Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Exit Strategy\Payback\Covert Justice (27 page)

“Really?” Scott said, leaning against the counter.

“You sound surprised.” The kettle whistled. Aiden took it off the stove and poured hot water into the mug.

“I'm surprised they'd share that kind of information with you.”

“We are their only leads in this case—or Nia is, anyway—so they're keeping us in the loop.”

“Well, you'll be safe here. Although, it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to take her someplace even more remote.”

“I know.” Aiden ran a hand through his hair.

“But you've got a resort to run—”

“It's not that. I can manage things by phone for a few days.”

“What, then?”

“I'm not sure I'm the best person to protect her.”

“I disagree. You're a natural at protecting that woman.”

Scott's phone buzzed and he answered. “This is Scott. Yes?...Okay, I'll be right there.” He pocketed his phone. “Good news. The IT guy, Zack, thinks he found what's wrong with the key-card system. Wants me to come to his office.”

“Good. That's one problem off the list.” Aiden walked him to the front door. “Check in later.”

“Will do.” Scott left the apartment.

Aiden went back to the kitchen, trying not to look at Nia on the sofa. Shame coursed through him at the thought that he'd let her down again. If only he hadn't answered the phone, if only he'd been paying attention to her when she'd wandered off.

As he dunked the tea bag, the sound of Nia's frantic voice echoed from the living room. “No, please...stop!”

Aiden darted around the corner and saw Nia thrashing on the sofa, her fingers digging into the cushions beneath her.

He swiftly crossed the room and reached for her.

“Don't hurt me. Please don't hurt me,” she cried, swinging her arms and smacking him in the face with her hand.

“Nia, it's me. It's Aiden.” He gripped her arms and looked deeply into her eyes. “Wake up, sweetheart. You had a bad dream.”

With a gasp, she blinked a few times and her expression changed from fear to understanding. She stopped flailing, and he pulled her against his chest.

“You're okay. You're safe.”

He held her close for a few minutes, rocking slightly. He hoped he was doing this right, that the motion and pressure of his arms around her back would comfort her.

“That's so embarrassing,” she finally whispered.

“No, it's not. It's normal. You've been through a traumatic experience.”

“I wasn't dreaming about tonight.”

“What, then?”

She broke the hold and leaned back against the sofa. He thought she meant to put distance between them, but instead she settled her cheek against his shoulder. He put his arm around her and heard a sigh escape her lips.

“My stepfather,” she said. “Why would I be dreaming about him? It's been years. I put all that behind me.”

“The past has a way of resurfacing when we're in an emotionally charged state.”

“Aiden...” She hesitated. “Your nightmares—have they been more frequent lately?”

“Actually, no.”

“Come on,” she pressed.

“I'm serious. I think that protecting you is forcing me to face my trauma head-on.”

“I feared it would make things worse.”

“Nothing could be worse than seeing you hurt.”

“Yeah, you'd have a hard time replacing me at the resort, I know.”

He closed his eyes, wishing he could say the words, tell her that she meant so much more to him than an employee. But getting emotionally tangled up in knots wouldn't help him protect her. On the contrary, it would only distract him.

Aiden knew it might help if she were to talk about her nightmare. Hadn't the counselor encouraged Aiden to do that very thing? Talk about his fears and his shame? It never seemed to work completely for Aiden, nor did prayer. He held on to his pain with an ironclad grip and that tension imprisoned his heart.

He didn't want Nia to suffer the same way, so he decided to get her talking.

“Did you ever get help?” he asked.

“You mean...?”

“About your stepfather.”

“He was a cop. No one would believe us.”

“I meant afterward. Did you see a counselor?”

“Yes, a few years ago, when I was working in Spokane. It was about the time my mom died. I went back for the funeral—” she hesitated “—and I saw Walter. I thought I'd moved past it, but the nightmares started up again and it was affecting my productivity at work.”

“Did counseling help?”

