On the way out of the building, Simon’s phone started buzzing in his pocket.
“Hey. How was the run?”
“Simon!”
Her tone raised the fine hairs on the back of Simon’s neck.
“I . . . I’m out near, oh fuck. Training area Sierra. Some—” she was breathing heavily. “Someone tried to run me off the road.”
Simon reached his car and fumbled the key out of his pocket. “Are they still around?”
“No. At least, I don’t think so,” she said. “Please come get me.”
“I’m on the way. Stay on the line with me while I drive out to you.” He jumped in his car and sped out of the parking lot. A couple blocks down the road, he saw one of the MPs pulled over. He slowed down and rolled down his window.
“Hey, Bradshaw,” he called. “Who’s on watch?”
Bradshaw answered. “Drummond and Top.”
“LT and Top? Nevermind. Look, I gotta get to Sierra in a hurry, can you let them know I’ll be bringing Linser in for a statement in a few minutes? Someone tried to run her over.”
Bradshaw’s eyebrows popped up to his hairline. “You need me to ride out with you?”
“I got her, radio ahead that I’m on the way.” He sped off, slowing only for crosswalks and the school zone.
Ten minutes later, he found her well off the side of the road. She was scanning to the west, the only direction the car could have gone, unless the driver pulled off onto one of the many dirt roads into the training areas. He pulled over and texted Randall that she was safe. She waited until she saw him get out of the car and ran to him. To his surprise, she flung herself into his arms, clutching his shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking the back of her head, calming her.
Eventually, she looked up at him. “Thank you,” she said. “I tried Charlie, but it went to voicemail. I’m so glad you answered.”
Simon looked down into her eyes. Pupils were normal size, so no shock. Her eyes were glassy and wide, though. Stunned. Understandable. He picked a twig and some dried grass out of her hair.
“I’m glad you called,” he whispered. “Are you hurt?” He took a step back and held her at arm’s length, scanning her for any outward signs.
“Just my elbow and knees where I dove off the side over here,” she said, pointing at the road. Her hand was shaking.
Her knees were dirty and scratched, and she had a small gouge on her elbow that was trickling blood. Smears of dust and grime streaked down her arms.
“Come here,” he said, leading her to his car. “Sit.”
Audrey sat in the passenger seat, legs outside the door, while Simon grabbed a first aid kit from the trunk. She drank the small bottle of water he’d handed her.
“You don’t have to clean me up.”
“Shush,” he said. “Besides, I don’t want you bleeding all over my car.”
He knelt in front of her and sprayed antiseptic on her knees, dabbing them gently, and cleaned her elbow. The sting caused Audrey to suck in her breath, and Simon leaned in and blew on the wound before wrapping it with gauze and tape. “Better?” he asked. She was close. So close. The world tilted in slow motion. The varying shades of brown played across her irises, and the depths of the striations looked like waves. Faint freckles, only a few, scattered across her nose, so pale that they were invisible from a distance. Her tongue darted out, sweeping across her lips.
“Simon,” she whispered.
That’s all it took. They met in the middle, lips brushing lightly, then meeting again. He pulled back for a split second and she curled her free hand behind his head, drawing him in.
Her lips molded to his, soft, but firm against him. She made a small noise in the back of her throat, and he leaned in to her, deepening the kiss. Her nails scraped lightly on the back of his scalp, and he grabbed her by the waist, pulling her body toward his. Her tongue was slick, and he nibbled on it gently, eliciting a soft moan. She ran her calves up the back of his thighs and she strained to get closer to him. He slid his hands down to her hips and pulled her toward him. He moaned as he felt the heat of her, and his body came alive.
When she moved her hands to his waistband, he broke the kiss. He put his hands on either side of her face and pressed his forehead against hers.
“Easy,” he said, panting.
Audrey fisted her hands in the fabric at his sides and nodded against him. “I’m sorry, that was inappropriate,” she said, moving away from him.
