Josh's Challenge Read online

  Unfortunately, Jarod’s uncharacteristic display of concern rattled her, and Marguerite felt her eyes well with tears of embarrassment. Unacceptable! They were at work, and nothing serious had happened, except for the predator who had just walked in the door making her hormones go all wonky.

  She cleared her throat. “Nothing is wrong, Jarod,” she replied, schooling her features. “I was just caught off guard is all.” There, that was honest and it didn’t go into personal detail.

  He gave her his special interrogative eyeballing, the one he used when he didn’t believe a word a suspect was saying, prompting the suspect to fess up. It made her smile. “Really, I’m fine. He’s waiting in the reception area.”

  “Did he give a name?”

  “Declan McKinley. Were you expecting him?”

  “No,” he said thoughtfully. “Let’s go see what the marshal wants.”

  It was not normal protocol for Marguerite to sit in on an interview, but Jarod insisted that she stay. The sheriff’s station was testing out some new office policies. Things had been slow since The Big Drug Bust, as the people of Timbisha liked to describe it. It had been Marguerite’s idea to have the in-house deputies man the counter when she was away. Her uncle had hinted that he wanted to keep her on retainer in case something came up with the FBI again. It was her uncle’s way of keeping her out of trouble, and Jarod had liked the idea. After the initial shock of discovering that she had been the informant by gaining a close relationship with Brad Anderson and thereby putting herself in danger, Jarod quickly made a deal with both Dane and Marguerite. They promised to keep him in the loop at all times, and in return he would share information on any cases that crossed over into federal jurisdiction. It would have worked out well, she thought, except that nothing exciting had gone on in Timbisha since The Big Drug Bust.

  Jarod opened the conference room door for the marshal, and Marguerite followed him inside. “Would you like some coffee or water before we start?” she asked Marshal McKinley.

  “No, thank you,” he replied, taking a seat. “If you don’t mind, I’ll get right to it. I’m looking for a fugitive and believe he’s hiding out in Timbisha County.”

  “How can we help in the search?” Jarod asked.

  Marguerite settled next to Jarod, who was across the table from the marshal. She got out her legal pad and began to take notes. “What’s the fugitive’s name?” she asked. She’d get as much information on the suspect as possible in order to run a computer search. It probably wouldn’t give her any more leads than the marshal already had access to, but she would also use her uncle’s contacts if she ran into any real road blocks. He had access to databases unauthorized by the marshal.

  Marshal McKinley raised his eyebrows at her. “Are you a deputy, honey? I thought you just ran the desk out front.”

  Jarod sighed next to her, and in her periphery she noticed him shaking his head. She narrowed her eyes at the marshal. “I’m the sheriff’s assistant. I’m trained in more than just administrative duties, Marshal.”

  “You don’t say,” he said.

  Jarod interrupted before Marguerite could take the marshal to task. “Give Miss Theroux the name, and we’ll see what we can do to help you out.”

  The marshal nodded before giving her a wink that she chose to ignore. “His legal name is Harold Schurke, but he has other aliases. His latest is Klein.”

  Marguerite’s head came up from her pad. “Are you talking about Professor Harold Klein?” All the hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end.

  “Yes, ma’am. You know him?”

  She shared a look with Jarod, who excused himself from the room. He left the door open and she could hear him issuing a B.O.L.O. When he returned to his seat, he nodded for her to explain what had happened to her sister in school, and recently in Timbisha.

  When she was finished, U.S. Marshal Declan McKinley sat back in his chair. “I’m on the right trail, then,” he muttered to himself.

  “What’s he wanted for?” Marguerite had to know what kind of danger her sister was in.

  “He was charged with fraud, identity theft, and money laundering when he was in his early twenties. He was captured when a girl he worked with accused him of sexual harassment. She filed for a restraining order. The investigation uncovered his true identity and his crimes. He stood trial and was convicted of all charges. Unfortunately, he never made it to prison. Some sort of computer glitch we believe he had something to do with let him out the front door. His trail went cold almost immediately. He’s a clever son of a bitch, I’ll give him that.”

