On His Watch

by Susanne Matthews

  “It’s not your fault, Brad. He’s smarter than we thought, and you’re right. We should have known better. We’ll double security tonight and leave in the morning. Can you have another safe house ready for us?”

  “Yes, but be careful. I have no idea how he got inside this office. He’s a ghost.”

  Jason hung up the phone and silently let out a string of expletives that would have earned him a mouthful of soap as a kid. It took him a few minutes to control his anger and get his breathing back to normal.

  He looked around the room at his protection detail. Three men and a woman. What the hell had he been thinking? He shook his head. Thomas Lincoln might be an ass and a crook, but he was right about one thing. This place wasn’t safe. What had seemed like the ideal hiding place now felt like an isolated, vulnerable death trap.

  There were too many different ways to gain access to the house, and no way to get out without being spotted. Why hadn’t he built that enclosed walkway to the garage he’d thought about last summer? At least then, they could’ve safely gained access to the vehicles. It was dark out. Leaving now, with a potential killer out there waiting to put them in his crosshairs, would be suicide.

  Although all the men and Angie were armed, the weapons hadn’t been drawn or obvious since the first few days. The lack of activity had lulled them all into a false sense of security. His behavior had to be adding to Nikki’s fear, but he couldn’t help it.

  “I refueled the generator earlier,” Nathan said, breaking the silence. “The SUV’s all gassed up, too. If we have to leave suddenly, we’re good to go.”

  Nikki lifted her head off the table and looked at Jason through tear-filled eyes. He was beyond caring about professionalism. She needed comforting, and he needed to hold her.

  “He won’t get you. I swear by everything I hold sacred, he won’t lay a hand on you or Mandy.”

  He cradled her, feeling her terror in the rapid beating of her heart.

  “Okay.” Troy spoke firmly, taking charge of the situation. “We’ve got company coming. He’s one man—we’re four highly trained professionals, two of us former military special-ops. We can protect them for one night, and then Brad will provide another location. This guy doesn’t know what she looks like, right? Maybe she can go into Witness Protection.”

  Jason considered the idea, but the thought of losing Nikki, never seeing her again, was painful. If she walked out of his life now, he’d never know if they might have had a future together, but she’d be safe and alive. Unlike Erika and Denise.

  “It wouldn’t matter,” she interrupted. “It seems The Butcher’s resources are unlimited. He’d find me sooner or later, and how many others will die while he searches? I refuse to be responsible for any more deaths including Mandy’s or mine.”

  Jason tightened his arms around her and placed a quick kiss on her hair. It took courage to stand and fight, and Nikki was a fighter.

  “Then it ends here,” Troy said and reached for more coffee. “We need a plan of action for tonight.”

  “From what Ivan says,” Jason began, “The Butcher doesn’t work alone. He brings in local muscle to help him, and then leaves those bodies behind as well.”

  Nikki shuddered, but Jason kept his arms firmly around her waist.

  Troy stood and paced. “Then, we’d better figure out how to defend this place. Let’s start by closing the storm shutters. It’s a good thing we didn’t take down the outside ones last week. We’ll put the plywood up in the master bedroom too. Nathan and I will set up down here. Angie, take the side bedroom with the balcony facing the garage. Anyone coming from that direction is yours. Remember, shoot first, and ask questions later. Jason, you’ll take the back bedroom. I don’t think anyone will come at us from there, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Damn, what I wouldn’t give for another half-dozen men right now. It’s going to get cold in here, so dress warmly. Firing through glass won’t just slow the momentum of the bullet, it’ll deflect it. We can’t afford to miss. Make every shot count.”

  Nikki had turned her body within his arms, her back to him, and he could see the horror on her face reflected in the glass front of the microwave oven. Jason nodded, continuing to hold her, to infuse her with his strength and warmth. God, he regretted not sharing his feelings with her all those nights he’d held her in his arms. If they got out of this alive, he’d tell her how he felt and take his chances.

