Emily accepted the weapon. “Thank you.”
Noah sighed and looked over his shoulder. “I think he loves you,” he said and disappeared into the cockpit.
“No, I’m just a job,” she whispered. She had to remember that.
“Buckle up.” Noah’s voice filtered through the intercom system.
Emily snapped on her seat belt and leaned back, gripping the weapon in her lap. Mitch’s betrayal stung, but it didn’t change her mission. With Mitch untrustworthy, Perry gone and Marie dead, she had one more option that she’d forgotten about until just now. She would keep the appointment with the adoption attorney. It was a long shot, but it was all she had.
For the next four hours, Emily went over every scenario she could think of. Mitch had tried to talk to her several times. She shut him down. She needed help, but not his. Not again. She thought about asking Ian, but she couldn’t allow herself to use Mitch’s best friend. He was a single parent with a young child. That meant going back to William. Trying to convince him to help her find another PI, and to pay for it until the house sold. Not an easy task in this market. Even more so considering her house wasn’t safe with these people after her.
She didn’t have a place to stay, either. Or a car.
Noah announced their approach to Denver, and Emily braced herself to see Mitch again. After the plane eased to a stop, she unclipped her seat belt and stuffed the gun into her bag.
Mitch left the cockpit and faced her once more. “Please. Don’t go alone. Let me help.”
Noah unlatched the door and extended the stairs. A blast of arctic air blew into the plane, no more chilled than her heart. “I’m fine,” she said. “I know what to do.”
Emily went down the stairs and walked toward the small, private-airport terminal. Noah put a hand on Mitch’s shoulder, and he glanced up at his older brother.
“She’s something else,” Noah said quietly.
“Yeah. I screwed up big time. She doesn’t trust that I really would do just about anything for her.”
“Well, I helped you out.” Noah handed him a small unit with a map on the computer screen. A dot slowly moved away from them.
“What is it?”
“I fixed Emily’s phone for her. No GPS for the bad guys. No trapping her phone number. But you, little brother, can track her with this. Just don’t lose it.”
Mitch gave his brother a stunned stare. “You’re a hell of a sneak, if I haven’t told you that before.”
“You let my other interests get out, little brother, and I’ll change the code so you can’t borrow my Harley.”
Mitch sputtered.
“Yeah. I know about the Harley. But you found more than I’ll
ever
have, bro. You found someone real in a world of cheats and liars.”
“If she’ll only give me a chance to prove I’m not one.”
Noah slapped him on the back. “If she didn’t care, you wouldn’t have hurt her so much. Take heart in that. Heck, if you find her son, she’ll have to take you back.”
Noah took off, and Mitch let his brother’s words stew in his mind. He didn’t want Emily that way. Not out of some mistaken form of gratitude. He longed for her to want him in the same way he did her. Because he admired her, cared for her…loved her.
Oh, God. He’d fallen in love with her.
The recognition nearly made him sink to his knees. He’d blown it. He’d finally found someone whose loyalty and courage he could respect, whose passion lit a fire within him so hot it consumed his thoughts. And he’d driven her away.
He straightened his shoulders. His feelings didn’t matter. All he could focus on was Emily. He made his way to the truck, keeping close watch on her location. The dot had sped up significantly. He turned on his phone, then played through six messages. All but one was from Tanner, ordering him back to the office, threatening him with a suspension and finally to fire him. The last one came from Ian with the news about Marie.
Emily’s dot moved farther away. Where was she planning to go? He couldn’t think of anywhere safe except Noah’s home, and she wouldn’t go there. The dot moved toward downtown, back to the first attempt on her life. Why should he be surprised? With Ghost still at large, she was much too vulnerable. He dialed a number.
“Teen Mother’s Shelter.”
“Sister Kate. It’s Mitch Bradford.”
“Officer. I was hoping to hear back from you. How are you and Emily doing?”
Mitch winced at the smile in the nun’s voice. “Um…that’s why I’m calling. Emily’s in trouble, Sister. I think she might be heading your way.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Someone wants her dead.”
“Ghost?”
“It’s more involved than that. Can you hide her? Get her to stay put? I have something to take care of, but I’ll be there soon.”
“We can hide her, Officer. I’ll tell her you’re coming—”
“No. Don’t do that. She…let’s just say we’ve had a falling-out.”
“But you’ll be here?”
“She needs protection. It’s my job.”
Sister Kate laughed. “Oh, boy-o, it’s way more than a job. I can hear the feelings in your voice. Don’t you fret.”
“I won’t stop worrying until she’s safe,” Mitch said, leaving off the one phrase he wanted so badly to say aloud…
in my arms
. “Thank you, Sister.”
He hung up the phone. He needed help, and there was only one man he could ask. He just wondered if he’d make it out of his dad’s house in one piece.
M
ITCH PULLED INTO
HIS
father’s driveway. The place hadn’t changed much, except for the ramp leading to the front door. Before Mitch even rang the bell, the ex-sergeant opened the door.
“Cameras?” Mitch asked, scanning the perimeter and spying the small electronics in several strategic locations.
“Of course.” He reversed his wheelchair to let Mitch enter. “I hadn’t expected to see you here.”
“Noah didn’t call and spill my latest screwup?”
His dad shrugged. “He mentioned you might be by for some intel.”
Mitch walked into the living room. The photo of his father and mother still held a place of honor on the fireplace mantel. Short of a few adjustments in the furniture to widen spaces, his dad’s place hadn’t changed much in the ten years since his mother’s death from cancer.
“I need some advice. I’m out of my league, Dad.”
“You’re a good cop.”
