by Rebecca Deel
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Two hours later, another tap brought Jake to the door. Weapon in hand, he opened the door. The tension in his muscles eased. “Thanks for coming, Adam.”
His team leader frowned. “We’re a team. More important, we’re friends. We have each other’s backs. You helped me and Vonnie out of a jamb in Belize. I’ll never forget that.”
An experience he would also never forget. His fledgling team had taken down a drug cartel. Jake had lost a cousin to his cocaine addiction when he was a senior in high school. “Where is your wife?”
A shadow of movement from the hall, then Adam’s dark-haired wife stepped into view. “Hi, Jake. Where’s Lacey?”
Jake moved aside and gestured to the chair where Lacey had been sleeping with her head pillowed on his chest. He could still feel the warmth of her body against his, and his arms ached to hold her once more. Yeah, he was a goner for sure.
Lacey crossed the expanse of the room and gave each of the newcomers a quick hug.
“How’s your mother?” Adam asked.
“Recovering nicely, according to the medical staff. She has a lot of bruises, a broken wrist and ankle plus some knocks to the head. Jake can tell you better than me, though. I just got the basics.”
“Yvonne is banged up, but she will recover. I need you, Remy and Lily to make sure she stays alive while Cade and I protect Lacey and hunt down a serial killer. Where are the Doucets?”
“Hotel, sleeping. They’ll take over the watch later this afternoon. We secured two rooms across the hall from you.”
“Any trouble on the way down?”
A crooked smile curved Adam’s lips. “Aside from the cop tailing us from the county line into town, no.”
Great. Either Jones had a big mouth or he’d slipped the information about Jake’s team coming into his report, and the wrong person accessed it. No other explanation made sense unless law enforcement routinely trailed cars from Tennessee into Winston.
Yvonne moaned. Harley sat up, and leaned close to the love of his life. “Yvonne, what’s wrong, honey?”
“Hurts.”
“Pain meds are wearing off,” Jake said.
“Shouldn’t they last longer?” Lacey asked, concern coloring her voice.
“Yvonne told the doctor she’d had a problem with addiction and didn’t want to become hooked on pain meds. The medicine they’re using is mild and non-habit forming.”
Yvonne’s eyelids raised. She blinked, then froze at the sight of Adam and Veronica Walker.
Jake stepped into her line of sight. “Yvonne, these are my teammates, Adam and Veronica. They’re going to stay with you today. Another couple, Remy and Lily Doucet, will be here this afternoon. They’ll keep you safe while Cade and I are hunting for the killer.”
Adam moved closer, Veronica at his side. “Hello, Yvonne. It’s nice to meet you, although I’m sorry about the circumstances.”
Though he was careful to keep his voice low and as nonthreatening as he could manage, Adam was still an intimidating figure for any person to see looming over their bed. Jake wasn’t surprised when Lacey’s mother pressed herself deeper into the mattress in an unconscious effort to put more space between herself and the big man.
“You’re friends with Lacey?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Veronica smiled. “We stop at Coffee House all the time. We work for Rowan’s husband, Brent. Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of you.”
“I don’t care about me. I want my daughter safe.”
“We’ll protect you both,” Adam said. He eyed Harley and held out his hand. “Adam Walker. My wife and I are with Fortress Security.”
“Harley Jenkins. I’m going to marry this beautiful woman as soon as she’ll let me.” He wrapped his hand around Yvonne’s.
“Congratulations.”
Cade poked his head into the room. “Doc’s here.”
Veronica turned to Adam. “Why don’t you and Jake buy coffee. I’ll stay with Yvonne and Lacey.”
With Cade stationed outside the room, they would be safe. Jake could use the caffeine kick. While Lacey had catnapped for an hour, he’d been on watch inside the room. Thanks to the Army, the coffee wouldn’t be a problem when he did sleep for a few hours. “Good idea.” He turned. “Do you want coffee, Lacey?”
