Fatal Encounter (A Counterstrike Novel Book 1)

by Jannine Gallant

  “I have dogs to walk in the morning. Can it wait until after lunch?”

  “We’ve gone this long without knowing. What’s another few hours?” He took his bowl to the sink and washed it. “I know it’s not even ten yet, but . . .” He angled his head toward the bedroom.

  She smiled at him over the rim of her glass. “You’ve built up your strength again?”

  “I’ll let you be the judge of that.” Taking her glass, he set it on the counter and closed his hand over hers. Side by side, they entered her bedroom.

  Like the cabin, the room was small, filled mostly by a queen-size bed covered with a bright quilt in rainbow colors. When she stopped next to the bed and turned to face him, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, burying his fingers in her soft hair. She molded her curves to his angles, and his body responded as he deepened the kiss. He wasn’t sure he could ever get enough of this woman.

  When he finally came up for air, he grasped the hem of her sweatshirt and raised it over her head. Her skin was flawless, smooth and beautiful. Her breasts were covered by a lacy pink bra. A moment later he’d released the clasp to let it fall at their feet.

  “You’re so very lovely.” He pressed his face between her breasts. “I can’t begin to tell you how lucky I feel right now.”

  She ran her hands up beneath his shirt to caress his back. “No luckier than I am. I would hate to lose this . . . lose you. I want you in my life, Eli, and not just for a good time.”

  He tilted his head to look into her eyes. “What we have is so much more than sex. I promise you I haven’t felt like this about a woman in . . . maybe ever. You excite me and challenge me and warm my heart.”

  She laughed softly as she slid her fingers beneath the waistband of his jeans. “Every woman should experience making love with an author.”

  “Why’s that?” he mumbled as he kissed the slope of her breast.

  “Because your compliments sound like poetry instead of, ‘Wow, you’re hot.’”

  He squeezed her waist. “Maybe I should advertise that particular talent.”

  “At this point, I’d prefer that you didn’t. I don’t need the competition.” She moved her hands around to unfasten his pants and slide the zipper down.

  He sucked in his breath when her fingers grazed him, and all coherent thought flew out of his head. Working on her leggings, he slid the tight knit material down to her ankles, and she kicked out of them, one foot at a time. After he toed off his shoes, his jeans followed. Pulling away for a moment, he dragged his shirt over his head and gave it a toss.

  Bare skin fused together as he kissed her, tasting the essence of Jaimee. When she tugged him backward, they landed on the bed, still wrapped up in each other. All the stress and fear he’d bottled up inside slipped away as he treasured every inch of her with his hands and mouth. He closed his eyes while she explored his chest with her lips and blew on one flat nipple. When he was hanging on by only a thread, he untangled their limbs to reach down and snag his wallet from the pocket of his jeans. After removing a condom, he covered himself with shaking hands while she wrapped her arms around him from behind and rested her face against his back.

  “There.” Turning, he rolled her beneath him. “I love you, Jaimee.”

  She clung to him as he sank deep inside her. “I love you, too.”

  They fit perfectly, a melding of bodies and souls as they moved together toward completion. When she cried out, he held her tight as he let himself go . . . with her name on his lips and in his heart.

  * * * *

  Jaimee woke slowly, warm from her head to her toes, with her cheek pressed against Eli’s chest. His arm was draped across her waist. Smiling to herself, she stayed right where she was, knowing in her heart there was nowhere else she’d rather be. But a glance at the bedside clock made her groan. She had dogs to walk, and she’d be late picking them up if she didn’t get moving.

  When she tried to ease away, his arm tightened. “Morning.” His voice was rough with sleep, and his eyes were still shut.

  “Good morning.” Pressing up onto her elbow, she kissed him, her hair hanging in messy disarray around their faces. “I have to get up.”

  “I already am.”

  She smiled as she glanced down at the tented quilt. “So I see, but I don’t have time.”

  “I promise to be quick.” He cracked an eyelid. “Two minutes tops.” He took her hand beneath the covers and closed it over him.

