Justice Hunter

Chapter 4

Rachel couldn’t stop thinking about Luke. Over dinner he’d been so obsessed with her job at the insurance company she wondered if he had something wrong with him. Would he turn into a stalker or something equally weird or more dangerous? But then that inexplicable attraction she had, and he for her—she felt it between them, a living thing that kept expanding. That was what made her invite him in.

Talking the way they had changed her perception of him. He’d revealed himself, more than he had so far. Where before she felt he’d played a role, last night she’d gotten to know the real Luke Bradbury. And she liked him.

Leaving the break room toward the end of her workday, she started down the hall toward her desk. Hearing a laugh that sounded like Marcy’s, she stopped and headed in its direction. Might as well say good-night.

“I know. She thinks this is real,” Marcy said. “Like we’re all really her friends.”

Rachel stopped short on the other side to the cubicle wall.

“What’s Joseph going to do when she finds out?” another woman asked.

Was she talking about Rachel? She had to be.

Rachel felt coldness spread through her face, and prickles of apprehension sank down her arms, making her hands tremble.

“Hire somebody else, I guess. I’m not going back to work for him. He knows I want the job in Legal.”

They were talking about her. No.

Betrayal snaked into her. In seconds she added up what this meant.

“Why did Lucas lie to her? Why not tell the truth?” Marcy’s friend asked.

Yeah, Rachel wanted to know the same thing. Lucas? Was that his real name? He’d lied to her about his name? His identity?

“His ex-wife’s been calling, did you know that?” Marcy didn’t answer her friend’s question.

“No. Are they getting back together?”

Rachel swam in confusion. Who was this man? Did his ex-wife really lie to him? Had he made it all up?

“I bet she’d like that. Who wouldn’t? He’s hot.”

“And rich.”

The two laughed in borderline giggles.

“I almost feel sorry for Rachel,” Marcy’s friend said.

“She’s going to find out what he’s up to eventually,” Marcy said. “It won’t be too hard for her to figure out.”

“Did Joseph tell you why Lucas wanted him to hire her or why they lied about who they were?” Marcy’s friend asked her question again.

“No, but I heard Lucas joined some hotshot private detective agency. Have you heard about that guy whose daughter was kidnapped and killed a few years ago? Kadin Tandy?”

“No. Who is he?”

“He’s famous for his involvement in cold cases. Dark Alley Investigations is the name of his agency. He only takes cold cases. People go to him for help in finding their lost kids or family members, or to help them solve their murders.”

“Really? Lucas was sexy before, but that makes him even more so. Maybe we should tell Rachel about him. Have you seen the way he looked at her yesterday?” Rachel pictured Marcy’s friend fanning her face in her pause. “Could have lit the place on fire.”

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, yeah. I don’t even think he’s aware of what he’s doing.”

Marcy’s cell phone chimed. “Gotta go. My new boss is texting me.”

“Don’t stir up any trouble,” her friend said.

Marcy laughed softly and left the cube. She saw Rachel and froze.

Rachel pivoted and headed for Joseph’s office. He was still in his meeting. She didn’t care. She went to the boardroom and flung the door open so hard it banged against the wall.

Joseph sat at the head of the conference room table, four other men in suits lining both sides. He looked up at her and didn’t have to be told what she’d just found out.

“Why did Lucas lie to me?” Of course, she already knew. This must have something to do with her job at the insurance company. And Jared...

“Rachel.” Joseph stood up while the other four men watched in riveted interest. “I didn’t want to go along with this.”

“Why?” She felt tears threaten and refused to give in to them now.

“Lucas should explain it to you. I warned him not to lie to you. I told him he should be honest.”

He wasn’t going to tell her. Rachel turned and walked fast to her cubicle—no, not her cubicle, Marcy’s cubicle. Except Marcy wouldn’t take her job back, one she’d had to vacate to allow for this farce to play out.

“Rachel, we found out about you and Jared, and Lucas wanted to try and get you to talk about it.”

Talk about what? What about her and Jared. Not needing to hear another word, afraid of what might come to light, she grabbed her purse and hurried for the exit.

Joseph followed her. “Rachel. Just let us both explain.”

She reached the front entrance, security guards and a few visitors stopping what they were doing to watch.

Joseph took hold of her arm and stopped her.

Rachel looked away but didn’t try to pull away. He’d seemed so nice to her, like a father figure. That stung most of all.

