Assignment: Single Mom Surveillance

The Military K-9 Unit series continues

Her serial killer brother’s escaped—and it’s single mom Zoe Sullivan who’s under suspicion! Sgt. Linc Colson trusts two things: his instincts and his Rottweiler K-9 partner, Star—and certainly not the pretty face he’s assigned to monitor. He’s done everything to keep her from getting under his skin—now he must stop those who want to put her six feet under.

VALERIE HANSEN was thirty when she awoke to the presence of the Lord in her life and turned to Jesus. She now lives in a renovated farmhouse in the breathtakingly beautiful Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and is privileged to share her personal faith by telling the stories of her heart for Love Inspired. Life doesn’t get much better than that!

Also By Valerie Hansen

Love Inspired Suspense

Military K-9 Unit

Bound by Duty

Classified K-9 Unit

Special Agent

Rookie K-9 Unit

Search and Rescue

Rookie K-9 Unit Christmas

“Surviving Christmas”

The Defenders

Nightwatch

Threat of Darkness

Standing Guard

A Trace of Memory

Small Town Justice

Dangerous Legacy

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Bound by Duty

Valerie Hansen

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08447-5

BOUND BY DUTY

© 2018 Harlequin Books S.A

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Zoe gazed down at the dog. “She’s beautiful.”

“And intelligent and trained to be lethal, if necessary,” Linc cautioned.

“I don’t doubt that for a second.” Meeting Star’s upturned face with a tender look of her own, Zoe dangled the tips of her fingers over the edge of the box. The dog noticed but didn’t seem upset, so she took a chance and wiggled them.

Star had apparently realized she wasn’t a danger because she sniffed Zoe’s fingers, then gave them a quick lick.

“Are you trying to recruit her to the dark side?”

“Not at all. Actually, I’m very impressed with Star. She’s a lot smarter than you security forces people are. She’s already decided I’m one of the good guys around here.”

“Then it’s a good thing she’s not the one in charge.”

* * *

MILITARY K-9 UNIT:

These soldiers track down a serial killer with the help of their brave canine partners

Mission to Protect—Terri Reed, April 2018

Bound by Duty—Valerie Hansen, May 2018

Top Secret Target—Dana Mentink, June 2018

Standing Fast—Maggie K. Black, July 2018

Rescue Operation—Lenora Worth, August 2018

Explosive Force—Lynette Eason, September 2018

Battle Tested—Laura Scott, October 2018

Valiant Defender—Shirlee McCoy, November 2018

Military K-9 Unit Christmas—Valerie Hansen and Laura Scott, December 2018

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.

—Psalms 46:1–2

Dear Reader,

This is a story of redemption and forgiveness. Even when our past is troubled, there is always hope, always a way to go on. Personally, I don’t know how anyone copes daily without a saving faith in Jesus Christ. He has brought me through many trials when I saw only dark clouds and imagined no rainbows, no possibilities of future happiness.

The struggles of Zoe and Linc were intensified because they both dwelled on an unhappy past rather than accepting the new chance for love that was awaiting them. We can’t go back and fix mistakes—and would probably make things worse if we tried. Each challenge is a way to learn and grow, each new day a precious gift. We only need to accept God’s love and forgiveness, trust Him and willingly place the rest of our lives in His care.

I can be reached by email at Val@ValerieHansen.com, or via my website, www.valeriehansen.com.

Blessings,

Valerie

Special thanks to former air force sergeant Nancy N. for her advice and to our pastor, John, who also served, as did his son.

Terri Reed, Dana Mentink, Maggie K. Black, Lenora Worth, Lynette Eason, Laura Scott, Shirlee McCoy and I all did our best to support each other’s efforts and learn proper air force protocol for this series. It was difficult, but we gave it our all.

God bless the men and women of our current military who daily give far more and those who have sacrificed in the past to keep us free. We are grateful beyond words.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Bible Verse

Dear Reader

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

She was being watched. Constantly. Every fiber of her being knew it. Lately, she felt as though she was the defenseless prey and packs of predators were circling her and her helpless little boy, which was why she’d left Freddy at home with a sitter. Were things as bad as they seemed? It was more than possible, and Staff Sergeant Zoe Sullivan shivered despite the warm spring day.

Scanning the busy parking lot as she left the Canyon Air Force Base Exchange with her purchases, Zoe quickly spotted one of the Security Forces investigators. Her pulse jumped, and hostility took over her usually amiable spirit. The K-9 cop in a blue beret and camo ABU—Airman Battle Uniform—was obviously waiting for her. She bit her lip. Nobody cared how innocent she was. Being the half sister of Boyd Sullivan, the escaped Red Rose Killer, automatically made her a person of interest.

Zoe clenched her teeth. There was no way she could prove herself, so why bother trying? She squared her slim shoulders under her blue off-duty T-shirt and stepped out, heading straight for the Security Forces man and his imposing K-9, a black-and-rust-colored rottweiler.

Clearly, he saw her coming because he tensed, feet apart, body braced. In Zoe’s case, five and a half feet was the most height she could muster. The dark-haired tech sergeant she was approaching looked to be quite a bit taller.

He gave a slight nod as she drew near and greeted her formally. “Sergeant Sullivan.”

Linc Colson’s firm jaw, broad shoulders and strength of presence were familiar. They had met during a questioning session conducted by Captain Justin Blackwood and Master Sergeant Westley James shortly after her half brother had escaped from prison.

Zoe stopped and gave the cop an overt once-over. “Can I help you with something, Sergeant Colson?”

“No, ma’am.”

A cynical smile teased at one corner of her mouth. “Oh? Then why is it you’re always following me? Don’t you ever get a day off?”

“Just doing my job, Sergeant.”

She knew he was right, but it galled her to be the object of futile efforts when base Security Forces could have been using their manpower to figure out who at Canyon Air Force Base was really cooperating with Boyd. How long were they going to continue disrupting her life and work? A wryly humorous thought intruded, and she chuckled.

Colson stared. The muscular K-9 at his side tensed. “What’s so funny?”

Zoe waved her hands in dismissal as best she could with the canvas grocery tote handles looped over her forearms. “Relax, Sergeant. I wasn’t laughing at you. I was just picturing you guys trying to track me when I’m giving flying lessons. How are you at piloting a T-38 in close formation?”

She was relieved to note he was having difficulty containing his own smile. His mouth stayed put, but there was no denying a spark in his green eyes.

“I’d wait for you on the ground,” he said. “Or outside the simulator.”

Sobering, Zoe shook her head slowly, her light brown ponytail swinging. “I don’t suppose it would do me any good to take an oath that I haven’t seen Boyd since the last time I visited him in prison.”

“That’s not for me to say.”

“No, I don’t suppose it is.” An eyebrow arched above her hazel eyes. “What if it were? Would you be willing to at least give me the benefit of the doubt instead of condemning me outright?”

To her surprise and disappointment, he said, “No.”

“So much for the famous air force camaraderie,” Zoe muttered. Louder, she said, “Fine,” shouldered past him and started up the sidewalk toward Base Boulevard.

He turned slightly as she passed. “Those bags look heavy. Why didn’t you call a cab after you bought so much?”

“It’s a beautiful spring day in the heart of Texas,” she snapped back. “Walking is a pleasure.”

“If you say so.”

Righteous indignation surged, and she picked up her pace. She couldn’t stop the base cops from shadowing her, but she didn’t have to make it easy. If her conscience hadn’t kept kicking up, she would have enjoyed her impromptu plan to ditch this one even more.

