Rains of Remorse

by Christy Barritt

  He wasn’t sure, but he needed to figure out a way.

  Satisfied that no one was here, Levi put his gun back into the holster. Just as he reached the downstairs, Chief Chambers stepped through the front door. He raised his hands, signaling he wasn’t a threat.

  With a frown, she paced toward him. “Did you see anything up there?”

  “No, it appears clear.”

  She stared at him another moment before scanning the place. “Someone did a number here.”

  “Yes, they did.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing that you were able to come to the rescue again.”

  Something about the way the chief said the words indicated that she was on to him. Levi was good at what he did. Good at covering up his true intentions. He had been doing it for a long time. So how was it that this woman was able to see through him?

  He didn’t know, and he didn’t like it.

  “Yes, I would say that it’s a good thing that I just happened to be next door.” He reminded himself not to carry himself like a soldier. He had to act like a civilian. Like an engineer.

  Thankfully, his boss had thoroughly developed his new identity. Levi had a feeling the police chief would be looking into him.

  “I’ll take it from here.” The chief’s voice left no room for argument.

  Levi stepped toward the front door, knowing he needed to back off. “Sounds like a plan. Is Rebecca still outside?”

  “Yes, she is. I told her to remain in the car until we told her otherwise.”

  Levi nodded, an uneasy feeling still sloshing inside his gut. He couldn’t ruin this. Not now. And not because he was letting his feelings get involved.

  Rebecca watched as Levi emerged from her home. Without waiting for a signal, she opened the door and rushed across the driveway toward him. Not even the cold wind slowed her down.

  “Well?” Her mind had been racing through worst-case scenarios. Scenarios where Levi had ended up hurt or where something even more devastating happened.

  Why would someone be doing this to her? Why was she being targeted? It made no sense. Her whole world felt rocked.

  “Somebody went through your things. Only you can say if anything is missing. I’m just glad you weren’t home when this person came through.”

  Rebecca felt her shoulders hunching as she caved into herself. The stress of everything was beginning to get to her. But she couldn’t let that happen.

  A strong hand covered her shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw Levi standing there, looking at her with those warm eyes that seemed to read into her soul in a way that should make her uncomfortable. But for some reason it didn’t.

  “I’m sorry, Rebecca. I know this is difficult.”

  As he said the words, a contraction hit, and Rebecca nearly doubled over.

  “Rebecca? Is it the baby?”

  She tried to straighten herself. She wanted to pretend that everything was okay. But she couldn’t fake it, not if it put her baby at risk.

  “I don’t know.” The pain subsided, but Rebecca’s muscles were still poised for another round of discomfort.

  “Maybe I should take you to the doctor.” Levi grasped her arm.

  She started again to say that she was fine. She was so used to the words rolling off her tongue. But instead, she nodded. “I think maybe that’s a good idea.”

  Levi led her back to his car. He climbed in and wasted no time driving down the road to the clinic.

  Thank goodness he’d been close. He was definitely a godsend.

  But too much uncertainty still remained on the horizon.

  Chapter Nine

  Levi tried not to pace the waiting room area. But all he could think about was Rebecca and her baby. Whoever was behind these acts may not have directly harmed her, but their actions were putting her at risk. It was all the more reason he needed to find answers.

  Maybe he should tell her the truth.

  His spine stiffened at the thought. No, telling her wasn’t part of the plan. Coming here, Levi had agreed to go undercover in order to find answers. But it would be so much easier if he was just straightforward about his true intentions.

  He wrestled with the thought. The compassionate side of him collided with the professional. He’d been sent here to do a job, and he needed to do it. And he could do these things at his own discretion, but—

  At the thought, his cell phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw it was his boss, Ed Helmer. He sighed before putting the phone to his ear.

  “Levi,” Ed said. “How are things going so far?”

  “I’m not making quite as much progress as I had hoped.”

  “That’s not good enough. You know we don’t have a lot of time. If we aren’t careful, these guys will slip away. We can’t let that happen.”

  Levi bit down before saying, “Yes, I know that. I’m working as hard as I can. Sometimes you can’t force these things.”

  “What about the wife? Did you get any information from her?”

  The wife? No, it was Rebecca, he silently corrected.

  Levi paced toward the vending machines and away from anyone who might be listening. “Like I said, I’m working on it.”

  “And, like I said, you need to work harder. We need to figure out if she’s involved.”

  Rebecca’s face stained his thoughts. Her innocent eyes, her vulnerability, the protective way she rubbed her stomach. “I don’t think she’s involved with this.”

  “And why do you think that?” Ed’s voice sounded hard, determined. All the man wanted was answers, for the bad guys to get their justice.

  “It’s what my gut tells me.”

  “We all know that guts have a tendency to be wrong. I need proof.”

  Levi’s stomach twisted. If it were any other job, he might recommend sending somebody else in right now. But somebody else might not be as compassionate toward Rebecca as he was. Levi couldn’t stand that thought. Even though he hadn’t known the woman long, she brought out a protective side of him.

  “None of this is because of Brianna, is it?”

