Slow Hands (18 page)

"We were lucky. Most of the damage was to the Sheetrock, not the wiring. I left two men to help out."

"Any idea who's behind it?"

Keira pursed her lips. She was fairly certain the Barry brothers had instigated this one.
stupid cunt
had been spray painted on one of the walls. Eddie Barry knew she despised that particular four-letter word and seemed to relish using it around her.

"My signal's breaking up," she said, avoiding answering. "I can't hear you."

"Where are you headed now?"

'To my cabin."

Alec checked his watch. It was still early. "Mind if I meet you there?"

"I'm just dropping off supplies. I won't be long."

"Actually I thought we could do a little target practice. Do you have the gun I gave you?"

"You really think that's necessary?"

"Yes." If for no other reason than it made Alec feel better.

"I'll see you there then."

Shutting off her phone, Keira pulled onto the private road leading up to Fire Mountain and tried not to think about the unsavory events of the last few days.

She stared out the truck's window, at the tapestry-like section of valley spread out below, and savored the quiet. At times like this, she realized just how busy her life had become. Only in the perfect silence did she realize how much background noise she'd grown accustomed to, on the job, in her car, in her apartment.

She also realized the noise was a crutch she used to blot out the deep, soul-searching thoughts. When she moved up to her cabin, would she be forced to confront those thoughts?

By the time Alec arrived, she had the supplies stored.

First thing, Alec showed her a mug shot. "This the creepy-looking guy you saw at wrestling?"

Keira took one glance at the photo and nodded. It was the same guy Franny had pointed out at the bowling alley that night.

"Who is he?"

"Beau Watson. He's on parole for robbery. Works at Big Cheney's grocery. He's Griggs's roommate at the halfway house. They also served time together." Alec was checking on all of Griggs's former cellmates.

"You think Beau's helping Griggs?"

"I'd bet on it. Come on."

She followed him down to the clearing near the lake, watched as he set up empty soda cans on a large boulder less than twenty feet away.

"Think I'm that bad?"

Alec shook his head. "The thirty-eight's got a short range. It's good close in."

Checking the cylinder, he sighted the gun and shot down two cans in quick succession. "Your turn."

She took the pistol, felt its weight in her hand. If she'd had this at the cemetery, could she have shot Griggs?

Alec slid behind her, a welcome distraction. He put his hand over hers, showing her how to unlatch the cylinder. The act suddenly became intimate. Her pulse stepped up.

"I know how to shoot," she said.

"Every gun is different. I want you to know what this one feels like. How it responds to your touch. In an emergency you're not going to have time to think about any of those things."

Alec brought the gun up, his hand over hers. "Sight it and squeeze. I don't care if you hit anything. For now, just feel the way it fires."

Keira's first shot went way off.

"We're shooting hollow points, so it kicks," Alec said. "Try again."

Keira raised the pistol. Alec let go of her arm, only to rest his hands on her shoulders. Discomfiting.

She fired twice more, then flicked the cylinder open, dumping the cartridges on the ground. He handed her a box of ammunition, watched as she reloaded the pistol and prepared to shoot again.

"Don't lock your elbows," he reminded, running his hands lightly over her extended arms.

This time Alec settled his hands on her waist. She could feel his body pressed against hers. She forgot about the gun, remembering the feel of his bare chest pressed against her as they slept .Thoughts of making love flooded her memory. For a moment she was tempted to turn, ask him to kiss her.

Except it was pointless. Would only lead to trouble. If she were willing to settle for a one-night-stand type of relationship, she could take her pick of men. Alec wouldn't be one of them.

She fired the gun, emptying it
 
rapid succession. Cans flew off the boulder. Dead.

"Nice shooting, babe."

 
Years ago the endearment had been special. Now she wondered if he used it for all women.

She scowled, realizing how little she knew about him now. Franny had relayed the news he didn't have a steady girlfriend. Keira imagined that was a temporary state. It was difficult to envision Alec unattached for long. He was too damn handsome. Too damn virile.

Of course, maybe in his line of work he was cast in the role of protector enough that he didn't need a regular relationship. The thought was especially irritating.

"I'm not your
babe
anymore, Alec. Can't you get that through your head? I've moved on."

He bristled. Moved on? Did she consider herself Reggie's
babel.
The thought goaded him. "You couldn't prove it last night. You were snuggled pretty tight in my arms. Which reminds me ... your window was unlocked."

"I put my plants on the fire escape during the day," she defended. "And if I happen to forget to lock them, it doesn't give you, or anyone else, the right to climb in uninvited."

"Didn't feel uninvited. In fact I felt very welcome."

Spurred on by the ugly recollection of her kissing Reggie at the bowling alley, he lowered his voice. "You make these little come-on noises in your sleep,
babe.
Drives me wild. But not half as wild as your touch, the way you rub against me. Makes me wonder what you're dreaming about. Or whom."

