“Yeah, when I first agreed to testify, I told my family that we could all go into WITSEC. He refused to go into the program with me. He has a successful business he doesn’t want to leave behind. He can’t start his life over. I couldn’t leave my family behind like that, never to see them again. I’d already lost so much.” Lost someone she loved. “So instead of entering the program, I dropped off the map on my own. And I love my home now. I’m staying here.”
“Okay, then, it sounds like you’ve made up your mind and I can’t convince you otherwise.” Something in David’s tone pulled her attention from washing out the sink and up to his earthy green eyes. “And believe me when I say that I don’t want you to leave.”
Tracy wanted to go into his arms. The oddest of things—she’d spent half a day with the man and here she was, wanting to feel his arms around her. She shook off the foolishness his proximity brought on and took a step back.
“I’m not really sure what to say to that.”
He laughed. “At least sleep in the house with Jewel and her guests until they catch this guy, okay? And if you don’t already have a weapon, then get one.”
Stay in the main house and put Jewel and the others at risk? No, she couldn’t. “I have Solomon to protect me, to warn me. He saved me before, so I trust him to do that again.” And she had the big can of bear spray and the smaller pepper spray she carried in her purse. But her excuses sounded weak, even to her own ears.
David didn’t appear convinced, but it wasn’t his decision. And yet Tracy cared about his opinion and she wished that she didn’t.
“You really think Solomon can protect you from a killer? Maybe he saved you before—I don’t know the circumstances. And maybe he can warn you, but, Tracy, even if Solomon was a real guard dog, he couldn’t protect you from this guy. And what about the danger to Solomon? What if the man has a gun next time? Solomon doesn’t wear armor. What if he gets hurt trying to protect you?”
Tracy hadn’t thought of it that way, and the accusation in David’s tone choked her. But she didn’t get a chance to respond. Her cell phone chirped. Tracy rushed to the end of the counter and stared at the caller ID. The number on the screen belonged to Marshal Jennifer Hanes.
FIVE
The next day Tracy was still thinking about her phone conversation with Jennifer as she bought a few groceries and necessary items. She couldn’t stay holed up in her cabin, turning it into a self-made prison because of what had happened. After her shift at Jewel’s this evening, she’d needed fresh air. Besides, she would soon run out of the basics, such as shampoo, toothpaste and soap—not to mention food. She could eat up at Jewel’s but she didn’t like to overstep.
And now it was nearing ten o’clock at night and the sun had set about half an hour ago. She had another half hour of twilight or so, at least, but the sour expression on the store clerk’s face made it clear that she wanted Tracy to leave so she could close out her register and lock up the store.
She reached for the half-and-half to replace what she’d dropped last night right in front of David. That had been the catalyst that had sent her into his arms. Wonderful, strong arms. And from there she’d ended up telling him nearly everything.
Her hands weren’t shaking now, but the danger was still there. She could feel it closing in on her, despite what Jennifer had told her.
The woman’s words drifted back to her now.
“Santino is still incarcerated, Tracy. I haven’t heard any chatter on my end to lead me to believe members of his gang have any intention of looking for you to exact revenge. They’re busy focusing on running guns and drugs and fighting the law down here in the Lower 48. Honestly, there isn’t enough information to go on from what you’ve told me. Other than WITSEC, there aren’t many options for you, if you’re concerned about your safety. But I’ll tell you what I will do. I’ll contact the local police chief in Mountain Cove to bring him up to speed with your particular situation. But let’s not escalate things unless it’s warranted. You could still be safe there. Please call me if you need me. And, Tracy, remember, per our agreement, the door is still open for you to enter WITSEC.”
Though relieved that Santino was still in prison, and the fact that Jennifer sounded unconvinced his gang had come for Tracy, she felt a little let down by the conversation. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected Jennifer to say or to do. But if Jennifer believed Tracy was in danger, at the very least Jennifer should try again to convince Tracy to let the Marshals office assist her into a new life. Maybe this time Tracy would listen. She’d mostly wanted Jennifer’s reassurance and she’d gotten that, but for some reason it didn’t make her feel any better.
