Love Inspired Suspense July 2015 #1 (15 page)

“I never said I didn't trust you,” Isaac insisted.

“You didn't have to. I can see it in your eyes. You think I was involved in something criminal like my dad, don't you? Is that why you're spying on me?”

“I'm not spying,” he said, trying to salvage the conversation before their friendship was further undermined. “I came up here to bring you good news.”

Although she didn't speak, he could tell she was interested enough to let him explain.

“It's about the bomb Abby found in the basement. The prints on it weren't your father's. This time, we can't tie the bomb to him.”

She unfolded her legs and slid to the edge of the bed, where she sat very still, apparently absorbing what she'd just learned.

Finally, she met his gaze. “That doesn't make any sense.”

“I know.” Shoving his hands into the hip pockets of his jeans, he struck a casual pose, hoping to encourage her to do the same by example.

“Whose prints were they?”

“That's another strange thing. My boss got the report of a match but he wouldn't tell me.”

“Could he be the one who gave away the time of my first appointment with the marshal?”

Isaac was adamant. “No way. I've never met a more honest man. Gavin's just being cautious, that's all. He acted like he might be acquainted with the suspect and said he wanted to do more investigating before he made the lab's findings public.”

Sighing, Daniella nodded. “I suppose he knows thousands of people in DC, including the White House staff.”

“We all do. Our Capitol K-9 Unit is under the command of General Margaret Meyer. She has an office there as well as at unit headquarters.”

“All right.” She eyed the jumble of money. “You don't happen to have a big safe here, do you? I'd hate to lose the only thing my mother left me.”

“That's where all that cash came from?”

Her “Yes” was faint as she raised her eyes to search the depths of his.

“I'm so sorry, honey. I assumed you were struggling to make ends meet because of where you lived and the older car you drove, and when I saw all that cash... I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.” He took a step closer, hoping she wouldn't throw him out.

“Another hazard of your job?” Daniella asked.

“Apparently. I meet a lot of criminals when I'm working. I guess it's made me cynical.”

Rising, she slowly approached until she was close enough to slip her arms around his waist and step into his waiting embrace.

“Well, get over it, Mister,” she said, laying her cheek against his chest. “The bomb-chasing problem is bad enough without adding a distrustful nature on top of all that constant danger.”

“It's what I do,” he said, kissing the top of her head and inhaling the floral sweetness of her shampoo. “I'm sorry, but it's my calling.”

“The same as mine is to do all I can to nurse folks back to health. I know.”

As her hug tightened and he felt her begin to tremble, Isaac realized how truly frightened his job made her. Part of that fear was understandable because of her traumatic past, but that wasn't all there was to it. He knew her well enough now to see that she was also selling herself short. There was a good chance that, even though she was attracted to him, she'd eventually pull away for good, thinking she was doing him a favor.

He knew he couldn't make her fall in love with him. However, he didn't intend to sit back idly while she forced herself to leave for all the wrong reasons. If, in the end, she wanted to disappear again, he'd support that decision. He might not like it, but he would not stand in her way.

As Isaac saw it, his most important task besides protecting her was to convince her that she could trust her own instincts. Rely on herself. Believe she deserved the happiness that had eluded her for the past ten years.

Nothing in Terence Fagan's thick file indicated that he had the slightest affection for his only child, so no one could count on him seeing the light, so to speak. What Isaac did hope was that Daniella would be able to stop identifying so strongly with her father's sins and begin to focus on the love her mother had imparted while she was alive.

Having grown up in a close family with loving parents, Isaac had trouble imagining any father developing lethal enmity for his offspring, not to mention going so far as to actually murder them.

That was one reason why so many in law enforcement doubted that Harland Jeffries could have shot his only son, Michael. That, and the fact that Jeffries had taken a bullet that night, too. Yes, it was troubling that they hadn't been able to find the gun or a second bullet that had passed through the congressman's shoulder to test for matching ballistics, but all that did was open the possibility of an additional shooter. Or more.

