by Lisa Ladew
She sat up and looked at him, her brain refusing to allow her to be subtle. “Hunter, I still want you. Please tell me you still want me.”
He swung around to face her, relief on his face. He sat down next to her and hugged her. “Good morning, beautiful. I do want you.” He put his face in her hair and breathed deeply. “You’re amazing, you know that?” The images broke apart, receded. Jen sighed with relief. She could do this. She could do it with or without Hunter, but it would be so much better with him.
He pulled her to him one last time, then stood up. “We need to get started on our day. The hospital should be ready to release Ivy. I want to get everyone together and go over what happened last night.”
“OK. Let me go tell my brother and see what his plans are.”
Jen bounced into Jerry’s room, feeling almost like her old self for an instant. Jerry and Sara were wrapped in each other’s arms, still sleeping. Jerry opened one eye and smiled at her. “Jen, how you feeling?”
She kissed him on the cheek. “Good Jer, we are going to head out to the hospital. Text me when you guys are up and moving, OK?”
“OK. I would tell you to be careful, but I think you’ve proved you can take care of yourself.”
Jen waited for the images to crowd out her brother’s face, but they didn’t come. She kissed him again and snuck out, although she sensed Sara was awake.
“Your phone is buzzing,” Hunter told her as she entered the room.
Jen grabbed it up. Coleton. Oh God. I need to see you. I have something to give you.
“Coleton wants to give me something.”
“What is it?”
What is it? And thank you.
Welcome. I don’t want to say. But it’s important. Bring your boss. 1 hour. Where we had second date.
“He won’t say what it is, but he wants you to come. He wants to meet us at the place where we surfed.”
Hunter looked thoughtful. “Part of me still wonders how safe that guy is.”
“Hunter, he saved me! He broke in my door and wrestled with the guy who was going to shoot me!”
“I know. I still question his motives though. If he hates his dad so much, why hasn’t he ever given up anything on him? Unless …” His eyes flashed.
Jen looked at him questioningly, and then she caught his excitement. “Hurry!”
***
Forty-five minutes later, a beat-up pick-up truck pulled into the stall next to Jen and Hunter. Coleton got out. Jen ran to him and hugged him. She cried into his neck. It seemed now that the tears were coming they wouldn’t stop. Coleton kissed her on the cheek and ran his hands tenderly through her hair. Finally he pushed her upright, gently. “Jen, we shouldn’t stay here long. I’m leaving town as soon as I give you this. My life is forfeited now, unless you guys do your job.” He threw a hard look at Hunter.
“What do you mean?”
“My dad has to know I was involved last night. He doesn’t stand for anyone crossing him, family or no. In fact it’s worse if you’re family. I have to leave town before he finds me.”
Jen’s face crumpled with guilt. “I’m so sorry, Coleton.”
“Don’t be. This has been coming for a long time.”
He reached in the window behind her and handed her a thick five or six inch thick file folder, plus a canvas bag. The edges of the bag held smudges of black dirt. He reached in the window again and pulled out a box. He handed it to Hunter. “I went through all of my dad’s houses that I have access to and dredged up every memory I could think of. It’s all in there. You should be able to do something with that.”
Hunter came around the car and looked into the bag. “You’re going to have to testify, you know that right?”
“Yes, but I can’t testify if I’m dead. I’ll contact Jen. She’ll tell me when you need me.”
“We could protect you.”
Coleton shook his head. “You can’t protect me. Not against my dad. You put him and everyone involved with him in jail, and then maybe I’ll be OK. But they have to stay in jail.”
Hunter nodded. “Thank you.”
Jen hugged the folder to her chest and gave Coleton one last kiss and hug. She told him how sorry she was with her eyes. He nodded. “Don’t be sorry, Jen. None of this is your fault.”
He jogged to his truck and pulled out with a small salute to Jen. Jen looked down at the file in her hands and hoped it was worth everything they’d paid for it so far.
