh it off. It was too much, too late but Austin didn’t press.

“Get in touch with Tommy later. You have any idea when you’ll be back at the ranch?” Austin asked.

“Couple of days should be enough to tie up a few loose ends here,” Tyler said.

“I’ll let everyone know.” Austin paused. “Take care of yourself, brother. And call when you’re ready to talk about it.”

“I will.” Tyler didn’t like holding back from his family and the secrets were racking up. He ended the call and looked to Jessica. “Might be better to park here and walk to the end of the block.”

The neighborhood had decent-sized yards and plenty of trees.

“Okay,” Jessica said. She made a move for the door handle but stopped. “I’m sorry that you’re lying to your family for me. I can tell how much it bothers you.”

“It’s—”

“Don’t say that it’s okay.” Her hand came up in protest. “Because it’s not fine for you to be dishonest with the people you love.”

“I’d argue, but you’re right. Austin understands and I didn’t fool him for a second.” He looked her in the eye. “And I need to make that call to Tommy later this morning. Right after we find your sister. I’ve thought this through and there’s no reason not to tell him what’s going on.”

He really looked at her, expecting an argument.

“You’re right. I want you to contact him as soon as we get my sister to safety,” she said.

“He has no jurisdiction here, so whatever we’re about to get ourselves into we’re on our own anyway.”

She nodded and brushed her hand against his arm. “Thank you for taking this risk for my family. If you want out, though, I’d totally understand.”

“We’ve come too far for me to walk away now.” He was rewarded with a small smile—it was sweet and sexy at the same time.