Page 94 of Jagger

I’d broken the one rule I’d given myself after leaving my last job: never to contact my handler again. There was far too much bad blood, but my instincts were telling me that Bella’s trouble would soon find her. Since she was still using her old phone, the asshole could have found a way to track her. Or, he might be cunning enough to know she’d use a different name. He had to know her story in that she’d grown up in foster care. What kid who had been didn’t want to learn about why they were given up in the first place?

My contact had yet to return my call and there was no guarantee he would. I wasn’t well liked in the organization I’d worked for. Maybe because I hadn’t managed to remain a killing drone like they’d wanted.

Or maybe it was because the man had been a sore loser given I’d won our physical altercation.

As Xena ran toward her, Cally following, Bella took a few seconds to greet both, her voice changing from the anger I’d heard seconds later. “I missed you guys too.” She was smiling, but I sensed she was not only experiencing fury but also deep concern.

What the hell had occurred?

“Mama. We played out in the snow,” Cally said, her little voice excited. “Jagger threw snowballs.”

Bella gave me an appreciative nod. “He did? That’s wonderful. Do you mind heading up to your room with that furball of yours? Just for a little while.”

“Okay, Mommy. Jagger said you’re going out tonight.”

I shook my head and chuckled. Kids couldn’t be trusted with anything.

“Well, I guess we’ll see about that. Scoot, baby girl.”

Cally huffed exactly like her mother did when she was frustrated. “O-tay. No fair.”

Bella waited until Cally was almost all the way up the stairs before approaching. “Going out, huh? I think Cally will like that.”

“Not with Cally and don’t think you’re getting away from your outburst. What happened?”

She sighed and took off her jacket, tossing it over the back of the couch. “It seems the sheriff in your little town doesn’t like me too much.”

“What the hell did he say?” I immediately bristled. If that motherfucker did anything to her, I wouldn’t care he had the law on his side.

“He acted as if I didn’t belong in this town, telling me that in no uncertain terms. He also acts as if he knows about my life in Baltimore. How is that possible? Oh, who am I kidding. My guess is the smear tactic has already started. Today Joel sent an anonymous threat.”

I tried to relax, but with Sheriff Young, I wouldn’t put anything past him. “The sheriff is using his hatred of me against you, and remember, your name was on the local news. He’s an asshole.”

“You’re right. He hates you. He called you a monster.”

I was.

The words almost left my mouth. “Don’t mind him. He doesn’t like anyone since his wife ran off with the mailman.”

At least her face brightened. “You’re kidding me.”

“No. It was the local week’s gossip when I arrived in town.” Which wasn’t a lie. What I didn’t decide to share with her was that since the mailman had ended up dead only a couple of weeks later, the gossip had gone off the rails. The mailman had died of a heart attack. Some believed it was because of rough sex while others had been certain the guy had been poisoned.

By the sheriff himself.

At least it had taken scrutinizing eyes off the Fox brothers’ arrival in town for a little while.

Did I think Adam Young was capable of murder? You bet. But I’d learned in my years of traveling the world that every single person had a button that if pushed would drive them to doing bad things.

“Well, he made it clear I should leave.”

“Are you?”

She finally relaxed enough that her smile wasn’t forced. “For me to know and you to find out.”

“I purchased a burner phone today. You might want to think about disconnecting your old one.”

As she eyed me warily, she nodded. “I’ll think about it. Now, what did you cook up if Cally isn’t going with us? I can’t leave her alone.”

---