Caught in the Crossfire (Otter Creek Book 15)

by Rebecca Deel

  His hands fisted. “Of course not, but you can’t deny I’m the common denominator.”

  Grace laid her hand on his forearm. “All the facts aren’t in, Mason.”

  “Rod Kelter is already mentally fitting me for an orange jumpsuit.”

  “You’re not a killer.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” He’d already killed a young mother and her toddler through his own stupidity, something he would never allow himself to forget. The course of his whole life changed the moment he’d climbed behind the wheel of his car after drinking heavily at his college graduation party. “Anyone tries to harm Nicole again, I’ll defend her by whatever means are necessary.” Even if he had to pay for his actions with more years behind bars.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Mason followed behind Linc’s SUV as his friend drove to Riva’s with Dawn, alert for trouble. He might not have all the specialized training of a Fortress operative, but he could run interference if trouble came calling.

  He parked behind Linc and circled the hood of his truck to open Nicole’s door. “Wait here until I’m sure your SUV is safe to drive.” Although Nicole didn’t have far to drive, Mason refused to allow her to crank the engine until he was positive someone hadn’t tampered with her vehicle.

  Nicole rested her hand over his heart. “Josh checked it two hours ago. I’m sure it’s fine.”

  “I’m not. You mean more to me than anything or anyone else in my life. It’s my responsibility to take care of you, a responsibility I don’t take lightly. You are my greatest treasure, Nicole.” Without her, his life had no meaning or purpose.

  Her expression softened. “Have I told you how much I love you, Mason Kincaid?”

  “Not in the past few hours.”

  “How remiss of me. I’m blaming the head injury for that lapse. I love you. Thank you for checking my vehicle and keeping me safe.”

  He relaxed his grip on the frame of his truck, relieved he wouldn’t have to insist. His lady was independent and stubborn, and he adored her. Her safety, however, was an area where he wouldn’t budge. “I won’t be long.”

  After a brief kiss, Mason closed the passenger door again to better protect her and circled Nicole’s SUV, searching for signs of tampering. Rio’s teammate, Nate, was one of the best EOD men in the business and Mason had spent several hours with him over the past two years, learning the signs of sabotage in vehicles. Never thought he’d have to use the knowledge he’d gained to safeguard the woman he loved.

  While he searched, he noticed Linc searching Dawn’s vehicle. If anything was wrong, the PSI weapons master would know.

  Mason dropped to his stomach and surveyed the vehicle’s undercarriage. Nothing that shouldn’t be there. Breathing easier, he returned to Nicole. “All clear. I’ll follow you to work, then pick up breakfast.”

  “You’re going to spoil me, Mason.”

  “I’m taking care of you,” he corrected. “You’ll stay in the shop today?”

  “We have back-to-back grooming appointments until six o’clock tonight. I’ll barely have time to eat lunch much less step outside of the shop.”

  “If you need to go out for any reason, don’t go without an escort. If I’m not available, Ethan might have an officer available or Trent could send one of the bodyguard trainees with you.”

  Nicole pressed her lips to his. “Don’t worry. I won’t go anywhere without taking along a big, burly male I trust.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Hey, I don’t want to be responsible for you slamming a hammer onto your thumb rather than a nail.”

  His lips twitched. “I appreciate that.” He turned as Linc approached. “Clean?”

  “No tampering. You?”

  “Same.”

  Linc’s brows knitted. “I’m surprised the killer didn’t try to rig up something even with the police activity. He had the perfect opportunity after he shot up Trent’s house. Most of the third-shift cops were securing the new scene.”

  It was curious. Maybe the killer didn’t have the knowledge necessary. How could that be, though? A simple search of the Internet would yield directions for a bomb. Low-tech sabotage would have also been effective. Nicking a brake line or dumping sugar in a gas tank would make Nicole and Dawn vulnerable to another attack. “I’ll follow you to the salon, then get breakfast.”

  “You’ll be late for work,” Nicole said.

  “I’ll call Brian and explain.” Mason held out his hand. “Come on. You need to be at the salon soon in order to set up for your first customer.”

