Police Protector

by Dani Sinclair

  Almost from the moment they’d met, she’d been drawn to the strength of him, the kindness in him. That first time had been sex, pure and simple. But the second time…the second time had been something else entirely. She could love this man. The deep, for-evermore sort of love she’d read about but never thought to experience firsthand. Nothing had ever felt this right.

  Could her timing be any worse?

  She left the shower and took her time getting dressed. Halfway down the stairs she heard his cell phone ring.

  “O’Shay,” he answered.

  She would never tire of the sound of his voice.

  “Todd? What are you still doing on the clock at this hour? Don’t tell me our thieves struck again.”

  She rounded the landing to see him standing in front of the fire with his back to her. He was dressed down to his shoes and she realized he’d gone out back for more wood.

  He tensed visibly and swore. “Where? You’re sure? Since when? Why did it take so long…?”

  Kyra froze on the final step gripping the heavy flashlight tightly. Her heart suddenly fluttered like something gone mad. Some indefinable quality in his voice sent tendrils of fear shooting through her.

  “How bad? And you’re sure it’s Casey?” He swore again. “Okay. I’ll tell Kyra.”

  Her other hand gripped the banister for support. Casey couldn’t be dead. She just couldn’t be.

  He moved to stand in profile, scowling and listening intently.

  “No. Yeah, it can wait until morning. Who’ve you got…? Right. Thanks, Todd. I’ll talk to you later. Yeah. You, too.”

  His expression was forbidding as he closed the phone and abruptly spotted her standing there.

  “You heard?”

  She couldn’t even manage a nod. She stood frozen, waiting for the words she dreaded to hear.

  “They found your sister.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Kyra’s stricken features sent him rushing to her side as he realized what she must be thinking. “God, I’m sorry! Casey’s alive, Kyra.”

  “Alive?”

  He supported her as she swayed. Strong, powerful, there for her.

  “She’s in the hospital. She’s going to be fine.”

  It was too much. She let him guide her to the chair.

  “Sit down.”

  “I thought…I mean, you said…” she shook her head. “I don’t know what you said. She’s really alive?”

  “Really. She was in a car accident. Apparently she took an off ramp too fast. The car plunged over the embankment into a thicket of bushes and trees, trapping her in the car. They found her yesterday morning, after she worked her way out and managed to crawl to the top of the embankment. An alert officer noticed recent damage to the top of the guardrail and spotted something red. He stopped to check it out.”

  Kyra felt weak. “She always liked bright red.”

  “Good thing. Her red coat stood out. She was unconscious and badly battered when she was found. Several broken ribs, a broken arm, sprained ankle, assorted cuts and bruises and I’m not sure what else, but all in all she was exceptionally lucky.”

  Kyra closed her eyes and forced her lungs to release the breath they were holding. “Thank God. We have to go to her.” She started to get up and he pressed her firmly back down.

  “Not tonight.”

  Anger flared. “Of course, tonight! If you won’t take me I’ll go by myself.”

  “Kyra, she’s been unconscious for much of the time since they found her yesterday. Casey isn’t going anywhere tonight and neither are we. We’d never make it. You know that. And even if we did, you wouldn’t be allowed to see her at this hour and disturb the other patients. We’ll go in the morning as soon as the roads clear.”

  She muttered softly. “You’re right. I know you’re right. But…”

  “She’s your sister. I understand. I’d feel the same way if it was one of my brothers.” And nothing, not even an ice storm, would keep him from finding a way to the hospital.

  He was trying to think of a way to get her there when without warning, the lights winked out. This time they stayed out. The snapping hiss and crackle of the fire filled the sudden stillness.

  “I think that’s it for the electricity tonight,” Lucan told her.

  Kyra nodded, studying his expression. “There’s more, isn’t there? What aren’t you telling me?”