Simon tipped her head up, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Don’t apologize for that,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about a lot more than that for days.” He let her go and rocked back on his heels. “We do have to get back, though. We need a statement and then to find the motherfucker who did this to you. Top’ll want you to get checked out, too.”
He stood, and Audrey’s eyes locked on to the front of his slacks. He chuckled, and she looked up at him.
“Mmmhmmm. I told you not to apologize.” He leaned forward, grabbed her chin, and kissed her hard. “We’ll revisit this later.”
***
They pulled up in front of the building, and Charlie came bolting out of the door. Simon had enough time to let go of Audrey’s hand before Charlie yanked the door open. As soon as Audrey stood up, Charlie started looking her over.
“I’m so sorry, Aud,” she began, but Audrey cut her off.
“Shit happens, Charlie. I’m okay. Really,” she said, waving her arms in front of her. “See? Couple scrapes. You’ve given me worse.”
The women walked ahead into the building. Just before she entered, Audrey turned and smiled at Simon, mouthing Thank you at him. He smiled at her and said, “Later.” He grabbed his bag out of the trunk and gathered up the debris from the bandages and wipes. That was a hell of a first kiss, and the fire she ignited had him off balance. He wanted her before, and could have had her, but not like that. Not when she’d just been in danger. He hoped that wasn’t the reason for her kissing him. He didn’t believe it was. They’d been getting closer and dancing around this for some time.
Antony was sitting at his desk and started in as soon as Simon walked through the door. “The fuck happened out there?”
“She back with Top?”
Antony nodded. “And Drummond. They’re taking her statement.”
“Bradshaw called, yeah?” Simon asked. “She was out for a long run along the back 40 and said some car tried to run her off the road. Took a dive off the side. She’s fine.”
Antony shook his head. “Jesus. Maybe it was someone on their phone?”
Simon shrugged. “Maybe. They sure as fuck didn’t stop.” He drug his hand through his hair. “Feels like it was on purpose.”
“How you figure?”
“Dunno. Gut. Sierra’s the back of fucking beyond. People rarely go off that direction. And if they drove out there . . .” Simon stopped pacing. “Damnit! I should have made a quick sweep.”
Antony raised his eyebrows. “Why?”
“She was looking out when I pulled up. They were probably still out there.”
“The West Gate’s open,” Antony said, referring to a gate that led to a road in the middle of nowhere. Few people used it, and it was open for limited hours each day, but the timing was right for it to be open.
“They finish the repairs?”
Antony shook his head. “Yeah. It re-opened yesterday.”
Simon looked back toward the LT’s office, brow furrowed. “If the person who did this took that exit, they were serious about not getting caught. It’s a long drive to get back to civilization from there.”
Charlie had been watching quietly from Audrey’s desk. “Simon, sit. She’s fine,” she finally said.
Simon looked at her, nodded, and sat.
“I’m glad you got her call,” Charlie continued. “I should have answered.”
“You were in a meeting. I had just walked out of mine, so she got through. She’s fine. Let’s just wait and see what’s going on.”
Charlie watched as Simon kept glancing toward the back hallway. Audrey was moving super slow with him, and Charlie had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, Aud had listened and was trying not to hurt him. But on the other, and Charlie hated to admit it, not jumping right into bed with him gave more time for feelings to happen. Audrey’d already been on the phone, putting out feelers with the branch manager about getting out of Arizona.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Audrey walked into Lieutenant Drummond’s office. He was an affable sort and was older than she’d expected. Most brand new officers were in their early 20s, with bright ideas and not a lot of experience to back them up. Drummond looked to be in his early 30s, with the first touches of silver at his temples. She idly wondered if he was an enlisted troop prior to his commission.
First Sergeant Randall was sitting on a chair, off to the side of the desk. His face was blank and put Audrey immediately on edge.
Drummond waved her to a chair. “Sit, Linser.” He waited until she did. “First, are you okay?”
“I am, Sir. Just some scrapes,” she replied.
