by Dana R. Lynn
When they admitted that there were, he said he wanted a look at the files as soon as possible.
“Chief.”
He turned back to Trevor. The troubled expression on the man’s face did nothing to quell the dread brewing inside him.
“Spit it out, Trevor. I need to know what I’m dealing with.”
Trevor pulled a section of the explosive device from the car. It looked so harmless just sitting in his hand. Not like something that had the ability to rip a body to pieces.
“This device here? I saw it frequently when I was an EOD specialist for the army.”
Explosives ordnance disposal specialist. Paul whistled. That type of job took guts and a rock-steady spirit. Those soldiers saw far too much carnage. Paul’s respect for Trevor skyrocketed.
Then he frowned. “You’re saying that we are looking for someone with a background in explosives, possibly ex-military?”
“I’d almost guarantee it, sir.”
Great.
He called Parker and had him come to pick up Irene and Mary Ann. Irene started to argue. He placed a finger against her lips, stopping her midword.
“Red, you’re tired, and who knows how exhausted that baby is. You both need a good meal and some sleep. And at your house, she can be free to walk around a bit more. I will be there tonight to keep watch. Parker will stay with you the entire time until I arrive, so you’ll not be alone.”
She nodded, although judging by the expression on her face, she wasn’t happy about it. Still, some of the tension had eased from her shoulders when he’d said he’d be at her house later.
Warning signs went off in his brain. The last thing he wanted was for her to grow too attached to him. Too dependent. He didn’t deserve that kind of trust. As soon as this case was done, life needed to go back to the way it had been.
Maybe it was about time he let her into the darker side of his past. He cringed, imagining the look of disgust that was sure to grow on her lovely face once she knew the real Paul Kennedy. It wasn’t a story he enjoyed telling. The only person alive who knew all of it was Jace. He didn’t even think his own mom and sister had figured out the whole truth.
Yet, as unappealing as it was, he needed to tell her.
But not now.
He was relieved when Parker arrived thirty-five minutes later to take Irene home. Thompson arrived, too. Presumably to give Paul a ride back to LaMar Pond when he finished at the hospital. As he walked back to the hospital to view the file from the camera, he saw the tow truck arrive to take his vehicle away.
He stopped and watched it. It was just a car. But right now, it was a reminder to him of just how very precious life was.
This was getting him nowhere. He needed to see if the security cameras had caught anything useful. Only then would he be able to get back to Irene. He could really go for a cup of hot, strong black coffee. The stuff in the thermos he’d made that morning was cold by now. Not to mention he had no idea if the perp had tampered with it. He grimaced. He could really use some coffee. If for no other reason than the caffeine might give him a boost to help him through the next few hours.
When they entered the hospital, Thompson excused himself. Paul frowned, but didn’t say anything. His frown turned into a grin several minutes later when Thompson rejoined him and handed his chief a hot cup of coffee from the cafeteria.
“You read my mind,” Paul exclaimed. Thompson grinned.
Going through the footage was tedious work. They had to view numerous frames before they found the section that corresponded with their arrival at the hospital.
“There. We’re pulling in now.” He pointed at the screen, seeing the two police cruisers pulling in and parking side by side. He watched as he got out and then walked around to let Irene out. She retrieved Mary Ann. They appeared to be talking. He couldn’t even remember what they had been talking about.
They moved out of the camera view. A few minutes passed. Suddenly, Paul noticed movement in the trees.
“Look! On the right!” Was that him?
Yep. It sure was. A young man on a motorcycle flew across the road and swerved into the parking lot. In fluid movements, he was off the bike and removed his helmet before he set to work on Paul’s car. There was no other movement on that side of the lot. They’d parked there to be away from others, little knowing that their perp would be bold enough to approach out in the open.
Within moments, Paul’s lock had been jimmied open and the bomb was in place. This was no amateur. As Trevor had surmised, the man was a pro. This was very obviously not the first bomb he’d ever handled.
When he was finished, their bomber cleaned up all traces of his presence and hopped back on the bike. As he hefted his helmet in one hand, he looked straight at the camera and jerked his right arm up in an arrogant salute, the movement sharp and precise. He knew exactly where the camera was and that they would look for him afterward. He wanted Paul to know who had killed Irene. Paul couldn’t hold back the shudder that rolled through him.
He wanted to close his eyes and forget about the scene replaying on the screen, though of course he couldn’t. Irene was counting on him. He forced himself to focus.
“Go back to where he was looking at the camera,” Paul ground out, fury boiling up inside him. He choked back the bile that was thick in his throat.
The screen froze on the man’s face.
“Bingo.” Paul narrowed his gaze at the image before him. In his mind, he was seeing a younger version of the same face, standing in the photograph beside Niko Carter. “I am going to find you and put you away for a long time, my friend. It’s time you learned the meaning of justice.”
* * *
Irene walked into her house and wanted to weep. Her mother walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel, Izzy at her heels. Mary Ann squealed at the sight of the dog. Irene set her down, knowing that the dog would watch over her. The scent of her mother’s meat loaf permeated the air.
Her mother made the best meat loaf.
“Mom, when did you get here?”
