The Forbidden Bride

by Debra Cowan

  Instead of being relieved, the thought annoyed him. “So, we can arrest him and bring him in for questioning.”

  “Yeah, about that.”

  Tension lashed Nate’s shoulders.

  “I called the rig to tell his boss we were coming back down to take him into custody. Roper isn’t there. No one knows where he is, but before he went AWOL, his boss overheard him threaten his wife.”

  “Damn.” Nate got to his feet, glancing at his boss. “Our visit tipped him off that we were closing in.”

  “I think so, too,” Robin said.

  “He’s probably gone after Pattie.”

  “And we need to get to her first.”

  We. They. Together. Right. “I’ll head for her office.”

  “I’ll meet you there. On my way, I’ll call Pattie and let her know what’s going on. If she happens to be at home rather than work, I’ll call you.”

  He disconnected.

  “Do you need anything from me or this office?” Burke asked.

  Nate shook his head. “I’ll call OCPD for backup on my way to Mrs. Roper’s office.”

  “Keep me posted.”

  He nodded, already heading out the door. If Roper did show up at his ex’s work place, more people than she would be in danger.

  Despite having finally found evidence to prove Joel Roper’s guilt, Nate’s enthusiasm as he drove to downtown Oklahoma City was outweighed by ambivalence. After the way he and Robin had left things, he doubted she was any more eager to see him than he was to see her.

  It didn’t matter. He needed to turn off any emotion about her and narrow his focus to the investigation only.

  Robin would do the same. She was a professional. She would work with whomever she had to in order to close a case, even Kyle, if necessary. That thought had Nate’s jaw clamping hard. The jealous heat that moved through his chest was something he had never felt over another woman. He sure as hell didn’t like that, either.

  From its mount on the dashboard, his cell phone rang again. Seeing Robin’s name on the screen gave him a little jolt as he answered on speaker. Something had happened, or she wouldn’t be calling him again so soon.

  “Daly?”

  “Before I could call Pattie, she called me.”

  The same apprehension Nate felt was in Robin’s voice.

  “She’s at her office building. She alerted security, but before they made it to her floor, Joel grabbed her outside the restroom. The phone went dead so I didn’t get anything else.”

  “They could be anywhere.”

  “Right.”

  “Let’s check the office building first and see if we can find them.”

  “Okay, I’ll meet you there.”

  “See you in a few minutes.”

  Nate arrived first, going straight to the underground parking garage. He parked near the garage elevator and strode up the ramp to the outdoor lot.

  Several black-and-white cruisers arrived; Robin’s dark sedan drove in behind them. He met her halfway to the building’s front entrance, trying to shift his gaze from the graceful sway of her hips. Damn it, stop looking at her.

  The tight set of her mouth told Nate she was irritated. At seeing him? “I’ve seen no sign of her.”

  “Neither have I.”

  “Shoot.” Concern streaked across Robin’s features. “I’ll have some uniforms go up to her office, station some on the above-ground parking lot, too. You and I can search the stairwells.”

  “I’ll take an elevator to the top floor and start down.”

  “I’ll begin at the bottom.”

  Nate nodded, opening the door for her and following her inside. He was glad he wouldn’t have to work shoulder to shoulder with her. He might still be angry, but that didn’t mean he wanted her any less.

  He stopped at the service elevator, where the building’s security manager handed him the key. He expected Robin to walk past him to the other side of the building and the entrance to the stairwell.

  Instead, she paused, her gaze sliding over him. All his muscles pulled tight. What was she looking at?

  “Good, you have your gun.”

  “Yes.” He touched the weapon tucked into the waistband of his jeans.

  “Let’s use radios instead of our cell phones.” She handed him a radio like the one she held. “I don’t want to take the chance we might lose touch.”

  Nate nodded, climbing into the elevator. As the doors closed, he heard her request that all available officers begin searching floor by floor.

  Once he reached the thirtieth floor, he started back down via the stairs. He radioed his location to Robin, keeping her posted on his progress as he reached each floor.

