Under Suspicion

by Sommer Smith

  Keilani held out the burner phone Emmett had purchased for her before meeting with them. Micah needed to be sure he could stay in touch with her if she was out of his sight, but he’d only shared the number with his CO, just in case something happened to him. How had someone already figured it out?

  He took the phone from her trembling hand and began to scroll through photo after photo of Keilani, from her escape after her morning swim, to her introduction to the dolphins, and even her getting into Micah’s truck. It was just short of being a photo documentary of everything she had done that day.

  “These are images from the base’s security cameras. Look at the time stamps.” Micah scrolled through the images. “I think the guy wants us to know how close he is.”

  “Who has that kind of access? There’s a picture of us in the dolphin enclosures. There is even one of us leaving the admiral’s office.” Keilani’s voice was shaking. Her thoughts seemed pretty well aligned with his own. “And how did they get this number?”

  She looked so small in Micah’s clothes, his shorts rolled up at her tiny waist and the T-shirt hanging a bit lopsided off one shoulder. It only increased the vibes of vulnerability she was emitting. Micah steeled himself against the flood of protective emotions. Anger swelled within him, making him need to focus to keep it under control.

  “It’s definitely someone too close. There is no way a civilian could have accessed these photos. Even the best hacker in the world would have trouble pulling that off. A good zoom lens could explain some of them, but not all. And then there is the fact that the format is identical on every photo.” The fear in her eyes heightened his protective instincts. “And the phone number... Well, they must have had someone following Emmett or got it somehow from the place he purchased it. Maybe he offered bribe money and the cashier took it.”

  Emmett stood out of the way, he noticed, taking in the scene. He wore a concerned look that said the gravity of Keilani’s situation was finally sinking in. When Keilani didn’t comment further, he stepped forward. “Is everything okay?”

  Keilani nodded and crossed her arms over her midsection. “I’m sorry I worried everyone. I’m not normally so edgy.”

  “The perp has decided to stalk her on top of shooting at her and trying to blow her up.” Micah held out the phone for Emmett to get a good look at the pictures. He scowled as he scrolled through them and then shook his head.

  “Did anyone see you purchase the burner phone?” Micah knew Emmett would have been careful, but things just weren’t making sense.

  “No, the place was empty. I made sure of it.” Emmett nodded his head for emphasis.

  “Dude, that’s messed up. How could it not be someone on the inside?” Emmett handed the phone back.

  “I don’t know, but we have to consider all of the possibilities.” Micah motioned them both out of the hallway. As they entered the living room, Emmett offered Keilani a cup of coffee, but she shook her head.

  “My stomach is a bit upset. I’d rather not eat or drink anything right now.” She settled on the couch, but still looked terribly uncomfortable.

  Emmett must have noticed. “I’ll be outside taking care of some things in the yard if anyone needs me.”

  Micah nodded at him and watched him walk out the back door. “You’re pretty safe here, you know.”

  Keilani made a visible effort to relax her form, but it wasn’t completely effective. She only looked slightly less tense. “Thank you—for everything you’ve done today. This is not the kind of first impression I’d hoped to make.” She was biting her lip again.

  He watched her, hoping to think of a way to set her at ease. “No, probably not. But you aren’t to blame.”

  His blunt response seemed to surprise her. Then she actually laughed and finally appeared to relax some.

  “I already know a lot about you from your résumé,” Micah said, determined to get her mind off all the worry, “so how about I tell you about me?”

  “Okay. Where did you grow up?”

  “I spent most of my young life on a farm in east Texas. But when I was fifteen, my dad died suddenly from pneumonia. My mom remarried and moved to Houston. It was completely different from small-town life. I had a huge adjustment period and went through some tough times before I settled in.” That was an understatement, but he wasn’t about to tell her what a wild kid he had once been. He was surprised at himself for telling her what he just had.

  “Do you ever think about going back to farm life?” She smiled and he wondered what she was thinking about. Was she picturing him as an awkward, gangly teen? The thought made him uncomfortable and he wished he hadn’t begun this discussion.

  “Sometimes. I’ll probably retire on a farm someday, depending on my health. There’s a lot of hard work involved.” He thought about how worn out his father had often seemed from farm life—dawn till dusk with no days off.

  “My grandparents once worked on a pineapple plantation. They tell stories about the backbreaking work. They learned a great deal about life from the experience, though.” Keilani touched a pattern on a sofa pillow she had pulled onto her lap.

  “There’s nothing like it.” He watched her intently until her wide eyes met his again.

  “Were you an only child?” She seemed almost as disconcerted as he felt in her presence. What was it about her that made him willing to open up in ways he usually avoided? He’d only had a glimpse of who she was deep down, but already there was an emotional connection to her that he couldn’t explain. It wasn’t just about her beauty, though she was lovely with her dark hair waving around her face. It was something he couldn’t really explain.

  “I have a half sister. After my mother remarried, she had Cadence, but with such a huge age gap, we’ve never been very close. My cousin from back in Sweetbriar is probably still more like a sibling to me. I keep in touch with Joel more than anyone.” When he paused for a breath, Keilani nodded. The light from the living room window fell over her and she looked almost ethereal.

