by Lisa Harris
Her breath caught.
She’d seen him repeatedly the last two days.
He . . . he was following her.
He was following her.
Her instincts had been right on. While she’d been busy tailing someone, she was being tailed. Her pulse skyrocketed, roaring in her ears.
Stay calm. Remain calm. Do not let him know you’re on to him.
She could be mistaken.
Except she wasn’t.
The man struck up a conversation with the guy with a backpack in front of him in the coffee line. She had to slip out and away before he was the wiser. But then she might lose the man she followed, and that would cost her.
She would find a way to surprise her own shadow and find out what he wanted. Though she had the distinct feeling she already knew, in which case, the man was dangerous.
Nicole stepped out of the cafe at the same moment the sun broke through the clouds, nearly blinding her. She might lose the man she tailed, but at the moment, she had her own problems. She tugged the hood of her raincoat tighter and hurried around the corner. She wouldn’t head back to her vehicle just yet but needed to lose her own tail. Nicole hurried down the back alley, the absolute worst place to be if the guy caught up to her. But it was a good way to lose him. After passing three different business establishments, an employee stepped from an antique shop, pulling cigarettes from his pocket. Nicole used the opportunity to rush inside through the back door.
“Hey!” he hollered.
But he didn’t follow her. She hurried through the storage room and slowed as she exited the area, dashing around the counter and into the heavily-stocked antique shop that smelled of old musty items and vanilla incense. She caught her breath and pretended to be interested in antique clocks while she worked to calm her nerves.
A slender woman in her fifties approached and asked if Nicole needed assistance.
“Just browsing.” She smiled at the woman and moved to the front of the store, where she cautiously peered out the storefront window. Was it safe for her to head to her vehicle? Or should she take the bus and retrieve it later?
There. She spotted him.
Nicole’s pulse kicked up again.
The man who had followed her now stood in the shadows across the street, looking around, searching for her. Waiting. Her car was parked a few car-lengths down from him.
Heart pounding, she stepped from the window and almost knocked a display of wind chimes over.
“Is everything all right?” The older woman asked.
“Yes.” She tried to figure out what to do.
The woman continued to watch her, so Nicole smiled at her. “Um . . . Would you mind if I used your back exit?”
“You mean the one you used to enter the store?”
Nicole smiled. “I’m sorry about all this. I’ll come back in a few days and make a purchase.”
“No need. If you’re in trouble, let me call the police.”
“No,” Nicole replied too quickly. “Thank you.”
She gave the woman’s arm a reassuring squeeze. Her shadow had to be part of her on-going investigation to find her father’s killer—the police and the FBI had already had their chance over two decades ago, and now that Nicole was close to finding the truth, she couldn’t risk losing what she’d gained, and had to keep up the momentum. She headed to the back of the store, exiting into the alley. She would follow the man who tried to shadow her. She had to be quick about it before he moved from his spot.
She hurried around the corner and slammed into a man’s chest. He grabbed her arms.
Chapter Two
Reg stared at the terrified woman.
Eyes wide, she opened her mouth as if she would scream, then quickly closed it, anger gleaming in her eyes. He released her but left his hands hovering over her shoulders. He couldn’t let her get away until he’d gotten an explanation from her.
Nicole . . .
His heart rate kicked up at the sight of her.
Shocked rolled through him, and he wasn’t sure if the strong reaction had come because he hadn’t seen her in years or because the mere act of standing so close to her now unsettled him in ways he hadn’t expected. Ways he couldn’t even define.
He took in those striking blue-gray eyes that contrasted with her short blond hair and dark roots. The right side of her hair was cropped over her ear, and the left side hung stylishly to her cheek. She was more beautiful than he’d remembered.
With that same fire in her eyes, too.
Nicole took a step back.
Reg remembered why he was here. “What are you doing here?” Why are you—?
“I . . . I . . . I have to go.” She tried to push past him.
He gently caught her wrist. “What? No, ‘Hey, it’s been a long time’ spiel?” He huffed a laugh. “No, you wouldn’t do that because you aren’t surprised at all to see me.”
He held her gaze.
“Are you, Nicole?”
She averted hers.
Then glanced behind her. Nervous or scared, he couldn’t tell. The vibes pouring off her confused him.
Her chest rose and fell with her quickened breaths. “Look, I’m in a hurry.”
Nicole lifted her arm and tried to break free.
He tightened his grip on her wrist. Nu uh. You’re not going anywhere until I get answers.
“In a hurry to what? Follow me? I’m right here.” His grip had grown too tight, and he released her.
Crossing her arms, she tucked both hands away.
“Why have you been shadowing me all morning?” Or at least since he’d left Grandmother’s house to reacquaint himself with Windbarrow.
He knew she was no longer FBI. So what then. . . private investigator? She held her chin high, but . . . wait . . . “Someone hired you.” he guessed.
“Look, Reg, you have it all wrong.” She stepped back, putting more space between them. Preparing to escape? Why was she on edge?
