“There’s no reason to hurt him,” she said quickly. “He doesn’t know anything. He was just helping me, but he thought I was crazy when I told him Lauren had been murdered.” She couldn’t stand the idea of them harming Nick. The very thought squeezed her heart so tight in her chest she could scarcely draw a breath.
“We’ll figure out how to deal with Nick later,” Vincent said. “In the meantime take her out to the field and kill her. Make sure you bury her body where it won’t be found.”
Terror thundered in Lexie’s head. She wanted to beg for her life, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. Had Danielle begged for her life? Had Lauren?
“I’m going back to the office,” Vincent continued. “We’ll figure out what to do with her car later this evening. Call me when you’re finished here.”
As he left the shed a new panic seared through Lexie. “Clay, let me go,” she said as tears sprang to her eyes. “I’ll head back to Kansas City and you’ll never hear from me again.”
“Sorry, no can do.” Clay grabbed the roll of duct tape and tore off a piece. “You really believe I can just let you walk out of here? I’m afraid, Ms. Pink Hair, that you need to disappear permanently.”
He slapped the duct tape back over her mouth and then cut the rope that bound her ankles and yanked her to her feet. She fought the rope that still held her wrists, desperate to get free, to at least have a fighting chance to save herself, but it was no use.
“Knock it off,” Clay said with irritation as she tried to body slam into him. He held her arm painfully tight and pulled her toward the door.
Clay took one step outside and halted as Nick pressed the barrel of his gun against his temple. Lexie’s heart jumped with relief as Clay released his hold on her. She sidled next to Nick, her heart crashing a million beats a minute against her chest.
“What are you going to do now, big guy? Shoot me?” Clay asked derisively. “You don’t have it in you.”
Lexie wanted to scream at Nick not to fire, that Vincent might still be on the property and would hear the shot and she knew he was just as dangerous as Clay.
“You’re right, I don’t have it in me,” Nick replied. He crashed the butt of the gun into the back of Clay’s head and at the same time swung his fist into Clay’s stomach. Clay crumbled to the ground with a moan.
Nick then turned to Lexie, his gray eyes filled with fire. “Come on, let’s get the hell out of here.”
He yanked the duct tape off her mouth and grabbed her elbow and then motioned across the field. “That way,” he said.
She’d been in the shed long enough that the shadows of night were beginning to fall as they took off running. With her arms tied behind her back she found it difficult to run, but with the flame of survival burning bright inside, she gave it all she had.
They hadn’t gone far when they heard Clay shout. “Dammit, I should have shot him,” Nick exclaimed as they hit the cover of a grove of trees.
“Where’s your car?” Lexie asked between gasps as she tried to catch her breath.
“On the other side of them,” he said grimly as Vincent and Clay came into view.
Lexie cursed the fact that her hands were tied behind her back, that she didn’t have a gun and couldn’t help Nick defend against an assault.
Clay fired, the bullet chipping bark off the tree in front of where Nick and Lexie stood. Vincent fired as well, his shot going slightly left, but Lexie knew the closer the men approached the more accurate their shots would be.
Nick answered with a shot, at the same time scanning the area for an escape route.
“We need to split up,” Lexie exclaimed. “We’ll have a better chance of one of us getting out of here alive.”
“No!” Nick’s voice was stronger, more firm than she’d ever heard it before. “No, we stay together.”
“Then we’d better move,” she said, “because Clay is getting closer and Vincent has disappeared.” She looked behind them, worried when she realized the grove of trees that sheltered them was small and it was probable that Vincent was now attempting to come up behind them. If he succeeded, they would never make it out of this grove alive.
And she desperately wanted to live. In the days just following Lauren’s death she hadn’t been so sure that she could go on. In the days since she’d realized she loved Nick and would never be able to have him forever, she’d lost some of her love of life. But it was back now, screaming through her.
She wanted to survive this and she wanted Nick to survive. It didn’t matter that he didn’t love her as she loved him, all that mattered was that they both escaped.
