by Aimée Thurlo
“Then why are you still helping me, Daniel?”
“Because I know that you’ve got people after you and the thought of that just ticks me off. I want to equalize the odds a bit and give you a chance to find out the truth.” He paused, then continued. “Let’s assume that it’s the building fund that’s missing. That means that one of the church people is a thief and the rest of the people looking for the money don’t want to let on how much is actually missing for some reason. The thief, I assume, is behind the frame, since having people focused on you buys him time. What we have to do is start getting evidence that will point away from you. Who else knows about that account and has access to it?”
“As I said, the finance committee, which is comprised of the church secretary, Reverend Brown, my uncle and the organist you met at the church. He’s actually the head of the committee. And, of course, the bank. But there’s something you’re not taking into consideration. Those people aren’t personal friends, and they’re always arguing among themselves. I find it hard to believe that not even one of them reported the missing money to the police.”
“It’s possible that the extent of the theft was covered up with some creative bookkeeping, or maybe they’ve decided not to panic everyone by admitting such a large amount is missing,” he suggested. “Of course, they may also firmly believe that you have it, or know where it is, and realize that if they call the police and they locate you, you’d be charged with grand larceny based on the evidence. Everything would become public then and that would mean a lot of people would be called to task for not keeping better tabs on that money.”
“It still doesn’t sound right, not based on what I know about those people,” Hannah said, shaking her head.
As they headed down the highway, she looked around, trying to get her bearings in the darkness. “Now that we can’t go back to your friend’s home, what are your plans?”
“I’m going to call Silentman and see what he can come up with. It’ll save us having to check into a motel that takes wild animals.” He took a look at Wolf, who had his eyes closed in bliss while Hannah scratched him gently between the ears.
Daniel drove off the highway again onto a dirt road, then pulled over behind a tree and shut off the engine and lights. Flipping open his cell phone, he gestured to the glove compartment. “Get the map in there,” he requested.
“This is Lightning,” he said as Silentman answered. He briefed him quickly on what had happened. “We need a new safe house, preferably in the area.”
Daniel turned on the dome light and took some notes in a small notebook as he received directions. “Good thing I have the global positioning device in case I get lost. That sounds like it’s going to be hard to find,” he said at last.
“That’s why we keep it as a safe house,” Silentman answered.
After finding the general area on the map, Daniel headed west. He drove past a bridge built over an arroyo, and turned down a dirt track leading into a canyon. They followed that route until it opened up into a much wider valley. Then, in an unexpected clearing among the stunted junipers and sagebrush, they spotted a small wood frame house. The outside was stuccoed in the scratch coat only, and was gray, with places where the chicken wire showed through. The wood trim around the door and windows was unpainted and weathered, but still intact.
“This must be it,” he said. “Silentman said that it hasn’t been used for quite some time, so let Wolf and me check it out first to make sure squatters haven’t moved in, or wild animals.” He grabbed the car keys, then reached into his pocket and brought out a pair of handcuffs. Before she could say a word, he slipped the cuff on her left wrist and locked the other around the steering wheel.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” she demanded angrily.
“Putting a new habit into place. When I can’t be with you, I’m going to make sure you can’t wander off. It’s my job to keep you safe and this is the best way I can think of doing it. We won’t be far.”
“Where is there to wander off? We haven’t seen a building or even lights from a house for miles.”
He hesitated then shook his head. “You were willing to hike before, so this is the only way I can guarantee you’ll stay put. I could leave Wolf here, but I need the dog with me. He can sense trouble long before I can.”
Sparks of anger flashed in her eyes and there was a flush in her cheeks. He’d never seen her look more beautiful. For one insane minute, he had to fight the urge to kiss her.
Biting back a curse, Daniel let Wolf out, grabbed a flashlight from behind the back seat, and then handed her a small wool blanket. “Here. Stay warm. This won’t take long.”
Chapter Seven
Time ticked by slowly, and she quickly lost track of the flashlight beam. Both man and dog were apparently inside the house now.
Alone, she tried to make sense out of her attraction to Daniel. The truth was she wasn’t sure what was worse—the times when he was her ally, or when he acted as if she were nothing more than an inconvenient part of a job he’d been hired to do. Yet, even now when they were at odds, she couldn’t forget the hard feel of his chest or the fire that blazed in his eyes. It called to her—a primitive challenge from man to woman.
All things considered, however, she had a feeling that Daniel was far more dangerous to her during the times when they were getting along. When he’d held and kissed her, it had been as if the entire world had slowly spiraled away. The connection between them had been the only thing that had mattered to her. Although she’d received more than her share of attention from men over the years, she’d never felt anything as powerful as the passionate longings that Daniel brought out in her.
Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered a conversation she’d had with her mother many years ago. Seeing the deep love her mother and father had shared, Hannah had asked her mother if she’d find a relationship like theirs when she grew up. Her mother had smiled and told her that it was said that the women in their family loved only once. She’d warned Hannah to choose carefully and take her time when she finally started dating, because she’d either find heaven or hell the day she fell in love.
