by A. J. Quinn
“How far will you go, Evan? What are you willing to do to bring things with Khalid to a close?”
“You don’t need to worry, love. In my heart of hearts, I will always be a naval officer and my parents’ daughter. There are lines I won’t cross.”
But as she watched her, Tate thought she could see dread creep into Evan’s eyes. “Will you at least take your gun?”
Evan nodded, smiling unexpectedly if a little weakly and easing some of the tension out of the moment.
Tate told herself she should be happy about that, even though she wasn’t. Still, she was genuinely glad to know Alex and Kelsey would be going with Evan. They’d make sure nothing happened to her. They’d bring her back safely.
“Try not to shoot anyone until we get you a permit. Otherwise, the paperwork will be a bear.” She leaned closer and their eyes connected. “And try not to be too long. I’m going to call the sheriff’s department as soon as I finish cleaning up. It would help if you were here when he arrives.”
“Jenna and I will give you a hand cleaning up,” Nick offered as he came up behind them. Evan’s face remained unreadable, but Tate thought she saw relief wash over her. Nodding gratefully, Tate hooked her arm into Evan’s and walked her back into the house.
*
Anxious and preoccupied, Evan felt increasingly on edge as they approached the trailhead but put it down to too little sleep and too much coffee. The breeze was up this morning, briskly coming across the water and rustling faintly through the trees. She blew a strand of hair out of her mouth as she fastened her eyes on the gravel trail and breathed in the sound of the quiet.
Lifting her eyes to the horizon, she watched a giant blue heron, ungainly looking and yet remarkably graceful as it flew past in the distance before disappearing into the trees. More slowly, she opened herself up to the mournful cries of the gulls, the whisper of the waves lapping against the pebbled shore, the sound of the ferry horn blowing in the distance.
But her throat felt tight, her pulse erratic, and her hands were still trembling from an excess of nervous energy. She was aware Kelsey and Alex were waiting and felt a surge of impatience to get going. But she forced herself to focus on her breathing. Inhaling slowly, deeply, counting to five and then exhaling just as slowly. She repeated the process several times, centering herself with each repetition as she emptied her mind. And then she began to run, slow and steady.
For the first few minutes, she simply enjoyed her surroundings and the feel of the warm air. But inevitably, thoughts of Khalid crept in. When she had encountered him on the trail only days earlier, she had thought him to be nothing more than a creation of her overwrought imagination. Now she knew he was real and felt the stirrings of anger. With each minute, each hour, each day that passed, the horror of her time in Afghanistan receded. But Khalid kept bringing it all back with a vengeance.
She pulled an article she’d once read from the recesses of her memory, something about an age-old tribal ritual of smudging, used for centuries by the indigenous people of both North and South America. The process, as she recalled, was meant to cleanse people, places, or objects of negative energies by burning certain herbs. Sage, cedar, sweetgrass. In theory, the smoke attached itself to negative energy and took all negative influences with it as it dissipated. Perhaps that was what was needed here. Perhaps once this was over, she and Tate could look into having the local shaman visit and cleanse their beautiful island home of Khalid’s malevolent energy.
“Are you doing okay?”
Kelsey’s question and the faint note of concern in her voice brought Evan back to reality. She realized she’d been setting a pace much faster than was smart, but as she glanced over her shoulder, she was pleased to see Kelsey was having no problem keeping up. Alex on the other hand—she wasn’t quite as sure.
“I’m doing good,” she replied without breaking her stride. And she was. Her leg was holding up and not causing her any grief. “What about you, Alex? Are you doing okay?”
Alex grunted. “How is it possible that you can run better than me when I know you’ve got all those staples and things holding your knee together?”
“I had a good surgeon.”
Kelsey snorted. “You had a great surgeon. And if you damage my colleague’s work by running too hard too soon, there’ll be hell to pay, Commander Kane. I’ve got connections. I’ll make sure you pay double if you need a second procedure.”
Evan laughed, relishing the moment, the physical exertion, and the company. But she wisely decided not to push her luck and slowed her pace. For the next few minutes, she maintained a steady pace without speaking, using the time to shore up her defenses.
It worked, but only until they approached the hill where she’d spotted Khalid. Her heartbeat began to accelerate and every nerve ending in her body went on high alert.
But she needn’t have worried.
As they rounded the bend, it was quickly apparent they were the only ones using the trail. No one was standing on the hilltop. No one lurked in the shadows cast by the trees. And only the waves and the birds disturbed the stillness of the morning.
They stopped as they reached the loop—the point in the trail that circled the hill and briefly wound its way before bringing them back to where they’d started. Alex blew out a long pained breath and sat on the remains of an ancient-looking stone wall, breathing hard, while Evan wandered closer to the shore.
She watched the sun dance on the water and remembered all the reasons she had wanted to move here. Buy the house on the point. Tate’s house.
In her mind, this had always seemed a good place to sink roots and become part of a vibrant community. She had fallen in love with the island—the incredible beauty and simple pleasures it offered. Being here with Tate just made it better. It didn’t really matter who’d bought the house.
“It’s a beautiful spot, isn’t it?” Kelsey said as she came up beside her.
