Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) (6 page)

“I’ll put in some overtime off the clock.” Zack shoved the last bite of his pastry into his mouth.

“We’ll double up our surveillance and see what happens. It’ll give us more ammunition for the meeting with the business owners and appease the mayor.” Logan stood and headed down the hall.

Zack refilled his cup and ambled to the open doorway of the chief’s office. “Have a minute?”

Logan motioned him on in. “What’s up?”

“You’re aware of the case involving Jezzica’s husband being gunned down during a carjacking?” Logan nodded and Zack continued. “I want to order the case file and do some off duty work on it.”

“What’s the motivation? Has something new surfaced?” Logan leaned back and eyed him closely.

“No. I’d like to scan it and see what’s there. The fresh set of eyes factor.”

“One stipulation. Don’t do anything that would create animosity with another department. If you find anything—come to me first.”

“You have my word.” He left, but instead of heading to his own office, he detoured back outside and hopped in his truck.

He toured the town, trying to see it from a criminal’s view instead of his trained police surveillance. He drove the main streets, then veered onto some less traveled roads, and even took a swing by Mick’s Bar. Then he inspected the areas behind the shops. He took notes of open doors and raised windows facing the alleyway. Many of the business owners would need to take tighter precautions.

On Main Street, he parked in front of Jezzica’s shop. He was intrigued by the lovely owner of the bookshop—and wanted to know her better. The rub, as his grandfather would say, was how to convince her that being a detective shouldn’t rule him out as a guy of interest.

Chapter Eight
 

Catylen sat in the passenger seat as her sister maneuvered the car onto Shoreview Drive. “If you don’t hear anything by morning, I think you should tell the police what’s going on with Jackson.” Catylen adjusted the strap on her seat belt.

“I would never intentionally put either of us in danger. Even if the killers had something to do with Jackson’s disappearance, how would they know where to find me?”
They’d know.
These criminals were not small-time hoods. They were part of a larger operation. The detectives assigned to the case had shared her opinion—the main reason they gave her for not being successful in finding the murderers. The organization would have simply transplanted the men elsewhere.

They arrived at the Chantilly Rose restaurant, located in the Sea Crest Inn. Jezzica lowered the volume on her anxious thoughts allowing them to simmer, but like a pot placed on a back burner over a low flame—it still couldn’t be ignored.

They were seated near a window along the wall of glass, with a view of the roaring waves ravaging the shore. A warm glow filled the room from the raised hearth, the perfect way to take the chill off the May evening. Soft lights from dimmed chandeliers and sconces invited cozy chats.

Abby strolled over, lightly touching Jezzica’s shoulder. “Welcome to Chantilly Rose. It’s been a while.”

“My mouth is watering for your sensational sweet potato fries.” Catylen smiled at Abby and picked up the menu.

From Abby’s gentle touch and pensive expression, Jezzica knew she was offering silent condolences. Geoff and Jezzica had purchased the cottage from Jezzica’s parents and spent many relaxing weeks in Serenity Cove. He’d caught up on his journal reading and Jezzica had spent time reading, browsing through the shops or just kicking back on the shore. The Chantilly Rose had been one of their favorite places to dine.

“Our special tonight is one of our signature lattes, French vanilla with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon.” Abby turned to the waiter and quietly told him the lattes were on her. “Enjoy your dinners.” She seemed about to say more, but turned instead and greeted guests at another table.

The waiter stepped closer. “Besides the blend that Abby mentioned, we also have a great Caramel-Brown Sugar Latte.” He quickly disappeared with the orders.

They decided to stick with the appetizer extravaganza. The table soon filled with sweet potato fries, mini potato pancakes with a sweet mango salsa, and a vegetable platter with three dipping sauces.

They ate with little chitchat. Jezzica rehashed the earlier phone message. She pushed her plate away. “I’m stuffed.”

“Tell me about it. One more bite and I’ll need to undo the button on my pants.”

Jezzica exchanged the valet ticket for her car, and they were soon speeding down Shoreview Drive.

Puzzled, Jezzica kept an eye on her rearview mirror. “That truck is riding my bumper.”

Catylen turned around as a jolt struck from behind. The car jerked and Jezzica fought the steering wheel. “They just hit the—” Again the truck rammed into them with its oversized bumper. “What’s going on?” She tossed her phone to Catylen. “Call Zack.” The pickup slammed them for the third time. Jezzica tried to control the car as it spun around. The truck jammed the car and spun it again and the back of the car crashed into the hillside. “Are you okay, Caty?”

Catylen pressed her hand against the gaping cut on her head as blood oozed between her fingers. “My head is bleeding.”

The sight of flashing lights on the patrol car eased her breathing. She jumped out and met Zack as he jogged toward the car. “Catylen’s hurt.”

Zack hollered for Alec, who had arrived on the scene with him, to call the medics. Then turned his attention to the two women. “Gas is spilling out of your vehicle.” He waited as they settled in the patrol unit, then moved the cruiser farther from the scene. He pushed Jezzica’s hair off her brow. “Help’s on the way.”