She though a moment and shook her head. “See if they have hot chocolate. I don’t think I can stomach coffee right now.”
“If they don’t, I’ll see if they have hot tea. Come on, Adam.”
When they left the room, Dr. Reacher greeted Jake, humor sparkling in his eyes. “I see you’ve been awake all night.”
“I look that bad, huh?”
The doctor chuckled. “Nope. I just recognize the signs. How is my patient?”
“Hurting. Her memory is returning.”
“Enough to identify the guy who hurt her?”
“We’ll see.”
Another smile from the doctor. “In other words, you won’t tell me more information.”
“Security.”
“I understand. Well, I’ll take a look at our girl, see how she’s progressing.”
“Yvonne’s daughter and future husband are in the room. So is Veronica Walker. She’s my teammate and will be staying with them.” Would he understand the unspoken message, that Vonnie was on duty?
A nod, and he slipped into the room with a cheerful greeting for the occupants.
“We’ll bring a cup of joe back for you, Cade,” Adam said as he and Jake headed for the elevator. “The doctor didn’t seem surprised about Vonnie.”
“I talked with him before Yvonne went to surgery. He’s former Air Force. Reacher knows enough to understand what’s happening.”
Within minutes, they returned with coffee for the operatives and Harley, and a large hot chocolate with whipped cream for Lacey. “Doc still with Yvonne?”
“Just left.” He accepted the large coffee Adam gave him with a nod of thanks.
“Give me a few minutes, and we’ll go to the hotel for a few hours.” Jake tapped on the door and walked inside.
Lacey’s gaze dropped to the large cup in his hand. “Chocolate or tea?”
“Chocolate with whipped cream.” After receiving an update on Yvonne’s condition and giving Lacey a chance to drink her hot chocolate, he said, “Yvonne, I’m taking Lacey to the hotel. She needs to sleep for a few hours. Veronica and Adam will stay with you. Don’t worry about anything except following the orders of the doctors and nurses. We’ll be back this afternoon.”
“You’ll keep Lacey safe?”
“You have my word.”
At the hotel, Cade excused himself to take a shower. He gathered his things and shut himself into the bathroom.
“Do you want to finish your drink or go sleep?” Jake palmed the back of Lacey’s neck and drew her into his embrace.
“Finish the drink. I’d like to sit on the balcony. Do you mind?”
He led her to the French doors and outside. She settled on the loveseat and patted the space beside her.
“Thank you, Jake.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “For?”
“Being here with me. I don’t know what I would have done without you these past few days.”
A shoulder squeeze. “You would have handled it, but I’m glad you didn’t have to do this alone.” Especially now that he knew she was the ultimate prize of a serial killer. Who in this town was obsessed with Lacey?
Will’s name popped into his head, followed by the police chief, old man Chesterfield, and Noah Holt. First on his list of things to do this afternoon after a stop by the hospital was talking to the Chesterfields and Holt. He needed to run their names, see if anything turned up in their background checks.
They lapsed into silence while they finished the last of their drinks. Jake took the empty cup from her hand and placed it on the table alongside his. A glance in the window told him Cade was still in the bathroom, so he drew Lacey to her feet. “Did you n
otice the fountain in the garden?”
She shook her head.
Jake took her to the balcony railing. He pointed to the left. “Over there, in the corner.”
Lacey leaned against the wooden railing to get a better look.
With a crack, the railing gave way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
One minute Lacey was looking at the ornate concrete fountain with flowing water sparkling in the morning sunshine. The next she was flailing as the balcony rail gave way and the ground rushed up to meet her.
A scream ripped from her throat as she sailed through the air. Her fall came to an abrupt halt as a hard hand clamped around her wrist. Lacey’s body swung like pendulum in the air. “Jake!”
“I’ve got you, baby. You won’t fall.” His face was a mask of grim determination, one muscular arm wrapped around a wooden post to keep himself grounded on the balcony.
