Secret Agent Father (6 page)

She hesitated and then nodded. “Yes. It’s fine.”

He glanced toward the kitchen where Kayla and the kids were having breakfast. “Let’s get something to eat, shall we?”

In the kitchen, Kayla was in command, wearing a plain white apron tied around her waist as she manned
the stove. The griddle sizzled as she cooked another batch of French toast. For a split second, Alex could easily picture Shelby standing there, making breakfast for him and Cody. The thought jarred him.

Where had that bizarre image sprung from?

He’d never looked for any type of permanent relationship before because in his experience, even those women who claimed they didn’t want kids wanted more than he was willing to give. So why was he even thinking about it now? Especially with a woman like Shelby? A woman whose picture was likely in the dictionary as a definition of home and family.

She believed in God. Raising Cody as a Christian.

He didn’t know the first thing about being a father. And he knew even less about how to raise a child to be religious. Who was he trying to kid? Being an uncle to Brianna wasn’t the same as being a full-time father.

“Good morning,” Kayla greeted them. “Grab a plate and help yourself.”

“Thanks.” Shelby poured a cup of coffee, and then turned to him, holding out the pot with a questioning gaze. He swallowed hard and nodded, holding out his empty cup for a refill.

Knocked off balance by the domesticity, he took a hasty sip and scalded his tongue. Served him right for imagining the impossible.

Forcing himself to use his left hand, he ate several slices of French toast, chuckling a bit when he noticed the powdered sugar smiles on Cody’s and Brianna’s faces.

“Kayla, I need to buy some clothes for us,” Shelby said as she finished her meal. “Is there a place nearby you can recommend?”

Alex frowned, remembering that she mentioned yesterday how they didn’t bring anything with them. “Do you have cash?”

She flushed with embarrassment and averted her gaze. “No, I’m afraid not.”

“Shelby, I don’t want you to use your credit or debit cards,” he told her sternly. “Anyone with a little access could easily track you here.”

She paled and glanced at his sister. “I didn’t think of that. Kayla, would you be willing to loan me some money?”

Alex grit his teeth at the way she was avoiding him. Why was she acting like he was some sort of piranha? He pulled out his wallet and pulled out some cash, wishing he had more to give her as he tossed the money on the table in front of her. “Here. I have plenty. Let me know if you need more.”

“That’s too much,” she protested, staring at the bills as if they might bite.

He slid a glance at Cody, who was earnestly talking to Brianna between mouthfuls of food. “Apparently, I have a few years of child support to make up for.”

Her brows drew together in a hurt frown, and he wondered what he’d said to cause that reaction. Whatever the problem, she reluctantly picked up the money and stuffed it in the front pocket of her jeans.

“There’s a large discount department store in town.” Kayla piled her own plate full of food and sat down with them. “I’d offer to go, but I have a leak under the kitchen sink that needs to be fixed.”

Alex raised a brow. “I’ll take a look at the leaky pipe, Kay.”

His sister’s gaze dropped to his injured hand and he tensed when she shook her head.

“I’ve learned to do a lot of things since my husband died, including fixing minor plumbing problems. Maybe you should take Shelby and Cody to the store so they don’t get lost.”

“We’ll be fine,” Shelby protested.

“I’m not an invalid.” He didn’t bother hiding his annoyance. “I’ll fix the leaky pipe, and then we’ll all go to the store together.”

There was a long pause before she finally relented. “If you insist. I guess I could pick up a few things, myself.” Kayla finished eating as Shelby stood and began clearing the dishes. “Leave them, Shelby. Would you mind going out with the kids to bring in more firewood from the woodpile?”

“Sure, after I finish with the dishes.” Shelby cleared off the rest of the dishes, neatly stacking them next to the sink, until Kayla stopped her.

“Please? I hate bringing in the firewood and Brianna loves to do it,” Kayla said. “I’m sure Cody will get a kick out of helping, too. They could use a break from being indoors, give them a chance to play in the snow. If you’d supervise, I’d be grateful.”

“All right then.” Shelby finished clearing the dishes and then took the kids and the puppy into the great room, so they could put their coats and boots on.

Alex stayed where he was for a minute, wrestling his frustration under control. How was he going to get back into the field if he couldn’t fix a leaky pipe? “I’m not helpless,” he told Kayla.

Kayla finished her food and took her plate to the
sink, her back stiff. She filled the sink full of warm soapy water and began scrubbing. There was a distinctive dripping sound as water fell into a bucket beneath the sink. “I never said you were. But if you slip and hurt your hand worse…”

“Kay.” He stood and crossed over to her, turning her shoulders so that she faced him, ignoring the sudsy water that dripped to the floor. “If I can reinjure my hand by fixing a leaky pipe, my career is over.”

