Retribution (Otter Creek Book 8) Read online

  “That’s true.” He sent her a level look. “We’re responsible for any training at PSI. That includes S & R. While we may not provide intense training for your people, we will do hands-on work with them. We want them prepared for anything.”

  She understood why PSI and Fortress wanted that. In a search for a lost hiker, you might cover miles and the handlers went wherever the dogs’ noses led. She’d run afoul of a pot grower on one search until the grizzled man learned she and Charlie were hunting for a toddler who wandered away from her parents’ campsite. Heidi and Charlie found the blond angel a half mile beyond the pot grower’s property. The girl had a few scratches and bruises, but was otherwise unharmed. She was lucky. Heidi and Charlie had caught up with her five hundred yards from a cliff. “A wise policy, Quinn. Does the training extend to the instructors?”

  A grin. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Wonderful. More chances for Quinn to catch her in a lie. Heidi sighed. She foresaw sore muscles in her future. She trained with Charlie all the time, but she had a feeling her workouts weren’t as intense as the ones Quinn and his teammates planned. If she landed this job. Her meager savings and what was left from her inheritance would last her a little longer. She rubbed Charlie’s head. She needed a job to keep her buddy in kibble. If Quinn made it impossible to stay in Otter Creek, Maddox would have to relocate her. Again. Thinking of moving again made her hands clench.

  She glanced at her watch. “I don’t want to be late for the interview.”

  “I’ll walk with you. I need to wrap up a few things before your interview.” His blue eyes darkened, grim determination settling on his handsome face.

  “Problem?” she asked as they walked to the back entrance of the brick building. Hopefully Heidi wasn’t the problem. At least not yet. How long before Quinn learned the truth?

  “Not for long.” Quinn swiped a card, then entered a long security code at the keypad before the lock disengaged. “After you.” He glanced at Heidi. “Have we met before?”

  Her pulse pounded madly. “Why?”

  Quinn frowned. “You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago.”

  Not what she wanted to hear. “I hope it’s all right for me to bring Charlie inside.”

  A warm smile chased the grimness from Quinn’s expression. Wow. Nice, really nice. “We’ll get used to the sight. Besides, we don’t have fancy furnishing or carpet. Deke also mentioned wanting to meet Charlie.”

  Heidi yanked her mind back on task. For the moment, her identity was secure. “What kind of dog does Deke own?”

  “Australian cattle dog.”

  Delight bubbled inside her, banishing some of the nervousness. “Oh, man. Those dogs are super smart and a bundle of energy.”

  “That’s Ace, all right. Some days I wish I could tap into that energy.” He led Heidi and Charlie to an office at the end of the hall. He rapped on the door and received a growled response that Heidi couldn’t make out.

  Quinn opened the door and stepped aside for Heidi. “Heidi Thompson, this is Deke Creed. Deke, Heidi and Charlie.” With that, Quinn left the office, closing the door behind himself with a soft click.

  “Glad to meet you in person, Heidi.” The tall, dark-haired man rose and circled the desk. Noting Charlie’s alert, watchful stance, Deke extended a fist for the dog to sniff.

  “Charlie, this is Deke. Greet.”

  He sat and raised a paw which Deke shook with a smile.

  “Good boy, Charlie,” he said before turning to Heidi and extending a hand. “Welcome to Otter Creek. Have a seat.”

  “Thanks.” Heidi chose one of the two chairs in front of Deke’s desk. To her surprise, instead of returning to the other side of his desk, Deke sat beside her.

  “How did you get your start in S & R?”

  Nothing like asking the toughest question first. “How much do you know about my background?”

  “Only what’s on the application Maddox forwarded. Dog trainer for eight years, S & R for five.”

  Meager details for a life impacted by a string of horrific events. Charlie pressed against her leg, bringing her back into the present. Heidi rubbed his head in silent thanks. “When I was ten years old, my younger sister and I were abducted from our beds in the middle of the night. The police eventually tracked the kidnappers down, but not in time to save Moira.” A true story, as far as it went.

