“How are you, dear? When are you going to visit again? It’s been a few months.”
“I’m sorry it’s been a while. I’ve been here helping Uncle with his campaign. Guess what, Mom? He’s offered to give me a raise and a promotion. What do you think of that? Isn’t Uncle Brent so generous?” She felt vindicated—almost.
“Aw, that’s my brother. He’s always so charitable,” Sierra proudly said.
He narrowed his gaze and shook his finger at Hazel. “She deserved it, yet five cents on the hour isn’t what I’d like to give her, of course, but you know the economy. While we’re on here, Hazel needs to tell you about the interesting events of last night. I think you’ll want to hear this.”
The invisible ball bounced back in her court. As far as she was concerned, she had two choices. Tell her mom what happened and be guilted into going back home with her tail between her legs or face the abhorrent man she’d despised as her neighbor and would despise more as her bodyguard. Suddenly, he didn’t seem as repulsive as going back to Chicago. “I met a man, Mom. We like each other so much,” she seethed. “In fact, Uncle Brent likes him too, so much that he’s letting us borrow his mountain cabin to stay in for as long as we’d like. I’m looking forward to skiing and sitting by the fireplace sipping cocoa with homemade marshmallows like we used to make when I was a kid.”
Uncle Brent’s perturbed expression told her he realized she’d played him well.
If she had to be near Agent Know-it-all, she’d at least be in a place she’d always loved. There, she’d keep busy doing all the snow activities she enjoyed. So in the end, she won. She got a vacation, and a raise that would start when she returned.
“Touché,” Brent said humbly once he hung up. “You’re almost making me want to change my mind about this.”
“Where else was Agent Know-it-all and I supposed to stay? Here? This works out superbly.”
She realized he saw her point by the slumping of his shoulders. “Fine. I won’t be going up there until I have a break in campaign speeches anyway. At least you’re hidden in the mountain. At this time of year, with the weather coming, the area will be quiet.”
“Maybe in the meantime, someone will realize there are two killers running free.” Her anger returned. Why did her family always treat her like a dimwitted princess that needed protecting? “I’m not completely ridiculous.”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” He reached into his desk drawer and took out a cell phone, placing it in front of her on the desk. “I want you to take this. The service is bad up there. I want to be able to reach you.”
The door swung open and Brooks stepped in. “We have a minor problem.”
“What’s that?” Brent asked. The creases around his mouth were now craters.
“Agent Landon has agreed to stay. However, he has two conditions.”
“He has conditions now?” Hazel huffed and shook her head.
“What are they?” Brent leaned forward, balancing his elbows on the desk.
“He wishes that Ms. Levine apologize.”
“And the second?” Brent asked.
Brooks looked a little uncomfortable. “That she agrees to keep her clothes on as long as he is her bodyguard.” The man gave Hazel a quick glance before turning away.
Her mouth fell open in shock “You tell him to stick his terms up his—”
“Hazel.” Brent patted her hand. “I think these are reasonable requests.”
“What? You have to be kidding me!” she snapped. Why was her uncle allowing the man-bear to make a fool of her?
“This isn’t a subject I’d joke about.”
“Why should I apologize to him? I didn’t do anything but tell the truth.”
“Fine. I think we have some unfinished business with your mother then.” He started for the phone.
“No.” Lord help her, she was going to ring Cox Landon’s neck by the end of the time frame they were stuck together on Pitchfork mountain. “Ask him to come in, please,” she said to Brooks.
Brent gleamed because he was so happy with her decision.
A minute later when Agent Cox Landon was back in the office, looking like he’d just woke up from sleep, she gritted her teeth to keep from rambling a couple of four-letter words. “I want to apologize for my behavior. I realize we got off to a bad start.” She plastered a plastic smile on her face. Her cheeks ached.
“Fine, but there was something else.”
