Emergency Response (13 page)

He held up a hand. “I can't let you do that.”

“It's time for me to let it go. To move on,” she said, feeling light as air. Free. Her heart filled with hope not only for Tom, but for herself, too, for the first time in years.

One of her favorite verses came to mind. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Father, please I want Your peace. Your hope.

“We should get going,” Noah called out.

Darcie looked at him. Felt the chemistry they'd built. Felt his care and concern. Could she trust God to control her life and let go of her fear of getting hurt again?

Their gazes met. An unspoken connection flowed between them. Her heart fluttered and time stood still, the moment precious and wonderful.

Tom cleared his throat, breaking the link. “If that's all you need, I'll...”

At his voice, the old hurts came rushing back and her defenses sprang back into place. Could she trust another person? Really and truly put all of her past in the past?

“Winnie's waiting for us,” Noah said, pulling her back.

She said goodbye to Tom. It felt like a final farewell. A chapter closed in her life. As she walked away, tears threatened to flow and she took a deep breath to hold them back.

“Everything okay?” Noah asked.

“Fine,” she said and shut him down. She certainly didn't need to talk about her ex with the man who had found a way to break through her defenses.

They silently climbed into the car and didn't speak again until they headed up the sidewalk to Winnie's home.

“Nice place,” he said, looking up at the large, traditional home in the West Hills of Portland.

Two stories with white columns out front and a wraparound porch, the house looked like it belonged in a setting for
Gone with the Wind
rather than in the rustic Northwest.

“It's beautiful, but Winnie's thinking of selling it. She only hangs on to it because her sons were raised here. But now that they've essentially abandoned her, she's ready to let go.”

“Like you,” Noah said, grabbing her attention. “That was quite a thing you did back there with Tom.”

“You heard?”

“Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the room was small.” He smiled. “I'm impressed with you, Darcie Stevens. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met.”

“I wouldn't say that.” She rang the doorbell. “Took me over six years to get to this point.”

“So what? You got here and that's all that's important.” He frowned. “You inspire me to move on, too.”

She wanted to ask him from what, but decided to wait him out and see if he would volunteer his story.

He bit his lip, shuffled his feet, looked down then back up at her. “In college. I was young and foolish.”

She laughed. “Aren't we all?”

“Yes, but not all of us make life-changing mistakes.”

“What happened?”

“My girlfriend. Ashley. She and I...we—”

The door swung open.

“Oh, good. Ms. Darcie.” Winnie's rotund housekeeper of thirty years smiled at Darcie from the open doorway.

Disappointed in the interruption, Darcie forced out a smile. “Good to see you, Harriet.”

“The missus has been waiting for your arrival.” Harriet didn't linger but went back into the house, her serviceable shoes squeaking on the gleaming marble floors.

Darcie followed her through the impressive two-story foyer with mahogany steps winding up to an open landing. She heard Noah trailing behind her and she wanted to turn. To ask him to finish his story, but it wasn't the right time. She'd have to hope he'd continue it later.

They entered a cozy sitting room, where Winnie sat overlooking a perfectly manicured garden. She started to rise from her favorite chair, but Darcie held up her hand to stop her and rushed across the room.

“My sweet child.” Winnie smiled, her eyes crinkling below a cap of silvery curls. “I can't wait to tell you all about my trip.”

“And I can't wait to hear about it.” Darcie hugged Winnie's fragile shoulders.

Winnie leaned back, looking frail and small in the big chair. Darcie knelt by Winnie's legs that were covered in an old quilt made by her mother.

“Oh, but you brought a young man.” Winnie stared up at Noah. “He's a fine-looking one, isn't he?” she whispered. “Is he married?”

“Don't start with the matchmaking again,” Darcie whispered back, then turned to beckon Noah over and introduced the pair.

Noah joined them and took Winnie's hand. “Darcie's spoken so highly of you, I feel like I already know you.”

“She has, has she?” Winnie eyed Darcie. “This one's usually so quiet you have to pry things out of her. You must be special if she shared anything about her life with you.”

Noah glanced at Darcie, and she noticed that his face had colored. His embarrassment over something so simple endeared him to her even more.

