He opened his eyes as Delaney opened the door. “I’m afraid the back seat of a police car isn’t very comfortable.”
He grunted and walked behind her to the unit. He’d walk on glass if it’d get him to his daughter faster. Bruce slipped into the back seat. Delaney slammed the door and joined the cop in the front.
“No sirens, but get to this address as fast as possible,” Delaney said.
The officer didn’t hesitate to punch the gas. Bruce slid across the plastic bucket seats and grasped the seat belt with one hand during the U-turn. At least Delaney was taking the threat seriously. At this rate, they really would be back to the safe house quickly.
“Uh, how are you doing?” the policeman asked Delaney. “We’ve missed you on the force.”
Even from the back seat, the look Delaney shot the other officer seemed made of ice. “I’m fine.”
“We miss Raymond, too, you know,” the officer said.
She nodded but didn’t reply. Bruce wondered if the words that hinted at tragedy explained her aloof demeanor toward him and Winnie. Not that it really mattered. He didn’t need Delaney to care about him and his daughter—he just needed her to protect them, as she’d said she would. But was that a promise she’d keep? Words didn’t mean much compared to action.
His wife had promised so much, but she still left him and Winnie without a second glance. His stepbrother had written his company’s mission statement and promised to be his partner, but he’d quit and run to the Cayman Islands six months ago. No, promises really didn’t mean much.
Delaney turned in her seat to face him, an impressive feat given the high-speed turns. “The Marshals are alerting the Assistant US Attorney to what’s happened. The interview will be rescheduled.”
“I can’t even think of testifying at the moment.”
“So don’t think about it. For now.”
The radio crackled but Bruce couldn’t make out what was said.
“Did something happen?”
“Not necessarily. Deputy Marshal Jackson still hasn’t checked in, so we’re going to proceed with caution.” Delaney pointed to the left, and the cruiser stopped at the sun-bleached pink house. The last two days had felt like a living nightmare. He’d worked so hard to maintain a positive attitude and believe that everything would work out, only to walk straight into a trap.
“Stay here,” Delaney hollered. She jumped out of the vehicle at the same time as the officer.
“That’s not happening.” Bruce reached for the car handle but found there was none. He pounded the seat in frustration. Another police vehicle pulled up at the opposite street corner, and two more cops rushed toward the house.
Delaney held her weapon up and gestured at the other officers to go around the building. A male voice shouted, “Officer down,” and Bruce groaned. Someone had definitely found the safe house. Please, let Winnie be okay. He searched desperately for another way out of the police vehicle, but there was nothing to do but watch.
Delaney squatted low to the ground and entered the house. Bruce strained his eyes, hoping he could somehow see past the house’s grimy windows and blinds. Sirens sounded in the distance. He couldn’t look away, couldn’t let himself blink. He should be inside there, protecting his daughter.
An officer sauntered toward the cruiser that was holding him prisoner. Bruce clenched his jaw, wanting to yell at him to speed up. The officer reached his hand out and the door trapping him in the back seat finally swung open.
“The Deputy Marsh—”
Bruce vaulted out of the car into a sprint, past the officer. He vaguely heard the man shout but didn’t care what was being said. Right now, the only thing that mattered was Winnie. An ambulance siren’s wail grew closer.
He barreled into the house, squinting in the dim light. Another deputy, Francine, was on the ground, limp but conscious. A cop held her wrist while looking at his watch to count her pulse.
Delaney stepped out of a bedroom. Her arms cradled Winnie, her head bent over his daughter, as if in a cuddle. Bruce’s insides fought between icy cold and raging heat at the sight.
She glided forward, her steps soft and rhythmic, across the room, whispering, “It’s okay, sweetheart.” One of Winnie’s arms wrapped around the back of Delaney’s neck while the other clung tightly to Lovey. “Winnie, your daddy is here.”
Winnie lifted her head and twisted to look. She blinked twice and smiled at Bruce, then rested her head back on Delaney’s chest.
