by Rebecca Deel
“Lock down the attitude and aggression, Riley,” Nate said. “Labs are friendly, but Spenser’s been traumatized. He sees Stella as a friend and you as a threat. The way I feel about you, if Spenser wanted a bite of you, I’d let him.”
“Drop your voices,” Cal said. “Kelly’s girlfriend is in the kitchen. She doesn’t need to deal with more trauma than she already is. She’s depending on us to find her boyfriend’s killer, not fight among ourselves.”
“You don’t have jurisdiction on this case,” Riley said.
“Was the girlfriend here when Kelly was shot?” Jordan asked.
“He missed their late dinner date. She stopped to check on him.”
“What’s the story, Taylor?”
“Kelly asked Stella to come by. He said he had proof she was framed for Barnes’s murder. When she and Nate arrived, he was dead.”
“You believed them?” Riley sneered. “No wonder you’re a two-bit homicide detective. You’d never make it in federal law enforcement.”
Stella’s eyes widened at the insult. Riley must not have researched the homicide detective if he didn’t know Cal used to be a Navy SEAL. She didn’t understand how he was promoted to deputy director if he let basic research slide.
Cal’s eyes narrowed. “Stella, give him your phone, please. Look at the text and time of the message he sent. I confirmed with Fortress Security’s CEO, Brent Maddox, that Nate and Stella were in the garage in full view of security cameras at the time this text was sent. You cannot pin this murder on either Nate or Stella.”
Riley snatched the phone from her outstretched hand. “How do I know you didn’t delete other messages from your account?”
“You don’t. Sprint is my carrier. Contact them and ask for the transcripts.”
“I’m confiscating your phone.”
“Not before you give me a receipt. I expect you to return my phone undamaged, Riley, or the marshal service will be purchasing me a new one. I have a very expensive new phone picked out I’ve been wanting.”
He shoved the phone into his pocket and strode from the house.
“Do you have proof of your whereabouts at the time of the murder?” Jordan demanded of Stella. “Something besides your word or the word of Maddox who is biased in Armstrong’s favor.”
“The security footage at Fortress is time-and-date stamped.”
“How do you know the exact time of death, Marshal Grayson?”
“Kelly’s watch broke when he fell to the floor,” Cal said before Stella could answer. “I checked the time. He was killed right after he sent the text.”
“Convenient.” The FBI agent’s cold gaze shifted to Nate. “You positive one of your friends hasn’t been indulging in activity off the books?”
“Look around, Jordan. No evidence my team was here or involved in the marshal’s death.”
“Josh Cahill and his men are a highly-trained group of thugs. All of you are capable of murder. I wouldn’t expect evidence. Were they caught on camera as well? Convenient if they were. A tech wizard at Fortress could finesse the security footage.”
“You have no reason to suspect my teammates. None of us had met Pete Kelly. Why would one of us kill him?”
The fed’s gaze slid to Stella. “To protect her. After all, she had the bad taste to be involved with you. Guess she doesn’t mind being with a violent man willing to sell out for a price.”
Nate stiffened.
Jordan’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
If her boyfriend physically lashed out at the FBI agent, he could take him down in a heartbeat. And then Jordan would arrest him and throw him in jail for assaulting a federal officer. Not on her watch. She laid her hand on top of Nate’s fist.
When he finally broke the staring contest with Jordan, he glanced at her and gave a slight nod. Good. At least he was still thinking with a clear head. She shouldn’t have doubted his control. The man had been in Special Forces for years. He had control in spades.
Riley returned and shoved a receipt into her hands. “Where’s Natalie?”
“I don’t know.” And that was the truth. She wasn’t sure where Natalie and her boyfriend were at this moment since she hadn’t been told where they were being housed.
The deputy director stared, disbelief clear on his face. “You expect me to believe that? You and your partner are thick as thieves. He took Natalie away as two men tried to gain entry into the safe house.”
Tried? The marshals must be okay or Riley would have accused her of attacking them as well. “Her security was compromised.”