Chapter 23
Jen looked around at her friends at the table, a smile on her face. She felt like things were almost back to normal. Ivy and Ryker had their heads together over a piece of paper from Coleton’s file, Sgt. Sadler was acting irritated, and Hunter had just run out to his car to get files. They were all together again, in the safe house, and thankfully Ivy had no injuries from her ordeal.
Hunter came back in and started gathering loose pieces of paper and shoving them back in Coleton’s file. Some of it still had fingerprint dust on it from being fingerprinted and logged by the evidence clerk the day before, and he absently wiped his hands on his pants, trying to get the dust off. “Look guys, I know that is more interesting, but the Chief wants our final reports on what happened at your houses two days ago by the end of today.” He slid folders full of paper across the desk to each of them. “This is our priority. When we’re done, we can work on the Savoy file.”
“OK, but look at this first.” Jen handed him a crumpled, brown, paper bag from the box that Coleton had given them. His eyebrows went up and he looked inside. He pulled out a wallet and opened it. Shock registered across his face, and then resignation. “I knew it,” he whispered, still looking at Eric P. Bainbridge’s driver’s license. Jen touched his hand.
Ivy slid a piece of paper at him. “And check this out. It suggests there’s a mole in the police department. Someone they planted in 1997 and now he’s high enough in the ranks that he can tamper evidence and access any computer record. And get this. He’s Savoy’s cousin.”
Sadler snorted in what? Indignation? Derision? And suddenly the images came flooding back to Jen for the first time in almost a day. But it was a new group of images this time. Her, in Ivy’s kitchen, peeking out at the man in the living room.
“Jen, what’s wrong? You look sick,” Hunter said, grasping her arm.
“I don’t feel good, Hunter. Can you help me to the bathroom?”
“Sure, here.”
He pulled her up and took her outside of the room, her feet barely touching the ground.
As soon as the door closed behind them Jen pulled whirled on him, putting her mouth up to his ear and pitching her voice low. “I’m not sick. I know how they got our addresses. Mine and Ivy’s.”
Hunter grew still, serious. “How?”
“I saw the man holding a piece of paper. I could only read part of it but it said -ton street. And he told whoever he was talking to on the phone that the finally found it, like maybe the address had been wrong. I think they looked for her first on Clifton St., just like we did—”
Hunter talked over the top of her, his eyes as wide as hers. “When we picked her up in the cleaning van. Oh God, Jen, if you’re right … Stay here!”
He walked back in to the office. Jen shifted back and forth on her feet, nervous energy filling her. She heard Ivy ask something, then a muted male voice. Then he came back with a folder in his hands. He took it to the couch and opened it.
“Photocopies of all the evidence are in here.” He flipped each piece of paper over until he found it. A photocopy of a piece of notebook paper with the words Clifton St. written on it.
Hunter stared at it. He started talking without looking up. “Stay in here. I have a phone call to make in the next room. If Sadler comes out, you come in and tell me right away. Don’t let him near you.”
Jen nodded, fear filling her. The snake was in their safe house. Their not-safe house.
She paced in front of the couch and watched the door to the office as Hunter disap
peared. She listened to the rise and fall of Hunter’s voice behind the other door, wondering who he was talking too. And what would happen now? Would Sadler be arrested? Who arrests a cop?
Finally, Hunter came out. “Chief Carver is unavailable. I talked to Assistant Chief Powell. He’s sending two uniforms over here.”
“Are they going to arrest him?”
“I don’t think so. I think he’s going to be placed into protective custody. The assistant chief wants to interview him. And then he’ll make a decision. We need to get Ivy and Ryker out of there, in case he goes haywire.”
“I’ll call Ivy. Ryker will follow her.”
Hunter nodded.
Jen opened the door. “Ivy, I need you.” To her, her voice sounded cracked and anxious. She shut the door quickly and prayed Sadler would stay inside.
Ivy came out, worry stamped on her face, and Ryker followed her. Hunter shut the door behind them and bustled them all down the hallway. “Everybody into the bathroom. Jen will explain. Don’t come out till I give the all-clear.”
