TO SAVE HER CHILD

Arriving home with the baby she’s adopting, Caroline Harrison finds her house vandalized...and an intruder intent on shooting her. She’s saved when police sirens approach, but all signs point to the little boy as the true target—and the assailant won’t give up. Now she has to rely on Detective Jason Drake, the man who once broke her heart, to figure out why someone’s after her soon-to-be adoptive son. Reunited after thirteen years apart, Jason can’t help but hope their love might be rekindled, but Caroline and her son’s safety come first. Because if he wants a chance at a future—and a family—with them, they have to outrun a hit man.

“Could you walk me through what happened?” Jason asked.

“Okay.”

Unease crept through her as she reentered the house. Was it from replaying the horrible memory of earlier that night? Or was it because the man walking behind her stood on this same spot thirteen years ago and broke her heart?

She forced herself to stay in the present and went through the events of the evening, showing Jason how she’d come in, where she’d dropped her keys, the light that didn’t work in the garage.

Finally, she ran out of words. Someone had tried to kill her tonight. Her home, her haven, her sanctuary had been violated. And now Jason was back.

Oh, Father, how did my life wind up this way?

A gentle tug on her elbow pulled her back to the present. Jason edged between her and the car and looked deep into her eyes. “Caroline.” He swallowed hard and tried again. “You have no reason to trust me, or believe me, or even want me around.” Regret pierced every word. “But I promise you that I will not stop until we’ve found out what’s going on.”

Dear Reader,

I’ve been looking forward to sharing Caroline’s story since she appeared in my first book, Covert Justice. I hope you enjoyed Caroline and Jason’s journey to forgiveness and love.

Caroline’s life hasn’t turned out the way she thought it would, and she’s had to wrestle with whether or not she can trust a God who would allow some of the things that have come into her life.

Jason’s childhood was marred with difficult relationships that have affected the choices he’s made as an adult. He’s had to find a way to get past them and begin the process of forgiveness.

I think most of us have had similar experiences. Ultimately, we know God is in control, but we still struggle when difficulties come our way. Sometimes we blame Him or turn away from Him. When we do, I’m so thankful that He understands when we doubt His goodness. He’s a wonderful Father and is eager to receive us when we turn back to Him.

I’d love to hear your story of God’s faithfulness to you. You can connect with me on social media or via my website at www.lynnhugginsblackburn.com.

Grace and peace,

Lynn

LYNN HUGGINS BLACKBURN believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children. You can follow her real-life happily-ever-after at lynnhugginsblackburn.com.

Hidden Legacy

Lynn Huggins Blackburn

www.millsandboon.co.uk

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

—Proverbs 29:25

For Emma—I adore you and am so thankful God chose me to be your mommy. I love you, pumpkin!

Acknowledgments

Never-ending thanks goes to...

Brian—for supporting me every step of the way. None of this would be possible without you. I love you!

Emma, James and Drew—for making every day a real-life adventure.

My parents, sister and in-laws—for being my biggest cheerleaders and for the countless hours of babysitting that made this book possible.

My sisters in the Light Brigade—for your love and friendship, and for praying me through another story.

My critique partners—for talking me through plot points and off ledges.

Retired South Carolina family court judge Kinard Johnson—for gladly answering my rambling questions about wills and custody issues.

Daniel Fetterolf—for answering random questions about police procedures.

Lynette Eason—for so many things, but especially for reading the roughest of rough drafts.

Tamela Hancock Murray—for your guidance and for being a constant source of encouragement.

Elizabeth Mazer—for, once again, making the story so much better.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

Extract

Copyright

ONE

The house had been ransacked.

Caroline Harrison squeezed baby Henry closer. Her chest tightened, and each breath came as a spasm as she took in the scene. Chair and sofa cushions lay scattered around the living room. Glass from a shattered vase littered the rug. Two plants had crashed to the floor, their leaves and soil mingled with books yanked from the bookcase.

Who had done this?

Why?

What if they were still here?

A scraping noise from the back of the house answered her silent question. Her skin tingled, and acid filled her mouth.

She had to get out. Now. Her parents’ home was a quarter of a mile back down the winding mountain road. Too far to run with a sixteen-month-old in her arms.

She needed to get to her car. Once she got away, she’d call 911 and wait for the police. She backed up, one slow step at a time, reaching into her pocket for her keys.

Keys that weren’t there.

She patted the other jacket pocket. Also empty. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she kept moving—closing the distance between the den and the garage, where the safety of her car waited.

What had she done with her keys?

Her mind spun, retracing her steps.

She’d pulled into her dark garage, frustrated that the bulbs in the garage door opener had blown out—again. She’d grabbed the diaper bag—

That was it. The keys were in the diaper bag.

She’d dropped the bag on the table by the door as she’d entered. She continued to ease backward toward the garage, taking each step with care. Maybe whoever was inside was so busy stealing something they hadn’t noticed her arrival. The longer they stayed occupied, the better her chance of getting away.

Henry slept on, oblivious to the unfolding drama.

Her hand closed around the strap of the overflowing diaper bag. Why hadn’t she cleaned it out this morning? If anything fell out on the floor as she made her escape...

She slid the strap over her shoulder and reached behind her with her free hand. She’d find the keys after she got in the car.

She hadn’t realized her palms were sweating until she couldn’t grip the doorknob. She rubbed her free hand on her pants and tried again. The knob turned without a sound, but as she opened the door, she braced for the chime from her security system that usually alerted her to any opened door or window.

Nothing happened.

The burglar had disabled her alarm. She hurried down the two steps that led into the garage, every cell in her body screaming for her to go faster, every neuron in her brain urging her to move with more caution. She pulled the door behind her, stopping short of closing it all the way.

With her free hand out to keep from crashing into her car, she crept around to the driver’s side. She opened the door, and the click of the handle ricocheted around the room. Anyone in the house could have heard that. Or not. Maybe it only seemed loud because she was hyperaware of every sound. Her blood pounded and her breath rasped, despite her best efforts to make no noise. Opening the door activated the car’s dome light, and she hit three wrong buttons before she managed to extinguish it. She settled into the seat, sweet Henry still resting on her shoulder.

She couldn’t risk opening the back door to strap him into his seat. What if he woke up and started crying? As soon as she was sure they were safe, she’d stop and secure him.

She eased the door closed and fumbled with the diaper bag, digging in the pockets for the keys.

Come on, come on. They had to be here.

Where were they?

Her hand closed over her cell phone, and she grabbed it and punched 911 as she continued to search for her stupid keys. Why, oh why, hadn’t she purchased the car with the keyless ignition? It had seemed like such a pointless feature at the time. She’d give anything for it now.

“911, what’s your emergency?” The operator’s voice echoed through the car.

“My name is Caroline Harrison,” she whispered. “I live at 2200 Mountain View Drive. My home has been broken into. I think the person is still in the house.”

“Where are you now?”

“In my car in the garage, but I can’t find my keys.”

“I’m sending someone now. We have a unit not far from you.”

“Tell them to hurry!”

“Stay on the line with me, Ms. Harrison.”

“I’ll try.”

“Are you alone?”

“No. I have my...my...son.” She didn’t have time to explain the complicated relationship she had with this sweet child. And he was her son. It would be official in two weeks.

“How old is he?”

“Sixteen months.”

Finally!

Her fingers wrapped around the keys. She shoved the diaper bag into the passenger seat and rested the keys on her leg, tracing each one in the dark to find the car key.

Her hands shook and she pulled in a triumphant breath when she slid the right one in the ignition. She didn’t turn it yet—didn’t want the noise of the engine to alert her intruder. She’d make sure she was ready to exit first.

She reached for the button on her visor that would activate the garage door opener, but the door into the house opened. She bit back a scream as a man’s silhouette appeared and stalked toward her.

“There’s someone here.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Harrison, I didn’t quite catch that. Did you say there was someone—”

“He’s coming—”

She was out of time. No sense in hiding now. She reached for the garage door opener again. She wasn’t going to sit here and wait for him to do whatever he planned to do.

She pressed the button. Again. And again. Why wasn’t it opening?

The horrible truth overwhelmed her. He must have known she was in here. While she’d thought she was getting away undetected, he’d managed to disable her garage door. Probably flipped the breaker in the laundry room. There was no way her little Camry could drive through the garage door, but she had to try.

