by Michelle Kee
"Okay, okay. This guy broke into your house. Before Austin PD or Blackout's guys could get there, he set the place on fire." Cain told her quickly.
Krista was frozen for about ten seconds. Then she surged to her feet. "The asshole did what! He fucking torched my house!"
"Yeah. When I got there the whole front half of the house was in flames. One of Ethan's guys, um, Morton, was on sight and was working with the fire department to put it out. The rest of Morton's team were working with PD to get statements and look for what evidence they could. I’m afraid the front half of your house is a total loss. Hell, they wouldn’t let us upstairs because they said something about structure stability." Cain explained.
Before Krista could speak, Ethan snatched the phone. "Harker, it's Ethan. What do you know?"
"Not a hell of a lot at the moment. Your guy Morton said Blackout got the signal about the break-in. As they were en route, the fire alarm went off and he called in the fire department. He got there before PD and AFD. He said Krista's neighbor said she heard a car speed away but nothing else."
"Fuck. Okay, we'll be landing in about two hours. I want you and Jimmy at Blackout in three. I'll call Wilson. Who is in charge at AFD?"
"That would be Captain Perry."
"Get him there too."
"Copy that. Oh, and since I know Krista will be there, warn her that Perry is a chauvinistic ass hat toward women."
“I’ll warn her. Thanks Harker.”
Ethan hung up the phone and found Krista sitting between Debbie and Nick. The three looked pissed. He moved to them and knelt in front of Krista. He laid his hands atop hers, which were clenched tightly in her lap. When her eyes moved to his, he saw the rage burning in those blue orbs.
"Krista, baby talk to me." He said.
"What the plan?" She demanded.
"Cain and Jimmy will meet us at Blackout an hour after we land. I'm going to call Wilson and get him to meet us there as well as the Fire Captain in charge from last night."
"I'm going."
"You sure? Wilson and the others don’t know that you’re Kris James."
"To hell with that Ethan!" She yelled jumping to her feet. "This guy is getting personal and I'm sick of it. I made a decision yesterday at Jerry's grave, I'm going to reveal my identity. It was something me, him, and dad talked about. We all think that maybe now would be a good time."
Ethan stood and ran his hands up and down her arms. "Okay, okay Krista."
"I also want to go public."
This time it was Grant that spoke up. "Baby girl, you sure you want to do that?"
"Grant, I'm done hiding. He's walking around like a god dammed ghost. First the bomb, then Jerry's murder and now this. We need help. I can't think of a better way. Can you?" Krista countered.
Ethan didn't like it, but the set of her jaw and the fire in her eyes told him not to argue with her on this or that he'd lose. Cursing he locked both his hands behind his head. "Dammit. Dammit woman, I don't like you putting yourself out there like this."
"You don't have to like it Ethan Blackstone. I don't need you to shield me right now. What I DO need is you and your four badass Marine buddies to stand at my side. To support me even if you don't like it." She stated, her arms crossing over her chest.
Tony was the first to move. "Well, you got my vote Krista."
"I'm with Ethan, I don't like it." Lance grumbled. "But I'm not going to fight against you. I'm in."
"Hell, I'm in too." Gage shrugged.
Krista faced Ethan and Grant. "Well? What's it going to be you two?"
Grant faced Ethan, then faced Krista and then faced Ethan again. "Boss, I really don't want to go against her."
"Fuck! Fine. Fine. But woman, I'm tattooed to your ass till this fucker is caught. You got me? You don't go anywhere without me or one of my guys." Ethan ordered.
Krista sagged in relief. She moved to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Yes. I promise, I will do everything you say. I won't go anywhere with you, Gage, Grant, Lance or Tony."
Ethan held her back. "Okay then. Okay, let me call Wilson and get this shit storm started."
Krista nodded and released him. She watched him move to the back of the jet talking quickly on his phone. She nearly jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking over she found Lance. His face a blank wall.
"After our little meeting, I'm going to talk to Ethan about getting you some training."
"Training?" She frowned.
"Yeah. If you're going to go through with this cockamamie plan of yours, then we better make sure you can protect yourself in case anything happens to one of us." Lance nodded.
"Okay. I'm assuming since this asshole shot at me too, this training will include weapons?" She asked.
"If Ethan approves, me and Grant will help you with that. Tony and Gage can handle the other stuff." Lance replied.
"I say, to hell with if Ethan approves or not. Teach me." Krista said.
Chapter 18
Krista sat at the round table of the conference room at Blackout. The second they had landed back in Austin, they were met by Morton and another man. Morton and his guy drove her parents’ home while Krista went with Ethan and the others to Blackout. Ethan told her that after the meeting Tony and Lance would head to her parents to upgrade their home security as well. The next morning her mother was heading for Dallas just as she promised. Ethan had offered the jet and Debbie accepted.
"You okay over there baby girl?" Grant asked sitting a cup of coffee in front of her.
