Sanctuary Buried WITSEC Town Series Book 2

by Lisa Phillips

  “You can just give me a kiss every day. At least for now.”

  Frannie laughed. “You realize that’s extortion.”

  His head descended. “Only if you report me to the sheriff.”

  The rotors of a helicopter spinning rose in volume until Frannie could hear it over the hum of conversation in the room.

  “Looks like Grant is here.” Matthias looked at his watch.

  “You have something you need to do? You don’t have to stay here all day if you don’t want to.”

  Matthias kissed her cheek. “I would love to stay here all day, but I need to go see a man about a thing.”

  “Uh…okay.” Frannie laughed. “I’ll see you later?”

  “You certainly will.”

  **

  Grant strode through the sheriff’s office and sat in John’s chair. John raised his eyebrows, but his brother just shot him a look like: what are you going to do about it?

  John sat in the chair that would be his deputy’s—if he had one. “We’ll bury the doctor here next week...and Wilson. There’s no need for the bodies to be taken out of town. How are Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle doing?”

  “Mrs. Carlyle didn’t make it through surgery.”

  John groaned.

  “Mr. Carlyle is hanging on, but it doesn’t look good.”

  John wanted to swear, but that was his old way of reacting. Good thing God didn’t mind him being disappointed in the outcome. God wasn’t surprised by it. Help us heal from this. All totaled there were a dozen minor injuries, two major ones—Bolton and Mr. Carlyle—and three dead. It wasn’t the outcome John would have preferred, but he could only roll with what he’d been dealt.

  Grant shifted in his chair. “I’ll scout around WITSEC for another doctor I can transfer in, but right now you’re going to have to put up with as much as the nurses can do. Remy’s expertise should be saved for trauma. I’ll talk to Mountain Home Air Force base and see if they can send a doctor with the mail transport. That way you’ll at least get a few hours a week of clinic.”

  John nodded. “I’ll tell the nurses to set up appointments. They can use the Meeting House until the medical center is rebuilt.”

  Pat’s footsteps bounded down the stairs from the apartment they’d renovated, followed more sedately by Aaron. They were a strange friendship, a nine year old boy and a twenty-two year old man, but in this instance it worked.

  “Uncle Grant!” Pat dived on John’s older brother, causing a pang of guilt in John over the fact his son hadn’t seen much of his extended family outside of secure phone calls in weeks now. Hopefully they’d be able to get together over the holidays. Security permitting. John and Pat couldn’t leave, and getting multiple members of their family there under the radar would be interesting. At least most of them would be there for the wedding.

  Grant gave him a long squeeze and ruffled his hair, then shook hands with Aaron. “How are you, Aaron?”

  The young man with unkempt hair and a jumble of teeth in his mouth held out his hand, his gaze darting around the room. “All Aaron.”

  John chuckled. Grant looked at him and nodded. Aaron had been doing well lately and still loved his job as the mailman.

  “Dad!” Pat jumped over, his energy level making John feel tired and old in comparison. “We’re going to play at Reuben and Simeon’s because Olympia said they need to have fun since their mom and dad aren’t talking to each other. We’re going to help them write letters to Santa!”

  “Awesome.” John hugged his son. “Have fun.”

  The door shut behind them and Grant said, “He seems to be enjoying himself.”

  John nodded. “Beth is a good teacher.”

  “She’d have to be, after the last teacher abducted Pat and held him at knife-point.” John didn’t share his brother’s smile. Grant cleared his throat. “What time are you expecting Beth and Mrs. Myerson here?”

  John checked his watch. “Any minute. How’s Mom?”

  “Fine.”

  “And Nate?”

  “He says he’s fine, but I think his knee is bothering him. Mom said he was talking about having to have surgery.”

  Nate was the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. Having surgery not halfway through the season could be detrimental to his contract and the team’s chances. “That’s rough.”

  “Ben’s last contact was six hours ago. The mission was in Syria, so he’s making his way to intercept Lieutenant Myerson and his team. For now, he’s dark until he finds Samuel. Then I’ll meet them for a sit down.”

  “Very good.”

  John still didn’t know precisely what Ben did to earn a livable wage. Or maybe he had enough money already, and he didn’t need to work for pay. That was possible. There were some mercenary gigs that paid a lot, but John had always kind of figured his brother was one of the good guys. Like CIA, or whatnot. Maybe that was just wishful thinking.

  Whatever he did, Ben had a whole lot of skills that surpassed even what a Navy SEAL was capable of.

  Beth tapped on the door. She smiled, but her eyes were sad. She’d been quiet even before her parents were killed, but if possible she was even more subdued now.

  “Come in.”

  Abigail followed her, clutching her purse to her side. She gave him a polite nod.

  “How are you?”

  Beth settled in the waiting area, which was a solid six feet from his desk where Grant sat. She sent John’s brother a smile while Abigail walked over and presented her hand to be shook by the director of the US Marshals.

  Grant was a perfect gentleman. “Mrs. Myerson.”

  “Has my son been located?”

  Grant waved her to a chair. “I’ll know as soon as he has, and I’ll pass the information along to Sheriff Mason. After that it will only be hours until he arrives.”

