Babette squirmed in her arms, trying her best to jump up onto Kurt’s arm that rested on the console. She’d seen Babette try hard to get close to Grandpa in the same way. She’d read that cats could be good judges of character. Some cats also seemed to zero in on emotions and especially feel drawn to someone who needs love and affection. Were Grandpa and Kurt both in more need of comfort than she was?
She gave him directions on how to get to the vet, and it took only a few minutes to run Babette in to the welcoming staff. “We have something to show you when you come back,” the technician hollered after her. Rebecca didn’t have time to look at new collars. Babette wasn’t even her cat. She waved her thanks and joined Kurt, who was waiting at the front door, ever alert.
He drove through the main portion of Coeur d’Alene with its cute specialty shops the tourists and locals alike loved, including All Things Irish, Christmas at the Lake and Mrs. Honeypeeps Sweet Shop. She leaned forward. “Maybe we should stop at Exclusively Wigs and Things. If no one can recognize me, maybe the danger will stop.”
He gave her a side glance. “I hate it to break it to you, but a wig isn’t going to make people forget you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
His neck reddened and his lips pressed together to make a firm line. He kept his eyes firmly on the road. “Some people,” he said very slowly, “are memorable once you see their face. It wouldn’t matter what their hair looked like because they’re different enough that you could spot them out of a crowd by their eyes or their smile or something.”
Reading between the lines, she wondered if he was trying to say she was pretty or the opposite. “Does that observation warrant a thank-you?”
He barked a laugh and his shoulders relaxed. “It was a compliment. But, moving on, we need to get to our safe location to plan the next move.”
“I hate planning.”
“Why?”
“I prefer to live in the moment.”
“We share that in common, but that doesn’t negate planning.”
She held her hand out as if it was going to chop something. “You look at the facts and make a choice. Boom. No plan needed. Contingencies just take extra time when there isn’t any reason. Grandma liked to quote Bible verses all the time. And she had one hanging up that said planning and boasting about what you’re going to do today or tomorrow is useless when you have no idea what tomorrow will bring.”
Kurt scratched his chin as if the stubble starting to appear was bothering him. The five-o’clock shadow looked good on him. “I know that one,” he said. “But it doesn’t say plans are bad, it’s saying it’s foolish to be concrete and arrogant about your plans. The point is to be sensitive to what the Lord has in store for you. Even the apostles planned. I could be wrong, but I think Proverbs calls people who don’t prepare sluggards.”
For some reason it didn’t feel awkward to discuss scriptures with him, but he seemed to appreciate healthy discussion. He proved to be an intelligent man, versed in many subjects. She wondered if he was a believer, as well, but knowing some scriptures didn’t necessarily mean anything.
The storefronts, houses and landscaping morphed into barbed-wire fences and fields, some littered with old cars slated for junkyards. What motel could be this far on the outskirts of town? There would be absolutely no view of the lake the way the road curved. “You had plans go wrong before, right? When even contingencies didn’t work?”
“Sure. So, I evaluated my choices and made new plans. Are you telling me you didn’t have any plans? How’d you end up as an accountant?”
She shrugged. “My dad’s research found it was the safest career, both monetarily and dangerwise.”
“But then you took a position that took you everywhere around the country.” He laughed. “I’ll take a guess that wasn’t what he imagined for you.”
Fair point, but she didn’t comment on that aspect. “It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. I see the insides of hotels, cubicles and conference rooms more than the adventures I imagined.” She shook her head. How’d he turn the conversation back to her? “The point is that sitting and talking about what you might and might not do does nothing. Like now, for instance. You’re saying it’s not the best idea to go to Ohio. Fine. I’ll agree to that, but then what am I supposed to do? I think we should turn around and go back to the corporate offices right now. Make something happen.”
“I prefer action, too, Rebecca.” He glanced at her. “But you’re wrong about one thing. We’re not sitting around. We’re making sure you’re safe and regrouping so that we can make a smart next step.”
She slumped into her seat. “Hear me out. We go back to the offices. This time, you flash your badge. I’m sure we could get in and find the missing link. It has to point to whoever killed Levi and targeted me.”
“Believe it or not, I’ve already been thinking about it. But we need to do it the right way. It’s clear they don’t want you there anymore, or the CEO would’ve called you back.”
“Yeah, that’s suspicious.”
“We need a warrant.” He flipped on his blinker.
They passed one more tree and he turned into a small driveway that led to a dilapidated pink building. Six doors and six windows lined the front with a vending machine, which looked as if it hadn’t been stocked in years, in the middle. A pool, barely bigger than a hot tub, covered in a thick layer of mildewed leaves, sat to the right of the parking lot. She gulped. “Well, I can guarantee no one would ever think of looking for me here.”
He glanced at her apologetically. “Delaney booked us two rooms. I’ll stay with you in the day, and she’ll stay in your room with you at night while I’m next door. There are no connecting rooms, unfortunately.”
