Stolen Innocents (The Shadow Series Book 2) (14 page)

“So I’m not supposed to stick up for myself?!”

“Not here. We will discuss this
at length
later,” yelled Jack. It was more a threat than a promise.

Tommy was becoming increasingly irate in the back seat of the Jeep. He pulled at his seatbelt and tried to get out. Cole slammed Tommy in the chest and secured him in the back seat.

“Chill out, man! Do you want to get arrested… or worse?! That dude is known for shanking bigger guys than you in bar fights. Are you stupid?!” yelled Cole losing his temper for the first time in years.

Finally, Tommy simmered down and stared out his window in anger. As Cole skidded off Caribou Road, Tristan could hear the faint wail of a police siren approaching in the distance.

***

Frank pulled his truck up Caribou Road and approached the Harley that was parked in the driveway of 27 Caribou Road. There were beer cans strewn about and one crunched under Frank’s heavy step, the weight of his boot crushing the can flat.

“Guess the party turned sour…” Frank said aloud as he grabbed the bike and wheeled it to his truck. Tommy would not be riding it for a long time.

***

Jack slammed his foot on the gas as he ripped out of his parking spot on Caribou Road. The wheels screeched as the truck bolted from the scene. Two officers were leading Hunter McCord to their cruiser while DiNolfo scolded the O’Mara’s for allowing underage drinking on their property. Roger O’Mara was three sheets to the wind drunk, while Gwen had a glassy look to her eye. DiNolfo dismissed them with a curt wave when they gave their finest excuses. She wasn’t in the mood to hear it tonight.

Jack’s glare was lethal as he stared at the road ahead trying to catch up with Cole’s Jeep. Gravel kicked up and the cab rumbled as Jack’s fury catapulted the truck towards the onramp of Cavegat Pass. Finally, he saw them. Cole was driving at a reasonable speed, no doubt he’d be able to cut him off. Tommy wasn’t escaping this conversation tonight. Just ten feet behind them, Jack sped up, honking his horn as he blocked the entrance through the covered bridge.

Cole came to an abrupt stop, his heart racing as he watched just how heated Jack was. For an older guy, he was a force to be reckoned with. All that ran through Cole’s head was,
I sure as hell wouldn’t mess with that
.

Jack stepped up to the passenger door, and gave his second youngest son a glare.

“Get out.”

“What?”

“Get out!”

“Why?!”

“Because you and me are having a conversation and I’m not going to have Cole drive an hour out of his way. You don’t get the courtesy of running from my fury. You messed up, Tommy!”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” Tommy complained.

Jack slapped Tommy in the back of the head lightly, “Don’t you take this out on the Lord. This is your problem. Let’s go.”

As everyone shuffled out of the car, Tristan gave Cole a kiss goodbye.

“Call me when you get in…” Cole called from the Jeep.

***

“Have you lost your ever loving mind?!” Bridgette yelled as she stormed out the front door of Morrow Manor at Tommy who was being led by Jack who had a fist full of his stained t-shirt in his grasp.

“No. I haven’t! Haven’t you ever stood up for anything?!” Tommy asked letting his temper get the best of him. He knew damn well his aunt had.

“As a matter of fact, I have. I didn’t pick a fight with a violent drug dealer, though! Get in. Your uncle is grabbing your motorcycle and it’s being locked in the barn.”

Tommy looked his aunt square in the eyes as a few choice words sat on his tongue just waiting to roll off. He knew better, though. She had raised him. Bridgette treated Tommy no different than her own son. Tommy turned on his heel to face his father.

“Is this your call?!” Tommy demanded to know.

Jack glared at his son seriously, “Don’t look at me… It’s not just me that you hurt with your actions. Now listen to your aunt and go inside.”

Bridgette could feel the heat radiating off of Tommy as he pushed his way past her and went into the house. Bridgette gave Jack a look that showed just how annoyed she was.

“I’ll make damn sure he apologizes,” Jack assured his sister with a serious look written across his features.

“I don’t care about an apology. He has got to get his act together, Jack, before he winds up in prison or worse! He’s going to piss off the wrong person one of these days!”

Jack gave his sister a knowing look.

“Trust me, you don’t have to remind me,” Jack said in a whisper as Tristan, Blake and Shane passed by.

“Straight upstairs. Go…” Bridgette said to the trio that looked more than a little upset.

“Don’t be mad at them. They at least stayed out of trouble,” Jack reminded Bridgette.

“I’m not. I’m just concerned.”

“C’mon. We have a rebel to sort out,” Jack said as he put his arm around his sister and led her into the house.

***

“Damn it!” screamed Tommy as he pummelled a fist into the wall above his bed. Several of Blake’s chess figures fell down onto the floor. The knight spun on its axis crashing into the queen while the bishop slid along the hardwood floor landing just inches from the door.

“Dude, what did you expect to happen? You put yourself in danger.”

“You weren’t there,” said Tommy darkly to his cousin as he dropped his head into his hands.

“You’re right. I had enough sense to get out of there and wait for Cole and Tristan to come back.

