Had the verdict made someone so angry that they’d flown here from California to inflict their own version of justice? Calls to the airports at Fort Smith, XNA, Little Rock and Tulsa had brought no satisfaction. All he’d gotten, besides the runaround, was a list of the airlines serving each airport. He typed up quick emails requesting passenger information for the past week to each airline, stating that he needed it for a case, and sent them off, feeling dissatisfied.
While still at his computer, Matt ran cross-checks on Lorie, doing searches on Google and Bing. On a whim, he visited her Facebook page. Not surprisingly, her privacy settings were high, and the only available information was her name.
While he was there, a streak of masochism had him key in his ex-fiancée Lorene’s name. Her avatar showed her entire family: two sons, two daughters, and her husband—the man with whom she’d betrayed Matt, Owen Parkins. His former best friend. Her privacy settings were less stringent than Lorie Narramore’s, and photos of their happy little family gnawed at Matt. Those should have been his kids, his photos. He glanced at her status.
“Thanks for praying.”
Odd. Lorene had always ridiculed Matt’s Christian upbringing. Why would she—
Not important. Matt closed the browser. He needed to concentrate on his case file.
*
Never had Lorie more looked forward to closing time. After asking Jen to take the weekend librarian, Mitzi, the key for tomorrow, Lorie locked up the library and went out to the almost empty parking lot. This was the longest Friday she’d had since the trial days.
When she got within keyless-entry range of her blue Mustang, she pushed the remote to unlock it.
The blast knocked her backward to the asphalt, sending white-hot flames into the night sky and dimming the streetlight.
Someone screamed her name.
Jen rushed over and reached a hand to her. “Are you all right? What happened?” She looked from Lorie to the flaming shards. Jen pulled Lorie to her feet.
“My poor car.”
“Your poor car? What about you? Are you okay?”
“I—I think I scraped something when it exploded.” Lorie swayed as a wave of dizziness engulfed her.
Jen held on to Lorie’s arm and kept her from falling. “I need to call 911.”
As Jen was reaching for her cell phone, they heard the first siren.
“Sounds like somebody beat me to it.”
A fire truck rounded the corner, followed by a county EMS van. In a blur of motion, the firemen hooked up the hose to the fireplug on the corner and opened a stream of water strong enough to knock down a sumo wrestler.
EMS pulled into the parking lot and two techs in full gear ran over to Lorie and Jen.
“Who’s hurt?”
Jen was quick to point them to Lorie.
“I don’t think anything’s broken.” Lorie winced at the pain when one EMT took her arm gently. The two of them led Lorie to the van, with Jen trailing along behind.
The Mustang crackled and popped, the flames engulfing the chassis looking as though they never intended to stop burning. The firefighters kept the stream of water aimed at it. Lorie found it less excruciating to watch the car rather than the paramedics.
“No burns?” The man’s voice was crisply professional, but still concerned.
“No, sir. Just scrapes and probably bruises.”
The paramedic gently swabbed her scrapes with something that stung. “What happened?”
“All I did was activate the automatic lock. Then kaboom.”
The paramedic exchanged glances with his teammate. She could read the question in their faces. Car bomb?
Who would want to bomb her car? More than that, who had the resources to make it happen? This went beyond threatening notes, or even shots fired at her house.
Only one answer made sense: the Orgulloso cartel. And if a drug cartel was out to get her, then no place was safe.
Not here.
Not California.
Not anywhere.
*
Matt was still studying the pictures from Lorie’s case file when Tiffany in dispatch rang his desk.
“Hey, you’re working the librarian case, aren’t you?”
“Yup. What’s up?”
“We just took a 911 call from there. Fire department and paramedics have already been dispatched.”
Visions of disaster sprang to mind. “What happened?”
“Car bomb, from the sound of it.”
“Casualties?”
“Nobody dead, as far as they can tell, but one of the librarians is hurt.”
“I’m on my way.”
Three minutes later, Matt pulled his F-150 up on Choctaw Street next to the library parking lot. The sky was still ablaze, but it looked as though the fire department had a handle on it. Matt scanned the area until he spotted Lorie and Jen talking with a couple of EMTs. Lorie had bandages on both arms from just above the elbows almost to her wrists.
Matt struggled to keep his equilibrium as he made his way to the paramedic van. Was this morning’s shooter responsible for this? If so, the stakes had escalated. Anyone could have been killed when the car bomb exploded. Things like this didn’t happen in Dainger County.
Things like this didn’t use to happen in Dainger County. Not until Lorie Narramore moved back from San Diego.
Lord, protect her. Keep her safe. And please let me solve this case soon.
Matt hurried toward the paramedic van. The sight of Lorie sitting there, so pale, raised a flood of protectiveness normally reserved for his family members.
Matt squelched the impulse to hug Lorie, but he held out his right hand, and she put hers into it.
“You’re certainly popular around here.”
She gave him a game smile. “Yep. Life of the party. Came close to being the death of the party.”
How could she joke about it? “God was looking out for you.”
