Vendetta (Otter Creek Book 10) Page 17

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Paige glanced at her watch. Again. Eight times in an hour must be a new record for her. Shouldn’t Marcus be back by now? She lifted her gaze to Cade whose grim expression mirrored her feelings. Something was very wrong.

  “Finished,” Jacob sang out.

  “No fair,” Matt complained. “I always have more homework than you.”

  “That’s how it is when you’re in the upper grades, buddy.” Cade clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re almost finished, too. Won’t take long, and you’ll be free to play.”

  “Yeah, but I have English left. I hate English.” His tone conveyed his horror.

  Paige covered her mouth with her hand, trying hard not to laugh.

  “That’s too bad, bro. English was my favorite subject in school,” Cade said.

  The boy’s mouth gaped. “Really? Why?”

  “I love to read.”

  “Nuh uh.”

  “Afraid so, Matt. I spend a lot of money at Otter Creek Books. If you want, I’ll take you with me next time I go, and we’ll find some books you might like.”

  His face lit up, then the excitement dimmed. “I better not,” he muttered.

  “Why not?”

  “Mom says we have to watch every penny, that we have to use the library.”

  Cade nodded. “Libraries are good. I use the one in town, too.”

  “You do?”

  “Sure. Did you know Del has used books in her store that kids and adults read and swap for free?”

  Matt shook his head, his eyes wide.

  “I’ll talk to your mom, see if I can take you with me the next time. We’ll find out what Del has for both of us.”

  “Me, too!” chimed in Jacob. “I want to go to Del’s store.”

  “As long as your mom says it’s all right. The more people we have, the more fun it is.”

  In the midst of the boys’ cheers at the prospect of an outing with Cade, Nick and Marcus returned. Paige looked at their faces and her heart sank.

  Marcus laid a hand on each boy’s shoulder. “Matt, Jacob, pack the schoolwork you haven’t finished, some books, and quiet games you can play for a few hours.”

  “Where are we going?” Jacob asked.

  “To the hospital. Dalton is hurt, and your mom asked me to bring you to her. She’s at the hospital with your brother.”

  “Is Dalton going to die?” Matt asked.

  A question Paige wanted answered herself. She grabbed their backpacks and laid them on the table where the boys could easily reach them.

  “The doctor is looking at him now, buddy. Do you have homework to finish?”

  “Yeah. English.”

  “Let’s pack that plus some fun things for you to do.”

  When Matt finished sliding his English textbook and notebook inside, Cade picked up the backpacks. “Let’s see what else we should take.” The three of them left the room.

  “What happened?” Paige asked.

  “We found Dalton in the Croft woods,” Nick replied. “Someone beat him and left him unconscious.”

  Faith would be devastated if she lost Dalton. “Is he going to survive?”

  Marcus drew Paige into his strong embrace. “The doctor wouldn’t say. We picked up Mrs. Reagan and took her to the hospital, then came here for the boys. When we left, they were preparing Dalton for surgery.”

  “One of our officers is with him,” Nick added. “Ethan would have protected the boy, but he’s tracking the perp’s footprints through the forest. Paige, the prints match those of the man who fired the shots at you and Marcus.”

  She buried her face in Marcus’s neck. Had she brought danger to Dalton? The same man attacking her and Dalton couldn’t be a coincidence. What worried her more was the possibility her presence at the center endangered the other teens and kids. Maybe she should take a leave of absence until this guy was behind bars. If the police caught him. If they didn’t, she would be out of a job.

  Marcus tightened his hold. “Don’t lose hope. We’ll find him.”

  Easy to say. Hard to accomplish. They needed a break.

  Cade returned to the kitchen with Matt and Jacob, the packs strapped to their backs. “The boys are riding with me.”

  Paige stared, thought about his statement. The reinforced SUV. Cade was making sure the Reagan boys were well protected. And maybe it was better for them to be separated from her and Marcus. They had targets on their backs, after all. Only by God’s grace had the attempts on their lives had failed. “Matt, do you and Jacob know where Memorial Hospital is located?”

