A knot grew in Tracy’s throat and lodged there. Had she made a mistake by choosing to stay out of the program, trying to keep from losing everyone else she loved? Hadn’t losing Derrick been enough? Had her decision backfired on her?
Though Tracy had feared for her life during Santino’s trial, and the potential retaliation should he be convicted, her biggest fear had been losing her family. Her father had refused to change his name and move the family to start a new life with her. He’d refused to be forced away from the life he loved, surrounded by lifelong friends and extended family. He’d refused to leave behind the oil business he’d built. That wasn’t something he could easily build up again elsewhere.
And Tracy had refused to leave her family behind—never seeing them again. Never making contact. That kind of price was too high for the added security of witness protection. It was as though she was the one being punished for doing the right thing.
Instead, Tracy had moved to Alaska, to a place that couldn’t even be approached by car. A person could reach Mountain Cove—in the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska—only via floatplane or boat. Hiking in was out of the question.
And this way, she could still go see her family anytime she wanted, while protecting herself by being almost completely isolated from the rest of the world. Yes, in a way she had in fact run from her life and was in hiding after a fashion, but it wasn’t quite as severe as the other choice.
And it wasn’t quite as secure, either. As today had proved, there was still the chance that she could be found and her life could be put in danger again.
Tracy paced the room, rubbing her arms, forcing down the bile rising in her throat.
When would Jennifer call back? Tracy wanted to know Santino’s status. If she had internet she could search the news feeds and find out. Maybe. But she didn’t. Part of the allure of the Jewel of the Mountain Bed and Breakfast was that people were forced to enjoy nature—there wasn’t anything else to do, and that, according to Jewel Caraway, the owner and Tracy’s boss, made the place the perfect getaway.
Solomon rested by the fire, and Tracy crouched next to him, ran her fingers through his thick, golden fur. “You did well today.”
She leaned closer to him. He wasn’t a trained attack or guard dog, but she knew that Solomon would protect her better than just about anything else. Or anyone. He’d already proved that once, the night that Santino had burned down her house. The same night he’d burned Derrick’s house to silence him forever. Solomon had been able to save Tracy.
A growl erupted from Solomon and his ears perked up. In that moment he wasn’t the typical overfriendly golden retriever. No. Solomon was protective of Tracy and he sensed a possible threat. Tracy stood, her gaze flickering to the windows and the door. Fear corded around her throat.
But when she heard the telltale sound of someone approaching the front door, she ran her hand down Solomon’s back to reassure him. “Bad guys don’t knock.”
No. Bad guys push people off ledges. Burn down their homes while they’re sleeping. Find good people where they hide in order to kill them.
FOUR
David stood at the cottage door, his knuckles ready to knock. He took in a breath. What was he doing here? Tracy probably wouldn’t appreciate the intrusion. And David was conflicted about whether he wanted to be here, too. He’d set his boundaries and now he was taking a step outside that imaginary line.
But Tracy’s welfare was much more important than David’s need to protect his heart. That was it, then. He wouldn’t stand on the sidelines and do nothing. If there was a way he could help he would.
He knocked on the door.
Behind it, he heard Solomon’s bark. He couldn’t tell if it was a friendly bark or not.
Better identify himself. With a potential killer on the loose out there, he might have startled Tracy. But she wouldn’t expect Jay’s attacker to knock.
“Tracy, it’s David Warren.”
He heard the lock disengage and then the door opened. Tracy stood on the other side and eyed him, a tenuous smile on her lips. He could see the questions in her eyes. And along with the questions, that same fear in her gaze that he’d seen on the mountain today.
“Hello, David. What are you doing here?” She held on to the doorknob.
A short laugh escaped him when he realized he didn’t really have an answer for her. He’d thought this through so well. Way to go, David. “Checking on you.”
Solomon pushed through from behind her and came up to sniff David. He leaned to run his fingers through the dog’s fur, rub him down. “Hey, boy,” he said softly.
With everything that had happened today, he wondered if anyone had told Jay about the dog finding him. Or if Jay had been coherent enough to hear the dog’s barks and know how he’d been discovered.
“Why do you think you need to check on me?” Her free hand trembled.
Why indeed? He pulled away from the dog and stood tall, scraping his hand around the back of his neck. He turned to the side and peered through the trees toward the house at the front of the property, noticing the lights were on at the main building of the bed-and-breakfast. He turned his gaze back to Tracy. Might as well be transparent.
“I can see something’s wrong, that’s why.” With each second, he felt more like an idiot. Of course there was something wrong. They’d helped a man today who had nearly been murdered. David should just turn and go. She didn’t want him here. Even though he could easily see something was wrong—she was scared to death—he wasn’t the one to help.
Just as David opened his mouth to apologize for disturbing her evening, Tracy opened the door wider. “Please come in. I have coffee brewing, if you’d like a cup.”
“Thanks, I’d like that.” He stepped inside the warm and comfy cottage.
Her simple invitation and the offer of coffee made him happier than it should. He wasn’t here to explore a relationship with Tracy. In fact, he wanted to avoid one at nearly all costs. But Tracy’s safety was not one of the costs he was willing to pay.