She turned the key. In the light filtering in from the house, she saw the gun in his hand.

He aimed it at her window.

* * *

Detective Jason Drake pulled his Ford Explorer into the restaurant parking lot and answered his cell phone. “Hey, Michael. I’m here,” he said. He and Michael Ellis had met for dinner almost every Thursday night since he’d come to work for the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office six months ago.

“Sorry, man. I’m not going to make it. Dispatch called.”

“Like that’s a surprise,” Jason said. It had taken him all of two days on the job to realize his old friend had a soft spot for the dispatcher.

“It’s not like that,” Michael said. “We got a call from the Harrisons.”

The Harrisons. He fought the memories pounding on the door of his heart. “Is something wrong at the plant?”

“No. The call came from Caroline Harrison.”

The mention of her name opened the floodgates, and memories engulfed him. Big blue eyes flashing in laughter at a private joke. Full lips curved into a smile that was only for him. The many times he’d held her hand. The one time he’d held her in his arms.

“She said there was an armed intruder at her house.”

Jason floored it. “I’m on my way.”

His phone rang one minute later. The sheriff.

“Drake, we have a situation at Caroline Harri—”

Despite his respect for his boss, Jason cut the man off. “Yes, sir, I heard.”

“I want you to take the lead on this.”

Good. Now he had an excuse to be there. Not that it would have mattered. He had to make sure Caroline was all right.

“Of course, sir. I’m on my way.”

“Jason, I want this case solved fast, you hear me? And I want you to do whatever you have to do to keep Caroline Harrison safe.”

“Yes, sir.”

It took five agonizing minutes to reach the Harrisons’ gated driveway. One uniformed officer stood there, blocking the path up the mountain.

Jason rolled down his window and the young man—Dan? Dave? He’d figure it out later—approached his window.

“Hey, Jason. You here for the excitement, too, huh? It’s a madhouse up there.”

Jason could sense the kid’s disappointment about not being more directly involved, but he didn’t have time to play nice with... Dalton. That was it. “What’s the status?”

“The house is secure. Caroline and the baby are fine, just shook up. No idea where the intruder is.”

“Thanks.” He started to roll up the window.

“Hey.” Dalton put a hand out. “You know where you’re going, right? Caroline’s place is past the senior Harrisons’ about a quarter of a mile.”

He knew. This driveway was one long memory. He drove past the short drive to the house where her brother, Blake, lived with his daughter and his new wife, Heidi. He hadn’t had a chance to meet her yet.

As he approached Caroline’s parents’ home, the activity level increased. Officers and patrol cars with lights flashing dotted the mountain. The house glowed like a beacon. He’d spent so many happy hours in that house. Jeffrey and Eleanor had always welcomed him. Until he blew it with Caroline.

He forced his mind back to the present. Dwelling on the mistakes of the past wouldn’t change anything.

He followed the driveway past the Harrisons’ home and farther up the mountain. They’d hiked to the top of this mountain more than once, and Caroline always said this was where she wanted to live. At sixteen, she hadn’t been sure her dad would sell her the land.

Of course, Jeffrey Harrison had done one better. Jason could still remember the excitement in his mom’s voice as she’d filled him in. “Caroline stopped by last week,” she’d said. “She’s so excited. Jeffrey and Eleanor gave her the top of the mountain for her twenty-fifth birthday. She’s meeting with an architect this week and planning her dream house.”

He eased around a final curve. Dream house, indeed.

She’d always been fond of stonework, and the house blended seamlessly into the mountain. Positioned as it was, the views from the deck would be breathtaking, but only one view captured his mind.

Caroline Harrison.

Even after all this time, he couldn’t look at her without seeing his long-lost best friend. If only he could erase that night. That one conversation. That one kiss that had ruined everything. If he’d kept his mouth shut...

No. It had been the right decision then. Still was. Still hurt.

He stepped from the car and made his way through the throng of first responders, most of whom he knew were off duty. He couldn’t fault them. Armed intruders weren’t part of the daily grind in Etowah, North Carolina.

He stepped into the glow shining from floodlights, and she looked into his eyes.

“Jason.”

It was the first time she’d willingly spoken to him in thirteen years, and in her voice he heard a whisper of hope. Not hope for the future they could never have. But maybe hope for the forgiveness he did not deserve.

She offered him a wavering smile. “I’m glad you’re here.”

An olive branch? “Me, too.” He stared into her eyes a few moments longer than he should have. So many things needed to be said, but they would have to wait. Michael and a young officer were headed their way.

“Heard you’d been assigned the case,” Michael said.

“Yeah. Bring me up to speed.”

TWO

Caroline half listened as they filled Jason in.

“Responded to the call at 7:12... Shots fired... Neither Caroline nor Henry was hurt... Caroline said he took off when he heard the sirens.”

At that line, his eyes flicked in her direction and then lingered. Jason’s face twisted with an expression she couldn’t read. Was he angry? Frustrated? Amused? She chewed on her inner lip. She used to be able to read his face from across a classroom and know exactly what he was thinking.

“We’ve checked the property as much as we can in the dark. We’ll be back out here in the morning to look for tracks.”

“Security system?”

“Like nothing I’ve ever seen. But the intruder managed to disable it.”

Jason turned to her. “What’s the story on your security?”

“I don’t know much about it other than that it’s high-tech. Heidi, my sister-in-law, had it installed. She’s an FBI agent.” Jason didn’t seem as surprised as she’d expected him to be. So, his mom had been filling him in over the years. She should have figured. Their moms had been friends for twenty-five years. She suspected they held out hope that she and Jason would kiss and make up.

Not likely.

The kissing was what had messed up everything to begin with.

Michael’s phone rang. He apologized and stepped away to answer it. Jason turned to the other officer, clapping him on the shoulder. “Good work tonight.” The officer, who couldn’t be more than twenty-three, stood taller under his praise.

“Thank you, sir.” He nodded at Caroline. “Ma’am.”

When he walked away, she looked at Jason. “Ma’am? Really? I’m not that old.”

He gave her another look she couldn’t decipher. “No, you aren’t. But he is that young.” He glanced around. “Where’s Henry?”

Caroline pointed toward the house. “He fell asleep as soon as the EMTs were done checking us out,” she said. “One of the officers gave me permission to lay him down in the pack ’n’ play. He can sleep through anything.”

Jason smiled. “I want to meet him, but I guess that will have to wait. Could you walk me through what happened?”

“Okay.”

Unease crept through her as she reentered the house. Was it from replaying the horrible memory of earlier that night? Or was it because the man walking behind her stood on this same spot thirteen years ago and broke her heart as he swore he’d never waste his life living in this little town? Nothing she could say had convinced him to stay. Even when she’d told him how she felt... Her skin warmed in the cool evening air. That was a long time ago. She’d been young. She’d been stupid.

She was neither of those things anymore.

She forced herself to stay in the present and went through the events of the evening, showing Jason how she’d come in, where she’d dropped her keys, the light that didn’t work in the garage.

When she got back to her car, she ran out of words. Someone had tried to kill her tonight. Her home, her haven, her sanctuary had been violated. And now, Jason was back.

Oh, Father, how did my life wind up this way?

She didn’t know how long she stared at her car—a still-life metaphor for her messed-up world.

A gentle tug on her elbow pulled her back to the present. Jason edged between her and the car and looked deep into her eyes. This time, she had no difficulty understanding the emotion she saw there. She’d recognize that look of determination anywhere.

“Caroline.” He swallowed hard and tried again. “You have no reason to trust me, or believe me, or even want me around.” Regret pierced every word. “But I promise you I will not stop until we’ve found out what’s going on.”

Caroline noted that he hadn’t said they’d catch the guy. She’d learned that much from Heidi. No matter what branch they were in, the really good law enforcement officers never made a promise they couldn’t keep. Still, there was comfort in his intensity.

“Thank you, Jason.”

He smiled and quirked an eyebrow at her. “Mom says you come by at least once a month.”

She would have appreciated the change of subject if it had been anything else. Were they going to talk about this now? Keep it light, she chanted to herself. “I like your mom.” She forced a smile. “Of course, I can’t go by more often. I gain five pounds every time I walk in the door.”

