Wounded at Home

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  “Then you’re in a world of trouble. You won’t know who it is until he confronts Sky again for the money.”

  “When he does and she doesn’t have it, Sky had better be prepared.”

  Dirk couldn’t take any more. “That’s enough.” He went to the door and opened it. “Sky is probably pacing the floor to get back to work.”

  “If we can do anything, let us know.”

  “I’ll handle it.”

  “Tomorrow is Saturday,” Matt reminded them. “My house.”

  “I don’t know how I can party with so much on my mind.”

  “It will work out. Besides, you and Sky both need a break.”

  “Right. Like I’ll be able to tear her away from her computer.”

  Matt chuckled.

  When they went to the kitchen Dirk looked around. There was no one there. The den was empty and silent. “Where the hell is everyone?”

  Shorty came down the hall to the kitchen. “Lanie took Sky to the bungalow.”

  “Is Lanie still there?” Coop’s expression turned to worry.

  “No. She’s been back a while. She said she was going to take a long, leisurely bath.”

  Dirk was out the door before anyone could say another word.

  Just as he expected, the lights were still on at the bungalow. He got out of his truck and circled around the building. Sully let out a bark so he went back to his truck.

  He sat there watching for hours.

  Would she ever give up and go to bed?

  Dirk’s head went back against the seat. His eyes shut.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The sun, peeking its head in the east, jerked Dirk awake. The kinks in his body reminded him he had spent the night in his truck. His watch read six-thirty. Across the field, as was their routine, Lanie exercised the dogs while Coop gave a lesson. He got out of his truck and went to the pens. His head was groggy and there was a kink in his neck, still, he had to give lessons. By nine they were finished. Lanie and Coop left to go back to the homestead. Dirk saw a loose lock on one of the pens and went for a screwdriver. By the time he finished the repair, Lanie was pulling her car up to the pens. She got out and came toward him with a bag in her hand.

  “You just left. Is everything all right?”

  She laughed. “I made applesauce muffins earlier. I warmed them up and thought you and Sky might like one for breakfast.”

  “I don’t know how you have time.” His stomach growled.

  “I do what I enjoy, Dirk. Everyone should be so lucky.”

  He waved goodbye as she hurried back to the homestead, no doubt in a rush because she had desserts to make for Matt’s shindig tonight. For a fleeting moment, he wondered what she’d surprise them with. Then he wondered if he’d be able to pull Sky away from her computer long enough to make an appearance. If not, he’d skip as well. Though he knew she was safe, being close made him feel better.

  His glance went to the bungalow. Other than seeing Sully come out for a bathroom break, he hadn’t seen any other sign of life.

  After washing his hand, arms, and face with the soap by the water faucet, he went to the bungalow and knocked.

  Sky answered the door. This wasn’t the perfectly groomed Sky he’d come to know. She looked terrible. Her eyes were red-rimmed and worried. Her hair hadn’t been combed and the pair of sweats she had on were wrinkled. He’d bet she’d slept in them…if she slept at all. Despite her disheveled appearance, he wanted to pull her close and kiss her. Instead, he held up the bag. “Do you have coffee? Lanie sent muffins and they smell wonderful.”

  “What? No. I haven’t had time.”

  He walked in and went to the coffeepot. “Take time.”

  “Don’t you understand? Time is what I don’t have.”

  “You’re stressing, Sky. Calm down. Why don’t you take a shower while I make coffee?”

  Her head down, she slumped against the wall. “I’m tired and I’m bitchy. Sorry.”

  “You’re working too hard. Take a break.”

  “Give me ten minutes.”

  She took fifteen. By the time she came out, scrambled eggs and toast were ready. The muffins would be a treat over coffee later. She looked better. Her dark hair was down and still damp. In jeans and a T-shirt she looked wonderful. “Sit. I’ll serve.”

  “What have we here?”

  “You need real food.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Eat anyway. You’re burning up a lot of energy and need the fuel.”

