Part 25 (1/2)
Not when your number came up on my Caller ID, Genny thought. She had wanted to avoid Brian, but she should have known he would force a face-to-face confrontation.
”Jacob is like a brother to me. He's one of the finest men I've ever known. If you'd had any feelings for me whatsoever, you would have taken another tactic in reporting what you call the truth.”
”That's just it, Genny...” He held out his hands beseechingly, but dropped his arms to either side when Genny eased farther away from him. ”I do have feelings for you. Strong feelings. And I've come here to prove to you just how much you mean to me.”
”How do you propose to do that?”
”You're aware of the fact that Jacob attacked Matt Newton, a WMMK reporter, when the man was simply doing his job.”
Genny breathed in deeply, then slowly exhaled. She seldom lost her temper; in fact, most people who knew her would say she never lost her temper. Only Jazzy and Jacob knew better. When pushed to the limit, she reacted. Brian had pushed her almost to her personal limit.
Brian took a hesitant step in her direction, then paused when she glared at him. ”If we choose to, we can sue Jacob personally, as well as file a.s.sault charges against him.”
”And is that what you intend to do? I'm sure you're pulling Matt Newton's strings, so-”
”Genny, Genny...”
When Brian moved toward her again, she held up a restraining hand. He stopped immediately.
”Because of my high regard for you, my deep feelings for you, I will see to it that neither Matt Newton nor MacKinnon Media brings charges against Jacob or files a lawsuit against him.”
”And what do you expect in return for this grand gesture?”
Why had it taken her so long to accept the truth that had been staring her in the face all along? Brian MacKinnon was evil. She sensed that evil all around her. In the past, had he been able to mask his true nature when around her, or had she simply been unwilling to probe too deeply into his psyche for fear her hopes for his reformation would be dashed?
”You suspect an ulterior motive?” Brian asked. ”Genny, my dearest, I'm willing to give you Jacob's career, which is in my hands, as a gift. To show you how very much you mean to me.”
Truck doors slammed. Drudwyn barked. Feet tramped up the front steps and across the porch.
Brian gazed into the foyer, toward the front door. ”Are you expecting someone?”
”Jacob and Dallas are coming to supper,” she replied.
”I see.”
”Brian, if you truly mean what you've said, that you'll do this for Jacob...for me...I'm grateful. But-”
The front door burst open. Dallas came through first, with Jacob directly behind him. Drudwyn rushed past both men and galloped over to Genny. Jacob paused in the living room doorway, but Dallas charged in, not stopping until he was at Genny's side.
”Brian, I don't believe you've met FBI Special Agent Dallas Sloan,” Genny said. ”Dallas, this is Brian MacKinnon, of MacKinnon Media.”
Brian glanced from the man to the dog, the two flanking Genny, then tentatively held out his hand to the man. Dallas eyed Brian's hand speculatively, then grasped it, and the two exchanged a quick shake. By the way Brian grimaced, Genny figured Dallas had used a macho tactic of superior physical strength to intimidate Brian.
Jacob sauntered into the room, his movements slow and cautious. ”What are you doing here, MacKinnon?”
”I came to give Genny a gift.” Brian smiled at Genny.
She forced herself to return a watered-down version of her usual smile. ”I would ask you to stay for dinner, but-”
Drudwyn's growl almost drowned out Jacob's blatant snarl.
”Some other time,” Brian said. ”I'll telephone you tomorrow.”
Genny moved toward Brian, intending to walk him to the door. Before she'd taken the second step, Dallas clamped his hand on her waist and held her in place. Jacob jumped into action and walked with Brian out of the living room, into the foyer, and through the front door. When the two men disappeared onto the porch, Genny turned to Dallas.
”Brian told me that Matt Newton isn't going to bring charges against Jacob, and they're not going to sue Jacob, either.”
”I see.” Dallas gripped her waist with both hands and turned her to face him. ”What brought about this miracle? Exactly what did MacKinnon want from you in return?”
”He said he's doing it as a gesture to prove to me how much he cares about me.” Genny glanced over her shoulder at the closed front door, wondering what Jacob was saying to Brian. ”I hope Jacob doesn't-”
”MacKinnon isn't going to get what he wants-because he wants you.”
”Yes, he does, but for now he's willing to settle for my good opinion of him.”
”Which he doesn't have, does he?”
Genny shook her head. ”I've wasted a lot of time believing Brian could change, that he wanted to change. Even poor Wallace thought he saw signs of improvement in Brian's behavior.”
Jacob came back into the house, removed his coat, and hung it on the hall tree. ”Looks like I can quit worrying about getting sued or having Matt Newton press charges against me.”
”I think I can be nice to Brian for a bit longer,” Genny said. ”It won't be easy, but it's necessary.”
”If nothing else good comes out of the media torture I've been going through, your realizing that MacKinnon is beyond redemption is enough.”
”I don't want you to be too nice to him,” Dallas said.
”I've never been too nice to him,” Genny replied. ”Not the kind of nice you mean.”
Suddenly Jacob's cell phone rang. He paused a couple of seconds before reaching over and lifting it from his coat pocket. ”Could be news about Nina MacNair.”
Genny looked at Dallas. ”What's this about Nina MacNair?”
”Her husband reported her missing. It seems when he woke up this morning, she was gone. No note. All of her things still there at the house. She had taken her purse with her, but that's all. The doctor thinks she might have walked to the grocery store, but no one at Shop Rite has seen her.”
”Do you think-”
”Maybe. Our killer hasn't made a move in six days.”
Jacob returned his phone to his coat pocket and walked into the living room. ”No sign of Mrs. MacNair. n.o.body in town has seen her. Roddy and I are in agreement that considering we have a serial killer loose in our county, we're waiving the waiting period on filing a missing person's report.”
”Do you have to go now or can you stay for supper?” Genny asked.
”I'll grab a quick bite, then head back into town.” Jacob turned to Dallas. ”If you decide to stay a while, I can send one of my deputies to pick you up later.”
”Thanks,” Dallas replied, never taking his eyes off Genny, ”but I think I should go back into town with you.”