  That brought a smile to her face. “My favorite four-footed guy, Tank, is coming.”

  “Tank?” Linc’s eyebrows rose.

  “He’s a big chocolate Lab with a heart of gold and the sweetest disposition ever. Don’t rat me out, but I’d do his grooming for free just to have a chance to work on him.”

  He chuckled. “Can’t wait to meet him.”

  A short time later, the entourage headed toward Pet Palace. On the drive, Mason called his boss. “It’s Mason. I’ll be a little late this morning.”

  “You forget to set your alarm?” Brian teased.

  “No, sir.” He summarized the events of the previous evening and early this morning. “Linc and I are escorting Dawn and Nicole to the grooming salon to be sure they arrive safely. Want me to bring you something since I’m picking up breakfast for the others anyway?”

  “I wouldn’t turn it down. I’m running late, too, which is why I’ll be arriving at the Oakdale site with an empty stomach.”

  “Thanks, Brian. I’ll make up the time.”

  “Mase, you work over frequently without turning in the extra time. If anything, I owe you. Are the cops hassling you about Riva’s death and Nicole’s injury?”

  Trust his boss to cut to the chase. “They’ll uncover the real culprit soon.” Being Ethan and Rod’s primary suspect in Riva’s murder and Nicole’s attack rankled. No question that he was innocent of the drive-by shooting. Of course, he could have had an accomplice pull the trigger. He grimaced. Yet more fallout from his conviction and prison sentence.

  “If you need me to put in a good word for you with Ethan, let me know. I’ll be happy to vouch for you.”

  “I’ll see you in an hour with breakfast.” He ended the call as he turned into the lot in front of Pet Palace and parked beside Nicole’s SUV.

  He opened the driver’s door for her and walked Nicole inside the shop. While she and Dawn turned on lights and booted up the computer, he and Linc checked each room in the shop for signs of a break-in. Everything was normal. Excellent.

  Back in the reception area, Mason cupped Nicole’s cheek as he leaned in for a quick kiss. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Something light for me,” she murmured. “I’m not up to a full meal this morning.”

  Concern knotted his stomach. “Are you feeling sick again?”

  “A little. It’s not bad. Maybe the patch Matt used is wearing off.”

  And maybe Nicole was downplaying how she felt so he wouldn’t worry. He looked at Linc with a pointed glance. The PSI instructor’s lips twitched as he inclined his head in acknowledgment of Mason’s silent order to look after Nicole.

  After another brush of his lips over hers, Mason drove to Perk and ordered food and drinks for five. When he returned to the salon, he placed the food and drink carrier on the counter.

  He tapped the largest of the three cups. “Tea for you, Nicole. The other two contain coffee. I bought a bagel for you. Take it easy today. If you need me, call. I’ll get here as soon as I can.”

  “I’ll be fine. Go.”

  As he left the salon, Mason held the door open for Tank and his owner to enter.

  “Tank!” Nicole leaned down and hugged the Lab. “It’s about time JT brought you in. I’ve been missing you, buddy.”

  The dog’s 80-year-old owner chuckled. “Tank and I have been visiting my grandchildren. We just returned to Otter Creek yesterday.”

 
Mason smiled as he cranked the truck’s ignition and backed out of the parking space. At least, Nicole’s day had started off with a favorite customer. He’d have to call and check on her at his break time.

  Another idea occurred to him, one that would be sure to irritate Nicole but give him peace of mind. As soon as he parked at the Oakdale job site, Mason called Matt.

  “Rainer.”

  “It’s Mason. I need a favor.”

  “Name it.”

  “If you have time between classes today, swing by Pet Palace and check on Nicole.”

  “She’s worse?”

  “I don’t think so. Grace kept tabs on her during the night, but I’d feel better if you evaluated her yourself. Nicole is complaining about nausea again this morning.”

  “I have a break around 10:00. Is that soon enough?”

  “That’s perfect. Thanks, Matt.”

  “No problem. Everything quiet overnight?”

