Rachel Lee - Conard County Spy

Still rocking the sleeping baby gently, she continued. “He can’t stay here. Period.”

“Right,” Ryker agreed.

“But he can stay at my place. All we need is a cover story. So, Trace, you’re an old college friend of mine, you got hurt in a skiing accident, and you’re visiting me for a few weeks. You can use my spare bedroom.”

That was the instant when he came dangerously near an eruption. All that kept him from giving in to the sudden blast of anger was the sleeping baby. Keeping his voice low and level, he said, “I will not put you in that kind of danger.”

“You’re the one in danger,” she answered. “And if you were so all-fired worried about the rest of us, why didn’t you just keep moving?”

“Now, wait...” Ryker began.

He shut up when Trace interrupted, “I tried to. When I arrived here, I had no reasonable belief I might have someone after me. Now that I know, of course I’m worrying about everyone else. But Ryker and your friend the sheriff pinned me here, at least temporarily.”

Julie glanced at Ryker. “Really? This is a story I want to hear someday, but first we have to get Trace out of this house. As soon as the baby wakes, I’m going to the store for what I need. Ryker, you bring Trace over to my place in the wee hours when all sane people will be asleep. He’s going to be my old flame until you two figure out something that works better. And that’s my final word. I don’t want him within a mile of Marisa and this baby.”

Jonni woke abruptly, and her crying resumed. Ryker took her immediately, rocking her and talking to her. Trace was amazed. Never in all the time he’d known Ryker had he thought such soft, soothing sounds could issue from that man’s throat.

“I’m off,” said Julie. “Bring Trace around three a.m.”

Ryker nodded. “Thanks, Julie. See you then.” He headed toward the back of the house with the unhappy baby.

But Trace couldn’t leave it alone. He stood and faced Julie. “You don’t want to get involved in this, Julie. I’m not kidding about the danger. You could get killed.”

She looked at him, her smile completely fading. “Some things are worth risking your life for, Trace.”

“Not me. Least of all me.”

She frowned. “Is that how you feel? God, that’s screwed up. See you at three.”

He stood without another word to say as she donned her jacket and left. His arm reminded him he was still very much alive, but he wasn’t sure that was a good thing. Why should Julie think so?

He had no answers. All he knew was that the people who should have been protecting him had thrown him to the wolves, and a man who could have justifiably kicked him to the curb to protect his family had decided to stand with him.

But the biggest mystery of all was Julie Ardlow. Something in her gaze had told him she didn’t think this was a lark, that she grasped how dangerous it might be.

Why should she do this for a stranger?

* * *

Just before 3:00 a.m. Ryker pushed his car out of the driveway and onto the street. Helping as much as he could, Trace sat in the passenger seat at an angle with one foot over the brake and steered the car as Ryker pushed it down the street a few hundred yards. When it rolled to a stop, Trace manipulated the lever into the park position. Then Ryker climbed in beside him, started the car and headed away.

“Fiona?” Trace asked, remembering the nosy neighbor. That would explain pushing the car this far before starting it.

“I suppose there are all sorts of valid excuses I could use, having a sick daughter and all, to explain what I’m doing at this hour, but actually I’d rather not explain squat. Less explaining is better, as I’m sure you know.”

“Absolutely. Anyway, I’m more concerned about Julie. That woman has the instincts of a field operative.” Just enough of them to create additional problems, anyway. Worse, with every step he seemed to be drawing a new person into his hell.

Ryker snorted. “Thinking about recruiting her?”

“After this? Never. Just commenting. She sure took charge and her ideas were good. But she’s unstoppable.”

“Pretty much,” Ryker agreed. “I thought Gage was exaggerating when he said she wouldn’t take no for an answer. I was almost positive that when she learned this was dangerous, she’d back off.”

“I didn’t get the impression she’s deluded.”

“How could she be?” Ryker asked. “She knows Johnny Hayes died on the job. She’s hardly likely to dismiss what we told her.” He turned a corner and soon a moderately sized building appeared. “I’m going to drop you on the street, assuming you can manage that duffel.”

“I can manage. I don’t want to draw attention to the woman. Which unit is hers?”

“Apartment fourteen, ground floor, this end of the building. I don’t think she has any immediate neighbors right now.”

“Good.” Trace paused. “You know I’m getting out of here as soon as I can.”

“I get it. But first we need to figure out what you’re up against. Know your enemy, and all that. In the meantime, you can’t just keep moving without knowing what’s after you. So let’s not argue this all over again.”

Trace reflected for a few moments as the car slowed. “The thing is, I can’t stop wanting to clear out. You know why. So at least give me the space to figure out how and when.”

“Of course,” said Ryker, stopping the car. “No buses before tomorrow afternoon, so don’t get any cockeyed ideas about cutting out tonight. You’d freeze to death. Need any help?”

“I’ve got it.”

Trace climbed out, grabbed his duffel from the backseat and stood beside the road watching Ryker drive away. The pavement was clear, but there were snow banks between him and the parking lot. He spied a place that had been shoveled open and walked toward it.

He wished he thought this would work out well, that he’d get cleanly away and leave everyone behind him safe, but for some reason that wish was growing dimmer by the moment.

He had to figure out who wanted him. Only then would he know how to react. And figuring that out wasn’t going to be easy, because he had zero information.

Sighing, he slogged toward Julie’s apartment, hoping like hell that death wasn’t right on his heels.

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