Target on the Mountain

by Elizabeth Goddard

  “I’m glad you’re in this with me.” She couldn’t believe she’d admitted that to him. Now the fact that she’d said his name after she’d been pulled from the falls made so much more sense. But deep inside, she also knew that her need for him in this investigation went much deeper than the simple fact that he was the investigating detective.

  She hung her head and hugged herself.

  “Tori...” The way he said her name curled around her heart.

  He pulled her into his arms and Tori soaked up the strength of Ryan’s broad shoulders and sturdy chest, when she shouldn’t. She savored the comfort that poured from his heart, when she shouldn’t. She had no right to take from him when she had nothing to offer in return.

  But she needed to feel his arms around her, if only for a moment.

  “Detective—”

  Deputy Reiser abruptly entered the living room, startling them both, and Ryan suddenly stepped back. He hadn’t meant for the deputy to see him holding Tori.

  Shawna cleared her throat.

  “What is it?” Ryan’s tone was sharp with frustration.

  “I think someone is lurking in the woods.”

  * * *

  His shoulders stiffened. “Tori, get away from the window.”

  He pushed a button that lowered the enormous shades. Shawna’s earlier words about the size of the home and the windows came back to him. He hoped she was wrong about a lurker.

  “Show me,” he said to Shawna.

  She rushed around the house and through the kitchen to look through the window in the breakfast room. Tori tried to follow Ryan and the deputy, but he turned and gently grabbed her arm. “I want you to stay in a room without windows for now. Please.”

  Tori nodded and fetched her laptop from the table and then disappeared down the hall.

  Shawna studied the woods. “Whoever it was is gone. I don’t see him now.”

  “It was a ‘him’?”

  “Yes. I think it was a male but from this distance I can’t be positive.”

  Ryan scraped a hand down his face. “Are you sure he was lurking? As in, watching this house?”

  She shrugged. “What else would you call it when someone gets that close to a house on private property and seems to be hiding in the trees? You said to tell you if I saw anything.”

  “I’m glad you did, but I need all the facts, Shawna. Are you sure he was on the property? Not just in the public woods?”

  “I haven’t actually gone out there to mark off the property line.” Shawna was growing irritated at his questions. “But even if he wasn’t on the property, if he was standing behind a tree to watch the house, that’s something to note.”

  “You’re right.”

  But he couldn’t fathom that someone had found Tori yet. He didn’t want it to be true.

  Ryan retrieved his weapon from his holster. “After I leave, lock the door. If you haven’t already checked all doors and windows, please do so now, and then stay with Tori and keep her out of sight. Remain aware and on the lookout for someone outside trying get in. I’ll communicate with my radio.”

  “But what about you?” Shawna asked. “Do you want me to call for backup?”

  “I’ll check it out first. It could be nothing. If you hear gunfire, then you can call.”

  Weapon ready, he made his way to the back of the house in search of an exit. Then he carefully slipped out through a door in the mudroom. The surrounding woods were vast, offering way too many opportunities of places to hide.

  He waited and listened to the sound of wildlife—insects and birds. A squirrel jumped from a tree branch. A golden eagle screeched in the sky. If someone was close, they could disrupt those sounds, but the natural world gave him no hint of a man’s presence. Ryan calmed his breathing.

  If someone had come for Tori, that meant this safe house was no longer safe.

  Please let Shawna be wrong about this.

  But despite his wishes, he knew that Shawna was no fool. Keeping to the shadows, he crept to the other side of the house, his eyes searching for movement in the woods. These woods were thick with evergreens—red-and-white fir, Douglas fir, a variety of pines. Mountain mahogany and junipers also thrived. Underbrush was thick here, as well, and would make getting to the house difficult.

  It could also make tracking someone easier. If someone was in those woods, he had to find them. It didn’t matter that he didn’t want to leave Tori behind.

