Wicked Games (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 17) Page 13

  She narrowed her eyes. “I am not lifting my top in the middle of a crowd, even if it is only a dream.”

  “Challenge accepted.”

  “That wasn’t a challenge.”

  “We’ll see.”

  13

  Thirteen

  “I can’t find my keys.”

  Ivy furrowed her brow as she searched the kitchen counter for her keys the next morning. She couldn’t remember where she’d put them, which was unlike her. She was frazzled upon returning home the previous evening, though, and it was possible she’d tossed them someplace beyond the norm in her haste to get to the shower.

  “You don’t need them.” Jack was calm as he leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee. Last night’s dream walk through the French Quarter had been exactly what both of them needed. When they first started sharing dreams — Ivy providing the magic and Jack the need to sort things out together — he’d been frightened. He wasn’t sure what any of it meant. Now, though, he was used to it ... and found he genuinely enjoyed the excursions. “I’m thinking that maybe New Orleans would be an excellent trip for a honeymoon.”

  Ivy slid her eyes to him and smiled. The shared dream had been romantic ... and then some. She had other ideas for their honeymoon, though. “Actually, I was thinking we could do one of those river trips in a canoe, one where we camp along the way, for our honeymoon. It would be quiet, a break from all the hustle and bustle.”

  Jack was officially horrified. “Are you trying to kill me?”

  Ivy kept her expression neutral, although it took a bit of work. “I know you hate camping.”

  “I do. We’ve been twice and it’s been an abject disaster both times.”

  “Yeah, but ... I found this place.” She moved to a binder she kept on the counter. It included all their wedding stuff. “Max actually gave it to me the other day. It looks fantastic.”

  “No.” Jack immediately started shaking his head. “I don’t want to go camping on our honeymoon.”

  “This is actually geared toward people on their honeymoons,” Ivy explained. “The river isn’t dangerous. Novices can manage it — although there are rougher treks if you want to consider that — and it’s not like being in a regular tent. Each stop has special tents. It’s like glamping.”

  Jack’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t know what glamping is, but I don’t want to do it.”

  Ivy remained calm. She recognized Jack’s idea of being outdoors included an afternoon picnic with her at her fairy ring and the occasional afternoon spent fishing. That was the limit of his interest. “Glamping is glamorous camping.”

  “There’s no such thing.”

  She remained on target. “Just look. Please.”

  Her earnest face was too much for Jack. With a little too much attitude, he grabbed the brochure and opened it, frowning when he saw the photos. “This doesn’t look like a tent.”

  “Which is why I thought you would like it.”

  “Yeah, but ... .” He trailed off and studied the photos. “These tents have full beds ... and bathrooms.”

  “Yes.” Ivy was encouraged by the softening of his tone. “It’s only camping in the basest sense of the word. We could have bonfires with the other couples — all people on their honeymoons, so it’s not as if they’re going to want to spend a lot of time with us — and then we can retire to our tents, which are really honeymoon suites that just happen to be a little closer to nature.”

  Jack’s heart lurched at her tone. He recognized it. This is what she really wanted. He, of course, wanted her to have whatever she desired ... but this was the last thing he wanted to consider. “Ivy ... .”

  “You don’t want to do it.” She was expecting that response. She knew it would be an uphill climb. She thought maybe she had a chance. “It’s okay.” She snagged the brochure back from him. “It was just an idea. Wherever you want is fine.”

  “It’s wherever we want,” he corrected, annoyance bubbling up. “We’re both supposed to be happy with the choice.”

  “I’ll be happy with whatever you want.” Ivy flashed a smile. “It’s fine. It was a longshot anyway.”

  “Well, wait a second.” Jack reclaimed the brochure and opened it again. Honestly, it didn’t look so bad. He wasn’t a fan of camping, but Ivy loved it ... and he loved spending time with her. “I thought you liked New Orleans.”

