Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
The next morning, Maren attended an early church service with Colt and his parents, wearing the same sundress she’d worn the previous day. As she climbed back into the truck after the service, she told Dottie, “Thank you for inviting me today.”
Colt sat beside her while his father and mother sat in the front seats.
Dottie twisted in her seat with a beaming smile. “I’m so glad you both decided to stay the night and come with us this morning. After the nastiness of the intruder, we all needed some inspiration today.” Her gaze bounced between Maren and Colt before she turned around in her seat.
Maren didn’t respond but glanced at Colt.
So far, she’d managed to avoid talking about the ramifications of the kiss. But eventually, they would need to address it. Only they had bigger concerns at the moment. Namely last night’s intruder.
She had called Emmett first thing this morning before leaving the house and let him know the ranch had been compromised.
She wasn’t sure being so far from the task force was in the best interest of either investigation, and she needed to get back to Denver.
Still, she was glad they’d set Joe and Dottie at ease by staying with them—last night had shaken them all up.
As much as she cared for the older couple, her mind was doing mental gymnastics trying to figure out the perfect way to make sure everyone got what they needed.
The task force, the Dawson family, her sister, and Mia.
Not to mention Colt. Suddenly overwhelmed, she sank deeper into the truck’s leather seat.
If only the decisions could be easy… But she’d learned the hard way that life was rarely easy or fair. She sent up a silent plea to God for His strength and guidance.
Colt’s phone rang. He glanced at the number. “Agent Spares.”
Maren hoped the forensic team had found something in the burned-out van after all.
When they reached the Dawson home, Joe and Dottie climbed out, but Maren and Colt remained in the truck as Colt answered. “Agent Spares, what can I do for you?”
“Hey, so your informant,” he said, his voice low and raspy, “he says he remembered something that he’ll only tell the lady cop. I assume you know who he’s referring to.”
Surprise washed through Maren. She met Colt’s gaze and saw the same curiosity in his green eyes.
“Yes, I do,” he said cautiously. “But why can’t he just tell you?”
“I don’t know. He’s your CI,” Spares snapped. “Can you bring the cop here?”
“To the safe house?”
Excitement and anticipation flaring through her, Maren nodded vigorously to encourage Colt to say yes.
“I’ll see if I can find her. You’ll need to text me the address. And then we’ll have to arrange for a new location for Steve.”
“Yeah, we can do that,” Spares said. “I’ll send the info. Just park at the curb and come to the front door.” Spares hung up.
“What do you think Steve remembered? And why will he only tell me?” Maren’s breath hitched. “It has to be something about Opal. Maybe he thought of where she might hide.”
She opened her door. Thankfully, she’d brought a change of clothes consisting of a COK9 Unit shirt, dark pants and tennis shoes in case they were called to one of the cases they were working.
She didn’t think arriving in a dress would be appropriate.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t brought a Kevlar vest with her.
She prayed it wouldn’t be needed. “I’ll grab Haven, change clothes, and meet you at the SUV after you change and get Rusk. ”
* * *
Colt pulled to the curb outside of the nondescript house located in Boulder, Colorado.
There were no signs of life outside the house or through the curtained windows. But Colt checked the address again, verifying this was the safe house address that Agent Henry Spares had given him.
Uneasiness had been dogging him every mile he and Maren had traveled closer to where Steve Loren was being held in protective custody.
He glanced at Maren in the passenger seat. Her honey brown hair was pulled back. Like yesterday, she’d applied a little gloss on her lips before church. But she didn’t need any enhancements. She was beautiful inside and out.
The more he came to know her, the more he respected and admired her. And he worried for her safety. He couldn’t bear the thought of her coming to harm. Was he falling for her? That kiss last night had rocked his world.
There was no denying he found her physically attractive. He also found her to be a woman of substance, integrity and compassion. A woman worth taking a risk on.
But how did he trust his judgment? When he’d started a relationship with Rebecca, he would’ve never guessed she was hiding such a devious side. He didn’t believe that Maren had a deceptive side. But only God knew what lurked in the hearts of people.
He felt Maren’s stare and glanced at her. Sure enough, she was looking at him as if she knew he was thinking about her. “I don’t like this. Why would Steve need to speak with you?”
“The guy’s a drug addict. Why does he do anything?
” She popped open her door and stepped out.
She’d changed into a pair of black, lightweight cargo pants and a COK9 Unit T-shirt.
She looked lethal, all business and yet undeniably appealing.
Like she had last night. He wasn’t sure if he’d initiated that kiss or she had, but when she’d slid her arms around him, he’d thrown caution to the wind and fully embraced the moment.
Every barricade he’d ever erected around himself had crashed to the ground, leaving his heart exposed.
Yet, he didn’t feel vulnerable. Instead, he felt invigorated.
As if he’d had a reawakening. For too long, his heart had been dark.
Rebecca’s betrayal had left him cold and afraid. But now…
He wasn’t sure what to think. Or feel.
There were too many variables and too much at stake for him to delve into the emotions stirred by Maren.
He hoped she didn’t have any regrets. The best thing would be to stay professional and get the job done. He reached for the door handle and got out.