“Very much so. Her name was Rosalie. Not only was she a counselor, but she also belonged to my church, so we integrated prayer into my sessions. It was wonderful.” She tipped her head back and studied him. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Have you ever talked to anyone?”

“Sure, but it didn't do much good, as you've obviously figured out by now.”

“I don't think we're ever completely healed, Aiden. Those scars are the ones that make us stronger.”

She placed her cheek against his shoulder yet again. “You know what I think really helped me?”

“What?”

“The prayer part. When I pray, I'm opening my heart to God. I'm not demanding, or expect anything in return. But I always feel that much closer to a state of grace, ya know?”

He didn't, but he wasn't sure how to say that without offending her.

“When we were in the mountains you made a comment about not being worthy of God's love,” she said. “Why would you think that?”

“Let's just say I've disappointed Him one too many times.”

“God is about love and forgiveness, Aiden.”

“I haven't forgiven myself. Why would He?”

She leaned back again to search his eyes. He felt so vulnerable when she looked at him this way, with compassionate and caring eyes.

“Why can't you forgive yourself?” she asked. “Maybe I can help.”

“I should be comforting you, not dumping my problems in your lap.”

“Please? It will make me feel better to be able to help you.” She pulled away from him, but held on to his hand. “It's about your friend Yates, right?”

He really didn't want to do this.

She squeezed his hand. “It's okay. Tell me.”

“We were on foot patrol in a village,” he started. “My bum knee kept me back. He went ahead. He was killed. End of story.”

“And you blame yourself?”

“It should have been me.”

“I'm so sorry.”

“Yeah, well, I have a way of letting people down.”

“Who else have you let down?”

He shook his head.

“Aiden, talk to me. Who did you let down?”

“My dad. The last time we spoke, before I left on my tour of duty, we argued.” He found himself tracing his finger over the back of her hand. It comforted him somehow. “Dad said I was making a mistake by joining the army. He thought I should have gone for more surgery, tried to stay in football, get a scholarship or something.”

“You didn't want to?”

“The prognosis was pretty grim. They couldn't fix me, so I chose to do something else that I thought would make Dad proud. Instead, we got into this huge fight, me accusing him of trying to control me, him accusing me of running from my problems. It was bad.”

“And he passed away while you were overseas?”

Aiden nodded. “Heart attack. I didn't get a chance to tell him I just wanted him to be proud of me. To apologize.”

“It's never too late,” she said.

“He's gone. It's too late.”

She squeezed his hand. “Do you trust me?”

He searched her lovely brown eyes. “Yes.”

“Then pray with me.”

“I don't know any prayers.”

“It's okay—I do.” She closed her eyes, but didn't release his hand. “Dear God, please help Aiden open his heart to self-forgiveness, and to find peace. He's a kind, loving and protective brother, son and friend, and he's struggling to find his way back to You.”

As she spoke the words, Aiden remarked on how amazing this woman was. With everything that had happened to her in the past few days, she was less worried about herself and more concerned about his wounded heart.

“He needs You, Lord. He needs Your strength, Your guidance. And Your love.” She opened her eyes.

“Amen,” they said in unison.

It had been years since he'd participated in any type of prayer other than at mealtime, and saying “Amen” with Nia sent a rush of hope through his chest.

“That was...nice,” he said. “Although Bree might disagree about the ‘kind' part.”

She cracked a smile, making him want to take her in his arms again. The air hummed between them, as if her prayer had opened up the possibilities to an amazing kind of love shared between a man and a woman. A kind of love he had never allowed himself to feel before.

“Nia,” he whispered. It was a plea, but for what?

Her phone suddenly went off, breaking the moment.

“You'd better get that,” Aiden said.

“Yeah.” But she didn't move to answer.

“It might be important.”

With a reluctant nod, she took the call.

“Hello?...Danny?” She glanced at Aiden. “What? Who's trying to kill you?...Danny, slow down and tell me where you are,” she said in a demanding, motherly tone. “No, don't...Danny!”