  “I do,” she reassured him quickly. “Last night was exactly what I needed. The city is great. It’s just ... I would prefer that for a vacation rather than a honeymoon. There’s a lot to do there, a lot of culture to soak up. There are tours and cocktails and things I won’t want to miss. When we’re on our honeymoon, we’re basically going to lock ourselves away every night.”

  Jack smirked. “Don’t sell yourself short. I’ll want to lock you away every day, too.” He hesitated a moment. “What about that trip to the supposedly haunted old west town? You wanted to go there, too.”

  “I do, but I think that might be fun for a family trip, something we could take JJ to.”

  “You’re just saying that because you think Max will melt down if you go to that place without him.”

  “There is that, too,” she agreed. Her blue eyes were soft as they searched his face. “You don’t want to do this. It’s okay. We can do New Orleans. I just thought that might be a fun trip for later in the year, when it’s colder here and the nursery is shut down. We don’t just get one trip. You get six weeks of vacation a year and I have a lot of downtime in the late fall and winter.”

  “That’s true,” Jack murmured, rolling his neck. “If we do this ... .”

  Hope surged in Ivy’s chest.

  He sent her a cautioning look. “If we do this — if being the operative word — I’m going to want something in trade.”

  Ivy’s lips curved. “Oh, good, a negotiation. What did you have in mind?”

  “I want the New Orleans trip before the end of the year and you need to let me take you to community service this morning. You also need to let me pick you up after your shift.”

  She was expecting the first part of the demand. The second, though ... . Her eyes were narrow slits as she searched the counter. “Did you take my keys?”

  “I’m not answering that on the grounds that it will get me in trouble.” Jack’s grin was charming. Ivy wasn’t moved by it, though.

  “I can’t believe you took my keys.” She threw her hands into the air. “That’s so frustrating.”

  “I have no doubt,” he agreed. “It’s what I want, though. I’m willing to do this glamping thing with you because I want you happy ... and, honestly, the tents don’t look too bad. If this trip goes poorly, though, we’re never camping again. There’s nothing you’ll be able to do to entice me.”

  Ivy rolled her eyes. “And when we have kids who want to go camping? Are you really going to stand there and tell me that you’re going to look a five-year-old girl in the eyes and tell her no?”

  Jack hesitated and then nodded. “I’m a cold-hearted disciplinarian, so it will be easy.”

  That was the most ludicrous statement Ivy had ever heard. “If that’s what you need to tell yourself.” To give herself time to consider the offer, Ivy dragged a hand through her hair and shuffled in front of him. “I’m worried that Greg will take it poorly if you drop me off,” she admitted. “He already doesn’t like me.”

  “I actually don’t think that’s the problem.”

  “Um ... he’s mean to me.”

  The simple statement was enough to annoy Jack, but he held it together. He already knew he was going to get his way. All he had left to do was finesse her just a little bit more. “Honey, I’m pretty sure he’s only mean to you because he’s attracted to you … and probably was right from the start. You weren’t wearing your engagement ring out there — we both agreed that was a bad idea in case it got lost or stolen — and I’m assuming he believed you were single ... right up until the point I showed up.”

  Ivy ran th
e scenario through her head. “That doesn’t sound right.”

  “Well, I think it does. It doesn’t matter, though. I want to make sure you’re safe and I don’t like the idea of you walking back and forth between Max’s lumberyard and the site when both Marvin and Jason are out there somewhere.”

  “But ... why would they focus on me?” Ivy was legitimately confused. “I mean ... I haven’t done anything to them.”

  “Except both of them think you overheard something important and they might want to shut you up. Those are my demands. I want to take you to your site for the day and talk to Greg.”

  Ivy opened her mouth to argue, but when she searched his earnest face, she knew it was a waste of time. “Fine.” She jabbed a finger in his chest before he could triumphantly swoop in and kiss her. “If I get more community service out of this, though, I’m going to be really mad.”

  “That makes two of us. It’s going to be okay.” He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and tugged her close. “I love you.”

  “Apparently so.” Ivy grinned. “You’re going to camp on our honeymoon. That’s like ... the nicest thing anybody has ever done for me.”

