Beyond Power

by Connie Mann

  “That’s my next move.” She slid off the table, gratified her ankle barely caused a wince. “You don’t have another forest map handy, do you?”

  Kimberly rooted around in a file drawer, then handed her one. “Where do you plan to start?”

  “I thought I’d run out to the old quarry. I often babysat Mary when Mama was delivering babies or visiting the sick. She and I spent a lot of time in those caves. John Henry and Aaron used to store supplies in there, too.”

  “You know it’s been turned into a zip-line park? They’ve done a really nice job on it, but it’s pricey.”

  She’d have to figure out how to get in there to look around. There was a quick knock, and then another nurse poked her head in. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you had a patient.”

  “Delilah’s not really a patient. She’s family. Sarah Dutton, home health nurse, meet Delilah, ah, Paige. Sarah also just moved back to the area.”

  Sarah’s smile was open and friendly, her handshake firm. “Nice to meet you, Delilah. Any friend of Kimberly’s is a friend of mine.”

  “Sarah’s also dating FWC officer Marco Sanchez.” Kimberly winked at Delilah. “Delilah just met Josh Tanner a while back.”

  Sarah’s smile widened. “The Tanners are a great family.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll stop back by later. Nice to meet you, Delilah.”

  “I think you two would be good friends. And I think, like you, she could use a few of those.”

  Unsure what to say, Delilah simply nodded. “You’ve done far more than I can ever repay, but I need your help with one more thing. Can you find out who Mary is supposed to marry?”

  “No guarantees, but I’ll do my best.”

  “Ms. Gaines, I can’t thank you enough for everyth—”

  “When are you going to start calling me Kimberly?” she asked as she wrapped Delilah in her arms.

  “Old habits are hard to break.”

  “Do it anyway,” Kimberly said and patted Delilah’s cheek.

  As Delilah headed for her truck, the warmth of Kimberly’s love and acceptance made her throat tight. When unflattering comparisons to her own mother surfaced, she focused on the next moves in her search.

  Her phone chirped with a text from Josh: Be careful today.

  Will do, she sent back as an entirely different kind of warmth filled her. He’d left her camper last night without argument and had kept watch in his truck, two nights in a row. And fixed her truck at the crack of dawn this morning.

  She didn’t know what to do with a man who put others’ needs ahead of his own, who showed up for the people he cared about. Much as she wanted to protect her foolish heart, it was getting harder and harder to keep him at arm’s length.

  No time to daydream about sexy FWC officers. She had a quick stop to make before she started scouring the forest for Mary. She’d swing by the location she’d last seen the monkeys and make sure little Oscar was safely back with his mama.

  Thankfully, they were hanging out in the same general area today, so it didn’t take long to find them. As usual, she used the zoom on her camera to identify specific monkeys. Where was Oscar?

  Several minutes later, she finally heard his little cry, and all the hair on her arms stood straight up. It sounded weaker than before. She panned the trees but couldn’t find him in the canopy above. The other monkeys chattered and played, and no one seemed the least bit concerned.

  His cry sounded again, closer, and she swung her camera in that direction. Her heart almost stopped when she found him. He was down on the ground not twenty feet away, climbing on cypress roots and crying with a pitiful little sound that shredded her heart.

  Where was his mother? Had she died? Usually, one of the other mothers would step in and adopt the little one. But Oscar was all alone.

  He spotted her and suddenly turned and walked toward her. The closer he got, the more Delilah could see that he was too thin. Even though he’d started eating regular food, his primary source of nutrition should still be mother’s milk.

  When he stopped in front of her and cocked his head to study her, Delilah quickly scanned the trees above her, hoping his mother was hiding above, prepared to dive into action to save him. But there was no one there.

  Watching him watch her, Delilah’s heart and head went to war. Feeding the monkeys was wrong, illegal even. And ultimately, not in their best interests. She knew that and believed it with every fiber of her being. Wasn’t her study all about the dangers of feeding them?

