KEEPING BABY SAFE

Saved by the Lawman by Margaret Daley

As an unknown assailant attempts to kidnap family-court judge Kate Forster’s infant son, police officer Chase Walker thwarts the attack—and vows to keep the pair safe. But who will protect the ex-marine’s heart when the widowed mother and her little boy make him long for a permanent spot in their family?

Saved by the SEAL by Susan Sleeman

The tragedy that killed Bree Hatfield’s best friends—and left her with custody of their young daughter—has been ruled an accident. But Bree knows it was murder. Scared and alone, she turns to her ex-boyfriend, navy SEAL Clint Reed, who’ll risk everything to protect baby Ella and the woman he never stopped loving.

Praise for Margaret Daley

“Decoy suspects lead to an unexpected conclusion—and a solid and captivating story.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Baby Rescue

“Crisp dialogue combines with abundant action and mystery.”

—RT Book Reviews on Standoff at Christmas

“Action and intrigue start early on and will have the reader rooting…for justice to prevail.”

—RT Book Reviews on Guarding the Witness

Praise for Susan Sleeman

“Sleeman’s writing captivates the reader from the first page in this briskly paced tome. Exciting details combine to create unpredictable and memorable scenes.”

—RT Book Reviews on Emergency Response

“Fast-paced action and suspense abounds.”

—RT Book Reviews on No Way Out

“The mystery will keep you involved until the end.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Christmas Witness

MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books (five million sold worldwide), has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats, who think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com.

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a bestselling author of inspirational and clean-read romantic suspense books and mysteries. She received an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award for Thread of Suspicion; No Way Out and The Christmas Witness were finalists for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence. She’s had the pleasure of living in nine states and currently lives in Oregon. To learn more about Susan, visit her website at susansleeman.com.

Her Baby’s Protector

Saved by the Lawman

Margaret Daley

Saved by the SEAL

Susan Sleeman

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Table of Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

About the Authors

Title Page

Saved by the Lawman

Dear Reader

Dedication

Bible Verse

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

EPILOGUE

Saved by the SEAL

Dear Reader

Dedication

Bible Verse

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

Extract

Copyright

Saved by the Lawman

Margaret Daley

Dear Reader,

As a mother and grandmother, I could so easily put myself in Kate’s shoes when she is protecting her son and searching for him. Something like that happening will really test your faith. But God is the only one who can really get you through a situation like that. He often sends people to help you. We were never meant to go through life alone.

I love hearing from readers. You can contact me at margaretdaley@gmail.com or at P. O. Box 2074, Tulsa, OK 74101. You can also learn more about my books at www.margaretdaley.com. I have a newsletter that you can sign up for on my website.

Take care,

To my husband, Mike.

Thank you for forty-six wonderful years.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

—Psalms 23:4

ONE

Kate Forster lunged to the right then the left, loosening her muscles before her run. “Are you ready, Jamie?” She bent down and looked under the canopy on the three-wheel, jogging stroller.

Her fifteen-month-old son grinned. “Go, Mama.”

“Okay, hang on tight.” Kate gripped the handle and started down her favorite route in the large park.

In the Remington Nature Reserve, the path took her through the woods and along the lake. The beautiful dose of God’s beauty renewed her after a long day as an Oklahoma family court judge, trying to figure out what was the best decision for the parents and children who ended up before her.

She needed the reminder the Lord was in control, especially after the day she’d had. She hated having to take a child away from a parent, but in this case she’d had no other choice. Not when a little girl’s life was in danger. The wails from the mother still rang in her mind.

Kate shook the memory from her mind and focused on her son giggling and urging her with, “Fatter. Fatter.” His word for faster.

Kate nodded at a couple who passed her going the opposite way. She often saw them here.

The breeze from the south cooled her as she headed into the wooded part of the reserve. The sounds of birds chirping blended with Jamie’s laughter. Both wonderful to hear.

A large man with jet-black hair—another frequent runner at Remington—overtook her and went around them, giving her a smile and a nod. His gleaming gray eyes stood out against his tan complexion and dark hair. She’d seen him a couple of times at the courthouse too. Was he an attorney?

As she rounded a curve in the path, she slowed. A tree trunk had fallen across the trail, probably from the thunderstorm and high winds last night. She’d need to lift the stroller over it if she wanted to continue. She came to a stop and decided to let Jamie out of the stroller while she hoisted it over the downed tree. She still felt wound up after her stressful day.

She picked her son up, his dark brown eyes—the same color as hers—widening.

He began to wiggle. “Down.”

Maybe she would let him play a little here then run back toward her car. She stood him on the path then eased down onto a lower branch of the tree trunk. The second she sat, exhaustion invaded her body. “You can play for a few minutes then we’ll head back.”

“No back.”

Her mistake was to stop and take a seat. “Sorry, honey, but it’s been a long day. Mommy is tired.”

“Me not.” He picked up a stick and poked it into the ground. It broke. He looked up at her, a pout tugging at his mouth.

She heard the scrunch of footsteps coming from the other side of the tree trunk. As she rose, she turned to see who it was. Her gaze zeroed in on a thin man about six and a half feet tall, wearing a ski mask—definitely not what someone would have on in April while exercising. When he saw that she’d spotted him, he leaped off the ground and vaulted over the log at the same time Kate whirled and raced toward her son a few feet away.

She scooped Jamie up in her arms as the man landed less than a yard from them. Her gaze connected with his dark one. She shivered at the piercing stare. He grabbed for her son, grasping his legs.

A scream erupted from Kate as the assailant tugged Jamie toward him. His scent of sweat and cigarettes nauseated her, making her want to get away from him. But she couldn’t let go. Her toddler wailed while clinging to her. She kicked out and connected with the kidnapper’s leg. He stumbled back, letting go of Jamie’s legs.

“Help, help! Someone’s taking my baby,” she yelled as she clutched Jamie against her chest and scrambled as fast as she could backward.

Her son’s cries reverberated through her mind. Her attacker stalked toward her, reaching for Jamie again. Caught between the kidnapper and the fallen tree’s trunk, she spun to the side, shielding her child with her body as she tried to clamber over the wooden barrier.

The accoster clasped her shoulder, his fingers digging into her flesh while he yanked her back.

Another scream came from the depth of her being. Did anyone hear it? Would anyone come to help?

* * *

Detective Chase Walker lengthened his strides as he chewed up the distance to Remington’s lake. He’d spent all day hunting down a burglar, finally catching him and then interrogating him, and now he relished the feel of the fresh air and the pounding of his feet against the earth.

Peace. Calm. Two things he longed to have that always seemed just out of reach. After fighting in the Middle East, all he wanted to do was put those memories behind him. But each night they haunted his dreams. For three years.

A scream pierced the air.

He halted.

A cry for help followed.

He spun around and raced in the direction of the sound, going around a long curve in the trail.

Judge Forster, whom he’d passed earlier, struggled with a tall man on the other side of the fallen tree. Chase pumped his legs as fast as he could, closing the distance between them.

The assailant in a ski mask glanced at Chase, then tried to wrestle something from the judge. She held on tight.

Was it her child?

The attacker backed away, stumbled over the stroller and went down.

Chase sailed over the downed log as the tall man scrabbled to his feet and took off.

Chase’s right foot hit the ground first then the left, that leg nearly crumbling under him at the impact. He shoved away thoughts of the throbbing ache. “Okay, Judge Forster?” Slowing, he swung his attention to her on the ground by the tree, as she cuddled a crying child.

“We’re fine. Get him,” she said in a tight voice.

Chase increased his speed, the attacker at least a football-field length ahead of him. The leg he’d wounded as a US Marine overseas continued to protest. Each time he struck his left foot against the hard packed ground, needles of white-hot pain seared him. Nearing one of the small parking lots, Chase had to slow to half speed. But when he heard a car starting, he dug deep for one last burst of energy.

He came into view of the row of vehicles. At the other end he glimpsed a white sedan leaving. Too far away to catch, especially with his SUV in another parking lot, but at least he got the license plate number.

He dug his cell phone out of his pocket and started back toward the judge and her child. He speed-dialed the police station and reported the attack. The sergeant would put out a BOLO on the car. Chase told the sergeant he would take down what happened from Judge Forster.

