Gunning For Angels (Fallen Angels Book 1) (10 page)

It is difficult to know at what moment love begins; It is less difficult to know that is has begun.

–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Jack stared grimly ahead, waiting for the girl to speak.

The girl?

My daughter.

Jack’s mind reeled. He was at a complete loss for how to act, what to do or what to say, so he decided to sit tight and wait for
her
to speak. He considered dropping her off at his house, but decided against it. For all he knew, she might burn the place down just to spite him.

He sighed, remembering what his own father had put his mom and him through – he wouldn’t blame the kid if she lit his house up like a firecracker on a birthday cake. He inwardly cringed when he remembered the expression on her face when he said that stuff about her mother.

I might as well have punched her.

He gave her a sidelong glance, but her face was hidden from view.

The houses were turning into mansions that got larger and more elaborate as the car climbed higher into the foothills.

“Where are we going?” Enid asked in a muffled voice.

Jack glanced at her, wanting to say something that would make her feel better, but not knowing how. “Work. You don’t mind riding along, do you?”

Silence.

Fair enough.

Checking the address that Rachel had given him, he turned into a driveway that was guarded by a security booth.

A guard with a nametag that read “Horace” stepped out of the booth. “Good morning, sir.” 

“Morning,” Jack said, wondering how much the guard got paid to have such a pleasant smile.

“How can I help you?”

“I’m here to see Eve Hargrove. She’s not expecting me and I’d like to keep it that way.”  

“Last time they had a ‘surprise’ visit, they hired me the next day.”

Enid dropped the hoodie and leaned over. “She’s my Aunt. She doesn’t know that my mom – her sister – just died.”

“I’m sorry,” Horace said, taken aback. 

Jack hid his surprise as Enid said in a quavering voice, “If she knows we’re here, she’ll know something horrible happened – we thought it’d be easier on her if we tell her in person.” 

Horace pressed a button so that the gates swung open. “My condolences.”

“Thank you,” Enid mumbled.

Jack shot her an irritated look as he drove up the winding driveway. “You didn’t need to lie. You
shouldn’t
lie.”

Enid snorted.

Jack said, “He didn’t buy it anyway. I guarantee he told them we’re on our way up.”

They rounded a corner and both stared in astonishment at the looming mansion.

“Wow,” Enid breathed.

A Spanish fortress of stone towered in front of them. It was as if they stumbled into a fantastical fairytale world of wizards and imprisoned princesses. To say it was unusual was an understatement. Jack was used to the typical Scottsdale McMansion of every varying floor plan that somehow always looked the same, but this place was Harry Potter off the hook. 

They got out of the car and Jack caught his breath at the spectacular view. He hadn’t realized they were so high up – it was gorgeous. All that money could buy.

“Sir?” A man’s voice said.

Jack turned.

A butler in formal uniform stood in front of the intricately carved doors.

“Horace ratted us out,” Enid whispered.

“Wait in the car,” Jack said.

“On ‘Bring your Daughter to Work’ Day? Not a chance.”

Jack began to retort but Enid darted forward and disappeared through the door. Disconcerted, the butler hurried after her.

Jack followed them into a cavernous hallway where his footsteps echoed. On all sides were life-sized sculptures, elaborately framed paintings and what looked like medieval tapestries.

Jack found Enid staring as if spellbound at a painting of a bride and groom holding each other, floating.

“Is that real?” she asked in a hushed tone.

Ignoring her, the butler disappeared through a large door.  

A statue of a rabbit guarded the door. From the cool darkness of the mansion, Jack stepped through the door and into a world of white sunshine and heat. As his eyes adjusted, he made out the sparkling blue water of a negative-edge pool with a diving board at the far end.

Jack saw her and drew in a sharp breath.

Eve Hargrove stood on the diving board, gazing at him with a look that he would’ve given everything he owned to know what the hell it meant. Her black bathing suit set off her porcelain skin to perfection. Her black hair fell over her shoulders, one strand entangled in a necklace of amber stone set in gold.

She dove into the water; her body cut the water like a knife. Jack moved forward, staring at the mermaid mirage that swam toward him under the water.

Eve surfaced in front of him, gasping for air. Wiping her long wet hair from her face, she climbed out of the pool and, water streaming from her body, she walked forward until she stood in front of Jack.

Jack felt his breath quicken as he concentrated on not staring at her. The way her bathing suit clung to every curve, the way her nipples pushed against the thin, wet fabric – making him want to reach out and…

“I’m Enid.”

Jack gave a start. He’d forgotten the kid.

“Would you like some lemonade?” Eve asked Enid.

“Sure.”

Jack remained silent. He was horrified at the strength of his emotions. He wanted Eve like he never thought it possible to want a woman. 

“What would
you
like?” Eve asked Jack.

Jack grimaced. He had the uneasy feeling that she read him like a cheap novel.

“Iced tea for me,” a woman’s voice called out from behind him.

Jack spun around, disconcerted. He wasn’t used to missing things. Especially people.

Laura Hargrove was twenty-two and so pale that she seemed almost translucent. Her light yellow bikini did nothing to diminish the impression of fragility as she tucked a tendril of her baby blond hair behind her ear. Her pale blue eyes shone with hostility and were aimed at Jack’s obvious hard-on.

Jack felt his face go hot as he suppressed the urge to kick the chair out from under her bony ass.

“My sister, Laura. Laura, this is Enid and…?” Eve gave him a quizzical smile, like they’d never met.

