The Professional Page 15

  He’d missed another message as well, this one from Charlie. A simple “Call me ASAP.” Evidently she’d found something, Jeb thought, wondering what sort of information would require an “as soon as possible” response. His gaze slid to Sophie, who was bent over putting her shoes back on.

  Good Lord, had anything else felt as wonderful as being inside her? Had anything ever made him feel more powerful? More alive? More…everything.

  She was utterly and completely remarkable. She was sweet and kind, full of fire and loyal, hardworking and…adorable.

  This one is special, his brother had said.

  Mild understatement.

  This one wasn’t just merely special—she was a game-changer. She was it. His undoing. He couldn’t imagine taking another step forward, ever again, without her by his side. Was he in love with her? Honestly, he didn’t know. He’d never been in love before, so he had nothing to compare it to. He only knew that he needed to breathe the same air she did. He needed to be near her. He needed to hold her. To protect her. To ensure her happiness.

  She looked up and caught him staring and a slow smile slid over her kiss-swollen lips. “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing,” he lied. “I just like looking at you.”

  “You’ve got to quit saying stuff like that,” she said. “You’re going to ruin me for other men.”

  “Good.”

  She blinked, seemingly startled.

  “It’s only fair, don’t you think?” he asked. “You’ve ruined me for other women.”

  Another one of those refreshing blushes painted her cheeks. It was mind-blowing, genuinely remarkable that she didn’t recognize her own appeal. That she didn’t know how astonishingly fabulous she truly was. Humility was a little thin on the ground these days, but Sophie O’Brien had it in spades.

  Or was it doubt? he wondered, his belly tightening. Had her father done such a number on her that she was incapable of seeing her true value? Had her confidence been undermined to the point that she didn’t know that she was the most amazing creature he’d ever clapped eyes on?

  “Did you want to look at anything else here before we go?” she asked.

  Jeb shook his head. They’d already gone through the files she’d reviewed last night and made pictures with his cell phone of everyone’s pertinent details. To his surprise, she’d even started a file on him. She’d noted his name, his “adoptive” relationship to Foy, who had evidently explained things to her with that little white lie, that he was a former Ranger, but present employment was unknown. She’d notated his social style, his affable ability to start a conversation and his height, which she’d dubbed “substantial,” along with the added note, “Would look good in my happy place.”

  Jeb had about choked when he’d read that little tidbit and Sophie, to his delight, had become quite annoyed on his behalf.

  “How dare she think she could chain you to a wall and whip you and do…other things,” she’d finished, unable to go on.

  “You going to shoot her?” he’d teased.

  “Please,” she’d said, rolling her eyes. “I’m not going to jail for a man, even one as hot as you.”

  Careful to make sure that they’d destroyed any evidence of their visit, Jeb took one last look around the office. The desk was tidy, the USB tucked safely away in his pocket, her chair was in its place. All of their clothing was on and accounted for, though there had been one frightening moment when Sophie hadn’t been able to find her panties and they’d discovered them hanging from a low branch of an artificial ficus tree.

  They were thongs. Who knew?

  Satisfied that everything was as it should be, he made his way over to Sophie, who was staring at the aquarium, a line furrowed on her brow.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Something’s different,” she said. “I can’t put my finger on it, but something isn’t right.”

  Jeb glanced at the aquarium. He’d never looked closely at it before, so he couldn’t say whether anything was different or not, but he knew enough about instincts and heeding them, to give her a minute to let her take a proper look.

  “Ethel’s not supposed to clean this either,” she added. She bent down, looked closer. “Marjorie has a company that comes in to do it for her. I’ve seen their van here before.”

  That’s right, Jeb thought. He’d seen the notation on her financials.

  “Do you know what coulrophobia means?” she asked.

  “Not off the top of my head, but I can look.” He withdrew his phone, loaded the dictionary app. He chuckled. “It’s the fear of clowns,” he said. “Why?”

  “Because Marjorie had noted it on Ethel’s file. And…” She was thoughtful, considering.