Nick fired at Clay once again, forcing Clay to hit the ground. At the same time the sound of a helicopter overhead drew Lexie’s attention upward.
The helicopter was the kind used by the FBI for hostage rescue. Her heart soared as she realized help had arrived. The clearing behind Clay filled with men.
“Down on the ground. Get down on the ground,” the men yelled at Clay. “Hands over your head.”
Harsh voices had never sounded so sweet to Lexie’s ears.
“We’re here,” Nick called to the advancing men. He raised his hands above his head to show them his gun and to indicate he wasn’t a threat.
At that moment a gun banged and Lexie gasped as her body was pierced with an excruciating pain that stole her breath. She turned toward Nick, her mouth working but no words coming out.
He smiled at her and she tried to smile back but tears blurred her vision. The raw pain inside her clawed at her. She couldn’t breathe and she wondered why she couldn’t take in any air. She felt herself falling…falling. The autumn leaves around her began to spin in her head, a kaleidoscope of orange and red and finally black.
Chapter Thirteen
As Lexie hit the ground, Nick screamed to the men in the field as he fell to his knees by her side. In his peripheral vision he caught a glimpse of Vincent Caldwell in the brush behind them.
Nick didn’t hesitate. He pulled his gun and fired at the man. There was no satisfaction as Vincent fell, screaming as he grabbed his thigh.
Nick threw his gun to the ground as he placed a finger on Lexie’s neck, seeking a pulse, praying for a pulse. The shouts of the men and the whoop of helicopter blades overhead faded to silence as Nick leaned close to Lexie and whispered fervently.
“You have to be all right, Lexie. Open your eyes and talk to me. For God’s sake, just tell me you’re going to be all right.”
She didn’t move. Her eyes didn’t magically open and there was no indication that she could hear him as he pled with her to be okay. He didn’t realize he was crying until a man in a SWAT uniform touched him on the shoulder. “We have to fix her,” Nick said, his voice half-strangled by emotion.
“We’re going to do that,” the man said as he pulled Nick to his feet. “Step back and let us take care of her.”
As several men with a stretcher took over, Nick looked around him in shock. The helicopter had landed in the middle of Clay’s field and Clay was in custody. Several of the men had run to Vincent, who was screaming and writhing on the ground.
It was surreal…and Nick felt as if he were moving in a fog. It was only when the men tending to Lexie began to carry her out that the fog dissipated. “Where are you taking her?” he asked, his heart pounding frantically in his chest as he saw how still, how pale she looked.
“The nearest hospital,” one of the men replied.
As Nick ran after them, he realized he was in love with Lexie. His love for her roared through him with a force than nearly dropped him to his knees.
Cupid had found him twice in a lifetime. Now all he had to do was pray that she survived so he could tell her that he loved her.
He was just about to his car when a man called his name. “I’m Director Grimes,” the man said as he approached Nick. “And I want to thank you for calling to let us know one of our agents was in trouble.”
“She’s still in trouble,” Nick replied arou
nd the lump of emotion that nearly clogged his throat.
Grimes nodded. “We’ll be taking things over here in Widow Creek. There will be a full investigation by us, not by the locals, and we’ll see to it that this place is cleaned up.”
Nick didn’t care about the town. He didn’t give a damn if the whole place blew up, all he cared about was getting to the hospital and finding out about Lexie.
“I’ve got to go,” he said and without waiting another minute he got into his car and tore off toward the Widow Creek Hospital.
He knew now that Danielle hadn’t committed suicide, that he hadn’t let her down, but even if he hadn’t known that his love for Lexie couldn’t have been denied another minute.
If he’d never known about Danielle he would have taken a chance on loving Lexie, on hoping that they could build a life together.
Why hadn’t he realized sooner? He’d been so mired in his past that he hadn’t been able to look toward a future, and now it might be too late.