  “What made you decide to become a navy SEAL?”

  Now for the hard questions. Rather than answering right away, he deliberated over how much to tell her. How much would be enough? He had never told anyone everything.

  “Well, I wound up in the navy because of some bad decisions. Let’s just say my stepfather encouraged me to join the military. Once I realized that physical challenges proved to be a great way to channel my anger, one of my superiors suggested I consider SEAL training. I had my doubts at first, but eventually it worked out. Turned out it was a good fit for me.”

  If she wondered about his comment about dealing with his anger, she chose not to address it. He was grateful for that. Instead, she asked about the dolphins.

  “How did you end up working with the mammals, then?”

  “On one of our missions, we worked with the dolphin crews. The cetaceans accepted me well and one of the trainers at the time eventually recommended me to join the team. It just went forward from there.”

  Before Keilani could respond, Emmett came in the back door. “Micah, can I speak to you about something?”

  Micah glanced at Keilani. “Stay put.”

  Emmett led him to the kitchen where he could see Keilani around the corner but they could talk without her hearing every word. “Micah, the security system has been compromised.” He explained that where the fence separated their yard from the one behind them, the wires to the home security system rose up from a small pipe and along the fence for a short distance—and they’d all been severed. Keilani’s whereabouts were certainly not a secret.

  “I just happened to notice.” Emmett put both hands on his hips.

  “Someone has some breaking and entering plans on their agenda.” Micah let out a frustrated breath. This guy didn’t intend to cut them any slack.

  “I’ll get someone from the alarm company out here ASAP.” Em
mett already had his phone out to call.

  Micah held out a hand to stop him. “Wait. If we know their plans, maybe we can be ready for them. It might be our best chance at catching our perp.”

  Emmett put his phone back in his pocket. “Okay, then. What’s the plan?”

  * * *

  Keilani looked from one man to the other, wondering if this was how they always operated. They had come back into the living room wearing matching scowls. When they told her what had happened and began to explain their plans to try to catch the perpetrators in the act, she felt her stomach turn over. Of course, she knew SEALs were used to taking risks. But she was uncomfortable with the plan. She was going to be a little too close to someone who wanted her dead.

  “So what if you’re wrong? What if this person gets to me before you can stop him? I know he wants me dead.” Her voice quavered just a bit.

  “I’ll see to it that doesn’t happen.” Micah’s determined stance conveyed his confidence. It reassured Keilani somewhat.

  “And you think this person will break in tonight?” She glanced around the room, wondering how her stalker would choose to break into the house. Would they know which room was hers and just come through her window? Or would they enter through the back door and secure the house first? She had no experience with how killers did things.

  “I think it’s likely. Honestly, I’m surprised it’s been quiet for so long.” Micah crossed his arms over his impossibly wide chest.

  Don’t think about how safe it would feel to be held there, Keilani chastised herself. But it was too late. She shook it off, reminding herself that trusting a man only led to pain and heartbreak. Her stepfather as well as her ex-boyfriend had taught her that.

  “And Xavier and I will be here for backup.” Emmett brought her attention back to the matter at hand, entirely too cheerful to be talking about someone trying to kill her.

  Keilani smiled at Emmett, then noticed Micah looking between the two of them, frowning. Was he thinking she was being too friendly with Emmett? She only intended to show gratitude. Besides, why would he care? “That’s reassuring.”

  Micah cleared his throat. “Okay, then, we are all clear on the plan?”

  “Wait. So if I fall asleep and he breaks in my window, how will you know?” Keilani twisted her hands in her lap.

  “You won’t be sleeping in there. You’ll stay in my room. It’s more secure. I’ll be in the hallway outside. Xavier will be on the couch and Emmett will be in your room. No matter what you hear, you’ll stay put with the door locked until I text you the signal. Then you can come out if all is clear.” Micah was wearing that frighteningly intense expression once more.

  She swallowed hard. “You didn’t tell me I would be staying in your room.”

  “Is there some reason that won’t work?” His gray eyes scrutinized her face.

  “No. I’m sure it will work just fine.” Except that she would be occupying his most intimate personal space.

  The sun was going down and the golden California streaks glistening over the horizon gilded the world outside the windows. It was peaceful and relaxed, a direct contrast to Keilani’s tumultuous emotions. She suddenly felt very homesick for Hawaii and her family there. For once, she was second-guessing her personal choices.

  Today’s events had brought back too many disturbing memories. Being locked in the vault had felt suffocating, like all those times her stepfather had locked her in the closet when she was young. Her mind had conjured visions of the dark room with just a sliver of light, when the last thing she saw as he secured the door had always been that forbidding uniform.

  She forced the memories away now. There was enough to worry about right now without letting the trauma of her past affect her mental state. She would focus on solving the problems of the day.

  The hours passed slowly. Keilani met Xavier briefly before he went to shower. He was the quiet, studious type, if her first impression served her correctly.