  “And what?”

  “And I found a red clown nose under Marjorie’s desk when I noticed the nail polish.”

  Jeb cocked his head. “What would one have to do with the other?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s too odd to be a coincidence, don’t you think?”

  Yes, he did. He just didn’t know how they could possibly be connected. He bent down and watched the fish circle the tank, their pale pink bodies glimmering in the artificial light. Water bubbled from an air filter in the back and ornamental grasses swayed with the current. Coral formations provided cover should the pair wish to hide and a white castle and bubbling treasure box rounded out the décor.

  Jeb’s gaze narrowed as something caught his eye. His stomach clenched and his fingers tingled as he drew closer, peered at the treasure chest. It had been moved recently, the gravel beneath it disturbed and it hadn’t closed properly, because something had gotten in the way.

  “Sophie, could you describe Lila’s necklace to me please?”

  “Sure,” she said, shooting him a look. “It’s a diamond and sapphire choker. Each little piece is set like a flower, a pansy, I think, and very closely set.”

  Jeb chewed the inside of his cheek, pointed to the treasure chest. “Like that, you mean?”

  She started, her eyes rounding, then bent down and followed his finger. “What?” She inhaled sharply. “Yes,” she said. “Exactly like that. Oh, my goodness,” she breathed. “Look at that. I bet it’s all in there.”

  He’d bet it was, too. Jeb found a long glove in the compartment below the aquarium—wet from recent use—and pushed his hand into it so that any germs that were on his skin wouldn’t get into the water and harm the fish. He reached in and snagged the treasure chest, then carefully opened it up.

  Sophie’s breath caught. “Lila’s necklace, Rose-Marie’s brooch, Nanette’s diamond earrings, Pearl’s string of pearls.” She held up the last item. “Annie’s ring. Oh, Jeb,” she sighed, disappointment weighting her shoulders. “Why would Ethel do such a thing? Why would she take these things and then plant them in Marjorie’s office?”

  He didn’t know, but it was past time to find out. “Let’s call Marjorie,” he said.

  “Call Foy, too, and let him know that you’ve got it. We can alert the others after we’ve talked to Marjorie, but Foy…” Her face crumpled with sympathy.

  Jeb nodded. “You call Marjorie and ask her to come down here. Tell it’s urgent, but nothing else. I’ll call Foy.”

  The old man answered before the end of the first ring, indicating that he’d been waiting by the phone. “Jeb?”

  “I’ve got it,” he told him. “It’s safe. I’ve got to tie up a few things here first, then I’ll bring it to you.”

  “You’ve found it? You’re sure?”

  “Positive. And we’ve found everyone else’s things as well.”

  “Well done,” Foy told him, his gruff voice thick. “I knew you had it in you.”

  “Thanks, Foy,” Jeb told him, though he didn’t feel like he’d actually done all that much. It was pure dumb luck that they’d come back tonight and heard Ethel in the aquarium. Had they not broken back into Marjorie’s office, it could have been weeks, possibly months, before they’d had any sort of signifi
cant break in the case.

  His gaze slid to Sophie, who just ended the call with Marjorie. A wondering smile slid over her ripe mouth as she stared at her friend’s jewelry and something about that smile hooked him right in the heart. He felt it snag in his chest and tug. This was good, right?

  Only his excuse, his ticket into her world, was disappearing. It was over.

  So now what? Jeb wondered, his cheeks puffing as he released a breath. What sort of reason was he going to have to manufacture to keep her in his life? Because he grimly suspected that she’d just become the center of his universe.

  13

  NOSTRILS FLARED, eyes blazing, Marjorie marched into her office, sniffed delicately, obviously noticing the scent of sex in the air, and narrowed her gaze.

  Sophie wanted to fall through the floor, but ignored the heat rushing into her cheeks and held her ground.

  It helped that her ground was next to Jeb’s.

  “I want to know just what in the hell you think you’re doing in here,” she demanded. “This door was locked. My computer was off. You’ve got exactly three seconds to tell me or I’m—”

  “Going to nail us with your riding crop, Ms. Whitehall?” Jeb asked, his lips quirking dangerously.