“It’s quite possibly my favorite spot on the island.” Evan breathed out a sigh. “The first time I stood here, the view literally took my breath away. I remember it was fall, the air was cool and clean, and it was so unbelievably peaceful. I didn’t think places like this existed anymore, and I’d like to think this would be a good place to heal and begin again.”
“And you’d be absolutely right. Other than one little sociopath momentarily darkening the horizon, this place is perfect.”
“Maybe. I’m not sure you’re aware but I wanted to buy the house Tate now owns,” she said. “Funny how things work out sometimes. I keep thinking of the line in that old song—something about getting what you need.”
“The Rolling Stones, nineteen sixty-nine,” Kelsey answered with a smile.
Evan grinned. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”
“Because I like music from the sixties? And here I thought it was for my razor-sharp wit and my amazing medical skills.”
“That too.” Evan’s smile faded just a little. “I’ve not forgotten how you helped me in Germany.”
“I did nothing I wouldn’t be prepared to do again. And just so we’re clear, in return you had your father bring me home in style and days early. In my book, I’d say that makes us even.”
“You drive a hard bargain, but okay.” Evan laughed. “That reminds me, I’ve been meaning to ask about whatever brought you over to our little island paradise. I realize I’m a little slow on the uptake, but I am aware you just got home. I hope my mess with Khalid isn’t intruding on a romantic reunion for you and Jenna.”
“Not to worry. Actually, I came over to see about a job yesterday. There’s an opening at the clinic in town, and although I just got home, the opportunity’s just too good to pass up, since it includes an option to buy in as a partner. After meeting the other two doctors, Jenna and I talked about it. And since I’m pretty sure I’m going to take it, we thought we’d spend a few days house hunting.”
“You mean we could end up as neighbors?”
“Yeah. That’s the
only downside I can see.”
Evan bumped her shoulder against Kelsey’s and they both laughed. Lifting her foot onto a knee-high boulder by the water’s edge, she stretched her calf muscle.
“Your leg okay?”
“Yeah, just trying to stay loose.” She dropped her foot back to the trail. “What about Jenna’s practice? I was kind of hoping…” She broke off, uncertain how to continue.
Kelsey’s expression told her she knew exactly what Evan was hoping for. “Actually, we’d like to find a place that lets us set up her practice as a home office. And for a lot of her patients, getting here will be easier than trying to get to her current office in Seattle.”
“That’s good.”
“Jenna will see you wherever and whenever you’re comfortable, Evan. And between all of us—Tate, your brother and his partner, Jenna and me—none of us are going to let this situation spin you out of control or see you hurt again.”
“I don’t want anyone else getting hurt, either.”
“You let us worry about that.”
Evan gave a grudging smile and nodded just as Alex came up to them.
“Everything okay?” he asked as he passed a water bottle to her.
Aware Alex had deliberately hung back, giving her the chance to talk to Kelsey, Evan felt a surge of tenderness. “Everything’s good.” She took a long drink, then recapped the bottle and handed it back. “Thanks. Ready to hit the trail?”
Both Alex and Kelsey nodded and they set off at an easy pace.
*
With Jenna’s and Nick’s help, Tate quickly cleaned up the dishes and tidied the kitchen. She then slipped away to take a shower while Jenna went back to the inn to get a change of clothes for both herself and Kelsey. After thinking about it for only an instant, Tate invited her to check out and bring everything back to the house, but she left the decision up to Jenna.
Twenty minutes later, Tate walked out onto the deck and let her mind sift through the events of the previous evening before making the call to the sheriff’s department. As soon as she identified herself, she was transferred to the sheriff himself. Tom Foley had obviously done his homework since speaking with Alex. He’d probably also had a visit from a couple of FBI agents.
He listened without interruption and asked a few sharp questions. After ascertaining there was no immediate danger, he promised to be out with a couple of deputies within the hour.
She was pleased when Jenna returned shortly after she finished her call. She had changed into jeans and a T-shirt and was holding two small suitcases. “I’m taking you at your word that Kelsey and I will be more of a help than a hindrance,” Jenna said as she placed the suitcases on the floor. “I know things must be tough for you right now, and I don’t want to add any more pressure.”
“I’m just trying to wrap my head around what happened last night. What John Anderson said and what it might mean. How it might play out. I just want to keep Evan safe.”
Jenna nodded. “The sheriff’s department can help you in that regard, ideally by protecting Evan and capturing Khalid. I believe I can help keep her grounded so Khalid doesn’t do more emotional damage than he’s already done.”
Tate’s throat tightened, and for a moment, all she could do was smile gratefully. “That may be even more important as this plays out. So thank you.”
Nick moved past them as he took the luggage up to the guest room while Jenna followed Tate into the kitchen and helped mix a pitcher of fresh ice tea. When it was ready, they carried the tea and a tray with glasses out to the deck where they joined Nick and sat down to wait.
A quick glance at her watch told her the sheriff was due at any moment, and as she listened to the ocean sigh, Tate found herself wishing Evan would hurry back. She could feel her anxiety ratchet up a few notches, and she shivered against a sudden gust of wind. Picking up a sweatshirt Evan had left on the deck, she wrapped it tightly around her shoulders although she wasn’t actually cold.
