Golden Girl

by Velvet Vaughn

  Dropping his head to his hands, he groaned loudly. He loved Peyton Durant. His buddy’s baby sister. How in the hell would he break the news to Owen? He would accuse Noah of taking advantage of her. He knew this for a fact because it’s what he would do if the situation was reversed. He’d have broken both of Owen’s legs for attempting anything with Maggie. And his arms.

  It wasn’t something he planned. True, he’d harbored a crush on her for years, but he certainly didn’t intend to act on it. In fact, he’d tried to talk himself out of it. But he loved her. If she didn’t feel the same, he’d hug her goodbye, wish her well and mourn the loss the rest of his life.

  Damn, he was so screwed.

  Forcing himself to his feet, he plodded to the shower and lathered up. If love was supposed to be the greatest gift of life, why did he feel so miserable?

  Once he was finished, he brushed his teeth, shaved, dressed and headed downstairs. Ethan was up and it looked as if he’d managed a morning workout despite his injuries. Noah needed to do the same to ease the growing tension, although Peyton’s idea of working out was way more fun.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked his brother as he poured a glass of juice. He held up the carton and Ethan nodded, so he found another glass and filled it.

  “Thanks.” Ethan took a drink before he said, “The ribs are a little sore but the headache’s better. You?”

  “Good.”

  Ethan bit into a banana. “How’s Peyton?”

  “Sad, but better.”

  They both turned and greeted Kurt when he entered the kitchen. Peyton was close behind. Kurt hugged her, asking if she was okay. She nodded weakly and he hugged her again.

  “I wish I could stay, but one of my students has a big meet this weekend,” Kurt told her.

  “I’m sorry I worried you and you had to fly here. I should’ve let you know about the phone.”

  He waved her apology away. “It was worth it to see for myself that you’re okay, and,” he indicated Noah and Ethan, “in good hands.”

  They piled into the rented SUV and went through the charade of everyone ducking out of sight except for Ethan, who drove today. Once they arrived at the garage, Kurt shook his and Ethan’s hands and then hugged Peyton again. “I’ll check in this weekend. Love you, Pey.”

  “Love you, too.” He kissed her cheek and climbed into his rental car, waving as he motored away.

  Peyton was quiet as they drove to the Benton’s house. Too quiet. He didn’t want her to dwell on the deaths of her teammates, so he chattered away like a magpie. He had no idea what he said, or if it even made sense. Ethan gave him some serious side-eye, but wisely didn’t comment.

  Aurora was already swimming laps when they arrived. That made four days in a row. Maybe Peyton was right, and she finally decided to get serious about her training.

  “What’s going to happen after this weekend?” Ethan asked through the comm. He was keeping an eye on the entry again while Noah sat in a chair beside the pool and worked on his laptop.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Peyton’s contract is up. Does she plan on staying here?”

  Damn, Noah hadn’t thought that far ahead. It was a good question and he needed to have the conversation with her. If they hadn’t caught the perp by then, he wanted to take Peyton back to the compound with them. Though it was still damaged from the attack, security had already been tightened. It would be the safest place for her.

  What if they did catch the guy? She’d either train seriously for the next Olympics or she’d take over running her company while Noah went back to Indiana. He loved his life and he loved his job. But he’d be going back with a chunk of his heart missing. It would forever belong to Peyton.

  “Good question and that’s something to discuss later today,” he told his brother.

  Fifteen minutes later, Ethan said, “We’ve got a slow-moving vehicle cruising by at turtle speed. Dark green truck. I can’t get a read on the license plate from this angle.” A minute later, he said, “It’s coming back.” He recited the license number and Noah punched it into his computer.

  He shot to his feet when the results flashed on the screen. “Son of a bitch, the truck belongs to Mark Hixon.”

  Noah had taken two steps, ready to confront Hixon when Ethan reported, “He’s gone.”

  “Keep an eye out. If you see him again, let me know and I’ll call Caldwell.”