  Holding his gun at low ready, he left the house behind him and entered the forest of evergreens, watching the pine needles and underbrush for signs of humanity. After half an hour of traipsing through the woods, he found no evidence that someone had been lurking.

  In the nearby distance, a vehicle roared to life. Ryan took off running through the woods, jumping over underbrush where necessary, dashing around trees and pushing his way through underlings. He ran toward the sound until he made it to the river.

  Gasping for breath, he watched a Jeep utility vehicle driving away on a dirt path. He wished he had his binoculars so he could catch the license plate, but he had left them in the house. Still, he made note of the make and model, and the kayak sticking out the back.

  Ryan hiked his way back to the house, palming his pistol. How could he know if someone had simply taken that path to kayak the river, or if someone had intentionally crossed the river to try to get closer to Tori? And if they had made their way to the house deliberately, then how had they found out where she was staying so quickly?

  By the time he made it back to the house he was frustrated and breathing hard. Ryan spotted a vehicle through the trees exiting on the long drive. Panic spiked through him. He sprinted to the door and tried the knob. Fortunately, it remained locked. He rang the doorbell.

  Shawna let him in. “Did you see him?”

  “No. But I spotted someone exiting the drive. Did anyone come to the house while I was gone?”

  She shook her head.

  Despite her reply, Ryan knew one thing. “That’s it. This house is obviously compromised. I can’t be sure that Tori will be safe here. Would you mind helping her get her things? I’ll take her somewhere else.”

  “But where?”

  “I’m the only one who will know this time.”

  “I promise you, I told no one,” she said.

  “I know I can trust you,” he reassured her. “There are at least three other people who know we’re using this house for a safe house, and there are many other ways to find out.”

  He was most worried about those other ways.

  TWELVE

  Tori couldn’t believe that she was standing in the living room of Ryan’s home.

  “Your house? Really, Ryan? What are you thinking? I might as well move back to Sarah’s bungalow since it’s only a few houses down.” That is, as soon as the crime scene was released and construction work made the place livable again. Oh, she couldn’t believe any of this.

  “It’s temporary, okay?” Ryan scraped a hand down his face. An action she’d noticed him doing an awful lot of lately.

  “Okay.” She tried to soften her earlier incredulity.

  “It’s just until I can figure something else out. And don’t worry about—”

  A door opened and shut somewhere in the house, interrupting what he might have said. Ryan palmed his weapon, and Tori grabbed her own. Had whoever found her at the big dream house followed them here?

  “Hi, honey, I’m home,” a lilting female voice proclaimed.

  Jealousy snapped through her. Ryan... He had someone? Who was—

  Ryan’s twin sister, Katelyn Bradley, strolled into the room with a large reusable grocery sack that she set on the counter with a thunk.

  Tori relaxed and put her gun away.

  “You nearly gave me a heart attack.” Ryan returned his weapon to the holster at his wai
st. “I forgot you were coming over.”

  “See,” Katelyn said. “This is why we never get together. You forget about me. I’m your twin. How could you possibly forget?”

  “It’s been one of those days, okay?” He winked at his sister. To Tori, he said, “I texted her earlier when I knew we had to move again.”

  Tori nodded.

  Katelyn’s long brown hair pulled back in a flattering ponytail, she flashed a brilliant smile, letting them know she was teasing. “Hey, Tori. It’s good to see you, though I’d prefer it were under much different circumstances.”

  Tori looked from Ryan to Katelyn. So he’d brought in a chaperone? He didn’t trust himself to be alone with Tori? Oh, she wished that thought hadn’t even occurred to her.

  “It’s nice to see you, too. So why exactly are you here, if I may ask?” The question sounded kind of rude, but she wanted to know what was going on.

  “I can see those wheels spinning in your head.” Ryan’s wink brought on a blush.

  That he could read her mind made her cheeks all the warmer.

  Ryan cleared his throat. “Katelyn can take you where you need to go, if you actually need to get out. Let’s hope we get this guy, and soon. Things seem to be ramping up.”

