Maverick Sheriff (9 page)

“There’s nothing to find,” Jessa insisted.
I hope.
“But if you hear anything that’ll lead us to the kidnapper, that would help.”

Rosalie nodded, assured her that she would do just that and walked away.

Cooper finished his call and looked on the verge of cursing a blue streak before his attention landed on Liam. That softened his expression a bit.

“No sign of Peggy, and no one’s been able to reach Donovan Bradley,” he explained, shaking his head. “Carol Sealey no longer works for Donovan. His new assistant said she has no idea where Carol is and that Donovan hasn’t been in his office all morning.”

Too bad because with both Peggy and Carol now missing, Donovan might be the only one left who knew what the heck was going on. “What about Hector? Does he have any idea where Peggy would go and why she’d run?”

“I think it’s pretty obvious why she ran,” Cooper grumbled. “She’s got something to hide.” And with another glance at Liam, he believed that
something
was an illegal adoption.

That gave her another jolt of panic and fear.

“I can take Liam upstairs for his nap,” her mom offered. Jessa hadn’t told her mother about Cooper’s suspicions, but she obviously saw the tension between them. Anyone could have, including Liam, and even though her son was young, it wasn’t something she wanted him to sense. Especially since he was still recovering from surgery.

Jessa didn’t stop her mother from leaving with Liam. She wanted a chance to talk to Cooper alone so she could beg him to, well, she wasn’t sure what yet, but she had to do something. It felt as if he was trying to snatch Liam away from her.

“Hector’s on the way over here,” Cooper added before she could say anything. “He wants to talk to you.”

Mercy, that didn’t sound good. She prayed he wasn’t coming to confess he’d done something illegal to secure Liam’s adoption.

“I don’t trust Hector,” Cooper went on. “So while he’s here, I don’t want Liam or you alone with him. If he’s trying to cover up his part in the adoption, he might consider you both loose ends.”

Hearing that spelled out turned her blood to ice, and she forced herself to remember another side of this. “I plan to go through all my recent cases to see if there’s someone who could be out for revenge. That might be all this is. Someone who wants to get back at me because I put him or her behind bars.”

Cooper nodded, made a sound of mild agreement, but his attention wasn’t on her. It was on the two people who came out of the guesthouse about twenty yards away.

Cooper’s sister Rayanne and his stepbrother, Seth.

Like the other times Jessa had gotten a glimpse of Seth, he was dressed in a black suit. Very much FBI, and Jessa would have asked for his help if she thought she could trust him.

She couldn’t.

Even though Seth and Cooper were at odds, it didn’t mean the agent would be willing to help the A.D.A. who had put his adopted mother behind bars.

Rayanne and Seth appeared to be involved in a heavy discussion, but that stopped when they got within earshot of Cooper and her. Cooper’s sister threw open the door to the sunroom, stepped in and aimed a glare at Cooper. The glare held when her attention settled on Jessa.

She didn’t actually come inside. Rayanne stood in the doorway and ignored the steamy heat that was pouring in around her. “Are you plotting how to keep my mother in jail?” Rayanne snarled.

Jessa wasn’t feeling her strongest, but that put some steel in her spine. She nodded. “Because the evidence points to Jewell’s guilt.”

Rayanne’s eyes took on some steel, too, and she got right in Jessa’s face. Even though she was Rosalie’s twin, there was little resemblance between the two women. Rayanne’s eyes were harder, and it didn’t help that she looked ready to start a brawl.

One that she could win.

Jessa had heard rumors that Rayanne’s boyfriend had dumped her and then been killed. On the very day that she’d learned her mother was about to be arrested for murder. This wasn’t exactly a good time in Rayanne’s life.

Just like the rest of them.

Cooper stepped between his sister and her. “Jessa’s an invited guest in this house,” he told Rayanne. “You’ll treat her as such.”

“Invited,”
she grumbled. “And I wasn’t. If that was meant to insult me, big brother, it won’t work.” Her index finger landed against Cooper’s chest. “I’m staying to make sure you don’t team up with your invited houseguest here to put the screws to an innocent woman.”

“Rayanne,” Seth warned. “Pull your claws back. This is a fight we’ll win in court, not here on the ranch. That’s the reason I’ve been telling you to move into the guesthouse, so you won’t be under their roof.”

