To her left, someone coughed. Then coughed again. Sophie saw the woman slip a cough drop into her mouth, then whisper something to the man next to her. She turned to leave, weaving her way toward the back.
The movement distracted Sophie, and she found her eyes drawn to another man in the crowd. She paused, letting her gaze linger. He reminded her of the man she’d seen near the mausoleum. The one who’d kidnapped her. But no, that couldn’t be him. Could it? The man she’d seen had been wearing sunglasses and that hideous baseball cap.
This guy was wearing a navy blazer, but no ball cap even though he had on sunglasses—like so many of the men standing outside the tent in the direct sunlight. But for some reason she thought he watched her from a small opening in the mass of bodies. At first, she was unsure why she was so leery of him.
Until he turned his head slightly and she caught a glimpse of his profile. She sucked in a breath. It was the man from the podium. The man who’d been by the mausoleum—the same profile she’d stared at when she’d been in the passenger seat of his speeding car.
She swung her gaze back to Luke.
TWELVE
Luke frowned. Something was wrong. Sophie looked ready to burst from her seat. She slid her gaze from his to her left. Then back to him. Then to her left and back to him.
She was trying to tell him something. And it was urgent.
The next time she slid her eyes to the left, he followed her line of sight. And there was the man who’d kidnapped her from the auditorium. While the family sat, there was standing room only for the others—a wall of bodies surrounding the family. Luke didn’t miss the symbolic gesture. Nor did he miss the fact that the man had started moving, slowly slipping through the spaces until he was about ten yards away from Sophie. And then he paused glancing at the podium, acting as though he belonged there.
Luke held still even though the man didn’t notice him. What did the guy think he was going to do? Grab her with hundreds of officers around?
Or simply shoot her where she sat and run?
Impossible. He’d be caught immediately. Then what? The guy turned his gaze back to Sophie. Watching her. Waiting? For what?
For the right moment that he could reach her. For the break in the crowd that would allow him to act.
Luke nudged Finn. When the man leaned in, Luke said, “That’s the guy who kidnapped Sophie the other day. I don’t know what he’s doing here, but it can’t be good.”
“Here?” Finn placed a hand on his weapon.
“I don’t want to disrupt Jordan’s funeral, but we may have to.”
“See if you can get between him and Sophie,” Gavin said. “I’ll go behind him.”
As one, they began to move, the dogs staying at their respective sides. They drew some notice as well as frowns, but Luke ignored them, his focus on the man whose attention hadn’t swerved from Sophie. The service was coming to an end. Soon, people would begin milling, the crowd would pack in around the family—and Sophie. When would he make his move? Luke played out several possible scenarios even while he rushed to prevent it. Shoot her? Too obvious. Stab her? Quiet and easy but might not provide him with the ability to get away. Then what?
Sitting on the end of the front row, Sophie would be easier to get to than if she’d been in the middle. Or on the back row where the crowd offered a buffer against anyone approaching from the rear.
The need to reach her pushed him faster—which was like trying to hurry through quicksand. The crowd was thick but thankfully not packed tight. Still, it made rushing impossible. For a moment, he lost sight of the man. His attire allowed him to blend in easily.
“He lived well,” Zach was saying from the podium. “He knew how to have fun and he knew when to be serious. He was a shining example for all of us who loved him and looked up to him. Despite what the newspapers are reporting, Jordan did not kill himself. He was murdered, and you’d better believe that my family will do whatever it takes to bring his killer to justice.” Zach’s grief-ravaged voice rose in his passion to convey his feelings about his brother.
Amens echoed through the crowd and Zach nodded to the minister, who returned to the podium to start the closing prayer.
Luke listened with half an ear as he once more caught sight of the man stalking Sophie. Still far enough away, but closing in.
Then the service was over, and people stood. Luke maneuvered Bruno so he could slip between Sophie and the man who’d just now noticed him.