“She needs to be in another safe house. Neither you nor Deke are on duty. Even if you were, I wouldn’t trust you to guard my dog much less a protected witness.”
Her jaw clenched. “I don’t know where she is.”
“I suppose you don’t know why I can’t reach Creed.”
“Maybe his phone is messed up or he’s in a dead zone.”
“There’s a third explanation. I wonder if Creed murdered another witness or if he’s covering for you. You’ve been partners for years. If he’s innocent, you will give me Natalie. Otherwise, I’ll take Creed’s gun and badge and kick him out of the marshal service.”
She couldn’t let him do that to Deke. Her partner loved his job and she refused to let her troubles spill over onto him. “Natalie requested Fortress Security take over her protection.”
Riley’s face hardened as he turned to Nate. “You and your mercenary friends have her?”
“We’re here for Stella. Other operatives are in charge of Natalie’s safety. I shouldn’t have to remind you the witness security program is voluntary. Natalie asked for other arrangements. She didn’t feel safe when three other witnesses have been killed.”
Riley slanted a narrow-eyed gaze Stella’s direction. “If we plug the leak, there won’t be any more breaches.”
“Where is Natalie?” Jordan asked.
“Safe. No one will find her.”
“You have contact with her?”
“Contact goes through Maddox.”
“Are you finished with Nate and Stella?” Cal asked, his tone impatient.
“I need their statements.” Jordan seated himself in a nearby armchair. “Riley, check on the crime scene team’s progress.”
The deputy director spun on his heel and strode down the hall. Cal sent Stella a pointed look before he left the room as well.
Yeah, she got it. Weigh every word. Even one misstep would land her in jail again. This time she might take her boyfriend down with her.
“Start at the beginning,” Jordan ordered.
Stella and Nate told the evening’s events, minus the questionable methods. The FBI agent took them through the facts twice more before he was satisfied he’d gathered every nugget of information. “I’ll remind you again, Marshal Grayson. Don’t leave this area.”
“Are we free to go?”
“How can I contact you? I’ll have more questions.”
Interesting problem since Riley had her phone. She didn’t know what to tell him. No way would she give this man Nate’s cell number.
“Call Taylor. He’ll know how to contact us.” Nate stood. “Let’s find Spenser’s supplies, sweetheart.”
In the kitchen, Cal talked quietly with Mia. He glanced up as they entered. “You survived, I see. I trust Jordan doesn’t have side-by-side cells ready with your names on them.”
“What’s going on?” Mia looked from Cal to Stella. “I thought you were on the same side.”
“Riley and Jordan are on their own side,” Nate said. “The rest of us are trying to unmask a murderer.” He said to Cal, “You’re our point of contact for Jordan. Riley confiscated Stella’s cell phone, like you thought. Contact Maddox if you need us.” He turned his gaze to Pete’s girlfriend. “Mia, we need Spenser’s belongings and supplies. He’ll be more comfortable with his own things.”
She gestured to the laundry room. “Most of the time, Spenser stayed in there when Pete was gone.”
Stella followed Nate into the room and helped him gather Spenser’s bed, food and water bowl, leash, harness, and a basket full of dog toys. They carried the supplies to the SUV and let Spenser do his business in the yard before loading him into the vehicle.
“Who do you have in mind for this sweet boy?” Stella asked as she rubbed Spenser’s fur.
“Alex.”
She grinned. “Aww. Ivy will love Spenser.”
“Can’t miss. He’s housebroken and Ivy won’t be able to resist a dog with no home. Besides, Alex told her he wanted a big dog that sheds hair all over the house to play with their future kids. Spenser fits the description.”
“What do you say Alex buys Ivy a Labrador retriever charm for her bracelet and then introduces the real dog to her?”
Nate chuckled. “That’s a sure bet, baby.” He pulled around the scattered emergency vehicles. “Open the glove box. Brent left an encrypted cell phone in there for you. Deke also has one. The phones will keep the feds off your trail.”
“He thinks of everything, doesn’t he?”
