Josh's Challenge Page 19

  And the truth crashed down around Missy; they’d both lied to her. Josh had only used her to get to Marguerite, and her sister who’d crushed on Josh years ago had participated in the ruse. As she continued to scroll, new photos were popping up of Josh and Marguerite hanging out at Blue’s Whiskey Bar.

  Missy dropped the iPad back onto her nightstand and closed her eyes. Josh and her sister were out together now. She’d feared losing Josh to someone beautiful. Her fear had been realized with her own flesh and blood. The tears wouldn’t stop as she curled herself into a ball and cried.

  TWO HOURS LATER, Angelica slammed the door downstairs and yelled out to her.

  “I’m here,” Missy said meekly, wishing the pain of betrayal would go away. When Angelica flung open the bedroom door, triumphant about something, Missy knew she didn’t want to know.

  “I told you that tigers never changed their stripes, and here’s the proof!” She hopped onto the bed with bare feet and dropped down beside Missy, holding out her cell phone.

  “I already know, so leave me alone.”

  Angelica frowned. “You do?”

  Missy pulled the sheet over her head. “Mm-hmm.”

  “Well, did you see the part where Josh gets in a fight with that marshal that’s been hanging around town?”

  Missy sat up. “McKinley?”

  “One and the same,” Angelica said quietly as she searched for the offending videos on her Facebook app. Soon, twangy music blared out of Angelica’s phone as the video began to play. “Come on, you gotta watch this.”

  Fine, she thought as she sat up to watch, waiting for the rest of her heart to be broken into tiny pieces.

  The small screen showed Marshal McKinley approaching an extremely drunk couple on the dance floor. Josh and Marguerite were barely recognizable. They were completely lit. Missy glanced at the clock, and it wasn’t even midnight yet. Marguerite rarely drank, and Missy had never seen Josh that inebriated.

  When McKinley reached them, Josh took a swing at the marshal and Marguerite fell to the ground.

  “Apparently, they were arrested right after this was taken,” Angelica said.

  “What? Marguerite could lose her job!”

  “I know. It looks like it was quite a spectacle. Look at some of the comments on this post.”

  They were all about how the two most notoriously single people in Timbisha had finally gotten together and what a mistake it was.

  “Why didn’t they just get a room and get it over with?”

  “Neither of them will do any real time. One is the sheriff’s brother and the other is his secretary. Goes to show what kind of cops we have in this town.”

  “She’s always been a slut. Maybe now she’ll have some shame.”

  “Never thought Josh would stoop so low.”

  “ManWhore and Blondie together at last.”

  As angry as she was at her sister, Missy knew Marguerite would never survive this kind of ridicule. Not only had Josh duped Missy into giving him her virginity, but he’d also finally ruined her sister’s reputation in their small town. There would be no coming back from this. Small towns could be judgmental and critical at the worst of times, and this was definitely the worst time for Marguerite.

  “I need to see if she’s okay.”

  “Who, Marguerite? After what she did to you? Oh, honey, you need to let her sober up first before you unleash that temper of yours. She needs to pay for what she did. Josh too. I’m just glad you found out before you got in too deep with that creeper.” Angelica put her arm around Missy. “You’ll be fine. Now that their true colors are showing, you have nothing left to fear. You’ve got me to look after you.”

  Missy held on to Angelica and cried it all out. When she was done, she vowed to never give her heart to another man, especially one as good looking as Josh King.

  No matter what he said to her.

  JUST KILL ME now.

  Josh groaned as he carefully rolled onto his back but stopped moving completely when his stomach protested. Carefully he opened his eyes, then quickly closed them as lightning pierced his skull, nearly frying his foggy brain.

  “You’ll live, but you’re still an asshole.” Jarod’s voice hurt his ears.

  “Go to hell,” Josh rasped before he took the minuscule pillow from behind his head and threw it at his brother. “Where am I?”

  “Well, shit-for-brains, you are in the Timbisha County drunk tank.”

