Killer's Prey (15 page)

Like what he was going to discuss with Gage in the morning. The sheriff must have noticed how much time had passed without anyone finding the least sign of Langdon’s whereabouts. And while that might be good, they couldn’t risk it. Maybe he was already beginning to think about how they could beef things up to protect Nora.

Maybe he’d been living in a fool’s paradise, counting on this area’s grapevine and locals to notice anyone out of place. Maybe he’d counted too much on Nora’s being out here rather than at her former address with her father. Maybe he’d counted on her being hard to find out here. Maybe he hadn’t gone on high enough alert.

Damn Fred Loftis. He wouldn’t put it past the man, in his anger and self-righteousness, to tell a total stranger who knocked on his door in the late hours exactly where to find his daughter. Did the man grasp what was going on here? Had Nora even told him?

Somehow he couldn’t imagine Nora telling that man anything she didn’t have to.

So he’d talk to Loftis in the morning, too, make sure he didn’t reveal where Nora was. He just hoped he could do it without punching the man in the jaw.

The little things Nora had let slip, combined with memories from their childhood together, didn’t create a pretty picture of what she must have endured. A simmering anger had been building in him, and right now it was a white-hot flame in the pit of his stomach. How much could one person be asked to endure?

At least the flame of anger burned away the throbbing ache of desire in his groin that had been driving him crazy the whole time he’d held her on his lap.

That was going to have to wait. Maybe forever—he didn’t know. But now was not the time.

However, coffee or no coffee, as he began to get drowsy his thoughts drifted to the woman asleep upstairs, drifted to the way she felt in his arms, drifted to the growing hunger he felt for her.

He had no difficulty imagining carrying her to his bed, imagining her shyness, her tentativeness, her inability to believe he found her both beautiful and desirable.

What he’d tried to kill twelve years ago hadn’t died. Not for him. And sometimes in her eyes he saw that it hadn’t died for her, either.

Their bond might be hopeless, but it was powerful, and as he dozed, he let it consume him.

Chapter 9

D
ressed in his uniform, gun strapped to his hip, Jake lingered in the kitchen, watching Nora nibble at the huge breakfast Rosa had made.

“You’re going to be okay?” he asked yet again.

This time the look she gave him was almost ruefully impatient. “I’m going to be fine. Rosa promised to keep me busy, and I need it.”

“I’ll take care of her,” Rosa said. She stood at the sink rinsing his breakfast dishes. She said it with such determination that Jake knew he’d better hush. The woman could have a real temper when she needed it.

So he grabbed his winter jacket and started pulling it on. Just then Al came in the back door.

“Boss? We got three pickups on the way up the ranch road.”

Jake stiffened. Three pickups wouldn’t be the Langdon guy, but it might be trouble in another form, because they weren’t expecting anyone.

“Stay in here,” he said to the three of them. “You especially,” he said, pointing at Rosa and Nora. “Al, you know where the shotgun is. Watch from the window.”

“What are you expecting?” Nora asked, her face suddenly pale and pinched. “An invasion?”

“Actually, no, but this is unexpected. It could be anything.”

“I’m sorry. Now I’ve got you uptight, too.”

“Quit apologizing, dammit. When you live this far out, it just pays to be cautious. That’s all I’m doing.”

Then he went out front to meet his visitors.

He waited at the top of the porch steps, leaning casually against a stanchion as he watched the three trucks approach, their tires crunching on the frozen ground. Ah, that was Fred Loftis’s truck, he realized when it got close enough. That explained the kind of trouble on its way.

He almost smiled, expecting to enjoy this.

The trucks pulled into a semicircle in front of him and stopped. Loftis was the first to climb out, and soon five others joined him, three men and two women dressed in the same drab way he’d made Nora and his wife dress, like something left over from the thirties and captured in a black-and-white photo. Both women had the same worn-out look he remembered from Nora’s mother. The guys, on the other hand, looked like natural brutes.

What was it about this church? he wondered. They’d always stayed on the fringes locally, socializing only among themselves, but generally leaving their neighbors alone. Causing no trouble, but never really fitting in. Kind of interesting when you considered that Loftis himself was one of the most prominent businessmen in town. Jake wondered idly if he wasn’t most of the force in this group, controlling it through the power of the purse. God knew the rest of them could probably barely meet their bills.

He waited until they were arrayed in front of him. No weapons that he could see, so it was a good start to whatever.

“Howdy,” he said. “Something I can do for you folks?”

“I want my daughter back,” Loftis said. “She’s bringing shame on me by living with you.”

“No shame,” Jake said easily. “She has her own room, and she has a chaperone, my housekeeper.”

“People are talking!”

“Maybe you are. I’m not hearing a thing from anyone else.”

“She’s my daughter and you have no right to keep her here, sin or no sin. And it looks sinful to me.”