“She’ll be fine,” Jenna said sympathetically. “Trust me. Kelsey connected with Evan on some fundamental level when they met in Germany and she’s not about to let anything happen to her.”
“Neither will Alex,” Nick added. “No matter how much time has passed, he still feels responsible. So he’s not about to stand by and let her get hurt again.”
Some of the intensity Tate had been feeling abated as she focused on what Nick was saying. “Evan would be horrified to think Alex still feels that way.”
Nick shrugged and grinned wryly at Jenna. “Do you offer a family discount plan?”
*
The return loop was easier. Running downhill with the wind at their back always was. They had just made the downward turn to rejoin the main trail when Evan stopped abruptly.
“What the hell—” Alex said as he stumbled into her. He took two additional steps forward before Evan grabbed him by the arm and halted his progress. “What is that?”
“Don’t touch it,” Evan replied, her voice tight and low as she bent over and pulled out her gun from the ankle holster she was wearing.
“And what the hell is that?” Alex repeated, pointing at the gleaming weapon in her hand.
“Hush, Alex.” Holding the gun firmly in both hands, Evan looked around cautiously but could see no one. Nothing seemed untoward—other than the hilt of a knife planted in the middle of the gravel trail a few feet in front of them.
“I’m pretty sure that wasn’t there when we came by a little while ago,” Kelsey said softly. “Do you think he’s still nearby watching us?”
“I’m not sure.” Bile rose in her throat, and Evan broke off abruptly as she tried to gather her thoughts. She looked around and listened for a moment longer, but there was nothing to indicate Khalid was close. The birds still sang, the gulls still circled overhead, and as near as she could tell, the bushes on the side of the trail didn’t appear to have been disturbed. Nothing looked as if someone had pushed through in an effort to quickly get off the trail.
She lowered her weapon, then took a couple of steps forward and pulled out the knife staked into the ground. It was lethal looking, sharpened to a finely honed edge, its finish marred with brownish stains.
“If we had those stains tested, what odds would you give me that they would match your blood type?” Kelsey asked.
Evan could only shrug as she returned her gun to its holster. “Hard to say. The knife looks about right. For all I know it could be the same one he used on me, but that doesn’t mean anything. He wants me to think it’s the same one for the same reason he made sure it has what look like bloodstains.”
“Why’s that?”
“To frighten me.”
“Is it working?”
“Oh yeah.”
Alex nodded glumly. “Me too.”
“I guess it’s unanimous,” Kelsey added softly.
*
He watched from a short distance and couldn’t help himself. He laughed. And although he knew he was taking an unnecessary risk, he slipped through the dense grove of trees, creeping closer through the underbrush until he could see her clearly.
Only then did he stop, holding his breath as he listened.
Good. He wanted her afraid.
For an instant, the memory of his first time cutting her filled his mind. He remembered watching her blood seep, and seeing both pain and fear in her eyes. But apart from a strangled sound at the back of her throat, she’d said nothing, choosing instead to hold herself rigid. Fighting the pain even as the full effect of his handiwork slowly took effect. Denying him the pleasure of hearing her cry out.
The memory still had the ability to make him angry and he pushed it away, satisfied with knowing he could take her right now. Neither her brother nor the woman with them appeared to be armed, and he was a very good shot.
He knew he could take them both out quickly. The second one would be dead before the first even hit the ground. Before the commander had time to reach for the gun in her ankle holster.
&
nbsp; But not just yet.
Soon, he promised. Soon he would have her again, and this time, she would not deny him. He would hear her pain. And as he looked into her eyes, he would know the instant she realized she was his. His creation. His to control.
Even then he would not stop. Not until the moment when she begged him for release. Only then would he finish it.
Chapter Thirty-one
Sheriff Tom Foley turned out to be a broad-shouldered, solidly built man with a strong jaw and dark curly hair, cropped short. His square face hinted at a tough attitude while his clear, steady eyes appeared to miss nothing. He was also probably younger than he looked, possibly in his midforties, but there was a competent assurance about him that penetrated the fear that had saturated Tate since meeting John Anderson the previous evening.
The two deputies who had accompanied him were younger, one a beefy looking man with a ruddy complexion, the other a slim, dark-haired woman. Both looked to be in their late twenties and were dressed in identical sharply pressed uniforms. They followed their boss onto the deck and maintained a respectful distance.
But the sheriff seemed to have no reservations and exhibited no concern of running afoul of the Kane family influence. When Evan reappeared, fresh from her shower with her hair still dripping onto her shoulders, he allowed her only the space of two deep breaths before he cleared his throat and began asking questions.
Alex had described the sheriff as a straight shooter. But while Alex’s opinion served to reassure her, the sheriff’s approach bothered Tate almost from the start. He stood too close, barely giving Evan room to breathe. And the unsmiling expression on his face never changed.
Instinctively, Tate found herself edging closer, caught between frustration and anxiety, ready to end the interview at a moment’s notice. “Evan—”