Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 (16 page)

“The crews of the Sundance and Tundra King as well as their captains. Along with them, we also have Ivan Verdin and four other coworkers from the shipping department, Sean O'Hara and Eva Cohen.” Chief Quay scowled. “And then there is my officer, Steve Bates. He kept them informed about anything going on with the police and Coast Guard, since his girlfriend was a yeoman at the station here.”

“We are checking financial records for each person, especially in connection to Peter Rodin. As we follow the money trail, it's leading us to him,” Daniel said, remaining standing by the door. “I believe Captain Martin will help us on this end once you talk to him, Miss Hart.”

“We'll be transporting the suspects to Anchorage, where the facilities are more secure. Several more state troopers are coming in on a special plane tomorrow and will take them back. We're working with the DEA to see if this drug-smuggling ring has any other operations in Alaska. Our preliminary findings are leading to the conclusion this was a test run. Peter Rodin hasn't invested in any other businesses in the state.” Chance shot a glance at the DEA agent. “I'll be here for the next week helping the DEA comb every inch of the fishery, but there are no financial records indicating Brad Howard is involved. It appears that Eva Cohen ran the operation as his secretary, controlling what he saw or heard.”

Rachel thought of her last contact with the woman. “She's the one who sent me to the Sundance. She called and said Captain Martin had left all the papers I needed on his boat.”

The police chief relaxed back in his chair. “The injured assailants have been airlifted to the hospital in Anchorage. They will be under guard until they are released to be transported to jail. Are there any questions?”

“Will the fishery be able to open after the first of the year?” Rachel hated seeing the town suffer for a few greedy people.

“I've told Brad Howard probably or shortly after that. The investigation will have to be completed before life can go back to normal. The owner realizes he will be under scrutiny from the Coast Guard, DEA and the state for a while.” Daniel put his hand on the knob. “Unless you need me, I'm going to take another crack at Verdin's second-in-command.”

Chance rose from his seat, turning toward Jake. “We'll bring in a few dogs to check all the boats. They should be here shortly. Give Mitch an extra treat for all his work.”

“I will.”

After both Chance and Daniel left, Jake shook hands with Chief Quay. “Thanks for keeping us informed. Do you think it's safe now for Rachel?”

“Yes, but if that changes, I'll let you know. Go enjoy your Christmas vacation. You deserve it, Jake, and if you ever decide to come back to Port Aurora, there's a job for you here. If the drug-smuggling ring had gotten its hooks into the town any more than this, I hate to think of the crime rate. This is a good reason to keep the police staffed adequately.”

As Rachel followed Jake toward the door, she threw a smile at the police chief. “Thanks.”

“Officer Clark is bringing Captain Martin to the interview room. Anything he tells you about the smuggling ring will make our case stronger.”

“I'll try.”

As they left the police chief's office, Jake escorted her to the interview room. “I'll be with you, and he'll be handcuffed to the table. You'll be safe.”

As she entered and her gaze fell on Captain Martin, she hadn't realized how hard this would be. She'd known him for years. Most of the people in the drug-smuggling ring were new to Port Aurora. So why did the captain take part in the illegal activities? He was going to stand by and watch her be murdered. The thought shivered through her. But she sat across from the man, trying to forgive him as the Lord wanted her to do.

“Why did you do this?” Rachel asked, needing to make some sense from all that had happened.

“First, thank you for agreeing to talk to me. I got caught...” Tears glistened in the captain's eyes.

She still ached, and her wrists and ankles were chafed red from the ropes. Jake had stitches in his arm from where he'd been grazed by a bullet. And this man had been in the middle of it all. “Why did you do it?”

Captain Martin cleared his throat. “My son lives in Seattle and owes this group a hundred thousand dollars. If I didn't help them, they'd have killed him and his family.”

“A hundred thousand dollars? How?”

“Trying to keep his business solvent, he got in over his head with the wrong people.”

“Where are your son and his family?”

“In hiding with the US Marshals. I wouldn't talk to you until they did that.”

“What boats were working for them?”

The captain frowned. “The Tundra King is all I know of. We took turns meeting the Russian trawler with the drugs. I can give the authorities all that information.”

“So everyone in your crew is involved?”

With sadness in his blue eyes, Captain Martin nodded. “I will testify. I'll do anything they want, but first I needed to ask for your forgiveness, Rachel. I never meant for someone I knew to be hurt. That tough show on the boat was for Beau Cohen's benefit. I don't know if I could have let them kill you and throw you overboard. I was coming to see you to talk to you. To see if there was a way to get you out of the situation alive. I deserved what you did.”

Jake covered her hand in her lap. She slanted a glance at him and knew when they left she had to tell him she loved him, no matter where Jake ended up living. If Captain Martin had gone to the authorities when he was first contacted, this might never have happened in Port Aurora. But he held the truth inside him. She wouldn't anymore.

“I forgive you,” she finally murmured, meaning every word. She shoved her chair back and rose. “Now, I need to get to the fishery, so the employees will be paid today.”

As she left, Jake put his arm around her, and they walked side by side to the exit. She didn't say anything until they reached the fishery headquarters. “Are you coming in?”

“Yes. I'm still not one hundred percent sure you're safe, so I'm sticking with you until I'm satisfied.”

“I like the sound of that. Let's go to my office.”

When she arrived there, she hung up her coat and took Jake's to do the same. Then she shut the door and turned toward him, the words she wanted to say to him on the tip of her tongue.

