Hearts on the Line

by Margaret Daley

  “Still—”

  He slipped his hand over hers on the table and her body responded as though the temperature in the café had soared ten degrees. “Please, Becca.”

  His gleaming eyes and dimpled cheek enticed her to let go of any reservations. His charm was in full force, she noted, relishing the warmth of his hand over hers. “Okay, if nothing comes up with the case.” She really should have dated more. Then she would be better prepared for someone like Quinn, who was hard to say no to.

  “I’ll have to have a talk with Sam and make sure nothing does.”

  He removed his hand to pick up his fork to eat his salad. Becca immediately missed the feel of his skin against hers. That thought sent panic through her. She hadn’t really known Quinn for more than a week and already he was becoming important to her. Most unusual. She never plunged into anything. Caution was her middle name, right next to control and order.

  Her gaze connected with his, the soft lighting casting his features in a warm glow. A sharp awareness of the man across from her trapped her breath in her throat. Suddenly, she felt as though all her caution was being thrown to the wind. Would control over her life and order follow?

  FIVE

  As the meeting with the mayor ended, Quinn stood and shook Maxwell Vance’s hand. “It’s always nice to do business with you. I promise you the New Hope Physical Therapy Wing will be completed again. I won’t let some maniac get away with destroying something so vital. Montgomery Construction is dedicated to making sure it opens as quickly as possible. Next time the ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place. That’s a promise.” Quinn still remembered the last ribbon-cutting ceremony, which had been interrupted by a bomb blast that had left himself and others injured. Only recently had his ribs healed. Another incident he was sure Escalante was behind.

  Max’s hazel eyes, sharp and assessing, zeroed in on Quinn. His strong mouth clenched into a frown. “We both know Escalante is behind everything. Until he’s caught, I pledge the necessary security to make it happen. To think of the destruction that bomb caused—and the injuries. It’s hard to understand someone capable of that kind of evil—even someone like Escalante. But then I’ve seen so much in my sixty-eight years.”

  His world-weary tone made Quinn pause. “You sound like Dad. You ought to hear him rant about what Escalante has done.”

  “So much, though, that we can’t prove, nor do we know where he is or what he really looks like. If he’s changed his appearance once, what’s stopping him from doing it again? He’s gone insane with his revenge.” The mayor released a deep sigh. “But hopefully Sam and his partner, Becca, will come up with where he is and catch him before someone else gets killed.”

  Quinn instantly pictured Becca in his mind and felt a smile slide across his mouth. Dinner at the Stagecoach Cafe had been interesting and fun, despite the fact that they both had been tired. “I’m sure they will. Both are good at their jobs.”

  “So you know Becca Hilliard? I didn’t realize. But I was in a coma for quite some time.”

  “I’m renovating her kitchen.”

  “Renovating? I thought you were running Montgomery Construction now.”

  “I am, but I couldn’t resist getting back to my roots and doing a hands-on project. I’ve missed that.” Plus, there’s something about Becca that enticed me to accept her job personally.

  Max’s eyes glinted with merriment. “Ah, and it doesn’t hurt that Becca is an exceptional woman. Sam and she have known each other a long time. They even dated for a while. I thought at one time she would be my daughter-in-law.”

  For an instant jealousy roared to life in Quinn, taking him by surprise. He wasn’t looking for a relationship with his crazy schedule and the threat hanging over his family. And besides, Sam was happily married to Jessica. No threat if he wanted—stop right there, Quinn admonished himself. Remember? No relationships, especially with Escalante running around Colorado Springs, bent on destroying your family. And don’t forget the line of work Becca is in.

  “Well, I won’t keep you any longer. I’m sure, knowing Evie, she’s shown up early for our appointment.”

  “Don’t worry about the wing. Dad’s coming out of retirement to take a personal interest in making it happen. When we get through, it’ll be better than ever.” Quinn started for the door with the mayor trailing behind him.

  Stepping out into the reception area, Quinn came face-to-face with Yvette Duncan, fondly known as Evie. “It’s good to see you again.”

