Presumed Dead (Love Inspired Suspense)

by Angela Ruth Strong

“I did make some coffee, actually. But you slept so long the squirrels drank it all.” Shelling and roasting the nuts had been a full day’s project with his dad once upon a time. The warm, caramel-tasting beverage sure would have been more welcome than the fishy smell that made Preston’s empty stomach churn.

  She smiled at the fire. “Selfish squirrels.”

  “Here.” He scooped a portion of flaky fish onto a large leaf for her. “They left you some of this.”

  She pinched a portion and lifted it to her tongue. “I don’t think I’ve had trout from a campfire since the last time we went fishing together.”

  He studied Holly, the past blending with the present. He’d never loved fishing as much as he’d loved the quiet time with her. And she’d never loved eating fish at all. “Sorry it’s not eggs Benedict.”

  Her eyes met his. “I’m not complaining.”

  His pulse skipped a beat. Should he tell her that she’d inspired him to pray the night before? That she was right about him being afraid? And that she made him want to love again? “Holly—”

  She gripped his arm and pointed past him. “There goes Caleb’s boat.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Holly directed Preston to pull the Jet Ski behind the boathouse to the left of Thunderbird Lodge. “We’ll be out of sight over here.”

  It had taken longer than she’d hoped to row their kayaks to retrieve the Jet Ski and ride across the lake. Hopefully, Caleb was still there. Then she’d call the police so Caleb could vouch for her innocence, and Preston could disappear once again.

  Preston parked, and she led him along the rock wall above the beach and around the side of the stone mansion toward the gazebo. She sighed as she stared at the spot where her wedding ceremony would have been held this very hour if Preston hadn’t caught Caleb with Denise. Regret mixed with relief, but the truth was that she loved the idea of getting married in such a beautiful place over the idea of marrying Caleb. And Caleb was even more of a dirtbag than she’d thought, using the venue her parents had rented for their canceled wedding so he could hold work meetings and impress clients.

  Preston looked around. “I always wanted to come here as a kid because I heard all about the eccentric owner, but I don’t think it was available for rental or tours until recently.”

  “Nope.” She tried to see the massive boulders and towering trees through his eyes. They definitely made the rugged point on the lake even more majestic. She and Preston had been pretty blessed to have cabins passed down to their families so they could grow up spending summers in an area that usually only the most wealthy could afford. Not to mention it was a great place for Preston to play dead. Would he return to hiding out in his cabin once Lee was caught?

  They rounded the edge of the lodge. Caleb’s sleek cabin cruiser rocked next to the dock. Holly’s heart lurched.

  Preston grabbed her hand and pulled her forward to duck behind a tree. He must have spotted the boat, too. He crouched and moved behind the hedges, toward the gazebo perched directly up a pathway from the dock.

  “I can’t get down there without being seen,” he whispered. “Just tell Caleb what happened last night and explain how you need him to let Officer Shaw know you’re not trying to kill him. Then have the police come out here. I don’t want you leaving on that boat with him. I still don’t trust him.”

  “Or Denise,” she added. Couldn’t leave the other woman out.

  “Or Denise,” Preston agreed. Probably to keep the peace.

  If everything went smoothly, this thing would almost be over. The police would arrest Lee and his mistress. Holly would be safe again. Preston could go back into hiding. Hooray.

  “Okay.” Preston squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

  Holly squeezed back. He’d be right there for her until Lee went to prison. Then he’d disappear again. She smiled sadly at the man who’d once been her best friend. “I know.”

  She took a deep breath and slid her fingers away. She’d moved on without him before. She could do it again.

  Ha. Caleb’s boat mocked her as she made her way down the hill and onto the wooden planks. It represented her poor attempt at moving on without Preston.

  The door to the cabin opened. Denise climbed out in a white bikini and spread her beach towel on a bench seat. She slid sunglasses on her nose before rubbing shiny oil over her legs.

  Holly’s stomach twisted. She’d so much rather talk to Caleb than his stunning girlfriend.

  Denise tossed her hair. She did a double take when she spotted Holly on the dock.

