Cowboy Command (24 page)

Presley shook her head and leaned forward, scooting until she was barely sitting on the sofa.  Seth tried to pull her back but she pushed at his hands.  This shit was important and she didn
’t want to miss a word or a flicker of his expression.

“
Why does she hate me?  What did she tell you, Ran?”

Randall tipped the can back and took a gulp of the soda. 
“You took her father’s love away from her.  Apparently, he loved you more than he loved her.”

“
That’s not true,” Presley protested.  “He loved Nora.”

“
Maybe,” Randall shrugged.  “The reality isn’t what’s important.  It’s what she believes.  She says her boyfriends would talk about how pretty you were and her father would say how you were going to snag yourself a rich, handsome husband.  He bragged about you being Homecoming Queen.”

“
So she tried to kill me?”  Presley was incredulous.  “That’s a reason not to invite me for Thanksgiving dinner, not trying to blow me up or send me to prison.”

“
She was very upset when her father left you one of his houses.  She said you didn’t deserve it.”

Presley pressed her face into her palms.  Her home hadn
’t been burnt down to destroy evidence, it had been burnt down because Nora was throwing a fucking tantrum.  She felt Seth’s hands on her, lifting her from her perch on the edge of the couch cushion and setting her further back, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.  She twined their fingers together. 

“
I’m okay, Seth.  Just trying to wrap my mind around this.  I never realized my sister hated me so much.  It seems unreal.”

Randall frowned. 
“I honestly thought you knew Nora hated you, Katie.  She never really tried to hide it in front of you.  It just went overboard when her husband divorced her.  She blamed you for that.”

“
What?” Presley jumped up from the couch, shaking Seth’s arm from her.  “How am I to blame for that?”

Seth stood and placed a hand on each of her shoulders. 
“Calm down, honey.  Stay with us here.”

Presley took a deep centering breath.  Seth was right.  She was getting too upset.  She needed to stay calm and in control.  She could scream later when Randall wasn
’t around. 

“
Her husband liked you,” Randall explained.  “That was all it took.  In her mind, if he had loved her, he would have hated you.  She’s pretty twisted but I never thought she’d try and kill you.  When I saw that car bomb on television I was shocked.  It was over the top even for Nora.”

Presley thought about all the years she
’d struggled to stay close to her sister and make them a family.  “Nora’s always been over the top. I’ve been closing my eyes to things I didn’t want to see.”

“
No one could foresee a sister trying to kill them.”  Evan finally spoke from his spot on the couch arm. 

“
There were signs of how she felt.  I just didn’t want it to be true.”  Presley could see it now.  Hindsight was always twenty-twenty.  Little digs from Nora whenever she had the chance.  Slights when their parents were still married.  Nora had tried many times to blame things on Presley when they were kids.  Looking back, she realized her stepfather had rarely taken Nora’s side.  It must have infuriated her. 

“
All that hate festering away for years.  Growing and deepening every day until she just couldn’t take it anymore.”  Presley was shaken, and she leaned into Seth, needing his strength. 

Presley turned back to Randall.  He was far from the eccentric billionaire now.  He looked old and worried, his face deeply lined and ashen. 
“What happens to you now, Ran?  Do you get off scot-free?  Does money buy everything, even justice?”

Randall
’s eyes were haunted.  “No.  I’ll get a new life, a new name, but nothing will ever be the same.  I’ll always be branded a traitor and not a patriot.  I’ll spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.  I’m glad I got to see you again, Katie.  I’ve missed you.”

Revulsion at what he
’d done made her stomach curdle.  He hadn’t tried to kill her but he’d been willing to bend the law and throw his lot in with her batshit, crazy sister.  It made her bad decision history look pretty good in comparison.

“
My name is not Katie.  Katie’s dead.”

She turned on her heel and started for the door.  She
’d heard what she needed to hear and she never wanted to see him again.  Evan and Seth caught up with her before she hit the front porch and all three of them were silent as they loaded into the SUV and drove away. 

