Reasonable Doubt (15 page)

K
eri took an alternative route home, opting for the interstate instead of the shorter, back-road path that would allow her to bypass Briarwood on her way to the cabin. She’d decided to stop at the station and grill Abe for any information they’d received about Justin’s case.

Before leaving Kansas City, she’d dropped Justin off at Bob’s to pick up Mac’s truck. She glanced at the digital clock above the radio dials. She’d made good time. The interstate was completely dry, and other than the massive snow banks on the shoulders of the road, no real hint remained that only twenty-four hours before the air had been laden with blinding snow, the road treacherous.

A little after 10:00 p.m., she pulled into Briarwood and headed straight over to the jail. The chief glanced up, and his brow rose when she breezed through the door. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing. I thought Abe would be covering my shifts.”

“He got snowed in last night, so we switched. He worked earlier today.”

Keri nodded, feeling trapped. If she’d known the chief would be here, she wouldn’t have come within a mile of the place. Now there was nothing to do but try to cover her tracks. “So, anything happening lately?”

His gaze narrowed. “Like what?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Anything.” Inwardly cringing, Keri forced herself to stay calm. She strode to the bulletin board on the wall adjacent the door. Her eyes scanned the board, then came to a sudden stop as she came face-to-face with Justin’s picture…blown up to a nine-by-eleven poster.

“What’s this?” Keri asked, trying to appear only mildly curious.

“New warrant. Remember him?”

“Of course.” Perusing Justin’s photo, Keri felt herself drawn to his mouth. The soft lips that had almost kissed hers a few short hours ago. She sighed at the memory of cuddling on his lap while he stroked her hair. The fire in his eyes just before he’d leaned close. She tingled with regret that the almost-kiss had been interrupted.

“Looks about the same as when you two were kids, doesn’t he?”

Keri jumped at the chief’s voice over her shoulder. She hadn’t even noticed him get up and walk over. For crying out loud, what kind of cop was she anyway? A shrug lifted her shoulders as she attempted nonchalance. “I don’t know. The eyes might be the same.” She forced herself to turn and head over to the desk. She perched on the edge of the metal antique and riffled through papers.

A snort came from the leathery chief.

Knowing she’d better change the subject before she
gave herself away and blew it for Justin, she glanced about, searching for a topic until her gaze rested on the empty cell. “So where’s Junior?”

“Finally bonded out.”

She expelled an involuntary sniff. “Figures.”

“Now, Keri. He’s trying to change. Even joined AA.”

“Again? Good for him. That should go well for him at trial.” At her own sarcastic tone and holier-than-thou attitude, Keri felt a twinge of conscience. Irritation bit at her. She didn’t want her feelings to change. Not where Junior Conner was concerned. She gave an impatient sigh and hopped off the desk.

Helping at the mission today had gotten to her. Justin was getting to her. Was God getting through to her? Keri pushed the thought away. Now wasn’t the time to ponder the issue.

“So what brings you into town on Thanksgiving?”

The chief’s voice came as a welcome interruption from her thoughts. But she scrambled to find a quick answer. She grinned. “Maybe I just missed you.”

He snorted. “Don’t start flirting with me, little girl.”

Embarrassment flooded her cheeks. She sent him her best scowl. “I wasn’t…”

He nodded toward the bulletin board. “That Justin Kramer. You two were quite a pair back in the old days, weren’t you?”

Defenses on high alert, Keri gave a slight nod. “That was a long time ago.”

“You don’t suppose he really did it, do you?”

“No way!” She gave herself an inward smack. The answer had come too quick, too confident. As though she had inside info, which of course she did.

Predictably, the chief’s bushy brows pushed up, at least an inch above his wire-rimmed glasses. “What makes you so sure?”

Breathe, Keri. Breathe. Don’t blow this.
She pictured Josh and Billy without a dad and said a mini-prayer for wisdom. Justin had promised to turn himself in if the warrant was issued. She had to give him the chance to say goodbye to his boys. There would be no living with herself if she denied him that.

“Well, I’m not one-hundred-percent sure, of course. I just don’t think he could do it.”

The chief pursed his chubby lips as though deep in thought. “I don’t know. It’s been a long time since he was that oddball religious kid you had a crush on.”

