Come Gentle the Dawn (22 page)

Linc’s face became grimmer. “Earl, do you know if Carter hired some professionals to murder John and Brie?”

Earl tried to wipe his eyes of his tears. He glanced at Brie. “Yes, he did. Honest to God, Brie, I didn’t know about it until later. If I had known before, I swear, I would have warned you.”

Brie forced back all her emotions. Even though she hadn’t been killed, she hadn’t completely escaped Carter’s greedy, inhumane deed.

Linc leaned forward. “Where were these hired professionals from, Earl?”

“Some guys from New Jersey,” he said bleakly. “Or maybe it was New York. I don’t remember.”

“Why did he want John and Brie killed?”

“John came in seven months ago to check the books like he always did. I had been working on the second set of books, the one that kept track of the PCB oil being trucked in. At the time, I didn’t realize the mistake I’d made. John had asked for a copy of those two pages with the information on them, and one of the secretaries ran the copies for him. I had been on a phone call and just told her to give him copies. He thanked me and left.” Earl took a deep breath. “When I realized what I’d done, I lived in terror of Carter finding out. I knew John was onto something when Brie came back two days later. Normally, I keep the second set of books in the safe, and even the secretaries didn’t know what was going on.” He glanced at Brie. “When Carter saw you come in two days afterward, he got suspicious. He was upset. He wanted to know why you had visited us again so soon. He thought you suspected something.

“Carter started threatening me with losing my job
and letting Flora die. I finally broke down and told him that John had two pages from the wrong set of books.” Earl closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “He flew into a rage, then he picked up the phone. He ordered me out of his office and I left. When he came back out, he was calm. He said not to worry, that everything would be taken care of and we’d get those copies back.” Wringing his hands, he stared at his feet, his voice raw. “And when I saw in the papers a couple days later that John had died in an explosion and you were in the Cleveland burn unit in critical condition, Brie, I died inside. I knew then that Carter had called someone.”

“He put out a contract on them,” Linc growled through clenched teeth. He got up, moving his shoulders to relieve the tension in them. He turned to Brie, and his heart contracted. Brie looked devastated. He wanted to protect her from all this, from Earl’s complicity, but he could not. “Okay, Hansen, I want you to come with us. The Canton police will want your affidavit. You’d better get yourself a lawyer while you’re at it. I’ll do everything in my power to see that you get immunity, but I can’t promise anything. Do you understand?”

Earl held Brie’s luminous gaze. “I never meant to harm anyone, Brie. You’ve got to believe that.”

“I—I believe you, Earl. And I’m sorry for Flora. For you.”

He shook his head. “What a mess.” He slowly got to his feet, as if in a daze. “Give me a few minutes, will you?

I’ve got to think of something to tell Flora. I can’t just tell her the truth and then walk away for a couple of hours.”

Linc nodded. “Take as long as you need,” he said softly.

Brie stood after Earl went into the house. She went
to Linc and pressed her cheek against his chest, needing his love, his embrace. “So many things are falling into place, Linc,” she said in a strained tone.

He kissed her temple. “They are,” he agreed. “Why did you go back to Carter’s two days after John was there?”

“I was sick the day Earl gave John those copies. The only reason I came back was because John had left his clipboard with our list of contact companies on it. And I remember Carter giving me a funny look when I came in. Normally, he’s civil and cool. That day, he looked like a rabid dog who wanted to bite someone.”

Linc took a deep breath, rocking her gently in his arms. “That also explains why John’s house was ransacked. Carter obviously had someone hired to look for those copies.”

“John never showed them to me, Linc. I was never aware of them. It was three days after he got those copies that the explosion occurred and he died.”

“Maybe he wanted to do more investigation before he told you about it, Brie. I don’t know. We’ll never know. But John did put those notes in that one book, so he must have suspected something.”

“I’m sure he did,” she said tiredly. “John was never one to jump to conclusions, Linc. He was very careful about compiling evidence against any company we were investigating. The reason he probably put those notes in the book is that he was doing further study on PCBs. I’m sure he was suspicious, but waiting to gather more information before he said anything to me.” She managed a painful laugh. “John also knew how much I liked Earl.”

“Maybe, in his own way, John was trying to protect you, little cat.”

Brie shut her eyes tightly, tears squeezing out. “Knowing John, he probably was.”

“Like me, he had a soft spot in his heart for you,” Linc murmured, kissing her damp cheek. “Just hang on, this is almost over. We’ve got most of the case solved. Now it’s just a matter of getting Earl’s statement and having the cops pick up Carter.” Dread filled him. The case was solved, and now he had to tell her the awful truth. With a ragged sigh, Linc held her tightly, afraid to let go.

