Love Inspired Suspense July 2015 #2 (55 page)

EPILOGUE

S
pring sunlight streamed through the picture windows and spilled out onto the living room floor where Olivia knelt spreading
Torchlight News
page proofs all over Daniel's freshly installed hardwood floor.

His Olivia. His bride.

It had been six and a half months since their whirlwind romance had led to marriage. So many times, in what now felt like the distant past, he'd told himself he'd never trust his heart to another fast-burning romance. But now, as he woke up every morning amazed to find her there, asleep against his chest, he knew he'd never felt happier.

Daniel stood in the kitchen doorway and watched her for a moment as she shuffled the papers out across the floor and back again. Less than a day after the Faceless Crew had found justice, Vince had driven all the way up to the Barrie hospital to visit the two recuperating members of his battle-weary staff.

Olivia was shocked when Vince had told her the real reason he hadn't seen her in the writing pool was he wanted her as a key member of his administration team, but Daniel hadn't been surprised for a moment. Olivia wasn't just good at one thing. She was like a firefly, shining in a million different places at once.

“You going to come in or you just going to stand there?”

He chuckled. “You looked busy, Madame Editor.”

“I'm always busy, and you should see the photos Ricky's sent me for the cover. They're spectacular.” She glanced up and grinned. Soft red hair fell around her face. Bright eyes looked up into his, filled with far more love than he'd ever thought he'd deserved to find. “Also, I'm only an assistant editor now. Don't have me taking over Vince's job too soon. I'm just barely managing to juggle the number of tasks and responsibilities I have as it is.”

“The job suits you perfectly. Anything less than constant chaos and you'd get bored.”

Her eyes twinkled. “Maybe.”

Yeah, Vince had known exactly what he was doing when he'd made her his second-in-command. He'd never met someone so capable of juggling everything at once.

“He says as long as I can email him next week's layout by tonight, I'm welcome to work from home tomorrow instead of driving in. Vince is really open to letting me split my time between here and the city.” She slowly climbed up to her feet. “Did you manage to talk to Sarah?”

He shook his head. He'd driven in to visit her once a week since her arrest. She hadn't agreed to see him once, even when he'd sent her a gift for her eighteenth birthday, or when he'd written her a letter telling her that he and Olivia were getting married.

Last he'd heard, Sarah had stayed true to her childish threats and wasn't cooperating with the police investigation. Not surprisingly, neither of them had heard a word from Trent since giving their final statements. But Daniel's new sister-in-law, Chloe, had told them that Shorty had been quick to turn on the remains of the Faceless Crew, Sarah and Jesse. She seemed confident their trial would end in a guilty verdict and justice for everyone involved.

“Not yet, and apparently she's fired yet another lawyer.” Which was no longer his concern now that the eighteen-year-old had control over her inheritance. Not that it would do her much good behind bars. “I'll keep trying.”

“I know you will. I love that about you. I've never met anyone as steadfast as you.” She crossed the floor toward him. His arms spread apart to make room for her as her hands slid around his waist. “I know you said we were finally going to be rebuilding the porch this weekend. But I think we should really start on the second floor. There's only so long you can expect me to live on just a main floor.”

His lips brushed across her forehead. “We have a plan—”

“I know. You taped it to the kitchen wall and color-coded it and everything—”

“It involved my first finishing the living room, erecting a temporary tent garage and converting my office into a master bedroom before we got married.”

“Which you did.” Her lips brushed his neck. “Which was a huge amount of work considering you proposed on our third date and we got married four months later.”

“Which was quite enough to tackle before the worst of the winter hit. I'm exhausted.”

“I know.” Her mouth brushed against his ear. Her lips travelled up his jawline.

She was teasing him and he couldn't figure out why.

“Then we're agreed that we're building a new garage and porch this summer.” He pushed her back and held her there with his hands on her waist. “Your home will have a lovely new second floor in two years' time.”

She took her hands in his and slid them over her stomach. “I'll give you nine months. Well, eight months and a bit.” Tears of joy filled her eyes and lit up every corner of his heart. “We're having...” Her voice caught in her throat.

He pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her.

“A baby?” He whispered the word. A baby? A child of his own.
Oh, Lord, but I'd given up on that dream so many years ago.
“We're having a baby? But I'm turning forty in less than two years, the house is nowhere near finished, I'm still doing contract work, we were talking about my going back into private security and you've started a new job and—”

“We're going to have to make a whole new plan.” She laughed through the tears.