  At the sound of her name, Levi tensed again. He glanced over his shoulder again, making sure no one was near. “This has nothing to do with Brianna. That was five years ago. It’s in the past.”

  “But I know that it shook you. I had some reservations about sending you, considering your past.”

  “I can handle this.” Levi’s jaw tightened.

  “Good. Prove me wrong. Prove that you can handle this. I’m counting on you.”

  Levi put his phone away. He felt even less settled now than he did earlier. How was he going to find the answers he needed while keeping a clear conscience?

  He had no idea. But he would figure out a way. He had no other choice.

  Rebecca stepped out of the exam room a few minutes later, Doc Clemson by her side. She wasn’t sure if Levi would wait around for her or if she would need to call a ride to get back to her house.

  She secretly hoped that Levi would still be there, which was ridiculous. She hardly knew the man, and just because he’d rode into her life like a knight in shining armor didn’t mean he was someone she could—or should—depend on. She’d be wise to keep that in mind.

  However, Rebecca would be lying if she didn’t admit that her heart raced when she saw Levi standing in the distance. His hands were shoved down into the deep pockets of his black sweatshirt. His gaze looked heavy, concerned. Yet his stance was still upright, as if he were on guard.

  As soon as Levi spotted her, he strode toward her.

  His voice sounded tender as he paused a few steps away. “Is everything okay? How’s the baby?”

  Rebecca rubbed her belly. “Emma is doing fine. Thank you for bringing me by, just so I could have that peace of mind. It was just a Braxton Hicks contraction.”

  “But she does need to be careful.” Doc Clemson stepped forward. “The stress and strain she’s been under the past few weeks could send her into early labor. She’s getting close eno
ugh to her due date that the baby will probably be fine, but we want to keep the baby in there as long as possible. She’ll need someone to keep an eye on her.”

  Rebecca felt her cheeks heat at the thought. He seemed to think she and Levi were more than neighbors who’d just met.

  “Don’t worry him over these things,” Rebecca said. “I’m going to do everything within my power to make my life as stress-free as possible.”

  Doc Clemson glanced at Levi and sent him a look.

  The next thing she knew, Levi took her arm. “I’ll make sure I keep an eye on her.”

  Part of Rebecca wanted to say that Levi didn’t need to make a fuss over her. But it was more than her life on the line here.

  She swallowed back her words and instead said, “Thank you.”

  Levi’s warm gaze seemed to see into her soul as he observed her a moment. “How about if I give you a ride back home?”

  She nodded a little too quickly. “I suppose the chief is waiting there.”

  “I believe she’s wrapping things up now,” Levi said. “But she wanted to wait to ask you a few questions. I can tell her if you don’t feel up to it—”

  “No, of course I can talk to her. It’s no problem. Plus, I need to check to see if anything was taken.”

  “Do you think it’s a good idea if you stay at your place tonight?” Doc Clemson asked.

  Where else would she stay? Rebecca supposed she could stay with her best friend, Layla. But Layla and her husband were out of town right now. Layla had purposely chosen to go on vacation this week so she could be here when Rebecca had her baby.

  There were other people she could stay with, but Rebecca hated to put anyone out. She was going to have to think this through. Plus, at heart, she was a homebody. She found a lot of comfort being in her own space, around her own things.

  “I promise I’ll be careful and that I’ll figure things out,” Rebecca said. “And I will take all of the precautions that you told me to take. I promise.”

  Doc Clemson squeezed her elbow. “If you need me, you know I’m just a phone call away.”

  “Yes, I know. Thank you.”

  She turned to Levi and felt a rush of relief go through her again. Life was so much easier when you had people to depend on, to help with the heavy lifting. “If you wouldn’t mind driving me home . . .”

  “Of course. Let me know whatever you need, and I’ll be happy to help.”

  But his words were bittersweet. Soon he’d be leaving, she reminded herself. She couldn’t afford to let herself get too close.

  Chapter Ten

  Levi arrived with Rebecca back at her place. The police chief was still there with one of her officers, wrapping things up as Levi and Rebecca stepped into the house.

  Chief Chambers rushed toward them, briefly giving Levi another warning glance before she turned to address Rebecca. “Everything good?”

  Rebecca rubbed her stomach. “Emma is doing just fine.”

  Chambers offered a quick smile and led Rebecca to one of the dining room chairs. “I’m glad the doctor said that everything is okay. I’m sure he also told you that you need to take care of yourself.”

  “I never realized what a big job that was.” Rebecca frowned as she leaned back in the stiff wooden chair.

  Chambers lowered herself into a seat across from Rebecca and squeezed her arm. “I realize this isn’t a good time, but I need to know if anything was taken.”

  Rebecca’s gaze scanned her house, and she shrugged. “I don’t really have anything of value. My gut tells me someone did this as more of a means to send a message than anything else. Am I right?”

  Chambers frowned, her gaze focused on Rebecca. “I can’t tell you that. It’s strange that this has happened two days in a row. It definitely has me concerned. I’m going to station an officer outside your house this evening, just to keep an eye on things.”

  Rebecca’s eyes widened, as if the implications of the past two days were finally settling in her mind. “Thank you. I appreciate that. Maybe I’ll sleep better knowing I have somebody watching my back.”

