Presumed Dead (Love Inspired Suspense)

by Angela Ruth Strong

  She had to be splashing up a storm. Would Lee overhear? Shoot her from the dock? Would she and Caleb both die because she thought she’d been stronger than she really was? The Lord is my strength.

  One stroke at a time. Right arm. Left ar—

  Right arm only. She folded her left arm to her chest and kicked harder.

  Maybe Preston had been right. Maybe she shouldn’t have tried to swim with an injury. She gasped for a breath, but with one arm clenched to her chest, she couldn’t fully rotate her face to the sky. Water filled her mouth.

  A strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her up to inhale. Preston. Her eyes flew up to meet his as he flipped her onto her back and pulled her along. She never would have made it on her own. How was she going to survive after he went back into hiding? She gulped oxygen and pushed the fear out of her mind as he towed her toward the ladder at the stern of Knot Guilty.

  “Thank you for coming,” she whispered. He probably shouldn’t have. She’d been thinking of Caleb’s safety, but what about Preston’s? Nobody was supposed to see him.

  Preston eased her next to the ladder and let her go. “I’m not going to risk my identity being revealed to save you from a bomb, then let you swim alone out to where the bomber is headed.”

  She still wanted to be mad about his insensitivity earlier. But he was there for her when she needed him even if it got him in trouble. “I’m sorry.”

  “Doesn’t matter anymore. Now climb up there and get Caleb off the boat before Lee reaches us.”

  Footsteps on the dock echoed in the night. The sound of her heartbeat threatened to drown it out. She gripped the ladder with her right hand and tucked her knees into her chest to place her feet on the bottom rung. Water ran down her skin as she hoisted herself into the cool air. She ignored the stinging breeze and padded through the puddles her arrival created on the rubber decking.

  “Caleb,” she whispered. What if she had to go down into the cabin to find him and then Lee caught them both there? Was Preston watching? Would he be able to help in time?

  She rounded the corner slowly. Caleb sat with feet propped on the bow, looking up at the stars. She wouldn’t have to go down into the cabin after all. Her heartbeat slowed. God was going to get her through this. She took a step forward.

  The cabin hatch popped open, separating her from Caleb. Long, dark hair appeared first. Then slender arms and a trim body wearing leggings and flip-flops. The woman had her back to Holly, but Holly would have recognized the contour anywhere. Denise Amador.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Holly covered her mouth to keep from gasping. No, Caleb wasn’t cheating on her anymore, but he must have been lying when he said he’d come up to Tahoe to try to work out their relationship.

  Was there really a chance he’d quit representing Lee to make her happy? He obviously didn’t care that much.

  “What time are you taking me to Thunderbird Lodge tomorrow, babe?” Denise asked.

  Holly hadn’t thought the moment could get any worse. But Thunderbird Lodge? Unbelievable. Caleb was planning to take the other woman to the very venue Holly’s parents had rented for their wedding at two thousand dollars an hour. Her skin warmed despite her recent swim—a swim she’d made to save Caleb’s life. He didn’t deserve it.

  “Ten o’clock, but you’re staying on the boat, remember? I have a meeting planned.”

  What did he mean he had a meeting planned? He’d had a wedding planned. Until Holly canceled it.

  The woman pivoted gracefully to close the hatch. Her eyes locked onto Holly. She froze. “Um… Caleb?”

  Caleb looked up lazily. He focused past Denise. He jumped to his feet. “Holly? What are you doing here?”

  She stared as her brain listed off winning arguments she could use against her ex to get him a guilty verdict were she to accuse him of unfaithfulness in a court of law. But she didn’t have the time for that argument here.

  The man darted around Denise to plead his case. “Make no mistake, this isn’t what it looks like.” He gripped Holly’s elbows.

  She winced and pulled away. And not just because of her bullet wound.

  He focused on the bandage. “What happened? Did you really swim with that injury?” He scanned the rest of the boat then looked off toward the shore. “Did the police give you a ride out here? They should be protecting you.”

  Holly shook her head. How she’d got there wasn’t important. She glanced down the dock at a figure headed their direction. “Did you drop Lee Galloway as a client?”

