Night Moves

by HelenKay Dimon

  She walked around to the driver’s side and hit the button to pop the trunk. “This will work.”

  She stared into the dark, stale-smelling spot. She wasn’t a fan of cramped spaces. Intellectually, she knew she’d have enough air. Common sense told her she’d be fine. Still, her heartbeat kicked up to Big Band proportions at the thought of being trapped and vulnerable. Her instincts told her to stay out and free. Ignoring that voice bellowing inside her took all of her strength.

  Liam put his hand on the top of the trunk. “That is not going to happen.”

  As he pushed down, she pushed up. “It’s the only choice.”

  “No, it’s not. There are three hundred other ways to play this. I know you’re blessed with a big brain—”

  “There’s some debate, but overall brain size does seem to correlate with I.Q.”

  “But you stink at everyday stuff. Tactics and strategies? Not where you excel.”

  She refused to let that insult slide. “I managed to survive a fire and save evidence.”

  “And along the way did something that had a guy attempt shooting his way into your condo.”

  Her energy spurt crashed. “That’s not fair.”

  “I’m in charge.”

  She lifted her leg and scurried into the trunk as fast as possible without hurting herself. “Then start driving.”

  LIAM CUT THE ENGINE and swore under his breath. His unwanted guest stood at the top of the driveway, just under the sensor light. Seeing the police arrive wasn’t a hardship, or even a surprise, but getting rid of this detective might be.

  This was all Maura’s fault. She had him driving in circles, stuffing her into his trunk and otherwise acting like a man without a drop of common sense. The more she talked, the more confused he got. And the more he wanted her.

  The officer met Liam as he stepped out of the car. “It’s a bit early for a visit, isn’t it?”

  “Where have you been?” Detective Spanner asked.

  Liam knew the man. With three hundred or so people in the Alexandria Police Department, Liam had never worked with Rick Spanner, but he was the detective who showed up at Dan’s house the day before. While Spanner’s partner had dropped disturbing hints about Maura’s part in the explosion, Spanner had played good cop. Liam wondered which role he’d try this morning.

  “I’ve been out,” Liam said.

  “With anyone in particular?”

  He tried not to think about Maura curled up in his car. “Do we have a problem here?”

  “Why don’t we move this discussion off the street and into your house?”

  From the reasonable tone and calming hand gestures, Liam guessed the detective was aiming for friendly. Didn’t matter to Liam since he didn’t plan on talking with or trusting the guy. If he were going to tell someone about Maura, it would be Dan.

  “I think we can talk just fine right here,” Liam said.

  “You have something to hide, Officer Anderson?”

  “It’s Mr. Anderson, but I think you know that.” Hell, everyone knew that. It wasn’t as if that part of his life stayed private. Liam had the six-inch scar on his leg to remind him every single day.

  “I have some questions,” Spanner said.

  “At this time of the morning?”

  The detective nodded as he glanced around the front of the property. “I’d like to handle this in the least disruptive manner for you.”

  Yeah, sure he would. “What is the this again?”

  “Maura Lindsey.”

  “What about her?”

  The detective picked that moment to break off and walk around the car. “She’s missing. Her boss is missing. I think you can see the problem.”

  “You told Dan both Hammer and Maura died in the lab.”

  “She is very much alive.” The detective leaned with his palms flat against the hood. “There’s no body, but I’m guessing that’s not news to you.”

  “Why?”

  “Not even a flicker of surprise at the idea of Maura being safe somewhere.” The detective smiled. “Your lack of reaction gives you away.”

  Liam’s mind rushed to come up with a reasonable explanation. “Your partner all but blamed Maura at Dan’s apartment. False accusations seem to be the sum total of your investigation so far.”

  The detective slipped around the vehicle, stopped at the trunk. “I’m trying to track her down. She could be a victim, but I can’t know that until I find her.”

  “Ask her friends where she hangs out.”

