“If you want to get some rest, I’ll…” Cody stared at the front window. “Get down!”
A second later the living room window exploded, and a bullet slammed into the chair next to Lila.
Cody dove, pushing them both to the floor and covering her body with his. “Stay down.” He lifted his head and drew out his gun, belly-crawling to the window. “Looks like two shooters. It’s too dark for me to be sure.” He ducked as another bullet slammed into the wall behind him before returning fire.
More gunshots riddled the house.
Crouching against the wall on the other side of the window, Lila pulled out her weapon. She knocked out what remained of the window, aimed and fired her weapon.
“I told you to stay down!” Cody grimaced as he gave her a quick glance.
“I’m not a damsel in distress.” She unloaded several more rounds.
A man stepped out of the tree line and the moon illuminated him for a second. Lila and Cody capitalized on his mistake.
Lila aimed and fired. A scream indicated she’d hit him.
Seconds later, Cody hit the remaining shooter.
When the gunfire ceased, Cody scrambled over to her and took her hand. “We’re getting out of here.”
Lila grabbed her purse and backpack and they ran to the back of the house.
“Stay behind me.” Cody, his mouth set in a grim line, scooped up his own backpack. “We’ll take my SUV.”
She nodded as she gripped her gun.
He peered out the door before stepping out. Scanning the dark yard, he didn’t see any intruders. The gunmen had been shot, but he couldn’t be sure if they were dead or the extent of their injuries. He and Lila needed to move. Thankful he’d parked just outside the back door, he ushered her inside. He slid into the driver’s spot and gunned the SUV around the garage and out the back drive. Tree branches scraped against the vehicle as Cody raced down the narrow road. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he said, “We’re good, but I don’t know for how long.”
“How did they find us?” Lila held on to the door, casting a glance behind them.
“I don’t know, but our safe house has definitely been compromised.” Cody grimaced as he took a hard turn on to the main road. The streetlights were still out due to the storm but after a mile the road splayed out with limited illumination.
“Someone must have called in the gunfire.” He eyed two sets of red and blue strobe lights approaching. “We need to stop them. The last thing we need is to be wanted by the police.” Cody blinked his lights while he told the 911 operator who he was and where he was coming from.
The officer must have received a message from the dispatcher as one of the police cars pulled over. The other cruiser continued passed them.
Cody angled the SUV to the side of the road, lowered his window, and nodded to Lila’s firearm. “Keep your hands on your lap. Is your gun registered?”
“Yes. I have a carry license,” Lila replied.
A young officer with large round eyes approached. “Were you the folks who called 911 about a shooting?”
“Yes.” Cody peered closer. “Officer Allen.”
Another cruiser slowed and pulled to the side of the road. An older officer alighted from the car and swaggered up to the group. “I’m Officer Riley.” He placed a hand on his service weapon. “Please step out of the vehicle and keep your hands up.”
Cody informed them they both were carrying.
After their weapons were secured, Office Riley said, “Want to tell us what’s going on?”
Cody and Lila explained how the shooting started and that they had returned fire to protect themselves. The police continued to question them, until suddenly Riley stepped away. He bent his head low as he listened to the radio positioned on his shoulder.
Cody eyed the officer. Something is going on.
Lila cut a quick glance at Cody, and he felt her stiffen next to him
Officer Riley approached them again. “Allen, let’s go. You folks are free to go. We’ll board up your windows but get on the repairs ASAP.”
Allen gave him a quizzical stare, then shifted back to his professional demeanor.
Lila stepped forward. “Did you catch the shooters?”
“Investigation is closed. I suggest you move on,” Riley said.
“But people shot at us.”
Officer Allen stood wide-legged. “Miss, Officer Riley says it’s done. Move on.” He motioned for them to return to their car.
Cody took her hand. “Let’s go.” Something definitely was going on.
Once they were inside the SUV, Cody released a sigh. “Weird.”
“The police have no interest in investigating a shooting? Someone shut it down.” Lila leaned her head back. “My life was okay. I was doing okay. Now this.”
Cody pulled into the roadway. “I don’t know what happened there, but I want to put some miles between us and them.”
“Someone shut down the investigation. Why?” Lila’s voice held a tremor of fear.
“I don’t know. But we’re not going back to your house or mine. I have a friend we can trust. We’ll go there for tonight.”
An hour later, they pulled into the small drive of a two-story house on the outskirts of the city. Cody led her to the back of the house. As they climbed the stairs, they halted when the back door opened, and a familiar face waved them inside.
Stepping into the kitchen, Cody inhaled a faint aroma of bacon. “Thanks for letting us crash here for the night.” He clasped the man’s hand before turning to Lila. “Do you remember Jeb Barker?”
The older man wore a khaki button-down shirt, jeans, and black cowboy boots. He resembled a cross between a safari guide or a rancher but Jeb’s life involved animals of a different kind.
“Of course. Thanks for letting us stay here.” She reached out to shake his hand.
“Nice to see you again, Lila.” Jeb then pumped her hand. “I retired from the force and now I’m in private detective work.”
