Shadows at Dawn Page 4

  Awareness dawned in Marcus’s pale blue eyes. His narrow shoulders straightened beneath his yellow shirt. “As Mindy was a minor at the time of the accident, the terms of the settlement aren’t something we’ve discussed. It simply never came up.” His gaze swung to Mindy. “The fact is, once you reached the age of twenty-one, my dear, you’ve had overriding control of your mother’s funds.”

  Surprise rolled through her. “I didn’t know that, but it doesn’t change anything. It’s still Mom’s money.”

  “That’s right,” Marcus said.

  But Jax’s worried gaze fixed on her face. “You understand what this means?”

  “I would never take my mother’s money.”

  His features softened. “Under normal circumstances, I know you wouldn’t. But to put it bluntly, those men could have used any means necessary to force you to sign over the money in the trust.”

  * * *

  A FAINT STORM blew across the city, stirring up leaves and trash on the street. All the way back to the office, Mindy rode in silence. Jax was worried about her.

  “Nothing is going to happen to you,” he said as he pulled into the parking lot behind the building. “I won’t let it. You know that, right?”

  She turned toward him in the passenger seat. “I know,” she said softly.

  He wasn’t sure she believed him. He didn’t like the thought that she might not trust him to take care of her.

  He sighed as they walked back into the office. The afternoon was slipping away. Since a fast-food breakfast wasn’t much of a meal, he suggested they head down to Clancy’s, the Irish pub down the block, The Max crew’s favorite hangout.

  The wind had died down to a mild, pleasant breeze by the time they arrived. The restaurant wasn’t busy this hour of the day. The lunch crowd was already gone, the after-work, supper and drinking crowds not in until later. The smell of hops and lemon oil greeted them as they walked into an interior that was all dark wood paneling and lots of Irish green. A long bar lined with stools and an old-fashioned carved back bar dominated the room.

  Jax led her to one of the wooden booths, and they sat down across from each other. Mindy ordered a bowl of beef barley soup and Jax ordered a corned beef sandwich, but passed on his usual Guinness. Until he knew what was going on, he needed to be at the top of his game. Mindy was his to protect. He’d do everything in his power to keep her safe.

  “How’s your lunch?” he asked when he’d finished his sandwich, though Mindy was still eating—or pretending to. The small bowl of soup she’d ordered sat mostly untouched.

  “It’s great. I’m just not very hungry.”

  He reached across the table and set his hand over hers, felt the smooth warmth of her skin. His attraction to Mindy had always been strong, but knowing what could have happened to her, his protective feelings made the attraction even stronger. Everything about her turned him on—her pretty, girl-next-door face and gorgeous mahogany hair, her sweet smile and always optimistic personality, her petite but womanly figure.

  His gaze went to the full swells beneath her silky blouse and his body stirred. He reminded himself she was out of his reach and let go of her hand.

  “We’re going to figure this out,” he said. “Until we do, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  Mindy looked up at him with those big blue eyes, and he felt it like a kick in the stomach. “You and the other guys in the office...you’ve all been great to accept me the way you have. It’s just...it isn’t really your job to take care of me. I mean, I work for The Max, but that doesn’t make me your responsibility. It’s too much to ask.”

  He wanted to tell her that she meant more to him than just an office employee and friend, but it was the wrong thing to say. He wasn’t the right guy for Mindy. She was too sweet to handle a hard guy like him. He wanted her, but he didn’t want to take advantage, and if he wasn’t careful he would. She deserved better than a few nights in his bed, the length of his usual relationships with women. If she was even interested.

  The thought she might not feel the same fierce attraction to him that he felt for her did not sit well.

  “We’re friends,” he said. “Friends help each other. I’ve got the skills you need right now to keep you safe. Okay?”

  She studied him for several long seconds, but he couldn’t read her thoughts.

  “Okay...” she said reluctantly.

  Jax paid the bill and they headed back to the office.

