by Connie Queen
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She knew the chances had been slim, but the news still saddened her.
He straightened. “Alcott has a property on the southwest side of town in his wife’s name. We’re on our way with an arrest warrant for Megan’s murder.”
“You have enough evidence?” She didn’t want to throw doubt on the good news, but she understood how easy it was for criminals to get off if the proof wasn’t solid.
“Tommy gave us what we needed.”
Luke’s tight smile told her he’d found something he hadn’t shared with her. “I want to go with you.” Even as the words came out of her mouth, she knew the kids would need more protection. Look what had happened yesterday. Her heart ripped into two different directions.
He glanced at his folks and then nodded his head toward the door. Kylie followed him out to his truck. He placed his hands on her biceps and rubbed gently up and down. “I want you to stay here. Please. You know better than anyone that Hal is a dangerous man. I don’t want you anywhere near him. I believe the twins are safe, but I’d feel much better if you and my family were all here together. We don’t need a repeat of yesterday.”
She stared into his dark eyes, emotions dancing. “I’ve waited for this moment for over three years, Luke. I need to see him brought down. The kidnappers are no longer a threat.”
Disappointment, and maybe something else, crossed his face. Fear? “I won’t stop you. You’re good at your job. You’ve proven that over and over. I worry about you and my family’s safety.”
He’d lost so much already. Kylie could practically read his thoughts. He didn’t want to lose her. “I—”
He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. “Stay.” She started to pull away, but his arms encircled her, pulling her against him. His lips pressed against her mouth, sweet yet urgent. Every bit of emotion was thrown in that one kiss. “Stay, Kylie.”
Every nerve in her body tingled uncontrollably. Her breath was taken away. Against her will, her voice shook, and she whispered, “Luke, I’ll stay with the twins. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
A slow smile enveloped his face. “I promise.” He opened his truck door and started to get in, but then he stopped, turned and yanked her against him. His voice hoarse, he said, “I want more of that.”
He planted another kiss on her lips, and Kylie melted into his arms. When he pulled away once more, he stared deeply into her eyes. “We need to talk when I get back.”
A smile spread across her moist lips. She still felt his touch burning as she watched him leave down the driveway. She waited until the gate closed before going back into the house.
Zoe was playing on the floor with a rag doll and Braden stood on the couch. He jumped up and down and then leaped onto the leather chair.
“Braden Michael, don’t jump on the furniture.” Dottie quickly crossed the room to his side.
Kylie breathed a sigh of relief. It was almost over. There’d be a trial and all, but today was the day. Would she really be able to see her family in the next twenty-four hours? Surreal. She had the itch to call her sister right now and tell them the good news. Get them prepared. Her mom, sisters and brothers. Kylie had a niece she’d never met before—little Gracie they called her.
She plopped down on the couch happy to have a break from it all. Lord, please put Your protective hand over Luke and Jax as they go to arrest Hal Alcott. I’m ready to see my family.
With the prayer said, a big weight lifted from her shoulders. Never again would she take family for granted. A vision of Luke came to her mind. The longing in his eyes. The kiss.
An image of Hal Alcott flashed. The rising smoke from the explosion. The satisfied smirk on his face. Chills formed on her arms. Yes, God, please be with him.
* * *
Luke eased off the accelerator again. Known for being the patient Texas Ranger, he struggled to keep his speed down. Adrenaline wouldn’t let him alone this time—too much was at stake. He was ready for this case to be closed. To get back to his family, the twins. And yes, to Kylie.
The kiss kept replaying through his mind. He didn’t know what her plans were when Alcott was safely behind bars, but he hoped to be a part of her life.
He called Jax again. His partner was waiting at the gas station on the corner, a couple of miles from Alcott’s country home. A few minutes later, he pulled into the lot. Sergeant Jamison and three of his officers were also waiting. They all got out of the vehicles and went over the plan one more time. The arrest needed to go off without a hitch.
