Sounds of a train going by in the background. Randalls voice became more frantic and he spoke in a rush.
Meg, I dont have much time and I cant be certain this phone isnt bugged. Prescotts in deeper than I thought. Its not him you have to worry about...its his new friends with deep pockets, and theyre planning something big. Be careful. The documents and cash for you to live on are hidden. Remember 43.961281 and -71.058542. Theres also a backup microchip close to your heart. Watch yourself, Meggie.
Hands trembling, she shut off the phone. Meg jotted the numbers down on a nearby pad. Then she looked at the cell phone. Police were investigating and would trace the phone number back to her.
Pulling open drawers, she pawed through their contents until she found an old-fashioned meat tenderizer. Perfect. Meg removed the battery from the cell phone and then set the phone on the floor and smashed it. Then she took the shards and placed them in a plastic bag to dispose of later.
It was a prepaid cell phone with a new SIM card that shed paid for in cash. The police could call the number and use the phone to track her down. Randalls call came three hours ago. Enough time for them to start checking out his phone calls.
The numbers played over in her head: 43.961281 and -71.058542. Tears burned her throat. Randall had lived a lavish lifestyle, jet-setting and spending money extravagantly, but he was a good man at heart, wanting to do the right thing.
And now he was dead because of it.
She went to the fireplace and warmed her ice-cold hands. All she had as clues were the numbers and a vague message about her heart.
What did those numbers mean?
A loud crash sounded outside, making her jump. Sophie barked and scrambled to her feet. Megs blood turned to ice. Immobilized with fear, she stared in the direction of the kitchen.
Right outside the sunporch.
Turning off all the lights, wishing she could bank the fire as well to plunge the room into total darkness, Meg took a deep breath. Gathering all her courage, she peered out the living room window that paralleled the sunporch. Fat snowflakes swirled in the storm, making it difficult to see, despite the dim glow of the porch light. Tree branches scraped against the side of the house like nails against a chalkboard.
The crash was probably the wind knocking over one of the clay planters on the steps. It made no sense that Prescott had found her, unless hed traced her to Jarrett and Lacey...
Meg ran to the fireplace and seized the poker, carrying it like a weapon. She found the coat Cooper had left for her, hanging on a peg in the sunroom. Sophie trotted behind her, but she motioned for the dog to stay quiet.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. If something was lurking outside, she wasnt going to hide in here, cowering in fear.
She was so tired of being afraid all the time.
Snow pelted her face, danced around in the air as she stepped onto the landing. The tiny light outside did little to illuminate the gloom. Wind whipped at her hair, sending tiny stinging needles into her skin.
Meg held up the fireplace poker, ready to swing at an unknown assailant. But no one was outside. The clay pot, containing only dirt, had been knocked over and lay in shards on the snowy ground. Nothing. Just the pot, knocked over by the wind. Still she stood there for a minute, listening to the wind howl and the trees moan under the storm, cold snaking down her spine.
A deeper cold she knew would never leave, not until shed freed herself permanently from Prescotts clutches.
Finally, the cold became too much to bear and she returned inside.
Meg set down the poker on the kitchen table. Using the kitchen phone, she dialed the toll-free number Lacey had given her.
Her former sorority sister answered on the first ring. SOS.
Lacey, its Meg. I made it here, but Im not staying. She spoke in a rush, worried the connection would get cut off.
Meg! We were worried about you. Her friends relief was obvious. Stay there with Cooper. Youre in a safe house now. We need you to stay put until we can find another place to move you.
Move me. Like Im furniture, only the moving meant putting more people at risk. Her throat tightened. Shed already played havoc with too many lives and endangered good people. It had to end now.
Fingering the diamond around her neck, she thought of the cash it would bring if she pawned it. Enough to find another place to run and hide, until she could figure out the numbers Randall had left her.
She hated pawning her grandmothers jewel, but Gran would understand. Megs hand trembled as she gripped the phone. No. I have a little money. Ill find a place on my own. Thank you, but I cant risk it.
Meg, please, I know youre scared, but Cooper is the best...
You dont know my ex. Hes ruthless and has enough money to make anyone vanish. You both arent safe. If he finds out you helped me... I cant risk your lives, Lacey.