By the time he returned, she was standing by the stroller, cradling her child against her chest and swinging him gently as she hummed a soft tune. She glanced at him briefly, her brown eyes so dark they were almost black. Once she’d noticed it was him, not her attacker, she focused on her son, dressed in blue shorts and shirt. He was still whimpering a little, but his cries had softened.

Chase waited. He had two brothers and one sister, all younger than him. While growing up, he’d babysat many times and knew when it was important to remain quiet. While he waited, he assessed the judge, who was trying to calm her child. Her long blond ponytail swished as she rocked her son. His gaze skimmed down her length and noted a couple of scratches on her legs, probably from a tree branch. Other than that, she seemed uninjured. And her expression showed that her earlier fear had faded but not the tension that pulsated from her, shouting that she would protect her child at all costs. Their gazes connected for a few seconds. He’d never met her, but he knew who she was. Her reputation as a judge was stellar—fair and compassionate but tough when needed.

He looked away to take in the crime scene. The tree trunk hadn’t been there yesterday when he’d jogged this path. Had the assailant set this up? It had looked like he was trying to take the judge’s child. A foiled kidnapping or something else?

After the judge placed her now sleeping son in the stroller, she walked toward him. “Did he get away?”

Chase nodded, noting she was about a foot shorter than her attacker. Impressive that she’d managed to fend him off until he’d arrived. “I’m Detective Chase Walker with the Cimarron City Police Department. I got the car’s license plate number and called the station. That information has gone out to the officers on duty. There’s a chance one of them will spot him before he ditches the vehicle.”

“Undoubtedly, it was stolen.”

Probably. But not always. “Tell me what happened. I’m going to record this since I don’t have anything to write on. Start with your name.” Chase punched the record button on his cell phone.

She looked back at her son, then rubbed her temple and said, “I’m Kate Forster. Oh, you already know that.” She grinned but couldn’t maintain it. “I had my son, Jamie, with me in his stroller while I went for a run. It happened so fast. I’ll do my best to tell you everything, but can we do it at my house? It’ll be dark soon, and frankly I don’t want to be here when it is.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

“That’s fine with me. I’ll take some photos then we can leave. Which lot are you parked in?”

“The second one.”

“That’s where mine is. I’ll follow you back to your house.”

“I appreciate it. I’ve seen you at the courthouse. I thought you might be an attorney.”

He started snapping pictures. “Nope. Just testifying in court.”

“Can you show me your badge?”

“Yes, it’s in my car.” He smiled. “I’m glad you asked. You can’t be too careful.”

“Sadly, I’ve discovered that in my job, and today only emphasized it.”

So had he—both as a Marine and a police officer.

When they left, the judge pushed her stroller, gripping the handle so tight her knuckles whitened. “I’ve never felt unsafe here. I come to the reserve a lot. This is one of Jamie’s favorite places.”

“If you’re going to continue coming here, don’t come alone.”

She slanted a look at him, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. “You don’t have to warn me. I might have to content myself with swimming in my pool instead.”

“Where do you live?”

She gave him her address.

“That’s a nice area of town. Isn’t that a gated community?”

She nodded and stopped at a blue luxury car. “Maybe until I open my pool, I’ll jog in my neighborhood. We have private security that patrols.”

“Or find someone to go with you besides your child. My SUV is in the next row. I’ll get my badge and be right back.”

As he made his way to his vehicle, he favored his leg. Each step flooded his mind with thoughts of his last time in battle. He still didn’t understand how he’d survived when everyone else on the recon mission had died. He should have died, but he hadn’t.

* * *

Kate pulled into her garage and carefully lifted Jamie out of his car seat. He was still asleep. She stared down at his peaceful face looking so much like her deceased husband, James, even down to the cleft in his chin. The only thing of hers in him was the shape and color of his eyes.

When her husband died in a plane crash while flying to Dallas, her life had fallen apart. Then in the midst of mourning, she’d discovered she was pregnant again and weeks further along than any of her earlier, unsuccessful pregnancies. Somehow she managed to pull herself together for Jamie, but today when she thought she might lose him, too, that feeling of devastation had swamped her momentarily. She’d hung on to Jamie in a tug-of-war with her attacker. Had he been after her or Jamie? Maybe he’d intended to hold her child for ransom? Her husband had left her a wealthy woman.

“Is everything okay?” Detective Walker’s deep, baritone voice cut into her musings.

She blinked and centered her attention on the man who had saved her and Jamie. “Just trying to figure out why that guy attacked me. Let’s go inside. I’ll have Rachel put Jamie to sleep.”

“Who is Rachel?”

“My live-in nanny. She has been a lifesaver this past year.”

“How long has she worked for you?”

“Since Jamie was born fifteen months ago. She came highly recommended, with a great résumé. If you’re thinking she had anything to do with what happened at the reserve, you can stop. She didn’t.” Rachel was more like a little sister than an employee. Kate headed for the door into the utility room.

“Do you have a dog?”

When she entered the home, her big white cat was waiting for her. “No. I only have Boss.”

He chuckled. “I’m not sure I want to know why you call your cat Boss.”

“Because he thinks he runs my house. It’s easier letting him think that than fighting with him all the time.” He was ten years old and a present from her husband.

“So you don’t have a watchdog?”

“No, but I have a state-of-the-art alarm system.”

“A guard dog is one of the best protections.”

“Do you have one?” Kate lifted Jamie out of the stroller.

“Yes. But no place is one hundred percent safe.”

“That’s not very comforting.”

“I say that to stress the importance of vigilance.”

Could she have avoided the confrontation at the reserve if she had been more in tune with her surroundings? The jogger had nearly been at the downed tree before she’d heard and acknowledged his presence in her mind.

Rachel entered the kitchen, took a look at Kate and asked, “What’s wrong?” then fixed her gaze on Chase Walker.

“Detective Walker stopped a man from attacking me.”

Rachel moved across the room. “Are you and Jamie okay?” She peeked at the child, his head lying against Kate’s shoulder.

“Yes. He wore himself out. Please put him to bed while I talk with the detective.”

Rachel took Jamie from her. Her son’s eyes fluttered open but then closed again when he saw his nanny.

While Rachel left the kitchen, Kate walked to the cabinet. “Do you want something to drink? Water? Iced tea?”

“Actually, water sounds great after jogging.”

“I agree.”

Kate fixed two glasses, handed him one and then made her way into the hallway. “Let’s talk in the den.”

She lived in this room filled with photos, books and comfortable furniture. In the corner was Jamie’s toy box, which he usually made a beeline for every time he came into the den. Kate settled onto the overstuffed maroon-and-navy couch while the police detective took the chair across from her, giving her a good view of him, all six feet. His short black hair, damp with sweat, lay at odd angles. But what drew her was his silver-gray gaze, alert, intense.

Earlier she’d noticed he was favoring his left leg. “Did you hurt yourself running after the attacker?”

He kneaded his thigh. “Not really. I was injured three years ago, and occasionally it’ll flare up when I push myself.”

“I’m sorry you had to do that for me. No doubt you were off duty.”

“A police officer is never totally off duty. There’s something in our makeup. We can’t ignore a person in trouble.”

“And for that, I’m grateful.” She reclined back and relaxed for the first time since the attack. There was something about Chase Walker’s presence that was reassuring. She looked into his eyes and felt safe. “What do you need to know?”

He fished out his phone again, setting it to record. “Tell me what happened.”

Kate relived the incident, replaying it in her mind as she went through what she remembered, parts of the attack already foggy. Her heartbeat sped as words tumbled from her.

“What do you think he was after?”

“I don’t know. Other than my wedding ring, I wasn’t wearing or carrying anything of value.”

“Did he say anything to you?”

“No. He cursed when I kicked him. I wasn’t going down without a fight.”

“Do you think it was a kidnapping attempt?”

She wanted to say no but couldn’t. “Possibly. Or he was coming after me, but I was holding Jamie. Maybe he wanted to get Jamie out of the way? It is hard to say.”

“Any gut feelings?”

