Chapter 19

He took his phone outside and sat down on the bench. It would be more private there than inside the house. “Chad, what have you got for me?”

“We’ve found two things. First, we found the van that tried to run Miss Greene down, and you’ll never guess what we found inside.”

“Chad, I don’t have time for guessing games.”

“Okay, inside the van was the body of Ronald Reid.”

“Body? How did he die?”

“Shot in the head, and the van was found in the woods. It was torched, so we couldn’t get any prints.

“The van belonged to a young kid who reported it stolen a week before it was used to try and run Roxie down.”

“But Ronald was with the cops, so it couldn’t have been him who did it, which means there must be two people involved. So the other person killed Ronald, but why? Can you check out everyone he knew?”

“I’m already on it. Dexter, be very careful. It’s getting more dangerous, and whoever it is will be striking soon.”

“Any more on Metcalf?”

“We’re getting close. He has been seen talking to the Mafia. We have a snitch working for Metcalf, and he should have more to tell us in a few days.”

“Thanks, Chad. Let me know the minute you find out anything,” he said before hanging up.

He went into the dining room and sat down, and they both ate. They were happy to hear that Claudia had already eaten and gone out for the day.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, noticing how quiet he had become.

If she had been just an ordinary client, he wouldn’t have discussed details, but seeing that they were a couple, he wasn’t about to keep secrets from her. She would eventually find out anyway.

“That was Chad. His guys found the van that tried to run you down, and Ronald Reid’s body was found inside. It was found in the woods and had been torched.”

Covering her mouth, she gasped. “Oh my God. But if the van was torched, how do they know it was Ronald?”

“Dental records.”

“So he was murdered, and that means he was working with someone else. I understand Ronald wanting to harm my father by hurting me.

“But who would send me gifts and love letters and then want me dead? And what’s the connection between him and Ronald?”

Dexter took a sip of his coffee. His brain was working overtime trying to come up with a logical explanation.

“For the life of me I can’t figure it out. Are you sure there wasn’t somebody that was showing you affection and you didn’t return their feelings?”

“No, there was no one that I can think of, until recently, when Carson asked me to be his date at the party. But he never once indicated that he had a thing for me.”

Seeing how she was getting upset, he placed his hand over the top of hers. “Just hang in there. After the police investigate the van and the body more, they might be able to come up with some clues.”

Just then, Douglas entered the dining room. “Miss Greene, there is a Sandy White here to see you.”

“Who’s Sandy?” Dexter asked. He’d never heard her mention that name before.

“She’s my friend from the gym.” She turned her attention to Douglas. “Please show her into the family room, and tell her I’ll be right there.”

“Yes, ma’am. Right away.”

She wiped her mouth with the napkin and stood up. “I haven’t heard from her since that day in the gym. I wonder what she wants?”

He also stood up. “I’ll come with you.”

“You really don’t have to. We’ll probably be doing a lot of girly talk.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll just sit in the corner and read a book. I promise not to listen.” Of course, he would have to listen in on their conversation. Everyone was a suspect at this point.

“Sandy, it’s so nice to see you again.”

The woman stood up, giving Roxie a big hug.

“I hope you don’t mind me just dropping in without calling first, but I was on my way to the gym, and since you haven’t been there in a while, I thought you might like to go with me.”

Her eyes traveled over to where Dexter was standing with his arms crossed, watching them. “I see you still have your bodyguard. Lucky girl.”

“Please, have a seat,” Roxie said, sitting down when Sandy did. “Yes, and I’m afraid I can’t go to the gym yet until we find out who is out to get me.”

“Oh, I would have thought by now he would have been caught.

“Well, I’m sure it won’t be long now. Your bodyguard looks quite capable of doing whatever he sets his mind to,” she said, looking over at him.

Dexter saw the way Sandy was looking at him and knew exactly what was on her mind, so he looked away. He was not in the slightest bit interested in her.

“Sandy, can I get you something to drink?”

“I could use something cold. You wouldn’t happen to have some iced tea with a slice of lemon?”

Roxie got to her feet. “I’m sure we do. I’ll go to the kitchen and get you a glass. I’ll be right back.”

When she was gone, Sandy got up and went over to where Dexter was standing by the window, looking up. “So do they ever give you a day off around here?”

He turned his head to look at her. “No,” he answered bluntly.

“That’s a shame. We could’ve gotten together for a drink or two or whatever you want. My, you do have amazing arms,” she said, running her hand over his biceps.

He removed her hand from his arm. “Sorry, lady, but I’m spoken for.”

“Really? To Roxie, I assume. I honestly don’t understand what all you men see in her. I may not have her money, but I know how to please a man.”

He didn’t like this woman. There was something off about her. “You didn’t come here to see Roxie, did you? You came here to see me.”

Before she had a chance to answer, Roxie came back into the room carrying the glass of iced tea. “Sorry I took so long.”

Sandy turned to her and smiled. “That’s okay. I really have to go now. Don’t be a stranger. Give me a call if you ever want to talk or get together.

“I’d really like for us to go out and have a few drinks sometime. I’ll see you later, okay?” she said as she started walking out, glancing back at Dexter.

He watched as Roxie walked Sandy out.

The look in her eyes when she made the comment about how she didn’t understand what all the men saw in Roxie had him wondering if the girl was jealous of her.

