Ranger Guardian
Angi Morgan
Her career divided their marriage… but not their attractionTexas Ranger Heath Murray and his dedicated FBI agent wife, Kendall Barlow have been estranged for months. But when their young daughter is kidnapped as a pawn, they only have each other to turn to. Together they must save their daughter… and their marriage.
A Texas Ranger’s daughter has been taken.
Getting her back is all that matters.
They’ve been estranged for months, so Texas Ranger Heath Murray is surprised to be partnered with his dedicated FBI agent wife, Kendall Barlow. It’s the case of Kendall’s career—a career that has divided their marriage, though not their attraction. When their young daughter is kidnapped as a pawn, they have only each other to turn to. Saving her together is their only option. The alternative is unthinkable.
Texas Brothers of Company B
ANGI MORGAN writes about Texans in Texas. A USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, her books have been finalists for several awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award, RT Book Reviews Best Intrigue Series and the Daphne du Maurier. Angi and her husband live in North Texas. They foster Labradors and love to travel, snap pics and fix up their house. Hang out with her on Facebook at Angi Morgan Books. She loves to hear from fans at www.angimorganauthor.com (http://www.angimorganauthor.com).
Also by Angi Morgan (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
Ranger Protector
Ranger Defender
Bulletproof Badge
Shotgun Justice
Gunslinger
Hard Core Law
The Sheriff
The Cattleman
The Ranger
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Ranger Guardian
Angi Morgan
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-07909-9
RANGER GUARDIAN
© 2018 Angela Platt
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Thank you, Amanda! Thanks for the encouragement and the major kick in the behind—just the right amount of both. And a special thanks for being such a great person to model a character after!
Contents
Cover (#ubf9d3875-d729-5109-bbc3-c6d0a7bdbc31)
Back Cover Text (#u45542c74-9315-545f-86f7-789455ff1065)
About the Author (#u6f4c4ce0-c40b-5d0a-a48a-aad5953000b9)
Booklist (#u60bda0ce-b55d-5adc-b1db-43db8359e91f)
Title Page (#ua302577d-52bf-55e2-b623-b2716dc4ba3f)
Copyright (#u992e303c-29c3-5fa7-aab9-b8e37c740c76)
Dedication (#u5daa7478-aaf5-5e50-b361-b8c26ad71d34)
Prologue (#u30b7af79-4f96-5901-87ee-35b5bc87c921)
Chapter One (#uc599ce59-0523-5061-8043-b419fb58e3cd)
Chapter Two (#u1f3c8192-a9b0-5661-b284-ecc4687a8448)
Chapter Three (#u18306ef0-1e16-545a-8f0f-077e2d23a063)
Chapter Four (#ue34a3592-0717-5fa5-8acf-9b3695a5710c)
Chapter Five (#udacd3d3a-efc8-5789-96a7-7113fb446200)
Chapter Six (#u4c0be8e2-e018-5f12-927d-c2a43ecd0c3d)
Chapter Seven (#ubf82035e-1fc3-5872-b9af-fb19f09159f0)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
Eight Months Ago
Heath Murray rushed through the emergency room doors. Yes, he’d used the entrance for the ambulances. Yes, he’d parked his truck next to the building, practically on the sidewalk. And yes, he’d taken advantage of having the Texas Ranger badge he carried.
What did anyone expect? His three-year-old daughter was there. It was the only thing he knew for sure. The message from his wife had stated only what hospital they were heading to.
Life was good. Life was perfect. He couldn’t imagine life without his baby girl, Skylar Dawn, in it. He couldn’t imagine life without his wife, Kendall. Six years ago, if you’d asked him if his life would be full of anything except law enforcement, he would have answered no.
Now?
Life was full of pink frills and satin sun dresses. Along with brand new ponies—plastic and real. And all the disagreements about whether Skylar Dawn was old enough to own a pony. Yep, life was full, and he was blessed several times over.
He rushed to his mother-in-law, who stood up from a waiting room chair. Her eyes were red but not swollen. Her old-fashioned handkerchief was twisted and streaked from her mascara. She looked like she’d been pulled straight out of a church service, but Naomi Barlow looked like that every day. And she didn’t go to church.
“Where is she?”
“Kendall is with her. She’s going to be fine. It’s not a break that will require surgery.”
“What kind of an accident were they in?”
“Accident? Did you think they were in a car accident?” Kendall’s mom asked, then laughed.
What the hell? Why was she laughing?
“Where are they?”
“Oh, honey, you poor thing. Skylar Dawn just fell on the playground at day care. That’s all. She’ll be fine.” Naomi’s eyes darted toward a set of double doors. “Only one person can be in the room with her.”
He didn’t need her response. What he did need was for the attendant to open the doors from the other side.
“Excuse me.” He headed straight to the front desk and flipped his badge so the person at the window could see it. “I need to get through.”
“May I see your credentials?”
Heath shot his ID through the slot and managed to keep his toes from tapping the linoleum while he waited. “Thanks,” he added politely to the man whose turn he’d interrupted, then paced back to his mother-in-law and handed her his keys. “Give these to the green-faced Texas Ranger who comes inside in a minute. My partner, Slate Thompson will take my truck home.”
“Here you go, sir. I can buzz you through now.”
He heard the door lock open and hurried to pull on the handle, but it opened at a snail’s pace on its own. He rushed down the hall, glancing through the small windows. Then he heard her.
A quiet, polite cry for a child of three.
He rounded a corner and took a deep breath. Okay, they really are all right. He hadn’t processed that information when Naomi had told him. He couldn’t believe it until he’d seen with his own eyes.
So he took a second. They’d be upset as it was. He didn’t need to add to the situation by not appearing calm. He shook his shoulders, slowed his racing pulse, became the dad instead of the Ranger who’d driven ninety across Dallas to get here.
“There they are.” He thought his voice sounded excited to see them, instead of like the frightened-to-death man who’d just had his heart ripped from his chest.
“See, I told you Daddy was on his way.”
“Daddy!” Skylar Dawn tried to lift her free arm to him. “I want Daddy.”
“It’s better if you stay where you are, baby. Mommy’s got you.” He honestly didn’t think his shaking arms could hold her steadily.
Kendall tilted her cheek up for a kiss. He rubbed Skylar Dawn’s strawberry blond hair. One day it would be as thick as her mother’s and out of the small pigtails.
“How ’bout I sit down here so you can see me?” He sat on the floor, pulling himself close to his wife and daughter, just about ready to cry from the gratitude he felt at them both being alive and safe.
There was no tension in Kendall. She seemed far calmer than her message had implied. She mouthed, “Sorry.”
His wife could probably tell how frantic he was. She’d always been good at picking up on the nuances that gave away his emotions. In fact, she was practically the only person who had ever been able to see through the wall he’d built.
A wall that had been breached several times over by Skylar Dawn.
“Let me see.” He leaned closer and puckered his lips for a loud smack without ever touching the skin of her arm. “Does that feel better?”
Skylar Dawn shook her head. “I broke it, Daddy. Does that mean we have to throw it away?”
He refrained from chuckling. “No, baby girl. The doctors can fix this all up. And you’ll be as good as new.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.” She perfectly imitated her mother.
“I’ve been explaining that her arm isn’t a toy.” Kendall smiled.
“No throwaway arms,” he said.
Skylar Dawn dropped her head to Kendall’s chest. “Just close your eyes for a minute, sweetheart,” said Kendall. “I’ll wake you up when the doctor comes back.”
He placed a hand on Skylar Dawn’s back and could feel when her body relaxed into sleep. Nice to be a kid.
“What took you so long?” Kendall whispered.
He followed suit, whispering back his answer. “We were in west Fort Worth. I did ninety most of the way. Slate thought he was going to puke.”
“I just... I’m sorry about the wild message. The day care called without a lot of details. Then they told me I couldn’t use my cell phone back here. I should have had Mother call with an update. I know it scared you.”
“I’m good. All’s good.”
He listened to the details of Skylar Dawn climbing the section of the playground her age group wasn’t allowed on. One of the older girls—probably about five—had helped her. Skylar Dawn had fallen.
They whispered about the X-ray and doctor’s analysis. Just a hairline fracture, but they could go to the pediatrician for a cast in a couple of days.
The love Kendall had for their daughter radiated like sunshine. How awesome would it be to have another little girl as precious as this one?
