by Hope White
He nodded and sipped his coffee.
“May I ask, why didn’t you stop her? I don’t mean that to sound judgmental.”
He shook his head. “I spent a year and a half asking myself that same question, praying on it, praying for forgiveness.”
“Did you get it?”
“Yes, but I had to face an ugly truth. I was actually relieved she wanted to break up. And then...well, I had to admit that we weren’t meant to be together, but I couldn’t bring myself to break up because she needed me, she needed someone with integrity, someone to take care of her. She’d been emotionally damaged by her father and other men in her life. I didn’t know that until we were together for a couple of months. She was good at hiding her emotional scars with humor.”
Jenna wondered if that’s why Matthew had assigned himself as her protector, because he had a driving need to protect women.
“Do you still blame yourself for her accident?” Jenna asked.
“Actually, no.” He sat back in his chair. “I’ve learned you can’t control other people’s choices, but you should pay close attention to what’s going on, you know, be present.”
“That’s what I was doing with Chloe when she came to see me.”
“You’re a good friend,” Matthew offered.
“Maybe.”
Matthew cocked his head in question.
“A better friend would have been able to save her life,” she said.
“In those circumstances you would have been overpowered. There’s nothing you could have done.”
Jenna shrugged. A few seconds of silence stretched between them. It wasn’t uncomfortable silence, but contemplative.
“What happens next?” she asked. “Will you be heading back to the community center?”
“You’re that anxious to get rid of me, huh?” He winked.
On the contrary, she dreaded the moment he left her and Eli, even though she was confident in Marcus’s ability to protect them.
“I assumed once we found Marcus that you’d go back to your normal, undercover life,” she said. “That sounded weird, didn’t it?”
That charming half smile tugged at his lips. “Let’s confer with Marcus before we make our next move. He knows the area and the local law enforcement, and he’s obviously pretty good with strategy.”
Marcus reentered the cabin, tapping his boots on the rug by the door. “The guy’s name is Brian Veck. Mean anything to either of you?”
“No,” Matthew said.
Jenna shook her head.
“Patterson will run him through the database to see if anything pops.” Marcus shucked his jacket and hung it on the coatrack. “He’s charging Veck with breaking and entering, kidnapping, assault and attempted murder.”
“Attempted murder?” Jenna echoed.
“Yeah, he tried to kill me—oh, wait, you didn’t see it because the lights were out.” Marcus smiled.
“Your coffee’s on the counter,” Matthew said.
“Thanks.” Marcus grabbed the mug and leaned against the kitchen counter. “I still can’t believe what happened to Chloe.”
“I’m so sorry, Marcus,” Jenna said.
“What did she get herself into?”
“I think it’s related to a money-laundering case I’m working on,” Matthew offered.
“She left me a voice mail about wanting to leave Gary, but I was running a protective detail for a family overseas and had to stay focused. I emailed her that I’d get in touch when I returned to the States.” He shook his head. “I can protect complete strangers, but can’t even take care of my own family.”
“No one could have known her life was in danger,” Jenna said. “I certainly didn’t.”
“Why Chloe?” Marcus glanced at Jenna, and she had to steel herself against his painful expression.
“I think her husband was involved in the money laundering somehow,” Matthew said.
“Okay, but why kill her?” Marcus pressed.
“She probably knew too much. Either she heard something or saw something she shouldn’t have,” Matthew said.
“She was certainly scared when she came to see me,” Jenna said.
“And now it sounds like your life is in danger.” Marcus nodded at Jenna. “But what do they want with Eli?”
“Gary obviously wants his son back,” Jenna said.
“Not happening, not if he’s in any way responsible for my cousin’s death.” Marcus turned to Matthew. “You’re going after Gary, right?”
“That’s why I was undercover at the foundation’s office, to determine who was involved and find evidence to support our case.”
“Then you need to get back there and put the guy away. I’ll protect Jenna and Eli.”
Matthew glanced at Jenna and she nodded her approval of the plan, even though her heart panged with the anticipated loss of a good friend.
A friend? Really, Jenna?
“Is that what you want?” Matthew asked her.
No, of course not.
“Yes,” she said. “If it will put an end to the threat against Eli.”
Matthew ripped his gaze from Jenna and addressed Marcus. “I figure we’ve got until tomorrow morning before they come looking for Veck.”
“I’ll keep watch tonight. I’m jet-lagged anyway, so night is my daytime. You two get some sleep.”
“I’ll get the portable playpen from the truck for Eli, and Jenna can take the bed.” Matthew crossed the room and put on his coat.
It was almost like he needed to get away from Jenna, to put distance between them. He hesitated before opening the door, as if he wanted to say something to her. Instead, he left and shut the door behind him.
* * *
The next morning Jenna did her best to be strong as she played with Eli, even though her heart was breaking.
Matthew had left without saying a final goodbye. Once he’d clicked into agent mode, he apparently couldn’t be distracted by feelings that had grown between him and Jenna.
