by Mimi Barbour
His whispered pleas revealed a similar reaction. “I need you, baby. Like it’s crazy. I need you so bad.”
His lips returned to hers. He kissed her like she’d never been kissed before, searching, overcoming, demanding a response she’d refused to share until now. Heart beat thudding, her legs went weak…
And then the house alarm screamed.
Chapter Twenty-eight
That’s the house. John knew it. Just as he knew he’d better be careful approaching. Charli might mistake him for a bad guy. He grinned at the foolishness of his thought.
Hold it! What if his whole premise had been wrong and Charli wasn’t even there. Best he find out before he went messing around and some stranger didn’t like his questions.
Once he paid the boat driver, he’d take a taxi one street over and wait until it got dark. But first, he’d buy some of those binoculars like the ones he had at home; small, powerful ones like those he used when they went to the theatre.
If he could approach from the beach without anyone seeing him, he might be able to zoom into a window and recognize his girl before ringing the doorbell.
If she didn’t show, he’d bring flowers the next day and pretend he was a delivery man. Hell, he’d seen enough cop shows to know that worked for them.
Later that night, following his plan, he found himself on the beach not far from the property he’d located. Crouching, which wasn’t easy at his age, he managed to work his way around the property until he’d positioned himself behind a flowering bush that hid him well.
The overpowering scent kept his mind occupied and had him searching his memory for the name of the beautiful orchid-like pink flower. Busy, he didn’t notice the man who’d stopped at a vehicle on the street until he approached the house and let himself in with some kind of burglary tools.
Shit! What the hell had he gotten himself into? Breathing heavily, he rose to warn his baby but stopped when he saw the woman who’d fallen asleep on the sofa rise.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Blake started from the room first and Charli grabbed a sweater she could zip up and her weapon before following. She heard him giving orders to the girls.
“Turn those lights off and get into the pantry. Lock the door, both locks.” Blake’s orders made sense. She’d noticed the security cameras in that room after he’d warned her he’d recently made it a kind of safe room, a place for them to go if they had any unexpected visitors.
Before she headed to search the rest of the house, she made sure the teens did as they were told. Now behind Blake, who’d retrieved a weapon from some hidey-hole she knew nothing about, they started to split up. His hand signals, sending her in the opposite direction, consigned him to be the boss. Fine with her! She didn’t have to deal alone so whatever he wanted, she’d be his partner.
When the doorbell rang, they stopped dead, both stunned. What the hell? First time she’d heard of an intruder with killing on his mind demand entrance by ringing the doorbell.
The voice of one of his men pounding on the door and yelling louder than the ear-splitting alarm made Blake stand down. With her at his back, her gun behind her, ready to shoot if the circumstances warranted, he turned off the system, released the locks and opened the door – a few inches at first, then wider.
Charli saw the uniform, and the mortified face of Blake’s officer who’d set off the alarm.
“Dudley? Jesus, man, are you trying to give us a heart attack in here? You should have phoned before approaching within a foot of the house. I warned you guys.”
“I know, but this gentleman was in a hurry, and he slipped past us before I could stop him. Seems he saw the murder of Agent Dale and would only talk to you in person.” The man in question stepped into the light.
“Popsicle!”
Charli stepped out from behind Blake.
“Charli?”
Chapter Thirty
John Madison couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw his precious granddaughter move from behind the body of the big man who’d opened the door.
“Charli? Charli! Damn, girl, it’s good to see you.” He reached for her, his arms shaking with relief. Tears had gathered, and before he knew they would spill, his face became drenched, and his whole body shuddered from the reaction of seeing her in person. Something he’d thought might never happen.
After watching the murderer at work earlier, he’d given up hope of surviving himself. Unable to move for fear he’d be shot, he’d used the set of binoculars he’d bought that morning and witnessed the victim fighting for her life, and then being overwhelmed by the larger man with the gun.
For seconds, John thought she would win, but the gun made the difference. While the animal worked her over as if he demanded answers to questions, John thought to get help. He used that moment to slide away but for some reason, he turned back just in time to see her being shot.
Dropping his binoculars, he half-ran, half-stumbled along as fast as his poor old body could handle in the direction of the neighbor’s house up the beach.
Out of breath, he stopped, leaned against a post and reached into his pocket for the new cellphone he’d bought that morning. Son of a gun. He couldn’t make it work. His old phone, he had no trouble with anymore, but this newfangled piece of shit, he couldn’t even remember how to get to the phone section.
Grumbling, more angry and frustrated with his own shortcomings than usual, he made it to the closest house and pounded on their door, all to no avail. The place was locked – shut tighter than spinster Harriet’s mouth was after seeing a half-naked man on the cover of a sport’s magazine.
His breath coming in gasps, afraid of having a heart attack, considering his old pump thudded away in his chest with shooting pains to remind him of his age, he searched for a place to hide, to gather his strength… to think.
A pergola, nestled inside a garden of winding, colorful blooms, appeared out of the darkness, and he made his way there. With his legs finally giving out, John slid to the floor and rested. Sick to his stomach because of the overwhelming relief he’d felt that the young lady hadn’t been his precious Charli, and angry for not having a weapon he could have used to protect her, he covered his face and let the tears flow.
