Heap of Trouble (Trouble, Tennessee 2)

“Don’t answer that,” Gabe said, stepping closer to the table. “That has nothing to do with your investigation.”

Heather placed her hand on Gabe’s arm. “Give me a little credit here.” She swung her gaze back to the detective. “No. I was not sexually involved with any of the Vance brothers, but that’s what alarmed me most. When I was allowed on the computer, they instructed me to buy ‘something sexy’ for an upcoming celebration, a ceremony.”

“And you think this ceremony was some sort of sexual ritual?”

“According to Jims, it would’ve been a sacrifice. What that might have entailed, I have no way of knowing.”

“Neither do we,” Detective Brice said. “The brothers aren’t talking.”

“There’s a book of family secrets,” Heather said. “It was supposed to be in the well.”

“We have it. Everything in that book points to wicked rituals and family secrets dating back as far as the 1800s.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help.”

He narrowed his gaze. “Miss Powers, from what I’ve seen here so far, you’re lucky to be alive. If you decide to pursue the career you mentioned, I would suggest you approach your research more cautiously.”

“In my line of work, you have to insert yourself in the communities you want to write about. That’s the only way you’ll ever be able to convey a believable story based on facts.”

“In my line of work, we try to keep criminals at an arm’s length. I suggest you do the same.” He stood. “Miss Powers, if you’re writing fiction, make up your story as you go along. Don’t ‘insert yourself’ as you say into the supernatural community. There’s a lot of evil in this world. You don’t look like a woman who needs to go prowling around for secret societies.”

“You never know, Detective.” She swung her gaze at Gabe. “I’ve always been inspired by the mysterious.”

“There’s a difference between mysterious and evil. What you found here is the latter. When you go home tonight, you’d better get down on your knees. You have a lot to be thankful for here, mainly your life.”

“I’ll remember that,” she said, moistening her lips and staring at Gabe’s crotch. “And when I’m on my knees tonight, I’ll remember what you said.”

“Uh-huh,” he grumbled, scowling at Gabe. “I don’t much care for you, Reynolds, but I’ll say this—you’re one lucky man.”

Chapter Nine

“I don’t understand why I had to ride back with you.” Heather could’ve been making out in the backseat, but no. Her brother had insisted on driving her back to Trouble. “We can talk about what happened later.”

“I’m not interested in discussing what happened at the Vance place, Heather. We need to talk about Gabe, Curt, and Justin.

“What about them?”

“I think you know.”

She looked out the window, loving the simple freedoms of riding through town with the windows rolled down. Her hair blew around her face and she laughed out loud. “I’m so happy.”

“I’m glad,” Bradley said, glancing at her. “Mom and Dad only wanted the best for you.”

She stilled then as she thought of the recent past. “I wanted to be there. I didn’t know about Momma until Jims brought me my phone. The week after I arrived there, Toms took my cell and laptop.”

“Jims told me,” Bradley said, his eyes watering. Bradley and their mother were close. Heather had always been Daddy’s little girl but her father had passed away the year before.

“Nothing would’ve stopped me from being there, Bradley,” she said, turning to face him. “Please believe me.”

“I do,” he said, seemingly honest. He cleared his throat then and added, “I heard you say you were enrolled at UCLA?”

“Yes,” she replied, proud to tell him. “I partied my way through UT, as you know. Once I left here, I decided to make something out of my life. I wanted to act…that was disastrous. I lost the ability to speak whenever the cameras were rolling. Then I met up with a team of writers, they wrote for a show called No Stranger to Strange. Have you heard of it?”

“I don’t think so,” Bradley admitted.

“Anyway, there were three of them. Even though they were screenwriters, they’d each written a few novels. They inspired me and I decided I’d found my calling. Even made a few good grades while I was there.”

“Did you now?”