by Robin Perini
He didn’t say anything, and after one long look back at him, she ducked into the tent and zipped it closed.
Stefan let out a long sigh. Man, he was in more trouble than he’d thought.
He forced himself back to the makeshift table, familiarizing himself with every photo, every case file, everything Faith had compiled on her ex-husband. She might believe there was only one choice, but he would convince her to let CTC help. He’d run through every scenario.
He wouldn’t risk Faith and Zoe to a madman.
By the time he raised his head, the afternoon sun beat down on the campsite. He stood and let out a long groan. He couldn’t find a hole in her theory, and he was no lawyer, but her case wasn’t a slam dunk. She’d fit together a plethora of damaging coincidences and the closest fact she had to a smoking gun was her own eyewitness testimony. A defense attorney would not only tear her apart, her discovery also placed a crosshair directly on her back.
Maybe she should run. Maybe he should call Annie right now, except imagining Faith and Zoe looking over their shoulders for the rest of their lives didn’t sit well. He understood the pitfalls all too well. No, he needed more time. There had to be a way to eliminate Burke as a threat.
After a last glance at the tent where his guests still slept, Stefan wandered over a couple of small dunes, through the shrub bush, until he was out of earshot. He dialed a familiar number on his sat phone.
“Sheriff’s office,” the dispatcher’s voice answered.
“Blake Redmond, please.”
“I’d recognize that smooth, mysterious accent anywhere. How are you, Mr. Royce?”
“Waiting for you to accept my proposal, Miss Iris.”
She chuckled. “My husband of fifty-five years might not like that. The sheriff’s pacing in his office cursing at the walls, I’d venture to say. That jerk he brought in for kidnapping that sweet girl ain’t talking and Blake’s spittin’ mad. Hold while I connect you.”
A click sounded through the earpiece.
“Redmond.” The terse greeting didn’t leave any doubt as to the sheriff’s frustration.
“He won’t talk, huh?” Stefan asked.
“You charm Iris out of that information?”
“Of course.” He didn’t have to tell Blake his dispatcher was also the town megaphone when it came to gossip.
“I should fire her, but she wormed her way in here after we lost Donna several years back. She’s kind of like mold. Once she’s there, she’s tough to get rid of.” A wooden creak indicating Blake sat in his chair filtered through the phone. “The guy’s clammed up. I’m getting nowhere. I need to interview the girl and her mother.”
“Look, Blake—” Stefan rubbed the base of his neck.
“Damn. I recognize the tone in your voice,” the sheriff said in exasperation. “Let me guess. Things are worse than we thought, and she needs to hide and can’t come into the station.”
“You’re good at this.”
“No, I’m not, but every time I get involved with CTC I end up sitting back and doing nothing and the problem just vanishes. Am I going to uncover a bunch of dead bodies on that ranch someday?”
“I doubt it. Ransom doesn’t leave evidence.”
A long sigh escaped from Blake. “I know you guys help people I can’t, but it gets old.”
“You could always join up. There might be an opening soon.” Stefan deliberately allowed his words to reveal more than he usually did.
Blake didn’t respond for a few seconds. “You thinking about leaving?”
“Let’s just say it’s time for a change.”
“I’m happy with my family and my life here, thank you very much. Why don’t you quit trying to veer me off my target? What’s going on?”
“You’d be a good operative,” Stefan acknowledged. He kneaded the back of his neck. “Between you and me, her ex is searching for her, and he doesn’t wear a white hat.”
“Sheriff!” Iris’s voice squealed through the phone. “Come quick.”
“What the hell?” A wooden crash erupted through the phone. “I’ll call you back.”
The phone went silent.
Stefan waited for a few moments, but when Blake didn’t immediately get in touch with him, he made his way back to the campsite. He’d try again later. Hopefully the emergency had nothing to do with Stefan’s witness, but he had a bad feeling.
