Her hand was already on the knob when she froze. “You’re such a goofball!”
She couldn’t just waltz out her front door dressed like this. First of all, any of her neighbors who saw her would think she was off her rocker, and secondly, word spread much too fast in small communities like this.
She needed to go out the back. She could take the trail through the woods at the back of her property and come out just on the edge of the park right near the ferry landing, which was perfect for her pretense that she’d only arrived on the ferry this morning. The only problem would be if she saw anyone on the trail along the way. But she’d jogged that trail every day since moving here and hadn’t once run into anyone walking along it. It was too bad really. People on this island lived in a virtual paradise, but it was all so normal and ho-hum to most of them. She would just have to take the chance that no one would be out there, or at least wouldn’t recognize her if they were.
She paused before opening the gate in her back fence that led right onto the community’s walking trail. She listened for a moment, but heard no footsteps crunching in the gravel that lined the path. With a breath for courage, and a quick prayer for protection for all involved, she hurried through the gate and shut it behind her. A glance up and down the trail relieved some of her tension. No one in sight.
She started off in the direction of the ferry landing, immediately realizing that stiletto walking boots probably hadn’t been the best choice for this rather rugged path. But there was nothing for it but to push ahead now. She would be to the park inside of ten minutes.
That was when she heard someone jogging her way—just beyond the bend in the trail and coming toward her from the direction of the park.
If she kept going they were going to pass right by each other! Why today of all days did someone have to be out here?
Frantic glances offered nothing substantial enough to hide her. To her right were a few small trees interspersed between the path and the other back fences of the rest of her neighborhood. But the trunks were too small to conceal her. And to her left, the hillside rose quite steeply. There were larger trees and some bushes about eight feet up, but her heels would never make it up that incline—not to mention the thick carpet of pine needles that would turn over under her feet the moment she tried to climb the hill. Besides, there was no time. It would look even more suspicious if she were caught trying to scramble out of sight.
Her heart hammered. Her only option was to keep walking and pretend like it was totally normal for a woman to be trekking along a gravel path wearing four-inch heels. She pressed forward, wishing she had thought to bring her small purse and pepper spray. She didn’t usually travel anywhere without it, but today her mind had been on other things—like the reaction she was going to get from Case when she surprised him.
The jogger came around the corner, and she almost lost her footing altogether.
It was Simon Hall! He was wearing a green Seattle Sounders shirt. Was sweaty. And panting. He gave her the merest nod of a glance, lifted one finger in greeting, and moved right on past her.
Kyra released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. And then a thrill of excitement zipped through her. He hadn’t recognized her! There hadn’t even been a hitch in his step!
She scanned him over her shoulder. Odd that he wore a backpack while jogging, right? But then, the man had been a little odd from the first moment he’d introduced himself to her on the first day of school.
Anyhow… None of that mattered! Her disguise was working!
Now her next feat would be if she could blend in with the crowd coming off the ferry. For her plan to work it had to look to Chloe like she’d just come across the water.
It actually took her less than her predicted ten minutes to get to the park, so she arrived a little before the ferry, but a peek through the gate that led into the park showed the ship just gliding into the landing. She shut the gate, forcing herself to wait a few more moments before going into the park.
If today was true to form, in just a few minutes a crowd would sweep past her heading toward all the tourist shops in town. She would just open the gate and meld in with them. Then she’d have to find Case, but that shouldn’t be too hard. The park wasn’t that large.
Time seemed to stretch interminably. Come on! How long did it take to dock a ferry and allow the passengers to disembark?
She tossed a glance over her shoulder. What would she do if Simon Hall came back? It would surely look suspicious for her to be lingering here. Had he left his car at the park? Would he be coming back this way? And if he did see her? Would word get out that she hadn’t really come across on the ferry after all? Was she about to blow Case’s cover?
She pressed one hand to her chest. Maybe she should rethink this…
But her fears were unjustified because just then she heard the first snippets of excited conversation from a group of tourists leaving the boat.
She’d done it! She eased open the gate and merged onto the cement walkway just behind the leading gaggle of ladies, giving herself a little fist pump of encouragement.
This undercover stuff might not be so hard after all.
Now to find Case.
CHAPTER 14
Case drove to Landing Park, pulled into a space, and took a moment to assess. He ran through the questions he and Captain Danielson had discussed the evening before.
How was Chloe involved in all this? Was she at the top of the distribution chain? The only one in the chain? Merely one of the middle men? Or did she know absolutely nothing at all and he’d been wrong in his suspicions this whole time?
Hopefully he’d have some answers by the end of the day. He took a breath, tossed up a prayer for favor and protection, and then eased himself from his car.
Chloe wasn’t hard to spot. She was pacing near the tall craggy fountain at the center of the park. It was composed of a towering stack of rock slabs that cascaded water into a clear pool below. Rugged river rock, about two and a half feet high, walled in the pool. Topped with flat stones, the wall offered a place to sit along the perimeter of the water feature.
Was Chloe alone? She kept looking around and had jumped twice. She looked more nervous than a lap dog on the Fourth of July. He scanned the park. It never hurt to be too careful even though he doubted there was any danger here today.