TEN

T
he line went dead.

“Danny!” Nia cried, desperate for him to come back on the line. But he was gone. She stood. “We've got to help him.”

“Hang on.” Aiden touched her arm. “Nia, stop. Think about this.”

She took a few steps away from him and grew light-headed, probably still suffering the aftereffects of tonight's kidnapping. Leaning into the dining room table, she said, “I've never heard him sound like that before. He was terrified.”

Aiden tentatively reached out and touched her arm. “Where was he calling from?”

Her eyes watered. “He didn't say, only that he was close and needed my help. And then...”

“And then, what?”

“He said ‘they're here' and the line went dead.” She limped away from him. “We have to find him, Aiden.”

“And we will. I'll call Nate. Maybe he can help. Would you please sit down?”

“I can't. I need to do something. I need to go look for him, something.”

“Nia, do you trust me?”

She looked into his tender blue eyes. “Of course.”

“Then let me handle this. You can't go out there blindly looking for your brother. You'll make yourself a target. Please? Relax on the sofa?”

He was right. What could she possibly do in the dark, with a bull's-eye pinned to her back?

Aiden made the call. “Nate, it's Aiden. Nia got a call from Danny and he sounded like he was in trouble...No, he didn't say where, only that he was close. Can you—I understand. Okay, thanks.”

He pocketed his phone.

“What did he say?”

“He's stuck at the hospital, but he'll call when he's free.”

“Right, because my brother is a suspected criminal, it's not a priority. I get it.” She started to get up again.

He took her hand. “Nia, that's not it. This is a small town with limited police resources. They have to deal with what's in front of them.”

“You'd think they'd want to find Danny.”

“They do, but not as much as Agents Nevins and Parker. We could call—”

“No, they'll arrest him on the spot.”

“Maybe that's a good thing. He'll be safe from the drug cartel.”

“But not from corrupt police. I don't trust them, Aiden. Any of them.”

Aiden studied her. “There might be another way.”

“What?”

“I could have Zack track the GPS on your brother's phone.”

“Would you?”

“Yes, but if we locate him, we call Nate. No one goes after Danny. You do not leave this apartment, hear me?”

She nodded.

“Say it.”

“I will not leave this apartment, unless I'm with you.”

“Good. I'll make the call.”

* * *

She was running, trying to get to her brother; to help him, save him.

But the forest was too dense, and she could barely see through the thick mass of trees ahead of her.

“Danny!” she called out.

Breathe. She had to breathe through the panic ricocheting through her body.

“Danny,” she croaked.

“Nia!” his voice called back.

She pumped her fists, hopped a downed tree branch and headed toward the sound. Suddenly the forest opened up to a clearing that overlooked a valley, and she saw them: Danny and her stepfather.

“Leave him alone!” she cried.

Her stepfather grabbed Danny by the shoulders and threw him over the edge of the cliff.

“Nooooo!” she cried.

* * *

“Nia!”

She gasped. Blinked open her eyes. A dream—it was only a dream.

“Hey, hey,” Aiden said, tipping her chin.

She gazed into his warm blue eyes.

“Carter tracked your brother's cell signal,” Aiden said.

“He's okay?”

“I've called it in to Nate. They're setting up a search team.”

She glanced at her surroundings, remembering how she'd ended up here, in Quinn's private apartment. Although Aiden had called the IT tech the previous night to track Danny, her brother's phone had been turned off and they couldn't get a signal until it went back on. She'd spent the better part of the night fidgeting with tension, fearing that he'd been killed. But it looked as if now they had a lead on his whereabouts, because he'd turned his phone back on.

Aiden said Danny had probably turned off the phone because he didn't want to be found by his pursuers. Sometime in the middle of the night Aiden finally convinced Nia to rest, and promised to wake her if they found her brother.

“What time is it?” she said, sitting up.

“Six-thirty. Did you get any sleep?” he asked, brushing a strand of hair off her face.

