No one moved in the shocked silence that followed.
The MP chief eased forward, slowly fanning the air. "Just calm down. See? We’re all moving off."
Phillip and Jess backed away with him, never once losing sight of that pistol cocked to the lance corporal’s head.
"Don’t do this, Malcolm. You know it’s over. Shooting him won’t make things easier on you." Jess’ voice was firm and unwavering. "There’s nowhere for you to go from here. You know that. You saw to that yourself. Think of your family, your children. Drop the gun."
Collins’ eyes were wide, glassy, his high forehead shiny with beads of sweat. With the mention of his family, his chin quivered. His hostage remained frozen. The young Marine at least had sense enough not to startle his captor into pulling the trigger.
Jess held out his hand. "Give me the gun, Malcolm. It’s over. If you shoot, you know you’ll never make it out the front door. You don’t want to risk that. You don’t want your daughters—"
"Enough with my daughters!" He tightened his grip on the Marine and jammed the barrel deeper into his temple. "You don’t know how it is. You don’t know how hard it is. Everything was fine until that McKinley bitch started poking her nose into my business. Now it’s all ruined."
Phillip took one step forward, spreading his hands wide. "Wait."
Jess sucked in a breath.
Phillip kept going. "This Marine isn’t part of this. He’s done nothing to you. You want revenge, then take me instead. You don’t want to hurt this kid."
His nemesis’ eyes glittered at the thought. "Ah, Stuart. Always the martyr. The hero." He cocked his head to one side to consider the offer. "All right, Captain. You are the cause of my troubles at the moment, you and that bitch McKinley. If I have to put a bullet into someone to get out of here alive, it might as well be you. I have nothing to lose at this point, anyway. And I would enjoy seeing you fall before me."
Shoving the Marine aside, Collins motioned Phillip closer with a jerk of the weapon.
"On your knees, Stuart. Let’s see how brave you are when death is seconds away. You beg me enough, I’ll let you go…maybe."
By slow degrees Phillip eased forward and sank to his knees. Pleasure gleamed in Collins’ beady eyes. A maniacal grin slashed across his face. Laughing, he leveled the pistol at the space between Phillip’s eyes.
In that split-second where Collins’ attention focused upon Phillip, the young MP pounced, hitting Collins sharply on the elbow. The pistol skittered across the floor.
Collins stumbled to the side, arms wind milling as he fought for balance.
Phillip turned his crouch into a forward lunge, driving his shoulder into the NCIS agent’s stomach. They hit the floor hard, toppling chairs in their wake.
Fist doubled, Collins swung, clipping Phillip’s chin. He ducked the next blow, seizing Collins’ wrist in a grip that threatened to snap bone. He drew back and smashed a fist against Collins’ jaw. The man cried out and swung with his free arm. Phillip caught it, twisted, and drove the man to the ground.
Anger boiled within him, a rage greater than any he had ever known. Fury at this man who had caused his family, his friend such harm. Collins thrashed beneath him, bucking under Phillip’s weight, kicking out for freedom.
Phillip jerked his arm higher, dislocating the man’s shoulder blade. Still Collins fought, his rage making his strength superhuman. Phillip held on, letting him wear himself out, then jammed his knee into the small of Collins’ back.
Collins cried out and collapsed, sobbing at his defeat. The MP’s jumped in and snapped the cuffs in place. Phillip rolled away and let them have him. It was over.
Jess gave him a hand up. "Nice job. I can’t say I wouldn’t have been tempted to beat the hell out of him if I’d had him down."
"I’m no saint." Phillip hauled himself to his feet and dusted off his clothes. "Trust me, it was tempting."
He listened to the litany of rights being read. Even someone like Collins had the right to a fair trial. It hardly seemed fair. Hopefully, the evidence would put him away for a long time.
Spitting blood, Malcolm shot hate-filled glares toward first the MP’s standing guard over him, then to Phillip. "Know any good lawyers?" he asked with a smirk.
Phillip stared back, eyes cold and emotionless. "Not a one."
