Bound by Duty

by Valerie Hansen

  Obviously displeased, Blackwood clenched his jaw and his fists. “All right. Get the techs on it again ASAP. We have enough internal stress without adding some idiot with a computer and too much time on his hands.”

  “Yes, sir.” McNally saluted and left.

  The captain jotted down a note and handed it to Linc. “Here’s today’s password. You can use Sergeant James’s office if it’s free. If not, I’ll get you access somewhere else. I don’t want to learn that either of you has opened files belonging to any personnel other than the ones you’re investigating. Is that clear?”

  Linc saluted. “Yes, sir. Very clear.”

  Mirroring Linc’s salute, Zoe followed him into the hallway and checked to see that they were alone before she said, “What do you think? Could that be her?”

  “It could. You weren’t able to give a very detailed description of the woman in the warehouse. What makes you think it was McNally?”

  “I don’t know, exactly. Maybe the way she moved or her build, not to mention that hair.”

  “There’s something else,” Linc said, pulling her closer to his side and bending to speak more privately. “The way she looked at you when you weren’t paying attention. I think I saw recognition. Had you met her anywhere before?”

  “Not to my knowledge. Maybe we should do a little extra investigating while we’re at it.”

  “I don’t know. You heard the captain.”

  “I did. So let’s start with my list and leave our new suspect for last, just in case we get shut out.”

  Linc’s sly grin and the purposeful way he led her to the empty office they were supposed to use lifted Zoe’s spirits immensely. Not only was he on her side, they had begun to agree more often than not. Teamwork was far better than working at odds and she had high hopes that they would soon solve at least one of the mysteries they faced.

  Star accompanied them down the hallway and into the office of Master Sergeant James. Zoe could tell that the faithful K-9 was more at ease than both her or Linc. When he closed the door behind them her tension rose. They were all alone. And he had been acting awfully proprietary of late. It was easy to imagine herself back in his embrace, perhaps even kissed. Although, after making a fool of herself once, she wasn’t about to try to instigate anything romantic.

  “Don’t worry,” Linc assured her. “You’re safe with me. I promise to be the perfect gentleman.”

  A daring side of Zoe’s personality that she rarely acknowledged emerged, and she whispered, “That’s what I’m afraid of,” before she could change her mind. Linc’s startled expression was actually amusing.

  “What did you say?”

  “Never mind. Forget it.”

  Instead, he approached slowly and took her hand. “You’re trembling.”

  “Too much coffee.”

  “Liar.”

  What could she say? How could she take back her revealing remark? Moreover, did she want to? Especially when he was standing so close, and she saw the glow in his darkening, expressive green eyes.

  Instead of a rebuttal, Zoe kept her gaze locked with his. Her lips trembled. Her heart was about to pound out of her chest. And the air in the small office must have been used up because she couldn’t seem to take a deep enough breath to keep her comfortable.

  Linc slipped one finger beneath her chin and leaned closer. “I am probably going to be sorry for this,” he said quietly against her cheek before turning his head just enough and giving her the kiss she had been dreaming of.

  Her shaky equilibrium wasn’t strong enough to correct the sway his nearness provoked, so she slipped both arms around his waist. When he completed the embrace and pulled her to him to deepen their kiss, Zoe closed her eyes and surrendered. Utterly. Completely. Trusting him with an intensity she had always assumed was impossible for her.

  Tears threatened as she realized what he had said. Well, he might be sorry for kissing her, but as far as Zoe was concerned, this was the best part of her whole day. Maybe of her whole life.

  Yeah. The best.

  * * *

  Linc became oblivious to anything around them. His entire focus was on Zoe. On the sweet smell of her hair. The way she fit so perfectly in his arms. And that kiss.

  He was no kid. He’d kissed women before. And he’d enjoyed it. A lot. But this was different. When his mind tried to put his feelings into words, it failed. Their closeness was too perfect. Too emotional. Too amazing to be explained.

