Credible Threat

by Heather Woodhaven

  He lost the war and laughed. “Rebecca, it’d be better if you let me check first. I’m not here to judge.”

  It was a glimmer of the man who’d first come in to interview her. Maybe he switched on the no-nonsense persona when in protection mode.

  The screen was intact, thankfully. She clicked on the phone to enter her pass code and several previews of text messages from friends and colleagues popped up on the home page. It was nothing that couldn’t wait, but it unnerved her. She’d almost been kidnapped...or worse.

  Everyone in her life still assumed she was having a blast.

  His fingers brushed against hers as she handed him the phone. His eyes darted to meet hers and she looked away. Her laptop still remained open on the desk in the living area, but the black flash drive sat next to it. Odd.

  She crossed the room. “Would the other marshal, Delaney, already have checked my computer?”

  “I don’t believe so. I’ll want to do a preliminary scan before we send it in, as well.”

  “Someone took out the flash drive.” She’d had it plugged in when the man had attacked, although there was a possibility it could’ve been knocked out when she’d grabbed the letter opener.

  While Kurt recommended he scan everything first, she’d never sleep without following her hunch. “I have to check something for work before you take this. Feel free to watch for those flags,” she said. She sat and inserted the drive back into the USB drive before Kurt could object.

  The spreadsheet appeared and she scrolled down. “Unbelievable. Someone wanted me to think it’s the same flash drive, but it’s not.” The highlighted problem areas were nowhere to be found. She examined the file a second time but didn’t find anything. Her heart raced and the throbbing headache returned.

  She spun around to face the marshal. “What if this isn’t about the judge?”

  * * *

  “What makes you think it wouldn’t be?” Kurt lowered the phone and placed it on the desk beside the laptop.

  “I’m sure that this flash drive was plugged into my computer when I was attacked.” She gestured toward a spreadsheet full of hundreds of numbers that made his mind go numb.

  “It’s possible you misremembered. I’ll scan the flash drive for spyware, as well.”

  “No, it’s not that...” She released a frustrated exhale and yanked the drive from the computer. The laptop sounded the obnoxious beep that meant she didn’t eject it properly. She flipped the black stick over in her hand, studying it carefully. “It’s missing a couple of lines I’m sure were there last night.”

  “For your job? Do you have it saved elsewhere?”

  “Yes, yes I have backups. I’m trying to tell you there was something on this drive last night that’s not here today. And I don’t have any copies of that. In fact this isn’t even my flash drive. It appeared in my bag last night. It might’ve been put there by a whistle-blower.” Her eyes widened and she shoved her finger at the middle of the drive. “I knew it! The drive last night had a scratch on it.” She waved the black object in front of him. “This one looks brand-new.”

  Her eyes looked a little manic. He glanced at the bandage wrapped around her hair. How hard had she hit her head? Rebecca’s eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms, as if she already knew what he was about to say. His job required him to say the tough things sometimes, but he knew how to do so tactfully. “Sometimes, after a head injury—”

  “I can’t believe you went there.” She rolled her eyes and leaned back into the chair.

  “Listen, even aside from the blow to the head, you were in a dangerous situation last night. Adrenaline and panic can make some details fuzzy.” His training included a basic understanding of what victims and witnesses went through. They’d even put his class into a mock crime and asked them to identify the perp by mug shots that were two years old. Most of them had failed. “Don’t beat yourself up or push yourself. The best thing—”

  She moved her hands in front of her face as if wiping away his words. “You don’t have to tell me that. I was there. I vividly remember it all.” Her face paled.

  Kurt fought the urge to put his hand on her shoulder or to pull her into a hug. He’d never had similar inclinations during other protection assignments. It took him off guard. He stepped backward for more distance.

  She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. Wearing her business suit, the action made her look even more vulnerable. “I know I’m not perfect.” Her voice was soft and lyrical. “I realize I could remember some details wrong. But about this...” She took a deep breath and stared ahead at a spot on the wall, as if recalling the attack again. “I’m sure,” she whispered. “There’s no way I imagined it. This is a different drive than the one in my bag.”