No! No, don’t think that way, he told himself. She has to be all right. She has to be! He couldn’t lose her. He refused to allow fate to take away another woman that he loved.
He screeched into the hospital parking lot and raced toward the emergency entrance. Several of the FBI agents were there, apparently also awaiting word on Lexie’s condition.
“She’s in surgery,” one of them told Nick. “And so is Vincent Caldwell. He’s having his leg repaired.” He gave Nick a small smile. “Too bad you didn’t aim a little higher.”
“I didn’t aim at all,” Nick admitted. “I was blinded by rage when I realized he’d shot Lexie. I just fired at him instinctively. Was she conscious when you brought her in?”
The man shook his head. “No, she never regained consciousness.” He gestured toward one of the chairs in the waiting room. “You might as well have a seat. I have a feeling it’s going to be a very long night.”
Nick sat in the chair, his heart heavier than it had ever been in his life. Danielle had been stolen from him and at the time he’d thought he’d never get over it, that he’d never survive.
Then Lexie had come into his life. Lexie with her warm smile and pink hair. She’d wiggled right into his heart and the idea of burying another woman that he loved nearly shattered him.
All he could do now was wait through the dark, endless night and see if fate would once again rip love away from him.
CONSCIOUSNESS CAME LIKE a soft whisper in her ear, tugging her reluctantly from sweet dreams. She’d awakened several times before only to succumb to the darkness within seconds. This time consciousness remained, although she kept her eyes closed as she assessed her condition.
She was in a small amount of pain, but nothing like the pain that had ripped through her the last couple of times she’d tried to awaken.
She knew Vincent Caldwell had shot her, but she had no memory of anything after that bullet had struck. Wiggling her fingers and toes, relief swooped through her. Whatever her injuries, everything seemed to be working okay.
Without opening her eyes she knew she was in a hospital, she could tell by the smell, by the noises that came from someplace in the distance.
She’d survived. Lauren was dead, Nick was nothing more than a fantasy, but the important thing was that Lexie had survived. As soon as she was well enough she’d go back to Kansas City, immerse herself in her work and try to find some kind of happiness that was meaningful.
That’s what Lauren would have wanted for her—happiness. And as a tribute to her twin she would find a way to be happy. She finally ventured a peek at her surroundings, unsurprised to find herself in a hospital bed.
Morning sunshine streamed through the windows and she was surprised by the sight of Nick slumped down in a chair, sound asleep.
Had he been there all night? Her heart ached as she gazed at him, memorizing his handsome features for when she was back in Kansas City and feeling all alone. She would remember being held in the warmth of his arms, the fire of his lips against hers and the magic of their lovemaking for a very long time to come. The memories would both warm her and fill her with sadness.
His eyes snapped open and for a moment they were filled with a soft sleepiness that made her want to lose herself in their depths.
“You’re awake,” he said as he sat up and raked a hand through his hair. “How are you feeling?”
“Stiff, sore and lucky to be alive,” she replied. “How long have I been out of it?”
“Three days.” He got out of his chair and moved to the side of her bed.
“Three days!” She stared at him, stunned by the passage of time. “What’s the damage?”
“I hope you didn’t like your spleen.” He stood close enough to her that she could smell the scent of him, the scent that would forever haunt her with the memory of love.
“Nah, I’ve never been much of a spleen person,” she replied.
“You were so lucky. The bullet managed to miss every vital organ and your spine. It caught a rib and deflected into the spleen but stopped there. I imagine you’ll be out of here soon, but according to Director Grimes you won’t be going back to work for a little while. He’s put you on medical leave.”
“Who called in the cavalry?” she asked.
“I did. When you weren’t answering my phone calls and you hadn’t called me back, I panicked. I called Director Grimes and told him he had an agent in trouble.” He rocked back on his heels and gave her the smile that shot heat through her. “I guess they take that kind of thing very seriously.”
“Thank goodness. So, what’s happened to Clay and Vincent?”