  “This place is defendable,” Troy stated firmly, “and we have the element of surprise on our side. They don’t know we’ve been forewarned. We have weapons, ammunition, and a secure perimeter. Thanks to the devices we planted out there, we’ll have a heads up before they get too close. Everybody stays inside tonight. We won’t give The Butcher a chance to separate us and pick us off one at a time. If he doesn’t show up tonight, then we’ll get the hell out of Dodge as soon as it’s light outside. We’ll travel light and fast—no luggage. When it’s safe, someone can come back and get the gear.

  “Jason, why don’t you and Nikki go down to the basement and see if you can find something made of metal we could use as a shield to move from the house to the SUV while I iron out the kinks with Nathan and Angie?”

  So, Troy wanted Nikki out of the kitchen while he discussed worst case scenarios. Good call.

  “Will do. It’s a good plan, Troy. Come on, let’s see what we can find in the basement. There’s all kinds of stuff down there.”

  He held Nikki’s right hand and led her down the stairs to the storage area.

  “Do you think his plan will work? Will they be able to protect us?”

  “Troy’s an expert at this kind of thing. He and Angie have probably been in similar situations hundreds of times.” He opened his arms, and she walked into them. “Everything’s going to be fine.” He prayed he was telling the truth.

  “I’m so afraid, Jason, not just for me and Mandy, but for the others, too. I feel responsible for those hospital workers in San Francisco, but if something happened to you, I couldn’t bear it. He pushed her away slightly and took her chin in his hand, tilting her head up so she’d look into his eyes.

  “Nothing’s going to happen to any of us. I have plans for the future, and they don’t include letting The Butcher succeed. I’ll tell you all about them when this is over. By the way you and Mandy have leading roles.”

  He bent his head and captured her lips. This first kiss wasn’t the gentle one he’d expected to give her; instead, it was a desperate one fuelled by need and fear.

  Her surprised response was tentative, and then as demanding as his own. She tasted of chocolate and coffee, and something uniquely her own. He pulled away softly, and she opened her eyes.

  Her lips were swollen from his assault, her eyes filled with wonder, and she’d never looked more beautiful. He bent his head and captured her lips a second time, his tongue darting inside her mouth once more, teasing, sweeping, and feasting on her nectar.

  The sound of a chair scraping overhead brought him back to his senses.

  “Consider that a down payment on the future. Much as I’d like to continue this,” and his body was begging him to do so, “we need to find something to serve as a shield. Are you okay?”

  She smiled and placed a quick kiss on his lips. Her eyes were shining. “I’m more than okay.”

  The second fridge wasn’t being used, so it was a simple matter to remove the door. Jason picked up the heavy object and followed Nikki up the stairs.

  Troy was standing by the table refilling his cup. He looked up when Jason placed the heavy refrigerator door against the wall.

  “Will this do?”

  “It’s perfect. We’ve talked it out, and the safest thing is to move the ladies upstairs tonight. You and Angie will be up there with them. Nathan and I will watch the front and side of the house. We’ll turn off all the lights and use the infrared night goggles. Heat signatures are easier to spot no matter what they’re wearing. They don’t know we have them, so we’ll have the advantage.”<
br />
  The puppy woke and whined. Nathan scooped him up and offered to do the litter box honors. “Then I’ll take Danny upstairs to play with Mandy, but I’ll be right back,” he informed them.

  “Thanks, Nathan. The pup should keep her occupied until we finish working out our strategy.”

  “Don’t mention it. If a fight breaks out, we don’t want the puppy getting underfoot. I’ll carry his gear upstairs after supper.”

  “Good.”

  “Where were you keeping all these?” asked Nikki, staring at the cache of firepower on the kitchen table.

  There was no mistaking the awe and surprise tinged with fear in her voice. The pile of weapons and ammunition was an impressive one.

  Jason laughed at her stunned expression and felt some of his tension melt away.