Jason patted his stomach. “Tell me about it. I’m having to put in a couple extra miles every day now.”

“You poor thing.” Caroline didn’t try to veil the sarcasm.

“I don’t want to hurt her feelings by not eating a slice of pie every night. And then for breakfast.”

Caroline couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled out. “You’re a good son,” she said. Jason laughed with her, and for a moment the fear lost its grip on her heart.

Jason leaned against the car. “But why do you do it? I doubt you visit all your high school friends’ parents.”

So much for keeping it light. Surely he hadn’t forgotten the promise she’d made—thirteen years ago—to keep an eye on his folks when he left for the Marine Corps. “You know why.”

She could see it on his face. He knew. So why ask? What had he been fishing for?

He walked to the front of the car and studied the bullet hole in her windshield. “I guess it’s just nice to know that some things never change.”

“True. That’s why I wasn’t surprised to hear that you were coming home. I knew you would,” she said.

Jason’s eyes met hers, sadness mingled with confusion.

“I’m sorry about your dad, Jason.”

She saw the muscles in his neck tighten. “Thanks,” he said, then cleared his throat. “Me, too.”

Another throat cleared nearby. Michael Ellis nodded at her. “We’re done in the house, Caroline. Thought you might want to put Henry in his crib.”

“Thanks, Michael. I appreciate that.”

Michael turned to Jason. “When you get a minute, we need to talk.”

Something in his tone sent a shudder through Caroline’s system. “If it’s about me, my house, my child or the man who tried to kill me tonight, why don’t you go ahead and say what you need to say?”

Michael’s eyes darted from Caroline’s face to Jason’s. It wouldn’t take a body language expert to read his silent plea for help.

“Caroline, if I promise to tell you everything, will you give me fifteen minutes to wrap things up? It would be easier if I can send as many of these guys home as possible. Then we can talk without being interrupted.”

Oh, how she wanted to argue. She knew Jason had thrown in the part about letting the others go home because it would play on her sympathies. The worst part was, he was right.

“Fine. Talk. Send people home. Then I want to hear everything. Tonight.”

Michael didn’t try to hide his relief.

Jason held her gaze. “I promise.”

* * *

Jason couldn’t deny he enjoyed seeing the feisty side of Caroline Harrison. “Why don’t you go inside? Grab something to drink. Get away from the chaos. I’ll finish up and be with you soon.”

Her eyes still held a hint of challenge. “Soon doesn’t mean an hour from now, Jason Drake.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She glared at him before she turned and walked away. He was glad to see the show of spirit, all the more because he could tell she was shaken. She kept chewing on her lip. She probably didn’t realize that she was clenching and unclenching her hands as she talked. Or that she’d been rocking back and forth on her heels.

But she wasn’t falling apart. Not that he was surprised. Caroline Harrison was a rock. Always had been. Some things really didn’t change.

And some things did. Like him—back in town after he’d made it clear to her and everyone else that he would never return here. Could never live his life in this place. Not because it wasn’t beautiful or because he didn’t love his family.

Well, the family he claimed, anyway.

But the father he didn’t choose to claim—the biological parent who had made a misery of Jason’s childhood, and whom Jason had been thrilled to replace with a loving, honorable stepfather—lived here, too. He kept calling. Probably to express his disapproval of Jason’s career choices. Again.

He shoved the thoughts away. He had much bigger things to worry about right now. Like figuring out who would want to kill Caroline.

It took Jason thirty minutes to speak with Michael and wrap things up with the officers who’d converged on Caroline’s home. He wasn’t surprised to have multiple volunteers to provide a protective detail for the evening.

“Dalton and Michael, you guys take the watch tonight. We’ll decide if we need some sort of rotation for the rest of the week later.”

Dalton was inexperienced but energetic enough to stay awake after all the excitement died down. Michael was solid. If any trouble broke out, he’d be able to handle it.

Content that things were well in hand, he walked up the steps to Caroline’s front door. Should he knock? The place had been swarming with police officers and crime scene techs all evening, but now that things had quieted, he hated to be intrusive.

He tapped on the door and eased it open. “Caroline? You okay in there?”

“I’m good. Just getting Henry settled for the night. Come on in.”

Jason closed the door behind him. Caroline stood in the hallway with a drowsy Henry in her arms, his little head nestled on her shoulder, eyes half-shut. She shifted him gently, her cheek resting on the top of his head. “Give me a moment,” she said in a whisper.

Motherhood suited her. He refused to dwell on the regret trying to surface. She’d never been his. They’d never had a future. She was a natural as a mother, but he had no plans to find out what kind of father he would be. He couldn’t risk being as terrible at it as the men in his own genetic family tree.

Caroline disappeared down the hall, and Jason looked around the ravaged living room again. Who would do this? Break-ins happened, but this seemed like more. His fingers curled into fists. He’d find the person who did this one way or another.

Caroline returned a minute later. “So, what did Michael tell you that has you all riled up?”

“I’ll answer, but I need to ask a few questions first.”

She glared at him.

“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t consider all the possibilities.”

“Fine. Can I start cleaning up this mess while we talk?”

“Of course. I’ll help.” Caroline had always been a neat freak. Another thing that hadn’t changed. He pulled a throw pillow from the floor and tossed it onto the sofa. Caroline grabbed a blanket he recognized. Her grandmother had crocheted it for her years ago. She hugged it to her chest for a brief moment before she folded it and draped it over the corner of the sofa.

“Is there anyone in your life who would want to hurt you?”

“No.”

“What about at work? A disgruntled employee?” Caroline had an important upper-management position in her family’s company. If someone was unhappy at the plant, she’d be a visible target for their frustrations.

“No.”

“I’m going to need more than one-word answers.”

She huffed and righted an orchid that had been dumped on the floor. “Fine. No issues at work. I handle the finances, and I’m taking on more of the personnel responsibilities as Dad is turning over more control to Blake and me. But we haven’t fired anyone in years. Everyone is getting paid on time. No one is complaining. I can’t fathom anyone from HPI doing something like this.”

Harrison Plastics International had always been the place everyone in town wanted to work. Didn’t sound like anything had changed there.

“What about suppliers? Clients? Anyone unhappy?”

Caroline rolled her head from one side to the other. Was there someone unhappy? “What are you thinking?”

She placed the plant on the end table. “We’ve made a few changes recently. A new paper product vendor. A new printer lease. Blake changed a major raw material supplier. But nothing that would cause anyone to try to shoot me.”

He’d talk to Blake. Caroline’s brother had always been protective of his little sister. Which was probably why he hadn’t been particularly fond of Jason. But he might have a different perspective than Caroline on this subject.

“Where is Blake? For that matter, where is everybody?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your parents? Blake, Heidi and Maggie? I’m surprised we don’t have an entire contingent of the FBI here.”

Caroline scooped a handful of books from the floor. “Mom and Dad are on a mission trip to a refugee camp in Greece.”

“Didn’t your dad have a stroke a couple of years ago?”

“He did, but he’s made a full recovery.”

“That’s great.” He heard the wistfulness in his words. There would be no happy ending for his own dad. ALS would take his life, one agonizing piece at a time. “That explains where your parents are. What about Blake, Heidi and Maggie?”

“Blake and Maggie are on a father/daughter mission trip. They support a family in Haiti and went down over spring break with a group from the church. They’ll be back next week.”

“And Heidi is off doing something mysterious?”

“Exactly.”

He studied a family photo on her mantel. “Tell me about your new sister-in-law.”

“Heidi does a lot of undercover work. That’s what brought her here last year. That’s how she and Blake met. So sometimes she’s gone. Not as much as she used to be, and usually not for more than a day or two. I don’t know if Blake even knows what she does or where she goes.”

She brushed some fingerprint dust off the upright piano. “I’m going to need to try to find her, though. She’s the only one who understands the security system.”

“Why her?”

“When we had that trouble at the plant—I’m assuming your mom told you about that?”

“Oh, yeah.” His mom had bent his ear for three hours that night. After he’d joined the sheriff’s department, he’d learned the whole story. The one that had somehow never fully been told in the press. Heidi’s team, with Blake’s assistance, had prevented a nationwide anthrax outbreak.