“And don’t worry. My clothes will stay on.” She sashayed her way across the luxurious Persian rug and stopped in front of him, holding his gaze. Did she see his jaw tighten some? Did he swallow hard? “But please, Agent. Take your clothes off.” Yeah, she could see him unravel some. Her uncle and Brook’s sighs of unison mingled. “Then take a shower with bleach. You stink.”
Chapter 7
“They’re going to kill each other. You know that don’t you?” Brooks pointed out.
Brent stood at the window watching the driveway as Hazel rolled her suitcase out to the Jeep. He’d also been convinced to allow them to borrow the Wrangler for the journey to the cabin. Hell, truth was, he would have done just about anything to help her. He’d always thought of her as the child he was never lucky enough to have. He and Samantha had never been able to conceive and these days, his wife of twenty-five years, spent more time with her lover on some yacht or island rather than at home with Brent.
Once upon a time, he cared that their marriage was crumbling, but these days he kept his focus on winning the election. Everything he’d done up until this point had gotten him closer to a lifelong dream of becoming President. Luckily, Samantha did show up by his side for important galas, speeches and other social events, because, after all, she wanted to be First Lady as much as he wanted to be President. It was a win-win situation for them both, as long as she could keep her legs closed once he was elected. They couldn’t take the risk that his constituents would see this marriage as the façade that it had become.
Hazel looked over at the window, a sarcastic smile marring her face as she waved at him, then she climbed into the driver’s side of the Jeep. He should have guessed she wouldn’t allow Cox to drive. His niece was an independent woman, almost to a point where men found her intimidating.
The Jeep disappeared through the security gate and Brent let the curtain fall back into place then turned to Brooks. “I get the feeling there might be some chemistry between the two of them.”
The other man squinted. “Chemistry? Sir, please tell me this isn’t a play at cupid.”
Brent’s chuckle was strained. “No, I’m afraid I had no clue they knew each other previously. I like Agent Landon. He has a quiet power that I respect. Hazel needs someone who can handle her but also water her seeds. That niece of mine could be anything she wants to be. I wish I had cameras at the cabin just to see how those two will work things out.” He went to the mini bar and poured himself a scotch, not caring that he hadn’t even eaten breakfast yet. He needed something to take the edge off.
“You’re still hoping Hazel enters a political forum?”
“Oh, she will, my friend. In due time.”
The door came open and Lucifer stepped in, roving his harsh gaze up and down Brent. “You look like hell, sir.”
Brent guessed the man was right.
“It’s good that she’s gone, Congressman. If this story would leak to the press, they’d enjoy digging their claws in and taking stabs at your campaign. You’re looking good in the polls, up by five percent. We don’t want this to put a hurdle in our way.”
Although he knew Lucifer spoke the words that any campaign assistant would, Brent didn’t like the situation at all. Although his niece had a flair for the dramatics, this situation was a bit farfetched even for her. He could rest easy knowing Cox would be with her, keeping her safe, although there were no signs that what she said she saw actually happened. “How will we keep it from leaking?” He turned his attention back to the election, downing half the scotch and s
quinting at the burn. His head was back in the game.
“Thankfully, the detectives that investigated didn’t see a problem in keeping things quiet when evidently no crime was committed.”
“You mean you paid them to stay quiet.” Brent dropped into his chair.
“Sir, we’ve gotten this far, and we can’t back off now. By the way, Samantha called and said she will be in later this afternoon to attend the gala. The advisor will meet with you in an hour to go over your speech. Might I suggest you rest for a spell. You look tired and financial backers don’t want to see a tired presidential candidate. They’ll think you won’t be strong enough for the ride ahead.” He laid a magazine on the desk. Brent sniffed. His picture was on the cover. “Forbes did an excellent piece on you. Readers voted you the best-looking president nominee since John F. Kennedy.”
