Dead Center

by Susan Sleeman

  He steered their conversation toward a safer subject. “How are you doing today? You know, after the swat.”

  “Honestly, I’m more mad than anything.” She lifted her chin in the cute defiant angle that he loved. “That some person made a simple phone call and my door was broken down, and I was held at gunpoint. It’s unbelievable. Totally unbelievable. And yet it happened.”

  At her unease, Grady clenched his hands on the wheel. “Unfortunately, it’s becoming far too common. And it’s dangerous. Puts both responding officers and private citizens at risk. People have even died.”

  “Swatting is just so bizarre to me.” She swiveled to face him. “Who even thought of swatting someone in the first place?”

  “Video gamers started it. They’d make the call during a live game, and then watch the SWAT response play out in real time on their screen. They get a big thrill from it.”

  She shook her head. “I just don’t get it. Especially when the swat is directed at complete strangers.”

  “More often it’s targeted, and we need to remember that this caller could strike again.”

  She shivered.

  He’d scared her. Not his intention. “It’s okay. You’ll be fine. You have Drake or another deputy assigned to you. And I’ll be with you every time you leave Veritas, too.” He glanced at her then. “You know I would give my life to keep you safe, right?”

  Her mouth fell open. “But I…we…I mean, sure. I’m attracted to you, but that’s as far as it goes. Offering your life seems like so much more than that.”

  She sounded like she was trying to convince herself that she didn’t have feelings for him. He understood the struggle. Appreciated it, even, but it was irrelevant to their discussion. His desire to see her safe wasn’t about love or anything like that, and he had to make sure she understood so she didn’t balk at his help.

  “This isn’t personal.” He held her gaze for a second. “It’s just who I am. How I was raised and what I learned in the military. I’d protect anyone in danger.”

  She clasped her hands in her lap and stared down at them, sitting silently for the longest time before taking a deep breath and easing it out. “You grew up in Nebraska, right?”

  Hmm. A change in subject. Avoidance? Maybe. But he wouldn’t push.

  “I guess you’ve seen the bazillion Cornhusker things in my lab.” He flashed her a grin.

  She nodded but didn’t return his smile like he’d hoped.

  “You got something against Nebraska?”

  “Not at all. In fact, I don’t know anything about it, except that they’re big into football, and I’ve told you how much I dislike it.”

  It honestly didn’t bother him that she wasn’t into sports, but he was curious about the reason. “But you’re a Texan. How’s that possible?”

  “Most Texans are obsessed with the sport, but I never liked athletics in general. I was more a sit under the big weeping willow at the library and read kind of person. Ethan was the opposite. He loved football and played since he was a little kid. He talked about it nonstop with my parents. I was often left out of the discussion. In hindsight, I can see I got fed up and chose to exclude myself. But back then I was jealous of the time my parents devoted to the sport. The booster club. Going to games. Stuff like that.”

  “My family was the same way. My sisters were kind of left out during the season, so I can understand how you feel.”

  “It was more than that for my mom,” she said. “My dad walked out on us when I was thirteen. Haven’t seen or heard from him since. At the time, the football booster club was the only social thing Mom had, and she really dove in.” Ainslie sighed, and her years of neglect lived in the exhaled breath. “I even joined drill team to be a part of things. I didn’t like it, but I kept at it until I graduated.”

  She might not have enjoyed drill team, but man, he would’ve loved to see her kick up those long legs on the field. Still, she had a visceral dislike for his favorite sport, and there was no hope of him ever watching a game with her. Was that a deal breaker? Could he date a woman who detested his favorite sport? He knew he placed too much importance on football. Sports in general. Maybe he was compensating for not having a significant other. If he ever formed a serious relationship, he could see cutting back. But giving it up totally? Never.

  She dug her phone from her purse. “I should call Ethan’s attorney and get the ball rolling on the things we discussed in the meeting.”

  “Of course.” He knew she needed to make that call, but it seemed like she was doing it now to avoid talking with him. He was probably being too sensitive. Ha! Him, sensitive. That was a good one. He’d never been accused of that.

  He checked the mirror to make sure he hadn’t lost Drake and listened to her side of the call. He gathered that the public defender was finding every reason possible not to do his job. When she hung up, she let out a breath that seemed to go on and on.

  He glanced at her. “Problem?”

  “This guy doesn’t appear to have any sense of urgency.” She shoved her phone into her purse. “Or maybe he’s just overworked. Either way, he’s not acting real concerned about Ethan remaining behind bars.”

  Grady gritted his teeth. She should hire an attorney for Ethan, but he knew she couldn’t afford one. He’d offer to pay for it, but that wouldn’t be well received. Not when she’d seemed disinclined to accept any help to begin with.

  But he also couldn’t abide seeing her looking so dejected. “I promise we’re taking the investigation very seriously and will do our best for Ethan.”

  “I don’t doubt that one bit.” She smiled at him, but underneath the soft curve of her lips, a hesitancy lingered.

  “Something else wrong?” he asked as he concentrated on exiting the freeway to enter a busy downtown Portland street.

  “Wrong?” She eyed him. “No. Why?”