It had to be the cheapest motel in the entire tristate area. And if the rooms looked anything like the outside, she might let Delaney sleep while she kept a lookout. She’d done all-nighters all the time in college and survived by taking naps during the day. She could do it again, though now, if she stayed up past midnight, she got nauseous from being overtired, a lovely byproduct of growing up. “What if I chipped in some extra money so we could stay somewhere a little nicer?”
He shifted the SUV into Park directly in front of the motel office. “Money isn’t the issue.” He shook his head. “Okay, it’s part of the issue, but the point is that we’re out of the way and in a clearing. The Sheriff’s Office is only two more minutes down the road for backup. Stay here, and I’ll grab the keys.”
“No one but Delaney knows we’re here. Can I stay with you?” She bit her lip and hated to admit that after the day she’d had she was scared to be left alone.
His forehead creased for a moment. “Fine.” He hopped out of the vehicle and let her out. She didn’t need his hand, but she took it anyway, and the warmth traveled up her arm yet again. A girl could get used to that. She followed him into the office.
A tall man wore soundproof headphones while he moved his head back and forth in rhythm. His head was barely visible over the cheap countertop desk so she couldn’t see what he was doing. Kurt held a hand out and peeked his head over.
The man jolted. His entire body shook so hard his headphones slipped off this head and he reared back. “Man, don’t sneak up on someone like that.” He stood and held a hand over his heart. “I was at the end of a level.” He glanced at Rebecca and did a double take. “Hey, don’t I know you?”
Kurt’s frown deepened. “I doubt it. She’s from out of town.”
If he recognized her, did that mean the media had picked up the story? Except his tall, gangly appearance seemed familiar to her, as well. His name tag was crooked on the red polo he wore. “Elijah Holmes?”
“Yeah, you remember me!”
Actually she knew it from his name tag, but she did remember that they’d gone to summer camp once together back when her dad had let her visit in the summers. He’d been a ga
ngly boy back then, as well, and had told everyone he was related to Sherlock Holmes.
She reached over the countertop and gave him a half hug before straightening. “Great to see you. How are you?”
“Well, I got fired from the resort and I’m working here, so you figure it out. Checking in?”
Ah. Kurt’s neck had returned to the red hue she’d grown accustomed to, only this time she could see the strong muscles and tendons surrounding it. Kurt held up a hand. “Excuse us for a moment, Elijah.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Do we know each other, too?”
Kurt raised an eyebrow. “I just heard her use your name, and it’s on your shirt.” He put a hand on Rebecca’s back and led her outside to the sidewalk. “We can’t stay here.”
She pumped her fist in mock celebration. “Yes. Can I ask why? Is it because he recognized me?” She shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t need to know. I’m not arguing. Let’s go.”
His lips moved to one side. “That’s a first.”
She playfully smacked his side. “It’s called having an opinion.”
“Elijah knows who you are and has seen you. We can’t trust he won’t let it leak to the wrong person.” He led her to the SUV and opened the door. “So you know each other?”
She hopped in and reached for the inside handle, but Kurt made no movement to leave. “We were friends. We went to summer camp together once. Decades ago. I remembered him because of his unusual name.”
“Doesn’t seem that unusual to me.”
“It was his last name. Reminded me of Sherlock, and I was really into mysteries back then.”
“You hung out together?”
“Well, no. But we were both there.”
“See? A wig wouldn’t help. You’re very memorable. How many years ago was that anyway?”
“I’d rather not think about just how many years. It was in junior high, though.”
His lips curved. “You weren’t friends. By your description, I’d hardly even call it acquaintances.”
“Does that matter?”
“Not today.” He closed the door and walked around the SUV, leaving her wondering what he meant.
* * *
Maybe she hugged people often and considered everyone “friends.” Even the kind she’d met only once that should really be called acquaintances. It shouldn’t bother him. He wasn’t jealous of the guy. Her tendency toward outward affection meant that the way she’d curled up against him earlier probably hadn’t meant anything.
Rebecca was a people person, a trait he admired but didn’t share or fully understand. Those types were often mistaken for flirts when, really, they were just being friendly. He exhaled and opened his side of the vehicle.
“Did I do something to offend you?”
Kurt should’ve known to rein in his last little comment. The woman would address any issue head-on, except of course, her family’s rule about fraternizing with law enforcement. He could probably gather statistics to show that she’d actually be safer if she had a relationship with someone in his line of work. Not that he had any motivation to do so. “I’m annoyed with the situation.”
She crossed her arms. “And not with me?”
He had no reason to be upset with her. So why wouldn’t that nagging feeling go away? The answer came immediately. He wanted her to like him, to be falling for him. Add it to the long list of frustrations. God could’ve chosen to keep him from breaking his ankle—a moment that forever changed the way his friends and father viewed him—and ruining his chances at a scholarship and professional baseball. He believed and trusted in Him but sometimes wondered if the big guy upstairs was disappointed with him. Or maybe it was the other way around, something he wasn’t ready to admit.
“Where to next?” she asked.
That was the question of the day. “I guess I can take you to my home, only until we can arrange other accommodations for the night.”
