In Need of Protection Read online

  Pulling away from Lara and the baby, Ethan scowled toward the gunwoman. The would-be killer was cursing and moaning and clutching her bleeding leg as her weapon was stripped from her and she was cuffed.

  “I want to know how this person got in here,” he told the officers, “and I want to know yesterday.”

  At his bark, one of the officers jerked a nod toward him. “Right away, Deputy.”

  The other officer hauled the injured woman upright. “We’ll escort her to the hospital for treatment and make sure she’s kept secure.”

  “Do that.” Ethan returned his attention to Lara and Maisy. “Jackson is becoming too hot. An informant notified us that the Draytons have put out a sizable reward for anyone able to bring them Maisy uninjured and—” He halted before completing the sentence. Lara was scared enough as it was. He could tell her the rest later, when they were in a secure location. “I would imagine all the greedy, ruthless pond scum in the area are converging on the town now. The small PD here isn’t going to be able to handle the influx of hard cases.”

  Lara offered a somber nod as he helped her to her feet. “We need to get out of here.” She bounced Maisy gently, and the child’s whimpers subsided. “What is it you aren’t telling me about the situation?”

  Ethan released a soft groan. He might have known he wouldn’t be able to hold back from this perceptive woman.

  “Apparently, an official contract has been issued on your life. The Draytons don’t want anyone left alive with a legal claim on Maisy.”

  “What?” Lara gasped. “How did they find out about the power of attorney assignment and what’s in Izzy’s will? I only discovered those documents this morning, and law enforcement found out shortly thereafter. Is there a leak in your department?”

  Ethan shook his head. “We think it might be worse than that.”

  Lara’s face washed pale. “The Draytons must have Izzy. She’s the only one who could’ve told them about the authority she gave me. Do you think she’s alive?”

  “We don’t know.” Ethan closed his hand firmly around Lara’s arm. “But we’re going to keep you safe and keep Maisy out of the hands of ruthless criminals.”

  The depth and strength of his assertion sent a shock wave through him. Sure, he was doing his job, but this felt like...more. Not possible. He mentally shook himself. This couldn’t be personal. He’d just met this woman. His duty was everything. That’s all this was, and he would tell himself that until he believed it.

  They walked up the hall and returned to the conference room.

  “A marshals service helicopter is on its way to pick us up,” he said. “While we wait, let me bring you something to drink. Water? Coffee?”

  “Thank you. I could use some water.” Lara’s gaze dropped toward Maisy as the little girl started to cry and suck on her fist. “I’m hardly an expert on babies, but I think this little one is telling us it’s time for her midmorning snack. Hold her while I mix up the bottle.”

  Before Ethan could think twice, Maisy was in his arms. The little bundle squirmed and kicked. Her face puckered into a fierce scowl and turned red.

  “It’s nothing against you.” Lara chuckled. “When a girl’s hungry, she’s hungry.”

  “I guess.” Ethan smiled and bounced the baby.

  Even throwing a fit, the child was adorable. This little one had her whole life before her. Who knew what great things she could become and do with the proper nurture and opportunities? No way could he allow her to be snatched and raised by criminal gunrunners, regardless of their biological kinship. If Isabelle Drayton was no longer alive, he’d seen enough of how Lara thought and operated to know that Maisy would be in good hands.

  Their well-being was in his hands. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, fail them, especially by allowing emotion—specifically, this unwelcome attraction to Lara Werth—to interfere with his focus.

  Finished with bottle preparation, Lara held out her arms for Maisy, and Ethan surrendered the child. Lara sat down in a nearby chair, gave the infant her bottle and in a split second, the tiny body went from rigid and squealing to relaxed and guzzling. Ethan smiled at the tender tableau—Lara with her blonde head bent over the infant while Maisy gazed back at her benefactor with big heart-stealing eyes.

  “Ethan, buddy.” Terry’s voice yanked Ethan out of the very sort of emotionally charged contemplation he’d vowed only seconds ago to avoid when it came to Ms. Werth. Maybe he should go back to calling her that formal name simply to preserve proper distance—and his own sanity. He turned toward his partner.