Could she possibly be another suspect that he had overlooked?

“Well, that was strange. She just got here. You didn’t say anything to insult her, did you?”

“No. I guess she was just in a hurry to get to the gym.”

“It’s going to be a beautiful day out. And since Joseph has gone back to Paris, why don’t we go for a swim?”

“Actually, there is something else I’d like to do first.”

She put the iced tea down on the table and went over and put her arms around his neck. “Are you suggesting that we go upstairs for some afternoon delight?”

“Damn, woman, it seems like you can’t get enough. But no, that’s not what I had in mind.

“I’m thinking of going to the site where that van was found and look around to see if I can find any clues. You’ll have to come with me.”

Though she would have preferred to go to bed and make love, the thought of getting out of that mansion was almost just as good.

“All right, I guess I can wait until later. I’m ready to go whenever you are.”

After a forty-minute drive, they came to the woods where the van was. Police tape was around the area.

“You stay here,” he said, opening his door and stepping out. But he turned his head when he heard the passenger door opening and closing. “I thought I told you to wait inside.”

“I know, but I want to come with you.”

He shook his head but couldn’t help smiling. “Is this going to be what I have to look forward to forever? Me telling you to do something, and for you to do the opposite?”

She went around the car and stood beside him, looking up at him and smiling. “Yup. You got a problem with that?”

Grabbing her arms, he pulled her toward him. Instead of giving her an answer, he kissed her. It was rough, dominating her mouth.

When he finally broke the kiss, he took her hand, and they walked toward the vehicle, ducking under the tape.

She was horrified at the sight before her. “Please tell me that he wasn’t burned alive.”

She knew who it was, since Dexter had already told her, and she was so grateful that the corpse had been taken away.

“No. He was shot and killed first.”

They walked around the vehicle. He picked up a stick to poke at things that were inside.

He wasn’t sure if the van would still be there or not, because usually the police would have towed it away before now.

He couldn’t find anything to give him a clue. He was hoping for something, anything.

She was following behind him, watching, and for some reason she looked down at the ground and saw something and bent down to pick it up.

“What have you got there?” he asked when he saw her bending over.

“It’s nothing, just a gum wrapper.”

He took it from her hand to get a better look at it. “It’s not just any gum wrapper. It’s a Nicorette wrapper.”

“Nicorette? What’s that?” she asked, never having heard of it before.

“It’s a type of gum that someone would use if they’re trying to quit smoking.” He turned his head to look at her. “Do you know anyone that smokes or is trying to quit smoking?”

“No. Is this some kind of clue?”

“It could be. I’ll just hang on to it for now,” he said, stuffing it into his pocket. “Let’s leave. There’s nothing else here.”

Sensing something was about to happen, he pushed her down onto the ground and got on top of her just as a shot was heard and a bullet went into the side of the burned-out van.

Scrambling to his feet, he grabbed her and pulled her around to the other side. He pulled out his gun. “It came from that direction,” he said and pointed toward the woodsy area. “Stay right here.”

“Wait. You can’t leave me here alone.”

His holster held two guns. He took the other one out and put it in her hand. “Do you know how to use one of these?”

“Yes,” she answered in a shaky voice.

“I’m going to see if I can catch up to him. You’ll be safe here, and I’ll be right back.”

“Dexter, be careful.”

“I will. Just don’t move.” He took off running, ducking behind trees as he made his way toward where the sound of the bullet had come from. Whoever was there that shot at them was long gone.

He looked down at the ground and saw fresh footprints. They definitely belonged to a man and had to be a size thirteen.

He turned around and headed back to Roxie, who was in the exact same spot where he’d left her.

“Did you see anything or anyone?” she asked, handing him back his gun.

“No, they were long gone,” he took her face in his hands. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, just a little shook up.”

“Let’s get you home.” He got her into the car and got in behind the wheel. He couldn’t stop thinking about the shot that was fired. Either the guy was a lousy shot, or it was a warning.

But whoever it was had to be in good shape for him to get away as quickly as he did. Hell, he never even heard a vehicle leaving the area.

When they got back to the mansion, she went upstairs to lie down. He decided to go outside and take a walk around the grounds.

He wanted to see if he could find the same type of paper as the Nicorette gum lying around. It was a long shot, but one he felt he needed to check out.

Earlier he’d had all of the guards checked out, and he hated to think that somebody who worked for the Greenes was a part of this.

It was getting harder to keep her safe, even within the walls of the mansion.

It took him close to two hours to cover the grounds out back. He didn’t find any gum wrappers or cigarette butts anywhere. He went into a shed that held gardening and lawn equipment.

There was a gas can that was empty, but it could have been used for one of the riding lawn mowers. There was also a pair of black gloves lying on the bench near the can.

He went through all of the drawers but couldn’t find anything that shouldn’t be there.

Before going back into the mansion, he stopped to talk to the guards that were outside, and he questioned them about whether they smoked or were trying to quit.

Both of them said that they had never smoked.

He believed them, since he couldn’t smell any smoke on them. He even looked down at their fingers to see if there was any yellowish tint to them.

Not finding any clues, he went back into the mansion and headed upstairs to take a shower.

When he got to the bedroom, Roxie was fast asleep on top of the covers, so he stripped out of his clothes and jumped into the shower.

He didn’t want to wake her after she’d gone through another attempt on her life.