  “Will do.”

  Returning to his seat, his gaze found Peyton as she paced back and forth along the sidelines, shouting instructions and encouragement to Aurora. What was the basketball coach doing driving by? Checking to see if she was here was the logical answer. The guy didn’t seem to understand the word no, so Noah was going to have to drive the point home, painfully if necessary. Hixon was wasting his time. Peyton was off limits.

  After Peyton ended practice, she let him know that she needed to speak with Aurora’s mom. When she disappeared into the house, he gathered his laptop and headed to where Ethan was watching the street like a hawk.

  “No sign of the truck again?”

  “Nope.” Ethan glanced at the house. “That butler dude is a strange guy.”

  “Niles? What did he do?”

  “I’ve caught him looking out the window several times. When he sees me looking, he ducks out of sight.”

  “Maybe he has a crush on you.”

  “Shut it.” Ethan shoved at his chest with the palm of his hand. “We ready to go?”

  “Peyton’s talking with Aurora’s mom about the logistics for the meet tomorrow.”

  They’d gone over security with the private company the organizers hired along with Detective Caldwell and the local police force. All entrances but two would be closed, and those two would each sport metal detectors. Noah felt confident that security was tight. No one would be passing through the doors with a weapon.

  When Peyton returned, they loaded into the SUV. Ethan had just exited the gates and turned onto the street when sirens wailed. He eased to the curb to allow two cruisers with their lights swirling to pass by. He waited for them to clear before he started down the road again. Another two speeding up behind them had him moving over again.

  He and Ethan both cursed when the cars turned into the driveway of their former rental house. Had there been another bomb that the authorities missed? He looked skyward for smoke but didn’t see any.

  Peyton pointed between the seats. “That’s our former safe house.”

  “I’m following them in,” Ethan decided. Fire trucks and several cars filled the driveway, both marked cruisers and unmarked. One angled in front of them and stopped.

  “What are you doing here?” Detective Caldwell asked as he climbed out.

  “We saw the activity and thought it might have something to do with our case.”

  Caldwell sighed and then motioned them forward. “Same here. Follow me.”

  Noah kept pace with the detective. “What happened?”

  “From what I heard, it’s a floater in the pool.”

  “Someone’s dead?” Peyton asked, clutching Noah’s hand. He didn’t think she realized she’d reached for him.

  “Yeah,” Caldwell confirmed. “No ID yet, so I’d like for you to take a look, see if you can identify the person. You can go as far as the pool, but I can’t let you inside. It’s an active crime scene.”

  The air still held a faint trace of smoke. Declan’s Jeep had been hauled away but the blackened spot on the driveway and the damage to the garage were glaring reminders of what had taken place a few days ago.

  Caldwell led them to the wall of windows that separated the pool from the rest of the basement. They had a perfect view of the activity inside. Several personnel were milling about, some taking pictures and others taking notes. And there was a body floating face down in the water.

  “No!” Peyton wailed. “No, no, no.” Her hand squeezed Noah’s in a painful grip.

  He’d been watching the movement around the pool instea
d of checking out the body. Now he did and his stomach dropped to his feet. Two men in wetsuits lifted the body out of the water and onto the deck.

  Peyton’s longtime coach Kurt Nance was dead.

  Chapter Eighteen

  If Peyton thought she was upset before, it was nothing compared to what she felt the moment she looked through the window and recognized Kurt’s lifeless body. He was floating in the water she loved so much. Her vision had narrowed until all she could see was Kurt as he was moved to the side of the pool, his dear, familiar face slack in death. There was a buzzing in her head that no sound could penetrate, including Noah’s voice. She thought he might be talking to her because he turned her and clutched both of her upper arms, shaking her mightily. She flopped in his grip like a rag doll, never taking her eyes from Kurt.

