I dont understand, Lord. Why did this happen?
Silence met his cry.
Ben dropped his face into his hands and wept for the man who had been the closest thing to a real, loving father that Ben had ever known. Greg had taken the time to teach Ben not only about law enforcement, specifically being a Ranger, but had taught him how to be a man. To be kind and fair yet never back down from the principles that they lived by. Greg had included Ben in his and Corinnas family circle, small as it was.
Hed enjoyed and looked forward to many holidays spent together at the Pike house. Memories flittered across Bens mind. Though theyd exchanged gifts every year, for Ben the best gift of all had been the time spent with the Pikes. Though he and Corinna hadnt had much of a relationshipshed always been cool and aloofhed still enjoyed seeing her joy at the gifts her father abundantly gave her.
Fresh tears spilled down his cheeks.
Holidays wouldnt be the same. He didnt know if Corinna would want to spend them with him. He doubted so since it would just be the two of them now. They didnt know each other well. She barely tolerated him as it was. A hollow feeling filled the pit of his stomach.
He didnt know how he was going to be able to keep his promise to Greg. He could only hope God would provide the way.
His cell rang, the shrill sound startling in the quiet. Hoping the call was a break in the case, Ben scrambled to pluck the device from the top of the dresser.
He pulled himself together and managed to answer without sounding like hed been blubbering like a baby. Fritz.
Hi, its me, Corinna. Her soft, feminine voice sounded a bit shaky.
Concern flared. Are you okay?
Imcoping. You?
He relaxed, letting the tension in his shoulders ease. Coping is a good way to describe it.
How is the other vicvictim?
His heart twisted to hear the catch in her voice. Hes in a coma. I have guards posted outside his room.
You really think the killer will come after him again?
I do. I just pray he awakens soon and can tell us who were looking for.
I hope that, too. This whole night seems so surreal.
Ben understood. He could only imagine how devastated she must be. Greg had always said Corinna was the ray of sunshine that made his world brighter even during the darkest cases. Bens chest squeezed. Who would Corinna bring sunshine to now?
Forcing himself to speak past the tightness constricting his throat, he said, If you need anything, Corinna, you can count on all of the Rangers. We are your family now.
A moment of silence filled the line. Thank you. Ill say good night now.
Good night.
Thered been an undertone in her voice. Something different than hed ever heard before. Anger? Hurt?
He smacked his head. Shed just lost her father. Of course she was hurting. They both were.
He vowed to do whatever it took to make the person responsible for their pain pay. Dearly.
THREE
Corinna stared at the bright blue numbers on the clock. 3:00 a.m. She couldnt sleep. The nocturnal noises of the horses and other animals that made the barn their home kept her nerves stretched taut. Finally, she left the warmth of the pullout sofa and padded barefoot across the wood plank floor to the refrigerator hoping to find something inside to drink. She wasnt really surprised to see the fridge empty. It had been a long time since anyone had stayed in the loft.
Maybe the officer outside would be willing to go inside and retrieve some snacks for her.
Slipping on her fuzzy blue slippers and feeling the weight of her just in case gun deep in the folds of one robe pocket and her cell phone in the other, she left the loft and made her way outside into the yard lit by the glow of a full moon. Gabby followed closely at her heels. Corinna didnt see her guard. He must be positioned in a strategic place somewhere in the front of the house. She wished shed thought to ask for his name so she could call out to him.
At the sliding glass door to the dining room, she hesitated. Ben had made it clear the house was an active crime scene and she wasnt to go back inside.
But the crime had happened in the study, not the kitchen.
And she had no intention of going anywhere near where her father had died.
With resolve that shed apologize later if need be, she entered the dining room, and Gabby darted past her into the dark house. Corinna hurried straight to the refrigerator. Since she was there, she decided to grab a bag of potato chips, her one junk food vice, as well as a carton of orange juice.
A noise disturbed the quiet of the house. Corinna jerked, nearly dropping the bag of chips even as her mind reassured her the noise was just her cat, Gabby.
Suddenly, she desperately wished shed listened to Ben and gone to stay somewhere else.
But her father raised her not to be a coward.
She needed to stand on her own two feet.
