Caught in the Crossfire (Otter Creek Book 15)

by Rebecca Deel

  “Maybe we’re looking at this from the wrong side.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What if this isn’t about you, but about Riva? This whole chain of events started with her death. You said you were at her home earlier in the afternoon. You probably did leave your pipe wrench which made a convenient murder weapon.”

  He frowned. “It’s possible. But the killer made it my problem by trying to frame me and hurt Nicole. He came after her, Dean. Twice. I’m not going to forget that.”

  “He’s probably afraid she saw too much and might recognize him.”

  “She saw almost nothing.”

  “The killer doesn’t know that, and you can’t take out an ad and announce that fact to the world. Maybe you should think about who had something to gain from Riva’s death if you can’t figure out who has it out for you.”

  Mason punched Dean lightly on the shoulder. “I should have thought of that before now.” While he’d grown up, his father had repeatedly told him to go at a problem from a different angle if he hit a wall. This was a definite wall. Time to go around the immovable object instead of trying to beat his head against the wall and coming up short. Dean was right. This all started with Riva’s death. Maybe this wasn’t a vendetta against him. He could have been a convenient scapegoat. So, why didn’t he believe that? “Thanks.”

  Dean glanced at his watch. “Break’s over. Lock your toolbox, and we’ll get back to work. Have you heard anything about the inspection yet?”

  “Nope. Manning is taking his sweet time going over everything. If he can find something we need to fix in Building 8, we’ll make his day.”

  “We checked everything ourselves and fixed the items Patton and Fisher skimped on or did wrong. That building is as perfect as we can get it.”

  Two hours later, Brian strode into Building 7. He handed Mason a list. “Manning’s correction list.”

  Mason scanned the items, his frown deepening as he read. “Dean and I fixed about half of this list yesterday. The rest of the items on the list were working perfectly.”

  “They aren’t now. Your fixes have miraculously undone themselves. We have another inspection in a week.”

  “Want a suggestion?”

  “Lay it on me.”

  “Let Dean and me change the locks. You keep the keys. The only way someone will be able to get back in here to create mischief is to break in.”

  Brian smiled. “I like it. Go to our hardware supplier for the locks. Don’t tell anyone else what you’re doing. Let’s see if we can thwart our troublemaker. Leave the list I gave you this morning. I’ll keep an eye on things and give Dean a hand.”

  “Yes, sir.” He motioned for Dean to follow him outside. When they were far enough away from the apartment building to not be overheard by Brian, he said, “Stay with him. I don’t think the person who’s been messing with me will go after Brian, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

  “No problem. We’ll install the crown molding while you’re gone.” Dean rolled his eyes. “We have about a zillion square feet to install.”

  “I’ll be back soon to give you a hand.” Mason drove to the hardware supplier thirty minutes away, purchased the necessary locks, and returned to the job site.

  He grabbed the box of supplies and carried them inside the building. Brian and Dean were both on ladders, nail guns slamming nails through the molding and into the wall. “Looks good.”

  Brian snorted. “Whose idea was it to have this much fussy trim work in each apartment?”

  Mason grinned. “Wait until we have to paint it.”

  A groan. “Don’t remind me. Did you get the locks?”

  “Yes, sir.” He handed his boss the receipt and purchase order.

  “Excellent. You two pause the molding work and change the locks in Building 8. I want the hardware changed out before you leave the site today, no matter how long it takes.”

  Mason glanced at his watch. He and Dean had at least four hours of work ahead of them and Mason was due to take over the watch in another hour. Guess he would have to call someone to cover his guard shift until he could shake free. “We’ll take care of it, sir.”

  “I’ll try to give you a hand after everyone else knocks off for the day.” With that, he left.

  Mason and Dean gathered their tools, then checked the doors and windows, and locked up behind themselves.

  Mason led the way to Building 8 and set down the box of hardware on the living room floor of the first unit. “I need to call someone to watch over Nicole and Dawn.”