Admittedly, Tracy’s story didn’t sound all that credible, even to her own ears. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jay’s attacker—whoever he was—had come to Mountain Cove for her.
She’d give Jennifer enough time to speak to Mountain Cove’s police chief before she went in to talk to him, too. That way, they’d take her seriously.
She finished paying for her few groceries and toiletries and gave Veronica, the store clerk, a big smile, hoping to defuse any hard feelings because she’d shopped beyond the ten o’clock closing time. She hated shopping so late and then having to drive back out to the B and B, but Jewel had kept her late tonight.
Tracy hadn’t found a way to tell Jewel her story yet. She wasn’t sure how she would react to the news, and Tracy needed more time to figure things out. What if Jewel fired her, fearing Tracy had brought danger to her door? Then she really would have no options. And yet it wasn’t fair to keep her boss and friend in the dark, either.
God, what do I do?
Her thoughts went immediately to David and his concern for her. She had a feeling that he would throw a fit if he knew she was here alone at the grocery store at this hour, though it wasn’t his business. He knew everything now—well, almost everything—and the previous day, he’d acted as if he might stand guard over her cottage until the end of time if she hadn’t run him off. He’d been so concerned about her, and she’d wanted to shake what that did to her insides.
She was still much too raw to put herself in that kind of heart-risking, vulnerable position again. Now that she knew him a little better, there was no doubt that she could fall for a guy like him hard, but caring about him would put him in danger. Caring about him would also be a liability to her heart.
She couldn’t afford to get involved with him. Still, she admitted that, deep inside, David Warren gave her just another reason to want to stay in Mountain Cove.
A noise like cans being knocked over sounded at the back of the store. The clerk looked up from assisting Tracy with her groceries.
“What in the world?” Veronica said. She shook her head. “And I wanted to get out of here early. I have to work tomorrow, too.”
“I’ll help you stack whatever it is back up. After all, it’s my fault you’re here so late.” Tracy smiled.
“You’d do that?” Veronica eyed her.
“Sure. Why not?” Tracy waited for Veronica to lock the front door. Then, leaving her groceries at the counter, she followed the clerk to the back.
Cans of green beans that had been on the endcap for a promotional sale were scattered everywhere. Veronica blew out a breath. “Can’t imagine how this happened.”
The look she gave Tracy was a little accusing. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t buy any green beans. Didn’t even touch them.”
Another sound—garbage cans tumbling—resounded from outside the back exit. Tracy stiffened. She headed to the back of the store and immediately felt a rush of cold air. The back door wasn’t closed completely. She and Veronica had been alone in the store. But it looked as though someone had entered through the back, accidentally knocked the cans over and then sneaked back out. Or maybe Tracy’s imagination was getting the best of her. Still, she didn’t want to risk it. “Veronica, you should call the police.”
Veronica stooped over to grab a few cans and stack
them. “Look, that would mean I’d get out of here after midnight and I sort of had plans. It’s nothing. A cat or something. The wind. Could even be a bear messing with the garbage.”
“What about the cans?”
“Someone didn’t stack them right to begin with.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. Wouldn’t be the first time. I appreciate your help with the cans.”
Tracy went to the back door to secure it. Hands against the panic bar, she considered opening the door to look outside into the alley. But that could be inviting trouble if there had been a bear messing with the garbage or if a creature of the two-legged variety was out there.
No. Tracy wouldn’t open the door. She tugged it closed completely, which should automatically lock this kind of door. Then she helped Veronica with the cans. When they’d finished, Tracy grabbed her two bags of groceries and Veronica let her out the front door so she could close out her register. Tracy didn’t like the situation at all, but maybe she was being paranoid. Veronica hadn’t thought anything of the cans or the noise.
