Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies (An Adams Grove Novel) (23 page)

Kasey walked back over to the pool and put her tennis shoes back on, then gathered her camera and strolled down the garden path. It was a nice walk and she had no idea where she’d end up until she wound up right in front of the house.

The sound of her phone made her smile.
What did y’all do now?
She pressed the button. “Hey there.”

“Kasey. It’s Scott.”

His voice surprised her. She winced.
I should have checked the caller ID.
She tried to hide her disappointment and be polite, even though she was still not happy about the controlling way he’d been acting. “Hey.”

“I’m sorry about how things went the other day.”

“Me too.” She hadn’t meant to be ugly, but he’d pushed her buttons.

“I want to make it up to you,” he said.

“That’s not necessary.”

“How’s your grandmother?” he asked.

He wasn’t listening to her. What’s new?

She couldn’t lie to him, but this was going to get awkward fast. “She’s doing fine.” True, only she hadn’t visited, which was what he was thinking.

“What time are you going to be home?”

There it was. No wiggling out of that. “Not sure.”

“Late?”

“Later in the week probably.”

“Jake’s got school.”

I’m his mother. I’m fully aware of that.
“We’re not in Virginia Beach, or home.”

“Where are you?” His voice rose at the end of the question and then he continued with a dull “Oh…”

“I’m in Nashville,” she said.

“Is that where Cody Tuggle ran off to?”

“He didn’t
run off
. He went home.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Scott, why do you insist on making everything so ugly when it comes to him? He didn’t do anything. He has a rock-solid alibi.”

“Has he shared any of his problems with the law with you?” His words were short and clipped. “He’s not your type.”

I have a type?

“I take it he sent his private jet for you.”

You knew before you ever called.
“Don’t do this.”

“Well, you could have at least told me you were going to be gone.”

“Why, so you could judge me before
and
after?”

“I’m sorry I called,” he said.

He’d hung up without even saying good-bye, and it was just as well. “Ridiculous.” She stopped and sat on one of the benches along the garden path. “Why’d you have to go and ruin my day?”

She flipped the phone to the pictures Cody had sent. There was another one now. The two of them grinning into the phone’s eye. “At least
y’all
are having fun.”

The sun was bright and the few clouds that had been in the sky earlier had floated away. But now she felt lonely wandering around the huge estate by herself.

The golf cart was parked right where Cody had told her it would be. She sat down behind the wheel and turned the key to start it although she’d never driven one before.
How hard can it be?
She pressed the accelerator and it lurched forward.

She squealed louder than slick tires on wet asphalt. She glanced around to see if anyone had heard her. Thankfully it seemed she was alone.
Let’s try this again.
She held her
breath and gave the twitchy gas pedal a more gentle press, and the cart rolled forward.

“That’s better.”

She motored around the large circular driveway in front of Cody’s house, then tried to remember which way they’d come in when she first got here. A last-minute decision sent her left on the main road. The road curved and the long black-boarded fence that bordered the pastures curved right along with it.

Kasey recognized the horse barn down the hill. Its metal roof glistened in the sun. She turned down the gravel pathway sending dirt up like a rooster tail behind her. She slowed down to minimize the dust. Someone was riding a horse near the barn. Several other horses were turned out too. She parked the cart and walked inside.

Cody’s mom was in the barn hosing down a huge black horse that seemed to be used to the routine.

“Good morning,” Kasey said as she got closer. “I hope you don’t mind me dropping by.”

“Not at all. Just giving my boy a rinse-down after his workout. There are always a lot of chores to do on a horse farm.”

“Looks like you’re both enjoying it.”

Kasey patted the big horse on its side. “Animals are a labor of love. That’s for sure.”

Denise nodded, and the horse seemed to do the same. “He likes you.”

“He’s pretty.”

“I meant Cody.”

“Oh.”
What do I say to that? He’s pretty too?

Denise swept the water from the horse, then handed Kasey the brush. “Here, can you hold this? He’s done. I’m going to turn him back out.”

Kasey walked alongside Denise as she led the horse to the gate.