The doctor came and went. Heath took Skylar Dawn from Kendall’s arms and cuddled her against his chest. Her head had a special baby smell that he especially noticed when she first fell asleep. It was something he already knew he’d miss whenever she got too big to be rocked.
“Hey, for a couple who never wanted children, I think we’re handling this pretty well.” Kendall smoothed Skylar Dawn’s hair while they waited on their release paperwork.
“Want to have a couple more?” he said, then gulped.
“What?” Kendall’s eyes grew big. “Where does this come from?”
“It was just a thought. I mean...I love you guys. I love our family. And you’re right. I think we’re pretty good at this.”
“I do, too.”
Were those tears?
“Honey, what’s wrong?” He opened his free arm and pulled her in for a hug.
Special Agent Kendall Barlow was full-blown crying, silent tears running down her face. And it took a lot—like the birth of their daughter—to bring them on. Heath never expected his spontaneous suggestion to affect her this way.
“I was... I was...” she tried.
“It’s okay, babe. Everything’s perfect the way it is. Nothing’s wrong with our family.”
“But I was just thinking the same thing, Heath. I’d love another baby.”
He kissed her. As much as he was able to with his arms full of their daughter.
“I am definitely looking forward to getting you home and getting this one in bed.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
Kendall dabbed at her eyes. “We can’t start this afternoon, silly. I’m helping Jerry with his cyber-fraud case. It’s going to take weeks. Maybe months.”
“You want to wait?” He was surprised. Seriously surprised. And then an ugly voice shouted in his ear, How many cases will be more important?
“Whisper, please?”
“Sure.” He lowered his voice to match hers. “Why would finishing cases be more important? It’s not like you’ll still be trying to move up the FBI ladder.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Well, if you have another baby, aren’t you quitting?”
The words were there before he could mentally slap himself and stop them from forming. Mistake. It was the wrong thought to let out of his mouth.
“You want me to quit my job and stay home? What? Do you want me barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, too?”
He tucked his bottom lip between his teeth. He wasn’t going to say a word. Not a dad-blasted word. It wasn’t the time. It wasn’t the place.
Then she stiffened and pulled away from his arm.
Dammit.
“Kendall, we thought having any kids in day care whose parents are both in the line of fire wasn’t a good idea. It’s still not a good idea. But two? If you’re pregnant, they’ll call you out of the field anyway. Right?”
“For a few months. Just like last time. But I’m not going to give up my career. You stay home with the kids.”
“I worked hard to be a Texas Ranger.”
“And I worked hard to become an FBI agent.”
It was the loudest whispered arguing they’d ever done. It gave him a bad feeling, like something ominous was about to happen.
“Maybe we should talk about this at home.” He kissed his daughter’s forehead. “When the munchkin is in bed, we can list the pros and cons.”
“Or we could be honest with each other.”
“I think I’ve been honest enough.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.” She crossed her arms in typical Barlow fashion, after her sarcasm had a chance to sink in.
“It’s going to be a long night, isn’t it,” he said. Fact, not a question. Just like he knew they were stepping outside into the backyard to have an extended argument once they got home.
“We both need to really think about your expectations for me. This is serious, Heath. I... It’s not something I can take lightly and just forget that it happened.”
“I’m sorry for jumping the gun.” Apologizing was the easy part. Understanding what he did wrong would take a little longer.
* * *
SIX WEEKS OF continuous arguing began to take its toll on her family. Kendall sat at her office desk staring at the picture of Heath carrying Skylar Dawn on his shoulders. She missed him. Ached for him. Longed for someone to invent a time machine so she could take back the words she didn’t even know if she meant any more.
Just when Kendall thought things were getting better, her mother overheard Heath say he didn’t understand why her work was more important than a family.
She didn’t know which hurt worse—what he’d said or the fact he had talked to someone else and not her. He’d always been the strong silent type. Definitely a man of action and few words.
When Skylar Dawn complained of tummy aches, Kendall suggested counseling. If they couldn’t communicate on their own, maybe a third party could help.
She’d never forget the stabbing pain she’d experienced when he said, “My world has pretty much crashed down around my ears by not keeping my mouth shut.” To keep from hurting their daughter, Heath packed a bag. He made a drastic, solitary decision.
If he was gone...they couldn’t argue. So to solve the problem he moved into the spare room of Slate Thompson’s house on a small ranch just east of Dallas. He worked in the barn and helped with riding lessons to pay his rent.
Or at least that’s what she thought. They hadn’t really spoken since.
They seemed to avoid each other by staying busy with their jobs. But he never failed to call Skylar Dawn at six each evening. When her caseload picked up, he stayed at the house two nights a week.
Her mother had objected to her marriage from the beginning. For some reason, her encouragement had always been for a career. Not necessarily the FBI, just something with a title and advancement.
“How did we get this far down the rabbit hole? Yeah... Where’s that time machine when you need it?”
Chapter One (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
Heath Murray was feeling just how crowded the small house he lived in had become. He slipped away to the rodeo every weekend, attempting to give Slate some privacy. But, man, come Sunday nights he needed to rest his weary old bones on a soft couch.
He needed to pop the top on a bottle of beer, prop his feet up on the coffee table and listen to sports while he drifted off into blissful slumber.
That never happened.
He didn’t mind having his partner’s mom cook. Saved him the trouble of constantly eating out. He didn’t mind having Slate’s new girlfriend sneak back up to the main house after not catching the front door before it slammed shut at four in the morning. Neither of them knew he hadn’t really slept in months.
He didn’t mind returning to his real bed twice a week to spend time with his baby girl. Skylar Dawn loved it. Kendall tolerated it. They both agreed it was better than the nights he didn’t see their daughter at all.
He could deal with all that. He’d been dealing with it for almost six months. But this...
“Dammit, guys. Do you always have to be making out when I open the door?”
“Oh, man. Is it already five? I’m supposed to go see my brother tonight. I should go get ready.” Vivian Watts, his roommate’s girlfriend, tugged her T-shirt to her waist, making sure it was in place. She gave Slate a quick kiss and ran past Heath.
“Thanks for making her feel bad,” Slate said.
“Don’t mention it.” Yeah, he was being sarcastic. Yeah, he didn’t mean to be. Hell, maybe he did. His attitude sucked, and his side hurt. The bronc he’d been thrown from had kicked his ribs. The skin had begun turning colors before he’d started for home.
“Well, I sort of am.” Slate took his hands from his back pockets and crossed his arms in a move of determination. “You know she’s had a really hard time lately. They told her it’s going to be at least another six weeks before they’ll think about clearing her brother to leave the center.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean it and I’ll apologize.” He would. He’d probably screw up again, though. “Maybe it’s time for me to find my own place?”
“That’s not what you need to do,” Slate said with a certain look on his face.
The same frustrated look his friends and fellow Rangers had at least once a week. Maybe even a little more often. Like each time they tried to get him to open up about his situation with his wife. Yet if he couldn’t talk about it with her, he shouldn’t talk about it with his friends. Their separation was a private matter.
“You, me, Wade and Jack are tight. We’re more than just Rangers, and we’re more than friends. We’re brothers. We’ve got each other’s backs. I’m telling you the truth. You should call her,” Slate urged.
“I will. Tuesday.”
“You are such a stubborn son of a...cowboy.”
At that, Heath tipped his hat off his head and let the Stetson flip into his hand. A trick his little girl loved.
“You better head on out if you’re going to catch Vivian and drive her to her brother’s.”
“Call your wife, man. Make up. It’s been six months, for crying out loud. Tell her you don’t think your job is more important than hers.”
“You don’t think I’ve told her? I haven’t ever lied to her. I thought she knew that. But for some reason she still can’t believe me.” He pulled a beer from the refrigerator, glancing at the plastic containers full of home-cooked meals. He was too sore to eat.
“Dammit, Heath.” Slate stuck a ball cap on his head. “Think hard about what you’re willing to give up.” He stomped to the door and slammed it shut behind him.
Alone.
It was how he liked it. Right?
“Right,” he spoke out loud and tipped the beer he’d wanted for the past hour between his lips and swallowed.
Another couple of minutes, and he could call Skylar Dawn before Kendall put her in the bathtub. She was almost four years old, and it had been six months since he’d destroyed any chance at a normal father-daughter relationship.
