Christmas Witness Conspiracy

by Maggie K. Black

  “Okay,” Liam said. “Do your thing.”

  Seth held up his phone. “It’s going.”

  A deep breath rose and fell in Liam’s chest. He whispered a silent prayer.

  “Hey, so I’m Liam Bearsmith, RCMP,” he said. “If you know me, you know I’m not much for words, I don’t like the spotlight and I’m not big on being noticed. I prefer to just quietly go about serving my country, with a lot of very amazing women and men in uniform.”

  He took another deep breath and glanced around the room like he was at risk of losing his words for a moment. She flashed him a thumbs-up. He smiled and looked back at the camera.

  “Two things.” Liam’s chest rose. “Number one, clearly I’m not dead. I certainly wasn’t killed by a younger, stronger and better-looking version of me. That’s a deep-fake video thing that the Imposters rigged up to wreck my life. So now, I’ve got to clear my name, of my own murder, and prove I’m me, which is probably going to be a bit tricky. Secondly, I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who came out and said nice things about me after you thought I died. That meant a lot and I hope nobody feels weird about it now that I’m not actually dead.

  “But I don’t want anyone putting me on a pedestal. Or ever thinking you have to be perfect to be a good cop. On one of my first assignments, I fell in love with a witness, had an inappropriate romantic relationship and fathered a child I didn’t even know about. I’m sure now that I’ve just blurted it out, there’ll be a lot of questions I’ll have to answer about that, too. But, bottom line, I’m done hiding. From my past and from this trumped-up murder charge. I’m going to go out living my life now and we’ll see how things work themselves out. Okay, thanks and bye.”

  He nodded to Seth. “You can put that online?”

  Seth nodded. “Yeah, I can even make you sound good.”

  “Thanks,” Liam said and blew out a long breath. Then he glanced around the room at his friends. “I figure after the wedding we can sit around and strategize something. Except for you, Jess. I appreciate you being here but expect you to hurry up and get to your honeymoon. Same to you, too, Noah and Holly. Go put on your fancy clothes and get married. I’ll see you there.” He looked around. “Oh, and Chloe, there’s a really great provincial officer in the St. Lawrence River district named Jake Marlie, like the hockey team, who deserves the opportunity for advancement.” Liam yawned suddenly and then chuckled. “Also, I might need a nap. I haven’t really slept in a couple of days.”

  Kelly walked over and slipped one arm around his waist. Liam leaned down and rested his head on her shoulder and she brushed a kiss over the top of his head.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Better than okay,” Liam said.

  “What happens now?” she asked.

  He tilted his head and looked at her. “No idea, sweetheart, but whatever it is we’re facing it together.”

  FOURTEEN

  “Five, four, three, two, one—happy New Year!”

  A chorus of celebratory voices shouted around Kelly and Liam. Streamers and balloons cascaded down from the ceiling of the downtown Toronto community center. The lights flickered briefly.

  She cast a glance at the tall and handsome man in the black tuxedo and bow tie who sat beside her on the fabric-draped chairs at the back of Mack and Iris’s wedding-reception party. His eyebrows rose. The lights stayed on. He chuckled under his breath, then reached over, grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

  “It’s all over,” he said softly. “There won’t be any blackouts, the Imposters were all arrested and their network is gone. We’re safe.”

  “I know.” She smiled.

  The last week had been incredible. After all those months she’d spent stuck alongside Hannah in the quagmire of uncertainty, it was like everything had happened at once. Over three hundred Imposters had been arrested by local law enforcement all over the world, thanks to information Hannah and Seth had gleaned from the internet. Some had just been detained and questioned, but others, like those who’d hijacked the boat and kidnapped her, Hannah and Liam, were now behind bars awaiting their trials. Despite Liam’s reassurances that Seth didn’t need to work over Christmas, thanks to Seth and Hannah’s combined computer power, it had taken less than seventy-two hours to prove Liam’s death had been faked and restore his fingerprints to file. His welcome-back email from a superior officer had added that Liam would be facing a disciplinary panel regarding his initial relationship with Kelly, all those years ago. Rumor had it that the worst Liam was facing was a slap on the wrist. But he’d assured her that whatever the consequences, it was worth it to be able go through life with Kelly and their family by his side.

  More importantly, Hannah and Renner had decided to stay in Canada and come clean to the military about the true circumstances surrounding how the code was cracked, and how Hannah was the person who’d really done the decoding. Nerve-racking, Kelly knew, and the young couple were still facing a lot of uncertainty about what they’d be doing next. But they’d both been considering finding ways to use their skills to serve their country, and it seemed Liam’s friends would be helping them find their way.

  And Liam, Kelly, Hannah, Renner and baby Pip had been able to spend their first Christmas as a family together.

  Kelly glanced down at the little baby girl, clad in a black-and-white polka-dot dress with a big red bow, now curled up asleep in the crook of Liam’s left arm.

  “I can’t believe she’s sleeping through this,” Liam said.

  “I can’t believe they’ve finally agreed on her name,” Kelly said. She rolled it around on her tongue. “Alexandra Maria Katrina Phillips.”