With a scowl, the guy froze, spun and started weaving back through the crowd. Luke gripped Sophie’s arm. “Stay with Katie and the family.” Then he was on his radio, giving a description of the fleeing man. Officers immediately responded, but Luke had lost sight of him. He radioed in the last place he’d seen him even as he continued to follow in that general direction.
Finn closed in behind Luke. “There!” Luke caught a glimpse of a figure heading toward a line of vehicles at a fast jog. Something fell from his navy blue blazer just before he slipped around a massive mausoleum and disappeared. Other officers raced past Luke, who drew to a stop and knelt.
A syringe.
Meant for Sophie, no doubt. Well, that explained his attempt to get as close as possible. And he would have if she hadn’t spotted him.
Gavin reached him. “What is it?”
“Do you have an evidence bag on you?”
“No. I’ll get one.” Gavin hurried off, his K-9, Tommy, loping along beside him.
Luke’s radio crackled, and Finn’s voice came through. “We lost him. He jumped onto the back of a motorcycle and sped off. We’ve got it called in and they’re sending a chopper to look for him.”
“Ten-four.”
When Gavin returned with the bag and a pair of gloves, Luke collected the syringe, dropped it in the bag, then sealed it. He pulled a pen from his vest and labeled the bag.
“Was he wearing gloves?” Gavin asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t get close enough to see.” Luke met Gavin’s eyes. “He was trying to get close enough to inject her. It’s quiet, subtle. A quick sting. And she might not have realized what happened right away.”
“Giving him time to slip away, blending in just like he did anyway.”
“Yeah. At least Sophie was spared, though.” A shudder ripped through him. Handing the bag to Gavin, he said, “I’m going to get back to Sophie. I don’t think that guy will show himself again today, but I don’t want to take a chance on being wrong.”
Gavin glanced at the evidence bag. “Sure. I’ll just get this sent off to the lab.”
That reminded Luke he still hadn’t heard if any prints had been found in Sophie’s apartment. He made a mental note to check on that tomorrow and clicked to Bruno. “Heel, boy.”
The dog rolled to his feet in an agile move and slipped up next to Luke’s left side. When Luke returned to the tent, Katie and Sophie were wrapped in a hug. He stepped up beside them and Sophie’s eyes met his, but her words were for Katie.
“You promise to call me if you need anything?”
“I promise. Now that Jordan’s parents are here, I promise not to be so clingy.”
“You’re a far cry from clingy,” Sophie told her friend. “You know I don’t mind helping or just sitting. Or whatever.”
“I know,” Katie said softly. “Thank you.”
Carter approached, his eyes and nose red, but his jaw firm. “We’re going to Griffin’s,” he told Luke. “In honor of Jordan. He’d insist on it.”
Griffin’s Diner was owned by Louis and Barbara Griffin. Since they served top-notch food and had a premium location near the K-9 Headquarters, it hadn’t taken long for it to become the hangout for officers and their dogs. Thanks to the Griffins’ love of all things law enforcement, they’d built a specific area called the Dog House. Officers could eat in that area with their K-9s without the restaurant being in
any violation of health codes.
Luke nodded. “Sophie, that all right with you?”
“Sure. Carter’s right. Jordan would insist.”
“We’ll meet you there.”
* * *
When they all walked into Griffin’s, Sophie noticed every eye in the place turned to them. “We’ll be in the Dog House, Lou,” Carter said, his voice rough.
“Violet’ll be right out,” Lou said. “Sorry I couldn’t make it to the service.”
“It’s okay,” Luke said, shaking the man’s hand. “We understand. And so would Jordan.”
“Yeah.” The man’s nose reddened and he turned away. “Free burgers in the Dog House!” His holler carried to the back.
“Dog House burgers coming up!” The cook’s answer had Lou nodding.
“For Jordan,” he told Luke.
