PREGNANT AND ALONE

Implicated by her criminal cousin, Nicki Johnson is now the target of a murderous gang. Dark-haired policeman Jackson Worth thinks she is hiding something, but his remarkable bomb-sniffing dog has no such reservations. He’s there to protect her—no judgments, no questions. And Jackson is a man of honor. He’ll stand by this beauty and her unborn child. Because it is the right thing to do. And because guarding her has left his battle-scarred heart open to the possibility of love. Which changes everything…

Texas K-9 Unit: These lawmen solve the toughest cases with the help of their brave canine partners

“You’re sure your ex isn’t the one harassing you?”

“Absolutely. He left after I told him about the baby. As far as I’m concerned, good riddance.”

“He’s a fool” was all Jackson dared say. If he had opened up and told her everything he was thinking, she would have been even more embarrassed.

There was a strong sense of honor and righteousness in him. Always had been. Maybe that was why this police job seemed to fit him so well. Why he felt such an undeniable obligation to step up and take care of Nicolette when her need was so great. She would never know how deeply, how personally, her plight affected him, of course, because he would never tell her.

But he would be there for her, helping and guarding her to the best of his ability, for as long as she needed him to be. It wasn’t only because she might help the department solve a difficult case, either.

Looking after her was simply the right thing to do.

Whether she liked it or not.

VALERIE HANSEN

was thirty when she awoke to the presence of the Lord in her life and turned to Jesus. In the years that followed, she worked with young children, both in church and secular environments. She also raised a family of her own and played foster mother to a wide assortment of furred and feathered critters.

Married to her high school sweetheart, she now lives in an old farmhouse she and her husband renovated with their own hands. She loves to hike the wooded hills behind the house and reflect on the marvelous turn her life has taken. Not only is she privileged to reside among the loving, accepting folks in the breathtakingly beautiful Ozark mountains of Arkansas, she also gets to share her personal faith by telling the stories of her heart for all the Love Inspired Books lines.

Life doesn’t get much better than that!

Explosive

Secrets

Valerie Hansen

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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Special thanks and acknowledgment to Valerie Hansen for her contribution to the Texas K-9 Unit miniseries.

I will give you a new heart

and put a new spirit within you.

—Ezekiel 36:26

To my “partners in crime,”

Shirlee McCoy, Margaret Daley, Sharon Dunn,

Terri Reed and Lenora Worth, who were a joy

to work with on this series. To Joe and Karen,

beloved proofreaders who catch my boo-boos.

And to my personal K-9 cops, Charlie Brown and Lucy, two rescued Labs who see to it that

I don’t spend every waking hour sitting at my computer.

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

DEAR REARDER

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

ONE

Nicolette Johnson was about to leave for her night-shift job at The Truck Stop Diner when her cell phone rang.

She slipped it out of her jeans pocket and hesitated while she listened to the ringtone playing “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” Most of her recent callers had been nosy reporters or curious neighbors wanting to ask what she knew about her cousin Arianna Munson’s recent murder.

“That would be nothing, just like I told the police,” she muttered. But since her curiosity was aroused, she gave in and answered. “Hello?”

“Hello, Nicki, darlin’.”

The slow, deep drawl was dripping with menace, sending chills up her spine. “Who is this?”

“Never mind who I am. You need to stop holding out on us,” the man warned. “Remember, we know where you live.”

Nicki swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Leave me alone.”

“That’s not going to happen, lady. That idiot Murke blew it the other night, but we can still get to you, just like we got to the Serpent.”

“Who?” She rued the telltale tremor in her tone.

“Arianna Munson.” He gave an evil-sounding chuckle. “That was our pet name for your dearly departed cousin.”

There was a pause while the caller laughed as if he’d just told a great joke. “We eliminated her, and we can do the same to you. If you think you can run or hide, just ask the Sagebrush cops what happened to one of their wives a few years back.” He chortled again then shouted, “Boom!”

Stifling a tiny shriek, Nicki immediately ended the call. Many of the specifics of the man’s threats had already become a confusing muddle, but one fact stood out. The way he had barked boom left no doubt that she was dealing with a deadly enemy, one she should not try to defeat on her own.

Shaking, Nicki managed to punch in the phone number from the business card the police officers had left with her a few days before. She held her breath and counted the number of rings while she waited for someone to answer.

“Sagebrush Police Department. How may I help you?” a friendly sounding woman asked.

Nicki had intended to report the sinister warning calmly and with little emotion. When she heard the dispatcher’s voice, however, she blurted, “I need help. Somebody just threatened to blow me up!”

* * *

“K-9 unit 463, your position?” the patrol radio broadcast.

Jackson Worth keyed the mic. “Sagebrush Boulevard and Main, headed north.”

“We have a possible bomb threat at 3274 Lost Woods Road, apartment 210. See the woman.”

“Affirmative. On my way. ETA approximately ten.”

“Copy. Advise if you need backup.”

Jackson flipped on his light bar and spun the wheel of the SUV. In the backseat, his black Labrador retriever, Titan, was panting rapidly, knowing they were about to go to work.

The big dog’s enthusiasm made Jackson smile. They were so much a team it was as if Titan could read his mind. He could certainly tell what that dog was thinking. When they were on duty his canine partner was all business, even when he acted as though he was still battling the negative effects of their previous assignments in war zones.

“We both came through the fire okay then, didn’t we, old boy?” Jackson said affectionately. “And we’re still doing it.”

Titan wiggled, but remained disciplined enough to stay seated and not fight the restraints that kept him safe when he wasn’t riding in his portable kennel. Jackson hated to cage the tractable dog so he used every excuse not to.

They pulled to the curb in front of the apartment building on Lost Woods Road, and stopped. Jackson barely had a chance to climb out when a slim, young woman in jeans and a pink T-shirt raced over and grasped his sleeve. Her wide eyes were as blue as a summer sky, and her coppery-brown hair fell softly around her face, its silky length brushing her shoulders.

“Are you the party who placed the call for police assistance?” Jackson asked.

“Y-yes. I thought they’d send the same officers who were here before.”

He politely touched the brim of his cap, then opened the rear door to leash Titan as he explained, “I’m Detective Worth, ma’am. You must have mentioned a bomb threat when you contacted the station or they wouldn’t have sent us.”

“I did. That’s really the only thing I can remember clearly. The man who called me said I should ask about a policeman’s wife getting blown up and then he hollered, ‘Boom!’ Just like that.” She tried to catch her breath. “I didn’t know what else to do so I called the number on the card those other officers left when they were here a few days ago.”

“You did the right thing by waiting outside, Ms...”

“Nicolette Johnson.” She pointed to the upper story of the poorly maintained apartment building. “That’s where I live. I was about to leave for work. After I got the threatening phone call, I didn’t know what to do.”

Jackson straightened with Titan at his side. “Okay. Let’s start from the beginning. Tell me your version of the trouble you had here recently.”

“Okay. A man broke into my apartment. I hid in the closet and called 911. When the other officers got here there was a fight and some shooting. That’s when a police dog was wounded. It was awful.”

Jackson nodded soberly. “I understand how upsetting that must have been. A fugitive named Derek Murke was arrested.”

“Right. He was an ex-boyfriend of my late cousin, Arianna Munson. That’s another reason I got scared. The man who called me today mentioned her. Only he called her a snake or something.”

“You mean Serpent?”

Nicolette nodded, her eyes wide. “That was it. Serpent. He said that he had killed her.”