Randall looked her over. “I want you to give a full statement to Ramos and Carwell when we’re done.”
Audrey frowned. “I thought you two were taking my statement.”
Drummond slid an envelope across his desk. “No. This arrived about an hour ago.”
A knot form in the pit of Audrey’s stomach. She took the envelope and turned it over. There was nothing special about it. Standard USPS markings, and ubiquitous US flag stamp. The blocked lettering was straight and neat and it was addressed to her, at this office. She pulled out the knife she carried in her pocket and flipped it open. She sliced through the crease in the envelope and put the knife away before removing the folded sheet of paper inside.
Daughter,
I have waited for the day you’d come to Ft. Huachuca, and yet, now that you’re near, you haven’t even come to see me? I have been patient with you for years. I’ve allowed you the freedom to pursue your career, and you continue to ignore me. I am disappointed in you.
Family is everything. You are my family. It is time for you to come see me. My patience only goes so far.
Your Father
Audrey folded up the letter and handed it, with the envelope, to Randall. Her nose wrinkled, upper lip curled into a sneer, as though someone had handed her something foul and rotting.
“That’s a look,” he remarked. He unfolded the paper and skimmed it. When he finished, he put it on the Lieutenant’s desk.
“What’s your take on this, Linser?” he asked.
“Typical narcissistic bullshit,” she said. “I haven’t spoken to him since I was a child. I just wonder how he found me. And so fast.”
“You haven’t spoken to him since he went to prison?” Drummond asked, surprised.
“No, Sir,” she said. “He sent a letter once a year, on my birthday. My uncle gave them all to me when I turned 18. Always the same crap, what he wants, how he feels, how he is my family.”
“Do you still get them?”
“No. My uncle would send him one report a year, also on my birthday—he had parental rights to information about me, so my uncle was obligated. He sent the last on my 18th, telling Brewer that I’d joined the service, and unless I wanted to write him, there’d be no more information.”
Drummond clicked his pen a few times, and then spun it around his thumb. “So, the letters,” he said. “Nothing disturbing in them? Threatening?”
“Not at all, Sir,” she shook her head. “I am the one person he won’t harm, because I’m part of him. I’m his possession.”
“And there’s no way he should have known you were here?”
“I don’t know he could have, Sir. No one here, except for Top,” she gestured at Randall, “and now you, know about my relationship with him. Well, Charlie does too.”
“Madden?”
Audrey nodded. “We’ve known each other for a long time.” She took a breath. “Sir, I would like to be part of this investigation.”
Randall spoke up. “Of course you will be. What I want to know is if there is a link between what happened to you this morning and this letter showing up now.” He picked up the envelope. “Something smells here, and we need to figure out what.”
“Did anyone know where you were between you leaving the embassy and arriving here?” Drummond asked. He was looking down at his notepad, drawing circles over and over. He looked up at Audrey. “Who were you communicating with while you were on your trip, and how?”
“My uncle and Charlie.” Audrey said. “I sent my uncle one text each day to tell him I was safe. Really, only the word ‘safe,’ and I gave Charlie updates, but not location info. At least nothing concrete.”
“And you’re sure this is from him?”
“Yes. It’s been awhile, but his handwriting is pretty distinctive, even for print.”
Randall and the Lieutenant shared a glance, and the LT spoke. “Okay, Linser, get with Ramos and Carwell. Start working on this. This case is priority right now.”
Randall added, “Goes without saying, Linser, that you don’t go out running on your own now. You’re not restricted, but when you’re out doing whatever it is you do, try to take someone with you.”
Audrey nodded and grabbed the envelope. “Understood.” She left the room and veered off into the bathroom.
Good lord, she looked frightening. There was dirt smeared across her cheek, along with a streak of blood. She plucked a bit of needlegrass out of her hair. It’d worked into her braid and as she tugged, the hooks on the grass pulled her hair out of the plait. After a minute of working at it, she gave up and undid the braid, shook the mess out of her hair, and quickly tied it back up. She then turned on the tap. While the water was heating, she looked at her elbow. Nice gash. Her knees were skinned, and she had a palm sized abrasion on her thigh. It was already turning purple underneath, where she’d fallen on a good sized rock.