  His partner grabbed his own cell phone. “I need to call my wife and let her know I’ll be late. She worries when I’m not home on time.” Dean walked to the back door with his screw gun and a new door knob to match the one Mason was ready to install in the front door.

  He set his own screw gun on the floor along with the knob and called Linc.

  “Is Dawn okay?” was Linc’s greeting.

  Huh. Looked like Nicole was correct. The PSI instructor was sweet on Dawn. “Alex Morgan is on watch at the shop. As far as I know, Dawn’s fine.”

  “What do you need?”

  “A favor. I’ll be tied up for a few hours at the Oakdale site and I’m supposed to take over for Alex in an hour. Can you take part of my shift?”

  “No problem. Take your time. I’ll find out what the ladies want for dinner and have food waiting for you. We’re still planning to be at your house tonight?”

  “You have a different suggestion?”

  “Yeah, my place. My windows are bullet-resistant glass.”

  “Sold.” He could still hear the glass shattering as bullets smashed into the windows at Trent’s home. “You sure you don’t mind having three guests in your home?”

  “Nope.”

  “Thanks, Linc. I owe you.”

  “No debt between friends. See you when you get off.”

  Mason shoved his phone into his pocket and got to work. Four hours later, he and Dean checked the last unit to be sure the windows were secure, and locked the door.

  “I thought we’d never finish.” Dean opened the toolbox in the bed of his truck and stored his tools before locking his equipment. “Did you notice some of those original locks had scratches on them?”

  He nodded. “I saved the ones I found to show Brian. It’s possible the cops can pull prints off them.” He wasn’t holding his breath, though. Any self-respecting thief would wear gloves.

  His friend grimaced. “The only fingerprints they’ll find will be ours.”

  “Probably.” He clapped Dean on the shoulder. “Good work today. Hopefully, we’ll thwart any further sabotage. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Mason unlocked his toolbox and put away his tools before locking the box and double checking that no supplies had been left outside by accident. When he didn’t find anything, he drove to the Oakdale clubhouse where Brian was working.

  His boss turned as Mason entered the building. “All finished?”

  “Yes, sir. I sent Dean on home.” Mason handed Brian the key ring with the apartment keys identified by unit. “When we changed the hardware, we noticed some of the knobs had fresh scratch marks.”

  Brian’s eyes narrowed. “Like someone had picked the locks?”

  He nodded. “The new locks are reputed to be more difficult to pick.”

  “Looks like we’re going to find out if that’s true. Good job, Mase. Go home. I know you’re anxious to check on Nicole.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll wait until you’re ready to go.”

  Brian’s eyebrows soared. “You’re worried about my safety?”

  “Is there anything I can do to help you finish?”

  “I’m just packing up. I won’t be more than ten minutes.”

  Mason helped his boss store nails and screws, and pack tools. Once Brian climbed into his truck, Mason opened his vehicle door and climbed inside.

  After cranking his engine, he finished half the soft drink in a bottle in his cup holder, and sta
rted the drive to Linc’s home, thankful he carried his own type of Go bag with changes of clothes and survival supplies in case of trouble. Rio had stressed being prepared for anything since Mason began training with the teams.

  Halfway to his destination, fatigue hit him in a hard wave. He blinked as dizziness assailed him and the world spun.

  Lights flashed in his rearview mirror, blinding him momentarily. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. Shouldn’t drive. He finally managed to slide his foot off the accelerator. Steering to the side of the road took an enormous amount of effort and too much time.

  Gear. Put the truck in park. Couldn’t drive anyway. Four tries later, he shoved the gear into park. Vision blurring, he fumbled for his cell phone. Stared at it, confused. Nicole. He needed Nicole.

  Mason squinted, straining to read the names on his list. He touched a finger to her name.

  When she answered with a cheery, “Hi, sweetheart. Are you on your way to Linc’s?”

  He couldn’t respond. Tried three times before he finally said, “Help me.” The phone slipped from his grasp and the world went black.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Alarm roared through Nicole. “Mason?” Nothing. “Mason, answer me.” Wide-eyed, she spun to stare at her current bodyguard who watched her with increasing concern.