His footsteps soundless, Stefan crossed to the pile of evidence and took out the wedding photo of Burke Thomas and Faith. The man oozed charm and an easy smile. Of course, so had Ted Bundy.
“That’s my daddy when he was nice to my mom,” Zoe said from his side.
Stefan jerked in surprise. He quickly shoved the other photos into Faith’s folder. The kid was light on her feet. Or he had already become too comfortable with his guests. Both possibilities disconcerted him.
He forced his shoulders to relax. “You’d make a good spy, Zoe.”
“Thanks.” She grinned. “Is that what you are, a spy?”
Stefan looked down at her, her face so open and eager. Strangely, he found himself not wanting to lie to her. “I guess you could say that.”
“Really?” Her eyes gleamed with excitement. “Like in the movies?”
“Well, investigating isn’t as exciting as in the movies.” Okay, that was a half-truth. He’d been tortured in a dungeon, almost blown up on more than one occasion, nearly outed during several undercover ops and forced to play long-range sniper to save the lives of his CTC teammates. “Mostly I read a lot and figure stuff out. Kind of like homework.”
Zoe wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t sound like fun.”
“Catching a bad guy and sending him to jail is fun.”
Her eyes cleared. “That’s good. Bad people should be in jail so they can’t hurt good people.”
“Exactly right.” Stefan knelt to face her eye to eye. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’ve got little white bumps where the ants bit me.” She lifted her pants leg and showed him. “They’re itchy.”
“How about we use some more medicine?”
“Okay.” Zoe nodded and plopped in the chair across from Stefan.
She lifted her legs, and he rubbed the cortisone cream onto her ankles and calves.
“Thanks. You know how to put on medicine real good. Do you have kids?”
That all-too-familiar pang of regret twisted inside his chest. “I have two nieces and a nephew. In fact, my niece and nephew are twins. They’re about your age.”
“Could I play with them?” Zoe practically bounced in her seat. “Are they nearby?”
“I wish they were, kiddo. They live across the ocean.” He rubbed the last inflamed spot and pulled her pants legs down.
“Do you fly on a plane to visit them?”
“Not as much as I’d like.” Now there was an understatement. “Sometimes families are complicated.”
“What’s com...pli...cated?”
That had Stefan stumped. “Confusing,” he settled on. “Sometimes we don’t get to do what we want to do because it’s hard to figure out the right thing to do.”
Okay, that didn’t make a whole lot of sense to him, but Zoe nodded her head.
“Yeah, I understand. My life is complicated, too. My daddy likes me to wear dresses with lace. I like jeans and T-shirts. But since my grandma gets me the dresses as a present, I gotta wear them. It’s hard.”
Stefan chuckled at the horrified expression on the little girl’s face. “You don’t like frilly dresses?”
“They get in the way. You can’t play baseball in a dress. It’ll get dirty and then you get yelled at.” She swung her feet back and forth. “If I didn’t have to wear a dress, I’d like to go on a plane with my dad. He promised to take me, but he’s really busy. Did your daddy take you on a plane?”
&
nbsp; So that was another very complicated question Stefan wasn’t quite sure how to answer. The good memories of his childhood had been overtaken by a devastating truth. He couldn’t imagine his father would have been part of the plot that had cost Stefan’s brother his life, and Stefan his freedom. He wished Zoe would never have to deal with the same disillusionment, but she would learn her father’s identity someday. He hadn’t actually asked, but Faith’s behavior and Zoe’s actions had made it clear the little girl knew nothing about her father.
The phone interrupted them. He glanced at the screen. Not a number he recognized. “Zoe, stay here. I’ll be right back.”
He walked out of the girl’s earshot. “Léon Royce.”
“It’s hit the fan here,” Blake said. “My prisoner keeled over dead, and I don’t know how.”
“Heart attack?”
“He’s young for that. Maybe he took a pill or poisoned himself, but I can’t tell. One visitor who used a fake name, but that was hours ago. I called the medical examiner in from Odessa. We’ll know soon enough.”
