She rubbed her arms in an attempt to stave off the chill, as well as her own nervousness at having to make small talk with people she didn’t know. Hopefully, as soon as the introductions were over, she could slip out unnoticed.
First thing tomorrow morning, she planned to see Joshua, if he was allowed visitors by then. The last word from the hospital was that his condition remained critical.
A swarm of military and civilian personnel filled the club’s main ballroom. Threading her way into their midst, she stretched on tiptoe and searched for Major Jenkins and any of the other people with whom she now worked.
“Stephanie?”
She turned to find Special Agent Goodman standing behind her. His dark eyes, which had been elusive earlier, now flashed with warmth.
“I didn’t think I’d ever find you in this crowd.”
He’d been looking for her?
To cover her surprise, she glanced quickly around the ballroom. “Everyone on post must be here.”
He pointed to a table set up in the corner and raised his voice to be heard over a group of young officers clustered nearby. “I was on my way to grab a cold drink. May I get you something?”
“A bottle of water would be great.”
Brody leaned closer to be heard over the surrounding chatter. A subtle hint of aftershave wafted past her—a masculine scent that caused a tingle of interest to play along her neck.
“Do you mind coming with me? I don’t want to lose you in the crowd.”
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before his hand touched the small of her back. He guided her across the room. A number of folks smiled. Others nodded in passing.
At one point, Brody halted her forward progression in order for a distinguished couple to pass. The man was dressed in the army’s digital-camouflage uniform. Two stars were attached to the center front tab.
“That’s General Cameron, the post commanding general, and his wife.” Brody’s lips hovered close to her ear. “They’re nice folks. He’s a by-the-book type of guy who puts his soldiers first. Mrs. Cameron is a charming Southern belle who treats everyone with sincerity and warmth.”
A younger couple waved and then headed toward them. The guy—dressed in a sport coat and tie, just as Brody was—slapped Brody’s shoulder in greeting and turned to Stephanie, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “Don’t believe anything this guy tells you.”
The attractive woman at his side smiled. “I’m Michele Steele, and the CID agent giving Brody a hard time is my husband, Jamison.”
“Nice to meet you both.”
“Stephanie’s the new AW2 advocate,” Brody told them.
“An important position.” Jamison’s smile was encouraging. “It’s good to have you on board.”
“Jamison and I work together,” Brody told her. “Michele is Colonel and Mrs. Logan’s daughter.” He pointed to the older couple talking with the commanding general and his wife. “Her parents are as nice as she is.”
“You and Stephanie need to come over for dinner.” Michele looked at her husband, who nodded in agreement. “Jamison could throw some steaks on the grill.”
Grateful though Stephanie was for the invitation, she wasn’t sure socializing with the special agent was a good idea, especially after the pointed questions he had voiced earlier.
After chatting for a few more minutes, she excused herself to look for Major Jenkins and spotted him standing near the stage.
“The general will call your name shortly,” he said as she approached. “I provided him with information he’ll mention when he introduces you. All you’ll have to do is shake his hand and smile.”
Stephanie adjusted her skirt and tucked her hair behind her ear, a bit on edge at the thought of being introduced, especially knowing Brody was in the crowd.
When her name was called, she joined the general on the raised platform and smiled at the sea of faces and military uniforms. In the distance, she spied Brody. His eyes held her gaze for a long moment, causing a flush of heat to work along her neck.
The general recounted the previous job she had held at Fort Stewart and praised her background in social services. She appreciated the information Major Jenkins had provided.
“I know our injured soldiers will find the support they need with Ms. Upton filling the AW2 advocate position.”
“Thank you, sir.” After shaking the general’s hand, she hurried offstage.
Relieved to have the introduction behind her, Stephanie said goodbye to the major and headed for the door. Before reaching the exit, she heard Brody’s name announced. Turning back, she watched the ease with which he climbed the platform and stood next to the general.
The post commander praised his accomplishments and valor during four deployments to the Middle East. A number of men and women in uniform cheered when his time in combat was mentioned. As the next name was called, Stephanie left the club and hurried across the parking lot.
Nearing her car, she groaned. The left rear tire was flat as a pancake. What else could go wrong today?
Her brother’s hateful comments at Josh’s house came to mind. What better way to prove his point than to put obstacles in her path?
He wouldn’t have hurt Josh, but deflating her tire wasn’t outside the realm of possibilities. As a teen, Ted had gotten into trouble for doing exactly the same thing.
Tears of frustration and aggravation burned her eyes. In addition, she felt betrayed.
Retrieving her cell from her purse, she called his number. More than anything, she wanted to stop the downward spiral of their relationship before things got completely out of hand. When he failed to answer, she disconnected instead of leaving a message. What she had to say should probably be done in person.
Plus, she needed to focus on the current problem. Namely her flat tire. How hard could it be to put on the spare?
