“Really, we don’t need to stop,” she insisted.
Liam settled her on the log and he saw her give a silent sigh of relief. “What day is it?” she asked.
“Wednesday,” Laird answered. “You’ve been gone almost three days.”
“How many other women have these asshats taken?” she asked Liam.
“You’re the nineteenth victim.”
She sat up straight. “I’m not a victim. I’ve never been a victim.”
Laird sat down on the other side of her. “You’re absolutely right, you’ve never been a victim.”
She nodded, then touched her fingers to her temple. Liam winced in empathy. Again, somebody so needed to die.
“Laird’s right, they tried to make you one and you set them on their asses. Now we need to know as much as you can tell us. You said ‘they’. Then you said that you thought ‘they’ were saving you for someone else. Can you explain that?”
She gave a slow nod.
“When I woke up, I was alone. My wrists and ankles were duct-taped together. If they were smart, they would have gone the step further and hogtied me. I mean, how stupid are they?”
Laird snorted.
She looked over at him as Liam covered his smile. The woman had a point—if they were really worried about her, they should have bound her tied ankles to her wrists.
“So, what did you do, Caroline?” Liam asked.
“Not much the first time they showed up. I was just waking up, and the first thing that happened was one of the two thought it would be funny to do a little touchy-feely. I didn’t take kindly to it, so I head-butted him. He retaliated, and boom, I was out for the count again.”
Liam went still.
“Define, ‘he retaliated’,” Liam asked softly.
“It was nothing,” she muttered as she touched her swollen eye. “Just a bruise or two. I’ve gotten a hell of a lot worse during my fighting days.”
He opened his mouth to press her, but she gave him a fierce glare, and he dropped it. “Okay, then what happened next,” he asked.
“I woke up to the smell of marijuana. Dumbasses were sitting with the door propped open. One of them was bitching about having had to blow up a house and now needing to be paid more. He was saying how he hadn’t signed up for that kind of exposure.”
She stood up. “I’m good to go now.”
Laird let out a big sigh. “You know, you have nothing to prove.”
“Big Red, I said I was ready to go.”
Liam had to choke down a laugh at Laird’s look of outrage. Thankfully, he didn’t say anything. “So, what else did you hear?”
“The smoke started getting really heavy, so they rambled. One was talking about how he was going to buy a bar on Fiji with the money he was collecting from the boss. He kept saying he had these drink recipes that would put other bars out of business. Mind you, he was the smart guy.” Her laugh sounded rusty.
“And the other guy? The dumb guy?” Liam prompted.
“He kept talking about how the grass they were smoking wasn’t strong enough, and how he had a friend who had built his own meth lab and was making a bundle. He said he was going to be the next Walter White.”
“Who?” Laird asked.
“It’s a T.V. show,” she explained. “Smart guy explained how Walter ended up running around in his tighty whities an awful lot and ultimately ended up dead. He wasn’t a good role model.”
“Laird, no more questions,” Liam growled. “Caroline, can you tell us anything more about what those two said about the big boss? Anything at all?” They were getting close to the cabin.
“Here’s why I knew I was in trouble. But not.” Caroline faltered, but Liam kept her upright. “The tweaker started getting agitated. He came into the cabin and started lurching around. Started touching me. The other guy, the smart guy, told him to cut it out. Said the boss wouldn’t like it. I was his.”
Liam felt her shudder. “I struggled. Called him names. He sure didn’t like that. I earned myself a couple of more bruises. But the bartender,” she choked out a laugh. “Well, he pulled the guy off me. He said that he wasn’t going to let him fuck up his payday. It was easy enough for him to knock him around, and he did. He dragged out of there. It wasn’t until today that I saw the dumbass again. I’d been working to get loose. I had my hands done when dumbass comes back today.”
She stopped walking and stopped talking.
“What happened?”
