Love Inspired Suspense May 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: Trail of EvidenceGone MissingLethal Exposure

by Lynette Eason

“Thank you.”

  He left and Brooke returned to her seat with a nod for Jonas to continue.

  Jonas cleared his throat. “Anyway, I just wanted to say that Felix really looks up to you and enjoys hanging out with you.”

  “He’s the best friend I’ve ever had,” Travis finally said.

  “I know you want to protect him, but I really need to find him.” Jonas’s throat worked and he had to force the words out. “There are some pretty mean people after him and while we think we have one of them, it’s possible the guy was working with someone and that they’re still looking for Felix.” Travis simply sat with his head hanging, the baseball cap shielding his face. “Travis, will you look me in the eye for a minute?” Travis hesitated, then looked up and Jonas snagged his gaze. The kid was completely conflicted. “If those guys get their hands on Felix, they’ll kill him. It’s that serious.”

  The indecision faded and Travis nodded. “And you can keep him safe?”

  “As soon as we know he’s not in the wrong hands, we have a plan to make sure they know that Felix doesn’t have what they want. Once they know that, there’s no reason for them to keep coming after him.”

  “He was afraid you were going to get hurt.”

  “What?” Jonas sat back.

  “That’s one of the reasons he took off. He was mad at you for wanting to send him away, sure, but he told me that maybe it was better if he just stayed away from you, then the people who were after him would leave you alone.”

  Jonas’s breath left his lungs. A punch to his solar plexus wouldn’t have had more effect than the boy’s words. He swallowed and nodded. “I appreciate that. That means a lot to me, that he would do that, but we need to get him home and make sure he’s protected. Please, Travis…”

  “He’s in my neighbor’s tree house. Their kids are all grown up and they don’t have any grandchildren, so I figured it would be a good place for him to hide out for a while. Just until things cooled down.”

  Jonas bolted to his feet. “He’s there now?”

  Travis nodded. “As far as I know.”

  Brooke laid a hand on Jonas’s arm. “Take it easy. If you go charging out there, he might run.”

  “I won’t charge.” Jonas headed for the door. He wanted to see his son. He needed the tight ball of worry that had been his constant companion for the past few days to dissipate. And he needed to be able to tell Brooke exactly how he felt about her.

  He stepped outside onto the back porch. The woods out back hid a lot. Including a tree house in the backyard of the neighbor to the right. The lack of a fence made for easy access. Heart pounding, palms sweating, Jonas headed for the woods. At the base of the tree, he looked up. “Felix?”

  No answer. “I know you’re up there, Felix. I talked to Travis. Will you please come down?” If Felix decided to stay quiet, Jonas would have to climb up. He’d placed one foot on the bottom rung of the ladder when Felix’s head popped through the window.

  “I can’t believe Travis sold me out.”

  Jonas sighed. “He’s trying to help you. Like we all are.”

  “I don’t need any help and I’m not going to be sent away. I can take care of myself.”

  “You don’t have to go away. You’re not in danger anymore.”

  Felix fell silent, then his head disappeared. The small door opened and his son came down the ladder, as agile as a monkey. When he reached the bottom, Jonas reached out and pulled him into a hug.

  Felix stood there for a moment, then Jonas felt his arms wrap around his waist. “You’re not mad at me?” Felix mumbled into his chest.

  “Oh, I’m mad, but I’m more glad than mad. So very glad you’re safe. You scared me to death, son.”

  “I’m sorry. I really am. I just didn’t want to go away and leave you all alone and not be able to make sure you were okay. Travis kept checking on you for me and letting me know that you were safe.”

  Jonas sighed and kissed the top of his son’s head. “I understand. I’m not saying I’m okay with the way you went about everything, but I do understand.”

  Felix pulled back and looked up at him. “Really?”

  “Really.” He thought about the night he’d taken off after Brooke and shook his head. “Love makes you do dumb stuff sometimes.”

  “Love?”

  “Yeah, love.” Oh, boy. Yes, love. He cleared his throat. “I love you, Felix, you know that. And I know you were worried you’d brought those guys down on us because you took the phone.”