  That was what finally brought him to his senses. Zoe wasn’t the only one breathless when he let her go and set her away by gently cupping her shoulders. Oh, man, he was in trouble. Deep trouble. This was no simple crush, at least not on his part. He wondered if her responses to him had been because she felt their connection as strongly as he did or because she’d been so frightened lately and had latched onto him as a port in a storm. After all, she had compared him to a parachute. If that was all he was to her, then he was probably going to get his heart broken. Big time.

  Linc managed a smile. “I told you we were going to be sorry.”

  “We? Personally, I liked it.”

  “That’s it? You liked it?”

  She grinned up at him, her cheeks rosy, her eyes glistening. Linc cupped her cheeks. “I liked it, too.”

  “Good.” She sniffled.

  “If you expect me to be poetic about it, you’re going to have to give me time to gather my wits. You scattered them really well just now.” He eyed the desk. Star had made herself at home in the kneehole and was starting to snore. “Do you think you’re up to starting our search or do you need a few more minutes?”

  “If you could give me a year, it probably wouldn’t be long enough,” Zoe quipped. Squaring her shoulders, she said, “Come on. Let’s get to digging. We don’t know how long we’ll have before Sergeant James wants his office back.”

  Linc agreed. “I’m glad he didn’t walk in a few minutes ago.”

  “Me, too. He might have reassigned you and spoiled everything.”

  “We’d still have been stationed on the same base.” Linc circled the desk, pulled up the swivel chair and checked the password Blackwood had given him.

  Standing behind him, Zoe rested a hand on his shoulder and watched the monitor. He knew she didn’t mean to be distracting but after that extraordinary kiss, even the simple touch of her hand on his uniform was enough to drive him crazy.

  His fingers stopped typing. All movement ceased.

  Zoe’s hand remained where it was. “What’s wrong?”

  “You are,” Linc admitted ruefully. “I’m afraid I can’t think straight when you’re so close.”

  “That’s too bad,” she said, pulling away and choosing a nearby chair.

  When Linc looked over at her, she was grinning from ear to ear. Already uneasy, he scowled. “What?”

  “Nothing.” She crossed her jeans-clad legs and held out a hand. “Give me the list and I’ll read you the names from way over here. Did I go far enough?”

  “It’s not funny,” he insisted.

  Zoe sobered and took the list from him. “I know. It just struck me as hilarious that the two of us were forced together when we both hate the idea of marriage.”

  “Whoa! Who said anything about that?”

  “Nobody. Just thinking aloud. I didn’t mean to scare the stripes off you, Sergeant Colson.”

  Her nonchalant shrug seemed innocent enough, but Linc wasn’t convinced. One kiss and already she was hearing wedding bells. Well, that wasn’t going to happen. Not with him. Sure, Zoe was attractive. And that kiss had shaken him all the way to the waffled soles of his combat boots. But he’d promised himself a long time ago that one, the influence of his dysfunctional family was nothing he wanted to pass on to future generations, and two, he didn’t deserve marital bliss when his buddies’ wives and girlfriends had buried their dream
s with their mates.

  Uh-uh. Linc Colson was staying single. He might be too romantic for his own good, but he knew where to draw the line. Lifelong penance for his errors in judgment was necessary. There was no escape from his past, nor was he looking for one.

  SEVENTEEN

  By the time Linc had completed his survey and cut the list down to the likely suspects, Zoe’s neck was in knots and her head throbbed. She knew why. Spending all this time with him was very trying. If he hadn’t been on duty, it might have been different, although she doubted it.

  Standing, she stretched. “I should go get Freddy soon.”

  “Right. We will. The boy comes first. We don’t want him to be worried about you.”

  We? Zoe wondered if noticing every little nuance of Linc’s behavior was something new or if she had been doing it all along and had overlooked her own interest. Until now. Moreover, did he realize he had begun referring to them as a couple? Whatever. She certainly wasn’t going to be the one to point it out.

