Defending Sophie

by P. J. Fiala

  "You're truly a special person and I'm so glad you found me huddled outside of your bakery."

  She cut potatoes and told Gigi all that was going on in her life and to her credit, Gigi listened and asked minimal questions. And it felt good getting it all off her chest.

  "So, it seems you're wanted for murder. You're looking for a rapist and murderer of your friend Kate. The murderer is after you because he thinks you know who he is. Gaige's cousin is mixed up somehow and framed for the rape. The medical examiner was transferred. And Gaige and your ex-boyfriend met today. And the Army is looking for you for murder and being AWOL. Sweetheart, that's more than most people do in a lifetime. I think you're handling it all with amazing poise."

  Tears sprang to her eyes and she had to set the knife down so she didn't cut herself. The backdoor opened and Hawk filled the opening leaving little room to spare.

  "Damn, smells fucking amazing in here."

  Both women laughed and that felt wonderful. It had been a longtime.

  Chapter 37

  Setting his laptop on the bed, he dug through his duffle for a clean pair of pants, typical tactical black pants and a t-shirt. Hawk just got back and he had news to share.

  Snagging his phone off the bed, he tucked it into his back pocket as he walked out to the kitchen. Hawk stood next to Sophie at the counter, leaning his hip on the edge, a beer in his hand, and a smile on his face. Gigi laughed at something he'd said and Sophie's cheeks were bright pink. She had a pile of cut up potatoes in front of her along with a glass of wine.

  "The mood has definitely lightened in this house today. It feels good."

  Sophie turned to him, picking up the second glass of wine on the counter. She handed it to him, her cheeks flushed, her hair beginning to dry and curl in the most luscious way, swirling around her breasts, perfectly framing her fabulous nipples through the tank she wore. Turning to pick up her glass she turned back to him and tapped her glass to his. Hawk leaned forward and tapped his beer bottle to his wine glass, a smirk on his face.

  "What's so funny out here?"

  Hawk replied first, "We were just teasing Sophie about sharing her bedroom."

  Gaige chuckled. "Jealous. You're all jealous that I have the best roommate ever." He kissed her flaming red cheek, then turned to Gigi. "My God, you have the best smelling kitchen in the world." Looking at Hawk, then Sophie, he said, "If either of you ever tell Mrs. James or Kylie I said that, I'll deny it till my dying breath."

  "Who's Mrs. James and Kylie?" Sophie asked, a look of worry on her face.

  "They take care of us at the GHOST compound. Mrs. James does the majority of the cooking, does all of the laundry, housekeeping, packs our go bags, etc. Her daughter, Kylie does the cooking some days."

  "So, she spoils you." She and Gigi giggled and all he could do is shrug.

  "What's wrong with being spoiled? Plus, they get paid well."

  Hawk chimed in. "And, they get to hang with us every day."

  Sophie groaned. "Oh my Gawd. Gigi, grab a shovel, the shit's getting deep in here."

  Gigi giggled, "I'm on it."

  He laughed and it felt good to feel carefree for just a few moments. He loved that this side of Sophie was coming back. She'd always been so fun loving and happy. Her smile lit up the room.

  His phone rang and he grabbed it from his pocket, saw Tommy's name, and frowned. Tapping the answer icon, he responded, "Tommy, what's up?"

  He walked into the living room and sat on the sofa for a small amount of privacy, but also so the others could continue to joke around if they wanted.

  "Gaige, I just remembered something. It just flashed into my head while I was taking a shower. Kate and I went back to her apartment. I remember that now. We weren't drugged at the restaurant we were drugged at her apartment."

  "How do you know that?"

  "We got to her apartment and entered. Kate went to the kitchen to make us a drink and I was putting a movie into the DVD player. I heard Kate gasp and walked into the kitchen. There was a man in the kitchen, just staring at her. She looked scared and puzzled. She asked him what he wanted and how he got in and all he said was, "Sit down."

  We both sat at the table, he took his time picking up two drinks and bringing them to us, then leaned against the counter with his arms crossed.”

  "You just sat down and didn't say anything?"

