Chapter 22
Matt
Ididn’t see Paul, but I’d sure as hell check if he was on duty today.
“I should warn you, I plan on telling Jay and asking him to check Paul’s schedule.”
Madi sighed. “Thank you for the heads-up.”
“I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
Madi’s head hung in defeat as she walked inside.
I hated doing this to her, but her safety came first.
Felt like we were being watched during Madi’s lunch. Can you check on Paul’s whereabouts?
Jay’s text was instant.
On it. Where were you?
Walking near the clinic.
Thanks. Keep your eyes up.
A woman walking her dog smiled and waved.
A man jogged down the sidewalk, his focus never shifted from the ground in front of his feet.
Jay confirmed Paul was on shift. He also told me Paul co-signed a lease in Weatherford but hadn’t moved yet.
Two girls played hopscotch on the sidewalk just down the block.
Patients came and went.
I was on high alert, but no one stood out.
Just because Paul’s on duty doesn’t mean he wasn’t here. Firemen often left the station to run errands and such. He would’ve been in uniform, which meant he’d stand out.
The next day was more of the same. Madi had lunch with Carol, as she insisted I call her when I wasn’t in her exam room, and Alice.
As I stood sentry on the porch, I examined every house on the street. By the end of the day, I’d memorized every fence, tree, and shrub.
I’d catalogued a dozen places someone could hide.
Doug came by just before the clinic closed to double-check his measurements.
While Madi and Carol escorted him around the clinic, I kept myself company by playing memory games with the houses on the block.
I’d look at one house and visualize every detail I could remember of the house two doors to the west. Then I’d look at a different house and start all over.
The door behind me opened. “Thank you. I’ll install the system on Sunday. Jamie and Jay volunteered to help.”
“Should one of us be here?” Carol asked.
“Only to let us in; you won’t have to stay.”
“I’ll let them in,” Madi volunteered. “I can catch up on paperwork.”
“Looks like I’ll be here, too.” I added. Her brothers would be here, but they’d be busy helping Doug.
“What time?” Madi asked.
“I need three or four hours,” Doug replied. “How about eight?”
“AM?” Madi asked, making Doug and me chuckle. “How about ten and I’ll buy you lunch.”
“Ten it is.” Doug shook hands with Carol and Madi. At six-foot-four-inches, he towered over Carol. He even made me feel short, and I was six-two. With his height and bright red hair, Doug wasn’t a guy who easily blended in.
We said our goodbyes, and I followed Madi to Jack’s.
It was a perfectly mundane day. The best one can hope for when providing personal protection.
“There was a dumpster fire last night.” Jay said as he leaned against the clinic porch railing Thursday morning.
Like me, Jay casually scanned the streets while we talked. To an outsider, we’d look relaxed, but we could spring into immediate action if needed.
“Anything suspicious?” I asked, knowing he wouldn’t have told me in person unless there was.
“Fire chief suspects arson.”
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. There were a lot of fires happening in Weatherford.
“It couldn’t have anything to do with Madi; she was home.” I wasn’t ready to cry coincidence yet, but maybe…
“I know. I checked with Jack. Luckily, the fire never spread from the dumpster.”
Impatience made me rude. “Spill it, Sheppard.”
He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
“Where’d you take Madi the other night?”
“The Chophouse. Why?” I asked, despite suspecting the answer.
“I was afraid you’d say that.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s where the fire was.”
“Fuck.” That tied Madi to the third fire and killed any hope they might be random.
It also meant someone followed us. I didn’t sense anything.
“I didn’t get the sense we were being watched at the restaurant.”
“Losing your edge?” he asked. “Or maybe you were too preoccupied with wanting to fuck my sister to notice.”
I growled. “Do not talk about her like that.”
Jay laughed. He fucking laughed in my face before saying, “I was talking about you, but noted.” He gave me the grin he shared with his father and brothers. “I’ll check Paul’s schedule, but we need to broaden our scope.”
Like Jay, I transitioned back to work mode.
“Agreed. How’s Jack taking it?”
If Madi were the target, Jack’s family could be in danger.
“He asked Doug to adjust his system. If anyone moves within six feet of the house exterior, he’ll get an alert.”
It’d be annoying, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
“Anything else I can do?” I was already with Madi anytime she wasn’t home.
“How would you feel about setting a trap?”
“What kind of trap?” My stomach sank.
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this…” Jay rubbed the back of his neck again. “Can you take Madi out again?”
Excitement coursed through my veins at the idea of another date with Madi.
My body didn’t care that setting a trap was a bad idea. Horrible. Terrible.
“You’re willing to use your sister as bait?”
“She won’t be alone.”
“Damn straight, but there’s only so much I can do against arson.” I’d give my life, but it might not be enough.
I made a mental note to research the mindset and patterns of arsonists.
“Let me clarify. The two of you won’t be alone. Cate and I will be enjoying dinner at a nearby table, and I’ll stage Nathan and AJ outside, watching the perimeter.”
“Let me ask Madi how she feels about another date.” The last one hadn’t ended well, and she made it clear she didn’t want to play along anymore. Jay doesn’t need to know that.
“Fake date.” Jay reminded me. “Will you tell her the plan?”
“What the fuck kind of question is that?” I told Madi I wouldn’t lie to her, and I planned on keeping my promise.
“She could blow the op if she seems nervous.”
“I won’t lie to her. Besides, Madi’s tougher than she looks. She’ll be fine.”
Jay narrowed his eyes, looked me up and down, then glared as he stared straight into my soul. I held his stare, hoping he couldn’t see too much.
“Okay, I’ll trust your judgment on this.”
I hadn’t expected him to give in so quickly.
He straightened to his full height and cracked his back. “Let me know what she says, and we’ll plan from there.”
“Will do.”
Inside, I asked Alice to pencil in lunch for Madi and me. Then I offered to buy her lunch.
“No, thank you, darling.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.” I used the facilities and went back to my perch on the porch.
A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with a text from Madi.
We have a lunch date?
Sort of. I need to talk to you, and we need privacy.
Should I be worried?
No, I’ve got your back.
Matt?
I swear I could read her ‘don’t play games with me’ tone in the text.
I’ll tell you everything at lunch.
Fine.
This time I could see her huffing and crossing her arms.
What does it mean that I can?
I was an observant guy—it was the difference between life and death in both my military and civilian careers—but this felt different.
I didn’t watch Madi because I had to.
I want to.
I wanted to recognize every tell she didn’t realize she had.
I wanted to learn every nuance of her different smiles and tones.
I wanted to hear all her hopes and dreams.
I didn’t want to catch feeling for Madi Sheppard, but I had a feeling it was too late.
Maybe it always had been.
It didn’t matter. I couldn’t act on them because breaking Madi’s heart when I failed her, like I did my sister, was something I wouldn’t risk doing.