The sinking feeling in Colton’s gut only grew deeper. “If someone was following you, they could have seen you purchase it. Could have gotten the code from the clerk at the store and then traced it.”
She pressed her eyes closed. “And I thought I was being so smart.”
“It was a smart move. You probably slowed him down. No doubt someone could have been monitoring your regular cell—following you, even listening in on your calls. You were wise to leave it behind.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.” Elise folded her hands in her lap, looking demure despite the storm raging in her gaze. “I keep thinking about my car exploding.”
“I have a feeling a device was planted there as a backup plan, in case you managed to get away.”
“Did this guy mean to kill me?”
“Maybe the person behind this set off the bomb to let you know there’s nowhere you’ll be out of reach. You did the right thing by coming here. We can keep you safe.”
“Will they find me here?” She swallowed hard.
Colton bit down, his thoughts hovering between the blunt truth or the sugarcoated version. He decided to be forthcoming. “They probably already know you’re here.”
Elise sucked in a quick breath. “Really? You think so? Then maybe I should go somewhere—”
“They’ll find you wherever you go,” he said. “There’s a chance they also left a tracking device on your car with the bomb. But, if that didn’t work, they’d find another way.”
Elise remained quiet a beat, as if processing his words. Then she startled back to the present. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t know for certain who this guy is, but I know he’s dangerous. Whether he’s working with the Savages or another terrorist organization, he has no respect for human life. And he’s smart. Daniel wouldn’t have gathered the information otherwise. He wouldn’t have kept it a secret.”
Unless it implicated him. Colton kept that thought to himself. He’d never for a moment wondered if Daniel was guilty of the things he’d been accused of. He knew his friend better than that. But that’s what his accusers would say. It was probably what Commander Larson and Secretary Stabler thought and why they’d brushed Elise off.
“I’m on borrowed time, aren’t I?” Elise’s wide eyes seemed to beg him for reassurance.
“You’re in the safest place that you can be right now. I have the most highly qualified, highly trained men in the world right here. Now we just need to figure out how to find answers so you don’t have to live like this for the rest of your life.”
She nodded but said nothing.
“Listen, let me call Ty—Ty Chambers. You remember him?”
She nodded again.
“I’m sure he’d be more than happy to let you stay here.”
“I don’t want to be an inconvenience.”
“You won’t be. You’re family.” Colton picked up his phone. “Did you bring anything with you?”
“Just my purse.”
It looked like Colton’s plans had changed for this week. There weren’t many people that Colton would put his life on hold for.
But Elise was one of them.
Chapter Seven
An hour later, Elise stood in her room wearing clean clothes and with freshly washed hair. Her scalp was still achy from where the man had torn out her hair. But she’d managed to wash and style it somewhat.
She paused in front of the dresser mirror and frowned at her reflection. The vibrant person she’d once been seemed to be fading, replaced by this woman with dull eyes and a lackluster expression. What if it wasn’t possible to recover from this situation?
The whole situation felt overwhelming. Bigger than what she was capable of.
At least she had Colton to help her.
She sighed and closed her eyes.
Elise needed to gather her thoughts, but her mind was all over the place.
Whose body could that have been inside her house? Why had someone burned it down? Had someone really planted a bomb in her car?
It had obviously been put there to send a message. If she was dead, the person behind this couldn’t get the information he so desired.
Nothing made sense.
But the danger that pressed on her made it hard to take a breath. What would this person try next?
Pushing aside those thoughts, Elise ventured from her room. She followed the scent of something savory down the hall and back to the kitchen. She sucked in a breath at what she saw there.
Daniel’s crew.
Griff McIntyre. He was the silent, brooding one of the group. But there’d always been a turbulence in his eyes.
Dez Rodriquez. The man’s dad was Cuban, his mom was American, and Dez himself was 100 percent charisma and confidence.
And Colton, of course.
Elise hadn’t seen the team since Daniel’s memorial service. She’d wanted a funeral, but his body had never been found. She hadn’t been able to get the closure she needed.
At the thought of that horrible day, her stomach clenched.
Her husband should have been buried with honor. Instead, his name had been dragged through the mud and articles had been written about how he’d been a traitor to his country. It wasn’t fair.
Then again, no one ever said life was fair. That cliché, however, never made anyone feel better.
As soon as the guys saw her, they all stood from the table and gave her hugs. Elise felt like she was with a group of her brothers right now, and a moment of bittersweet memories washed over her.
There had been so many days when she’d had these guys over for spaghetti dinners. They had all kicked back and relaxed. After devouring a homecooked meal, they’d watched a game on TV or played cards.
Her and Daniel’s home had been a safe place for the team to hang out. Too many SEALs engaged in unsafe behavior when they returned home from deployment, so Daniel had always tried to provide them a healthy outlet. Elise had been totally on board with that. As a psychologist, she knew the effects of high-stakes, adrenaline-charged missions.
A blonde woman in a police uniform stood beside Ty, a warm smile on her face. A golden retriever obediently sat beside them, his tail wagging as he waited for an introduction.