Or maybe she was kidding herself and the feelings were one-sided.
No, they’d obviously grown close or else he wouldn’t have opened up so completely about Sarah’s death. He’d claimed that he had forgiven himself for the accident, but Jenna wasn’t so sure.
For one thing, she was puzzled by the idea of self-forgiveness.
Marcus entered the cabin. “Looks like a good day ahead. Sun’s shining. Main road’s clear. I’m able to track Veck’s main contact through his phone. They’re a solid six hours away.” He went to the kitchen. “I’ve got surveillance set up around the property so we’ll know if anyone’s coming.”
“That’s great,” she said, continuing to play blocks with Eli.
“Once we got the truck out of the snowbank, and changed the tire, it started up just fine. There was a little damage to the fender, but nothing serious. That was a good move, to block the drive so the thug couldn’t get out.”
“It wasn’t intentional.”
“Matt was sorry he missed you this morning. He hopes to get back to Cedar River by midday.”
“Good, that’s good.” Except good didn’t describe how she felt at this very moment.
“It’s normal, ya know.”
She glanced at him. “What’s that?”
“To develop a connection to someone who’s protecting you.”
“How did you...?”
“It’s my business, remember? Protecting people.”
“So I’ll stop missing him after a while?”
“Sure, no doubt.”
His response didn’t sound convincing.
“How’s my little cousin doing?” Marcus grabbed Eli and held him up like he was flying. Eli giggled and kicked his feet. Marcus put the boy down and tugged on his overalls. “Very stylish, dude.”
Eli giggled, turned and ran back to the coffee table to play with his blocks.
“What’s the plan?” she asked.
“My buddy has a place near the Idaho border. I’ll take you there and we’ll wait it out until we hear back from Matt.”
“I hope we’re not interfering with your work schedule.”
“No problem. I got it covered.”
He grabbed his phone and eyed the screen. “That’s not good.”
Jenna sat up.
He grabbed a pair of binoculars off a bookshelf and looked through the front window. “Whoa, you’ve gotta go.”
“Me, what about you?”
He calmly picked up Eli’s snowsuit and Jenna’s jacket. “Get the diaper bag.”
“Who’s here?”
He pinned her with steely dark eyes. “If you want to survive, you’ll need to follow my orders.”
She nodded and went into the bedroom to get the baby’s diaper bag. Although tempted to look out the window to see what was happening, she knew time was critical and that her best option was to follow Marcus’s orders.
When she reentered the living room, she noticed wooden boards were pulled up, exposing a hole in the floor by the fireplace.
“That’s my safe room,” he said, by way of explanation. “It opens to a tunnel that leads to the shed out back. Take Eli to the shed and wait until someone comes to get you. I’d suggest you use the snowmobile back there, but that’d be impossible to manage with a kid.”
“Wait, a safe room? With a tunnel?”
“The shed’s not heated, but you’ll be okay in your snow gear. I’ll text Patterson to retrieve you, okay?”
“But who’s out there?”
“Looks like the Feds, but I can’t know for sure. Go on,” he said calmly.
“But Marcus—”
“Chloe chose you to protect Eli because you’re strong, Jenna. You can do this.”
With a nod, she climbed down the stairs to the safe room and he handed her Eli. Then he tossed their snow gear down and pointed. “Switch is on the left.”
She felt around and flicked it on. A soft glow illuminated a room full of supplies, including weapons, food and water.
“Follow the tunnel to the shed,” Marcus repeated.
She glanced nervously toward the dark opening leading into the tunnel.
“Flashlight is by the entrance, see it?”
She nodded, but couldn’t speak past the fear tightening her throat.
“Oh, and Jenna—”
Pounding echoed from the front door.
“Go, go.” He shut the trap door.
She stared at it for a few seconds, gathering her thoughts...and her courage.
Please, God, give me courage.
With a sudden rush of purpose, she got Eli dressed in his snow jacket. She put on her own jacket and scarf, keeping a close eye on him as she fumbled around the small room.
“Let’s go, buddy,” she said.
She strapped Eli in the baby carrier, positioning him against her chest. “Ready for an adventure?” she said brightly, because she knew children sensed your emotions, your fear, and would react accordingly.
“Buh-buh,” he said. She grabbed the white bear out of the diaper bag and handed it to him. The little boy snatched it and giggled, burying his face into the soft fur.
She aimed the flashlight into the tunnel. “I can do this.”
The ground was covered with wooden planks that served as a floor, and the walls were braced with beams. A quick flash of it collapsing made Jenna hesitate for a moment.
With a determined breath, she stepped into the dark passageway, hearing Marcus’s words echo in her mind—Chloe chose you to protect Eli because you’re strong, Jenna.
“I am strong.”
As she forged ahead, she heard pounding from above, then the sound of men shouting, someone giving loud orders, and more pounding. She blocked out the distraction, determined to reach her goal: getting to safety and waiting for Marcus’s friend, Officer Patterson, to come get her.