She quickly scrubbed her face with warm water and a touch of the handsoap and then lathered her elbow. After she rinsed, she dabbed a wet towel on her knees and winced at the sting. Good enough until she could get a shower.
A wave of exhaustion washed over her, and she gripped the edge of the sink. The adrenaline had worn off, and she was heading for a crash. What the hell was she thinking, kissing Simon like that? Heat of the moment. She wasn’t sorry for the kiss, but her timing was just stupid. He didn’t seem to mind, but she didn’t want him to think she kissed him because of fear. She stared at herself in the mirror.
“Smooth move, Linser,” she said, sticking out her tongue at her reflection. She wanted her bed and about twelve hours of sleep. She did not want to think about Maxwell, or the asshole in the Camry. No choice but to get it over with.
Audrey shoved away from the sink and tossed the towels in the trash on her way out the door.
***
Ramos was standing in front of a rolling white board. He’d written a basic timeline across the top, starting the day Audrey had arrived at the unit, and ending that morning with the attempted hit-and-run. Simon was sitting at his desk, looking up from his monitor to the board, and back down to a legal pad which was covered in notes.
“All good, Linser?” Antony asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” She walked over to her desk and stuffed the envelope in her bag. She then sat down, facing the board. “Car was late model. Camry. Sixteen or seventeen. Dark grey.”
Antony scribbled on the board. Simon did the same on his legal pad. “Go on.”
“No markings. No tint on the windows. Also, no plate.”
Simon raised his head. “No plate?”
“Nope. There was a little blue sticker on the back bumper, driver’s side.”
“How the fuck did someone get on post without a plate?” Antony asked.
“They didn’t,” Simon said. “They would have caught that at the gate. Well. I’d hope so. Someone may have fucked up bad, but the
y’d still have their ID scanned.” He turned to Audrey. “So, this was deliberate.”
“I know it was,” she said. “The driver was wearing a mask.”
“What? When were you going to bring that up?” He stared at her, mouth open. He saw Antony swivel his head back and forth, could hear the gears grinding from across the room. His friend had looked at the dirt smudges on his slacks when he came in, but had said nothing, and was wisely keeping his mouth shut, though for how long was anyone’s guess.
“Now. It didn’t come up before.” Audrey looked him straight in the eyes and waited a heartbeat before continuing. “Driver had on some sort of mask. Black. Only covered half his face, so it might have been a bandana.” She thought for a moment. “And glasses. He was wearing glasses. Squarish, with metal rims. The sun glinted off of them.”
Simon shook his head at her. “You should have led with that.” He sat back down and started making a checklist. “Ramos, they ever get the cameras set up at the gate?” he asked.
Audrey could feel the anger radiating off of Simon. She really should have told him what she’d seen when they were out there, but the attempt on her life shook her, more so than she wanted to admit. And then there was the kiss, that shook her in a way that she was afraid to think on too closely.
“I’ll call, but I don’t think so,” Antony said, dialing the number. A minute later, he hung up. “Nope. They had a problem with the wiring.”
“Damn.”
Audrey stood up and grabbed her bag. “I’ll go up there. They should have the scan logs, so we can see who came on.”
Simon stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
“I can go on my own,” Audrey said. One look at Simon’s face told her he wasn’t going to let her go anywhere alone, and that she’d messed up.
Antony watched as the pair left. This was going to be great for Simon, or terrible. No in between.
***
Simon was tooth-grindingly silent and refused to look at Audrey. It bothered the crap out of him that she’d kept those major details from him after that morning. And the past couple weeks. His nerves were still raw after his morning session, and then the adrenaline rush of getting her phone call had him on edge. He needed to get control of himself, and fast. He rolled his shoulders and unclenched his jaw.
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