“Okay, I get what you’re saying,” Jack said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. “We could play this game all night. I’m not in the mood, though. I would rather get this really uncomfortable conversation with Janet out of the way and then play another game with you.”
A small smile played at the corner of Ivy’s lips. “What game is that?”
“Have you ever played naked Twister?”
“No.”
“Then you’re in for a real treat,” Jack said, winking. “Come on. Let’s get this over with, shall we? I can think of at least a hundred other things I would rather being doing, and each and every one of them involves you being naked.”
“I DON’T think anyone is home,” Ivy said a few minutes later, watching Jack as he shielded his eyes on the front bay window of Janet Simmons’ home so he could peer inside. She scuffed at the accumulated newspapers on the front porch. “I’m not sure she’s been here in quite some time, in fact.”
Jack glanced at Ivy. He had the same feeling. The house looked deserted. “Where would she go?”
“I don’t know,” Ivy answered. “Maybe she left town because she didn’t want everyone staring at her. In a neighborhood like this I’m sure everyone was asking her questions and causing trouble because of what her son did.”
“Why would they cause trouble?” Jack asked, extending his hand to take Ivy’s and drag her around the side of the house.
“Because most people don’t like it when a cop is shot and left for dead,” Ivy replied. “She probably got hate mail.”
“I think you watch too much television,” Jack said, leading Ivy down the side wall of the house, stopping periodically to gaze through windows.
“Are you supposed to be acting like a peeping Tom? It’s kind of freaking me out.”
“I’m trying to decide if anyone has been here or is coming back,” Jack replied, trying the back door to see if it would open. “I need to know where to look next. If Janet has left, we’re back to square one.”
“Laura didn’t mention her mother moving, did she?”
“No. In fact she said that Janet took Marcus’ cremains and put them in an urn on her fireplace mantle,” Jack said, sheltering his eyes again. “She didn’t give a hint that her mother may have moved. I … .” Jack broke off and narrowed his eyes, gripping Ivy’s hand tighter.
“What is it?”
“Honey, I need you to call 911,” Jack said quietly.
Ivy’s heart sped up, even though she had no idea why. “What?”
“Never mind,” Jack said, reaching into his own pocket. “I’ll do it. Can you move right over there for me?” He pointed to a spot just off the patio. He was using his patented “cop” voice.
“Jack, what’s going on?”
Jack moved with Ivy, keeping a firm hand on her shoulder as he waited for an operator to pick up on the other end. “Yes, I’d like to report a dead body.”
“Oh, no.”
“HERE WE are,” Jack said wearily four hours later, his shoulders slouched as he killed the engine of his truck in front of a nondescript bungalow.
Ivy glanced around the quiet neighborhood. “I don’t hear any gunshots.”
Jack forced a watery smile for her benefit. “No one will shoot you here. I promise.”
Emergency personnel arrived at the Simmons house quickly, declaring Janet Simmons not only dead, but also partially mummified. Ivy wasn’t sure what that meant, but she had a feeling Janet was dead on her floor for more than a few days. “Jack … .”
“Let’s talk about it tomorrow, honey. There’s a lot I need to wrap my mind around, and I’m not ready to do it now. I’m too tired tonight. Is that okay?”
Ivy mutely nodded. Jack hopped out of his truck and moved around to the passenger side to collect Ivy. He grabbed their bags from the back and herded her toward the house. It wasn’t until they were already on the other side of the door, Jack engaging three separate locks to keep them safe, that Ivy realized what he was doing.
“Did you just shield me with your body for the walk up the sidewalk?”
Jack stilled. “Not if it’s going to cause a fight.”
Ivy sighed. “I don’t want to fight either. Don’t do that again, though.”
“No promises,” Jack murmured, flipping the hallway light and leading Ivy down to a bare bedroom. There was nothing inside but a bed and dresser.
Ivy looked around blankly and Jack followed her bouncing gaze. “What’s wrong?”
“This doesn’t feel like a home, Jack,” Ivy said, the sparse walls causing her heart to constrict. “No wonder you couldn’t breathe here. This place would suffocate anyone.”
“I never really thought of it as anything other than a place to sleep when I was done with work every day,” Jack admitted, dropping the bags he was carrying on the floor next to the bed. “I never really considered what a home was until I met you. You’re my home now.”
Ivy’s cheeks burned, and when she risked a glance at Jack she almost burst into tears due to the earnest expression on his face. “I really wish you would’ve gotten your head out of your ass sooner so we didn’t miss so much time together.”
Jack barked out a laugh. “You’re not the only one,” he said, opening his arms. “Come on, honey. Let’s go to bed. There’s nothing left here for us. We’ll go home first thing tomorrow.”
Ivy stepped into his embrace, resting her head against his chest and snuggling close. “What do you think all of this means, Jack?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why would someone kill Marcus Simmons’ mother?”
“Maybe Marcus had a partner I didn’t know about,” Jack suggested. “Maybe someone is trying to clean up Marcus’ mess. Maybe Janet knew something.”
“Like what?”
Jack rubbed the back of Ivy’s neck, unconsciously swaying with her in his arms. “Maybe Janet knew what Marcus was up to all along,” he said. “Maybe she was involved.”
“Or maybe Laura knew.”
Jack faltered. He’d been thinking the same thing himself. Ivy’s intuition was a marvel. “That could be
