In Her Sights (14 page)

Until he found out who’d targeted her, though, he had to stay on mission. He couldn’t let his desire distract him.

Following her as they headed to the sheriff’s office, he searched for tails, particularly the red Pinto, but he saw nothing. He needed another lead. Unfortunately he only had one option. He snagged his phone and dialed a number he’d memorized but hoped he’d never have to use. “Come on, Grace. Pick up.”

“H…hello?”

The tentative greeting infuriated him all over again. When Grace had called him about the corruption within the sheriff’s office, she’d risked her life by ratting out her purported family. The crime syndicate they ran was into drugs, prostitution, gambling, gun running. If it was profitable, they had a piece. Grace wouldn’t chance leaving her husband, no matter how much Luke had argued. Not unless her husband and the head of the family could be stopped.

“It’s Luke Montgomery.”

A soft sigh filtered through the phone and she cleared her throat. “Okay, I’ll answer your survey if it won’t take too long.”

He heard a loud curse in the background and then the sound of a closing door. Damn, he wished Grace would let him help, but short of kidnapping her and her son he couldn’t do anything. If he discovered enough information, though, he
could
involve the FBI.

“I’m outside just in case the place is bugged. I’ve got a few minutes before Charles gets frustrated.”

“Grace, I can help you. I’ll put you in touch with a U.S. marshal and witness protection.”

A derisive laugh escaped from her. “The family can get to anyone. The last person who tried to help me is dead. That’s why Steve Paretti turned his back on his father and the organization in the first place. I’m still shocked he hasn’t been eliminated. No, it’s better if I’m here until the end. It’s safer for me and Bobby.”

“I hate seeing you trapped.”

“I won’t always be,” she said softly. “I’m glad you called, though. You’re being followed, Luke. I saw the photos. They want to know who tipped you off…and what you’ve found out.”

“How’d they find out about the investigation?”

“You questioned the wrong person. They have ears everywhere.”

“I’ve received threats. Is there a hit out on me?”

“Not yet. They want to scare you, but if you get too close…” The silence grew thick. “Maybe we should forget the whole thing. If you let it be known you’ve stopped—”

“No way. We’ll make you safe.” Luke rounded a corner, only a few miles from the sheriff’s office. “Have they mentioned Jazz Parker?”

“She’s the sniper on the news, right? She’s never been here, and I’ve never heard them talk about her.”

Thank God. Luke hadn’t realized how desperately he’d wanted to believe in her. At least now he had one less reason to doubt.

“How about Brian Tower?”

“Him, I know. He attended a
very
private party last week. Tons of security. He was an arrogant jerk. I had to smile and be nice. Like always. How’d you know he was here?”

“Was he with his father?”

“I haven’t seen the sheriff in a while. The son came on his own, and the family fawned all over him. I don’t know why, but it must’ve been important.”

“Interesting. Brian Tower and no sheriff. Could he be the one following me?”

“Maybe, but I can’t be sure,” she said. “I need to go, Luke. Don’t call here again. Please. I’m going to have to explain as it is.”

“If you hear anything about Sheriff Tower or Brian or Jazz, let me know. Anytime. Day or night. Lives are at stake.”

“For both of us,” she said softly. “I’ll try to find out more. If I can.”

The line went dead.

Luke flipped on his turn signal. Brian Tower. A key to his investigation into the sheriff’s office and maybe more of a player than he’d imagined. No longer just a deputy with a grudge, Tower now seemed to be linked to Luke’s investigation into Grace’s family. Was Tower’s IA interest in Jasmine connected at all?

Or was it a coincidence?

The entire situation sat wrong, but there was no proof of anything except that Tower possessed enough information to hurt Jasmine. Luke never wanted to see her shrink the way she had in that hospital. That wasn’t his Jasmine.

His
Jasmine. Oh, man.
She’s not yours. She never was. Get it through your thick skull and deal with it.
He should focus on who was out to get Jasmine, and then he needed to stay away from her. If he could.

Her truck turned toward the sheriff’s office and he followed, slowing down, validating they hadn’t been tailed. He pulled into the parking lot, and with a quick scope of the area to verify their safety, he jumped out of his vehicle to help her gather her weapon and the targets.

She wrenched open the rusty door of the truck. “I didn’t see the Pinto. You?”