“I told him what a lovely young woman you are. You aren’t what he initially thought. I knew this would end badly. And now it has, and I regret my part in it. I offer you my sincerest apology. Please believe I have tremendous respect for you and sympathize with all you’ve been through. You are a kind, giving and brave woman. I can only ask that someday you’ll forgive at least me.”

That softened her marginally, but not enough to make up for the hurt.

“I thought this was for real,” she said, tears threatening again. The last time she’d cried was the last night she’d spent in jail.

“It can be. The job is still yours if you want it. Take all the time you need.” With that he let go of her arm.

Rachel saw genuine regret and apology in him and had to believe he’d meant what he said.

“Unfortunately, I think it’s too late.” She turned and left the building, wiping a tear away, angry it had slipped free.

She walked to a faraway bus stop and finally boarded, staring out the window all the way to the stop near her apartment. Had everything Luke—Lucas—told her been a lie? Last night had seemed so genuine. But he’d left out a few facts, more than just his real name. He worked for a place called Dark Alley Investigations, a place that investigated cold cases. It could mean only one thing.

Lucas had joined the agency to look into Luella Palmer’s murder. Was Joseph her father? Was Lucas his friend, as he’d said?

She took out her older model smartphone and began to slowly navigate the internet, searching for anything relating to Joseph Tieber. She searched for Luella as well, and found a news story on her murder. An obituary said Joseph Tieber was her father and Lucas her brother. Lucas Curran, not Bradbury. Reading that stung. Who was he? She didn’t know him at all, a man she’d slept with.

Was Joseph his stepfather? They had different last names. Had Luella been Tieber or Curran before she married Jared? She had an urgent need to know and berated herself for allowing her feelings to run her out of the office before making Joseph tell her. Humiliation didn’t make her eager to face him again. Or Lucas.

Not wanting to go home with all the chaos mixing in her mind, Rachel stayed on the bus, and then two hours later found herself walking toward Joseph’s house. She remembered his address from some documents that had required she list it. All she needed was information. The truth. Not knowing who Lucas truly was would prevent her from getting closure. She’d rather face Joseph than Lucas. Joseph should be home from work by now. She’d talk to him and then she’d put this behind her and move on with her life.

Another hour later she walked up Joseph’s spectacular street, huge and luxurious houses spaced far apart on giant lots. She went up to the front door and knocked.

A woman answered. Dyed blond hair, average height and weight, she looked well preserved and warily curious.

Rachel heard a television somewhere inside; the sound echoed in the cathedral-like entry. She had never seen anything so grand in her life. On TV, but not in person.

“Yes?” the woman asked.

“Is Joseph here?”

“He isn’t home from work yet. Who...” The woman searched Rachel’s face as though trying to place her.

“I work for your husband. A-at least, I used to work for him.”

More understanding smoothed the woman’s face, but her confusion remained. “What are you doing here?”

“I...” Rachel lowered her head, at a loss for how to explain and not sure she should. This woman was a stranger, and Rachel didn’t feel like explaining what had occurred.

“Wait a minute.” The woman pointed her finger as something dawned on her. “You’re that girl. The one who had the affair with our daughter’s husband.”

“I’m sorry.” Rachel started to turn, expecting animosity. “I intruded. I’ll go now.”

The woman stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. “Wait.”

Startled, Rachel looked into blue-gray eyes much like Lucas’s, and instead of wrath, she saw kindness. Warmth.

“I assume you found out?” Lucas’s mother said.

“Really, I should go. I shouldn’t have come here.”

“Joseph said you would.”

Rachel didn’t understand what she meant.

“Find out,” the woman clarified, hooking her arm with Rachel’s. “Come in. Let’s talk.”

The woman guided her inside, taking her to a wide-open living room that magnetized Rachel.

“Have a seat and we’ll talk this through. My son and husband don’t give the technique much credence when they really should.”

Rachel didn’t resist the woman’s wishes. Joseph must have told her some things, things he’d asked Rachel to believe.

She sat on a gigantic sectional. Something shifted in her, a deep, long-forgotten sense of caring, of being cared for. This woman could have turned her away. Instead, she welcomed her. Since her affair and the loss of her one good job, Rachel had alienated herself from her friends. She had no family, other than a few distant cousins too far removed to count.

“I’m Gloria Tieber. Why don’t you start by telling me how you did find out?”

Rachel would have retreated, were it not for Gloria’s simple approach. “I overheard Marcy talking.” She turned away with the renewed sting that memory packed.

“Don’t mind her. Whatever she said, she said it because she’s jealous. Joseph was going to transfer her no matter what. He isn’t a game-player. He won’t tolerate anyone who is. He prefers people who shoot straight. Like you.”