Instead of looking back to see how far ahead she was getting, she checked the reflections in the rear window of a bus that was unloading green recruits, probably for a tour of the impressive shopping facilities at the Base Exchange.

It looked as if Sergeant Colson was trailing her by at least a hundred yards. Good. Her smile returned. She shouldered her way through the milling group of men and women gathered on the sidewalk, then ducked in front of the idling bus, keeping it between her and the K-9 cop for as long as she could before darting around the far end of the stores in the Exchange and breaking into a run.

The moment she saw the warehouse complex behind the stores she knew exactly what to do next. She slipped between two of them and paused to catch her breath. Yes, the K-9 could and would track her. But in the meantime, she intended to enjoy thwarting his handler for a few minutes. Let Colson wonder where she was and what she was up to. Base personnel had already painted her as a clever criminal, a person to be avoided and mistrusted. A contrary side to her nature insisted on payback.

She ducked around a second corner, tried a side door to one of the warehouse buildings, found it unlocked and bolted through, lowering her sacks of groceries to the floor as she pressed her back to the inside of the steel door.

Breathless, Zoe stared into the darkness of the vast windowless storage area and waited for her night vision to improve.

This is wrong, her conscience insisted.

Was she finished playing games? Not quite. Leaving behind her purchases, she flipped the lock on the door to secure it and began to edge past pallets of boxes stacked in rows, looking for a different exit.

The sudden whirring of a motor stopped her in her tracks. Somebody was raising the overhead bay doors at the far end. Light crept below the broad edge of the moving panels. Then they stopped, leaving a gap of about three feet between the floor and the base of the door.

Zoe didn’t move. Hardly breathed. Had Sergeant Colson located her already? Wow, he was good at tracking. Or, at least, his dog was. She was preparing to step forward and reveal herself—until she realized she wasn’t seeing a K-9.

Instead, a man in camo and combat boots and a woman wearing a skirt and high heels ducked beneath the hanging door. All Zoe could see clearly was their feet and lower legs, but it was obvious she’d given Colson too much credit. He hadn’t found her. This was probably nothing more than a lovers’ tryst.

Voices reached her but were too muted to understand. She was about to back away and give the couple privacy when she saw a muzzle flash and heard the reverberation of a gunshot.

Instinct made her duck and cover her ears. Self-preservation kept her down while every hair at the nape of her neck prickled and her body trembled, willing her to run yet keeping her feet leaden. She could barely breathe.

The female figure was crumpling to the floor. Zoe could see blood spreading across the back of a reddish-haired woman’s light-colored blouse. The shooter bent over her, his gun at the ready, a black ski mask hiding his features.

Help! She had to get help. Trembling, Zoe pulled her cell phone from the pocket of her PT shorts. Its lit screen and beeps of dialing were her undoing. As the victim lay still, bleeding and perhaps dying, the assailant straightened, wheeled to face the noise and started to move toward Zoe.

He was coming for her. She was next!

* * *

Linc Colson was concentrating, his jaw clenched, every nerve taut, as he followed K-9 Star. The rottweiler was as good as they came, and he trusted her tracking skills implicitly. That was why when she began to bark and paw at a closed warehouse door, he drew his sidearm and immediately tried the handle. Locked. And far too sturdily made to kick open.

He’d reached for the mic clipped to his shoulder, intending to report the evasive actions of his assigned suspect when a C-130 passing overhead forced a delay. He could hardly hear Star’s barking over the roar of those engines, let alone hope to be able to transmit clearly. He just hoped Sergeant Sullivan hadn’t run off to meet her murderous brother.

Linc jiggled the door handle again to no avail. He had just let it go when the heavy door swung open and a body slammed into his chest. Zoe Sullivan! Pushing her away, he commanded Star to sit and stay while one hand hovered over his holster and he faced his quarry.

Gasping, she raised both hands, palms out. “Don’t shoot. It’s me.”

“I can see that.” He had to shout at her to make himself heard over the fading roar of the cargo plane.

When she reached out to him, he took additional evasive action. “Stay where you are.”

“No! You don’t understand.”

Her voice was shrill. Different than before. She sounded frightened. Well, too bad. “If you didn’t want to get in more trouble, you shouldn’t have tried to ditch me.” He peered past her. “Where’s Boyd?”

“How should I know?”

Judging by the way she kept shaking her head, waving her hands and gaping at him, she’d scared herself more than she’d worried him. Good. It served her right.

“I’m sorry. I promise I won’t do it again, but...”

“You sure won’t.” He signaled his dog to stand guard. “No more special courtesy for you, Sergeant Sullivan. From now on, I’m your shadow. You got that?”

“Fine. Then follow me.”

She turned and ducked back through the open door so quickly only Star kept up. Linc shouted, “Stop!” But the flight instructor kept right on going, stumbling when Star got in front of her to try to block her progress.

Linc grabbed a fistful of the back of Zoe’s shirt and yanked her back outside. “Oh, no, you don’t!”

She struggled against his hold. “Let me go. She may not be dead yet!”

“Who may not be dead? What kind of games are you playing now?”

“No games. I saw a woman get shot.” Staggering to keep her balance, she pointed with her whole arm. “Right in there. The shot echoed. You must have heard it, too.”

“Not over the engines of a C-130.” Linc drew his gun and took a defensive stance. “If you’re lying...”

“I’m not. I saw the shooting with my own eyes. When I tried to phone for help, the killer spotted me. I had to run for my life.” Her lips trembled. “And, no, it wasn’t Boyd. At least not this time.”

Either the flight instructor was telling the truth or she deserved an Oscar for acting, Linc decided. Not only was she shaking all over, his own nerves had begun firing wildly. The back of his neck tingled and he sensed danger the way he had in combat when trying to outwit a hidden enemy.

Pushing her aside with his free arm, he aimed blindly into the dark warehouse. “How could you see a thing in there?”

“The—the loading door at the other end was partly open when it all happened. The guy must have closed it after he shot her.”

Linc reached for his radio, reported the possible crime and was assured of backup, then instructed Zoe. “You stay out here. I’m going in to see if I can find the lights.”

“No way. Suppose the shooter gets behind you.”

“Star would alert me.”

“I still think I should go along. I can help.”

“The dog can do it better,” Linc insisted.

“I give up. I’m scared, okay? My little boy needs me, and you know I’m unarmed. The shooter knows I saw him. I don’t want to wait out here by myself.”

He could hear her rapid breathing, feel her fear. “That’s the first totally honest thing I’ve heard you say,” Linc replied. “All right. But stay close behind me in case I have to fire.”

“Gladly.”

Stepping inside, Linc placed each boot as silently as possible. He moved ahead in a half crouch in order to present a smaller target. Star preceded him. Zoe followed.

A swishing, fluttering noise from above startled all three of them. Zoe let out a tiny gasp but didn’t scream, impressing him, despite his lingering anger at her foolish tricks. Star paused for a moment, then looked forward again. “A bird in the rafters,” Linc whispered.

Although his human companion didn’t react, he continued to feel her presence, as if his actual shadow had substance. He’d have waited for backup if Sullivan hadn’t mentioned a victim. Given that complication, he needed to reach the scene and assess any injuries. Quickly.

Pausing, Linc waved his palm in front of Star’s nose, then held it up to stop Zoe, too. “Stay here. The panel for the lights is right ahead. When I turn them on, I don’t want you to be out in the open.”

“Will your dog panic and bite me if you leave?” Zoe whispered.

Under other circumstances Link would have chuckled. “Not unless I tell her to, so don’t run away again.”

Sergeant Sullivan’s muttered reply faded to nothing as Linc moved forward. His sight had adjusted to the darkness enough to tell where he was but not enough to spot hidden attackers.

