Justice Undercover

by Connie Queen

  Luke and Kylie exchanged looks. Without saying a word, understanding passed between them. Unless he’d somehow escaped, those last shots were aimed at Tommy.

  “Keep moving. We can talk later.”

  Braden puckered his lip. “Bad man.”

  “It’s okay, little buddy. Uncle Luke’s got you. We’re going for a walk.” A barbwire fence stretched across their path, the trees and brush so thick it’d be impossible to cross.

  A noise sounded somewhere behind them. Kylie glanced back over her shoulder. Only green and trees, with a bit of light. She was thankful the rain had stopped, but the slick trail would make it easy to fall. They had to get these kids out of here. This was no place for a shoot-out.

  Luke headed to the right along the fence. As he hiked, he tried calling Jax again.

  “No answer?”

  He shook his head. “No bars.”

  She let out a frustrated sigh. “Are you familiar with the area?”

  “A little. I went camping here when I was thirteen or fourteen. Megan would’ve been eight or nine. Barbecue type of thing with the family, but we had an RV. A couple of my friends stayed in the trailer, but it was in much better shape then. We played capture the flag in the trees. If I remember correctly, there’s a barn out here.”

  “How did Tommy know about this place?” Kylie stepped across a fallen log and Luke put his hand on the back of her arm to help.

  “I don’t know, unless Megan told him about it. I don’t even know who owns the land.”

  “Do you think we can go back to your truck now? It’s starting to get dark.”

  “I’d rather not until Jax arrives. Fisher and Goodlow might be gone, or they may be scouring the woods for us.” Luke tapped her shoulder. “Right there. Come on.”

  He led the way to a small unpainted barn covered in ivy and briars. A rusty tractor sat off to the side and the wooden cattle pens had been overrun with trees.

  They walked underneath the shed.

  Kylie glanced up at the wooden rafters that held up the tin roof. “You sure it’s safe?”

  “It’s probably been standing eighty years. I don’t see it falling down today. Watch for snakes.”

  “Great. Thanks. Just what I needed to worry about.” She examined the inside of the barn. Old hay littered the wooden floor and dark shadows made it near impossible to see.

  “At least it’s dry.” Luke’s eyebrows lifted. “I’ve been wet enough for one day.”

  “You can say that again. I really don’t want to find out if anything lives here.” She glanced around, glad no other eyes were staring back.

  “Down.” Braden squirmed.

  Luke put him on the ground. “Stay close, little man.”

  “Okay, Unca Luke.”

  Kylie’s arm was about to fall off. She set Zoe at her feet, but the little girl continued to cling to her leg. Kylie shook her arm trying to get the feeling back.

  “I’ll be right back.” Luke peered outside and then disappeared with the money case.

  He didn’t have to explain. She knew he was going to check things out. Delayed relief flooded her. She was so glad they’d gotten the kids back. She didn’t know how she could ever forgive herself if harm had come to Zoe and Braden.

  She bent down on her knees in the hay. She preferred the barn to the smelly trailer house. “You kids were so brave. I’m proud of you.”

  Zoe wrapped her arms around Kylie’s neck. “Ky-ee. Don’t go.”

  “I’m not going to leave you, baby.” Tears blurred her vision. So much for not falling in love with these two. How could she not? They were precious as could be. But what about after this was over and she went back to her family and old life? How much upheaval could the twins survive?

  “Ah, yaw.” Braden did a karate chop through the air.

  Kylie rubbed his head and laughed. “Someone’s been watching cartoons.”

  “Where Unca Luke?” Braden asked, looking at the doorway his uncle had exited.

  “He’ll be back.” Kylie stood and stepped over to the opening and glanced out. The sun had almost set and the cool winds from the storm were replaced with sticky humidity. She didn’t want to stay out here tonight, but she’d do whatever she had to do to keep these two from danger. What if Luke didn’t come back? Should she stay here for the night or try to make it back to Luke’s truck?

