Retribution (Otter Creek Book 8) Read online

  “Hurts our bodies to eat like two-year-olds,” Nate commented, his tone mild. He winked at Darcy, who smiled.

  Alex rose. “Take my seat, Rod. I’m finished. I need to assemble the beds.”

  One more problem off Heidi’s plate. She hadn’t looked forward to assembling them after a long day of driving and moving. The headboards were heavy and difficult to secure to the frames by herself.

  “I’ll give you a hand,” Josh said. He leaned over, dropped a kiss on his wife’s lips, and followed his teammate.

  Heidi sighed. That was the kind of relationship she wanted with the right man one day. After she unmasked the arsonist. She couldn’t expect a boyfriend or husband to endanger himself by associating with her. Any man in her life might be a target.

  The detective dropped into the chair beside Heidi and placed his meal on the table. He turned, blue eyes assessing her as he held out his hand. “Rod Kelter.”

  “Heidi Thompson.”

  “So you’re working with Deke in the S & R program.” Rod unwrapped his hamburger and took a bite.

  “You know Deke?” She held up a hand. “Never mind. It’s a small town and you’re law enforcement. Of course you know him.”

  Rod chuckled. “I also work with Nate’s wife, Stella. She and Deke used to be partners in the Marshals. Deke hopes to start an S & R unit in the area.”

  “Otter Creek is surrounded by mountains and not far from the Smokies. Easy for people to lose their way in the forest. The more S & R teams available and ready, the better chance of finding the lost ones before it’s too late.”

  “How long have you been part of S & R?”

  She smiled, amused at his cop’s curiosity even in a social situation. “Five years.”

  “Ever tracked a fugitive before?”

  The image of her sweet younger sister popped into the forefront of her mind. If she’d been equipped to lead a search for Moira, maybe her sister would still be alive. Heidi shook her head. “Lost hikers and toddlers. Anything else you want to know, Detective Kelter?”

  His cheeks pinked. “Sorry. Occupational hazard.”

  Heidi grinned. “It’s fine. I’m familiar with a number of law enforcement officers, friends with a few. They’re nosy, too.”

  “Heidi, want help arranging your kitchen?” Del asked.

  She jumped up. “Absolutely. I start work tomorrow.”

  “What about your playground equipment?” Quinn asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

  Rod paused, hamburger halfway to his mouth. “Playground equipment?”

  Her cheeks burned. “It’s for Charlie.”

  “Show me where you want everything.”

  Rod crumpled the empty wrapper as he swallowed his last hamburger bite. “I want to look at your ride, Quinn.”

  “Need the keys?”

  The detective shook his head. “I’ll let you know what I find.” With a last sip of his drink, Rod gathered his trash and threw it in the garbage can, then retraced his steps outside.

  Heidi turned to Del. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  “We’ll unpack boxes and stack dishes on the counter until you return.”

  In the backyard, Heidi showed Quinn where she wanted the barrels, teeter-totter, slide, ladders, boards, and balance beam before returning to organize her kitchen. The ladies had lined the shelves and drawers by the time she walked through the doorway. “Wow! You didn’t waste any time.”

  “Don’t have much to spare,” Ivy said. “Josh goes on duty in a couple hours, I have papers to grade, and Darcy gets up early to open her deli.”

  She turned to Darcy. “You own a deli?”

  “You passed it on your way through town.” Darcy cut another piece of liner and handed it to Ivy. “That’s A Wrap.”

  “I’ll have to stop by.”

  “I’d love to show you around.” She smiled. “Your first visit will be on me. A welcome-to-town gift.”

  Over the course of the next thirty minutes, her new friends and co-workers arranged furniture, and unpacked and organized the kitchen and bathrooms. Another quick knock and the detective returned.

  “Where’s Quinn?” he asked.

  “Still out back,” Del said. “I’m beginning to wonder if Rio and Quinn are trying Charlie’s training equipment.” That comment brought a round of laughter.

  With a chuckle, Rod left again.

  “Wonder if he found anything useful?” Ivy murmured.

