Midnight Shadows (8 page)

She drove to the back of the house to unload the groceries. Sammie and Quinn stepped outside as soon as she stopped her car.

She hopped out and grinned her delight. “Love the sign.”

“According to both Savvy and Zach, she’s going to be the most brilliant baby in the universe. We thought we’d give her a reading exam.”

Though her words sounded lighthearted, the worry in Sammie’s eyes said something else.
 

“What’s wrong?”

Instead of answering, she took Sabrina’s hand and pulled her away from her car.
 

Quinn flashed them both a solemn, compassionate glance. “I’ll unload for you.”

Her heart thudding with dread, Sabrina tugged at her hand. “What’s wrong? Is it the baby? Savvy? Did something happen?”

Her sister shook her head. “They’re all fine. Already on their way home.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Continuing to pull on Sabrina’s hand, Sammie stopped at the stone patio and nodded toward one of the wrought iron chairs. “Sit down.”

Her heart twisted. “Ian? Did something happen to—”

“For heaven’s sake, Bri, everyone is healthy and fine. Stop worrying.”

“Then why the hell are you scaring me like this?”

“Quinn and I took an early morning run, just after dawn.”

“And?”

“And we saw you.”

“Saw me where?”

“Don’t play dumb. We saw you making your rounds.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You guys aren’t the only ones who got an early start this morning.”

“Stop it, Bri. Ever since you came back from Miami that last time…when you told us Cruz was dead, you’ve been watching the town as if you’re expecting trouble anytime.”

“That’s ridiculous, Sammie. So I took a drive around town early this morning. That doesn’t mean anything.”

“How about the fact that you take an early drive around town every morning and a late night drive every night? How about the fact that you haven’t stepped outside of Midnight in months? How about the fact that you’ve got shadows so deep under your eyes, I could pack my wedding trousseau in them.”

“You know no one has a wedding trousseau anymore, don’t you?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

Sabrina released an exasperated breath. She was actually surprised one of her sisters hadn’t called her on this before now. She couldn’t deny the facts. It was true she drove through Midnight at least twice a day. Most days more than twice. She was the one who’d threatened her town with her reckless behavior. Damned if anyone would suffer for her stupidity. She’d already been the cause of the deepest kind of grief a family could endure. She could not bear to have that happen again.

“Look, I’ve told you all I can. So what if I want to make sure everyone stays safe.”

“I don’t fault you for that. You know I don’t. But you’ve told us zilch about what happened. Don’t you think we deserve to know so we can be on alert, too?”

She had gone over and over this in her mind. And she and Ian had argued about it more than once. But she knew, with one hundred percent certainty, that if her sisters knew what had happened, they would dig deep to find the man responsible for kidnapping her. She could not let that happen. Not telling them was the only way to make sure they stayed out of it and stayed safe.

“It’s been months. Odds are, nothing’s going to happen. No one can trace me here to Midnight.”

“And yet you roam through the town several times a day, everyday.” That stubborn light that Sammie got sometimes gleamed brighter. “Not buying it, Bri.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Who is this ‘no one’ that can’t trace you back here?”

“I don’t know and that’s the truth, Sammie.”

“Dammit, Bri—”

Quinn’s deep voice rumbled behind them, “Sorry to interrupt a good argument but thought you guys would want to know that Zach and Savvy just drove up.”

Anxious to welcome her niece home and more than happy to end their discussion, Sabrina jumped to her feet and started for the front of the house. Just before she rounded the corner, Sammie called out, “This discussion is not over, Bri.”

Sabrina raced to the front of the house, her arms opened wide for the little bundle of joy in Savvy’s arms. This was a day of celebration. Nothing, not even Sammie’s digging, was going to spoil it. Worry would have to wait for another day.

Chapter Six

Tallahassee, Florida

Ian closed his laptop with a snap and went to the board on his wall. The Internet had opened doors allowing a floodgate of information to be discovered and he used it voraciously. However, he’d been taught the PI business by an old school investigator and when it came down to connecting dots and seeing the big picture, there was nothing like going back to the basics.

On one side of the board, he had all he knew about Armando Cruz. On the other side was this mysterious, as yet unnamed man who had ordered the deaths of at least two people, Cruz and Ryan Walker. Based on Sabrina’s account, there were probably a helluva lot more deaths for which the man was responsible.

Beneath the mystery man was the name Marsh. And beneath Cruz’s name was Lauren Kendall.

These were the four main players. Finding their connection and how their paths crossed should lead him to this mystery man.
 

Armando Cruz was the key though. Sabrina said that Cruz referred to the mystery man as being the one that brought him into the business. So, even though Cruz was dead, the man was being infinitely helpful.

Born in San Salvador, Mexico, Armando Cruz moved to the States with his mother when he was a baby. His mother had been a teenager. She died too young but not before she hooked up with the wrong man. A couple of years after her death, Cruz’s abusive, alcoholic stepfather was killed. Ian had some speculation on how that went down.

Left alone in the world, Armando went into the welfare system. He escaped after a year, successfully avoiding being found. He stayed off radar until he was nineteen and then suddenly began to make a name for himself. Joined a gang, rose in its ranks. Had more than a few brushes with the law. Locked up for a few months, here and there, but after each release, went back to his old gang, his old ways and only seemed to become meaner, greedier.

Ian had easily followed Cruz’s path up until the man was twenty-five when he somehow fell off the face of the earth. Didn’t take a genius to see that someone had taught him how to cover his tracks. The mysterious ‘boss’? Cruz’s mentor?
 