“Please sit down, Detective, and tell me what this meeting is all about.”

Darcie and Noah both sat, and Noah shared the details of Darcie's attack.

“Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry.” Winnie ran her gaze over Darcie. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, and before you start worrying, I have Noah looking out for me.”

Winnie's eyes twinkled. “Yes, I see how closely he's looking out for you.”

Darcie shook her head, but didn't want to mention Winnie's penchant for matchmaking in front of Noah, so she let it drop. Winnie finally moved her attention to him, her focus sharp and intense.

“So. Let's come right to the heart of your visit, shall we,” she said, seeming unaffected by the topic. “You think my sons are upset at me for adding Darcie to my will and they might be involved in these terrible attacks on her.”

“It's a possibility,” Noah said.

“I can't for the life of me disagree,” she said directly.

Darcie swiveled to look up at her. “Really?”

“After what they've been up to, I can't rule it out.” Winnie sighed, her disappointment as a mother clearly visible on her face. “Now what else do you need to know, Detective?”

“Would you mind sharing the reason for changing your will?” His tone was gentle and Darcie made a mental note to thank him for the kindness he was showing Winnie.

“About a month ago,” Winnie began, “my accountant told me my sons were involved in moving money to hide losses of underperforming locations. He suspected it was so they could inflate company profits for our annual reports. I spoke to the boys about it. They claimed they were doing nothing illegal, but I don't hold with even a hint of impropriety and insisted they stop.”

“And did they?” Noah spoke calmly, but Darcie saw a spark of interest, likely over the close relationship between creative accounting and money laundering.

“They refused, but as the Chairman Emeritus, I have no control of their actions other than to bring it to the board's attention.”

“Emeritus?” Noah asked.

“It's an honorary or ceremonial position in recognition of my work in the past, but I have no real standing now.” Sadness extinguished Winnie's earlier twinkle. “I didn't want to report them for the scandal it would create. So since money is the only thing they think about, I hoped a change in my will would get their attention and motivate them to mend their ways. All it's accomplished is for them to try to have me declared incompetent.”

Darcie took Winnie's papery soft hand. “You can take comfort in the fact that they aren't doing anything illegal.”

“Perhaps,” she said. “At least nothing they'll admit, or that they've been caught doing.”

“I'm afraid I'll have to look into their backgrounds, including their finances,” Noah said.

Winnie's expression firmed. “You'll get no fight from me. In fact, unless or until they are successful in having me declared incompetent, I have access to the company's financial reporting system so I'll make sure you have access, too.”

“What exactly are you expecting to find?” Darcie asked Noah.

“I'm not sure, but we'll get a forensic accountant to review their books. If they're involved in anything illegal we'll soon know.”

Winnie gave a firm nod. “I'd rather it didn't have to happen this way, but they chose this path.”

“I hate to ask this, Mrs. Kerr,” Noah continued, “but do you really think your sons might harm Darcie?”

“I don't think they would personally attack you, honey.” Winnie looked at Darcie, a note of apology in her gaze. “But connections they've established with questionable people could give them access to someone who would hurt you for the right price.”

Noah worked his jaw hard. “Then I suggest that at the minimum you bow out of testifying for Winnie.”

“Not happening.” Darcie crossed her arms.

“He's right, honey,” Winnie said. “I can defend myself.”

“I know you can and you really don't need me, but I won't back down under their threats. I'm helping you win this battle no matter what your sons might do.”

Winnie squeezed Darcie's shoulder, then sat back, looking defeated.

“I'm so sorry this is happening, Winnie,” Darcie offered.

“You think you've raised your children right. Raised them to fear God.” She tightened her hands into fists. “Then the world, specifically money in this situation, blinds them to their faith.”

“I'm sure they'll come around.”

“I hope so. And I hope it's quick. I worry about them. About the way they've turned their back on their faith. They know about God...believe in Him. I made sure of that. I honestly don't understand their choices. It's like knowing how to swim and choosing to drown.” She shook her head. “Why would they do that? What has money given them? A life of worry, when God's peace is available, that's what. How foolish.”