He went through the motions, just like he did every night. Nothing there comforted him like it had when he was married. There was no one to talk to about the bronc ramming him in half.
No one to joke with about the young women hanging around the edge of the stalls. Or how he’d felt too old to notice. But they’d had fun with their wolf calls when he’d bent over and showed his backside. Kendall had gotten a kick out of coming up and laying a big, luscious kiss on him when that had happened before.
That had been before she’d gotten pregnant and the barn smell had made her nauseous.
Another sip of beer. It was almost gone, and he wanted another.
Was this what life was going to be like? Waiting around while Kendall—and her mother—made all the decisions about their life? He’d been ready for months to talk with her and apologize again. He just wanted their old life back.
Was that even possible?
Completely aware that pressure against his side would be painful, he went back into the kitchen, filled a couple of sandwich bags with ice, wrapped them in a towel and shoved it against his ribs.
The stinging cold brought him to his senses. He was getting too old for this routine. Too old to be afraid to talk with his wife. Too old to insult Vivian and Slate or any of his other friends because he was miserable with his own life.
It was time to make some changes.
Good or bad...he needed to talk with Kendall face-to-face. Soon. Maybe it would turn out better than he feared. Maybe it wouldn’t. All he knew was that it was time to move forward.
Good thing he had a light load at work. He was mostly focused on court and testifying and paperwork right now. He set the ice on the table, then slid his shirt free from his belt. He tucked it up close to his armpit before looking closer at the bruise.
That was going to be a big boo-boo, as baby girl would say.
Yeah, it was time. Slate was right about that. Time to apologize and move on. How long could a woman stay mad?
Something in the back of his mind warned that his woman could stay that way a very, very long time. Especially with a mother whispering in her ear who hated him. Hell, his mother-in-law had shouted to the world that he’d never be good enough for her daughter.
He clicked on his phone, stared at the picture of Kendall holding a super pink baby girl and swiped to dial. He would talk to his wife face-to-face. Tonight, he’d read to his daughter.
“Hey there. How’s my favorite munchkin?” He reached for the children’s version of The Wizard of Oz.
“Daddy!”
* * *
“JERRY, I KNOW it’s Sunday night. That’s why I’m calling. I need more people. I know I’m close to a breakthrough.” Kendall Barlow didn’t back down. Her supervisory special agent should know that. She heard the house phone ring in the background, as it did every night like clockwork.
In six months’ time, Heath hadn’t missed calling his daughter once. And not one time had he made a serious effort to reconcile. He was a man of few words—for everyone except Skylar Dawn.
“Kendall. It’s been months and you’ve got nothing to show for it. You know we’re shorthanded. Dallas Police Department is worse off than we are. You aren’t going to get more qualified personnel for the joint task force than the people already assigned to it.”
“If I had another competent person who knew their way around computers, I know I could prove that Public Exposure is fraudulent. We’re close. Very close.”
“Oh furgle. Our resources have been tapped out. Run with what you’ve got, and get me something to show for your time. Of course, there is one person already on your task force you haven’t tried.”
“Special Agent Fisher, I’ve asked you not to use that word. I’ve looked it up and it’s inappropriate. It was fine in Catch-22, but come on. You know it doesn’t mean what you think.” She was tired of this conversation. Or was he trying to distract her? Did he really think that she needed something to justify the investigation? Couldn’t he think of one more possible agency to check? “Jerry?”
“Yes? I promise I’ll behave. I just love that word.”
“Please don’t—”
“You should talk to your ex. Ask him if he’s heard anything about your case.”
“That’s a clear conflict of interest. No one would allow him on the team.”
“Seems like that’s my decision now. I’ll allow him to help out until the Rangers can find a replacement. Use the taxpayers’ money wisely. See you in the office.”
The line disconnected, and she could once again hear the exclamations of surprise from her daughter as her father read about flying monkeys and sparkly red shoes. Had she mentioned to Heath that their daughter had outgrown two pairs of those red slippers while he’d been gone?
Skylar Dawn was sitting on the couch holding the main phone extension. Her grandmother listened on an additional handset just outside the door. Heath knew about the eavesdropping even if her mother thought it was a secret. He accepted it as part of his “punishment for whatever he blamed himself.”
As if living away from their precious little girl wasn’t punishment enough. Why he thought he needed to be punished, she didn’t understand. And no matter how she tried, her mother wouldn’t stop.
Constant jabs at Heath kept an undercurrent of tension in the air. Kendall wanted to avoid the subject and leaned toward avoiding her mother in the evenings when she helped out with Skylar Dawn.
Heath wasn’t her ex, and finalizing their separation wasn’t high on her priority list. So far there hadn’t been any squabbles about how to do anything. He’d taken only a few of his things and the horses.
Other than a picture or two of Skylar Dawn, he’d managed to leave everything looking exactly like it had been when he’d walked away. Or when she’d driven him away. She could remember exactly when things had come to a pivotal breaking point. Most of that argument had to do with her mother.
Her mother’s standards had been high her entire life. Heath had a father exactly the same way. But what had turned Heath into a strong man who held his opinions to himself—or himself and his horse—seemed to be turning her soul bitter.
I can’t be my mother. I can’t do that to Skylar Dawn.
“Do you have to say goodbye, Daddy?”
Kendall waited for the familiar “Good night” and “I love you.” Her daughter clicked the red button on the phone and her mother followed a second afterward. She crossed her arms, enveloping the phone between a breast and a well-toned limb.
Her mother, a woman of sixty, made good use of the money she’d gathered over the years. Three stepfathers and three settlements later, Kendall had a college education and two letters of recommendation for her Bureau interview.
Getting along with the men in her mother’s life had never been the problem. More and more recently, she’d been realizing how sad her mother had become. And how demanding.
Her mother didn’t allow Skylar Dawn two seconds to linger or even to put the phone back on its charging station. She immediately clapped her hands, and her granddaughter jumped to her feet.
Oh my God! She’s reacting like a trained puppy.
Kendall swooped in and picked up her little girl, who should need a bath from playing in the dirt. But she was perfectly clean.
“Wow. Let’s go for a ride. What do you think, sweet girl?”
“Kendall, I was just getting ready to run her bath. Isn’t it late to go out?”
“Actually, Mother, you might be right. But we’re going anyway.” Kendall smiled and steadied her daughter back down on her feet. “Let’s go see if we can find some flying monkeys.”
Skylar Dawn giggled as they skipped down the hall and out the front door.
It was clear that changes needed to be made for her and her daughter. She’d set paperwork in motion the next day. She’d find out the possibilities before she approached Heath.
Six months of living with her mother instead of her husband was long enough. Five minutes down the road, she realized she’d pointed the car east toward Heath. She slowed and turned into a drive-through. Then they got ice cream and played at the park until they both really needed a bath.
It was fun. Spontaneous. She used to be those things. It was the whole reason Skylar Dawn had come to be.
It was time to find that person again.
Chapter Two (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
Wade Hamilton shoved the last file into the back of the box. It represented months of work and the official end of his desk duty. It had taken him almost as long to heal from the beating he’d received six months ago. But everything worked again. Both with his body and his status as a Texas Ranger Company B lieutenant.
Ready to take his place at his partner’s side. Ready to get out from behind his desk. Back to handling things by the seat of his pants instead of the rule book. Doing so had landed him in this desk chair. He’d learned his lesson to slow down and think a little. He liked fieldwork...not paperwork.
Unfortunately, Major Clements had discovered Wade was good at paper shuffling. He’d been allowed to assist with a few cases as backup for Company B brothers. But the paperwork grew while he was gone.
It seemed like the rest of the office had grown accustomed to him shuffling their requests, too. Coming in early and staying late was second nature now. Why not, since he had no life?
That’s where he was bright and early on a Monday morning. At work before the rest of the staff or other Rangers finished their first cup of coffee, he was shuffling papers. Almost done, the latest request for his company’s support caught his eye. He knew the name of the FBI agent heading the task force. He’d attended her wedding just over five years ago.
Kendall Barlow was the new team leader of a cybercrime task force and asking for computer and field support on the joint task force. Heath—her husband and the logical choice—had already been assigned to cybercrime. Now their relationship would need to be reviewed and disclosed. He’d been on the task force since it was headed by Jerry Fisher. But still, Murray was the best geek Company B had.
It was up to Wade to recommend someone else or okay Heath for a couple of days in the field with Special Agent Barlow.