Easy for him to say she wouldn’t fall. He wasn’t the one dangling in mid-air. She looked down and wished she hadn’t. Man, she hated heights. Her stomach pitched and rolled at the thought of Jake losing his grip on her.
Seconds, or maybe hours, later, Cade appeared beside Jake and extended his hand. “Give me your other hand, Lacey. We’ll pull you up.” When she reached up, he grabbed her wrist and the two of them lifted Lacey until her feet touched the balcony floor.
Jake wrapped his strong arms around her. “Are you okay? Are you injured?”
“Aside from almost having a heart attack from fear, I’m fine.” Her body trembled, ticking her off. Her knees buckled. She would have sunk to the floor if not for Jake’s hold on her.
He scooped her into his arms and carried her inside, his face colorless. He placed her on the side of the bed closest to the balcony and crouched in front of her. “Talk to me. Are you sure you aren’t hurt?”
Since she shook so hard her teeth chattered, she merely nodded.
Jake snatched a blanket from the foot of the bed and draped the warm cover around her body. He shifted Lacey so her back was against the headboard, then crawled onto the bed next to her and gathered her body against his. She turned, pressing her face to his neck.
With one arm wrapped securely around her, Jake coasted his free hand along her back and arm. Although he acted utterly calm, Lacey felt the tremors in his hands and muscles. Guess she’d scared him, too.
Slowly, the shudders wracking her body eased.
Cade strode into the room. “We have a problem.”
Lacey’s lips twitched. “Besides me nearly falling off a balcony three stories off the ground?”
His eyes lit with humor before he sobered again. “Someone tampered with the railing.”
Jake’s arm tightened on her back. “Cut?”
“Sawed nearly clean through. Smooth. No way that was an accident.”
Lacey’s hands knotted in the blanket. “The serial killer who hurt Mom wanted me to fall?”
“He tampered with Jake’s balcony, not yours.”
She jerked. “I thought he was after me. Why kill Jake?”
Jake pressed a kiss to her temple. “Falling from the third floor probably wouldn’t kill me, but I would have suffered enough injuries to sideline me. With me out of the way, the killer would have had an easy time grabbing you.”
She scowled. “That’s crazy. Cade, Adam, and the others would increase their protection.”
“My teammates arrived an hour ago. The killer may not know they’re here.”
“Or he doesn’t care whether his balcony accident caught me or Jake.” Cade sat on the edge of the second bed. “Taking one of us out of the equation leaves you with less protection. My guess is he never intended for you to be hurt. Why would he hurt you if you are the woman he’s been wanting for six years?”
Great. Just what she needed in her life, the attention of an obsessed serial killer. “I’m not going down easy,” she vowed.
“You’re not going down at all. He chose the wrong target.” Jake brushed her mouth with his, then turned to his friend. “Go to Lacey’s room and sleep a few hours. I’ll notify the hotel manager and check the security footage.”
“Call the cops. There is zero chance this was a nasty coincidence.”
Jake grimaced. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll call Jones, too.”
“When will you sleep?” Lacey’s body was wracked with another round of shudders. She scowled. When would this stop?
He moved her so the upper half of her body lay against his chest. His body heat helped banish the trembling. “In four hours. That’s when Cade will take over the watch.”
Four hours? Good grief. How were these guys coherent with that little sleep? Her lips curved. Guess she’d better figure out their secret for med school. She wouldn’t be sleeping much, either.
Cade eyed Lacey. “Do you mind if I borrow your spare bed?”
“Of course not.”
“Come get me if you need help, Jake.” With that, he went to the other room.
“How is your arm?” Jake nudged the blanket aside enough to free her arm. He removed the bandage and examined the stitches. “Good. None of the stitches are broken.” He dug another bandage from his mike bag. A moment later, her wound was covered again.
He reached for his cell phone. “No use putting this off.” A moment later, he said, “Jones, it’s Jake. I need you at the hotel.” A pause. “See you in ten minutes.” He ended the call on his cell, then picked up the hotel phone and reported the incident. When he’d returned the handset to the stand, Jake settled Lacey against him again.