  Not even confusion could mar Caleb’s classic good looks. “What?”

  She backed up toward the ladder. Caleb might not need to be rescued after all, but she’d be better off if Lee didn’t see her. “I think Lee’s after me because I accused him of murder and told you not to represent him. He’s headed out here now. I was worried you’d dropped him as a client to win me back, and he might be after you, too.”

  Denise guffawed. “You think Caleb is trying to win you back?”

  Was that all the other woman had heard? Of course, Denise probably cared more about keeping her man than the threat on Holly’s life.

  The situation on board the boat clearly wasn’t what Holly had expected. Maybe Preston was right about Caleb. Or maybe Denise had actually hired Lee as a hit man. And Lee was headed out to collect payment from her.

  Holly stepped back. She had to get away.

  “Actually.” Caleb cleared his throat. “I did drop Lee.”

  Denise spun on him. “What?”

  The nearness of Lee’s footfalls didn’t leave Holly time to try to figure out what was going on. Not that she’d want anything to do with the lover’s spat were her life not in danger. She ducked behind the cabin to climb down the ladder. She’d warned Caleb, and now she had to worry about herself.

  “Hold on, Denise.” Caleb held up a finger. “Holly, wait here. I don’t want you swimming alone in the dark. I’ll tell Lee that I’ve changed my mind and that I’ll take his case to get him to leave. Then we’ll head down to the police station together and tell Officer Shaw what’s going on.”

  Whether or not Holly chose to trust Caleb, she couldn’t trust Denise. There was no way she was staying on board with the other woman and a killer.

  The boat rocked. The click of footsteps announced Lee’s arrival.

  Holly caught her breath. She motioned for Caleb to go face Lee as he’d suggested. Even if the gunman was here to kill him, Caleb could smooth-talk his way out of becoming fish food. He could smooth-talk his way out of anything. Case in point, the girlfriend who was staying loyal to him despite his pathetic attempts at reuniting with Holly.

  Caleb squeezed her hand before stepping sideways into Lee’s line of sight. “Lee,” he greeted the man with a little too much enthusiasm.

  Holly swung her legs over the ladder and flinched. What if Lee’s only response was that now-familiar pop of gunfire?

  Caleb cleared his throat. “I didn’t know you were in Tahoe, but I’m so glad to see you.”

  Oh boy. Laying it on a little thick, even for Caleb. How had she ever fallen for the attorney’s lines?

  “You are?” Lee’s voice lowered in disbelief. He was going to be a tougher sell than she’d been.

  Holly descended into the welcome concealment of the lake. Preston silently bobbed next to the ladder. His breath warmed her shoulder, reminding her she wouldn’t have been able to do this alone. She could barely swim. And worse, Lee might still come after her if Caleb failed to pacify him or Denise gave away Holly’s whereabouts.

  Caleb’s usual sophisticated chuckle returned. “I’ve been thinking about your case, Lee, and I want to represent you after all. Holly is probably going to leave the firm now that we’re not getting married, so her opinion shouldn’t affect my clientele.”

  That was a smart angle. He was even trying to get Holly off the man’s hit list. Or maybe he was trying to get back into Denise’s good graces. Either way, what mattered was that Caleb got L
ee to leave without trying to kill anyone else.

  Holly closed her eyes and awaited the man’s response.

  Lee cleared his throat. “That sounds fair.”

  Hope slowed Holly’s heartbeat.

  “You saved his life,” Preston whispered. “Now let’s get you to safety and call the police.”

  She wouldn’t argue this time. She’d be glad to get away from her ex. Lifting her knees to her chest, she pushed off the boat’s smooth surface with her feet to build as much momentum as she could for a backfloat toward shore. She wished she were strong enough to let Preston swim ahead and reach land and call the police sooner, but she wasn’t. Neither physically nor emotionally.

  Holly kicked her legs and waited until they were a safe distance away from the boat before sharing her thoughts aloud. “Denise was there.”

  Preston took a couple more strokes before responding. “I heard.”