  Surprised by her perception, Lucan hesitated. “I’ll tell you as much as I know. Do you want something to drink first? I have beer and wine or the stove is gas. We could make—”

  “Lucan, I’m okay. Casey’s alive. It’s the miracle I’ve been praying for. But if they found her yesterday morning, why didn’t someone call to tell us until now?”

  Lucan perched on the edge of the couch watching the firelight play across her features. “She was unconscious and she didn’t have any identification.”

  “Her picture’s been on the news.”

  “She’s banged up, Kyra. At first they thought her jaw was broken. It isn’t,” he hastened to add, “but she was in a lot of pain.”

  Kyra winced. “What else?”

  “She was driving a stolen car. They traced the license plate and coincidentally, the car belonged to a woman about Casey’s age. Since Casey had no identification and none was found at the scene, they assumed she was the owner.”

  Kyra nodded acceptance even though her tension was palpable. “And?”

  Lucan sighed. “And there was an empty beer can in the back of the car. That led them to think she might have been drunk when she went off the road. They knew she had to be traveling at a high rate of speed to go airborne and clear the guardrail the way she did.”

  “I see where this is going.”

  He nodded. “They thought she was a drunk driver. And they thought they knew who she was.”

  “Okay, I guess I see that.”

  “When they learned the car was stolen—”

  “They thought Casey stole the car.” Her frustration rose.

  “The officer should have identified her sooner, but he didn’t. When someone finally did, he started questioning her about the money.”

  Kyra was furious. “And Casey told him she didn’t know what he was talking about and he treated her like a criminal.”

  Lucan nodded unhappily. “Todd was finally called in tonight. Casey was upset—”

  “I can’t imagine why,” she snarled.

  “—and frantic about her kids. Todd assured her that you had them and they were safe.”

  Kyra began to pace. “Why didn’t she call me?”

  “Does she know your cell phone number?”

  “Of course she…” Kyra stopped. Consternation sent her head shaking from side to side. “Probably not. Who knows phone numbers any more? She’d have it programmed into her cell phone.”

  “Which is in her purse at her house,” Lucan agreed. “She’s scared, Kyra.”

  “Can you blame her? Talk about police brutality. She’s a victim here, not a criminal!”

  “I know. We’ll go to the hospital first thing in the morning and get this straightened out, I promise. The important thing is she’s safe and she’s going to be fine.”

  Reluctantly, Kyra nodded, but she was still upset. “I was right. That’s why those men were trying to kill me. They thought I was Casey. They don’t want her to testify against them.” And her eyes went wide. “She’s in danger, Lucan. They’re going to try to kill her!”

  “Todd thought of that. She was moved to a private room. There’s an officer stationed outside her door. We’re not completely incompetent.”

  Kyra barely acknowledged that. Her mind was spinning.

  Lucan spoke quietly. “They must have been watching the house. They probably saw you leave with Kip the other day and followed you thinking you were Casey.”

  “I bet they want the money.”

  “Possibly. It’s a reasonable assumption.”

  Anger pinched her features. “I’
m going to kill Jordan when we find him.”

  His smile held no humor. “Let me arrest him. He’s not worth a murder charge.”

  “It was a figure of speech…more or less.”

  His lips curved. “I know.”

  “She’s really going to be all right?”

  “I wouldn’t lie to you about that, Kyra. Casey’s going to be fine. And we should try and get some rest. Tomorrow is shaping up to be a long day. Do you want to spend the rest of the night down here with the fire or go upstairs? It’s going to get pretty cold in here, but I have a lot of extra blankets.”

  “I won’t sleep now.”

  “You won’t do Casey any good if you don’t at least try to rest. We’re both tired. If you don’t want to lie down, I’ll get some blankets and we can sit down here by the fire, okay?”

  “Yes. I’d rather do that.”

  Lucan took the flashlight and headed upstairs. But listening to the fury of the storm still lashing the house, he wondered if he’d be able to get her to the hospital come morning.