The eerie similarities between Ian and Cruz’s upbringing were both startling and eye opening. Ian had been born into the same kind of life as Cruz. A drugged out mother who had OD’d on Meth when he was six. A father who drank himself into oblivion almost every night and who frequently took out all his frustrations with his fists on his wife and son. By the time Ian was nine, he was well on his way to becoming a perfect replica of both parents. And then came Molly Mackenzie, who never met a child she couldn’t love and wouldn’t try to save. And her husband Barry, who’d battled through every legal loophole and asshole to make sure Ian became a Mackenzie instead of another statistic. His adoptive parents were the greatest people on earth. Without them, Ian knew he’d either be dead or in prison.

Barry and Molly Mackenzie had saved him and countless other children who’d been headed down a destructive path. The realization of just how lucky he’d gotten came on his first night in the Mackenzie house. His new family, consisting of four brothers, four sisters, three dogs, two cats, and a hamster had welcomed him as if he’d been there from the beginning. He had experienced his first night of comfort, love and acceptance. His first experience of true peace. He’d been so damned lucky.

Cruz hadn’t had a Barry and Molly in his life, but that didn’t excuse the sick acts he’d committed. Even though Ian could only find a handful of mentions after Cruz found a way to hide his activities, it was apparent the man had been an evil bastard and had gotten what he deserved. But who was the mysterious mentor responsible for Cruz’s death?

 
Ian felt like he was chasing a ghost and not doing it very effectively. Sabrina had no idea of his investigation or search. These men had kidnapped and hurt her. God only knew what else they would have done if he hadn't rescued her. They needed to be found and stopped.
 

Needing encouragement and support, he punched a speed dial number on his phone, and went to one of the people he could always count on. He smiled at the cheerful greeting of his mother. “Hey, darlin’. What’s up?”

“Nothing. Just wanted to hear your sweet voice.”

Molly Mackenzie had been around that block too many times to count. When it came to her kids, she knew them inside and out.
 

“And how’s Sabrina doing?”

“She’s good. Her sister Savannah had a baby a couple of days ago. I’m heading to Midnight in a few hours to meet the newest Wilde girl.”

“That’s wonderful. You be sure to give them my best.”

“I’ll do that.”

“When are you bringing Sabrina down for another visit?”

Ian winced. The answer of ‘probably never’ would be the truth, but not one he would give. His family could be overwhelming on a regular day, but when he’d brought a girl home for the first time in forever, it had been a red-letter event for the Mackenzie clan. As his dad had said, they’d put on the dog for her. In other words, it had been a major celebration.

To be fair, he had tried to warn Sabrina. With that many Mackenzies running around, it was bound to be boisterous. And the Mackenzies loved to celebrate. With Molly and Barry’s ten, plus numerous grandchildren, along with a healthy smattering of aunts, uncles, and cousins, there always seemed to be a reason to have a party.
 

He had taken Sabrina down on what he’d thought would be a relatively low-key weekend. No birthdays, anniversaries, job promotions, or graduations. When it came to celebrations, his family didn’t know the word low-key. Ian was bringing a girl home for a visit. That had been cause for a party.

Sabrina had been charming and friendly. Had seemed to blend in well. No one would have ever known anything was wrong. On the trip home, things had fallen apart. And he had been losing ground ever since.

“She’s been busy with their new agency. I’m not sure when she’ll be free for another visit.”

“I hope our little impromptu party didn’t scare her off. I know all the Mackenzies at one time can be a little overwhelming.”

Hell of an understatement, but that hadn’t been the reason for Sabrina’s panic. It’d had more to do with the dozen or so people that had asked that all too sensitive question of:
“When are you and Ian going to tie the knot?”
 

By the time they’d gotten in his Jeep to head home, his own head had been spinning. And Sabrina? She hadn’t talked the entire trip home—five freaking hours of silence.

Since explaining the problem to his mother would only bring about more questions, Ian went with the blandest, most truthful comment he could come up with. One that was sure to please her and change the subject. “She told me that your risotto was the best she’d ever had and wants your recipe.”

His mother, no fool, laughed. “I know what you’re doing Ian Mackenzie. However, I’ll let you get away with it. I’ll email you my recipe so you can give it to Sabrina.”

“Thanks, Mom.” They both knew his words were for more than the recipe.

“So how is the Mackenzie gang?”

As expected, his mother began a litany, starting with Ian’s oldest sibling, and brought him up-to-date. Accustomed to his mother’s chatty updates, Ian took the notes he’d jotted down about Cruz and moved them to the board.
 

He continued to work as he heard that his brother Colin had received a new promotion at his bank position, his sister Sinead was up for partnership in her law firm, and his sister-in-law, Melanie, was considering returning to college for her masters. Good news always traveled fast in the Mackenzie household. Ian was glad to hear it all but came to an abrupt halt at his mother’s last bit of news.
 

“What do you mean Alana passed her drivers test?”

“Made a perfect score.”

“She’s too young to get her driver’s license.”

“She’s sixteen.”

“Exactly. Too young.”

“Same age as you when you got yours. How is she younger than you were?”

“She just is.”
 

Yeah, it was a lame comeback but dammit, his baby sister out on the road by herself? With maniacs driving all around her? When had she grown up? He still remembered the day she’d come into the family. Though he’d been a Mackenzie for a while, he was still in awe of just how lucky he’d gotten with his ready made, too loud and loving family. His mom had walked in the door with a tiny, fragile little girl in her arms. Skin pale as milk and big blue eyes showing the exact same fear he’d often felt. He’d become her big brother that day and had done his best to shield and protect her. But now that she was growing up, how was he going to do that?

Another horrifying thought hit him. “Just tell me she’s not dating yet.”