Curses from behind combined with loud grunts and several thuds told her they’d fallen over her trip wire—again. If her heart wasn’t crashing against her ribs and bile hadn’t flooded her mouth, she might have turned to see how they’d landed.
Her feet flew over the backyard toward the woods offering obscurity in a coalescing shadow world. Twenty yards passed in thunderous eternity with blood roaring through her veins. She expected a rough hand to bring her down.
Chaos shifted reality in favor of those prepared. In her mind’s eye, she plotted her course the second her feet touched the deer trail. A memory of Matt’s minor injuries after racing through the woods made her grimace. Cuts and bruises were nothing compared to the flashback of Molly’s lifeless eyes staring into oblivion.
The first shot fired missed her head by inches, if she accurately interpreted the hiss of the bullet. Even if distant neighbors called the police, it wouldn’t be in time to save her sorry ass. The bark of another shot struck farther away.
Instinct hunched her body as she stumbled through the random snarls of thorns. The anticipated fallen log tripped her when she misjudged the distance. Eating a little dirt was better than being buried in it.
The near-blind run through grasping vines and debris-covered holes lasted longer than expected. Time flies when you’re having fun. That’s the way Lexi described her experience.
Faint beams of moon glow filtered through the canopy above to highlight a split in the path she hadn’t noticed earlier. Her POS parked a hundred yards away might as well have been across the state. No sounds of pursuit from behind didn’t mean they weren’t coming for her, or guessed where she might have parked. The neighborhood where she’d left her car had many other vehicles lining the street. It was sad to think how much hers stood out.
When the need to slow down for a deep breath overcame her fear, she realized the wood’s edge was mere feet away. This time, she didn’t wait to assess the two houses whose yards she raced through. In passing, she noticed no lights shining from within. No dogs gave away her presence.
Her car door squeaked as she slumped into the driver’s seat and retrieved the spare key; shaking fingers took three tries to insert the slim metal into the ignition. The clunker turned over with the first attempt. Thank god.
Her next car needed not only GPS, but also an advanced early warning system, something along the lines of, “You’re preparing to do something really stupid,” or “Psycho ahead at three o’clock. Turn left now.”
Low beams broke the infinite darkness once deemed comforting and supportive, her concealment. She checked her door to make sure it locked.
That new truck was closer in her future than first anticipated. Katt wouldn’t take another chance like tonight. Her hands shook as hiccups racked her body. She couldn’t go to a McAllister. Yeah, Matt, I was in the middle of a B&E when some asshole decided to join the party and take some pot shots at me.
It would be hours before she could take a deep breath. Her earlier bluff to Matt referencing a gun now formed goal number two.
Chapter Nine
Matt woke to Damien’s deep rumbled whine. “You’ve got a doggy door, boy. Use it.” For the second morning in a row, he missed the Morse code light show bearing some inane message. The new reality grated his heart like a pumice stone removing a thin coating of calloused protection. The cold rawness left him nauseous.
When he’d arrived at Katt’s house the prior night, her car wasn’t parked in the drive. Figuring she needed the couple hours to cool off, he’d waited down the street and kept watch after she’d returned, only leaving at daybreak.
Maybe it was a mistake to give Nugget time to chill. He’d never explained the nickname and now couldn’t picture it happening. She’d thought it stemmed from her surname, Nugle. If she discovered what she meant to him, she wouldn’t accept another man in her life. At least she wouldn’t have—before he’d broken her heart.
The truth, that he considered her black gold with inky curls and shamrock-colored eyes lighting up with impish devilment after each prank would embarrass her. “And this is why I don’t do relationships. I suck at them.”
The solid friendship he’d worked so hard to cultivate evaporated in the mist of hurt and betrayal. Time would tell what, if anything, could be salvaged.
A few taps on the computer pinged his tracker on her car to reveal its current location, still in her driveway. His gaze trailed the red path indicating where she’d traveled in the prior twenty-four hours. “Huh, I don’t recognize that address. Maybe she’s got a friend I don’t know about. Looks like she parked there for less than an hour last night.” He’d look it up when he got to work.
The quietness of his home proved his undoing. He’d never considered himself lonely until a certain feisty imp withdrew into her shell. After a cup of coffee, he decided to bite the bullet and stop by her house on the way to work. Damien whined in agreement.
Each mile goaded his subconscious to flaunt unwanted memories of their times together, hiking with Damien and Gila on steep mountain trails, working on intricate puzzles, or family BBQs on his patio.
Matt cut the wheel to make the turn into Katt’s drive. The two-story duplex she rented needed some TLC. One shutter on the side sat crooked and the porch trim needed a coat of paint. Power washing would go a long way in cleaning the vinyl siding. No doubt if she owned the house, it would be clean and in good repair.
The several times he’d been inside hadn’t enlightened him to her preferences. Hand-me-down furniture obtained for comfort, mismatched but fitting her lifestyle and personality filled the living room. Relaxed and practical. He wondered how she would upgrade when her business got rolling. Her birthday was a month away. As much as he wanted to buy her something nice for the house, her pride wouldn’t tolerate the extravagance.
