Trap 'N' Trace

by Tee O'Fallon

  Remy lowered her head to his thigh, watching him with big, expressive eyes.

  “Did she have family?”

  He rested his big hand on the dog’s head, gently sifting long fingers through the golden-brown fur. “Her husband is flying back from a business trip, and her children will be here tomorrow.”

  To plan Rebecca’s funeral.

  The organ-like doorbell echoed throughout the foyer and living room.

  Agent Andrews tensed. “What is that?”

  Remy snorted. Angus lifted his head and stared at the door.

  “That would be the doorbell. I’ll get it.” Emily stood. “It’s probably the press. Once in a while they climb the fence.”

  Kat groaned. “I’m not in the mood for this.” Actually, she was never in the mood to be interviewed but tolerated it because it was good publicity for the Haven and the other charities she supported. Another downside to being a Vandenburg. Most days, it seemed like there were more downsides than up.

  “In that case, I’ve got this.” Agent Andrews slipped out from behind her then went to the door before Emily could open it. Remy trotted after him, picking up on some unspoken command.

  That one simple act left her wondering if she’d ever be so in sync with anyone. Doubtful. Not after Chad, and certainly not after being so duped by him.

  The doorbell chimed again, but she wasn’t worried. As big and intimidating as the agent and his dog were, she didn’t doubt he could kick any trespassers into the next county.

  …

  Dayne opened the door, preparing to tell the vultures to take a hike or get arrested.

  A man wearing a suit that probably cost more than two of his biweekly paychecks stared at him from ice-cold gray eyes. Behind him, a silver Jaguar glinted in the sunlight. When he tried pushing past, Dayne planted a hand in the guy’s chest, sending him stumbling back.

  Remy lowered her head, uttering a low growl.

  “What the hell?” the guy sputtered. “Let me in.”

  “No.” Dayne hooked his thumbs on his belt, intentionally drawing attention to the gold badge and holstered Glock.

  “Step. Aside.”

  “Not happening.” Dayne crossed his arms, meeting the other man’s glare and taking an instant dislike to the guy. He couldn’t be certain, but he thought he heard Emily biting back a snicker.

  “It’s all right,” Kat called out. “Emily, tell him Colin can come in.”

  For an instant longer, their gazes remained locked, Dayne’s with a warning that whoever he was, he’d better play nice.

  “Katrina,” the guy—Colin—called out as Dayne allowed him in.

  Not that Dayne cared, but she’d told him to call her Kat.

  He shut the door then turned to see Colin lean down to kiss Kat on the lips, but she presented him with her cheek, instead. Again, not that he cared, but whatever their relationship was, it wasn’t romantic. Whoever Colin was, he must have had the code to the gate or his pricy Jag wouldn’t be parked outside the front door.

  “Katrina?” Colin sat beside her, arching a derisive brow at the now-wriggling puppy. He rested an arm possessively around her shoulders and threaded the fingers of his other hand through one of hers. “It’s all over the news. Did you really find a dead body?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.” She patted his hand then pulled both of hers away to calm Angus, who was doing his best to greet Colin aka Mr. Stick-Up-His-Ass with a sound licking. “Speaking of which… Emily, would you please let the Haven staff, Francine, and Walter know what’s happened? I don’t want them to hear about it first on TV.”

  “Of course.” Emily nodded then went into the kitchen.

  Dayne was itching to get out of there, but he still needed to ask Kat a few more questions and make sure she had his business card in case she remembered anything else.

  “What’s that puppy doing here?” Colin’s face wrinkled like he’d just sucked a lemon. “Why isn’t it at the shelter?”

  “He’s too little, and I like the company. Angus is only here temporarily,” she reassured him.

  The guy was a dog hater if ever Dayne saw one.

  Colin leaned back against an enormous sofa with intricate carvings on the wood-framed top. Expensive. Like the rest of the place.