  Josh swore foully under his breath before confronting his brother. “The hell you say, Jarod.” If he could move, he’d punch his jerk of a brother in the face.

  “The hell if you aren’t. You and my secretary made quite the spectacle of yourselves last night.”

  Was he serious? “What’d you do to Marguerite?”

  Jarod opened the cell and stood over Josh, blocking the killer sunlight that threatened to melt Josh’s skull. “When we suspected that she’d been drugged, McKinley took her to emergency. They kept her overnight for observation.”

  “Well, why the hell didn’t you take me to the hospital?”

  “Because I didn’t want you to kill the doctors and nurses, that’s why, you batshit-crazy degenerate.”

  Josh prayed for patience—and for the room to stop spinning. “What time is it?”

  “A little after one. You’ve been in a crazed stupor all night. Want to tell me what the hell went on last night?”

  Josh tried to recall anything of the evening before and came up blank. “I have no idea.”

  “How did you get to Blue’s?” Jarod sounded pissed, probably thinking that he’d driven drunk.

  “I drove there after work. The guys were heading over for a quick one before going home for the weekend. Since Melissa still isn’t speaking to me, I thought, why not?”

  “So you took drugs and drank yourself into oblivion? This isn’t a country song, Josh. And as my brother, I’d expect better from you.” Jarod was shaking his head in mock disgust.

  “Don’t be a prick. I didn’t do any of that, I swear, and you already know I don’t take drugs, so screw off.” His stomach lurched and he quickly shut his mouth, refusing to lose his stomach in front of his smug-faced brother.

  He felt something cold touch his arm. “Take it,” Jarod said quietly.

  “Circumstances being what they are, I don’t want to drink anything I didn’t open myself.”

  “It’s a little late for that, baby brother,” Jarod said on a frustrated sigh. “Here, let me help you sit up.”

  At the first tug, Josh knew he was going to puke. Now he knew why they put toilets in these cells. When he was finished embarrassing himself in front of Jarod, he took the bottle of water and placed it on his aching head. “I honestly don’t remember much after I finished my first beer.” He’d watched Ernie, the bartender, pop the top, so he knew that drink hadn’t been tainted. He explained this to Jarod, who nodded but didn’t say anything else. It was his way of letting Josh sort things out for himself. He’d said his goodbyes to his crew after throwing a round of darts. “I ordered an ice water after that,” he said.

  “That fits. You usually do when you bet.”

  Josh nodded. “Yeah, that’s right. Jimmy challenged me to a game.” It was getting a little clearer. “That son of a bitch owes me fifty bucks, too.”

  Jarod snickered. “Okay, so you stayed long enough to hustle your crew. Did you have more than one water?”

  “Maybe,” Josh admitted. “I didn’t feel like leaving.” He took a tentative drink of water and felt the cotton melt a little in his mouth. When the first sip stayed down, he took another, and then another until the whole bottle was empty. Jarod stayed with him the entire time, took the empty bottle from him, and tossed it in the trash can sitting just outside of the holding cell.

  “I’m taking you home to the estate. I don’t want you alone in your house for now.”

  “Shit, Jarod, did you freaking book me?” The thought of having a record for drunk and disorderly really pissed him
off, especially if it was his brother who had done it.

  Jarod sighed. “I should’ve, the way you were carrying on. Once McKinley rushed Marguerite to the hospital, I knew you both were in trouble, but for appearances’ sake, I needed to bring you in. Understand?”

  Appearances’ sake. “Dude, the election isn’t for another two years.”

  Jarod grabbed him under the armpit and hefted him to his wobbly feet. Josh was weak, but he took a deep breath and steadied himself. Jarod let him find his balance, and then with a little help, they made it out of the station house and into the blazing summer heat.

  Josh thought he was going to lose it again, but, thankfully, Jarod had parked close to the doors. They were driving down the road in no time, the air conditioner blasting frosty cold air into Josh’s face. He leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes.