  One concern she was going to mention however, was the safety of her beloved child. “Do you think, considering everything that’s happened, that I should send Freddy away?”

  Linc whirled, scowling. “What brought that on?”

  “Reality,” she said flatly. “He’s all I have. I love him so much it hurts. There must be some way to protect him.”

  “Better than I can, you mean.” It wasn’t a question.

  “I didn’t say that.” She was adamant. “But you can’t be around all the time. And at night, when he’s home with me, you’re not there at all. Somebody else is.”

  “With a K-9 partner.”

  “I know, I know. And that is a plus. But those guards keep changing. I never know who’s going to show up. When I see you, it’s very reassuring.”

  “Thanks, I think.” He drew his fingers and thumb down the sides of his jaw, meeting at the point of his chin. “I suppose it’s possible I could convince Sergeant James to switch my assignment to the overnight shift, but that may be a bad idea.”

  “Why? If you’re still worried about rumors about being in my apartment, I assure you, I trust you completely. Besides, Freddy’s there. I can let him bunk with me and you can have his room.”

  Linc held up both hands, palms out. “Whoa. Is that where your other night watchmen sleep?”

  “Well, no. I’ve offered something more comfortable, but they’ve all turned me down.”

  “As they should have,” Linc said forcefully.

  “You don’t have to raise your voice. I’m the victim here, remember? I’m just worried about protecting my son the best way possible. As I said, maybe I should send him away.”

  “Where? Where would you send him? You’ve already told me your family is unfit. What about the Flints, John’s parents? Would they take him in? He is their grandson.”

  “Not one they choose to claim. They disowned me and mine long ago after I reported John’s crimes. They never did believe he could be guilty of espionage and insisted I had framed him.” She sighed. “I think they suspect me of being behind the accident that killed him, too.”

  “Sad. They’re missing out on meeting a great kid.”

  Linc’s praise restored Zoe’s smile and lifted her spirits until he added, “You can’t leave him with Maisy overnight. Not with her father being one of the RRK’s victims.”

  Zoe knew he was right. Maisy’s father, Chief Master Sergeant Clint Lockwood, had been one of her brother’s first victims on CAFB.

  She made a face. “Him again.” She began to pace. “You have no idea how much I wish I had been an only child.”

  He chuckled wryly. “I used to, too, until my sister, Georgia, became an adult. Now we just fight over which branch of the service is the best, hers or mine.”

  “She’s an army major, right?”

  “You have a good memory. Yes. A career officer.”

  “What does she do? I mean, what’s her specialty?” Zoe hoped Linc didn’t think she was just making conversation. She truly wanted to know.

  “Diplomacy, if you can believe it.” He laughed lightly. “We are definitely not alike.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve seen you handle lots of touchy situations since you’ve been assigned to me. You’re an impressive negotiator, too.”

  “Yeah, well. I’ve made some mistakes.”

  Like kissing me? she wondered. Rather than ask and chance confirmation, Zoe let it pass. “We all make mistakes,” she said. “Some more than others. Take my—take the Red Rose Killer. He had every opportunity to turn his life around and refused.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up about it,” Linc said. “The same goes for lots of criminals, including my own father. They seem oblivious to the harm they’re leaving in their wake and the people they’re disappointing.”

  “I suspect they just don’t care, for the most part,” Zoe suggested. “I mean, look at the two of us. We could be offered any reward on earth and it wouldn’t be enough to turn us against our country.”

  “You’re right.”

  “Of course, I am, as I’ve proved before. I’ve come to another conclusion, too. In spite of the possibility that the RRK has likely been on the base, I don’t think my problems can be pinned on him no matter how we twist the clues. It just isn’t his MO.”

  “Listen to you,” Linc said with a low chuckle, “sounding like a professional cop.”