  A crystal chandelier hung over Dayne’s head, and the column he leaned against—one of many in the place—rose to high ceilings painted with colorful scenery. Everywhere he looked there were layers and layers of floor and ceiling molding.

  Kat’s voice drew his attention back to the open-space living room, which was as big as a football field. Another giant chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the room’s black granite fireplace was large enough to park a Sherman tank in.

  “Are you all right?” Colin asked Kat. The man’s eyes narrowed as he glared across the foyer at Dayne. “And what’s that cop doing here?”

  “I’m fine, and he’s not a cop.” Kat continued stroking Angus’s belly. “He’s an FBI agent.”

  Colin threw him a derogatory look. “Then what’s an FBI agent doing in the house?”

  “He drove me home,” Kat said.

  “Colin, can I get you anything?” Emily asked, returning from the kitchen.

  “No.” He didn’t even offer Kat’s assistant the courtesy of looking at her, telling Dayne precisely what the guy thought of hired help. Why would someone like Kat—who was turning out to be nicer than he expected—have anything to do with such a douche bag?

  Dayne went back into the living room and sat on the edge of the sofa. Remy sat beside him, keeping a wary eye on Colin. “You okay, now?”

  “Yes.” She mustered a smile. “Thank you for, um, carrying me here.”

  Colin’s brows lowered. “What does that mean? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “It’s nothing. I didn’t eat anything today and apparently, I passed out. Lack of food, shock, stress… Agent Andrews caught me before I took a swan dive off the stairs.”

  His lips compressed. “You should have called me.”

  “I didn’t see the need.” Kat didn’t notice because she’d begun stroking Angus’s ears, but Colin’s face began turning an embarrassed shade of douche bag-red.

  Dayne tugged a business card from his thigh pocket and handed it to her. “I’ll stop by another time to talk to you.”

  “Okay.” She nodded. “And Angus can stay with me until the Garmans are ready to have him back.”

  Colin cleared his throat. “Thank you for taking care of her, Agent Andrews. I can handle things from here.”

  Did somebody say dis-missed? “Remy.” His dog stood, eager to get back to work. “Nice to meet you, Emily.”

  “Same. Come back anytime.” The genuine smile Kat’s assistant gave him said she was appreciative of being noticed.

  Seconds later, he was out the door. He waited for Remy to hop in the kennel then took one last look at the castle. Something about all that wealth brought back shitty memories he’d stashed deep inside a locked part of his brain.

  Just before he’d pulled that velvet box from his pocket, he’d given Britt the exciting news that he was abandoning his plans for med school and joining the FBI. He thought she’d be proud. Instead her eyes had bulged, and she’d gaped at him like a largemouth bass. Then she’d dumped his ass. Said she needed to be married to a rich surgeon who could buy her an expensive home, fancy cars, jewelry, and take her on trips to Europe twice a year.

  As he drove away from the castle, he gunned the SUV toward the looming iron gates. He couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

  Chapter Four

  “Katrina, we need to talk.” Colin set his mug on the coffee table.

  Emily had stayed late to make sure she was okay, and Francine—her cook and housekeeper—had left roasted tomato bisque and a warm, gooey Gruyere Panini. Colin had joined her for d
inner, and she’d polished off her food.

  “Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?” Well into the night, to be precise.

  After driving her to pick up her car, they’d talked for hours. Now, Angus’s little snores were making her envious. The puppy was fast asleep on the dog bed she’d set in a corner of the living room. What she really wanted was to take a hot bath then fall into bed. Unfortunately, Colin had insisted on hearing every last detail.

  “Not about that.” He clasped her hand, something he’d been doing a lot lately. Ever since her breakup with Chad. “About our future.”

  Our future? The mug in her other hand froze halfway to her lips.

  “We’re not kids anymore,” he continued. “You’re thirty-three, and I’m thirty-six. Your birthday is right around the corner.”

  “I know that.” They’d grown up together and, despite his occasional snobbishness, had been friends for over twenty years. The food she’d just eaten soured in her stomach.

