by Desiree Holt
Lindsey pushed her glasses back up on her nose and tucked her hair behind one ear. “I can hardly believe I have a connection to anything in Maine. That’s like the other end of the earth from here.”
“Maine explains the presence of the water,” Nick pointed out. “And if there’s something your parents wanted hidden from you, they picked a place to settle about as far away as they could get.”
Tony nodded and flipped over a page. “I agree. It might explain why you have no relatives to speak of. They’ve all been buried in another life.”
“So what about the newspaper?” Nick prompted.
“It stopped publishing about twenty years ago,” Tony said. “The man who owned it died, his wife didn’t want to keep it going, and no one was in a hurry to buy it. By then, everyone was getting their news from the dailies and even the advertisers weren’t interested in retaining their contracts. So the widow just closed up the doors, sold off the equipment, and that was that.”
“But isn’t there some way to find the rest of that article?” Lindsey tried to swallow her anxiety and frustration. “I can’t believe there aren’t old copies somewhere.”
“Actually, there are.” Tony flipped another page. “But not on microfiche or anything we might be able to access remotely. You have to go the physical location. Which you may want to do when I tell you the rest of this.”
Nick helped himself to another slice of pizza. “And where would that be?”
“The Bangor Public Library has archived all the copies of the paper for the entire forty years it was in print. Bangor’s less than an hour’s drive from the coast. It’s a lot of tiresome work to go through all the issues, but I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for there.”
“Forty years worth of newspapers?” Nick shook his head. “Let’s hope we won’t have to go through every one.”
“There’s more,” Tony went on. “We were able to identify the lighthouse in the picture you emailed. It’s called Howard’s Lighthouse after the people who ran it for years. It’s not far from Indian Island, about ten miles from Bar Harbor. The houses on the island are a mixture of large summer homes and smaller cottages. All owned by the rich or famous, however.”
Lindsey put down the slice of pizza. “Nick, we have to go there. And I mean right away. I have to have answers, and I have such a strong feeling some of them are there. Maybe all of them.”
“Slow down, Lindsey. I already told you we’d take a trip as soon as we had some information.” He looked at Tony. “What about the rest of the pictures I sent over? Anything there?”
“We’re still working on them. I marked this whole project a priority so I hope to have something soon.” Tony chewed and swallowed a piece of pizza.
“And the cell phone?” Nick prodded.
“Not much there. Like I told you this morning, it was purchased at an electronics store in the big mall downtown. I’m going over there myself after lunch. I don’t like the runaround they gave the guy we sent out so I’ll give it a try myself. Just don’t expect me to come back with anything” He closed the folder and helped himself to another piece of pizza. “So, what’s the drill now?”
Nick pulled out a tablet from his briefcase lying on the counter and began making notes. “Tomorrow, Lindsey and I will fly up to Maine. Not today,” he added quickly, as Lindsey opened her mouth to object. “We have a lot of arrangements to make first.” He pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number. “Sarah? I called Reno’s private number, but it rolled over to you so I’m guessing he’s not around.” He listened for a moment. “No, no big deal. I just wanted to let him know I’m flying to Maine in the morning. I’d like to use the Gulfstream if it’s not otherwise booked.” He nodded. “Yeah, I can do that. We’ll send it back, and I’ll call when we need to be picked up. Yes, the Ferrell case.” He nodded again. “Right. Pass me along to Janet, will you?”
Lindsey listened while he gave his secretary instructions to arrange for the company plane, their landing at the Bangor airport and a rental car.
“An SUV, whatever model they’ve got available. Also a motel room in Bangor for one night, then reservations in Bar Harbor.”
“Two rooms, please,” Lindsey interrupted.
I will not mention the phone call. Let him think whatever he wants. He can have all the women in the world. Just not me.
A sharp pain stabbed at her heart as the memory of that phone call popped up, and she forced herself to take a deep breath.
Nick studied her face, then nodded while Tony stared from one to the other. “Two rooms, Janet.” He glared at Lindsey. “But make sure they’re connecting. Uh-huh. Thanks.”
He hung up, put down the phone, and concentrated on his pizza, not looking at either Lindsey or Tony.
Finally, Tony broke the uncomfortable silence. “You want to fly down to Bar Harbor?” he asked. “You’d be closer to the center of these activities.”
“Not if we want to go to the library in Bangor. I’d rather go through the old newspapers first so we’re armed with a little more information.”
Tony left, and Lindsey cleared away the debris from lunch while Nick finished making notes.
Finally, he put the tablet down, leaned back in his chair, and beckoned for her to sit down again. “It’s possible we could be gone as much as a week. Can Brianna hold down the office that long for you?”
“Of course. She’s got plenty to keep her busy. She can take the meetings with the builders and bring any changes back to Mark. I’ll go over all the projects with him today so he’s familiar with what he needs to do. Besides, I’ll take my laptop with me and my cell so it’s not as if she won’t be able to communicate with me.”
“Don’t tell them where we’re going,” he cautioned. “Just say you need a little time off with everything that’s going on.”
