Beneath the Badge

by Rita Herron

  He picked up the receiver. “Taylor Landis’s residence.”

  A long moment of silence. “Who in the hell is this?”

  “Sergeant Hayes Keller, Texas Ranger. Whom am I speaking with?”

  “Lionel Landis. What’s going on? Why are you at my daughter’s house? And why are you answering her phone?”

  Hayes grimaced at the man’s condescending tone. But he had a right to know his daughter had been attacked. And Hayes had to explore every angle. If the assault on Taylor wasn’t related to Kimberly’s murder, it might have something to do with the wealthy Landis family. Then he’d need information on the family and their business dealings.

  “Sir, I hate to have to tell you this, but your daughter was assaulted tonight.”

  “What? My God, is she all right?”

  “Yes, sir. But the paramedics transported her to the hospital for X-rays and observation.”

  “I heard about those break-ins in the community. Was that what this was about?”

  “I don’t know yet, but I can assure you I’ll find out.”

  A long pause. “Maybe I should hire a bodyguard to watch her around the clock.”

  Hayes clenched his jaw. Odd that her father didn’t offer to fly back to see her himself. Instead, he wanted to send hired help.

  A private bodyguard would mean Hayes wouldn’t have to spend time with Taylor himself.

  But damn. He was a ranger, and he had to finish this case, find the man who’d tried to kill Taylor. “That won’t be necessary, Mr. Landis. I’ll personally provide protection for your daughter 24-7.”

  He hung up the phone but noticed the desk drawer ajar and examined it. The bottom drawer had been jimmied, papers tossed around.

  The killer had been in this room. He’d have CSI dust it for prints.

  What had he been looking for?

  EXHAUSTION WEIGHED ON TAYLOR as the nurse helped her settle into the hospital bed. She’d been treated, had blood drawn, undergone an EKG, then wheeled to X-ray where they’d x-rayed her chest and lungs. Thankfully all the tests were clear.

  Other than nearly dying tonight, she was healthy.

  Still, they’d hooked her up to an IV, checked her vitals, then the nurse offered her a sedative. But Taylor expected Sergeant Keller to show up any minute to question her, and she wanted to be coherent.

  Besides, she avoided taking pills or medications unless it was absolutely necessary. Too many people she’d met at parties relied on drugs or alcohol for recreation and survival, and she was determined not to fall into that dangerous lifestyle so often portrayed in the tabloids as the rich and careless.

  Still, fatigue pulled at her, and she finally dozed off. But nightmares of the attack haunted her, and she tossed and turned, battling the terrifying memories.

  She was running, fighting, struggling for air, being pushed under the water, held down…drowning.

  She woke, gasping for air, her heart racing. Gray had settled over the room like a fog, the sound of someone breathing echoing in the quiet. Panic shot through her.

  Oh, God, her attacker had come here to finish killing her.

  She threw off the covers to run, but suddenly two firm hands gripped her arms. “Shh, Taylor, it’s me. Hayes.”

  She was just about to scream, but the sound of his husky voice registered, and she stifled a sob.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you, but you were sleeping.”

  She relaxed against him, but her heart was still pounding. “I was dreaming about the attack….”

  He smoothed her hair from her cheek, then eased down onto the edge of the bed. “It’s over now. You’re safe.”

  She nodded and forced herself to block out the terrifying images from her nightmare. Despite her efforts, her hand went to her throat.

  “You didn’t find him at the house?” she asked.

  He shook his head, and she noticed he was wearing the same jeans and shirt he had on when he’d pulled her from the pool. They were still damp, and he must be uncomfortable, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  “Your assailant caused the power outage by tampering with the circuit breakers, but I didn’t find anyone inside. CSI is dusting for prints and searching both the inside and outside, as well, for footprints, fibers, anything that might help us identify him.”

  “He didn’t steal anything?”

  “Not that I could tell. But you’ll need to inventory your valuables, jewelry, etcetera, to verify if anything is missing.”