  She melted, her center quivering with need. “Two minutes I can spare.”

  They lasted five before she flopped over, skin glistening, and breath coming in gasps.

  “Oh, wow. That was worth being late.”

  “You can always blame me.”

  “That would be an interesting explanation.” She forced herself to sit up. “I need to shower.”

  “I’ll fix you breakfast—if I can move. I’m not so sure I’m able.”

  “Coffee. I’ll love you forever if you make some.” She slid out of bed and stumbled from the room to the shower. Standing under the spray while she hurriedly soaped down, the realization that she would love Eli forever, no matter what, slowly sank in. He was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. Kind, loving, supportive. Sexy as all hell. She couldn’t stop smiling as she turned off the water.

  After towel-drying her hair and dressing, she hurried out to the kitchen where she was greeted by the life-saving scent of strong coffee. When Eli handed her a mug, she reached up and kissed him. “Thank you.”

  “No problem. Do you want something to eat?”

  “I’ll take a bagel and eat it on my way.” She pulled a bag from the cupboard and dropped two halves in the toaster. “Where’s Watson?”

  “He asked to go out.” Opening the refrigerator, Eli found a container of cream cheese and handed it to her.

  “Thanks. I hope he doesn’t take off again—or roll in poop like he did yesterday. I found the key while I was washing his collar after he came back smelling like . . . well, let’s not go into details this early in the morning.”

  “About the key. What time do you want to go to the bank?”

  “I should be finished in a couple of hours. Since I can’t run yet, I planned to drive into town.” She grabbed the bagel halves when they popped up. “Do you want to meet there?”

  “Sure.” He took her into his arms and kissed her. “I’d go with you, but I need to work on those edits before I get chewed out by my editor again. Call me when you’re done.”

  “Okay.” She rubbed her thumb over his bristly cheek and smiled. “I’ll see you later.” Taking her breakfast, the keys, and the dog’s leash, she left the cabin and whistled for Watson.

  The dog came running and leaped into the car when she held open the door.

  “It’s almost like you know you get to see your buddies again.”

  She was halfway down her road when her phone chimed. Slowing the car, she pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the text from Luna.

  Call me when you get a chance. I found something.

  Jaimee checked the clock on her dash. She was already running late. Whatever Luna had uncovered would have to wait a little longer. Legrand was dead, and they had the key to the safe deposit box. At this point, another hour surely wouldn’t make any difference.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  When her phone rang for the second time in as many minutes, and her ex-lover’s name flashed across the screen, Vanna pulled her Mercedes over to the side of the road and shifted into park. Her hand shook a little as she answered.

  “Calling me seems like an unnecessary risk, Dalton. What do you want?”

  “I’m on a secure line.”

  His voice was clipped and not the least bit warm or sensual, but she couldn’t stop the heat that pooled at her core. Their relationship had never been much more than a series of sexual encounters that began in an Arlington bar. Sleeping with an FBI agent, especially one ten years her junior who had a dark side, had produced a visceral t
hrill unlike anything she’d experienced before or since. Too bad the man was such an asshole.

  “I’m sure you know our mutual acquaintance is dead. I trust the payment method you set up is still secure, or the police would have questioned me about those funds already.”

  “Of course. I don’t make careless mistakes.” He let out a harsh breath. “But someone has been on a scouting mission, snooping through my past. One of my superiors called me into his office to discuss my childhood friendship with Gilles Legrand. He sure as hell didn’t go looking for that piece of information without a tip. Did you say something about me to the local cops?”

  “Of course not!” Her voice rose to a screechy pitch. “Why the hell would I do that when the authorities might learn we dated?”

  “Well someone certainly did. I think I covered my ass. There’s no way anyone can trace any recent contact between me and Legrand, but I don’t like that the connection was brought to light.”

  “Don’t blame me. As of now, I’m out of the whole mess. Literally and figuratively. I’m driving back to Virginia. If I never see New Hampshire again, it’ll be too soon.”

  “If I were you, I’d turn around and head straight back to the estate.”

