Lone Defender (Love Inspired Suspense) (13 page)

“That’s another thing that will have to be decided by the medical examiner. If it is Redmond, he was involved with some bad stuff. These kinds of crimes are usually gang related.”

“It’s not very common for a gang member to bury a victim. The goal of the killing is usually to advertise power and bravado. Even a revenge killing is meant to show that. Why hide it?” Skylar asked, her gaze jumping to Jonas.

“Good questions, but I’m afraid I can’t answer them. I’ve only been with the Cave Creek Sheriff’s department for a few months, so I’m serving as guard rather than investigator today,” the deputy responded.

“Who’s in charge of the investigation?”

“Should be the sheriff, but he hasn’t shown up yet. Samuel Mitchell is taking the lead until he arrives.”

“May we speak with him?”

“It’s no skin off my back if you do, but I’m not sure he’ll agree to it.” She opened the front door, called inside. “Hey, Sam! There are some people here who’d like to speak with you.”

“If they’re reporters, I don’t have time.” The sharp response came moments before a man stepped into view. Mid-thirties. A little under six feet. Looked like he’d recently come out of the military.

“What’s up?”

“Chief Deputy Samuel Mitchell, this is Skylar Grady and…” She paused, apparently realizing Jonas had never offered his name.

“Jonas Sampson.” He extended a hand, and Mitchell shook it, studying Jonas’s face as if he was sure they’d met before. It wasn’t an uncommon reaction. Losing his wife and unborn son in such a tragic way had made Jonas headline news for a few days. Many people remembered his face, though they couldn’t place where they’d seen it.

“Sounds familiar.”

“I’ve restored a dozen homes in Cave Creek.” It was as likely an explanation as any, and the chief deputy seemed satisfied with.

“That could be it. What can I do for you folks?”

“I’m trying to close a case that I’ve been working on for the past month. Daniel Redmond is wanted for back child support, and his wife hired the PI service I work for to find him. We’re wondering if he might be the man you found here.”

“This isn’t information I want released to the press, but maybe it will help you close your case a little more quickly. One of our men is confident that the deceased is Daniel Redmond.”

“Any reason for that?” Jonas asked.

“He pulled Redmond over for speeding once, said the guy was wearing a watch like the one the deceased has on.”

“Lots of people wear watches.”

“This is an expensive one. Some fancy Italian maker.”

“So, it’s very possible Daniel Redmond is dead.” Skylar seemed to be speaking more to herself than anyone else, and Jonas could almost see her mind working.

Who had murdered Daniel?

What did his murder have to do with the attempt on Skylar’s life?

“We’ll check dental records to confirm it. We’re also going to have the medical examiner get fingerprints if possible. If Redmond has a record—”

“He does. His wife reported him for abuse, and he was booked in New York three years ago,” Skylar broke in, but she sounded distracted, her skin pale beneath the sunburn.

“Then we shouldn’t have any trouble confirming his identity.”

“I’ve seen several photos of Redmond. I’d be happy to take a look at the victim. See if I can identify him.”

“He’s pretty beat up. The bullet went in through the back of the head and exploded on its way out the other side. Destroyed a good portion of his face. A visual identification isn’t going to do it.”

“The sheriff has my contact information. Can you give me a call when you know for sure?” Skylar persisted, and the deputy nodded.

“No problem. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.” He hurried away, and Skylar scowled.

“Well, that told us just about nothing.”

“It told us that Redmond is probably dead.”

“Which means he wasn’t out in the desert last night, he didn’t hire a posse to kill me. If he didn’t, who did?”

“The person who killed him?”

“It makes sense, but until we know what kind of trouble Redmond was involved in, there’s no way of knowing who that person might be.” She sighed, shoved a bundle of curls back behind her ear. “It’s times like this when I really wish I had my badge back.”

“You think they’d let you view the burial site if you did?”

“If I were investigating a criminal case against Redmond, they would. Of course, I doubt being back there would do me any good. Seeing him dead won’t tell me who murdered
him, but having my badge would force Smithson to share what he knows.”