  “That’s a lot of name for a tiny baby.” Her grandfather smiled softly. “I reckon I’ll still just call her Pip.”

  “I think I will, too.”

  She looked out over the dance floor at where Renner and Hannah stood, with their arms wrapped around each other and lost in each other’s eyes. Whatever consequences they were facing for their actions didn’t begin to dim their joy at being reunited.

  “Were we ever that young, foolish and recklessly in love?” she wondered out loud.

  “I know I still am,” Liam said.

  He leaned forward and she thought for a moment he was about to kiss her. But then his eyes darted to the side as if spotting something in his peripheral vision. He pulled back.

  “Stop hovering, Seth,” Liam said. “I can tell you’re antsy to say something.”

  She turned and sure enough Seth was standing a few feet away, half looking at them and partly looking at his feet. “I—I didn’t want to interrupt...”

  “Just spit it out,” Liam said. But his smile was warm.

  Seth looked at Kelly. “I was just wondering if you’d told him your news yet, because I want to tell him my news and...”

  His voice trailed off as Liam’s keen eyes narrowed, looking from Seth to Kelly and back again, before finally fixing on Kelly. “What did you do?”

  “I enrolled in university to finally finish my criminology degree,” she said.

  “Really?” Liam’s eyes widened. “I’m so proud of you and happy for you.”

  She felt a flush rise to her cheeks. “Well, I figured it’s never too late to have a fresh start at life.”

  His gaze lingered on hers a long moment. Then his smile quirked at the edges and he glanced at Seth. Liam’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’re looking for a career in some kind of crime fighting or law enforcement, too?”

  “I’m trying to,” Seth admitted, shuffling from one foot to the other. “It’ll mean getting a pardon for my hacking past. But it’s time for me to go legit and actually use my skills to make a difference in the world. I mean, after all, the great Liam Bearsmith called me his friend.”

  Liam laughed, then he let go of Kelly’s hand long enough to reach for Seth’s and shake it. “Well, I�
��m proud of you, too, and I’ll have your back, whatever you need.”

  Somewhere out in the crowd he heard Iris’s voice announcing she was about to throw the wedding bouquet.

  “Go on,” Liam said, shooing Seth. “You don’t want to miss this.”

  The hacker hesitated, then he frowned slightly. “You asked me to look into who changed Kelly’s witness-protection file—”

  “It was my father, wasn’t it?” Liam asked, cutting him off.

  Seth nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, thank you,” Liam said. “Now go enjoy the party, friend.”

  She had the distinct impression Seth was about to say something mushy or goofy. Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

  Liam’s hand found Kelly’s again. He ran his fingers over hers gently.

  “How long have you known?” Kelly asked.

  “Since the moment I actually let myself think about it,” Liam said. “He knew how deeply I loved you and that I’d asked you to marry me, because I told him. I don’t know what strings he pulled to keep us apart or how he convinced himself he was doing the right thing. I know he was very badly wounded by his relationship with my mother and wanted to protect me. He loved me, but he was wrong. He wanted the very best for me. But he was wrong.” He leaned forward—so did she—and his lips brushed lightly against hers. “I’ve found what’s best for me. Twice.”

  “We both did,” she said.

  His free hand slipped to the side of her face and he kissed her with a confidence and strength that blew away whatever they’d felt for each other all those years ago. The sound of people chanting and cheering swept around them.

  Suddenly she felt Liam’s shoulders straighten as if sensing danger. He let go of her. His hand shot up protectively and snatched a projectile flying toward them out of the air, before it could threaten her and the baby.

  A ripple of laughter filled the room. She watched Liam’s face as he looked down at what he’d just caught.

  It was a dazzling bouquet of white and purple flowers. For the first time in her life, Kelly saw the strong and mighty Liam blush and she felt a matching heat fill her cheeks. He raised the huge array of flowers like a shield between them and the crowd of people now looking their way.

  Kelly giggled. “You just caught Iris’s wedding bouquet.”

  Liam laughed. “Yeah, looks like I did.”

  “You think she threw it to you on purpose?” Kelly whispered.

  “Wouldn’t put it past her,” he said softly. “But I didn’t know she had the aim.”

  They paused another moment. Neither of them spoke. She risked a quick glance around. The entire room had turned to look at them.

  “You think I should tell them I’m already engaged?” Liam asked.

  “Are you now?”

  “Well, I seem to remember asking you to marry me two decades ago,” Liam said. “And you did say yes.”

  “Well, maybe you should ask me again,” she said.

  The smile that she felt curling on her lips seemed to match the curve of his own.

  “Kelly Marshall,” Liam said, “mother of my unbelievably brilliant daughter, grandmother of my insanely cute granddaughter, love of my life and the only woman I’ve ever wanted to spend my life with, you are going to marry me, right?”

  She laughed. “Yes, Liam, of course I’ll marry you.”

