Chapter Fifteen
Lightning backlit the gathering clouds. It was bad enough to have her family leave after nightfall, but with the storm closing in, it was all Rowan could do to keep her anxiety hidden.
Ian’s unhappiness about the long road trip to Claudia’s house didn’t help matters, either. He fretted over Oscar and worried about leaving her and Phillip. She was at a loss as to how to explain things in terms he would understand. Phillip handled the situation with patience and love.
She didn’t know what he’d said in the hour he and Ian were sequestered in Ian’s bedroom. All she could hear through the doors was the low, rumbling conversation. But when they walked out, Ian was more accepting. Too bad Rowan wasn’t.
Not that she didn’t trust Claudia or Zach with her family. They would protect the people she loved best. She wished she could go with them. Everything was spiraling out of control and all she wanted to do was hide away until the whole mess was over.
Phillip shut the trunk on her mother’s car. “That’s it. Time to hit the road.”
Her mother heaved a sigh and stuck out her hand to Jess. “I want to thank you for all you’ve done, Mr. Alderman.” Her eyes were shining with unshed tears.
He shook her hand while his gaze traveled the curve of her face. “My pleasure, Mrs. McKinley. My services are always available to you.”
Rowan rolled her eyes heavenward. “Mom?”
“Yes, dear?” She forced her gaze away from Jess.
Rowan shook her head. “Just give me a hug.” She wrapped her arms around her and whispered, “Cut the melodramatics, Mom. We know. You really need to keep your doors locked. Now give this poor guy a good-bye kiss. He looks like he can hardly stand to let you go.”
Her mother pulled back, showing a mixture of astonishment and embarrassment. “You understand? I mean…you don’t mind?”
Rowan laughed. “Of course I don’t mind. You’re a beautiful woman. You deserve to be happy, to have a life of your own, the love of a good man.”
Joy covered her mother’s face. In one fluid motion, she turned and flung her arms around Jess’ neck. He hauled her close, plastering a kiss on her that could have steamed rice.
Zach coughed into his hand. “It’s getting late. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”
Rowan hugged and kissed Ian. He was so sleepy that she doubted he’d even remember. After fastening his seat belt, he toppled to one side and nestled his head into a pile of travel pillows.
Zach started the car. “Should take about ten hours. I’ll call the minute we get into San Francisco.”
The rain started with their departure. A perfect backdrop to the mood surrounding Rowan—Jess, too, judging from his hang-dog look.
“Sorry, Jess.” Phillip clapped him on the back. “Zach was the only one of us not directly involved with this case. There wasn’t much choice.”
“I know.” He glanced toward Rowan. “I want to thank you for what you just did. Your mother and I have been seeing each other for about six months. When you were arrested…” Suddenly looking weary, he closed his eyes. “I didn’t know what to do. It’s hell to be torn between the woman you love and your job. You don’t know how grateful I was to discover you were innocent. I love your mother, Rowan. I want to marry her. She’s always been afraid of how you would take it. You were so close to your father.”
On impulse, Rowan gave the man a bear hug. “Marry her. Make each other happy. Don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way.”
Not like I did. She wagged a finger at him and smiled. “In fact, I expect you to make an honest woman of her.”
He tossed back a laugh. “You have my—”
A thunderous boom drowned out the rest of his words. The house went dark.
“And when do I get to make an honest woman of you?” Phillip whispered against her ear. He slipped his strong hands around her waist. “Let’s watch the storm from your room. Zach left us a little present—a box of little presents.”
Rowan glanced around to see if Mike and Jess had overheard, but the storm had already driven them inside. She knew that the two would be staying downstairs in Ian’s room and the spare bedroom. Blessed privacy for her and Phillip.
“Are you asking for a commitment from me, Phillip?”
He dusted his fingers along her neck. “I’m giving you one from me.”
“Phillip, don’t—”
Her protest was swallowed by his kiss. With lips still sealed, he scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs.
So much for discretion.
Rowan didn’t care. Phillip could haul her to hell and back right now as long as it meant being with him. Mike and Jess would have to be trusted to keep their mouths shut.
Phillip kicked the bedroom door closed the instant they crossed the threshold. He broke off their kiss long enough to place her in the center of her bed and kick off his shoes, then he stretched out beside her and found her mouth once more.
With shaking hands, Rowan caught the edges of his shirt and tugged it up. He stripped the garment over his head, then did the same to hers. Her bra was quickly added to the pile, exposing her aching breasts to his questing fingers. A flash of lightning highlighted the passion in his eyes, turning them to liquid silver. Still shaking, Rowan furrowed her fingers through his short hair and pulled his head to her breast, gasping when he sucked her nipple deep into his mouth.
With a flick of his wrist, he released the snap on her shorts. Phillip swooped his hand inside, cupping her buttocks before sliding the material down and off her legs, then he brushed his hand back up, coaxing her to open for him.
