Love Inspired Suspense July 2015 #1 (12 page)

Becky wasn't deterred. She chuckled and shook her head. “You might be able to lie to yourself enough to believe that, but you'll never convince me. We're here together, right now, because we're supposed to be.”

“If that's true, are you saying that my father didn't really murder my mother?”

“Not at all. I'm saying that your mom was God's child. He knew what was going to happen and what she and her daughter needed. He released her from a life of suffering and gave you a whole new start. It was a gift, not a punishment.”

“I still don't get it.”

“Neither do I, most of the time,” Becky admitted. “The difference is I've placed my life and my trust in God and Jesus Christ. I know He expects me to think sensibly and behave myself, but I also know He's ready for whatever happens and will always be with me.”

“Does that help keep away the loneliness?”

When Becky said yes, it was so clear, so firm, Daniella had to accept it.

She retreated into her private thoughts and wondered if she'd been suffering for nothing. Had God been with her all along? Had she simply shut her eyes and her heart and mind to His presence?

There had been a time, years ago, when she'd talked to Jesus in prayer and thought she'd had enough faith to believe. What had happened to that childhood faith? Was it possible she'd been the one to distance herself because of bitterness instead of God withdrawing from her?

If that was true, what about her prayer at the top of the stairs the night before when she had simply prayed to not end up being like her father? Had she imagined the sense of calm and peace that had followed?

No. Although the feeling had been fleeting, it was as real as the car she was riding in. God
had
heard her prayer and the answer had been palpable. All she needed to do from now on was to remember that even the things she couldn't see or touch could be very real.

Without being careless
, she added, leaning to peer into the outside mirror and check the traffic behind them. It was all well and good to put her trust in the wisdom of God. What she must avoid was unburdening herself too much and forgetting that she was also expected to take reasonable precautions.

If Becky was right and God had brought her to DC, that did not mean He had thrown her to the lions. Nor did it mean she couldn't leave, especially for the sake of people she cared about.

Isaac was one of those special people, she admitted, in spite of herself. In that respect she wished she'd never met him because she knew she would worry about him for the rest of her life.

And pray for his continuing safety
, she added, realizing she truly believed her prayers would help. That was a breakthrough she had not seen coming and made her wonder what other surprises were lurking in the dusty corners of her heart and mind.

One thing was certain. Like it or not, Isaac Black had started to monopolize her thoughts. She could recall every moment they'd spent together as if watching the same movie, over and over.

The scariest part was that she never got to see the film all the way to the last reel and be sure everything ended well.

Unfortunately, real life was not like a romantic movie. Sometimes even the good guys didn't make it.

TWELVE

L
eaving the SUV running, Isaac dashed into the lab to deliver Daniella's note to forensics, checked his own office, then trotted back out and climbed behind the wheel before he touched base with Jake. “Where are you?”

“Arlington. I swung by Becky's real estate office like I said I would. Nobody's heard from her this morning.”

It took monumental effort for Isaac to control his temper. What had his sister been thinking? She knew better than to become involved with his work. Of course, this was the first time he'd taken his job home with him, so part of the blame had to be his.

“Okay,” Isaac said. “If they don't know where she is, you may as well head back my way.”

“Where shall we rendezvous and when?”

“How about at the Washington Monument at noon? I'd like to have another look at that site, anyway.”

“Did the video copied from the TV news cameras show anything interesting?”

“No. A bunch of suits walked by me after Abby finished her sweep but we couldn't get a good look at anybody who was carrying a briefcase.”

“You're sure that's what blew up?”

“Oh, yeah. I saw it with my own eyes just seconds before the blast knocked me down.”

“Good thing you turned away, huh?”

Isaac nodded despite the fact he was alone in the car with his dog. “Yeah.” He changed the subject. “While you're at it, keep your eyes peeled for Fagan, too. He probably isn't involved this time but you might spot him.”

“Not likely, bro.”

“No, but our chances of being the ones who locate Becky and Daniella aren't good, either.”

“It still beats pacing the floor at the house.”

Isaac had to agree. The only drawback so far had been finding a direct order on his desk giving him an additional assignment.

“Listen, Jake, my captain was called away and left me instructions to go interview Congressman Jeffries ASAP. I'm going to run by the Capitol and see if I can catch Jeffries in his office before you and I link up again. It shouldn't take long. I'll leave my phone on vibrate in case you need to reach me. The local police are covering the city, so why don't you go back by Becky's office and keep an eye out there for a while?”

“That probably makes more sense than driving all over town for nothing, especially since she's not answering her cell. I just hate to feel so useless.”

“I know what you mean,” Isaac told him. “But now that I'm past the initial shock of the note, I think it's the smartest thing we can do.”

Jake huffed cynically. “Having Becky wandering around out here is bad enough. Daniella with her makes it a hundred times worse.”