“She was still sleeping,” Delaney whispered. “Had no idea anything happened.” Her eyes glistened with a layer of unshed tears and once again Bruce didn’t know what to think or feel about this mysterious woman.
He reached for Winnie. His daughter, almost reluctantly, let go of Delaney and curled up against his chest. “Honey, are you okay?”
She nodded and rubbed the remaining aftereffects of sleep away.
Delaney stepped closer. “Someone got the jump on them. Knocked out the marshals but didn’t touch Winnie.”
Bruce crumpled onto the couch. He hung his head over Winnie’s shoulder and, despite the determination to stay calm, his chest shook and his breath caught. He could’ve lost her. He so easily could’ve lost her.
Winnie tilted her chin and Bruce stared into her blue eyes and reined in control. Was there a way he could give up and keep her safe? If he didn’t testify, would the threat disappear?
“I appreciate that you stayed calm today,” Delaney said.
He didn’t look up. He couldn’t yet. “If you lock me in the back of a car again...” He let his voice trail off, unwilling to voice exactly what he was thinking in front of his daughter, but hoping his tone conveyed what he meant. He wouldn’t let her keep him away from Winnie again.
But even by his side, could he keep his little girl safe? Could he ever take Winnie with him on a jog and count dogs in the neighborhood without flinching at every car that rounded the corner? Would they be able to return home and step out onto the deck to watch fireflies without him shining a spotlight on every tree that surrounded the property first?
The image of the men with guns shooting bullets into the SUV played on a loop. His blood pounded hot and fast through his veins. Giving in would only provide the illusion of safety. They would still be out there, watching. They could treat him, his daughter and anyone else like puppets whenever they wanted. Good men like Max would still die at their hands.
The rage continued to build behind his eyes. He would do whatever it took to put a stop to them. He slowly met Delaney’s gaze. “How do we end this?”
* * *
Delaney’s mouth went dry at his question. Winnie clutched her Lovey in one hand while her other hand twirled a lock of hair. Delaney did that whenever she was stressed or bored, too. Was that common in toddlers? Movement to the right caught her attention.
Two paramedics filled the doorway. The taller one nodded at Delaney. “We’ve got one of the deputies ready for transport.”
She supplied his name. “Deputy Jim Lewis.”
The medic pointed to Francine. “We can take you on that ambulance, too, ma’am. In the meantime, anyone else we need to look at?”
Francine flicked her wrist. “I don’t need it. I’m going to be fine.”
“Wait,” Delaney said. “You might not need an ambulance, but we do.” She held up a hand to stop the concerned paramedics. “I don’t mean we’re injured. For logistic reasons, I need you to hang back for a second.”
Delaney pointed at Bruce. “Right now the main priority is to get you somewhere safe without being tracked. You said hackers can follow our vehicles if they know the point of origin, so we need to make sure they think we’re still here. At least for a little while.” She felt a pressure on her chest and realized she’d kept a hand over her heart, in the place where Winnie had rested her head moments ago.
“
What do you have in mind?” Francine asked. She accepted an ice pack from the paramedic and rested it on the back of her head.
“Bruce and Winnie will take your place on the stretcher, covered up.” She squatted slightly to meet the toddler’s eyes. “Can you be real still next to your daddy and pretend you’re sleeping?”
Winnie pulled her left shoulder up until it met her ear in a cute shrug. “No.” She smiled, but her eyes made it clear she had no intention of cooperating.
Well. There went that idea, replaced with a sizable dose of reality. Delaney knew nothing about children.
Bruce patted Winnie’s knee. “You don’t have to take a nap again,” he said. “How about we play hide-and-seek together and wait for Delaney to find us? Those men are going to sneak us out, like a fun ride.”
Winnie’s eyes widened and she bounced up and down. “Okay.”
The side of Bruce’s mouth curved. “It’s all in the delivery.”
