Flames Of Deceit

by Carol Hutchens

  Bossy and direct, that was her only hope. “Okay, give me the disc.”

  Jake dangled the disc out of her reach. “What if the evidence on this disc proves the model’s story?” His gaze roamed over her until she felt like a science specimen. “Will you try to erase the disc?”

  “I hadn’t thought—”

  “You are a newspaper reporter. Surely you considered your options.” Tapping the disc on the arm of the chair opposite her seat on the sofa, he frowned.

  “You’re determined to believe the worst about me, aren’t you?” Mia tore her eyes from his face. Was she afraid of what she would see, or worried he would look into her eyes and read her mind? Cursing her reaction to a man who could ruin both her and her brother with one phone call to chief of police, she held up a staying hand. “Don’t answer that question. I don’t have a right to question your opinions.”

  “Are you protecting me again, firebird?”

  Her head jerked up. “Protecting you from what? You’re the officer of the court.”

  “From finding my words quoted in your paper perhaps?” Jake pursed his lips, squinting his eyes as he searched for possibilities. “Or…maybe you’re trying to protect my career.”

  Tossing her head, Mia made a lady-like snorting sound. “Now why would I do that?”

  “Because you’re conscious of the threat to your career…and your brother’s, but mainly because you’re a caretaker, firebird. You care about others.”

  This time, her snort sounded louder. “You know all that from what…the few hours we’ve spent together? Come on, Judge. Stop channeling Dr. Phil. I need that disc.”

  The loud ticking of the clock on the mantel and the rustle of the March wind blowing in the trees outside the cabin filled the silence as Jake stared at her. “I need to know why you were in the courthouse the same time the fire started.”

  Did he doubt her because she was a reporter, or because she had slipped past security to get inside the courthouse? Fingers clenched on the edges of the laptop, Mia demanded. “You don’t believe someone shoved me in that closet and blocked the door so I couldn’t get out?”

  From the other side of the coffee table, Jake watched every twitch of her expression, every breath. “When you talk about your brother, I hear love. But I hear doubt, as well. Are you afraid of being disappointed by your brother’s actions, Ms. Clark?”

  How did he know? Could he read her mind? “Haven’t you questioned decisions your siblings made?”

  Lips twisted, Jake shrugged. “We’re talking about your brother. Do you think he’s guilty?”

  “It doesn’t matter. He’s my brother. I love him.”

  “I hear a but in your tone. If he is guilty as the model claimed, what will you do?” Jake settled back in the chair, waiting for her answer.

  “Phil has a responsibility to the family who loves him, and the people who elected him to office. I’m praying he told the truth.” Chin tilted, she repeated. “Will you give me the disc?”

  Jake tossed the purple blob toward her.

  Heart hammering against her ribs, Mia reached up to catch the small device. Jake hadn’t repeated his question about whether she intended to try to erase the disc. Did that mean he was starting to trust her? Or maybe he didn’t care because he was planning to turn her over to police?

  Wanting answers, from the disc and her own muddled questions, she plugged the purple object in the USB drive and held her breath. After long seconds, the screen flickered but remained fuzzy. Pain exploded behind her eyes. All this time, the hope, the risk. Holy cow, the risk, she still couldn’t believe she had broken the law and skipped past security. And for what? A big fuzzy nothing on the screen. “It won’t open.”

  Raising accusing eyes to Jake’s face, she spit out her frustration. “You knew, didn’t you? You tried the disc while I was in the shower.” Chest heaving, she sucked in air. “Did you erase the disc? Damn you, answer me? Did you ruin my chances of clearing Phil?”

  “Who’s showing a lack of trust, now, Ms. Clark?” Jake lifted a wide shoulder and frowned. “Look at the disc. It got hot enough to change shape.”

  Mia stared at the purple disc. He was right. She should have known the instant she saw the strange shape, but she had hoped. “Maybe the techs at the paper can read the disc?”

  “Can we risk asking?”

