Mackenzie’s head started pounding, and she rubbed her face absently. “I’m sorry, Dad, but the police really need to ask me some more questions, so I’d better go. I realize I’ve got a lot of work to do to rebuild my business, but that’s where I want to focus my time and efforts right now. If you run into Miller again, please thank him for his time, but I’m really not interested.”
“All right.” She could still hear the disappointment that was heavy in his voice. “Where are you staying? Are you safe?”
“Yes, Dad, I’m safe,” Mackezie answered, relieved that the conversation had shifted from her employment situation. “The US Marshals office here is helping me and has gotten me set up in a nearby hotel. I’ll have to find a new apartment, but I’ll let you know once I’m settled.”
“All right, then. Call if you need us. We’ll come help you move if you’d like.”
“Sure thing. I’ll let you know once I’ve decided where I’m headed. Bye, Dad.” She hung up and sighed. Her parents meant well, but they had never really understood her work and career choices. They thought making movies was a great hobby, but certainly not a full-time occupation. With every passing year, they seemed to get more concerned about her future, and nothing she told them ever seemed good enough to please them. She desperately wanted their approval but, at this point, she was unsure if she would ever actually get it. Their lack of support ate at her yet also drove her to prove them wrong and work even harder at becoming a success. She was going to make a name for herself in the film business, and one day, she would garner their support. She glanced back over at her ruined equipment. Right now, that day seemed very far away indeed.
FOUR
A hand on her shoulder brought Mackenzie out of her contemplations, and she turned to see Jake.
“Good news. The local boys caught the two men that were shooting at us.” He showed her his phone, which had a mug shot of a man with dark hair and eyes. “Do you recognize this man?”
Mackenzie shook her head. The man’s face didn’t set off any bells, but the emptiness in his eyes scared her. He looked like someone that would hurt her with no qualms whatsoever.
Jake swiped the screen and showed her another picture. “What about him? Have you seen him before?”
This man’s face was narrower, and he had a large mole near his mouth. His lips formed a menacing sneer.
“Nope, I don’t know him. Sorry.”
Jake nodded and stored his phone. “Okay. They’re running criminal history checks on them now. The first one I showed you is a known associate of Beckett’s. It’s likely that this is all tied together. All we have to do now is figure out how.” He reached down, grabbed her suitcase and then motioned toward the door. “Let’s get you out of here.” He walked her into the living room, and after updating the two policemen, took her arm and led her toward the car.
“Will I be allowed back in there at some point to get the rest of my things?” Mackenzie asked as he opened the passenger door for her.
“Sure, at some point. Both the fire department and the police have to finish their investigations first. It’ll take a few days. Hopefully, by then we’ll have a handle on what’s going on here.” He closed the door, put her suitcase in the back seat, walked around the car and got in the driver’s side. “Everything about your projects sounds innocuous, except for maybe the homeless children documentary. Tell me about that.” He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot but looked over at her expectantly.
Mackenzie waited a moment before answering, wondering if they were going to be shot at a second time. Part of her wanted to stay indoors, where it might be safer, but she quickly remembered that men had broken into her apartment. There was no guarantee she was safe anywhere right now. She glanced at Jake, who also was taking a good look around them with a wary eye. At least Jake was helping her, despite the animosity he had shown her after hearing about her movie for the US Marshals.
A moment passed, then another. When nothing happened, Mackenzie took a deep breath, a wave of relief sweeping over her. She suddenly realized she had been clenching her hands. Her nails had left marks on her palms. She rubbed her hands against her jeans, trying to help the marks disappear. She thought back on her latest video project, hoping their conversation would erase some of the fear she was feeling. “Tallahassee has been experiencing a huge increase in homelessness lately, but it isn’t just adults that are sleeping on the streets. Due to the recent foreclosure crisis, families are losing their homes in record numbers, and there’s also a runaway component that is a big problem. A large part of the struggling population is teenagers, and I wanted to shine a light on that social issue. I’m hoping that if I ruffle enough feathers, the legislature and the Department of Children and Families will aim more of their resources into helping teens. A lot of the young adults I interviewed were foster kids who aged out of the system and didn’t have a job or home to go to.”
Jake turned a corner. “Who paid for that project?”
“A nonprofit charity named the Safe Harbor Group.”
“I’ve heard of them. They’re a pretty powerful advocacy group, from what I understand.”
Mackenzie nodded. “Yes, they’re a Florida-based organization with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami. Last year they sank a heap of money into lobbyists to get a bill passed through the Florida legislature to combat homelessness. It didn’t pass, so they hired me to make a video to highlight the problem, and they are gearing up to try again next year. They want to show my documentary on the local cable channels to garner support from the public, who they hope will pressure their representatives to vote for the legislation the next time around. It’s scheduled to air in about a month. I’ve got a small amount of editing to finish, and then I’ll be sending the final versions to their home office.”
“Is there any major opposition to the bill that you’re aware of?”