  How right she’d been this morning when she rationalized sleeping with Noah that everything could change in the blink of an eye. Her life had, and it would never be the same. Kurt had been her rock for twenty years. He was not only her coach, he was her mentor, her friend, her confidant, her biggest cheerleader. If nerves ever assailed her before a big race, it was Kurt who talked her down. Even if they didn’t see each other for weeks at a time, they kept in touch. He was a second brother to her. Now he was dead.

  Her head felt light, as if it might float right off her shoulders. Her legs shook and then gave out. She would’ve fallen to the carpeted floor, but Noah caught her and swept her in his arms again. He gave her another shake, but she ignored it. She’d retreated into a safe place inside her head, one where Kurt, Lotus and the others were still alive. It was comforting there. If she blocked out the real world, then she wouldn’t have to deal with another death on her conscience. This time, it was Kurt.

  The sound of someone’s mournful wails finally penetrated her ears, only to realize the sound came from her. She was falling apart.

  Noah had wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pressed her head against his chest, rocking her softly. He was her anchor, the only thing tethering her to this earth. If he let go, she’d float into the air and disappear completely, never to return.

  #

  As long as Noah lived, he’d never forget the gut-wrenching sounds Peyton made when she realized it was her coach who was dead.

  Her overwhelming grief was tearing him up inside. He desperately wanted to take her pain away, but there was nothing he could do except hold her and let her know that she wasn’t alone. Love her. And he did. So damn much. Tears crowded his eyes and he couldn’t seem to blink them away.

  Her cries had subsided to a low moan, but he was worried about her. He couldn’t get her to respond to him. It was as if she’d mentally checked out.

  Ethan looked as upset as Noah felt. He kept asking what he could do but Noah didn’t have an answer. He didn’t know what he could do for her, what anyone could do. He couldn’t bring Kurt back to life and he had a feeling that would be the only thing that would ease her pain.

  He absently watched the crime scene team and emergency personnel file in and out of the pool area. He’d made sure to sit so Peyton couldn’t see the door when the gurney was wheeled out. He wished he couldn’t see it, either. He choked back a lump seeing the black body bag resting on top.

  Blake Caldwell kept checking on them, looking miserable that he couldn’t do something to help. Noah appreciated his leniency at letting them stay. Maybe it would’ve been better to drive on by when they spotted all the emergency vehicles turning into the drive. Peyton would’ve eventually found out about Kurt, but she wouldn’t have the mental image of him floating face down in the water to carry with her forever.

  When—not if—he got his hands on the person responsible, he’d make him pay for trying to ruin Peyton’s life.

  “Noah?”

  He jerked at the low, raspy sound and shot his gaze to hers. Her baby blues were swollen and rimmed with red, but still the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen.

  “Please don’t leave me.”

  The lump was now a boulder and he couldn’t force it down, so he just shook his head. “Never,” he finally managed, meaning it with every fiber of his being.

  #

  Peyton wanted to stay curled up against Noah and never leave. She was safe here. She’d faced the unimaginable grief when her parents had been killed with Owen and Kurt at her side. Now she’d face the latest tragedies with Noah. She’d asked him to never leave her and she meant it. She didn’t want him to ever leave. She was truly, hopelessly, irrevocably in love with him. It was his strength seeping into her right now that gave her the courage to go on.

  As much as she wished her brother was with her right now, she was thankful he was miles away from the mess. She only wished Noah wasn’t in danger because of her.

  “I’m okay,” she said aloud, mostly for his sake, but hers, too. She wasn’t great, but she was okay. She had to be, for Kurt. He’d want her to soldier on and not give up, as tempting as it sounded. And as much as she wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out, she had responsibilities. Commitments. She had to see Aurora through the weekend. If the girl was willing to give her best, then Peyton needed to give her best as well.

  Sometime between the discovery of Kurt’s body and now, her life had permanently altered. Swimming had been her entire world since the first time she jumped into the family pool when she was three, splashing after her big brother. She lived it, breathed it, dreamed it. Though she hadn’t admitted it aloud to anyone, she was leaning towards going for one more Olympics. The records didn’t mean much to her. She just loved swimming. But now she knew she’d never compete again. Without Kurt, it’d be meaningless.