“We weren’t followed, but it doesn’t matter. He knows you work here.”

“This is crazy.” She dug into her pocket and pulled out an empty Life Savers wrapper. “The day just keeps getting better and better.”

“Someone is out to get you. We need to find out who and how before the situation gets worse. If they are willing to sabotage your rifle, they’ll do anything.”

“You believe that? You don’t think I lost my cool? That I made a mistake?”

“Whatever has happened between us, Jasmine, I do know some things about you, and I believe you would do
anything
to protect the team. Just like I would. You’re a hell of a good sniper. Maybe the best I’ve ever seen. A foot off isn’t a normal miss. Whoever did this knows what they’re doing, and they don’t care who gets hurt. Gabe’s the proof.”

Impulsively she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

The touch of her lips re-ignited the unwanted heat so close to the surface. “You are always…unexpected.”

The air between them sizzled. His heart thudded as he stared into her green eyes, then he lowered his gaze to her lips. She swallowed and licked their fullness.

To hell with good intentions. Without waiting for permission, his lips claimed hers, and she surrendered, shoving her hands in his hair, returning the kiss with an intensity that made him shudder. He wanted to give in to the longing that threatened to overpower him and throw her into the back of the SUV and make her his. He longed to sink into her and lose himself in the heat.

It wouldn’t take much to drag her into the back of his SUV and let himself peel away her clothes piece by piece until she lay beneath him, skin glowing, eyes soft, lips swollen from his kisses. His body throbbed with desire, and he arched against her hips, letting her feel the strength of his need.

Panting, she wrenched her mouth from his. “I thought we agreed this was a bad idea.”

“We did. And it is.” He thrust his hand through his hair. He wouldn’t acknowledge the turmoil between his heart and mind. No matter how much he wanted her, he couldn’t risk his heart—or Joy’s—with someone who’d walked out of his life once already. If he’d had a choice, he’d have walked away. But he had no other option. And neither did she. “I’m going to take care of whoever’s doing this to you, Jasmine. I’ll
make
it work out.”

“Save the fairy tales for Joy. My life isn’t made up of happy endings.”

Jasmine stepped away, and a veil came down between them, that barrier of protection he recognized so well. All for the best. She turned on him and grabbed her targets and gun from the truck.

“And yet,” he said, “you still believe in justice. Even though it’s clear the person who sabotaged your rifle has access to the SWAT den and was probably a sniper. To get anything past you would take some serious skills. My bet’s on Brian Tower at the moment. I doubt he’s working alone, but he’s involved.”

“He’s a sniper. He hates me, but he’s a cop. He took an oath. We all did.”

“Now who’s living in a fairy tale? Cops turn bad. Tower’s got means and opportunity,” Luke said. “I think he might be playing both sides. Half cop, half organized crime stooge. I don’t have proof, but I’ve got indirect evidence. If we could tie him to the Pinto, we could prove his involvement, but we can’t assume anything. Anyone on the SWAT team—past and present—is a suspect. Sergeant Carder and Sheriff Tower were both snipers.”

She shook her head. “I won’t believe that. My team might not have faith in me anymore, but they wouldn’t sacrifice Gabe. And Sarge would never give up any of us.”

“I hope you’re right. For the record, I’ve known Carder for years. Our parents were friends. I doubt he’s the one.”

“Is that facts or your gut, Luke?”

“The last few days have reminded me that confirmation isn’t always there when you want it. Sometimes all that keeps you alive is instinct.”

He walked with her into the sheriff’s office and watched her nod to a stiff desk sergeant. The jerk didn’t return her greeting. They’d judged her already, and it annoyed the hell out of him. They deserved a lecture on teamwork, that’s for damn sure. But Jasmine. She just walked on by. He admired the pride in her step, the lift of her chin. She didn’t let them see how much they’d hurt her.

Just as they were about to push through the double doors leading to the SWAT den a voice from behind jerked them back.

Brian Tower sauntered toward them as if he owned the place. “Parker. I figured you’d run for the hills.”

The bastard had some nerve. If Luke found corroboration Tower had
anything
to do with his brother or Jasmine, he’d bury the guy. For now, Luke fought to play it cool.

“I assume those are yours?” Tower nodded to the targets rolled up in Jasmine’s hand.

