Under Currents (3 page)

And freedom.

God, I love it.

Riding the back roads, he wondered where Devin lived. His once best friend had been the key factor in Caleb’s conviction. He’d always said that Caleb was the closest thing he had to a brother—until the accident. Devin dropped their friendship or any contact afterwards. Though Devin had been just as drunk and involved, he’d walked away without spending a single night in jail.

It pays to be a congressman’s kid.

Riding down the country road, he heard the roar of an engine gaining on him. He glanced in his mirror and spotted an old truck. Did the driver see him? Apparently not. The man closed the distance between them.

Caleb sped up, but he couldn’t shake the pickup.

It barreled down on him. The engine's heat engulfed him.

In the mirror, he caught a glimpse of Mr. Peel's twisted angry expression.

Son-of-a-bitch. The asshole plans to run me over.

Chapter Two

Heart pounding, Caleb opened the Yamaha up full throttle.

The truck accelerated and followed him into a sharp curve.

His bike skidded. Gravel spewed up. He braced the bike on one leg to prevent going over on the pavement.

Shhiiit!

The truck's brakes squealed, but not in time. It ran off the road, hit an embankment, and jolted back. Steam sprayed from the engine, and burnt rubber permeated the air.

Caleb stopped and circled back.

Mr. Peel tried to back up. His wheels spun in the soft soil. Since the man hadn't been injured, Caleb didn't wait around.

Time to bail.

He returned home and sat on his back porch, letting the surge of adrenaline level off. The rush had him wired. If the truck hadn’t run off the road, Caleb figured the old man would’ve plowed him down and kept going.

Still too hyped up, he walked to the mailbox. He pushed on the pole trying to straighten it. He grinned. He didn’t know why he was trying to fix it. It’s not like anyone from prison would want to be pen pals, and there certainly weren’t any, Thinking-of-You-cards coming his way. Maybe a little hate mail.

He entered the house and stared at a picture on top of the television of him and Adam when they were kids. The memory of happier times caused his chest to tighten. Damn it to hell, he missed his family. While in prison, his grandparents and parents had all died. All died thinking the worst of him.

Someone tapped on his front door, returning him to the present. He doubted it was the Welcome Wagon. Caleb peeked out the window and didn’t see a car, so he walked to the door and opened it. “Scott, everything all right?”

“I came to borrow a pump. My tire’s flat, and Mom took our pump to Boats and Floats.”

“Mine’s in the shed. Let’s go out back.” Caleb crossed from the den to the kitchen. The heavy smell of fried fish still drifted in the air.

“Do you eat fish every night?” Scott asked.

“Just about. They’re plentiful and free.” He opened the backdoor, letting Scott out first, then followed him.

“You don’t have much money do you?”

“A little that my grandparents left me,” Caleb replied as he unlocked his shed and slid the door back. “I have to make it last incase I can’t find a job right off.”

“I got fifty dollars saved up. You ever need a loan let me know.”

Caleb grinned. The kid’s generosity warmed his heart. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. Just put the pump back when you’re done. I’ll leave it unlocked.”

“I will. Thanks,” the kid said and headed off.

Caleb stared after Scott as he walked back to his yard. If he hadn’t gone to prison, he might have a son Scott’s age by now. Regret, for the time he’d lost and the things he’d never have, bubbled up in his throat like bitter wine. Tears formed, and he forced them back. He remembered what happened in prison to men who cried.

That night like every night since being home, Caleb woke in a sweat, expecting to see bars. Unable to sleep, he left his bed, made his way to the back porch, and sat on the top step. He breathed in the scent of freedom—honeysuckle and freshly mowed grass—not the ungodly scent of the cellblock—body odor, semen, and urine. The thought of being sent back for some parole violation scared the crap out of him.

He pushed away his fear and thought about the widow next door. Was it Julie he was interested in or just the fact he hadn’t been with a woman in so long? Damn, he needed to get laid. Julie wasn’t the kind of woman who’d have casual sex. Even if she’d give him a chance, he had nothing to offer. And he couldn’t forget the fact that Amy and Julie were blood kin. With good reason, Julie likely harbored some ill feelings toward him.

