Then he turned back to Bullet, only to come to a stop. There was no way he could get back in the saddle without a mounting block. The lights from the house twinkled in the distance. It was going to be a very long walk.
He grabbed Bullet’s reins and led him a few feet. The horse stopped and looked at him. If Mitch didn’t know better, he could swear the horse was telling him he was an idiot.
“Don’t look at me like I’m stupid,” he said. “I’m the higher mammal here.”
Bullet shook his head. Mitch could swear he also rolled his eyes. Then he carefully lowered himself to the ground, crouching like a camel.
Mitch stared at him. “You’re kidding,” he muttered. “Why didn’t anyone tell me you could do that?”
He settled on the saddle, hung on and Bullet struggled to his feet. When he was standing, Mitch patted his shoulder.
“I owe you, big guy. Oats for you, tonight.”
Bullet turned his head and glanced at him, then headed for the ranch.
The house was in silhouette, a pretty place with welcoming lights. He could see Fidela moving in the kitchen. Arturo would be in his office or watching TV. It was a simple life, but it was his. For the first time in years, Mitch knew that he was home.
SKYE FINGERED the letter on her desk. “I wish you’d reconsider,” she told Marianne. “We’ve done such good work together. You’re an important part of what we do here.”
Marianne coordinated all the local fund-raisers for the foundation and provided support for those interested in learning how to raise money to feed children.
She was barely thirty, with a new husband and a burning desire to make a difference.
“I appreciate the opportunities I’ve had here,” Marianne said, not meeting Skye’s gaze. “You’ve been really nice to work for and I really like all the people. I just feel it’s time for me to make a change.”
The last words were barely a mumble. If Skye hadn’t been listening intently, she wouldn’t have heard them. But she got the message and knew what it meant.
“Marianne, I swear to you, no senior staff has ever been paid a bonus and I have not taken a penny from this foundation. I don’t even get a salary. That information is someone’s idea of a bad practical joke. Trisha and our computer guys are working on solving the problem. We’ll find what’s wrong and fix it. Can’t you give me a few more weeks? Haven’t I earned your trust that much?”
She hated to beg, but in the past week, she’d already lost three good people.
“I have another offer,” Marianne told her. “I start Monday. It’s a smaller place and I won’t make as much, but it’s exciting and…”
“And you won’t have to worry about your reputation,” Skye said, trying not to sound bitter. “I understand.”
In Marianne’s position, she would probably do the same thing. Why not? Until Skye could prove her innocence, no one had any reason to believe her.
“I wish you the best,” Skye told her. “If things don’t work out at your new job, you’re always welcome back here.”
Marianne looked doubtful, as if she couldn’t imagine wanting to return. Skye hoped that when the truth finally came out, she could salvage her reputation, but she wasn’t sure. Garth had done some serious damage here.
Marianne left. Skye turned her chair so she could see out the window and wished she knew how to make things better. Where exactly had everything gone so wrong? At what moment had Garth decided to start his plan? Could he be stopped?
Her door burst open and a tall, geeky-looking guy stumbled into the room. His glasses hung halfway down his nose; his hair stuck up in fifteen directions and his clothes had a serious slept-in look.
“I found it,” he announced with great pride. “I found it. I’ve been staying up all night and I wasn’t sure I could, but I did.” He paused, expectantly.
Skye stood. “Who are you?”
“Leonard.” He pushed up his glasses. “I work in IT. I found where the breach is in the firewall. It’s pretty slick.” He said a bunch of stuff that didn’t sound like any language she’d ever heard.
Skye raised her hands in the shape of a T. “Okay, Leonard. Talk more slowly and to those of us who barely know where the on button is on our computer.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry.” He smiled. “I got a little excited. The guy got through the firewall by piggybacking on another program that we let in all the time. It’s very complicated. A lot of work went into this. Once the Trojan horse got in, it went to work, opening up an easier access, then covered its tracks. So basically whoever is doing this can see everything we do online. Putting in a second set of books was a snap.” He grinned at her.
It took her a second to absorb the information. “Can you stop it?”
“Sure, but I can do one better. I can send a program back that will start to capture information there. That way we can figure out who did this.”
“Will it be legal proof?”
Leonard shifted uncomfortably. “Um, no. Tapping into someone’s computer without a warrant isn’t legal. But it would give you a place to start.”
“I already have an idea of who’s paying the guy,” she said. “I just don’t know who’s cashing the checks and doing the actual work. How illegal is it?”
“I don’t know.”
Skye didn’t, either. She didn’t want Leonard or herself going to jail, but she was tired of Garth being one step ahead of her.
“If we found out who was doing this, we could stop him, right?” she asked.
“Yes,” Leonard told her.
“Give me a second.” She grabbed the phone and dialed from memory.
“Why are you calling me at work?” Dana said by way of greeting. “Is this an emergency? Did you mean to call nine-one-one?”
“Is tapping into someone’s computer really illegal or only a little bad? I mean are we talking about a slap on the wrist or time as Bubba’s love slave?”