His touch felt so gentle and calming. “I think so. When is the team heading out?”

“Shortly.”

“Are you joining them?” she asked.

“I'll stay here. I don't want to risk anything happening to you again.”

“I'd rather you help find Danny, unless they're only sending police into the mountains.”

“You want me to go?”

She nodded. “Even though you and Danny don't get along, he might come out of hiding because he knows that you and I are friends. You should go, and tell him I sent you.”

“I don't know, Nia. If something were to happen to you while I'm gone—”

“I won't leave the apartment. You said yourself that this place is like Fort Knox. I'll be safe.”

He pursed his lips, considering. She thought he might refuse her request, but then something shifted in his expression. “Okay, if that's what you want. I need to check in with the day staff first. Then I'll call Nate.”

“Thank you so much.” She hugged him, wishing she could hold on to this man forever.

That was when she realized her feelings had gotten away from her, that she was developing an unhealthy romantic attachment to Aiden.

“Sorry.” She broke the embrace.

“Don't be.” He offered a half smile. “Zack will work from the apartment today so you're not alone.” He glanced at the dining room table where the IT tech sat, engrossed in his laptop. Zack Carter was in his early thirties with flyaway reddish-brown hair, hipster glasses and a two-day growth of beard. He mostly kept to himself but was always friendly when Nia asked him questions about the resort's computer system.

“Zack?” Aiden said.

“Yeah, boss?”

“You work from here and keep an eye on Nia. No one comes in or leaves. You got me?”

“Yes, sir. What about room service, sir?”

“I'll have my sister bring something by for breakfast and lunch. Do not answer the door for anyone but her. That's an order.”

“I understand,” Zack said.

Aiden turned back to Nia. “I'm only doing this because I have your word you'll stay put. I'll have Bree swing by with a change of clothes, as well.”

“Thank you.”

He stood and she grabbed his hand. “And thank you for helping find my brother.”

* * *

Aiden and the team headed in the direction of the GPS signal, straight up a trail on the south end of Echo Mountain. What was Nia's brother doing out here, anyway? It didn't make any sense.

Today's team was mostly law enforcement: Deputy Nate Walsh; Harvey, the resort's former security officer and a retired cop; and a new guy to Echo Mountain SAR, Spike Duggins. Spike was a community service officer for Wallace Falls PD and was hoping to become a police officer someday.

Nate had tried to get Aiden to stay back, especially considering his bad knee, but Aiden had made a promise to Nia and told Nate it was a losing argument.

They'd hiked about two hours into the national forest and were approaching Talus Ridge when Nate got a call from base.

“This is Deputy Walsh, over.”

“We're rerouting a call from the resort, over,” the field command coordinator said.

The resort? Aiden gripped the strap on his backpack. Nia.

“This is Zack Carter. The GPS signal is moving.”

“In which direction, over?” Nate said.

“I'm forwarding the signal to you so you can follow it.”

“Roger that.” Nate studied his phone.

Aiden wanted to ask if Nia was okay, if she'd eaten anything and if she was resting her ankle instead of pacing on it. But he had to stay focused, which wasn't easy after last night's intimacy, the conversation about forgiveness and the way she'd touched his cheek.

“I've got a location,” Nate said to his team. “But I want to clarify that if he's armed, you guys stay behind me.” He looked at Spike. “All of you. Got me?”

“I brought a firearm,” Spike said.

“And if you discharge that firearm I will not put in a good word for you with Echo Mountain PD or the sheriff's department. This is a search-and-rescue mission, not a
Dirty Harry
movie.” Nate took a step closer to the kid. “Are you reading me?”

“Loud and clear, sir.”

“Good.”

Harvey bit back a smile.

They continued hiking for twenty minutes and took a sharp turn back down. “Where is he going?” Nate muttered.

“At least we know he's okay,” Harvey offered, glancing at Aiden. Harvey knew Nia pretty well and no doubt worried if they found her brother's dead body, she'd be devastated.

