Lieutenant Strauss sat down, then pulled a computer from a slim bag. Aiden sat on one side, while Brady sat on the other. Shelby was across from them. He gave her a hopefully reassuring smile, then waited for Strauss to begin.
“I walked the area where Mitchell was shot.” Strauss turned his computer toward him. Aiden leaned forward to examine the map. “This area here”—he tapped the screen—“is likely the position from where the shooter waited.”
“This is roughly six miles from the hotel.” Seeing the close proximity for himself was sobering. “That means Mitchell had to have stopped for lunch first before heading out. And once he was hit, he called to warn us. We were able to escape before the shooter got down from his perch, then drove to the hotel.”
“Is this your cell number?” Strauss recited a series of digits matching those of his disposable phone.
“Yes.”
Strauss turned the computer back so he could make notes. “We found a receipt for a family restaurant, which matches your theory on where he was prior to hitting the road. How long was Mitchell with you?”
He glanced at Shelby, thinking back. “Less than an hour. Maybe forty-five minutes?”
She nodded in agreement.
“Here’s what doesn’t make sense.” Strauss sat back in his chair, pinning him with a narrow gaze. “If Mitchell was followed to your hotel, why not ambush him there? The shooter could have taken all three of you out at one time.”
“Four of us,” Shelby swiftly interjected. “My three-year-old daughter was with us.”
Strauss nodded. “You’re right. Although it’s difficult to know for certain if your daughter would have been killed, too, or simply left behind as not being a threat.”
Just the thought of Eva watching her mother be shot and killed and left alone with her body was enough to make his stomach churn. “Neither option is acceptable.”
“I didn’t mean to insinuate it was,” Strauss said. “But I still think the shooter’s decision-making isn’t logical. He could have shot Mitchell at the hotel, or at the restaurant. But didn’t strike out until he was on the road.”
Aiden had to admit the guy was right.
Brady spoke up. “Could the shooter have keyed into Mitchell’s cell phone or vehicle GPS? Maybe he was on the way to the hotel, but before he could get to Timberland Falls, he discovered Mitchell left. He didn’t realize the guy was going to stay for lunch, leaving him little choice but to wait to ambush him? Fewer witnesses to alert the police if he took the shot on a busy highway.”
Strauss looked thoughtful. “That’s one possible scenario.”
“If that is what happened, only someone with high military access could have gotten that level of information,” Aiden said. “The shooter is not a boots-on-the-ground soldier.”
Strauss nodded. “I can look into whether or not Ms. Copeland’s father made any enemies that might explain this.”
“Even if my father made someone angry, I don’t see why they’d track me and Eva down to shoot us.” Shelby scowled. “Tom thought these attacks were personal. Which is why he was thinking my husband’s infidelity was at the center of this.”
“I read the notes Tom sent prior to his murder.” Strauss tapped the keyboard. “He mentioned a list of female soldiers and something about running a report on any disciplinary action taken by Sergeant Major Savage.”
“We thought Shelby’s father may have uncovered the truth about Copeland’s affair and took action against the female soldier involved,” Aiden said.
Strauss grimaced. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I could not find any disciplinary actions by Savage against a female soldier for the past three years. I didn’t go back any farther because I didn’t want us to head down the wrong path.”
He locked gazes with Shelby. “Well, that’s not helpful.”
“I’m sorry.” Strauss shrugged. “Any other ideas?”
Aiden had hoped this guy would come with more theories and intel. “Mitchell said he couldn’t prove Copeland had an affair. He had planned to reinterview soldiers working alongside him to see if they cough up a name now that Shelby and Eva are in danger. Are you able to do that too?”
“Yes. But I’d like to put in a request for another search first,” Strauss said. “We’ve mentioned upper brass being involved. I’ve requested a list of senior officers who have daughters in the National Guard.”
He could see how a father could be irate about an affair. “Do you really think someone with bars and stars would attempt to shoot an innocent woman and child for something her husband had done?”
“I think we need to consider any and all possibilities,” Strauss said.
“It can’t hurt.” Brady shrugged. “I mean, that list can’t be that long, right?”
“Wait, that reminds me.” Aiden dug out the list of female soldiers he’d been investigating. “You should check on this woman, Amy Golden. She committed suicide three weeks ago.”
Strauss whistled. “Now that is a powerful motive.”
As the investigator attacked the keyboard, Aiden caught Brady’s gaze, silently asking if they should have their backup come inside out of the cold. From what he could tell, Strauss wasn’t the leak. He seemed intent on getting to the bottom of Mitchell’s murder.
Brady gave an imperceptible nod, then sent a text to the group.
“Amy Golden does not have a father, mother, or brother in the army,” Strauss announced.
“What about having family in some other branch of law enforcement?” Aiden asked. “Same rules apply.”