Knowing how to swim and choosing to drown.
The words hit Darcie hard and she sat back, stunned. Winnie always retained her peace. No matter her circumstances, she remained calm. She'd weathered storms of health. Loss. Loneliness. And now her sons' betrayal, and yet she always had a smile and a pleasant attitude. Was never rattled and stood unwavering in her faith.

Darcie was just the opposite. She was like the Kerr brothers. She continued to worry. Continued to run from deep, intimate relationships. She was choosing the worry. Choosing to let her loss control her actions. And she'd been drowning.

Slowly but surely.

Day after day for six years. Keeping her head just above water. Ignoring God and His wishes for her life. Ignoring the opportunities to build healthy, happy relationships.

One of these days, oh, yes, one of these days, if she didn't make a change, she was going to sink, and then what?

THIRTEEN

N
oah now knew why Darcie liked Winnie so much. She was kind, sweet and wise. Very wise. Her comment about choosing to drown—a priceless nugget. One he planned to give further thought to later tonight when he spent some time figuring out how to finish telling Darcie about Evan. But now he needed to wrap up the interview and then get Darcie safely back to the firehouse.

“I was wondering how involved you are in the leasing of your malls,” he said to Winnie.

“Interesting change in topic.” She smiled. “I once was very involved, but as I said, I'm more of a figurehead now, attending a board meeting or special event here or there and not involved in the day-to-day business at all.”

“So you don't know anything about the vacancy rate at the malls?”

“I do know we have higher than average occupancy.” She narrowed her eyes and Noah saw a keen mind observing him, not a woman suffering from dementia. “Suppose you come right out with your question.”

“I'm not sure I really have a question, but we've checked into the business, and like you said, you report having a high occupancy rate, but the malls have many vacant storefronts with For Rent signs in the windows.”

“Now that I didn't know.” She paused. “Doesn't make much sense, does it?”

He shook his head. “And what makes even less sense is when we called the phone number on these signs, we're told that they're not available for rent—that they're already occupied.”

Winnie shot a questioning look at Darcie.

“He's right,” Darcie said. “After Archer told us about it, I tried calling on a few locations myself.”

“Then that is most peculiar.” Winnie pursed her lips for a moment, then looked at Noah. “Would you like me to ask my sons about that?”

Noah shook his head. “I'd rather you didn't give them a heads-up that we're investigating them until after we review the company finances.”

“Because you think they might try to hide something.” She tsked. “I can't say as I disagree.” A look of resolve passed over her face. “I'll make sure you have access to the finances as soon as possible.”

“Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Kerr.”

She waved a hand. “Please, it's Winnie. And no need to thank me. It's the right thing to do. Something I hope my sons learn soon.”

Noah didn't know how to respond to that comment so he moved on. “One last thing before we go. Do you recognize the names Leland King and Ramon Flores?”

“No, should I?”

Noah shook his head. “How about the company LK Design? Is that familiar to you?”

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I've seen their logos on ad boards they've created for Kerr Development, but again I'm not involved in the daily business so I know very little about the company.”

Noah shared a quick look with Darcie. She clearly understood that this confirmed Kerr Development's connection to LK Design. “That's all the questions I have for you, Winnie. Is there anything you would like to ask me?”

She sat up taller, but still looked frail. “Will you please keep me informed of anything you think I might need to know?”

“Of course we will.” Darcie scooted closer to Winnie. “Now, tell me about everything you've been up to since my last visit.”

Noah wanted to get Darcie back to the safety of the firehouse, and then delve deeper into the connection between LK Design and Kerr Development, but Darcie needed a chance to escape from the turmoil surrounding her and spend time with her friend. After all she'd been through, that was the least Noah could do for her.

“If you'll excuse me.” He held up his phone. “I'll just step out into the foyer to make a few calls while the two of you catch up.”

“Afraid of a little girl talk?” Winnie joked.

“Nothing I fear more.” Noah chuckled.

On the way to the door, he heard Winnie say, “I like your young man.”

“He's not my young man,” Darcie replied with a scowl in her voice.