  With the kids’ attention on the few old hay bales in the corner, she reached in her holster and checked her gun. Even though she hadn’t removed any bullets or shot the gun, she felt better seeing the clip full and ready. She returned it to her ankle holster.

  Her stomach growled. She had fed the kids cheese crackers from an unopened package on the counter in the kitchen. The trailer was dirty, but the snacks looked fresh. Now she wished she would’ve eaten something, too. This could turn out to be a long night.

  Footsteps outside had her looking up, her hand on the butt of her gun.

  “Looks like we’ve lost them.” Luke stepped inside with the case at his side and came to stand next to her. He whispered where only she could hear. “We’re safe for now, but with several hundred thousand dollars in our care, Fisher and Goodlow won’t give up. They’ll be coming for us.”

  THIRTEEN

  Luke noticed Kylie chewing on her lip, and he instantly regretted his statement. What was he thinking? Even though she used to be in law enforcement, that shouldn’t stop him from using tact. “We’re going to get out of this...” Babe. He almost called her babe.

  His intentions were the last thing she needed to worry about. Must be the intense emotional stress of the situation causing him to act out of character.

  She glanced at the case. “Why did you take that with you? Afraid I might help myself to a little bit?”

  He shook his head at her sarcasm and laid the case against the shed wall. “Nope. A little insurance in case Fisher and Goodlow find us. I put the money under the hood of that old tractor.”

  “They won’t be happy if they learn we don’t have the money on us. Hope they’re patient and not trigger-happy.”

  “Not much choice. After Tommy stole the money, he put half in the twins’ room—I assume in the Lego container you found—and the other half of the cash at the quarry. He told me he stashed what he had left of the money in a foam chest in the shed behind the trailer. If Fisher and Goodlow find the money, there won’t be any reason to keep us alive.”

  Kylie rolled from her knees to sit in the hay and rested her elbows on her thighs. “Do you think we should’ve left the case with the money so they could take it and go? Law enforcement could always pick them up later.”

  “I considered that. But just because they have the money doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try to kill us before they left. That’s a chance I’m not willing to take with Zoe and Braden.” Luke needed backup. What was delaying Jax? Luke tried calling him again, but still no reception. A number of things could’ve delayed him.

  As if Kylie read his thoughts, she asked, “If Jax doesn’t show, are we going to stay here for the night? Or keep moving?”

  “Stay here until I have backup.” He returned to the doorway and stared out, searching out the horizon. The sun had set, and the stars shone bright. Quite a contrast to the earlier storm. Besides crickets and frogs, silence filled the night. Luke would like to go back to the trailer to see if Fisher and Goodlow were still there, but he didn’t want to leave Kylie and the kids alone.

  “Won’t Jax be walking into a trap? Do you need to warn him?”

  Luke shook his head. “O’Neill will be looking for trouble. He’s probably the best Ranger in the department.”

  “I envy you.”

  Where did that come from? Luke waited for her to explain.

  “Even though I’d been with the Marshals for six years, I hadn’t developed deep relationships.” She picked up a p
iece of straw and peeled it into pieces. “At first, I blamed the lack of camaraderie on me being the only female in our division, but maybe it’s because they didn’t trust me to do my job.”

  “I find that difficult to believe. You seem competent to me. I’d take you as my partner any day of the week.”

  “Thanks, Luke. That means a lot coming from you.”

  He watched as crimson crept up her face. Her skin was soft and touchable. The way she wore her confidence, he’d never guess Kylie needed assurance. How could he be so blind? Of course, she doubted her ability just as he had questioned his competence after he lost his own sister to a killer. “What about the Coffey family? Who was helping you protect them?”

  “No one that morning, only me. A new deputy, Chase Barclay, had been with us at first, getting the family settled. Then after a couple of days, he was assigned to another case. I thought he’d be brought back the week of the trial, but he wasn’t. I’m sure you know sometimes the departments are stretched thin.”

  “I’d think that was an important case.”

