Snowbound Targets (HQR Romantic Suspense)

by Karen Whiddon

  Finally, Lucy pushed her half-empty plate away. “That was amazing. But I’m so stuffed, I can’t eat another bite.”

  Though Phil nodded, he continued eating. Jason too, though he’d nearly finished.

  Finally, with both men’s plates clean, they sat back and sipped their tea. The server came and cleared the table, asking Lucy if she wanted a box. She declined due to the long drive home, but made sure to state how much she’d enjoyed her meal.

  No one wanted dessert, so Jason asked for the check. Phil made a token protest, but Jason insisted. Thanking him, Phil checked his watch. “I need to be getting back,” he said. “My next appointment is at 1:30.”

  While they waited for the check, Lucy leaned forward and touched Phil’s hand. “Is there any other advice you can give me? Things to watch for, or to do that might help my memory return?”

  “Unfortunately, amnesia is a tricky thing. There are some in the medical profession who actually deny its existence.” He held up a hand when she started to protest. “I don’t happen to be one of them. And the more we come to learn, the more we can try to help. I’m not a neurologist, so that would be my suggestion. Find one and make an appointment. They are the most likely to be able to help you.”

  She nodded, holding her silence while Jason paid the bill and left a tip. As they pushed to their feet to leave, she shook her head. “From what you’ve said, it doesn’t seem like anyone can actually help me. Only time can do that.”

  “I’m sorry.” Phil put his hand on her shoulder, removing it when Jason glared. “Hopefully, things will get better soon.”

  As they drove back to the medical office, Phil turned to glance at Jason. “We need to get together again soon and catch up. Don’t let so much time pass without making contact, OK?”

  Chagrined, Jason nodded. “I realize it’s no excuse, but my job keeps me constantly hopping. However, I’m going to be up at the cabin in Cedar for the next ninety days, give or take. I’m working on a new project. If you get a chance to come up, I’d sure love to see you.”

  “I’ll do that,” Phil said easily, pulling into his Reserved parking space.

  They got out and Jason shook his old friend’s hand. Lucy came over and held out her hand too, but Phil pulled her in for a quick, impersonal hug instead. “Don’t be a stranger,” he said as he strode away. Before he went inside, he glanced back over his shoulder and waved.

  Jason and Lucy walked back to his Jeep in silence. As they pulled away, he stole a quick look at her, only to find her watching him.

  “Your doctor friend—while nice—wasn’t very helpful,” she said. “I learned nothing that I didn’t already know from you looking on the internet.”

  “But you visited with an actual medical professional,” he pointed out. “Who reassured you that everything you’re experiencing is typical for someone with amnesia. I’d think that would go a long way toward helping alleviate your fears.”

  Considering him, she finally nodded. “You’re right. Thank you for setting this up.”

  “How about we do some touristy stuff?” he asked, figuring a distraction would be good. “We can visit the Garden of the Gods and, if we have time, the Royal Gorge. They’re much less crowded this time of year.”

  They spent the rest of the afternoon visiting both popular tourist attractions. Lucy finally relaxed, even though the wind tangled her long blond wig.

  At five o’clock, they headed back into Colorado Springs proper to grab something to eat. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to take it with us,” Jason said. “I’d prefer to make it back to Cedar before it gets too dark.”

  She nodded and they stopped for takeout on the way out of town. He ate his cheeseburger quickly while the roads were still mostly straight. Declaring that she wasn’t all that hungry, she nibbled on her chicken wrap with a real lack of enthusiasm.

  After eating, she smiled a tired smile and thanked him for a great day. It must have exhausted her, because they were only thirty minutes into the drive when she fell asleep.

  He took the opportunity to sneak glances at her, unable to keep from admiring the classic lines of her profile, her full lips and the softness of her silky dark hair. Even with her gorgeous blue eyes closed, she was still a strikingly stunning woman. Worse, the more he got to know her, the more beautiful he found her.