“It was more than a crush. It was love, even back then. And he was not an oddball.”

“Maybe so, but scientists tell us a child’s personality is developed by the time he or she is six years old. Justin wasn’t capable of killing back then, and I have no reason to believe he’s capable of such a thing today.”

“You could be right, I guess.”

Keri shot him a shrouded glance. He wasn’t buying it for a second. She could kick herself for not radioing ahead to find out who was working tonight. Abe had all the instincts of a brick. He wouldn’t have suspected a thing if she’d shown up during his shift.

But the chief…well he hadn’t risen to his position for no reason. Second only to her dad as far as Keri was concerned. His shoes would be hard to fill.

Now there was a topic to get the focus off Justin and her. “So, any more word from the town council about my application?”

“Now, Keri. You can’t expect them to work on a holiday.”

“No. I suppose not.”

Glancing pointedly at her watch, she took a backward step toward the door. “Well, I guess I’ll get back to my family. If they didn’t leave me a drumstick, you might be called out to stop a family brawl.”

The chief let out a chuckle. “Be careful driving. That little highway is still bad—especially with the snow melting and refreezing on the road. You’ll have to watch out for black ice.”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks.”

As she drove slowly back toward the cabin, Keri’s thoughts turned to Justin. Had he made it back okay? What would he do now that his only alibi was dead?

Ice pellets sprinkled the ground by the time Keri got back to the cabin. All the way home she’d tried to figure out how to tell Justin about the warrant. So far, she still didn’t know how she would do it.

She trudged up the steps and opened the door. A sigh escaped her as the warmth of the snug cabin drew her in. The room was empty, and only the glow of the fireplace provided any light.

A rush of laughter entered the living room through the kitchen door. She smiled, making out the distinct voices of Dad, Denni, Raven and Ruth. She’d join them in a minute, but for now, she needed to distance herself from their questions, to sort through the events of the day.

So many things had happened since she’d left the cabin hours earlier, leaving her overwhelmed and fight
ing a screaming headache. She leaned her forehead against the mantel and closed her eyes.

“I thought you’d never get home.” Justin’s low murmur next to her ear oozed over her like warm honey, and she felt the pressure of gentle but firm hands on her shoulders, massaging upward to her neck.

“I didn’t see you,” Keri said, allowing her muscles to loosen under Justin’s expert attention.

“I was checking on the boys.”

“How’d they enjoy their Thanksgiving?”

“They loved it. Josh won the wishbone pull.”

Keri smiled. “Good. He needed to win.”

“I agree. But I’m afraid Billy didn’t see it that way.”

It struck Keri that they were discussing the boys in the manner of parents sharing at the end of a typical day. An aching sense of longing crept through her middle. She almost groaned out the desperation growing within her. She shook her head. “You can’t go away. Not again.”

Surrendering to the pressure of his hands on her shoulders as he turned her to face him, Keri braced herself. Now was time for honesty. No more pretending. She had adored and hero-worshipped Justin-the-boy, but she now found herself head over heels in love with Justin-the-man.

Wordlessly, she took in the sight of his chiseled cheekbones, his flawless square jaw accented by the flicker of firelight. He was like a statue. A beautiful work of art.

Outwardly, a masterpiece crafted by a loving creator, inwardly, molded by a potter’s hands into a vessel of honor. But Justin went beyond that. He was a man broken by circumstances and yet still willing to serve.

She took a step back. She wasn’t good enough for this man. She’d never been good enough for him and never would be. Helplessly she shook her head. “Justin.”

Slowly, his hands moved down her arms and slipped around her waist. He pulled her to him. “What’s wrong?”

Tears stung her eyes and she tore herself away from the intensity of his gaze. “Nothing. I just…this isn’t right.”

“Yes, it is.” A smile tipped the corners of his lips. “This is destiny. It’s always been you and me.”

Not always.

She didn’t voice the words, but they must have shown in her eyes, for a wave of sorrow washed across Justin’s face. He lowered his head, whispering against her lips, “Keri, I’m so sorry. I’d give anything if I could go back.”

His strong arms pulled her closer as his mouth covered hers for the sequel to the kiss they’d shared as children. But far from the quick brush of lips that had occurred on that summer day fifteen years earlier, this kiss awoke every sense in Keri’s body. She pressed against him as he cradled her.