Jake straightened, careful to appear relaxed, although his anger was winding up again. “I don’t recall that you were elected judge and jury. What’s more, Nora may be your daughter, but she’s an adult woman and can do as she chooses. You lost your right to say anything the day she turned eighteen. Get used to it.”

“That’s not the way we believe,” Loftis thundered. “An unmarried woman should be in her father’s care.”

A murmur of agreement came from the chorus of crows he’d brought with him.

“Regardless of what you believe, I’m telling you the law. Didn’t have a problem when she left home and made her own life, did you? No, you’re just worried about gossip, and that disgusts me.”

“You have no right!”

“No right to what? Offer my spare bedroom to a guest? Look after a woman who’s been seriously wounded?” His pretense at relaxation seeped away, and his hands balled into fists he would very much have liked to use.

“I was taking care of her!”

“You weren’t even giving her time to heal, you old jackass. You were insisting she come to work for you immediately.”

“She was well enough. She took another job.”

“Sitting at the library, not stocking your shelves. Now get out of here, all of you, before I get the sheriff to cite you for trespass.”

“Not until I see my daughter!”

“Over my dead body.”

Loftis took a step toward him, as if he were going to turn this into a fight. Jake was spoiling for it, but he didn’t want to give Nora the inevitable grief. Damn, a rock and a hard place. The law would be on his side, but how would it affect Nora?

Then he heard the front door creak open behind him. He turned, half expecting to see Al armed with the shotgun, but instead Nora stepped out, wrapped in her jacket.

“Drop it, Dad,” she said in a voice as flat and hard as steel. “Don’t come any closer.”

“Girl, you know better than this. I brought you up right, and you know the appearance of sin is as bad as the sin itself. A stumbling block to others. You come home with me now.”

“I wouldn’t come home with you if it were the last place on earth. I’m tired of you and all the misery you inflict. Go away and leave me alone. Don’t ever come near me again.”

Jake’s heart swelled with pride in her, but his anger was still trying to take control. He stared icily at Loftis. “You heard the lady. Now get off my property and don’t ever come back.”

That was when Al decided to make an appearance with the shotgun. Perfect timing, Jake thought. Nora had had her say, and now they’d deal with the trespassing.

Loftis glared at Al, then included Jake and Nora in his fury. “You’ll pay for this, girl.”

“I’ve paid for sins I’ve never committed,” she said quietly. “I’ve paid more than you’ll ever know, some of it at your hands. Leave me alone.”

Loftis took one step toward her. Jake threw back his jacket to reveal the weapon strapped to his hip, but made no move to unsnap the holster. It did have the effect of making Loftis pause.

“Now,” Jake said quietly, “I’m giving you a second warning that you’re trespassing. I’ll speak to the sheriff about it today. Trust me, you won’t get another warning.”

If furious glares could kill, Jake figured Loftis’s would have turned him into a cinder on the spot. The man stood there a moment longer, as if unwilling or unable to cede anything, but then he turned sharply and climbed into his truck. Like silent puppets, the rest followed him.

Jake remained where he was until the last dust of their passage made it clear the trucks were headed back to town. Then he turned.

“Let’s go inside. I’m making a call before I go anywhere.”

* * *

Nora had begun to shake. Even now, facing down her father frightened her. Like the man who had attacked her, Fred Loftis wouldn’t tolerate defiance. He might not make another move out here on Jake’s ranch, but what about when she was in town? What if he came after her in the library or walking down the street to get lunch?

That frightened her almost as much as being pursued by her attacker from Minnesota, even though she didn’t think her father was capable of the same level of violence. He could be violent, yes, but that had usually been slaps and blows with a belt, not an attack with deadly weapons of any kind.

She tried to assure herself she could deal with it, but her rubbery legs barely carried her to the table before she collapsed back in the chair in front of her breakfast.

Jake grabbed the kitchen phone off the wall and dialed. Rosa came to give her a squeeze on her shoulder, as if offering reassurance. So many good people, she thought. So many. She needed to think of them, not the two men who had demonized her life.

They were outliers, she thought as she wrapped her arms around herself. Outliers. Exceptions. Of all people, she should know that. But her training in psychology wasn’t helping much with her emotional response.

“Gage?” she heard Jake say. “I’ve had some trespassers this morning, and I may need your help. Fred Loftis and five of his cronies showed up to take Nora away. I didn’t get the feeling they’re ready to give up. You know she works at the library and she ought to be able to walk down the sidewalk to the diner without being molested.”

A long silence. “Yes, I warned them against trespass, twice, but that doesn’t take care of the time she’s in town.”

Another silence. “Okay, thanks. Now I need to make another call. Or you can just let my guys know I’m going to be a little late this morning. Thanks.”

He hung up, and the next thing Nora knew he’d pulled a chair over to her side and wrapped his big arm around her shoulder. “You, lady, are about to become the most protected person in Conard County.”

