Fiance by Friday (27 page)

“Told her that someone from my past was using her to get to me.” Not the complete truth, but as close to it as Neil was going to tell Chuck.

“So she knows nothing about Raven?”

“She’s the one who found the dead birds.”

“Birds die all the time.”

“Which is why she refrained from telling me about them. Ravens are found in the higher altitudes of California…not in the basin. They weren’t an accident, Chuck.”

“I’m not suggesting they were. Just wondering what kind of sick mind would do this.”

Neil took a drink. “Been trying to figure that out for a week. I thought if anyone had information on Raven’s allies it would be you.”

Chuck shrugged. “There are plenty of parties seeking revenge for his death. None of which are creditable let alone have the ability to do what you’re suggesting.”

“This attack is personal.” Gwen’s image swam in his head.
Very personal.

“These guys don’t attack people, they attack nations. Who do
you
think is behind this?”

“Had to be someone with a grudge…someone who knew about Raven. I’ll find out soon enough. Rick’s on his way and we’ll flush this bastard out.”

Chuck tossed his hands in the air. “Don’t incriminate yourself, soldier.”

“The right to defend myself and my family is still legal in this country.”

Chuck grinned. “So what you’re telling me is you plan on trapping this man so you can bring him in for prosecution…right?”

Neil read through the cracks. “That’s what I said.”

“That’s what I thought you said. What do you need from me?”

Neil set his empty glass aside and crossed his ankle over his knee. “I need to keep Gwen here. Safe. While I do what needs to be done.”

“She’s willing to stay?”

“Yes. For a while.” For how long Neil couldn’t be sure.

Chuck widened his eyes. “For a while?”

“She doesn’t have all the facts and I’ve yet to meet a woman who takes orders like a marine. She’ll stay without question for a while…a day or two, maybe three. But I need to know she’s here and safe so I can wait this bastard out.”

“Keep her against her will?”

Gwen wouldn’t approve, which was why Neil hadn’t told her this part of his plan. “If need be. For the sake of the country and all that.”

Chuck stood and rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you know what you’re asking me to do?”

Neil’s jaw clenched. “Nothing I wouldn’t do for you and Ruth.”

“Ruth is my wife, Neil. I believe you introduced me to Gwen as your friend. She’s not even an American. And didn’t you say her brother is a duke or some such sissy-ass thing? I can see the headlines now…‘Major Blayney holds British Lady hostage on an American military base because her boyfriend said so.’ You’re asking the impossible, Neil. Perhaps if she were your wife I could. Then at least she’d be an American by default and I’d be protecting her because her husband would be in danger if she was walking the streets of Colorado Springs.”

Everything inside Neil tightened, and several life-changing blood vessels threatened to pop at the same time. Chuck was right. And even if Gwen didn’t try to leave, it was only a matter of days before Blake searched for them or got a call from her. Then all their cloaked running across the country would be for nothing. Raven would eventually find Gwen and they’d be back to where they were right now.

Chuck stared at him. His face as stern as a drill sergeant.

Neil made his decision.

“There still a priest on base?”

Chuck’s jaw dropped. “You’re shitting me?”

“Call him. I’ll be back in an hour.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

As much as Gwen adored all the alone time with Neil, it was nice getting away for an hour with another woman, even a woman Gwen hardly knew. Outside the commissary was a small boutique catering to the women on base. Ruth told her that most of the women simply left base to gather whatever they needed in Colorado Springs. The small clothing store had a surprising amount of fashionable selections from which to choose. And Gwen was more than happy to spend the money Neil had given her for shopping.

“How long have you known Neil?” Ruth asked as they made their way back to the white house on the hill.

“Several years now.” Most of which was while he was working for her brother…but Gwen didn’t think that fact was necessary to pass on.

“I’ve always liked him. The kind of man I wish our daughter had been attracted to.”

“You have a daughter?”

Ruth nodded with a smile. “She lives in Florida with her husband. I’m hoping to convince Charles to move there when he finally retires. I’d like to be closer to her.”

“How long has she been married?”

“Couple of years now. Keep hoping for a phone call about a grandbaby. But not yet.”

“Where does Charles want to retire?”

Ruth laughed. “He doesn’t want to retire at all. He’s fought me for years on the subject. I keep hoping that Annie will have a baby and Charles will realize there is more to life than the military.”

Gwen couldn’t imagine dedicating her life to something so passionately other than a family. “I’m sure he will come around.” Gwen wasn’t sure of anything…but it seemed the right thing to say.

“He despises Annie’s husband.”

“Oh…that’s not good.”

“Tell me about it. Andrew is a teacher. High school English. The two of them couldn’t be more opposite.”

“Your daughter and Andrew?”

“No. Andrew and Charles. Charles is a leader and Andrew is a follower. Or so my husband keeps telling me. Personally, I like him. He adores our daughter. But my husband thinks she should have married a military man. Between her life here and a relationship that ended abruptly with an enlisted man…Annie was ready for stability. A high school English teacher fit in her life. I think if Charles gave him a chance…moved closer so we could get to know him better, his view would change.”

“Did you know Andrew before they married?”

“Not very well. We met him when they were dating but didn’t think much of it. One day she said they were getting married and then the fighting started.”

Parents getting involved passionately never ended well. “She rebelled,” Gwen said.

“Yes. She did.” Ruth sighed. “They eloped and moved south. We’ve visited a couple of times. Stressful ordeals those were.”

