Page 20 of Hidden Desires

Chapter Seven

After the police cleared out, Jackson tackled scrubbing the walls and the brick while Summer started sweeping the messy floors. Autumn made arrangements with the insurance company and called the window repair company to replace the front windows.

“Hey, Summer, I’m going to run some errands and pick up some lunch. Do you want me to get something for you?” Jackson set the paint roller down after he cleaned the last of the paint from it and glanced over at the silent Summer.

“I suppose, if you don’t mind.” She paused to pull her long brown hair into a ponytail. “Anything’s fine.”

He nodded and pulled his keys from his pocket. “Since Autumn is busy, will you tell her where I am?” Then, he added, “Not that she’d worry or anything.”

Summer chuckled. “You two make a cute couple. Why’d you break it off?”

“Stupidity.” Jackson pushed the door open and stepped outside before she could question him anymore.

On his way to the truck, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Davis’s number. On the third ring, his friend picked up the phone with a groggy “Callahan.”

“Late night with a beautiful blonde?”

“I wish. More like late night with a bunch of ugly army motherfuckers.” Davis groaned. “What do you want?”

Jackson turned the key in the ignition and shifted to Drive. “I need to know what you know about your sister’s ex.”

“Which one?”

There’s more than one? “Frank Gallagher.”

“He went to vet school with her. Total pretty boy player. Dad hated him.” Davis sighed, and in background, a bed squeaked. “From what I know from Jeff, he used her. Stole her ideas and took credit for them as his own. I’ve only met him three times—once every Christmas. He tried controlling Autumn, and you know my sister. She didn’t stand for it.”

“He has money, doesn’t he? Comes from a rich family or something.”

“Yeah. A whole line of veterinarians. I think Autumn even said they were her professors or something. Why do you ask?”

“He’s at the top of my suspect list.” Jackson pulled into the parking lot of the local Home Depot. “The clinic was broken into last night, and the perp wrote ‘bitch’ on the brick outside and ‘whore’ on the inside walls.”

“Fuck.” Davis sounded wide awake now. “This is a personal job, Jack. Is Autumn okay?”

“She’s fine.” He stuffed his keys in his pocket as he walked toward the front doors. “She’s still Autumn, though. I think the writing on the wall got to her more than she’s letting on.”

“I’m sure it did,” Davis replied. “Do you need some backup. I’ll tell Reiner I need time off. Honestly, I’d love nothing more.”

Jackson laughed. “And why would I want to give you time away from the cadets?”

“‘Jackass’ should have been your name,” Davis huffed. “Seriously though, Autumn’s my baby sis. My dad would kill me and everyone around if something happened to her.”

Jackson grabbed a cart from the front and entered the store. “Nothing will happen to her. That is something I can guarantee.”

After they hung up, Jackson put in a call to Jeffery—who didn’t give him the option of choosing whether or not he needed backup. He and Kristen both would be down in a day or two. Jeffery also promised to call Nick to let him know what went on.

When Jackson was through with his errands and a visit to the grocery, he returned to the clinic. Marc, Summer’s boyfriend, waved at him when he pulled in the parking lot. He waved back, then parked, and carried his purchases inside.

“Autumn so doesn’t deserve this.” Summer slammed a pile of collected papers in a basket. “She does nothing but care for others, even when they least deserve it.”

“Where is she?” Jackson glanced around the office.

“At the insurance company. Something is wrong with her policy, and she has to figure it all out.” She blew out a breath. “She looked like she was going to cry.”

Jackson spread the food out on the counter he had finished replacing and glanced over at Summer. “Who do you think is doing this?”

“It reeks of Frank, the slimy little worm. He probably saw her with you and decided to hit her where it hurts by writing shit on the walls and destroying her nearly remodeled office.” She slammed more papers in the basket making Marc flinch as he entered the building. “You know, when they worked together, Autumn took nearly all his business from him. People like her. She loves each animal, good or bad. She doesn’t discriminate against furry or aquatic friends. She just a good person with a good heart and all her clients know that.”

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