Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 #1

by Margaret Daley

  “Not until you’ve rested like the ER doc said. You lost quite a bit of blood last night. Max was worried.”

  She chuckled. “But not you?”

  “Yeah, me, too.”

  Selena paused and bent to pet Max. “I’ll be good as new by tomorrow, boy. Will you tell your partner that?”

  Max barked.

  She straightened too quickly. The action of leaning over caused the yard to spin. She closed her eyes and got her bearings before she climbed the porch steps. When she looked at Nicholas beside her, she knew he hadn’t missed her bout of light-headedness. Slow and easy or he would declare her an invalid. And she did need that sleep.

  Inside the house, she placed her purse on the table by the door. Before she went to bed, however, she wanted to know what he’d discovered about her assault. “You haven’t said anything about what happened last night. What does White House Security know?”

  “There were a couple of fingerprints on the kitchen knife used in the attack. One that they could match.”

  “Who?”

  “Vincent Geary.”

  “Why would he be interested in the Littleton case? That’s what the assault has to be about. This all started when I began digging into it.”

  “Good question and one I will be asking him. I’m having him brought to headquarters for me to interview.”

  She whistled. “You mean business bringing him in.”

  “I want to take him out of his comfort zone.”

  She thought back to the scene in the underground garage. “I think the biker had on black gloves.”

  “I still need to know why Geary’s fingerprints are on the knife.”

  “So when will you be leaving?” She started for the stairs.

  “As soon as my replacement arrives.”

  Stopping, she glanced over her shoulder. “Who?”

  “Brooke Clark. She’s a fellow Capitol K-9 Unit member.”

  “Couldn’t you just leave Max? He’s great company.”

  “I called my captain last night, and he’d already heard from General Meyer. You are to have protection. That comes from the president and Senator Eagleton.”

  “My uncle?” She slowly rotated toward Nicholas, who covered the space between them.

  “Yes. They were both at the same gathering last night, and when they heard about the attack, they insisted you be protected, especially after what happened at the Easter Egg Roll. The president was not happy about your office and the general’s being compromised. I have a feeling heads will be rolling if we don’t come up with answers. Soon. That’s from the general and the head of the Secret Service. Someone in our midst isn’t playing nice.”

  “My body can attest to that. No cracked ribs, but I’m going to have bruises. In the past week, I’ve had more physical contact than when I was growing up with gangs all around.”

  His eyes twinkled, and one corner of his mouth lifted. “Are you sure I can’t help you up the stairs?”

  “I’m not even going to answer that.”

  As she mounted the steps, Nicholas’s chuckles floated to her. If she was truthful with herself, she was glad for the protection. That thought took her by surprise. She would never have admitted that in the past. What was it about Nicholas that made her so easily persuaded?

  *

  “I’m being framed. First the incident with General Meyer’s office and now this.” Vincent Geary’s face reddened with anger, one hand clenched on the table in the interview room at headquarters.

  Nicholas took the chair next to Geary, not the one across from him. He wanted to invade this man’s space, make him squirm. “Then explain your fingerprints on this kitchen knife.” He held up the evidence bag with it inside, its carved ivory handle distinctive.

  Geary’s eyes widened. “My fingerprints are on it because it’s mine. I have a whole set of them on my kitchen counter. Where was this found?”

  “In the underground parking garage at the White House. Used in an attack on Selena Barrow.”

  “The tour director?”

  “Yes, and the president has taken a personal interest in this situation.”

  The red flushed from the aide’s face. “When did the attack happen?”

  “Last night at seven. An assailant riding a black motorcycle snatched her tablet from her and stabbed her then fled. The bike was found this morning and your fingerprints were on the gas tank and side of the seat.”

  Geary’s mouth dropped open. “That’s impossible. I have an alibi.”

  “What is it?”

  “I was meeting with Congressman Jeffries and several other members of Congress, including White and Langford, at his house.”

  Nicholas slid a pad toward him. “Write their names down, and I’ll check it out.”

