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and didn't speak as he waited. She was grateful for his
patience, that he was allowing her to work this out in her
head before she explained.
She twisted a lock of hair between her fingers while she
considered. This morning, she'd been sure she should do this,
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that Heath would help her and he'd want to be involved. But
actually saying the words was quite different. Once she said
them, there was no taking them back. Once Heath knew,
there would be no 'unknowing.'
But did she really want to continue to carry this burden
alone? Could she forgive herself if she kept silent and
someone she loved was hurt, maybe killed?
Making her decision, she turned back to Heath, took a
deep breath, then blurted out, "I'm being blackmailed."
[Back to Table of Contents]
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Chapter Five
"You're being what?" Heath stalked to where she stood
gripping the large red mug as if it might be her only hope of
salvation. "Blackmailed?"
Her hazel eyes were rimmed with dark circles, their normal
brightness dulled. Her face took on a pinched look, and she
nodded jerkily. "A little more than six months after Rudy died,
I got a phone call at work." She swept a handful of hair back
from her face. "It was a man. He—uh—said he wanted
money."
She stopped. Heath waited. When she didn't continue, he
asked, "Money? Or else what?"
She lifted a hand, palm up. "Or he'd ruin my life. Ruin my
charity. Rudy's charity. Hurt me. Hurt Louisa. You name it,
he'd do it."
"What does he have on you?"
She shook her head. "Not on me. On Rudy." She stalked
over to the patio door and stared out over the deck. "Rudy
was apparently involved with drugs."
Heath tried to hide his surprise. She and Rudy both fooled
around with drugs in college, but as far as he knew, they'd
stopped long ago. Rudy had gotten back on them?
"I didn't know," she went on. "I swear. At least, not while
Rudy was alive. Shortly after he died, I was cleaning out his
side of the closet—" She stopped, took a deep breath.
"And?" Heath prompted.
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Hesitating briefly, she turned away from the window and
set her cup down on the end table. "I found some
paraphernalia. Then, when the caller said those things, I
knew he was telling the truth. He knew too much about Rudy,
and the information he gave answered a lot of things I'd
wondered about during the past few years. Things I put out of
my mind because I didn't want to know."
Heath hoped she wouldn't get angry with him, but he had
to ask. "What about you? Have you done drugs since
college?"
"No." Her head shook in vehement denial, and he couldn't
gauge whether she was angry or simply trying to convince
him. "Not at all. No way. Haven't touched them since college."
She shrugged dismissively. "Even then, I just dabbled. I
really only partook because Rudy did them. Maybe I should
have known he wouldn't truly give them up."
"So why would drugs be a big deal now? Rudy's gone. It's
not like he could go to jail."
"I know. But Renewed Hope's purpose is to get people off
drugs. Get them clean, give them a new start. Rudy's charity
has a lot of powerful, connected benefactors. If it got out that
the founder of the charity was guilty of the very thing the
charity spoke out against, it would fold. Benefactors would
pull out. People who need us, who count on us, would suffer.
Rudy's standing, his reputation would be ruined."
"How much are you paying the blackmailer?"
"Ten thousand a month. I've paid it for the past four. He'd
been blackmailing Rudy. After Rudy died, the asshole waited
for the insurance money to kick in, then called me." Tears
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filled her eyes. "The money will run out before long. He called
yesterday and asked for another payment just two weeks
after the last. He wants another ten grand this Friday. And
now it's more than just phone calls, he—" Her lips quivered
and she shook her head.
"He what?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
Heath took her elbows in his hands. "What happened,
Nicolette?"
She pulled away from his touch. "Last night when I left the
event, he was there. In the parking garage."
A stab of anger shot through Heath's chest. "Did he hurt
you?"
"No. He grabbed me, threatened me. It was just
more...violent than he has been. I'm afraid of what he might
do when the money runs out. Yesterday, he called Louisa's
house phone, just to let me know he knows all about me. I
can't let him hurt her."
"We need to go to the police."
"No! Please, Heath. No police. He said he'd kill me. That
even if he was arrested—and like he's reminded me more
than once, I have no proof—Rudy's reputation would still be
ruined. I can't go to the police."
She had a point. Heath would make sure the son of a bitch
didn't get his hands on Nicolette, but until they had proof of
the blackmail, it would just be her word against his. "That
may be true, but it's not a good idea to cave to a
blackmailer's demands. For now, though, keep doing what
you've been doing. I'll figure something out."
