Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Exit Strategy\Payback\Covert Justice (22 page)

“Thanks.”

“If you wouldn't mind, could you go through your office and see if anything's missing? Even the smallest thing can help me figure out a motive for the break-in.”

“Sure.” She went into the office and Aiden followed. He was staying close. She wasn't sure why he was being so protective, especially since it was broad daylight and the deputy was with them.

As she fingered through the mess of papers on her desk, she puzzled over the motive for trashing her office.

“I can't really tell which files are missing without going through everything. But the passwords are safe. I keep them in my wallet.”

“Forensics will swing by later today or tomorrow to dust for prints,” Nate said. “So if you wouldn't mind working from another location—”

“She's actually taking a few days off,” Aiden interrupted.

“Oh, she is, is she?” Nia said with a raised eyebrow.

“I think it's best,” Aiden said.

“I could work from home.”

“I'd rather you relax.”

Aiden's phone vibrated and he stepped outside to take a call.

“He's very protective,” Nate offered.

“Yeah, he's a good boss.”

“Nia, can you think of any reason why someone would want to break into your office?”

“No. I live a pretty uneventful life and don't have any enemies—at least, I hope I don't.”

“How about someone from your past?”

She snapped her attention to the handsome detective. “Why do you ask that?”

“Aiden said you don't talk much about your past, so I thought—”

“It's the past,” she dismissed. “I left it behind years ago.”

“I understand, but sometimes these things follow you.”

She thought about her brother lying on her couch at home. “They do, don't they?” she whispered.

“Anything you want to share?” Nate asked.

“No, it's not pertinent to this situation.” Besides, Danny would be gone and out of her life once she got him the money he needed. “Sorry I couldn't be more help in here,” she said. “Guess I'll head home and follow my boss's orders to relax.”

“Sounds good. I'll have Aiden let you know when Forensics is done in here.”

“Thanks.” She left her office and glanced down the hall toward the sound of Aiden's deep voice. She debated what to do. She didn't want to interrupt his call but didn't want to leave without saying goodbye. Leaning against the wall, she decided to wait a few minutes. His voice grew louder, but not because he was angry. He was headed in her direction.

“We've got open rooms until Thursday, when a big group checks in. The weekend is totally booked, but we can set up cots in the barn if necessary.” He ran his hand through his thick blond hair and glanced at Nia.

She offered a smile. He put up a finger as if to say he needed a minute.

“I'm sure Quinn won't have a problem with it. How's the recovery effort going?...Sure...I can probably do that. I'll put my security manager in charge of the check-in process...Yep, will do, thanks.”

Aiden nodded at Nia. “Apparently a group of hikers was trapped by the mud slide.”

“Oh no.”

“They're okay. But the SAR members who've been out there since yesterday are beat, so the sheriff's office is requesting fresh SAR teams.”

“Have they asked you to run field command?”

“Yes, but—” he glanced at her “—I should probably decline.”

“Why would you do that?”

When he didn't immediately answer, she said, “Oh no, you are not turning your back on people who need you because you're worried about me. I won't have it.”

“Nia—”

“Didn't I hear you say something about setting people up at the resort?” she said, changing the subject.

He motioned her down the hall. “Yes, there are about a dozen folks who can't get into their homes, so I'm offering them a place to stay until the weekend.”

“I can help with that.”

“Nia, I'd rather—”

“Please let me do this. I hate feeling useless.”

He considered her request for a second. “Okay. After you take care of that, I'll have Scott drive you home.”

“Not necessary. I'll drive myself.”

“But your ankle—”

“It's my left ankle. Shouldn't be a problem. You go help with the rescue.”

He hesitated at the exit door. “Are you sure? I have no problem staying back.”

“Well, I do, so get moving, boss.”

With a nod, he pushed open the door, and she watched him march to his truck. Aiden was at his best when he was on a search-and-rescue mission. He seemed more himself, more confident and natural with everyone he came into contact with. It seemed as if helping others made him feel whole.

She was so glad she'd convinced him to go.