Plan in place, they all pulled out in a line. Jax and Luke led, the others hung back. The name of the farm was in big metal letters—Peaceful Valley. As he came up to the tree-lined gate, colorful flowers and shrubbery dotted the drive. A large lake stood to the right in the valley and a smattering of large pecan trees completed the scene. A couple of horses and a small herd of longhorns lazily grazed on the lush grass.
For a second, doubt crept in. Hal Alcott appeared to be a successful Texas landowner. Living the American dream. But it was all a ruse, Luke knew. Success on the back of crime. Prosperous because of the mistreatment and intimidation of others.
As he pulled up to the stone home trimmed in cedar, he spotted a Lexus parked in front of the garage, the trunk open. He and Jax got out at the same time and exchanged glances.
Luke nodded at the garage. They hoped to apprehend Hal with no injuries or trouble, but prepared for the worst. Rocky Creek police officers stopped a little farther back. Officer White had been instructed to take a back entrance to the property, and Luke detected the glint of his bumper as he drove through the pasture behind the home.
As Luke approached with his gun on his belt but the safety strap off, Hal came out of the garage, a suitcase in his hand. The man did a double take and his eyes widened. “Luke?” His voice was high-pitched. “What are you doing here?”
Luke kept his expression passive. “Hal, I need to talk with you.”
His gaze went to Jax and the badge on his chest. “You’re that other Texas Ranger. We met the other day. What is this?”
“I have an arrest warrant for the murder of Megan Doane.” Luke held the paper out to him, but Alcott didn’t take it.
Shock registered as Luke read him his Miranda rights. He glanced over Luke’s shoulder, apparently seeing the police cruisers. “I’ll need to speak with my lawyer.”
“You have that right.”
Alcott started to put the suitcase in the trunk.
“You need to put that down. We also have a search warrant.”
“Now see here. Let me see that warrant.”
Luke handed it to him. Jax silently stood a couple of feet behind him, off to his left. The search warrant covered the house, barn and vehicles.
Alcott’s face burned red. “I demand you explain this.”
“The murder of Megan Doane and, possibly, Lori Coffey and her two children.”
“Hold on. You’re making a big mistake.” With a trembling hand, he quickly put in a call to his lawyer while the officers fanned out and started going through his things.
After Alcott hung up, he said, “You know I wouldn’t hurt your sister. I didn’t even know her.”
Luke remained neutral, trying not to show emotion to the man’s words. Hal had always been fit and well-dressed. He could imagine most women found the businessman attractive. But today, Alcott aged ten years, the white in his hair prominent and disheveled, his shirt wrinkled and untucked. “I appreciate that.”
“I have never killed anyone in my life. That’s ridiculous. Not Megan, or Lori and her kids. This is a far stretch from money laundering, which I was exonerated of, by the way. You’re wasting my time.”
“Tommy Doane worked for you. We believe he embezzled more than a million dollars from you. You killed Megan to try to persuade Tommy to hand over the money. When that didn�
�t work, you tried to kidnap Tommy’s twin kids.”
“That’s ridiculous. No jury will ever believe that contrived story. Do you really think the town of Rocky Creek will convict their favorite Sunday-school teacher? The man who has provided beautiful homes to middle-class families at fair prices. I’ve donated to more charity events than any other citizen in the town’s history.” The man gained confidence the longer he talked. “I’m sorry about your sister, Dryden, but you won’t find one shred of evidence to back up your accusations.”
“We have a video of you with Megan tied up. We also have a witness that places you at the scene of the Coffey murders.”
He sighed like that was a silly claim, but there was a slight change in his eyes. “What witness?”
Luke didn’t have to explain the evidence they had against Alcott, but it was clear the man had been caught off guard and was willing to talk. Sometimes the most dangerous criminals sang like canaries when they were cornered. “Deputy United States Marshal Melody Garner places you at the scene.”
“Impossible.” Hal’s face drained of color. “She’s dead.”