  He must’ve dozed off because in the next moment they were pulling into the estate where their father stood waiting for them. Josh felt like he was sixteen again, getting busted for staying out all night without permission at a bonfire. James immediately opened the passenger door and helped Josh out. Good thing his dad was there or else he’d have face-planted on the first step. It seemed he was getting worse by the minute, and when they got inside, they made a beeline to the kitchen and the family dining room.

  “Your mother and Lauren took Jessica shopping so she wouldn’t have to see her Uncle Josh in such dismal shape,” his father said with disapproval. “Son, I thought I’d beaten this out of you a long time ago.”

  Josh laughed. James King had never beaten his sons, nor anyone else for that matter. Oh, he’d threatened to beat them, and when they were little, they’d all had swats on the butt, but that had been enough to scare them into behaving themselves, at least for a little while. “Would you believe me if I said this isn’t my fault, Dad?”

  James looked him in the eyes. “Yes, I would son.” He patted his shoulder and brought over a mug of something foul smelling from the stove. “Drink that. You should be right as rain in no time.”

  A subtle chirp came from Jarod’s pocket. He dug out his phone and swiped a finger across the screen. “McKinley,” Jarod said into the phone, “how is she?”

  Josh and James listened to Jarod’s half of the conversation while James attempted to pour more of the contents of the mug down Josh’s throat. It was absolutely disgusting.

  “They sure?” He paused. “Okay, when she wakes up take her statement and tell her that I’ll even let her file it herself if she wants to. Yeah, okay. Keep me posted.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and turned to Josh. “It was a combination of drugs, rohypnol and ketamine among them. By the time they got to the ER, she’d stopped breathing and they had to use the paddles on her.” Jarod shook his head. “The one thing you and Marguerite truly have in common is Melissa.”

  “Where’s Dane?” Josh asked.

  James answered. “I sent him to the hospital to watch over his niece.”

  “Who’s taking care of Darla?” Josh wondered if Melissa knew what had happened and if she cared.

  “Look, you’ve been through enough today. I’m going to head over to Blue’s Whiskey Bar and see if I can piece together when and how you were dosed. I don’t want you to leave the estate, Josh.” Jarod gave him his cop face, and all Josh could do was laugh.

  “Yeah, all right. I don’t think I could drive anywhere anytime soon, anyway.”

  “He won’t get past me, Jarod,” their father said with confidence.

  “I know he won’t, Dad.”

  “Jarod,” Josh called out to his brother’s retreating back. When Jarod turned, he said, “Thanks, man.”

  Jarod nodded and walked out the door.

  “How did you end up with Marguerite?” James asked.

  “I have no idea. She wasn’t at the bar when I got there, and I don’t remember anything after I played darts.” He explained what he remembered. Nothing else came to him. It was like there was a big, black hole in his memory banks.

  “You know, the common theme here is ketamine,” James said in a lowered voice.

  “I thought the same thing. Dane was right about Harold not being Melissa’s stalker,” Josh admitted.

  “You knew about that?”

  “Yeah, and apparently so did you. Why the hell didn’t you say anything, Dad?” Frustration didn’t begin to cover how Josh felt at the moment.

  James shook his head. “Dane told me how Jarod and the marshal wanted to handle things. Now that both you and Marguerite have been hurt, we’re going to do things our way.” Josh watched as his father dialed a number on his cell phone and went over Jarod’s head by scheming with Dane Bainbridge.

  TAP, TAP, TAP.

  “I don’t think he feels good, Mommy.”

  “Jessica, honey, we told you to leave Uncle Josh alone. Come with me, now.”

  “But . . .”

  “No buts, young lady.”

  Josh lifted the soaking wet washcloth off of his face and grinned. “It’s all right, Sassy. The princess was only trying to help.”

  He opened his eyes to a very frustrated Lauren. “My goodness, Josh, you look like something the cat dragged in.”

  “Oh, Mommy, he don’t look like a dead bird.” Jessica’s eyebrows were lowered over her eyes in the sweetest look of confusion. Josh sat up and hugged the girl to him.

  “That’s right, Mommy,” he emphasized to Lauren. “I’m a helluva lot cuter than an ol’ dead bird.”