On this sunny Saturday on perhaps one of the last warm days before winter set in, the place was jam-packed. He passed a family seated on a red and white quilt, eating a picnic lunch, and across the way a father played a rousing round of frisbee with his three kids. Several women with exercise mats appeared to be doing yoga on the east side of the park. And even Principal Vaughan apparently hadn’t been able to resist the temptation of today’s sun. He was sitting on a bench, drinking coffee, and chatting off and on with frisbee-dad. And to the southwest, the Salish Sea, part of the Puget Sound, stretched out with a snow-topped Mount Baker capping the scene in the distance.
Too bad he was here to work because he could really let himself relax in this environment, otherwise. Maybe he’d have to look for a house out here at some point.
He was turning back toward Chloe when one of the yoga women bent into a stretch and the woman behind her caught his attention. Ashley Adams.
He made a mental note to check and see if she did yoga here on a regular basis or if this was an anomaly in her routine. For now, she appeared innocent and harmless enough.
The ferry whistle blew, drawing his attention to the vessel which had just docked at the pier. Workers on the bow called directions to one another as they tossed three-inch thick tie-lines around the cleats on the dock and cinched the boat to the shore.
Chloe spotted him and raised an arm in greeting as a passel of tourists spilled off the ferry, chattering and excited about their excursion to the island.
He paused to let them pass in front of him.
A leggy brunette in a black leather mini skirt separated herself from the crowd and called
his name—loudly. She waved one arm and grinned, giving a little bounce of excitement, hurrying toward him.
He searched his memory as he took in the woman’s features. Slender. Curvaceous. Beautiful. But not someone he knew.
He frowned. He must have been mistaken. She must have said someone else’s name. He glanced back to see who she might be so excited to see, but no one was there.
She bounced over to him, calling as she came, “Case! You came to get me? How did you even know I was going to be here? You silly! It was supposed to be a secret!” Before he could even think what to say, she threw her arms around him.
What the—? On reflex his hands came up to cup her waist. His mind was still scrambling to put a name to the admittedly-exquisite body in his arms. He came up blank. His heart thundered. Was he about to be outed as a cop? Where did he know this woman from? And why did she think he was here to meet her?
He was about to push her away to ask how she knew him when she whispered in his ear, “It’s Kyra.”
A wave of shock froze him in place. No way. He never would have recognized her! Not even her voice sounded the same, but what—
She pulled back just enough to curve her hands around his face and continued to whisper. “What do you say we make Chloe jealous? Then you dump me and go off with her and hopefully she spills everything she knows to you?”
He studied her. Really studied her. But he couldn’t see anything of Kyra in the woman before him. Not even her eyes were the right color.
Caution surged. Was this some sort of trap? He took a step back. “I don’t know what—”
She curled her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, refusing to let him go. “You just left my house not long ago.” Now that voice was Kyra’s. “I showed you texts on my phone. I teach you English and PE but we met at my sister’s nail salon where I told you about Roscoe and turned you down for a date.” All this was spoken low and intimately, as though she might be whispering sweet-nothings to him.
Only Kyra could know all that stuff, even if someone could make their voice sound like her. “But how—”
She smiled softly. “I majored in drama in college. Now look happy to see me or Chloe is going to know something is wrong.” Her voice was back to that of the charming goth girl.
Look happy to see her? Alright.
He kissed her.
Felt her gasp. But that served her right for taking him unaware like that. It was only a moment before her surprise melded into a passionate response.
The softness of her lips registered and sent a surge of endorphins to every extremity. His hands slipped to the curve of her lower back, tugging her closer, but he kept the kiss slow and tame, despite the fact that everything in him urged for more.
She gave as good as she got, wrapping her arms around his neck, and working her lips firmly across his.
A little sigh of pleasure eased from her, heightening his desire to take the kiss a little further. He slid one hand to the back of her neck, intending to pull her closer, but the feel of the dog collar choker jolted him back to the present. This was only work, no matter that he would love for it to be so much more. He pulled back from her and settled her head against his shoulder. His eyes fell closed and he swallowed as he fought to regain his clarity.
Innocent Kyra, with all her hopes and ambitions for the good of her students was here in his arms. And all he could think about now was that if something went wrong today he might not be able to keep her safe. He perused the people gathered in the park. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but he kept his focus vigilant as he lowered his mouth to whisper in her ear, “You shouldn’t be here!”
She lifted her gaze to his and laid a finger across his lips. “You said yourself that this was a good idea that might help you get information.”
She had him there.
He swallowed. Skimmed the crowd again. He liked the caress of her finger across his lips just a little too much.
She tilted her head and moved her hand to play with his hair. “Did you tell her a name? She’s shooting daggers at me with her eyes.” She winked.
He racked his brain as he glanced over his shoulder.
All the tourists had passed now and Chloe was eyeing them with a decided gleam of jealousy in her expression.
Had he told Chloe a name? No. The number one rule undercover was when you had to lie, make it vague. You could always add in more details if the need arose. And it looked like the need had just arisen.