  Micah tried to distract her by telling her all about their dolphin program, but she was still painfully aware of the danger she was in. She caught herself peering out the window from time to time, watching for any unusual activity outside the house. She hadn’t seen anything other than a few neighbors going about their business and the occasional child or pet outside playing on the sidewalks.

  “Watching won’t get this over with any faster. Do you like to read?” Micah’s low voice close to her ear reminded her that they were now alone in the living room.

  She turned slowly, careful not to bump into him since he was that close. She must have been half-asleep not to have noticed. He smelled warm and masculine and she almost forgot what he had asked.

  “Yes, I do like to read. But I find it odd you didn’t suggest TV or a movie instead.” She cocked her head sideways and studied him.

  “The remote is right beside you. I think if you really enjoyed watching TV you either would have asked or just turned it on by now.” He was studying her in return, and she suddenly felt very self-conscious, wondering what he thought of her. Then she chastised herself for even caring.

  “I like to watch television sometimes, but I enjoy reading more.” She felt silly admitting it, maybe because he was still studying her face.

  Emmett came in through the back door then, looking from one of them to the other, mischief on his face. “What’s going on in here?”

  “None of your business.” Micah glared at him, but there was no bite to his tone.

  “Cool. I brought dinner.” His grin just broadened.

  He held up two bags of takeout—In-N-Out burgers that smelled delicious. Keilani hadn’t realized how hungry she was before now. Xavier joined them at the table as soon as he emerged from the shower, and they ate in near silence. Keilani noticed that the three men seemed to stay on full alert, even as they scarfed down their burgers and fries. She fought more than one yawn, fatigue settling in as the aftereffect of the adrenaline.

  “You know, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to get some rest while you can.” Though he wasn’t looking directly at her, Micah seemed to have noticed how hard she was fighting to stay awake. He was giving her an out.

  “Yeah, I’m a little tired.” Keilani picked up her trash and began to clean up after the guys. The action was met with immediate protests, Emmett insisting on handling the small bit of cleanup.

  “Come on. I’ll show you where everything is.” Micah stood and held out a hand. She almost took it until she realized that wasn’t what he intended. He was just motioning her forward. He dropped it as she started in his direction.

  His room wasn’t what she would have expected. It was neat and perfect, of course, but she had somehow thought it would be more sparsely furnished. Instead, it had a warm, homey feeling to it. A deep blue coverlet accented by a bold cardinal splash of pillows and a cream throw stretched atop his queen-size bed. Pine furniture and braided rugs topped off the masculine design, and pictures of family and military friends graced the dresser. A couple of candles gave off a faint scent that reminded her of Micah, and the walls were fitted with shelves organizing everything from a flag representing a deceased military loved one to awards Micah had apparently won at various times during his career. A wingback chair in cream-and-navy-striped fabric sat by the curtained window.

  The most surprising thing, however, was the trunk in one corner. It looked like an antique—brass fasteners and leather straps telling the story of its functionality while scuff marks indicated it had once been used well. The top of it held a frame filled to the corners with pictures of Micah and what must be his grandmother at various stages in his life. A stuffed tiger sat on one edge and a lace handkerchief on the opposite side. There was a framed letter as well, clearly in a woman’s handwriting, which Keilani could only assume was from his grandmother. The edges of it were frayed as if he had carried it with him and read it many times. />
  “My paternal grandmother died right after I began SEAL training. She never told me she was sick.” He spoke behind her in a slightly hoarse voice. “I don’t know how long she knew she had cancer.”

  Keilani’s heart sank. “You weren’t there when she died.”

  She turned in time to see him shake his head. “That’s the last letter she ever wrote me. She never once even hinted that she wasn’t well.”

  “You two were close before you left?” Keilani knew the answer from the evidence, but she wanted to hear the details.

  “She was my only remaining link to my father. He passed ten years ago in a plane crash. Even after my dad died, Mom would let me go stay with my grandmother for a few weeks every summer. Before Dad was killed, sometimes he was able to take vacations and we would all go for a few weeks. Those were the best days of my young life.” Micah’s smile faded as if he felt he had said too much.

  He straightened. “There are extra blankets in the closet outside the door if you get cold. I’ll just grab the things I need for the night and get out of your way.”

  Keilani watched him without speaking for a moment. She wanted him to continue talking about his life, but it was apparent he didn’t feel comfortable doing so. “Thank you. Again, I’m sorry for the circumstances.”

  Micah gathered a handful of his things and moved toward the door.

  Keilani watched him go and tried to decide whether to just settle into the bed or sit in the chair for a little while and think. The chair won out, considering she needed some time to calm her mind. She pulled the throw from Micah’s bed and settled it around her, inhaling his scent.

  No matter what her first impression of Micah might have been, she was beginning to see the kindness of his heart. She hadn’t wanted to like him—at least, not past the tolerance necessary between coworkers. And then there was the situation with the World Animal Protection Agency and Gretchen’s request to report back, which made her feel guilty. She didn’t want to tell him they suspected he was taking inadequate care of his cetaceans. He seemed to know they were under some suspicion, but rumors were different than actually being accused.