Always Watching

by Lynette Eason

  “Everyone all right?” Quinn asked.

  “Fine for now.”

  “You plan to go back to boring anytime in the near future?”

  “ASAP. See you soon.” She hung up and assessed the situation.

  The intruder had run to the end of the dock, slipped into the water, up under the electric door, and out the other side of the boathouse. She had taken a chance on throwing the knife at Olivia and leaving evidence behind. What had she hoped to gain? Time? A chance to escape? Probably. And she’d gotten what she wanted.

  Olivia held on to the anger that burned a path from her stomach to her throat, and looked at a still silent Wade. “Go back in the house. I don’t want you out here where you’re a target.” She looked back at the fence, her tension an almost tangible thing.

  He shook his head. “I was worried about you. Martha said you’d been out here for almost fifteen minutes and that you thought you saw someone in the window.” He ran a hand over his face. “I kept thinking about Maddy and—” He broke off and looked away.

  Olivia felt her anger dissipating and found herself strangely touched at his concern. She frowned and instead of snapping at him again, made sure to keep her tone even. “This is what I’m trained for, Wade, I don’t think you’ve allowed yourself to accept that. But you need to let me do my job. Now go in the house. Check on Martha and the girls. I don’t want to leave this evidence and I can watch you enter the back door from here.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll wait here with you.”

  Olivia pulled in a deep breath and stopped her prayerful plea for patience before it slipped out. “Wade—”

  “She’s gone.”

  “She could come back. She could have a rifle with a scope and a bead on your head at this very moment.” Olivia didn’t bother to keep the resurrected anger from her voice. She blinked. What was wrong with her? She didn’t act this way. She was a professional and stayed cool no matter what. Yet Wade’s stubbornness raked over her nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard.

  He studied her, then looked back at the knife. “I wasn’t the one she threw the knife at.”

  Olivia paused. Looked down at the weapon. He had a point. Sirens in the distance caught her attention. Finally. “She only threw it at me because I was the one after her. She didn’t know you were being stubborn and refusing to stay inside where it was safe. Otherwise I feel sure her aim would have taken a different direction.”

  He tilted his head. “Okay. If you say so.”

  Katie’s voice came through her earpiece. “It’s all clear in the front. The officers are arriving. Quinn’s here too, as well as Haley. I explained to Quinn about the need for a house-to-house search. I think it’s a long shot, but he’s putting together the manpower to do it.” Olivia glanced out over the water as Katie talked. “Officers are also going to search the other side of the lake as well, just in case she decided she could swim across.”

  “Good,” Olivia said. She looked at Wade. “Please. I really need you to go inside. Law enforcement is going to be all over this place and we need you to be out of the way.” She turned to see Quinn headed her way down the hill, then spun back to Wade. “And when the crime scene folks get here, they’ll probably need impressions of your shoes.”

  He nodded. “Process of elimination?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Dad?”

  Wade flinched and turned. Amy was bolting toward him with Katie on her heels and Martha not far behind.

  Amy launched herself at her father and wrapped her arms around his waste. “What’s happening? What’s going on?”

  Olivia figured his daughter would be the catalyst to get him inside the house. She caught Katie’s eye with a raised brow.

  “She slipped out,” Katie said. “By the time I realized what she was doing, she was already coming down the hill.”

  “Get her back inside.”

  Katie nodded and touched Amy on the shoulder.

  Amy shrugged her off, still looking up at Wade. “The lights woke me up.”

  Wade hugged her, then guided her toward Katie. “Go with her to the house. Someone was snooping around outside, but it’s safe now.”

  “Who was it?”

  “I don’t know. Could have been a nosey neighbor. When I find out, I’ll tell you.”

  Amy narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. “No you won’t.”

  Wade took a deep breath and looked his daughter in the eye. “I will. I promise.”

  Amy’s defiance faded and she dropped her arms. “Really?”

  “Really. Go with Aunt Martha and Katie and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Okay.” She took three steps backward, as though still judging Wade’s sincerity about telling her anything, then turned and started back up the hill next to Martha. Katie followed behind.

  “What’s your favorite movie?” Olivia heard Katie ask.

  Their voices faded and Olivia turned to Quinn, who’d just signed in with one of the first officers who’d arrived on the scene.

  Wade’s house—and now boathouse—was a crime scene once again. She wanted it treated that way so as not to compromise any evidence that might lead back to his stalker. Once they caught the person, Olivia didn’t want her getting off on a technicality. “We’ve got to stop meeting this way,” she said to Quinn.

  “I’m all for that.”

  “Do you have an update on Maddy?”

  “Still critical, but seems to be slightly better. What do you have?”

  She nodded to the knife. “Someone was looking in the window. I came outside to investigate, followed her down to the boathouse, and she tossed that at me.”

  “She?”

  Olivia shrugged. “If it’s Wade’s stalker, it was probably a she.”

  “You’re assuming again.”

  She nodded. “I am, yes. Might not be the smartest thing to do, but until proven otherwise, I’m going with that deduction.”

  “CSU is on the way.”

  “They keep having to make the trip out here, they might as well just set up camp.”