“You’d be in a women’s facility, so you wouldn’t know Bubba and I can’t believe you asked me that,” Dana said. “Don’t ask me about illegal stuff. I do not want to arrest my friend.”
“I have a computer genius standing in my office. He found out how Garth got into my system and can send a program back that will help us identify who he used to hack in and where he is.”
There was a long pause. “Skye, don’t ask me this. I’m serious. I love you, but I’m not breaking the law for you. And I’m not helping you do it, either. So just stop. We’ll get Garth another way.”
“I had a feeling you were going to say that. Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
Dana hung up and Skye did the same.
“Leonard, I can’t ask you to do this. It’s illegal and I have no idea how much trouble we’d be in. You don’t want to be a part of that.”
He looked disappointed. “Yes, ma’am,” he said. “If you change your mind, let me know.”
“I will.”
He left.
Skye sat at her desk and wished they didn’t have to be the good guys. Life would be much easier to handle if they had the same lack of concern for the law Garth showed.
Her phone rang. “Dana, tell me you’ve had a change of heart,” she said as she picked up the receiver.
“Skye Titan?” a man asked.
She could barely hear him. There was a horrible loud rushing sound in the background. “Yes.”
“This is Daryl Green. I work with Izzy on the rig. There’s been an explosion. Izzy’s hurt. She’s in a helicopter right now, heading for Dallas.”
Skye stopped breathing. “Hurt? What happened?”
“We don’t know what happened yet. There was a flash and then it all went to hell. She’s alive. I know that much.” He gave her the name of the hospital and then hung up.
Skye felt sick and scared and frantic. Izzy hurt? An explosion? That had to be bad. What if it was serious? What if she died?
Her fingers shook as she reached for her purse and keys. She had to get to the hospita
l so she was there when Izzy arrived. She had to tell Lexi and their father. She had to ask Fidela to pick up Erin at the bus stop.
Izzy, she thought as she hurried to the door. Izzy who had believed she was safe from Garth. That she had nothing to lose.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
LEXI WAS ALREADY at the hospital when Skye arrived. They hugged in the hallway.
“What do you know?” Skye asked.
“Nothing. She’s in surgery. I can’t get anyone to talk to me.” Lexi looked pale and upset. “I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe she’s hurt.”
Skye held her close. She wanted to cry, but there weren’t any tears. Just guilt. Somehow this was her fault. If she hadn’t fought with Izzy over something totally ridiculous, none of this would have happened.
The familiar hospital smells reminded her of Ray’s last days, and standing there was too much like the endless waiting she’d endured.
“She can’t die,” Skye breathed. Not Izzy. Not like this.
Rapid footsteps made her look up. Dana hurried toward them.
“How is she?” she demanded. “What are they doing?”
Both Lexi and Skye looked at her. “We don’t know,” Lexi said. “The doctors aren’t—”
“Fine. I’ll get information. You two sit down. What about Jed. Has anyone told him?”
“I left a message on his cell and with his assistant,” Skye said, feeling stunned by everything. She couldn’t think. Too much had happened too fast. She couldn’t catch her breath. “I’ll keep calling.”
Dana led them to chairs. “Sit,” she instructed. “I’ll be right back.”
Skye and Lexi sank down, then Skye sprang up and started to pace. “We have to do something. It’s Izzy.”
“I know.” Lexi’s eyes filled with tears. “What if she…”
“No!” Skye said. “She’ll be fine. She’s our sister and she’ll be fine.” If she wasn’t, Skye would take out Garth. She didn’t know when or how, but she would leave him broken and bleeding on the side of the road. Nobody messed with her sister.
Dana returned a few minutes later. “She’s still in surgery. They should be finished within the hour. Her vitals are strong and she doesn’t appear to have any internal injuries. There are a few burns from the explosion. We’ll know more when they’re done.”
Lexi stared at her. “How did you get them to talk to you?”
Dana pointed to herself. “The uniform helps.”
Skye hadn’t even noticed Dana was dressed for work.
“Whatever it takes,” Lexi murmured.
“Is Cruz coming?” Dana asked.
Lexi nodded.
“Good. We’re going to check to see if he’s here,” Dana said. “Lexi, sit here and rest. We’ll be right back.”
Skye glanced back at her sister as they made their way down the hallway. “Do you think she’s all right, with the baby and all? This is a shock and that can’t be good.”
“Lexi is strong. Once Cruz gets here, he’ll fuss and that will help. How are you holding up?”
“I’m not. This is my fault.”
Dana rolled her eyes. “Don’t be an idiot. Garth paid some asshole to blow up an oil rig. Nothing about that is your fault.”
“We fought.”
“And if you hadn’t fought Garth wouldn’t have made this happen?”
Skye rubbed her temples. “Oh, sure. Use logic. That’s fair. Okay. Technically, this isn’t my fault, but I feel guilty. How’s that?”
“Better.” Dana glanced around, as if making sure they were alone. “Do you have the name and number of the computer guy? The one who could get into Garth’s system?”
“Sure. Leonard. I have his number at work. Why?”
“As soon as Cruz gets here to take care of Lexi, I want you to give me the number.” Dana’s eyes blazed with fury. “No one hurts one of my friends and gets away with it. Garth crossed the line with this and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t hurt you guys again.”