Francine laughed, a welcome distraction and a comfort. She probably wouldn’t have laughed if she was seriously injured, but Delaney would make sure she was examined anyway.
“Francine, I need you to stay back here for a good twenty minutes. When it’s time to leave, tuck your hair up into a ball cap and wear Bruce’s suit jacket.” Delaney turned to ask the man in question. “Do you mind?”
“It’ll be too big on her, but no, I don’t mind.”
Francine was a tall woman, equal to Bruce’s height, but she had a slender build. “I know. It won’t be enough to fool anyone at close examination, but if anyone’s watching from a distance, it should at least give them pause.” She pointed at the police officer waiting next to her. “It would help the Marshals a great deal if you’d wait here a bit, then take Francine to the station. I’ll have another deputy meet her there and take her to the hospital to be examined.”
Francine rolled her eyes. “I told you I’m fine—”
“I need you back on the team as soon as possible,” Delaney answered. According to Marshal Bradford, Francine was the only deputy who had experience with children. “That means you need to get cleared for duty.”
“I’d like to apologize in advance.” Bruce stood up, Winnie in his arms, to head over to the stretcher. “I’m not a lightweight man.”
The paramedic to the left laughed. “Don’t worry. The stretcher pops up and has wheels. Besides, we’ve carried heavier. You ready for your ride, sweetie?”
Delaney stilled, unable to look away. Was this the right decision? The paramedics joked around with Winnie as Bruce got situated first on the gurney.
She was up against clever hunters. As soon as word got out that Bruce wasn’t backing out of testifying, the hacking group would be after them again. What would Kurt do? The question popped into her mind easily, as it always did whenever she faced a crisis in her work. Her previous boss and mentor from Coeur d’Alene, Kurt had taught her more than her time in both the police academy and marshal training. He’d showed her when it served best to think outside of the box, to harness empathy and to understand what the enemy would do next to get a jump on them. He also sought God’s wisdom for the big decisions.
Her throat hurt from the stress. I don’t have time to wait to hear from You, Lord. I’m asking for Your wisdom and if I’m going the wrong way I need a giant “no” from You right about now.
“Let’s hide, Daddy.” Winnie turned to Delaney and smiled. “You gotta find us.” She grabbed the edge of the thin white blanket and pulled it over herself as she curled up in the crook of Bruce’s arm.
The paramedics placed a mammoth-sized towel on Bruce’s forehead, effectively covering up his face and hair. It didn’t make him look like Francine, but it might do the trick. Delaney grabbed her US Marshals jacket and placed it on top of him. If anyone was watching, hopefully it would seem another marshal was heading for the ambulance after the attack.
“Okay, stay real quiet. We’re going on a ride and don’t want Delaney to find us yet,” Bruce said.
“I think that’s our cue.” The paramedic at the helm kicked off the brakes. Delaney kept her head up as she jogged beside them. No cars were in sight and nobody hid in any of the trees. The houses were spread out and all had curtains or blinds down to help keep out the high-noon heat. But who knew what resources a group of hackers had to watch wherever they wanted? There could be eyes on them right now. The thought sent a shiver up her spine.
A toddler-shaped lump on Bruce’s side wiggled and giggled. Thankfully they’d reached the back of the ambulance. The paramedics shoved the gurney up the silver ramp into the ambulance.
Deputy Jim Lewis had a seat on a gray bench with an ice pack on the back of his head. “I don’t know how they got a jump on me.” His eyes implored her to understand. “I’ll be more cautious now, you can count on that. You’re the lead. You can waive procedure and tell me I don’t have to get checked for a knock on the head so I can get back to work.”
“Not a chance.” She took a seat beside him as the doors closed behind them. “You’re staying right here in this ambulance, because I’m going to need you in a moment.”
One paramedic sat on the opposite side of the stretcher as the ambulance began to move. Winnie flung down the sheet and popped upright. “Find me.” As fast as she’d appeared, she vanished with giggles. “Daddy, you hide, too.”