  Not the real her, he reminded himself. The woman she was right now would only be a shell of her real self, until her memories and the rest of personality returned to her. She could end up a completely different person than this woman he was coming to love.

  What? Startled, he blinked and returned his full attention to the road. He had no idea where that had come from, but it wasn’t even close to being true. Not only did he not have time for romantic nonsense, how could he love a woman who didn’t even know who she was?

  Short answer, he couldn’t. Pleased that he’d settled that, at least within his own mind, he focused on getting them back to the cabin before full darkness fell.

  When he reached the outskirts of Cedar, he decided to stop by the post office and check for mail in his box. While the main lobby would be closed, the door to the PO boxes remained unlocked at all times.

  Hopefully, stopping wouldn’t wake Lucy.

  Since Cedar basically shut down at six, the streets were empty. He parked right in front of the small post office and debated whether to leave the car running or not. As soon as he shifted into Park Lucy stirred. Stretching, she opened her eyes, turning to look for him, though for a moment her hazy gaze seemed unfocused.

  “Jason?” She pushed herself up straight in her seat and dragged her fingers through her hair. “Where are we?”

  “In Cedar.” When she started, glancing around her wildly, he touched her shoulder. “Don’t worry. Downtown is pretty much deserted. No one will see you. I’m going to run into the post office and check on my mail. Lock the car after me. I’ll be right back.”

  Though she still shifted around in her seat as if uncomfortable, she nodded. “Please hurry.”

  “I will.” He forced himself not to give in to the impulse to give her a quick kiss and grabbed a canvas tote bag from the back before he got out of his Jeep. Once he closed his door, he waited until he heard the sound of her engaging the locks before turning to head inside.

  The small area where people rented their boxes was brightly lit and could be seen from outside. He went to his and bent down to unlock it. Once he had, he could barely slide it open, despite the fact that he rented the largest size available. As he’d suspected, quite a bit of mail had accumulated in the last couple of months. Most of his bills he had emailed to him so he could pay online, so the majority of this stuff would be the ordinary sort of junk mail that tended to pile up if not dealt with.

  As soon as he’d shoveled it all into his tote, he closed the box and locked it. As he headed outside, someone came in. A tall man wearing a dark trench coat and a hat, like someone playing a detective in a vintage movie. Jason moved away, intending to sidestep him, but the man moved too and blocked his way out.

  “Jason Sheffield?” the stranger asked.

  Instantly suspicious, Jason eyed him. “Who wants to know?”

  Instead of answering, the man raised his face and stared hard. “Are. You. Jason. Sheffield?”

  “Again, what business is it of yours?” Jason tried once more to push past him, but again the man moved to block his way. For the first time, Jason wished he’d brought his pistol with him. He knew Lucy could see everything from the car and he didn’t want her to get too alarmed.

  “Look, buddy. I’m just trying to do my job. Are you Jason Sheffield or not?”

  Deciding to just get this—whatever it might be—over with, Jason nodded. “I am.”

  “Great. Here.” The other man pulled a large manila envelope from underneath his coat and shoved it at Jason. “Consider yourself se
rved.”

  Chapter 8

  Lucy looked up just in time to see Jason attempt to sidestep a large man in a black trench coat who appeared to be threatening him. While Jason was tall—at least six foot three—this man was not only taller, but had the build of a football linebacker.

  She looked around wildly, wishing Jason had left his cell phone so she could call 911, but he must have had it with him in his pocket. Heart pounding, she could only watch as the man confronted Jason. Though she couldn’t hear what they were saying, it didn’t appear Jason was in actual physical danger. Yet.

  A moment later, the stranger handed Jason an envelope of some sort and left. When he exited the post office, he turned right, taking himself to a large pickup he’d parked at the very end of the lot. Without even glancing her way, he started up his truck and drove away.