Sophie cleared her throat and hurried to find a seat before she burst into tears. Coming here was a mistake. Jordan had loved this place, and his presence practically bounced off the walls. The Griffins had dedicated this room to fallen NYPD officers—many of them K-9 handlers and K-9s themselves. Bruno had been named for Alan Brunowski, killed in the line of duty. The officer’s picture hung on the wall opposite the chair she slid into.
Luke seated himself next to her. “You okay?” he asked softly.
“What was he doing there?” she asked, her voice equally low. When Luke didn’t answer right away, she nudged him. “Luke?”
“He was up to no good, let’s put it that way.”
“He was coming back for me, I suppose?”
“Looks like it. You’re the one who saw him at the podium. He obviously thinks you can identify him.”
“But you can, too.”
“I’m not sure he realized that. Before now anyway. You can better believe I’ll be watching my back from now on, though.”
“Good.” She nodded and sighed. “Well, thank you for keeping me safe from him.”
He sighed as Carter, Noah and Zach settled their dogs, then took their seats at a nearby table. Luke shot her a tight smile and squeezed her hands. “Let’s forget about him for now. You’re safe here.”
She swallowed and picked up the menu she didn’t need to look at. “You’re not telling me everything.” She paused. “Was he going to shoot me? Strangle me? What?”
“Inject you,” Luke said. “He had a syringe and it fell out of his pocket when he was running away. We sent it off to the lab so, hopefully, we’ll know something soon.”
She flinched. Well, she’d asked. “Thank you. I want to know everything. At least the stuff that pertains to me. It’s the only way I feel like I can be prepared for...whatever.” Sophie held his gaze. “Promise me.”
He gave a slow nod. “Okay.”
“You two telling secrets?” Reed Branson asked. Reed was tall with dark brown hair and eyes. Part of the K-9 unit, he and his bloodhound partner, Jessie, like Finn and Abernathy, could track just about anything. Reed, Brianne, Tony, Finn and Gavin rounded out Luke and Sophie’s table.
“No secrets,” Luke answered. “Just discussing something that pertains to Sophie.”
“Hi, everyone,” a voice next to Sophie said. She looked up to see Violet Griffin, daughter of Louis and Barb, standing behind her, notepad ready to take their drink order. The burgers would be free, but they’d pay for anything extra. Violet had her long curly brown hair pulled into a ponytail. Her dark eyes were cast slightly over her shoulder to rest on Zach, who was seated behind Sophie. “I’m so sorry about Jordan.”
“Thanks, Violet,” Luke said.
Violet’s gaze continued to linger on Zach for a few more seconds before turning her attention back to them. “I’m really worried how his death is going to affect Zach,” she said, keeping her voice low. “He and Jordan were really close.”
“The Jamesons are strong people,” Luke said. “They’ll stick together and get through this as a family.”
“Of course. Sorry. I guess it’s really not my business.” Her gaze slid back to Zach, then she bit her lip and shook her head. “So, what can I get everyone to drink?”
Sophie raised a brow but ordered a water with lemon without commenting.
Luke and the others gave their requests, then Luke tilted his head and asked, “How’s the airport business?”
Violet’s lips curved. “It’s going well. There’s never a dull moment and it keeps me on my toes, that’s for sure.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Sophie said. “I always just see you in here. I forget that you work at the airport, too.” Violet’s full-time job as a ticket agent at the airport kept her busy. But when her hours allowed, she could be found helping at the restaurant.
Violet shrugged. “It pays the bills, but I can’t seem to completely give up working here. I love the customers and Mom and Dad need the help. Plus, it helps pay for the night class I signed up for.”
“Night classes, too?” Sophie said. “Wow, you’re incredibly busy.”
“I like it that way, I guess.”
“Doesn’t leave much time for a social life, does it?” Luke asked.
Once again, Violet’s gaze slipped to Zach. “No, not much of one, but that’s okay. Maybe one day things will change.”
“Maybe.”
“Hey, Sophie,” Gavin said, “I heard about the dog coming from the Czech Republic. She’s supposed to be getting here soon, isn’t she?”