“Heidi revamped all the security systems here and at the plant. We have motion detectors, cameras, safe rooms and probably a bunch of other stuff I don’t even know about. It’s not an out-of-the-box system. It doesn’t have a local monitoring station, although it is monitored somewhere. Maybe in DC? It has Department of Defense–level encryption. Very hard to hack.”

“Is it possible you forgot to turn it on before you left this morning?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“How can you know? I forget stuff all the time.”

She smirked at him. “I remember because Henry was screaming his head off and I was singing to him as I punched in the code.”

That sounded like a solid memory, unfortunately. The idea that this highly advanced system had been on when the intruder arrived worried him because it meant the intruder knew how to turn it off. So either they were dealing with a tech expert way beyond the typical, garden-variety thief, or the intruder was someone she knew and trusted. He wasn’t sure which possibility was worse.

But either way, she deserved to know what they were dealing with.

“From what you described to me,” he said, “it doesn’t sound like the security system was on when you got home. Who else knows the code? A housekeeper, maybe?” He took a deep breath. “Boyfriend?”

She shot him a withering look. “I have a full-time job and a baby. Romance isn’t a high priority these days.”

Jason didn’t bother to process why her words sent a wave of relief crashing through his soul.

“What about Julia? Does she still clean for you?”

The Harrisons’ housekeeper had always been gracious to him as a kid.

“Yes, but I change the code every week. She calls me when she gets here, and I give her the new code.”

“You change the code every week?”

“Heidi is a stickler about it. I change it every Sunday night.”

The weight of her words hit him hard. “Caroline, whoever this guy is, he was able to come inside and disable your security system. We have to consider the possibility that he is highly skilled and he’s been watching you and your family and knew you were up here alone tonight.”

Caroline’s hand shook as she reached for her glass and took a sip. “So this wasn’t a random attack. You think he was targeting me on purpose.”

“Right. And he may not be done.”

THREE

The knock at the door startled Caroline. The way Jason’s hand flew to the gun at his waist told her it had caught him off guard, as well.

“Open up.” Hearing Michael’s voice put Caroline at ease, but Jason didn’t remove his hand from his weapon.

“You didn’t answer your phone, man,” Michael called. “We had the guys grab sub sandwiches, and if you don’t like what’s on yours, you have no one to blame but yourself. Open up.”

It was almost ten o’clock. He hadn’t eaten? Her cheeks burned with the realization that coming to her rescue had interrupted his evening plans. “I’m so sorry. You should have told me.”

He waved her off. “I had a candy bar. I’m fine.”

He opened the door, and Michael held out a cellophane bag. “Got you a club. There’s a bag of chips in there, too.” He smiled at Caroline. “Don’t worry about anything tonight. Dalton and I will keep a close eye on things.”

“Wha—”

“Thanks, man. I’ll talk to you in a little while.” Jason closed the door on the still-smiling Michael before he could say another word.

“What was he talking about?”

“Just a precaution. You’re up here alone with Henry and—”

“And someone knows how to get into my house.”

Jason studied the contents of his bag instead of replying.

“Fine,” she said. “Let’s sit down in the kitchen. You eat, and we’ll catch up on the last thirteen years.”

“Mind if I wash up first?”

Caroline pointed out the bathroom door and walked into her kitchen. When the click of the door reached her ears, she slid onto a bar stool.

What was happening? Why was it happening? And why did Jason Drake have to be the one responsible for her case?

Jason.

Part of her longed to have him sitting beside her. Shoulders touching, feet propped up on the coffee table—the way they’d watched hours of Duke basketball games in their teens.

Part of her wanted to kick him out and tell him to stay away forever.

It wouldn’t be easy, but it could be done. She’d been doing it quite successfully for the past few months. She’d avoided him, and any mention of him.

Why should she hide from him, though? She hadn’t done anything wrong, and she had nothing to apologize for. The way things had ended between them was embarrassing, but surely he couldn’t think she still had feelings for him. What happened was ancient history. And if the sheriff thought he was the best person to close this case, then she had to trust in that. She couldn’t take any risks when it came to her safety or Henry’s.

“Caroline, are you okay?”

Her stomach somersaulted at his voice. Ancient history or current event?

No. She’d learned her lesson. Jason Drake had been a fabulous friend, but he’d made it clear he wanted nothing more. “I’m fine.” She pointed him to a seat at the table. “Let me get you some tea.” History shouldn’t be repeated. For tonight, she’d be thankful she had a friend looking out for her. For the future, she’d remember to look out for herself.

Jason sat, and she didn’t miss the weariness on his face as he bowed his head in thanks.

When he lifted his head, he didn’t hesitate. “I still have a lot of questions,” he admitted.

“What do you want to know?”

Jason swallowed. “Let’s start with Henry.”

Or course he would want to know about Henry. “I’m surprised your mom hasn’t given you all the details.”

He took a drink of his tea. “She’s given me some of them. What she couldn’t explain to me was how you wound up with Stephanie’s baby boy.”

“I’m still trying to figure that out, myself.” She straightened the fringe on her place mat. “Stephanie and I didn’t always agree, but we stayed close after high school. She was going to be my maid of honor.”

The memory of those days after Chad’s death tugged at the edges of Caroline’s mind. They would always be dark, but they no longer held the power to suck her into despair. Now they brought deep sadness and the ever-present question of what might have been.

Jason held her eyes. “I was sorry to hear about what happened to your fiancé, Caroline.”

“Thank you.” What else could she say? When Jason left, she’d moved on, and then the only man who could have possibly blotted out the memory of Jason had been taken too soon by a drunken driver. The idea that it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all came to mind. At this point, she wasn’t so sure about that.

And what happened when the one you lost came back?

She shook off the direction of her thoughts. “I finished school, came home and went to work for Dad. Stephanie went to work at the bank and got transferred out to the coast three years ago. We kept in touch, sporadically. A year later, she came home one weekend, and I knew things were different.”

Caroline remembered everything about that night. The garlic butter dripping onto the tablecloth, the exact shade of terra-cotta red that rimmed the pasta bowl, the opera music that filtered into the restaurant. And Stephanie. Fidgety. Eyes too bright. A smile that threatened to break into a goofy grin at any moment. “She’d gotten married. Said it was a civil ceremony and she was sorry she hadn’t told me earlier. A month later, she was pregnant and making plans to move to the Midwest with her Prince Charming.”

Jason pulled a few Doritos from the bag. “Mom told me she came home pregnant and no one ever talks about the baby’s father.”

“That’s an accurate statement,” she said. “My phone rang one day, and she told me she was home to stay. She wasn’t even showing yet, but it wasn’t long before tongues were wagging. She categorically refused to talk about the father. She never even wanted me to tell anyone she’d been married.”

Jason’s face registered confusion. “Why not?”

“I assumed she was so embarrassed by her choice of husband that she’d rather have people think she’d gotten pregnant out of wedlock.”

“Do you think she left her husband to protect the baby or herself?” Jason’s voice was cold and hard. “I could respect that.”

No doubt he could. He’d been the baby in that situation once. “She never had one negative thing to say about her husband. I asked her if he’d hurt her, but she was adamant that he hadn’t. Then she begged me not to ask any more questions.”

“I’m guessing you did what she asked.” Jason finished off the last bite of his sandwich and tossed the wrappings in the trash.

Had she done the right thing by agreeing to Stephanie’s request? Doubts clawed at her heart. “What else could I do?”

“Nothing,” Jason said.

She didn’t bother to process why that one word sent a shot of relief through her system.

Caroline took a sip of tea. “We almost never spoke of him. Then one night she asked me if I could come over. When I got there, she was a mess. Told me her husband had been killed. She wouldn’t share any details, but she was devastated.”

“You think she loved him?”

“Yes. At least I’ll be able to tell Henry that much.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know who his father was. Stephanie always referred to him as Lee, and she never changed her last name. His name isn’t on the birth certificate.”

“Caroline, I have to ask. Do you think Stephanie was ever married? It could have been a one-night stand, and she was embarrassed to admit she didn’t know the guy.”

“No, I believe there was a real relationship and she did love him. But the rest of the story—well, I don’t know what to believe anymore. Do you... Do you think he might be the reason someone came after me?”