“Maybe we can get the information another way. You’ve spoken with Redmond’s coworkers, right?”

“Until we were all just about sick of it. No one knew anything of importance.”

“News about the body is going to spread fast. Whether the remains belong to Redmond or not, people are going to assume he’s the one buried behind his house. Friends and coworkers might view the past differently in light of what they know about the present, and they might be willing to share their new insight.”

“You have a point. Let’s head over to the diner. See if we can—”

“Sorry to ruin your plans, Grady, but we’re not going anywhere but home.” He motioned for her to climb into the truck, rounded the vehicle and started the engine.

“Since when do you get the deciding vote on our plans?” she asked as he pulled away from the crime scene.

“Since I saw how pale you were.”

“I’m fine.”

“It’s getting dark, and we’re both running on empty. We need to get a few hours of sleep and come at the investigation fresh once we’re thinking more clearly.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“It’s been known to happen.”

She smiled, the expression sweet and sad all at the same time.

“What’s wrong?”

“You. You’re not like the other guys I know, and I’m finding it difficult to pretend you are.”

“Who says you have to?”

“What if I don’t? What then?”

“Then, we go with it, and we see where it takes us.” His
response came easily, quickly, and he knew it was right. Knew it was what Gabriella would want for him. Knew it was what he’d want for her if their situations were reversed. He couldn’t commit to a relationship—wasn’t sure if he could handle it, if he was prepared for the risks. But ignoring the connection both of them were feeling wasn’t doing any good. For now he wanted to see where it led them. Go with it and let himself feel, just a little, again.

“Now
you’re
upset.” Skylar’s fingers brushed his biceps, her touch light and tentative.

“No. I’m just thinking that I understand your fear. I know what it’s like to love and lose and even to be betrayed. I never want to hurt again like I hurt after my wife and son were murdered, but I wouldn’t give up the years I had with Gabriella to save myself the pain. Sometimes we have to be willing to risk everything to have something wonderful.”

“And sometimes we risk everything to have something we think is wonderful and realize it’s only a poor reflection of our dreams, a vague likeness of everything we hoped for. Not something we can touch or feel or hold on to. Then, we’ve risked it all for nothing.” She turned away, and he knew he should let it be. Let her be.

“The guy who hurt you? He was a fool, Skylar. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I was the bigger fool. I don’t want to be that again.”

“Sky—”

“Look, I’m so tired the world is spinning, and if I’m not careful, I’ll spin away with it. How about we finish this conversation another time?” She closed her eyes, and this time, he let silence fill the car.

There was nothing more he could say. After all, Skylar wasn’t the only one who was afraid to risk her heart. As much as she intrigued him, as much as he wanted to know
more about her, he couldn’t shake the fear that was just beneath the surface when he was with her.

What if he
did
risk it all?

And what if he lost it all again?

What if he failed the same way he’d failed before?

What then?

Would he look back and know that it had all been worth the pain? Or would he live the rest of his life regretting what he had lost?

He didn’t know, but he half believed he was ready to find out.

For now the investigation had to take priority.

Everything else would follow.

If
he could keep Skylar alive. Keep himself alive.

A tall order when a posse of men was hunting them.

A posse that meant business.

At least one man was already dead.

He and Skylar needed to find out why. It was the key to discovering everything else. With that in mind, Jonas pulled out his phone and dialed Kane’s number.

TWELVE

“G
rady?” The masculine voice drifted into Skylar’s dreams. She wanted to ignore it. Would have if the speaker hadn’t touched her shoulder, shaken her gently.

Once.

Twice.

The third time was too jarring to ignore, and she opened one eye, shot Jonas a look she hoped would send him running. “Go away.”

“Is that any way to talk to the guy who spent three days combing the desert, searching for you?”

“It is when he just woke me from a sound sleep. I don’t like people who wake me up.”

“You’d like me less if I left you sleeping in the car while Kane and I discussed the best way to get you out of danger.” He said, dangling a cell phone in front of her face, then pulling it back when she reached for it.

