Love Inspired Suspense September 2015 #2 (18 page)

TWENTY-ONE

S
eth's heart pounded as he stared at the sign on the door of the women's dressing room. He'd retrieved his phone, watched the video and seen Mia Addison cut his rope. It had been a subtle move. A razor blade in the palm of her hand. She looked as though she were helping. He snorted. Right, helping send him straight to his grave. She'd been dressed as a bull rider and had her hair pulled up under her hat. Her tall, wiry, boyish figure had easily passed for a male. No one had given her a second glance in the midst of getting him on the bull.

Clay noted the sign, knocked, then shoved the door open. “Tonya?”

Seth followed him. “She's not here.” And Officer Abbott hadn't been answering his phone.

Clay strode toward the back, Seth on his heels. He heard Clay's indrawn breath and looked around his brother's broad shoulders. “Oh no.”

Seth pulled out his phone to dial for help while Clay knelt beside the first man. “Is he alive?” Seth asked.

“Not this one.” Clay moved to the police officer.

Seth spit out the information while his heart pounded with fear for Tonya. Where was she?

“He's alive,” Clay breathed.

“Help's on the way.” Seth grabbed paper towels from the holder and pressed against the wound in the man's shoulder. “It missed the vest. Looks like he knocked his head pretty hard on the floor when he fell.” He looked closer at the other man on the floor. “That's Hank Newman.”

Clay blinked. “You're right.”

“If Hank's dead, who killed him?”

“This whole thing is getting more and more strange.”

“We've got to find Tonya,” Seth said.

The door opened and Seth bolted to his feet to wave the two EMTs in. They hurried to the wounded man and Seth stood back out of the way, then looked down at the blood on his hands. He went to the sink and scrubbed them clean while sending up prayers for Tonya's safety.

Clay came up behind him. “Mia had something to do with this.”

“I think so, too. She disguised herself to gain access to me. To cut my rope. I don't know why, but in any case, we've got to find Mia.”

Clay got on his phone and requested access to video cameras immediately. “Let's go—we've got more video to watch.”

Seth followed Clay, his heart thumping, crazy worry racing through him. More prayers were whispered from his lips, but within minutes he found himself in the security office of the rodeo. Clay barked out what he needed and the young woman dressed in a white shirt and black pants started typing. The screens flickered. Some remained black. “What is it?” Clay demanded.

“The black screens mean something's interfering with the camera. Wait a minute. Look.” She pointed toward another screen. “That camera's mounted on the pole at the gate of the back exit. There's a car leaving.”

Clay leaned in. “Can you see who's in the car?”

She played with the video a bit but couldn't get a good angle. “The camera I need is one that's blocked, but...” More clicking. “There—that's the best I can do.”

Seth squinted. “That's Mia in the passenger seat.”

“So who's driving?” his brother asked.

She let the video footage play and Seth blinked when the brake lights came on and the driver door flew open. Tonya bolted from the car. His breath caught as she tripped over her own feet. She landed hard but didn't stop and was on her feet in less than a second. Unfortunately, Mia was already out of the car. Seth watched her slam into Tonya's back and take her down to the dirt ground.

Tonya rolled and Mia hit her twice with the weapon she'd never let go of. Tonya went still and so did Seth's heart.

“Can you get the plate?” Clay asked. Seth heard the tension in his brother's voice over the roaring in his ears. His head went light and fear like no other coursed through him. The pain of getting stomped by the bull that broke his leg was minor compared to the pain of seeing Tonya's brutal kidnapping.

The security guard nodded and let them see Mia heft Tonya into the backseat of the car. Then Mia climbed into the driver's seat and headed through the gate.

They watched the car, and the guard paused the video when she had a good shot of the back of the vehicle. Her fingers flew over the keys. The camera zoomed in. “Excellent,” Clay hissed and turned to get on his phone.

Seth rubbed his eyes and prayed. Acid burned in his gut and he tried to force his petrified brain to think. Clay hung up and Seth pounced. “What do we do now?”

“I've got a BOLO out on the vehicle. Now we just pray a cop sees it and calls it in.”

“Where would she go? Can you get some background on Mia? Someplace she would take Tonya if she were going to kill her?”

Clay nodded. “But that'll take a while. We need to talk to someone who knows her well enough to know where she would go.”

“Monty,”
Seth said. “Her brother's here.”

“Could he be helping her?”

Seth narrowed his eyes. “Only one way to find out.” He snagged his phone and punched in Monty's speed dial number. The man didn't answer.

He tried Jake and his breath whooshed out when the buckaroo picked up. “Yeah?”