  Jarod asked, “You’re working a cold case, then?”

  Marshal McKinley nodded. “My predecessor retired and all his cases were handed to me. This one caught my eye and stuck with me, though—a true mystery, and I like to solve those. All my research uncovered that Harold Schurke is one bad hombre who needs to be put away.”

  Marguerite swallowed. If Harold was in town, they needed to warn Missy.

  The marshal continued. “I’ll follow up on his position at your sister’s college, and the restraining order she put on him. If y’all come up with anything in your own research, I’d sure appreciate a head’s up.” He was smiling at her, making her stupid blush appear again. What is going on with that? She took the card he handed to her and put it with her notes.

  Jarod asked a few more questions as they continued to discuss the best way to flush out Harold Schurke, or Klein, or whatever his name was.

  When they were finished with their interview, Jarod shook the marshal’s hand and headed back to his office, where she noticed he immediately picked up his phone. Hopefully, he was calling Uncle Dane.

  Marguerite escorted Marshal McKinley to the front doors, stopping at the reception desk. He turned and smiled. “I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, Miz Theroux. Obviously, you’re vital to the sheriff’s operation here.”

  She studied him for a moment, deciding whether the compliment was genuine. It was, and she thanked him for it.

  “I meant what I said. Please call me if you find anything else out. Now that I know this guy has another mark—your sister—I want him off the streets for good.”

  “You and me both, Marshal,” she answered.

  “Call me Declan, honey. I’m not the formal type,” he said with a wink before he sauntered out the glass doors and into the blinding sunshine.

  On Saturday, an urgent pounding had Missy running downstairs. She wasn’t expecting company and puzzled at the aggression her visitor was inflicting on her poor door. Wariness was instantly replaced with delight when she faced a quirky, familiar face through the peephole.

  “Angelica Daemon! What in the world are you doing here?” Missy asked as she embraced her college roommate in a fierce hug.

  “Surprising you!” Angelica’s bright smile, big blue eyes, and kinky blonde curls matched her given name to a T. A sweet button nose completed her cherubic face but somehow didn’t take away from her vixen’s figure. She wasn’t tall, but she definitely could compete with Marguerite on sexiness.

  “Well, you’ve succeeded,” Missy said as she led her friend into the living room. “Seriously, what gives? Why are you here instead of someplace more exotic?”

  “Well, it’s a very strange story. My recruiter had placed my name with several hospitals around the country. However, Timbisha County Medical Center had an opening for a registered nurse, so here I am! Can you believe it?”

  No, Missy couldn’t believe it. She and Angelica had shared a dorm room in school and had become fast friends. Even though Missy studied animals and Angelica studied humans, they’d bonded over medicine. They were worlds apart, otherwise. Missy’s social awkwardness made her an introvert, but that hadn’t deterred Angelica from befriending her. She’d gotten Missy through her worst panic attacks while living on campus. She’d become a protective mother hen when Harold had begun harassing Missy, and, if it hadn’t been for Angelica, Missy never would have filed the restraini
ng order.

  Excited for her friend, Missy asked the first question on her mind. “Where are you staying?”

  “With you?”

  They both laughed before Missy confirmed, “Of course you are!”

  Both girls proceeded to squeal like preteens at a Justin Bieber concert. Missy felt lighthearted. She’d always been comfortable with Angelica in a way that rivaled her sisterly relationship with Marguerite, with the exception that Angelica never made her feel insecure. There was no sibling competitiveness between them. Missy loved her sister with all of her heart, but sometimes Marguerite was just…Marguerite.

  Suddenly, Missy couldn’t wait to introduce the two. It would be like a social experiment between vixens.

  “What are you plotting, Melissa Theroux?” Angelica asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

  Putting on her best innocent face, Missy answered, “I was just wondering if you’d like to go with me to Mom’s so you can meet her and my sister.”

