Bounty (Walk the Right Road) (9 page)

“Sorry.” She reached in the drawer and lifted out a pencil. “Needed this.” She slammed the drawer shut and grabbed a pad of paper. Normally she’d have felt bad, but Green was such an asshole, and he didn’t get these people. She was furious at him for judging them. Even though, in her own mind, she had serious issues, she didn’t feel he had the right to have an opinion.

“Basically, different sects broke off, following different leaders and teachings. There’s also the Reorganized Church, headquartered in Missouri, and the Bickertonite Church, based in Pennsylvania. Do you want me to go into the different teachings?” Zac asked.

Diane was thankful he hadn’t looked at her. He was taking all the heat from her, and even Sam was frowning, considering, wondering. Diane’s throat was scratchy and dry, and she had to force herself to swallow, as her heart was pounding so loudly in her ears that she could feel the blood pulsing through her arms and chest. To make it worse, her underarms were dripping. Zac had come in prepared, but did he know what was taught, how each sect interpreted those teachings, how they were led and controlled?

She knew the teachings of her community well because they were still branded in her brain from nightly prayers, the entire family on their knees. Her father, who had led the prayers, was the only one to talk to God. Women were only allowed a spiritual connection through their fathers or husbands, but it was the prophet who controlled the community, deciding who married whom and when a wife was to be given away. Men requested marriages through the prophet and awaited his approval, so staying in the prophet’s good graces was the men’s top priority.

Later, a different teaching was passed on to her by her true father, Jack Larsen, over and over: No one can talk to God for you. Only you can interpret the message you receive, and no one can ever tell you what to believe. One night, she’d asked Jack how she would ever get to heaven now, asking which heaven it would be. He’d stared at her with such confusion and asked her to explain her question, so she told him about the three levels of heaven: the celestial, the natural, and the spiritual, the top being the state where man becomes God and goes with his wives to create their own world. She explained that if a man ever doubted the prophet and his visions, he would lose everything, his house, his family, his membership in the community. Having been away from under it now, she could see the brilliance of the prophet, how everything was about power and control. Jack had said to her that if she truly believed any of those teachings, she wouldn’t have been there with him.

“Diane.”

She jumped as Zac called her name. “Sorry, was just thinking of this case, where to start.” She set a palm over one flaming cheek and rested her elbow on the desk, gazing down at the blank paper, willing herself to get it together. Could they read her? She knew Zac could, and Sam had to have a clue. She still hoped Green would get lost, though. “I have some ideas. There’s a faction south of the border that split off from Bounty. They’re in Idaho, all with FLDS ties.”

“We’ll have to start with the Boundary County Sheriff for the area,” Zac said. “It’ll be tough because they may not want us coming in there and searching their records. Calls are going to have to be made, Green, which is your job, I believe. For Bounty, across the border, you’ll have to call the RCMP to get their cooperation, as well.”

Diane glanced up at Zac and noticed from the corner of her eye how uncomfortable Green was.

“Well, I don’t know how easy that’s going to be,” Green said, sounding way out of his comfort zone.

Diane didn’t miss the hesitation in his voice. It was amusing to see how he thought he could just dump this on her without having to do anything. The ass-kisser wasn’t as smart as he thought he was, and that had Diane smiling to herself.

“Green, I know that since Dexter retired and you’re filling in, there are some protocols you are responsible for, not Diane,” Sam said, breaking his long silence. “You know that. It’s your responsibility to pick up the phone and call the sheriffs in these neighboring counties so we’re not tossed out on our ears. It’s a courtesy and a formality, and you have to do it. We need to go in and question people, but it’s not our jurisdiction. Don’t make Diane look like some hick from some backwoods jurisdiction who’s stepping on toes when she shouldn’t have been put on this case to begin with. Pulling her from OPNET was a shitty and underhanded thing to do, so make sure she’s got all the resources she needs,” Sam said with a subtle bite in his southern drawl. His cheek twitched as his gaze connected with Green’s.

Green had the good grace to at least blush before raising his hands and backing away. “Fine,” he said, backing into his office and shutting the door. They all watched through the glass as he went to his desk and picked up the phone.

