Best Laid Plans Read online

  As if that was a signal, his cell phone rang, and he scooped it up.

  “Yes?”

  “Hey, Boss. We… uh… we got a problem here.”

  Jesus. “Okay, what?”

  “We were able to get into the complex, but there were so many vehicles parked near the house, we couldn’t get close to it. We figured we’d hang out nearby—which we did—but we couldn’t see the woman or the kid. Everyone’s getting ready to drive back to the funeral home. We can follow them but...”

  They’d have the same problem as earlier: they wouldn’t be able to get in.

  “Call it a night. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

  “Okay. ’Night, Boss.”

  Eric hung up without saying good night and dialed Kilroy. The fat-bellied deputy picked up on the second ring.

  “Yeah, Mr. Jameson?” He had the gall to sound put-upon.

  “I want you to drive to Jackson’s home.” Eric gave him the address. “You’re going to tell them you want to see the woman and her son. Make up any story you have to, but you get in that house and you threaten that woman with whatever you can think of if she doesn’t go with you.”

  “Mr. Jameson—”

  “Of course there will be a significant bonus.”

  “Okay. Gimme that address again.”

  Eric did, and after he hung up, he decided to go out for dinner rather than do takeout. There was Nakamura, a Japanese restaurant just down the street. He washed his hands, slicked back his hair, and put on his suit jacket.

  With the speed at which things were done down here, he’d have plenty of time for a nice, leisurely meal.

  ***

  ERIC HAD TO admit he was impressed. The food Nakamura offered tasted as good as any he’d had in DC. He topped it off with a dessert coffee.

  The waiter placed a leather folder on the white linen tablecloth and gave a slight bow. “At your convenience, sir,” he said and left to take care of his other patrons.

  Eric was reaching for the folder when his cell phone rang. “Jameson.”

  “It’s Kilroy.”

  Eric smiled with satisfaction. “What news?”

  “They weren’t there.”

  “What?” He scowled at the attention he’d inadvertently brought himself. “What are you talking about?” he demanded in a lower tone.

  “What I said. They weren’t there. And before you ask, yeah, I went through the whole place, all the outbuildings… and nothing.”

  “They let you in?”

  “Yeah. Didn’t ask for a search warrant or nothing.”

  Shit! Could the bitch have been warned? For a second, Eric thought he was having a heart attack. The pressure on his chest felt as if an elephant were sitting on it.

  “Uh… Mr. Jameson? Was there anything else you was wanting me to do for you?”

  “No.” He barely got the word out. “No.”

  “Well then, I’ll just say good night.”

  With contained movements, Eric shut his phone, replaced it in his pocket, and reached for the leather folder. On autopilot, he added up the charges, calculated the tip, and then took out his wallet and removed a platinum credit card.

  He’d call Holmes as soon as he got back to his motel room. He couldn’t take the chance of having that call overheard.

  And if he ever got his hands on that fucking bitch…

  Chapter 24

  “YOUR MOMMA IS a good woman, JT,” Mopp mumbled around the sandwich he’d helped himself to from Josh’s plate. Josh had ruffled his hair, careful to avoid the bandage at his temple, and had gone to the dining room where an endless buffet had been set up.

  “Thank you, Billy Bob. As soon as she knew today was going to be the first day of the viewing, she called the caterer. And then when we realized we had to bring back the whole lot of them, she made sure the caterer tripled the order. We were lucky we still had plenty of beer and soda left over from the wedding. And wine.” JT had a glass of Manischewitz. “Jack always teased me about this wine.” His lower lip quivered, and he forced a smile. “It’s such a sweet wine, you see.”

  Mopp didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to make light of the situation, but he didn’t want JT to cry. “Other than the champagne punch I had at the wedding, I’ve never had wine.” He’d have a beer with the men he worked with occasionally, and a taste of moonshine once, courtesy of Jim Bob. It had gone down the wrong way, and he hadn’t been able to catch his breath. Of course his brother thought it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen. And on top of that, his daddy had found out and given him a whipping.