Never, in all his years, had he felt quite so useless, so ashamed, and thankful all at the same time.
Chapter Thirty-one
Blake and the girls had been super about allowing her and Popsicle a few minutes alone. They needed this time to reunite, to hug and explain. Charli had no idea how her grandfather had found her, and why he was even here in Fort Lauderdale.
On the other hand, she did know that Blake had to be bursting at the seams to interview him. She’d overheard his officer reporting that John Madison had witnessed Agent Dale’s murder. Therefore, the old guy had a lot of explaining to do.
She knelt in front of him, making sure of his comfort in the easy chair she’d coaxed him into. “Calm down, Gramps.” Her hands gently massaged his sore old knees while wishing she had some of his favorite Bud Rub cream to relieve the pain.
“He’s dead, Charli. I liked him a lot and that murderous bastard killed him like he didn’t matter at all.”
What? He? All this stress is too much for him. He’s losing it.
Not sure what the hell he rambled on about, Charli studied his expression, his still-wet eyes, and her heart ached for his misery. The only time she’d seen him looking his years and hurting this badly was after his wife had passed, and it had broken her heart.
She leaned in and hugged him again. Then she held his pale, whiskery cheeks in her hands and murmured, “Tell me everything, sweetheart.”
“I keep seeing his battered face. He’s dead, because of me.”
Scared now, Charli hardened her tone. She needed to get to the bottom of his rambling. “I think you must be mixed up, Grandpa. He killed Agent Dale, Melissa Dale. She was a woman.”
“Yeah, that too. You know kiddo; the devil’s got a special place in hell for ve
rmin like him.” His eyes searched her face to make sure she’d heard his teachings, just like he used to do when she was a kid and he had a point to make that he wanted her to understand. His eyes would shoot fireballs that froze her, like they were right now.
“Got it, Grandpa.” Totally messed up, not sure if it was her who’d made the mistake or the old darling had lost it completely, she stopped him. “Look, Gramps, I love you more than puppies or teddy bears, but you’re not making any sense. Let me get you a cup of tea—”
“And some Tylenol if you have any and make it extra-strength.”
Searching to see if her pill-hating grandpa was messing with her, and seeing his request as legitimate, she nodded. “Take a minute to clear your thoughts. I’ll be right back.”
She headed for the kitchen where the girls were huddled with Blake. “Do any of you have any Tylenol? Grandpa’s breaking down old barriers and wants drugs. Never thought I’d see the day. He used to consider them the hard stuff compared to the occasional baby aspirin he’d allow himself.”
Kayla spoke up. “I have some in my room. Is it safe to go and get them?”
“I’ll come with you.” Angie held out her hand, and acting like a bodyguard, she checked the hallway before allowing Kayla to leave the room. Smart-ass kid! Charli grinned and turned to see Blake grinning too.
Charli studied the man she’d recently been kissing and saw a guy with a handsome face, a gorgeous, muscular, lean body that turned women to mush and sexy green eyes that were now hooded. There was no time to find out why; her priorities had to be her family. “He needs a cup of tea, Blake. Can you make it strong and sweet? I think you need to hear what he has to say. He’s making no sense to me.”
Blake grabbed a mug from a stand of six, popped a teabag inside and filled it with boiling water from the special tap he’d had installed at the sink. After adding the sugar, he placed some chocolate cookies he’d stashed away on a plate and followed Charli to where John waited.
John, slumped in the chair with his feet up on the footrest, had removed his shoes, and he lay there asleep. Charli hated to disturb him, but they needed to hear his story.
“Gramps, wake up. Here’s some tea.” He pried his eyes open and shook his head as if clearing away ugly hovering visions that popped into his conscious memory.
“Oh, Charli. It’s a sad, sad world, baby. A sad world.”
“I know, Gramps, but like you always told me, there’s a half-full side in the glass, right? It helps. Like now. Look around, both of us are alive and safe.”
John sat up in his chair, straightened his spine and let his eyes wander from her to the man who had crouched on the opposite side of his chair. A strange look came into his eyes, and he leaned back and smiled. “Yes. You’re right, kiddo. There’s still a half-full glass. Now, where’s those hard drugs?”
As if she’d waited in the wings, Kayla appeared with the bottle of Tylenol, her inquisitive expression obvious. Rather than ask any questions, she took the hand John Madison extended in thanks and squeezed. Both their expressions lit up and Charli saw the man who had the gift make one more adoring fan.
Chapter Thirty-two
“Charli hasn’t introduced us yet, but I’m Major Blake Sebastian with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. I’m personally taking care of Charli and Kayla. Now, can you tell me what happened earlier, and why you suddenly appeared at the office downtown?”
Downtown? Charli swung Blake’s way, an inquiry clear in her gaze. She still had no idea how her gramps had come to be here.
“My officer, Lieutenant Newton, just advised me that you’d arrived with information on a shooting you’d witnessed earlier, and that you would only talk to the man in charge.” Blake spoke to John, looked in his direction, but she knew he was sharing with her at the same time.