  “If he did, we’ll have to wheedle the information from Nick or Stella.” Del balled the last of the newspaper protecting Heidi’s glasses and stuffed it into a trash bag with the rest. “Rod is closemouthed about his work.”

  “And Nick isn’t?” Ivy asked, voice revealing her skepticism.

  “He doesn’t keep secrets from Madison. She’s my information source most of the time.”

  “You’re married to a cop,” Darcy pointed out. “Why don’t you ask Josh?”

  “He’s not a detective. Josh won’t always have the information.”

  “The vandalism occurred on PSI property,” Heidi said. “Shouldn’t he have the inside scoop?”

  “Good point,” Del said. “I’ll ask him if Rod won’t talk.”

  Rod, Rio, and Quinn returned to the kitchen.

  “Well?” Ivy asked Rod. “Did you find anything to identify who damaged Quinn’s SUV?”

  “Maybe. Pulled a lot of prints.” He glanced at Quinn. “I’ll run them, see if anything pops.”

  “As long as you don’t slap those silver bracelets on me.”

  The detective smirked. “Got something you’re trying to hide, Gallagher?”

  “Not this week.”

  Heidi smiled. Good to know Quinn’s sense of humor hadn’t changed over the years and that her bosses seemed to have a sense of humor, too. She wasn’t sure about Deke. He’d have to fit in with the PSI guys and you couldn’t do that with no sense of humor. She’d find out soon enough. She could hardly wait to start her new life. If she kept Quinn in the dark as to her real identity until he got to know her better, maybe she could stay in this place she’d love to call home.

  “I’ll let you know what I learn,” Rod told Quinn. He turned to Heidi. “I know you have your hands full moving in today, but you should secure your gas cans before you call it a night.”

  “Gas cans?” Puzzled, she frowned.

  “Yeah, the two old-fashioned metal gas cans on your front porch.”

  Heidi felt the blood drain from her face. “Show me.”

  “Heidi.”

  She turned to Quinn who was watching her intently.

  “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head. Maddox promised she’d be safe, that the arsonist wouldn’t find her here. Despite his precautions and stringent rules, the nightmare was beginning again.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Quinn’s gaze sharpened, his focus riveted on Heidi’s extreme response to Rod’s comment about the gas cans. Unless he’d misread her completely, Heidi was on the verge of passing out.

  Rio moved closer to Heidi. “Sit a minute, sugar.” He moved a chair away from the table and motioned for her to sit.

  When she just stared at the seat, Quinn took her by the upper arms and nudged her onto the chair. Nate handed him a bottled soft drink which Quinn opened and pressed into Heidi’s hand.

  “Take a few sips,” he murmured.

  She blinked, her expression blank.

  Even more concerned, Quinn knelt on one knee in front of her. She acted as though she were in shock. From a simple gas container? “Heidi. Drink, babe.” Babe? Where had that come from? He saw the looks of surprise from his teammates at the term of endearment. He ignored them. What they thought didn’t matter. Only Heidi mattered and she was in obvious distress.

  She sipped the fizzy drink for a couple minutes. “Thanks.” Her cheeks flamed when she noticed the people around the room watching her with varying degrees of concern. “Sorry for the freak out. It’s old history. I’m okay now.”

&nb
sp; Quinn didn’t think so. Her hands were still shaking. All this from gas cans? Did the secret she hid have anything to do with his conviction that he knew this woman from somewhere?

  Heidi focused on Rod. “Show me the gas cans, please.”

  Quinn rose and helped Heidi stand. She wavered, pressed her lips into a grim line, released Quinn’s hand, and moved toward the front porch. Stubborn woman. Wouldn’t have hurt to wait another minute for the shock to pass. He followed close behind, prepared to catch her if Heidi’s wobbly legs gave way.

  By unspoken agreement, the other members of Durango followed them to the porch. Two metal gas cans stood against the outside wall. Quinn was close enough to hear Heidi’s quiet gasp.

