Three hours later, she sat on a gurney in the emergency department, absently checking her email on her phone and waiting to be released. She had the all-clear healthwise, with simple orders to rest and heal. She had no concussion from the hit with the cuffs, just a cut and a bad knot. It would heal.
She sighed and dialed Dylan’s number.
“Hello?”
“Dylan, you sound a little tense.”
“Oh. It’s you.”
A laugh slipped from her. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“No, no. It’s okay. I’m sorry. What’s up?”
“I just called to say thanks for all your hard work on the fund-raiser for Asher. He’s doing really well.”
“Aw, you’re welcome,” he replied. “That was a fun project to do. At least I knew it would have a good outcome.”
“So what else is going on? What’s gotten you so stressed?”
“It’s still Zara. I haven’t heard from her in almost a week. I know she’s working hard at Quantico with her training and everything, but she’s my fiancée. I need to hear from her.”
Harper frowned. “That is disturbing.” It just occurred to her that Zara hadn’t answered the text she’d sent her a few days ago.
“Thank you! See? It’s driving me nuts. I’ve called and called and gotten nothing. I’m ready to fly out there and start knocking down doors until someone gives me some answers.”
“Let me call Quantico and see what I can find out.”
He exhaled an audible sigh of relief. “I would be forever grateful.”
“All right, give me a little time. I’ll be in touch soon.”
She hung up and dialed the number that would take her past all the security and right to the person she needed. When the call center picked up, she said, “This is Harper Prentiss. I’d like to talk to Zara Fielding. She hasn’t been in touch with her fiancé for the past week and we’re all a little concerned.”
“All trainees are indisposed at the moment, but more information will be forthcoming.”
“Indisposed? What does that mean?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t offer anything more than that.”
“That’s a canned response and you know it. What’s going on?”
“As I said, more information will be forthcoming.”
Harper sighed. She wasn’t going to get anything else out of the woman. “All right, thanks.”
“Have a nice day.”
“Right. You, too.” She hung up and frowned. Something was definitely wrong. She called Dylan back and he answered on the first ring.
“What did you find out?”
She told him her conversation with the attendant.
“I don’t like it,” he said.
“Okay, here’s what I think. I think Zara and her team are probably in some type of safe house or something like that. I really don’t think you need to worry. Remember, the best of the best is looking out for her and the other trainees.”
“Yeah, but sometimes things can go wrong even for the best of the best.”
She had to agree. “Hang in there, Dylan. We’ll figure it out.”
He blew out a breath. “Thanks for trying, Harper.”
“Sure thing.”
She disconnected just as a knock on her door brought her head up. “Come in.”
Riley stepped inside and shut the door behind him. “Hey.”
Still a little miffed at his aloof treatment from earlier, Harper debated about answering him then decided not to be childish. “Hey.”
He gestured to the chair next to the bed. “You mind?”
“It’s all yours.”
He seated himself and closed his eyes for a moment.
“It’s been a long day.”
“Yes.”
“I just came from Asher’s room.”
She softened. She simply couldn’t stay mad at him. “How’s he doing?”
“Great.” His throat worked and she wondered what he was trying to say. “He can feel his feet and wiggle his toes.”
Tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t help it. She’d come to love Asher in a very short period time. “That’s wonderful, Riley.”
“Yes. It is.”
“How is your head? Do you have a concussion?”
“A slight one, but the scans were clear.” He touched his side. “The gunshot wound has been cleaned and stitched up and my hands have new bandages.”
“Sounds like you’re good to go.”
“I am.” He paused and ran a hand over his chin. “So what now? Morrow’s still out there.”
“Which means we’re still looking for him.”
He nodded. “It just hit me while I was watching Asher that you and your team are really good people. The real deal.”
She gave a low laugh. “You just now realized that?”
He shook his head. “This isn’t coming out right.”
“I’m sorry. Go ahead.”
“I think after Charlotte died, I lost what little faith I had in humanity. I closed myself off to all but my mother and Asher.”
“Understandable,” she murmured.
“Maybe. But wrong, too. Asher wouldn’t have had that surgery yet without you and your team. I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“We’d never ask.”
He smiled. “I know. You all have restored my faith that not everyone is just looking out for themselves. Some people actually care about others and look out for them, help them. I needed to see that and guess God knew that.”
“He does give us what we need when we need it.”
“Even when we don’t realize we need it sometimes.”
She laughed. “Sometimes it works that way, doesn’t it?”
“I...”
“What?”
He cleared his throat then said in a low, rough voice, “I don’t want this to be the end.”
“Of what?”
“Us.”
Her heart sped up. “There’s an us?”
“I sure hope so.” He settled on the edge of her bed and leaned in, his eyes intense.
Harper swallowed and tried to still her suddenly rapid pulse.
“How do you feel about long-distance relationships?” he asked, taking her hands in his.
“I don’t know. I’ve never had one.”
“Well, I don’t like them.”
She blinked. “Oh. Okay.”