“For sure. If I hadn’t gotten the battery replaced in my remote control…” Her voice trembled. “If I’d stuck the key in the lock…”
“You didn’t.” Jen gave her a sideways hug, probably to avoid hurting Lorie’s arms. She looked at Matt. “What can we do to see about getting Lorie some departmental protection?”
Lorie shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. I just…I’m more concerned about my family than I am about me. And Colleen and the cats, too.”
Matt tapped her lightly on the shoulder. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“Calling my insurance company, for starters.”
“And?”
Lorie’s forehead creased, as if she were trying to remember. “Well, I had planned to go to West Bluff and do a little shopping, but that’s off the menu now.” She crossed her arms, winced and uncrossed them immediately. “Maybe see about getting a loaner car until I can get mine replaced. Although Mom and Dad would probably loan me their second car. I don’t want them to, though. I wish I didn’t even have to tell them about this.”
Matt knew from skimming through the files that both her parents had flown to California to be with their only daughter while she was on trial. No way would they want her to go through this situation alone.
“You don’t need to be out on that lonely place by yourself.”
Fear flickered in Lorie’s eyes. “I have to get back. Feed the dog and cats. Besides, it’s home. Where else can I go?”
“How are you going to get home tonight?”
“I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”
“I can drive you out there and we can get your critters.” Jen looked at her watch. “I think you should stay with J.T. and me tonight.”
“No. I won’t put you in danger.”
“You shouldn’t be alone.” Matt hated the thought of her being isolated in the country, especially now that someone had blown up her car. He hadn’t seen another vehicle on her property.
“I’ll be all right.”
“No. The situation is escalating way too fast.
We need to discover who’s behind these attacks, especially since you’re now without transportation to even try to get away if someone comes after you. I don’t want our next visit to be in the morgue.” If she was going to be obstinate, he’d have to scare her into doing the right thing.
Lorie gulped.
“Matt’s right. If you won’t stay with us, what about your parents?”
“I can’t take this danger to them any more than to you. I’ll stay in a motel if I have to, but I don’t want to put any of you at risk.”
Jen shook her head.
“A motel won’t let you bring your pets.” Matt hoped he’d said the one thing that would get through to the stubborn little mule. “I’ll run you out to your place, we can pick them up and then I’ll take you someplace safe.”
“Where?”
“My family’s ranch.”
“No way.”
“Way or else.” The words his nieces and nephews used so often popped out before he could stop them.
Jen nodded. “Great idea.”
“No. Jen!” The tone in Lorie’s voice was desperate.
“It’s safe, and they have plenty of room, what with all the guesthouses. It couldn’t be better.”
“But I don’t want—”
Matt interrupted. “I’ll stay there, too, to keep an eye on things, so everyone will be under police protection. You won’t be putting anyone in danger. You can call your parents from there, or we can stop by, if you prefer.” He grinned. “And we take pets.”
“I can’t afford the Rob Roy Ranch.”
“That’s the beauty of it. As one of the owners, I can put you up for free.”
Matt could see Lorie’s hackles rise. “I don’t take charity.”
“This isn’t charity. This is official protection.”
“But—” Lorie winced as Jen backhanded her upper arm. “Ow!”
“Will you just take the man up on it?” Jen sounded irritated. She probably was. She should have been home at least ten minutes ago. Jen dug out her cell phone as the fire chief walked over from the smoldering hunk of melted metal and plastic that had once been Lorie’s car.
“Fire’s out, ma’am, but I have a few questions.” He nodded at Matt. “Mac. Good to see you.”
They bumped fists.
“Can it wait until morning, George? I think Ms. Narramore’s about done in.”
“I’d rather take care of it now, but I can see you’re right. Let me know where I can find you, Ms. Narramore.”
“Thank you.” Relief colored her voice.
“She’ll be at Rob Roy Ranch in one of the guesthouses.”
Kershaw nodded. “I’ll call you in the morning, then. You have a cell phone?”
Lorie rattled off the number, then reached out and touched the chief’s arm to stop his departure. “What about my car?”
“Total loss, I’m afraid.”
Tears welled up in Lorie’s eyes. She must really have loved that car. Matt knew they’d made the trip all the way from San Diego together. In a few minutes it had gone from being a piece of home to a pile of smoldering rubble.
“I guess I’d better get my purse.”
“You mean this?” Jen slipped Lorie’s shoulder bag off and held it out to her. “I picked it up after I picked you up.”
“Thanks.” Lorie clutched the bag as if it were a life preserver. Matt noticed that Jen had clipped to the shoulder strap Lorie’s now-useless car keys, which must have fallen from her hand in the explosion.
“Let’s go round up your pets.”
Lorie blinked at him for a moment. Being in shock, he expected it would take her a while to return to reality.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded.
“Keep her safe.” With a couple of chirps, Jen opened her own car door. Nothing happened except the lights came on. “Guess my car’s fine.”
“I wonder how they knew to target mine….”
Matt placed a hand on her shoulder and steered her at a leisurely pace toward his SuperCrew F-150. “You still had California plates.”
Lorie nodded.
“My insurance company isn’t going to be happy.”
“Don’t worry about that tonight. You need to get somewhere safe so you can rest. You can think about things again tomorrow.”