  Quinn blew out a breath and knelt to get a good look at the knife. He aimed his maglight at the weapon. “Looks sharp. That would have hurt a bit. Glad it didn’t hit you.”

  She shot him a sour look. “Yeah, me too. Thanks.”

  He pulled gloves from his back pocket and snapped them on. Next he snagged a digital camera from the other pocket and took several dozen shots of the weapon and the area around it. Quinn would want his own pictures if at all possible. The crime scene photographer would take some, of course, but Quinn was a lone ranger. He did things his way while staying just on the inside of the law.

  “You going to bag it too?”

  Olivia turned to find Sarah Baldwin watching them. Quinn gave the petite woman a wry smile. “Naw, why would I do that? That’s your job.”

  Sarah stood five feet two, if that. A little on the heavy side, she carried herself like a queen. One didn’t notice her height or her size. Her eyes were magnets. Once they landed on you, they drew you in and you immediately felt like you were her best friend. “Yeah? So when has that made a difference?”

  Quinn gave her a rueful smile. “Can’t argue with that.”

  “About the only thing you don’t argue about.”

  “Come on, guys,” Olivia said, amused and annoyed at the same time. “Can we get this done and end this night?”

  Sarah and Quinn were like brother and sister. Always snipping and sniping at each other, but if push came to shove, they would have each other’s back. And Sarah knew that if Quinn collected the evidence, it would be done right. Sarah sobered. “How’s Maddy?”

  Quinn’s lighter countenance darkened. “Critical.” The same answer Olivia had gotten. “But still alive. That’s the good news.”

  A black crime scene van pulled to a stop under the covered area where Olivia had parked earlier. Haley pulled up next to the van.

  Olivia waited for her to join her. “I h
ave an idea.”

  “What’s that?” Haley asked.

  “Let’s find Wade and I’ll run it by you at the same time.”

  They found him in the den staring at the pictures on the mantel. “Do you have a minute?” Olivia asked.

  He turned, eyes shadowed, expression tight. “Of course.” He gestured for her and Haley to have a seat. “Katie’s upstairs with Amy, Martha’s in the kitchen, and I’m at a loss as to how to keep them safe.”

  “Maybe my idea will help with that,” Olivia said.

  Wade wasn’t sure he liked the look on her face. “What’s that?”

  Olivia tapped her lips with her forefinger as she stared at him. “I think it’s time to take this whole protection detail in a different direction.”

  Haley lifted a brow and Wade shot Olivia a wary look. “What direction would that be?” he asked.

  “I think you guys are overdue for a vacation.”

  “Vacation?” He gave a short laugh, but there wasn’t any humor in it. “What kind of vacation?”

  “We take you to a place where nobody can find you and no one can track you. A place where no one comes in or goes out without proper identification.”

  Wade’s frown grew. “I can’t just leave, I have responsibilities. I have a charity dinner and the radio show and Amy has school.” He paced to one side of the den, then back, his face flushed, breath quickening as his temper shortened. “Look, I agreed to this bodyguard business because I was under the impression that you could keep us safe without massively disrupting our lives.” He ran a hand through his hair and turned his back on the two ladies as he thought. Then he spun and pointed a finger at Olivia. “There’s no doubt that the threat is real and danger is present and that I need help because this stalker stuff is way over my head. But I will not give this person the satisfaction of making me run.”

  “What if running is the only thing that keeps you alive?” Olivia asked.

  Wade stared at her, her words resonating within him. The anger drained. What if she was right? He closed his eyes and asked for divine guidance. A minute ticked by. He finally looked at her. She’d simply waited him out. Because she knew he’d come to the same conclusion she had? “Okay. Say we go somewhere for a week or even two. When we come back, she’ll still be waiting.”

  “Or she’ll be in custody.”

  “How?”

  “They’re still testing the gift from the porch,” Haley said, “trying to track down the store that sold the teddy bears, analyzing the GPS tracker found on your vehicle. All of those are things that could lead us to the person—or persons—responsible.”

  Olivia was nodding.

  Wade sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t want to cancel the Thursday night charity event.” He ran a hand over his head. “I’ve got parents and kids counting on me. The money the charity brings in funds some of their daycares and after-school programs. If I start canceling, then the kids lose out. And I lose credibility.”

  Olivia straightened. “Not if you use this to your advantage.”

  Wade tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you tell everyone exactly why you’re canceling the event and ask them to give anyway.”

  He was already shaking his head. “They’ll think it’s some gimmick. My reputation is spotless. I had all kinds of sympathizers when Justine died. The money poured in.” He looked away, feeling the sting that always came with memories of Justine. He cleared his throat. “But if I do this, there will be questions, speculation, the money will fall off, and families will suffer. I just can’t take that chance.”

  Olivia pursed her lips and paced the den, her actions mimicking his from only moments ago. She came back to him. “You’re right, of course. It could backfire.” She rubbed her chin and nodded. “All right, we’ll do it your way for now. Charlie and Lizzie have the time to help. We’ll put them on the schedule and double your coverage.”

  He rubbed his forehead. “If you still think we need to go someplace else after the dinner Thursday night, I’ll . . . consider it.”

