by Rebecca Deel
Serena laid her hand on his. “Good enough.”
#
After a meal of fruit, bagels, blueberry muffins and juice, Ethan handed Serena an insulated cup.
“What’s this?”
“Orange spice tea. The lady at Jean’s Tea Room assured me you would love this.”
Serena sipped the steaming beverage. Her eyes widened at the flavor explosion on her tongue. “This is marvelous, Ethan. I’ll have to stop by the tea room to buy a cup for Mom.”
After she finished her drink, Ethan held out his hand. “Let’s walk. I have to go to the station in a few minutes.”
Serena’s spirit revived in the morning sunshine. The tree leaves glowed vibrant green. Wildflowers grew along the walkway, providing a rainbow carpet for her to enjoy. She realized the brilliant colors stole her breath because of Ethan. Josh was right; she did have it bad.
The walking trail curved, winding near the cliff. Serena remembered a much younger Josh tossing water balloons over that cliff, soaking all the Cahill girls. Mom didn’t think the prank so funny since she got caught in the joke.
“Serena, you need to be more cautious from now on.” Ethan slowed to a stop by the lakeside. “The Fox has to be furious he didn’t find Pam’s information. He will assume you have it with you.”
“What should I do if he corners me?” She wrinkled her nose. “Are you going to make me carry a gun?”
“Do you know how to handle one?”
She shook her head.
“Won’t do any good to carry a weapon if you aren’t prepared to use it. The best weapon you have to defeat him is your brain.”
He lifted his free hand and ran his fingers through the length of her hair. “Your hair is like golden silk,” he murmured. “So beautiful.”
An engine revved, shattering the quiet. Serena turned. That sounded close. She glanced around the area, but didn’t see anything.
Ethan tightened his grip on her hand, and listened. The engine whined above their heads. They looked up to the top of the cliff in time to see a truck plunge over the side, hurtling straight toward them.
#
Ethan grabbed Serena and dived with her into the lake, away from the falling truck. He held her close, shielding her with his body.
After the initial tidal wave from the truck hitting the lake washed over them, Ethan brought Serena to the surface. She coughed as water streamed down her white face.
“Stay here.” He dived back into the water. Ethan raced toward the sinking truck, afraid someone might be trapped in the vehicle.
He swam to the driver’s side and peered inside the truck. Empty. His eyes narrowed. A two-by-four remained jammed against the gas pedal. Ethan turned away from the truck, noting the license plate as the vehicle continued to drift toward the bottom of the lake.
He surfaced and wiped water away from his eyes. Serena hadn’t moved except to push her wet hair away from her face.
“Where’s the driver? Can’t you get him out?”
His jaw tight, Ethan shook his head. “Nobody in the truck. I need to call this in. I have a blanket in my truck I can wrap around you.”
Serena’s gaze searched his face. “What aren’t you telling me, Ethan?”
He wrapped her in a tight embrace. Fear for her safety weighed heavy on him. He had tried and failed to protect Ruth and Kate. What if next time, the attack on Serena succeeded? He couldn’t live with that on his conscience. “This was no accident, baby. It’s the same truck that followed you yesterday.”
#
“Where are you taking me?” Serena huddled deeper in Ethan’s jacket, shivering. Damp clothes left her chilled despite the warmth of the day.
“Rod’s waiting for me at the station.”
His dark eyes revealed nothing, but she knew Ethan dreaded the coming confrontation. Ethan hadn’t discussed it with her, but she felt positive Rod showed up plastered at her house last night. “At the risk of sounding like every other woman on the planet, I need to go shopping. Since my house is still under arrest, I can legitimately say I don’t have anything to wear tonight.” She wanted something spectacular to bolster her courage and impress Ethan.
He chuckled and turned into the police parking lot. “I’ll see if Kelli is available to go with you. Sounds like an assignment she might enjoy.”
“If you don’t mind, when I’m finished I’ll take Kelli with me to Megan’s. You can pick me up there.”