“I’m a good SWAT entry man. Emily needs protection, and clearly I can’t do it. If I’d been one hundred percent, I would’ve caught the perp who blew Perry Young’s head off. This would be over.” He rubbed his leg and took a deep breath. “The problem is, I’m not a detective. And this case is complicated. She needs an investigator. She needs you, not me.”
“How’s the injury, Mitch?” His father nodded toward the leg. “Really?”
“Fine.” Mitch quirked a smile. “Emily hates it when I use that word.”
“Means you don’t want to talk about it. I get that, son.”
“I’m at seventy-five percent. Not good enough for SWAT, and if I can’t be SWAT, what’s the point?”
His dad pointed to the wheelchair “You’re here asking for my help, despite this chair. What makes you think a slightly bum leg makes you less of a cop?”
“You were vice. You used your smarts. That was never me.”
“You think on your feet. You strategize quickly. You’re good at your job, Mitch. Investigation might be slower paced, but you have a gift for reading people. Better than your brothers or sister. Use your talents. What does your intuition say about the situation?”
“That Emily’s going to die if I don’t figure this out.”
Mitch sank into the couch. He’d never said the words aloud, and he ached with the knowledge that if he couldn’t figure out who wanted her gone, he could very well lose Emily, the only woman he’d ever loved. He had to push those emotions aside. He had to focus on the pieces that didn’t fit.
“Follow your gut. About the investigation and the girl.”
“It feels like there’s more than one element, and I’m not seeing the connection. Perry knew a lot, but he’s dead. His notes are like a few pieces of a five-thousand-word jigsaw puzzle. I know there’s a mole in the Denver PD, but I don’t know who.”
“You asked me before about Tanner. Is he the mole?”
Mitch shook his head. “I trust him.”
“Good enough for me.” His dad rolled his wheelchair into an elaborate office. “Ever since you called, I’ve been doing a bit of
research
. Tanner’s financials look good, but I’ve got the names of four cops who have some interesting data. Two were on duty the night Ghost escaped: Vance and Lincoln. I’m following up.”
“Thanks, Dad. Call me if either one hits.”
“You got it. And Mitch.” His dad rolled over and slapped the back of Mitch’s head. “Did you forget everything I ever taught you about women? If you care about them, what’s the one thing you never, ever do?”
His father’s ability to lecture hadn’t changed at all.
“Lie to them. Yeah. Got that.” He rounded on his father. “What was I supposed to do? If I’d told her the truth, she would’ve pushed me out of her life. No one believed her. She needed me. She still needs someone.” He paused. “She still needs
me.
”
“You took her to bed.”
The accusation hit home. Mitch rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Yeah. I couldn’t resist her.”
“Not your smartest move, son.” His dad looked up at the photo of his mother. “But I understand. Some women melt your brain when they smile.”
“You think I got a prayer of salvaging this thing? I care about her. A lot.”
“Groveling works well.”
“I tried that. She blew me off with the force of an F5 tornado.”
“Then prove she can trust you. That’s what she wants, son. It’s a precious gift.”
“That I already threw away.”
“Then convince her you’ve smartened up. That she’s too precious to lose.”
On the way out to his truck, Mitch took a long look back. Four years ago he’d never have thought to go to his dad for assistance on a case. Strangely, his father’s injury had made him a stronger detective.
Mitch didn’t dwell on the implications. He slid into the pickup just as an SUV pulled into the driveway.
His brother Chase and sister, Sierra, jumped out, their faces tense and furious.
Mitch met them on the lawn. “Did Noah call you?”
“Our brother is an idiot,” Chase said, darkly.
“And you just learned this?” Mitch said.
Sierra shook her head. “I should’ve known something was up when his techy gadgets started getting cooler than mine. Is he okay? Really?”
“He’s fine. We’re the ones who need an adjustment.” Mitch said. “Go talk to him. You may learn more than you bargain for. I’ve gotta run.”
Sierra placed a hand on his arm. “You’re not hurt again, are you?”
He kissed her cheek. “Not in the way you’re thinking, little sister.”
His brother gave him a speculative glance, but Mitch shook his head. They could talk later. Maybe. Chase had his own demons to battle.
As his brother and sister strode up the sidewalk, Mitch got back into the truck and stared at the tracking device. Emily had made it to Sister Kate’s and she wasn’t moving. He gunned the accelerator and headed toward the police station. This next hour wouldn’t be pretty.
T
HE
D
ENVER
P
OLICE
D
EPARTMENT
—a place Mitch had called home for a lot of years—didn’t feel welcoming right now. He stood and faced his boss. Tanner’s face had gone red.
“You might want to calm down, boss. You’re going to pop a vein.”
“What were you thinking?”
“That we have a mole in this office, and I didn’t know who to trust. I couldn’t risk Emily’s life or losing her son’s trail. Not for anyone or anything.”
“I thought we had an understanding.” Tanner paced up and down his office. “You made me believe you trusted me, Mitch. And you go off and put yourself and Emily at risk. On a hunch after I told you not to leave town, much less the state of Colorado. You should
know
better.”
“We might’ve found her son. I couldn’t risk the opportunity slipping away.”
His boss thrust his fingers through his short, cropped hair. “Serves me right for giving such an important case to a damn short-timer.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean we all know you’re going to quit when you can’t make the physical for SWAT. I’ve seen your file, Bradford. You can’t cut it. But nobody’s brave enough to tell you to your face.”
“You don’t know that. With Emily’s help, my leg’s improving. I could make it back.” Even to Mitch’s ears the words sounded hollow.
“You sure that’s the kind of help you’re getting? She’s your assignment, not your toy.”