“Do you believe in those?” The intensity pouring off of him further soothed her fear. At this moment no one would hurt her or Jamie.

“Yes. A couple have saved my life in the past. We take in nonverbal cues, sometimes not even realizing it, and process what they mean. That’s where a gut feeling comes from. At least that’s what I think. So any hunches?”

She closed her eyes and reviewed again what she remembered in her mind. “Yes. I think this was personal. Why was the tree down over the path I usually use when I come to the reserve?”

“So a planned attack. Okay. Do you follow the same schedule every day?”

“Am I predictable?” She drew in a deep breath and thought about her routine. Usually, she got up every morning, spent some time with Jamie before she headed for the courthouse. She often had lunch in her office while she worked so she could spend more time with her son later. She frequently left for the day by four unless a court session ran longer. “Yes, especially during the weekdays. When I come home, I either jog for half an hour or longer, depending on how Jamie is. He likes to run with me. If the weather is bad, then I stay home and put music on and dance. My son loves to do that, too.”

“But if the weather permits, you run outside during the work week?”

“Yes. I’m indoors all day at the courthouse. My cases can get intense. Exercising helps relieve my stress.”

“That’s why I run, too.”

Her deceased husband would only swim, sometimes even in cool weather. He’d been talking about enclosing the pool in the backyard right before his death. Her world had ended that day, too. Her son had saved her from the abyss of sorrow she’d wallowed in right after James had died.

“So Rachel is your live-in nanny.”

It wasn’t a question, but she said, “Yes. I was going to stay home longer than six months after my son was born, but the person who was filling in while I was on maternity leave quit suddenly. Rachel was already working for me part-time, freeing me up for a few hours every day to run errands and get things done. When I needed her to switch to full-time, she was available to step right in, allowing me to get back to work. In the long run that had been a good decision.”

“Is there anyone who might have a grudge against you?” His gray eyes, the color of a thunderstorm brewing, locked with hers. “Who do you think would do this?”

Before she could answer, the detective’s cell phone rang.

He looked at the caller’s name. “Sorry. I need to take this.” He punched his answer button and put the phone to his ear. “Has the car been found?” Chase listened for a moment then disconnected.

“Do you have a lead on the attacker?”

He rose, slipping his cell phone into his pocket. “Yes, the car belongs to Zed Hammer. Do you know him?”

The name of a father who had threatened to make her pay last month for her judgment against him in court chilled her deep into her bones. Was the attack motivated by revenge?

TWO

The color drained from Kate’s face. She sat forward and crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes. Is Zed Hammer my attacker?” Her voice quavered as she said his name.

“He owns the vehicle the man used to escape.”

“Has the car been found?”

“No. We haven’t been able to locate Mr. Hammer, either.”

Kate shot to her feet, her arms stiff at her sides. She balled her hands so tightly her knuckles whitened. “So he could try to kidnap my son again. He told me when the trial was over that I would regret my decision to only permit him supervised visitation with his children.” She closed her eyes for a few seconds and shuddered. “The look he gave me told me he meant every word he said.”

Her gaze flitted from the two windows in the den to the door as though she expected the man to rush into the room. When she hurried into the hallway, Chase followed her to the foyer where she set the alarm, checked that the front door was locked then hurried to the kitchen and did the same with the doors to the garage and the backyard. When she’d finished doing that, she spun toward him. “What else can I do to make sure Jamie is safe?”

She held herself so rigid he was afraid she would snap. He covered the distance between them and took a trembling hand, searching for a way to reassure her.

“I’ll stay as long as you need. Do you have any family nearby?”

“No. Both James and I were only children. His mother and father live in Australia, while my mother is widowed, too, and lives with my grandmother in Florida. She takes care of Nana, which is a full-time job. I don’t want her to even know about what’s going on. She has enough to deal with. I don’t want her worrying about Jamie and me.”

Chase drew her toward the nearest chair at the kitchen table. After she was seated, he sat next to her. “The police are looking for Zed Hammer. With his car being used in the attempted kidnapping and now that I know about his threat against you last month, I’m sure we’ll get a warrant to search his house.” He would call the station about Kate’s connection to Hammer. He wanted to be out there seeing to the details of the search, but at the moment he would be best utilized staying near Kate. She was right to be concerned the man might return and try again. “Tell me what he looks like.” Chase wanted to keep the conversation going to distract her from running every scenario of what could happen through her mind.

Kate stared at her lap for a long moment. “He could be the attacker. Mr. Hammer is about the same height and build. I think his eyes were dark like the man at the reserve, but I’m not sure. Oh, and he had a little girl about my son’s age.”

“Did you notice a white compact car following you anytime lately?”

“Seriously? White is the most common color for a vehicle, so in the last month I’m sure some have driven near me. But I don’t remember seeing the same car behind me for long.” She dropped her head and rubbed her hands together. “I’ve never really thought about the traffic around me unless there was a problem. Coming home from work, I’m usually decompressing. I don’t like bringing my problems home. I love my job, but it can be emotionally draining at times. I don’t want my child affected by that.”

“I know what you mean. I don’t have a family but if I did, I would feel the same way. Being a detective is challenging and rewarding when I can solve a crime, but I’ve seen things I wouldn’t want to share with my loved ones.” Not just as a detective but as a Marine, fighting in a war zone. Memories he’d tried to avoid leaked back into his thoughts. The sounds of gunfire all around him. The stench of death in the air. The agonizing pain streaking up his leg. The fight to keep that injured limb.

Rachel appeared in the entrance. “Jamie is asleep. I won’t be surprised if he slept until morning. Do you want me to put in one of the casseroles you made this weekend?”

“That would be fine. I need to change out of my jogging clothes. I’m going to check on Jamie, too.” Kate rose.

“And I’m going to check your house and make sure it’s secured.” Chase shoved his chair back and stood, trying to shake that last skirmish from his mind.

But as he left the kitchen with Kate, the memory stayed with him. He’d been the only one from his team who had survived. So many of his combat buddies had families. He hadn’t, but he’d lived while they’d died. That had challenged his faith through the months of recovery stateside.

“There are five bedrooms upstairs,” Kate said as she mounted the stairs.

“I’ll start there. Are your windows wired to your security system?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good.”

“That room at the end of the hall—” Kate pointed to the left “—is Rachel’s. This one is Jamie’s.”

She turned and gestured to the door next to her son’s on the other side. “And mine is there. The rest are for guests, and that one in the middle opens onto the staircase to the attic. I keep it locked so my son doesn’t try to explore by himself. The steps are steep.”

Chase decided to start with her room. He expected Kate to leave him to check on Jamie, but instead she followed him through the door.

When he entered her tastefully decorated bedroom, he immediately saw her touches throughout, from the family photos on the dresser and nightstands, to a gavel attached to a plaque on the wall.

“That’s from my first case as a judge. My husband had it mounted and gave it to me as a surprise. He’d told me he was also going to do the gavel of my last trial, so I would have matching plaques. I intend to fulfill his wish.”

“Does this incident make you think twice about being a judge?”

She cocked her head. “I don’t think so. There are risks in a lot of people’s jobs. You should know that more than anyone. Have you ever considered giving up being a police officer because of the risks?”

He hadn’t thought about it, either, but now that he did, the answer that came to mind surprised him. “I’ve been the first person to go into a dangerous situation plenty of times—but better me than some of the other guys. I don’t have a family, and a lot of my fellow officers do. If something happened to me, it wouldn’t affect a wife or children.”

“So you never want to get married and have a family?”

Want? Want had nothing to do with it. What right did he have to build a family when so many good men had been forced to leave their loved ones behind forever? He’d walked away from an ambush alive while all the men with families had been killed. His friend who had taught him about God had died in that firefight and fallen on top of him. In the end, that was what had saved him. Later, he’d known the pain and grief his buddy’s wife had gone through, but he could do little to change that. He hated that feeling of impotency and had promised himself he would protect others at all costs.

“I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that. It isn’t in your job description.” She walked into her closet.

“I don’t mind. Starting a family’s just not in my plans right now.” He headed for the first window, checked it, then moved to the other one. “Both are locked. I’ll finish with the rest of the house.”

