Authors: Anna Alexander
“Morning, Judy.” She nodded at the woman who was the head of
the agricultural society, and the town’s biggest gossip. “I have a few leads.
How are the plans for the Arbor Day festival coming along?”
“I bet you can’t wait to get your hands on all of those
muscles. I heard he can lift a grown man off the floor with one hand.”
“I can too with the right leverage. I’m not going to let
anyone put themselves in danger. He’s been lucky so far that he hasn’t gotten
himself or someone else hurt, and I’m going to make sure it stays that way.”
Judy giggled. “You are so funny when you talk tough.”
She let the statement slide off her back and said her
goodbyes. She slid onto a barstool, resisting the urge to crumple in her seat.
Betty Sue set a ceramic mug before her and filled it with
coffee, leaving room near the top for the cream and two sugars Brett liked. “I
didn’t expect to see you so early, Sheriff, after all of the hub-bub last
night. I have to get your secret on how you stay so fresh-looking.”
“I have stock in Oil of Olay.”
“Oh, I hear you.” She patted her blue-black French twist. An
inch of silver roots ran along the part. “Me and L’Oreal are like this.” She
crossed her fingers. “So, what can I getcha? Your usual egg white omelet?”
“Actually, I would love a slice of chocolate cream pie. Just
a little one.”
Betty Sue raised a knowing brow and moved to the pie
display. “Which male are we exorcising this morning?”
“Why does a male have to be involved? Can’t I just want
pie?”
“Honey, whenever a woman hits the chocolate this early it’s
usually about a man, so it’s either one of your dumb-ass deputies, that
vigilante I heard is pestering you, or…” She flashed a huge grin and tapped her
red-tipped fingernails together with barely restrained glee. “Perhaps it’s a
certain sexy river guide who’s been after you since you moved into town?”
Brett stuffed a forkful of cream in her mouth to avoid
answering. Betty Sue made it her mission to be Cedar’s den mother and she
treated Brett like her favorite cub. Betty’s friendship and open spirit, not to
mention the best fish and chips Brett ever tasted, made the diner one of
Brett’s favorite hangouts and she counted the older woman as a friend. However,
there were some things she didn’t share with anyone, and her feelings were at
the top of that list.
Betty Sue set both hands flat on the counter and leaned
forward. Her bold stare told Brett she wouldn’t budge unless she heard a little
dirt. “Let’s just say that I think the Amazons may have been on to something.”
“Don’t give up on men yet, honey. They have their uses. And
when I think of any, I’ll let you know.”
The women shared a laugh until the program on the television
caught Betty Sue’s attention. She let out a squeal and turned up the volume.
“It’s the last episode of
Oprah
, people,” she yelled
out to the few remaining patrons. “So keep it down.”
“I thought that show ended a long time ago.”
“It did. It’s in reruns now. I loved this one. It was so
inspirational.” She wiped down the counter, her gaze fixed on the screen. “Say
what you will about the woman, but she does have a powerful message. Do you
know how many people told her that she would be a nobody? Now look at her. And
it’s all because she listened to her heart and did what she loved. Kind of like
us. We both worked hard at our dream and now I own this lovely diner and you’re
sheriff. Everything fell into place like it should.”
Yes, professionally she set out to do what she loved and was
able to achieve all she ever wanted.
Then why the hell did she feel so empty?
The bite of creamy chocolate settled in her stomach like a
stone, and for the first time her solitary lifestyle felt like a worn-out
corset, tight and confining with a stay sticking her in the ribs.
She pushed her plate away and faced the television, but her
vision blurred. Tears she refused to shed burned the back of her throat. It was
silly to cry over a man, especially a man who looked at her as if she were a
rare treasure he coveted for his own.
No, she mentally shook her head and clenched her teeth. She
made her choice. The people of Cedar depended on her to give one-hundred-ten
percent of her attention. A job requirement she had been fully aware of,
although hadn’t quite comprehended the impact until now. Kristos could come at
her all he wanted with those flexing muscles and smoldering eyes, but the
people would always come first. Her honor demanded no less than her all.