Jason didn’t answer—which was answer enough. She could put together the logic herself. If someone was targeting her, it was probably connected to the only new element in her life—her son. And since she knew nothing about his father’s family or what trouble they might bring, she had no idea how to keep Henry safe.

* * *

Jason put one hand on hers. She didn’t pull away, and the softness of her skin threatened to distract him. He focused on her face. “This guy, Lee, sounds like a pretty shady character. He could have been married or some type of criminal...”

“I know.”

They sat in silence. He wished he could read her mind. Was she angry with him for asking these questions? “I’m surprised your sister-in-law hasn’t done some investigating.”

“She wanted to, but I begged her to leave it alone. I have a feeling she’s been doing some digging on the side, but my guess is she hasn’t found anything yet. Besides, she and her partner, Max, have been deep into something lately. That’s where she is now—undercover somewhere. When things slow down, I have a feeling she’ll start asking a lot more questions.”

She dropped her head into her hands. “Maybe I should have taken her up on the offer.”

“There’s no point in stressing about that now,” Jason said. “Let’s focus on what we know. How old was Henry when Steph died?” Jason asked.

“Eight months. Car crash. Stephanie died at the scene. Henry got out with barely a scratch. I was listed as her emergency contact. When I went to her place to try to find her insurance information for Henry, I found her will.”

“And that’s when you found out you’d been named Henry’s guardian.”

“Yep.”

“Must have been a shock.”

“You could say that. One minute I was single and unattached. The next I had an eight-month-old to rear.”

“Were there any legal challenges?”

He’d been the pawn in a legal battle for a good part of his childhood. It wouldn’t surprise him if someone caused trouble without really thinking of Henry’s best interests at all.

“No. She had a trust set up for Henry. No one disputed it. There’s no mention of the father, beyond the request that I never allow Henry to know that side of his family or for the family to know him.” She picked up one of the napkins Jason had left on the table and started folding it into small squares. “Once the chaos settled, I started all the legal proceedings to make sure Stephanie’s wishes would be carried out. Her dad has had two heart attacks, and her mom has her hands full taking care of him. They had no interest in contesting the guardianship. The adoption will be final in two weeks.”

“Two weeks?”

There was a tone in Jason’s voice that Caroline’s nerves reverberated to. “Why?”

“The timing of this makes me very suspicious.”

“You mean someone who knew the father—”

“Or maybe the father himself? We don’t even know if he’s dead. Do we?”

Caroline gulped. “No. I guess we don’t. But I know this. Henry is mine now, and I’m never letting him go.”

Jason heard the mama-bear growl in her voice. He pitied the fool who messed with her on a good day. Raw from the evening’s trauma and the past few months of upheaval, Caroline Harrison looked like a woman who wouldn’t tolerate any more nonsense.

“The adoption will be final in two weeks and he’ll be mine forever.” She raked her hands through her hair. “Assuming we’re still alive.” Caroline placed a bag of Oreos on the table. “Want some milk?”

“Of course I do.”

She grinned at him before returning to the fridge. “I knew it. Like I said, some things never change.”

She poured two glasses of milk and twisted her Oreo in half. He dunked his in his milk before popping it in his mouth whole.

He needed to ask her one more question. And it had nothing to do with the case. “There’s one more thing,” he said.

She looked at him over the edge of an Oreo. “Yes?”

“I need to apologize for what I said that night.”

Her face flushed. “Maybe we should just pretend that night never happened,” she said in a whisper.

Pretend it never happened? He relived it almost every day. “Is that what you’ve done?” He hated the huskiness in his voice and cleared his throat.

She bit her lip. “You made your feelings pretty clear, Jason. I’ve always regretted trying to change your mind. I lost so much that night. If I had a time machine, I’d stop myself from messing things up for both of us.”

He swallowed hard. It was now or never. “I’ve regretted that night for the past thirteen years, as well. But I think for different reasons. You spoke from your heart and told the truth.”

Spit it out, Drake. “But I didn’t. I was afraid. And stupid. I thought I was doing the best thing for both of us, and I’m not convinced that I was wrong about that. But I have regretted hurting you every day since.” He’d regretted it all the more because he’d been in love with her but had been too afraid to tell her, too certain that all the obstacles between them would ruin their chances, and that he’d be better off not risking his heart or her happiness.

His phone rang, and he ignored it. It rang again. “You’d better get that,” she said.

He checked the screen. The sheriff. “Excuse me,” he said and walked outside to fill his boss in on the investigation. When he returned, Caroline was starting the dishwasher.

“I’m going to join Michael and Dalton outside. If you need anything—”

“Oh, no, you will not,” she said. “I’ve already talked to Michael. He and Dalton have things under control. You need to go home. Tell your folks what’s going on. Set their minds at ease.”

Apparently their conversation from earlier was over. He watched her set the alarm, although he had to wonder if it would do any good.

“Good night, Caroline,” he said.

“Good night, Jason.” She closed the door, and the clicking lock pierced his heart. She didn’t want him to stay. Just tonight? Or ever?

FOUR

The blare of his phone jolted him from sleep hours later.

The clock said 7:12. The ringtone was the one he’d programmed in last night for Caroline’s number.

“Caroline?”

A muffled sound came through the speakers. He grabbed his jeans from the floor and tried to pull them on and not disconnect the call.

“Caroline?” This time the sound was clearer, though it was no less confusing. Was she throwing up?

“Jason,” she said, her voice raw and trembling. “Jason, something’s wrong. It’s Henry! He won’t wake up.”

Another round of retching followed as he scrambled to pull on his shoes. He grabbed his service weapon, his badge and his keys. As he unlocked the door to his Explorer, Caroline’s agonized voice burst through the phone.

“Come on, Henry. Please. Wake up!”

A crash followed her words. Then silence.

“Caroline!”

Father, protect her.

“Caroline!” She didn’t respond. The line was still open. He couldn’t bear to disconnect, but had she called 911? Was anyone else on the way? Why had she called him instead of Michael or Dalton?

He put the phone on speaker and grabbed the radio. He called the dispatcher, requesting an ambulance and backup. Then he called out to Michael and Dalton and told them to get in the house even if they had to break down the doors.

In the months since he’d returned to North Carolina, he’d been frustrated by his home’s nearness to the Harrisons’. Every time he drove past her driveway he knew he should call her. Every time he didn’t he felt guilty.

But this morning, he was thankful to be at the gate in two minutes. He punched in the code she’d given him last night and set the delay on the gate to keep it open for ten minutes. That should be long enough for the ambulance to get here before it closed. Then he sped up the drive. There was no unusual activity at Blake and Heidi’s. Nothing at Jeffrey and Eleanor’s, either.

He pulled up to her front door, slammed on the brakes and raced to the porch. The door stood open, and he could hear an ambulance screaming its way toward them for the second time in less than twenty-four hours.

“Caroline?”

“Back here,” Michael’s voice came from the hallway that led to Caroline’s room. “I think she passed out. I can’t get her to come to. The baby is breathing, but I can’t wake him up, either.”

Jason knelt by Caroline. Her face was ashen. Her breathing shallow. Michael was alternating between checking on her and Henry, while Dalton was fighting with the blinds on the window.

“Dalton, what are you doing, man?” Jason asked.

“Trying to get this stupid window open. I’ve seen this before.”

“Seen what?”

“Carbon monoxide poisoning. You said Caroline was throwing up, right? And the baby is out? It’s textbook.”

He was right. “Forget the windows. Let’s get them outside.” Dalton moved toward Caroline. “I’ve got her. Michael, get Henry,” Jason said. “Babies are most at risk.”

Dalton looked worried. “He doesn’t have a coat.”

“The cold isn’t our biggest problem right now,” Jason said. “Get him outside!”

He scooped Caroline into his arms and raced to the porch, Michael on his heels, holding Henry. As they stepped onto the porch, he could hear Dalton explaining the situation to the EMTs.

They didn’t mess around. They checked Caroline and Henry for CO levels. It took no time at all to determine they’d both been exposed to dangerous amounts. As an EMT strapped Henry into a harness on the gurney, another held an oxygen mask over his face.

