[19]

She blinked. “Me.”

He gave her a slow smile. “Yes. I can’t get that kiss off my mind. Therefore, you’re right there, front and center all the time.”

Katie felt the heat leak into her cheeks and she had to look away for a moment. Not because she was embarrassed but because she understood. She gathered her thoughts and looked back at him, his intense green eyes bored into hers. “How long have we known each other?” she asked him.

“A little over a year?”

“Hmm. We’ve known about each other that long. I wouldn’t say we’ve known each other that long.”

“True. We’ve known each other in passing, I would say.”

She studied him. “And I probably know more about you than you do me, thanks to Riley. So. What do you want to know, Daniel?”

“Everything. But start with what happened three years ago.”

“That’s what you came over for? It couldn’t wait?”

“No. It couldn’t.” He closed his eyes and raked a hand through his hair.

“The nightmares. You’re avoiding them.”

“Yeah. So talk to me. So I don’t have to think—or sleep and dream.”

Katie took a deep breath. She didn’t talk about that time. Ever. The only people she’d talked to about the incident were those in law enforcement who needed to know the details right after it happened and then her three best friends. The ladies she worked with at Elite Guardians. She hadn’t even had to testify in court because the man who’d set the bombs had killed himself.

“Three years ago, there was an explosion at an apartment building. A tenant was evicted and he was bitter about it. Downstairs in the basement where the laundry room was, he set off a bomb. It was a simple, homemade thing that he probably got the recipe for off the internet. It went off right under Paulo and Maria Lopez’s apartment. It happened about eleven o’clock at night. Paulo and Maria and their three children, ages two months, three, and eight, were killed.”

He closed his eyes. “It’s the children that get me.”

“Yes. I was working with ATF at the time as a CFI.”

“Certified Fire Investigator.”

“Right. I had a dual role there. I was also a Certified Explosive Specialist. And so was my brother, Paul.”

“Your brother?”

She nodded. “He was five years older than me, and I thought he was perfect. I wanted to do everything he did.” She grimaced. “Only I wanted to do it better, to prove to him that I had what it takes to be worthy of his respect.”

“Why did you feel compelled to earn his respect?”

“I don’t know. My parents were gone a lot. They both traveled with their jobs. Paul was there for me and my younger sister. He was the one I wanted to please, the one I wanted to make proud.”

“And was he? Proud of you?”

She felt her lips tug upward. “Oh yeah. I was bragging rights in the department. He took full credit for having taught me anything I did that was worthy of recognition.” The smile slid off. “But that day, I wasn’t there as the bomb investigator, I was there as the CFI. Usually, the explosives investigator goes in first to clear the building, but because of my training in that area, I went ahead and went in with Paul.” She closed her eyes and saw those last moments with him. “I was so proud of myself. Too proud really. Cocky. Arrogant in some ways.”

“You?”

“Oh yes. Guys aren’t the only ones who can be that way, you know. Paul and I scoured the building, but it was a mess. The bomb in the basement had done its job. Paul had a dog, Jojo. She was an amazing animal.”

“A bomb detection dog?”

“Yes. Or Accelerant and Explosives Detection Canine if you want to get technical. Anyway, at the top of the set of stairs that hadn’t been destroyed from the first bomb, the dog alerted us to another bomb. It had five seconds left on the timer. The man had set the bombs to go off exactly one hour apart.” Her throat wanted to close. “Paul shoved me down the stairs and threw himself on the bomb. It went off as I hit bottom. I continued to roll down the next set of steps while the debris rained down on me. I don’t know how I wasn’t buried, but somehow I managed to crawl out. Paul and Jojo didn’t.”

Daniel stared at her, horror written in his eyes. “He had on a suit, I’m sure, but . . . ”

She shook her head. “He had on some protective wear, but he couldn’t wear a full-body blast suit, not in that building. And neither could I.”

“Too hot.”

“Too hot, too cumbersome. And it wouldn’t have kept him from dying that day anyway.”

