“So, does this mean I can never confide in you anymore, because you might betray me over the radio?”
“I’ve been praying it never comes to that again.”
She frowned at him.
“Tess, you can trust me with your secrets.”
She met his gaze and held it for a long moment. For the time being, it was just the two of them in the office. No one else existed. “I believe you.”
“If we find out Sugar McCrae is your stalker, will you start answering my calls again?”
“I haven’t given much thought to what I’d do, because I never thought the killer would be found after all this time. I honestly thought I might have to evade her for the rest of my life. And thanks for bringing up that subject yet again.”
“I wouldn’t let you be stalked for the rest of your life,” he said softly. “Do you know why I work so much here at the mission?”
“It’s your way of protecting the most vulnerable.”
“That’s one reason. I started helping out before the abortion so Gerard could protect you. I started working here again after the abortion because of guilt. I kept working here because it’s something I feel called to do and I’ve never known such satisfaction before. But I also wonder from time to time if the biggest draw is the fact that you’re here and I just can’t bear to be away from you. Not quite as noble a reason for being here, is it?”
His words finally filled that void she’d felt since their fight. She’d been raw for two weeks, and all of a sudden she felt as if those raw spots had healed.
“For the past eight months,” Sean said, “I’ve felt that I had no right to a deeper relationship with any woman, especially not a woman as strong and compassionate and loyal as you are. But I’ve had some talks with Gerard lately, and as Gerard has explained, I needed to learn how to live without my old rusty set of rules. I had to forgive myself.”
“Sean, you’re forgiven.”
“Except I had trouble forgiving Kari Ann. I haven’t been able to move forward because of that until last week, when I took a long walk and prayed for help.”
“Have you forgiven her now?”
“I’ve found it’s a process. I can let it go, forgive her, put it out of my mind, and then when I think of it again, the anger is back.”
“You’ve got to get points for the attempts. It gets easier the more often you do it. I don’t even know who I’m supposed to forgive. My enemy is still out there. And I still have trouble forgiving myself for letting physical attraction bind me to the wrong man. I’ve asked myself several times since our disagreement whether I’m even capable of sustaining a relationship. That’s something I never told you before.”
“You’re capable, Tess. You’ve always been a devoted sister and daughter. You’ve been true to yourself and your future husband by remaining pure. I don’t know a lot of people who would be more capable of sustaining a long and happy marriage. Look at your parents. What a beautiful example.”
“Our fight scared me.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Didn’t it scare you?”
“Not really. It frustrated me, but I know you, Tess. You’re a forgiving person. Honestly, you’ve had Gerard as a brother for thirty-two years; I have no doubt about your ability to forgive.”
She knew he was trying to get her to smile, to laugh, but she couldn’t. “Fighting with you broke my heart. I hate that.”
“Your heart didn’t break, it was bruised. You’re tough. You can handle this. I have no doubt at all that you’ll be able to maintain a good relationship when you realize who the right man is.”
Tess swallowed. “I’ve already done that.”
He leaned back with a grin. “See? I told you I knew you loved me.”
“What makes you think it’s you?”
His cocky grin vaporized.
She laughed and reached for her accordion file. “Now, I have to get this paperwork to the accountant.”
As she slid from the desk, Sean stood up and reached for her. “Okay, one more shared secret before you leave.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked. “Because I know some of your employees, and I’m not above retaliation.”
“My employees are frightened of me.”
“Then what’s the secret?”
“I know this sounds like a pickup line, but I suspected I was in trouble from the moment I first met you. After I got to know you, there was no longer any doubt. Now, don’t laugh again, but for the longest time, while you were building your career and getting yourself engaged, I was making friends in bars.”
“And fending off women, no doubt.”
He shrugged. “Maybe sometimes.”
“Don’t give me that. You have a mirror. You had women flocking to meet you. I bet they wondered what a hunk like you was doing still single at thirty-six.”
“You think I’m a hunk?”
“So are my brothers, so don’t take it personally. What did you tell the curious women?”
“I just told them I was waiting for the woman of my dreams to grow up and realize I was the one she loved.”
“And now that she has?”
That slow grin spread once more across his face. He took the accordion file from her arms and placed it back on the desk, drew her into his arms and kissed her. She could almost hear the cries of seagulls and catch the scent of the gulf breeze.
TEN
Sean opened the blinds in Tess’s office and watched out the window as she pulled out of the customer parking lot in Gerard’s big farm truck with rattling sideboards. According to Gerard, she had learned to drive in that truck when she was twelve, and she could shift the gears like a pro.
He stood in that window long after she had disappeared from sight, realizing just what his heart had gotten him into when he fell in love with her. Not only was she independent and strong, but she never stopped surprising him. He could spend a lifetime with her and the excitement would never end. Ever.
His cell phone rang when he was walking into his own office. It was Gerard.
“Sugar McCrae’s the one who ran the smear campaign, all right,” Gerard said. “Problem is she’s got an airtight alibi for the night before. She works as a bartender at Cooper’s on the bay, doesn’t get off until the wee morning hours. The prints lifted from the bug don’t match hers. She also has an alibi for the night Tanner was killed.”