  She did the same.

  Nate was breathing hard by the time he reached floor twenty. Robin was panting, too, when she checked in on floor eight. The sound of her exertion made him think about when she had been breathing hard the night before, for a whole different reason.

  He rounded the end of one flight, rushed down the next one. And saw something in the corner behind the exit door. As he reached it, he identified a woman’s shoe and a cell phone. He shared the find with Robin.

  “Is the phone Pattie’s?”

  He pressed redial and Robin’s number popped up on the screen. “Yes. You’re the last person she talked to.”

  “So Joel didn’t use the elevator. He came up the stairs.”

  “And probably grabbed her.”

  “Keep checking. I want to make sure they aren’t in any of the stairwells.”

  Nate pocketed Pattie’s cell phone and continued down the stairs. There was still no sign of the Ropers when he reached the landing on floor fourteen, and he stopped, hearing the muffled rush of footsteps coming toward him.

  In a few seconds, Robin came into view. She stopped at the base of the stairs. Disappointment streaked across her face. “No sign of them?”

  “No.”

  “The uniforms have been checking in with me. There’s no sign of the Ropers in the garage, the basement or in her office, so Joel has taken her somewhere else.”

  “They have to be in this building,” Nate said. “There’s no access from here to other buildings or parking facilities.”

  Robin’s radio crackled and a male voice said, “Detective, the chopper pilot spotted two people on the roof.”

  “The roof.” She said it with distaste, as though she were talking about a crypt.

  They jumped onto the service elevator and rode to the top floor.

  Even in the poor light of the enclosed space, Nate could see the waxy cast to her skin. She was worried about her vertigo.

  Stepping out of the elevator, they headed for the door that led to the highest point of the building.

  Nate glanced at her, seeing no reason why she should go out there if it weren’t necessary. “I can check this out quickly, if you want.”

  The look she gave him could have crushed rock.

  “Never mind,” he said before she could lay into him. He should’ve squashed his concern and kept his mouth shut.

  Not wanting to spook Joel if he was up there, Nate flipped off his radio as did Robin. Then he followed her through the doorway.

  The roof appeared to be an acre wide. The flat concrete surface was broken by two commercial-size air-conditioning units. One was in the far corner and one was just feet away, blocking their view of part of the roof. So far, there was no sign of anyone.

  Between the rumble of the machine and the whoosh of passing traffic on the nearby highway, it was difficult to hear, but he was still careful to close the door as quietly as possible.

  Ahead of him, Robin peered around the corner of the giant air-conditioning unit. She pulled back and sagged against the wall, closing her eyes. “Yes, it’s them.”

  Chapter 12

  Robin ducked inside the building to radio for backup, while Nate stayed outside to keep an eye on things. A woman’s scream was barely audible beneath the rumble of the air-conditioning unit.
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  Robin rushed back outside to Nate, touching his shoulder. When he withdrew the slightest bit, she knew it was because of what she’d said to him earlier. Her heart squeezed tight. “Backup is on the way. I told them to wait for our signal before they come out here. The last thing we need is to spook Joel. We can’t wait. We need to get her away from him.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that.”

  “Joel’s still at the far edge of the roof, and Pattie’s still on the ledge?”

  “Yes. He’s not armed that I can tell.” Nate kept his gaze on the couple.

  Robin had to lean in close so she could hear him.

  “I think I should approach from the front and work my way to the edge. You can come up behind him.”

  So Nate was thinking about her vertigo. Was he trying to make things easier on her by keeping her from the edge? Or trying to minimize the chances of her screwing up because of her problem?

  When she saw his face she knew. Even after what she had said to him, what she had thought of him, he was trying to protect her. She could tell he expected her to argue with his suggestion, but she wasn’t going to.

  She was reminded of how he had protected her five years earlier. In a painful flash of clarity, she realized she had made a huge mistake. Not only by accusing him of interfering in her life, but also by accepting his decision to end things between them.

