by Terri Reed
“Brace your feet against the tree.”
Chase’s whispered instructions gave her the encouragement she needed to remain calm.
Slowly, she walked her feet up the side of the trunk as she used every muscle she had in her arms to pull herself toward the perch. But she was thankful for the leverage of the rope keeping her stable and adding some lift.
In the distance, another noise, out of place for the forest, filled the air. But Ashley ignored the sound to concentrate on climbing. A cold sweat broke out on her body. Her breathing came out in little puffs.
Finally, she managed to land one foot on the little ledge of wood. From there, it was easier to make the climb, grasping each rung with her hands and pushing with her feet until she was able to grasp the metal edge of the tree stand. Awkwardly, she maneuvered herself over until her feet found stability on a piece of protruding metal with crisscross beams.
There was barely enough light to make out a cushioned seat fastened to the tree and the footrest on which she now stood. She made the mistake of glancing down and nearly passed out. The ground was a long way away.
The rope around her waist went slack as Chase made the climb up. Within seconds, he was squeezing in beside her.
“Breathe,” Chase whispered close to her ear.
Inhaling and exhaling, she lifted her gaze and searched for his blue-green eyes in the dim light. Staring at him gave her the courage not to disintegrate into a quivering mess.
Balancing himself precariously on the footrest, Chase whispered, “We need to be as quiet as possible. Be very still. Let’s pray they aren’t smart enough to look up.”
A moment later, the two men hounding them burst from the woods and into the meadow five feet from where Ashley clung to Chase in the tree. The last of the sun’s rays glinted off the guns held in their hands, sending a shiver of dread along her spine. Chase drew her just a little closer. The warmth of his reassurance flowed through her.
The two men conferred with each other, then split up, one heading away from Ashley and Chase, while the other one moved in their direction.
Ashley buried her face into Chase’s chest and held her breath as the big goon walked right beneath them. Lord, please don’t let him look up.
The sound she’d heard earlier grew louder, shuddering through the trees.
Chase’s arms tightened a fraction more around her. “Yes,” he breathed out in obvious relief, his voice barely audible in her ear over the roar. “So grateful for Ian Delaney.”
Wind whipped by the helicopter’s rotors threatened to fling them off their perch. The flying craft passed over the forest twice above their heads and then hovered in the middle of the meadow before slowly landing.
Their pursuers doubled back, running toward where they’d left their car.
The helicopter’s door opened. Kaitlyn and Alex jumped out, dressed in full tactical gear with rifles raised. They hurried toward the trees.
“That’s our ride,” Chase said. “I don’t want my coworkers to mistake you or me for the bad guys.” He pressed the app button on his phone, dispelling the darkness around them.
“What are you doing?” Hadn’t he said it was too dangerous to use the light function?
“Flashing out the Morse code for SOS.”
She supposed it was normal for a law enforcement officer to know Morse code.
An answering flash of light came from Alex. Chase let out an audible breath before he said, “I’ll go first. Hang tight.”
Chase nimbly descended the tree trunk. Clearly, he was an expert climber. He gave the rope a shake, letting her know it was time for her to begin her climb down. She prayed going down would be easier and less scary than going up.
Keeping her gaze on the tree, she made the arduous descent and was grateful when her feet hit solid ground.
Unhooking the rope from Ashley, Chase gathered the thick length in one hand and grabbed her hand with the other. “Come on.”
They ran toward the helicopter as the wind stirred through her short hair and caused the tall grass to slap against her shins. Every step that brought her closer to the flying craft sent more anxiety twisting through her.
Kaitlyn waved for them to hurry while Alex flanked them, watching their backs. Chase helped Ashley inside the open bay of the large dark blue helicopter. It took all her courage to settle herself inside the space, knowing it would leave the ground. And go up and up. Her stomach hurt and nausea rose to burn her throat.
A small overhead light illuminated the interior of the helicopter. She scooted onto one of the beige bucket seats facing forward, her limbs shaking. Ashley recognized the very good-looking Delaney brothers in the pilot and copilot seats. She’d seen them a handful of times in town.
Chase climbed in next and took the seat opposite her. Dropping the rope onto the floor, he leaned forward and threaded his fingers through hers. His mouth moved, but she couldn’t hear him over the rumble of the rotors.
Kaitlyn jumped in, taking the seat next to Ashley, while Alex sat beside Chase and shut the door.
Ashley shuddered with dread. Panic roared in her ears as the bird took off, lifting effortlessly into the air. She scrunched her eyes closed, afraid to see how far above the ground they had flown. Her lungs constricted. She would start hyperventilating at any moment. Chase squeezed her hands until she peeked at him.
With his free hand, he used his index and middle fingers, pointing them at her, then at his eyes, his meaning clear. Keep her gaze on him, not on the fact that they were flying high in the sky.
Swallowing the anxiety clawing up her throat, she nodded. It was no hardship to stare into his blue eyes. Though as the helicopter banked and then slowly descended onto the roof of the sheriff’s station, which now sported a heliport thanks to the Delaney family, her stomach lurched and she clenched her jaw so tight she was surprised a tooth hadn’t cracked.