“Do you know where Monty is?”

“Um...no. Haven't seen him. Oh, wait. Said he might go back to the break room. He wanted to get online and process some orders or something.”

“Thanks.” Seth hung up and relayed the information.

Together he and Clay hurried out of the office while Clay got on his phone and requested his officers and other security to be on the lookout for Monty Addison.

“Okay,” Seth said. He walked to the door. “I'm going to see if Monty's in the break room.”

Clay nodded. “I'm coming.” He grabbed Seth's shoulder. “If things get dangerous, you need to hang back. You're not a cop.”

“No, I'm a man in love,” he bit out. “And if she's in danger, I'm going in.” He slipped out of the room, ignoring Clay's half-stunned, half-angry look. Then he heard his brother's footsteps behind him.

Seth made his way through the crowd to the other building that housed the break room. The dressing room building was closed off. Crime scene tape covered part of it. Officers still worked the area and he saw the medical examiner's vehicle at the entrance. Seth pushed into the other building and hurried down the hall and through the break room door. Monty sat on the couch with his laptop open, his brow furrowed in concentration. He was surrounded by other rodeo participants. Some lounged; some ate. All were laughing and joking.

“Monty, can you step outside for a second?” Seth asked quietly. “I need to talk to you for a minute.” He bit his tongue to keep the accusations from flying from it. Monty sure didn't act as if he knew what his sister was up to.

Monty looked up from the laptop with a frown. “Sure. Hang on a sec.” He clicked a few more keys, then shut the computer and handed it off to one of the other buckaroos who worked the business with him. Monty stood. “What's up?”

“Just come out in the hall, will you?”

“How long is this going to take? I've got a lot of orders to process and not a lot of time to work with.”

“Shouldn't take long,” Clay said.

“I hope not,” Seth muttered. As soon as Monty cleared the room, Seth shut the door. “Where's Mia?”

Monty's frown deepened. “I don't know. Why?”

Clay placed a hand on Seth's arm. “I'm Clay, Seth's brother. I'm also the sheriff here in Wrangler's Corner. We need to find your sister because she's the one behind the threats on Tonya's life.”

The man stared at them for a moment, then gave a hesitant chuckle. “Come on, guys. That's not funny.”

“That's because it's not a joke,” Seth said. “We've got her on the security video knocking Tonya out and forcing her into her car and then driving off.”

Now anger surfaced on Monty's face. “Are you crazy? Mia and Tonya are best friends. I can't believe you would accuse her of that.”

His nostrils flared and his fingers curled into fists at his sides. Seth thought the man might just take a swing at him. “She also wired ten thousand dollars to Hank Newman, Tonya's stalker from four years ago.”

Monty snorted. “Now I
know
you're crazy. She doesn't have ten grand. If she had ten thousand dollars to hire a hit man, she would have used it to pay off debt owed—” He drew in a deep breath. “She doesn't have that kind of money.”

“She got it from somewhere,” Clay said. He looked up from his phone. “Actually, it was traced back to an account with your name on it.”

“What?”
Monty yanked his phone from his pocket. He jabbed the screen with a shaking forefinger and he studied it intently. His breathing grew rapid, and sweat dripped into his eyes. He swiped it with the back of his arm. “Oh no. No, no, no, no. She didn't. How—?” He looked up. “It's gone. Every penny,” he whispered. “That's not my money. That belongs to all the guys in the business. What am I going to do?”

“We're not worried about the money right now. Where would she go?” Seth nearly shouted.

“No, she wouldn't do this.” Monty ignored them, seemed able to focus only on the missing money. “How would she get access...?” He stared down at the screen again.

Several more seconds ticked by and Seth thought his head would explode. “We don't have time to try and convince him,” he told Clay. “You're going to have to show Monty the video. And quick.”

Clay paused, then nodded. “I have an idea.” He got on his phone and Seth listened to him talk to the woman in the security booth. When he hung up, he tapped a few buttons and turned his phone so Monty could see it. She was sending the video to Clay over FaceTime.

Monty set his own phone aside and watched. The more he saw, the more he paled. At the end of the video, he swallowed hard and leaned against the wall for support. Seth placed a hand on his shoulder. “I'm sorry, man, but where would she go? We need to know.
Now.
”

Monty shook his head. A tremor went through him and his hands shook. “I don't know. I don't—” He froze.

“What?” Seth demanded.

“Old Hickory Lake,” Monty rasped. “That's where she would go. It's our old family lake house. It's also in foreclosure. She was supposed to use the money from winning contests to pay the back payments and taxes, but—”

“But?”
Clay asked.