“Maddox is a top-tier security consultant. He doesn’t miss a trick.”
Stella couldn’t help but think if Ty and Pete worked for Brent Maddox, they would still be alive.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Nate parked in the driveway of Micah Winter’s cabin. After Spenser explored the front yard a couple minutes, Nate and Stella led him into the home.
The rumble of male voices drifted from the kitchen. Spenser’s nails clicked as he crossed the hardwood floor. Conversation ceased when they drew closer to Nate’s teammates and Stella’s partner. All eyes turned their direction as they crossed the threshold, varying degrees of astonishment on their faces.
Alex’s gaze dropped to the Lab. “Who do you have here, Nate?”
“This is Spenser.”
“Spenser?” Deke stared at the dog. “That’s Pete’s dog. What are you doing with him?” He stopped, his gaze jerking to Stella’s face. “Oh, no.” His eyes closed, but not before Nate caught a glimpse of pain in their depths. “What happened, Stel?”
“We’ll get to that in a minute.” Nate turned toward Alex. “Spenser needs a home, Alex. You interested?”
A broad smile covered his face. “You bet.” The sniper knelt beside the dog and held out his fist for Spenser to sniff. In under a minute, the dog was nuzzling Alex’s outstretched and open hand, begging for attention. “You are a beautiful boy, Spenser.” He glanced at Nate. “He looks young. Do you know how old he is?”
“Just over a year,” Deke said. “I remember when Pete bought him. Spenser is a purebred Lab.”
“His supplies and toys are in the SUV.” Nate dug out his keys and tossed them to his friend.
Alex grabbed Spenser’s leash. “Come on, buddy. Let’s get your gear.”
Rio followed Alex and Spenser outside.
“Why didn’t you give the dog to Mia?” Deke asked.
“She wouldn’t take him.” Stella sat. “She planned to take him to the pound.”
“What happened to Pete?”
“He said he had proof I was framed for Ty’s murder and wanted me to come to his house.”
Alarm widened his eyes. “And you went? Stella, he could have been Ty’s killer.” His attention shifted to Nate, eyes narrowed. “I trusted you to take care of her. Letting her walk blind into danger wasn’t what I had in mind, Armstrong.”
“I had her back, Creed.” His voice came out low and hard. “Stella is a professional. I trust her. I know you do as well or you wouldn’t have remained partners.”
“Sorry. You’re right. I’m not thinking straight. Go on, Stel. You went to Pete’s house. What did you find?”
Stella told how they found the marshal dead in his bathroom and the broken watch which provided an alibi.
“Bet Riley was ticked off that you had an alibi at the time of the murder.”
“Enough that he turned his focus on you and Durango.”
“Durango?” Josh straightened away from the counter at that statement. “Riley thinks we had a hand in the marshal’s death?”
Nate frowned. “According to Riley, we’re high-priced thugs and capable of murder for hire.”
“What’s our motive?”
“Protecting Stella.”
“Nice.” Quinn leaned his forearms on the table. “What about Barnes’s murder? Are we on the hot seat for that one, too?”
He shook his head. “Can’t be. I talked to Rod and the gas station attendant before I left Otter Creek. Bound to be surveillance video verifying my presence in town at the time of Stella’s attack. Even he can’t prove I killed Barnes to protect my girlfriend.”
“Not for lack of trying,” Deke muttered. “How did I raise his suspicions?”
“You helped Stella kill the witnesses or discovered it and killed the marshals to cover for her.”
Josh snorted. “The guy’s an idiot.”
“No argument from me, Major.”
Rio and Alex returned, carrying Spenser’s supplies and toy basket. “What did we miss?” Alex grabbed a tug rope for the dog who latched on and pulled against Alex’s hold.
Nate summarized, ending with, “Jordan and Riley believe Stella has us wrapped around her finger and convinced us to kill for her.”
“Can’t fix stupid,” Rio said. He set a full water dish on the floor for Spenser. “Guess what they say is true about people rising beyond their abilities. Jordan and Riley are prime examples.”