***
Three hours later, Jen strained her ears for the sound of Hunter’s car pulling up outside. She’d been listening for hours, while she read and summarized evidence as best she could. Sadler had been furious, but had handed his gun over and left with the uniformed officers without a physical confrontation. But then Hunter had left. And now Jen felt vulnerable. They had two guards, but Savoy could already know they were here. He could blow the place up or something.
Finally, she heard it. She ran to the side window and saw him get out. He looked tired. But still so handsome. Her heart leapt at the sight of him and she ran to the door.
He hugged her as he came in. Jen relished the touch, especially since he would only do it if they were alone. “Where’s Ivy and Ryker?”
“I’ll get them.” Jen ran to the kitchen. “Hunter’s back. Come on.”
When they were all settled in the room, Hunter told them what had happened.
“He swears it wasn’t him. He says the only person he’s ever given the address to was Chief Carver, with all the rest of our files. And he swears he’s not related to Savoy.” Hunter turned to face Ryker. “He says you are.”
“I am,” Ryker said. “But you knew that. I made sure you knew that.”
Jen and Ivy looked at each other, eyes wide. Jen could tell by the shocked look on Ivy’s face that she hadn’t known this either.
Hunter nodded, weary lines etching his face. “Yes, I did know that. Sadler is trying to say that you must be the cousin, and you must be the one who handed over the address. He passed a lie detector test saying he didn’t do it.”
“I’ll take one.”
Hunter studied him. “I believe you Ryker, but it might help our case if you do take one. Tell me how you are related to Savoy again?”
“He’s my mother’s uncle.”
“So you are his what? Grand-nephew?”
Ryker nodded. “But my mother hates him. I’ve never met him, never talked to him. Never even seen anyone from that side of the family. My mother would never allow it. I didn’t even recognize Coleton on sight. I wouldn’t recognize any of them on sight.” Jen relaxed a little. This was a lot of words for Ryker, but she believed him. Besides, he wasn’t planted in 1997.
“Hunter, when did Sadler join the police department?” she asked.
Hunter cleared his throat. “December of 1997.”
Ivy muttered something under her breath.
Hunter turned to her. “What?”
“I said, he’s been in the department for that long and he’s only a Sergeant?”
Hunter nodded. “I’ve always thought that was one reason he was so bitter. Like he’d been passed over for promotion time and time again.” He took a deep breath. “Because Sadler passed the lie detector, he got his gun back. But he’s been reassigned out of undercover.” He looked at all of them in turn. “And we are going to move safe houses right now. Gather your stuff.”
Jen turned to the evidence room. Everything in there was most important to her. She wanted her life back, and there had to be something in there that would get it back for her.
Chapter 24
That very night, in the new safe house, the frenzy of activity began. Hunter wanted every piece of evidence read and cataloged and cross-referenced. He had Ivy move her computer in and log everything into her new program. Jen and Ryker summarized documents and items from the house and read them to Ivy. Hunter looked at the overall picture and matched items to crimes the police department already had at least some knowledge on, then he cataloged crimes that seemed completely new to them. They needed something big.
Jen stopped working and stretched her neck, looking at the dwindling pile of paper that they hadn’t gone through yet. “What are we going to do if there’s nothing else in here to tell us who the mole is?”
Ivy stopped too and cracked her fingers. “I still think it’s Sadler. Why else would Savoy come after me? Unless Sadler told him something specific about me. I didn’t have anything to do with you dating Coleton, and supposedly that was why he was pissed.”
Ryker took off his cowboy hat and scratched his head. “What about the other cops who are related to Savoy? You could give them all lie detector tests.” He nodded at Hunter.
“Like who?” Hunter asked, leaning forward, his voice tight.
Ryker shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve just heard rumors. My mom talking with her sisters on poker night.”
“Who, Ryker?”
“Chief Carver.”
“What?!” Hunter shoved backwards and paced the room. “What the fuck, Ryker!”
“I don’t know if it’s true, man. My aunts you know, sometimes they outright lie just to mess with each other.”