It was also an opportunity to resolve his friend’s problem. He’d been listening to Slate talk about his temporary roommate for six months. How he worked the horses, cleaned the stalls, never missed a phone call with his daughter and never—ever—spoke to his wife. Heath, on the other hand, never said a word. Wade held on to the paperwork and grabbed a second cup of coffee.
Who was he to jump in to the middle of a man’s business? Especially marriage problems? But the more he tried to talk himself out of it, the more his gut told him to assign Heath to work with his wife.
Slate and Jack were both standing at his desk when he returned from the break room. Before he asked their advice, Jack pointed to the request.
“What’s this?”
“You’re sending him, right?” Slate asked. “It’s exactly what they both need to force them to figure out what’s going on.”
“You think so?”
“Damn straight,” they answered together.
“The man’s turning into a bear,” Slate said. “I might take his head off if he snarls at Vivian again.”
“If the FBI put in the request, you should accommodate it,” Jack stated, hanging his jacket on the rack.
“What if she doesn’t want it?” Wade asked, already knowing that he would recommend Heath.
“Then she has a friend who is thinking along the same lines we are.” Slate took his seat opposite Wade. “Maybe she’s as cranky as he is.”
“Who’s cranky?” Heath asked as he walked through the door.
“The old man, Major Clements,” Jack said, jumping in. “We’re coming up with reasons he might be out of sorts. I say he’s getting ready to retire. Wade says his wife might be cranky.”
“My bet’s on the wife.” Heath winced as he took off his jacket, holding his side. “The old man’s never going to retire.”
The guys nodded in agreement. Slate mouthed “Bear,” while pointing to Heath behind his hand.
Wade recognized Heath’s movement. When his own ribs had been cracked, he’d held his side the same way. Heath had probably injured himself at the rodeo this weekend. But he’d never admit it.
Wade agreed with hiding it from the boss. If he hadn’t been unconscious with an eye swollen twice its size, he probably would have taken a couple of days off and never admitted anything about the beating. Or about the woman who’d saved his life by alerting Jack to his whereabouts.
Time to put his own fantasies to rest and find the woman who haunted his dreams... Therese. If he couldn’t work on that, the least he could do was help get Heath and Kendall back together.
He reached for the request, ready to recommend his friend and submit it to Major Clements. The old man would make the final decision if Company B would waive the conflict of interest. Maybe Heath and Kendall could find mutual ground and resolve their differences.
If not, then this assignment would at least help them reach that decision, too.
He completed the paperwork and sent it on its way. Assignment made.
Chapter Three (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
Heath held his side as he carefully lifted his arm into his suit jacket and then set his white Stetson on top of his head. The required Texas Ranger uniform wasn’t what people expected when they saw the star on his pocket. Traditionally they all wore white Stetsons, but with suits rather than jeans. He even wore a white shirt and black tie today.
Good thing, since he’d been assigned to work with an FBI task force regarding potential cybercrime. The agent in charge thought a research company had some type of ulterior motive for collecting the data.
Cybercrime had a broad definition—it referred to any crime committed with a computer or through a computing device. The slim file he’d received held just the basics and an address where to meet the agent. He was curious to learn what had tipped the FBI off and what the specifics of the case were.
Why meet here in the field? It wasn’t the norm. Neither was getting a last-minute request for field backup on a task force he hadn’t been active with for a while. Jerry Fisher—his wife’s old partner—had been promoted to group leader overseeing several teams in cybercrime. What was different now?
He waited for this mysterious agent at his truck. The older neighborhood was nicely kept up. The homes were on the smaller side for this section of Dallas. They’d eventually be sold and torn down to make way for larger lots.
It was a shame. Some of them looked really nice and were perfect starter places for couples. Or to house mothers-in-law. He’d been thinking about his wife the entire trip across town.
Only natural that he’d start thinking of her mother, since he half blamed her for egging on their arguments. He’d gone back and forth long into the night about calling Kendall. Even picked up his phone a couple of times. But the chicken part of himself won.
What if that phone call ended everything?
This morning he watched the sun rise while riding his mare and resolved to call Kendall today to make a date to talk. Not over the phone. Not around Skylar Dawn. Certainly not around his mother-in-law. The promise gave him peace of mind. Six months was enough time apart. He needed to try again. Speaking face-to-face would allow him to gauge her reaction. And if she called it quits?
Well, he wanted her to look him in the eye if she did.
There were several cars on the street of the address he’d been given. None of them were a government-issued sedan. He glanced at his watch—only a couple of minutes early.
If he was working with the FBI, he’d eventually have to visit their Dallas field office. He wasn’t excited about running into Kendall accidentally. Or her supervisor, Jerry Fisher.
Whoever his partner from the FBI was, they were late. Unless he was supposed to meet them inside. He walked around the truck, calling Wade to see if there’d been a time adjustment to the appointment. When a black sedan pulled up behind his truck, he disconnected. He leaned on the tailgate while putting his phone away, waiting.
“Heath?” A familiar voice rang from the far side of the government car.
The car door shut, and he stood at attention for some reason. The face came into focus while his body charged out of control.
Kendall?
Dammit. He’d almost dove into the truck bed. Hard to do with his heart galloping up his windpipe like a stampeding mustang. He wanted to leap on its back and get the hell out of there.
His hands itched to wrap themselves in her wild strawberry blond mane. But no wild mane flowed down the back of FBI Special Agent Kendall Barlow. It was pulled smoothly against her head into a ponytail. A few short tendrils escaped in front of her ears, the lobes pierced with the small diamond studs he’d given her.
“Nice to see you,” she said, before smiling a strained grin.
“Hey.” It felt awkward. He hadn’t been alone with her in a long time. He deliberately eased his shoulders, trying to relax. “Nice earrings.”
She fingered a stud, as if figuring out which pair she wore. “Oh, these? I can’t remember where I got them.” She teased with a genuine smile now. She remembered exactly who had given them to her... Him.
The awkwardness was worth it for the smile he hadn’t seen in months. “I... No one told me it was your task force.”
“Can we sort through the conflict of interest after Mrs. Pelzel’s interview? She’s watching us out her window.”
“Would you like to work with someone else?”
“Of course not.” She stopped on the sidewalk, head tilted to the side to look up at him. Physically only an arm’s length away, but completely out of his reach. “We can be professional about this. At least I can.”
Professional? Sure. Why the hell not?
Her task force. Her lead. Her knock on the door. He turned sideways on the porch to let her pass. The slight scent of ginger and orange filled him with memories. He recognized the smell of her lotion and was getting sentimental. Instead of pulling her into his arms and kissing her until they were both senseless, he tugged off his dark shades and tucked them in his pocket.
He could be professional. If he had to.
Kendall explained who they were when Mrs. Pelzel came to the door. She introduced him as Ranger Murray. No one was the wiser that they were married, since she’d always used her maiden name professionally. Once they were invited inside, Heath quickly discovered Kendall had been on this case for several months. Sitting on one of the most uncomfortable couches in the world, he concentrated on Mrs. Pelzel preparing large glasses of iced tea. A suddenly dry throat couldn’t wait to be quenched.
Kendall looked at a message on her phone, and he wondered how they’d drifted apart. More than five years of his life had been devoted to this woman.
How could it all be gone over one wrong question? He didn’t want it to be. But getting back to her wouldn’t be easy.
Once again, he was close enough to touch his wife, but promise bound to keep it professional. Reminding himself to stay professional. He’d kept that way back when they’d first met. He could do it again now.
Mrs. Pelzel brought the glasses in on a tray. He popped off the couch to help, but she shrugged him off. “Please sit. I have never had a real Texas Ranger visit before. This is so exciting.”
She handed them each a glass. He downed his in record time and could only blame it on nerves.
Kendall set down her glass after taking a sip, then straightened her jacket. Time for business. “Mrs. Pelzel, would you be willing to let my computer forensics team take a look at the PC?”
“Can they do that from here? I don’t think I could live without my computer for a long period of time,” the home owner replied. “That’s how I stay in touch with my grandkids, you know.”
“We could have someone out here in a couple of days,” he answered. “They could check it right here.”
The older woman shook her head. “Oh, wait. You know, I should have told you when you first arrived. There’s really not a problem, so you’d be wasting your time.”