The night exploded with the sound of sirens, not a common occurrence in Serenity Cove. Soon the medics swung in behind the patrol car. They were quick to replace Jezzica at Catylen’s side.

Paul Kimmet, the medic on the scene, looked at the gap extending from her eyebrow past her hairline. “No doubt, it’ll need stitches.”

Zack briefed Brandon Hernandez, the new fire chief. Brandon had been injured in the fire that had spread behind the shops on Main Street a few months back. He’d returned to the fire department, not only healed from his injuries, but also sober for the first time since his high school years. Zack rushed back to his cruiser; he and Jezzica followed the ambulance to the hospital.

He pulled into the drive next to the Serenity Cove General Hospital
monument sign for the small, single-level hospital and parked in the spot reserved for the SCPD. Jezzica rushed toward the front doors, and he had to jog a few steps to catch up with her.

Inside, Thelma manned her station at the front desk. “Make yourselves comfortable in the waiting area. Doc’s with Catylen now.” Her no-nonsense commander-in-chief tone of voice left little room for questions.

Guilt gripped Jezzica as they took a seat. “This is all my fault.” She stared at the floor.

“Your fault? You know who did this?” Zack grasped her hand.

The situation forced her to tell him everything. She accepted the tissue he offered her and wiped her face. “I intended to call you tomorrow.”

“So there’s a possibility the incident tonight has something to do with the killers.” Zack tightened his hand around hers.

“It sure wasn’t an accident. That truck rammed us over and over intentionally. How did they know where to find me?”

“They’ve probably had you under surveillance since Geoff’s murder.” He wanted to take the words back, yet she needed to know what she was facing with men like these.

She and Zack both looked up as Doctor James Hollingsworth, commonly referred to as Doc, came into the waiting area and sat next to Jezzica. “Your sister is fine, but we’ll keep her overnight for observation.” Doc rubbed his fingers through his scruffy beard and stretched his lanky legs out in front of him. It seemed the long night had taken its toll on him. Jezzica noticed less of the burnished brown and more of the salty gray in his hair than when she’d first met him the previous year.

“Can I see her?” Desperation clouded her eyes. What if something had happened to her—what if she’d lost her sister like she’d lost Geoff? Had the killers kept track of her—what would be their next move?

Chapter Nine
 

Zack perused the report from the detective division of the Stone Valley Police Department. The file presented graphic, detailed description of the incident the night of Geoff’s murder. The killers hadn’t been content with killing him. They’d fired six bullets into his body as though nothing more than a target set up for practice. The photos revealed multiple bruises from being kicked, as he lay on the ground dying or maybe already dead.

This fit the profile of criminals that had no conscience, and showed relentless hostility toward their victims. They often were the hardest to capture. The file held drawings based on the information and work Jezzica had done with the police sketch artist. According to the file notes, the sketches hadn’t resulted in any leads. The detectives on the case stated that, in their opinion, the crime had been the work of overzealous thugs within a large carjacking ring. The killers may have been thugs—but Zack believed psycho was a better fit.

In light of the current situation with Jezzica’s car, the case warranted immediate attention. He donned his cap, left the station parking lot and drove to Main Street. As he pulled into a slot in front of the bookshop, the lights were on.
Good, she’s here.

He tapped on the door. Her shadow appeared through the frosted double glass doors. The doors swung open and her translucent brown eyes created a surge in his heartbeat, but drained his brain cells. He’d heard her say to come in, but it hadn’t registered with him that he should pick up his feet and move.

“Zack?” Her knowing grin didn’t help.

He recovered with a lame attempt to act natural—anything would be an improvement after acting like the victim of a recent lobotomy. He cringed and stepped across the threshold. “I dropped by to…to check on Catylen.”

She squinted as though questioning his sanity. In the back of the shop, she sat at the table, motioning for him to sit across from her. “Caty is doing much better. She’s upstairs, going through a few things that Samantha left behind.” The orange tabby jumped into her lap and she massaged behind his ears, he stretched and purred in appreciation.

“I see he’s made himself at home.” Zack chuckled and then turned serious again. “I don’t want to overreact to what happened. But it warrants upping the security here and at your cottage.” He leaned forward with his arms resting on the table.

“I want to argue with you, but I’d rather take every precaution than end up—” Speaking the possible was seemingly too much to even contemplate.

“I need a key to the shop and the cottage, and I’ll handle everything for you. I want to go over the details with the security company before they install the necessary equipment.”

“Catylen’s daughters will be arriving next week. I’d like to have everything finished before then, if possible.” Her eyes clouded with a tinge of worry. “Should we have them cancel their plans and not come?”

He inhaled deeply. “Let’s get everything secured and go from there.”

Jezzica walked him to the front of the shop. He stepped outside and listened for the click of the lock. With his sunglasses in place, he turned in the direction of Serenity Blooms.