Which meant facing things that went bump in the night. Especially when it was just her cat getting into who knew what.
She left her goodies on the kitchen counter and stepped toward the dark hall. Gabby?
A scraping sound came from behind the yellow-taped off, closed door of her fathers study. How had the cat found her way in there? Blood pounded in her ears. The last time shed opened these doors, shed been shot and then shed found her father dead on the floor.
Refusing to allow the memories to paralyze her, she rushed out of the house the way shed come in and hurried toward the patio doors. She skidded to a halt. The doors stood wide open. Corinna swallowed back her rising fear as she took out her cell and called Ben.
A man dressed in all black stepped out of the study onto the patio. Corinna screamed, hoping to alert the officer out front, and jammed her free hand into her pocket. The intruder turned toward her, his face awash in the moonlight. When he started toward her, she wrestled her weapon free, took aim and fired.
The shrill ring of a phone jolted Ben to consciousness from a troubled sleep. He still had difficulty coming to grips with the reality that Greg was gone. The ringing continued.
He jerked upright, his eyes quickly adjusting to his shadowy bedroom. The noise emanated from his lit-up cell on top of his dresser where hed left it before climbing exhausted into bed. A quick glance at the red numbers on his bedside clock revealed the time, three-thirty in the morning.
That got his blood pumping. He flung the covers aside and reached the dresser in two long strides. He palmed the phone and checked the caller ID.
The call was coming from Corinnas phone.
His heart slammed against his ribs. He pressed the talk button. Corinna?
Come quick, she said in a shaky voice. I need you. Hey!
The line went dead.
Corinna! he shouted into the silence.
She was in danger! Something had happened.
Pulse-pounding dread filled his veins. All sorts of horrible scenarios played across the screen in his mind. Was she hurt? Had Gregs killer returned after all? Ben should have listened to his instincts.
With fear coiling low in his belly, he sent out a text alert to the Rangers at lightning speed, then quickly changed from his drawstring sleep shorts into jeans and a T-shirt. Grabbing socks, tennis shoes and his sidearm, he ran from the apartment with his keys dangling from his fist.
He drove barefoot, taking the curves and running the traffic lights across town to the Pike ranch, the whole while mentally thrashing himself for having acquiesced to Corinnas insistence she stay at her house.
Guilt, ugly and feral, reared up to poke at his conscience. His actions may have put Corinna in harms way. Hed never forgive himself if she were hurt again.
He pulled his Jeep to a halt next to Corinnas compact car and jumped out. Sharp bits of gravel dug into his bare feet but he ignored the pain. Lights lit up the house. He rushed to the front door and banged his fist against the wood. Corinna!
From his right, Corinna came tearing around the corner of the house, her dark hair flying loose around her shoulders, like a midnight cloud. She came to a skidding halt, her bare feet sliding slightly on the slick, dew-damp grass. Her eyes were wild and her body trembled violently beneath the plush softness of her pale blue robe.
She wasnt dead. Relief nearly brought him to his knees. He vaulted off the porch and ran to her, drawing her close. She felt so brittle in his arms. His chest tightened with emotions he didnt want to take the time to examine.
What happened? he asked. He eased her back to look at her. Are you hurt?
She shook her head, her long brunette hair cascading over her shoulders in waves. No. Im fine. A man broke in and searched my fathers office. What could he be looking for?
His stomach dropped. She was still in danger. I dont know. Did you see him?
She stepped out of his embrace. I caught a glimpse of him as he ran out the patio doors. I shot at him but missed. The bullet zoomed past and hit the wall. I chased after him but She shrugged with self-deprecation. He wasnt encumbered with fuzzy slippers. Even barefoot, I couldnt catch him. He climbed the pasture fence and took off. I was afraid to shoot at him again because of the horses.
Not sure he heard correctly, he asked, You shot at him? Then chased after him. What did you shoot with?
My gun, of course. From the folds of her robe she produced a 3-inch barreled, .45 caliber Micro Compact pistol.
Ben raised his eyebrows. You carry a weapon? A moment of surrealism overtook him. Seeing her with the weapon was so incongruent with his idea of her. He quickly relieved her of the piece.
