Yuletide Protector (Love Inspired Suspense) (7 page)

“Nah, it’s okay. You look like you’re almost ready to go and I don’t want to get in your way.” He opened the bag and breathed in the scent of the breakfast she’d made with longing. “My sister would be appalled. Judy tells me just one of these breakfast sandwiches has about three days’ worth of fat, and that eating it clogs your arteries in a matter of minutes.”

“Oh, really?”

“It’s what she says.”

“Since you’re so concerned with your health I guess I’ll toss it in the garbage.”

He pulled the bag out of Daria’s way as she reached in to grab it. “My sister is the health nut of the family. Not me.”

“I’m surprised you’re even still hungry. Mrs. Hildebrand seems to be keeping you well fed.”

“I’m a guy. We’re always hungry. Besides, Mrs. H. found my weakness. I lived my whole life having to eat my sister’s granola biscuits and wheat-germ cookies just to please my mother. Who ever heard of putting wheat germ in cookies? Mrs. Hildebrand’s muffins are amazing.”

Terrific. Upstaged by muffins.

It was a distressing start to what stood to be a very frustrating day. Trying to obtain an unsecured personal loan without any real equity in her house, stocks or other assets was going to be tough. But if she was going to be able to get away from George for any length of time and stop all this nonsense, she’d have to break
down and at least try to get a loan. If she was really careful, she might be able to stay in a room somewhere and still be able to pay her mortgage for a couple of months until she could think of a way out of this mess.

Daria shifted uncomfortably in place, glancing down her short road to the intersection. “Look, I need to get to work early so I can take care of paperwork. I’m…trying to work on something that will enable me to leave here for a while.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know if it will come together or not, so I don’t want to say much.”

Kevin’s expression changed and he stared down at his breakfast and back at her. Shame flamed her cheeks.

“You can’t go on like this, Kevin.”

“No?”

“And your friends. How long are they going to be able to keep watching George?”

“As long as the funds hold.”

Her eyes widened. “You mean,
you’re
paying them? From your money?”

He shrugged. “The department’s budget isn’t what it used to be.”

He tried to make a joke of it, and yet, knowing Kevin was paying for her protection out of his funds and time made matters worse.

Kevin pushed the truck door open and stepped out. As if reading her mind, he said, “Look, it’s no big deal.”

“It is to me. Money is not just something you throw around.”

“I agree.”

She swallowed hard. “I don’t have the money to pay you back.”

“I don’t expect you to. It was my decision to do it. If I didn’t want to do it, I wouldn’t have.”

She shook her head. “I don’t understand. A few days ago you didn’t even know me and now you’re paying other police officers to do work on my behalf?”

“The way I was raised, you give help when it’s needed. That is, if you can. We do this sort of thing in my church all the time.”

“Your church?”

“Yes. When someone needs assistance, others step in and help. Sometimes it’s financial. But sometimes it’s giving time and a little sweat. Like when one of the women in our congregation lost her husband after a long illness last year, and needed her roof replaced. She couldn’t afford to pay for supplies and labor, so some people pitched in for supplies, and a bunch of us got together, and over the course of the weekend we did the work for free. It helped her out.”

“And you expected nothing for it?”

“I got the satisfaction of knowing I’d helped someone who wasn’t going to be able to get the job done otherwise. I’m a firm believer that God works through each of us.”

“Is that what you’re doing for me?”

“You don’t believe me?”

“I don’t know what to believe.”

It was clear from the way Kevin spoke about his church that he took his Christian faith seriously. While Daria had known other people with strong Christian values throughout her life, she’d never felt a desire to understand what made them faithful. Hearing Kevin
talk about his faith and giving of himself made her curious, and eager to learn more.

“Maybe we can continue this discussion over dinner,” he said.

“Dinner?”

“Yeah. It’d have to be here though. I don’t want to risk having you out in public any more than you need to be. I’ll bring some takeout with me after my shift. Do you like Chinese?”

“I’ll cook,” she finally said. “It’ll be better than getting a sugar rush from muffins and cookies.” And if things went well today, maybe there would be something for both of them to celebrate tonight.

He chuckled. “Sounds great.”

Resisting the urge to place her hand over her rapidly beating heart, she forced a smile. It would do no good to let Kevin see just how much he had affected her. “Good. I’ll be home around sixish.”

As she was about to turn back to the house, Kevin stopped her with a light hand on her arm.

“I want you to think about something today.”

She peered up at his serious expression. “What?”