“I can look into that.” Brady glanced up from his phone and gave an imperceptible shake of his head. Aiden took that to mean the team outside intended to stay put for a while. Mitchell said, “I’ll call my boss.”
“That would be great.” If Strauss noticed Brady’s texting, he didn’t mention it. “Did you happen to find anything else interesting from the list?”
“Yes, but nothing that can be used as proof of an affair.” Aiden showed him the pictures of female soldiers. Strauss’s eyebrows levered upward when he saw Justine’s photo.
“That name rings a bell.” Strauss went back to working the keyboard. “Oh yeah, here it is. She filed sexual harassment charges against Sergeant Oliver Kennedy.”
“Kennedy?” Aiden frowned. “He was at Shelby’s father’s funeral as a pallbearer. He was near us, though, so he couldn’t have made the shot.”
Strauss grimaced. “So likely not involved.”
“I can’t see how a sexual harassment charge against Oliver Kennedy would result in someone shooting at Shelby and her daughter.”
“Maybe not, but you may be on the right track,” Brady said. “What about any sexual assault allegations against Emmitt Copeland?”
“I believe that was reviewed back when he was killed, but I’ll double check.” Strauss tapped more keys. “Nothing was filed against Copeland.” The investigator looked at Shelby for a moment as if feeling guilty about having these frank discussions about her dead husband.
“It could be that the charges were going to be filed, but then Emmitt was shot, so there was no point,” Brady said thoughtfully. “It might be wise to interview Justine Brooks to see if what she has to say about Emmitt Copeland.”
“This is going to take too long.” Shelby’s outburst startled him. “We have been in constant danger. Interviews, poking into every possible woman who might have a grudge against Emmitt could take days, even weeks.” She crossed her arms defensively over her chest. “I have to go back to work on Monday.”
“I would advise against that,” Strauss said.
“You need to find who is behind this!” She jabbed her finger at the investigator.
Aiden wanted to reassure her that they’d figure this out, but he understood her frustration. He and his family had kept her safe without much help from the army. Except for Tom Mitchell who’d been shot for his efforts.
“You’re right, Ms. Copeland. We do need to get this shooter behind bars.” Strauss sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I will put in a request for MPs to keep you and your daughter safe.”
“Don’t bother,” Aiden said in a curt tone. “I don’t trust anyone within the army right now, and we’ve been doing okay on our own.”
“I agree with Aiden. I don’t want anyone else assigned to watch over me,” Shelby added. “Why can’t you just find this person and arrest him?”
Strauss looked chagrined. “I will do my best.”
Shelby bit her lower lip and turned away as if holding back yet another retort.
He didn’t blame Shelby for venting her frustration. She had every right to be upset about what the army had or hadn’t done. He turned to Strauss. “How long will it take for the army to get you the information on the list of senior officers with daughters in the military?”
In answer, Strauss went back to his computer. “I guess we’ll find out.”
It was his turn to swallow a wave of frustration. That answer wasn’t good enough either, but there was no easy way to cut through the red tape that the military was famous for. Especially when it came to getting intel on the upper brass.
In that moment, he found it difficult to imagine staying within the Army National Guard. Working his way up the ranks didn’t hold the same appeal as it once had. Obviously, senior officers deserved to be treated with the respect their rank deserved.
But they did not have the right to hide behind their bars and stars to commit crimes either.
“Mommy!” Shelby sent him a helpless glance as she jumped up from her seat at the table to tend to her daughter.
“They don’t deserve this,” Aiden said in a low voice. “You better get the access you need and fast.”
“I know.” Strauss looked just as grim. “I don’t believe Mitchell was taken seriously when he broached the idea of someone within the army being involved in the attempted murder of a civilian. Now I think the army understands this has the power to blow up in their face.”
“And that’s why the FBI intends to work the case with you,” Brady pointed out. “I have to be honest, I’m still sitting here trying to decide if we should trust you.”
Strauss arched a brow. “Is that why you have someone outside watching the place?”
Aiden had to admit, the guy was good. “You knew?”
“I saw one person and figured you had called in some backup.” Strauss nodded to the other room where Shelby was talking softly to Eva. “I can understand why. They don’t deserve this.”
Brady held the investigator’s gaze. “Four officers. Not one.”
This time, Strauss looked shocked. “Really?”
“Can we get back to the matter at hand?” Aiden asked. “I can keep going down this list of female officers, but we also need to see a list of those who were discharged, honorably or not, within the past three years too. Mitchell only went back two years.”
“That I can get easily enough.” Strauss tapped a few keys. “The army doesn’t care as much about those soldiers who have left the military and turned civilian.”
“Separate it by gender,” he suggested. “We should probably start with the women.”
“Will do.” He watched the screen for a moment, then nodded. “We have three women and ten men.”