  Noah brushed his lips against hers and tears filled her eyes again. He stood with her still in his arms.

  “I can walk. You can put me down.”

  “Don’t want to,” he said, so she rested her head against his broad shoulder and let him take care of her.

  Ethan squeezed her hand and gave her a tentative smile, which she returned. She hated the look of helplessness on his face knowing she was responsible.

  It wasn’t until Noah buckled her into the car that an image penetrated the fog in her brain. She’d been overcome with grief, but she remembered seeing something when Kurt was placed on the deck. Overhead lights reflected off a shiny object.

  Noah and Ethan were speaking with Detective Caldwell. She started to unlock her belt when they turned and headed for the SUV.

  “Still doing okay?” Noah asked as he climbed inside.

  She shook her head and grabbed his arm, stopping him from buckling his seat belt. “What was around Kurt’s neck?”

  She knew the answer before Noah answered, a grim set to his lips. “Another medal.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Noah hoped Peyton hadn’t realized there’d been a medal wrapped around Kurt’s neck, but she’d eventually find out. The word attached to the back and covered with clear tape so it wouldn’t smear in the water said: Will. Noah’s insides turned to ice when Caldwell told him. Now all together the words read: For every medal you won someone will. Noah had a sick, certain feeling that the last one would read: die.

  Seven medals and seven deaths so far, all linked to Peyton in some way: Kurt, her two high school coaches, three teammates. The one he was having trouble with was the official who’d worked her first Olympic Trials. The connection between the two was tenuous, and Noah wasn’t positive she should be included in the tally. Peyton had told him that Shelly Plimpton made a controversial decision that cost Sarah Sanderson her chance to make the team. He read the story online and it sounded like the call wasn’t debatable. Sanderson had clearly left the blocks early, according to every eyewitness account, so her disqualification was legitimate. But Sanderson had been the reigning national and world champion and the favorite going into the event.

  Looking at it from a broader perspective, Noah rationalized that by making the call that took Sanderson out, it helped Peyton’s chances of making the team, so
maybe that was the link. Still, it felt like a dubious connection.

  Although Lotus’ husband was also dead, Noah didn’t include him in the count. They found out that he’d killed himself when he discovered his new wife’s lifeless body.

  He wished like hell he could talk Peyton out of going to the meet this weekend, but her mind was made up. She’d pulled herself together and he admired the hell out of her. Instead of returning to the house, they’d stopped to eat—well, he and Ethan had eaten. Peyton picked at a garden salad. She’d managed a few bites, so he didn’t press her. She’d asked the waiter for a bag of ice and when they returned to the SUV, she’d placed it over her eyes to reduce the swelling.

  Next, they visited the hospital. Declan was being weaned from the induced coma and Eric said he even squeezed his hand when he asked if he could hear him. It was a bright spot in an otherwise shitty day.

  While Peyton put Aurora through her next-to-last practice before the meet tomorrow night, he checked in with the office, giving the update about Kurt’s death. There was still no sign of her stalker, Curtis Milburn.

  Noah had informed Detective Caldwell that Mark Hixon was back in town. It was too coincidental that he’d driven slowly by the Benton’s house and then a short time later, Kurt was found dead down the road. Caldwell promised to call with an update after they brought Hixon in for questioning. When his phone buzzed a half hour later, he picked it up to see Caldwell’s number on the screen.

  “Tell me he’s the guy,” he said in lieu of a greeting.

  “He’s vehemently denying it, but we’re holding him in lockup until results of the crime scene come back.”

  “What did he say about driving by the house?”

  “First, he denied it, but he finally admitted that he hoped to get a glimpse of Ms. Durant. Said they used to date, and he missed her.”

  “One time,” Noah ground out between teeth clenched so tight, he was surprised they didn’t crack.