Guarding the Witness Read online

  “There’s a roof, running water, and even an indoor bathroom.”

  “Oh, that sounds luxurious. Is there a bed with a soft mattress?”

  “Yeah, plus a couch.”

  The smile that graced Arianna’s face lit her features with radiance. Her look appealed to Brody—way too much if he stopped to think about it. She was strictly a professional concern. Once she left Alaska after testifying, he could get back to his life—that was, if they made it to Anchorage alive.

  She reached out to him and grazed her fingertips down his jaw. “We’re gonna make it. We’ve got your friend’s help. Rainwater isn’t going to win.”

  The light touch of her hand on his face doubled his pulse rate. His throat thickened with emotions he never allowed on a job. He cared. She was cheering him up. Usually he was trying to do that with his witnesses, especially when the reality of their situation really sank in. All the waiting for the trial gave the witnesses time to think. To realize their lives would be radically different because they were doing the right thing.

  “We’re here. He doesn’t have any neighbors close by, but I’m still going to park around back in his garage. That’s what he calls it, at least. I call it a lean-to about to collapse.”

  Brody rose in the seat. “And you’re parking your Jeep in there?”

  “Out of sight is better than announcing to everyone where I am—just in case they run down people you know in the area to see if you’ve gotten in touch with them.”

  “Won’t anyone think it’s strange you’re gone from your home?” Arianna climbed from the Jeep after Charlie parked it in a shed that really did look like it would blow down in a strong wind.

  “Not my friends. They know I often just pick up and go somewhere. That’s what retirement is all about.”

  “Then I hope they ask your friends.”

  “Either way, we can’t stay for long. Tomorrow we’ll have to figure out a way to Anchorage,” Brody said as he limped toward Charlie’s friend’s place.

  “I might have a way to get you there. I have a friend who has a ranch. She raises cattle and horses. She’s been wanting me to help her take some horses down south. I’d told her I could do it at the end of the week. I’ll call her and see about tomorrow.” Charlie unlocked the door of the cabin. “This is the only way in and out, except the windows.”

  Stepping inside, Brody assessed the space, noting where the windows were and how easy they would be to access. “We have dinner in these bags. I think Arianna ordered half the menu, so there’ll be plenty for all of us. I hope you’re hungry.”

  Charlie’s laughter filled the large living room that flowed into the kitchen. “Are you kidding? You’ve seen me eat out. I’ve been known to finish a twenty-five ounce steak and want more.”

  Arianna dropped the backpack by the brown couch then took the two sacks from Brody. “I’ll go get this reheated. Dinner won’t be long.”

  “Good. I’ll call Willow and see about the horses for tomorrow.” Charlie started to pick up the phone on an end table.

  “Wait. Use my cell. It’s not traceable.”

  Charlie hiked an eyebrow. “You really are worried someone will find you.”

  “This is important. Three of Rainwater’s men found us at the safe cabin. If she doesn’t testify, he’ll be acquitted. She’s most of the state’s case against him.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been reading about the case. A nasty man. He may live in Anchorage, but he has his hand in a lot of things all over the state.”

  While Arianna strode to the kitchen and took the food out of the sacks, Charlie made the call to Willow. Most of the conversation took place on the other end. A faint flush brushed Charlie’s cheeks. He turned away from Brody to finish what he was saying to the woman. Interesting. Charlie had never been married before, but from what he’d seen, his friend was attracted to Willow.

  Charlie hung up and handed the cell back to Brody. “We’re good for tomorrow. I’ll go to the ranch and pick up the horses at seven, then come back here to get you two. At first Willow wanted to come with me. I discouraged her and reminded her about the fire west of here. She needs to be on her ranch if there’s a problem and they can’t contain it.”

  “She lives that close?”

  “No, but I had to think of something to keep her home. Willow is the most delicate woman I know. Fragile actually. She’s been sick until recently. Cancer. She’s finally getting her life back.”

  “You care about her?”

  Charlie’s mouth twisted into a look that wasn’t a frown but not a smile either. “Yeah, I guess I do. She’s planning a special dinner when I get back. I told her I might be in Anchorage for a few days after I deliver the horses. I figure you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

  “It won’t be easy getting to Anchorage. I don’t know who to trust, even in my own office.”

  Charlie stared at Arianna. “We’ll get her to the courthouse.”

  Brody hoped so. He wasn’t going to lose a witness, especially not Arianna. In spite of his best intentions, there was something about her that he liked—a lot.

  * * *

  Refreshed after a meal and a shower, Arianna stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, examining the cuts on her face. She looked like she’d gone through a battle. In one way she had. She was fighting for her life—and Brody’s.

  But there was hope. Charlie had a way to Anchorage that might not alert the wrong people. She had no choice. If she didn’t testify against Rainwater, she would never have a chance of surviving. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine a life in the Witness Protection Program. A new name. A new job. A new home. Since she left her childhood house, she never really had a place she could call home. Now she would. But what did she want to do with that life?

  When she opened her eyes and stared again at herself in the mirror, no answers came to mind. That scared her more than anything. The unknown.