She emerged from her closet. “I hope you’ll have dinner with us. It’s nothing fancy. It’s a Mexican chicken dish. On Saturday and Sunday, I cook up a storm then we eat the meals throughout the week.” She grinned. “I’ve been accused of being highly organized.”

“Thanks. I skipped lunch today working a burglary case. I’ve been accused of being highly determined.”

“To the point of going without food?”

He nodded then left before he became distracted from his task. Kate could easily do that with one look or smile.

* * *

After she took a quick shower and dressed, she stopped by Jamie’s bedroom again. When she cracked the door open and looked inside, she found her son standing up in his crib and lifting his leg to try and climb out. He’d succeeded a couple of times. She crossed to him and swung him up into her arms.

“I should have known you wouldn’t sleep through to the morning.” She hugged him against her, wishing she could stay like this the whole night.

“Mama, me eat.”

“So you’re hungry. No wonder you woke up.” She headed for the hallway. “Let’s go get you something for dinner.”

“Down. Down.” He wiggled in her arms.

“Not until we get to the kitchen.” When Jamie was awake, they locked a gate across the bottom or top of the staircase. He was still a little shaky on the steps. She reached the first floor and put the barrier in place. She didn’t need to worry anymore about him than she already had today.

The second she entered the kitchen she put Jamie on the floor, expecting him to make a beeline for his high chair and climb up into his seat. When he was hungry, that was what he usually did. But he stopped after two steps and stared at Chase across the room. Then he struck out for him and threw his arms around his leg.

Jamie loved meeting new people, but after today, she’d thought that might be different. She hadn’t known he’d really been aware of the man who had saved them today, but he must have been because he raised his hands, opening and closing them.

“Up!”

Chase hoisted Jamie into his arms. “Sure, big guy. I’m Chase. I have a nephew not too much older than you.”

“Case.” Her son rubbed his hand across Chase’s day-old beard. He giggled and did it again.

Seeing Jamie with Chase made her realize her son didn’t have too many males in his life. She closed the space between the police detective and her. “C’mon, Jamie. Time to eat.” As Rachel put the food on the table, Kate took him from Chase and set her son in his high chair.

After everyone was seated, Kate bowed her head and said, “Lord, thank You for sending us Chase when we needed him. Bless this food and our soldiers protecting us. Amen.”

When she looked up, Chase was staring at her, and for a few seconds her son and Rachel faded into the background, the lure of his gaze making her forget who else was around. No wonder she’d remembered him from all the many people who frequented the county courthouse. It wasn’t just that he was handsome—there was also an intensity to him that drew her attention. When he’d described himself as determined, she understood why. There was something about the man that intrigued her.

A purring Boss rubbing against her leg pulled her attention back to the moment.

While Rachel was eating, Kate assisted Jamie with his meal, a mixture of baby food and the Mexican chicken, trying to minimize Jamie’s chances to play with it or fling it. Then her nanny would take over while Kate had her dinner. But her son kept getting distracted by Chase across the table from him—probably because he was the first man to sit at her table. She hadn’t realized how small her world had become since Jamie’s birth.

Her world centered around her child, the only one she would ever have. For ten years she and her husband had tried to have a baby. She had miscarried four times, and they’d given up the last year James was alive. Then her husband had died in a small plane crash. Not long after his death, she’d discovered she was pregnant. James would never know he had a son. A complication after Jamie’s birth had led to a hysterectomy. Jamie would be her only child, but she cherished him and thanked the Lord for her one baby.

Jamie flipped his spoon, causing his food to fly in several directions.

“Okay. That’s my sign you’re finished.” Kate took the utensil and bowl off the tray while Boss licked the food that landed on the tiled floor.

Then her son rubbed his eyes and tried to stand in his seat. Kate rose and picked him up. She noticed her nanny was finished with her meal and said, “After you wash him up, let’s try and put him to bed again.”

Rachel stood and took Jamie from Kate. “I’m surprised he even woke up after not sleeping much last night. I’ll take care of him. You need to eat.”

When the nanny left the kitchen with Jamie, Kate served several spoons of her Mexican chicken onto her plate. “Do you want anymore?”

“Yes. I don’t get a lot of home-cooked food. This is delicious.”

Kate passed the serving spoon to Chase. Their fingers briefly touched. For a few seconds she forgot to breathe. Sharing a meal with a man was something she hadn’t done in so long she didn’t know how to react anymore. She sternly reminded herself not to be silly. This wasn’t a date—he was just trying to keep her and her son safe. If an assailant wanted to hurt her, the most effective way would be to do something to Jamie. Zed Hammer’s anger the last day she saw him might have driven him to harm her son. The thought plunged fear deeper into her. She’d fought to have her son, and she would fight to keep him and protect him from any harm.

“Is the house secure?”

“All windows and doors are locked. You have a good security system, but vigilance is important, too.”

“Now I wish I had a big dog. Would it be good to get one tomorrow? I’ll do whatever I need to make sure Jamie is all right.”

“If you got a dog tomorrow, it would take some time to train him properly. Right now you need a guard dog. I could loan you Mac. He’s a German shepherd. When I got him, he’d been a guard dog. He’s well-trained, or I wouldn’t offer.”

A German shepherd she hadn’t raised? She didn’t know if that would be a good idea, and yet having him might be just what she needed at this time. “On one condition. Would you stay with us for the day after bringing him to make sure Mac is a fit for us? I know that’s asking a lot, but I need to be assured Mac won’t have any problems with Jamie, Rachel and me, not to mention my cat. Have you ever loaned him out before?”

“No, and that’s a good suggestion. Tomorrow is Saturday. I can bring him by in the morning and introduce you to Mac.”

“Good. I’d like that.” But this incident made her realize she needed a dog as a permanent pet. Jamie would love it.

Chase’s cell phone rang. “I need to answer this. It’s my partner.” He pushed to his feet and walked into the hallway.

Kate tried to eat a few bites of her dinner, but knots of tension riddled her stomach. She finally decided not to force it down. As she began taking the dishes to the sink, Chase reentered the kitchen.

“Was it about Zed Hammer?”

“Yes. We got a search warrant for his house. I’m meeting my partner over there. I’ll have a patrol car drive by your place at least once an hour. With the police force looking for the car and Hammer, hopefully we’ll find him soon. In the meantime, I hope we’ll get some useful data from his home. If he’s the attacker, then I want to have solid evidence against him.”

For a second, she wanted to ask him to stay, but he was right that his duty lay elsewhere. Her house was secured, and she wanted the person responsible in jail tonight, if possible.

She went to her desk and jotted her cell phone number on a piece of paper. “Call me if you find anything.”

He checked his watch. “It could be late.”

“I don’t care. I’d like to know.”

He pocketed the scrap of paper she gave him and offered her his business card in return. “Okay, I will.”

Kate walked with him to the foyer and turned off the alarm. “Thank you for all you’ve done today. I hate to think what could have happened if you hadn’t shown up.” A shudder rippled through her.

At the front door, Chase paused and turned. “You have my number. Call if you need me. Any time, day or night. I don’t live far from here. I can be here in ten minutes.”

“I appreciate it.” She gave him a smile.

When he left, she locked up and turned on the alarm again. Then she glanced around, realizing how big the house was. But Chase had checked it. If someone came in through a door or window, the alarm would go off. After cleaning the dishes, she headed upstairs.

Rachel backed out of Jamie’s room and quietly closed the door, then swung around. “I think he’s officially asleep this time. I waited awhile to make sure.”

“Thanks. I’m going to bed, too. Long day.”

“Don’t worry about Jamie. I have the monitor on, and if he wakes up, I’ll hear and check on him. Get some rest.”

That was easier said than done, Kate noted later as she stared up at her dark ceiling. She was exhausted but not sleepy. She was glad tomorrow was a day off. Maybe before the weekend was over, her attacker would be found, and she could make up for the sleep she’d lost. Her docket was full next week.

Finally her eyelids grew heavy. She hugged her pillow and began to drift off.

Until the sound of a siren penetrated her mind.

She sat up and listened, her heartbeat pounding. The noise faded into the distance, and she sighed. She was overreacting. This was ridiculous.