“What’s his name?”

“Hillcrest Sparxx.”

The horse took off in a gallop, snorting as he ran and tossing his mane. The sun shone on his coat, and the water droplets created the look of glitter as the strong horse pranced and shook them from his body.

“He’s a runner, that one,” Denise said. “Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yeah. He likes you. Cody rarely brings anyone up here anymore. Women, I mean. He’s kind of shied away because of all the games they’ve played with him over the years. My boy has had his share of heartbreaks.”

Bet he’s broken a few of his own.
Kasey felt a twinge in her gut.

“Oh dear,” Denise shook her head. “Don’t tell him I said that. I see it in your eyes. I’m scaring you.”

“No. It’s okay. Of course, it would be scary. And I’m a mom. I haven’t even really thought about getting into a relationship since… well, you know. Besides, I don’t know how anyone could live under the microscope that he does.”

Denise leaned against the gate that led out to the pastures. “I don’t know. Maybe it is and we’ve just gotten used to it. All I know is that I pray that one of these days God will reward him with the right partner.” She looked to heaven. “I hope I’m around to see it.”

“It’s what all mothers want. Happiness, health, and a good life for our children.”

“Yep. You’ll want the same thing for your little Jake. A mother’s wish.”

Cody had named that song he’d written for her and Jake “A Mother’s Love.” A bond like no other.
“I don’t want to hold you up. I was bored. The guys went fishing this morning so I took the cart out for a little spin. When I saw the barn I couldn’t resist stopping to say hello.”

“I’m glad you stopped. If you’re looking for something to do, take the path on down that way. There’s a beauty of a waterfall. It’s my favorite place to do some good thinking.” She turned and pointed back in the direction of the house. “Or if you go back past the house on the main road it’ll sweep around to the beach part of the pond. The path is clearly marked. You’ll likely find the guys there fishing from the shore if they’re not out in the pedal boat.”

“Thanks, Denise. I think I’ll let the boys be boys and take the waterfall route.” She turned to leave.

Denise called out. “Kasey.”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Don’t break my boy’s heart.”

Kasey felt a warm glow flow through her. “I won’t. I wouldn’t. Ever.” She crossed her heart. “I promise you that.”

“Good.” Denise turned and walked back into the barn, and Kasey walked away wondering how not breaking a heart just landed in her lap.
Were her growing feelings for Cody that transparent?

She took the path that Denise had recommended. It was only a short ride before the sound of the water got louder.
I
must be getting close.
She took her foot off the gas pedal and let the cart slow to a stop at the base of the waterfall. The water dropped from a tall ledge of rocks, crashing against the pool below. The air was cooler here.

Kasey carefully navigated the rocky path out across the water. She took her shoes off and sat down on a huge rock that rose next to the churning stream. She dipped her feet in the icy current, then pulled her knees up to rest her chin on them.

A couple tiny fish darted in and out of the rocks. She wondered how they swam in the choppy water. It had to be like trying to swim in a Jacuzzi.
Kind of like I’ve felt the last year.
She took her phone from her pocket and took a picture of the waterfall and texted it to Riley.

She leaned back and tipped her chin to the sun until her feet dried and then she put her socks and shoes back on. She hated to leave this peaceful spot, but she figured the guys would be heading back soon. She started the golf cart and turned around in the narrow path to go back to the house. She turned back out onto the main road, feeling good about getting the lay of the land so quickly.

The hum of something behind her startled her, but there was no rearview mirror so she twisted to see what the noise was. Blue lights flashed and a line of three cars zoomed by so fast that she pulled off to the side of the road in a panic.

Sheer black fright swept over her.
Jake!

She pushed Cody’s number in the phone and then pressed her foot full force on the gas, causing a lurch that nearly lifted her out of the seat, but she didn’t slow down. The electric cart whined as she pushed it to its limit. At one point she wondered if it would be faster just to get out and run.

“Pick up the phone, Cody!”
Please. Please. Please.

“Are you missing us, Mommy?”

