Badge of Honor (14 page)

B
y the end of the week, Sarah had all but figured out exactly which screen name was responsible for the assaults. She just had to figure out his real name and find his real address. The Waiting for Marriage conference was going on as planned, with heightened security. Sarah had called her friend to fill in for the workshops her sister had planned to present.

Steve had been transferred to a hospital in Denver, and Beth went to stay with Joel so she could be closer to her fiancé. She hadn't taken two seconds backing out of the conference, and Sarah planned to show up looking like her sister, hoping their suspect would fall for the ruse.

Though they argued, Sarah convinced her parents to go visit Joel, too, and give her less to worry about while the police tried to close up the investigation.

She was getting used to thinking of herself and Nick in the present tense, even though they still hadn't come out in the open. When they weren't planning the investigation they were talking, making up for fourteen years.

Sarah closed on the condo, anxious to move in.

The lieutenant and Nick vetoed that idea, showing up together at her apartment one day. “Until he's in jail, I don't trust that our suspect's not out there watching your every move,” Douglas said. “The chief has ordered us to put your apartment under surveillance, and you're not to go to your sister's without letting me know. We had the cable truck stop by to disconnect the service, but really, he put in a camera.”

“I don't want to live with anyone watching me, whether it be FCPD or the assailant,” she argued. “I can take care of myself, Lieutenant.”

“Don't get difficult now, Roberts. It's not up for discussion,” Douglas said emphatically.

Sarah lost the argument, again. Failure to get her own way didn't settle well. It seemed God was trying to beat submission into her head in every way.

Ten minutes later, the chief of police walked in with a box of wires and surveillance equipment. “After this case is settled, Officer Roberts, I'll be reassigning you to help set up the department's online crimes task force.”

Sarah looked at him, puzzled. “I didn't know FCPD had an online-crimes investigation unit.”

“We will, as soon as you're there to set it up,” the chief stated. “With your performance here, and your experience, it's a no-brainer.”

The lieutenant broke in, drawing her attention back to the current crisis. “We've gotten another call from the suspect. He's threatening—promising is more like it, really—to find his next victim at the conference this weekend. We need to do something drastic, immediately.”

“I'm not going to have just anyone watching me all week,” Sarah said stubbornly. “I need people I've worked with. I want Nick to watch my back.” She glanced at him, and the flicker of panic in his expression made her realize what she'd done. She had just asked to have him on her unit again.

“For this case, this week, that's fine,” Douglas agreed. “But we need him back on the streets as soon as possible, so don't get used to the idea of taking him to the online unit with you.”

Sarah felt a wave of relief, and could see from the look in Nick's eyes that he felt it, too.

The next twenty-four hours were spent going over the layout of her apartment, plus the grounds outside, and informing every player of all backup plans.

Sarah and the team went over everything meticulously, checking the mikes, cameras and earpieces. She sent an instant message to Nick on the Coedspace Web site to test their communications, then entered his phone number on speed dial on her cell and tested it.

“You're coming through okay, but you might review those notes I put in your mailbox last night,” he said with a chuckle.

“You what?”

“See if you have the package I put in your mail slot last night. I thought it might keep you going through this week….” He added.

She thumbed through the pile of mail and found an extra set of handcuffs inside a candy tin. “Oh, you shouldn't have, Sergeant Matthews.” Suddenly, she noticed this wasn't just another set of standard issue handcuffs. She gasped when she discovered a special key attached—and a delicate silver ring with a small heart design on it.

She could hear Nick laugh in her earpiece. “Read the note, too,” he whispered.

“To a lifetime partnership, with God's blessings.”

She fought back tears.

“Radio check,” Nick said.

Sarah slipped the ring onto her left hand. “Affirmative,” she managed to squeak.

“You ready to finish your disguise?” the chief asked. “We've set up a tail to follow you from the condo. If you need to go anywhere, let us know.”

She put the fall wreath up on the door, pretending that life had never been better. Inside, though, she was tired of the act. She didn't like the feeling that strangers were watching her every move. She spent all her time on the computer, praying the assailant would soon take her bait and make his move. She was tired of trying to live someone else's life. It had only been two days and she was already getting cabin fever.

Finally, the suspect sent her an instant message, irate about her newest online article that true love didn't mind waiting until marriage.

“I'm going to run some errands. I'll be back in a couple of hours,” she said into the wire that had become her constant companion.

“Need company?” Nick responded. She was beginning to read between the lines of what he said. She could hear his concern in each comment.

“No,” she replied with a smile. “I'll be back well before dark. The bogeyman never strikes until nightfall.” She could hardly wait to close this case so they could come clean with the chief.

Sarah went to the grocery store, then stopped in a nearby hair salon. If they were ever going to catch this guy, she had to look more like Beth. When the stylist called her to the back, she handed over a photo of her sister. “I want my hair to look like this.”

An hour later, Sarah gazed in the mirror, stunned. She hadn't had short hair since she was a toddler.

She scanned the parking lot as she pulled up to her apartment, not seeing any of the undercover officers. “Everything out here looks good. How're things in the house?”

“It's been quiet, except for the phone. Someone has been determined that you're going to answer,” a man's voice said.

Sarah was puzzled by the change of guard. Why hadn't Nick told her he was leaving? Something wasn't right. “Where'd Nick go?”

“I'm not sure, but I think they had an emergency at the conference hotel. I was sent to watch your apartment.” The man was speaking fast, and his voice wasn't familiar. She pulled out her cell phone to send a text message to Nick's number. The juniper bushes flanking her apartment looked like great hiding places, despite the outdoor cameras that should have alerted Nick to unexpected visitors.

“Any pizza left?”