"Well, I’m not talking until I have one."
"No surprise there."
The MP chief clicked off his radio and trotted toward them. "They’ve got your partner and he’s spilling his guts. About you, your theft ring, Sergeant Kemp’s murder, and your attempts to frame Staff Sergeant McKinley. Maybe you want to think twice about talking."
Collins clamped his lips tight and stared into the night. Phillip wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw a tear slip down the man’s cheek. He shook his head over the irony. Collins had justified his actions for the sake of his children. It was doubtful he’d see much of them anymore.
Chapter 16
* * *
The sound of footsteps pulled Rowan to the hallway for what was probably the hundredth time. A nurse zipped by, flashing a smile as an afterthought.
This is taking much too long. Surely we would have heard something by now.
With each minute since their departure, Rowan ran through the list of everything that could go wrong until worry gnawed a hole in her stomach.
"I do wish you’d quit pacing." Mike tossed down the last of his coffee and crumbled the paper cup. He’d had so much caffeine tonight his hands shook.
"Why? Not leaving you enough room to do your own?" Intended humor sounded snappy and irritable, matching her disposition. She hoped he wouldn’t call her on it. He was still her superior officer and once this was over with they would slip back into those roles. After all that had happened, that might not be so easy. Rowan relied on professionalism to see them through the transition.
He tossed his cup into the trash can. "Nope. I’m getting exhausted from watching you."
Rowan forced a smile. One worry off her mind. Hugging herself, she tried to quell the jitters. "Why is it taking so long? You don’t suppose something’s happened, do you?"
"I hope not." Mike glanced over her shoulder and down the hall. "Here comes Laura. Maybe she’s got some news."
Rowan turned slowly. Not her first choice of visitors, but if she had some word, good or bad, Rowan would take her.
"Any news?" Laura asked as she neared. "Did they catch Collins?"
"We were hoping you could tell us," Mike said.
She shrugged one shoulder and lifted her palms. "I have no idea. He followed me to base from the bar so we took the plan to the next level. He showed up at legal like Jess thought he would. That’s the last I saw of him. I haven’t seen Phillip since I left him at the bar."
"Could you use a cup of coffee?"
Laura gave Mike a half-hearted laugh. "I could use a stiff drink, but I’ll settle for coffee. Do you know where there’s a machine?"
"I’ll get it for you."
Mike hurried off before Rowan could offer to go in his place.
Nothing like being stuck in an awkward situation.
She pivoted on the ball of her foot to resume pacing. Laura stepped into her path.
"I’m glad he’s gone. It’ll give us a chance to talk."
"I don’t think there’s really anything we need to talk about, Captain Cushing." Rowan tried to sidestep the woman. Again, Laura stood in her way.
"I disagree. We need to talk about Phillip. He’s not the man you used to know." She gave a humorless chuckle. "Oddly enough, he’s not the man I thought I knew either."
Rowan raised her hand. "Please save the lecture about me standing between him and his career. I’ve heard it before. Phillip’s decisions are his to make, and I doubt very seriously if he would be willing to risk everything he’s worked so hard for just for me."
"Then you must be blind."
Rowan stared at her, mouth agape.
"That man loves you. H
e loves you. He’s one hell of an attorney, but if you think he normally goes to this much trouble to clear his clients, you’re wrong. He leaves the grunt work to someone else." Laura drew in a breath before she continued.
"There’s no reason to keep up a facade with you. We’ve both slept with the man, and we both know it. But in the year I’ve known Phillip, I’ve never once seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you. He’d give it up for you—all of it. Not because of your son either—because of you. Just make sure it’s what you both want first. I’d hate to see either of you regret it down the line."
Rowan lifted her chin, trying to be stalwart when all she wanted to do was cry. "You’re wrong."
Laura shrugged. "We’ll see. Whatever the two of you decide, I wish you the best of luck and happiness."
She brightened with Mike’s return and held out her hand for the coffee. "You’re a lifesaver."