“I was thinking last night that we may have to pull an Al Capone to get your ex-husband behind bars.”

She chuckled, but then frowned in confusion. “Wait, an Al Capone? What’s that?”

“You know, Al Capone wasn’t taken down for bootlegging alcohol. He was convicted on tax evasion. I know George had some business with a loan shark, but there’s nothing illegal we can pin on him. I want you to think about his dealings and tonight, you can tell me what you remember. Even if you think it’s insignificant. It might lead us somewhere.”

“I don’t know anything about his business dealings. He never really talked about them because he knew I was sensitive about the money he spent.”

“Just think about it.”

She nodded, uncomfortable with the notion of having to revisit her relationship with her ex-husband yet again. She wanted that to be the past, but George clearly was making himself part of her present.

Daria walked the length of the driveway back to the house. After locking up and braving her exit through the back door, she climbed into her truck. Kevin was still sitting at the curb, his engine warmed and exhaust from his tailpipe making a cloud into the street.

She started her truck, then pulled out of the driveway carefully. When she got to the intersection, she glanced in the rearview mirror. Kevin had pulled his SUV behind her truck, put his signal lights on to indicate he was going in her direction.

She couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. He’d follow her to the office again, just as he had yesterday. And while yesterday it had annoyed her, today she felt differently. She wasn’t going to pretend to understand exactly what those feelings were. She just knew that he made her feel safe.

She’d never met anyone quite like him. He gave willingly and without seeming to want anything as payment in return. It was about time she did her part and helped him in his quest to arrest George.

But more than anything, Daria was looking forward to their dinner tonight and exploring exactly what made Kevin the Christian and the man that he was today.

“Y
ou look like roadkill.”

Kevin looked up from the paperwork on his desk to Jake’s amused face. “I think I am roadkill. I’ve been looking through Carlisle’s file all morning and I can’t find so much as a business card to connect him to anyone in Providence with illegal dealings. No phone calls. No business connections. Nothing.”

“You’re forgetting Milo Brickster.”

Kevin glanced up at Jake. “No, I’m not. But except for the fact that Brickster is a purported loan shark that gave George Carlisle quite a sizable loan, we have no other direct connection.”

“What about an associate of Brickster’s? Someone at the salvage yard? Brickster is part owner of the salvage yard and Carlisle chose that spot for the meeting. Maybe they work through a middleman. Who’s the other owner?”

“Paul Cross. His record is squeaky-clean. A few parking tickets and an old DUI from about twenty years ago. Nothing since.”

“I wonder how he partnered up with Brickster.”

Kevin flipped open the file on the salvage yard. “Seems like Brickster has been a partner from the beginning.”

“That may or may not rule out strong-arming his way in if Cross needed money.”

“That doesn’t give us a connection to Carlisle.”

“What about employees at the salvage yard? Have you checked any of those yet?”

“There’s a long list. I’ve gotten through about half so far.”

“Anyone raise any suspicions?”

“One name that I’m going to look into a little deeper. Again, no connection to Carlisle yet, but he is from Daria’s neighborhood.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah, a few streets over. Has a long rap sheet, mostly drugs and disorderly conduct. Not exactly the type of guy you’d picture George Carlisle hooking up with. But then, neither is Brickster.”

With his thumb and finger, Kevin rubbed the bridge of his nose. His eyes stung from looking through paperwork for the last few hours.

Jake laughed and pulled a chair closer to the desk and sat down. “You signed up for the gig.”

“Yeah, I did. You don’t have to remind me.”

“Look, I’ll help you out where I can. But no one would blame you if you pulled out of this. I mean, we’re onto Carlisle. We’ve got him covered. It’s only a matter of time until he trips up. And it’s not like you haven’t warned Daria Carlisle about what her husband is up to. You put it all out on the table for her. She made her decision to stay. There’s nothing more you can do.”

“I know you’re right.”

And Kevin did agree with everything Jake said. They were keeping a close watch on Carlisle. He had warned Daria of the danger she was in. Any other time that
would have been enough. He would have continued to investigate and build a case against the perpetrator, and if the victim chose to stay and take the risk, well, then it was their call.

“So what’s holding you back?”

“This is different. Everything about this is different than before.”

“Including the woman?”

Kevin pierced Jake with a stare.

“Whoa!” Jake said, putting his hands up. “I’m just making an observation. I know where you’re coming from. You’ve told me about your sister’s friend, Lucy, and I’ve seen enough women like her over the years. You’re always looking to rescue them from themselves. I’m just saying, you seem different with this one.”