  Jessica giggled.

  He kissed her head. “Will you do me a favor, princess, and ask Grandma to make me an iced tea? I’m super thirsty.”

  “Okay, Hunkle Josh.” She crawled off the bed and ran down the hall.

  Josh made sure she was out of earshot before he explained everything to Lauren, who looked sick herself.

  “Jarod’s still at the hospital with Marguerite in the hope that she can put some of the missing puzzle pieces together for us. Did you call Missy?”

  Josh shook his head. “I’ve been either unconscious or too sick to make the call.” And too afraid it wouldn’t go through.

  “Well, when you finally do talk to her, you’re going to have your work cut out for you, Josh. Look.” She handed him her cell phone, with Facebook opened, and Josh felt sick all over again.

  “Has Jarod seen these?” Josh had an ominous feeling. Who the hell had taken those pictures?

  “Yes, and my question is, what in God’s name were you doing with Marguerite Theroux? I thought I knew you better, Josh.”

  “You think I’m sleeping with Marguerite?”

  Lauren put a hand on his shoulder. “Honey, the whole town thinks you’re sleeping with Marguerite. The photos are very compelling.”

  “Fuuu . . .”

  “Watch your mouth. Tiny ears could be coming around the corner any second.”

  “Or your mother,” Camille said dryly as she walked through the door and handed him a glass of iced tea.

  “. . . udge.” He smiled at everyone in the room.

  Camille rolled her eyes. “I wanted to give you some aspirin, too, but I have no idea what effect they’d have after so many disgusting drugs have been introduced into your system.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” He took the glass and drank down half of the refreshing liquid in one gulp.

  Jessica handed him the tattered blue blanket that she cherished. “Blue will make ya feel better.”

  “Thank you, Jessica.”

  “Tell me why these pictures look so incriminating,” Lauren persisted.

  “I don’t know, Sassy. It’s not what you think, I swear to God.” Josh leaned over with his elbows on his knees and put his face in his hands. How the hell was he going to fix this mess? More importantly, though, who the hell took those pictures? “I feel like I’ve been set up.”

  “Why were you at Darla’s without Missy, son?”

  “She’s not talking to me and I’d hoped she’d be there. Marguerite is on my side, by the way.”<
br />
  “It sure looks that way to me,” Sassy agreed sarcastically.

  “Oh, come on! You know I love Melissa.” Josh was sick of this crap. “I need to figure out who’s setting us up.”

  His mother nodded her head. “Jarod’s there now, and Dane knows the truth about how you feel about his nieces. I think you need to get up, get showered, and then get your butt over to Melissa’s and explain yourself before things get any worse.”

  Josh cringed. “Don’t even mention that things could get worse.” He wiped his hands down his face and took a deep breath. “Where’s my truck?”

  Lauren shared a look with his mom. “I think it’s still in impound. I’ll call Jarod.”

  Camille shook her head. “And while she’s doing that, you get yourself cleaned up. You smell like a bar bathroom after a busy weekend.”

  Josh stood up on wobbly legs and handed the blanket back to Jessica. “Thank you, princess. I feel better all ready.”

  “Welcome, Hunkle Josh.” Camille picked up the little girl, promising that she could help bake some cookies.

  Josh stumbled into the en suite bathroom while Lauren argued with her husband over the phone. Josh shut the door, grateful for the silence. His head hurt worse now after learning about the photos. They were pretty damning, and he could only imagine what Melissa was thinking right now. Had she contacted her sister? What would Marguerite say?

  After taking a quick shower that did nothing to improve his mood, he wrapped a towel around his waist and went to find some clothes.

  Once he’d brushed his teeth and combed his hair, he left the bathroom and heard bickering coming from the hallway. He opened the door to find Charlie and Marco going at it.

  Josh rolled his eyes, and the motion nearly had him sitting down again. His head still pounded and the boys’ bickering didn’t help. “What are you girls fighting about now?” he said on his way to the kitchen. Food sounded awful, but maybe some toast would help soak up the remains of the crap still left in his system.