Right now, she was grateful for Brody, who wanted to help her, and more than anything, she wanted to remain wrapped in his arms.
* * *
After Brody left her office, Stephanie received a phone call from Ted’s counselor. Her brother had kept his appointment and seemed eager for the next session. Although he didn’t share specifically what had been discussed, the counselor was enthusiastic about the progress that had been made.
Ted was taking positive steps forward. With medication for his anxiety and depression, and additional counseling sessions, the counselor felt fairly confident that Ted could turn everything around.
Stephanie’s spirits soared with the news, but her optimism plummeted when Major Jenkins called soon thereafter and shared that Ted had asked to be taken off her caseload.
“I won’t act on his request at this point,” the major said. “See what you can do to change Ted’s mind. Besides, I know you have your brother’s best interest at heart.”
She hung up feeling conflicted. How could she reach her brother when he remained closed to any attempt on her part to help?
After what had happened today, she wasn’t sure their relationship would ever improve. No matter what she did, the divide between them just kept getting bigger.
ELEVEN
Brody checked with the WTB first sergeant to ensure Ted headed back to the barracks after his counseling appointment. The sergeant promised to keep him busy around the battalion. He also promised to call Brody if Ted showed any signs of depression or aggravation.
Once he returned to his office, Brody kept thinking of Stephanie and realized his distraction would continue until he called her.
Hearing her voice when she answered made him smile and ask if she wanted to join him for dinner that evening.
“There’s a restaurant in Alabama about an hour’s drive from Freemont that has an outdoor patio and lots of atmosphere. Plus, the cooking is the best in the area that I’ve found.”
“The Tadwell Inn?” she asked.
“You know the place.”
“And love going there. But I have a meeting this afternoon that will probably run until five or five-thirty.”
“Five-thirty works for me,” Brody said. “I’ve got a number of loose ends to tie up around here.”
His next phone call was to the farmer in Alabama. The man that answered sounded like a no-nonsense, salt-of-the-earth type of guy.
Brody identified himself and then said, “Sir, I’m calling about the Ford truck you bought three years ago at an auction in Freemont, Georgia.”
“The Ford’s long gone, Agent Goodman.”
“How’s that?”
“Totaled.”
“Did you have the truck repaired?”
“What don’t you understand about totaled? The Lord saved me, but He destroyed the Ford.” The farmer sighed. “Only good thing was that I was driving instead of my son. I ended up with a few cuts and bruises. Nothing serious. Doubt my boy would have been as lucky. He’s got a lead foot like his late mother.”
“I’m sorry about your wife, sir.”
“Appreciate the condolences. Sandra was a fine woman. The Lord took her too early.”
Brody empathized with the man’s loss.
“I had to accept the Lord’s will for my life, in spite of my grief and loneliness,” Mr. Franken continued, seeming eager to talk.
“Yes, sir.”
“He’s given me a fine son, even though he has a heavy foot on the gas pedal.” The farmer chuckled. “Plus a daughter-in-law and a grandbaby on the way. I miss my wife, but I’ve got folks to love. God made me look to the future, which helped me overcome my grief.”
“I’m glad things are better, sir.”
“Made me realize when tough times come, I need to lean on the Lord.”
Brody had been told the same thing after Lisa’s death. Although he didn’t believe in coincidences, the repeated message seemed exactly that. Or was the Almighty sending a reminder Brody had ignored years earlier?
“Thank you, sir, for the information about the Ford. Best wishes to the new parents.”
He scratched Sam Franken’s name off his to-do list and called Don Palmer at the Freemont Police Department. “Hayden Allen’s truck was a dead end.” Brody explained about the vehicle having been totaled. “Did you get those DMV records on red pickups in the Freemont area?”
“We’re checking for any of them that might have off-road tires. Nothing to report yet.”
“What about the bedding and note from the Upton home?”
“The bull’s-eye and X were made with a standard washable marker sold at every store that carries school or business supplies. No prints. No identifiable markings. No evidence.”
“And the island search?”
“Again, nothing turned up. The city claims the danger sign blocked access to the footbridge. They have no idea who would have removed it. The rope supporting the wooden deck appeared frayed, but the integrity of the structure could have also been compromised by some external force, for whatever that’s worth. No one at the marina could provide information about a fisherman in a jon boat. We’re batting zero, the way I see it.”
“Something will turn up,” Brody said before he disconnected, although he felt anything but encouraged.
For the rest of the afternoon, he busied himself at work, but eyed the clock and counted down the minutes until he could pick up Stephanie. Once they were together, he was thankful to see some of the worry she had worn earlier had eased. Knowing Ted had gone to counseling and was now occupied at the battalion had to be a relief.
The evening drive bolstered both their spirits. Brody took a back road that wound by the river and eventually crossed into Alabama at a scenic spot that led to the heart of a small town with a picturesque square.