“Jack Fox.” He held out his hand to Laura, who ignored it.

“Laura, can you entertain Enid while Mr. Fox and I talk?”

Laura tilted her head in what might be construed as a nod.

“Nice meeting you,” Jack said, sarcastically.

Eve disappeared into the dark interior and, with a quick “stay here” look at Enid, Jack followed. He found
himself watching the sway of Eve’s hips as she left high arched wet footprints behind her. She led him into a library that had a strangely decadent feel.

Jack’s eyes fell on a framed photograph. He picked it up, examining it. It was the three sisters in their early teens. Jeni struggling with a fake smile as a frowning Laura shrank from the camera. Eve was in the foreground, gazing into the camera, eyes dark and challenging. 

Eve snatched the photograph from his hands. “Is this your idea of discretion?”

Jack smiled, feeling on firmer ground at the sound of irritation in her voice.  He nodded in the direction of the patio and Laura. “Sweet girl. Bit too talky for my taste.”

Eve’s lips tightened.

Jack reached out, slipped his fingers under her amber necklace and held it up so that it gleamed.

Eve recoiled, clutching at her necklace. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Amber. Like your stepfather’s ring.”

“They never found his ring,” Eve said, her voice sharp as a sewing needle.

“Or nine of his fingers,” Jack retorted, suddenly feeling more in control.

Eve eyed him coolly. “Mr. Fox, you work for me. I paid you.”

“Too much.” 

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“
Way
too much,” Jack emphasized.

Eve studied him.

“Like you’re up to no good.” Jack stepped close, his voice soft. “Miss Hargrove,
are you up to no good?”

Eve’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. After several moments, she said in a frigid voice, “Let’s get something straight…!”

Jack closed the space between them. “How ‘bout we get straight – I ain’t your bitch so stop barkin’.”

They locked eyes.

He took her in his arms and kissed her. Her lips yielded, kissing back and Jack felt an exultation surge through him. Wave after wave, it wrecked him to the core.

Somewhere, from deep within the mansion, a door slammed. The spell was shattered.

Eve’s slap bit into his face. “Get out!” She backed away, rubbing her lips with the back of her hand.  

Jack forced himself to give her a slow cool grin. With a mock salute, he strode out.

When he reached his car, he abruptly stopped. 

The kid!

He turned as Enid came bounding out the front door.

“Where the hell have you been?” Jack snapped.

Enid’s eyes flashed with hurt.

His cell rang and he snapped it open, “What?”

Rachel answered timidly, “Jack?”

“What’d you find out?” Jack asked, trying to ignore the wounded expression on Enid’s face.

“Is everything okay?” Rachel asked.

“Yeah,” Jack said, feeling like a jackass.

Enid was scowling at him, trying to act like she didn’t give a shit. 

“Hold on,” Jack covered the receiver and said to Enid, “Look, I lost my temper. I’m not used to being tailed by…” His words trailed off – he didn’t know what to call her.

“Who’s tailing you?” Rachel asked. “FYI, if you think you just apologized – that wasn’t it.” 

“Tell me you got something – I need an address.” He listened, frowning.

Jack hung up and got in the car. He gripped the steering wheel, feeling disgusted with himself. He hated losing his temper, losing control. Over the years, he had prided himself on keeping his cool and not letting things, especially women, get to him.

Enid knocked on the passenger window. 

Shit!

Jack unlocked the passenger door and Enid hopped in. “Forget something?”

As Jack was pulling out, a truck pulled in. It had the license plate of an unmarked detective’s vehicle. Jack stopped, waited.

A sixty-something detective got out and shot him a look that made Jack suspect that he was looking at a man who would question rain falling from the heavens as being r
ain falling from the heavens – unless it was certified by God himself, DNA evidence and a solid I.D. from Mother Mary.

A disgustingly handsome man in his twenties got out of the passenger side. Jack heard Enid suck in her breath. He found himself glaring at the younger man’s perfect physique with a mixture of admiration and envy.

Did I ever even look half that good?

“Are you here to see Eve Hargrove?” Jack called out to the older man.

“Who are you?” The detective walked over. 

“Jack Fox, private detective.” Jack got out of the car.

“Detective Bud Orlean.” His eyes flickered as he shook Jack’s hand.

It was the flicker of recognition that Jack knew all too well. Whenever an old-timer on the force heard his name, they might not know him, but they remembered his father. And he knew damn well they all knew the stories.

“What brings you here?” Bud said.

Enid materialized beside Jack. She gazed at the handsome guy with lovesick eyes. “
Hi
.”

Chip took her outstretched hand. “Hi.”

Enid held his hand in hers, unwilling to let it go. “Call me Veronica.”

Jack shot her a startled look.

Veronica?

Chip smiled with a warmly humble quality that even Jack had to admit was charming. Enid’s mouth formed a soundless ‘O’ of admiration. 

Jack made a face, pulled Enid toward the car. “Come on,
Veronica,
we’ve got to get you back to the nunnery.”

Enid allowed herself to be maneuvered to the car, her eyes never leaving Chip’s face. Jack met Bud’s wry eyes as he deposited Enid in the front seat and shut the door. He locked her in.

Enid tried the handle and found it locked. She glowered at Jack as he walked back and handed Detective Orlean a business card. “In case I can be of any assistance.”

“Detective Orlean?” the butler called out from the front doors.

Bud held the card in the air in a “thank you” as he walked toward the mansion.