He lifted his head and gathered a breath. His eyes searched her face, then he reclaimed her lips…lingering. Keri’s mind swirled and time and place lost meaning as she stood locked in Justin’s embrace—the reality of their moment surpassing every dream she’d ever had.

A low wolf whistle filled the room, a rude awaking to the heady mist swirling about Keri’s brain.

Rather than jerking away as though ashamed, Justin slowly lifted his head. He smiled. “It’s probably a good thing,” he whispered for Keri’s ears alone. She flushed hot at the implication, but she had to agree. Despite her lack of romantic experience, she knew temptation
lurked very near, and they’d have to be careful now that they knew the wonder of being in each other’s arms.

Trying to compose herself, she gathered a long, slow breath and turned to face her family.

“I guess that solves our question.” Raven’s gaze focused on Denni.

“Yeah,” Denni responded. “No doubt about it. Justin definitely kissed her.”

“This was the first time,” Keri blurted.

Denni grinned at Raven.

“Well, technically, it’s not the
first
time,” Justin reminded.

Raven chortled. “Oh, really?”

“We were kids then,” Keri shot back, wishing for all she was worth that Denni and Raven would just go away and mind their own business.

Denni threw back her head and let up nearly hysterical laughter. “Does a childhood kiss count, Raven?”

Barely able to speak through her mirth, Raven shook her head. “Nope. You were right. As of dinnertime today, they hadn’t kissed.”

Dad gave a disgusted grunt. “You girls stop teasing your sister.”

At that admonishment, all three girls burst into laughter. “Now, I haven’t heard that in ages.” Denni walked across the room and gathered Keri into a tight hug. “It’s good to see you, honey.” She spoke in motherly tones.

Keri smiled. That was Denni. The maternal one. No wonder she felt the need to take in displaced eighteen-year-old former foster-care girls.

“How long are you staying?” Keri asked her sister, as her heart filled with a longing to sit alone with
her and pour out the feelings and events of the past few days.

“We’re leaving in the morning. Shelly has to be at work tomorrow night.”

“Shelly?”

“One of my girls. Remember, I asked if I could bring company?

“Oh, yeah. Where is she?”

“Bunking in Ruth’s room. She went on to bed about an hour ago. You’ll meet her at breakfast.”

As if on cue, Ruth yawned broadly. She leaned over and kissed Mac on the cheek.

“Now that our girl is home, I suppose I should hit the sack myself. I’m leaving at the crack of dawn. There’s no telling what shape my café is in. I don’t know what I was thinking leaving it in Doris’s hands. One of these days I need to get myself some reliable help.”

“I’ll walk you to your room, Ruthie.” Mac followed his fiancée.

Justin’s arm encircled Keri’s shoulders, and her heart jumped as she turned her head to smile up at him.

“I’m going to bed, too,” he said. “Your dad’s bunking with the boys and me tonight so you three girls get the living room.”

Raven cleared her throat loudly and nudged Denni. Denni’s lips curved into a wry smile. “We’ll just be in the kitchen.” Laughing, the two sisters linked arms and ducked out of the room, leaving Keri and Justin alone once more.

“Finally, I have you all to myself again.” Justin pulled her close for a long, gentle kiss. Keri sensed that he held himself in check, not allowing his emotions free
rein as he had earlier. He pulled away and pressed a kiss to her forehead before dropping his hands.

“Justin, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it, honey?” He laced his fingers through her hair.

Keri closed her eyes, gathering a breath for strength. “I went by the station. They’ve issued a warrant for your arrest.”

His face blanched and he released Keri. “Does the chief know I’m here?”

She shook her head. “I wanted to give you a little time with the boys. You said you’d turn yourself in.”

He nodded. “Well, then I guess that’s that. I’ll turn myself in tomorrow.”

“Justin…”

Pulling her close, he buried his face in the curve of her neck. She stroked his hair, trying to comfort him. But her heart cried out.
Why?

From the chair by the fireplace, Justin watched the rise and fall of Keri’s shoulders as she dozed on the couch. She had awakened early this morning after only a couple of hours of sleep, and eaten breakfast with her sisters before they each left for their respective homes—Raven in Kansas City. Denni and Shelley in Rolla.