Beth followed her into the living room, where the woman whose thumb was heavy on Beth’s entire life right now smiled along with everyone else. How could she pretend so well? It was a mask. Her entire life was a mask to fool people into thinking she was benign, clueless, and harmless. That was the horror of it.
Everyone in this world was capable of killing another person if they were pushed to it. Beth knew it of herself. The circumstances only had to be right.
But to willingly create something with such a destructive capability was unthinkable. What on earth had pushed her to it? Beth couldn’t imagine what her life had to have been like. What she’d hidden from all of them out of fear, most likely of her father. The times Beth had met him, he’d been snooty and aloof. Patted Beth on the head, and then dismissed her while he talked with her father—the important one.
Beth’s entire life had been about her father’s career. Not upsetting the status quo or drawing too much attention to herself. Her marriage had been contorted into something unnatural that was a shadow of what it could have been. Because she was the dutiful daughter who never stepped out of line. Sam could have said “no” so easily. He could have divorced her a thousand times over, and she’d never have argued. She needed him, but she’d had to learn to deal with it without him, for fear of burdening him so badly he’d walk away for the last time.
Her whole life was wrapped up in who needed to know what, and who needed to be free of someone else’s burden.
What would happen if she just told him all of it?
Beth accepted the plated chocolate cake and fork, smiling, though she didn’t feel like it. Was Sam going to hate her when he knew what she was keeping from him? Would he blame her for putting herself and their child in danger, even though she hadn’t known she was pregnant when she came here? Beth could argue she’d be in more danger outside Sanctuary, where everyone would know where she was. They could get to her much more easily then. And she knew too much to be the weak link in this. She wasn’t going to be the one responsible for any more people dying.
They needed to talk more. Beth needed to know why it couldn’t be destroyed and how on earth they could make it benign. Or at least safe enough so no one could use it.
There had to be a way.
**
Branches swiped at his face, but he kept running. The rifle was at home, slung over his shoulder. Moisture soaked his pants over the top of his boots, chilling his legs as he pounded between trees through the forest. The dog raced beside him, pulling back on his pace to stay beside the sniper. He loved to see the animal run.
When he reached his perch, the sniper slowed. He lowered himself to lay prone on the ledge and pulled out binoculars. Something was definitely wrong. He could feel it.
That itch on the back of his neck.
Billy was dead, and he’d been shot. He wasn’t going to ignore his gut again. Even the dog was on edge, ears twitching as he stared down the hill. His nostrils flared, trying to catch the wind. Dauntless knew something was wrong, too.
The sniper looked back through his binoculars. Nothing moved in the dark.
Lights flickered behind curtains. Music drifted up on the breeze, along with the smell of meat and cheese.
“Dauntless,” he whispered.
The dog turned its head toward him.
“Go to her.”
The dog ran, full speed down the hill.
**
Scratch. Scratch.
Nadia jumped up and raced to the back door. It slammed against the frame and Dauntless raced in, cake went flying and women squealed. Beth saved her cake from nearly ending up on the floor.
He spun in a circle, barking. Nadia got up. “Dauntless, calm down. What is wrong with you?” She bent to pet him, running her hands along his flanks. “Platz.”
The dog set his behind on the carpet and barked once.
**
The lone man walked through the streets.
He had to do this, he didn’t have a choice. His coat flapped open, so he pulled the sides together and zipped it up. But it didn’t thaw the dread in his stomach.
She’d had a gun the last time. No doubt it would be on her person now. He didn’t have more than the knife he’d held to Abigail’s neck.
He still didn’t know what they were after, but his orders were clear. He was supposed to kill both of them. When the plan was enacted, they had to be out of the picture. Multiple premeditated murders wasn’t something he relished. He’d never killed before, despite what the papers had said.
But if it got him out of this prison they called a sanctuary it would be worth it. The deal had been set, and this was the price he had to pay to see his daughter again.
He turned a corner and stopped. The bricks scratched his back, catching on the material of his jacket as he stared across the street at the house. Yellow lights bled between the curtains as the shadows of multiple women moved behind the curtains. A dog barked from inside, and voices erupted in laughter and conversation. Typical government construction. He could practically hear what they were saying, the walls were so thin.
He pulled the George Bush mask from his pocket and unfolded it. As soon as she came out, he’d follow her. Sooner or later he’d catch her alone. Or he’d run up wherever she was and plunge the knife into her heart.
Bile rose in his throat, but he swallowed it down and pulled the mask over his face.
He was ready.
The bullet entered his skull a fraction of a second before the retort echoed down the mountain. The man in the mask slumped to the ground—dead before he’d even realized what had happened.
**
Sam jumped in the passenger seat of the Jeep, and John pulled out of his parking spot before Sam even had the door shut. A gunshot. He stared out the window. Where had it come from? Who’d been hit? He gripped the handle above the door, while John squeezed the button on his radio. “Farrera, you hear that?”
“Matthias and I are on our way in.”
“I’ll get you the location as soon as I find it.” John turned a corner and sped down the street where Beth was having her “girl’s night.”
