Part 13 (1/2)
Even as he said it, Tyson wondered how true it was. Yes, they'd grown up together, but even as a child, Ty had been detached from others around him. Ed had enjoyed their outdoor trips, but they didn't move in the same social circles. h.e.l.l, Ty didn't have a social circle. ”Leave it to me. I'll take care of it.”
”No! Stay away from him. You already came close to dying.” Sam paled considerably. ”You don't think he could have had anything to do with your harness failing, do you?” He covered his face briefly. ”Maybe you're already in danger because of me.”
”I doubt he could have gotten to the harnesses, Sam.”
”Well, if he did, no one's likely to ever know it, now that the evidence has disappeared. I still can't believe it disappeared right out of Jonas's car in front of everyone.”
Tyson shook his head. ”No one's seen it. Most likely a kid in the crowd took it out of the Jeep before the police had the area roped off. Everyone was so curious and a kid would be tempted to take a souvenir, at least Jackson said so when I called him to ask about it. Jonas is still in ICU and I doubt if anyone's been able to question him yet.”
”So much for the Drake sisters and their miracles,” Sam said. ”You dodged a bullet on that one.”
Tyson turned back to his work, hiding his expression. ”You know, Sam, it seems a little strange that someone would attack the sheriff without a reason. I think someone wanted that harness.” Ty voiced the conclusion his mind just wouldn't let goof.
”I doubt his attackers knew he was a sheriff. He wasn't in uniform and he wasn't in a marked car. There were a lot of people around. It was dark, but you'd think someone would have noticed.” Sam shrugged. ”If Edward Martinelli's people had anything to do with it, they could probably pull it off though. They're pros.”
”Jackson said the area was roped off as soon as possible and the forensic people went over everything so maybe they'll turn up fingerprints, or whatever they do. I just don't see how anyone could have gotten near the Jeep without someone noticing.”
”When did you talk to Jackson?” Sam asked.
”I wanted to know what happened to the harness. Brannigan called twice about it as well as talking to you and I thought we needed to make certain we followed up so I called this morning.”
”Well, it's scary that it disappeared like that,” Sam said. ”We're all using those harnesses and if one was defective, we're all in danger. Everyone's nervous about it. The CDF has been testing the harnesses and so is the manufacturer. So far, no one's found any problems. I don't know, Ty, whoever has to be the next dope on a rope isn't going to be happy and I can't really blame them.”
”It had better not be you,” Tyson said, meaning it. ”I can't afford to lose you, Sam. You're the only family I have.”
There was an awkward silence. Sam flashed a sudden grin. ”You mean I'm the only one who'll put up with you.” The smile slowly faded. ”Seriously, Ty, don't contact Martinelli. I'm not up to planning another funeral.”
”I put in a call to him first on another matter, Sam. He knows I want to talk to him, but I'll avoid him until I calm down.” Tyson glanced at his watch. ”Aren't you late for your date?”
”d.a.m.n, she's going to be angry.” Sam struggled to sound upbeat, abandoning his argument with Tyson. When Ty dug in his heels there was no swaying him. ”Since you're not going with me to foot tonight's bill, and you're getting all sappy on me, I could use some cash. Do you have any on you?”
”I thought you said you just pulled out a huge stash and put it in the upstairs office just for incidentals. Use that.”
”I didn't pull out enough for a date.”
Ty patted his pockets with a small frown. ”I think I left my wallet upstairs. I have no idea what's in it, but you should have plenty in your account if I don't have enough cash on me.”
”I think I'm overdrawn. I haven't had a chance to make any deposits with everything going on.”
Tyson shrugged. ”Just use the family account then.” He turned away from Sam on the pretext of getting back to work, but he was furious that Edward Martinelli had virtually threatened his cousin. Sam might not want him to get involved, but he was definitely going to be sorting out the problem. Martinelli had endangered the two people in the world that mattered to Tyson-Sam and Libby.
He had no idea why Libby had always been so important to him, but since the moment he'd first laid eyes on her, she'd always been there, at the back of his mind, not dominating his thoughts, but never forgotten.
It had been like that for him since the day he'd seen her with the accident victim at Harvard. Before that, he'd been happy enough to just watch her, see the expressions chasing across her face, listen to the sound of her laughter. Libby Drake was meant for him. She didn't even know how much a part of his life she'd become.