He turned to glance at her. A warm swirl of attraction bubbled up within him. She titled her head as if questioning why he was focused on her.
He smiled and, at that moment, the world suddenly looked brighter.
“Mind if I turn on some music?” Brody asked. “Are you a country gal?”
She laughed. “Sure. It’s appropriate for the surroundings.”
He selected a CD. “How about The Best of Nashville?”
“Perfect.”
The mellow mix of guitars and banjos played softly in the background as a popular country-and-western voice opened his heart to the woman he had never expected to love.
Stephanie tapped her left hand against the console in time with the music. Brody couldn’t help but notice her long, slender fingers.
Without thinking, he wrapped his hand over hers, taking care to not touch the place where the rope had rubbed her palm. He enjoyed the softness of her skin and the warmth of her hold.
She turned to smile at him, a look of genuine happiness covering her oval face. As pretty as she was, surely Stephanie had captured a number of guys’ hearts. Maybe there was a special guy at her old base, Fort Stewart.
As much as Brody wanted to know, he wouldn’t ask. Right now, he needed to believe he had a chance—a second chance at love.
Then he realized the truth. After everything that had happened, it was doubtful Stephanie would want anything to do with him long-term. Their paths had crossed because of the investigation. After it was over, they’d go their separate ways.
* * *
The sun had set by the time Stephanie and Brody finished dinner. She laughed as they headed back to his car. He held the door for her and touched her arm as she slipped past him onto the seat. The gesture seemed natural and filled her with a sense of peace as if some of the struggle she had felt earlier had dissipated, for which she was grateful.
During dinner, they had talked about the Wounded Warrior Program and the oppor
tunities available to the injured. Her responsibility was to ensure the soldiers took advantage of the benefits provided for them and were able to navigate the paperwork and bureaucracy that went along with government programs.
Brody seemed genuinely concerned about the injured soldiers on her caseload, and he mentioned his own hope that Ted would be able to heal with counseling.
The trip back to Freemont passed quickly. They had turned to lighter topics, including Stephanie’s high school swim team and her love of the water. Brody mentioned that he often swam laps at the indoor pool on post. Having that shared common interest made their time together even more enjoyable. Once they arrived at her house, inviting him for a swim seemed appropriate.
“I usually take a dip after dinner,” she said. “Why don’t you go back to your BOQ and pick up your suit?”
Brody’s eyes twinkled. “Sounds great. My trunks are in my car.”
Once he unlocked the door, she flipped on the entryway chandelier before disarming the security alarm. After he retrieved his gym bag, she pointed him toward a spare bedroom.
“You can change in there.”
She quickly donned a one-piece suit and a cover-up and was in the kitchen when he joined her.
“Care for a cola or coffee?” she asked.
“I’ll take some coffee after the swim.”
She handed him a colorful beach towel. “The stairs on the deck lead down to the pool.”
Brody followed her to the patio, where a wrought-iron table and chairs were positioned next to the kidney-shaped pool. Recessed lights in the landscaped area reflected across the water like tiny diamonds. A plastic raft floated in the deep end.
“I’m glad you asked me out for dinner,” Stephanie said as she dropped her towel on the table.
He followed suit and placed his gym bag next to both their towels before he stepped closer. “And I’m glad you said yes.”
The intensity of his gaze made her turn and point to the water. “Last one in the water makes the coffee tonight.”
He grabbed her arm. “Not so fast.”
She playfully tried to free herself from his hold.
His grip was strong but gentle. He pulled her closer until she was standing a breath away from him. They stopped laughing at almost the same moment. Stephanie looked into his dark eyes and saw far more than she expected.
Brody slipped his hand around her waist. She could see a pulse beating in his temple and could smell the heady scent of his aftershave. The masculine fragrance swirled around her and added to the intensity of the moment.
Gazing at his angled jaw and full lips, she felt a portion of her inner core melting, the part that worried about the past. She stared into his dark eyes and leaned closer.
“You were saying?” He smiled.
“Weren’t we talking about making coffee?”
His finger twirled a strand of her hair, sending a delicious warmth pulsating along her neck.
“Are you thinking about coffee, Stephanie?” His voice was deep and dangerous.
“I’m not thinking of anything, except—”
“Except what?” His upper lip twitched ever so slightly.
Every nerve ending tingled within her.
“About whether you plan to kiss me.” She closed her eyes and waited half a heartbeat until his mouth covered hers.
The night stood still. The sound of the cicadas and crickets faded into the distance. All Stephanie could focus on was the tenderness of his kiss. Gently, he drew her deeper into his embrace.
Just when she thought he would kiss her forever, Brody pulled back.
His look of need turned lighthearted. “We were heading into the water.”
“We were?”
He pointed to the pool. “Last one in, remember?”
She remembered his kiss and how comfortable she had been—far too comfortable—in his arms.