He reached for the panel and flipped the switches. Banks of overhead fluorescent lights flickered, then steadied, illuminating the entire warehouse.

Linc’s first act was to ensure that there was no imminent threat. His gaze swept the building contents, then came to rest on Zoe. Star was seated at her feet, panting and totally unconcerned, meaning she sensed no danger lurking nearby.

In contrast, the flight instructor was standing there with her hazel eyes wide and her mouth hanging open, looking as though she was about to keel over.

Linc followed her line of sight to the base of the roll-up door. The concrete was spotless.

No dust.

No blood stain.

And no body.

TWO

Zoe took a shaky breath. “That’s impossible!” She wanted to explain what had happened but couldn’t. She had seen the shooting with her own eyes. Had watched the victim fall and bleed. So where had the injured woman gone?

Her companion reached for his mic. “Colson here. False alarm at the warehouse.”

Watching his expression removed all doubt that he blamed her for the false alarm. Only it wasn’t her fault. It hadn’t been. She knew what she’d seen, how she’d felt when the assailant had turned and come toward her. Imagination or hallucination or whatever a person wanted to call it was not enough to scare her that much.

The K-9 handler raised a dark eyebrow. “Well?”

“Oh, no. You’re not going to blame me for this, Colson. I don’t know what really happened, but I am not making anything up. I heard a shot. I saw a victim fall and watched a red stain blossom on her back. There is no way this floor can be this clean and dry after that. Not this fast. There has to be a logical explanation.”

“I’m waiting for it,” he said.

Zoe took a deep breath and exhaled noisily. Slowly shaking her head, she glanced down at the imposing patrol K-9. “I’d rather try to explain it to your dog. She looks more likely to believe me.”

“Don’t let her temporary relaxation fool you. One word or signal from me and Star will be a formidable adversary.”

“I know. It’s just that sometimes I tend to relate to animals better than I do humans. And see her cute tan eyebrows? She’s not scowling at me the way you are.”

“Maybe that’s because you didn’t lie to her.”

“I didn’t lie to you either.” Zoe knew there was pathos in her tone, but she didn’t try to hide or excuse it. “There has to be a clue here. A drop of blood or something. Please. Bring in somebody who can test the area for it. At least give me the benefit of the doubt.”

“So you can waste our time and resources?”

Her voice became strident. “Me? You’re the ones who are wasting time by focusing on my life when you should be trying to track down my stupid half brother before he does something else too horrible for words. I haven’t seen him since before he escaped, and I only went because I felt sorry for him. I don’t want to see him on the outside of prison walls. I have my little boy to protect. Do you think I want Boyd anywhere near Freddy?”

“Why not? You sure visited him plenty.”

“That’s different. Boyd’s all the family I have left since Dad died. I suppose I should have stayed away, but I kept hoping he was worth redeeming.”

“By you?” She heard him huff.

“No. By God and Jesus,” Zoe said, and this time there was new gentleness in her speech.

“Some people aren’t worth it,” Colson countered drily.

“I disagree. Everybody should have the chance to reform, no matter what they’ve done.” Her heart clenched. Too bad it was too late to help Freddy’s daddy.

That all-encompassing statement apparently convinced the cop to turn away and once again use his radio. “Give me Captain Blackwood,” he said. After a short pause he followed with, “Linc Colson here, sir. I’m at warehouse W-16 behind the BX. Sullivan insists she saw a crime committed and is requesting a tech team. Do you want me to stay here until you give me further orders or shall I relinquish the scene?”

Zoe couldn’t hear the reply because the sergeant was wearing an earpiece, but judging by his grim look, he wasn’t happy with the captain’s decision. She waited expectantly for him to end the call and explain.

“They’re coming,” he grumbled. “You win. This time.”

“I’m not trying to win anything,” she insisted. “I just don’t want a criminal to get away with murder.”

“Right.”

Zoe could have brought up the sacrifice of personal happiness she’d made when she’d turned in her former husband, John, for possible espionage, a transgression, which may have been responsible for his untimely death, but since those records were sealed, she figured it would be best to keep that part of her past to herself. Her rotten brother was plenty for now. Between relatives she couldn’t help knowing and choosing the wrong man to marry, her record of discernment was pitiful.

She decided to try changing the subject. “So, Linc is what the L on your name tag stands for? Is that short for Lincoln?”

“Not anymore. It’s just Linc now.”

“Why?”

“Because I got tired of being called Abe. Nicknames are bad enough in the air force. They were lots worse when I was a kid.”

She had to smile at him. “Gotcha. Boyd liked to call me Baby Sister, and the kids in the neighborhood and at school picked it up. Thankfully, it didn’t follow me into the air force, even if my brother did.”

“You got off easy when he washed out.” He gestured to some cardboard cartons piled near the open bay doors. “We might as well sit down.”

“Your dog is tired, right?”

One corner of his mouth twitched for a moment as if a smile was trying to get out before he regained control and answered, “Right. My partner is.”

“Sorry.” Zoe led the way to the stack and tested it to make sure the carton was strong enough to support her before sitting. “I had forgotten you guys considered your K-9s partners.”

Linc took a seat with Star between them. “We’re classified as teammates. She’s an MWD, Military Working Dog, and I’m her handler.”

Zoe gazed down. “She’s beautiful.”

“And intelligent and trained to be lethal if necessary,” Linc cautioned.

“I don’t doubt that for a second.” Meeting Star’s upturned face with a tender look of her own, Zoe dangled the tips of her fingers over the edge of the box. The dog noticed but didn’t seem upset, so she took a chance and wiggled them.

Star had apparently realized she wasn’t a danger, because she sniffed Zoe’s fingers, then gave them a quick lick.

Zoe giggled. Linc did not. “It’s a good thing for you that Star has been socialized more than some of our other dogs or she’d never put up with that. What are you trying to do, recruit her over to the dark side?”

That opinion deserved a hearty laugh. “Not at all. Actually, I’m very impressed with Star. She’s a lot smarter than you Security Forces people are. She’s already decided I’m one of the good guys around here.”

“Then it’s a good thing she’s not the one in charge.”

* * *

Linc was not pleased by Zoe’s conclusion, but he had to give her credit for having a kind enough heart to make an emotional connection with the dog, despite the fact that such interactions were usually unsuccessful. Nevertheless, that didn’t prove her innocence. She’d already admitted having a soft spot where Boyd was concerned. She could have helped him sneak on and off the base at the very least, although Linc couldn’t imagine why she would, particularly since she seemed worried about the safety of her little boy.

Truth to tell, Zoe may not have had anything to do with an actual crime or with Boyd’s latest victims, other than the fact that they were all connected to Canyon. Two dog trainers, a basic training instructor and a base cook had all died during the previous month and warning notes had been delivered to other potential targets. The trainers and one other, Chief Master Sergeant Clinton Lockwood, were found with red roses the way past victims had been. Boyd could have done all that himself and probably had, particularly if he was actually inside the base’s perimeter fence as they suspected.

Which brought Linc’s musings back to Zoe Sullivan. She might have helped her half brother gain access if she thought she was doing the right thing and could handle him. There was certainly a stronger possibility for her to have given assistance than there was for any of Boyd’s former cronies who were still serving at CAFB to do so. They might have supported his illegal activities when he was still enlisted, but those who had stayed on after his discharge and had advanced in rank now had promising careers to consider.

Linc’s pondering was interrupted by the arrival of Captain Justin Blackwood, accompanied by a lone evidence technician and base photographer, Staff Sergeant Felicity James. Linc snapped to attention, as did Zoe. Blackwood returned the salute. “As you were.”