  “You have a lot of people watching your back,” Chambers said. “If you would like to, you’re more than welcome to come and stay with Ty and me. You know we have plenty of space.”

  “If worse comes to worst, I will. But what I want more than anything right now is just to stay home and get my house in order. It’s just a matter of time before baby Emma comes. I don’t feel like I’ve done nearly enough.”

  “I saw the nursery upstairs,” Chambers said. “It looks beautiful. The important thing is I know this little girl will be loved.”

  Rebecca rubbed her stomach again and seemed to suck back her emotions. “Yes, she will be.”

  Levi saw the moisture that welled in Rebecca’s eyes. This was taking a toll on her. It would be stressful enough for the average person, but with a pregnancy added to the mix, it had to be overwhelming. He reminded himself that he needed to remain on guard, though. The woman was quickly making a way into his heart, and he couldn’t let that happen.

  “If I notice anything that’s been taken as I clean up this mess, I’ll let you know.” Rebecca rolled her shoulders back, her gaze becoming more focused.

  “I heard back about Jared also.” The chief’s lips curled down in a frown. “He was on Hatteras. It wasn’t him who followed you.”

  The air left Rebecca’s lungs. If not Jared, then who?

  “We’re still looking for the black car. I have a feeling the driver dumped it somewhere. We’ll find it eventually.”

  Rebecca nodded. “Thank you for the update.”

  Chambers leaned closer, and her voice turned less professional. “I get off work in a couple hours. I can come by and help you out here.”

  “Let me see what I can get done on my own.” Rebecca’s gaze scanned the devastation around her. “But I appreciate the offer. And I’ll call you if I need help.”

  The police chief nodded again. “Do you promise?”

  “Yes, I promise,” Rebecca said.

  As soon as the chief left, Levi turned to Rebecca. “Let me help you clean things up.”

  Her head drooped to the side in either exhaustion or bewilderment. She rested her cheek against her hand.

  Her voice sounded tired as she said, “You’ve already done so much. I couldn’t possibly ask you to do that.”

  “But I don’t mind.”

  She raised her head long enough for her gaze to search his. “What about your work?”

  Levi shrugged. “I can officially say that I’m not getting any work done today. Besides, I’m not going to be able to sit over at my house relaxing while I think about you over here cleaning up this mess by yourself. Let me help.”

  Rebecca pressed her lips together for a moment, and Levi was uncertain what she would say. But he couldn’t press any more than he already had. It would only raise warning flags.

  “If you don’t mind, then I would appreciate having an extra hand. My back is sore, and I’m not sure I can do this all on my own. But I know I won’t get any rest until it’s straightened.”

  “I’d be more than happy to help.” Not only did he truly want to offer a hand, but this would also be the perfect excuse to look for answers.

  Guilt bit at him at the thought. But he’d come here to do a job. He never would have guessed that his target would be so lovely or that he’d find this assignment so difficult.

  And he was going to have to figure out what to do about that.

  Rebecca felt as if she’d known Levi for months instead of mere days. How was it possible since they’d just met?

  As they worked, he told stories to try to distract her. Despite that, Rebecca’s thoughts kept going back to everything that had happened. When she let her guard down, worry filled her.

  She tried to keep the emotion at bay, but it was becoming harder and harder. She was exhausted. Knowing that an elevated stress level made her pregnancy more difficult unfortunately caused her stres
s to hike even higher. It seemed like a vicious cycle.

  Rebecca tried to swallow down the emotions. But the combination of everything that had happened made it hard.

  As she sat by her entertainment center and placed photo albums back on the shelves, Rebecca’s gaze caught a picture of her with her late husband. Tears rushed to her eyes again.

  The two had met when Jim moved to Lantern Beach, only intending on staying here for the summer and waiting tables at a local restaurant. They met when Jim scheduled a charter fishing trip and Rebecca had gone along to help her cousin, who was the captain.

  It had felt like love at first sight. Jim had ended up moving here permanently and finding a job with the management company.

  Three years in, things started to go downhill.

  The memories battered her.

  Emma should have a dad. She should have all the right ingredients to have a happy childhood.

  Instead, Rebecca’s daughter would have a single mom struggling to make ends meet. Sometimes it didn’t feel fair that Rebecca was bringing a child into the world under those circumstances.

  She knew that probably wasn’t rational, yet all she could think about were the qualities that she lacked. How would she make up for those things? How would Emma be affected by them?

  The baby hadn’t even been born yet, but all Rebecca wanted was the best for her child. Instead, she had tons of unanswered questions and less-than-fond memories about Emma’s father.

  She stared at the picture again. It showed one of their happier moments together. They’d gone to the beach for a bonfire, and they’d had a good heart-to-heart talk about their future.

  This photo showed the early days of marriage. Before the two of them had realized that they probably wouldn’t be able to have kids. Before accusations had been thrown out against him, causing Jim to lose his job and for his reputation to be ruined.

  Sure, they’d had their struggles back then. Like every newly married couple, they’d had issues they had to work through. But when this photo had been taken, Rebecca had no idea about what was to come.