“Vincent is in a hospital room down the hall under armed guards. He suffered an unfortunate incident with my gun and will walk with a limp in the prison yard. The FBI and DEA have taken over the town. Clay’s barn was filled with enough chemicals to make meth for the next year. Vincent was arrogant enough to keep a file on his computer that had names of mules, places they were selling and other financial information about the operation. According to your coworkers, it wasn’t a huge bust, but it was a substantial one.”
“And so it’s over and the guilty will pay.” She studied his features and her love for him pressed tight against her chest, hurting her as deeply as the bullet that had pierced through her. “At least you should feel some peace that Danielle didn’t commit suicide,” she said softly.
“I am relieved over that, but I’m not at peace.” He took a step closer to her and reached out and touched a strand of her hair, the strand she knew was bright pink.
“I’ve been a fool, Lexie, a fool trapped by a ridiculous one arrow theory that got shot all to hell the moment I laid eyes on you.”
His eyes glittered with a light that shone through Lexie, heating her with the whisper of possibility. But she was afraid to hope, afraid that somehow whatever he felt for her now was simply a fleeting thing that would fade with time.
“I love you, Lexie, and I don’t want to let you go,” he said.
His words torched joy through her, but it was a joy tempered with harsh reality. They’d both been through such an emotional wringer. Surely he was just confused about his feelings.
“Nick, I’m in love with you, but I don’t think I’m the kind of woman you want in your life forever.” Pain lanced through her, a pain that had nothing to do with her physical condition.
Before he could reply Gary Wendall walked into the room. “Well, it’s good to see you coming around,” he said to Lexie as she used the button to raise the head of her bed a little bit. “I owe the two of you a huge apology.”
He jammed his hands into his pockets and frowned. “I didn’t know. I didn’t have a clue about the drugs. Oh, I was aware that we had a little drug issue with some of the teenagers, but I never dreamed what Clay and Vincent and some of the others were involved in anything like this. Anyway, just wanted to stop by and let you both know I’m turning in my badge. If Widow Creek survives this scandal somebody else will be in charge
of law enforcement.”
“Chief Wendall, I don’t think either Nick or I expect your resignation,” Lexie said.
He shook his head. “I don’t want it any other way. I got too complacent, too lazy. The fact that there was a drug operation taking place right under my nose and I didn’t smell it lets me know I need to get out. Anyway, I just wanted to apologize to you both for not taking your concerns about your loved ones more seriously.”
He didn’t wait for a reply, just turned quickly and left the room. “He’s not a bad man,” Lexie said. “He just wasn’t a good chief of police.”
Tension pressed tight in her chest as she remembered the conversation they’d been having before Gary had come into the room.
“Now, where were we?” Nick asked as he approached the side of her bed again.
“I was telling you that I’m not the right woman for you,” she replied, her heart beating with a heavy dread.
“And why is that?” His gaze held hers intently as he leaned closer.
“I have pink hair,” she blurted out miserably.
“I know, and I’d love you if you had green hair with purple stripes,” he replied.
“I spent my whole life trying to be different from Lauren and now that she’s gone I don’t know who I am anymore.”
His eyes were a soft gray. “Allow me to introduce you to you. Lexie, you’re bright and funny and sometimes when I look at you my love for you gets so tight in my chest I can hardly breathe. You’re loyal and loving and I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
Lexie’s heart swelled at his words. She liked who she saw reflected in his eyes, and deep down she knew she was that woman, the woman who could love him for a lifetime, the woman who had become his second arrow.
“Oh, Nick, I wasn’t expecting you,” she said as happy tears burned in her eyes.
He grinned at her. “You weren’t expecting a splenectomy either, but here we are.”
She laughed and then sobered. “So, where do we go from here?”
“I thought maybe you’d like to recuperate at my place and then when you’re well enough we’ll pack up the dogs and my belongings and head to Kansas City.”
Scene of the Crime: Widow Creek Page 16