by Angi Morgan
“Thank you, sir, but I have to pass. My plate’s about as full as it can get right now.” He ignored his dad’s attempt to get his attention. “I have work to do. I’m actually in charge of a few things around here and need to get ready for Logan’s family. Excuse me.”
The two older men parted, and he passed between them.
“Maybe I should explain?” Andrea asked behind him.
“No, this one’s my responsibility,” his dad said. “Wait here a minute, will ya?” He followed him out the door. “Son, this is a great op—”
Pete bit down hard—teeth on teeth. He knew where the conversation was headed and didn’t want to have it publicly, so he pushed through to the locker room. His dad caught the employee only door before it slammed in his face. Pete verified no one was there so they could talk freely. “You’re really for me joining a Homeland task force?”
“Of course I am. It’s a big step for you.”
“It’s a family power struggle. She wants to stay, he wants her to go. The last thing I need is to be around any of that mess.” He lowered his voice. “Especially involved with the daughter of one of the top dogs in Homeland Security.”
“She’s leaving with her father. Besides, no one’s going to uncover who you really are. You don’t need to think of that right now.”
“Hell, Dad, it’s all I ever think about since you dropped this bomb on me.”
“Keeping your identity a secret is for your own safety.”
He dropped his hands onto his dad’s shoulders. The muscle under his fingertips was less solid than two months ago. A lot less solid than two years ago. He shook his head. He wasn’t a crying man—neither one of them was. But the only man he’d ever called family stared at him with his brown eyes about to overflow.
“I love you, you old coot. But I already know who I am and who my biological father was. I’ve just been waiting for you to tell me why it all happened.”
“How did you find out?”
“I’m the sheriff. At least that’s what you all are telling me. It didn’t take much investigating to discover where I came from twenty-six years ago or the identity of the man I assume was my biological father.”
“We’ll talk about that at a more appropriate time. Right now Commander Allen needs your help.” Pride or excitement or envy weaved its way into his father’s words. Maybe because of the times their department had been overlooked for opportunities like this one.
Would his dad be let down to know that it was Andrea’s idea and had nothing to do with the Commander’s need for help?
“What happens if he decides to run a background check on me? What then? How much trouble are you going to be in? You’re right. This isn’t the place to talk about forging our relationship with the Department of Homeland Security or why that’s impossible. The best thing is to bow out and assist where needed.”
His dad’s face grew older under the fluorescent lights. “I know you have a lot of questions, but you’re right. This is a talk more appropriate for home. I do wish you’d reconsider working on the task force.”
“Not a chance. It’s just a disaster waiting to happen.”
“It can’t be all bad, son.” His dad winked. “I’ve seen the way his daughter looks at you.”
“You haven’t seen anything. And it’ll never happen. It might have been fun while she was here, but I have no future. A woman like that needs a future.” He couldn’t risk the complications of becoming involved with the daughter of such a powerful man.
“What are you talking about? You have job security here. You’re running unopposed.”
“Let’s drop it.” Now wasn’t the time to tell his dad he hadn’t submitted the election paperwork to run for sheriff. He hadn’t decided—yet—if he would. But he could set him straight on one thing. “I’m not getting involved with anyone, especially Andrea Allen. My babysitting days are long behind me.”
* * *
OUCH. ANDREA WAS careful not to allow the door to slam, hearing a gentle clicking noise as it closed. She’d completely misread their friendship. Following him to apologize, ready to abide by her father’s wishes and leave Marfa, she hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, especially on a father-and-son chat that seemed very private. But now she was glad she’d overheard Pete say he wasn’t getting involved with anyone...especially her.
Now she was having second or third or fourth thoughts. She’d lost track of how many times she’d changed her mind about staying here. It was as if her decision-making ability had evaporated with one look at Pete’s dimples.
Pete’s earlier look of disappointment had deflated her desire to be around him. She’d thought staying in the area worked to everyone’s advantage. Before the shooting at the observatory, she thought she’d keep her promise to her father and get her dissertation finished and maybe allow a few distractions with the sheriff.
Not anymore. Not now that she knew those men were willing to kill anyone. And not now that she knew how Pete really felt.
It could be all business for her and not matter who stood guard outside the telescope. No. She was acting like a scorned lover. Staying meant putting more people at risk and she couldn’t do that. She’d have to find another way to obtain telescope time.
It wouldn’t be the end of everything if she finished up the thesis in Austin. But she could be disappointed for not being able to finish here. She couldn’t stay. It would be horribly selfish. She hit the employees only door as she pushed it open again, catching Pete with a hand on the other side and a surprised look on his face.
“You aren’t going to talk me into joining his task force,” Pete said to his father, then turning to Andrea, “and neither are you.”
“I came to apologize before leaving Marfa. But now...”
“Nothing to apologize for. Excuse me.”
“Man, you really are something.” She blocked the door. Pete could have moved her easily but seemed reluctant to.
“Can you leave us alone a minute, Dad?”
