Always a Lawman

by Delores Fossen

  No.

  Hector couldn’t have done that.

  Gabriel cursed. “You’re having us followed?” he snarled.

  It took Hector several long moments to answer. “Not you. I figured you’d spot a tail right off, but I’ve had men on Jodi, Russell and August.”

  “You what?” That was all Jodi could get out because her breath suddenly got very thin.

  “It was for your own safety.” Hector took his hands from his hips and reached for her, but Jodi stepped back.

  “Explain that,” she said, and she thought her glare might match the ones August and Gabriel were giving her boss.

  Hector huffed. “The person sending those threatening emails is dangerous. The murder today proves that. I figured the violence would escalate, so I wanted to keep an eye on not just you but on the most likely suspect—August.”

  August charged at Hector, but he didn’t land the punch that he threw because Gabriel caught on to August and put him against the wall.

  “Why follow Russell?” Gabriel asked Hector.

  “Because he’s been getting threats, too, and I thought August or someone he’d hired would go after him. You have to admit that killing Russell would be a way to shed some doubt on Travis’s guilt. And August might have an easier time killing Russell than his own niece.”

  “I didn’t try to kill anyone,” August fired back. “I just want everyone to know the truth, and that truth is my brother is innocent.”

  Gabriel ignored August and turned to her. “Did you know anything about Hector’s spying?”

  “No. Of course not. And if I had, I would have put an end to it. You had no right,” she added, aiming her index finger at Hector.

  She wasn’t sure what riled her more—that Hector had had her followed or that she hadn’t spotted the person he’d hired to do that.

  “Have you forgotten that you nearly died?” Hector said. “Not just ten years ago but today, too. You’re in danger, and it’s not very smart to rely on the local sheriff to make sure you’re safe.”

  Jodi stared at him. “I’m not relying on the sheriff or you for that. I can take care of myself. Now, call off your dogs. Not just the ones following me but the ones on August and Russell, too.”

  “That’s not wise,” Hector warned her.

  “Do it!” Jodi snapped.

  Hector hesitated several long moments, but he finally took out his phone to make the call. However, Gabriel stopped him.

  “Did you have a tail on Jodi today?” Gabriel demanded. He didn’t continue until Hector nodded. “Then ask him or her if they saw anyone go into my old family home. Anyone besides Jodi, me and a teenager wearing a ski mask.”

  “He didn’t see anyone,” Hector assured him. “I had one of my best men on Jodi. Frank,” he added to her.

  Frank Mendoza, former black ops. He was indeed one of Sentry’s best, and it explained why she hadn’t noticed him.

  “Frank was positioned up the road from where Jodi parked,” Hector added, “and he said he didn’t see anyone go into the house except Jodi and you.”

  That meant the killer was there before she arrived. Watching them. Maybe committing the murder while Gabriel and she were just yards away. So much for her stellar training. She hadn’t been able to sense something like that practically under her nose.

  “I’ll call my people now,” Hector said.

  “How did you find out Hector was having you followed?” Gabriel asked August the moment Hector stepped into an interview room to make his call.

  “One of the PIs that I’d hired noticed it. I have security cameras everywhere—in my home, my office. Even in my car. When the PI reported to me that it appeared I was being followed, I told him to run a check on the guy and find out who he was. Imagine my surprise when I learned the tail, Rusty Millington, worked for Hector.”

  Of course, Jodi knew Rusty, too. He wasn’t as good as Frank, but the PI must have been top-notch to detect Rusty.

  “Did you report this Rusty and Hector to the cops or the FBI?” Gabriel continued.

  August frowned. “I’m reporting it now, to you, and I want you to do something about it.”

  “I will...if there’s anything to be done. It’s not a crime to follow someone, and Hector could just say he was looking out for your safety.”

  “Right.” August didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm, either. “Hector would like me out of the way so that he has Jodi completely isolated and all to himself.”

  Jodi was so surprised by that accusation that she flinched.

  “You know it’s true,” August went on. “Hector’s in love with you.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know that at all because it’s not true.” At least she hoped it wasn’t. Hector had certainly done a lot for her, and she wanted to think it was because she did a good job for him, but she had to admit that Hector wanted more than just to be her boss. That said, she doubted he’d go to these extremes to get it.

  “Am I interrupting anything?” someone asked.

  Jodi had been so deep in thought that she hadn’t heard the footsteps. But Gabriel clearly had because he’d already stepped in front of her. Now, he put his hand over his weapon in his side holster. But it wasn’t the threat that Gabriel was gearing up for.

  It was Russell.

  It’d been at least six years since Jodi had seen him, but he hadn’t changed much. Same blond hair and muscled body. In college, everyone had called him the golden boy because of his looks and because he excelled at sports. A city boy. The opposite of Gabriel, the cowboy cop.

  But there was a different edge to Russell than there had been back in college. She knew he’d spent three years in the army, and it seemed to have hardened him a little. Put some more muscles on him, too.

  “Jodi,” Russell said when his attention landed on her. He went to her, his arms already reaching for her, but she motioned for him to stop.

