Hidden Threat

by Connie Mann

  Sal looked around. “Rosa’s Buick is gone. But she’s not strong enough to drive these days.”

  “So Blaze is driving.” She didn’t have a license, but that was the least of their worries. “She knows how?”

  Sal nodded. “We need to find them. Something must be wrong with Rosa. We should go to the hospital.” He headed toward his ancient pickup truck.

  Nick debated for less than three seconds. “Hop in and I’ll drive you.”

  Sal looked surprised, then nodded and hurried to the SUV.

  When they raced back to the main road, Nick dialed the hospital. “This is Nick Stanton with the Safe Harbor police. Has Rosa Martinelli been brought in today?”

  “Hey Nick, this is Crystal. We met at church, remember? I’ve been at the desk here all morning, and she hasn’t been brought in. She’s so sweet; everyone loves her. I would have known if she were here.”

  “Thanks, Crystal. If that changes, call me, OK?”

  “Sure. Is she all right?”

  “I think so. Just covering all the bases.”

  “Um, OK. So, do you think you might want to, ah, have lunch or—”

  Nick cut her off. “Thanks, Crystal. Gotta go.” He turned to Sal. “I’ll drop you off in town.”

  “No. Wherever you’re going, I’m coming with you.” Determination lit his eyes, and he looked prepared to force Nick to physically eject him from the SUV. “You’re going to Sutton Ranch.”

  “Yes, but you’re not a cop. I can’t put you in danger.”

  “I won’t let my family down a second time,” Sal said. “Give me a chance to make things right.”

  Nick couldn’t argue with that. It went against every protocol, but he spun into a quick U-turn that had Sal grabbing the door handle for support, then hit the accelerator as they raced out of town. “Do not get in the way when we get there.”

  “You think this is about the sabotage.”

  The worry gnawing at Nick’s gut grew teeth. “Yes. If Eve is in trouble, Mrs. Mart—Mama Rosa and Blaze would go try to help.”

  Sal’s hand trembled as he rubbed it over his face. “All the women in my life are too stubborn for their own good.”

  “But they’re tough, too, every one.”

  “That’s what I’m counting on.” Sal made the sign of the cross, and Nick saw his lips move in prayer. The old man—he still couldn’t quite think of him as his father—had a lot to atone for. He just didn’t want him paying with his life.

  When Leon shoved the cup of poison in Mama’s face, Eve shouted, “No!” through her gag the same second Blaze did. Eve tried to lunge to her feet, but she tripped over her bindings and landed face first, still yelling for him to stop.

  Leon turned, studied her writhing on the ground, and a speculative light came into his eyes that chilled Cole to his bones.

  “Fine. We’ll do it your way.” He hauled Eve to her feet and turned her around. He stuck his gun in his waistband and pulled a wicked-looking knife from a sheath at his waist and sliced through the tape. Before she could do more than give her wrists a quick rub, he thrust the cup into her hands. “You give it to her. That will be just perfect.”

  Eve paled and froze, and for a moment Cole thought she’d buckle under the horror, but she was tough, tougher than Leon realized. At least, that’s what Cole was counting on. He quietly eased his bound legs into position and got ready. She glanced at him, and he nodded once.

  Before Leon could react, Eve tossed the poison in his face. As he stumbled backward, screaming and rubbing his eyes, Cole kicked out, hard, sending Leon sprawling to the floor, then tried to scramble over and help. Eve followed Leon to the floor and wrestled him for the knife, but even blinded by the poison, the former football lineman was bigger and heavier than she was. He tossed her off him, and she landed with a groan that made Cole’s blood boil.

  Leon staggered upright, knife raised, while still cursing and swiping at the poison. “You blinded me. You’ll pay for that, girly. You’ll pay dearly.”

  He shook his head to clear it, and Cole figured if he just took one more step in his direction, he could take Leon down again, tape or no tape. Come on, come on.

  Behind Leon, Eve struggled to her knees, then set about undoing the tape around her ankles. Blaze started to ease closer to her, and Leon spun around. “Don’t you move. Stay right where you are.”