Cody crossed the room and pulled apart the curtains. He scanned the yard. A rusted grill, a few lawn chairs, and a shed with a huge padlock sat in the fence-enclosed perimeter. Thankful he didn’t spot any gun-toting criminals, He let the curtains fall back in place.
“What happened tonight?” Jeb motioned them to the kitchen table.
Cody glanced at Lila. “We can trust Jeb. He knows about the Alliance.” Jeb had once dated his mother back in Virginia. When his mother decided to move on to what she thought were greener pastures, Cody, who’d developed a connection with Jeb, couldn’t understand. Jeb was the first and only father figure in his life. To Jeb’s credit, he continued to visit and spend time with Cody until he moved to Dallas to take over his buddy’s detective business.
Cody gave Jeb the rundown of what happened.
Lila collapsed into one of the kitchen chairs. “We think someone heard the gunfire and called the police. Then they shut down an investigation before it even started.”
Cody took a chair opposite her. “Only one person we know has the power to do this. Jeb, can you check your sources? Maybe you can get a bead on what happened.”
“That won’t be a problem. Do you think you hit either of them?” Jeb asked.
“I think so. They didn’t pursue us when we left.”
Jeb pulled out his phone and left the room.
“I wish I could tell you not to worry. We’ll call Reid when we get more information from Jeb.” Concerned washed over him. Lila appeared shell-shocked, but he’d been impressed that she tamped down her emotions when they were under fire. Now that the danger had dissipated her emotions appeared raw. He hated Lance and The Order for what they’d done to her.
Lila nodded and rubbed her eyes.
Cody’s heart lurched. She masked her concern and exhaustion well, but Cody knew fear had slithered in and wrapped its ugly tentacles around her. He understood more than he cared to admit. Her safety had always been his number one concern. This out–of-control situa
tion had him off-kilter, too. Memories of her being dragged away flooded his mind. No time for what-ifs or sad trips to the past, he had to gain some clarity in order to keep her safe. He’d hurt her, and the guilt of his actions would stay with him forever. The least he could do was keep her out of harm’s way.
Jeb returned. “Here’s what I discovered. Someone did report hearing shots. Two cruisers were dispatched. They didn’t find any bodies. If the gunmen were hit, they got away, but not before the house was ransacked. The investigation didn’t get far before the Chief shut it down. My source tells me the call came in via the Justice Department.” Jeb scratched his bald head. “Very strange.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.” Cody rubbed his chin.
“Did either of you get a look at the shooters?” Jeb asked while he stuffed snacks into a bag.
“It was too dark.” Lila folded and unfolded her hands in her lap.
Jeb glanced at his watch. “I have a case requiring surveillance tonight. Help yourselves to anything in the kitchen. Cody lived here for a few weeks before he moved into his house. He knows where everything is.” Jeb picked up a huge thermos, put his hat on, and headed for the door. “It’s good to see you again, Lila. Wish it was under different circumstances. Call me if you need anything.”
Cody reached for the phone.
Before he could punch in the number, Lila stood. “I need a minute.” She stalked to the bathroom. Seconds later Cody heard the rush of water. He cursed under his breath. I can’t screw this up.
Chapter 7
The sound of the gunshot rang Lila’s ears, piercing her insides as if she’d been shot. She turned and in front of her lay the recipient of the bullet. Blood oozed from a hole in her head as her long, blonde ponytail spiraled around her neck. Her pale eyes resembled the stillness of calm waters. The dead woman looked at her, a slight grin stamped on her face.
Mother.
* * *
Lila ripped away the covers and bolted up. Ragged breaths bounced off the shadowed walls as her body trembled. Where am I?
The still form of a man asleep in a chair across from her sent her pulse into overdrive. She jumped up and reached for her weapon. But she wasn’t at her home. Everything appeared wrong.
In seconds, the man was by her side. “Lila. It’s me. Cody.”
As her vision and memory cleared, she released a breath. “Cody.”
“We’re at Jeb’s house. Remember?” Cody gathered her in his arms. “You’re safe.”
A shudder traveled the length of her spine as the nightmarish images continued to play in her mind. Blood had seeped from the wound in her head and trailed down her face. Bright blonde hair the color of whipped butter had been stained with streaks of red.
Lila blinked, urging the image of the dead woman to vacate her head. Swallowing, she stared at Cody’s chest, his bare chest. Reality slammed into her and she skittered out of his arms. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I didn’t mean to…”
“To what? You had a nightmare. I know this isn’t the first time, and you’ve handled nightmares on your own, but I’m here now.” Cody’s eyes held a gentle softness.
She hated him more for looking at her like that. Turning away, she glanced at her watch. 4:16 a.m. “I need a shower.” Lila scooped up her bag and rushed out the door.
Sinking to the bathroom floor, Lila wrapped her arms around her knees and began to count backward from twenty, exhaling after each number. When she reached zero, her body continued to shake. With one more breath, she stood. She turned on the shower, then splashed water on her face at the sink. Standing in front of the mirror, she repeated, “I’m okay. Everyone’s safe.”