  She gasped and all the color drained from her face. “Now, listen here. I—”

  Jeb strode forward. “I’m Jeb Anderson with Ranger Security,” he told her. “And I am not Foy’s grandson. I was hired by Rose-Marie Wilton’s family to investigate the theft of her vintage Tiffany brooch, as well as several other missing pieces of jewelry from other residents on site, most recently a diamond engagement ring that had belonged to Annie Wilcox, Foy’s late wife, which was stolen from his safe this afternoon.”

  Marjorie blanched. “What? But—”

  “The missing jewelry—all of it—was found hidden in the treasure box of your aquarium.”

  Looking as if she might be ill at any moment, Marjorie’s disbelieving gaze darted to her aquarium, then she gripped the edge of her desk. “I didn’t take it,” she said. “I swear, I have no idea how it got there. I—”

  “We know how it got there,” Jeb told her. “Because we were here when the engagement ring was put into the box tonight.” He arched a brow. “Do you have any idea why anyone would want to frame you for these thefts? Anyone holding a grudge against you? Anything at all you’d like to share before the authorities get here?”

  She swallowed, pressed a hand against her throat. “You know who did it?”

  Jeb nodded. “We do. The ‘why’ of it is still a bit of a mystery. We were hoping you could enlighten us.”

  She glanced up, her gaze darting nervously between the two of them. “How did you know about—”

  “Your happy place?” Jeb asked. “I hacked into your computer,” he admitted. He lifted a shoulder. “You were a suspect in my investigation. It was necessary to clear you.” He arched a brow. “She found out, didn’t she? And you retaliated by using her phobia against her.”

  Sophie blinked and swiveled to look at him. When had he figured that out?

  “She was blackmailing me,” Marjorie finally admitted. “I’ve always kept a decent supply of cash put aside, but she was determined to drain me dry, to take it all, just because something in my personal life isn’t precisely in character for a director of a retirement home.” Marjorie swallowed. “How dare she. It’s no one’s business but mine. And Twilight Acres is my home. These people, as infuriating as they can be,” she admitted with a significant eye roll, “are my family.”

  Sophie certainly understood that. She felt the same way about all the residents here.

  “How did she get the codes to the safes?”

  Marjorie grimaced. “Undoubtedly the same way you did,” she said. “By figuring out my password.”

  “I didn’t figure out your password. I used a customized program that did it for me. I wouldn’t think Ethel would have access to something like that.”

  “Could she have figured out your password?” Sophie asked.

  “She could,” she said. “She knew my other name. My handle. The Whippet.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Stupid,” she muttered. “I should have changed it. I just never suspected she’d do anything so heinous.”

  The Whippet? Really, Sophie thought. Like the dog? She got the “whip” part, but… Oh, she thought, understanding dawning. Female dog. Bitch. Whippet. Double meaning. Quite clever, actually.

  “Any idea why these specific people were targeted?” Jeb asked.

  Marjorie rubbed a line from between her brows. “Any person who ever had anything negative to say about her cooking could have been a target,” she said. She frowned. “Foy’s ring went missing today?” she asked.

  Jeb nodded. “It did.”

  “Cora had mentioned that Ethel was having a tantrum today because Foy had suggested her mashed potatoes didn’t have enough salt.” She rolled her eyes, looked up at them. “Did you recover all the missing items?” she asked.

  “We did,” he said.

  “Then I’d like an opportunity to handle this in-house,” she said. “You can ask them all first and I’ll abide by whatever they decide. But I can fire her for this with the threat of going to the authorities if she ever harasses any of us again.”

  And she’d have the leverage to get Ethel completely off her back, not that Sophie could blame her for wanting that. Granted pain was not part of her pleasure process, but to each his own. If Marjorie got her jollies by beating the crap out of people who liked it, then who was she to judge? Hell, she’d just had sex with a man right here under her desk. She certainly didn’t have the right to hurl any stones.