  “That’s too bad.”

  “Daddy never approved of it. He… uh… he thought it was a… a sissy drink.”

  JT sputtered, then cleared his throat. “Another time I’ll let you try it. You can come to your own conclusions then. But for now, it’s just as well you avoid it.”

  “Yes.” Mopp had a Coke. Dr. Monroe, the neurologist, had advised him not to combine the medication he was on with alcohol. “Uh… JT, could I talk to you about something?”

  “Of course, Billy Bob. What is it?”

  “In private?”

  JT studied his eyes, and he made sure he kept his gaze steady. This was important, and he didn’t want JT to think he was embarrassed or uncertain.

  “Let’s go to the office. No one will be there.”

  “Thanks.” Mopp walked beside him to the other end of the house.

  JT opened the office door, switched on the light and stood aside to let Mopp enter, and then closed the door behind them. “What is it?” he asked again.

  “I love Josh.”

  JT’s jaw dropped. “But… but you’re straight.”

  “Why does everyone keep bringing that up?”

  “Maybe because it’s important and we don’t want to see either of you get hurt.”

  Mopp scowled down at his Coke. He’d never show JT how much his words bothered him. “Why would me loving Josh hurt him?”

  “You loved Jan just a few days ago.”

  Mopp looked at him. “Are you asking if Jan had been there when I woke up would I still be in love with her? I don’t know—she wasn’t.”

  “And Josh was.”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure it’s not Florence Nightingale Syndrome?”

  “Huh?”

  “When a patient thinks he’s in love with his nurse.”

  “Oh. But JT, I don’t think I’m in love with Josh. I know I am.”

  “Billy Bob… Until a few days ago you never once thought about going to bed with a man.”

  Mopp felt his cheeks heat up at JT’s frank words, because yes, going to bed with Josh was what he had in mind, but he wasn’t going to back down. “Josh is a good man, and the thing is, it doesn’t matter to me that he’s a man and not a woman. Do you want to know what I do think? I think I’ve been falling in love with him over the past ten months, since the day I first met him. Watching television with him and eating popcorn, going to the movies or going Christmas shopping at the mall, or just hanging out. If Jan hadn’t broken up with me, I wouldn’t have realized my feelings for Josh, but she did, and I do.”

  JT shook his head. “I can’t believe how off my gaydar was. Jack would be laughing his ass off.” He ran a hand through his hair. “And you’re certain?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, you’re both over twenty-one.” JT gave him the hairy eyeball. “Although you just made it.”

  “JT, I’ll be twenty-two in a couple of months. Besides, Josh had someone who was closer to his age, and that son of a bitch didn’t treat him well at all.”

  JT looked grim. “You’re right about that, unfortunately.”

  “Did you really knock the—knock him down?”

  “I did.”

  “Good for
you. I wish I’d been with you so I could have kicked him.”

  “You’d kick a man when he was down?”

  “If he hurt Josh? You bet.”

  Tom looked thoughtful.

  “Anyway, maybe what Josh needs is someone a little younger. And I promise you you’d never have to come after me for hurting him.”

  “All right, Billy Bob.” JT sighed. “Who am I to say you can’t go there?”

  “Thank you.” Mopp could have danced a jig. JT wasn’t going to tell him he couldn’t have Josh. Now if only Josh would tell him the same thing.

  “We’d better get back.” Tom opened the door and paused when he realized Mopp was still standing in the center of the room. “Was there anything else you had to tell me? You’re not pregnant, are you?”

  Mopp laughed. “No, JT. We haven’t reached that point.”

  “Then…?”

  “I… uh… kind of wanted your blessing.”

  “You have it. That is, if Josh says yes.”

  That was what had Mopp worried. “I’m going to do my best to make him see I love him. He’s worth it, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, I do think.” JT slung an arm around Mopp’s shoulders, and Mopp felt his eyes well with tears. Of course JT saw. “What’s wrong?”

  “No one’s ever hugged me.”

  “Your family?”