  He squeezed her hand. “It’s time for us to settle down and have a family.”

  She blinked. Surely, she’d misheard him. “What exactly do you mean?”

  “I mean, you and me. We’re a good match. A good fit.”

  “A good fit?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You make it sound like a business merger.”

  “You know what I mean.” The look on his face became more determined, and the souring food in her belly turned into pure vinegar. “We come from the same backgrounds. We understand each other, and I would never hurt you.”

  “What you mean is, you would never hurt me like Chad did.” She tugged her hand from his and set down her mug. The constant reminder of her latest failed relationship and very public breakup was a thorn in her side that she couldn’t pull out.

  He nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. You know I don’t need your money.”

  The tightness in her chest was her heart shriveling. Was this really what her personal life had boiled down to, a business transaction? That can’t be all there is. She shook her head. “I want to marry for love.” The words sounded naive, even to her. Especially considering how she’d all but given up on that ever happening, and he knew it because she’d vented to him about it. “But you don’t love me. Not like that, anyway.”

  “I love you as a friend, and I respect you. I know you feel the same about me.” When he cupped her face, she willed her body to offer up some kind of physical response. It didn’t. Ironically, being in Agent Andrews’s arms had. “We’re different from other people, and we understand each other. We can make this work. We’re not getting any younger.”

  That much was true, and until that moment she hadn’t realized that even men had biological clocks, and Colin had decided his was ticking away.

  She dragged a hand down her face. Hers was, too. That didn’t mean she was ready to compromise all her hopes and dreams.

  He let his hand drop. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m thinking that a marriage of convenience isn’t right for me, especially not for money reasons. I refuse to believe that I’m only destined to be with someone whose bank account rivals my own. That would pretty much eliminate all but one percent of the world’s male population. Maybe more.” It might also eliminate the possibility of ever finding someone who truly loved her. Her parents had married for love, and she always assumed she would, too.

  “You should consider it, anyway. In time, I think you’ll change your mind. I’ll call you.” He leaned over and before she could turn away, he kissed her on the lips.

  Again, not a flicker of sexual awareness. A moment later, he was gone. That was it. Business meeting over. Not that she would actually consider it, but was this what a marriage to Colin would be like? All business and no passion?

  Yes, the nausea in her belly warned.

  She stood and went to the window. It was too dark outside to see much except the soft glow of lights on the Tappan Zee Bridge. Despite rejecting Colin’s offer, she was tired of being alone without someone to share her life with. She’d even considered online dating under a made-up name. That would have been the only way to meet men without constantly wondering if they were secretly calculating her net worth. But she didn’t like the idea of being dishonest. Too bad she couldn’t pick the perfect guy from a catalogue.

  It was tough, especially with all the world watching her every move.

  Taking a deep breath, she straightened her slumped posture. She had to stay strong. Whatever happened, she was not marrying Colin.

  Wind buffeted the windows and heavy rain obscured most of the view. She couldn’t make them out in the darkness, but knew the Hudson was alive and dancing with whitecaps. It never ceased to amaze her how the river could be as shiny and reflective as a mirror one minute, rough and violent the next. Beautiful but at times, deadly.

  Images of Rebecca Garman’s body flashed before Kat’s eyes, and a shiver ran through her. There was no possible way to imagine the pain that woman must have suffered at the hands of her killer.

  Angus padded over and dropped his rubber toy on the floor for her to toss. One look at his angelic, furry face was enough to cleanse her mind of the terrible images. Temporarily, anyway.

  She picked up the toy, shaking it like a rattle. When she threw it into the foyer, he barked with glee and scampered after it.

  Kat shook her head, still trying to make sense of Colin’s baffling and emotionless proposal. Had she said or done something to make him believe she’d actually take him up on his offer? For some inexplicable reason, Dayne Andrews’s face flitted before her eyes.

