by Lisa Harris
Soren cussed him. “No you can’t. Just get to the point.”
“Testy as ever, I see.” Cranston’s brows slumped low over his eyes, and he sat up far enough to set his drink on the table before him. “We may have a problem.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“An undercover officer apparently caught wind of our little...project. He was in the warehouse where we met last time and filmed our conversation.”
“What!?” Soren swore. “Security was your purview that night.”
Cranston patted the air in a calm down gesture. “My guys did their job. They swear no one was in there five minutes before our meeting. So someone had to have leaked information that led the officer to the place and he knew enough to get the job done. But it’s all been taken care of. The undercover officer is out of the picture and the evidence has been erased.”
“You killed a cop!?”
Cranston gave him a withering look. “I haven’t touched anyone. And none of this can be traced back to us. Trust me on that.”
“There is no us, and don’t forget it.”
Cranston blew a sound of dismissal. “There was plenty of us when we were first approached with this idea.”
Soren turned for the stairs. He was done here. But he couldn’t resist a parting warning tossed over his shoulder. “If any of this gets out, Cranston, you’re a dead man.”
Carter Cranston leaned back against the couch, relieved to have the meeting over. He tossed back the remaining whiskey in his glass and released a breath with puffed cheeks. At least Bane hadn’t stuck around, because the man terrified him. He was brutal and ruthless and wouldn’t hesitate to follow through on the threat he’d just leveled. Wouldn’t hesitate for even a blink.
And the truth was, Carter wasn’t at all sure that the leak was contained.
The undercover cop was dead, sure. Even the officer who might have seen some of the data on the phone. But there was the slight issue of the girl. The witness who’d spoken to the undercover officer before he died. She seemed to have slipped through their fingers.
One minute his man had been following her and the two detectives through the streets, and the next moment they had ducked into a restaurant. By the time his man had made his way into the dining room, they’d disappeared. And though he’d circled the block searching for them, he hadn’t been able to pick up their trail again. He’d reported that neither detective had returned to the station.
Yeah, the girl was a huge risk. They were going to have to find her.
If they didn’t, it wouldn’t only be Soren threatening his life.
The boss was going to be livid.
Speaking of that, it was time to make that call. He shored up his confidence and pulled his phone from inside his coat. This was as private a place as any.
The number rang three times.
“Hello?”
Carter pulled in a breath of confidence. “Boss, there’s been a little incident I need to report.”
Kate Dollinger paced the small space behind her desk in the front office of the Sheriff’s building, flipping back and forth from the picture to the video on her phone. When she heard the helicopter, she glanced out her window to see it flying past on the near horizon.
She squinted. What was that dangling from the belly? Scurrying around her desk, she pressed her face to the window to get a better look. She snatched up the pair of binoculars from where she kept them on the corner of her desk and trained them on the chopper in the distance.
Why in the world would Holden and Jay be flying with the back door of the helicopter open? And why was the descent rope dangling from the belly?
The helicopter disappeared from view behind the tall bank of trees this side of the airport.
Kate plunked her binoculars back on her desk and propped her hands on her hips. Her eyes narrowed. The alarm on her phone chimed and she slapped it off. It was time to leave already. On Thursdays and Fridays she went home at noon to watch her grandson while her daughter went to work.
Well, she would just have to be a little late today. Tapping her phone to her lips, she paced the office for the next fifteen minutes, getting nothing done. Finally, she heard Jay’s familiar clunking boots on the office steps.
She leapt to the stack of files she’d strategically set near the filing cabinet to look like she was busy organizing old cases.
Jay gave a start when he stepped through the door. “What are you still doing here?” He hooked his Stetson on the rack by the door. “It’s past noon.” He hurried by her and she could tell he didn’t want to talk.
She decided to let him get away with it this time. “Of course. You’re right.” She made a show of hurrying into her coat. Better keep the man pacified. “Where’s Holden?”
Jay waved a hand. “He’ll be along. You have a good afternoon.” With that, he disappeared into the bathroom at the back of the office.
She narrowed her eyes.
First, they hadn’t let her see what was in that orange bucket, then they’d scurried around making calls that they hadn’t let her place and gathering a cooler and ice of all things, and now Jay had returned without Holden and wasn’t speaking to her in anything but short chops.
This was probably the first truly important thing that had happened since she’d been hired. And it was crucial that she stay on top of things. And they were blocking her from the information she needed.
Where could the sheriff be?
She headed to her car and fumbled to get her key in the lock. Tonight was sure to be another sleepless night.
Chapter Ten
The warmth of the shower helped revive Camryn, and she felt like a new woman by the time she slipped into the clean clothes and headed down the stairs to find the kitchen. The bagginess of the clothes was driving her crazy, and she didn’t have on any makeup. But she hadn’t been wearing much yesterday either, so it wasn’t like her appearance was going to be a shock to the sheriff.
The tantalizing scent of garlic and beef wafted from the kitchen, making it easy to find.