She glared at him. "Don't push it, Alec. I've got a gun."

He caught her eyes, held them. "But you'd never use it against me. I think deep down inside you still care, Keira. In spite of what I did. And that bothers you enough you wish you could shoot me."

Shoving the gun at him, Keira turned and stalked away.

Later that evening, Alec knocked on Keira's door.

When she answered, he thrust a huge bouquet of daisies and baby's breath forward.

"Forgive me?"

Keira eyed the flowers—her favorites—then the man. "Typically one apologizes before asking for forgiveness."

"Then I apologize."

"For?"

"Everything. Famine. Global warming. Nuclear armaments. Being a dickhead."
Leaving you ten years ago.

Keira accepted the bouquet. "I was thinking
insensitive jerk,
but dickhead works."

Alec edged closer when it became apparent she had no intention of inviting him in.

"Do you have plans for supper?" he asked.

"Frozen dinner."

"I was going out for pizza. Care to join me?"

The daisies had already eroded her resolve. "Mama Towers's Pizza?"

He nodded. Mama Towers made the best pizza in the state.

"Let me put these in water."

Ten minutes later they were seated in the downtown pizza parlor. Alec looped an arm around her shoulder as they walked in. He winked. "We're supposed to be involved, remember?"

An act.
She frowned.

They placed their order, then discussed work, a safe subject.

"The car dealership's right on schedule," Keira remarked, then told him about two new jobs she'd landed in Little Rock.

"You've done well for yourself," he observed. "Who'd have thought ten years ago that you'd be one of Freedom's largest businesses?"

"What about you, Alec? What all have you done since leaving Freedom?"

She took a sip of beer, trying to mask her curiosity. She knew bits and pieces. Not much. And frankly, most of her curiosity was about his personal life. His marriage. His relationships.

"You already know I joined the army."

"Is it true you were in Special Forces?"

He nodded.

"Bet your mother was proud?"

Alec snorted. "She hated it. Thought it was too hazardous."

"Then I'm sure she still worries. You're not exactly selling encyclopedias door to door. What made you join the FBI?"

For a moment, Alec thought about correcting her. Telling her he was with ATF. Except he didn't want to take the chance she'd withdraw. Even slightly.

His being an ATF agent wouldn't be a plus. The Morgan family tree was steeped in moonshine. Where other kids grew up with stories of the Big Bad Wolf, Keira had grown up hearing tales of her relatives doing battle with the Big Bad Revenuers.

The odds were already stacked against him on several levels, and she'd been misled once by the FBI. He didn't need to add to it.

"Army life got old after a while, but I liked the idea of law enforcement," he began. "I finished my degree while stationed in DC, got recruited there."
By ATF.

"And your mom?"

"She's married and living in Reno. She's gone from hounding me about being careful, to badgering me about settling down and producing grandchildren."

Keira set her beer down, harder than intended, and sought to shift the conversation. She didn't want to hear about Alec's plan to fulfill his mother's wishes.

"Where did you go to school?'

Alec didn't answer, his attention focused on a man who had just entered the restaurant. The man was dressed casually, in jeans and a plaid shirt. His sandy hair was receding, but Alec guessed his age at thirty-five. Reporter?

The man had been staring at Keira longer than was polite. Or acceptable. Alec stiffened when the man headed toward them.

"Excuse me for interrupting." The man held out his hand to Keira. "Miss Morgan? I'm Lance Parks from the
National Truth.
May I ask you a few questions?"

Keira's face closed, displaying no emotion. But Alec recognized the angry sparkle in her eye.

"No, you may not," she said. "Now if you'll excuse us."

Parks ignored her dismissal, had surely expected it.
National Truth
was a sleazy rag with no ethics. A story was a story, to be had at any cost.

"Surely you have some reaction to Ian Griggs's release. Do you believe he's back to retrieve the money?" Parks persisted. "What about the story of your grandfather's arrest this afternoon for threatening Griggs? Do you have any idea when his court date is?"

Alec stood, wedging himself between Keira and the reporter. "The lady said 'no.' And if you're smart, you'll leave her grandfather alone, too."

Parks looked like he wanted to argue until he took in Alec's height and breadth.

"I'll be in touch," he said, and took a table on the far side of the restaurant.

Alec touched her hand. "Want to get our pizza to go?"

Keira ignored him, fumbling for her cell phone.

Alec knew whom she called. "He's not home. He's at the lodge with Lacy."

Her hand froze over the
send
button.

"And you know that
how
?" She eyed him suspiciously. "Out with it, Alec. What's going on? Was Willis really arrested?"

Having no other choice, Alec explained briefly what happened. "Willis planned to tell you himself."

The news distressed Keira. She should have known how Willis would react. And while Alec had already admitted Griggs's threat had been against her, not her grandfather, she now realized her grandfather's actions could change that.