by Terri Reed
“You’ll have to fight Mrs. James for custody once the baby is born and Violet is behind bars,” Jared said.
Lance looked at him. “Fathers have rights.”
The two men nodded at each other.
Ariel couldn’t believe that they were concerned about custody issues. Wasn’t anyone worried about Violet’s well-being? This just couldn’t be happening. “You two are wrong. Why are you lying? What is it that you have to gain from lying about Violet?”
“I’m not lying. My heart is broken. I love Violet but she betrayed me. Please, get out.” Lance turned away from her. “Just leave.”
Hunter took her by the shoulders and drew her backward against him. “Ariel, it’s time for us to go.”
“They are lying!”
Hunter drew her out of the hospital room with Juneau protecting their backs, nodded to the officer, and then put his arm around her shoulders to lead her toward the elevator. Fatigue and despair settled around her. She slumped against Hunter as the doors of the elevator shut. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I can’t believe it. I won’t believe what they said about Violet. I know my friend. I know you might think I’m being foolish, but I’m not. I know my friend.”
Hunter turned her so that she faced him and put the crook of his finger under her chin to lift her head until their gazes met. The tenderness in his eyes brought a fresh wave of tears coursing down her cheeks.
“When we find Violet, we will find out the truth. Right now, my concern is you,” Hunter said softly.
He sounded so sincere that she had a hard time remembering he was only doing his job.
“You heard the doctor. You need to rest,” he continued. “I’m driving you home and you’re going to take it easy.”
A shiver of dread charged down her spine. “What if my attacker comes back?”
“I’m not leaving your side again,” he promised.
As much as she wanted to take solace in his words, her practical side had her stepping back out of his reach and bumping against Juneau. “You can’t just abandon your job to protect me 24/7.”
“You are my job until your attacker is caught.”
She wanted to protest and tell him she’d be fine without him. But deep inside, the knowledge that he and he alone stood between her and doom kept her silent. Bottom line? She had to put her trust in Hunter and faith in God to keep her safe.
Juneau nudged her and she stroked his head, finding calm in the soothing gesture.
The doors of the elevator opened to a clamoring of voices. The lobby of the hospital was crowded with news reporters. Several stuck their microphones in Ariel’s face. Surprised, she drew away and grabbed Hunter’s arm.
He used his other arm to block the reporters surging forward. “Everybody get back.”
Juneau positioned himself in front of Ariel, a barrier that wouldn’t be breached.
“Is it true Violet James murdered Cal Brooks and pushed you off a cliff?”
Stunned, Ariel stared up at Hunter. How did the media discover Lance and Jared’s accusations?
Anger crossed his features. “No comment,” he said gruffly. “Make room.”
The sea of reporters stepped back.
“Let’s get out of here,” Hunter murmured.
Juneau led the way to the door.
“Did Violet James do that to your neck?” a reporter called out.
Ariel pulled the edges of her coat closed to hide her throat.
“Violet James is a murderer who tried to kill her soon-to-be groom and his best man,” another reporter stated.
“She tried to kill you, her maid of honor. Don’t you have anything to say?” someone else called out.
Ariel stopped in her tracks. The injustice of what was being done to Violet boiled her blood. She couldn’t let these people ruin her friend’s reputation. It wasn’t fair or right. “I don’t know what happened on that mountain. Nobody really knows. But I’m sure of one thing. My friend, Violet James, is not guilty of what she’s been accused of. We are all innocent until proven guilty. Don’t you forget that.”
Flashes went off, stinging her eyes. Hunter’s arm snaked around her waist and urged her out of the hospital doors to his SUV. The reporters followed them. He got her into the passenger seat and Juneau in his compartment. She quickly buckled the seat belt, cringing as reporters crowded around the SUV. Hunter climbed into the driver’s seat, started the engine and eased out of the parking lot.
Thankfully, the reporters moved out of the way, allowing them to pass. Ariel glanced into the side view mirror. The reporters dispersed, some heading back inside the hospital, no doubt hoping to interview Lance and Jared.
Her breath came in shallow gasps and her heart thundered as if she’d just crossed the finish line of a race. Then, embarrassment replaced the adrenaline that had surged through her. “I can’t believe I did that.” She groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “I never do stuff like that.”
His warm hand on her shoulder offered comfort. “Give yourself some grace, Ariel. You’re upset. It’s been a trying few days. You were defending your friend. And that is admirable.”
She lifted her gaze to his profile. “But you suppose my loyalty is misplaced?”
“It’s not for me to judge,” he said. “My job is to protect you and to bring Violet in safely so that she can tell her side of the story.”
She hoped and prayed that his commitment was real and that he wouldn’t disappoint her. Who was she kidding? Disappointment was a part of life. Few people honored their word.
Hunter wouldn’t be any different. And she’d be setting herself up for heartbreak if she allowed herself to believe in him. “Why don’t you like hospitals?”
He slanted her a quick glance as if surprised by her question. “My mother died in a hospital. She was very ill for a long time.”