* * *

An hour later Nia finished making arrangements for the displaced residents but then got caught up in other work-related issues and spent the rest of the afternoon at the resort. She always did have a hard time setting her boundaries.

She struggled to set aside her disappointment about the broken Peace figurine. It wasn't valuable in a monetary way but had sentimental meaning that went beyond dollars and cents. It was the figurine she'd bought when she'd left the darkness behind and started her new life, an independent life focused on hope, faith and belief in herself. She appreciated that Aiden had offered to fix it for her.

At four o'clock she decided to end her workday and get to the bank to make the withdrawal for her brother. She didn't have time to stop by and pick him up.

She'd been saving money for a special, exotic vacation of some kind, but with her work ethic and hours, it wasn't likely she'd take one anytime soon. Giving her brother the money seemed like the right thing to do. She still had a couple thousand in her account, so parting with the funds wasn't a huge crisis.

By the time she arrived home at five-thirty, she found Danny stretched out on the couch, asleep.

“Hey, lazy boy, wake up.” She poked him in the stomach.

He awoke suddenly and grabbed her wrist, squeezing it tight.

“Danny, you're hurting me,” she said.

His eyes finally focused and his fingers sprang free of her hand. “Sorry, sorry. What time is it?”

“Five-thirty,” she said, a little anxious about his grip on her wrist. “What'd you do, sleep all day?”

“No, I went for a run, took a shower and then took a nap.” He grinned.

“Great, well, I swung by the bank and got your loan.”

“My loan?”

She pulled the envelope out of her purse and dropped it in his lap. “You're paying me back this time, little brother.”

“Of course, of course I am.”

But they both knew he wouldn't.

She flopped down on a chair across the room. “Want to get dinner? I'm starving.”

“Sure,” he said, but seemed more interested in counting the cash.

“How about I order Mexican or Chinese food?”

“Sounds good,” he said.

She pulled out her cell phone. “Which?”

“Huh?” He glanced at her.

“Mexican or Chinese?”

“Mexican's great. I'll pick it up.”

Nia called in the order. A few minutes later Danny left to pick up the food, saying he wanted to stop by the grocery store for soda. She suspected he'd come home with a six-pack of beer. Whatever. It was one dinner, and he'd be gone, off to settle his business with his sketchy employer. How did he always end up working with questionable people? Hadn't he learned anything from his arrest as a teenager? Jail wasn't a place he should aspire to call home.

Danny needed to let go of his past the way Nia had and move on, start a new life with a legitimate job. In the meantime, she could at least help him out of this tight spot.

* * *

An hour later when Danny hadn't returned, Nia grew worried. She called him but got his voice mail. Maybe the order had been messed up and he was on his way home but couldn't answer her call while driving. She hoped so. She hoped he hadn't stopped for a beer at the local pub and made new friends he found more interesting than his sister.

She went to the fridge and grabbed an apple. If he didn't get home soon she'd call the restaurant to see if the order had been picked up. Her cell phone rang from her purse in the bedroom.

“There you are,” she said. She went into her room and dug the phone out of her purse sitting on the bed. It was a blocked number.
Figures.

“Danny, where are you?” she said, assuming it was him.

“So, your brother's still in town?” Aiden said.

“Aiden, hi. What's with the blocked number?”

“New phone.”

“How'd the mission go?”

“Quite well, thanks. We rescued the stranded hikers, so I'm headed back and thought I'd check in.”

“That's great. No serious injuries?”

“No, ma'am, although some pretty harrowing stories are being told by the survivors. You were expecting your brother to call?”

“He went to pick up dinner and he's late. No big deal.”

“Sure it is. I can hear the hunger in your voice.”

“Very funny.”

The sound of the squeaking front door echoed across the apartment. She wandered toward the living room. “Problem solved. He's—”

She froze at the sight of a stranger standing in her living room, staring at her. He was tall, in his midforties and looked as if he worked construction.

“What are you doing in my apartment?” Nia said.

“Nia, what's going on?” Aiden asked.

“I'm looking for Danny Sharpe,” the intruder said.

