Watch Your Back

by Rose, Karen

  Christopher shook his hand. ‘Thank you for looking after her.’

  Clay shot Emma a look. ‘I tried to send her home, but she wouldn’t go.’

  ‘I know.’ Christopher sighed. ‘I gave up trying to order her around back in high school.’

  Stevie smiled. ‘You’re a wise man, then. Tanner, I’m so hungry that I could eat my own cooking. If there’s anything left, I’d love to have some. Christopher, it’s good to see you again.’

  ‘It’s always a pleasure to see you, Stevie. Wish the circumstances were different.’

  ‘Me, too,’ Stevie said ruefully. ‘Paige, how did you guys get here? I didn’t see your truck outside and we have Grayson’s SUV. Thank you, by the way. I appreciate you loaning it to us.’

  ‘You’re welcome,’ Grayson said. ‘I hope you don’t need the . . . special features.’

  Meaning the bullet-resistant glass. ‘You and me both.’

  ‘We picked up Christopher from the airport and drove to Lou Moore’s place,’ Paige said. ‘We didn’t want to risk being followed. Lou brought us over in the boat. It worked as a trial run for when we move Cor—’ Paige pursed her lips hard, stopping herself from saying anymore.

  But it was too late for that. Cordelia had heard, evidenced by her sharp indrawn breath. She tugged on Stevie’s shirt. ‘Mama,’ she said, her voice still small.

  Stevie found her daughter’s eyes full of fear. ‘Yes, Cordelia?’

  ‘I heard about today. That you got shot, again.’

  Stevie quickly glanced at the adults, her eyes narrowed.

  Emma sighed. ‘It came on the TV, Stevie. We were watching cartoons and they broke for a special news announcement. I changed the channel, but she’d heard enough to be scared. Grayson got the details from Joseph. We told her so she’d know you were unhurt.’

  Stevie dropped her gaze back to her daughter’s pinched face. ‘Someone shot at me. He didn’t hit me.’ Not exactly. He hit Kevlar. ‘I’m not hurt. Neither is Mr Maynard.’

  ‘They keep shooting at you,’ Cordelia said, almost tonelessly. ‘They want to kill you. Who, Mama? Why?’

  ‘I’m not sure who or why, but I’m going to find out and make them stop.’

  Cordelia gave her a look that was far too old. ‘You want to move me so I won’t be in the way. I heard Sheriff Moore talking to Miss Paige. They said I was in the way.’ She lifted her chin. ‘But I won’t go. I’m not leaving you.’

  Stevie was aware that all eyes were on her. ‘Cordelia . . . First of all, we haven’t decided to move you. We’re getting ready in case we have to. Like having a “Plan B”. And second, it has nothing to do with you being in the way, because you are never in the way.’

  Paige had flinched, distressed. ‘“Harm’s way”, Cordy. You heard us say you were in “harm’s way”. That’s very different than being “in the way”.’

  Cordelia still looked unconvinced. ‘I’m not leaving you.’

  Stevie blew out a breath. ‘Honey, if this house is no longer safe, you will leave.’ She said it firmly, but as lovingly as she knew how. ‘I have to know you’re safe. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.’ Cordelia looked away and Stevie felt the bite of helpless frustration. ‘And not because you’re all I have left,’ she added more sharply than she’d intended.

  Cordelia’s gaze flew to Clay’s face, her expression even more stricken. ‘You told.’

  ‘No,’ Stevie said. ‘I listened in. Like he said, I can pretend to be asleep as well as you can.’ She gripped Cordelia’s chin gently, making her daughter meet her eyes. ‘Now you listen to me and you hear me. You believe me. You are my heart. You have been since the moment I first felt you move in my tummy. If your daddy and brother had lived, you’d still be my heart. I love you the same as I would have if we were all still a family. And we are still a family. You and me and . . .’ Clay. She’d almost said Clay. ‘Izzy,’ she said firmly, steeling her voice so that it didn’t tremble. ‘We are a family. Do you believe me?’

  Cordelia nodded silently.

  ‘Good,’ Stevie said, but she wasn’t sure she believed her daughter. ‘Cordelia, there has not been a single moment that I have not treasured you. It’s true that you’re all I have left – but of your father. You are not some kind of consolation prize and if you ever thought so, you were wrong. If anything, you are more precious to me because . . . Because you and I survived together. We’ve made it through together.’