“Dumbass was high again. I figure that’s why he didn’t care about the big boss’s feelings.” She used air quotes around the word feelings. “I still didn’t have the tape off my ankles, I was trying to think of what to do, when he gets out his knife to cut off that tape.”
She paused again, looked up at Liam, then swiveled her head to look at Laird. “I mean, come on. He wasn’t planning on taking me for a walk, now was he?”
“Ah, Lass.”
“But I had my hands free, he just hadn’t realized it. So, I figure it’s mano-a-mano.”
“Uhm, he’s kind of twice your size,” Laird gave her a winning grin. She grinned back.
“Ah, he was easy. Tweaker boy against sailor girl. He didn’t have a chance.” She buffed her fingers against her tattered shirt.
“And the winner is…Caroline Jakes.” Laird said. “I would have yelled it, but we need to be quiet since the cops are nearby.”
“I like you,” she said to Laird. Then she turned to Liam. “You, too.”
“I like you, Caroline Jakes,” Liam smiled. “Let’s get moving.”
They stopped when they were a hundred yards from the cabin.
“Can you see the shack?” Liam asked Caroline as they crouched from behind a tree.
She nodded.
“Any minute now, men from the sheriff’s department will be coming up to the cabin with one of the men who helped us find you. When they do, we need you to go to them. You can’t tell them about us. Can you do that?”
“You don’t want me to tell them about the big boss either, right?”
“That’s right. We’re going to get him.”
“What about the smart one?”
“Don’t tell them about him, either. Tell them you were afraid that you’d only wounded dumbass, so you ran.”
“Got it. But you promise you’re going to get them?” For a second time, her voice wobbled.
“Lass, if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to get the fucker responsible.”
Liam watched as her shoulders relaxed.
“I’m holding you to that, Big Red.”
“I don’t like that name.”
“You get the man responsible for killing those women, and I’ll call you something else.”
Liam turned Caroline so that she was looking at him. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked softly.
Her eyes turned fierce. “Absolutely. Am I going to see you again?”
“Absolutely.”
8
Addison watched as Liam’s blue eyes turned so dark, they almost seemed black. “Rear Admiral Isaac Anders?” he asked carefully. They were at yet another house that Conroy had managed to rent, this time on Whidbey Island, on the northernmost tip. They hadn’t told either Stacy Johnson or Si Branson the location, because they thought they had narrowed down the leak to Si’s organization. Conroy had found that his boss had hired two contract employees in the last six months. Conn was checking them out.
“Yes. Do you know him?” Addison asked Liam.
“I’ve had the dubious pleasure.” His voice was soft. “Tell me again what he said.”
Addison leaned back on the beige couch that they were sitting on. Liam casually put his arm across the back, behind her. “First, he tried to cut us down for only working at a state level instead of the federal.”
“He was an ass,” Conroy said as he walked past them on the way to the kitchen.
She nodded. “That about sums him up,” she nodded.
“I’m not lett
ing you off that easy,” Liam said in his low growly voice. He managed to sound protective and authoritative all at the same time. “You need to tell me everything he said to you.”
“He intimated that I did more than just public relations for the congressman, like I had some kind of sexual relationship with him. He asked me how I handled ‘relations’ with the congressman.” Addison used air quotes for the word relations, which seemed to piss Liam off.
“That bastard.” His blue eyes blazed.
Yep, he was pissed.
“I had a thought when I met him.”
“What?” Liam moved his hand just a bit so that it was now playing with her hair. It was getting difficult to concentrate, but she pushed through.
“Anders fits the profile. He has megalomaniac tendencies. He sure as hell thinks that he can get away with anything because the way he talked to me was totally inappropriate and he did it in front of his peers.”
Liam sighed.
“What?”
“Unfortunately, that still happens. How did the others react?”
“Rear Admiral Neville tried to smooth things over. He was really nice.” She called over to Conroy where he was making a sandwich. “What did you think of Neville?”