Rowan bit back a cry as he stroked his fingers against her heat. He traced his thumb over those places only he knew how to bring to life, igniting a fire only he could quench. Time was endless, frozen, as he tantalized her with his long fingers. She rode the waves of pleasure, her low cries punctuated by the flashing of the desert storm.
She tensed as the pleasure engulfed her, quivered in his arms as it overcame her, then held him close in that final fulfillment as it subsided.
With lazy satisfaction, she beckoned him close, stripped his shorts away and reached out to cup him in her hands. The vein on the underside of his cock pulsed as she stroked his erection with one hand and kneaded his balls with the other. Phillip moaned softly, head tilted back, eyes half closed with ecstasy. Flicking her tongue over her lips, she bent and took him into her mouth—deep.
“My God, Rowan,” he gasped and cupped her head. The flex of his fingers and the subtle thrust of his hips begged for more.
She swirled her tongue from base to tip, delving into the slit for a moment before starting back down again. Phillip splayed his legs wider, opening himself as far as his stance at the edge of the bed allowed. Rowan squeezed his sac and sucked him hard. Tension shuddered through his body. She matched his groan with one of her own—her way of telling him to come.
He froze, no doubt weighing his choices in his lust-fogged brain—come or pull free and fuck her? She decided for him, drawing away by slow degrees until she could look up at him. His body glistened with sweat. Hard breaths trembled his shoulders. Rowan raised to her knees and nestled his cock between her breasts.
“Fuck me,” she whispered, then crawled backward on the bed.
His gaze tracked the glide of her fingers up her inner thighs. His breath caught when she spread her labia for him. She writhed into a caress over her clit. Phillip groaned and fumbled to seat a condom. She reached for him the second his knee hit the bed, pulling him close as he covered her body with his.
Their tongue met on ragged gasps as she wrapped her legs around his waist and he slid home.
Oh, God. She had forgotten how deliciously overwhelming he could be. They deepened their kiss, writhing their bodies in time with the dance of their tongues.
He pulled back, then pressed forward, harder. Rowan dug her heels into his buttocks, demanding more.
Phillip smothered a groan into her neck. He grabbed her bottom in one hand and tilted her hips up.
Together they moved, clinging tighter with every rock of their bodies. His heat bathed her from head to toe. Her climax built—her clit rigid against his hard cock. She craved the relief orgasm would bring but fought the mounting wave, wanting them to come at the same time.
Phillip broke the kiss. “Come with me, baby.”
“Now?” she asked.
“Oh yeah.”
She took his mouth in a frenzied kiss, hoping it would be enough to muffle their groans. Mother Nature blessed them with a flash of lightning. Thunder rumbled over the house, masking all sound right when they needed it most. As they slid down the other side of bliss, she wished the storm would stay with them a little while longer so they could do it all over again.
* * * *
Phillip fumbled for the bedside phone. A glance at the clock showed it was eleven-thirty. They’d just drifted off to sleep. No good-news calls happened at this time of night.
“Hello?”
“Is this the McKinley residence?” a man asked.
“Who wants to know?” Phillip barked. If this was another threat…
“California Highway Patrol.”
Adrenaline raced through his heart. He snapped upright. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
Rowan pushed herself to one elbow and swung toward him. He didn’t want to look at her face, didn’t want to see the panic there that mirrored his. He swung from the bed.
“There’s been an accident,” the officer said. “A car driven by Captain Zachary Taylor was run off the road east of Joshua Tree.”
Phillip grabbed his clothes. “Joshua Tree? Why did it take so long to call us?”
Rowan jumped to her knees. “What? What is it?”
He waved her down.
“The storm kept us from reaching him. The road was flooded. The vehicle rolled. They missed the wash, but—”
“Are they hurt? Where are they?” Was he shouting? It seemed so.
Rowan leaped from bed and scrambled for her clothes.
“All three occupants were unconscious when we reached them. Weather conditions and flooded roads wouldn’t allow any other option. The Naval Hospital is handling emergencies for now.”
“How are they? What’s wrong? Are they all right?” Phillip told himself to shut up so the man could answer.
“I can’t say. I also can’t be sure how long they’ll remain here. Soon as things clear, patients will most likely be moved to area hospitals.”
“We’re on our way.” Phillip slammed the receiver down and hauled on his jeans while he told Rowan. He didn’t need light to know she was terrified. He was scared to death.
She wrenched open the bedroom door and shouted downstairs for Mike and Jess. Panic made her voice shrill. While she hurried to dress, he raced downstairs to break the news to the other two men. Only afterward did he realize how abruptly he’d presented the information, considering Jess’ intimate involvement with Emma.
But there was no taking it back. He’d make up for it later—if any of them had a later.