  “Oh, I’m going to get way nicer. We’re on a timetable today, though, so we don’t have time to screw around.”

  “Fair enough.” She tilted up her chin and accepted his kiss. She was breathless by the time he was finished. “Just one thing,” she said when they separated.

  “Hmm.”

  “When we do go to New Orleans, I want to stay at that hotel that has the carousel bar, the one we saw last night. I loved that street, and it was a quiet location that was set not too far away from the big action.”

  “I’m fine with that.”

  “Okay.” She was quiet for a beat and then pushed harder. “I also want to be in charge when we canoe.”

  “That’s because you’re a little tyrant.”

  “And I know what I’m doing.”

  “Fine.” He wasn’t in the mood to argue. “Get your stuff. I don’t want you to be late. If you get more community service out of this, I’m going to be mad.”

  She laughed at the way he echoed her words. “We’re a good team, huh?”

  He nodded, solemn. “The best.”

  GREG DIDN’T LOOK HAPPY TO SEE WHO WAS dropping Ivy off.

  “Look who has her own chauffeur service,” he called out, haughty.

  Rather than kiss his behind, Betsy shot him a quelling look. “Good grief. I know you desperately wanted to be a cop or something, but you need to get over it. He’s just being a good fiancé. Why is that a bad thing?”

  Greg pinned her with a dark look. “Don’t you have work you’re supposed to be doing, Betsy?”

  She shook her head, serene. “Not really. We don’t start for another eight minutes. If you try to force us to start before then, you’re breaking the terms of our probation agreement and I can report it. You don’t want that, do you?”

  Greg scowled. “Just ... sit over there and mind your own business.” He dusted his hands off on the seat of his jeans as he shifted to intercept Jack. “I’m afraid you can’t move in any closer. There are rules about who can and cannot interact with the workers ... and fiancés are off the list.”

  Jack knew coming in that Greg wasn’t going to make things easy. He also knew that he was willing to do whatever it took to keep Ivy safe, including sucking up to the little weasel currently making her life miserable. “I need to talk to you, Mr. Decker.”

  “Oh, really?” Greg puffed out his chest and folded his arms. “Perhaps I don’t want to talk to you.”

  “This is a serious situation,” Jack countered. “I’m not talking to you as Ivy’s fiancé. I’m talking to you as one law enforcement representative to another.”

  Greg hesitated, perhaps sensing a trap, but ultimately he nodded. “Fine. Where do you want to talk?”

  Jack gestured toward a spot that was a good thirty feet away. The distance was great enough that the workers wouldn’t be able to easily eavesdrop but not so far that he couldn’t keep an eye on Ivy. She was his primary concern and he had no intention of risking her safety ... for anything.

  “What is this about?” Greg asked when it was just the two of them. He was obviously getting off on his position of power. Jack noted that but refrained from commenting on it.

  “We have a situation.” Jack opted to get to the heart of matters. “My understanding is that two of your workers have disappeared.”

  Greg balked. “If you’re here to blame that on me, what do you expect? It’s not as if I’m armed. There’s nothing I can do to stop them. Besides, Jason didn’t even bother showing up. As for Marvin, he’s crazy. His car disappeared in the night because it’s no longer at the side of the road. He obviously returned to pick it up.”

  “Actually, I had it towed,” Jack countered, calm. “I want him to have to come to us if he wants his vehicle.”

  “Oh.” Greg straightened. “Are you going to throw the book at him?”

  Despite himself, Jack was amused. “I’m not a prosecutor. I am, however, investigating the death of Sasha Carmichael. Certain things have come to light regarding her actions outside of work, and we believe she might’ve been dating Jason Fortin.”

  “Really?” Greg furrowed his brow, all pretense of being uninterested in anything Jack might have to say fleeing. “What are the odds of him finding his girlfriend’s body like that?”

  “That is the question of the day,” Jack confirmed. “We’re not sure what happened. It’s possible that Jason knew where the body was located because he hit her, whether accidentally or on purpose.”

