Love Inspired Suspense July 2015 #1 (11 page)

Becky was through the front door and shedding her light jacket by the time he finished explaining. “One shooter or more?” she asked.

“Can't tell. I'm guessing one, judging by the boot prints under the trees where Daniella first spotted him. It happened at dusk and was really too dark to tell a whole lot without setting up crime scene lighting.”

“Why didn't you?”

“Because I didn't want to call more attention to the incident. The last thing we need is a bunch of reporters nosing around out here.”

“What harm will it do?” his sister asked, arching her eyebrows at him. “If the assailant was Fagan, like we all think, he already knows where his daughter is.”

“True. But there's an outside chance it wasn't him.”

“Do you really believe that?”

Chagrined, Isaac shook his head and pressed his lips into a thin line. “No.” He looked around to make sure they were alone before he added, “I think it was him and he fully intended to kill her.”

ELEVEN

O
ne thing was clear in Daniella's mind in the early-morning hours of the following day. She had to leave the farm, one way or another. If the marshals wouldn't give her an official release in a timely fashion, she'd have to take matters into her own hands. The biggest question was, where would she go? And what would she use to support herself until she got another job?

In the past, government agents had taken care of everything, from selling her meager possessions to giving her a small stipend and helping her finish school.

There had been a lump-sum insurance settlement from her mother's estate, too, but she hadn't been able to convince herself to touch it because of what it represented. Perhaps now was the time. All she had to do was figure out how to ditch Isaac long enough to go to the bank and get the money so he wouldn't try to stop her or talk her out of preparing to leave DC.

There was only one person in the house whom she felt might be willing to help her. Becky. It was worth a try.

Dressing and tiptoeing to the kitchen, Daniella started a pot of coffee and waited. Jake came through, filled a mug and went outside to do chores. Isaac did the same, only he headed for the stand of maples, ostensibly to get a better look at the ground in the daylight.

Becky was already dressed for the office and had her darker hair pulled into a tight chignon when she appeared. “Morning. Sorry I don't have time for breakfast,” she said, filling a travel mug and adding cream.

“No problem.” Daniella cleared her throat. “Um, would you be planning to go anywhere near Arlington this morning?”

“Yes.” The other woman's eyebrows arched and she cocked her head. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, I was just thinking...”

“Bad idea,” Becky quipped, smiling and picking up her briefcase. “I heard what happened last night while I was gone.”

Reaching out to stop her from leaving, Daniella willed her to understand without a great deal of explanation. “That's why I need a ride to Arlington,” she said. “You know it's too dangerous for your family if I hang around here.”

“Okay. So?”

“So, I'd like you to help me get away.”

She raised her hands, palms out. “Whoa. Why ask me? Why don't you appeal to Isaac? He's the one with the law enforcement connections.”

“Because I'm afraid he's part of the reason I'm stuck here. I think he told the marshals to take their time because he wants me to stay.”

“He'd never do anything to endanger anyone. He's too conscientious for that.”

“I know. But he hasn't pushed it, either, has he? After what happened last night, you and I both know the best choice for everybody is my hitting the road ASAP.”

“Can't argue with you there.” Becky placed her purse and briefcase on the table and took a sip from her travel mug. “What do you propose we tell the guys? My brothers are smart enough to see right through a ruse.”

“We leave a note and don't specify much. I'll just tell them I went to town with you on business. That will be true. I need to visit a safe-deposit box.”

“Isaac will blow his stack!”

“Yes, but he won't have much recourse unless he guesses where I'm headed, and there's no clue to that. My father doesn't know about the bank, either. We should be perfectly safe.” She began to smile as she realized Becky was no longer coming up with arguments.

“Well, don't just stand there. Go grab your purse, write the note and let's get out of here.”

Starting away, Daniella skidded to a stop. “There's one more thing. Will you take good care of Puddy? He loves women. It's men and dogs he's not crazy about.”

“Oh, now, wait a minute. You didn't say anything about keeping your cat.”

“Please? Just for a little while? As soon as I'm settled I'll send for him.”

“You can't do that unless your father's been arrested.”