  Cordelia’s expression was weary, like she knew Stevie believed her own words, even if they weren’t really true. ‘I know, Mama. It’ll be fine.’

  It’ll be fine. Tears rose in Stevie’s throat. No wonder Cordelia didn’t believe her. She’d spouted that It’ll be fine for far too long, using it to ignore her child’s hurt and fear.

  No, it wouldn’t be fine, not unless she could make her daughter understand.

  ‘What I feel for you is exactly the same thing I felt for your brother and if I have ever made you think otherwise, I am sorry.’ Her voice broke and she bowed her head, trying to keep the tears from starting. Because once she started, she didn’t think she’d stop. ‘I am so sorry.’

  What seemed like a lifetime passed, and then she felt a small hand smooth her hair again and again. ‘Don’t cry, Mama. Please don’t cry.’

  ‘I’m trying not to,’ Stevie said hoarsely, leaning into her daughter’s caress. ‘But I still don’t think you believe me.’ She looked Cordelia squarely in the eye. ‘In your shoes, I wouldn’t believe me, either, and you’re more like me every day.’ Her lips curved. ‘You poor kid.’

  Cordelia’s lips trembled into a small smile, but it was genuine. ‘Aunt Izzy says Grandma used to say that some day you’d have a little girl just like you and then she’d have her revenge.’

  Stevie could feel the tension in the room begin to recede as the adults sitting around the table chuckled. ‘Yeah, Grandma did say that, at least once a day. I was kind of a handful. Didn’t like to take anyone’s word for anything. I liked to have proof. Just like you do. So I guess I’ll have to prove how I feel about you and that will simply take time. I’m going to make sure we have that time, Cordelia. I’m going to find whoever’s been shooting at me and I will make them stop. But I need to know you’re safe while I do. If that means moving you, that’s what will happen.’

  Cordelia nodded soberly. ‘Where will I go?’

  Stevie let herself breathe. ‘Alec has been working at Miss Daphne’s farm all day, adding a lot more security. The plan we grownups have talked about is for you to go there if things get too dangerous here. You’ll be safe there. You can see the horses all you want. Miss Paige will be there to watch over you and Alec, too. Mr Maynard trusts them. So do I.’

  Cordelia squared her shoulders. ‘But who will watch over you, Mama?’

  Stevie’s throat thickened again. ‘I can watch over myself. But if Mr Maynard is still willing, I’d like him to watch over me, too. Would that make you feel better?’

  Cordelia nodded. Then shook her head. ‘No,’ she whispered.

  ‘Why not, honey?’ Clay asked softly. ‘I’m not mad, but why not?’

  She looked up at him, distress in her eyes. ‘Who will watch over you?’

  Stevie watched as Clay swallowed hard, trying to think of something to say.

  At least I can help with that. ‘I will,’ Stevie said firmly. ‘Mr Maynard and I will watch over each other. And Uncle JD and Joseph are helping, too. So what do you think? Will you go if it’s necessary – without any fuss?’

  ‘If I said no, would you be mad?’

  ‘Yes. But more like I got mad when you touched the stove even after I said it was hot.’

  Cordelia’s eyes widened. ‘I did that?’

  ‘Oh yeah. And you fractured your arm when you jumped off the swing, trying to fly
even though Grandma kept telling you the butterfly costume for Halloween didn’t really turn you into a butterfly. You nearly turned my hair gray with that one. And then there was the time you tried to eat soap because it was pink and smelled like cotton candy.’

  Her nose wrinkled. ‘I remember that one. I thought it would taste so good, but it was bad.’ Her lighter attitude faltered. ‘You’re not coming to Miss Daphne’s with me?’

  ‘Not right now. But when this is all over, I will. I promise. I’ll even try to ride a horse.’

  Cordelia nodded once. ‘Okay, then. I’ll go.’

  Stevie pressed a kiss to Cordelia’s forehead. ‘Thank you, baby.’

  ‘But you have to try to ride. All these people heard you say so.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter what they heard. You heard me say so and that’s what’s most important to me.’ Stevie glanced down when plates of lasagna were placed in front of her and Clay and smiled when Tanner silently patted her back. ‘Now I have to eat and talk to the grownups. Can you go play with the puppies or something? Just for a few minutes.’