  Then their lips met in a kiss and the flowers fell to the side, as they heard the room explode in applause around them.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, look for these other books by Maggie K. Black:

  Christmas Witness Protection

  Runaway Witness

  Witness Protection Unraveled

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Wilderness Sabotage by Heather Woodhaven.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for joining me for my twentieth Love Inspired Suspense! Huge thanks goes to my incredible editor Emily Rodmell, who guided, encouraged, pushed, refined and helped me through every book and along every step of the way.

  I had so much fun finding a partner for Liam Bearsmith. I fell in love with Liam when he appeared on the train in Rescuing His Secret Child and he was such a fun character to write. By my count this is both Liam and Seth’s sixth book, tying them for book appearances with both Chloe and Trent Henry.

  Some of you asked why I haven’t written Seth a romance yet. To be honest, I didn’t think Seth’s ready to be anyone’s husband or father yet. He appeared as a dubious character in two books before joining Liam’s team, and while I love Seth deeply, I want to make sure that when he does find love, he’s ready to step up.

  Thank you as always to all of you for all your letters and for sharing this journey with me,

  Maggie

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  Wilderness Sabotage

  by Heather Woodhaven

  ONE

  Jackie Dutton flipped up the back collar of her navy peacoat to brace against the bitter wind. Her boots crunched over the thick snow, hours away from Boise—hours away from any city—in the middle of the mountainous desert terrain of southern Idaho. She would do almost anything to get a story. Unfortunately, her editor used the knowledge to his advantage.

  She walked alongside Hank Swain, an older foreman whose face displayed the evidence of many years spent squinting into the sun. He led her around green and red shipping containers that unintentionally looked like Christmas decorations for the mountains. “We’re talking about a two-hundred-acre project,” Hank said, stopping next to a snowmobile. “So it’s hard to give you a proper tour, but I think I’ve shown you the basics. We finished building that control structure, but as you can see, we’ve only started on the air-cooling assembly.”

  She glanced up at what looked like fans the size of airplane engines on top of fifty-foot-high poles with metallic ladders at every corner. “These acts of sabotage must be extremely upsetting for you and your crew,” Jackie said.

  “That’s an understatement.” The foreman gestured with his hand at the damaged crane. “We specialize in building at remote sites no matter the season. It’s why we win most of our bids from government contracts, but winter weather makes the challenges harder.”

  “Isn’t this a private contract?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “We’re on federal land. Everything the McDowell Geothermal Company does is by permit and lease. Even the bid for construction had to be approved by the Bureau of Land Management.”

  From her rudimentary understanding, the geothermal plant was designed to drill down to the hot water underneath the ground and use the steam to produce electricity, making it a valuable renewable energy source—assuming the sabotage stopped long enough for them to finish building.

  Swain spun around and pointed north. “We finished the access road you drove up on before the first snow, at least, but we can’t afford to let sabotage slow us down.”

  The sun hovered low against the horizon of the surrounding foothills. Days ended even earlier up in the mountains, which meant she’d be driving in the dark if she didn’t wrap up the interview fast. “So far, your equipment and tools have been targeted. Any ideas on who wants to sabotage your efforts here?”

  He shrugged. “Off the record?”

  How was she ever supposed to get a promotion-worthy story if everything was off the record? Jackie forced a pleasant smile.

  He folded his arms against his chest. “Environmental groups get riled up every time anything is constructed. Some bird nest gets disturbed...”

  No news there. The CEO and plant manager had given her the same answer on the phone. The foreman
rounded the corner of the control building and led her back to her car. Except, she couldn’t go yet. She had no story.

  “Would any of your crew be willing to talk to me?”

  He shook his head. “Even if they were, they’re on the opposite edge of the site and should have wrapped up for the day.” He gestured at his snowmobile, sitting alone. “The closest place my guys can stay is a motel thirty miles away as the crow flies past that line of trees. Would take them a couple hours if they drove it, though they get to go home to their families this weekend. Won’t be back until after Christmas.” The wind blew an extra hard gust. He glanced at the mountains to the west. “Speaking of which, I better go. They’re waiting for me. You should get, too. Radar says storms are coming.”

  “Well, thank you and merry Christmas.” She felt his eyes on her until she got in her car and turned on the ignition. He moved to the snowmobile and took off in the direction of the in-progress drill sites.

  She glanced at her phone. One bar of service flickered on and off. She quickly typed a message to her editor.

  I think I could find a story here with more time. I’ll need more interviews after the holiday. Don’t expect check-in until Monday night.

  The bar slid slowly across the screen, but she was unsure it would send until she returned to civilization. It was only Tuesday, but her cousin’s wedding festivities started tonight and Friday was Christmas. She was overdue to catch up on family life. Afterward, she would have to return to interview the crew. The real story was never found by talking to supervisors.

  Movement entered her peripheral vision. A man with a clipboard strapped to the front of his coat snowmobiled between tall columns she assumed were pipes. In her research, photos of similar geothermal power plants reminded her of a giant circuit board. Instead of capacitors and transistors, there were giant tanks of water and pipes. So if she could remember that her car was at the end of the long red pipe, she’d be able to find her way back safely.