Jason hovered near the chaise where Caroline lay on the front porch. Her eyes fluttered open and she clutched at his arm. “Where—”

The words were cut off as her body heaved. She turned away from him, and vomit hit the porch. All he could do was rub her back as violent shudders tore through her.

“Henry!” she gasped.

Jason held on to her. “It’s carbon monoxide, Caroline. They’re giving him oxygen.”

A flurry of activity caught his eye.

“Hey, little man’s coming around!” The young EMT didn’t try to hide her joy. “That’s right, Henry. It’s okay, buddy.”

“Hear that, Caroline? He’s waking up.”

“I want to see him,” she said, struggling to her feet.

“Whoa,” Jason said. “Do you think you can walk?” He scrambled around the chaise and put an arm around her. She was so focused on Henry, she didn’t seem to notice the condition of her pajamas. Her pants and T-shirt were flecked with the remains of her stomach’s contents.

He held her tight as she shuffled toward the ambulance. “Are you sure—”

“I’m fine.”

He had to admit, for someone who’d been puking her guts out two minutes earlier, and unconscious three minutes before that, she seemed remarkably steady on her feet.

Michael and Dalton hovered near the gurney where little Henry was blinking groggily.

“Hey, baby,” Caroline said.

One of the EMTs took her arm. “Ms. Harrison, how are you feeling?”

Jason released her to the EMT and motioned Dalton and Michael over to the side.

“Did either of you see anything suspicious last night?”

“No. We walked around the house twenty times at least,” Dalton said.

Michael smirked. “Yeah, so we wouldn’t fall asleep.”

Jason couldn’t fault them for that.

“Dalton,” Jason said, tossing him the keys to his car. “Trunk. Grab the duffel bag.”

The kid ran in the direction of his car.

“What are you thinking, Michael?”

“Besides that you’ve got puke all over you and don’t seem to care?”

“Besides that.”

“Well, if that’s off the table, then I’m thinking maybe we know what our intruder was up to when he broke in last night. Since Caroline confirmed nothing was taken, we knew it hadn’t been a robbery. This might have been what he was after all along.”

“Yeah. That’s what I’m thinking, too.”

Dalton ran up with his go bag.

“Thanks, Dalton.”

“Sure thing.”

Jason peeked around the corner of the ambulance door as they loaded the gurney with Henry on it into the back of the ambulance. Caroline took a seat beside the gurney, and they strapped an oxygen mask to her face.

Jason patted her knee. “I’ll be right behind you.”

As the ambulance pulled away, Jason turned to Dalton and Michael. “I’m going to change. There’s no way this place doesn’t have at least one CO detector. Find them. Or find where they used to be.”

“Think they’re defective, boss?” Dalton asked.

“Something like that,” he said.

* * *

Caroline held Henry’s hand with one hand and her oxygen mask with the other as they made their way to the hospital.

Carbon monoxide poisoning?

How?

She had smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, motion detectors and who knew what other types of detectors, thanks to Heidi.

How could this have happened?

She looked at her pants. Then her shirt. Oh, no.

“It’s okay, Ms. Harrison,” the EMT said as she handed her a towel.

“It’s Caroline.”

“Hi, Caroline. I’m Lucy.”

Caroline tried to wipe away the worst of the spots.

“Vomiting is a good sign,” Lucy said. “It means your exposure level isn’t so bad that it’s started to affect your brain function.”

Caroline appreciated Lucy’s effort to make her feel better.

“It may be a good sign, but I’d really like some clean clothes,” she said.

Lucy adjusted the oxygen mask on Henry’s face. “I’m sure that cute cop will bring you some. Is he your boyfriend?”

Lucy’s words unleashed a new horror.

Jason. She’d thrown up in front of Jason. Why had she called Jason?

She knew why.

He’d programmed his number into her phone last night. Tested it before he left so it was the last number dialed and the first one to pop up when she’d frantically grabbed it.

But that wasn’t really why.

She’d called him because she knew he would take care of it. Take care of her. That despite the past thirteen years of awkwardness, he would come when she called.

He’d come.

And found her covered in vomit.

She glanced at her clothes again. Correction. Pajamas. The Duke pajamas she’d gotten for Christmas her senior year of high school, right after she was accepted.

She dropped her head into her free hand.

“You okay, Caroline?” Lucy’s concern popped her head back up.

“I threw up in front of him,” she said.

Lucy smirked. “He didn’t seem to mind.”

Caroline groaned.

“Don’t worry,” Lucy said. “We’ll get you some scrubs to put on when we get to the hospital.”

“Thanks.”

Caroline tried to pull her mind back to more pressing issues. Like how had this happened? Why?

What kind of sick person would be willing to kill a baby?

Because there was one thing she was sure of.

This hadn’t been an accident.

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Caroline rested on the hospital bed in the small emergency department room. Lucy had come through with the scrubs. Henry was curled beside her wrapped in a tiny hospital gown. Both of them still wore their oxygen masks, but their CO levels had dropped significantly. The doctor had indicated he would run a few tests, but they’d probably be able to go home in a few hours.

“Knock, knock,” Jason’s soft voice preceded his head peering around the door. A smile lit his features. “You look so much better,” he said.

“Thanks a lot.”

His face fell. “No, I didn’t mean... I mean—”

“I’m just giving you a hard time.” Which she shouldn’t do. He’d been amazing today. “I’m sorry. I can’t thank you enough. I’m sorry about your clothes.”

His smile was tender. “You can throw up on me anytime, Ms. Harrison.”

She groaned.

“I’m afraid your phone didn’t survive.”

His words pulled the unpleasant memory to the surface. “I’ll get another one. I was thinking about an upgrade anyway.”

He smiled. “Well, it isn’t a new phone, but maybe this will cheer you up.” He placed a small bag beside her on the bed. “I hope you won’t get mad.”

She peered into the bag. “You brought me clothes?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry if I upset you.”

Poor guy was meeting himself coming and going.

“I was just trying—”

“I could kiss you!”

Jason’s head flew up, his eyes meeting hers, his eyebrows arched in that quizzical look she remembered so well, his lips shockingly close to her own.

“I mean—”

He laughed. “I know what you mean.”

Did he?

Did she?

A nurse bustled in, laptop in hand, to check vitals and O2 sats. Jason stepped outside to give them some privacy and she was thankful for the interruption.

What was going on with her? He’d left. He didn’t want to stay in North Carolina forever and she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. And while she understood his reasons, she had to admit she’d harbored the hope that maybe she would be enough of a reason to stay.

But she hadn’t been.

Just because he was home now didn’t mean he was home for good. He would be busy for the next several years helping care for his dad. When the inevitable came and duty wasn’t tying him down anymore, would he bolt?

History said yes.

The nurse left and Jason returned. Henry had dozed off by her side, and everyone had agreed to let him sleep.

“We need to talk.”

“Okay.” Could he tell how his presence messed with her?

“Your CO detectors didn’t go off.”

Oh. He wanted to talk about that. Of course he did. It was his job. So why had her heart sunk at his words?

“I noticed that.”

“Your water heater was tampered with. The level of CO in the house was significantly higher than it should have been.”

Her heart sank further. “Not an accident.”

He shrugged. “If you hadn’t caught the intruder, it would have looked like an accident. The tampering isn’t obvious. Just a loose vent. The gas company guys apologized all over themselves. Said they couldn’t understand how it happened.”

“But they don’t know about my visitor.”

“Exactly.”

“So what happens now? Can I go home? Should I go home?”

Jason couldn’t meet her gaze.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

He shifted from one foot to the other and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Don’t get mad, but I called your brother.”

“Great. He’s probably already called Mom and Dad.” Caroline exhaled. “I didn’t want them to worry.”

“Like they wouldn’t want to know?”

She glared at him, hoping he could feel her displeasure burning from her retinas. “What did Blake say?”

“He tracked down Heidi.”

“That didn’t take long.”

“I gather they have a system of some sort.” He frowned at her. “Speaking of which, why did you call me?”

Heat flooded her cheeks. “I knew you were minutes away.”

“Why not go to your front porch and yell at the officers sitting in your driveway?”

He wasn’t going to let this go, was he? She didn’t have a good answer.

“I wasn’t thinking clearly,” she said. “I was afraid to leave Henry and I was afraid to get too far away from the bathroom.”