Hannah looked at Daniel as he came out of the house holding a lantern. She was attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? He was a fantasy come to life—a man who lived by his own code of honor and rules, tough enough to back up his words. Everything about him excited her. But love? No, surely not. That just wasn’t in the cards for her.
Daniel set the lantern down on a rock, then he and Wolf walked around the house, using the flashlight to check the nearby grounds. As they looked around, Hannah considered the situation. Her attraction to him was definitely dangerous and she had to fight it. She decided to focus on the things he did that made her crazy, starting with what was happening between them right now.
She glared at the handcuffs, remembering the last time she’d been trapped this way in a car. Daniel was not her enemy, not like the other man, but he was still an overbearing, arrogant man who was treating her like a common criminal. She’d keep her thoughts centered on that. It was the only safe course.
BY THE TIME Daniel returned to the SUV, Hannah appeared calmer than she’d been when he’d left, but there was a spark in her eyes that told him she was still furious. The blanket was on the seat cushion, unused despite the fact that it was cold. “You certainly took your time coming back,” she said.
Her tone was taut, revealing a lot about what was on her mind. He tried to suppress a smile. This was one woman who could never quite hide her emotions, and he liked that about her.
Of course that was precisely why he had to keep his distance. He liked a lot of things about Hannah, and experience told him that she’d carve out a permanent place for herself in his heart if he didn’t watch his step. Her smile, and the feel of her had already been branded in his mind. No matter what the future held, he’d never forget her. Hannah challenged him on every level, but no man would ever win her. Hers was a fire that couldn’t
be conquered, only surrendered, and that made it all the more precious.
He was getting sidetracked again. The woman was making him crazy. “Let’s go. It’s all clear.” He unlocked the cuffs, grabbed the blanket and guided her inside.
The rustic house consisted of only four rooms, if you counted the tiny bathroom. There was well water pumped by hand, and a large kettle for heating water on the wood and coal stove, but no electricity or telephone. Daniel placed the kerosene lantern in the kitchen and knelt down to light a fire in the fireplace. As he worked, Wolf lay down on a frayed, old rug beside the door, and Hannah took a seat by the small table.
After he finished, Daniel sat across the table from her, but she avoided eye contact and said nothing to him for the next hour. Instead, she stared at the flames as if lost in thought.
“You’re too quiet,” he said, breaking the silence at last. “Are you still ticked off at me?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t thinking about you.”
“Ouch. So tell me what’s occupying your mind? What’s my competition?” he teased.
Wolf got up, looked at Daniel, yawned and walked over to her. That made her laugh. “Yes, Wolf, I do like you much better than your companion.” She glanced at Daniel. “If you really must know, I was thinking that tonight most of the church members and the board are having dinner at Mrs. Sanchez’s. She hosts an annual party for all of us and serves these little empanadas that are just wonderful. Mrs. Sanchez is really a remarkable person, and I’m always amazed by how well she handles everything. She’s completely blind.”
Daniel stared at her, a slow smile spreading across his features. “You’ve just given me a great idea.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve been wanting another crack at your uncle’s computer, and I think I’ve found a way to do it.” He looked at Wolf. “And you’re going to earn your keep again on this one, mutt.”
“You want to go back there with Wolf tonight because of the dinner? It’s only nine and the party does go on till late, but just because everyone’s been invited, I can’t guarantee that no one will be at the church. The doors do stay open until late.”
“If someone is, I’ll say that I came to speak with Reverend Brown. No one will be threatened by a blind man and his faithful service dog,” he said. “But we both can’t go in. If we run into Pablo Jackson again, his seeing a man and a woman together again in uncertain circumstances may raise questions in his mind.”
“Agreed, but I’ve got to tell you that you may be a good enough actor to pass as a blind man, but no way Wolf’s going to pass for a guide dog. He’s the size of a small pony, with teeth a mile long.”
“He can act, too.”
The dog barked once as if in assent.
Hannah shook her head. “You’re both crazy. And where will I be while you two are doing all this?”
“In the SUV, parked far enough away from any streetlight so your face will stay in the shadows. You’ll be our lookout. And if anyone asks me, I’ll say my neighbor, you, gave me a ride. Someone had to drive the blind man over. But we’ll have to give you a disguise just in case someone happens to walk by the SUV and sees you.”
“More talcum powder?” she groaned.
“No, but we are going to concentrate on your face and hair.” He looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Would you like to be a redhead or a blonde?”
She cringed. “You want me to dye my hair?”
“No. There should be a variety of wigs inside the upper shelf of the bedroom closet since this is an agency safe house,” he explained. “I figure going blond or red is a far enough stretch that no one will recognize you with just a casual glance.” He led the way into the bedroom, opened the closet door, and gestured inside. “Take your pick.”
She looked the various women’s wigs over critically and in silence. Daniel could tell Hannah hated the plan. To her, no one associated with the church could possibly be guilty, least of all her uncle, but facts were facts. And he had a hunch there was something to be found there, if he looked long enough.