“What’s going on? Why are you scared?” That wasn’t like the Nicole he’d known in the past—the girl who’d wanted to be an FBI Special Agent.
“It’s good to see you,” she said. “Maybe we can catch up later this week. I really need to go.”
Nicole walked past him down the alley.
He joined her and kept pace. “You’re not getting out of this that easily.”
They turned the corner and walked the alley between the shopfronts. Twenty yards away, a man stepped into the alley as if to block their path. He held a gun.
Which he aimed and fired.
A bullet hit the wall next to Reg’s head.
Instinct took over. Reg practically shoved Nicole around the back of the shops and into the alley where they’d collided moments ago.
“Run!” he shouted.
And wished he’d kept his gun with him.
Nicole sprinted, and Reg ran after her, remaining behind her as a shield against more gunfire if the guy followed. Footfalls resounded behind him.
Yep, the shooter had followed.
Another bullet whizzed by his head.
Nicole darted to her right and disappeared down another alley.
Reg trailed her into the next alley that would connect them with the storefronts. Gasping for breath, she paused at the sidewalk and turned back to him. He caught up and tugged her to the sidewalk in front of the shops. Broad daylight and witnesses could temper the shooter. Or not. Reg gripped her moist palm as they hurried up the street. Sticking to the sidewalk, they passed myriad shops until he found the public parking lot where he’d left his Range Rover.
He opened the passenger side. “Get in.”
Nicole climbed in as he raced around to the driver’s side. Tires squealing, Reg drove from the parking lot.
Driving Main Street in the town square at ten miles per hour could be dangerous. He watched the sidewalks and the streets for the shooter.
“I’m so sorry, Reg.” She gasped, her voice shaky. “I didn’t mean to drag you into thi
s.”
He glanced in the rearview mirror. So far, so good. Her words confused him. “What are you talking about?” He was the one who needed to apologize, but right now he needed to focus on getting her to safety.
“What do you think I’m talking about? The man who shot at me. I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”
“You think he was shooting at you?”
“Yes!” She raised her voice. “He was following me.”
She thought the man was following her?
He wasn’t sure what to think about that but breathed easier as he left Windbarrow behind. No one had followed them, though his relief could be short-lived. He turned onto the winding mountain road that hugged the Washington coast and would take him to Grandmother’s house.
But first, he needed to know more. The viewpoint ahead would work. He parked in the empty gravel turnout that overlooked this patch of rocky coastline, which broke up miles of sandy beaches. Reg scraped a hand down his face, then shifted to face Nicole.
A memory flashed. Reg and Nicole together, sitting in his vehicle looking over the ocean, only under different circumstances. In that moment in the past, he’d leaned over and kissed her. Felt her soft and eager lips. Longed for a future with her. She was everything he wanted.
Though he wanted all his memories back, maybe not this painful one and definitely not at this moment with her beautiful but sharp eyes watching him.
“Before we discuss what happened back there, let’s talk about why you were following me. Who hired you?” It had to be related to his narrow escape four months ago. He had to find out how she’d gotten involved. None of the scenarios racing across his mind were good.
She covered her eyes. “This is awkward, Reg. Please just take me back.”
“I’ll be happy to do that, except someone just shot at us, and I’m trying to unravel what’s going on. Just tell me who hired you.”
“You’re in danger. You need to take me back. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”
“Who hired you to follow me?” Didn’t she know that Reg wouldn’t let it go?
“Look, I needed this case. I needed the money. But, obviously, I failed, and something more pressing has come up.”
He just needed to confirm. . .“You’re working as a private investigator now, is that it?”
“Yes. And this situation is all kinds of awkward, I admit. Telling you . . .” Nicole shook her head and stared out the window. “If someone hadn’t followed me today and shot at us, I could have—”
“I recognized you, Nicole, and it didn’t take me long to realize you were following me. And the person who hired you to follow me is dangerous.”
She narrowed those striking eyes. “You think your grandmother is dangerous?”
Nicole struggled to maintain her composure. After all, she hadn’t been this close to Reg Jacobson since the night she told him good-bye after he’d graduated from the University of Washington, and she still had a year of college left. Her breath kept hitching and her cheeks warmed. But they were both in danger, and she could deal with her emotions later.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she thought back to those moments before . . .running from the shooter. The gunfire. The images, the sensations. The thoughts served as a slap in the face. The proverbial bucket of cold water. But when she opened her eyes again . . .
Reg stared at her with those warm brown eyes that could see right through her, reach into her soul, and caress her heart. And shoot, if he didn’t look good, even better up close. Once again, just being near him scrambled her focus.
His brows furrowed, and his eyes turned dark as he pressed his lips into a thin line.
Nicole shoved away memories of kissing those lips. Confusion emerged in his gaze. He’d been dead serious when he’d said the person who hired her was dangerous.
He shifted even closer. Oh, please don’t do that. She leaned against the door and gripped the handle.
“You’re saying my grandmother hired you?”
Her shoulders dropped, and she blew out a breath. She could forget getting paid for the job now.
“You’re lying.”