But Veronica didn’t know what Tracy knew.
Outside a lone fluorescent light in the parking lot flickered on and off as darkness tried to settle on the short Alaska night. Her old junker Corolla was parked at the far corner. It had been the only spot left in the small parking lot when she’d first arrived. The place had been full of people making that last run for a quart of milk before it was too late. And Tracy had hung around too long, too lost in thought to concentrate on her shopping. But she hadn’t thought this part through.
She didn’t relish walking the parking lot alone even if it hadn’t grown completely dark yet. She wished Solomon had come with her, but folks didn’t usually like to see a dog in the grocery store unless it was a service animal. Tracy needed assistance of another kind.
There was nothing for it—she had to get to her car. She couldn’t stand here all night. She started off across the parking lot, but that sense that someone watched her crawled over her. Just like on the mountain. If someone had come here to kill her, why didn’t they just get it over with? Why toy with her or play games?
Juggling her groceries, Tracy pulled out the small can of pepper spray she kept in her purse, just to be safe and prepared.
And after tonight, she’d take David’s advice and get a weapon. Learn to use it to protect herself. He was right. Solomon couldn’t fight off all threats, especially if he wasn’t even with her. And the dog wasn’t bulletproof, even though it had seemed as though he’d been fireproof the night he’d saved her.
The sounds of boxes overturning erupted from the shadows in the alley next to the store. Tracy took off, running to her car. She’d rather the attacker just come out in the light so she could face off with him. But what she really wanted was to not face him at all.
Terror coursed through her.
Her car was only a few feet farther but might as well have been a mile away.
She looked back and saw a shadowy figure standing in the alleyway. Jay’s attacker? She couldn’t be sure. But she was nearly certain she saw the glint of a knife in his hand. When he saw her, he started running toward her. Tracy put on an extra burst of speed and hoped it would be enough.
Car lights shone from another direction, closing in on her. The attacker’s accomplice? Was he going to run her down?
Her heart in her throat, she heard the vehicle screech to a halt behind her and someone exit just as she reached her car door. She wouldn’t have time to unlock it. Not with her hands full of groceries. Not with her hands shaking. She dropped the bags.
And now he was breathing down her neck. She thought she heard him say something, but her heart was beating too loudly for her to make out the words.
Tracy whirled to face her enemy and squeezed the button on the pepper spray.
*
Pain erupted in and around his eyes, which he squeezed shut reflexively. David coughed profusely, backing away from Tracy and into his truck. He couldn’t see where he was going, but he had to get fresh air. He blinked a hundred times, despite the pain, as his eyes filled with tears, the body’s natural defensive response—all while Tracy apologized profusely.
Coughing to clear his lungs, he held his hand out for her to keep her distance, though he didn’t know why. He just wanted her to back off.
He bent over his knees, coughing again, blinking some more. He wouldn’t be driving home anytime soon.
Then Tracy grabbed his arm. “I’m so sorry, David. I thought…I thought…”
“Just give me a minute,” he said, sounding gruffer than he’d like. But he couldn’t help it.
Next to his truck, David dropped to the ground and sat there, leaning his head back against the tire.
“What can I do to help?” she asked. “Please tell me. Let me take you to the ER. They can give you something to flush out the pepper spray.”
“No.” He would be the laughingstock of this town if anyone found out what had happened.
“Oh, David, at least say you’ll let me drive you home, then. I owe you that much. And we probably shouldn’t stay out here.”
Blinking a few more times, David got up. Coughing, he cleared his throat. “I’d appreciate that, because I can’t see enough to drive myself. And you’re right that we shouldn’t stay out here. But please stop apologizing. This was all my fault. I should never have rushed up behind you like that. But, Tracy—” David wished he could look her in the eyes “—did you see what I saw? Was that why you were running scared?”
He ignored the pain to listen intently to her reply.