  He told the medic about the shooting.”

  A soft whistle came over the speaker. “Brazen or desperate. You have someone watching over Dawn and Nicole today?”

  “Linc. I’ll take over at 3:00.”

  “I’ll be glad to lend a hand if you need someone else to take a shift. The other members of Bravo and Durango will be glad to help, too.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime, Mason.” The medic ended the call.

  Mason grabbed the bag of food from Perk along with the coffee. He sincerely hoped the extra-large coffee worked its magic on him. Although he didn’t regret staying awake all night to watch over Nicole, Mason was feeling the lack of sleep already.

  He found Brian at one of the Oakdale apartment complex buildings and handed his boss breakfast.

  Gene Patton, one of Mason’s co-workers, turned, nail gun in his hand. “Sucking up to the boss because you’re late, Kincaid?”

  Mason’s friend, Dean Conner, caught his eye and shook his head slightly. Yeah, he was right. He couldn’t let Patton’s lousy attitude set him off over something so simple. The cantankerous worker would have plenty to rib Mason over before the day was out. Otter Creek’s grapevine was sure to carry news of Riva’s death and the police interest in Mason soon.

  Brian frowned at Patton. “Knock it off.” He turned back to Mason. “Nicole and Dawn are taken care of for today?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Excellent. Let’s get moving. Take Dean to Building 10 and finish the punch out.” He handed Mason a clipboard with the checklists. “After that, go to Building 8 and do the same there. The inspector will be on site tomorrow morning at 7:00.”

  “Who’s scheduled to do the inspection?”

  “Noel Manning.”

  Mason blew out a breath. Great. Manning was notorious for finding fault no matter how meticulous their work. Made Mason doubly glad he’d purchased the largest cup of coffee sold at Perk. “We’ll be ready.” He glanced at his friend. “Come on, Dean. We have a boatload of work to complete.”

  Dean picked up his toolbox and followed Mason outside. “I’ll meet you at Building 10.” The dark-haired man climbed into his truck and cranked the engine.

  Five minutes later, the two men carried their tools into the building and began to work down the list, checking off items as they completed each task. In the last unit, Mason noted several of the outlets weren’t working. “Who worked on this unit?”

  “Patton and Fisher.”

  Of course. Gene Patton and Ed Fisher were thick as thieves and lazy. “They missed a few things.”

  Dean snorted. “They always do. I bet the nuts aren’t tightened enough on the pipes, either.”

  “You want the outlets or the pipes?”

  “I’ll take the outlets. You’re the plumbing king.”

  Twenty minutes later, Mason found Dean still fixing the outlets. “Need a hand?”

  “Yeah.” Disgust rang in his voice. “None of the outlets work. They slapped on the outlet covers before they connected the wires. Maybe it was a mistake.”

  “More likely they did it deliberately to look good in front of Brian. Patton’s angling for a promotion.”

  “If Brian can’t see the truth about him, I might have to look for another job. I don’t think I can work under him with his shoddy workmanship. Someone is going to get hurt if Patton keeps cutting corners.”

  Between the two of them, they connected wires in the outlets and tested them before covering them again. When they secured the last screw, Mason and Dean continued with the checklist, finding more mistakes and fixing them.

  Two hours beyond the time Mason had allotted for the punch list, he and his partner drove to their next assigned building to check the work and do the finishing touches. Manning would check everything. Mason and Dean were determined to make sure the picky inspector didn’t find anything to complain about.

  They found more issues in Building 8. Mason scowled. “Let me guess. Patton and Fisher again?”

  “Who else?” Dean sipped coffee from his to-go cup. “What are you going to do?”

  “Fix their mess because I don’t want Elliott Construction blamed for the lousy work, then report the issues to Brian.” Mason glanced at his watch. “I’m not sure I’ll have time to talk to the boss before I need to leave today.”

  “Doing something with Nicole?”

  “Keeping her safe. Linc Creed is watching her and Dawn until I’m off.”

