Chapter 6
Nathan refrained from cursing aloud out of respect for Haley but the words spewed into his brain at a nearly frantic pace. His expression must have tipped her off though, since she asked what was wrong.
He held up a finger then finished up the conversation with Hank before disconnecting the call. Laying the phone down, he faced Haley and conveyed the information Hank had given him. When he got to Ephram, he wasn’t sure how to proceed. He’d had run-ins with the fellow ex-Seal before. Both of them had been on elite teams and had come away with skills that served them well in the security world, but also made them both dangerous men to know. The difference was that, while Nathan chose to live away from the stressors and temptations of the world, Ephram opted to dive in. Over the last few years, he’d gained a reputation of being willing and able to breach rules and laws to get the job done.
Which meant that the risk factor he and Haley face had risen tenfold.
He decided he needed to tell her something, at least warn her of the increased danger, so he told her of Ephram’s involvement.
“What does that mean for us?” she asked in a surprisingly calm voice.
“It means we’ll have to be even more careful than before. And that this cabin is probably on his surveillance list.”
She frowned. “So, we’ll need to leave the cabin?”
“Not yet.” But yeah, and soon, he thought and glanced toward Sam. The hound was relaxed and at ease in the building, but they definitely needed to bump up the sweeps of the grounds.
They spent the rest of the evening talking and reviewing the information. The next morning, Haley was at the computer, wishing she could find more information than was available. When the sat phone rang, she glanced up to find herself alone in the cabin. Glancing around, she stood and retrieved the phone before activating the call. “Hello.”
“Is this Haley?”
“Yes. I think Nathan is outside?—”
“That’s okay, I can talk to you.” The man’s voice held both humor and purpose and Haley realized this must be Hank Patterson.
“Mr. Patterson?” At his affirmation, she continued. “Thank you for helping me. I wasn’t sure what to do when I called Nikki and Dylan, I wasn’t sure anyone could help.”
“Dylan is a good man and Nikki seems to be a great woman. I’m glad you were able to reach out to them. How are you doing, by the way?”
“Okay,” Haley said and took a breath. “Is there any news about the shooting victim?”
“No. We’re scouring the news and internet sources we have and so far, there’s nothing but silence. There has been one thing that’s come up and that’s why I’m calling.”
The sound of the door opening brought Haley’s gaze to Nathan, who was followed closely by Sam. As the dog shook rain off his coat, Nathan paused in removing a ball cap when he saw Haley with his phone.
“Nathan just walked in, I’ll let you talk to him.” She extended the phone toward Nathan only to hear Hank say, “No, you both need to hear this. Put me on speaker.”
Nathan accepted the phone and punched a button then placed the handset on the table. “Go ahead, Hank.”
“There’s been some reports from the police that some accounting software was found on Haley’s home computer. Accounts from the office.”
Haley frowned then shook her head. “I don’t have a set of accounts on my home computer. Well, other than my own home accounts.” Like any good accountant, she maintained her household accounts with the aid of a simple software program, unlike the extensive one they used in the office. “I don’t bring work home.”
“The report stated that the police executed a search of your apartment last night and found the software. They took the computer as well as some paper records.” There was a pause then Hank continued, “You’re sure you never took any work home, nor a laptop?”
She shook her head at the same time she said no. “I don’t have a laptop. I own an old desk PC that I keep updating. I have a tablet that I use for personal stuff like social media and movies, but I’ve never owned a laptop.”
“Not even in college?” Nathan said.
She shook her head again. “My folks bought the PC and I just kept getting it upgraded. I bought a new main drive last year.” Her habit for saving money and making do had started early in her life and carried through even now.
“Okay, we’re getting off topic,” Hank said brusquely and continued. “I’ve got a couple of guys I know in Asheville looking into the situation. We can’t get into your house to check it out for evidence of entry, since the police have it under surveillance, so we’re going a different way.”
“Surveillance?” Haley said, her stomach churning.
“Yeah. They’ve been watching it since they’ve been looking for you for questioning.”
“What’s the plan, Hank?” Nathan said quietly and Haley looked at him. Was he regretting helping her? Did he think she was involved? She hated the thought of anyone thinking she was dishonest but somehow this man, someone who’d put his life on hold for her, thinking she was a criminal was hurtful beyond measure.
“We keep you guys out of the line of fire, so to speak. You okay in the cabin?”
“Yeah. We need some provisions, but other than that we’re okay.” Nathan cast a look at Haley then continued. “Haley would like to do some more research but that’s in town.”
“And that isn’t advisable,” Hank inserted, and Nathan nodded. “Right. We’ve talked about it. Have you heard any more about Ephram?”
“No. I just know he flew into town yesterday morning and disappeared into the mountains. Watch your six.”
“Right.” Nathan glanced at Haley. “You need anything else? Clothes? Books?”
She started to shake her head then reconsidered. “I would like a change of clothes. And I promised to keep in touch with Nikki and Dylan.”
Hank assured her they’d supply whatever she needed and contact Nikki and Dylan to update them and she wondered how she’d ever repay either of these men for helping her. Finally, after Nathan detailed some supplies they’d need, they disconnected the call and he turned to her.