“I didn’t mean for you to bother about this personally, Captain,” Linc told the captain.

“I wanted to see the scene for myself.” Blackwood was eyeing Zoe as if he expected her to say or do something odd. “Show me what you found.”

“It’s more what we didn’t find.” Linc stepped forward with Star, angling so he could also keep an eye on Zoe. “Sergeant Sullivan said the shooting happened here. She insists there must be evidence.”

When he pointed at the base of the door, she spoke up. “I was in the back of the building, sir. I couldn’t tell exactly how close to the opening the two people were standing, but I could judge left and right. I put the shooting victim a foot left of center with the shooter to the right of that. Any blood spray patterns should be near the bottom edge of the door.”

The Captain looked to the tech, who was opening a forensics test kit. “Okay. Colson will run the door up a few feet so you can check the cement apron, too, and Sergeant James can snap a few pictures for the record.”

Complying, Linc wished he had thought of that. Normally, he would have, but he had been so sure the Sullivan woman had fabricated her story he’d been lax. That wasn’t good, nor was it fair if she was telling the truth.

Which she isn’t, he assured himself. He wasn’t sure exactly what her motives were. He didn’t have to know. All he was supposed to do was follow her in case her murderous brother tried to make contact.

That was a task he relished. Capturing an escaped serial killer was worth working overtime and putting up with a clever woman’s tricks. In a way, it was too bad that Sergeant Sullivan was using her superior intelligence and quick mind to thwart the law. Given different circumstances, he would have admired her.

* * *

Watching Captain Blackwood oversee the testing of the base of the roll-up door, Zoe felt her confidence waning. Clearly, they weren’t finding the clues she had expected.

When the tech straightened, picked up his gear and shook his head, she knew she’d been bested. But by whom? By what? She was positive she’d witnessed a shooting. The chances of such a violent act leaving no trace were slim to none. There had to be something there. There simply had to be.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t trained to find it. She was trained to teach basic flying. Period. Frustration brought unshed tears to her eyes, and she fought to remain stoic. “I saw two people. One shot the other. A body fell.”

Linc’s left brow arched. “You’re sticking to that fairy tale?”

“No, I’m sticking to the truth as I know it. There’s a big difference.”

Although rancor in Colson’s expression was evident, he didn’t counter. Instead, he turned to his superior and apologized as if the callout was his own error.

“Sorry, Captain. This false alarm was my fault. The subject was out of my sight for a few minutes, so I can’t verify anything that took place during that time.”

“Well, see that she isn’t again, Colson.”

“Yes, sir.”

The look that the K-9 cop shot her gave Zoe the shivers. She didn’t know how her surveillance could get any worse but figured she was about to find out.

She desperately wanted to counter with a statement of her own but managed to hold her tongue. It was doubtful that either man would believe she’d merely been blowing off steam and overreacting in righteous anger regarding the unfair surveillance situation.

Someday, perhaps she’d have a chance to speak her mind, but this was certainly not it. She was already in enough trouble due to her relationship with her nefarious brother, however strained. Considering all the pressure she’d been under lately, there was also a one-in-a-million chance she might have been imagining things. There had been times recently when confusion over minor things had worried her.

If there was a chance that her mind was playing tricks again, her wisest choice would be to let everyone continue to believe she had made up the shooting story as a distraction. Otherwise, someone might deem her unfit—both as an aviation instructor and as Freddy’s mother. No way was she going to allow that to happen. Her job was important, yes. She loved her country and was eager to serve. But her little boy was everything.

THREE

“I can call a cab and escort you home,” Linc told Zoe after the captain and tech left.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“You’re right. It isn’t. But if you’re really as upset as you’ve been acting, it’s sensible.” He could almost see the wheels turning in her brain before she nodded.

“I’ll walk. But I would like the company, just in case. I have to stop at the side door and pick up my groceries.”

The change in Sullivan’s demeanor bothered him, not because she had stopped arguing but because she seemed so downtrodden. Still, she’d fooled him before, much to his embarrassment, and could easily be acting again. Making comparisons to her criminal brother was natural. Boyd had been charming when it suited him, then he’d changed into a self-serving killer.

Not that Linc believed Zoe was that bad, he assured himself. But it would behoove him to remember she was kin to a serial killer. She and her brother had had the same father, so there was a chance she had inherited whatever genes that made Boyd so dangerous. That judgment wasn’t a lot different from their process of choosing likely candidates for K-9 service. The tendencies for action had to be there before training began or efforts for tight control over those instincts might be time wasted.

Ahead of him, Sergeant Sullivan paused to reclaim her grocery totes and started out the door. Linc tensed, wondering if she’d try more evasive tactics and was mildly surprised when she waited for him to clear the exit with Star and fall in beside her.

“You were right,” Zoe said with a sigh. “I should have driven. I’m suddenly exhausted.” She paused for a heartbeat. “And, no, I’m not asking for that taxi or hinting that I want you to help carry anything while you’re on duty.”

Linc harrumphed. “It takes a lot out of you to evade the police, huh?”

“Dodging you wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

“They why did you do it?”

“Frustration, I guess. I got tired of being treated like a criminal and decided to rebel a little.”

“Not a good idea.”

She sighed again, this time more loudly. “Yeah. It seemed kind of okay at the time. At least until the shooting.”

Pacing her by shortening his strides, Linc remained silent and waited to see if she’d confess more. Instead, she gave him a cynical glance and said, “I really goofed. I liked it better when you and your cohorts were hiding and just shadowing me.”

“You may have seen us once or twice, but most of the time we were out of sight.”

She laughed.

Linc was not amused. “Are you insinuating you knew we were keeping you under constant surveillance?”

“Absolutely. For one thing, the fact that I was being watched made me edgy, made my senses tingle the way a hare reacts to a hungry coyote.” Pausing, she blushed. “Why do you think I started keeping my blinds closed?”

“Because you were hiding something.”

“Yeah, my private life.”

“We watched the doors for signs of your brother. We weren’t peeking in your windows.”

“Says who?”

“Says me. You don’t have a very high opinion of our Security Forces, do you?”

They had reached Zoe’s four-story apartment building. She stopped at the foot of the concrete walkway to answer. “I think the police, both civilian and military, do an amazing job keeping order and tracking down criminals. What I don’t like is being considered one of the bad guys.”

Linc had to admit she had a point. Assuming she was innocent, of course. He nodded in tacit agreement. “I get that. I do. But suppose you were positive a student pilot was unstable. Would you allow him or her to fly or would you wash them out?”

She made a face. “I’ve washed out more than one.”

“Because that’s your job as a flight instructor.”

“Yes.”

“Then bear with me here,” Linc said. “Watching you for clues to finding your brother, Boyd, is my job. Even if you haven’t been helping him since he escaped from prison, you can’t be certain he won’t show up looking for you. We know he or someone mimicking him has been on base or we wouldn’t have had threats and killings identified by red roses and predictable notes.”

He sensed he was getting through to Zoe. “Do you plan to spend the rest of the afternoon at home, Sergeant Sullivan?”

“Yes. As soon as I send the babysitter home, Freddy and I are going to play a few games.”

“All right. I’ll go up with you and check the place over.”

“Seriously? You want to search my apartment?”

“Unless you refuse permission. If you do, that points to culpability. My CO can always ask for a search warrant.”

“I know. Actually, given the morning I’ve had, I’d almost welcome it. Just don’t scare my little boy. Or the babysitter.”

“I’ll try not to. I was kind of surprised to see who you got to watch him.”

“Portia Blackwood, you mean?”

