“Graham.”
Oh, boy. The implications pierced Leona’s gut. Graham’s name was top secret. If the person who had hired Terence knew that name, then they had an insider.
It could be anyone.
Particularly someone new.
Leona whirled around to Trace. “Get out,” she said, unable to keep the fury from her voice.
“Ma’am?”
“I said get out. Wait for me in my office, and don’t talk to anyone.”
Back stiff, Padgett walked out of the room, closing the door quietly.
Leona paced. She couldn’t breathe. She had to think. Hunter and Erin were in even more danger than she’d realized. She had to pinpoint the threat.
“You said the caller had a Middle Eastern accent. I need you to think, Terence. Was the man you spoke with faking the accent?”
She’d tipped her hand, but she had to ask the question.
“If I tell you, will you get me out of here?”
“Maybe.”
“Okay, lady. I’ll play.”
For several moments Terence just stared at her. Finally, he spoke.
“Here’s the thing. If I had to bet, I’d say he was faking. His English was too good.”
Leona turned on her heel and opened the door.
“Wait a minute. I want out.”
“Maybe tomorrow,” Leona said.
For now, she had a traitor to track down, and she had to make contact with Hunter. He’d cut her off, but he needed to know that he wasn’t safe. Not anywhere.
If this was an inside job, then whoever wanted Erin Jamison had the means to find her, no matter where they hid.
* * *
T
HE
BOAT
ROCKED
BENEATH
THEM
,
and Hunter studied the profile of the woman who’d lain in his arms all night. She’d been through so much, and it wasn’t over, not by a long shot. He’d give anything to make it better.
A loud bellowing horn sounded.
Erin stirred, then stretched, the material showcasing her lush curves.
Hunter swallowed. What he wouldn’t give—
A loud shout catapulted Hunter to his feet.
Erin bolted up. “What was that?”
Thundering footsteps rushed down the stairs. Crisp threw open the door, his eyes frantic. Blood ran down his cheek.
“We’re being boarded.”
“Where’s Brandon?” Erin shouted.
“My room,” Crisp said.
Erin raced to the old man’s room and scooped up Brandon.
“Get in the cabin,” Hunter said. “Barricade the door and keep the gun trained on it. Don’t let anyone in but me.”
She nodded.
Hunter grabbed a submachine gun and a Bowie.
Gunfire spewed.
“Marty!” Crisp yelled.
Hunter led them up the stairs. He bolted onto the deck.
A man dressed in black had pinned Marty. “Where are the woman and the kid?”
Marty elbowed the guy in the chest. He whirled her around and slugged her across the cheek.
She went down.
Crisp bellowed and raised his weapon.
Before he could pull the trigger, though, Hunter took the shot. The guy dropped like a stone.
A grappling hook soared over the side of the boat. “There are more coming.”
“Not if I can help it,” Hunter said.
He raced to the rail and sprayed the two men rappelling up the side of the boat. They sank below the water.
Arms grabbed him from behind. Hunter twisted.
The guy countered his move.
What the hell?
Hunter slipped his leg between his attacker’s.
Another counter.
The guy knew his moves, had the same training.
“Bet you don’t know this one,” Hunter grunted.
He pulled a variation on a high school wrestling move. The guy lost his balance. Hunter didn’t need another opening. He slammed the heel of his hand against the guy’s nose. Just that fast, it was over. The guerrilla hit the deck, unseeing, unmoving.
Hunter whirled around.
A siren sounded.
“
Precious Memories.
This is the Coast Guard. Prepare to be boarded.”
A splash sounded on the side, then the roar of a Zodiac’s outboard motor.
Crisp shouted and rushed over to a downed Marty, hidden behind a large crane. “You okay, honey?” He cupped his niece’s cheek.
She blinked. “That wasn’t fun,” she groused.
Hunter bent over her. Marty’s nose was broken, and her cheek bruised. “You’re going to have quite the shiner. Nice move, though.”
Marty clutched the fire truck pendant around her neck. “I had a good teacher.”
A spotlight shone on the deck.
“Get below,” Marty hissed. “I’ll keep them busy. There’s an escape raft tucked on the outside of the boat, starboard side, away from the Coast Guard cutter. They can’t find you here.”
Hunter clasped Marty’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Just keep your family safe, Hunter. No one deserves to lose theirs.”
She kissed the pendant and then closed her eyes.
“Marty!”
Hunter placed his hands against her neck. She’d just passed out.
The old man’s eyes glistened with tears. “I can’t lose her, too.”
“You won’t. She’s tougher than both of us.”
The cutter attached itself to
Precious Memories.
“Get out of here,” Crisp said. “She’ll wring my neck if you get caught.”
