Branded (3 page)

“I’d be more likely to get some sleep if you were
with me.”

Nicole narrowed her gaze at her aunt, but smiled. 
“Let’s see how things go in the next couple of weeks.  I hate to give up my
apartment if I don’t have to.”  It had taken her a long time to find a decent
place on her salary, plus it overlooked a park which worked well for her and
her dog.  “If things get worse, I’ll move home.”

“I suppose I can live with that.  Another thing,”
her aunt said as she started the car.  “I think we need to check into a private
investigator.”

“The police are investigating.”

“The police also believe they’ve captured their
suspect.  Do you really think they’re going to put much effort or manpower into
proving your innocence?”

Her aunt had a point.  “Probably not.”  How in the
world would she ever afford a lawyer
and
an investigator?  “I’ll look
into it after I get home.”

“Promise?  Because if you don’t, I will.”

“I promise.”

Aunt Claire returned her smile, and a rush of
gratitude fell over Nicole.  Her aunt had always encouraged her to stand on her
own two feet, but she’d also been there to catch her when she’d fallen.  “When
times get tough, family should stick together.”

She took the older woman’s hand and squeezed.  “Thank
you, Aunt Claire.  Thank you for always being there for me.”

“It hasn’t been a one-way street, honey.  I’m
grateful every day that I have you for a daughter.”

Emotion gathered inside her, but she held back her
tears, not wanting to cause her aunt further worry.  “I know.  And I’m so glad
I’ve always been able to count on you like I never could with my parents.  You’d
never lie to me like Dad did.  You’d never let me down like they both did, and
I hope I never disappoint you either.”

Claire shook her head.  “I’m no saint, Nicole.” 
She released her hand and pulled out into traffic.

“You’re as close as they get.  If I’m half the
woman you are, that will be enough for me.”

*        *        *

The moment Nicole’s neighbor opened her door,
Stormy pushed between Janie’s legs and rushed toward Nicole.

“Whoa, little one.”  Janie, Nicole’s confidant and
best emergency dog-sitter, grabbed the doorframe for support.

“She’s not exactly little anymore.”  Nicole laughed
as she knelt down and let her sweet Australian Sheepdog cover her cheeks with
kisses.

“Isn’t that the truth?  I remember how small she
was when you both moved in, and that wasn’t that long ago.”  Janie pulled her
door closed most of the way, secreting them in the quiet hall.  Her boyfriend,
Paul, worked nights and was probably asleep.

“She’s grown up fast.”  Nicole stood, giving her
neighbor a grateful smile.  Janie with her short blond hair and brilliant blue
eyes had a natural beauty that Nicole always envied.  “Thank you so much for
watching her.  I wasn’t certain how long the police would detain me.  I guess I
panicked.”

Janie waved away her thanks.  “I’m always fine
with Stormy, but what about you?  Are you okay?”

Nicole appreciated the fact that her friend hadn’t
questioned her innocence right off the bat.  “Honestly?  I’m not sure.  I’ve
been accused of stealing money from my job.  Serious money.  I hope you believe
I didn’t do it.”

“Of course you didn’t.  I don’t believe a word
they’re saying.”

Nicole’s heart plummeted.  “
They
?”  She’d
hoped the news media wouldn’t deem her worthy, but deep down, she knew that
wasn’t likely.

“There was a brief clip on the late-morning news.”

“It’s already hit the news?”  She forced back the
bile rising in her throat.  “What will people think?”

She tilted her head with sympathy.  “Don’t worry. 
I’m sure there will be something else more sensational than you to steal their
attention.”

“Dear God.  I hope so.”  Stormy nudged her hand,
her patience at an end.  She clearly didn’t understand the severity of her
owner’s situation.  “I’d better drop off my mail and take this one outside
before she has an accident.”

Janie checked the watch on her wrist.  “It’s been
a few hours.”  She put a hand on Nicole’s shoulder.  “Take care.  I’m here if
you need anything.”

“Thanks, Janie.”

Her friend gave her a commiserating smile.  “This
one-hundred percent sucks, Nicole.”

“That’s the understatement of the year.” 

