Still the One

by Debra Cowan

“Yes,” she murmured. He was exactly right. Liz would manage to land on her feet whether Kit were there to catch her or not.

  Studying Rafe’s sculpted jawline, the noble profile, Kit realized he’d been right about something else, too. For years, she had struggled with letting go of the responsibility she felt over her mom’s death. She knew it would break her mother’s heart to know Kit blamed herself. Getting her own heart to let go of that blame was a different matter altogether.

  Every time she thought she had managed to do it, her sister would pull a stunt, and all the uncertainty would well up again.

  Kit saw that maybe she’d used that as an excuse. Maybe she’d been afraid to let Liz go rather than really believing that her sister depended on her completely. That realization drew her up short, but it fit, settled something deep inside her that had felt restless and out of place since her mom’s death. Part of her would probably always feel responsible for her mom’s death, but she was tired of carrying it, especially by herself.

  She looked at Rafe, and a new determination filled her. She was willing to do whatever it took in order to keep him in her life this time. But regardless of what he decided about them, it was time for her to make some changes, starting with how she dealt with Liz.

  Before long, she and Rafe could focus on themselves, sort things out. Once Liz and Tony were safe, Kit could tell her sister about her plans for a new life.

  Chapter 13

  The closer she and Rafe got to Pet’s Diner, the more edgy Kit became. Not just because she wanted to see for herself that Liz was all right, but because she wanted this finished. The fact that neither she nor Rafe had spotted the bald guy tailing them also had her nerves jangling.

  “What do you think happened to Baldy?” she asked as Rafe flipped on his signal and turned into the gravel parking lot. “We haven’t seen him since Grady City.”

  “I don’t know, but we need to keep an eye out. I don’t like the way he suddenly disappeared.”

  Kit nodded, taking in the long white building in front of them. A red-trimmed door and windows, along with a tasteful back addition, nearly disguised the fact that the front section had originally been a mobile home. They drove between the two rows of vehicles parked along its length. She pointed out Tony’s white pickup at the far end of the front row.

  Rafe nodded. “If Alexander’s goons are around, they won’t miss it, either.”

  He eased the ’Vette into the first available spot, between an old Chevy sedan with peeling green paint and a grungy brown four-door Jeep.

  He killed the engine, and they both got out. The early summer air was comfortably cool, the sun bright in a pale blue sky. To the north rose four mountain peaks Rafe had learned were Mount Lindsey, Little Bear Peak, Blanca Peak and Ellingwood Point, snow visible on their summits.

  Kit scanned the row of cars behind where they’d parked, noticed that Rafe did the same, but she didn’t see the silver sedan or any car that looked familiar. She should’ve been relieved, but like Rafe, she wondered what had happened to the guy who had attached himself like their shadow.

  Semis and sports utility vehicles zoomed past on the highway. Tufts of sagebrush dotted the sandy pastureland across the busy roadway.

  “There he is.”

  Kit turned toward Rafe, her gaze going past him to the end of the row. A slender man in a baseball cap, Denver Broncos shirt and jeans stood at the tailgate of a white Ford pickup.

  Tony made eye contact, then turned and walked around the truck to the side of the diner.

  Kit started toward him, and Rafe fell into step with her.

  “You doing okay?”

  “Yes, just ready to see Liz.” She smiled at him, wishing she weren’t so jumpy. “I’m glad this is almost over.”

  “Won’t be long now.”

  She hoped so, hoped they could get Liz and Tony out of here before Alexander’s goons showed up. They rounded Tony’s pickup and Kit saw him standing in the shadows of the building.

  She glanced at Rafe. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Not going anywhere.” He squeezed her shoulder.

  Grateful for the support, she reached up and touched him.

  Even in the shadows, Kit could see how strain had hardened her brother-in-law’s usually soft mouth. His short brown hair was hidden beneath the ball cap, and he’d grown a full, if spotty, beard to go with his mustache. His wire-framed glasses did little to hide the anxiety in his gray eyes. “Hi, Tony.”

  “Hi, Kit. Sorry about this.”

  “Me, too.” She gestured to Rafe. “This is Rafe Black-stock. He’s my…a private investigator. He’s got contacts with the FBI and can get you some protection.”