“That’s too bad. Life is too short to quarrel.” As much as Gwen despised her father, she didn’t go out of her way to fight with the man when he was alive.

“I think once I get Charles off base his attitude will change.”

Ruth was old enough to know that people seldom changed, but Gwen wasn’t about to remind her of that. It was obvious Ruth was ready to move on with their life, even if her husband wasn’t.

“I’m sure it will work out.” Gwen was sure of no such thing…but if there was one thing she had learned after living in the States for nearly a year it was that Americans were wonderful at saying things they didn’t mean. To be fair, the British were, too. However, her friends in London wouldn’t think of sharing such private information with a mere stranger. Ruth was in obvious need of a conversation with a woman who didn’t know her husband. Perhaps Ruth knew if she spoke with people who knew him they’d offer a different opinion.

Gwen glanced at Ruth and noticed a small smile on her face.

“It will.”

When they arrived back at the house Gwen noticed the car she and Neil had driven there was gone.

Her heart jumped.
He left?
Maybe he moved the car?

No. The car wasn’t anywhere in the drive and when they walked into the house Charles said he’d left. She panicked for a moment before he told her that Neil would be back within the hour.

Gwen decided to spend the time alone in her room. When had she become so dependent on a man? On anyone? Maybe before moving to America she’d moved through life with an escort. Since the move, however, she’d found her independence and loved it. So why did the thought of moving around now without Neil feel so wrong? It was one thing to be infatuated with the man, quite another to not see herself without him. He was a dangerous gamble that came with a warning.

Working through the drama surrounding Neil required another set of ears. Karen’s or maybe Eliza’s. Even Samantha would offer sound advice.

The question was how could Gwen contact one of her friends and not risk exposing any of them before Neil was prepared to deal with the bird-killing man?

Blake met Dean and Jim at Karen and Michael’s home in Beverly Hills. Karen had called in a panic, saying something about dead birds and the need for Prozac. None of which made any sense.

Inside Michael’s home, Karen sat on a sofa with her knees curled up into her chest. Beside her Michael sat and stroked her back as the both of them talked to Dean and Jim.

“I got here as soon as I could.” Blake glanced at Karen and asked, “Are you OK?”

“Better now.” She was pale and obviously shaken up.

“Seems our bird-guy is interested in Karen after all,” Jim said.

“Someone jumped the fence here and broke into her car. She found another dead crow, this time mangled and in the front seat of her car.” Dean watched Karen as he spoke. “I have a crew coming over to investigate.”

“Is there anything on your surveillance cameras?” Blake asked Michael.

“I don’t have surveillance cameras. Only an alarm system.”

Blake couldn’t imagine a man of Michael’s worth and fame not having a better system. “Time to put one in.”

Michael nodded.

“Guess this means we need to keep an eye on Karen and let Neil know he and Gwen can come back.” Dean stood and placed an empty coffee cup on the table in front of the couch.

“Only problem with that is no one knows where Neil is,” said Blake.

“I’ll start a track on him…credit card use, bank account. He’ll show up eventually. Or maybe Gwen will call again.”

Blake would have his own people start searching. The thought of his sister running off with a paranoid retired marine made him edgy.

“Do you think we’re dealing with a fan?” Michael asked Dean.

“Could be. Or maybe someone ticked at you, Karen. Any ideas who we’re dealing with?”

“I don’t have any real contact with the clients at Alliance and you know my co-workers.”

“What about at the Boys and Girls Club?”

“Jeff is the head guy there. Happily married. Most of the volunteers are housewives. There’s no one I hang out with or really know outside of the organization.”

Dean paced the room. “What about the kids? A lot of kids in those places are high risk. Or maybe even mandated to go there after school.”

Karen looked stunned at the question. “The kids are great.” She paused. “Most seemed happy when they found out Michael and I got married.”

“Most?” Dean asked.

The hair on her arms tingled. “Well yeah. There’s this one boy. I think he has a crush on me. Got a little upset the last time I saw him.”

Dean removed a pen from the inside of his suit pocket. “What’s his name?”

“Oh, c’mon, Dean. He’s just a kid. Not capable of what’s been going on here.”

“Do I have to remind you how many kids are sitting in juvenile hall convicted of murder?”

“Juan isn’t that kid. I know him.”

“Really? Where does Juan live? Who are his parents? Any priors?”

Karen glanced at Michael and back to Dean.

“I’m just going to ask him a few questions, Karen. If he’s a good kid, he has nothing to worry about.”

“He’ll never trust me again.”

“It’s a risk you’re going to have to take,” Michael told her. “The sooner they rule him out as a suspect, the sooner they can search for whoever else is behind all this.”

Karen sighed and ran a hand over her face. “Juan Martinez. He’s a good kid, Dean. Last I looked it wasn’t against the law to have a crush, so please don’t come down hard on him.”

“If he’s been planting dead birds to scare you, I’m going to make him piss himself. If he isn’t behind it he’ll be fine.”

Jim stood and joined Dean as they turned to leave the room. Blake followed them out. “You really think a kid did all this?”

Dean placed his sunglasses over his eyes as they stepped outside. “Anyone capable of killing animals can eventually kill people. And yeah, teenage kids do that shit. Most don’t graduate to murder until they’re old enough to get a drink in a bar, but that doesn’t mean it’s not unheard of.”