He pushed the magazine aside with little interest. “I’m tired, but sleep isn’t what I need.” He buzzed the intercom. The secretary answered. “Get Mr. Dunkle on the line. I need to speak to him right away.” He then looked at Lucifer. “I’ll want to go into my office within the hour. Just as soon as I’m off the line with Dunkle. Also, I want to know as soon as the parole office calls me back. I made a promise to Cox and I plan to keep it.”
With a disappointed expression, Lucifer said, “Yes, sir” then left.
“Sometimes I think he wants to win this election as much as I do.”
Brooks laughed. “I agree, sir. By the way, Landon’s a good guy. He’ll keep your niece safe even if that means dying for her.”
“Thank you for the assurance.”
*****
“Not a fucking thing in today’s paper,” the man dropped the newspaper onto the table and scowled. “That bitch is still a threat, and while she has one breath left in her body, she’ll be a thorn in my ass.”
“Calm down, Forty,” the man with the chiseled, pockmarked features said from where he sharpened his blade on the stone. “There’s no story in the paper because we left no trace of anything. It’s all taken care of. The blood, the body, and the security footage. All our bases are covered. Now take a pill before you fuck up.”
“She saw our faces,” Forty snarled. “That might not make your balls sweat, but it does mine.”
“You only have yourself to blame. You let the bitch get away.” The man slid his knife back into the leather sheath on his belt.
“We should go after her.”
“We wait here until we get orders.”
“What if the bitch is with the police right now, looking through mug shots? She might not find yours, but what about mine?”
The man laughed and clicked his tongue. “Why are you always so uptight? We should be celebrating. We have the flash drive. We’re due to earn six figures.” He patted Forty on the shoulder. “What are you doing?”
His eyes were glued to the screen of his phone. “I’m looking through pictures of staff for the Congressman. The bitch has to be in here somewhere.”
“Any luck?”
“Fuck if I know.” He slammed his phone down and stood up so fast that he knocked his chair onto the floor. “I need a drink. Let’s go down the street to that bar.”
The man picked up the toothpick holder off the table and shook out one into his palm, sticking it between his teeth. “We’ve been told to stay here until our next step. Patience, my friend. Soon we’ll be long gone, with enough money we won’t worry about these rich assholes any longer.”
Forty crossed his arms over his chest, looking more agitated by the minute. “What’s on the drive?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.” The man eased back into his chair.
“What if we need to use it as leverage? What if the rich—”
“Doesn’t come through? Oh, it’s a sure bet our payday will come if we don’t lose our shit and screw up. Whatever is on this,” he reached into his pocket and took out the red flash drive, holding it up in the light as if it were a diamond. “is worth a helluva lot to the boss. Now make yourself something to eat and settle in.”
Chapter 8
“Why did you agree to do this? Is Uncle Brent paying you?”
Cox opened his eyes and lifted his head from where he’d been resting it on the seat cushion. Swiping the sleep from his lids, he didn’t even bother looking across the seat to Hazel, who’d demanded that she take the wheel. Hell, he hadn’t cared one bit because he shouldn’t be driving anyway, not when he hadn’t slept much in a week. He’d called his Mountain Force partners and told them he’d be off the grid for a few days, and that was about the maximum time frame Cox was willing to dedicate to this case.
The snow had started falling and within the ten minutes that he’d closed his eyes more than an inch had fallen. He hoped Hazel’s skills at driving were as good as her skill at making him angry because the roads up in Pitchfork Mountain could get slippery very fast, and the only thing separating them from the ravine below was a flimsy guardrail. On the other side was a rock wall.
Thankfully, they’d stopped off at his apartment so he could grab some warmer clothes, a few toiletries, and, most importantly, a spare .38 that he liked to take with him on road trips. His government issued Glock was tucked nicely in the holster at his belt. Miss High Maintenance had required a Starbucks iced-half-caff-skim-something-or-another before they left the city which had cost them another twenty minutes.
He looked across the seat where she slurped up the last bit of the drink through the straw then quickly turned his attention through the window, looking for landmarks. This was his stomping ground and the higher they got on the mountain the more comfortable he felt.