  “She wasn’t happy to see me.”

  “Well, she should have been. You might have just saved her life.”

  “Maybe.” No gunshots had been fired yet anyway. Though the woman had looked angry enough to turn on Caleb herself.

  Holly’s foot hit sand. She stopped kicking to let her feet sink down to the ground. Her arm didn’t hurt as much as before, but all the energy from her desperate swim had drained away, leaving her limbs sluggish and weak. She trudged up the embankment, wringing water from her shirt.

  Preston grabbed her hand to speed up her movement. “No, you did save her. Look. Lee is on his way back.”

  So much for a break. Holly’s adrenaline shifted into overdrive. She raced after Preston, yanking her hand away from his to scoop up her sandals. He snatched his sweatshirt and running shoes.

  They ducked behind a tree as Lee rounded the corner of the dock. She leaned back to catch her breath and to balance as she slid her toes into the grooves of her sandals.

  Preston laced up his sneakers, using the same tree for cover. “We can’t get to the yacht club to call the police before he leaves now.”

  Holly turned her head to peek around the tree toward the building on the other side of the parking lot. If they stepped into the open, it would give Lee a clear shot. She leaned against the tree again, but she wouldn’t give up.

  “Caleb could have called the police,” she suggested. She would have if she were him. Please, Jesus. Please, Jesus.

  As if on cue, blue and red lights flashed across Preston’s face. They were saved.

  * * *

  Preston stood and watched a single police car pull into the marina parking lot. Lee slowed his steps and scanned the area as if looking for an escape route. Would a lone cop be able to take him?

  A second police car turned off the road. Maybe God was actually on Preston’s side for a change this time.

  Lee shoved his hand into his jacket pocket. Was he grabbing a gun?

  The cop cars slowed to a stop. It took a moment for Preston to realize they were surrounding the Chevy LUV. Caleb must not have called the police after all. These were the officers tracking down Preston.

  He groaned and dropped his head back.

  “What?” Holly asked.

  He didn’t want to answer. Didn’t want to burst her bubble of optimism. But she’d find out anyway. “It’s Shaw. He’s not after Lee. He’s after me for kidnapping you.”

  “That doesn’t have to be a bad thing,” Holly reasoned. “Shaw knows what I’ve been dealing with. He knows the bomber drives a navy blue Jeep. If I can get to him, I can tell him who Lee is.”

  True. Though getting to Shaw would be a problem with Lee standing in the way.

  Lee headed toward his Jeep on their side of the parking lot. Holly’s fingernails dug into Preston’s arms. So much for that plan.

  “Hey,” Shaw yelled in their direction.

  Had he seen them? Or had he seen Lee?

  Lee ignored the officer and kept walking toward his vehicle.

  Shaw intercepted. Had he realized Lee was headed toward the Jeep with the license plate he’d been looking for? “Excuse me, sir, I have a couple questions for you.”

  Preston closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Holly’s. This was it. The man after Holly was about to be arrested, and Preston was going to have to say goodbye to her. He pulled away and looked for the whites of Holly’s eyes in the darkness. If only things had gone differently for them.

  “Sir, I need to ask you a couple questions.” Shaw cleared his throat. “I’m looking for a man and a woman who were driving that turquoise Chevy LUV over there.”

  Holly’s eyes widened. Preston shook his head in disbelief. This wasn’t what he’d meant by things going differently. Shaw was seriously using the suspected murderer as a witness in an investigation?

  Preston peeked around the tree again to find Lee staring at the Chevy. The killer couldn’t know it was the vehicle Holly had been in.

  Officer Shaw pulled out his phone and flipped through a couple screens. He turned the phone toward Lee. “Here is a picture of the woman we’re searching for. The man with her is about six feet tall with dark blond hair. He was last seen wearing a camouflage sweatshirt.”

  Preston balled the sweatshirt in his fist.

  Holly covered her face. “Please don’t tell me Shaw just showed my picture to the guy trying to kill me.”

  Preston didn’t take his eyes off Lee to answer.

  The man stood up straight. Scanned the area. Looked back toward the dock.

