Page 52 of First Surrender

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jackson

The first week that my house guests were here went too smoothly. When everything went off the rails during week two, I was only slightly surprised.

I had been under the impression that Natalie and I had come to some sort of understanding. We hadn’t fought, we were communicating effectively, and I was starting to pick up on more details about her than I had ever known or suspected.

Aside from being an amazing cook, she is ethically ambiguous in her music tastes and cuisine choices. Whatever region the dish she is making comes from is the music that she’ll play over the Bluetooth speaker.

I caught her smiling more times in the first week than I had the entire time I’d known her. Then week two hit and it all shifted. She wouldn’t look me in the eye, she hardly spoke two words to me at a time and spent most of her time in her bedroom. She’d only stay in the common areas if Dec was around or needed her for something.

She still packed my lunch, but when I’d come home to eat, she’d disappear to her room. Dinner would be served quickly and she’d start washing dishes before me and Dec were finished.

I guess I shouldn’t be offended, but after thinking we were past the mortal enemy stage, I feel like I have whiplash. Why can’t we be civil?

I get that she doesn’t like me but if she hates me that much, why did she agree to move in here? Or to cook me meals? She could have told me to fuck off.

Except that she wouldn’t. Not when Dec is at stake.

Once again, when it comes to her I’m an idiot. She was never growing fond of being around me, she was only securing her place here so that I’d help Dec. I get it and won’t fault her for it, even when it stings a little.

When my cell phone rings in the middle of the afternoon, I ignore it. I want to keep digging into all these cases until I find the connection that I haven’t discovered.

Thomas Jameson, the 5k bomber, is the next person I’m studying up on. Born in Rollins County to a Vanessa Jameson. Maiden name, Porter. That’s odd. The Vanessa Porter I know is close in age to Thomas Jameson.

It only takes a little deep diving to find the blaring connection. Vanessa Porter is named after her aunt, Thomas Jameson’s mother. They’re cousins.

I jump up from behind my desk and stride to my investigation board.

Anthony and Benjamin Porter are Vanessa’s brothers.

Sheriff Donahue was her husband.

Thomas Jameson is her cousin.

Which means… Kyle Jameson is related to her also. The kid that I shot and killed when he was holding Jesse Callahan hostage six months ago.

Holy shit.

This could be it but how is Vanessa involved in this? She looks like a typical housewife from the south. She hasno criminal record. There is no way she would knowingly be involved in all of these criminal acts.

Right?

I’ve been blowing off her phone calls for months, blowing her off in person, and the connection was right there all along. The only one that doesn’t draw directly back to her is Declan Randolph. He’s from the area and went to school here, but that could be a coincidence.

I plop back down in my chair and stare at the ceiling. Until I know I can connect Vanessa to Declan, I need to keep this close to my chest.

“Sheriff,” Roberta grabs my attention from my door. “You have a personal call.”

“About my mom?” I ask, instantly standing.

“No, it’s about a student at Lawson Elementary. She wouldn’t give me details.”

I’m grabbing the receiver and picking up the line before Roberta can finish her sentence.

“Sheriff Malec.”

“Hi, Sheriff, uh Sir. I’m the principal at Lawson Elementary and we’re having an issue with Declan.My name is Dec!”I hear the shout from the background.

---