Chapter Three
“Kristosllanos, what have you done?”
Kristos closed his eyes and sighed. Usually when Lucian
called him by his full name a lecture followed. Fantastic, just what he needed,
a second round of castigation. From Brett he’d take it gladly, his brother was
another matter.
“It seems to be the day to be asked questions with obvious
answers. I’ve prepared the life jackets and am now readying the kayaks.” He
tucked an orange plastic craft under his arm like a football and picked up two
others, deliberately turning his back on his brother.
Lucian dogged his steps. “It’s you, isn’t it? You are this
vigilante I’ve been hearing about. Just what do you think you’re doing?” Lucian
knocked the kayaks out of Kristos’ hands and spun him around. “You know we
cannot display our powers to anyone for any reason.”
Kristos shook off the grip that would have broken a human
man’s arm. “I’m not displaying anything. The police presence in this territory
is sorely lacking and Brett cannot manage the entire town on her own. I am only
offering my assistance.”
“Dashing around in a mask while endangering yourself and
others is not offering assistance. I know that you are capable of apprehending
the average criminal on this planet, but have you given any thought about what
will happen if we’re discovered? I stood by you once and was banished from my
home. I will not allow you to lose this one as well.”
He clenched his jaw and spoke through gritted teeth. “And I
will not allow what happened to Moira to befall Brett.”
Lucian sucked in a sharp breath and jerked back as if kicked
in the gut. “How dare you speak of our queen, may the Mother keep her, so
informally. Sheriff Briggs is a competent woman who has been trained to handle
the criminal element. If you must engage with her socially, then ask her out
like any other human. Date her and be done with it.”
Date her. It sounded so juvenile compared to the depth of
his feelings for the lovely Brett. The good sheriff was a force of nature he
found fascinating. The first time he saw her, she stood across from him on the
opposite side of a busy street. Their eyes met and desire hit him like an
open-palm slap in the face, while his two hearts beat in a rhythm he never
before experienced.
Any other woman would have crossed the street to answer the
invitation in his eyes, but not Brett. She stared right at him for several long
moments. His empathic abilities picked up the desire her escalated breathing
and bright blush barely hinted at. Then she frowned and walked away. From that
moment on he was entranced, and with each encounter her mystery and allure
ensnared him more. She was an intriguing dichotomy of strength and fragility,
spontaneity and caution, passion and restraint that kept his attention riveted.
It frightened him to think that a wayward bullet or
well-placed fist could destroy something so unique and wonderful. It was a fear
he’d felt only once before. He ignored that warning and it destroyed his world.
A mistake he would not make again.
“I don’t want to date her. I love her.”
Lucian’s eyes bulged as he sputtered. “You do not. What do
you know of love?”
“Brett is special, and I’m not giving up on her until she gives
me a chance to win her heart.”
Lucian crossed his arms and shrugged. “So you have feelings
for this woman. That does not mean you risk our safety by exposing our powers.”
His laughter rang with derision. “Risk our safety? We were
born to put others’ lives before our own, or is that something you’ve forgotten
in your old age?”
Battle-toughened warriors used to bow to Lucian’s authority.
He had been fearless, decisive, and was the first to lead the charge against
their enemies. Now he questioned every decision he made and spent more time
with books and computers, learning about this world instead of living in it.
Kristos’ hearts ached with sorrow for the shadow his brother had become.
“Why are we here, Lucian?” He threw out his arms and
gestured to the clear, blue sky and brilliant-green trees that covered the
rocky terrain. “Look at this beauty. Feel the warm sun on your skin. If we came
all this way to merely exist, then I would have gladly stayed and chosen death
over banishment. I—we—chose life. Have you really experienced all this world
has to offer? Are you going to hide forever? I’m not going to fear this world.
I will eat until I am gorged, play until exhausted, and love until sated,
because that is what it means to
live
.”
The mental wall Lucian threw up between them hit Kristos so
hard, he wouldn’t be surprised if he developed bruises on his frontal lobe.
