Just For A Heartbeat (Piper Anderson Legacy Mystery Book 2) Read online

  “You’ll have to excuse my wife,” Bobby joked, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair. “She thinks her intuition is at superpower level. Piper tends to forget that sometimes people are just tired, or hungry, or maybe even feeling like they are being intruded upon.”

  “No,” Ruby cut in, biting nervously at her thumbnail. “I didn’t say she was wrong. I was wondering why she was asking?”

  “Well,” Piper said gently, obviously knowing how to keep from spooking someone like Ruby, “you’ve been glancing over there every few minutes since we got here.” Piper motioned with her hand toward the wall where Ruby’s desk was positioned. “You seem sort of jumpy. But mostly it’s the look on your face. I’ve gotten very good over the years at identifying the expression someone makes when they are ready to say something but just can’t find the courage.”

  Ruby gulped in a way that must have screamed to Bobby and Piper because in unison they both grew very still, exchanging a quick sideways look that could have been easily missed if the room wasn’t so small and now so quiet.

  “Ruby,” Bobby said in a deep authoritative voice, “if you are in some kind of trouble you should tell someone. There are always people who can help.”

  “Us,” Piper said as though Bobby’s words had fallen miles short. “We can help you. Bobby and I are professionals. We’ve seen it all over the years and whatever it is, I know we can help you.”

  Ruby had edged her way over to the drawer and let her two fingers hang on the rough metal handle. “I’m afraid bringing you into this isn’t fair to you.”

  “If you knew half of what we’ve done,” Piper laughed, but Bobby looked less convinced, his nostrils flaring and his jaw set firmly in place. “Whatever it is we can help you.”

  Ruby wanted to believe her. She wanted to believe their arrival was serendipitous, some kind of rescue mission from the cosmos. But once she showed them the photographs there would be no turning back.

  “Maybe it’s better left alone,” she croaked out, letting her hand fall from the cold metal. “I’m just being overdramatic.”

  “It’s okay,” Bobby said, clearing his throat. “We should try to get the power back on anyway.”

  “Bobby,” Piper said, spinning on her heels and facing her husband, a glint of fire in her eyes. “If we walk out of here, back to our cabin, you know you’re going to worry. I’m going to listen to you ask me a hundred times if we did the right thing. I know you. The worst thing for you is having to say you wish you’d have done more. Fail or succeed you’re always better when you’ve exhausted all options. Walk away now and you’ll never know what we could have done to help Ruby today.”

  “Wow,” Ruby said before she could wrap the words up and keep them in her mind. “Sorry,” she squeaked apologetically covering her mouth.

  “No,” Bobby smirked. “That’s the right reaction; my wife is laying it on thick because she knows how to get me to jump into this stuff head first. No matter if I know better.” He stood and brushed a bit of dust off his jeans. “What have you got to show us, Ruby?”

  Like ropes and pulleys attached to her fear, his words seemed to lift the worry right off her. She reached for the handle again and this time pulled it open, the edges of the horrific prints in sight. There would be no turning back now. Ruby lifted the disorganized stack and carried them to the table like she was carrying the bodies themselves, gingerly and respectfully laying them down in front of Bobby and Piper. The dismembered limbs and smears of blood lay out in front of them. The limp fingers and jagged edged wounds caught the light from above the table.

  “Damn,” Bobby breathed out closing his eyes and dropping his head down. “I guess I will take that cup of coffee.”

  Chapter 2

  “How do we know these are real?” Piper asked, circling around the photographs for what seemed like the hundredth time. Bobby had already lifted them up, inspected each one, but Piper had avoided any contact with them.

  “We don’t,” Bobby replied, stirring another splash of milk into the rocket fuel mixture Ruby called coffee. “They could be props from a movie. They could be Halloween decorations for all we know.”

  “I hope they are,” Ruby whispered, brushing her wispy uncontrolled hair out of her face and crossing her arms tightly around her. “But how do we find out for sure?”