  And yet. He was hungry. And he was staring at her with a trusting expression, little ribs way too prominent. Sometimes, mothers didn’t care for their male offspring like they did females. Was that what happened here? Had he been abandoned?

  Delilah reached into her backpack and withdrew her snack mix. Telling her conscience to hush, she took a handful of nuts and dried fruit and tossed them his way.

  He leaped on the food and sat watching her as he gobbled up every bite. She tossed him another handful. And another until the package was empty. He scarfed it down like he hadn’t eaten in a month.

  A sound nearby startled them both, and she looked up. The other monkeys had seen what she was doing and were moving in her direction. Too late, she remembered that there was a food hierarchy, and he might get beaten up for what she’d given him, so she now had a new worry. But he turned and disappeared almost before she could blink.

  “Be safe, little Oscar. I hope you find your mother.”

  She grabbed her gear and left before they descended and demanded more food, which she didn’t have.

  But the whole way back, she worried, hoping she hadn’t made things worse for him by trying to help.

  Chapter 12

  Delilah walked into Tanner’s Outpost the next morning, relieved that her ankle barely twinged. She was ready to dive back into Rescue Mission Mary, especially after yesterday’s wild-goose chase. She’d driven to every place she could remember her family setting up camp, but they weren’t at any of them. Thanks to Kimberly’s map, she’d even found a few of their more recent campsites, but there was still no sign of them. She didn’t know the exact date of Mary’s wedding, but her sixteenth birthday was coming quick, the days ticking away like a giant clock in her head.

  About four this morning, she’d decided to poke around the old quarry today. She figured Charlee might know something about the layout now that it was an attraction.

  She’d noticed several pickups in the Outpost’s parking area but hadn’t realized who they belonged to until she crossed the threshold and found herself face-to-face with a smiling Josh.

  Charlee waved from behind the counter. “Hey, Delilah. Heard you had an adventure the other night.”

  It took Delilah a minute to decide which adventure she meant. Right. Josh. Brakes. “Yeah, that definitely wasn’t what I had planned. But I sure did appreciate the help from Officer Tanner here.”

  Josh stepped up beside her, a twinkle in his green eyes. “If you don’t stop calling me Officer Tanner, I’m going to have to take drastic measures.” He raised both eyebrows in a mock dramatic gesture that made her laugh. Then he turned and indicated the others in the room. “In case everyone hasn’t been properly introduced, that big lug over there is my older brother and sheriff’s deputy, Pete, and the smooth-talking Cajun with his tongue down my sister’s throat is FWC Lieutenant Hunter Boudreau. The lovely lady next to Pete is FWC officer Lisa Bass, otherwise known as Fish. Everyone, this is Delilah Paige.”

  She relaxed when he left the Atwood off her name. After a flurry of greetings, Josh put his back to everyone and asked quietly, “How’s the ankle today?”

  The words barely registered as she studied his mouth, reliving their dizzying kiss. He raised an eyebrow, a knowing grin on his face, and she realized she’d made a humming sound low in her throat. What was the question again? “As long as there isn’t
a marathon on the agenda, I should be good to go.”

  “Glad to hear it. So what brings you here?”

  Delilah glanced behind him, uncomfortably aware that everyone was awaiting her answer. “I thought I’d go exploring. I heard the old quarry has been turned into a zip-line adventure place.”

  “What a coincidence. We were all heading out there this morning, too,” Josh said.

  Over Josh’s shoulder, Delilah saw confusion cross Pete’s features. “I thought we were doing that this aftern—”

  She pretended not to notice when Fish elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

  “Why not come with us?” Charlee asked. “It’ll be fun.”

  Delilah suddenly registered that none of them were in uniform. They were all wearing shorts, T-shirts, and tennis shoes. Josh’s aftershave teased her nostrils, and the muscled arms rippling beneath his T-shirt brought back memories of him carrying her as though she weighed nothing.

