Page 117 of Deception

She disappeared out the back and was back in less than two minutes. “Close your eyes.” Madison led Nadine inside the kitchen and stopped right in front of Dani. “Now you can open them.”

Nadine blinked, then her eyes widened as she took in both women. “Oh, chère ...” She examined Dani’s face, then turned to Madison. “I know you told me ... but I didn’t think it was possible she looked so much like you!”

“Who sent the flowers?” Clayton nodded to a vase of almost-black roses sitting on the island. As he came nearer, he could see they weren’t true black but dark burgundy. Either way it seemed an odd color to choose.

Bri slapped her palm to her head. “I forgot to tell you—they came while you were at the funeral.”

Madison jerked her head toward the island and gaped. “How did we miss those when we came in?”

“I think you were a little busy planning a surprise for Nadine.” Clayton approached the vase. A small card was tucked in the middle of the arrangement. “Did you see who delivered them?”

Bri shook her head. “The back doorbell rang, and when I answered, the flowers were there.”

Clayton felt his belt for his latex gloves, but he wasn’t wearing his uniform. “Be right back.”

As he jogged to his SUV, he texted the police chief requesting someone be posted at the judge’s house, then he unlocked the door and took his P229 from the gun safe and strapped it around his waist. Clayton didn’t like it that someone had been bold enough to walk right to the back door and leave the roses.

Once he grabbed the papers from the bank and a couple of pairs of gloves, he returned to the house. Madison took the bank papers, and he pulled on the gloves and carefully took the card out by its edges. It wasn’t sealed, and he flipped the envelope open and pulled out the card.

“God says an eye for an eye. You destroyed my family, so you and yours for mine.”

The color drained from Madison’s face. “Why? Who is doing this?”

Clayton and Madison’s cell phones both alerted to a text.

“It’s from Chief Nelson,” Clayton said. “He can’t put a guard here, but he’ll send patrol cars by more often.” He dialed the chief’s number. “Maybe this will change his mind.”

Nelson answered on the first ring. “I wish I had the manpower, but I don’t,” he said before Clayton could question him. “Besides, that place is like a fortress if you arm the security system.”

“I’m calling because Madison just received another threatening note.”

“I’ll be right there.”

The chief arrived in ten minutes with a CSI tech in tow to examine the vase and card. “Have you gone through your case files to see who might have it in for you?”

“Our server has been down, and I only got the electronic files today,” Madison said. “I’ll start on them tonight.”

“And Brooke Danvers is going to help,” Clayton added.

“I’ll take these with me.” Nelson nodded toward the vase and card. “I really wish I could put an officer here, but—”

“I’ll check and see if Hargrove can send someone over,” Clayton said. He’d been counting on an officer being stationed outside. “I’m staying tonight, anyway.”

“Good idea.” He turned to Madison. “We’ll get this sorted out. Whoever is doing this is getting cocky. He or she will make a mistake and then we’ll have them.”

“I hope so.” After the chief left, she turned to Clayton. “Thankyou for offering to stay, but I hate to take your time. Maybe Hargrove can send someone over.”

“I’m already involved,” he said, squeezing her hand. With a start, he realized he meant that in more than one way. He dialed the private investigator’s number and learned that all of his operatives were tied up with other cases. They’d only gotten the operatives at the hospital because someone postponed a trip for a couple of days. “Hargrove is out.”

Madison turned to Nadine. “Can Nanette pick you up?”

“No, chère.” She raised herself up to her full height, but Madison still had to look down at her. “I will not be run out of my home. Besides, there is strength in numbers.”

“But it could be dangerous for you to stay, and we should get Bri out of here. Dani too.”

“I’m not leaving.” Bri fisted her hands on her hips.

“You’ll be much safer in Jackson,” Clayton said. “I’ll call Brooke and see if she can run you and Dani up there.”

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