She inhaled a long breath. “W-what did you see?” she stammered.
“I saw you first, sprinting toward your car. When I pulled into the parking lot to see if you were okay, I thought I saw a man running toward you. But when he saw me, he took off for the alley.”
When she didn’t respond he imagined her frowning, contemplating how to answer. David reached for her, found her shoulders and squeezed. He hoped he was wrong—that there hadn’t really been a man trying to attack her—because they were vulnerable out here, and he wasn’t able to see what he was doing if the man came back.
“I…I only caught a glimpse. Not even enough to give a good description to the police. When he caught sight of me, I just freaked out and ran. And the rest…you already know. But why didn’t you call out to me?”
“I did, Tracy. I saw you were upset and I was trying to reach you to make sure you were all right.”
“Well, all I can say is at least it was pepper spray instead of a gun.”
David huffed a laugh. That was for sure. Still, Tracy needed protection, and he’d try to talk her into getting that weapon. Teach her how to shoot. He’d try to protect her, watch over her, but he couldn’t do that 24/7. Maybe he could talk to the police and see what was going on. If the man was following her closely enough to know when to attack her in the parking lot, then she needed someone to keep an eye on her and make sure she stayed safe.
“Why don’t you park my truck and shut it off. Lock up and grab the keys. Then you can drive me back to my apartment.”
Heidi always teased him about his bachelor pad—the place he’d lived for ten years since his wife’s death. There hadn’t been a house to go back to anyway after the fire.
He tried as best he could to help Tracy retrieve the groceries she’d dropped, but he was more trouble than he was help. Once he was seated in the passenger seat of her Corolla, he leaned his head back, keeping his eyes shut. When she steered from the parking lot, David gave her the address. She headed toward town and he felt guilty that she had to drive him then drive herself all the way back home.
“Listen, maybe I should call Cade to escort you home. I don’t like you driving back to the cottage this late at night, after that creep tried to come after you in the parking lot. Until they catch this guy, you aren’t safe. I know what you said about not wanting to give up your life here, but you should go into WITSEC
. Change your name. Get out of town. Something. Have you even told the police since we talked last night?”
“Look, I already have a guard dog. I don’t need a personal guard. We’ve been over this.”
Yeah, they had—and he still wasn’t satisfied with her answers. “If it’s within my power to help, to do good, then that’s what I have to do.”
“You act like you have a choice,” she said. “You don’t get to insert yourself into my life without my permission.”
Ouch. That hurt. Maybe she really didn’t like him.
“That sounded harsh,” she said, “and I don’t mean to be, but someone has already forced me to change my life once, and I’m just overly sensitive about the thought of that happening again.” She sighed.
David wasn’t sure how to respond. Maybe he was coming on too strong, too controlling, in his simple effort to watch out for her. She hadn’t asked for his help, in so many words. But David had felt her need for reassurance, for protection, for a friend—someone to talk to—last night in the cottage. And she’d shared her past with him. Something she hadn’t shared with others in Mountain Cove, or so she’d said.
David sensed when Tracy turned right.
“Okay, this is Main Street. Where to now?”
“Go all the way through town to Crescent then take a left. You’ll see the complex on the right.” David felt like more of an idiot by the minute. She didn’t want him involving himself. “I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
The thing was, David wasn’t about to go away until this was over, regardless of what Tracy said.
“Look, David. It’s not that. Not really. I don’t want you to put yourself in danger for me, that’s all.”
“How about you let that be my choice.”
When she didn’t answer, he hoped she was at least thinking about it. David could tell when she turned into the parking lot of his apartment complex. “It’s all the way down, then the first building on the left. I’m upstairs. Number 201.”
She parked the car and turned it off. “I’ll assist you up, but I won’t be coming in. And I’m not going to let you call your brother and force him to come out here to follow me back. I’ll be fine getting home, and Solomon will be with me once I’m there.”
Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 #1 Page 24