  Olivia nodded. “I think that’s wise. Not as wise as leaving now, but I’ll take what I can get.” Because she had a feeling Wade’s stalker had more sinister plans for him and she was going to do whatever it took to keep him out of this madwoman’s hands. She just hoped his sense of responsibility toward his charity didn’t get him killed.

  [25]

  Wade backed out of Amy’s room and shut the door. She was snuggled into her bed, the blankets pulled to her chin.

  He leaned his forehead against the shut door and drew in a calming breath. What was happening? Why was this happening? God, I don’t understand. Give me strength, please.

  Footsteps fell softly on the carpet runner behind him. He recognized Martha’s tread and turned. She looked shaken. Worried.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “I think that should be my question for you.”

  “I’m fine. Amy is asleep and whoever did this is long gone.”

  “For now.”

  “Yes. For now.”

  “Olivia is downstairs looking for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I think I’m going to bed, if that’s all right,” she said.

  “Go on. If they need you for any reason, I’ll come get you.”

  He watched the red and blue lights from the law enforcement vehicles bounce off the walls in his hallway. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the station manager while Martha stood at the window and watched the action.

  After making arrangements for the show, he hung up, relieved Dale could play the recording from his home. He and Dale really needed to sit down and figure out how to keep the show going until the building was repaired. If that’s what the man wanted.

  “You should build a soundproof room that would allow you to do the show from home,” Martha said.

  He’d thought about it but hadn’t wanted to shell out the expense. Not that he couldn’t afford it. And it would be convenient. And safe. But it galled him. He shouldn’t have to wonder if he was going to be attacked in the parking lot of the station or if someone was going to strap bombs to the doors. “I’ll give it some more consideration.”

  “Good.” She turned to go, then spun back. “And remember, Joanna and I are spending the day together again tomorrow. Since Amy’s staying home with you, I told Joanna we could do some therapy shopping and see a movie. She needs more girl time since she broke it off with her latest.”

  “Joanna and her men. You think she’ll ever settle down?”

  Martha shrugged. “She and I are kind of two peas in a pod. We just can’t seem to find what we’re looking for.”

  “It’ll happen.”

  She smiled. “I’m not terribly worried about it. You and Amy are all the family I need for now. One day that might change. If the right man were to come along, but for now . . . I’m content.”

  He hugged her. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  She laughed. “You’d manage.”

  “Wade? Could I talk to you a moment?”

  He turned. Olivia’s silky smooth voice soothed his nerves and calmed his racing thoughts. “Of course.”

  Martha patted his arm. “I’ll see you in the morning.” She nodded to Olivia as she passed her and went to the stairs.

  “Is Amy all right?” Olivia asked him.

  “Yes. Thanks.” He tilted his head. “Do you think I should see if Stacy can come over here after school tomorrow? If it was my kid, I’d want her so far away from this house . . .” He sighed.

  Olivia paused, then shook her head. “You could call Stacy’s mother and let her know what’s happened. Then she can make the decision for herself.”

  He nodded. “I’ll do that. After I speak to her, do you mind talking for a moment?”

  “That would be great.”

  He led the way and soon found himself seated in his favorite recliner with her across from him on the love seat. He
made the call to Stacy’s mother, but she didn’t pick up. He left her a voice mail to call him as soon as she got the message, then turned his attention to Olivia. She leaned forward and clasped her hands together. He couldn’t help noticing the strong line of her jaw, the sleek muscles in her forearms, the way her eyes never missed a thing. She was cool, professional, beautiful. And she’d made it clear she was off-limits.

  “The officers spoke with your neighbors and no one saw anything,” she said.

  “The houses are pretty spread out around here.” He shrugged and tried not to let his wounded pride get in the way of just talking to her. “It’s one of the perks of living on the lake. A lot of land and a lot of privacy.” He paused. “Did they search the boathouses?”

  “Yes and still nothing.” She rubbed her eyes. “You’re right about there being a lot of land. We’re going to have to patrol it.”

  “Do you have the manpower to do that?”

  She nodded. “We’ll find it.”

  “Thank you,” he said quietly. “For everything. For putting your life on the line and for making sure we stay alive in spite of my stubbornness.”

  She nodded. “Sure.”

  “I won’t take the boat out tomorrow. Amy can still stay home, but we won’t take the boat out.”

  Her expression softened. “I think we can make arrangements for y’all to enjoy the boat on the water tomorrow.” Then her eyes sharpened. “After I have a conversation with Quinn.”

  [26]

  MONDAY MORNING

  “Murder? You have no proof,” Quinn said. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

  Olivia sat across from him, his wooden desk between them. She’d come to his office first thing this Monday morning while Haley and Katie took over bodyguard duties. After she went home and caught a few hours of sleep. Fatigue tugged at her, but she wouldn’t give in until she got her way.

  “Exactly. That’s why I think you should exhume her body,” Olivia argued. She let her gaze fall on the wall behind him. Pictures of his family adorned it. He said he put those there to remind him to be careful and not take unnecessary risks. A picture of Maddy sat at the corner. She picked it up and her heart hurt for her friend and the man who cared so much about her.