Thread of Suspicion

by Susan Sleeman

  Had this man done something to her that wasn’t readily apparent? Dare he ask?

  He lowered his voice as if speaking to a victim like the many traumatized people he’d encountered in war zones. “Will you let me free your hands and feet?”

  Lips trembling, she nodded. Once. A bare movement as if any exertion was too much, making his heart ache deep in his chest. He slowly reached for her hands. She jerked back again, but her eyes rose to meet his and a resigned acceptance claimed them.

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” he said softly. “You know that, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  He took her hand and looked at the delicate wrist. Raw, angry welts marred the soft skin, a heavy bruise already forming. He pressed the knife against the hard plastic and sliced. She drew in a ragged breath and winced in pain.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, hating that he was hurting her more.

  He slipped his index finger between the tie and her wrist and gave it a final jerk like ripping off a Band-Aid.

  She cried out again, and he saw her blood coloring the tie.

  How could he have let this happen to her? He’d violated the SEAL code for the second time in hours and failed to control his emotions. He’d let them get the best of him, stomping away like a little boy instead of staying where he knew he was needed. Just like he’d done with his father.

  How many times did someone have to get hurt or die for him to learn that lesson?

  Who had to pay?

  Not Dani. Not sweet, strong Dani.

  He moved to her ankles, and as tenderly as he could, he freed them. He came to his feet and held out his hands. Surprisingly she settled icy fingers against his palms. On her feet, she swayed and nearly toppled.

  Enough. She needed help to walk, and he would give it to her. He slipped his arm around her back and swung her into his arms. A soft “oh” of surprise slipped out of her mouth, but she didn’t fight him. He headed for the family room, careful not to bump her ankles against the wall. He pressed her head toward his chest and fully intended to lay his cheek against hair that he knew was downy soft.

  “No,” she suddenly blurted and pushed out of his arms. She landed with a thud, a flash of pain marring her face. “I’m fine. I can walk.”

  Despite the desire to keep her close, he held up his hands and let her go. She crossed to the sofa and tucked her legs up, exposing her raw ankles. She started to shiver, and she wrapped her arms around her knees.

  She didn’t want him to help, yet she looked defeated and he felt a physical ache in his heart. He could watch her suffer or risk her anger from helping her. No question which would be better. Grabbing a thick blanket, he settled it over her body. He sat on the coffee table and waited, hoping she’d call 911. But she just laid her head on her knees and rocked back and forth.

  He made the call himself, and when he hung up, she looked at him.

  “You’re bleeding,” she said and reached out a hand, then let it fall.

  He looked at the two-inch gash in his forearm where the blood had already clotted. He grinned, hoping to lighten the mood. “With all my scars, what’s one more?”

  She stared blankly ahead, and he didn’t know what to do next. He was a man of action. Sitting here and doing nothing was driving him crazy. If she wouldn’t let him comfort her, he needed to do something else to help. Anything.

  “I’ll make you something warm to drink.” He didn’t wait for her agreement but rushed into the kitchen and put the stainless teapot on to boil.

  Anger over not insisting on staying in the house with her had him slamming a fist into the granite countertop, the pain as refreshing as it was punishing. He wanted to see her attacker punished for his actions and wouldn’t rest until he was caught. Silently he exited the kitchen through an adjoining door. He strode down the hall and, with his shirttail, picked up her assailant’s gun.

  A quick look told him all he needed to know. A 9 mm weapon. Smash had been killed with a 9 mm. He pulled out the ammo clip to see if it was full, the discharge sending a clicking sound ricocheting through the small home.

  Had Dani heard? Hoping not, he pressed a few bullets into his hand.

  “Let me guess,” she said from the end of the hall. “You’re looking to see if they’re hollow points like the bullets used to kill Smash.”

  “Stupid, I know. You can’t tell by looking at the casings, but I needed to do something.” He snapped the bullets back into the clip. “So you think your attacker was the same person who killed Smash?”

  “It makes sense that this attack is connected to the case. I haven’t made anyone else mad enough to want to kill me in a long time.” She flashed an ironic smile. “Unless of course you’re still mad that I outed your company to the general.”

  Right, a joke. She was defusing the situation with humor. He’d gotten to know her well enough to know she used humor as a defense mechanism.

  The teakettle whistled from the kitchen and she spun, putting her hands out in a defensive posture as if her attacker had returned. He headed her way, his own hands lifting. Not to defend himself but to pull her into his arms.

  As he neared, she recoiled. Obviously she didn’t intend to let him help her cope with the attack, nor would she entertain the idea of him protecting her.

  “I’ll get your drink,” he said and left the hallway before he took her in his arms against her will.

  On the way, he dug out his phone and scrolled down his contacts until he lighted on Mitch Elliot’s name. A wave of thanks that the cop had provided his contact information before they’d left Eggleston’s house washed over Luke. He pressed Call and waited for him to pick up.

  “Elliot,” he answered.

  Luke identified himself and gave Elliot a quick rundown of the attack.

  Elliot mumbled something under his breath. “And you’re sure Dani is okay?”