Lacing his fingers with Kyra’s, he turned to face the angry teen, tugging Kyra after him. “Chloe, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Darcy.”
“Hi.” Kyra draped herself against his arm in a perfect mimicry of how a teen couple might behave, but still managed to stretch her hand out to Chloe. The gesture was friendly, but at the same time said, “Back off. He’s mine.”
Case bit back a grin. He had to admit, she was good. But her presence here continued to have him on high alert. Another glance around the park, however, revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Some of his anxiety eased. It wasn’t like she’d tagged along on an undercover gun-buy. This was just him getting some information from a teen.
Hopefully.
He returned his focus to Chloe. Now to see if he could propel this situation along.
“So Chloe, listen…” He drew Kyra in front of him, wrapped her in his arms and dropped his chin against her shoulder. Forcing himself to ignore how much he liked the feel of her curled against him, he pressed ahead. “Darcy and I would like to have a good time this weekend, if you catch my meaning.”
With a silly teenage giggle, Kyra relaxed her head back against his shoulder and wrapped her arms over his. “Case does know how to show a girl a good time, but I’m sure you wouldn’t know.” The words were a sharp sword, purposefully prodding at Chloe’s injured pride. She turned her head and pressed a warm kiss against his jaw.
He swallowed. The woman made him feel things he certainly didn’t have a right to. Yet.
Arm’s folded, Chloe spun away from them, kicking at the pool’s stone wall.
Case considered that they might have pushed her too far. Now was probably the time to turn the tables. He released Kyra and reached out to touch Chloe’s arm. “You can come too, if you want.” He tried to sound like he was torn between the two of them.
And right on cue, Kyra gave a jealous little sound that was half huff half snort. “Case! I came all this way to spend time with you. Does she have to come?” She sidled up to him and danced one finger down his chest, pouting up into his face.
Case resumed their former position with her in his arms, his chin on her shoulder. But this time he focused all his charm on Chloe. “The thing is… I think Chloe can maybe get us some really good stuff. Isn’t that right, Chloe?” He winked at her. Pursed his lower lip out just enough to plead without going overboard.
Chloe actually blushed. He hadn’t thought a girl as jaded as her still had a blush left in her.
He grinned playfully and rocked Kyra a little. “See, hon? I told you I could hook us up out here.”
Kyra jutted her chin with a miffed grunt. “This stuff better be as good as you claim. I could have stayed home and gotten high with Shane on the regular stuff.”
Oh, Kyra was good. And he didn’t miss the light of realization in Chloe’s eyes that this might be just the thing she needed to put a wedge between them.
He released Kyra and spun her to face him. “You been seeing Shane behind my back now that I’m out here?”
Kyra’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “And what if I have! At least he’s there with me!”
Case threw up his hands. “Oh, here we go! It’s not like I had a choice about this move, Darcy!”
Kyra suddenly spun toward Chloe, eyes blazing. “No. Maybe you didn’t, but what did I find the moment I got off the ferry to surprise you? You! Here at the park! With her!” She flung a sweep of her hand from Chloe’s head to her toes.
“Excuse me?!” Chloe glower
ed.
“Darcy, that’s not fair!” Case stepped between the girls and pushed Kyra back a little like he was trying to protect Chloe. “Chloe has been nothing but a friend.”
Kyra peered past his shoulder, giving Chloe another glower. “I bet she has!”
“Oh whatever!” Chloe cursed and barreled around him to get right in Kyra’s face. “You want some of me, girl? You’ve got me!”
Whoa! Was this going to come to blows? Case bit back a grin. Kyra looked just as surprised as he was by that challenge. He needed to step in before Kyra got hurt. She was scrambling for a comeback.
Chloe didn’t let her get that far. She put up one hand to stop his approach. “For your information little miss goth wannabe, Case has been nothing but loyal to you since he moved here. Sounds like you haven’t returned the favor though. You don’t deserve him!” She accompanied her last words with a shove to Kyra’s chest that was so violent it rocked both of them back from each other.
Pfft! The soft whap of a bullet was followed only a moment later by the report of a rifle echoing off the rocks of the fountain, and Chloe collapsed at their feet, blood gushing from her forehead.
For one suspended moment, silence seemed to freeze everyone in the park, and then chaos took over.
“Oh! Dear Jesus!” Kyra’s scream held genuine shock and terror.
All around them screams sliced through the morning as families and tourists dove for cover.
“Get down!” Case tackled Kyra and pulled her behind the rock wall of the fountain’s pool. He pushed her as close to the wall as he could. “Stay here!” Thankfully, she didn’t look like she was going to disobey.
Kyra curled on her side and rocked, hands gripping her hair. “They shot her! They actually shot her and it’s all my fault.”
His jaw tightened. Not her fault. Not her fault at all. But he didn’t have the luxury of time to tell her that right now.
The yoga class must have ended when he wasn’t paying attention, because he could see several of the women crouched down and hiding near cars in the parking lot. The picnicking family had all gathered behind the steps that led up to the top of the bright red tube slide. Everyone else who’d been in the park seemed to have vanished from sight, which was good.
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