  “I’ll do that tomorrow when I get home.”

  He gave a clipped nod. “The desk in your office had been ransacked. Do you have any idea what the intruder might have been looking for?”

  She shook her head. “Maybe financial information on the foundation?”

  “It’s possible. You should examine your files and follow up on any credit cards.”

  She bit her lip. “Yes, I will.”

  “I left a guard at the house overnight in case he returns or someone else shows up.”

  “Thank you, Sergeant.”

  “You can call me Hayes.” He hesitated, then his gaze zeroed in on her nails. “Your nails are real?”

  She nodded. “Why?”

  “I found a broken red nail, looked like an acrylic, inside your house.”

  She frowned. “I often have guests over, females. It could have come from any one of them.”

  “You’re sure your attacker was male?”

  His question threw her off guard. “I think so.”

  “I also found a blond hair caught in a twig in the tree by the garden.”

  She rubbed her temple. “I have parties out there, too. It could belong to anyone.”

  “I’ll see what forensics says.” He paused. “Can you talk about the attack now?”

  She propped herself up against the pillows. “I told you what happened already.”

  “Indulge me and go over it again. Sometimes the passage of time allows victims to remember more details.”

  She sighed, hating to rehash the night but knowing it was imperative. “Okay. I got home around ten, but I was restless, antsy after all that’s happened in the neighborhood lately.” In fact, she hadn’t slept well since Kimberly McQuade had died. If she hadn’t hosted the party that night, maybe the young woman would still be alive.

  She glanced at Hayes, suddenly realizing that he probably felt the same way, probably blamed her.

  “Go on,” he said sharply.

  She cleared her throat; it was still so dry it hurt to talk. “I couldn’t sleep, so I checked the alarm and changed into my swimsuit. Then I went for a swim.”

  “Had you been drinking?”

  Irritation gnawed at her. “I had a glass of wine with dinner, but I wasn’t drunk if that’s what you’re implying.”

  “You usually swim alone at night?”

  She tensed at the scrutiny in his tone. Did he think she was being stupid, that she’d brought the attack on herself? “Sometimes,” she said truthfully. “I’m a good swimmer, and I had the security system set.” She glared at him. “Besides, I thought you rangers had caught the killer and that I was safe.”

  A muscle ticked in his jaw, and she knew she’d scored a direct hit.

  “Your attack may or may not be related to the other crimes,” he said sharply. “You’re wealthy, everyone knows that. You must have some enemies.”

  She tore her gaze away with a shiver. If he’d meant to scare her, he had.

  “Were the lights on when you came out by the pool?”

  “Yes, Sergeant. I would have called security if they hadn’t been.”

  He simply arched a dark brow, his expression cold and hard, and she silently willed herself to stop reacting. What did she care what Hayes Keller thought of her?

  When she continued, she tried to relay the events as if it had happened to a stranger, not to her. “I was swimming laps when the power flickered off. I got nervous, decided to see what caused the outage, then I saw a movement by the gardens. I got ou
t and ran toward the door…Before I reached it, the man jumped me from behind.” She paused, unable to breathe for a moment as she remembered his fingers around her throat.

  Again, the ranger stared at her with an intensity that made her more nervous.

  She could not break down in front of the man again. “We struggled and he tried to strangle me, then we fell into the pool.”

  “He fell into the pool with you?”

  “Yes. I fought him, but he kept choking me, then pushed me underwater and held me down.”

  He made a low sound with his teeth. “That’s probably the reason he turned on the water hose, to wash away his prints. But I’ll have the pool dragged for trace.” He paused. “You said you were a swimmer?”

  “Yes, high-school swim team. I set the record for holding my breath the longest on my team.”

  “That’s probably what saved you.”

  “No, Sergeant Keller, you saved me,” she said with a tentative smile. “If you hadn’t shown up when you had…”

  He glanced away for the first time, his jaw clenched tight, then shrugged. “Just doing my job, ma’am.”

