Attracted to Fire (14 page)

Ash startled. “It worked.”

Dave shook his head. “And you're surprised?”

Why hadn't he noted Dave's quirky sense of humor? Guess he needed it to work with mentally unstable people. Ash heard a chuckle and turned to see Victor, Wade, and Rick behind them.

“How long have you guys been there?”

Victor crossed his arms over his chest. “Since the tea. Are you a new man?”

Ash frowned but couldn't resist the grin. “Maybe. Any requests while I'm in a good mood and not blowing my nose?”

Bob raised his hand from his position on the other side of the pool. “No requests, except I'd like to be next in line for the treatment. I've never experienced problems with allergies until we got here. My eyes are killing me. If we were invaded by bad guys, I wouldn't be able to see to shoot.”

“You could tackle them.” Wade gave his best defense pose. “I'd run.”

“Very funny. I'd still have to see who I was chasing.”

Dave waved at Bob. “Sir, you and any of your cronies are welcome to follow me into Miss Pepper's kitchen for your own herbal cure. Since Wade's the football wannabe, he could relieve you for a few minutes.” He picked up Ash's Diet Coke. “I'll toss this for you.”

“I just opened it.”

“It's not on the allergy plan.”

“You have no mercy. Bob, I'll give you a break. No one should have to go through these allergies.” Ash waved at them. “But it works, and you know how stubborn I can be.”

None of them answered, and he laughed. Some reputations were hard to live down.

Chapter 19

Thursday morning, Ash carried a pot of coffee into the operation room and set it on a small corner table with cups, creamer, and sugar. A platter of warm cinnamon buns scented the air. At last, something Pepper baked that didn't set his stomach on fire. He closed the door behind him, mindful of Pepper's tendency to overhear conversations. Not that he didn't trust her. As Scottard Burnette's private cook at the ranch, she'd overheard many discussions from high-ranking people within the government. But she had no business listening in on Secret Service conversations.

“Listen up. I called this meeting so Meghan and Bob could be here before taking over their shift. I'll talk to Victor and Rick later. I appreciate all of you and your dedication to our assignment. Yes, I agree it gets boring, but we're managing okay.” Ash poured Bob a cup of coffee and handed it to him.

“Media got wind of President Claredon's medical report before an official White House statement was made. The president is stepping down. His cancer has spread to his brain, and he's been given six months. In short, the Shield is being sworn in as of 0900 ET.”

Bob stirred two spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee. “Does our situation change with Lindsay? Will we be reassigned?”

“Nothing's changed at this point. I'll let you know as soon as I learn about a new plan. As you'd expect, the security here will ramp up now that our protectee is the president's daughter. Media are scrambling as usual to find her location, all the while bashing Claredon for waiting so long to step down from the presidency. They are also working overtime to discredit the VP, using Lindsay as leverage. Nothing we haven't heard before.”

“How long before they discover where she is?”

Ash understood Bob was as concerned as the rest of them about Lindsay's safety. The media's interference meant more problems for all of them. “We've done all we can to keep her whereabouts secret, but we have civilians in on this too. The county sheriff has given us his support, but we have no guarantee that our position won't leak to the public. The First Lady wanted to visit Lindsay next week, but I doubt if that will happen now. I've heard Lindsay's sister, Kelli, wants to see her, but that means another risk of exposure. With the VP taking over the country, all those associated with him are high profile. They'd be followed for certain, and the Dancin' Dust would then be another hot spot on the news.”

He could almost hear the wheels turning in the agents' heads.

Ash poured a cup of coffee for Wade then Meghan. “Meghan, you have more patience than I do with Lindsay, and I see you're securing her confidence. Bob, I admire the way you use humor to keep me from killing Pepper. Wade, you've done a dynamic job of showing the Leonards that we're not the enemy. I've seen you playing horseshoes and engaging them in conversation while enduring this relentless heat. Saw a good show of archery the other night too. We'd all be lost without Victor's computer skills, and Rick's a complement to the team.”

Agents offered thanks, but Ash waved away their gratitude. “All of you follow the rules, and that makes us a good team. I hope we're able to stay together, but that's our new president's decision.” He wondered if he'd be promoted to the president's protective detail. What if Meghan . . . ? He pushed the thought aside to continue business.

“As the Shield takes his oath of office this morning, I'd like to think our country will rally behind him.” He huffed. “I'd also like to think we could get our hands on Lindsay's stalkers. Any questions or comments?”

“I'd like permission to tell Lindsay about the car bombing.” Meghan reached for half a cinnamon bun. “I believe it falls under our jurisdiction as a safety issue, although Dave may not approve. I want her to know about the man killed at her parents' home too. With your permission, sir, I'd like to inform her about her father's new role. She may want to call and congratulate him. A definite step in the right direction for reconciliation with her parents.”

Ash had been thinking along those same lines. “Go ahead. I'll check with you later about her response. Uh . . . don't tell Dave what you're doing. He'll probably want to fill her full of vitamin C first.”

Chuckles rose from the group, easing the tension if only for a moment. Ash knew the men had varied responses about being reassigned—and most of them wanted as far away from the Dancin' Dust as possible.

Minutes later, in the empty operation room, Ash savored the coffee and a mean cinnamon bun dripping with frosting. What was he doing thinking about food when he wanted a shot at the presidential protection detail? The VPPD had been a possible step up in his career, an opportunity to eventually be a part of the presidential team, but now the Shield would be in charge.