“Anyone else?”
“I’ve never heard any other names, although they’ve suggested there’s quite a few people that at least feed information.”
Hunter strode from wall to wall, his nostrils flaring, pounding one fist into an open hand. Jen watched him closely, feeling strangely excited by his energy.
“I’ve got to think about this. I’m going to take a walk. You guys keep working.” He glanced at the clock. “Unless you want to call it a night.”
He strode out of the house and Jen tried not to think of him alone, on the dark street, lost in thought.
Almost two hours later, Jen looked at the clock. 2 a.m. If he didn’t show up in ten more minutes, she was going to look for him. Ryker and Ivy had gone to bed an hour ago. She envied them, in the same room, probably snuggled in the same bed. They had each other. And Hunter hadn’t even raised an eyebrow when they’d asked if they could share a room.
She heard the door in the other room open and she tensed, jumping out of her chair to see who it was. She relaxed as she saw Hunter’s too-long hair and hard face. She flicked off the light in their working room and tiptoed out to him.
“Hey, any ideas?” she asked, slipping under his arm.
“No, just tons of questions. I’ve got a bit of a plan on how to proceed, but it all depends on us finding something to arrest and prosecute Savoy for.”
“Doesn’t everything,” Jen said, snuggling into his chest and trying to steer him towards his room.
He stopped at the doorway. “Jen, we can’t go in here together.”
She sighed. “I don’t want to sleep alone tonight.”
He seemed to consider. “I’ll sleep on the couch in your room. With the door open.”
That was better than nothing. “OK.”
They slept that way for the next two nights, Jen sometimes sneaking out of her bed and sitting next to him, lightly touching his arm while he slept. And when they’d cataloged every piece of evidence and cross-referenced it twice, Hunter finally admitted defeat.
“The best thing we’ve got here is Bainbridge’s wallet. But until we hear from Coleton where he got it from, I don’t know if it will do us much good. We have enough to pull a search warrant on all his
houses, but we don’t know what we’ll find once we get there. He may have been on a search and destroy mission over the last few days, which means we would find nothing. Jen, message Coleton again. Tell him unless he calls we have nothing to go on. I’m going to think.”
Jen did as he asked. And when Coleton still didn't respond, she wondered if he was still alive.
When Hunter came back in the room, she saw a new energy and light in his eyes. He lifted his chin at her. “Gather all the evidence. And your phone. I’ve got a plan.”
Jen jumped up, excitement and hope building in her chest. She gathered everything and took it to Hunter. He smiled a dazzling smile at her and said, “Come on, we’ve got one stop to make and then we are going to ask to pull a search warrant.”
***
Hunter stole another sidelong look at Jen. She caught him this time and smiled. His heart skipped a beat and he smiled back. God she was beautiful. He replayed it in his mind again. When she’d said I still want you. And he wanted her too. He wanted her so bad he had to bite his tongue every time he saw her to not spill out what was on his mind. How beautiful she was. How special. How sweet and fresh. How he’d thought his heart would burst in fear, frustration, rage, and relief when the news came to him that she’d been attacked in her house, and then she’d saved Ivy. He wanted her so bad sometimes his body shook with the effort of holding himself back from touching her. From running his hands through her hair. From pulling her close and kissing her the way she’d kissed him. God that kiss. He’d felt the ache from it in his balls for three days. It was killing him, having her so close and not being able to worship her body like she deserved. Especially since she’d flat out begged him for it. He saw it when she looked at him. Every glance seemed to say take me Hunter, won’t you ever take me? And he would. He dreamed about it every night, waking up sweating with a raging hard-on, and hoping no one had seen it. If they could just get her safe. And close this case. Then he’d take vacation for a week and lock them into his house, into his bedroom, onto his bed. Or the kitchen table. Or the couch. Or the shower. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and tried to stop thinking about it. He couldn’t walk into the District Attorney’s office with his longing for this recruit written all over the front of his pants. He took a few deep breaths and recited his spiel in his head, anything to get his mind off Jen. This had to work.