  She tilted her head to the side and sneered. “You would think so, wouldn’t you? The Coffey family wasn’t considered to be in a high level of danger. Hence, Barclay being assigned elsewhere.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Hal had been accused of money laundering, not being a drug lord and a known killer. It wasn’t until after the explosion and killing of my witness that even I believed the threat great. I didn’t know much about the case before the explosion because my job was to protect the witnesses, not investigate Hal.”

  “I’m sure your boss didn’t take that too well after the fact. Probably takes all cases more serious now.”

  “The assistant director of the US Marshals, Seth Wheeler, was my superior. I researched, and from what I could find, he wasn’t reprimanded. But then again, that kind of stuff can be kept secret.”

  “Hindsight is twenty-twenty.”

  “True. Do you finally believe Hal is the mastermind behind all the attacks? The murders of the Coffeys and Megan? Do you understand why I felt the need to go undercover?”

  That uncomfortable feeling of betrayal raised its ugly head like a sucker punch to the jaw. “I understand. Am I happy you didn’t confide in me? No, but I understand.”

  “But if it had turned out Hal had nothing to do with Megan’s death, I would’ve sacrificed my identity for nothing.” She looked at him with determination. “Makes me wonder how big his operation is and what other crimes he’s committed.”

  “I’m certain it will take a while to sort out his activities.” Luke still had a difficult time wrapping his head around the implications. “The man must have accomplices, too. Thugs from out of town or more businessmen? I’d hate to learn of even more of our local townspeople being involved.”

  “Good question. He couldn’t get by without other people covering for him.”

  Braden stomped on top of a hay bale and it suddenly gave way. He fell in the soft straw on the barn floor.

  Luke sighed. “Time these kids get some sleep while everything is quiet.”

  “Come here, baby,” Kylie said to Zoe. His niece crashed beside Kylie’s legs and yawned. Kylie drew her face against her chest. “Time to go to sleep.”

  Unlike Zoe, Braden climbed on and jumped off the hay bale again.

  “Braden reminds me of my younger brother, Ben, when he was that age.” Kylie smiled but stared off like she was a mile away. “Ben never sat still and fought naps like it was the worst fate ever. He’d pass out in the middle of the living-room floor, or wherever he happened to be playing, when he finally ran out of fumes.”

  He hadn’t had time to process how much she must’ve been missing her family. “Earlier when you told me your true identity, you mentioned your mom was ill.”

  She nodded and glanced away. “Cancer. She has surgery in a couple of weeks. Pretty serious from what I understand.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head. “My biggest fear is that Mom would die never knowing I was alive.”

  He detected the raw emotion in her voice. “I didn’t even consider what that must be like for you.”

  “You want to know my biggest regret?” She turned and looked straight at him, her eyes glistening with moisture. “My mom is a simple woman and never has asked for much. When my dad was alive she always wanted them to take a trip to Niagara Falls. Ride the railways. But he died before they ever got that chance. After his death, I promised her that I would take her to New York, just Mom and me. I thought I had plenty of time, so I put it off. Then I faked my own death.” Her lip trembled. “I don’t even know if she’ll make it through the surgery.”

  “Hey.” He’d never been good in these situations and felt like anything he said would be inadequate. “We’ll put Hal behind bars and get you back to your family in plenty of time for your mom’s surgery. Promise.”

  She gave him a slight smile.

  Speaking of putting their man in jail, Luke needed to check things out again. “Time to settle down.” He scooped up Braden and gently shoved his head against his shoulder.

  “I’ve never been able to get Braden to calm down that fast.”

  “I know kids.” He poked himself in the chest with his thumb.

  “Yeah. Right.”

  He laughed. Braden reared his head back and looked at him, smiled and then laid his head down. Luke’s heart did a little somersault at the feel of the boy in his arms, as he sat beside Kylie in the hay. Before she came along, he’d been struggling with his niece and nephew. Survival had been the main goal. Get the kids fed, changed and bathed with the least amount of crying. After the second time of loading the twins up late at night to make a diaper run, he’d finally bought five humongous boxes at a warehouse store. Yeah, he knew he needed to do better. He’d always figured he’d have children someday but had shoved the idea way off in the future since he wasn’t married.

