The Seven-Day Target (21 page)

Then she lifted her head. Blood surged through his veins. She was still alive! He wasn’t too late.

He saw a figure in the kitchen move through a shadow. Nick ducked and drew his weapon. She was still alive, but she had only minutes left. He had to act quickly.

* * *

Libby glanced at the clock on the wall. It was ten past midnight, and David was pacing the kitchen, peering out of the windows. “You’re nervous,” she observed. “David, you know this is wrong.”

“Shut up.”

She bit her lip. “You didn’t kill those other people, did you? That woman and that cop.”

“You know better,” he said as he lifted the edge of a curtain covering the window. “I was out of the country.”

She studied him as he stood by the window above the sink. “Have you done this before? I mean...have you ever killed anyone?” Her lips felt useless as she spoke the question.

He didn’t answer at first. He placed his hands on the sink and leaned forward as if he was going to be sick. After a few moments he spoke without turning his head to face her. “No.”

This was good, she thought. He was new at this. “Why would you kill me, anyway? I never hurt you. I kind of liked you.”

He snorted. “That’s why you hopped into bed with your ex-fiancé as soon as I left town? Because you liked me so much?”

Libby’s face grew warm. “That’s not your business.”

She paused. Had he spied on them somehow? That could explain why Reggie Henderson always knew where they were when he planted the signs. “You got me,” she said wryly. “You’re clever. What did you do, bug my office? My house?”

“No, I bugged your cell phone.” He said it nonchalantly, but she detected a note of pride. “You wouldn’t know it by looking at him, but Reggie was a genius at technological stuff. I tapped your phone so we could monitor your location and listen in on your conversations. Kind of like a wiretap.”

Her eyes grew wide. “And you heard...how did you know about me and Nick?”

His lips thinned. “I didn’t. Lucky guess.”

She eyed the clock and closed her eyes, praying that Nick wasn’t back in Pittsburgh already. Maybe he would regret the way they’d left off and return to try to smooth things over. She opened her eyes. A quarter past midnight.

Who was she kidding? Their argument was hours ago. If he had any desire to see her again, he would have returned before nightfall.

She clenched and unclenched her hands, trying to restore circulation. He’d wrapped her wrists dozens of times, and there was no way to break free. She had to keep him talking—it was the only way she could think to buy time. She’d managed to fight off Reggie. Maybe she could convince David that he didn’t have to go through with this.

“So Reggie planted that photograph in my files? You must have given him the code to my alarm, right? You hired Reggie Henderson to do your dirty work while you were out of the country. That was smart,” she mused. “Of course, allowing Reggie to take the fall for your crime doesn’t work anymore, seeing as he’s dead. You didn’t count on that, and that’s why you’re going to get caught.”

David paused. “Reggie was a disappointment. He performed adequately for a while, don’t get me wrong, but when he couldn’t finish...” He clicked his tongue. “It didn’t need to be any big deal. Day five. Life-or-death could have meant a lot of things. We talked about it. I thought he should keep it simple. And I was right.” He looked Libby over. “What are you? Five foot six? Five-five? And you killed him?” He shook his head. “He got overexcited. He would have been a liability. Let’s just say I’m glad you took care of it for me.”

“You’re glad? But that leaves you without someone to blame for...” She stopped.

“For your death?” He sighed. “I thought so at first. But my alibi’s airtight. I’ve been out of the country. I stopped over to bring you some chocolates, and I got a nasty surprise.” He scratched his ear. “Or I didn’t. Maybe I rang the doorbell a few times and left. I haven’t decided yet.”

Libby’s heart skipped. “You’ve really thought this through.”

“Well, I have to, Libby.”

He shrugged, and his tone was as casual as if he was talking about priming a wall before he painted it. He was coldly logical. Emotionless, as if something had stripped him of all of his humanity. “I have to think it through, to make it perfect. It needs to be done, you understand. To right a wrong and restore balance. But I am
not
going to jail for it. No way. Even if they pick me up, there’s reasonable doubt. An old flame. Maybe an argument.”

Her mouth went dry. “You’re going to frame Nick?”

“If I have to,” he said. “Or at least use him to cast reasonable doubt on my own case.”

