I Am The Storm (Storm Warning Series Book 5) Read online

  Standing, he went to the kitchen cabinet and took out something for his headache. Tomorrow, being Sunday, he didn’t have to go to work, but with everything he’d learned tonight, he almost wished he’d be called in for a murder or something. Hell, it had to be easier than this.

  * * *

  Amelia got in her car and drove away. She’d leave town first thing in the morning. Seeing David had opened a wound she thought long since healed. Maybe she’d been mistaken. At least now he knew about his child, so she could wipe that from her conscience.

  Needing time to breath before going back to her grandma’s, she drove slowly down Main Street. The place had changed in the last five years, but much stayed the same. She circled the town square then made her way to the East side of town. There, she turned down her old street where the park she once played at still sat and, then, moved on to the little clapboard house she’d been raised in.

  Coming to a stop, imagining the family who lived there now, she bit back tears. She could almost see herself, the young, innocent girl who once joyously played on the lawn, riding down the street where she’d learned to ride her first bike, laughing when she finally did it, and then crying in that same street the sad day her dad moved out.

  Laying her head down on the steering wheel, she cried for all the pain she’d endured after he left. The disappointment, the trials, the losses. Watching her mom go through all that. Those moments defined her, and also left scars that would be with her until the end.

  Glancing at the darkened house one last time, she remembered the love and laughter coming from the place she once called home, too. Even with all the bad that surrounded her dad and his relationship with them, her mom made sure that there were so many moments of good. Because of that, it was the one place she felt she’d always belong. The one place that reminded her that you made your own happiness.

  Wiping her eyes, emotions all over the place, she pulled away from the curb and headed back to her dad’s mother’s house. Grandma JoAnn. Their relationship wasn’t the best, but she was all she had here. Her other grandma had died two days after the divorce, leaving her mom reeling even more.

  To make matters even worse, if you could imagine it, her dad immediately went out and found a brand-new wife to flaunt in her mom’s face. It was like he went car shopping and upgraded to one all shiny, new and younger. One who didn’t want to mess with step children. Especially after they created their own family. Before long, her dad saw them less and less as he entrenched himself into his newer, cooler life. She and her two brothers felt like leftovers from a Thanksgivings dinner, ones that guests didn’t want to take home. In fact, the first Christmas after the separation proved to be the most stressful, disappointing day of her life.

  Disappointment washed over her. The divorce hadn’t just been between two adults, it destroyed the whole family. Suddenly, she and her brothers were separated from their dad and introduced to a new step-mom when they finally did see him again. Too young, they learned how difficult their mother had it, trying to care for herself and her three children.

  It was a lesson in self-reliance. And one she would not soon forget.

  Emotionally exhausted, she pulled into her grandma’s driveway and turned off the engine. She hadn’t seen her in years and had felt embarrassed showing up on her doorstep without warning, but she didn’t have a lot of options. She couldn’t use her credit card to get a hotel because that was traceable, and she didn’t feel comfortable putting her friends out without warning. Friends she also hadn’t seen in years. That left Grandma JoAnn.

  Looking through her wallet, she counted the cash she had there. Maybe it would be best if she got her things and took a room at the motel on the outside of town. At least she wouldn’t feel so intrusive. Grandma JoAnn had done her best to be cheerful, pretending to be happy to see her that morning because southern hospitality demanded it and she was nothing if not proper. But the coldness rolled off her like an avalanche just the same.

  It wasn’t personal and she knew that. Grandma just didn’t like the constant reminder that her son had cheated on his wife with a younger girl and turned his back on his children. She couldn’t stand to have that sort of blemish on her family tree, she was too proud for that and it had taken fifteen years to live down her own reputation to see it ruined now, though she’d never verbally admit to that. In her mind, there was only one way to make it better, and that was avoidance. So that is what she did. She couldn’t cut her son out of her life and she couldn’t have two families running around, so she snipped the limbs she could. Unfortunately for them, that meant the only family they had left turned their back on them as they struggled to survive.