“Yeah, guess we will.” He pulled her tighter. “And I can think of no one else I'd rather have beside me.”

Then his lips found hers again, and he kissed the woman he loved as a deeper, stronger joy than he ever expected to feel filled his core.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
DETECTING DANGER
by Valerie Hansen

Dear Reader,

I'm so glad you decided to pick up this book and share Olivia and Daniel's story with me.

Like Olivia, I started my writing career as a journalist, working mostly for small independent papers like
Torchlight News
. Looking back on those fun and busy times, I'm very grateful for the journalists and editors who mentored me and helped me improve as a writer. While I never chased off after a murderer, there were several times when I, too, needed an editor to come along and remind me to balance my enthusiasm and energy with some good old-fashioned patience and planning.

After telling Luke's and Jack's stories in
Silent Hunter
and
Deadline
, I got to thinking about how their happily-ever-afters might have impacted the colleagues they left behind. My former coworkers are now spread around the world having families and adventures of their own. I'm excited for them and I miss them sometimes, too.

Like Olivia and Daniel, I hope you'll find the strength, joy and faith for whatever changes and new adventures you face.

Thank you for sharing the journey with me,

Maggie

http://www.harlequin.com/harlequinexperience

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

You enjoy a dash of danger.
Love Inspired Suspense
stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired Suspense every month!

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Detecting Danger

by Valerie Hansen

ONE

“C
apitol K-9 Unit Five, safety check at Washington Monument complete,” Isaac Black radioed via the com-link he wore. “DC police are also on scene for crowd control.”

“Copy,” echoed back into his earpiece. “Stand by.”

Isaac turned his attention to Detective David Delvecchio of the DC Metro squad and smiled. “You look like something's bugging you. What's the matter?”

“I'm just not fond of congressmen who throw their weight around and cause unnecessary overtime.” He eyed the gaggle of news vans and cameramen surrounding Harland Jeffries. “If he wants to grandstand he should do it on his own turf.”

“And preferably during office hours,” Isaac added. He glanced down at Abby, his brown-and-white bomb-detecting beagle. She had stretched out on the grassy verge skirting the Washington Monument, panting and cooling off after the excitement of doing her job. “At least one of us is happy to be working tonight.”

“Yeah. I'm sure glad we have you and the rest of the K-9 team on call. My men didn't have time to do a proper sweep of this area. By the time we got the word about the congressman's impromptu press conference, we only had an hour to deploy.”

Isaac nodded. “Not to worry. If Abby says there's no bomb on the grounds, it's safe. You can trust her.”

“I do,” Delvecchio replied.

Curious tourists were gathering outside the police line, milling around and straining to get a peek at whoever was the center of attention. Politicians and their aides in dark business suits stood out against the colorful garb of the bystanders as Secret Service agents would have at a three-ring circus performance.

Isaac was about to withdraw to his SUV and wait to be released when he noticed his dog stiffen and ease to her feet. Since he had not given the command, her independent actions drew his attention.

“Abby?” He crouched, following the beagle's line of sight. She was clearly focused on the small group nearest to the congressman. “What is it, girl?”

Instead of relaxing, the dog froze in place, her hackles bristling. Her nose quivered. Her tail was half-raised and still. If they had not just completed a search of the premises Isaac would think...

He stood and grabbed the detective's sleeve. “Pull everybody back. Clear the area. Now!” Isaac's commanding tone left no doubt of his seriousness.

“Why? What do you see?”

“Nothing,” Isaac said. “But Abby senses something's wrong and that's good enough for me.”

Delvecchio was already shouting into his radio. Patrol officers immediately began to shoo bystanders farther away from the monument.

Isaac moved forward with Abby. “Seek it, girl. Seek it.”

They didn't have far to go. The little beagle cut straight across the inner circle, zeroed in on a briefcase leaning against the base of one of the concrete benches that ringed the obelisk and plunked down into a sit.

“I have a suspicious object on the west side, at about two o'clock from the police staging area,” Isaac reported via the com-link.

His new orders followed in moments. “Secure the area and pull back to a safe distance. Bomb squad is on its way.”

“Copy.”

He scooped up his dog, checked to make sure no one else remained nearby and would be in danger, then began to jog away.

As he ran, time seemed to slow unnaturally. His feet weighed a ton, making him feel as if he were slogging through cold molasses.