  MORNING BROUGHT AN END to the storm, but not the expected warm-up. Ice clung to the branches of trees and bushes and coated the roads and sidewalks. Every available surface outside glistened despite the fact that the day was gray and heavily overcast. It would be midday at least before the side streets or sidewalks would be navigable.

  Kyra had fallen asleep against his shoulder, nestled in her blanket. She looked deceptively soft and fragile. Lucan didn’t want to disturb her, but biology insisted he get up. Every muscle in his body protested as he slipped free and stood.

  He debated adding logs and kindling to the fire. Only a single smoldering log was left, but he decided to wait for fear of waking her. He headed upstairs to use the bathroom.

  The bruise on his face had darkened and diffused a bit more. And once he stripped he noticed several others he hadn’t realized he had. He wanted a shower, but he didn’t want to use all the hot water, so he settled for washing up at the sink.

  A chill had settled over the house, as expected. He dressed in a warm shirt and pullover sweater. Finding another sweatshirt and polo shirt for Kyra to use, he left them in the bathroom and went back downstairs. She stirred, opening her eyes when he checked on her.

  “Morning,” he greeted. Her tousled hair and eyes cloudy with the remnants of sleep lent her a vulnerable air. He kissed her forehead, wishing he could offer her a cup of hot coffee to start the day. He would have liked one himself, but he didn’t have any instant.

  “Hmmm.” She stretched her face up for his kiss. “You taste minty. What time is it?” Her voice sounded scratchy with disuse.

  “Almost eight-thirty.”

  That widened her eyes to full alertness and brought her bouncing up off the couch. “It can’t be! I never sleep this late!”

  “Relax. We aren’t going anywhere for a while. The roads are impassible.” He held up the battery-powered radio he’d taken from his bedroom. “I had this on upstairs. Traffic lights are out all over town. They’re asking people to stay inside while road crews treat the streets. There are accidents everywhere. The hospitals are filled with people who’ve fallen and broken bones. We can’t even get to the car until some of the ice starts to melt.”

  She scowled, taking in his words and looking around the room. “The electricity is still off.”

  “Yep. All over the area. They’re saying it could be some time before we get it back.”

  “That bruise on your face looks painful.”

  He smiled. “I seem to have a few new ones.”

  Kyra blushed, but tilted her head up for his kiss.

  “Hmm. You taste good, but I need to use the bathroom.”

  Relieved that there was none of that awkwardness that often comes the morning after, he smiled. “I left you some clean clothes, but remember the only hot water we have is what’s still in the tank right now, so if you shower, keep it brief unless you favor cold showers.”

  She grimaced and paused to pull his head down for another quick kiss before hurrying up the stairs. Lucan watched her go before he sauntered to the kitchen to see what he could pull together for breakfast. He was humming as he pulled eggs and cheese from the refrigerator. He could get used to waking up to someone like Kyra every morning.

  His cell phone rang before he could process that startling thought.

  “Do you have power?” Todd asked in his ear.

  “No. What about you?”

  “None when I left. I’m at the hospital right now.”

  “Don’t tell me you fell.”

  “Hey! I carry bags of ice melt with me everywhere in this kind of weather. No, Casey Fillmont disappeared this morning.”

  Lucan inhaled as the words crashed over him. “What happened?”

  “As near as we can tell she walked out sometime after she was moved to that private room.”

  “There was supposed to be someone stationed there to protect her.”

  “He was called away.”

  Lucan cursed. “You’re telling me she walked out in the middle of an ice storm? With a broken arm and fractured ribs?”

  “And a bum knee and ankle,” Todd added. “Yeah, I know, but that’s how it looks.”

  “I don’t believe it. Are you sure she walked out under her own power? What do the security tapes show?”

  “The hospital was running on emergency generators at the time. There are no security tapes.”

  Lucan rubbed the back of his neck. Tension had returned with a vengeance.

  “We’ve searched the area. She was too banged up to have gone anywhere on foot, but there’s no sign of her.”

  “She didn’t leave willingly.” Lucan felt sick.