  So engrossed was she in watching the other man that she didn’t even see Jason leave the building. When he tapped on the driver’s side window, it made her jump. She fumbled with the unlock button and pressed it. Opening the door, Jason slid inside. He placed his tote bag on the back seat and she saw the new envelope the man had given him sticking out of it.

  “What was that?” she asked, hoping her voice didn’t betray her worry.

  “A process server,” he answered. “I’m not sure what all that’s about, but I’ll take a look at it when we get home. I’ll feel better once we’re there.”

  “Me too,” she breathed, trying to settle her jangled nerves. They drove the rest of the way in silence. Eying the downtown area since she’d been hunkered down when they’d driven through earlier, she saw Jason had been speaking the truth. Everything appeared locked up tight. The nicely shoveled sidewalks were deserted and there weren’t many other cars driving on the plowed streets.

  As they reached the edge of town, she saw one place remained open. Stella’s Pub the sign proclaimed. There were at least ten cars in the parking lot.

  “It’s the only bar in town,” Jason said. “Their food is actually good. And they have several craft beers on tap.”

  About to ask him to take her there, she closed her mouth. Until she knew what weirdness made up her past, she wouldn’t be going anywhere in Cedar. She simply couldn’t risk it.

  They were nearly at the turnoff for the main road that would eventually lead up to his cabin when she noticed Jason tense.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, swallowing back a residue of her earlier panic.

  “There’s a car coming up behind us,” he said, his hands tight on the steering wheel. “From here, it appears to be going way too fast.”

  Due to the guardrails and the drop-offs on both sides of them, there wasn’t anywhere they could pull off. Jason accelerated, but it wasn’t long before the other vehicle’s headlights filled the interior of his Jeep.

  “He’s got the damn things on bright!” Jason said, cursing. “Now he’s right on my bumper.”

  No sooner had he said the words than the other vehicle made contact with theirs. It hit them hard and fast, the metal making a crunching sound. The Jeep shimmied, but Jason managed to keep control.

  Wide-eyed, Lucy alternated between watching him and glancing over her shoulder at the truck behind them.

  “Hold on,” Jason ordered. “He’s trying to run us off the road.”

  This time, instead of tapping their bumper, the pickup swerved and tried to pull up alongside them. Jason accelerated, but the truck did too.

  “Brace yourself,” Jason said. “I’m about to slam on my brakes.”

  When he did, the Jeep fishtailed, but he somehow kept it under control. Apparently taken by surprise, the truck zoomed past, red brake lights flashing as they tried to slow.

  “There’s a big curve ahead,” Jason said, even as he swung the Jeep around. “If that guy is driving drunk, I hope he remembers it. Otherwise, he’ll go over.”

  As soon as he’d gotten them turned in the opposite direction, Jason floored it. As soon as they reached the outskirts of town, he pulled into the parking lot of Stella’s Pub, killed his lights and parked in between two other vehicles.

  “If he didn’t lose it on the curve, we should see him go past,” he said. “Assuming he was actually chasing us. If it was just some drunk heading home, then we’ll check for guardrail damage on the way to our turnoff. Other than that, I hope he made it safely.”

  She stared at him in disbelief. “Surely, you don’t really believe that?”

  “Believe what?”

  “That this was just a random thing. It probably was the same guy who broke into your cabin.”

  Keeping his gaze on the road, Jason sighed. “Maybe. But we don’t have proof. I don’t want to be too paranoid, so I’d prefer to think we weren’t the actual targets.”

  A second later, the truck came barreling past them, heading into town.

  “I guess we were,” Jason admitted. “Damn it. Now I’ve got to figure out why.”

  Again, she couldn’t help but wonder if all this had to do with her. But then again, why? And Jason had been served with notice of something. Perhaps those two were related. It could be entirely possible none of this meant someone was after her.

  In fact, the only justification she had for believing that was the gut feeling, the niggling sense of worry and fear.

  They sat there in the parking spot for a few more minutes.