  “Risk?” She could feel Jake’s eyes on her as she battled with the question. Going to the tech would put another person at risk. It gave someone else a chance to see the ex-model’s hidden evidence, but the danger of putting another person in the path of the murderer forced her decision.

  “No.” She ejected the USB disc. “Here, take it.”

  Jake met her burning gaze. “It’s your evidence, guard it.”

  Swallowing, Mia stared at him. “Does that mean you trust me?” She stared down at the screen and rushed on before his answer destroyed the unspoken truce between them. “Do we have internet service?”

  “I doubt it.” Jake leaned back in the chair. “It’s time you filled in the blanks, Ms. Clark. How is your brother connected to the model?”

  Hearing Jake’s question, the A-frame ceiling and large rock fireplace closed in on Mia, making it hard for her to breathe. How indeed. That was a good question.

  But Jake wasn’t on the same wavelength with her, obviously. Maybe he didn’t mind asking loaded questions. Or maybe her tension came from reacting to the way he looked without a layer of soot on his body. His brown hair glistened with damp from his shower. The new black t-shirt hugged his chest, making his eyes dark as the lake outside the deck.

  Sighing in resignation of the danger to her emotions, she faced the truth. Jake was a very appealing man. The type of man she wanted to spend her life with.

  Clearing her throat, she forced her mind back to his question. “After her modeling career ended, Leigh Anne went to work for the pharmaceutical company.” Mia glanced down when the laptop beeped. “No internet service, but I have a file on her.”

  “Why?”

  Mia stared at the screen, hoping he wouldn’t notice the color warming her cheeks. “I’m a reporter. Leigh Anne filed a lawsuit against my brother. I wanted details.”

  “You must love your brother very much.”

  She stared at him for breathless seconds. “You’ve said that before, why?”

  “Research takes time. Instead of following leads on a story for your career, you did research to help your brother. That sounds like love.”

  Or sibling rivalry. She couldn’t explain her deepest secret to this stranger. Her family dynamics might not suit her, but they were her family. It was none of Jake’s business. Shrugging, she said, “I wanted to find the truth.”

  Pushing out of the chair, Jake came over to the sofa and sat down beside her. “Show me the file.”

  Biting her lip to hide her response to his nearness, Mia clicked on the icon and opened the file labeled with the model’s name. Good thing she could function on autopilot. Jake’s clean male scent and the warmth searing through her body from his arm touching hers, sent her thoughts in a tailspin.

  But the model was murdered, and Mia reminded herself they were dealing with a life and death matter. Her reaction to Jake was bad timing, but at least now, she understood the hint of sadness in his eyes. He seemed too young to lose a wife, and she couldn’t help but wonder how his wife had died.

  Teeth clenched, she focused on the file. Leigh Anne Saddle was dead, and she didn’t want to be the next victim. She needed to ignore her response Jake.

  “Here it is. I researched the drug company, too. The notes are in the same folder.” She pushed the laptop over so Jake could read the screen. Her hand brushed his. They were sitting so close, their bodies touched from hip to knee. Awareness flared into a longing so strong she almost forgot about finding the model’s body.

  Closing her eyes, breathing in the scent of soap and Jake’s masculine aroma, she forgot her mother’s demands and Phil’s troubles. Leaning ag
ainst the back of the sofa, she sighed. What would have happened if they had met under normal circumstances?

  Would Jake have noticed her? Would her insides have tingled when she looked at him the way they were doing now? Would he have allowed her to get close, or rejected her because she was a reporter?

  ***

  Jake clenched his jaw as he read the files. Mia Clark was good at her job. He would say that for her. Her files were detailed and long. How much time had she devoted to saving her brother’s skin?

  He admired determination…and loyalty. He would give anything to have a chance to show his wife an ounce of the loyalty Mia showed her brother. But he couldn’t go back and redo the past. He had loved his wife and child and lost them. For the past six years, he existed one day at a time. But it was time to move on. Time to face the life he had now.