“Only the normal issues surrounding the cost of the legislation. Everybody seems to think helping the homeless is a good idea, but nobody wants to pay the tab. In the past, this type of legislation has been full of unfunded mandates, but this time around, the bill calls for some serious money to be spent on mental health services and child welfare programs.” Mackenzie suddenly sat up straighter and took a look at their location. “Instead of heading to the hotel, would you mind dropping me by my assistant’s house? It’s actually just around the corner from where we are now. I need to stop by and pick up my video camera and lighting equipment, and if she’s home, she can probably take me back to the hotel so you won’t have to. I want to take some live action shots of your team at work, starting tomorrow.”
Jake frowned, and his distaste for her idea was almost palpable. She was discouraged by his attitude and thought it was time to confront him. Being shot at two days in a row had also reduced her inhibitions. She just didn’t understand his hesitance. “Okay, Jake. It’s obvious you don’t want me to film you. What’s the problem?”
Jake shrugged, and Mackenzie could tell he was trying to decide how much to say. He had been ordered by his chief to help her, but the chief couldn’t make him like the idea or participate in the shots she needed for her storyboard to come to reality. She could probably make the film without his help, but it wouldn’t be easy, and it wouldn’t be as good. Mackenzie hoped that if he shared his concerns, maybe she could address them. The silence stretched between them, but finally he spoke.
“I have two reasons why I don’t want to make this movie. Like I told you before, you’ll get in our way. That puts you in danger, and it puts our officers in danger since we have to be thinking about your safety at the same time we’re trying to do our job. Second, you’ll make it impossible for any of us to go undercover in the future. Once our names and faces are publicized, we’ll never get that back.”
Mackenzie waited, hoping for more, but Jake seemed to have become a man of very few words. She wondered
fleetingly if she had ever really known him at all. “I can’t solve the undercover problem short of keeping your names out of the movie and pixelating your faces anytime you’re on the screen. That’s not my first choice because seeing the real you would have a larger impact on the viewers, but I certainly don’t want to put your lives at risk. You already do a dangerous job, and I don’t want to make it worse. I can also assure you that I’ll do my best to stay out of the way. Once you really look at the script and storyboard, I think you’ll feel better about the project. I’m open to changes if you have some ideas. I’d really like to sit down with you tomorrow and go over my plans.”
Jake shook his head. “Don’t count on it.”
Mackenzie pursed her lips. It was too bad that she had to have such an unwilling partner in this, but she was committed to the project and would see it through, with or without Jake’s help. She surveyed him closely as he drove. His short, military-style dark brown hair framed his face perfectly, and his clean-cut features and Southern gentleman manners made him seem professional yet also approachable. If anything, he had gotten more handsome over the years. How was that possible? He was perfect for her movie and would do an excellent job of representing the US Marshals, if she could just get him to cooperate.
She snuck another look at his profile. Over the years, he had honed his muscular physique, and he probably worked out on a regular basis to keep his strong, athletic body fit. She had always thought he was good-looking, and a new whisper of attraction swept over her now as she admired the man he had become. She shook her head and tried to push it away. How ridiculous. Back in school, Jake had never returned her sentiment, and she had made a fool of herself around him on more than one occasion. She certainly didn’t want to do so again. She forced her eyes to look out the window and watch the passing scenery. A few moments later, though, she returned to her perusal, almost without realizing it. His eyes. Those had always been his best feature. Jake Riley didn’t say very much, but his intense green eyes took in everything around him, and his mind was sharp, always catching the little details that others probably overlooked. A quiet observer of all he surveyed—that was an apt description of the deputy. There was a sadness in those eyes, though—as if he had seen the worst humanity had to offer and never really recovered. She wondered what he did for fun outside the workplace or if he even had any hobbies away from the job that brought joy to his life. He’d never been a “life of the party” kind of guy, but she remembered him enjoying sports and going to movies. Now his job seemed to define him. Was there more beneath the surface?
“What about your laptop?” Jake asked, suddenly breaking her train of thought. “Did you want to stop somewhere to buy a new one? We can do that now, too, if you’d like.”
The question startled her, and she abandoned her musings. “I have a Costco membership and can probably find something there. I don’t need anything fancy—just something with enough speed to support my video software. I would appreciate it if we could stop, but I don’t want to keep you away from the office if you need to get back.”
Jake was quiet for a moment. “Actually, I’d rather take you on your errands. Until we have a better handle on the folks threatening you and what they’re after, I want to make sure you’re safe. That’s my priority.”
Mackenzie’s immediate reaction was surprise, which was quickly replaced with doubt. “But I know you’re really busy, and like you said, I don’t want to be in your way...” His opposition to her project was already a mountain she needed to climb, and she didn’t want to make it worse by interrupting even more of his work.
Jake stopped at a streetlight and turned to look her in the eye. “It’s a done deal, Mackenzie. And you don’t need to worry. You’re a victim in the Beckett case, and I’ve been assigned to work with you on this film project, so either way, spending time with you is appropriate.” He leaned a bit closer. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe, movie or no movie.” The Southern twang of his accent softened the forcefulness of his statement, but friction still sizzled in the air. She was still uncomfortable with having him serve as her escort. A moment passed as their eyes locked, but then the stoplight changed and he turned his attention back to his driving.