“No argument there. If—when—we locate them I'll let you scold our sister while I read Daniella the riot act.”

“Sometimes you sound just like Grandpa Black.”

“I know.” He chuckled. “From what I can remember about him, I'll take that as a compliment. He was quite a character.”

“Stubborn as a mule, as Grandma used to say. Listen, baby brother, be careful out there.”

“I will. Bye.”

Isaac meant it. He was always careful, always on guard, unless he was relaxing at home. And now even the farm wasn't safe.

“Whose fault was that?” he muttered to himself.

His, of course. He had been the one to insist Daniella stay with him and had also contacted the marshals' office. How was he to know Fagan had hidden a bug in her apartment and listened to the whole conversation? The only good thing about that man's confession was learning that he hadn't been savvy enough to capture their cell signals as first assumed.

That gave Isaac a small measure of peace. A detailed knowledge of electronics would make Fagan's already dangerous bag of tricks far, far deadlier.

* * *

Until she actually saw the banded stacks of bills in the safe-deposit box, Daniella wasn't sure they'd still be there. Her hands were shaking as she shoved them into the canvas tote she'd borrowed from Becky and zipped the top closed.

The door to that section of the vault stood open. “I'm finished,” she said as she passed the young bank employee who had assisted her.

“Was everything all right?” the woman asked pleasantly.

“Just fine.” Daniella knew better than to give any indication of unrest. Considering the acting she'd had to do these past few days, not to mention during the preceding ten years, she figured she should be nominated for a professional performance award, red carpet and all.

The bank seemed unduly crowded as she emerged from the quietude of the vault area. It was hard to keep from scanning the bank's customers so rapidly that she gave the impression of nervousness. In truth, she was growing frantic now that she had her nest egg in hand. It wasn't the money itself that gave her qualms, it was what it could bring to her life, her future. If she left DC on her own, even if she later returned as she hoped to, she'd need cash to set herself up the way the witness protection program had before.

Although she saw no evident threat, her skin tingled and her heart raced. Instinct told her to get out of there as soon as she could, rejoin Becky and hit the road.

Weaving between bank customers and employees, she hugged the tote and her purse close and headed for the heavy glass doors. An elderly security guard near the front exit smiled at her and touched the brim of his cap.

Daniella hardly noticed. By this time the sense of impending doom had burgeoned into a full-blown panic attack. She assumed she'd feel better once she was back outside on the street, but that didn't happen.

On the contrary, emerging into the sunlight and seeing all the foot and vehicle traffic made her feel as if she were being suffocated.

There had been no available parking spots when they'd arrived, so Becky had let her out at the curb and promised to keep circling the block. Where was she?

Scanning passing cars, she forced herself to stand still when what she yearned to do was run. Fast and far. Away from the familiar city and into the oblivion of some place where she wasn't known.

The hair on the back of her neck prickled. She started to turn to go back into the bank to wait for Becky.

No. Don't do that
, she countered, not comprehending why she was so sure, yet willing to follow the strongest impulse of the many pulling her right and left like a rag doll about to be ripped apart by warring children.

She hesitated. Almost stumbled. Swiveled back to scan the street once more.

A familiar compact car double-parked right in front of her. “Come on!”

Daniella was off the curb and jumping into Becky's passenger seat in mere seconds. She dropped the tote on the floor beneath her feet.

Whipping back into traffic, Becky dodged the slower-moving cars and made an illegal left turn at the next corner.

Daniella was struggling to fasten her seat belt. “I can't buckle up if you don't stop throwing me around.” As she finished speaking, she glanced at her friend. “What's the matter?”

“I don't know. Maybe it was the look on your face when I picked you up or maybe it was something I saw in the background, but all I could think about was getting away.”

“Me, too!” Wide-eyed, Daniella looked back over her shoulder. The impression that one of the men in the crowd might be Terence Fagan was intense.

Realizing that her mind could be playing tricks on her, she straightened and forced a smile. “Sorry my jumpiness has rubbed off on you. There's no way my father could have known about my safe-deposit box ahead of time.”

“You're probably right,” Becky said, “but it's possible that he either had us followed or did it himself, even with all my evasive tactics.”

“I'm sure he was the prowler who shot out the window in my car, too.” She noted her friend's arching eyebrows.

“After he showed up in the marshal's car and tried to drag you off, do you have any
doubt
?”

“I suppose not.” Daniella blew a noisy sigh, then leaned down, pulled one bundle out of the tote and separated the bills. Some she stuffed into her purse, the rest she tried to hand to Becky.

“What's that for?”

“Damages and whatever else you need to stay safe after I'm gone.”

“I've been giving that some thought,” Becky said. “I wonder if hitting the road on your own is the smartest move.”

