Hour of Need (Scarlet Falls)

by Leigh, Melinda

  With a deep breath, he left the room and softly closed the door. He walked past the second bedroom, where Julia and Nan slept, and into the kitchenette. The sight of Ellie making coffee stirred more emotions inside him, gratitude, affection—and desire. Always desire, it seemed.

  Stepping up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her body. “I should have gotten another room. Then you could be sleeping, too.”

  “It’s dawn, and I’m too keyed up to be still.” She leaned back, resting her head against his chest. “The couch opens if you want to lie down.”

  Her hair was still wet from her shower, but Grant could still see it splattered with Victor’s blood. He’d never get that sight out of his head.

  “I’m fine.” He rested his chin on her head. “McNamara will be here soon. He texted me a few minutes ago.” The street had still been blocked by emergency vehicles. After they’d finished answering questions at the police station, the cops had dropped them all off at the motel. A uniform had brought Grant’s phone from the rental sedan and some clothes from Ellie’s house. The convenience store across the street from the motel had supplied them with enough staples to get through the night.

  A soft knock sounded on the door. Reluctantly, he released her and let Detective McNamara in.

  “Thanks.” The cop accepted a cup of coffee and sat at the small oak table. Ellie and Grant joined him.

  “Do I need to wake my lawyer?” Grant asked.

  “Please don’t.” McNamara sighed. “I’m only here to give you an update, not arrest you.”

  Last night at the police station, Hannah had neatly cut off an obstruction of justice charge.

  The cop downed half his mug. “Here’s how it shakes out. Regan and Autumn were pissed that Victor was giving this new girl attention. They decided to torment her. But it backfired. Victor felt bad and started looking out for Lindsay. Regan and Autumn got madder and meaner. They planned that stunt in the woods knowing Lindsay was close to quitting the skating club. They thought they’d pushed her over the edge. As you saw,” McNamara nodded at Grant, “it went as wrong as it could, and Lindsay died.”

  With the replay of the video playing in his head, Grant reached for Ellie’s hand. She anchored him.

  “Regan and Autumn went to Victor. Regan had plenty of leverage on him. In case there’s any question about Lindsay killing herself, he gives the kids an alibi. He also took Regan’s burner phone. She wanted to keep the video, but Victor knew that was a bad idea. He also knew that deleting the video wasn’t enough. It could still be recovered, so he takes the cell as a condition of his cooperation, planning on destroying it after he finishes at the rink for the night. But it went missing. The only other person in the rink that night was Kate.

  “Victor and Kate had had an affair about a year and a half ago, so their working relationship was already strained, but she started treating him very oddly. They argued. Kate overheard his conversation with the girls. She took the phone from his jacket in the office. Victor threatened to tell Lee about their affair if Kate didn’t give the phone back. But in the end, he knew she’d do the right thing. So he hired Donnie to kill Kate and recover the phone.”

  Disbelief floored Grant. “So the target was Kate, not Lee.”

  “That’s insane.” Ellie turned her hand over and squeezed his fingers.

  “How does an ice-skating coach find a contract killer?” Grant asked.

  “Donnie played hockey under the scholarship program for troubled kids,” McNamara answered. “And Victor was Donnie’s first client. As far as we know, Donnie never killed anyone before he was incarcerated. Most of his early crimes were Internet-based. In fact, he knew how to find Lee and Kate by hacking into Kate’s online calendar app. But after he was assaulted in prison, the Aryan Brotherhood helped him kill his attacker, who was a member of a rival gang. Donnie developed a taste for violence. His girlfriend’s death was caused by autoerotic asphyxiation. They were both into BDSM. That last night Donnie was with her, he got carried away.”

  Grant intertwined his fingers with Ellie’s.

  “The fireman ran across some other things we’ve been looking for in the house.” McNamara pulled an envelope out of his briefcase. “Your brother’s will. There’s nothing in it that pertains to the case.”

