by Cat Johnson
Now, more than ever, Rick missed the teams. Thank God he had back up in the form of Chris and Brody. “Anybody call Jon or Zane?”
“Yeah, I did while Brody was driving us to find you. They should be here any minute, with the police. They were all together in a meeting with the hotel when we called.”
Crap. They’d be in the police station for hours filling out reports after this shit. Rick hated reports. That was one thing he didn’t miss about the teams.
He drew in a breath and turned his attention back to Sierra. At least she should be safe in the police station. That would give him and the guys time to regroup and figure out their next move.
In the back of his mind Rick knew the shooter would be doing the same thing—planning his next move.
That sealed Rick’s determination. He’d do everything in his power to convince everyone that Sierra needed to be kept under lock and key, whether she liked it or not.
Knowing her, she wasn’t going to like that one bit.
CHAPTER 12
Sierra drew in a breath as the police officer sitting across the desk from her asked the same question over and over again, just in a slightly different form. “As I told you before, I really didn’t see anyone or anything.”
She wasn’t a suspect, so why did she feel as if she was the one being interrogated?
“Go over the events for me one more time.”
“I already did that. Twice.”
“Do it one more time, Ms. Cox. Please.” His tone remained even and calm.
Good thing he had enough patience for both of them. Sierra was rapidly losing hers.
She sighed. “We drove through the gate of the lot. Rick was behind the wheel. I was in the passenger seat. We were in his truck.”
“What kind of truck?’
“I don’t know. The kind with an open back thingy. You know, where you put things.”
“A pick-up truck?” the officer asked.
“Yes. A big one.”
Huge actually. The kind of truck a man drove when he was making up for shortcomings in other areas.
Interesting theory regarding her bodyguard, and it would also explain why Rick was so pushy and bossy. She rubbed her elbow. She’d hit it pretty hard when he’d knocked her to the ground. That was definitely going to leave a bruise.
“Were the windows open?”
“No.” She rethought that answer. “Mine was closed but he had rolled his down to talk to the guard at the gate.”
“Did he roll his back up?”
“I don’t remember.” And she really couldn’t see what this had to do with anything.
“Okay, then what?”
“He asked me where to go. I told him how to get to my trailer.”
“Which was?” he prompted.
“Exactly where you found us when you drove up.” What the hell? Was this guy brain damaged or just destined to be annoying?
“I mean what path did you take in the truck.”
“We drove past the main building and turned right. The trailer is just past there. On the left. It’s maybe a quarter of a mile, I guess.” She lifted one shoulder, beyond caring at this point.
How had Rick escaped this inquisition? He wasn’t in the room with her. As far as she knew, he was out having a nice meal somewhere with his bruiser friends.
Meanwhile, she was being held in this room like a prisoner with nothing but crappy police station coffee and no food.
God, she was starving. And she’d give anything for a Starbucks sugar-free vanilla latte.
Would they bring her one if she asked?
“Go on.” The police officer’s prompting knocked her out of her caffeine and food fantasies.
She drew in another loud breath. If the guy couldn’t see by now she was annoyed, he was denser than she’d thought.
“I opened the passenger side door of the truck. I stepped down. I closed the door of the truck behind me. I had my bag on my left shoulder. It’s a Hermes I bought in Paris. I was wearing my Prada sunglasses. Black ones. I had on the same black yoga pants, zip-up sweatshirt and running shoes I’m wearing now.”
Sierra ran through the events, purposefully filling her recount with details she knew were of no consequence to demonstrate to her inquisitor exactly how pointless this questioning was.
He didn’t seem to notice. “And where was Mr. Mann?”
“He got out of his side of the truck.”
“Which side?” he asked.
“The driver’s side since, you know, he was driving.” Holy guacamole, was this man that dumb?
“I meant how was the truck positioned in relation to the trailer and the street?”
“Oh.” She frowned, picturing the scene. “I was closest to the trailer. His door was on the street side. He had to walk around the truck to get to me and the trailer.”
The officer nodded. “Did you enter the trailer?”
“No. I was about to but I didn’t have a chance before he jumped on top of me and knocked me onto the ground.”
All six-foot-whatever inches and at least two hundred and fifty pounds of his muscle-bound brutish body had been on top of hers for what seemed like a very long time. She’d never had a man so huge on top of her before.
Her last boyfriend was in good shape, yes, but he’d been an underwear model. He had plenty of muscles, but he kept himself super lean. Too thin, in her opinion. Brad ate less carbs than she did. He kept himself photo shoot ready and she did have to admit, he photographed well.
When Brad’s weight had been on top of her, Sierra had barely felt it. He certainly hadn’t been built like Rick.
All big and bulky. Hard and bulging. When he was on top of her, she’d been very much aware he was there.
She swallowed hard, refusing to let the brute get to her. He might have the over developed body of Hercules but he had the super-sized attitude to go with it. Always telling her what to do. Pushing her around.
Sure, he’d probably look pretty amazing with his shirt off.
