Carol Ericson - In The Arms Of The Enemy

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As a lawman, he knew she had secrets. Ones that could bust his case wide open.Tasked with finding a mysterious murder suspect, DEA Agent Cole Pierson was in Timberline on a mission. He didn’t need distractions like the lovely Caroline Johnson. Though he didn't think she could be his suspect, she was clearly hiding something and her safety became Cole’s top priority.She’d awoken next to a dead man, her memory gone. When “Caroline” had come to the small town looking for answers, she hadn’t counted on meeting Cole. He offered the protection she so desperately needed. But if he found out she’d been lying, that he’d become involved with a suspect, it would mean the end to any future–or happiness–she had imagined.

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“Is she with you? Your daughter?”

“No, I’m on a...business trip.”

She counted his change into the palm of his hand and shoved the plastic bag toward him. “Hope she likes it.”

He walked toward the door slowly and then stopped with his hand on the knob. “Are you a local?”

Did she just have one of those faces that invited questions, or was this a small-town thing?

“No. I’m staying with my cousin, who owns this shop.”

His shoulders drooped. “Ahh, well, thank you.”

“Enjoy your stay.”

When the door closed, she collapsed against the counter. Would she suspect every person who walked in here of having ulterior motives? Of course, as the saying went, sometimes they really were out to get you.

She’d been right to suspect Cole. He’d lied to her about being a writer. He was searching for Johnny Diamond’s companion. He was searching for her.

Crossing her arms, she strolled to the front door and leaned her forehead against the cool glass. She couldn’t see into Uncommon Grounds, the coffee shop where Cole had taken Linda to grill her. Caroline had to trust that Linda would keep her secrets—even the ones she didn’t know about. If Linda told Cole that she didn’t have a second cousin named Caroline and had never laid eyes on her before she’d discovered her crying in the alley behind her store, he’d have every reason to believe she was the mystery woman with Diamond. And she had to be a mystery to Cole or he would’ve recognized her.

But who was he? If he was Diamond’s associate, he might be wondering about some missing drug money. Did the police mention how much money was found in the hotel room? Surely not. How would Diamond’s cohorts know whether or not she’d stolen any money?

They might want to find her for other reasons. Revenge? Information? Could Cole be a cop?

The door to the Uncommon Grounds opened, and Caroline jerked back as Linda appeared on the sidewalk with Cole behind her. They were both laughing. That didn’t mean anything, though. Cole Pierson was a charmer. He had the good looks to beguile a woman of any age.

Hadn’t he cast a spell on her? Caroline should’ve taken her burger to go last night and gotten the heck out of Sutter’s. If she had, she wouldn’t have overheard his conversation. Better to know your enemies and keep them close.

She could keep Cole close—no problem.

His question about children had troubled her. She’d never considered that she might have a husband and children somewhere. Didn’t she owe it to them to turn herself in to the police? If she were missing, they’d be looking for her. Even if she didn’t come from this area, she might be able to find out if they were.

Maybe she should start looking at missing persons reports from other states.

As Linda and Cole approached the shop, Caroline backed away from the door and grabbed her duster.

They were still laughing when they entered on a wet gust of wind that sent the bells into a frenzy.

“Looks cold out there.”

“It’s freezing.” Linda held out a coffee cup. “Which is why we got you a latte.”

“Thanks, Linda.” Caroline took the cup from her.

“Thank Cole. It was his idea.”

“Thanks, Cole.” She raised the cup in his direction. “Did you get what you wanted?”

“I think so. Enough to settle a few questions and raise a few more, which is always a good start to, ah...research.”

She took a sip of coffee, eyeing him over the rim of her cup. The man drove her crazy. Was he toying with her?

The pressure of Linda’s hand against the small of her back nudged her toward the counter. “I gave Cole a long, boring history of this shop and a more interesting account of the local artists, including Scarlett Easton, who’s quite famous for her modern art, although I prefer her landscapes.”

Caroline released a few short breaths. Linda had kept mum about her sudden appearance in Timberline.

“I sold a Libby Love frog while you were out living it up at Uncommon Grounds.”

“Wonderful. I was wondering if we’d do any business today with the rain coming down.”

Caroline jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Might be a good day to continue with that inventory.”

“I am taking the hint.” Cole grabbed a frog. “And to show my appreciation for your time, I’ll buy a frog, too.”

“I thought you didn’t have children.”

“I don’t have any, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a kid or two in my life.”

Linda rang him up and tucked the frog into a plastic bag. “Let me know if you need anything else, Cole, and do go talk to Evelyn Foster out on the reservation. She can tell you about all the Quileute legends and myths.”

“I’ll do that.” He held up his hand. “Stay dry.”

Linda went to the window and watched him walk away. “Nice man. Good-looking, isn’t he?”

“Cut to the chase, Linda. Did he ask about me?”

“Nothing to worry about, Caroline. He didn’t ask anything a man attracted to a woman wouldn’t ask.”

Her nostrils flared. “Attracted? What does that mean?”

“Don’t worry. I told him a little about your past.” She held her thumb and index finger about an inch apart. “Just so he knows you’re not ready to jump into anything right now.”

“What did you tell him?” Caroline pressed two fingers to her temple. “Y-you didn’t reveal that I really wasn’t your cousin and had just arrived in town, did you? I’m not sure I trust him. M-my ex could’ve sent him. He could be looking for me right now.”

Linda cinched both her wrists with a surprisingly strong grip. “I promised to keep your secrets, Caroline, and I’m not going back on that just for a pair of twinkling green eyes and a set of broad shoulders.”

“What exactly did you tell him?”

“I stuck to the story. My cousin’s daughter contacted me a few weeks ago, was in a bad relationship, wanted a fresh start and asked to visit for a while—and you are that cousin.” She cocked her head. “Besides, if your ex really did send Cole looking for you, wouldn’t he already know what you looked like? You have nothing to fear from Cole—except his devastating charm.”

Biting her lip, Caroline folded her hands around her coffee cup. Had his conversation with Linda convinced Cole that Caroline Johnson was not the woman he was looking for, despite the black beanie?

If not, she had a lot more than Cole’s devastating charm to fear.

* * *

SINCE LINDA HAD a bridge game with friends that evening that entailed her to concoct some complicated dessert to outdo the other ladies, Caroline had convinced her to leave early and let her close up.

Only a handful of customers had come into the store, and no more suspicious characters. Cole Pierson was the only suspicious character she’d actually met. She doubted more were on the way. She could either leave Timberline and abandon any hope of ever discovering why she’d been headed here originally, or stick it out and convince Cole she really was Linda Gunderson’s cousin, who had no connection to Johnny Diamond, his drugs or his money.

She traced the edge of the piece of paper in her pocket on which she’d written the name and number of a therapist in Port Angeles. She’d asked Linda for a recommendation with the excuse that she wanted to work through her issues associated with the domestic violence. Linda was more than happy to oblige.

A therapist would have that confidentiality thing. The therapist probably couldn’t keep a confession of murder confidential, but Caroline didn’t believe she’d murdered Johnny Diamond. Maybe she’d killed him in self-defense, but she had no intention of admitting that to... She took the slip of paper out of her pocket and read aloud, “Dr. Jules Shipman.”

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