“You okay?”
She shrugged. “I guess. I’ve never been accused of stealing money or cooking the books before.” She surprised herself by barking out a laugh. “Never thought I’d say that.”
He walked past her and retrieved one of the old towels and started wiping rain from his clothes and Haley noticed for the first time the damp shoulders of his T shirt. “Are you okay? It must be pretty chilly. We could start a fire?—”
“No fire. And I’ll be fine. I can change into another shirt.” He shrugged. I’ve been wetter and colder.” He dropped onto the couch and gestured for her to sit. “Let’s talk.”
She perched on the edge of the sofa, nearer the empty fire grate, wishing for the heat of a roaring fire. “About?”
“You. Tell me about your job. Your life.”
“I’ve worked at Winters and Madden in the Asheville office for five years. I started as a general accountant and after a couple of years, I got promoted to the position I have now.”
“Which is?”
“My regular duties and in charge of special projects. I oversee the accounts for developments that are higher-end. The houses usually start at one million and go up from there.”
He nodded, not at all impressed at the price tag she quoted. “And you’ve had full access to the accounts for the projects?”
“I review each account regularly. I’ve caught a few small mistakes, like expenditures being put in a wrong category or pulled from an account it shouldn’t have. But nothing extraordinary. And nothing that would send up red flags.”
“What do you think of Winters?”
She leaned back against the cushions, trying to get comfortable. “I don’t really know him. I attend meetings about the projects, of course, but other than reviewing the current budgets, answering questions and compiling reports for him, I haven’t had a lot of personal communication with him.”
“But you have an impression of him. Everyone gives an impression.” Nathan pressed and Haley sighed. “I didn’t like him. I’m not sure why but he didn’t seem to have much personality.”
She waited for Nathan to speak and when he didn’t, she realized he was waiting for her to continue. “He doesn’t involve himself in the office. I mean asking about your weekend or someone’s kids. He does send money for graduations and births, or rather his secretary does. But he just never seems to care about the people he works with or those who work for him.”
“And that’s important to you?”
She thought for a moment then shrugged. “It’s the natural result of spending a third or more of your day with people. You get to know your coworkers, get to care about them. Didn’t you?”
His expression closed then and she knew she’d hit a nerve. When he didn’t answer she decided she’d pay him for his silence and waited. Instead of talking about his own life, he asked another question, this time about her personal life. “You have close friends in Asheville?”
She nodded. “Friends at church, my study group. I’ve got a couple of friends from work. We go shopping together occasionally, out to dinner.”
“Boyfriend?”
She sucked in a breath then shook her head. “Not for a while. Why is that important?”
“Because I need to know who might know about this cabin, your habits.”
She thought about her church friends, her work friends, the few men she’d dated in the past year or so. Had she told them about the cabin? Maybe.
“I honestly don’t remember if I mentioned the cabin or not. Maybe I did in passing, but it’s not a part of my regular life.”
“So, you haven’t come up here for a weekend with your shopping friends? Come up for a retreat with your study group?”
She shook her head. “No. I prefer hotels to cabins.”
He laughed then sobered. “You’ve done well, as a hotel girl.”
She smiled slightly. “I’m adaptable, to a point. Don’t ask me to sleep in a tent.”
“No promises,” he said. “Tell me about your home computer. It sounds like it’s an old PC?”
She detailed the history of the ancient computer and its upgrades. When he expressed surprise she hadn’t bought a sleek laptop she countered with, “Why should I? I have the small tablet for reading and entertainment. I have, or had my phone, which was only three years old. The computer was for household budgeting and searching online when I made a purchase or something that required secure internet. I didn’t need anything more.”
He studied her. “That usually doesn’t matter. People like the newest and biggest thing.”
“I’m not people,” she said.
“So, what do you spend your money on?”
“Traveling,” she said wistfully. “I travel every other year.”
“Where? And why every other year?”
She smiled. “Every other year so I can afford it. I’ve been to Croatia, Hungary, Ethiopia, and Turkey, so far.”
He frowned, “That’s an interesting mix. Let me guess, humanitarian trips?”
She nodded and then continued. “I was supposed to go to Belize this year. My plans may have to change, though.”
“Why?”
She huffed a dry laugh. “If I’m accused of fraud, I’ll be spending any monies I’ve saved for a lawyer, right?”
He waved a hand. “We’ll take care of that. What’s in Belize?”
“A children’s sports camp. And a food ministry.”
“When you said you traveled, I figured cruises, resorts, that sort of thing.”
“Those are all great things and something I might want to do later. But, with the limited amount of vacation time and money that I have, I’m doing this first.”
He narrowed his gaze at her. “You’re big on religion, huh.”
She smiled. “No. I’m big on faith and my relationship with Christ.”
He shifted as if uncomfortable and changed the subject. Haley suppressed a sigh. She was used to that.
“What do you do for fun?”
“I run, play softball on a church team, shop.” She smiled. “And I enjoy weekend trips to the beach when I can fit it in.”
“No missions on the beach?”