“I’ve been in more firefights than I want to count over the years, run into a hail of bullets to aid a fallen soldier or operative, and faced down terrorists with bombs and RPGs.” His voice grew thick. “But I’ve never been as afraid as I was a few minutes ago.”
Lacey eased her head back to look him in the face, saw the truth of his words in Jake’s eyes. “You didn’t show it on the outside.”
He gave a soft huff of laughter. “I might not show it, but I’m shaking in my boots on the inside. The person who sabotaged the railing is going to pay for this stunt.”
“Scared me, too. Thank you for saving me, again.”
He cupped her cheek and pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth. A knock sounded on the door. Jake broke the kiss and released Lacey. He tugged the blanket tighter around her before going to the door and checking the peephole. Hand on his weapon, he unlocked the door.
“Mr. Davenport, I’m Kent Graves, the hotel manager. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for this incident. May I come in and inspect the balcony?”
Jake stepped back.
The middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair walked into the room. His gaze zeroed in on Lacey. “I apologize for the scare you suffered, Ms. Coleman. Were you injured? We have a doctor on staff who will be happy to come assist you.”
She shook her head. “I’m okay thanks to Jake.” The thought of letting a stranger poke and prod her made her stomach lurch in protest.
“If you change your mind, call the front desk. I’ll leave word that the doctor is to be called immediately if you request one.”
“Thanks, Mr. Graves.” She’d rather trust her health to her personal medic any day than depend on a doctor provided by the hotel.
He turned back to Jake. “Was the accident from this balcony or Ms. Coleman’s?”
“Mine.” He strode across the room and unlocked the French doors. The manager followed Jake onto the balcony.
With the conversation in hushed tones, Lacey couldn’t hear what was being said. Several times, Jake shook his head. He pointed out the place where Cade indicated someone cut the wood.
While they discussed the incident, another knock sounded at the door. Jake turned, said something over his shoulder to the manager, and retraced his steps to the door. This time, he admitted Todd Jones.
“What’s up, Jake?”
“Balcony railing gave way. Lacey would have fallen three stories if I hadn’t caught her.”
“Scared me, but I’m fine.”
Todd turned back to Jake. “Show me.”
The two men joined the manager on the balcony and more discussion ensued.
Wrapped up in the soft, warm blanket, Lacey found herself growing sleepy. The lack of sleep and adrenaline surge combined with the comfort of the bed and warmth had her eyes closing.
She dozed to the sound of men’s voices and woke some time later when the manager came into the room, insisting it would be safer if he assigned Jake to another room.
“No,” Jake said, voice flat. “Not unless you have two rooms with connecting doors available plus two other rooms nearby for my friends who just checked into rooms across the hall from mine.”
Before Jake finished speaking, Graves was already shaking his head. “I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to accommodate that request. The hotel is nearly full. I can come up with a room for you, but that’s the best I can do.”
“Not good enough. I won’t be separated from Ms. Coleman. The only alternative is to send someone to fix the balcony railing.”
“But the balcony isn’t safe as it is.”
“We won’t go out there until your people fix the railing.”
Although the manager tried to insist, Jake stood firm and Graves finally agreed to send up the maintenance team within the hour to begin repairs.
After Graves left, Todd sat on the opposite bed and looked at Lacey. “Are you sure you’re all right, Lacey?”
“Positive.” Nothing a little over-the-counter pain reliever wouldn’t fix. Lacey could handle strained muscles easier than the broken bones she would have suffered had she fallen to the ground. She sat with her back pressed against the headboard and rearranged the blanket to keep it wrapped around her body. The heat felt good.
“Cade was right. This was no accident. Someone cut the railing, hoping Jake or his friend would fall. That same someone wants you. I’m asking you again. Do you know anyone who wants to hurt you?”