The retiring sheriff squeezed past. Pete clasped hands with her, gently pulling her to where the door could shut with a loud bang. She shook his hand free as quickly as she could.
“You don’t need to be talked into anything.” She knew what calls her father would make as soon as they all left the office. “The people who sign your paychecks are already being contacted. You no longer have a choice.”
“Why is this so important to you?”
“Not me. I don’t force myself on anyone. My dad’s limiting the number of people who know about the incident. You’re already a part of his small circle. It’s logical—therefore, it’ll happen.”
“As much as I hate that logic, I understand it.”
“Oh, and don’t worry about having to be around me. You know you can assign anyone you want as my babysitter. It doesn’t matter to me.” Telling him she’d changed her mind and wouldn’t be heading back was on the tip of her tongue. “I really don’t understand why you’re so reluctant to help the Commander. This is an amazing opportunity that could take you places. After this is over you could name your assignment.”
“I’ll make sure Commander Allen gets the help he needs. And who says I want to leave Marfa? That’s a lot of presuming you’re doing after knowing me for such a short time. I actually like it here.”
He smiled, and her heart melted a little. He was delightful when he wanted to be, but right now was obviously not one of those times.
“You should use that wicked charm of yours more often, especially with strangers. I bet your father and the rest of the community who raised you gave in every time you smiled. Is that why you’re so spoiled?”
“Me? You think I’m spoiled?” His deep voice rose a couple of octaves with that accusation. “Where do you get off calling anyone spoiled? Have you taken a look at the way you have your father wrapped around your pinkie finger? Never mind, I don’t care to know the answer. It’s not worth it.”
“Man, do you have that wrong. I don’t call h
im the Commander because of his rank.”
Andrea didn’t really think Pete was spoiled. She was hurt from his private remarks to his father and she was striking out. She wanted to apologize, take it back, tell him she didn’t mean it. But she couldn’t. She’d thought he’d liked her and the wound was too fresh.
Later. She’d apologize later. She’d calm down while looking into deep space or on the plane back to Austin. She was still uncertain which route was in her future.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get in touch with the observatory. I’ve already confirmed that my telescope will be ready at seven-thirty and need to make arrangements.” Arrangements for the information and her things to be sent to her, but she wouldn’t admit that to him. She reached for the door. His arm stopped her. She spun to face him, landing against his chest, looking straight at that dimpled chin.
“You aren’t going anywhere on your own. You can wait in the office while I make the arrangements.”
“Fine.”
“Okay.”
Earlier today, being this close would have ended in some serious kissing. The disappointment she was experiencing that it was no longer a possibility froze her in place. She focused her stare at his chin, unable to meet his eyes.
His hands were snug around her waist and she was ready to forgive him and explain her harsh words. Ready for those kisses to take over and there not be a need for any explanations from either of them. Then he gently moved her to the side.
If she had looked at him, she might have known that he was trying to open the door. By the time she figured it out, she added embarrassment to the long list of emotions she was scrolling through.
“You stick with me or your dad until I find a deputy to escort you. Or you can wait in a locked office.”
Without uttering a word, she veered left, choosing to stand near Reception instead of sitting in the chair waiting on her father to finish his calls. Pete went about his business, giving instructions, signing some papers...man-in-charge stuff. When he was done, the mayor or someone equivalent called to speak to him. He looked at the glass front doors and told Peach—the sisters had switched positions—to take a message.
A couple entered the front. The man’s face looked confused and the woman cried into an old-fashioned handkerchief. Peach pointed to Pete without a word. He tapped on the open office door and brought a third chair inside.
“Sorry, Commander Allen, but I need this room for a bit.”
Her father glanced at the couple and left, walking to a corner, placing another phone call on his cell while she watched Pete hug each of them before they sat.
“Logan’s parents. They wanted to talk to Pete about what happened,” Peach said softly next to her.
“I wish I’d known him better.”
“He was a nice young man. They’re still searching for the student he was on a date with,” Peach stated, then answered the phone.
Andrea’s guilt was growing. She’d been so caught up in her own world she hadn’t thought about Sharon or that her body hadn’t been found. Had she been abducted or murdered and her body dumped in a remote spot? They might never know, but she had to find out.
Chapter Fourteen
“Is there another office my father could use, Peach?”
“Sure.” She pulled open a drawer and handed Andrea a key. “Through the back hallway next to Pete’s office, then second door on the right.”
Andrea tugged gently on her father’s sleeve, and he followed, arguing with someone else for a change. She sat in a straight-back chair and let him take a seat behind the desk, waiting for him to finish the call.
“I’m staying. I was going to return with you, until I saw Logan’s parents. I meant what I said. I think you should come up with a plan and let me help find Sharon or whoever abducted or murdered her. Will you let me do this and include me?”
The office was empty except for the desk and chairs. No pictures of Pete on the wall to distract her.
“Why do you think you’re qualified to help?”
“I don’t, but those men were after me for some reason today. They might be again.”