  “How long have you had these?” Bobby asked, ignoring the huge task Ruby tried to lay at their feet. “When did you develop them?”

  “Almost three weeks ago,” Ruby admitted, a rock of guilt plummeting to the bottom of her stomach. “And I know how that sounds. Trust me, I haven’t taken this lightly. Having those photographs in the house has been burdensome. I think that’s why I was desperate to tell someone. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

  “The police,” Bobby said challengingly. “You should have turned them over to the police. You’ll have a tough time explaining to them why you waited, but I’m sure if they can authenticate these photographs they will move on from your mistake.”

  “It was no mistake,” Ruby cut back, rolling the silver bracelet on her wrist, fighting her nerves. “It was with great intention I didn’t turn these over to the local police. Doing that would have been a mistake.”

  “Why’s that?” Piper asked, interrupting whatever argument her husband was about to begin. “Is there an issue with the local police force?”

  “Maybe we don’t launch right into the conspiracy theories,” Bobby argued, but with the two of them it was always punctuated with a small smile. There was an understanding between them that nothing seemed off limits, but everything came from love. “The police are here to help. They solve these types of crimes,” he argued, gesturing at the photos. “If there is a crime at all.”

  “Like we haven’t dealt with corrupt cops before?” Piper laughed. The wrong person could interpret their relationship as a hostile one, but Ruby kept seeing flashes of what was at the core of Piper and Bobby’s arguments. It wasn’t two people pushing against each other in some emotional and futile way. They were both tugging in the same direction, both trying to move life along with them. Neither seemed interested in winning for the sake of winning, they genuinely believed they were right and in being right they’d keep each other safe.

  “Not police,” Ruby said, shaking her head. “A sheriff. One sheriff who has run unopposed and been elected for the last twenty-eight years.”

  “The island is pretty small.” Bobby shrugged, looking unaffected by her declaration. “They probably get two to three hundred calls a year. Nothing major I would assume, probably petty theft and maybe some drunk and disorderly. What, do they rotate deputies from surrounding islands or the mainland?”

  “Yes,” Ruby said, slightly annoyed at how little this seemed to concern either of them. “So you basically have the king and a few of his minions. That’s what defines law and order on Bolton Bluff.”

  “I’m not hearing anything that would justify not handing this evidence over to them,” Bobby countered. “Even if the pictures are real they might not be local. You said you get film from all over the world mailed to you. Who knows whose jurisdiction this could be?”

  “These weren’t mailed to me; they are from this area.” She slid a few pictures out from the pile and pointed at them. “You see this flag in the background on the wall? It’s two crabs and a blue lobster with a checkered background.”

  “I saw that down by the pier, on a boat I think,” Piper said, the rise in her voice showing intrigue. “But I’m sure that’s not definitive.”

  “This flag is sold at all the tourist and seasonal shops from Maine down the coast to Massachusetts. It’s an old fisherman flag that represents this particular area.”

  “Still not enough to exclude the local cops from the investigation,” Bobby said, shaking his head.

  “Here,” Ruby said, pointing to the top corner of another picture. “What do you see right here?”

  “A statue?” Piper asked, squinting down and grabbing t
he small magnifying glass Ruby had pulled out. “Damn.”

  “What?” Bobby asked, not looking thrilled to see he was about to be proved wrong.

  “It’s Saint Michael,” Piper whispered. “The patron saint of police officers.”

  “That doesn’t mean—” Bobby started but Piper cut him off.

  “You are absolutely correct. None of this individually means any police officer was involved, and it doesn’t mean the local police couldn’t handle this situation appropriately. But it creates doubt, doesn’t it? I think you should call Tyson.”

  “It’s not like he’s my personal FBI agent that I can just order around when I want. He’s going to tell me to turn them over to the locals.” Bobby twisted his mouth back and forth as he wrestled with the options.

  “They won’t do anything with them,” Ruby argued. “Anything they think will hurt their brotherhood or this island gets swept under the rug.”