  “Uh, I don’t hug,” she said.

  Of course, it sounded rude, but maybe Russell would get it, especially since he’d seen her in the hospital shortly after the attack. She’d had trouble with even the doctors and nurses touching her then, and in fact, Russell had been there for her first panic attack.

  Plenty more had followed. And touching and hugging were triggers that she’d learned to avoid.

  “Sorry,” Russell said. He shook hands with August and then Gabriel. “August told you about Hector having us followed?” he asked Gabriel.

  Gabriel nodded. “I also understand you got a threatening email?”

  “I did, and I gave it to the FBI.” Russell’s forehead bunched up. “What I don’t understand is why would a copycat or even Travis include me in this? Jodi and I weren’t even together when your parents were killed and she was attacked.”

  “Lots of people are getting the threats,” Jodi explained. “Who knows why? Maybe the killer thinks I told you something that could reveal his identity.”

  Russell glanced at Gabriel, then back at her. “So, you still think your father’s innocent?”

  “He is,” August interrupted.

  Jodi wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic about that as her uncle was, but she did make a sound of agreement.

  What she didn’t do was offer up any details about the recent murder, about maybe it being tied to what had happened to her and Gabriel’s parents. But if that knife did prove to be the murder weapon, then maybe there was some kind of DNA evidence on it to give them a suspect other than her father.

  Russell kept his attention on her. “How are you? I’m guessing what happened today shook you up?”

  “Some. I’m okay,” Jodi lied. “How about you? I understand you got married?”

  Russell flashed that golden-boy smile that had first attracted her to him, but there was no trace of that attrac
tion now. She thought that was mutual, too. “I married a wonderful woman four years ago. I met her not long after I left the army. And I’m a dad. Our son is six months old.” The smile faded. “My wife and son are the reason I’m so upset about that threatening email. I don’t want anyone going after them because of what went on between us.”

  Jodi heard the anger just beneath the surface. Anger maybe aimed at her because if he hadn’t gone on three dates with her, then none of this would be happening right now. But the anger was warranted because Russell was no doubt concerned about this monster going after his wife and child.

  “San Antonio police know about the threat,” Russell continued, “and August encouraged me to beef up security. I did. I had a new security system installed, and I’ve told my wife not to go out of the house without me.” The muscles in his face got tight. “Obviously, I don’t want to have to live like this much longer, so just how close are you to catching this dirtbag?” He directed that question to Gabriel.

  Gabriel shrugged. “There is a suspect. Once I’m able to question him, I’ll know more.”

  “I want to talk to him,” Russell said, and it was a demand. August nodded in agreement.

  Now it was Gabriel’s jaw muscles that got tight. “Not a chance. Unless you two become law enforcement officers, you’re not getting anywhere near him. I don’t want anything to compromise this investigation. Because if that happens, this guy could be guilty as sin and still walk.”

  August opened his mouth, probably to argue with that, but he didn’t have time to say anything before Hector came out of the interview room.

  “I’ve called off the surveillance for all of you,” Hector said, “but there’s a problem.” He paused. “Someone broke into Jodi’s apartment.”

  Her breath froze, and she felt the instant slam of fear. “When?”

  “I’m not sure, but he sent me this.” Hector handed her his phone, and she saw the photo on the screen.

  It was a selfie from the looks of it. A sick one. Because the person was wearing a ski mask identical to the one their teenage suspect had on when they’d found him. In the background, she could see her bedroom. The clothes that she’d left on the bed. The coffee cup on the dresser. She could also see something else.

  The knife the man was holding up in his left hand.

  It was a crescent blade with a broken tip.

  She choked back a gasp just in time, and if Hector hadn’t taken the phone from her, she might have dropped it. Gabriel snatched the phone from Hector, looked at it and cursed.

  “When’s the last time you were home?” Gabriel asked.

  It took her a moment to gather her breath and her composure. Jodi felt the panic fade, replaced by the anger of having someone do this. “Early this morning. He must have gotten in after I left for work.”

  Russell and August looked at the picture, too. “Or maybe this creep was in your place ages ago,” August pointed out.

  Jodi had to shake her head. “No, those are the clothes that I put there this morning, and that’s the coffee mug I used.”

  “The FBI is headed to your place,” Hector explained. “They’ll process the crime scene. And this photo.”

  Yes, because sometimes there were bits of hidden data in digital pictures. Maybe they’d get lucky. But she doubted this intruder had been sloppy enough to leave a trace of himself behind.

  Gabriel glanced at Hector, then Jodi. “How the hell did he get past your security system?”

  Good question. Because she had a good system. The best, as a matter of fact—complete with motion detectors and cameras. And she looked at Hector to see if he had an answer for that since he’d been the one to install it.

  “Any chance your hired spy gave the intruder the code so he could waltz right into Jodi’s apartment?” August asked Hector.

  Hector’s eyes were narrowed to slits when he turned to August. “No. Any chance your PIs could have found the code and given it to him?”

  Oh, no. This was about to get ugly.

