Protector With A Past

by Harper Allen

  With a click the line went dead, and she stared at it disbelievingly.

  "What did he say? Is he willing to deal with us?" Cord, balancing unsteadily on his crutches, was at her side.

  "He's willing to give Lizbet up. He says she's become too much of a liability—I guess Lopez's manhunt has got him rattled," Julia said distantly. She looked at him, her eyes bleak. "Except we've only got two hours to meet with him—and he refused to tell me where he's hiding out."

  * * *

  Chapter 17

  «^»

  Another of Donner's manipulative games, Julia thought frantically as she opened the passenger side door of her father's Lexus for Cord and waited while he threw his crutches into the back seat and maneuvered himself into the car's luxurious interior.

  She ran around to the driver's side, clicking the button of the remote starter even before she opened the door, and the vehicle instantly purred to life. Maybe it only saved a second or two, she told herself, but with Donner's deadline seconds could prove valuable. She'd been grateful for the loan of her father's car, since her own was a write-off and Cord found it easier to climb in and out of than the Bronco.

  "What the hell does he think he's playing at?" Cord exploded as they pulled away from the curb. "How in God's name are we supposed to guess where he is in a couple of hours!"

  "He likes playing games," Julia said tightly. "But as far as he's concerned, he always plays fair. We have the key to his whereabouts—he just wants to see if we're smart enough to figure it out."

  "It's not the Friendship Center or the property that Marshall bought for them." Cord stared out the windshield, his brows drawn together in a line. "Lopez checked them out thoroughly."

  "We have to think the way he thinks." Julia gnawed at her thumbnail distractedly. "He's psychotic and he's evil. What else is he?"

  "An arrogant son of a bitch," growled Cord.

  "Exactly. That's the key to him, and that's part of the key to the puzzle. He's testing us because he'll only deal with a worthy opponent, but because he's Donner, even if we pass his test we're left feeling that he's been one step ahead of us all the time. He wants us to know that he knows more about us than we'll ever know about him."

  She scowled. There was something she was missing, she thought—something that had struck her at the time but that she'd shoved aside.

  Seashells at the seashore…

  "Turn left here onto the freeway," Cord said suddenly, but she'd already jerked the steering wheel in that direction. She merged with the rest of the traffic on the on-ramp and then looked at him, their eyes meeting in understanding.

  "The shells he ground into Jackie's carpet," she whispered. "He's at the lake house," Cord agreed grimly. "He's showing us that he's even privy to confidential lab reports. I don't want you getting near him, Julia," he added with a worried frown.

  "If he wants to deal with me, we're hardly in a position to argue with him," she said, keeping her eyes on the road. "Getting Lizbet back is the important thing."

  "Getting you back was important," he said quietly. "You are back, aren't your?"

  She glanced at him, her gaze steady. "I'm back. And nothing's ever going to take me away from you again."

  "I wish you could have seen your father when he arrived at the hospital last night." He shook his head. "God, Julia—the man was out of his mind with worry. He really does love you."

  "I know. We had a talk today—maybe the first real one we've ever had," she said softly. "When this is all over I'll tell you about it."

  "I'd like to hear it." His mouth curved wryly. "I'll tell you what—if Willard ever tries to pull his cool and frosty act again, we'll remind him of those bedroom slippers."

  She was startled into laughter, but even as she looked at him her laughter died away. "I love you, Cord," she said with sudden fierceness. "No matter what I went through in the past, I always loved you. I always did."

  "I love you, too, honey. I always will." His voice was soft, and it wrapped around her like velvet. "You fought your demons and won, didn't you?"

  "Let's just say I found out they couldn't hurt me as much anymore." Flicking on her turn signal, she pulled onto the exit that led to the lake house.

  "I still don't trust Donner. God, I wish I didn't feel so damned helpless." Cord raked his hand through his hair and shifted his left leg uncomfortably. "I know he's got something up his sleeve—meekly handing Lizbet over and letting us walk out of there just isn't his style."

