When the Smoke Clears (Deadly Reunions) (25 page)

“Where?”

He rattled off the directions to his home. “Chad, you got that tire changed yet?”

“Almost,” his brother grunted. “Tightening the last lugnut now.”

“The person turned off.” Alexia’s voice came through the line.

Relief claimed Hunter.

“No, wait.” He could hear the fear return. “The car’s coming back.”

Relief fled. “Do you see any other police cars? Backup should be there.”

“No. Yes. I see someone. The officer turned on the blue lights.”

“Is the car that’s following you still there?”

“No. It’s gone.” He could almost picture the tension leaving her.

“Okay, do you have somewhere you can stay tonight?”

“I can’t stay at Serena’s?” She sounded befuddled.

“Alexia, you just led the person to where you were staying.”

“But I didn’t turn in the drive. Maybe . . .” Now he could hear the tears in her voice. “I don’t know, Hunter, if I can’t stay here . . . I guess I can go to a hotel . . .”

He’d offer her his couch but didn’t think she’d go for that. And a hotel wasn’t a good solution. No alarms, too easy to break into. No way.

“You don’t need a hotel. I’m going to contact the cruiser. You park your car in the driveway.”

“Okay.” More confusion on her part.

“I’m on the way. Wait for me to get there, okay?”

“Sure.”

“Hey bro, you there?”

Chad.

Hunter had forgotten the man was still on the line. “Where are you now?”

“Climbing back in my car.” Hunter heard the door slam. “Heading to Serena’s.”

Chad hung up. Keeping Alexia on the line, Hunter grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter, went out the door, and down the steps to his vehicle. In the background, he could hear Alexia talking to someone he prayed was the police officer.

Hunter grabbed his radio that would allow him to speak to the officers in the cruiser. “Officers in the vicinity of Hartford Road, please respond.” The appropriate code came back to him. Then he heard a familiar voice. “Alpha-304 this is Alpha-501. We’ve got your friend here.”

“Don’t leave her alone. Wait for me to get there.”

“10-4.”

Hunter switched back to his phone. “Alexia, are you okay with me hanging up? I’m on the way.”

“That’s fine. I’ve invited the officers in just in case my stalker is still hanging around.” She sounded subdued. Resigned. Tired.

He said goodbye and hung up. However, he placed the blue light on his dash and let his foot rest a little heavier on the gas than he normally did even as a plan formed. He grabbed the phone again and called Chad.

The mesmerizing sweep of blue strobes from the street washed the neighboring homes.

“How many cops is this woman friends with?” It was getting almost ridiculous. The cell phone on the seat buzzed. “What!”

Silence. “What was that stunt at the hospital? That was not part of the plan.” The voice was calm. An awful calm that did not bode well.

“I wanted to get rid of the detective. He’s in my way. I need to take him out to get to her.”

Another pause. “Thanks to your shooting”—the voice sharpened like a razor—“her protection detail will be even more difficult to get around.”

“Don’t you think I’ve thought about that?”

Silence. The sound of a slow, deliberate exhale.

Sweat began to drip into bleary eyes. The headaches, the fatigue were getting worse.
Should have taken more meds.
“Sir, I’m sorry. I . . . It won’t happen again.”

“Not if you know what’s good for you.” The tone changed slightly. “We’re backing off. Let her get comfortable.”

“What? But you said—”

“I know what I said. Now I’m telling you to lay low right now. Understood?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good.”

Click.

The front door of the house opened and two officers moved quickly toward the street. Then the happy couple exited. She’d changed clothes, put on a ball cap. Odd getup.

The police car peeled away from the curb and shot down the street. The couple climbed into the detective’s car and pulled out of the driveway, heading slowly in the opposite direction.

Back off? No way. Not now.

“So, what do you think of my plan?” Hunter asked.

Alexia gaped at him. “Are you insane?” She turned her stunned gaze from the man to the nice middle-class house. “This is your parents’ house. There’s no way I’m staying here.”

“Sure you are. Christine is living with them right now and she said she’d appreciate your company.” She felt his gaze rove over her and an appreciative gleam entered his eyes. “Have I told you that you look awesome in a uniform?”

“Yes, you did.” Exasperation filled her. Alexia honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Crying sounded pretty good. “Hunter, we’ve been over this. Your father hates me. He believes I burned down my parents’ house. I’m not staying here!”

Finally she seemed to get through to him. His brow furrowed and his lips turned down like a two-year-old who was told no. Then those lips thinned. “Look, you can’t stay at Serena’s tonight. Swapping places with Pete and Maria allowed us to get away without being followed. If nobody was watching, fine. But if someone was, hopefully, we’ve thrown them off. Now you can get in there and get a good night’s sleep. We’ll figure out what you’re going to do tomorrow.” He paused. “And besides, my parents aren’t home tonight. They’ll be gone until Saturday, home in time for the dinner.”

Right. The dinner.

He continued. “The dinner you still haven’t said you’d attend. With me.”

Exhaustion and fear pulled at her. “I’ll give you an answer on that tomorrow.”

He looked away, but not before she saw a hint of disappointment. And why was she hedging anyway? She knew she was going to say yes. The thought of spending that time with him, going on an actual date, was exhilarating. In spite of the fact that she was feeling scared, irritated, and frustrated at the moment.