“He's not here,” she said, lowering the phone but not ending the call.

Instinct told her to remain calm.

“Is that him on the phone? Is that Danny?” the man asked.

She nodded, anticipating his next move. As expected, he stuck out his hand and she handed him the phone, edging backward, away from him. She hoped Aiden would figure out what to do next.

The stranger held the phone to his ear. “I'm here at your sister's place. If you ever want to see her again, be here in twenty minutes.”

FIVE

A
iden didn't respond at first, stunned by what was happening.

“Did you hear me?” the voice said.

“Yes.”

Then nothing. Dead silence.

Struggling to get control of his panic, Aiden pressed a button on his phone and directed the intelligence personal assistant to call 911.

“Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?”

“My name is Aiden McBride. Someone broke into my friend's apartment and is threatening her life. You need to send a squad car over there, ASAP.”

“What's the address, sir?”

He gave the operator Nia's full name and address. “It's apartment two, ground floor.”

“And you think she's being threatened because...?”

“The man said if I ever wanted to see her again I'd better show up in the next twenty minutes. I don't think I can get there in twenty minutes. I'm out on Route 2 headed back from the Rockland mud slide.”

“Okay, sir, I understand. I'll send a car right away. Do you have her phone number? I'd like to call her.”

Aiden gave Dispatch her number, then decided to call Nate.

“Deputy Walsh,” he answered.

“Nate, it's Aiden. Where are you?”

“In town picking up groceries. Why?”

“How fast can you get to Nia's apartment? Someone broke in, he's there now and—”

“I'm on my way.”

“Thanks.”

Aiden pressed the earpiece to end the call with one hand, his other hand gripping the steering wheel with deadly force.

A man had broken into Nia's place and Aiden wasn't there to protect her. Guilt arced through his chest.

Slamming his palm against the steering wheel, he hit the accelerator but caught himself and eased up on the pedal. He wouldn't get there quicker if he was pulled over for speeding.

Shoving aside his dread, he replayed the phone call in his mind. The guy thought Aiden was her brother, which meant Aiden's instincts had been right on: Danny was bad news and he'd brought it with him to Echo Mountain.

The next twenty-plus minutes were a blur as Aiden focused on getting to Nia. When he finally pulled up in front of her apartment, he spotted Nate's unmarked police car parked out front. Aiden rushed into the building and pounded on Nia's door.

A few seconds later, Nate swung it open. “She's okay,” he said, motioning Aiden into the hallway.

Why couldn't Aiden go inside? Had she been assaulted? Was her face bruised? Nate probably knew Aiden might lose it if that was the case.

“What aren't you telling me?” Aiden said. “Why can't I see her?”

“She's fine, and I'll tell you everything if you'd dial it down a notch.”

Aiden glared at his friend and took a breath, hissing through his teeth.

“I got here about the same time as Officer Carrington and Chief Washburn,” Nate started.

“The chief came?”

“He was close and heard the call. We came up with a plan. I knocked, pretending to be a friend, while Carrington broke in through Nia's bedroom window. My goal was to get her out of there safely. When she cracked open the door, I shoved it open and grabbed her as Carrington charged the perp from the bedroom. He tackled the guy and the chief cuffed him while I shielded Nia from the scene. They took the man to lockup and wanted me to stay with Nia, ask her a few questions if she's up to it.”

“And is she?”

“I can't tell. One minute she's all fired up, and the next she seems defeated, like she's given up. She'd just made tea, which seemed to relax her, when you showed up.” Nate frowned at Aiden. “She practically jumped out of her skin when you banged on the door. She's fragile, Aiden. I suggest a softer tone than usual.”

“You mean, don't be my typical charming self?” Aiden said sarcastically.

“I don't mean to tell you how to act with your girl—”

“She's not my girl. She's the resort concierge.” The moment he said the words he felt ashamed.

Nate studied him. “Okay, well, your resort concierge is more than a bit shaken up right now. Please keep that in mind when you talk to her, okay?”

Aiden nodded, hating that his friend had to coach him on how to act with Nia.