  “Did I forget to mention the previous owner was a hunting enthusiast? There’s a gun safe in the back of the closet in the mudroom. Troy brought a few toys he thought we might need if the plan failed. We didn’t take any chances. I just didn’t want to believe it would happen. If I had, I’d have found a fortress for you, not an isolated chalet.” He reached for her and pulled her into his arms again. “I know you’re scared, sweetheart, but you have to hide it. We don’t want Mandy to realize anything’s wrong. We need to eat and clean up as soon as possible. How soon can we have supper?”

  “Twenty minutes? The roast is done. I’ll just put on the potatoes and vegetables. Will that be soon enough?”

  He kissed her quickly. “It’ll be great. You’re amazing, do you know that?”

  “I have some of the Benadryl we gave Mandy for the flight,” said Nathan. “If anything happens, she’ll sleep through it. It would be much less traumatic that way. I understand she’s a heavy sleeper, so once she’s out, we should be good for the night.”

  “It’s your call.” Jason watched Nikki weigh the pros and cons and knew from the set of her shoulder and the tilt of her head she’d reached the decision.

  “Do it. God forbid anything happens to her, but if it does, she’ll never know. I hope this plan works. I can’t bear the thought of losing another child.”

  • • •

  Cassie had been particularly quiet throughout dinner and had gone upstairs right after the meal. Nikki knew Nathan had explained everything to his terrified wife, but she worried it might be something else. A baby’s arrival was unpredictable at best. Just because the little one wasn’t due yet didn’t mean it couldn’t come early.

  How would the loss of an experienced rifleman affect the safety plan? She couldn’t shoot a pistol, let alone a rifle, and what she knew about delivering babies would probably fit on the head of a pin. Hell, she didn’t even remember birthing them. Cassie was the nurse, Nathan the doctor. She just prayed Baby Palmer could wait until at least tomorrow before entering the world.

  Nikki dried the last cup and looked down at the floor where Mandy had fallen asleep playing with her puppy. Jason walked into the kitchen. He wore his shoulder holster over a Kevlar vest similar to the one he’d given her.

  “Almost finished?”

  “Yes.”

  Jason bent down and picked up Mandy, cradling her gently against his shoulders. “It’s time. If you’ll carry the pup, I can get you two settled upstairs. The sooner you’re out of the line of fire, the better I’ll feel.”

  Nikki picked up her Kevlar vest and Danny to follow Jason up the stairs. Frightened as she was, it was a chore to put one foot in front of the other. He opened the door to the middle bedroom. The puppy’s litter box was on the floor of the open closet. Since this room had a skylight instead of a window, Troy said they could leave on a small lamp. It was a good thing because she couldn’t have handled the darkness tonight. The monsters who haunted the blackness were real, and they were after her. It was only a matter of time before they arrived.

  Jason deposited Mandy on the cot they’d moved upstairs, and Nikki placed the puppy at her feet. The little dog made his mandatory three circles before settling down. Cassie was lying on her side on the bed on the far side of the room. Nikki couldn’t tell if she was sleeping or not. Somehow she doubted it.

  Jason indicated they should go back into the hall. The other two bedroom doors were closed, but she still shivered against the draft from the open windows.

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. The touch of his lips thrilled her, and she opened herself to him, wishing the kiss could go on forever. Too soon, he pulled back. It was dark in the hall, and she couldn’t see his face, but she felt the steady thud of his heart despite the Kevlar shirt he wore.

  “Try to get some sleep. I know the vest is uncomfortable, but I want you to wear it. I wish we had others for Cassie and Mandy. Brad thinks we’ll be okay tonight. I called her earlier, and she doesn’t think he could have found us so quickly. You’ll see. We’ll be on our way to San Francisco in the morning, and this will be an adventure you can tell your grandchildren.

  “By the way, DNA results came in. Your husband was definitely not Sam Hart.”

  “So who was he?”

  “I don’t know, but Greg is searching the databases for missing doctors who’d be between fifty and sixty today. We’ll find him.” He bent to kiss her again, and a loud moan from the bedroom startled them apart.

  “I was afraid of this.” Nikki moved out of his arms and turned to the door.

  “Afraid of what? That wasn’t Mandy.”