  “Physically yes, but emotionally I’m not as sure.”

  “I can’t leave my current assignment right now, but I’ll have a uniform there in a few minutes.”

  “I called 911. Someone should be on the way.”

  “Good. I’ll call Kat. You should see her in fifteen minutes tops.”

  Luke disconnected and watched Dani gingerly sit on the sofa. It wasn’t hard to imagine how she would react when Kat arrived. Fireworks came to mind as he grabbed her tea and joined her in the family room.

  “Thanks.” She took the mug but didn’t look at him.

  He was too hyped up to sit, so he wandered the room she’d decorated in a modern style in muted colors with a minimalist feel. Crisp, clean and to the point, just like her. Something he admired, except when it came to this case. She’d rush headfirst into finding her attacker when caution would be a better approach. At least an approach that would better assure her safety. Maybe he should call a halt to the investigation. Or find another investigator.

  He turned and looked at her. Yeah, that’s what he should do. Find another investigator. One whose eyes didn’t melt his heart and make him worry for her safety.

  “I know that look.” She set her mug on the sleek coffee table. “You want me to back off. I won’t, you know. This attack doesn’t change anything.” The tilt of her chin and determination in her eyes confirmed she would do whatever it took to solve this case.

  Even if he found another investigator or ended the investigation, she’d go rogue and hunt down the killer on her own. Something he would only let happen over his dead body.

  SEVEN

  “We need to talk about this.” Luke sat next to Dani and took her hand.

  She should pull free as she had when he’d tried to carry her across the room a few minutes ago. At the minimum, she needed to remember how Paul had carried her through this same space and strapped her to a chair. He’d refused to releas
e her until she agreed to consult him in the future before every step she took. She’d spent forty-eight hours as his hostage before her family had realized she was missing and beat down her door.

  “What is it?” Luke asked as he slid closer.

  Could she tell him about Paul? Should she tell him? She’d thought she was over the trauma, but the way she’d reacted to tonight’s attack proved she wasn’t. Telling Luke could lead to a closeness between them that she clearly wasn’t ready to experience. She had to keep her distance and concentrate on finding Echo.

  She slid back and withdrew her hand. “I’m just thinking about the attack.”

  “If your attacker was indeed the same person who hacked SatCom and killed Smash, what do you think he hoped to gain by coming after you?”

  “To stop the investigation.”

  “But how does he even know you’re working the case?”

  She couldn’t tell him about Echo, but she also couldn’t lie. “He has to be tracking my movements on the network.”

  “So he’s still logging on to the network?”

  “I’ll have to do more digging to be sure,” she answered vaguely, as she wasn’t certain how Echo had accessed her computer that afternoon.

  “What you’re not saying is that you don’t know how to stop him from doing it again.” Luke’s eyes clouded over. “And that means he’ll keep at it.”

  “True, but I have leads I can follow.” She hoped, anyway. After Luke went home tonight, she would search her computer until she figured out how Echo had sent his message.

  “What about the alarm system? How did he breach that?”

  “He could’ve hacked into the alarm company’s database and retrieved my password. After breaking into the house, he likely disabled the alarm, then reset it so I didn’t suspect anyone was waiting for me.”

  “So what you’re saying is an alarm system is of no value around this guy?”

  “I guess not,” she answered reluctantly, as she knew where this conversation was heading.

  “Then you aren’t staying here alone.”

  She felt her usual irritation rising. “I suppose you’re volunteering for the job of my bodyguard.”

  A dark, intense focus claimed his eyes. “You’ll find no one more qualified than me to have your back.”

  She shivered and expected to feel revulsion. Instead she found his intensity captivating. He was a strong man. One who knew what he wanted and how to get it. Just the kind of man she gravitated toward, and she had to move away from him to keep from caving.

  She got up and crossed the room, hoping physical space would cool her emotions. A siren cut through the quiet. She leaned out the shattered window and saw blue lights swirling in the distance. A silver SUV pulled into the driveway. Kat jumped out.

  Dani spun. “You called Kat?”

  He shook his head. “Mitch did.”

  “But you called Mitch.”

  “Yes.”

  She crossed her arms and waited for Kat to burst into the room as she did, charging up to Dani and planting her hands on her arms. “Why didn’t you call me?”

  Dani shrugged but couldn’t speak. Seeing her sister in the same room where she’d untied Dani after Paul’s kidnapping brought back the ordeal. While her brothers had dealt with Paul, Kat had taken Dani into her arms and comforted her. Dani couldn’t let the same thing happen now or she might fall apart.

  “It’s no big deal. I’m fine.” She eased her arms out of Kat’s hold.

  Luke cleared his throat, and Dani was thankful when Kat’s focus shifted to him. He crossed the room and held out his hand. “Luke Baldwin. SatCom Software.”

  Kat ran her eyes over Luke from head to toe, then she shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Luke. I’m Dani’s sister, Kat.”

  Kat transferred her attention back to Dani. “Are you really okay? Physically, I mean.”

  Dani nodded. “Fine, both physically and emotionally.”

  Luke snorted, and Dani glared at him.