As she clicked the seat belt into place, she looked over at him, a wry expression on her face, visible from the cab’s overhead light.
“You’re right. But I still have to call my folks and let them know about this before they hear it on the news. Not to mention…” Her voice trailed off as Matt started the engine.
She didn’t tell him what she meant, but he could imagine. She was probably worried about her parents’ reaction when they heard she was in protective custody on Rob Roy Ranch.
The dusk-to-dawn lights were shining when Matt drove Lorie up to her old farmhouse. The dog ran at his pickup, barking. Matt stopped the truck when it looked as though Colleen would throw herself under the wheels.
Matt got out, went around to Lorie’s side of the pickup and opened the door. He held out a hand.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“You’re hurt, and besides, I’m a gentleman.” He grinned. “I know that’s a foreign term these days, but my family brought me up right. At the risk of being hit with handbags, I still open doors for ladies.”
Lorie chuckled and accepted his hand. Once again, electricity coursed through his arm. Matt wondered whether she felt it, too.
Maybe she had. Her voice was a little breathless as she stepped down from the running board. “I won’t be long.”
“Let me go in first—I need to check the place out for you. Remember, they know where you live. Then I’ll help you round up the animals.”
Colleen pushed her nose into Lorie’s hand. “Hey, girl.” Lorie petted her and started when Colleen whimpered and backed out of reach. Lorie pulled her bloodied hand away in shock. She looked up at Matt. “She’s hurt.”
A premonition clutched at Matt. If Lorie’s attacker had been to the house and hurt the dog, then more damage was likely. What would they be facing inside the house?
“Careful.”
Lorie unlocked the front door and switched on the living room lights. Gasping for breath, she froze in the doorway.
The place had been wrecked.
“Stay back.” Matt drew his sidearm and proceeded into the living room, picking his way through the broken bric-a-brac that littered the thin rugs covering the wide plank floor.
Behind him, Lorie was checking on the dog, making little crooning noises.
Aside from the contents being trashed, there didn’t appear to be any serious structural damage. Matt switched on lights as he went from room to room, taking in the destruction.
Her bedroom was a large room on the east end of the house. In the middle of the bed, pinned to the shredded remains of a quilt with a long, thin knife, a note screamed:
EVERYTHING YOU HOLD DEAR IS FORFEIT.
Senses on alert, Matt felt rather than saw Lorie enter the room.
“No, stay back.”
“I—oh. My quilt…” Her voice was mournful.
He glanced at her. The dog stood at her side, blood visible on the shaggy coat.
“They’ve done all this and all you can say is ‘my quilt’?”
“Mamaw made it. For my tenth birthday.” Her hand flew up to cover her mouth, as if she could hold back the sorrow.
“We’ve got to get you out of here and under protection immediately.”
Lorie nodded. “If they’ve left me any clothes, I’ll get packed.”
The overturned walnut armoire held nothing but rags. The perp had even broken the heels off her shoes.
“Overkill.” Matt’s voice held contempt. “If they’d just wanted to make a point, they could have gone to a lot less trouble. They just did this to be cruel.”
Lorie let out a sharp sigh. She sounded frustrated. “Well, I obviously can’t get anything else out o
f here. Everything seems to be badly damaged—including Colleen. I don’t even know where the cats are. I’m afraid they’re either hiding or dead…. Please, Lord, don’t let them be dead.”
Lorie’s launch into prayer in the middle of speaking with him encouraged Matt.
Rubbing her eyes as though she could wipe out the desolation surrounding her, Lorie set her shoulders back. “We might as well go. Maybe you can stop by the Supercenter and let me pick up a couple of things for the night. Then we can drop Colleen off at the animal hospital.”
“Let’s look for your cats first.”
She actually smiled at him, a real smile this time. With a hand on the dog’s side, she walked through the rest of the old house, calling her cats’ names as she picked her way through the debris.
The kitchen door stood open, the screen door unlatched. Lorie poked her head out the door and called, but the cats made no response.
“I think they must have escaped through the screen door when whoever did this showed up. At least I hope and pray so!”
Matt nodded, holstering his gun but remaining alert. When they’d locked the doors again, Matt phoned the situation in from the pickup. The night dispatch listened intently, and said to call back if there were any further developments.
Lorie fastened Colleen’s collar through the seat belt in the truck’s backseat before climbing in next to Matt. She seemed dazed and exhausted. Matt wanted to tell her everything would be all right…
But he couldn’t lie to her like that. The creep who was after her was escalating his attacks. And things would get worse before they got better.
SEVEN
As they drove toward the outskirts of Daingerville, Lorie tried to focus on her surroundings, the vehicle lights zipping by, but her mind replayed everything that had happened over the past few days. Would the nightmare never end?
Matt stopped the car at the animal hospital. It was way after hours, but someone was usually there in case of emergency. As Lorie got Colleen out of the truck, Matt rang the after-hours bell.
“Come on, girl. I know it hurts.”
Lorie felt like throttling whoever had injured her dog and scared off her cats, not to mention shooting at her, trashing her house and blowing up her car.
Love Inspired Suspense June 2014 Bundle 2 of 2: Forced AllianceOut for JusticeNo Place to Run Page 49