Chapter Fifteen

Liam was torn in two—thrilled she’d chosen to stay, refusing to flee the town and save herself, and annoyed, knowing his attention would be split between keeping her safe and doing what was necessary to stop the Sons of Cain from destroying the Ridge.

“Remember the hotel bar?” Liam locked the door behind them, shouldering the backpack he’d filled with the items plucked from the trunk. “The way you flirted with me?”

“Sort of.” Her cheeks pinked. “I was rather forward, as I recall.”

“Yes. Yes, you were.” He let out a chuckle, enjoying her embarrassment. “Marched right up to me and said you wanted me to buy you a drink before taking you to bed. One hell of a turn-on. Think you could do that again with McKay?” He grinned. “Just the flirting part and the drink.”

She scowled. “If I have to.”

“Good. I wouldn’t be as forward with him as you were with me but get friendly—do some of that small-town charm you’ve seen around you.” Liam turned into the bitter wind, smelling snow in the air. “If we’re lucky, we can clean this up before the storm hits.”

“What storm?”

“Heard it on the overnight news in the break room. Forecast says this is the one, the big ballbuster. If it hits and we’ve got McKay here and the rest of the Sons are on the other side…”

“He’ll be alone, without any backup. We might be able to contain the damage.” Kara pulled up the collar of her leather jacket before reaching over and doing the same with his own.

They trod along in silence, light snowflakes whipping around them.

“I want you to know I don’t like doing this, any of this,” he started. “I need you to be aware that this isn’t who I am—not anymore.” He reached around and touched the pistol in the small of his back. “I’d hoped to put this all away in time, keep moving forward.” Liam shifted his heel, feeling the combat knife against his shin. “I’m sorry you have to see this side of me.”

“I know.” She squeezed his hand. “But you’re going back just for this. Once it’s over and done with, we’ll go someplace else and start over again, build a new life.”

“I guess.” He turned down an alley. “I like it here. That’s why I stayed—usually I don’t hang out in any place more than a month or two. Keep on the move, don’t become too attached to anyone. Do what I can to earn some cash, help out where I can, then back on the road.” He chuckled. “The Ridge got its hooks into me when I got snowed in last year, and it never let me go.”

“Can’t blame you.” She kept pace with him as the walls rose around them, closing out the light from the street. “I can feel it, too.”

“Then let’s see if we can keep it alive.” Liam stopped at the back of the hotel. “Right. I can get into McKay’s hotel room and search it—that’s not the problem. The issue is keeping him from interrupting me while I do it.”

“Which is where I come in.” She picked up on the idea. “But it’s still early in the morning. Why would he come downstairs? He just picked up some breakfast.”

“He’s not here to admire the scenery, he’s here to find his target, scout out the town. I know his type, how these men work—he’s going to eat fast and come downstairs, ask questions about the people and the town. Jamie’s the best person to ask because he’s the front desk clerk and easily accessible. McKay needs gossip and information. Neither of which he can pick up on his laptop in his room.”

Liam pointed at the nearby lane. “That one goes ’round to the front of the hotel. I’m going in through the back and head upstairs to wait. I’d say an hour or less before he comes down. When he approaches Jamie, you do your thing—keep him busy. Last thing I need is him returning before I finish poking around his room.”

“I can hang out in the lobby for as long as I need to. Maybe plant some false leads, depending on what he asks about.” She nodded. “What if he heads out of the hotel before you call me, following up on what he finds out from Jamie?”

“You let him go. I don’t want you following him around—he might recognize you from the diner. McKay’s not above taking you out if you present a threat. As for throwing out fake info, be careful. He’s an expert at what he does—lying and getting people to tell the truth. If he catches you in an outright lie…” His stomach twisted into knots, remembering stories about the Sons of Cain.

“Just…” He cut the air with his hand. “Just don’t follow if he leaves. Stay in the lobby with the others.”

“You don’t think I’d be able to keep out of sight?”

“I know the Sons.” He touched her cheek. “Please, don’t fight with me on this. I’ll send you a text when I’m done. Don’t worry about answering it, just detach and go. I’ll meet you back at the apartment.”

“Then what?”

“Then we decide what to do, based on what we’ve got.”

“Right.” She kissed him quickly before pulling the elastic out of her hair and giving a shake, the long golden locks falling over her shoulders. “Low and slow, take my time.” She smirked. “Don’t want to burn the guy out at first glance.”

