Page 36 of Final Approach (Lake City Heroes #4)

NINETEEN

Kristine made sure her father was settled at home while Ethan stayed with Emily. Their brother was going to have to return to New York early the next morning, so he wanted as much time as possible with his injured sister before he had to leave.

Her father lived an hour from Lake City, but she had felt like she should drive him home and make sure he was as okay as he insisted he was. She ordered groceries to be delivered just as he came out of the hall bathroom, scrubbing a hand down his face. “You gonna stay here tonight?”

“No. Just long enough to make sure you’re all right.”

“I’m fine. Wouldn’t mind the company, though.”

She wasn’t staying. No way, no how. She’d better start making calls soon to get a ride home. She’d pay for an Uber if she had to. But first ... “Can we talk about Emily’s friends?”

He stilled, then raised a brow. “What about them?”

“You said they were bad news. What made you say that?”

“ Now you want to know?”

She just kept her gaze steady on his. He finally shrugged and settled into the recliner opposite the television. “That Tia girl was kicked out of high school for cheating on one of her finals. She had to get her GED.”

“Okay, so?”

“So, that goes to character.”

“And yet she graduated college with Emily at the top of their class. People can make mistakes and still be good people. And not only that, people can change.”

“And that Dana girl. The one in the coma? She was arrested for drugs in school. For using and dealing. She got off with a slap on her wrist because her daddy is a senator. Rich, entitled brat.”

Kristine could only stare at her father. But in the back of her mind, she was sorting through reasons someone would want to kill Dana. Reasons related to drugs? “Is she still involved in that?”

He shrugged. “Beats me. That’s why I didn’t want Em hanging around her.” His eyes darkened into storm clouds. “But she didn’t listen and now look where we are.”

Kristine bit off a sigh. He always thought he was right. Even when it was clear to anyone else that he wasn’t. “Let that go for a minute, will you? Did you find anything else out that would indicate Dana had someone who wanted to see her dead?”

“What? Why?”

“She’s a senator’s daughter. That in itself might make her a target.”

He blinked. “Yeah. Maybe.”

“And someone tampered with her brakes.”

He snorted. “Well, there you go. Do you need any more proof?”

“Dad, she’s in a coma. Someone tried to kill her. This whole thing is being investigated as an attempted murder. If you have any information that you can share as to who could have done this, you need to give it to the detectives.”

He sighed and raked a hand over his head. “Fine. I’ll dig up all my notes and files and take those to the police first thing in the morning. Happy?”

“Yes. Thank you. And one other thing. Do you mind if I look at Mom’s stuff in the attic?”

He frowned. “What? Where did that come from? You’ve never shown any interest in that stuff before.”

“I know. Now I’m interested.”

“Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yeah. It matters. Why stir up old memories that are better left buried?”

“Because she was my mother. I need to do this. For me.”

He studied her, eyes the exact same shade of gray as hers. But somehow different. What was it that she was seeing now that she’d never noticed before? Something ... lacking. He shrugged and looked away. “I don’t think I have that stuff anymore. I probably gave it to charity.”

“Dad!” She blinked. “Why would you do that?”

He slammed a hand on the arm of the chair. “Because she loved her job more than she loved us and I didn’t need the reminders!”

“Well, she was my mom and I wanted her stuff! Emily and Ethan might have wanted something too. You should have asked.” She pulled in a ragged breath. Don’t yell. Stay calm. She forced her fist to relax. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“It was just stuff. You didn’t need it and neither did Emily or Ethan. And it was just reminders.”

“What do you mean, she loved her job more than she loved us?”

“Nothing. I shouldn’t have said that.” He rubbed his head. “I’m tired.”

Drop it or push it? With him? It was better to wait if she wanted answers. As much as it pained her, she dropped the subject. “Yeah. Okay. I’m sorry I yelled.” She didn’t want to leave with angry words between them. She turned toward the kitchen.

“Hey, Krissy?”

“Yes?” She turned back to meet his gaze. His eyes were soft and filled with ... love? Maybe? She wasn’t sure. But wanted to believe it.

“Thank you for everything. I’m ... sorry about your mom’s stuff. I guess I should have asked if you guys wanted it.”

“Yeah, you should have, but it’s done and we’ll just move on.”

Right. Move on. She went to the kitchen to get some space and set her phone on the counter. The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it, Dad.”

She opened the door and gasped, placing a hand over her racing heart. “Jesslyn! What are you doing here?”

“Besides giving you a heart attack? Giving you a ride home. I’m guessing you didn’t see my texts that I was on the way?”

