Slow Hands (30 page)

"Stop, you little bitch!"

Keira heard a gun fire and ducked, rolling through the brush. Diving into a thicket, she paused, listening.

Long seconds ticked by. The only sound she heard was her own heavy breathing. Where was Beau? Would he come after her or give up and leave?

She tried to purposely slow her respiration.

She had the advantage, knew these woods better than Beau. All she had to do was stay hidden till nightfall, then she could make her way to her grandfather's cabin.

The woods remained quiet, and for a moment, she thought she'd lost him. Then she heard a branch crackle.

Another shot rang out, this one close enough it split the leaves over her head.

"You won't get away," Beau shouted.

Keira darted forward, heading for the densest part of the forest.

She leapt, clearing a fallen tree. Dropping low, she ran, zigzagging to make as difficult a target as she could. The ground inclined sharply as the terrain grew rockier.

She headed toward a large outcropping of rock, cut around it, and started running as fast as she could.

Without warning, the ground gave way beneath her.

Keira fell into a long, dark pit.

She hit bottom with a painful jolt. Sand and rocks rained down on her from above. Then all grew silent.

She moved gingerly, not wanting to trigger an avalanche of dirt. She'd fallen into an old mine shaft or cave. The area was honeycombed with them.

From above, she heard Beau call her name. "I know you're here!"

She leaned back, ignoring the pain as she hugged the wall of the shaft. If Beau spotted the hole, he might look in.

Or worse ... if he didn't watch where he was going, he'd fall in with her.

As soon as he arrived at the cabin, Alec knew something was wrong. Keira's truck was there ... and so was Beau's beat-up Toyota.

The site was eerily quiet.

Alec drew his gun, thumbed off the safety. He called out her name.

The element of surprise was gone, and if Beau had Keira trapped, Alec wanted her to know he was there. Wanted Beau to know, too.

Alec slipped in the front door, cautious, carefully looking around. His gut told him the place was deserted, but still he checked every room. He found the smashed remnants of her cell phone in the kitchen. Right beside a bloodstained two-by-four.

Keira.

He stepped onto the back deck, scanned the tree line. Then he heard the sound of gunfire. A single deadly shot.

He turned in the direction he thought it came from— his left—aware sound echoed, especially near water. He could only hope he'd pinpointed the direction correctly.

A second shot sounded.

Cursing, Alec raced toward the trees.

A steady stream of dirt and rock trickled into the hole. Loosened by her fall, the opening slowly eroded. If it continued, the sides would cave in, burying her.

Keira heard someone call her name and grew quiet, even holding her breath. She was scared, she was injured; but facing Beau was still her worst fear.

Overhead, footsteps sounded, growing closer. But this time when she heard her name called, she recognized the voice.

"Alec! Help me!"

"Where are you?"

She called out again.

Alec spotted the hole she'd fallen into, approached carefully.

"Are you hurt?"

"A little. Look out!" She coughed as a fresh spew of sand fell. "Beau has a gun! Be careful!"

Alec flattened himself against the ground and eased forward on his belly until he reached the edge. She'd fallen into an old mine shaft and was at least thirty feet down. That she hadn't broken her neck in the fall amazed him.

He eyed the exposed timber supports. They looked rotten.

"I'll need a rope to get you out," he called. "I'll be right back."

Alec raced to the cabin, all the while watching for Beau. But when he reached the cabin site, Beau's car was gone.

Going to Keira's truck, he grabbed a heavy coil of rope and quickly made his way back to where she was trapped, grateful the sides hadn't collapsed while he was gone.

Tying a loop in one end, Alec tossed it over the edge. "Tie this around your waist, and I'll pull you up."

Keira secured the rope. "If you hold it steady, I can scale the wall," she yelled. "It'll be quicker."

Alec wound the rope around the closest tree, knotted it. Then he held it taut, shouting encouragement.

As soon as Keira cleared the top, he grabbed her, tugged her away from the edge. The sides of the shaft gave way, sending up a billow of dust.

She fell to her knees, winded.

"Easy." Alec loosened the rope, then gently grasped her chin. Blood trickled from a cut in her scalp. She was pale, her shirt torn and muddy. Long scratches marred her neck.

He pressed two fingers to her wrist, found her pulse erratic. "Do you think you broke anything in the fall?"

She shook her head. "Did you find Beau?"

"He was gone by the time I got back to the cabin."

Keira accepted his help getting to her feet, then swayed unsteadily.

Alec caught her. "You're going straight to the hospital. We'll call the sheriff on the way."

En route to the hospital, Keira told Alec about Beau showing up at the cabin site.

Alec frowned. Why was Beau so interested in her necklace? Had he taken the tales of the Lost Confederate Gold seriously? "Do you know where your grandfather found that coin?"

