but they now knew that Clare had an accomplice. A one-armed man by the name of Tony Weeden.
As an infirmary nurse, Weeden had befriended Rafe Barker. Weeden was the one person to whom Rafe had told his story—until Rafe contacted the Colby Agency. His letter to Victoria Colby-Camp had been smuggled from Polunsky Prison by Weeden.
Whatever scheme was in motion and whoever was telling the truth, there was damned good reason to believe the Barker girls were in danger. The only question was from whom.
Sadie Gilmore, born Sarah Barker and the youngest of the three, was already in the capable hands of Colby investigator Lyle McCaleb.
Russ St. James had his eye on the unpredictable Olivia Westfield, born Olivia Barker, the oldest of the three. When reviewing the background files on the Barker girls, Joel had expected that his assignment would prove the most troublesome. Laney Seagers had a record of violence, though not exactly a rap sheet as long as her arm. She’d been in and out of one kind of trouble or another during her teenage years. She was also the only one of the three sisters with a kid in tow.
So far the biggest issue was with her ex-boyfriend and the father of her child. Still, Joel hadn’t attempted to move in close to his mark until last night. He supposed the next couple of days would reveal a clearer picture of what lay ahead as far as his ability to gain her trust.
As if his thoughts had summoned her, Laney stepped out onto her front porch, settled her attention directly on him and headed his way.
He’d promised to be gone by sunup. Maybe he’d lingered too long. Laney seemed to appreciate his charm to a point, but she was far too wise of the ways of men to be fooled for long. She had no intention of falling into a trap of any sort. The lady was definitely jaded when it came to all things male. But she was attracted to him.
Jeans skintight, T-shirt just as formfitting, she strode purposefully toward him. Her hair bounced around her shoulders, the gold catching the early morning sun and shining like silk.
Now that would be a hell of a vision to wake up to every morning for the rest of a guy’s life. Even a hardcore bachelor like him could appreciate that prospect.
“You’re up early.” He smiled, gave her a nod.
“Saw you walking around out here at the crack of dawn yourself.” She set her hands on her hips and looked him up and down. “I imagine you could use a cup of coffee before you go back to town.” She shrugged. “It’s the least I can do after you stood guard all night.”
He cast a speculative glance at the waist of her jeans. “Decided you didn’t need your weapon this morning?”
She smiled. Not one of those full-blown make-his-heart-thump kind but sexy as hell nonetheless. “I’m a little paranoid at night. Afraid of the dark as a kid. You know how it goes. Some of us just don’t grow out of it.”
“Never had any trouble in the dark.” He matched her smile. “But I have my moments with paranoia.”
“So, you interested in coffee? I grind the beans every morning.”
“Hard to refuse an offer like that.”
“Is that a yes, Mr. Hayden?”
“Hop in.” He grinned. “Considering the miles you walk most nights from one end of that bar to the other, taking a load off won’t hurt.” Not that he minded watching her walk.
“That’s a nice Jeep.” She climbed into the passenger seat. “Looks new.”
“It’s a couple years old.” He cranked the engine. “Bought it for my thirty-second birthday. I guess it’s my midlife-crisis car.”
“At least you didn’t get a massive truck.” She shook her head as he rolled along her dirt driveway. “Some guys think they either have to buy the biggest truck or the fastest car. For some crazy reason they think it’s a chick magnet.”
He glanced at her as he parked in front of her house. “You mean it’s not?”
“Definitely not.” She admired the interior of his Jeep. “A vehicle should suit the man and his purpose in life.”
“Never really thought about it that way.”
Her gaze settled on his. “What’s your purpose, Hayden? You got a house? A wife? Kids?”
He laughed. “No. No. And, no. Did I pass the test?”
She swung her legs to her right and hopped to the ground. “I haven’t decided yet.”
He wondered what her old beat-up Chevy said about her purpose. Just getting by? Or laid-back and happy to go with the flow?
“I know what you’re thinking.” She strode up onto the porch.
If she was a mind reader they were in serious trouble. “Is that right?”
She nodded. “You’re wondering why I drive that old truck.”
He pushed up his hat and studied her a moment. “The thought has crossed my mind.” He wouldn’t mention how recently.
“It was my father’s.” She turned toward the old blue vehicle. “It was the only thing left after the fire. A buddy of my dad’s saved it for me. Took him a while to find me with the bouncing around from one foster home to the other. It’s a damn good vehicle. Since I was sixteen it’s been the one reliable thing in my life. Got me where I needed to go. Even served as a home sometimes.”
“That beats the hell out of a high-tech sound system and power windows any day of the week.”
“Damn straight.”
The screen door whined as she swung it open. The old house had a comfortable feel about it. Swing on the front porch. Pot of colorful flowers near the door. Old-fashioned screen door fronting an even older slab door with glass so old it had that wavy look. Inside, the place was well-kept and smelled of fresh-brewed coffee.
Likely every part of the decorating and furnishings were secondhand but she’d done a nice job making the place feel like a home for her and the boy.
“Buddy still asleep?” Joel didn’t have a doubt that if the kid was conscious he would be either following his mom around or designing the next rocket for space exploration. As smart as he was, he didn’t appear to have any playmates his age. The kid didn’t seem to mind.
“He’ll be up soon and then he won’t slow down until he crashes for the night.”
Joel laughed. “Kids that age never slow down unless they’re sick.”
“Thought you didn’t have any kids.”
The remark was tossed offhandedly enough but Joel suspected it was one of those self-protective measures. “Lots of nieces and nephews.”
In the kitchen, there was more of Laney’s eclectic decorating. Again, lots of repurposed items. He was impressed with her ingenuity. A lot of things about the lady impressed him. She grabbed a mug from the rack and poured the coffee.
“Smells good.” He accepted the cup and savored