  He closed the laptop and unplugged it. He slipped it, alongside the drive and cell phone, inside a bag that blocked all cellular signals and tracking. He opened the front door and gestured for the officer at the edge of the driveway to come get the bag. He set it down on the concrete for the officer to courier to the courthouse.

  “What are you doing?”

  He locked the door and faced her. “Don’t worry. You’ll get it back soon. If there’s any chance you are right, the flash drive could’ve installed spyware on your computer to watch and listen to the judge. As soon as you did it, they would’ve known, and maybe they wanted to get rid of the evidence and let you go.”

  “Like a fake out? So I wouldn’t suspect they were spying on me? But there were numbers on the drive related to my work.”

  He studied her a little longer than he needed. “Maybe you should explain your job a little more.”

  “I work for a global accounting firm. We specialize in third-party audits, mainly for investment purposes. My firm had an audit request here in Coeur D’Alene and, since my grandfather lives here, my boss thought of me for the assignment.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “Then I can put your mind to rest. Typically only IRS auditors get threatened.” Her eyes narrowed again, so he humored her. “Who is your audit for?”

  “Vista Resort Properties. The corporate offices as well as their biggest resort and spa are located here. The CEO told me a potential investor requested my firm specifically.”

  He almost laughed. People who specialized in vacations had to have the easiest jobs in the world. The likelihood the threat could be from a resort, of all things, seemed unlikely. If they got upset at someone, all they needed to do was take their own advice and get a massage or rest in a hammock. He’d pay good money for either thing at the moment.

  Her hypothesis most likely had more to do with work stress and maybe the head injury. “I know you don’t want your family to be in danger, but a company that specializes in relaxing spas is definitely not after you.”

  A storm seemed to brew in her eyes. “They bring in millions of dollars each year. It’s not out of the realm of possibility.”

  Kurt held up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay. I’ll add them to the list, but I think we should pool our resources and look at credible threats first. I can access ones made in public with a simple search. If you’re up for it, I’d like to see if you recognize anyone while we wait for Delaney to send us more files.”

  Rebecca blinked rapidly and nodded. “Of course. I’m just going to make some tea while you pull them up.” She stood quickly and wobbled. Her hand reached for her forehead.

  Kurt instinctively rushed to catch her. He placed his arm around the back of her waist as she leaned into him.

  Her cheeks flushed as she focused on the ground. “I’m fine. Just stood up too fast. I think I’m a bit dehydrated.”

  Not to mention the aforementioned head injury, but Kurt knew not to bring up that sensitive topic again. His arm lingered a moment longer as she looked up into his eyes. “Thank you.” Her voice was soft and gentle to his ears.<
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  Uh-oh. Kurt dropped his arm and strode to the door leading to the garage. He refused to let his mind wander on how much he enjoyed having her in his arms. “Your blood sugar might be low, too. We can order some food in if you don’t have anything to eat here. I’m going to grab my equipment while you make yourself that tea.”

  He reached his truck and blew out a breath. Talking a lot wasn’t his style, yet he’d practically ranted. There was something that drew him to Rebecca. A completely unfair set of feelings, as the judge had practically ordered him to keep his distance. Sure, Judge Linn wasn’t his boss, but Kurt also didn’t want to make an unnecessary enemy on the court. One recommendation from the judge could go a long way in securing a promotion.

  He left his two other weapons stored in the vehicle but grabbed his on-the-go duffel, which contained some of his gear and clothes. Ninety percent of assignments involved tracking down fugitives. He needed his head to get in the game in the same manner, tracking down an unnamed threat.

  The protection part of the assignment wouldn’t even be an issue as long as she stayed inside the house, so maybe he had a chance to get Rebecca out of his mind. They could go through threats then keep to opposite ends of the seven-bedroom house.