“No, not even the suit would have protected him. That’s—wow.” He looked away as though absorbing a blow. She knew how he felt.

“Yes.”

He looked back at her and locked his gaze on hers. “He sacrificed his life for yours.”

Tears gathered. She forced them back. “Yes. And now every time I see a fire or try to investigate one or whatever, I hear him. He’s crying out to me to help him . . . and I can’t.” The last two words slipped through gritted teeth. She rose. “Excuse me a second. I want to check on . . . things.” She checked the windows, the front door, the back door, the sunporch. There was no indication that anyone was on her property. In the kitchen, she drew in a steadying breath and let it out slowly through her pursed lips.

His hands landed on her shoulders with a gentle grip. “It wasn’t your fault.”

She let out a hiccupping laugh. “Well, tell that to my family.”

“They blame you?”

“They do.”

“Why?”

She shrugged, but his hands remained. “Because they didn’t want me to be a cop in the first place. And they felt like if I hadn’t been there, Paul could have gotten out. Or at least not been killed. He surely wouldn’t have thrown himself on the bomb.”

A sigh slipped from him. “Man.”

“Yeah. But I . . . can’t imagine doing anything else. I may not be with ATF any longer. I may not walk into danger every day and defuse bombs, but my heart is law enforcement, helping people, catching the bad guys. It’s my calling. If I’m not doing that, then . . . I’m nothing,” she whispered.

He spun her to face him and her breath hitched. She thought he might kiss her again, but he didn’t. Instead he drew her to him, pressed her head against his chest, and simply held her. “You’re not nothing, Katie. You’re amazing. And I understand exactly what you mean about law enforcement being a calling. I really do.”

She swallowed and thought about pulling away. But she couldn’t. It felt good to be held, to know that he didn’t blame her for what had happened. It was bad enough that she blamed herself.

She closed her eyes and sighed and let the comfort of his presence wash over her.

When she finally got herself somewhat together emotionally, she pulled away and ran a hand down her face. She glanced out the window over the sink into the darkness beyond. As much as she couldn’t help it, she wondered if her intruder had returned. If he sat outside and watched even now. “You’d better go.”

“I know. I don’t want to, but I will.”

She gave him a light shove toward the door. “Yes, you will.” She frowned. “But not until we check your car.”

“I’ll check it.”

“Well, I’ll help.”

He nodded. “Fine.”

“Stay here while I get my mirror.”

She walked to the spare bedroom once more, grabbed the item, and then followed him out the door.

Daniel didn’t waste time. He took the mirror from her and she held the light while he checked his vehicle. He started at the front and worked his way down the passenger’s side, then along the back bumper. “All clear here.” He moved up the driver’s side and paused. “Shine that a little closer, will you?”

She did. “What have you got?”

“I think while we were so focused on the backyard, your visitor was in the front creating some havoc.”

“Like?”

“Take a look at the chassis under the driver’s seat.” He handed her the mirror and she gave him the light. He heard her indrawn breath when she saw what he was talking about.

“Yeah.” She backed up and motioned for him to do the same.

“Okay, get on the phone and let’s get the cops out here.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “Bomb squad too.”

“Definitely.” She studied the car again. “I’m going to use my landline. I’m not taking a chance on using my cell. Cut yours off too, will you?”

He did. “I want to keep an eye on the vehicle. I know it’s late and unlikely anyone would be coming to your home, but I don’t want anyone coming close to that car. And if you’ve got curious neighbors—”

“Do it from inside the front door. You’re a sitting duck out here in the open.”

He shot her a stiff smile. “That was the plan I had too.”

“Sorry, adrenaline is a little high right now.”

“I know.”

She ran in and Daniel followed behind her. Once behind the protection of the door, he watched the car. The fact that the car hadn’t blown up when he’d started checking it comforted him. Slightly. He heard Katie on the phone in the kitchen. Heard her report the bomb.