  Thanking the Lord she had enough money, she closed her wallet and got out of the car. Cursing that she didn’t have a key and would have to wake Grandma JoAnn up at this hour, she straightened her shoulders and knocked on the door.

  After a few minutes, her grandma answered with a well-oiled smile. “I wondered where you’d gone. Are you hungry?”

  “No, thank you,” she said, walking inside the foyer. “I’m so sorry I was out this late. It was not my intention.”

  “That’s fine, dear. I was up anyway.” The tightness around her eyes said otherwise, but she didn’t call her on it.

  Without much ado, she stated, “I think it’s best if I get a room at the motel tonight. I’ll be leaving in the morning and I don’t want to disturb you.”

  Her grandma stepped back, folding her hand at her waist, some of the tension leaving her face. “You do what you think best.”

  That said a lot. No insisting she should stay, no feeling insulted that she’d leave her home, no welcome to be there at all, and no invitation to return.

  Nodding once, she went to the spare room and grabbed her suitcase, stuffed the few items she’d taken out back in her bag and headed for the door. Her grandma waited, the door wide open even on a hot night like this.

  As she stepped over the threshold, her grandma put her hand on her upper arm and stopped her. Surprised, she turned to look at her.

  “I’m sorry about everything. My only son was a bastard and the biggest fool I know, but he is my flesh and blood.”

  Stunned at this sudden confession, the only thing she could muster to say was, “I understand.” Even though she really didn’t. Pulling loose, she went to her vehicle and tossed her luggage in the back seat. Without looking back, she slid behind the wheel, started the engine and backed out of the driveway.

  Wiping tears from her cheeks, she realized coming back to Rainwater had been the biggest mistake she’d ever made.

  Chapter 3

  The next morning, David didn’t feel much better. His head still hurt and he felt queasy and tired. Even getting out of bed took more effort than usual. Maybe because it was drawing close to noon.

  In the shower, with the hot water pelting his body, he thought back to Amelia’s visit. Unable and unwilling to ignore what transpired last night, he realized he had to dress and go to Amelia’s grandma’s house before she left town.

  He didn’t look forward to another confrontation, but it had to be done. For one, she said their child was in danger and if that was the truth, he had to do something. He couldn’t stand by and let them get hurt—either of them.

  And for another thing, even if there was no danger, that was still his child out there. He might not have ever done romantic relationships and he might not have ever considered being a father, but he was one now and he wasn’t going to turn his back on that. Contrary to what he was beginning to think everyone thought of him, that wasn’t the kind of man he was. Was this whole thing scary and confusing? Absolutely. Did he have any idea how to be a dad? Not at all. Was he ready for it? Maybe not, but he would get ready.

  Throwing on some clothes and jumping in the car, he hoped she planned to stay in Rainwater until all this was settled, but he didn’t bet on it. Her running off wouldn’t solve anything and, this time, he wasn’t going to let her.

&nbsp
; He drove by a local Starbucks and grabbed a coffee for fortification. Facing Amelia would take a certain amount of courage, courage he didn’t feel right now. As he sipped the scalding brew, he drove past her old house. The one her family lived in before her old man got stupid and married a blonde bimbo twenty-five years younger than him.

  Not three blocks away, on another street, sat the house her mom rented. Diane, her two boys and Amelia lived there until the kids were all grown and had moved away. Then, their mom moved near her sister in Dallas.

  He knew Amelia went to college in the big city and assumed she just stayed there, instead of coming back to Rainwater. Instead of coming home.

  Shaking off those uncharacteristically maudlin thoughts, he made it across town to JoAnn Hightower’s modest house. She’d lived there as long as he could remember. Her husband once worked for the railroad and traveled a lot, so she took a lot of pride in the place. Unfortunately, he died two years after he retired so he never really got to enjoy it.