  “Why would I do that?” she snapped.

  “After the way we parted, I figured I at least owed you a heads up. While my superior was questioning me about my connection to Legrand, he mentioned O’Leary is a bulldog when it comes to getting answers. O’Leary is the detective who—”

  “I know who he is. The man grilled me pretty thoroughly.”

  “Apparently, he’s still digging into leads. You might want to stick around to do a little damage control if this source who uncovered my name has any more tips to hand out.”

  “What could he—” She broke off as a chill slid through her. Had someone discovered the safe deposit box key and turned it over to O’Leary? Would the cops think Webb hired Legrand if they found out about the hit and run? She leaned her head against the seat back and closed her eyes. “Damn. Damn. Damn.”

  “Don’t be tempted to throw me under the bus if the situation turns ugly.” Dalton’s voice took on a silky texture that slid across her nerves. “It wouldn’t end well for you.”

  “I know when to keep my mouth shut.” And when not to. She opened her eyes and stared at the winding road in front of her.

  “Never hurts to reinforce the obvious. Good luck, Vanna.”

  The phone went dead. She threw it on the seat before shifting the car into gear. With a string of oaths, she made a U-turn and headed back the way she’d come.

  * * * *

  Jaimee clutched the ends of the leashes in one hand and her phone in the other as she and her canine posse headed down a path into the woods. “Sorry, I didn’t get back to you sooner, Luna. I was collecting dogs. What did you discover?”

  “I’ve been trying to tie one of Eli’s relatives to Legrand and getting nowhere. So I shifted my focus to Dalton Monroe, the FBI agent who was a survivor along with Legrand, back when those three boys died at the summer camp.”

  “I know you checked him out before. You think he’s the law enforcement contact Legrand mentioned?”

  “I hacked into his file, but I couldn’t find any proof of a connection. His superiors didn’t turn up anything suspicious, either, when they questioned him yesterday after Wolf sent in an anonymous tip.”

  “Damn it, Rocky, heel.” Jaimee stepped in a patch of mud and grimaced. Finally, she got a better grip on the renegade Rottweiler’s leash and responded, “So, it wasn’t Monroe, after all?”

  “Oh, I think it was. The man is just extremely careful. I looked into his financials and discovered quite a few credit card charges starting around a year ago in restaurants and bars in Arlington, Virginia. Those charges stopped abruptly six months back.”

  “Arlington is close to D.C., isn’t it?”

  “On the outskirts, yes, but Monroe lives in Maryland. You know who does live in Arlington?”

  Jaimee stopped walking. “Who?”

  “Vanna Shreve.”

  “Interesting. You think they know each other?”

  “He got a parking ticket near her address on a street sweeping morning during that same time period. I bet he spent the night and neglected to move his car.”

  “If they were involved, she could have gotten Legrand’s name from her lover—or ex-lover if they stopped dating six months ago.”

  “That was my thought. It’s possible other family members were aware she was seeing Monroe, but what are the chances she told anyone her lover had a buddy who was a hitman?”

  Jaimee started walking again when Lexi the golden retriever whined. “Not very likely, although I suppose she might have confided in one of her kids. If whatever evidence in that safe deposit box points to Vanna, I’d say we have pretty conclusive evidence.”

  “I thought the key was lost.”

  “I found it yesterday. Eli and I are meeting at the bank as soon as I finish walking these dogs.”

  “Let me know what you learn. At this point, I’m fully invested in the mystery.”

  “I definitely will. Thank you so much for all your work on this, Luna. You’ve been terrific.”

  “If you can keep Counterstrike out of the conversation when—”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll tell O’Leary about Vanna’s connection to Monroe. Nothing more. Let them figure it out.”

  “I’m glad you plan to go to the police with whatever you find. I worked in law enforcement for a few years. Confronting a desperate suspect without backup is never a great idea.”