  Tears dripped down Felix’s young face. He nodded. “I know. I was stupid. Still am, but you know I love you, too.”

  “Yeah,” Jonas whispered. “I know. And you’re thirteen. I suppose you’re going to do some stupid things over the next few years. Let’s just make sure they don’t get you killed, okay?”

  “Or you,” Felix mumbled.

  Nicholas stepped up and Brooke was only two steps behind him. “Were you in that tree house when Max was trying to track you?” Nicholas asked.

  Felix pulled away from his dad. “Yes.”

  Nicholas frowned. “I guess Max and I need to do some more training.”

  Felix gave a small smile. “It wasn’t totally his fault. I figured someone would try to track me with the dogs so I changed into one of Travis’s shirts and had him drag mine along the ground, then get on his bike and ride with it flapping in the wind. I didn’t know if it would work or not, but figured it was worth a try.”

  Admiration glinted in Nicholas’s eyes for a brief moment before he shook his head and looked at Jonas. “Smart kid.”

  “Too smart,” Jonas muttered.

  Brooke’s phone rang. She answered it and relief crossed her face. She looked at him. “They found Mercy.”

  “Wonderful.”

  He nudged his son. “Come on, let’s go tell Travis everything’s fine.”

  “His dad’s going to kill him.”

  “Naw, he’s mad, but I don’t think he’ll do Travis any bodily harm. Might ground him for a year or two…”

  Felix smiled and wrapped an arm around Jonas’s waist as they headed back to the house together. Brooke walked beside them. Jonas reached out and grasped her fingers.

  “Now what?” Felix asked.

  “Now I go greet a prodigal of my own,” Brooke said.

  Chase and Isaac met her at her home. Chase opened the back of his SUV and Mercy bounded out.

  “Mercy!” Brooke called. She raced over to her friend and partner and dropped to her knees. The dog gave her a sloppy kiss and Brooke didn’t even care. Tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks. She knew she shouldn’t be so attached to the animal, but her heart had been lost from the day they became partners. She looked up at Chase and Isaac. “Where did you find her?”

  “Damian’s house. He had her tied up in a shed out back.”

  Felix climbed from the car. Mercy trotted over to him and gave him a wet greeting, too. Felix simply laughed and patted the dog’s head. Mercy went to the front door and sat. Brooke laughed. “I guess she wants to go in.” She opened the door and Mercy beelined it for her bed in front of the fireplace. She snagged her bone, settled it between her paws and started chewing.

  “She’s glad to be home,” Jonas said.

  “I’m glad she’s home,” Brooke agreed. She looked at Felix. “And I’m very glad you’re all right.”

  Felix looked away then back at Brooke. He gave her a small smile. “That makes two of us.”

  Chase clapped Isaac on the shoulder. “We’ve got a meeting in thirty.”

  Isaac nodded. “We’d better head out.”

  Brooke frowned. “Is it the whole team?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’d better get ready.”

  “Whoa, wait a minute,” Chase said. “That was a hard crack on the head. You’re supposed to be taking it easy.”

  “Says who?”

  “Gavin.”

  She sighed. “I’m fine. I need to be in on the meeting. I’ll mee
t you guys there.”

  “I’ll bring her,” Jonas said. He looked at Brooke. “You don’t need to be driving, so we’ll just remove that from your list. If you have your mind made up to go, I’ll take you.”

  Isaac clapped Jonas on the back and looked at Brooke. “He knows you. Impressive. You’d better hang on tight to this one.”

  “Go away,” she said, her tone mild.

  Isaac laughed.

  Jonas looked at Felix. “I guess you’re coming with us.”

  “Ugh. Do I have to?”

  Before Jonas could respond, Isaac said, “Why don’t I have an officer drop him at his buddy’s house and stay with him until we’re done with your meeting?”

  “Yes,” Felix begged. “Please.”

  “That’s fine.” Jonas nodded and Felix punched a fist into the air. Isaac made the arrangements and Felix got his stuff together.