  “I heard what happened,” his partner said, stepping farther into the room. “Glad to see everyone is okay. Seton is hospitalized under guard. I’m guessing the same will happen with the unidentified woman. Neither one is talking. Surprise. Surprise.”

  “I won’t be surprised if we get a hit on the woman’s identity when we run her prints. Someone with her ruthless savvy has been on the wrong side of the law for a long time and is likely to have a record. What I’m still wondering is how she got into the building.”

  Terry rolled his shoulders. “Chief Taylor of the local PD stopped me on my way back here and said she presented herself at the front desk as the insurance representative he was expecting this morning. Had a business card and everything. She knocked the real representative out cold in the parking lot, left the woman in her car and took the card. She successfully passed through the metal detector, and the dispatcher buzzed her in. As soon as she entered, she downed the guy with a plastic taser and took his gun.”

  “Resourceful.” Lara summarized Ethan’s inner reaction in a word. “Clearly, we’re not dealing with mindless thugs.”

  “Don’t worry,” Terry said. “We’re getting you and the baby out of here and to a safe location pronto. The chopper is landing as we speak.”

  “Are you ready?” Ethan asked Lara.

  “Let Maisy finish her bottle. I also need to change her and then make that phone call to my mother. Oh, and I really could use that water.”

  “The phone call is out of the question,” Ethan said. “No time. Let our agency secure your mother.”

  That familiar mulish look came over Lara’s face. “But—”

  Ethan held up a hand. “The situation has escalated, and the Draytons have the technological resources to tap your mother’s phone. We don’t want to alert any listeners that she’s being taken into custody before we have her in hand. In fact, I need you to give up your cell until this is over. As for the water, once we’re in the chopper and away, we’ll all hydrate.”

  “I might even be able to rustle up a few sandwiches for the journey.” Terry chuckled and left the room.

  Lara sniffed and scowled. “You know, you and your partner are a study in contrasts. Buttoned down versus hanging loose. Hydrate versus rustle up.” Her sour expression smoothed as she busied herself changing the baby. “I’m sorry. That sounded critical, but it was more of an observation.” She offered a small smile.

  Ethan forced a return smile to cover the inner cringe. Was he really so stiff and formal? If he were truthful with himself, he’d have to agree with her assessment. By the book and distant was the persona he snapped in place when on duty. Too bad this woman seemed to have a knack for sneaking past his guard. He’d have to be more careful than ever from now on. In order to maintain a clear head to keep her alive and the baby safe, he needed to hold them at arm’s length.

  THREE

  Even with the protection of her headphones, the helicopter’s roar thrummed in Lara’s ears. Through the side window, she peered down toward the ground as the chopper rose higher and higher. Her town of around ten thousand people was a map tableau beneath her. Was that her cul-de-sac—her house—growing tinier by the second?

  How had her life changed so dramatically in less than a day? Suddenly, she was no longer the captain of her own destiny. She, and this little one
in her care, were under the control of federal deputies.

  Sipping from the water bottle she’d been handed as she boarded the chopper, Lara glanced at Ethan, seated across from her. The man’s strong features inspired confidence even as they stirred unease. How much of her independence had she already forfeited to this commanding man she’d met only this morning? Her gaze dropped toward the gun strapped to his side along with other law enforcement paraphernalia on his belt. The sight ought to inspire comfort and confidence since he was her defense against people who were out to kill her, and to a degree it did. But part of her wanted to erect defensive walls against this man’s Matt-like charisma and charm.

  If Ethan thought she would obey his every order without question, he was wrong. She’d gotten the impression that her continual questions exasperated him, but he’d have to get used them. She was going to make lots of inquiries. And she’d think for herself, especially now that a little person depended on her.

  Lara smiled toward the baby strapped into the helicopter seat beside her. The child was oblivious to the cute ridiculousness of the big set of ear protectors wrapped around her little head. Maisy seemed fascinated by her new environment. Thankfully, she didn’t appear afraid, just curious.