She shook her head. “Lying on the beach, overeating and shopping. If the occasion offers itself, I’ll share my faith but no outward missions, no.” She studied him. “Are you making fun of me?”
He straightened. “No, not really. Maybe I’m jealous of your faith.”
“Nothing to be jealous of. You can have it too.”
He shook his head. “No, I can’t. Not with my past.” Before she could answer him, he stood and dusted his pants off as if brushing the conversation away. “Let’s get ready to go down the mountain.”
“What? I thought we were staying here.”
“We’re going down for the supplies.”
“Oh. I thought you’d go down by yourself.” She was oddly reluctant to travel down the mountain. The cabin, once so foreign and useless to her now seemed a haven.
“Where I go, you go and vice versa. With Ephram on the job, we’re a pair.”
She watched as he went through a backpack, seeming to tally and organize everything in it before shouldering it. As she followed him from the cabin she asked, “Are you going to tell me about Ephram?”
He opened the truck door for her and then went around to the driver’s side. Once in and buckled in, with Sampson in the back seat, he started the engine then glanced at her before pulling onto the dirt road. “He’s like me, only working for the other side.”
She waited for him to continue and when he didn’t, let out an exasperated sigh. “That doesn’t tell me anything. I don’t know anything about you, either.”
He looked surprised then laughed harshly. “That you don’t. Well, I was a SEAL in the Navy. So was Ephram. I was in the service for ten years. Ephram was in for eight, I think. We both have a lot of missions under our belts and a lot of baggage. And a lot of skills that we use on the job.”
“Such as?” Maybe she didn’t want a list of the skills, she thought as she eyed his sharp profile. Dark and chiseled, he looked both a hero and a villain, depending on the light. And in the weary light of the rainy afternoon, he looked a bit of both right now.
“Munitions, weapons, tracking, among other things.” He glanced at her before returning his gaze to the winding road. “We’re both very good at our jobs.”
“Which means that he might be able to find me,” she said in a flat tone.
“Which means he will find us. We just need to be ready when he does.”
They were silent as they drove the rest of the way to the meeting spot. Nathan didn’t turn onto the gravel road at the end of the dirt lane, but turned left and went up the mountain toward the summit. When Haley mentioned it, he said, “We’re going a different way.”
“I didn’t know there was a different way.”
“It’s not used a lot.” He said with a grin. She figured out the origin of the grin a few minutes later with the big truck turned onto a rutted path that could not be called a road by any dictionary. The two ruts that the truck’s tires fit into seemed like gulleys and Haley waited for the grind of dirt or rock against the undercarriage as they bounced and tilted down the mountain. She found herself leaning away and dodging branches as they brushed against the window and wondered how Nathan was managing to keep the vehicle from toppling over when the truck hit a particularly uneven rut. By the time they turned back onto a regular dirt road, her hands were aching from clutching the seat and her throat tight from holding back squeals of fright.
“What was that?”
“The back way,” Nathan said as he changed gears. They were still going down the mountain. Other than that, she was lost.
She held on and focused on keeping both her breath and her stomach even as they headed downward, hugging the mountain side and at times brushing against foliage. She’d wondered at the rugged look of the truck when she’d met Nathan that night. Now it made sense. If he spent his time doing this, he needed more than a truck. He needed a goat.
Her spurt of laughter brought his quick gaze to her before he rounded another tight curve. “What?”
“I’ve come up with a name for your truck.”
“Yeah?”
“Billy.” She said and laughed again. He shook his head at her, wondering if the stress of the past couple of days had gotten to her. He noticed her looking at him with a grin and gave in to his curiosity. “Why Billy?”
“Because you’re treating it like a goat, climbing the mountain side the way we are.”
He smiled. She might not be a country girl, but she sure was adapting well.
They got to the meeting point with a few minutes to spare. Nathan cautioned her to stay in the truck and then opened the door and let Sampson out to do his thing. The dog immediately went to a tree, marked it and then started sniffing. After a minute or two Nathan realized the dog was focused on one area and he followed him.
Near the foot of a tree about fifty yards off the road, a small gray cylinder lay on the ground and Nathan knelt and examined it. Someone had policed the area but left the ash residue. He looked for prints, found none, but then found a spot where a weed was slightly bent. To a casual observer, nothing would seem disturbed but to the man and dog team, it was a clear sign that the area had been occupied. By a hiker? Camper?
Not a camper. There wasn’t enough disturbance for a hunter or camper to have been present. And anyone who was hiking would usually stick to a designated trail, not the middle of a national forest with no landmarks or places of interest like waterfalls or rock walls to climb. No, Nathan’s gut told him this was evidence of someone on the run or someone looking for something.
A scream jerked him upright and he took off after Sampson, who darted in the direction of the truck and Haley.
He heard Sampson’s growls first and pushed himself harder, lengthening his stride. As he broke through the tree line, he saw a uniformed man at the opened passenger door, a gun in one hand and his other locked around Haley’s arm. She in turn was half in the truck, her feet kicking at the guy. She had one hand locked on the grab bar, holding on against the man’s pull.