  He sat next to her and dug in. “I’m not ashamed to admit I worked up an appetite.”

  “From what I’ve seen so far, you never turn down food.”

  He grinned at the comment and went for his eggs. “Have you heard anything from Dory?”

  Sky picked up her fork and began to eat. He watched her closely. He didn’t want her to get sick over this mess.

  “I did. Her guards told her she could call me twice a day. It’s a relief to hear her voice and know she’s safe.”

  He took his last bite of toast and picked up a muffin. “You don’t have to worry, Matt told me she’s in a good place and perfectly safe.”

  Her eggs were almost gone, as was her toast, when her brow wrinkled in concern. “I haven’t found anything. I’m down to the last international client. If I don’t find the money there, what do I do?”

  He stood, refreshed their coffee, and sat back down. “Have you thought of what you would do if you did find it? Would you turn it over to the killer in the hopes he would leave you and your sister alone? Would you tell Steel so he could access what belongs to him? Or would you give the info to the Feds and let them handle it?”

  “Good questions. I’m busting my butt to find the money before the forty-eight hours is up when I have no intention of giving it to a man who killed to get it. Crazy, isn’t it?”

  “This whole thing is crazy. I’ve eliminated both Hannidy and Cherise’s brother as suspects and we’re making little headway elsewhere.”

  “There’s Steel. He and Cherise could be in this together.”

  “They’re smart enough to pull it off, but with their alibis we can’t connect them. Let’s change the subject. We’ve beaten this to death, so let’s sit tight, let the forty-eight hours pass, and keep working.”

  Sky let out a huge sigh. “I have a lot to do.”

  “It can wait. You need a break.”

  Tears welled. “I can’t. Not until my sister is cleared.”

  “Okay. But I would like to see you at Matt’s tonight. You have to eat.”

  “I should work.”

  “I know you. You’ll work all day.”

  “You don’t really know me, Dirk.”

  He looked into her eyes and saw longing. His heart hitched. “I know enough. I know how smart you are, how devoted you are to your sister, your job, and to Sully. I know you have a deep-rooted fear you’ll take after your sister and your mom and pick a man who will betray you.” He grinned. “What have I missed?”

  She took a sip of coffee. “Not much. You know more about me than I do you. Want to clue me in?”

  He spread his arms wide. As wide that is, as he could with half an arm missing. “This is it. Wounded warrior, PI, and dog trainer.”

  “There’s more. Tell me.”

  Normally, he wouldn’t bare his soul, so to speak. But Sky was different and he loved her. The thought jolted him, but it was time to admit the truth. He loved a woman who didn’t trust him. He wanted, with everything in him, for her to know he wasn’t like her dad or her dead brother-in-law.

  “You know how I came to be adopted by the Brownings, but what you don’t know is how I hid my real feelings when my mom abandoned me. I thought I wasn’t worthy of love if my own parents didn’t love me. I cringed inside when I saw happy kids with their families. Worse, I hid my anger. No one knew.” He paused. “Coop and I were close, so I couldn’t hide anything from him, but he never said a word.

  “Shorty and Gramps were gr
eat. They treated me no different than they did Coop, but despite their love and devotion, I felt different. It wasn’t until I finally opened a box my mom left me the day she walked out of my life that I knew the truth.”

  “What truth was that?”

  “She left a letter I should have read years ago. It dredged up painful memories of my youth—how I thought she’d withheld her love for me, but not from the man she happened to be with at the time. Her letter set me straight.

  “My mom had cancer and knew she was dying. The man she was living with got a job offer in Florida and wanted to take her with him. He promised to take care of her, get her a good doctor, etc. She couldn’t take me with her because she didn’t know what the guy would do with me after she was gone.

  “She told me how much she loved me. I never knew that before. It changed things.”

  “How?”