“I’m sorry about this morning.”
“Sorry for what? You saved my life, Ethan.”
“You wanted a quiet date. I couldn’t even provide that.”
Serena laughed. “Ethan, haven’t you figured out by now I’ll take any minutes I can get with you?”
He looked at her, thoughtful. “A relationship with a cop can be difficult. Most of their marriages end in divorce.”
Smiling, she leaned close to him. “I love a challenge.” Serena closed the gap between them and kissed him.
#
After Kelli and Serena drove off, chatting like best friends, Ethan detoured to the locker room for a quick shower and change of clothes. He walked to his office, signaling Rod to follow him.
Rod shut the door, his face pale. He moved to stand in front of Ethan’s desk.
Ethan eyed him for a minute. “You look like death.”
A glint of humor sparked in Rod’s gaze. “Feel like it, too.”
“Good. Now, what happened?” Ethan motioned for Rod to sit.
Rod cleared his throat. “I, uh, Julia . . .” He closed his eyes, hung his head and sighed. “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll understand if you fire me, but I hope you reconsider. I love my job, Chief. And I’m good at it.”
Ethan turned his back on Rod and walked to the window. The detective’s grief was killing him. If he didn’t find another way to deal with the pain, he might kill someone else getting behind the wheel after a drinking binge.
He marshaled his expression and swung around. “At this point, your record’s clean. If you show up drunk for work again, I will fire you on the spot. No probation. No appeals.”
Rod swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”
“I need a man I trust as a partner. Can I trust you?”
The detective reddened. “Yes, sir. You can.”
“Then let’s get to work.” A smile tugged at the corner of Ethan’s lips. “Our first task today is deciding which one of us gets to break the news to Mr. Lawrence about his truck.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Serena strolled from the dressing room. “Well, what do you think?” She rotated, examining her reflection in the mirror.
“Ethan’s a goner.” Megan folded her arms, a broad smile curving her mouth. “That black dress will dazzle him.”
Serena smiled at her sister’s reflection. That’s what she had in mind. Though angling to catch a killer, their appearance together also signaled a relationship to the townspeople attending tonight’s dinner. She intended to make a statement, one she hoped Ethan appreciated. “Do you think it’s too long?” She studied the hem hanging three inches from her ankles.
Kelli’s eyes sparkled. “It’s perfect, Serena. I can’t wait to see my boss at a loss for words. Now, what about shoes?”
“Definitely black T-straps with 3-inch heels.” Her sister grinned. “Easier to kiss him with the added height.”
“One-inch heels. I might be on my feet a lot. Hobbling to the car at the end of the evening isn’t the image I’m looking for. I want him to be attracted, not feel sorry for me.”
Megan’s eyebrow rose. “What about the height difference?”
“It hasn’t interfered with his kisses so far.” Serena’s face burned though she joined in their laughter.
Kelli glanced at her watch. “We need to get moving. The Chief’s supposed to pick you up at Megan’s in two hours.”
#
“Chief, how old would you say Harrington is?” Rod asked, his eyes glittering.
Ethan leaned back in his office c
hair and studied the detective. “Mid-30s. Why?”
Rod smiled. “Take a look at this.”
He handed Ethan a copy of a Nevada driver’s license with a blurred photo. He scanned the information until the date of birth caught his eye. June 30, 1955. Satisfaction swelled in his chest. Ethan smiled. “Got him.”
“Want to pick him up?” Rod asked.
“You can’t.” Craig Jordan strode into the office and slammed the door. “We don’t have enough evidence yet to tie him to the mob. Harrington’s on the guest list for tonight’s dinner at the hotel. Stephens received a notice from the IRS this morning about an audit of the Shamrock and the Pot o’ Gold.”
He gave a shark smile. “I’m betting Stephens is going to put pressure on Harrington to locate that disk tonight.”
Ethan stared at the FBI agent through narrowed eyes, gritting his teeth. “You want me to let a professional killer roam free in my town so he can stalk an innocent woman?”