  “I need to call Gunderson, see if the cops have turned up anything on the van. Then I’m going to pay a visit to Curt Wyman.”

  “What?”

  “I want to talk to him, see what he has to say. You don’t think he’s involved, but we need to be sure. I’ll call Maddox, have him come over and stay at your place while I’m gone.”

  “If you’re going to talk to Curt, I’m coming with you.”

  “If Wyman’s behind the attempt, he might not be alone. Anything could happen. I want you somewhere safe.”

  She turned on the sidewalk and propped a hand on her hip. “I’m going, Jax. I realize you know a lot more about this kind of thing than I do, but I know Curt and he isn’t going to open up to you. Not the way he will with me.”

  He didn’t miss the determined set of her features. The look in her eyes said she was not backing down. He was impressed. He was a former navy SEAL. Most women did what he said without question. This was the second time Mindy had stood up to him. He was learning something new about her. Mindy Stewart was a lot tougher than she looked.

  Plus he had a hunch she was right.

  “Well?”

  “All right, fine, you can go. Let me make that call to Gunderson, then we’ll go.”

  He opened the door to the office, and she walked past him into the waiting area. “You know where Curt lives?” she asked.

  “I’m a detective, remember? I know where he lives.”

  Mindy flicked him an impertinent glance that had him biting back a grin. She walked over to her desk, drawing his attention to the stretch jeans curving over her sweet little ass, and inwardly he groaned.

  Forcing his thoughts back to the job, he sat down at his desk and phoned Walt Gunderson. “It’s Ryker,” he said. “Anything new on the Stewart case?”

  “Not much. We picked up the van on some street cam video. Lost it in the warehouse district, but it gives us a place to look. Too bad they disabled the cameras in your parking lot.” Both cameras had been taken out with a single shot each. These guys had been prepared.

  “By now Chase probably has them back online,” he said. “But that doesn’t help us.”

  “No, it doesn’t. I’ll let you know if we come up with something new.”

  “Thanks.” Jax didn’t mention the possible ransom motive. If the lead proved false, information about Mindy’s connection to three million dollars’ worth of trust fund money wasn’t something he wanted floating around.

  He hung up the phone and headed for the front desk. “You ready?”

  Jax wasn’t looking forward to a visit with Mindy’s old boyfriend. But he had to admit he was curious.

  CHAPTER SIX

  WITH THE WEATHER improved from the day before and the Saturday traffic fairly light, it wasn’t a bad drive to Curt Wyman’s expensive condo in Uptown Dallas. The guard recognized her and let them pass without comment. Mindy rode in silence next to Jax as the glass elevator whisked them up from the slick, futuristic lobby to the fourteenth floor.

  “He might not be home,” she said as they reached the front door. “He liked to play golf with some of his clients on the weekends.”

  But Curt answered the bell, his eyes widening at the unexpected sight of her standing out in the corridor. “Mindy!” He was an inch taller than Jax, with an athletic build and glossy blond hair neatly combed. When he leaned down and hugged her, Jax’s body went tense.

  “I can’t believe you’re really here,” Curt said.

  Mindy pulled away from him, embarrassed at the unexpectedly warm greeting. “Curt, this is Jaxon Ryker. He’s a private detective. We need to talk to you.”

  Curt’s gaze went to Jax, slid over the powerful, heavily muscled body outlined by his snug, dark blue T-shirt and jeans. The faint outline of a semiautomatic pistol bulged beneath the fabric at his waist.

  Curt stared at Jax, whose features looked hard. One of his big biceps flexed, and Mindy could almost smell the testosterone in the air.

  “May we come in?” She eased between the two men. “It’s really important, Curt.”

  “Of course. You know you’re always welcome.” Tossing Jax a dark glance, he stepped back to let them pass, and she walked into a living room stacked with cardboard boxes.

  “You’re moving?”

  “Things happen. I’m out of jail, which you obviously know. I’m starting over so I need to make some changes.”