When she stepped out of the helicopter, she’d never been so glad to have her feet on solid concrete. Her nerves were shredded. Fatigue and adrenaline letdown made the act of putting one foot in front of the other seem as if she were wading through thick sand.
She could hardly believe the day she’d had. Assassins and heights.
All she wanted now was to find a nice hot bath and bury her head between the covers of a warm bed. Tomorrow had to be better.
She sent up a prayer of praise. The day could have ended so badly. With Chase hurt or dead. It wasn’t fair for her to put him and the whole community of Bristle Township in danger.
She was safe for the moment, but this whole disaster proved the point that she needed to leave town sooner rather than later. Before someone did get hurt.
She settled in a chair beside Chase’s desk. A few seconds later, the sheriff and Daniel returned from the mountain with the two assailants in handcuffs. Her attackers glared at her as they were led to a jail cell. She didn’t recognize either one. And hoped never to see them again.
“What’s their story?” Chase asked Daniel, when the deputy returned to the main area of the station. “Did they say anything useful? Did Maksim Sokolov send them?”
Daniel shook his head. “Only word they’ve uttered since we grabbed them was lawyer.”
Chase let out a soft growl of frustration. “What about the guy from this morning? Did we get any information off him?”
Ashley shuddered at the memory of the man who’d dragged her to the edge of the cliff. The man Chase had shot and killed.
“We got an ID on him,” Alex said. “Randy Brennan. Has a rap sheet that goes back decades. Mostly breaking and entering in his youth, but then he graduated to armed robbery and assault.”
“Known associates?” Chase asked.
“Once we get IDs on these two, we’ll see if there’s a connection,” Daniel said.
“This Randy guy said he was being paid well,” Ashley tol
d them.
“No doubt,” Chase said. “Money may not buy happiness but it definitely will motivate some people to commit crimes.”
She nodded, thinking about their conversation earlier. “What happens now?”
“We need to find you a safe place to lay low.” There was fire in Chase’s eyes. “The Los Angeles district attorney has a leak in his department. And I’m not entrusting you to their care again.”
“How do you know the leak wasn’t from your department?” she asked.
Gregor had told her not to trust the police. Yet she had. And twice now she’d been attacked. Was one of the deputies in collusion with Maksim Sokolov?
The hurt on Chase’s face dug at her. “I get why you’re asking. I haven’t done a good job of protecting you. But I trust everyone in this department with my life.”
“But you did protect me. You saved my life, twice.” Which made the idea of his working with Sokolov ridiculous.
But what of the others?
She didn’t know these people, really. She wanted to believe in them, to trust them. Even call them friends. But she wasn’t sure she could trust her own judgment. All the more reason she should go back into hiding.
“I’d like to talk to the district attorney,” she said.
Chase rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “That’s reasonable. Let’s get to it, then.” He picked up the phone.
Within moments, he had the Los Angeles district attorney on the line. Chase updated him on the situation. “You need to check your house,” Chase said. “You have a mole working for Sokolov.”
Ashley could hear the district attorney’s deep, angry voice shouting into the receiver. “No way. This is not on us. It’s on you. You said you could keep her safe.”
Guilt flashed in Chase’s eyes. Ashley wanted to reach out to reassure him that he’d done nothing wrong, instead she curled her fingers around each other and waited.
“Nobody here even knew what time or what road we were taking out of town except me,” Chase countered hotly. “And I certainly didn’t alert anybody in Los Angeles.”
There was a long silence, then the district attorney said something in a much calmer, lower tone that prevented Ashley from making out his words.
“A video deposition is the best solution,” Chase said into the phone. He listened, his lips pressing together. “Really. You’re going to quibble over the cost?” He rolled his eyes. “We’ll set it up here in the sheriff’s station. Tomorrow morning.” Chase glanced at her. “He’d like to talk to you.”
Ashley’s hand trembled when she took the receiver from Chase. “Hello?”
A deep masculine voice came on the line. “Miss Willis, I understand that you are ready to testify that you saw Maksim Sokolov shoot and kill Detective William Peters.”
“Yes, sir, I am.” Even though she was quaking in her tennis shoes, she was going to do the right thing this time. She turned her back to Chase. “Sir, it would be better for me if I disappear after my deposition tomorrow.”
Chase’s gaze burned a hole into the back of her head. But she knew she was right. Even if he was too stubborn to see it.
“No can do. You’re in police custody now. Let me talk to the deputy again.”
“But, sir—” she said.
“No. Now hand the phone over to Deputy Fredrick.”
Frustration beat a steady rhythm behind her eyes as she held the phone out to Chase.
Giving her a censuring scowl, he took the phone. “Mr. Nyburg.” Chase listened for a moment, then said, “Yes, I understand.”
After Chase hung up, he was still for a moment before meeting her gaze. She couldn’t read his expression. Was he angry with her? Disappointed? And why did it matter to her?
She had no answer to that question.
Kaitlyn walked in with Maya Gallo and Leslie Quinn following in her wake.
“Ladies,” Chase greeted them.
Ashley held her breath, expecting the women to be upset with her for not telling them who she really was from the beginning.
