Police Protector

by Dani Sinclair

  Lucan had been married before. Had his wife picked it out? Why had they divorced?

  The windshield wipers swished aside the snowflakes splattering against the glass. The streets were becoming slick as the temperatures continued to fall. She needed to get back to Maureen’s before the roads turned really slippery. Still, as long as she was this close…she turned onto her sister’s street and stopped across from Casey’s house.

  Kyra didn’t want to believe Casey was dead. She clung to the hope that Casey would return for her children. They would be so lost without her. She would be lost without her sister. Casey had always been there. Kyra had taken that fact for granted.

  “Where are you Casey? Your children need you. I need you.”

  Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She quickly blinked them back. If only she’d kept in closer touch with her sister. Maybe then she’d know what was going on here.

  No matter how this turned out, Kyra silently vowed to change her busy lifestyle. The constant travel was wearing thin anyhow. It was time for a change. A lawyer with her background should have no trouble finding another job. She even had a few contacts here in the D.C. area.

  Being around Maureen had made her realize how much she missed being part of a family. Kyra had friends, but when it came right down to it, she had no real roots in Boston. Okay, she loved her cozy apartment, but she traveled so much she was rarely there to enjoy it.

  If the worst had happened and Casey was dead, there was no reason Kyra couldn’t move here. It didn’t really matter where she lived. Family was what mattered.

  Kyra closed her eyes. She couldn’t bear to think of Casey lying dead in a shallow grave somewhere. She wanted her sister to appear right now and explain. Together they could handle Jordan and Milt and anything else that came along.

  As she opened her eyes a blurred motion in the rearview mirror sent thoughts scattering. Fear leaped into her throat. A dark-clad figure pelted out from behind the car.

  Kyra gaped at the muffled figure. The person yanked at the locked passenger door and raised an object in his hand. Even as her mind recognized it as a gun, he turned it, smashing the butt forcefully against the window. Two hard blows and the glass gave way.

  Belatedly, Kyra threw the car in gear and hit the gas. The heavy sedan lurched forward. Tires spun frantically as they sought traction.

  She barely avoided a parked car as the sedan slid before righting itself. Only dimly did she register the masculine voice ordering her to stop. The gun in his hand fired.

  He was trying to kill her!

  She cornered too fast at the intersection, ignoring the stop sign, and nearly lost control. Panic sent her head swiveling back over her shoulder as she corrected. Two men chased after her. Flame flashed from both weapons. They really were trying to kill her!

  Then she was around the corner driving as fast as she dared on the worsening streets. Panic filled her. She couldn’t think of anything beyond getting away.

  In minutes she was lost on the slick side streets of the sleepy subdivision. Where was she? How did she get back to the main street? She needed lights and people so she could call for help.

  Someone was actually trying to kill her!

  Snow began changing to sleet. The droplets pinged off the windshield. Icy wind rushed in through the broken window. Kyra shook with cold and shock. How did she get out of here? Were they following her?

  Why? Why was someone trying to kill her?

  Frantically trying to stem her panic, she turned onto street after street, more confused than ever. She was lost! What was she going to do? There was no sign of pursuit, but that didn’t mean they weren’t back there somewhere.

  And abruptly she recognized the string of townhouses. She turned down the street and left the housing development. A busy convenience store sat on the corner. Kyra pulled in, snagged a newly vacated parking spot and turned off the engine.

  She was shaking all over. Sleet pummeled the car with increasing fury. Despite her gloves, her fingers felt numb. She struggled to find the cell phone in her purse by feel. Pulling it out, it took her three tries to flip it open.

  She panicked as a new car pulled in the lot. Her breath caught in her throat. Petrified, she watched, unable to move until a woman climbed out and hurried inside.

  The sound of her rapid breathing filled the car. She had to calm down. She was too isolated sitting here all alone. The men hadn’t followed her. They couldn’t know where she was. But she couldn’t just sit here in Maureen’s car with the shattered window. Kyra grabbed her purse and dashed inside.

