Retribution (Otter Creek Book 8)

by Rebecca Deel

  “Heidi.”

  She thought about the gas cans, debated not telling him. He needed to know. Levi should be prepared. “It may be nothing.”

  “Tell me what’s happening.” Alarm reverberated in his voice.

  Heidi related the incident with the gas cans and the vandalism to Quinn’s SUV. The two happenings weren’t related, but it was safer for him to know everything.

  “I’ll come to Otter Creek as soon as I make arrangements.”

  “No!” This was why she hadn’t wanted to tell him the truth. Levi couldn’t break cover. He wasn’t safe either. “The police are on top of it. The leaders of PSI were here. They know what happened. You have to stay in place. Promise me.” Heidi couldn’t lose anyone else. She didn’t think she’d recover if she lost her cousin and last remaining relative.

  “I hate this,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t be hiding like a coward.”

  “You’re not a coward, Levi. This freak tried to kill me more than once. When he failed, he came after you and almost killed you.”

  “Maybe I should come out in the open and let him do his worst. Then you might be safe.”

  For a moment, she was too stunned to say anything. Then anger surged to the forefront. “That plan is full of so many holes it resembles lace. Don’t be an idiot. We’ve stuck together all this time. You’ve been my rock. You saved my life. I will never forget what risks you took for me. How will it help me if you’re dead, Levi? I wouldn’t have anybody.”

  Quinn’s image popped into her mind with his thick, sandy-blond hair, and chocolate brown eyes. Right. She’d known him a matter of hours as Heidi Thompson. Though she knew him years ago in their hometown, Heidi couldn’t count on him for support once he realized who she was. He was not hers. To think otherwise would lead to heartbreak. “We know the arsonist won’t give up the chase because you’re gone. I’m his primary target. This creep will still come after me even if you’re dead. No, Levi, I’m afraid the blame lies with me and my wretched last name.”

  “It’s not your fault, Heidi. Your father set all this in motion and his partner in crime is out for revenge. Unfortunately, we’re both the victims of his continued cycle of violence.”

  She blinked away the tears stinging her eyes. Levi’s words were kind, but untrue. If she had never lived with his family, at least his parents and siblings would be alive.

  “If only we knew who we were dealing with.”

  A familiar refrain between the two of them. They could set a trap if they knew the identity of their stalker. As it stood, anybody could be the enemy. Maddox had told her and Levi they could trust the operatives he placed with them. Because Heidi had been the primary target, the Fortress CEO had sent her to PSI, run by his best unit. She hadn’t known Quinn was part of PSI or she would have asked him to send her somewhere else.

  She’d been honest with Maddox about her background and identity. Heidi frowned. He must know her connection to Quinn’s family. Why did he send her to a man whose life had been impacted by her father’s crimes? He must trust Quinn to do what was honorable despite their shared history.

  Though Maddox hadn’t explained what these men did, Heidi figured out Quinn and his friends had been black ops in the military. Alex’s wife, Ivy, mentioned the men being in the Army together from basic. So that made them Rangers? Delta? Whatever they were, the Fortress CEO thought very highly of them. That made these men scary good. Good enough to take on this arsonist who’d proved himself determined and lethal over and over?

  She sighed. Guess they’d find out because it seemed he had found her again. Heidi swallowed hard. She was so tired of running and looking over her shoulder. She wanted a normal life, whatever that was. “Maddox said the unit in charge of my new company is the best he’s ever worked with.”

  “Yeah?” Skepticism rang in Levi’s voice. “We’ve heard that before, Peaches.”

  “I’m sorry, Levi.”

  “Don’t,” he said.

  For the first time since this nightmare began, she heard something in his voice that she didn’t like. Heidi frowned. Fatigue? No, she realized, horror growing in her gut. Resignation. That’s what she heard. No. Just no. “Don’t you dare give up. Not after everything we’ve been through. We can’t give him that.”

  “How else am I supposed to feel, Peaches? This guy has taken everything. Our families, our identities. He stole our lives and he’s still coming. When will it be enough?”