* * * *
Rowan sat statue-like on the drive to the hospital. She would not give in to hysterics. Nothing could be accomplished by it. Strength was needed—for Ian, her mother, Phillip, even Jess. She had to hang in there. Yet it took every ounce of willpower to adhere to that decree, especially when they walked into the hospital.
The mud-splattered highway patrolman stopped in mid-pace when they rushed in. His partner stood nearby, head bent in deep conversation with the Navy emergency room doctor.
Noticing their arrival, the doctor cut him off. “You’re the family?”
“Yes,” they answered in unison.
“How is Ian? Where is our son?” Phillip’s tone was strained, but at least it had come out with some semblance of calm. If Rowan had been the one doing the talking, she would have shrieked.
“We’re getting him settled in intensive care,” the doctor replied.
Rowan bit her knuckle to keep from sobbing aloud. Phillip didn’t do as well. She watched him blanch, saw panic racing over his face and she wrapped her arms firmly around his waist. He hugged her as if she were a lifeline, his arms shaking.
“He took quite a whack on the head,” the doctor told them. “He’s been out cold since they were found.”
“You mean he’s in a coma?” Phillip choked out.
The doctor shook his head. “No. He’s got one heck of a concussion and is unconscious. The next twenty-four hours are going to be critical. Once the weather clears, we’ll determine if he needs to be taken to Loma Linda or Desert Regional. By then he might be well enough to go home.”
With a choking gasp, Jess pushed forward. “Emma? How’s my Emma?” His deep voice was painfully tight.
“Resting comfortably and awake. She’s got a broken arm, scrapes and plenty of bruises, but otherwise she’s going to be fine. Because she also suffered a concussion and was unconscious when she was brought in, I’d like her to stay overnight. You can go see her.”
Jess rushed off to the hospital ward upstairs.
“Zach Taylor?” Mike asked.
For the first time, the doctor refused to meet anyone’s eyes. “As I was telling the patrolman, the surgeon pulled a nine-millimeter bullet out of his shoulder.”
Rowan gasped. “He was shot?”
The doctor nodded. “His health and age are in his favor, but we can’t give you a prognosis yet. Last report is that his blood pressure is low, he has a severe concussion and his leg was badly fractured in two places. As I said before, if he hadn’t been in such good health, he’d be dead by now. You might want to notify his relatives.”
Rowan’s stomach knotted and she hugged Phillip tighter.
“When can we see our son? And Zach?” he asked.
“We will let you know as soon as your son is settled in his room. Captain Taylor is still in recovery, but I understand he’ll be moved to a room soon.”
“Dear God.” Phillip pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes and tightened the grip he held around her shoulders. She gave in to the need to wrap him to her and swung fully against him. He put his other arm around her. Anyone who didn’t like it could go to hell.
The doctor’s pager beeped. He unclipped it with a motion born of years of practice then checked the readout.
“I’m sorry I can’t tell you more at the moment, but as soon as there is any news about your son or Captain Taylor, someone will let you know.”
A Navy corpsman handed the doctor a clipboard, whispered another patient’s name and returned to his corner desk station.
The doctor, looking harried and tired, murmured, “Excuse me. I’m needed in the emergency room,” and left Phillip and Rowan to make their way upstairs.
“Go see your mom,” he said when they reached the ward waiting room. “I’ll wait here and come get you the second we’re able to see Ian.”
Rowan nodded and walked to her mother’s room. The sight of her lying in the bed stopped Rowan short. Her skin was barely a shade darker than the stark white of the sheets. Blue veins showed clearly at her temples and throat. Both eyes were darkened with bruises and her arm lay in a rigid cast suspended across her chest.
Jess held her free hand, slowly rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. Her mom’s eyes were closed. Jess’ sniffle indicated tears. She’d done this, risked her entire family on some crazy quest for answers. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She took a step back, not wanting to intrude.
Jess lifted his head and turned her way. His blue eyes shone with unshed tears. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s not your fault.”
He relinquished her mom’s hand gently as he stood and came her way.
Rowan shook her head. “I started all of this.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders then pulled her into a hug. “And you’re going to help finish this, honey. You need to stay strong, stay focused and remember that you aren’t at fault. Collins is, and we are going to prove that.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, can’t a girl get some sleep around here without you two getting all noble on me?” Emma’s voice was weak and scratchy but steady.
“Mom.” Rowan crouched at her mother’s side.
“Jess told me about Ian and Zach,” Her mom said. “I’m doing fine, darling. I just need some rest.” She grasped Rowan’s hand. “Go to Phillip, honey. He needs you now. Jess will stay with me.”
Rowan scrubbed the tears from her cheeks.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something about Ian. I love you.”