“Good. I’ll get to learn about the man behind the badge.”
She really needed to stop looking at people with adoring hazel eyes. “What you see is what you get.”
Her smile faded. “Of course.”
His phone buzzed. “Deputy Marshal Brock.”
“Detective Hall from the Sheriff’s Office.”
“Detective, I’m really hoping you have some good news to share.”
“Unfortunately there are no spreadsheets or financial documents to be found on Mr. Garner’s cloud account.”
Kurt hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. Why couldn’t at least one thing go right, Lord? It’s not as if You can’t make it happen. Kurt knew God wasn’t a butler in the sky waiting to take his orders, but he didn’t understand why things were so hard to accomplish that seemed like they should be squarely in His will.
In his periphery, Rebecca leaned over, trying to get his attention. She had her eyebrows raised and he noticed the question in her eyes. Kurt gave a small shake of the head. Her face fell and her shoulders drooped.
The interchange alone sent him for a loop. He never communicated with someone with such little effort and yet they’d understood each other. It didn’t matter, though. No time to reflect on his newfound expertise in body language. “So we’re back to square one. No leads,” Kurt replied into the phone.
“On the contrary. Tell Miss Linn her hunch was right on the money. There was pertinent information on the gaming console. We accessed an app that contained Levi Garner’s personal email account. He sent an email a few days ago to his sister, who apparently was also his real-estate agent. I can send you the email now. I’m wondering if this gives Miss Linn clarity on what happened.”
Kurt pulled over to the side of the road as his phone vibrated. “I’ll call you back as soon as I have her read it.”
He tapped until the email produced the file in question. Rebecca unbuckled her seat belt and leaned over, unwilling to wait for him to read it first before he passed it on.
...shady stuff going on. Found something that to the untrained eye wouldn’t mean a thing. I did the math, though, and it’s bad. It’s probably my imagination, but I think they’re watching me. I might not be able to wait to sell the land before I get out of here. I think it’d be best to go off the grid for a bit. What do I need to do to leave the property in your hands?
Rebecca’s eyes were wide and her hand covered her mouth. Kurt scrolled down to see the sister’s answer.
Can’t you take what you saw to the police? You can give me limited power of attorney, specifically to sell the house and land. I do have an investor chomping at the bit to build a few luxury houses there. Levi, should I be worried?
Kurt scrolled to the final email, dated the same day they’d been pushed off the bridge.
Start the paperwork. I’ll be by later tonight to sign it on my way out of town. I’m a relative newbie in this town compared to you. I don’t think people know we’re siblings since we have different last names. Keep it that way.
Her eyes searched his face as she worried her lip. “I feel like I just read a dead man’s diary.”
“Detective Hall hopes it will give you some insight as to what we are looking for.”
She closed her eyes. “I remember a couple of the numbers. They were in the millions and they’d been diverted...” She squeezed her eyes closed tighter and finally exhaled. “I can’t remember more.” She looked at him and pointed a finger. “If I could just copy their files again into the cloud, I’m sure I could find what I missed the first time.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” He called Detective Hall and relayed the message. “So is it enough to get a warrant?” Kurt certainly thought so, but he wasn’t in the habit of asking for one locally.
“I was already working on it. I’ve got a call into the county judge. We can have a warrant in ten minutes, but it’s almost closing time at t
he resort offices and I can’t get a full team out there for at least an hour. So I’ll plan on going in first thing in the morning.”
“Time is of the essence. Whoever is behind this could be getting rid of the numbers Levi found.” Kurt didn’t wait for Hall to ask. He spun his free hand around the steering wheel until they were heading the opposite direction. “I can get inside and stall until you arrive with the warrant. Send who you can.”
“Um...”
“The US Marshals can support local law enforcement and assist with any violent crimes or felons. We’re often called upon for surveillance and investigations. It’ll still be your case.” While true, the US Attorney General was usually the one to assign such tasks. “I’ll get my accountant started on locating what we need until you can get an analyst on your team.”
He grunted. “Fair enough. I’ll text you the warrant as soon as I get it and meet you there.”
It had almost been too easy. Kurt half expected a fight. He’d never used his privileges before in this way. Ever. But he had multiple arguments prepared if his supervisors received a complaint. By then, Rebecca and Judge Linn should be safely in their respective homes and back to work. His chances at a promotion any time soon might be limited, but he could be alone again, working fugitive cases without someone by his side who insisted on being treated like a partner.
“What was that? Am I your accountant? A consultant?”
“We’ve got a chance to finish this once and for all.” And as far as he was concerned, it couldn’t happen fast enough. They had no safe lodging arranged, his right ear still had a ringing in it that was starting to concern him and he was tired. The bone-deep exhaustion was probably the reason he struggled to keep his growing feelings for Rebecca in check. It was too much to handle right now.
“They close at five.”
“Then hold on.” Kurt pressed the accelerator and since Delaney’s car wasn’t equipped with lights or sirens, took every back road possible to get him to the corporate offices in record time.
“Am I rubbing off on you?”
“What do you mean?”
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