  “I’m sorry,” Deke murmured. “How did that experience lead you to S & R?”

  “The kidnappers kept us in a house less than a mile from our home. Our yard backed up to woods, and because they knocked us out, the two men carried us to the location using a trail through the forest. The police assumed the kidnappers used a car for a fast getaway. They didn’t have a tracking dog or call in an S & R team. If they had, Moira would be alive today. I use that experience to help find others who are lost.”

  “How long did it take the police to find you?”

  “Two days.” Two interminable days when she’d been sure she would never go home again. Her baby sister hadn’t. Heidi blinked back sudden tears. Enough. She couldn’t help Moira by mourning her loss. Nothing would bring her back.

  “The men are in prison?”

  She swallowed hard. “One of them died in prison. When I escaped from the second kidnapper, he ran. The police never discovered who he was.”

  Heidi might not know who he was, but the creep sure knew her. The ghost in the night was never far away. She prayed this time she’d run far enough to finally be safe.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Quinn strode to the conference room where the rest of his teammates waited. As soon as he opened the door, all conversation stopped and his unit leader waved him to an empty seat.

  “Well?” Josh Cahill asked.

  “Confirmed.”

  Nate Armstrong, Durango’s EOD man, shook his head. “Stupid.”

  “Carstairs took a shortcut that’s going to cost him,” added Rio Kincaid, his team’s medic. “No wonder he refused a blood test.”

  A snort from Alex Morgan, their sniper. “Can’t hide performance enhancing drugs.”

  “What’s the point of taking that crap?” Quinn dropped into the chair, furious with the trainee who’d been doping to be the best in the training class and convinced five other classmates to join him in his stupidity. “The side effects of long term use are catastrophic. Who wants to roll the dice with your life?”

  “You’d be surprised what people will do to get ahead.”

  A fact Quinn was all too familiar with, thanks to the Henderson clan. His world had changed forever because of them, not something he would ever forget.

  Josh poured coffee into a mug and passed it to Quinn. “Maddox is waiting for a report.”

  He forced himself back on task. Months had passed since he’d thought of that fateful night so many years ago. Why now? Shoving the painful memories to the back of his mind, he said, “Make the call.” He sipped the bracing brew while the call connected. Maddox would recommend immediate dismissal from training. These men couldn’t be trusted in the field. What would prevent them from taking other, more harmful drugs while on an operation or accepting a bribe to feed their doping habit? Nothing.

  “Talk to me,” was Maddox’s greeting.

  “Josh Cahill, sir. You’re on speaker with my unit.”

  “And?”

  “Confirmed.”

  A growl from the Fortress CEO. “Take care of it. I’ll process the release papers as soon as they’re signed and faxed. Send the originals for their files.”

  “Copy that.”

  “Did Heidi and Charlie arrive?”

  “They’re with Deke,” Quinn said.

  “You talked to her?”

  He stilled at his boss’s question. Maddox hadn’t asked if the team had met her, but him in particular. Why? “I talked with her briefly.”

  “Your impression?”

  “Sharp, alert, confident in handling her dog. I didn’t have much time with her, but they seem like a
good team.” What was it about her that bothered him?

  “She’s the perfect fit for an S & R trainer.”

  One eyebrow soared upward. A ringing endorsement. “We’ll find out soon enough. She’s scheduled to meet with us in a few minutes.”

  “Take care of this other matter before you talk to Heidi. I want those men off PSI grounds before the end of the day.”

  “Yes, sir,” Josh said. After Maddox disconnected, Josh glanced at Quinn. “Call them in.”

  Quinn grabbed his cell phone and selected the number of the ringleader from his contact list. When the trainee answered, he said, “Conference room right now. Bring your buddies.” He ended the call mid-rant from the trainee. This confrontation wouldn’t be pleasant. Maybe they’d clear this crew out before Heidi and Charlie arrived. Then again, she needed to know how PSI ran. Deke and Heidi, if they hired her, would be required to enforce the same rules on their trainees.

  “How are the wedding plans?” he asked Rio. His teammate planned to marry Darcy St. Claire at the end of the week.