Lying? How dare he!
Nicole opened her mouth to explain, but her gaze was drawn to the approaching forest green SUV. Reg couldn’t see it with his back to her.
“Can we talk about this later?” She gestured to the window. “I’ve seen that SUV a few times too many the last couple of days. Maybe we shouldn’t take a chance that he’s found us.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Time to go.”
He shifted into gear then swerved out of the parking area and onto the road.
Nicole held on as he accelerated. “Where are we going?”
“I don’t know yet.”
She glanced in the mirror. “Doesn’t look like he’s following.”
Reg said nothing as he concentrated on the curvy mountain road. To the right was a rocky drop. At the bottom ocean waves bashed the outcroppings and sea stacks. Rain started again, and the windshield wipers too.
He passed the drive that would have taken them to his grandmother’s home. Good. If he’d taken that turn, she would have warned him away. No need to pull another person into the danger zone.
Emotion welled in her throat. She never should have taken this job. Desperation shouldn’t have driven her to think she could follow Reg Jacobson for even a day. And it wasn’t even that she’d taken the job, but following him, watching him, and now being in proximity with him brought back a hundred unbidden memories.
The road veered away from the coastal view and into the thick, temperate rainforest.
A life-size statue of a Tyrannosaurus rex burst from the greenery and drew her attention to the Dinosaur Gardens sign. Reg slowed and turned into the parking lot.
“Why are we stopping here?”
“We need to finish our conversation.”
He steered to the far end of the lot and parked in the shadow behind the garbage receptacle.
Reg pinched his nose then dropped his hand to look at her, that furrow between his brows deepening. “Let’s talk about this over coffee.”
“Are you sure it’s safe? Because I’m not sure that stopping at Jurassic Park is the right way to go.”
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of fake dinosaurs.”
“I just meant we could keep driving and find another place.”
“I need to hear your story, and I need time to think. Don’t worry. Nobody followed us.”
“Yet.”
Keeping up with Reg, she hurried along the path surrounded by sword ferns, old-growth trees, and lush green moss. Various life-size dinosaurs were dispersed throughout the rainforest garden inside the park.
Nicole continued to glance over her shoulder and look behind them, watching the parking lot. Reg had paid their entrance before she realized it. He tugged her forward through the entry gate, then weaved around a few families to find the gift shop connected to a cafe.
Inside the dinosaur-and-rainforest themed space, she slid into a booth that overlooked the greenery. Reg took the seat across from her and ordered coffee for them before sending a text. Apparently, he wasn’t ready to have a conversation until he had coffee. Had he failed to get coffee at the Sea Pine Coffee Shop? Or had he been tracking her the whole time, his intention to draw her in and catch her?
The waitress brought them a whole carafe.
“Thanks. I needed this.” Reg smiled at the short college-aged brunette as she poured coffee into their mugs.
Once the waitress left, Reg took a few sips, then stared at Nicole over the rim of his cup.
“Well?” she demanded. “Are we going to talk or what?”
Lowering his cup, he half grinned, some of his serious expression giving way. “So, you’re a private investigator now. What happened to the FBI?”
Nicole shrugged. “I was only working for the FBI because of what happened to my father. I thought that could help me find answers. Now, I’m out on my own,
and I have more time to investigate.”
“Still no leads?”
“Oh, I have leads all right. In fact, I’m sure that’s why someone followed me today.”
“I have some news for you, Nicole. That man wasn’t following you.”
“What do you mean? How do you know anything about it?”
“He was following me, not you.”
Chapter Three
Nicole’s lips parted, hanging partly open as her big eyes blinked.
“It would seem we’re both working off assumptions and misinformation,” he said.
“You’re wrong, Reg. You don’t understand.”
“Let’s go back to what you told me before. You said that my grandmother hired you.” His first instinct had been to think Nicole was lying or confused. Or someone had convinced her that Reg’s grandmother had hired her. Any way he looked at it, none of it was good.
“I wasn’t lying. And how dare you suggest I was.”
“You know it was her. You spoke to her in person.”
“Harriet Berringer called me up and hired me to follow you.” Nicole narrowed her eyes. “I feel like I’m betraying a client’s trust, but obviously things have gotten out of hand. I don’t think I should say more. I should leave.”
She tugged a few bills from her wallet and laid them on the table. Nicole got up and walked out of the cafe, and Reg let her go. That probably surprised her. But she undoubtedly needed space from him to clear her mind, just like he needed a few moments to catch his breath.
A clear head would help him figure out his next steps. But that was the problem, wasn’t it? He hadn’t had a clear mind since the accident, and Nicole’s sudden presence, sudden nearness, made things all the fuzzier. He chugged the rest of the coffee, left a tip to go with the bills Nicole left behind, then found her.
She stood beneath a ridiculously tall Brachiosaurus—the long-necked creature reaching beyond the tree tops. With her shorter hair, he could better see her beautiful neck as she peered at the creature. She seemed small and vulnerable. Reg feared the dinosaur was about the size of her troubles—overwhelming and deadly.
