Heather Woodhaven - Protected Secrets

Winnie lifted her head and twisted to look. She blinked twice and smiled at Bruce, then rested her head back on Delaney’s chest.

“She was still sleeping,” Delaney whispered. “Had no idea anything happened.” Her eyes glistened with a layer of unshed tears and once again Bruce didn’t know what to think or feel about this mysterious woman.

He reached for Winnie. His daughter, almost reluctantly, let go of Delaney and curled up against his chest. “Honey, are you okay?”

She nodded and rubbed the remaining aftereffects of sleep away.

Delaney stepped closer. “Someone got the jump on them. Knocked out the marshals but didn’t touch Winnie.”

Bruce crumpled onto the couch. He hung his head over Winnie’s shoulder and, despite the determination to stay calm, his chest shook and his breath caught. He could’ve lost her. He so easily could’ve lost her.

Winnie tilted her chin and Bruce stared into her blue eyes and reined in control. Was there a way he could give up and keep her safe? If he didn’t testify, would the threat disappear?

“I appreciate that you stayed calm today,” Delaney said.

He didn’t look up. He couldn’t yet. “If you lock me in the back of a car again...” He let his voice trail off, unwilling to voice exactly what he was thinking in front of his daughter, but hoping his tone conveyed what he meant. He wouldn’t let her keep him away from Winnie again.

But even by his side, could he keep his little girl safe? Could he ever take Winnie with him on a jog and count dogs in the neighborhood without flinching at every car that rounded the corner? Would they be able to return home and step out onto the deck to watch fireflies without him shining a spotlight on every tree that surrounded the property first?

The image of the men with guns shooting bullets into the SUV played on a loop. His blood pounded hot and fast through his veins. Giving in would only provide the illusion of safety. They would still be out there, watching. They could treat him, his daughter and anyone else like puppets whenever they wanted. Good men like Max would still die at their hands.

The rage continued to build behind his eyes. He would do whatever it took to put a stop to them. He slowly met Delaney’s gaze. “How do we end this?”

* * *

Delaney’s mouth went dry at his question. Winnie clutched her Lovey in one hand while her other hand twirled a lock of hair. Delaney did that whenever she was stressed or bored, too. Was that common in toddlers? Movement to the right caught her attention.

Two paramedics filled the doorway. The taller one nodded at Delaney. “We’ve got one of the deputies ready for transport.”

She supplied his name. “Deputy Jim Lewis.”

The medic pointed to Francine. “We can take you on that ambulance, too, ma’am. In the meantime, anyone else we need to look at?”

Francine flicked her wrist. “I don’t need it. I’m going to be fine.”

“Wait,” Delaney said. “You might not need an ambulance, but we do.” She held up a hand to stop the concerned paramedics. “I don’t mean we’re injured. For logistic reasons, I need you to hang back for a second.”

Delaney pointed at Bruce. “Right now the main priority is to get you somewhere safe without being tracked. You said hackers can follow our vehicles if they know the point of origin, so we need to make sure they think we’re still here. At least for a little while.” She felt a pressure on her chest and realized she’d kept a hand over her heart, in the place where Winnie had rested her head moments ago.

“What do you have in mind?” Francine asked. She accepted an ice pack from the paramedic and rested it on the back of her head.

“Bruce and Winnie will take your place on the stretcher, covered up.” She squatted slightly to meet the toddler’s eyes. “Can you be real still next to your daddy and pretend you’re sleeping?”

Winnie pulled her left shoulder up until it met her ear in a cute shrug. “No.” She smiled, but her eyes made it clear she had no intention of cooperating.

Well. There went that idea, replaced with a sizable dose of reality. Delaney knew nothing about children.

Bruce patted Winnie’s knee. “You don’t have to take a nap again,” he said. “How about we play hide-and-seek together and wait for Delaney to find us? Those men are going to sneak us out, like a fun ride.”

Winnie’s eyes widened and she bounced up and down. “Okay.”

The side of Bruce’s mouth curved. “It’s all in the delivery.”

Francine laughed, a welcome distraction and a comfort. She probably wouldn’t have laughed if she was seriously injured, but Delaney would make sure she was examined anyway.

“Francine, I need you to stay back here for a good twenty minutes. When it’s time to leave, tuck your hair up into a ball cap and wear Bruce’s suit jacket.” Delaney turned to ask the man in question. “Do you mind?”

“It’ll be too big on her, but no, I don’t mind.”

Francine was a tall woman, equal to Bruce’s height, but she had a slender build. “I know. It won’t be enough to fool anyone at close examination, but if anyone’s watching from a distance, it should at least give them pause.” She pointed at the police officer waiting next to her. “It would help the Marshals a great deal if you’d wait here a bit, then take Francine to the station. I’ll have another deputy meet her there and take her to the hospital to be examined.”

Francine rolled her eyes. “I told you I’m fine—”

“I need you back on the team as soon as possible,” Delaney answered. According to Marshal Bradford, Francine was the only deputy who had experience with children. “That means you need to get cleared for duty.”

“I’d like to apologize in advance.” Bruce stood up, Winnie in his arms, to head over to the stretcher. “I’m not a lightweight man.”

The paramedic to the left laughed. “Don’t worry. The stretcher pops up and has wheels. Besides, we’ve carried heavier. You ready for your ride, sweetie?”

Delaney stilled, unable to look away. Was this the right decision? The paramedics joked around with Winnie as Bruce got situated first on the gurney.

She was up against clever hunters. As soon as word got out that Bruce wasn’t backing out of testifying, the hacking group would be after them again. What would Kurt do? The question popped into her mind easily, as it always did whenever she faced a crisis in her work. Her previous boss and mentor from Coeur d’Alene, Kurt had taught her more than her time in both the police academy and marshal training. He’d showed her when it served best to think outside of the box, to harness empathy and to understand what the enemy would do next to get a jump on them. He also sought God’s wisdom for the big decisions.

Her throat hurt from the stress. I don’t have time to wait to hear from You, Lord. I’m asking for Your wisdom and if I’m going the wrong way I need a giant “no” from You right about now.

“Let’s hide, Daddy.” Winnie turned to Delaney and smiled. “You gotta find us.” She grabbed the edge of the thin white blanket and pulled it over herself as she curled up in the crook of Bruce’s arm.

The paramedics placed a mammoth-sized towel on Bruce’s forehead, effectively covering up his face and hair. It didn’t make him look like Francine, but it might do the trick. Delaney grabbed her US Marshals jacket and placed it on top of him. If anyone was watching, hopefully it would seem another marshal was heading for the ambulance after the attack.

“Okay, stay real quiet. We’re going on a ride and don’t want Delaney to find us yet,” Bruce said.

“I think that’s our cue.” The paramedic at the helm kicked off the brakes. Delaney kept her head up as she jogged beside them. No cars were in sight and nobody hid in any of the trees. The houses were spread out and all had curtains or blinds down to help keep out the high-noon heat. But who knew what resources a group of hackers had to watch wherever they wanted? There could be eyes on them right now. The thought sent a shiver up her spine.