Page 140 of Proof of Guilt

Theo’s phone was still on the floor, and when it buzzed, she started to tell him he had a call. But then she saw Jameson’s name on the screen and hit the answer button.

“Is Nathan okay?” she immediately asked.

Jameson hesitated a moment, maybe because he’d been expecting Theo to answer, and Theo must have heard the buzzing sound because he raced back into the main part of the bathroom. He was dressed for the most part but was still zipping up his jeans.

“He’s fine,” Jameson answered, and with a huge breath of relief leaving her mouth, she put the call on speaker and handed the phone to Theo. “We’re all fine. Jodi and he are eating right now so I stepped into the bedroom to call you. I just got an update on Morris’s family. I’ve already told Gabriel, but he said I should call you because he’s basically got you and Theo locked in the bathroom…together,” her brother added.

Even though Ivy couldn’t see Jameson’s face, he’d probably lifted an eyebrow over that. He knew that Theo and she couldn’t keep their hands off each other. And they hadn’t. But no way was she going to get into that.

“Did the cops find Morris’s family?” Theo prompted when Jameson didn’t continue.

“Yeah. They were in a motel just off the interstate. A maid found them. They were tied up, gagged and blindfolded but otherwise physically fine.”

Ivy was betting that wasn’t true of their mental state. Unless they were faking this, that

is. “Who do they say took them?” Ivy asked.

“They don’t know. The wife said that she and her daughter got back from shopping, and someone was in the house. The person used a stun gun on them. The guy carried them to a car and drove around with them for hours. In fact, he drove so long that he had to stop for gas.”

“Certainly the thug made or got a call or two during that time,” Theo pointed out.

“He made one call at the beginning of the drive and told the person that he had the ‘goods,’” Jameson answered. “Neither the wife nor the daughter could hear anything the caller said, but their kidnapper assured whoever it was that he would keep driving until he got further orders.”

All of this had no doubt happened while Morris was on his way to the safe house to attack them.

“The kidnapper received a call right before he dropped them off at the motel,” Jameson added. “By then, they must have known Morris had failed and there was no reason to hold his family.”

Yes, and the kidnapper’s boss could have already started lining up the next thug he or she could use to storm the ranch. Thank God the person had seen no value in killing Morris’s family. Of course, there was another thing to consider. If Morris had voluntarily been in on this, then his family could have faked the kidnapping and release. They might not know the truth about that unless they caught the man or woman who was responsible.

“The guy who stun-gunned Morris’s family wasn’t wearing a mask?” Theo asked her brother.

“No. The wife was able to give a description of the man, but it’s a pretty vague one. Not sure we’ll actually get much from it.”

Even if they did, the guy was probably long gone by now.

“I’ll get in touch with you if anything else comes up,” Jameson assured them, and he paused again. “I guess you two have plenty to talk over once we’re out of this mess. Let me know if I can help with that.” And he ended the call before Theo or she could even respond.

Theo put his phone in his pocket, and even though his attention went back to the laptop, Ivy knew he was thinking about what her brother had just said. She certainly was. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it because there was a soft knock at the door.

“It’s me,” Gabriel said.

Since he could have critical information, Ivy hurried to let him in. Theo stood, too, but he volleyed his attention between Gabriel and the laptop. Gabriel’s eyes did some volleying as well—between Theo and her.

“Is everything…okay?” Gabriel asked her.

She nodded and hoped it didn’t look as if Theo and she had just had sex. But judging from her brother’s huff, it did look that way.

“The last time Theo and you tangled, you left town for ten years,” Gabriel reminded her. “I’d rather that not happen again. In fact, when this danger is over and done, I want you to consider moving back here. It’d be a good place to raise Nathan.”

It would be. Though she’d been comfortable enough at her own ranch, it had never quite felt like home.

“You wouldn’t have to move in here,” Gabriel added. He must have taken her silence to mean that she needed more convincing. “We could build you a place or you could have the old house.”

“Definitely no to the old house. Too many bad memories there.”

If she came back for good, Ivy would want a fresh start. Something that didn’t add to the weight on her shoulders. Of course, that led her to the next thought that was on her mind.

Where did Theo fit in with this fresh start?

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