  The strawberry blonde hugged him. “How’s your mother doing? I haven’t had a chance to go by the café in the past few weeks. I sure miss working with her.”

  “She could have used you last night. A waitress called in at the last minute, and she was running around trying to do several jobs at once.”

  Evie chuckled, her pale-blue eyes lighting up. “That sounds like Fiona.”

  “I’ll tell her you said hi.” Quinn moved toward the hallway, remembering the time that the councilwoman had hidden from her abusive husband and had worked at the Stagecoach Cafe. His mother’s support had helped her get back on her feet.

  Quinn started for the entrance when out of the corner of his eye he saw Becca coming from the deputy mayor’s office. He stopped to say hello. Behind her emerged Owen Frost and Sam. Quinn’s gaze riveted to the deputy mayor’s hands cuffed behind his back as Becca and Sam sandwiched the thin, red-haired man between them. Turning her head, Becca saw Quinn, the frown on her face replaced with a grin. She said something to Sam, then stopped in front of Quinn while Sam continued to escort Frost out of the building.

  Quinn swung his attention back to Becca, so near him he could smell her light fragrance, which reminded him of something his mother baked. “This was the lead you couldn’t say anything about last night?”

  She nodded. “Owen Frost has been implicated in Escalante’s ring.”

  Shocked at how far-reaching Escalante’s tentacles were, Quinn struggled to keep his anger in check. “Do you think he had anything to do with Max’s murder attempt?”

  “Can’t say right now. But believe me, Sam will find out. Right now we’re looking into Neil O’Brien’s murder and possibly Dahlia Sainsbury’s. Even though Stark murdered O’Brien, we don’t know how involved Frost was.”

  “I’ve never fully trusted the man, but involved in murder?” He peered at the door Frost had disappeared through. “What’s his motive?”

  “Most likely money.” Becca hated not telling Quinn everything they had discovered in Dahlia’s journal, that O’Brien’s gambling debts had been the reason he’d set fire to the hospital wing and Montgomery Construction. But she and Sam still had some details to check into before releasing the information.

  “Now that wouldn’t surprise me. He’s always lived a little beyond his means.”

  “Hopefully we’ll know more after we’ve had a talk with our deputy mayor.”

  “Does Max know?”

  “Not yet. Sam’ll call his father from the police station. He was in a meeting when we came by.”

  “With me.”

  “Ah, so that was the meeting you had.”

  “About the hospital wing. We’re going to start rebuilding it now that the rubble has been cleared.”

  “Good. I didn’t like going by the hospital and seeing the ruined wing.”

  “I’m meeting with Dad about it, then I’ll be at your house for the afternoon.”

  Becca thought of the interview with Frost still to come and said, “I’d better go. This day will be another long one, especially if we manage to get any information from our deputy mayor.”

  “Good luck. I’d like this whole business settled soon so our lives can get back to normal.”

  “Normal. What’s that?”

  Becca started for the door, catching Quinn’s smile. It sent a current of awareness through her as though when around him she knew every little detail involving him. It didn’t take much to get a reaction out of her—a look, a touch, a smile. Boy,
she needed to stay away from him. Quinn and Sam were so much alike, and it hadn’t worked between Sam and her. Sam’s faith—like Quinn’s—was important to him, whereas she’d given up on the Lord when He had taken both of her parents, leaving her to raise her siblings at the age of twenty, ill-equipped and unprepared to take on a ready-made family.

  The minute she climbed into Sam’s car he pulled out into the stream of traffic and headed for the station. She noticed her partner slide a glance toward her several times and knew he wanted details of what was going on between her and Quinn. Even though she and Sam had once dated, he was only a good friend now along with his wife, Jessica.

  At the station Sam and she had to wait while Owen Frost was shown into an interview room where he met with his lawyer whom he had called from his office. They stood in the corridor, Sam’s arms crossed over his chest while Becca wondered when her partner would bring up the subject of Quinn.

  “Going to the barbecue Saturday?” he finally asked, unfolding his arms and straightening from the wall.

