Attracted to Fire (13 page)

Meghan read what she'd typed. “‘I remember meeting you but not your name. What did you have in mind?'”

“Send it.”

She refused to look at Ash for fear he'd comment about her reaction to him. “Wonder why he didn't leave a name, especially if he went to all the trouble of mentioning Dominic?” She glanced at the incoming messages. “Delivery failure. Let me guess . . .” She scrolled down the e-mail. “Unknown user.”

“This pattern could be ego or a new strategy in the game plan.”

“I've come across a few of those in my days.” Her memories weren't pleasant.

“I wish we could figure out who and what are behind stalking the vice president's daughter. At this point, it still looks like a disgruntled drug dealer. But it has to be more. Drug cartels don't become powerful without money and intelligence behind them. Whoever is sending these e-mails is daring us to come after him.” He walked back to his own computer. “It's cold in here. I'm going to bump the AC up a notch.”

Oh, great. He noticed her chill bumps. Meghan sent the e-mail trace. She had to find a way to hide her attraction instead of responding to him like a teenager drooling over the captain of the football team.

“Odd, the temp is set at the same place. Want a cup of coffee?”

Couldn't he just leave it alone? “No, thanks. I'm cutting back to drinking it in the mornings. Dr. Sanchez's book is making me feel guilty.”

“I read it too. Much too healthy for me. I hear Lindsay started taking the supplements last night. Even drank a medicine smoothie.”

“I fixed the nasty thing,” Pepper called. “Pink, powdery stuff that's supposed to taste like strawberries whipped up with ice and blueberries.”

He walked to the door. “Pepper, are you standing in the hallway eavesdropping? This is Secret Service business. When I'm having a discussion with an agent, it doesn't include you.”

“Unless it's about Lindsay's diet. That's my job. And you left the door open. What was I supposed to do?”

Ash clenched his fists. “Did she drink it all?”

“About half. I tasted it. Not bad for medicine, but it's not a taste treat either. I'd rather have mine in a margarita.”

Meghan hid a grin. Glancing at her screen, she saw a response to her inquiry about the previous e-mail and waited until Ash closed the door. “Can't trace the originator.”

Lindsay's phone buzzed with an incoming text. “It's the same message that just came through the e-mail. He's anxious.” Ash typed in a response. “I said, ‘Can't figure out who you are? Send me more.' How does that sound?”

“Good. Shows she's curious.”

Ash pressed Send. A moment later he shook his head. “Message can't be sent.”

“So whoever is sending the e-mails is smart enough to use a new e-mail address each time, then close out the account. And the texts didn't show the originator's number?”

“Right. Must have incoming texts disabled.”

Meghan met his gaze, calculating. “Should I ask Lindsay about him?”

“Go ahead. Might sound better coming from you.”

“Dr. Sanchez mentioned swimming today, since the storms have passed.”

“Good call. It amazes me to see how many people can be bought.” He walked to the end of the study where the wall-to-ceiling window looked out onto the pool. “Ever notice how the sun causes the water to glisten like diamonds? Like a man could reach out and pocket enough to set him up for life.”

“All he'd get is a wet pocket.”

“My point. But he'd try.”

Chapter 17

Meghan reached for a towel and wiped the perspiration dripping from her face. A dip in the pool would cool her off, especially since her capris were soaked with liquid heat all the way through. Maybe tonight when she was off duty, she'd take a swim. The sun had erased traces of the storms of the past few days and seemed to dance off the turquoise water. Like diamonds. Ash's statement opened up another side of him, a side that demonstrated he had a philosophical way of viewing life.

She studied Lindsay flirting with Victor and Rick. Her bathing suit had less material than Ethan's red bandana. Same color, too. Every agent who had a glimpse of the pool did a double take. And Chip Leonard was no exception. What she feared with Lindsay and Chip would no doubt happen soon.

Lindsay paraded around the pool like a beauty pageant contestant, exhibiting none of the fears of this morning. Twenty minutes ago, she didn't want to walk outside her room. But now she was on stage, and her need for attention was evident to all those present. Sad, but true.