He sighed. His responsibilities and priorities were right here on the ranch, keeping Lindsay safe. If a promotion was in his future, it would happen after he completed this assignment. He didn't want to think of the media showing up. The headaches of dealing with reporters trying to crawl all over the ranch would be miserable.

Another thought of higher priority kept his mind occupied. The threats to Lindsay had him baffled. The Shield's role in leading the country, the bombing, the shooting, and Lindsay's untraceable communications were a part of the same conspiracy. Warrington indicated he felt the same way. Ash hated sitting on a dirt ranch in West Texas while someone else worked the clues.

Once Ash dismissed the team, Meghan walked up the stairs to relieve Victor. Exhaustion circled his eyes.

“Long night?”

Victor walked to the stairs and sat. “Humor me for a moment.”

Meghan handed him a cup of coffee. Black, like he preferred. “I'm fresh out of jokes. What's going on?”

“The worst. Lindsay cried for hours. Started about 0200. Said the demons were laughing at her. Begged me to help her leave the ranch. Offered me money. Stood in the doorway wearing nothing but a tear-stained face.” He lifted a bruised cheek, a circle about a half inch in diameter. “Used her stiletto to make a point.”

Meghan groaned. “Did Dave intervene?”

“He tried to calm her but couldn't get anywhere. Carla did her soothing routine, but Lindsay was hysterical. At one point Dave asked her if she wanted you.”

“What did she say?”

“I don't want to repeat it. Dave gave her a couple of supplements called serenagen, and I think it helped.”

Meghan nodded. “I'm familiar with that herb. It's used to help alleviate stress. I can't believe I didn't hear her.”

“Volume wasn't the issue. I've seen her this way before. So has Ash. But I can't remember her condition ever being this . . . well, desperate and pitiful.”

Like she was spooked. Meghan wanted to research withdrawal symptoms. She thought she had a working knowledge of how a body reacted when denied drugs and alcohol. But no two cases were alike. Lindsay had exhibited the confusion, inability to sleep, tremors, and it looked like tonight, she'd experienced more hallucinations.

“I'll try talking to her. At times, I've been able to get through. One minute she responds logically, and the next she's angry and refuses to talk. Everything has to be on her terms. According to Dave, she's providing all the right answers to get out of here and nothing we can use to keep her safe.” Meghan didn't mention Lindsay's comment about enjoying the peacefulness of the ranch, if only it didn't belong to Scottard Burnette. Of course, everything connected to her family sent her into a tantrum.

“Good luck. She trashed her room. Thought I'd warn you. Better duck, too. She's throwing everything she can get her hands on.”

“I'll be all right.” She started to add she'd been through this before with another addict, but that part of her life was personal.

Victor glanced at the door. “You've gotten farther with her than Ash or I ever did. Must be the female bonding thing.”

“Who knows? I just want to see her healthy and using Dave's tools to stay clean. Oh, Ash wants to see you.”

“How bad?”

“Not bad. Just more for us to consider.”

“You're no help at all, Meghan.” He stood from the stairs and finished his coffee. “Did you hear about the guy who used to skate ten miles a day, then he found a shortcut?”

Chapter 20

Lindsay craved a sleeping pill, anything to help her escape the demon who posed as her friend. As long as she did exactly what he demanded, her family would live. His voice haunted her, and in her nightmares, his features contorted into the hellish creature that no one knew. She couldn't fight him. His power and intelligence far surpassed hers, and she didn't know who sided with him. If she dared to take a person into confidence, that person might be on his payroll. Or they might end up dead. As she considered those at the ranch, she wondered who was against her father and who supported him.

Humiliation for what she'd done last night made her physically ill. The rantings and pleadings were one thing. Prancing naked in front of Victor and throwing a shoe at him made her despise herself. He'd take a bullet for her, and this is how she repaid him? Her behavior only reinforced what the demon always said.
You're worthless, Lindsay. Stupid and good for nothing except what a woman can offer.

She craved death, but she craved life more.

She pulled out a notebook from beneath her bed. Composing songs helped to ease her fears. The words and the melodies that poured from her heart brought a sense of peace to her shattered world. The last time she wrote a song, her mother had found the notebook and played the music on the piano. She thought Lindsay had copied it from a songwriter, even tried to find the recording as a gift. Mom claimed it was beautiful and expressed surprise that Lindsay enjoyed country music. She almost told Mom then, but why pursue a dream with no future?

Today she wanted to stroll across the ranch and recapture those little-girl moments before her world collapsed. A song danced across her mind, and she wished she had her guitar. That would make the perfect escape without drugs.

Grasping her pen, she opened to a blank page. If she began a song by first writing about her passion for the piece, then the lyrics and the music became more focused. Only country music touched her heart, because it mirrored a slice of life that offered honesty and real emotions.

A knock on the door reminded her Meghan was on duty. Lindsay wanted to trust her, but not Ash. He could be one of them. At times she thought Meghan could be working for her father's enemy too. But those thoughts diminished each time they were together. Dad had hand-selected Meghan, and the knowledge gave her hope.

“I'm busy. Had a rough night. But I'm sure you've heard.”

“I need to talk to you. It's important.” The urgency in Meghan's voice alarmed her.
Could something have happened to Mom, Dad, or Kelli?

She tucked her notebook under the bed. “Come in, but I'm warning you. I'm not in the mood for questions.”

Lindsay knew she looked horrible. The mirror had revealed cavernous pits beneath her eyes, and her pale skin would rival a corpse's. The shambles in her room matched what had gone through her mind in the wee hours of the morning. The frenzied thoughts were still there.

She wasn't insane. She was terrified.