  “No. Oh, Momma did when we were little, but as we got older, Daddy frowned on it.”

  “What about Jan?”

  “Sure, in the beginning.” She’d been really sweet to him when they first started dating, but the past couple of months, it seemed that Jan preferred he didn’t touch her too often. Surprisingly, no one at the ranch seemed to realize that.

  “I wonder if I should have this talk with Josh also,” JT mused. Then he gave himself a shake. “Do I need to explain how sex between two men works?”

  “No, thank you,” Mopp said hastily. He went on to explain. “Tad and Rush invited me to watch some gay porn with them a few times.”

  “Oh God. And you weren’t scarred for life?”

  Mopp couldn’t help laughing. “It was… illuminating. The men seemed to enjoy it. Tad and Rush certainly did.” They’d exchanged glances and then Tad would hustle Rush out of the room. Mopp had left the video on and watched it to its end, undistracted by the running commentary Tad liked to provide.

  “I can imagine.” JT urged him out the door, shut the light, and pulled the door shut behind them. “Come on.”

  They walked back down the hallway to the living room.

  “I—” A young man, probably Mopp’s age or maybe a few years younger, caught his eye. “Who’s that?” He tried to keep his tone mildly inquiring, but the guy practically stood on top of Josh, tiptoeing his fingers up Josh’s arm, and he was so darned good-looking it set Mopp’s teeth on edge. The guy had the oddest color blue eyes Mopp had ever seen too. How could they be natural? But how could they not be? Not only that, but he’d outlined them with kohl, and they seemed huge. Mopp recognized the makeup because he’d watched as Jan sat at her vanity and used it to transform her eyes into fathomless pools of blue. He’d read that in one of the books his sister Jennie had hidden in her room and had been surprised to see it in real life.

  “That’s Dix.”

  “The one who brought that message for Miz Babe?” Mopp scowled. “Why is he touching—” He put down his can of Coke with a snap. “Excuse me, JT.”

  Mopp stalked across the room and arrived just as Dix backed Josh into a corner and rested his palm on Josh’s chest, right above his heart. Josh stared at him with a slight smile, and Mopp wanted to spit.

  “You look like you could use some relaxation,” Dix was saying. “I’m good at that. And I’ll do it for free, as a way to say thank you for the lift.”

  “No, you don’t have to—”

  “But I want to. It would be my pleasure.” His tone was filled with seduction, something Mopp could never in a million years hope to duplicate.

  “You heard what the man said. That won’t be necessary,” he snarled, and Josh eyed him with a raised eyebrow. Well, shoot. Had Mopp reminded him of the asshole he’d dated?

  Dix tensed up, but when he turned to face Mopp, he relaxed and said, “Oh. It’s you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing. You’re the straight boy.”

  “If people don’t stop calling me that, I swear I’m gonna go on a rampage.”

  “Yeah? Ah! The straight boy is bi-curious. Well.” Dix smirked. “I can take care of that too.”

  This time it was Mopp’s turn for his jaw to drop. No man had ever made a pass at him before. He gave it some consideration. At least none that he knew of.

  “Thank you for your kind offer, Dix, but Mopp isn’t available for that. He and I have something to discuss.” Josh wrapped his big hand around Mopp’s arm and led him out of the room.

  Although Mopp would have described it more as being dragged away. “Josh? Are you… are you mad at me?”

  “Were you considering letting Dix satisfy your curiosity?”

  “What? No! He’s very good-looking, but he’s not who I want.”

  “No, you want 36-24-36.” Josh sounded bitter.

  “I told you!”

  “What?”

  Even in this room, they were surrounded by all the people who had known Jack Jackson—family, friends, employees, business acquaintances. And Mopp didn’t give a rat’s ass. He grabbed Josh’s ears, tugged his head down, and kissed him. This time there was nothing soft or tentative about it. It was hot, wet, and fierce. And oh my God, it was better than any kiss he’d ever had. Mopp loved Josh. He wanted him. And Josh was damn well going to know it.

