Detection Mission (Texas K-9 Unit)

by Margaret Daley

  Kip slowed and began smelling the ground around him.

  Breathing heavily, Lee asked the dispatcher, “How’s Heidi? Did the officer find her?”

  “Yes. Paramedics are on the scene. She’ll be all right.”

  Kip caught the scent again and plunged into a thick underbrush, threading in and out of trees. When his dog came out of the thicker woods, a stream running east and west cut across their path. Kip paused at the edge of the water and sniffed it. Then he plunged into the cold brook and continued east, going from bank to bank, smelling the ground.

  The water iced the lower part of his legs and feet, but Lee kept saying, “Find him, Kip. You can, boy.”

  When Kip led Lee out of the woods, the old cemetery with mausoleums and a chapel no longer in use, stretched before him. His border collie tracked through the rows of graves, taking a whiff of the air every so often. He ended the chase at a dingy, white mausoleum with dead vines on its sides. The lock on the door was broken.

  Lee signaled Kip to bark. The vicious sound echoed through the cemetery. “Come out, Nolan. You’re surrounded and won’t escape.”

  Nothing.

  Lee backed away to scan the surroundings. Kip was rarely wrong. He was here or had been. His gaze lit upon the flat roof that slanted down slightly toward the back of the mausoleum. As he made his way around the building, he caught sight of Nolan lying flat on the roof at the back. The man’s head popped up. When he saw Lee, he scrambled to a crouch, aimed his gun at Lee and fired it.

  He dove to the side behind a tombstone, the bullet grazing the top of the grave marker. Behind him, he heard several dogs barking. Lee peered around its bottom, his weapon pointed at the area where he’d last seen Nolan. Before the man could squeeze off another round, Lee got off a shot, hitting Nolan in the leg. He tumbled off the roof and fell to the ground, his weapon discharging.

  * * *

  Lucy lay in the hospital bed in an E.R. room, biting her thumbnail. At the rate she was going, she wouldn’t have any nail left. By the time she left the scene of the wreck, there was still no news on where Lee was or if Nolan had been captured. The waiting played havoc with her nerves. At least the medication the doctor had given her for her pounding headache was starting to work.

  She’d brought trouble to Sagebrush and Lee. Seeing Scott again and knowing all that had transpired in her past with him only made her realize how much she’d fallen in love with Lee. During all of what had gone on this month, he’d been there for her, supporting her, protecting her, caring for her. Being a friend. She’d never had that with Scott.

  He’d come into her life when her mother had recently died. Lucy fingered the gold locket and opened it. Staring at a photo of her mother, Heidi, all the heartache with her death washed over Lucy. Tears blurred her vision of the picture of a woman who she’d looked so much like.

  Vulnerable, she’d believed Scott’s words that she had later realized he didn’t even know the real meaning of. He didn’t know what it meant to love someone—only to dominate and control. He hadn’t cared what she’d thought or believed. The marriage had been all about him. Then when the physical abuse and threats began, she’d started planning to escape—not as easy as she’d originally thought. Once she had left him, all contact concerning a divorce had gone through her lawyer. She’d never wanted to see or talk with him again.

  Her mind, crowded with images and thoughts of her past, sent tension spiralling through her, aggravating the pain in her head. She closed her eyes, picturing a peaceful scene—she and Lee by the stream, listening to the sound of the water, talking and getting to know each other. The kiss they’d shared.

  Lord, please keep Lee safe.

  She started to chew on her thumbnail again but stopped herself and folded her arms over her chest, tucking her hands under her armpits. The door opened.

  She stiffened and looked toward who was coming into the room.

  Lee, with a huge smile on his face.

  Relief shivered down her limbs.

  He’s alive—unhurt.

  She returned his grin, feeling unspeakable joy. “What happened? Did you find Scott?”

  “Yes, ma’am. In fact, he’s in this very hospital going into surgery to have a bullet removed from his leg.”

  “Did anyone else get hurt?”

  “No. Everyone is safe, especially you. Nolan won’t get out of prison for a very long time, if ever, after he’s convicted of murder, kidnapping and attempted murder. He has a lot to answer for.” Lee moved toward the bed and pulled up a chair. “I came as fast as I could. I didn’t want you to worry. How are you doing?”

  “Fine, now.”

  One eyebrow rose. “Fine? You’re not in any pain?”

  “Well, a little. Okay, just below a lot, but you’ve brought me the best news I’ve heard in a long time. I thought when I left Scott I would be free of him and his abuse. I should have realized he would never let me go. Before I married him, I was a teacher. But once we wed and I moved to his home in Mississippi, he didn’t want me to work. That was the start of his controlling ways.” Her voice vibrated with emotion. “They only got worse the longer we stayed together. At the end, I didn’t have any friends, and stayed at the farm all the time. If it hadn’t been for the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to hold it together. He was the one who helped me through the ordeal with Scott, and gave me the courage to escape.”

  “You always felt you believed, even when you didn’t remember your past.”