“Show yourself,” a voice bellowed over a megaphone.
Crisp stood, hands raised. “We need medical attention.”
Hunter sneaked down the stairs to Erin. God bless her, she’d already packed everything. “Did I ever tell you you’re one smart woman?” Hunter said.
He hauled the duffel over his shoulder and led Erin to the galley.
“Aren’t we going on deck?” she asked.
“Not if we don’t want to be interrogated.” Hunter knelt below the table and pressed out. Sea air flowed in. He peered outside. Clear. The raft was right where Marty had described.
Within minutes, Hunter had the boat inflated. He bundled Erin and Brandon into the boat and tossed in their supplies.
He glanced at the shore. Thank goodness they were close. They paddled away from the boat and the flashing sirens.
“Where are we?” Erin whispered. She kept looking over her shoulder.
“South of Corpus Christi. Hopefully our ride will be here. We’re not that far off schedule.”
Hunter maneuvered the raft between boats. They’d made it. As covertly as possible, he hit the shore and crouched behind a building. Erin held Brandon.
Soon a sheriff’s car pulled up across the way.
Hunter held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
“Cops?”
“Not just any cop. You’re about to meet one of the few lawmen I can believe in. Blake Redmond. The sheriff from Carder, Texas.”
A soft rumbling noise sounded from a pier not far away. Hunter squinted toward the sound. He waited and watched.
No movement.
No nothing.
A bad feeling skittered down his spine. He grabbed Brandon. “We’re not staying here any longer. Let’s go.”
They ran to the sheriff’s car.
Hunter dove into the backseat.
“Go! Go! Go!”
Chapter Eight
The sheriff’s vehicle squealed away from the shoreline. Hunter ducked down and held Erin next to him.
When they’d cleared the majority of civilization, he raised his head.
“So, Hunter, wanna tell me what the hell you’ve gotten yourself into?” Blake asked.
“Not really.”
“Good thing I trust Hunter or I’d kick you to the asphalt.”
Blake turned on his lights and hit the accelerator. They made good time to Carder. Only about three o’clock.
They passed through both of the stoplights in Carder, Texas, and Blake pulled up outside a nondescript brick house Hunter had visited only a few months after Brandon had been born.
“Logan told me you had business with Exley,” Blake said once the vehicle stopped. “If you want it done today, we’re up against closing time. The old guy generally takes off around three.”
Hunter could tell the sheriff didn’t like not knowing what was going down in his town. Well, the local lawman would have to stay unhappy. “Thanks. We’ll only be a minute.”
Hunter turned in the seat. Brandon was asleep and hopefully would stay that way for a while. “I need you to come in with me, Erin.”
She nodded.
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Blake offered.
Erin slipped out of the backseat and took Hunter’s hand. “What are we doing here?”
“I learned about Brandon soon after he was born,” Hunter said.
She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and stared at him. “How?”
“Do we have to discuss this now?”
She planted her hands on her hips. “I’m not walking into that office without an explanation.”
“I missed you,” Hunter said, trying to figure out how he could possibly explain leaving her alone to give birth to and raise their son by herself. “I came back and saw you when you were about seven months pregnant. I started keeping track, making sure you were okay.”
Erin shook her head and stared at him. “My God, do you know how frightened I was, how terrified? I was all alone in the world, with a baby and no family, and you were just watching?” She paced back and forth. “Why?”
“Because I knew that if I tried to be with you, I could get you killed,” Hunter said through clenched teeth. “You think I didn’t want to be there?” He gripped her arm. “I wanted you, Erin. I still want you, but in my profession I’ve made enemies. Powerful enemies. If they ever connect us, they could use you and Brandon to get to me. I couldn’t take that chance.”
He might have been able to take anger, but the hurt expression in her eyes gutted him to the core. “So you knew about us. Why are we here?”
“I wanted to make certain if something happened to me, you and Brandon were taken care of. I set up a trust for our son. Now, since you will have a new identity, I need to give you everything.”
Erin rubbed her eyes with her hands. “Fine,” she said, her tone devoid of emotion. “Let’s just get it done.”
He rubbed at the tension in his neck, working its way up into his scalp. A supersized headache threatened, but at least she hadn’t refused his gift. He’d wondered if she might. He’d expected her to. Had she finally come to accept the reality of the situation? Hunter studied her set jaw. He couldn’t read her reaction, and that worried him.
With a sigh, he pushed open the door to the lawyer’s office and stepped inside.
A horrible smell overcame him. One he recognized all too well.
Erin slapped her hand over her mouth and backed away. “Oh, my God, what is that?”
Hunter palmed his weapon from the small of his back then pushed Erin out the door. “Go get the sheriff.” He paused. “Erin? Do you still have the gun I gave you?”