Luke shook his head and kept his tone light. “Oh, no, Hal. She’s given her statement to the police.”
Luke noted Jax had his gun in his hand and ready.
“Melody Garner’s dead,” Alcott repeated.
“Not hardly. She’s alive and well and naming you as the killer.”
Confusion etched Alcott’s expression, his confidence all but gone. Then, as if something crossed his mind, he smiled. “I didn’t kill the Coffey family, and I don’t care what the marshal, if she’s alive, claims she saw.”
An officer came from around the back of the house. “He’s been burning papers in his barbecue pit.”
Luke looked back at him. “You can’t get rid of the evidence.”
Hal’s normal suave appearance vanished. An old man stood in his place. “I didn’t kill anyone. I’ve never personally killed anyone in my life and that’s a promise. You know me better than that, Dryden. I know your folks. Remember when they had me and Sylvia over for that cancer fund-raiser? Wasn’t that your cousin’s benefit?”
“It was, but that doesn’t make any difference now. You can’t do enough good to make up for the crimes you’ve committed. It doesn’t work that way.” Luke’s impatience grew. Alcott couldn’t shake his confidence that he had the right man. They needed to bring the man in and finish questioning him.
“I didn’t kill the Coffey family.” A sneer crossed his lips. “I’m afraid it was someone a little closer to home on this one, Ranger.”
“I don’t believe that, Hal. The witness places you—”
“I admit it—I was there at the scene after the explosion. But I didn’t blow up the safe house. I came there to stop the killings because children shouldn’t be murdered because of their parents. It was one of the marshals.”
Luke stared at the man, afraid to speak for his own doubt might be detected.
“Assistant director of United States Marshals to be exact.” Alcott smirked. “Seth Wheeler is your killer.”
SIXTEEN
Kylie chewed on her lip as she waited to hear back from Luke. Several scenarios ran through her mind at a hundred miles per hour. Imagining Hal having a supply of guns and a hitman going ballistic and blowing Luke and his team away, to Hal using his charisma to convince law enforcement she had concocted the story so she wouldn’t be blamed for the Coffey family’s demise. She’d also pictured him peacefully being arrested and admitting to the killings.
Patience was not her strong point.
Dottie sat on the couch with the twins while they watched a popular old children’s movie that Kylie had grown up watching. Sam Dryden stood in the kitchen staring out the window. A .357 Magnum sat on top of the refrigerator, out of the kids’ reach. Kylie had seen Sam check the chamber right after Luke left. No doubt he was determined that no one was going to kidnap these kids ever again.
Her own Glock was secured in her ankle holster under her pant leg.
She got up from the recliner for the fifth time and went into the kitchen, adrenaline running rampant. A bowl of M&Ms sat on the counter, and she grabbed a handful. She ate them without even tasting them. A two-to three-mile run would do her good right about now. But since that was out of the question, she continued to pace through the house.
Her iPad sat on her bed and she wanted to look at the pictures of her family on Facebook again. Her mom’s surgery was scheduled in two weeks. Would Kylie’s sudden reappearance from the dead be too much for her mom’s health? Would the surprise actually add to her issues?
As soon as Kylie got the okay from Luke, she’d call her oldest sister. Tina would let her know whether to let them know she had been rogue undercover for the last three years or wait until Mom was out of the woods.
Searching the internet could wait for another thirty minutes. Or an hour. Or three or four hours, whatever it took to arrest Hal. Luke had gone out early this morning and purchased her another phone. She checked the volume to make certain it was turned up so she wouldn’t miss his call.
As she roamed back to the kitchen, a light flashed across the window. She leaned over the sink to see around Sam. A white Buick pulled to the gate.
“I don’t recognize that vehicle.” Sam narrowed his gaze.
Kylie watched and remained quiet, momentarily noticing there was something familiar about the driver. As the vehicle pulled to a stop, she saw the US Marshal emblem on the door. Why would one of the marshals be here?