His pants too since she hadn’t missed the size of the man’s thighs. Holy hell, how did he get those quads so big? But being with a man like him would definitely not be worth dealing with the ego that came with the bod. Nope.
“Ms. Cox?” The officer’s voice knocked her out of her internal debate about the pros and cons of sleeping with a man like Rick.
“Um, sorry, did you ask me something?”
“I said we’ve got enough for now. You’re free to go. We’ll call if we have any further questions.”
“Thank you.” Now that she had been set free, she wasn’t sure where to go. “Do you know where my manager is?”
“I’m not sure, but the group of men who came in with you were outside in the waiting area last I saw. Mr. Mann said he’d be waiting for you.”
No doubt he would be, like any good watchdog. She stood and waited for the officer to open the door for her. “Thanks.”
Sierra dug into her bag and pulled out her sunglasses. She’d rather not be recognized coming out of a police station if she could help it. Of course, if word had spread and the paparazzi were outside, no sunglasses would prevent her from being recognized, and photographed, and speculated on.
Sometimes she hated her life. Particularly now, as Rick strode toward her with an expression of determination on his face.
“Come with me.”
“Yes, sir.” As if she had a choice as he gripped her elbow with one beefy hand and turned her down the hall. “Where are we going? If you don’t mind my asking, that is.”
Hopefully her sarcasm had penetrated the thick muscle between his ears.
“You are going to the ladies bathroom.” He gave her a little push toward the door.
“I don’t have—”
“Just go.” He drew in a breath. “Please?”
“Fine.” She scowled at being told what to do yet again, but he had said please. She supposed she should reward good behavior.
Sierra pushed through the door
and came face to face with a smiling blonde who looked at her like she knew her.
The woman stepped forward. “Hi, I’m Darci Mann. I’m Rick’s sister.”
“Oh. Um, hi.” Surprised that his sister wasn’t Amazonian in proportions, Sierra took Darci’s offered hand and shook it.
“Rick and Chris have a plan to get you out of here.”
“Okay. I guess it involves you?”
“It does.” Darci beamed a wide smile at her. She looked much too happy about the whole thing. “I’m sorry. I’m just such a fan. Meeting you in person is huge for me, but to be able to help you and be part of another GAPS assignment—I can’t tell you how exciting that is.”
Fan girls, Sierra was more than used to. But something else Darci had said, about helping on another assignment, was interesting. “You’ve worked with them before?”
“Only once and if Rick had anything to say about it, I’d never do it again, but this is kind of an emergency situation. They needed me so he couldn’t object.”
Ah, so Rick ordered his sister around too. Good to know Sierra wasn’t the only one in that regard.
“So what’s the plan?” Sierra asked.
“I walked in a few minutes ago wearing what’s in this bag.” Darci thrust a duffle bag forward. “We’re close enough in size that the guys figure if you walk out of here, alone, wearing the same clothes I had on, with your hair in a ponytail and the hat and sunglasses, anyone watching won’t know it’s you.”
It might just work—to get her out of the building at least. One question remained. “Then what?”
“My car is parked right outside.” Darci held up the keys. “You get in and drive down the block. Turn right at the first light. Rick will be waiting there for you.”
“How will he get out of the building without being spotted?”
“He should have already left by now. He and Brody were going to leave here together and hop into Brody’s truck. He figures anyone looking will think they ran out for food or whatever. Then they’d wait around to see when you come out.”
“But I never will because I’ll be already gone.” Sierra could see how this plan might just work. “What about you?”
“I’ll just walk out. I’m in different clothes that I carried in, inside the bag.” Darci pulled the rubber band out of her hair and it cascaded to her shoulders. “No one will think anything of it. I could be an employee who’s been inside working for hours. I’m going to take Rick’s truck home since you two will have my car for the foreseeable future.”
Foreseeable future? “Where are we going?”
“I don’t know. Rick wouldn’t tell me. As if I would ever tell anyone. Whatever.” Darci rolled her eyes.
Sierra had to smile feeling a kinship with this woman who found Rick as frustrating as she did. “Thank you for helping me.”
Darci dismissed the thanks with a wave of one hand. “It was nothing. I’m happy to help.”
“Seriously. If there’s anything I can ever do for you.”
The young blonde smiled. “An autograph when you’re back and safe would be great.”
Sierra laughed. “I can probably do a little better than that but okay, you got it.”
Hell, if GAPS actually managed to find this crazy stalker who Rick believed was shooting at her today, she’d get them all tickets for the red carpet for the movie release.
These guys probably looked pretty good in tuxedos—if they could find any that fit. Roger would eat that up.
She smiled at that thought as she moved into one of the stalls to get changed in private in case anyone else came into the bathroom.
CHAPTER 13
“What are you doing?”
Sierra glanced up and saw Rick’s eyes wide. “I’m checking the posts on my Fan Page on Facebook.”
She had to hold on to the door’s armrest as Rick hit the breaks and swerved the car onto the shoulder of the highway, bringing it to a stop and rocking Sierra forward.
As he let out a string of curses that might make a less worldly woman blush, she asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Your phone’s not off?”
