“Yeah. I’ve got a story to write.”
Nick’s heart rate finally returned to normal after he shut the door on the outside world. And whoever wanted her dead. He’d been blunt with her a few minutes ago, but the truth was, he was scared for her. His immediate attraction to her the first time he’d met her months ago had sent him scurrying. There’d been no way he’d allow himself to be drawn to a reporter.
But now that he’d gotten to know her, all he wanted to do was protect her.
“You know you’re not making this easy,” he said, keeping his voice low so as not to wake his grandfather. Nick had sent the man a text just in case he woke up and wondered where they were. No return text said he’d probably slept through everything.
“Making what easy?”
“Keeping you safe.”
“Oh.” Her brows drew together. She went to sit on the couch and he followed her.
“Someone has shot at you and blown up your house, Heidi.”
“I’m aware, thanks. But you know what I’ve noticed?”
“What’s that?”
“Everything he’s done has been so that he had a way to escape. The bombing of the training center? He had his escape plan in place. The shooting at the church? He was in a speeding car that got away. The bombing of my home? Same thing. He had it rigged to blow either at a certain time or when he could set off the explosion with a remote. A cell phone or something.”
Nick frowned. She was right.
Heidi continued, “And he always seems to target me when there aren’t many people around.”
“So, you think if you’re surrounded by people, you’ll be all right?” he asked.
“It seems to look that way. Tonight, I was around a ton of people and he didn’t try anything.”
“I’m not sure that logic works.”
She raked a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. I just know that I can’t hide.” She stood and paced the room till she stopped by the mantel. “I’m taking precautions, I’m being careful. I’m not stupid and I don’t have a death wish, but I won’t hide.”
He nodded. “I can’t say I don’t understand because I’d probably feel the same way if I were in your shoes.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Didn’t say I liked it, but I do understand.”
“Thank you.”
Standing, he held out a hand to her. She took it and stepped forward. “I’m headed for bed. You should do the same.”
“I know. But I still have to write the story about Patriot’s return. I’ll see you in the morning?”
“I have an early meeting with Westley and Justin about the Red Rose Killer. What are your plans?”
“I have a meeting with Lou at eight thirty. Then I have to write up my latest personality piece.” She smiled. “You wouldn’t want to volunteer for a spot, would you?”
“Me? No, thanks.”
“I figured, but I had to try.”
“Go to bed, Heidi. We’ll catch up tomorrow.” Instead of letting her go, he pulled her close and slanted his lips across hers. It was an impromptu action that surprised him. And yet, he didn’t regret it. The kiss lasted a few seconds before he ended it with a hug.
When he finally let go of her, she looked...bemused. “I hope that was okay.”
“Oh, it was more than okay,” she replied. “Confusing, but a good kiss.”
He chuckled, then sighed. “I don’t mean to be confusing. The more I’m around you, the more I like you. The more I like you, the more I question my sanity.”
“Well... Thanks?”
Grimacing, he raked a hand through his short hair. “That didn’t come out right. I’m conflicted about you, but not enough to stay away from you. How’s that for honesty?”
Her eyes glittered up at him. “I like honesty. And I like you, too.” She patted his cheek. “Good night, Nick.”
And then she was walking away from him. He waited until he heard her door close before he went to bed. “Lord, don’t let me mess this up. Protect Heidi from whoever is after her. And, Lord? Please, protect me from myself.”
* * *
Morning came faster than Heidi would have liked and she found herself scrambling to beat the clock. Fatigue pulled at her as she got ready, and for the first time since taking the job at the base, she considered calling in sick. After everything that had happened, she didn’t think Lou would give her any grief about it, but the thought of John Robinson had her pushing forward. Which was silly. Why did she even care what he thought?
She didn’t, really. But she did care about her job and what her boss thought. Once she was dressed for the day, she reached for her recorder and the little black notebook and frowned when she couldn’t find the recorder. She’d used both last night and had them in her jeans pocket. She’d only used her notebook last night to write the story about Patriot’s return because she had everything she’d needed. She hadn’t bothered to check the recording.
Where had she put it?
A glance at the clock sent her scurrying. No matter, she’d have to find it later. She stopped. But what if it was just lying around somewhere and someone picked it up? No, please no. She’d recorded her thoughts on just about everything she’d written in her little black notebook. If someone found it...
She scoured her room once more and when she came up empty, she gave a groan of frustration. She’d really have to find it later. But for now, being late wasn’t an option. She slipped out the door and climbed into the rental her insurance company had delivered late last night.
Her own car had been parked in the driveway and had taken a hard hit when the house had exploded. Most likely, it would be declared a total loss. She tried not to be too depressed about the fact that her house, her car and all of her belongings were gone, but kept reminding herself that she had survived and no one else had been hurt. Doing her best to be grateful for that, she parked and made her way inside the newspaper office. She called out greetings to the few coworkers she passed as she headed to Lou’s office.