“But the cell phone records. You texted me—”

“Like I said, I’ll be the one to discover your body. I really think that’s what I’m going to do.” David smoothed her hair. Libby tried not to look as repulsed as the gesture made her feel. “You know, I did like you. Even when I knew I had to kill you, I liked you. I know this is scary. I don’t want you to be scared.” The intensity of his gaze made Libby’s stomach roil. He leaned closer. “No, on second thought, be scared. It’s sexier.”

Libby heard a rustle outside the window. She turned her head toward the sound and then turned it back, afraid that David would see her response.

He stopped. “Did you hear that?”

“No,” she lied.

He walked to the window. “Something walked past the window.”

Her pulse picked up speed. Was it possible that someone had contacted the police? The thought that someone might have realized she was in danger was almost too much to hope for, but she needed a reason to keep going. “It’s probably an animal. There are a lot of raccoons around here.”

He spun to face her. “It’s day seven. There’s no reason to wait any longer.”

Panic flooded her, squeezing the air from her lungs. “You don’t have to do this, David.”

“You don’t understand, Libby,” he said, leaning forward until his stale breath bounced off her face. “I’m a really bad guy. I
want
to do this.”

* * *

The house was surrounded by police officers, all waiting for the lights to go out.

Dom had arrived only minutes after Nick had, dressed in an expensive shirt and pants. He’d had someone at the precinct run the plates on the BMW parked across the street. It belonged to David Sinclair, the guy Libby was seeing. When he found out, Nick had to stop himself from breaking through a window right then and there.

Nick led a team of three officers to the basement door. “Don’t bother picking the lock,” he said and retrieved the key from its hiding place under a planter in the garden. How many times had he told Libby that she was inviting trouble by keeping a key outside? Now he was glad she’d never listened.

The door flew open quietly, and the officers stepped into the basement, flashlights poised above their drawn weapons. Nick ran to the gray circuit breaker panel and looked back at the other officers, giving them a nod. When they nodded in response, he flipped a switch, cutting electricity to the house.

“Go!” Nick shouted, and the police stormed up the basement stairs. Seconds later there was a crash as more officers broke through the front and side doors.

Nick felt a white-hot rage pumping through his veins. His muscles pulsed with pure energy as he pounded up the steps. He could think of nothing else but getting his hands on this bastard.

“In here!” Dom called, and his heart caught in his throat. Two officers were in the living room kneeling beside a bespectacled man, pressing him to the ground. “He tried to run.”

Nick towered over the killer. “Where’s Libby?”

The man was stunned. “Elizabeth,” he said softly, his eyes glassy.

Nick advanced on him, but Dom restrained him.

Then he heard her. “Nick!”

Libby.

He sprinted to the kitchen and shone his flashlight on the chair in the center of the room. She saw him and burst into tears.

“Libby.”

He darted to her side and cut away the duct tape on her wrists and ankles with a pocket knife. She moaned, and in the dim light he saw her rubbing her wrists. As he came to face her, she started to stand but then fell back in her chair.

“My feet are numb,” she explained through her tears.

“Oh, honey.” He took her into his arms, kissing her mouth, her cheeks, her lips. “Oh, Libby, I was so afraid I’d lost you.”

“Nick.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and sobbed into his neck. “I was so scared I’d never see you again.” She threaded her fingers through his hair. “I thought you’d left me.”

“I couldn’t leave, Libby.” His throat tightened. “I won’t ever leave you. Never again.”

The lights came on, and he stepped back to look at the most beautiful face he’d ever seen. She had her hands against his cheeks, and she was smiling as the tears fell. “Nick,” she began, “I shouldn’t have kicked you out like that.”

“I shouldn’t have let you kick me out.” He fumbled at her, gripping her T-shirt in his fists. He’d just saved her life, and yet he’d never felt so inept. “Damn it. I can’t leave you. Do you understand? I can’t live without you.”

Her chin trembled. “I know you want a family. I did everything the wrong way, but I said those things because I love you. I want you to be happy, even if it’s without me.”

He took her shaking hands in his and pressed her knuckles against his lips. “That’s the problem. I can’t be happy without you. You make me want to be a better man, Libby, and to do anything as important as to have children without you, without my other half....” He shook his head. “I can’t imagine it. And I don’t want to.”