  If Missy hadn’t been paying attention, she might’ve missed the brief look of concern that crossed Angelica’s face, but in a flash it was replaced by happiness. “Sure!”

  “Great! I’ll call and let them know I’m bringing a friend—”

  “Can I get my things settled first?” Angelica interrupted. “It was a longer drive than I expected and I’d like to freshen up.”

  “Oh, jeez! Of course,” Missy agreed with chagrin before heading out the door. “Let’s get your stuff.”

  They spent the next hour getting Angelica settled into the spare bedroom. Missy had hoped to use the room as an office one day, but with her less-than-ambitious attitude toward interior decorating, she supposed that having a roommate to help with the rent was a double bonus for both of them. Looking for a roommate was hard work. Finding a compatible roommate was mostly luck, and with Missy’s shyness, she hadn’t even considered searching for one. Doc was paying her enough to sustain herself, but she had some student loans to pay off, and saving money would be a problem for a while. She’d been willing to cut out frivolous activities in order to save her funds. Angelica’s sudden appearance would give her more wiggle room now and she was thankful.

  “I hope you don’t mind sleeping on a futon.”

  “Anything is fine. I’m just glad to have a place to lay my head at night,” Angelica said a bit tiredly. Her belongings consisted of mostly clothes and a few textbooks packed in boxes. Even when they’d shared a dorm room, Angelica had lacked in the personal items department. Maybe that was because she was a “military brat,” as Angelica liked to refer to herself. It made sense. Moving from place to place had kept her from accumulating too many possessions, and since Angelica’s original plan had been to become a traveling nurse, she would obviously keep up the minimalist lifestyle.

  Missy hated moving with a passion, and that’s why she’d waited so long to unpack. All she’d ever wanted was to come home to Timbisha and be a veterinarian. Moving from place to place was about the worst thing Missy could think of.

  By the time they got Angelica settled into the spare bedroom and she’d taken the time to freshen up, they’d missed lunch with Missy’s mom. Marguerite had informed her that their mom was now napping. Missy was not only disappointed but starving as well.

  “We can go grocery shopping, or we can go get something to eat and then go grocery shopping, since I have nothing in my cupboards anyway. You pick.”

  With a laugh, Angelica said, “Let’s eat first. It’s not wise to shop on an empty stomach, and I don’t have that kind of savings.”

  “BOOTH OR COUNTER?” Missy asked once they were through the familiar glass doors of Molly’s Diner.

  “Booth. I want to watch people go by as we eat. This town is definitely charming.” Angelica’s eyes were everywhere. Since Missy had always loved it here, she was glad her friend appreciated her small town, too.

  Speaking of small towns, Josh walked into the diner just as they were handed their menus. He was alone this time, looking a bit haggard, Missy thought, but his eyes brightened when they landed on the two women. He immediately headed their way. Missy panicked.

  “What is it?” Angelica asked.

  “Nothing,” Missy said quietly as Josh arrived at their booth.

  “Hey, Melissa,” he said in that smooth voice that gave her goosebumps every time it was directed her way. Her heart dropped, though, when he eyed Angelica with interest.

  Clearing her throat, she introduced them. “Josh, this is my friend from school, Angelica Daemon. Angie, this is Josh King, my landlord.” His title reminded her that she’d have to go over the terms of her lease again; first a pet and now a roommate. She hoped Josh would be agreeable with letting Angelica stay.

  He was in full charm-your-panties-off mode when he reached for Angelica’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Angie,” he said, smooth as silk.

  Predictably, Angelica’s reaction to Josh was just as flirtatious. “The pleasure’s all mine. Won’t you join us?” she asked with a sweet smile, gesturing to the seat next to her. To Missy’s surprise, Josh slid into the booth next to her instead of Angelica. Maybe he wanted to be able to stare into her friend’s eyes. Yes, that made sense. Angelica was beautiful.

  “What brings you to Timbisha?” he asked, oozing charm like melted butter. Thinking of melting butter, a grilled cheese sandwich sounded good. Really, Missy was starving. Even Josh’s proximity hadn’t affected her hunger, but when he slipped his arm on the back of the booth around her shoulders, little tingles shot down her arms.