Kendall gave him a look he should have been able to interpret. Maybe she’d just been surprised that he’d given an answer she didn’t like. Maybe she thought it strange that Mrs. Pelzel had changed her mind. He didn’t know, and that was disappointing since he should, being her husband and all.
“Mrs. Pelzel, what happened that made you call the FBI?” Kendall asked. Her notebook was open. Her pen was clicked to a ready position, but her casual body language told him she wasn’t expecting a real answer.
That hadn’t changed, at least. He could still read her mannerisms, it seemed.
“I’m afraid I’m just a silly old ninny who made a mistake,” the older woman said.
Kendall turned a page in her notebook, sliding her finger across the handwriting as she skimmed the page. “You told us you had a feeling that someone was watching you through the computer’s camera.”
“I did,” the older woman whispered.
To her credit, Kendall the FBI agent didn’t roll her eyes or make any facial movement that indicated she didn’t believe the older woman. “You also mentioned that the computer seemed to be running slower since they installed the Public Exposure gadget.”
“Really, you should believe me when I tell you I made a mistake,” Mrs. Pelzel said, her fingers twisting into the loose long-sleeved shirt she wore.
“Will you confirm that you have one of the PE monitoring systems?” Kendall’s enthusiasm moved her forward to the edge of the couch. Both sets of law enforcement eyes moved toward the desk, where the older model computer sat.
“They seem like a legitimate company,” he said, attempting to get Mrs. Pelzel to share more information.
“I’m not a helpless old woman who doesn’t know how to research a product or service. I didn’t think it was anyone’s business how much time I spent online. But the money they offered was enough to buy a new roof. I just couldn’t pass that up.”
He’d heard of Public Exposure and their controversial social media monitoring system. The file he’d been sent from the task force stated a strong belief the group was involved in more than the good of the common man.
“I sound old and kooky about someone watching me. But I swear that the camera light comes on by itself while I’m cooking or watching television. I hear a click, and the red light pops on and off.” She covered her mouth like she’d said something wrong and then looked at her computer.
Warning bells sounded, and he couldn’t help glancing over to see if the light was on.
“It doesn’t sound kooky at all, Mrs. Pelzel,” Kendall comforted. “In fact, we’ve had several other residents report the same thing. But we need to take your computer to our forensic team and have them check—”
“I’m sorry. Maybe I’ll have my granddaughter look at it. I was wrong to bring you here. There’s nothing weird going on.” Mrs. Pelzel stood and lifted her hand toward her front door. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.”
“Mrs. Pelzel, I believe you,” Heath said. “A start to resolving this issue would be to make certain you log out of your Wi-Fi. Turn everything off before closing the lid and unplugging it. And ask your granddaughter to verify your router has an encryption key. You might want to change your password.”
“Thank you. I’ll try to remember, and I’m very sorry to have wasted your time.”
Kendall stood, defeat written clearly on her face. She flipped her notebook closed and stowed it away inside her suit jacket. They both stopped on the front walk when the door shut. Heath squinted at the noon sun and put his glasses on while she made a couple of more notes.
“The precautions won’t make any difference,” Kendall told him, following with her sunglasses dangling from between her fingers.
“You don’t think this is someone trying to steal identities, like that file sitting in my car states.”
“It’s bigger than that.” Kendall continued to her car.
“How many reports have you taken?”
“Dozens.” Kendall leaned on the government-issued sedan, appearing more defeated now than she had inside the house. “And for every person who reports that their camera light is sporadically coming on, there are probably another dozen who don’t.”
“It’s a shame she wouldn’t let an expert search her computer. But if you have had that many complaints, why haven’t your FBI computer whizzes found what you need from those victims?” He crossed his arms across his chest and leaned his hip against the sedan, close to her.
“What did you think of Public Exposure before this morning?”
“I’ve seen their public service announcements. They’re a group that promotes kids playing outside instead of hanging on social media. How are they involved in potential identity theft?”
“First, no accounts have been affected—bank, credit card or otherwise. None of these complaints go further than what you witnessed. Mrs. Pelzel doesn’t realize that it was me who she spoke with when she called. I take the complaints, but by the time I get to an interview, something has changed their minds and they’ve all made a mistake.”
“All of them?”
“This makes over twenty. Oh, and they all use the word kooky.”
“They can’t all be saying the same thing. You think Public Exposure is threatening them?”
“Yes. Sometime between when the resident calls me and when I get here. All of these people withdraw their complaints or concerns and I can’t move forward.”
Mrs. Pelzel watched them from her window. Heath saw her drop the curtain back into place. Without moving his head, he looked at the windows of the neighbors. More than one resident peered through the blinds.
“I kind of understand about that feeling of being watched.” He barely nodded, but Kendall picked up what he was throwing down.
“There’s also a white van at the end of the block.” She pointed a finger behind her.
He glanced in that direction. “Two men in the front seat. Just sitting like they were when I arrived.”
“Want another chat?”
“I’m game.”
Kendall flipped her identification wallet open and held it in her left hand, leaving her right ready to react. Her weapon was at the ready in her shoulder harness, his at his hip. She turned and they took the first steps into the middle of the street toward the van.
The engine sprang to life and the van burned rubber in reverse. It was around the corner before they could pivot and get back to the car.
“I didn’t see a front license plate,” Kendall said, pointing for him to get into her vehicle.
“Nope. At least we don’t have to wonder if we’re being watched or not.” He hesitated to open her sedan’s door. “My truck is faster than this old heap.”
“Yeah, but this is government insured. I’d hate for our rates to go up.”
He jumped inside and buckled up. That was his Kendall. Always practical.
And he loved it.
Chapter Four (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
Kendall concentrated on driving the car. If she let herself get distracted and think about why Heath had been assigned her case, she’d screw up. Driving or talking...somehow she’d messed up one or the other, and he’d shut down.
At the moment, his hand gripped the back of her seat and the other gripped the dash. He’d lowered the window as soon as she’d pulled away from Mrs. Pelzel’s home.
“Do you see them?”
“You’re about to cross Inwood. Take a right.” He was grinning from ear to ear.
A definite improvement from when she’d first arrived. She’d thought he was about to throw up when Mrs. Pelzel went for the tea. She turned right as he suggested with the direction his finger pointed. For a by-the-book kind of guy, he had a good intuition about where criminals went.
“Slow down, Kendall.” Heath dropped his hand and pulled his sidearm.
She tapped the brakes and followed the direction of his narrowed eyes, toward the end of the block where the van sat parked in a driveway. She couldn’t tell if it actually belonged there or not. She slowed further.
“We need a better view.” He rested his weapon on his thigh but kept it pointed toward his door.
“Do you think they’ve seen us?” She pulled the car to the curb, keeping her foot on the brake and the car in gear.
“Not sure.”
“Thoughts?”
“They aren’t getting out. We should call for backup. Last thing we need is a chase through a residential part of Dallas.”
“Agreed. A high-speed chase isn’t ideal anywhere.”
“Nope.”
At least he was concise. Shoot, he always had been. Heath Murray was a cowboy of few words.
“As soon as I put the car in Park, they’ll take off.”
“Probably. Backup?”
“I hate to do that when all we have is the suspicion they were watching us or Pelzel’s house.” She needed proof. Something solid to move forward with. Not a reprimand about pursuing innocent bystanders.
“They did peel out in Reverse to get away.”
“True, but we hadn’t identified ourselves. I just see a media nightmare when they claim we were coming at them with guns.”
“Want me to ask?” His hand reached to open his door.
“Let’s just wait a minute and see what they do.”
She had no more than finished the sentence when two men exited the van, walked to the rear and removed paint buckets. One of the guys went and punched the doorbell, also knocking loud enough to send every dog on the block into a barkfest.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She hit the steering wheel with the palms of both hands. “This is the first nibble I’ve had.”
“Drive slow.”
Kendall didn’t hesitate and put the car in motion. With his gun resting on his thigh, Heath used his phone as a camera. She didn’t have to watch. She was confident that he’d capture as many images as possible. She focused her gaze on the men, switching between them, watching for a weapon or any questionable movement.
They drew even with the house and the man still at the van climbed inside and quickly shut the rear doors. The one at the house knocked again, causing the dog inside to bark once more. She could see it bouncing against the window trying to get out.
“Catch the plate?” Heath asked.
“He stacked paint cans in front of it.” Frustrated, she kept the car moving and pulled around the corner.