Now it was Seth’s turn to glare, but his went to Cooper. “Tell me what’s going on with the attempt to kidnap the A.D.A.’s son. Is it connected to our mother?”

“Our mother?”
Cooper repeated, clearly riled by that. Maybe because his mother had abandoned him. Maybe because Jewell had adopted Seth.

Maybe both.

There were a lot of reasons for Cooper to be upset, and Jessa could share some of those reasons with him.

“I can’t find a connection between this and Jewell,” Cooper finally said. “And I don’t want you looking for one, either. You’ll stay out of my way,” he growled.

Seth met him eye to eye. “And you’ll stay out of mine.”

With that, Seth turned like a sleek jungle cat finished with his prey and walked back toward the guesthouse.

“I know I’ve already brought this up,” Jessa said after Rayanne left, “and you’ve dismissed it, but what if all of this really is connected to Jewell? Not just the kidnapping attempt but my car accident and Peggy’s disappearance.”

This time Cooper didn’t jump to dismiss it or defend his brothers and father. Nor himself. He just shook his head before his gaze came to hers.

“Someone could be trying to manipulate the investigation. Yeah, I’ve considered it,” he added when she blinked. “Someone could be trying to use Liam to get one of us to tamper with evidence.”

And that in turn led back to his mother.

Or maybe to someone who wanted the case against her dropped.

There weren’t many people in that camp—Rayanne, Rosalie, Seth and Jewell herself. The only one she could rule out was Rosalie. Yes, it was clear she loved her mother as much as Cooper hated the woman, but Rosalie didn’t seem like the sort to cut legal corners, especially when she had her own battle going on—the search for her missing baby.

But maybe someone else had a hand in this.

It wasn’t much of a stretch for her to believe someone was trying to tamper with the murder charges against Jewell. After all, someone had stolen or misplaced evidence. Until now, Jessa had figured Cooper or his brothers might have done that, but she had a better understanding of the family dynamics now. The rumors of the rift between mother and sons weren’t just rumors. She doubted any of the McKinnon men would lift a finger to help Jewell.

“It’s almost as if we’re on the same side when it comes to Jewell,” she mumbled.

That sent a shot of fire through his eyes. “We might be if you’d quit accusing me of obstruction of justice. I don’t care what happens to her. I only care how it affects my father and brothers. But I wouldn’t destroy evidence to keep the mud off us from Jewell’s arrest.”

No. He wouldn’t. She knew that
now.
But knowing it and knowing Cooper better didn’t make her situation easier.

“I’m scared,” she admitted. And Jessa could tell from the look he gave her that he knew she wasn’t just talking about the kidnapping attempt.

Cooper nodded, mumbled some of that profanity he’d held back earlier and reached out. Took her by the arm. And pulled her to him.

Almost immediately she felt him stiffen, and he no doubt would have snapped away from her if Jessa hadn’t caught him. Why, she didn’t know.

Okay, she did.

It was because that brief moment in his arms had felt darn good. Reassuring. And safe. She hadn’t felt safe in days, but it was a mistake to look for that safety in Cooper’s arms. And the sound that rumbled in his throat let her know that he agreed.

But he didn’t move.

Neither did she.

Jessa just stood there with one of his arms hooked around her. Their gazes met. Held. And she felt that tug again. The one deep in her belly that she didn’t want to feel.

“This is
not
going to happen between us,” she reminded him, and herself.

The corner of his mouth hitched, and he pulled her even closer to him. Against him. And kissed the top of her head. It was chaste and comforting. Or at least that was what he’d likely intended it to be. But the fire she felt was anything but comforting.

What the heck was wrong with her?

Jessa stepped back. “I have a bad history with men,” she said. Then she frowned when Cooper didn’t even react to that. It was because he knew about her history, especially the parts she had wanted to keep shut away.

Knew about the nightmare of a relationship that had put her in the emergency room four years ago.

He knew that she’d allowed herself to become a punching bag for a man who’d professed to love her and who had once given her the same tug she was feeling now.

Almost.

This tug for Cooper seemed stronger. Different.

