Hearts in the Crosshairs

by Susan Page Davis

  “Nothing yet?” Smith asked.

  “No. We’re going to talk to people who parked in the garage last night and see if anyone saw a man on the roof or in the stairway.”

  “He took a risk carrying a rifle up there,” Smith mused.

  “True. He may have driven up to the top level, but it would have taken a couple of minutes to get down, in that case. I think he parked nearby and walked up, then ran down the stairwell after he fired. He got away before the first officer responded, about four minutes after Caruthers’s call.”

  “Four minutes.” Colonel Smith’s eyebrows drew together in a fuzzy wedge.

  Dave nodded regretfully. “Browne or I could probably have gotten there sooner, but our first priority was to get the governor safely into the house. By the time she was secure, two Augusta police officers were on the scene.”

  “I don’t suppose there were any fingerprints,” Jillian said.

  Dave shook his head. “A partial from the casing, but we haven’t been able to make a match yet.”

  They all sat in silence for several seconds. A glance at Dave’s somber face revealed his frustration and disappointment.

  Jillian sat forward and addressed the colonel. “Well, sir, it sounds as though the EPU is in high gear. Thank you for coming in person to report to me. I assume the Public Safety Department’s spokesman has briefed the press.”

  Smith almost growled. “Did you see the morning news?”

  “No, I didn’t. Should I have?”

  Smith shrugged. “Mark Payson gave them the basics, but of course all the reporters want more. I’ll have Detective Millbridge talk to them this afternoon, so they’ll have something fresh on the evening news.” He stood, and Dave jumped out of his chair. “I’d best be going. Are you finished, Hutchins?”

  Dave hesitated. “The unit needs to know if the governor has changed her schedule for the next twenty-four hours.”

  “Absolutely.” Smith stared pointedly at Jillian. “I’d like you to stay in this building today, ma’am. It will make it easier for us to do our work.”

  She sighed and rose from her chair. “I suppose I’d better call Mrs. Wheeler back in here to go over the schedule. Perhaps you could stay a moment, Detective?”

  “Of course,” Dave said.

  Colonel Smith tucked his folder under his arm, nodded at Jillian, and left the room. She let out a pent-up breath. Dave took a step toward her, then stopped. They stood looking at each other for a long moment.

  “I’m so sorry this happened,” he said at last.

  “Thank you.” She managed a smile. “You need to sleep, Dave.”

  “I’ll take the rest of today off. But I’d like to come by again this evening and check on you, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t. I’d appreciate it if you’d update me on what the unit accomplishes today. Oh, and my mother will be here.” She grimaced. “Mom doesn’t take these things lightly. I’m sure it will help if she can get an official word from you.”

  “I’d be happy to talk to her.”

  Jillian nodded. She wished they were standing closer, without the big walnut desk between them.

  A light tap on the door preceded Lettie’s entrance. “Hello again. Ah, Detective Hutchins. I’m told you’ll take a copy of Governor Goff’s schedule back to the EPU office.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Dave said. “That will help us plan surveillance for today and tonight.”

  As Lettie laid her papers on the desk and pulled up a chair, Dave looked at Jillian. The look in his eyes made her heart lurch against her will. There was no turning back now, and she knew it. She was falling for her protector, which was absolutely the last thing she should be doing. But she could no more change her feelings for him than turn back time.

  SEVEN

  A week after the second shooting incident, Dave’s ringing phone woke him.

  “Can you help me out, Dave? The governor’s determined to slip the leash this morning.”

  “Penny?”

  “Yeah, I’m at the Blaine House.”

  “What’s up?”

  “She’s got cabin fever, that’s what. In a twenty-seven-room mansion.”

  Dave sat up and rubbed the back of his neck. “What’s she doing?”

  “She insists she’s going over to the statehouse. I’ve tried to convince her to wait until Monday, but she’s determined to get back to what she calls ‘normal’ today.”

  “Let her.”