  Pulling up to the curb, he got out of his pickup and walked to the door. Inhaling deeply, he rang the doorbell and stepped back so she’d be able to see him when she peeked through the tiny hole. Glancing around, he noticed the driveway was empty and hoped Amelia had just parked in the garage and wasn’t already gone.

  JoAnn opened the door and smiled casually. “Good afternoon, David,” she said. “What can I do for you?”

  “I’m here to talk to Amelia.”

  “She’s not here.”

  He’d expected that. Man, she didn’t waste any time. “Was she here?”

  JoAnn nodded. “Came in yesterday and said she’d be here a couple of days. She went out and when she returned, she packed up and moved to the motel out on the interstate.”

  He had no idea about the relationship between JoAnn and Amelia, but her splitting to go to a motel didn’t say much about the affection they held for each other. “Did she tell you why she came to town?”

  “No, just showed up on my doorstep.”

  “Alone?” he asked, curious about the child. If it was in danger, would she have left it with someone else?

  JoAnn looked offended. “Of course, she was alone. I’m a Christian woman. None of my grandchildren are going to shack up with someone in my home.”

  That wasn’t what he meant, but with his head throbbing he didn’t want to have a long conversation with the woman today. “Thanks, I’ll catch up with her at the motel.”

  “I doubt she’s still there. My guess is she went back home.” JoAnn dropped her gaze, some of her icy exterior melting. “I think there was something wrong. She didn’t confide in me, but I think she came back looking for something. I know she was mighty disappointed when she left.”

  Feeling the weight of that remark, he looked to the side. Taking in the well-manicured lawns, he was reminded of all the gossip when he was a kid, how JoAnn turned her back on Amelia’s family after her son left them. A sudden urge to protect her came over him and he remarked, “Do you think what she came for upset her, or how you treated her while she was here?”

  JoAnn Hightower shot him a glare that would sizzle bacon. “Just what do you mean by that?”

  “I mean, I’m sure she didn’t feel very welcome in your home. After all, you’ve always protected and stood up for your son, even when he destroyed his family.” He cocked his head. “Your other grandkids come around, JoAnn? Are they more welcome than the first family?”

  “That’s none of your business. You get off my property and don’t you ever come back.”

  “I’ll leave when I’m ready.” His stomach growled and the ache in his head kept rhythm with his pulse. “I can’t help but wonder how you felt when your grandchild came to you, perhaps for help. Did you turn her away in order to save face for that worthless, two-timing, gutless man you call son?”

  JoAnn shook her fist. “That’s your daddy’s words talking there. You were too young to know any of what was happening.”

  “No, it’s me, JoAnn. I’m old enough to understand it now and I’m a cop so I’ve read the reports. I only wish I was the one who arrested him and threw him in jail for failure to take care of his family by not paying his child support. And mark my words, if it had been me, I would have found a way to keep him longer.” Suddenly aware he was fighting a useless battle with an elderly woman, he cleared his throat. “My dad hated Howard for the way he treated his family.” Gritting his teeth, he bit out, “And he wasn’t the only one.”

  Slipping on his sunglasses, he turned and stepped off the porch. He hadn’t meant to attack a citizen like that, but years of built up anger, anger he didn’t even know he was harboring, flew out of his mouth before he could stop it.

  At his truck, he rolled his shoulders, feeling good for letting all that steam off at someone. Unfortunately for JoAnn Hightower, she fit that bill perfectly with her smug arrogance.

  Slamming the door, he hit the road and sped toward the motel, arriving in just under ten minutes. He had no idea the kind of car Amelia drove, so he had no way of knowing if she was there or not.

  Parking under the canopy, he walked into the hotel. Seeing Jimmy Barstow at the counter lifted his mood. “Hey there, Jimmy,” he said. “What’s new and exciting?”

  “Nothing,” Jimmy replied with a weak grin. “What can I do for you?”

  “Amelia Hightower. What room is she in?”

  “She ain’t here. Left right after dawn. Didn’t even wait to have breakfast. Just paid her bill, grabbed a cup of coffee and left.”

