Jana DeLeon - The Reunion

“We both know you’re doing far more than that. I remember you said someone would verify my presence on the estate each day. Will you be doing that or will Tyler report to you?”

“Actually, Carter Trahan has an agreement with the estate to perform the verification duties for all three of you. Given everything that’s happened, he’s also busy trying to investigate Purcell and those who may have been on his payroll.”

“Carter is the sheriff, right?”

William nodded. “And will become your brother-in-law next year.”

Joelle struggled to wrap her mind around it all. Two sisters, a future brother-in-law, a potential fortune and a sulking bodyguard. Only the bodyguard ruined the perfect picture.

That, and kidnapping, and attempted murder.

Before she could change her mind, Joelle launched into her next set of questions. “Your son...Tyler...I get the impression he’s not overly happy with his job.”

William sighed. “I noticed his manners weren’t exactly up to par when you arrived. I apologize that he didn’t provide a warm welcome.”

“He’s a grown man. You don’t need to apologize for him.”

“In this case I do, as I’m responsible for putting him in a position he didn’t want to be in. Given everything that has happened with your sisters, the estate insisted on twenty-four-hour, on-site security for you, and I put pressure on Tyler to provide it.”

“After everything you’ve told me, I completely understand the estate’s position, but why Tyler? If he doesn’t want to do it, why did you pressure him to?”

“Because he’s the best man for the job,” William said simply. “Tyler was a securities expert for the Marine Corps. He kept entire military bases safe while ferreting out the secrets of the enemy. If he can’t protect you, I’m not sure anyone can.”

Some of Tyler’s stiff, direct approach to things now made sense. “He was in the Middle East?”

William nodded.

“How long?”

“Eight years. He arrived back in the States only two weeks ago. He’s starting a private security firm as soon as the formation documents are approved by the state.”

“Well,” Joelle said, processing all this new information. “I suppose tolerating a bit of a grouch is a small cost for the level of protection I’m getting in return.”

William gave her a small smile. “He wasn’t always this grouchy. His time overseas changed him, but he won’t talk about it.”

The attorney sighed. “I’m sure he saw horrific things. Hearing about them on the news is bad enough, but to see it firsthand and then feel some level of responsibility because it happened...I imagine it’s a lot of weight for any man.”

Instantly, Joelle’s training kicked in and she slipped directly into psychologist mode, momentarily chiding herself for making something personal when that was rarely the case. “I’m sure you’re right. So what can I do to make the transition easier?”

“Communicate your plans with him and don’t try to fight his presence, even though I’m sure it will feel awkward and inconvenient at times. Allow him to do physical labor. He’s not made for sitting behind a desk, although he thinks that’s what he needs to do. Movement keeps his mind focused and his body ready for action. He’s been that way his entire life.”

Joelle nodded. “He was clearing brush from the back patio when I arrived. Now that I think about it, I suppose it was a two-point process—he worked off some energy, and the more brush that’s cleared away from the house, the easier it will be to see someone approaching.”

William’s expression softened and his eyes misted up just a bit. “Your mother would be so happy to see how you girls turned out. Despite all the obstacles placed in your path, you’re all self-confident, intelligent and compassionate. She couldn’t have asked for more.”

A blush ran up her neck at William’s compliments. “Thank you. It’s so nice to finally talk to people who knew my mother, and I can’t wait to meet Alaina and Danae.”

“They’re visiting this afternoon?”

“Yes. Alaina was in New Orleans on business, but she is going to pick up Danae and they’ll both be here late this evening. They have to be back in New Orleans tomorrow, so we’re planning a slumber party.”

“How delightful!”

Joelle nodded, hoping the attorney was right. More than anything in the world, she wanted to meet her sisters, but the reality was, she was nervous. Based on everything she’d heard, Danae and Alaina had already formed a close bond. What if they didn’t like her? What if the passage of time had removed that connection between them?

She took a big sip of water and told herself to relax. Her sisters were alive and well and spending a night with her catching up. In two weeks, all of them would inherit everything that was temporarily stolen from them.

Nothing or no one was going to put a damper on her happiness.

* * *

TYLER PICKED UP a bag of chocolate chip cookies and a six-pack of beer and set them on the counter in the general store. The owner, Samuel, was tied up in the back helping a man load his new lawn mower onto his truck, so Tyler leaned back against the counter and grabbed a hunting magazine to flip through while he waited.

“Only two weeks out of the Corps and you already have bachelor shopping down,” a voice sounded in front of him.

Tyler looked up at a grinning Carter Trahan.

Despite Tyler’s general disgust at his current predicament, he couldn’t help but smile as he shook Carter’s extended hand.

“I’m sorry I missed you when you came by my dad’s house,” Tyler said.

Carter waved his hand in dismissal. “You’re working on your business stuff. I’m working on solving ancient murders. I knew we’d run into each other eventually.”

“I guess it’s hard to go too long without seeing someone in a town as small as Calais.”

Carter nodded. “It’s certainly a different pace than New Orleans. I imagine you’re in an even bigger culture shock, relocating from a war zone halfway across the world.”

“It’s been...interesting. Sometimes I still have these moments of panic, where I think there’s something I was supposed to do that I didn’t.”

“I know exactly what you mean. Between the caseload and the constantly increasing paperwork requirements, New Orleans cops are to the point of needing personal secretaries to keep up.”

“Do you ever miss it?”

“I did a little at first. It was too slow, too quiet and I think I spent a lot of time feeling guilty because it was too easy.”

“Trenton Purcell’s death seems to have changed all that.”

“You got that right. If anyone had told me before I came here that this much crime—running this far back—could happen in a place like Calais, I would have laughed. It’s hard to believe one man can cause such a ripple of crime that lasted past his own death.”

Tyler nodded, thinking about everything his father had told him about the situation. “My dad told me you found out Purcell was a hit man and probably took up with Ophelia for a place to hide.”

“Yeah, at first I thought Purcell married her figuring he could get Ophelia to move away from Louisiana, but with everything I know now, I’m guessing he planned to kill her from the beginning. He wouldn’t have known about the will. He probably assumed he’d get everything when she was gone. When I think about everything those girls lost because of him...”

Tyler felt a flicker of guilt over the terse way he’d handled meeting Joelle. She and her sisters were the living victims in the middle of this mess. She certainly hadn’t asked for her mother to be murdered and for her stepfather to send her off to strangers. He’d been so busy worrying about his own needs that he hadn’t really stopped to consider how difficult this must be for her—for all of them.