After he’d dressed, he emerged to find her standing motionless in front of the television. Something in her posture alerted him.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Come here,” she said. The panicked undertone in her voice had him hurrying. “Look. We’re on the news.”
“On the news? That doesn’t make sense. We haven’t done anything wrong.” He moved closer.
“The authorities are looking for these two missing people,” the announcer said, flashing both his and JJ’s photos on the screen. And then, to Eric’s disbelief and shock, a video began, showing the recovery of a missing infant supposedly tied to the two of them. The baby had been found with a woman who was apparently trying to cross the international border, into Canada. Her name was not mentioned. The newscaster finished up with the news that the baby was safe.
Garth. It had to be.
For a second, Eric couldn’t force a single word past the lump in his throat.
“Garth,” he said, staring at the screen, not quite certain he could believe his ears. “They found him.”
JJ nodded. When she turned her face to his, tears were streaming in silver tracks down her cheeks. “He’s all right,” she sobbed, her voice catching.
“Come here.” Emotion made his own sound rough. He held out his arms. With a choked sob, she launched herself at him, wrapping him in a fierce hug. He held on to her, feeling as if he’d been drowning and had gone under for the third and final time before being thrown a life raft.
“He’s okay, he’s okay,” JJ kept repeating. And then she stiffened and pulled away. “Eric, we’ve got to find out where he is. We need to go get him.”
“Exactly. And we will. Get ready, as quickly as you can.”
After sending her off to the shower, he dialed Linda Felts. Her voice mail picked up, so he left a message with his new number. He figured right now she was in the middle of a heck of a lot of craziness. He began packing up both his and JJ’s belongings in preparation for checking out.
When JJ reappeared, her long hair still damp, she hurried over. “Well?” she asked. “What did they say?”
“I left a message. Let’s grab breakfast on the road. I figure we’ll head back to Rhonda’s house and make it easy for them to find us.”
They got food at a drive-through and ate while he drove.
They pulled up in front of Rhonda’s shortly before eleven. The construction crews were busy working on JJ’s house. She bit her lip, looking from her place to Rhonda’s. “I think I’m going to go over and check on them,” she said. “Want to join me?”
With impatience thrumming through his blood, he managed to nod, not wanting to have to make explanations to Rhonda alone. He kept his phone in his hand, silently willing Felts—or someone, anyone—to call back. If he didn’t hear from her in the next half hour, he would make a repeat phone call.
JJ held out her hand and he took it.
Inside, the workers had made tremendous progress. The front entrance and hall looked completely repaired. It had even been repainted. The soggy smoke smell had vanished, also. The workers all seemed to be upstairs. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or bad. Maybe that meant they’d finished repairing the downstairs.
“Wow.” Eyes wide, JJ was turning in a slow circle. “Amazing.”
His cell phone rang. He started, his heart pounding.
JJ froze. “Answer it,” she said.
As if he needed urging. He already had it out of his pocket and his password typed in.
“Where the hell are you?” Linda Felts demanded once he’d answered. “We’ve wasted valuable resources searching for you and—”
He cut her off. “Where’s Garth? I saw on the news that you found him. I want my son.”
Silence. Then she sighed. “That’s a long story.”
His gut clenched at her ambiguous words. “I don’t care. You can tell me the story later. Not right now. Just let me know where I can go to pick up my boy.”
“We’ll bring him to you,” she said. “Eventually. We’ve got some questions we’re hoping you can answer first.”
Unease coiled in the pit of his stomach. “Is this some kind of a trick?”
“Of course not. There’s simply a lot more than meets the eye. We need to talk in person rather than on the phone.”
“After.” He snarled the word. “After I have my son, then we’ll talk. Not before. Do you understand?”
“We’ll be there in half an hour,” she said, and then ended the call.
Dazed, he stared at his phone for a second.
“What the heck was that?” JJ asked. “Is everything all right?”
“I don’t know.” Pushing away his despair, he shook his head. “That entire conversation was strange. I’m beginning to wonder if that video was fake.”
“What?” JJ gasped. “Why would they do something like that? It makes no sense.”
“I don’t know.”
Coming closer, JJ laid her hand on his shoulder. “Linda is a Pack Protector, and as such, is held to a higher ethical standard. She—they—wouldn’t trick you. They’re on your side.”
“Are they?” He couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice. “She never definitely said they had Garth. Though she did say they’d bring him to me, eventually.”
JJ cussed, a rarity for her. “Hand me your phone. I’m about to call that woman and give her a piece of my mind.”
“It’s okay,” he said, even though it wasn’t. Not even remotely. “I don’t want to risk antagonizing her. She’ll be here in thirty minutes. You can tell her in person.”
Chapter 20
Rather than dealing with explanations to Rhonda, they elected to wait at JJ’s house. Eric insisted they complete the inspection, forcing himself to care that the downstairs area—his living space—appeared completely finished. There was even electricity again. And water. “I wonder if this means Garth and I can move in again. Once I have him back, that is.”