  Paige stood up, held out her hand. ‘Let’s go, Cordy. We need to practice your kata so that you’re ready to test for your blue belt with your class when all this craziness is over.’ She clicked her tongue and the Rottweiler fell into position beside her. ‘Peabody, with me.’

  When the kitchen door swung closed behind them, Stevie rubbed her forehead hard, suddenly feeling embarrassed at having had that conversation with Cordelia in front of so many people. ‘Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you all feel uncomfortable.’

  ‘No one’s complaining, Stevie,’ Emma said, sniffling.

  Stevie chanced looking up and found Emma dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Clay gave her a single hard nod of approval that nearly had her crying herself.

  She cleared her throat, then closed her eyes in bliss when she tasted her dinner. ‘This lasagna is so good.’

  ‘It is good,’ Clay said, sounding a little surprised. ‘What did you do to it? Not that your lasagna is usually bad, but this is as good as Mom used to make.’

  ‘New recipe,’ Tanner said brusquely. ‘And there’s chocolate ice cream in the freezer.’

  ‘My hero.’ Stevie dug in, starving. ‘Chocolate ice cream and then a nap sounds heavenly.’

  ‘You need more than a nap,’ Grayson said. ‘You two need to get a full night’s rest. That’s why Paige and I are still here. She’s going to stand watch inside the house tonight while Joseph’s people guard outside. And if you had decided to send Cordelia to the farm, Paige wanted to be the one to make sure she got there safely. She thought that would put your mind at ease. As much as you can be eased right now.’

  She did feel eased, Stevie realized. Not entirely, but enough that she could draw a pain-free breath. She reached across the table and squeezed Grayson’s hand. ‘Thank you. Both of you.’

  ‘You’d do the same for us,’ Grayson said.

  ‘I hope to God I never have to,’ she murmured, then looked at Clay. ‘If we do have to move her, I’d like to know more about the setup. You told me about the gates and the fence, but what about the house and the barn? One of the benefits of the farm is that Cordelia wouldn’t be trapped in a house, that she plays with the horses. Gets fresh air. How will you protect her then?’

  ‘The main barn is accessible from the house by an enclosed walkway,’ Clay said. ‘Daphne had it put in for wheelchairs. It’s got glass walls, hurricane approved glass, like in my house. All the kids have to wear helmets when they ride. They aren’t “bullet-proof”, but the composite materials are very strong. If she goes riding, she can wear a vest.’

  ‘You mean body armor? You have body armor in her size?’

  ‘Unfortunately, they have to make vests in kids’ sizes too. She might not realize it’s bullet-proof. It looks like a normal ski vest.’

  ‘She’ll know,’ Stevie said grimly. ‘She’s far too smart for her own good. Until this is over, I would like her to wear one. Will there be a secure line that we can use to call each other?’

  Clay nodded. ‘Of course.’

  ‘And if this goes on longer than a few days, can Izzy or my parents be taken to the farm?’

  ‘Of course,’ he repeated. ‘We aren’t trying to keep Cordelia isolated. Just safe.’

  ‘Thank you. And to you, too,’ she said to Tanner when he put a bowl of ice cream in front of her. ‘Then the destination is settled. If we do decide this place has been compromised, how fast can Sheriff Moore get here with the boat?’

  ‘She got us from her dock to Clay’s in ten minutes,’ Grayson said. ‘That was full-throttle.’

  ‘Okay. It sounds like a viable “Plan B”. Let’s focus on finding this guy so that we don’t need it. Did Forensics get anything from Clay’s house?’

  ‘We did,’ Grayson said, satisfaction in his eyes. ‘I got a call from Joseph, right before you two got here. Clay’s stingray gave up phone numbers from the second intruder’s cell phone call log. Culp called the second intruder – the one who drove the Tahoe – last night, about an hour before Officer Cleary was killed in the safe house. There were no calls from Rossi to either Culp or the Tahoe driver.’

  ‘We call the Tahoe driver “Mr Backpack”,’ Stevie said. ‘The other we can call “Mr Sucker”, just to keep things rated G for Cordelia. There’s also “Drive-by” and “Restaurant”.’