  “It’s a great big world to figure out,” Lara murmured to the child, though of course, Maisy couldn’t hear her, much less understand her. Maybe she was talking as much to herself as to the baby.

  With one hand, she deposited her empty water bottle in a holder attached to her seat. With the other, she reached into the go bag at her feet and pulled out her compact digital single-lens reflex camera. The small DSLR was handy for taking photos on the go. She snapped a few shots of Maisy. Then she turned and grabbed several photos of the city fading behind them and the rugged terrain below.

  The city of Jackson sat in an elongated bowl of a valley known famously as Jackson Hole, nestled in the Teton Mountain Range. Of course, having a window between her and her photographic subject wasn’t optimal, but the aerial shots were too rare to miss. Maybe when this was over, she could rent a chopper that would allow her to take photos with the windows open. A whole new vista of vlog subjects ran through her mind.

  Her photography vlog had taken off with unexpectedly sturdy wings while she was in college, and now she worked from home in the house she’d inherited half a dozen years ago from her grandparents. Well, she didn’t always work in her home. Her photo vlogs were set mostly in the magnificent outdoors, highlighting the flora and fauna of the mountains and lakes around Jackson. She did take the odd road trip to other sites of scenic interest.

  She didn’t answer to a boss, unless one counted the occasionally obtrusive expectations of advertisers on her site. If she made it through this crisis, she’d be thankful even for that annoyance, because it would mean she’d been able to return to a life she loved.

  A big hand closed around her wrist. “What are you doing?” Ethan’s voice echoed tinnily through her headset.

  Lara rounded on him. “I’m sure you’ve seen cameras before, Deputy. This is what I do for a living.”

  He frowned at her. “We can’t give our enemies any idea which way we’re headed.”

  “Relax.” She attempted to take her own advice and offered him a smile as nonchalant as she could muster. “I’m hardly going to upload these shots to the internet...at least not until this mess is well over.”

  He released her arm. “All right. If the activity keeps you calm and occupied.”

  She sniffed. “Patronizing much?”

  “No offense intended.” He lifted a hand, palm out.

  “None taken.” Yeah, right! If steam could come out her ears, her headset would be smoking.

  As they flew north across the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park, Lara recognized landmarks and snapped photos right along. Then the chopper veered eastward. They weren’t headed into Yellowstone National Park, then. The green pine and gray rock vistas before them began ever so gradually to smooth out into foothills rather than jagged mountain peaks.

  From a seat kitty-corner to Lara, Ethan’s partner rummaged in a large paper sack and pulled out wrapped sandwiches and small bottles of water. He asked her which kind of sandwich she preferred, and Lara accepted her lunch with a grateful thank-you. She’d barely swallowed the last bite of her pastrami on rye when Maisy began to fuss.

  Lara studied the child. She shouldn’t be hungry yet, and she’d been changed before they took off, so...bored maybe? Lara began to entertain the baby with her camera, helping the little girl feel all the different buttons and gadgets but not allowing her to suck on them. Maisy quieted and even began to coo and blow little bubbles with her dainty lips. Perhaps a future photographer? Adorable was an inadequate term.

  A warm chuckle sounded in Lara’s headset, and she glanced toward Ethan. He was watching the baby and her play together, an unaccustomed softness in his eyes and around his mouth. Maybe this deputy marshal wasn’t such a Mr. Macho-in-Charge after all. Or maybe he was all that and more, too. Lara’s heart did an unwelcome little jig. If he turned out to have a tender side and a sense of humor, she was in real trouble. Best she continue to think of him as a stranger behind a badge.

  He was also the guy who’d saved her life with his gun—twice now. She had to give him that.

  They passed over several small towns scattered far apart, and dense forestation yielded to pasture and farmland. At last, the helicopter began to descend toward a small airstrip that appeared to be located in the middle of nowhere, but that Lara guessed might be near the town of Cody. They set down with a minor bump, and a pair of armed men flanked the door. One of them opened it and nodded toward Ethan.