  He bent down slightly so she had to meet his eyes. “Come with us. Please?”

  Between that coaxing smile and those twinkling green eyes, Delilah was lost. All logical arguments flew right out of her head as that oh-so-tempting fluttering started in her belly. You don’t have time to get sidetracked, her brain warned. Right. “Actually, I wasn’t planning to do the zip line. I just wanted to look around the place.”

  A challenging glint came into his eyes. “You’re not afraid of a little zip line, are you?” Delilah shook her head, and he sobered instantly. “It’s fine if you are. I’m just teasing.”

  “It isn’t that.” She bit her lip. “Mary and I used to play in some of those caves years ago. I wanted to go check them out, see if maybe…” She let the thought trail off.

  “We aren’t just going to have fun, either. We’re scoping out a tip from an informant. His info isn’t always terribly accurate, but since we were going to try the zip line anyway, we decided to check things out while we were there.” He gave her shoulder a friendly bump. “What do you say about coming with us? Make it an even six.”

  Delilah looked from Josh’s expression to the friendly faces smiling at her and found herself saying, “Why not? It sounds like fun.” The group had an easy camaraderie she envied, and they’d opened the circle and invited her in. How could she refuse? She’d let herself enjoy something she’d always wanted to try while keeping her eyes peeled for any sign of Mary and their family. Spending time with the mouthwatering Josh Tanner was simply an unexpected bonus.

  * * *

  Josh tucked Delilah into the passenger seat and turned, not really surprised when Pete stepped up behind him.

  “You sure you know what you’re doing, Little Brother?” Pete asked.

  Josh kept his voice low so Delilah wouldn’t overhear. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Elaine hasn’t been gone that long. I don’t think you should rush into anything.”

  Josh quelled his irritation. That was the second time this week one of his siblings had offered opinions on his personal life. “When I need your advice, Bulldog, I’ll be sure to ask for it. As for today, by taking her with us, we’ll be able to keep an eye on her, make sure nobody tries anything stupid. And if they do, we’re here, so it’s a win-win.”

  Pete digested that. “Makes sense. I think she knows more than she thinks she does.”

  Or more than she’s been willing to say so far, Josh thought as he climbed into the truck. And that gnawed at the cop in him. He wasn’t sure how to get her to open up about whatever else she knew, but he wouldn’t give up until she did. He couldn’t help it if he didn’t know the problem.

  “Did you spend lots of time out here when you were a kid?” he asked.

  What was now the Ocala Zip Line Adventure Park had been a limestone quarry in the 1800s. Several years ago, an enterprising family had purchased it, and the once-gaping holes were now filled with water, giving visitors the impression they were somewhere in the mountains, not Florida. The change was startling.

  “We did. Whenever we camped in this area, Aaron, Mary, and I would sneak over to explore the caves. I think my mother would have had heart failure if she had realized what we were doing.” Delilah smiled at the memory and then shook her head. “After a while, Aaron stopped coming, but I still brought Mary whenever I was babysitting.”

  “Are you hoping to find a clue in the caves as to where they’ve gone?”

  “Hopefully. But sneaking under rusting fences and poking around is different from exploring a public attraction.”

  “If you find evidence that she’s been there, how will that help you find her?”

  “I’m not sure yet, but I have to try. I can’t just…”

  Josh waited, but she didn’t say anything else. “Why is it so important that you find her?”

  Her look implied he was not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. “She’s my sister.”

  When they pulled into the parking area, he turned to her. “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. Let’s go have some fun. And maybe you can find the clues you’re looking for.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “You need to quit being so nice. Makes me feel like a jerk when I snap and snarl.”

  “There is a cure for that, you know.” He raised an eyebrow, smiled. “You could always be nice.”

  “Now where’s the fun in that?” She tossed a saucy grin over her shoulder and hurried toward Charlee.

  * * *

  Five minutes later, she wished she hadn’t caved to that dimpled grin. Josh had told her he wouldn’t push, but he was FWC, and cops pushed. It was what they did, part of their DNA or something. And she’d just agreed to spend time with not one but four cops. Together.