“In those exact words?” Jackson knew that the Munson woman had died during a shoot-out with the police, so why would anyone claim murder as a threat? He had to make an effort to control his excitement. Any clues, no matter how obscure, that brought the department closer to finding the gang of killers and drug runners causing mayhem in and around Sagebrush were definitely top priority.

“I—I don’t know. I’m sorry. I can’t remember his exact words. I guess I was too scared.”

Or up to your eyeballs in the whole criminal mess, he thought, keeping that notion to himself for the time being. “Suppose we get off the street and go check your apartment before we do anything else?”

“Okay.” She was wringing her hands. “I feel silly causing such a fuss, but he sounded really serious about hurting me.”

“Did he say why?”

“Yes. He seemed to think I was withholding some kind of information. Murke said the same thing when he held me hostage the other night.”

“Are you?”

“Of course not. If I did know something, I’d have told the officers who arrested him.” She shivered. “He’s still in jail, isn’t he?”

“Yes, ma’am. And he will be for a long time if I’m any judge. You don’t need to worry about him coming back to bother you.”

“Oh, good! What about the wounded police dog? Is she going to make it?”

“Yes. The muscle in her hind leg was torn up pretty bad, but the vet says Lexi will be back on duty in due time.”

“That’s a relief.”

Nicolette was reaching for the outer door to the complex when Jackson stopped her. “You’d better wait while we check the premises. I’ll signal you to come and unlock your apartment when we’re sure the halls are clean.”

She seemed reluctant. “Okay, but...”

“Just stand where we can still see each other,” Jackson told her. “If Titan finds anything suspicious, he’ll sit down by it, and then I’ll call for backup and evacuate the building. If he doesn’t react, you’ll know everything is fine.”

“What a beautiful, intelligent animal,” she said softly as man and canine started to walk away.

Jackson watched Titan methodically check every corner and sniff at every door on the ground floor. Then they returned to Nicolette.

“Coast is clear down here. Where’s your apartment?”

“Second floor, far end of the hall.” She held up a key. “Do you need this?”

“Not yet. Let us take the lead. You can follow at a safe distance. When Titan is satisfied, you can come and unlock the door for us.”

It would have given Jackson a better feeling if he’d had at least one more officer with him to guard the young woman, although in this case it seemed unnecessary. Whoever had tried to frighten her had succeeded, yes, but that wasn’t proof of real danger. As long as Titan didn’t alert, he’d be satisfied that the place was free of explosives. That was the main thing.

Finished with the second phase of the sweep, he paused at apartment number 210 and motioned to Nicolette.

Watching her hurry to join them he was taken by her grace, her natural loveliness. So many women he’d known in the past seemed to think that painting themselves up was the key to beauty. As far as Jackson was concerned, a naturally pretty woman like Nicolette Johnson was far easier on the eyes.

You’re on the job. You’re not supposed to notice things like that, his conscience reminded him.

That made Jackson smile slightly. He might be working. And he was certainly not in the market for romance of any kind. But that did not mean he was unable to appreciate this kind of loveliness, any more than he could overlook a gorgeous Texas sunset or the shining, coppery coat on a special chestnut-colored mare out at his ranch.

His smile threatened to widen and he had to stifle it. He could just imagine what Ms. Nicolette Johnson would think of having her beauty compared to that of a fine horse, even if it was one of the nicest compliments he could have bestowed.

* * *

Nicki’s hands were trembling so badly she had trouble fitting the key into the lock. When she was finally successful, she stepped back and let the dog and his handler enter while she waited by the door.

It was interesting seeing how they worked as a team with the dog leading the way and the man indicating when he wanted him to proceed to another room.

If the apartment hadn’t been so small and sparsely furnished, she would have worried more when they both disappeared into the bedroom. Thankfully, there wasn’t much to see and their inspection was complete in a matter of minutes.

“You can come in and relax now,” Jackson called. “The place is clean. There’s no danger.”

Frowning, she poked her head in first. “You’re sure?”

“Titan is,” Jackson said with a smile. “You can trust him. I do.”

“Okay.” She took a few steps closer and eyed her tiny living room. “I suppose I’d notice if there was anything out of place. It’s just that the last few days have been so awful. The landlord repaired my front door after the female police officer forced it, but I thought I’d never get the stains out of my rug from where that poor dog was wounded.”

“I understand your concern.” He waited for her to sit in the only easy chair before taking a place across from her on the slipcovered sofa. Titan lay at his feet. “Now that we can take it easy, how about starting from the beginning and telling me what’s been going on?”

Sighing, she began. “I feel like I’ve just run a marathon instead of sleeping ’til noon. I work nights at The Truck Stop Diner out on Highway 20 so I don’t get up very early.” Her stomach fluttered, then settled, much to her relief. She didn’t think it was this officer’s business that she was expecting a baby so she kept that information to herself.

His eyes never left her face as he asked, “I take it that’s your normal schedule. Are you a waitress?”

“No. I’m one of the short-order cooks. I’ve worked that shift for the past year.”

“How about neighbors? Any trouble with them lately?”

“No.”

“Boyfriends? Anybody you may have argued with?”

Hadn’t he heard a word she’d said? “I told you what the caller wanted. He knows—knew—my cousin, Arianna. That’s what this is all about. Everybody thinks she told me some secret, but she didn’t.”

Nodding, he seemed to be trying to stare right into her mind because his gaze was unwavering. “I’d like to believe you, but there’s a problem with that,” Jackson said.

“A problem? What?”

“I heard your cousin’s dying declaration with my own ears. She said, ‘Cousin. Code. Danger.’”

“Now you sound like Murke!” Nicki jumped to her feet and began to pace the small room. “Arianna and I were related, yes, but we weren’t close. Not anymore. There’s no reason for her to even mention me.”

“Does she have other cousins?”

Nicolette’s shoulders slumped and she shook her head slowly. “Only one that I know of. I have a half sister somewhere back East. Since even I don’t know where she is, I’m sure Arianna couldn’t have meant her.”

“So, that leaves you,” he said calmly.

“I know, I know.” She blinked back unshed tears, unwilling to let a stranger see how close she was to losing control of her emotions. That was another of the side effects of pregnancy, or so she had read, and she couldn’t believe how often she’d fought mood swings lately.

“We’ll need your half sister’s name.” He poised to write in a small notebook.

“Her maiden name was Mae Johnson. I heard she got married. I don’t know what her last name is now.”

“We’ll track her down, just in case.” He stood and pocketed the notebook and pen. “Are you sure there’s nothing else you’d like to tell me?”

“No! Nothing. I don’t know why nobody will believe I’m innocent.”

“It doesn’t matter what I do or don’t believe, Ms. Johnson. I’m just doing my job.”

“I know you are. Sorry.”

He nodded stiffly. “No problem. I’ll be glad to escort you to work if you want.”

Nicki almost told him to go away, to leave her alone and stop treating her as though she was lying. If she hadn’t still been so afraid she might have done so.

“Okay. I guess there’s no sense sitting home brooding,” she finally said with a muted sigh. “Besides, I can’t afford to make my boss mad. When I had to call in sick the other night after Murke came gunning for me, Lou told me it had better not happen again or I’d be fired.”

“In that case, we should get going. If you receive more strange calls or notice anything unusual, feel free to call us again. That’s what we’re here for.”

“Thanks.” She hesitated. “Would you mind walking me to my car and having the dog check it, too? Just in case.”

“Sure. Be glad to.”

Nicki grabbed her wallet off the end table and fisted her keys. They jingled, attracting the dog’s attention and making him pant and wag his tail.

“Looks like your partner is ready to go for a ride.”

“Titan is always ready for adventure.” Jackson stepped to the side while Nicki opened the apartment door.