“Tonya kept winning and second place just wasn't enough.” He slid down the wall as though his legs couldn't support him anymore. “Oh, my... I can't believe she'd do this.”

“Let's go,” Seth urged. “Time is passing.”

Clay was already calling for backup. Seth grabbed Monty's arm and hauled the stunned man to his feet. “You're coming, too. You might have to talk her out of killing Tonya.”

* * *

Tonya groaned, her head pounding in time to the rhythm of her heart. What happened? Had she finally been stomped by an angry bull? She groaned again and tried to sit up. Gasping at the nausea that roiled through her, she immediately stilled. Moving wasn't an option right now. She concentrated on keeping the contents of her stomach from making an appearance, closed her eyes and used her other senses to figure out where she was. Her mind struggled to focus.

She tried to move her hands and found them bound in front of her.

Fear flooded her, as well as the memories. Mia!

Mia had kidnapped her. Mia had knocked her out. Mia. Her best friend.
Oh, God, please help me! I need You...

Her mind went to Seth. He'd be looking for her. Her family would wonder where she was, why she hadn't shown up. As she lay still thinking, she listened. Water. She heard it. She smelled it. A lake? She lifted her head and winced as dizziness hit her. She lay still again, wondering where Mia was now. Tonya didn't hear footsteps or anyone talking. She felt the hard board beneath her. Wood. Water lapping against something. A dock?

She opened her eyes and blinked against the brightness. She vaguely realized her symptoms mimicked the concussion she'd had the time she'd fallen out of the tree when she was ten.

Great.

Fear wanted to paralyze her and make her tremble all at the same time. She let her eyes roam her immediate surroundings. The lake out beyond the dock. The sinking sun...but it wouldn't be dark for another hour or so.

How would she get loose? She tried to pull but the rope was too tight. Mia knew how to tie her knots. Tonya rolled to her back with a grunt. Lightning arched through her head and tears leaked down her temples into her ears.
Please, God, please.

She didn't know how long she lay there staring at the metal roof, but the day was coming to an end, the setting sun slipping down toward the horizon with every breath she took.

She braced herself and tried to sit up. She managed it and had to close her eyes and hold herself still until the nausea passed. But at least it did.

“Well, well, look who's awake. You should have stayed out of it another few minutes and you'd never have known what hit you. Or how you're going to die.”

TWENTY-TWO

S
eth sat in the front of Clay's cruiser as the man raced down the highway toward Old Hickory Lake. He kept his eyes on the road in front of him and prayed for Tonya's safety. He really did love her. He'd said it out loud, but the words didn't do the emotion justice. He loved her like he'd love no other. Probably had for a while. But because of Glory's betrayal, he'd closed himself off from his feelings. Only to be drawn to Tonya, who was as afraid of commitment as he was.

If he hadn't been so scared, he would have smiled at the irony. “How much longer?”

“Not long,” Monty said. “Coming up on the turn. Watch for it.”

“Are the local cops there yet?”

Clay kept his left hand on the wheel and checked his phone with his other. “Yes. Just getting there.”

“Why would Mia do this?” Seth asked hoarsely. “Why?”

“Money,” Monty sighed. “It's always about money. We never had any as kids. Our daddy was a buckaroo wannabe. Traveled the circuit while our mama stayed home working in the local diner. Mia hated it. Couldn't wait to get out.” He cleared his throat. “Then our daddy died, got killed getting thrown off a bull. Broke his neck. Mama left us with the social worker and disappeared. Ain't seen her since.”

Seth couldn't imagine growing up like that. His heart almost softened for the two lost souls who deserved a much better childhood. “What about the lake house?”

“That's been our refuge. Mama's cousin took us in. I was fifteen and Mia was seventeen. She loved that place. We lived there for a couple of years before we both joined up with the rodeo. Jerry and Paula got a divorce and put the house up for sale. Mia managed to get the loan to buy the house but couldn't keep up the payments once Tonya joined the rodeo and started winning prize money left and right. I've managed to help with the payments some, but—” he sighed “—the online business isn't doing as well as we would have liked. That ten thousand dollars is already spent. And then some.” He rubbed his eyes. “It was all crashing down around us.”

“So she blames Tonya,” Seth said.

“Apparently,” Monty said, his voice shaking. “The house is in foreclosure and Mia is desperate to save it.”

“Why didn't she just use the ten grand to pay on the house instead of hiring someone to kill Tonya?” Seth growled.