Nicole hugged her friend goodbye and took Stormy
for a quick walk before heading back to her small, one-bedroom apartment.  It
was weird to think the last time she’d been in her home, her life was on the
verge of a complete disaster, and she hadn’t even known it. 

She dropped onto the couch, exhausted and overcome
with the unbelievable ordeal she’d just endured.  Now that her needs had been
met, Stormy seemed to sense her owner’s troubled feelings, and she whined as
she circled and then sat on Nicole’s feet.  Her sweet little doggie.  She
rubbed Stormy’s ears and leaned forward to kiss her nose.

It would be so easy to sink into a puddle of tears
and frustration, but she knew better than most that crying didn’t solve
anything.  Her aunt had never let her get away with sulking for long.  She’d
taught her to get back on her feet and fight.

Unfortunately, at this point, she had no idea who
to fight, no idea how she’d landed in this predicament.  But she couldn’t sit
and fret and let her feelings of helplessness overwhelm her.  She needed to
do
something.

In the end, housework became the only foe within
fighting distance.  She scrubbed and dusted and tossed useless things into the
garbage.  It might only be her corner of the world, but for a while, she was in
control.

Xander Secrist pulled his sleek silver Corvette through
the gated entrance to Hunter MacFarlane’s home.  Xander didn’t make the trek to
Hunter’s place often since the drive from Portland to the wooded area of the
Wilson River Highway in Tillamook was a good ninety minutes away.  He preferred
to offer his assistance via phone or email, but this one got his blood pumping. 
It was not only in his line of expertise, considering the crime had taken place
in his city and involved a financial transgression, but the woman who’d
committed the crime was the daughter of John Camden, the man who’d ruined his
father.

There was no way he could ignore that.

Xander parked his car behind Sam’s black Charger
and Ryan’s red Jeep, wondering if Christian would make an appearance as well. 
It was odd to think those three men in addition to Hunter had become like
brothers to him.  He had an actual brother, but since the untimely death of his
father two years ago, they’d grown apart.

He exited his car, walking toward the three story
log cabin.  Golden lights reflected from most of the windows, giving the
structure an enticing glow in the waning evening light.  He’d tossed on his
leather jacket, knowing the temps this close to the forest would hover between
cool and cold.  He hadn’t been wrong.

As he drew nearer to the front door, he could hear
the bounces of a basketball repeatedly hitting the ground.  Someone grunted,
followed by the sound of the ball hitting a metal hoop.

“Like a boss!” Sam called out as curses came from
the other men.

Xander shifted directions and wandered around the
side of the house to find Sam, Ryan and Hunter engaged in a cutthroat game of
basketball.  With a quick move, Sam stole the ball from Ryan, turning and bouncing
it as he backed his way into Hunter’s and Ryan’s defense.  He rotated, took a
step back, and shot the ball in a perfect arc through the hoop.  Hunter caught
it before it landed.

“Damn, I’m
good
.”  Sam used the bottom of
his t-shirt to wipe the sweat from his face, exposing a well-honed six pack of
muscles.

“You’d like to think,” Ryan answered, pulling his
shirt over his head and wiping his face and dark hair with it.

The guys all made it a point to stay in shape.  He
could even admit Sam excelled at basketball, but Xander could outrun his ass
any day of the week.

Hunter was the first to notice him.  “Xander.”  He
acknowledged him with a nod of his head and tossed the ball to Ryan.  The other
guys echoed his greeting, but quickly dismissed them as Ryan took the
opportunity of distraction to shoot a clean hoop.

Sam caught the ball.  “Doesn’t count.”  He shot
off his own and scored again.

“The hell is doesn’t.”

Xander approached Hunter and held out a hand,
ignoring the other two who were happy to continue their friendly competition. 
Hunter shook it with a firm grasp, his expression cool and calculating as
always.  “Good to see you.”

Xander would never forget the haunted look in his
friend’s icy blue eyes when he’d introduced himself to Xander the first time.  “It’s
been a while, man.”

Hunter nodded.  “Want to join in?”

“I’d rather hear about our latest case.”

“I thought you might.”  One side of his mouth
tipped into a half-smile.  For the leader of their group, that was saying
something.  Xander had never gotten the full story out of his friend as to why
he’d started his secret vigilante activities, but whatever had spurred him had
left a deep scar on his psyche.  Then again, he supposed they all bore wounds
of some sort.