“Sure,” she said, realizing whoever she was talking to had to be in her apartment or else had seen the pizza delivery they'd had at noon. How had the suspect intercepted their frequency? “I'll send it up for a late-night snack,” she said, playing along.

Sarah wasn't about to go inside until she knew who was waiting for her. “Oh, I forgot to pick up my mail. I'll be right in.” She turned to get back into her car, but a blond-haired man matching the suspect's description cut her off.

S
he took off, but he caught up with her and shocked her with a Taser, knocking her to the ground. He dragged her to the porch of a neighboring building and immediately landed on top of her. She felt another electrical shock as he pressed the sharp point of a knife to her neck. “Hi, Sarah, or would you prefer I call you Beth?”

Sarah struggled to fight him off, but found she couldn't move. He'd obviously been trained to avoid all the failings they trained for in personal safety classes. She gasped for air. “We've—”

“Don't push your luck if you value your life. One word and you can join your sister's boyfriend in the morgue.” He pressed the knife closer, reminding her that her life was in his hands. “I have a special room waiting for us, where no one will hear a thing.”

Be my protector, Lord.
She closed her eyes.
Deliver me from evil, God. Just give me one chance to bring him down. Give me strength to overpower him, to bring him to justice for what he's done to his other victims….

Sarah wanted to scream, but she had to wait for him to remove the point of the knife from her jugular vein. She felt the ring on her finger and silently called out to Nick.

“Now, where'd they put your wire?” Her assailant shoved his hand up her blouse, furious to find no wires. He pushed away from her to continue the search.

Sarah kneed him in the groin as hard as she could. Too weak to continue to fight, she started praying again.
Dear God, save me from those who persecute me. Let justice be served.

She heard shots fired, and his body fell onto her again.

“Sarah! Are you okay?” It was Nick's voice, raw and hoarse with fear.

She opened her eyes to see Nick standing over her, his soft gray eyes filled with desperation and fury. With his Glock still pointed at the suspect, he pushed him off of her with his boot then checked for a pulse. “He's dead.” Other officers ran around the corner with weapons drawn.

Sarah closed her eyes and tried to roll away. Why couldn't she move? Was it the Taser? Or was it simply fear paralyzing her?

“Cover him, just in case,” Nick ordered as he knelt next to her, pulling her blouse closed where the assailant had ripped the buttons loose. “Come here.” He helped her sit up and drew her into his embrace, holding her tight. “Thank God you're okay.”

She let her head rest on his shoulder. “I love you, Nick,” she whispered.

Despite all the people around them, Nick murmured, “I love you too.”

He was moving aside to let a medic examine her minutes later when he stopped to admire her short hair. “It looks good on you, but I barely recognized you—again.”

She felt the chilly fall air blow down her neck. “At least it caught our suspect. Did you get any of what he said on tape—or did he cut your connection?”

“We lost it, but we have your testimony, and hopefully we can have Beth and Steve I.D. him,” Nick said.

Sarah nodded. “I suspect we can get all of them to I.D. him now, even if it's no more than to reassure themselves that they're safe.”

“Don't you scare me like that again.” Nick wiped tears from her face.

“Don't worry, it's going to be a while before I'm ready for another decoy assignment.” Sarah noticed her blouse and pulled her jacket closed, fumbling with the zipper. “Sitting behind a computer might actually be a nice change of pace,” she said with a smile.

T
he last time Sarah had seen so many officers in uniform was at the funeral of a decorated hero after the attack on the Pentagon. Somehow, dress uniforms looked much better when they were worn with a smile.

The groom's smile as he gazed into the eyes of his bride gave Sarah hope that she'd one day be able to utilize Amber Scott's party planning services.

“Your sister is a beautiful bride,” she whispered into Nick's ear.

“I can think of someone who'd look even prettier in a wedding gown.” Nick's gaze didn't stray. “It's been six months, and I haven't heard anyone complain about us dating. What do you say we exchange that promise ring for the real thing?”

“You sure you can handle being married to a fellow officer?” she whispered. Her lips touched his and lingered there as the song ended.

When their lips parted, they realized the cheering wasn't for the bride and groom, but for them.

“Are you two trying to make an announcement?” his sister said with a smile. Kira and Dallas stood arm in arm, ready to throw the bouquet.

“Ten-four.” Nick nudged Sarah. “Catch it.”

“Yeah, right,” she muttered, glancing at the two volleyball players up front. “I don't stand a chance with the twin towers over there.”

“Don't worry, I've got you covered.” Nick put his hands on her waist, and Sarah realized what he had planned as the screaming began. His hold tightened and he lifted her above the other bachelorettes as the flowers shot into the air. “Marry me, Sarah Roberts.”

“Yes!” Sarah held her arms up, caught the bouquet, and cheered.

Dear Reader,

 

I can't tell you how blessed I am to write fiction, and how blessed that God has provided me with so many wonderful characters and their stories. You may be catching on that this series, In the Line of Fire, is very close to my heart. I've dedicated each story to one of my three children, in one way or another. While their names may be used to honor the blessings they've brought to my life, the stories are truly fiction. Praise the Lord that our real lives are nowhere near this exciting!

Sarah and Nick's story is about the deepest conflict that police officers can withstand, betrayal from those they trust. Yet that betrayal is not unique to men and women in uniform. It happens every day to people everywhere in their relationships, in their families and in their communities. Even Jesus was betrayed and struggled with the aftereffects. I loved that Nick realized that. I loved him for wanting to walk away, but not doing so. He knew that God was always there to listen and sympathize with his troubles and fears.

I hope you've enjoyed Sarah and Nick's adventure of finding their way through life's challenges, learning to take a chance again. If you'd like to contact me, you can e-mail me at:

[email protected]
or P.O. Box 200286, Evans, CO 80620.

 

God Bless,

Carol Steward