  A silence of several seconds followed. “You sure?”

  “Yeah, but keep at least two officers with her, with two more standing by while you transfer her over there. In and out of the car quickly.”

  “Okay. If you think so.”

  Dave sighed. “The governor’s right. She can’t stay sequestered and be an effective leader.”

  “I was hoping you’d talk her into waiting.”

  Dave pushed the covers aside and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “What makes you think she’d listen to me? Right now she needs to feel she has some measure of control. She doesn’t want to give this guy the satisfaction of making her a weak governor.”

  “Dave, she’s scared.”

  “She’d be crazy if she weren’t. But she’s still going forward. That’s courage, and that’s the attitude that will send her down in history as one of our most capable governors.”

  “Wow, you’re a real fan, aren’t you?” Penny asked.

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Haven’t made up my mind yet. But okay, I’ll tell her she can have her way. I suppose you’ll drop by tonight to give her an update?”

  “Yeah. Such as it is.” What he wouldn’t give right now for something significant to tell her.

  Dave was laboring without success to find more evidence. Though Carl Millbridge technically headed the investigation, Dave spent more time in the field and felt he was closer to the case. Carl did more of the telephone interviews and oversaw the laboratory tests, while Dave scoured the capital area, digging for clues.

  Each morning Dave awoke to face failure. Until the shooter was in custody, nothing could be counted as success. Three weeks after the second shooting incident, they were no closer to making an arrest.

  He approached his Tuesday evening meeting with the printout of his assignments for the week folded in his inside pocket. He was to have Friday off and arrive for duty late Saturday at the Blaine House.

  “Dave, it’s good to see you again,” Jillian said as he entered her cozy office at the mansion.

  “Thank you. You’re looking well.” He clasped her hand for a moment and released it reluctantly, then sat down opposite her. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’re planning to go to Orono Saturday evening.”

  She picked up the silver pen from her desk and flipped it back and forth rapidly. “Yes. I think it’s time I ventured farther afield. We’ve cancelled enough appearances.”

  “But a concert an hour and a half away?”

  “The Bangor Symphony is playing at the Maine Center for the Arts. I planned this outing months ago.”

  He shook his head. “I urge you not to risk appearing in public again so soon.”

  “You know my feelings about that.” Her blue eyes flashed. “Nothing happened to me in Portland. It was my arrival back here that gave the shooter his opportunity. That happens every day. He could try again anytime.”

  “Nighttime is easier. It’s harder to see clearly. Fewer witnesses. There weren’t many people at the garage that night to see him go up there and wait for you to come home.”

  “That’s true. I assume you’ll post a man or two at the garage Saturday night to make sure no one tries it again.”

  “You bet your boots we will. If I can’t persuade you to stay home, that is.”

  “You can’t.” She locked eyes with him, and for the first time he felt the steel he’d guessed she possessed. One more thing to admire about her, e
ven if it would make his job harder. “I need to be there. I’ve encouraged financial grants to the arts, and it’s imperative that I show my support.” Her voice cracked just a little, and she cleared her throat.

  Dave linked his hands together and leaned forward. “All right. I’ll be driving. We’ll put you in the Lincoln this time with Penny Thurlow.”

  “Senator Armstrong is going with me. He’s a dear old friend.”

  “Yes, I saw his name on the list. Penny will ride up front with me. You and the senator will sit in the backseat.”

  She nodded, saying nothing.

  “We’ll put two more officers in the SUV. They’ll go ahead of us as we leave Augusta. We may switch back and forth on I-95, depending on how the situation feels, but I’ll be in constant touch with Andrew.”

  “Andrew being the other driver?”

  “Correct. Ryan Mills will be with him. And when we get to Orono, they’ll drive into the parking lot first. I’ll take you right up to the door. Andrew and Ryan will be ready to shield you between the car and the door of the building. You will go in quickly, without stopping to chat or wave. Clear?”

  “Yes, sir.” She smiled faintly.

