Terri Reed - Double Cross

He took out his cell phone. No signal alert. He ground his teeth in frustration.

“Kiki, can you see if you have a signal?” He turned to find her staring transfixed at the car. The terrified expression on her lovely face sent concern arcing through him. He rushed to her side. “Kiki?”

“Would it have blown up if I’d started it?” she asked, her voice wobbly.

“Not likely. Whoever did this would have known there was no way we’d get in with the smell of fuel so strong.”

“But if we hadn’t smelled the fumes?” she insisted.

“Still unlikely, unless…”

“Unless?”

He shrugged. “Unless there was more tampering.”

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At an early age Terri Reed discovered the wonderful world of fiction and declared she would one day write a book. Now she is fulfilling that dream and enjoys writing for Steeple Hill Books. Her second book, A Sheltering Love, was a 2006 RITA ®Award finalist and a 2005 National Reader’s Choice Award finalist. Her book Strictly Confidential, book five of the FAITH AT THE CROSSROADS continuity series, took third place for the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She is an active member of both Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband, two wonderful children and an array of critters. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening and playing with her dogs.

You can write to Terri at P.O. Box 19555 Portland, OR 97280 or visit her on the Web at www.loveinspiredauthors.com or leave comments on her blog at ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

—Joshua 1:9

To my family: without your love and support

I’d be a basket case.

To Leah and Melissa: as always,

you pick me up when I fall down. Thanks!

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EPILOGUE

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

An explosion shattered the peaceful serenity of the Maui countryside. Unseen projectiles ripped through palm trees, mangling fronds and scattering birds from their nests. Dirt and smoke filled the sky, momentarily blocking out the sun.

The sudden impact of something weighty rammed into Kiki Brill’s back, cutting off her scream. She plummeted forward onto the hard-packed earth, scraping her knees and elbows.

Heaviness smothered her, trapping her flat against the ground and knocking the breath from her lungs in a whoosh.

Panic shot through her brain in a fireworks display of red and white. She struggled against the bulky weight, clawing at the dirt, trying to breathe, to gain some leverage to get out from beneath whatever had landed on her.

Desperation labored in her lungs. The stench of fertilizer overwhelmed her senses.

“Hey, watch it!” a male voice close to her ear shouted.

Fresh panic tore a path through her mind and pumped adrenaline in her veins. She twisted and bucked, needing to free herself of the man atop her.

A momentary easing of the man’s weight renewed her efforts. She kicked and pushed, managing to scramble away.

She jumped to her feet ready to bolt, but as her gaze landed on the man, her heart stalled and cemented her to the spot. What?

Ryan McClain, his richly made business suit covered in dirt and fertilizer, sat on his backside on the path leading to the greenhouse. Muck caked his dark hair and his turbulent, mocha-colored eyes stared at her with a mixture of panic and bewilderment.

She forced a breath in and coughed, spitting out dusty gunk that matched the floating bits in the air.

Her mind tried to make sense of what had happened. Something had exploded. Ryan McClain was sitting at her feet. Innately she knew he’d used his body to shield her, protecting her from the blast.

Fear gripped her in a tight vise. Tutu?

Her gaze jerked to the main house, just past the greenhouse where she’d been headed. The thatched roof and clapboard-sided structure still stood, looking undamaged.

“Tutu!” she yelled anyway, and ran for the front door, aware of Ryan vaulting to his feet and running behind her.

Grandmother Kaapa stood on the porch, her dark eyes wide with panic, but otherwise she seemed unhurt. Even at barely five feet tall, Lana Kaapa had a commanding presence.

Lana’s long, dark, gray-streaked hair was gathered into a loose bun, and a hibiscus blossom rested at her ear. Her blue-and-white floral housedress reached her ankles and revealed the ballerina-style slippers Kiki had brought her from Philadelphia.

Kiki launched herself into her grandmother’s arms.

“You’re okay?” Kiki gasped, panting in terror.

“Yes, dear.” Tutu pulled Kiki back to inspect her. Tears gathered in her eyes. “Are you hurt?”

Kiki shook her head as relief spread through her system, but the panic and fear wouldn’t release their grip. “What happened?”

Tutu shook her head, anxiety clouding her eyes. “I don’t know. I was resting and I heard a loud bang. I came out to see this.” She gestured with her hand toward the small grassy yard and beyond to the crops of plant life, which stretched to the cliffs that kept the Kaapa Flower farm in business.

Kiki turned to look and sucked in a sharp breath. A dark layer of grime coated everything—the swaying Tahitian ginger plants, the various colored proteas, the sunny cup of gold blossoms and all the other plants. Even the porch was dusted with gunk. She could feel the filth on her own skin through the cotton of her T-shirt and her green board shorts. Could see it floating in the air.

Then her gaze landed on Ryan at the foot of the stairs, his expression concerned as he stared back at her. The memory of what he’d done hit her smack in the middle. He’d used his body to shield her from the explosion.

Kiki turned to her grandmother. “Call the police, please, Tutu.”

Looking dazed with worry, Tutu nodded and headed back inside.

Facing Ryan, Kiki said, “Thank you.” She suddenly felt self-conscious as she descended the porch steps. She could only assume she looked as filthy as he did. His navy pinstriped suit was ruined and his once-shiny black shoes would need more than just a polish. “Do you know what happened?”

His troubled brown gaze met hers. “I just got here. Saw you, headed over to talk to you, and as I closed in something went ka-boom.”

Something? Her gaze searched for the origin of the explosion. She walked down the path toward where the company trucks were parked. “My fertilizer truck!”