She leaned closer to rest her cheek against their hands. “I don’t want you to, either.”

He leaned in and kissed her, dwelling on the softness of her lips. His legs were shaking, and he fell to his knees. “We’ve wasted too much time. All of those years apart...I never realized until now how much I need you in my life.”

She stroked his face softly. “I need you, too, Nick. I like to imagine I’m fine by myself, and I guess I’ve gotten by.” Her lower lip trembled. “But life is so much better with you.”

His heart grew warm. “I have to tell you something. I’m scheduled to be transferred to Washington, D.C. I have to relocate to a large office, but I’ll request a transfer somewhere closer. New York City, or maybe Boston.” He looked into her eyes. “Nothing else matters. You’re all I’ve ever wanted. I love you.”

Thick tears streamed down her face. “I love you, too, Nick. I’ve always loved you.” She held his jaw in her hands, stroking her thumbs against the stubble of his cheeks. “We’ll figure something out.”

He slipped his fingers through her jet-black hair. “Maybe after I finish my paperwork and you’ve given your statement, I could take you somewhere nice for pancakes.” He grinned. “Or yogurt and granola, whichever you prefer.”

His heart ached to see her lips part in a broad smile. “There’s nothing I’d love more.”

Chapter 16

“T
hat’s everything,” Libby said.

Nick closed the door to the moving van. “Beautiful day for a
road trip.” Libby didn’t respond. She was looking back at her empty house,
smiling sadly. Nick wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m going to miss this
house, too.”

“I was so proud when I bought it. I planted all of those
flowers in front, and I chose all of the room colors.” She rested her head
against him.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this? I don’t want to force you
into anything—”

She nodded. “Yes. I love this house, and I have lots of happy
memories of my time here. Then, some not-so-happy ones....”

Six weeks had passed since Nick had rescued her, and although
she logically knew that she was no longer in danger, she hadn’t slept well in
the house since. Every creak made her heart pound and disrupted her sleep for
the night. Moving to Virginia would be a welcome change.

She wrapped her arms around Nick’s waist. “I hope a nice couple
buys it. This house is meant to be filled with love.”

Nick brushed his lips against her forehead. “Your new home has
a lot of white walls that need painting and a big green lawn that needs a
garden.”

Libby sighed. “Fresh starts are nice. And I’ll still be coming
back a lot to see Cassie and Sam. I can drive by the house if I miss it.”

He pulled her closer. “Cassie and Sam and Dom, you mean.”

She laughed. “I stand corrected.” She’d never seen a couple
click as quickly as Dom and Cassie had, and Cassie was right: he was a natural
with Sam. “I’m already on the lookout for a wedding invitation.”

She sniffed as she thought about her sister and her nephew.
Washington felt so far from Arbor Falls. “It’s just three years, not forever,”
she whispered. “I like it here, and I’m not leaving forever, right?”

He rubbed her shoulders affectionately. “Just three years, and
we’ll come back anytime you want to, whether it’s to see Sam or to grab pad
Thai.” He took her hand. “Come on. We have one more stop before we leave.”

Nick helped Libby climb into the large van, holding her hand so
she could step up. A few months ago she might have resisted such aid and
informed him that she wasn’t helpless. Now she recognized the gesture for what
it was to Nick: a desire to protect her, to be her hero every day, and not just
under extraordinary circumstances. She’d always prided herself on being
independent, but Nick’s sweet little gestures made her heart melt.

As they twisted through the roads of Arbor Falls, Nick pointed
out landmarks. “Here’s our middle school. I saw you walking to school one
morning, right over there.” He slowed the car to point. “Love at first sight,
Libby.”

A blush warmed her cheeks. “You never told me about that. And
here I thought you fell in love with me because of my vast eighth grade
geography knowledge.”

“It’s true—you could rattle off the continents like a pro. And
I remember you pointing out that North America was distorted on our world map to
appear much larger than it is.”

“Cold war propaganda,” she mumbled.

Nick chuckled and turned the corner. “Mostly I remember getting
a C in that class because I couldn’t focus on anything but you.”

The warmth on her cheeks crept down her neck.