Blake and Tristan walked in and while Blake shook his head at his brother, Tristan skidded on the bishop chess piece and slammed into Shane’s bedstand. Growling at the situation, she reached down and picked up the rogue chess piece and placed it on the nightstand.

“You know what I don’t get, Tom?” Blake said as he glared at his brother, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.

“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” Tommy said with an attitude.

“Just two days ago, you were ready to break up with her… Now you’re going toe to toe with Hunter McCord for her.”

“She’s still my girl…”

“You’re all over the place, man!” Blake said, the rage clear on his reddened face.

“I don’t need this right now!” Tommy said standing up from the bed.

Tristan had retreated into her bedroom to escape the argument that was boiling to a head. She could still hear their voices which had risen to shouting level. She understood why everyone was mad. Tristan was most in shock that Tommy would put himself in danger, when there wasn’t a real threat. Kicking off her shoes, she reached for her phone to let Cole know she was home safe. After only a few rings, he picked up the phone.

“It’s about time…” Cole said sounded nervous.

“Fog set in trying to get up the mountain, and you know how Jack drives when he’s annoyed.”

“Ah… like a lunatic.”

“Yelled at Tommy the whole way home.”

“He brought it on himself.”

Even his best friend saw his actions as irrational.

“Enough about him. Are we still on for tomorrow?”

“Yeah, movies and mini-golf, right?”

“Pick you up at noon.”

“Have a good night, honey.”

Suddenly the voices in the next room had grown to a deafening level.

“What the hell are they fighting about?” Cole asked.

“Whether Tommy is off his rocker or not.”

“I can answer that one…” Cole said with a laugh.

Trying to control the chuckle that was building, Tristan quickly said goodbye and hung up the phone. Hearing that the argument was quickly coming to a head, Tristan jumped up from the bed and swung open the door.

“You!” she grabbed Blake’s shirt and pushed him on his bed. “And you!” She grabbed Tommy’s arm and pushed him inside her room. “Sleep in here tonight. I need rest. I cannot deal with anymore drama tonight!”

Tommy gawked at his sister, his eyes wide and stunned, that is, until she slammed the door, giving him the quiet he so desperately needed.

Chapter              8

June 18, 2000

Elkhart, PA

Dawn

The rain fell heavily from the stormy sky over Elkhart. It pelted loudly against the window panes and rooftops, and drowned the newly planted flowers in the Piedmonte’s garden. At 25 Caribou Road, Joe Piedmonte was just dragging himself out of bed. Reluctantly, Joe threw the covers off of him and slid his feet into a pair of moccasins. Jenna, who was in bed next to him, was still fast asleep. With great effort, Joe pulled himself out of bed. It was the last thing on earth he wanted to do, get up, but a restaurant doesn’t run itself. Twenty minutes later, Joe was showered and dressed but didn’t feel much more motivated to tackle the day. Loudly, his hiking boots tromped down the hallway towards the staircase causing Natalie’s fat tabby cat Scamp to retreat into her bedroom with a hiss.

“Devil Cat!” Joe yelled at the cat as it nearly scared him out of his skin.

Joe was a pretty laid back guy. He didn’t have a lot of rules for living in his house. Just five:

Stick to your curfew

Keep the house clean

No drugs, booze or cigarettes

Don’t do anything you don’t want me to find out about.

Don’t talk to me before I’ve had my morning coffee.

Scamp had broken Joe’s number five rule. Joe peeked into Cole’s bedroom first – an old habit of his. Cole was knocked out cold with his cordless phone still in his grip. He must have fallen asleep talking to Tristan again. Joe took the phone from Cole’s grasp and put it gently back on the charger where it belonged. Joe closed his door quietly and continued walking down the hall. Next he checked on Natalie, who was snuggled in bed with her cat. As soon as the cat caught sight of Joe, it lifted its fat head and hissed at him again. Joe grabbed a pink spray bottle off of Natalie’s vanity that was filled with water and sprayed it in the cat’s general vicinity.

“Bad cat!”

He had gotten a droplet of water in the cat’s eye. The cat twitched a little then laid down in submission. Joe shook his head.

That’s right. I’m the boss. Not you.

Joe trudged down the stairs, one-by-one, and made his way to the kitchen to brew his coffee. Joe loved his coffee. Like a moth to the flame, Joe was positive that he couldn’t survive without his morning coffee. It wasn’t just any old coffee though. Joe’s choice of coffee blend is a topic of heated debate in the Piedmonte household. He drinks only the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe blend that Mr. Agape sells at the farmers market over in Chiefsdale. He drove an hour, once a month to Chiefsdale just to buy this imported blend of coffee. Joe could vividly recall the reaction he got when Jenna had taken a swig for the first time.

***

“Got any coffee?” asked Jenna as a yawn escaped from her mouth.

Joe smiled broadly, clearly excited to share his special coffee with someone else.

“Do I?! I’ve only got
the best
coffee ever…”

Natalie rolled her eyes at her father’s boisterous declaration.

Jenna looked nervously at Joe, skeptical as to whether she should believe him or not.