“Well, is that any way to greet your mother?” Vera smiled, taking the sting out of her words. “The boys were getting restless, so I brought them over.”
Irene hugged her mom, holding on until she got her emotions under control.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Mom. I am really happy to see you. And I can’t wait to see the boys. But it’s not safe for you to be here right now. Someone’s after me. They planted a bomb in Paul’s car.”
Vera gasped, her wrinkled hand flying to cover her pearly lipsticked mouth. “Oh, no! Are you okay? You don’t seem hurt. What about Paul? Was he injured?”
Irene placed a hand on her mother’s shoulder. Troubled tears clouded the older woman’s eyes. Irene understood. There was more than just fear in that look. Vera Tucker still mourned the daughter who had been killed twelve years before. She probably always would. Irene wasn’t sure you could ever completely heal from something like that.
“Easy, Mom. Everyone’s okay. Paul’s not hurt and he will be here after he finishes collecting evidence.”
“Mommy!”
The somber mood was dispelled as two whirlwinds swept into the room. Irene bent to embrace both of her sons, inhaling their little-boy scent. It brought with it its own form of comfort.
“Hey, guys. Were you good for Granny?”
“I was.” Matthew poked a thumb into his chest. Then he turned it toward his brother. “Not him, though. He didn’t wash his hands before he licked the bowl.”
Irene listened to their chatter as they set the table and sat down to eat. She asked Parker to bring in the high chair stored in the garage. When asked if he wanted to join them for supper, he refused politely.
“Smells good, ma’am, but I’m on duty. It would be more tha
n my life was worth if the chief thought I wasn’t protecting you properly.” He went back out to scan the perimeter again.
Irene blushed. Her mother flashed a satisfied grin her way.
“You can get those thoughts out of your mind, Mom. There’s nothing going on between Paul and me.”
Liar, her mind whispered. She ignored it.
“I didn’t say anything. Although if anything were to develop between you two, there’d be nothing wrong with that. You’ve been alone for three years now. That’s more than enough time to mourn. Now it’s time for you to move on.”
Move on. How did one do that?
After dinner, she helped her mother clean up the dinner dishes. There were leftovers. Although Irene protested, her mom insisted she keep them.
“It’s only me at home,” Vera reasoned. “I made enough for you and the boys to have another meal. And if I remember correctly, Paul enjoys my meat loaf, too.”
Irene rolled her eyes, ignoring her mom’s blatant matchmaking. If only her mom knew how impossible such a match would be. Irene didn’t want to tell her mom how broken she was, though. It would only cause her more heartache. Her mom had enough tragedies in her past. She didn’t need to add Irene’s problems to her burdens.
Parker walked Vera out to her car and then returned to his watch. Irene was thankful for his presence, but worry still chewed at her mind, nibbling away her confidence bit by bit. The criminals after her had attacked her so many times, despite the protection around her. What was to keep them from coming through one policeman to get her?
Soft weeping caught her attention, distracting her from her concern for Parker. She quickly tracked the sound back to the crib in the bedroom, Izzy on her heels. Mary Ann was holding tight to one of Matthew’s stuffed animals, his favorite crocodile. Hours earlier, Irene had watched as he’d handed it to her solemnly. Irene had swallowed tears at that one. Matthew loved that animal.
“She needs it more, Mommy. ’Cause she don’t have her mommy here.”
Her sweet boy. He made her so proud and broke her heart at the same time.
AJ had swung his arm around his little brother’s shoulders when he noticed his brother’s lip had started to quiver. “Come on, Matthew,” AJ had said, very mature. “You can sleep with Bubba.”
Matthew had perked up. Bubba was AJ’s prized stuffed cow. No one got to touch Bubba.
“Really?”
A sniffle brought her back to the present. Lowering the side, Irene reached in and lifted the small girl from the bed. Her bonnet had been removed, and her braids swung free over her shoulders, wisps of brown hair escaping from them.
“It’s all right, Mary Ann. I’m here.” She kept her voice soft, placing a kiss on the child’s forehead.
“Mam.” Mary Ann sobbed, burying her face in Irene’s shoulder. “Me mam.”
Tears spurted from Irene’s own eyes. “I know, baby. I know you want your mam. We’ll get you home just as soon as we can.” Sitting in the rocking chair, she slowly rocked the baby back to sleep.
As she was replacing her in the crib, her phone dinged.
Paul had sent a message. On my way soon.
Ok. Mom left meat loaf. She hit Send on the message.
A minute later there was another ping. This time she grinned at the message. I’m telling Thompson to use his siren. Your mom’s meat loaf is the best.
Irene watched out the window, waiting for him to arrive. She’d taken some Tylenol for the headache she felt coming on. The dull throb was just beginning to ebb when headlights turned into her driveway. Parker got up and joined the men at the car. She saw them chat for a few minutes before Parker waved and strode down to his own vehicle and left.
Thompson stayed in the car. Paul moved up to the door and knocked.
Irene became aware of Izzy pressing up against her side, fluffy tail slapping the ground with a thump-thump as she wagged it.
“I know, girl. I like him, too,” Irene whispered, petting the dog’s sleek head.