She halted abruptly, staring at the floor. Someone had tucked a small, fresh flower arrangement in the doorway so that she couldn’t miss seeing it.

“Oh, how pretty. I love daisies.”

Jackson frowned. “I thought you said you didn’t have a boyfriend.”

“I don’t. Not since Bobby Lee got so mad and took off. Maybe he changed his mind.” She bent and reached for the flowers.

To her left, she saw Titan plop down into a sitting position so fast the movement was a blur.

Jackson shouted, “No!” and lunged for her.

Half bent over, Nicki was almost toppled. She recovered, managing to rescue the bouquet by clutching it to her chest.

Titan began to bark.

In what felt like one fluid movement, Jackson grabbed the flower arrangement from her, threw it inside the apartment, shoved her and the dog into the hall and slammed the door. Then he covered and shielded them both as best he could with his own body.

Moments later, a loud explosion shook the building and made Nicki’s ears sting as if they were being stabbed by needles. Stunned, she could hardly breathe.

The flowers! She could have been killed. So could her innocent baby. But they were safe! Thank you, Jesus.

As the officer slowly straightened and allowed her to move, she felt so light-headed she was afraid she might faint. If she hadn’t already been sitting on the floor she knew she would have been reeling.

Tears gathered and spilled down her cheeks. So utterly thankful she could not speak, she threw her arms around the dog’s neck, pressed her face into his fur and silently wept as the reality of her situation dawned. There would not always be a police officer at hand to rescue her at the last second, so what could she do? What should she do?

Nicki was at a loss to know. Death had stalked her, and she had once again triumphed. The question was, how many more narrow escapes could she hope to endure before some lurking, unnamed evil slipped through her meager defenses and succeeded in ending her life?

TWO

“It doesn’t make any sense for them to want to hurt her when they think she’s keeping secrets,” Jackson told Captain Slade McNeal as they stood apart from the other officers at the scene of the chaos. “If the gang wants the information Arianna gave her, they need to keep her alive and well.”

“Unless they knew you were with her and figured your dog would identify the device before it was touched.”

“Possibly.”

“How’s the woman doing?” Slade asked.

“She’s scared silly. Who wouldn’t be?” Jackson paused and raked his fingers through his short, dark hair. “I can’t believe how close we all came to buying the farm.”

“Yeah. It wasn’t a big explosion, but it sure made hash out of her apartment. I’m having the paramedics hold her in the ambulance until the ATF boys get here. They may have a few questions for Ms. Johnson, too.”

“Makes me wish we had our own bomb squad right here in Sagebrush.”

“Can’t afford it.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m just glad you hired me and Titan.” He sobered even more as he regarded his superior. “We’re all sorry about what motivated you.”

“Thanks. I still blame myself. If you’d been here then, my wife might have been warned in time, and Caleb would still have a mother.”

Chagrined, Jackson shook his head and thrust his hands into his pockets. “Don’t be so sure about that. I messed up on this one.”

“You saved the woman’s life. I’d hardly call that a failure.”

Jackson snorted derisively. “Tell that to Ms. Johnson when she gets a look at what’s left of her place. It’s a shambles. Every window is blown out, and the furniture looks like a wildcat on meth shredded it.”

“Yeah...but she’s still alive. If I were you, I’d remind her of that before I let her go up and look. The bedroom seems to have escaped damage, except for lots of plaster dust and smoke, so she will still have clothes and personal items to salvage.”

“I hope that helps. She has every right to be furious with me.”

“You’re too hard on yourself,” McNeal told him. “Why don’t you go see to your dog and check on Ms. Johnson while I wait for Boomer.”

“Right.” Hearing the familiar ATF agent’s nickname almost always made Jackson smile. Any guy with the initials TNT was a shoo-in for a bomb-investigating job. Timothy Nelson Taft was not only good at his job, he seemed to enjoy the good-natured teasing he usually received when people realized why he was called Boomer.

Several other members of the Sagebrush P.D. and fire department were milling around the rescue and police vehicles parked in the street. Some regular officers had cordoned off the apartment grounds and were detouring traffic. That was probably unnecessary, yet Jackson didn’t complain. He had mistakenly underestimated their foes and an innocent bystander had almost paid for his laxity.

He went first to Titan and the fellow K-9 officer who was tending to him. Valerie Salgado’s Rottweiler had been the one wounded on these premises a few days ago and since Valerie was on her own for the present, she had volunteered to look after Titan while Jackson spoke to their captain.

A tall woman with green eyes, freckles and long, reddish hair, Salgado was seated in one of the SUVs, petting Titan to soothe his jangled nerves.

“How’s he doing now?” Jackson asked, approaching.

“Better. He’s not shaking nearly as much as he was when I got here. What happened, anyway? Didn’t he alert properly?”

“The dog did fine.” He reached toward his canine partner to affectionately ruffle his velvety ears. “I was the one who messed up. I let a civilian get ahead of me and she picked up the bomb before I could stop her.”

“That’s when it went off?”

“No, thank God. Literally. I had a few seconds to grab it and throw it. Unfortunately, the only place I could pitch it was into her apartment.”

“Better a few dented walls than dented heads.” She gently stroked Titan’s broad back, wiggling her fingers, much to the dog’s delight. “What a good boy.”

“Do you have time to mind him for me a little while longer? I want to check with the EMTs and see how the vic is doing.” Jackson inclined his head toward a parked ambulance.

“Sure. No sweat. I’ll take him back to the station with me and you can pick him up there later, if you want. Lexi won’t be able to work for a while yet, and I miss relaxing like this.” She sighed. “Petting a dog lowers your blood pressure and does all kinds of good things for your state of mind.”

“I know. Just save me a little Titan chilling time. I’ll need it after I get through showing the lady over there what happened to her apartment.”

He could hear Valerie’s light laughter behind him as he started for the ambulance.

One of the paramedics headed him off before he got all the way to where Nicolette was being treated.

“Worth. Hold up,” the medic said. “I need to talk to you for a sec.”

“Sure.” He peered past the shorter, younger man’s shoulder. “Is there a problem?”

“Not yet. At least not that I know of, but you should know that this victim is pregnant before you continuing questioning her.”

That brought Jackson up short. “She’s okay, though? I hit her pretty hard when I was shoving her out of the way.”

“Seems to be. It’s early in the pregnancy so she’s not showing. There’s no way you’d have known unless she chose to tell you.”

He huffed quietly. “I figured she was holding something back, but I had no idea that was it. No wonder she seemed so overwrought.”

“Yeah, well, I wanted you to know.”

Jackson clapped him on the shoulder and stepped past. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

The ambulance was positioned at an angle to the curb so it could go into action without delay. Jackson made sure he was smiling as he circled it and came face-to-face with Nicolette.

The woman’s eyes were misty as she looked up at him and asked, “Are you okay?”

“I’m supposed to be the one asking you that.”

“I’m fine.” She returned his smile. “Well, relatively fine.”

When he said, “I’m really sorry about your apartment,” he saw her face grow ashen.

“How bad is it?”

“Truthfully? It’s a mess. But the good news is we’re all safe and sound.” Noticing that her arms were crossed to hug her torso he added, “All of us.”

Rosy patches replaced the lack of color in her cheeks. “The medics told you?”

“About the baby? Yes. I hope I didn’t hurt you when I knocked you down. I had no idea...”

“I’d lots rather be knocked over than blown to bits, so thank you for saving me—us. When I saw your dog react that way, I didn’t put two and two together fast enough. If you hadn’t been there...”

She raised her eyes to the apartment building. “I can’t see any damage to the outside.”

