Hidden in Shadows (16 page)

“Okay, sure. But I hate lying to Ryan.”

Luke snatched her cell phone and turned it off. “Now you're not lying.”

She nodded, a little taken aback by Luke's behavior. Didn't surprise him, but he didn't know what else to do.

With a nod, the chief led them outside to room 7.

A part of Luke hoped this was it, that these were the guys that would put an end to this case and the constant adrenaline flowing through his body because he was afraid Krista would be hurt.

Yet another part of him dreaded the day he'd have to say goodbye to her.

Focus, McIntyre!

They approached the room and Luke motioned for the chief to stand on the other side of the door. Luke calmed his breathing and readied for an assault.

The sound of male laughter filtered through the window. The chief raised an eyebrow and Luke shrugged. Maybe they were killing time before they carried out their assignment.

Luke tapped on the door with the barrel of his gun, but the guys didn't hear him. He banged louder.

The room went silent. A few seconds passed.

“Who is it?” a deep male voice called out. “Hotel manager.”

“What? We're not being that loud.”

“Open the door, sir.”

Luke readied himself to kick in the door once they cracked it open.

The seconds seemed to drag on for hours.

Ready.

Set.

The door opened.

Luke kicked the door open in the guy's face and charged into the room, gun drawn.

At three guys playing poker and smoking cigars.

“What on earth, man?” said the guy who answered the door. He stumbled back onto the bed, holding his nose.

Two of the men dropped their cards and raised their hands. The third, a big guy in a checked flannel shirt, glared at Luke.

“Edie sent you, didn't she?” flannel shirt said.

“I'm a federal agent. This is the Wentworth police chief. We need to see some I.D.”

The three guys sitting at the table pulled out their wallets. They passed them to the chief who glanced at them, then back at the men.

“Looks legit,” the chief said.

Luke holstered his gun. “So what's the deal here?”

“Texas hold 'em,” a guy said.

“No, I mean why rent the room to play cards?”

“You kidding? You think our wives would let us have a card game at any of our houses? They hate the smoke, the jokes, the whole thing,” one of the guys said.

“So we said we were going hunting for the weekend and we rented a room.”

“Just one?”

“I rented one, too,” the guy with the bloody nose said, raising his hand.

“The three of us checked in together and Dave came later.”

“Suzy wouldn't let me go before I bathed the kids,” Dave explained.

Unbelievable. Luke just gave a guy a bloody nose and ruined these guys' night of male bonding.

“Why rent a room in Wentworth?” the chief asked.

“It's far enough away from Stillwater that no one would recognize us and report to our wives,” Dave said.

“Although now we'll probably be in the paper,” the skinny dude added. “Are we going to be arrested?”

Flannel shirt looked at his friend. “For what? Playing cards?”

“You're not going to be arrested. Our mistake,” the chief apologized.

“Sorry, guys,” Luke said. “We're investigating a case and three guys checking into one hotel room sounded suspicious.”

“Well, we'll leave you to your game.” The chief nodded to Luke and they left the room.

Luke was embarrassed, sure, and more than a little frustrated. But he'd do whatever was necessary to protect Krista and put an end to Garcia's reign.

Interesting how he was thinking of her first.

“Well, that's a relief,” the chief said.

“Not really.”

They got into the squad car and the chief glanced at Luke. “Why not?”

“Someone's still after Krista and won't stop until they get what they want.”

K
rista paced Julie Sass's living room, glancing out the window every few minutes hoping for the chief's car to pull up.

“You'd think
you
were the mother of nineteen-year-old twins,” Julie said, sipping her tea in an easy chair.

“We should have heard something by now.” Krista glanced at Deanna, who doodled in a sketchbook. “Shouldn't we have heard something?”

“I'm sure they'll notify us the minute they know anything.”

Krista glanced back outside. A few minutes later she felt Julie's hand on her shoulder and glanced at her friend.

“Oh, sweetheart, you got it bad,” Julie said.

Deanna winked at her.

“Stop, both of you.” Krista paced to the sofa, sat down and fingered her charm. She wished Luke would have taken it with him.

Julie sat next to her. “Come on, spill it.”

“I'm a little anxious.”

“And in love?” Julie offered.

Krista squared off at her. “This can't be love, I mean, it's not supposed to feel this way.”

“What way?” Deanna prodded.

“Like, like I'm antsy, nervous, something, I don't know.”

Deanna smiled and focused on her sketchpad.

“What's so funny?” Krista said.

“You've never been in love before, so it might feel a little uncomfortable,” Julie offered.

“I thought it's supposed to feel wonderful and peaceful and…and—”

“It's nerve-wracking,” Deanna said.

“And sometimes frustrating,” Julie added.

“And chaotic.”

“And thrilling.”

“And sometimes, confusing,” Julie explained. “But I've seen you two together. I recognize that look. On both your faces.”

Krista held her friend's gaze. “It's a disaster.”

“I'm an expert on disaster,” Deanna offered.

“I should have fallen for Alan,” Krista said.

