Malicious Intent (Soulscape #5)

CH 25

Dennis took Marlene aside when he noticed she'd been crying. "Sis... are you okay?"

"I am," she whispered, a rawness to her voice. She glanced at Zeke, a warmth in her eyes that wasn't present before. "I... I need to talk to you about something." Marlene looked up at Dennis and touched his arm. "But not now, not here. When we get home."

"Is everything all right?" he asked with concern.

"Yes." She squeezed his arm and stepped around him. "I told Frank I would help him set the table and serve." Marlene walked inside with Frank.

A puzzled frown pinched the sheriff's brow, followed by a curious smile that he directed at Zeke. "Did you talk to Marlene?"

"Yes."

"She seems... more relaxed. What did you say to her?"

Ron and James watched Zeke for his reply... Ron more intently than James.

"She'll tell you," Zeke said.

"Well, whatever it was, she looks better." He cupped the young man's face and kissed his lips. "Thank you."

Zeke licked his lips, a sultry look slipping through his dark eyes. "You're welcome, Sheriff."

Don't look at me like that—not right now. The corresponding heat reached to his core.

Benny came bounding up the steps. "Can we come back tomorrow and go swimming, Uncle Dennis? Please?"

"I..." Dennis chuckled. "I don't know. We'll see."

Shifting closer, Zeke fingered his shirt buttons. "Please."

Benny giggled and James laughed lightly. Ron smiled but it didn't reach his eyes—which never left Zeke.

Dennis kissed Zeke again and murmured against his mouth, "We'll see."

"Then yes?"

Dennis laughed and hugged him. "You're as bad as Benny."

The little boy burst into another fit of giggles.

James excused himself to lend a hand to Frank and Marlene and Benny trailed him inside with Rosco at his heels. Dennis took James' seat and Zeke perched on the porch rail, his dark gaze settling on Ron.

"Something on your mind, Warden?" Zeke murmured.

"No." Ron cleared his throat and averted his eyes.

Dennis noticed it as well; Ron's shift in behavior—toward Zeke. He'd seemed fine earlier. Before you asked him about Alec. Dennis suspected the warden was holding something back concerning his knowledge of this Alec. He'd grown uneasy the moment Dennis brought up the name. Ron's unease infected Dennis, causing a knot in his gut... forcing him to wonder how little he actually knew about Frank and Zeke—and if the stuff he didn't know would harm their relationship.

• • •

Throughout dinner, Ron barely said a word, only speaking when spoken to. The way his eyes repeatedly settled on Alec made Frank nervous. Following Ron's apology earlier, he'd thought they were past all this. Since the apology—and Ron's talk with Zeke—the warden had been more relaxed and interacted with Alec in a comfortable manner.

Until now.

What had happened while he and James had gone to retrieve Alec and Marlene? If Alec had been at the house with Ron, he might have thought Alec had said or done something to put Ron on edge—but Alec wasn't there. And what could Dennis possibly say or do to cause this shift in Ron?