“Wow, maybe we’ll get somewhere and not have to woo these sheriffs ourselves. Thanks, Sam,” Diane said, a little stunned. After all she’d been through the past couple of days, maybe she had been reading Sam’s mood wrong.

He simply nodded, and she again noticed a shadow of hurt about him, as if he was holding something back. He smiled at Zac, but it was a wary smile that was all political, hiding who he was. “So…”

Diane cut Sam off. “Why’d you tell Green you were coming back to work with me and not bother to let me know?” She swung around in her seat.

Zac was watching her, and she wondered for a minute whether he wanted to pull her aside. He frowned and glanced over at Sam again.

“Actually, Diane, I called your cell a couple times last night, kept getting voicemail,” Sam said. “I left you a message. You’re not checking them now?”

Whoa. She realized then that she’d left her phone at home after she shot Zac and drove him to his house. She remembered their kiss and could feel the heat as Sam narrowed his eyes—and she blushed, for God’s sake.

“What were you doing last night and this morning, Diane, that had you so distracted?” he asked.

She didn’t know where to look, so she set both feet on the floor and yanked out her cell phone, all the while fighting the urge to pull at the collar of her shirt. The screen displayed two missed calls and a voice message. “Sorry, Sam, my bad.” She winced and played the message. Sam’s voice came on, and she quickly deleted it and pocketed the phone. “Well, since you’re both helping me, this should be a piece of cake, right?”

They both looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.

“I’m thinking we should head up to Bonner’s Ferry as soon as possible, fly in to Sandpoint, rent a car from there,” Zac said, not moving from where he stood. “Green can make the arrangements.” Both Diane and Sam gave Zac a look that had him saying, “All right, I’ll take care of it myself.” He paused. “Need to pack a bag, Diane. Sam, how soon can you be ready to leave?” He pulled out his cell phone and was typing something in.

“Marcie’s here in town to see a midwife. I’ll just stop in and get her back on the ferry, and then I’ll be ready,” Sam said.

“Marcie’s here?” Diane said. “Why didn’t you say so?”

He didn’t say a word, just pulled out his cell phone and dialed, pressing it to his ear. “Are you done? Yeah, well, I have to go out of town.”

Diane was stunned as she listened to the awkward one-sided conversation. “Sam, give me the phone.” She snapped her fingers.

He gave her a look and then said, “Diane wants to talk to you.” He handed his cell phone to Diane, who snatched it and didn’t miss the way Zac was watching her and Sam.

“Marcie, Sam here didn’t bother telling me you were in town,” she said.

“Yeah, I had an appointment this morning for an ultrasound,” Marcie replied.

Diane didn’t miss how down Marcie sounded. She could hear Kyla babbling in the background. “Sam said you were seeing your midwife.”

She let out a heavy sigh, and Diane got the clear message that there was trouble in paradise. As she glanced up at Sam, he was chatting with Zac, a guy who just yesterday had rubbed him the wrong way.

“Oh, I’m sure he did,” Marcie finally said.

Whoa.
Diane glanced up at Sam and had to take a breath before responding to Marcie’s sharp remark. Definitely trouble in paradise. “Hey, listen, I’d love to see you before we go. How about Sam swings by to pick you up and bring you to my place? We’re not going anywhere yet. Hang on a second, Marcie.” She covered the mouthpiece. “Zac, how about we leave early this evening? That way, Sam can pick up Marcie and bring her by my place.”

Zac had an amazing way of giving her all of his attention. Diane found it interesting that he winced before replying, “Sure.”

“Great. Marcie, did you catch that? I’ll send Sam now to pick you and Kyla up, and I’ll meet you back at my place.”

“Okay, if he doesn’t mind” was all Marcie said, sounding hesitant.

“Of course Sam doesn’t mind picking you up. You’re pregnant again with his child; he’s supposed to look after you. Here, I’ll pass you back to Sam.” She handed the phone back, and Sam took it and looked away.