What must it feel like to know that your father wanted you dead? Isaac's arms tightened around Daniella and he kissed her again, letting his lips linger before he rested his cheek against her hair.

There had to be a way to help her heart heal enough to fully trust again. And he was going to find it. No matter what he had to do.

FIFTEEN

T
he open door to Daniella's room kept her from feeling as if she and Isaac being together might cause his siblings to question their innocent motives. That was ridiculous, of course. The man was merely comforting her after apologizing for his gaffe about the money. And she was accepting his demonstration of friendly concern by returning his hug.

Ha-ha
,
her mind countered.
You may be able to fool everybody else, but don't try to fool yourself.

She forced herself to loosen her grip and ease away from him in spite of the tender look in his eyes. Nevertheless, he released her without argument.

“Sorry,” Isaac said quietly.

“For what? You didn't do anything wrong.”

He shrugged. “Okay, whatever you say.”

In the background a door slammed. Jacob's voice echoed up the stairwell. “I've closed and locked everything and put all the cars in the barn.”

Isaac turned toward the door to answer, “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

He took another step away from her, leaving Daniella wishing they had remained closer. She was toying with the notion of actually saying so when she heard a familiar yip. Abby was hot on the trail of something, probably her human partner.

A smile lifted the corners of Daniella's mouth while the canine's exuberance lifted her spirits. “I think somebody is looking for you.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“Well...”

“Yeah, I'd better be going.”

Before he had a chance to step into the hallway and shut her door, Abby barreled past in a blur of brown and white, barking all the way.

Daniella moved to try to block the dog. She may as well have tried to halt a flooded river with a teaspoon. Abby weaved past her without slowing a bit and dived under the bed!

The roar Puddy answered with was punctuated by hissing and growling.

Moving nearly as fast as the beagle, Daniella lifted the hem of the spread to peer under.

Isaac did the same.

All she could see was a flurry of tooth and claw. The combatants rolled around and around, popping out the opposite side for a moment, then back under the bed.

“Get him!” Isaac yelled. “Before he kills her.”

“He's just defending himself. You grab your dog.”

“I'm trying to!”

From behind them came laughter and shouts of encouragement. Jake and Becky were standing back and enjoying the melee.

Isaac didn't take his eyes off the tussle but Daniella did look up. “Help us!”

“No way. You two are doing fine.” Jake guffawed.

“I've got her leg,” Isaac shouted. “Pull your cat off her.”

“How?”

“Grab him like his mama would, by the scruff of the neck.”

The solution seemed too simplistic but she was willing to try anything at this point. She closed her fist on the loose skin behind Puddy's head and held tight while he struggled to reach the whining dog that Isaac was sliding in the opposite direction.

The cat's growling continued after the separation. Daniella began to speak soothingly to him, almost in baby talk, and he quieted in her lap, although he kept glaring at the excited beagle.

“Is Abby all right?” she asked, afraid to hear that Puddy might have injured the valuable animal.

“Yes, thankfully.” Sitting on the bedroom floor, Isaac was scowling at both her and her pet. “How about your monster. Is he hurt?”

“I don't think so. Puddy was just scared because Abby showed up so unexpectedly.”

“She's right,” Becky offered from the doorway.

Isaac was scowling. “You would.”

“I agree,” Jake chimed in. “Abby's fine with the barn cats. There's no reason to believe she'd hurt this one.”

Rolling his eyes, Isaac cradled his dog and watched the enormous cat. Its fur was puffed out, making it look as large as its antagonist and twice as formidable.

Abby, on the other hand, had begun to pant and drool and try to wiggle loose.

“See? She wants to be friends,” Daniella said. “Put her down and see what happens.”

It was evident that Isaac didn't want to follow anyone's orders, particularly hers, yet he did finally lower the dog's paws to the floor. Trembling with excitement, Abby strained against her collar and began acting like a sprinter, eager to break out of the blocks at a track meet before the starting gun fired.

Daniella offered her fingers for the beagle to sniff. “Since I was holding Puddy, this will give her an idea of what he is and calm her down.”