  “On schedule. Serena Blackhawk agreed to bake the cake.”

  Quinn blinked. “She’s a thousand months pregnant. Is that wise?”

  Josh, Serena’s brother, chuckled. “Serena’s backup is Nate. She told me the cake is already completed and in the freezer. All she needs to do is decorate it.”

  “I talked with Serena,” Nate said. Their EOD man was also a trained chef, which made all the other Fortress teams envy Durango. “I know what she has in mind. We’ve got it covered.”

  “What about Trent?” Darcy’s brother was also a Fortress operative and often out of the country, although lately he’d been taking longer breaks between missions. Might have something to do with that pretty nurse he’d been dating.

  “In Nashville at the moment. Maddox promised to keep him off the duty roster until after the wedding.”

  A sharp rap sounded. Alex opened the conference room door to the six men. All but one looked belligerent. The remaining trainee’s eyes were downcast, his expression showing remorse.

  Quinn didn’t know this guy well enough to judge whether the emotion was sincere. Didn’t matter, though. There weren’t second chances in PSI’s training regimen. If he cheated by taking drugs, Fortress couldn’t trust him to be honest about anything else, let alone watch another operative’s back.

  As soon as Alex closed the door, Josh stood. “Personal Security International has a zero-tolerance policy regarding trainee use of drugs not prescribed by a physician. Our policy mirrors the one used at Fortress. By using performance-enhancing drugs, you endangered your own health and the safety of your teammates.”

  “Who cares if we use something to make us a little faster or stronger?” the ringleader spat out. “Results count, not how we get them.”

  Guess Carstairs had enough steroids in his system to trigger aggression. Results counted, all right, and Quinn was looking at the result of drug abuse. Made him wonder how much Carstairs had been taking and the length of time he’d been doping. His best guess? Carstairs had started using immediately after his arrival in Otter Creek. Mediocre when he first arrived, Carstairs soon passed his fellow classmates.

  Durango’s leader said nothing. Quinn watched as one by one, the gazes of the guilty dropped. Yeah, he’d been on the receiving end of that cold stare more than once during his years in the Rangers and Delta. Major Cahill had intimidation down to a science and he wouldn’t tolerate disrespect in any form.

  “I wouldn’t let you watch my six if you were the last operative standing, Carstairs,” Josh said. “A man who continuously takes steroids will behave erratically. I have a wife I want to spend many years with. I’m not trusting my safety and future to you or your buddies.”

  “That’s it, then?” A glare from Carstairs. “No appeal?”

  “No appeal. Maddox agrees with our assessment. You’re finished here.” Josh opened the manila folder in front of him. “Your separation papers are ready. Sign them. You have fifteen minutes to vacate the premises.”

  The man’s face reddened and his fists clenched. “You think you’re better than the rest of us. You’re nothing but a washed up soldier. You’re responsible for this, not me. I won’t forget your role in this, Cahill. One of these days, when you’re least expecting it, I’ll pay you back. You’ll wish you’d never crossed me.”

  “What are you doing, man?” the guy next to Carstairs hissed. “Don’t be a fool.”

  “Listen to your friend,” Alex said, voice soft.

  All six men froze.

  No one did intimidation like one of the deadliest snipers on the planet. Quinn stood. “Want my advice?” he asked casually. “Don’t forget Cahill is a cop as well as Delta. Another threat like that will land you in jail. If you make a move on him or his wife, you’ll die.”

  Six pairs of eyes shifted to Josh, who hadn’t moved a muscle, his focus still locked on Carstairs. The former trainee’s face paled. Yeah, he should be afraid, Quinn thought. The clown hadn’t believed Durango was Delta. Josh would wipe the floor with him in under a minute. His unit leader wouldn’t tolerate a threat to his wife. Neither would the rest of Durango. Del was one of them. All of them would defend her and the rest of their women with their lives.

  “Sign your release papers and get out,” Josh said.

  Quinn snatched up the papers, and distributed them along with a pen for each. They signed without further words. Carstairs was the first to finish. On his way out the door, he tried to shove Alex aside, failed.

