Athena Force: Books 1-6

by Justine Davis, Amy J. Fetzer, Katherine Garbera, Meredith Fletcher, Catherine Mann

  “I love you, Mom.”

  Relief flooded Kayla. “I love you too, sweetie.”

  After hugs and good-nights, Kayla made the call.

  Mike answered on the first ring. He’d been waiting.

  “It’s me,” Kayla’s entire body, her throat especially, felt tight with emotion.

  “I’m glad you called.” She heard relief in his voice.

  Oddly, that only made this harder for her. “We’d like you to come for dinner on Friday evening.”

  “Why not tomorrow?”

  Kayla held on to her emotions. Anger wouldn’t help right now. Tears wouldn’t either. “She has choir practice after school. They practice twice a week. She’ll be late getting home.”

  A beat of silence passed. “All right. Friday then. Seven?”

  “Seven’s good.” Kayla tried to think what she should say next, but she just wanted to hang up. She needed to sever the connection before her composure crumpled completely.

  “Thank you, Kayla. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

  She managed a polite goodbye and hung up.

  Mike Bridges would visit his daughter for dinner on Friday evening. Day after tomorrow.

  Kayla climbed into her own bed then and pulled the covers up close around her. She tried to be strong, but she just couldn’t do it. She cried. Cried for the mistakes she and Mike had made. Cried because she was awed by her young daughter’s perceptiveness and strength. Cried for Marshall and all he’d lost.

  Lastly she cried because she was lonely.

  Nights like this she desperately wished she could put her arms around a big, strong man.

  One exactly like Peter Hadden.

  Before she could chastise herself for the weakness she drifted off to sleep.

  Early Thursday Investigator Devon called Kayla to let her know her bike-pirating perp had rolled over on one of the biggest car thieves in the state. The guy hadn’t been bluffing when he’d made the offer. Cars, bikes, anything with wheels were pretty much on his connection’s agenda.

  This was a major coup. Investigator Devon had concluded that Kayla’s anonymous tip had come from a competitor who had known one of the three she caught would drop a dime on their main connection. The strategy was as transparent as glass—take the competition off the street.

  Devon also wanted to warn Kayla that for his testimony Mr. Terrence Swafford would get a mere slap on the wrist. In fact, he would be taken into protective custody today and kept in an undisclosed location until the trial, after which he would receive a reduced sentence. Devon added that he felt compelled to give her the heads-up since this guy could pose a threat to her later on.

  Kayla would also be expected to testify as to what happened the day of the bust. She had assured the investigator that the district attorney could count on her. She wasn’t going anywhere.

  And she sure as hell wasn’t afraid of some loose-lipped bike thief who might be looking for a little payback. The only worry she had in that area was in keeping her daughter safe from scum like Swafford.

  Just another reason Jazz would likely be better off at Athena. Security was tight when it came to protecting the students. She thought of Rainy. Well, most of the time, anyway.

  “I’ve got to run a couple errands,” she told Jim around 11:00. Jazz had choir practice again today so that gave Kayla a few hours to check out a couple things on Rainy’s case. “Call me if you need me.”

  Jim, neck deep in reports, only grunted. When it was slow, like today, it wasn’t uncommon for the deputies on duty to take a little free time to take care of personal business. If Jim needed her he would call her back in. He didn’t ask where she was headed. He likely assumed she had last-minute Christmas shopping to attend to.

  She was glad he didn’t ask. Lying to her partner wasn’t something that came easy to her. But sharing information with him about Rainy was definitely not a good idea. This had to be kept between the Cassandras. Well, and some aspects had to be shared with Peter Hadden. She had little choice there.

  As she climbed into her Jeep she gave herself another mental kick for allowing Hadden to slip into her thoughts too often. After last night’s too-close-for-comfort moment in his car she’d managed to dream about him in spite of her nerve-racking heart-to-heart with her daughter.