“Great. Now, let’s go in and find Christine. She can take care of anything you might need. Including a clean toothbrush.”

“Hunter . . .”

He climbed out of the car. Grudgingly, she followed. What choice did she really have? What if he was right and the killer was watching Serena’s house? Did she really want to be there alone tonight?

Of course not.

“What if my staying here puts your family at risk?”

He didn’t even flinch at her question. Which meant he’d already thought of that. And come up with a good enough reason not to be concerned. He said, “The alarm system is awesome here. Plus there are two dogs that roam the yard at night. Everything will work out fine. Come on.” His hand grasped her upper arm in a gentle grip. He propelled her toward the front door. “For the record, I have someone watching your house—Serena’s house—tonight. If anyone tries anything, I’ll be notified.”

Chad opened the door. “Christine’s not here yet, but come on in.”

The words were no more out of his mouth than Alexia heard a car turn in to the driveway. Christine parked and climbed out. She looked disheveled and upset.

Hunter frowned at his sister. “Are you okay?”

“Just fine. Just great. I’m wonderful.”

Alexia lifted a brow as the woman walked past her and into the house.

“Chris?” Hunter asked.

The woman’s shoulders lifted, then fell. “I’m all right. Just a little perturbed with your friend Rick.”

“Ah.” Hunter’s knowing drawl earned him a scowl from Christine.

“Shut up and get in here.” Her words may have sounded harsh to an outsider, but Alexia could hear the love behind them.

Hunter kept his hand on her arm and a shiver danced up her spine as she entered the foyer. Class and good taste greeted her. And she felt as out of place as a mouse at a cat family reunion.

Christine’s smile looked forced, but she looped her arm through Alexia’s and looked back at the men. “Let me just show Alexia her room. We’ll be back in a minute. Try to behave, please.” With that, Christine pointed her toward the staircase. But instead of going up, her host led her around. “We have something of a mother-in-law suite back here. My parents added it on when my grandmother came to live with us. She died a couple of years ago and now we use it as a guest room. It’ll be the perfect place for you. All the comforts of home, but you won’t be disturbed unless you want to be.”

And then she was inside a small apartment. Alexia looked at Christine. “Why are you doing this?”

Christine didn’t bother to act like she didn’t understand. “Because Hunter believes in you and that’s enough for me.”

A wave of longing for her big brother hit her.
Dominic, where are you?

Biting her lip, she studied the girl she’d known in high school, but hadn’t really
known
. “Well, thank you.”

“Sure. Do you have a bag or anything?”

“She’ll need the works until I can get her bag from Maria and Pete,” Hunter said from behind her.

Alexia spun to see him and Chad vying for elbow room in the narrow doorframe.

Good grief. “Have you two always been this competitive?”

Chad raised a brow like he didn’t know what she was talking about.

Christine gave a snicker. “No, it’s been a more recent development.”

Hunter flushed and moved back. “Not that recent. I’ve got to meet Pete and give him his car back before he gets in trouble for missing a call or something.”

Alexia stopped him. “They risked a lot to help me, didn’t they?”

One strong shoulder lifted; however, she caught a glimpse of a small smile playing around the corners of his lips. “I think under the circumstances, the captain would be fine with what we did.”

So many people helping her. Opening their homes to her. Putting their lives and jobs on the line.

For her.

Hunter she understood. He was a cop. He wanted to catch the bad guy and she seemed to be the magnet that drew the bad guy out. But the other two cops agreeing to Hunter’s crazy scheme, Serena letting her live in her house, and Christine’s friendly acceptance. Why?

But she couldn’t ask that. Not right now.

The bed in the middle of the room looked so inviting. A glance at the bedside clock made her swallow a groan. 12:32. She was an early morning person, not a night owl.

“Okay, everyone out,” Christine ordered. “And that includes me. Alexia, you’ll find a pair of my pajamas in the bathroom along with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and anything else you might need. We’ll have breakfast at seven thirty, but feel free to sleep in if you wish. The food will wait on you.” She flashed an ornery grin at her older brother. “Although, if you’re on time, I’m guessing you’ll have company for breakfast.”

She’d see Hunter first thing in the morning.

Somehow the idea didn’t bother her in the least.

30

Friday, 7:12 a.m.

Alexia rose early to find her bag sitting on the chair in the corner of the room. She unzipped the bag and pulled out her clothes. After she showered and dressed, she reveled in her surroundings even as they stirred sadness and regret. Hunter could never be with someone like her.

She and Hunter didn’t match. She, a poor girl from a dysfunctional family. And Hunter, the son of the fire chief, soon to be mayor? She would wind up embarrassing him at some point, and he would see the error of his ways and dump her. And if he didn’t, his parents would surely want someone “better” for their firstborn.

And his father thought she was an arsonist. Yes, that could definitely be a relationship killer right there.

But she was still going to the dinner with him. And then she’d let him finish the investigation and send him on his way. After all, there was no sense in developing any more feelings for the man when she was just going to turn around and go back to Washington.

Right?

Maybe. Assuming she lived long enough for him to catch the person after her.

She started toward the door. Then stopped, glanced at her watch, and retraced her steps back to her bag. She reached in and pulled out Serena’s Bible. Moving the bag to the floor, Alexia settled herself in the chair and opened the Bible to the next entry Serena had marked.