“If whatever he has to say will lead me to my sister and you to Shadow, then we have to go,” she said, rounding the vehicle.
They had been rehashing the same argument for the last two hours. Trying to view this from every angle. Why hadn’t Steve just told Agent Spares what he wanted Maren to know? Why bring her all the way here? Was Steve working for Shadow? Was this a trap?
A steely resolve settled in his gut. “Be ready for anything.”
“Always.” She unclipped the safety strap on her holster at her hip. “Let’s get the dogs.”
Once they had the two K-9s leashed and in their vests, announcing they were working dogs, they headed to the front door.
“Why didn’t he have us come from the back? He said we should park at the curb and come to the front door.”
“I don’t know. Maybe because you said Steve would need to be moved,” Maren said.
On the threshold and about to knock, he felt a trickle of unease travel through him and he dropped his hand. He grabbed Maren’s arm and pulled her away from the door. She tugged Haven to her side.
“We should call the task force,” he said. “I don’t like this. Emmett said whatever backup we needed, he would provide.”
“But that will take time.” Determination marched across her features. “We’ve stalled long enough. We need to know what your CI has to say.”
She walked up to the door and gave a loud rap of her knuckles. Haven sniffed the door and sat, her ears pricked forward. Rusk stayed beside Colt but tension quivered in his body.
Seconds later the door swung open and Agent Daniel Russell stood there.
He was without his jacket, revealing his shoulder holster and his hand on the grip.
His white button-down shirt was open at the collar, revealing a gold chain and a smattering of dark hair curling over his body armor.
The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up.
This was the first time Colt had seen the agent ever appear a bit disheveled. He was usually completely buttoned up and by the book. But Colt supposed being in a safe house with a druggie for any extended time could test anyone’s patience.
“Come in. Quick,” Daniel said. He quickly closed the door behind them. “We don’t need to advertise our presence to the whole neighborhood. What are you doing here?”
The unease he’d felt on the way here turned to dread. “Where’s Agent Spares? He called and said Steve had something to tell us.”
Daniel frowned. “What? Why would he call you?”
“Where’s Steve?” Maren asked as she walked farther into the living room.
“He’s in the last bedroom with Agent Spares.” Daniel gestured down the hall to several closed bedroom doors. “I’ll bring them out.”
Daniel stomped down the hallway, leaving Maren and Colt standing alone. A bad feeling invaded Colt’s chest. Why were the two agents not in sync?
Colt remained in the entryway while Maren stood in the middle of the living room, facing away from the front window. The light-colored curtains were closed but still allowed a good deal of light to enter the house.
A red dot appeared on Maren’s back. Just as Haven and Rusk both let out loud, vicious barks.
Lunging for Maren, Colt wrapped his arms around her and took her to the floor seconds before the bullet from a sniper rifle broke through the front glass window and embedded itself in the hardwood next to them.
“Kitchen,” he yelled to Maren, allowing her to scramble away from him.
Grabbing both dogs by the collar and pulling them behind the kitchen counter, they hunkered down while more bullets pelted the house.
As they drew their weapons, Colt said, “We need backup.”
Maren had her phone out and was already dialing the Boulder PD. “Officer in trouble. Shots fired. Need backup.” She rattled off the address.
Gunfire from the back of the house echoed as several more rounds of bullets came through the window, pinning them down.
A man staggered out of the hallway, clutching his shoulder where blood seeped through his fingers.
Colt recognized Agent Henry Spares. The man tilted and fell to the ground.
Colt’s stomach dropped. Where were Daniel and Steve?
Moving quickly, he grabbed Spares by the ankles and dragged him to safety behind the counter. Within moments, the sound of sirens split the air. A welcome relief to the barrage of gunfire happening both at the back of the house and in the living room.
Within moments, the gunfire went silent.
Daniel stormed down the hall.
“You were followed!” His bellowed accusation bounced off the walls.
“Could be somebody was watching the house,” Colt countered. “We should have parked down the street and come through the back.”
“Then why didn’t you?” Daniel demanded.
Colt looked at the unconscious Agent Spares. “He told me to come through the front.”
Daniel made a face. “No, he didn’t. You must have mistaken what he said, because telling you to come in the front would be irresponsible and ridiculous. He better not die because of you.” He pointed a finger at Colt.
Maren stood, keeping a wary eye on the window. “Where’s Steve?”
“He took a bullet to the head.” Daniel grabbed his phone. “I’m calling this in. There will be a price to pay.”
Disbelief coursed through Colt. He needed to see for himself that Steve was dead. He hurried down the hall with Maren and the dogs on his heels. He heard Daniel’s voice loud and clear inside the room.
“This is Agent Daniel Russell.” He gave the safe house’s address. “I need an ambulance here pronto. And put me in touch with Special Agent in Charge Leo Herman.”
In the back bedroom, Steve Loren lay on the floor, a single gunshot to the head. The window was shattered, indicating the shots had come from outside. But something about this whole situation didn’t sit well.
What had Steve wanted to tell Maren? Or was this all a ploy to get her here so Shadow could kill her and Steve? Was Agent Henry Spares involved in the deception?