Hope White - Safe Harbor

She shook her head. A few minutes passed in companionable silence. It had been a long time since Alex held a woman like this. He didn’t have much interest in romance after Jessica’s death.

“Nicole,” she said, breaking the silence. “Please call me Nicole.” She clung to her messenger bag in her lap. “I wasn’t supposed to be here.”

“Then why were you here?”

“I’m a personal assistant. I was filling in for a friend.”

“Had you worked with Mr. Lange before?”

“Yes.”

“But you’re not his regular assistant?”

She shook her head no.

“Did you hear what happened?”

She squeezed his hand, but didn’t answer. He should have known it was too soon to ask, but the killer was out there, maybe still on the property if he hadn’t found what he was looking for in Edward’s office.

Alex wouldn’t push Nicole. Most of the time if you pushed a witness they either pushed back or shut down completely. He felt lucky she was talking to him after what she’d just experienced.

They gazed out the back window at the lake, the setting sun peeking through the evergreens in the distance.

The pocket door slid open, breaking the peaceful moment. A man in a dark suit, white shirt and maroon tie marched across the room, blocking their view. The guy looked like a Fed.

“This the witness?” the suit demanded.

“And you are?” Alex countered.

“Special Agent Richard Banks with the FBI,” he said, flashing his ID. The stern-faced, broad-shouldered agent was in his mid-forties, and definitely all business.

“What’s the FBI’s interest in this case?” Alex asked.

“We’ll discuss that later. So, this is Nicole Harris?”

“Yes.” Alex wished Banks would lower the volume a few notches.

Instead, he directed his attention to Nicole. “Ma’am, can you tell me what happened tonight?”

She shook her head and stared out the window with a detached expression. Banks studied her as if trying to determine if her shock was real or an act.

“You found her in the closet?” he asked Alex.

“Yes.”

“Did she hear anything?”

“She hasn’t been able to talk about it.”

Banks clenched his jaw and glared at Nicole.

“Did the driver see anything?” Alex redirected.

“One of my agents is interviewing him.”

“What about the bodyguards? Where were they?” Alex said.

“Don’t know. The house is empty except for the witness and the victim. It’s imperative that I interview her ASAP.”

“She’s obviously not ready to talk about it.”

“When will she be able to talk about it?”

The guy was being a class A jerk. Alex glanced at Nicole. She still stared blindly out the window, her cheeks even more pale than they were a minute ago.

“I don’t have time for this,” Banks said. “Ma’am, you’ll need to come with me, if nothing else, for your own protection.”

The guy seriously needed a crash course in sensitivity.

She snapped her attention to Agent Banks. “My protection? Do you think he’ll come after me? But I didn’t...see anything.”

“The murderer doesn’t know that and he won’t stop until—”

“Enough,” Alex interrupted. “Agent Banks, can we talk in the hallway?”

Banks marched out of the room and Alex turned to Nicole. “I’ll just be a minute, okay?”

Yet he was hesitant to let go of her hand. What was it about this woman?

Simple. She was in danger and Alex was a natural-born protector. Maybe this time he’d get it right. Maybe this one wouldn’t die because of his incompetence.

“I’ll be right back.” He slipped his hand from hers and stood.

She hugged herself. “You think... Will he...come after me?”

Seeing fear in her eyes, he mustered up the only answer he thought might ease her anxiety. “I doubt he even knew you were there. You found a clever hiding spot.”

She nodded, but didn’t look convinced.

As he headed toward the hallway to speak to Agent Banks, Alex focused on controlling the frustration burning through his chest. Intimidating Nicole was no way to get answers, not to mention it was incredibly inappropriate behavior for a professional.

Alex went into the hallway. Agent Banks took a step toward him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m trying to make the witness feel safe so she’ll talk to us,” he answered in a calm voice.

“Well, she’s obviously bonded with you.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“Was that your plan? To play hero?” the agent accused.

“This isn’t about being a hero. It’s about finding a killer.”

Banks slammed his fist against the wall and leaned close. “I heard about you and your wonder-boy reputation on the Denver force. I won’t allow ego to mess up this investigation.”

“I guarantee you, my ego won’t be a problem.”

Alex stood his ground, refusing to back down. He surely wasn’t going to let Agent Banks take Nicole in for questioning if he planned to continue these aggressive tactics on her.

With a frustrated expression, Banks turned and paced a few feet away.

“Are you going to tell me why the Feds are involved?” Alex asked.

“Edward Lange was a target of an ongoing investigation. I can’t share the details.”

“You suspect him of criminal activity?” Alex couldn’t believe it.

Agent Banks turned to Alex. “Like I said, it’s need-to-know information.”

“If it’ll help me solve the murder, then I need to know.”

“That’s not my call.”

“Nor is it my call to release the witness into your custody. You’ll have to take that up with my chief.”

“I don’t have time to cut through your local red tape, detective.”

“You don’t have a choice. The witness is traumatized and won’t talk about what happened until she feels safe.”

“And that’s your job? To make her feel safe?” he said.

Alex ignored the attitude. “It’s certainly my goal. But she won’t be safe unless we work together and catch the perp. I can guarantee you that isolating her in an interrogation room isn’t going to get you the answers you’re looking for.”

Banks ran his hand across his jawline. “You’re right. There’s just a lot riding on this case.”

“My suggestion is we keep her identity a secret,” Alex said. “Better yet, don’t release the fact there was a witness. Can you talk to the first responders in there?”

“Yes, but you know how things leak out.”

“It’s worth a try. In the meantime, I’ll take Miss Harris someplace safe. Here’s my cell number.” Alex handed him a business card. “I’d appreciate you keeping me in the loop on your end and I’ll do the same.”

Deep in thought, Banks glanced at Alex’s business card.

“How bad is it, whatever you think Lange was into?” Alex pushed.

“It’s a game changer.” He handed Alex his business card and went back to the crime scene.

Officer Mark Adams stepped into the hallway looking for Alex. “How’s the witness?”

“Understandably upset. I need you to keep an eye on things here,” Alex said. “I’m taking her into protective custody.”

“Yes, sir.”

Alex turned back to the TV room and took a deep breath. Somehow he had to convince Nicole Harris to shelve her trauma and tell them whatever she could about the murder. Time was critical, potentially for the community of Waverly Harbor but most definitely for Nicole. Alex knew it would be nearly impossible to keep her presence in town a secret, but he hoped they could keep it quiet that she’d been at the crime scene, sitting on the other side of the closet door while someone viciously murdered Edward Lange. If that got out, even by accident, it could mean Nicole’s life.