He pulled her to him. “Alone, finally. I've wanted to talk to you ever since you were found, but so much had to be wrapped up, and I had to make sure it was done correctly.” He plastered her against him, his arms locking around her. “When I didn't know if you were alive or not, I knew without a shadow of doubt that you've always been the woman for me. We got so hung up on being friends that we suppressed our growing attraction for each other when we were teens. I love you. I want to marry you.”

She laid her cheek against his shoulder, nestling into the crook of his arm. “Good thing we're smart as adults.”

“Are you saying you'll accept my proposal?”

“You're right. I've been in love with you for years but kept denying it. I didn't want to be like my mother going from one man to the next. All I had was time to think while I waited on that boat, praying you knew where I was. But you found me, and deep in my heart I knew you would. We're connected—two halves of a whole. How can I deny my other half? I would be denying myself. I love you, Jake, and if you want to live in Anchorage...” Emotions swelled into her throat. She never wanted to leave, but she would for Jake. After swallowing hard, she continued. “I will make it work. But I'm warning you, I'll want to come back to Port Aurora
a lot
.”

He brushed his lips across hers. Once. Twice before he pressed his mouth against hers in a deep kiss that spoke of his love for her.

EPILOGUE

C
hristmas morning, a knock sounded at Aunt Linda's house in Port Aurora. Rachel hurried to answer it because her aunt was still asleep. They had attended a late-night service with Lawrence and Jake, and none of them had gone to sleep until two in the morning. She peered outside and saw Jake on the porch. It wasn't even eight yet.

She answered the door, throwing her arms around him and kissing him before he was even inside. “I've missed you.”

“Soon, we'll be married, and I won't have to go home.”

She stepped to the side and let him in. “I'm glad they have rounded up everyone in the ring including Peter Rodin, but I did like the fact you had to be with me all the time. I kinda got used to it.”

After hanging up his coat, he backed her into the living room and pushed her gently onto the couch, then settled next to her. “I know what you mean. That's why I want to marry you as soon as possible.”

“So do I. I wish Aunt Betty could be here to see us. Who do you think killed Betty?”

“What little evidence there was indicates that Sean did. The other with him was Ivan. Their size and tread of a pair of their shoes match what was taken at the scene, and there was one set of latent prints in the pantry. That matches Sean's.”

She really hadn't known Sean, but she couldn't say that about Jake. Over the years, they had been through so much. “Now I want to put it behind us. I don't want to talk about the smuggling ring. At least for today.”

“Sounds fine to me. I came early because I wanted to give you my Christmas present alone.”

“Where is it?”

He rose and walked into the arctic entry. When he returned a few seconds later, he had a wrapped box in his hand. “I hope you like it.”

She tore into the red-foiled paper and removed the lid to reveal a Port Aurora police badge. She stared at it for a few seconds, then lifted her gaze to his. “Does this mean you're going to work for them and we'll live here?”

He nodded. “Working with Randall these past weeks, I realized this was a good compromise. My job will be different, but I can still use Mitch. Brad wants me to go through the fishery at random times to make sure there are no more drugs. The police department is going to apply for a grant for a trained K-9, and if we get it, I'll be its handler. Josiah mentioned doing that when he met with Brad this week about being a partner in the fishery.”

“Do we know if he and his sister are going to invest in the fishery?”

Jake grinned. “I'm supposed to keep this a secret until the first of January.”

The twinkle gleaming in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. “They are! I could kiss you.”

“Go right ahead. I won't complain.”

She held his head between her hands and planted her lips on his. “Thank you, Jake. I know you had a lot to do with it.”

“Not really. What Brad did expanding the fishery was on the right track, but you can't tell your aunt anything.”

“I won't. I'll go make us some coffee. When is Lawrence coming over?” She started to rise, but Jake grabbed her arm.

“In two hours. Didn't you forget something?”

“What?”

“My present.”

“Oh, about that.” She gave him a quick kiss, then stood. “You'll have to wait until after Christmas. I'm taking back the gift I had for you.”

Jake arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

She retrieved a flat box from under the tree. “You'll see.”

He carefully unwrapped it and peeked inside, then started laughing. “I guess I see why. These Anchorage employment applications won't be needed now, but I appreciate the gesture.”

“I meant it. I would move to Anchorage if that was the only way we could be together. I don't want to be separated ever again.”

He tugged her to him and whispered against her lips, “Nothing is going to stop us from being together.”

* * * * *

Dear Reader,

Standoff at Christmas
is the fourth in my Alaskan Search and Rescue Series. In this story Jake is a K-9 police officer who nearly died in the third book of this series,
The Protector's Mission
. I couldn't leave Jake's story alone after leaving him and Mitch, his K-9 dog, severely injured when they were searching a bomb site for survivors.

Jake had to have his own story and a happy ending, but I wanted to take him away from Anchorage and put him in an environment where he was vulnerable—his hometown. Not only did he have to recover from a life-threatening injury, he had to deal with his past. Jake couldn't forgive his fiancée for breaking it off to marry another man but also his mother for abandoning him.

This is a story of forgiveness, something the Lord wants us to do. It isn't easy, but once we do, it frees us from the bonds of the past. Carrying hate in our hearts only hurts us, not the other person. God knows forgiving another is freeing and gives us back our life. He only wants the best for us.

I love hearing from readers. You can contact me at
[email protected]
or at P.O. Box 2074, Tulsa, OK 74101. You can also learn more about my books at
margaretdaley.com
. I have a newsletter that you can sign up for on my website.

Best wishes,