Rowan sank into the nearest chair and covered her weary eyes with her hand. She longed to believe what Laura said, but it seemed too perfect. Hadn’t that been what she always had taught herself—if it seems too good to be true, then it is?
"Here they come."
With Mike’s words, she glanced up, heart pounding. Phillip and Jess strode toward them, broad smiles cutting across their faces.
"You were perfect." Phillip laughed and swung Laura into his arms, spilling her precious coffee to the floor.
"Put me down, you big ox. I was petrified. Did you catch him?"
He set her on her feet. "Right in the trap. He finally gave a full confession." He plopped into the chair beside Rowan, nudged her leg, and gave her a wink.
She leaned as close as propriety allowed, longing to drop her head to his shoulder. To wrap her arms around him in an embrace so tight he could never break free.
Her gaze fell to the bruise marring his cheek. By instinct she reached for it, then pulled her hand down.
"Looks like he didn’t give up without a fight."
He dabbed at his chin. "Let’s just say he didn’t give up easily."
Jess snorted. "Don’t let him pass this off as nothing, Rowan. If it weren’t for Phillip’s help, there’s no telling what might have happened tonight."
She glanced at the bruise once more. Whatever had happened, she didn’t want to know, at least not right now.
"So…why did he do it?" she asked.
Phillip shook his head. "Apparently, Collins’ divorce left him financially strapped, mentally unbalanced, and desperate. Not a good combination. When he caught the scrap dealers stealing copper and aluminum from the training areas, he realized a potential source of income. So he cut a deal with them."
Jess settled into one of the chairs with a sigh. "They expanded their operation to include just about anything they could get their hands on. According to Collins the money was too good to pass up. Each time there was the potential for getting caught, they caused an accident."
"Which is where I bumbled in," Rowan said.
Jess nodded. "He said he never meant to kill Kemp. He wanted to get out of there without getting caught. When the two of you showed up, he knocked you out. Kemp didn’t fall as easily when Collins hit him. In fact, he fought back. They fell together. The gun went off, shooting Kemp in the head. Collins knew he had to cover his tracks, so he dragged you over to where the body was, put the gun in your hand, and fired a shot into Kemp’s thigh."
"End of story," Mike said.
Rowan scowled. "It might not have been intentional, but he can forget about getting any sympathy from me. I still hope he rots in jail for killing Charlie and putting my family through hell."
"He’ll be doing hard time in a Federal penitentiary for the rest of his life, Rowan, I promise." The set to Jess’ jaw affirmed his words.
Phillip laced his fingers together, then cracked his knuckles. "All we need now is the dismissal of charges against you from the Commanding General. With luck and good timing, we should have that on Monday morning."
"Good. That gives me all day tomorrow to catch up on my sleep," Laura said. "I’m going back to the BOQ. Does anyone need a ride?"
Mike stood and stretched the kinks from his back. "Can you drop me off at my place? I’m looking forward to a night back in my own bed. See the rest of you Monday."
Rowan watched the two walk away. With each step, they got closer until their hands interlaced. She smiled. They’d make a cute couple.
"How are our patients?" Phillip’s whisper tickled her ear.
"Sound asleep, resting comfortably, and on the mend. Mom and Ian can go home on Monday. Zach will need to stay at least until the end of the week. His fever needs to come down and the doctors are monitoring him for infection from the gunshot or the broken leg. I spoke to one of his brothers and let him know what happened. He’s on his way here even though I told him Zach was going to be fine. I also called Claudia. Naturally, she’s worried sick."
He patted her knee. "I’ll call her when we get home. It’s been a long night, but it was worth it to get this over with. We should be getting some rest ourselves."
Resting his hand at the small of her back, Phillip led her to the van. Rowan watched for some indication that Laura was right…or wrong, for that matter. Phillip drove them to her house in silence. It was just as well. Rowan didn’t feel like talking this out. Didn’t want to hash out the demise of a relationship that shouldn’t exist. Didn’t want to be the catalyst that took away what fleeting moments of pleasure remained between them.
They walked into the house arm in arm. Phillip flicked on the light and tossed the keys to the kitchen counter.
