“’Bout a year. Went by Joe Russell. If he was a player, he was a minor one. Maybe some drugs. Probably gambling. I’m looking for the story on him. Can you ask around?”
“When was the last time anyone seen him? Where?”
“Hotel in Barstow. Like I said, about a year ago.”
“Okay.” Razio took another drink. “This have anything to do with that body out in Twentynine Palms?”
Ollie paused. “Maybe.”
“And he’s got family here?” Razio’s eyes spoke caution. He knew enough not to ask many questions about the Springs.
“No one that’s gonna come after you for asking around. At least not right now. That’s why I’m asking. Trying to… defuse the situation before it gets out of hand.”
Let Tony Razio think there was someone more dangerous than Ollie looking out for Joe Russell’s family. Razio already feared him, and if the old biker thought there was someone even more dangerous waiting…
In truth, Alex and the wolf clan were more dangerous, if only because of numbers and money. They had both in spades, and more than that, Alex could be vicious when his people were at risk. The wolves did not mess around. If Allie had gone to them—and Ollie hadn’t ruled out bringing the McCanns in if he needed them—then blood would spill. Better for the town if they could avoid forcing Caleb to file police reports or asking the Quinns to get rid of bodies.
“I get you,” Razio finally said. “I’ll ask around. See what I hear. Joe Russell, eh?”
“I’ll text you a picture.”
“You do that. What was his poison?”
“Whiskey and cards. He was a pretty good cardplayer, but he got worse when he drank.”
“He stay around here, or would he go up to Vegas?”
Ollie thought. “Vegas is a possibility, but I think he mostly hung local.”
“Fair enough. We’ll see what we see.” Razio banged his hand on the bar. “No girls tonight?”
“Like I’d trust my servers around your boys.”
Razio laughed. “Come on, man. We mostly behave.”
“Only because I’m bigger and meaner than you,” Ollie said with a reluctant smile.
“But isn’t that the way of things?” Razio’s black eyes gleamed. “Isn’t that just the way of the world?”
Ollie paused, wary of Razio’s smile. “Drink up,” he finally said. “Tonight’s my night off, and I got nicer things to look at than you and your boys.”
Chapter Five
“ARE YOU SURE YOU ONLY need one roll of chicken wire?” Allie asked, eyeing the plans Henry Quinn had laid out on the counter at Smith’s Feed. She ignored the obvious snake bites on the man’s arms and mentally calculated the perimeter of the enclosure he was building.
For what? She wasn’t going to ask.
“Ya know, I think you’re right. Maybe one more’ll do.”
“Maybe two, and you’ll have a little extra,” she said, glancing at his hands. “Just in case.”
He squinted and gave her a nod. “I see your meaning.”
“Okay then. You want some help with that? Dad’s out back.”
“I got it,” Henry said, picking up the roll and walking toward the door. “I’ll bring the truck around back and pull up. Just ring me up and—”
“Henry.”
“Yeah?”
She smiled. “You know Dad’s gonna ask for the receipt before he loads you up.”
“That was one time I forgot to pay!” He walked back to the counter. “One time.”
“One time last month. It was another time six months ago.”
Muttering, Henry pulled out cash and slapped it on the counter.
“Hey now,” Allie said. “Don’t make me the bad guy. I’m just following the rules.”
The grubby, middle-aged man leaned his elbow on the counter and winked at her. “Ever tempted to not follow the rules, Miss Allie?”
She schooled her face and handed him his change. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Henry scowled but grabbed the clutch of bills and stuffed them in his coveralls. “See ya later.”
“Bye.”
Ted walked in right as the older man was walking out. “Hey, Henry.”
“Hey, Dr. Ted.”
“You make that appointment yet?”
He grumbled and slunk out the door.
“Good prostate health is important for everyone!” she yelled out the door.
Allie leaned her elbow on the counter, trying not to laugh. “Is that part of your job description? Embarrassing patients in public?”
“One of the perks of being the only doc in town.” Ted raised an assessing eyebrow. “How you doing today, mama?”
“Good!” She picked up the two rolls of smaller gauge wire and put them back on the shelves. Then her smile fell as she realized why Ted might be there. “Did you hear something?”
Ted shook her head. “No. That’s why I wanted to come by. I know it’s been almost a week, but I wanted to let you know they’ve been backed up because Larry was out of the office. He got a bunch of things slammed on him when he got back. He knew I requested he handle this case as a favor, but he can’t ignore the other stuff. He called me to apologize. He’s thinking beginning of next week they’ll know for sure.”
“Okay.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. Not knowing if the body they’d found was Joe was giving her an ulcer. She’d been researching grief online and trying to figure out what to tell the younger kids even as she eased into the loss with the older boys.
Was it easier to give your mind time to prepare? Was it better just to know? She didn’t have the answers, so how could she give them to her kids? She’d lost her own mother when she was ten, and the pain was so dull now it was hard to remember what her own father had done right or wrong. She’d just remembered feeling lonely. Desperately lonely, despite her father’s and sisters’ love.
“Allie?” Ted asked, putting an arm around her shoulders.
“I’m okay. I just want to know.”