“We can hope that happens soon,” she said with a broadening grin and a soaring spirit. “I prayed about it a lot last night.”

The incredulous look on Becky's face was laughable. Daniella understood how the other woman felt. She could hardly believe the change in her own attitude, either. She was about to go against the advice of the K-9 officer and probably the marshals' office, too, yet there was an indescribable joy and lightness in her heart that defied description.

As she reached for her shoulder bag and slung the strap over her head to cross her torso, she realized that for the first time in longer than she could recall, she was truly happy.

How the idea of disregarding authority had brought that about was baffling, yet true. She felt free. Unburdened. As if she could accomplish anything if she merely put her mind to it.

Becky already had the car running when Daniella dashed out the front door and down the porch steps and slid into the passenger seat.

“Go, go, go. I think I heard Isaac coming in.”

“Did you leave the note?”

“Yes.” Daniella nodded rapidly.

Her heart was racing. She refused to dwell on what he might feel when he read her brief sentences. She wasn't doing this just for herself. She was doing it for him, too. And for his family. In the short time she'd known them, they had become very dear to her. Especially Isaac, she admitted silently. He was one of a kind. Someday he'd make a wonderful husband.

That conclusion was both correct and depressing. Her most ardent prayer for the brave man who had come to her rescue was that he find the happiness he deserved—with a woman worthy of his love. Someone with no heavy baggage. Someone who could accept his dangerous job without making herself sick imagining the worst every time he stepped out the door.

Someone...someone...other than her.

* * *

The stillness of the house instantly put Isaac on edge. The coffeepot was nearly empty. “Daniella?”

He paced through the kitchen and into the central hallway. “Daniella? Becky?”

No one answered except his brother. Jake came up behind him. “What's the matter. Did you lose the women?”

“Apparently.” Isaac was frowning. “Is Becky's car gone already?”

“Uh-huh.” Jacob was fidgeting.

“Okay. Spill it. What do you know that I don't?”

“This.” Jake produced a scrap of paper and handed it over. “It was on the kitchen table.”

Isaac quickly scanned it once, then slowed his mind to read it more carefully. One thing was clear. Daniella was gone. “This is a goodbye note. Do you think she really left here with Becky?”

“Probably. She couldn't see through the broken glass to drive her own car.”

“Becky wouldn't help her voluntarily, would she?”

Shrugging, Jacob shoved his hands into the pockets of his well-worn jeans. “Who knows what women will do? They might have decided to band together, you know, like a sisterhood.”

“I thought Becky had more sense.”

“And I thought Daniella would be too scared to leave after last night. I guess we were both wrong.”

Isaac's eyes widened as the full portent of the situation occurred to him. “Do you suppose they were kidnapped?”

“Naw. Becky's armed and dangerous, remember? And I've heard the lungs on your nurse friend. She can howl so loud they'd hear her in downtown DC.”

Isaac fisted his phone. “All right. I'm going to call it in as a BOLO—be on the lookout. If they're just acting foolish, no harm will be done.”

“And if they didn't leave of their own free will?”

Once again Isaac scanned the note in his hand. “This looks legit to me. I'll run it by the guys in the lab and see if they can tell what kind of mood she was in when she wrote it. That will tell us something.”

“Not much,” Jake countered.

Isaac glared at him. “You got a better idea?”

“Yeah. I say we head for the city. You deliver the note, then we keep in touch by phone and cruise DC.”

“In all that traffic? What makes you think we'll be able to spot Becky's car in a mess like that?”

“Would you rather sit here and stew or be out trying to find them?”

His brother's suggestion made sense. Good thing, too, Isaac mused, since losing Daniella had already turned his thoughts into a maelstrom of confusion.

Abby was circling his feet as if she knew something was about to happen.

“All right,” Isaac said. “Let's go. I'll make my call to headquarters from the car, then we'll link up by cell and keep in touch while we drive. They can't be too far ahead of us.”

Checking his watch, Jacob agreed. “Want me to start with the real estate office and see if Becky showed up for work?”

“Fine. I'll check in with McCord and brief him in person, then hit the streets if they haven't been located by then. If I were a betting man, I wouldn't give our chances very good odds.”