Rachel brought her thoughts back around.

“It’s not like him to lie,” Gloria said. “But he’d do anything for Lucas. They’ve been close ever since Joseph and I met. Took to each other right away.”

“Lucas isn’t his son?” She already knew, only needed confirmation, or maybe just to have it embedded into her head so she didn’t imagine there’d ever be any hope for her with Lucas.

“Next best thing. Stepson. My first husband died at a young age, when Lucas was just four. Luella was just a baby back then.”

Rachel watched as the woman’s thoughts wandered. The awfulness of losing a husband and the good memories of Luella had to feel like sorrow sprinkled with sugar.

“That must have been very difficult,” Rachel said.

Gloria smiled, the sorrow remaining. “It was such a long time ago. And Joseph is a wonderful man.”

Rather than continue down that line, Rachel asked, “Lucas and Luella weren’t adopted?”

“We decided not to arrange for Joseph to adopt them, in memory of their father.”

She could see Joseph being the kind of man to go along with that. An insecure man may not be so understanding. Lucas was a lot like that, too. As that thought popped into her head, the hurt churned on a new wave. “Why did he lie?” Rachel asked. “Does he think I had something to do with Luella’s murder?”

“I think he needs to investigate every possibility.”

The neutral way she answered told Rachel that he hadn’t ruled out any possibility.

“I didn’t know about Luella until after her murder,” Rachel said, feeling obligated to, as though she had to defend herself. “I saw it on the news.”

“Joseph told me.”

One morning she’d awakened like any other, with the sunrise, the news and a cup of coffee while she prepared for work. Her new schedule. She’d finally arrived. She was one of the commuters in the traffic report. Might seem insignificant to most, but she’d never had a job with hours that coincided with rush hour.

Then a breaking story had come on with video of Luella Palmer’s crime scene. When the screen changed to her place of residence, she’d recognized the house instantly. Jared had taken her there on a few occasions, not often, but often enough to keep her from becoming suspicious. Luella must have been traveling or out with friends. She’d stood there, stunned with a mounting storm of emotion. Betrayal, disbelief, a surreal unreality. He couldn’t have...

But he had.

How could he?

Next, the news showed Jared Palmer walking into the police station for questioning. The husband was always one of the first suspects, but what motive would he have?

“He tried calling me afterward,” Rachel said. “I didn’t answer. I never wanted to talk to him again. I didn’t even want to hear his explanation, because to me, there was no explanation worthy enough to hear. He lied about being married. He made me the other woman without my awareness.”

“Why didn’t you go to the police?”

Had Lucas already judged her for not doing so? She had to be careful how much she said. “I wanted nothing to do with him. I had nothing to do with Luella’s murder. I didn’t even know she existed. I wasn’t with him the night she was killed. For all I could see, he could have killed her. What if he lied to police?” Part of her had hoped he’d be sent to prison. If she could have helped that process along, she would have.

Gloria leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “Lucas has always believed Jared killed her.”

“Why? What has he discovered?” Surely, Lucas must have unearthed something. And then another thought came. “If he’s so convinced Jared killed Luella, then why go after me?”

“Your affair, of course.” Gloria bestowed her with a shrewder look. “And the fact that you didn’t go to the police.”

Rachel didn’t back down. But neither did she offer any further explanation. No one would look out for her except herself, and revealing too much could draw danger to her door.

“And I wouldn’t say he’s gone after you. He just...needed a way to get information.”

Rachel wasn’t sure she liked this woman. She put on a friendly front, but boy, look out for what lay beneath.

“I should get going.” As she stood, she saw Lucas step out from the entry.

She froze with shock. How long had he been there? Had he listened to her conversation with Gloria?

“Hello, Rachel.”

The way he said Rachel had her on edge. She replayed all she’d said. Nothing too terrible.

Hearing Gloria stir, she watched her stand and smile at her son. “Lucas.” Going there, she hugged him. It all looked genuine. “I can’t imagine what’s brought you here.”

In other words, she had a crystal clear idea. He held his mother, but hard eyes targeted Rachel.

Why did he look at her like that? The kissing. His touches. The passion. None of that mattered now. Flustered, unable to grapple with the conflict between him last night and him now, she stepped toward the entry, intending to pass Lucas and his mother. She would have walked right past them, but Lucas moved in her way.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

What would he do to stop her? Rachel stepped back and out of his reach. Passion had stolen her mind last night. Today she saw his true agenda. She should have never let down her guard. She’d sensed something off in him. She should have listened to the silent warning.