Sympathy weighted heavily in her chest. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was rough.”
She could only imagine. And now here he was, taking her in and out of the hospital, which had to bring back the pain he’d suffered.
When they reached her house, Hunter hustled her inside. “I’ll get Sasha and send Trevor home. You go do whatever you need to do to relax. We’ll be in shortly.”
Everything inside her rebelled at being told what to do. She wanted to deny that she needed him taking care of her, but the memories of her attacker grabbing her and squeezing her neck, trying to take her life, taunted her. She did need Hunter and she should be grateful he was willing to help her, even if it was only out of duty.
“Thank you, Hunter,” she said. “It will be reassuring to have you here on guard.”
Upon entering the house, she shivered at the quiet. Her attacker had robbed her of peace in her own home. She hadn’t been this unnerved since Jason had lost his temper when she broke up with him. But thankfully, he’d left town and was somewhere in the continental United States or as Alaskans would say, the lower forty-eight.
She told herself to go into her room and change into her sweats, but she couldn’t find the wherewithal to walk down the hall. So instead, she sat at the dining room table and once again bowed her head, folded her hands and prayed—for Violet, for herself and for Hunter. Unfortunately, she couldn’t shake the dread gripping her.
* * *
The next morning, Hunter folded the blanket and stacked the pillow on the edge of the couch where he had slept the night before. He and Juneau went outside and released Officer Gorman, who had stood guard through the night, allowing Hunter to get some rest.
When Hunter and Juneau reentered the house, Ariel and Sasha came down the hallway. She wore well-worn jeans and a cable-knit sweater in a light pink that heightened the color of her cheeks and lips. Her skin was dewy from a recent shower and her blow-dried blond hair loose about her shoulders. Hunter couldn’t deny how pret
ty and appealing he found her.
“Good morning,” she said as she passed him to open the back door for Sasha. Her voice wasn’t as raspy as the night before.
He hoped that was a good sign. “Morning.”
The puppy clamored down the stairs and out to the snow-cleared grass, compliments of Trevor. Juneau stayed by Ariel’s side where she stood watching the pup. “So, I assume you’ll be taking off now?”
He raised his eyebrows as he stopped on her other side. Did she forget what he’d said last night? “24/7. I meant it.”
She bit her bottom lip, drawing his attention.
“That’s really not necessary,” she said. “The attacker has come only in the dark. I’m sure in the daylight, I’m fine. You should go do your job.”
“We’ve been over this.” He wasn’t sure if he should be insulted that she wanted to get rid of him or not. He remembered what his chief had said about Ariel being independent. Ariel wasn’t used to having a human in her space. He got that. It had taken him a while to get used to living with his dad when he’d moved in after the debacle with that woman. Deciding not to push Ariel, he said, “I’m going to grab my computer and join a team meeting via video conference call.” He turned to the door.
“There’s ground coffee in the freezer,” she said, stopping him in his tracks. “I keep it on hand for when my parents come to town.”
He grinned. “That’s good to know. Do you have a coffee machine or am I doing a pour over?” He could use a jolt of caffeine, though he’d already decided he’d try her tea.
“There’s a machine in the cabinet next to the sink. My parents would never tolerate a pour over.”
“How often do your parents visit?”
She shrugged. “Whenever they feel like it or there’s a race in the area that they are working. They were here for the start of the Iditarod. I suspect I’ll see them next in the fall, despite the fact that there’s a race coming up this week. It’s too small for them.”
The race. She’d mentioned she was competing. He hoped by then the danger would be over and she’d be free to participate. “I’ll get the coffee going and some water boiling for your tea.”
The spring sun made her hair glisten, but it was her smile that enthralled him. He forced himself to focus anywhere other than on her mouth. The trees lining the property were dusted with snow, but the green foliage created a beautiful backdrop against a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Quiet serenity surrounded them. He liked it here. So different than the two-bedroom apartment he shared with his father in downtown Anchorage.
Maybe that’s why he’d slept hard last night. He hadn’t had much in the last forty-eight hours.
He went inside and found the coffee and the coffee maker. Once the coffee was percolating, the aroma filling the house, he put water in the kettle to boil. Then he set up at the dining table and fired up his laptop. When the pot whistled, he turned the heat to simmer.
Juneau stood by the door as if he wanted out again. “Already?”
Hunter opened the back door, but the dog stayed in place, waiting for the release command.
“Release,” Hunter said.
Juneau flew down the porch stairs, across the divide that separated the house from the kennel building and entered the open door. Shaking his head, Hunter followed him. Ariel was feeding her dogs. Each kennel door was open with each canine waiting for their breakfast. One by one, she placed a bowl of food in front of them, then sprinkled a white powder on the food. He figured some sort of supplement. She glanced up at Juneau as he skidded to a halt a few feet from the first open kennel. The beautiful gray-and-white Siberian Husky inside cocked her head at Juneau. Though their colorings were different, both dogs had a similar look about them.
Ariel paused with her gaze on Juneau. “I’ve plenty of kibble if you’d like to feed Juneau.”