“Which is?”
“She’s been a bartender at Cooper’s for three years. She was working that night, too.”
“Is she still being questioned?”
“Yes, and now it’s getting interesting. She’s apparently been watching the mission since she saw Tess at our store one day. She shops there a lot. She was still angry with Tess for putting her brother away, and she was looking for something she could do for payback. While watching, she just happened to see someone else watching the mission from the upstairs studio apartment across the street. There appeared to be a telescope.”
“Man or woman?”
“Woman. Short, brown hair. Sugar saw her two or three times. Always in the daytime. She never saw the woman go inside the mission, but Sugar wasn’t usually around at night because of her job. The apartment she described is directly across from Tess’s office. With a telescope, whoever was watching could see Tess whenever she was in there.”
Sean studied the windows across the street. The shade over the far window was open, but he couldn’t see anyone. “Gerard, someone needs to search the apartment now. Tess just left.”
“What? You have got to be kidding me. Why on earth would she do—”
“She needed backup papers for the accountant. She wore your clothes, drove your truck, nobody knew her when she came in. I caught her when I came upstairs, but the blinds were open. I closed them, but if anyone was watching they’d have seen her with her hood down and glasses off. Could even be following her now.”
“I’ll get the police over there.”
“I’ll c
all the ranch and tell the hands not to allow anyone to follow Tess to the house.” He lowered the blind. “I’m on my way out now.”
“Meet you there.” Gerard clicked off.
Sean raced through the mission and out to his truck, calling the ranch as he ran.
When Tess slowed to turn at the gate to the ranch, Morty Snyder, Gerard’s foreman, walked out with his hands held out for her to stop.
She rolled down the window with difficulty. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I got two calls telling me to check the house, wave you down, check the truck and make sure no one’s following you.” He nudged the open flap of his jacket aside to show he was carrying a sidearm. “High alert, let me tell you. They’re racing out here now.”
“Did they say why all the excitement?”
“Said Sugar McCrae’s innocent of everything but malicious gossip, but somebody’s been watching your office, may’ve seen you at the mission today. Anybody follow you?”
“Nope, I kept an eye on the rearview mirror, even took a few unnecessary turns.”
“The dogs have been in the yard all the time you’ve been gone, and they didn’t kick up a fuss once, so no stranger’s been there. I walked around the house. It’s all locked up tight. No one’s been down this road since you left. Let me check the truck, and you can be on your way.”
“Thanks, Morty. I guess this one’s a false alarm. Would you call Gerard and tell him? I’ll call Sean.” She rolled her window up and waited for him to check the back and wave her on.
She turned her cell phone on for the first time in two weeks, hit speed dial and reached Sean. “Hold your horses, speed demon,” she said when he answered. “No one followed me. You can turn around and go back to town.”
“Not happening.”
“You really think I’m in danger right this minute? Morty even checked the back of the truck, and there’s no one there.”
“How about behind the seat?”
“Well, no.” Despite her assurances to Sean, Tess felt a frisson of tension across her shoulders. “But Gerard has all his tools back there, and nobody could fit. Besides, who’s going to try to crawl into a hiding place in the middle of the day on a busy street?”
“A crazy person determined to get to you.”
“That isn’t what I wanted to hear.”
“Just keep driving and get into the house. Take the dogs inside with you. I’ll be there in ten minutes, maybe less.”
“I’ll see you when you get here.”
“Don’t disconnect. Press the speaker button and put your phone in your pocket. You’re carrying your mace, aren’t you?”
“Sure am.”
“Get it out and carry it in your hand.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out the house keys and mace as she parked the truck at the side of the house. “The dogs are running to the fence, relaxed and happy. I don’t think there’s a problem here. See you in a few.” She did as she was told and left the phone open in the pocket of Gerard’s jacket.
“Hey, kids, have you been on guard?” She opened the front gate and knelt down to hug Romper and Roxie to her. “Let’s go inside for a while, shall we?”
Since moving in with Gerard, Tess seldom used the front door because she always parked in the garage. Fumbling with several keys, she stuck her mace into the pocket with her cell phone while she unlocked and opened the door.
The dogs rushed in ahead of her, nearly knocking her against the threshold. “Hey, would you two remember your manners?”
Without waiting for her, they ran toward the kitchen. They must be hungry.
Keys still jingling in her hands, she locked the door behind her, turned the dead bolt, glanced out the window to make sure all was in order outside. It was.
She swung around to catch up with the dogs and give them a treat. And she gasped. A woman with short, dark brown hair stood in the hallway connecting the living room to the kitchen. She had a silenced semiautomatic in her hand.
“Kari Ann?”
“You know, those dogs are amazing.” Gone was the long, blond hair, the heavy makeup, the elegant clothing Kari Ann Jennings had always worn when she was with Sean. “They remembered me from Christmas last year. Didn’t make a peep when I came in the backyard.”
“How did you get in here?”
“How do you think?” the woman snapped. “A key.”
“What did you do, lift a key from Sean’s pocket and make copies while he was sleeping?”