She stiffened next to Luke. “And if they are?”

“I’d like to see them.” Tower held out his hand.

Jazz wanted nothing more than to wipe Tower’s Cheshire cat grin off his face. It had become far too familiar yesterday during her debrief. Now, as he plucked the targets from her hand and unrolled them, his smile deepened. Cold fingers ran up her spine. Why should an almost perfect target make him so happy?

“You’re coming with me. Down to ballistics. There’s a little test Internal Affairs would like you to perform.”

Tower’s sneer of victory sent chills through her. What was going on? She searched Luke’s gaze for reassurance.

“Not without representation, she’s not,” Luke said, clasping her hand, compelling her to meet his gaze. “He can’t force you.”

“Maybe not. Of course, most of the men here would want to prove themselves,” Tower goaded. “Still, I’m a bit surprised you’re unwilling to eliminate yourself as culpable so my team can identify how Gabe ended up in the hospital fighting for his life. But it’s your choice.”

“Jasmine—”

Luke’s tone cautioned her of the risk. She knew, but it didn’t matter.

“I don’t have anything to hide. It’ll be fine.”

Silent fury flashed in Luke’s eyes, and she could tell if they’d been alone, he’d have dragged her out of here. He didn’t understand that she needed to do this. Tower had called her out; she refused to back down or let Luke fight the battle for her.

“Let’s go,” she said.

Luke moved to follow, and Tower sent him a small smirk. “Sheriff’s deputies only. Wait here.”

With one last, backward glance at Luke seething, she exited the office. Side by side, she and Tower walked to the elevators. He didn’t speak, but Jazz couldn’t ignore his sneer. “What do you think you’re going to prove?”

Tower punched the down arrow and waited for the metal doors to slide open. When they’d both entered and he’d pressed the button to take them to the basement, he faced her. “That the daughter of a whore doesn’t belong on our team. Did you follow Mama’s example and sleep your way into the paper just like you slept your way into SWAT?”

No. This couldn’t be happening. How could he possibly know about her mother? No one knew. No one.

Jazz’s fingers closed into fists.

Tower snorted with laughter. “Come on, Jazz. Hit me. You know you want to.”

Every instinct screamed at her to take him out, to use all the training at her disposal to squash this little worm, but as she studied where to best punch him she sighted the badge tucked into his waistband. She couldn’t give him what he deserved. That was what he wanted. “I won’t play your game.”

“You have self-control, I see.” He smiled at her. “Better than I thought, considering your white trash background.”

She froze in place. She could almost hear Luke’s voice.
Don’t let him get to you, Jasmine. He wants you to crack, to do something stupid.

“You didn’t think I’d find out? Oh, babe, I know a lot more than appears in those flimsy files in IA. How do you think your SWAT mates will feel when I tell them what a fraud you really are? That you’ve been arrested for ripping off your Johns? Think they’ll respect you then?”

No. Impossible. No one should’ve been able to dig up her juvenile arrest files. Sheriff Clarkson had destroyed them along with the newspaper articles. Someone else had to be feeding Tower information. But who?

The elevator doors slid open. She couldn’t move. She just stood there, stunned.

He cracked a smile. “After you. I’d say ‘ladies first,’ but we both know you’re not one.”

She stiffened and leveled a laser gaze at Tower. “Back off, or I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”

“Threatening an investigating officer? That won’t look good on your record.”

He walked ahead of her and opened the ballistics lab door. “Johnson, she’s here.”

The ballistics technician acknowledged her presence with an embarrassed nod.

The whole thing felt like a set-up, and she’d gone and let Tower tick her off. Between her shock and anger, she was shaking. She had to rein in her emotions. She needed to be the Ice Queen.

She closed her eyes and pictured that lake, those hot springs washing everything away but the moment. One, two, three deep breaths and she opened her eyes.

“What do you want me to do?”

Tower nodded at her beloved Remington, resting behind the glass window separating the lab from the testing room. Her old friend. “Give us ten shots at the target.”

“That’s it?”

Tower smiled. “That’s it.”

Confused, she opened the door and looked back at Tower and the tech. Tower appeared every bit the commandant watching his worst prisoner take the final steps toward a firing squad. The tech just looked uncomfortable.