  Lucy patted her chest over her heart. “I knew it in here. The Lord had gone through a lot with me. He never abandoned me.”

  “That’s what I like about Him.” Lee took her hand. “Are they keeping you overnight for observation?”

  “Yes. The nurse left to see about getting me a room. They’re concerned because of my previous head injury. Scott hit me with his gun. I guess that was better than shooting me with it, but he couldn’t bully me if he killed me. Then where would he get his entertainment?”

  He caressed her hair behind her ear. “Where he’s going, he won’t be able to hurt you ever again. Besides, I hope you’ll stay here and let me keep you safe. I wouldn’t mind protecting you for the rest of your life.”

  Her heartbeat kicked up a notch. She knew what it meant to be protected by Lee. “What are you saying?”

  “That I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Tears of joy filled her eyes. “Heidi or Lucy? I’m sure this isn’t news to you, but my real name is Lucy Cullen. My mother was Heidi. I took my maiden name back when I divorced Scott. I wanted nothing to do with him, even his name.”

  “A name means nothing to me, Lucy. I love you. I know we haven’t been together for long, but I’ve never been so sure. We can have a long engagement or a short one. The decision will be yours. A marriage to me is a partnership.”

  She grinned. “Like you and Kip?”

  “Not exactly.” He chuckled. “I prefer you not chasing after bad guys. I don’t want to go through the close calls you’ve had this month ever again.”

  “I agree. I want to live a boring, peaceful life with at least three children.”

  He quirked a brow. “Boring? With kids? And you say this being a teacher?”

  “Okay. You’re right. Never dull but a peaceful life. I love you.”

  He leaned toward her and feathered his lips across her mouth. “That’s a much better description of our life to come, Lucy.”

  Then Lee sealed the proposal with a kiss, deep and long, rocking Lucy to the core, as he always had.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt of Betrayal on the Border by Jill Elizabeth Nelson!

  Dear Reader,

  I thoroughly enjoyed working with the other five authors in this continuity series for Love Inspired Suspense. They are exceptional writers who made this collaborative project an easy endeavor.

  I love hearing from readers. You can contact me at margaretdaley@gmail.com or at 1316 S. Peoria Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74120. You can also learn more about my books at www.margaretdaley.com. I have a quarterly newsletter that you can sign up for and you can enter my monthly drawings by signing my guest book on the website.

  Best wishes,

  Margaret Daley

  Questions for Discussion

  Heidi woke up from a coma without any knowledge of who she was. When she thought about her past, it was blank. Worse, soon she realized someone wanted her dead because of something she didn’t remember. How do you think you would handle it? What would bother you the most?

  Who is you favorite character? Why?

  Dogs can be a comfort to a person. Heidi was elated when Lee gave her Abbey on Valentine’s Day. Do you have a pet that is special to you? What is special about your pet?

  Lee’s fiancée betrayed him and married a man that Lee worked with. He had a hard time forgiving her. Has someone done something to you that has been hard to forgive? What was it? Why can’t you forgive that person?

  What is your favorite scene? Why?

  Lee caught someone abusing an animal. It angered him. What would you do if you saw an animal being abused?

  Lee was afraid to trust Heidi with his heart after Alexa. Trust is important in a relationship. How do you establish trust with another?

  Heidi had to accept help from strangers because of her situation. Is it easy for you to accept help from people? If not, why do you have trouble with that? What are some ways people can get over thinking they have to do everything themselves?

  Someone is behind a crime syndicate in Sagebrush. People are even afraid to talk. “The Boss” is ruthless. Have you ever been so afraid? What helps you when you are afraid?

  Even through her ordeal and lost memory, Heidi felt she had a strong faith. She sensed certain things about herself—she loved animals and children. A person’s essence can come through even with a loss of memory. What would be the essence for you? What do you think would prevail?

  Heidi was abused in her marriage and finally escaped her husband and divorced him. He didn’t accept that. He came after her. She felt trapped and fought to get away from him. What can women do to protect themselves? How can they escape an abuser?

  Lee discovered he was jealous of his ex-fiancée and what she had. He wanted a family. She had a child by another man. He found out that was the reason he held on to his anger. Have you ever been jealous of another? How do you deal with the jealousy?

  Heidi was faced with someone wanting to hurt her. Have you ever been really scared? How do you deal with it?

  Heidi needed to get her life on track. She needed to start over, doing something that would fulfill her. Have you ever started over? How did you do it? What helped you?

  What were some things that made Heidi fall in love with Lee? What were some things that made Lee fall in love with Heidi?

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

  You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

  Visit Harlequin.com to find your next great read.

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  ONE

  If that off-white chunk of clay was craftsman’s putty, Maddie Jameson would eat her tool belt. What was C-4 explosive compound doing on the kitchen table in this unit at Morningside Apartments? A chill rippled her insides.

  Not everyone would recognize the remnants from the construction of a pipe bomb. To the untrained eye, the dab of C-4 could be mistaken for putty and the bits of wire and lengths of sawed-off pipe merely scraps from a handy-man project. But then, not many apartment-maintenance workers were ex–army rangers with Maddie’s skill set—or a history that meant she must keep her head down and her eyes peeled.