His arm made her feel so safe, as did Rosa’s quiet clucks of concern and the fresh cup of coffee that appeared in front of her. “I’m causing everyone so much trouble!”

“You’re not the one causing trouble at all,” Jake said. “Believe me. Your dad is causing trouble. That Langdon creep is causing trouble. You’re not doing one damn thing wrong, except maybe breathing.”

She gave a shaky laugh. “Breathing seems to be dangerous for me lately.”

“Maybe all along,” he said gravely. His arm tightened. “I really don’t want to leave you here today. Not after that.”

“I’d just be in your way.”

“You mean you don’t want to ride in a patrol car.”

She flushed faintly, glad that her shakiness was receding. “That, too,” she said in a nearly smothered voice. “But I’m getting used to your car.”

“And me, too,” he said warmly. “That’s good. Little steps. But you can stay in the office. I’m sure we could put your talents to use there.”

She thought about it. Pushing papers in his office all day or staying here to help Rosa with housework. Truth was, housework was a chore she didn’t especially like, something she did because she had to, not because she wanted to. But would doing odd jobs at Jake’s office be much better?

Probably. Making her mind up she said, “I’ll go with you. Sorry, Rosa.”

Rosa shook her head. “No apology. I’ll work faster alone anyway.”

Nora was sure she was right. She’d have only slowed the woman down and interrupted her routine. She almost flushed again.

“Help is always nice,” Rosa said, “but some help is better. What is best for you is better. So go! We will have a nice dinner tonight.”

Nora raced upstairs to get dressed, realizing that for some reason she was actually looking forward to the day. It would at least be different, and she’d be behind a wall of cops.

Jake was beginning to make her feel very different about cops.

* * *

The new police department did indeed share facilities with the sheriff’s office—right in the same building. Jake’s office was in the back, next to Gage’s, and cops in both uniforms came and went as if they were one big fraternity. They even shared the same dispatch.

“It really
is
a cut-rate operation,” Nora remarked as she entered Jake’s office. It was a tiny room, outfitted with a computer, swamped in papers.

“Believe it,” he answered. “Basically they created a payroll and the county was kind enough to share facilities. God knows how they would have managed this if they’d had to supply offices and dispatch for us separately.”

“I thought you said they got a grant.”

“Not that big of one. The sheriff got a bigger grant so he has all the nice, shiny new equipment.”

“Teetering on ancient desks,” said a familiar voice. Nora looked up to see Gage Dalton. As a child she’d been fearful of his scarred face, but time had washed that away as she’d learned what a kind man he really was. “How are you doing, Nora?”

“Pretty well, Sheriff.”

“Gage, please.” He looked past her at Jake. “If ever we’ve coordinated, now’s the time. Your officers are going to have to keep an eye on Nora while she’s in town.”

“You know I’m not going to squawk about jurisdiction.”

“I know you won’t. But how much arguing do you want with the council? Did I ever tell you how grateful I am they decided to make a police department?” Gage sounded wry. “I have my hands full with the county commissioners. You took the council off my plate.”

“At least somewhat. They’re always trying to get their fingers in the pie somehow.”

Nora had settled into a chair facing Jake’s desk, and now Gage limped over to sit beside her. He looked at her, his expression kind. “Do you have a cell phone?”

“Yes, when it works around here.”

“Is it preprogrammed with the emergency number? And does it have GPS?”

“I think so.” She picked up her purse and pawed through it, then handed him the phone.

He scrolled through a few things before passing it back. “It’ll work in town. Outside things get more problematic. A lot of companies aren’t eager to build cell towers on millions of acres of basically empty ranch land.” He looked at Jake. “Do you have a phone for her?”

“You bet. I started thinking about that this morning.”

Gage nodded. He looked at Nora. “We have a satellite link for law enforcement. That should work almost anywhere, and it has GPS. Jake’ll show you how to use it. In the meantime, I guess we need to start keeping an eye on Loftis and his friends.”

Jake shook his head a little. “I don’t want Loftis to become a distraction. Langdon is still out there.”

“Oh, he’s not going to become a distraction. I’m going to pay him a visit about trespassing at your place. I’m sure we can add some hints about what awaits him if he or anyone else bothers Nora in town.”

“I can do that part. It’s my job.”

“I already think Loftis is angry enough at you. He’ll probably be calling the city fathers before lunch. No, I’ll put the bug in his ear. For example, he wouldn’t want anyone to think he was colluding with Langdon, would he?”

Nora gasped, but Jake laughed. “I wasn’t going to go that far.”

“No, but you were never a fed. I know how to use these little things from long experience, and in that regard he’s more likely to listen to me than to you. It’s time he learned that he’s not the only one who can intimidate people, and that you and I have the law behind us.”