  “Yes, and I’m going with Quinn.”

  “So you’re dating him?”

  “No. He’s renovating my kitchen.”

  “But you’re going to the barbecue with him?”

  “He’s just feeling sorry that my kitchen is a mess and giving me an opportunity to eat something other than fast food, which is about all I’ve had time for lately.”

  “Sure.” Sam shook his head. “So that’s what you’ve been telling yourself and everyone else.”

  Becca confronted Sam in the hallway. “Don’t you read any more into it than there is.”

  Sam held up both hands. “You need a life outside work, Becca. Jessi and I are worried about you.”

  “Don’t be. I’m too busy. I’ve started a new college course, and don’t forget we have several unsolved murders that need solving.”

  “How can I forget when it involves my family—and Quinn’s?” He leaned his shoulder against the wall, his relaxed pose back in place. “But still, Becca, you need more than work and school.”

  “Not everyone has to be married to be happy.” She narrowed her gaze on him. “I’ve raised a family. Now I’m doing what I’ve wanted to do for years, finishing my degree.”

  “But there’s more to marriage than having a family.”

  “Samuel Vance!”

  “Okay, not another word from me…for the time being.”

  Frost’s lawyer opened the door to the interview room, indicating they were through speaking. Becca moved forward, glad for the interruption. Sam could be very stubborn and downright nosy at times, which made him a great cop but exasperating as a friend who meant well.

  Sam stood by the two-way mirror, his stance deceptively casual, while Becca took a seat across from Frost and his lawyer. On the surface her partner seemed relaxed, but she had worked with him long enough to feel the waves of tension emanating off him. They bounced off her own, making the atmosphere in the small room intense.

  “We know you’re taking bribes. We have proof that links you to Dahlia Sainsbury, Escalante and the drug ring. What do you know of the murders of Dahlia and Neil O’Brien and the attempted murder of Max Vance?”

  Frost’s thin face twisted into a frown. “I don’t know where you got your info, but I’m not connected with either Escalante or Dahlia. I barely knew the woman. And I’ve never met anyone by the name of Escalante.”

  “Then those sums of money that appeared in your account on a regular basis had nothing to do with Dahlia paying you off to look the other way while drugs were being brought into Colorado Springs?”

  “I haven’t got the slightest idea what you’re babbling about.” The deputy mayor pinned her with a narrow look.

  Sam rustled behind her and moved toward the table. He settled his fists on the wooden top, leaning his body halfway across the oak expanse. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll come clean. People involved with Escalante don’t have a long life. Perhaps you aren’t familiar with what it’s like in jail.”

  Frost drew himself up straight, his glare blasting first Sam then Becca. “I have nothing else to say to you.”

  “I’m putting an end to this interview,” the lawyer interjected, standing. To his client, he added, “You won’t be in here long. I’ll make the arrangements.”

  “I’m not without some influence in this town. You’ll regret this.” Frost shot Becca, then Sam, another withering stare before leaving with his lawyer and a police officer to be processed.

  Sam massaged the back of his neck. “I’ve got to call Dad and let him know what’s going on. I’d hoped to have better news for him.”

  “We need to put a tail on Frost when he makes bail. Maybe he’ll lead us to Escalante.”

  “Right now I can’t come up with anything else better.” Sam’s shoulders slumped. “We’ve hit another dead end unless Frost talks, but that isn’t looking too promising at the moment.”

  Rising, Becca put a hand on Sam’s arm. “We’ll unravel everything. We can keep digging into Frost’s finances. And we’ll delve deeper into Dahlia’s past. See if Alistair Barclay was her only connection to Escalante before coming to Colorado Springs. Something else might come up.”

  “Yeah, maybe. I hope before someone else gets hurt.”

  Instantly the picture of Quinn popped into Becca’s mind. She knew he could take care of himself, but what if something happened to him? The thought of not seeing his smiling face squeezed her stomach into a tight ball. Time was running out. Each day that passed without finding Escalante increased the chances of Quinn—or someone else—getting killed.

