Love Inspired Suspense March 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: Protection DetailHidden AgendaBroken Silence

by Shirlee McCoy

  Bailey’s teeth chattered. The cold was already getting to her, and their options weren’t many. Swim for shore or stay here and wait for help. The problem was that no one would be looking for them. His only hope was in the realization that the route they’d traveled was a popular boat path for people going to and from Smuggler’s Cove.

  “Ed?” Bailey whispered, her skin too pallid for his comfort.

  “Yes?”

  “I…I want to say thank-you.” Her teeth chattered.

  “Oh, no. You’re not giving me a goodbye speech. We’re going to make it out of here.” He continued to tread water, his muscles straining from the constant motion.

  “I can’t feel my hands anymore, Ed.”

  His worry grew.

  Lord, please help.

  He grabbed another piece of the boat and instructed Bailey to hang on to it. Keeping one arm around her so she wouldn’t slide off, he began swimming toward the island. Making it there was a long shot. They were probably ten miles away, at least. But he had to try. He had to do something.

  There had to have been a detonator on that boat. Someone must have planted it last night. They’d waited until Ed and Bailey came back to the boat and, when they were sure the watercraft was in the middle of the bay, they’d set it off.

  At first, it seemed as if the people behind these acts wanted to keep them alive. But maybe now they were getting desperate. Whoever these guys were, they were realizing that Ed and Bailey were putting the pieces together.

  He had to keep moving. If Bailey died, he would be to blame. He’d never forgive himself.

  He glanced over at her. Her lips were turning blue. Her face was still pale.

  The water was too cold. She was losing blood through the cut on her forehead. The exertion was too much.

  He paused as a noise caught his ear.

  He swerved his head around, looking for the source of the hum.

  “It’s a boat!” he said.

  “Good guys or bad guys?” Bailey asked lethargically.

  Ed kept his gaze on the watercraft. Finally, a symbol on the side registered with him. “Good guys. It’s the coast guard.”

  *

  Instead of going to Smuggler’s Cove, the coast guard had taken them to the mainland, to a hospital outside of Richmond. Bailey kept insisting she was fine, but no one seemed to believe her.

  The doctor decided to keep her and Ed overnight for observation. She had a cut on her forehead, which had caused her to lose blood. That, mixed with the hypothermia, were their reasons for concern.

  Against her will, she’d drifted to sleep. But during her waking hours, all she could think about was the men who were after them. What if they found her here at the hospital? What if they tried to finish what they started?

  She couldn’t fight the effects of the pain medicine and remain lucid enough to put up a fight.

  Three hours after they were admitted, someone rapped at the door. She looked over and saw Ed standing there. His hair looked messy, he needed to shave, and his gaze looked tired. But was she ever glad to see him. Especially the lazy smile that stretched across his face when he spotted her.

  “Hey, there,” she called, her voice strained and weak.

  He stepped up to her bed. “I was afraid you’d be sleeping.”

  “I keep drifting off, but then I wake up with nightmares.”

  His smile slipped. “How are you feeling?”

  “My head throbs and my whole body feels like it’s been wrung out by a tornado. But besides that, I’m just happy to be alive.”

  “I know the feeling.”

  Her throat got that all-too-familiar aching feeling. “Thank you, by the way,” she whispered. “For saving my life.”

  “It was nothing.”

  “It was everything to me.”

  He looked down, something tortured in his gaze for a minute. “I just wish you weren’t wrapped up in all of this. What happened out there on the water made this all too real, in more ways than one.”

  “Whether we like it or not, at this point, we’re in this together. I’m just glad that was the case when that bomb went off in the boat. If you hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

  Using his palm, he wiped her hair back from her forehead. “You gave me a good scare.”

  His touch sent ripples ricocheting through her. Her blood surged, warming her skin, making her long for more of his touch.

  She cleared her throat, trying to get control of her reactions. She needed safe territory, somewhere where the look in Ed’s eyes wouldn’t make her heart betray her. Since that wasn’t an option, she changed the subject. “So, do the police have any clue what happened? Are they investigating?”

  “I told them what happened. I just didn’t share any of the background. It doesn’t matter, though. Not really. They’re not going to catch these guys. They’re too good.”

  “If they’re not going to catch them, then how are we supposed to get out of this alive?”

  He squeezed her hand. “Never give up. We’ve got to keep pressing ahead. God often steps in at our lowest moments and shows us another way. For example, if that coast guard boat hadn’t come by when it did, neither of us may have made it.”

  Her first real smile came easily and quickly. “You’re right.”

  “Mr. Carter,” a nurse said, sticking her head into the room. “I thought I told you that you needed to stay in your room with your IV.”

  “I feel fine.” He straightened, rubbing his arm where it seemed his IV had been.

  “You really need to rest.” The gray-haired nurse put her hands on her ample hips.

  He pointed to the chair beside Bailey. “I’ll rest in here.”

  “But—”

  He raised a hand as if to say Hold on. “I promise. I’ll be fine.”

  The nurse looked at Bailey, agitation clearly written across her face. “Do you want me to get rid of him for you?”