  A blast of heat slapped her in the face. Piped-in Christmas carols sang cheery words to the line of people in front of the register. Kyra ran over and shoved aside a man about to set his parcels on the counter.

  “Please, I need help. It’s an emergency!”

  The customer she’d elbowed gaped in horror. “You!”

  She stared at him blankly before his features registered. “Mr. Garber?”

  The assistant manager from the movie theater took several steps back, nearly tripping over the person behind him.

  “Are you following me?” he demanded.

  “Don’t be stupid.” Kyra turned back to the clerk. “There are two men with guns chasing me. We need to call the police!”

  The cashier promptly moved from behind the counter.

  “Again?” Garber demanded in disbelief.

  “Yes! One of them tried to get in my car. He broke out a window and shot at me when I drove away.”

  Garber plopped his bag of dog treats and the six pack of soda on the counter.

  “What is it with you, lady?”

  The clerk locked the front door. “Everyone should go to the back of the store,” he told the half dozen or so people riveted by the scene. “I will call the police.”

  One man had already pulled out a cell phone. Kyra heard him ask for police assistance and was reassured. Two people fled, but reluctantly, most of the customers allowed themselves to be herded to the back of the store. Kyra went with them, ignoring the commotion. She opened her own cell phone once more and immediately found a connection. Thankfully, she’d thought to program in Maureen’s phone number. To her profound relief, Lucan answered on the third ring.

  “Lucan! Two men tried to get in the car while I was stopped. They broke out the passenger window and shot at me when I drove away.”

  “Where are you?” His voice was calm but hard.

  “In a convenience store near your house. The manager locked the front door and someone called the police.”

  “Okay, go to the rear of the store and keep down. Stay away from the windows. Have Salman or Ranji or whoever is working there tonight make sure the back door is bolted. I’m on my way.”

  “You are not hurt?” the clerk asked as she closed her cell phone.

  “No. No, I’m fine. Thank you. Detective O’Shay said you should check that the back door is bolted.”

  “He is a smart man. I will do this.”

  The man who had called the police looked more annoyed than nervous. “Damn carjackers. No one’s safe anymore.”

  Kyra didn’t respond. If only it had been something as simple as a carjacking attempt, but that was too large a coincidence.

  “Personally, I think you’re a police groupie,” Mr. Garber stated loudly. His expression was sour. “I don’t think anyone was after you at all. You probably broke out your own window just to get attention.”

  Kyra ignored him. She was still shaking and despite the warmth of the store she shivered. Her mind raced. She’d believed the man at the mall had been after Kip. But what if he’d been after her?

  Why?

  A plump, middle-aged woman tapped her on the shoulder. “Mrs. Fillmont? Are you okay? You’re shaking.”

  Kyra stared at the woman.

  “I’m Robby’s mother, Nancy Riblenowski. We live a couple of doors down from you. Kip and Robby go to school together.”

  “Fillmont? That’s not the
name she gave the police this afternoon,” Garber announced loudly.

  Kyra ignored him. “I’m sorry. I’m not Casey,” she told her. “I’m her sister, Kyra Wolfstead.”

  “Oh.” The woman looked confused. “We’ve never met. That is, your sister and I have never met. They just moved in a short time ago and I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t gone over and introduced myself to her. We’ve just waved in passing, but I was sure…You look a lot like her.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  And it hit her. Excitement electrified her. It made perfect sense when you considered how similar she looked to Casey. Casey was older, of course, but those men must have thought she was Casey! They weren’t after her or Kip, they wanted her sister! That meant Casey was alive!

  “Does the carjacking have something to do with all the commotion at your…at your sister’s house the other night?”

  Kyra stared at the woman, barely registering her question. Casey had to be alive!

  “I know the police were looking for Kip that night, and the news the next day said your sister was missing,” the woman continued.