“He seemed like a good guy.” Conroy meandered over to where they were sitting. She saw him glance at Liam’s hand, but he didn’t raise an eyebrow. “Neville tried to calm down the situation. Bertrum, the base commander, just wanted to get them away from us.”
“What else were you thinking about Anders fitting the profile?” Liam asked.
“I had thought our guy would have a prominent role in the Navy, and he’d have to have enough clout to get his hands-on weapons.” She looked up at Conroy. “Can you check into that? See if he has that kind of authority.”
“He does,” Liam answered.
“You know him?” Addison asked.
“Oh yeah. I know him. He’s worse than an ass. He was willing to let men under his command get killed, all to save face with the suits in Washington.” Addison didn’t think she had ever heard Liam sound so bitter.
“Were they your men?” she asked softly.
His jaw was granite as he nodded.
“Did they live?”
“It was close. But yes, ultimately they did.”
She rested her hand on his thigh. “You’ll have to tell me someday.”
“I will.”
“Goddammit, I’m slow today!” Conroy threw down his unplated sandwich on the coffee table. “I didn’t even realize I was dealing with your boy, Asslick Anders! Addison, if he isn’t the killer, we’re going to frame him, prosecute him, castrate him, ruin his credit, then kill him.”
“You met Anders?” Cooper asked as his eyes about popped out of his head.
“Down, boys,” Liam stood up. “Conroy, clean up that mess.”
“Already doing it, but Jesus I need sleep,” Conroy said as he went to the kitchen for a paper towel. “I’ve been hit with the stupid stick.”
“So, I take it that Rear Admiral Anders is not one of your favorite people?” Addison asked Liam.
“No, he’s not. Let’s table that for a bit.” She saw the command and plea in his eyes, so she nodded. She turned to Cooper.
“Did you get your boy to his Mama?” she asked Cooper.
Now there was something that they could all smile about.
“Baby Boy was pissed when she showed up from Michigan. I thought he was going to get out of that hospital bed and pummel me,” Cooper grinned.
“He was doing that well?” Addison asked.
“Oh, I could have taken him with one arm tied behind my back, but he would have tried if Mrs. Wells hadn’t been there looking all concerned.”
Addison laughed. Liam grinned too and sat back down.
“So, is she taking him home to recover?” Addison guessed.
“Yep, a week in Saginaw, Michigan eating home-cooked meals. It was sweet how he dealt with her, but I know when he’s healthy I’m in for it.”
“I thought his wound wasn’t a big deal,” Conroy said.
“It really isn’t, but Dec’s been on his ass to take a vacation for over a year. So, it was the grand chess master’s idea to get him to have some downtime with his family. I just facilitated things since I’ve been with the Wells’ for Thanksgiving.”
The more Addison was around these men, the more she liked them.
She stiffened when she felt Liam’s fingers on the back of her neck. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to sit forward so she could concentrate on the conversation or lean back into the caress.
“Addison, does Anders fit the profile?” Conroy glared at her.
“Tone it down, Conroy,” Liam said. “I told you a week ago that Captain Hale and the rest of the Navy will take care of Rear Admiral Anders.”
“That wasn’t my question. Right now, we’re on the lookout for people here on Whidbey Island who fit a profile. I’m asking Ms. Sanders if Rear Admiral Anders is one of those people.”
“I’d have to look at his record,” Addison said cautiously.
“Come on Addison, you met the man, what’s your gut instinct? He’s a misogynistic piece of slime, right?” Conroy asked.
She nodded.
“And he’s the right age. Right rank. Right?”
She nodded again.
“I don’t know,” Liam said slowly. “I’ve known the man for seven years. I’m not sure he has that kind of psychosis within him. He will do anything to advance his career and save his own ass, but cold-bloodedly killing women? I don’t see it.”
“That’s what the neighbors of serial killers always say. ‘He was such a nice man. He couldn’t possibly be a cannibal.’” Conroy mimicked the voice of a little old lady.