  He was around her age, maybe a few years older. In addition to his raw masculinity and tough good looks, he had a power and strength she was unaccustomed to. Men in her social circles had power, but that came from their checkbooks. Dayne’s came from an inherent confidence and self-assuredness. That kind of man wouldn’t pull any punches. He’d say what he meant and mean what he said. Her father always told her that was a good quality.

  Angus returned with his toy, so she tossed it once more, watching his little legs scrabble on the marble tile floor. When the puppy didn’t come back, she went in search of him and found him sniffing around his empty food bowl. She went to get the bag then realized she’d forgotten to get more at the shelter.

  “I’m not going to let you go hungry tonight.” She grabbed her keys from the table in the foyer then gave Angus a quick pat. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Be a good boy and don’t chew anything you shouldn’t while I’m gone.” Trusting the little guy to follow her order was probably foolish, but she’d only be gone a few minutes. Luckily, he’d already peed his little heart out on the driveway before the rain started pounding. The puppy gave a high-pitched bark. “I’ll take you out again before bedtime.”

  Seconds later, she drove through the gate. The deluge impeded visibility, but as she neared the Haven’s main entrance, she could make out a car parked in one of the designated employee parking spaces. The vehicle belonged to Amy, her manager. But the Haven closed its doors to the public at six sharp. Amy should have gone home hours ago.

  The Haven was completely dark inside. Odd, since Amy was still here. She could have forgotten to turn the night-lights on. Then again, in the two years since the woman had been hired, she’d never once forgotten. There was a first time for everything. Like fainting.

  Talk about embarrassment. Being physically and mentally strong was important to her. Fainting definitely did not fall into that category. Nor does falling into an FBI agent’s arms.

  She shut off the engine and stepped out, splashing through puddles as she ran. Water soaked her hair and dripped into her eyes. She unlocked the door and went inside. “Amy?”

  A hint of light that hadn’t been there before now glowed from the corridor behind the reception desk. She flipped on the light switch, illuminating the recep
tion space. “Amy?”

  She went down the hallway. A few feet from the kibble room, the lights went out. Goose bumps prickled her back and neck. Slowly, she reached inside and flipped on the wall switch.

  “Amy?” She walked farther into the room, between two rows of shelves. At the end of the shelving unit, she turned and nearly tripped.

  Kat gasped. Amy lay on the floor.

  A dark blur moved from the shadows. She screamed. A man wearing a black ski mask over his face slammed into her, shoving her backward against a shelf. Something toppled down and hit her attacker in the head.

  Move your ass! She raced into the corridor. A hand grabbed her arm, wrenching it back so hard, she screamed again.

  He spun her then gripped her arms and shook her. “Where is it?” Furious dark brown eyes bored into her. “Where the fuck is it?”

  Dogs in the adjacent kennel barked. Her pulse raced, and she sucked in ragged breaths. Part of her brain still didn’t believe this was really happening. She shook her head, barely comprehending the words. “We don’t keep any cash here.”

  “Not cash. I want the—”

  She drove her knee up as hard as she could, aiming for his groin, but he sidestepped, and she missed.

  Strong hands gripped her throat. Can’t. Breathe. She clawed uselessly at his fingers. Her pulse pounded in her ears, and she could hear her own pathetic attempts to take in a breath. Oh. Hell. No! She rammed the palm of her hand straight up into his nose. His head rocked back, and he loosened his hold around her neck.

  She sucked in a breath, filling her lungs with much-needed air. “Asshole.” Fisting her hand, she punched the side of his head. He released her and staggered back. She cocked her arm again for a right cross when he grabbed her wrist and squeezed. Pain blasted up her arm and she uttered a sharp cry.

  Fury gleamed through the eye slits of the mask as his lips curled into a sadistic grin. He liked inflicting pain.

  Kat struggled in his grip then began clawing at his face. Her fingers caught on the mask and she yanked it up to his forehead. Blood trickled from his nose onto his mustache.