Kristine grabbed her phone from the counter and looked. Three texts and two calls. And her phone was on silent. She sighed. “No, I didn’t, but thanks. That helps so much. I appreciate it.”

“And I have another bit of news,” Jesslyn said, eyes on her screen.

“What?”

“Nathan just texted that Andrew’s parents’ store was robbed. He’s on the way to them now.”

She gaped, then snapped her mouth shut. “Oh no. Are they all right?”

“Yeah.” Jesslyn glanced at her phone again. “The guy was there when they got home and shoved Andrew’s dad. He hit his head but is okay. So, Andrew is going to be dealing with that for a while.”

“I’ll text him and let him know I’m here if he needs anything.” She stepped back, relieved that she could leave ASAP. “I’m more than ready to go. Come in a sec while I tell my dad I’m leaving.”

Jesslyn stepped inside and Kristine set her phone back on the counter to grab two water bottles from the fridge. She passed one to Jesslyn. “For the road.”

“Perfect.”

Kristine said a quick goodbye to her dad, who was dozing in the recliner, then grabbed her coat off the back of the kitchen chair. They headed toward Jesslyn’s car, and Kristine reached for her phone only to remember she’d left it on the counter. “Ugh. I left my phone. I’ll be right back.”

She hurried back to the porch, pulled out the hidden spare key, and let herself in.

And stopped. Her father stood in profile near the refrigerator, one of the cabinet drawers open while he read something on the paper he held. At her entrance, he shoved the paper in the drawer, slammed it, then spun to face her.

“You think about knocking?” He glowered at her.

“Uh, sorry, Dad, left my phone.” She snagged it and stuck it into her back pocket.

“Right. Knock next time.”

“Sure thing. See you later. Call if you need anything.”

Kristine almost confronted him about whatever it was he was hiding but decided she didn’t want to know. She left again and this time made it to the car, slipping into the passenger seat. “Thanks again,” she said, pulling out her phone to text Andrew.

Jesslyn smiled. “I didn’t mind the drive. It gave me some time to think about things.”

“Like?”

“Change.”

“You say that with a note of regret in your voice. Everything okay with you and Nathan?”

“Yes, for the most part. You know the Bureau is going to assign him somewhere and I’m going to have to follow.”

“Yeah, I know.” The Bureau had a habit of doing that. But Jesslyn knew that when she agreed to marry the man. “You don’t want to go?”

“Oh, I do! Yes, of course. I’ll be fine. My biggest regret? Leaving the youth center.” She laughed. “How silly is that?”

“Not silly at all.” Jesslyn had opened a youth center in honor of her parents. “You’ve poured a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that place. Not to mention money. It’s a huge success and so many parents have come to rely on it as a safe place for their kids to go.”

“I know. And I love it. I also love Nathan, so...” She blew out a sigh. “God will work it out. I have faith in that, so I’m not stressing too hard.”

“But a little?”

“Yeah. A little.”

“You know the one thing you haven’t said you’ll miss?”

“What’s that?”

“Your job as deputy fire marshal.”

“No, I guess I haven’t.”

“It’ll work out. God has a way of doing that.”

“I know. You’re right. I just wish he’d give me a little more advance notice about things.”

Kristine laughed. “Well, just keep bugging him until he does.”

“Yeah, I’m good at that.”

The rest of the ride home went smoothly, even though she kept an eye on her mirror. She couldn’t help notice Jesslyn doing the same thing. Her mind kept going to Andrew, though. “Should we go by the bookstore?” she asked.

“No, Andrew’s there. He’ll keep us updated and let us know if we can do anything.”

“Okay. I don’t want to be in the way or make him feel like he has to pull his attention away from his parents for any reason. I’ll wait for him to text or call me.”

But goodness, it was hard to do that.

ANDREW PULLED TO A STOP at his parents’ home-slash-bookstore and hurled himself out of the vehicle and up the three porch steps to the front door.

Other officers had already arrived, but he flashed his badge and made his way inside to find his mother wrapped in his father’s arms, sitting on the couch in the reading corner.

Both of his parents looked worn and pale. Older than their sixty years.

“Sorry it took me so long. Tell me everything.” He pulled up a chair from the card table and planted it in front of them.

“Oh Andrew,” his mother said, “it was just awful. Your father and I had gone to get some food, and when we came back, the door was open and the cash register had been broken into and the displays knocked over...” She sniffed and swiped at the stream of tears sliding down her cheeks.

“And he came rushing down the stairs and out the door, pushing your father...”