Rebels and Roses (Winslow Heights #2)

Chapter 15

15

C ooper inwardly chuckled at the shocked expression of his father’s receptionist when he walked into the office. He hadn’t been there since he was about seven years old, so he couldn’t blame her. It wasn’t the same one, of course, but this one had to have heard the gossip in town about his relationship with Joel.

The young woman hopped to her feet and rounded the desk, her gaze darting over Cooper’s shoulder as if she expected a pink elephant and circus clown to be on his heels. Perhaps pigs flying in the parking lot?

“I was hoping to have a few minutes with my father.”

“Yes,” the woman said, but she was shaking her head no at the same time she’d answered in the affirmative. “What I mean is, I’ll have to check with his assistant first.”

“Tell Leigh that Cooper is here.”

Cooper knew Leigh Gabler well. She’d worked for his dad since she was just out of business school. She was a lovely woman, who was also efficient as hell, and vastly loyal to Joel Winslow. In other words, if there had been a dead body, she wouldn’t have asked any questions other than how deep to dig the hole.

The joke among Cooper’s siblings was that Leigh would work for Joel until her last day on earth. She’d never married, never had kids, and Winslow Industries was her entire life. As far as he knew, she didn’t even have any hobbies except the once-a-year three-week vacation she took to Boston to visit old friends.

The young woman hurried behind the big oak door without another word. Cooper knew from his childhood visits that the oak door led to Leigh’s office. To get to his dad’s even bigger and heavier oak door, you have to go through her.

And she wasn’t letting just anyone in.

“Cooper, how long has it been?”

Whatever Leigh was doing in the few hours a day she didn’t work, it must be healthy. She ought to look middle-aged, but she looked thirty. Maybe thirty-five. There wasn’t a trace of gray in her dark hair that she kept in a sleek updo while in the office. Her makeup was skillfully applied, her navy-blue suit perfectly tailored to her slim figure. The only sign of being over fifty were the bifocals perched on her nose.

“Many, many years,” he said, giving the woman a hug. He’d always liked her. She’d spent a lot of time at the house after his mother had disappeared, helping take care of the little details that popped up so they weren’t bothered. “You look exactly the same. Must be all that good, clean living.”

“Something you wouldn’t know anything about if half the stories I hear are true,” Leigh scoffed. “You’ve been a naughty boy, Cooper Winslow.”

“All lies,” he laughed. “Every single one of those stories. Lies. Seriously, you look amazing.”

“I took up running five years ago. I think it helps keep me young and active.” Leigh’s eyes narrowed, and she looked him up and down. “Since we’re being serious, I’m a bit surprised that you’re here. You say you want to see your dad?”

“If he has a few minutes.”

Cooper didn’t elaborate on his reasons, keeping his tone casual. He adored Leigh, but this wasn’t any of her business. Her loyalty would always be to Joel anyway. If she thought Cooper was going to upset her boss of thirty-three years, she wasn’t going to let him in.

“He’s on a call to the West Coast. Let me see if he can wrap it up and meet with you.”

“It won’t take long,” Cooper promised. “Just a few minutes.”

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Leigh disappeared behind the large oak door, leaving Cooper to his own devices. The fact was Cooper could clearly remember at least one particular visit to the office. He’d been seven and Zack nine. Their mother had taken them to the dentist, and then stopped at the office because she needed to pick something up.

Cooper and Zack had hung out in Leigh’s office while Lily had talked to Joel in his office. There had been raised voices, and bless Leigh, she’d tried to distract them so they wouldn’t hear. It hadn’t worked despite the woman’s best efforts.

When their mother had come back out, Cooper could see - even at his young age - the pity in Leigh’s eyes. She’d kindly ask Lily, who was holding back tears, if she could call anyone for her. Their mother had stiffened her spine, taken Cooper and Zack by the hands, and replied that she was fine.

They’d stopped at McDonald’s for cheeseburgers, fries, and chocolate shakes. It was only much later that he’d realized that Lily had known they heard the argument. She’d taken them for fast food as a way to say she was sorry that they had to deal with that.

“He can see you now.”

He’d been so lost in the past he hadn’t heard Leigh return. She was giving him an odd look, but he simply smiled in response. It wouldn’t take long to tell Joel that he’d failed again.

Cooper thanked Leigh and walked into his father’s office. It looked almost identical as to when he was a child. The same desk, the same shelves packed with books and photographs. There was a black and white of Cooper’s grandparents on the credenza against the wall, along with a much more recent photo of his now stepmother Kim.

He didn’t see any pictures of Lily Winslow.

“This is a surprise, son,” Joel said, rising from his chair. “Have a seat. Can I have Anna bring you some coffee?”

“I’m good. This will only take a minute. I know that you’re busy.”

“I have time for my son. Sit down and relax. What can I do for you?”

Joel was almost smiling. As if he was in a good mood. He must think that his little ploy with Fiona was working, and that Cooper was here to talk about some sort of reconciliation.