  She didn’t voice the truth they both knew. The nightmare wouldn’t stop until either they were dead or the killer was. “Don’t give up. I need you.” Truthfully, Heidi didn’t know if she could continue without him.

  Charlie whined and nudged her hand. Sweet boy. He always knew when she was upset.

  “Charlie okay?”

  “He’s fine, comforting me. Levi, please, don’t give up. We’ll find the answer and get our lives back. What about your friends?” she asked, careful not to reveal too much just in case. “Are you comfortable with them and their skills?”

  A pause had her sitting up straighter, muscles tensing. “Levi?”

  “They are very good. Relax, okay? I’m fine.”

  At least now she heard something different in her cousin’s voice, this time something good. Heidi wondered if one of his bodyguards was a woman. Maybe when it was safe, she’d ask Maddox. Whatever the reason for the hesitation in Levi’s voice this time, she was grateful.

  “One of my new employers is Quinn Gallagher.”

  “Did he recognize you?”

  “Not yet.”

  “But?”

  “I’m on borrowed time. He’ll figure it out soon.”

  “Tell Maddox to move you,” he demanded. “Now, Peaches. If there’s any chance he won’t do his job….”

  “He’s not like that.”

  “You don’t know what he’s like anymore. You can’t base trust on a child’s fantasies.”

  “I know,” she said, voice soft.

  “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “You know I will.”

  “I should go. We can’t be on here too long.”

  “You be careful, too.” Heidi would have said more, but her throat closed off. Man, she hated to let him go--for selfish reasons. Once she ended the call with Levi, she had to deal with her house on the outskirts of town which now seemed too far away from civilization. After having so many people helping her unpack, the place seemed huge and empty.

  Right. She could try selling herself that fantasy, but it wouldn’t work. The problem wasn’t the house. The problem was the watcher in the darkness, the one she felt but couldn’t see.

  “Same goes, Peaches. Watch your back. Call me if anything else happens.”

  “I will. Promise.” And then he was gone.

  Charlie nudged her hand with his head.

  Heidi pushed aside the desolation she felt at closing the connection to her cousin and shoved the instrument deep in her pocket. She never went anywhere without that phone, a lifeline to her former life, a life she would give almost anything to return to. Almost. Going back to her former life was impossible. She wasn’t the same. Even if she returned to one of her former lives, Heidi wouldn’t be happy. The only thing left was forging a new life, hopefully for the last time.

  Dropping to her knees, she wrapped her arms around the Lab’s neck and rested her cheek against the top of his head. “We did the right thing separating, Charlie.” She infused her voice with confidence for the dog who watched her with worry in his gaze. Who was she kidding? She was trying to convince herself as much as her beloved dog of the wisdom of her and Levi’s decision. Too many close calls convinced them it was necessary for their survival.

  Heidi pressed a kiss to Charlie’s head and stood. “We have curtains to hang before we sleep tonight, buddy. Let’s get busy.”

  Close to midnight, Heidi breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, all the windows were covered and she didn’t feel as if someone watched her every move. After one last check o
f the windows and doors, she completed her bedtime routine and crawled under the covers.

  She awoke to Charlie’s low-voiced growl. Heidi’s eyelids flew up, heart racing. The Lab never growled. Had the kidnapper come for her after all? “What is it, buddy?” she whispered.

  Charlie’s response was a whine, though he didn’t take his attention off the window across the room.

  Something or someone was out there. Heidi eased her hand into the nightstand and grabbed her Glock. She wouldn’t be caught unawares again. Maybe, if she was very lucky, Heidi could stop all this madness with the kidnapper once and for all. She’d love to end this tonight and tell Levi they were finally free.

  Her lips curled. Then again, with her luck, Charlie might be alerting to a skunk or coyote. But he wouldn’t growl. No, the Lab was sensing something else. She signaled her companion to be silent. The growls and whines stopped.

  Heidi shoved her feet into her tennis shoes and shrugged on a heavy sweater in case she had to run. She started to turn on the light, hesitated. No. If she turned on the light, he’d know she was awake and aware, and she would ruin her night vision. The point was to catch this guy in the act if she could. Anything to stop him and protect Levi. Her cousin had suffered enough.