  Holly peeked up toward where Preston hid. Knowing he was on her side gave her confidence.

  “You still love him, don’t you?” Denise accused.

  Holly’s heart thumped louder. How did the woman know about Preston? And why would she think Holly still loved—

  “I know it’s your wedding day and all, but Caleb is with me now.”

  Oh. Denise thought she still loved Caleb. Holly blew air into her cheeks. “I don’t want Caleb back. I’m here to tell him Lee Galloway knows we’re onto him. Both you guys are in danger. You need to get to police as soon as possible.”

  Denise lowered her glasses to look at Holly over the rims. Her voice lowered, as well. “You’re here to save our lives?”

  Holly blinked. She wasn’t going to get anywhere with this woman. “May I talk to Caleb, please?”

  Denise pushed her glasses back up and lay down. “He’s not here. He went up to the lodge to meet someone.”

  He’d already gone up? Holly had to warn Preston. Her gaze flew to the gazebo. No Preston in sight, but Caleb was strolling across the grounds with another man. Hopefully, Preston had seen them coming and ducked for cover.

  “And in case you have any ideas of stealing him back, honey, you should know I wasn’t ever the other woman. You were.”

  Tingles shot through Holly’s fingers and toes. She took a step back. What was Denise talking about? That didn’t make any sense. When Caleb asked her out for the first time, he said he’d recently gotten out of a bad relationship. Holly had consoled him.

  “No, I—”

  “We never broke up. I let him date you to secure our future together.”

  Denise had to be lying. Holly put on her trial face. “You were going to let him marry me to secure your future?”

  The woman rolled up to a seated position and propped herself up with her hands. “He wasn’t actually going to marry you. He needed to find someone close to you as part of one of his cases. He said if he proposed, this other person would come out of hiding and get arrested for what he’d done.”

  Holly clutched her chest. Waves of anger washed over her. Caleb was after Preston. He’d been the JAG lawyer for SOAR at the time of the helicopter crash, so maybe he was privy to some information that indicated Preston was still alive. And he falsely assumed Preston had been responsible for the sabotage. Winning a case like that would elevate him to instant fame.

  Was that what Denise meant by securing their future? It was all so messed up. But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was that Caleb had manipulated Holly into believing he loved her to get to the man who really had loved her. And he’d let her parents spend thousands of dollars on his charade.

  Her worlds spun together at a dizzying pace. Preston’s innocence. Caleb’s suspicion. Being stuck in the middle could crush her like ice in a blender. She gripped the edge of the boat to keep balanced.

  Why hadn’t anyone told her the truth to begin with? She was done with the lies. If Caleb knew Preston was alive, then there was no reason for her childhood friend to hide anymore. She’d get the attorney to believe Preston’s side so he could help investigate the helicopter crash. Even if he didn’t want to, he owed her big-time.

  She straightened and looked up at the soaring roofs of Thunderbird Lodge towering over the rock walls. Her parents had paid good money for this place, and she was going to get her money’s worth. She spun away from Denise and ma
rched toward the stairs that would take her straight to Caleb.

  * * *

  Preston crouched behind the gazebo wall the moment he’d heard voices. Had Caleb already come up to the mansion for his meeting?

  The voices grew louder. “So glad you decided to bring your family out to Tahoe for a vacation even though my wedding was canceled, Robert.”

  Preston rolled his eyes. Caleb sure seemed to be making the most of his canceled wedding. Would probably even take his girlfriend on the honeymoon he’d planned with Holly. Why was he risking his neck to save this guy’s life again?

  “Did the rental I recommended at the entrance to Tahoe Keys work out for you?” Holly’s former fiancé schmoozed.

  “Yes. Huge place on the end of White Sands Drive. Perfect. The family loves it, but, Caleb, you know I’m here on business, as well.”

  Preston frowned at the familiar voice. Deep. Crisp. Authoritative.

  Caleb clapped his hands. “I know, and I’m pleased to report that very soon I will have finished tying up all the loose ends from Operation Desert Hope.”