  Linc took the phone from her hand and tapped the speaker button. “Mase, it’s Linc. What’s going on?”

  Silence.

  “Mason, answer me,” he snapped, sounding like a drill sergeant in the military.

  Still nothing. Terrified for Mason, Nicole clutched Linc’s arm. “The truck’s engine is still running. I can hear it. We have to help him but we don’t know where he is. What can we do?”

  Dawn wrapped her hand around Nicole’s free one. “We’ll find him. He was probably on his way here from the job site.”

  “Sure, but how many different routes could he take?” They had to find him as soon as possible. If Mason was critically ill and they chose the wrong route, he could die.

  Her breath froze in her lungs. No, she couldn’t think that or she’d fall apart. That wasn’t an option. Mason needed her to be strong, to think logically. “Can Fortress help?”

  Linc grabbed his cell phone. When his call was answered, he said, “It’s Linc Creed. You’re on speaker with Nicole Copeland and Dawn Metcalf. Mason Kincaid’s in trouble.” He rattled off Mason’s cell phone number. “Ping his cell signal.”

  “Hold.”

  While they waited for the man to return with information, Linc turned to Nicole. “What did Mason say before I put him on speaker?”

  “‘Help me.’” She frowned, fighting to think past the panic threatening to swallow her whole. “He sounded off.”

  “Explain.”

  “His words were slurred.” She narrowed her eyes at Linc. “He’d never drink and drive.” Not after the accident that took the life of a mother and child. Her groom-to-be still grieved the loss of life from his decision years ago.

  The Fortress tech’s voice sounded over the speaker. “Linc, I sent the coordinates to your phone. Anything else I can do?”

  “Not right now. Thanks.” He ended the call and checked his text message for the coordinates. After scrolling rapidly through several screens, Linc studied one and frowned. “He’s seven miles from here. I’ll find him and let you know what’s going on.”

  “We’ll all go,” Nicole corrected. “You can’t leave us here unprotected, right?”

  “It’s not safe, Nic.” Dawn squeezed her hand. “You’ll be out in the open and a likely target since this involves Mason.”

  “I have an alarm system I’ll activate until I return with Mason,” Linc said. “You have my word that I’ll bring him back to you. Just stay here where it’s safe.”

  Nicole shook her head. “Either you take me with you or I’m driving myself.” She yanked her hand free from Dawn’s hold, snagged her purse, and headed for the door. If Linc thought he was going to leave her in safety while Mason was at least sick if not injured, the PSI instructor was fooling himself.

  He sighed. “Hold it, Nicole. Wait until I tell you it’s safe.” Linc passed her to open the door and step onto the porch. After scanning the area, he signaled Nicole and Dawn to join him. “Straight to the SUV.” He unlocked the vehicle with his remote and hurried the two women to safety.

  Nicole climbed into the back while Dawn slid onto the shotgun seat. Even though Linc drove faster than the posted speed limit, she mentally urged him to flatten the accelerator to the floor.

  While he drove, Linc made another call.

  “Blackhawk.”

  “It’s Linc Creed. Mason’s in trouble. He called, asking for help. I’m going to him now with Nicole and Dawn.”

  “Where?”

  He gave the police chief Mason’s coordinates.

  “I’m not far from there. I’ll meet you on site.”

  “Be careful, Ethan. After Mase asked for help, he hasn’t responded to any questions. This may be an ambush.”

  “Copy that.” He ended the call.

  An ambush? Nicole clutched her phone like a lifeline. The call from Mason was still active. She’d heard some odd sounds, but nothing from him. Tears burned her eyes. Was he sick? Had he been in an accident? What if the killer had forced Mason off the road and hurt him?

  She had to hold it together until they had all the facts. The most important thing was to find Mason and get him help.

  Five minutes later, Linc rounded a curve, slowing when he spotted the swirling blue-and-white lights of a police SUV parked behind Mason’s truck. The driver’s door was open with a large figure leaning into the cabin.