  Dragging herself home that night, Becca let herself into the kitchen to find Quinn still working. This time she had bought some fast food on the way to her house, not expecting to see Quinn.

  “You take your job seriously,” she said, tossing the white sack onto her kitchen table, which was pushed to the side against one wall.

  “I didn’t get here until late. Besides, I wanted to know what Frost had to say.”

  “Nothing. He’s out on bail as of an hour ago. We didn’t get anywhere.” Becca tugged a chair out from the table and collapsed into it. “I don’t have much, but you can share my fries.”

  Quinn snagged a seat next to her. “I was just about ready to give up on you. Talk about someone taking her job seriously. You’ve got me beat.”

  He was one of the reasons she was working so hard. His family, Sam’s family, were in danger. She couldn’t rest until Escalante and whoever else was working with him were brought in. But there was no way she would tell him that. “Yeah, a few people have accused me of being married to my job.”

  “You still coming on Saturday?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it. I hear it’s gonna be the party of the month.” And a great opportunity for Escalante to try something. If that was the case, she planned to be glued to Quinn’s side. Then maybe she could prevent another tragedy.

  He captured her gaze. “I realize it’s a perfect time for him to strike. Believe me, I’m gonna have a lot of security, especially with the mayor being there.”

  Becca blinked, surprised at how easily he had read her mind. But the instant he had looked at her a connection, which had started on the rooftop, had sprung up between them, something she had never experienced before, even with Sam.

  Quinn ran his finger down her jaw and tapped her chin. “You’re tired. You’re easy to read. And don’t forget I know how a cop thinks. My brother was one.”

  She busied herself by taking out her hamburger and spreading her fries out on the ripped-open sack. She didn’t like being easy to read. “Please. I don’t really need all these. Help yourself.” She took a bite of her sandwich.

  “Well, maybe one or two, if you insist.” He popped a fry into his mouth.

  Becca scanned the kitchen, which, if it was possible, looked even messier than the night before. She liked order and this definitely was throwing her life out of order. She hadn’t realized how m
uch when she had come up with the plan to modernize her family home.

  Quinn waved his hand toward the chaos. “The storm before the calm. By next week it’ll begin to look like a kitchen again.”

  “Good. My life is crazy enough. Sometimes my timing is lousy.”

  “I don’t know if there’s ever a good time to tear your house apart.”

  “True,” she said with a weak laugh.

  Quinn took another fry. “You’ll be glad when it’s done.”

  Becca paused in bringing the burger to her mouth. “Just as you’ll be when Escalante is finally caught once and for all.”

  “Yeah, it’ll be nice not to feel like I’m walking around with a bull’s eye on my back,” Quinn said in a casual tone while sneaking another French fry.

  “You’re pretty calm about it. I don’t know if I would be, and I’m a police officer.”

  “My life’s in God’s hands. I can’t worry about the small stuff.”

  “Escalante after you isn’t a small thing.”

  Munching on several more fries, he said, “That doesn’t mean I take unnecessary chances. But worrying about when you’re going to die is wasted energy I don’t have to waste.”

  Becca pushed the sack of fries toward Quinn. “Your faith means a lot to you.”

  “Of course. Without it, my life would have been like this kitchen, in total chaos. When Maggie died, I thought I had to. God dragged me out of my misery and showed me I still had some living to do.”

  “You don’t blame Him for taking her away from you at such a young age?”

  Quinn shook his head. “He didn’t set the bomb. Maggie is in a better place now with God.”

  “But she had so much life ahead of her.”

  “Death is part of life. That won’t change. What’s important is how you live the life you’re given, whether it is a few years or many.”

  That didn’t stop her from wanting her father and mother to be alive. There was so much she wanted to share with them. There was so much they’d missed out on in their children’s lives. There was so much I missed because I had to take their place. The thought came into Becca’s mind unbidden but clear in its message. She’d been bitter about the role cast for her with her parents’ deaths. Instead of making the best of it, she’d quietly fought it, never totally accepting it.