“Larry did say that the preliminary exam at the scene showed evidence of violence. He’s fairly sure the sheriff is going to open a case, so they’ll probably want to come talk to you.”
She nodded. Caleb had already warned her about that.
“Is there anything else Jena and I can do?” Ted asked. “Do you need us to take the kids? Need any help around the house?”
Scott Smith, Allie’s dad, walked through the door to the yard. “You want to help out at the counter?”
“Dad!”
Ted smiled at Scott. “I’ve got a couple of hours. That enough?”
“Yup. Kevin will be here after school for his shift.”
“Hey,” Allie said. “You can’t kick me out of work. Stop ganging up on me.”
Scott said, “Yes, we can. You look like you’re about to fall over. I know you haven’t been sleeping. Go home. Take a nap.”
“But—”
“Go,” Ted said, grabbing Allie’s purse from behind the counter and shoving her out the door. “Head home. You do look exhausted. The kids won’t be home for another two hours. Get some sleep.”
“Ted—”
“Doctor’s orders!”
Allie stood at the glass door they’d locked behind her until the headache began to build at the base of her skull. Then she turned and took her keys out to head to her car.
Kick her off her own job…
Well, it wasn’t like she couldn’t use another couple of hours at home. Even with Kevin and Mark pitching in on laundry duty, four kids and one adult still created a pile. She could start dinner in the Crock-Pot. Maybe tackle sorting through Christopher’s toy box if she had time…
OR she could doze off in the backyard. She blinked her eyes open when she felt someone shifting her off the folding chair she’d set in the shade to rest “just for a minute” she’d told herself.
“What—?”
“Go back to sleep,” a low voice said in her ear. “Just going to mo
ve you into the house. The sun was getting on your legs.”
It was Ollie. She turned her face into his shoulder and breathed deep, comforted by the smell of him. It was mostly soap, maybe deodorant and a bit of sweat. No cologne. Just Ollie. She’d recognize his scent anywhere.
“Smells good,” she murmured, not quite awake.
They’d stepped into the kitchen. “It does smell good. What are you making for dinner?”
“Barbecue chicken sandwiches.” She turned into his neck and threw a sleepy arm over his shoulder. “Come over if you want.”
“Wish I could. Have to work tonight.”
It almost felt like he brushed a kiss on the top of her head. Or maybe she was imagining it. She snuggled closer, too tired to be embarrassed about nuzzling him like he was a teddy bear.
“Hmm.” She laughed a little.
“What’s so funny?” The smile in his voice was audible as he walked down the hall.
“Teddy bear.” She heard the chuckle in the ear pressed against his chest.
“Don’t I get enough shit from the guys?”
Allie said, “It’s nice. I miss… arms. You’ve got nice arms.”
Her feet bumped into the doorway.
“Shit. Sorry. I’ll just put you… You redid your bedroom.”
“Mm-hmm.” She refused to open her eyes. Yes, she was more awake, but she was going to milk the sleepy comfort of Ollie holding her as long as possible. Was that taking advantage? She didn’t care. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been held like this. Surrounded by warmth and the particularly comforting scent of a man. And not just any man. Ollie. Strong arms. Deep chest. She’d pay to take a nap in Ollie’s arms every day if it was an option.
“Looks nice.”
“Thanks.”
He laid her down on top of her bedspread.
Bummer.
Then he stroked a hand over her hair, tucking part of the fuzzy mess behind her ear.
Oh, that was nice.
“Go back to sleep. You got an alarm set for the kids?”
“Phone.”
“Where’s your phone, darlin’?”
Darlin’? Oh yeah. She liked that. She arched back and stretched her legs out. Okay, her bed was way more comfortable than the old chair. Not as comfortable as Ollie. Now Ollie on the bed—
“Allie-girl, where’s your phone?”
“Kitchen.”
“I’ll grab it. You probably have another half hour or so. Try to go back to sleep.”
Why don’t you join me, big guy?
Okay, that would be bad to say aloud. Probably. That would probably be bad.
She rolled over and buried her face in the cool pillow, grateful that the fan in her room was working again. Of course, as soon as she did that, she woke up more.
Darn it.
Well, at least it had been worth waking up to remember the cuddle from Ollie. She heard his footsteps coming down the hall, pausing at the door to her room, then entering softly.
“I woke up,” she said quietly.
“Shoot.” He knelt down and set her phone on the nightstand. “Was hoping you’d sleep more. You looked half-dead under that tree.”
“You say the sweetest things.”
He chuckled.
“You want to come over for dinner with me and the kids? There’s plenty.”
He paused, and Allie wondered if that was too weird. Yeah, they were getting back on track to being friendly again, but did he think that a dinner invitation was a come-on now that she was single? Did Ollie consider her single? What the hell were the rules about all this? She hadn’t been single in fifteen years. Surely he wouldn’t see an invitation with her and her four kids—
“I have to work tonight, but thanks.”
“Anytime.”
She closed her eyes again, wishing he’d just go. She was too awake to not be aware of her reaction to him.
“The bedroom looks good.”
Her eyes flickered open. Ollie was playing with the ragged edge of the sage-green shabby-chic bedspread she’d bought after Joe had left and she threw out all their bedding he’d ever touched.