With a glance at the clock, she settled again under the covers. It was after midnight. Like her son, she’d gotten little rest last night. Centering her thoughts on the Lord watching over her, she finally fell asleep...

The high-pitched sound of her alarm jerked her awake.

THREE

Chase stood next to his partner, Todd Grayson, in Hammer’s living room and frowned. Nothing.

“We still have the garage, and the tech guys will go through his computer,” Todd said.

“Where is this guy if he isn’t guilty?”

“We’ll find him and ask him that question. He has a motive. His car, which wasn’t reported stolen, was the getaway vehicle. He has a lot of explaining.”

Chase started for the kitchen. “Let’s check the garage then go home. Tomorrow I’ll interview the couple of neighbors who weren’t home earlier. Maybe someone will know where he is.”

“I’ll interview Hammer’s ex-wife and boss. Something will turn up.”

In the meantime, Kate was scared for her child. He’d investigated a couple of kidnappings since he’d returned to the police force two years ago. He’d seen the terror and heartache the parents went through, especially with the one that ended tragically. He wished at times he could turn off his emotions totally. Usually he managed to push them down enough so he could work effectively on the case. He wasn’t so sure he could manage that this time.

There was something about Kate that pulled at him. When fighting the attacker, she’d been ferocious. But the second Jamie was safe, her tenderness had surged to the foreground as she comforted her son.

“I’ll take the left side,” Chase said and moved to a group of stacked boxes.

Kate had Rachel, but she didn’t have any family here. She was essentially alone. That thought knocked holes in the barrier he’d erected around his heart. His only mission, especially since he’d survived the ambush, had been to protect and serve others.

The blare of his cell phone cut through the silence in the garage. He saw it was Kate’s number, and his pulse picked up speed. Was Hammer there?

He punched the accept button. “Detective Walker here,” he said in his professional voice, trying to keep that wall between them.

“My alarm is going off. Someone must be in the house.”

“Did you call 9-1-1?” Chase headed for the garage door button to raise it.

“You are 9-1-1.”

“I’ll be right there. Get Jamie and Rachel and lock yourselves in the bathroom. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He hit the opener.

“Hurry.”

“I will. Stay on the phone with me.” Then to his partner who held some photos he’d found, he said, “Judge Forster’s alarm went off.”

As Chase jogged to his car, Todd shouted, “I’m coming, right behind you. I’ll let the station know.”

“Do you have Jamie yet?” Chase asked Kate as he slipped behind his steering wheel.

“Yes,” she said in a breathless voice. “Rachel’s here, too. We’ll be in the main upstairs bathroom.” Fear dripped off each word.

The sound ripped through his heart. He dug deep to remain calm and remember what he’d learned in his hostage negotiation class. He started his car and floored it. “I’m coming. Get away from the door in the bathroom, if possible.”

Kate spoke to Rachel about what to do. “We’re in the tub.” He barely heard what she said over Jamie’s crying. A pause then she said, “Jamie, Chase is coming. We’re going to be all right, honey.”

Jamie’s crying quieted. Chase imagined Kate gently rocking her son as she’d done at the reserve.

“See Case?”

“Yes. You remember him from earlier tonight.”

A smile tugged at Chase’s mouth as he stopped at the gate and put in the number she’d given him earlier. He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as the wrought-iron barricade slowly moved out of the way.

When he was inside, he texted the code to Todd then said to Kate, “I’m here. Still all right?”

“Yes. The alarm is still blaring, but that’s all I can hear.”

“Let’s hope it only malfunctioned.”

She chuckled, a bit shaky. “Better than someone here.”

As he hurried toward the large house, he said, “I need to pocket my phone to free up my hands, but I won’t disconnect.” He hated not to have that connection with her, but his focus had to be totally on what was going on.

As he approached the porch, he continually scanned the area around him. The noise from the alarm constantly reminded him that Kate, Jamie and Rachel were in danger. His gaze latched onto a broken windowpane at the far end of the long porch. Was that the only reason the alarm had gone off? As Todd and another patrol car pulled up to her house, he withdrew his phone.

“Someone broke a lower windowpane in the living room.”

After she told Rachel, she asked, “Do you want me to come downstairs and turn the alarm off then open the door?”

“Not until I have gone around the house and checked for any other attempts to get inside.”

“The alarm must have scared the person off.”

He hoped that was the case. “I don’t want to bust your door down unless necessary. Hang on. I’ll let you know what to do.”

“Actually I have a key hidden outside in the rock garden.” She described the exact location. “My security code is 6735.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep a key outside.”

“I know. Honestly, I forgot about it. After James died, I was forgetful and locked myself out of the house twice. I put a key in the garden so I didn’t need a locksmith to come to my house anymore. Strangely once I did, I never had to use it.”

“Good.” He walked to the spot and bent down to retrieve the key. “I’ve got it. I’m pocketing my cell phone. Don’t open the bathroom door unless it’s me.”

Todd joined him. “You think that’s it?”

“I hope so. But if someone wanted to break a window to get into the house, why the front porch with the security lights on in front?”

While Todd went to the left, Chase moved right, that question plaguing him.

* * *

Sitting in the dry bathtub facing Rachel, Kate gently rocked Jamie back and forth. He was fighting going to sleep. She began singing a soft lullaby. Jamie’s eyes finally slid all the way closed.

“I think he’s going back to sleep,” Kate whispered to Rachel while glancing at her watch. It had been ten minutes since Chase began checking out the rest of the house. Ten long minutes.

“Good.” Rachel looked at Jamie. “He has to be exhausted.”

“So am I, but I’ve got a feeling tonight won’t be a restful one.”

Rachel smiled. “I know what you mean.”

“I’m so glad I have you to help.” Without her husband, she’d felt so lost and grief-stricken until her nanny was hired. Kate hoped this problem didn’t drive Rachel away. “When this is over with, I’m going to rearrange my schedule so you can have a vacation, my treat.”

“Really? Thanks! My brother moved to Seattle a few months back, and I’ve wanted to see that area of the country.”

“Are you close to your brother?”

“We were growing up but not now. Too many miles between us. We chat on the computer, but it isn’t the same.”

“I know what you mean.” She again glanced at her watch. “Maybe I’ll take Jamie to Florida to my mom’s and grandmother’s.” Hiding from a possible intruder caused her to reevaluate her priorities. She loved her job, but it wasn’t the most important thing in her life. God and her family were. She was all Jamie had and vice versa.

When her phone rang, the sound startled her and Kate jumped. Jamie opened his eyes for a few seconds then went back to sleep while she answered the call.

“Is everything clear?” she asked Chase.

“Except for a rock in the living room, yes. Todd and I have gone through the rooms downstairs. I’ll be there shortly. You still okay?”

“Yes, especially now.”

When she ended the call, she peered at Rachel, tense and intent. “It doesn’t look like anyone got inside. All they’ve found is a rock thrown through the window.”

Putting her hand over her heart, her nanny wilted, finally relaxing against the side of the tub.

“Remind me to call the alarm company tomorrow,” Kate said.

“Believe me, I will. You don’t think the rock was a prank, do you? There are a couple of teenage boys who get a little rowdy in the neighborhood.”

Rachel often took Jamie to a small park nearby and would end up talking with other nannies. “Have you heard of any others having a rock thrown at their house?”

Rachel scrunched her forehead. “Well, no, not exactly. More like tossing water balloons then running away.”

A moment later, there was a knock on the door. “Kate, it’s Chase. It’s all clear.”

“Now that’s music to my ears,” she said loud enough for him to hear.

Rachel climbed out of the tub then lifted Jamie into her arms while Kate rose.

“Please make sure Jamie goes down, then get some sleep yourself.” Kate went first, unlocked the door and opened it.

The first thing she saw was Chase’s smile. She had to fight the urge to hug the police detective. “Thank you for coming so fast.”

“What else could I do? I’ve never been someone’s 9-1-1 call.” His grin widened.

“I’m hoping that’s my last one.” But she didn’t want it to be the last time she saw him. The thought surprised her. Since James’s death, all she’d done was work and be the best mom she could. She neither needed nor wanted another relationship in her life...right?

Rachel nodded at Chase while she scurried toward Jamie’s bedroom.

