Page 66 of One Final Target

“One of my favorite photos,” Estella said. “I see Levi when I look at young Gus.” She took the picture from Jodie and dusted it, smiling.

“Did you know Gus then?” Jodie asked.

“No, we met later. He had five years under his belt. I’m kind of glad I didn’t know him before then.”

“Why?”

“Gus admitted to me that he was a wild child—they all were.Arrogantandbadge heavywas his description. I hate to say it, but Mike was a bad influence. He was the ringleader.”

“No way.” Jodie couldn’t see this. Uncle Mike was so rigid and by the book, she couldn’t imagine him being wild.

“Jonah and Gus had their moments,” Estella said as if reading Jodie’s mind. “But you know what calmed Mike down?”

“What?”

“You.”

“Huh?”

“Yep, when his brother died and you became his responsibility, Mike decided to straighten up and fly right. Gus and I were dating at the time. Mike hadn’t been going to any church, so when you showed up, we brought the two of you to ours.”

“I vaguely remember going to church with you, I guess, but so much of my adjustment to life without my parents is jumbled in my memory.”

“Mike wanted to raise you right, and he did.” She smiled, handed the picture back to Jodie, then patted her on the cheek.

The doorbell rang. “Ah, I have to get that. Levi is at the market, doing my grocery shopping.” Estella left to answer the door.

Jodie stared at the photo for a few seconds, then wrapped it and packed it away, vowing to ask Mike about his wild days.

Estella came back into the room, wringing her hands as she often did when she was nervous or upset.

“Jodie, Ian Hunter’s at the door. I wasn’t sure you wanted to see him. I tried to get him to leave, but he’s insistent, and he’s angry. What should I do?”

The last person Jodie wanted to talk to was Ian. But looking at Estella, she knew it wasn’t the older woman’s job to tell him.

“I’ll deal with him.” She set down the book in her hand and walked to the front door. Ian was a good cop; he’d proved himself time and time again when they worked together. Yet he couldn’t get past that day. Jodie tried hard to be patient with him, but in the shadow of his anger and accusations, she had no idea how to reach him.

Macnut followed her to the door; he’d been her shadow the whole time Jodie had been at Estella’s. Jodie opened the door only a crack to keep the dog in. Ian’s back was to her, but he turned when he heard the door open, and Jodie saw the anger in his features. Ian never did have a great cop face.

“Ian.”

“Jodie, what is going on? What do you have against me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Can I come in? Or do we have to do this in the doorway?”

“Estella has dogs. I know they’re not your favorite. Give me a minute.” She opened the door a small bit, and keeping Macnutback with her foot, she stepped out on the porch to speak with Ian.

“What’s happened?” she asked, facing him on the porch.

“Funny you ask. I’ve been blindsided—stabbed in the back more like it. I was supposed to have an assignment on the task force. Yet today I find out that the cripple stole my spot.”

“Cripple?” Jodie frowned and then she realized he meant Sam. “Name-calling is so unwarranted.” She folded her arms and glared at him. “Sam Gresham has proven himself a good cop.”

“He doesn’t even work for the PD. This is my case. They were my friends, not his.”

“It wasn’t my decision.”But I’m glad it was made,she thought. “To be honest, they probably think you’re too close. So do I. You’re not acting yourself.”

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