  She walked across the room, skirting packed boxes. Instead of throwing aside the curtain as she wished, Heidi stepped to the side of the window and, moving the curtain as little as possible, peered into the darkness.

  Pitch black except for the weak light from the moon. She couldn’t see anything in the forest outside her window. Frustrated, Heidi moved away from the window and toward the door leading to the hallway. Maybe she’d see more from the living room window.

  She padded down the hall, gun held by her thigh. Charlie stayed glued to her other side. With her free hand, she rubbed his head. She and Charlie cleared the threshold into the room when someone hammered on the front door.

  “Heidi, open up.” More pounding. “Heidi! It’s Josh Cahill.”

  What was he doing here this time of the morning? She hurried to the door, checked the peephole to verify her new employer stood on the doorstep, and unlocked the door. “What’s wrong?”

  “Fire. You have to get out.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Quinn felt around on the nightstand for his ringing cell phone. He squinted at the screen, sat up abruptly. Josh. Heidi or another mission from Fortress? “What’s up?”

  “Fire at Heidi’s house.” His unit leader’s voice was grim.

  Quinn placed the call on speaker and grabbed his jeans from a nearby chair. “She okay?”

  “Shaken up. Look, Quinn, something weird is going on.”

  He frowned as he tied his combat boots. “What do you mean?”

  “Just get here. Heidi needs someone in her corner.”

  “That champion can’t be you?”

  Someone yelled Josh’s name. “Got to go.” Josh ended the call without answering his question.

  Not good. Quinn tugged on a black long-sleeved t-shirt, strapped on his Sig and a backup piece along with his phone. A minute later, he drove toward Heidi’s place. A fire. Couldn’t be a coincidence, not after finding the gas cans on her porch. Trouble had followed Heidi Thompson to Otter Creek. Again he wondered what Maddox knew. Knowing their boss, the Fortress CEO was cognizant of more than he shared with Durango. If Quinn didn’t get answers from Heidi, he would learn what he needed from Maddox or Zane. Heidi’s eyes reminded him of someone from his past. But who?

  Minutes later, he turned onto Heidi’s street and found the place crawling with first responders. He whistled. Good thing she lived in a remote part of town. Otherwise, the chaos would have woken the neighborhood.

  Quinn parked away from the emergency personnel and walked toward the action. Officer Hernandez tried to stop him until Josh said, “I called him. He’s a friend of Ms. Thompson.”

  Huh. Quinn said nothing until he and Josh were several steps from the officer. “You aren’t claiming a friendship with her? What’s that about?”

  “I need to be neutral.” His unit leader inclined his head toward a nearby cruiser. Heidi sat in the front seat, face pressed against Charlie’s neck. Quinn’s heart squeezed at the sight. No one offered comfort to a distraught woman. Anger burned in his gut. Otter Creek’s finest weren’t doing anything except casting suspicious glances at Heidi. So much for southern charm. In her case, it was southern suspicion. He was disgusted with his adopted hometown’s response to a crisis and not happy with Josh’s neutrality. He understood his friend had a job to do. That job shouldn’t be more important than supporting a colleague in need of support.

  He saw Nick Santana talking to the fire chief. From the expressions on their faces, Quinn figured the fire was not an accident. Knowing Josh had to return to patrol, he said, “Thanks for calling me.”

  A snort from his friend. “Didn’t think I had a choice after you demanded I call if there was trouble.” His expression sobered. “Keep an eye on her, buddy.”

  “Count on it.”

  He closed the distance between himself and Heidi. He crouched in the open doorway and laid his hand on the back of her head. “Heidi,” he murmured.

  She slowly turned toward him.

  Oh, man. Tears and pain shadowed her green gaze, something he couldn’t stand from any woman. He didn’t say anything, just enfolded her in his embrace. For a few seconds, Heidi remained stiff. When he simply held her, stroking her hair, she relaxed enough to lean against him and pressed her face against his neck.

  Heidi drew in a ragged breath.

  “Shh. We’ll find out what’s going on,” he whispered, desperate to stop her silent tears. Those tears killed him. “You have my word.”