  "I didn't know who he was. For all I knew Kate knew him, so I guess I was stunned and went along. She seemed a bit nervous, but she wasn't screaming or anything."

  "Who was he? What was his name? What did he look like?"

  Tommy went silent for a moment; he could hear him moving around but not saying anything. "Tommy?"

  He whispered, "Dad just got home and I have to be quiet. Listen, it's still so foggy. He didn't say who he was. After we sat down, I watched Kate's face and realized she knew him, but she wasn't happy about him being there. I thought he might be an ex or something. Someone with a key. He had light hair, super light and the creepiest ice blue eyes I've ever seen. Like they would glow in the dark or something. Sort of like that picture your friend showed me yesterday."

  "There aren't many people who look like that, Tommy. Was it him?"

  Sophie came back into the room and sat at the edge of the sofa. Her eyes were locked on his, clearly in tune to what was going on.

  "It's still fuzzy, Gaige, I hate these moments in time that are gone. I can't seem to fit it all together. I hate to accuse him if it wasn't him.

  "But if it was, Tommy, we've got to get him in custody."

  "That's all I remember right now. I've gotta go, Gaige. I'll call you if I remember more."

  “One more thing, why did you drink the drinks?”

  “He seemed evil. Cold, calculated and not someone who would just let us say no. Kate picked up her drink and took a small sip when he told us to drink up, so I did as well. It didn’t taste like anything was in it.”

  He heard a click. "Tommy?" No response. Gaige took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. What were they on, day three now? Or was it four?

  Hawk entered the living room and sat in one of the arm chairs. He quietly waited as Hawk does, but Sophie reached forward and lay her hand on his arm. "Gaige?"

  "Tommy remembered that they weren't drugged at the restaurant and that someone was in Kate's apartment when they got back there. Said he had ice blue eyes and white hair and told them to drink the drinks he had made, so he probably put the Versed in their drinks. I asked if it was the same guy in the picture Hawk showed him yesterday and he's reluctant to say for sure."

  Sophie sat straighter. "You mean Reed Killian?"

  Sophie sat back against the arm of the sofa, her right knee bent and her leg on the sofa between them. Laying her right elbow on the back of the sofa and resting her head in her right hand, she said, "He'd been after her."

  Looking into her troubled brown eyes, he asked, "How long has Killian been on base here?"

  She shrugged, "I'd have to look at the roster, but maybe a year or so."

  "Do you know where he was before that?"

  Sadly shaking her head sideways, she stared at him.

  "Hawk, call GHOST and ask Wyatt or Josh to look further into Killian's record. Where has he been and for how long."

  The gentle giant walked to his bedroom and he watched Sophie's face. Concentration, certainly, but maybe a bit of lost hope, too. "Don't worry, Soph, we'll get him."

  His phone rang again. Seeing Jared Timm's name on the read out, he hoped this would be some good news on the Balfreed records. "Jared, tell me something good."

  Chapter 38

  She listened as Gaige talked to Jared, whoever that was. It seemed he was with GHOST or affiliated somehow. Hawk was in the other room getting records run on Killian and she felt unable to help herself. Kate was murdered, 'cause that's what it was, no way she killed herself. She'd never believe it. She and Kate had been trying to figure out how to prove that Tommy had raped Kate to get around all the stone
walling they were getting from CID. Now, she doubted Tommy did it, because honestly would a rapist stay the night with a woman he'd raped? Why hadn't they seen this before? It really made no sense.

  Oh. My. God. She sat up straight, and Gaige's eyes snapped to her. She just remembered. He sat up straighter and stared at her, his brows furrowing.

  She whispered. "Does GHOST have someone who can get into Kate's old phone records?"

  Gaige nodded, "Can you get into Kate's phone records?"

  Pulling his phone away from his ear, he asked, "What's he looking for, Soph?"

  "Kate received an anonymous text from someone, who told her to look at Killian. That was it. Nothing else and she thought it was Killian trying to get her to go out with him. Look at Killian. She'd always tried ignoring him because he creeped her out. But maybe that person meant to look at him for her rape."