  He was too late. Again. But according to Jimmy, he’d have had to have practically spent the night there to have caught up with her. “Can you give me her address? Maybe a phone number?”

  Jimmy slowly shook his head. “I can’t do that without a warrant, David. You know that.”

  “She came here to see me. I just need a phone number.”

  “I’ll get fired.”

  “No, you won’t.” He waved his hand in the air. “Your mom owns the place.”

  “I don’t care. I’m not doing it.”

  Frustrated, he could put the screws to Jimmy and squeeze the information out of him, but he didn’t operate that way. “Okay, have it your way. I’ll get what I need.”

  “I’m sorry, David. I mean, I really like you.”

  He smiled. “It’s okay.” He slapped the counter and walked back to his truck. At a dead end, he had to make a trip to the office to dig up the information he needed on the computer. Not where he wanted to be on a hot, Sunday afternoon, but so be it.

  At his desk in the precinct, he turned on his computer and in a matter of minutes he had what he needed. Now, should he call her or just drive to Dallas and talk to her? Having a conversation face to face had gotten them nowhere last night, so there was little chance talking over the phone would turn out much better. No, he had to do this in person, which meant driving to Dallas. That might be the only way to resolve the issue. Besides, if that was where she lived, then maybe his kid was there too.

  He smiled, wondering if it was a girl or a boy and exactly how old might it be now. His smile fell when he considered how she had cared for it all this time. Were they doing alright? Where was his child being raised? Putting an end to that stream of thought, he grabbed his keys and headed out.

  First things first, he had to find Amelia.

  * * *

  At the first light of day, Amelia checked out of the hotel and headed for Dallas. The last place she could go was her apartment. Too dangerous. If Antonio Garza’s gang caught her, she probably wouldn’t live through the night. Her boss certainly hadn’t. She shuddered at the memory. They’d killed him in the middle of the day, in plain sight, right next to her.

  It could have been her. If they did want her, what chance did she have?

  The police offered her protection, of course, but she knew better. Too many of them were on Garza’s payroll. The cartel ruled parts of Dallas whether they admitted it or not. Her boss wasn’t going to turn a blind eye,
though. He brought charges against Garza and had him arrested. He was preparing to have him stand trial when they killed him and no one did a thing about it. Not even the judge, not to mention the police.

  Thankfully, being the assistant to the DA meant she made pretty good money and she had put some aside. Now, she had to run as far and as fast as she could. The evidence against Garza was locked up, but that wouldn’t stop them from getting to it. No, it was her they’d be after, because she had Raymond’s files. She’d been carrying the case files when they took him out, so there was no question they were in her possession. She knew they had to kill her to prevent anyone from being able to testify against them with such strong evidence. As if that wasn’t enough, she’d seen the face of the man who killed Raymond Burkett. She didn’t know if they knew that, but the chance that they did was enough to have her running for the hills.

  She couldn’t go just anywhere to hide. She had to go somewhere they’d never think to look. No one except her mom and brothers knew who the father of her child was. He wasn’t named on the birth certificate or anywhere else in legal documentation. Going to him was a last resort. David had been her only hope of saving maybe not her, but their child.

  She understood the cost to him. That if he were found out the cartel could come after him. That was why she went to him alone. She wanted to give him the choice to help. If he’d just do that, even if that meant taking their child and leaving her to fend for herself, she wouldn’t ask for anything else. Her child came first, and keeping David away from this mess ensured he’d be there to see she got raised. That she had at least one parent who loved her and looked out for her welfare. But it looked like that wasn’t an option after all. She’d have to find another way.

  Driving through the streets of her neighborhood in Dallas, she stopped at a nearby shopping center and got out of the car. A tall man, twice her age, greeted her. “Here are the keys to my car. It’s over there by the light post.” He held out his hand. “Give me your keys. If they’re following the car, I’ll lead them away from you.”