Kevin chuckled and rubbed his temples, fatigue getting the best of him. “She hates me being there, yet she brought me hot chocolate and an extra blanket last night. I think she really would leave if she could—she’s an intelligent woman and she knows she’s in danger—but she refuses to let it cow her.”

“Not to mention she’s pretty.”

He glared at Jake, which earned him a laugh from his partner.

“But you hadn’t noticed
that,
I guess.”

The growing irritation that rose in Kevin was less from Jake’s ribbing and more because his partner was dead-on right. Yeah, everything about this case
was
different.
Especially
the woman.

Daria was nothing like any other woman he’d known. And everything about her intrigued him, from her beautiful smile to her maddening stubbornness. But nothing had struck him as sharply as the loneliness he’d sensed
from her that morning. She seemed truly surprised to hear that faith meant you didn’t have to face the challenges of life alone.

Kevin knew he could count on the Lord for guidance and strength. And the members of his church community would be there in a heartbeat if someone needed help. His family no longer lived in Providence, but he couldn’t imagine ever feeling as if he was truly alone.

Sure, Kevin had grown up a few blocks away from the church he still attended. He’d played in Little League with the guys in the congregation and even dated a few of the women who were now married and had families of their own. He knew all he had to do was say the word and half a dozen people would be at his door with help. That was the way he’d been raised, the way it was in his church community. But while he had a special sense of community in Providence, he knew that the faith that truly bound them meant he could never be separated from his spiritual community, no matter where he went.

Daria knew nothing of that. He wanted to be the one to teach her, to show her how God could heal that emptiness inside her that she’d tried to fill with her house. And maybe she could help him, as well, possibly turning out to be the answer to the problem he’d been talking over lately with God. The problem where he was ready to settle down, start a family, but couldn’t seem to find the right woman to love.

Although he dated, there’d never been a woman who was special enough for Kevin to think about a permanent future. But he always believed that one day he’d find that special partner in his life. Someone to challenge him, give him comfort and raise a family of his own with. That person would have to have a strong re
lationship with God, as well. He simply couldn’t imagine getting involved with a woman who didn’t share his Christian faith.

Although curious about Christianity, Daria wasn’t a believer. At least not now. And until she was, Kevin would ignore any feelings he had that were developing for her.

Jake slapped a file folder on the desk in front of Kevin, pulling him from his thoughts. “She must be some woman to have a hold on you like this,” he said.

“What?”

“You disappeared on me in Daria Carlisle Land. I asked you what you knew about Marla Rickenberg’s relationship with George Carlisle.”

“Daria’s assistant? As far as I know there isn’t any connection to her ex. Why? What do you have?”

Jake shrugged. “Not much. Ski just called and said Carlisle was having lunch at Aluvia’s with a woman who strangely resembles Marla. What do you think?”

A slow burn started in the pit of his stomach. Kevin looked at his partner. “I think Marla Rickenberg’s having lunch with George Carlisle is a little too close for comfort.”

Daria dropped her purse into the bottom drawer of her desk and fell hard into her desk chair. “That was a total waste of time,” she said to herself. Rubbing her temples, she closed her eyes and willed the throbbing in her head to stop.

The little knock on the doorjamb had her looking up.

“Do you have a second?” Marla asked, holding Daria’s coat in her hand.

Pulling herself together, Daria straightened up at her desk and motioned Marla to come in.

“You have my coat. Where did you find it?”

“You draped it over my desk when you stopped by to tell me you were leaving for lunch early.”

“I thought I left it back at the bank.”

Marla closed the door behind her, hung the coat up on the coatrack and then sat down. By the look on Marla’s face, Daria knew this conversation wasn’t going to be good.

“Please tell me you’re not quitting,” she said.

Marla rolled her eyes and chuckled nervously. “I can’t even dream of quitting with the balances I have on my credit cards. No, it’s nothing like that.”

Daria drew in a deep breath of relief. “Good. Then what’s up?”

Marla looked at her hands in her lap and nibbled on her bottom lip.

Daria laughed. “Come on. It can’t be
that
bad. What is it?”

Marla hesitated a moment. “I had lunch with George today.”

“George?” When Marla just looked at her as if she was afraid Daria would throw something at her, it clicked. “You mean you had lunch with my ex-husband?”

Marla nodded and then quickly added, “It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, but as soon as I got back, I started worrying. If it’s going to bother you, I won’t do it again. I mean, I know you’re divorced and all and you said you were over him—”

“I am.”