  "Did you hear that?"

  Gaige gave her a thumbs up and listened to Jared's end of the conversation.

  Too edgy to sit, she got up and went to the bedroom. Picking up her new phone. Actually, GHOST's new phone. Gaige had insisted for the time being it be in GHOST's name so no one could track her with it, but it was hers to use for now. Whatever happened when this was all over would determine if she needed to once again get another phone. But, she picked it up to see the download was still only at 73%. It seemed to be taking forever. Needing something to do until some of their information came through she picked up their laundry, cut through the bathroom to Hawk's room and found him sitting up on his bed much as Gaige had been doing not long ago in their room. He looked up at her when she entered and her cheeks flamed bright red.

  "Sorry. I just need to burn off some steam so I thought I'd do laundry. Do you have clothes I can wash with ours?"

  "You don't have to do my laundry, Sophie."

  "I didn't say I had to, I said I had to burn off some steam. I'm offering."

  He seemed undecided if he should let her do his laundry or not and it became uncomfortable. "Are you afraid I'll mix up your underwear or turn them pink?"

  He laughed then and she'd be dead not to notice how attractive he was. He usually hid his feelings, he was always so stalwart and quiet, so his laugh was truly nice. Plus, shit, he was scorching hot. Badass. You name it, he had it. Just not her heart that had always belonged to Gaige. Even JJ felt that.

  "Knock yourself out, Soph. I've got my dirty clothes in that basket over by the dresser."

  She smiled back at him, walked to the basket and pulled his worn clothing from the basket and mingled it with theirs. She left the room without another word as he was already back to typing on his laptop. Weirdly quiet, that one was.

  Gigi was still puttering in the kitchen humming again, but now she was frosting a cake. You'd think she'd be sick of baking after spending the day in a bakery, but here she was, cooking and baking for them all. She'd find a way to repay Gigi no matter how long it took her. She was one in a million.

  Walking to the laundry room, she sorted their clothing, tossing the light clothes in the washer, the dark clothes on the floor, to go back into the basket until it was their turn to be washed. Adding a soap pod and closing the door, she pushed the button, turned the knob and pushed the start button. Hearing the washer lock she tossed the dark clothing into the basket and tucked it alongside the washer so no one tripped on it. Turning she stopped in her tracks as Gaige filled the doorway, his right shoulder leaning against the frame. His gaze was intense and goosebumps raced along her arms.

  "Hi." She squeaked out.

  His full sensual lips curved into a beautiful smile, his eyes never left hers. "I love watching you, Sophie. I feel like I've waited a lifetime to just be in your presence. Watching you do mundane chores like our laundry does weird things to me."

  Taking the few steps to stand in front of him, she brushed her fingers along his forehead. It was a stretch for her, the man was tall, but his face always held such intensity, it seldom relaxed as it did now. Running a dangerous operation where the team put their lives on the line every day and keeping all the balls in the air must be a monumental task. Doing it well, was an even bigger one.

  Her fingers trailed along his temple to his cheek, where she then cupped her hand and held him there. Her thumb brushed along his bottom lip softly, and he held perfectly still, his eyes locked on hers. Standing on her toes, she lightly touched her lips to his, a feather soft kiss. Just one. Then her arms wrapped around his waist, and she stood there laying her head on his chest. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and squeezed her to him, his head rested on top of hers and she closed her eyes. No feeling in the world would ever beat this feeling. Her heart told her this was love. Her head told her not to go too fast. Her body said, rip your clothes off and ride'em cowgirl.

  "Gaige, I've got records."

  Chapter 39

  His voice was gruff when he responded to Hawk. "We'll be right there."

  Kissing the top of her head, he softly said, "Duty calls, Soph."

  His heart pounded when she squeezed him tightly to her before stepping back. His fingers began shaking as he placed them under her chin, bringing her eyes up to his. "When this is over, Sophie, you and I, we'll go away for a week of R&R with nothing to do but enjoy ourselves and make love. Deal?"

  "Deal." Her eyes glistened and he felt as though he hit a nerve or something, but no time to talk about it now. They'd have time. This time he wasn't just walking away and he wasn't letting her walk away either.