Besides, he had demons to chase. He wouldn’t rest until he forced the memory of the boating incident to the surface and learned the truth about that fateful Memorial Day.

The day his
entire life
had gone to hell.

♦♦♦

Monday morning Caleb rode his bike to town and stopped at the hardware store. A
Help Wanted
sign in the window caught his attention. Inside, he smelled seeds and the scent of rusty nails and bolts. He hurried to the plumbing section and picked up the washers he needed to fix his sink, then returned to the front and stood in line. Mr. Higgins, the owner, had been friends with his grandpa.

“It’s probably a teenage prank. Nothing more,” Mr. Higgins said to a customer.

“I don’t know. This is the second time her equipment’s been destroyed. Wonder what she’ll do?” the customer asked.

“Julie will replace what’s damaged and go on. Nothing much slows her down. It’d take a lot to stop that woman.”

Were they talking about Julie Ross?

The man paid for his things, took his bag, and left. Caleb stepped up to the cash register. He ignored the harsh glare on Mr. Higgins’ face and placed the washers on the counter.

The old man slowly keyed in the numbers, then looked at Caleb. “That’ll be two dollars and ten cents.”

Caleb removed his wallet and counted out three ones.

The owner handed him his change, and Caleb dropped it in a bucket for a kid with cancer. After a brief pause, he pulled out two more dollars and stuffed it in the container.

The tight muscles in the old man’s face relaxed. “That’s a real nice family. Too bad about their little boy.”

“Maybe he’ll be one of the survivors.”

“Hope so. They've taken the boy to St. Jude in Memphis.”

Caleb grabbed the small brown sack from the counter and started for the door. He paused and glanced back at Mr. Higgins. “Was that Julie Ross you were talking about?”

Mr. Higgins hesitated a moment before nodding. “Yep. Someone broke into her place of business Friday night and slashed her rafts and tubes. Hardheaded woman should sell that damn place and marry Deputy Grear. He’s crazy about her. Insanely jealous too.”

Caleb had the impression the old man wanted him to know there was a man in Julie’s life. He wondered why she hadn’t mentioned the burglary when they talked Saturday night.

He cleared his throat. “I noticed your sign in the window. Would you give me a chance if I applied?”

Mr. Higgins shook his head, regret filled his face. “Sorry, son. I can’t.”

“I understand. Thanks anyway.”

After leaving the hardware store, Caleb made a quick stop at the supermarket. If he ate fish one more night he’d grow gills. When the cashier was halfway through ringing up the items, the owner stopped her.

“Your kind isn’t welcome here,” Mr. Baker said to him in a stern voice, loud enough to attract attention.

“I have just as much right to be here as anyone.”

“Not in my store you don’t. It’s not fair that you’re out of prison. You’re not wanted here in Faith.”

He wanted to slug the man.

Stay calm. Don’t do anything rash.
Humiliation twisted his stomach, and he walked out without looking back.

Shit. Son-of-a-bitch.

♦♦♦

Standing one aisle over, Julie had witnessed Mr. Baker’s unfair treatment of Caleb. Her blood pulsed with fury over the injustice Caleb had been subjected to. She had plenty to deal with without adding Caleb to the list. She wouldn’t make a scene now, but she planned to write Mr. Baker a note. With this being the only supermarket in Faith, where was Caleb supposed to shop?

She pulled from the line, following the boy assigned to putting Caleb’s items back on the shelves. What he put back, she picked up and then returned to the checkout line, paid, and headed home.

Julie pulled into her driveway and spotted Caleb’s bike parked beside the house. She hoped he was outside, but he wasn’t. Despite the consequences, she walked around back and climbed the porch steps. She knocked on the door and waited. Several boats zipped by on the river, but she didn’t care. She was still steam-driven by what Mr. Baker had done.

Caleb opened his door, and once again, he stood shirtless. She found his smooth bronze chest and six pack abs mesmerizing. Her breath hitched for a moment.

Get a grip.

“There’s a lot of traffic on the river today. Someone could see you, Julie.”

“I know but—”

“No, ifs-ands-or-buts about it, you can’t be seen standing at my backdoor. People love to think the worst.”

