by Terri Reed
“I don’t want to be left behind. I feel safer with you.”
Blowing out a noisy breath, he said, “Stick close. If anything goes down, hit the deck. Ace will watch our backs.”
Staying right on Adam’s heels with Ace on hers, they headed to the town house next door. Lights glowed from inside. Adam knocked on the door.
A moment later a woman in her late sixties opened the door. She had short gray hair cut in a pixie style, and green eyes behind frameless glasses.
“Ma’am, I’m Officer Donovan of the Capitol K-9 Unit. There may have been an intruder in the yard next door. He may now be in your yard. Do you mind if I check?”
Stepping in front of Adam into the porch light, Lana said, “I’m Rosa’s sister, Lana. I’ve taken possession of the town house next door.”
“Oh my, you look just like her.” She stepped back. “Where are my manners? I’m sorry. I’m Eva Jordan. Please, come in.” They stepped into the town house. She gestured to the back patio door. “You can access the backyard through there.”
Adam, with Ace on his heels, went out the back to check the yard. Lana and Eva remained in the living room. Though similar in structure to Rosa’s, Eva’s home was filled with old and worn furnishings that spoke of many years living in the same place.
“It’s clear,” Adam said as he returned. “The intruder must have jumped over the fence and disappeared into the next neighborhood. I’ve called the intrusion in. The police will send a patrol car to canvass the neighborhood.”
“Sit, please,” Eva instructed before taking a seat on the edge of a leather armchair that had seen better days. “Such a tragedy, losing your sister like that. She was so nice and thoughtful. Always ready to help me whenever I needed it. She loved her little boy something fierce. How is Juan?”
“He’s good,” Lana said around the lump forming in her throat. Hearing that her sister had been kind touched her deeply. Though it hurt to know Rosa reserved her meanness for her sister, Lana was glad to know Rosa had been considerate to others. Their parents would have been proud of her. “I’m hoping to gain custody of him soon.”
“Wonderful. He’s such a sweetie. I babysat him when Rosa went out at night.”
“Where did he go during the day while my sister worked?” Knowing which day care Rosa used would be helpful and the best place for Juan while Lana was at work. Once this mess with the theft of the arrow was resolved. Her stomach knotted. She hoped the relic was found soon so she could resume her position at the museum. As it was, she’d had no time to look for another piece to take the arrow’s place.
“I believe she had him at the Early Start program over at the Community Christian Church a couple of days a week. It’s only a few blocks from here,” Eva said. “And the rest of the time she’d take him to All Our Kids since it was so close to her work.”
“You said you watched Juan when Rosa went out at night?” Adam said. “Did you tell the police this when they talked to you after Rosa’s death?”
Eva pressed her lips together. “I mentioned I babysat occasionally. I didn’t want them to think she was…well, that she…” She made a face. “An unwed mother is judged more harshly.”
Lana’s heart contracted in her chest. She hated to think of Rosa suffering unkindness. “Do you know who Juan’s father is?”
“No,” Eva replied. “Rosa was pregnant when she moved in next door. She wouldn’t talk about the boy’s father. She said Juan was hers and hers alone.”
Did that mean the father didn’t want to be in Juan’s life? Or that Rosa hadn’t told the man he had a son?
“How often did Rosa go out at night?” Adam asked.
Eva tilted her head. “A few nights a week.”
“Do you know where she went?”
“I don’t. I assume she and her gentleman friend went out on the town or back to his place. She never stayed out terribly late.” Sadness drew her mouth downward. “Except on the night she died. I was so worried when she didn’t return.”
Lana’s heart rate sped up. From the surprise darkening Adam’s face, she guessed he, too, was stunned to learn there was a man in the picture. And was possibly with Rosa on the night of her death, supporting Adam’s insistence that robbery wasn’t the motive, but something else, something that had precipitated Rosa’s murder. “Had she gone out with someone that night?”
Eva frowned and shook her head. “No, which was strange. Usually her beau would pick her up and drop her off. That night, she took her own car. I watched her drive off. Alone. Maybe she was meeting him in the park?”