“Yes.” Linc had been shocked to see Justin’s daughter show up. “Does her father know she’s here?”

“I assume so. Captain Blackwood posted a notice asking parents to consider Portia for babysitting to give her something constructive to do now that she’s living with him. I called and left a recorded message and she got back to me.”

“I can’t believe Blackwood gave her permission to sit for you in the first place, considering the possibility of your brother showing up.”

“Oh, dear. I didn’t think to ask when she called. Maybe she went behind his back.” Zoe lowered her voice. “I’m not sure she’ll work out anyway. She didn’t seem very enthusiastic when she arrived.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. My Freddy normally spends a lot of his time at the day care and preschool on base and he’s perfectly happy there.”

“I can’t understand why you called Portia in the first place.” Following closely, always on alert, Linc climbed the stairs to the second-story apartment with Zoe and Star. “I hear the captain has his hands full with her.”

“Well, that’s to be expected,” Zoe countered. “He wasn’t on scene often until Portia’s mother passed away.” Linc saw her cheeks redden. “Sorry. That sounded too harsh. I shouldn’t be gossiping. I don’t know the facts firsthand.”

“I’m sure my captain did the best he could in a difficult situation.”

“I’m sure he did.”

Linc noted she had not locked her apartment door and remarked on it. “I’d really be more careful if I were you.”

“I usually am. I guess I figured Portia would lock it when I left.” She stepped inside and called, “I’m home!”

Linc saw a barefoot child hurrying toward her, arms open wide as if he hadn’t seen her in months. The little boy’s grin was a mile wide, and his hazel eyes that matched Zoe’s twinkled. His hair was curlier and more blond than light brown, but otherwise he was the spitting image of the staff sergeant.

When she dropped her groceries to scoop the toddler up in her arms, Linc was oddly touched. This was a personal side of her he had not noted. The mutual love was so evident, so strong, it seemed to fill the tiny living room.

Zoe kissed Freddy’s cheek as he wrapped his pudgy arms around her neck and shouted, “Mama!” Seconds later, he noticed the dog and started to squirm. “A puppy!”

“Whoa. Hold on, honey. That’s not a puppy you can play with. That’s a member of the air force, just like Mama is. The dog is working right now.”

“That’s right,” Linc said. “Star and I are going to go check your house while you and your mother wait right here. We’ll be back in a few minutes and then I’ll introduce you. Okay?”

The eager child was nodding. “Uh-huh.”

“Good.” Linc looked around. “Where’s your babysitter, Sergeant Sullivan?”

“Beats me.” She turned to her son. “Where’s Portia, Freddy?”

“She has time-out.”

Zoe was obviously confused. That made two of them. Concerned and on high alert, Linc gave her a hand signal to wait, then took Star and began to work his way through the apartment, room by room. Only one door was closed.

He placed the heel of his hand on the grip of his holstered pistol, prepared to make entry and threw open the door.

Portia’s ensuing scream was loud enough to be heard over the roar of a jet engine.

* * *

Zoe clasped Freddy tightly and took cover behind the kitchen island. It wasn’t until she heard the clicking of Star’s nails on the hardwood floor that she raised enough to peek over the top. There was her so-called babysitter, clasping an iPad to her chest and breathing hard. Linc and Star were herding her ahead of them and it was evident she was one unhappy teen.

Rising, still holding her son close, Zoe scowled. “Where did you find her?”

“Sitting on a bed with the door shut, so she could instant message her friends without being disturbed.” He gave the girl a light tap on the shoulder to urge her to fully face Zoe and the boy as he continued. “I’m glad you weren’t gone long, Sergeant. If you had been, who knows what might have happened.”

“I agree.” Swallowing her anger, Zoe spoke as sternly as possible while her insides quaked with fear for Freddy’s welfare. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to use your services again, Portia. I’m sorry.”

“Whatever.” The sullen teen flipped her long blond hair back defiantly.

“We’re both fortunate that the person who scared you just now is one of the good guys,” Zoe said. “It could have been anyone.”

Portia huffed. “Here? We might as well be in jail.”

“Normally, I’d agree with you,” Zoe said, eyeing Linc for clues to his opinion of how she handled the situation and feeling assured they were both on the same page.

She addressed the girl. “I put aside two hours’ wages for you before I went to the store to make sure I had the right change.” She sat Freddy on the counter and steadied him while she reached up to open the overhead spice cabinet. “It’s right—”

Stunned, Zoe stopped with her hand raised. “I know I put it here. I remember doing it.”

Linc spoke quietly. “Is it possible you only meant to leave the money and it slipped your mind because you were distracted?”

“I don’t think so.” Zoe was beginning to wonder herself, although there was no way she’d admit it, particularly not to him. “All right, Portia,” she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a handful of bills. “Here. If this isn’t enough, I can write you a check.”

The girl grabbed the money without counting it. “I don’t need your check. I only took this job in the first place to get out of the house.” Still clutching her iPad, she hurried to the door and let it slam behind her.

“Whew.” Zoe let out a breath. “I wouldn’t want to be that girl’s father. It’s hard enough being a single parent without stumbling into the job late the way the captain did. It’s too bad he wasn’t able to be a stronger presence in the girl’s life when she was younger.”

“Yeah. Deployment can mess up families.” Linc eyed the half-open kitchen cabinet and scowled. “You know, you have been under a lot of stress lately.”

“Meaning?”

He shrugged. “Maybe it’s finally getting to you. You’re all by yourself with a child to worry about. You’re under suspicion. Your convict brother could show up here at any minute and you still have to perform your normal teaching duties. That’s a lot to process.”

“Why don’t you just spit it out?” Zoe demanded. “You and your boss are sure I imagined the shooting and now you’re suggesting I’m losing it over little things, too.”

“Are you?”

“No.” It was almost a shout and frightened her son into reaching for her. Penitent, Zoe lifted him into her arms and stepped back. “I’m sorry if I scared you, honey.” Looking at Star, she asked Linc, “Did you mean it when you promised he could pet your partner?”

“I did.” To Zoe’s delight, the man even smiled slightly, although it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Let’s go into the living room where we can be comfortable,” Linc said, leading the way. “I normally don’t take Star’s vest off when we’re working, but I’ll make an exception today.” He sat on one end of the small sofa with his K-9 at his feet and proceeded to unbuckle her harness.

“Where should we sit?” Zoe asked, realizing that whatever Colson said, she’d end up close to him. There was no way she was going to get one inch away from her three-year-old son in the presence of a trained attack dog so, like it or not, she was going to have to grit her teeth and cozy up to the security man.

“Right here is fine,” he said, keeping his attention focused on Star while indicating the empty end of the settee.

Yup. Really close, she thought. Oh, well, I can do anything for Freddy’s sake. I certainly don’t want him to grow up scared of authority or become a criminal like his uncle, Boyd. Boyd’s latest crimes made her almost wish she hadn’t taken back her maiden name. Given the treasonous acts associated with her late husband and her plans to make the air force her career however, it had seemed the lesser of two evils. She supposed it still was.

To Zoe’s surprise, the cop seemed to mellow as he relaxed and petted the rottweiler. His voice was low, his expression appealing. When he spoke softly to Star, the K-9 gazed into his eyes with total adoration. The pair had gone from imposing threats to friendly neighbors in the blink of an eye. Why couldn’t Sergeant Colson act this way when he was shadowing her? She would have liked him a lot better if he had.

That thought stopped her heart. Liked him? Her? No way. He was just another problem to face, another hapless bird sucked into her jet intake, ready to cause a crash. So why was she having such a hard time continuing to dislike him?