“There’s the grocery store,” Nick continued. “I bought you a
sandwich there on our first date, and we walked to the library afterward to
study algebra.”

“That wasn’t a date!” Libby laughed. “I’m pretty sure you were
just following me around.”

“Guilty. But we ate a meal together. Sort of. I’d consider that
a first date.”

Libby looked at her favorite grocery store for the last time,
bid farewell to her favorite roads and the Victorian homes she’d always admired
and gave a little wave to the diner on Main Street. “Even though someone
abducted me from there, I still kind of love that place,” she said.

“Yeah, I think I still owe Dom a few beers for that sidewalk
scuffle. Let’s change the subject.”

She smiled and sat back in her seat, looking out the van
window. “I said goodbye to everyone at the D.A.’s Office yesterday. I admit, I
cried buckets.” Nick reached over and grasped her hand. “I took that job
expecting to be there forever, or at least until I became a judge. It was hard
to let go of that dream.”

“I can understand that.”

“But that was when I wanted to be like Dad,” she said quietly.
“I’ve realized that I’ll never be like him. I’ve spent my whole life living
within structures established by others. It’s time for me to be Libby.”

Nick was quiet. “Your dad...well...”

“He made some mistakes,” she said, finishing the thought for
him. “Terrible mistakes.”

Her head still felt foggy when she thought of her father
trading his integrity for his ambition and of all the havoc he’d wreaked as a
result. He’d taught Libby to look out for victims, to seek justice for the
powerless, and yet he’d failed to protect Will Henderson—a poor, uneducated
man—from the powerful Jeb Sinclair. Worse, he’d used his position and his
knowledge to advocate for the imprisonment of a man who was not guilty of the
charges against him, knowing that his prosecution would allow a killer to go
free. She struggled to rectify this image of her father with her memories of him
lecturing her on the ideals of justice. The contrast left her disoriented.

“I’ll always love my dad,” she said, her voice trembling. “I
will struggle with who he was, but for all of his shortcomings, I believe he
tried to be a good father.”

Nick took a deep breath. “You know your dad and I didn’t always
see eye to eye, but I have to give him credit for raising a hell of a daughter.”
He kissed her hand. “You amaze me, Lib.”

She squeezed his hand. Libby had already begun using her share
of her inheritance to establish a nonprofit to pair indigent persons who may
have been wrongfully convicted with attorneys to appeal their case. She’d
located a small office out of which to run her nonprofit in Washington, D.C.
Nick would be working only a few blocks away. “I can’t help Henderson, but I can
help others like him. The wrongfully accused and powerless. I need to do this,
Nick. I need to find forgiveness.”

He swallowed. “You found a lot of forgiveness already. For
me.”

“And for myself,” she added. “I’ve done a lot of thinking over
the past few weeks about my infertility. I felt guilty about it for a long time.
Guilty and ashamed, like it was something I had to hide. I blamed my diagnosis
for making me feel inferior.” She looked at him. “Then I realized that you still
loved me and that all of those bad feelings were my responsibility.”

“
Still
loved you?” Nick’s voice
tightened. “Libby, I doubt there’s anything that could make me
stop
loving you, honey.”

“I feel like I’ve taken the first step toward healing, at
least. Forgiving myself for being imperfect. I don’t know about adoption yet.”
She paused. “I think I’d like to be a mom one day.”

“You think about it, and you let me know what you decide.”

She sat back and looked at him. “You don’t care about having a
family?”

“Don’t get me wrong, kids would be great.” He shrugged. “But
honestly? I have my family right here.”

Libby felt a swell of emotion, and for the first time in a long
time, she didn’t know how to respond except to grip his hand tighter.

Nick pulled into a parking lot at the base of the trail to
Overlook Point. He turned off the engine and faced her. “The day we hiked up
this trail and looked down at Arbor Falls was one of my favorite memories with
you. I’d like to hike it one more time before we go.”

She looked outside at the warm, cloudless May morning. Getting
some exercise before the long drive to Virginia was a great idea. “I’d love to.”
She beamed.

