Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 (34 page)

She sighed against him. “You make that sound like a good thing.”

“It
is
a good thing. Think of all the people you've protected. You have sacrificed your life, your happiness to fight for those who can't defend themselves because they're either ignorant of the danger, or don't have the skills to stop the violence. You've become a strong, dedicated woman thanks to your life experiences. God has been watching out for you, Sara, watching you choose the tough cases and fight the hard battles. Embrace what you are instead of thinking it should be different or somehow better. This is better. Here, being here with me.”

“You should be holding on to your girls.”

“I will, once we resolve this case and everyone is safe. I ache for them, sure, yet as a father I must sacrifice my own needs for theirs. So we're a lot alike, you and I, which is probably why we've connected this way.” He continued to stroke her back, liking how it felt when she leaned into him, almost as if...

She needed him.

“I...I don't know what
this
is,” she said.

“You don't have to define it, but answer me this. How do you feel, in this moment, here with me?”

“At peace, maybe even...blessed.”

“Hold on to that and have faith the rest will work itself out.”

* * *

Faith. Sara was pretty sure she'd given up on having faith a long time ago. She went to sleep that night with a curious sense of peace, dreaming about possibilities for the future. She'd never really thought about the future before, at least not beyond the next few weeks anyway.

Somehow, through the crises of the past few days, something had awakened inside of her, something akin to hope. Did she dare embrace it?

They had set Will up in a private apartment at the resort for the night, while Sara stayed in Bree's cottage. The resort's security manager, who was Bree's boyfriend, Scott, and Officer Carrington took turns keeping watch over the cottage. They parked two squad cars out front, the strategy being that the police presence would discourage another direct attack.

Sara hated feeling helpless to resolve this situation—her mess of a case—and still felt utterly responsible for bringing the danger to this charming town.

For bringing the danger into Will's life.

Today she would dedicate herself to helping the local authorities with their investigation any way she could.

She went downstairs and spotted Officer Carrington napping on the sofa, while Scott stood guard at the window. Not wanting to awaken the officer, she continued down the hallway into the kitchen.

Will sipped coffee at the kitchen table. He must have sensed her presence because he looked up and cracked a natural smile. “Did you sleep okay?”

He automatically stood and greeted her with a hug.

“Sure, pretty good considering the circumstances.”

“Bree left you some scones, and I made a fresh pot of coffee.” He turned to grab a mug off the counter.

“I'll get it, thanks.”

Her phone vibrated with a call and she answered. “Vaughn.”

“It's SSA Bonner, returning your call.”

“Good morning, sir.” She straightened. “I thought you'd want an update—”

“You're supposed to be on vacation, not chasing a lead I specifically told you was off-limits.”

“Sir, I—”

“Do you have any idea what you've done, Agent Vaughn? You've screwed up an eighteen-month investigation.”

“I don't understand.”

“Another team at the bureau had been working the David Price angle, trying to get enough leverage on him to make him roll on his partners.”

“I had no idea.”

“It was above your pay grade. And now Price is dead, and potentially so is your career.”

“Wait, what?”

“It isn't always about you and your crusades, Agent Vaughn. I've told you that over and over again. We can't have agents who won't take orders. Therefore, you're suspended until further notice.”

The room seemed to close in around her. She glanced at Will, his remarkable green eyes studying her with concern. She wanted to go to him again, be held in his strong, comforting arms. He believed in her. He believed she was an honorable crusader with an altruistic mission to protect people.

And that gave her strength.

“I disagree with this course of action,” she said to her boss.

“You can appeal with personnel. But consider what your supervisors will say when asked about working with you, about how you've constantly challenged their authority. I'm not sure you were ever meant to be a part of our team, Agent Vaughn.”

“Because I don't give up?” she said, her voice rising in pitch.

Bonner sighed heavily into the phone. “No, Sara.” He hesitated. “Because of your tunnel vision. You only see what you're looking at, not anything else, or anyone else around you. If you'd been more aware of the people around you, you would have picked up on the cues that there was something else in the works regarding LHP. Other agents did, and they backed off, but you couldn't, because you shut out everything else.”