“Elise, it’s great to see you.” Ty smiled, something almost nostalgic in his voice.
“You too.” Ty hadn’t been on Daniel’s team, but they’d worked together on occasion. Elise had always liked him.
“I heard you met my wife earlier.”
Elise smiled at the police chief. “Yes, we did.”
Cassidy extended her hand. “It’s nice to officially meet you. Earlier, it was a little hectic, to say the least.”
“Yes, it was.”
“I’m glad to see the clothes worked out.” Cassidy nodded at Elise’s outfit.
Elise looked down at the sweatshirt and jeans she wore. “They’re perfect. Thank you.”
“We’ll make sure we get you some clothes that fit real soon.”
“This is Kujo.” Ty rested his hand on the back of the dog’s head.
Elise bent forward and patted the dog on the head. The canine’s tail slapped the floor in excitement.
Cassidy pointed to the table. “In the meantime, why don’t you have a seat? We are just about to dig into some pot roast. We’re having an early dinner tonight.”
“Can I help get anything ready?”
“We’ve got everything covered.” Cassidy grabbed a serving spoon from the drawer and slid it into a dish of gravy-covered potatoes and carrots. “But thank you.”
Elise found a place at the table beside Colton. Being near him brought a rush of warmth through her. Why did his presence comfort her so much? She’d been doing life alone for the past year, and she hadn’t realized the toll it had taken on her.
As the food was served, chitchat passed back and forth among them. Certainly by now Colton had informed the group about what was going on. But Elise appreciated having a break fr
om all the questions. She needed to process everything.
Uncertainty had been hounding her, and Elise wouldn’t be escaping it anytime soon. But it was good to see the boys being boys. She and Cassidy exchanged several smiles as they all talked.
“Griff tell you he almost lost that contest with Mayor MacArthur?” Dez said, a sparkle in his eyes. “They tried to see who could scale the side of the mayor’s beach house the fastest.”
“In my defense, the mayor is lithe. Very lithe. I’ve got more bulk.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Dez said.
A round of chuckles filled the table.
“How was kiteboarding today?” Griff jabbed back at Dez. “I’m sure Delilah was a great teacher.”
Dez grinned. “She was. She said I was a natural.”
“I’m sure she did.” Griff raised his eyebrows. “It’s a good thing you do all your manscaping. At least Delilah could appreciate it.”
“We’re just friends. And there’s nothing wrong with a little manscaping.” He flexed his muscles, always one to put on a show.
Elise had always found their banter entertaining, and today was no exception. These guys loved to give each other a hard time. When they stopped aggravating each other, that’s when she would start to worry.
Colton cleared his throat, as if wanting to change the subject. “How was your day, Cassidy? We’re not trying to leave you out.”
Cassidy tore a dinner roll in half. “You mean after the circus at the proposed site for the new hotel? And the car bomb? It was pretty uneventful after that.”
“Who was that man who threatened me at the protest?” Colton asked. “Did you recognize him?”
“Someone threatened you?” Cassidy raised an eyebrow.
“He was a pretty puny guy. I’m not too worried. But he said I would pay because I’d sided with the developer.”
“By defending the property you’d sided with the developer?” Cassidy repeated.
“In this man’s mind, yes.”
“This must be some pretty important property,” Elise said.
“Last year, a cult set up camp here on this island and nearly destroyed us,” Cassidy explained, spreading some butter across her roll. “Thankfully, they’re gone now, and the leader won’t be causing any more problems. The property where their compound was is now up for sale.”
“So the fact that someone wants to buy the land is a good thing?” Elise asked, trying to get a feel for the situation.
“The thing is, the people who want to buy it plan to build a hotel. A lot of places might like that, but people around here in Lantern Beach like keeping things simple. People come here because it’s like stepping back in time. We don’t have any chain restaurants or gas stations or stores. Everything here is locally owned.”
“But the other problem is that we have a housing crisis,” Ty added. “With so many rentals, it’s driven up the price of real estate. Our average, everyday workers can’t afford the mortgages, so people are arguing that a solution like this hotel could be a win-win for everybody.”
“There’s going to be a town meeting tonight,” Cassidy said. “It will be interesting to see how things turn out.”
“It sounds like it,” Elise said. “I hope that goes well.”
Cassidy raised her eyebrows. “So do I.”
Elise already liked Cassidy. There was something very personable about her. Yet Elise could sense part of her was guarded as well. Elise supposed that, as police chief, Cassidy would need to keep a small circle of those she trusted.
Elise wondered how someone like Cassidy had ended up here. Something about the woman’s mannerisms reminded Elise of someone from the big city. Maybe she would have a chance to ask her later.
Besides, Elise had other bigger issues to worry about at the moment—issues like staying alive.
* * *
After the dishes were cleaned up from dinner, Colton turned to Elise. He wanted more time to talk with her alone. He also sensed just how difficult this had been for her. Though she tried to smile, Colton saw the pain beneath the action.