“We could wait here. See what they do.”
“We’ll give it a try.” She performed a three-point turn, pulled next to the curb and cut the engine.
“Video call me.” He plugged a headset into his phone and used one earpiece, dropping the phone into his jacket pocket. “Stay here.”
“Heath, no.” This went against training, but it was their best option.
“Don’t worry. I don’t do crazy.” With those words, he was out of the car and tapping the hood as he walked around the front.
She should have been more insistent and demand he return to the car. She dialed and he answered but didn’t talk. She could hear his boots on the street, his breathing and then the echo of street sounds after she heard them in real time.
He crossed the street and stood on the grass at the corner house’s garage wall. The cell screen finally showed a picture other than the inside of his pocket. He lifted the phone around the corner, and she could see past the neighboring driveways.
“They’re standing at the back of the van. One’s talking pretty rapidly and waving his hands. Can you make out what they’re saying? I can’t.”
“No,” he whispered into his microphone.
“They’re both looking in your direction, but I don’t think they can see the phone. The driver is opening the doors and putting the paint back inside.”
“I can have a conversation,” he whispered.
“No. Heath, no. Just wait.” She had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling.
Trusting premonitions had never been a strategy for her. She never looked for good luck or blamed a bad streak on chance. More than anything else, she investigated and found the answers through old-fashioned hard work.
But something screamed at her to get Heath back in the car.
“Time to pack it up, Heath.”
The screen went black as she heard the driver slam the van doors shut in real time and then on the echo in the video delay. She started the car to be at the ready.
But Heath didn’t return to the vehicle. She inched the car forward until she could see her husband disappearing into the front door alcove, getting closer to the van instead of coming back to her.
“Heath!” She called to him without any response. She sank lower in her seat, hoping neither man in the van noticed the car.
The van’s engine roared to life.
Kendall braced herself, fairly certain that the next thing she heard would be gunfire. The van peeled out of the driveway and down the street...toward her, passing Heath and turning left. Perfect for them to follow.
“Let’s go!” Heath’s voice roared at her through the phone.
She put the car into Drive, stopping just as he rushed away from the house and leapt over a small hedge. Even in boots, Heath was across the concrete street and in the car within seconds.
His speed always amazed her. Riding horses, running or taking down a suspect...the action didn’t matter. His hat was in his lap, and his hands were waving to follow the van.
“We don’t really have a reason to follow these guys,” she mentioned as she took the next left, back to the main road they’d turned from earlier. “Why do you want to pursue?”
“Gut feeling?”
Just as she was about to open her mouth to explain how their joint task force operated—that she was in charge and he shouldn’t take off like he had—the van sped up and fishtailed around a corner.
“If they really think that’s going to work, I guess they don’t know much about you, Kendall.”
Even increasing their speed and darting around a car, she caught the smile and wink. The natural response was to smile back. So she did. It was the reason she’d fallen in love with him. His gallantry. His bravery. His...okay, everything.
Kendall stopped herself, concentrating on switching lanes and accelerating. She’d confront him later. After whatever they were doing was over.
“Watch out.” Heath raised his voice, pointing in front of them.
The van went through a yellow light. They weren’t running sirens. And a powder-pink sedan, heading in the opposite direction, turned left in front of them. They were going to hit each other. Kendall slammed on her brakes, as did the sedan. They barely avoided each other as they fishtailed sideways to a stop.
“Gun it. Car to your left.”
She heard the words and trusted the Texas Ranger next to her. She floored the gas, trying to look for crossing traffic, getting their car across the intersection. It was a good time of day to be on Northwest Highway. No one was in their path when she heard brakes from one direction and tires squealing from the other.
The SUV they’d passed a few seconds earlier had crashed into the rear of the pink car, stopping where her sedan would have been if Heath hadn’t yelled. There was a loud bang and horns.
“Great job, babe.” Heath patted her shoulder from where he rested his arm along the back of her seat. “I’ll check on the drivers.”
She pulled around to protect the drivers from oncoming traffic and hit the hazard lights. Heath got out, leaving his hat in his seat. She dropped her head to the wheel, reaching for her phone to call the accident in to authorities and request a tow truck. She sat back as she gave all the appropriate information, letting out a long sigh.
The van was out of sight. Heath was busy with the drivers, and all Kendall could do was force herself to breathe. That had been close. Too close.
No suspect was worth what had almost happened. She had to be more careful, less reckless. Skylar Dawn needed her parents to come home. Period.
“You okay?” Heath asked, back at the passenger door.
She nodded, still a little stunned by it all.
“I can’t say I’m bummed about them getting away.” The corner of his mouth barely rose as he leaned on the car.
“What? Why’s that?”
“Where’s the fun in catching them the first day I get to work with you again?”
He said it with such a straight face that if she hadn’t known him, she never would’ve seen that playful gleam in his eye. Yet she couldn’t argue with the logic either. She would’ve been bummed, too.
Chapter Five (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
Heath wanted to take Kendall in his arms until she stopped shaking, but he’d jumped out of the car to check on the other drivers. Instead of helping her now, he spoke to her through the passenger door, keeping the entire front seat between them.
Hugging your wife after an accident was allowed, in his book. He just didn’t know if it fell under the professional umbrella. He straightened, grabbing his aching ribs, worse now because of slamming into the seat belt. But he swallowed the grimace of pain, keeping it to himself. He wouldn’t mention it to the EMTs who would be arriving on the scene, judging by the distant sirens.
Kendall stretched a couple of times as she stood from the car. “I can’t believe they missed us.”
“You didn’t hesitate.”
She nodded, letting the statement stand as a compliment about their teamwork. And this time, he didn’t add the frightening picture in his head of a different outcome. If she had stopped to question why he was yelling a command at her... Damn, they would be pinned between those two cars right now.
But she hadn’t. They were unharmed. Fine to go home to Skylar Dawn. And good enough to work together tomorrow.
“The drivers are fine.” He’d walked around the hood of the car before realizing it. His hand opened between Kendall’s shoulder blades, and he might have patted her a couple of times if he hadn’t seen the tears.
But he had.
Just two, but they were enough to make her curl into the crook of his arm and stand there until they heard the first siren grow close. She broke away like someone had thrown water on them.
“Traffic needs to get through. I should probably move the car.” Her voice was awkward and strained as she looked around the intersection.
“I can take care of it.”
“Don’t coddle me, Heath.”
“Whoa there, partner.” He emphasized the last word to remind her why they were there. “I’m allocating resources. You’re the better photographer. I’m going to need every angle possible before the cars move.” He stuck his hand in his pocket.
Her mouth formed a perfect O before accepting his phone. Then she was back. Professional. Doing her job as the authorities arrived. Identifying herself as an agent and taking pictures.
Staying out of the way, the Dallas PD officer gave him the go-ahead to move the FBI sedan. It didn’t have a scratch on it. Just as he opened the door, in a moment where no one else watched, he caught a glance between the two drivers.
A knowing glance. Like they’d gotten away with something.
It took him a few minutes to get the sedan back on the same side of the street as the rest of the cars. By the time he returned, both drivers stood with officers, giving their statements. After an initial check, they’d both declined the ambulance ride to a hospital.
The woman in the pink car was crying again, her mascara smeared like his mother-in-law’s the day his world had turned upside down. It was hard not to think about it—the afternoon Skylar Dawn had broken her arm. But he pushed it from his mind.
Something was off about the accident. Maybe he’d been hanging around Wade too much lately. His friend’s intuition seemed to be rubbing off on him. Everything about the SUV guy who had nearly T-boned them screamed that the man wanted to run.
It had to be the highway patrol officer in him. He’d stopped more than his fair share of antsy drivers with drugs or weapons in their cars. The SUV driver shifted his weight from foot to foot. He kept looking around, especially at Kendall.
Okay, Heath admitted that his wife was an extremely attractive woman. Nothing about her shouted married or mom. And seeing her work again was...hot. He got why men would watch her. But this guy didn’t have a look like he was trying to ask her out.
Nope. Heath recognized the short glances. The slow quarter turns to keep her in his peripheral vision. The driver must not realize that Heath was a Ranger or anyone else significant. He hadn’t given him a second glance since Heath asked if he was okay.
Heath leaned against the pink car’s trunk, watching both the drivers through his mirrored shades. There it was again. A specific look that acknowledged the drivers knew each other. One of the man’s eyebrows rose, and the woman’s chin lifted slightly.