“Ten thousand dollars is a mere drop in the bucket,” Monty moaned. “She started gambling. She was going to have to sell the house to pay the bookie, but then she kept falling further and further behind on the payments because she kept losing...” He bit his lip and glanced out the window. “If we lose that house, we lose everything. Her winnings were supposed to—It's a mess. I can't believe she's resorted to this.”

“Believe it. Because Tonya's life is hanging by a thread.”

* * *

Tonya hung on to consciousness as Mia gripped her arms and dragged her toward the canoe she'd released from the boathouse and tied to the dock. Mia grunted and lost her grip. Tonya rolled. Mia kicked her in the ribs and Tonya curled into a ball, fighting the pain and nausea. The descending darkness. “Stop, Mia. Stop!”

Sirens split the air and Mia froze. Tonya panted and relief flooded her. “You better run. They know where you are. They know I'm here and they're coming for me. Get out while you can.”

“Nice try. There's no way anyone knows anything.”

The sirens grew louder. “You messed up. You missed something. Somehow they put it together and they know.” She inched away from Mia back toward the land. Away from the boat. She had to buy herself some time.

Mia glanced in the direction of the sirens. Tonya could see the lights winking through the trees. Mia whirled back toward her, the gun aimed in her direction. Without hesitation, Tonya lifted her legs and shot them out to catch Mia in the midsection. The gun spun from her fingers, skidding across the dock into the water. Mia finally gasped in air and let it back out on a scream of rage. “I hate you! Why did you have to show up and ruin my life?”

Tonya didn't bother with an answer. She scooted as fast as she could away from the water, rolled to her stomach and army-crawled. Splinters pricked at her elbows. And then her ankles were snared in a vise grip. “Fine. If I can't shoot you, I can at least drown you.”

“There's no point now, Mia! They know!”

“No, they don't!” Spittle flew from her lips and Tonya was helpless to stop the woman from dragging her back toward the water.

“Tonya!”

She wiggled and bucked and kicked. “Seth!” she screamed.

Mia wailed and with a mighty heave pushed Tonya over the side of the dock.

Seth saw Tonya roll into the water, heard her muffled cry cut off as she slipped beneath the surface. Vaguely he registered Clay's hollers for him to stop. He ignored them all. He saw Mia untie the canoe from the dock and jump in. She was Clay's to deal with; he was going after Tonya. Seth hit the water at the exact spot he saw her roll off and felt it close over him. He held his breath and reached out, grasping, desperate to feel her, to find her. He opened his eyes and could see nothing but darkness. Terror threatened to close in on him.

Then his fingers brushed something. His lungs started to protest the lack of air. But he couldn't stop now. He might lose her. His heart thumped, his blood pulsed and his lungs ached.

One more reach.

Hair. Her hair. He snagged his fingers in it and pulled it toward him. Yes, hair attached to Tonya's beloved head. With his other hand, he felt for her face, touched her nose. He moved his hand down and shoved it under her armpit. Then he kicked hard and shot them toward the surface.

He broke through and gasped. He turned Tonya toward him, opened her mouth and placed his lips over hers. He blew. Once. Twice. She sputtered, coughed and threw up the water she'd swallowed.

Seth let a sob escape and didn't care. He trod water and held her as best he could against his chest. “Tonya. Tonya, talk to me. Oh, honey, I'm so sorry.”

She drew in a ragged breath and he kicked again, this time toward the dock or land. Whichever came first. A choked cry escaped her and he missed what she said. “What?”

She cleared her throat. “You saved my life.”

“I owed you.” He touched bottom and planted his feet as he cradled her against him.

“Yeah. You did. You owe me one more, but I'm not going to hold you to it. I'd rather not need it.” Her voice croaked and the tears came.

He heard some commotion behind him but didn't move. She felt so right in his arms. So alive. His grip tightened. “I told you so.”

“What?”

“I told you it would be all right.”

She let out a hiccupy chuckle. “Yes, you did. Thank God.”

“Definitely. We're going to be thanking God for the rest of our lives.”

She stilled. “We are?”

“Yes, but we'll talk about that later.” He sighed ruefully. Standing at the edge of a lake with the water lapping around their legs might sound romantic in some settings, but not this one. She still had her wrists and legs bound. “Hey, I need a knife!”

He hefted her into his arms and gave a test step. His leg twinged but held, and soon he had her onshore. An officer passed him a knife and he freed her arms and legs. She gasped as the blood started flowing again, then threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered against the base of his throat.

He kissed the top of her head. “You're very welcome.”