  “I get bored and watch a lot of TV after Freddy’s in bed. Well? Do you agree or are you still including you-know-who among your suspects?”

  “No. I’m convinced it’s somebody else who has it in for you.”

  “What about the blood?”

  “The blood that wasn’t real? The shooting that didn’t happen? Missing babysitting money? A car with a useless bomb?”

  Zoe gasped. “What bomb?”

  “I guess I forgot to tell you.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Arms folded across her chest, she struck a formidable looking pose. “Talk.”

  “Nick Donovan’s bomb sniffer didn’t react and the ordnance people didn’t see anything under the chassis. But when they looked in the gas tank, they found a cell phone wired to what looked like a really thin pipe bomb. According to them, there was no way the thing would have detonated after soaking in gasoline for so long.”

  “Hold on.” Her eyebrows knit together. “What about sooner? Suppose I had ignored your warning and driven?”

  “That’s unknown.” Linc held up a hand. “Don’t get excited. Whoever put the device in your tank was a doofus when it comes to ordnance. Believe me, I’ve dealt with serious bomb makers, and they don’t fool around with untried methods.”

  The darkness in his gaze and the hurt in his tone were enough to stop her from giving voice to the questions that rose in her mind. Just what kind of experience with bombs had he had? She changed the subject. “Never mind that now. What are we going to do about taking care of Freddy?”

  “I thought I’d request permission to crash in my car outside your apartment building while the regular guard takes inside duty as usual.”

  “Oh.” That solution, while logical, did not include her personal preferences. How could she express them without making Linc think she was pursuing him? Why, oh, why, had she let herself get carried away making jokes and bringing up the subject of marriage, particularly after he’d told her how he felt regarding a lifelong commitment?

  Zoe’s mind provided no ready answer. There was no way to go back in time and retract her faux pas. Therefore, she reasoned, the best plan for going forward was to agree with Linc’s ideas and bend her will to his. His being parked outside was more sensible and far less stressful—for both of them. Zoe didn’t know about Linc, but her heart beat faster the instant she dared relive even the most innocent moments of their embrace. And that fantastic kiss!

  Th
ousands of romance novels had been written about such things. Until then, she had assumed a reaction like the one she’d had while in his arms was a figment of an author’s creative imagination. Well, no more. She and Linc had ignited a forest fire, and he was trying to put it out with the equivalent of a teaspoon of water, when what they should have been doing was turning from each other and running in opposite directions as fast as they could.

  Only he would never abandon his duty, would he? And there was nowhere she could go, no way she could hope to safely escape both her antagonist and the dedicated Security Forces man who was trying to protect her. She was in the air force. She went where she was told.

  Besides, she admitted with a dose of self-criticism, she was not going to purposely flee from the only person who had made her feel totally secure in more years than she could count.

  Forcing a smile, she slipped her thumbs into the front pockets of her jeans, struck a casual pose and said, “Whatever you decide is fine with me. C’mon. Let’s go get Freddy.”

  * * *

  In Linc’s mind, he had wandered empty-handed into a swamp filled with hungry alligators. Or perhaps barefoot into a cave of venomous snakes. Whatever the inane analogy, he was up to his neck in trouble with a capital Z for Zoe.

  I can’t possibly have fallen for her, he told himself. That would be disastrous. Despite her joking manner, he suspected she’d been serious when she’d vowed to never remarry. That was fine with him. Wasn’t it? If so, then why was his gut tying in knots every time he saw her threatened or remembered the times she’d been inches from injury?

  Because I’m an idiot, he replied. What good was it to plan his career, his life, if he let a pretty face distract him from reaching his goals?

  What he could do was request he be relieved of duty regarding Sergeant Sullivan altogether. The thought had briefly crossed his mind in the past but certainly not lately. No. He was going to stick it out and prove to himself that he could rise above emotion and that he was in total control, mind and body. Thankfully, rigid self-discipline would keep his actions in line. His errant thoughts were a very different story.