  Preston’s spine snapped straight. Heat shot from his heart and radiated out to all his limbs. His brain went fuzzy for a moment, as if he were trying to look through an unfocused lens of a camera. The lens focused. Zoomed in.

  Had Caleb been investigating the failed op this whole time? He had been the judge advocate general assigned to the case. Maybe he’d figured out who had really sabotaged the choppers. Preston could hug him. Holly’s cheating ex-boyfriend could be the answer to his prayers.

  The other man cleared his throat. Where had Preston heard that sound before?

  Caleb called the man Robert. It couldn’t be Robert Long, could it? Preston had to peek around the wall to be sure.

  Silver hair. Tall. More of a belly than Preston remembered, but if the commander wasn’t active military anymore…

  Preston couldn’t see the man’s face from behind, but he would recognize the age spots on those hands anywhere. Commander Long had been in charge of the failed op. He’d believed Preston was innocent.

  “No,” Long argued. “I’m here to tell you the case is closed. We’re better off leaving it alone.”

  Preston dropped back to his hiding place. Why wouldn’t Commander Long want to reveal the truth?

  “Make no mistake, sir, it would help remove the tarnish from your otherwise platinum career.”

  Since when did Caleb care about anybody else? Wanting to reopen the case had to be a purely selfish move. It would bring the attorney fame and glory. He wasn’t really concerned about Long’s career.

  Long was the one who cared for other people, which was why the man’s response was so confusing. “I’ve moved on. I’m retired. This is over. And that’s an order.”

  Was Long hiding something, or did he just want to move on with his life? The way Preston couldn’t.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’m leaving.” The commander sounded wearier than his age would suggest. “My family is waiting for me to take them to Eagle Falls. I’m going to go enjoy the rest of my vacation, and I suggest you do the same.” Long’s footsteps clicked away.

  Eagle Falls? Preston could meet him there. The man didn’t know Preston was still alive. If he did, he might change his mind about the whole case. He might be able to help Preston fill in the missing holes in the circumstances surrounding the sabotage.

  Preston had never considered meeting with the commander before because of the danger, but surely whoever killed Sergeant Beatty hadn’t followed the commander on vacation.

  “Caleb Brooks, I have to talk to you.” An angry female voice interrupted Preston’s thoughts.

  Preston twisted to face the stairs, where Holly was storming up. What was she so upset about? As far as he knew, she’d come here for Caleb’s help.

  He leaned around the edge of the gazebo enough so Holly could see him. He willed her to look his way. She didn’t. Her eyes zeroed in on the other man like lasers.

  If she wasn’t so angry, Preston would have left her to wait with Caleb for the police so he could go track down Commander Long. But he needed to know what was going on first.

  “I can’t believe you.” She huffed at the top of the steps. “How dare you use me as a pawn?”

  She was a pawn? For what?

  Preston ducked behind the gazebo wall. Where had Holly gotten her information? And was she right?

  “Holly?” Caleb’s voice rose. “What are you doing here?”

  “I can do whatever I want here. My parents rented this place for the day.” She paused. “Do you have any idea how much they spent? Were you planning to bring your girlfriend here all along?”

  Oh… Holly had talked to the girlfriend on the boat. Must not have been a pleasant experience.

  “Of course not.” Caleb played innocent so well.

  “Denise told me I’m the other woman.”

  She was? How did that work?

  “Look, Denise believes what she wants to believe.”

  Preston shook his head at the man’s excuses. He obviously said whatever he thought would get him what he wanted in the moment. The problem was that he was so smooth it usually worked. If Caleb hadn’t just mentioned Operation Desert Hope, Preston would never want to see him again.

  Caleb continued, “The truth is, I dumped her right before I asked you out. But she would never leave me alone.”

  Would the attorney just move past his relationship lies so they could talk about the important stuff? Like getting to the police before Lee found them? Then Preston would be free to track down Commander Long.

  “If you want to talk about the truth,” Holly challenged, “let’s talk about who really sent me the pictures of you and Denise together.”