  "He's not going to let us walk out of there. He's going to let you and her walk away." She didn't look at him. "I'm staying behind."

  "I don't think so, honey." Now she did look at him, and his expression was as angry as she'd expected it to be. "I thought that's what we were just talking about, Julia—I thought you'd finally stopped blaming yourself—"

  "I have," she said firmly. "This isn't about guilt or atonement, Cord. I don't plan on letting him kill me. But we have to get Lizbet out first, and then I'll—"

  "You'll what? He'll make damn sure we're not armed, just the way he did with Tascoe last night. How the hell are you going to overpower someone like Gary Donner?"

  "I don't know! But I think I've got a better chance of getting away from him than you do right now! Dammit, Cord—you can hardly get around!"

  They'd come in from the other route that led to the lake house—subconsciously she hadn't wanted to pass the scene of last night's accident, Julia realized—and now they were on the road that led past Cord's old home. In a few minutes they would be at the lake house, and she had to make him realize that hers was the only possible alternative.

  "Maybe so. But I still can't let you do it." His expression was set and stubborn.

  "I've already agreed to the deal—" she began, but he cut her off.

  "To hell with any deal that Donner thinks he has with you. It's me he wants—it's me he's always wanted. And it's me he's getting, Julia." His eyes were dark with pain. "How do you think I could ever survive losing you? How could I live with myself?"

  "How am I supposed to survive, Cord?" Her vision blurred, and she almost missed the curving driveway onto the property. She smeared the heel of her hand angrily across her wet cheekbones. "You won't have a chance, and he'll kill you! How am I supposed to get through the rest of my life without you?" She pulled the car onto the grass verge just out of sight of the big old house and looked at him.

  "I hope it doesn't come to that, honey." The anger had left his voice. "If there's any way you can get the cavalry back in time I know you'll do it. But if it doesn't work out that way—"

  He saw the anguish that contorted her features, and suddenly his arms were around her, pulling her to him. "If it doesn't work out that way you know I'll never be far from you. What we have even Donner can't take away."

  "I don't want a damned eagle on my windowsill at night!" she sobbed into his shirtfront. "I want you!"

  She lifted her tearstained face to his and knew that she'd lost. He was the most tractable of men most of the time, she thought hopelessly. But when Cord Hunter made up his mind about something, even she couldn't persuade him to change it.

  "You have me. I never belonged to anyone else but you," he said softly, and then his mouth was on hers and his arms were so tight around her that she could feel the heavy muscles in his arms tense. He wanted to take some part of her with him, she thought. He knew he wasn't coming back, and he didn't want to go into the darkness without the memory of her.

  She strained against him, giving him the essence of herself, her hands desperately touching his face, his hair—and then he released her, his gaze lingering on hers as if he was saying goodbye already.

  "We have to get up to the house," he said, pushing her hair from her eyes. "We'll leave your gun under the seat. The Whitefields' phone's been repaired already, and Mary and Frank are there with the kids."

  He saw her look of surprise. "Frank fared about the same as you—just a slight concussion. He and Mary decided that the o
nly way the children would get over what happened last night is if they kept things as normal as possible. They came back this morning."

  "So I'll get Lizbet to them and phone Lopez to send a SWAT team out." Julia nodded. "Then I'll—"

  "You'll wait for reinforcements. The gun's only for if something goes wrong and you need it to defend yourself," Cord said shortly. "I mean it, Julia—if Donner takes us both down, who's going to be left for Lizbet? She's already lost two parents."

  He was right. There really was nothing left to say, she thought dazedly as she put the Lexus into gear again and heard the tires slowly crunching over the graveled drive. She kept the car at the lowest speed possible, not wanting to do anything that might alarm Donner inside the house, and when she got to the leafy glade just out of sight of the front door where she'd always parked her old Ford, she stopped.

  "Gun under the seat," Cord said tersely as he got stiffly out. "I'll go in with mine so he doesn't get suspicious."

  As they walked out of the shade into the sunshine she was struck by the incongruous beauty of the day. Summer had finally arrived, she thought dully, shielding her eyes against the glitter of the lake. There was a chance that after today she would always hate the season.