Meghan turned to Dave Sanchez. “I've got to ask Lindsay a few hard questions.”

“It's too soon for her to know about the bombing. And after this morning . . . well, I can't permit it.”

“It's not too soon to ask her about the origin of e-mails and texts.”

He lowered his sunglasses to capture her gaze. “You don't know who sent them?”

“We're working on that.”

“Are you telling me that with all the technology available to you folks, the origin of these e-mails and texts can't be found?”

Meghan swallowed her irritation. “I said we are working on it. But I need to talk to Lindsay about content and what she's willing to tell us about the sender.”

“I can't allow you to upset her. She's depressed and fighting withdrawal symptoms.
Fragile
best describes her.”

Lindsay's laughter rippled around them, grinding at Meghan's nerves. Granted the heat didn't help, but neither did his attitude. “Dave, Lindsay's health is your area of expertise. The six agents assigned to her are here to ensure she stays alive.”

Dave watched Lindsay twirl a finger on Victor's chest. “She's trying to find a spot of happiness in her unhappy life. I can't take that away from her right now.”

“I understand her history.” She moistened her lips. “I respect all I've seen you do with Lindsay, but I intend to speak to her with or without your permission.”

He glared at her, then inhaled. “I gave my word to the vice president that I'd work with all the agents. I'm not going to the mat over a difference of opinion unless I feel her health is threatened.”

“Thank you. I'd expect nothing less. We're all on the same side.”

“She might feel threatened if we're together. I'll leave you two alone.” He stood from the poolside chair. “Lindsay, Agent Connors would like to talk to you.”

Lindsay smiled at Victor and touched his cheek. He took a step back, and she giggled. “We're having a conversation. I'll be there in a few minutes.”

Fifteen minutes later, Lindsay stretched out on a lounge chair beside Meghan. “This must be serious since you ran Dave off.”

Meghan leaned back on a chair beside her. “I've been trained to be intimidating.”

“Ash should have told you I rarely cooperate.”

“Has your life been at stake before?”

Lindsay grasped a bottle of sunscreen. “Every time I get high.”

“That's of your own choosing.”

Lindsay squirted the lotion onto her hands. “You sound like Ash packaged in a sweet voice.”

“We're trained by the same people.”

Lindsay stared at the lotion in her palm. For a moment, Meghan saw the frightened little girl from this morning. “What do you want to know?”

“Who did you meet at a party two weeks ago at Dominic's?”

“Friends.”

“Not a new guy?”

She glanced out at the pool but not at anyone. “No. I'd have remembered.”

“You've received an e-mail and a text from a guy who says he met you at Dominic's party and wants to get together. Didn't leave a name, and the e-mail and text can't be traced.”

Lindsay's lips quivered, and she took a deep breath. “I can't help you.”

“I think you can.”

“The stakes are too high.”

“Lindsay, if you're concerned about the ten grand you owe for drugs, we can take care of it and get this guy behind bars.”

“I wish money could take care of the problem, but it won't.” Lindsay rubbed the lotion onto her leg. “I'm in too deep. Give it up.”

“What are you afraid of? Look around you.” Meghan gestured. “Six Secret Service agents are here with the sole purpose of keeping you safe. Have you been dealing?”

“No. Haven't gotten that low yet.”

Meghan wanted to shake her. “I need for you to tell us about this guy so we can stop what's going on.”

“All right, Meghan. I didn't meet anyone at Dominic's party. It's a bogus e-mail, and I have no clue why you can't trace the sender. That's all you get.”

Meghan weighed telling her about the bombing. Dave would be furious, but she had to take that chance.

“Excuse me, but this is for Miss Lindsay.” Pepper stood with a frosted mug in her hand. “A raspberry medicine meal with frozen raspberries.” The woman had impeccable timing.

“Thank you.” Lindsay reached for the mug. “Gotta do what the doc says if I'm ever to be released from this prison.” She narrowed her gaze at Meghan. “I'm finished answering questions. Oh, and tell Ash I had a wonderful time spending all those silent hours with him last evening. He should have stayed for the show that you got.”

