Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Exit StrategyPaybackCovert Justice

by Shirlee McCoy

  “Is that blood?” Nia asked.

  “We’re not sure,” Nate said. “We’ll have it tested after crime-scene photographs are taken. We also found this.” Nate held up an evidence bag with a phone inside. “Is it your brother’s?”

  “It could be,” she said. “I can’t be sure.”

  Nate glanced at Aiden. “This is the signal we were tracking. Aiden, I was hoping you could let us inside to check out the cottage.”

  “Of course.”

  “We’ll use the front entrance so we don’t disturb this area.” Nate motioned them to the front of the house.

  “Do you think my brother is inside?” Nia asked.

  “We don’t know,” Nate said.

  “The alarm would have gone off,” Aiden said.

  “Unless he disarmed it somehow,” Nate said.

  “Not sure how he’d do that.”

  Agent Nevins called out to Aiden from the perimeter.

  “Those are the second set of agents sent to retrieve Agents Brown and McIntyre,” Aiden said.

  Nate motioned to an officer standing beside a cruiser. The officer jogged over.

  “Keep everyone away from the house until I give the order. I’m not ready to involve the feds in a potential crime scene.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Nate, Aiden and Nia went up the stairs to the front door. Aiden used the code to open the door and Nate went in first, motioning Aiden and Nia to stay behind him. Aiden disarmed the alarm.

  “Alarm was set. He would have tripped it if he’d broken in,” Aiden said.

  “You two, please wait on the front porch while I search the house.” Nate pulled his off-duty piece out of his holster and headed up the stairs.

  “Why does he need a gun?” she said.

  “Precaution.”

  “But my brother’s not a violent man.”

  “Maybe not, but his business associates are extremely dangerous.”

  They stepped outside. Aiden spotted his sister and Scott marching toward them. In the background, the two federal agents were visibly upset that civilians had been allowed through, while they were being held back.

  “Did someone break into my house?” Bree said.

  “We don’t know. There’s some evidence on the back porch that police will want to photograph, so don’t disturb that area.”

  “For how long?”

  “Not sure yet,” Aiden said. “Hey, where’s the dog?”

  “The dog has a name,” Bree quipped.

  “Sorry. Where’s Fiona?” Aiden said.

  “At the groomer getting beautiful.”

  “Okay, good,” Aiden said.

  The front door opened. “No sign of disturbance,” Nate said. “I’ll have the lab guys get over here as soon as possible, but until they’re finished, I’m going to have to ask that you stay away from your house,” Nate said to Bree.

  “Can’t I get some clothes and my toothbrush?”

  “I’m afraid not. Hopefully they’ll be done by tomorrow morning.”

  “Where am I going to sleep?”

  “You can stay at Quinn’s private apartment with Nia,” Scott said, glancing at Aiden. “Right, boss?”

  “That’s an excellent idea.”

  *

  Aiden got the women settled at Quinn’s apartment and left Quinn a voice mail to keep him posted. Aiden knew Quinn would understand since not long ago he’d been in a similar situation trying to protect the woman he loved from danger. Now that woman was safe—and Quinn’s fiancée.

  Nia slept in the guest room, and Bree on the couch, while Aiden stayed up, keeping watch and trying to get some paperwork done. Scott relieved him at 3:00 a.m. and Aiden stretched out in the recliner, where he caught a few hours’ sleep.

  The next day things were quiet at the resort and seemingly back to normal. Aiden didn’t trust the sudden calm. Although he successfully managed his responsibilities from Quinn’s apartment, he was always on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  His sister headed out to complete her grounds work for the day dressed in jeans and a T-shirt from the gift shop since she hadn’t been allowed back into her cottage. Aiden guessed Scott would trail her as she made her rounds. She left Fiona behind with Nia for additional protection. Aiden glanced at the golden retriever, rolling on her back with a tennis ball wedged between her front paws. Protection? Hardly.

  Nia was as efficient as ever, making calls, confirming plans and answering guest questions by phone. It surprised him that she was managing things so well, considering the past five days.