She drew in a shuddering breath. “Where's Mia?”

He looked around and saw the bedraggled, wet woman being led to a police cruiser by an equally soaking-wet Clay. Her hands were cuffed behind her. “Looks like she tried to swim to freedom.”

Tonya stared at her former friend and would-be murderer. “But Clay got her.”

“Yep. I went for you—he went for her.”

Tonya pushed away from him. “Clay, wait.”

Clay paused and leaned Mia against the car as he turned to face her. “Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

She looked at Mia, hurt and confusion and anger blazing in her eyes. Mia stared back, shoulders slumped but defiance in every line of her body. “You betrayed me. You tried to kill me because of money and jealousy.”

“You should have just left. If you had only run when you knew Hank was after you, none of this would have happened. But no, you had to choose
this
time to stay and fight. I hope you're miserable the rest of your life!” she spit at Tonya.

Tonya's fist cut through the air at the speed of light and connected with Mia's jaw. The woman never made a sound. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she started to sink to the ground. Clay caught her and looked at Tonya with a brow raised, surprise and a glint of admiration lighting his gaze. Seth thought his brother might say something but he didn't. He just pushed Mia into the cruiser and fastened her seat belt for her.

“That was a mean right hook,” Seth murmured.

“Grant would be proud.” She touched her knuckles and winced. “Now I need an ice pack and a shower and a nap.”

Seth pulled her to face him. “I love you, Tonya.” She froze and let her gaze stay trapped on his. He placed a finger on her lips. “I know you're leery of commitment to another bull rider after what happened with Daniel, but I don't want to lose you.” He drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I'll quit.”

She gasped. “No. Oh no, Seth, that's your passion, your love, your calling. You can't say that.”

He shook his head. “No, you're my passion, my love. I care more about building a future with you than I do the rodeo. And if quitting is what it takes, that's what I'll do.” Tonya shivered and Seth ran his hands up and down her arms. She leaned her head against his chest and he nodded to the hovering EMTs. “Let's get you checked out. The rest of this can wait until later.”

She allowed herself to be ushered into the back of the ambulance and once again she was whisked away from him.

He just prayed it wasn't forever.

* * *

Tonya received the all clear from the hospital. She had been under for only a short time. Long enough to inhale some water, not long enough to do any permanent damage. She was exhausted and kept her eyes closed as she relaxed against the hospital bed pillow. Her family had already come and gone and now Seth was here and waiting to see her.

Grant had gone to find him.

What would she say? His words still echoed in her mind. She hadn't been able to think of anything else, not the fact that she was now free to resume a normal life, free to stop running, free to be Tonya Lewis. She was free. And she knew she'd keep doing exactly what she'd been doing the past four years. Only now she didn't have to keep looking over her shoulder.

She could settle down with a man who loved her.

Seth. Just thinking his name sent goose bumps rippling up her arms.
God, I think I love him, too, and I'm so scared he could die and—

“Tonya?”

Her eyes flew open. And there he was, standing at her bedside, looking strong and healthy and oh, so very handsome—but with a worried frown creasing the area between his brows. Peace settled in her heart. She was still scared, but she knew what she wanted. “I want that, too.”

He blinked. “What?”

“I want a future with you and I don't want you to give up bull riding.” She held out a hand and his eyes filled with hope and a sheen of tears. “I don't want you to quit. I want you to go out there and be the best bull rider you can be. And I'm going to be the best bullfighter. We've been a team for a long time on the rodeo circuit. Why mess with a good thing?” She felt the tears slip down her cheeks and sniffed.

Seth picked up her hand and kissed her bruised knuckles. “Are you sure?”

“I'm sure.” She smiled. “You promised me it would be all right, remember? I believe you.”

He gave a shaky laugh and then leaned over and kissed her softly, cherishing her, telling her how much her words meant to him. Loving her. When he pulled away, she protested, but he caught her hands. “I know it's fast and I know it's crazy, but I don't want a long engagement.”

She blinked. “Was that a marriage proposal?”

He closed his eyes and winced. “I'm an idiot. I didn't do it right. I don't have flowers and candy or fancy words, but yes, it's a proposal.”

She sniffed back tears and reached up to cup his cheek. “I don't need flowers or candy or fancy words. I just need you.” He kissed her again.

When he pulled back, he groaned. “You know if you tell my mother how I went about asking you to marry me, she's going to have my hide. She'll write me out of the will. She'll—”

She placed a finger over his lips. “Shh. Your mom loves me, Seth. Trust me...” She smiled and kept her gaze locked on his. “It'll be all right.”