She moved to the small kitchen area against the wall and grabbed two cups. David stood in the middle of the cozy main room and took it all in. She’d made the cabin her own, with quilts hanging on the walls. On the rocking chair hung a partially completed rainbow afghan. A fire glowed in the fireplace, chasing away the chill brought on by this afternoon’s storm and the approaching evening. But as comfortable as the room was, David felt awkward and wasn’t sure how to proceed.
Tracy moved to the kitchen table that sat only two and set the cups there. She poured coffee into both. “Cream or sugar?”
“Black is fine, thanks.”
She appeared to feel as awkward as David. What was it between the two of them? He didn’t have this much trouble feeling comfortable with any other person in town.
“Sit down. Make yourself comfortable.”
He did as she asked while she went back to the fridge for half-and-half. She poured it from a glass container and again he noticed how shaky she seemed. Then she dropped the glass.
It shattered on the floor, the crashing sound slicing through the awkward silence.
Tracy just stood there and stared, her whole body shaking.
David was up and next to her in a second. “Don’t worry about this. I’ll clean it up.”
His gaze shot around the room, searching for where she might keep her broom and cleaning supplies. What he really wanted to do was just take her in his arms. He’d do that for anyone else who was as obviously upset as she was. Why couldn’t he do that for Tracy? What was the matter with him?
Then she covered her face and her shoulders shook.
Oh, boy.
David pulled her away from the glass on the floor and into his arms. Of course, he knew this breakdown had nothing at all to do with the fact she’d dropped the cream container. That event was simply the catalyst to shred her poised veneer, which David knew had been shaken already.
She sobbed into his shoulder, ignitin
g all those protective instincts inside his heart for her. Having her in his arms this way, her tears accosted the wall around his heart. If he wanted to protect himself, he’d leave before her vulnerability had the chance to obliterate his defenses altogether. But what could David do? He was here now. He had to see this through.
“Shh… Tracy, it’s okay.” He hugged her tighter and ran his hand down her red hair against her back, trying to stay focused on just reassuring her and nothing more.
But a tenderness he hadn’t felt since his wife was still alive kindled inside him. David wanted to release Tracy. He needed to release her, but she needed him right now.
Her sobbing finally spent, she shook her head, her face still pressed into his shoulder. “No, it’s not going to be okay.”
A shudder ran over her. What in the world?
David eased her from him and gripped her shoulders to look into her tear-reddened but still beautiful silver-blue eyes. “I’m so sorry about what you came across today, but Jay is going to be all right. And the police are searching for the guy who did this.”
She sniffled and pulled away from him to grab a tissue from the counter. He knew he should be glad to have some distance between them again. It was crazy that he wanted her back in his arms. They burned, his chest burned now, where she’d been pressed against him. The girl was more caustic to protecting his emotions than he realized.
“You don’t understand.” Shaking her head, she moved farther away from him and grabbed a broom and dustpan from a small closet.
David went ahead and picked up the bigger pieces, careful he didn’t cut himself handling the glass.
“Why don’t you tell me, then?”
Tracy swept the glass into the dustpan and disposed of it. Then she pushed her hair away from her face and behind her ears and turned her big eyes on him. “All right. I’ll tell you.”
He didn’t know why, but her willingness to talk startled him. The fact she trusted him with whatever it was made him happy, though it shouldn’t.
“I was surprised to see you at the door, honestly.” She grabbed her cup of coffee and instead of sitting at the table moved to the small sofa, curling her legs under her.
He was surprised he’d come himself, but he wouldn’t tell her about his inner struggles.
Not wanting to sit too close to her, David took the kitty-corner chair. He also took a sip of the black coffee, still trying to regain his composure. She’d been upset and she’d transferred all that to him, it seemed.
“Is it the man who shoved Jay over today that has you upset and scared? Or is there something more?” The question sounded too personal, but he couldn’t think of any other way to say it.
“Yes, there’s more.” Tracy stared into the fire.
David had suspected there could be more going on from the beginning, but hearing her say the words unsettled him.
“I’m listening.”
She dragged her eyes from the fire and studied him. “And that’s why I’m going to tell you. I never thought I’d be talking to you like this. Or telling David Warren, of all people, my troubles.”
What was that supposed to mean? But he swallowed his pride and kept quiet.
“But you showed up at my door, and there is no one else for me to talk to. I’m waiting for a phone call from the only other person I can talk to about this, and she hasn’t come through yet. My family… I can’t tell them what happened today. I don’t want to scare them, worry them.”
“Tell me.”
“I was the key witness in a murder trial.”
David set his cup down on the side table. “You have my attention.”
“Jay’s attacker might be here for me. He might have come to Mountain Cove to kill me.”
*
Tracy couldn’t stand to see the stricken look on David’s face. He shoved himself up from the chair and paced the homemade rug in front of the hearth. His sturdy form seemed to further diminish the size of her small cottage.