  She didn’t like the way he said ma’am, as if it was an insult. “Well, thank you anyway.”

  His eyes darkened, narrowed to slits as if he was issuing some kind of silent warning. “You don’t owe me thanks. Just answer the questions.”

  She tensed at his brusque tone. Just when she thought he was human, he turned back into a growling lion. “What else do you want to know?”

  The bite to her voice echoed in the silence for a moment before he replied. “You didn’t see the man’s face?”

  “No. He was wearing a mask.”

  “Like a ski mask?”

  “Yes. And gloves. Latex gloves.”

  His brows pinched together with his frown. “Maybe those will turn up or we’ll lift some trace off of your fingernails.”

  She nodded, glad she’d fought back.

  “Anything else you remember about your attacker? A particular odor? His height, size?”

  “No, it’s all so foggy.”

  His dark gaze met hers. “Tell me about your day, what happened earlier, before the attack.”

  She scrunched her nose in thought. “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”

  “Just do it, Taylor. Retrace your steps.”

  “All right, but you don’t have to be so ornery.” She tried to think back. “I spent the morning handling routine business matters for the foundation. Had lunch there. Then a business meeting with the City Board at five that ran till about seven. After that, I met a friend for dinner in San Antonio.”

  “Did you notice anyone following you during the day? Or when you left the restaurant?”

  She rubbed her temple where a headache pulsed. “No.”

  He folded his arms. “Who attended the board meeting?”

  “All of the board members. Sarah DeMarco, Devon Goldenrod—”

  “Kenneth Sutton?”

  “Yes.”

  “I was told that he and Kimberly McQuade had an argument before she died. Do you know what their disagreement was about?”

  She frowned. “No. Kimberly was looking over the campaign budget, and she’d also reviewed the other finances for the board. Maybe there was a problem.”

  “So they might have argued about money?”

  “I really don’t know. Why is that important?”

  “I’m just tying up loose ends. Sometimes small details can offer clues.”

  She conceded his point. After all, he was the cop. The chip-on-the-shoulder one, but it looked as if she was stuck with him.

  “So, did anything unusual happen at the meeting?”

  She hesitated, hated to impugn Kenneth unnecessarily.

  “Taylor, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me the truth.”

  “Kenneth seemed excited about planning ahead for the gubernatorial election, but we did have a tense moment.”

  He leaned forward. “About what?”

  “The bid for the new city library and to extend the tourist area by the Riverwalk. There’s talk that the bid was tampered with.”

  “And that Kenneth was involved?”

  “That’s what I’ve heard, but he denied it and I believe him.”

  Silence met her statement, making her wonder what he was thinking. “You don’t like Kenneth Sutton, do you?”

  “He’s a politician. No, I don’t trust him.

  “And after the meeting? Who did you have dinner with?”

  She hesitated.

  “Taylor?”

  She twisted her hands together. “Margaret Hathaway.”

  His jaw tightened again. “You two are friends?”

  “Yes. We met at our favorite restaurant and sushi bar, Bluefish. Margaret’s wedding to Devon Goldenrod is around the corner, and we were finalizing wedding plans.”

  “Did anything unusual happen while you were there?”

  “Not unusual. But I ran into my half brother, Miles.”

  His mouth thinned. “How did that go?”

  She sighed, knotting the bedsheet between her fingers. She hated to discuss family. But if the ranger asked at the restaurant, he’d find out on his own. Her problems with her brother weren’t exactly a secret.

  “Taylor, I know that Miles has been hitting up friends for loans. Caroline told us that already.” He cleared his throat. “Is that what he wanted with you?”

  So much for family privacy. Then again, she should be used to it. Just because she was wealthy, tabloids, reporters and neighbors thought her life was food for the gossipmongers. “Yes, but I turned him down again. He blew up, made a scene….”