  Dean’s eyebrows knitted. “What’s going on?” When Mason finished his explanation, his friend dragged a hand down his face. “Good grief, Mase. Kelter and the police chief think you’re guilty of murder and assault?”

  His gut twisted at the thought. “They labeled me a person of interest.”

  “Do yourself a favor, buddy. Make sure you can account for every minute of your time from now on until they unmask the real killer. Otherwise, you may find yourself behind bars again. Plenty of people in town will point a finger at you.”

  Mason sighed. “The same people who refuse to let me inside their homes without someone else from Elliott Construction to make sure I don’t steal the silver or family jewels.”

  “They’re wrong about you.”

  He eyed his friend. “How do you know? Maybe I’ve snowed you like I have every other citizen in Otter Creek.”

  Sadness filled Dean’s eyes. “I’ve met the worst of mankind. You aren’t anything like them.”

  “Need to get something off your chest?” Mason had suspected for several months that Dean had a difficult past. Although he’d offered to listen before, his friend had never taken him up on the invitation. Would he this time?

  The other man shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. Those people are in the past.”

  His face, drained of color, hinted that he couldn’t talk about his background, that perhaps he’d slipped and told too much. Good enough for Mason. He was familiar with operatives who couldn’t talk about their work. “If you change your mind, I know how to keep secrets.” He smiled. “It’s a necessity in my family.”

  That brought a short laugh. “I’ll bet.”

  “Come on. Let’s go to the next unit. I’m guessing we have more mistakes to fix and we’re running short on time.”

  By the end of the workday, Mason and Dean had finished their punch lists as well as repaired or completed tasks that should have been done already.

  Mason gave a brief verbal report to his boss about the shoddy workmanship and handed over the lists he and Dean had completed during the day.

  Brian scowled. “Are you sure it was Patton and Fisher?”

  He nodded. “Dean and I noted every task we either had to do from scratch or repair. Check the paper trail to confirm the responsible parties.”

  His boss rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll check into it after Manning’s visit tomorrow. In the meantime, keep an eye out for anything that should have been finished and isn’t. Don’t go out of your way, Mason, but if you see evidence of a problem, I want to know about it.”

&nb
sp; “Yes, sir.”

  Brian waved him on. “Go. I know you’re worried about Nicole. I need you on site tomorrow morning by six.”

  “I’ll be here.” With a vat full of coffee. Man, he was tired. How would he be able to stay awake to protect Nicole? With a wave, he climbed into his truck and drove toward town.

  When he passed the Otter Creek B & B on the outskirts of town, he glanced at the man exiting a luxury SUV. Mason’s breath caught when the stranger turned enough for him to see his face.

  A ball of ice formed in his stomach. No, not now. Not when things were chaotic and he was under suspicion for another crime, this one he hadn’t committed. The timing couldn’t be worse.

  Although he was tempted to turn around and confront the man, Mason continued into town. Nicole was his priority. His past could wait. Hands gripping the wheel, he vowed to track the other man down and find out what he was doing in town. Mason had served his time, and he wouldn’t allow his past to hurt Nicole.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Nicole blew an escaped strand of hair out of her eyes and slipped the perky red collar back on Violet, the Australian Shepherd. “You are one beautiful girl, Violet. Your mom will be so happy to see you, especially now that you don’t smell like a skunk.”

  “The new de-skunking shampoo is amazing.” Dawn glanced up with a smile as she swept the last of the dog hair into a large dust pan and dumped the contents into the trash. “How many times has Violet been up close and personal with a skunk?”

  “The score is five to zero. The skunks have won every skirmish.”

  “Ugh. I can only imagine how potent she was right after she was sprayed or how rank her owner’s vehicle is now.”

  The grooming room had a faint skunk odor lingering in the air. Skunk scent hung around for a long time. “Gretchen took her SUV to be cleaned. Her ride home with Violet should be much more pleasant.”

  The bell over the front door rang as another customer walked inside the salon. Nicole frowned. “Did another appointment book? I thought we were ahead by 30 minutes.” She’d been looking forward to a 20-minute power nap or an extra-large coffee or both.