  “Sure. It’s a block down from Mom’s cleaning job.”

  “Perfect. You can make sure Cade doesn’t get lost on the way. He’s new in town, you know.”

  “I’ll be in good hands with these guys.” Cade ruffled the boys’ hair. “We’ll lead the way. Can’t have you getting lost.” He escorted Matt and Jacob to his vehicle.

  While Nick locked the front door, Paige walked with Marcus to his truck. Within minutes, Paige was embracing Dalton’s mother. “I hated to hear about Dalton.”

  “It’s such a shock. Who would hurt my baby like that?”

  “Any news?” Marcus asked.

  “The doctor promised to send someone with an update by six.”

  Paige led the trembling woman to an empty chair in the waiting room.

  “Mom, can we see Dalton?” Jacob asked.

  “The doctor is with him. We’ll see him later.”

  “Will he be okay?” Matt asked, his face somber.

  “I think so, but Dalton will be grumpy for a while.” Her lips curved into a trembling smile. “You know how he is when he feels bad.”

  Jacob scowled. “Does that mean he gets to pick the movies for a long time?”

  That turned Faith Reagan’s fake smile into a genuine one. “Let’s give him a week after he comes home, okay? After that, you three will take turns again.”

  Matt sighed. “We’ll be watching the Star Wars movies the whole time. I’m tired of Yoda and Chewbacca.” His morose tone had all of them chuckling.

  Cade sat with the boys a few seats away and began helping Matt with his homework while Jacob pulled out a hand-held video game.

  Marcus crouched in front of Faith. “What can I do to help?”

  “I need someone to watch the boys overnight and take them to school in the morning. I don’t want to leave Dalton here alone.”

  The Fortress operative glanced over. “I call dibbs on that assignment.”

  Faith’s eyes widened. “You want to stay with them?”

  “Oh, yeah. These guys challenged me to a video game match. They’re going down.”

  Both boys protested.

  “Are you sure?” Faith asked.

  “I have six nephews about their age. I’ll be glad to get in some practice before Christmas. Unless I’m working, I’ll spend time with my nephews playing the same game. It’s their current obsession. I don’t mind, Faith. Let me help.”

  “But what about your job at PSI? Won’t they be upset with you taking time off?”

  “Let me worry about that.”

  “Looks like Cade has that covered. What else can we help you with?” Marcus asked.

  She gave a soft laugh. “If you hear of a job with better pay and benefits, let me know.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “This work schedule takes me away from the boys too much. Maybe if I’d been home, this wouldn’t have happened.”

  “Don’t dwell on the ‘what-ifs’. There’s no way to know if that would have made a difference. I’ll ask around about jobs for you.” He reached for Paige’s hand and Faith’s. “Let me pray with you, then I’m afraid I have to leave. Wednesday night service starts in less than an hour.” After the prayer, he said, “I’ll swing by after church. If you need anything, Faith, call me. The ladies from the benevolence committee will start delivering meals tomorrow night. Wanda Francis will call to ask about food preferences.”

  “It’s not necessary to
feed us,” she protested.

  “You need to focus your energy on Dalton, not worry over what to feed your boys.”

  “I’ll be lucky if I have a job by the time Dalton is released from the hospital.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  After the service, Marcus drove with Paige to Burger Heaven. “Drive-thru or dine in?”

  “Let’s eat here.” Paige’s gaze locked with his. “You need a break, even if it’s only for a few minutes.”

  His lips curved. “I look that bad, huh?”

  “You look as though you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Set it aside for a few minutes, Marcus. Just be with me.”

  He enjoyed being with her. A word or a look from Paige often lessened his stress, almost as refreshing as a walk on the beach in the moonlight. And listen to him wax poetic.

  At the counter, Marcus ordered their meals, then carried the loaded tray to an unoccupied table in the corner. The noise level in the restaurant dropped until they were seated. He looked forward to their date out of town on Friday. At least they could eat without a rapt audience watching every bite. Over the years in Otter Creek, he hadn’t minded the attention of his friends and neighbors. Now, however, the intrusive attention mattered. He didn’t want Paige to be uncomfortable.