  “You mean whoever killed Sarah is becoming desperate to find and kill me for whatever they think I know. Their actions seem counterintuitive to me. Escalating the murder attempts only increases the heat on them.”

  Arms crossed, he nodded. “Agreed. But it doesn’t seem likely the guy is going to back down now, even if he could better protect himself by hiding rather than attacking. In the meantime, we’re on the lookout for the two vehicles that approached the original safe house, so I hope we get a hit there. Jasper has security cameras so we can use those to see if we can get more details. But if solving this case takes much longer, then we’ll have to make different arrangements for you—that is, unless you’re willing to go back to your job on the other side of the country.”

  Katelyn appeared thoughtful, her blue-green gaze startlingly similar to Ryan’s.

  “I’m here to help you, Tori,” Katelyn said. “As a friend, of course, but also to help out my twin brother. But I should mention he’s paying me, too.” She offered a silly grin. “I’m freelancing right now.”

  “Freelancing?” Katelyn worked in law enforcement in the town of Shasta, Tori had thought. What happened to that?

  “Let’s just say I’m in between law enforcement jobs.” Katelyn lifted her jacket to reveal she was armed, then unpacked the groceries. Looked like they were eating Italian tonight. “And I can also cook a mean pot of pasta.”

  Tori chuckled. “Well, this should be interesting.”

  Ryan opened the fridge. “Three heads are better than two.”

  “Three heads?” Tori asked. “What about your entire sheriff’s department? What about the FBI?”

  “When it comes to you, Tori,” he said, “I’m holding your safety close.”

  Meaning this time, no one besides Ryan and his twin sister knew where Tori was staying. That is, unless someone had followed them here. Maybe someone had followed them to the last house, despite their best efforts to conceal their travel destination.

  “Fair enough.”

  Ryan had grabbed three sodas and set them on the counter. “You thirsty?”

  “Sure, but...” She shifted the purse on her shoulder and eyed her duffel and laptop case. “Can I put my things somewhere?”

  He studied Tori for a moment, the hint of his grin barely revealing his dimples. “Pardon my manners. You’ll find the guest bedroom down the hallway. Second door to the right.”

  Tori found the room decorated in shades of sage and brown. Comforting and practical. Had Katelyn been the decorator? When Tori and Ryan had dated years ago, he hadn’t owned a house. He’d lived in an apartment.

  An image flashed through her thoughts of her and Ryan together. Married. Living in a home of their own, busy and active with their law enforcement careers. A small framed picture sat on the side table. She lifted it to get a closer look. The picture was older and portrayed his parents and siblings—they were all much younger. Ryan was probably only ten.

  Kids.

  Sarah had wanted that life. She’d wanted to get married and have a family.

  Tori had kept pushing that part of her dream further out each year. She might have even put it off until it was too late. She chewed on her lip. Focusing on her career first had made sense at the time...but Sarah’s death had changed her perspective and, in fact, was still changing the way Tori viewed life. The way she viewed everything.

  Ryan.

  She set the picture down. What about Ryan’s brothers? What were they doing now? Oh, why was she feeling so nostalgic when there was work to be done? Tori shoved the mushy feelings over to the far side of her heart so she could concentrate on helping Ryan get to the bottom of this.

  Plus, Tori had a decision to make. Should she ask for a longer leave and stay or go all the way and give up her job? Or when her bereavement leave was up, should she go back to her job and leave Ryan to find Sarah’s killer and Tori’s attacker without her help? Thoughts of stepping away from the investigation left her unsettled. Not that she didn’t trust him, but she was worried about him, too. The killer had already murdered five people. If Tori got far enough away, she should be safe, but Ryan would still be here in the midst of it. Touching the image of a young Ryan in the photograph, she pursed her lips.

  Uncertainty weighed on her, though she needed to make a decision. She would need to know the answer to her own questions soon.