She turned to leave then paused and gave Jess a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
She returned to the waiting room and tried to sit while Phillip paced. Time passed with agonizing slowness. How long does it take to get one little boy settled? Has something else gone wrong? She launched to her feet to pace in the opposite direction as Phillip and nearly smacked into two deputy sheriffs walking through the door.
“Excuse me, Captain Stuart? Staff Sergeant McKinley? We need to ask you a few questions.”
Phillip pressed his hand against her back. “We’ve already given statements to the officer who called us from the hospital.”
“Yes, sir.” The taller deputy nodded. “But we have some questions about the passengers of the other car—the one that rammed your friend’s vehicle. You did know, didn’t you, that one of the two passengers was involved in the accident as well and brought in for treatment?”
Rowan scowled. “What other man?”
“Witnesses say two grizzled-looking men in a beat-up truck plowed into the car Captain Taylor was driving. The driver lost control of their vehicle afterward and skidded off the road. One got away. The other one was hurt too badly to escape. He was still out cold. His ribs are smashed. One leg is badly broken,” the shorter deputy replied.
A nurse poked her head into the room. “You can see your son now,” she said, beckoning them to follow.
The deputy stepped into their path before they could do so. “Do you have any idea why this happened?”
“Yes.” Phillip pushed by, taking Rowan with him. “But we need to see our son first.”
She leaned into the comfort of his hand at her back as they followed the nurse down the corridor to Ian’s room. Knowing he was hurt still didn’t prepare her for the sight of him in that huge bed.
He was a healthy boy, tall for his age, yet now dwarfed by the machinery, tubes and wires attached to his body. An ugly purple bump dominated his forehead. There were cuts along his arms and cheeks.
As if sensing her thoughts, Phillip said, “Glass from the rollover.”
“He looks so little, so vulnerable. I wish I could hold him.”
He pulled the single chair in the room to the bedside. “Sit down, honey. Talk to him. Maybe he’ll hear us.”
She longed to comb her fingers through Ian’s hair and cuddle him on her lap. She settled for holding the one hand not hooked up to an IV.
Phillip did most of the talking. Any words that came to her mind lodged in her throat while she forced the tremors from her voice.
“We love you.”
“You’re going to be fine.”
“Rest and get better.”
“Hang in there.”
Upbeat and positive, nothing to let Ian know how serious his condition was. Rowan kept praying Ian would open his eyes and give them his sweet smile, but he lay there, his small hand limp in hers.
This is a nightmare. It has to be. Life wouldn’t be so cruel as to take their son away when they were finally a family. She didn’t know how in the world Phillip managed to stay so calm, but she blessed him for it.
She wanted to scream at the injustice, to collapse on the bed and cry.
“Phillip?” Mike’s voice at the door brought their heads around. “Zach’s awake. He’s asking for you. The deputies are on their way to talk to him. The nurse isn’t happy about it but they insisted. I don’t know how much they’re going to get out of him in his condition.”
Phillip curled his fingers over Rowan’s shoulder. “I’ll be back in a little while. Will you be okay?”
She gave him a quick nod, then covered his hand with hers. “I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too.” He said it in full voice, not caring who heard or knew. “Ian’s going to be fine and we’re going to be a family.”
Rowan’s stomach roiled. If only it were as easy as it sounded.
* * * *
Phillip had seen Zach after dusk-till-dawn parties and all-night stretches of duty. Even then he had looked better than he did now. Normally robust and in good humor, now Zach was deathly white and could barely summon the energy to move. Tubes entered his nose and arms, pulsing with fluids and oxygen. Phillip’s heart twisted at the thought of losing his best friend.
“How is he?” Phillip asked the attending nurse in a voice meant only for his ears.
“Starting to become feverish and he’s weak from the loss of blood, but he’s got enough morphine in him to keep the pain away. He’s also not going to be as coherent as you’d like. It would be best if you got this visit over with quickly. He’s still in critical condition. If he didn’t seem so distressed with the need to talk with you, I would have sedated him immediately.”
Phillip glanced over his shoulder. The deputies were keeping a respectful distance but that wouldn’t last long. They had a job to do. He motioned them in. Mike followed.
Zach regarded them through dazed, half-lidded eyes and tried to extend his uninjured arm to Phillip, who reached forward and clasped it gently between his hands.
“Ian…Emma?” It was barely a croak.
Still grasping his hand, Phillip sat on the edge of the bed. “Resting.” That was all he needed to know.
Zach closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “It happened so fast. He came up behind me from nowhere. I wasn’t even away from the house ten minutes and there he was. He had his brights on, and for a minute, I thought he was going to plow into the rear of the car. The rain was the worst I’ve ever seen. I could barely see the road as it was, then those damn bright lights.”
Zach paused to take several shuddering breaths. “Finally, he passed. Glass exploded beside me.” He closed his eyes, then opened them once more as if struggling to stay awake.