  “There’s no sign of a struggle,” Todd insisted. “Her coat and clothes are gone but there’s no way to tell if she left because she was forced or because she wanted to leave. Manacuzzi was pretty rough on her. Thanks to him, she doesn’t trust us. You can’t blame her.”

  Lucan stared at the egg carton while his thoughts raced. After refusing to take her to the hospital last night, he did not want to tell Kyra that Casey had vanished. She would think the worst.

  He thought the worst. He swore out loud.

  “Yeah. I know,” Todd agreed. “I got her description on the air right away. Do you want the media to carry the story? It will be a sidebar given the weather, but someone might have seen something.”

  “If they have her, she’ll be dead before we find her again.” He pictured Todd nodding agreement into the silence.

  “Let’s hold the good thought,” his friend offered. “Let’s assume she was ticked off and called a friend to come get her.”

  “In an ice storm.” He could almost see Todd shrug.

  “It’s possible.”

  But not probable. “Any chance you could arrange a car for me to use?” Lucan asked.

  “Walsh ordered you to take time off. You’re supposed to stay home.”

  “Berringer…”

  “The captain would have my head.”

  “Not if he doesn’t find out.”

  “Yeah, right. Like that will happen.”

  “Ask Jessup to delay the paperwork a few days. She likes you. You can sweet-talk her into loaning me something from the motor pool.”

  “Walsh said there was nothing available.”

  Lucan waited in silence.

  “Why don’t you call her?” Todd demanded.

  “She’ll tell me no.”

  “Walsh will have my hide.”

  “Which one of us do you fear most?”

  His friend swore. “Okay. But you’re going to owe me big for this.”

  “You still owe me two,” he reminded Todd.

  “Petty, Lucan. Really petty. I’ll see what I can do. But if Jessup says no…”

  “She won’t say no to you. Offer to take her to dinner in exchange. You know you’ve been wanting an excuse to ask her out. Here it is.”

  “That’s it, partner. I’m taking you
off my Christmas list.”

  “How will I ever survive?”

  Todd hesitated. “You really think she’d go out with me?”

  “I think she’s been waiting for you to ask her out for the past four months. Stop being a wimp.”

  “She intimidates me.”

  Lucan shook his head. “You’re a detective. Nothing intimidates you.”

  “Except a five-foot blonde who not only knows what a carburetor is, but can take it apart and put it back together again so fast it makes me dizzy. You know I’m not mechanical.”

  “Buy a book. Just get me a car that weighs more than a miniature terrier.”

  “I’m going to regret this.”

  Lucan’s lips lifted.

  “We don’t have a thing in common,” Todd complained.

  “That’s the fun part.” Lucan disconnected and spotted Kyra standing in the hall. How much of the conversation had she heard?

  She should have looked ridiculous dressed in his old high-school sweatshirt. The sleeves were rolled halfway up her arms and the hem hung well below her shapely hips. But Kyra looked as cool and in control as usual. And somehow she managed to be sexy in his old clothes and those sexy boots of hers. And she didn’t look angry.

  Yet.

  Todd thought he was intimidated?

  “Was that Todd?” she asked.

  He wasn’t ready to have this conversation. He turned back to the eggs and began taking them from the carton even though he was no longer the least bit hungry. “Yeah, I’ll tell you about it after we eat.”

  “Tell me now.” The light tone left her voice.

  She seemed to have radar where he was concerned. “Todd’s arranging for a cruiser so we can get out of here. He has a thing for the woman in charge of the motor pool.”

  Kyra came around to the side of him and laid her hand over his. “There’s something you aren’t telling me.”

  Her hand was so small and graceful against his big, rough, scarred one. “What are you, clairvoyant? I’m a cop. I’m supposed to be inscrutable and intimidating.”

  “And I’ve been a lawyer and an investigator almost as long as you’ve been a cop. In case you haven’t noticed, cops don’t intimidate me. Not even broad-shouldered tough guys like you. And I know when someone’s prevaricating.”