“Any day now.” Sophie sighed. “She’s a Labrador retriever, and her name is Stella. Jordan was instrumental in getting her here because of a favor he did for the prime minister when he and his family were visiting last summer.”
“What kind of favor?” Brianne asked. “How’d I miss that?”
“Jordan kept it quiet, but the PM’s daughter went missing for a short time. She snuck away from her security detail. Jordan and Snapper tracked her down.” She sighed. “I hate that he’s not going to be here to see Stella arrive.” The table fell silent and Sophie cleared her throat. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to...” What could she say?
“No, it’s okay,” Luke said. “We’re going to talk about Jordan and remember him. He’d want that. And Stella... Well, she’s going to generate quite a bit of publicity for the department, so we definitely have to put our best foot forward.”
“And make Jordan proud,” Sophie said softly.
“Exactly.”
“Brianne’s going to be working with her.” Sophie smiled at the woman. Brianne’s big brown eyes gleamed with anticipation at the thought of the challenge. “I know you’ll have her working right up there with the best of them in no time.”
“That’s the plan.”
* * *
While Luke ate, he observed Sophie from the corner of his eye. She might be young, but she was strong. And pretty. And smart. And—
And nothing. As long as he was her protector, she was off-limits. Not to mention the fact that she was so much younger than he. Only that didn’t seem to be such a big deal anymore. But it should, right?
“Everyone okay here?” Violet asked. She refilled glasses while she spoke. “Can I get anyone anything? Dessert?”
Groans answered her.
She laughed and left to wait on the next table—the one where Zach sat—and Finn pushed his silverware to the side. He leaned forward. “So.”
Everyone looked at him. “So...what?” Luke asked.
“This might sound a bit crass to bring up now, but it needs to be addressed at some point. Who do you think will take Jordan’s place?”
The table fell silent.
“I think that’s a good question,” Gavin said.
“Probably one of Jordan’s brothers, I would think,” Reed said. “Noah or Carter would do an excellent job. They both have been around awhile and have some seniority.”
Gavin huffed a short laugh an
d shook his head.
“What?” Luke asked.
* * *
Sophie’s gaze bounced from one to the other, landing on Gavin, who looked aggravated and hesitant to say anything all at the same time. “What is it, Gavin?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“Something,” Brianne said. “What? You think you should get the job?”
Gavin shrugged, but his eyes narrowed. “If you’re going by seniority, we all know that I have it.”
Brianne gave a light snort. “You’re just sore that Jordan beat you out for the position when you were both after it at the same time.”
“Disappointed,” Gavin said softly. “Not sore. There’s a difference.” His gaze connected with Brianne’s for a moment and Sophie blinked.
Tony Knight slapped the table and they all jumped.
Sophie jerked her gaze from Gavin and Brianne and placed a hand over her heart. “Tony? You okay?”
“No. I’m not okay. Jordan’s not buried an hour and you guys are quibbling over who’s going to take his job. It’s disrespectful...and distasteful.” He lasered Gavin with a red-hot look. “Today, of all days, you can’t give your ego a rest?”
Gavin sighed and shook his head. “It’s not about ego, man, I just—”
“I don’t think anyone meant to be disrespectful,” Sophie interrupted. “Tony, I know you and Jordan were best friends and it’s hard to think about him not being there in the office. Joining us here at Griffin’s.” She looked away and swallowed. “But the fact remains, his position will need to be filled. And quickly. As much as Jordan loved this unit and everyone in it, he would want us to think about it and make sure the unit is protected and nothing falls through the cracks.”
“She’s right,” Luke said.
Murmured agreements swept around the table.
Tony sighed and raked a hand over his head. “You’re right, Sophie, but first and foremost, I think we need to stay focused on finding Jordan’s killer. Let the powers-that-be trouble themselves with a replacement while we keep our tunnel vision on this investigation.”
Justice Mission Page 13