Sam bit his lips together and prayed none of them were hurt. There was no hospital in town, the medical center had been rebuilt with minimal supplies, and they had no real doctor. A handful of them had combat medical training, and someone in town had a doctor’s license, but that was it.
“This Farrera guy will help?” He glanced at John.
“Former DEA, he knows what he’s doing around an investigation.”
“That was rifle fire.”
John nodded. “Sniper.”
Sam scanned the streets, watching. “Who in town could that be?” John was silent for a second, long enough for Sam to latch on. “It’s not one of the residents?”
“Grant and I have an idea who it might be, though it makes no reasonable sense. There are no links between what’s going on with you and Beth…and a missing-in-action Force Recon sniper. The only link to Sanctuary is that he’s Nadia Marie’s brother.”
“The dog’s owner?”
John nodded. “Beth told you?”
Sam pressed on without answering. “Does anyone know you think it’s him?”
“Only my brothers. Ben thinks it’s plausible, but why now? This man has no ties to Sanctuary except through his sister, and yet he’s traipsed halfway around the world, essentially AWOL, letting everyone believe he’s missing. And for what?”
Sam didn’t think it was to take pot-shots at people.
He spotted the body on the side of the street. “There.”
John pulled over. Sam got out while he radioed Farrera and told him the location. The women were inside the house across the street.
Sam pulled on the gloves John gave him and reached down to pull the mask off the body. The placement of the shot was no near-miss. He glanced at the trees on the mountainside.
Plenty of cover. One shot, one kill.
“He’s a pro.”
“Frannie’s fiancé?”
The guy nodded.
Sam introduced himself, and then said, “My wife thinks highly of her.”
Matthias glanced toward the house. “Susan and Beth spent a lot of time at the bakery. How is Beth?”
“She’s doing okay.” Sam followed his gaze. “I should go check on them.”
But Matthias said, “I’ll head over there. You talk shop. That dead-body DNA stuff is beyond me.” He grinned and trotted across the street.
John smiled. “You get why I still need a deputy?”
Sam nodded. “Nice guy, though.”
The taller man who hadn’t introduced himself crouched over the body. “One shot, one kill.”
John motioned to him. “This is Bolton Farrera.” He moved closer to the man and spoke in a low voice. “Are you supposed to be bending like that?”
Bolton lifted his head, disapproval plain on his face. “My spine is perfectly fine, thank you.”
“Remy got you that brace?”
Bolton straightened. He hadn’t donned gloves, but he hadn’t touched the body, either. “Harrison Knight.”
Sam blinked. “Sorry?”
“The dead guy.”
“Ah.”
“Mean anything to you?” Bolton’s eyes surveyed him. A challenge.
“The name doesn’t, and neither does the face. Maybe Beth can tell us something.”
“You want to bring your wife out here so she can see a dead body and maybe get shot in the head the same way?”
Sam squared his shoulders. “If he’d wanted to kill her, he would have done it. Instead, he gave his presence away by killing this guy.” He motioned to the body, and then glanced at John.
Why did he need this Farrera guy’s help anyway? And why not ask this man to be his deputy, not Sam? “What’s that FORECON sniper’s name?”
John’s gaze flicked to Bolton’s for a second. “Shadrach Carleigh.”
A feminine gasp brought all of their attention around.
Nadia Marie Carleigh, Sam guessed, stood between Andra and Beth. Frannie was in front of Matthias, his arms around her.
Nadia Marie lowered her hand from her mouth. “Shad is here?”
“I’m not sure.” John glanced toward his wife, who didn’t look happy. “I couldn’t be certain, but the dog—” He motioned toward Dauntless, who sat so close to Nadia Marie that he was practically on her shoes. “It adds up.”
“No.” Nadia backed up, and Andra grabbed her hand. The motion pulled Andra toward the house with her. “He’s not here. He would have told me.”
Chapter 10
Beth watched while John and Sam talked, but her eyes remained on her husband. He’d never been carefree, but she had also never seen this side of him. All business, in his element. He looked natural, more his true self than he did without a crisis to focus on. He’d said he was content with the way their relationship had been, and he’d understood the necessity of keeping it under wraps. She’d known he wasn’t ecstatic about the arrangement, but they’d been able to be together and live their lives.
Now all Beth could think was that while he hadn’t been with her, he’d soared. She was so proud of the strong man he was. Did he feel the same about her? She hadn’t taken joy in dancing; it had simply filled the hours with rigorous discipline she’d worked hard to achieve. It pushed away the longing for what she couldn’t have when her head was full of complicated dance routines, going over and over them until she fell into bed exhausted.
His gaze snagged on her, and he stopped mid-sentence. “What?”
She shook her head. The tea Andra had made her was cold now, so she set it on the table in the waiting area of the sheriff’s office—about ten feet from where Sam sat behind the deputy’s desk. He seemed “right” there, like he should be part of this. Did he want to stay and work under John? She liked Sheriff Mason, but would Sam be happy with small town misdemeanors and taking orders from the marshal?