Nothings going to happen to us, Meg, Lacey told her. Jarrett takes every precaution when it comes to our underground railroad of aiding women in distress. Coops going to give you a new ID, new passport, drivers license...but it will take a little time.
I dont have time. It wont matter. She gripped the phone and thought of Randall, and his cheerful, round face, now frozen in death. Cooper Johnson cant help me. He has his hands full here.
Cooper is a professional soldier and hell make sure youre safe. Hes okay, Meg. Trust him, Lacey told her.
I cant stay here. And you and Jarrett and Fleur are in danger, because if Prescott finds you...
A crackling over the phone and mumbling in the background.
Hes not going to touch Lace, or Fleur, and if he gets within one hundred miles of our house, Ill be on him, Meg. Stay with Coop. The deep, rumbling tones of former Navy SEAL Lt. Jarrett Adler sounded confident and assured.
But she could not take chances.
Watch yourselves. Meg hung up the phone, then she went to the window, worried about the storm. No time to go out in this mess. She had no car, and for now, she was stuck.
Stuck in a cottage with someone outside. She lifted the checked curtain at the kitchen window and peered out into the darkness again.
Was someone out there now, watching her every move?
Fear soured in her stomach. The barn couldnt be far. She suddenly couldnt stand to be alone anymore. She found Sophies leash and hooked her up and took the key to the front door off the peg in the kitchen.
Come on, Sophie. Were going to find Cooper.
* * *
Easy, girl.
Coop finished walking Betsy around the barn, cursing the storm that kept the mare inside. Then he rubbed down Betsy once more for the night. He lifted the latch on the stall door and locked it behind him. In the stall next to Betsys, Adela poked her head out and looked at him suspiciously.
Hey, Adela, he murmured. He went to the minifridge where he kept carrots and apples and medication for the animals, and fished out a red apple. Coop unlatched her stall door and stepped inside.
But Adela backed away, laying her ears back.
Still wouldnt take food from his hand. He needed to work with her more, needed time to work with her.
Its okay, girl. When youre ready. Backing out of the stall, he fumbled with the finicky catch and let himself out. Coop set the apple down on a bench to try later.
Its okay, girl. When youre ready. Backing out of the stall, he fumbled with the finicky catch and let himself out. Coop set the apple down on a bench to try later.
In the aisle, he sat on the chest containing cleaning equipment and pulled out his cell phone. After scrolling through messages, laughing at a stupid joke one of his teammates sent, he clicked onto a news station from Palm Beach County.
Needed to see what else he could find out about Meg.
And then he saw a headline screaming in bold type: Palm Beach Millionaire Found Shot to Death.
Coops heart raced. He read through the article, and then set his phone down, burying his face in his hands.
Damn it. There went his hope of getting to Jacobs and finding out how to track down M. E. Franklin, owner of Combat Gear Inc. Digging into this company was like a game of Chutes and Ladders hed played as a child, and hed just slid down a very long chute.
He dug into his pocket and withdrew a jeweled figure no bigger than his thumbnail.
It had a gold halo, a white crystal for a head and body, and two blue crystals for wings. His guardian angel.
Im sorry, Brie. I let you down again, he whispered. God, I wish you were here. Im sorry I couldnt be there to keep you safe.
Brie had bought it for him the day he enlisted. Shed pressed it into his palm as he slung his duffel over one shoulder. To protect you, Super Cooper. No being the hero, okay? You come home to us, shed told him, and then hugged him tight.
He treasured it as much as he did his Budweiser SEAL pin. Hed tucked that angel into his uniform pocket and it had traveled with him ever since. The little angel had seen him through BUD/S, the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALS training all SEALS endured, and was in his uniform when hed taken a bullet in Ramadi that should have killed him. Jarrett had teased him about it at first, but later, his LT started thinking maybe that angel pin pulled Coop out of a bad scrape or two dozen.
Hed been banged up bad, came through it intact. But no angel pin could keep Brie safe. Only a damn vest that should have never been sold.
Coop ran a hand through his hair, his guts churning. He looked at the little guardian angel charm and felt his throat close up.
A noise at the barn door jerked him out of his ruminations. Coop pocketed the angel and stood, muscles tensing, his hands itching for a weapon as the barn door opened.
Wind blew the snow inside as Meg and her dog ran into the barn. Meg struggled to close the doors.