“It wasn’t a large explosion,” Jackson explained. “I don’t think they actually intended to kill you. Not if they really do think you’re withholding information they need.”

Nicki rolled her eyes. “I am not. What do I have to do to convince everybody of that?”

“I don’t know that you can. Or if you should,” he replied soberly. “You might be better off if the criminals keep on believing you do have info they need.”

Shoulders slumped, she exhaled noisily. “Okay. What’s next? How long before I can go back inside?”

“Hours, at least. The bomb crew and our local techs need to comb the wreckage. If the captain okays it and you’re up to it, I suggest you go on to work for the present.”

“Will that be safe?”

“You’re safer in a crowd than you would be alone in that apartment.” He smiled. “Besides, I plan to accompany you.”

“My boss won’t like it if you just hang around and watch me work. He never approved of my... Never mind.”

Jackson assumed, judging by the face she was making, that she was remembering her now-absent boyfriend. How any man could abandon a woman like that, after what he’d done to her, made Jackson furious. “You’re sure there’s no way your ex could be the one harassing you?”

“No way. After I told Bobby Lee about the baby, he said some really awful things and insisted he never wanted to see me again.” She grimaced. “I know it’s not him.”

“You’re positive?”

“Absolutely. He packed up and left the day we argued while I was at work. Friends tell me he was headed for Dallas. Personally, I don’t care where he is. As far as I’m concerned, good riddance.”

“He’s a fool” was all Jackson dared say. If he had opened up and told her everything he was thinking, she would have been even more embarrassed.

He’d always had a strong sense of honor, of right and wrong. Maybe that was why his job seemed to fit him so well. And why he felt such an undeniable obligation to step up and take care of Nicolette when her need was so great. She would never know how deeply, how personally, her plight affected him, of course, because he would never tell her.

But he would be there for her, helping and guarding her to the best of his ability, for as long as she needed him to be. It wasn’t only because she might help the department solve a difficult case, either.

Looking after her was simply the right thing to do.

Whether she liked it or not.

Whether she was helping the investigation or not.

* * *

During the drive to work, Nicki had visualized her poor apartment, imagining the worst. The place hadn’t been much to start with, but it was hers. The landlord had just repaired the door the police had damaged when they’d burst in to arrest Murke. No telling how upset the apartment manager was going to be when he saw what had happened today. She hoped there was insurance to cover this new damage because it was bound to cost a lot more than the broken door had, and she was pretty sure the authorities were not going to pick up the tab this time.

She parked her trusty old sedan in the usual spot behind The Truck Stop Diner and paused to try to compose herself. She’d been just getting over the jitters left after Murke’s attack only to have her life thrown off-kilter once again.

If the familiar police car hadn’t been following close behind her all the way, she wasn’t sure she’d have been able to convince herself to go ahead and report for work. But there he was, on duty as promised.

His dog was absolutely precious—so sweet-natured and friendly. Nicki smiled to herself, noting that both man and canine had the same dark, silky hair and puppy-dog brown eyes.

She looked in the car’s mirror and fastened her long hair out of the way as her job required. Two quick twists of an elastic band and she was good to go. “I can do this,” she told herself. “I’ve worked here so long I could fill the orders in my sleep.”

A smile lifted one corner of her mouth as she climbed out of her car, locked it and pocketed the key ring. Considering her lack of adequate sleep since Murke’s break-in, and the adrenaline she had expended today, she just might doze off at the grill. The books she’d read about pregnancy had said to expect changes in her metabolism, but they hadn’t told her how tired she’d be. Of course, those writers hadn’t allowed for repeated attacks and terrifying threats, either.

Nicki glanced over to the visitor section of the lot where Jackson was parking the police car, then started for the back door leading to the kitchen. Wafting odors of burnt grease and accumulated garbage overflowing the trash receptacle instantly set her stomach churning.

Seeking to escape the cloying stench, she held her breath and chose a roundabout route instead of heading straight for the door.

A shadowy figure, hardly more than a blur, appeared for an instant in her peripheral vision. If she had continued along her usual path without diversion they could have collided!

Startled, Nicki shrieked. Whirled around. Started to run without waiting to see who or what had scared her.

A dark shape loomed directly in front of her. She crashed into a hard chest and would have fallen if the man had not quickly grabbed and steadied her.

Clenching her fists, she began to beat on him.

“Whoa. Take it easy. It’s me. It’s me.”

As the voice penetrated her fog of fear, she realized it was familiar. Gasping, she looked up at Jackson Worth and managed to croak out, “Somebody tried to grab me!”

“Are you sure? Where? I didn’t see a thing.”

“Back by the trash bin.” She struggled to catch her breath.

Bright lights twinkled at the corners of her eyes. Her head spun. Her legs refused to support her.

She could sense that she was being lifted and cradled protectively just as the parking lot vanished and blackness wrapped her like a warm blanket.

Fighting was useless. Surrender felt too good.

* * *

Bearing his lightweight burden, Jackson shouldered through the front door of the main service station complex and carried Nicki past racks of cellophane-wrapped snack food and into the dining area. Their passage generated a few raised eyebrows but apparently his uniform, badge and gun were enough to keep any of the truckers or other customers from interfering.

As she began to stir, she slipped an arm around his neck, laid her cheek on his chest and clung to him as if she knew what she was doing. That was troubling. So was his reaction. Having her show such reliance felt far too good. It was also something he could not permit. He’d learned the hard way that romance and being a cop did not mix.

He lowered her to sit on the edge of one of the green plastic booth benches, unwrapped her arm from his neck and steadied her as she regained full consciousness. Her color was wan, her eyes blinking rapidly.

When she pushed him away, he realized that her earlier actions must have been instinctive rather than an effort to sway his opinion of her. That was definitely a good sign—a point in her favor.

A chubby, uniformed waitress appeared at Jackson’s elbow with a glass of ice water. He nodded as he took it from her. “Thanks.”

“Is Nicki okay?” the older woman asked.

“I think so. Just got too much excitement.”

“I sure hope that’s all it is. Big Lou is already complaining because she’s late again. He’s gonna have a cow if she can’t work tonight.”

Jackson turned his attention back to Nicolette as the waitress left. He bent and held out the glass of water. “Here. Drink this.”

“I’m not thirsty.” She tried to rise, getting only partway to her feet before she plopped back down on the spongy green seat. “Uh-oh. Still dizzy.”

“Let me take you to the E.R. for a checkup. You may be feeling the effects of the blast.”

“No way. If I don’t work, I don’t eat. I’ll be fine in a few minutes.” She grimaced. “Sure wish I didn’t have to deal with all the strong odors in that kitchen, though. Seems like everything makes me queasy these days.”

“That’s normal, isn’t it?”

“So they say. It’s just a bummer to work around food when even the thought of it makes you sick.”

Jackson had to smile at her wry expression and the way she accepted her new limitations. “I can see where that might be a drawback.”

A hard tap on his shoulder diverted his attention. He straightened, instinctively resting his palm on the butt of his holstered gun as he faced the burly, stubble-chinned man who had joined them. “Yes?”

The man cocked his head toward Nicolette. “She gonna work or not?”

Nicki was quick to reply, “Of course I am, Lou.”

“Then get into the kitchen. I don’t pay you to sit around entertaining cops.”

Jackson wanted to defend the young woman by explaining what had happened to her earlier, but figured she didn’t want or need his help. It was clear from her demeanor that she was used to facing down her taciturn boss. If she wanted this Lou character to know about the threats and the explosion, she’d tell him.