She let out a gasp. Jake’s voice was an instant relief. She took her foot off the gas and gulped air, trying not to scare the bejeebers out of him. “Hey, sweetie. You having fun? Everything okay?”

“Yes. We are having so much fun.”

Thank God.
“Let me talk to Cody.”

“’Kay.” She could hear him yelling to Cody.

“Hey there,” he said.

“Thank goodness, y’all are okay.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Something’s wrong. I was just driving, and then—”

“Slow down. What’s the matter?”

She turned off the golf cart. “I don’t know. I’m on the golf cart. I was just coming back from down near your mom’s house and three police cars just zoomed past me with their blue lights on.”

“We’re fine, so calm down.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll drop Jake off at the studio with the guys, and meet you there at the house. It’ll take me all of three minutes, tops. I don’t want Jake to be in the middle of whatever’s going on. It could just be the alarms or something, but… calm down.”

“I’ll see you at the house.” She tucked the phone between her legs, restarted the golf cart, and headed back to the estate. What a crazy day of hot and cold. A nice wake-up, a minor meltdown, a rescue, a cruddy call with Scott, then a spectacular waterfall, and now this.

What if Cody was right and it was the alarm system? She hadn’t even considered there might be alarms as she made herself at home in the huge house this morning. Maybe she’d been the one to set something off.

The feeling in the pit of her stomach told her it wasn’t something as simple as that though.
Scott, I sure hope you haven’t tossed Cody under the bus again.

The sharp tone of Scott’s words earlier bothered her. She almost wished she’d lied to him about where she was now.

The Gator was already parked in front of the house when she drove up, but as she cleared the corner she wasn’t ready for what was in front of her.

C
ody looked up and saw Kasey standing there with her mouth open. The look on her face, seeing him being arrested, was worse than the procedure itself. Three policemen surrounded him, while another pulled his arms behind his back and read him his rights.

“For our protection,” the cop said. “Sorry, man.”

“It’s fine. Do what you got to do.” Cody shrugged. “I’m not going to resist. I didn’t do anything.” He didn’t want to show that he was worried, but he was. He’d answered all of their questions, been cooperative, so why was he being arrested?

Kasey raced to his side, but one of the officers nearly clotheslined her midway.

“What’s going on?” Her voice raised an octave.

A female officer stepped in front of her, and escorted her to the side.

Cody arched back to make eye contact with Kasey. “Call my mom. She’ll call the attorney and get Tori back up to help. Call Annette, and then call Von.” The glazed look of despair on her face twisted his gut. “Don’t be upset. I’ll probably be home before you finish calling everyone.”

Kasey didn’t say a word.

“Pete’s got Jake playing at the back of the house. He’s fine and can’t see us outside.” He wanted to reassure her. He wanted to hold her and tell her it would be okay, that it would always be okay.

She nodded.

The officer led Cody to the back of his car and Cody ducked his head to get in.

As they drove by, Cody saw the tears staining her cheeks. She had her arms wrapped around herself, and it killed him to see her that way.

I shouldn’t have had her come. It was selfish.
He should have waited until it had all blown over.
I sure hope I haven’t screwed this up too.

The cops put him in a holding room. Cody refused to answer any questions until his lawyer showed up. They tried the old “you look guilty if you don’t talk to us” crap on him, but one thing his lawyer had beat into his head early on was to never say anything to anyone… no matter what and especially no matter how innocent you are. And he’d been downright pissed off when he’d heard that Cody had spoken with Scott in Adams Grove.

Finally, his lawyer showed up and came into the room. “Hey, man. At least you listened to my advice this time. They said you haven’t spoken to anyone here yet.”

“Sometimes I listen to you.” Cody fidgeted in the seat. “Sorry, I guess I thought it was okay since I hadn’t done anything and the sheriff in Adams Grove is a friend of a friend.”

“That’s behind us now, but this doesn’t look good. They must have found something. You need to tell me everything, then we’ll talk to them.”

“I didn’t do anything. I have an alibi. I don’t know what all this is about. I still don’t even know any of the details of what happened to Arty. I’m hoping you can help me get to the bottom of it.”