  The men shook hands. Even though Tony stood only an inch shorter than Rafe, he seemed smaller due to his narrow shoulders. He backed against the stucco wall, edging farther into the shadows as he glanced nervously behind him. She and Rafe moved closer; Rafe stood on her left side, keeping an eye on the parking lot.

  Tony’s eyes were red-rimmed and tired-looking. “Thanks for meeting me. I want you to take Liz with you. There could be trouble, and I don’t want her involved. I hope you’ll have better luck at talking her into leaving than I have.”

  Kit nodded. “We’ll get her out of here. What about you?”

  “Thanks.” Relief flashed across his sharp features. “I’m going to the FBI. I’ve got three disks in my truck, taped under the seat. They contain all the evidence I could find against Alexander on his computer. From the first time he approached me about running a scam for him to where he threatened to hurt someone close to me.”

  “That’s good,” Rafe said.

  “Should I give them to you?”

  “No, you hold on to them, turn them over to the FBI yourself.”

  Tony nodded, his gaze darting to the parking lot. “We can go to the cabin if you’re ready. I wasn’t followed. I’ve tried to be careful about noticing that.”

  “Great. We didn’t spot a tail, either.”

  Kit pressed closer to Rafe, reassured by his easy handling of their covert meeting. She’d hired him because she trusted him, had known he would help her; in the bargain, she’d gotten a confident, more-than-competent professional and maybe a second chance with him. “Should we follow you to the cabin?”

  “Yes,” Tony said, “but I wanted to give you directions, too. In case you lose sight of me. We’ll turn right onto this highway and go four miles west. Take a dirt road marked by two brick columns. From there, it’s about fifteen more minutes, past a mesa and some thick forest. Liz will probably be awake by the time we get there.”

  “And mad,” Kit said with a smile.

  “Very mad. But this is for her own good.” Tony’s smile eased the lines of fatigue and worry in his thin face. His gaze searched Kit’s. “I really tried to keep her out of it. She wouldn’t listen.”

  “I know how she is.” Kit was past being angry with either of them; she just wanted them to come out of this safely.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “Maybe you can talk some sense into her, tell her to get on with her life and forget about me. I imagine I’m looking at more time, seeing as how I skipped out on my parole.”

  She admitted to a flare of admiration. He really seemed to have Liz’s best interests in mind. “We don’t think your parole officer turned you in yet. A few days ago, we talked to him and he indicated that he’d let us have a chance to find you.”

  “Really? That’s great. He’s a pretty nice guy.”

  Rafe stepped behind Kit, his body a solid shield at her back. He eyed the parking lot carefully before turning to Tony. “Once we get Liz and make sure you two are somewhere safe, I’ll call my uncle at the FBI. They’ve started building a case against Alexander with some evidence recovered from your computer.”

  He explained about Craig and the information he’d turned over to Wayne Blackstock.

  “Your guy must be good.” Respect lit Tony’s eyes.

  “It took
him a while,” Rafe said with a grin, “but he got it.”

  He put a hand to the small of Kit’s back, his touch warm and reassuring as the three of them walked toward Tony’s pickup.

  “Ready?” Rafe asked.

  Tony nodded and slid into his truck while she and Rafe moved to the ’Vette.

  “Did you ever see the bald guy?”

  “No.”

  She studied Rafe, trying to determine if he were uneasy or nervous, but his black eyes revealed only caution.

  Twenty-five minutes later, after bumping and twisting along a rutted dirt road past cedars and pines and a pair of deer who skittered away at the sight of them, she and Rafe pulled up behind Tony’s truck in front of a small, A-frame cabin.

  Tony started up the pine steps. Kit followed with Rafe, admiring the beauty of Liz’s temporary home and inhaling the scent of pine on the cool air. Leave it to her sister to find a gorgeous spot to hide.

  The cabin was nestled in a lush grove of evergreen trees. Framed by a pale blue sky and sun-tipped branches, the picture was as inviting and perfect as a travel brochure. Birds chirped, and a slight breeze whistled through the trees. Since Kit had left Pueblo, the temperature had dropped slightly. Though still pleasant, it was cooler in the valley. She rubbed her arms, wishing she’d brought a light jacket to wear over her short-sleeved cotton shirt.