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"I know I shouldn't ask you to help me. It's my problem,
and I need to deal with it. I just thought since you have that
security firm, and since you were once a cop, you'd have
experience dealing with this sort of thing. I figured you'd
know what to do."
"Yeah. I mean, I can't promise anything, but I'll do what I
can. I'll look into it, see what I can find out. I need you to tell
me everything you know. We'll have to work closely together
on this."
"I'll help in any way I can."
"We don't have a lot of time. I leave in less than a week."
He couldn't imagine leaving her if this wasn't settled, if he
didn't know she was safe, but he'd worry about that when the
time came. "I'll do everything I can to make sure it's handled
before I go."
She nodded. "Thanks, Heath. You're a good friend."
Heath looked toward the stairs. In order to protect Nic, he
needed to be as close to her as possible. "How many
bedrooms you have here?"
"Three. Why?"
"Anyone else live with you?"
"No."
"I'll be staying here with you."
Her brows rose. "Why?"
"To look out for you. If this guy came up to you last night,
he could be escalating. I don't want to find out what he might
do next. Plus, I'll need to get all
the information from you that
I can. There will be a lot of going over documents, checking
into friends, associates, people involved with the charity,
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everything. We can get more done if we're staying at the
same place."
"No. I don't think that's a good idea."
Did she think he had an ulterior motive? Just because he
wanted to get her into bed, it didn't mean he would try
anything. At least, he hoped he would be able to control his
insanely strong attraction to her. "I need to be near you, Nic.
Keep an eye on you. You're not safe."
She crossed her arms and rested them beneath her
breasts, lifting one hand to her mouth and chewing the pad of
her thumb. "What about if you were close, but not exactly
here?"
"I don't get it."
"The other side of the duplex is empty. I keep it that way
for visiting relatives, people who need temporary housing,
that sort of thing. It's furnished. There's a connecting door.
You'd be close enough to keep an eye out for me, and we'd
have an opportunity to work together as often as we needed."
He nodded. "That'll work. I'll go back and let Mom know I'll
be staying away for a few days." At her panicked look, he
said, "I won't tell her why. I'll just tell her I have some things
to take care of. Why don't you go with me, so I don't have to
leave you alone?"
"No. It's okay. You're not going to be with me twenty-
four/seven anyway. I feel I'll be fairly safe until the next drop,
at least. If he doesn't get his money, then he might try
something. In the meantime, he'll want me healthy."
Heath walked to the door. "I'll be back a little later today.
While I'm gone, keep the doors locked. I want you to dig out
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everything you can about this. Notes, if the blackmailer left
any. Write down times he's called, dig out any paperwork you
might have that could be pertinent. I want you to pull phone
records both before and after Rudy's death. Highlight any
unfamiliar numbers."
"Okay. Yeah. Sure."
"I'd also like a photo of you, and one of Rudy I can carry
with me." He wasn't sure if they'd be needed, but he believed
in being thorough. "We'll go through all the paperwork and
questions today, then I'll hit the streets tomorrow."
She walked him to the door and stepped onto the porch
with him. She wore faded jeans and a button-down olive
sweater that gave her skin a sickly cast in the winter light.
Her neighborhood was a quiet cul-de-sac with well-kept
lawns. The Christmas decorations looked stark and forlorn in
the cold gray morning. Lights trimmed Nic's duplex, but a
thin, cardboard cutout of Santa was the only other
decoration, like a half-assed attempt at gaiety by someone
whose heart wasn't in it.
Standing on tiptoe, Nicolette braced her hands on his
biceps and planted a kiss on his cheek. For a brief moment,
the feel of her warm breath contrasting with the cool air
caused his heart to stutter.
Before he could react, it was over, and she released him,
"Thanks, Heath. Really."
He took her shoulders and stared down into her face,
"Don't worry. You're not alone in this anymore. I'll help you
find this guy, I promise."
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She nodded and watched him from the porch while he
headed to his car.
When he climbed inside the Tahoe, Nic went back inside.
He pulled out his cell phone. He dialed the number to his
security firm, and Burke answered with, "How's it going up
north?"
"You wouldn't believe it, if I told you."
"Try me."
"I don't have time to go into all the details, but a friend of
mine is in trouble. I'm going to have to do some
investigating. I'll need you to send me a few pieces of
equipment."