  “I believe that’s my line,” Nick Stanton said, gun aimed at Leon’s back.

  Chapter 36

  Leon spun around, drawing his gun as he went. Cole launched himself at him and felt, rather than saw, Leon raise the gun and fire off a round before he hit the floor.

  Another gunshot exploded in the small space, and through the chaos, Cole heard Mrs. Martinelli scream, “Sal!”

  Nick loomed over them, gun at the ready, as they lay panting on the ground. “You OK, Cole?”

  “Think so.”

  Nick reached over and checked Leon’s pulse. He met Cole’s eyes and shook his head. He holstered his gun, then pulled out his own utility knife and cut Cole’s bindings.

  “Sal, oh, Sal, no!”

  Both men spun around to see Mrs. Martinelli sobbing her husband’s name. Sal lay at her feet, bleeding from a chest wound. Nick immediately got on the radio to dispatch, explained the situation in curt sentences, and asked for an ambulance, stat.

  While Nick grabbed his handkerchief to put pressure on the wound, Cole cut Blaze and Mrs. Martinelli’s bindings off, and he and Eve helped Blaze to her feet.

  It seemed to take forever before they heard sirens and longer still before they got Sal loaded into the ambulance, with Eve following in the Buick with Mama Rosa and Blaze.

  He wanted nothing more than to hold her and never let go, but he never got the chance.

  Chief Monroe had Nick off to one side, getting his statement, and Cole watched while they loaded Leon’s body into the coroner’s van. Hector and Buzz waited outside the shed, where Nick had told them to stay.

  Cole sagged against the wall, exhausted beyond words as the adrenaline seeped out of him. How on earth had his arrogance so long ago caused so much heartache?

  “Cole! Let me in. I need to see my son!”

  He walked to the door of the shed where his mother was trying to shove past a young police officer. “I’m OK. I’ll be out in a little while.”

  She covered her mouth with her hand, and tears started pouring down her face. Cole couldn’t stand it, so he walked out the door and gathered her in his arms and held her while she cried.

  “I thought it was you. I thought I lost you.”

  “I’m OK, Ma. It’s finally over.”

  She raised a tearstained face to his. “They said it was Leon.”

  Cole nodded. “He was the one who got Candy pregnant all those years ago. But she never told him. And when I wouldn’t marry her and she died, he blamed me.”

  She sighed. “So much tragedy.” Then she studied his face. “But this was not your fault.”

  “I should have handled things differently back then.”

  “Maybe. But that in no way makes you responsible for all that happened here. Leon made choices. Deliberate choices. Sadly, he paid a high price for them.”

  Chief Monroe stepped out the door of the shed. “I need to speak with Cole, ma’am,” he said.

  Alice stepped back with Hector and Buzz, who immediately formed a protective circle around her, while Cole turned to the chief.

  “I need you to go over what happened here, Cole, from the beginning. And then we need to talk about everything else that’s been going on here and how it all ties together.”

  By the time Cole finally walked into the hospital waiting room, Eve felt like they’d both aged several days. Pop was still in surgery, and all the nurses would say was that these things take time. Mama’s color was terrible as she leaned against Blaze, whose eyes held more worry and sorrow than any teenager should have to deal with. Sasha sat beside Blaze, rubbing the girl’s back in a gentle motion whi
le Jesse paced the room.

  Eve eased away from Mama’s other side and walked right into Cole’s arms. Until she felt his heart beating next to hers, she hadn’t quite believed he was alive. But as soon as those strong arms closed around her, the tears she’d been holding at bay rolled down her cheeks. She burrowed closer as he stroked her hair and murmured soothing words she couldn’t understand in her ear.

  After a few minutes, he eased her back and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “You holding up OK?”

  She nodded. “Pop is still in surgery.”

  “He’s one ornery old fisherman. He’s tough.”

  “That’s what I keep telling myself. How’s Nick?”

  “He’ll be fine,” Nick said from behind them.

  Eve pulled out of Cole’s arms and flew into Nick’s, hugging him hard before she pulled back to study his face. “You saved our lives today. Thank you.”