“Fuck off,” Liam growled.
“All right Conroy, you’ve made your point. He needs to be on the list.” Addison sighed.
“I need to go make another sandwich. You’re giving me indigestion with the lovey-dovey.”
“Use a plate this time,” Liam called after him.
“I’ve got to get back to Skagit tonight. I’m driving Hudson and his mother to Sea-Tac in the morning. What are you doing?” Cooper asked.
“We’re working to get some medical leave for Caroline and taking her into protective custody,” Addison said.
There was a snort from the den that acted as an office. “Laird, if you have something to say, just say it,” Liam called over his shoulder.
“I’ve got to take off,” Cooper nodded to Liam and Addison, and then waved to Laird and Declan who were in the den. Conroy’s head was in the fridge, so Liam ignored him.
“If you have something to say, Campbell, say it,” Liam said as he tugged Addison’s hand and pulled her off the sofa to follow him into the den.
“There isn’t a chance in hell that Caroline is going to allow you to put her into protective custody. She’s going to think she can take care of herself.”
Addison thought about everything Laird and Liam had told her about the woman’s rescue. She’d been pretty damned impressed. But all of her feminine instincts agreed with Laird—Caroline was not the type of woman who would think she needed protection. She had been on her own too long. She’d been raised by her grandmother and by what Addison had read, her grandmother hadn’t been in the best of health, so that meant Caroline had been in a caretaker role as early as thirteen. No, this was not a woman who would sign up for protective custody.
Liam leaned against the desk that Declan was sitting behind. Laird had his elbows against the surface as he looked at Declan’s computer screen.
“I didn’t know Conroy let you play with a computer, Dec,” Liam said with a smartass grin.
“Shhh, he’ll hear you,” Declan whispered. He sounded almost serious. “Look, this is what I’ve pulled up on your guy, Anders.”
“He’s got quite the bank account, Liam,” Declan pointed out. “He tells everyone it’s because of what he inherited from his dead
wife, and she did leave him a bundle, but this is twice that. Nobody is making that kind of return on their investments.”
“I am,” Conroy said as he came into the den. “I’m making the company three times as much as the best hedge fund managers. So, Anders can go piss in the wind.”
Declan frowned. “How do you even know what I’m talking about?” he asked Conroy.
“Because before I went braindead, I was investigating Anders and I was checking his finances, and I saw the same thing you’re seeing now.”
He put a plate of cookies and cut-up vegetables on the table. Then he slowly slid two butterscotch suckers in front of her.
She was doomed.
She stopped herself from looking at Liam. She just smiled at Conroy and thanked him.
“When did his wife die?” she asked.
“Five years ago?” Declan answered.
“Seven,” Conroy supplied.
Addison looked over at Liam. “So, it’s not like that was any real trigger.”
He shrugged.
“I’ve got a line on who has the right access on the female sailors,” Conroy said. He was trying to be nonchalant but failing miserably.
“Spit it out,” Liam glared at him.
“We’ve been looking at this from the wrong angle. How their transfers were done. Instead, I turned it on its head and looked to see if there were any similarities on similar requests they made when they were transferred. There was. They all asked to have a one-bedroom apartment off base when they made the transfer. Every. Single. One.”
“That can’t be a coincidence,” Laird said.
“Who has access to that?” Addison asked.
“Well, they all had to fill out an on-line application process. I cross-referenced this with people who would have had access to their personnel profiles, so they’d know they were without families. Only five names have come up.”
“Well, don’t leave us in suspense,” Declan drawled as he snagged two carrot sticks and sat back in his chair.
“It’s not my fault you don’t refresh your e-mail,” Conroy smirked.
These men.
“Conroy quit being an asshole,” Liam said quietly. “You did well, now be serious.”
Conroy flushed and stood up straighter.
SEAL at Sunrise (Silver SEALs Book 12) Page 9