  Those who hunted her were relentless and ruthless, and she was damaged prey. She needed to see them coming before they got to her.

  Not that she ever knew exactly what hired assassin would be after her. She could bump into one on the street and not know it until he tried to take her out. Everyone was a suspect. If only she could figure out why she was marked for death. Had she seen something the night of the attack a year ago on the Rio Grande? If so, her head injury had erased it from her memory.

  Was she the target of the bomb these Morningside tenants had been making? If the three attempts on her life within the past year were any clue, she’d be an idiot to think otherwise. Where was the bomb planted? Her caretaker’s apartment on the premises? Maddie’s mouth went dry. There could be collateral damage. Dozens of people—including children—lived in this building, and a bomb didn’t care who it destroyed.

  Dear God, please don’t let innocent families be hurt because of me.

  Fighting for a full breath, she looked down at the work order in her hand. No, she hadn’t made a mistake. The order listed this apartment and stated that the tenants had given permission for the maintenance person to enter in their absence in order to replace a torn window screen. But she’d checked the screens—they were whole. Why would the tenants give permission for her to enter the premises on a trumped-up excuse and then leave their bomb-making scraps lying around in plain view?

  Unless this was a trap.

  The air in Maddie’s lungs went arctic. Maybe the bomb was planted in this very unit. The timer could click down to zero at any second.

  Her feet cried Run—seek safety somewhere...anywhere! But flight wouldn’t help the other people who could be blown to smithereens.

  Sweat trickled down her scalp, despite the coolness blowing from the wall-mounted air conditioner. The scar above her right ear itched, but she ignored the sensation as she yanked her two-way radio from her belt and began to search the premises with her eyes. There wasn’t much space to cover in this studio apartment. A kitchenette. A living-room area with an easy chair and matching ottoman, a television the tenants had left blaring, and a couch that had been slept on, if the rumpled bedding was any indication. A hide-a-bed pulled out from the wall filled the rest of the space. That, too, hosted a nest of wadded bedding.

  “Bill, do you have a copy?” Maddie spoke into the radio.

  She took her thumb off the button and listened for a response. Silence answered. Great! The apartment manager had chosen this critical moment to be absent from his office.

  Maddie gingerly cracked the oven door open and peered inside. No bomb. She checked the refrigerator. A half-gallon carton of milk, a partially eaten brick of cheese and an overripe peach, but no bomb. She opened the cupboards with one hand while using the other to keep calling for Bill every few seconds. Still no answer. Her throat tensed as if invisible fingers had tightened around her windpipe. A little voice in her head screamed she was running out of time.

  The tenants in this unit had opted not to hook up a landline phone, and company regulations dictated that employees not carry cell phones. Bad policy in this instance. Maybe she should run to the office herself and phone for the bomb squad. But the bomb could go off in her absence and kill any of the neighbors above, below or on either side. If she found the apparatus, she could defuse it as well as—or better than—the police experts.

  She went to the clothes closet and pulled back the sliding door. Phew! The scent of onions rolled out. One of the owners of the stack of luggage that filled most of the space must have a love affair with the vegetable she most despised. Maddie let out a heavy sigh. She’d have to search each bag, and she’d be surprised if she didn’t find a different name on every airline tag. Crooks who wanted to fly under the system’s radar sometimes generated pocket money by walking off with pieces from baggage carousels and pawning or selling the contents.

>   From the hallway came the sound of male voices. They drew nearer...nearer...and then stopped on the other side of the apartment entrance. Maddie froze. The tenants were returning? Then the bomb wasn’t here. Her shoulders slumped, but then her gut tensed. It was too late to slip away unseen. She could hide in the closet with the onion odor, but to what purpose? If the tenants were in for the evening, she’d be found eventually. There was no way to exit this third-floor unit except through the front door.

  Well, then, that’s how she’d leave. If she could bluff her way out, fine. If not... Tingles traveled down her extremities. Her muscles gathered. Combat instincts reared their ugly heads. Instincts she wished to forget. Instincts she might need. Again.

  Maddie clipped the radio onto her belt and shoved the closet door shut as a click sounded in the entrance lock. A pair of men stepped inside, closed the door and then halted at the sight of her. Above a tall, whipcord body, a dark face with reddened eyes glared at her, lips peeled back from white teeth. Behind him, a short, pale man with doughy cheeks gaped in an astonished O.

  She forced a smile and held out her work order. “I was sent to repair your screen, but I can’t find any damage.”

  Lanky Man’s face grew darker as a spark of recognition lit his ink-black eyes. She didn’t know him, but he knew her. How? His hand slid beneath the front of his suit jacket as Dough Man leaped toward the table.

  With a feral growl, Maddie dropped the work-order slip and swept her leg toward Lanky Man—her immediate threat. Her heel hooked the back of his knee. Crack! A handgun discharged while her assailant toppled backward. The bullet pinged against metal—likely a piece of the sprinkler system.