  She shook her head. “Stay out of it. I don’t want you or your friends hurt.”

  So there was a problem and she was trying to protect them. From what or who? “Baby, we’re hard to kill.” He winced. Baby? Really? His teammates would wonder about him. Quinn had never called the females in his life pet names aside from his mother and sisters. Heidi was an acquaintance, although she was the total package for him. He’d always had a soft spot for green-eyed redheads with a sense of humor. Heidi’s wicked sense of humor had kept him in stitches last night.

  “Quinn, why are you here?”

  He turned his head toward Nick. The grim-faced detective glanced at the woman in Quinn’s arms before returning his attention to Quinn.

  Yep, definitely suspicious of Heidi. Made Quinn wonder what the detective and fire chief discussed. Nothing good for Heidi, he was sure. A wave of protectiveness rose in him. “Supporting a friend. What happened here, Nick?”

  “That’s what I want to know. I need to ask your friend questions.”

  Quinn felt Heidi flinch. He tightened his arms around her. “Can we take this inside?” He hadn’t seen any damage to the house when he parked, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any out of sight of the road.

  “The fire was contained in the garage.” Nick stepped back for them to exit the vehicle.

  Quinn pressed a kiss to the crown of Heidi’s head. “Come on. Let’s get out of the cold. Hope you unpacked the coffee.”

  She raised her head, mouth curving. “Last task before going to sleep. Can’t function without the magic elixir.”

  “Amen to that.” He helped Heidi from the vehicle and Charlie hopped down, pressing close to her side. Quinn scanned the Lab. “Charlie okay?”

  She nodded. “He needs a bath before work. My buddy smells like he’s been smoking.” Heidi paused, her gaze searching Quinn’s. “If I still have a job.”

  “Of course you do. Didn’t you know? We thrive on trouble.”

  “Not this kind of trouble,” she muttered. “No one thrives on this crap.”

  Her cryptic comments spiked his curiosity. Not here, he reminded himself. If someone had targeted Heidi, she was still vulnerable amid the chaos, maybe more so. Who would notice if someone slipped a knife into her body and walked away? S
he’d bleed out before anyone noticed.

  Quinn walked on one side of her while Charlie kept pace on the other. The hair on the nape of Quinn’s neck stood as first responders kept track of their progress to the porch.

  A light shone over the kitchen sink. Quinn glanced around, noticed the curtains. He should have thought to hang them himself and wondered how long she’d been awake to accomplish so much after he left.

  Heidi turned on the overhead light and started the coffeemaker. “The coffee will take a few minutes. I have cookies if you’re hungry.”

  Nick’s eyebrows rose. “What kind of cookies?”

  “Almost any kind you can name.” Her cheeks flushed. “Cookies are my weakness.”

  Quinn grinned. Good to know. He added that little tidbit to the all-things-Heidi file he’d begun forming in his head. “Chocolate chip cookies would be perfect with a steaming mug of coffee.”

  Heidi looked at Nick. “Detective?”

  “Same here. Thank you, Ms. Thompson.”

  “Heidi.” She turned toward the pantry.

  When she opened the door, Quinn’s eyes widened. He whistled. Must be fifteen types of cookies on her shelf with little else occupying the large pantry. “You couldn’t have gone to the store after I left last night. Otter Creek rolls up the sidewalk at ten.”

  The color in her cheeks deepened. “I packed the cookies in a box labeled kitchen supplies.” She snatched up a container of chocolate chip cookies along with a box of dog biscuits for Charlie and deposited the cookies on the table. She pulled two biscuits for the Lab and, after putting him through a series of commands, gave him the treat.

  Quinn frowned. “Why didn’t you just give him the biscuits?”

  “Charlie’s a working dog. He earns his treats and meals.”

  Nick dropped into the nearest kitchen chair, fatigue written on his face. “Long night?” Quinn asked his friend.

  “You have no idea. Two burglaries to process, and an AWOL camel to track and return to Mr. Lawrence.”

  “Bonnie unlocked the gate again?”

  “She’s better with locks than most of the burglars I arrest.”