She shook her head. "I'm not so sure he actually found it, Alec. The one time I questioned him on it, he grew real defensive. I suspect he bought the necklace and just made up the tale."

"I want to talk to Willis," Alec said, as they reached the emergency room.

The cut on Keira's scalp required several stitches, but she did not have a concussion. Her ribs were braised, too.

"You'll be sore for several days," the doctor warned.

When they returned to Freedom, Deputy Carl Winters met them at Alec's apartment.

"Did you find Beau?" Alec asked. It was a long shot, he knew. Beau had gotten a pretty good head start while Alec freed Keira. The man was probably in another state by now.

"You won't believe this," Carl began. "He's at work, swears he's been there since early afternoon, in the back stockroom. Showed me his time card."

"Anybody can punch a time card and leave," Alec pointed out.

"Or get someone else to punch the card for you. I know. But there's two people at the store corroborating his story."

Keira, who'd been quiet until then, swore. "What's it going to take to nail this guy?"

"A bloody two-by-four ought to do it," Carl said. 'Tire tracks. Fingerprints. I'm on my way out to your cabin to gather evidence now. Don't worry, we'll get him this time."

After Carl left, Alec insisted that Keira lie down and take one of the painkillers the doctor had prescribed.

"I need to run out for a few minutes," he said. "Carl's got a unit parked out front, so you'll be safe."

"You're going to see Beau, aren't you?"

"Yes."

She closed her eyes, her head throbbing. "Be careful. He scares me."

Alec went straight to the grocery store. Beau's Toyota was in the parking lot.

Hurrying inside, he looked around, then ducked through the stock doors in the produce department. He found Beau in the back, near the loading docks, sweeping.

Beau looked nervous when Alec approached. "You're not supposed to be back here."

Alec grabbed the other man's collar. "Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?"

Beau flinched.

"What's the matter?" Alec asked. "Catch a two-by-four in the ribs?" "Fuck off."

Alec shook him again. "What do you want with Keira Morgan?"

"Hey,
I
just talked to the cops. She's got nothing on me."

"The hell she doesn't. For starters, there's a chunk of board with your blood on it. A deputy is getting fingerprints as we speak. And unless you start giving me some straight answers, I'll swear out an affidavit that
I
saw you there myself. With a gun. I'll have your parole revoked.
Today."

That got Beau's attention. He swallowed. "What kind of answers you looking for?"

"Is Griggs behind this?"

Beau didn't respond at first. Then, "He says it's her fault his brothers are dead."

"You've been helping him, haven't you? The night her car got run off the road. The doll. The dead animal. The spiders. Bet you even set the fire."

Guilt flashed in Beau's eyes, but just that quickly it was gone. He rallied, grew cocky.

"Griggs has people lined up fighting to help him. People that will do most anything. Everyone thinks they'll get a cut of his money."

Alec tightened his grip. "Including you? You've spent an awful lot of time at Culverleaf. Something tells me the money's hidden there. Maybe I need to organize a search party to comb the park. Claim that reward myself."

"Griggs doesn't know where the money's at," Beau said finally. "It ain't where he said. Are you happy now?"

"Not quite. Why the interest in Keira's necklace?"

"Griggs knows it's from her grandfather, and he wanted to take away something with sentimental value."

Alec recognized the he. "Bullshit. You're going to jail."

Beau held up a hand, nervous, eyes shifting from side to side. "Look man, I'm working for the cops. You get me busted, they'll be pissed."

The cops?

Or the FBI?

"Who's your contact?" Alec pressed.

Beau hesitated.

"Who?"

"A guy named Phelps," Beau spat.

Horace Phelps.

Beau was reporting in to Phelps, which explained where Ostman got his information on what happened in Freedom. Alec was being used. And he didn't like it.

He loosened his grip, but only slightly. "If you go near Keira Morgan again, I'll kill you."

"What's going on in here?" Another store employee had walked in, took one look at Alec, and backed away.

Alec released Beau, patted his collar back in place. "Nothing going on. Just checking on an old friend."

Chapter Seventeen

On
his way back to his apartment, Alec tried calling Miles Ostman, but couldn't reach him. Or Phelps. He left urgent messages for both men.

It infuriated Alec to learn that Beau worked for Ostman. Why the hell hadn't Ostman clued him in? Maybe Alec could have gotten direct information as to how Griggs was harassing Keira. Clues that might have led to his arrest.

Except Ostman didn't want Griggs arrested.

Alec had known from the beginning Ostman was after Joseph Ciccone. What he hadn't realized was how low Ostman would sink to get him. Would Ostman jeopardize Keira's safety for a mob bust?
Yes.