  Every eye was on her. Garber’s mouth was gaping in astonishment, but she continued to ignore him and tried to focus on the friendly neighbor. She banked her excitement, bursting to tell Lucan her suspicions.

  “I really can’t talk about that right now,” she managed.

  “Oh. Well if there is anything I can do…”

  “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

  Casey was alive! She had to be alive. It was the only thing that made any sense. Relief made Kyra giddy. She must have swayed because suddenly the man with the cell phone was reaching for her.

  “Are you all right, lady?”

  “Fine. I’m fine.” If Casey was alive she was better than fine. Kyra prayed Lucan would hurry.

  Her euphoria died almost as quickly as it had come. Casey loved her kids. She’d never leave them alone like this unless she had no choice. So for some reason, Casey couldn’t come home. They had to step up the search to find her sister.

  Flashing blue and red lights announced the arrival of the police, but it was Lucan O’Shay whom Kyra waited for.

  LUCAN’S RELIEF AT SEEING Kyra was out of proportion to what he should have felt for someone he barely knew. He’d passed his mother’s car, seen the broken window and nodded to the officer examining what appeared to be bullet holes in the trunk and side of the car.

  Her call had sent terror right through him. He’d nearly killed himself on the slippery roads, driving as fast as he’d dared to get here. It was crazy. She was part of a case. She lived in Boston. She already had a boyfriend.

  And her features lit the moment she saw him. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly, ignoring the people and fellow officers milling around.

  “You’re okay?”

  “I’m fine. Casey’s alive!”

  He released her and stepped back. “What?”

  Excitement radiated from her as she explained. Lucan scowled, trying to decide how to temper her enthusiasm without crushing her hope. But once again he’d misjudged her. She wasn’t blind to reality.

  “I know I could be wrong, Lucan. But it fits! Why would that man have tried to grab me at the mall yesterday? Or the men try to get into my car? They think I’m Casey. That means Casey is alive!”

  “Or they think she is,” he added softly.

  Lips pursed, blue eyes darkened, but she nodded. “Yes. And I have to believe she is. I think she sent the kids to the safe room and then got away from the men who came to her house. I think she’s hiding, afraid to come home. Maybe she thinks Jordan has the kids.”

  He covered her sleeve with his hand. “I’m not saying you’re wrong.”

  “We have to look harder for her. Maybe get out a message that the kids are safe with me and she should go to the police. She’s probably afraid of her husband.”

  “Which one?”

  She stared at him blankly.

  “Both men are missing, Kyra. And we know Fillmont tried to get back into the house once already.”

  “He was looking for the money.”

  “Maybe. We don’t know for sure what he was after. What if the money belonged to Bowman and she hid it from him? We don’t know what’s going on here or who that money belongs to.”

  Her brow creased. “You’re right.”

  As she fell silent, Lucan glanced around. He nodded to Ranji and noticed a familiar face glaring at Kyra. “Isn’t that—?”

  “Mr. Garber from the movie theater,” Kyra agreed. “He was in line when I came in.” She wiggled her fingers at him and Garber turned quickly away. “I don’t think he likes me very much.”

  “What’s he doing here?”

  “He was buying dog treats and soda when I came in. He must live nearby.”

  “Okay.” He could see the exhaustion setting in on her features. It had been a stressful day for both of them. “Let me talk to the officers and Ranji and I’ll get you out of here. The weather’s turning nasty.”

  That proved to be an understatement. Sleet mingled with the snow that continued to fall. Even the truck that came to tow his mother’s car had problems in the icy parking lot. Lucan eyed the situation in growing concern. Whitney’s little sports car wasn’t built to handle weather like this. The road crews were doing what they could, but if sleet continued to stream from the sky they’d never make it to his mother’s. And by the time he got Kyra away he knew he’d been right. They weren’t going to make it back to his mother’s house.

  Kyra sat tense and silent beside him as they crept along and the temperature continued dropping.

  “Lucan?”