“Jane! Uh, I mean, Ashley, are you okay?” Grasping Ashley’s hand, Maya’s brown eyes searched Ashley’s face. She was dressed in jeans and a lightweight red sweater. Her dark hair was held back in a clip at the nape of her neck.
“Kaitlyn told us what happened to you today,” Leslie added. Tall and slender, dressed in a navy pantsuit with a white crisp blouse, Leslie exuded an intimidating air of sophistication. Clearly, she’d come from the dress shop she managed for her mother.
“I’m fine,” Ashley told them, though she couldn’t hold back the threat of tears. Why weren’t they angry with her?
“I found them outside,” Kaitlyn said. “They weren’t going to go away until they talked to you.”
“Thank you. All of you.” Though Ashley wasn’t sure what she was really thanking them for. Not ripping her head off with accusations and recriminations? For caring about her when she didn’t warrant their concern? “I don’t know what to say, except I’m sorry.”
Leslie waved a manicured hand. “Please, no apology necessary. And there’s no better place for you to be than here.” She turned to Chase. “Right?”
He held up his hands with the palms facing out as if surrendering. “I keep trying to tell her that. She wants to leave. To disappear.”
All three women turned their gazes to her. Ashley squirmed beneath their incredulous stares.
“No way,” Kaitlyn broke the silence. “That would be a huge mistake.”
“The sheriff and deputies here are the best.” One corner of Maya’s mouth lifted. “Of course, I’m biased.”
Considering the harrowing experience Maya and her brother, Brady, had had on the mountain when treasure hunters kidnapped them in their quest to find the prize, Ashley didn’t doubt that Maya was grateful to the sheriff and the deputies for rescuing them. Plus, Maya and Alex had fallen in love and were to be married this coming summer. A happy ending for them.
Ashley didn’t hold out any hope for a happy ending of her own.
“But truly,” Maya continued. “Kaitlyn, Alex, Chase, Daniel and the sheriff would never let anything happen to you or to any of us in Bristle County.”
“That’s good to hear you say,” Alex interjected as he walked into the room and came over to his fiancée, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her close.
Maya glanced up at him. “You saved me and Brady and this whole town from those nasty treasure hunters.”
Alex grinned at her. “I didn’t do it all by myself.”
“That’s right. We’re a team.” Daniel, who’d been sitting quietly at his desk while this drama unfolded, rose and joined them.
“I trust these officers with my life,” Leslie stated. “And so should you.”
“We appreciate your vote of confidence.” Daniel addressed Leslie, his eyes sparking with amusement.
Leslie slanted a glance at him. “Don’t let it go to your head.” Turning her attention back to Ashley, Leslie said, “I know you’ve been staying with Mrs. Marsh, but it wouldn’t be wise for you to go back there. You can stay with me. If fact, I think it would be best for Mrs. Marsh to take a vacation to visit her family in Texas.”
“I’ll see that she does,” Daniel said.
Leslie considered him a moment. “Thank you.”
“I’m here to serve,” Daniel said.
Leslie’s eyebrows drew together. “Right. Okay, then.” She shifted her focus to Ashley. “You good with staying at my place?”
Taken aback by Leslie’s kind offer, Ashley tucked in her chin. “You would do that for me?”
“Of course.”
Her gaze swept over the group. She didn’t want to be a burden to them. Or put any of them out. Accepting help didn’t come easy. It made her feel vulnerable. “None of you really know me. I’ve done noth
ing to deserve your help. In fact, by staying, I’m putting you all in danger.”
“That’s what people do in a small town,” Leslie said. “We watch out for each other.”
“You’re our friend,” Maya said.
Kaitlyn pinned her with a pointed stare. “And we can take the danger.”
Ashley turned to Chase. He regarded her with a curious expression on his face that she couldn’t interpret.
“You should...could stay at my house,” he said.
“No,” Ashley protested. “I won’t put Lucinda in jeopardy.”
“Which is why my place is perfect,” Leslie said. “I live alone, I have a gun and I’m trained in self-defense.”
Running his hands through his sandy blond hair, Chase said, “I’ll stand guard outside.”
Kaitlyn stepped forward. “Not necessary. I’ll stay with Leslie and Ashley.”
“Me, too.” Maya grinned. “I’ll send Brady to Alex’s.” She rubbed her hands together. “It will be a ladies’ party.”
Alex groaned. “Maya.”
She broke away from her fiancé, linking her arm through Ashley’s. “It will be fine.”
“No way. You and Brady will stay at the ranch with my dad,” Alex insisted.
Maya opened her mouth, most likely to protest, but Kaitlyn intervened. “It’s better this way. Safer.”
“Fine.” Maya obviously couldn’t argue with logic.
“We’ll take turns standing guard,” Daniel said.
Ashley shook her head, not liking that everyone was going to so much trouble on her behalf. “You guys...”
“No more arguing,” Kaitlyn said in a decisive tone.
“Then let’s go,” Leslie said, heading for the door.
The sheriff stepped out of his office. “Hold up. I need Ashley and Chase to give their statements before they leave.”
“You all go on,” Chase said. “I’ll bring Ashley over when we’re done.”