When she hung up, she turned back to face him. “They’re on the way. Told them to be discreet so they’re coming in with no lights or sirens. They’ll start evacuating the neighbors.” From the window, she looked at the car. “Physically, it’s a relatively small bomb, but I don’t know what’s in it or what kind of reach it will have. Or if someone’s going to push a button and have it go off if I approach it again.” She paused. “Although I’m guessing since it didn’t explode while we were checking, we might be all right.”

“You’re a mind reader.”

“How’s that?”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

She rubbed her forehead. “You know what else I’m thinking?”

“What?”

“Why did he have that bomb on him?”

Daniel frowned. “He didn’t follow me. He was here before I got here.”

“Which means he originally intended to put the bomb somewhere on my property?”

The implications hit him. “Which means you’re now a target as well.”

She huffed a small breath. “Maybe. Or he was planning on putting that bomb on your vehicle at some point anyway and just took advantage of the opportunity?”

He shook his head. “Carrying a bomb around hoping for the opportunity? How stupid is that?”

“Some people are just stupid.”

“Don’t I know it.” He shrugged. “The only one with the answer to all the questions isn’t available to ask.” He scowled, then looked at the neighbors on either side. “You have a good amount of distance between your property and theirs, but still . . . you think we should evacuate them now?”

She hesitated. “Not yet. I don’t want to leave you alone and we can’t take a chance someone will come on the property. Generally, we’d want at least five hundred feet between us and that bomb, but I won’t leave it and take a chance someone wants to be a night owl on a stroll.” She shot him a wry look. “And I don’t suppose it would do me any good to order you away from it.” He snorted and she rolled her eyes. “That’s what I thought. We’ll let the experts handle the evacuation.”

“Thought you were the expert.”

Her jaw tightened. “Not anymore.”

They stood in silence just inside her front door. Waiting.

The first cruiser rolled up approximately six minutes later, followed by a large truck that stopped behind it. It helped to have a bomb squad close by. There had been times when she’d had to wait an hour or more. Katie opened the door and walked onto the front porch. When the driver exited the vehicle, she flashed her badge and pointed to the SUV. “On the chassis, under the driver’s seat.”

He turned and consulted with someone inside the large truck. Then he turned back to her while more police cruisers pulled up and were motioned to a stop well away from Daniel’s car. “We’re going to park across the street and work it from there. You can get in and be safe while we take care of this.”

Katie and Daniel climbed into the back of the truck and the driver made his way slowly down the street. “There’s not a great spot that’s far enough away but close enough to do what we need to do,” Katie heard him say.

“Do your best,” was the response from the man seated next to him.

The best they could do was about a football field in length away from the bomb. The man in the passenger seat turned and his eyes found Katie’s. “Now we can take care of the introductions.”

“I’m Katie Singleton.” She flashed her badge and he nodded. “This is Daniel Matthews, my client. It’s his vehicle with the device strapped to it.”

“I’m Jack Sinclair, lead on this.” Jack held out a hand and she shook it.

“Do you mind filling me in?” she said.

“Who are you with?”

Katie held his gaze. “The mayor.”

“Ah yes, Elite Guardians, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

He nodded. “Heard of you.” He shot her a smile. “All good things. So, you found the bomb?”

“My client and I did.”

“Good job.” He spoke into the radio he held and looked up at her. “We’ve got uniformed police officers setting up a perimeter and going door to door to evacuate the homes. No telling what’s in that bomb and how far it’ll send debris.”

Katie nodded. She knew a few curious onlookers would ignore the order and could only hope that the bomb didn’t go off. Daniel sat next to her, eyes glued on the screens. Floodlights illuminated Daniel’s vehicle.

The team worked quickly getting the robot prepped and on the way. Within seconds it was rolling toward Daniel’s SUV. Katie watched the bomb squad member at the controls expertly maneuver the robot.