  The rumble of a boat engine pierced the silence. Preston turned to watch what Lee must have been watching—Caleb’s cabin cruiser taking off into the night. There went the one guy who could have come out to talk to police and ended all this.

  And Lee was smart enough to put the pieces together. He’d realize Caleb’s sudden departure had been related to Holly’s presence at the marina. Which would only make sense if she’d seen Lee, realized he was after her, and warned Caleb. And in that case, Lee would also have to find Caleb and kill him immediately, or there would be another arrest warrant on his head.

  Holly buried her face in Preston’s chest and moaned. She would have figured it out, as well. Poor thing. She’d made the honorable choice and tried to save Caleb’s life, but her actions had put the attorney in even greater danger. At least Caleb was safe for the moment.

  Lee rocked back and forth. “What’s the couple wanted for, Officer?” he asked.

  Didn’t Shaw see the man’s discomfort? Of course, a cop might assume the man was scared about being in the same area as wanted criminals. “That’s police business. Have you seen them or not?”

  Lee shook his head. “Unfortunately not, sir.”

  Shaw studied him. “Thank you for your help. If you see anything suspicious, please contact the police station immediately.”

  Lee nodded. But instead of continuing on toward his Jeep, he turned around.

  Holly craned her neck to watch with Preston. “What’s he doing?”

  Well, he wasn’t going into the yacht club for a drink. “He knows we’re here,” Preston whispered.

  Lee shoved his hands into his pockets and headed past the officers, toward the dock.

  Holly gasped. “He’s looking for us because he wants to find us before police do.”

  “Don’t worry.” It was a bold move. But one that would leave Lee in proximity to be captured by police as soon as Holly told Shaw what was really going on. Preston tilted his head toward Shaw. “You’re up.”

  She shivered in the cool air. “I won’t see you again, will I?”

  Preston rubbed her clammy arms for warmth. And because he’d never get the chance again. “Only God knows.”

  Holly didn’t move. “What are you going to do without your truck?”

  He chuckled. That was the least of his worries at the moment. But it was nice to know she cared. “I’ll be fine. Now you go talk to Shaw so I can be sure you’re fine.”

  She nodded. “I’m still going to research the helicopter crash.”
>
  “I know.” He would expect nothing less. Though she’d probably find another fiancé to distract her from thoughts of him. She was never alone long. Which shouldn’t bug him so much.

  “You saved my life, and I want to save yours.” She rubbed a hand over his biceps, looked up into his eyes.

  If ever there was a moment to kiss a woman, this was it. Except for the fact it went against everything he wanted for her. He had to let her move on.

  He stepped away. Dropped his hands. “Good-bye,” he said. The word sucked all the air out of his lungs, like diving into the lake had done earlier. Though this time he wouldn’t be following her.

  She turned. Her silhouette moved through the trees. In a moment she’d step out into the parking lot.

  Preston waited. If the cops came after him, he’d run, but he wasn’t going to leave until he knew Holly was safe.

  Officer Shaw planted his hands on his hips and faced the second officer. “I think we’re being taken for a ride.”

  Oh, good. The lawman was finally figuring out the Lee Galloway connection.

  “I don’t think Holly Fontaine is in any danger at all.”

  Holly’s shadow froze between him and the police. Preston gritted his teeth. What was the man talking about?

  “If this is a kidnapping, she was an awful willing victim.”

  Preston ran his hands through his hair. Granted, there had been no kidnapping. That didn’t mean Holly wasn’t in danger.

  The second officer crossed his arms. “I was a little suspicious about how she kept a man out of the computer room at the lodge. The chair had been knocked down, and she’d passed out on the floor. If somebody really wanted to kill her, she would have been dead.”

  Shaw nodded. Holly’s profile whipped around as if she were turning to look for Preston.

  Preston gave a small shrug, though she wouldn’t be able to see it. She wouldn’t have a choice now but to tell the authorities about him. She’d threatened as much, and now he understood. This was the position he’d put her in. He’d figure out what he was going to do later. For now, Holly just needed to get help.