Kristos opened his mouth to soften the blow of his harsh
criticism when a wave of bubbles washed over his skin as his powers picked up
the vibration of giggling girls. His nine a.m. river tour, a reunion of
sorority sisters from Central Washington University. Fantastic.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, praying for
the patience to survive the next three hours. When he looked up, he saw his
brother staring at the rushing water. Deep lines creased his brow and bracketed
his lips. Lucian’s arms were crossed in front of him like a shield, with his
hands resting on his biceps. The tips of his fingers stroked the spot where
under his shirt lay a scar that matched Kristos’ own. Loneliness weighed down
his shoulders, pulling at Kristos’ belly in sympathy.
“I’m sorry if my words hurt you, brother, but I will not
hide. I’m not a fool, Lucian. I know my relationship with Brett is nonexistent.
There’s something holding her back from going after what she wants, but I’m not
giving up on her, and I will not leave her without protection. She may not
realize yet, but she needs me. If she arrests me for my efforts, then all the
better. At least we’ll be in the same building.”
“And if our secret is discovered?” Lucian asked, his tone as
stiff as his posture.
“Then it’s discovered. We are
Llanos
. We’ve lived
through hell. There’s nothing we can’t survive.”
* * * * *
Brett parked her Crown Vic and stepped out into a
two-inch-deep puddle of mud. Since the brief bout of sunshine three days
before, the skies had been nothing but gray and wet, leaving the earth a soggy
mess.
A canopy of pine and cedar trees sheltered the small
gathering of deputies. The wail of a siren echoed against the leaves as an
ambulance and a fire truck pulled up alongside her.
She lifted her hand in greeting at Collins. “What have we
got?”
“There was a small gang skirmish and the ground gave way,
sucking two of the participants into the sinkhole.”
“How far down are they?”
“Can’t really tell. No one can get close enough without
causing more of a cave in, but we’ve made contact and they’re both conscious.”
“I thought the last of the bikers left town days ago.” She
strode toward the flags that sectioned off the opening. “Who was fighting?”
“The Twihards and Vamp Diaries.”
She looked back at him over her shoulder. “What?”
His features puckered as he nodded toward the circle of
seven youths who appeared to be between thirteen to fifteen years of age. They
huddled together in their leather jackets and Henley shirts while two of the
girls sobbed, their tears leaving dark streaks in their white makeup. A boy,
who looked to have an entire bottle of gel sweeping back his hair, awkwardly
patted one of the girls’ hands.
“Jiminy Christmas,” Brett muttered and turned away. Her gaze
met Collins’ dancing eyes. He pursed his lips and gave a slight shake of his
head.
The fire captain came to stand next to her and braced his
hands on his hips. “Is that boy wearing makeup or did he have an unfortunate
incident with a powdered doughnut?”
She sucked in a laugh. “Thanks for joining us, Captain.
Okay,” she barked, taking command. “Let’s cordon off more of this area. I’m
sure were going to have several upset parents arrive any moment and I don’t
want anyone else in danger. Collins, show me this hole.”
The captain and two paramedics joined them on the trek over
a small rise to a flat stretch of meadow. As she neared the gap, the earth sank
under her feet.
“Sheriff, why don’t you go ahead?” the captain said.
Brett placed one careful step in front of the other and
knelt next to the two- by three-foot hole. She reached for the Maglight at her
hip and shined it into the black depths. “Hello, it’s Sheriff Briggs. Who’s
down there?”
“It’s Caroline and Jacob,” a small voice called from the
dark.
“Caroline?” Something about the high-pitched female voice
rang familiar. “Wait—Stacy Monroe, is that you?” A long silence followed.
“Stacy?”
“Please don’t tell my mom I fell in a hole.”
She released a sigh of relief. If the girl could whine, then
she had to be all right. “Honey, since your mother’s the supervisor at the
9-1-1 center, I think she’s going to find out. Who else is with you?”
“Just Jason.”
“Are you all right? Are either of you hurt? Can you step
into my light?”
A dirt-streaked face haloed in white-blonde ringlets
appeared ten feet below. Stacy cradled her right elbow in her left hand. “My
arm hurts and Jason can’t stand. I think he broke his leg.”