Because he was being so kind to Freddy, she answered easily. A big scary cop and a trusting little boy were relating to each other as if they were meant to be best buds.

Linc held out his large hand and Freddy grasped it without hesitation. The sight of the man safely guiding her son’s little chubby fingers toward a dog powerful enough to harm them touched her heart. Her son had never known his father, never had a male role model. And until that moment, Zoe had not realized the enormity of what he’d been missing.

FOUR

Linc wasn’t surprised by the way Star treated the trusting little boy after a proper introduction, but his own reactions to the situation gave him pause. A feeling of tenderness he had not anticipated flowed over and through him, leaving a sense of peace and rightness behind. What was that all about? He didn’t even like kids. At least he didn’t think he did. Truthfully, his experiences with small children were limited, and he’d always viewed them as sort of alien creatures. Cute but unknowable. So how had he apparently managed to connect with this one?

He cast a sidelong glance at Zoe and was awed by her expression, as well. The way she was gazing at her son left no doubt of her love and devotion. From what Linc could recall, nobody had ever looked at him that way, not even his own mother, and as far as his dad was concerned, he might as well have been invisible—unless he’d misbehaved. Then his father had taken plenty of notice and dished out serious punishment.

Such thoughts pulled Linc from his earlier calm and left him wondering what Freddy’s father had been like. There wasn’t much background information in Sergeant Sullivan’s personnel file, but since she’d chosen to revert to her maiden name, he figured there must have been notable conflict.

“You’re doing fine,” Linc told the child. “Just pet her gently. She likes her ears scratched like this.” He demonstrated, then laughed when Freddy tried it. “Not so hard, okay? Star wants to keep her ears attached to her head. She needs them to hear with.”

Freddy giggled. “Silly.”

Linc’s grin was genuine and widening. He really got a kick out of this kid. “Here. Let me tell her to lie down and you can scratch her tummy. She loves that, too.”

Instead of bending over Star as she dropped to the floor and rolled onto her back on command, Freddy threw himself down beside her and reached across her body to wiggle his fingers in her short soft hair. “Tickle, tickle.”

She turned her head without rising and gave his cheek a lick. Childish laughter filled the room, and the boy put his hands over his face. “Eww. She kissed me.”

“Because she likes you,” Linc replied. He looked at Zoe. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“It does my heart good to see Freddy so happy. If it takes a little dog slobber to make that happen, how can I mind? Besides, the newest info on keeping kids healthy is to raise them with animals and let them build up resistance to germs.”

“Good to know.” Linc startled slightly when his radio went off, and he cupped a hand over his earbud, listening to the dispatch coming over his radio.

Zoe gently touched his forearm. “Is everything okay? It’s not Boyd, is it?”

“No.” Linc put on his blue beret and gave Star’s leash a tug. “We have to go downstairs for a few minutes. A couple of our dogs that were still missing after they were all released last month have been sighted coming this way. I’m supposed to keep an eye out and try to capture them.”

It was all he could do to avoid looking at the place where her hand still lay. The sensation was electric. When she withdrew her slim fingers, he almost wished she hadn’t.

“We won’t go far,” he said, rising. “Hand me your cell phone and I’ll enter my number. We’ll be right downstairs if you need anything.”

“I can manage my brother if he does show up,” Zoe countered, complying anyway. “He doesn’t scare me.”

“Well, he should.” Linc gave her back her phone and paused just long enough to put his dog’s working vest back on her. That also gave him time to be certain Zoe was taking his warning seriously. When she sobered, he was satisfied.

Star accompanied him to the door, tight at heel position. Linc glanced back. “Lock this after me.”

“I will.”

“Now,” he added, when she didn’t immediately act.

“Yes, sir,” she said, giving him a smile and a mock salute.

More chatter was coming in over his radio. Linc keyed his mic. “On my way. I’ll meet you in the street.”

With a last look at the woman and child, he turned on his heel and left. Normally, he would have waited until he was certain she had locked her door, but the last messages indicated that several of the missing dogs were nearby. His plan was to position himself on the lawn of the apartment building and wait, hoping that Star’s presence would draw the others in. Many of the highly skilled K-9s had been found and returned to the CAFB training facility, but there were still thirty-two dogs missing, including four special animals. He wanted to find all the dogs, of course, but locating Glory, Patriot, Scout and Liberty would be a real coup.

A Security Forces SUV was approaching slowly, driver and passenger scanning the area. Linc waved them down.

“I haven’t spotted any loose ones yet, but I just got down here,” Linc called.

Novice trainer Bobby Stevens, the driver, nodded and glanced up at the apartment windows. “We have an audience. Did they see anything?”

Linc followed the same line of sight and felt his heart skip like a flat stone thrown onto the surface of a placid lake. Zoe and Freddy were peering out their open window, watching the drama in the street unfold.

“No. I was working up there with Star when I got the call. We were all sitting in the living room.”

The SUV passenger, Master Sergeant Caleb Streeter, chuckled wryly. “Must be nice getting to sit around all day, Colson, while the rest of us bust a gut chasing reports of dogs.”

Under different circumstances, Linc might have returned the taunt. Instead, he chose to tamp down his pride and stay silent. The most important task was catching the Red Rose Killer, and as long as Zoe Sullivan was on base, she was still their best, most important lead.

In the shadowed corners of his mind lurked the realization that he also wanted to keep her safe. Her and her little boy, a child whose openness and charm had touched his heart in a way he couldn’t begin to explain. Maybe it was Freddy’s lack of a father that made him identify with the boy, Linc mused, remembering the shame his own dad had brought upon him and his mother by going AWOL, becoming a thief and finally being arrested and jailed.

That was one thing he unfortunately had in common with Zoe. Neither of their families was anything to be proud of. And neither of them could do a thing about changing the past. Linc had spent his adult life trying to rise above the stigma of his untrustworthy, unreliable father.

The comparison between his situation and Zoe’s struck him like the blast from a jet engine. He was not a bit like his father, so why did everybody seem to think Zoe Sullivan would side with her brother, given the opportunity?

Because she’d kept in such close touch with Boyd, he reasoned, clenching his jaw. That was the difference, and it was a big one.

His eyes were drawn to the apartment window again. As a single mother who had the responsibility of caring for Freddy, would she jeopardize his well-being for the sake of a killer? Approaching the question logically, Linc didn’t think so. The trouble was Boyd had always been good at hiding his true nature, at least at first. The women who had refused to date him and men who had somehow crossed him had paid the price for thwarting the emotionally twisted man. Could his seemingly innocent sister be the same kind of person?

A loose German shepherd, tail flagging and ears erect, drew Linc’s thoughts back to the current task. The dog was trotting toward Star, panting as if smiling and acting ready to play.

Linc crouched down. “Come here, boy. That’s a good boy.”

Although the dog slowed and lowered its head as if deciding whether or not to flee, it continued in their direction, then stopped nose to nose with Star. Linc’s hand moved slowly, surely, until he was able to slip a looped leash around its neck. The shepherd wore no collar or ID band but since each member of the training project had been microchipped, he knew the dog would easily be identified.

Streeter had left the vehicle, and Linc handed him the dog he’d caught. “Looks like this poor guy missed a few meals. Do you want me to hang around down here a little longer, just in case others show up?”

Streeter shook his head. “No. I’ll load this one and cruise the rest of the neighborhood.”

“Copy,” Linc replied. He didn’t particularly like taking orders from a sergeant who was technically not his boss, but it was a reasonable request. Besides, he wasn’t eager to return to the Sullivan apartment until he’d figured out why being there had rattled him so.