  “Where did you find it?” Grant touched the envelope.

  “Your brother was using the old dumbwaiter as a hidey-hole. He’d boarded up the opening, but the shaft is brick, and the contents survived the fire,” McNamara said. “The Hamilton file was in there as well.”

  “So what did Lee know?” Grant asked. “Though I guess it doesn’t matter, since he wasn’t the target.”

  “Something we all missed.” McNamara tapped the edge of the table. “Lindsay had received harassing pictures on her phone, but her phone had been wiped by a virus. Lindsay had a friend back in California that she texted extensively with. His name is Jose. Lee called him and found out that Lindsay had forwarded one of the photos to him before her phone was wiped out. It was a particularly nasty picture of a doll made to look like Lindsay and hanging by a string. Here’s where Regan and Autumn screwed up. The picture was geotagged.”

  “Geotagged?”

  “The location where the picture was taken is embedded in the picture. This particular picture was taken at Regan’s house,” the cop said. “So Lee really did find something to tie one of those girls to Lindsay’s harassment.”

  “And Corey Swann?” Ellie asked.

  The cop nodded. “Not saying a word, but he was in possession of the burner phone he used to text his threats to you. The camera mounted in front of Ellie’s house was wireless and motion sensitive. He used your own wireless network to send himself footage. Seriously, ‘Julia1’ isn’t a very secure password. He could watch the house live or view the captured feed at his leisure. Possession of the burner phone is enough to charge him with extortion. I’m sure we’re going to find all sorts of evidence in our investigation.”

  The cop got up. “Call me if you have any other questions. I’ll let you two digest all this and get some rest.”

  Ellie locked the door behind McNamara. Still sitting at the table, Grant tapped on the envelope.

  “Are you going to open that?” she asked.

  “No. I should wait for Mac and Hannah.” He stood and stretched. “That couch is looking pretty good. How about we stretch out and close our eyes until everyone wakes up?”

  He tugged her to the sofa and pulled her down next to him. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he leaned back and closed his eyes. McNamara’s information was almost too much to absorb. Kate had an affair? She’d been the target of a killer because she’d withheld information from the police. She’d sat on that phone for weeks, afraid of losing her husband when he found out about her infidelity.

  Ellie put her hand in the center of his chest, right over his heart. “Are you all right?”

  “I just need a little time to take it all in.”

  Faith cried from the bedroom.

  “I’ll get her.” Ellie stood.

  He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “No, I got it.”

  Maybe the last thing he needed was time to think.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  “Excuse me.” Grant stopped at the nursing station on his way to his father’s room. Only one day had passed since the fire. Ellie, Julia, and Nan had returned to their home. Hannah and the kids were still in the motel. Lee’s house wasn’t salvageable.

  A nurse in pink scrubs looked up at him over her reading glasses. She blew short, gray-blond bangs out of her eyes. “Yes, sir?”

  “I’m Colonel Barrett’s son.” Grant hesitated. “I was here last week, and the visit didn’t go well. He got agitated when I said I was his son. He doesn’t recognize me.”

  Her mouth twisted in a sad smile. “That happens a lot. He didn’t know your b
rother most of the time either, if it makes you feel any better.”

  “Really?” Grant pulled back in surprise.

  “Yes. Your brother just went with whatever the Colonel called him.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “If the Colonel thought your brother was Private First Class Andersen, your brother answered to that.” She swept her glasses off her face. “Mr. Barrett just wanted the Colonel to have a calm day. He found reading to him worked better than trying to have a conversation. The Colonel gets agitated when he can’t get the words out right. He knows he can’t remember things, and it frustrates him. Dementia also makes emotions hard to control.” Empathy shone from her eyes. “Try calling him Colonel instead of Dad, and use your first name. I know it hurts that he doesn’t remember you, but it isn’t his fault. Dad implies you have a relationship, and he’ll instantly feel stressed trying to make the connection. Some days you might be surprised, and he might know you, but that’s not going to happen often.” She paused. “You can’t fix this.”