  Rafe waited at the bottom of the steps for her. Five steps, carved from the same golden pine as the cabin, led to a wide deck. Sunlight glittered off two triangular windows situated on either side of the door. She and Rafe started up the steps.

  “Whoa.”

  The alarm in Tony’s voice had Kit’s head coming up. He stood in the open doorway, his hands in the air.

  “Tony!” a woman screamed. “They work for Alexander!”

  Liz! The voice jolted Kit. Before she could call out, Rafe grabbed her wrist. She jerked toward him, stunned. What was going on?

  He silenced her with one quick slash of his index finger.

  “Hey, man, don’t shoot.” Tony stayed frozen in the doorway. “I don’t have a gun.”

  A masculine voice murmured something, then Kit heard another unfamiliar male.

  “Run, Tony!” Liz cried.

  Rafe ducked under the stair rail, pulling Kit with him. She stumbled onto the ground beside him. Apprehension clogging her throat, she followed, her steps barely making a sound on the pine needles and grass, the tiny bits of gravel.

  Her brain tried to catch up to what her eyes had seen. Rafe tugged her to the side of the cabin, put her behind him.

  For a moment, his hand flat against the curve of her hip to hold her to him, he listened.

  Trying to do the same, Kit pressed close against his back, but heard only the roar of her heartbeat in her ears. Sweat slicked her palms. She clutched a handful of Rafe’s T-shirt as her stomach dropped with a sickening thud. Alexander’s men were here and they had Liz.

  His mind racing for a plan, Rafe turned, took Kit’s hand. It was cold in his. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock.

  “Kit,” he whispered. “Look at me.”

  She focused on his eyes, and he squeezed her hand. “Good. Listen. We don’t have much time. Tony’s trying to get them all out of the cabin, into the open. He told them the disks were in town.”

  “Why?”

  “If he can get them outside, we have a chance to get to Liz.”

  The shock disappeared from her eyes, and she gripped his hand. “What do we do?”

  He released her, pulled his gun from the small of his back. “I’ve got fifteen shots here. You have to help me.”

  She nodded, still pale.

  “Get behind the cabin. Stay out of the line of fire.”

  “But I want to help.”

  “This is the best way. You’re not armed. You can’t protect yourself unless you stay covered. I’m going to try to get to Liz, send her your way.”

  “Okay.”

  He touched her cheek. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, yes.” Her eyes were dark with worry, but clear.

  He walked her to the back of the cabin. “No matter what, stay covered until this is over.”

  Her hand tightened on his arm. “Be careful, Rafe. Please.”

  “I will. We’ve got plans after this, right?” He smiled at her.

  “Right.”

  He allowed himself one hard kiss, then edged along the back of the cabin to the opposite corner. After one glance to make sure Kit was safely in place behind the cabin, he eased up the side, thumbing off the safety on his Magnum.

  He hoped Kit would do as he’d asked. If there was any chance of her being in the line of fire, he wouldn’t be able to think of anything except her.

  He looked back once more. She was there, waved at him. Thank goodness, she was playing it smart. She’d stay out of sight.

  Putting all other thoughts out of his mind, he slipped silently to the front corner of the cabin. Tony stood at the bottom of the steps, still talking.

  He had managed to get Alexander’s goons and Liz outside. The two men, Baldy and a tall, skinny guy, matched the descriptions Rafe had gotten after the murder of Eddie Sanchez. Skinny stood on the middle step, his gun trained on Tony. On the top step, the bald guy held Liz in front of him like a shield, one arm hooked around her neck.

  The lush body and tight black outfit were classic Liz, but Rafe had to look twice at the blond bob. He’d only ever seen her natural medium brown hair. She whimpered, her body pulled awkwardly into Baldy’s.

  When the man shifted, Rafe finally saw his gun, drilling into the underside of Liz’s jaw.

  “I’m telling you, those disks are in town.” Tony’s features were drawn, his gaze trained on the man who held Liz. “If I don’t pick them up by tomorrow, they’ll be mailed to the police.”

  Good thinking, Tony, Rafe commended silently, trying to gauge his chances of taking Baldy from this angle. Move down another step, you slimeball.