  He shrugged. “It’s my job.” Then he looked at Blaze. “If not for this one trying to call me, I might not have gotten there in time.”

  Mama suddenly sat up straight, and angry color flooded her face. “Why you bring my Sal into the middle of that? He should not have been there.”

  Nick crouched down in front of her. “No, he shouldn’t have. But he insisted on coming along, and I knew if I didn’t bring him myself, he’d find another way to get there.” He paused, cleared his throat. “He said he had to be there. Had to make sure he didn’t let his family down again.”

  Mama studied him a moment. “You shot Leon to protect Sal, to protect all of us.”

  He shrugged again, looked away. “It’s my job.”

  “You serve and protect. And today, you did that for your family.” She reached out and pulled him toward her, hugged him hard. “Thank you, my Tony.”

  “You’re welcome . . . Mama.”

  Chapter 37

  Like most small towns, the news traveled fast and gossip ran rampant, but folks came together. They showed up at the hospital and stayed with Mama Rosa until the day they finally moved Sal from the ICU to a regular room. Then they bullied her into going home to sleep for a bit, while they sat vigil.

  Meals showed up at the marina, flowers were delivered to the hospital, and folks also gathered around Celia and IdaMae as they mourned Leon. The community church was packed the day of his funeral.

  Sal had been released from the hospital, and after much consideration, he and Mama Rosa went to the service, for IdaMae and Celia’s sake. They left right after, but everyone understood. Nick stopped by later on to say he’d tracked down the young man from the water-testing company. Nick had arrested him after he’d admitted to poisoning Cole’s cattle, though he’d refused to say who hired him.

  The day after that, Eve packed to head back to DC, saying she’d put her career on hold long enough. She’d put her emotions on hold, too, stuffing them down deep where they couldn’t shred her heart anymore. She had to go. It was safer this way.

  Blaze, Mama, and Pop were waiting in the kitchen when she came down with her bag. She’d been hoping she could just sneak out since she hated good-byes with a burning passion, but she knew that would never work. Still, it would be so much easier just to go.

  Mama beckoned her over from her place at the table. She insisted she was fine, but Eve saw her added frailty, the way she sat whenever possible. “Thank you for coming, my Evie. And thank you for fighting for little Glory. You are my fighter.” She hugged Eve hard and kissed both her cheeks. “I am proud of you.”

  Eve swiped at her tears as she turned to Pop. He struggled to his feet, so thin and gaunt Eve thought a strong wind could blow him over. Their relationship still wasn’t quite what she’d hoped for, but they were making progress, and Eve figured that was more than anyone could ask for. Hadn’t he taken a bullet to protect Mama? It made up for a lot.

  “Be safe, my girl. And come back to us when you can.” He kissed her cheek and then turned and left the room.

  Blaze leaned against the counter, her belligerence worn like a shield today. Eve pulled her into a hug and whispered, “Thank you for taking care of them. But don’t forget to take care of you, too, OK?”

  Blaze nodded, and Eve wiped more tears away, grabbed her bag, and headed outside. “I’ll call you when I get there.” If she didn’t get out of there quick, she might never leave.

  Sasha stood beside Eve’s rental, Jesse behind her. Just the sight of them made Eve cry harder, but this time they were happy tears. They were so good together.

  “You know you’re being an idiot, right?” Sasha asked. “Cole loves you. And I think you love him.”

  She couldn’t think about that right now. “I need to get back.” She quickly hugged them both, then got into the car and headed out to the main road.

  But even as she did, part of her was sure she was making the biggest mistake of her life.

  Cole knew Eve was leaving for DC this morning, and he’d spent most of the night debating whether to beg her to stay. But what did he have to offer her? A ranch that was still teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. When he’d asked her before, she’d said she’d stay until they figured out what was going on. Well, they’d done that, in spades.

  He heard a car coming down the drive, and he whipped around, thinking she’d changed her mind, but it wasn’t her prissy little Prius. It was a shiny pickup truck with the Blackwell Farms logo on the side.