”YOU can't see her,” Sarah said, her voice low but firm. She planted herself squarely in the doorway to prevent Tyson from getting around her.
Ty glared at her, not in the least intimidated by the oldest Drake sister. Their clash had become a daily ritual. ”I'm beginning to think you're holding her prisoner in this house. I want to see her with my own eyes to make certain she's all right.”
”Has it occurred to you that she might not want to see you?” Sarah asked bluntly.
”I have no idea why you're being so hostile.” He itched to shake the woman. She just stood there studying him as if he were a foul smelling bug under a microscope. He had always enjoyed watching the Drake sisters together, but now he just wanted the eldest to disappear. He let his breath out slowly and changed tactics. ”I only want to see her for a few minutes just to make certain she's all right. I'm not kidnapping her.” He'd considered it just to get her away from her family.
Sarah raised her eyebrow. ”It must have crossed your mind if you think you have to a.s.sure me you aren't here to kidnap my sister.”
”Why are you so hostile?” Tyson repeated. ”I'm not exactly a stranger to you.”
”The gate was locked. How did you get here?”
He rolled his eyes, sick of the delays and her obstinacy. He had no patience for what he considered total idiocy. It was difficult enough to work on the niceties without having to put up with Sarah Drake's obstinacy. He detested having to be socially correct just to get past the door to see Libby-and the more difficult they made it for him, the more he dug in his heels, determined to visit her.
”I drove my car, parked it below in the drive and walked right up. The padlock was on the ground and the gate was open. In any case, Sarah, the fence isn't all that high and I've been known to go mountain and rock climbing. I doubt if your little gate or fence would stop me.”
Sarah stared at him as if he'd grown two heads. ”The padlock was on the ground?”
He clenched his teeth. ”You aren't slow-witted are you? Because if you are, I'll speak more distinctly and enunciate every word.”
Her gaze narrowed. ”If you're trying to be funny, you aren't succeeding.”
”I want to see Libby now.” He tried not to sound belligerent, but his tone made even him flinch. He was definitely at the end of what little patience he possessed.
Movement behind Sarah caught his eye and he stepped closer, expecting Sarah to give way, but she held her ground dead center in the doorway.
”Quit skulking like a little coward, Libby,” he said. ”I'm tempted to pick your sister up and toss her into the shrubs.”
Sarah snorted derisively, but stepped back when Libby squeezed by her.
Libby's appearance shocked him. She had always been pet.i.te, but now she was gaunt, so thin and pale she looked a wraith. There were dark circles under her eyes and shadows in them-but she was glaring at him. ”Are you threatening Sarah?”
”Not yet, but I was considering it.”
”Sarah would flatten you if you touched her,” Libby said.
”Maybe, but you don't look in any condition to flatten me, so I'll take my chances with you.” He lifted her into his arms, removing her from the doorway and striding right into the house.
He felt a curious s.h.i.+ft under his feet as he entered, but before he could think about it Libby turned into a bundle of fury, thumping hard on his chest. He waited for the pain from his broken sternum to jar him, but surprisingly, he felt nothing at all.
”What the h.e.l.l do you think you're doing? I'm not some rag doll for you to toss over your shoulder so you can strut around like a he-man.”
It took great effort not to smile. He liked her furious; she seemed to get that way only around him, and that was far better than no reaction. Tyson put her down in the middle of the living room, steadying her as she rocked away from him. He searched for some way to break the ice and, as always, obscure facts were the first thing that came to mind. ”Did you know that Shamans used dolls for healing? Some painted dolls red in order to raise the dead. And in parts of Alaska, the Shaman carved a woman's figurine to cure infertility.”
”Tyson.” Libby interrupted him, fists on hips, her head tipped back to look up at him. ”You've finally gone completely insane. You force your way into my home, toss me over your shoulder like some ridiculous caveman-”
He held up his hand to stop her. ”There's no need for melodrama. Stick to the facts, Libby. First off, I didn't force my way in, I stepped across the threshold like any other man. Second, I didn't toss you over my shoulder. I cradled you against me with enormous care, despite my broken ribs, I might add.”
As he talked, he walked around the room, examining first the mosaic on the floor and then studying the walls.
Sarah rolled her eyes. ”He's all yours, Lib. If you need me, just call. I'll be with Kate up in her room. Getting rid of bodies is a specialty of hers. Just a little thought to leave you with.”