  Skinny stepped to the ground, backed Tony into the hood of his pickup.

  The bald guy pushed Liz down another step, then another. Rafe moved silently toward them.

  “Leon!” the skinny man called. “There’s a car back there. Behind this truck. It’s a black Cor—”

  Rafe jammed his gun into Leon’s back. “Let her go.”

  The man tried to angle away from Rafe, put Liz squarely in front of him, but she dug in her heels. He yelled, “Junior!”

  The skinny guy whirled, aimed at Liz. Tony roared and tackled him from behind. The gun went off. Liz screamed.

  “Drop, Liz!” Rafe ordered. “Fold your legs and drop!”

  His words were drowned out by more gunfire from Junior. He and Tony grappled on the ground, fighting for the gun.

  Rafe yelled at Liz again, and she folded her legs. Caught off balance, Leon stumbled, slamming her into the railing.

  “Tony!” she screamed. “Tony!”

  Junior’s gun fired again. Leon draped himself over Liz like plastic wrap. Rafe couldn’t get a clear shot.

  Tony yelped, frantically pushing at the man on top of him. Scrambling off the ground, he stumbled and bumped into the grill of his truck. “He’s dead. Crap, he’s dead.”

  Before Rafe could tell Tony to get Junior’s gun, Leon exploded into motion. He pushed Liz to the side and bolted down the steps.

  She tumbled over the rail, on top of Rafe. Under the sudden impact, he stumbled. They both fell to the ground.

  A shot rang out. Tony cursed. Another shot cracked the air. By the time Rafe moved Liz and darted under the steps, Tony had taken cover behind the passenger side of his truck and was shooting at Leon, who had ducked behind a tree.

  Tony fired twice more, peeked over the hood to squeeze the trigger again. This time, the gun clicked, empty.

  Leon popped out from behind his tree, shot twice. Tony dove for the ground.

  Liz screamed, getting to her feet.

  “Stay down, damn it, Liz!” Rafe motioned
her down. “Get behind the cabin. Kit’s waiting for you.”

  Another shot sounded. Liz dropped to the ground, stayed low.

  Rafe fired in Leon’s direction. Saw the guy’s shoulder and fired again.

  He had no shots to waste, no chance of getting to his other clip in the car.

  Leon fired. One shot whizzed past Rafe’s ear; another buried itself in the wood over his head. The other man bolted into the woods.

  Rafe squeezed off two shots, aiming for Leon’s leg. The man tripped, then fell. Silence descended so abruptly that Rafe’s ears still buzzed from the sound of gunfire. The acrid smell of gunpowder burned the air. Rafe blinked. Had he hit the guy? If so, where?

  After several moments with no movement from either Leon or Junior, Rafe moved carefully from under the steps. He knelt to check Junior. No pulse.

  “Tony, you okay?”

  “Yes.” The man’s voice shook as he rose slowly from behind the truck.

  “Check on Kit and Liz.” Rafe started toward the edge of the woods where Leon had fallen.

  Rafe could see him, sprawled facedown on a bed of pine needles, unmoving. Keeping his gun at the ready in case Leon planned to surprise him, Rafe stood over the man. No twitch of a leg, no moan, nothing.

  He knelt, placed two fingers on the guy’s neck. He was dead.

  He’d never killed anyone before. A wave of shock rolled over him, left his chest clammy. His hands unsteady, he thumbed on his safety.

  For a moment, he dragged in deep breaths, trying to ease the greasy knot in the pit of his stomach. Sweat trickled down the side of his face, and he wiped it away.

  He turned and started toward the cabin, looking for Kit’s dark head. Just as he slid his gun into the small of his back, he reached the steps and saw her on the ground hugging Liz. Tony was on his knees beside them.

  “They’re both dead.” Rafe strode toward them. Liz was exactly where he’d last seen her.

  He had a clear view of them. Kit wasn’t hugging Liz; she was holding her. Liz’s head lolled against Kit’s breast, her eyes closed. Tears streaked Tony’s dusty face.

  Dread fisted in Rafe’s gut. “Kit?”

  He didn’t even realize he’d moved, but he found himself in front of her. Dropping to his knees, he gripped her shoulder. “Are you okay?”