They hiked another half mile in silence. Suddenly Spike pointed to a trail below. “Check it out, sir.”

The four men glanced over the edge of the trail. A motionless body lay a few hundred feet below. But was it Danny?

“Let's set up,” Nate said. “Aiden and I will head down with the litter. Harvey and Spike, keep an eye out, and help lift him up once he's secure.”

“And if I see someone?” Spike said.

Nate narrowed his eyes at him.

“Do not discharge my firearm,” Spike said.

Nate glanced at Aiden. “Ready?”

“Yep.”

The men secured their lines to a sturdy tree and lowered themselves to the area below. It wasn't going to be easy securing the victim to the litter, considering the uneven ground.

Aiden touched down first, adjusting his footing against the damp earth. Nate landed on the other side of the body.

“Nia's going to be crushed,” Aiden said.

“Let's turn him over.”

Nate knelt and slowly turned over the body. It wasn't Danny. Aiden breathed a sigh of relief.

“Looks like a gunshot wound to the chest.” Nate pressed his fingers against the man's throat, glanced up at Aiden and shook his head.

Nate radioed in. “This is Deputy Nate Walsh, over.”

“Go ahead, over.”

“This is now a recovery mission—male, Caucasian, forties with brown hair and a beard.”

“Copy that, over.”

Nate clipped the radio onto his belt and they got started securing the deceased onto the litter.

Nate's phone vibrated with a text. He glanced at it and frowned.

“What's wrong?” Aiden questioned.

“Danny's phone signal. It's moving again.”

This motivated the team to pick up the pace. They set up a pulley system and carefully raised the body to the trail above. Aiden and Nate pulled themselves back up and the team headed to base camp.

“Harvey and I can follow the signal,” Aiden said, figuring Nate had to stay with the deceased.

“No need. We're headed in that direction anyway.”

“He's headed back down?” Aiden said.

“Looks like it,” Nate said.

Which meant what? Danny had killed this man and fled the area?

“He looks like he's been dead for a few days,” Nate offered, as if he knew where Aiden's brain was headed. “We'll follow the signal as long as it leads us in the direction of base camp.”

It wasn't easy bringing a body down the trail, so the men took turns carrying the litter. They were within half a mile of the command post when Nate put up his hand. “The signal is headed this way.” He glanced at Aiden then at Spike. “Spike, I'm putting you in charge of the body. You and Harvey take him to Command. Have them call the ME's office for pickup, and stay with the deceased until you sign it over.”

Spike straightened. “Yes, sir.”

“Aiden and I will follow the signal.”

They split up, Aiden appreciating that Nate allowed him to continue the search for Danny.

“Thanks for letting me tag along,” Aiden said.

“Don't make me regret it.”

“Meaning what?”

“Don't go ballistic on me when we find him.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you're angry with him for putting his sister's life in danger.” Nate glanced back at Aiden. “The signal stopped moving. It looks close to your sister's cottage.”

Aiden wouldn't lose it; he couldn't lose it. Nate was trusting him to maintain control, and Aiden would be useless if fear and worry distracted him from their mission: find Danny and bring him in.

“May I call my sister to make sure she's okay?” Aiden asked.

“Of course.”

Aiden calmly pulled out his phone and called Bree.

“Hello, dear brother.”

“Where are you?” he asked.

“Where are you?” she teased.

“Please, Bree, tell me where you are.”

“On my way to deliver food to Nia. Why?”

“Where,
exactly
, are you?”

“About ten feet, four inches away from the coffee station in the lobby, which is twenty feet, seventeen inches from the front desk and—”

“Thank you for taking care of Nia,” he interrupted. “Stay with her. Do not go back to your cottage until I say it's okay.”

“Look, Mr. Bossy Pants—”

“Bree, please...” He took a breath. “Can you do this for me?”

She must have heard something in his voice. “Okay, sure.”

“I'll check in later.”