  “If he wants to come.”

  Everyone glanced at Beth. John wondered if maybe she hadn’t always been so subdued. Perhaps this Beth was only reacting to what had happened in her life...and her marriage.

  Beth sat a little straighter in the chair, assuming the stance of someone born to privilege—something she didn’t need much of in Sanctuary. “It’s up to Sam if he wants to be here. I don’t want him pressured into coming. He has to be given the choice.”

  Grant’s gaze was steady on her. “His life is in danger even if he knows nothing about the threat that exists against you. He needs to be protected, just as you do.”

  “He’s a SEAL, director. I’m sure he can take care of himself.”

  “Be that as it may, witness protection is the safest option. Whoever killed your parents will turn to other sources to discover your location.”

  He was downplaying it, given they didn’t even know if the president and his wife had given up the location of Sanctuary before they were killed.

  “They didn’t tell anyone about Sanctuary. They wouldn’t have.” Beth’s façade looked so brittle it was in danger of snapping at any moment. “My father was military. My mother was the strongest woman I ever knew. There is no way they’d have given me up, even under threat of torture.”

  John’s eyes widened. They hadn’t told Beth about that, but apparently she’d figured it out.

  “It’s not rocket science, gentlemen. They were murdered, along with their entire protective detail. Why else, but for my location?” Beth paused. “When you find Sam, I don’t want him to be pressured. I don’t need a husband who’s only here out of guilt, and neither does this baby need a father who feels that way.”

  Grant said, “I’ll give him the choice.”

  “I don’t want him here if he doesn’t want to be part of this.” Beth laid a hand low on her stomach where her pregnancy wasn’t yet obvious.

  Abigail glanced between them, but she didn’t say anything. She and Beth had either had this conversation, or they were going to have it later in private.

  Grant popped open his briefcase and pulled out a CD in a paper sleeve. He set it on the desk. “I had the funeral reco
rded.”

  Beth stilled. “Were you able to attend?”

  He nodded. “It was beautiful.”

  “Thank you.”

  Grant nodded again, and there was a long moment of silence before he said, “I’m resuming Sanctuary’s internet access, effective immediately. The threat against you is still very real, but the people here need the limited contact they get with the outside world beyond snail mail.”

  Beth said, “I understand. It will make school easier if we can check in with the online public school program we’re using.”

  “We’re still operating at heightened security, though. And I’m not reading the president in.”

  John had never met the new president, formerly the vice president. And had only spoken to Beth’s father a handful of times. This new commander-in-chief was an unknown quotient who could either reinforce everything they were doing in Sanctuary and help keep these people safe, or he could undermine it all and put them in danger.

  “President Gunderson is a good man, but he’s old school. He doesn’t like conspiracies, or anything he can’t stick his finger into.” Beth gave Grant a slight smile. “I could speak with him, if you want. Explain the particulars of Sanctuary.”

  Grant shook his head. “Thank you for offering. I don’t want either of you to worry. We’ll keep you safe. All you need to do is live your lives, love this baby. And if Sam comes, promise me you’ll honor his choice.”

  Beth looked like she wanted to object, but Grant continued. “I know you didn’t ask for this life, or for any of this to happen. But Sanctuary is a good town full of good people.”

  John smirked, remembering how he’d teased his brother months ago about writing the brochure. Grant was good at his job. The threats against Sanctuary were many, and they were real. But conversely he had also built something here people valued, a community of friends and families who cared for each other.

  Beth smiled, shaking her head. “I know that. You’re right, I didn’t choose this. But if I’d have known, then I would have. I would have chosen Sanctuary as the place I wanted to raise my family.”

  “So long as we get a doctor to deliver it,” Abigail said.

  John chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  John had the feeling Beth’s mother-in-law was going to prove to be a firecracker. Even if she had agreed to live here for an indeterminate period of time, which could very well end up stretching into the rest of her life, Abigail wasn’t going to let anything get past her.

  The two women left, and John and Grant stood on the sidewalk watching them walk away. A crowd of people hung around the bakery and other spots on Main Street. Life was continuing, even after the events of recent days. Construction had started on rebuilding the medical center, putting many of the residents to work where they’d previously been between jobs.

  “I should go. The helicopter will be ready to leave in a few minutes.”

  John hugged his brother. “Christmas?”

  “You think I’d miss your wedding?” Grant scoffed. “Where is your fiancé, anyway? I haven’t seen her.”

  John scowled. “Go home to your wife, where she can keep you out of trouble.”

  Grant scratched his clean-shaven chin. “Maybe I’ll stop by Nate’s on the way.”

  “Because Miami is between Idaho and D.C.?”

  “I just want to make sure he’s okay, and I have some business in the neighborhood.”

  “Whatever, just take care. And don’t stay away too long, Genevieve will be wondering where you are.”

  “She wants me to retire.”

  John lifted his eyebrows.

  “I’m thinking about it.”

  “Who will replace you?”

  “That’s what I’m thinking about.”

  John didn’t even want to know how hard it would be to break in someone new. “But I’ve barely settled in.”

  “I know.” Grant’s chest puffed out. “You need me.”

  “Don’t fool yourself. Any old dude could replace you.”

