Captain Moran had effectively dismissed him. That was fine, because he wanted to leave and find Tori.
Except, to get out of here, he was going to need a new vehicle.
His cell buzzed. He looked at the text.
To your right.
Ryan turned and spotted Katelyn’s car parked a distance away from the wreck. He jogged over and climbed in on the passenger side, painfully aware that Tori was not in the vehicle with his sister.
He stiffened. “What’s going on? Why aren’t you guarding Tori like I’m paying you to?”
She steered the vehicle around the corner. “I can’t protect someone who doesn’t want to be protected. When we got back to your house, Tori called a cab and left.”
FOURTEEN
Tori dropped her briefcase, duffel and purse on one of two queen beds in the airport motel. She still couldn’t comprehend the chain of events that had propelled her here.
Maybe she had this all wrong.
Maybe she shouldn’t have walked away from Ryan’s attempt at protection. But someone had seemed to know their every move, no matter what they did. And this evening, Ryan had almost been killed along with Tori. Sure, he was accustomed to dangerous situations, but like he told her—it was harder to stay safe when someone was targeting you, even if you were trained law enforcement.
Tori might not have listened to his words before, but they hit harder when it concerned Ryan. After the deliberate car crash, she made the decision she wouldn’t put him or his sister in the line of fire. She’d already lost her own sister. The Bradley family didn’t need to lose anyone because of Tori.
Besides, she was due back in the office the day after tomorrow. If she returned to her job, it would take her a day of travel and recovery at her apartment as it was. Uncertainty about her plans had plagued her for the last few days, but now she knew exactly what she would do.
She would go back to South Carolina and hope she could find out more about Sarah’s murder when she was back at work. Right now, it was time to get her things ready for flying. Tori dumped her purse to clear it of anything that wouldn’t clear security, and she spotted a small round device. She lifted it to examine it.
A GPS tracker.
Tori groaned.
“Idiot! I’m such a stupid idiot.”
A knock came at the door. Panic swelled in her chest and she gripped her weapon. Tori didn’t ask who it was, she simply waited quietly in case it was the man who had shot Eddie Slattery—the perp who’d drive his Jeep into them and shot at them. She’d just found a GPS—was that his? Had he somehow gotten access to her things to plant the tracker and then followed her here where she was all alone?
Sweat beaded on her temple.
“It’s me.”
Ryan.
Tori released a slow breath.
Ryan’s tone wasn’t gruff like she would expect, but instead he sounded...desperate? Whatever. She was both relieved and perturbed. Him finding Tori here meant one thing. She marched to the door and opened it, leaving it wide for Ryan to enter. He shut it behind him.
She held the GPS tracker up for him to see. “Really?”
He shrugged. “That wasn’t me.”
“Katelyn.” Tori squeezed her temples. “How could I have been so stupid?”
Ryan’s sister had advised Tori against leaving, at least until she could talk it out with Ryan. Katelyn had known that Ryan would be furious with the both of them—Tori for leaving and Katelyn for allowing it. Tori had known that, too, but at the time she hadn’t cared. She was thinking about their safety. Tori had gotten into the back seat of the cab with her laptop and Katelyn had handed off her duffel and purse. She would have had the opportunity to place the tracker then. Katelyn had been thinking ahead. She was a smart cookie.
“She wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said. “That you got to the airport safely.”
“And that you could find me.”
Leaning against the wall, Ryan crossed his arms. “Right. She meant to help, that’s all. What if something happened to you, Tori? You’re in danger. Running off like this wasn’t a smart move.”
“And you think the tracker would help you to find me if I were abducted or left for dead? If the bad guys nabbed me, I don’t think they would let me bring my purse.” She sent him a wry grin.
“You might have found a way to convince the nabber you needed to keep it. That said, he might still look inside, so you’d need a backup tracker.” Ryan responded with his own grin.
“No...” Katelyn hadn’t! Tori shrugged out of her jacket and searched. She removed her shoes and looked inside and out.
“Relax. I don’t know if that’s the only tracker Katelyn planted, but we do know that someone has known where you’ve been. Like the bedroom in Sarah’s house.”
“And the first safe house—the dream house.”
“And like tonight. Eddie drove that Jeep right for you. He aimed at your side of the vehicle. I couldn’t stop the collision but I tried to swerve so he wouldn’t crush the passenger side.” He scraped a hand down his face as it paled.
The implication got to him as it did her. A chill crawled over her.
She palmed her weapon. “And you think they could have followed me here.”
“I think if you’re heading back home then you shouldn’t stay here tonight. You should get an earlier flight and wait in the airport beyond the security checkpoints. Take the red-eye, even. I’m happy to take you to the airport. But if you’re not going to stay with me, then go there and be safe. You know you’re not safe until whoever is behind this is caught.”
“Unfortunately, I do know that.” Tori sat on the edge of the bed. “Listen, I’m sorry I left without at least saying goodbye. I just didn’t want to endanger you or your sister, or anyone who is near me.”