Sensing the army investigator planned to stay awhile, he shot another questioning look at Brady. Strauss had been there for a solid hour, and Kyleigh, Marc, Reed, and Tarin had to be chilled to the bone.
Brady nodded and stood. “Excuse me.” His brother left the room, pulling out his phone as he walked.
“How have you been searching on the female soldiers?” Strauss asked.
“Just through social media,” he acknowledged. “I had hoped the army would provide some intel too.”
“They for sure have the basics, name, address, phone number, and serial numbers,” Strauss said. “That will need to be cross-referenced with other databases. It’s not as easy as it looks on TV.”
“Can you do that here? With the laptop?”
“Yep.” Strauss didn’t look up from the screen. “But I will still need to input one name at a time.”
Brady returned a minute later. He flashed his phone screen so that Aiden could see the text from Tarin saying they would stay put for a while longer. He nodded, thinking his family was really going out on a limb for them.
“I started with Amy Golden,” Strauss said. “There’s nothing in her background that raises any red flags. Her file states that there was no known reason for her suicide.”
“Meaning they weren’t aware of a sexual assault or other crime that may have driven her over the edge.” Aiden frowned. “She wouldn’t have been the first female soldier to have had such an allegation ignored by her superior.”
“True, but according to the report, she hadn’t confided in anyone about such an event either. Not to her friends, or her family.” Strauss sighed. “Without anything more to go on, we should move onto the next possible suspect.”
“Just because it’s not in the report doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” Aiden argued. “Who did that investigation?”
“Tom Mitchell.” Strauss looked surprised. “I believe he’d have dug deep.”
“Yeah.” More frustration hit hard. This wasn’t going to be an easy road. Not when it seemed they hit a wall at every turn.
Brady abruptly looked up from his phone. “Hey. We have company.”
Aiden instantly leaped up and ran to the next room. “Shelby, grab your coat and Eva’s too.”
“What’s going on?” Her eyes were wide with alarm, but she thankfully did as he’d asked. Eva protested, but he ignored her.
“Someone is coming.” He swept the little girl into his arms and ushered Shelby into the kitchen. “Brady? Can we drive out of here?”
“Reed is asking that we go into the basement.” Brady swept the computers off the table, tucking them under his arm. “Let’s go.”
“What? Why?” Strauss looked alarmed, as if realizing for the first time the magnitude of the danger.
It was all Aiden could do not to yell at the guy. The only way they could have been found is if someone had tracked the investigator to this location.
The basement was dark, damp, and generally awful. Shelby knew she shouldn’t have expected anything different. It was an old farmhouse after all.
“I’m scared.” Eva buried her face against Aiden’s neck. He cradled her daughter close for a moment, murmuring words of encouragement before transferring Eva into her arms.
“I need to be able to shoot if necessary,” he whispered.
She nodded in understanding. “You’re not going to leave us here, are you?”
“Not yet.” Aiden and Brady exchanged a long look. “Brady is going up to stand guard in the kitchen.”
Brady thrust the computers at Heath Strauss. “Stash these someplace safe.”
“There’s really someone out there?” Strauss asked.
“Yeah.” Aiden stepped forward, his expression grim. “I don’t think you were tailed, since you’ve been here for over an hour. But somehow you were tracked anyway.”
“The same way Tom Mitchell was,” Strauss said quietly. He set the computers over where an ancient-looking washer and dryer were located. “This is unbelievable.”
“Now do you believe someone high in the ranks is behind this?” Aiden pulled his weapon and stood to one side of the bottom of the basement steps. “Take a post on the other side. I expect you to guard Shelby and Eva with your life if necessary.”
“I will.” To his credit, the investigator fell into position. Her gaze darted between the two men. Was it possible the shooter could get past their backup and into the house?
Please, Lord! Please keep us all safe!
Aiden gave her a nod as if understanding her whispered prayer. She lowered into a sitting position in front of the washer and dryer, resting her back against the appliances, then cradled Eva in her lap. From her position, she couldn’t see the top of the stairs. Which was okay because she knew Aiden and Heath Strauss wouldn’t let an intruder get very far.
Humbling to realize every single man and woman located inside and outside the house would not hesitate to put their lives on the line for her.
And Eva.
The fact that it was necessary still messed with her mind. She inwardly railed against Emmitt for putting her and their daughter in this situation. Because the more she thought about these attacks being personal, the more convinced she was that he was the driving force behind them.
For long minutes, there was nothing but silence. It was difficult to sit there doing nothing while imagining what Kyleigh, Tarin, Marc, and Reed were dealing with.
“Do you really have four officers stationed outside?” Strauss asked in a low whisper.
Aiden glanced at him, but then turned his attention to the top of the stairs. “Yes, four members of my family are out there. Heaven help you, Strauss, if I discover you’re part of this.”
“I’m not!” There was a hint of panic in the guy’s tone. “I would never hurt innocent people.”