“Do you want some privacy?” Nate asked.

“No,” Aiden said, almost too anxious. “Finish your questioning.”

Aiden was uncomfortable at the thought of being alone with Nia. Why? Did he fear he'd take her in his arms and hold on until he knew she was okay? Even if that meant holding her all night long?

With a nod, Nate pushed open the door.

Aiden entered an empty living room. “Where is she?”

“I don't know, perhaps the bathroom? She said she needed a cool washcloth for her headache.”

“Please tell me he didn't hit her,” Aiden said between clenched teeth.

“No, she said he didn't touch her. I think it's all the stress she's been under since the fall yesterday.”

With a nod, Aiden went into the kitchen to pour a cup of tea. Maybe it would relax him and ease the tension humming across his nerve endings.

No, the only thing that would ease his anxiety was seeing Nia's smiling face.

“Who was at the door?” Nia said to Nate in the other room.

Aiden stepped out of the kitchen and she glanced at him with such relief in her eyes. The way he'd pounded on the door probably made her think her attacker's partner had shown up.

“Aiden,” she gasped, limping across the room. She hugged him, pressing her cheek against his chest.

He stopped himself from yet another lecture about using the crutches and stroked her hair. “Shh, everything's okay now.”

“I'm so glad I was talking to you when it happened. I knew you'd figure out how to save me.”

“Yeah, a big help from ten miles away.”

“Hey—” she leaned back and looked up at him “—the police came because of you. If they hadn't shown up when they did...” Her voice cracked.

Aiden pulled her against his chest. “They came. You're all right.”

A few seconds passed and he gently led her to the dining room table.

“Did you have more questions?” he asked Nate.

“Sure, if she's up to it.”

“I am,” Nia said, sitting down.

Nate and Aiden joined her at the table. Aiden resisted the urge to reach out and hold her hand. While hugging her, the reality of how close he'd come to losing Nia tore him apart inside.

“Did the man give you any clue why he was here?” Nate asked.

“He was looking for my brother, Danny.”

“Why did he think Danny would be here?”

“Danny randomly showed up last night. I haven't seen him in—” she paused “—probably three years. We talk, of course,” she added, as if she feared she looked like a bad sister.

Aiden knew if anyone had failed as a sibling, it was her brother.

“And the man who broke in threatened your life?” Nate asked.

She nodded and glanced at Aiden.

“He said if I ever wanted to see her again, I'd better get here in twenty,” Aiden said. “He thought I was Danny.”

“And you sensed this threat was genuine?” Nate asked Aiden.

“Yes” was all Aiden could get out as emotion tangled his vocal cords. Anger that he hadn't been here to protect her; fear that he could have lost her.

Lost her?
She's not yours to lose, McBride.

“Where's your brother now?” Nate asked.

“I don't know,” Nia said. “He went to pick up dinner over an hour ago and never returned.”

“Maybe that's a good thing,” Aiden muttered.

“Do you have any idea why the intruder was looking for him?”

“Won't the chief ask him that during interrogation?” Aiden said.

“I got a text that the guy already lawyered up.” Nate glanced at Nia. “Any idea what he was after?”

“It probably has something to do with the two thousand dollars Danny gambled away. It wasn't his money to lose.”

“Whose money was it?” Nate asked.

“I'm not sure. Danny was collecting money for someone, probably a loan shark. But it doesn't matter since I gave Danny the money and he was going to pay back his boss.”

“You gave him the money?” Aiden asked.

“Why do you say it like that? What was I supposed to do?” she said, her tone rising. “He's my brother and he needed my help.”

Aiden suspected he'd hit a sore spot and wondered if deep down she questioned her own decision to bail Danny out. Aiden suspected it wasn't the first time.

“We'd better figure out a way to keep you safe until we clear this up,” Nate said.

“She'll stay at the resort,” Aiden said.

“Wait—slow down,” Nia protested.

“It's the best course of action.”

“Nate, can you give us a few minutes alone?”

“Sure.”