Really, Dad? Did you think it would be that easy? C’mon on. You know better.

“I think I’ll just stand,” Cooper said, walking over to the framed photo of his grandparents, picking it up to take a closer look. “Zack looks a lot like Grandpa Leo. Piper looks like Grandma Ella.”

“Yes, you look a little like him, too.”

“Nah, I look like Mom.” Cooper placed the frame back on the credenza before turning back to his father. “I just wanted to let you know that Fiona let it slip you offered her cash to bring me back to the family. That is not going to happen. And I won’t be reconciling with her either. She’s a car crash in slow motion, and I want no part of that. I guess you thought she would be easy to manipulate. Unlucky for you, she’s a sloppy drunk these days and couldn’t keep her mouth shut. I have to say, Dad, that I’m a little disappointed. Is that what you want for me? An alcoholic wife and mother for my children?”

Joel wasn’t happy. He’d pressed his lips together, his jaw tightening with anger. Yet, he showed no other outward signs. An uninitiated person would have no idea as to mood change in him.

“All of that didn’t bother you before.”

“She wasn’t a drunk before, and I’ve grown up since then.” Cooper smiled, leaning a hip against the desk.

“Is that woman that you were with last night what you’ve grown into? She’s been divorced, you know.”

Joel was going to bring Jane into this? That was a terrible mistake.

Cooper leaned down, resting his palms on the cool wood of the desk so he was eye to eye with his father.

“Aunt Kim is, too. Three times, I believe.”

“Jane—”

“Stop,” Cooper commanded. “Shit, you’ve already been sniffing around her, trying to see what you can find out. Did Leigh fill you in on all the town gossip? You shouldn’t believe everything you hear, Dad. You of all people should know that.”

“I’m just looking out for you.”

“No, you only look out for you. We all only exist to orbit around you. And stay away from Jane. She’s far too good for the Winslow family, but for some reason, she’s overlooked that for me.”

“For your money.”

“She liked me before she knew I was S.S. Cooper.”

“I was talking about Winslow money.”

“Winslow money,” Cooper laughed. “I don’t want any of our dirty family money. You can give it all to Sam. He’s fucking earned it, dealing with you every day. What he ought to get is sainthood.”

“You’re only saying that because you don’t understand.”

Cooper didn’t have the patience to deal with his father’s excuses.

“I understand you all too well. Hell, sometimes I wish I didn’t. It must piss you off to no end that I’m not some broke loser who needs his daddy to make everything okay. Turns out I’m not the huge disappointment that you thought. It must scuttle all the plans you’ve made.”

With that, Cooper turned on his heel and strode out before Joel could reply. He waved to a gaping Leigh as he left, not slowing down until he was standing on the sidewalk in front of the building.

Jane was right once again. He shouldn’t have come.

Nothing here would ever change.

“Explain it to me again,” Jane said when she met Cooper for lunch at Tate’s after her group study session. “Where are we going after lunch?”

“To talk to the girl that Tom was with. I want to see what she remembers.”

“Didn’t Finn talk to her?”

Cooper had suspicions, and she didn’t blame him. But shouldn’t Finn be looking into all of this? He wasn’t the detective in one of his novels, and while he knew more than the average person did about investigations that didn’t mean he was an actual police officer.

“Only briefly. The coroner has classified Tom’s death as an accidental overdose. That means the case is closed as far as law enforcement is concerned. He spoke with the girl, and also with Fiona, but that’s it.”

“Did you discuss this with Finn? Did you tell him that you’re not sure that it was an accident?”

“I did,” Cooper confirmed. “He was apologetic, but he can’t spare the manpower on a case that is technically closed. The town council has been squeezing his budget, and he’s had to cut hours from his deputies. He’s none too happy about it, but he has to put his resources on open cases which I completely understand. He does see what I’m saying, but he pointed out that I don’t have any proof that it wasn’t an accident. If I did, he’d argue to re-open the case.”

“Technically, he doesn’t have any proof that it was an accident,” Jane pointed out.

“Funny, I said that, too,” Cooper said. “He had an answer for that. Tom was a known addict, and there were no signs of a struggle on the body. No signs of suicide either. Tom was in a great mood when he was last seen, partying and having fun. I didn’t have an argument against what he said, only my suspicions because of what Tom told me before he died.”

“So, you’re going to talk to that girl? What do you think she can tell you?”

“Maybe she saw something or someone that night. Maybe Tom said something to her that would give us more information. Finn only asked her what time Tom left her apartment. She might know more but wasn’t asked.” Cooper popped a french fry into his mouth. “Then you might want to pack an overnight bag. We’re driving up to Chicago.”

Chicago? Jane hadn’t seen that coming.

“We’re going to Chicago? What are we going to do there? See a Cubs’ game? I want mustard on my hot dog if we’re going to Wrigley Field.”

“We might be able to catch a game while we’re up there. But first, we’re going to talk to Tom’s second girlfriend. There are questions I’d like to ask her.”