  “Let’s get out,” he said. “Our hideaway has been prepared.”

  He descended from the helicopter, the still-whirling rotor blades barely rustling his short-cropped hair. Lara unbuckled Maisy’s car seat and passed the child in her carrier to Ethan’s waiting arms. Terry offered Lara his hand as she moved toward the door, but she declined with a smile and hopped out without assistance. Her shoulder-length hair went wild beneath the rotor blades. Good thing a quality brush was an item she kept in her go bag.

  Ethan motioned her to follow him as he headed toward a black van that sat on the tarmac with its engine running. They were quickly and efficiently on the road, with Terry riding shotgun and Ethan and Lara behind, the baby situated between them. A sizable escort car went ahead of them and one behind.

  “I’m feeling positively presidential,” Lara said with a little laugh.

  Ethan smiled. “Don’t get used to it. Once we arrive at our destination, you’ll only see Terry and me. Everyone else will melt into the environment, but there will be sentries watching.”

  “Good to know.” Lara nodded.

  Within an hour, they had reentered a forested area, and shortly thereafter, the escort vehicles pulled over onto the side of the road and allowed Lara’s vehicle to proceed without them. Almost immediately, the van turned onto what looked like a little-used track that wound here and there, apparently at random. They jounced a bit over uneven terrain, and the trees—mostly pine—crowded in close to both sides of the large vehicle. Suddenly, they popped out into a large clearing. Ahead of them was a medium-sized A-frame house with a large porch. A small detached garage sat next to the house, and a county sheriff’s car was parked in front of the garage door.

  “Temporary home sweet home.” Ethan motioned toward the dwelling as the driver brought the vehicle to a halt.

  “This is a place the marshals service maintains for witness protection?” Lara asked.

  “Something of a way station for people entering WITSEC. But WITSEC is permanent relocation and identity reassignment, not your status at this time, and I hope it never comes to that. Our intention is to return you to your regular life as soon as you and Maisy are safe from the Draytons.”

  “Whi
ch means you need to successfully apprehend them. What can I do to help make that happen?”

  Ethan’s gaze intensified, and Lara’s skin prickled beneath the assessing stare.

  “Pray,” he said, “and stay alive and take care of Maisy.”

  “Things that are already on my list of priorities,” she told him.

  In the front passenger seat, Terry turned his head toward them. He was frowning. “Wonder where the advance team of local law enforcement is. They’re supposed to step out of the house and let us know everything is secure.”

  “I’m wondering the same thing,” Ethan said. “I’m going to check it out.” One hand went toward the door handle and the other to his gun.

  “No, me.” Terry waved. “Your door opens toward the house with no cover for you if hostiles are waiting inside. You stay with Lara and Maisy.”

  Lara’s pulse throbbed in her neck. They’d left an unsafe situation at the police station in the town where she lived, and now they were in the boonies where no one was supposed to know their location, and something was wrong already?

  In smooth movements, Terry drew his gun and left the vehicle. Lara glanced from one member of her protection detail to another. Not comforting that both the driver—a serious-faced young woman—and Ethan had also drawn their guns.

  “Hello in the house!” Terry called, keeping the van between himself and the building.

  There was no response. Terry turned and exchanged glances through the window with Ethan.

  “Call it in.” Ethan tapped the driver on the shoulder. “Tell them to get those escort vehicles back here for us. We’re leaving.”

  Maisy started to fuss, and Lara patted the child’s little arm. Perhaps the baby sensed the tension in the air. More likely, she needed to be changed. Which wasn’t going to happen soon if they had to flee this site.

  “Get in!” Ethan called to his partner.

  Terry turned toward the van just as a roar split the air, and the house disintegrated into a blossom of vivid red, orange and yellow. The explosion rocked the vehicle, throwing Lara’s body against her door panel and banging her head against the window. Pain ratcheted down her side.