“I’m going to go have a look around the parking lot,” Jackson explained, “and see if I notice anything out of the ordinary. You couldn’t tell what startled you?”

“No. I thought there was a funny shadow back by the trash bins. I assumed it was a man. Since you didn’t see anybody, maybe there was nothing there. I have been awfully jumpy lately.”

“That’s understandable.” He took a slow step backward. “Will you be okay or do you want me to hang around for a while longer?”

“I’m fine.” Pushing away from the worn, Formica-topped table, she swiveled and stood next to the booth. A relieved smile spread across her face and she held out her arms. “See? Perfect. Not dizzy at all.”

“Good. I’ll be in the neighborhood. Just call if you need help again and be sure to let us know when you’re ready to go home. We’ll have an officer stop by to escort you.” Jackson eyed the portly man in the stained apron, bid him a terse “Good day” and turned to go.

He was halfway to the exit before he glanced back. The man called Lou was in the lead.

Head held high, back straight, Nicolette followed him through a swinging, half door into the busy, steamy kitchen.

Jackson paused. Found himself wishing he could help her more. But how? As things stood, it was highly likely that she was embroiled in her cousin’s confusing transgressions whether she knew it or not. Therefore, unless she could prove that she and Arianna had had no contact at all, she was going to continue to be of interest to many folks.

On both sides of the law.

If she’d thought her life was complicated before, she was probably going to discover that her ordeal was just beginning.

THREE

Nicolette tried to breathe shallowly as she entered the crowded, overheated kitchen. Steam rose from stainless-steel pots simmering on the stove, and filled the air with pungent odors.

A tall, thin guy she didn’t recognize was standing at the grill, flipping burgers. Judging by how stained his apron was, he’d been there for some time.

Grabbing a clean, white apron from a waiting stack, she slipped the top loop over her head, crossed the strings in the back and tied them in front at her waist.

Her eyes met Lou’s. She nodded toward the man at the grill. “Who’s that?”

“My sister’s boy.” His graying eyebrows arched as he gave her the once-over through rheumy eyes. “Had to get him to fill in for you a couple of nights ago and he worked out real good. What’s wrong with you, anyways? You look kinda peaked.”

“I’m fine,” Nicki insisted. “Just had a really rough morning.” She swallowed hard, fighting the stomach upset that kept sneaking up on her. Pregnancy wasn’t predictable the way she’d assumed it would be. There seemed to be no way to avoid occasional waves of nausea, yet at other times her mood might soar for no apparent reason.

“Life ain’t easy for any of us, missy. You man the grill while my nephew takes his break,” Lou ordered.

“Okay. No problem.” Nicki said it automatically. Only she was not okay. Not even close. Her stomach was roiling, and she wondered how long she was going to be able to control herself.

The new cook started to pass her the spatula.

Nicki reached for it, noticed it was dripping with yellowed, half-congealed grease. Uh-oh.

Spinning, she raced for the ladies’ room.

Lou was waiting in the hallway when she finally emerged. His hairy, tattooed forearms were folded across his chest and he was glaring at her. “Well?”

“I just needed a quick break, myself, that’s all.”

“Tell you what,” he drawled. “You can have a long break. A permanent one, starting now. You’re fired.”

“But...”

The man already had his back to her.

“Wait, please, Lou. I need this job.”

He turned and gave her a once-over. “Yeah? So why were you late again today?”

“There was trouble in my neighborhood this morning. I had to stay until the cops said I could leave.”

“Okay...suppose I buy that. How come you keep complaining you’re sick all the time?”

“Not all the time. Honest. I just can’t help it.” Hoping the truth about her pregnancy would soften his heart she blurted out, “I’m going to have a baby.”

“Uh-huh. That’s what I figured. Like I said, you’re done here. Pick up your final check on Friday.”

“No, please. How am I going to survive?”

“Should of thought of that before you messed around and got caught.”

Left alone in the dingy hallway, Nicki leaned against the wall. She felt as drained as if she’d just run a marathon. What was she going to do now? Her bills were already steep, thanks to her conniving former fiancé, Bobby Lee Crawford, and his liberal use of her credit cards without her knowledge. She was behind in the rent, too. Not to mention how expensive it was going to be to repair the damage she imagined had been done to her apartment and her furniture. Those repairs were likely to cost a lot more than she had in the bank, which was pretty much nothing.

Untying the apron, she wadded it into a ball and threw it onto a chair as she stomped out of the truck stop. What a day this had already been. She could hardly wait to see what other disheartening surprises awaited her.

This was not how life was supposed to be when a person became a Christian, was it? She had no idea but she was certainly going to ask Pastor Eaton the next time she saw him. Instead of life getting easier, it seemed as if her problems had become a lot more complicated since she’d turned to Jesus for help, asked for forgiveness and surrendered to the Lord a month ago.

So, now what? Nicki wondered. What, indeed? She was without a job, had no savings and was still two months in arrears on her rent because she’d believed Bobby Lee when he’d taken the cash from her and lied about paying the landlord. What a blind fool she’d been where that smooth-talking Romeo was concerned.

Her hand rested at her waist and she sighed. “Poor little baby. You sure picked a mama with her share of problems, didn’t you?”

Now that she was outside in the fresh south Texas air and sunshine, she took a few deeper breaths and began to feel better. Yes, she was in a pickle because she’d trusted the wrong man with her heart, but she was strong and smart and resilient. She’d had to be to have survived thus far. There were other jobs, other cafés.

She’d never consider applying at Arianna’s place, even if her cousin were still alive to give her a job, but there was the Sagebrush Diner and even the Youth Center. They might need a good cook or kitchen assistant. As long as she could ventilate the work area, she should be fine. She wasn’t trained for any other decent-paying jobs, and as soon as her pregnancy started to show, she knew she’d have an even harder time finding steady work.

Determined to start looking immediately, Nicolette rounded the corner and stopped dead in her tracks. Shading her eyes, she squinted in disbelief.

There sat her car, her only means of transportation, with all four tires totally flattened!

* * *

Jackson’s pager went off just as he got back to the station and reclaimed Titan.

With the dog trotting happily at his side, he headed for Slade McNeal’s office to find out what was up.

“You wanted to see me, Captain?”

“Yeah. What kind of shape was the Johnson woman in when you left her?”

“Pretty good, considering.” Jackson’s hand rested on Titan’s silky black head and he absently ruffled the dog’s ears as he continued. “She thought she’d seen somebody coming after her behind the truck stop, but I didn’t find anything odd when I checked that area. Why?”

“Because she just called to report that her tires had been flattened. I asked her if they’d been slashed but she didn’t know. She apparently took one look and hightailed it down the road before she used her phone.” He cleared his throat. “Says most of her personal belongings are still locked in the car, and she’s not going back there for any reason until you show up to keep her company.”

“Me?” Jackson could tell he was coloring but chose to pretend otherwise. “Why me? Was there another bomb threat?”

“No. Apparently you impressed her, Detective. She said she’d promised you she’d call.”

Jackson scowled. “Hold on. She works nights. She shouldn’t have even looked at her car ’til almost dawn. What was she doing out there now?”

“Guess you can ask her that when you see her.” He checked a note on his desk, then handed it over. “You’ll find her at the Jiffy-Suds car wash on Highway 20, down the block from where she works.”

Jackson turned to leave, Titan at his side, when the captain added, “Give your dog a break and let him sniff around there if he wants. I know he’s not a tracking dog like my Rio or Austin Black’s bloodhound, Justice, but he has a good nose. A little cross-training might prove useful.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I suspect the Johnson woman is more scared than anything. Since she’s apparently taken with you, I’ll expect you to continue to cultivate her confidence and get us some answers.”