Lindsey raised an eyebrow. “Surely you don’t still think either of them could be involved?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not taking any chances. Do you need to get any clothes from the ranch? I can go by my house to pick up my stuff.”
“If I need something, I’ll just go out and buy it.” She turned on the dishwasher. “Let me go meet with Mark and Bri. They should be back from lunch by now. After that, I can pack.”
When she told Mark and Brianna she’d be going away for a while, they both stared at her.
“All this business is really stressing me out,” she explained. “I need this break.”
“Why don’t you just go to the ranch?” Bri asked.
“Nick—Mr. Vanetta—believes I’ll be safer if I’m someplace unknown to the stalker.” Lindsey tried to make her tone as casual as possible. “But I’ll have my cell on all the time if you need to reach me. So let’s go over each project and see what needs to be done.”
She was glad for the chance to avoid Nick for a while. The atmosphere between them had been even more strained after her room arrangement request. She knew sometime during the long trip he’d want answers, and she needed to figure out exactly what she wanted to say.
“Have a good time, wherever you’re going,” Brianna told her when they’d finished. “Is the hunk going with you?”
Lindsey laughed. “Don’t I wish!” Nick had been specific that no one know the details about the trip, including the fact he’d be with her. “But someone will have bodyguard duty.”
She spent the next two hours going over things with her staff, then sent both Mark and Brianna home. “You’ll both be carrying a heavy load while I’m gone. Enjoy a few extra hours of free time while you can get it.”
Back in her apartment, she packed quickly, grabbing things from her closet and drawers. Nick was a silent presence, hovering near the entire time. Zipping the suitcase shut, she turned to him. “Since we’re not leaving until tomorrow, where are we sleeping tonight?”
“Guardian has a condo we keep for visiting clients.” He narrowed his gaze. “And before you say anything, it has three bedrooms. You can take any one y
ou want.”
Before she could comment, his cell phone rang and he stepped out of hearing range.
“We’re set for tomorrow,” he told her when he hung up. “The plane will be ready for us at the airport about ten o’clock. I didn’t want to make it too early. Janet arranged for someone to meet us in Bangor with our rental and our reservations and any other information we’ll need.”
“Great. Let me get my briefcase with all the photos and things. I had it next to my desk.” When Nick started ahead of her, she put a hand on his arm. “I’ll only be a second, okay? Don’t worry. Everyone’s already left for the day.”
She had just bent down to pick up her briefcase when she heard a sharp crack! and the sound of breaking glass.
Chapter Fourteen
Rifle shot!
Nick was through the apartment and into the office in seconds. Lindsey stood at her desk, ghost white and shaking uncontrollably. Behind her and to her left, cracks spread out from a hole in the glass like a large spider web.
“Down!” he shouted at her. “Now.”
He grabbed her and threw her to the floor, not stopping to be gentle, and crouched down next to her. Yanking his phone from his pocket, he speed dialed a number.
“Tony? Someone just shot at Lindsey from outside. Check with everyone out there, then get your ass over to the hotel next door and see if you can spot anyone carrying something that would conceal a rifle. See if they’ll let you look at their security tapes, too. I’m calling the police. This will definitely get their attention.”
“Rifle? Did you say rifle? What’s happening?”
“Someone’s using this office for target practice,” he told her. “Just stay down.”
“My God, Nick! He tried to shoot me. He’s really trying to kill me.”
Nick lifted his head slightly and peered over the desk. “No, I don’t think so. He carefully aimed wide of where you were standing. He wanted to frighten you and let you know he was still watching. I’d say he accomplished his objective.” He rose a little more and looked around. “I think we’re okay now. Whoever did this had no intention of hanging around.”
He lifted Lindsey up and sat her in her desk chair. She still trembled so hard she had to clutch the arms of the chair.
“Are you okay for a minute?” He ran his eyes over her. She was pale, her lips almost bloodless, and her hair was in disarray, but she was obviously trying to pull herself together.
Good girl.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Do whatever you have to.”
“I want to make another call and then let some people in.” His voice was tight with anger and tension. “I’ll be right back.”
McCune was in his office when Nick reached him, but said he’d be on his way at once. Nick disarmed the alarm panel in the front office and opened the door just as Tony came pounding down the hall.
“What the hell is going on?” Tony asked. “What’s this about a rifle? Who’s got a rifle?”
Nick took him into the office and pointed to the bullet hole. “I don’t think he wanted to hit her. He aimed wide of the mark, and I think it was deliberate. He just wanted to scare her. And did a damned good job, I might say.”
He wanted to kick his own ass. He’d made a promise to stick to her like glue, then let her go into the office alone even for a few moments. He should fire himself.
“I sent Scott and Dutton over to the hotel,” Tony said. “I’m sure whoever did this is long gone. Maybe the security tapes will tell us something, but I’m not hopeful. This is one smart dude.”
“We need a team here to check out everything,” Nick told him.
“Already taken care of. I called the office myself.” Tony glanced at Lindsey. “Listen, you need to get her out of here. And I mean right now. Let us do our stuff here. Do you want me to call the cops?”
Nick shook his head. “Already done, but they won’t find anything more than you will. Can you get the window fixed before tomorrow? I don’t want her staff showing up to work with a bullet hole in the window. They’ll freak out.”