“I thought focus made me a good agent.”

“It does, to a point. You also have to trust your coworkers and the system, and that's where you disconnect. You don't trust anyone or anything besides your own instincts.”

“Which were right in this case. Once I get my phone back, I'll have proof.”

“I hope so, for your sake. If there's evidence on the phone and we're able to use it to build a case against LHP, my superiors might reconsider your suspension. Until then, you cannot act on the authority of our office, and I need to ask you to turn in your ID and firearm when you return.”

It felt as if she'd been slugged in the gut. He was stripping away her identity.

“I...I'm not sure when I'm coming back,” she said, her voice sounding foreign to her.

“Do what's necessary to help the local authorities in the Price homicide as a witness only, not as an agent.” Bonner paused. “For what it's worth, I am sorry, and I wish you the best of luck. Goodbye, Sara.”

She stared blindly at her phone.

“What is it?” Will touched her arm.

“I've been suspended.”

“Oh, honey. I am so sorry.”

“He accused me of only thinking about myself, of only seeing what I'm focused on, nothing else around me.” She sighed. “He said I can't work with a team.”

“Then, he doesn't know you very well.”

“It sounds as if the only chance I have of keeping my job is the evidence on my phone.”

“Come here.” Will pulled her into an embrace.

She felt broken, betrayed, a complete failure. If only they would have told her about the other team investigating LHP she would have dropped it as ordered. But she hadn't because she'd thought they were giving up too easily.

A man cleared his throat, and Will released Sara. Nate hesitated in the doorway of the kitchen.

“She got some bad news,” Will said.

“Unfortunately, I've got more bad news.” Nate held up Sara's phone as he stepped into the kitchen. Scott also joined them.

“The video file is not retrievable,” Nate said. “We can't use it to prove who killed David Price.”

There went her job, plus LaRouche and Harrington would get away with murder and pin suspicion on Sara.

“That's unacceptable,” she said.

Maybe Bonner thought her determination was a bad thing, yet in this case, it was her best defense.

“Didn't you say you knew a tech?” she asked Will.

“Yes, Zack Carter. He works here at the resort.”

“I could get it to him,” Scott offered.

“Let's try it, Nate,” Will said. “I mean, what have we got to lose?”

“Even if Zack somehow gets the file, we couldn't use that in a court of law,” Nate countered.

“LaRouche and Harrington wouldn't need to know that, at least not when you initially question them, right?” Sara offered.

Nate raised an eyebrow. “I suppose not.”

“We could still use the recording to our advantage,” she said.

The back door opened and Bree came inside with Fiona. “Oh, hey, everybody. Text alert went out. They're sending K9 teams to search for David Price's body on the east side of Granite Ridge.”

“On the east side?” Will questioned.

“Yeah, why?”

“Because I found Sara on the west side of Echo Mountain. You have a map?”

“Sure.” Bree went to her pack across the room and pulled a map out of a side pocket.

“What are you thinking?” Nate asked.

“That they're sending SAR teams to the wrong location.”

Will spread the map out on the table and pointed to a small lake. “When this is where I found Sara.”

“Sara, do you know where you camped the night you and David fell?” Nate questioned.

“We hiked up to Flatrock Overlook, then went west another two miles, so right about here.” She pointed. “I fell down this side, and David was hurled off the trail toward the north.”

“Which makes sense, because she ended up by the lake,” Will said. “But Nate, look at how far away that campsite is from Granite Ridge.”

“LaRouche and Harrington are sending search teams on a wild goose chase,” Sara said.

“Because they don't want anyone finding the body,” Nate offered.

“Which means there might be evidence on the body implicating LaRouche and Harrington,” Sara said.

“Or they think David is still alive down there,” Nate said.

They all shared a concerned look.

“It's happened before,” Bree said. “A hiker has survived a nasty fall.”

