Shirlee McCoy - Running for Cover

“I hate to interrupt the love fest, but I just finished at the crime scene, and I need to get some information from Morgan,” Jake Reed said as he strode into the room, a small notebook in his hand. He looked grim and unhappy, his jaw set and his lips drawn into a thin, hard line. Bad news had a look to it. A hardness and ugliness that no amount of trying could hide. Jake had that look, and Morgan braced herself to hear whatever he had to say.

“What is it? Did you find something?”

“Nothing significant. We’ve got a couple of smudged prints, the tread of a shoe in the blood on your kitchen floor. We’ll see if it matches to your shoe.”

“What else?”

“Nothing. The guys who attacked you were thorough. Professional. They didn’t leave hair or clothes fibers. We’re checking on some blood in the gallery. It may belong to one of our perps.”

“Okay.” Morgan took a deep breath. Waiting. Waiting. There was more. She was sure of it.

“While the forensic evidence team worked, I made some phone calls. Thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check up on your ex.”

“And?”

“I’ve got some news that you may not want to hear, but it’s got to be said.”

“So just say it.”

“Cody Bradshaw is dead. He was killed by an inmate three days ago.”

“He’s dead?” Morgan couldn’t wrap her mind around the thought. Vibrant, larger than life Cody. Dead.

The words didn’t seem to go together.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Why wasn’t I told?”

“His parents were listed as next of kin. Since you and Bradshaw are divorced, you weren’t contacted. I guess your in-laws didn’t bother to let you know?”

“No.” They wouldn’t have. They still blamed her for their son’s incarceration. According to the Bradshaws, Morgan had led their son down a path to destruction. They’d cut ties with her before the divorce was final.

She’d been happy to let them.

It was the way she’d wanted it. No contact with Cody. No contact with his parents. No contact with the past.

Too bad the past refused to let her go.

“Are you okay?” Jackson’s hand rested on her shoulder, his fingers warm through her borrowed T-shirt. Morgan wanted to tell him that she was fine. That hearing of Cody’s death wasn’t nearly as hard as hearing that he’d murdered his business partner had been. But the words stuck in her throat, and all she could do was nod.

“I’ve got a call into the warden. Hopefully by tomorrow we’ll have more information about what happened. Until then, I want to offer my sincere condolences,” Jake said, his grim expression never easing.

“Thank you.”

“Morgan, I’m so sorry.” Lacey’s eyes were filled with tears, and Morgan wanted to tell her to save them for something more tear-worthy, but she knew how harsh that would sound. How wrong.

The fact was, she’d loved Cody once. Might have continued to love him if he hadn’t betrayed her one too many times. In the nearly two years since he’d been in prison, Morgan hadn’t wasted time missing him and had rarely spent time thinking about him. But that didn’t mean she wanted him dead.

“It’s okay. I’m okay,” she offered, fighting tears she wouldn’t shed. There’d be a time to mourn the loss of life, but it wasn’t now. It wasn’t here. Later, when she was walking through the vivid green pasture behind her parents’ house, when she was staring up at the deep blue foothills of the Rocky Mountains, when she was all alone except for the grass and the sky and God, then she would cry. For Cody. For herself. For what they could have had, but had never managed to create.

“Can you think of anyone who would want your husband dead, Morgan?” Sheriff Reed asked.

“Ex-husband,” she said by rote. As if it mattered any longer.

“Sorry. Your ex. Is there anyone you can think of who had a grudge against him?”

“Not offhand. Cody could be charming when he wanted to be.”

“Did he always want to be?”

“If you’re asking if he had enemies, then you’ll have to ask someone else. Cody kept his business life separate from our life together.” He’d kept other things separate, too, but Morgan decided not to say as much. Not now with a roomful of people listening.

“If you think of anything…”

“I’ll let you know. Is there anything else you needed to ask? Because I’m exhausted, and I’d really like to go home.”

“Nothing that can’t wait for another time. I’ve got a cleaning crew getting your apartment and gallery in order. You may want to stay here for the night.”

“I’d rather not.”

“You can stay with me,” Lacey offered, but Morgan shook her head.

“I need to pack.”

“Pack?” Jake speared her with a hard gaze.

“I need to put some distance between myself and what happened tonight. I thought I’d go stay with my parents for a while.”

“And they’re where?”

“Washington.”

“That’s a long way from here.”

“I know.”

“Tell you what, write down what town you’re going to be in. Give me your parents’ address. I’ll call the local police and make sure they’re aware of what’s going on. They can keep an eye out on things on their end while I investigate here.”

“I appreciate it, Sheriff Reed.”

He eyed her for a moment and then nodded, handing her his notebook and a pen. “Write the information down for me. Then you can be on your way.”

She did as he asked, her hand shaking as she scribbled her parents’ address, her mind racing with memories. The day she’d met Cody. The day she’d brought him home to meet her parents. The soft, sweet scent of summer rain as they’d fished in the pond behind her parents’ house. The quiet joy of finally feeling accepted and loved.

The disappointment of knowing it was all a lie. The sweet words and tender touches. The whispered promises and deep, meaningful gazes. The vow to love forever.

Lies.

And now Cody was dead and it was too late to do it over. To try it again. To hope for something better.

A tear dropped onto the pad of paper, and Morgan brushed it away angrily.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay with me, Morgan?” Lacey asked, and Morgan glanced up, saw that four pairs of eyes were watching her intently.

“I’m sure,” she said, forcing a smile as she handed the pad back to the sheriff. “But I wouldn’t mind a ride home if someone can give me one.”

“I’ll drop you off,” Sheriff Reed offered. “That way I can make sure you’re locked in tight before I leave you alone.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m going to lock and bolt every door.”

“I’ll call you when I get home, okay?” Lacey said, her green eyes shadowed with worry as she and Jude walked to the door.

“We’ll talk tomorrow. At your reception. Or have you forgotten that you’re getting married in ten hours?”

“Twelve, but who’s counting?” Lacey smiled, some of the worry easing from her face.

“You. Now go home and get some sleep or everyone in Lakeview will blame me for the dark circles under your eyes tomorrow.”

“Be careful, okay?”

“I will.” Morgan offered a quick wave as Lacey stepped out of the room.

“You’re sure you want to go home?” Jake shoved the small notebook into his back pocket, and Morgan nodded.

“Yes.”

“All right. Let’s get out of here, then. You coming, Sharo?”

“I’m heading back to Jude’s place,” Jackson replied, following as Sheriff Reed led Morgan from the room.

Morgan could feel the heavy weight of his gaze as they made their way down the hall to the nurse’s station and then outside into the crisp fall night. Jackson was an attractive man. A very attractive one. He was also a liar. Morgan had watched him in action, heard the sincerity in his words as he’d offered to keep her safe.