  “For the first time I realized my mom really loved me and wanted the best for me. She may have been a weak woman in many ways, but she did the right thing and the knowledge changed my thinking. All these years, I didn’t think I could ever settle down and commit my life to one woman. I thought if I ended an affair first, I wouldn’t be hurt. My mom had deserted me, so how could I trust a woman? Now I realize how wrong I was.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m not that kind of man any more than you are your mother or your sister. I’ll never feel that way again.”

  She looked away. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get to that point.”

  “You will. There are millions of happy families out there. Don’t you want to be part of one?”

  She didn’t answer and started clearing their dishes away. “It’s time I get back to work.”

  “I’ll pick you up at five this evening.”

  “Don’t.”

  “Why would you miss Matt’s gourmet meal and Lanie’s sweets?”

  Sky laughed. “Check with me later.”

  He’d do that and more. Though he’d be busy today, he’d keep watch. No one was going to get to Sky.

  ****

  Sky wasn’t sure if she was glad or confused that Dirk had opened up about his past. In a way she was relieved. Maybe she had been wrong about him. He said he’d changed—insinuated he wasn’t the old Dirk who didn’t trust women—he wasn’t the man who left them before they left him. Now he was open to a commitment, or so he said. With her? Was that the reason for the conversation?

  Not possible. She had only known him a little while.

  But you like him. More than like him.

  Forget it! There was work to do, so she went to her computer.

  What would she do if she did find the money? If she told Steel where it was, she’d be in danger the rest of her life. And what about Dory?

  Sky looked away from her computer and stared out the window. Knowing she would see the killer again sent a chill up her spine. He’d given her a time limit. Her watch told her that time was closing in fast. Would he find her in twelve hours? A shudder went through her.

  Dirk had assured her that the killer wouldn’t find her here.

  But Dirk hadn’t seen the look in the killer’s dark eyes. A look that told her he would find her no matter where she was.

  She looked at Sully lying in the sun pouring in from the window. Though asleep, the slightest noise would bring him to his feet.

  Could he protect her?

  Of course he could. Her gaze went to her computer. The account hadn’t moved. So she watched it.

  A knock on the door brought her out of her virtual world and into the real one.

  It couldn’t be five o’clock. But it was. Sully stood and made happy noises as she opened the door.

  “Ready?”

  Dirk looked great in his camos and T-shirt. “Is that your uniform of choice for these affairs?”

  “More or less. We aim for comfort. This is it for me.”

  “I’m on my last client. I should finish.”

  “You should take a break, eat, and do something besides stare at the computer. Your eyes are bloodshot, you’ve been at it so long.”

  “Give me a few minutes to fix my hair.”

  “Leave it down.”

  She whirled around. “What?”

  He shuffled his feet. “You look great with it down.”

  She went to the restroom where she looked in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed from the compliment. Men never gave her appearance a second glance. But Dirk had.

  She smiled into the mirror, brushed her hair, and let it fall around her face. She put on some lipstick, patted on a little face powder and pronounced herself ready.

  All of a sudden, she was hungry.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Matt’s house is huge.”

  Dirk chuckled. “It’s not as big as the mansion he grew up in.”

  “He doesn’t act like he came from money.”

  “Matt’s one-of-a-kind. He lives on what he makes and gives the rest away. The Montgomery Trust is well known.”

  “I’ve heard of it. His great-great grandfather set it up before he died. I had read that the Trust is now in the hands of the remaining heir, but I had no idea that was your brother. You’re right about the Trust. They give millions to dozens of charities throughout the city.”

  They got out of the truck, walked up the dozen steps and into the house. Matt must have hired a decorator, as there were heavy drapes at the windows, heavier furniture spread through the living area that looked as if it was never used. Cold and impersonal was her first impression. The activity was out back where an enclosed porch stretched from one end of the house to the other. A huge TV hung on one wall. Wide windows looked out at the pristine backyard where perfect gardens sprouted flowers lined up by color and size. It was totally different from those at the homestead where the colorful array of colors and sizes made her want to grab a pair of scissors and get to work. Here, she would be afraid to cut a single bloom.