“Would you like something, Meghan?” Pepper wiped the perspiration beading her forehead. “A cold bottle of water or blackberry iced tea?

Lindsay toasted Meghan and Pepper. “Never trust a skinny cook.” She took a sip of the raspberry smoothie. “You know, this ranch wouldn't be such a bad place if it didn't belong to Scottard Burnette.”

Chapter 18

Wednesday morning, Ash felt miserable. He reached for a tissue and sneezed. Once. Twice. Three times. He set the tissue box onto the back-porch railing. At this rate, he'd get nothing done today. He squinted at the horses grazing in the pasture and fought the urge to scratch his eyes. They burned and were swelling shut. The sinus pain coupled with the pounding in his ears made him want to crawl into bed.

Burnette had a medicine cabinet in the guest half bath filled with every allergy, sinus, and cold remedy possible, but they'd all knock him out for the next two hours, even the non-drowsy kind. But he craved relief.

Victor walked out onto the porch. “Have you taken anything yet?”

“No. Thinking about it though. Drinking lots of water, and I popped eight vitamin Cs this morning.”

Victor chuckled. Over the years he'd experienced Ash's bouts with allergy problems. Dry climates made them worse. Unfortunately, Ash had never found a product that worked, prescription or over-the-counter. As a kid, he'd taken allergy shots. Hadn't helped a bit, and he had no intentions of injecting himself with the same stuff causing his problem ever again.

“Why don't you take something and sleep it off?”

“Not on your life. Besides, then I'd be groggy the rest of the day.”

“If you don't feel up to it, I'll take your shift.”

What a guy.
“Thanks, but I need to carry my own weight. Even if half of it is the junk pouring from my head.”

Victor shrugged and walked inside. No doubt he didn't want a taste of Ash's bad mood as the allergy symptoms persisted. They always worsened as the day wore on. By nightfall, he'd be a raving maniac, begging for anything to get him out of his misery.

A few moments later, the door opened. Who had invaded his suffering? Great, it was Dave, the nutrition expert, aka miracle worker.

“Heard you were having problems with allergies. Brought you a few things to help battle this dry air.”

Ash frowned. “Name a product, and I've tried it.”

Dave smiled, an irritating, confident smile, which made Ash feel like he was in grade school again. “I have a tablet here that will help open your sinus passages and clear your eyes.” He opened his palm to reveal half of a gray tablet. “Let it dissolve in your mouth. You'll begin to feel the difference. And I advise taking sips of water with it. You'll need it.” He handed him a bottle of water.

At least Dave warned him about the taste. Ash shook his head. “Trust me, it won't work.”

“Then what do you have to lose?”

He was right. Ash popped the tablet into his mouth. “What's in it?”

“Different herbs, one of which is cayenne.”

“As in the pepper?”

“The same.”

Ash reached for the water. “You and Pepper must be related. Nasty. I think I've found the cayenne. And this will help? Or is your remedy a practical joke?”

He grinned. “Keep going. While you're working on it, I'll bring you a cup of tea. The taste is more pleasant.”

Dave disappeared, and Ash considered spitting out the horrible-tasting mess dissolving on his tongue. He startled. The herb was beginning to work. He sensed his head clearing.

Dave returned with the tea. “How are you doing?”

“It's potent.”

“I agree. When you can't handle it any longer, swallow it. Then begin the tea.” He unwrapped a soft substance that looked like a piece of candy. “Keep this in your mouth while drinking the tea. It's ginger.”

Ash swallowed the tablet and took the ginger. The tea had a menthol aroma. Not bad. Reminded him of being a kid and having his mother rub his chest with Vicks VapoRub. The ginger and the hot drink were definite improvements from the tablet. “What's in the tea?”

“Different things. You'll recognize licorice, ginger, thyme.”

“And this will make me feel human again?”

“I doubt if any of my remedies can help your personality. But we can always hope there is something in nature that will make you human. If all fails, we can try counseling.”

“Ouch. Have a little pity on an ailing man.”

“I'll try.” Dave sat in a chair beside him and talked about the ranch, the garden, the horses . . .