“Why don’t you want to go?” Brinley asked, although she couldn’t keep from smiling at West’s comically tortured expression. From the little she’d heard from Jason the Anderson family was close-knit and quite happy.
“They ask him when he’s going to settle down and give them grandchildren,” Jason laughed and winked at Brinley. “Mom is always trying to fix him up.”
“The only reason she’s given up on you is–” West’s grin immediately died and everyone fell silent, the levity from only moments ago completely gone, leaving a grim tension in its wake.
Jason looked around the table, his expression somber. “We all know why so there’s no reason to pretend. Let’s get back to the case. That’s what is really important.” He turned to West. “Can you find the Barnes family or should I put Jared on it?”
“We can find them. Logan’s right. We’ll follow the money. But it wouldn’t hurt to ask Mom and Dad what they remember about the case.”
Jason shook his fork at West playfully. “We’ll both ask them. Together.”
West took a long draw from his beer. “I hope it’s pot roast. That would make it worth it.”
“Then maybe tomorrow while you two are with your family I’ll go over and give my house a good top to bottom cleaning. I haven’t had a chance since the break in.”
Three sets of eyes swung toward Brinley and she squirmed under their incredulous gaze. Finally Jason spoke.
“Absolutely not. Someone broke in. Why we don’t know, but it still isn’t safe for you to be alone over there. You’ll come with us tomorrow.”
Go with them to meet Mommy and Daddy?
Absolutely not. No way. Not going to happen.
Chapter Sixteen
‡
Brinley looked ready to bolt back to the car. Her usual sunny smile was replaced with a frown of worry despite Jason’s assurances that his parents were friendly people. Hell, if they thought he was serious with Brinley they’d probably fall all over themselves to welcome her into the family. Jason’s mother was desperate to see him happy and settled after everything he’d been through.
Brinley looked lovely today in a flowered sundress that showed off her golden skin and luscious curves. She’d left her long brown hair loose and it hung in waves to the middle of her back, making his fingers itch to run his hands through it. He had a distinct memory from the other night regarding how silky it felt.
Jason hugged his mother and shook hands with his father but both his parents were paying attention to the woman behind him. He stepped aside and wrapped an arm around Brinley’s waist, pulling her forward.
“Mom. Dad. I’d like you to meet a good friend, Brinley Snow. She moved into the house next to mine. Brinley, this is my mother and father, Marie and Peter Anderson.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” Brinley shook hands with his parents while Jason’s mother kept giving him excited sidelong glances. Marie Anderson thought this was the big introduction. That Brinley was the one. Jason would have to pull his mother aside today and let her know as gently as he could that Brinley had only come into his life a short time ago. It was much too soon to be declaring anything serious. Although if he were going to get serious, Brinley would be exactly the kind of woman he’d want.
“Brinley. What an unusual name,” Marie exclaimed as she took Brinley by the hand and led her into the dining room. “You’re the first I’ve met. Is it a family name, dear?”
Brinley looked nervously over her shoulder at Jason as she was being led away like a lamb to slaughter. Before Marie Anderson was done she’d know every little detail about Brinley, including her grandmother’s maiden name. His mother had missed her calling. She should have worked for the NSA.
Jason felt a little guilty but he knew better than to interfere with his mother when she had a goal in mind. If he and Brinley had any sort of future, and he didn’t even know if that’s what he wanted, she’d need to learn how to handle his mother.
“No, just one my parents liked. Something smells wonderful. Is it pot roast?”
“It is. Do you like to cook?” Marie didn’t wait for an answer, continuing to lead Brinley away from Jason. “Why don’t you come into the kitchen and we can talk recipes?”
Jason, West, and his father watched the two women disappear behind the swinging door to the kitchen in silence.
“Do you think we’ll ever see Brinley again?” West said in a mock serious tone. “Poor girl. She has no idea that she’s being pumped for information and vetted as the future Mrs. Jason Anderson. If she did, she’d run out the door and never look back.”
Peter Anderson slapped Jason on the back and smiled. “I’m sure your girl will be fine. How long have you two been together?”
“She’d not exactly my girl. We’re…friends. Good friends.”
A friend that Jason had kissed. And fantasized about seeing naked.
His father gave him a knowing look. “Of course. Friends. Well, she seems like a nice girl. Very pretty. You said she’s your neighbor?”
“She lives in Gail Denton’s old place. Which leads me to a question, Dad. What do you know about the Barnes family and the murder that took place there twenty years ago?”
“Does Dad need a lawyer?”
Jason hadn’t heard his oldest brother enter the house but that query had come from Travis Anderson who ran the business side of the family holdings. Tall and dark-haired just like the rest of the Anderson clan, he leaned heavily on a cane due to hip surgery after a motorcycle accident a year ago. Pain was etched on Travis’s face, making him look older than his forty-two years but he was still smiling, albeit with difficulty.
“No attorney required. I was just wondering what he remembered,” Jason replied as he hugged his brother. “It’s good to see you. I thought you were still in New York.”
Travis was spending time in the Big Apple working with a rehab specialist.
“I’ve been home for several days. You and West have been busy with your new case.”
“You heard about it then?” West asked as they sat down in the living room. “Do you remember anything about the Barnes family?”
Travis rubbed his chin and set his cane down on the floor, sliding it behind his feet. “I remember Wendell Barnes coming here to the house a few times but that’s it. I don’t think I ever met his wife.”
Peter Anderson stood and strode over to the bar in the corner of the room. Silver-haired but still vital and energetic in his mid-sixties, he’d been the driving force behind Anderson Industries since its inception forty years ago. What had started as progressive ranching had grown into mining, oil, and banking making their father one of the richest men in Montana, if not the entire western half of the country.
“If we’re going to talk about that murder twenty years ago I’m going to have to have a drink. Anyone want to join me?”
Peter poured four glasses of whiskey and West helped him pass out the drinks before they all sat back down.
“So you do remember the murder.” Jason tossed back the liquor, enjoying the burn all the way down to his belly. “I guess we were all at college.”
“All three of you boys were gone at the time. It was a terrible thing, really. Everyone in town knew that Linda and Dell had marital problems. Linda loved to spend money and she was frustrated with Dell’s ideas about living a frugal life. She hated that house. Thought it was way too small. She wanted something she could throw lavish parties in and decorate expensively. Never made a secret about it either. Her complaints were loud and frequent to anyone who would listen.”
“So everyone thought Wendell did it?” West prompted. “Did you?”
“No, but I don’t know if I would call Dell a nice man either. He could be ruthless in business and he definitely didn’t lack self-esteem. But a murderer? I doubt it. From what I remember he hated guns. He only had them in the house for protection. They’d been robbed a few times.”