  Liam sweated out every minute of the detective’s casual stroll, but tried not to show any outward reaction. If the other man sensed panic, he’d be all over Liam.

  There was no reason for the detective to open the car or think Maura hid in there. But the man had descended on the house at this hour for a reason. Didn’t take Maura’s I.Q. for Liam to figure out the connection.

  “She’s not the social type. Her circle appears limited to the office, her brother and you.”

  Liam turned that comment over in his mind. That couldn’t be right. How could a vibrant, beautiful young woman not have an active social life? He knew from Dan that Maura didn’t date much. Dan chalked it up to a stressful and demanding job. Liam wasn’t so sure.

  “I’m close to Dan, not Maura.”

  “I’m trying to handle this before the FBI steps in.” Spanner started moving again.

  Liam didn’t know he held his breath until it rushed out in relief at seeing the detective step away from Maura’s hiding place. “Why would it?”

  “An explosion in a government lab and a missing high-profile scientist? I know you’re not a cop anymore, but you should be able to reason it out. Way I figure it, by tomorrow morning agents will be crawling all over this thing.”

  “And you don’t want to lose your jurisdiction over the case to the feds.”

  The detective wandered around the driveway. “Something like that.”

  “I’m not interested in your turf war.”

  The detective leaned with his back to the driver’s-side door. “Unless you want a whole bunch of law enforcement crawling all over your house tomorrow, I suggest we go inside and you answer some questions.”

  The man wasn’t leaving without a fight. Liam weighed his options and decided to at least give Maura a chance to escape. He had to hope she’d run back to him once the detective left. “Fine. Let’s go in.”

  “I knew you’d understand and come around.”

  Liam spared a quick glance at the trunk then conducted a visual scan of the area. He hung back and followed the detective to the front door. As soon as Spanner stepped onto the front porch, Liam aimed the key chain behind his back and hit the trunk button. Jangled his keys to hide the click, and hoped like hell she was okay in there.

  PANIC SCREAMED THROUGH Maura’s nerve endings. The only thing that kept her from banging on the lid and begging for release was the sweet sound of the lock disengaging. She waited for Liam to give her a signal, but he didn’t pop up in front of her.

  She slipped her fingers into the open space and peered out. The light at the front of the car cast the back end in shadows. The dark night kept her guessing as to who or what was out there, but she couldn’t sit in the trunk one more minute. The carpet scratched her skin and the tight space had her lungs grasping for air.

  Opening the trunk as little as possible, she reached her arm out and balanced her hand on the bumper. Lifting her weight up on her wrists, she slid her stomach over the edge. The rough metal edges poked her skin as she gulped in cool fresh air.

  The second her feet hit the driveway she wanted to bolt. Let Liam fight this battle and slink off somewhere. Mentally regroup and develop a new plan. Tempting, but she had to clear the stain on her work. She had to rescue the findings and get them into the hands of people who would announce the discovery and give hope to truly ill people everywhere.

  She hadn’t sacrificed her childhood and headed off to college at fifteen, pushed herself so hard while
she ignored the social aspects of her life, just to have Dr.

  Hammer ruin it all with his warped agenda. Whatever it was.

  She crouched down behind the back fender of the car and tried to figure out what was happening inside Liam’s house. She could make out figures in the front window but was too far away to hear or see anything. After a quick look around for nosy neighbors, she stayed in her bent-over position and approached the house.

  Her concentration on her task broke long enough for her to pick up a mimicking sound. She took a step, and then heard another shoe crunch against the pavement off to her right somewhere. To test her theory, she tried the move again and a thud mirrored hers. Someone was out there. Someone close and quiet. The way her heart beat pounded in her ears, she guessed the person was dangerous.

  Weighing her options, she went with police over death. After a mental count to three, she took off, darting across the front lawn to the gate on the far left side. Getting the detective and Liam to notice her and come out with guns ready was the goal. She made noise, even let the gate slam shut behind her. When she heard it open again a second later, she picked up speed and rounded the back corner of the house, her sneakers sliding in the grass as her harsh breathing burned her throat.