Practical? Not in the least. But necessary.
“Thanks.”
“Very girly.”
“Well, I am a girl. So there’s a certain logic there.”
“Don’t you have underwear that matches this?”
Her eyes flew open, and she saw the edge of a teasing smile hovering beneath his mustache.
She rolled over and gave him her back. “You’d know, wouldn’t you?”
The low laugh came a second before she felt him tug one of her trailing curls.
“Yeah, I would.” He stood up. “I gotta go. See you tomorrow night.”
“See you.”
She listened to him walk down the hall and out the front door, carefully setting the lock before he left. She made sure his truck kicked up gravel before she let out her groan of frustration. Then she swung out of bed and went to sort toys.
OF all the surprises over the past year—
Husband leaving her.
Sixty thousand dollars of debt she didn’t know about.
Drugs.
Possible homicide.
Nothing surprised her quite as much as the call she got on Thursday afternoon.
“A what?” Her mouth was catching flies. “He did what?”
“I know.” Mr. Lewis, the assistant principal at Cambio Springs High, sounded as shocked as Allie. “The boys he was beating up… Well, they’re not really a surprise, but Kevin’s never even gotten into a pushing match with another student. I have to think it was provoked, but he’s not saying a thing. He asked to call someone and then hasn’t said a word since.”
“He didn’t call me.” Why hadn’t he called her? “What do I need to do?”
“I’m trying to find out what happened, but you know the kids are reluctant to talk about fights. I’m going to need you to come to the office.”
“Mama?” Loralie was tugging on the edge of her shorts. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s fine, baby.” She reached down and smoothed the afternoon frizz back from her daughter’s face. “Everyone’s okay. Kev got in trouble at school, but everyone’s okay.” She asked Mr. Lewis, “Everyone is okay, right?”
“Kevin has a cut lip and bruised knuckles, and the other boys both have black eyes, but everything looks superficial. The nurse already sent the other boys to the clinic with their parents. We have to be cautious about concussions, even though both of the boys were born here.”
Which meant they were shifters, and unless Kevin had been taking secret ninja classes, both would be fine by dinnertime.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” she said, snapping her fingers at Loralie and pointing to her sandals. “I’ll need to drop my daughter off.” She started racing through options. Maybe Jena could take her. Or Miss Cathy, Jena’s mom, at the diner. That would be on the way to the school…
Ten minutes later, Allie was driving down the road, her mood alternating between pissed off and worried. She dropped Loralie off, waving at Cathy as her kids’ adopted grandmother cuddled her girl.
For maybe the millionth time, Allie sent up a silent prayer of thanks for all the good things she had. Yes, money was almost nonexistent. Yes, her ex was a jerk. Yes, her car was probably on its last legs.
But her kids were healthy.
Her house was paid for.
And Allie had people. She had the best people. She had her dad and her sisters. Jena’s parents had practically adopted her. She had Alex and Ted. Jena and Caleb. Sean and Ollie.
She had people.
Reminding herself of that loosened the clawing fear in her heart. Because just like when her own mom had died, if the kids had really and truly lost Joe, they were still surrounded by people who loved them. A whole damn town of them.
And that was what Joe had never understood. He’d always pressured her to move away, griping about all the limitations of
living in a small desert town. He didn’t get it. She didn’t care about the run-down medical clinic or school, the constant presence of dust on anything and everything. She didn’t care because Cambio Springs wasn’t about the town. It was about the people.
And she had ’em. Even if her kid was beating some of them up.
She parked in the small lot and hustled into the office building where a student assistant greeted her with a bright smile before she realized why Allie was there. Then she grew wide-eyed.
“You’re Kevin’s mom, right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“He’s in the nurse’s office, but Mr. Lewis told me to tell you he’d meet you here. You can wait with Mr. Campbell.”
Allie spun to see Ollie leaning against the wall, looking as awkward as he had his freshman year when he was a foot taller than every other classmate.
“What are you doing here?”
“Kevin called me.”
“He called you?”
He shrugged. “Yep.”
Allie went and leaned next to him, tapping her fingernails against the painted cinderblock wall.
“Brings back memories, huh?”
“Please. You were the good girl.”
“I know. And I was working in the office every time you, Alex, and Sean got pulled in for something or other.”
“It was mostly Sean.”
“You went along with it,” she muttered. “Why did Kevin call you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he say why he beat up those kids?”
“They were Quinns, and no, he didn’t. He called me up, told me he was in trouble, and asked me to come to the office.”
Allie blinked. “And you came, just like that?”
Ollie frowned. “Well… yeah.”
Allie faced the opposite wall, her heart racing. “Weren’t you at work?”
“Yeah. But it’s Kevin. If he calls me ’cause he’s in trouble, work can wait.”
Allie blinked furiously so the tears wouldn’t fall.
“I’m not trying to intrude.” His voice dropped. “But if he wants me to be here for some reason—”
“It’s fine.” She reached for his hand and squeezed, resigning herself to the fact that she was going to fall at least a little in love with Oliver Campbell no matter how much she tried to resist it. “I’m glad he called you.”