“Did you search Pete’s place?” Deke asked.
“After we called Cal Taylor,” Stella confirmed.
“Smart. Delayed the confrontation with Riley and Jordan.”
“Taylor is part of Fortress,” Nate said. “He listened with an open mind and contacted Maddox for the security footage at the compound, something Jordan would never pursue.”
“You’re lucky that was the case,” Josh said. “Another local cop might not have been so accommodating. What did you find while you waited for Taylor?”
“Will knowing we searched a crime scene cause you a problem?” Nate asked.
“I’m here as a private citizen. What did you find?”
“Pete had photographs taped to the underside of his desk,” Stella said.
Durango’s leader stilled. “You left them to be found by the feds, right?”
“We returned them.”
“What was in the pictures?” Deke asked.
“Teenage boys and a grave marker.”
Nate pulled up the photos on his phone and handed it to the marshal. “Recognize them?”
Deke frowned. “I should.”
“That’s what I thought,” Stella said. “Where would we have seen these same boys? We’ve only worked together a handful of years. From the hairstyles and clothes, these pictures are older than that.”
“They must be adults now,” Alex said, tossing the rope for Spenser to chase. “Where do you know these men?”
Stella and Deke stared at each other. She grabbed Nate’s phone and scrolled through the pictures. Was it possible? She checked the jaw lines, eyes, mouths, and blew out a breath. She should have recognized the resemblance, but she hadn’t seen them in more than a year. “These boys are our dead witnesses.”
“What? Let me see the photos again.” Her partner hurried around the table and peered over her shoulder. A soft whistle, then, “They knew each other as kids. That’s why they’re all in this picture here.”
“Where were they from?” Nate asked. Something in their past bound these guys together and led to their deaths. The problem, he knew, would come if they had to travel. Stella couldn’t leave the area.
“A town three hours from here,” Deke said. “Place called Redding.”
“And all were in witness protection?” Quinn asked. “How did that happen?”
“Each man broke the law in different southeastern states. Gambling, drugs, gun running, prostitution, human trafficking. They worked for the dregs of soci
ety. The federal government wanted the leaders of the organizations bad enough to offer immunity and witness protection in exchange for testimony.”
“Our tax dollars at work,” Rio muttered.
“It’s how law enforcement operates,” Josh said. “Little fish turn on the sharks in exchange for not being tossed in the prison tank with even bigger sharks. These guys were small time. The feds saved many lives by taking down the sharks.”
“So they all worked with different criminals?” Quinn asked.
“Different states,” Deke said. “Different organizations.”
“The connection is you and Stella.” He shook his head. “No wonder the feds are anxious to hang these murders on you two.”
“One of the marshals leaked information to the organizations who made these guys pay for narcing on them.” Stella dragged her hand through her hair. “The problem is none of the marshals seem to have a motive. It’s our job to protect them, whether they deserve it or not.”
“Somebody didn’t agree with you, baby,” Nate murmured. He snagged the seat next to her, swept her hair to the side, and massaged her shoulders. Her muscles were tight. “What about Luke?”
“I don’t know where he grew up.” Stella frowned. “He and Natalie worked in Georgia when we met them.”
“Hold on,” Deke said. “I’ll check.” He left, returned with his laptop, and accessed the marshal database. He scanned, eyes widening at what he read. “He and Natalie are from Redding, too. They attended Georgia State University and landed jobs after graduation.”
“These guys have a history together,” Rio said. “Is that why the others are dead and Luke’s a target? Is the leak selling information for money or is there another reason we don’t see?”
“I don’t know,” Stella said. “But Luke and Natalie will never live in safety and peace until we find out the truth.”
“If this is about money,” Deke said, “the trail is invisible.”
“Maybe it’s not,” Josh said. “We need to contact Zane, see what he can find on your witnesses.”
“I’ll contact him,” Nate said. He dropped his hands from Stella’s shoulders and strode from the room, phone in hand. Needing the snap of crisp air to clear cobwebs from his mind, he sat on the porch step and called the Fortress communications guru.