“Of course it is. It's the only way to be sure my father doesn't continue to harass you.”

“What if he doesn't know you've left?”

Growing pensive, Daniella pressed her lips into a thin line. “I'll drive my car. That will tell him.”

“Not until we get the windshield replaced,” Becky countered. “You have to be able to see where you're going.”

“Very funny.” Now that they were blocks from the bank and beginning to move faster, Daniella was able to manage a real smile. “I could always hang out the side window or look around those big, radiating cracks.”

“Right.”

“Or buy a new car. I have enough money to pay cash. Want to take me to a dealership?”

“That won't solve the problem. If you buy a car off a lot there will still be a paper trail. I think your best option is getting something else from an individual and holding off on the transfer of title.”

“Okay. I've never had a car window repaired. How is it done?”

“On scene mostly,” Becky said. “I'll stop by my office and place the order.”

“Not if it's going to take long,” Daniella warned. “I plan to be out of here before tonight.”

“I think the glass guy will squeeze you in if I tell him it's an emergency.”

“Offer to double his fee,” Daniella told her. “Whatever it takes to get it done right away.”

“You mean before Isaac figures out you're back at the house, don't you?”

Nodding forcefully, Daniella said, “Oh, yeah. Way before that.”

* * *

The trip to visit Congressman Jeffries's Capitol Hill office building was easy. Isaac parked the SUV in a shady spot reserved for law enforcement, reported his location to headquarters and left the windows rolled partway down to keep Abby cool.

His badge got him past the guards at the entrance without delay. Knowing where Jeffries's private office was saved time, too. Isaac turned right at the second hallway and followed it to nicer quarters than many congressmen managed to get. Space was worth more than gold in DC, and having enough room to turn around, let alone comfortably employ a small staff, was a real boon.

Rather than phone ahead, Isaac had taken the chance he'd catch Jeffries there. Judging by the startled expression on his secretary's face as she took in his full image—uniform, badge, K-9 patches and cap with an identical logo—he had made the right decision.

She blushed, then smiled tentatively. “I'm sorry, officer, the congressman is in conference.”

“I can wait.” He removed his cap, folded it and looped it through his belt.

“I don't advise waiting. Congressman Jeffries has appointments all day and a state dinner to attend this evening.”

“Who is he meeting with right now?”

She hesitated, so instead of giving her time to warn her boss, Isaac strode across the carpeted floor to the heavy mahogany door, knocked once and tried the knob. It turned freely.

The loyal secretary attempted to block his way and failed. “I'm sorry, sir. I told him you were busy.”

Two men in luxuriously tailored suits stood with iced amber-colored drinks in hand. The taller, gray-haired one was Harland Jeffries. Isaac recognized the other as Leon Ridge, one of the congressman's longtime aides. Neither appeared overjoyed to see him.

Professional politician to the nth degree, Jeffries left his aide and approached Isaac, offering a hand of welcome. “Good to see you. Leon and I were just finishing up. I can give you a couple of minutes, if that will suffice.”

“That should be fine. Captain McCord would have come himself but he was called out of town unexpectedly, so he asked me to fill in for him.”

“Fine, fine. Gavin's a good man. Very loyal. We go way back, you know.”

“Yes, I know.” Isaac stared pointedly at Leon Ridge. “Do you mind?”

Jeffries answered for him. “No problem. Leon was just leaving.” He used a glance to direct the younger man to the rear door. “You know what I need done. We're finished for now.”

There was something about Ridge that made Isaac's skin crawl. Always had, although he had no concrete reason to feel that way other than the fact that Abby and the other Capitol K-9 Unit dogs wouldn't allow the man to get near them. That judgment was good enough for Isaac.

“Just a few simple questions if you don't mind, sir,” Isaac said to Harland Jeffries.

He took the chair Jeffries indicated and watched him settle in on the opposite side of the ornate desk, straighten a few file folders, then lean back and lace his fingers behind his head. The studied pose would have looked more casual if he had bothered to remove his jacket or loosen his tie.

“So, what can I do for you? I hope you've come to tell me that the woman who killed my poor Michael is finally in custody.”

“What woman?” Isaac asked, purposely toying with him.

“Erin Eagleton. The one who must have shot him and me. Don't you people talk to each other?”

There was no proof that Erin Eagleton, who'd been Michael Jeffries's girlfriend, shot anyone. Though a charm from her necklace had been found at the murder scene, Jeffries had said several times that he didn't know who had murdered his son and then had turned the gun on him, leaving him for dead. “She's still missing as far as I know. But that's not why I'm here.”

Jeffries lowered his arms, rested his elbows on the desk and steepled his fingers. “Oh?”

“You see, sir, it's like this. We're not getting very far in our investigation into the attack during your press conference and we were wondering if you'd had any more thoughts about who may have placed the explosive device.”