Nate's phone buzzed on his belt. He ripped it off, studied the message and looked at Sara. “It's my chief. LaRouche and Harrington are in town. They're demanding I lock you up.”

FOURTEEN

I
nstead of locking Sara up,
Nate scheduled a meeting with the chief and LaRouche and Harrington.

Then Nate made a call to the search and rescue command officer.
“I have a witness who claims David Price fell off the north side of Echo
Mountain.”

Sara, Will, Bree and Scott anxiously listened in.

“I understand....Uh-huh. Thanks.” Nate ended the call with a
frustrated groan. “They won't change their plan to search the east side of
Granite Ridge.”

“Then, they'll never find David Price,” Sara protested.

“I'll talk to the chief. Maybe he's got more influence with
SAR.”

“What about LaRouche and Harrington's demands to lock me up?”
Sara asked.

Nate looked at Sara, then Will. “I have no choice.”

“Nate, think about this,” Will argued.

“No, he's right,” Sara said, putting her hand on Will's arm.
“Bringing me in for questioning is proper procedure.”

“Why do I feel like there's a ‘but' at the end of that
sentence?” Nate said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“But if you arrest me, and they find out I'm FBI, they'll bury
any evidence of wrongdoing. If they cover their tracks, more people will die
from the release of their drug, and if SAR searches the wrong area, David Price,
our best chance at stopping them, will never be found, and what if he's
alive?”

“That's a lot of ifs,” Nate said.

Sara released a sigh. “I messed up by going after this on my
own, I get it. Let me help you make it right.”

“What do you think?” Nate asked Scott, a former cop.

“I guess it depends how badly you want to keep your job versus
putting away the elitist jerks.”

“You up for a search mission?” Nate asked Will.

“You bet.”

“I'm coming,” Sara said.

“No, it's not safe—”

“I can show you exactly where David fell,” she interrupted
Will.

“We need Sara on the team,” Nate said. “Scott, you keep an eye
on things back here.”

“Fiona and I could help if we had something of David Price's so
she could catch his scent,” Bree offered.

“They have some items at the command center,” Nate said. “We'll
swing by, then head up into the mountains.” Nate glanced at Scott. “If that's
okay with you.”

“Wait a minute, you're asking his permission to let me go on
the mission?” Bree planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at
Nate.

Scott went to her and brushed hair back away from her face in a
sweet gesture. “He knows I lie awake nights worrying about you when you're on a
mission, and this one has an added element of danger. I have total confidence in
your abilities, love, but I don't trust these guys.”

“Yeah, and LaRouche and Harrington might have their own guys
searching the mountains, too,” Sara said.

“Then, we'd better get going and find him first,” Bree said
with a lift of her chin.

Scott kissed her and looked at Nate. “You heard the woman. You
guys better get going.”

* * *

Three hours later, Sara, Will, Nate and Bree, along with
her golden retriever, were closing in on the spot where David Price should have
landed after being flung over the mountainside by Victor LaRouche. Sara had
taped her ribs so they didn't hurt too much, and kept her wrist close to her
stomach for added protection. Nothing was going to stop her from going on this
mission—a dangerous mission that might cost Nate his job, and worse. An
encounter with thugs out here in the wilderness could be disastrous.

Nate said they had today to work with, then it would be over.
He'd have to officially question Sara about David's death, taking into account
LaRouche and Harrington's false accusations.

And the chances of finding David Price in one day? Well, she
didn't want to think about that. She needed to stay focused.

“Your boss is wrong,” Will suddenly said.

Sara eyed him. “Excuse me?”

“You're working with a team right now.” He winked.

Warmth filled her chest at the sight of his smile, the teasing
wink and the adorable knit hat he wore that made him look young and untouched by
the grief she knew he'd survived.

“Stop flirting,” Nate said over his shoulder.

“That obvious, huh?” Will answered.

“Nah,” Nate said sarcastically.

“Wait, she's got something,” Bree said as they approached a
thick mass of brush. “Okay, girl, go find him.”