  "So you figured it out." Gary Donner was standing on the flagstone path, his smile as welcoming as if he were their host for a weekend of boating and barbecues. "I knew you'd put two and two together and come up with the answer. Come on, let's talk over by the rock garden." He shook his head regretfully. "This must have been some place in its day, Julia. I guess your father let it run down, though, after Davey died?"

  "I imagine it was painful for him to spend much time here after Davey drowned, yes," she agreed evenly. "However, that's past history, Gary. We're here for the child who's in jeopardy today."

  He hadn't liked the fact that she'd used his first name, she saw with some surprise. That meant that he had vulnerable areas, too—and if he was vulnerable, he could make mistakes.

  "We've changed the plan, Donner." Cord was a few feet behind them, and as he reached the rock garden it was obvious that the uneven terrain was making it hard for him to maneuver the unfamiliar crutches. "We've decided that—"

  "You've decided that you're going to stay in exchange for the girl, not Julia."

  Donner grinned, and the fact that he wasn't unattractive when he smiled sent a chill down Julia's spine. How many people had been taken in by that almost boyish countenance? For how many had that lighthearted grin, those twinkling green eyes, been the last things on earth that they'd seen?

  "I had a feeling that was the way the cat was going to jump." He shrugged. "I'm easy. I'll kill you instead of her, Hunter."

  His reaction was all wrong, she thought suspiciously. They'd expected to have to persuade him, but instead he was as unruffled as if—

  She met his gaze and with a start saw that his eyes seemed almost as blue as the lake beyond. She looked again, and they were no color at all, and finally—finally—she knew what she was dealing with. He'd been watching her intently, and he tipped his head to one side quizzically.

  "Such a serious look. I wonder what you think of me, Julia?"

  "I think that sometime today you'll be going back to hell where you belong, Gary," she answered him in as light a tone as he'd used. "Since you asked," she added.

  "Somehow I can't see you sending me there," he said with a touch of anger in his voice. "Anyway, we're wasting time. Hunter. I'm sure you're armed. Get rid of your guns."

  "I'm only wearing the one." With an effort, Cord unholstered his automatic and handed it to Donner. Julia stood silently by, wondering if this was yet another trap.

  "I'll get little Lizzie, then." Donner winked at her. "You thought it was a double cross, didn't you? No, I'm a man of my word. Wait here—I'll only be a minute."

  "As soon as he brings her, get her to the car and get out of here as fast as you can," Cord said in an undertone when Donner was out of sight. "He's always been a freaky bastard, but I don't know—there's something different about him today. He's planning something more, I know it."

  "Maybe that's what he wants us to think," Julia said worriedly. "Cord, I can't leave you here with him."

  "We've been through that," he said flatly. "Do what you can to get help, and then pray. Maybe that's really the only weapon we have against him now."

  They both fell silent. As the minutes ticked by she felt her palms growing damp with nervousness.

  "What the hell's taking him so long?" Cord exclaimed tensely, echoing her concern, but even as he spoke he was interrupted.

  "She's still groggy, the little sweetheart, but I bet she's happy to be back with her Auntie Julia."

  Julia's head jerked up. Coming down the flagstone path was Donner, and in his arms he held the fear-stiffened body of Lizbet. The child's eyes were blue and staring, and her hair looked lank and lifeless. Forgetting to be cautious, Julia ran to meet them, feeling as if her heart was about to crack in two.

  "Lizbet!" Snatching the little girl from him, she peered intently into the pale, heart-shaped face, and then she held the tiny body to her tightly, her trembling hand smoothing the damp red hair. "Oh, Lizbet, baby."

  Closing her eyes, she nestled her chin on the top of the silky head, inhaling the scent of little girl as if it was the most precious perfume in the world. Once upon a time she had known she could never have children of her own because she'd been afraid she wouldn't be strong enough to keep them safe, she thought, holding back the tears. Now she did have a child—Sheila's last, most loving legacy to her—and she knew that whatever strength was needed she would have to find.