Hunter led the way into his house.  Inside, the
walls were constructed of honeyed pine, bathing the rooms with a rich and
rustic warmth.  Xander followed him down to the basement where the five of them
housed the headquarters of their operation.  They’d fondly nicknamed it “the
cave”. 

Their cave was extremely functional.  Half of the
enormous room housed several workstations complete with phones and computers. 
A white board occupied a good portion of one wall, along with a large cork
board they used to pin pertinent information if needed.  The center of the room
housed a well-stocked bar which provided a nice separation from the leather
sofas and a big-screen TV at the other end.  They took their missions seriously,
but there was nothing wrong with taking care of some basic needs from time to
time like drinking beer and watching football.

“I’ve got my notes on the desk over there.”

Xander stopped long enough to pull a cold one out
of the fridge.  He twisted off the cap, the beer hissing its approval as he
glanced over the papers and notes scattered across the walnut desk.  A glossy
photo of a young woman caught his attention.  Long brunette bangs swept above
green eyes alight with happiness while a big grin highlighted pink, glossy lips
and perfect, white teeth.  She could be the proverbial girl next door, the kind
of woman a man would want to take home to meet his mama.  He hated to think
someone might be taking advantage of her.  He lifted the picture.  “Who’s she? 
Victim?”

Hunter shook his head.  “Perp.”

He raised his brows in surprise.  “
Really
?” 
She was Camden’s daughter?  “She doesn’t seem like she’d be capable of
hijacking ten million.”  In fact, she didn’t look like she’d be up to stealing
a cup of sugar.  Hunter had given him a brief overview of the case when they’d
spoken on the phone, but now that he’d seen his target, he was more than
curious about the rest of the details.

His friend shrugged.  “Looks can deceive.”

He was well aware of that.  Her father who’d taken
his dad for every last penny hadn’t looked like a back-stabbing, soul-stealing
bastard, either.  He’d not only stolen from him and his father, but future
generations of Secrist’s as well.  “What makes you so sure she’s guilty?  Not
that I’m going to mind sticking it to Camden’s daughter.”

Hunter took the photo from him, studying her with
a hard look.  “The evidence is pretty damning.  I’ll let Sam fill you in on the
specifics.  Basically, video footage that places her at the scene.  Her
computer.  Her fingerprints.  A co-worker who’s willing to testify she joked
around about stealing from the company.  Her father was incarcerated for a
similar crime.  They may have worked together in the past.  Now he’s dead, and
she’s gone solo.”

Xander hardened his spirit against the beautiful
woman.  He’d dealt with people like her before, and if she was anything like
her father, she deserved to spend the rest of her life behind bars.

“In addition,” Hunter continued.  “Sam’s pretty
proud of his arrest and conviction record.  Wouldn’t want to mess that up.  But
more importantly, if the money isn’t recovered, it’s going to affect the
company’s shareholders.  One of them, a friend of mine has heavily invested in
First Freedom and stands to lose a bunch.  Normally, I’d say those are the
risks of investing, but he just found out his wife has breast cancer.  I need
to help him.  The police may end up getting Ms. Camden eventually, but I don’t
want it to take months to reel her in.  If someone doesn’t jump on this soon,
she may slip through our fingers.”

“Agreed.”  He certainly had
no
problem
helping Hunter’s friend, especially if it brought him a degree of revenge.

Xander glanced at a few of the papers on the
desk.  Her father’s arrest records.  A copy of the lease she’d signed for her
apartment.  Her driving record.  A copy of the police report.  All important
information, some of which Sam had risked his career for.  But Sam trusted his “brothers”,
and they trusted him.  They all knew, all agreed when they’d signed up that
this was a risky venture.  Risky, but worth it, and they’d protect each other
with their lives.  “I’m glad you called me in on this one.  I’d like to take
the lead if that’s all right with you.” 

“I was hoping you would.  You’re our financial
expert, and your background in computers doesn’t hurt, either.  Sam will be
able to give us some inside info, and the rest of us will be here to back you
up if you need it.  I want you to arrange to meet her.  Get her to talk to you. 
Be her friend.  Maybe you can get her to slip up and spew some info that can be
used against her.”