  “Our mud slide guests have all been allowed back into their homes, which is good since there’s a SAR meeting scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the barn. We’ve got a Merry Berry Farm tour booked for this afternoon and a family movie scheduled in the lobby at seven.”

  He glanced at her across the dining room table, studying a folder. “You are remarkable.”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “With everything that’s going on, you’re still able to focus. Wish I could say the same about myself.”

  “It’s all about compartmentalizing things. I imagine putting them in a box and locking them away until I have time to deal with whatever the issue is. This thing with Danny is frightening, sure, but it can’t stop us from providing excellent service to our guests. I mean, it’s all about making people happy while on vacation, right?”

  “I suppose that’s one way of looking at it.” He leaned back in his chair.

  “And another way is…?”

  “It’s a job, a way to earn an income.”

  “That’s awfully cynical, even for you.”

  “Why are you so determined to see the good in me?”

  “Why are you so determined to only see the bad?” She winked.

  “This is a losing argument.”

  “Who’s arguing?”

  A knock sounded at the door and Fiona barked.

  “Good girl,” Aiden said and went to check the peephole. It was Nate.

  Aiden swung open the door. “Good morning. Come on in.”

  “Thanks.” Nate went to the dining area. “You’d better sit down.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.” Aiden joined Nia at the table.

  “I’ve got news. First, the fire alarm was intentionally pulled. I was with Scott this morning going through the surveillance feed.”

  “Who was it?” Aiden said.

  “We couldn’t identify him. Or her. The perpetrator knew where the cameras were pointed.”

  “So he’s an employee?”

  “Or she,” Nia offered.

  “Could be,” Nate said. “There’s more. The man we found yesterday in the mountains?”

  Aiden automatically reached for Nia’s hand. He wasn’t sure why.

  “He was identified as Agent Mark McIntyre.”

  “Oh no. And my brother is responsible?” Nia pulled her hand from Aiden’s and stood, taking a few steps away.

  “Hey,” Aiden said. “Crutches.”

  She waved him off. “I’m fine. But I’m frustrated and ashamed.”

  “What are you talking about?” Aiden went to her. “None of this is your fault.”

  “Isn’t it? If only I could have…”

  “What? You can’t force someone to make better choices in life.”

  “But why did he have to bring all this here?”

  “That’s a good question,” Nate said. “You think he came to say goodbye? Like he was falling off the grid and wanted to see his sister one last time?”

  “I’d like to think he cared that much about me, but it’s more likely he came here because he needed money.”

  A sudden knock at the door set the dog on another round of barks.

  “It’s okay, girl,” Aiden said. He glanced into Nia’s eyes. “It will be okay.”

  He thought she nodded.

  The knocking continued. “Aiden? Bree?” Scott called.

  Aiden opened the door and Scott rushed into the ap
artment, searching the living room. “She’s here, right? Bree’s here?” Scott’s voice cracked.

  “She’s not back yet,” Aiden said. “Scott, what’s going on?”

  “I lost her, Aiden. I was following her and got distracted by a suspicious-looking pickup, and when I turned around, she was gone.”

  TWELVE

  “When did you see her last?” Aiden asked.

  “South end of the property behind the barn. She’s not answering her phone or text messages. She’s in trouble. I know she’s in trouble. She always answers my text messages.”

  “Take a breath,” Aiden said. Scott had launched into full-blown panic mode, and Aiden needed to pull him back from the edge. “She wanders into the forest sometimes to get ideas from the wildflowers. Besides, she’s very capable of taking care of herself.”

  Although he said the words to calm Scott down, Aiden was also worried. It wasn’t like her not to answer her cell phone.

  “Can the police help?” Nia asked Nate.

  “She hasn’t been gone long enough for them to do anything official,” Scott answered before Nate could respond. “But I feel like every minute counts.”

  “We’ll call some friends to help search for her.” Nia pulled out her phone.

  “Start with Harvey and Will,” Aiden said. “Harvey will take over for Scott here at the resort, and Will can join us in the search. Get in touch with Zack and have him ping her cell phone to get a lock on her location.”