*

The phone was ringing when Brie and Linc entered his kitchen. They had just come from her house where Brie had fed Homely Homer. Wearily, he picked up the receiver, expecting it to be another haz-mat call. Instead, it was Carol, asking for Brie.

“Is everything all right?” Brie asked, concerned. It was nearly midnight and totally unlike Carol to call at that time.

“Everything’s fine, Brie. I’m sorry to call you at Linc’s so late, but something just struck me. Remember when you asked me the other day about those boxes of things I brought over to your house?”

Brie rubbed her brow, groggy with exhaustion. “Yes. The three boxes of books that belonged to John?”

Carol’s voice became excited. “There were four boxes, Brie, not three. I was in such a stupor when I brought them over to your house. I remember putting three in your living room and the other smaller one down in your basement. It has a red diagonal slash on the top. It didn’t contain books, just pamphlets, brochures and photocopied stuff. I didn’t think you’d want that in your bookcase, so I took the liberty of putting it in the basement.”

“My basement?” Brie shot a look at Linc’s weary features. He had been up for almost forty-eight hours. “Thanks for telling me that. I’ll go check to see if it’s there, Carol. Good night.”

Brie hung up the phone. “Come on, we’re going to the basement. If we’re lucky, we might find those two photocopied pages,” Brie said breathlessly.

M
y basement looks like a rat’s nest,” Brie apologized, descending into the damp cellar. A lone yellow bulb flickered as she stood at the bottom of the stairs. Linc joined her, staring at the wooden crates and cardboard boxes piled helter-skelter. He frowned, moving with his flashlight toward the far wall.

“Many of the older homes around here don’t have real basements. The people just dug out the dirt. Mine is one of those.” Brie looked around. “I wonder if the men who broke in got down here and looked through this stuff?”

“It looks like it,” Linc muttered.

“Let’s see if we can find that box.”

Linc handed her the flashlight. Exhaustion was making him almost dizzy. “You hold the light, and I’ll lift some of this stuff out of the way,” he muttered. To his
surprise, the box had been on the bottom of a pile. They took it upstairs, setting it on newspapers on the table.

Brie opened the box. “It doesn’t look disturbed, Linc. Maybe they missed it in their hurry.”

“Could be.” He scooped out half the contents and handed them to Brie. “Let’s sit down and go through it, then. For once, maybe lady luck’s on our side.”

She glanced at him. “I don’t know why you’re putting so much importance on finding those copies. Earl said there’s a second set of books.”

“Yes, but what if Carter destroys those books and records before the police can get to him? We won’t have any proof then.”

Glumly, Brie agreed with his faultless logic. For an hour, the only sound around them was the movement of papers and opening up of manuals and brochures. Brie got up at one o’clock and made some fortifying coffee. Her eyes softened as she looked at Linc. A day-old beard darkened his face, making his cheeks look hollow. The shadows beneath his eyes told her of his weariness, and all she wanted to do in that moment was take him into her arms and hold him.

“Brie?”

She turned, coffee in hand. “Yes?”

Linc slowly removed two neatly folded papers from between the pages of a manual. “Come here. I think we might have found it.”

Her heart leaped as she walked over to Linc. He opened up the papers, which were damp and moldy smelling. “It’s them,” she confirmed hoarsely, taking a closer look.

There was satisfaction in Linc’s voice. “Now we’ve
got that bastard right where we want him.” He traced his finger across the page. “Look, the name and address of the New Jersey outfit.” His eyes glittered. “John didn’t die for nothing, Brie. With this kind of information, we’re going to crack this nut all the way up to the kingpins. I promise you.”

*

Brie’s eyes widened in surprise when she saw Chief Saxon at the Canton Police Department. She and Linc had brought Earl Hansen in for a statement. Brie decided to talk with Saxon while Linc went upstairs with Hansen.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Saxon smiled. “I got the call from ATF that Linc and you had busted the case.” He gripped Brie’s arm. “Congratulations—”

“ATF?” Brie interrupted, frowning.

Saxon’s brows rose. “Didn’t Linc tell you yet?”

“Tell me what?” Her heart started a heavy, warning beat in her chest.

“That Linc Tanner is an ATF agent who went undercover, posing as a haz-mat technician to find out who murdered John.” Saxon smiled sadly. “I’m sorry we couldn’t tell you at the beginning of all this, Brie, because ATF thought you were a suspect. Until ATF was satisfied you didn’t set up John, Tanner had to treat you like a possible enemy. You understand, of course?”

Brie closed her eyes, sagging against the wall, leaning against it for support. Linc Tanner was an agent. An undercover agent! He’d lied to her! She tried to breathe, but it was impossible. Pain, like a knife, sliced through her.

“Oh, God,” she whispered hoarsely. Then her eyes filled with tears. “No.”