Tension grew with every step, pressing against him and making his heart pound.

Abby was trembling as though she sensed impending doom.

Suddenly, a concussion rocked the atmosphere. Isaac saw the flash through his closed eyelids an instant before he heard the blast.

Instinct made him hunch over his dog's body to protect her as he was knocked to his knees by the force of the explosion.

Most of the debris it created fell like fistfuls of tossed pebbles, but a few chunks of concrete were heavy enough, large and jagged enough, to do damage.

One piece grazed his shoulder. Another hit the back of his lower leg. Both stunned him rather than caused immediate pain.

How could this have happened? Abby is never wrong.

Which meant that the bomb had to have been placed there
after
he and the dog had made their rounds. That fact should narrow the list of suspects considerably.

Propping himself on one elbow with the other arm gripping his wiggling partner, Isaac tried to blink the grit from his watering eyes. Gray, cloudy residue filled the air. People coughed and wheezed. Many were in full flight while a few others had paused with cell phones to take macabre pictures of the chaos.

Isaac rolled into a sitting position and brushed himself off. He first checked to make sure Abby was all right, then peered back toward the source of the blast to check for casualties.

“Please, God,” he prayed, “let my warning have been in time.”

He rubbed his smarting eyes on the sleeve of his uniform jacket. It looked as if there were some injuries but the apparent victims were all on their feet. A few were reeling and being assisted by police and friends. Others appeared merely stunned. A cacophony of horns and sirens filled the night.

Ears ringing, head spinning, Isaac knew what he must do. There was no time to waste. Where there was one bomb there could easily be another. And another.

He wanted to lie back on the cool grass, close his eyes and wait for full recovery of his senses, but that was not how he and his fellow K-9 officers operated. The public came first. He'd tend his wounds later. As long as Abby was all right, they'd keep doing their job.

Isaac tightened up on the leash, struggled to his feet and took a step forward. His calf muscles knotted.

Intense pain radiated from his boot to his hip and dropped him where he stood.

* * *

The flow of patients through the ER at DC General Hospital had been surprisingly sparse for a balmy spring evening. Daniella Dunne stifled a yawn and smiled at a fellow RN who was also battling to stay alert.

“Every time we have a slow night I wonder why I like this shift so much,” Daniella remarked.

“Because you crave adrenaline just like the rest of us,” the older woman replied. “When this place starts to really hop we all feel a lot more alive.”

“I suppose you're right.” As far as Daniella was concerned, staying awake half the night was profoundly better than working days when so many more reporters and photographers were liable to be on the job. The last thing she needed was to become an unwilling star of some viral video. She'd matured and changed her hair color from blond to brunette, long to shorter, but that didn't mean she wouldn't be recognized by the same criminal element that had caused her to enter witness protection in the first place.

“Prepare for casualties,” someone shouted. “There's just been an incident at the Washington Monument!”

Daniella froze for a heartbeat, then jumped to her feet and hurried down the hallway to the ambulance receiving area, where the majority of the night shift was gathering around a police scanner.

“Was it an accident?” one of the young orderlies asked.

“Doesn't sound like it. The first responders pegged it as a bomb,” someone else answered.

Daniella clenched her fists. Her stomach churned. She suddenly saw herself as a frightened teenager again and pictured her father being arrested for the bombing death of her mother. Ten long years had passed since then, yet those terrible memories were as vivid as if everything had just happened.

Her initial disbelief about her mother's fate had quickly been supplanted with righteous anger, especially when she'd heard her estranged father begin to laugh.
Laugh!
And so she had done the only thing she could. She had mustered her courage and agreed to testify against him in court.

While most of the ER staff remained gathered around the scanner, Daniella eased away and headed for the hospital chapel.

Until the victims of this current attack arrived for treatment, the best thing she could do was pray. Fervently. The way she had prayed for her mother—even though she'd known in her deepest heart that Mama's survival was impossible.

* * *

Being incapacitated made Isaac frustrated and angry. He'd repeatedly waved off paramedics, sending them to tend to others. As the area was systematically cleared, however, he realized he was eventually going to have to let the medics look at his throbbing leg.

Detective Delvecchio approached. “I wondered where you'd gotten to. Is Abby all right?”

“Yes.” Isaac tried to rise and was stopped by the other man's hand on his shoulder. “Relax, man.”