Her car stood sentinel on the south side of the T-shaped lot, facing out and ready to go on a moment’s notice. He’d told himself returning her car key was the least he could do to smooth her feathers.
Unlike her normal approach at his home, he knocked on the front door, praying she would open it after checking through the peephole. Dangling the key as incentive might tip the scales in his favor. “C’mon, Nugget. Open up.” Damien barked once by his side.
He’d earned the wary look and haunted features that met him when the door opened. Puffy eyelids and dark circles betrayed the night she’d endured but would never acknowledge. He didn’t expect all the scratches on her arms but decided to table that inquisition for later. Her jeans and polo shirt equaled normal attire. The tangle of hair draping her shoulders and the weary set of them furthered his assessment of a sleepless night. The same as mine.
He dropped the key into her waiting palm. “I brought it back and have information for you.” In days gone by, he would’ve never revealed details regarding a current case, but her regular contact with Lexi, his brother’s hacker girlfriend made it a moot point. With Katt’s hacking skills improving on a daily basis, she might already know what he intended to say.
“Where’s the rat?”
“My ferret is in his cage for a bit. What’d you find out? I didn’t see anything on your work notes.”
“You’ve hacked my computer at work?” Her digital advantage negated his guilt at brushing past her to stand inside. At least she can’t slam the door in my face.
“’Bout a month ago. I figured I’d better track what you’re doing to help keep you out of trouble.”
Gee, thanks. “What are our plans for the day?” To find her in such a state had knocked the wind out of his sails and smashed prior intentions to hell.
“I want to take another crack at Horizon Solar Fuel and see if Saunders will talk to me again. I got nothing from Denny’s neighbors.”
“You went to his house? How’d you find it?”
“I ran his tag number after our first meeting.”
“And?”
“I poked around last night and found nothing.”
&
nbsp; “You broke into his house?”
“I wasn’t there long. Two bozos showed up, and I had to slip out through the woods. I didn’t hang around to take a pic.”
“Jesus, Katt. You’re being irresponsible and reckless. You have no business having a license.”
“And you think that would stop me?”
“Son of a bitch. Did you recognize either of them? Did they know you were there?”
“Yeah, but they were slow. They wore masks so I can’t describe either of them.”
“You’re a magnet for trouble.” He stood chest to nose with her, wanting to strangle her, needing to hold her, and trying desperately to quell the sizzling rush of adrenaline making him shudder.
“What did you want to tell me? What’s so important you had to bang on my door so early?”
“The blood on Denny’s jacket wasn’t his own. We don’t have a match yet, but we know it isn’t his.”
“Figured that. Any new John Doe turn up lately?”
“No. Katt, I want you to leave this alone. Tell me, was last night the first time you stopped by Denny’s house?”
“No. I made a pass after meeting with him, wanted to make sure he didn’t go home.”
“Maybe whoever’s after him drew a bead on you then.”
“I look young enough to be his daughter.”
“Precisely.”
“I’m not quitting.”
“Dammit, Nugget. You’ve got to let this one go. You’re stepping on a murder investigation.”
“I’m legal.”
The breath she huffed out brushed the smattering of hair above his open collar. Warmth spread deep inside and magnified until a small rivulet of sweat snaked between his shoulder blades.
“The blood on Denny’s coat didn’t match the girlfriend. But, he may still be a killer.”
“My gut tells me he’s not.”
“Your gut is too inexperienced.” He hadn’t meant to add that. “What I mean is—you don’t have a well-rounded work history to determine if he lied to you. Leave. This. Alone.”
“He’s not a killer. He’s probably in trouble. So... no. I won’t.”
Matt grabbed her by the upper arms, wanting to shake some sense into her. Her response of thrusting her hands upward and breaking his hold should’ve warned him.
Beside them, Damien whined.
Taking advantage of her movements, he spun her around, at the same time using his body to pin her between the wall and his larger form. This time when he grabbed her hands, he held them down by her side while keeping her pinned against the wall.
“Let me go.”
“No. The fact you can’t defend yourself properly proves you’re not ready for this case.”
“Hey, maybe Carina gets off on your Neanderthal moves, but I don’t.” Ineffectual squirming failed to gain her release.
“You know nothing. I warned you about making assumptions, didn’t I?” The aura of her frustration drew him down to nuzzle her ear. Jasmine and hyacinth filled his thoughts of what he’d like to do.
“Tell me you’ve never screwed her.” The accusation in her tone demanded an answer.
“I haven’t seen her in months. She just showed up on my doorstep that night.”
“Wanting a piece of the famous Mathew McAllister? Must not have taken long.” Air came to Katt in quiet gasps as she continued to struggle.
With more force than necessary, he pressed her body against the wallboard, mindful of the curve of her ass flexing as she tried to squirm free.
“No... I don’t know what she wanted. She didn’t have time to tell me. We got interrupted by a double handful of trouble.”
“Sorry to disrupt your evening exercise.”
“I don’t do that anymore, and never in my own home. I told you, I’m not like that anymore.”
“I don’t believe you. She looked very satisfied.” Arching her back, Katt shifted her hips side to side.