And if Ostman kept Beau's recruitment secret, what else had he not told Alec?

Next, he called Willis Morgan, told him about Beau's assault on Keira. "And before you go taking matters into your own hands, I wanted to tell you I'm getting Keira out of town. Against her will, if necessary."

"Whatever it takes," Willis agreed. "We should have made her leave as soon as Griggs arrived. Probably would've had to hog-tie her, though. Still might."

Alec hoped it wouldn't come to that, but he hadn't eliminated it either. "I trust you'll help me convince her to leave."

"Count on it."

"There's one more thing," Alec began. 'The necklace you gave Keira. Where did you find that gold coin?"

Willis grew quiet. Then gruff. "Who wants to know?"

Alec explained Beau stole the necklace. "I'm trying to figure out why he wanted it so bad. Something doesn't add up."

"Yeah, well, maybe I need to go visit this Beau person myself."

Immediately, Alec regretted mentioning it. "No, Willis. I'll handle it. Carl Winters is involved, too. I'll call tomorrow and let you know where I'm taking Keira. In the meantime, you stay put."

Keira was asleep when Alec got to his apartment. He heated leftovers for supper, mentally reviewing his plan, wanting to have an answer for every conceivable excuse she'd offer. Keeping her safe was all that mattered.

When she woke up a short time later, he had food ready.

As they ate, he brought up the subject of her leaving Freedom. "I've got a place in Seattle. And friends who'll watch you."

Keira pushed her plate aside, then looked him straight in the eye. "Do you really think Griggs will make his move if I'm gone?"

"Yes." Alec honestly didn't know what to expect. But one thing was certain. Keira would be safer out of town, out of Griggs's reach. If what Beau said was true, and Griggs had others helping him . . .

"I need a day to meet with Tina at the office and talk with my grandfather."

Her capitulation surprised Alec. "You mean you'll leave?"

She nodded. "Tomorrow. But I want my grandfather to go, too. Maybe you can help me convince him."

"We'll go see him first thing in the morning," Alec promised.

They fell asleep on Alec's sofa.

Around midnight, Alec awoke and carried her to his bed, then headed back to the living room.

Only half-awake, she caught at his shirt, struggled to sit. "I should go to my own apartment."

"I want you here."

"Then I'll sleep on the couch. I won't run you out of your own bed."

Unable to resist touching her, he brushed the hair from her eyes. "If you went back to your apartment, I'd be sleeping on the couch there, so it doesn't matter."

She scooted to the far side of the bed. "This is a king-size mattress. Take half."

Too tired to argue, Alec stretched out, intent on moving back to the sofa as soon as she was asleep. Being in bed with her and not holding her was hell.

Being in bed with her and not making love was a thousand times worse.

He didn't realize he'd fallen asleep until a hard knocking on the front door woke them. He knew by the light coming in the windows that it was close to dawn.

They were snuggled, side by side, both of them naked.

Sometime during the night, she'd climbed on top of him. Touched him. He'd lost it, entered her, content not to move—just to be entwined. They had made love, excruciatingly slowly, then fallen back asleep.

The knocking at the door sounded again.

Keira moved to get up.

"Stay put," he whispered, grabbing his jeans. "I'll get it."

Tossing on a shirt, Alec checked the door. It was Carl Winters. The deputy's face was grim.

As soon as Keira joined them, she knew something was wrong.

"Beau Watson was found dead this morning," Alec told her.

Keira closed her eyes, then opened them. It was hard to feel pity for the man. "What happened?"

"Gunshot," Carl explained. "In the back of the head. Found his body in his car, out near Culverleaf."

"And there's witnesses who heard me threaten Beau yesterday," Alec finished.

"But you were here with me, all night," Keira protested.

"I know he didn't do it," Carl said. "But I've still got to take him downtown. For questioning. Get a statement."

Alec had briefly explained to Carl he was undercover, promising to tell him the full story when they reached the station.

"Look." Alec turned to her. "I'll have this straightened out shortly. Be ready to leave when I return."

"But—"

"No buts, Keira. A man has been murdered. It's more important than ever that you leave."

Carl's radio crackled. He was needed downtown. "We have to go."

Alec kissed her, then moved away. "Don't worry. I'll be back before you're finished packing."

Keira tried calling her grandfather, but didn't get an answer. He could be in the bathroom, she rationalized. Or outside in his garden, where he couldn't hear the phone.

She would have to drive up to Fire Mountain.

She'd made up her mind that she wouldn't leave Freedom without him. If necessary, she'd play on his sympathies, tell him she needed him to protect her.

Mind made up, she called the sheriff's department, wanting to tell Alec she was going to see Willis. She had started to leave a note, but wanted to hear his voice.