Bree released her and the dog took off. The four of them
followed.

Will hung back, probably to make sure Sara was okay. As she
eyed Nate and Bree in front of them, and Will beside her, she realized the truth
to his words: she was part of a team. She liked the feeling.

“I see something!” Bree called.

Nate put out his hand, indicating he'd go first to investigate.
The dog barked excitedly and Bree commanded her to heel.

Sara, Will and Bree approached Nate, who stood beside a small
cave.

“You think he's in there?” Will asked.

“One way to find out.” Nate clicked on his flashlight and
headed into the cave. Sara and Will followed, and Bree waited beside the
entrance with Fiona.

Heart pounding, Sara hoped, she prayed, that David was still
alive. A part of her felt guilty for not being able to stop Vic LaRouche from
throwing him off the cliff.

“David? David Price, this is the police,” Nate called. “We're
here to help.”

Nate hesitated and turned to Will and Sara. “That's far enough
for you two. Wait here.” Nate continued into the cave while Sara and Will waited
anxiously for news about David's condition.

Will interlaced his fingers with Sara's. They waited, the
passing seconds feeling like hours.

“Get away from me!” a man shouted.

“No, wait—” They heard a grunt and a thud.

Then silence.

“Out, now.” Will pushed Sara toward the exit.

She got safely outside and Bree peered around Sara. “Where's
Will?”

Sara spun around. “I thought he was right behind me. He must
still be in there.” Sara instinctively started back inside. Bree grabbed her
arm.

“Wait.” Bree dug in her pack and pulled out a small black
canister. “To defend yourself.”

“Pepper spray?”

“Long story.”

Sara turned back to the cave.

“We got him!” Will called out.

A minute later, Will and Nate exited the cave, propping up a
disoriented David Price.

“He's okay?” Sara said, shocked.

“Dehydrated and out of it,” Nate said, rubbing his forehead
where a gash dripped blood. “Bree can you get me some gauze or something? And
get David some water.”

“Sure.”

“He hit you?” Sara asked.

“Probably thought I was a bear.”

She studied Will.

“I'm fine,” he said. “Talked him down so we could bring him
out.”

They led David out of the cave to a small clearing and sat him
on a boulder. “David Price, I'm Detective Walsh of the Echo Mountain PD. Can you
tell us what happened?”

Sara remained silent, not wanting to influence David's
recollection.

“They came at me.” He looked at Nate with wide eyes. “Huge
bees!”

Will offered the guy some water and he drank.

“Do you remember how you ended up down here?” Nate asked as he
pressed gauze against his own head wound.

“Do you remember going on a mountain excursion?” Sara said,
then eyed Nate, hoping she hadn't crossed a line. He was still focused on
David.

“You went on a hiking trip with your partners,” Nate
offered.

“No!” David stood abruptly and swung his arms. Will got behind
him and put him in a hold that rendered him immobile.

“Calm down, sir,” Nate said. “We're your search and rescue
team, remember?”

“Search and rescue,” David repeated, and stopped struggling.
“Oh, yeah, sorry.”

Will released him and David sat on the boulder again.

“Nice hold,” Sara said to Will.

He winked. “Gotta be ready for when the girls bring their
boyfriends home.”

It amazed her that Will could find humor while embroiled in
this intense situation.

“Tell us what you remember about your fall,” Nate asked
David.

“He threw me... My business partner threw me over the edge.” He
looked at Sara and scrunched his eyebrows. “I know you, don't I?”

“I was on the trail guide team that led you into the
mountains.”

David nodded, his gaze drifting to his hands.

“She helped us find you, Mr. Price,” Nate offered.

David nodded at Sara. “Thank you. I wouldn't have survived
another night.”

“Can you walk?” Nate asked.

“I think so.”

“If not, we've got a litter,” Nate offered.

“No, no, I can walk.”

“Did you injure yourself in the fall?” Will asked.

“My arm. I may have broken my arm.”

Will examined David's arm. “We can splint it temporarily.
Should we call for another team to help bring him back?”