“Would you like to go for a walk? It’s a pretty mild day out for January, and I thought you might like the chance to stretch your legs. Plus, we might be able to catch the sunset. It’s pretty fantastic around here.”
“A walk sounds perfect.” Elise nodded, as if she’d been looking for something to keep her mind occupied. “So does some fresh air.”
A few minutes later, they stepped from the house, crossed the sand dune, and the Atlantic Ocean greeted them. Elise paused there and stared at the vastness for a moment.
Colton watched as she soaked it all in. The wind blew her chin-length hair up in wild currents, but she pulled her sweatshirt closer, seeming undeterred.
“This really is breathtaking.” Elise glanced back at him. “Though I initially wondered why you would’ve picked such a remote location for your operations, I can see why you and your guys like it here.”
Colton crossed his arms and glanced around, keeping his eyes open for trouble. “This goes hand-in-hand with the therapy Ty does with former military members. In fact, if you’re ever looking for a job, you should talk to Ty. I’m sure he could use a psychologist.”
Elise flashed a quick, distracted smile. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
“You do that.”
As they walked closer to the shore, Elise glanced behind her, tension returning to her gaze. “Are you sure it’s safe out here?”
Colton could practically see the flashbacks hitting her. Every time he thought about what that man had done to her, red-hot anger burned through his veins. Elise didn’t deserve any of this. She was nothing but a kind, good-hearted soul who would never hurt a flea.
“Safe? I can’t promise that.” Colton had always been one to tell the truth . . . he only wished he could tell Elise how Daniel really died. But confidentiality was something he had to take seriously. National security depended on it.
“Earlier you said the person pursuing me probably knows where I am. So they could see me walking right now.”
Colton raised the hem of his shirt just enough to show the gun tucked into a holster on his belt. “I brought this, just in case. I don’t plan on going far.”
“Good. Because I don’t want to be a prisoner at the house for the entire time I’m here.”
“I can respect that.”
They paced several steps together, not saying a word. The sand was thick and indulgent, causing their feet to sink with every step. Ty called it sugar sand because it was so soft and pliable. Colton thought the name was fitting.
Finally, Colton gave Elise the update on his plans. “If it’s okay with you, I’m going to talk to my guys tonight. I’d like their help on this.”
“You’re sure we can trust all of them?” Elise asked.
“These are Daniel’s guys. If we can’t trust them, then who can we trust?” But the words left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Colton wanted to believe he could trust everyone. But flashes of doubt lingered in his mind. To this day, he still believed that someone on the inside had leaked information to the Savages. That was the only explanation as to why their mission had torpedoed out of control, the only reason to explain Daniel’s death.
Elise nodded slowly, somberly. “I suppose you’re correct. I’m not trying to question you. I’m just on edge about all of this.”
“Anyone in your shoes would be.” Colton paused, and his tone softened as he glanced at her. Her perky features, intelligent eyes, and petite build were a sight to see. “You look good, Elise.”
Surprise filled her gaze before her lips pulled up in a half-smile. “Thanks. You don’t look too shabby yourself. How long have you been here in Lantern Beach?”
“I came last May to help Ty out with Hope House. While I was here, I had the crazy idea to start Blackout. We spent several months trying to get the details right and file the proper paperwork. We officially started a few months ago
.”
“It sounds like a great idea. I’m glad to see you guys are using your gifts.”
“It feels like this is what we were made to do, you know?” Colton said.
“I think that’s fantastic. People who have purpose are happier and more satisfied with their lives. It might sound like psychobabble, but it’s true.”
They walked a few more steps, and Elise shivered. As the sun began to set, the temperature grew more frigid. Colton took off the jacket he wore and draped it over her shoulders.
The grateful smile that Elise offered him was enough thanks. “You don’t have to do this. You’re going to get cold.”
“I don’t mind. And thank you for trusting me with this information.” The words left Colton’s lips, sincerity etched in each of them. It meant a lot to him to know Elise had turned to him for help.
“I knew right away you were the only one who could help.” Elise offered another smile.
Colton had so much he wanted to ask her. He wanted to know about her life over the past year. He wanted to know if she’d been able to pick up the pieces yet. If she’d moved on. If she’d started seeing anyone else.
But Colton didn’t feel it was his place to bring those things up. Not yet, at least.
“I’ve always hated the water,” Elise said as she stared at the ocean. “Don’t get me wrong, I love looking at it. Dipping my feet in. But being in over my head? I hate it. I’m a psychologist. I know what that means. I feel like I lose control when I’m out deep.”
“Yet you married a SEAL.”
“Yes, I did. I would have never gotten through BUD/S, not even the first day.” BUD/S was the underwater portion of SEAL training. It was where the majority of candidates realized they weren’t going to make the cut.
Colton smiled.
“I’m in deep right now, Colton.” Her voice trembled.
He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I’m here to make sure you don’t drown.”
Movement in the distance caught his eye. He stiffened as a figure lumbered over the dune less than a block away.
The man’s gaze went straight to Elise, and he started toward her.
Dark Water: Lantern Beach Blackout, Book 1 Page 4