When her nanny and son were gone, she started for the stairs. “Show me where the rock came in.”

“It’s in the living room.” He gave her the key he’d used. “My partner has some wood we can put over the window for a temporary fix.”

“Who’s your partner?” she asked at the bottom of the steps.

“Todd Grayson. He helped me clear the house. Two patrol officers are outside—one in the back and the other in the front.” As Kate entered the living room, Chase quickly added, “Watch your step—I haven’t processed the scene yet.”

She assessed the damaged window, the glass littering the floor and the good-size rock. “What are you hoping to find?”

“Maybe fingerprints from the rock. I know you don’t have any video surveillance, but do any of your neighbors have cameras?”

“I don’t know. Tomorrow I’ll be getting cameras added for security, but I’m not sure what to do until then.”

“If you want, when my partner comes back, I’ll go home and bring Mac over now then stay the rest of the night.”

“But what about your sleep?”

“I can stretch out on the couch. It’ll give me a chance to talk to your neighbors first thing in the morning. Is Jamie all right? Did he sleep through it?”

“He woke up, but I was able to get him to go back to sleep.” His presence calmed her nerves. “Did you find anything at Zed Hammer’s house?”

“No, but we still have the garage to finish. We were partway through the search when you called. Todd told me he would go back and finish after we take care of your window.”

“I’m going to make a pot of coffee. Do you want any?”

“Sounds good. I see my partner returning. We’ll be on the porch nailing up the board then I’ll go get Mac.”

“Does your partner drink coffee?”

“Yes, black, no sugar, just like me.”

Kate paused in the hallway and looked back at Chase leaving out the front door. Lord, thank You for sending Chase. Please watch over Jamie. He’s all I have.

* * *

Chase drove into his garage, downed the last of his lukewarm coffee from Kate and climbed from his SUV. When he entered his kitchen, Mac greeted him, his tail wagging. He quickly fed him and gathered up his dog’s supplies to take to Kate’s place. Then, while Mac ate his late dinner, Chase hurried and took a shower then changed into jeans and a long-sleeve T-shirt.

As he walked back to the kitchen, he passed through the living room and realized there were only a few personal touches in his house. Nothing like Kate’s, which was full of pictures of Jamie from a small baby to the present. The majority of her rooms had some kind of evidence a toddler lived in the home, from toys to a horse on wheels to the plug covers and padding on sharp furniture corners that she must have added to baby proof the house. Definitely her home had the lived-in feel while his was a notch above a hotel suite.

After gathering what he needed to take to Kate’s, he headed for his SUV and opened the back door for Mac. His dog barked once, excited about being in the car. Adopting Mac had been the only thing he’d done for himself since he returned to Cimarron City, and he wouldn’t have even done that if a friend hadn’t needed him to take the guard dog because he was moving overseas. His sterile lifestyle had kept him focused on his job and helping others. He wanted his survival to count for something.

When he arrived at Kate’s and parked in her driveway, he scanned the house and street as he and his German shepherd made their way to the porch. He used her spare key she’d given back to him to let himself in, making his way toward the kitchen where he’d left Todd and Kate.

Soft, feminine laughter along with his partner’s robust laugh drifted to Chase as he neared the room. Mac’s ears perked at the sounds.

When Chase entered, Kate passed her cell phone to Todd. “This was Jamie’s attempt at climbing the bookcase. Thankfully he only got to the second shelf before I discovered him. I left for a minute to get a book.”

“He moves fast. That’s what Sammy does. The second my wife and I take our eyes off him, he’s into something he shouldn’t be. I can’t wait until he grows out of this inquisitive stage.”

“I’ve read that might be years away.” Kate’s gaze lit upon Chase.

Todd groaned. “Don’t tell me that. I just found out Peggy is pregnant with our second child.” He twisted around and peered at Chase.

“I sent a patrol officer to keep an eye on Hammer’s place until I could finish the search, so as much as I’ve enjoyed our little conversation, I need to get over there. I’ll let you know if I find anything, Chase.”

“Thanks for helping.” Kate rose. “Do you want any more coffee to take with you?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

“Chase, how about you?”

“Sounds great. Can you come down to the police station and fix that every day for us? Yours is actually drinkable.”

Kate refilled a paper coffee cup for Todd and handed it to him.

His partner grinned. “I’ll lock the door as I leave.”

Kate gave Chase his drink, then turned her attention to Mac. Holding her hand for the dog to smell, she said, “You’re beauti—I mean, handsome, Mac.”

Chase introduced Kate to his pet, then unhooked his leash and told him to sit and stay. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to do a quick walk through downstairs to make sure everything is still locked up.”

“I’ll check the kitchen. Can I pet Mac?”

“Yes. I’ve let him know that you’re a friend.”

When he returned to the kitchen, Kate had seated herself in a chair near Mac and was petting him. Boss was on a chair asleep as if a strange dog in his house didn’t mean anything.

She glanced up. “After making sure the kitchen was secured, I sat and tried to entice him to come to me. He didn’t move so I did.”

“He’s well-trained. He doesn’t respond to others giving him commands unless I work with you to do that.”

“So if a burglar came in, he wouldn’t stay put just because the intruder said to?”

“Right.” He took a seat at the table. “You can go to bed if you want. You’ll be safe tonight. The alarm is back on, everything is locked and Mac and I are here.”

“I’m going to when I finish this coffee.”

“It doesn’t keep you up?”

She shifted around to face him. “No. Caffeine doesn’t affect me like other people. I drink way too much, but I love the taste. One of my bad habits I need to do something about.”

Chase chuckled. “If that’s considered a bad habit, then I have more than I thought.” He gave Mac the hand signal to rest by his chair. “But in my case, caffeine does keep me up. I figure I can sleep tomorrow after you’re taken care of.”

“So you don’t want a blanket and pillow?”

“No. I might close my eyes, but I won’t fall asleep. You should go ahead and rest. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure? You’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty.”

“I’ll do anything for a home-cooked meal. Your Mexican chicken was delicious.”

Kate tried to suppress a yawn but couldn’t. “Then tomorrow you can’t leave until I’ve fixed you a full breakfast. I love to cook.”

“You’re not getting an argument from me. I usually eat out so that’ll be a treat.”

Kate’s eyelids slid halfway down.

“Go to bed before you fall asleep talking to me. I have a bum leg. I might not be able to carry you upstairs.”

Her eyes popped open wide. “I’m okay.” She covered her mouth and yawned again. “I’m going to bed.”

He walked with her to the staircase.

On the first step, she turned. “I noticed when you ran after my attacker today that you were limping when you came back. What happened to your leg?”

For a few seconds he scrambled for what to say. He didn’t talk about that last ambush with anyone. Then he stared into her beautiful eyes, and the words just came out. “I was shot while serving in the Marines.” Then to play it down, he shrugged and added. “It happens in a war zone, but I’m fine now. It only acts up when I push myself too much.”

“I’m sorry that happened today.”

He needed to shut down this conversation now. “I’m sorry that you were attacked today.” He grasped her hand. “Go to sleep. See you in a few hours.” When he released her hand, he missed touching her.

He distanced himself from her and watched her ascend the staircase. At the top, she glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. When she disappeared from the landing, he stared at the place where she’d been seconds ago.

What is it about Kate that intrigues me?

He patted the side of his leg. “C’mon, Mac. We should try to relax at least.”

As he entered the living room, his cell phone rang, and he quickly answered the call from his partner. “Did you find anything in the garage?”

“More than enough to arrest Hammer when we find him.”

FOUR

Having overslept, Kate hurried down the stairs to start breakfast before Rachel and Jamie awakened. She was glad they both had gotten needed rest. It had taken her over an hour to fall asleep, which would account for sleeping through the alarm.

When she peeked into the living room, expecting to see Chase and Mac, it was empty. The only thing that had finally allowed her to doze off was the thought they were downstairs protecting Jamie, Rachel and her. Did something happen?

For a moment, panic seized her as though she were in a tug-of-war again with her attacker. But she quickly squashed the fear. Chase was probably patrolling through the house. She hastened through the vacant rooms, then returned to the foyer to see if the alarm was still on. It wasn’t.