  Then she remembered something her grandmother had told her when she was a child. When she was scared, fix her thoughts on the Lord. He was always there for her, rooting for her, supporting her so she really never was alone.

  She’d forgotten that these past four years while trying to control her life, needing no one. Now she needed others to keep her alive, but mostly she needed the Lord to give her the hope it would be all right.

  A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. “Yes?”

  “Are you okay?” Brody’s voice held the concern she’d come to cherish.

  “Yes.”

  “Charlie has some information on what’s going down at the cabin.”

  “Coming.” Arianna ran a brush through her hair, putting it up into a ponytail.

  When she entered the living room, Brody and Charlie stopped talking and looked at her. Brody’s warm perusal caused flutters in her stomach. She sat near him on the couch while Charlie settled across from them in a chair.

  “What have you discovered?” Arianna couldn’t stop thinking about how Brody had been there for her every step of the way. Yes, it was his job, but she might not be alive today if he didn’t do his job so well.

  “A sixth man was found dead near the cabin. I have a friend who worked the fire. He said the sixth person was not far from the body at the edge of the tree line.”

  “The other four bodies were in or right outside the cabin?”

  “Yes, the only way they’ll be able to ID any of the bodies is with dental records, according to my friend.”

  “So they aren’t sure who is dead, except they know they’re all male,” Brody said, tapping his hand against the arm of the couch. He looked at Arianna. “The U.S. Marshals Service doesn’t know if you’re dead somewhere else or if you fled by yourself. Right now they think I could be any one of the six men.”

  “But Rainwater’s m
en know I wasn’t killed, that I fled.”

  Brody kneaded his nape. “Probably, but we aren’t sure what they know. If they saw the cabin before it burned, yes they know. By the two fake state troopers who talked with the Franklins, we have to assume they know that you and a marshal are gone. That might give us an edge. They aren’t sure who you’re with.”

  “We know people are looking for us. That much is a definite.”

  “Yes, there’s a widespread manhunt out for Arianna Jackson, possibly with a male accompanying her.” Charlie pushed to his feet and walked into the kitchen. “Anyone want some coffee?”

  “No, I won’t get any sleep tonight.” Arianna shifted toward Brody. “I’ll take the first watch. You need to get some rest.”

  “You mean my two hours late last night wasn’t enough?” he said in dead seriousness.

  She smiled. “I know you’re a marshal with superpowers, but going without sleep isn’t one of them. Tomorrow will be a big day for us. We’ll either make it to Anchorage or...” She couldn’t quite say the alternative. Their lives were on the line but so was Charlie’s now.

  “I know, and my body is totally agreeing with you. Sleep is a priority.”

  “Yeah, that’s why I’m going to stand guard tonight. I got eight hours last night,” Charlie said as he folded his large bulk into the chair and took a sip of his coffee.

  “Tell you what, friend. Arianna will take the first two hours and I’ll take the last two. You can stand guard for the four hours between.”

  “Done. Now let’s talk about why you’re keeping this from your own people. Who do you think is the mole?”

  Brody’s forehead creased, his jaw tensed. “It could be any one of the marshals on the first team or my team. It could be someone higher up.”

  “Are you sure it was a marshal?”

  “Not one hundred percent, but how else can I explain the breach in our location? Our attackers had a map—they knew exactly where we were. It could have been Kevin because he would have had to radio in for Mark to open the door. Mark wouldn’t have opened it without that. But then it could have been Mark, and after they took out Kevin, he let them into the cabin.”

  Arianna saw the anger and sadness warring for dominance on Brody’s expression. “So you think it’s most likely the inside man was one of the two marshals on your team?” she asked.

  “It could still be someone from the first team. The word phrase we use if we’re being forced to call in is the same for the operation. Those three marshals knew that phrase so one of them could have told Rainwater’s men.”

  “What was the phrase?” Arianna knew the emotions Brody was struggling with. She’d dealt with the same ones with Dirk—was still dealing with them.

  “All clear. No bear sightings.” Brody’s scowl deepened. “Kevin and Mark are dead. If one of them was the mole, Rainwater was definitely leaving no one around to testify against him.”

  “Not a bad strategy for the man who is in jail because Thomas Perkins was selling him out.” All because of money and greed. Arianna squeezed her hands into tight fists, her fingernails digging into her palms.

  “I’ll do some checking and see what I can come up with. Find out if anyone has received some money lately,” Charlie said.

  “Follow the money trail?” Arianna rose, needing to work out her restless energy or she wouldn’t sleep when her time came.

  “Charlie here worked for the FBI because of his great computer skills. He discovered information most people couldn’t.”

  The retired FBI agent chuckled. “Yeah, one of the rare times I was in the field, I had to be rescued by this guy.” He tipped his head toward Brody. “In my years of experience I’ve uncovered a lot of wrongdoing by following the money.”

  “Are you a hacker?”

  Charlie burst out laughing. “I hate that word. I’m more of a persuader who entices a computer to give up its secrets. I hate secrets, and I’ll work until I can undercover them.”

  “Don’t you have to have a computer to do that?” Arianna scanned the room and didn’t see one.