  Thankfully, Angelica explained her circumstances to Josh while Missy studied the menu that she knew by heart. She needed time for the lightning to stop zipping down her limbs.

  “I hope it’s all right if I stay with Missy for a while.”

  “No problem. I’d feel better if she wasn’t living alone anyway. I know my brother will be happier about the situation.”

  Missy was having a hard time following the conversation. God, he smelled good.

  Angelica tilted her head in the cutest way at Josh. “What situation bothers your brother?”

  “Melissa has a stalker, and my brother, the sheriff, isn’t happy about it. None of us are.”

  “I do not have a stalker,” Missy denied behind her menu.

  Josh ignored her. “Her stalker left a box of drugged chocolates on her doorstep with a note telling her she couldn’t hide from him.”

  “Harold’s back? Oh my God, Missy!” Angelica exclaimed, to Missy’s annoyance. This was getting out of hand.

  “Jarod’s investigating this Harold person’s activities for the past few months,” Josh admitted, anger lacing his voice.

  Missy sat back and listened as Angelica reiterated what had happened at school after Josh retold the chocolate tale in detail. The two of them had a lot to say to each other, and the more they talked, the more Angelica flirted with Josh. Missy told herself she wasn’t jealous. She’d almost convinced herself of that when her food arrived and her appetite vanished.

  JOSH EYED THE little sports car parked in Melissa’s driveway and frowned. The roommate was the reason his tenant hadn’t jogged this morning. Angelica Daemon’s flirtatious demeanor hadn’t fooled Josh, either. He’d known plenty of women who wore the same predatory look in their eyes and had the same alpha female attitude. He didn’t doubt her concern for Melissa, but she had an agenda and Josh wanted to know what it was. He grimaced at how he might have to attain it. He did not want to get that close to Angelica Daemon.

  He’d just jogged past Melissa’s driveway when he got a good look at the back of her little Honda CRV. Anger immediately redirected his feet to her front porch and made his fist pound on the door. “Melissa, open up!”

  He heard a pan clatter in the kitchen and feet stomping down the stairs. Before he could pull the master key from his pocket, the door swung open revealing Angelica in a long t-shirt, and nothing else. His eyes made an involuntary perusal of her form, strictly out of habit, before she made her ire kno
wn by asking, “What is your drama?”

  As that annoying question floated in the air, Melissa came up behind her. “Josh!” she said breathlessly. “Is everything all right?”

  Melissa wasn’t wearing much more than her houseguest. His anger boiled into lust, causing his tongue to stick to the roof of his mouth and his eyes to home in on her exposed flesh. Her tight white camisole left nothing to the imagination; it only came to the top of her belly button, which, surprisingly, was pierced with a tiny purple jewel. His eyes zeroed in on the gem before traveling down to the briefest pair of spandex shorts he’d ever seen. He forced his eyes back up her luscious body to her eyes. It didn’t help that her hair was bed-tumbled and her makeup-free face was showing off those adorable freckles.

  Is this how she sleeps? He had to mentally shake his head as the picture of her sprawled out on his bed distracted him from the purpose of his being there so early on a Saturday. Unfortunately, all he could get out of his mouth was a stupid, “Nuh.”

  Angelica cocked a hip. “Shame on you, Missy. You didn’t tell me that your townhouse came with a little morning man candy.”

  Melissa elbowed her friend in the ribs with an admonishing, “Angelica.”

  “Come on in, handsome.” Angelica reached for Josh’s hand and gave him a yank. “We were just fixing breakfast.”

  Josh had seen that sly look a million times before. It said she wanted him. He’d be flattered if Angelica weren’t a man-eater, cold and calculating. Josh could spot a man-eater a mile away. He wondered how Melissa had managed to befriend a woman like this. A woman, he noted, who was older than she let on. Josh’s radar was pinging all over the place.