She rubbed her eyes, hating that she’d lost it with him. For all practical purposes, he might as well have been a stranger. But, no, that wasn’t right, either. She’d known him, just from a distance. And that had all changed today. Why of all people had David Warren come into her life here and now? During this crisis?
“I can’t believe this.” His voice was gruff. “How do you know? How can you be sure? If that’s true, why did he shove Jay and not wait for you to come up the trail? Or why didn’t he shove you when you found Jay?”
David stopped pacing and stared at Tracy. She had a question, too. Why did David care so much? The urgency in his tone made it sound as if he cared like someone deeply connected to Tracy. A father. A brother… A husband. She shook off the thoughts. This was crazy. She needed an ally, but at the same time, David was risking his life by getting involved with her. Maybe she should just refuse his help, his friendship.
Tracy frowned. “I don’t know if I should answer any of your questions. In fact, I don’t think it’s a good idea that you’re here. Being with me only makes you a target. I need to be alone.” If only she wasn’t so desperate. If only she didn’t need someone.
Tracy had moved here to be more isolated, and she’d been wary of making friends until enough time had passed. She had only started growing closer to Jewel, her boss. That had been a mistake. David being here was a mistake, too.
He stalked over and sat next to her on the sofa, too close for comfort. “You’re kidding, right? If there really is a killer after you, you can’t go through this alone. I assume you told the police what you told me?”
She shook her head. “Not…yet.”
He stiffened. “We need to call them.”
“I’ve put a call in to my contact at the US Marshals office. She’ll know if Carlos Santino has escaped prison. That will tell me what I need to know—that he’s out and after me.”
Oh, no. Tracy grabbed her head, fisted her hair. She’d been so focused on Santino’s threat—that he would kill her with his own hands—she hadn’t realized what should have been obvious. Santino’s long arms could reach her from prison via the gang network.
Santino didn’t have to be out of prison to be after her. Still, she had to know if Jennifer knew if something was going on; had to know if Santino had escaped.
“Tell me what Jay said to you that made you think his attacker is after you.”
David’s nearness, the protectiveness pouring off him, was difficult to resist. More than anything, Tracy wanted to feel his arms around her again. She would never forget that moment, but the problem was, she couldn’t afford to dwell on that. To wish for something more with him.
“Carlos Santino is the head of a far-reaching gang and Jay told me the guy who pushed him over had a specific tattoo—it is the tattoo worn by those gang members.”
There. She’d told him everything. Almost. Tracy stood to put space between them and went to the fireplace.
Behind her, she heard nothing at all from David. Maybe he was absorbing it all, which she understood. That could take some time. Or maybe he was contemplating the quickest escape from her and her problems. She wouldn’t blame him for that. She wouldn’t blame him if she heard the door shutting behind her, but she realized that probably wouldn’t happen. If she knew anything about David, it was that he was a solid, trustworthy sort of guy.
Tracy turned to face him then. He was right behind her and she hadn’t realized he’d moved from the sofa.
“Listen,” she said, “I didn’t mean to drag you into this. I won’t hold it against you if you bail.”
“Are you in the witness protection program, Tracy? Is that even your real name?”
A sardonic laugh escaped. “No, I’m not. And, yes, Tracy Murray is my real name. What does it matter? Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Why aren’t you in WITSEC?”
“I chose not to run and hide—well, other than to Alaska.”
“If this guy is so dangerous I think you need to get help
and disappear. Let the Marshals office assist you with that.”
Seeing the concern in his eyes, Tracy couldn’t help but smile. “You know, we’re only just getting to know each other and you’re already trying to get rid of me.”
Oh, please, she did not just say that.
He cracked a smile, though only half his face responded.
She liked that look on him.
“I’ll be up-front with you,” he said. “I’d like to get to know you better, but not at the risk of your life. I’m sorry it took me this long to say more than two words to you, but that doesn’t matter anymore. You need to disappear. Where’s the number? I’ll call them and tell them what happened and how important it is to keep you safe.”
David was definitely a take-charge kind of guy, thinking his words would move Jennifer to take action. And his words confirmed to her why she loved Mountain Cove so much. The sense of community here. People cared. She couldn’t afford for them to care for her, but still, she didn’t want to leave. Didn’t want to run again.
“I’ve called my contact. Left a message. Until she calls me back there’s nothing more that I can do.” There was nothing he could do, either.
“Sure there is. You can get out of here.”
“And go where?” She almost yelled the question at him. She moved away from him, which was increasingly difficult to do in this cottage that seemed to grow smaller by the minute.
At the kitchen sink, Tracy washed out the cups and the coffeepot. She doubted either of them would drink the rest.
“Anywhere would be safer than staying here.”
“I’m in the middle of nowhere, practically, David. People can’t even drive here. You know that. If someone can find me here, they can find me anywhere. So…no.” Well, that was it, then. She had made up her mind, thanks to David. “I’m not leaving. I refuse to have someone else control my life anymore. I won’t be forced out of a life I love, a town I love. I’m just like my father after all.”
David took the cup from her and placed it in the cabinet. “Your father?”
Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 #1 Page 23