He stood, alarm pelting him. Whats wrong?
Had to be a hell of a reason to bring her out of the nice, warm cottage in this mess. Scanning her body, he felt relieved to see no obvious injuries, nothing but a hint of distress in her green eyes. At her side, the dog wagged her tail and then shook, spraying melting snow everywhere.
I need to talk to you.
She braved this snowstorm for a chat? Exasperated, he shook his head. I told you, Id be by the cottage later.
I know. She came forward, snowflakes dusting her soft brown hair. I also wanted to see how Betsy is doing.
Nice of her to check, but he resented Megs intruding on his personal space, his retreat away from the world. Shes good.
Cooper splayed his legs and tensed. Go back to bed and stay warm. Youve just been through one bout with exposure. Unless you want me warming you all over again.
Not a bad idea, his body cheerfully agreed. Amid the earthy scent of horses and hay, he caught a tendril of her fragrance, all floral and feminine. Yet another reminder it had been a long time since hed had a woman warm his bed. Or warm anything of his.
Meg flushed a little and she bit her lip. He caught sight of her pulse pounding at her temple, as if she thought it was a great idea as well.
Right. Put that thought out of your gray matter, chum, cause it aint happening in this lifetime.
He heard a whuffing sound and hooves clicking against the cold cement floor, and his heart dropped into his stomach. Adela had nosed her way out of the stall and now stood in the aisle, right in front of Meg and her furball.
Son of a...should have fixed that damn latch. But it had been yet another thing on his long to-do list.
Stay where you are and dont move toward her, he warned in a low voice, not wishing to alarm Adela.
Wariness faded from Megs expression. Instead, she pulled off one glove and started toward the horse. Terrific. Now I have to save you a second time tonight?
He murmured to the horse, hugging the left side stalls, not wishing to get kicked by Adelas hind hooves.
Hey there, pretty girl, Meg crooned. She picked up the abandoned apple.
Careful. Back off, now, he warned. Shes a rescue and had a tough time of it.
A rescue horse? Her face lit up and she smiled with such warmth, it nearly took his breath away.
What would it be like to be greeted with a sweet, sunny smile like that every day? Marriage, family, a wife who would stick by his side, someone he could talk with, encourage her hopes and dreams like she did to him. Not the women hed taken to bed and watched walk away, women who simply wanted sex because he was a Navy SEAL.
Shaking free of the thought, Cooper watched Meg with wariness. Adela had been a rescue from a group out West. Her owner failed to care for her, leaving her alone in a pasture without enough water or feed. Ribs stuck through her skin, and Adela had huge trust issues.
One didnt simply walk up to a horse, let alone an abused one, and start chatting. But Meg walked toward her, nice and easy, approaching from the side, talking slow and soothing.
Adela trembled at Megs approach, her ears pinned back. Meg stopped and stepped to the side, her gaze averted.
I know, pretty one. Someone was mean and hurt you. Im not going to hurt you, baby. I just want to offer a little treat. A nice, fresh apple.
Meg took the fruit and held it out. Im going to stay right here and let you see me, see Im not going to do anything until you give the okay.
She kept talking in low, soothing tones to the horse. Finally the mares ears returned to the side and she lowered her head.
Meg kept palming the apple. Ive got a good friend who really likes horses, just like Cooper here does. Shes small, so you have to be real careful around her. Sophie, go say hello to Adela, nice and slow, like I taught you.
The mare didnt retreat, and her muscles didnt tense.
Tail wagging, Sophie went to Adela, approaching very slowly from the side to avoid the horses blind spot just as Meg had. The dog stopped about thirty feet away, watching the horse, as if gauging her reaction.
Ready to spring into actionit wouldnt be good if the horse trampled the princesss furballCoop tensed.
When Adela relaxed, Sophie loped over to the horse. For a moment, the pair sniffed at each other. Jaw dropping, he watched as Sophie nuzzled the horses neck and Adela responded by playfully butting the dog.
Well, look at that. The dog and the horse. Remembering what Meg had said about Sophie being abused, Coop shook his head. Animals never ceased to amaze him. All the times hed worked with Max, the Belgian Malinois who had been an integral part of the teams, hed learned a lot.
But hed never seen anything like this. Instant friendship. His gaze whipped over to Meg, whose attention remained riveted to the dog and the horse.