“So what? Would that be the worst thing in the world?” she burst out in exasperation. “Alex, you have a son now, a responsibility—” Her voice cut off and she sighed.

“Kayla,” he began, but she quickly interrupted.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t harp, but Alex, be reasonable. You know as well as I do your career isn’t conducive to raising a family. And now that you know about Cody, you can’t simply abandon him. He needs you.”

“Give me some credit, Kay. I know I have a son and believe me, he is my primary concern. But don’t you see? To keep him safe, I need to finish this case. And the only way to get back to work is to strengthen my left hand.”

She let out a heavy sigh. “Can’t your partner, that coast guard guy, handle the case? You’ve already been stabbed. You’re lucky to be alive. Isn’t that enough?”

“No, Rafe can’t finish this case alone. He needs me. And I need to be able to close this case.” And afterward? He didn’t even want to think about what might happen then. What would he do? How would he find a way to keep drugs off the streets? And how would he learn to be a father to Cody?

Kayla rolled her eyes in disgust. “Fine. Go ahead and
put your life on the line, then. Cody’s already lost his mother, who cares if he loses his father, too?”

Please bless my other dad.

Cody’s prayer reverberated through his mind. But he steeled his resolve. He couldn’t give up the case. Not now. Not until they’d brought the mastermind behind the drug smuggling operation to justice.

“Go help Shelby with the firewood,” Kayla said in a resigned tone. She clearly didn’t want to discuss the matter any further. “I’m sure the kids will be no help, since they’ll be covered in snow.”

Before he could move, Shelby burst through the doorway, her eyes wide with alarm.

“Alex! I need you to come outside right away.” Her hands were shaking and her face was chalk white.

“What’s wrong?” He crossed over to her in two steps.

“I found footprints and a tiny pile of cigarette butts in the snow behind the woodpile. I—I think someone was out here, watching us.”

“S
how me,” Alex commanded. Shelby didn’t bother to argue, quickly leading the way outside, clenching her teeth together to keep them from chattering.

“Right here,” she said, pointing to a small area a few feet behind the woodpile, between two rather large oak trees. It wasn’t exactly the same place she’d seen the light, but it was close. “I know you’re going to think I’m crazy but I found them because of the smell.”

He sent her a questioning look. “There’s only a couple of cigarette butts here.”

She lifted a shoulder, helplessly. “I still smelled them.”

This wasn’t the time, or the place to explain how the slightest scent of cigarette smoke made her gag, ever since she’d been attacked by the shipyard by some man who’d reeked of cigarettes.

Sometimes, she could still smell the stench of stale cigarette smoke in her dreams. Today when she’d gotten close to the woodpile, she thought she was imagining things.

But then she found footprints. And cigarette butts.

Alex approached the area, crouched down and looked
at the telltale evidence preserved in the snow, his expression intent. He glanced up at her when the kids came running outside to get another armload of firewood.

“Shelby, get the kids back inside the house. Now.”

She understood his concern and turned, pasting a smile on her face. “Cody, Brianna. It’s time to go inside.”

“No! We don’t wanna go in!” Cody’s tone was belligerent.

“Cody, don’t argue,” she said in a sharp, no-nonsense tone. The one she used to make him understand she was not kidding. “Inside the house. Now.”

For a moment he stared at her defiantly, but when she kept her expression seriously stern, he grudgingly complied. Brianna followed without a protest.

“Take Clyde with you,” Shelby added. She was thankful when Kayla met the kids at the door, to help with their wet clothes. Alex’s sister cast a worried glance in their direction, but Shelby didn’t know how to reassure her.

What if Cody’s bad man had found them? The idea that she might have put Kayla and Brianna in danger by coming here made her feel sick to her stomach.

Fighting to control the panic that threatened to overwhelm her, she turned back to Alex. He was working as if she weren’t there, following the path of boot-prints as they wove their way through the trees, toward the back of the far side of the house. The opposite side from where the shed was.

He stopped in another clearing and looked up at the house. She followed his gaze, trying to gauge the layout of the upper story. She hoped it was one of the empty rooms, and not hers or Cody’s.

The wind kicked up, dark clouds swirling overhead, bringing a threat of more snow. The sky turned an eerie gray-green. She shivered, from cold and fear.

“Come inside,” Alex said in a low tone as he headed toward the front door.

The house was blessedly warm and they could hear Kayla’s voice in the kitchen as she entertained the kids. Sounded like she was trying to find dry clothes for Cody to wear.

Alex swiftly shed his outer gear and went straight up the stairs to the second story living quarters. Full of curious dread, she followed him.

He stood in Cody’s room, gazing out the patio doors. When she came up beside him, she could easily see the indentations in the snow where the cigarette smoker had stood and watched the house.

Watched Cody.

Shelby glanced at Alex as he abruptly swung away from the window. He muttered something unintelligible under his breath and reached for his phone.