He’d realized he’d carelessly let down his guard. That was a mistake. A huge mistake. One he would not repeat.

* * *

“Look, Mama. Another puppy!” Freddy was peering through the screen as Zoe steadied him.

“I see them. Looks like your friend Star has somebody to play with.”

“I wanna go play, too.”

“Not now, honey. The policeman is working and so is his dog. We have to stay up here and just watch.”

“Aww.”

“No whining.” Zoe tried to distract him. “How about a game on the iPad? You can make some doggies wag their tails.”

“Naw. I wanna watch real puppies. They’re soft. I love them.”

“Not all dogs are as nice as Star,” Zoe warned, “and she might not be fun if Sergeant Colson didn’t tell her it was okay. You need to be very careful with all dogs. Ask permission before you try to pet them. Promise?”

Freddy nodded vigorously, but Zoe had doubts he’d take her advice until he was older and wiser. That was the trouble with small children. Until they’d had experience, they were willing to try just about anything. After today, she would have to be doubly vigilant about his interactions with strange animals.

A noise behind her caught Zoe’s attention. Frowning, she froze. What was that? It sounded like the squeak in the hallway floor. Listening intently, she didn’t hear it repeated. Nevertheless, she started to glance over her shoulder.

Nothing there. She began to feel foolish. Boy, am I jumpy. She was turning back to the window when she sensed more than saw movement in her peripheral vision. Instinct made her tighten her hold on her son. Was there actually somebody there?

An instant later, she whirled and put substance to her jitters. A figure in a dark hoodie was tiptoeing across the far end of the small living room!

Zoe thrust Freddy behind her and held him there, hoping and praying she didn’t look as scared as she was. With the hoodie masking the side of his face, there was no way to identify the intruder. One thing was certain—he was too slightly built to be Boyd.

“Get out of here,” Zoe ordered, relieved that the quaking of her insides wasn’t reflected in her voice.

The figure stopped dead. Nobody moved. Zoe could feel the pounding of her pulse in her temples.

A weapon. She needed a weapon. Anything with which to defend her innocent child. But what? The only people on base who were armed were members of the Security Forces and posted guards. Casting about, she saw nothing usable. That left bravado as her only option, and lots of it.

“I said get out of here.” It was a commanding order, almost a shout, and Zoe felt her son grasping her legs from behind, the way he did when he was frightened.

A hand with slim but masculine fingers rose to pull the sides of the hood closer. The man dipped his head, averted his gaze momentarily, then pulled something from his pocket.

A knife!

Zoe gasped. Her resolve deepened, hardened, became the wall she needed to protect her little boy. She dropped into a combative stance, feet apart, arms extended and ready to fend off the coming attack. No lowlife with a blade was going to get past her. Not if she had anything to say about it.

Freddy had backed off and begun to cry as she’d prepared to do battle. The attacker turned to the boy for an instant, then focused back on Zoe.

She grabbed her jacket off the couch and wrapped it around one forearm, never letting her concentration stray. The man seemed hesitant, as if having trouble choosing his next move. That was to her advantage. She didn’t want to face him hand to hand but intended for him to believe she would.

Her mouth was so dry she couldn’t swallow, let alone muster a convincing threat. So there they stood as the seconds ticked off, Zoe braced and ready and her adversary hesitating until the hand with the weapon began to visibly shake.

She had him worried. Good. Now all she needed to do was force him to bolt. Would a charge do it? Maybe. And maybe it would trigger his predatory instincts and drive him toward her.

Before she could decide, Freddy touched the back of her leg and whimpered. “Mama?”

Habit caused her to react. She eased her stance momentarily and lowered one outstretched hand toward the boy. That was all the opening her enemy needed. He leaped at her, falling short because she dodged just in time.

With a guttural roar, she charged, coming in low and catching him at the waist the way a football player would take out an opponent.

The man stumbled backward and fell.

Zoe went for the knife and managed to grab his wrist before he threw her off and started to scramble away with his weapon.

She raised the hoodie-wrapped forearm in case he chose to turn and slash at her. Time seemed to slow to a snail’s pace. He flipped onto his hands and knees, combat boots slipping on the slick flooring, and crabwalked until he could regain his footing.

Zoe screamed, afraid he was going to detour toward her son.

Freddy was already at the window, waving his hands and yelling, “Help,” in his screechy little voice.

The attacker threw the bolt and jerked open the door. Momentum carried him into the hallway.

Breathless, Zoe followed, inhaled as deeply as she could and let loose with a blood-curdling shriek. “Colson! Stop him!”

FIVE

Linc was moving toward the apartment building before he knew what was happening. Star ran ahead of him, barking.

He took the stairs two at a time, reaching the second floor and immediately spotting Zoe braced in her open doorway.

“What’s wrong?”

She gestured with her arm. “A man. That way. Down the back stairs. Camo pants and a dark hoodie.”

Star was straining at her leash. Linc drew her in and hesitated only long enough to ask Zoe, “Are you okay?”

“Yes! Go! Don’t let him get away.”

He would have given Star a tracking command if he’d felt it was necessary. In this case, she was clearly on the fresh trail and needed no more encouragement. Had Zoe forgotten to lock her door after him? Worse, could he have overlooked someone hiding in the apartment? He’d checked it thoroughly.

Except for the room where Portia had been, Linc added, berating himself. Careless. Unprofessional at best. He had allowed himself to assume that the teenage girl was alone when she may have had company. She wouldn’t be the first babysitter to entertain friends when she should have been minding a child. The instant messaging beeps from her iPad and the absorbed look on her face had thrown him enough that he’d never thought of checking the room further.

But he’d surprised Portia. How would a friend have had time to hide? More important, where was the guy now? Star was still straining at her leash, but there was nobody in sight.

They reached the rear parking area just as a motorbike roared off. Star might have been able to keep up for a short distance if Linc chose to release her, but there was no use endangering the K-9’s welfare when he wouldn’t be there for the takedown and arrest.

Linc shaded his eyes, trying to make out details of the bike and its rider. But the sun was too bright.

“Star. Out,” he commanded forcefully.

Although she remained excited, acting eager to continue her pursuit, she obeyed. Linc knew that his primary task was watching and monitoring the actions of Sergeant Sullivan. Given the state she’d been in as he’d passed her door, he figured it was best to return for an explanation. Assuming she’d offer one.

It bothered him that he still doubted her, yet what choice did he have? She was who she was, the sister of a convicted murderer. Anything beyond that fact was only relevant to where it led them in locating Boyd Sullivan and halting his latest killing spree. Part of him felt sorry for Zoe and her little boy, while another part kept warning him to keep his distance, particularly emotionally. There was no room for sentiment in his job. No place for opinions not based on hard evidence.

And right now, the evidence kept indicating that Sergeant Sullivan was trouble with a capital T.

* * *

Zoe had kept watch at her door, just in case. Plus, she wanted to be ready to identify whomever the cop and his dog captured. When she saw them returning alone, her heart fell.

“He got away? How? You had to be right behind him.”

“Motorbike,” Linc replied. “Star could have kept up on foot for a short distance, but I couldn’t have.”

“You let him go? Just like that?” Wheeling in a huff, she reentered her apartment and scooped up Freddy, holding him close and murmuring words of comfort.

“What happened anyway? Where did the guy come from?” Linc asked.

“I don’t know. I’d locked the door like you told me to, so I guess he was inside all along.” Her eyes narrowed on Linc, and she grimaced. “I can’t believe you missed him when you checked.”

“Neither can I. Stay here a sec while I take a second look.”

“Better than the first time, I hope.” She knew she was being hypercritical, but someone had just threatened her child and her mother-tiger instincts were still strong.