In the meantime, she’d keep Eli happy and distracted in the shed. She pushed aside the thought that the men would come looking for her there.
“Isn’t this something, Eli?”
His eyes widened and he looked around. Fueled by determination, and love for this innocent child, Jenna focused on the ladder in the distance.
She picked up her pace, ignoring the walls that felt like they were closing in, the darkness barreling down on her from behind.
Approaching the end of the tunnel, she set the flashlight on the ground, pointing it upward. The beam illuminated a door up above.
“Here we go, buddy.” She ascended the ladder, hoping the door would easily open. She didn’t want to think about being stuck down here.
She tapped on the door. “Help Jenna, buddy.”
Eli reached out and tapped as well.
“One, two, three...”
She pushed it open with ease, and relief poured through her. She climbed up into the shed and took Eli out of the carrier. Shucking the diaper and her messenger bags, she scanned the shed for anything immediately dangerous to Eli. Because the supplies were locked in tall metal cabinets, it seemed pretty safe.
There was one window, facing the cabin, which had probably been designed for Marcus to keep an eye on what was happening if he ever needed to escape and hide out in here. A few minutes later, she noticed two dark SUVs driving away from the property toward the main road.
Driving away? Which meant...they’d taken Marcus?
Eli hugged her leg and let out a squeal. He was bored, or tired, or a little of both. It was about time for his midday nap. She put him back in the carrier, facing her.
“It’s okay, baby boy. Everything’s okay.”
If only Matthew were here.
No, she had to learn to take care of herself and Eli without Matthew’s help.
She rocked Eli from one side of the eight-by-eight shed to the other. He squealed and kicked his feet. She kept moving, humming, and he finally quieted down. She looked at his sweet face and realized he’d fallen asleep from the movement.
“We’ll be okay,” she whispered, stroking the back of his head.
She thought she heard a soft tap at the door. Officer Patterson had certainly arrived quickly.
She opened the door...
To the angry expression of Chloe’s husband, Gary.
“What are you—?”
“I’ll take my child now,” he demanded.
NINE
No matter how hard Matt tried to convince himself that leaving Jenna behind was the right thing to do, he still felt like he’d made a colossal mistake.
Intellectually it made sense for him to return to his undercover assignment, to continue to expose the money laundering. That would essentially make Jenna safe again.
From Marcus’s performance last night, Matt could tell the guy was equipped to handle any situation. Having confirmed Marcus’s background with Bob Barnes yesterday made it easier for Matt to leave Jenna behind.
Not easy, but manageable. It was the best choice, especially given the circumstances and Bob’s comment about Pragge threatening to dismiss agents who couldn’t follow orders.
Matt’s phone rang and he recognized Bob’s number. He hit the speaker button. “Tell Pragge I’ll be back at the foundation office tonight.”
“Matt, it’s about Marcus Garcia.”
Matt gripped the wheel. “What about him?”
“There’s a warrant out for his arrest.”
“For what?”
“Assault and battery.”
“I thought you said his background was clean.”
“It was.”
Matt slowed down and yanked the wheel left, doing a U-turn in the mi
ddle of the highway. “Why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?”
“The warrant was issued this morning.”
“When did this assault supposedly happen?” Matt asked.
“Last night.”
“Impossible. He was with us.”
Matt sped up, trying to control his panic, his frustration that he’d left Jenna when she needed him most.
“Who issued the warrant?” Matt asked.
“Cedar River PD.”
“Chief Billings?”
“You got it.”
Which meant they’d found a connection between Chloe and her cousin Marcus, and were closing in...
On Marcus and the cabin.
On Jenna and Eli.
“Is Jenna North okay?” Bob said.
“She will be.”
“You’re going back, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
“What do you want me to tell Pragge?”
“Tell him I’ll check in later.”
Matt ended the call and hightailed it back to the cabin. He hadn’t been driving all that fast when he’d left, a part of him not in any rush to return to his assignment.
Admit it, Matt, you didn’t want to abandon Jenna.
He’d left the cabin half an hour ago, so if he doubled his speed he’d make it back in fifteen minutes.
“Hang in there, Jenna,” he said, thankful that the plows had done good work overnight to clear the highway of snow.
With a bulletin out on Marcus, the authorities, local and national, would be on the lookout for him. That included Marcus’s friend, Officer Patterson.
No one could be trusted.
Chief Billings no doubt figured with Marcus out of the way, Jenna would have no one to turn to.
How did they even find Marcus? It seemed like he stayed off the grid pretty well, and Matt was sure a guy like that would disable the GPS on his phone so as not to be tracked.
Then again, if they went through Chloe’s phone and checked her email, they’d see she’d reached out to her cousin. Maybe they couldn’t find him, but they knew he lived in Montana, and what better way to enlist the help of statewide police than to release a false bulletin?
Even if Officer Patterson remained loyal to Marcus, there were surely other officers who knew about the former Navy SEAL living in the area. People tended to know each other quite well in remote areas like this, sometimes their lives depending on being able to rely on neighbors.