“Rafe? I need backup, ASAP.”

She imagined his coast guard contact had readily agreed because Alex listened and then said, “Get in touch with Holden first, ask what’s going on with Trina’s murder investigation and then get here as fast as you can,” before snapping his phone shut.

“Do we really need him to come here?” she asked, wishing they could handle this on their own, without involving anyone else. “Can’t we all just leave?”

Alex scowled and shook his head. “I can’t be responsible for keeping everyone safe. I haven’t been of
ficially cleared to return to duty. I should have turned you and Cody over to Rafe from the beginning.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

He pinned her with a narrow gaze. “Really? Because I got the distinct impression last night that you couldn’t get away from me fast enough. It’s obvious you don’t trust me.”

“I trust you.” She was surprised to realize it was true. Despite her irrational fear last night, when she’d felt crowded and let her haunted memories of the past get the better of her, she did trust Alex. Far more than she trusted anyone else.

Including the unknown Rafe.

He let out a harsh laugh. “Yeah, right. Why would you trust me? You told me you saw a light last night, but I didn’t take the threat seriously enough.”

“You investigated,” she protested.

“Yeah, I did. And I checked behind the woodpile and didn’t see these footprints, so they must have been made after I came inside. But still, when I didn’t see anyone outside, I should have called Rafe for backup.”

She didn’t know what to say to that. If Rafe had been there helping Alex, would they have found the guy? Maybe. But maybe it would have led to another confrontation where someone got shot, or even killed. There was no way to know.

Self-recrimination blazed in his eyes before he turned away. “My negligence nearly got you and Cody killed.”

She didn’t believe that, not for a moment, but she also couldn’t deny how seeing those footprints in the snow along with the two cigarette butts had shaken her deeply.

“How did he find us?” she asked, bewildered.

“I don’t know. But it doesn’t really matter, since we’re not staying here.” Alex turned and stalked toward the door. “Pack up whatever you have and borrow stuff from Kayla if necessary. Rafe should be here within the hour.”

Alex had arranged what he could as far as next steps in his escape plan. When those preparations were finished, he began working on Kayla’s leaky pipe, since standing around and waiting was driving him crazy.

Rafe arrived fifteen minutes later. Alex heard Rafe and Kayla talking in the great room. No doubt his sister was filling Rafe in on the details of what had happened before Rafe came to find him.

“Alex. Is it true?” his coast guard partner demanded.

“What? That I blew it last night?” He snorted and nodded. “Yeah, I’m afraid it is.”

Rafe sent an exasperated glance. “Not that. The boy. Cody. Is he really your son?”

He concentrated on wielding the bulky pipe wrench with his left hand, ignoring the zinging pain that traveled up his right arm. He thought about how he’d planned to have a DNA test, but it wasn’t necessary. He knew, with deep certainty, Cody was his son. He finished opening up the elbow pipe and lowered the wrench, sitting back on his heels. “Yes. It’s true. He’s a good kid, but a scared one. He saw something the night before Trina was shot.”

“Something? Like what? Didn’t you talk to him?”

“He’s only four, Rafe. I can’t very well interrogate him.” Odd how he sounded like Shelby when she’d
staunchly defended Cody. “He’s been traumatized, practically saw his mother being killed. Besides, it’s not as if the court is going to take action on the word of a child eyewitness.”

“Maybe not the court, but it would give us something to go on,” Rafe responded. “We need answers and we need them quickly.”

“I know.” He went back to work on the pipe. “I will talk to him, later. Right now, I want you to get a security system installed here at the B & B.”

“A security system, are you crazy? Your sister and her daughter can’t stay here,” Rafe argued hotly. “Not until we’ve cracked this case.”

“I know, but I want it installed anyway, for when they can return.”

Rafe looked like he was going to argue, not that Alex could blame him. What good would a security system do if Kayla’s business involved inviting strangers into her home on a regular basis? He didn’t care. He didn’t want an intruder on the grounds catching him or Kayla unaware ever again.

“Okay, consider it done. Anything else?” Rafe asked.

He’d made a lot of arrangements, but he wasn’t sure Rafe was going to approve. Especially since he wasn’t quite ready to turn over Shelby and Cody into Rafe’s protection. He lifted the heavy wrench again. “I’ve made some initial plans,” he admitted.

“Like what?”

He glanced at Rafe and in the split second he’d taken his eye off the pipe, the wrench slipped from his grasp. Since he was leaning on it with all his strength, the tool skipped off the pipe and crashed back down on his
injured right hand landing directly on the deepest and longest surgical scar.

Blood spurted from the wound and a shaft of pain stole his breath, as if he’d been hit by a cargo flat full of steel. For a moment he was paralyzed by the pain.