Jane admired Cooper’s determination, but he might have skipped a few steps ahead of where they currently sat.

“That’s great, but how are we going to know who she is? Did he ever mention more than her first name?”

“No, which is why I checked his phone. She was easy to find.”

“His phone? How did you get his phone? What have I missed here while I slept?”

“Fiona had it.”

That was half a sentence.

“Do I have to pull all the information out of you one piece at a time?”

“Sorry, I’m a little embarrassed to tell you that when I took Fiona back to the inn last night, I hung around for a few minutes.”

“Did you steal his phone?” Jane asked incredulously. “Cooper, you could get in trouble for that.”

“I didn’t steal it,” he denied. “I just looked through it while Fiona was in the bathroom. It didn’t take long to find Tom’s messages to a Cassie Dunbar. She has a Chicago area code. I looked her up online. She wasn’t hard to find. There were pictures of the two of them on his phone. Shit, he wasn’t even trying to hide his infidelity. I have to assume that Erica wasn’t the type to check his cell.”

“Some women don’t have cheating exes in our past that make up distrustful.”

“Have you checked my phone?”

She hadn’t. It had never occurred to her to do that. Cooper was a straightforward man. If he wanted to cheat on her, he’d just let her know that he wasn’t exclusive.

“Why would I do that? We’re not a couple.”

Cooper didn’t reply right away, picking up and eating another french fry, taking his own sweet time, too.

“I took you to a family dinner last night. Couples do that.”

He wanted to play that game? Nope, she wanted him to say it out loud. Directly. None of this pussyfooting around about it. If they were together, he needed to acknowledge it.

“You took me because you didn’t want to be there all by yourself.”

“True, but I also took you because I like being with you.”

C’mon, Cooper.

“I like being with you.”

“If your parents came to town, would you introduce me to them? Would we all go out to dinner together?”

She gave him her best challenging look. It was put up or shut up time.

“I don’t know. How would I introduce you?”

The gleam in his eyes showed that he knew exactly where this was going.

“Not as a boyfriend,” he denied. “I think I’m too old to be called that. As your lover? That’s probably too much information. Maybe as your significant other? How do you feel about that?”

“Significant other,” she dutifully repeated. “It sounds sort of dull. Like we’re both working in an office, processing insurance forms.”

“What about…partner in adventure? Is that better?”

“I kind of like that.”

“Good,” he said, his tone firm. “Because there’s no one else I’d rather have adventures with than you.”

“I like you, too, Cooper,” she said softly.

“I’m a pain in the ass,” he warned. “Are you sure you want to deal with me? I’m no day at the beach.”

“I know, but it’s okay.”

“Then it’s official. We’re together. I told my dad last night that you were too good for me,” Cooper said. “I’ll say it again today. You really are too good for me, Jane. You could do better.”

We’re together.

Her heart was beating faster at the simple, no-nonsense words. Somehow, Cooper had wormed his way into her life, and she wasn’t a bit sorry about it.

“I think you and I probably deserve each other. At least that’s what Lucy said.”

Jane’s hand flew to her mouth, her cheeks warm in embarrassment.

“I take it you told Lucy.”

He didn’t sound angry, more amused than anything.

“A few days ago. I’m so sorry. I know we agreed?—”

“Don’t sweat it,” he said. “I figured you would have told her long before that. You two are like sisters. Honestly, I’m shocked she didn’t catch us. Remember that time?—”

It was Jane’s turn to interrupt.

“Okay, I remember. I still can’t believe we did that. Someone could have walked in on us.”

“We were careful,” Cooper whispered, leaning forward. “And quiet.”

It hadn’t been easy either. When her orgasm hit her, she’d wanted to scream with pleasure.

“Wait,” she said, just realizing what he’d said. “You talked to your dad about me?”

“It’s a long, boring story,” Cooper replied. “Just suffice it to say that he got some wild idea that Fiona and I might reconcile. I quickly let him know that it was never going to happen.”

“He must really like her.”

Would Joel Winslow ever like Jane? Did she even care? She wasn’t the type to run after the approval of people, but this was Cooper’s parent. Her mom and dad would adore Cooper, but then most did. He was a charming bastard who could make even the most sour eventually smile.

“He doesn’t like anyone,” Cooper said. “He just thinks he can control her. Now let’s get back to our trip to Chicago. Do you need to talk to Lucy first?”

“I don’t have many hours scheduled for the next few weeks. I was planning to use the extra time to study.”

“Can you study in the car on the way? I’d like you to go with me, but I understand if you can’t.”

It wouldn’t be ideal, but she’d learned to study at the oddest places and times. It came in handy. Besides, she did truly want to go. She wasn’t as convinced as Cooper that there might be something not quite right about Tom’s death, but he made a decent argument. She was curious to find out more.

Was Tom’s death a tragic and terrible accident? Or was there far more to what had happened?

This trip might just be a wild goose chase.