  Halfway through their meal, a man dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and flashy tie stopped by their table. Great. The sleazy land developer, Franklin Davidson.

  “Ms. Jensen.” The developer smiled. “I apologize for interrupting.”

  Right. The man’s smile was as insincere as his apology.

  Paige laid her hamburger aside. “Mr. Davidson.”

  Her cautious tone snagged Marcus’s attention.

  “Have you talked my proposal over with your grandmother?”

  “I told you when we talked before the decision to sell is up to Gram. It’s her home, her property. I won’t pressure her one way or the other. I told everyone who pestered me the same thing. If she doesn’t want to sell, I’ll stand behind her decision.”

  “That would be a serious mistake.”

  Paige stiffened. “Is that a threat?”

  “Of course not. Threats are illegal. I’m merely pointing out the inadvisability of that stance. Jo is a sharp, business-savvy woman. She shouldn’t hold on to a house and land for sentimental reasons. She’s impeding progress and hurting the town.”

  The noise level in Burger Heaven dropped again as customers became aware of the conversation in the corner. Marcus’s cheeks burned. Davidson had some nerve confronting Paige in public.

  “Talk to her,” the developer pressed. “Reason with her. I’ll make it worth her while. Yours, too. Without her signature on the dotted line, the rest of those who agreed to the deal will lose the money to buy or build somewhere else in the area, and the town will be out millions of dollars in tax revenues.”

  “That’s not my problem, Mr. Davidson. We’re finished with this conversation. I won’t change my mind.”

  Marcus covered Paige’s hand with his. “You’ve said your piece, Davidson. More than once. Let Paige finish her meal because we need to stop by the hospital in a few minutes.”

  The developer’s gaze shifted from Marcus to Paige. “Think about what I said, Ms. Jensen. Tension in town is high and emotions are volatile. One wrong word, and the ugly brew will explode. Many people could be hurt, including Jo. You should rethink your stance.”

  “That’s enough, Davidson,” Marcus snapped.

  The man lifted his hands in mock surrender. “I’ll talk to you soon, Ms. Jensen.”

  “Not if I see you coming first,” she murmured after the man had walked away.

  “I’m sorry, Paige. Guess I should have chosen the drive-thru option.”

  “I’m the one who wanted to give you a few minutes without stress. I’d say my plan backfired.” She picked up her hamburger. “Davidson was determined to speak to me again. If he hadn’t pitched his cause tonight, he would have tracked me down at the center tomorrow or the day after.”

  “How many times has he approached you about the B & B?”

  “This makes four. I’m not doing what he wants. Gram has the right to keep her family heritage. If she decides on her own to sell, I’ll back her, but I’m not going to influence her either way.”

  Marcus watched the developer as he talked and laughed with a group of people surrounding his table. The same people, he noted, who wanted to sell their homes for a tidy profit, the same people casting hot glances toward Paige.

  When she finished her meal, he held out a hand to her. “Interested in a milkshake? I hear the flavor offerings don’t include apple.” Her laughter coaxed a smile from him.

  “I’d better not. I’ll take a rain check, though.”

  “Deal.” He leaned close. “Besides, the restaurant we going to Friday has better dessert than a shake.”

  She shot him a curious glance. “Where are we going?”

  “That’s my secret.”

  Minutes later, he parked in the hospital parking lot and walked inside with Paige. In the waiting room, Cade sat with the boys, watching them play their hand-held games. Faith was nowhere to be seen.

  Cade glanced up. “Recovery.”

  A place Marcus had been many times over the past seven years. The hospital staff knew him well enough he didn’t need to check in with the desk nurse. He merely waved at her and kept walking.

  “Should I wait with Cade?”

  He glanced at Paige. “I doubt the nurses will stop you since you’re with me.”

  An elevator ride later, he walked into surgical recovery. At the far end of the room, Faith stood by Dalton’s bedside, her hand resting on his. An Otter Creek police officer stood nearby, watching everyone who came and went from the room.