"I'm pissed Grant. Someone could have been hurt when my house went up. He's getting desperate now I think. I'm not playing by his twisted rules and it's making him act out." Krista answered.
"I think you're right. That could be both a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing because it means he could very likely screw up. Bad because that makes him an even bigger wild card." Grant nodded.
"And more dangerous huh?" She pushed picking up the mug.
"Yeah." Grant sighed. "Look, Lance told me you want to be trained. I know Ethan said you're a good shot with a gun and that he and your brothers taught you to fight..."
"Grant, if you guys train me I don't want you taking it easy on me. That won't help me. I'm tougher than I look, okay. I need to be ready. If he gets through any of you it would just be me and him. I don't want to be the one on the ground. I want to be the one left standing."
"Fair enough baby girl, fair enough. Okay, give us a day or two to come up with something. Lance spoke to Ethan about it and he's, well I wouldn't say he's okay with it, but he's agreed to let us work with you."
"Good. I don't want to fight him on this."
Grant gave a little smirk in agreement. They both looked up when the door opened. The first to walk in was Cain and Jimmy. Krista stood and moved to her friends. Behind them was Wilson and another man Krista didn't recognize. Everyone took their seats, with Krista seated next to Grant at the head of the table.
"Thanks for coming here so quickly." Ethan spoke up.
"Why is D.A. Jameson's daughter here?" The unknown man asked, his tone a bit condescending as he looked across at Krista. Proving that Cain’s warning to Ethan had been correct.
Krista narrowed her eyes and leaned over the table. "D.A. Jameson's daughter is here because it was MY house this fucker torched. Also, because I am Kris James."
Ethan smirked as the other man sank a little lower into his chair. "Yes gentlemen, Kris James and Krista Jameson are one in the same. The short version is she used a pseudonym to better protect herself against any enemies looking for retribution against D.A. Jameson.
"For the last year, she has been stalked. A few months ago he started making contact with D.A. Jameson. That's where I and my guys come in. Three weeks ago, he escalated in a big way. He walked right into her agent, Jerry Summerland’s office and hand delivered a pipe bomb. Ms. Jameson was present at the time. Then a week later this asshole walked into St. David’s dressed as a doctor and carved out Mr. Su
mmerland's heart and then mailed it to her.
"Now he's broken into her home and burned it. That is where we stand people. Agents Harker and Fortner have been handling Krista's case. Since Blackout has been brought in they have been sharing what they have so far. This latest move is telling me that he's gearing up for his endgame. His endgame is Krista." Ethan explained.
"Our techs have analyzed the packaging that Mr. Summerland's heart was delivered in. According to them, the postage mark was done by hand. That tells us that he has the equipment to make the stamp appear from anywhere. We guess that he either put that package in her box himself, or paid one of the employees do it. Personally, I believe he did it himself. He would want the satisfaction of knowing that he personally put it there. We've got a field agents questioning everyone who worked that day as well as the surrounding businesses." Jimmy said.
Perry cleared his throat. "Since I haven't been introduced yet, I'm Captain Perry with Austin Fire Department. I am investigating the arson of your home Ms. Jameson." He shot Krista a look that made her think he wanted her to be impressed or something.
"And what do you know so far Captain? Have you found the point of origin for the fire yet?" Krista asked as she leaned back in her chair.
"It's looking as if the fire was started in the living room near the far right wall. What exactly was kept there?" Perry questioned, his tone still haughty.
Krista glared at the fire captain and sat up in her chair. "I kept a bookcase there. It was made from a hundred-year-old oak tree that had been on my grandparent’s property. I had some of it turned into a custom build bookcase. Was there accelerant used?"
"You seem to know a lot about fires." Perry countered, lifting a brow.
Before anyone could speak, Krista was on her feet and moving to Perry. She stood over him, her index finger pointing right in his face. "Perry, if there's something you want to say, say it."
"Well alright then. How do we know you didn't do this or have it arranged?" Perry asked.
Krista snarled as she grabbed the man by the lapels of his shirt and drug him to his feet. Perry was a little man because Krista towered over him. He started sputtering, but Krista ignored him. "You listen to me you, sanctimonious asshole. First off, I was in New York at Jerry's FUNERAL when my house was broken into and turned it into a fire pit. Second, if I wanted attention or insurance on my home, I wouldn't torch my house. Third, if you're going to accuse anyone of arson, you better have the evidence to back it up."
Krista shoved him back into his chair and moved to stand beside her father who was now standing next to Ethan and looking very proud of her. Nick patted her shoulder before addressing the fire Captain. "Captain Perry, I will be speaking with the Fire Commissioner about your behavior. I will have you removed from this investigation."
"You can't do that." Perry stammered.
Nick said nothing. He simply pulled out his cell phone and walked out of the room. Ethan moved to Krista. When she looked up at him, pride was shining in his eyes. She caught it a second before he pulled her to him and kissed her. This shocked her. He had never been one for public displays, but then she was finding that this new Ethan was full of surprises.