“Is he conscious?”
“What?”
“Is he awake?”
“Yeah.”
She swung the light around and noticed that the girl
appeared alone in the pit. “Where is he?”
“He’s right there.” She gestured to the shadows.
“Okay, honey, I want you to sit tight. We’re going to get
you out. It’s just going to take a few minutes.” She turned back to the others.
“Can one of you toss me a lantern?”
A small Coleman rolled in her direction. She flipped it on
and lowered her arm down the hole. “Can you catch this?”
Once Stacy had her little light, Brett faced the group of
men. “It looks like they’re in some type of tunnel. Isn’t this land part of
Rainer National Park?”
“Yes ma’am,” the captain answered.
Why would the state dig a tunnel in the park?
That was a thought for another time. Her first priority was
to get those kids out without causing another cave-in. With only a few more
hours of daylight left, the temperature was going to drop, and the sky looked
ready to unzip at any moment and dump another inch of rain.
She rubbed her chin. “Collins, how long will it take to get
a surveyor up here?”
“Thirty minutes, maybe an hour.”
“They’re about ten feet down. It would be nice to make the
opening large enough to fit a stretcher, but I don’t think we can wait that
long.”
“A back hoe will probably fall right in,” said the captain.
“We can send someone down in a harness attached to the wench on the fire truck
to test the hole, but they’d have to be able to fit down that shaft, and light
enough not to send dirt down on top of those kids. My guys are too big. Got
anyone on your team?”
Four pairs of eyes turned toward her.
She didn’t even hesitate. “Let’s do it.”
She latched the flashlight to her belt then stripped off her
heavy coat. In five minutes she was fitted with a helmet and cinching a harness
tight to her body.
“I know you’re sending the woman down because you’re afraid
to endanger your penis,” she joked.
“Damn straight.” The captain laughed along with her men.
“Now, we’ll send you down nice and slow. Holler if the ground shifts, or when
you’re near the bottom.”
“Right.”
A crowd had gathered on the other side of the yellow police
tape and more cars streamed up the road. Cedar was a pretty sleepy town
overall, and news of the cave-in traveled as fast as a text message. With so
many eyes on her, the pressure to execute this rescue flawlessly weighed on her
as if she’d clipped an additional fifty pounds to her belt.
Suck it up, Briggs
.
You were hired to think
on your feet and do the impossible. Now’s the time to prove you’re the man.
“How are you doing, Stacy?” she called out as she neared the
entrance.
“Fine?”
“I’m coming down. Get as far away from the opening as you
can.”
She dropped a bag of supplies down first. The thud as it hit
the bottom sounded way too far away. Adrenaline and a brisk breeze sent a
shiver along her arms as she took that first careful step off the edge. Her
hips scraped the sides of the rough walls and her breasts made for a tight
squeeze until she was completely submerged in blackness. How one teenager, let
alone two, managed to fall down the shaft confounded her.
“Stacy, how the hell did you two fit through this hole?” she
hollered. “What were you doing?”
“We were running and Jason tackled me, and the next thing I
knew we were falling. It was really dark and scary. Still is.”
“Hang on, sweetie. I’m almost there.”
Gravel and dirt hit Brett in the face as she dropped inch by
inch. She closed her eyes and concentrated on keeping her breathing slow and
even.
Her feet swung from side to side as she breached the tunnel.
“Slow down. I’m near the bottom,” she instructed through the radio at her
shoulder. “Stop.”
She unclipped the line and turned toward the lamp’s soft
glow to inspect her surroundings. The tunnel was about four feet high and eight
feet wide.
The young girl had a bruise on her forehead but her eyes
were clear and her pupils dilated properly when Brett flashed them with light.
Her wrist looked swollen and had limited mobility. In the bag was a sling that
Brett used to set the sore arm before approaching the boy.
“Okay, Jason, how are you holding up?”
“All right, I guess,” he answered with a weak shrug.
He lay flat on his back, a purple sweatshirt pillowing his
head. His dark hair and face were grimy and he shivered in the damp soil with
what Brett hoped were the chills and not shock.