  “Yep, and that’s why I want you to wake me up fifteen minutes earlier,” Charlie peered at Brody, “so I can go get my computer. I live south, about a five-minute walk. That’s how I got to know the guy who lives here. We’d keep running into each other while jogging. Willow is his sister.” He downed the last of his coffee. “Brody, I found a cot in the storeroom and set it up for you. I’ll take the bed since Arianna will wake me up before she needs it. Get a good night’s sleep.” Charlie strode toward the bedroom.

  “Are you sure you want to take the first watch? You’re the witness. You shouldn’t take any watch.”

  “My life is at stake here, and I need you two rested. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself and even guarding you two.” She balled a hand and set it on her hip. “Now go and get some sleep.”

  Brody rose in one fluid motion, a huge smile on his face, and closed the distance between them, stepping into her personal space. “You’re quite good at taking charge.”

  “That’s why I get paid big bucks to make decisions and assess situations.”

  “I had a recruiter for a big security firm who wanted me to come work for them. The pay was twice what I made, but I decided to stay with the U.S. Marshals Service. I had come off some big cases that had gone well. I almost called the man up after my time in L.A. when that witness was killed. But I didn’t want to leave the service on a black note.”

  “If anyone else had told me they lost a witness, I’d be worried but not with you. I’ve seen you on the job. So quit beating yourself up over it. Things happen that we can’t control. We think we have a situation handled and then everything blows up in our face.”

  The smile that curved his mouth also reached deep in his brown eyes. He inched closer and with another man she would have moved back. She didn’t feel the need to with Brody. She cared about him and didn’t want to see him wrestling with a problem that was taken out of his hands.

  His eyes softened. He cupped her face. “Most women I’ve dated don’t understand my job. You do.”

  “Not even Carla?” she asked, half in jest, half in seriousness.

  “You would think, but she didn’t. For her, doing her job was a means to a promotion. She made it very clear she wanted to move up in the ranks. Her witnesses were just cases to her, ones she barely tolerated. When she found out I had turned down a job that would have led to a promotion but taken me out of the field, she couldn’t understand. But then I couldn’t understand her attitude.”

  “I thought she was just mad because she was stuck in a cabin in the boonies because of me.”

  “She’s definitely a big city gal.” His hand slid around to her nape. “But I don’t want to waste my time talking about her.”

  “No, you need to sleep because tomorrow...” Her words faded into the sudden electrifying silence, his mouth inches from her.

  He didn’t come any closer, but he was still close enough that she could smell the coffee he’d drunk earlier, the fresh clean scent from the soap in the shower. He would never make the final move so she wrapped her arms around him and settled her lips over his. For only a second there was a hesitation in Brody, then he took over the kiss, deepening it. He brought her up against him, so near she wondered if he could feel the pounding of her heartbeat against her rib cage.

  The kiss she’d started ended all too soon when he leaned back slightly, his arms still locked around her. “We shouldn’t do this. Not a good idea.”

  “I know. Emotions should never interfere with the case.”

  He nodded, laying his forehead against hers. “But it felt right. I’ve never had someone who got me like you do.”

  Her throat jammed. She felt the same way, but there was no future for them, and she didn’t do casual, no
matter how much he tempted her. It was going to be hard enough for her to patch her life back together without a broken heart. She pulled away totally.

  “Go to bed. Please.” There was no strength behind her words, but she needed time to compose herself, shore up her determination not to lose her heart to him. There was no way she would ask him to give up his job for her—give up everything he knew for her. She had to and she knew how hard that was. But if he couldn’t join her, then that meant a relationship between them wouldn’t stand a chance.

  “Good night.” He crossed to the kitchen and disappeared inside, heading for the storeroom and his cot.

  Arianna sank onto the couch, her hands shaking. That trembling sensation spread throughout her body. If only they had met under different circumstances. When she scrubbed her fingertips down her face, the action reminded her of her sore and bruised skin. She pushed away all thoughts of Brody and of what was to come. After she checked her gun in her holster at her waist, she prowled the room, occasionally peeking outside from the various windows in the cabin. Nothing out of the ordinary.

  For the next hour she saw the same thing when she checked out the windows. Darkness began to settle over the landscape the closer midnight came. She played back through the bits of conversation she’d had with the members of the first team for any clue that one of them was the informer.

  She remembered Ted talking about his twin boys starting college in a month. Not one child but two. That was a tidy expense nowadays. Did he need extra money for his children’s tuition? Then there was Dan. He liked expensive vacations. He went on and on about how he and his wife loved to travel and the places they went. How did he pay for them? She had less of a sense of Carla’s tastes or expenses—almost as though she didn’t have a personal life. She did notice the woman’s possessions were expensive—from her shoes to her purse to her clothing. The men wouldn’t have realized the money it took to buy what Carla had, but she did. She’d worked for some wealthy clients who shopped and bought the same brands that Carla had with her.

  Arianna looked at her watch—ten minutes before she was to wake up Charlie—then started her last walk around the inside of the cabin. When she pushed two slats in the blinds facing the front of the place, her gaze latched on to the smoke and flames she saw in the sky.