"Sure is quiet here without Ian and Oscar."
Rowan wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. He covered her lips with a deep kiss, then set her back.
"I’ve got to take a shower. Join me?"
Smiling, she took him by the hand and led them up the stairs. They took their time massaging tense muscles under mountains of soapsuds and rediscovering all those sensual places memorized years ago. They loved until they ached, then loved some more. Wrapped in each other’s arms, the bedroom drapes open to the dawn, they watched the sunrise over the horizon and another precious day of togetherness begin.
Rowan forced away all logic and the need to rationalize every action. Hope for a future? She didn’t care. This was now and now was damn good. If it were destined that she only had him for brief moments of time, she’d take it.
With a sigh, she curled her body next to his and fell asleep only to wake when he nudged her to get ready for visiting hours at the hospital. Their day ended as it had begun, together. Then Monday morning arrived and with it old doubts returned to nag.
They dressed in their respective uniforms—the captain and the staff sergeant. Drove to the office in separate vehicles—the attorney and the client. Knowing looks, sweet smiles, gentle touches, even so much as that tender hand against her back as he opened the door for her lay hidden away. Rowan hated the deception and the rules that made it imperative.
They sat in the courtroom, side by side. Prim, proper. Model Marines. The wait was agonizing as Colonel Scott gathered his troops.
He’d always had a flair for the dramatic. This time Rowan didn’t care. If he wanted to drag the entire office into the courtroom to announce her charges were dismissed, that was fine with her. Anything to get this over with.
Until she heard the words, she feared it might not be true. Then that little phrase she’d been waiting for came.
"The charges against Staff Sergeant Rowan A. McKinley are hereby dismissed."
Rowan sagged with relief. A cheer erupted with the announcement. Ellen reached from behind and hugged her tight.
"Good work, Captain." The colonel shook Phillip’s hand and turned to Jess, Laura, Mike and Rowan. "All of you."
He personally congratulated each one in turn until he came to Rowan, then clutched her by the upper arms before giving in to the urge to hug her.
"You’ve been though quite a lot.
You take the rest of the week off. Make sure that boy of yours and your mother are up and running."
"Thank you, sir. And thank you for standing by me."
He held her at arm’s length. "That’s what we do for our Marines."
A business face fell into place, but his regard for her still twinkled in his eyes as he addressed Phillip, Mike, Jess, and Laura. "I’m going to see that each of you is given a letter of commendation. Now…everyone back to work."
Her co-workers rushed up, full of congratulations and demands for a party to celebrate her return.
"Why does it always have to be at my house? Okay, I give up," she said, laughing. "This Friday night. But I’m not forking over the money for this…and you bring your own booze as well as help clean up."
Everyone filtered down the hall from the courtroom, back to their offices, until Rowan was standing outside alone with Phillip. Separate once more—still.
His voice was low, gentle. "I’m going to follow Laura back to Camp Pendleton, but I’ll be back Friday after work. Do you need any help with Ian before I leave?"
Avoiding his gaze, Rowan shook her head. "Jess will be watching Mom. Ian will be fine. He’s really a pathetic little sweetie when he’s not feeling well. Not any trouble at all."
Phillip glanced at his watch. "I’ve got time to pick up Oscar from the vet before I go."
"I’ll take care of it. He can stay with us until you come back up. Ian will like it and give him some company while he recovers. Besides, it’ll give you a little more riding room."
How much longer are we going to stand there talking like polite strangers?
"You don’t know how hard it is to stand here and not kiss you good-bye." His voice was the barest of whispers, meant for her alone. "I love you, Rowan. I’ll find a way to work things out. Trust me."
Then he caught her elbow, guided her back to his office where he shut the door and kissed her hard. All Rowan wanted to do was cry.
Deja vu. It was nine years all over again. Rowan didn’t think she could take it a second time. Yet, she hadn’t trusted him that first time and look how things turned out. The power, it seemed, was in her hands. He was offering her hope, a chance to be together, if only behind closed doors.
Always Faithful Page 21