Though a shadow crossed her face, she nodded. “It probably does. I confess, I’m almost afraid to go upstairs and see my place.”
Which right now was the last thing he wanted to do. He couldn’t keep from checking his watch, dismayed to see only ten minutes had passed since Felts’s call. “We’ve got time,” he said grimly. Actually, he wanted to start pacing, outside, where he could see the Protector’s car pull up. Waiting infuriated and worried him. Especially since he didn’t know if they were really bringing Garth or not.
Judging from the nervous apprehension on JJ’s face, she needed a distraction almost as badly as he did. “Let’s at least go take a look. Then we’ll wait outside on the front porch.”
She didn’t move. “I’d rather just go outside now. I can’t take the suspense, the not knowing.”
This he understood. But he also knew it would be worse if they just stood there staring at the street, waiting for the vehicle to appear. “Come on,” he urged. “Upstairs. Let’s take a look. We’ll hurry.”
Reluctantly, she followed him up the stairs. They’d just reached the landing outside her living space when the downstairs front door flew open, hitting the wall with a thud.
“Freeze,” a male voice shouted. “No one move. We’ve got this place surrounded. Eric Mikkelson and Julia Jacobs, you’re under arrest.”
Eric’s first instinct was to shield JJ with his body. He wasn’t sure what kind of game the Protectors were playing, but he didn’t want her risking her life for his mess.
“We’re here,” he shouted. “Upstairs, on the landing.” The hammering in JJ’s living area stopped, which meant the contractors had heard him. Perfect. It never hurt to have witnesses.
“Come down with your hands up,” Felts ordered. Good, at least he wouldn’t be dealing with a total stranger.
She nodded. “But why?”
“I have no idea.” Turning, he raised his hands and began making his way, step by step, slowly down the stairs. “Stay behind me.”
When they turned the corner, he saw Linda Felts, her weapon drawn, flanked by two others who, judging by the auras, were also Protectors.
“Where’s my son?” he demanded, shooting her a hard look.
“He’s safe.” Her own hard glare infuriated him. “But we have a few questions for the two of you.”
He’d already started shaking his head before she’d finished speaking. “Not until I have my boy.”
“Are we being charged with something?” JJ asked, stepping out from behind him, in complete disregard of his instructions. “If so, you’d better charge us. And I’ll be contacting an attorney, so if you do charge us with something, I’ll be wanting to speak with her first.”
After a quick, startled look, Felts shook her head and laughed. “Honey, we’re Protectors. You know that. We are definitely not human law-enforcement. As Pack, we operate by our own rules, not the ones the human police and FBI have in place. You’re under Pack law now. You don’t get an attorney.”
JJ swallowed, but to her credit, her expression remained undaunted. “I still have the right to know the accusations being made against me.”
“Hello?” Rhonda was coming up the porch steps. “JJ, is everything okay in here? I saw you and Eric come back and then—” She stopped short as she entered the foyer and saw Linda Felts and her two armed agents. Fear flashed across her face, though she quickly hid it. “What exactly is going on here?” she demanded.
“That’s what I want to know,” JJ replied. “These people just showed up and claimed they’re arresting us, but they won’t say what the charges are. Not only that, but Eric’s baby has gone missing and these people supposedly found him, but won’t give him back to us. I think you need to call 911.”
Involving the humans. Exactly the last thing the Pack Protectors would want. They’d really have a difficult time making explanations, since they couldn’t tell humans the truth.
“Pack Protectors?” Her expression grim, Rhonda looked from one to the other. Linda Felts jerked her head in a grudging nod. She could tell by Rhonda’s aura that she, too, was a shape-shifter.
“I thought your job was to uphold the law,” Rhonda continued sternly. “Not break it. Stealing this man’s child and now threatening to arrest them without good cause doesn’t sound like the Pack Protectors we all know and love.”
Wow. Even Eric was impressed by Rhonda’s confident and authoritative tone. He saw the way Felts blanched, but the Protector stuck to her guns.
“This is none of your concern,” she said coolly. “I suggest you simply turn around and march right back to wherever you came from. Unless you want to be arrested, too.”
Instead of appearing worried by the threat, Rhonda laughed. “Just try it,” she said. “I’m sure even corrupt Pack Protectors have to draw the line at cold-blooded murder.”
JJ gasped. Clearly, the thought of being killed hadn’t occurred to her. It had to Eric, though. And he knew he couldn’t allow it to happen, because Garth needed his father.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Rhonda declared, crossing her arms. “Not until I’m certain my friends here are safe.”
Felts made a sound of disgust and holstered her weapon. “Stand down,” she ordered, and the other agents did the same. Jerking her thumb toward Rhonda, she met Eric’s gaze. “Who is this woman?”
“JJ’s next-door neighbor. The three of us have been living with her while JJ’s house is repaired.”
“From the fire,” Rhonda added helpfully. “Now I’m wondering if you Protectors had anything to do with setting that?”
JJ gasped again. “This is a mess” she managed to mutter.