  Cole swallowed his disappointment as none other than Richard Blackwell himself stepped down from the cab.

  The man walked over with the kind of swagger only those who think they’re untouchable seemed to have. He extended a hand. “Cole. Heard your troubles seem to be at an end, finally.”

  “What brings you by this way?”

  “I wanted to see if you’d changed your mind about selling the place. My offer stands.”

  “I’m staying, but thanks for the offer. You should be getting my check for the loan you made Hank within the week.” He’d hated borrowing the money from Buzz, but he’d rather owe him than Blackwell. Sutton Ranch was home. Would always be home. And he wouldn’t give it up without a fight.

  “I figured that’s what you’d decided, but can’t blame a man for trying.” He shrugged, then looked around. “You’ll do well with this place. I hear you have a way with animals and people that’s been missing here for a while.”

  The older man looked off into the distance, and Cole waited for him to mention his daughter. He didn’t have to wait long.

  “I judged you harshly, Cole, and didn’t stop to get all the facts. If I had . . . my baby girl might still be here.”

  “I should have done the same, asked Candy why she claimed I was the father.”

  Blackwell studied him a moment. “I think there’s been enough blame to go around for too long.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but then he extended his hand again. “Good luck. If I can help, let me know.” And with that, he climbed back into his truck and left in a cloud of dust.

  Chapter 38

  “Right, Ms. Jackson?”

  Eve’s head snapped up as she realized everyone in the conference room was looking at her, and she had no idea what her boss had just said.

  “I—ah—” She looked around at her coworkers, but no one offered more than an averted stare or shrug. She blew out a breath. “Of course, sir.”

  Eve heard several sighs and one snicker and wondered what, exactly, she’d just agreed to. But as everyone filed out of the conference room several minutes later, she realized she didn’t care. Not really.

  Since she got back from Safe Harbor last week, she couldn’t seem to focus on work. What before had seemed so all consuming now seemed like just so much paperwork. It wasn’t that she cared any less—she still did. It just didn’t hold her attention.

  She spent her lunch hour and every evening poring over the Safe Harbor Gazette and trolling social media looking for mentions of her hometown. When she wasn’t doing that, she was calling Sasha and Blaze for updates, often enough
that Blaze had told her this morning to stop calling or come home already.

  She spent her sleepless nights replaying her conversations with Mama Rosa and Hector. Was it truly possible to lay down the guilt of her mother’s death and build a new life? Inch by inch, the possibility started to settle into her heart.

  “Ms. Jackson, a word, please.”

  Eve jumped. She hadn’t heard her boss come up behind her. “Yes, sir. I’d like to talk to you about my future with Braddock Environmental.”

  He raised an eyebrow, and she smiled as she followed him to his office, her mind suddenly clear and focused for the first time in a week.

  Cole stepped out of the taxi and stood on the sidewalk for a moment to get his bearings. Braddock Environmental’s offices were housed in a stately old building in an equally stately neighborhood. He ran a finger under the collar of his starched white shirt, wondering for the hundredth time if he were crazy as a June bug to even be here. Eve had never given an indication that she’d be willing to live in Florida. That was simply wishful thinking on his part.

  But when he remembered that day in the shed, the way she handled herself, and how her family all tried to protect each other, he knew beyond any doubt he wanted a family like that, and he wanted to build it with her. The kind of partnership where they both looked out for each other. Where they laughed and loved and forgave each other when they messed up.

  Cole tightened his grip on the bouquet of gerbera daisies he carried and walked into the lobby.

  The receptionist took one look at his tuxedo and black Stetson and murmured, “Oh my. What can I get for you, handsome?”

  “Not what—who. I’m looking for Eve Jackson.”

  Her eyes ran up and down the length of him again. “Well, that lucky girl. She didn’t say a word.”

  “Is she here?”

  “Let me get her for you, handsome. You just caught her. She said she was heading out. Sit right over there so I can look at you while you wait.” She picked up the phone. “Eve, honey, you got a special delivery out here. Those boxes can wait, but I wouldn’t leave him alone for too long.” She hung up. “She’ll be right out.”