Presley couldn
’t take the quiet any longer.  Her skin was prickly and she wanted to jump up and pace, or run.  She needed to move.  She also needed to end this chapter of her life.

“
So Evan, what do you have planned to catch my sister and how can I help?”

Chapter Twenty

“
Have you lost your mind?” Seth thundered.  He scraped his hand down his face in frustration.  They’d returned to the hotel suite minutes ago and Evan had wisely and discreetly excused himself while Seth tried to talk some sense into the woman he loved.

Presley was going to send him into an early grave.  Now she wanted to help Evan get evidence against her sister.

“No, I think I’m finally making a good decision.”  Presley’s expression was serene.  “Finding out the truth about Nora has set me free.  I can finally stop trying to create a family with her and move the hell on with my life.”

“
That’s a good idea.  Let’s move on with our lives, honey,” Seth urged.  “We can head back to Harper.  You’re out of protective custody and it won’t be long before Evan has Nora behind bars.”

Presley rummaged in the honor bar and pulled out a soda
, holding it up in offering.  He shook his head, but she opened it anyway, taking a long drink.

“
For how long?  She sent killers after me to Harper.  I’m done with looking over my shoulder, Seth.  I want my life back, dammit.  If I can speed up this process, well, why not?  Don’t you want us to be a regular, normal couple?  Wouldn’t you like our biggest concern to be what movie we’re going to rent for a Friday night?  I’d like that.”

That made Seth smile. 
“Honey, you and I will never be a regular, normal couple.  I don’t think it’s in our DNA.”

Presley smiled back. 
“As normal as we can be then.”  She stepped in front of him and went up on her tiptoes so she was looking up into his eyes.  “I’ll be surrounded by agents.  From what Randall said, it sounded like she hates me so much she’ll love to tell me all the stuff she’s done in the name of revenge.  They’ll get it on tape and then they’ll arrest her.  Piece of cake, Sheriff.”

Seth wasn
’t sure it would be that easy, but he could see the determination in her eyes.  She wanted this and he needed to find a way to keep her safe.  “There will have to be some precautions.  We need to have a foolproof plan, Presley.  I’m not risking your life after I’ve protected it all this time.”

There was a soft knock on the door.  It was probably Evan back from making his phone calls or whatever he
’d been muttering about when he’d hurried away from the blast zone of the impending argument.  Seth peered out the peephole and confirmed Evan’s identity before opening the door.  Evan’s expression wasn’t any happier than before he’d left. 

“
What’s going on, Ev?”  Seth hated feeling helpless and he sure felt that way right now.  Everything was spinning out of his control and he didn’t know how to stop it.  Seth offered Evan a soda, hoping he would reveal what was bothering him.  Evan nodded absently, his mind obviously elsewhere. 

“
This case has been a bear from day one.  We put audio surveillance on Presley’s sister and we intercepted a phone call between her and one of her minions.  She’s hired a couple of guys with long rap sheets and violent pasts.  They’re sniffing around the courthouse and the hotels nearby.  Nora didn’t tell them directly to kill Presley but with what Simon told us, we can infer it.  It’s not enough to arrest her, but it’s enough for us to know there’s still danger.”

Seth closely watched Presley
’s reaction.  Other than a small flinch at the word “kill” she remained composed.  His woman was tough, but all he wanted to do was make this go away.  Fix it.  Wasn’t that what a man was supposed to do?  Protect his woman and keep her from harm? 

Damn woman has me talking to myself.

“All the more reason for me to go to her instead of waiting for them to come to me,” Presley stated.  “I don’t like feeling like a sitting duck.”

Seth looked at Evan. 
“I don’t suppose you have a plan?”

“
I’ve got some ideas.”  Evan’s eyebrows went up in surprise.  “I’d like to run them by you.  Get your input.”  Evan leaned over the back of the chair casually, a smile playing around his face.  “You know, a Federal Marshal has the power to deputize local law enforcement and even civilians, if needed.”