  The mad dash took her up on the patio. She body-smacked against the back glass door at a dead run. She fumbled to slide it open. When that didn’t work, she pounded on it with her fist. The loud thunks grabbed the attention of both men inside.

  Liam’s stunned expression gave way to a fierce determination when he glanced over her head. Whatever he saw—and Maura was afraid to look around and see—made Liam shove the detective aside. He sprinted across his family room just as a beefy hand landed on her arm from behind.

  She saw the stubby fingers and Liam’s face. Then she saw a blur of jeans and madness as Liam threw open the door and flew over her shoulder. He smacked into her, pushing her to the side. Off balance and thrumming with energy, the move sent her to her knees on the deck. Blinding pain flooded through her but she ignored it. She was focused on the men next to her.

  Liam and the intruder rolled across the grass, each trying to gain the upper hand. They came to a stop with the other man sitting on Liam’s chest. A hand reached out and wrapped around his throat. Liam hit out as he coughed, bucked his hips and kicked out his legs as if attempting to shrug off the other man.

  The scene registered in her brain. She had to save Liam. She struggled to stand up over the screaming aches in her legs and thumping around her temples.

  “Break it up.” The detective out-yelled her from his position at the back door.

  Maura froze at the sound of his commanding voice. She looked at the police officer and followed his furious frown to Liam’s red face. This man could arrest her later but right now she needed him. Liam needed him.

  “Do something!” She yelled the plea.

  Metal flashed in the intruder’s other hand. He grunted as he deflected Liam’s blows. He had the size and position advantage. Pinned and choking, Liam didn’t stand a chance. The man lifted his arm, bringing the knife down in an arc toward Liam’s throat.

  Maura opened her mouth to scream when the loud boom cracked through the night. Dog barks filled the neighborhood. She waited for lights to switch on and people to come running, but it didn’t happen.

  Nothing stopped the mix of horror and anguish pumping through her. “Liam!”

  She rushed over just in time to see the intruder slump over Liam. Gagging and wheezing, Liam shoved at the other man’s shoulders. With a lot of effort, Liam pushed the man off him then rolled to his side. He lifted up on all fours and gulped in huge swallows of air.

  “Are you okay?” She rubbed his back. She wanted to comfort him, but really needed to convince herself Liam was fine. Her brain refused to believe it.

  Liam nodded but didn’t stop coughing.

  The detective reached over the unmoving man and checked for a pulse. “Dead.”

  Relief flooded through her. “Good.”

  “Dr. Lindsey?”

  At the sound of the detective’s voice, the memory of where she was and why she was there came rushing back. She glanced up. “Yes?”

  “I’ve been looking for you.”

  Chapter Five

  Liam made a show of getting off the grass. He didn’t straighten up until his hand landed on what he sought. Not that jumping to his feet would have been all that easy, anyway. The old injury on his upper thigh ached. Usually, rain set it off. Apparently, tackling a weapon-wielding assailant had the same effect.

  He tried to talk over the rawness in his throat. “Let’s go back inside.”

  The detective touched the intruder’s body with the toe of his shoe. “I think you’d agree we have something to talk about now, correct?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  Spanner stared at the body at his feet. “And I have to call this in.”

  Maura rushed to Liam’s side and wrapped her fingers around his arm. The wildness in her eyes came out in her voice. “This is my fault. Liam isn’t involved.”

  The detective’s gaze went to her hand. “He looks pretty involved to me.”

  Liam wanted the other man’s attention on him. Liam’s plan depended on catching the detective off guard and the thing had to unfold fast. The half acre between houses wasn’t enough to muffle the sound of gunshots. In this neighborhood at this time at night, someone noticed. It was only a matter of time before additional police cars showed up on his front lawn.

  He knew how the process worked. Two years ago, he’d given up the law-enforcement life and switched to the less volatile world of setting up security systems at big companies and training business professionals in antikidnapping measures. The job had two benefits—it paid the bills and kept his mind working.