  The porch held two long tables and four round ones. Unlike when Dirk had his party, there was no furniture pushed aside. This space was strictly for partying. She wondered briefly if Matt held any besides the Saturday night get-togethers.

  The same group was present as last week and they came to greet her as if she were an old friend.

  Sky very much wanted to talk to Carrie about her undercover experience, but dared not. It was a strict rule that business would not be discussed at the get-togethers.

  Matt came over and took her hand. “I’m glad you could make it.” Then he left to greet his other guests.

  Shorty and Carrie came toward her with smiles on their faces. Dirk left to talk to Coop who was holding Maggie. He plucked the youngster out of Coop’s hands and lifted her in the air. Maggie’s laughter made everyone smile. Sky smiled as well. Though he lifted the baby only half as high as he probably wanted, it was enough for him and Maggie. Dirk would make a great dad.

  “You won’t be sorry you came tonight.” Shorty’s eagerness sent Sky’s attention elsewhere. “You should see what we’re having for dinner.”

  “Tell us,” Carrie said eagerly. “I’m starved.”

  Shorty cupped her mouth and whispered, “I got as far as the stuffed flounder and chicken cordon bleu before Matt saw me and chased me out of the kitchen.”

  “You’re kidding. Does he go all out whenever it’s his turn?” It seemed to her that showing off like that would be throwing around the fact that he had more money than anyone else here.

  Shorty chuckled. “Are you kidding? Sometimes he has hamburgers and hot dogs. I think he’s going all out tonight because he just solved a difficult case.”

  “Who else would I celebrate with than my favorite people?” Matt walked up and hugged Shorty. “Dinner is ready,” he called out. And the crowd queued up.

  With a small sample of everything on her plate, Sky went to the porch to sit down. Dirk sat beside her. Shorty was across the table with Lanie and Doc Louise next to her. Coop held Maggie as he dragged a highchair over to the table.

&n
bsp; When Sky looked at it, Lanie laughed. “The boys each bought a highchair so we wouldn’t have to hustle for a place for Maggie to sit. They spoil her.”

  “Not spoil, Lanie. Love.”

  “I agree.” Coop sat down with a full plate for himself, a smaller one for Maggie. After putting a bright red and white bib around her neck, he put a few morsels on the highchair tray for her to help herself and fed her the rest.

  “You’re a real pro at that, Coop.” Sky was impressed. Her dad had never paid her the least bit of attention. “How long did it take you to learn?”

  “I’m learning every minute of every day. I never realized how dumb I was until my baby girl came along.”

  Conversation and laughter carried throughout the meal. Everyone congratulated Matt on the successful end of a difficult case. When Sky and Matt were alone, she ventured a question. “What kind of case did you solve that persuaded you to go all out tonight?”

  Matt laughed. Across the room, Carrie looked up. Interesting.

  “Without divulging too much, let’s just say the best computer hacker anyone has ever known has been caught and turned.”

  Now it was time for Sky to laugh. “What you mean is, he hacked into something that scared the shit out of somebody way up there, was caught, and is most likely now working for the FBI.”

  “Close. Real close.” One of the other guests came up and Sky wandered off, realizing how much she admired Matt. He could be on the Riviera, doing the women and song routine; instead, he’d joined the FBI and was doing a great job of catching the bad guys.

  When it was time for dessert, Lanie went to the kitchen. Sky followed her. “Can I help?”

  “Sure. Hold the plates while I cut. Then put them on the island.”

  “This kitchen is awesome.”

  “Isn’t it, though? Sadly, Matt doesn’t cook that much.”

  “Maybe he’ll find a good woman who will cook for him.”

  “I wish.”

  “The cake smells heavenly. What do you call it?”

  “It’s a simple Italian Cream, but it’s one of the gang’s favorites, as is the chocolate pie over there.”