  In two moves, the sniper had Carstairs face down on the ground, arm wrenched high up his back. The trainee thrashed, howling, trying to throw Alex off. Quinn shook his head. Dumb move. Didn’t appear Cartstairs had two brain cells to rub together.

  At that moment, the conference room door opened to admit Deke, Heidi, and Charlie. Deke’s eyebrows rose. “Need some help?” he asked as Heidi led Charlie away from the action.

  Alex shook his head and jerked Carstairs to his feet. “Let’s go.”

  With a resentful glare at each member of Durango, Carstairs stomped through the doorway with Alex trailing behind him to make sure he vacated the PSI campus.

  The rest of the former trainees handed over their release papers. Each man left except for the one Quinn had noticed earlier. “What is it, Jackson?” he asked.

  “Would it be possible to reapply at Fortress in the future?”

  Quinn glanced at Josh, received a slight nod in response to his silent query. “Wait six months. We’ll want a blood test proving you haven’t used any non-prescription drugs.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Work on your conditioning, Jackson,” Josh said. “You won’t need drugs to do what we ask you to do. I’ll send a conditioning program to your email. Eat healthy. No booze or smoking. If you want to work for Fortress, all it takes is discipline and hard work.”

  A determined expression settled on his face. “Thank you, sir. Thanks to all of you. I’ll see you in six months.”

  Once he was gone, Nate said, “That one has a chance.”

  “I hope he makes it,” Rio said.

  “So we’re down six, huh?” Deke asked.

  “Steroids.”

  Deke turned to Heidi. “Heidi, these are my bosses. Josh Cahill, Nate Armstrong, Rio Kincaid, Alex Morgan who just escorted the troublemaker out the door, and Quinn who you’ve already met. Guys, Heidi Thompson and Charlie.”

  “Have a seat, Heidi,” Josh said. “Welcome to PSI.”

  She blinked. “That’s it?”

  Amusement twinkled in his eyes. “You expected something more?”

  “I expected a few questions, at least.”

  “Maddox wants you here. Deke sent me a text with his endorsement.” Durango’s leader shrugged. “That’s good enough for me.”

  “How soon will you move to town?” Rio asked.

  “My belongings are in a truck, waiting for me to unload everything into the house I’m renting.”


  “Need help?” Nate asked as Alex slipped back into the room.

  “I would appreciate any help. Friends helped me load the truck, but I didn’t know how I would unload the couch by myself.”

  Alex pulled out his phone. “What’s your address?” After she gave him the information, he said, “I’ll meet you there in an hour. I need to take my dog outside first. My wife is in class until six this evening.”

  “The backyard is fenced if you want to bring your dog. Charlie would love to play outside.”

  He smiled. “I might do that.”

  “I’ll check with Darcy, see if she needs anything from me before I show up.” Rio stood, extended a hand to Heidi. “Glad to have you and Charlie on board. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” With a wave at the others, he left the conference room.

  “I’ll call Del,” Josh said. “Let her know I’ll be late.”

  “When are you on duty, Major?” Nate asked.

  “Have to go in at ten o’clock tonight for roll call.”

  Heidi frowned. “Roll call?”

  “I’m also with the Otter Creek police department.”

  Nate stood. “I’ll stop by Burger Heaven on the way to Heidi’s and pick up dinner for everyone.”

  “Better include enough for our wives,” Alex said. “I imagine Ivy will help after her class is finished.”

  “Same with Del. She’ll be along after the bookstore closes.” Josh turned to Nate. “What about Stella?”

  He shook his head. “She’s on shift until ten tonight.”

  “I’m out,” Deke said. “I’m sorry, Heidi, but my daughters have a school function tonight.”

  She held up her hand. “Please, say no more. You can’t miss something that important. Besides, sounds like I have plenty of help.”

  “Quinn, what about you?” Josh asked.

  “I’ll follow Heidi and Charlie to their place, unload what I can before the rest of you arrive.”

  As Durango left the room, each one took a moment to greet Charlie before leaving.