“What is it?” Dottie stood up, leaving the twins on the couch. Kylie stepped back and gave the woman room.
“A car.”
Dottie shook her head. “Do you think they could mean trouble?”
“Don’t know,” Sam mumbled. “And I only see one person. Looks like the US Marshals.” He glanced at Kylie.
A man got out and stood at the gate, his stance familiar. He wore a pair of tan pants and a light jacket over a navy pullover shirt, almost like...
“Hold on.” Kylie’s stomach fluttered as she leaned closer for a better look.
“Do you know him?” Sam asked.
“That’s Seth Wheeler. The assistant director of US Marshals.” What was he doing here? Kylie hadn’t called him. Maybe one of the Texas Rangers had. But why?
“A US Marshal?”
Kylie nodded. “Did Luke tell you I used to work for the Marshals?”
“I surmised something was going on, but Luke didn’t say.” Sam looked at her. “That’s quite an accomplishment to put on your résumé for a nanny.”
Kylie caught the subtle sarcasm.
Dottie asked, “Are you going to let him in, Sam? He’s an officer.”
Sam looked at Kylie, his eyebrows raised in question.
She and Luke had discussed the probability of a mole being in the US Marshals, and Wheeler may’ve learned something about the Coffey murders. She carefully weighed her options. Wheeler was alone and she was armed. Her boss had been an honest lawman for over twenty years and had been like a dad after she had lost her own father. “Let him in.”
Sam released the automatic gate, and she watched the government-issued car pull down the drive and stop in front of the house. Kylie went out to greet her old boss. “Marshal Wheeler, what are you doing here?”
“It’s good to see you, Garner. Or should I call you Kylie Stone?”
She stared at him a moment, not certain if there was animosity in his tone or just fun. Sarcasm wasn’t unknown to her old boss. “Either is fine. Actually, it’s been so long since anyone called me Melody Garner. It’s almost foreign.”
Before they stepped in the door, he said, “Being you kept your identity a secret for over three years, I’d say we taught you well.”
“You certainly did. But you didn’t answer my question, sir. What are you doin
g here? How did you know where I was?”
A strained smile crossed his lips. The older man hadn’t changed a bit, except his hair was a little more gray and she detected an extra wrinkle or two. Seeing someone from her past was surreal. She was on the verge of coming out of hiding and was more than ready to live again. Her old boss wasn’t used to being questioned, and Kylie was uncomfortable being forward, but she couldn’t let the issue slide.
His eyes glistened, and this time his smile looked like the old Wheeler. “Your sister Tina called me.”
“My sister?”
He nodded. “She thought she saw you on the news the other night. Apparently, she called local law enforcement and when they wouldn’t take her seriously, she called our department. Took a day for me to get the message.” He cocked his head. “I was pretty shocked when I viewed the video of the dollar store. I had to come see for myself if it was really you. We have some things to discuss. As you can imagine, I have plenty of questions about the incident with the Coffey family.”
“Come on in.” She couldn’t wait to tell what she had witnessed and to get to the bottom of who was the mole. If there was a mole.
Sam and Dottie both waited in the kitchen for them to enter.
Kylie introduced them, and Luke’s parents seemed to relax as the Marshal shook their hands.
Dottie sent him a warm smile. “Won’t you have a seat at the table? I’m afraid the twins might crawl all over you if you sit in the living room.”
“Thank you, but I enjoy kids. Especially since my wife and I became grandparents. We have three little grandkids of our own. Two boys and a girl between the ages of six months and four years.” The man shrugged out of his jacket and laid it under the coffee table, and then he settled on the couch. “Could I trouble you for a cup of coffee?”
Braden grinned at Kylie’s old boss and marched on the cushions next to him.
“Of course.” Dottie went to get Wheeler some, but added, “Braden, you need to sit down on the couch.”
Zoe stared at him, and after a second, climbed down and ran to Kylie.