“Damn it,” Stefan said. “I was hoping he could confirm Faith’s story.”
“Well, he’s not talking now. On the other hand, I have some surprising news for you. I just received a call pretty high up in the state attorney general’s office. They want me to verify the identity of my kidnap victim as a seven-year-old girl named Zoe Thomas. But get this, I’m supposed to keep it on the down low if I find her, and just get back to him, and no one else. Of course, the guy included a not-so-subtle threat to audit my budget and the past five years of cases if I don’t cooperate.”
Stefan let out a low whistle. If he’d needed proof to support Faith’s story, Blake had just given him solid testimony of the power of Faith’s ex-husband.
“Her ex is tipping his hand. Why?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t like being pushed around. I sure as hell don’t like a prisoner dying on me.”
“This entire situation’s uglier than I expected,” Stefan admitted.
“It’s a cover-up of a different kind, that’s for sure.” Blake’s voice lowered. “I called on a burner phone, and I didn’t say this to you, but don’t call me back. I don’t know where you are and I don’t want to know. Whoever’s after that little girl has some powerful friends. I’d stay as far away from the law as you can.”
Chapter Six
Something hard and pointed pressed into Faith’s lower back. She lay still and rubbed her eyes. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was.
A breeze blew across her face and she opened her eyes to the view of the top of Léon’s tent.
Léon.
Zoe.
She snapped her gaze to the empty space next to her and shot to a sitting position. A rock ground into her hip, but she ignored the pinch. She vaulted out of the tent and lifted her hand against the late-afternoon sky.
The bright sun beat down, heating her face. She winced at the glare and crinkled her eyes to search the campsite.
Léon and Zoe were both gone.
Faith’s heart seized in panic until joyful laughter wafted from somewhere behind the tent. When had she last witnessed true happiness in her daughter’s voice? A pang of guilt weighted down Faith’s shoulders. Zoe deserved so much more than what Faith could give her right now.
Homeless, on the run, without a plan. What kind of mother was she?
Zoe erupted in another trill of laughter. Faith trudged toward the noise, tracking the sound to the creek. The sight made her pause.
Léon hovered near Zoe, pointing at the ground. She crouched and looked up at their rescuer, unadulterated adoration painted on her face.
Faith’s heart melted. Who wouldn’t be enamored with the man who had saved her life, and in this moment treated her as if she were the most important person in the world?
He’d made Faith feel that way when she’d very nearly fallen into his arms. He’d believed her when she’d thought no one would. He’d offered to help, and he’d promised to find a way for Zoe and her to be safe.
Faith’s head might doubt, but her gut actually trusted him.
Léon smiled at Zoe and softly patted her cheek. The gentle movement caused Faith’s heart to flip in her chest. If she let herself, she could fall for him, too.
Scooching behind a rock, she peeked out to watch them. She needn’t have bothered to attempt to be inconspicuous. From a side view, Léon gave Faith a quick wink before focusing on her daughter.
“You know a lot about camping.” Zoe perched on a rock by the stream. “Can I tell you something?” Her daughter’s voice had turned serious.
Faith strained to hear.
“Sure.” Léon knelt in front of Zoe. “Is something wrong?”
“I got lost today.” Zoe bowed her head. “I stepped on the ants because I didn’t know which way to go. I was scared.”
Faith eased out from her hiding place, ready to comfort her daughter, but the tender expression on Léon’s face made her pause.
He pushed his hat back and met Zoe’s gaze, unblinking and serious. “It’s okay to be scared. Everyone is afraid sometimes.”
“Well, I didn’t like it.” Zoe crossed her arms and took a stubborn stance Faith recognized all too well. “I didn’t know what to do. What if I hadn’t yelled? I might have gone the wrong way and lost you and Mom. I can barely see the camp from here.”
“Hmm.” Léon stroked his chin. “Well, I camp out a lot, and I know the rules for getting lost. Want to hear them?”
Zoe’s eyes widened a bit and she nodded, giving Léon her devoted attention.
