Attracted to Fire (23 page)

“This is the president's request.”

She swallowed her exasperation. “I understand. But Lindsay's fragile.”

“Now you sound like Dave.”

“In that respect, he's right. Okay. I'll talk to her. But I'm going to preface it with ‘I know Dave's already approached you about seeing your parents.'”

They continued in silence.

“You're a stubborn woman.”

“Thank you. Would you keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary?”

He chuckled. “I can do that. How about breakfast on the patio?”

“Sounds like we're at a resort. The other agents might talk.”

“They already are.”

Ash waited on the porch with his third cup of coffee, two slices of crisp bacon, and two pancakes oozing with maple syrup—and no jalapeños. Pepper had bowls of blueberries and strawberries to commemorate the holiday. Normally, pancakes were his favorite breakfast.

But regret filled him for flirting with Meghan. How many agents had seen his irresponsible behavior? The long days with nothing to do but monitor the latest in DC and try to figure out who was behind the crimes had caused him to ramp up his personal Richter scale. He took a gulp of coffee and nearly choked. The Richter scale belonged to the earthquake that had rocked his heart.

“Ash, are you all right?”

Meghan had a habit of showing up at the most inopportune times. But he'd invited her. “Sure.”

She slid into a chair with a cup of coffee in one hand and a plate with a pancake topped with strawberries and blueberries in the other.

“Haven't backed out of talking to Lindsay, have you?”

“No.” She pointed to his cup. “Does that ever get washed?”

He grinned. “And ruin my flawless reputation?”

She grimaced. “Don't let Dave get hold of it.” She took a sip of her own coffee. “I know this is a holiday, and it's business as usual for us, and I can't help but think, or rather hope, the shady happenings with Lindsay are over, but—”

“We're back to the women's intuition thing, and you've got a feeling about today.”

“Yes.”

“Okay, since you're going to talk to Lindsay about a visit from the president and Alexa, I'll keep my eyes open.”

Meghan realized she'd hit a brick wall with Lindsay.

“I'm not ready to see Dad or Mom.” Lindsay's quiet voice shook with vehemence. “I gave Dave my answer last night, and nothing's changed.” She picked up the TV remote and resumed a segment of news.

Meghan reflected on her earlier words to Ash. She was right. Asking Lindsay to agree to a visit from the president and the First Lady invited fireworks of another kind. “I'm only asking to see if you'd thought about it.”

“I didn't destroy all my brain cells. I do know how to speak.”

“Okay. Topic ended. What do you want to do today?”

Lindsay scowled. “Just like every other day.”

“When's the last time you baked chocolate chip cookies?”

Lindsay flashed her an incredulous look. “Never. I was thinking more along the line of a party with plenty of drugs and booze.”

“You don't want that.” What had brought Lindsay to such lows?

“Maybe you and Dave should shift roles.” Lindsay muted the TV. “This morning I'd do anything for a drink or a hit of coke. Sell my soul if that's what it took. My life is a hellhole. Being stuck on this godforsaken dirt ranch. Chained to Secret Service agents. Can't text or talk to my friends. None of that is my idea of living. Daddy should have left me alone.”

“Oh, you can commit suicide when you're free to leave here. But then Wade would have died for nothing.”

“Aren't you a bit dramatic? Putting his life on the line was his job.”

“Aren't you a bit callous?”

“Walk in my shoes.”

“Take your pity party somewhere else, Lindsay. You cared about Wade, and you grieved his death like the rest of us.”

Lindsay's face paled. She opened her mouth, then closed it. A moment later she resumed the news.

Meghan debated challenging the already-disgruntled young woman. “He's going to eventually get your father. What will it take for you to fight back?”

The news flashed about an airliner from New York to San Francisco having to make a forced landing. Twelve passengers had been hospitalized. Lindsay gasped.
Why did that upset her?

“Murder is not all he's capable of,” Lindsay said.

“Then help us stop him.”

“You don't understand,” Lindsay whispered. “It's out of my hands.”

Pepper walked into the game room. “Excuse me, Meghan, but have you seen Ethan this morning?”

“No. Why?”

“Don't you find it strange that he's not out and about?”

“Ash is in the operation room. Why don't you ask him? He was outside early too.”

“I did. He hasn't seen him either. That's not like Ethan. He's always up by four thirty and in the stables pampering the horses.”

A shiver raced through Meghan—the premonition from earlier in the day hit her hard.

Chapter 36

Ash knocked on the back door of Ethan's home. Fresh white paint. He recalled Ethan working on it a few days ago. Said he wanted it looking good when Chip came home.

When Ethan didn't respond after the third knock, Ash called out for him and turned the knob. The door opened.

“Ethan, are you here? We're a little worried about you.”

Ash pulled his SIG and wound his way through the living area to a hallway that he remembered led to two bedrooms.

“Ethan?”