The realization he was harder than a metal drill bit became painfully obvious. Now, she’d realize it, too. “I have never lied to you.”
“I don’t know. Talking about her seems to have revved your engine.”
He jumped back as if thrown by a thousand volts. That’s what it felt like. His body hummed with the need to stake his claim once and for all, regardless of the consequences.
Horrified, he had no excuse and no conciliatory words. “Stay away from this damn case, Nugget.” Losing control freshened his anger and sharpened his tone beyond restraint. He stomped out the door before she could answer. Damien whined but followed.
Her near inaudible sniffle before the screen door slammed stopped him in his tracks. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but then he never did. It seemed destiny decreed the end result every time they came together, a lava and water mix that left ash and steam in its wake.
His imagination conjured her sniffle over the roar of his engine and the skid of his tires down the lane.
Damien barked once as the vehicle slewed onto the road, but nothing drowned out the pain from that snuffle.
“Dammit!” Katt wiped the tears from her eyes. Why couldn’t she have feelings for someone else? Anyone else. Gila snuggled close to her neck, rubbing his face against the soft skin behind her ear. The creature was more in tune with her emotions than any human would ever be. Unfortunately, he can’t give advice.
“Why do I press him so hard, Gila? It’s not like I can stake a claim. We’ve never dated even though he flirts like hell.” He’d never touched her inappropriately, until now. Yet, at times, his gaze scorched a path from her eyes to her core, laying waste to every part in between with an unrivaled heat. If she didn’t acquire mental distance, her body would self-combust.
Matt’s very presence sucked common sense and logic from the atmosphere every time he ventured too close.
Balance. I need balance.
Alena would be busy about now, but there was one other who she could confide in, the one person who knew everything concerning Kathryn Nugle and never judged.
Speed dial opened the line to the man who never pressured her for anything, listened when she was in over her head, and offered advice without censure or sarcasm. Laredo answered on the first ring.
Behind the diner, a large maple offered a respite from the summer sun for the diner’s employees, the rustle of leaves overhead a soothing counterpoint to the highway traffic out front. Katt had sat in the back courtyard many times over the years while listening to Alena’s trials and challenges of single parenthood. This time, the shoe was on the other foot, and it was her male BFF whom she hoped would shed some pearl of wisdom.
“Why does life always have to be so... difficult, Ray-ray? Everything used to be clear-cut. You know, gather information, make a decision, and take action. How can that not be simple?” Katt took the offered handkerchief and blew her nose. When she tried to hand the cloth back, Laredo shook his head and smiled.
“Because you’re in love with a man who doesn’t return the sentiment. You need to move on, Katt. Start fresh, a new beginning.”
Laredo’s pain echoed in the hollow words spoken out of friendship and in the spirit of mending her heartache. It didn’t make facing the truth any easier. Humiliation turned her face toward the forest. It was a fact she couldn’t face.
“Gila sure has taken a liking to you. Look at him, belly up and playing.”
“Animals have better instincts than people. They’re also kinder and more honest.” Laredo scratched behind the ferret’s ears and rubbed his belly before leaning back on the bench.
“Yeah, you’re right. As usual.” Her instincts had led to a giant pit of despair.
“He’s not right for you, Katt.” Her friend’s voice came out clipped and flat.
“You’ve never met him. How would you know?”
“Don’t have to. Look at you; you’re a mess. He ties your emotions into tiny knots. I can always tell when you’ve been around him. It’s not healthy.”
Her sidelong glance and hea
vy sigh signaled her defeat. “I never could fool you.”
“We’ve been together too long. In fact, we belong together. Can’t you see that, now?”
“Ray-ray, I can’t go with you. I’m in the middle of, well, something big. I have to see it through. Besides, I start the wilderness training course next week.”
“I can delay my transfer and come with you. The construction supervisor doesn’t have a specified exit date. He was gonna stay through the holidays anyway.”
“No, you have everything planned out. Stick to it. ‘Sides, the class is full, not to mention expensive.”
“Then join me when it’s over. A change of pace will give you a new take on life. There’s nothing for you here besides Alena, and you can come visit her on weekends.”
“I—I’ll think about it. Maybe it would do me good. My lease is up in a few weeks.”
“The day after your birthday. Good timing for a fresh start.”
Chapter Ten
Matt glared at his cell phone.
Punching the keyboard harder failed to soften his younger brother’s ringtone. First, it was Billy, then Luc. Caden proved a little more persistent and had called twice. This was Ethan’s third call in the last half hour. Had it been business related, they would have called his work line.
Slamming his office door had held off any questions or comments from the detectives in the squad room. Matt hardened his jaw; his molars would soon qualify as a calcium replacement if he didn’t get a handle on his emotions.
The sudden appearance of a large cartoon cowboy on his computer screen was the last straw. A ten-gallon hat and cowboy boots didn’t sway his conviction. “Damn Lexi.”
He answered his cell when it rang a fourth time. “Ethan, privacy is a prerequisite in my life. Please teach your girlfriend about boundaries.” His brothers knew no boundaries where Katt was concerned. “There’s a cartoon figure taking pot shots at a clown on my computer.”
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