He studied her longer than was comfortable, and she knew he hadn’t fully accepted her response. Time to change the subject.

“So you spoke to Heidi?”

“Yeah. She said she’d call a friend. He’s not far from here and he’s going to come give your place a once-over. She doesn’t want you to stay there until he’s done.”

Awesome. Heidi’s definition of once-over probably meant pulling up the floors and tearing out the walls.

“I was able to convince her that we have things under control, but I won’t be surprised if we wind up with some random FBI agents popping in and out.”

Caroline blew out a breath. “I guess I should thank you again.”

He winked, and her breath caught. “You may not be thanking me when you hear the rest of our plan.”

“The plan?”

“I thought you could hang out with my mom and dad while you’re waiting for your house to be cleared.”

Caroline fidgeted. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? It looks like someone is trying to kill me. I should probably go to a deserted island, not hang out with your parents.”

“Nonsense.” Jason didn’t seem as worried as he should be.

“I can’t put your parents at risk. If anything happened to them—”

His hand on hers stopped her. “I’ve already talked to them. They understand what’s going on, and they want you to come. Mom says she hasn’t seen Henry in far too long.”

“But—”

“Caroline. Dad’s still a good shot.”

She dropped her head in defeat. “I wasn’t thinking that at all.” Jason’s dad had been a sniper. ALS would eventually rob him of the ability to hold a rifle, but at this point, he could probably outshoot 98 percent of the population.

“I know you weren’t. He’s been cleaning his rifle since I called. He’s ready for anything. And whoever is after you would have no reason to expect you to be there.”

“Jason, I go to your parents’ at least once a month.”

“Heidi and I discussed that, but your visits are random and not something anyone would be able to use to target you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

FIVE

At 1:00 p.m., Jason loaded Caroline and Henry into his car.

“Where’d you get the car seat?” Caroline strapped Henry in with practiced moves.

“Michael. He brought it from your house.”

Caroline didn’t respond. Had he upset her? “He was still there, so I asked him to grab it so we could get the little guy home.” He pointed to a bag in the backseat. “He grabbed a bunch of clothes and diapers, too.”

“That was very thoughtful.” She laughed, a harsh sound with no humor in it. “To think that this time yesterday my biggest worry was if I’d allocated enough to the college fund I set up for this little guy.” He saw the muscles in her jaw working overtime. “And now, I’m praying I can keep him alive until his second birthday.” Her voice cracked on the last word, but when she looked up at him, no tears had broken free. She closed Henry’s door. “You ready?”

“Almost.”

He opened the passenger door for her. “There’s one thing I’ve learned from combat.” Her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. “You can’t keep anyone alive.”

She slumped in defeat and slid into the seat. He closed the door and leaned into the open window. “I’m not saying we don’t do everything we can, but you have to let go of this feeling of accountability. You couldn’t have kept Stephanie alive, and ultimately you can’t keep Henry alive. Or yourself. Or me. Or anyone else you care about.”

“Is this little speech supposed to be making me feel better? ’Cause it’s not working.”

He gripped the door. “It is supposed to help, actually. We can walk confidently into the next day, not because we’ve figured everything out and have thwarted the bad guys, but because we know the One who knows what they are up to. We walk confidently because we know He will help us.”

Caroline looked away from him and spoke, so low he barely heard the words. “He didn’t help Stephanie.”

Ouch. A little help here, Father?

He walked around to the driver’s seat and took his time buckling in. She continued to stare out the window as they pulled away from the curb.

“I lost friends in Afghanistan.”

Her head whipped back to him. “I’m sorry.”

The things this woman could make him do. He didn’t talk about Afghanistan. Ever. But here he was talking about his darkest times. “When you head out on a patrol and you don’t know if you’ll be back for dinner, you have to dig deep to find the strength to follow orders and do your job. But when your friends don’t make it home for dinner, you have to look outside of yourself to find any meaning in it.”

Caroline sat ramrod straight beside him. He could barely tell if she was breathing.

“While God is Sovereign, we also live in a fallen world. One where wars happen. Where evil men come after babies.” He couldn’t keep the disgust from his voice. “We have to trust He is working all things for ultimate good.”

Even as he said the words, his mind flashed to his dad. The grim future he faced with grace, dignity and undaunted faith.

“I don’t know why God allowed any of this. For Steph to fall in love with a guy who apparently got mixed up in some shady stuff. For her to get pregnant and leave the guy. For her to die. For her to leave you her baby. And now for someone to want either you or Henry, or both of you, out of the picture.”

Caroline took an audible breath but didn’t interrupt him as he continued.

“I do know He’s not confused or surprised, and He will help us.”

“I want to believe that,” she said. “I really do.”

He reached over, palm up. Would she take it?

She stared at his hand for a few moments, then laced her fingers through his. A long-dormant piece of his heart started throbbing. “I’ll believe for both of us until you get there.”

She squeezed his hand and turned to stare out the window. He assumed she didn’t want him to see her face. Which was fine. He still had her hand in his, and he kept it until they pulled into his parents’ driveway.

His mom was waiting for them, wearing a grin that stretched from one end of the front porch to the other. She bounded down the two steps and had Caroline wrapped in a bear hug before he could get around the car.

“Sweet girl, let’s get you and your precious one inside. There’s a bite in the air.”

Caroline laughed. “Mama Drake, you would say there’s a bite in the air if it was seventy degrees outside.”

Caroline had Henry out of the car seat, and his mom grabbed him. “There’s my handsome man. Henry, you’ve put on at least five pounds since you were here last. Let’s get you some cookies so we can keep those numbers going!”

Jason trailed behind his mom and Caroline. His dad leaned against the porch rail, watching the procession. Their eyes met and he knew what his dad was thinking.

Could feel his mom’s joy.

They’d always loved Caroline. Always dreamed of the day he’d bring her home as so much more than a friend.

Pretty sure they’d never imagined the time he’d bring her home along with her baby as the victims of a crime in need of protective custody.

But looking at the two of them—his mom cooing and his dad helping Henry give him a little fist bump—he wondered if they cared what the circumstances were.

She was here.

He was here.

For now.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, Caroline left Henry in Mama Drake’s capable hands and stepped onto the back deck. A tiny, screened room where at any time Mama Drake might have a pie cooling, a pitcher of tea that wouldn’t fit in the fridge, or even a slow cooker bubbling with her famous mac and cheese.

Today, a pound cake tempted her from a pretty plate, and Caroline snagged a slice.

Jason had always been embarrassed about his home. Starting in middle school, he always wanted to go to her house instead of having her come to his. He’d started apologizing about the lack of channels on the TV or the lack of options in the kitchen.

Caroline wasn’t so naive not to understand why. No, the Drakes weren’t as well-off as her parents. But it hadn’t mattered to her ever. The Drakes’ home was always warm and welcoming, and while Caroline loved the sprawling home she’d grown up in, there was a coziness about the Drakes’ tightly grouped rooms that couldn’t be duplicated in five thousand square feet.

Jason hadn’t seen it that way. He’d make little comments about money or status. If she dared to indicate that those things weren’t important, he’d ask her how often she’d tried to live without them.

She’d refused to apologize for the life she’d been born into. They weren’t wealthy by national standards, but they had more than most. Her parents had always stressed how fortunate they were compared with the majority of the people on the planet. She’d been trained to be thankful, and to feel a sense of responsibility to help those less fortunate.

But she’d never seen Jason as less fortunate. Their homes hadn’t been similar in size, but they’d been similar in environment. He had two parents who loved him. Granted, there were plenty of problems with his birth father, but after his mom met Papa Drake, he’d always had a warm, clean home filled with light and laughter. A home she’d always been welcomed in. A place she’d never felt like she had to perform or pretend in. She didn’t blame Jason for wanting more, but she wished he could see how much of what truly mattered was already here.

Caroline leaned against a porch support and closed her eyes. She had to pull it together. Had to find a way to make some sense of this mess. Someone wanted her dead. Why? How could she protect herself and her son?

“You okay?”

She turned at Jason’s words and found him watching her through the open kitchen door.

“I didn’t hear you.”

“I know.”

“How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to see you swipe my dessert.”