Deanna glanced up from her sketchbook. “That would have been a major disaster.”

“Look.” Julie took Krista's hand. “If it's meant to be, it will work out.”

“How do I know this isn't just happening because he's here to protect me?”

“That's true, there's that thing called transference,” Deanna said.

“I know you, Krista, probably as well as your mom knows you. This is the real deal.”

“Then it's the ultimate disaster because he lives in New York and I live here, and I run a tea shop and he hunts criminals and—”

“Criminals?” Julie questioned.

“And now I've blown his cover.”

Deanna stopped drawing and joined the ladies in the living room. “Julie, it's important that you not say anything to anyone about Luke's real reason for being here.”

“Which is what?”

“He's working on a case. He's with the DEA.”

“Drugs? Here in Wentworth?”

“We're not sure,” Deanna said.

“It's my fault.” Krista paced back to the window. “It has something to do with my trip to Mexico. They think someone
smuggled something into to my things and a drug lord wants to retrieve it.” She glanced at Julie. “That's our theory, anyway.”

“Oh, Krista, I'm sorry.” Julie went to Krista and gave her a hug. “You must be so scared.”

“Not really. I've got Luke as my personal protector.”

“Handyman at the tea shop, staying in your garage. It all makes sense now.”

“Except for the fact I'm falling for him.”

“Speaking of which…” Julie nodded at the window. The chief's cruiser pulled into the driveway.

“Please don't tell anyone about what's really going on,” Deanna said, opening the door. “It could put your family in danger.”

“I won't,” Julie said.

Deanna went to greet the chief and Luke.

Julie turned back to Krista. “What are you going to do about Luke?”

“There's nothing to do. There's no future there.”

“Your faith is your strength, Krista. Don't give up on it now.”

Krista smiled and hugged her friend. “Thanks.”

“What's wrong?” Luke said, approaching Krista.

“I was just getting advice from my big sister,” Krista said.

Julie shot Krista a knowing smile.

“You okay?” Luke touched her arm and looked deep into her eyes.

“Yeah, just tired,” her voice caught. He cared about her. A lot. She cleared her throat. “What happened at the hotel?”

“I'll tell you on the way home,” Luke said.

Home. Her chest tightened. If only that were true, if only she and Luke shared a home.

“Did you three have a nice visit?” the chief said, eyeing them suspiciously. The chief had been married for thirty years. He recognized girl talk when he saw it.

“Very nice,” Julie said.

The twins pounded up the steps and raced through the front door. “Why are the cops here?” Tatum asked.

“I'm here to bust you girls on curfew,” Chief Cunningham said.

“Hey, I'm nineteen,” Tatum said.

“Me, too,” Tori said.

“He's teasing, sweetheart,” Julie said. “My girls are home. I can go to sleep.”

“Thanks for everything,” Krista said, envious of Julie's beautiful family.

“Good night, all,” the chief said.

 

Deanna drove Luke and Krista back to the house and made herself comfortable in the guest bedroom upstairs. Luke went through the house and rechecked all the locks, windows, doors, everything.

It seemed like he was stalling.

“Keep Roscoe inside with you tonight. A barking dog can deter someone from breaking in.”

“You didn't tell me what happened at the Crocker.” She sat at the kitchen table and stretched out her legs.

“We busted up a card game.”

“You're kidding.”

“Nope. Four guys needing some cave time.”

“Cave time?”

“Guys need to retreat into their caves once in a while to get a break from their women.”

“You make us sound like shrews.”

Luke shrugged. “It's normal, at least that's what my partner used to say.”

“You miss him.”

“He was a good man.”

“So are you.”

“Thanks, but…”

“What?”

“Never mind. What's on the agenda for tomorrow?” he asked.

She realized he was keeping her at a distance.

“I have to set up for a reception at the Silver Lake Lighthouse. They're doing a dessert fundraiser.”

“Man, this little town is a busy place.”

Luke started for the back door, but she jumped up and caught his arm. He stiffened, his eyes growing dark.

“Tonight, when you went to the hotel…I was so worried,” she said. “I paced and I fretted and—”

“It's part of the job. It's what I do.” He glanced at the floor, breaking eye contact.

“I know that. But what I realized was—”

He pressed his forefinger to her lips. “Don't say it.”

She tenderly kissed his finger. He slid his hand down to rest on her shoulder.

“Why not?” she whispered.

“It's impossible.”

“Not if you have faith.”

He rolled his eyes, and with a hand on his cheek, she made him focus on her. “I have enough for both of us. Trust me, Luke. Trust God.”

She leaned forward and kissed him. The subtle vibration of his moan tickled her lips. It was just as she'd remembered, soft and sweet, with a hint of desperation.

She'd never felt so safe, so at peace, as she did in Luke's arms.

Suddenly he broke the kiss and stepped back. She searched his eyes, but he wouldn't look at her.

“We can't.” He reached for the back door, but she blocked him.

“Look at me.”

He planted his hands to his hips and looked over her shoulder.

“Luke?”