“Isn’t it?” Rhonda’s voice was a mixture of gleeful and disgusted. She still seemed poised to attack at the slightest provocation. Inside, Eric’s bear reacted to the hostility emanating from her and reared up, massive head cocked in interest. The urge to change, right then, right there, rocked Eric, but he managed to wrestle his other self quickly back into submission.
When he looked up, Rhonda was watching him with what he could only describe as a satisfied gleam in her eye.
“I don’t understand any of this,” JJ said quietly. “We were going to a safe house with your agent. Someone attacked us and—”
“Our agent was killed.” Felts looked from JJ to Eric, her expression cold. “This is the second agent we lost while working with Eric. This time, we’ve received reputable intel that you two knew this was going to happen.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Now furious, Eric glared at the Protector. “Explain our motives, please. And identify the source of this so-called reputable information. Because from where I stand, that is nonsense. It defies all logic. Not only was JJ knocked out, but I was injured in the shootout, and my baby was taken. How could you—how could anyone—possibly think I’d be okay with that?”
“It’s not you we’re concerned about.” Felts swung her gaze around and pinned JJ with it. “It’s her. One of the suspects we have in custody has told us Julia Jacobs did this in a twisted plot to gain control of your child.”
Stunned into silence, Eric struggled to make sense of her words. JJ appeared equally shocked, already shaking her head. He waited for her to deny the accusations, but she remained silent. Even Rhonda now eyed her friend with suspicion and doubt in her gaze.
He thought about his ex-wife and how completely Yolanda had fooled him. Was it possible that he’d been tricked again, this time by a warm and giving redhead?
No. “I don’t believe it,” he declared, earning a grateful look from JJ. “If she wanted Garth, she’d had numerous opportunities to take him. She’s been my friend and his, and she’d never in a million years do something like this.”
“Thank you.” JJ finally found her voice, gratitude and something else resonating in it. “He’s right. I don’t know what’s wrong with you people, but I’m not the bad guy in this situation. I’m also a victim here.”
“What have you lost?” Felts asked, her tone skeptical.
JJ stared at the other woman. “My home, for starters. Is it true? Were the Protectors behind the fire?”
“No.” Of this Felts appeared certain. “You never even came onto our radar until you decided to tag along with Eric and his son.”
“Speaking of my son,” Eric interjected. “Do you really have him safe or was that a ruse to get us to come in? Because so help me, if he’s still out there somewhere, in danger from a bunch of religious fanatics, I’ll—”
“Garth is fine. He’s being looked after by our people.”
Eric sagged with relief. Meanwhile, Felts continued holding his gaze. “We’ve arrested two people for his kidnapping. Your ex-mother-in-law and her nurse.”
“What?” He blinked. “I visited my ex-mother-in-law yesterday. There’s no way she could have been involved. She has dementia.”
“There is some cognitive impairment,” Felts conceded. “But she’s still largely functional. We’re still questioning her and the nurse. There are several more people involved in this. Julia Jacobs was specifically mentioned as one of them.”
“By whom?”
“Does it matter?” Felts barked. “Why aren’t you more concerned that your supposed friend apparently betrayed you?”
“Because I don’t believe it.” Deliberately, he reached out and gathered JJ close. “And you still haven’t explained to me exactly why you do.”
Clearly frustrated, the Protector grimaced. “
There are other things in play that we aren’t at liberty to reveal yet. When the time is right, we will.”
“But my son is safe, right?” Even though they’d already said he was, Eric wanted to hear it again.
“Yes.”
“Then why won’t you let me have him back?”
“We have to deal with all threats first.” Felts dipped her head toward JJ. “There’s no way we’re letting him around anyone who might mean him harm.”
While he appreciated their concern, he didn’t understand why Garth was suddenly so important to them. Something wasn’t right with their story.
Aware now, more than ever, that he had to be careful, Eric swallowed. “Was there ever even a real cult who wanted him? Or was that some bizarre story you cooked up for whatever reason?”
Again Felts glanced at Rhonda, who watched the exchange with avid interest. “I’m not comfortable with discussing this in front of your neighbor.”
He agreed. “Rhonda, you should go. JJ and I will fill you in later.”
“Are you sure you two will be okay?” Rhonda asked.
“Yes. Please leave. The sooner I can get through this nonsense, the faster I can see my son.”
Though she huffed, Rhonda turned and went out the front door. “I’ll be in my kitchen if anyone needs me,” she called. “Just shout. I’ve got really good hearing.”
Once she was gone, Felts sighed. “Your ex-wife might not be dead.”
Convinced he must have heard incorrectly, Eric asked her to repeat herself.
“I said we believe Yolanda is still alive. And she’s behind the attempt to steal Garth. She wants her son, according to her mother. And she’ll stop at nothing to get him.”
He shook his head in denial. “But you found her body, with Jason’s, remember? A positive ID was made, or so I was told.”
“And you still haven’t explained why you think I’m involved in all of this,” JJ added, her arms crossed and her expression tight. “I didn’t even know Eric until he rented the bottom floor of my house.”
Her Guardian Shifter Page 20
