Cold Case Cover-Up

by Virginia Vaughan

  Dana took a deep breath and gasped. Wherever she was, probably at the bottom of the well Meredith had been opening, the air wouldn’t last much longer. Her minutes were numbered and she wasn’t ready. She’d never even given faith a chance. She’d never given God the opportunity to prove that He loved her.

  No, that wasn’t true. She knew the bible. She’d had nannies who had read it to her and taken her to church. They hadn’t lasted long working for her mother, but they’d made an impact while she was with them. God did love. He’d proven it by giving His son to die on the cross for her. And she’d wasted the life He’d given her. She’d spent so much time feeling lonely and unloved that she hadn’t even allowed herself to believe that God loved her.

  And Quinn. She was certain he loved her. She’d seen it reflected in his face and felt it in his embrace. But would he live the rest of his life believing that she’d betrayed him? That would devastate him. He’d already lost so much.

  She gasped for a breath. It was getting harder and harder to breathe and she was growing sleepy, but she finally felt at peace with her life and her death.

  Take care of him, Lord. I love him so much.

  * * *

  Quinn turned into the driveway and drove up the hill to where the house had once stood. The foundation was still there, but the place was mostly deserted. Still, he knew he was in the right place when he spotted the car Reed was known to be using by the old shed. He parked near it and saw his headlights hit on a figure on the floor. His heart wrenched. Was he already too late?

  He jumped out but saw it was Reed’s body, not Dana’s, wrapped in plastic. He breathed a sigh of relief but knew instinctively that if Meredith was cold-hearted enough to kill her beloved nephew, Dana was in real trouble.

  Moments after his arrival, the area filled with cars and deputies scanning for Dana. None of them had a stake in saving her life the way he did. He’d never told her loved her. What would he do if he never got the opportunity?

  God, please keep her safe. Help me find her, Lord. I don’t want to live without her.

  Nothing else mattered to him now. It didn’t matter that his name was all over the news channels or that his career as a covert security operator was over. His heart clenched. He’d never even gotten an opportunity to tell her he didn’t believe she was the one who outed him. She still thought he was mad. Wherever she was and whatever she had been through, she’d endured it believing that he didn’t trust her.

  Lord, I need her to know I trust her and that I love her.

  He wanted to give her everything—a home, a family, everything she’d never had growing up.

  He spotted something and shined his light toward it. The iron top to the old well was out of place. He shouted to the others, “I found something.”

  He dropped to his knees and shoved the cover away, shining his flashlight into the hole. His heart nearly stopped when he spotted her several feet down. “Dana, can you hear me? I’m here! Hang on until I can reach you.” He didn’t know if she could hear him, but it made him feel better to talk to her. And maybe she could. Maybe, just maybe, his voice was comforting to her.

  “I have to get down there to her,” Quinn stated, but Rich grabbed his arm before he could.

  “And you need to be able to get back up. I have some rope in my car. We’ll lower you down.”

  “She’s not moving.” He heard the panic in his voice and he couldn’t help it, but his brother remained the voice of reason.

  “We have to get you both back up here, Quinn. Let us get the rope.”

  He finally agreed, but refused to leave the edge of the well. Rich returned with enough rope to lower him down. Quinn reached the bottom and saw Dana still hadn’t moved or responded to him.

  Her eyes were closed and her body was limp. He held out his hand to touch her, terrified that he’d arrived too late.

  “Dana, Dana, can you hear me?”

  Her skin was still warm, but he couldn’t feel any breath coming from her. He couldn’t lose her now, not now, not ever. He hadn’t realized the void in his life, the emptiness he’d felt at being alone. He needed her beside him as he’d never needed anyone before.

  He tied the rope around her, then waited as the men above lifted her out. Then he climbed out behind her.

  Quinn hit the ground and fell back away from them, watching and waiting, helpless to do anything but pray for God to spare her as Pete and another EMT rushed to help her.

  Don’t punish her for my mistakes, he begged. Don’t make me watch someone I care for die again.

  He couldn’t take it. He just couldn’t. He’d watched Tommy die, held him in his arms the same way he’d held Dana moments ago, and although his love for Tommy hadn’t been romantic, their brotherly bond had been strong and his loss had shaken him. Had he not leaned on God enough and God thought he needed more suffering in order to trust Him? Why did Dana have to pay for Quinn’s shortcomings? It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair.