  Jaimee turned her face up to the gentle breeze while birds chirped in the trees and the dogs trotted happily in front of her. The peace and beauty surrounding her were a balm to her bruised soul. “Believe me, I’ve no desire to be a hero ever again. I don’t need that kind of excitement in my life. Take care, Luna.”

  “You, too. Bye, Scarlet.”

  Jaimee shoved her phone into her pocket and let out a long breath. Legrand was dead, and with any luck, they’d find evidence in the safe deposit box to lock up whoever had hired the assassin. Then maybe she and Eli could focus on turning the hope of a future together into a real possibility. Just thinking about him made her smile, and she gave a little skip of pure joy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy.

  Exiting the woods a short time later, she turned the dogs back toward town and dropped them off at their respective homes, one by one. After returning Sampson the poodle to his owner and commiserating with the octogenarian whose arthritis was giving her troubles, she left the senior estates where the woman lived and pulled her phone from her pocket.

  Eli answered on the second ring. “Are you finished with your walk?”

  “It’s just me and Watson again. We’re headed toward the bank. I parked there this morning.”

  “I can meet you in about fifteen minutes. I’m actually over at the garage picking up my car. They called to say it was almost ready.”

  “What are you going to do with the rental?”

  “I paid extra for the car company to pick it up.”

  Jaimee clicked her tongue when Watson tugged on his leash, and the dog stopped pulling. “Convenient. I’ll wait for you outside the bank. I have the—oh, crap!”

  “What?”

  “The safe deposit box key is on my table I was in such a damn rush when I bolted out of the house this morning, I forgot it.”

  “No worries. I noticed it and stuck it in my pocket before I left.” His voice held a hint of humor. “Relax, Jaimee. We’ve got this under control.”

  “I know we do. Oh, Luna called with some interesting news.”

  “Hold on. The mechanic is waving at me.”

  “It can wait. I’ll see you shortly.” She returned her phone to her pocket and glanced up when a car slowed beside her on the deserted stretch of road.

  The driver’s side window of the Mercedes lowered. “You’re Jaimee Fleming, aren’t y
ou? I see you have Watson.”

  Jaimee stopped walking and met Vanna Shreve’s straightforward gaze. Watson dropped onto his butt at her feet and panted.

  The woman’s blue eyes narrowed slightly, and her lips tightened. “Ironic that the dog got a larger inheritance from my stepmother than I did, don’t you think? I suppose you knew you’d be in charge of his substantial income.”

  “I didn’t have a clue.” Tension radiated through her, not that Jaimee was afraid of this woman. Still, she wondered if she was conversing with the person responsible for Maureen’s death.

  “Would you like a ride? I’m headed into town, and it looks like that’s the way you’re going.”

  “Thank you, but Watson and I are enjoying our walk.”

  “Suit yourself.” She started to raise the window but paused with it halfway up. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen Eli recently?”

  “No, I haven’t.” Jaimee had no compunction about lying to this woman.

  “Oh, well. I’m sure we’ll bump into one another soon enough. Hawthorne isn’t large enough to avoid people.” She stopped speaking as a red Porsche approached. “I won’t keep you.”

  “I’m truly sorry about your stepmother. She was a fascinating lady. Have a nice day, Mrs. Shreve.”

  Before she could respond, Jaimee clicked her tongue, and Watson surged forward, tail waving. The sportscar slowed to a stop beside the Mercedes, but she couldn’t see who was driving through the tinted glass. After a brief conversation, the Porsche moved on, and Eli’s aunt drove past her without waving. Jaimee let out a breath. Maybe Vanna Shreve hadn’t posed an actual, physical threat, but the way she’d studied her had put all Jaimee’s senses on high alert. When she and Watson reached the gas station on the outskirts of town, and a woman filling her tank gave her a friendly nod, she let herself relax. A few minutes later, she turned into the parking lot in front of the bank.

  Eli hadn’t arrived yet so she unlocked her 4Runner and lowered all the windows halfway. She dumped some water from a bottle into a bowl, set it on the floor, and then urged Watson to jump inside. The dog settled on the passenger seat and shook the fur out of his eyes.