Great, Aiden was probably in for a lecture on how she didn't like being told what to do. He'd listen, acknowledge her feelings and then convince her that staying at the resort—or better yet, at Bree's cottage with her newly installed, high-tech security system—was the best decision.

“I'll be outside if you need me,” Nate said and left the apartment.

Nia turned to Aiden.

“Go ahead. Let me have it,” Aiden said.

“I'm sorry.”

“Wait—what? You're sorry for what?”

“I can't give you two weeks' notice.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I'm resigning, effective immediately.”

* * *

Aiden's devastated expression cut Nia to the quick. But this was the best decision, the only way to keep Aiden and her friends at Echo Mountain Resort safe.

“I guess I should have made that sound more like a suggestion than an order,” Aiden said.

“What?”

“You've finally had enough of my demanding nature.”

“No, Aiden—”

“It's fine.” Aiden got up and paced to the window. “Bree's been on my case about my tone. You're done. I get it.”

“That's not it,” Nia said.

He turned to her, and her heart broke. He looked as if he'd just lost his best friend, not one of his best employees.

“I need to leave town to keep everyone safe,” she said.

“What are you talking about?”

She shook her head and glanced at the taupe carpeting. “I should have known something like this would happen.”

“Something like what?” He came back to the table and sat down. “You did nothing wrong.”

“Maybe not, but my past has caught up to me, so I need to move on.”

“You're running away from this?” He leaned back in his chair with an incredulous frown.

“I wouldn't call it running as much as protecting my friends.”

“I'd call it running, and that surprises me. I mean, you're such a determined, strong person, yet you're letting your brother's mistakes drive you away from your home? You do consider Echo Mountain your home, right?”

“You know I do.”

“Then why let your brother take it away from you?”

“You make it sound like he planned this. He didn't plan to put me in danger.”

“I'm missing something here. What?” He leaned forward and stared earnestly into her eyes.

“I'm not sure what you want me to say, Aiden.”

“You're a tough woman, so why are you cowering from the consequences of your brother's bad decisions?”

“I'm a realist, not a coward.”

“I didn't say you were a coward, but you're surrendering awfully quickly and sacrificing things you care about, especially your friends and your church community.”

And you,
she thought.

She blinked and broke eye contact. “It can't be helped.”

“Because?”

She didn't answer. If only she'd successfully protected Danny from their stepfather growing up, things would be different. Danny would be different.

“You need to cut ties with your brother and stop enabling him by giving him money,” Aiden said.

“Aiden,” she hushed. “He's my brother.”

“He's a grown man and should be taking care of himself.”

“If he needs my help I have to be there for him, no matter what.”

“He's pulling you down, Nia. He'll continue to drag you into his mess until you hit the stop button. He's not your responsibility.”

“He's my little brother.”

“Who's involved in some sketchy stuff.”

“Well, maybe if I'd been there for him...”

The shame drifting off her body was almost palpable. There, she'd said it. Aiden had forced it out of her.

“Nia, you can't feel responsible for your brother's decisions as an adult.”

“You don't know what it was like in our house. And I left him behind so I could go to college. Selfish girl.” She stood and started for the kitchen, needing to get away from Aiden and the truth.

Aiden touched her shoulder. “Hey, hey, where are you going?”

“Kitchen. For a snack.”

“Sit down. I'll get it.”

She didn't look at him. She couldn't. Now that he knew the truth, she felt even more ashamed.

Collapsing on the chair, she wished that Nate would come back so they could stop talking about this. She didn't enjoy reliving the past, thinking about what she should have done for her brother. Whom she could have told.

In retrospect, the list was lengthy. She could have exposed Walter's cruelty, told any one of her high school teachers, her pastor, her mom's best friend, someone. Instead, she'd kept the truth of Walter's abuse a secret because her mother begged her to, and as long as Nia lived at home, she felt she could protect Danny from the abuse.

Then she'd decided she wanted a life for herself, a career, which meant she had to abandon him. He'd never made her feel guilty about leaving and even told her how proud he was that she'd “gotten out.”