  “I’ve never ridden a motorcycle.”

  Nicholas rose. “If you want to prove that without any doubt, I would suggest you hand me your cell phone until I return. I wouldn’t want you to call your boss and get him to vouch for you.”

  Anger flooded his face again. Geary dug into his pocket and slapped the cell phone into Nicholas’s outstretched hand. “Congressman Jeffries is above reproach. He has a stellar reputation.”

  “Anyway,” he said, hardly agreeing with that assessment, “it’s not easy to dispute fingerprint evidence.”

  “I don’t know how, but someone planted those fingerprints.”

  Nicholas exited the interview room and headed for his Tahoe, making a call to Brooke Clark to see how things were going at Selena’s. He hoped she was still asleep. “Anything happening there?”

  “The grass has grown a millimeter since you left an hour ago.” Laughter filled Brooke’s light voice.

  “Funny. Is Selena still asleep?”

  “Yes. Do you want me to call you when she wakes up?”

  He could still hear the smirk in her words. “No. Just keep her safe, but don’t tell her I said that.”

  The next call he made was a carefully worded one to Congressman Jeffries’s home; a butler assured Nicholas that Harland was home. Then Nicholas texted Isaac Black, asking his fellow K-9 Unit member to immediately interview Senator Langford to verify Geary’s alibi. Isaac texted back that he was on his way.

  As Nicholas drove to Jeffries’s home, he thought about the case. The problem was that whoever was behind this was a frequent visitor to the White House or someone who worked there, because it wasn’t easy to get inside otherwise and know the layout so well to go undetected.

  When he was admitted into the congressman’s study, Harland Jeffries was sitting on a couch reading a book.

  He peered at Nicholas. “Come in. I hope you’ve found the woman who was lurking around my house earlier. Clare Applegate was very concerned for me.”

  “Yes, she was.” Nicholas took the seat across from Jeffries. “Did you find anything missing, disturbed inside or outside?”

  “Not that I or my staff can tell.” Jeffries closed his book and laid it on the end table next to him.

  “I understand you’ve had cameras installed outside since Michael’s murder. Was anything suspicious on them?”

  “Yes, the woman was caught on tape, but I couldn’t see her face.”

  “Like she knew the cameras were there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who knew about them?”

  “The security company who put them in and my staff. It wasn’t a secret but not a well-known fact, either.”

  Nicholas relaxed back in the overstuffed chair. “Are you aware that I talked with Vincent Geary yesterday in connection with the breakin of General Meyer’s office?”

  “Yes, and I already protested to the general. He would have no reason to do that. I understand his cufflink was found at the scene. Someone could have placed it there anytime or he lost it when he was in the office on business for me.”

  “He was brought in today for questioning in another matter that occurred yesterday. Selena Barrow was assaulted in the underground parking garage at the
White House when she was leaving work.”

  The congressman frowned. “What time?”

  “Seven last night. Geary’s fingerprints were found on the weapon, as well as the motorcycle used during the attack.”

  His frown evolved into a furious expression. “What’s going on here? There’s no way he could have been in two places at the same time. He was here at seven and didn’t leave until nine. The culprit can’t be him.”

  “How do you explain the fingerprints?”

  “Someone stole the weapon from his house.”

  “On the motorcycle?”

  The congressman waved his hand in the air. “I don’t know. It’s your job to figure it out. He’s being framed. You need to be out there looking for the real assailant. If you don’t want to take my word, check with Congressman White and Senator Langford about Geary’s alibi. They’ll tell you the same thing.”

  “We are right now. Do you know anyone on your staff that might do this? You said yourself your staff knew about the additional cameras outside.”

  “I can’t imagine anyone on… Wait, Tabitha Miller has been calling in sick a lot lately. In fact, she left work yesterday afternoon and didn’t attend the meeting last night at my house. She said she was getting sick.” Jeffries rubbed his nape. “I don’t know. She probably was, but she’s been acting strangely the past couple of months.”