“You still believe it’s all connected? The murders, the drugs, the bomb, everything that’s been happening in Sagebrush these past few months?”

The captain’s jaw clenched. “It’s entirely possible. Remember, one of our primary objectives is still to find my Rio and bring him home. Soon. Before the syndicate that kidnapped him decides to put a bullet in him—if they haven’t already.” He sighed heavily. “Caleb would never understand losing his best buddy for good. You can’t explain things like that to a five-year-old. The poor kid’s been a nervous wreck ever since Rio was dognapped.”

“I’ll do my best, sir,” Jackson said. “How’s your father doing? Any lasting effects from the beating he took back then?”

“Some. Dad’s not himself, that’s for sure. He still has to have nursing care at home. I wish I knew if the dognappers beat him because he tried to do the right thing and stop them from stealing Rio, or if they acted from plain meanness. Guess it really doesn’t matter.” He paused, pensive, before ordering, “Get going, Worth. Find out what the Johnson woman knows.”

“Yes, sir,” Jackson said, saluting as he took his leave.

The whole K-9 team had been searching for Rio—McNeal’s multipurpose, elite German shepherd—since January, with little result. Whoever had taken the dog had obviously known exactly when to strike, assaulting the captain’s elderly father, as well, and putting him in the hospital in a coma. Their K-9 unit had managed to rescue a neighborhood child who had been snatched after seeing Rio abducted, but as far as finding the dog went, they’d drawn a series of blanks.

Jackson gave his black Lab an additional pat as he loaded him into one of the unit’s special SUVs. Losing a beloved partner like Titan the way McNeal had lost Rio would be devastating.

The search for Rio had had one unexpected benefit, however. It had given the police more leads to a crime syndicate operating in and around Sagebrush. Unfortunately, that discovery had also resulted in a string of violent deaths, the last being that of Arianna Munson—aka “the Serpent.”

“So, what do you know about all this, Ms. Johnson?” Jackson muttered to himself. “And why won’t you tell us?”

Maybe a better question would be, How can I convince you to trust me? If Nicolette didn’t realize she held the key to the puzzle that had gotten her cousin into so much trouble, perhaps he could still succeed. All he’d have to do is get her talking, and listen very carefully to everything she revealed.

If the answer was there, he prayed he’d recognize it quickly. Before it was too late to save Rio and before something else happened to the Johnson woman.

There was no doubt in his mind. Someone was out to get her. And they had nearly succeeded at least twice, maybe more.

* * *

Nicki paced, perspiring more from anxiety than from the warm Texas evening temperature. She scanned passing traffic. She could see the truck stop far in the distance, but figured as long as she stayed near the activity at the car wash she’d be safe enough, at least for the time being.

The approach of the distinctively lettered K-9 unit elated her so much, she couldn’t help grinning. In seconds, she was standing beside the driver’s-side window.

Jackson rolled it down and leaned a bent arm on the sill. “I hear you have another problem.”

“You could say that. Somebody flattened all my tires.”

“Good thing you discovered it before dark,” he said. “Why did you?”

“Why did I what?”

“Go outside. I didn’t expect you to venture into the parking lot until you were off work. I don’t suppose whoever messed with your car did, either. So, why were you out there now?”

“I was trying to go home,” she replied with a grimace. “Right after you left, I started to feel sick. I told Lou why and he fired me.”

“That’s against the law. You can’t be fired for being pregnant.”

“No, but I can if I’m no longer able to work around food, and that’s the only job I know. Besides, he’s got his nephew working there now, and I have a feeling he was looking for a good excuse to let me go.” She shrugged. “If it hadn’t been that it would have been something else, like my being late for work again.”

“Do you want me to have a talk with him? Explain the other problems you’ve been having and what held you up today?”

“Don’t bother. I told him enough. Besides, it’s none of Lou’s business.” She started to circle the black-and-white. “You can give me a lift back to my car, though, so I can show you what happened to it.”

Jackson unlocked the passenger door with the flick of a switch. “Okay. Climb in.”

Titan stuck his head over the back of the seat and panted in her ear while she fastened her seat belt.

“I’m glad you brought your buddy,” Nicki said, tickling the dog under the chin. “I know he’s not a protection dog, but I still feel safer when he’s around.”

“So do I. We’ve been partners since we were deployed in Afghanistan. Actually, Titan outranks me. It’s customary for all the working dogs to hold a higher rank than their handlers.”

“Really? How did you manage to bring him home with you when he was trained for the battlefield?”

“It’s a long story.” In her peripheral vision she saw the man glance lovingly at the dog before he added, “Have you ever heard of PTSD?”

“Freaking out from stress? Sure.”

“Well, dogs can get it, too. Titan and I were traveling in a convoy when the vehicle directly ahead of us was blown up by an improvised explosive device. After that, he was never the same. He still works okay, but he’s just too jumpy for military service. That’s how I was able to keep him after my discharge.”

Suddenly, a lot of things made sense to her. “I get it. And you came here to Sagebrush because of that old explosion the lowlife on the phone was bragging about.”

“That’s part of the reason. My boss, Captain McNeal, lost his wife in that attack. When Titan and I applied for a job with the K-9 unit, he had a strong personal reason to convince the commissioners to hire us.”

“That is so sad.” She pointed toward her car as they drove closer. “There. See it? All four tires are flat.”

“You stay here with Titan, and I’ll go have a look. Since there’s no hurry getting you back on the road, I want to examine the scene carefully.”

“It could be just vandalism.”

She watched him hesitate long enough to report his location to dispatch, then open the door and put one foot outside before saying, “I don’t think this is any more random than the attacks at your apartment, Ms. Johnson. If you’re smart, you won’t get complacent.”

Nicki knew he was right. Like it or not, she had become the target of some shady characters who apparently had ties to Arianna.

The biggest question was how in the world could she hope to convince them—and the police—that she was innocent. Clueless. Not worth bothering with.

Except for this particular officer, she added silently. Given a choice, she would just as soon have him hanging around a little while longer, at least until the threats stopped.

It wasn’t sensible.

It wasn’t logical.

But it was true. She felt a lot safer when he and his big, black dog were close by.

Like right now.

* * *

As far as Jackson was concerned, the pretty cook had dodged a theoretical bullet once again. If she hadn’t been fired and, therefore, left work before nightfall, she could easily have become a crime statistic.

He swept the general area, checked inside her car and retrieved her personal belongings, then returned to Nicolette and Titan. They both seemed very glad to see him.

“Looks like somebody let the air out of the tires instead of slashing them, so you should be good to go as soon as we get them inflated.”

“But...why would someone do this?”

“You really don’t see the possibilities?”

“No.”

He turned sideways in the seat to partially face her. “Okay. Here’s what I think... I think somebody still believes your cousin told you something important, and they’re determined to get the secret from you.”

“By letting the air out of my tires? That’s crazy.”

“Not if it meant you’d be stranded at night, all alone, behind a building that provides plenty of cover from passing witnesses.”

He could see that his frankness was making an impression with her. Judging by the paleness of her cheeks, he wondered if he’d gone too far.

Instinct told him to reach out to her, to squeeze her hand, to offer comfort. Training and experience warned against getting too friendly. Before Jackson could decide which concept to employ, his dog settled the question for him.

Titan stretched his big head over the seat and gave the frightened young woman a kiss on the cheek. The slurp was audible.

If she’d looked the least bit upset, Jackson wouldn’t have laughed. However, when she squealed, “Eww,” and swiped at her damp cheek with her palm, he had to chuckle. “Sorry. I think he wants you to know you’re safe with us.”