  “Mopp, Dix said he saw you and Josh coming-”

  Mopp opened one eye. Tad came to such an abrupt stop he almost tripped over his feet.

  Josh raised his head, and Mopp made a protesting sound. He didn’t want the kiss to end.

  “Not just yet, Tad.” Josh was blushing, but he was also smiling. Mopp rubbed his cheek against Josh’s chest.

  Tad stared at Mopp, his mouth opening and then closing, finally remaining open long enough for him to say, “Holy smokes!”

  Mopp felt his face go hot with a blush of his own, but he didn’t step out of Josh’s embrace. Because yes, Josh was holding on to him for dear life.

  Mopp drew in a breath. Okay, time to face the music. He met Tad’s dumbstruck gaze. “Yes, Tad?”

  “Um…”

  “Don’t say I’m straight.”

  “But you’re—”

  “Kissing a guy? No, I’m kissing Josh. Now. Did you want something?”

  Tad shook his head, as if loosening his thoughts. “Uh… It’s dark enough outside that you should be able to leave now.”

  “Okay.” Mopp kissed Josh one last time, then stepped back. “We’ll finish this discussion later.”

  “We will?”

  “You’d better believe it. Tad, are Miz Babe and Denny ready? Do they need to use the restroom?”

  “Yeah. I mean no, they already have. And Rush and I made like we were going to toss the trash, but what we really did was get their stuff into Da-” He caught his breath and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “The truck is all set—there’s enough room for you to back it out through all the cars in the drive. You may have to gas up before you get to 85, but otherwise you should be good.”

  They’d talked about the best route to take, just in case they were followed, and they’d decided I-16 to I-85, and from there north to I-95, where it would be a pretty straight run to DC.

  “All right, then.” Josh squeezed Mopp’s hand, and Mopp thought he would explode with joy. Josh wasn’t pushing him away. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Chapter 25

  THE CAP
ITAL WAS only about twenty minutes away now.

  Josh hummed along softly with the radio as he drove up the I-95. He’d deny it, but he had a soft spot for Miss Dolly Parton, and just then the country station Jackson had tuned the truck’s radio to was playing “I Will Always Love You.”

  A straight run—no pun intended—to DC would take about eight and a half hours, but because they couldn’t be certain they weren’t followed, Josh had come up with the Savannah to Atlanta to the capital route that added an additional five hours to the trip.

  He’d taken a break about halfway through. Everyone had been asleep, so he made a quick pit stop, got a cup of coffee, stretched his legs, and then got back into the truck and glanced over at Mopp. Those sandy curls that had given him his nickname spilled over his forehead and covered his closed eyelids. The first time he’d seen Mopp, he expected his eyes to be brown or maybe hazel. Instead he had the most intense blue eyes.

  And this attractive young man seemed to care about him. Josh couldn’t stop marveling over that.

  Josh glanced again to his right and smiled. Mopp had the seat as far back as it could go, and he was sound asleep, still catching up on all the sleep he’d had to forgo in the hospital. His hair had flopped into his face, and his breath whispered past his parted lips... Josh had to tear his gaze away from those lips.

  Well, it seemed Mopp wasn’t a snorer.

  Miz Babe had buckled up once they were far enough out of Savannah that Josh felt it was safe for her and her little boy to get up from their hiding places crouched on the floorboard of the passenger compartment. Denny had curled into her lap, clutching his teddy bear, and neither of them had made a sound.

  That didn’t mean the cab was entirely quiet. From the back seat, Dix sounded like he was sawing logs.

  Josh dismissed their passengers to resume considering the most amazing thing. Mopp wanted him. He said it wasn’t important that he was straight, that when it came to Josh, he was gay enough.

  Was Josh willing to take the chance his straight boy wouldn’t break his heart? Tommy had been gay, and he’d done it, even though it had been unintentional. Lucas… Josh didn’t want to think about Lucas. He’d thought he loved him, but he’d come to the dismal conclusion that he’d just been used to him.