She opened the door and he stepped inside. More than anything she wanted him to pull her into his arms, the way he’d done earlier. But he didn’t, and she wasn’t about to make a move toward him. It wasn’t like she really wanted him to hug her. She reminded herself that she had no room in her life for another cop. And he was apparently trying to keep his distance, as well.
But his face... It seemed to have aged since that morning. Weariness emanated from him. When had she ever seen Paul so tired, so drawn? The answer was never. He’d always seemed to have the energy and drive of ten men. Now he looked like he was ready to fall over.
“Hey, you look beat. Come into the kitchen and get some meat loaf.”
He nodded, but had yet to say anything.
In the kitchen, she motioned for him to sit at the table. He complied, his movements weary. Now she was really concerned.
She set a plate of warm meat loaf and a baked potato before him and pulled a large frosted mug from the freezer. She filled it with milk and handed it to him. He tipped his head and drained most of the glass, setting it back on the table with an exaggerated “ah.” Just like her kids did.
A laugh escaped her. “More?”
“Please. I needed that.”
Finally, he spoke. She realized a grin was tugging at her lips and turned to hide it.
Soon, all inclination to grin faded. As he ate, Paul related what he’d found.
“It doesn’t make sense. Isn’t going after me in such a public way counterintuitive? Wouldn’t the kidnappers want to be staying under the radar?”
Paul nodded. “This is more than a random reaction, Irene. I think that we have some sort of kidnapping organization here. I need to contact the surrounding precincts. Both to see if they can lend us some manpower, and to let them know of the possibility of a kidnapping ring. I think the man who planted that bomb has gone rogue. And I think he’s ex-military.”
The room tilted. She had been leaning against the counter. Now she stood upright abruptly.
“Which means he’s someone with training.”
“Yeah.” Paul finished his meal and took his plate to the sink. “Tomorrow, I want to head into the station and see if I can find out who he is. Also, I need to find out as much info as I can about the new missing child and Mary Ann’s family. Do you think you’d be ready to make a trip Wednesday morning to Ohio?”
She thought of something. “My boss has been really lenient about me taking time off. But I do need to go to the meeting tomorrow.”
He tilted his head. “What meeting? I don’t remember anything about a meeting.”
“I had forgotten about it. But it’s for the family I was visiting when I first saw the bearded man. Tomorrow at four.” She waited anxiously.
His face grew fierce. “You’re kidding, right? How on earth can you go to a meeting when all this is going on?”
Her own temper rose. “I don’t want to lose my job! Others can handle the rest of the visits. I was brought on board after they were started. This case is all mine. No one else knows the family yet.”
He scowled. “You’re not going alone.”
She opened her mouth. He shook his head. “No way, Irene. It’s completely nuts, but I will let you go if I can go with you.”
She huffed, but secretly was relieved. “I wasn’t going to argue.”
“One more thing. My cruiser is not in shape to be driven. We’ll have to use your car.”
She started to wash the dishes. The air crackled between them. Tension, attraction, or both? As much as she tried to deny it, she could feel something brewing between them. Lord, help me to guard my heart.
After drying her hands on the towel hanging on the stove, she turned to find him watching her. Her breath caught in her throat. There was so much tenderness, so much longing
in that look, it robbed her of all thought. Then he straightened and the expression was gone. Had she imagined it?
“How about some coffee?” she asked, trying to ease the electric current between them.
He smiled. A slow, easy smile that made her pulse hike. “There’s never a bad time for coffee.”
She smiled back as she reached for the button on the Keurig.
“Irene, stop!” Paul’s shout reached her a moment too late, just as she touched the machine. Sparks flew out in every direction. A jolt shot through her fingertips at the same moment that Paul grabbed the broom from the corner and swept the machine from the countertop and into the empty sink.
Paul grabbed the fire extinguisher off the wall and used it to douse the smoking coffee maker.
For the second time that day, she’d escaped death because of Paul’s quick thinking. She knew in her bones this was no accident. Just as she knew the person responsible wouldn’t give up. What she didn’t know was if she’d survive the next time.
ELEVEN
Irene sat, dazed, as the smell of smoke filled the air. The smoke detector let out four shrill beeps before Paul yanked it off the wall, silencing it. Then Paul rushed to her side and called to her. She felt his warm hand on her shoulder as he gently shook her.
“Irene? Irene! Come on, Red. Can you hear me? Are you okay?”
She turned her head, stunned, and stared into his concerned gaze. “I’m fine. My hand feels funny, but the numbness is already fading.” She looked down at her shocked hand, amazed to find it looked completely normal. It felt like the tips of her fingers had been singed off.
She took in the countertop. The foam from the fire extinguisher had started to dissipate, but she could tell it would leave a mess behind it. The Keurig was damaged beyond repair. It had never had problems before. The machine was only three months old. Jace and Melanie had given it to her on her last birthday.
“That was no accident.” Her words were not a question. They left a bitter taste on her tongue. Fury and anguish battled for control. Not from the incident itself. No, her feeling of helpless anger was more due to the fact that someone had violated her home, had come into her personal space and tried to do her and her family harm. That was the final straw for her.