  “What?” he asked. “I’m just telling the truth. You’re keeping it together, but you’re not fine.”

  “Which is to be expected after Paul,” Kat added.

  “Paul?” Luke kept his eyes on her as if he expected her to tell him about Paul, which was the very last thing that was going to happen tonight.

  “No one,” Dani said, making sure her tone brooked no argument.

  Kat stepped in between them and faced Luke. “Paul’s her ex turned stalker.”

  “Kat,” Dani warned, and felt Luke’s gaze burning into her. “I’d rather not talk about him right now.”

  “Fine.” Kat smiled. “Then we’ll talk about selling this house. You may have been able to live here after one attack, but not two.”

  “Two?” Luke shouted. “This has happened before?”

  “It’s a long story.” Dani crossed her arms and gave her sister a pointed look. “One we aren’t talking about right now.”

  Thankfully the police siren cut though the room, making conversation difficult. Lights followed, swirling through the open door and casting the room in an eerie blue hue.

  Dani went to the door and Kat followed. They stepped onto the porch, and the brisk wind sent a shiver over Dani’s body. She wanted to go back inside to get a jacket, but she didn’t want to be alone with Luke.

  The officer jumped from his car, and Dani hoped Kat knew him from her time on the Portland police force so he would streamline his questioning. As he charged up the sidewalk, his intensity spoke to the dangers of his job. But when he saw them, his face creased in a broad smile.

  “Yo, Kat,” he called. “Long time no see.”

  “Buddy.” Kat stepped forward and shook the officer’s hand. “How’s Vivian?”

  Buddy grinned before he launched into a story about his new wife. Dani wanted to get the questioning over with, but she knew how important camaraderie was between fellow police officers, so she stepped inside the door and let them catch up.

  Luke joined her and settled his jacket over her shoulders. His minty scent lingered on the soft lining, and she rubbed her cheek over it. She got lost in thinking about how different things would be between them if she’d never met Paul. But she had and she knew what she must do.

  Forcing herself to remove his jacket, she handed it back to him. “I’m in good hands now, so you can go home.”

  She didn’t expect him to agree, so when he planted his feet in a stubborn line, she wasn’t surprised. “I’ll go once you promise you won’t stay here tonight.”

  “At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I—”

  He held up his hands. “I know. I know. You can take care of yourself and you’ll be fine.” He shook his head. “Do I need to talk to Kat or will you ask to stay the night at her house?”

  Dani snorted. “Trust me. I won’t need to ask. It’ll take everything I’ve got to keep her from calling in the whole Justice clan.”

  “Would that be such a bad thing?”

  She’d made it clear how she felt about fighting for her independence, and she couldn’t believe he had to ask. “Do you want me to be pulled off the case?”

  “Yes,” he answered quickly and emphatically.

  Surprised and hurt, she took a step back. “You don’t really mean that, do you?”

  “After seeing you tied up in the hallway, I’m not sure what I mean anymore.” He ran a hand over his head, something she was starting to notice he did when stressed. “I don’t really want you off the case, but I also don’t want you to get hurt. Maybe I should look for another investigator.”

  She couldn’t believe he was suggesting this. “I can do this, Luke, and I won’t get hurt.” Her voice rose with each word and she felt hysterics from the night mounting.

  Kat turned t
o Dani, her gaze questioning. “Is there a problem here?”

  Dani cast a warning look at Luke, trying to tell him to keep quiet.

  “I’m trying to convince Dani she shouldn’t stay here tonight,” he said, ignoring her.

  “Hah,” Kat said. “Good luck with that.”

  Luke’s mouth dropped open for a moment before he recovered. “Does that mean you’ll let her spend the night here?”

  “Oh, no, she’ll be coming to my house. I just meant no one can change Dani’s mind when she’s got it set on something. You just have to go around her.”

  “Kat,” Dani shouted. “He already wants to put me in a protective bubble. Don’t give him ideas.”

  Kat wrinkled her nose and dug a business card from her jacket pocket, then handed it to Luke. “Call me anytime if you need help with her.”

  Dani stared openmouthed at her sister. She’d always been spunky and outspoken but this was taking it too far, and Dani planned to tell her that right after Luke and Buddy departed.

  “I’ll see you in the morning, Luke,” she said, then turned to Buddy. “I’m sure you have more pressing things to do than watch Kat be a nosy busybody. Let’s get on with my statement so you can get back on patrol.”

  He nodded, but she could tell he was enjoying the family feud.

  “It was nice meeting you, Luke,” Kat said. “Feel free to call me anytime.”

  Luke slipped into his jacket and glanced at Dani one last time. She didn’t make eye contact with him so he would leave. Shaking his head, he hurried down the stairs and to his car. Dani watched as he backed out of the driveway. She’d gotten exactly what she wanted. So why did her stomach knot as he drove into the night?

  * * *

  Luke had little time to lose. He jumped from his rental car and rushed into the town house. As he raced to the stairs, he caught a glimpse of Natalie sitting on the sofa.

  “You’ve been MIA for a long time,” she said, coming to her feet. “What’s going on?”