  After they left, Brooke looked at Jonas and the tender look in his eyes was nearly her undoing. She didn’t want to go to the meeting, she wanted to stay home, take some more medication and then snuggle down into Jonas’s arms while Felix played with Mercy.

  Instead, she drew in a deep breath. “I’m ready when you are.”

  Jonas led the way to the car and she climbed in. Mercy hopped in the back with Felix. Brooke kept stealing glances at him as he drove, his hands strong and sure on the wheel, his gaze alert as he watched the other drivers. He shot her a glance and caught her watching him. A smile slid across his lips. “You never did tell me what you realized.”

  “What?”

  “Earlier, you said you realized something and then said you’d tell me later.” He shrugged. “It’s later.”

  Brooke bit her lip, then stiffened her spine. She’d made a mistake eight years ago. It was time to do things right. “You asked me why I’d never married.”

  “Right. You said your career was your focus.”

  “That’s what I said. That’s what I had convinced myself I believed, too.”

  “Huh?”

  “Jonas, the reason I never married is because—” Did she dare? Her heart pounded and her palms started to sweat.

  “Because?”

  “Because of the fact that I can’t have children, yes, but also because I just couldn’t find another…you.”

  His breath caught and he pulled to the side of the road. “I can’t just let you walk into a meeting as though you didn’t just say that. You’re going to be a little late.”

  She nodded, shrugged and couldn’t stop the little laugh that escaped. “It’s okay. I’m always a little late. They expect it by now.”

  “Tell me what you meant by that last statement.”

  “I dated a few guys after we went our separate ways. I even got up the nerve to tell one of them that I couldn’t have children.”

  “And he dumped you?”

  The leashed violence in the words almost made her smile. She shook her head. “He said it didn’t matter, that we could always adopt. He himself was adopted and he’d always hoped the woman he married would be open to going through the process with him.”

  “Oh.”

  “I was stunned. I’d already planned my reaction, steeled myself for when he walked away.” She spread her hands and blinked back the tears. “And then…he didn’t.”

  “So what was the problem?”

  “I realized at that very moment that I didn’t love him. I wanted to. I tried. But I just didn’t. But his reaction made me sick to my stomach, too.”

  “I’m confused.”

  She gave a small hiccupping laugh. “I know. When he said that we could adopt, it hit me that I should have told you. I started playing the what-if game. I nearly drove myself crazy. I told myself I’d hurt you enough and that I didn’t deserve you. So, I threw myself into my work and did my best to forget you,” she whispered. “But I couldn’t. Because I loved you. I’ve always loved you, Jonas. I’ve never stopped and I’m so sorry for hurting you and I hope you can forgive—”

  He kissed her. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and gently pulled her closer. She went still, her brain whirling. Then told it to shut up and kissed him back. An I-missed-you-I’m-so-glad-to-be-back-with-you kind of kiss. When he finally pulled away, Brooke had to concentrate on breathing. Her face felt hot, flushed. “Wow.”

  “Yeah. Double wow.” He blinked, stared at her for a few seconds then shook his head. “Wow.” He cranked the car. “Let’s get you to your meeting. I’ll be waiting outside when you’re done and we’ll finish this conversation.”

  “Right.”

  “And tell everyone that they’re invited to a cookout at my house tomorrow night.”

  “A cookout?”

  He shrugged. “For those who can make it. Everyone has really put their lives on hold—some even on the line—for me and Felix. I’d like to do something for you all.”

  She nodded. “All right, I’ll pass the word.”

  “Oh, and one more thing.”

  “What?”

  “I love you, too.”

  *

  Fifteen minutes later, Brooke slipped into her chair and ignored the good-natured teasing of the guys. She barely heard them as she replayed the kiss over and over in her mind. The kiss, the words, the look on his face…

  Fiona entered the conference room and Brooke shifted into a more comfortable position. The bandage on her left temple made the skin under the tape itch, but she resisted scratching it.

  “Do we know anything about the guy we caught at Brooke’s house?” Chase asked.

  “Not much,” Fiona said. “He’s got a nice rap sheet that includes armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. However, I did find one interesting thing.”

  “What’s that?” Gavin asked.

  “He was in rehab for a while. He completed the program, got out and got a job.”