  Holding his hand out for hers, he allowed himself a minute to enjoy the feel of her hand in his. The size difference was both amazing and exciting, and he wanted that feeling for the rest of his life. Entering the living room, Hawk had pulled down the desk, set up their portable printer, and was printing out reports. The hum of the printer and Gigi's humming were the only sounds in the house right now. The aromas of dinner and a freshly baked cake swirled around his head and he admitted he was beginning to get hungry.

  "What do you have, Hawk?"

  "So, here's a list of all of the bases Killian has been at during his career. He moves 'round a bit, not totally uncommon, but I'd say more than the average soldier."

  He turned the list for them to see and the list filled a page and a half. Twenty-four years in the service and the man had been stationed at eighteen different bases.

  "So, here's what we need to do now. I don't know if you heard Sophie before when she mentioned the anonymous text Kate received but, thinking as Sophie, perhaps Killian is the rapist, and piecing in the rest, I'd say he's raped someone else. Maybe someone else at another base was raped and was either afraid to say anything or did and was stonewalled just like Kate and Sophie were. So, we need to find out how many other rapes were reported during the times Killian was at these different bases."

  "Oh my God. Do you think that's why he's moved around so much?" Sophie's face drained of color and he held her close and pulled the desk chair out for her to sit on.

  "We need to find out." He looked at the list and drew lines after every five bases. "You take the top five. I'll take the next five. Soph, your phone should be ready in a few minutes, using that to access the internet and our clearance with the military, you take the third five. That leaves three and I'll text them to Dodge and Jax. Let's research the fuck out of this." He went into the bedroom and grabbed his laptop and Sophie's phone. The update was complete, so he unplugged it and handed it to her.

  "You're good to go."

  She smiled, so brightly, he thought the sun would be jealous if it saw her. He leaned down and kissed her soft lips, then stood and walked to the sofa with his laptop. "Let's crack this bitch. If we can nail down evidence to prove Killian is our rapist, we can put him behind bars where he'll never destroy another soul and clear Tommy. Then, we should also be able to link him to the Fentanyl that killed Chet. And the lorazepam that killed Kate.”

  Sophie's voice was quiet when she called him. "Gaige?"

  He turned to look at her. Her shapel
y legs looked fantastic. The little denim shorts she wore fit almost as if they'd been made for her. Her cute little toes wiggled around as her right leg swung to and fro perched on top of her left leg. When women crossed their legs it was sexy, when Sophie did it, it was unbelievably sexy. No lie.

  His eyes rolled from her toes to her face and the smile she wore told him she'd seen the whole thing.

  "Did Jared find out anything about Balfreed?"

  "No, he'd run into a problem and wanted to know what GHOST's budget was. I told him we didn't have one right now."

  "Gaige, please don't run into huge expenses for me." The look of dread on her face was heartbreaking.

  Hawk chuckled. "He can afford it."

  “But, I don't know how or when I'll be able to pay you back. I'm so screwed right now it'll take..."

  He held up his hand to stave off any further complaint from her. "I told you not to worry about it." He looked at his laptop again and continued to search rape complaints at bases. "Research." He told her when he could see her still watching him.

  "Dinner's ready, come on in."

  Closing the lid on his laptop, he stood, set it on the desk and held his hand out for Sophie. Hawk stood, chuckled, and moved past them to the kitchen. Following closely behind, he was surprised to see the table set and laden with food. Drinks were set at each place setting. Wine for he and Sophie, beer for Hawk and a mixed drink for Gigi.

  "I hope you don't mind that I guessed at the drinks, and you can certainly have something else if you like, but I wanted to fuss a bit."

  "Gigi, you're spoiling us."

  "Yes, I hope you feel that way. Having you all here has made me realize that I love being around people again. Sure I have the occasional battered woman show up at the bakery due to the spread of word through those who I've helped in the past, but I don't often have them come out here to stay with me. I miss having people to take care of and just the noise of people in the house again makes me so darned happy. So, I've made a decision and you're the first people I'm telling."