Seth grinned. 
“Deputize me.”

Presley
’s gaze shifted back and forth between Seth and Evan.  “Wait, you can make Seth a Federal Marshal?  Really?  Does he have to take a vow or something?”

“
He has to take an oath,” Evan replied with a smug smile.  “If you get to be a part of the operation, will you let us use Presley as bait?  I swear as God as my witness we will keep her safe, Seth.”

Seth rubbed his chin.  Presley
’s eyes were alight with excitement.  She wanted to do this and technically he couldn’t stop her.  At least if he were a part of it, he could watch over her.

He turned to Presley. 
“Do you really want to do this?  It’s risky, honey.  This woman may be your sister, but she wants you dead.  Very dead.”

Presley nodded. 
“She won’t stop.  We have to do this.  I have to do this.  If I think the plan is too risky, I won’t do it, okay?”

Seth sighed.  He knew when he was beat.  Besides, she had a point.  A good offense was
the best defense.  He wasn’t a big fan of sitting here and waiting for this woman to make another attempt on Presley’s life.  It was better to have control of the situation and be the initiator, take this Nora person by surprise. 

“
All right, honey.  Let’s catch us a criminal.”

Evan grinned and Presley beamed.  Seth felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as if he were preparing for battle.  It felt good and right to be doing something constructive rather than sitting around waiting for shit to happen.  That was unnatural for any man.  He
’d lost sight of it because he’d been so worried about Presley.

Seth went to the bar and grabbed a soda,
this time for himself, popping it open.  “Let’s hear what you have in mind.  I’ve got a few thoughts of my own.”

* * * *
*

Presley had acted pretty macho and brave for Seth but the fact was she was fucking nervous.  She checked under her armpits one more time, sure she had a growing damp spot on the cotton shirt.  Evan had dressed her in a long sleeved rugby-type shirt, not too form fitting and thick enough to conceal the wires taped to her skin.  The agents and Seth would be recording everything said between her and Nora.

As long as she didn’t sweat the tape off before the mission began.  She reached for her coffee cup and cursed when she realized it was empty. 

“
Nervous?”  Evan smiled sympathetically.  “We’ll be with you every step of the way, Presley.  If she tries to pull a gun or anything, we’ll have a sniper pointed at her and we’ll storm the place as well.  Just make sure the drapes stay open so we can see in.”

“
You can change your mind, honey.  You don’t have to do this,” Seth said.  He was sitting next to her in the SUV with dark-tinted windows down the street from Nora’s home.  They had a small car Presley would drive to the house since she couldn’t arrive in the SUV with the Marshals.  There were already agents surrounding the house. Federal agents had taken over the houses on both sides of Nora.  Even if Presley couldn’t get a confession out of her stepsister, she’d probably have to move out of her snooty neighborhood.  Nora’s friends and neighbors liked to gossip about one another and Federal agents with a sniper rifle pointed at one of your own was too juicy to hold back.

“
No.”  Presley shook her head.  “I have to do this.  You were right, Seth.  We have to take the fight to them.”  She reached over and squeezed his hand.  His palm was as sweaty as her own.  “I’m the only one that can do this.  I have to do this.”

“
Remember what we talked about, honey,” Seth coached.  “Get her to talk about what she did and why.  Talk about the car bomb and Simon.  You have the element of surprise.  She’s not expecting you to waltz into her home.”

Evan
’s phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket.  He listened and nodded before hanging up.  “Okay, she’s stepped out onto the back patio and is having a glass of wine.  It’s the perfect time for you to go.  The sniper can get to her unobstructed if need arises, and we doubt she has any weapons on her verandah.  Remember to keep her talking.  Try to get her to say as much as possible.  The more details we have the easier it will be to find hard corroborating evidence, and the harder for her to recant when she lawyers up.”

Presley didn
’t really want to think about having her sister, scratch that, stepsister, shot in the head while Presley looked on.  She hoped Nora wouldn’t do anything stupid and simply cooperate.