“We’ll put a tail on him, Blackhawk. If he looks like he’s going after Ms. Cahill, we’ll take him out.”
He almost laughed. Jordan made it sound so easy; just kill The Fox. The best international law enforcement agents hadn’t accomplished that feat. Did he have that much confidence in his team? Ethan didn’t.
Jordan shoved his hands into his pockets. “Just a few more hours, Chief. He’ll be under constant surveillance. What could go wrong?”
Ethan stood and headed for the door. He could think of several things that might go wrong, all of them lethal for Serena.
Startled, Jordan grabbed Ethan’s arm. “Blackhawk, where are you going?”
He jerked free. “To pull one more loose thread and make a couple of phone calls before tonight.”
#
“Changed your mind about my offer?” Grace Martin’s lips curved into a self-satisfied smile. She opened the door wider.
He studied her face for a moment. Heavy makeup hid most of the bruising on her cheek, but not enough. “No, ma’am. I’d like to ask you some questions.” Ethan inclined his head. “May I come in for a few minutes?”
She shrugged and left him standing in the doorway.
Taking that as an invitation, he shut the door behind him and trailed her to the living room. His eyebrow rose. She lounged on a cream loveseat, arranged in a pose meant to entice.
She patted the cushion beside her. “Sit down, Chief.”
“I’d prefer to stand, ma’am.” He stood by the archway, back to the wall, door in view. His lips twitched. A few strides from freedom if a quick exit proved prudent. “How do you feel? No ill effects from the bee stings?”
Grace stiffened. “Is that why you’re here? To help your girlfriend?”
“I’m concerned about your safety, Grace.” His gaze rested on her bruised face.
Her hand drifted to her cheek before she turned her head away. “What do you want?”
“What do you know about Harrington?”
Her gaze locked with his. “Why should I know anything about him?”
“I saw you around town with him. Might be wise to check out a man before starting a serious relationship with him.”
“Offering your services, Chief?”
“Harrington isn’t who or what he appears to be.”
Bitterness laced her laughter. “What man is?”
“When did you start dating him?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business, Chief.”
He already knew the answer. The reporter targeted Grace before he assaulted Serena. The moccasin telegraph and a phone call to Aunt Ruth on his way to Grace’s house unearthed a few interesting bits of information.
“He called you three weeks ago, didn’t he? What kind of information did he want, Grace?”
“You already seem to know the answers to the questions you’re asking me.”
Ethan waited. The ticking of the grandfather clock punctuated the silence.
“Why should I tell you?”
“Might keep you out of jail for accessory.”
Her hand covered the base of her throat. “Good point. Mitch was writing an article on small businesses in the area. He interviewed me about Martin Catering.”
“Any other information?”
“He asked me about Home Runs, too.” She frowned. “Seemed strange he didn’t ask Serena. When he asked me for a date later, I thought they had a fight and she wouldn’t help him.”
“What did he want to know about Serena’s business?”
“Her customers’ names, her schedule, Pam’s errands.”
“You gave him information in exchange for . . . ?”
“Free publicity with the article and a promise to distribute my business cards to potential catering customers.”
He nodded. “Sounds like a good deal. What went wrong?”
“I called the Gazette to find out when the article would run, but J.J. didn’t know anything about it. Then I found the business cards I gave Mitch. All of them. He didn’t hand out any.” Grace tilted her head, eyes flashing. “I decided to expand Martin Catering on my own.”
“So you went after Serena’s customers. When did Harrington find out?”
She dropped her gaze. “Yesterday. Heard some old guys talking at the diner. He came here late last night, furious. I’ve never seen him so angry.”
“Is that when he hit you, Grace?”
She blinked, but remained silent.
Ethan sighed. He’d questioned several abuse victims in the last couple of weeks. They all refused to talk. Maybe something contaminated the water and made them mute. He needed an angle to shake her confidence and keep her out of Harrington’s web. “Did you notice the splotches on his hands?”