  He stepped inside as his phone chimed with a text from Delaney.

  Gathering case files. Have you checked the Templeton case already? Most recent threat on news.

  Rebecca watched him expectantly from the kitchen counter. “Is it about the case?”

  “Yes.” He passed both the kitchen and the desk and rested his duffel on the coffee table in front of the leather couch. “We have a place to start at least.”

  The tablet’s case allowed him to set the screen upright. It didn’t take long to pull up the newscasts about Templeton. The man had been convicted of drug trafficking across state lines. He’d attracted national attention when he’d threatened the judge on court camera, claiming he was going to find Judge Linn’s family when he got out. As far as Kurt knew, the man was still in jail. But like every other case they would look at, there would be a possibility that the prisoner could’ve ordered the job.

  Rebecca sat on the couch cushion beside him and held her tea mug in both hands. The smell of chamomile and honey took the edge off the tension in his shoulders.

  He tapped on the link Delaney had messaged him. The video captured Templeton interrupting the judge, yelling over the judge’s questions and finally, issuing the threat.

  Rebecca shivered. “Grandpa stayed so calm despite that man goading him, threatening him...us.”

  He hated this part of the job. She’d just been put under a lot of strain and here he was asking her to listen to more threats against her family. “Your grandfather wouldn’t want you worrying about him. The judge is known for having nerves of steel.”

  She blew on the top of her mug. “I’ve never seen that side of him.”

  “To you, he’s always been your grandpa.”

  “His name is Templeton?” She leaned back into the cushions. “His voice and eyes don’t match the man who attacked me.”

  “No, I didn’t expect him to. He’s still in jail, but maybe it triggered a memory. Did your attacker mention any names? Give any hints about why they came after you?”

  She shook her head. “No. Nothing.”

  Kurt’s phone vibrated again.

  Judge wants you to look at McCollum case.

  He wasn’t familiar with that threat. He typed in the name and the judge’s name, and frowned. The incident in question happened forty years ago. In some ways, that made it more likely since the perpetrator may have been released from prison by now.

  While Kurt couldn’t locate any video, he found an archived news article that showed McCollum’s photograph.

  Rebecca leaned distractingly close, enough that he could smell the tea on her breath. Kurt cleared his throat and placed the screen back on the coffee table for her to see while keeping his distance.

  Her face paled. “I recognize that man.”

  She set her cup down and turned away from the photo. Her finger shook as it pointed at the tablet. “I’ve had to look at that picture at least once a year for my entire life. My dad wanted me to always be on the lookout for him. That man is the reason my dad had to use mirrors to check underneath his car for bombs every day in high school and his entire time at college.”

  Kurt couldn’t imagine having to live that way as a teenager.

  Rebecca continued, “He’s the reason why Dad moved us so far away from here, why he hardly ever came to visit Grandpa with us and why he made me promise I would never be in or get involved with anyone in law enforcement. That man doesn’t need to come after us again. He’s already ruined our lives.”

  “His rap sheet indicates he’s a dangerous man. I’ll get an alert out on him right away.” He picked up his phone and tried to ignore the jolt he felt when she’d said she could never get involved with anyone in law enforcement. It wasn’t his business, and it didn’t matter. So why wouldn’t his stomach unclench?

  THREE

  Rebecca wanted to throw the cordless phone out the window. “My name is Rebecca Linn.” A nurse had called the house every few hours and asked her to recite her name as a precaution after her head injury.

  “That was the last one,” the nurse said. “Doctor says we can let you sleep without interruption tomorrow, but call us if you have any symptoms.”

  She agreed and hung up. It was hard enough to go back to sleep when it was dark, but the sun streamed through the closed curtains. Rebecca missed the gorgeous view. She’d go stir-crazy real fast if she didn’t get to peek outdoors. She fought the temptation, slipped on her robe and walked into the kitchen to make some coffee.