“Then who would?” Aiden shot back. “Think fast because you’re a target now as much as we are.”
“I wish I knew.” The investigator’s tone was laced with bitterness. “Trust me, I was not expecting this.”
“Yeah, you can see why I don’t trust you,” Aiden muttered.
The two men fell silent again, and Shelby could tell the not knowing about what was going on outside was wearing on Aiden’s nerves. She may have only known him for a few days, but she understood he would far rather be stationed on the front lines than relegated to the basement.
A gunshot rang out, followed by two more staccato shots.
Aiden and Strauss didn’t move, their weapons trained on the doorway at the top of the steps. Shelby glanced around, looking for something, anything she could use as a weapon. But there was nothing other than a very dusty bottle of laundry detergent.
“Everyone okay down there?” Brady called.
“Yes. What about the others?” Aiden asked.
“Hold tight. I see one perp down.” Brady sounded calm, as if this was something that happened every day. Or maybe he had that much faith in the four officers that had offered to back them up.
What would have happened if they hadn’t stayed outside standing guard? She shivered, knowing things could have gone much differently.
“All clear!” Brady called. She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek to Eva’s hair.
“Shelby?” Aiden crossed over to her side. “Can I help with Eva?”
“Yes.” Her voice came out in a croak, her throat thick with pent-up tears. Thankfully, Eva didn’t put up a fight as Aiden took the little girl from her.
Rising on shaky knees, she followed Aiden upstairs. There was no sign of Brady. When she looked outside, she saw everyone except Aiden and Heath Strauss outside, surrounding a man lying on the ground.
“Get the computers up here,” Aiden directed. “We’re going to want to try to identify this guy and may need to do a search in the army database.”
Strauss nodded and did as he asked. She stepped up beside Aiden, who slipped his arm around her waist.
“We’re safe,” he said in a low voice.
“Thanks to you and your family,” she whispered.
A crooked smile creased his features. “I told you we’d manage without help from the army.”
“You did.” She allowed herself the luxury of leaning against him, soaking in his strength. How many times had Aiden saved her life?
Too many.
“Hey, don’t cry,” he said when she sniffled. “We’re okay. And this could end up being a break in the case. The danger could be over for good.”
She lifted her head to glance up at him. “You think so?” The way her daughter rested against Aiden made her heart ache. Emmitt had thrown this away, and for what? The thrill of a sordid affair?
“We’ll find out.” He smiled and surprised her with a sweet but potent kiss. Only when Strauss clattered back up the stairs did he lift his head. “Soon, I hope.”
It wasn’t easy, but she stepped back, putting some distance between them. She could feel Strauss’s curious gaze on them. Yet she also couldn’t bring herself to care what he thought of her feelings for Aiden.
“I’ll, uh, head outside.” Strauss set one laptop on the table.
“Hold on, Strauss.” Aiden held up a hand, as Brady turned and glanced at the house. “Looks like my brother may already have an ID on the shooter.”
Less than fifteen seconds later, Brady stepped inside. His gaze swept over her, Aiden, and Eva before coming to rest on Strauss. “Tim Tobin.”
“Who?” Strauss looked confused.
“The wounded soldier is Tim Tobin.” Brady’s gaze narrowed. “His name hasn’t come up in any of your investigations?”
“No. I’ve never heard of the guy.” Setting the computer on the table, Strauss opened it and began typing. After a moment, he said, “Tobin enlisted in the army four years ago and has recently been honorably discharged from service after completing his four-year stint.”
“What?” Aiden scowled. “You’re saying this guy is a civilian?”
“Yes, exactly.” Strauss typed more, apparently doing another search. A long minute later, he shook his head. “He does not have a parent or sibling who is still an active member of the military either.”
Aiden looked frustrated. “Brady, how badly is he hurt?”
“Reed fired two rounds, hitting him twice in the abdomen a split second after the guy took a shot at him. He’s moaning in pain and refusing to answer any questions.”
“Ambulance on the way?” Aiden asked.
“Yes.” Five seconds later, the wail of police sirens could be heard getting louder and louder as they approached the farmhouse.
“I don’t understand how Tim Tobin, an ex-army soldier, had the resources needed to track me here.” Strauss scowled.
Aiden and Brady exchanged another long look. “Someone hired him to do the job,” Aiden finally said. Then he handed Shelby Eva and took a step closer to Strauss. “Convince me it wasn’t you.”
“I can’t prove a negative,” Strauss shot back. But Aiden didn’t respond. A palpable tension shimmered between the two men. Finally, the investigator put his arms out, holding his wrists together. “You want to arrest me? Go ahead. But I’m telling you, I’m not involved in this.”
Shelby wasn’t sure what to believe. But her hope of this nightmare ending faded.
It seemed they were no closer to uncovering the truth.