Clenching his jaw, his eyes drifted to meet hers.

“It's okay,” she said. “I wanted you to kiss me.”

“But I shouldn't have.”

“Sure you—”

“Do you want to die, Krista? Because getting close to me will get you killed.”

She touched his cheek. He closed his eyes and sighed. A few seconds later, he reached around her to open the door.

“See you tomorrow,” he said and walked out to the garage.

 

She fretted, paced and worried about him.

Three more reasons to add to the list of why Luke shouldn't let this thing with Krista go any farther. Forget the top two reasons, the fact he lived in a big city miles away from here and his violent career was his priority.

Krista had experienced her share of violence. He wouldn't bring more into her life.

He spent part of the day doing legitimate chores upstairs, building bookshelves and organizing supplies. The rest of the time he spent on reviewing suspects and making calls.

Yet he felt no closer to exposing the local contact. He looked over his list: Phillip Barton, Ralph Grimes, Alan and perhaps, yes, he had to accept it, Krista's friend, Natalie. Luke wondered if Natalie was the target of the car accident all along.

The fact was Natalie's financials were a mess. She was in debt up to her eyeballs, in part because of the floundering real estate market and having loaned her fiancé money to keep his business solvent.

Folks on the verge of financial disaster were the easiest targets for people like Garcia.

“Luke?” Krista called upstairs. “We're taking off in twenty minutes.”

“Thanks.”

He e-mailed his supervisor a request for a more extensive background check on Phillip, Ralph, Alan and Natalie. A deeper look into their backgrounds could turn up more clues, maybe even a direct connection to Garcia.

He packed up his folders, glanced at the newly organized office and a sense of pride washed over him. He liked doing things for Krista.

You've completely lost it, buddy.
Shaking his head, he went downstairs. It was time to load up his car with food and supplies for the lighthouse event.

“Krista?” he said, walking into the dining room. The chairs were flipped onto tables, and the mop lay on the floor as if someone had been interrupted.

He marched into the back and found Timothy, Natalie's fiancé, blocking the back door. “Looking for someone?” the guy said.

“Krista.”

“She's outside with Natalie.”

Luke started for the door.

“Don't even think about it,” Timothy said. “Natalie's doing an intervention.”

“Excuse me?”

“To get you out of Krista's life.”

“I think that's up to Krista.”

“Yeah, well, she's a sweet girl,” Timothy said. “Her mom and grandmother protected her most of her life, so she's lacking the skills needed in this situation.”

“And what skills are those?”

“To be able to discern friend from enemy.”

“I'm not her enemy.”

“You're using her as bait for your criminal case.”

“How did you—”

“Natalie told me and I confirmed it with the chief.”

“The fewer people who know about this, the better chance I have to find the perp.”

“Yeah, well, I won't tell anyone.” He paused, looked up and shot Luke a sinister smile. “As long as you leave Krista alone.”

“It's kind of hard to keep my distance when I'm here to protect her.”

“Correction, you're here to solve your case. She just happens to be collateral damage.”

“You could be arrested for interfering with a federal investigation.”

Timothy took a step toward him. “Well, you should be arrested for messing with that girl's head and making her fall in love with you.”

Silence stretched between them. Love? Had Krista said that?

“Natalie is the love of my life and Krista is her best friend,” Timothy said. “She's like my sister, so leave her alone.”

“I have a job to do.”

“You're a selfish jerk out for yourself no matter who gets hurt.”

Krista breezed into the back. “Hey, what's going on?”

Neither man spoke.

“Guys?” She glanced from Timothy to Luke.

“Timothy, Nat's really tired. You'd better get going.” She gave Timothy a hug and Luke wanted to rip them apart.

Not because Timothy thought of her in a romantic way, but because Luke wanted her depending on Luke, leaning on him, not on this jerk.

She stepped back and patted Timothy's shoulder. “Thanks for bringing Nat over.”

“Sure thing.” Timothy glanced at Krista. “You take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

Timothy shot one warning glare at Luke and walked away.

She turned to Luke. “Whoa, what was that about?”

“Not important.”

Yet it was very important. Krista's friends were worried about her. Luke actually agreed with Timothy. Krista falling in love with Luke was a disaster with a capital
D.

“You sure you're okay?” Krista grabbed a box of dishes.

“Yep.” Or he would be as soon as he figured out how to stop her from falling in love with him.

Yeah, and how are you going to do that, McIntyre?
Especially because he was feeling the pull himself, the pull toward something he'd never felt before.

Love.

Not good. He would have to distance himself from her in every way possible. He'd let things slip, things about Karl, his parents, things that made her feel sorry for him and caused her to have feelings she confused with love. No more. He'd put up the wall and do his job.

Regardless of how he was feeling about the adorable Krista Yates.

 

“It's going to be perfect,” Krista said in a singsong voice.

Luke finished unpacking the last of the teacups and glanced at Krista. The woman was being hunted by drug thugs, yet she still enjoyed the moment and took pleasure in her work. How was that possible?