  Grant accepted her statement as the truth, finally.

  “His overall health has deteriorated significantly in the last year.” She reached out and touched his forearm. “I’m sorry. Do you want me to have the doctor call you?”

  “Yes, please.” Grant gave her his cell numbers. “You should change the emergency contact numbers anyway.” He gave her Mac’s and Hannah’s cell numbers as well.

  She entered the information into the computer system.

  Grant digested her advice on the way down the hall. His father was awake, staring blankly at a mute TV screen hanging from the opposite wall. Cloudy eyes blinked at Grant. “Who are you?”

  “Hello, Colonel. I’m Grant.” He took a deep breath and waited.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Grant spied the book on the tray. “I’m here to read to you.”

  His father nodded, still wary, but seemingly satisfied with the response.

  Grant walked closer and eased into the seat next to the bed. He picked up the book and started reading aloud. His father settled back and closed his eyes. Calm. Lee had been right. It didn’t matter if Dad knew their names. Maybe a lot of things didn’t matter.

  Two chapters later, after the Colonel fell into a deep sleep, Grant knew exactly what he needed to do. No, not just what he needed to do, what he wanted to do.

  He drove back to the motel with a sense of purpose.

  The silver Mercedes was parked in front of the unit. Inside, Kate’s parents sat at the dining room table with Hannah. Carson sat on her lap. Faith bounced in a baby seat on the floor.

  “Uncle Grant.” Carson hurled his body across the room.

  Grant scooped him off the floor. The boy was shaking. “What’s wrong, buddy?”

  “They said they’re going to take us,” he sniffed.

  Grant scanned the faces at the table.

  Stella Sheridan stood, brushing the wrinkles from her gray slacks. “We thought, since the children currently have no home, we could just take them with us now. It would save everyone time. The sooner they get settled in their new home, the better.”

  “I don’t think so.” Grant hugged Carson closer. Tiny fingers fisted in his sweatshirt.

  Stella crossed her arms. “The more you let them get attached to you, the harder it will be when you leave, Major.”

  “That would be true, if I was leaving.” Grant shifted Carson to his hip. The boy smelled like grass and sweat, as if Hannah had taken him outside to run around.

  Hannah’s head snapped up. “What are you saying?”

  “I requested a hardship discharge.” Grant’s heart felt lighter than it had since he’d gotten the news of Lee’s death. “Just got off the phone with my CO.”

  Stella’s frown sagged, deepening the lines around her mouth. “Still, you’re a bachelor. What do you know about raising two children?”

  “I’ll figure it out as I go along,” Grant said.

  “We’ll see what our attorney has to say about that.” Stella lifted her chin. Her eyes went bright and cold.

  The baby fussed, and Hannah picked her up. “Actually, I reviewed the will this morning. Lee and Kate named Grant as the kids’ guardian, so you really don’t have any legal standing.”

  Stella turned and scooped her coat off the chair. Staring at the floor, she wiped a tear from her face with the pad of her thumb. “Will you still let us see them?”

  “Of course,” Grant said. “You’re welcome to visit whenever you like.”

  Bill got up with a disappointed sigh and held his wife’s coat. “If you change your mind, you know how to reach us at the inn.”

  They each gave Carson a quick hug. Stella kissed Faith on the head before leaving.

  “You’re not going to let them take us, are you?” Carson rested his head against Grant’s shoulder.

  “No way, buddy.” Grant rubbed his back. “You’re going to stay with me. Is that OK?”

  Carson nodded and curled his arms around Grant’s neck.

  “Are you really staying?” Hannah asked.

  “I am. I’m not sure whether it was Lee’s death or too many tours of combat that changed me, but I have no desire to go back to the military.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “After I pay Freddie his twenty thousand?”

  “I already requested the funds from my bank. I assume he wants cash.”

