Deke
How the hell did I manage to run out of coffee in less than a week? Tossing the empty can in the trash, I absently scratched at my beard and cursed at myself for not having done any grocery shopping last night.
I wasn’t a coffee snob—being on missions all over the world meant I was often grateful for whatever I could drink at the time—but I’d been working some serious hours getting the majority of the jobs done around the house, and a hit of caffeine first thing in the morning didn’t go unappreciated.
Grabbing the keys to my truck, I headed out of the house. I’d reached the bottom of the porch steps when my eyes caught the morning sun glinting off something at the base of Sophie’s front door.
In the military you learn quickly an object that glinted in the sunlight could take your life.
Looking around, I saw nobody outside of any houses or in any cars parked along the curb.
Deciding to check it out further, I crossed the road and stood at her front gate, getting a full view of what first stole my attention.
A rat, with a large kitchen knife stabbed through its belly, lay on Sophie’s front door mat.
My blood chilled.
This was a clear threat. A sign left by someone wanting to cause harm.
Like anyone in my line of business, I had a concealed carry permit. My Sig Sauer was in an ankle holster on my right leg.
I grabbed my weapon and approached the side of the house, checking to make sure nobody was hiding to see her reaction to their handwork. Low hedgerows camouflaged the fence line between her and her neighbors, but I saw no sign of anyone. I turned to head back around the front when I heard Sophie’s voice through an open side window.
“Listen you creep, I told you last time I don’t want you contacting me again. I’ve already reported your calls to the police. They’ll be able to trace your call, and your ass will end up in jail.”
There was a moment of silence before she spoke again. This time her voice was raised, her tone high and strained. “Go fuck yourself.” Then came the unmistakable sound of a receiver being slammed onto the phone.
I didn’t need to hear any more to know I was getting inside that house.
Not wanting to scare Sophie any more than she would be a few seconds from now, I slid my Sig back in my ankle holster. After pushing the mat out of the way with the toe of my boot and thus not contaminating the evidence with my fingerprints, I knocked on her front door.
She opened the door and immediately moved to push herself up against the door, making it clear she had no intention of welcoming me into her house.
Too bad I wasn’t down with her plan.
“Sophie, I don’t want to frighten you, but I need to show you something.”
She was already shaking her head before I finished speaking. “Now’s not a good time, Deke.”
I stepped aside and looked down at the front door mat. Her gaze followed mine.
“Oh. My. God.” Her hand clutched her chest as she stared at the grizzly calling card left on her porch.
“Never gonna be a good time for something like this, Soph.” I put a hand on the door and pushed firmly, being careful not to make her fall as she was forced to step back and let me in.
“Deke.” She tried to head me off as I walked into the room where I guessed she’d taken the phone call. The living room I’d remembered from years ago was updated with a mix of contemporary furniture in shades of creams and browns and a large rug in a pattern of blue, grey and brown geometric shapes over polished floor boards. A mix of modern prints and family photos dotted the walls. The room looked stylish, welcoming, and like something I’d expect from a house Sophie made hers.
I waved at the phone sitting on a side table. “This the phone you answered?”
Far from cooperative, Sophie shoved her hands on her hips and fired a glare that screamed attitude. “That’s none of your business.”
I stared back. “Making it my business, Soph.”
She shook her head, her mouth slightly open as if she couldn’t believe her ears. “What gives you that right?”
“I’ve cared about you for years, woman.”
The scoffing sound she made hit me like a punch to the guts. “You have a funny way of showing it.”
I needed to work past her anger and get to the matter at hand. “What happened over two years ago doesn’t negate the fact you matter to me.” More than mattered. I’d never stopped knowing in my heart she was the one for me. “Right now there’s a threat against you, and I’m a man that deals with threats every day. Dangerous ones. So drop the attitude and let me help.”
“Thanks for the offer, but no.” Her tone dripped sarcasm. “I’ve been in contact with Andy and he’s doing what he can.”
“Considering I just found a dead rat on your doorstep, I’m thinking whatever Andy’s doing isn’t getting the job done.”
She marched to the front door and swung it open. “Get out.”
I could have stayed where I was. She had no chance in hell of physically forcing me off her property, but without any intel, I had nothing to work with. But I wasn’t a man who gave up until I’d achieved my mission.