  She jerked and gasped for air and Quinn’s heart jerked with her. Gratitude and thankfulness flooded him at the very sound. She was back. He hadn’t lost her after all. He couldn’t speak as his heart overflowed with joy. He fell to his knees and praised God for His mercy.

  He crawled to her side and took her hand as she drowsily looked around. When she spotted him, she gave a weak smile. He could tell it took effort, but it sent a rush of love soaring through him.

  “Welcome back,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

  “What happened?”

  He gave a relieved breath. “I almost lost you.”

  “You can’t get rid of me that easily.” She struggled to catch her breath.

  He smiled at her efforts to make a joke then kissed her hand.

  “Don’t talk,” he told her. They had plenty of time to tell each other everything about their lives and feelings, a new future spreading out before them.

  Still, she persisted. “I have to get this out. I love you, Quinn. I love you so much.” She reached up and touched his face, stroking his cheek with her hand.

  Tears flooded his eyes. “I love you, too, Dana. And I’ll never let you go again.”

  She gave him a slight, knowing smile then closed her eyes. “You’d better not.”

  * * *

  He entered the hospital with renewed purpose, but stopped at the door that led to Dana’s room. Her safety had become his utmost concern and that was a new feeling for him. He stopped and took a deep breath. Since Tommy’s death, he’d closed himself off from caring or needing anyone, but she’d brought him back. He’d been in West Bend for weeks, but he hadn’t felt truly at home until this moment.

  He stepped in and found Dana on the bed, computer on her lap and phone at her ear. He smiled. She’d been in desperate circumstances only a few hours before and she was already back at work as if it hadn’t fazed her. He knew it had, but she wouldn’t let the struggle define her. It was one of the things he loved—yes, loved—about this incredible woman.

  She spotted him in the doorway. “I’ll call you back,” she said into the phone, then hit the button to end her call. “What happened? What did she say?”

  He hated to disappoint her. “Meredith Jessup is being tight-lipped.” As predicted, she’d shut down completely after requesting a lawyer, but it seemed pretty clear to everyone involved that she’d played a part in the murders of Rene and Paul all those years ago. Mayor Jessup had even suggested his father-in-law may have assisted her or covered up for her by purchasing the Renfield property and bulldozing the house so no other evidence could be found. “Even with a lawyer on her side, she’s facing serious charges. Mayor Jessup has spoken to several of his friends in the Senate who confirmed she contacted them claiming to be acting on his wishes when she asked them to phone your network. Also, he’s found evidence that she paid Reed to do her bidding, including shooting Jenk
ins on her order.”

  “How is Deputy Jenkins?”

  “He’s doing better. He’s going to make it.”

  He reached out and took her hand. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m going to be fine. No long-term damage. You got to me in time.”

  He knew from experience what it was like to not be in time to save someone he loved. He was thankful that he hadn’t lost her, too. “She’s going away for a long time.”

  A tear slipped from her eye. “She murdered my mother and tried to kill me. That woman stole everything I had, my family, my whole life. She made me believe I was unlovable.”

  “You’re not.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against him and she went without hesitation. He liked that.

  “Thank you for all you did, Quinn. I couldn’t have done this without you. I know now why my mother died, but I had a family once, didn’t I?”

  “I guess you still do if you want it. Jessup was willing to do whatever it took to save you. He seems convinced you’re his daughter.” She’d lost so much but she’d found family, too. “What will you do now? Go back to the show?”

  “Yes. I found my answers, but there are a lot of families out there that haven’t gotten theirs. I feel like it’s my duty to help them.”

  “I like that.”

  She looked up at him and he saw the question in her face. “What about you? What will you do now that you can’t go back to contract work?”

  Her voice still held a tinge of guilt and he wanted to quickly dispel that. He took her hand. “Dana, I don’t blame you for what happened. I know you wouldn’t purposefully do anything to hurt me.”

  “I wouldn’t, but it seems I did anyway. I asked my friend Tracy to look in to some things and she found you instead. I’m so sorry, Quinn. I want you to trust me.”

  “I do trust you, Dana. I trust you more than any other person in my life. To answer your original question, I’ve been fielding calls from all kinds of government entities, senators, representatives from every committee there is. And Rizzo and I were talking with some of the other guys about writing a book about our experience. People need to know what happened that night and how their government failed to act. I guess I’ll be traveling the country for a while.”

  She smiled. “Me, too.”

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and hard. “How about, when I’m done with my traveling and you’re done with yours, we meet back here.”