  Who would have thought that Peter Hadden could kick worries about Mike right out of her head? She’d expected to have dreams about Mike trying to horn in on her close relationship with their daughter, not close encounters of the sexual kind with Hadden.

  She had to get her head back on straight on the subject of Peter Hadden. Last night had ventured over the line. But she wasn’t the only one having trouble. In fact, he’d been the one to bring up the awareness between them. She had to be the one to end it. Until she cleared up the mystery around Rainy’s death she had no choice but to be involved with Hadden. After that they wouldn’t see each other again.

  Why get involved with a man she wouldn’t even be seeing in the future?

  By the time she reached Marshall Carrington’s home in Tucson, Kayla had convinced herself she’d made the right decision. She had her immediate future under control, at least in her mind.

  She’d called Marshall that morning and he had assured her he would be home all afternoon. He’d lectured his final class yesterday until after Christmas vacation. He had no plans for any research trips until the new year. He would love to see her.

  Kayla wondered how he would spend the holidays without Rainy. If he was smart he’d plan some time away with friends and family. Anything to get out of the house. The notion that maybe she should invite him to join her family for the holidays crossed her mind but she imagined he already had invitations from his own relatives as well as Rainy’s parents.

  Would being with Rainy’s family be too difficult for him? She should ask if he’d talked to the Millers recently. Then again, questions along those lines might disturb his tenuous grip on normalcy.

  She parked in his driveway behind his luxury sedan. The best thing to do in a situation like this, she reminded herself, was to go with the flow. She’d feel out the situation and go from there.

  “Kayla!”

  Marshall stood in the open doorway waving as if he were profoundly happy to see her. She couldn’t help noticing that the front of the house was undecorated. Rainy had always been eager to drape the Christmas lights and hang the seasonal wreath on her door. Would Marshall even bother with a tree without his wife to share the festivities?

  “It’s great to see you, Marshall.” She gave him a quick hug. Memories of how things had almost gotten out of hand shortly after Rainy’s death kept her from lingering too long in his strong arms.

  “Please come in.”

  She followed Marshall inside and waited until he had closed the door before she began. “How are the Millers?” she asked before she could stop herself. It felt so strange to be in Rainy’s house and not talk about her. The question just felt necessary.

  Marshall gestured toward the living room, then started to move in that direction as he spoke. “They’re coming down a few days before Christmas. We’re going to Rainy’s grave together.”

  Kayla sat down on the sofa and Marshall settled into one of the leather chairs facing her. “That’s good. Rainy always did love Christmas.” Memories of Christmas drinks and presents shared over the years with Rainy instantly flickered through Kayla’s mind. God, how she did miss her.

  Marshall nodded. “I’m having a special wreath made for her headstone.”

  “Jazz and I will stop by. I’m sure it’ll be beautiful.”

  He pasted on a smile. It was obvious to Kayla that the smile was only there for her benefit. “I mentioned that my classes are finished until the new year, didn’t I?”

  “Yes. That’s great. Are you planning to take some time away between now and then?”

  He lifted one shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “I thought I might. I’ll be heading off to Bogotá in February
. One of my contacts there has turned up some ancient artifacts he thought I might be interested in.”

  That he didn’t mention the kind of artifacts suddenly struck Kayla as odd. But she refused to allow the doubt Hadden had planted to grow beyond a certain level. There had been a time when Marshall Carrington wouldn’t shut up about his research, but a lot had changed in his life the past few months. It made sense that his priorities would as well. She felt confident that the wow of ancient artifacts dimmed considerably after one had lost the love of his life.

  And yet she knew better than most that permitting herself to fall too deeply into a sympathetic role would jeopardize her objectivity every bit as much as Hadden’s theories. She had to get to the point and be done with this unappealing business.

  “Marshall, I’ve heard a rumor that I feel you should know about.”

  His expectant gaze fastened onto hers. “About Rainy?”

  The hurt in his voice when he said his late wife’s name tugged at Kayla’s heart. She shook her head sadly. “No. Not about Rainy.”

  “You’re still investigating her…death?”