  Tabitha’s name sure came up a lot in this investigation. Nicholas stood. “I appreciate you taking your time to discuss this.”

  The congressman shoved to his feet and walked with Nicholas to the front door. “Of course. I don’t want to see a good man’s name damaged for something he didn’t do. I understand you feel the same way. I heard you’re looking into the Littleton case. I’m glad. My son was working on that and believed him innocent.”

  “I only want the guilty to go to prison.”

  As he strode to the Tahoe, he glanced back and saw Jeffries looking at him out the window. The congressman said the right words, but Nicholas couldn’t bring himself to trust everything he said. Call it a gut feeling, but he couldn’t shake it. He slipped into his SUV. Now to talk to Congressman White.

  *

  Her throbbing arm dragged Selena from her dream of lying on a beach reading a book as the sun blanketed her in warmth. When she opened her eyes to her bedroom, reality washed over her, especially when she touched the white bandage around her left forearm. She glanced at the bedside clock. She’d slept for three hours. Her stomach rumbled its hunger.

  Slowly she rose and descended the stairs to the first floor, wondering if Nicholas was back from talking with Vincent Geary. She couldn’t understand Geary being behind the attack unless he was somehow involved in the Littleton case. She’d only talked with him on a few occasions.

  At the bottom of the steps, she peered into the living room and spied a strange dog—a beautiful golden retriever, lying on her floor. A petite woman with short dark hair and blue eyes, carrying a mug, came around the corner from the kitchen.

  She smiled. “I’m Brooke Clark, babysitter extraordinaire.”

  The laughter in her gaze enticed Selena to grin and reply, “I’m Selena Barrow, but then you already knew that. I could say I’m a victim extraordinaire, but I’m not owning up to that title.”

  “Would you like coffee? I took the liberty of making some.”

  “Sure, but even more, I want something to eat. How about you?”

  “Starving. I was thinking of sending Mercy on a rescue trip to the nearest fast-food joint.”

  As she followed Brooke into the kitchen, Selena peered back at Mercy, who had perked up at the mention of her name. “She’s beautiful. What’s her specialty?”

  “Retrieving.”

  “That makes sense given her breed.” Selena opened the refrigerator door. “I have the makings of a turkey-and-cheese sandwich.”

  “Sounds great. Nicholas called not too long ago to say he’s on his way back here.”

  “I’ll make him a sandwich, too, and if he doesn’t eat it, we can split it. I’m hungry enough. I haven’t eaten in almost twenty-four hours.”

  Five minutes later, Selena gave Brooke a plate with her lunch then took a seat next to her at the kitchen table. “Did he say anything about the case?”

  “It looks like Vincent Geary is innocent. He has an airtight alibi.”

  “But the fingerprints?”

  “Not his. They were planted in both places. Fingerprints can be transferred, and there’s evidence of that occurring when they were closely analyzed.”

  “Why would someone frame him?”

  Brooke shrugged. “If we knew, we’d probably know who was behind the attack.”

  “Do you think the assailant is also Michael’s killer?” Selena picked up a potato chip and popped it into her mouth.

  “It would be great to solve both cases.”

  “And Erin could come home.” If she’s alive. She wished she knew for sure her cousin was alive even if she only saw her from afar.

  “Nicholas said you believe Erin is innocent.”

  “She’s family and I know her. She wouldn’t kill Michael. Like Vincent being framed for my assault, things might not appear as they really are.”

  “True. I’ve seen that in other cases.”

  “What’s Nicholas like at work?” The grin on Brooke’s face made Selena want to take back the question. “Forget I asked that. I’ve seen him on the job at the White House. He’s thorough and intuitive.”

  “He doesn’t take anything at face value. That’s why when Vincent Geary insisted he was innocent, he had the lab go back and analyze the fingerprints under a microscope, a more thorough analysis.”

  So Nicholas was the right law-enforcement officer to help her prove her cousin wasn’t guilty. At least it sounded as if he had an open mind. He did with Littleton. That gave her hope. “I’m grateful he’s been around lately.”