He looked up at her knock. “Heidi! I didn’t expect to see you this morning.”
She frowned. “I emailed and told you I would be here.”
“I got it, then saw John this morning and he said he wasn’t sure you’d make it.”
Anger seethed inside her. “John has no idea of my schedule. Please don’t rely on his word.”
Her boss gave her a shrewd look. “Everything okay between you two?”
Heidi gave him a tight smile. “Just fine, sir.”
“Hmm.” Heidi thought that sound held a world of skepticism but didn’t bother to address it. She would handle John Robinson without dragging her boss into the fray. Only as a last resort would she bring her troubles to him.
“I’m here, sir,” she said.
“Just wanted to say great job on the piece you sent last night. That was some mighty interesting stuff.”
“Well, thanks, I appreciate that. I just happened to hear the commotion outside and joined in.”
“I liked the dog story, too. We’ll run that one tomorrow.”
She frowned. “Wait a minute. Isn’t the dog story what we were just talking about?”
He eyed her. “Are you losing it, Jenks?”
“I didn’t think so until right now. Exactly what story are you talking about, sir?”
“I’m talking about the one you sent on how you overheard a conversation between two high-ranking investigative officials and their speculation that the serial killer is back on base. And how he was targeting everyone on the base now. I can’t believe the guy actually called in and gave them a heads-up that he was going to start killing again and officials have covered it up.” He leaned back and crossed his arms. “You’re a sneaky one, aren’t you?”
“Sneaky? Overheard?” She sputtered. “Wait a minute, I di
dn’t write anything like that.”
“I don’t know where you got the information from, but it’s good. Just the kind of investigative reporting I like to see. Funny, I figured Robinson would explode when I told him I was printing it, but it didn’t seem to faze him.”
Panic rose within her. She leaned forward. “I didn’t do a piece on the Red Rose Killer. Or the fact that he was back on base.”
It was his turn to frown. “What are you talking about? You sent it about five hours ago. It went out in this morning’s paper—and let me tell you, it was a chore to get it out on time. I know it’s not a huge paper, but it’s still a lot of work.”
He picked up the paper sitting on the desk beside him and handed it to her. Heidi stared at the front-page headline—and her byline—in horror. SERIAL KILLER BACK ON BASE.
“I didn’t send this! I didn’t even write this. And it’s not even true! No one said Sullivan called in with more threats. No one’s covering anything up. Those are lies.” She didn’t have to read the article to know she didn’t write it. “Lou, please tell me this isn’t happening.” She couldn’t help reading a few lines, and her heart dipped into her shoes. “No, no, no, no, no. Oh, no. No one on this investigative team will talk to me ever again. I’ve got their trust now and this piece is going to kill it.” Not to mention Nick. Oh, Nick...he would think... “How did you get this? From my email account?”
“Yep.”
Heidi stood and paced in front of his desk. “I don’t understand. How can this be?”
“Heidi, calm down. Are you telling me that you didn’t send it?”
How many times did she have to say it? Placing her palms on his desk, she leaned forward and looked him in the eye. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
“Then you’re telling me I just printed an article that can get me sued?”
She paused and bit her lip. “Yes. Maybe. The information is mostly accurate, but it wasn’t supposed to be announced in the paper. I wasn’t even supposed to know it. But the other parts are pure fiction.” She slumped into the chair and covered her eyes. She was so done. No, she wasn’t. She hadn’t done this. How had this happened?
“How did this come from your email account, then?”
She narrowed her eyes. “John Robinson. He did this. Somehow, someway, he got that information and used it. He wants me off this paper and thinks he’s found a way to make that happen. If no one will talk to me, what kind of reporter will I be?”
Lou scoffed. “What? Even if Robinson is inclined to do so, how would he get into your email?”
“I don’t know, but he’s resented me from day one. He was the only reporter on staff before the paper expanded to include me. All of a sudden, he had to share stories. I guess he doesn’t like that.” She picked up the paper again and settled back into the chair to read, ignoring the feel of his eyes boring into her.
The more she read, the sicker she came. “You have to do something,” she finally whispered. “Print a retraction, something.”
“But you said most of the information is accurate?”
“Yes, but some of it’s not. It’s going to cause panic on the base. The true elements are part of an ongoing investigation. As soon as Nick reads this, he’s—” She bit her lip and fought the tears as she pictured his reaction. His feeling of betrayal.
“We’ll fix the parts that are false, but the rest of the story stays.”
“You realize this is just going to be fuel for the fire. Everyone is really going to think I’m the anonymous blogger now. They’ll believe that not only am I releasing confidential information, I’m making stuff up. And I’m not! I only came by that information by accident and—”
Lou’s tight jaw said he wasn’t happy. At all. “All right, I’ll talk to Robinson, but unless you have proof...”
“The proof is right there in front of you,” she snapped. “I have to find Nick.”