Her heartbeat picked up with each second that passed. She crossed to the dining room window and peered between the slats in the blinds. Chase had Mac on a leash and was talking with Todd in the front yard. His partner handed Chase what looked like photos. Of Hammer’s house? The getaway car? Another crime scene?

She started to go outside to see, but halfway to the door she decided not to. She needed to get breakfast ready. She’d promised Chase a special one, and she intended to deliver. It might be about another case. If it was concerning Jamie’s attempted kidnapping yesterday, Chase would tell her when he came inside.

She walked to the kitchen and began preparing a quiche lorraine. After it was in the oven, she made coffee then sliced up strawberries, a cantaloupe and a pineapple then put them in the refrigerator. When she glanced at the clock over the stove, she realized it was well after eight o’clock. The alarm company had promised to be here by nine-thirty. Only an hour away. After what happened yesterday, she’d prefer not having anyone here, but the window and the alarm hooked to it had to be fixed.

“Why the frown?”

Chase’s voice coming from the kitchen entrance startled her. She whirled around, laying her splayed hand over her chest. She hadn’t heard him come into the house. How was she going to protect her son when she couldn’t even notice intruders?

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

With her heartbeat thumping against her rib cage, she waved her hand in the air. “It was no big deal. I should have been listening more carefully. You might be used to being super vigilant. I’m not.”

“You should be. You’re a judge involved in the criminal system.”

“I don’t think of family court in the same way as criminal court.”

“You should. When it comes to the family, emotions can be very heated and long-lasting. It becomes personal.”

“You’re right. My goal is always to protect the children and do what I can to keep the family together. When those are conflicting goals, the child’s welfare comes first.” She took plates down from the cabinet and crossed to the table.

“Can I help? I may not cook, but I know how to set the table.”

“Sure. We’re having quiche, fruit and cinnamon toast. Jamie loves it. I’m going to check on Jamie and Rachel. She should be up by now. Jamie probably is, too.”

“Before you go, I want to show you copies of some pictures that were found at Hammer’s house in the garage. We’re hoping you can tell us when and where all of them were taken.”

“Any news concerning Hammer?”

“No. Todd is checking with the neighbors about security cameras then he’ll join us.”

“Great. I have enough breakfast for him, too, if he wants any.”

“Knowing my partner, he won’t turn down a meal.”

“Where’s Mac? I saw you had him on a leash.”

“I walked around the house to make sure I didn’t miss anything last night in the dark then I put him in the backyard to exercise.” He headed for the counter by the kitchen entrance and picked up a stack of photos. “You might want to sit. The idea of someone stalking you and taking the pictures can really hit home when you see them.”

When she took a seat at the table, Chase passed them to her. A trembling in her hands quickly spread throughout her body as she shuffled through the ten pictures, highlighting different aspects of her day from running with Jamie to grocery shopping to being at the courthouse.

The last one was taken at the Remington Nature Reserve as she was getting out of the car. The jogging clothes she had on were what she’d worn the day before the attempted kidnapping. Chills flashed up her spine while sweat beaded on her forehead and upper lip.

She pointed to that photo. “He must have been at the reserve on Thursday. That’s what I wore, and it was cloudy like that at the time we went.”

“The others? When do you think they were taken?”

“This week.” She sorted them by what she had on. “Those two Monday morning. These Tuesday afternoon and the rest Thursday throughout the day. And I didn’t notice anything unusual.” Sweat rolled into her eye, and she swiped it away.

Chase gathered the pictures. “Thanks. When we find Hammer, this will help us with what questions to ask him. We’ll also try to figure out where Hammer was those days and if he has an alibi. Of course, we could catch a break, and he’ll confess.”

She rose. “I’d better go upstairs and get Rachel. The quiche will be ready in a few minutes. If the timer goes off while I’m gone, please turn off the heat and take it out of the oven.”

“I will and I’ll finish setting the table. Do you want me to do anything for the cinnamon toast?”

“It’s set up to go. I’ll do that at the last minute.” Kate hurried from the kitchen, needing to get away from those photos. The knowledge the kidnapping had been planned for days, if not longer, made the situation even more serious to her.

* * *

Later, after the man who replaced the window glass and the technician from the alarm company had left Kate’s house, Chase walked with his partner toward his car. “I wonder if Hammer has fled Cimarron City since his attempt failed.”

“Even if he left, his photo and license plate numbers have been sent to every county in Oklahoma. Hopefully something will come from widening the search.” Todd stopped at his sedan and twisted toward Chase. “How did she take the photos?”

“About as well as you would think.” Chase could still remember her hands shaking and the color leaching from her face. Chase had wanted to promise he wouldn’t let anything happen to her or Jamie, but he could never guarantee that. He didn’t want to give her false hope. She needed to be as vigilant as possible.

“I wondered, because she didn’t say too much through breakfast.”

“And she held Jamie rather than put him in his highchair. She kept looking at one of the pictures.”

“The photo of her standing at the window holding Jamie?” Todd leaned against his car, crossing his arms and ankles.

“Yup.”

“What are you going to do? Leave Mac here?”

“After the rock incident, I’m staying even if I have to sit out in front of her house. I wonder if the rock was thrown to test her security system.” Chase lounged against Todd’s car and stared at Kate’s house.

“That’s possible. I wish the two neighbors’ cameras hadn’t been covered.”

“The fact that he knew who had cameras is just another thing to indicate he’s been casing her for a while.” Every time he thought of the extent of planning the attacker had gone to, Chase’s gut knotted like a hard fist.

“I hope you don’t have to resort to sleeping in your SUV. A couch is a lot more comfortable. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know. Maybe Hammer’s car will be found, and he’ll be inside.”

“We can always hope. Talk to you later.” Chase shoved away from Todd’s sedan and started for Kate’s house.

When he entered, he retrieved Mac from the backyard then put the alarm in stay mode. He’d already told Kate and Rachel he would. Everyone was in the den, trying to act as if there was nothing wrong. Jamie sat on the floor, playing with his big blocks. Boss was sunning himself on a table near the window.

The second he spied Mac coming into the room, Jamie pushed himself to his feet. “Doggie.” A huge grin spread across his chubby cheeks, and he half walked, half ran toward the German shepherd.

“Mac, sit.” Chase knelt next to his pet.

Kate made her way to her son and slowed his steps by taking his arm. “Jamie, you need to be gentle with the doggie. Running at him could scare him.” Crouching on the other side of Mac, she raised his hand and ran it along the back of the dog. “Nice and easy. Mac loves to be rubbed here.” Kate showed Jamie the sweet spot on the dog’s neck.

“Mac likes that. See his tail wagging?” Chase pointed to it swishing back and forth in the doorway.

“Like doggie.”

Before anyone could stop Kate’s son, he laid his head against Mac, caressing his cheek. Chase could remember how much he’d loved his dog when he was growing up. They went everywhere together.

Jamie put his arms around Mac. “My doggie.”

Kate looked at Chase. He gave her a slight nod to show that she should handle this. She said to Jamie, “Hon, Mac is Chase’s dog. He’s loaning us the dog for a few days. He heard how much you love animals and thought you would enjoy having Mac here.”

Jamie lifted his head and switched his attention between her and Chase. “Me love Mac.” He ran his hand along the dog’s back. “See?”

“I do. Would you like to throw a ball for Mac to fetch? He loves to play that game.” Chase rose. “If your mom says it’s okay, we can go out back.”

His eyes as round as saucers, Jamie twisted toward Kate. “Go now.”

“It sounds like a great idea. Rachel, would you please fix lunch?” Kate pushed to her feet.

“Yes, we still have chicken salad. I’ll make some sandwiches.”

“Let us know when it’s time to eat.” Kate started to take Jamie’s hand.

Instead, her son moved to Mac’s side and settled his touch on the dog’s back. He talked to Mac, most of what he said being unintelligible. But there were a few words Chase understood sprinkled throughout the conversation.

In the middle of the fenced-in backyard, Jamie remained at the dog’s side and held out his arm. “Ball.”

Chase had snatched it from Mac’s things in the kitchen as they passed through a minute ago. “Do you know how to throw a ball?”