“I can't. There's work to do. What if there's a second bomb?”

“If there is, your team will find it. Some of them are sweeping the area now. So far, so good.”

Isaac heaved a sigh. “Thank God—literally.”

“I have been. Particularly since there don't seem to be any life-threatening injuries.”

“That's a relief.”

“Yeah, and a surprise. So, are you ready to go to the hospital?”

The detective offered a hand and Isaac took it, grimacing as he rose. Standing wasn't too painful as long as he kept weight off his injured leg by leaning on David's shoulder.

“If you can make it to my car I'll drive you to the ER.”

“That's against protocol.”

“Your choice,” Delvecchio said, arching a brow. “All the ambulances are busy. I consider this an extenuating circumstance, but it's up to you. Do you want to wait?”

“No.” Isaac leaned slightly to glance at his calf. Blood had stuck the dark fabric of his uniform to his lower leg but seemed to have stopped flowing for the present.

“Why don't you help me to my car so I don't get yours dirty?”

“That's what plastic sheets are for,” the detective said with a slight smile. “There's no way I'm letting you drive in your condition. I saw you send the medics to other victims and I figured it was high time you got some TLC yourself.”

Isaac managed a smile. “No offense, buddy, but I'd rather have a pretty nurse taking care of me than a bossy cop like you.”

Chuckling, Delvecchio slipped his arm around Isaac's waist for added support and started to move toward his unmarked car. “I'll see what I can do about finding the right nurse when we get to the hospital. What about Abby?”

“I'll handle my dog. You just get me to a doctor who can sew me up so I can go back to work.”

“You're pushing it again.”

Isaac sobered, glancing over his shoulder. “I know. But I feel responsible for what happened tonight and I intend to catch whoever did this.”

“I've already ordered every news crew to give me copies of their raw footage. My men are also collecting the shots taken by bystanders so we can run facial recognition on anyone we don't know.”

Pausing, Isaac gave the man a serious look. “Don't just concentrate on strangers. Watch the politicians, too, particularly Harland Jeffries and his staff. Considering his long-standing reputation in dirty politics, I wouldn't put it past him to try to create sympathy by pretending to be exposed to possible injury. It wouldn't be the first lie he'd ever told.”

Isaac got a sinking feeling when David shook his head. “I strongly doubt that's what took place tonight,” the detective said.

“Why? Was he hurt in the blast?”

“No. He may be a master manipulator but he was complaining of chest pains when they hauled him away. If this bomb scare was supposed to boost his chances of getting his new crime bill passed and it caused him to have a heart attack instead, he badly miscalculated.”

* * *

Daniella had been working behind the scenes while one of the on-call doctors did triage on the victims. None seemed badly hurt and outside of a little first aid, a few stitches and a tranquilizer here and there, they had been easy to treat.

She was cleaning up one of the exam cubicles and hoping she could avoid the reporters who were still milling around the lobby when the head nurse separated a gap in the heavy curtains.

“I've got another victim here—brought in by private vehicle. All the doctors are busy and we're out of wheelchairs. Take care of him for me, will you?”

“Of course.”

Daniella relieved the other nurse and slipped her arm around the uniformed officer's waist, starting to guide him. She was careful to avert her face for the brief moments when she was exposed to the public, hoping no cameras would capture her image. That was when she noted the leash in the patient's hand. “I'm terribly sorry. You can't bring a dog into the hospital.”

“This isn't a dog.”

“Sure looks like one.”

“Nope. This is officer Abby of the Capitol K-9 Unit. See her vest?”

“She's still a dog.”

“I beg to differ. You permit service dogs, don't you?”

“Yes, of course, but...”

“Then you have to allow Abby in. Besides, I'm injured and she's my partner. She goes where I go.”

“Do you promise to take the flak if the hospital administration finds out and pitches a fit?”

“No problem. I'm already wearing a flak vest under my jacket.” He glanced toward the foyer, where Delvecchio was speaking to additional reporters. “Don't I have to fill out paperwork?”

The direct answer was yes. Daniella chose to handle it another way in order to keep her distance from the news crews. “I can help you with those details while you hold your dog—I mean your partner.”

She helped him lie down and lifted his boots to rest on the narrow exam table. When she picked up a PDA and began poking its screen with a stylus, she wished her hands would stop shaking. “Your name, please?”

“Isaac Black. How long have you worked in ER?” he asked, frowning.