Kari Ann raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you’re not as stupid as I thought. Ugly and selfish and vile, but at least you have a brain.”
“How did you get here?”
“Did you really think you could get away with what you did? Engaged to one man, sleeping with another?”
“I’ve never slept with—”
“Save your lies for someone who’s fooled. Sean, maybe. Does he still think you’re a perfect angel?”
“You obviously didn’t drive. And I don’t think you hitched a ride with me.”
“You think the driveway’s the only way to get here? Ever heard of hiking?” Kari Ann narrowed her eyes and studied Tess’s body. “Probably not. You’re such a busy lady. No, wait, make that busy broad. You’re no lady.”
Tess knew she should keep her mouth shut and respect the weapon in this crazy woman’s hand, but she felt her temper rising. This crazy woman had killed Tanner. This crazy woman had poisoned innocent people out of spite. And now she fully intended to kill again.
Tess could reach into her pocket and pull out her mace, but what good was mace against a Glock already aimed at her heart?
Kari Ann studied Tess’s face closely and gave a harsh, humorless laugh. “You’re not escaping this time.”
“What did you do to the dogs?”
“Fed them.”
“Poison?”
Kari Ann gave her a grim smile. “Would that break your heart? Oh, no, wait, you don’t have a heart. You like to steal men from their women.”
Tess suddenly realized Sean was listening to this whole conversation. Stall. Distract. Keep her talking.
“I don’t know what gave you the idea I stole your man. I was engaged to Tanner Jackson until you killed him.”
“I could’ve been engaged to Sean Torrance if you hadn’t seduced him.”
“Seduced him?”
“He went to you in Austin instead of spending his time off with me. I saw him. Don’t deny it.”
“If you’re talking about those times he went to Austin to guard me, haven’t you been listening to his radio reports lately? He did that in response to your notes. How does it feel to know that your threats were what brought him to my side to protect me from—”
“Stop it! Just shut up!”
“Would you have done it if you’d known your notes were the reason you lost him, Kari Ann?”
The woman’s hands shook, and Tess held her breath, frozen, as she waited for a blast. She’d pushed too far.
“He can’t protect you now, can he?” Kari Ann’s voice trembled.
Tess saw movement out the back window in the kitchen, just past Kari Ann’s shoulder. Sean. She had to distract this crazy woman.
“And how does it feel to know you were supposed to die instead of Tanner?” Kari Ann asked.
“Neither of us was supposed to die. You’re the one who killed him.” Keep talking. Sean was coming through the back door. “You’re the one who broke into the admin offices to attach a bug to the bottom of my door so you could keep tabs on me, but you made a mistake. You left a footprint on the floor and a fingerprint on the bug. The police already know all about you.”
Kari Ann pulled the slider back on her Glock. “Then one more death doesn’t matter, does it?”
Tess could see Sean rushing silently through the kitchen to the hallway behind Kari Ann. “You aren’t laying any blame at my feet, because I didn’t do anything wrong. You were eaten up with jealousy over nothing.”
“Liar. I saw th
e way he watched you, even at Christmas. He listened to your every word, laughed at your lame jokes. I’m prettier than you, I knew I could get his attention, but you kept pulling him away. Anytime he saw you, he couldn’t keep his eyes off you, couldn’t stop talking about you when we were together.”
Sean was in the room, behind Kari Ann. He nodded to Tess, and she dropped to the floor while he grabbed Kari Ann. The pistol went flying, and Kari Ann shrieked her fury as she fought Sean.
Tess snatched up the pistol and checked it, braced herself, got into shooting position.
An engine roared up outside, a door slammed, and Tess backed to the door to unlock it for Gerard.
The two men subdued Kari Ann as she shouted obscenities at Tess. She’d wanted Tess dead since she’d written that first note and finally had decided she would do it herself.
Gerard handcuffed Kari Ann and had her ready for the sheriff when he arrived.
Sean took Tess away from the commotion. They released the dogs from the basement where Kari Ann had lured them and then walked out the back door.
Sean kept his arm around her, as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.
“It’s over, Tess.”
She couldn’t speak. She curled herself against Sean’s chest and leaned against him.
“It’s okay,” he said softly. He pressed his lips to her forehead, then to her cheeks, then wrapped his arms so tightly around her she could barely breathe.
“I was so afraid she’d hurt you before I could get here,” he whispered. “Oh, Tess, I can’t lose you. I love you. You’re my heart, my life.”
Tears slid down her cheeks, and she nodded.
He held her away from him and looked down at her. “You’re safe, Tess. You don’t have anything to fear now.”
She swallowed. “But you might.”
He touched her face with his fingers as if to reassure himself she was really there. “What do you mean?”
“Because I love you with everything in me, and people I love always suffer for it.”
“I’ll take my chances, Tess. I’ll take those chances for the rest of my life if I can spend it with you.”
She reached up and combed her fingers through his hair, then pulled him to her until their lips fit together perfectly. It seemed that maybe God really had made this man just for her.
Season of Danger: Silent Night, Deadly NightMistletoe Mayhem Page 10