Kate laughed. “He loves to throw one, not necessarily accurately.”

Chase closed the space between him and the boy and knelt next to him. When he gave Jamie the tennis ball, it left the child’s hand before Chase could give him pointers. The ball bounced five feet to the side. Mac looked at Chase then moseyed over to it and picked it up then came back and dropped it at Jamie’s feet. The boy giggled and tried again.

Chase moved back to Kate. “Jamie has his own method.”

“Haphazard, yes.”

After a few pitches, Jamie decided to change things up. He would send the ball sailing, then ran after it with Mac. At first, Chase stepped nearer, not sure how his dog would deal with competition, but soon Mac turned it into a game. Sometimes he would get the prize while other times he’d let Jamie get it.

“Mac is great with little children.” Kate closed the space between them.

“My friend who gave me Mac had children. I never thought to ask him about how Mac would be with kids.”

“A natural. It’s like he knows Jamie is young and needs gentleness and patience.”

“Animals sense a lot of things.” When Chase had had one of his nightmares about that last skirmish and had woken up shaking and sweating, Mac had been right there to comfort him. In the past months, he’d had fewer of those dark dreams and part of the reason was Mac.

“I feel comfortable with Mac here. When the workers were fixing the alarm and window, he sat nearby and watched their every move. I’m glad we didn’t have to find out what he’d do if one of them stepped out of line.”

“He’d corner the person. Unless physically threatened, he’d just remind them he was there and prepared to protect.”

Kate pointed at his dog sitting on the ground letting Jamie rub him. “As fierce as he can seem, you wouldn’t expect that kind of gentleness from him.”

“He’s been trained and treated well. Speaking of Mac, I wanted to talk to you about me staying here until Hammer is caught, too. My dog is good, but I’d feel better if I was here. The couch was quite comfortable, and I even dozed some last night.”

She released a slow breath. “I wasn’t going to ask you, but with both of you here, I’d feel even better and safer. I’m so glad you want to. But what about your work and Monday when I go back to court? I’m concerned about Jamie’s safety here in the house with just Rachel.”

“I’m hoping we’ll find Hammer by then, but if we don’t, we’ll discuss it then. I’m thinking my younger brother, who is a police officer, could help with Jamie or I’ll check with my chief about assigning a uniform to be here with Rachel and your son. I could drive you to and from the courthouse to make sure you’re safe and to check in with the security guards there. That way I can work on the case. Todd is doing the legwork right now. We want to have enough evidence to charge Hammer and keep him in jail without bail. The photos at his house will help us a lot. And when we find his car, there might be more evidence to tie him to the attack.” He took her hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll get him. His photo has been circulated everywhere. The news network has picked it up and has shown it several times in the last twenty-four hours.”

Kate faced him, only a foot between them. Her brown eyes fastened onto him, and he felt a new and somewhat unsettling sense of connection toward her.

He dropped her hand and stepped back. He needed to remain detached and on guard. “I’ll stay until Hammer is caught,” he said to remind himself he was unofficially on duty.

* * *

“Jamie finally went down for a nap,” Kate said on Sunday as she came into the den where Chase was going through her list of cases from the last few years.

“I need your input. Did any of these people make threats against you or make you uncomfortable?”

Kate sat next to Chase to go through the files he had already perused. “Find anyone promising besides Hammer?”

“A couple we’ll look into, but most would do something not long after the event that angered them. That doesn’t mean a person can’t hold a grudge and wait, but it’s not as likely. Hammer still is our best option. Men with a known pattern of domestic violence, which is the reason you limited his visitation with his children, are volatile. Tempers flare easily, especially if he thinks he’s wronged.”

“The abuse was directed only at his wife. His children wanted to see their father so I came up with a supervised visitation plan with a case worker so the mother wouldn’t be involved. I feel both parents are important to a child’s emotional growth, but sometimes I’ve had to completely deny a parent visitation rights.”

“Any in the last year?”

“There was one last fall. Let me see if I can find his folder.” Kate dug through the stack until she found Dale Winn. “Here it is. Not a nice man.”

“I’ll have Todd check him out. I’ll put him at the top of my list of people requiring further investigation.”

“Where’s your list?”

Chase passed the pad he’d been using to Kate. She let out a sound of surprise. “It’s a long list.”

“You’re one busy judge.”

She nodded her agreement. “Sadly, my docket is full. I wish it wasn’t. James and I had a great relationship and wanted to have several children. We tried. I miscarried four times. We’d come to the realization that adoption might be the best option for us. Not long after James died, I discovered I was pregnant. I honestly didn’t know if I would make it past three months. But I did.” When she thought back to that long month wondering if she would miscarry again, her emotions were all over the place. “When I was six-months pregnant, I realized my dream of having my husband’s child might come true.” Her throat closed around that last word, and she looked away from the sympathy in Chase’s expression.

He laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’ve had days when I didn’t want to wake up and face the day. After the second surgery on my leg...”

His voice trailed off, and she blinked her tears away and twisted toward him. “What happened?”

He pulled his hand away. “I don’t like to talk about it.”

“I understand. I don’t like to relive the months I knew I was going to have a baby and James wasn’t there to celebrate with me. It was bittersweet. I was given the most precious baby, but I’d lost my husband. Finally, I realized by sharing with others I healed faster. We aren’t meant to go through ordeals alone. We were made to help and support each other.” She wouldn’t force him, but she hoped he would tell her. She might be able to help him. “I’m here to listen if you ever want to.”

“I appreciate the offer. What I went through was different.”

“How was it?”

“I lost my best friend. We’d served together for several years and had gone through a lot.”

“I lost my best friend, too. James and I went through so much together although not in a war zone. He was there for me when my father passed away, when I miscarried each time. I understand loss. The emptiness. The hole in your life that you don’t know if you can ever fill. How did it happen?”

“We were ambushed by the enemy. He was right beside me one second, helping me because I was shot—” he snapped his fingers “—then the next second, he fell against me.”

“That’s how you hurt your leg?”

He nodded, swallowing hard several times.

“What was his name?”

For a long moment he didn’t say anything, then whispered in a raspy voice, “T. J. Boone. He left a wife and two kids.”

“I’m so sorry. Did he live here?”

“No, Dallas. Afterward, his wife moved back to her hometown in Oregon. I talk with her on the phone every now and then to make sure she’s all right. Her family is very supportive and have helped her through her husband’s death.”

“But no one was there for you.”

“It’s not the same thing.”

“Yes, it is. Whether you lose a close friend or a family member, you still go through the stages of grief. You still have to deal with the fact you’ll never see him again.”

As she waited, hoping he would share more, the doorbell chimed. The sound surprised her, and she gasped. “I’m not expecting anyone.” She started to rise.

“I’ll answer it.”

She walked with him to the foyer, but she hung back while he checked the peephole.

The tense set to his shoulders eased. “It’s Todd and my brother, Chad.” He swung the door open. “What brings you all by? Have you found Hammer?”

“No, but his car was discovered in the woods outside town. Chad is gonna stay with Kate while you come with me. The patrol officer called to the scene said there is evidence in the vehicle. Clothes. A ski mask.”

“Go. You might find something that tells you where Hammer is.” Kate grinned at his younger brother. “Besides, it gives me time to pump—or rather, to get to know Chad.”

“Okay.” Then to his brother, Chase, said, “I’m counting on you. If Hammer dumped his car, he must know that we’re on to him. Desperation might make him attack.” He frowned. “On second thought, maybe you should go alone, Todd.”

“Chase, I’m not gonna let you down.” Chad stepped into the entry hall, his hand on the butt of his gun in its holster.

“You know what the attacker was wearing. You need to go. I’ll be okay with Chad.” Then Kate leaned closer and whispered, “I’d feel better if you were there while the car was processed. Please.”

“You’re right. Let’s go, Todd.” Chase paused by his brother. “I know you’re capable.”

The second Chase closed the door behind him mixed feelings surged through Kate. In a short time, she’d come to depend on him. What if something happened to him? Dumping the car where Hammer had to know it would be found very quickly seemed suspicious to her. Was it a trap? An ambush like three years ago?

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