by Geri Foster
“Okay,” he said. “We’re listening.”
“Opara isn’t in Rainwater. David and I have been prowling all night. I even had a few citizens on the lookout. He’s not here.”
“But we know he’s coming.”
“Austin and I are guessing he is. I received reports yesterday of a gun shop holdup and a stolen vehicle. Opara is the culprit. Cameras don’t lie.”
“Where do you think he is?”
“Waiting us out. He got wise to the Buffalo guy the feds worked, so that’s a no go. As far as we know, he can take his time.”
“I’m giving him until Sunday at noon, then I’m going after him.”
“He might have gone back to Chicago.”
He shrugged. “Then I’ll be driving to Chicago. I’ll find him. There’s no hole he can crawl in that I won’t find him.”
“Let’s plan on me, Austin and you meeting tomorrow morning. Austin’s connection with the FBI might still turn up something.”
“Keep us posted.”
She sighed, but there was nothing much they could do. Deciding to just keep moving forward, they fixed breakfast and then went outside. Walking behind him, she noticed the gun in the back of Jeff’s waistband, so she knew they were well protected. She helped him with several things as the morning moved by, but mostly she just stayed out of his way and let him work off the energy building up inside him.
At lunch she told him she was going into the house to fix sandwiches. He looked around and motioned for her to go ahead, but to be safe.
She passed Rosco and the geese, who hung around the barn with Jeff, as she went to the house. If they weren’t spooked, neither was she.
Entering the code for the alarm system, she paused and listened. Silence. The door had been in Jeff’s view all morning and he’d set the alarm before they left, so she didn’t think anything appeared wrong. Washing her hands at the kitchen sink, she then opened the refrigerator to get the items for lunch. With the lunch meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise in hand, she straightened and turned.
Alec Opara stood less than a foot away with a huge knife in his hand.
Before she could scream, he lunged forward and pressed his hand to her mouth. She dropped everything, and it crashed on the tile floor. Backing up, she turned to run but he grabbed her from behind and dragged her to the bedroom.
She kicked, tried to bite his hand, squirmed and waved her arms frantically. Then, she felt the cold sharpness of the blade against her throat.
She stilled.
“What do you want?”
“Him.” Alec said, calmly. “Dead.”
She licked her lips. “You know, he cared for your brother. He tried to save his team. The Commander set them up.”
“Shut your mouth. You only know what that killer has told you and he’s a liar.”
“And you only know what a traitor to his country and a liar told you, Alec. Can you believe a man your brother cared about would betray him?”
“I only know Hector is dead and Crawley is alive. That’s proof enough for me.” He shoved her against the wall. “Now shut up. You try to warn him and I’ll slit your throat.”
Taking him in, she saw he had a gun in his front pocket and a rifle strapped across his chest. He’d come to kill. She wouldn’t be another death on Jeff’s conscience. That couldn’t happen.
Convinced she wasn’t a threat, he backed up, looking around. Taking the opportunity presented to her, she moved to the corner of the room and glanced out the window. She couldn’t see Jeff, but she knew he was out there. No doubt soon he’d come looking for her and that’s when Alec would strike.
She couldn’t help but wonder where she fit into the scheme of things. Did he plan to murder her in front of Jeff to make him suffer more? Or did he have other plans?
Hoping to distract him long enough for Jeff to figure out what was going on, she tried to get him talking. “Jeff has the place secure. How did you get in here?”
“I drove miles across the back pasture, then I crawled on my stomach for several more miles. Then, I disarmed the backdoor alarm, came in and made myself at home.”
She didn’t think he was lying. For one, why would he? And for another, she’d noticed he was covered in sweat when he grabbed her. “You must be tired.” She attempted to play nice, get him to let his guard down.
“Nah, I’m not. I’m kind of hyped up. It’s exciting to know you’re finally going to get justice for your brother.”
Her temper flared and she couldn’t bite her tongue. “You don’t know anything about justice. You’re a murderer, a thief, a drug dealer and God only knows what else. So don’t talk to me about justice.”
He slapped her hard enough to knock her to her knees. Cradling her cheek, she glared up at him. So much for playing nice. “You don’t stand a chance.”
“I don’t know,” Alec said arrogantly. “I broke into the lock and security alarm on the back door in record time. Sure, they were pretty high-tech. I’ll give him that. But you see, to be a member of the Tri-City gang that’s part of your training. They time you and if you aren’t fast enough at breaking into a house, they don’t need you. Bet no one saw that coming, huh? I’ll let you in on a secret—no one ever does.”
Outside a commotion grabbed both their attention. Rosco was barking and the geese were going crazy.
“What’s that?” Alec asked.
“I don’t know,” she lied.
As Alec glanced down the hallway, she grabbed the beautiful vase on the table and threw it through the window. Jeff would hear the crash for sure.
Shocked, Alec ran toward her with the knife held high in the air. She screamed and grabbed the closest thing to her, which was, unfortunately, a pillow off the bed and held it in front of her. He sliced through it and at the same time she heard running footsteps.
The pillow was quickly made useless and she had no other defense. Alec grabbed her by the hair and she cringed as he pulled her to her feet.