Indiscernible to anyone not watching them specifically. A look that confirmed his gut feeling that something was off. If he’d looked away for a split second, he would have missed it.
If the drivers knew each other, they must know the men in the white van. He took a step toward Kendall, who was wrapping up with the officers. But what would he tell her?
That his instinct told him these two apparently innocent victims had a connection to the group Kendall was looking into? They couldn’t hold the two based on his observation. His gut instinct had gotten them into this accident by encouraging her to follow the van.
If he followed any intuition, it would be to keep his thoughts and observations to himself until they could investigate. That’s what the Rangers and FBI did. They found the facts and built cases.
He’d wait.
For now, he’d make it clear about his role here. No reason to let Public Exposure know he was working with Kendall. He pushed off the trunk and marched to Kendall’s side. He pulled her close to him.
When she turned to him—most likely to express her anger—he kissed her. A full-on-the-mouth, like-she-belonged-to-him kiss. For the moment...she did. Although she may not after the next time they were alone.
“I’ll explain when we’re alone,” he whispered. Then in a louder voice, “You ready to go, babe?”
He could see the fury rising for him embarrassing her. “Gentlemen.” She nodded to the officers, excusing herself.
Heath didn’t back off. He kept his arm around Kendall’s waist as they walked to her sedan. He opened her door and tried to kiss her again.
“No way,” she said, dodging his attempt. “You better have a dang good reason for what you just did.”
He ran around the back of the car, trying to come up with something. Anything other than the real reason, since he didn’t want to explain himself. At least not yet.
She stared at him as he snapped his seat belt into place.
“Well?”
“It was time to go.”
She huffed. “That makes no sense at all. If you wanted to go, you could have said something and not embarrassed me in front of the Dallas PD.”
He let her vent as he looked through the pictures she’d taken of the scene. Once he was back in the office, he’d be able to run a full background check. Once he had information, he’d explain to Kendall.
“You aren’t listening to me.”
“What?”
Kendall slowed to a stop beside his truck. “I said, if you’re going to get possessive because someone’s looking at me, then this joint effort isn’t going to work.”
“That wasn’t... I wasn’t...” he tried. Get your information right before you tell her. “Professional. Got it.”
The awkward pause resulted in an awkward thumb gesture indicating he should get out of the car. She lowered the passenger window from her side and waited until he bent his face down to look at her.
“I’ll talk to you tonight when you call Skylar Dawn. We’ll decide what our next move is and where to meet tomorrow.”
“Good idea.”
He stood. The window went up and she pulled away, leaving him in the middle of the street. She had a right to be upset. On the surface, he’d behaved badly.
Back in his truck, he resisted the impulse to bang the dashboard. It sure didn’t appear that he’d racked up any points for moving back home. He’d do his research, and maybe his instinct about the drivers would pay off.
Drapes dropped into place at the house to his left. Blinds closed at Mrs. Pelzel’s home. There was more to this case than fraud. Every instinct he possessed told him so. Kendall was keeping something from him. He knew that before being assigned to her task force.
Fraud? Or a decision about their life—together or apart? Maybe helping his wife would give them an opportunity to really talk. But now, it was time to work some computer magic to figure out what secrets the residents of Hall Street were keeping.
Chapter Six (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
“If I weren’t a mom, I’d be cussing like a sailor right now.” Kendall closed the office door behind her.
Jerry Fisher didn’t look up from the paperwork under his pen. “I put in the request as you asked. You must have known there was a possibility that your husband would continue on the task force until they could find an alternate. Do I need to file a furgle conflict of interest and pull you from the case? Oh, sorry. I forgot you’re offended by that word.”
The witty comeback she’d expected hadn’t come. Instead he’d deliberately used that stupid word. Her supervisor sounded...bothered. Shoot. She’d been using his listening abilities for her personal venting. That needed to stop.
The pen dropped to the desk, and he covered the papers with a file. Kendall plopped down in the lone chair near the bookshelf, emotionally exhausted. She’d only returned to the office to delay explaining to her mother why she looked like she hadn’t slept in a year.
Jerry leaned back in his chair, fingers locked casually behind his neck. “Look, if it’s too difficult to work with Murray, I can give this thing to Kilpatrick. It’ll die a quick death, and it won’t be your responsibility or be on your record.”
“Kilpatrick is two months away from retirement. He won’t take it seriously.” She could handle Heath and the investigation. If she couldn’t...well, she deserved to be reassigned.
“We both know this investigation isn’t going anywhere, Kendall. I spoke with my supervisor and the DC cybercrime group supervisor. They’re still not interested until your victims have monetary losses or receive extortion threats. It’s just not a priority for them.” He leaned forward, chatting like the friend he’d been when they’d first started out at the Bureau. More like he was doing her a favor by taking the case away.
Did he really believe she was wasting her time? Had he lost confidence in her ability? Or was her desire to crack a big case obscuring the reality that Public Exposure wasn’t one?
“We actually had a break this afternoon. The address of the complaint was being watched by two men.” She wouldn’t remind him that she could manage Heath.
The fact was that Jerry Fisher drank the Kool-Aid. He’d moved up to management. He was her boss. Bosses lived by the rules. Bosses wanted successful investigations. Bosses didn’t need to hear about personal problems.
If he needed results...well, that’s what she’d give him.
“Were you able to question them?” He picked up the pen and tapped both ends back and forth on the manila folder.
“We were in pursuit when they—No. No questioning, yet.” But the incident strengthened her resolve. She was on to something important. “I won’t take up any more of your time.”
“Furgle. I have time.” He gestured to the files on his desk. “Believe me, I’d rather be in the field with you again.”
“I bet.” She smiled, in spite of his using that stupid word...again. She left more determined than ever to break this case wide open.
Jerry wasn’t the only one who needed results. Climbing the FBI ladder had been her dream for as long as she could remember. She needed a big win in her column. Someday she wanted to be the agent in charge, the boss, the person others reported to.
But, honestly, she couldn’t remember why.
Did she want to be behind a desk making all the decisions without the full picture? Did she want to move and take Skylar Dawn away from her life here? And, more importantly, away from her father?
Like my mother did?
God, the realization stopped her in her tracks. That wasn’t the plan when their argument started. Well, marrying and having a child had never been a part of her life plan either. She rubbed her palms together as she continued down the hallway. She needed to reevaluate her life. The realization wasn’t a surprise. She just hadn’t admitted it to herself before this minute.
Even though she’d wanted to have the same evaluation talk with Heath, she hadn’t acknowledged it was exactly what she needed to do personally.
She needed more information about Public Exposure, which would mean a late night of research. But her first call was to the house. Her mother picked up Skylar Dawn from day care each day, but she always waited until Kendall got home before serving dinner.
“Mommy!” her daughter answered. She either could recognize the caller ID or knew it wasn’t six o’clock and time for Heath’s call.
“Hey, sweetheart. How did today go?”
“Bumble the rabbit died, Mommy. It’s so sad. I’ll miss her.”
“That is sad, honey. Is your class all right?”
“Yeah, Miss Darinda says it’s part of the circle of life. Like the lion movie.”
“That’s true.”
“I drew a picture. MiMi put it on the frigeator.”
“I’ll be sure to look at it when I get home.”
Skylar Dawn sighed long and very audibly into the receiver. “Working late again? My, my, my.”
Her daughter mimicked frequent sayings of the adults around her. This particular one was used by Naomi in an attempt to make Kendall feel guilty or ashamed. Kendall already felt both, since she’d be missing time at home.
“Yes, sweet pea. I’m working late, but I’ll be home in time to read a chapter from our book.”
“I could get Daddy to read it.”
God, she felt guilty enough without letting Heath know she was working late on a Monday. Tuesdays and Thursdays were normally spent in the office. That was Heath’s night at the house. For some stupid reason, she didn’t want him to know that the late hours were extending to other days of the week.
“I’ll be home in time. Can you get MiMi?”
“Love you, bye-bye.”
Maybe it was superwoman syndrome or imposter syndrome or some other syndrome working mothers had come up with. Whatever it was could be added to the list of things she needed to face and talk about with Heath.
Not Jerry. Not her mother. And not any other friend or coworker.
It was time she admitted she couldn’t do everything.