  “You look uneasy about accepting our help, and last night it was clear that you didn’t let people help you often.”

  She sat silently, twisting her hands in her lap. He let her be and made the turns the GPS voice directed him to make.

  “I have a thing about people butting into my life,” she said. “We were dirt poor growing up and had to count on charity. Some people meant well, but others were condescending. I was teased in school, and I hated every bit of it. So when I became an adult, I vowed to stand on my own two feet no matter what.”

  “This isn’t charity. Not that that’s a bad thing either. This is just the team living our faith. Helping a fellow Christian. Investigations like this are costly, and most people can’t afford them. So we help out wherever we can, and there’s no reason to feel bad.”

  She didn’t look convinced. “I wish there was a way I could pay you all back.”

  “We don’t need that. Working for Sierra is thanks enough. She keeps giving you glowing praises and saying how you’ve made her life so much better.”

  “I’m glad.” Ainslie gave a firm nod as if she’d cemented something in her mind. “I like working with her and at the center. It’s so cool to be part of cutting-edge forensics, and I have no plans to leave.”

  “Not even if you become a famous landscape photographer and your photographs make you fabulously wealthy?” He grinned in hopes of lightening the mood.

  She rolled her eyes and laughed, but she sobered quickly and pointed at the entrance to the Multnomah County Detention Center. He scanned the stone columns and facade of the tall building. He always found it odd that a jail sat right in the middle of a busy city, but it was part of the Justice Center, so it made some sense.

  Ainslie picked up her purse. “You can drop me off if you want and go park.”

  He opened his mouth to warn her to be more aware of the potential threat to her life, but he didn’t want to go overboard and scare her. “I can’t let you go in alone.”

  He could feel her watching him, her gaze intense. “You really are taking this bodyguard duty seriously.”

  “You bett
er believe I am.” He passed the entrance and circled the block until he found two spaces so Drake could park, too. He killed the engine and wanted to get his gun from the locked console where the law required him to keep it while driving, but he couldn’t carry on county property.

  He jerked out the key and looked at her, trying to convey that warning he’d just held back. “Give me a second to check things out.”

  “Okay.” She unbuckled her seatbelt but didn’t open the door.

  He stepped out of the truck. He carried his gun so often that he almost felt naked without it. Drake marched down the sidewalk. Good. He could have his weapon in the waiting area. Grady searched the surrounding area. He didn’t find an imminent threat and opened the door for Ainslie.

  He stuck by her side as they moved up the steps. Drake scoped out the area just like Grady was doing. He escorted Ainslie safely to the lobby and blew out a relieved breath.

  She marched toward the registration desk and metal detector. He stood back with Drake, still watchful until she moved through security and disappeared behind a door.

  Grady’s gut clenched. He didn’t like the thought of her entering a place where men were incarcerated for a variety of crimes. He could only imagine how she must feel. Something Grady could do only one thing about. Pray.

  Can you help us out here, God? Help us find a way to clear Ainslie’s brother while keeping her safe? Show me what to do, please. Oh, and yeah. Along the way, help me ignore these feelings for her, because I can’t do it on my own.

  “Gonna be awhile,” Drake said, drawing him back. “Might as well sit.”

  Drake chose a place where he could both face the door and keep an eye on the entrance to the jail. Not surprising. It’s exactly what Grady would’ve done if he decided to sit down. No way either of them would put their backs to the door.

  “I heard Nick is tracing the swat call,” Drake said.

  Grady nodded. “He wasn’t too optimistic that he’d find the guy, though.”

  “Yeah, that’s what our IT guy said, but I figured Nick could do just about anything.”

  “Me, too. At least that’s what he’s been telling us for years.” Grady chuckled.

  Drake smiled. “He’s no different than the rest of you.”

  “How’s that?”

  “You all think you’re the best in your area of expertise.”

  “Well, aren’t we?” Grady asked.

  Drake rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but clearing Ainslie’s brother? I reviewed the case against him last night. I have to say, it might take even more than the wonder team’s abilities to get the charges dropped against him.”

  7

  Ainslie entered the large visitor’s area filled with small square tables. Armed deputies stood in various locations, their eagle eyes fixed on her every movement. She disliked every second of being in such a foreign place and pulled in a deep breath of air that smelled like pine disinfectant. She spotted Ethan in the ugly blue prison garb that looked so much like hospital scrubs. He was sitting at a table for two, and she headed his way. His stooped shoulders and sorrowful eyes made her want to give him a big hug. She couldn’t. Touching wasn’t allowed.

  “Hi.” She tried to sound cheerful even though his normally cheerful blue eyes were dark with worry, and one was ringed with a huge purple bruise from the bar fight. His hair hung limp on his head like a mop, and his beard was scruffy. He was already a slender guy. Staying here, he was bound to lose weight.

  She ignored it all and put a smile on her face. “I’m so glad to see you. How are you holding up?”

  “Honestly, not so good.”

  She sat on the stool across from him. “I’ve got some good news.”

  His expression perked up. “I’m getting out of here?”

  “Not quite that good.”

  His smile fell.

  “But it’s still great news.” She scooted closer and resisted the urge to cover his hand resting on the table. “You know about the center where I work, right?”