  “I’d like that, but are you sure that’s what you want?”

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen in my life over the next year, Dana. I don’t know what’s going to happen with my career or how many panels and interviews I’ll have to give. All I do know is that when it’s all said and done, I want to come back home and I want you here with me.”

  A radiant smile spread across her face. “You do?”

  “Absolutely. You came searching for family. Well, you gained more than you bargained for in West Bend. I always want you to think of this place as your home. How about we meet back here six months from today? I’ll bring a preacher and we’ll make you an official member of the Dawson family and an official resident of West Bend?”

  Her eyes were sparkling as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I would love that,” she whispered. “In case you can’t find me, I’ll be the one dressed in white.”

  He grinned. “Don’t you worry. I’ll find you.”

  “You always do.”

  She leaned into his chest. As he held her, he vowed she would never be alone again.

  * * * * *

  Don’t miss these

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  Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from Rescue Operation by Lenora Worth

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  Dear Reader,

  Is there anything more fun than finding a new series to delve into? It’s the same for writers!

  I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to start this new series, Covert Operatives, with Quinn and Dana’s story. These were two such independent characters that at times they were difficult for even me to understand. But they both needed the same thing we all do—love and family. Coming from a rather large family myself, I sometimes wish I had the freedom to pick up and go and do my own thing without having to worry about family obligations, but when I delve into a story like this one and remember there are so many people out there like Dana—possibly even some of my readers—who are searching for the very thing I often take for granted, I’m humbled and thankful.

  I hope you enjoyed this story and will continue with me on this journey into this new series.

  I love hearing from my readers! You can connect with me online through my website virginiavaughanonline.com and at Facebook.com/ginvaughanbooks.

  Sincerely,

  Virginia Vaughan

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

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  Rescue Operation

  by Lenora Worth

  ONE

  Ignoring the tilt and rumble of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter about to hoist her down below and the dark thunderstorm approaching from the west, Senior Airman Ava Esposito adjusted the sturdy harness sleeves around the black nylon sling holding the sixty-five-pound yellow Lab that was about to rappel with her. Roscoe’s trusting eyes followed her while he hovered close to her chest, always eager to work.

  “That’s right. It’s showtime. We’ve got to find that little boy.”

  Roscoe wouldn’t understand, but they were armed and ready for anything or anyone they might confront in the dense woods that belonged to Canyon Air Force Base in the Hill Country of Texas. This reserve, mostly used for training, covered hundreds of acres and could hide a person for weeks if not months. Right now, she had to find a lost little boy and watch her back for a serial killer who’d escaped from prison in the spring and was reported to be back in these woods. Boyd Sullivan, known as the Red Rose Killer because he always left one red rose to warn his victims and one after he’d killed them, was a dangerous, deranged man. He’d killed five people over two years ago in his hometown of Dill, Texas. He’d been put in prison for those killings, but he’d escaped and made his way to Canyon Air Force Base to k
ill again. Two of those he’d murdered had been friends and coworkers of Ava’s. But he hadn’t left it at that. He’d also let out two hundred or so dogs from the Military Working Dog K-9 kennels located on the base. Let them out to run wild. Some that had suffered PTSD were still roaming around these woods. Now seven-year-old Turner Johnson, the son of Colonel Gregory and Mrs. Marilyn Johnson, had gone missing from his backyard this morning. The boy was up against wild animals, dogs with PTSD and a serial killer who wouldn’t think twice about nabbing the kid for leverage.

  Her focus humming on high alert, Ava checked her weapons and equipment one more time. Then she patted the alert K-9 on his furry head. “Ready?”

  Roscoe woofed his reply.

  Nodding, she scooted to the open side of the chopper and let her booted feet dangle out, Roscoe’s warm breath hitting the inch or so of skin she had showing outside of her heavy camo uniform, protective combat vest, knapsack and M16 rifle.

  Above her, a crew member adjusted the carabiner holding the pulleys that would hoist both Ava and Roscoe so they could rappel down, each with their own pulley to hold them securely together.

  Halfway down, she listened to the chopper’s crew reporting back and forth while she hovered and checked below. Nothing but heavy woods, scattered rocks and hills, and a hint of clay here and there. But somewhere out there was a lost, scared little seven-year-old boy.

  “Hold on, Roscoe.”

  Something whizzed past her like a gnat. But even with the chopper’s bellowing roar all around her, she heard the ding of metal hitting metal.