  “He’s a good guy to have on your side.”

  She was beginning to see that, even though years ago she’d promised herself she would stand on her own two feet—be totally independent. She saw what happened to her mother, and she didn’t want to go down that road. Ever. Her drinking and constant need for love from the wrong men had driven her to an early death. It saddened her because her mom had had such potential at one time.

  Chimes echoed through the house. Selena started to rise to answer the front door, when Brooke hopped to her feet and said, “Stay here. You shouldn’t go.”

  Selena stood, her body taut. When Brooke let Nicholas into the house, Selena leaned against the edge of the table, releasing the tension. Brooke and Nicholas talked in low voices.

  “Okay, you two. If it’s about my case, I’d like to know what’s happening. I was the one attacked. Remember?”

  Nicholas lifted his head and snagged her with an intense gaze, his expression grim. “I was telling Brooke that we’re back to square one since I’ve ruled out Vincent Geary.”

  Brooke turned toward Selena. “I insisted on coming back tonight since Nicholas hasn’t gotten any sleep. I’m reminding him that he can’t stand guard twenty-four hours without consequences.”

  Selena straightened and folded her arms over her chest. “I agree. In fact, I insist. I can always complain to General Meyer.”

  Nicholas scowled. “Going over my head won’t win points with me.”

  Selena laughed, the action shedding what stress she had left. “Brooke, I like your suggestion. One person can’t do it all.” She zeroed in on Nicholas. “You need to sleep without worrying about protecting me.”

  “Good. I’m glad we got that settled.” Brooke called Mercy. “We’re leaving, but I’ll be back at nine. I have a dinner date with my guy.” Her face lit with a huge grin.

  “If you need to, come a bit later.” Nicholas opened the door for his team member. “I don’t want to interrupt your plans.”

  “Jonas will understand. And tomorrow morning, I’d better not see you until nine. The captain sa
id we’re to work together.”

  Selena sat as Nicholas locked the door after Brooke and Mercy left. “I’m going to church tomorrow at ten. This is my Sunday to help with coffee hour after the service.” She gestured toward a plate. “I made you a sandwich.”

  He joined her at the table with Max lying on the floor between their chairs. “Tell me what happened this morning.”

  As he ate, Nicholas recalled the interview with Vincent then told her about checking the aide’s alibi. “I’m not convinced Vincent isn’t messed up in the Jeffries case somehow.”

  “What do you think of Harland Jeffries? I know my uncle isn’t a fan of his. They’ve been political rivals through the years.”

  “I’m not a big fan of Jeffries, either.”

  Reaching for her coffee mug, Selena stopped in midmotion. “Why aren’t you? He has a long list of public service. He’s actively involved in All Our Kids foster home.”

  “Speaking of the home, Max and I usually volunteer on Sunday afternoons. Would you mind going with us tomorrow? If not, I can cancel this week.”

  “No, don’t. I love kids. I’m involved through my church with various activities when my schedule allows.”

  “Max enjoys the children, too. That’s when he gets to play. All service dogs need playtime. So much is asked of them when they’re on duty.”

  She sipped her coffee, watching Nicholas finishing his sandwich. “You look tired.”

  “Going a night without sleep is no big deal. When I was a Navy SEAL and on assignment, sometimes I had to catch sleep whenever and wherever I could. Once I slept on a rocky ledge halfway up a mountain. One wrong move and I’d have been dead in the ravine.”

  “You can take a nap. Max will protect me. That and my gun.”

  “No. If I sleep now, it will throw me off for tonight. Brooke is right about taking shifts, and then on Monday I can work the case while you’re at the White House, if you promise not to leave the West Wing without me.”

  “I promise, after what happened in the parking garage.” She covered his hand on the table between them. “Thank you for being there so quickly. I think if I hadn’t turned and stepped back, the motorcycle would have run me down. Several of the staff members have bikes, and I didn’t think anything of it when I heard it coming.”