“We can finish this later. You need to rest.”
Zach squeezed Phillip’s hand feebly. “I’m okay. It’s funny. I didn’t realize I’d been shot at first. All I remember thinking was that Ian never made a sound and Emma didn’t scream. I fought the wheel, trying to keep on the road. I was afraid to stop because I didn’t know what might happen. Then he swerved into us over and over again. I hit a patch of water and he rammed us again. We rolled. Next thing I knew, I woke up here.”
“They caught one of the guys, Zach. He’s right down the hall. The other one got away. There were witnesses. Once the bastard comes to, we’ll be able to nail this case shut.”
Zach nodded. “I’m sorry, Phillip. I was supposed to protect—” His face turned an alarming shade of gray. Beads of sweat gathered at his temples and along his upper lip.
“Don’t even start that. If it weren’t for you, Emma and Ian might not be alive right now.”
“Brave kid,” Zach murmured. “Not a peep. Not a complaint.”
Phillip didn’t have the heart to tell him it was because Ian had been knocked out cold. Zach’s grip slackened and he started to drift off to sleep. A piercing tone from the corridor flashed his eyes open.
Zach struggled to right himself. “What—?”
Phillip gently pushed him down. “It’s nothing. Rest.” He walked over to the deputies. “What is that sound?”
“Code Blue,” the tall one whispered. “Someone’s died.”
God, no! Please, no! Phillip tore from the room as if the devil was on his heels.
He jerked to a stop shy of entering Ian’s room. A Navy corpsman and doctor stood over his bed. Rowan was at the foot, hands folded in prayer beneath her chin. He was afraid to cross the threshold.
Rowan looked up, tears shimmering in her eyes. She held her hand to him. “Come see.”
Somehow, he forced himself to move. He caught Rowan’s fingers—his lifeline to reality.
“Look.” She motioned to the bed.
He pivoted that way and was greeted by Ian’s groggy gaze.
“Hey, Dad,” he croaked.
Phillip didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He compromised with a little of both.
“He started to come around a few minutes ago,” the doctor said with a smile. “Some trouper you’ve got here. Quite a little fighter.”
“That’s our boy,” Phillip said, still dazed from his fright.
“You’re shaking,” Rowan whispered. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “There was a Code Blue. I thought…” The words were best left unspoken. “I should let Zach know everything’s okay here. I left him in kind of a hurry. I won’t be long.”
Mike and Jess intercepted him two feet from Zach’s room. “The guy who ran Zach off the road is dead. Looks like someone walked right in and smothered him.”
“Since I doubt his partner could walk in here without being seen or smelled, I’ll give you ten guesses who killed him.” Phillip massaged the ache between his eyes. “Now what?”
Jess gnawed on his toothpick. “He’ll go after the other desert rat…wherever he is.”
“Well, I don’t know where he is, but I have a pretty good idea how to find him.” Phillip laid out his plan.
* * * *
“I don’t know why I let you talk me into this.” Laura fidgeted with her seat belt as if trying to decide if she was really going to follow Phillip into the bar.
“We’re both wired. The place is surrounded. There’s no danger to either of us.”
“It’s one in the morning. The bars will close in an hour. Are you sure this woman will still be around?”
“Right now, I’m not sure of anything except that I want to get this done.” Before someone else died, someone he loved.
She flicked open her seat belt then flung open the door. Stomping ahead of him as they had planned, she marched into the bar.
Phillip chased after her and spoke in an over-loud voice. “Will you wait up?”
Laura flopped behind the nearest table and whispered under her breath. “She’s in the corner booth.”
He dared a glance up. Rusty sat facing them, her short skirt hiked up to her rear end.
“I thought I told you to wait,” he snapped at Laura.
“I’m sick of you ordering me around.” She shoved herself to her feet, drawing the room’s attention and toppling the chair to the floor.
“We’re finished. I thought I made that clear. If you follow me again, I’ll have you arrested.” Slinging her purse over her shoulder, she stormed back out of the bar.
The room was silent for a few seconds then everyone turned back to their business. It took half as much time for Rusty to saunter his way.
“Have a fight with your girl?”
He forced his gaze to travel the length of her body. “Not my girl anymore. She caught me with someone else. Don’t understand why she’s so hot about it. She doesn’t own me. Cold fish in bed. She doesn’t understand what I need. Know what I mean?”
She slithered closer. “Yeah. I know all about a man’s appetites. So, are you hungry now?”
Chuckling, he caught her around the waist and pulled her onto his lap. “Starving. Got any food?”
“I might know where we can get some. What’s your budget?”
“Rusty, the sky’s the limit tonight.”
“Well, then”—she hopped to her feet—“I know a cozy little place real close.”
“I hope so.” He jerked his thumb toward the door. “She left me stranded.”