  “Where?”

  “He worked in the janitorial department of Thorne Industries.”

  Brooke sat up straight as she processed that bomb.

  “Which means we can tie him to Congressman Jeffries,” Nicholas muttered.

  Gavin shot him a dark look. Nicholas didn’t look away.

  Isaac tapped the table. “So is he talking?”

  “No,” Gavin said. “Not a word. Said someone called him and asked if he needed some fast, easy cash. He said yes and the person gave him his instructions. He has no idea who the voice on the other end was.”

  “Of course not,” Brooke said.

  “But we can tie him to the aide’s death. We found Paul Harrison’s wallet in Damian’s apartment.”

  “Excellent,” Brooke murmured.

  “Any word on Erin Eagleton?” Gavin asked.

  “Nothing,” Chase said, his jaw tight, eyes narrowed. “We’ll find her, though.”

  “It’s possible she’s dead,” Nicholas said.

  “She’s not dead.” Chase’s voice rose a fraction and the room went silent. Chase cleared his throat. “Sorry. I just don’t believe she’s dead or that she had anything to do with the shootings. She’ll explain when we find her.”

  Brooke again noted the hope, the faith in Chase’s voice and wondered at his relationship with Erin—who’d been Michael Jeffries’s girlfriend.

  “Then we need to hope she turns up soon. I’m ready to solve this case. Any more on the internet service provider trackings?” A few weeks ago, someone researching bills introduced by Congressman Jeffries had been tracked to rural Virginia. The research had gone all the way back to his first term.

  Chase exhaled and shook his head. “No, nothing since then. If it’s Erin, she’s gone quiet.”

  “We’ve made a statement to the press that we’ve found the phone and that we’re pulling information from it. Hopefully, that will deter whoever hired Mr. Sharples to go after Felix.”

  “He should be safe now,” Nicholas agreed.

  “Good,” Gavin said. “Now…”

  Brooke fidgeted and Gavin’s voice faded. Jonas w
as waiting on her and she wanted to finish their conversation. Hope made her giddy and unable to totally focus on the conversation around her. She just wanted to take a break, to go be with Jonas.

  “You okay, Brooke? Do you need to take off?”

  She blinked at Gavin’s question. She touched the bandage on her forehead. Then stood. “Yes, I think I do.” For more reasons than one.

  Gavin nodded. “Someone will call you with an update.”

  “Great.” She walked toward the exit then turned. “Oh, you’re all invited to a cookout at Jonas’s house tomorrow night at five-thirty.” She slipped out of the conference room, a smile spreading across her lips.

  TWENTY-TWO

  Brooke looked around. The cookout was a huge success. How Jonas had managed to put this together so fast, she’d never know. Probably had a caterer for a client who owed him a favor. Burgers and hot dog smoke filled the air and her nose twitched while her stomach rumbled.

  Everyone had been able to make the cookout, including Cassie and Gavin, Adam and Lana, Nicholas and even Chase who refused to give up the search for Erin Eagleton. He kept looking at his phone and she knew he was hoping Fiona would have something for him to work with. So far, there was nothing.

  All the dogs were in attendance and behaved perfectly in spite of the tempting aromas that drifted past them.

  Jonas was dressed in a ridiculous apron that said Real Men Wear Aprons. He kept shooting her secret smiles and she figured she’d never need to use makeup on her cheeks again.

  Felix’s attitude had changed overnight and he and Jonas seemed to have turned a corner in their relationship. Last night, she’d left them alone to give them time to talk even though she wanted to be with Jonas. He needed to be with his son and she was all right with that.

  Nicholas stepped up beside her. “How’s the head?”

  She touched the bandage she’d just changed that morning. “Still aching, but nothing some ibuprofen and I can’t handle.”

  “I’m glad.” He paused and took a sip of his tea, his eyes on Jonas, who threw a football to Felix. “You love him, don’t you?”

  She sighed. “Yes. I do.”

  “He’s a good man. I approve.”

  She laughed. “Thanks. That actually means a lot.” She sobered. “How’s it going with Selena Barrows?”