On one hand they could raise their child in peace and safety in a town like this, but a marine sniper had infiltrated the town. Their security had been breached, and yet, their famous protocols hadn’t yet been enacted. Wasn’t there a procedure? Even if he was responsible, she wasn’t sure she wanted Shad arrested. But John would have to do it if he was going to protect the town. How was Nadia going to react when her hero brother was jailed?
John ran his hands down his face. “This whole thing is getting more and more complicated.”
Beth shared a look with her husband. He wanted to say something.
Someone knocked on the hall door which led up to his apartment. John glanced over. “Come in.”
The door opened and Pat rushed in. The nine-year-old launched himself into his father’s arms while Andra leaned against the door jam. “He wanted to come and say goodnight.”
John squeezed his son. Tears pricked her eyes, and Beth glanced at the ceiling willing the rush of emotion to pass. Dumb hormones.
John set Pat down on his feet. “Goodnight, bud.”
“Night, Dad.” He ran the wrong direction and came toward Beth. Before she could ask him what he needed, Pat hugged her, too. “Night, Miss Beth.”
“Good night, Patrick.”
He giggled. John had told her that only his ex-wife called their son Patrick. Now that Pat’s mom was no longer in his life, Beth had wondered if it might not be a good thing for the boy to be reminded of the fact his mom had given him up. But Pat had told Beth to call him that, and he seemed to be okay with it.
When the door shut, John glanced between them. “A few weeks before your team was killed by Senior Chief Tommy Locan, Shadrach Carleigh and his spotter, Billy Martinez, were on a mission in Syria. They were out of contact for the duration, but when they never radioed in to confirm the target had been destroyed, the CIA sent a local asset to find out what happened. Staff Sergeant William Martinez’s body was found, but Gunnery Sergeant Shadrach Carleigh was gone. There was blood. It was assumed that after Billy was killed, Shadrach was injured and abducted much the same as you were.”
Beth’s chest tightened. Sam hadn’t told her much about his ordeal except that he’d been held for weeks before he broke out—on the same day Ben Mason came to rescue him. She didn’t know anything about what was done to him, or how he’d been treated. She didn’t want to know, and he hadn’t wanted to tell her. So they’d left it at that.
But the scars had been hard to overlook. Red, raw wounds on his torso, front and back, and on his legs and arms. The bruises on his face were gone now, but the sight of them would be forever etched into her memory.
Injuries she’d given him.
Because it had been Beth who’d encouraged him to pursue his dream of being a SEAL. It had been Beth who agreed with her parents that she should come to Sanctuary and search for what the syndicate wanted. If she hadn’t come here, if she’d consigned that to someone else—a trusted secret service agent—or even if Grant Mason had been brought into the loop, well, then maybe she’d have saved her husband from being hurt. Not that she had the power to protect him, but she certainly hadn’t helped to keep him safe when she could have.
The question was, if someone else had come—would her parents be alive?
John continued, “Somehow, and for some reason, Nadia Marie’s twin brother knew about Sanctuary. Which falls to me to find out how, because if it was Nadia, she’ll be gone. She can’t stay here, and she’ll likely end up serving time for it.”
Beth chewed her lip. Her father had labeled it National Security, as though that made lying to Grant Mason so much better. Sanctuary had seemed like the best option, so long as her parents could send their asset here under an
assumed identity. Now it was all going to blow up in her face.
Because she was the only one left to answer for it.
He blew out a breath. “And somehow, for some reason, the sniper made his way here in order to kill Harrison Knight. Which I can only assume was because he tried to kill you.” His attention zeroed in on Beth. “Which begs the question, why is the sniper attempting to assist you, when everyone else we’ve come across is working against us?”
Beth swallowed. “Because my father asked him to.”
John’s head jerked. “Why?”
Sam was still and silent. She didn’t look at him. She had to keep her attention on John or she wouldn’t get this out.
“When Dad got word about what happened, he sent the CIA agent to pull in Shadrach. He’s helping us, but I didn’t know he would come here. There wasn’t a plan past Mom and Dad seeing each other. They were going to figure it out.” She took a second to compose herself. “This really was the safest place for Mom and I to come, but we also needed to be here.”
I’m going to have to tell them. I’m going to have to tell them everything.
Beth exhaled slowly. “Shadrach is part of this. That was made clear by the attack on him, so why not bring him on board? When the CIA agent found Shad in Syria, he filed a false report to his superiors and gave Shad the phone my father had sent to him. Dad told him what was going on, why he and Billy had been targeted, and asked him to help with protection for us. A reassignment. Initially Shad would cover Dad and Mom and my safety but with the proviso that, if anything happened, he would do everything in his power to keep us safe—no matter what.”
She blew out a breath. “I guess he took that to heart.”
“And getting into Sanctuary?”
“Dad gave him what he needed.”
John spoke slowly. “Your father provided the gunnery sergeant with classified information meant to keep the residents of this town safe, in order to breach that security because of your family.”
Sanctuary Breached WITSEC Town Series Book 3 Page 11