“Just a few blocks away. You know, you’ve got to be the yummiest lookin’ thing I’ve seen in a long time. I’m real glad you’re back in the neighborhood.”
Phillip laughed and hooked her arm through his. “Sounds like you’re the one who’s starving.”
“I might be, as long as the sky’s the limit.” She leaned close and dropped her voice to a whisper. “And speaking of limits, I’ll have to see some cash before we mosey on over to my place.”
Phillip stood and smiled. “Of course.” He pulled Rusty close, bent as if to give her a kiss and passed her a one-hundred-dollar bill. “That’s for starters.”
Rusty’s avarice shone across her thin face. “C’mon.”
They made it as far as the parking lot before the deputy sheriffs closed in. “You’re under arrest for prostitution, Rusty.”
She sputtered obscenities at the deputies and Phillip as they cuffed her then shoved her into the patrol car beside Jess.
The toothpick danced from one side of Jess’ mouth to the other. “If you quit your blabbering long enough, we might be able to make a deal.”
Chest heaving with indignation, she glared at him. “What kind of deal?”
“You were seen dancing with a couple of men the other night.”
“I dance with a lot of men every night.”
“No games,” he barked.
She drew back.
“Two desert rats and a man with dark thinning hair, a Marine high-and-tight haircut, ferret face. Sat in the corner booth. They seemed to be on pretty good terms with you.”
Rusty shrugged. “Okay, so I know ’em. What’s it to you?”
“One’s dead. We want to talk to the other one before he winds up dead, too.”
Her bravado faded. “That’s all? And you’ll let me go?”
Jess twirled the toothpick. “Free and clear.”
“All right, I’ll tell you. No skin off my nose. I don’t owe those two a damn thing.”
The deputy scribbled the information on a notepad and shoved it to his partner.
Jess unfolded himself from the car. “Okay, gents, let the lady go. Let’s get a team over to this guy’s house and take him into custody.”
Rusty was out of the car the second the cuffs came off. “Wait a minute. You can’t leave me here. What if this maniac comes after me?”
Phillip leaned close, pinning her to the vehicle. “Now why would he do a thing like that? Is there something you know that you should be sharing?”
She sputtered for a response, searching each face for answers. Finally, she drew up her shoulders. “All right. I’ll tell you everything I know if you promise to protect me until Malcolm is locked up.”
After Jess nodded, she crawled in the backseat once more and, after having been read her rights, Rusty made her preliminary statement. It verified everything they already suspected. Now all they had to do was catch Collins, and the net was tightening fast. At least, he hoped so.
Standing with Jess, they watched the patrol car drive off with Rusty in the deputy’s care.
“I just got word,” Jess said as he pulled open the door on his car. “Collins was watching when you pulled up to the bar. He followed Laura back to the base. She’s been notified and is moving to the next part of the plan. The MPs aren’t far behind. They’re keeping a close eye on her and her shadow. She’s going to drive around a bit and give us a chance to get into position before she goes to the legal offices.”
Phillip nodded and prayed this was going to be the end of it.
* * * *
Cramped in an unmarked van across the street, Phillip, Jess and the MP chief watched Collins edge toward the legal office. Looking in all directions, he lifted his fist and beat at the door. Laura waited a few minutes then opened it a crack.
Stick to the script, Laura. Don’t let him in.
Voices came over the wire Laura wore. It sounded as if she and Malcolm were standing no more than five feet away. Her voice shook. Who could blame her? She was facing a murderer. If Collins took a notion, she’d be dead in seconds and there would be nothing Jess or Phillip could do to save her.
Phillip didn’t have a problem with her helping earlier, but this was going too far. Yet she had insisted. Rather than argue, he’d relented. Now he wished he’d argued harder. He pulled up the night-vision binoculars for a closer look.
Malcolm leaned against the wall. “Didn’t mean to bust in on you, but I saw you at the bar with Stuart and thought you might need a little cheering up. You two have a tiff? Thought you might want someone to talk to.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I really don’t feel like talking about it, Mr. Collins. With all due respect, I don’t discuss my personal life with my friends. I certainly don’t feel comfortable talking about it to someone I barely know.”
“I understand completely. Been down the breakup road myself because of someone else. It’s been pretty clear where Stuart’s interest has been since he arrived. It’s enough to—”
“Mr. Collins, please.”
“Sorry.” His gaze wandered for a moment before returning to her. “A little late for you to be working, isn’t it, Captain Cushing? Or are you burying yourself in your work to ease the pain of Stuart’s betrayal?”
She shrugged. “Call it whatever you’d like. Not much else for me to do now. Besides, I can’t sleep when I’m working on a big case. I get too wrapped up in it all. Trying to pull all the evidence together to nail the accused.”
“So, the evidence is pretty well stacked up against Staff Sergeant McKinley? After that pathetic attempt at a defense by Captain Stuart, I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t get life in prison. Just goes to show what happens when you let your personal life interfere with business, something my wife never understood.”