* * *
Jake drove the rest of the way to the warehouse store in virtual silence, but he kept a vigilant watch on Mackenzie as she shopped. She picked out a new laptop and case that would meet her needs, as well as a new portable hard drive to replace the one that had been damaged in the fire, so she could store and back up her video clips as she had before.
A few minutes later, they retrieved her camera and other equipment she needed from her assistant’s house. Then they made a third stop by her safety deposit box at her bank, and she downloaded copies of all her movies onto her new hard drive, leaving the original backups in the box so they would remain safely tucked away. Jake was anxious to watch her film about homeless children to see if he could find any connections to the case, so he was glad a copy of her work still existed. Even though he wasn’t thrilled to be working with her, he realized that Mackenzie and her movie project were his best leads for finding and arresting Beckett. Before he could watch the video, however, he knew he had to do something about her safety. She had already been attacked twice in twenty-four hours. He couldn’t risk losing her to Beckett and his goons. As soon as they returned to his workplace, Jake led her along a long hallway. He unlocked a door and motioned for her to follow him in.
“What’s this about?”
“Security. Have you ever worn a bulletproof vest before?”
Mackenzie shook her head. “No. I’ve never needed one before.”
“Until we have Beckett behind bars, you need one.” He pulled a vest off a hook, checked the tag and handed it to her. “This is a medium. Let’s see if it fits. It’s the smallest size we have.” He helped her get it on and showed her how to tighten the straps. When he breathed in, he paused. Jasmine. It had to be jasmine in her perfume. The sweet scent distracted him once again, and he gritted his teeth. Why did this woman affect him so?
He thought back to the skinny, awkward kid whom he and Jonathan had done their best to ditch when they were in college. They could have treated her better. He felt a pang of regret.
“Wow! It’s so heavy!”
“Yeah, they’re definitely heavier than they look.” He stepped back, trying to erase the memories and put as much space between them as possible. “I think that’s the right size—at least, it’s the best we can do.”
Mackenzie adjusted the vest and stood up straight. “What do you think? Am I ready to go?” She flashed him a smile that sent a warm sensation from his head to his toes. He didn’t think she was purposely trying to flirt with him, but he seemed unable to resist her innocuous grin. How could she still be smiling after being shot at and losing all her equipment? Why wasn’t she reduced to tears and hysterics the way most people would be?
He didn’t understand. After everything that had happened to her, Mackenzie should be stressed and bad-tempered, but she wasn’t. Even on the job, Jake had seen so much ugliness that he now came to expect it, even from the victims. Mackenzie’s attitude was like a breath of fresh air. Yet it also irritated him for reasons he couldn’t quite identify. She was nothing like he remembered. In fact, he was starting to believe that he had really never known her at all.
He shook his head and leaned back in his chair, focusing again on the vest. “You’re not even close to being ready, Mackenzie, but it will have to do.” He reached over and adjusted the straps one more time. “You do need to tighten it a bit. We don’t want it to chafe you as you move.”
Mackenzie nodded and seemed to note his adjustments. Then she removed the vest since it wasn’t necessary to wear it while they were in the US Marshals office. “Okay. What next?”
“Now we’re going to watch your movies and see if we can figure out why you’ve become target practice for C
arter Beckett and his friends.”
“Got any popcorn?”
Jake raised an eyebrow at her quip but didn’t smile. Her positive attitude was such a different reaction than what he usually experienced that it was starting to concern him. Didn’t she realize that her life was in danger? That most of her business equipment had just gone up in smoke? That she had to move and find a new place to live? Why wasn’t she depressed and angry? Why wasn’t she taking the threat seriously?
“Look, this is grave business, Mackenzie. Carter Beckett and his friends aren’t playing a game. They’re criminals, and for some reason, they’ve focused their attention on you. Carter is a murderer. He’s also got a history of committing all sorts of other crimes. He hurts people and doesn’t think twice about it. You’d be wise to take both him and his threats seriously.”
His words made her eyes flash, but the smile didn’t waver from her lips. “Believe me, Jake. I am very aware of the gravity of the situation. I don’t get shot at every day, and I’ve certainly never had my apartment burned by an arsonist. In fact, this entire situation is totally new to me, and it scares me to the bone. But I’m not going to crawl into a hole and let them win, either. I’m in no hurry to die, but I’m not going to just roll over and cry ‘uncle.’ I’ve got a job to do and a life to live, and neither Carter Beckett nor his friends are going to keep me from doing either one.”
Jake raised an eyebrow again but decided against continuing the argument. She was driven to succeed, and apparently nothing he said was going to change her mind. Once again, he found himself admiring her spirit, despite the fact that her attitude scared him a bit. Anybody with that much determination might also act recklessly, though, and like it or not, it was now his job to protect her—at least until her movie about his US Marshals unit was completed and the threat against her was extinguished.
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