“I didn't know you understood dogs so well.

“I get along with most animals,” Daniella assured him. “A neighbor's dog was one of my best buddies when I was a kid. I wasn't allowed to have a pet of my own so I'd sneak down the street to play with Buster.” Remembering more, she sobered. “I had a kitten once, when I was about seven. My dad told me it ran away and Mom suggested we not replace it. As an adult, I came to the conclusion that Dad was responsible for its disappearance.”

“I'm so sorry.”

“Yeah. Me, too.” She shook off her doldrums and smiled while scratching behind Abby's ears. “I think you can let her loose now.”

To her delight, once the dog was free, she merely stood there, sizing up her new enemy. Puddy did the same. His tail was so puffy it resembled a stiff brush.

This was the way animals met in the wild. If one felt cornered, it was natural for that one to fight. Since they were both free to advance or retreat, she believed they'd find neutral ground and call a truce.

Sure enough. Puddy made the first move, practically tiptoeing closer. One step. Two. Abby's tail began to wag and she lowered her chest to the floor, paws spread wide in a play pose, pink tongue lolling.

The cat lifted a paw and touched the dog's muzzle, then danced sideways on the tips of his toes, the end of his bushy tail beginning to twitch the way it did when Daniella dangled a toy on a string.

She held up a hand and smiled at Isaac. “Hang on. It's going to be fine.”

Abby yelped.

“I think you're right. That's a play bark.”

Puddy leaped, bounced off the middle of the beagle's back as if it was a trampoline, and ended up on the bedspread.

“There. See?” Daniella said. “Now we can quit worrying about them. All is forgiven.”

“Apparently.” Isaac got to his feet and called his dog to heel. “I think it's time we put an end to these fun and games and all went to bed. It's late and it's been a long day.”

Daniella walked him to the door, where they joined Becky and Jacob. “I still need a safe to store my money. Any suggestions?”

“I can drive you back to the bank tomorrow if you like.” Becky eyed her youngest brother. “Unless Isaac wants to take you.”

“I'd be glad to—right after I go interview the boy from All Our Kids foster home who witnessed the shooting at Jeffries's place.”

“I thought that had been done several times,” Jake said. “What else can you hope to learn?”

“I'm not sure. I've had a couple of new ideas and I'd like to ask the boy some questions myself. It may not amount to anything.” He looked toward Daniella. “How about riding along with me? I'm sure I can get my captain's permission. You'll have to be blindfolded for the final few miles of the approach but it won't last long.”

Smiling, she agreed. “I think I can stand doing that. Could we go to the bank first? I hate to carry all this loose cash around.”

“No problem. We'll escort Becky to work in Arlington, visit your bank, then head to the safe house where the children are staying.”

“Will that take you too far out of your way?” Daniella asked.

Becky caused subdued laughter when she piped up with, “Honey, I suspect my brother would go to the moon for you if you asked him to. Just take his offer of a ride and say thank you.”

The grin splitting her face grew so broad her cheeks ached. Aiming it at Isaac, she repeated, “Thank you.”

* * *

Isaac had decided it would be best to handle his upcoming visit to the children's home the way he had the recent one to the congressman. He'd drop in the following morning, unannounced, and trust that Cassie Danvers would be able to arrange for him to question Tommy.

He used the time trailing Becky to Arlington to mull over the details of his upcoming mission, not dreaming that his tension showed until Daniella spoke up. “Okay. Your sister is safe at her office and you're still frowning. Are you nervous about carrying all this money? You are armed, you know.”

“It's not that. I'm thinking about the little boy I plan to interview.”

“I can help if you'd like. I'm pretty good with kids. Most of the ones I treated in ER were either hurt or traumatized or both. They settled down fast if I kept my tone soft. They had to stop fussing in order to hear what I was saying to them.”

“I guess it wouldn't hurt to let you go in with me, as long as you don't interrupt. If I need your help I'll ask for it. Okay?”

“Okay. Now suppose you tell me more about why you're wound so tight this morning.”