Noah's good mood evaporated. He didn't want to be Darcie's guy, couldn't be her guy, but it hurt to hear her say it. He dug out his phone and dialed Detective Wilson to request all of LK Design's computer files for the forensic accountant to review. Before he could get out his request, Wilson took over the conversation.

“I have bad news, I'm afraid,” he said. “We found King's body this morning. A hiker discovered him in a ravine not far from his house.”

Noah's heart dropped. He'd expected King's death, but having it made official lent even more credence to the fact that the list found near Darcie's attack was indeed a hit list. “Cause of death?”

“Strangled.”

Like the attack on Darcie.

Noah peered into Winnie's sitting room, his gaze lingering on Darcie, where she was engrossed in her conversation with the older woman. For the first time since this had all begun, he saw her smile in earnest and realized how much he would have lost if he hadn't been on his way to Pilar's house the day of Darcie's attack. She could have met with the same fate as King. Become a murder statistic. Her death reported as clinically as Wilson was now reporting King's death.

Worst of all, it could still happen. Especially knowing that King had been murdered. The stakes had been raised, and Noah had to be even more careful now.

“You still there, Lockhart?” Wilson asked.

Noah turned his attention back to the phone. “Do you have a time of death?”

“ME's initial assessment is five days, but you know how preliminary estimates change after the autopsy is performed.”

“Which will be when?”

“First thing in the morning.”

“If the ME is right, King died the day before his sister reported him missing. Any solid forensics collected at the scene?”

“A few items, but since he was found near a hiking trail, they may not lead anywhere.”

Noah had processed enough scenes to know forensic evidence often led nowhere.

Wilson blew out a frustrated breath. “I'll give you a call as soon as the ME has a more accurate time of death and will let you know if we turn up any leads.”

“Before you go, I wanted to ask if you've discovered any connection between King and Ramon Flores.”

“Oh, yeah—the guy you mentioned yesterday. Nah. Haven't turned anything up, but now that we're dealing with a homicide, I can make the case a top priority.”

Noah was glad to hear it. He explained his need for LK's financial records but stopped short of telling him about the money laundering. “If you could upload the files to a cloud server I can retrieve them.”

“Sorry. Due to all the recent hacking issues, our department has prohibited online access to any of our files outside of our network. Best I can do is transfer them to a flash drive and overnight that to you.”

“That'll have to do then,” Noah said, trying to hide his disappointment as he said goodbye and disconnected.

So how did he proceed? When he got back to the firehouse, he could review Leland King's case file and the LK Design client list. And then, he could spend the rest of the day trying to find any way to connect either LK Design or Kerr Development to the money laundering practiced by the Nuevo gang.

Though he wanted to depart immediately, Darcie was still engaged in conversation, so he caught up on emails and messages until she joined him in the hallway.

Winnie hobbled next to her and came straight to him. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Detective.”

“Noah.” He offered his hand.

Instead, she put an arm around his shoulder and whispered, “Darcie's worth it, you know. Worth breaking through that armor.”

Surprised and unable to form a response, he stared at the older woman.

“If you need my help, come back and visit me anytime.” She patted his shoulder and chuckled before hugging Darcie then looking back up at him. “You keep my precious girl safe. You hear?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Noah replied to the slight woman who was tough as nails. “I'll make sure of it.”

Once they were in the car, he turned to Darcie. She stared ahead, a line of worry creasing her forehead as she twisted the ring on her pinkie. She was already upset. Hearing about King's death would make that worse, but Noah had no choice. He'd ease into the topic of King.

“It's not hard to see why you're so fond of Winnie,” he said.

Her worry faded. “She keeps saying she won the lottery when we met, but really, I'm the one who's blessed to have her in my life. If my mother and grandmother were half as loving as Winnie, my life would have been totally different.”

“You really care about her.”

Darcie tipped her head. “I never thought much about it, but yeah, I do. She really is like the mother I never had.”

“What happened to your mother?”

“Nothing. She's alive and well. But we don't talk much. She had specific expectations for my life, and I never met them. But Winnie?” A genuine smile claimed her lips, and the full force of her warmth, directed at him, sent his heart beating hard. “She's so accepting. That's why it's especially hard to see her sons doing this to her.”