  “Good assumption.” Grant smiled at his sister. “We can split the bill.”

  “Nah. I got this one.” Hannah shook her head. “Do you have any plans after the payoff?”

  “I don’t know. I have a lot of options.” And as soon as he got written verification from Lieutenant Colonel Tucker that his discharge was in process, he wanted to talk with Ellie about some of those options. Grant’s grief was still tender, but for the first time since he’d received news of his brother’s death, he didn’t feel hopeless.

  Lieutenant Colonel Tucker’s words were still ringing in his head. Grant, you’ve given your country thirteen years of your life. This operation is winding down over here. Go. Have a life. Enjoy a little of what you’ve been protecting all these years. You’ve served with honor, but you’re needed elsewhere now.

  Two days later

  Ellie shoved her goggles onto her forehead and lifted the kitchen cabinet she’d just ripped off the wall. She half dragged, half carried it out the front door, past the flower bed and tiny shoots of daffodils poking out of the soil, past the greening lawn, to the curb. The air still held a sharp bite, but spring was finally coming. There would still be some cold, nasty days, but new life was on its way.

  “Can I help you with that?” Grant pulled into the driveway.

  Her heart thumped as he got out of the minivan. She couldn’t believe how much she’d missed him in the last two days. It would hurt when he had to leave for good. “How are the kids?”

  “Quarters at Mac’s place are tight.” Grant walked closer. He picked up the cabinet and tossed it into the Dumpster effortlessly. “But Hannah goes back to work after the funeral on Wednesday, and Mac is leaving for South America in a couple of weeks. The three of us will fit there just fine for a while, and AnnaBelle loves the woods. She’s brought me enough sticks to build a tree house.”

  “The funeral will be small?”

  “Just family and closer friends. You’ll come?” Grief shone raw in his eyes.

  Her heart ached for him. He hadn’t had a chance to mourn his loss. “Of course.”

  “What will happen to the house?” She nodded at the burned-out shell of Lee and Kate’s home.

  “It’s not salvageable.”

  He hadn’t shaved, and her fingers itched to touch the sexy rasp of his beard. She restrained herself. The moments they’d shared had been stolen. There would be no more of them. �
��That’s a shame.”

  “It is, but this way the kids will get to start fresh. Once the lot is cleared, I’ll put it up for sale. There are too many dark memories here for Carson.”

  She’d miss the children, too. Ellie swallowed the grief in her throat to get her next question out. “When do you leave?”

  “I don’t.” Grant stopped in front of her. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips.

  Shock kept her from kissing him back. “What?”

  “I’m not going back. I’m leaving the military.”

  “I don’t understand. I thought the army was your life.”

  Grant brushed his fingers over her cheek. A tiny piece of wallboard floated to the ground. “Mac said something to me the other day that made me think. I’ve been living my father’s dream, not mine. I don’t want to be away. I want to watch Carson and Faith grow up. I want to be there for them the way Lee was always there for the family. I want to make sure my father is taken care of the best that I can.” He took Ellie’s hand. “I want to get to know you better. I’m not sure what is developing between us, but I don’t want to walk away from it. I’ve left good things behind in the past. I’m done with that.”

  Ellie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He was staying. Her heart fluttered with possibility. “Do you have to give up your career? Can’t you try to get stationed in New York? Or go to reserve status?”

  “I could, but I don’t want to. If I stay in the military, even as a reservist, there’s always that chance I’ll be called up.” He took both her hands in his. “IEDs. Suicide bombers. Snipers. The risks are always there, even if I see far less combat now than I did when I was a lieutenant or a captain. Carson and Faith already lost both their parents. I can’t control the future, but I can do my best to stay alive for them. They deserve stability.”

  “What will you do?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t made any decisions. I have some savings. I’ve been banking most of my pay for years. There’s the life insurance. I really enjoyed demolishing your kitchen. I’d like to help you renovate it. Gutting rooms and building something new sounds appealing right now.”