He gave her a look, and then she suddenly remembered his words to her—he’d told her that she would go back. She was glad he didn’t say, “I told you so.”
“So yes, you were right about me, after all. I’m not staying here like I had been considering. I think I can do a better job finding answers for us if I’m back at work and can gain access to information we need. Special Agent Sanchez isn’t going to share with you, that much is clear. I don’t even know if I can get anyone to share with me even if I put pressure on them from within, but I’m going to work that angle. Katelyn will be safe because she won’t have to protect me. I don’t want you to be in danger, either.” Tori didn’t want to keep having to dodge bombs and bullets until this was over.
“She’s pretty miffed at you, you know. She would have helped me protect you for nothing, but she needed the work.” He frowned.
“You don’t need to lose your sister, too, especially because of me. Besides, it’s not just her I’m worried about. You could have died tonight, too. This way, you won’t be in danger, either—at least, not because of me.”
Her words surprised herself. She hadn’t realized how deeply she cared for Ryan’s safety. But her worry for him hadn’t only been about his safety. Her concern took her through forbidden territory. She and Ryan already had their chance at something special once before.
“You know that comes with the job, right? And if you’re worried about Katelyn, if that’s why you’re leaving, then we can do something about that. Because... I’m the one who’s supposed to protect you.” Now his tone had turned gruff.
Maybe he’d been right in the first place—about leaving. She’d go to the airport and hang out there. See about getting an earlier flight. She began stuffing everything back into her bag.
“You’re confusing me, Ryan. You’ve continued to insist that I leave. Insist that I go home where I’ll be safer. Now you sound like you want me to stay. The truth is, I’m only a distraction to your investigation. That’s all I’ve ever been. You need to focus. I’m sorry, I thought I could help.”<
br />
He stepped closer.
That made her heart beat all the harder.
“You have helped.” Deep need resonated through his tone.
Tori fought her trembling hands. “No. I sent us both in the wrong direction.”
“But Dee James knew something,” he said. “That was not the wrong direction.”
“I think... I think he was truly concerned for Sarah’s safety and Dee was killed for the same reason someone is trying to kill me. For something they thought he knew. Something they think I know. And now tonight the guy who followed me to the safe house and who rammed us, another of our leads in addition to Dee James, is dead.”
Ryan took a step toward her, as if he wasn’t already much too close. “Tori...”
Her heart skipped around inside at the way he said her name. She pressed her fingers over her eyes. “I can’t think clearly with you standing so close.”
In the room.
In the house.
In her life.
She huffed out a breath. “Just... I need to go. You were right all along. I shouldn’t have stayed. I’ve only messed everything up.”
“Tori, I—”
She avoided looking at his face or into his eyes. That was the only way she could keep from melting right into his arms. “Go, Ryan. I’ll call a cab. I can take care of myself.”
Her words had the wanted effect. He took a step back. “I’ll wait until I see the cab pick you up.”
“Fine. Do what you need to do.”
Still, she didn’t look at him as she moved to peek through the door and window to make sure it was safe to exit. Then she held the door open for him, hating this whole scene—but she had to be cold and calculated to let him go.
For herself and for him.
Finally she lifted her gaze to meet his. Ryan studied her, then his striking features turned severe. “Safe travels, Tori. I hope you’ll share with me anything you learn.”
He turned his back on her and exited the room.
Tori shut the door and leaned against it. She calmed her breathing. The room seemed to spin a little and felt lonely and empty with him gone. She’d been fine before he’d shown up. Hadn’t she?
She concentrated on getting her act together and getting herself to the airport. Once she was back on the job, she would be safer.
At least, Ryan had kept telling her that, and now she believed it, too.
She needed distance between herself and her attacker—and access to the FBI’s resources. That was the best way to catch this guy. She wouldn’t truly be safe until she’d discovered whatever this person thought she knew, and then she would take him down.
I’m coming for you!
Tori dug through all her belongings in search of another possible tracking device—Katelyn’s or someone else’s. Her belongings seemed clean. Not that it mattered, since Ryan knew exactly where she was at the moment. She had no doubt that he would follow the cab to the airport, and that was his choice, but she wouldn’t ride in a vehicle with him again and put him in danger.
She wouldn’t stay here any longer and put her heart in danger, either.
* * *
Ryan had borrowed Katelyn’s vehicle and waited inside. He’d have to pick up a new one tomorrow at the office when he went in to file reports. He really didn’t have time for all the paperwork, with everything going on.
Like now. He should be back at the station, writing up his reports, but instead, he watched the motel near the airport for signs of suspicious activity. Anyone who might be sitting and waiting on Tori, like he was.
Waiting on Tori.
Had that been what he’d been doing for the last several years? Had he been keeping busy with his job and pretending to find satisfaction in that while deep inside, he secretly hoped and waited for the day when Tori would come back to him? Pathetic. He’d let her go, and like the adage claimed, if she came back to him then she was his. And now that she was, in fact, back, had Ryan been harboring a hope that Tori would stay because of him? That she wanted to be with him?