“She’s awake, Kane. I’m going to get her into the apartment before I put her on the phone. No sense tempting fate by sitting out in the car.” He grabbed her suitcase, tucked the phone into his pocket.

“I can walk and talk at the same time, you know,” Skylar grumbled as she tumbled out of the truck, barely managing to keep from falling.

“You’ve yet to prove it.” He laughed, wrapping an arm around her waist, hurrying her into the apartment and turning off the alarm.

“Okay. We’re safe and sound. Now hand me that phone. I’ve been waiting for a week to give Kane a piece of my mind. That’s a whole lot of pent-up angst.” She snatched the phone from his hand, pressed it to her ear. “You said this was going to be an easy assignment.”

“I should have known it wouldn’t be, since you agreed to take it.” Kane’s gruff response made her smile, and she settled onto the couch, tucked her knees up close to her chest and rested her head on them.

“Thanks for sending the cavalry.”

“Are you still giving him trouble?”

“Actually, he’s still giving me trouble.” She shot Jonas a look, lost her train of thought as he moved across the room, all lean, hard muscle and grace.

“Not a surprise. You’re two of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met. I’m shocked you haven’t killed each other yet.”

“I’ve been tempted, but I don’t want to waste the energy. There are more important things I need to expend it on.”

“So I hear. Looks like Redmond is dead.”

“Looks like it.”

“Which means your investigation is over.”

“Not until I find out who killed him, and who is trying to kill me.”

“That’s the job of the police, Skylar. Leave it to them.”

“You know I’m not going to do that, right?”

“Then investigate from New York. I already paid for a ticket. The flight is leaving in three hours. Jonas has agreed to drive you to the airport and wait with you until your plane takes off.”

“Traitor.” She mouthed the words and Jonas shrugged, pulling a soda from the fridge and popping the lid.

“You still there, Skylar?”

“Yes and I plan to be here three hours from now, too.”

“You’re getting on the plane. That’s an order.”

“One I’m not going to follow, boss.”

“You know I hate when you call me that.”

“Which is exactly why I do it.”

“Stop trying to change the subject.”

“I don’t see any need to continue it.”

“I may not like you calling me boss, but it’s what I am. I need you back in New York. There are cases piling up, and you’re the one I want to handle them.”

“I haven’t taken a vacation in two years. Consider this mine.”

“If I weren’t so relieved you were alive, I’d fire you for being insubordinate.”

“And if I didn’t know you had a dozen investigators who could take those cases, I would get on a plane and handle things for you.”

“A dozen investigators, but none of them are as good as you.” All the amused irritation in his voice was gone, and she could imagine him pacing his office, worry etching lines on his face. She’d met Kane the day his son had disappeared, had been the first officer to respond to the nanny’s frantic 9-1-1 call. A rookie cop, she’d been the one to reassure Kane, the one who’d told him how few children were abducted by strangers. They’d searched the neighborhood park together, and she’d seen his worry grow to panic as dusk settled over the city and his son was still not home. They’d formed a bond that day, one that had carried them through Kane’s years of anguished searching, through Skylar’s painful recovery, her breakup and, finally, into Kane’s new beginning. She loved him like a brother, and as much as she enjoyed sparring with him, she hated to see him worried.

“If you’re complimenting me, you must really be worried. You shouldn’t be. I have everything under control.”

“I have plenty to worry about. Jonas said there were at least ten men hunting you last night. Ten against one doesn’t seem fair. As a matter of fact, it seems like overkill.”

“I guess they wanted to make sure they got the job done.”

“Not they. Whoever is in charge. The same person who put the hit on Redmond. I’ve done a little research on the guy. He’s been in some trouble before. Got kicked out of his teaching position at the university for passing off a student’s research as his own.”

“He was accused of the same at another university, but they couldn’t prove it, and he walked.” She’d gotten the information from Redmond’s ex but hadn’t looked any further into the incident. There’d been no need before.

Now she was going to dig up every aspect of the man’s life. With Kane and the rest of the Information Unlimited team, it wouldn’t be difficult.