  “Or maybe not,” Jax drawled. “Maybe you could keep your fancy lifestyle—if you could get your hands on Mindy’s mother’s money. Isn’t that right, Wyman?”

  Curt frowned and shook his head. “What are you talking about?”

  “Three men tried to kidnap me Friday night,” Mindy said. “Jax thinks they were planning to torture me until I signed over my mother’s trust fund money.”

  The color washed out of Curt’s face. “I don’t understand.” He was a good-looking guy, and yet he no longer held the slightest appeal for her.

  “You knew about the trust,” Jax said. “Your burglary scheme failed, and you needed money, so you went after Mindy.”

  Curt turned toward her, his gaze pleading. “I’d never hurt you, Mindy. I—I loved you. I know I didn’t show it when we were together, but it’s true. I know I don’t deserve you, but I’d do anything if I could have you back.”

  “You’re right, Wyman. You don’t deserve her. Where were you last night?”

  Curt’s gaze swung to Jax. “I went on a date with a girl I just met. I’ve been trying to put my life back together, but the evening was a complete and total bust. She wasn’t Mindy. It didn’t take me long to figure that out. Her name’s Margaret Aimes. You can call her, verify I was with her until after midnight.”

  He was telling the truth. Mindy could always tell when he was lying.

  Jax’s stare didn’t waver. “Give me her name and number.”

  Curt nodded, left to retrieve a pen and paper, and wrote down the phone number. He walked over and handed it to Jax, but his attention returned to Mindy. “If I could do things over, I would. I’m really sorry, Mindy.”

  A flicker of sadness moved through her. There was a time when she had hoped they would have a future together. “I’m glad you got a second chance. I hope you make it work.”

  They left the condo and took the elevator back down to the underground lot.

  “You believe him,” Jax said as he helped her into the pickup.

  Mindy nodded. “I could always tell when Curt was lying. He didn’t do it often, and he was never any good at it.”

  Jax rounded the Dodge and climbed in behind the wheel. “You know he’s still in love with you.”

  She glanced out the window as he started the engine. Was it possible? She had no idea, but it really didn’t matter. “I meant what I said. I hope he makes his second chance work.”

  She could feel Jax’s dark eyes on her. “If he straightens himself out, you interested in going back to him?”

  Curt compared to Jaxon Ryker? No contest. “I’m over him. I was never really in love with him. I just wanted to be. I enjoyed his company and I liked having a man in my life. I miss that.” She had always wanted a home and family. She still did. Just not with Curt Wyman.

  Jax looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he focused on backing up and pulling the truck out onto the street.

  “I should have taken something out of the freezer for dinner,” she said as the pickup rolled back toward her apartment. “With everything that’s been happening, I forgot.”

  “You cook?” He seemed surprised.

  She shoved her glasses up on her nose and hooked her hair back over her ear. “My grandmother grew up on a farm outside Dallas. She was a fantastic cook. She raised me, so yes, I like to cook.” She smiled. “I’m really good at it.”

  A low groan slipped from Jax’s throat. “What if we stop at the store and pick up whatever you need?”

  She laughed. “We don’t have to do that. I keep a lot of stuff in the pantry. I can make pasta or something. Do you like Italian?”

  “Hell, yes.”

  She smiled. “I’ll make a salad to go with it and we’ll be fine.”

  Except that when they got to her home and Mindy found her front door pried open, thoughts of supper shot right out the window. The entire apartment looked as if an earthquake or a tornado had totaled the place.

  * * *

  “OH MY GOD!”

  Jax’s HK45 slid easily out of its holster. “Stay here.” He started forward, the gun gripped in both hands, panning the living room for any sign the intruders might still be there.

  “Oh no, Muffin!” Mindy bolted forward, but Jax’s arm shot out, blocking her way.

  “I said stay here!” he said sharply, but softened his tone when she shrank back from him. “Let me check things out first, make sure it’s safe, okay? I’ll be right back.”