  When Linc skidded to a stop, Nicole threw open the door, jumped to the ground, and ran toward the truck.

  The police chief glanced over his shoulder and backed away from the door with a bag in his hand containing a bottle. “I called an ambulance. ETA is two minutes.”

  “What happened? Is he sick?”

  “He appears to be drunk.”

  Cold fury filled her. “Mason doesn’t drink.”

  Ethan held up the bag in his hand. “How do you explain this?”

  She glanced at the contents. Her mouth gaped. “I can’t, but I know that’s not his. Mason doesn’t drink period. When he did drink in college, it was only beer. No hard liquor.”

  “You need to step back, Nicole.”

  “I’m checking on Mason. If you want to arrest me for it, go ahead.” She hurried to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door.

  As soon as she climbed inside, the overwhelming scent of alcohol assaulted her nose and made her cough. No matter what Ethan thought, Mason wouldn’t be blind drunk and driving, not with his history. She’d find a way to prove that he was innocent no matter what she had to do.

  Mason lay slumped over his center console. At least he was breathing steadily. Nicole stroked his hair away from his forehead. “I’m here, Mason. You’ll be okay. An ambulance will take you to the hospital. Just hold on for me, sweetheart. I can’t lose you.” Her voice broke.

  The ambulance siren cut off abruptly as the driver parked in front of the truck. Two EMTs rushed to Mason with their equipment bags in hand. After determining he didn’t have any obvious injuries, they shifted him to a gurney, and strapped him down to transport him to Memorial Hospital.

  “Tell the doc on duty to do a blood test on him immediately,” Ethan said.

  One of the EMTs snorted. “From the way he smells, he’s way over the legal limit. Your case ought to be a slam dunk.”

  “Do what I told you,” the police chief snapped, and motioned for them to get going.

  With a scowl, the man and his partner rolled the gurney to the ambulance and loaded Mason inside.

  A strong hand squeezed Nicole’s shoulder. “Come on. We’ll follow Mase to the hospital. When he comes around, he’ll need you.” Linc steered her toward his SUV.

  “What happened, Nic?” Dawn asked. “Mason looked l
ike he was unconscious when the EMTs loaded him in the ambulance.”

  Nicole waited until they were underway again before she answered her friend. “He was unconscious. Ethan believes Mason was drunk. How could he think Mason would risk going back to prison? He spent two years investing his life in Mason as a friend and making sure he toed the line as a law enforcement officer. Why would he assume Mason would throw his life away a few weeks before our wedding?”

  “The circumstantial evidence against Mason looks bad.” Linc glanced at her in the rearview mirror.

  “Ethan should know better. Mason has been sober for over 15 years. Why would he go back on the promise he made me?”

  “I don’t believe the evidence, either, but many men wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure he’s under right now without sliding back into old habits. Don’t assume Blackhawk is gullible, Nicole. He’ll investigate everything.”

  “Will it be enough?” The evidence was damning. Even the EMTs believed Mason was driving under the influence of alcohol.

  “You heard Ethan. He demanded a blood test first thing. If Mason sucked down a bottle of booze, the blood test will show his blood alcohol level.”

  Nicole scowled. “I’m telling you he didn’t.”

  He held up a hand to forestall more of her vehement protests. “It’s possible Mason is ill.”

  “That fast? He just left work. Worse, that doesn’t explain the alcohol.”

  “We don’t know what happened. If he wasn’t drunk, someone went to a lot of trouble to make it look like he was three sheets to the wind.”

  She sucked in a ragged breath. “If that’s true, that same person might have drugged him. Aside from the bruised jaw where Fitzgerald punched him, Mason didn’t have a mark on him that I could see.”

  Linc glanced in the rearview mirror again. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Wait for the blood test results. Prepare yourself, Nicole. Mase won’t get the benefit of the doubt, not with him smelling like a brewery.”

  The medical staff of Memorial better treat her man with respect or they’d be hearing loud complaints from her. She also planned to file formal complaints if necessary. Mason deserved better than their disdain.