“When Asher can travel, I want to bring him and Mom out to Billings and see you.”
“Really?” she whispered.
“Really. And then we’ll have that dinner date we still haven’t had.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
He leaned over and kissed her. Time stopped for that brief moment. She kissed him back and realized how very much she wanted it to work between them. When he pulled back, his eyes were warm, glowing almost. She wondered if hers looked the same.
He smiled. “See you soon.”
FIFTEEN
Three weeks later
Billings, Montana
K-9 Headquarters
Riley pressed the phone to his ear. He’d made the call to Max after much pacing and soul-searching. Asher watched him from the sofa across the room. “What do you think? Will you help me?”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Max said.
“So you think she’ll go for it?”
“I guess all you can do is give it your best shot, but yes, I think she will. Did she tell you that she found her father?”
“Yes.” He paused. “She went to see him at the prison, didn’t she?”
Max sighed. “Yeah, and she wouldn’t let anyone go with her. She said this was something she had to do on her own.”
“That’s what she told me.” He’d offered to go with her and she’d turned him down flat. He understood. Sort of. But still didn’t like it. “All right, keep this all under your hat and I’ll see you soon.”
Riley hung up with Max and went back to pacing. Asher giggled. “What’s so funny,
Champ?”
“You.”
“What do you mean?” He swiped a hand across his forehead then rubbed it on his jeans.
“Why are you all sweaty?”
Riley paused, wiped his forehead again then shot him a wry smile. “I guess it’s called nerves, kid.”
Asher blinked at him. “Huh?”
He sighed. “Can you keep a secret?”
His nephew’s eyes went wide. “A secret? Like a real live never-ever-tell secret?”
“Well, we’re going to tell it eventually, but yeah.”
Asher frowned and puckered his lips. After about a six-second delay, he nodded. “I’ve thought about it. I can keep a secret.”
“Great. So here’s what we’re going to do...”
* * *
Harper sat at the conference table wondering why Max had called her in. Then Ian Slade stepped inside and her confusion mounted. “What’s this all about? Do you know?”
“Not a clue. I was hoping you knew something.”
She shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough. How are you doing?”
He shrugged. “I want Jake Morrow in custody.”
“I know.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Like new. All healed up. No more headaches.”
“And Riley?”
Just thinking of him brought a smile to her face. “He’s perfect.”
Ian laughed. “He’s a man. Trust me, he’s not perfect.”
She lightly punched his shoulder. “He’s perfect for me. We’ve FaceTimed every day since I’ve been back here. And Asher is making remarkable progress. He’s walking on his own and even running a little.”
Ian’s expression softened. “That’s wonderful.”
The door opened and Max stepped inside. “Thanks for coming in, guys.”
“We had a choice?” Ian smirked.
“You’re a funny guy, Ian.”
Ian sobered. “Okay, boss, what’s this all about?”
Max looked Ian in the eye and Harper frowned. “I know about your connection to the Duprees.”
Ian stiffened and his face went blank. “It’s not a secret.”
“But you’ve treated it like one.”
“What’s going on?” Harper asked.
Max continued to hold Ian’s gaze. “I haven’t told anyone else, but I wanted Harper to be in on this discussion. She needs to know.”
“Know what?”
Ian sighed and nodded. “All right.” He met Harper’s gaze. “The Duprees killed my parents.”
Harper gasped. “What?”
“It’s a long story, but it happened when I was sixteen years old. I vowed to bring them down one day.”
Max turned his attention to her. “I wouldn’t have said anything except we’re getting close and I want Ian to have backup and eyes on him at all times. If something happens, I don’t want the Duprees to be able to claim Ian acted unprofessionally.”
“Boss—”
“I don’t think you would. I’m saying I want to be able to back up anything that goes down with an eyewitness. You understand? This isn’t about revenge. It’s about justice.”
Ian nodded and stood. “Sometimes the two are one and the same.” He walked to the window and stared out.
Max frowned and Harper could tell he was worried about Ian.
“Are we done here?” Ian asked.
“We’re done.”
Ian left and Max sighed.
Harper crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “Ian’s one of the best, Max. He’ll be all right.”
Max nodded. “I know he is. I just pray that his personal vow to bring in Angus Dupree to join his nephew in prison doesn’t get Ian—or anyone else—killed.”
She nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on him.” She turned to leave.
“Hold on a second, will you?”
Harper raised a brow. “Is there something else?”
“No. I mean yes.”
Harper frowned then gave a little laugh. “Okay. Which one is it?”
A knock on the door interrupted them. Max’s immediate relief had her extremely curious. Harper stood to answer the door since it was closer to her side of the table, but Max beat her to it.
“Harper!”
The little voice wrangled a gasp from her. “Asher? Riley? What are you guys doing here?”
The little boy stepped carefully, placing one foot in front of the other to finally reach her. He grinned up at her and she gently swung him up into her arms with an exaggerated grunt. “You’ve gained weight since I last saw you.”