  He answered her smile, wishing she could enjoy the event the way she wanted to instead of worrying about her safety. “Ryan will take up his position at the entrance to your box. Andrew and Penny will stick to you like glue. Orono police will also be on hand. I will park the car and stay outside for the first half of the program. Then Andrew will come out and spell me, and I’ll join you inside.”

  She frowned and tapped her pen on the desk. “One of you has to stay outside during the entire concert?”

  “Yes. We’ve got to make sure no one is messing with the vehicles.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “It will be cold.”

  “Don’t worry about us. Visitors will be allowed to greet you in the box during the intermission, provided they’re on our preapproved list.”

  Her jaw dropped. “You have a list of people you’ll let talk to me?”

  “At a public event, on a public university campus, after two attempts on your life? Yes.”

  She sighed.

  “It’s not as bad as it sounds. Our office is doing background checks on at least forty people who want to see you—everyone from students to university bigwigs. Toward the end of the intermission, you’ll be allowed to stand at the front of the box for thirty seconds and wave to the crowd.”

  “Like the queen?”

  “Exactly. I don’t like it, but Colonel Smith says you’ve got to have a chance to connect with the people. Approximately fifteen minutes before the program is over, we’ll get you and Armstrong out to the SUV, and I’ll drive you home. Andrew will follow in the Lincoln.”

  “We don’t get to stay until the end of the concert?” Jillian’s voice ratcheted up with protest. “There’s a reception following.”

  “Madam Governor, this is for your safety. We’ve notified the organizers that you won’t be able to attend the party. If all goes well, perhaps you can appear at a reception following the next public event you attend. But not this time.”

  “It’s a test.”

  “Of sorts.” He maintained his unswerving gaze, which was easy to do because he was looking at an incredibly beautiful woman. He could only hope the look on his face was all business.

  At last she nodded, her mouth compressed. “All right. I know you’re trying to do what’s best for me. I guess I should be glad I’m not running into solid opposition on this.”

  “Governor, if we had caught—”

  She waved a hand and looked away. “No, you’re absolutely right. We need to do it this way. And Dave, thanks for all you’ve done already. I do appreciate it.”

  He nodded, relieved. She was, after all, in charge. She could insist on going out in public. She could even dismiss the EPU. He didn’t think she would be that foolish, though he knew she chafed at their constant presence.

  She inhaled through her nose, pulling her shoulders back as she did. “So. Anything new you can tell me about the shootings?”

  “We know the type of rifle he used, but not the make. We have no witnesses. This guy is good. We don’t even know if he drove into the garage or not.”

  “No video from the garage that night.”

  “The camera at the main entrance was down, and it had been for a few days.”

  “Why wasn’t it fixed?”

  Dave sighed in frustration. “That’s what we’d like to know. I’m sure Detective Millbridge has made someone somewhere extremely uncomfortable over that. But if the shooter put it out of commission, why didn’t he wait to do it until the day he shot at you? The chances of its being repaired were high.”

  Jillian’s eyes widened. “Maybe he planned to strike earlier. Maybe he was up there a couple of nights before, but I didn’t present him with a target. Surely he went up to look the place over and see if it was a good spot for his purposes.”

  “Yes. I’ve thought about that. The night he shot at you was the first night in more than a week that you’d gone out and come in fairly late. He might have waited on other evenings for an opportunity.”

  “Or he might have gained access to my schedule.”

  Dave hated to admit it, but she was right. “Yes, that’s possible.”

  Her whole body shook as she exhaled. Dave wished more than ever that protocol did not stand between them. Against his better judgment, he reached across the desk and put his hand on hers. She met his gaze with a warmth in her eyes that made him want to pull her into his arms.

  “You’re doing great,” he said softly. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this.”