  Zoe’s breathing evened out as she fell asleep in his nanny’s arms. Peaceful. Now he couldn’t imagine his life without the twins. They made him long for something he didn’t realize he was missing.

  He was a better person with Kylie by his side. They made a good team. And a part of him dreaded when this was over and she went back to her old life.

  * * *

  Kylie thought the Ranger needed to laugh more often. She’d met a lot of handsome men in her life, but Luke... Well, he made her want to lie on the couch with her head on his shoulder while eating popcorn and watching television. Stop stargazing at him, she chided herself.

  Luke and Braden really were good together. Braden could do a lot worse than have Luke for a dad. Sadness came on unexpectedly. What had happened to Tommy? Kylie wanted to see what was going on out there. Had the two men left? Were they searching for them this very minute? It was almost in her to suggest Luke go find out while she watched the twins, but the thought of Luke being overtaken and the men finding her alone with the kids was simply too big a chance.

  In a few minutes, the twins were asleep, Zoe dozing on Kylie and Braden passed out on Luke. “They’re really sweet kids.”

  The Ranger glanced at Zoe in her arms. “I know. Megan was a good mom. It’s been hard on the kids being shuffled around.”

  “You’re doing a good job, Luke. I wish I would’ve known your sister.”

  He smiled. “You would’ve liked each other. She was stubborn, much like you.” He held up a hand. “I mean that as a compliment. When you want something, you go for it. I’m glad you didn’t keep the twins in the trailer. I’m not sure I could’ve defended you there.”

  “I was scared to death. After losing Lori Coffey and her two kids, I should’ve known better than to leave the kids alone at your parents. I should’ve stayed at the house with them.”

  He tilted his head. “I’m pretty sure if you hadn’t come looking for me, our attacker would’ve ki
lled me.”

  “Maybe.” She stared into her lap. “But I shouldn’t have taken the chance. Zoe and Braden are depending on me. I won’t leave them alone again.”

  His hand reached and touched her knee, sending electricity throughout her entire being. “The Coffey family wasn’t your fault. Someone blew up the safe house. Alcott, or someone else—doesn’t matter. You did your best.”

  “My best wasn’t good enough.” She looked up into his dark eyes, waves of emotion dancing there. Concern. Care. How long had it been since someone looked at her that way? Maybe never.

  “That’s the thing about being in law enforcement. You can’t save them all. If it didn’t hurt, then you wouldn’t be good at your job.” His fingers found her hand and gave her a squeeze. “I can see you care, Kylie. You’re a good officer.”

  Not anymore, but she didn’t say the words out loud. She didn’t want to come across as seeking reassurance. The truth was, Luke’s words meant the world to her. That family might be alive today if she could have only sensed the danger. Should she have checked out the premises more often? How long did it take for Hal to set up the explosives? He could’ve been at the house thirty minutes or longer watching for them, and she’d never seen him.

  “Thank you.” The warmth of his hand felt good. Made her not feel alone. Without her family being near, she’d desperately missed close interaction. They were a touchy-feely group of people, especially her mom.

  Luke climbed to his feet and laid Braden in the hay beside her. “With the kids asleep, I’m going to keep watch outside. If those men are looking for us, the barn would draw their attention. Try to get some sleep.”

  “Okay.” Her hand remained cool except where his warm touch still lingered. Kylie didn’t dare consider what was happening between the two of them. Consistent with the last three years, she didn’t have time to form relationships. She put Zoe next to Braden, extracted her gun from her holster and looked out the open doorway.

  Trees outside the barn blocked out any moonlight, black shadows heavy and all consuming. She didn’t see Luke, but she could feel him. Strange. She hadn’t known him all that long. Not wanting to drive herself crazy with worry, she went back and sat by the twins. If anything happened, she wanted them as close to her as possible.