Right after she proved that Public Exposure wasn’t what they claimed.
* * *
HEATH’S PHONE ALARM SOUNDED. Five minutes until his six o’clock phone call. He swiped open the book, getting it ready to read for Skylar Dawn.
“Barlow residence.”
Naomi. Not the cheerful voice of his daughter.
“Evening, Naomi. May I speak with Skylar Dawn?”
“I’m sorry, Heath. She’s taking her bath. She got exceptionally dirty this afternoon hopping around like a bunny.” Naomi described the playful act with disgust.
“Is Kendall available, or is she in with her?”
“She’s not here tonight.”
“And after Skylar Dawn’s done?”
“Returning your call is not my responsibility, Heath.”
“Gotcha. She’s being punished for getting dirty.” He waited, but Naomi didn’t respond. “At least tell her I called?”
Again there was silence.
If Heath hung up, it would be the only part of the conversation repeated to Kendall. He kept the line open, waiting until his mother-in-law responded. In fact, he put the call on speaker and looked at the book.
He heard splashing and singing in the background. Naomi had returned to the bathroom.
“I can’t stay on the phone any longer. It’s time to wash her hair.” She disconnected.
“I think Naomi Barlow is in contention for the monster-in-law of the year award,” Wade Hamilton stated without looking across the office at Heath.
“Mind your own business. Wait. That’s impossible for you, right?”
“I was commiserating with you, man. I know what that phone call means to you.”
“You’re as bad as an old meddling matchmaker. Admit it. You’re the one who assigned me to Kendall’s task force.” He swiveled in his chair to face Wade.
No one else was in the office. He could speak freely. He had intended not to mention the conflict-of-interest part of his assignment. His anger was actually at his mother-in-law and the phone call. He should shut up. Keep it to himself—his general policy about everything these days.
Too late now.
Wade took a few seconds to smile like a cat skimming a bucket of milk still under the cow. Then he rolled his pen between his palms, shrugging his shoulders slightly.
“I’m not sure if I should slug you or thank you.”
“Hey, I’m just looking out for my own self-interests here,” Wade said, spinning back to his computer screen. “I’m tired of hearing Slate complain about your bad habits.”
“I have a few stories I could tell.”
He held up his hand. “God, no. I have no reason to listen to more. Instead, is there anything I can help you with?”
“Thanks, but no. I’m running some facial recognitions and backgrounds. Why aren’t you going home?”
Wade shrugged again. “I have my own demons to chase.”
Demons? Heath recognized barriers. Several months ago Wade had been brutally beaten, cracking ribs and almost losing an eye. He would have lost his life if it hadn’t been for a woman named Therese Ortis warning another company Ranger, Jack MacKinnon.
All traces of the woman had vaporized. Was she the demon Wade chased? Too late to ask. The conversation was over.
It was a good time to step outside and call Kendall. He left a message when she didn’t answer, then texted her to call when she was home so he could talk with Skylar Dawn. The light pollution around here didn’t block every star in the sky. He perched against the tailgate and just looked out.
There would be rain in the next couple of days. The color around the moon had changed. His mother had taught him that. He should take his daughter for a visit. Soon. But the nine-hour drive to Southwest Texas was hard enough when two parents shared the responsibilities.
That had been the excuse, and his parents had accepted it. The last real trip they’d taken to Alpine had slowed them down further with the horse trailer to pick up Jupitar and Stardust almost a year ago. When had life gotten out of hand?
The day I walked out of my house.
Needing a pep talk, he dialed. “Hey, Mom. How’s everything going?”
“It’s much the same. The baseball team looks to do pretty good this year. But you didn’t call to catch up on Sul Ross.”
“I don’t mind hearing about it.” And he didn’t. Just listening to his mom’s voice gave him a sense of inner calm.
“Are you still living...?”
“At the Thompson ranch? Yes. And no, I haven’t really talked to Kendall. Skylar Dawn is growing and getting more amazing every day. She made new paintings for everyone. I’ll get it in the mail this weekend.”
“No rodeo? No busting heads?”
He rubbed his bruised ribs but knew his mother referred to Kendall’s mom. “That was this past weekend. Okay, maybe it happened a little tonight, too.”
“Uh-huh. You’re going to kill yourself and make that woman very happy.”
He was pretty sure he wouldn’t drop dead, but the pain was a constant reminder that he might not have too many rodeo days left. Maybe he should focus on more rides with Skylar Dawn instead.
“Mom. We’ve talked about this. I need the money.” Yeah, he did. And one crack about his mother-in-law was all either of them was allowed.
The extra work he did around the ranch still didn’t repay the Thompsons what boarding his two horses would cost. He was determined to make up the difference and not accept a free ride.
“We could help you out, but you won’t let us.”
“You already have three full-time jobs. A professor at the university, a wife and a nurse to Dad. You’re the one who needs to slow down. I should be sending money to you. Is he okay?”
“Dad is still the same. He’s giving everyone what for, doesn’t remember doing it, then does it again.” She laughed. “I wish we could come see you, but breaking his routine is really hard.”
“I know, Mom. I should be there.”
“Nonsense. You have a very important job, a family and a wonderful daughter. Concentrate on those precious girls.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll call my grandbaby this weekend. You okay? I should get your daddy into bed soon.”
“Just that...I’m always better after talking to you.” His mother’s positive, can-do attitude poured out of her every sentence. “Love you.”
“I love you, too, son.”
Talking to at least one woman he loved gave him his second wind. He returned to his desk and began the computer searches he needed on Public Exposure. He wanted to know everything.
Making a substantial contribution in the morning would make it much harder to stop his involvement with the case. The last thing he wanted was for Kendall to play the conflict-of-interest card.
Wade finally went home.
It was too late to speak with his daughter. Too late to read to her. He had no reason to text his wife. Again.
“This can’t be right.” The addresses of the two drivers today weren’t only on the same street in Dallas—they were on the same block.
He looked up the owners—not them, a corporation. Now the digging got fun. So fun he didn’t notice the time until it was two in the morning.
Time to call it a night.
He had what he’d been searching for. A good, solid, old-fashioned lead.
Chapter Seven (#u43a5c463-b15d-50aa-8b84-b8575b798de3)
Kendall opened the front door and found Heath leaning against her SUV. One hand held a donut with sprinkles, and the other had a large coffee. Skylar Dawn ran past in her pink jeans and matching jacket.
“Daddy!”
Heath set the coffee cup down on the hood and lifted their daughter to his hip. He received his hug and smooches, then set their almost-four-year-old on the ground.
“Is that for me?”
“Yepper doodles.” He smiled like Kendall hadn’t seen him smile in months. “Jump inside and buckle up first.”
He opened the door, got Skylar Dawn settled inside and handed her the donut, complete with a set of napkins to cover her favorite blue bunny shirt she wore in honor of Bumble the rabbit.
Kendall stood there, finishing the last bit of coffee in her travel mug before setting it on the front porch. Without looking, she knew her mother disapproved behind the curtain. She didn’t care.
Heath was a great father.
Their baby girl had cried herself to sleep the night before. The tearstains had been apparent on her plump little cheeks. It had been a rare occasion that Kendall hadn’t made it home to tuck her into bed. Then she’d noticed her phone battery had gone dead. When she plugged it in, there were numerous messages from Heath.
They’d ranged from upset about her mother to extremely worried about where she was to wondering why she was ignoring him and offering to pull himself from the Public Exposure investigation. She’d texted that her phone had died and received a Great in response.
Of course it wasn’t great. Their situation was far from great.
But watching him with their daughter made her knees melt. He showed so clearly how much he loved Skylar Dawn. It brought tears to her already puffy eyes. She hadn’t slept. A recurring vision of what could have happened at that intersection had kept her awake most of the night.
“Come on, Mommy,” Skylar Dawn said between bites.
“That better be a double shot, skim with a dash of vanilla,” she answered from the porch before joining them.
“Why would I order you anything else?” He smiled at her, too.
But as he handed it to her, he glared at the window where the curtains moved slightly. She didn’t blame him. Her mother had no right to decide Skylar Dawn shouldn’t speak with her father.
That was a direction in which Kendall never wanted to head. No matter what happened between her and Heath, their daughter would never be used to hurt him. She’d made both of those points clear to her mother as soon as they’d gotten up.
“How did you know to bring the donut this morning?” she whispered as she passed him.
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