Well, she’d listen now.

“You told my mother you haven’t spoken with Jared,” he said.

Why had he zeroed in on that? What interest did he have in Jared, other than his possible involvement in his sister’s murder?

“I didn’t,” she said. “Not after I found out he was married.”

“But you have talked to him.”

She began to have a bad feeling. How would he know if she’d spoken with Jared or not?

“He tried to restart things with you,” he said.

His mother turned sharply to her, and Rachel drew her head back, an involuntary flinch.

“How do you know that?” Then her jaw went slack as the reason came to her. “You spied on me?” Not only had he lied to her, he’d spied on her! He knew about Jared. Furthermore, his ex-wife was trying to restart things with him. All the distrust she felt with Jared rushed forth with Lucas. She refused to be victimized again.

Giving him a shove, she went to the door.

He caught up to her, taking hold of her arm and pulling her back toward him. “What are you hiding, Rachel?”

“Let me go.” She’d feared consequences like this, both the danger to herself and those close to her. While she even now didn’t second-guess her decision, she often wondered if she should have been braver.

“Tell me about your job at the insurance company. It was Jared’s, wasn’t it? You worked for him.”

Oh, God, no. This could not come out now. She yanked her arm free and left the house.

Lucas followed her. She walked down the street.

“If there’s something you know, you have to do the right thing and tell me.”

She ignored him and kept walking.

“Rachel.”

“Leave me alone. I wish you well and that you find your sister’s killer. I don’t know anything that will help you or the investigation.” She glanced pointedly at him. “If I did, I’d have gone to the police.” If she had something concrete.

“The smallest detail could change the direction of the investigation,” he said.

The smallest detail...

Telling him about the first and last time she saw his sister wouldn’t hand him the killer, and she didn’t qualify what little she did know as a small detail. Or the things that had occurred afterward. But dare she reveal anything?

Without responding, she kept walking. He sighed with resignation.

“Where are you going?” he finally asked.

“Bus stop.”

“Wait.”

He seemed awkward over a shift in his mood, going from angry and frustrated to needing something from her. Information.

“I’ll drive you home,” he said, his persuasive side coming out in a forced way. He must have sensed she held back and didn’t like that, but he’d try to get her to talk. To what extent would he go? He’d already lied to her. She had to expect he could lie again.

“No, thanks. You did that last night.” And he had his ex-wife to deal with. She wanted no part of him with even the slightest chance he’d go back to her.

“This has nothing to do with last night.”

How could he say that? “Last night was based on a lie.”

“I have to find my sister’s killer, and you aren’t exactly a fountain of information.”

She wasn’t helping him at all. She couldn’t. “I didn’t kill her.”

“Do you know who did?”

Rachel thought of the faceless man who’d stalked her, frightened her and still did. “No.” She reached the bus stop, where she’d have to wait twenty minutes.

“Let me drive you home.”

She eyed him, seeing his distrust and lack of appreciation. He’d like to let his irritation loose, she’d bet.

“You lied to me, and all you care about is what you think I might know, which is nothing,” she said.

His attitude changed in an instant. He softened and regarded her contritely.

“It’s cold out here,” he said. “Come on. I’ll drive you home.”

“There’s nothing I can say that will help you,” she said. “So maybe you’d rather not waste your time on a girl like me.”

He blinked acknowledgment of her insight. “I won’t be wasting my time. And I’m sorry for lying. But as you can see, this case is very important to me. Come on, Rachel.” He held out his hand. “Come with me.”

She wasn’t ready to let him off that easy. “What about your ex-wife? Won’t she mind if you take me home?”

He took a second or two to piece together what she’d said. “I don’t care if she does.”

Jared would have said something like that to her. Experienced liar.

She looked away.

“Hmph,” Lucas scoffed. “You think I’d actually take her back after what she did?”

She rolled her eyes his way. His lying bothered her more than the threat of his ex-wife.

“I’m not Jared,” he said. “And I resent you comparing me to that.”

Again, she turned away.

Lucas took her hand and pulled her toward him. “I get why you don’t trust easily, especially since I lied to you. But you aren’t in any danger if all I do is drive you home.”

Pulling her hand free of his, she started toward his black SUV.

“Where’s your car?” she asked.

“In my garage. I have more than one vehicle.”

Of course he did. He had money.

It was the cold, not him, that made up her mind. She’d be a fool to trust this master manipulator.

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