“But I wanted to give you these.” Julie glanced down for a second at the groceries she held. “Besides, it’s my business who I talk to.” She blushed. “Of course, if it got back to my family, I’d never hear the end of it. I hate being such a coward, but I don’t want to disappoint them.”

“Family’s important. I don’t blame you. That’s what I hated the most about going to prison was letting my family down. You’d better come inside.” He opened the door wider and stepped back. “Where are Ally and Scott?”

“Still in school. They don’t get out until three.” As she walked beneath his doorway, her stomach fluttered like a virgin stepping inside a sheik’s bedchamber.

“Let me help with that.” He took the bags from her, set them on the table, and peeked inside. “I’ll be damned!” He glanced up and grinned. “How did you know what I needed?”

“I was there.” Her gaze met his, and she almost lost it. “What Mr. Baker did was wrong. I wanted to throw a tomato at him.”

“Thanks for the thought, but I’m glad you didn’t.” He pulled out his wallet. “How much do I owe you?”

“I’m not sure.” She reached in her pocket for the receipt. “Let me subtract what I bought.”

“Have a seat. Care for a glass of tea?”

“No thanks. I can’t stay.” The small kitchen offered nowhere to stand without being too close to Caleb. With a trembling hand, she held the receipt up in the light and carefully subtracted the four items she’d purchased. “Twenty-four dollars.”

He removed twenty-five and handed it to her. “Don’t worry about the dollar. I really appreciate this.”

“If you’ll give me a list, I’ll be glad to pick up what you need every week.”

“Thanks. Again you’ve come to my rescue.”

It required a moment to recall what he was referring to. “You remember that?”

“How can I forget the smartest girl in class helping me cheat on my chemistry test?” He shifted his weight, leaning closer to her. Close enough his breath kissed her cheek. “You took a chance for me. Just like now. I know how people would react if they knew what you did for me today.”

Heat radiated from his body and like a soft caress wrapped around her.  Anytime she stood near him her body shifted into hormonal overdrive. She lowered her gaze afraid he’d see the desire in her eyes. “I would’ve never cheated, but you’d been out sick, and I figured you hadn’t studied.”

“You were right. I hadn’t.” A long pause of silence wavered between them before his expression grew serious. “So tell me about the vandalism at your place.”

It surprised her he’d heard the news, but at least the change in subject cooled the sexual heat spiraling inside her. “Someone slashed some of my rafts and tubes. It’s happened once before, and it makes me furious.”

“You think it’s the same people who did it last time?”

“Yes. The Zanbar Corporation wants me to sell my land to them. Without my property, they can’t build a casino in Faith.”

“A casino in Faith! Hot damn, that’s unbelievable.”

“They want to do here what they did to Vegas and Tunica. I have to assume they won’t leave my business alone until I sign the sales contract. The deadline is August twenty-eighth.”

“So you think someone from Zanbar is behind the vandalism?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Nah, if they wanted you to sell, they’d have sent professionals. I know their methods. The mob doesn’t play games. They wouldn’t sneak around at night slashing rafts. They’d go after you in such a way, you’d sell.”

“I feel the threat is directed more at the business than me personally.”

“Julie, I don’t mean to be rude, but you’re being a little naïve. Even though the mob isn’t behind it, you’ve got to take these threats seriously, because when the attacks on your business don’t make you sell, whoever is doing this will turn to something that you hold more dear.”

Julie’s spine stiffened, and she swallowed back the fear. “You mean Ally and Scott could be in danger?”

“Yep, or you. Make the police stay on it.”

Bewilderment overwhelmed Julie. “I grew up around these people. The only ones who have anything to gain are the other landowners. They’re all nice church-going people. I can’t imagine it being any of them. But if not them or the Zanbar Corporation, who would benefit from the sale?”

“I’d bet it’s someone living in Faith.”

“If they’re not a property owner, what do they get out of me selling to Zanbar?”

“Maybe they own a business that would prosper if more people came to town. It’s just speculation.”

“Now that I think about it, the note I received looked more like something a teenager composed. The letters were cut from newspapers and taped together. The sheriff didn’t find any fingerprints.”

“The old cut and paste method. What did it say?”