“I’m sorry, Brie. I thought Tanner had already told you at this late date. Stupid of him not to.” Saxon came over, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

She choked down sobs, her anger over Linc’s deceit rising. She loved Linc unequivocally, honestly. His love, if it could be called that, was nothing more than cover. Lies and deceit, that was all he’d given her.

“Brie?”

Brie brushed the tears from her eyes and shoved away from the wall. Breathing hard, she turned on Saxon. Her words came out in hurt, punctuated snatches. “You knew. You knew all along. And you thought I killed John! How could you?”

“Well—”

“You thought I was capable of killing John!” She was almost screaming.

“I didn’t, but Tanner couldn’t be sure,” he sputtered. “Look, I didn’t mean to upset you like this, Brie. You’ve had a rough six months, and I haven’t helped—”

With trembling hands, Brie jerked open her purse. “No, Chief, you’ve just helped me make a decision I’ve been straddling the fence over since John was killed.” She jerked out her badge case. Shakily, she pulled the silver badge out and gave it to Saxon. “I quit.”

Stunned, Saxon looked at the badge he held in the palm of his hand. “But—”

“No,” Brie began in a low voice, struggling to shut the purse because her hands shook so badly. “This has been a long time in coming. Too many hours, too little help from the main office. John did it for five years. I
did it for three. I can’t take it any more, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. There are other priorities in my life I want to pursue.”

Saxon shook his white-haired head. “Please, Brie, think this over. I know you’re disappointed that our office planted an ATF agent with you, but it was necessary.”

Her nostrils flared with anger. “It was unnecessary to think I was a suspect!” She brushed past him. “I’m going home to get my place and myself in order. And tell Tanner I don’t ever want to see him again! Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Whirling toward the doors, Brie almost collided with a police officer. She muttered an apology and headed into the sunlight. She hailed a taxi. Damn Linc Tanner! He’d used her emotions to get her trust, then her heart. All along, he was just waiting for her to spill whatever she knew.

Linc was always asking questions, always super alert. Why hadn’t she seen it? Recognized it? He’d abused her love just to find out if she was a suspect or a victim! Clenching a handkerchief in her fist, Brie bowed her head, a small sob finally escaping.

*

Linc watched Saxon make his way toward him where he stood with Detective Gent and Hansen. The chief looked strained.

“Chief?” The man’s features were positively gray.

“Linc, may I see you privately for a moment?”

Detective Gent gestured to Hansen to take a seat next to his desk. “You’re done for now, Linc. If I need anything else, I’ll give you a call at your apartment.”

“Fine.” Linc managed a slight smile at the sweating
Hansen. “Earl, just cooperate, and I believe things will go a lot easier on you.”

“Of—of course.”

Linc followed the chief out the door. “Where’s Brie?” he asked, looking around.

“Gone,” Saxon said flatly. And then he muttered, “I thought she knew you were an ATF agent, Linc, and she didn’t.” He opened his palm, showing him her badge. “Brie’s quit the department.” And then, more quietly, he added, “She’s upset and said she didn’t want to see you again, either. I’m sorry, Linc. I really blew it.”

Linc sucked in a sharp breath, pinning Saxon with a glare. “You what? You told her?”

“I’m sorry. I blundered.”

Linc clenched his fists. His worst nightmare had just come true.

“She’s mad and hurt, Linc.”

His anger turned to frustration, then anguish. Dammit, he loved her! “No kidding,” he snarled, heading for the stairs.

“Wait! Where are you going?”

Tanner jerked a look up at the chief. “Where do you think? Over to her house to try to explain things.”

“But she said she didn’t want to see you.”

Wiping sweat off his brow, Tanner shrugged. “Tough. I love her, and there’s no way I’m walking away from her or this situation.”

*

Brie stood just inside her living room, looking around. Her home had been in a shambles, and now her life was. Tears dribbled down her cheeks, and she sniffed, wiping them away. She walked around. Linc
had held her on that couch while she cried out her heart, trusting him, learning to reach out once again and express her feelings. They had shared their first kiss on that couch.…

With a little cry, Brie turned away. She had trusted Linc, had given him her life, and all along he’d suspected her of being a killer. His tenderness, his kisses were all an elaborate sham to get her to spill whatever she knew.

Brie stumbled into her bedroom, the only room in the house that had been completely returned to its original state after the break-in. She sat on the mattress. When had she fallen in love with Linc? It didn’t matter; her heart was aching so much that it felt as if her entire chest was being shattered.

She heard the back door being opened and then closed. Trying to blot the tears from her eyes and wondering who it was, Brie reached for a handkerchief.

“Brie?” Tanner stood tensely in the bedroom door, his face filled with anguish.

“You!” she cried, leaping to her feet. “Get the hell out of here!”

He winced at the anger in her voice. “No way,” he growled, moving toward her. Before she could escape, Linc grabbed her by the arm, forcing her toward him.