  She left her duffel and purse on the queen bed and snatched her laptop from the case. She brought it with her back into the kitchen and set it on the table. Katelyn had already filled the room with the delicious smells of Italian food. Tori’s stomach rumbled in response.

  “Where’s Ryan?” she asked.

  “He’s on a call. Something about the FBI and ecoterrorists.” Katelyn gestured toward the front part of the house.

  “Good.” That meant they wouldn’t lose more time than they’d already lost today. She crept forward, not to eavesdrop, but to let him know she was available to participate if needed.

  She saw him standing there, cell to his ear as he peeked through the mini blinds, out the front window. For a few seconds she studied his profile. A strong jaw and well-defined masculine features. A few whiskers had erupted on his cheek where he shaved to form the Vandyke beard. Finally he turned his head to look at her, as though he’d been aware of her presence all along. He didn’t appear disturbed with her for intruding on his call.

  “I understand,” he spoke into the cell. “Yep. We’ll be there.”

  He ended the call.

  “We’ll be there?” she asked. “What’s going on?”

  “I just spoke with an FBI agent. He sounded perturbed with us. We’re meeting with him in twenty.”

  “What?” Hands fisted on her hips, Katelyn stared at them as she strolled into the room. “And miss my pasta? I was cooking it up special, just for you.”

  Ryan chuckled and glanced at his smartphone. “If it’s ready we can eat fast and make it.”

  “No way,” she said. “You do your meeting and then we’ll have a nice relaxed meal when you get back. No rushing through a meal I’m taking my time to make.” Katelyn leaned close to Tori and squeezed her arm. “Besides, I want to catch up with Tori.”

  Tori and Katelyn had been friendly, but not all that close. Still, Katelyn’s friendliness warmed her. With Sarah gone, Tori’s heart ached with loneliness, and even the smallest of gestures meant so much.

  “I’d like that, too,” Tori said.

  “That’ll work, then,” Ryan said. “I don’t think we’ll be that long.” Ryan glanced at Tori. “The plan for coming and going will always be the same. You have to duck d
own in the vehicle before I exit the garage. Wear the cap and the wig, just in case.”

  Tori stared at the ceiling and shook her head. “Like that worked so well the last time. Whoever is looking for me is not going to be fooled.”

  “We do all we know to do, Tori. Just work with me on this, okay?”

  “Okay, fine. Let’s do this.”

  * * *

  Ryan sat in the passenger seat of the special agent’s big black SUV parked under the overpass of a bridge in an abandoned industrial area. The agent remained in the driver’s seat. Tori sat in the back seat. This clandestine meeting was like something from a movie. Ryan didn’t like it.

  Why couldn’t they be up front and out in the open?

  His cell had buzzed a few times. His captain was calling him.

  Special Agent Sanchez remained stoic, but Ryan suspected that beneath the surface he was fuming. “Sarah Peterson’s murder had nothing to do with her involvement in the ecoterrorist group.”

  “You can’t know that. I think you’re trying to deflect your responsibility in this.” Tori wasn’t hiding her own frustration.

  “Ecoterrorists aren’t profiled as murderers. The extent of their activism typically involves property damage. Sarah’s murder was part of a multiple homicide. Your investigation has taken a wrong turn, Detective.”

  “How do you explain Dee James’s murder?” Tori asked. “He was murdered because he knew something about Sarah.”

  “I’m sorry, are you investigating, Special Agent Peterson? Because it was my understanding you’re on bereavement leave.” Sanchez’s unemotional features suddenly shifted. He was losing his patience. “What’s going on, Detective Bradley?”

  “I’m in charge of this investigation,” Ryan said. “Since Tori has insight into her sister that we wouldn’t otherwise have, I’ve asked her to offer her expertise. Her knowledge of her sister’s life led us to Sarah’s involvement with Dee James, which led us to her email alias, and then finally to you.”

  “You were not led to me. I contacted you because you could have cost us months of work. Do you know that?” Now was the moment when the agent would come unhinged.