She sliced him a sardonic look. Dad insisted I know my way around a handgun. He always said, Just in case. Well, tonight was a just in case kind of night.
Ben couldnt have agreed more. But hed had no idea Greg had armed his daughter. And he hated that shed had to use the weapon. I assume you have a safe or lock box for this?
Of course. In my room. Im just bummed I didnt get the guy. A pained expression tightened her features. Or had it on me earlier!
He shuddered at the thought of her confronting either assailant. And to chase after this one! What had she been thinking?
If this was the same culprit whod killed her father, he could have easily shot at her again. Why hadnt he? And where was the SAPD officer whod been standing guard?
Ben decided hed puzzle the questions out later. For now he had to stay focused on Corinna. This was his fault. Hed allowed her to be put in danger. Hed let his captain down.
Heart thudding in time with the pounding at his temple, he said, Im so sorry. I shouldnt have let you stay here.
Hugging her robe around her middle, she said, You didnt have much say in the matter.
His jaw tightened. Hed made the mistake once of letting her talk him into going against his better judgment. There wouldnt be a repeat. Not on his watch.
Where was the police officer hed had guarding her? Did you see the SAPD officer?
Her eyebrows pulled together. I didnt.
The sound of squealing tires and car doors slamming announced the arrival of other Rangers.
Anderson Michaels thundered onto the porch. His blond hair was mussed and his sharp eyes were filled with concern. You two okay?
Ben nodded over the top of Corinnas head. Shes unhurt. Someone broke in and trashed the study. He ran out through the back patio doors. Like last time. The SAPD officer is missing.
Pulling his weapon from the back of his sweatpants, Anderson said, Ill find him. He hurried around the corner of the house.
Another car barreled into the driveway. Gisella stepped out of her vehicle and rushed forward. What happened? she asked.
He quickly explained the situation, then turned to Corinna. You should go change. I want to take you to SAPD to look through mug shots. Maybe weve caught a break.
Good idea, Corinna said as she stepped onto the porch.
Gisella, go with her, Ben ordered.
Corinna paused and threw an incredulous look over her shoulder at him. I can manage changing my clothes on my own.
Of course she could, but he hated the thought of her alone and unprotected. He refrained from insisting, telling himself shed be fine. They were all within earshot of her. Sorry. Of course.
She stared at him for a moment with questions in her eyes before she fled inside.
He watched her go, anxious at having her out of his sight even for a brief moment.
Anderson returned, helping a semi-conscious officer along with him. He propped the still groggy man up on the porch. Found him knocked out under a bush in the back.
Gisella flipped open her phone. Ill call for a bus.
What could the perp be looking for? Ben asked. We searched the place after Greg was killed and didnt find anything useful.
Anderson ran a hand through his hair. Beats me. But the guy trashed the study. I wonder if he got what he came for before Corinna chased him away?
I suggest we search through everything again, Gisella said. Though I have no idea what were looking for.
Thats the million dollar question, Anderson replied.
Ben agreed. You two take care of it. When the others arrive, explain whats happening. Ill take Corinna into the station.
Shes welcome to come to my place when youre done, Gisella said.
Relieved by the offer, Ben said, Ill go tell her to pack her bags.
He entered the house and strode down the hall. Stopping in front of her closed door, he knocked.
Yes? Corinna replied.
Its me.
The door opened. Corinna had changed into black leggings, a long tunic-style red blouse and flat sandals that emphasized the delicate structure of her feet. Shed braided her hair off to one side. Her pale complexion set off her wide, dark eyes. She was so petite and fragile-looking that Ben wanted to wrap her once again in his arms and shield her from the world.
Whoa! That was not what Greg had entrusted her to him for.
Ben didnt generally react in such a touchy-feely manner. Not even the few girlfriends hed had over the years had elicited such a knee-jerk need in him to protect them the way Corinna did. But there was something about Corinna which evoked the response. Something he didnt understand.
Hed better get a handle on his attraction, his weakness for her. She was off-limits. Greg had made that clear. Ben would never dishonor Greg.
He stayed in the doorway. Youll need to pack your bags. You can stay with Gisella until we catch this guy, he said, more brusquely than hed intended.