A Killing Tide by P. J. Alderman

Author:P. J. Alderman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery, pacific northwest, suspense, romantic suspense
Publisher: P. J. Alderman
Published: 2011-09-10T23:46:00+00:00

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Chapter 14

The man reached in, grabbed the door handle, and slammed the bedroom door shut only a split second before Zeke hit the door, scratching and growling.

"Dammit, Kaz! Call off the dog." The voice on the other side of the door was low and muffled, but she would've recognized it anywhere.

"Gary!" She threw back the covers and scrambled out of bed. Grabbing Zeke's collar, she flung open the door. "It's about time—I've been worried sick." She hugged him.

He held her close for a moment, then moved her aside so he could cross to the window to draw shut the curtains. He then prowled the small space beside her bed like a big, restless cat. Zeke watched him warily, growling low in his throat.

Even in the shadows, Gary's face was haggard, his cheeks hollow. His forehead and jaw were streaked with dark grease paint, adding to the starkness of his features. And he looked gaunt, as if he hadn't been eating.

She knew better than to comment on those facts. "Where've you been staying?"

"I won't tell you that." He rounded on her. "Dammit, I told you to stay out of this, Kaz."

She folded her arms. "What's going on, Gary?"

"Nothing you can do anything about."

"Is that why you've been avoiding me since I came home?"

"Yes." He came over to where she stood, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I want you to go back to California. Tomorrow. Just pack your bags and go."

She shook her head. "Tell me what's going on," she demanded. "What are they looking for?"

He jerked, startled by her question. "What d'you mean?"

"Someone's been calling here, then hanging up. I had a visitor, around midnight, who was searching through the bookcases in the living room. And the Lundquists' house was tossed earlier today."

"Sonofabitch!" He turned away from her, slamming his fist against the wall.

Zeke snarled, and she knelt to soothe him.

"You've got to go stay with Lucy, where you'll be safe." Gary paced some more, then stopped, running his hands through his hair. "Fuck. I did not want you involved. These guys play for keeps. God, look what they did to Ken."

"Who are these guys?"

"No way."

"Tell me you aren't trying to handle this alone." The thought terrified her. "That's it, isn't it? You're staying here in town—not up in the backcountry where you'd be safer—trying to find out who's behind this. If the cops find you—"

"I've got some people helping me."

"Chuck," she guessed.

Gary shrugged and resumed his pacing. She hadn't seen him strung this tight since right after he'd returned from Iraq. If Chuck was helping Gary, that gave her some measure of comfort. Still, he and Chuck had no business being vigilantes, if that's what they were doing.

She sat down on the edge of the bed. "Go to Lucy and Ivar, tell them what you know. It's the only way."

He shook his head. "Not an option." He stared down at Zeke, then held out a hand for the shepherd to sniff. "Why do you have that new guy's dog here?"

"Michael left him for my protection after the break-in this evening.

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