It stopped next to the SUV and a camera slid out to disappear underneath. Pictures immediately popped up on one screen, and another member started his analysis of them. The camera withdrew. Next, the operator clicked and sent another order to the robot. “All right, Rocky,” he murmured. “Time for the X-rays.” The robot seemed to follow the order as the X-ray machine slid under. The computer screens lit up with other pictures and Katie got her first look at the inside of the bomb.

“C4,” she whispered.

Jack raised a brow in her direction. “Looks like.”

“It’s enough to turn that vehicle into its own bomb. It’ll send pieces all over the place.”

“Indeed.”

“And it’s rigged to go off when he opens the driver’s door, isn’t it?” she said.

The man raised a brow again, higher this time. “Yes. How’d you know?”

“I’ve had some training and I saw the wires leading from it to the bottom of the door when we found it. So what are you going to do?”

“Unrig it.” He started to pull on the head-protection gear.

“C4 contains RDX,” Daniel muttered. “Bet he used that in the other one too.”

Jack stopped, lowered the protective helmet. “Other one?” Jack’s gaze bounced between her and Daniel.

“This isn’t our first rodeo with an explosive,” Katie said. “The same person who did this might also be responsible for Daniel’s restaurant burning down.”

Jack drew in a deep breath. “Ah yes, I thought I recognized you.”

Daniel grimaced and kept his gaze on the action around his vehicle.

“Well, Rocky’s waiting on me.”

“Rocky’s not going to defuse it?”

Jack shook his head and climbed out the back of the van. He opened a storage compartment on the side and started pulling out gear. “Not this one. It’s going to take a steady pair of hands.”

Once he had all but his headgear on, Jack pointed to the computer. “Let me take a look at the X-rays one more time, Goose.”

Goose tapped a few keys. “It’s a cylinder-shaped device,” Jack said. “The detonator is right there at the top. Screws?”

“Yes.”

“Great.”

Katie knew what he was thinking. He wouldn’t be wearing the hand protection very long if he had to use a screwdriver. The robot was equipped with the ability to use a screwdriver, but the location of the device was such that it was going to take human intervention.

Jack pulled his head protection back on and headed toward Daniel’s SUV. Katie watched him from the safety of the van. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. He strode confidently, but she knew what he was feeling. His heart was thudding inside his chest and sweat was probably running down his back and pooling in his armpits. She started to perspire just thinking about it. At least it wasn’t a hundred degrees outside.

Jack reached the vehicle and the tension in the bomb truck went up tenfold.

Katie stared at the screen. She could do it. She could defuse it as well as the man now kneeling at the side of the vehicle. She’d use a rolling board and slide herself under to get a good look at the device. She’d disrupt the detonator, remove the bomb, and place it into the total containment vessel. And all would be well.

Which was exactly what Jack Sinclair was doing.

Within minutes, he had the bomb released from the undercarriage of the vehicle. He slid out from under and motioned for the robot. The robot rolled over to Jack and he placed the device into the metal container. The robot then moved to the containment vessel and gently inserted the metal container in the black hole. The door closed and the bomb was sealed.

Katie let out a breath. Everyone in the truck cheered. She shot a glance at Daniel and saw him watching the containment vessel roll into the back of the large truck that had delivered it. Now it would be whisked away and detonated in a safe area.

Unfortunately, it didn’t look like she and Daniel had anything they could remotely consider a safe area. She kept her silence while law enforcement vacated the property. Now it was about four in the morning and Katie could feel an adrenaline crash headed her way.

“I’m done with this,” Daniel said. He stood staring at his bomb-free vehicle.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I’m done letting him come after you and me. It’s time to go on the offensive.”

“How do you plan to do that?”

“He wants me? Fine. I’m going to make it easy to get to me.” He shot her a glance. “And Riley doesn’t need to know about any of this. Got it?”

“I think that’s a mistake, Daniel.”

“Why?”

“She needs to know the danger—and she’ll have your head if she sees it on the news.” She pointed to a news van parked just beyond the police line.

Daniel groaned. “Great.”