“He’s got his own food,” Hunter told her. “I’ll feed him soon. We don’t usually eat this early in the morning.”
Her curious gaze met his as she put down the last bowl. “What do you do this early in the morning?”
“Normally, we’d go for a run on one of the trails of Westchester Lagoon. It’s only a ten-minute jog from my downtown apartment,” he told her.
She faced the dogs. “Eat.” The dogs dug into their bowls. Then Ariel turned to him. “We’ll be fine here, if you two want to take a run up the fire road.”
Not likely. Hunter wanted her inside the house, not out here alone. Even with the dogs ready to sound an alarm, he planned to stay close. He glanced at his watch. “My conference call is about to start. Are you coming in?”
Annoyance flashed in her eyes. “Are you going to be monitoring my every move?”
Her independent streak was showing. If he didn’t get a handle on it, keeping her safe might turn out to be more difficult than he’d anticipated. Yet he had to admit to himself he liked her feistiness. There was much about this woman that he liked. And that might actually prove his undoing.
NINE
Hunter bit the inside of his cheek and held up his hands. He really had to get a grip on his attraction to Ariel. Treading lightly would be his best course of action. “Sorry. But I’d prefer to be in the same area as you.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “I appreciate you being here last night. I’ll admit I was freaked out. But in the light of day, I’m okay. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Not babysitter. Protector. Big difference.” Was she always this touchy or was she hangry? Neither of them had eaten breakfast. He could easily remedy that.
She shrugged, clearly unconvinced by his assertion.
“Let me make you some breakfast,” he offered.
“I had a granola bar,” she said. “You can help yourself to whatever you want in the kitchen.”
Just prickly. Time to retreat, feed Juneau and get on the video call.
After grabbing Juneau’s kibble and bowl, they went back inside the house. While his dog ate, Hunter snagged a granola bar from the cupboard and sat at the dining table where he had a clear view of the property entrance and kennel building.
Hunter logged into the video conference chat room and slipped his earbuds into his ears. Squares of live video popped up of each team member and his boss.
“Good morning, everyone,” Lorenza said. “Now that we’re all here... Hunter, why don’t you fill us in on what happened last night.”
He gave them the lowdown on the assault to Ariel and the drugged police officer, including telling the group about talking with Lance and Jared.
“Is Ariel okay?” Poppy asked.
“She is,” Hunter assured his teammate. “A bit bruised and sore.”
“Are the groom and his best man to be believed?” Lorenza asked.
Maya said, “There’s no faking their injuries. But as to whether or not they were done by Violet James...” She shrugged.
“Hard to know at this point,” Hunter agreed. “Eli, what can you tell us about the satellite phone that was left in the cabin?”
The small square frame filled with Eli Partridge, the team’s tech guru, showed him frowning and not looking into the camera.
“Earth to Eli,” Will Stryker said.
Eli jerked his gaze to the camera. “Oh, sorry.” He pushed up the bridge of his dark round glasses that framed his blue eyes. “The phone belongs to the parks and rec department. They reported it missing a week ago. They aren’t sure how it ended up in the cabin where you found the groom and his best man.”
The team went on to talk about the situation, each of them giving their thoughts and opinions. Hunter’s gaze was drawn repeatedly to Eli. He didn’t seem his usual, affable self.
As the call was wrapping up, Hunter said, “Hey, Eli. Is everything okay? You’ve been awfully quiet. More than normal.”
Eli made a face. “No, everything is not
okay, Hunter. You see way too much.”
The comment elicited knowing nods from some of the other team members.
“Care to share with us?” Maya asked, her dark eyes round with concern.
Eli hesitated, then said, “If it’s okay with the colonel.”
Lorenza smiled. “Please, whatever is on your mind Eli, you can say it.”
“It’s my godmother. She was my mother’s best friend. And the reason I came to Anchorage,” he said. “She’s sick. Very ill. Stage III cancer. She’s only sixty-five.”
Hunter’s stomach clenched. He knew the heartache of losing someone to disease. His mother’s death had left a scar on his soul. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you,” Eli said. “Bettina is in a cancer care home, but they’ve told me that the treatments will soon stop having any effect. I was with her yesterday. And her most fervent wish is to see her only son and his family again before...” Eli swallowed and turned away from the camera.
“What can we do to help?” Poppy asked, her green eyes glistening with sympathy.
Having collected himself, Eli faced the camera. “I need to find her son and his family. All I know is that they are survivalists and may be somewhere in Chugach State Park.”
The same park where Violet James was hiding out. Considering the park was one of the four largest state parks in the United States, many survivalists and those who wanted to remain hidden had plenty of space to do so.
“It’s a big area,” Gabriel commented. “Lots of places where survivalists could camp out and not be seen, especially this time of year in the colder months. But with the summer months, it will be harder for them to stay out of the path of other hikers and campers.”
“My ex-wife was raised by survivalists,” Sean West volunteered. “She runs a mission in a remote area near Nome. I know that’s far away, but perhaps she’d have some tips on how to find the family.”