  “That seems like a stretch,” Bobby countered. “But I know what Tyson and the FBI are going to say.”

  You’re right, he will say that,” Piper agreed. “But then you’ll tell him your gut says this is a federal issue, and he knows you. If you push he’ll take the case.”

  “And if it turns out these photos are fake or garbage I’ll look like a fool. But instead of just locally looking like one I’ll be a fool on a federal level.” Bobby huffed as he took the magnifying glass and looked at the photographs again.

  “The only thing worse than looking foolish is having regret. Ruby trusted us today; I think we should trust her as well. If she says the local police aren’t the right path for this, let’s take the leap and help.”

  “Ruby,” Bobby started, still looking closely at the photographs, “regardless of what Piper is saying, please don’t get your hopes up. If you look real close at my gorgeous wife, if you really look into her eyes, you’ll be able to see there isn’t actually a hopeful optimist in there. She’s seen cases that don’t have happy endings and red tape that can keep them from having any ending at all.”

  Piper didn’t argue this point. She didn’t engage in lively banter or call him out. Instead her head cocked to the side and her eyes closed sleepily. A frown creased her face. “It doesn’t mean we don’t try,” she reminded him. “We still try.”

  “Thank you,” Ruby said, blinking her hazel eyes fast enough to fight the tears of gratitude from forming. “I’m so glad you knocked on my door.”

  “I’d like to say this isn’t the vacation we envisioned,” Bobby smiled sarcastically at Piper, “but I’m beginning to think we’re magnets for this stuff.”

  Chapter 3

  Ruby knew it was too beautiful a morning to expect Bobby and Piper to sit inside her cramped cottage, so she led them out the back door to her patio. The breeze moved the end-of-summer air and with it the smell of sweet goldenrod flowers that darted the tree line with yellow flecks. Ruby would be foolish to pretend this little slab of land her parents had purchased wasn’t picturesque. The house was surrounded on three sides with tall pine trees, casting shade over the back porch. Enough sun pushed through for Ruby’s garden. The grass was lush and green; the stonework around the property was precise and symmetrical. When her family had lived there Ruby had hated her lack of a bedroom, a pullout couch proving an awful substitution for a fifteen-year-old girl. But her parents’ work had always taken precedence over anything else.

  However, for the last seven years the place was hers, and creature comforts were her goal. She’d started with just some herbs five years ago, but now she’d mastered growing most of her own fruits and vegetables. Somehow she’d turned this tiny plot of land into a self-sustaining oasis she pictured herself in for years to come.

  “You’ll get cell service out here,” Ruby explained, pointing to the antenna that protruded off the side of the patio. It was ugly but it did the trick, allowing her to stay in touch with clients and associates. Occasionally if they could be pulled away, her parents would call from some far-off corner of the world.

  “Just let me do the talking,” Bobby reminded them again as he paced the small wood patio and switched on the speaker of his phone.

  “Well, Bobby Wright,” a raspy voice greeted cheerfully. “Are you finally ready to take me up on applying for a federal position? There’s plenty of field agents you’ve worked with who’d be happy to vouch for you.”

  “No way, Tyson,” Bobby laughed. “Not enough money in the world to make me travel the way you guys do. I happen to love my wife and kids.”

  “I know, I know,” Tyson groaned. “You’re settled down, I get it. So then is this a social call? Were you just wondering how I’m doing?”

  “Don’t I wish,” Bobby said, falling serious. “I just sent you some digital photographs.”

  “Yes, you did,” Tyson replied, sounding annoyed. “And I think I’ll stop eating my bagel now. A little warning next time.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that,” Bobby apologized. “I need to call in a favor on this one.”

  “I do owe you a favor after you bailed us out in that case in Charlotte six months ago. If you hadn’t noticed the ink under that perp’s nails we never would have been able to bag him on the counterfeiting charge. It was a great catch. That guy was crazy.”