  Grant took a playful swing, and John ducked.

  Epilogue

  Two Weeks Later

  The Meeting House was packed. Nearly everyone from town had turned out for Thanksgiving dinner, dressed in their “special occasion” clothes. After they all ate, the tables would be cleared away and the projection screen would be lowered from the ceiling so those who wanted to could spend the rest of the afternoon napping in front of a football game.

  Matthias put his arm on the back of Frannie’s chair. Without breaking her conversation with Nadia Marie and Andra, who sat across the table, she leaned into his side. He looked around at people finishing up their meal.

  Izzy sat beside Sofia, more subdued than anyone was used to. Diego was at the other end of the table, making a point not to look at Izzy once. It wasn’t obvious she was pregnant, but she did look pale, and he’d noticed her go a bit green at the sight of all the food.

  Mimi was gone, having transferred out of Sanctuary days before. Matthias didn’t know if she’d gotten her wish to go to Miami, but prayed John and Grant had put safeguards in place to prevent her from putting anyone’s lives in danger by revealing the whereabouts of Sanctuary. He wasn’t convinced making her sign an amended confidentiality agreement would do it.

  John stood, tapping a butter knife on the side of his glass. No one paid him any attention, so he set them down and stuck his fingers in his mouth. The whistle was ear-piercing, but after the reactions died down, there was quiet.

  “Since the mayor isn’t here today, it falls to me to tell you all thank you for coming.” John glanced around the room, his gaze taking in every person. He set his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Since Pat and I arrived, we’ve felt like this was the place we’re supposed to be.” He smiled. “Okay, so I’m not good at eloquent speeches. But we consider each of you to be our family, and we’re blessed to spend this day with all of you. Since today is a day for giving thanks, I would like to say thank you to each of you. We’ve had our ups and downs.”

  Andra snorted. John smiled, and she reached and grabbed his hand, holding it in hers.

  “But I’m praying the worst of it is over. And we’re looking forward to many years of peace and safety in this town. Thank you for making Sanctuary a wonderful place to live.”

  Frannie leaned her head against Matthias’s shoulder while everyone clapped. He squeezed her shoulders and turned to whisper in her ear. “Come with me?”

  Frannie shifted so he could see the question in her eyes. He held out his hand, and she put hers in it. Matthias walked her outside to his truck.

  “Where are we going?”

  He smiled at her. “I want to show you something.”

  At the ranch, he saddled his horse and pulled her up behind him. Frannie’s arms settled around his waist, the warmth of her pressed against his back. He touched her hands, linked on his stomach and felt how cold they were.

  “Where are your gloves?”

  He felt her laughter. “Where are yours?”

  “My hands are warm.” The horse took the trail easily, winding through the trees until they reached the hot springs where he’d brought Frannie on their first date. It seemed like weeks ago now, given so much had happened since.

  Frannie walked immediately to the area of grass at the far side of the clearing. Stakes dotted the ground, tied together with pink string that marked where walls of the structure would be built.

  She glanced back, frowning. “What is it?”

  Matthias just stood for a moment, watching her there in the place he was carving out for her. “Tomorrow we’re going to break ground on a vacation house. Not a tiny cabin, but not a big house either. Room enough for two, with a sitting room and a decent size kitchen. Maybe some bunk beds, if someone has kids. You can make it whatever you want. Rent it out, so couples or even small families have somewhere to get away from town.”

  Frannie rushed at him, jumped into his arms and kissed all the thoughts from his head. She le
aned back, both hands on his face so that he was holding her up. “Can we live here sometimes?”

  “Depends.”

  She cocked her head to one side. “On what?”

  Matthias set her down then, drawing the tiny box from his pocket. Frannie gasped even before he got down on one knee in the cold grass.

  “Will you marry me?”

  Frannie hiccupped a sob but smiled at him. Matthias returned the smile, unable to believe it was possible he could be this happy.

  Frannie said, “Absolutely yes.”

  The following is an excerpt from Sanctuary Breached

  (WITSEC Town Series Book 3)

  Chapter 1

  Early November

  Somewhere along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

  The low moon lit the sky like a beacon. Navy SEAL Lieutenant Samuel “Boxer” Myerson shifted the weapon hidden under his shepherd garb. The night breeze brushed against his neck and whipped at the legs of his pants. “You guys really stink.”

  Chuckles erupted in front. Swish turned back. “Not as bad as Peace’s sister.”

  Sam cracked a smile.

  “Eyes on the prize, boys.” Senior Chief Tommy “Gun” Locan’s voice sounded even more clipped than usual. At the front of the line, he walked so fast he almost barreled toward the enemy. They all knew where his head was at. Some things couldn’t be left at home, as much as any of them might want perfect focus.

  Sam had set one eye on Tommy’s mental state ever since the man’s teenage daughter had been diagnosed with leukemia about four months ago—give or take three days of hiking through the Afghan mountains and six hours of planning the rescue of a state department attaché.

  Their final destination was a mountain compound where the government suit had been taken after he was kidnapped. The marine convoy transporting him had been destroyed, but not before one soldier radioed-in the abduction. She’d been dead, too, by the time help got to her.