I walked up to her at the front door, my steps measured, slow, letting her see I was in no hurry. As I stood next to her a beeping sound came from her jeans pocket. She pulled out her phone, looked at the screen and glanced up the stairs.
I kept my gaze on her face. “Something upstairs I need to investigate?”
The way her face paled I knew I’d hit a target of some kind.
She shoved the phone back in her jean’s pocket, her face a mask of stone. “I had an alarm programmed to remind me I needed to phone a friend about a birthday party.”
I stepped forward, crowding her space so that she had to bend her neck back to look up at me. “In the SEALs we’re all trained to the ultimate level, but each of us excels in our own way.” I dipped my head so my mouth was close to her ear. “Mine was breaking people’s resistance and learning their secrets.”
Straightening up, I watched in satisfaction as she swallowed and looked away, refusing to meet my gaze. “Until later, Sophie.” I passed through the doorway, but in many ways I’d just walked right back into her life, whether she wanted me there or not.
Ten minutes later, I’d ended a call to Ryder. Marshall Securities answer to the Sexiest Man Alive was on a hunting and gathering mission.
Another fifteen minutes, and I was walking into the old red brick building of the Rushville City Hall, also home to the local Police Headquarters. Stopping by the reception desk, I asked for Detective Andy Neilson.
I hadn’t been here in years. Instead of the old wooden door that had led to the bullpen and desks for officers, there was now a solid looking door with a swipe card needed to gain access. Not foolproof but a step up from years ago.
A minute later, Andy—his blond hair a little less unabundant than two and a half years ago, but otherwise looking the same, came out through the secure door. “Deke.” His brow creased with a frown, but it disappeared soon enough. “I’d heard from Rob you were back.” Sophie had obviously told her brother. I’d debated calling Rob, thought I would in a day or two. Now, putting things off was a moot point.
“Hey, Andy.” I held out my hand and the detective took it in a firm grip. “Sophie told me you were investigating a threatening phone call she had received a week ago.”
Andy’s gaze narrowed a fraction. I wasn’t surprised. This guy was a cop, and he could take offence to me barging in and asking questions.
“What’s your interest, Deke?”
“Found a dead rat on her doorstep this morning.” I took a moment’s pleasure in the way he straightened his spine at the news. My coming here wasn’t to engage in a pissing contest on who was the biggest badass on the block. “Then I overheard her getting another one of those calls.”
“Dammit.” Andy rubbed the back of his neck. “Leaving the rat is an escalation.”
“I’m guessing you don’t have intel from the phone call?”
Andy shot me wry look. “This is Rushville P.D. I put a request in to the phone company to see if they could trace where the call came from, but I’m still waiting for a reply. My request was categorized as non-urgent.”
“Recategorize it.”
Andy’s mouth tightened at the authoritative tone of my voice. I didn’t care. Some sick fucker had left a mutilated rat on Sophie’s doorstep.
“Deke, you’re not the only one who cares about Sophie.” He gave me a level look. “I appreciate you coming here and letting me know what happened. I take it you didn’t leave the offending gift at her door.”
“Kicked the mat with my boot to the end of the patio.”
“Good. Thanks. I’ll get a patrol car to collect it right away.”
What Rushville P.D. and its limited resources could do was anyone’s guess, but having them officially take the evidence was a start.
“Right. I’ll leave you to get that done.”
“How’s your plans going with the sale of your house?”
At my raised brow, he shrugged with a casual grin. “This is Rushville. Everyone knows everyone’s business.”
True enough.
“The house is coming along. I’m listing with Shana Connor.”
“She’s got a good reputation in the county. You should do well.”
“Good to hear, man. Thanks.”
Andy shook my hand and turned to swipe his keycard through the lock, but swung back, a quizzical expression on his face. “So you’ve talked with Sophie?”
Intrigued at his question, I kept my tone and expression neutral, as if unruffled by his interest. “A couple of times.”
He nodded, studying me a moment longer before giving me a quick smile. “Good. Okay, I’ll get that patrol car to her house.”
With that, Andy swiped his card again and opened the door, disappearing behind its dark gray exterior.
Andy’s question regarding if I’d talked with Sophie had nothing to do with she and I shooting the breeze and catching up on old times. His tone indicated something else, as if… Sophie had something to share with me.
A secret.
One Andy thought she might have shared with me.
I turned and ran out of City Hall, ignoring the admonishing shout of the receptionist.
Time I found out what Sophie was hiding.