That didn’t make it right, and it was no doubt just a response to the danger. In fact, that was all it could be. Even if they semiagreed about Jewell, the trial would still cause trouble between his family and her.

No near smile this time. A muscle flickered in his jaw. “I did read what your ex did to you.”

No surprise, but it put a lump in her throat, and the memories of the pain and shame flickered through her.

“I’m sorry,” Cooper added.

There it was again. The sympathy fueled the tug. Or maybe Cooper alone was doing that. It was a reminder, a bad one, that it’d been way too long since she’d really been kissed. And Cooper certainly looked as if he knew how to do that.

She felt herself leaning closer to him, and it took her a moment to realize that was because Cooper still had hold of her arm, and he was pulling her back toward him. He was mumbling more profanity, too, as if this was the last thing on earth he wanted to do.

And probably was.

Still, that didn’t stop him from touching his lips to hers. Just a quick touch. That went through her like an inferno. She actually lost her breath for a moment.

Her mind, too.

Because she didn’t put up a fight to stop what couldn’t happen between them. In fact, Jessa was reasonably sure she would have returned the kiss. A real one. Long, slow and deep. If Cooper’s phone hadn’t buzzed.

He shook his head. Cursed again. And yanked the phone from his pocket.

Jessa stepped back. Way back. And this time she told that tug to take a hike. Kissing Cooper wasn’t just stupid. It was dangerous.

“Your adoption attorney’s here,” Cooper relayed to her once he’d finished the call.

She certainly hadn’t forgotten about Hector’s visit, but Jessa hadn’t quite braced herself for it. Because this conversation could be dangerous, too, if he ended up admitting that the adoption was illegal.

That gave her the attitude adjustment she needed.

Jessa followed Cooper through the kitchen and to the living room at the front of the house. Hector was standing in the center of the room, and she only needed a glimpse to see the nerves. His tie was askew. Suit coat, too. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his five o’clock shadow was well past the fashionable stage.

“I don’t know what you’ve started,” Hector said, his narrowed eyes pinned to her, “but I want it to stop now.”

Jessa shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

Hector used the back of his hand to wipe some sweat from his forehead. “Someone broke into my office. They stole my computer and ransacked my files.”

Her heart slammed against her chest. “Please tell me you have security cameras.”

“No,” he mumbled and dropped down onto the sofa. “And no one saw them coming or going. They took your file.”

That didn’t help her already unsteady breath.

“Anyone else’s?” Cooper quickly asked.

“Not that I can tell. Just Jessa’s.”

Oh, mercy. And that led them right back to an illegal adoption. Or maybe someone who wanted to make it look that way. But Jessa couldn’t think of any reason someone would want to do that.

Jessa walked closer, stared down at the man she’d once praised for locating a precious baby for her to adopt. No praise now. She just needed answers. “Do you have any idea where Peggy is?”

“No.” Another quick answer. “But she’s probably facing the same kind of harassment I am. Now I have an FBI agent calling and demanding to see me.”

Cooper and she exchanged glances, but judging from the way Cooper’s forehead bunched up, this was the first he was hearing about it, too.

“The agent called a few hours ago, insisted on seeing me and made an appointment for three o’clock. He didn’t come out and say it, but it sounds as if I’m under some kind of investigation.” His gaze snapped to Cooper now. “What the hell did you say or do to get me into this mess?”

“I didn’t say or do anything. I want the name of the agent,” Cooper insisted without pausing.

“Gordon Riker. Why? You don’t trust him?”

“No, I don’t. Don’t trust you, either. But in the case of the agent, he could be a fake. If you’re not the one trying to cover up an illegal adoption, then maybe this person is.”

That brought Hector to his feet. “I’m not covering up anything, and I won’t have my livelihood destroyed with questions and accusations from the two of you.”

“I’ll ask all the questions I want to get to the truth.” Cooper went to Jessa’s side, and the look he shot Hector was a lot more intimidating than one she could have managed. Added to the fact that Cooper towered over Hector.

“Was anything about this adoption illegal?” Cooper demanded.

“No.” Hector made another swipe at the beads of sweat popping out all over his face. “And from now on, you’ll communicate with me only through my attorney.” He extracted a card from his pocket and dropped it on the coffee table.