She laughed. “There’s plenty more.”

He joined her in the small space. “What’s on your mind?”

She stepped toward him and caught herself. What was she doing? This was a bad idea. She could not let herself get emotionally entangled. Not with anyone, but especially not with Jason Drake. She’d gone down that path.

She knew how it ended.

She knew how much it hurt.

Caroline rocked back on her heels. “Just trying to figure out what’s going on.”

Jason stared out over the backyard. “Me, too. I need to head out for a little while.”

“You’ve been with me all day. I’m sure you have other responsibilities, other cases you need to be working on. Go. You don’t have to babysit—”

“I’m not babysitting you.” His face darkened. “I’m doing my job. You’re a citizen of this community, which I have sworn to protect, and someone is trying to kill you. It is, in fact, my job to be sure that doesn’t happen.”

He was right, of course. She tried to keep her expression neutral. “I understand, and I appreciate that.”

He stepped closer, and when she tried to back up, she slammed into a porch column. “Ow.” She rubbed the back of her head.

Jason didn’t back up or give her the space she’d been seeking. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, avoiding eye contact. But he didn’t allow that, cupping his hand under her chin and tilting it up until their eyes met.

“It’s my job to protect you, but it’s also my privilege. I’d be doing it whether I had the badge to make it official or not.” His eyes flashed with intensity as he spoke. “I need to check on a few things and run by the office to get some files that might help us figure out what’s going on.”

“Okay.” She didn’t trust herself to try to say anything else.

“Try not to worry. Mom’s thrilled you’re here. Dad’s on alert. There are uniformed officers patrolling the perimeter of the property. I’ll be back before you know it.”

He stared into her eyes longer than she wanted him to. Her heartbeat pulsed in her ears. One of his eyebrows ticked up, and she had to wonder if in the silence of the porch, he could hear it.

She needed to get a grip. This wasn’t high school. He wasn’t the best friend she wanted to be more. Given their history, she’d trust him to protect every part of her.

Except her heart.

He stepped back, breaking the moment. He winked and turned back to the house.

She heard him speak to his mom, then his dad.

Then...Henry?

Jason’s fondness for Henry was a surprise. He’d never been a big fan of kids, and he’d always said he’d never have any of his own. Said he wouldn’t risk being the kind of father his own birth father was.

She doubted that had changed.

He was being kind to Henry because he was a kind man, but that didn’t mean he wanted children. Just like he didn’t want to live in North Carolina.

She’d built her whole life around her home, her family, her community—and now, her son. She couldn’t let herself forget that it was the kind of life Jason didn’t want. Then, now or ever.

SIX

Jason walked around Caroline’s house. Again. This was his third pass. Each time he moved out another fifty feet. Michael joined him.

“What are we doing?” Michael asked.

“Looking.”

“Fine,” Michael said. “Let’s talk about the case while we walk.”

“Okay,” Jason said. “Start with Caroline’s work.”

Michael pulled out a small notebook. “She’s changed a few suppliers, like she said, but no one I’ve spoken to at the plant believes any of them would be angry enough to come after her. Blake agreed with that assessment when you talked to him?”

Jason nodded. “He did. He insists everything is business as usual at HPI. He said Caroline drives a hard bargain and is a great negotiator. Part of her job is to keep their expenses down, and she takes that seriously, but she treats everyone fairly and the business community respects her for it.” He stopped and looked back at the house, trying to see what an intruder would see from here. “She claims she doesn’t have a boyfriend and hasn’t had one in a while.”

“Not for lack of trying,” Michael said under his breath.

“What?”

Michael’s grin had a taunting edge to it. “She’s the most eligible bachelorette in the county. She’s gorgeous, smart and rich.”

Was Michael trying to push his buttons?

“Of course,” Michael went on, “she’s also funny, kind, has a great personality, and—”

“I get it, Michael.” Jason returned to walking. “She’s a catch.”

Michael smirked. “People assume she is, of course, but given that no one has caught her since college, she’s more like an urban myth.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Michael grabbed a branch and pushed it out of his way. “You know exactly what it means. If you don’t, you’re an idiot.”

How much could Michael possibly know about his past with Caroline? He’d been a grade behind them in school. They’d been friends, played sports together, but he had never confided anything about his feelings for Caroline to anybody.

Jason tried to keep his tone neutral when he replied. “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about, nor do I see how any of this relates to the case.”

Michael laughed. “I know a dozen guys who’ve tried to get close enough to ask her out. I know only five who succeeded in asking her, and she turned them all down.”

“Your point?”

“You’ve made more progress in twenty-four hours than anyone has. Ever. Makes a guy wonder.”

Michael was like the annoying little brother who wouldn’t stop pestering you until he’d made you mad. “The only progress I’ve made is on this case, and it isn’t much progress at all.”

That wiped the teasing look off Michael’s face. “I disagree that there’s no progress. The problem isn’t that we don’t have anything to go on, it’s that we don’t like where it’s taking us.”

Jason stopped under a pine. From here, he had a decent angle on one of the windows. Could the intruder have watched Caroline from here? The thought made his blood boil. There were a few broken branches, a piece of trash—

He knelt beside the paper. Up close it looked more like a photograph. He pulled a glove from his pocket and used it to pick up the faded page. He tried to keep his voice calm. “What can you tell me about Henry?”

“Not much. I worked the car accident when Steph died. It was...” Michael shook his head like he wanted to shake away the memories. “We went over that car thoroughly. Heidi helped. That was before she and Blake married.” He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Heidi is great, but she has a tendency to assume the worst. She tried to hide it from Caroline, but she was concerned about foul play.”

“Was there any?”

“Not that we could find. It was one of those senseless tragedies you hear about on the news. ‘Mother of young child fatally injured in car wreck on I-26.’ We see it all the time, but I never get used to it.”

Which was one of the reasons he’d always liked Michael. The guy could be annoying, but he had a soft heart. “I’m not saying you’re wrong, but we’re going to have to review that case again,” Jason said as he flipped the paper in his hand over. There was no mistaking it. The photo was of Caroline and Henry. Both of their faces were circled. He handed it to Michael.

Michael’s eyes widened.

“Caroline doesn’t have any enemies, and the only skeleton in Stephanie’s closet was her husband. Whatever reason someone has for targeting them has got to do with that man. And that means we need to figure out who the father is. Discreetly. I’ll talk to Caroline about it again tonight. Pick her brain for any details Stephanie might have let slip.” He glanced back at the house. “We won’t be able to do much over the weekend, but we need to get a fresh set of eyes on Stephanie’s accident, just to be sure. All the county offices will be closed, but let’s shoot for having a list of places to call by Monday morning.”

Someone had already tried to kill Caroline and Henry twice in the past twenty-four hours. Was there any chance they could make it through the weekend without someone trying again?

He and Michael returned to the station and spent the next three hours going over everything on Stephanie’s accident. He couldn’t find any fault with the investigation or the conclusions.

“Let’s get out of here,” Jason finally said. “Want to come to the house? With Caroline there, I’m sure Mom has outdone herself for dinner.”

Michael raised his hand. “Sorry, man, I’m picking Cathy up around eight. But call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

Jason’s phone rang as he walked through the parking lot. He took one look at the number and declined the call. He slid into the seat of his Explorer, anxiety scratching its way through his mind.

He’d been back in town six months. This was the first night he’d been in a hurry to get home.

* * *

Caroline had a new appreciation for the way the tigers at the zoo must feel. She’d tried to sit but couldn’t keep from fidgeting, so she’d switched to helping Mama Drake in the kitchen.

Henry was having a grand time playing with a huge pot and a wooden spoon, but his joyful cacophony couldn’t drown out the terror pulsing in her heart. She stirred the green beans and kept up a light banter with Mama Drake, but even the lush aroma of pot roast and made-from-scratch biscuits couldn’t settle her nerves.

Jason would be home soon. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her or Henry. She knew that. Well, she knew he would try to keep them safe. Maybe even die trying. What if someone came after her here? What if everybody she loved wound up dead?

All because of her. The thought nauseated her.

Papa Drake had smiled and welcomed her in, but she could sense a level of alertness permeating the air that she’d never experienced in this house. Jason’s home had always been safe. Fun. Light.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.