  Oh boy. Adrenaline shot through Preston’s veins. He pressed into the rough rock wall to control his energy. And to move closer to Caleb to better hear the man’s response.

  Was this what Holly meant about using her as a pawn? Did Caleb know Preston was alive, and he’d proposed to Holly to get Preston to come out from hiding? Was this what Caleb was talking about when he told Commander Long he was about to wrap up the sabotage case? Maybe Preston should have gone to Caleb in the first place.

  Caleb’s tone changed—moving from defense to offense. “Who do you think sent them?”

  “I know who sent them.”

  “Who?”

  Preston shook his head. Would somebody just spit out his name already? This game was getting them nowhere.

  “It was somebody you wanted to come out from hiding,” Holly hedged. Probably second-guessing herself and afraid of the consequences should she reveal Preston’s secret.

  Caleb spoke just as cautiously. “Who is hiding?”

  Enough. Preston stood. “I was hiding.”

  Caleb’s eyebrows rose, though he didn’t look too surprised. “Preston Tyler.”

  The man obviously had known Preston was alive. He must have figured Preston would want to keep Holly for himself and thus reveal his existence should someone else propose. The attorney’s narcissistic brain would never have guessed Preston might let her go in order for her to be happy. But Caleb’s mistake of getting caught with Denise had given him what he’d been after from the beginning. And now maybe they could both get what they wanted since Caleb had some kind of information on the sabotaged op. It was worth the risk of revealing himself. Maybe this was God’s answer to his prayer for vengeance.

  Holly gasped. “Preston.”

  “Hi, Holly.” Why did she look so worried? She’d been the one wanting him to come out in the first place.

  “You should have stayed hidden. Caleb thinks you’re the saboteur, and he wants to take you to trial and get acclaim by smearing your name in the mud.”

  Oh. Good reason to look worried. Unfortunately she hadn’t said as much earlier. Because it was too late now.

  He ran a hand over his head. So that was why Commander Long wanted Caleb to drop the case. He didn’t think Pr
eston was responsible for sabotage. Maybe it wasn’t Caleb who had info that could free him. Maybe Long was the one in the know.

  “You really think I sabotaged Operation Desert Hope?” Did Caleb even care? Or was Preston just part of the man’s get-rich-quick scheme?

  Caleb held out his hands. “Hey, I didn’t want to believe it. But Sergeant Beatty whispered to me that you were still alive, and then we found him hanged in his barracks the next morning. That was too much of a coincidence for it to be suicide. And you were the only soldier not in the plane crash.”

  Preston balled his fists. He needed to punch something. This whole time, Caleb had suspected him for the same reason he’d suspected someone else. Though Caleb didn’t know the full story. “I saw a guy tampering with the helicopter right before we were to take off. I scared him away and went to tell Beatty to stop the operation, but I was too late.”

  Caleb eyed him. “If you’re innocent, why’d you go into hiding?”

  Was Caleb accusing him, or did he really want to know? Did it matter? Preston had revealed himself, and he’d have a lot of explaining to do, whether to Caleb or someone else. “I went into hiding because Beatty was killed. I was afraid if I spoke to anyone else, they’d get killed, too. I decided to figure this out on my own before coming forward.”

  Caleb studied him. “Did you?”

  Preston’s heart sank. He glanced over at Holly. Looked like he might need a defense attorney after all.

  She stepped forward. “Not yet, but I believe he’s innocent, Caleb. And I think I saw something in the newspaper that might prove it. I just haven’t been able to put my finger on it yet.”

  “If you say so.” Caleb looked back and forth between the two of them. “You’re going to turn yourself in?”

  Preston reached for Holly’s hand. He hated having to rely on someone else, but he’d need her now more than ever. “Yes.”

  Holly looked up. “At least now we can explain everything to police.”

  Caleb tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

  Preston took a deep breath. Caleb could at least defend him in this situation if not the SOAR disaster. “The police saw my truck at the marina last night. They assumed Holly must have been trying to kill you. It’s a long story, but now you can tell them she was actually trying to save you.”