“Could you identify the man if you saw him again?” Adam asked.
Eva made a face. “Doubtful. These eyes aren’t what they used to be. I can tell you, he had short hair, not long how some of the young men these days like to wear it, and he wore sunglasses.”
Lana’s pulse spiked. “Aviators?”
“I’m not sure what that is,” Eva said with a frown.
“Reflective glasses, like mirrors,” Adam supplied.
Eva shook her head. “No, these were your standard dark lenses.”
Adam took out a small pad of paper from his pocket and then a pen. Poised to write, he asked, “Do you remember the type of car?”
“Sometimes a limousine. Other times a blue sedan. He always came at night and waited at the curb. I don’t have a license plate number or anything.”
Adam tucked the pad and pen back into his pocket before taking out his phone. He hit a few keys before turning the phone around to show a photo of Michael Jeffries. “Could this be the man you saw?”
“I don’t know. That man looks vaguely familiar but I can’t say for sure he was the man Rosa was seeing.” She grimaced. “I’m not much help, am I?”
Lana reached over to take the older woman’s hand. She most likely recognized Michael from the news. There was no reason to think Rosa was having a relationship with Michael Jeffries.
Unless…she was and Erin killed them both because of it.
The thought sent a river of coldness through Lana. No, that didn’t make sense. If Erin was the murderer, then who were the men trying to find her? And why?
“You are helping,” Lana said to Eva. “And you helped Rosa and Juan when they needed you. I so appreciate that.”
Eva patted her hand. “Will you move in next door?”
The eagerness in the older woman’s expression tugged at Lana’s heartstrings. “I don’t know yet.”
Lana slid a glance at Adam. His words earlier rang inside her head. “Don’t rule it out.” He was right. Again.
The place was set up so well for Juan. Much better than her apartment. All his things were here and the yard had a play structure. Perfect for a growing boy.
She sent up a silent prayer asking God to direct her in the decision.
They bid Eva good-night and returned to Rosa’s town house. Adam’s cell rang and he stepped into the kitchen to answer. Lana went to Juan’s room but couldn’t bring herself to pack up his things. This was his home. She needed to stop thinking of herself and her own hurts and think of Juan. He would need the stability of the place he shared with his mother. Lana wanted him to know that his mother had loved him. She went in search of Adam to tell him of her decision.
He met her in the dining room. “That was the DC Police. They caught a teenager attempting to breakin to another town house on the next block over. He admitted to trying to breakin here. He thought the place was unoccupied.”
Some of the tension in her shoulders drained away. “That’s a relief.”
She told Adam her new plan to move into the town house if she gained custody of Juan.
His smile of approval warmed her from the inside out. “Not if, when.”
She appreciated his confidence. “Now I need my job back so I can afford the upkeep on this place,” she commented and picked up the vase of dead flowers from the dining table and carried them to the kitchen. She dumped out the water and then threw the old blooms away. She’d buy
more flowers for the vase in honor of her sister’s memory.
“You’re already a good mother.” Adam had followed her into the kitchen. “You’re thinking of Juan’s welfare over your own. It will all work out. Have faith.”
Staring into his blue eyes, she knew faith would be the only thing to soothe her when the inevitable happened and it came time to say goodbye to Adam. Because, despite her intentions, she cared deeply for this man. Another loss to suffer through.
ELEVEN
Lana set the crystal vase on the sideboard and glanced at Adam. Whiskers shadowed his strong jaw. Dark circles rimmed his blue-green eyes. He looked exhausted. But not once had he complained or slowed down. He’d headed out to face whatever danger had lurked in the night like a knight with his faithful steed—or rather canine. The gentle way he’d handled the neighbor had impressed Lana. He was a good man.
She wondered what her parents would have thought of him. She could almost hear her mom whisper, “He’s a keeper.”
“It’s hard to imagine that whoever stole the arrow hasn’t tried to sell it.” Adam leaned against the counter in Rosa’s kitchen. “I still don’t get why the thief returned to the museum.”