“So what?”
“He claims they’re mosquito bites, but that’s not true, is it? They’re bee stings. Any idea why Harrington would put bees in your car?”
She stared at him, motionless.
“You said when he came here last night you had never seen him so angry. That tells me you got a taste of his temper before last night. Why?” He raised his voice. “Come on, Grace. I think he tried to put you in the hospital, maybe kill you. Did you see something you shouldn’t?”
“A gun.”
Ethan froze. “Big, little?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. “Big. A long barreled one.”
A rifle. “You saw the gun before the bee incident?”
She nodded.
“Why did you continue to see him?”
“I was afraid.”
“You could have come to me or one of the other officers, Grace.” He waited a beat. “He assaulted another woman a few days ago.”
Grace buried her face in her hands. “Who? Serena?”
“I can’t disclose her name.” He remained silent until she lifted her head before continuing. “I encouraged her to file a complaint against him, but she refused. If she knew he assaulted you, she might change her mind.”
She rose and paced, dragging her hands through her hair. “I don’t know. I can’t decide right now.”
“Think about it, Grace, but you don’t have long to make up your mind. Are you going with Harrington to the banquet at the Pot o’ Gold tonight?”
She whirled to face him. “How did you know about that?” She gave him a wry smile. “Serena, of course. Mitch said she was catering the dinner.”
“Coordinating, not catering.” Ethan slipped his hands into his pockets. “Do you realize she could sue you for slander?”
Blood drained from her face. “What are you talking about?”
“Recruiting her clients behind her back.”
“That’s not illegal.”
He inclined his head. “No, but telling lies about her business is. You’re feeding the hysteria surrounding the break-ins, capitalizing on her customers’ fears.” Ethan glanced at his watch. “You have Harrington’s number?”
Grace’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not giving it to you.”
“Call him
. Tell him you can’t make it tonight. Tell him you have the flu, your dog died, anything you want. Just stay away from him.”
#
Megan’s doorbell rang at 6:00 sharp. Serena’s heart leaped. She glanced one final time in the full-length mirror, hoping Ethan approved. She grabbed her black purse and descended the stairs, heels clicking on the second floor landing.
Ethan looked up, taking in her appearance in one sweeping glance. His broad smile told her all she needed to know.
Decked out in his black tux, he looked like a model from GQ magazine. Her stomach did a funny flip. How could she concentrate on her job? She gave him a lopsided smile.
“What is it?”
“I may have to give back my coordinator’s fee for this banquet.”
“Why?”
“I foresee spending my time guarding you from all the love-struck ladies.”
Ethan laughed. “I don’t think that will be a problem. The only woman worth noticing in any room is you. Ready to go?”
“Have fun, guys.” Megan grinned as she opened the door. She winked at Serena. “I expect a full report with details when you return.”
#
Ethan lifted Serena into the SUV. “You look incredible. I understand now why Aunt Ruth wanted me to go with you tonight. You’ll be the center of attraction.”
He walked around to the driver’s side, unbuttoned his coat and climbed behind the wheel. Ethan cranked the engine and drove toward Interstate 40. “No repercussions from our morning swim?”
“Not unless you count Megan threatening to spike my shampoo with stuff to dye my hair green if I ruin one more pair of her shoes.”
“Tough on shoes, huh?”
“I make a huge mess in the kitchen when I cook. I use every pot in the cabinet and somehow soups and sauces splash all over my clothes and shoes.” She smiled. “I try not to wear Meg’s shoes any more when I’m working.”
“Sounds like you and your sisters swap clothes frequently.” Ethan accelerated onto Interstate 40 and merged with the traffic flowing toward Knoxville.
“We didn’t as kids. When Mom shopped, she bought three of everything. No point in swapping the same clothes. After we hit our teens, we convinced her we had different clothes tastes.” She smiled at him. “That’s when swapping clothes became fun. Didn’t you do that in your family?”