  ‘Fine,’ Grayson said with a smile, then sobered. ‘We’re assuming that Culp gave Backpack the safe house location when he called him. We don’t know if Backpack got to the safe house, saw what Rossi had done and ran, or didn’t go at all. But he knew where to find you last night.’

  Stevie’s chest went tight. ‘So if Rossi hadn’t, someone else would have tried to kill Cordelia and me there.’

  ‘It’s likely,’ Grayson said grimly. ‘Joseph also had just received the video surveillance from the CVS you two stopped at. The Tahoe was there, in the parking lot. The driver kept his head down so the surveillance cameras couldn’t pick up his features.’

  ‘Shit,’ she breathed. ‘So close.’

  ‘I’m getting tired of playing catch up to this guy.’ Clay’s voice was harsh. Rattled. ‘We need to bring him out in the open.’

  ‘I was thinking that, too,’ Stevie said. ‘I’ve got an idea you’re not going to like.’

  ‘If you’re the bait, you’re damn right I won’t like it,’ Clay said. ‘But we might not have a choice. Sooner or later your luck’s going to run out.’

  Stevie grimaced. ‘I’ve already run out of Kevlar. Part one of my plan requires a very public declaration that Emma is going home to Florida. Maybe a news story.’

  Emma and Christopher shared a look. ‘We don’t think that’s a good idea,’ Emma said.

  ‘Why not?’ Stevie asked.

  ‘Someone’s already tried to break into our house,’ Christopher said. ‘Today my office at the university was broken into. Emma doesn’t have family pictures on her website, but I have pictures on my desk. Whoever broke into my office now has photos of the boys and Megan.’

  Stevie closed her eyes. ‘Oh God. I’m sorry.’

  ‘Hush, Stevie,’ Emma said mildly. ‘So far, the security we’ve hired to protect our parents and our kids haven’t reported any issues, but we’re going to lay low. Christopher is flying to Florida tomorrow on a private plane. Instead of going to our house, he’s going straight to Disney World. Our security people will pick him up and take him to the boys.’

  ‘What about you?’ Stevie asked.

  ‘I’m staying with Cordelia. And when the time comes, I’ll go with her to the farm.’

  Stevie leaned back in her chair, blinking. ‘You are?’

  Emma nodded. ‘I am. It allows me to lay low and not get shot at.’

  ‘Which makes me happy,’ Christo
pher said, his jaw tight.

  Emma shrugged. ‘I’m no celebrity, but my face is on the back of enough books that I get recognized in public from time to time. They don’t know the boys are in Orlando, but all it takes is one person seeing me there with my kids to put the boys in danger.’

  ‘Emma, are you sure?’

  ‘Yes. I can watch over Cordelia and if we go to the farm, I can learn about equine therapy. I see potential for a new book. And there are, of course, the clothes. Equestrian is all the rage.’

  ‘Should have known clothes would factor in somehow,’ Stevie said with a smile. ‘Has the hotel where you were staying had any more trouble with people trying to get into your room?’

  ‘Paige checked with the hotel manager before we came here,’ Grayson said. ‘There have been some inquiries, mostly from reporters. Why?’

  ‘I’m thinking that maybe “Emma” should check back into the hotel tomorrow night. If anyone was watching for her last night, Paige wouldn’t have fooled them. She’s almost six feet tall and Emma’s only five feet in her stilettos.’

  Emma looked at her shrewdly. ‘If you’re thinking of posing as me, don’t. You can’t walk like me. Even before the cane.’

  ‘I can learn,’ Stevie said stubbornly. ‘I did some undercover, back in the day.’

  ‘And your hair?’ Grayson asked.

  ‘A wig. Daphne’s got plenty. I’m sure she has a short blonde one. Look, maybe nobody comes and I just end up sleeping in a hotel bed for the night. But maybe someone will think Emma knows where I am and will break in again.’

  ‘They might open fire,’ Grayson cautioned, ‘like Rossi did at the safe house last night.’

  Stevie winced. ‘Fine. I won’t sleep in the bed. But I want to draw whoever is looking for me into an enclosed environment. There’s too much space to control if I’m out and about. If I can get them to come to me, I’ll have the advantage.’