As soon as Linc and Star returned to the living room, Zoe apologized. “Look. I’m sorry I snapped at you, but that guy was scary. He had a knife.”

“What? You didn’t tell me that.”

“You didn’t give me a chance. Besides, I wanted you to hurry up and catch him.”

“All right,” Linc said, sobering and pulling a small notebook and pen from a deep pocket on his ABU. “Start at the beginning and tell me everything.”

By the time she was finished relaying the basics of her scare, Zoe felt exhausted. She yawned. “Sorry. I guess the rush of adrenaline is wearing off.”

“You’re not on duty today?”

“No. I had planned to shop, as you already know, then do some housecleaning and relax with Freddy.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“We usually go to church on Sunday mornings. If you’re still assigned to watch me then, I think you’re allowed to bring the dog inside.”

“I am. I just don’t usually go to church.”

“Why not?” Zoe smiled. “Afraid the roof will cave in if you show up?”

“Something like that. I wouldn’t want to shock your pastor.”

“I think Pastor Harmon will be okay with it. He’s a seasoned preacher.” Sobering, she added, “I’m starting to appreciate your diligence more than I did before. I really would feel safer if you—or another officer—were with me. With us.”

Watching Linc nod, she wondered if the concern she was sensing was real or imaginary. His expression was hard to read when he was at ease. The way he had looked as he and K-9 Star had dashed past her in the hallway, however, was quite memorable. It would be a long time before she forgot his intensity or the way his courageous actions had made her feel. Being married to John Flint had not imparted that kind of cosseted feeling, although belonging to the air force had given her security and a stable place to call home. At least until her brother had been dishonorably discharged, arrested and convicted as a serial killer. Those events had changed everything.

Oh, her job had continued afterward and she’d managed to retain rank, but there had been a subtle shift in the way she was perceived by her fellow airmen. Her troubles had actually begun even earlier when she’d discovered that her late husband had been disclosing details of base operations to unnamed parties. Zoe had taken the proof of it to her superiors immediately. It had been the right thing to do, yet she’d been so mortified she’d almost resigned. If not for the assurances of her officers and thanks from the Department of Homeland Security, she just might have crawled off to lick her wounds and given up the career she loved.

And now Boyd was back.

Yes, she had her son and the best job in the world, but what would keep her brother from spoiling the life she’d hammered out for herself?

Listening to Linc as he reported the incident and requested a tech team to dust for fingerprints, Zoe shivered. Just when she’d thought things couldn’t get any worse, they had done just that. As one thing led to another, she felt surrounded by so many unknowns—it was mind-boggling. Being so beset by problems also made her dredge up past failures. Normally, she wasn’t so hard on herself, but these current circumstances were enough to cause her to question her choices the way she used to. That not only wasn’t good, it wasn’t fair to herself or to those around her. Freddy needed a strong, capable parent, not a whimpering, worried mama. She would give him what he needed if it killed her.

In the hidden corners of her subconscious, there lingered the notion that she might be more right than she wanted to be. Her stalker might very well bring death. And then who would look after her son?

* * *

Linc left Star sitting with the Sullivans as he welcomed the tech team and their evidence gathering equipment. “There was definitely an uninvited guest in here,” he told them. “According to the sergeant, the guy was too slightly built to be Boyd Sullivan, but treat this scene as if it could have been him just the same. No sense taking chances.”

The lead tech was the same one who had inspected the warehouse for him. “You sure this time?”

“Sure enough,” Linc replied. “He was apparently hiding in the bedroom, and she saw him trying to sneak off. Star and I chased him out the back. He rode away before I got a look at him, but this was no figment of Sullivan’s imagination. Star was hot on a trail.”

“Gotcha. We’ll start in there.”

Zoe had been waiting in the background while Linc spoke. He caught her studying him when he turned. The expression on her pretty face didn’t suit him, so he approached. “Look, Sergeant, I understand how all this can seem a bit overwhelming but we’ll get to the bottom of it eventually.”

“Not if people keep insinuating it’s all in my head.” She sighed. “At least I know your dog believes me.”

“I have no doubt you saw somebody.”

“Saw? I had my hands on him.”

“You what?”

“You heard me. When he acted as if he was going to go for Freddy with that knife, I rushed him.” She pointed. “We crashed to the floor together right over there. I had hold of his wrist, but he threw me off and ran. I guess I should be thankful he didn’t decide to cut me on his way out.”

“Stay right there. Don’t move. Don’t touch anything,” Linc ordered. It was only a few strides to the hallway and bedrooms where he called, “One of you get back in here and check for trace evidence. Now!”

His next words were for Zoe. “What else are you withholding?”

“Nothing. I wasn’t withholding that.” Her hands were clasped in front of her. “Look. I was in combat mode, okay? Details were fuzzy. Some still are. All I know for sure is that I charged him when I thought he was going on the attack.”

Linc glanced over at her son. “At least one of you had the presence of mind to call for help.”

“Did he? Good for Freddy. That didn’t register with me either. Nothing did except the fight I was in. I do remember screaming, probably at you, come to think of it.”

“Maybe.” Linc shook his head. “You were certainly hollering something when I hit the top of the stairs. Are you always so excitable?”

“Only when somebody is threatening to kill me,” Zoe countered. She rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to act as if I’m a hysterical female, okay? I’m actually very levelheaded and sensible. Most of the time. I’d have to be to have dealt with the significant others in my life.”

“Your brother.”

“And my late husband. But that’s a story for another time.” She stood still as evidence techs inspected her hands and stroked her skin with sterile cotton swabs. “I can’t imagine that there’s anything there.”

“Maybe not,” Linc said. “But when there is even a remote chance of touch DNA, it makes sense to take samples.” He addressed the technician. “Check her clothing, too. She says she grappled with the prowler, so there may be something stuck to her body, as well.”

“I wish you’d been this thorough in the warehouse,” Zoe drawled. “There had to be some kind of evidence there.”

“Yeah. From any one of the hundred or so people who had passed through in the last few weeks,” Linc countered. “This is different. You and Freddy are the only ones living here. If anything from the attacker rubbed off on you, we’ll detect it.”

“Who do you think it was?” she asked.

“Well, I’m beginning to doubt it was your brother if that’s what you’re asking,” Linc said. “Knowing that he pulled a knife on you and you tackled him changes everything. If it had been Boyd, I imagine you’d have tried to talk him down.” It amused him to see her rolling those warm hazel eyes again, and he chuckled softly. “Hey, I just tell it like it is.”

“No,” Zoe countered, “you tell it like you think it is. There’s a huge difference.”

He decided to humor her now that the techs had stowed their samples and returned to the bedroom where the man had probably been hiding. “Okay. Here’s what I think happened. You hired Portia to babysit, and she invited a young man to keep her company. When he heard you come home, he probably thought you were alone and he hid. Then, when I checked the bedroom and rousted Portia, I failed to let Star search the rest of the room. That’s on me.”

“You think he was here all that time?”

“Yes, unless you left your back door open.”

“Never. There’s a dead bolt and chain on it so Freddy won’t wander out on to the deck.”

Linc shrugged and spread his hands. “There you have it. You probably scared that guy so badly he’ll never come around again.” To his relief, Zoe began to smile.

“I sure hope so. He scared me plenty.”

“Are you okay now?” Although he expected her to affirm her well-being, he hadn’t imagined she would be so candid.

“Yes,” Zoe said, her smile softening. “I’m okay. You’re here.”

She averted her gaze, but not before Linc noted the glistening of unshed tears and felt his gut clench in empathy.

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