Through the ice crystals he could see a familiar cluster of ancient trees with snow covered branches. He knew the area like the back of his hand. This was his area of expertise dealing with criminals because they liked to hide in all the nooks and crannies the area provided. He’d spent more days than he could count chasing one assailant after another, and half of those adventures were in blizzard conditions like now. But they weren’t hunting a criminal. This could be classified as a mini vacation. A cake walk. Lord knew he needed one but stranded in some cabin with a princess—or rather a delusional princess—didn’t settle well in his gut.
He reached for his phone from his pocket and checked the screen. He had half the mind to contact Noleen and make sure the man was still following through, but it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in front of Hazel. Wonder what she’d think if she knew the deal her uncle had made with Cox?
“Are you refusing to answer?” She snapped her gaze his direction.
Then he looked at her. He wondered how a woman so damn attractive could be so aggravating. Her shoulder length red curls were contained under a colorful beanie with a very large pompom that wobbled when she moved her head. Before they’d left her uncle’s house, she’d changed into a red buffalo plaid flannel and black leggings and tall grey boots. She looked like someone headed for a fun weekend of skiing and hot chocolate in front of the fire rather than someone who feared for her life.
For the life of him, if he found out this was some scheme so she could grab a vacation on her uncle’s buck, Cox would throttle her. There were real criminals out there that needed apprehended. She narrowed her gaze on him and he growled. At this point he didn’t need much reason to drag her over his knee and treat her like the spoiled brat he thought she was.
“You haven’t spoken one word to me since we left Cheyenne an hour ago and now you want to talk when I’m trying to sleep. Figures.” He sat up straight in the seat, grateful that Noleen had good tastes in vehicles and interior. Cox had plenty of room to stretch his legs.
“You still haven’t answered me. Why are you doing this?”
“Because I had a hankering to be driven crazy on my days off. Lucky me.”
“Since this is so awful, why didn’t you say no then?” Some of the harshness had left her tone.
“I see a gas station sign up ahead. Pull over,” he insisted.
If he would survive this, he needed a strong coffee and a beef stick. At a time like this, he remembered why he’d started smoking, but because he’d quit cold turkey five years ago, he’d resist the need to light one—or a dozen—up.
“The weather’s getting bad. We should continue on the road if we can.”
He scanned her profile. “We can’t. Pull over.” He kept his teeth gritted so he didn’t allow his impatience to fill his words.
“What for?”
“If you must know, I want coffee.”
“I told you I could have grabbed you something from the coffee shop in the city.”
“I don’t drink fufu joe. I drink coffee that’d put hair on your chest.”
“Suit yourself.” With a sigh, she turned on her turn signal and parked the Jeep next to a truck in front of the station. She started to unbuckle her belt and he shook his head. “What?”
“What are you doing?”
Looking at him through the veil of her long, blonde-tipped lashes, she blinked. “What do you mean what am I doing? I’m going inside too.”
“No you’re not,” he said quietly.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re safer here.” And he needed a few minutes away from her so he could gain his sanity and make a few phone calls.
“What if I need to go to the restroom?”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
He blew out a long, exasperated breath. This was going to be a long drive. “Fine.” He surveyed the station and found the sign for restrooms pointing to the side of the building. “You go to the restroom and stay there until I meet you by the door. Got it?” Although he didn’t believe for a second that she saw her co-worker murdered, he would treat this case like any other where he needed to keep someone safe. This was completely professional.
“Got it, Agent Landon.” She unclicked her belt and climbed out.
Cox watched her from the side of the building until she disappeared into the women’s restroom and then he stepped inside the glass doors of the station. Down a narrow aisleway he grabbed a handful of beef sticks, a couple bags of chips, a package of sweet cakes, and poured himself a cup of tar from the coffee maker. Starting to add creamer from the squirt bottle, he decided against it. He needed pure coffee.
Tormented by the Lawman (Mountain Force Book 3) Page 6