He didn't nod but he did exhale as if he'd been holding his breath. “It's complicated.”

“I'm listening.”

“Cassie Danvers, housemother of All Our Kids foster home, is my captain's significant other.”

“His girlfriend, you mean?”

“More than that. They're engaged. She's bound to tell him what Tommy and I talk about, especially since I plan to bring up the congressman's name.”

“Why would that bother anybody?”

“Because McCord was mentored by Harland Jeffries years ago when he was a resident at the same home—and afterward, too. No matter how I handle the meeting with Tommy, it's liable to ruffle feathers. I'm already in the doghouse for pressing Jeffries about the bomb that went off near the monument.”

“Their inconvenient friendship can't be helped, can it?”

Isaac huffed. “No.”

“Then you have to proceed.”

“Easy for you to say.” He thumbed his cell phone until he'd retrieved a file of photos. “These casual pictures are what I plan to show the boy, instead of mug shots, to see if he reacts.”

“And if he does?”

“Then I'll report it to my captain and take the flak, even if it costs me my job.”

“Aren't you the guy who keeps telling me it's not my fault that my father was a terrible person?” She ignored his deepening scowl and continued. “Well, think about it. If McCord is one of the good guys and his buddy Jeffries is the problem, don't you think the captain will thank you for exposing a crime, no matter who's guilty?”

“It still won't be a picnic.”

Daniella chuckled. “Who ever said that doing the right thing was easy? Certainly not me. So, tell me more about this children's home we're going to.”

As Isaac began to fill her in on the details surrounding the attack on Cassie and the kids she cared for, he was aware that some of his apprehension was easing. It was as if Daniella's presence and empathy had infused his thoughts and helped bring peace about the difficult task he was about to undertake.

Yes, he sometimes got similar results when his team met to discuss their work, but this was different. Stronger. More defined.

He glanced over at her as he pulled up to the guarded gate that protected the safe house where the children were temporarily located. A conclusion had suddenly formed. Daniella was in the process of not only accepting a part of his job, she was getting enthusiastic about it!

It was a small, first step, Isaac realized, grateful as well as awed. Nevertheless, it was a beginning for her. For them. If she could clearly see how much it meant to him to save lives and clear the streets of criminals, perhaps she'd one day be able to tolerate the dangerous things he was called upon to do for the sake of others.

Like these innocent children
, he added silently before turning his thoughts to prayer.

“Help me find the truth,” Isaac whispered, circling the SUV to hold the door for his passenger. The moment his gaze lit on her face and she smiled at him, he added, “About everything.”

It wasn't God's failure to hear his pleas that concerned him. It was knowing that his idea of the right answer and the Lord's actual reply might not be anywhere near the same.

Trusting Him no matter what was the hardest part.

* * *

“Aren't we taking Abby in with us?” Daniella asked, pausing before starting up the walkway to the front door.

“Not this time. There are some strange guard dogs here, helping patrol, and I don't want to risk a dogfight.”

“Makes sense.” She saw the front door open and two women step out. One was petite, with long reddish hair. The other was not only older, she seemed about to jump out of her skin.

Isaac took Daniella's arm and nodded to the women. “Cassie, this is a friend of mine. Daniella, meet Cassie Danvers, the foster mom I told you about, and Virginia Johnson, her helper and cook.”

The redhead offered her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Same here.” Daniella didn't even try to shake hands with the other woman for fear she'd bolt in fear. “I've worked with children before in my job as a nurse. Isaac let me come with him in case I could be of assistance.”

“Nobody here is sick,” Cassie insisted. Her brow knit as she focused back on Isaac. “I take it this isn't a social call?”

“I thought maybe I could have another word with Tommy.”

“Don't you think he's been through enough?”

“Yes. I also think he knows more than he's told us. Like you, I want to see justice done. You and these kids can't go on living in an armed camp forever, and we don't dare let you go back to your real home until everything is solved.”

It was clear to Daniella that Cassie was unsure so she stepped forward, reached for her hand again and clasped it gently. “Why don't we all go inside and discuss this?”