  He frowned. The gas cans hadn’t been there when he and his friends moved Heidi’s furniture and boxes into the house. He would have noticed them. He admitted to himself the beautiful woman distracted him a little. Okay, a lot. But not so much he would have missed something odd on her porch.

  He exchanged a glance with Alex, noted the same wariness in his gaze that Quinn felt. He shifted his focus to the surrounding area. Nothing but trees and darkness, a few scattered streetlights. Many shadows. Located at the end of an older street on the outskirts of Otter Creek, Heidi’s house was on a large lot butting up against the forest.

  Good for Charlie, bad for Quinn’s peace of mind. Too many places for someone to watch Heidi and not be seen until it was too late. The knot in his gut told Quinn trouble was coming. He prayed he and his teammates would be in the right place at the right time to offer assistance.

  “Are these yours?” Rod asked.

  “No.” Heidi’s voice was tight. “I don’t have gas cans.”

  “How do you fill the gas tank on your lawn mower?”

  “I hire someone to take care of the lawn for me.” A ghost of a smile curved her lips. “I hate to mow grass.”

  “Did you purchase the house?”

  She shook her head. “I’m renting. Why?”

  “Any chance the owners left the gas cans for your use?” Rod asked.

  Relief flooded her face. “Maybe that’s the explanation. Why didn’t the owner tell me he left them?”

  Nate waved toward the driveway packed with cars and SUVs. “Perhaps he didn’t want to interrupt.”

  “Makes sense.”

  Heidi wanted to believe that explanation, but Quinn noticed the unease as her gaze drifted back to the red containers. His protective instincts rose to the forefront. Something was going on with Heidi Thompson and he intended to find out what it was. His gut knotted at the prospect of going behind her back. He’d have to convince her to tell him the truth. Otherwise, he’d be forced to use Fortress resources to learn what he needed to know. Quinn would do what was necessary to protect her, because Heidi was in trouble.

  “Is there anything else you need before we leave, Heidi?” Ivy asked. “I hate to leave you surrounded by boxes.”

  “I appreciate the help, but I’ve taken enough of your time. What’s left now will wait until tomorrow. I’ll unpack one box at a time as I have a few minutes free.”

  One by one, the others left with only Josh, Rod, and Quinn remaining behind. “I need your signature on the vandalism report,” Rod said to Quinn. His gaze shifted to Heidi for a moment.

  “I’ll sign it in a minute. Josh, you have time to talk?”

  “Sure.”

  Quinn glanced at Heidi. “Okay if I stick around and help for a while longer?”

  “Of course. It’s not necessary, though.”

  If the relief in her eyes was any indication, the lady wasn’t quite ready to be by herself in the old house. “I’d like to help, if you’ll let me.”

  “Thanks, Quinn.” She glanced at Josh. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  A short nod from Durango’s leader. “Afternoon, most likely. I have the graveyard shift. Your house is in my patrol area. I’ll swing by a few times tonight, make sure no more surprises are left on your porch.”

  She smiled, then went inside the house.

  “What’s up?” Josh asked softly.

  He waved at the gas cans. “You ever hear of an owner giving free gas to a renter to mow the grass?”

  His friend frowned. “Can’t say that I have.”

  “I’ll take the gas cans, check them for prints,” Rod said. “Want me to run her while I’m at it?”

  Running her through the law enforcement databases seemed intrusive. Besides, Maddox must have conducted a thorough background search on her or, more accurately, had Zane Murphy investigate her. The Fortress tech guru would have caught any problems. Nothing slipped by Z.

  Quinn didn’t want to learn Heidi’s background from Rod, Maddox, or Murphy. He’d prefer she told him the details herself. Didn’t know why that was important to him, but it was. “Just check the gas cans. If the owner of the house asks about them, Heidi can tell him you have the cans at the station.”

  A nod from the detective. “I’ll let you know what I find.” He pulled on a pair of latex gloves and carried the cans to his SUV.

  Quinn dropped his voice to a murmur. “Did you see Heidi’s reaction to the containers? I don’t like this.”

  “Extreme,” his friend agreed. “Should I touch base with Z?”