  She took a deep breath, gathered her resolve. She could do this. She’d take Josh at his word and enjoy herself. She’d also try to find the caves she and Mary had played in. With water in the quarries, she wasn’t sure she’d recognize anything, but there was only one way to find out, and that meant riding all nine zip lines. Uneasiness slid through her. Everything would be fine as long as she didn’t let Josh’s nearness lull her into blabbing things better left unsaid.

  “Okay, folks, if your waivers are signed, we need to get your harnesses on. My name is Curly, and yes, that’s either from the Three Stooges or maybe just the hair.” The guide pointed to his curly brown mop. He looked to be in his early twenties, tattooed, and fit, with the kind of easygoing personality that put customers at ease. “This guy next to me is Mo, also from Three Stooges fame. Though I hear his mother calls him Maurice.”

  Mo appeared to be in his early thirties, with a bushy, dark mustache and twinkling brown eyes. “Nice to meet you folks. Curly and I will be your guides for the zip lines. Soon as we get you outfitted, we’ll do a little practice run to make sure you’re comfortable before we head up to the first of the towers.”

  They shuffled to an outdoor area, and Delilah studied the other groups, trying to calm the sudden butterflies in her stomach.

  Josh stepped up beside her, voice low. “You can still change your mind.”

  “And have you brand me a coward? I don’t think so.” At his skeptical look, she added, “I’m always a little nervous at first, but it doesn’t keep me from trying new things.”

  He looked her up and down, eyes twinkling, “Why, Madam Researcher, who knew an adventurer lurked inside your scholarly”—his eyes paused on her chest—“heart?”

  She didn’t let him see her smile, since he looked far too pleased with himself as it was. Curly stepped up just then and instructed her to step into the harness. She dutifully tightened clasps and listened to instructions, but she wasn’t sure she could repeat any of them. She shook her head, annoyed with herself. All she needed was to do something stupid because she couldn’t think when Josh was nearby.

  Within a few minutes, they were heading up a dirt path on an extra-lon
g golf cart. Delilah found herself beside Josh, with Hunter and Charlee behind them, and Pete and Fish bickering in the last seat. Mo drove while Curly made jokes and recited the quarry’s history. Delilah tuned him out as she studied the scenery, trying to reconcile it with what she remembered. She didn’t think she had ever been on this side of the quarry.

  Josh stretched his arm along the back of the seat and leaned closer. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  His scent blended with the trees around them—woodsy and fresh—and she inhaled deeply as she looked around. Sunlight filtered through the trees, making her think of an enchanted forest. “I keep expecting to see Hansel and Gretel’s cottage.”

  They stopped at what Curly called the “practice zip.” As Delilah went through the process, she let her earlier anxiety give way to excitement. Doing things just for fun, without guilt, was something she was still learning. Her family had believed in hard work and being prepared, which left little time for anything else.

  That was why she and Mary had loved the caves. Here, they could laugh and be themselves without censoring their every thought and action. She wanted Mary to have that freedom always.

  After the practice zip, they climbed onto a large platform for the rest of the instructions. “Are you guys ready?” Curly asked with a grin. “Mo will always go first to meet you on the other end, and I’ll bring up the rear.” He checked each harness and explained the whole clipping and unclipping thing before Mo jumped off the platform and zipped across the canyon, yelling “Yahoo!” as he flew. Curly checked Charlee’s gear, and she leaped off the platform behind him with a loud yell. Hunter went next, and Curly scolded him for trying to clip his own carabiner. “Let me take care of that, sir.”

  Hunter scowled. “I’m pretty sure I can attach my line unassisted.”

  Curly was unfazed. “I’m sure you can, sir, but this is our policy.” He shot him a grin. “Safety first and all that. I’m sure you understand.” He finished checking all the harnesses and then said, “You’re good to go.”