Carl Winters answered. "Alec just left. He told me the whole story, Keira. In fact, his supervisor from ATF is on his way here with some backup officers."

"ATF?" Keira interrupted. "You mean FBI."

"Actually, it's a joint venture. Alec works for ATF but is on loan to the FBI. It's confusing."

Confusing? Try deceitful. . . Had anything Alec told her been honest? Ever?

Stunned, Keira hung up.

ATF. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Alec was a revenue agent. . . who had grown up in the heart of moonshine country.

A joint venture.
ATF and FBI. She knew what the FBI wanted. What about ATF?

A sick feeling started in her stomach. Had Alec been passing along information on Willis and his buddies while watching Griggs? She didn't want to believe it, but for Willis's sake, she had to at least consider it.

She tried calling her grandfather again. When he didn't answer, she grabbed her keys, recalling what Carl said about backup officers.
ATF officers?

While Keira had never made moonshine, she had centuries of Morgan blood flowing in her veins. When a revenue agent came around, usually as part of a raid, all stills within a hundred-mile radius were destroyed. If she couldn't reach Willis to warn him, she'd go up and destroy his still herself.

She quickly called Lacy Hicks, using the old friend-of-a-friend routine. While she felt betrayed anew by Alec's deception, she couldn't bring herself to expose him as an ATF agent. Lacy didn't stop to question how she knew, he simply thanked her and hung up, eager to spread the word.

Keira hurried to her truck and cranked the engine. Putting it in reverse, she turned to look over her shoulder.

A hand came over the seat, from behind the extended cab, and grabbed her neck, jamming it against the headrest. She saw the glint of metal as a gun was raised, then paused beside her right eye.

The same gun Alec had given her for protection.

"Going somewhere?" Ian Griggs laughed. He was directly behind her, his left hand resting across her throat, his other one holding the gun. "Better go nice and easy, now. Wouldn't want my finger to slip. Shoot out your eye."

Keira gripped the steering wheel, fought to control the trembling in her arms. "What are you doing here?"

Griggs tightened his grip on her neck. "Thought we'd take a little ride out to visit your grandfather."

Her heart skipped. "This is between you and me, Ian. Leave my grandfather out of it."

"He's already involved. But you do exactly as I say, and we'll see if we can't figure a way to get him out alive. Now go."

Griggs slid the gun toward the back of her head as he hunkered down, hiding.

"Why don't you just get your money and leave?" she asked. "Isn't that the real reason you came back here?"

"Everybody thinks it's that fucking easy. Get the money and run." Griggs snorted. "Even Beau, the little bastard. He planned to double-cross me all along."

"You killed him, didn't you?"

"He had it coming. He planned to get the gold from your grandpa and run."

Keira glanced in the rearview mirror, trying to make sense of Griggs's words.
The gold from her grandfather?
Was that why Beau had been so eager to get her necklace? Had Beau thought Willis had found the gold?

"If you think my grandfather's found the old treasure—"

Griggs started laughing. "It's not that stupid Confederate gold, Keira. I found a chest of coins on the armored truck. My brothers didn't want to take it at first, thought the cash would be enough. Till I calculated its value. Problem is, not only is my gold missing, the money's gone, too. Once I saw the necklace, I realized Willis probably has both."

"You're crazy."

"Am I? Beau saw him out at the mine shaft twice, trying to cover his tracks. Now we're almost even.

Willis has something of mine." Ian nudged her head with the gun. "And I've got something of his. Think he'll trade?"

Keira's mind raced as she sorted through her options. There was little she could do now. They were heading up the single curving road that ended at the top of Fire Mountain.

"What if Willis isn't home?" She prayed her grandfather was indeed gone.

"We'll wait."

When they arrived at her grandfather's cabin, Ian made her lie flat on the seat. He held the gun to her head while he got out. Then he ordered her to get up. "Stay in front of me. And don't do anything stupid."

She walked to the door, called Willis's name. The fact he hadn't already opened the door was a good sign.

When no one answered, Griggs indicated she should open the door.

The interior of the cabin was as cold and quiet as the stone walls. Griggs followed her from room to room, assuring himself each was empty.

"Let's check out back." He shoved her toward the rear door.

Outside, Keira checked her grandfather's workshop and garden, found both deserted.

"He's not here." She tried to keep the relief from her voice.

Griggs pressed up close behind her, the gun biting into her spine. "Guess we'll go inside and help ourselves to a bit of whiskey. Old Willis is a master when it comes to 'shine."

To her horror, Griggs stuck out his tongue and licked her neck. "Besides, we got a little catching up to do. Remember?"

His foul breath told her he'd already been drinking. She had a flashback to five years earlier, when he'd attacked her. He'd been drinking then. And this time he had a gun.