“It does seem that the evidence weighs heavily against her. I should know more by Monday morning, unless something delays the lab report. Oh, that reminds me. Tell me, Mr. Collins, did NCIS identify that new set of fingerprints that were found at the murder scene?”
“Fingerprints?”
“Yes, the ones found on the floor next to the deceased. A fingerprint expert retained by Jess Alderman located them this morning—faint, but there. I’m not surprised your team missed them. It took a specialist to lift those prints. They didn’t belong to the accused or the deceased. Anyone who has been in the building since has had gloves on.”
Malcolm caught a moth in his fist and squeezed, then tossed it to the ground. “First I’ve heard of it. Wonder why I wasn’t notified?”
Laura hiked a shoulder. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Alderman was trying to hog the glory for himself, just like Phillip. Two peas in a pod. Well, I’ve got to get back to work. Thanks for checking up on me.”
With a casual wave, Malcolm walked away. Once the door was shut, he picked up his pace.
“And there he goes,” Jess mumbled. “How much do you want to bet he heads straight for the NCIS office to snag those prints?”
“Just like a rat to peanut butter,” Phillip said as they watched Malcolm’s truck tear out of the parking lot.
“My men are waiting for him,” the military police chief said. “We also have a team watching the hospital. Wherever he goes, we’ve got him.”
Phillip had his doubts. Collins wasn’t stupid. This man watched and waited. With Rusty’s statement, they had enough to haul him in. Why they were playing this game now Phillip didn’t know. Still, he sat in the cramped confines of the surveillance van, mouth shut, heart pounding, waiting for word.
The police radio crackled to life. Someone had set off the armory alarms, mobilizing a base-wide shut down and the force. Not hard to figure out who.
Phillip grabbed the chief’s arm. “It’s a trick. He’s used it before. Tell your men not to leave the NCIS building or the hospital.”
“Calm down, Captain. My men know their job. All Collins succeeded in doing is shutting any escape route for himself.”
Phillip snorted. “The man and his cohorts have been sneaking on and off base for months without being detected. He knows a hundred ways off this base. What he succeeded in doing is tying your hands.”
The chief stared at him for what seemed an eternity then pulled the van onto the road. They eased to a stop around the corner well within sight and a short jog from the NCIS building.
“Let’s go.” The chief opened his door and jumped out. “Captain Stuart, please stay behind.”
He snorted. “I’ll stay out of the way but not behind. I’ve come this far with you. Taking it to the finish isn’t going to hurt.”
“Remember that if you get caught in cross fire.”
With no further discussion, they trotted into position behind the two young MPs. Collins hadn’t bothered to hide his presence. His vehicle sat in the parking lot fully illuminated under the streetlights.
Weapons drawn, they overtook the building. Phillip hugged the rear, but even from that vantage point, he saw the light from Collins’ office. A paper shredder hummed. Every few seconds, another piece of evidence buzzed through its blades.
Jess nodded and the team advanced.
“Halt!”
Startled, Collins jumped back and flung his hands in the air. Pages of the investigation report scattered across the floor.
Collins laughed off their presence and dropped his arms. “You scared the daylights out of me. What did you think I was, a burglar?”
Phillip squatted to pick up the papers. Each one was labeled as the investigation into the death of Charles Kemp. “Why don’t you tell us, Mr. Collins?”
Jess holstered his weapon and straightened his suit jacket. “You’ve got some explaining to do, Malcolm.”
He had the nerve to laugh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Phillip waved his hand over the scattered pages. “Oh, I think you do.”
With a slow shake of his head, Jess motioned to the MPs. “Take him out front.”
Each grabbed one of Collins’ arms and escorted him to the waiting room.
“I never thought I’d be interrogating one of my own,” Jess said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
“Better yours than mine,” the MP chief said. “For a while, I was beginning to wonder.” He scratched his head and avoided Phillip’s gaze. “Sir, all I can do is apologize. Those who treated Staff Sergeant McKinley less than honorably will be formally counseled. If I can prove any other charges, they’ll be dealt with appropriately.”
Phillip nodded. “I appreciate that. Had I been in your situation, I can’t say I wouldn’t have felt the same way.”
Jess heaved a breath. “Yeah, well, I guess I’d better get this over with.” He dug a toothpick out of his pocket, shoved it between his teeth and strode forward. “Malcolm, as I said, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”
A smirk cut Collins’s features. “I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play games. By now, the police will have picked up your scrap-selling partner. I’m sure he’s not going to hesitate to spill his guts, especially when he discovers his friend is dead. I’m not getting any younger, Malcolm. Do me a favor and make it easy on us both.”
Collins smirked and kept his mouth shut.
