Hidden Legacy. Lynn Huggins Blackburn

TWO

      Caroline half listened as they filled Jason in.

      “Responded to the call at 7:12... Shots fired... Neither Caroline nor Henry was hurt... Caroline said he took off when he heard the sirens.”

      At that line, his eyes flicked in her direction and then lingered. Jason’s face twisted with an expression she couldn’t read. Was he angry? Frustrated? Amused? She chewed on her inner lip. She used to be able to read his face from across a classroom and know exactly what he was thinking.

      “We’ve checked the property as much as we can in the dark. We’ll be back out here in the morning to look for tracks.”

      “Security system?”

      “Like nothing I’ve ever seen. But the intruder managed to disable it.”

      Jason turned to her. “What’s the story on your security?”

      “I don’t know much about it other than that it’s high-tech. Heidi, my sister-in-law, had it installed. She’s an FBI agent.” Jason didn’t seem as surprised as she’d expected him to be. So, his mom had been filling him in over the years. She should have figured. Their moms had been friends for twenty-five years. She suspected they held out hope that she and Jason would kiss and make up.

      Not likely.

      The kissing was what had messed up everything to begin with.

      Michael’s phone rang. He apologized and stepped away to answer it. Jason turned to the other officer, clapping him on the shoulder. “Good work tonight.” The officer, who couldn’t be more than twenty-three, stood taller under his praise.

      “Thank you, sir.” He nodded at Caroline. “Ma’am.”

      When he walked away, she looked at Jason. “Ma’am? Really? I’m not that old.”

      He gave her another look she couldn’t decipher. “No, you aren’t. But he is that young.” He glanced around. “Where’s Henry?”

      Caroline pointed toward the house. “He fell asleep as soon as the EMTs were done checking us out,” she said. “One of the officers gave me permission to lay him down in the pack ’n’ play. He can sleep through anything.”

      Jason smiled. “I want to meet him, but I guess that will have to wait. Could you walk me through what happened?”

      “Okay.”

      Unease crept through her as she reentered the house. Was it from replaying the horrible memory of earlier that night? Or was it because the man walking behind her stood on this same spot thirteen years ago and broke her heart as he swore he’d never waste his life living in this little town? Nothing she could say had convinced him to stay. Even when she’d told him how she felt... Her skin warmed in the cool evening air. That was a long time ago. She’d been young. She’d been stupid.

      She was neither of those things anymore.

      She forced herself to stay in the present and went through the events of the evening, showing Jason how she’d come in, where she’d dropped her keys, the light that didn’t work in the garage.

      When she got back to her car, she ran out of words. Someone had tried to kill her tonight. Her home, her haven, her sanctuary had been violated. And now, Jason was back.

      Oh, Father, how did my life wind up this way?

      She didn’t know how long she stared at her car—a still-life metaphor for her messed-up world.

      A gentle tug on her elbow pulled her back to the present. Jason edged between her and the car and looked deep into her eyes. This time, she had no difficulty understanding the emotion she saw there. She’d recognize that look of determination anywhere.

      “Caroline.” He swallowed hard and tried again. “You have no reason to trust me, or believe me, or even want me around.” Regret pierced every word. “But I promise you I will not stop until we’ve found out what’s going on.”

      Caroline noted that he hadn’t said they’d catch the guy. She’d learned that much from Heidi. No matter what branch they were in, the really good law enforcement officers never made a promise they couldn’t keep. Still, there was comfort in his intensity.

      “Thank you, Jason.”

      He smiled and quirked an eyebrow at her. “Mom says you come by at least once a month.”

      She would have appreciated the change of subject if it had been anything else. Were they going to talk about this now? Keep it light, she chanted to herself. “I like your mom.” She forced a smile. “Of course, I can’t go by more often. I gain five pounds every time I walk in the door.”

      Jason patted his stomach. “Tell me about it. I’m having to put in a couple extra miles every day now.”

      “You poor thing.” Caroline didn’t try to veil the sarcasm.

      “I don’t want to hurt her feelings by not eating a slice of pie every night. And then for breakfast.”

      Caroline couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled out. “You’re a good son,” she said. Jason laughed with her, and for a moment the fear lost its grip on her heart.

      Jason leaned against the car. “But why do you do it? I doubt you visit all your high school friends’ parents.”

      So much for keeping it light. Surely he hadn’t forgotten the promise she’d made—thirteen years ago—to keep an eye on his folks when he left for the Marine Corps. “You know why.”

      She could see it on his face. He knew. So why ask? What had he been fishing for?

      He walked to the front of the car and studied the bullet hole in her windshield. “I guess it’s just nice to know that some things never change.”

      “True. That’s why I wasn’t surprised to hear that you were coming home. I knew you would,” she said.

      Jason’s eyes met hers, sadness mingled with confusion.

      “I’m sorry about your dad, Jason.”

      She saw the muscles in his neck tighten. “Thanks,” he said, then cleared his throat. “Me, too.”

      Another throat cleared nearby. Michael Ellis nodded at her. “We’re done in the house, Caroline. Thought you might want to put Henry in his crib.”

      “Thanks, Michael. I appreciate that.”

      Michael turned to Jason. “When you get a minute, we need to talk.”

      Something in his tone sent a shudder through Caroline’s system. “If it’s about me, my house, my child or the man who tried to kill me tonight, why don’t you go ahead and say what you need to say?”

      Michael’s eyes darted from Caroline’s face to Jason’s. It wouldn’t take a body language expert to read his silent plea for help.

      “Caroline, if I promise to tell you everything, will you give me fifteen minutes to wrap things up? It would be easier if I can send as many of these guys home as possible. Then we can talk without being interrupted.”

      Oh, how she wanted to argue. She knew Jason had thrown in the part about letting the others go home because it would play on her sympathies. The worst part was, he was right.

      “Fine. Talk. Send people home. Then I want to hear everything. Tonight.”

      Michael didn’t try to hide his relief.

      Jason held her gaze. “I promise.”

      * * *

      Jason couldn’t deny he enjoyed seeing the feisty side of Caroline Harrison. “Why don’t you go inside? Grab something to drink. Get away from the chaos. I’ll finish up and be with you soon.”

      Her eyes still held a hint of challenge. “Soon doesn’t mean an