  He had known Mia only a short time, but she filled a hole he hadn’t realized he had in his life. That scared him. Excited him. Who was this woman he was trying to protect? Was she telling the truth? If she wasn’t, why?

  After uncovering the model’s body, he’d realized Mia’s secrets could get them both killed, but he was determined to find out who started the fire, and Mia was his only lead. Her body warmed his side as she curled up next him.

  He noticed the look of innocence on her features as she relaxed in sleep. Washing the soot out of her hair hadn’t lightened the color. Dark strands tumbled over the sofa cushion in shining waves. Long lashes curled on cheeks tinted with color from the warmth of the room.

  He had turned on the furnace when they arrived. He would have liked a blaze in the fireplace to fight against the chill in the March air, but didn’t dare start one for fear of attracting attention to the cabin. He wasn’t sure how often Dan used this place during the winter, but he wanted their presence to go undetected.

  The more files he read, the more convinced he was that caution was justified. Mia’s notes named prominent people frequently in the news. If he recognized those names, others would too. Was the connection to the drug company the cause of Phil Clark’s trouble?

  The names in the file added to the danger Jake had only suspected until now. Even with finding the model’s body, he hadn’t been certain that Mia was in danger, but after reading her notes, he wasn’t going to take any chances.

  Big drug company executives had access to mega bucks and could hire their dirty work done. If they were at the root of the model’s death, Mia was in danger, and so was he.

  He shut down the computer and leaned back against the sofa cushion. Late afternoon sun glistened on the smooth surface of the lake. Tall pines outside the cabin swayed in the March wind, making a soothing roar.

  Had Phil Clark been close to the model? Was the senator capable of murder? Who murdered Leigh Anne Saddler? Why? Was there a connection to Mia’s brother or was this just a strange coincidence?

  Until Jake found the answers, he couldn’t allow Mia out of his sight. He had to find out if the ex-model had been the intended target. Since he couldn’t risk calling anyone for information, he needed the internet to find answers.

  His eyes popped open sometime later when something warm nudged his side. He blinked, realizing he had fallen asleep for a couple hours, judging by the darkness outside.

  Mia’s warm body snuggling against his side had brought him out of a deep sleep, but beams of light flashing through the windows brought him instantly alert.

  He eased away from Mia, pulled on his shoes and rushed to look out the window facing the drive.

  Twin beams of light crept down the twisting drive. Friend or enemy? Even a friend could put them all in danger. He didn’t like thoughts of what an enemy could do. He had to protect Mia.

  He’d brought her here thinking they would be safe. Now, protective instincts flared. Being an officer of the court didn’t matter. He brought her here, and he’d do what he needed to protect her.

  Turning to the bookcase next to the fireplace, he felt along the top of the wooden structure until he found the gun Dan kept there in case of emergencies.

  This far out in the woods, danger lurked on all sides, from snakes and the risk of intruders from the lake. Dan had prepared to protect his family and his property. Jake gave a swift word of thanks as he slipped the clip in the Beretta.

  Grabbing two extra clips, and stuffing them in his pockets, he headed for the back door, and came to a dead stop. Man, there was that word again. The last thing he wanted was for one of them to end up like the model. Dead. He needed to investigate.

  The unannounced visitor would expect residents to be inside this time of day. Switching on a lamp, Jake glanced at Mia’s sleeping form. Waking her, explaining the danger, would take valuable time. Sound asleep, she should be safe. Trying to convince himself this was true, he grabbed his jacket and eased out a door on opposite side of the house from the driveway.

  His preparations had taken valuable seconds. The vehicle was closer than he expected. Running around the side of the house, he angled toward the driveway entrance. Darkness and dense growth slowed him, but he arrived in front of the house just as the vehicle stopped.

  Creeping up behind the SUV parked at the front porch, Jake eased forward in darkness. The only light came from the dim glow of the lamp he’d turned on. An owl hooted in a near-by tree. Sounds from night animals along the lakeshore filled the air. His ears roared with the pounding of his heart and thundering pulse.