  “Of course. I won’t give up until I know exactly what happened.”

  His gaze dropped to the floor. “Thank you, Kayla. That means a great deal to me.”

  The picture he made now broke her heart. Those broad shoulders were slumped in defeat, his usually animated features dormant from loss. Even those affecting gray eyes seemed listless and almost colorless, as if losing Rainy had taken away his body’s ability to sparkle in any respect. The smile was nothing more than a prop. Nothing glittered about Marshall Carrington anymore and it was such a shame. His charm and ability to light up a room had been one of the reasons Rainy had fallen in love with him.

  “Marshall, in your research…” God, how did she say this to a friend? “Have you ever had contact with anyone who might be considered a…criminal?”

  His head came up, his brow furrowed. The question in his solemn eyes almost undid her. “What do you mean?”

  She swallowed. Rainy would feel betrayed by the mere idea of what Kayla was about to ask. But she had to, if for no other reason than to warn him that someone had an eye on him. Someone who wanted to hurt him.

  Not Hadden. He had no reason to want to injure Marshall. Kayla had checked out Hadden thoroughly. He was on the up-and-up. But someone from Tucson’s legal hierarchy.

  “I believe that someone is attempting to sully your reputation by tossing around rumors that you’re involved with some sort of smuggling.”

  The rush of red rage up Marshall’s neck and face startled her. He was on his feet and glaring down at her before the realization of his reaction had fully assimilated in her brain.

  Kayla had expected him to be offended, upset even. But not in her wildest dreams had she expected this level of unadulterated fury.

  “What the hell are you suggesting?”

  “Wait a minute.” She stood, her instincts going to full-scale alert. “I’m not suggesting anything, I’m only telling you about the rumor I heard. I thought you might want to know that someone out there is—”

  He moved a step closer, shaking a reproving finger at her. “My wife is dead. You said yourself you didn’t believe it was an accident. Alex said the same. And yet, you would dare to come into my house and accuse me of wrongdoing?” The veins bulged in his neck. “Why the hell aren’t you out there hounding Gracelyn? He’s the one who wanted to take her away from me!”

  This had gotten completely out of hand. She held up both hands in a whoa gesture. “Wait a minute. I’m not accusing you of anything. Nobody wants to get to the truth about Rainy’s death more than I do.”

  “Then go toss accusations at Gracelyn! He’s the one!” A muscle in Marshall’s hard jaw ticked violently. “For all we know he may have decided that if he couldn’t have her, no one would.”

  “Marshall.” She took him by the arms. He tried to pull away but she held on. “Calm down. I’m on your side.”

  What the hell was wrong with him? There was no reason for him to explode at her like this.

  He heaved out a ragged breath. “I can’t believe it.” He shook his head. “I’ve lost my wife and now someone is trying to make me look like a criminal.” He turned a laserlike gaze on her now. “It’s Gracelyn. I know it. He’s trying to make me look guilty. Ask him, Kayla. Make him tell you the truth.” He tugged free of her hold to grab her by the shoulders. “He tried to lure my wife away from me. He’s capable of anything.” He searched her eyes, her face. His own filled with a fierce urgency. “Don’t let him get away with this. You told me you would find whoever did this. I’m telling you it’s him.”

  “Marshall, I—”

  “Please, Kayla. Do it for me.”

  “I didn’t come here for—”

  His lips silenced her. He kissed her hard. His arms went around her and locked as if he feared he might lose her too. She tried to push him away but she couldn’t…or wouldn’t. He felt warm and strong around her…tasted good and so comfortingly familiar. She just couldn’t help herself. Needed this moment…his touch.

  But it was wrong.

  This wasn’t about her.

  It was about Rainy.

  She drew back. Fought to catch her breath. “Marshall, this is—”

  “But I’m so alone.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “You can’t imagine how it feels.”

  But she could. God, she could.

  As much as she cared about Marshall, as much as she longed to comfort him the way he wanted, she would not go there. He was still Rainy’s husband. Always would be, really. And this case was far from solved. Until that time she had to keep her objectivity about all involved.