  Another head shake from Quinn. “I want her to tell me what’s going on.” He wanted her to trust him with her safety. For some reason, one he couldn’t identify at the moment, he wanted to be the one she relied on for security and comfort.

  “I’ll leave it alone.” A pointed look from his unit leader. “For now.”

  He got the unspoken command. Either Quinn learned the information they needed, or Josh would. If something in Heidi’s past put PSI or their personnel in danger, they needed to know before being blindsided. Quinn understood. If he had a woman to protect, he’d be as protective as his teammates were of their mates.

  His gaze shifted to the house, thinking of the drop-dead gorgeous woman inside. “I’ll take care of it.” And her. No one would harm Heidi on his watch.

  “Good enough.” Josh clapped him on the shoulder. “I need to go. I want to spend some time with Del before my shift.”

  “Go. I’ve got this.”

  “Call if you need me.”

  “If you notice anything out of the ordinary during the night, I want to know about it.” He heard the sharp edge in his tone, wondered at it, but didn’t retract his statement.

  “Something you need to tell me, Gallagher?”

  A feeling he couldn’t put into words yet? He shook his head.

  “When you figure it out, I want to be the first to know.” With that, his unit leader climb into his SUV and drove away.

  Quinn flinched at the tide of guilt flooding him. The members of Durango were his best friends. Without a doubt he could count on each one to cover his back. This situation with Heidi, however, was unique. He couldn’t put into words what was happening. She was important to him, which was beyond stupid since he’d known her for a handful of hours.

  Shoving the puzzle to the back of his mind for the moment, Quinn crossed the yard to Rod’s SUV. He signed the report and handed the form to the detective.

  “Nick’s on duty at ten. I’ll bring him and Stella up to speed on your SUV and the gas cans before I go off shift.”

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  “You know how to reach me if you need me, Gallagher. Later.”

  Quinn waited until the taillights of the detective’s vehicle were out of sight, then one more time visually scoured the area. Still nothing. He couldn’t shake the feeling something or someone was waiting, watching. He straightened, jaw flexing. Let him come. He’d be ready.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Heidi locked the door behind Quinn, then rested her back against the steel surface. She drew her first free breath in hours. So far, she hadn’t tripped herself up and Quinn hadn’t asked more questions about her background. The questions were coming, though. She saw them brewing in his gaze. The Quinn she remem
bered was sharp. That intellect was working on the connection. Sometime in the near future, the day of reckoning would arrive. If she was lucky, she’d have time to cement a good working relationship and maybe a friendship before he realized who he was dealing with.

  Charlie sat in front of her, whined. A smile curved her lips. “I’m okay, buddy. Tired. Worried I’ll slip with Quinn. Thrilled with the new job to feed us.” Spooked.

  She had reason to be afraid. Maybe the gas cans were a gift from her landlord. Heidi didn’t think so. The landlord didn’t appear to care about anything except the rent money and security deposit. From the way Quinn reacted to gas cans on her porch, the operative wasn’t buying the gift explanation either. Fantastic. Quinn Gallagher probably had great instincts, ones that told him she was in trouble. Understatement. She was in more trouble than her childhood crush knew.

  Heidi glanced at her watch. A little early to call. Levi wouldn’t mind. She missed him already. It was better this way. Safer for both of them if they were separated. So why did the separation feel like the wrong choice?

  She grabbed the prepaid cell and tapped the only programmed number. One ring. Two. Three rings. With each unanswered ring, Heidi’s anxiety ratcheted up another notch.

  On the fourth ring, her call was answered. “Are you okay?” was her greeting.

  A relieved grin curved her mouth. “Hello to you to, cousin.” Man, it was so good to hear his voice. She missed not being able to pick up the phone whenever she wanted to call him. They’d been best friends since she’d gone to live with his family all those years ago. He should have spurned her like any normal high school sophomore. Instead, he’d taken up the mantle of protector and friend.

  A pause, then, “You’re an hour early, Peaches. What gives?”

  She rolled her eyes at the childhood nickname. “Just missed you.”