“It’s definitely time for you to find us.” Bruce’s muffled voice came from underneath the sheet that now covered his face.
Delaney’s chest seized, as if a hard, protective layer around her heart was being ripped apart, one tiny square at a time. The paramedic and Jim watched her with anticipation. She leaned forward and pulled back the blanket to find Winnie’s wide eyes. “Found you,” she said softly.
Winnie twisted so her face smashed against Bruce’s side, but the little girl’s laughter would not be contained and proved contagious to the other occupants of the ambulance.
The paramedic beamed and leaned back into his seat. “I tell you what, young lady. We don’t usually have a lot of laughter in the back of this vehicle. Would make my job a lot easier if we did.” He leveled a pointed look at Delaney. “We’re almost to the hospital if you need to arrange a ride.”
“Of course.” She pulled out her phone. “Jim, I need you to switch places with Bruce.”
Jim began to object.
“You’re taking his place as an added precaution, so we can slip away unnoticed. Bruce, put on the marshal’s hat.”
Bruce sat up and tried to hand Winnie to her. She froze until the little girl reached out her arms. Delaney’s back tensed but she reached forward and took Winnie. It wasn’t a big deal to hold the little girl so the men could switch positions without kicking someone in the head. Logically, she knew that.
It felt dangerous, though. It was becoming harder and harder not to think about her own daughter out there somewhere. Delaney had a little over fifteen years left before she could ask for the sealed adoption records to be opened.
“Let’s play hide again,” Winnie said.
“Maybe after we’re in the hotel, okay?” A hotel wasn’t ideal, as it required a lot more manpower to adequately protect a witness, but she didn’t have another safe house arranged in town. The less they had to travel, the better.
She dialed the chief deputy’s number and hoped the second team on the way had an extra vehicle for her. Every moment spent in the hospital—the very place where she’d delivered her daughter—would be torture. Even thinking about it, she could smell the phantom aromas of antiseptics and disinfectants. Her scars remembered the tenderness and pain after the emergency surgery. Winnie snuggled closer, and the smell of baby shampoo in her hair shifted Delaney’s focus.
The chief deputy answered, and she wasted no time outlining her plan to keep Bruce and Winnie safe. She held her head high as she spoke and hoped no one could hear the fear and doubt lacing eve
ry word.
FOUR
Bruce strode from one end of the hotel room to the other. He could cross the entire room in five and a half steps. If they allowed him to open the curtains to watch strangers walk past, he’d have something in common with zoo animals. Though the animals likely ate healthier food than the fast food he’d been served.
The connecting door opened and Delaney stepped inside, holding up his black duffel bag. He placed a finger over his mouth. Delaney’s gaze moved to the center of the bed where Winnie had, mercifully, fallen asleep for the night.
“Officers brought your stuff over.”
He accepted the duffel gratefully. “She’ll be glad to have her things.” While the front desk had provided a toothbrush, Winnie had thrown a royal fit that she didn’t have her normal toiletries for her bedtime routine. They’d left in such a hurry that she didn’t even have her shoes to wear. And, of course, he felt like a horrible dad for not having realized it until after they stepped out of the ambulance.
She was a lightweight thing until he had to hold her when she desperately wanted down. The nurses provided bootees so Winnie could “skate” down the hallway while he held her hand. It had been almost a full hour before they were escorted via an unmarked van to the hotel’s back entrance.
If they’d removed the letterhead and pens from the room, he wouldn’t even have known which inn they’d crashed at for the night. He genuinely hoped it would only be for one night. Reality, combined with the greasy pizza he’d had for dinner, used his stomach as a punching bag.
Delaney regarded him, a smile playing on her lips. “Aside from the threat, most people would be happy to spend a day at a hotel.”
“Really? Enlighten me.”
“Well, they kick back on the pillow top, eat junk food, enjoy a good TV binge session and relax.”
Protected Secrets Page 4