She screamed again. This time he punched her so hard she tasted blood. “Run, Jeff run!”
Alec jostled her back and forth and that’s when she saw Jeff had come for her. “Hey, Opara, let her go. It’s me you want.”
Alec turned, grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around to face Jeff, the knife at her throat. He laughed as her knees trembled.
Biting back a sob, she whimpered, “I wanted you to run away from this, Jeff.”
“I’m not running from him.”
“I’m going to cut her from ear to ear while you watch.”
“That’s kind of cowardly, isn’t it, Opara?” Jeff tilted his head. “I knew a man with that same name, but he was an honorable soldier. He would risk his life for what was right. You aren’t even fit to claim his name.”
“You shut up. He was my brother and you had him killed.”
“That’s not true, and neither is you thinking him dying is the reason your life and your family fell apart. Your kin made all the wrong choices. You made all the wrong choices. That’s what ended you up right here with a knife to an innocent woman’s throat.”
She felt Alec’s body tremble.
“I’m here because of what you did in Afghanistan, you killer.”
“You’re right. I’ve killed more men than I can count. But they were all for a cause. Can you say that?”
“I don’t have to.”
“How proud do you think Hector would be of you right now? He used to talk about his baby brother all the time. How good he was at basketball and how smart he was in school. He loved you and his mother and your sister, Marie.”
“You don’t know them!” Alec shouted, his hands trembling. “You can’t say their names.”
“I’m only recounting the many conversations Hector and I had. How we shared stuff about families, our lives.” Jeff leaned against the door frame. “He was a good man and, like I said before, you’re not fit to call that fine soldier your brother.”
“I’m going to kill you
for making our lives miserable. You were supposed to take care of your men. Make sure they got out alive. Yet, only you came back. You have a life, I have nothing.” He tightened his hold on her and pressed the knife tighter against her throat.
She felt the blade as it sliced through her skin. Warm blood trickled down toward her chest and she held her breath. Closing her eyes, she prayed she’d survive this ordeal. When she opened them, Jeff’s gaze locked on hers and he swallowed. Quicker than she’d thought possible, he had a pistol in his hand and the sound of a gun shot echoed through the small bedroom.
She screamed as the pressure of Alec’s hold on her lessened and he slid down her back, the knife falling to the floor. Grabbing her neck, she looked at Jeff and then total darkness took over and she floated away.
* * *
Tossing the weapon aside, Jeff ran forward, placing his hand over Nancy’s throat. He took out his cell phone and called for help, then dropped it to the floor. He ripped the sleeve off his shirt and pressed it against her wound. He had no idea how bad it was, but pressure would slow or stop the bleeding.
He lifted her onto his lap as he sat on the floor. “Stay with me, sweetheart. Don’t go. Please don’t go.”
He glanced next to him at Alec. A bullet hole, no larger than a penny, stood out starkly on his pale forehead. His eyes were open, but he was dead. He’d probably died before he even realized he had a gun.
He returned his attention back to Nancy. She was pale, her skin covered in an unhealthy sheen. He’d seen it before and he didn’t like it.
“Where in the hell is that help?” he screamed loudly, hoping to make it move faster. “I need help now.”
He continued to hold her, keeping the wound on her neck covered. Sirens rang out in the distance and he finally was able to take a decent breath, but Nancy wasn’t out of danger yet.
“I’m back here!” he called out. “We’re in the bedroom to the right.”
Within a minute, two EMTs filled the doorway. They entered the room and edged him out. He understood they needed room to work and him being there impeded their progress. Letting her go and backing away was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do.
Not wanting to go too far, not able to go too far, he stood by the door, covered in blood. Not his, that he knew of, but Nancy’s, and that broke his heart. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Another death on his rotten soul? The most important death of all?
Had he reached out and loved only to lose again?
A strong hand gripped his arm and walked him down the hall to the living room. Lucas stood in the middle of the floor, Marcus beside him. He turned as Nancy was wheeled out of the bedroom, through the hall and out the front door. Neither EMT made eye contact and he didn’t take that as a good sign.
“I have to go.”
“I know,” Austin said. “But I’m going to drive.”
“Leave the door unlocked,” Lucas said. “David is with the coroner, they’ll collect Alec’s body.”
“You’re sure he’s dead?” Austin asked.
“Yeah, I didn’t miss.”
“Good,” Lucas said. “Let’s get to the hospital. Nancy needs us.”
The trip to town became a blur to him as he rode shotgun with Austin. His nephew had already called Russ and asked him to meet them at the hospital.
When they arrived, Lucas marched to the front desk and asked about Nancy’s condition. The nurse didn’t bother with procedures, she looked over at him and said, “She’s in surgery right now. The last we heard they didn’t know if she’s was going to make it or not.”
His heart lunged painfully in his chest. Covering his face with his hands, he bit back tears. He didn’t want to lose her. Couldn’t lose her. She meant everything to him.
“You can go to the waiting room on the third floor,” the woman added. “I’ll let the surgical nurse know you’re there.”
“We appreciate your help,” Austin thanked her and urged him to move.
As they stood in front of the elevator doors, Russ came through the revolving doors and rushed toward them. “How is she?”
