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“We took care of it,” Stephen said.
“You what?” Her perfectly arched eyebrows drew together.
“At the police station—”
“She’s not talking about the Isaac Wells case,” J.D. clarified.
Tiffany stumbled backward a step. “Isaac Wells? Police?” She looked at her son for the first time. “What are you talking about?”
“What are you talking about?” Stephen asked.
“I think we’d all better sit down.” J.D. reached for Tiffany’s arm because she looked as if she might fall over, but she recoiled as if the mere thought of his touch sickened her.
“Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Stephen had a long talk with Sergeant Pearson down at the police station.”
“Oh, God—” Her voice failed her. She blinked and clasped a hand to her chest. The papers—the damning deed and note—fluttered to the ground, suddenly forgotten.
“It’s all right, Mom,” Stephen said.
“All right?”
“Stephen explained what’s happening. Why he’s been acting the way he has, what the deal was with old Isaac’s keys,” J.D. told her as he reached down for the note and deed. Fold
ing them together, he added, “I’d venture to guess that right about now, Ray Dean and his son Miles are being questioned.”
“Ray Dean?” she repeated. “What’s he got to do with anything?” She licked her lips. “I knew he had been released but…is he involved in this?”
“It looks that way.”
“Oh, Lord.” Her legs seemed to wobble again.
J.D. reached for her arm, and this time she didn’t back away. He helped her into the kitchen and noticed how homey the room appeared with its hanging pots, fragrant herbs and children’s artwork on display. He’d miss this place, he realized, feeling a pang of regret. He’d miss the house, the kids and Tiffany. God, how he’d miss her.
“Tell your mother everything you told the police and me,” J.D. said, once Tiffany and Stephen were seated at the table. He poured her a glass of water, which she ignored, and he wished there was something, anything he could do to erase her pain. Though she was relieved that her son was only a minor player in the drama unfolding around Isaac Wells’s disappearance, he was involved nonetheless.
“So…so Miles told me if I didn’t do what he said and get him the keys and the car, his old man would hurt you, Mom. You and Chrissie.” Tears filled Stephen’s eyes, and he looked more boy than man at the moment. Tiffany couldn’t bear to see his pain. “I thought I should try to protect you.”
“Oh, honey, you didn’t have to—”
“Yeah, Mom, I did. Dad wasn’t around, so who was going to take care of you?”
Her heart swelled, and she got up from her chair, pulled her son to his feet and embraced him. Tears ran down her face, and she felt his frightened sobs against her shoulder. “You don’t ever have to worry about taking care of me, Stephen. I’m the one who does the taking-care-of around here. It’s my job. It’s what I want to do.” She stared at J.D. over her son’s shoulder. “I’m in charge, honey,” she whispered, kissing Stephen’s temple and feeling the scratch of new whiskers against her chin.
“I don’t think you’ll have to worry,” J.D. said. Leaning against the counter, his long legs stretched in front of him, his hands at his sides supporting his weight against the counter’s edge, he looked damnably sexy, but Tiffany told herself she was immune. Never again would he get to her. “The police have zeroed in on the Deans. No one knows for sure what’s happening with Isaac Wells yet, but it’s only a matter of time. I called Jarrod Smith, and he’s working on the case independently. My guess is that the old man will turn up in a few days.”
“You think Ray Dean’s held him hostage?”
“Possibly.”
“But you’re not sure?”
“Not yet.” He pushed himself upright “The important thing is Stephen is out of it. His testimony will lead the police in the right direction. Pearson called his juvenile counselor, and in light of the situation—that he was coerced, but then came clean—the local authorities will talk to a judge and expunge any charges, no matter how minor, against Stephen.”
Tiffany’s heart lightened. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in weeks.”
“J.D. did it,” Stephen said with something akin to awe for his uncle in his voice. “He’s the one that insisted I get a break because of all this.”