  “I want to make sure he doesn’t come back,” Jason said. “I don’t want to deal with another episode like that. Ever again.”

  “Me neither,” she agreed, still feeling a bit shaky. “Today sure has been eventful.”

  He laughed, though the sound had no humor. “That’s one way of putting it.”

  After waiting several more minutes, he grimaced. “Ready?”

  She nodded, unable to keep from glancing once more in the direction the other vehicle had gone.

  Jason put the Jeep in Drive and turned his headlights back on as they pulled out. This time, he drove faster than he had before, continually checking his rearview mirror. Luckily, they reached their turnoff. Even then, as he drove them up the steep winding curves of the road that led to his place, he kept up a faster pace. “That SOB better not come up here,” he commented, his voice full of a grim threat.

  Honestly, that reassured her. Though she felt a bit better, she too kept glancing over her shoulder to check that they weren’t being followed.

  When they finally pulled up to the cabin, they both let out simultaneous sighs of relief. “We made it,” Lucy said.

  “Yes.”

  But when Lucy started to get out, Jason held up a hand to forestall her. “Wait here,” he ordered. “I want to check everything out first. It should just take me a minute. Lock the doors until I get back.”

  He was out of the car before she could respond. Once again nervous, she clicked the door locks and glanced all around the vehicle. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, but what did she know?

  A moment later, Jason returned. Making the thumbs-up sign, he told her she could go ahead and get out of the car.

  Once she’d unlocked the doors, he reached in the back seat and retrieved his tote bag.

  Though her legs felt wobbly as the result of all that excitement, she managed to make it inside the cabin without asking for his assistance.

  The instant they were both in the house, he made sure to lock the door behind them.

  “That was crazy as hell,” he said, dragging his hands through his hair. “That guy could have killed us.”

  Now that they were safely inside, she felt calmer. “I know. Thank you for not letting that happen.”

  Her comment made him laugh. “Yeah. I guess I’ll be making another report to Sheriff Jeffords.” He dumped the contents of his bag on the kitchen table and shook his head. “There sure is a lot of stuff here. It looks to be mostly junk mail.”

&nb
sp; “I see that,” she replied, unable to take her gaze from the manila envelope. “Aren’t you curious to find out why you were served?”

  He met her gaze. “I am. But I’m also dreading opening it. I mean, how much weirdness can happen in one day? I can’t help but wonder what the hell I did to piss someone off. First the break-in, and now someone tries to kill us. None of it makes sense. This is as crazy as when I’m working the war zone over in Kabul.”

  Again, she had the unshakable suspicion that all of this was because of her.

  “Let’s focus on the envelope for now,” she advised, clenching her hands into fists to keep from reaching out and touching him. “Maybe whatever is inside will at least give you some sort of explanation for all the craziness.”

  “Maybe.” But hands jammed into his pockets, he still didn’t make a move toward the table or the envelope sitting in the middle of a large pile of mail.

  Finally, she couldn’t take the silent inaction any longer.

  “Don’t you want to know?” she asked, not bothering to hide her exasperation.

  “Yes,” he answered. “But like I said, I also dread knowing. I’ve only been served one other time in my life and it wasn’t pleasant.”

  She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. Instead, he sighed and walked over to the kitchen table. He picked up the unmarked envelope and turned it around and around in his hands.

  Seriously? “Open it already,” she exclaimed.

  He shot her a mildly curious glance but went and got his letter opener from his desk and slit the seam. Reaching inside, he slid a single piece of white paper out and read it silently.

  “Well?”

  “I’ve being subpoenaed,” he said, his voice echoing his disbelief. “They want me to testify about the disappearance of my friend Rick Engles. But that makes no sense. I didn’t even get to see him right before he vanished. I have no information to give them that would help.”

  Eventually, he set the letter aside, though he reread it one more time. “I’m going to have to appear in the NCIS office in Colorado Springs,” he said. “It’s a total waste of my time.”