Page 41 of Ambush

When Jenna left, Paradise glanced at the boys. Levi was on his back with both legs bent. One leg was suspended by the knee of the other one. His foot swung back and forth as he read, and he had the cutest bedhead she’d ever seen. Isaac wore a frown of concentration as he colored the sea a gray color. The sky was black, but the area had recently undergone a tropical storm, so he might be easing the trauma of it with the colors. Maybe that’s what she should have done—poured all her stress and pain into some kind of art to drain the power it had held over her heart.

Instead, she had bottled it up inside where it had festered and soured for years. What would it feel like to let it all float off her shoulders? Could she even do it? For so many years she’d guarded her heart and feelings, never letting anyone get too close.

Isaac put down his crayon and crawled over to nestle against her. She snugged him against her side and rested her chin on his tousled head to inhale the scent of his shampoo. His hair smelled of eucalyptus, just like Blake’s. The little boys mimicked Blake ineverything, even their toiletries. Blake took his role of surrogate father with great care. The boys were lucky to have him in their lives.

Was it too late for Paradise to turn her life around? Did she dare hope for her life to change so dramatically?

***

Blake shook his head in disgust as Greene drove off in a plume of red dirt. It was clear nothing would convince the deputy to actually investigate the incidents. The guy already saw Blake behind bars for orchestrating it himself. In what universe did that make sense?

Eager to see how Paradise was doing, he jogged toward the main house. As he reached the porch, his phone sounded with a call from Hez. Blake dropped into a rocker on the porch. “Hey, buddy. I was hoping to hear from you today. We’ve got more trouble.” He launched into the morning’s events as well as the hyena incident.

“You think both incidents were targeted at you?” Hez’s deep voice rumbled with concern.

“At least the shed trap had to be aimed at me. Most of the time I’m the only one in there. And we have a schedule for who is cleaning what enclosures. It was my turn.” He told his cousin about the detective. “He had the place dusted for prints, and of course, most will be mine. He asked me if I had that kind of wire in my supplies. Of course I do. And we also have old homesteading artifacts used as decorations around the sheds and houses. I just checked and the old iron that had been in the family restroom was missing.”

A long pause followed. “I see,” Hez said. “Step-by-step, someone is setting you up.”

“Yeah. I’m swinging in the dark trying to figure it out. If I had some idea who was behind it, I might make some progress. You have any luck with the developer?”

“I checked into Frank Ellis pretty thoroughly. I thought he was clean until I heard a complaint about a finder’s fee he paid to a guy for help in acquiring a property out on Fort Morgan Road.”

Blake knew his cousin well enough to catch his guarded tone. “And that’s problematic how?”

“Someone in the community might be desperate enough to do Mr. Ellis a favor by running you off.”

“What did the last guy do to help him out?”

“Several people said he started a clandestine online smear campaign against the business. It was never proven, of course, probably because the business owner didn’t have the money to file a lawsuit and find the proof.”

Blake frowned. “A smear campaign using the protests would be about the same thing, but taking it to murder, arson, and personal attacks is a whole new level.”

“True. And very concerning. It might not be an Ellis accomplice at all. In fact, it sounds like someone with a vendetta against you personally.”

The door opened on his right and Paradise stepped out onto the porch. Her curly hair was down on the shoulders of her tee, and he spied a bruise on one of those gorgeous legs, about six inches above her ankle. He gestured to the rocker beside him, and she nodded before settling in it.

She tucked a thick curl behind her ear, and the light revealed the dark circles under her eyes and the bruise spreading out from her hairline on the left side. At least she was alive.

He realized Hez had said something. “Excuse me?”

“I think you should start thinking about anyone who might have a grudge against you or your mom.”

“Why Mom?”

“What better way to get back at her than to take her oldest son? There’s no greater pain than losing a child.” Hez’s voice went husky.

Blake winced. He’d walked that painful road with Hez when his little girl died, and that was a never-ending pain. “True. I’ll talk to Mom. Thanks for all you’re doing, Hez. I appreciate it.”

“You’ll get my bill.”

Blake laughed. “Like the last one?” Hez had yet to bill them for any of the work.

“Just like that. Talk later. Give my best to everyone.”

Blake put his phone away and examined Paradise’s expression. “How’s that headache?”

“Not too bad. Your mom diffused lavender, so I apologize if the boys’ room smells girly when you get to sleep here again.”

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