  She smiled, despite her cracked lips and depleted energy. “No, he can stay. But thank you.”

  The nurse raised an eyebrow and cast one more glance at Ed before finally nodding and stepping out of the room.

  Ed turned back to Bailey and patted her hand. “I’m here. You can rest now. I’ll keep an eye out.”

  Surprisingly, Bailey found waves of assurance in those words.

  *

  The next morning, John met them at the hospital with some clean clothes and two prepaid cell phones that Ed had requested he pick up. Since they’d missed church, Ed and Bailey had read some Scripture together and lifted up a prayer. It felt good to have someone willing to worship with him, Ed mused.

  After they’d changed and were discharged, John drove them from the hospital to his boat. Ed was thankful that the man had been willing and available. He felt better knowing that he was former coast guard.

  Before climbing into the boat, Ed checked out every inch of it. He didn’t see anything suspicious. As they took off across the water, Bailey clutched Ed’s arm. Based on her tight grip, she was reliving yesterday. He put his arm around her waist and squeezed, wishing he could somehow ease her thoughts.

  He appreciated the fact that John didn’t ask too many questions. The former Coastie seemed to sense that the situation was tense, and he respected the unspoken boundaries—at least for the time being.

  The day was warm, which helped melt some of his tension. These few stolen moments when Ed was able to forget the danger they were in seemed to refresh him.

  He breathed easier when they glided up to the pier in Smuggler’s Cove and anchored there. Ed helped Bailey out, hating the bruises on her face and the thick bandage across her forehead. But it could have been worse. Much worse.

  Samantha came running down the pier and gave Bailey a hug. “Are you okay? I was so worried.”

  Bailey nodded, holding on to her friend’s arm as they started toward the beach. “I’m fine.”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  He saw Baile
y about to shake her head, and he stepped forward. “There is something. Could Bailey stay here, in one of the cabins?”

  “Ed—” Bailey protested.

  “I’m not sure how safe the house is,” Ed whispered.

  “But—” she began.

  He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I’d feel better if you were away from the place for a while.”

  Bailey narrowed her eyes, obviously feeling a little better if some of her fire was returning. “Can I speak with you a moment?”

  With a hand at her elbow, he walked with her across the sand. He could only imagine what this conversation would hold.

  They stopped, and she crossed her arms. “You really think I’m going to be any safer here?”

  “Yes, I do.” He had no doubt.

  “What makes you think these guys aren’t going to find me here? And you won’t be around to bail me out next time.”

  “I just don’t want to see you hurt again.” He had to make her understand that.

  “Staying here won’t insure that.”

  He stared at her, trying to make the best decision, trying to give her the respect she deserved. “You’re a big girl. It’s your choice.”

  Her face seemed to relax before she jutted her chin out with stubborn determination. “Then I choose to stay at the house.”

  He hesitated but then nodded. “Okay. If that’s what you want.”

  They walked back toward John and Samantha, what almost felt like a physical weight pressing down on Ed.

  Bailey spoke first. “I can’t put you guys in the line of fire.”

  “You know we’re there for you if you need us,” John said. “We’ve been in tough spots before. We know what it’s like.”

  “You can say that again,” Samantha added.

  “I appreciate it, but I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to any of you.”

  Ed’s hand went to her back. He was doing that a lot lately. Something about being able to touch her made him feel connected, as if he was close enough to protect her. “She’s right. It’s better if we keep our distance.”

  “Do you want to tell us what’s going on?” John asked, squinting against the midmorning sun.

  “It’s better if you don’t know. Believe me, I’d tell you if I could.” Ed knew they couldn’t get anyone else involved. The less people who knew, the better it would be for everyone.

  “You know where to find us,” Samantha insisted.

  His back muscles tightened as he nodded his thanks and waved goodbye. He was ready to head home. Though the way things were, he wasn’t sure what else—or who else—to expect when he arrived.

  EIGHTEEN

  The night was quiet, and Bailey slept surprisingly well, but that was mostly because Ed was stationed outside her door. He wouldn’t be able to keep up that schedule for long, though. Despite his toughness, his energy and clearheadedness would wane soon.

  Today, the two could work together to find that information, those secret files that had been supposedly passed on to Mr. Carter. The only problem was that Bailey needed to find it first—before Ed. She had to hand it over to the man. She had no other choice.

  Every time she closed her eyes, she pictured her sister and her niece and nephew. She couldn’t put them at risk.

  Yet she couldn’t put the safety of a country at risk, either.

  The thought was enough to make her stomach slosh with nausea. This whole experience was like waking up in a nightmare. She had no idea how to navigate her way out. Her only comfort was in knowing that God—and Ed—was by her side.

  Though Ed had opened up to her—and she felt she understood him better—part of her still remained cautious around him. Though he hadn’t outright said it, she knew he worked for the CIA. He lied for a living. She only hoped he wasn’t fooling her now.

  She lay in bed for a moment, her body still sore from the crash. She and Ed could have easily died, she realized. God had obviously been watching out for them. She only prayed that He would continue to watch out for them.