She nodded.
“Get it out. And stay with Brandon.”
Her features pale, but determined, Erin raced to the car while Hunter scanned the receptionist’s area. The room was immaculate—and empty.
Nothing seemed out of place except for the absolute quiet, and the scent of a decaying body.
Any other time, Hunter might have called out, but the current situation was anything but normal. His internal radar had gone into overdrive.
Footsteps thundered behind Hunter. Sheriff Blake Redmond let out a loud curse. He clicked his radio. “I need backup at Exley’s. And get the coroner’s office over here.”
Blake sidled up to Hunter. “This is a crime scene. What do you think you’re still doing in here?”
“Look, Sheriff, you don’t know me, but I need to do a quick search.”
Blake grabbed Hunter’s collar. Hunter let him. “Why should I? Why shouldn’t I take you in for questioning since you wanted to see Exley, and now somebody in his office is dead?”
Hunter met the sheriff’s gaze. “Look, Logan trusts you, and I’m asking for your help. If you care anything about saving those innocent lives sitting in your car, I need to know why Exley died.”
Blake stared Hunter down. “You have five minutes. And you’re not leaving my sight.”
“Deal,” Hunter said.
He crossed over to the door leading into Exley’s office. Blake handed him a pair of gloves. Hunter slipped them on, turned the knob and pushed inside.
The scent wasn’t as bad as some of the killing fields from the worst assignments overseas, but he choked on the odor just the same.
A woman’s legs stuck out from behind the desk.
“Oh, man, it’s Mrs. Exley. She was her husband’s receptionist. Didn’t trust all the pretty young things, she used to say,” Blake commented.
Hunter rounded the desk. The woman’s neck had been snapped. Even summer decomposition didn’t hide the angle of her head. And Hunter knew exactly the move the perp had used.
Damn it.
Now that he was behind the desk, he saw the white-haired lawyer’s body. It was hard to tell given the state of the body, but blood caked the side of the poor guy’s head.
“Look at the corner of the desk,” Hunter pointed out.
Blake looked around the room. “Nothing much has been touched except this drawer.”
Something sank in the pit of Hunter’s belly. When he’d visited Exley to sign Brandon’s trust paperwork, the man had pulled Hunter’s file from that location.
He peered into the open drawer. A file labeled
Clay Griffin
sat empty, except for a small piece of paper inside.
Before Blake could stop him, Hunter snagged the sheet.
Hunter Graham.
He let out a solid curse.
“What is it?” Blake asked, and looked at the slip in Hunter’s hand. “Damn it. You’re messing with evidence.”
“This won’t help you, Sheriff. You won’t find the murderer.” He pocketed the slip of paper.
Blake’s jaw throbbed. “You know who did it.”
Hunter stared at the man and his wife who had never done anything to anyone. By asking Exley for help, he’d effectively signed the couple’s death warrant.
If Hunter had held out any hope that he might find a way to be with Erin and Brandon, that flicker had been put on ice.
Whoever had done this had known exactly who they were looking for. Otherwise the room would have been in shambles. No, they knew the name Clay Griffin. Now they had not only connected Clay Griffin to Hunter Graham, but they had also connected him to Erin and Brandon Jamison. There were a dozen terrorist organizations that wanted Hunter dead. And now they had the leverage they wanted.
Everything General Miller had warned Hunter about had come true.
His boss had been right. He couldn’t afford a family. Not now. Not ever.
“Don’t just stand there. Who killed them?”
“I don’t know, Sheriff.” Another truth. “What I do know is that all my plans to protect those two in your car have been blown all to hell.”
* * *
E
RIN
COULDN
’
T
BELIEVE
THE
subterfuge that Hunter had engineered. They’d driven to a nearby town and back, switched cars twice and now she and Brandon sat in the backseat of a gray SUV that seemed to disappear against the dusky sky.
Brandon had fallen asleep and after the past few days he was probably out for the night. Thank goodness.
Hunter’s entire body had been on high alert since he’d come out of the lawyer’s office. She still couldn’t believe the poor man and his wife had been murdered, but the cold look in Hunter’s eyes terrified her.
He turned onto a dirt road, and they bounced across the landscape.
“Where are we going now?” she asked, unable to keep the fatigue from her voice.
“Someplace safe, I hope. At least until I can arrange to get you permanently away from here.”
Erin leaned her head back against the seat. “These plans of yours get more and more complicated, Hunter. Why can’t we just stop? Surely the government agency you work for can help us?”
Before Hunter could respond, he slammed on the brakes. A black SUV sat in front of a small cabin.
“Who’s there?”
“I don’t know.”