“Okay.” He held out his hand and Zoe grabbed it. He led her a few feet from the edge of the creek. “First, you stay on a trail, like this one.” He pointed to a path in the dirt. “Animals made this to drink water. If I’m looking for you, I’ll go down all the trails first to find you.”
“What if there’s not a trail?”
“You find a place out of the cold and wind, like over by those rocks, and wait for me and your mom to find you. And whatever you do, don’t wander around at night. There are no streetlights when you’re camping.”
“What if you don’t see me?” Zoe asked, her forehead furrowed with worry.
“That’s where your orange backpack comes in.” Léon grinned. “Put it outside wherever you’re hiding. It’s so bright, I’ll be able to see it. And while you’re waiting, make a lot of noise as often as you can.”
Zoe took all the information in, then frowned. “But what if I’m hiding from bad people? Mom always says to stay quiet. What do I do then?”
Faith’s heart broke at the question. Zoe shouldn’t have those thoughts.
“Good point.” Léon paused for a moment, as if trying to form his answer. “You leave me a sign that I can follow.”
“What kind of sign?”
“Well, I’d recognize one of your shoelaces, or even a pen or pencil from your bag. I’d know it’s you, and since we’ve had this talk, I’d know where to look.” He clasped her daughter’s shoulders. “I’d find you, Zoe. I promise.”
She bit her lip, scanning the trail over to the rock before finally nodding her head. “I think I can do that. Thanks, Léon.”
“We’re not done yet,” he said. “Which direction are we facing right now? North, south, east or west?”
She pursed her lips and twisted her mouth. Faith recognized the face. Zoe shared it often enough while doing her homework when she wasn’t quite certain of the answer.
“Take your time,” he said, scratching the dirt with a stick. “You don’t have to panic. Just be logical. Where’s the sun right now?”
Zoe’s eyes brightened. She pointed in the sky. “You told me the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. That way’s west, so...” She knelt and dragged her finger through the dirt. “We’re facing north.”
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br /> “Excellent.” Léon smiled and lifted his hand. Zoe slapped him a high five. “When you know which way you’re headed, you won’t go in circles if you’re lost.”
Her daughter sighed, loud and long. “There’s a lot to remember about getting lost.” She peeked up at Léon.
“Then how about we practice? I’ll go over to that rock.” He pointed to Faith’s hiding place. “You pretend you’re lost and figure out what to do.”
“Like a game.” She scampered off.
Léon walked over to Faith and met her behind the rock.
“Survival 101?” she asked.
He shrugged. “It was something to do.”
“It was more than that,” Faith said. “Thank you for helping her not be afraid.” She leaned back against the boulder, one eye on Zoe’s adventure. “Do you like living this way? In the middle of nowhere?”
“I miss a hot shower on occasion. I have a system jury-rigged, but it’s nothing compared to high-pressure water pounding on your back. Other than that, yeah, I like the silence. How it gets totally dark and I can see all the stars in the sky.” Stefan propped himself beside her. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m wondering if I could live like this with Zoe for a while. Just until I can figure out what to do next.”
“You can stay as long as you need to,” he offered.
Faith’s entire body relaxed. At least she didn’t have to worry about shelter or food. Today anyway. “Thank you. You’re saving our lives.”
His gaze shifted away, almost as if he were embarrassed. “Zoe,” he called out. “I’m coming to find you.”
They rounded the large rock. Faith scanned the area. Zoe was gone. “Where is she?”
“Don’t worry. I haven’t let her out of my sight. She’s testing me. She wants to make certain I really will find her.” Léon glanced at the ground. “We follow the trail.” He held out his hand. “Come on.”
Faith linked her fingers with his. They wandered down by the creek to a narrow dirt path.
“It’s a sheep trail. Livestock graze on both public and private land out here.”
They picked their way among the shrub bushes to the rocky outcropping. Right next to a large boulder, in plain sight, Zoe’s backpack gleamed in the afternoon sun.