Jess dropped his head in a slow shake. “Cuff him.”
The younger of the two MPs approached Collins, handcuffs open for his wrists.
Collins lunged for him and snapped a chokehold around his neck. With his free hand, he plucked the pistol from the lance corporal’s holster.
“Everyone back off,” he snarled, pointing the 9mm pistol at the young Marine’s head.
No one moved in the shocked silence that followed.
The MP chief eased forward, slowly fanning the air. “Just calm down. See? We’re all moving off.”
Phillip and Jess backed away with him, never once losing sight of that pistol cocked to the lance corporal’s head.
“Don’t do this, Malcolm. You know it’s over. Shooting him won’t make things easier on you.” Jess’ voice was firm and unwavering. “There’s nowhere for you to go from here. You know that. You saw to that yourself. Think of your family, your children. Drop the gun.”
Collins’s eyes were wide, glassy, his high forehead shiny with beads of sweat. With the mention of his family, his chin quivered. His hostage remained frozen. The young Marine at least had sense enough not to startle his captor into pulling the trigger.
Jess held out his hand. “Give me the gun, Malcolm. It’s over. If you shoot, you know you’ll never make it out the front door. You don’t want to risk that. You don’t want your daughters—”
“Enough with my daughters!” He tightened his grip on the Marine and jammed the barrel deeper into his temple. “You don’t know how it is. You don’t know how hard it is. Everything was fine until that McKinley bitch started poking her nose into my business. Now it’s all ruined.”
Phillip took one step forward, spreading his hands wide. “Wait.”
Jess sucked in a breath.
Phillip kept going. “This Marine isn’t part of this. He’s done nothing to you. You want revenge? Take me instead. You don’t want to hurt this kid.”
Collins’s eyes glittered at the thought. “Ah, Stuart. Always the martyr. The hero.” He cocked his head to one side to consider the offer. “All right, Captain. You are the cause of my troubles at the moment, you and that bitch McKinley. If I have to put a bullet into someone to get out of here alive, it might as well be you. I have nothing to lose at this point, anyway. And I would enjoy seeing you fall before me.”
Shoving the Marine aside, Collins motioned Phillip closer with a jerk of the weapon.
“On your knees, Stuart. Let’s see how brave you are when death is seconds away. You beg me enough, I’ll let you go—maybe.”
Phillip eased forward and sank to his knees. Pleasure gleamed in Collins’s beady eyes. A maniacal grin slashed across his face. Laughing, he leveled the pistol at the space on Phillip’s forehead above his nose.
In that split second where Collins’ attention focused on Phillip, the young MP pounced, hitting Collins sharply on the elbow. The pistol skittered across the floor.
Collins stumbled to the side, arms windmilling as he fought for balance.
Phillip turned his crouch into a forward lunge, driving his shoulder into Collins’ stomach. They hit the floor hard, toppling chairs in their wake.
Fist doubled, Collins swung, clipping Phillip’s chin. He ducked the next blow, seizing Collins’ wrist in a grip that threatened to snap bone. He drew back and smashed a fist against Collins’ jaw. The man cried out and swung with his free arm. Phillip caught it, twisted and drove him to the ground.
Anger boiled within him, a rage greater than any he had ever known. Fury at the person who had caused his family and his friend such harm. Collins thrashed beneath him, bucking under Phillip’s weight, kicking out for freedom.
Phillip jerked his arm higher, dislocating his shoulder blade. Still Collins fought, his rage making his strength superhuman. Phillip held on, letting him wear himself out, then jammed his knee into the small of his back.
Collins cried out and collapsed, sobbing at his defeat. The MPs jumped in and snapped the cuffs in place. Phillip rolled away and let them have him. It was over.
Jess gave him a hand up. “Nice job. I can’t say I wouldn’t have been tempted to beat the hell out of him if I’d had him down.”
“I’m no saint.” Phillip hauled himself to his feet and dusted off his clothes. “Trust me. It was tempting.”
He listened to the litany of rights being read. Even someone like Collins had the right to a fair trial. Hopefully, the evidence would put him away for a long time.
Spitting blood, Malcolm shot hate-filled glares toward first the MPs standing guard over him then to Phillip. “Know any good lawyers?” he asked with a smirk.
Phillip stared back, his eyes cold and emotionless. “Not a one.”
“Well, I’m not talking until I have one.”
“No surprise there.”
The MP chief clicked off his radio and trotted toward them. “They’ve got your partner and he’s spilling his guts. About you, your theft ring, Sergeant Kemp’s murder and your attempts to frame Staff Sergeant McKinley. Maybe you want to think twice about talking.”
Collins clamped his lips tight and stared into the distance. Phillip wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw a tear slip down the man’s cheek. He shook his head over the irony. Collins had justified his actions for the sake of his children. It was doubtful he’d see much of them anymore.