by Hope White
“How did she—”
“I called Bree,” Scott interrupted Nate.
Sara spotted the knife in Scott’s hand and snapped her gaze to Will. Her eyes widened with horror.
“I’m fine,” Will said.
“He didn’t...”
“He didn’t. Let’s go.” He reached out for her and she hesitated, then took his hand. He didn’t like her hesitation, wondering what was behind it.
They headed back down the trail toward the cottage, where two more squad cars were parked.
“Officer Carrington, take Will and Sara inside and keep them there,” Nate said. “I’ll swing by the hospital with Jim for medical attention.” Nate put Jim in the backseat of a patrol car, and pointed at Will and Sara. “Stay inside, hear me?”
“Yes,” Will said.
Bree bolted out of the house, her dog right beside her. The golden retriever rushed up to Scott.
“It’s okay, girl. We’re all okay.” Scott scanned the property with a concerned frown, then forced a smile when he looked at Bree. “Let’s get inside before Nate locks us up for disobeying orders.”
Sara released Will’s hand. He wasn’t going to let her push him away. He cared about her. A lot.
Will put his arm around Sara’s shoulder and pulled her close, whispering in her ear, “Don’t push me away.”
She shook her head in frustration.
Once they got into the cottage, Bree and Scott headed for the kitchen. “I’ve got cookies,” Bree announced.
“We’ll join you in a minute,” Will said, leading Sara into a secluded corner of the living room.
He motioned her to a Queen Anne chair, and he shifted onto the footstool in front of her. Her gaze drifted to the hardwood floor.
“What’s going on?” He tipped her chin to look at him.
“You could have been killed.”
He took her hands in his. “Hey, you didn’t make me follow Jim up the trail. That was my decision.”
“I’m always involving people in my violent life and they get hurt and I can’t seem to fix anything.”
“Hold on a second. This isn’t about what just happened, is it?”
She didn’t answer, but she didn’t pull her hands from his, so he pressed on.
“This is about your father?”
Silence stretched between them.
“Sara, you didn’t do anything wrong, and you were certainly not responsible for what happened to him. He made the decision to protect you by hiding you in the closet.”
Her gaze held his, her eyes tearing. “Why? Why did he do that?”
Will pulled her into a hug and stroked her back. “Because he loved you so very much. It’s hard to understand until you have children of your own. You’d literally jump in front of a moving bus to save them. Your dad hid you in a closet so that you would live, and become this strong, tenacious woman who fights for justice.”
She sighed against him. “You make that sound like a good thing.”
“It is a good thing. Think of all the people you’ve protected. You have sacrificed your life, your happiness to fight for those who can’t defend themselves because they’re either ignorant of the danger, or don’t have the skills to stop the violence. You’ve become a strong, dedicated woman thanks to your life experiences. God has been watching out for you, Sara, watching you choose the tough cases and fight the hard battles. Embrace what you are instead of thinking it should be different or somehow better. This is better. Here, being here with me.”
“You should be holding on to your girls.”
“I will, once we resolve this case and everyone is safe. I ache for them, sure, yet as a father I must sacrifice my own needs for theirs. So we’re a lot alike, you and I, which is probably why we’ve connected this way.” He continued to stroke her back, liking how it felt when she leaned into him, almost as if...
She needed him.
“I...I don’t know what this is,” she said.
“You don’t have to define it, but answer me this. How do you feel, in this moment, here with me?”
“At peace, maybe even...blessed.”
“Hold on to that and have faith the rest will work itself out.”
* * *
Faith. Sara was pretty sure she’d given up on having faith a long time ago. She went to sleep that night with a curious sense of peace, dreaming about possibilities for the future. She’d never really thought about the future before, at least not beyond the next few weeks anyway.
Somehow, through the crises of the past few days, something had awakened inside of her, something akin to hope. Did she dare embrace it?
They had set Will up in a private apartment at the resort for the night, while Sara stayed in Bree’s cottage. The resort’s security manager, who was Bree’s boyfriend, Scott, and Officer Carrington took turns keeping watch over the cottage. They parked two squad cars out front, the strategy being that the police presence would discourage another direct attack.
Sara hated feeling helpless to resolve this situation—her mess of a case—and still felt utterly responsible for bringing the danger to this charming town.
For bringing the danger into Will’s life.
Today she would dedicate herself to helping the local authorities with their investigation any way she could.
She went downstairs and spotted Officer Carrington napping on the sofa, while Scott stood guard at the window. Not wanting to awaken the officer, she continued down the hallway into the kitchen.
Will sipped coffee at the kitchen table. He must have sensed her presence because he looked up and cracked a natural smile. “Did you sleep okay?”
He automatically stood and greeted her with a hug.
“Sure, pretty good considering the circumstances.”
“Bree left you some scones, and I made a fresh pot of coffee.” He turned to grab a mug off the counter.