“Safe, maybe. Wet, too. Is he always this slobbery when he wants to show affection?”

“As a matter of fact, no,” Jackson told her. “I guess he remembers you hugging him after the blast.”

“It’s a good thing I didn’t give him any treats, too, or he’d have drowned me!”

Pointing at the dog Jackson ordered, “Down. Stay.” And Titan plopped onto the backseat as if he’d had that pose in mind all along.

“He really is amazing,” Nicki said. “I’ve never seen such a well-trained animal. Do you get to take him home with you at night?”

“Yes. I have a little ranch east of here where he can run around and unwind.” He smiled. “Me, too.”

“That’s nice.” Nicki paused and sighed. “So, what shall I do about my car? I’ll need it if I’m going to go job hunting.”

“I’ll radio Arnie’s Garage for a service truck. If the driver can’t take care of your tires on the spot, I’ll have the car delivered to you later. In the meantime, suppose you let me buy you a cup of coffee and maybe a bite to eat?”

“Not here,” Nicki said quickly, eyeing The Truck Stop Diner. “Any place but here.”

“Fine.” He used his radio to order the roadside assistance, then started the SUV. “All set. How does the Sagebrush Diner sound?”

She smiled. “Wonderful.”

“Good.” And while we’re there, Jackson mused, we’ll relax and talk about a lot of things, including what your crooked cousin may have told you.

It didn’t matter how much he happened to like this woman or how smitten his dog was with her, there was no way he could believe she didn’t know more than she was willing to admit. Nobody her age could still be this naive, this innocent. Nobody.

This woman was hiding something. Something that was liable to get her killed if she didn’t confess soon.

FOUR

Nicki rolled down the SUV window and let the balmy April air caress her face as the K-9 cop drove her into town. Many businesses were located on or near Sagebrush Boulevard, as was the large, redbrick church where she had so recently become a Christian.

They pulled up to the familiar storefront diner. “While I’m here, I can ask if they need a cook,” Nicki said. “I need to find something that I can keep doing while I’m waiting for the baby.”

Jackson rolled down the windows partway to give Titan fresh, cool air before he circled to open her door. “Isn’t it going to be hard to be on your feet a lot?”

“I haven’t had any problems yet. The biggest drawback at the truck stop was that tiny, stuffy kitchen.”

She accompanied him to the diner and felt a rush of cool air as he opened the glass door in the brick facade. This place, too, smelled of cooking, but not in the way her former job had.

The booths along one wood-paneled wall beckoned, and she headed straight for the most distant one.

“I can’t let you pay for my order,” she insisted, scooting in. “This is not a date.”

“Of course not.”

“Good, because I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take advantage of your kindness.”

The astonished look on his handsome face almost made her giggle. It was ludicrous to suggest that anyone could take advantage of a man like this unless he permitted it. Still, she had to wonder why he was being so solicitous. Perhaps his motives were not as pure as hers.

As soon as Nicki had ordered a slab of apple pie à la mode and coffee she leaned back, folded her arms across her chest and spoke her mind. “Okay. Here we are. Now why did you really invite me?” The odd arch of one of his brows caused the beginnings of a cynical smile at the corners of her mouth. “Well?”

“I don’t suppose you’ll believe it was out of the goodness of my heart?”

“Nope. I’ve had my fill of manipulative men, particularly lately. Try telling me the truth.”

“Fair enough.” Leaning forward, his hands clasped atop the faux-wood table, Jackson spoke quietly. “My boss wants me to talk to you about what Arianna said with her last breath.”

“You mean that ridiculous code thing that Murke was screaming about before the shooting started? Forget it. I don’t know anything about any codes. I told you—my cousin and I hardly ever spoke. I am the last person she’d have shared an important confidence with.”

“Okay. Suppose I buy that.”

“What do you mean, suppose? It’s the truth. I don’t know a thing about her business or her criminal activities. She and I were at odds from the time we were teenagers. Arianna used to laugh at me for being too goody-goody. She made no bones about it.”

“Then why would she waste her last breath warning you?”

“How should I know?” Nicki could tell from the warmth of her cheeks that she was getting upset. “Maybe she was trying to get me into trouble for the fun of it. She did that lots of times when we were kids.”

“Okay.” Jackson unfolded his napkin and eased back in the booth to make room for their orders. “Eat your pie and then we’ll talk to the manager in case there’s a chance for a job here.”

“What about my poor apartment and my tires?”

“If the car isn’t ready soon enough, I’ll drive you home and the garage can deliver it later.”

“Assuming I have a home. You haven’t really told me what to expect.”

“It’s probably not as bad as you’re envisioning.” He paused to add cream to his coffee. “I didn’t get a detailed look at it, but they tell me your bedroom is still in pretty good shape so you can salvage your clothes and things like that.”

“Oh, spiffy. And I can sit in the middle of an exploded sofa to watch TV?”

To his credit, he winced. “No TV, I’m afraid. No windows, either.”

“What? I can’t even lock myself in?”

“Probably not, now that you mention it. I’ll have a talk with your landlord and see about getting you moved into another unit.”

“I don’t want another unit. I want my home back. I want my job back. I want my life back.”

“One step at a time. One day at a time,” he said so calmly she wanted to scream.

Who did this cop think he was, lecturing her? He probably had a family and a real home. That was all she’d wanted. To belong again, the way she had once, when her parents were alive and life had been so peaceful. It wasn’t fair that they had both been taken from her when she was in her teens and made her grow up overnight.

In retrospect, she could see that that desire for normalcy was what had gotten her into trouble with Bobby Lee, yet it had also ultimately led her back to church and had resulted in her recently renewed faith, so she could hardly complain. Now she understood how desperately she had needed God’s forgiveness, His unconditional love. She still did. And so did her unborn baby.

They would make a family of their own someday, just the two of them. Nicki knew she could handle being a single mother. Her fondest hope was that raising her child alone wouldn’t be too hard on the little boy or girl.

It was becoming clear that the Lord had been protecting her when He’d allowed her to glimpse Bobby Lee’s true character. Being deserted by a selfish liar like that had to be better than having him co-parenting their child.

The only thing she would have done differently, given another chance, was avoid listening to her biological clock and believing the sweet lies and so-called marriage proposal of that handsome cowboy-type in the first place. Anybody could look good in a Stetson. It took a special man to deserve to become a father.

* * *

The trip back to Nicki’s apartment was short and uneventful. Jackson pulled up to the curb and stopped. “I truly am sorry you lost your job.”

“Yeah, me, too.” She sighed wearily. “I’m beginning to realize how hard it’s going to be to find another cooking position. Sagebrush is too small.”

“You’ll find something. I know you will. My earlier offer stands. If you want me to speak to Lou for you, I’ll be glad to.”

Nicki shook her head. “No. I can’t go back to work there. Just the thought of that steamy, stinky little kitchen turns my stomach.”

“Okay.” Jackson circled the SUV to open her door. “First things first. I’ll walk you up to your apartment so you can get some of your things.”

“Then what? I have no place to go.”

“There must be an empty suite close by, hopefully in this same building.” He saw she was standing strong, unwavering. Nevertheless, he felt it would do her good to have Titan along so he also leashed the dog and let him jump down. “Let’s stop at the manager’s unit on the way up and ask.”

“Whatever you say. I’m beyond logical thought right now. It seems like my whole world has been turned upside down.”

Jackson smiled to reassure her as they made their way along the front walk. The old concrete was so cracked and uneven, he almost cupped her elbow to steady her without thinking of the possible negative consequences.