He rubbed his eyes to push back the ridiculous thoughts. His reaction to her cutting out on him blindsided him. He should have been encouraging her to leave instead of desperately trying to keep her here. His motivations were purely selfish. He’d own that, sure. But they’d worked together well, he thought, and they could still work together well once on the other side of this investigation. When Sarah’s killer was caught and Tori was safe and sound. That had been a secret dream of his long ago—the two of them solving crimes together, and going home together. But she’d taken a different path.
Together until death do us part.
He coughed up a chuckle. Ryan truly loathed himself at this moment. A few more seconds and he might have found himself begging her to stay. It all proved to be a real eye-opener regarding his own character.
He could berate himself in the weeks and months to come, but right now he focused back on the situation. He had to keep Tori safe while she headed to the airport. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to ride with him.
Twenty minutes later a cab pulled into the parking lot.
Ryan stiffened. If someone had followed her here, this could be the moment they took action.
He started his vehicle and watched her get into the cab. The white minivan then steered slowly through the parking lot, which seemed to take an eternity. Ryan just wanted her at the airport—checked in and through security, where she would be safest.
Finally the cab turned onto the street and Ryan followed closely behind, hoping to provide a deterrence to anyone who thought about attacking her again.
The cab’s driver seemed to inch along the freeway and Ryan thought about calling Tori to have her ask the man to speed things up. But she’d made it clear she could and would take care of herself. Ryan followed the cab around the airport drive. Then he pulled up behind it when the cab stopped in front of the drop-off. Ryan didn’t get out but simply watched from the inside of Katelyn’s vehicle.
He watched Tori, waiting for the moment when she would glance back at him. He planned to give her a little wave. He also planned to follow her inside—from a distance. But she didn’t look back as she carried her duffel and laptop case into the terminal. Ryan left Katelyn’s vehicle at the drop-off zone and followed Tori inside. Until she was through the security gate, someone could still cause her problems. Even after she was through, they could try to harm her, but the chances were much lower considering no unauthorized personnel could carry a weapon through the security screening.
Inside the terminal, he stood back and watched and waited. If Tori knew he’d followed her inside, she didn’t let on. That she didn’t acknowledge him squeezed his heart, leaving him sick to his stomach.
Get a grip, man. Why had he let her get so deeply under his skin again?
Finally she moved through the security gate. He would have expected to breathe a sigh of relief, except he’d just let the love of his life get away from him again.
He made his way back to Katelyn’s vehicle, which he’d left illegally parked. Captain Moran called and Ryan gave him an update, relieved he could actually tell his captain that Tori was at the airport, waiting to board a plane. When he approached his vehicle, an airport cop was writing him a ticket. Ryan flashed his Maynor County Sheriff’s detective badge and explained his business and then got in.
Katelyn called as he pulled away.
He answered with “No, your vehicle isn’t wrecked. And yes, Tori is at the airport, checked through security. I’m heading home now.”
“I wasn’t calling to check up on you. Not really. You can take care of yourself, little brother.”
“Hey, I’m not your little brother just because I was born two minutes after you.”
“Uh-huh.” Katelyn chuckled. “I was calling because I’ve found an interesting connection
that you’re going to want to look into.”
FIFTEEN
Tori found a seat at the gate. She would go standby on the next flight back to South Carolina, which included a lot of connections. Still, that didn’t take off for another three hours, so this could very well turn into a long night. She decided she would put that time to good use, doing the same thing she would do in the motel room, only here she wouldn’t be constantly listening for someone approaching the door.
She could easily spot an approaching threat from where she sat at the gate, her back to the window and facing the inside of the terminal.
Ryan had been right to suggest she hang out at the airport, though part of her felt like a coward. But she didn’t want to die before she could solve the mystery of who killed Sarah. That person needed to pay for what he’d done to six people now, adding Dee James and Eddie Slattery to the group.
Sorrow for their loss left her hollowed out. If she and Ryan had solved the first murders sooner, then the others might still be alive.
Or...if Sarah hadn’t gotten involved in something that turned her into a target, all six people might still be alive. But it did no good to take that perspective.
While she waited to gain access to the flight home, she could work on her laptop. She sent her supervisor an email, notifying him that she was returning and would be back in the office tomorrow. She also thanked him for the flowers the department had sent for Sarah’s funeral, though she planned to send a handwritten note, as well. She had to tread carefully in how she explained the FBI’s possible connection to her sister’s death. She tried to focus on how best to word her email, but her thoughts kept going back to Ryan.
She’d been painfully aware of his vehicle following the cab, and that he’d gotten out and followed her inside, watching until she made it through security. A thousand times she’d considered approaching him or at least acknowledging his presence, but what would that solve? Nothing. It would only stir up the same old argument of whether she should stay or whether she should go, and those same unwanted emotions would erupt.
Target on the Mountain Page 16