“She doesn't deserve it, that's for sure.”

“I hate to think about what Archer's investigations of her sons might turn up. Even more, I hate to think about telling her about it.”

Noah knew the feeling well, but he had to take the opening. “Speaking of difficult things, I talked to Wilson. Leland King was found strangled, his body dumped in the ravine near his house.”

She gasped and clutched her chest. “That's so horrible. I mean, I suspected it was coming, but...”

“There's no way to prepare someone to hear about death,” he said and knew he'd struck a nerve when she jerked back. “I'm sorry. I didn't think about hearing about your daughter. I shouldn't have said that.”

“No, it's not you. I'm just being overly sensitive. For some reason, this whole thing has brought back the loss of Haley in a way I thought was behind me.”

Didn't surprise him, but he was glad she was finally seeing that she still had issues to resolve. If she worked through them, she could be free to have relationships, children. A good thing for her.

Not so good for you. Maybe take a clue from her and figure out your own life.

“We should get going.” He cranked the engine and got them on the road. The drive was uneventful until he turned onto the street for the firehouse and the sound of a car squealing down the block had Noah slamming on his brakes while his awareness shifted into high alert.

Darcie shot him a look. “You don't think that's them again, do you? The shooters?”

“Maybe.” Searching the area, he pulled to the curb.

Tat. Tat. Tat-tat-tat.
A machine gun's rapid fire broke through the neighborhood quiet.

“Machine gun,” Noah mumbled.

Darcie grabbed his good arm. “The firehouse. Could it be coming from there?”

“Yes,” he admitted, though he wished it wasn't true.

“We have to get over there.”

“No,” he said firmly as the gunfire escalated. “I won't put you in the line of fire.”

“But the team, Pilar and Isabel. They could need us.”

“Pilar took Isabel to the doctor and shouldn't be back yet.”

“And the team?” Panic took her voice high. “What about the team?”

Yeah, what about them?
The brave men and women who might need him? His fellow law enforcement officers that he was letting fend for themselves? But he could do nothing for them without risking Darcie's life. “They're professionals. They can handle this.”

“But still, they need us.” Her gaze darted around as if she was looking for a way to bail on him.

He met her gaze and held it. “What can you do to help them that they can't do for themselves?”

“If they're injured, I—”

“You what? Will battle through flying bullets to tend to them?”

“Yes.”

He gently tapped her forehead. “Think with your brain, not your heart. If we pulled into the firehouse parking lot, it would distract your friends and that would put them in more danger.”

“But we can't just sit here.” She stared at him in disbelief. “We have to do something.”

“We
are
doing something. We're staying put.”

She crossed her arms and sank down on the seat. If they weren't in such danger, Noah would laugh. She acted all tough and said she wasn't one to get involved with others and here she was willing to run through bullets for her team.

He turned up the volume on his police radio and questioned the dispatcher about the incident. They reported that the FRS was pinned down in the firehouse by two shooters in a car fitting the same description of the one used in the earlier drive-by shooting.

“It's him,” Darcie cried out. “It really
is
him. He's there. My friends are suffering and I'm not there to help them.”

He met her gaze. “Don't take this on yourself.”

“But I—”

“But nothing. You have done nothing wrong. It's all on the shooters.”

Sirens sounded in the distance, taking her attention and providing Noah with a slim sense of relief.

“Backup's on the way, Darcie. They'll be fine,” he soothed, but his gut remained tied in a knot for his fellow officers. He'd come to like and respect all the members of FRS even more over the past few days. He hated the thought of anything happening to them.

A responding officer reported the suspects fleeing in their car south on the very road where Noah had parked. If the shooter recognized Noah's vehicle, he and Darcie would be sitting ducks. Odds were that they didn't know the make of the new car Noah was driving, but odds hadn't been in their favor thus far.

He watched ahead, waiting. The car came charging toward them. Three men inside. Windows open. Noah continued to watch, hoping to make out a face, but they sped by too quickly. Still, it was good that they didn't recognize Darcie or they would have fired on her again.