Needing to reel in her emotions, she turned, took off her cover-up and dove into the pool. Before she entered the water, she heard a loud crack. Brody screamed her name.
Confused by the sharpness of his tone, she touched bottom and pushed back to the surface.
“Stay in the water.” He had pulled his weapon from his gym bag and was hunkered down behind the wrought-iron table, his eyes trained on the fairway and the woods beyond. “Keep your head below the rim of the pool.”
Treading water, she saw the shattered flowerpot that had sat on the table next to where they had stood only a moment ago.
He raised his cell to his ear. “This is Special Agent Goodman, Fort Rickman CID. There’s been a shooting.” He gave Stephanie’s address. “I need police backup. Now. Notify Freemont Chief of Police Don Palmer immediately.”
She followed his gaze to the dense forest. “I...I don’t understand. I thought a car backfired.”
“It was a gunshot, Stephanie.”
Her mouth went dry. A roar filled her ears. She wanted to dive underwater and swim until her lungs burned. Surely, Brody had it all wrong.
“But—” She stared into the darkness, unable to pick out anything except the tall trees and the sounds of the night.
“Stay where you are. I’ll check the area.”
Bile rose in her throat. Crossing the fairway would make him an open target. In spite of the warm night, she shivered, knowing Brody could be in the line of fire.
He left the patio, but instead of heading toward the clearing, he picked his way around the neighboring houses and circled through the underbrush. She could barely make out his shadow in the darkness.
More than anything, Stephanie wanted to run inside and hide, but she knew her own safety depended on staying put. She prayed Brody would remain safe, as well.
Tears stung her eyes. She blinked them back, angry at her mixed-up emotions and inability to comprehend what was happening to her life. She and Brody had had such a nice evening, but now he was running headlong into danger.
Why hadn’t he waited for backup? Because he had to be the macho cop and catch the bad guys and make sure she didn’t get hurt. Much as she appreciated his protection, she couldn’t take someone else getting hurt because of her. Especially not Brody.
She bit her lip, hoping to control the fear that clamped down on her chest. Listening for any sound, half expecting to hear gunfire, she counted off the minutes, not knowing who or what Brody would have to confront.
Huddled at the far edge of the pool, she inched her head up to stare into the distance, seeing nothing except the darkness.
Just when she was convinced something had happened to him, Brody stepped from the shadows. Grabbing a towel for her, he stood guard as she climbed from the pool. “Stay low and head for the back door. Someone could still be out there.”
“What did you find?” she asked when they were safely inside.
“Nothing.”
“Which means what?”
“Someone wanted to frighten you, or they were a bad shot.” Brody’s face was tight with emotion. “Does Ted know you swim at night?”
“It’s something I’ve always done. I...I guess so.”
“He thought you’d be alone.”
She shook her head and took a step back. “It wasn’t Ted,” she insisted.
Yet Ted and his friends had often played paintball at night with toy guns in this very same fairway in their youth.
“How can you be sure it wasn’t your brother?”
“Because I know Ted.”
“You know the way he was when you were growing up. He’s a different person now. You’ve got to believe me.”
The only thing she knew for sure was that she had been fooled by Brody’s sweet words and even sweeter kisses.
Sirens sounded in the distance. The police would soon arrive and canvass the neighbo
rhood. What would they find? Nothing to prove any of Brody’s suspicions about Ted. In his mind, her brother was the shooter, but Brody was wrong.
So very, very wrong.
* * *
Brody appreciated Don Palmer’s efforts. The Freemont police chief had pulled in a number of his men to search the Country Club Estates and the surrounding wooded area.
Both Stephanie and Brody had changed back into their street clothes. For the past two hours, she had sat huddled on the couch in the keeping room while the police milled around outside. Fatigue pulled at her drawn face and made him aware of how vulnerable she really was, especially all alone in the big house.
“There’s a lodge on post, Stephanie. Why don’t you stay there for the next few nights until we find out who fired the shots?”
“What if you don’t find the person who’s responsible? How long will I have to stay holed up in some motel room?”
“You’ll be safer there.”
“Chief Palmer said he’d increase patrol cars in the Estates and stationed an officer outside to watch my house.”
“For tonight. But what about tomorrow?”
“I’m taking it one day at a time.”
He sighed, knowing she wouldn’t change her mind.
She picked at a thread on the couch. “I overheard some of the officers talking. One mentioned a hunting area not far from my house, but—”
He waited for her to continue.
“Another one said they found a bullet embedded in one of the posts outside that support the upper deck. It appeared to be the same caliber as used in military rifles.”
Was she worried Ted might be involved?
“All military weapons are locked and accounted for in each unit’s arms rooms, Stephanie. They’re drawn only in certain instances and only with the authorization of the commander.”
“So the soldiers don’t have access to the rifles?”
“That’s right.”
“Have you...” She hesitated. “Have you heard back from Major Jenkins?”
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