  Jeb considered her request. “I’ll talk to everyone and get back to you. In the interim, change your safe codes and your passwords and don’t let her know that we’re onto her.”

  “You saw her, you say?” she asked, lifting a brow.

  “We did.”

  “But she didn’t see you?”

  “We were hiding,” Jeb told her.

  Her eyes twinkled with knowing humor. “I’ll just bet you were.” She glanced at Sophie. “Your sweater’s on inside out, sweetheart. Might want to correct that before you leave.”

  Sophie felt her eyes widen in alarm, glanced down at her shirt and winced. “Damn.”

  “And if you ever find you can’t keep him in line, let me know,” she added. “I’ve got a few toys I could lend you.”

  Sophie cleared her throat. “I don’t think that’ll be necessary, thanks.”

  Marjorie merely shrugged, then predictably settled down and got to work.

  “Do you think they’ll go for it?” Jeb asked her. “Do you think Foy and the rest of them will let Marjorie handle Ethel?”

  Sophie chuckled darkly. “Oh, I think they’re definitely going to be more in favor of Marjorie meting out justice than anyone else.”

  Jeb slung an arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss against her head, the treasure chest in his hand. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go give these people their belongings back.”

  She grinned. “I like the sound of that.”

  “And then we’re going to go to your house and I’m going to do some finger painting. With chocolate. And you’re going to be my canvas.”

  Sophie grinned. She couldn’t think of a better way to end the day.

  * * *

  “WHAT DO THE letters ASAP mean to you?” Charlie asked Jeb the next morning when he finally got around to returning her call. They’d returned the jewelry last night, confirmed that Marjorie would be responsible for Ethel’s punishment, then gone back to Sophie’s and played paint by number with chocolate cobbler on each other’s bodies.

  It had been wonderful. The best. He’d awoken this morning to her sweet rump squashed against his aching groin, her plump breast his hand and a smile of bone deep contentment on his face. For the first time since he’d left the military, since that horrible business in Mosul, he felt…hopeful about the future.

&n
bsp; Guilt had accompanied it, of course, but admittedly it wasn’t as debilitating as it had been before.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I haven’t had time.”

  “Are you with her?” she asked.

  He watched as Sophie threw feed out to her chickens. “I am, but she’s not right here with me at the moment so I can talk, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Yes and no,” she said, letting go a breath. “Listen, I’m not even sure where to start, so I’m going to give you an abbreviated rundown, okay?”

  Unease nudged his belly and he felt his attention narrow. “Okay.”

  “Sophie’s family is as screwed up as they come. With the exception of both grandparents, who are both deceased, she doesn’t have a single relative who isn’t certifiably crazy. Seriously. Her father never attended a school he didn’t get kicked out of. He stabbed a kid in Kindergarten through the hand with a pencil and that’s the least violent thing on record, although certainly not the least disturbing. His teacher’s note said, and I quote, ‘The boy scares me. There’s a darkness in his eyes, a pure lack of remorselessness that makes me fear for my safety as well as the other children’s.’”

  Jeb whistled low. “Damn.”

  She laughed grimly. “And that’s not even the half of it. He met Sophie’s mother in reform school. Her mother had already been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, with an unnatural predisposed hatred of other members of her sex. So the sociopath meets and marries the psychopath and they have a boy, whom they adore. But when Sophie came along…”

  “Oh, geez,” Jeb said, passing a hand over his face.

  “They terrorized her, Jeb. I widened the net to a three state radius and found hospital records that would break your heart. The last one I found was right here in Cobb county. She’d been six, taken to the hospital by her grandmother. Multiple cuts and bruises and a gash inside of her right arm that required twenty-four stitches to close. She took her grandmother’s name less than a month later, but the grandmother kept a restraining order against her son until the day she died. Sophie has been renewing one for both her parents and her brother every six months for the last two years. She’s called the police department several times, reporting disturbances around her house, crank calls and vandalism to her car. They even poisoned her animals. Bastards.”