Shaking off her disturbing thought, she said, “That is a mystery.” And she hoped she never saw the man in white again. He already occupied her nightmares. “Someone could be holding on to the arrow for his or her own collection rather than for monetary gain. I wrote out a list of people who had inquired about purchasing the arrow. It’s at your brother’s.”
“It’s time we headed back there,” Adam said.
Lana bit her lip, knowing he wasn’t going to like what she was about to say. “I’d like to stay here tonight. It’s late and I don’t want to disturb Joe or Ruth or the girls.”
“No. You can’t stay here alone.”
“I know the risks. But I have to start living my life. I can’t keep hiding and hoping the man who wants me dead goes away and stops trying.” She squared her shoulders. “I’ll move in here tomorrow. Thankfully, my sister has an alarm system.”
“An older one that needs to be updated.” He swiped a hand through his hair. “You should go back to my brother’s. I don’t like the thought of you alone.”
She wanted to ask him to stay but knew relying on him wasn’t a good idea. He’d be leaving her life soon. She needed to start fending for herself. She had no solution that would appease him. “I’m staying.”
“Then Ace stays with you and I’ll call the police about having a patrol car sit out front instead of at my brother’s.”
The offer made a fresh set of tears prick the backs of her eyes. “I can’t ask that of you. Or of him.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” He looked down at the dog. “Ace, guard Lana.”
The dog cocked his head, his dark gaze going from Adam to Lana and back again, then Ace trotted to her side as if he understood the duty he’d been given. She stroked a hand over his sleek head. “I don’t know what to say.”
Adam stepped in close and cupped her cheek. “You don’t need to say anything.” He dipped his head and placed a tender, sweet kiss on her lips before walking to the door. “I’ll return first thing in the morning.”
She followed on wobbly legs, Ace matching her steps the same way he did when he and Adam moved together. Her lips tingled and a fuzzy heat invaded her head, her heart. “Good night, Adam.”
He dipped his head in acknowledgement and disappeared into the night. She locked the door and leaned back against the cool wood. Her heart puddled at her feet. As much as she wanted to deny her feelings, she had to admit to herself, she was fast falling in love with Adam Donovan.
*
Twenty minutes after leaving a uniformed officer guarding Lana and Ace at the town house, Adam arrived at the Capitol K-9 headquarters, parking in the underground parking lot. He hoped to find the offices dark and everyone gone. He wasn’t up to talking to anyone. He needed time to process through his thoughts and feelings. Things best done alone.
He planned to drop off the Appletons’ laptop for Fiona before going home to rest. Though he doubted rest was something that would be easily found anytime soon. Not with the way his heart and head were warring over his feelings for Lana.
Using his key card he accessed the elevator and stepped inside. His heart bled for the pain she carried. He wanted to heal her heart, make her laugh and bring joy to her life. He’d kissed her again because she was distressed over the loss of her family members.
Nice rationalization, Donovan.
His throat closed up. Get a grip, dude. His job was to protect her. Nothing else.
Yet the fear of losing her balled his insides up into a hard, tight knot.
He cared for her. Far more than he should. Far more than was proper. Far more than he wanted to admit.
Not smart, not smart at all.
He mentally snorted and stepped out of the elevator. Yeah, if he was so smart then how did his former FBI partner pull the proverbial wool over his eyes? Hmm?
And now he was letting his judgment be impaired by a pretty face and a sad story.
But reducing her in such a way wasn’t fair. There was more to Lana than attractiveness and he couldn’t shortchange her, even in his mind.
She was more than a beautiful woman; she was intelligent, stubborn, loyal and brave to the point of reckless. Fearless and yet so vulnerable. She made him feel like he could battle any dragon and win. He wanted to battle her dragons. He wanted her.
In his heart. In his life.
The realization stopped him dead in his tracks. His lungs seized.