  But now wasn’t the time to think about that. That was for when the situation with Joel Roper was resolved.

  Robin looked up at Nate. “Do you think he plans to start a fire? Try to burn her?”

  “I have yet to see anything flammable.”

  “So he’s using the threat of pushing her off the ledge to make her do what he wants?”

  “Yes. He’s improvising, which means he didn’t have time to plan this out very well. Or he didn’t take the time.”

  Robin agreed. She wished Nate would look at her. “Ready?”

  Despite his dark sunglasses, she could tell when his gaze met hers. “You sure you’re okay to do this?”

  “Give me a break.”

  Irritation flashed across his rugged features. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. I just don’t want to lose our chance at him. And I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  She had no right to feel disappointed that he hadn’t said he didn’t want her getting hurt, yet she did. Stupid. There was no time for this. She adjusted her sunglasses and moved down the wall toward the back of the air-conditioning unit.

  When she was in place, she glanced over her shoulder and signaled Nate. As he drew his weapon and disappeared around the corner, Robin did the same, working her way to the opposite corner. She could see Nate now. Pattie and Joel, too.

  When Nate’s gaze flickered to her, she gave him a thumbs-up.

  Gun leveled, he moved away from the unit and into the open. “Joel, it’s Agent Houston.”

  Holding on to his ex-wife’s leg, he jerked toward Nate.

  “Stay back!”

  Pattie wobbled, screaming as she grabbed Joel’s shoulder.

  Halting several feet from the pair, Nate kept his voice calm. “Take it easy, Joel. I just want to talk to you, make sure everyone’s okay.”

  Robin crept forward, her weapon trained on the desperate man who was focused on her partner.

  Nate shifted his attention to the woman on the ledge.

  “Pattie, are you all right?”

  “Yes,” she sobbed.

  Even from here, Robin could tell the woman was trembling. Fear made her eyes wild.

  Nate eased closer. “Let her go, Roper.”

  Joel grabbed Pattie’s wrist and yanked hard. “Get back, man! If you don’t, I’ll push her.”

  Screeching, she fell forward, catching herself by grabbing on to her ex-husband’s arm.

  Robin inched along, trying to stay out of Roper’s peripheral vision. She was almost directly behind him.

  Sirens sounded nearby.

  “You better get rid of those cops,” Joel ordered.

  Nate kept his gun on the man. “You can end this right now, Joel. Let her go.”

  “No!”

  “Tell me what you want.” Nate remained still. “Why are you doing this?”

  “I want her to pay for taking my kids away from me.”

  “Is that why you killed and burned those men?”

  Keep him talking, Nate, Robin thought, as she snuck up behind the suspect.

  “Who said I killed anybody? She took away my kids,” Joel informed them bitterly. “Why shouldn’t she pay for that?”

  Over his head, Pattie caught sight of Robin, and her eyes widened. Shaking her head, Robin cautioned the other woman to stay quiet.

  She was close enough now to see tears streaking Pattie’s face, running her mascara. She also had a hole in the right knee of her stockings.

  Nate shifted from one foot to the other, gradually working his way closer to the edge of the roof.

  Joel started, violently enough that Pattie wobbled. Arms flailing, she clutched at his shoulder. “Joel!” she screamed. “Let me go!”

  “Shut up!” Roaring, he lunged at his ex and shoved her. Pattie cried out, toppling backward.

  Nate and Robin both dove for the woman. Robin slammed into the ledge hard enough to knock the wind out of her, catching Pattie’s wrist as she went over the side. Joel threw himself into Nate and both men went down.

  Behind her, Robin heard grunts, the sound of fists hitting flesh. Pattie’s suspended weight nearly yanked Robin’s arm out of its socket. Clamping both hands around the woman’s bony wrist, she braced her knees against the ledge.

  Pattie twisted frantically over the side of the building.

  Muscles burning, joints strained, Robin yelled, “Be still or I won’t be able to pull you up on my own.”