When the dizziness passed, he scrambled to his feet, holding his injured arm and swallowing the waves of pain that rolled up his arm. Blood sprayed everywhere, and he vainly attempted to use his other hand to keep it from going all over Kayla’s floor.

Cody chose that moment to charge into the kitchen, skidding to a stop, his eyes wide with horror as they fixed on Alex’s bloodstained arm.

Alex found his voice. “It’s okay, Cody,” he hastened to reassure him, forcing a grim smile. “I’m fine. This is no big deal, it’s just a scratch.”

To his utter surprise, Cody let out a shrill scream. Before Alex could stop him, he turned and ran from the room.

Shelby gasped when she heard Cody scream. She ran into the dining room, snagging him as he darted past. When he saw it was her, he clung like a monkey around her neck.

“Cody, honey, what’s wrong?” She gathered him close, running a soothing hand over his back as he trembled and sobbed against her. “Shh, don’t cry. You’re safe. Don’t worry, everything is going to be okay.”

Alex came rushing out, a towel wrapped around his right arm. Deep grooves of pain lined his mouth, but he leveled his concerned gaze on Cody.

“Is he okay?” Alex asked.

She shook her head, feeling helpless. What had
gotten Cody so riled up? He’d seen small injuries before at the daycare. They’d never upset him like this. “What happened in there?”

“I’m not sure.” Alex tightened his grip on the towel.

Shelby held Cody until he stopped crying, realizing the young boy’s emotional status was more fragile than she’d realized. He needed to talk to a professional child psychologist, the sooner the better.

Kayla walked up behind her. “You’d better let me take a look at that,” she said, indicating his injured arm.

Alex frowned and shook his head. “Later. I think Cody freaked out because of the blood.”

Why would Cody react so strongly to the sight of blood? She continued to hold him close, murmuring words of encouragement even as her mind raced over the possibilities.

He couldn’t have seen blood from Trina being shot, because his mother and the gunman had been too far away. She hadn’t even seen any blood, and she was the one who saw Trina drop to the ground.

Which meant Cody had to have seen blood at another time. Like when he saw his mother talking to the bad man. Had he witnessed a physical confrontation? Trina hadn’t seemed injured when she’d handed over Cody at the marina, so perhaps she’d hit the bad man so she could escape.

Alex’s green gaze was watching her intently and she wondered if he’d come to the same conclusions she had. She narrowed her gaze, vowing to monitor Alex’s questions for Cody very careful. Yes, they needed the information, but there had to be away for getting it from Cody without upsetting him further. If the poor child reacted
like this to the sight of blood, then he’d been far more traumatized by what he’d seen than she’d imagined.

“I’m going to take him upstairs for a minute,” she murmured, hitching Cody higher in her arms so she could carry him through the great room.

She half expected Alex to stop her, but he didn’t. She could feel his gaze boring into her back as she headed upstairs to the sanctuary of their rooms.

After she’d gotten Cody calmed down and had washed the tears from his face, they returned to the kitchen where Rafe, Kayla and Alex were gathered around the large picnic table. She was relieved to see that a bulky white bandage covered Alex’s injured arm.

“I don’t understand why I have to go anywhere,” Kayla was saying in a stubborn tone. “I’m fine with you taking Brianna someplace safe, with Ellen, my mother-in-law, to watch, but there’s no reason for me to leave, too.”

Alex opened his mouth to argue, but Rafe beat him to it.

“No. Absolutely not. You will be safe. I won’t allow anything else,” Rafe commanded, anxiety making his thick Hispanic accent stronger.

“You won’t allow it?” Kayla narrowed her gaze. “You don’t have control over what I do.”

“The decision has been made,” Rafe brushed aside her protest as if it was nothing more than a bug to be squashed. “You, Brianna and her grandmother will enjoy an extended stay at a resort offering an indoor water park for entertainment.”

“Why drag Ellen into this?” Kayla asked.

“Because your mother-in-law was watching Brianna the day Shelby arrived. If someone had followed her, we
can’t assume they didn’t see Ellen dropping Brianna off later that day. I don’t want to take a chance on her safety.”

When it looked like Kayla was going to argue some more, Shelby stepped in, catching Kayla’s gaze with hers. “Please go somewhere safe. For me? I hate knowing I put you and Brianna in danger by coming here.”

“It’s not your fault, Shelby.” Kayla’s stout defense touched her heart. “But if you think I should go, I will.” Her eyes widened and she glanced at her brother. “Maybe Cody should come with us?”

Considering the magnitude of Cody’s breakdown, Shelby didn’t think leaving him alone with Kayla and Brianna was a good idea at all. “I don’t think so…”

Rafe and Alex exchanged a look and they both simultaneously shook their heads. Alex spoke up. “No, Cody needs Shelby.”

She was pleased he’d understood. Obviously Alex really did have Cody’s best interests at heart.