“Therein lies the problem. You aren’t safe here,” the Commander stated firmly. His men never argued with that tone, but it always brought out the rebellious teenager in her.
“I don’t want you to be disappointed with me again.”
“Why do you think I would be?”
“I thought... Well, you and Mom argued so vehemently against my coming out here.” She looked at the secrets he hid beneath the stoic naval-commander expression. “Oh my gosh. You couldn’t tell me the real reason you didn’t want me to come.”
“No, I couldn’t. I’m not supposed to speak about it now. I had a man undercover and I knew how explosive this region is. I didn’t want you in danger.”
“I have to do this, Dad.”
He reluctantly nodded. “My boss is twisting my arm to get you to cooperate. They want to use you for bait.”
“It’s not very appealing or noble when you put it like that.”
He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Andrea, this is serious. You aren’t trained to be an operative, and any number of things can go wrong. Probably will go wrong. We’ve already lost a very experienced agent.”
“I know, Dad. I just don’t think I could live with myself if I walked away. Could you?”
He shook his head. She liked it when Commander Allen left the room and he was her father again. “Whoever’s arranging for this gun shipment to Mexico has to be high up in the cartel.”
“I wish you’d reconsider.” Her father’s voice dropped so soft she could barely hear.
“You let me think you were the overprotective commander to try to keep me from coming. You’ve got to remember that I’m your daughter. I need to do this. The entire time I was growing up I heard you say how important it was to finish what you started, to be a part of a team and not leave anyone behind. How can you ask me to walk away from all three of the most important things to you?” She wanted to hug him, but they really didn’t hug a lot in her family.
“The most important thing to me is keeping the two women I love the most safe from harm. What kind of father would deliberately let his daughter be abducted by drug dealers?”
“One who understands how much this means to me. I can make a difference. Please let me help.”
He gave a reluctant nod. “For you. Not for the men twisting my arm. I do understand about not leaving a man behind. Responsibility can sometimes weigh you down. I should have a team with you every moment—that’s what your mother would want—but we’re shorthanded as it is. Would you consider a professional bodyguard...would you allow—I see by your expression that’s not a possibility, either.”
“You know a military detail or bodyguard won’t allow these men to feel comfortable enough to act. I’ll finish the study at the observatory. I promise I won’t leave until you’re ready for me to draw out these murderers again. I’ll call as often as you need me to. I don’t want to be a burden...”
“But that’s not the most important reason you want to stay.” He finally had his dad face on, the one she could relate to, the person she loved so much because he understood her. “You sure?”
“It’s more than the study or potentially helping catch the murderers. Sharon’s still missing. What if she was abducted because they thought she was me? That’s on my head. Oh, don’t you give me that look that it’s your fault. No. You’ve warned me for years to be aware and on my toes, one step ahead of anything like this. I let my guard down, Dad. I feel so selfish—”
“It’s okay, Andrea. This isn’t anyone’s fault except the men with no thought to human life. I completely understand why you need to stay here. I’ll explain everything to your mother. But we do this my way. When my team is ready. Make everyone believe you’re here only to finish your thesis. No one knows the truth except my liaison.”
She remembered Pete’s arm around Mrs. Griggs, wondering who the l
iaison would be. If not Pete, then she’d be forced to act like a selfish, spoiled woman with no thought for anyone else other than herself, lying to Pete.
“My men said the Hiller was a piece of trash. That was some nice flying this afternoon. Reminds me of our Sunday afternoon flights. That was a lot of years ago.”
“Yes, sir. I miss them.”
“We’ll have to do it again sometime soon.” He squeezed her hand. The closest thing to a hug she’d ever get in public.
“It’s a date.”
“For the record, I’m damn proud of you, Andrea. Very proud. And regarding the attempted abduction, you touched on several points that had already been considered by my team. They believe they’re going to try again as another distraction. I’ll be couriering a pair of earrings to you. Wear them at all times and I’ll be able to find you.”
They walked from the spare office and witnessed Logan’s parents leaving.
“You don’t have to do this.” Her father spoke quietly, hope apparent in his voice. “You don’t owe anyone anything.”
“Yes, I do. For them, for Sharon and especially for me.”
“Only one person will know the real reason you’re staying. He’ll be fully briefed and ready to move without my permission. You and I both will have to trust him with your life. I’ll assign him to be in charge of your protection detail, but you can’t tell him why you’re really staying here. You can’t tell anyone.”
“I want Pete to be in charge.”
“He’s already declined my offer.”
“I know that won’t stop you. It would look more realistic for the sheriff to be in charge.”
“I should lock you up and throw away the key.”
She nodded and her father left her standing at the edge of the office. More like on the edge of reality. She couldn’t believe she’d insisted on putting her life on the line. Something these men and women did daily.
Homeland Security. Texas Rangers. Drug Enforcement Administration. Presidio County Sheriff’s Department. Pete would be another valued member of their new task force. But her role? She was the bait. She felt every bit exposed as if she were dangling midair on a small hook, holding on for dear life but her fingers were slipping.