Both bedrooms were empty. Beds made. He walked back to the living area and then the kitchen. There, on the floor beside the table, Ethan lay on his side, dressed in his typical light blue shirt and overalls. A huge bruise covered the left side of his face and eye. Chesney sat beside him.

Ash felt the man's neck for a pulse but found nothing. “Ah, Ethan, what happened to you?”

He slipped his cell from his pocket and phoned for an ambulance. Ash hated this. Hated it.

Meghan stood beside Bob with Lindsay between them and watched the ambulance leave the front gate of the Dancin' Dust. Her stomach whirled with Ethan's death, the devastation Chip would feel when he received word, and how Lindsay must be feeling.

Bob nodded and stepped away. No doubt he understood Lindsay might need to talk. Meghan swallowed her own grief. Ethan always had a witty comment, even if the recipient didn't want to hear it. Dying alone seemed wrong, but he was now free of pain and in the company of Jesus. In truth, he hadn't been alone when his heart ceased beating.

Chesney trotted over to Lindsay, and she scooped the terrier into her arms. She buried her face in his soft fur. “I'll take care of this little guy. Ethan and Chip loved him.”

“That's sweet of you.” Meghan patted the dog's head. She cringed. A gnawing feeling refused to back off. Ethan had wanted to talk to her last night, and she'd asked him if it could wait until morning so she could call her mom.

She remembered he'd nibbled at the corner of his mouth. “One more day won't make much difference.”

“We can talk now. I can call my mom tomorrow since it's a holiday.”

He shook his head. “Listen, Meggie, your mother is far more important than this old man.”

“I'll call her right now and come by when I'm finished.”

“You know, I'm a little tired. I think I'll turn in early so I can be ready to celebrate the Fourth. Who knows? Maybe the Secret Service will turn Chip loose. I was mad at most of the agents, but I've forgiven them. Don't have much choice.”

That was the last time she'd spoken with Ethan. He must have been feeling the forewarning of the heart attack then. What had he wanted to talk about? Probably Chip.

“I liked him.” Lindsay's soft voice brought Meghan to where she should be—focused on her protectee.

“Me too. He had a sense of humor and wit that reminded me of my grandfather.”

“He always told me I was pretty.” She held the dog close. “When you and I walked through the stables and admired the horses, he'd point out little things about them. As though they were his kids.”

“He called me Meggie. Hadn't been called that since I was a kid.”

“Chip told me neither of them had family left. But I bet people from all over the county will come to his funeral.”

“Probably so. Wade used to take him to town and church. He said everyone there knew Ethan and loved him.”

Lindsay smiled and whisked away a tear. “I'm tired of the deaths. I know Ethan's was natural, but it's too soon after Wade. Poor Chip. He must be miserable.”

Would this draw out a confession from Chip? “Maybe you could write a song about Ethan.”

“I think I will. Might help how awful I feel. Dave and Carla suggested I write a song too. You know, Meghan, the Dancin' Dust is cursed. Sometimes I don't think any of us will ever leave alive.”

“Oh yes, we will. The situation's hard right now, but it's only a matter of time.”

Lindsay tilted her head. “I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to DC.”

“Dave will give you the tools to fight the addictions.”

Lindsay turned and stared at the house. “Those who want me out of the picture haven't given up. They're just dragging their feet to scare me.”

“Drug dealers are the lowlifes of the earth. They'll be caught.”

Lindsay walked toward the house.

Meghan couldn't let her leave without some reassurance. “We're on your side.”

Lindsay faced her. “Do you believe in demons?”

What did she mean? “I believe in a power stronger than demons.”

“Then you'd better be calling on it.”

Chapter 37

Ash glanced at his team, Lindsay, Dave, and Carla gathered on the patio, like so many other nights. But tonight there were no sounds of laughter or teasing. Quiet. Ethan's confirmed heart attack had destroyed any thought of celebration. Earlier Meghan volunteered to feed and water the horses until Scottard Burnette replaced Ethan. The ranch could not operate on its own.

Chesney sat at Lindsay's feet, seemingly comfortable with the young woman. She'd attached herself to the terrier, and Ash supposed the dog was both a distraction and a comfort.

Pepper continued to bring out one tempting dish after another, each one with a card that read “spicy” or “weenie,” and she had the grill hot for steaks. She took the award for being a trouper, rallying her talents to help them get through the evening.

“Since none of us are in a party mood, we could pay tribute to Ethan.” Ash chose honesty. “I'll miss him. He was wise and lived his faith.”

Bob cleared his throat. “Ethan was a bigger-than-life kind of guy. I think his passing today salutes who he was and what he stood for. Our country's founders and their principles were ingrained in him. If that's cheesy, then too bad.”

“I envied his simple lifestyle.” Lindsay's admittance came as a surprise to Ash. The cleaner she got, the more he respected her. “He said he believed in me. Called me Lindy Lou.”