Her moment of optimism plummeted when she opened the trunk and stared down at the numerous parts of a jack she didn’t know how to assemble.
Brody Goodman had come to her aid with the newspaper reporter, but recalling the effect his aftershave had had on her earlier, she didn’t want to get too close to him again. Even if she had to call a cab, she was better off having nothing to do with the CID agent. As far as she was concerned, Brody was the last person she should ask for help.
* * *
Chief Wilson motioned to Brody after he left the stage. “The provost marshal is here, along with some of his people who have been on a temporary assignment in D.C. He wants you to meet them.”
The commander of the Military Police Department on post was personable and talkative. He introduced Brody to the returning members of his staff. By the time Brody edged out of the group, Stephanie was nowhere to be found.
Frustrated, he left the club and headed to his car, surprised to see her in the distance, staring into her open trunk.
As he neared, she glanced up. “I seem to have a problem.” Which was evident by her clutched hands and wrinkled brow.
Bending down, he examined her tire. “I don’t see any big gashes in the rubber. Smaller holes are often difficult to find.”
“I ran over some gravel on the way to the club.”
“That shouldn’t have been a problem, unless a nail or some other sharp object became embedded in the rubber. A mechanic would be able to tell.”
He unscrewed the cap on the air valve and whistled. “I found the problem. The valve core’s been removed. It regulates the flow of air in and out of the tire. No wonder it’s flat.”
Standing, he brushed off his hands. “I’ll put on your spare, but that’s a short-term fix. You’ll need to stop by a tire dealer in the morning.”
“Could the valve have jostled loose when I was driving?”
“Hardly. The core was intentionally removed.” He pu
lled out his phone. “We’d better notify the military police.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want the MPs involved.”
“Because—”
“Because I’m new on post. A solider on my caseload was injured this afternoon. I’ve stirred up enough problems for one day.”
He didn’t understand her logic. “Someone vandalized your property, Stephanie.”
“But—”
They both turned at the sound of a car. Paul Massey was at the wheel of a metallic-blue Dodge Dart with Ted next to him in the passenger seat. A woman sat in the rear, a small blonde who waved when the car braked to a stop.
“Need some help?” Paul asked as he stepped to the pavement.
Brody shook his head. “Thanks, but I can handle it.”
Stephanie frowned as her brother rounded the car. “Haven’t you done enough for one day, Ted?”
His neutral expression soured. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“My tire’s flat. Someone tampered with the air valve. Does that bring anything to mind?”
Before he could reply, the backseat blonde exited the car and scooted next to Ted. “Hey, Stephanie.”
“How are you, Nikki?”
“Bummed about Joshua. Ted said you saved his life.”
“I merely called nine-one-one. Luckily the paramedics arrived in time.”
Nikki Dunn. Brody recalled the girl’s name. “Don’t you live in Joshua’s housing area?”
“That’s right. Just down the street.”
“I’m Special Agent Brody Goodman with the Criminal Investigation Division. Ted mentioned you today. Were you at home this morning?”
“Until eight-thirty when I left for work.”
“Did you see anyone hanging around the area?”
“A couple of neighbors heading into town.”
“Any strange cars?”
She shook her head.
“What about a red pickup with jumbo tires?” Brody’s gaze flicked between the three twenty-somethings. “Know anyone with that kind of ride?”
Ted’s eyes narrowed. He glared at his sister.
“No one in my area.” Nikki seemed oblivious to the tension between the two siblings.
Paul glanced at his watch. “If you’re okay with the tire, I’ll take Ted back to his barracks.”
“Any chance you guys drove by here earlier today?” Brody asked rubbing his jaw.
“We’ve been at the PX since three.” Ted tapped his foot against the pavement.
“Playing with the iPads in the entertainment section,” Nikki added. “They were waiting until I got off work. We went for pizza after that.”
“At the Italian Parlor? How many of the free peanuts did you eat?” Stephanie stared at her brother.
Nikki patted Ted’s arm and smiled. “I told him he had to be careful, especially since you and your mom were both allergic.”
“Yeah, but as Stephanie knows, I take after my dad on that count.” He turned and motioned to Paul. “We better get going.”
“I heard Ted’s angry comments earlier today over the phone.” Brody stepped closer to Stephanie as Paul’s car left the lot. “Seems he doesn’t know how to deal with the IED explosion and his injuries so he’s taking it out on you.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it? You’re protecting your brother because you love him, but that’s not helping him heal.”
“Having the MPs question Ted won’t help, either.”
“Did he vandalize tires as a kid?”
When she didn’t respond, he took a step closer and looked into her troubled eyes. “I can call the local police to find out, or you can tell me and make it easier on both of us.”
She pulled in a fragile breath. “My mother died of cancer when Ted was in high school. He had a hard time dealing with her death and got into trouble.”
“Tampering with air valves,” Brody filled in. “You think he did this today?”