“Uncle Riley’s been feeding me steak.”
“Good for him.”
Riley and Max shook hands. Then Riley hugged her and planted a quick hello kiss on her lips. She wanted more, but was as aware of their audience as he was.
“I came to take you to lunch,” Riley said. “Can you get away?”
Harper looked at Max and he nodded. “Go. Enjoy.”
“Thanks, Max.”
Asher refused to let go of her hand after she set him on his feet so she held it and Riley took the other one. Asher walked between them with a smile on his face.
Once out of the building and on the sidewalk, Harper leaned over Asher’s head and kissed Riley on the cheek. “How’d you get in and upstairs?”
“I have friends in high places now, remember? Like your coworkers?”
She laughed. “I guess so.” She pulled Asher to her in a quick hug, careful not to knock him off balance. “I can’t believe you guys are here. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” Asher said. “But I’m hungry. Can we eat?”
Riley laughed. “Of course. And we’re almost there.”
“Where?”
“Three more steps and turn right.”
Asher counted his steps out loud then made a sharp right nearly causing Riley to stumble. He caught the boy and helped him open the door to a small café that was one of Harper’s favorites.
Petrov’s Bakery. “Oh, yum. We get pastries here for our meetings. I think if they quit supplying them, we’d quit meeting.”
Riley waved a hand to the man behind the counter and he nodded with a smile. “I rented out the back room so we could have it to ourselves.”
“What? Oh, how fun.”
SIXTEEN
Riley led the way to the back. He’d arranged this all with Max and Max had led him to the café. The table had been set for three and he pulled out the chair for her. She settled into it. At one of the other places, a small bell was next to the water glass. Riley smiled. Perfect.
“Wow,” Harper said, “thanks, guys. This is so lovely.”
Nerves attacked him and he drew in a deep breath. “I’m glad you like it. Asher and I put a lot of thought into it, didn’t we?”
“We sure did. Are you going to show her the—”
He clamped a hand over the child’s mouth. “Not yet.”
Asher’s eyes went wide. Then he giggled. “Okay.” He looked at Harper. “It’s a secret.”
“A secret, huh?” She slid a glance at Riley and he put on his most innocent smile.
She narrowed her eyes and he cleared his throat. The waiter arrived and spared him for a moment. After placing their order, he took a sip of his water then set the glass aside. “Any word on Morrow?”
She shook her head. “No. But we’re not giving up. We’ll find him.”
Harper put the napkin in her lap. “Thank you, this is wonderful.”
Asher laughed. “You already said that. Well, actually, I guess you said lovely, but it’s the same thing, right?”
Harper grinned. “Yes, I suppose so. But it’s true.”
Riley smiled as well. “How did your visit with your father go today?”
The joy left her face and Riley could have kicked himself for bringing up the subject. He blamed his nerves for doing so.
Harper sighed. “It went well, I think. I was rather surprised at his reception.
He said he’d thought of me often and wondered what I ended up like. You should have seen his face when I told him what I did for a living, though. Now that was quite a sight to see.”
“And he didn’t get up and walk out?”
“No.” She gave an odd smile and he thought she looked amused. “He seemed...proud.”
“You expected him to have a different reaction.”
“Absolutely. He’s spent his life hating cops and their authority and then he winds up with a daughter for one. It was sort of funny. In a weird kind of way.”
“So, do you think you’ll go see him again?”
Harper nodded. “Yes. I’m working on forgiving him. I asked him if he’d be willing to be transferred here to Billings and he said he would. I told him I’d see if I could arrange it.” She drew in a breath. “I think the more I see him, the easier that will be. Maybe.”
Riley lifted a brow. “You really think you’ll forgive him?”
Harper smiled. “I think it will be a daily journey. But I think, with God’s help, it’s one that I have to take.”
Riley reached over and wrapped a hand around her warm fingers. “I understand,” he said. “And it’s a journey you don’t have to take alone.”
Harper blinked back tears. “You can’t know how much that means to me.”
Riley grinned. “I might have a pretty good idea.”
“Uncle Riley, aren’t you going to show her—”
Riley clapped his free hand over Asher’s mouth again. “Not yet.”
Harper giggled. He didn’t think he’d ever heard that sound come from her before. “I think you’d better show me whatever it is you haven’t shown me yet.”
Riley sighed. If he kept dragging it out, Asher was going to spill the beans. “Well, Asher, Mom and I have decided to move to Billings, Montana.”
Harper froze and her eyes went wide. “What?”
He shrugged. “We miss you. And my job is portable. So to speak.” She still looked stunned and Riley’s palms started to sweat. “Um, is that okay?”
A huge smile spread across her face. “It’s more than okay. It’s wonderful!”
Riley’s heart pounded. “Oh good. We were hoping for that reaction.”
“Of course. I couldn’t be happier.”
Tears stood in her eyes, bolstering his courage for the next part of the conversation. “So, Harper...”
Bounty Hunter (Classified K-9 Unit) Page 17