Reaching past her, he opened the worn exterior door and held it while she passed through. He’d seen plenty of dumps before, but this building was close to the worst. Moving out might be the best thing for her. Getting into a safer neighborhood wouldn’t hurt, either, particularly since she had her baby’s welfare to consider as well as her own.

Jackson paused to knock on the manager’s door, then turned to Nicki when no one responded. “Guess they’re not home.”

“The TV is blasting so maybe they can’t hear us over that noise. Let’s go on up to my place and see what’s left. We can stop by again on our way out.”

Jackson’s smile spread. “See? There’s nothing wrong with your thinking. That’s a very sensible suggestion.”

“Yup. That’s me. All brains.”

“Don’t put yourself down,” he said with a scowl. “I don’t know very many people who could cope with the stresses you’ve faced, and do as well as you are.”

Her expression was one of astonishment when she glanced up and murmured, “Thanks.”

“No thanks necessary. It’s the truth.”

“Well, thanks, anyway. It’s nice to get a compliment that has nothing to do with my looks—or my cooking.”

He was pleased to see her blush slightly, and hear her soft chuckle in spite of the trying situation. The woman was a survivor. That inner strength would stand her in good stead in the coming months, particularly if she failed to find a new job.

Climbing the stairs, Jackson noted that Titan seemed reluctant. That figured. The halls still smelled of smoke and undoubtedly of the chemicals used to formulate the explosive. Plus, the dog would remember this place as being the one that had originally frightened him.

“Let me go to your door first,” Jackson said.

Wide-eyed, she stared at him. “You don’t think...?”

“No. I don’t think there’s another bomb. It never hurts to be careful, though. Let Titan and me do what we’re trained for. It’ll only take a second.”

“Okay,” Nicki replied, smiling slightly. “But if I see anybody trying to deliver more flowers, I may shove him back down the stairs first and ask questions later.”

Jackson could tell she was trying to find humor in spite of her fear so he played along. “You probably won’t have to. The department has been grilling every florist in town as if they’re hiding Public Enemy Number One behind the bouquets in their coolers. After that, I doubt any of them would accept an order for delivery to this address.”

“Good to hear.” She rolled her eyes. “Did you figure out where those exploding flowers came from?”

“Not yet. There wasn’t much left to go on and no record of a cash-and-carry sale.” He held up his hand like a traffic cop. “Wait there. We’ll only be a minute.”

He approached the ruined apartment. There was a plain, white envelope bordered in duct tape stuck to the outside of the door.

On the front was printed #210. That was all.

Donning latex gloves, he carefully pried the tape loose and opened the envelope, fully expecting another threat.

Instead, he found an eviction notice.

* * *

Nicki watched the K-9 officer from afar. She could see that he’d discovered something on her door, but until he motioned her to come closer, she had no idea what it might be.

He handed the paper to her. Immediate incredulity was followed closely by a teary blurring of her vision. She was being thrown out. She’d been a good tenant until recently. Didn’t the past count for anything?

“I’m sorry,” Jackson said.

What could she say? The notice spelled out several plausible reasons for her eviction, besides the bombing. She sighed and shook her head. “It’s okay.”

“You were behind in your rent?”

“It’s a long story,” Nicki told him. “I guess I can understand why this mess might be the last straw. I just wish I still had a job and references so I’d have a better chance of getting another place to live.”

“First things first,” he said matter-of-factly. “I have permission for you to pick up your clothes and some personal items as long as you confine yourself to the bedroom and bath, in case the crime scene techs want to go over the living room again. Then we’ll find you temporary quarters somewhere. Maybe at one of the motels downtown.”

“I can’t afford to do that,” Nicki said, feeling utterly defeated.

“Let me handle the details. The department has an agreement with several businesses to temporarily house crime or disaster victims. Your situation qualifies. Don’t worry about the cost.”

“Temporarily?”

“One day at a time,” he said solemnly.

She had to smile. “How about an hour at a time? I don’t think I can handle another day like this one has been. Not all at once.”

* * *

“She didn’t even own a suitcase, so she threw her clothes and stuff into pillowcases. I placed her in the motel closest to downtown, that way she can walk to the store or to church if she wants,” Jackson reported to Captain McNeal. “Arnie’s delivering her car to her there.”

Slade stared into space for a few moments, his blue eyes narrowing, before he replied, “It’s stretching the rules to include her in that relief program.”

“Yeah...I know. But I couldn’t figure what else to do with her. She really seems clueless about her cousin’s criminal activities, but she may be in danger just the same. I had her program my private number into her cell phone, too, in case she needs it.”

Opening a file folder on his desk, Slade scanned the loose pages. “The Johnson woman is thirty-four. She’s hardly naive. She has to know more than she’s admitting.”

“What do you want me to do next? As long as she’s out of a job, all we can do is keep an eye on the motel, in case she has visitors, and monitor her calls.”

“How’s your uncle Harold these days?”

Jackson’s eyebrow arched. “He’s fine. Why?”

“Just wondering. Last time you mentioned him, he was carping about having to do all the cooking while you were on duty, wasn’t he?”

“Oh, hey. Hold your horses, Captain. Harold and I make out fine by ourselves. We don’t need a cook. If I was in the market for help I’d hire a cowpuncher to manage my livestock—not that I run many head.”

Slade’s gaze narrowed. “I’ve been giving this situation a lot of thought. I definitely think you need kitchen help. Matter of fact, I know just the person. She’s a pro and she needs a job. Plus, if she was at the ranch with Harold all day, he could help us keep an eye on her when you’re working. What could be better?”

“Anything but that,” Jackson grumbled. “My uncle thinks he missed his calling when he became a sheriff’s deputy instead of a stand-up comic. Now that he’s retired, he drives me crazy with his stale jokes. Ms. Johnson would never put up with him on a daily basis. I barely manage.”

“I’ll talk to Harold myself, tell him to cool it and give him the idea that it’s an unofficial assignment. He’ll love it. Once a cop, always a cop. You know that.”

Jackson wasn’t convinced that the captain’s conclusions were right. He had one last hope. “What if she turns me down?”

“She won’t. I’ve already warned off every restaurant and greasy spoon in and around Sagebrush,” Slade said flatly. “Ms. Johnson can’t leave this area because she’s a person of interest in her cousin’s murder case, and she won’t find a job in town. She’s out of options. She’ll agree to work for you.”

“You’ve really thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“That’s my job,” Slade drawled, obviously pleased with himself.

Jackson was anything but happy. “There must be another way.”

“Not as perfect as my plan. I think it would be best if you approached Ms. Johnson ASAP. No use taking the chance she might decide to apply for a different kind of position. The sooner she moves out to your ranch and starts cooking for you two starving bachelors, the better.”

“And if I refuse to hire her?”

“I can’t order you to comply, but you’re a good man and a smart cop. If you’re truly concerned about her being innocent and in somebody’s crosshairs, you’ll move her to where she’s a lot safer.” He paused and closed the file folder. “And if she’s as guilty as I think she is, we all need to do everything we can to prove it.”

He reached for the phone on his desk and lifted the receiver, holding it while he added, “I’ll take care of briefing your uncle. You go hire yourself a cook.”

Jackson was muttering to himself all the way to his patrol vehicle. He loaded and secured Titan, then slid behind the wheel. The captain’s idea had merit—he simply didn’t want to bring Nicolette into his personal life.

And why is that? he asked himself. The honest answer was not only a surprise, it was an unwelcome one. He didn’t want to take the chance of getting closer to her. If he had to interact with her all the time, he’d have to really guard his heart because he already liked her far too much for his own good. Or for hers.

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