When she stepped into the room, Holden looked up and smiled. “Feeling better?” He took her in from head to toe as he wiggled a basket of french fries in a deep fryer.
She rested her elbows against the bistro-height marble bar on one side of the island. “Yes, thank you. Whatever you are making smells delicious.”
“There’s not much in this world that a barbecued cheeseburger can’t fix.”
“Yum!” Her stomach rumbled at the thought.
“It’s a bit cold for the back patio, but the dining room has a nice hundred-and-eighty-degree view.” He indicated the table which was set into the curve of a prominent bay window.
“I can’t imagine there’s a room in this house that doesn’t have a nice view. Can I help you with anything?”
He shook his head. “The fries are done, I’m just serving them up, then we can eat. I’ve already set the table. What can I get you to drink?”
“Water is great thanks.”
He had been right about the view, she thought, as she sank into her seat. “How do you ever leave this place? I think I might sit right here and never move.”
He smiled as he set a plate before her. “I was thinking about that this morning when I saw how amazed you were at the view. I guess, living here, we tend to take the beauty all around us for granted.”
“Speaking of taking things for granted, I don’t think I’ve thanked you for your willingness to keep me safe. I’m sure that wasn’t on your agenda for the next two weeks.”
He waved dismissal. “Glad I could help. It’s all part of the job. Speaking of that, let’s lay down some ground rules for while you are here. I don’t want you leaving the house unless you let me know so that I can go with you. And I’d really prefer that you stayed off the grounds. Too much risk of anyone who happened to be passing by seeing you and wondering what you’re doing here.”
And just like that her appreciation and gratitude dissipated.
The thought of leaving the house hadn’t even crossed her mind yet, but the fact that he had told her she couldn’t made her want to go exploring. “I thought you said you lived on twenty acres and your neighbors were gone during the day.”
He swept a french fry through the pile of ketchup on his plate and held it as he replied, “True. The chances are slim that anyone would see you. But I would like to keep them as slim as possible.”
Her irritation mounted. “This is all so ridiculous.”
He didn’t seem fazed by her perturbation. “There’s a library at the end of the hall if you like to read. And the TV in the living room is hooked up to the Internet, so you can stream whatever you like. Make yourself at home in the kitchen if you like to cook. I can get you whatever groceries you might want from town. Look at it as an unexpected vacation.” He gave her a smile.
She drew patterns in her ketchup with a french fry. “The problem is, I can’t afford a vacation right now.” She stuffed the fry into her mouth. Maybe that would keep her quiet. She hadn’t meant to blurt out her financial woes.
He snagged the roll of paper towels from the middle of the table and tore one off to use as a napkin. “Actually, if it’s work you’re looking for, I might have some things that you could help me with. The department has been needing some file organization. I could bring some boxes home on the pretense of working on them myself, but I’ll pay you to do it for me.”
Her relief at the offer was so sudden and palpable that it brought tears to her eyes. “That would be such a blessing. I am really good at organization. And research. If you need help with research, I can do that too.”
Holden tore off another paper towel and handed it to her. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
She dabbed at her eyes. “It’s not you. I think I’m simply exhausted, and so much has happened in the last twenty-four hours that my emotions are all over the place.”
“Well, as soon as we are done eating you can go up to your room and take a long nap if you want. Did you get any clothes ordered?”
She shook her head. “No. Not yet. I will do that right after lunch. But I was wondering…” She tucked her lower lip between her teeth, unsure how to broach the subject of paying for the clothes. She had always made it a practice not to keep a credit card. She had a debit card, but her bank account was running on fumes until her next check deposited.
He snapped his fingers, seemingly able to read her thoughts. “Right. I need to give you a credit card.”
She relaxed a little. “Yes. Thank you.”
It didn’t take them long to polish off their burgers and fries, and then he rose and took their plates to the sink. “Give me a moment to grab my wallet.” He disappeared down the hall.
She took the opportunity to step to the windows to take in the amazing view once more. She didn’t see how anyone could get used to such beauty.
He returned and handed her a card. “Buy whatever you need.”
“Uh…” She fidgeted a little, feeling helpless at having to ask for every little thing. “I don’t seem to have any cell-service out here. Could I get a password to your Wi-Fi so that I could use my phone to place the clothing order? And the address for this place?”
“Of course. Sorry. I should have thought to offer those right off the bat. I can give you the password to the Wi-Fi. But you are more than welcome to use my laptop. That might be easier than trying to order on your phone.”
Again, her relief was palpable. “Yes. That would be helpful thank you.”
When he showed her to the computer room and she sat at the desk, she glanced at the card and noticed it had his name on it. She offered it back to him. “Did you give me the wrong card?”
He waved a hand. “No, it’s the right one. I’ll leave you to it.” He left before she could say more.
She tapped the card against one palm, considering. Would his expense card have his name on it? It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility. She didn’t want to be a charity case. But neither did she want to pester him if this was indeed his office card.