“No.” She held it up for him to see the display.
More cusses followed as he extended his hand and said, “Give it.”
“What? No.” Frowning, she pulled the phone away and out of range of his grasp. “And nice language. Do you talk that way to your mother and sister?”
“If either one of them were putting our lives in jeopardy by doing something stupid, yeah, I sure as hell would.” His nostrils flared with each fast breath. His eyes looked hard and angry beneath brows that were drawn low.
This guy was more dramatic than she was and she was the one who was an actor. “How is checking Facebook putting our lives in jeopardy?”
He drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “Sierra, there could be a tracker on your phone.”
“How would they have gotten access to my phone?”
“How did they get access to the inside of your trailer? And your hotel room?” He cocked up one sandy brow. “And with today’s technology, they won’t even need access to your device. They can track your location by which cell towers the signal is bouncing off.”
Her eyes widened as she wondered if what he said was true.
She stared down at the phone in her hand, seeing it in a whole new light now that it might be a way for someone to spy on her. She was getting pretty tired of having her privacy invaded by whoever this nutcase stalker was.
“So what do I do?”
“Turn it off. Just power it down for now. When we stop somewhere, I’ll take it apart. Remove the chip and the battery. Then we’ll be certain there’s no way anyone can track it.”
“Okay.” She powered down the phone, to Rick’s obvious relief.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The idea of him dismantling her phone wasn’t exactly appealing, but there was a newer version out and it came in a new color. She’d been meaning to upgrade anyway. And if he broke it, she’d have something to hold over him until they parted ways, for however long that was.
That raised another question. “Where are we going, anyway?”
“Someplace safe.” He checked the side mirror and pulled back onto the highway now that his panic over her cell phone was over.
“You won’t even tell me?” Jeez. She knew he hadn’t told Darci, but keeping it secret from her seemed really ridiculous. Unless he blindfolded her she’d know where they were.
“Would it make a difference if you knew?” He shot her a sideways glance.
Not really. Rick was behind the wheel speeding somewhere. He was in the driver’s seat both literally and figuratively. She had to go with him, a slave to his whim, but that wasn’t the point. She wanted to know where they were going.
“Yes, it will make a difference.”
“Fine. We’re heading for North Carolina.”
“North Carolina? Why?”
“Because the Outer Banks is a tourist destination. No one will think twice of a couple of people coming or going, or keeping to themselves. And mostly because we were able to rent a cottage on short notice. Three bedrooms at the beach and only two hundred bucks a night.“ He grinned at her, looking very smug about his bargain shopping.
“Two hundred a night total? For a three bedroom house at the beach?”
“Yup.” He looked singularly pleased with himself. “But don’t expect the Taj Mahal. The owner referred to it as a surf shack in the ad.”
A shack? The price made much more sense now. She frowned at their destination and what would be her accommodations for the foreseeable future. “Are we on that tight of a budget? Aren’t you billing me for all your expenses, including this beach shack?”
“I’m sure Jon is, but accounting isn’t my department. We’re going there because no one would expect Sierra Cox to be staying in an inexpensive cottage on Ocracoke Island.”
“No doubt. And that’s a
terrible name, by the way. Ocracoke.”
Brow cocked, he shot her a sideways glance. “I’ll be sure to inform the chamber of commerce when we arrive.”
“Is it beach front, at least?”
“Yes, princess. It is beach front.” He rolled his eyes.
“Don’t call me princess.”
“Don’t act like one and I won’t.” He didn’t even bother glancing her direction as he issued that directive.
She didn’t have a suitable retort so she chose the silent treatment.
That plan worked for about five miles of highway, before she had more questions. Holding them in until he talked first became impossible. Finally, Sierra asked, “Does Roger know where we’re going?”
“No.”
“No? Why not?”
“We don’t know who to trust right now.”
“Not even Roger? Are you crazy? You really think he had anything to do with those photos or the bug in my room?”
“I don’t know. He certainly had access.”
“Okay, even if he did, you can’t believe he took a shot at you today. If anyone actually did shoot at you at all.”
“You don’t believe me?” His eyes widened as he turned to glare at her.
“Keep your eyes on the road, please.”
“I know how to multitask. And I damn well know when a bullet comes within an inch of my face. Don’t have any doubt about that. I’ve been shot at enough.”
She would have asked how and why he’d been shot at so much, but she was too flabbergasted he suspected her manager. Her closest friend. And the nearest person she had to family for years now.
“No. I won’t believe it’s Roger.”
“That’s fine. You don’t have to. We’re still playing this cautiously. He’s been told you’re safe but there’s no need for him to know where you are. Until we catch this guy, and as long as I’m in charge, we’re not taking any chances.”
It must be a very nerve wracking existence to live in a constant state of paranoia. Sierra didn’t trust many people, other than Roger, but she didn’t actively go around distrusting everyone either. Unlike Mr. Tough guy here.
“Do you trust anyone at all?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Sierra didn’t believe him. She twisted in her seat so she could face him without turning her neck. “Oh really? Who?”