“I don’t know what to think.” She wrapped her arms around her waist and looked both vulnerable and needy.
Brody wanted to put his arm around her shoulder to offer support, but he doubted Stephanie would approve of the gesture. Instead, he reached for the jack. “After I change your tire, I’ll follow you home. In the morning, I can arrange to drive you to work while your tire is being repaired.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Maybe not, but it’s the least I can do under the circumstances. Besides, how do you plan to get to work tomorrow?”
She tried to smile. “Okay. I’ll accept your offer, but you don’t have to worry about my relationship with my brother. We’ll get through this one way or another.”
Brody’s heart went out to Stephanie. More than anything, he wanted to tell her everything would be okay, but if Ted had tampered with her tire, his aggression could escalate to something worse. Add Joshua’s attack to the mix and Ted became a serious threat.
Stephanie thought her family’s problem could be resolved—and maybe things between them would eventually straighten out with professional help for her brother. In the interim, Brody wanted her to be safe instead of sorry. He’d keep investigating the case, but he would also ensure nothing happened to Stephanie.
FOUR
Brody kept Stephanie’s car in sight as she drove through town and then eased onto a narrow two-lane street that wove through the countryside. The road eventually led to a large brick entryway with a stucco sign that read Country Club Estates.
She turned into the upscale community with Brody close behind. They drove past a number of homes ablaze with floodlights that illuminated the massive structures and sleek construction. Huge picture windows offered views into the expansive interiors and multilevel living spaces.
Brody had grown up in a modest ranch smaller than the pool houses showcased in floodlights at the rear of a number of the vast properties. Hopefully, the wealthy provided loving environments for their own families amongst the lavish trappings of their success. Supposedly God loved the poor, but the poor often didn’t love their own. Case in point, his father.
Stephanie pulled into the driveway of a brick house with a wide front porch, white trim and wrought-iron gaslights that should have been turned on. Instead, the house sat dark and shadowed and made Brody thankful he had accompanied her home.
He glanced around the well-manicured front yard as he stepped from the car. “Nice digs.”
Flicking his gaze to the rear of the property, he looked for anything that might cause problems. Brody noted the fairway and green, edged by dense woods that sat about fifty yards from the rear of the structure. “I didn’t know Freemont had a golf course.”
“It’s off the beaten path, which is what the developer wanted when he proposed the area. My parents were some of the first folks who built here. The newer homes are more elaborate. My dad opted for comfortable and easy to maintain.”
Comfortable was an understatement. Brody walked Stephanie up the stairs to the porch and reached for the keys she held in her hand.
“Allow me.”
Although he couldn’t see her expression in the darkness, he heard the slight intake of air. Maybe she wasn’t used to men who opened doors for her. The thought brought a smile to his lips that quickly vanished when the door swung open.
“Didn’t you lock your door?”
“I...I thought I did.” She raked her hand through her hair. “I came home to change and was in a hurry to get back to post for the Hail and Farewell.”
She started to enter the house.
With his hand on her arm, he held her back. “Let me check everything first.”
He stepped into the darkened interior and pulled back the edge of his jacket. His fingers touched the leat
her holster that held his service revolver, just in case.
The croak of tree frogs and buzz of cicadas filtered through the open door. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, revealing plush furniture and large palladium windows. A patio and swimming pool were visible beyond the deck in the backyard.
Moonlight filtered through the windows and provided enough light to guide his steps as he moved from the dining room past the butler’s pantry to the huge kitchen with eat-in breakfast nook and keeping room. At the far end of the house, he found a master bedroom and bath with walk-in closets that were larger than the living room in his bachelor officer’s quarters on post. Another hallway led to a pair of smaller bedrooms and adjoining baths.
With meticulous thoroughness, Brody checked the many nooks and crannies in the home where someone could be lying in wait. Once he was assured that the first floor was empty, he flicked on the lights and circled back through the rooms.
A stone fireplace graced one side of the expansive main room, flanked by two full-size couches and a collection of maritime memorabilia. The nautical theme continued into the hallway where a collection of watercolors of naval vessels decorated the walls.
Opening the door to the three-car garage, he saw a late-model Cadillac and a BMW convertible and let out a long whistle in appreciation of her father’s good taste in cars.
Satisfied that at least the first floor was secure, Brody returned to the front door and held it open. “Everything looks okay on this floor, but I still need to check the upper floor and basement.”
Stephanie tilted her head and tapped her foot. “Does that mean I can come inside now?”
He smiled at her impatience. “Sure, but wait at the door while I check the other floors. It shouldn’t take long.”
True to his word, Brody returned a few minutes later. He found Stephanie in the kitchen. Her demeanor had changed. She appeared shaken and totally focused on a photograph lying on the counter.
His neck prickled when he gazed down at the five-by-seven glossy of a group of four teenage boys. A red bull’s-eye had been drawn with some type of marker around the head of one of the guys and superimposed with a large X.
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