Free Chaos by Barbara Huffert Page A

Sorry I got mad. Why don’t you show me this
secret album now? We’ll talk about the people in it instead of this.”
    She nodded and went to a safe that he hadn’t noticed. She
really had listened when Jordan told her not to flaunt his guests. “They’re
going to love this,” he said as he flipped open the album.
    “That’s why I hope they decide to keep it. What a bunch they
had there. Kiley’s friends are what you’d expect but Jordan’s.”
    “Yeah, he had quite an assortment. I didn’t know he had
invited Mr. and Mrs. Samuels, although I shouldn’t have been so surprised.”
    “Is he really a loan shark?”
    “Of sorts, I’m afraid so. Too bad too, because he’s a very
interesting individual. I’d like to be able to sit down and talk with him
again. And his wife was absolutely charming.”
    “I know, I got to speak with her a few minutes. I guess a police
detective can’t really socialize with a loan shark.”
    “Not without creating speculation. And even though Jordan is
mostly out of the financial business it wouldn’t look good for him to either.”
    “I think Bo was uncomfortable with you.” She turned the page
and pointed to another picture.
    “That’s because I busted him a few times before I made
detective. I think he kept expecting me to slap the cuffs on him.”
    “What’s the story with these two? I know Frank is Jesse’s
brother and Wyatt is his cousin but why are they so secretive? What all do they
do?”
    “All I know is that Wyatt is some sort of inventor. Jesse
and Frank test things for him.”
    “What kind of things?”
    “I’m not exactly sure but I think it’s high-tech security
stuff.”
    “Government stuff?”
    “Honestly, I don’t know. If I had to speculate, I’d say yes.
When I did background checks on all of them I only found basic information.
There were huge holes and no way of filling them in. It’s the same if you try
to find anything about high government officials. Jesse and Frank are supposed
to be security specialists and private investigators but I suspect there’s much
more to it than that.”
    “Do you think they’re dangerous? Brett seems comfortable
hanging out with Jesse and he doesn’t disappear when you’re around. If they
were involved in something top secret he wouldn’t go sit around in a bar and
socialize with a cop, would he?”
    “I have no idea. He said that we’re on the same side and
Jordan trusts him. In fact, when all that happened with Winslow, I know he
trusted them with Kiley’s life. That’s good enough for me so I’m not going to
question it. I figure I’ll learn more when I’m supposed to. Until then, I’m
going to trust my brother and not offend his friends by treating them like
criminals.”
    “What do you mean, he trusted them with Kiley’s life?”
    “The week when she lost her mind and said she didn’t want to
see him, Jordan had them watching out for her. He wanted to make sure she was
safe and that Winslow didn’t sneak back into town and try to retaliate by
hurting her.”
    “I would have thought he’d go after Jordan, not Kiley. After
all, he was the one who ruined all of Winslow’s plans and got him banished from
the area. He was the one who forced Winslow to pay his debts and lose his
source for cash.”
    “Jordan wasn’t worried about himself. He wanted her safe,
even if she was breaking his heart at the time. What he doesn’t know is that
Jesse was watching him too.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “Jesse told me. He showed up next to me on the street one
day and told me not to worry, that he had Jordan covered.”
    “Is that when you decided to trust him?”
    “Yes. I admit I wish I knew what he really does but I can
accept it now that I don’t. If he and his brother and cousin don’t want
pictures of them shown around then they must have a good reason for it. If one
of them were hurt because they went to his wedding, Jordan would be hurt.
That’s enough for me. Apparently, it’s