Because Nora is sooo cooperative.

The three of them stepped out of the SUV and Evan handed her the keys to the small car she would be driving.  “We’ll be right outside.  Good luck.  Stay calm and focused.  If you want us to rush in, all you have to do is say the word ‘coffee.’  Got it?”

She nodded.  Seth had chosen the trigger word and he had chosen well.  Seth wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. 
“I’ll be right outside the door, honey.”  He pressed a kiss to her lips.  “No heroics.  If something isn’t going right, you say the trigger word.  I mean it.”

Presley rolled her eyes but inside she was a basket case. 
“I got it.  You worry too much.”

“
I worry about you.  I love you, remember?”

She smiled and kissed his rough chin. 
“I love you too.  When this is all over we can start our life without looking over our shoulders.”

“
I can’t wait.  We’ll go somewhere quiet, just the two of us, and talk about our future.”

Evan looked impatient but she needed to say this before she went in. 
“I’ve been thinking about that.  I think we should live where there are family and friends who care.”

Seth nodded. 
“Then that’s where we’ll be.  We’ll live in Tampa.”

She shook her head. 
“No.  I was talking about Harper.  I don’t have any family here that cares about me.  I have your family though, and I know they care.  I have friends there that make time to stop by to talk to me and have coffee every day.  I have friends here in Tampa, and I miss them, but I miss Harper more.”

She
’d surprised the man she loved.  His mouth was hanging open but his expression was one of joy.  They were going to go home. 

She just had this one thing to do first.

“I’m ready.  Let’s do this.”  Presley got into the subcompact car, started it up, and headed up the road to Nora’s house. 

“
I hope you can hear me.  I’m almost there.  I’m parking in the driveway now and I’m heading directly to the back patio.”

Presley paused as she exited the car, taking a deep breath.  Her hands were shaking and her heart was pounding.  She
’d never been big on confrontation, but this was probably the most important one of her life.  It was time to deal with the specter of her lame-assed family at last. 

Her tennis shoes didn
’t make any noise in the grass or on the concrete and before she knew it she was standing on the patio looking directly at her stepsister and would-be killer.  The patio was large, taking up half of the manicured back yard.  The other half of the yard was dominated by a large swimming pool with a decorative fountain in the middle.  Presley remembered when Nora had the fountain installed right before a fancy party with a State Senator.

“
Hello, Nora.  I thought I’d find you back here.”

Nora had been about to take a sip of her wine and she jerked to attention, her eyebrows shooting up and her mouth going slack.  She recovered quickly, however
, her body relaxing and her expression composed.

“
Katie, how lovely to see you.  Do please join me.  Shall I get another glass?  Or do ghosts even drink wine?  I don’t know.  I’ve never had one in my home before.”

Presley remembered what Evan said about staying in sight and not having any weapons outside.  She shook her head and took a seat at the table opposite Nora.

“I’ll pass.  I think I need to stay completely sober around you, sis.  You don’t seem very surprised to see me.”

A smile played around Nora
’s lips as she swirled the wine in the glass.  “I’m not, actually.  I never believed you died in the bombing.  Officials wouldn’t let me see the body.  They said you’d been blown into small pieces and burned beyond recognition.”  Nora sipped her wine.  “Something like that would take a great deal of C-4.  As for staying sober, do you think it will help?  I’ve been several steps ahead of you your entire life.  It must be very tiring for you trying to keep up.”

“
Not really.  I’ve been pacing myself.  You look good.  Working out?”  It was a running joke.  Nora despised sweat in any form.  The swimming pool and the indoor gym were purely for show. 

“
Aren’t you a dear?  Thank you.  It’s a new diet.  I eat fish every other day.”  Nora waived her hand at Presley’s hair.  “I like the red hair.  It’s much more sophisticated than the blonde.”

Presley ran her fingers t
hrough the strands.  “I had to change my look.  It seems I have some enemies trying to kill me.”