Steam swirled inside the bathroom. With the water as hot as she could stand, Lila stepped into the large claw-foot tub with a wall-mounted shower and stood under the spray as her thoughts drifted away from gory nightmares to Cody. Why had fate allowed them to meet at such a vulnerable time in her life? No one in the Alliance had warned her that Cody had moved to Dallas. Of course, whenever his name came up, she reminded them that she’d rather not know, unless the information was life or death. Scrubbing harder at her reddened skin, she cursed herself for allowing Cody to catch her with her defenses down. Fresh thoughts about Jack’s death had triggered a boatload of other crap floating in her head, which likely spurred this latest nightmare. Not that she needed much to trigger a nightmare.
Twenty minutes later, she entered the kitchen carrying her backpack and purse. The scent of coffee stirred her stomach.
“Good morning,” Cody said, turning away from the counter.
She felt his gaze sweep over her. In an instant, she was transported back to the days when Cody had been her world. They were in sync, enjoying their youth, love, and happy visions of the future. She loved the way he used to look at her. They had their own special language; generally, with one glance, she understood his thoughts.
Cody wore jeans and a Purdue T-shirt. Nothing fancy but Lila marveled at the finely sculpted man in front of her. She chewed her lip and forced the traitorous thoughts out of her head. Thankful she’d stuffed work clothes in her large backpack, she pulled at her pale blue blouse. Maybe the wrinkles would fall out.
She moved farther into the kitchen which appeared brighter and lacked the dark shadows from the night before. Light wooden cabinets juxtaposed against beige tiled floors created a calming atmosphere. On the edges of her mind, she considered that maybe being in Cody’s arms, even for a few seconds, had calmed her. Reaching into a cabinet, she found a travel mug and filled it with black coffee. “Thanks for making coffee. I need to get to work. The storm, power outage, and everything else put me behind.”
“They expect you to come in today?” Cody scratched his ear and pivoted toward her.
“Work never ends and we have important issues to discuss regarding Jack’s caseload. My job could be on the line.” She needed to keep her job, not only because she needed the salary, but also because the Alliance was counting on her.
“I’ve got to get to work, too. I’ll drop you off on my way. Jeb and I will go back for your car later.” He pulled opened a cabinet door before turning back to her. “If that’s okay with you.”
Lila yearned to be back in her own home with her own car in the garage. She didn’t do well being dependent on someone else. Jeb hadn’t returned so she couldn’t ask him for a ride. She considered calling Gia or her father but explaining how she ended up with Cody and staying overnight at Jeb’s didn’t appeal to her. Spilling that news when she hadn’t had time to sort through everything would only bring more anxiety. “That’s fine.” She expelled a sigh. “I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’m thankful for Jeb and for your help driving away those shooters. Alone, I might not have been successful.”
“You held your own. I was impressed.” Cody placed two pieces of bread into the toaster. “I don’t know how Lance found us but we’re obviously on his radar now, which means we need to be careful.”
“I will,” Lila sipped her coffee as the conversation stalled.
The toast popped up and Cody slathered the bread with butter. “I hadn’t intended to impede upon your life. Staying away from you had been my goal when I moved to Dallas.” He put the toast on a paper towel and turned toward her. “I always want the best for you. If there’s ever anything I can do…”
Lila’s heart lurched as electricity sparked. She nodded and held tight to her purse.
He stepped closer.
Happy memories flooded her as she detected the familiar scent of his soap. Half of her wanted to run toward him and the other half screamed for her to push him away.
“Lila, I’m sorry about…everything.”
She nodded. “We don’t need to go down that path. It’s all in the past.” She scooped up her bag and headed to the door.
A few minutes after six a.m., Lila arrived at the office, coffee in hand. On the way into the office, she’d glanced several times behind them but found nothing of concern lurkin
g. Despite the lack of bad guys, her nerves were still on edge.
When Cody pulled to the front of her building, he’d placed his hand on her arm. “Give me your phone.”
She cocked her head then handed the device over.
He added his cell to her contacts then returned the phone. “Call me if you need anything, see anyone weird, or need me to come back sooner than we agreed upon. Safety first. I added my work phone because you won’t be able to reach my cell while I’m inside.”
She furrowed her brows, then nodded, before exiting the car. The brief skin-to-skin contact had obliterated her nerves even more.
At this early hour, either the grunts were passed out at their desks or she would encounter an empty office. As she stepped off the elevator and onto the twenty-first floor, a quiet hush blanketed her. Jack’s parting instructions dominated her thoughts. You are in danger.
Security guards patrolled the building twenty-four hours a day, which offered some comfort. She passed the empty receptionist desk and angled to the right. Most of the first- and second-year associates were housed on the twenty-first and twenty-second floors. Senior associates and junior partners occupied the next two floors, while the senior partners occupied floors twenty-four and twenty-five. An accounting group, a brokerage firm, and several smaller businesses occupied the remainder of the twenty-five-story building.
She rushed through the empty hallways, passing attorney offices on the right with window views and support staff cubicles and offices on the left. Most attorneys left their doors open at night and so far, each open office she passed remained unoccupied. Lila bypassed the firm’s library, which all junior associates got to know well. Today, only a few lamps were lit, casting shadows on the empty space.
Order of Truth Page 4