Before Liam could answer she walked away, an extra sway in her hips. He watched her turn the corner, heading for the street and the hotel entrance.

He let loose with every curse he could think of, launching them all at the Sons of Cain before pulling the back door open and entering.

It was easy to climb to the top floor and find McKay’s room out of the other nine rooms on this level—it was the only one with the television sound so loud it was bleeding through the paper-thin walls, a familiar routine to those in the business. It wasn’t so much to watch the local news, it was to keep people from overhearing conversations.

Liam didn’t care. Even if he did overhear anything it’d be out of context and impossible to comprehend. He’d get nothing pressing his ear to the door and hoping to hear something useful.

He waited in the stairwell, watching the hallway through a crack in the door. Five minutes…ten minutes…fifteen minutes…

The noise cut off suddenly, the television set going silent.

Get ready.

Liam pressed himself against the cold concrete wall, holding his breath as he heard the door open.

McKay stepped out. He advanced toward the elevator before stopping, his forehead furrowed. He slowly turned, making a full circle, his hands at his sides.

Liam’s lungs ached, his heart racing as he waited. His fingers itched to reach down and pull out his combat knife, but any move, any sound might trigger a reaction from the mercenary.

The man was no fool. You didn’t get to this position by not having a sixth sense, hyperaware of your surroundings.

Liam tensed, ready for a fight. He didn’t want to start something, but by God he’d finish it and finish it fast if McKay…

The man coughed and moved on down toward the single elevator.

Liam let his breath out slowly, not making a sound.

The mechanical doors opened and closed to take the merc to the lobby where Kara lay in wait for him.

A flash of fear stabbed through his gut as he thought about the danger he was putting her in.

Her, Jamie, Tony, and everyone else in the hotel. In the Ridge.

Make every second count.

His mental clock started, tracking the minimum number of minutes the scout would be away from his room. It’d be a full minute for the elevator to descend to the lobby and disgorge McKay. A minute for the return trip. Whatever time was spent talking to Jamie and/or Kara.

No time to lose.

The lockpick gun worked on the first try, easily manipulating the old hotel door to open. Liam brushed past the Do Not Disturb placard on the doorknob and slipped inside, his back to the wall as he surveyed the new battlefield.

The Sons were known for their booby traps.

Kara walked through the hotel door, sauntering up to the front desk with a slow, measured pace. In the short time coming around from the back alley her hair had gotten windblown, her cheeks pink with exposure. She’d chewed her lips on purpose, hoping to bring some color up.

The lobby was empty, and she let out a silent sigh of relief. The fewer people around, the better.

Jamie looked up from his work table and got to his feet hurriedly, knocking a stack of paper to the floor. He bent down and grabbed at the fleeing pages as she rested her elbows on the varnished wood and watched.

“Damn… Hi, Kara. If you’re looking for Jack, you just missed him.” He gestured at the nearby exit door with a handful of papers. “No extra work today.”

“Actually, I’m here to check if Lizzie needs anything from the store. Can you give her a ring and see if she does?” Kara smiled. “I don’t want to go upstairs and give her a scare, knocking on her door so early in the morning. She’ll be scrambling to get her housecoat on and I don’t want her to fall—that knee of hers has been acting up something awful.”

“Sure.” Jamie picked up the phone and punched in a number. “You’ve been a big help to her and the others, running errands and all. Only been a month or two, but can’t imagine you not being around to help out.” He gave her a wide smile, putting the receiver to his ear. “Don’t know what we’d do without the two of you.”

She tapped her foot nervously, waiting for Jamie’s answer. If Lizzie needed help, she could put the trip off until Liam finished getting information out of the merc. For a moment she thought about trying to warn Lizzie and the others—logic tamped that down before the idea was half formed. Any attempted warning would create questions, inquiries she couldn’t or wouldn’t be able to answer. Not to mention draw McKay’s attention, something she didn’t even want to contemplate.

Jamie put the phone down. “She’s okay for now, appreciates the call.” He smiled. “Anything else I can do for you?”

Before she could think of what else to say the elevator door at the far end of the hall opened.

The man from the diner stepped out. Her heart skipped a beat, seeing his stoic face. The long trench coat swept around his jeans, hands tucked into pockets.

“Ah! Mr. Jackson.” Jamie beamed. “I hope you’re finding everything to your liking.”