  She also wouldn’t be able to hang on, but she didn’t say that. “Can you get a foothold anywhere?”

  “No.”

  “Okay.” Keeping her gaze locked on her feet, Robin pulled. “Here you go.”

  The tendons in her arms felt as though they might snap. Struggling, breathing hard, Robin finally managed to wrangle the woman up about four inches. Then her arm slid in Robin’s grip.

  Her ears ringing from Pattie’s screams, Robin dug her heels into the roof’s surface, cold fear slicing through her. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold on. Behind her, Nate and Roper were still fighting.

  “Help! Help!” Pattie screamed.

  “Stop panicking!” Robin snapped. Acting on instinct to try and calm the woman, Robin peered over the edge, locking gazes with her. “Pattie, look at me! Don’t take your eyes off me.”

  The redhead obeyed.

  Robin had hoped that by not looking down, she could escape her vertigo, but the ground began to tilt. Spots danced in front of her eyes.

  Pattie’s nails dug into Robin’s flesh, but even the bite of pain couldn’t help her stave off the dizziness. She heard the sliding snap of Nate’s gun, the rush of footsteps announcing the arrival of backup.

  Sky, buildings, concrete spiraled into one giant funnel. Cold sweat broke out over her body. Blackness closed in from the edges of her vision, but she was helpless against it. She could feel her control slipping away. Panic was the last thing she registered before she fell flat on her back, her head banging the concrete.

  Warm heavy hands cupped her shoulders. “Daly?”

  Nate. She opened her eyes, his features blurry as the world continued to spin. “Pattie?” she asked.

  “She’s fine.” What was that emotion in his eyes? Concern? Anger? “You managed to hold on to her until I got Joel cuffed.”

  “Thank goodness. Can you help me sit up?”

  He did, releasing her when she managed to stay upright.

  “What about Joel?”

  “He’s waiting for us to question him.” Nate helped her stand and they walked over to where the suspect waited, rage still burning in his eyes.

  Nate studied the
man. “Joel, we matched your DNA to some cigarette butts we found at the Spur Creek campground fire. We know you set that blaze and killed Hal Trahan as well as four other people in different fires. You’re the arsonist we’ve been looking for.”

  “You don’t have my DNA,” he glowered.

  “We do. We got it from a razor and toothbrush you left at your old house.”

  Robin’s pulse steadied. “Roper, you’re going away for a long time. Be glad you didn’t add your children’s mother to the list of people you murdered.”

  “I wish I had. Why should she be allowed to take my family away?”

  “Because you’re a psycho, Joel!” the woman accused shrilly.

  “Pattie,” Robin warned.

  Joel snarled at his ex.

  “Roper,” Nate said sharply. “Why did you kill and burn those men?”

  “Because Pattie slept with them.”

  “I didn’t sleep with Hal,” she denied.

  “You would have.”

  “He was just a friend!”

  “So, you were jealous?” Robin asked Joel.

  “No. I did it so I could get my kids away from this slut.”

  “What about the woman you killed? What did Sheila Bane ever do to you?”

  “I never meant to kill her.” Joel raised his cuffed wrists and dragged a forearm across his perspiring forehead. “Just her husband, who was having an affair with Pattie.”

  Nate nodded. “So you spent your days off following her, then planting accelerant at the victims’ residences the night before you were due back at the rig?”

  Pattie stared in horrified disbelief at her ex-husband. “You freak!” she shrieked. “Our kids shouldn’t be around you at all!”

  “Get him out of here,” Robin said to the waiting police officers.

  She drew in a deep breath, sliding a look at Nate. “We did it. We caught the Mailman.”

  “Yeah.” He sounded relieved, but also guarded. Distant.

  Because of her, she realized. Because of what had happened between them earlier.

  “This paramedic is going to check you out,” he said. “Make sure you’re okay.”

  She nodded as he moved away, flipping open his cell phone and asking for Marshal Burke. He explained to his boss what had happened with the Ropers.