Page 17 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets

Sasha didn’t seem to be bothered by any kind of anxiety whatsoever. She lounged in front of the fire. Every so often, she’d wander to find the kids, checking to be sure all was well, then return to her spot and settle her nose between her paws.

The snow had stopped for now, but the last update from his weather app said it was supposed to start up again tomorrow.

Jade had slipped into the kitchen a few minutes earlier, and he could hear her on the phone once again. Not wanting to look like he was eavesdropping, but wanting to catch her alone for a few minutes, he slowly made his way into the kitchen.

“All right,” she said. “Thank you for letting me know.” She hung up and dropped her chin to her chest.

“What is it?”

She looked up. “I called Heather and asked her to pick up Frank’s laptop and take it in to the captain.”

“Okay, but that’s not why you’re so pale.”

“The ME beeped in while I was on the phone with Heather. He just…um…finished with… Frank.”

Bryce couldn’t stop the involuntary flinch accompanied by a wave of grief. “And?” he asked.

“And basically, the autopsy confirmed what we already knew. The two gunshots killed him.”

He swallowed and nodded. “What else?”

“There’s no sign of a struggle. No bruises, nothing under his fingernails or on his hands. It’s like he just stood there and let someone pull the trigger.”

“Or he was taken by surprise?”

“Or that. But the bullets went into his chest. He was facing his killer—which, to me, indicates he knew the person.”

“Or at least trusted them.” Bryce shook his head. “We really need to know where he went after he left the church. But we know he made it home because his car is there.”

“Yes, but according to the detectives who’ve been working this, none of the neighbors remember seeing Frank come home. What if whoever killed him drove it there?”

“Then CSU will find something.”

She rubbed hand across her lips and shook her head. “Today’s been great and the kids needed it. If I’m honest, I needed it. My headache has finally eased, and I think my throat is feeling a bit better. Or maybe the ibuprofen is just doing its job, but…”

“But you’re back at it tomorrow,” he finished for her.

“Absolutely. If I didn’t have full confidence in the detectives working the case, I would have been back at it today regardless of my head and throat. But truly, my brain simply won’t stop. I’ve got to figure this out or go crazy.”

He nodded. “Last night, I wrote some stuff down that Frank and I talked about. I keep going back to the day I told him I was coming home.”

“What about it?”

“I sensed some hesitation on his part. Like he wasn’t sure he wanted me to be here.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“I think he was worried I’d come back bitter and angry and disrupt Kristy and the kids’ lives or something.

Or maybe yours and Heather’s. Or his and Heather’s.

Who knows? Once he realized that wasn’t the case—and he learned I was opening my own private investigation agency—he started acting normal again and wound up asking me if I’d help him with the story he was working on.

He figured since no one knew anything about me coming back, I would be the perfect one to do this without arousing suspicion. ”

“How did he arrange for you to ride with Dylan?”

“He didn’t. I did.”

She frowned. “But why Dylan?”

“Frank had a list of names and gave them to me. He was looking at four cops in particular. I chose Dylan first because I knew him pretty well and figured once things went well with him, the other officers might not mind having me along so much—or suspect anything out of the ordinary. I just told them I was interested in being a cop and wanted to see how a small-town force worked.” Which actually hadn’t been a complete lie.

He had been interested, just aware they’d never hire him because of his leg.

“And you’re just now mentioning this?”

“I wouldn’t have mentioned it at all if Frank wasn’t dead,” he said softly.

“Right.”

“Who are the other three names on the list?”

He pulled the paper from his pocket and handed it to her. She glanced at it and the frown deepened. “You’ve got the captain on here,” she said softly. “My boss.”

“I was going to ask to shadow him next.”

“I know all of them and can’t see any of them being involved in cooperating with this drug ring.”

“I’ve done a little background work on all four of them. To be honest, nothing really set off any alarm bells. I will say that the captain is in some pretty heavy debt from that new house he’s building since he hasn’t sold the old one yet.”

She raised a brow. “He’s building a new house?”

“Yes. A nice big one.”

“Great. But a big house and debt don’t automatically put him in the dirty cop role.”

“I know.”

“But it doesn’t look good.” She sighed. “Still, Captain Colson has a spotless reputation in the department. He worked his way up and is a decorated officer. There’s no way I believe he’s involved.”

Bryce rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know. All I know is those are the names Frank gave me.”

“Now I really don’t know who to trust.”

“I recommend you keep doing what you’re doing. Talking to who you’re talking to. If you change things now, it could make someone suspicious.”

“Right.”

“I’ll keep digging into the background of the others, too.”

“Mommy!” Mia’s call from the kitchen had Jade pursing her lips.

“That child,” she said. “She only has one volume setting. Loud.”

He smiled. “She’s a great kid. All three of them are.”

“Thanks.” She shook her head. “What is it, Little Bear?”

The sheer love in her eyes sent his stomach twisting into knots.

She had a child. And the more he watched them together, Bryce would admit, he was envisioning what it might be like to be a part of that family unit.

Having met Mia, the thought wasn’t quite as terrifying as it might have been once upon a time.

He cleared his throat and stepped back when Mia burst into the room.

“Lolly and Pop are going out for dinner with friends while they can get through the snow. Can we have pizza for dinner and watch a movie? And can Bryce stay?”

Jade hesitated.

“I’m game if you are,” Bryce said. The words tumbled from his lips before he had time to filter them. What was he doing? She was a mother. He never planned to be a father. The last thing he should be doing is spending time with them. But…he wanted to.

“Ah…sure,” Jade said. “That’s fine, hon.”

Happy squeals filled the room. She darted to Bryce and wrapped her arms around his leg for a hug. “Thank you, Bryce!” Before he could react, she was gone, darting back to the kitchen. “She said yes!”

Bryce shook off the amazing feeling that had come with Mia’s spontaneous affection and wanted to smack himself. He should have left while he had the chance. Now he was committed to spending the evening with Jade and three kids.

Why he found himself smiling, he had no idea.

When thoughts of Frank and the fact that someone might be after Jade for something she knew—but didn’t know she knew—resurfaced, the smile faded, and he placed a hand over his weapon. He didn’t want to use it—but he would if it meant keeping Jade and her family safe.