But if he planned to stick with his decision to leave DC and relocate back home to Colorado he needed his heart and mind to be of one accord. Just how he was going to accomplish that, he didn’t know. He’d thought the worst of his moving would be leaving Ace, his partner, behind.
The best way was to neutralize the threat to Lana. Then Adam could move on. Or ask Lana to go with him?
No, he rejected that thought immediately. He couldn’t ask that of her. He didn’t even know how she felt about him so dreaming of her relocating to be with him was out of the question. Her life was here.
He ignored the mocking laughter in his brain telling him moving on was going to be harder than he’d imagined.
With the Appletons’ computer in hand, Adam headed for Fiona’s workspace, stopping short when he noticed the light on in Gavin’s office. He hesitated, debating turning around and leaving. But his sense of duty was too strong.
He’d have to face his captain at some point and explain leaving Ace with Lana. Unease slithered through him. He didn’t like leaving her. He told himself it was because she was still in danger but his heart wouldn’t buy that line.
Shaking off his thoughts, he squared his shoulders. Might as well talk with Gavin now while it was just the two of them. He stopped in the doorway. Not only was Gavin still here, but Fiona and Nicholas, as well. Nicholas’s partner, a Rottweiler named Max, lay at his feet.
A rock plummeted to the pit of Adam’s stomach. He didn’t want this conversation with an audience.
“Come in,” Gavin said, gesturing for Adam to join them.
Nicholas looked past Adam and then back. “Where’s Ace?”
Adam’s mouth went dry. No use in thinking he could hedge. “He’s guarding Lana Gomez along with a DC patrol.”
Fiona’s mouth formed an O but no sound came out. Nicholas’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. Gavin leveled him with a questioning look.
“She took possession of her sister’s town house tonight and refused to leave.”
Gavin considered him for a moment then nodded. “Fill these two in on your trip to Virginia.”
Having already called Gavin with an update on his interview with the Appletons, Adam held up the laptop and explained to Nicholas and Fiona about Erin hiding at the Appletons’, cutting and dyeing her hair and about the thugs who were after her.
Fiona jumped up and
took the device from him. “I’ll get started on this right away!” She rushed from the office, her red satin skirt swishing in her wake.
“At least we know she’s alive,” Nicholas stated.
“Or was a few days ago.” Gavin rubbed his chin. “If those goons catch up with her before we find her…”
She’s as good as dead, Adam silently finished. He couldn’t imagine Chase’s stress of not knowing if Erin was alive or dead. Though Chase and Erin weren’t romantically involved now, losing her would be devastating for the rookie K-9 officer. He and Erin had remained friends. And as far as they knew, he was the last one to have seen her before she went missing.
“Has she contacted her cousin?” Adam asked Nicholas. The former navy SEAL had been assigned to the White House detail to keep an eye on Selena Barrow, Erin’s cousin.
Nicholas shook his head. “Not that I can tell. Selena’s been all over me about not doing enough to find Erin.”
Adam told them what he’d learned from Rosa Gomez’s neighbor.
“Why didn’t the woman tell us this when she was questioned the first time?” Gavin demanded.
“I believe Mrs. Jordan was protecting Rosa’s reputation. I showed her a picture of Michael Jeffries but Mrs. Jordan couldn’t ID him as the man Rosa was seeing.”
“Did you make any headway with Tommy?” Gavin asked.
“The kid is definitely edgy.” Adam recounted his conversation with the boy.
Gavin grimaced. “A tough little nut to crack, that one. I was hoping he’d respond better to someone else. He clams up every time I try.” He stood. “Let’s call it a night, gentlemen.”
Nicholas rose. “I’ll check on Fiona’s progress before heading out.” He and Max left.
“I have news for you,” Gavin stated, handing Adam an envelope.
Adam stared at the letterhead from the Colorado Springs Police Department. Quickly, he slipped the page out and scanned the content. His transfer had come through. The letter welcomed him to the Colorado Springs K-9 unit. He could leave DC and head to Colorado at the end of the month. That news should have been exciting. Instead, Adam felt a strange numbness fill him.