  “I’m on it,” Nia said.

  “Why do you think she’s in trouble?” Nate questioned Scott.

  “Gut instinct.” Scott paced to the sliding door, pumping his fists with nervous energy.

  Scott and Bree had developed a deep and serious relationship after Bree had found him wounded on a trail. Bree had essentially saved Scott’s life, and Aiden knew they were connected in a profound way. They’d fallen in love.

  “Harvey’s on his way,” Nia said.

  “Good.” Aiden stepped in front of Scott as he paced. “We need to stay calm.”

  “I know, I know,” Scott said.

  “I can keep watch over Nia,” Nate offered.

  Aiden glanced at Nia. She nodded. “Go. Go find your sister.”

  Her phone beeped and she glanced at it. “It’s a text from Will. He’s on his way.”

  “Tell him to meet us at the barn,” Aiden said.

  She grabbed his hand. As he gazed into her eyes, his heart swelled at what he saw there. True caring. Maybe even…love?

  “Be careful,” she said.

  “I promise.” He pressed a gentle kiss against her cheek, turned quickly and led Scott out of the apartment.

  *

  Half an hour later Aiden was having a hard time keeping it together. They’d found Bree’s resort baseball cap on the edge of a trail leading up into the mountains. What he’d hoped was a misunderstanding was turning out to be more serious. That was when they picked up official gear, including a litter, just in case.

  As Aiden, Scott and Will hiked the trails leading from the barn into the national forest, the pit in Aiden’s stomach grew bigger.

  Scott hadn’t said much of anything in the past half hour. The expression on his face made it hard for Aiden to look at him. Scott seemed lost, maybe even resigned to accept the worst-possible scenario.

  “Aiden!” a man called from behind them.

  They hesitated as Dr. Spencer jogged up the trail. “Figured you could use a fourth. I picked up a radio at the barn.”

  “Thanks, Doc,” Aiden said.

  “Spence,” he corrected him and turned to Will. “We haven’t met. Kyle Spencer.”

  “Will Rankin.”

  The men continued up the trail. Scott had nodded his greeting to the doc but still hadn’t spoken.

  “Rankin, as in the adorable Rankin girls?” Spence teased Will.

  “Yeah, those would be the ones.” Will shook his head. “Adorable and charming. I’m in deep trouble.”

  Spence smiled.

  A few minutes later they approached a fork in the trail.

  “Let’s split up,” Aiden said. “Spence and Will, go left. Scott and I will go right. Use the radios to stay in touch.”

  Aiden and Scott hiked about ten minutes when Scott finally spoke. “This is a waste of time.”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  “Yeah. Fire me.”

  “Not likely.”

  “Why not? If I can’t protect the one thing I care about the most, then I’m certainly not qualified to be your security manager.”

  Aiden knew Scott was a strong and confident man, but the thought of losing the woman he loved was ripping his confidence to shreds.

  It would surely rip Aiden’s confidence, and much more, to shreds if anything happened to Nia.

  Reality slammed into Aiden’s chest. He was falling in love with Nia. Falling? You’re already there, buddy.

  He shoved the thought aside, needing to focus on his sister.

  “We’re going to find her and she’ll be okay.” Aiden hesitated. “I won’t accept any other scenario.”

  “But after everything she’s been through,” Scott said.

  “At least the trauma from dating her ex inspired her to become a black belt.”

  Scott actually cracked a slight smile. “Yeah, she told me she knew karate early on in our relationship.”

  “Trying to scare you away, huh?”

  “More like she was letting me know she could protect me.”

  “Then believe in Bree and her ability to take care of herself.”

  “Why would anyone bring her up here? And why Bree? She’s got nothing to do with all this.”

  Aiden shook his head. He figured Scott needed to vent but didn’t really expect an answer.

  “Aiden, we’ve found…at the…over,” Will said through the radio.

  Aiden yanked it off his belt and hesitated on the trail. “Repeat, over.”