Hunter shifted into Reverse until Sheriff Redmond stepped from the cabin. The tall man held up his hand in greeting. Hunter let out a slow curse and pulled the car forward, parking it.
Erin exited the vehicle and reached into the backseat for a sleeping Brandon. She unhitched the carrier that snapped on the frame. At least Brandon was secure.
Hunter grabbed the duffel from the back end. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Sheriff.”
A small boy peered out from behind him, and the sheriff ruffled the boy’s head. “This is Ethan.”
A woman appeared beside Blake. A very pregnant woman. “And I’m Amanda Redmond.” She smiled at Erin. “When Blake told me you were staying out here, I thought you could use a few feminine touches. Not to mention baby proofing the place.”
Erin held the carrier handle. Ethan ran over and looked inside. “He’s little. What’s his name?”
“Brandon.”
“I’m getting a baby sister soon,” Ethan said proudly. “I’m going to be the best big brother ever.”
“I’m sure you will be. She’s a lucky little girl.”
Ethan grinned. “Do you wanna see what my mommy brought? She made her extraspecial macaroni and cheese
and
cookies. We even brought stuff for s’mores.”
The boy held out his hand to Erin and she followed him inside the cabin. It was small, just two rooms, but she could see that Amanda had stocked up. A tin of cookies sat on the table. A box of food and fresh fruits and vegetables were in the refrigerator. Erin set Brandon’s carrier in the corner out of the way.
She looked around, and her eyes burned at the care a complete stranger had taken. She turned to the auburn-haired woman, whose hand was tucked into her husband’s.
“Thank you so much. You can’t know—”
Amanda reached out and patted Erin’s arm. “You’d be surprised how much I understand. Blake and I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but it wasn’t long ago that I didn’t know where I could turn to. This town became my haven. I hope it can become yours.”
Erin sent Hunter a sidelong glance. If she had to leave her world behind, a place like Carder would have been nice.
He gave her a small shake of his head, and she sighed. Not that his reaction surprised her. While she hadn’t developed friendships in Pensacola because of her work schedule, she’d hoped that someday she would be a part of a neighborhood where anyone could knock on her door asking for a cup of sugar or some hot chocolate and marshmallows and be welcome.
Now she wondered if even that small slice of life would be forbidden. Would she always be looking over her shoulder, searching the crowd for danger, being suspicious of every new person to come into her life?
For a split second she’d even wondered if Blake and Amanda Redmond could have ulterior motives. How did Hunter live this way?
She hated it.
Unfortunately, she’d also accepted that this would be her life.
“What does the Triple C look like?” Hunter asked Blake.
The sheriff let out a low whistle. “Burned to the ground. They razed the place and built a barn for the horse, but it’s gonna take time to rebuild. All that’s left is the surveillance equipment. Not that it helped much.”
Erin’s ears perked up. “Does it work?”
“Logan said he planned to replace it.”
“Do you think he’d care if I took a look? I might find something I can use.” She didn’t know how much money she’d have. She’d bet Logan had top-notch equipment Maybe she could put together a security system so she could sleep at night.
“Have at it,” Blake said. “I’m not even sure Logan will come back.”
Amanda cleared her throat. Ethan had leaned against Amanda, and his eyelids had gone heavy.
“We’d better head out,” Blake said. “Someone’s ready for bed.”
Amanda gave Erin a hug. “If you need anything, call me,” she whispered. “I learned the hard way that not asking for help when you need it causes much more trouble than staying silent.”
Hunter reached out his hand to Blake. “Thank you. We won’t be here long, but we appreciate the hospitality.”
“Anyone Logan trusts is okay by me,” Blake said. “His word means a lot in these parts.”
The Redmonds pulled away from the cabin, the dust stirring up. A red sunset burned over the horizon.
Erin leaned against the doorjamb and closed her eyes. “I don’t know if I can stay awake long enough for dinner,” she said. “Do you think there’s a bathtub in this place? I would love a hot soak.”
Hunter opened the bathroom door. “You’re in luck. A claw-foot tub. Someone set this place up for more than a couple of hunters.”
“Hop in. I’ll heat up dinner.”
After grabbing a nightshirt from the duffel, Erin searched under the sink. She rooted around and found some bath salts. Heaven.
Hot water poured from the faucet and she sprinkled the lavender crystals into the water. One dip of her toe, then her foot, and Erin sank down into the steaming heat.
She let out a long sigh, closed her eyes and faded beneath the water. For a few brief moments, she allowed the heat to melt the tension from her muscles. The sounds of the refrigerator and cabinet doors opening and closing filtered from outside.
She’d had more than one fantasy of Hunter joining her in a tub, candles burning all around and their entwined bodies sloshing water all over the floor. Just like in the movies.