Skye felt weary. “Dana, no. You’re a deputy. You can’t break the law.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have more to lose.”
“Izzy is like a sister to me. I could have lost her today. It doesn’t get worse than that. Give me the number. If anyone asks, tell them I thought he was hot and wanted to ask him out.”
Skye hugged her friend. Dana held on tight.
“We’ll get through this,” Skye murmured. “I swear we will.”
“I know. And when Izzy’s all better, we’ll make Garth sorry he was ever born.”
“I can’t wait.”
“I swear to you, Skye, I will personally arrest Garth Duncan and throw his ass in jail.”
“I believe you.”
IT WAS NEARLY TWO in the morning when Skye left the hospital. She drove to the Cassidy Ranch to collect Erin. Earlier, she’d spoken briefly with her daughter, who was concerned about her aunt but also having lots of fun with Fidela, Arturo and Mitch.
She parked in front of the house. The porch light was on, as was a lamp in the front room. The door opened before she’d made it to the porch.
Mitch stood there, looking strong and capable. She’d been unable to cry at the hospital but the second she saw him, she felt the tears on her cheeks. She flew across the grass and launched herself at him.
He caught her and held on as if he would never let go.
“He could have killed her,” she said with a sob. “She might be dead now.”
Mitch kissed her forehead. When she straightened, he pushed the hair from her face and wiped her cheeks.
“But he didn’t,” he said. “She’s okay, right?”
Skye gulped then nodded, feeling better in his arms. Knowing Mitch was with her meant she didn’t have to be strong all on her own. She could lean on him a little. “It could be a lot worse. She has a lot of bruises, a few burns. Nothing’s broken. But…” She stared at him. “She might be blind.”
Mitch swore. “Are they sure?”
“Not yet. They say she’s going to have to do some healing. In a few days we should know more. But the doctors made it clear it was a serious possibility.”
Mitch put his arm around her and led her inside. She collapsed on the sofa and covered her face. “This is Izzy. She’s so full of life. She loves adventure. She can’t be blind. How can she go cave diving if she’s blind? How can she swim with sharks and all that other stupid stuff she does?”
“You don’t know she’s blind yet,” Mitch said, settling next to her and putting his arm around her shoulders.
“I know, but what if she is? What if she’s never okay?”
He didn’t answer. The truth was if she was blind, Izzy would deal. She would figure it out, make a life for herself and move on. That’s what people did. Sure, a few got stuck in self-pity but eventually even that got boring. Not anything Skye needed to hear right now.
She leaned against him. “I have to be strong. I have to get it together. Izzy needs me. What have I got to cry about?”
“A lot and you don’t have to be strong tonight. I’ll handle things.”
“Erin will want to know Izzy’s okay.”
“It’s nearly three in the morning, Skye. She’s a kid. Let her sleep. You can pick her up in the morning. Or better yet, stay here.”
She sniffed. “Is she okay?”
“She was worried, but we kept her distracted. Fidela read to her until she fell asleep.”
“Think that would work for me?”
“We can try it if you want.”
“Thanks, but I need to get home.”
“No, you don’t.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. You can sleep in the second guest room. That way you’ll be here when Erin wakes up. You’ll both feel better being in the same house.”
She hesitated, then nodded. He led her upstairs. He wanted to take her to his room, not to make love with her, but to hold her. He wanted to put his arms around her an
d physically keep her safe. But there was Erin to think about. If Skye’s daughter woke up before them, it would confuse her to find her mom in his bed. So he kept going to the end of the hall and pushed open the door.
She stepped inside, then turned back to him. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”
He kissed her forehead. “Try to sleep. If you need anything, I’m across the hall. The bathroom is through there.” He pointed to the door to the right.
“Okay, thanks.”
He pulled the door nearly closed, then went into his room. Once there, he crossed to the window and stared out at the night. Garth had to be stopped. This had gone too far. Without evidence, the police couldn’t make a move so it was up to him.
THE MAIN OFFICES for Cruz Control were done in red and black. All the artwork reflected the car theme and racing stripes led the way down the hall.
Mitch sat in Cruz’s office, where car parts battled for space with every car magazine known to man.
“The local police are reluctant to get involved,” Mitch told Cruz. “The explosion was in international waters and the oil rig is owned by a British company.”
“Are they still considering what happened at Skye’s party a prank?”
Mitch nodded. He’d spent a frustrating morning speaking with a detective who had been sympathetic but unhelpful. “Without definitive proof that Garth is determined to bring down the family, the events are all unrelated and seemingly random. Rumors aren’t against the law.”
“It’s more than rumors,” Cruz said, sounding angry. “What about doping Jed’s horses and the lawsuit against Lexi?”
“Wasn’t that dropped?”
“Yes, but that isn’t the point.”
“It is to them. Dana will do all she can, but we’re pretty much on our own.”
“You have a plan?” Cruz asked.
“Yes.”
“Then consider me your partner in crime,” Cruz said, his voice determined.
“Agreed.”
Lip Service Page 21