  Kurt’s long form was stretched out on the leather couch with Babette purring on his stomach. Rebecca put a hand on her mouth to keep from laughing, and yet it wasn’t fair. That cat refused to ever snuggle with her.

  He’d changed into a short-sleeved dark polo with the golden star on the right side of his chest, dark pants and matching black socks. A pair of shoes sat on the carpet, prepped to be slipped on at a moment’s notice.

  He flinched and launched vertically into standing with a hand on his weapon. A small scream escaped her lips as she jumped backward. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” Babette had landed on her feet and seemed nonplussed.

  “Are you okay?” He pivoted to scan the rest of the open space.

  If she’d had any doubt that he was trained in protection, her fears dissipated. She’d never seen a man move so fast. “I couldn’t sleep. I needed coffee.”

  His shoulders relaxed and he removed his palm from the gun at his side. Instead his hand raked over his face. “Coffee is a good idea.” He slipped on his shoes before crossing into the kitchen. “So what’s the prognosis?”

  Understanding dawned as the daylight seeped between the blinds. “The phone calls woke you up. I’m sorry. You could’ve stayed in one of the guest rooms. The judge wouldn’t have minded.”

  “Only for a moment with each call, and it’s better to stay stationed closest to the entry points.” He shrugged. “It’s my job, so don’t apologize. I’d been briefed they’d be checking on you. It’s why I had you take the cordless with you to your room. I figured it was the doctor calling, but I wanted to be alert in case you told me otherwise.” His brow furrowed. “I have some news. We tracked down McCollum’s whereabouts around three in the morning.”

  Kurt had put an alert out on McCollum after her initial reaction, but he’d also insisted they review other threats. She’d reviewed mug shots until just before midnight. According to the kitchen clock, it was barely seven in the morning.

  She leaned forward. “You found him?” Her breath betrayed her hopefulness. While McCollum didn’t have the same eyes of her attacker, he’d been responsible for turning her father into a fearful
man who didn’t match the photos her grandmother, before her passing, had once showed her.

  “He’s dead,” Kurt said.

  “Oh.” Her shoulders drooped. She inhaled slowly. “So it couldn’t have been him.” Which meant there was still a threat out there. No wonder Kurt had jumped up, ready to point his gun. Maybe it’d give her father some peace knowing the man who had first threatened Grandpa and the family was long gone. “Can I ask how?”

  “Drug overdose a few years ago.”

  “Years ago?” To think, her dad could’ve been free from fear a few years ago. She sighed. “Okay. Well, give me an hour, and I’ll be ready to go.”

  He folded his arms across his chest. “Excuse me?” Babette chose that moment to walk around his ankles, rubbing her whiskers along the hemline of his pants. Kurt rolled his eyes and tried to sidestep the cat, but instead Babette flopped on top of his shoes. “What’s the cat’s name again?”

  “Babette.”

  “He’s one of the bad guys in Lady and the Tramp, right?”

  Her mouth dropped. “No. She’s not. And she clearly likes you.” She sighed. “I need to go back to Vista Resorts and check in with their accounting department to make sense out of what I saw on the flash drive.”

  He stared at her long enough to make her fidget. Fugitives probably surrendered without a fight if he leveled that gaze at them. “You’re very intimidating when you do that,” she finally said.

  “I am?” His voice betrayed his genuine surprise. He blinked several times. “Sorry. I guess I stare when I’m trying to think of the best way to say something.”

  “I respect a man who tries to control his tongue, but in this case, it’s probably worse than if you just spit it out. My imagination is too good.”

  He smiled for half a second before schooling his features. “You should stay here.”

  Well, that wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She swiveled, placed an individual coffee pod into the brewer and slipped her favorite coffee mug into the designated area. Grandpa had made it clear when he’d suggested bringing in the marshals that she could still work while being protected. She wasn’t in their WITSEC program, but maybe Grandpa hadn’t communicated that part when he’d requested the marshals. “As far as I know, I’m not under house arrest.”