  As they walked closer, Paige drew in a sharp breath. “Oh, Marcus. Look what he did to Dalton.”

  He squeezed her hand gently. “That he’s made it this far is a good sign.”

  Faith turned, smiled at them. “The doctor says it will take a few weeks, but Dalton going to recover.”

  The knot of worry in his stomach eased. “That’s great news. What were his injuries?”

  “Broken arm, broken nose, fractured jaw, fractured ribs. The doctor had to remove his spleen and stop internal bleeding. He was lucky.”

  “When will Dalton go home?” Paige asked.

  “Early next week.”

  “Has he talked to you?”

  Faith grinned. “He told me he wanted a milkshake.”

  “If he still wants one when he’s released, we’ll bring shakes for all of you,” Marcus promised. “In fact, we’ll bring two for each of you. Freeze one for later.”

  “Chocolate,” Dalton mumbled. His eyes opened a crack.

  “Great choice,” Paige said. “I hear you’re going to be out of school for a while.”

  “Mmm.” He slipped back under.

  “Are you set for tonight?” Marcus asked Faith. “Can we bring you anything?”

  “I’m fine. Cade and the boys took good care of me. They made me eat a sandwich from the cafeteria, and Cade brought me the largest to-go cup of coffee I’ve ever seen.”

  “Have the boys seen their brother?”

  She shook her head. “I wanted to wait until he was in a room first. Makes it easier to help them when they see their brother for the first time. They’ll be upset.” Her gaze swept over Dalton. “They won’t understand why anyone would do this to him.”

  “Nick told me officers will be on guard duty around the clock until Dalton goes home. PSI will keep a bodyguard with him as well. I’ll check with Josh Cahill later tonight to confirm.”

  “Do you think all of this is necessary? Wouldn’t the lowlife who did this be gone by now?”

  “If I were in your place, I’d accept any protection offered to my wife and child.”

  “I hope all this precaution won’t be necessary for long.”

  Marcus and Paige lingered a few minut
es, hoping Dalton would wake enough to ask why he’d been in the woods. He slept on, however.

  Back at the B & B, Marcus filled in Mason, Nicole, and Jo.

  “That poor kid.” Nicole handed him and Paige glasses of iced tea. “Does Nick or Ethan know who beat him?”

  “Ethan says it’s the same man who shot at us and attacked Paige at the center.”

  Mason frowned. “How does he know?”

  “Shoe prints matched.”

  “Do you think Dalton saw something that night he wasn’t supposed to see?” Paige asked. “That would explain why he targeted Dalton twice.”

  “Once he’s able to talk, I’m sure the police will ask him that question.” Jo set a bowl of fruit in the center of the table. “Now, what else is wrong, sweetheart?”

  “Are you sure you don’t read minds, Gram?” She sighed when her grandmother’s eyebrow arched. “We ran into Franklin Davidson at Burger Heaven after church.”

  “That blowhard?” Jo shook her head. “Same song and dance, dear?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “He’s persistent. I’ll give him that.”

  “I told him he was wasting his time.”

  “Has he been pressuring you, Jo?” Marcus asked.

  A soft snort. “He calls at least three times a day, leaves messages on the answering machine. In the past week, he’s upped his offer by $50,000. I don’t dare go into town because he shows up wherever I happen to be. My friends and I have been going into Cherry Hill to do our business. I’d rather get my supplies in Otter Creek, but I don’t want to deal with Davidson.”

  Sounded like an ambush. The fact that Davidson kept showing up alarmed Marcus. How did the developer know Jo’s location? Maybe people in town tipped him off. Hated to think their friends and neighbors were conspiring with the land developer. He frowned. Maybe the explanation was more straight forward. Was it possible Jo’s car had a tracker? “Have you seen him in Cherry Hill?”

  “He was there when we went to the movies. We saw him before he saw us and ducked into the movie theater early. By the time the movie was finished, Davidson was gone.”

  “Do you have a flashlight I can borrow?”

  “Of course, dear.” Jo rummaged in a kitchen drawer and returned with a yellow flashlight.