He gave Burke the list and asked him to overnight it.
"Damn, dude. You're itching to get on it, aren't you?"
"It's urgent. She's in trouble."
"She?"
Heath could hear the disapproval in the silence on the
phone line. "Yeah, she."
"Are we talking about Nicolette?"
Burke didn't know exactly how deep Heath's feelings for
Nicolette ran, but on a few regrettable occasions, fueled by
melancholy and Jack Daniels, Heath had shared more than he
would have liked.
"Yeah. But it's not what you're thinking. She's a friend. I'll
do whatever it takes to keep her safe."
Burke promised he would get the package out today.
Heath hung up the phone.
Before starting the truck, he leaned his head back and
squeezed his eyes shut. He'd vowed to Burke he'd do
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whatever it took to keep Nicolette safe. He only hoped to hell
he could make good on that promise.
As Heath opened the door to his mother's house, he
smelled the spicy scent of her baking and heard squeals of
delight coming from the triplets. He smiled. That had to be
one of the sweetest sounds he'd ever heard. Alex was a lucky
man.
One of the girls, Macy he believed, stood on a chair next to
the fireplace looking at photos. The other two chased one
another around the coffee table.
"Hey, girls. Slow down," Heath said. "That's how accidents
happen."
A giggling shout erupted from the one in front, and she
didn't even attempt to slow her pace. Heath reached down,
snatched the chaser up, and lifted her in his arms.
"Which one are you?" he asked as she stared back at him,
her big blue eyes not showing any fear.
"I'm Michaela, silly." She pointed to her former quarry.
"That's Mia."
"Okay. You and your sister need to chill."
"But we're having fun!" the still free one said.
"Yeah. It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye."
Mia screeched to a stop and turned her wide-eyed gaze to
Heath. "What's gonna happen to my eye?"
Heath cringed, feeling like a heel. He hadn't meant to
scare her. "Nothing, sweetie." He deposited Michaela on the
ground and squatted until he was eye-level with them both.
"It's just an expression. Uncle Heath was just kidding."
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"Oh," they said in unison, but instead of resuming the
chase, they plopped onto the couch. "Can you turn on
cartoons?"
"If I can find any." Heath picked up the remote and
powered up the TV, putting it on the channel guide. "Macy,
you want to come watch?" He was pretty certain he had the
name right. Process of elimination.
Without turning around, she asked, "Is this grandpa?" and
pointed to a picture of Heath at his military graduation.
Heath found a cartoon channel and went over to Macy.
"No, honey. That's me. This is your grandpa." Heath showed
her a photo of his father in his army uniform.
"You look the same."
We were the same, Heath thought. His dad was the main
reason he'd joined the military right out of high school. The
main reason he'd done most of the good things in his life. And
look at how things had turned out now.
He lifted Macy by the waist and set her down on the floor.
"Why don't you watch TV with your sisters? I need to talk to
Grandma. Where is she?"
"She's in the kitchen making stuff."
Heath grinned and ruffled her hair. "Cool. Be good, and I'll
let you know when Grandma has a treat ready for you."
He exited to a chorus of 'Yays' and found his mother in the
kitchen. The tantalizing smells grew stronger in there, and his
stomach rumbled in anticipation.
Amelia smiled and shouted over the sound of the mixer
she held, "Oh, hello, dear. So glad you're back. Is everything
okay with Nicolette?"
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"She's fine."
"Good. Did you bring her back with you? I'd love to see
her."
"No. I won't be staying long myself."
She shut off the mixer and turned to him, her face showing
disappointment. "Why not? Where are you going?"
"I have some things to take care of."
"How long will you be gone? You'll be back for dinner,
right? The triplets are staying. Aren't they just the cutest
thing ever? Can't believe I'm finally a grandmother."
Now for the hard part. "I'm actually staying somewhere
else for a little while."
"What? You just got here. You're supposed to be with your
family for the holidays."
"I know. But something's come up. I need to help a
friend."
Her brows drew together. "Nicolette? Is there something
going on between you two?" Her expression was hard to read,
but she looked neither completely pleased nor upset about
the idea.
"No, Mom. There's nothing between us. I just have some
business to take care of. I can't really talk about it."
"Ah. One of those security assignments?"
"Something like that." He loved his mother, but sometimes
her inquisitive nature bordered on nosiness. "I really can't say
much. I hope you understand."