  Most especially where Marshall was concerned.

  Though nothing Peter Hadden could say would convince her Marshall was guilty of wrongdoing, her training was too thorough to discount the concept completely without due consideration.

  She had to keep her senses about her.

  And that was impossible in Marshall’s arms.

  As if picking up on her thoughts he released her. “I’m sorry, Kayla.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I seem to forget myself when we’re together.”

  She managed a meager smile, fumbled for the right thing to say. They were both hurting, but getting involved wasn’t the answer. “We’ll get through this.”

  He nodded vaguely.

  “I’ll call you again soon. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need me…anytime.” She’d done what she came for. She’d warned him. Getting out of here now would be the best for both of them.

  He exhaled wearily. “Thank you.” He shook his head sadly. “For everything.”

  She dared to pat his arm, then she left.

  Staying a moment longer would have been sheer insanity. She had to put some distance between them…pull herself back together. Her hands were shaking and her gut was twisted in knots. She shouldn’t have let this happen.

  Once in her Jeep she waited a bit before backing out of the drive. Took a few deep breaths. Okay, girl, think. Focus. Her cop instincts wouldn’t let her totally ignore Marshall’s ranting. He’d accused David Gracelyn once before of being after Rainy. Maybe there was more to that theory than Kayla knew.

  Kayla couldn’t be sure what made her decide to do it. She really didn’t have time…but she suddenly felt as if she couldn’t leave Tucson without going by Rainy’s grave. She hadn’t been by the cemetery since the funeral. She needed to go there now…at least for a few minutes.

  A short time later she parked along a narrow roadside that cut through the prestigious cemetery. Most of the tree branches were bare at this time of year, making the landscape look even more barren. Nothing but headstones and artificial flowers for as far as the eye could see.

  Kayla got out of her Jeep and started toward the place where they’d lowered Rainy into the ground four short months ago. It still didn’t feel real. Rainy should be at her office, going over legal briefs, laughin
g about some client who’d pulled a dumb stunt. She shouldn’t be lying deep within the cold ground. It just wasn’t fair. She’d been too vital, too full of life to die so young.

  But she had. Evil had snatched her off this earth in a single heartbeat.

  Kayla crouched down next to Rainy’s final resting place and wrapped her arms around her knees. “What do I do now?” she murmured. God, she wished she had at least some of the answers.

  How could all this be happening? How could someone from Athena have had anything to do with Rainy’s murder? How could the man Rainy had loved and married be mixed up with anything illegal? Certainly nothing would ever make Kayla believe that Rainy had cheated on Marshall. That was simply unthinkable. Never. Not Rainy. Absolutely no way.

  Kayla blinked back the tears and considered the fading flowers Marshall or maybe Rainy’s parents had left on their last visit. How could this be all that was left of Rainy?

  The possibility that Rainy could have one or more children out there somewhere nudged at Kayla. She gritted her teeth against the outrage that boiled up inside her. She would find the truth—the whole truth. No matter how long it took. Regardless of how deep she had to dig.

  A leaf crunched behind her.

  Kayla froze.

  That nagging feeling that someone was watching her prodded her even more strongly.

  She wasn’t alone in this place of the dead.

  Keeping her movements unhurried, she pushed to her feet. Took one last look down at Rainy’s final resting place and then wheeled around to face the threat.

  No one was there.

  Kayla surveyed from left to right. Jerked her gaze back to the left.

  Ten, maybe fifteen yards in the distance she saw a figure dart behind a tree.

  Kayla lunged in that direction in an all-out run. The occasional glimpse of movement was all she got to give her any sense of direction, but she made the best of it. Ran as hard as she could. Darted around trees…past headstones. She needed to know who the hell was tailing her.

  There. To the left. Twenty yards away.

  Kayla ran faster still. Her lungs burned with the need for more oxygen but she ignored it. Ran harder. Tuned out everything but the chase.