set up a meeting with the informant at a secret location outside of town, but the guy never showed. A strange coincidence occurred when a partner in Perry’s Landscaping, Mike Perry, committed suicide a few days later.
Coop strongly suspected Perry had some help with his death. No proof, yet. They weren’t one hundred percent sure it had even been Perry who’d notified the authorities, either.
Coop thought about Lilly. Had she known what happened to her husband? Was that why she was leery of strangers?
Then he remembered the file on her. Mike and Lilly had been divorced for nearly a year by then. Had it been because of her husband’s involvement with Delgado?
That was what he had to find out.
There were only two leads. Lilly’s ex-sister-in-law, Stephanie Perry, was involved with a man named Rey Santos who looked remarkably like Raul Delgado. And the informant had told the Federal agents he had proof of Delgado’s illegal activity.
Now all Coop needed to do was keep the promise he made at his brother’s gravesite to catch this bastard while keeping the fact that he was a Texas Ranger a secret. Not too hard.
“Mom, Robbie’s being gross again,” thirteen-year-old Kasey Perry yelled from the top of the stairs.
Lilly sighed. It had been a long day already. She’d only walked in the door and hadn’t even put down her grocery bags.
“Get washed up so we can eat.”
“But, Mom, aren’t you going to do something?”
Lilly leaned against the open banister and said, “I’ll talk to him.”
She headed down the hall ignoring any and all comments from the kids. Inside the big homey kitchen, she found her mother sitting at the counter, sipping a cup of coffee.
This room was Beth’s space. Cabinets lined the walls and the tiled countertops were still in good shape and an island provided a good work space.
Beth Staley loved to cook and this big old kitchen had seen a lot activity over the years. Not so much lately. At least the table was set and ready for food. It was Lilly’s turn to cook, but she wasn’t ready.
“Give me a few minutes.”
“There’s no hurry,” her mother said. “Just make a salad. We’re having the rest delivered.”
“Mother,” she warned as she started to empty the grocery bag. “We talked about this. I thought the rent money was to pay off bills?”
“It is. I promise you, I didn’t spend a penny on supper.” She smiled. “I’ll go and round up Kasey and Robbie.” There was a knock on the back door as she started toward the hall. “Would you get that, honey?”
“Mom …” Lilly started to go after her when the knock sounded again. “Okay, you win,” she murmured as she went to the door and opened it. Standing on the porch was their new tenant. He looked as if he’d showered and shaved and he was holding three pizza boxes. “Mr. Cooper?”
“It’s Coop.” He nodded toward the boxes. “I hope you’re all hungry.”
What was going on? “Why?”
“I told your mother I was treating tonight. Since you let me move in early.”
He took a step toward her and she immediately moved out of his way. “You didn’t need to do that. I was going to fix supper.”
He put the pizzas on the counter. He placed his hands on his hips, causing his navy T-shirt to stretch across his broad chest and flat stomach.
“If you’re making salad, I can help you.” He went behind the island counter. “Tell me where the bowl is and a knife.”
He already had the head of lettuce under the water washing it. Well, make yourself at home, she thought. With no choice but to keep up she retrieved the ingredients.
Within a few minutes they’d thrown together a salad and he placed the bowl on the table when she heard the kids on the stairs. They soon appeared in the kitchen.
“Hey, I know you,” Robbie said. “What are you doing here?”
“Robbie,” she warned her son. “Mr. Cooper brought us supper.”
“How do you feel about pepperoni pizza?”
Robbie’s eyes brightened like it was Christmas morning. “It’s my favorite.”
“I don’t like pepperoni,” Kasey said. Her thirteen-year-old daughter didn’t like much of anything these past months, especially her mother.
“Then it’s a good thing that I also brought a vegetarian one, too.”
“That’s my favorite,” Lilly said.
“I’m not hungry.” Her daughter pouted.
“You’re going to stop being rude and eat.” She turned her daughter toward Coop and brushed back her long blond hair from her pretty face. “Coop this is my daughter, Kasey. Kasey, this is Mr. Cooper. He’s the new tenant and he was nice enough to bring supper.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Kasey.”
She nodded, but there was suspicion in her large eyes. “Thank you for the pizza.”
Lily released a long breath as her mother appeared in the room. “Okay, maybe we should sit down and eat.”
Beth showed Coop to a chair at the round table. Once in their seats, Lilly said, “Kasey, I believe it’s your turn to ask for the blessing.”
She glared at her mother. “Why? I don’t have anything to be thankful for.”
Lilly felt her cheeks flame in embarrassment. “Okay. Robbie why don’t you do it?”
“Sure.” He folded his hands and bowed his head. “I’m thankful that I got to go swimming today and now I get pizza, too.”
Lilly bit back a groan as she looked at her mother.
“You’ll survive, honey,” Beth said. “I survived you.”
Lilly took charge and said the blessing herself. Once she finished she was grateful everyone concentrated on the food. She wasn’t surprised to see her daughter didn’t have a problem eating. Finally the kids were excused to go watch television. She wanted to leave, too, but then she’d be just as rude as her kids. She wouldn’t be setting a good example and her mother was still there.
Lilly went to the coffeemaker. “Would you like a cup?” she asked Noah Cooper and her mother.
He looked up at her and smiled. “Thank you, I wouldn’t mind one.”
After her mother declined, Lilly came back to the table, handed him a cup and sat back down. The conversation turned to the repairs of the house.
“You