  Former Senator Joseph Armstrong cut an imposing figure in his tuxedo. Dave took the silver-haired icon’s measure as they waited in the reception room for Jillian. Three terms in Washington and many years of service to Maine before that, as commissioner of economic development and then attorney general. He was highly respected in local, state and federal circles and served on the board of at least five corporations, though he’d officially listed himself as “retired” for ten years. He’d turned down a nomination by the last governor for State of Maine Supreme Court Justice.

  “I understand you’ve known the governor for a long time, sir.” Dave stood with the senator before one of the fireplaces with a glass of iced tea in his hand. Jillian had apparently instructed the staff that she wanted no alcohol served in the mansion during her tenure. Dave didn’t mind, but that news didn’t sit as well with Armstrong. Dave flicked a glance every few seconds toward the door that led into the sunroom. Detective Ryan Mills stood near the doorway on the east end of the room, unobtrusively watching the hall beyond.

  “Yes, I took Brendon Goff under my wing when he was still in law school. He clerked for me for a short time, and he was one of the best clerks I’ve ever had. And Jillian—well, she was just as bright. A shining star.”

  Dave smiled. “They made a stellar couple, I guess.”

  The senator nodded gravely. “Unbounded potential in those two. Brendon’s death was a terrible blow, not only for those who knew him. This country lost a potential statesman of unknown scope.”

  “Yes,” Dave murmured.

  Armstrong sipped his drink and focused on the far doorway. “Ah, but we still have Jillian.”

  Dave smiled. “Indeed we do, sir.”

  “I’m sure she has a brilliant future ahead. I’ve advised her occasionally these last couple of years. She’s come to me with a few questions as to how to get things done without ruffling too many feathers. Not that she’d be opposed to ruffling feathers.” Armstrong chuckled. “I’ve told her more than once to be patient and not expect to change policy overnight.”

  Dave considered that. He understood from the news reports he’d read and even their private conversations that Jillian hoped to leave her mark during her administration. She was bent on bringing the state’s economy to a healthier level. Maine had suffered economic depressi
on long enough.

  “I just hope you boys can keep her safe so she can to do some good.”

  “Yes, sir. We’re being extravigilant.”

  “Jillian should be able to go out and enjoy an evening, but still—can’t say I’m a hundred percent confident she ought to just now, with this lunatic on the loose.”

  Andrew stepped into the hall, and Dave heard a low murmur of voices. A moment later, Penny Thurlow entered, dressed in a form-fitting black dress and stiletto heels. Her short-cropped hair looked glossier than usual, and a chunky crystal necklace glittered at her throat.

  “Hello, Penny,” Dave said. “Have you met Senator Armstrong?”

  “Oh, it’s former Senator,” the older man said with a gentle smile. “I’m just ‘Mister’ now. Surely you’re not one of our bodyguards tonight?”

  “Yes, she is,” Dave replied. “This is Detective Penny Thurlow of the EPU. She’ll ride with us and stay near the governor throughout the evening.”

  Armstrong took her hand and bowed slightly. “Pleased to meet you. I can’t say I’ve ever had such a lovely escort.”

  “Thank you.” Penny flushed a bit. “I hope you’ll have an enjoyable evening.”

  “How could it be otherwise with two lovely ladies along? I can’t imagine a boring evening with Jillian and—Ah, here she is.” The older man’s face lit.

  Dave turned and caught his breath. Jillian greeted Andrew with a friendly smile that clearly bedazzled the detective. Her cobalt-blue gown fit her to perfection and brought out the striking blue of her eyes. Her golden hair was caught up in a simple but elegant knot, showcasing her long neck and delicately chiseled cheekbones.

  Jillian looked toward them and smiled at Dave—no, past him, at Senator Armstrong. He tried to ignore the flat disappoint that hit him as she strode toward the old man. She bypassed the hand Armstrong held out and embraced him.

  “Well, my dear, don’t you look fine.”

  “It’s wonderful to see you again, Joe.” Jillian disentangled herself from the senator’s arms and extended her hand to Penny. “Penny. I’m glad you’re coming with us. You look lovely.”