  “Cassie has been too quiet this evening. All of this stress may have brought on premature labor.”

  Jason looked at her as if she’d grown a second head.

  “Damn! I’ll get Nathan.” He turned and ran down the steps. Nikki opened the door and went into the room. Cassie was sobbing loudly.

  “It’s okay, Cassie. How bad are the contractions?”

  Thank God she could hear heavy footsteps thundering up the stairs.

  “They’re really strong, about seven minutes apart. My water broke just after supper. Nikki, I’m so scared. I don’t want my baby to die.”

  The door was swinging open and Nathan came in as Cassie uttered the last words.

  “Our baby won’t die. I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

  Jason followed on Nathan’s heels with the electric heater from the master bedroom. He plugged it in. “If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to call out. I’m just downstairs.” He closed the door behind him.

  Nathan bent down and kissed his wife. “Were you planning to do this on your own? Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

  “I didn’t want to upset you. I thought they were just more Braxton Hicks contractions. I’ve been having them off and on all week. Nate, I’m scared.”

  Nathan turned to Nikki. “Go and get the shower curtain in the bathroom. We’ll use it to cover the mattress. At least the bed doesn’t have a footboard. Come on, honey. Let’s get you undressed. I’ve delivered a few babies in my time. Delivering ours should be a snap.”

  By the time Nikki returned with the shower curtain, Cassie was dressed in a nightgown and standing next to Nathan.

  Nikki quickly stripped the bed and remade it the way Nathan instructed. She got additional blankets from the cupboard to cover Mandy and Cassie and large towels that would be used to swaddle the baby. She grabbed a few dishcloths to use as diapers, too.

  Cassie doubled over as a contraction took her, and Nathan lifted her back onto the bed.

  “Breathe, baby. You know how. You’ve seen this done a thousand times.”

  Nikki watched in fascination as Cassie panted her way through the contraction and fell back on the bed, exhausted.

  She smiled weakly at her husband. “I hadn’t planned on a natural delivery.”

  Had Sam stood by her bedside and supported her the way Nathan was helping Cassie? Somehow, she doubted it. He didn’t seem to be a man who’d want to be by her side.

  Nikki felt like a voyeur. This was a private time for a couple and here she was right smack-dab in the mid
dle of things. Between contractions, Nathan rubbed his wife’s back and tried to take her mind off what was happening around them.

  It reminded her in part of the way Jason had held her in his arms earlier. His kisses had been full of promise, a promise he’d made aloud to her. Could they make a future for themselves when this was over? Could they move on together as a family? The possibility of carrying another child, Jason’s child, warmed her.

  Another moan from Cassie brought her back to the present. The contractions were stronger and closer together. Nikki straightened her spine and moved over to the bed. If she was going to move ahead, then she had to do so now.

  “Tell me what to do.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jason stared at the brush on the edge of the creek. He was cold and stiff. His shoulder ached. With Nathan occupied, Troy had chosen to give up the watch on the back of the house for eyes on the front and east side of the property. The 100-foot sheer drop from a minor hill near Flagstaff Mountain on the northwest side of the house structure itself would make an incursion from that direction less appealing, especially at this time of the year. Not for the first time, he cursed himself for not realizing all the pitfalls of this place—he’d only seen the good side of having Nikki rehabilitate here.

  Mother Nature had cut them a break tonight. Instead of the full moon they’d expected, the sky was cloudy. As long as it didn’t snow heavily, they’d be okay. A blizzard like they’d had last week would blind them. True it would affect the enemy the same way, but The Butcher seemed capable of dealing with anything. How he’d gotten in and out of the FBI offices was still a mystery. He was a modern day Houdini.

  Ivan of course had given the team a complete rundown on what Interpol knew about The Butcher. The man had military training, possibly from working as a mercenary where the more brutal the killing, the better. The problem was, he’d most likely made the kind of friends along the way that Jason wouldn’t want to meet. Ivan had warned them they could expect anything from a one-man ninja-style incursion to a full military assault. Jason swore the bastard wouldn’t succeed with either of them.