  “Yeah, they do all kinds of fancy testing for cops.”

  That was an oversimplified version of what they did, but she left it at that. “Right, well, the partners have agreed to investigate the charges against you to help prove your innocence at no cost.”

  He pursed his lips and tilted his head. “And can they prove it, do you think?”

  “I do,” she said honestly. “I really do.”

  He started tapping a nervous finger against the table. “How?”

  She didn’t want to share potential leads and then disappoint him. Better to wait until she had results to report. “We’re working out the details.”

  “Sounds good.” His disappointed tone didn’t go with his statement.

  Bringing him down more was the last thing she wanted to do, but she had to talk to him about Bittner. She shared the details of the swat, sticking to facts and trying her best not to let him know how much it had terrified her.

  His face paled, his finger stilling midair. “And you’re okay? Not hurt?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “But it had to scare you to death.” He let out a long shuddering breath.

  “I’m okay now,” she said calmly to play it down, though it was going to take a long time for her to get over the terror of the night. “I want to find out who did it. Any ideas who might want to swat me?”

  He sat silently, staring at his hands that were covered with cuts and scabs from the fight. “You’re the most upstanding person I know. Who would target you?”

  He didn’t answer her question. Asked one of his own. Was he hiding something from her?

  Had he shot Wade? How could she think that way? If she was going to clear his name, she couldn’t question his innocence. She had to believe in him at all costs or she might inadvertently convey doubt to the Veritas partners. “The deputies who busted down my door think this is related to Vito Bittner. That you knew him. Maybe helped him escape.”

  “That’s nuts!” His voice shot up, catching the eye of the nearby guard. He gave them a warning look. Ethan lowered his voice and slid closer. “I didn’t say a word to Bittner. I’d heard all about him and was too afraid to even look at him. Didn’t want him to notice me. So I stayed in the corner of the holding cell and kept my head down. Other guys talked to him, and he bragged about himself, but he left me alone.”

  Poor Ethan. She desperately wanted to take his hand and comfort him. If she thought she’d been afraid during the swat, she couldn’t imagine coming face to face with a guy like Bittner. And having to sit in a holding cell with him. One minute her brother had been a free man, and then he’d been locked up with a brutal killer. So unfair.

  How could You let that happen? Why? Can’t You see he’s suffering? Where are You?

  “Sis,” he said. “You okay?”

  She nodded, but she wasn’t okay. Seeing her baby brother in this situation broke her heart. She’d taken responsibility for him since their dad bailed and their mom couldn’t cope. When her mother died a few years back, Ainslie took on even more responsibility for Ethan. Now, she was failing him. Big time. And here she was questioning him and God. Making things worse. To help Ethan, she had to keep him talking.

  She planted her hands on her knees and sat up straighter. “You said Bittner bragged. Maybe you heard something about a person who might be working with him to make that swat call.”

  Ethan gave a forceful shake of his head. “No. Nothing like that.”

  Okay. So that was a dead end. “What about Wade? Did he hang with anyone who might do this?”

  Ethan shrugged. “I don’t know much about him these days.”

  “But you were still friends when he said you shot him, right?”

  “Sorta.”

  This was the first time she’d heard him waffle on his friendship with Wade. “What’s going on, Ethan? You’ve never said there was an issue with Wade before he said you shot him.”

  Ethan curled his fingers into fists. “It’s no big
deal. We hung out a few times after he showed up in Portland. That’s all.”

  “Did he tell you why he came here? I mean it’s odd, right, with us living here?”

  “He said it was about his job. Maybe it’s easier to sell guns here or something.”

  “Wait! He sells guns?”

  Ethan nodded.

  “Why didn’t you mention that before?”

  He shrugged. “Never came up, I guess.”

  “Well, I can’t imagine that Oregon is a friendlier gun state than Texas, but I honestly don’t know about that.”

  “Me neither.”

  “But Wade looked you up, right? You didn’t go looking for him?”

  He nodded. “We aren’t like friends or anything. I’ve got enough issues to be friends with someone who sells illegal guns.”

  “Illegal?” She had to work hard not to raise her voice. “You didn’t say that.”

  He scooted closer. “Because I don’t know for sure. He claimed everything he did was legal. But then, I wanted to see if I could find out more about him and searched the internet. I found out he had a record for dealing stolen guns. So I figured he might be lying to me.”

  Ainslie resisted sighing over his decision to have anything to do with Wade after learning he was into illegal gun sales. “So why keep seeing him then?”

  Ethan shrugged.

  “C’mon, Ethan.” She eyed him with her best older sister stare that usually got him to confess when he’d been up to no good. “You’re keeping something from me. If you want my help, you have to tell me everything.”

  He crossed his arms and leaned back, a stubborn set to his expression. When he took this stance, he’d clammed up, and it was a waste of time to continue to question him. A waste of time today. Today only. She would come back to this topic when she returned tomorrow and press him harder. And tell Blake to push, too.

  She stood. “One of my co-workers named Blake Jenkins is going to come and talk to you. He’s a partner at the Veritas Center and wants to follow up on some questions.”

  His color paled. “Like, what questions?”