“Ms. Mayfield, to be honest, we had no idea. Until I saw Carter’s notes, I never associated that message with anything other than Tommy being a wise guy. Tommy considered himself to be quite the intellectual even though he was a petty thief until the bank robbery, which led him to believe he was more important than Robert. He spent his days leading up to his trial always acting like he was a real know-it-all. Most of the time, we thought he was just a small guy with a big head.”
“Was there anything else between the two of them?” Ben asked.
“Several weeks later, another quote from Shakespeare. Fire that’s closest kept, burns most of all.”
Violet leaned back against the sofa cushions, and Ben took her weight easily. Her fingers were still on his thigh but not as tense as earlier. Shaking her head slowly, she muttered, “I don’t recognize that one.”
“According to one of the detectives who looked at it, it just comes from The Plays and Poems of William Shakespeare. And before you ask, no, we have no idea if it means anything.”
She turned to Ben and shook her head. “Fire that’s closest kept? There’s no fire here. No fireplace. Not a furnace. Not an outside firepit. Maybe that’s why the man stopped coming into the yard. That clue led him somewhere else?”
“If so, then why was the man taking pictures?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he hated the fallen expression on her face. Squeezing her hands, he turned back to the detectives. “Anything else?”
“The last time he sent an email, Robert finally replied and asked Tommy what he was talking about. The response back was another quote. False face must hide what the false heart doth know.”
“Detective Ashburn, we appreciate you giving us this information, but I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do with it. I’ve moved Violet and her children into the townhouse directly behind this one where my grandmother lives. I’ve set up security cameras on the back that would allow me to see if someone comes in. Starting tonight, I’ll turn off the motion sensor security lights and use my cameras that can record in the dark to see if someone is around. I’ve also installed security cameras in this room and the kitchen in case someone gets in. All that is wired to my phone and my computer. I have no idea if the person who’s been coming onto this property is the same person who was across the street taking cell phone pictures of the kids. But I know there’s little you can do right now. I just want you to know what I’ve set up.”
Carter jumped in. “Ben, I get it. You’re pissed that your loved ones are being threatened, but you’re a regular citizen right now, no longer a SEAL. If you see something, call 9-1-1. Don’t be a hero and break the law.”
Ben shoved down the irritation at Carter reminding him what had been in the past. As any of his teammates would agree, once a SEAL, always a SEAL. Instead, he focused on Carter referring to Violet, Charlie, and Lily as his loved ones. He knew that, he just hadn’t said it yet. That’s gonna change. Sucking in a deep breath, he said, “Don’t plan on doing anything illegal. But the HCPD can’t do jack-shit right now, so I’m going to. I see someone in her yard or trying to get into her house, I’ll call for backup and then I’m going in. As you say… I’ll protect my loved ones.”
He felt Violet’s body jerk and tighten for a few seconds then relax as she exhaled slowly.
Steven stood and reached inside his jacket pocket, retrieving a business card. Scribbling on the back, he said, “Here’s my cell. Besides 9-1-1, give me a call if you see anything suspicious.”
The others stood as well and shook hands. Violet escorted the detectives to the door and then turned slowly to face Ben after they left. He didn’t like the way she held back, not approaching as she kept her gaze pinned to him, an unreadable expression on her face. He knew it was a lot to take in. Overwhelming. Frightening. Maybe she was retreating. Not willing to guess what she was thinking or needing, he stepped forward. “Babe?”
She sucked in a raspy breath then let it out with a ragged whoosh. “You love us.”
He stopped advancing, his body lurching slightly as his feet halted in surprise. “What are you thinking, Violet?”
Swallowing audibly, she lifted her hand and dragged her fingers through her thick hair before letting it drop over her shoulder. “A bank robber lived in this house. He walked the same halls my children play in. I mean, you never really think about who owned a house before you… especially since a hundred-and-fifty-year-old house would have had a lot of residents. Maybe there were some really awful people living here before him…”
“Sweetheart…” he said softly, feeling her anxiety ratcheting upward.
“But he was here. Just over a year ago. And now, he’s out of prison. And hanging around. Digging holes in my yard.” Her gaze shot to the side for a few seconds before slamming back into him and her voice lifted to an almost screech. “Scaring my SON!”
“Babe,” he repeated, moving closer. He wanted to envelop her into his embrace but stopped as her palm lifted between them.
“And now, he may have been taking pictures of them? Oh, my God, Ben, I don’t know what to do with all of that.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she continued. “And despite all that craziness, all I could think about was that you love us.”
Her palm dropped as her chin quivered. He pulled her forward, erasing the space between them, holding her shaky body close to his so that his warmth could surround her. Whispering into her ear, he said, “I do. I’ve known it but hadn’t really acknowledged it, not to myself, not to you. But, yeah, I’m in love with you. You. Charlie. Lily. I had no idea that forever was living right behind me.”
She leaned back and held his gaze through watery eyes. “I wasn’t looking. Not for quick. Not for forever. But I think I began to fall when I saw how wonderful you were with the children. I was terrified for them to fall for you after learning that life can take away so much. I knew they wanted a forever dad but never thought it was living right behind us.”
Closing his eyes, he reveled in the feel of her in his arms. The words she whispered against his chest. Her heartbeat pounding next to his. And the love that coursed through his being.
23
Ben awoke, instantly aware of the warm body curled next to his. Violet pressed in tightly, her leg tucked between his and her breath puffing over his chest. He blinked, listening carefully, every SEAL cell tuned in to what had woken him. No sounds were coming from the hall, but he slid from Violet’s embrace slowly, ensuring she remained asleep. Picking up his phone from the nightstand, he checked the cameras and saw nothing suspicious. He padded on bare feet into the hall, checking on Lily and then Charlie, finding both sound asleep.
The past week had proven that settling into his babcia’s house had not been difficult. His grandmother loved the company and seemed to feel healthier and move better with the others around. The kids were loving the attention and had no problem helping her around the house.
After the revelations from the previous weekend, he and Violet had sat down with Charlie and Lily to explain that they were dating, having decided that word would slowly initiate the kids to the idea of them being together. Violet had assured them that she didn’t want them to feel left out as she and Ben became closer.