With a sigh, she decided to leave it be. She jiggled the mouse to wake up the computer.
It only took her a few minutes to find some of her favorite brands and place her orders. Her face blazed as she pressed buy on several pairings of underthings. She would need to make sure to be the one to open all of the boxes.
She didn’t see him in the main part of the house when she was done so she tucked the card into the small zippered pocket of the sweats she was wearing and retreated to her room. Maybe a short nap would help her power through the rest of the day.
She was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow.
Holden woke the next morning with a concern weighing on him. If he was going to stay out here at his place to protect Camryn, he needed to present the office—check that—he needed to present Kate with an excuse.
Jay and August, his other deputy, were trustworthy and wouldn’t breathe a word of why he was out here, but Kate most definitely would grow curious and start gossiping if he didn’t come up with a good reason. And the last thing he wanted was for word to get about town that Camryn was at his place. Everett was just across the water and a little south. There was always someone who knew someone, and word could spread like wildfire—especially when you didn’t want it to.
Maybe the fact that he hadn’t taken a vacation for the entire time he’d been San Juan’s sheriff would suffice? He immediately cast that idea aside. Kate would never believe he was taking a spur-of-the-moment week off.
He could claim to be under the weather. That could work. At least for the first week. After that, he would see where the case was at and figure out another excuse if he needed to. He didn’t like the deception, but like Rahab who had lied to save the spies, he felt like this time he could justify it.
He glanced at his watch. Kate wouldn’t be in the office yet. She was likely still at Sunkissed Biscuits, the bakery across town, picking up their every-other-day order of apple turnovers and cheese Danishes. He’d give it another ten minutes.
He pulled out one of the packages of bacon he’d purchased from a local butcher shop when he’d bought a whole hog last year. Seeing only three packages left in the freezer reminded him he needed to put in another order.
By the time he heard Camryn coming down the stairs, he had the bacon draining on a paper towel, eggs whisked and waiting in a bowl, and an assorted variety of veggies chopped.
She stepped into the kitchen right as he was reaching for a paper towel to wipe his fingers.
This morning she’d tucked her hair up into a messy bun that appeared to be held in place with a couple pencils. She’d rolled every item of his clothing to get them to fit better. The waist of his sweats was rolled down, while the hems were rolled up and tucked tight. She’d tied a knot in one corner of his jersey, and the effect drew his attention to her slender waist.
The woman was positively stunning.
She gave him a funny little look. “Morning.”
Holden was chagrined to note that his hand remained frozen only midway to the roll of paper towels. He snatched one off and concentrated on wiping the green pepper juice from his fingers. “Morning. Hope you slept well.” He hadn’t seen her since after lunch yesterday.
She wrinkled her nose. “Maybe tonight. I fell asleep early, but then I woke at ten and couldn’t seem to catch more than a few minutes each hour after that. I finally gave up around three and have been reading a book I took from the shelf in my room. I hope that was all right.”
“Of course.” He wadded the paper towel and tossed it in the trash. “It can be hard to relax after a trauma such as you experienced. But I want you to know I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You are safe here with me.”
He propped his hands on his hips and searched her face, hoping she believed him. He wanted her to be at ease. But after only a moment he could no longer hold her gaze. He pried at a tile with one toe and prayed he wouldn’t be made a liar
like last time.
“I’m sure I will be. I still am unconvinced I even need protection. I don’t think it was fear that kept me awake. Just...so many thoughts running through my head.”
A little warning bell called for his attention. “I hope you will take seriously the reasons why the detectives put you in PC—protective custody. We—they don’t do that for trivial things. They wouldn’t have asked me to watch you if there wasn’t a real threat to you.” He took in her wide brown eyes. “I don’t say that to frighten you, but to beg you to please take my instructions seriously. He stopped short of telling her what had happened the last time he’d been assigned to protect a woman and she hadn’t followed his orders.
She seemed to gather herself as she wrapped her arms about her waist. “I need to call my job and let them know I won’t be coming in for a while.”
He considered. Could he let her call in? Or was it better for her simply to show up and ask for forgiveness later? That might cost her the job. On the other hand, calling in without notice to tell them she couldn’t work for two weeks would also likely cost her the job. It was better to be safe.
Holden shook his head. “Afraid you can’t do that. Too much risk of the call being traced. All they’d have to do is pinpoint the call to the island, and then it wouldn’t be hard for them to figure out who you are staying with. In fact, have you made any calls since you’ve been here?”
She shook her head. “No. I have no service.”
Thank the Lord for that.
“Good. Don’t call anyone. These people, they murdered two cops, and if they were willing to go that far, it means they really, really don’t want any loose ends to whatever they are trying to cover up.” He hesitated. He didn’t want to be harsh, but last time he’d erred on the side of allowing his charge to keep her innocence. He couldn’t afford to do that this time. “You could be one of those loose ends. Understand? If they’ve deemed you a threat, they will be out there looking for you. You can’t do anything to help them find you. Got it?”