“I’ll get it, thanks.”
Her phone vibrated with a call and she answered. “Vaughn.”
“It’s SSA Bonner, returning your call.”
“Good morning, sir.” She straightened. “I thought you’d want an update—”
“You’re supposed to be on vacation, not chasing a lead I specifically told you was off-limits.”
“Sir, I—”
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done, Agent Vaughn? You’ve screwed up an eighteen-month investigation.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Another team at the bureau had been working the David Price angle, trying to get enough leverage on him to make him roll on his partners.”
“I had no idea.”
“It was above your pay grade. And now Price is dead, and potentially so is your career.”
“Wait, what?”
“It isn’t always about you and your crusades, Agent Vaughn. I’ve told you that over and over again. We can’t have agents who won’t take orders. Therefore, you’re suspended until further notice.”
The room seemed to close in around her. She glanced at Will, his remarkable green eyes studying her with concern. She wanted to go to him again, be held in his strong, comforting arms. He believed in her. He believed she was an honorable crusader with an altruistic mission to protect people.
And that gave her strength.
“I disagree with this course of action,” she said to her boss.
“You can appeal with personnel. But consider what your supervisors will say when asked about working with you, about how you’ve constantly challenged their authority. I’m not sure you were ever meant to be a part of our team, Agent Vaughn.”
“Because I don’t give up?” she said, her voice rising in pitch.
Bonner sighed heavily into the phone. “No, Sara.” He hesitated. “
Because of your tunnel vision. You only see what you’re looking at, not anything else, or anyone else around you. If you’d been more aware of the people around you, you would have picked up on the cues that there was something else in the works regarding LHP. Other agents did, and they backed off, but you couldn’t, because you shut out everything else.”
“I thought focus made me a good agent.”
“It does, to a point. You also have to trust your coworkers and the system, and that’s where you disconnect. You don’t trust anyone or anything besides your own instincts.”
“Which were right in this case. Once I get my phone back, I’ll have proof.”
“I hope so, for your sake. If there’s evidence on the phone and we’re able to use it to build a case against LHP, my superiors might reconsider your suspension. Until then, you cannot act on the authority of our office, and I need to ask you to turn in your ID and firearm when you return.”
It felt as if she’d been slugged in the gut. He was stripping away her identity.
“I...I’m not sure when I’m coming back,” she said, her voice sounding foreign to her.
“Do what’s necessary to help the local authorities in the Price homicide as a witness only, not as an agent.” Bonner paused. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry, and I wish you the best of luck. Goodbye, Sara.”
She stared blindly at her phone.
“What is it?” Will touched her arm.
“I’ve been suspended.”
“Oh, honey. I am so sorry.”
“He accused me of only thinking about myself, of only seeing what I’m focused on, nothing else around me.” She sighed. “He said I can’t work with a team.”
“Then, he doesn’t know you very well.”
“It sounds as if the only chance I have of keeping my job is the evidence on my phone.”
“Come here.” Will pulled her into an embrace.
She felt broken, betrayed, a complete failure. If only they would have told her about the other team investigating LHP she would have dropped it as ordered. But she hadn’t because she’d thought they were giving up too easily.
A man cleared his throat, and Will released Sara. Nate hesitated in the doorway of the kitchen.
“She got some bad news,” Will said.
“Unfortunately, I’ve got more bad news.” Nate held up Sara’s phone as he stepped into the kitchen. Scott also joined them.
“The video file is not retrievable,” Nate said. “We can’t use it to prove who killed David Price.”
There went her job, plus LaRouche and Harrington would get away with murder and pin suspicion on Sara.
“That’s unacceptable,” she said.
Maybe Bonner thought her determination was a bad thing, yet in this case, it was her best defense.
“Didn’t you say you knew a tech?” she asked Will.
“Yes, Zack Carter. He works here at the resort.”
“I could get it to him,” Scott offered.
“Let’s try it, Nate,” Will said. “I mean, what have we got to lose?”
“Even if Zack somehow gets the file, we couldn’t use that in a court of law,” Nate countered.
“LaRouche and Harrington wouldn’t need to know that, at least not when you initially question them, right?” Sara offered.
Nate raised an eyebrow. “I suppose not.”
“We could still use the recording to our advantage,” she said.
The back door opened and Bree came inside with Fiona. “Oh, hey, everybody. Text alert went out. They’re sending K9 teams to search for David Price’s body on the east side of Granite Ridge.”
“On the east side?” Will questioned.
“Yeah, why?”
“Because I found Sara on the west side of Echo Mountain. You have a map?”
“Sure.” Bree went to her pack across the room and pulled a map out of a side pocket.
“What are you thinking?” Nate asked.
“That they’re sending SAR teams to the wrong location.”
Will spread the map out on the table and pointed to a small lake. “When this is where I found Sara.”