  She looked away, his phone call echoing in her head.

  Hayes narrowed his eyes. “He threatened you, didn’t he?”

  She sucked in a sharp breath. “Not exactly.”

  “What does that mean?”

  She finally faced him. “He told me I’d be sorry for turning my back on him.”

  He stood, bracing his feet apart, and hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “That sounds like a threat to me.”

  She shrugged, unable to voice the truth. That she was afraid of Miles.

  “I’ve posted a guard outside your door.”

  “You think that’s necessary?”

  He nodded. “And your father called your house. I told him I’d protect you 24-7.”

  Taylor’s stomach dipped.

  “I’m going to talk to your little brother. Find out if he tried to make good on his threat.” His snakeskin cowboy boots pounded the floor as he pivoted. “Meanwhile, think hard, Taylor. In the morning I want you to make a list of any enemies you might have, former boyfriends or current ones who might want to harm you. Is there one you can think of offhand?”

  She lowered her head. “No. I haven’t been involved with anyone recently.”

  “In the past?”

  She hadn’t broken any hearts if that’s what he meant. She’d never let a man get that close. “Maybe this was a random break-in.”

  “Just make the list. If it wasn’t a robbery then someone wanted you dead.”

  A chill went through her. “You don’t have to remind me, Sergeant.”

  “No? Well, think about this. The person who tried to strangle you could be someone you know from the foundation, someone who has it in for your family, someone who wants your money.”

  His dark gaze pierced her. “And it very well may be someone you know and trust, someone you’re even close to. Someone you think is a friend, or your very own brother.”

  Chapter Four

  Taylor’s heart raced. Surely the ranger was wrong. None of her friends would actually harm her. Although neither she nor Caroline had thought that Carlson Woodward was dangerous and they’d been mistaken.

  And what about Miles? He’d always been jealous of her and had done some underhanded things when they were younger, but he’d never been violent.

  Not until recently. But lately she’d s
een a spark flare in his eyes that scared her.

  His substance abuse and gambling problems had escalated, making him seem desperate at times, and…frightening.

  A knock sounded at the door, and suddenly Margaret Hathaway rushed in, her face stricken with concern.

  “Oh my God, Taylor, I heard what happened. Are you all right?”

  Taylor clenched the sheets as Hayes gave Margaret a feral look, a look that nearly froze Margaret in her rush to hug Taylor.

  “I’m fine, Margaret,” Taylor said, although tears blurred her sight. She could hold herself together in the face of Hayes’s brusqueness, but her best friend’s tenderness unraveled her calm facade. Although Margaret was old enough to be her mother, they had bonded as soon as they had met. The one person in the world Taylor trusted, the one who loved her unconditionally, was Margaret. And Taylor felt the same way about her friend. Not only was Margaret smart but kindhearted, and she’d faced her own share of problems and pain, although she hid them well from the prying eyes of the public.

  Margaret bypassed Hayes and swept Taylor into a hug. “God, this is awful, Tay. What happened?”

  Taylor relayed the short version of the story, well aware of Hayes’s scowl.

  “Who in the world would want to hurt you, honey?”

  “I don’t know, Margaret.” Taylor sighed. “But Sergeant Keller saved my life.”

  Surprise registered on Margaret’s face, then she gave Hayes a curious look and smiled. “Sergeant, thank you so much for rescuing Taylor. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to her.”

  Hayes’s dark eyes turned icy. “Just doing my job, ma’am. Where were you this evening?”

  “Sergeant Keller, you’re out of line,” Taylor said sharply.

  “Like I told you earlier, Miss Landis, your attacker could be one of your friends.”

  “It certainly isn’t Margaret,” Taylor said between clenched teeth. “She would never hurt me.”

  “That’s right,” Margaret said, obviously insulted at the thought. “Taylor and I are best friends.”

  “Then you won’t mind answering my question,” Hayes said in a lethal voice.