“Yes. He’s a good man. Tried to make me comfortable and told me he wasn’t sure how long you’d be, that I could tell him what I’d seen. But, I wasn’t about to blab out confidential information to just anyone. I watch enough TV to know it’s best to deal with the top gun. He respected my wishes, said he’d try to contact you. So, I told him to hurry, that it was pretty obvious the woman was dead but they should send his people to make sure because miracles do happen, right?”
“I bet that got his attention,” Blake grinned and John answered with one of his own.
“It did. He left, and your other youngster, Deputy Dudley, took over. No more nice guy now. He began drilling me like a hard rock miner.”
Blake coughed, “You mean Detective Dudley Holler?”
“Okay. Whatever the idiot’s name was, I don’t remember. I do know one thing; he should go back and redo his officer’s training. The man’s a thug.”
“Grandpa!”
Turning her way, he spoke with asperity, “You gotta call a spade a spade, kiddo. Just saying… the guy needs a punch in the nose to straighten out his attitude. Good thing I’m twice his age or I’da taken on that delightful chore myself.”
“Settle down, now.” Charli loved seeing the color return to her grandfather’s face. It indicated that he still had some of his old grit. “What happened next?”
“Newton returned, and he became mighty serious. When he asked me my name, he got even more so. I figured someone must have verified the address, and that there was a body. That’s when he agreed to bring me to you.”
Charli wondered if it had more to do with his name being the same as hers. She knew hers and Kayla’s records were closed, but surely, the top detective working under Blake would have been given certain details. This Bob Newton might have known her and John Madison could be related. And if he questioned him on his home address, that would have rung bells too.
Blake’s next comment cut into her thoughts. “No doubt that’s why he agreed to bring you here.”
“I guess. My hinting at a heart problem that could kick up at any minute if I didn’t get my way probably helped convince him too.” John’s smirk and wink at Charli had her chuckling.
What a naughty old brat! God, she loved him…
“What I didn’t know was that he’d bring me to my girl.” Reaching out to caress her cheek and ruffle her curls, John’s hand trembled.
Charli took it and laid a kiss on his knuckles, not caring that her tender ministrations would be viewed by Blake. Now wasn’t the time to rebuild her walls against that man, although they were forming by themselves as they always did after she’d lower them.
“Can you describe what you saw, sir? My men have verified Miss Dale’s death, plus the death of two officers who were guarding her house. They were found in their vehicle, terminated by a pro.”
“I didn’t see them.”
“That’s the idea. They were there to protect Miss Dale.”
“That’s terrible. But they weren’t no protection… nope. Maybe they needed to go back for more training, like Dudley.”
“Grandpa!”
“Sorry, Charli. Just calling it as I—”
“Yes, we get it. Tell us what happened to you. How did you get close enough to the house to be a witness? And, why were you there in the first place? And who was the man you said was dead? Can you start from the beginning? This whole mess is making my head spin.”
John handed her the bottle of Tylenol. “Take a couple of these suckers. They’ll make the pain disappear faster than a—”
“Grandpa!”
“Okay, okay. I’m putting off having to tell you about Mark.”
“Mark Crawly?” Blake looked lost. ” I talked to him just a few days ago.” His gaze lifted to Charli for answers.
Charli shrugged. Her eyes swiveled to the old man, and she said, “Tell us what happened, Gramps.”
“Okay. So, Charli, after you left, Mark came to visit every few days, and we hit it off. He’s a… was a good man. Just so you know, he never let on where you’d gone, but I figured it out from a show I used to watch that you maybe went into witness protection.”
“Seriously?
From an old TV show? How could you jump to that conclusion?”
“Because when you’d go on undercover jobs, you always managed to call every few days. This time, you warned me that wouldn’t happen. And then, Mark dropped the ball just the one time after I convinced him to share with me—”
“You mean, you nagged him.”
John waggled his head from one side to the other, “Yeah, okay, so I nagged for a little more information. What did you think? I could handle day after day with no word from you? Drove me batty.”
“Which means, he let something out.”
“What he said was – you were in the program. I couldn’t get near you, it would be too dangerous, and I should just be proud that you were such a good agent.”
Still not getting it, she asked, “So… from that you determined I must be in witness protection?”
“Not until me and Brad found the story about a shooting in the apartment across from yours. The one that happened the night before you told me you’d be going away.”
Blake shook his head, confused and not hiding it. “Brad?”
“He’s a friend of my grandpa’s, lives at the same lodge.”
John cut in, “And he used to be a big-shot reporter for the Los Angeles Times.”
Charli sat back on her heels, stunned. “That old hypochondriac? I didn’t know.”
Before John could do anything but nod, Blake jumped in. “So, between the two of you researching crimes and coming up with a plausible answer, you figured out that Charli was in danger and had gone into witness protection. But how come you assumed she’d be coming to Fort Lauderdale?”
“‘Cause I know my little girl. She’s like her grandma, gets focused on one thing and woe betide anyone who tries to change her mind. She’d already planned her vacation and had chosen Fort Lauderdale for personal reasons. In fact, we were both supposed to come here, stay together and rekindle some sweet old memories. She’d even shown me the photo of the house she’d rented.” John winked at her, his way of saying – pay attention.