“Do you know anything about computers?” she asked as she tried on a chin-length redheaded wig styled in a pageboy with long bangs.
“Some. I’m no hacker, but I can get by.”
“What if my uncle’s files are encrypted?”
“I’ll take it one step at a time,” he said with a shrug. “It’s worth a shot.”
The wig gave her a brand-new look, but even though red wasn’t her color, she was still a beauty. He felt a stab of desire but, with a great deal of effort, pushed it back.
“And if someone walks in?” she asked, her hazel eyes contrasting against the garish red of the wig.
“The door will be locked, and Wolf will stand guard. He can give me advance notice. His hearing is really spectacular.”
“I’ve seen.” She worked with the wig, brushing it until she was satisfied, then turned around and smiled. “Well, what do you think?”
She was a knockout. Her smile was filled with innocence, and that just made her sensuality all the more powerful. All the muscles in his chest tightened, but he forced his voice to remain neutral. “It’ll do. Let me call Silentman now. He’ll get me everything else I need.”
AN HOUR LATER they were on their way to the church. Hannah rode in silence. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t quite rid herself of the feeling that disaster was about to strike. She could sense danger with every nerve in her body, but she couldn’t think of a logical reason to stop him from carrying out his plan.
“Do you believe in gut feelings?” she asked.
“In my work I take intuition seriously.”
“Then don’t go in there tonight.”
“Sorry. My gut disagrees. Right now it’s telling me to go through with this. There are answers hidden in that church somewhere, and I intend to find them.”
Her hands began to tremble. Maybe her memory loss was linked to something related to those accounts. “I wish I could remember what happened to me during those few hours. If I could, then I could at least prove my own innocence.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I know myself. I’m not guilty of anything, let alone theft. Whatever happened during those hours I can’t remember must have really come as a shock to me if I’m reacting like this.”
“Maybe your mind can’t accept the reality of what happened. Call it a defense mechanism. You may have been forced to do something you can’t conceive of doing willingly, and that’s why you’ve suppressed it.”
“I’d argue with you—to maintain a good habit if nothing else—but I just don’t know.” Hannah sighed.
What she did know was that she was suddenly very frightened of the truth, and that wasn’t like her at all.
DANIEL WALKED IN through the open front doors. As Hannah had predicted, they were still unlocked and, according to the sign, would remain that way until eleven at night. He looked around the foyer, holding Wolf’s harness, a prop Silentman had managed to locate for him and leave at a drop site. A radio mike the size of a shirt button was attached to his collar, and his dark glasses contained a receiver near his ear. “I’m in,” he told Hannah. “Let me know if anyone pulls up outside.”
“Care to renegotiate your stand on the handcuffs?”
“I should remind you that you have a lot more to lose if I get caught,” he said.
“Point taken,” Hannah said crisply. “I’ll keep watch.”
The dog, trained to stay by his side, was reluctant to walk ahead unless tracking someone. “Wolf, forward.” The dog took a few steps, then stopped and sat.
“Listen to me, buddy, I know what this is about,” he said quietly, crouching down next to him. “I heard you growl when I handcuffed Hannah. You didn’t like that one bit. If this is your way of getting even, you’re wasting your time. She’s staying handcuffed when I’m not around. So knock it off.”
The animal yawned, then continued to sit.
Daniel mut
tered a curse. That was the problem with Wolf’s training. The animal had been taught to supersede a command when he sensed it was necessary. It was meant for the protection of the operative, but Wolf sometimes stretched those parameters.
“Okay. I’ll tell you what. Shape up now, and you get to sleep on the bed.”
The animal didn’t move.
“Hey, mutt, what is it with you? You want the bed all to yourself?”
Wolf looked up at him.
“Yeah, right, and I sleep on the floor.”
The animal got up, shook and moved forward.
Daniel said nothing, but if the fleabag believed he’d get the bed while the human slept on the floor, he had another think coming.
Daniel focused on his surroundings, listening for any signs that would indicate he wasn’t alone. The hall and adjoining rooms were silent.
Stopping by the door to Hannah’s office, he decided to take another look at her computer files himself. He was alone—at least for now—and there was no telling how long it would be before he had an opportunity like this again.
This time the office door was locked, but the lock was easy to pick and seconds later he was inside. “Watch the door,” he ordered Wolf.
Daniel deliberately kept the door open a crack so the dog could hear and see out into the hall and alert him before anyone got close.
As Wolf stood guard, he sat at Hannah’s desk, and switched on the computer, but the operating system failed to load. When he tried to list the files on the hard drive, all he got was an error message. He repeated the command, but still got nothing. Daniel realized that all her files had been wiped, including her accounting program.
He sat back, surprised. Someone had come in and done this since the last time they’d been here. Unless Hannah herself had deleted them, of course. The thought made him pause. Maybe he should have been watching her more closely all along.
Playing a hunch, he searched her desk from top to bottom. Maybe there was a backup disk around. Finding nothing, he pulled out the drawer and ducked down, looking beneath it. People hid things in the most obvious places sometimes.