Brie struggled to get loose. “Let me go! Let me go, you liar!”

Tanner saw the pain in her huge green eyes. He didn’t want to hurt her, he’d hurt her enough. “Settle down,” he said softly. “Listen to me, Brie. Just take one minute and listen to me. I can explain everything.”

Fury goaded her into trying to throw off his hold on her arms, but it was impossible. “Explain what?”
Brie cried hoarsely. “You
lied
to me, Linc. I was a suspect! You thought I was the killer all along! Everything you did…your kisses…your tenderness, was a sham, a lie!”

He gave her a little shake. “No, Brie, I love you. That was never a lie—”

“No!” she wailed, throwing off his hold. She staggered backward, caught her balance then moved around the bed, keeping distance between them. “Everything you did was an act, Tanner. Everything! How do you think I feel?” She struck her chest. “I loved you! I fell in love with you. I don’t know how or when it happened, but it did. And what I feel—felt was real. I didn’t lie. You did!”

He stood there, every breath fiery agony. Brie loved him. “I love you, too, Brie. That was never a lie.” Holding out his hand, Linc pleaded, “Please, you’ve got to believe me. Falling in love with you wasn’t something I planned on. Yes, you were a suspect. But put yourself in my shoes. Wouldn’t you have done the same thing if you were a stranger coming in on a case like this? I had to get enough evidence one way or another to make a decision about you.”

Brie glared at him. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but I can’t put myself in your shoes.”

“Please, Brie, hear me out,” Linc begged softly. “Maybe I wasn’t honest with you on a lot of things, and believe me, I feel badly about it, but my feelings for you were never a lie. They’re real.” Linc touched his heart. “You have to believe me, Brie. I love you. Can’t we hold on to that one fact, that truth, then sort through the rest of this stuff together?”

Brie suddenly felt dizzy. She closed her eyes,
touching her damp brow. “I don’t know where truth and lies begin and end with you,” she whispered raggedly.

“Come on,” he coaxed. “Sit down on the bed. Let me explain, little cat. Please…for both our sakes, hear me out.”

Trying to assess Linc through the wall of pain she felt over his betrayal, Brie finally moved. Tensely, she sat on the edge of the bed.

“Good,” Linc said in a trembling voice, going to sit on his side of the bed. Where to begin? How to convince Brie? Never had Linc wanted anyone more. Never had he felt the fear of loss as sharply as now. Linc hadn’t prayed in years, but he did now, remembering prayers Father O’Reilly had taught him. Wrestling with words, phrases, trying to get them into some kind of coherent order, the minutes passed, the silence brittle between them.

“When I first came on this case,” Linc began in a low voice, “I was burned out. I tried to get out of it, but my boss in D.C. promised me a long-overdue desk job if I took it.” He held Brie’s gaze, loving her more than he ever thought he could love anyone. “I’d almost been killed on that last case, and coming on to this one, I was very jumpy. And I did treat you as a suspect.

“But, as I got to know you and saw you in all kinds of different circumstances, I began to feel differently, Brie.” Linc grimaced, unable to hold her gaze. “The first night I went through your desk, reading some letters from your family and friends.”

Brie gasped. “You what?”

Wincing, Linc nodded. “Yeah, I feel pretty bad about it, Brie. I’m sorry.” Forcing himself to look at her, he saw the sparks of anger in her jade-colored eyes. “It was
the first evidence I had that you hadn’t set up John. Then, after that, I waited to see if you really were genuinely affected by John’s death, or if it was just a cover and you were playing a part with me.”

“I never once playacted,” Brie whispered. “Every emotion, every feeling you saw in me was real, Linc. And that’s more than I can say for you.”

Hanging his head, he nodded. “Yeah…I know.” Closing his eyes, feeling as if Brie was slipping away from him, he went on. “Somewhere along the line, I started falling in love with you, the woman, not the hazmat tech. Sure, I respected your knowledge and what you did, but the more I was around you, the more you affected me on some unknown inner level of myself.” Lifting his head, Linc held her gaze, seeing very little anger left in her eyes. Groaning to himself, he remembered the luster in them after he’d made beautiful love with her. The ache in his chest widened.

“Little things you did, like fixing me homemade meals and desserts…and Homely Homer…” Linc cleared his throat, watching her face lose all its tension, replaced with tenderness. “You made a house a home, Brie. I never realized it until I was living with you those first five days. I never had that feeling with JoAnne. It’s you, how you are, the way you see the world, that made me realize a lot of things.” He absently picked at a loose thread on the quilt thrown across the bed. “I found myself telling you about me, something I’d never done. It actually felt good to talk to you about my growing-up years. JoAnne never knew about them. I was…ashamed of where I’d come from.”