“Heidi—”
Her phone rang. She snagged it and lifted it to her ear. “Nick, I’m so sor—”
“This isn’t Nick,” the voice said. “This is Mark Hanson. You interviewed me about the stolen medals.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else. How can I help you?” She was only half listening as her mind raced with how to explain this to Nick when she couldn’t even explain it to herself. She’d jumped to the conclusion that John was behind the article, but could it be someone else? She couldn’t imagine who.
“I’ve thought of something else you can add to the story,” Hanson was saying. “I think I may know who the thief is.”
He now had her attention. “Who?”
“No,” he said, his voice now a whisper. “I think he’s following me. I’ve got to go. Meet me in the alley behind the Winged Java in fifteen minutes and I’ll tell you everything.”
“No. Let’s meet inside the cafe.”
“I can’t. He might see me! If you want the information, be there.” He hung up.
She looked at her boss. “We’re not done. I want a meeting with you and John Robinson as soon as possible.”
“I’ll talk to him. Where are you going?”
“To find out who the medal thief is and then to find Nick to explain that I didn’t write that article and have no idea how John got that information—” She stopped. Yes, she did know. When he’d bumped into her last night. He’d lifted her recorder from her jeans pocket and listened to it. And wrote that piece.
She spun on her heel and raced out the door.
* * *
Nick set the paper aside and pinched the bridge of his nose. Betrayal, hot and swift, flowed through him. He stood and threw his mug across his office. The ceramic shattered and spilled coffee to the floor.
Annie jumped to her feet and barked. He settled a hand on her head. “Sorry, girl. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Justin appeared in the doorway. “Nick?”
“I can’t believe she would do this.” He tossed the paper onto his desk as though it might bite him.
“I saw the article this morning,” Justin said. “Before the meeting.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“Wasn’t sure what to say, to be honest. I know the blogger posted that we suspected Sullivan was back on base, but that was just conjecture on her part. That article, though, is about a direct conversation people will be more inclined to believe. But the other stuff...that’s just not true. I figured you may have told her some of the facts she got right, and she made up the rest.”
“I didn’t tell her. She overheard Westley and me discussing it.” Nick pressed his palms to his burning eyes and let out a humorless laugh. “She promised not to write it.” His gaze met Justin’s. “And I actually believed she wouldn’t. And the stuff that’s not true?” He shook his head. “I’m an idiot.” He stood. “I’m supposed to be protecting her.” That was going to be interesting. How he would manage to do that and keep his anger at her under control at the same time, he wasn’t sure. It would be a huge test of his will.
“I put someone on her so you could be here for the meeting.” Justin cleared his throat.
“I know. That’s not what I meant. I’m supposed to be protecting her and right now, I don’t even want to be around her.” He glanced at the man leaning against the doorjamb. “I thought she was different.”
“I did, too. I’ve never seen an article by her that wasn’t well researched and well written. This one, though? It’s like a different person wrote that piece.”
“Well, it wasn’t. Her name’s right there under the headline.”
“Yeah. Doesn’t make sense.”
“Oh, it makes sense all right.” Bitterness, so potent he could taste it, rose within him. “I made a huge mistake trusting her. A reporter!” He slammed a hand on his desk and Annie woofed again. “Apparently, I’m as dim-witted as th
ey come. I guess I just have to learn things the hard way.”
“Ask her about it before you take her apart. She may have an explanation.”
Nick reached for the phone. “Oh, you better believe I’m going to ask her. I’m going to find her right now.” If anyone would know where she was, it would be her boss.
* * *
When Heidi pulled into the parking lot of the Winged Java, she noted it was busy and crowded. Probably why Mark wanted to meet her in the alleyway behind it. She pulled around the side of the building, down the sidewalk and around back. Putting the car in Park, she looked around trying to spot the man. When she’d interviewed him two weeks ago, he’d been eager to tell his story and hadn’t seemed like he was holding anything back. But if he’d decided he knew the thief, then she was going to find out.
She sat in her car for the next several minutes, watching, noting that it was a pretty deserted area. Which made her feel a little nervous. She hesitated. Was she doing the right thing? Her dad would have gone after the story. He would have met anyone, anytime, anywhere. But she wasn’t her dad. She’d promised to be careful. This wasn’t being careful.
She cranked the car and backed away from the alley. A shadow to her left made her jerk. Then her window shattered and glass rained down over her.
With a scream, Heidi hit the gas. The vehicle lurched forward and slammed into the side of the building.
A hard hand grabbed her ponytail. Pain shot through her head and down the base of her neck when her attacker yanked her from her car. She let out another scream and threw an elbow back. She connected and her attacker let out a harsh grunt.
His grip relaxed a fraction and Heidi lashed out with a foot, connecting with a hard knee. In a dark hoodie, the man cried out and went to the asphalt.
And she was free.
Until he lunged forward to wrap a hand around her ankle.
“Hey!”
The voice registered in her mind. Nick. Relief flowed through her, but she was still in the attacker’s grip.
“Let her go!” Nick yelled.
Explosive Force Page 13