  A shadowy figure eased out of the dark colored Jeep and looked around. Looking for what? Checking for vehicles? Waiting for reinforcements?

  Jake couldn’t tell if the tall figure was armed or alone. He eased forward, careful not to step on fallen twigs. Armed or not, he couldn’t let the man get inside where Mia was sleeping.

  He’d thought she would be safe if he confronted the man outside the cabin, but now he regretted leaving her asleep. She was defenseless, alone and asleep in a strange cabin. It was his duty to protect her.

  He crouched along side of the vehicle and inched forward.

  The shadow moved slowly, finally looking under the rock where Jake had found the spare key, then pausing to peep in the front window.

  Heart racing, Jake tightened his grip on the gun. Was Mia still asleep? Was she visible from the window? The back of the sofa should protect her if she stayed asleep.

  Bending at the waist, ready to rush the man and pin him against the wall, Jake froze when a screaming yell from the garage blasted louder than the night sounds from the lake.

  The loud shadowy shape, arms flinging in all directions and waving a long object reflecting light, advanced toward the intruder.

  Jake caught a glimpse of the intruder’s face in the beam of the headlights and sped forward, flinging his body between the man and the frenzied woman ready to attack. “Mia! Stop.”

  She was two feet from sticking the long thin blade of the butcher knife in her target when Jake grabbed her arm. “It’s Dan. This is his cabin.”

  “Dan?” Mia sagged against the window beside her, panting for breath. “Why did you sneak up on us like that? Why didn’t you call?”

  Dan leaned one hand against the side of the cabin and stared at them. “I tried.”

  “I disabled my cell phone.” Jake unloaded the Beretta and put the empty gun in his pocket. “I called you from the new phone.”

  “I just dialed the usual number. I was driving slowly so I wouldn’t alarm you.” Dan pushed away from the wall. “Guess that didn’t work.”

  “Sorry,” Jake clapped Dan on the shoulder, “you can tell we’re on edge.”

  “Let’s get inside. You gave me a case of the willies.” Dan said to Mia as he walked to the Jeep. “I brought some supplies.”

  While they unpacked the groceries, Dan filled them in on the latest news. “The evening broadcast said the dead woman was pregnant.”

  “Pregnant?” Mia gasped and turned wide eyes on Dan. “Do…did that say who—”

  “They won’t have that information,” Jake in
terrupted her wobbling question, giving her a warning glance. He knew she suspected her brother, but the fewer people who made the connection, the safer. He didn’t want to compromise Dan’s safety.

  Dan pulled an internet flash disc out of his pocket. “I thought you might need this. Give me the keys to your car. Keep the Jeep.”

  “Why?” Eyes wide, Mia stared at the two men. Her voice trembled as she turned to Jake. “We should be okay. They don’t know I’m with you.”

  “The killer knows. He tracked us to the restaurant and slashed the tires.” Jake hated that he couldn’t answer her unspoken plea for reassurance. “Dan’s right. We need to switch vehicles.” He turned to the other man. “But that won’t work. I don’t want your family at risk if you’re spotted in Mia’s car.”

  “I figured that out,” Dan grinned as he pulled a set of keys out of his pocket. “My dad’s place across the lake has a garage. My parents are on a cruise so no one should notice I’ve changed cars.”

  “What about neighbors?” Mia’s voice wobbled.

  “They have space, but not like this.” Dan nodded to the lake. “The development is near the American Tobacco Trail so there are bicycles passing all the time, but that’s all the traffic you should encounter.”

  Jake nodded. “We won’t go over there unless we absolutely have to.”

  “It’s yours if you need a new hiding place.”

  “We really appreciate this.” Jake clapped the other man’s shoulder.

  “I’ll stash your car in dad’s garage and pump tires on the bikes.” Dan turned toward the door.

  “How will you get home if you hide my car?” Mia asked.

  “After I stash your car, I’ll ride up the trail and call my wife. Tell her I rode too far. She’ll come pick me up.”