  He didn’t dare glance her way. Holding the road took his full concentration.

  “Isn’t your house closer than your mom’s? Maybe we should go there. One wreck a week is enough for anyone. Let’s not tempt fate more than we have already. It isn’t even safe to walk out here.”

  “I noticed. I have a small house,” he cautioned, “but I do have a spare bedroom.” And he was trying not to think about her sleeping there under his roof. “Just make sure your boyfriend understands the situation.”

  “Simon isn’t my boyfriend.”

  “Significant other?”

  “Not even.”

  “He flew in from Germany to be here for you.”

  “No, he came because he can’t accept no for an answer.”

  Had the other man proposed tonight?

  “What was the question?” He barely managed to keep his tone light.

  She sat silent for so long he was sure she wasn’t going to answer. Then she sighed. “Simon’s a nice person.”

  His stomach plunged. “I noticed.”

  “He’s also vain, egotistical and controlling with a deep-rooted fear of commitment.”

  Lucan nearly looked at her then. “You wanted commitment?”

  “Not with him. Remember, vain? Egotistical? Controlling? I like Simon. We work well together. He can be a lot of fun and we’ve enjoyed a personal relationship. But when I told him I didn’t want to continue, he couldn’t believe me. I don’t think anyone’s ever dumped him before.”

  “You dumped him?” He brought his attention back to the road just in time to keep from sliding into the curb.

  “Keep your eyes on the road, please. That was close.”

  “Yeah. This car’s too light.”

  “Maybe we should get out and carry it.”

  Lucan grinned. He loved her sense of humor.

  “To get back to your question, I tried to extricate myself from our relationship,” she continued. “That only made Simon work harder to reestablish one.”

  “You know that doesn’t make sense, right?”

  “Of course I know it. Talk to Simon. So tonight I gave him an opening and a reason to dump me.”

  Lucan tensed. She’d told Simon he’d come on to her?

  “Your ego isn’t too shabby either, is it? You weren’t the reason.”


  She sounded amused which made him wince.

  “Fatherhood and commitment are two words that make any happy bachelor quail.”

  He caught her drift, then. “He doesn’t want you to take the kids.”

  “Nope. And I only feel marginally guilty for using this situation to my advantage. If Simon believes he’s the one doing the dumping, it will make our working relationship run a whole lot smoother.”

  “You have a dark side, don’t you?”

  He sensed her smile. “I do whatever it takes to get the job done.”

  “You’re a scary lady.” His lips curved.

  “I can see you shaking from here.”

  “That’s tension. I’m keeping this expensive sports car from sliding all over the road by sheer force of will.”

  “Whatever works.”

  They fell silent while Lucan concentrated on creeping the short distance to his house. He was relieved to finally pull in his driveway and slide to a stop only partially on the grass. He sat there after turning the engine off to let his body unclench.

  “Well, that was fun. Are you okay?” Kyra asked.

  “Sure. As soon as I can summon enough energy to move we’ll skate to the porch.”

  “I forgot my ice skates.”

  “I don’t think you’re going to need them.” He rolled his shoulders trying to ease the pain of cramped muscles.

  “I give a mean backrub. Let’s go inside and see if I can unknot some of those tight muscles.”

  His head swiveled in her direction. “Not a good idea.”

  “Why not?” She flushed. “Oh. I’m not sure if I should be flattered or annoyed.”

  “Definitely flattered. I’ve seen you annoyed.”

  A smile flicked across her lips.

  “I’ll tell you what, Lucan, if you keep that sexy mouth of yours to yourself, there won’t be any problem we can’t handle.”

  She opened the car door, allowing a blast of arctic air inside. He was pretty sure it wasn’t cold enough to do the job.

  Chapter Ten

  Despite her bold words, Kyra was nervous when Lucan held the door open and she stepped inside his house. A surge of welcome warmth enveloped her. He hit a switch by the door and two floor lamps softly illuminated the cozy space.