  Her color returned, and she nodded. He made a sweep of the apartment, checking the bathrooms, under the bed, the closets, but whoever had been there was gone.

  The apartment was in complete disarray, sofa and chairs overturned, drawers left open, the books on the shelves knocked onto the floor. The place was a mess, but it wasn’t vandalized. The apartment had been methodically and thoroughly searched.

  He found Muffin beneath an overturned chair next to the kitchen table, holstered his weapon, knelt and extended a hand. “It’s all right, sweetie. You’re okay.”

  The cat meowed and crept slowly toward him. Jax stroked a hand over her fur, then scooped her against his chest. When he looked up, Mindy was standing in the kitchen doorway.

  Unlike his SEAL teammates, clearly she wasn’t afraid to disobey his orders. He almost smiled.

  “She’s okay.” He handed her the cat, which she cuddled against her full breasts. He had never been jealous of a cat before. He sighed. There was a first time for everything.

  Her hand shook as she stroked the cat. “She’s all I really care about.” She sniffed and dragged in a shaky breath, but didn’t cry. “The rest is just stuff.”

  Her positive attitude was one of the things he liked best about her. “That’s exactly right.”

  “Do you...do you think the break-in is just a coincidence? Teenagers, maybe, who did this for fun?”

  The front door had been jimmied open, probably with a crowbar. “I don’t believe in coincidence,” he said. “And teenagers might vandalize your place for some warped idea of fun, but this place was searched. Whoever did it was looking for something.”

  “What?”

  “No idea.”

  “Should we call the police?”

  It was definitely a crime scene, and probably linked to the abduction attempt. They needed to phone Lieutenant Gunderson. Maybe the CSIs could come up with some prints or something. He’d get to it, but he preferred to stay one step ahead.

  “First I want you to take a look around, see what’s missing. Try to touch things as little as possible.”

  She nodded, started walking around the apartment, surveying the damage. Things were moved and overturned, the medicine chest emptied into the bathroom sink, the kitchen canisters dumped out on the counter. The desk in her bedroom had been thoroughly searched.

  She sighed as she walked back into the living room. “Good thing I had my laptop with me.”

  “Yeah.”

  She glanced at the destruction in the apartment. “They made a terrible mess, but they didn’t go out of their way to destroy things for no reason. Most of it can be put back the way it was.”

  “They were definitely searching for something.”

  “Some of my flash drives are missing. That’s the only thing I noticed. The only information on them was my personal QuickBooks accounts, my tax records, stuff like that. I had photos on one of the drives, but they’re also on my laptop so I didn’t really lose them.”

  “What about the trust account info?”

  “The backup for my mom’s checking account was on one of the drives, but it’s just her monthly bills and personal expenses. There’s nothing about the trust fund, no mention of how much is in it, and nothing that would give them any way to access the money. That was always handled by Mr. Handley.”

  “Must have been hoping to find something they could use.”

  She glanced around and her shoulders sagged. “I guess.”

  Jax mentally ran through possibilities, didn’t immediately come up with anything. “Call the bank and put a hold on your checking accounts, just in case. I’ll call Gunderson. As soon as the cops take our statements, we’ll head over to my place, spend the night there.” He’d call Chase and Hawk as soon as he got home. Maybe they could come up with a workable theory.

  Mindy surveyed the mess around her. “What about my apartment?”

  “We’ll come back in the morning, feed Muffin and clean the place up.”

  Her eyes gleamed, and seeing her so close to tears made his chest ache. “I always go see my mother on Sunday mornings.”

  “Not a problem. We’ll make it work.” He forced himself not to reach out and touch her. “Go ahead and make that call, then go pack an overnight bag.”

  She walked a few steps away, pulled out her cell and phoned the bank, then started picking her way through the debris to her bedroom.

  Jax sighed. As soon as they were finished talking to the police, he was taking her home with him. He had fantasized about Mindy Stewart spending the night in his bed.