They locked the van and set out on the trail, which started out
at a gentle slope but then grew steep about fifteen minutes in. Libby welcomed
the vigorous hike. Her heart was pounding in a steady beat, and the air was cool
and sweet smelling below the canopy of trees. The man beside her was smiling
with that adorable dimple and wearing khaki shorts to show off his muscular
calves. Better still, he was holding her hand. Tightly. Life was good.

They came to a clearing and hiked the remainder of the path to
Overlook Point, where they could see the entire town of Arbor Falls and hundreds
of miles in the distance. From that vantage point the world could be divided
into colored squares and rooftops, lazy rivers and highways. From above, the
world below made sense.

Libby sucked in her breath. “It’s so gorgeous. I wish I could
take it with us.”

Standing in companionable silence, they watched as the morning
sun burned off the haze in the valley below. Libby closed her eyes to listen to
the stillness around her, feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays on her skin and
the earth under her feet. She inhaled. She was alive. She was still
alive,
and the realization made her want to throw her
arms around someone, so she did.

Nick laughed and hugged her back. “Hey, what’s that about?”

She wanted to tell him that it was about the way he’d brought
her back from death, that he’d saved her in more ways than she could explain.
She had her life, and she had Nick, and he made her life worth living.

“I’m not very good at talking about my feelings,” she said. “So
I’ll just say I love you.”

She looked at the valley and pointed to a spot where a white
tent was being erected. “Oh, look! Do you think someone’s getting married
today?”

“Could be.”

She sighed. “This would be a beautiful place to get married. I
know we were supposed to be married in the chapel, but I would love to be
married here.”

“Libby, you know I’d marry you anywhere, but yes, this does
seem like the perfect place.” Nick smiled. “So let’s get married.”

She grinned and her eyes widened. “Really? I’ll start planning
as soon as we—”

“No.” His voice deepened. “Let’s get married today.”

“I don’t understand...”

Nick knelt on one knee and opened a white velvet case. Inside
was a glistening solitaire diamond. Her jaw dropped. “Nick, what is—”

“A new diamond ring for our new life together. Marry me, Libby.
Here. Now. Today.”

Her cheeks felt hot as he took her left hand into his trembling
fingers. “Oh, my...”

“I ordered everything you chose when you planned our wedding.
The flowers, the caterer, even the officiate. I snuck your wedding dress out of
the van after you packed it. Cassie is down there already, and she’s going to
help you get dressed.”

“Nick, I—”

“Our friends and family will be here,” he continued. “Your
friends from the District Attorney’s Office. Cassie found a little tuxedo for
Sam.”

Libby’s eyes brimmed with tears. She looked down at herself and
began to laugh. “I’m all sweaty! My hair is a mess—”

“Cassie’s going to drive you to a hotel. I’ve reserved the
suite, and you can get dressed there and do whatever you need to do.” His eyes
were intense as he gazed at her.

“Why, Nick Foster,” she whispered, “you threw me a surprise
wedding.”

“Or an elaborate engagement party, if you’re not ready. I even
ordered the chocolate wedding cake you’ve always talked about.”

She laughed, sputtering tears. “You actually listened to
me.”

“I’ve hung on your every word since we were twelve years old. I
love you, Elizabeth Andrews, and it’s a beautiful day for a wedding.” He
swallowed. “Marry me. Please.”

Libby lost herself for a moment in his beautiful dark brown
eyes. “Yes.” The word spilled from her mouth. “I want to marry you today.”

He beamed and slipped the solitaire on her ring finger. He then
stood and took her into his arms, kissing her soundly on the lips. Libby’s heart
swelled as she stepped away to look at Nick—the man she’d always loved and
always would. “You are full of surprises, Nick.” And she loved him for it.

“Hold on, Libby. You can’t believe what I have in store for you
today.”

She was breathless as she grabbed him for another kiss. They
stood in an embrace, watching the wedding preparations below. Finally Nick
kissed her on the forehead and said, “I think we should go get ready for our big
day.”

Libby nuzzled against his neck. “I’m feeling pretty perfect
right now,” she said. “Do you think we can just stay here for a few more
minutes?”

He chuckled softly. “Anything you want, Libby,” he said,
pulling her closer against his side. “Forever, anything you want.”

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
Cowboy with a
Cause
by Carla Cassidy.