  He was about to risk it and do the dumbest thing he’d ever done. Worse than charging into that house and risking the life of a victim and about as stupid as trying to defend his actions in the investigation and aftermath of the incident. But for Maura, he’d take another risk.

  He nodded in the detective’s direction. “We’ll answer your questions.”

  Maura tightened her vise squeeze on Liam’s arm. “We can’t do this.”

  He peeled her fingers off his biceps. He needed his hands free, and her out of the way for this. “We don’t have a choice here. Let’s go.”

  Liam motioned for the detective to take the lead. He treated Maura to an almost imperceptible shake of his head when she shifted her weight as if to follow. He fell in behind the detective and waited for the right moment. Lulled in by a false sense of security and a mistaken cop-to-cop bond, the detective failed to fully protect his weapon, just as Liam had hoped.

  When Spanner eased his hand off his gun, Liam moved in. He lifted his arm and touched the tip of the intruder’s knife against the detective’s neck. He jumped in surprise, wincing as the knife nicked him.

  Before the man’s instincts kicked in, Liam reached around and took his gun. “Huge mistake.”

  “What the—”

  Liam pressed the blade tighter against the other man’s skin. “Didn’t the academy instructors teach you not to turn your back on a suspect?”

  “What are you doing?” Maura asked in a flat voice that mirrored the blank look on her face. “This is nuts.”

  “Listen to the lady.” Spanner tried to shake his head but his flesh met with the sharp edge.

  Liam ignored them just as he ignored the voice in his head that told him to come up with another plan. “Shut up.”

  “Not smart, Anderson.”

  “Maybe.” More like definitely, but Liam didn’t see a choice here. Not now. He needed Maura with him to hunt down Dr. Hammer. Liam steered the detective into the house before the man figured out he should start yelling for help.

  “This is not the way you want to go out.” Gone was the baiting. Spanner now talked in textbook cop-speak. Calm and controlled. No show of fear.

  “
I’m already out. You know that.”

  Maura rested her hand against the small of Liam’s back. Whispered into his ear. “Maybe we should talk about this.

  “I know you like plans, but I’ve got this under control.” And he didn’t want the detective thinking he could divide and conquer.

  She brushed her fingers down his cheek and gave him a sad smile. “I hope so.”

  Spanner kept his hands raised but didn’t hide the fact he listened in. “What can you gain here?”

  “Time.” Liam grabbed the radio off the other man’s belt and checked it. Last thing he needed was a broadcast of the assault over the police frequencies.

  “I can help you get whatever you need.”

  “How about the truth?”

  “Sure,” Spanner said in a practiced, calm tone. “Tell me what you think that is.”

  Liam recognized the training. No way would that strategy work. He pointed at his kitchen chair. “Sit.”

  Spanner froze in place. The man was smart enough to know he should stay on his feet. “No.”

  “I’m the one with all the weapons,” Liam said.

  “You’re not going to hurt me.”

  “Don’t be so sure.” He tightened his grip on the detective’s arm. “In a contest between you and her, she’ll win every time.”

  Maura moved around the detective, making sure not to get within striking distance, and faced both men. “Liam, what do you want me to do?”

  “Ma’am, this is a mistake.”

  She lifted her chin, stared straight into Liam’s eyes. “I trust Liam, not you.”

  Her words renewed his belief that this was the best way to go. She needed a savior. He’d failed in that role before—hell, he’d failed her before—but this time could be different.

  Liam hooked his foot under the bottom bar of the chair and pulled it out. It screeched against the floor.

  “You being here and accusing her is the problem. Maura didn’t cause the explosion.”

  “Then let me help you prove that.” Spanner focused on Maura. Pitched his voice nice and low. Took on a soothing I-can-help persona.

  “I’m impressed with your officer training. You do the let’s be friends thing pretty well. But I know how this works because I took the same classes. She goes to jail and then we’re stuck.”