“Yes. I’ll call you when I’m finished here. You take the lady and get her wherever you’re going.”
“The condo. It’s the safest place I can think of. But we need to use a little razzle dazzle here. If you’d get her suitcase from the apartment, I’ll get Lindsey. We can talk on the way down to the garage.”
At that moment, the bell rang on the fax machine in the office and a sheet of paper began printing out. Nick grabbed it before Lindsey could and swore loudly when he pulled it out.
“What?” Tony asked.
“Look at this. That son of a bitch.”
It was a picture, taken from a distance, of the window with the bullet hole in it. This time there was no writing on it.
“He had to have taken this immediately after the shot,” Nick said. “It was sent from the business center at the hotel. Look at the header on it.”
“What is it, Nick?” Lindsey tried to grab the fax from him. “What’s on the fax?”
“Nothing you need to see.”
The ringing of Tony’s cell interrupted them as Nick jerked the paper out of Lindsey’s reach.
“On my way,” Tony said quietly and headed for the front door of the office.
“What’s going on?” Lindsey demanded, twisting her hands together so tightly the knuckles were white. “Somebody tell me something. Please.”
“I think you’d better give that message to me.” The voice was deep and low.
Nick jerked his head around at the sound to see Reno walk through the door Tony had just opened. He had thunder in his eyes and his face was lined with rage.
“What are you doing here?” Nick asked.
Reno reached for the sheet of paper. “I take it very seriously when someone tries to kill one of our clients, and my partner and my brother are both in the line of fire.” He stared at the photo. “Shit.”
“My sentiments exactly,” Nick echoed.
“Is anyone ever going to tell me what’s going on?” Lindsey asked, drawing Nick’s attention from the paper.
“Let me introduce you to someone. Lindsey Ferrell, meet Reno Sullivan. The brains behind Guardian.”
“Nick’s far too modest.” Reno reached out to take one of Lindsey’s trembling hands. “We all pull our weight. In any event, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I only wish it were under different circumstances.” He looked at Nick. “I asked Sarah to get the entire file and put it on my desk. You and Lindsey get out of here. I brought the team Tony requested to work the scene and see what we can find.”
“Nothing, most likely,” Nick told him. “It’s been the same each time.”
“No more.” Reno shook his head. “It’s time for us to get the upper hand. Where are you two staying tonight?”
“The condo if it’s empty.”
Reno nodded. “It is. You’ve got a key, so go on. Get out of here, then.”
“The cops are on the way,” Nick pointed out. “We’ve got to talk to them first.”
“I’ll handle it. And cover your tail.” He turned to his brother. “Tony? The usual game of tag, all right?”
Tony nodded.
The men all shook hands. Nick took the suitcase and led Lindsey out to the elevator. Tony got in with them. Nick studied her face, trying to assess her mental state.
“I’m fine,” Lindsey said, in reply to his unasked question.
“No, you’re not, but you’re a damn fine trouper.”
He clamped a lid on his frustration. He was itching to reach for her, but she’d erected this invisible wall between them and he didn’t have a clue in hell as to why. He settled for taking one of her hands.
“We’re going to play a little game when we get in the car,” he told her. “Just trust me and everything will be okay.”
“All right.” But he could tell she wasn’t very happy about it.
“I don’t think the shooter is still out there. He did what he wanted to, although he absol
utely could still be lurking somewhere around. He hung around long enough to take that picture and fax it to you minutes after he fired. I intend to keep you out of harm’s way, and that means making sure no one sees where we’re going. I want whoever it is to lose track of you.”
In the parking garage, Tony took Lindsey’s arm and gently tugged her in his direction.
“What’s going on?” She looked at Nick. Everything was coming at her too fast.
“Tony will take care of you, okay?” Nick assured her. “Just go with him.”
“We’re doing a little bait and switch here, love,” Tony said. “Just stick with me. Whatever I tell you, just do it, all right?”
She nodded wordlessly, but her mind was going a hundred miles a minute. Who was doing this? How did they always know exactly where she’d be standing? What had she ever done to anyone to earn this kind of campaign of terror?
Tony hustled her to yet another a black SUV parked next to the outer wall of the elevator. He helped her into the back and told her to lie down on the seat. “Don’t look up for any reason until I say you can.”
Lindsey nodded, then curled up and wrapped her arms around herself as Tony threw a blanket over her. She had no idea of time as they drove or even where they went. She sensed when they left the surface streets and entered the Interstate, and then when they exited, but that was all. Twice, she heard Tony on his cell speaking in low tones. Finally, he pulled to a stop and told her she could sit up.
She threw the blanket off. “Where are we?”
“The garage at my condo.” He opened the door for her. “Come on. Just slide across. Nick’s right here.”
She scrambled out of the vehicle and Tony helped her into the truck.
“All clear as far as we can tell,” he said. “We had two cars tailing you. They didn’t spot anything, and I kept a good eye on my own rearview mirror. Also, I came in by the back entrance, so if anyone was on my ass, I’d have seen them. Get going.”
