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More tears followed the former trails, and she angrily swiped them. He tuned out but stayed close as he took in the sight of the house. It wouldn't be habitable for a long time, and if this was arson, she wasn't safe here. His gut told him it was, and his gut was seldom wrong. His gut also told him only two people would have tried to kill Megan. Marcus seemed to be getting bolder, and Bobby Ray June was known for setting fires and killing people. Especially if he thought Megan had talked to Marcus about something. Bobby Ray would certainly know that Waylon took something he wasn't supposed to have and both men were running from the law and other unsavory characters—the only one they knew of for sure being Marcus. Two dangerous, scared men on the loose was never a good thing, and Megan knew both men. So the question of the day was, how well did she know them now and why would they want her dead?
Chapter6
Ford was there when the explosion happened, yet she didn't think he'd set the fire, so that meant he'd been watching her house. Marcus had been watching her house too, but that felt creepy somehow. The thought of Ford watching her didn't feel creepy at all.
She had to admit, when she'd heard his voice calling to her when she couldn't get out of the house, she was scared at first and then so damned relieved it wasn't Marcus. When he picked her up and carried her out of the house, the first thought that came to her was a knight in shining armor. Though he was no knight and she wasn't a damsel. Far from it.
He hadn't even known he cut himself coming through the window. Had he been worried about her? So gentle and kind afterward, it made her head hurt. Men weren't usually nice to her. They sure as hell never stuck around to help her. Her father, her brother, Waylon. All of them took off early and left her to fend for herself. So, it was only a matter of time, and Ford would leave too.
She took his proffered phone to call her best friend, Jolie. Ford stepped back, and she almost panicked and asked him where he was going. When he said, "Nowhere, hon," she had to swallow the lump that formed. She hadn't been called “hon” in a long damned time, and that nearly cracked her. Then she heard Jolie answer the phone and that's when she almost broke down. Hearing Jolie's compassion and caring brought home all that had happened and had been happening to her this past week. A hug from Jolie and her adorable kids, a good night's sleep, and she'd be ready to face the world tomorrow. Jolie's husband, Derek, always made sure his family was buttoned up tight for the night and safe and sound. Something she'd never had, except for when she stayed at her friend's house. Yeah, she'd feel so much better in the morning.
She tapped the end call icon and looked up at Ford who stood sentry by her, but looked far, far away. He stared at her house like he was waiting for the answer to a question. She had just a moment to admire all that was Ford Montgomery—tall and broad shouldered. He had the sleeves of his gray button-up shirt rolled to his elbows. Sexy forearms showed chiseled muscles so firm the veins stood out against them. Shit, what was it about a man's forearms that could make her drool?
Taking a deep breath and marveling that she didn't fall into a fit of coughing, she twisted her head and took in all that was left of her house. It was the only thing her grandmother had to give her—her childhood home. That and the diamond cross necklace that she cherished. She'd certainly need to go back into the house for that. Maybe by morning, they'd let her in. Hopefully, it hadn't been damaged. Sadness washed over her as dawning began sinking in. Everything she owned was in that house. Even her purse was in there. Her phone. Everything likely damaged or gone. Tears sprang to her eyes again, but she clenched her jaw and angrily swiped them away. Nope. She'd been through worse than this; she'd manage. She just needed to make sure Marcus wasn't trying to kill her and that she didn't get too close to Ford and get her stupid heart broken. In that order.
Chapter7
Rotating his head to release the stiffness, Ford continued to shift his gaze from Jolie's house to the sleek black Mercedes slowly driving past at regular intervals. He'd caught a glimpse of the driver the last time he drove past. Luckily, he wasn't looking at the truck but was keeping his eyes trained on Jolie's house. Not that he could have seen inside with the darkened windows he'd spent large bills on. It was a business expense.
Glancing in the outside mirrors, he made sure Marcus' car turned the corner and knew he'd be back in about twenty minutes. Pulling his phone up, he tapped a couple of icons and located Detective Richard's phone number. Tapping the phone icon, he rested the phone against his right ear, keeping his eyes on Jolie’s house.
"Any word?" Typical Richards, short and to the point.
"Maybe. I need you to run a plate for me. Illinois - NTP-823. Black Mercedes around 2016."
Tapping sounded in the background, and he knew his friend was on it. "What else is going on?"
"Well, Megan June has her hands full. Some asshole named Marcus—”
"Marcus Salsado," his friend finished.
"What else do you know?"
"No record. But he's rumored to be a manager for the El Pablo Cartel. Small time manager and he seems to be located in the Midwest. But, up till now, he's managed to keep his hands clean. The only reason he's on police radar is that he was the owner of a house that burned down a few months back where a bunch of whores were found packing blow. He got off without charges because he produced a lease that showed he wasn't the occupant at the time. One Brandon Garcia was the tenant. However, Marcus is being watched because mysteriously, Mr. Garcia has never been found."
Ford's jaw tightened. "Any word that Waylon June would be involved with Marcus or Brandon Garcia?"
A bit more tapping came over the line, and Ford straightened when he saw the front door to Jolie's house open, and a blond man stepped outside. He glanced from side to side, looked down the street both ways, then went back inside.
"Nope. Haven't been able to make a connection there."
"Thanks, Rory."
"Hey, stay sharp out there. Still no sightings of Bobby Ray or Waylon June. Those bastards are lurking around somewhere."
"You too. Let me know if anything comes to light. In the meantime, I'm working this angle here." He heard Rory's chuckling on the line before he disconnected. Asshole.
Glancing at the time on his phone, he saw his night was just beginning. He reached for his thermos of coffee, poured himself a shallow cup, inhaled the fresh aroma of the caramel brew he'd purchased just for this stakeout, then sipped the piping hot liquid.
* * *
By the time five o'clock in the morning came, Marcus had practically worn a path in the street driving past, and Ford had listened to a whole book on tape. The story was good too.The Appealby John Grisham. He devoured those books.
Sitting behind his darkened windows, knowing Marcus had spotted the truck but couldn't see him inside, he waited for Marcus to turn the corner once again and then exited his truck and walked to the front door of Jolie's house. He knocked on the door and the same blond man that had stepped outside last night came to the door.
"How can I help you?"
He held out his hand. "My name's Ford Montgomery. I'd like to see Megan if she's awake."
