The Perfect Couple (Last Stand #4)(67)
Author: Brenda Novak

He hesitated for a second, but his voice was strident when he answered. "Yes, sir. Would you like to see them?"

"It’s likely. Hang on to them for me."

"Okay."

Jonathan rubbed his eyes. Franky wasn’t their problem. Not this time.

"I don’t think you should bother Zoe," he said. "I think you should go home and stay out of this."

"I’m not plannin’ to cause trouble. That’s why I called you. I just…I need you both to know that I’m here and I’m willing to do whatever it takes.

If you want me to spend the next two weeks digging through paperwork or tramping through the woods, that’s fine. Or I could pass out flyers or knock on doors. Shit, I don’t know. Something. I mean, I’d even be willing to pay your bill if Zoe needs me to."

Jonathan wasn’t under the impression that Franky had much money.

"I’m afraid Zoe’s financial obligations would be more than you could afford, but…I’ll tell her." What else could he say? Franky sounded so damn sincere….

"How much does she need?" he asked.

Jonathan held up the flyer. It certainly couldn’t hurt to offer some added incentive. "Ideally?"

"I guess we could start there."

"Ten thousand dollars."

Franky whistled. "That’s a lot."

"Yes, it is."

"That’s the amount of your bill?"

"No, I’m not charging. We want to put up a reward for information leading to Sam’s whereabouts."

"A reward would be a great idea. I shoulda thought of that."

"It’s worked in the past."

There was a moment of silence. "Okay."

"Okay what?" Jonathan said in surprise.

"If…if I can come up with the money, how will I get it to you?"

After a glance at his watch, Jonathan started his car. He had an appointment with a woman who worked at the property-management company that rented out quite a few of the cabins near Placerville. Because she’d agreed to come in on a Saturday just to help him, he couldn’t be late. "I don’t want you out robbing a bank because I said we need ten thousand dollars, Franky."

"I won’t break the law. No way. I’ve changed."

"You have other means of getting the money?"

"Just one. But it should work."

Jonathan was tempted to doubt him, but the conviction in his voice suggested he had every intention of following through. "Fine, if you’re that determined, give me a call when you have it and we’ll meet up."

Chapter 26

T he cabin was so remote it didn’t have running water or electricity.

Tiffany had already made one trip to the outhouse and needed to go again, but she kept putting it off. The smell was almost overwhelming, and so were the flies. But that wasn’t the main problem. The cramped, dark space, and the eerie creak of the door when she opened it, made her feel as if she was stepping inside an upright coffin. And, in a way, she was. This was where Colin had dumped the pet he’d had before Rover, the one they’d taken from Nevada when they’d gone to Vegas to celebrate Colin’s graduation from law school. Colin said the lime and the septic tablets his father used to improve the smell would speed decomposition. Whenever she went in there, she couldn’t help wondering what was left of the girl–and if her ghost was wandering around the forest, waiting for them to return. She would’ve gone in the woods, but she had to go to the outhouse to get the toilet paper anyway.

With a shiver, she tossed her magazine aside. No matter how many times she read that article on star hookups she was too nervous to comprehend it. She kept thinking of Sam out in the shed.

Forget it. She deserves it.

Getting to her feet, she meandered around the cabin, eventually winding up in the kitchen. She liked this room best, but she didn’t stay there because everything reminded her of Paddy, from his favorite seat at the table to the beef jerky in the glass jar on the counter. He’d been with his second wife longer than Tiffany and Colin had been married, but Sheryl refused to rough it. She said she saw no purpose in giving up the comforts of home and never came up here, probably didn’t even know exactly where it was.

This was every bit Paddy’s domain. But he hadn’t visited in over a year. As he got older, he seemed more and more content to simply hang out with Sheryl and let Colin use the cabin.

Maybe Paddy hadn’t been here in months, but Tiffany could still smell him. The damp wool of his hunting shirt, combined with cigar smoke, made for a unique scent that lingered forever.

"I hate losing you," she muttered, wringing her hands.

Where was Colin? She needed him to reassure her that all was well.

They’d been out of touch ever since very early this morning, when he’d forced some sleeping pills down Samantha and shoved the girl into his huge suitcase. He’d been about to load her into Tiffany’s trunk, but after what’d happened with Rover, Tiffany had insisted he put her in the backseat. At least if Sam woke up and started calling for help, she’d be where Tiffany could reach her.

But Sam never woke up. She didn’t make a peep the entire trip. Even after they’d arrived at the cabin and Tiffany jerked the heavy suitcase out of the car and rolled it over the bumpy ground to the shed, she didn’t come to.

With a sigh, Tiffany went out to check on her again. The hunting shed that had become her temporary home stank almost as badly as the outhouse.

But Tiffany wasn’t about to allow Samantha inside the cabin, not after what she’d done last night. It was her fault Paddy was dead. If she hadn’t started screaming, Colin might’ve been able to convince Paddy that his concerns were unfounded. Colin had said so himself.

"Sam?" Tiffany pulled open the door and poked her head inside. She’d unzipped the suitcase so she could hammer the end of Sam’s collar into the ground with a stake as Colin had told her to, but Sam remained curled up inside the bag. She didn’t answer; she didn’t even open her eyes. Colin had doped her up good this time.

"You think you’re pretty smart barfing up that shake, don’t you?" she said to the girl’s inert form. "Well, I hope you like sleeping outside. It gets pretty darn cold up here. You were too out of it to notice anything last night, but you’ll get a taste of it tonight." The mosquitoes wouldn’t be fun, either.

With a taunting smile, she let the door slam shut and finally forced herself to use the outhouse. That was when she heard the approach of Colin’s vehicle. Finishing quickly, she ran to greet him.

"There you are!" She threw herself into his arms as soon as he climbed out of the car. "I’ve been so worried about you."

"I’m fine." He kissed her temple as he released her and that small gesture made her inordinately happy–despite everything.