“You were the one telling her that God loved her,” Jake reminded him. “Maybe it's time you told yourself the same thing.”

Isaac knew his brother was right but spouting platitudes was far easier than actually living as if he had total trust in the Lord. Like all men, he was fallible.

And, like all men, his faith could falter. That didn't mean it wasn't valid. It simply pointed out that he was human. That he could care so much that his heart's desires overwhelmed common sense. He knew the chances of Daniella and Becky getting into trouble in the city were slim, yet he couldn't help worrying.

Ordering Abby into the safety compartment of the SUV instead of her crate, he ruffled her droopy ears before closing the door. Too bad he didn't have the dog's attitude about life. Every day was an adventure to her as long as her partner was along for the ride.

It occurred to Isaac that that was his biggest problem. He wanted his human partner with him, too.

Whether it was sensible or not, he wanted Daniella. It was as simple as that. And as complicated.

* * *

Becky chuckled at her companion. “Will you stop fidgeting? We're not being followed.”

“How can you be sure in all this traffic?”

“Because I've been watching my mirrors ever since we left home. And, in case you haven't noticed, I've been getting on and off the beltway just for kicks.”

Daniella settled back in her seat and folded her arms across her chest. “I noticed. I haven't seen anybody following us, either, but you can never be too careful.”

“Is your father really that spiteful?”

“Humph. How would you feel if you'd watched your mother die the way I did?”

“Oh, I get it,” Becky said. “It's just that you're his flesh-and-blood daughter. I can't imagine anybody being so callous.”

“He probably wouldn't be after me if I had kept my mouth shut about Mom, but I couldn't bear the thought of him getting away with murder.” She pulled a sour face. “Too bad my testimony was for nothing. He got out of prison, anyway.”

“True. And unfair. What I don't understand is why you have to do this yourself. What did the witness protection people say when you told them you wanted to leave the program?”

“They advised me to wait until they were ready to officially release me.” She swiveled to watch her new friend's face. “I really do believe your brother convinced them I was safer staying with him at the farm.”

“I can't imagine he'd do that, although not being a guy I'm not positive. Some of them do seem to think they can handle anything and anybody.” She smiled. “It's a knight-in-shining-armor complex.”

Daniella's head plopped back against the raised seatback and she closed her eyes. “I can see that in Isaac. He really is a great guy.”

“But?” Becky's smile grew. “I hear unspoken reservations.”

Daniella nodded. “Yeah. He's not my type.”

That made her companion laugh. “Sure seems like he is. The way you two look at each other tells a very different story.”

“I told you. It's his job,” Daniella replied. “There's nothing I hate more than explosives, and he makes a living looking for them.”

“And saving lives. You admitted he's brave.”

“I know I did. It's not his successes that bother me. It's the times when he makes a mistake. That could get him killed someday. I don't want to have to go through what I felt when I lost my mother.”

“You had a double whammy, then,” Becky said. “It was much worse because you knew your own father was responsible. Besides, Isaac and the K-9 unit are well trained. They know what they're doing.”

Daniella wasn't convinced. “I don't know. I can have two similar patients in ER, give both of them the best care possible and still see one die while the other lives. Sometimes training isn't enough.”

“That's because you're not God,” Becky said tenderly. “It's up to you to do your job to the best of your ability, then leave the results up to Him. That's the mistake a lot of folks make. They think that they can make a difference when it's beyond human skills.”

“Then why even try?” Daniella didn't necessarily disagree, to a point, but wasn't ready to relinquish a sense of control, either.

“Have you ever watched a patient recover after they were told their life was over?”

“Once in a while. Why?”

“Because I happen to believe our days are numbered, as the Bible says. I still think we can choose to squander them or cause an early demise by taking foolish chances, but something in my faith, in my heart, tells me that God has a master plan for me.”

She paused, briefly glancing at her companion while she drove. “Think back. Suppose your mother had lived, you had been abused more by your father and maybe never had the courage to become a nurse or moved to DC. You wouldn't have met my family, especially Isaac, and we wouldn't be having this conversation.”

“That might have been for the best,” Daniella murmured.