"You'll do woman. You'll do." He smirked.
"Good, ‘cause you'll do too, jarhead." She winked.
"Well," Cain chuckled. "The big question now is, what the hell we're going to do to protect Krista."
"Agent Harker's right Ethan. I'm guessing Blackout has a plan." Wilson added with a slight grin as he tipped his head in pride at Krista.
It was Gage who spoke next. "Krista's book release is in two weeks. On the flight back, she convinced her mother to leave town. Now, Counselor Jameson has court so he can't leave. If this guy doesn't make his move before the book release, we believe he'll do it either at the event or right after."
"Sounds plausible..." Jimmy began, but was interrupted when Nick and another older man walked in.
Captain Perry surged to his feet. "Commissioner Wilkes..."
"Not another word Perry." Commissioner Wilkes snapped. "You are relieved of this case. Leave all your findings here. All other reports will be channeled straight to me. I am taking over this case."
"But…but sir…"
"I said you are relieved Perry. Get out. Now!" Wilkes ordered, his voice hard as steel.
Krista watched in satisfaction as Perry stood and moved from the table. As he passed her and Ethan he fired a glare at her. All she did was smile sweetly and give a little wiggle of her fingers in bye. After he slammed the door closed behind him, she faced Jimmy again.
"Okay, Jimmy you were saying." She said.
"I was saying that, Blackout's theory sounds plausible. We know this guy knows how to shoot, can carve up a body and has knowledge of arson. What kind of attack are you anticipating here?" Jimmy replied looking at Ethan.
Ethan sighed. "We don't know. Blackout will be handling the security at the book release. Wilson, you told me before we left that Austin PD was throwing in some guys correct?"
"Yes, in fact the Chief has doubled the number. You can expect about fifteen officers. We got the projected number of attendees from Krista's publisher, Stacey. She says they are expecting about one hundred and fifty people at the Capital City event center, possibly a little more." Wilson nodded.
"Tony, I want both Bravo and Charlie teams with us that day." Ethan ordered. Tony nodded. "Once we go over the layout of the venue I will get together with you, Wilson, Harker, and Fortner. It should take us about three days to have a plan for the event security."
"I will also get in touch with Stacey. I have at least a dozen fans that are what I call my VIP's. These are fans that have been following me since my first book. They spread word about my books, events and such. I guess you could say they're my unofficial street team. These people are from all over the country and they get special passes that allow them a behind the scenes type deal.
"They are usually at all my new book releases, no matter where it is. I have special goodies bags for them. They will most likely be the first fans allowed in to the event before the rest of the public. Again a perk that this group has earned. I will get you their names and pictures. I have a group photo we took at a convention about eight months ago." Krista added.
"That would be appreciated." Wilson nodded.
Commissioner Wilkes spoke up then. "Ms. Jameson, since your stalker has now entered into my little slice of the world, I will have a team check out the venue the day before, and the day of the event. If it's okay with you, I could also have a small group, say five or six, men there on site during your book release. Just in case he pulls something using fire or explosives."
"Thank you sir. I would greatly appreciate that." Krista smiled.
"It's my pleasure ma'am. Plus, I have a about five or six guys who like your work. They're married and only read them 'cause their wives made them. Now they keep saying every guy should read them and take notes." Wilkes laughed, causing everyone else to laugh as well.
"Alright gentlemen, give me and my men about three days and then we can all start working on the security. Thank you all for coming." Ethan concluded. Before Wilson could leave, Ethan moved toward him. "Hey, where's your partner?"
"Oh yeah. Ingram had to take a few days off. His wife got sick and she's confined to bed. So he took a week to be home with her." Wilson replied.
"Damn, that sucks about his wife. Well, keep him posted and tell him I hope his wife gets better." Ethan stated.
"Will do Ethan. You just take care of your woman over there. She's a good woman and a rare one." Wilson smiled nodding toward Krista.
Ethan looked over and watched her talking with her dad and his guys. "Yeah, she's definitely a woman worth fighting for and keeping."
***
Krista stood with Ethan, Grant and Lance at the edge of what used to be her home. The setting sun casting long shadows over the charred front yard. Where her living room, entry way and part of the front hallway were completel
y blackened by the fire. She could still smell the remnants of the fire. She looked toward the second story and could actually look into what had been her writing studio.
"God." She breathed.
"Wilkes said it will be another two days before you can actually move further on site." Grant said.
Krista nodded. "There's not much left is there."
"Doesn't look like it." Lance agreed.
Krista stepped away from the men and moved closer. She wasn’t going to go inside, but she wanted a closer look. She was about two feet from the front door when she heard the house give a long creaking sound. She looked up and her mouth fell open as she saw the upper floor shifting. She heard Ethan yelling for her to get back, but her feet were rooted to the spot.