  “That’s ... weird.” Greg was thoughtful and then shook his head. “I’ve seen his vehicle. There’s no damage on it.”

  “Yes, but Ivy says that a woman we’ve yet to identify showed up here the other day and started screaming at him for damaging her car and not saying anything about it.”

  “Oh, the redhead?” Greg’s eyebrows hopped. “I saw her. She was kind of hot. Not hot like your girlfriend or anything, but hot all the same ... kind of in a dirty way. I didn’t realize what they were talking about, though. I wasn’t paying attention.”

  Even though his suspicions about Greg being attracted to Ivy had essentially been confirmed, Jack refrained from commenting on it. In truth, he believed the man was largely harmless, just a sad individual who never got what he wanted in life. That didn’t mean he wasn’t a douche. He was a moldable douche, though.

  “Jason hasn’t been seen since that incident,” Jack explained. “He knows Ivy overheard the conversation. We have a uniformed officer watching his house, but his mother hasn’t seen him and we feel it’s doubtful he’ll return. He might show up out here, though.”

  “To what end?” Greg looked legitimately curious. “I mean … what would he hope to accomplish by showing up out here?”

  “Perhaps he wants to make sure Ivy can’t ever testify to what she heard.”

  “I ... oh.” Realization dawned on Greg and he paled slightly. “I didn’t even consider that. It makes sense, though.” He paused a beat. “What about Marvin, though? You mentioned him, too.”

  “Marvin is another matter entirely.” Jack rubbed the back of his neck as he selected the right words. He didn’t want to come off as uncaring. “The thing is, Marvin has been skating through life without a lot of punishment since he was a teenager. His mother and grandmother helped form his delusions, but he needs medication.

  “There’s little we can do about that until we find him,” he continued. “Ivy overheard him talking to himself yesterday, and he mentioned Sasha’s name. I’m having trouble understanding how he would know her name unless ... well ... he was searching for information on the case.”

  “And why would he do that unless he was involved?” Greg mused. “I guess it makes sense. I’m going to be honest, though. I don’t think Marvin is the violent sort.”

  “That very well may be true. We don’t know that Sasha was struc
k intentionally. It could’ve been an accident, and it could’ve sent him into a mental tailspin. We just don’t know. That’s why I want to talk to him.”

  “Okay. What do you want me to do?”

  “Ivy could be a target, and I don’t like that. Both of those men know exactly where you’re going to be. You’re the strongest individual out here. You’re smart, and you understand the mind of a criminal.” Jack worried he was laying it on too thick, but he was willing to do anything — absolutely anything — to protect Ivy. Greg was his best shot, even if the guy was a tool with a capital T.

  “You want me to protect her.” Greg nodded in understanding, turning grave. “You’re worried these evil men could try to kill her.”

  “I am,” Jack confirmed. “I don’t like that I have to ask you for a favor.”

  “I’ll bet.” Greg looked smug.

  “You’re my best shot of keeping her safe, though. You’re strong ... and smart ... and you would make an excellent cop. I need you to make sure nothing happens to her.”

  Greg nodded gravely. “I think I can manage that.”

  “Good.” Jack forced a smile he didn’t really feel. “I’m putting all my faith in you. Don’t let me down.”

  “You don’t have to worry. I’ve got this.”

  14

  Fourteen

  Jack’s cameo at the cleanup site was the talk of the group once Greg gave the order for everyone to go to work. Rather than find a spot to sit in the shade, as he normally did, Greg picked a location where he could have a clear view of Ivy the entire time.

  It made her exceedingly uncomfortable.

  “I told you he had a crush on you,” Betsy said as she tried to remove a mangled box from beneath a bush. It was wedged in so tightly she grunted and groaned. “Now he can’t take his eyes off you.”

  The observation irritated Ivy. “I don’t know if I would say that,” she hedged. “I think it’s far more likely Jack goaded him into somehow watching me.”