“But I don’t want this to be a problem for us. I really like you and I’d hate to think I was doing something to hurt you. Does it bother you?”

Daria leaned back in the chair trying to get distance. Did she mind that Marla had lunch with her ex-
husband? No. But she did question George’s motives for seeking Marla out. And she did worry about Marla and what she could be stepping into, given what was currently going on.

“You’re mad. I can tell. I’m so sorry.”

“No, no.” Daria waved off the comment. “It’s not what you think.”

“Then what is it?”

If Daria didn’t choose her words carefully, she’d end up sounding like a jealous ex-spouse. Nothing was further from the truth. Marla was a nice girl and although Daria didn’t always think the guys she went out with were “relationship material,” her personal life was Marla’s choice. Not hers.

But it was becoming increasingly clear that George Carlisle was steps beyond that. When she wasn’t looking, her ex-husband had become a monster. Maybe he’d always been and she hadn’t seen it. If that was the case, then Marla was an easy target, and Daria couldn’t allow her assistant to walk out of her office without Marla’s being a little on guard about his behavior.

“Did you call him or did he call you?”

Marla chuckled. “Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

Appearing a little taken aback, Marla hesitated. “He called me and then he came to the office to pick me up after you left for lunch.”

“I see.”

“I should have asked you how you felt about it first, but I was afraid you’d be mad.”

Daria shook her head. “Marla, you’re a big girl. You don’t need my approval to date someone. Even my ex-husband.”

“But?”

“George isn’t the person he seems.”

With a drop of her shoulders, Marla said, “You
are
mad.”

“No, really, I’m not. I just don’t want you to fall for all that charm without knowing what’s behind it. He can be very cunning.”

Marla considered her words. “You were always so closemouthed about why you got divorced. Are those reasons what you’re trying to warn me about?”

Those reasons seemed mightily irrelevant now. Back then George hadn’t tried to hire a hit man to kill her.

Marla went on. “I mean, George always seems so sweet. Like he loved you so much. I’d love for a guy to look at me that way. What did he do? Have an affair or something?”

“Yes,” Daria admitted.

Marla gasped softly. “Really?”

“Among other things. He likes to show off money. I’ll bet he took you to some fancy restaurant.”

“Aluvia’s.”

Daria chuckled, shaking her head. “That had to set him back some. Money he, no doubt, didn’t have. You see, he likes people to think he has more than he does. He always finds a way to pay for it. But I never knew where that money came from, if you know what I mean.”

It wasn’t exactly true. At least some of the money had come from a loan shark named Milo Brickster. But did she really need to go into that much detail? Daria liked Marla. She also knew Marla liked to talk, which was why it had always been difficult to confide in her during her divorce. The last thing she needed was people in her office talking about her and her failed marriage at the watercooler.

“You mean, he’s one of those sleazy guys who takes up with rich widows and steals their money right from under them without them realizing it?”

She could always count on Marla’s imagination to run wild. This time Daria let her think what she wanted.

“I really don’t know where he got all his money. But to get the kind of money he needed, he dealt with some business ‘associates’ that may not have been on the right side of the law. Even criminals have stock portfolios, and George meets a lot of people from all walks of life in his business. I didn’t stick around long enough to find out what kind of ‘business’ they had with George.”

“Wow,” Marla said, nibbling on her thumbnail. “He doesn’t seem like that at all.”

“No.” Admitting that left a sour taste in Daria’s mouth. “Look, you can do whatever you want. I’m not angry about you having lunch with George. Really, I’m not. I just want you to be careful. Will you promise me you’ll be careful?”

Marla nodded and quickly got up and left the office. Daria was relieved when she closed the door behind her. Normally, Daria liked her office door open so she could see the movement outside. She spent so much time alone at home that she liked the casual interaction when someone just popped in at her door to say hello.

But Daria didn’t want the distraction. There was too much on her mind, not the least of which was her protector, Detective Kevin Gordon.

It amazed her how different Kevin was from her ex-husband. Just this one conversation with Marla put it all in perspective for her. They were opposite ends of a spectrum. It was hard to believe she’d been married to a man like George at all.

Where George had been all about impressing others with his money, Kevin used what he had unselfishly and didn’t expect anything in return. He was using his own money and his precious time to keep her safe. What kind of man did that?

A man with a gentle heart. This was a man Daria wanted to know better.

Regardless of her feelings for Kevin, which she was having an increasingly difficult time ignoring, she needed to sort through her options.