  “I’m an expert at crazy,” Bobby grinned, looking over at Piper playfully.

  “Speaking of which, how is Piper?”

  “Hey!” Piper interjected. “You might be a Fed but I’ll still take you down next time I see you.”

  “I figured you were there,” Tyson laughed. “Bobby always calls me from his office landline. A call from his cell phone put my antenna up. Now tell me about this case and how I can help.”

  “It’s not a case yet,” Bobby explained, launching into the details of who Ruby was and how she’d found the photographs.

  “Interesting,” Tyson said, sounding genuinely intrigued. “But why not turn this over to the local LEOs? I’m sure they can push it up the chain as needed.”

  “What’s a leo?” Ruby asked, trying to retain every fragment of the conversation and make sure she knew what was going on.

  “A law enforcement officer—a local cop,” Bobby explained, quickly turning his attention back to Tyson. “We’re not in North Carolina. Piper and I are on vacation in Maine. This is a small island. We have reason to believe the case would be compromised if it’s handled locally.”

  “That’s good enough for me,” Tyson asserted. “I’m willing to take your word on that. If my math is right, and we assume the average person only has two legs, then we’re looking at a minimum of three bodies here. Add in the fact that maybe there’s some elements of ritualistic or cult-like stuff, I can spin it and stamp federal on this.”

  “Great,” Bobby said, looking instantaneously relieved. “I really appreciate it.”

  “Don’t get too excited. With just these photos to work with you know this thing is going to hit the bottom of the pile. I’ll have a case number assigned and make sure you’re listed as a contact. You’ll be notified about any developments, but I doubt this thing will get touched for at least six months, probably a year.”

  “But these are victims,” Ruby chimed in, ignoring Bobby’s scolding look. “And there’s a killer that might still be out there. Isn’t that enough?”

  “This isn’t the movies,” Tyson replied flatly. “We don’t have enough agents to be able to solve everything. In order to move this up on the list you’d need more. Identifications on the victims, a suspect, or some kind of tie to an existing case. Otherwise the resources just aren’t readily available. I know it’s frustrating, but that’s how it is.”

  “I appreciate your candor,” Bobby cut in before Ruby could argue further. “I’m sure once it gets to the lab and someone can thoroughly evaluate the photographs, the case will get some momentum.”

  “You can always try to get me some more,” Tyson said, making it sounded like a dare. “You’re certainly qualified to investigate this. I know a cer
tain forensic lab technician who could probably give you some information on the fly about these pictures.”

  “She hates me,” Bobby sighed, sinking down into one of the thickly cushioned wicker chairs. “There’s no way Maggie is going to give me some off-the-cuff analysis.”

  “She really does hate you,” Tyson laughed. “You shouldn’t have called her out last year about the crime scene photos in that drug bust. She hates being wrong.”

  “She was wrong,” Bobby argued, but then righted himself. “What makes you think I even care to investigate this any further? I’m on vacation. Maybe I just want to relax and let you guys deal with it when you do.”

  “Ha,” Tyson scoffed. “First of all, even if you were capable of leaving this alone, which you’re not, Piper is not going to just walk away from this. She’s like one of those cartoon characters drawn over to a juicy steak by those little smell lines. No way she lets you drop this. That girl loves her mysteries.”

  “Lets me drop this?” Bobby asked, his manhood clearly being challenged. Piper couldn’t contain her laugh as she winked at her husband.

  “And even if she did,” Tyson continued, more serious now, “there’s no chance you’d let a killer spend any more time free as long as you have anything to say about it. I’m changing your favor. This probably would have turned federal eventually anyway. I’ll call Maggie and tell her to reach out to you once she’s had a chance to look over the pictures. Maybe she can give you a couple leads. Expect to hear from her at dinner time.”

  “Great,” Bobby huffed, sounding anything but happy about the new arrangement.

  “Keep me posted if you find anything that might expedite this case, and if I hear anything on this end I’ll let you know,” Tyson teased a bit more before finally hanging up.