“Sara, do you know where you camped the night you and David fell?” Nate questioned.
“We hiked up to Flatrock Overlook, then went west another two miles, so right about here.” She pointed. “I fell down this side, and David was hurled off the trail toward the north.”
“Which makes sense, because she ended up by the lake,” Will said. “But Nate, look at how far away that campsite is from Granite Ridge.”
“LaRouche and Harrington are sending search teams on a wild goose chase,” Sara said.
“Because they don’t want anyone finding the body,” Nate offered.
“Which means there might be evidence on the body implicating LaRouche and Harrington,” Sara said.
“Or they think David is still alive down there,” Nate said.
They all shared a concerned look.
“It’s happened before,” Bree said. “A hiker has survived a nasty fall.”
Nate’s phone buzzed on his belt. He ripped it off, studied the message and looked at Sara. “It’s my chief. LaRouche and Harrington are in town. They’re demanding I lock you up.”
FOURTEEN
Instead of locking Sara up, Nate scheduled a meeting with the chief and LaRouche and Harrington.
Then Nate made a call to the search and rescue command officer. “I have a witness who claims David Price fell off the north side of Echo Mountain.”
Sara, Will, Bree and Scott anxiously listened in.
“I understand....Uh-huh. Thanks.” Nate ended the call with a frustrated groan. “They won’t change their plan to search the east side of Granite Ridge.”
“Then, they’ll never find David Price,” Sara protested.
“I’ll talk to the chief. Maybe he’s got more influence with SAR.”
“What about LaRouche and Harrington’s demands to lock me up?” Sara asked.
Nate looked at Sara, then Will. “I have no choice.”
“Nate, think about this,” Will argued.
“No, he’s right,” Sara said, putting her hand on Will’s arm. “Bringing me in for questioning is proper procedure.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ at the end of that sentence?” Nate said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“But if you arrest me, and they find out I’m FBI, they’ll bury any evidence of wrongdoing. If they cover their tracks, more people will die from the release of their drug, and if SAR searches the wrong area, David Price, our best chance at stopping them, will never be found, and what if he’s alive?”
“That’s a lot of ifs,” Nate said.
Sara released a sigh. “I messed up by going after this on my own, I get it. Let me help you make it right.”
“What do you think?” Nate asked Scott, a former cop.
“I guess it depends how badly you want to keep your job versus putting away the elitist jerks.”
“You up for a search mission?” Nate asked Will.
“You bet.”
“I’m coming,” Sara said.
“No, it’s not safe—”
“I can show you exactly where David fell,” she interrupted Will.
“We need Sara on the team,” Nate said. “Scott, you keep an eye on things back here.”
“Fiona and I could help if we had something of David Price’s so she could catch his scent,” Bree offered.
“They have some items at the command center,” Nate said. “We’ll swing by, then head up into the mountains.” Nate glanced at Scott. “If that’s okay with you.”
“Wait a minute, you’re asking his permission to let me go on the mission?” Br
ee planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at Nate.
Scott went to her and brushed hair back away from her face in a sweet gesture. “He knows I lie awake nights worrying about you when you’re on a mission, and this one has an added element of danger. I have total confidence in your abilities, love, but I don’t trust these guys.”
“Yeah, and LaRouche and Harrington might have their own guys searching the mountains, too,” Sara said.
“Then, we’d better get going and find him first,” Bree said with a lift of her chin.
Scott kissed her and looked at Nate. “You heard the woman. You guys better get going.”
* * *
Three hours later, Sara, Will, Nate and Bree, along with her golden retriever, were closing in on the spot where David Price should have landed after being flung over the mountainside by Victor LaRouche. Sara had taped her ribs so they didn’t hurt too much, and kept her wrist close to her stomach for added protection. Nothing was going to stop her from going on this mission— a dangerous mission that might cost Nate his job, and worse. An encounter with thugs out here in the wilderness could be disastrous.
Nate said they had today to work with, then it would be over. He’d have to officially question Sara about David’s death, taking into account LaRouche and Harrington’s false accusations.
And the chances of finding David Price in one day? Well, she didn’t want to think about that. She needed to stay focused.
“Your boss is wrong,” Will suddenly said.
Sara eyed him. “Excuse me?”
“You’re working with a team right now.” He winked.
Warmth filled her chest at the sight of his smile, the teasing wink and the adorable knit hat he wore that made him look young and untouched by the grief she knew he’d survived.
“Stop flirting,” Nate said over his shoulder.
“That obvious, huh?” Will answered.
“Nah,” Nate said sarcastically.
“Wait, she’s got something,” Bree said as they approached a thick mass of brush. “Okay, girl, go find him.”
Bree released her and the dog took off. The four of them followed.
Will hung back, probably to make sure Sara was okay. As she eyed Nate and Bree in front of them, and Will beside her, she realized the truth to his words: she was part of a team. She liked the feeling.