  “…past the…is the…”

  “Will? Repeat, over.”

  There was no response.

  “Aiden, now!” Spence’s voice carried through the radio.

  Without a second’s hesitation, Aiden and Scott took off in the direction of their other team members. They’d obviously found something, or maybe even found Bree.

  Please, God, Bree’s already been through so much.

  Asking for God’s help didn’t feel uncomfortable or wrong this time. He wondered if Nia’s faith was rubbing off on him.

  They jogged back to the fork in the trail and Scott slipped as he made a turn. Aiden grabbed his jacket and yanked him back from the edge.

  Scott nodded his thanks and they kept moving.

  A woman’s scream echoed up the trail. Scott ran faster, Aiden struggling to keep up. Minutes later, Aiden spotted Spence on his knees, looking over the edge of the trail.

  “Doc!” Scott shouted. “Doc, what is it?”

  “Breanna. Down there.”

  Scott skidded to a stop and dropped to his knees. “Bree! Bree, are you okay?”

  “No, I’m not okay. I’m fuming angry! Throw me a rope, something to haul me up.”

  Scott shucked his backpack and pulled out a rope.

  Relieved that his sister was okay, Aiden realized Will was missing.

  “Spence, where’s Will?” Aiden said.

  “He went after the guy.”

  “What guy?” Aiden tensed.

  “I don’t know. Some guy who assaulted Bree on the trail.”

  “Assaulted her?” Scott froze.

  Spence grabbed the rope. “I’m sorry—bad choice of words. We don’t know what happened. Let’s get her up here so we can find out the details.”

  With a nod, Scott started to wrap the rope around his body. “I’ll go get her.”

  “Wait,” Aiden said. “Bree, you need Scott to come down there and get you?”

  “No! There’s not enough room for both of us. Make a loop on the end of the rope and pull me up.”
/>
  Aiden nodded at Spence. “Can you guys handle this? I need to find Will.”

  “Yeah, go,” Spence said.

  Aiden took off, realizing he no longer needed to be Bree’s number one champion and protector. She had Scott now, a man so deeply in love with her he couldn’t even speak when he thought her life was in danger.

  Aiden would be the same way if anything happened to Nia.

  He picked up his pace, wishing Will hadn’t put himself in danger this way, but the guy had a big heart and considered himself something of a protector, as well. That probably had something to do with raising two little girls.

  Aiden approached a switchback and heard what sounded like grunting, and then a gun went off.

  “No,” Aiden groaned. Claire and Marissa Rankin had lost their mom to cancer. They couldn’t lose their father, as well.

  Aiden spun around the turn and spotted Will sprawled on the ground. Aiden scanned the area but he was alone.

  “Will,” he said, rushing to the man and pressing his fingers against his neck. His pulse was steady.

  Aiden did a quick search of Will’s body. No gunshot wounds.

  “I didn’t hit him that hard!” a man’s voice cried.

  Aiden glanced at the trail above him. Danny peered over the side, a gun in his hand.

  “It’s not my fault!” Danny cried.

  “It’s okay. I believe you,” Aiden said.

  “You don’t. I know you don’t!”

  “I have to believe you, Danny. I’m your sister’s friend and she cares about you very much.”

  “Where is she? Is she here?” Danny whipped his head from side to side.

  Something wasn’t right. The guy looked…crazed.

  “She’s back at the resort. I’m keeping her safe for you, Danny. Why don’t you come back with me and talk to her.”

  “No!” He pointed a gun at Aiden. “It’s a trick. They’re all trying to trick me to get the money.”

  “I’m not trying to trick you.” Aiden put up his hands in a submissive gesture. “I’m trying to help my friend Nia. She’s so worried—”

  “She doesn’t have to worry because I’m going to find her and save her!” He spun around and disappeared from view.

  “Danny!”

  But he was gone. Aiden’s priority had to be Will, then getting word back to the resort that Danny could be coming after his sister. Aiden yanked the radio off his belt and found himself praying it would work properly. “Spence, this is Aiden, over.”