  “Or maybe you gave that thug the code,” August added, and yes, he aimed that accusation at Hector.

  “Why the hell would I do that?” Hector snapped.

  “To send Jodi running to you. To make her believe that you’re the one who can protect her.”

  That went back to August’s theory of Hector trying to isolate her from everyone but him, but obviously it was a theory that ticked off Hector. Since she didn’t want punches thrown, she stepped between them again. However, that didn’t stop Hector. He just charged right past her, and it might have come to blows if Gabriel hadn’t taken hold of Hector. Russell did the same to August.

  “I’m not going to stand here and have this moron accuse me of junk like that.” Hector’s voice was past the anger stage now, and the veins in his neck were bulging. Jodi had never seen him like this, but then August was a pro at pressing hot buttons.

  “You,” Gabriel said, pointing to August. “Leave now. You two, as well,” he added to Hector and Russell.

  Russell gladly obliged. In fact, he looked plenty sorry that he’d even made this trip. August, however, didn’t go so easily. He spat out some profanities, looking at Jodi as if he wanted her to intervene on his behalf.

  She wouldn’t.

  “You need to go,” she told him.

  That didn’t please August, and it earned her a few choice curse words from him, but her uncle finally stormed out. It didn’t surprise her, though, when Hector stayed put.

  “You can’t go back to your apartment,” he said.

  Of course, Jodi knew that, but there’d been so much info for her to process that it took her a couple of moments to realize the next thing Hector was about to point out—that she had to go somewhere safe.

  But where?

  She’d been trained to fight and shoot, but that wouldn’t stop someone from gunning her down. Or worse. It wouldn’t stop a monster from killing Gabriel, Russell or someone else just to prove a point. Exactly what point, she didn’t know, but anyone who’d gotten a threatening email was at risk. She couldn’t protect them all. Neither could Hector or Gabriel.

  “I want you to come to my house,” Hector insisted. “Or to the office. I can have both guarded 24/7.”

  Jodi was shaking her head before he even finished. Maybe the unease she was feeling was because Hector had had her followed without telling her. Or maybe nearly being killed had created this edgier-than-usual feeling inside her. Either way, she wasn’t going with him.

  “Thanks, but no thanks,” she answered.

  If this snake had managed to get someone into her apartment, he could get to her anywhere. Including the fortress that Hector called home.

  Hector’s stare turned to a glare that he shifted from her to Gabriel. It was the exact reaction she expected. Some anger mixed with disappointment. Hector wasn’t stupid, and he had to have known she was picking sides. A side that would help her get to the bottom of this while not being killed.

  And that side was with Gabriel.

  Hector turned to leave but then stopped. “Gabriel didn’t save you ten years ago. Just remember that,” Hector said like a warning before he walked out.

  Jodi waited to see if Gabriel was going to respond to that. He didn’t. He just stood there, hands on his hips, watching as Hector went out of the building.

  “I didn’t tell Hector that I went to your house that night ten years ago,” she explained. “He didn’t know I’d come on to you and that you’d turned me down.”

  Jodi didn’t want Gabriel to think she had poured her heart out to Hector. She hadn’t. She hadn’t poured out her heart to anyone.

  Gabriel’s silence continued for several more moments before he looked at her. “How exactly did you meet Hector?”

  She’d expected questions, just not that one, an
d she didn’t miss that he’d used his lawman’s tone to ask it.

  “He came to the hospital about a week after the stabbing.” It wasn’t hard to recall that meeting. In fact, those days, and the physical pain, were as fresh as if it’d just happened. “He said he’d read about the attack, and he wanted to offer me help getting back on my feet.”

  Gabriel made a sound of sarcastic disapproval, probably because she hadn’t accepted any assistance from him, his sisters or her friends. Including Russell, who’d told her he would be there for her in any way he could. But Hector had offered her something no one else had.

  “Hector said he could train me in self-defense, that he could teach me to use a firearm. A knife,” Jodi softly added. “Everyone but the FBI was skirting around my attack, but Hector talked about it head-on. He said once I was trained that I could work for him, and that no one would be able to hurt me like that again.”

  There it was in a nutshell. Jodi would have trusted almost anyone who’d made her believe that she could not only recover but that she would also never again be a victim.

  She wouldn’t be, either.

  The next person who tried to put their hands on her was going to pay.

  “And you didn’t believe it was suspicious that a stranger would show up and make an offer like that?” Again, he sounded like a lawman, one who had his own doubts.

  “What are you asking?”

  “If you think Hector could have orchestrated this,” Gabriel answered without hesitation.

  “No. He didn’t know me before the original attack—”

  “You’re positive?” he snapped.

  Well, she had been until now. After giving it some thought, she had to shake her head again. “Hector’s not connected to your parents...is he?”

  “Not that I know of, but you can bet I’ll be checking to see.” He looked at her again. “Someone must have given the intruder the code to get past your security system. I’m not saying Hector did that,” he quickly added, “but it could have been one of his employees. Someone who’s close to both Hector and you.”