“I'd rather do this on our own for now,” Nate said.

David suddenly slumped over. Will eased him down to lie the
ground.

“You okay to help me carry him down?” Will asked Nate.

“Yeah, I'm fine.” Nate rubbed his head.

“Not so fine if you've got a concussion,” Will countered. “Call
for another team. There aren't enough of us to carry you down if you pass
out.”

Nate nodded. “I'll call for backup.”

“LaRouche and Harrington will find out where we are,” Sara
said.

“Unofficial backup,” Nate explained. “Friends of mine.” He
yanked his radio off his belt and squinted to see it.

“Blurred vision?” Will asked.

“Take care of David,” Nate ordered.

Will and Sara shared a frustrated look as Will continued
splinting David's arm.

“It's Nate,” he said into his phone. “We found him where I
marked it on the map. He's wounded and we need help carrying him down.
Yep....What?...Okay, will do.” He looked back at the group. “They'll be here as
soon as possible.”

David moaned and opened his eyes, blinking as he focused on the
towering trees. “I'm still here. I can't be here.” He struggled to sit up.

“Hang on, buddy,” Will said.

“I have to get back to my family. It's Christmas,” he said.

“You've got time. Christmas is two weeks away,” Bree
offered.

“If you're up to it we can start down,” Nate said. “Help is on
its way. Chances are we'll run into them and they can carry you the rest of the
way.”

“I can do it. I can walk,” David said.

Will and Nate helped David stand up, and they stayed close,
probably worried he'd collapse again. As they hiked down, Bree tried making
conversation with Sara, but Sara was more focused on her surroundings. The
slightest sound could indicate a potential threat. They were far from safe, and
wouldn't be until David had given his official statement.

My business partner threw me over the edge
.

Mitigated relief drifted across Sara's shoulders as she
considered the significance of David's declaration. It was the proof she needed
to clear her name and put an end to LaRouche and Harrington's sinister plan.

And maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to keep her job.

* * *

An hour later, a prickling sensation tickled the back of
Sara's neck. She'd learned to never question that instinct.

“Everybody down,” she ordered, and shoved Will and David down
on the ground behind a fallen tree trunk.

A gunshot rang out across the mountain range.

“No!” David cried.

Bree stood there, motionless, the dog barking by her side. Sara
dived at Bree, yanking her behind a boulder.

“Tell Fiona to be quiet,” Sara said, not wanting the innocent
dog to become a target.

Bree looked at Sara with a confused, terrified expression.

“Bree, you're okay,” Sara said, squeezing her arm. “Tell the
dog to be quiet.”

“Fiona, no bark,” Bree said.

Fiona nudged Sara's hand so she'd release her grip on Bree.
“She's fine, Fiona,” Sara said. “Bree, tell her you're fine.”

“Good girl,” Bree said. “Mama's okay. Right here, honey.” The
dog settled down beside Bree, who still looked shell-shocked.

“Will, are you okay?” Bree called out.

“David and I are good.”

“Nate?” Sara said.

Silence.

“Detective Walsh!” she called out with more force. “Nate!”

Nothing. Sara peered around the boulder and saw Nate's blue
jacket. He was down. She took a step to go to him...

Another shot rang out. She darted behind the boulder.

“Sara!” Will shouted.

“I'm fine.”

Sara wasn't anxious or panicked. Instead, she suddenly grew
calm. She had to protect this group of people who a week ago were strangers, and
today meant much more.

Especially Will.

“Everyone stay where you are.” Sara turned to Bree. “You're
safe back here. Keep Fiona close and quiet, okay?”

Bree nodded.

Sara darted between trees and bushes to get closer to Nate. He
lay facedown on the trail. Exposed. “Nate?”

He groaned. “Yeah.”

“You need to move. Stay low,” she coached from the bushes.

He shifted onto hands and knees, rather one hand, because his
other hand clutched his shoulder.

“Come on,” she urged.

Nate crouch-ran across the trail to Sara.