  "Don't be afraid anymore, pumpkin—we're going to take you home," she murmured into the little girl's hair. "We're going home, Lizbet."

  "Let me see her." Cord was beside her, and as Julia loosened her grip on the little girl enough so that the wide blue eyes could meet his, he smiled, gently touching a strand of the strawberry red hair. "My two girls," he said softly. "My two sweethearts." A shadow passed behind his eyes, and he sighed. "Get her to the car and go, honey. I won't feel easy until I know you're both safely out of here."

  "Oh—did I forget to tell you that my plan's been changed, too?" Donner shook his head ruefully. "Sorry about that, Hunter. Julia can go, but the little darling stays here with us. Put her down next to her Uncle Cord before you leave, Julia … and if you've got any bright ideas about taking off with her like you did last night, don't forget that I'm the only one here who's armed." He smiled. "I wouldn't be aiming at you, either. I'd take out the kid before you got halfway down the path."

  "I was right. This was a double cross from the start, wasn't it?" Julia's arms hugged the small, limp body closer to her protectively. In defeated anguish she met Donner's mocking gaze over the top of Lizbet's head.

  "Let them go, Donner." Cord's features were stone. "Whatever death you've got in mind for me I accept, only let Julia and Lizbet leave safely."

  "You're going to die the way I want you to no matter what. But I would have thought even you would have doubts about entrusting a child's safety to the fallen Guardian Angel." Gary Donner grinned. "I mean, her track record lately certainly has shaken my confidence in her. No offense, Julia," he added, darting a bland look at her white face. "But let's face it—you had Lizbet last night and I got her away from you. I just wouldn't feel good about letting you look after her now, and I'm sure Cord must be wondering—"

  "I never had any doubts. I still don't." Cord's eyes met hers as if the other man wasn't there. "There was only one little girl that you didn't take care of, honey, but I think even she's come home safely now, hasn't she?"

  His gaze held hers for a heartbeat, but in that heartbeat were all the years they'd had together and the eternity that their souls would share, even if both their physical lives ended today. Julia felt the last of the bonds that tied her to the tragedy of the past slip away.

  Cord trusted her with Lizbet's safety. And she trusted herself.


  Goodbye, Davey, she thought with a rush of love. Wish your little sister luck.

  "She came home safe and sound, Cord," she said quietly. "She's part of me again—and she and I are strong enough to take care of Lizbet."

  "What the hell are you two talking about?" For the first time Donner's smooth voice had an edge to it, and Julia flicked him a contemptuous glance.

  "You wouldn't understand if we told you," she said briefly. She switched her attention to Cord, taking in the almost unnoticeable tenseness in his posture and reading the signal in his eyes.

  "Always have, Cord," she said in a whisper.

  "Always will, honey," he answered softly, his gaze holding hers almost desperately.

  "Put the damn kid down and just go," Donner snapped, raising his gun and leveling it at her. His finger tightened on the trigger threateningly. "Once again you screwed up big-time, Stewart, but this time you've lost everyone you care about—"

  "Now, Julia—run!"

  As the hoarse command tore from his throat, Cord threw himself in front of the other man, his crutches clattering to the ground. Julia just had time to see him knock Donner's aim sideways as the gun went off, its report shockingly loud, but as the two men fell to the ground she was already sprinting down the path, Lizbet held tightly in her arms.

  It was all she could do not to look back, but she didn't dare. Racing around the corner of the house, the little girl's stiff body tense against hers, Julia felt as if her limbs were moving sluggishly through some thick, obstructive medium.

  Donner was evil. He would kill Cord, and her only chance of saving him lay in speed. She had to get Lizbet to safety and then get back here as soon as she could, even if that meant breaking her promise to Cord and returning before help arrived. Even as she ran she was fumbling in her pocket for her keys, but as they came in sight of the car she dropped them. She bit back the curse that rose to her lips and gently set Lizbet on the ground as she picked them up.

  "Come on, honey," she said with soft urgency, tugging at the little girl's hand. "We have to leave right away."