“Are you done?” He shoved his hand in his pocket and took a couple steps away. “Okay, I’m on my way.” He pressed the button without saying goodbye, that he loved her, anything he would have said before.

Diane tapped her pencil on the desk. “Zac, since you drove me in, can you take me home?”

He pursed his lips and nodded.

“I can take you, Diane,” Sam said.

“No, you need to get Marcie and Kyla. I’ll pick up some lunch on the way, if that’s okay, Zac.”

He nodded, glanced at his phone, and said, “Okay, we’re taking a charter out of Port Townsend at six.” He shoved his cell phone in his jacket pocket. “Let’s go.”

“Should we let Green know?” Sam asked.

Everyone glanced at the glassed-in office where Green was behind his desk, the phone pressed to his ear. He was laughing with whoever he had on the other line.

“No, I don’t think so.” Diane shoved her chair in.

“Well, let’s go,” Sam said.

Zac pressed his hand into Diane’s lower back and walked her out.

“I can’t believe you’re helping me shop now.” Diane wandered down the produce aisle as Zac pushed a shopping cart beside her. It was such a domestic scene, one she’d observed often as an outsider, each time touching her heart with deep longing. She walked close to him, his frame so tall and large that she wanted to lean into him for just a second. There was something so addictive to just being around him, so new and fresh and alive. He made her feel really good.

He nodded and firmed his lips, picking up a head of lettuce and setting it down before searching through a stack of romaine, picking out the biggest, freshest head. He tucked it in a bag and set it into the cart.

“I’m not much of a cook, Zac, so we could pick up some deli meat, bread, make sandwiches.” After she spoke, her hands began to sweat as she realized, in that second, that maybe he was just buying his own groceries.

“I love to cook, Diane. I’ll make lunch. Besides, you have a great kitchen.” He smiled down at her. Her heart flip-flopped, and an easy smile touched her lips. “You also have a great smile, Diane.”

He leaned down and touched her lips with his. It was so brief and light that her breath caught somewhere in her throat as she felt herself drowning in the amazing warmth of his blue-gray eyes. Diane swallowed, but the lump in her throat seemed so dry it didn’t want to move.

“So, tell me about your friends, Sam and this Marcie who’ll be showing up at your house,” he said.

“You’ll like Marcie. She’s unusual, and she doesn’t worry much about what others think of her. She has a little girl, Kyla, who’s almost two.”

“So was it my imagination or is there trouble between Sam and Marcie?” Zac reached for a bunch of green onions and then picked through the tomatoes, selecting four of the plumper ones.

“Yes, well, something is going on between them. I’ve never seen Sam like this. Apparently he asked her to marry him, and she said no.” Diane studied the mysterious man beside her, who didn’t flinch from what she’d said. Most people she knew would question why Marcie wouldn’t jump at the chance to marry a guy like Sam. “Sam thinks she’s hiding something from him, too. I don’t know what’s going on, but maybe they’ve been cooped up together too long on that reclusive island,” Diane said.

“Which island are they on?” Zac steered them to the bakery.

“Las Seta. They hop on the passenger-only ferry from Gardiner, and they usually call before they come in. They sometimes stay over at my place.” Diane watched Zac select a dozen ciabatta rolls. He steered her next to the deli and over to the hot precooked chickens, setting one in the cart.

“That’s pretty reclusive. A lot of odd stuff happens there, too, I believe.” Zac gave her all of his attention and then held up two blocks of cheese. “Havarti or edam, any preference?”

Diane watched him, wondering what other talents he had hidden away. “None whatsoever. My mouth is already watering from whatever this is you’re creating.” She strode side by side with him while he selected mayonnaise and olives and then led them to the checkout.

“You’ve relaxed a bit,” he said. “You’re not as stressed. Guess it helps, keeping you distracted with other things, other people’s problems.”

He unloaded the cart, and Diane shoved her hands in her coat pocket. This was the first time she’d ever gone grocery shopping with a man—a man who did all the shopping. When she tried to pull out her wallet to pay, he shook his head and paid the cashier before carrying the bag out to his pickup, once again waiting for her.