  The whole situation felt like a ticking time bomb. If Ed weren’t beside her, doing this with her, then she wasn’t sure she’d be able to handle it, either mentally or physically. He’d been her rock over the past couple of days, a realization that was crazy in itself.

  Maybe, just maybe, she’d been wrong about him.

  She opened the door from her room and blinked when she saw the hall was empty. Cautiously, she stepped out.

  “Ed?” she called.

  Silence answered.

  She crept down the hallway, remaining on alert.

  Moving slowly, she went downstairs. Nothing appeared out of place. There were no signs of struggle.

  So where was Ed?

  She tiptoed into the kitchen. A pot of coffee waited there. She couldn’t wait to pump some of that caffeine into her system.

  But first she had to figure out where Ed had gone.

  Just then, the back door opened. Ed stood there, his hair moist with dew and the earthy scent of grass and seawater saturating him. He wiped his feet on the rug.

  “Bailey. You’re awake.”

  She let out a small laugh, chiding herself for her overreaction. “I’m here. I was worried when I didn’t see you.”

  “I was just sweeping the place again, making sure there was nothing suspicious I needed to be aware of. I did the inside earlier, and I decided to take a look outside this morning.”

  She crossed her arms, telling herself it was to ward away chills. “Anything?”

  He shook his head. “Surprisingly, no. Everything looks clean.”

  “Strange when you consider they had a whole twenty-four hours to set their little traps.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe they were too busy trying to follow us.”

  His words didn’t sound convincing, though. Certainly the network they were using was larger than one or two people. If these people had wanted someone here, they could have had someone here.

  Ed stepped inside and pointed to the fridge. “Mr. Wilkins dropped some groceries by here.”

  “Mr. Wilkins did?” Bailey opened the fridge. She’d never known the man to buy food and stock the place.

  “I asked him to. I think he appreciates the additional income.”

  Bailey nodded. That made sense.

  “After breakfast, I say we go through the house again and see if there’s anything my father left that might give us a hint as to what was going on. Maybe look for those letters. My father’s friend obviously either told him or gave him some kind of information. There’s a good chance it’s still here. If we’re able to find it, maybe we can figure out a resolution to all of this.”

  Bailey nodded. “That sounds good to me.”

  Ed grabbed an apron that was hanging on the wall, a red one with polka dots. “Now, how about if I fix some breakfast?”

  Bailey smiled, some of her tension easing for a moment. “That sounds perfect.”

  *

  Four hours later, Ed paused and stared at Bailey a moment, resisting the urge to wipe away the dust smudged on her cheek. She sat back on the floor of the library and let out a long sigh, her hair escaping from the loose ponytail that held it back.

  “Nothing. We’ve searched everything, everywhere I can possibly think of.”

  Ed stood and stretched. “Let’s take a break. Maybe some fresh air will help us think more clearly.”

  He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. When she popped up, they were standing closer than he’d anticipated—close enough that electricity crackled between them.

  Against his better instincts, he reached forward and, using his knuckles, wiped away that smudge. “Dust,” he explained.

  Based on the look in her eyes, she felt just as electrified as he did.

  “Thank you,” she muttered.

  At once, his arm went around her waist. He leaned forward, waiting for Bailey to object, giving her a moment to back away. When she didn’t, his lips met hers.<
br />
  Something about the two of them fit so well together. He could get used to her soft skin, her sweet smell and her compassionate eyes.

  When they pulled away, Bailey tucked herself into his arms. “We shouldn’t have done that, should we?”

  “Says who?” He rubbed her back.

  “Common sense perhaps.”

  “Circumstances like this…they can accelerate feelings. I know it sounds crazy. We’ve only known each other a few days, but—”

  “But I’ve never felt like this before, which is in some ways scarier than the fact that there are people out there who want to kill us.”

  He stepped back, wanting to look Bailey in the eye. “I won’t hurt you, Bailey.”

  Her eyes flashed with something. Doubt? Distrust? Skepticism? He couldn’t be sure. But, more than anything, he wanted to put her worries at ease.

  “I hope that’s true,” she finally whispered.

  He grabbed her hand. “Come on. Let’s go outside.”

  Maybe they both needed to clear their heads.

  They didn’t say anything as they both seemed to instinctively head toward the beach.

  Halfway across the lawn, Bailey stopped. “What’s that on the sand over there?”

  Ed squinted toward the distance. There was a lump of black and white on the shore. It could simply be something that washed up from the ocean—a creature, trash, even seaweed.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “Let’s go check it out.”

  They picked up their pace and hurried toward the sandy banks. The closer they got, the more clearly Ed realized that the lump was not trash or seaweed.

  The lump was a body.

  A dead body.

  NINETEEN

  Bailey stared down at the lifeless man, emotions colliding inside her. She felt an uneven mix of anxiety, dread and forewarning that she just couldn’t shake. Now there was a dead body that had washed up outside of the Carter house.

  Things weren’t going to get better. Not until the information was found. Not until the bad guys were behind bars.

  There was no going back and no hoping that things would work themselves out or that these people would go away. And that thought made her feel off balance.