“So far, so good.” The mercenary looked Kara over. “And you are…”

“I’m Kara.” She offered her hand. “Just checking in. I run errands for one of the ladies on the third floor and thought I’d check if she needed anything today.”

“Ah.” The tall man nodded. He pulled one hand out of his pocket and gave her a firm shake. “One of the lovely things about a small town—everyone knows everyone else and everyone helps everyone else.”

Kara pressed her lips together in what she hoped was a friendly grin. In her mind the clock started, ticking off the seconds Liam had to search the man’s room.

McKay/Jackson turned to Jamie. “Actually, that’s a fine place to start. I was wondering if I could ask you a favor.” He smiled, showing off pearly-white teeth. “When I heard we were coming up here, I realized it was a possible chance to reconnect with an old friend.”

The mercenary pulled out a glossy wallet-size photograph from an inside pocket and placed it on the counter, his thin fingers pressing down on the edges. “Name of Liam. We served in the military together, got out at the same time. Lost touch with him about a year ago—he was in Denver last time we chatted. I was thinking maybe he passed through here—do you recognize him?” He directed his attention to Kara. “How about you?”

Kara’s breath caught in her throat as she looked at Liam’s image. His facial hair was gone, the long ponytail as well. But it was him, smirking at the cameraman as he walked by, wearing a leather jacket.

His eyes were…cold. Calculating.

Lethal.

“He’s a good-looking fellow,” she started, frantically searching for the words. “But I don’t recall seeing anyone like him in town. And I’d remember someone like that.”

Jamie pulled the image toward him, frowning. “Looks familiar.” The hotel manager squinted. “Think it could be Mr. Pearson on the second floor? When he was younger, of course.” He looked at McKay. “He’s a First Gulf War veteran, though.”

Kara dropped a fingernail on the photo and dragged it to her, making sure to leave an indentation on the surface. “Could be.” She scrunched her nose up. “A little too clean-shaven for my liking.”

“Not likely it’s your Mr. Pearson. This man would be in his thirties now, not an old man.” McKay extracted the photo from under her finger. “But thanks.” He looked toward the front door. “Any suggestions who I’d talk to about this guy?”

“Maybe Marie—the police chief.” Jamie studied the image again. “She sees a lot of people come and go through her station. She’s got a good eye for faces.”

“I don’t want to go annoying her first thing in the morning,” McKay replied in a smooth, gentle voice. “She’s probably busy, keeping the town safe. After her, who would you suggest?”

“Geraldine,” Jamie volunteered before Kara could answer. “She’s the librarian and chief gossip. A lovely lady. She might remember a tourist wandering around who matches that description.”

“Good, then. Perhaps I’ll go have a word with her.” McKay tucked the photo into his pocket and turned away.

Kara couldn’t breathe.

Geraldine.

“The library won’t be open yet,” she said, scrambling for words. “She doesn’t unlock the doors until ten.” She spun toward Jamie. “Can we get Mr. Jackson a coffee while he waits? He can sit here in the lobby and enjoy the fireplace until the library opens. I’ll start setting up the wood, and you can light it up, get rid of some of that morning chill.”

Jamie frowned. “I thought she was opening up early to set up the holiday lights and the Christmas tree?”

A cold shiver of panic crept up her spine. “Yes, but she called me just before I came over—said she was running late today. Give it another hour or two.” Kara smiled at McKay. “You know how timetables are flexible in these small towns. Coffee?”

McKay nodded.

“Right,” Jamie said. “Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right back. How do you take it?”

“Black, please.” The merc watched Jamie move toward the back room before turning his attention to Kara. “Thank you for your help. Be a shame to stand outside the library, waiting for Geraldine to show up.”

A sliver of relief filled her heart at the successful diversion. “No problem. I hope you can find your friend.”

His lips turned upward in a smirk. “I’m sure I will.” He glanced toward the front door. “Perhaps you can show me where the library is. Don’t want to go wandering around town, not in this weather.”

Kara tried not to look at the hotel office, imagining Jamie fulfilling the coffee order from the old machine kept on hand for staff and visitors. “Sure. Come to the front door, and I’ll point the way, then you can come back and enjoy your drink.”

McKay moved closer and touched her right elbow. “That’d be nice.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Maybe you’ve forgotten we met before—in the diner.”

Her heart skipped a beat as he gripped her arm.