“We don’t know yet,” Austin spoke for him again. “We’re going to the waiting room.”
When the doors opened they all stepped into the elevator. Lucas pushed the number three and they moved upward.
Austin put his arm around his shoulders. He couldn’t believe this was happening. “Be strong. Nancy is a young and healthy woman. She’ll make it.”
“Yes,” Russ added. “Let’s all stay positive until we know otherwise.”
They found the sterile room with its rows of chairs and sat down. There was little else besides a vending machine, a bathroom and a drinking fountain occupying the space.
It felt lonely and empty. A place where people sat and prayed, hoped, thought and cried.
He hated it. He didn’t want to be there. Not while he worried what they were doing to Nancy. Her death lay at his feet. He’d been so damn arrogant to think he was the only one who could protect her. Hell, he couldn’t protect himself.
An hour ticked by with hardly a word uttered, and then another went by. He was wound so tight he thought he might burst out in a scream of hysteria. Jumping to his feet, he was desperate to be outside where he could breath. Suddenly a doctor, wearing a lab coat, came into the room.
Lucas stood and they shook hands. “How is she?”
“She’s going to make it. We got her in the nick of time, but considering all that happened, we got lucky.”
The ringing in his head grew louder and louder by the minute. “Did you say Nancy will be all right?”
“Yes, but she’s lost a lot of blood.” The doctor looked him up and down. “As I can see by your clothing. But, with a few days in the hospital, she should be able to go home and finish recuperating there.”
“She’ll be coming to my house,” he declared. “I can care for her.”
“Now, Jeff,” his brother warned. “Let’s get her doing better and then we’ll talk about her after-care.”
He shook his head. Russ had no idea what they’d come to mean to each other, but now was not the time to discuss it. “Can we see her?” he asked. “Please, it would mean so much.”
“Yes, just let them get her settled and the nurse will come to escort you back.”
The doctor left, and he slumped back down in the chair. “I can’t believe she made it.”
“We’re blessed,” Lucas said. “If anything happened to Nancy the whole town would fall apart.”
With worry over Nancy controlled for the moment, his thoughts moved on to Alec. Rubbing his chin, he said aloud, “I can’t figure out how Opara got in the house.”
“Could he have come from the back pasture?”
“That’s a long walk and he would’ve been in the wide open. If that was the case, I should have seen him.”
“Maybe he came through the Travis’ ranch.”
“No, I have that side secure. When I get home, I’ll watch the security cameras. I want to know where I’m weakest.”
Austin patted him on the back. “I doubt you’ll ever have to worry about security again. I got word today from NCIS that our friends Munson and Felix are expected to spend the rest of their lives in federal prison.”
“That’s good news. But I wish I could’ve saved my team. They were a second family.”
“By the looks of it, you have another family now,” Russ said. “Women are magical. They can make a man feel whole again.” He glanced at Austin. “I’m speaking from experience.”
Chapter 15
Nancy didn’t realize Jeff’s house could hold so many people. He’d picked her up at the hospital this morning, after she’d spent three days there recuperating, and now they were both surprised to come back to half the town waiting in his house for their return. So much for her resting.
Her throat had suffered no lasting damage and she couldn’t have been happier to be rolled out to the curb in a wheelchair. Jeff took her fo
r a fast food lunch, saying she could leave off the dieting given the circumstances, and then they headed out to his place for some peace and quiet.
Evidently the people of Rainwater didn’t get the message. Everyone greeted them warmly and when her gaze moved to the counter, she swore she’d never seen so much food. How on earth would they ever eat all that?
Taking her elbow gently, Jeff spoke to the crowd. “As you can all see, Nancy is better. She suffered no permanent damage and is expected to make a full recovery.” He waved at the counter. “You all help yourselves to the food, since we’ll never eat it all, and I’m going to go tuck Nancy into bed where she belongs.”
She felt a little embarrassed by his brashness, but she did feel tired. Waving timidly, she allowed him to usher her to the master bedroom where he promptly helped her undress and slip into a comfortable gown instead of one issued by the hospital.
“I should’ve stayed and visited with everyone for a few minutes. They’ve been kind enough to come all the way out here. And did you see all the food?”
“I did, and I’m not going to let you wear yourself out trying to entertain people who should be home minding their own business.”
She put her hand on his chest. “You’re being rude and I know it’s because you’re concerned about me.” Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed him soundly on the lips, then added, “You shouldn’t be.”
“Too bad. I came close to losing you and I don’t want that to happen again. I love you too much.”
Her heart nearly burst at the words. “You love me?”
He smiled brightly and leaned forward so their foreheads rested against one another. “Sweetheart, you have no idea how much.”
“Hmm…” She raised a brow. “Do you love me enough to get married?”
His head shot up. “What?”
“Married. Is that something you can see yourself doing? One day…in the future…with…me?”
He looked shocked. “Would you marry me?” he pressed his hands to his chest. “A nobody rancher with a checkered past?”
She giggled. “There’s nothing in your past that accepting an apology from the military wouldn’t solve.” She poked him with her finger. “And I want that taken care of, you understand? You deserve more than what you settled for.”