Hearts in the Crosshairs (16 page)

A
s Dave sat in the duty room typing his daily report on Monday, he felt someone watching him. He glanced up and stopped typing. Lieutenant Wilson leaned in the doorway, frowning as he looked at him. When Dave caught his eye, the lieutenant straightened and walked toward him.

“Dave, I need a private word with you.”

Dave exhaled slowly. This couldn’t be good. It never was. Suspension? More rumors? Something worse? For weeks he’d kept away from the Blaine House and the Capitol building, doing mundane research and clerk’s duties—background checks on people invited to events where the governor would be present, computerizing old records that hadn’t been touched in twenty years. The closest he’d come to Jillian was taking the SUV to have the oil changed. He’d quit watching the local news. Her frequent appearances on the broadcasts only made his heart ache.

He followed Wilson to his office. The lieutenant closed the door and gestured toward a chair. He sat down behind his desk and picked up a paper clip.

“You got plans for the holiday weekend?”

Dave stared at him. “You got an assignment for me?”

“For real. Overtime, even.”

“Okay, I’m in.”

“You don’t even know what it is yet.”

Dave shrugged. “It’s got to be more exciting than what I’ve been doing for the last few weeks.”

Wilson nodded, unfolding the paper clip and twisting it into a letter
S
. “Look, you can’t say anything to anyone. This is hush-hush. If you’ve got plans, that’s fine. I’ll get someone else. Though we’re a bit hard up for manpower right now.”

“I heard Mike Hewitt broke his leg yesterday.”

“Yeah. That’s exactly why we need you.” Wilson cleared his throat. “Okay, well, I had to get you cleared for this, but the colonel and I agreed, better you than one of the rookies we just hired. I had Mike signed up for the trip, but—”

“He obviously can’t go now.”

“Right.” Wilson tossed the paper clip down and rubbed his eyebrows. “Stupid motorcycle accident. I keep telling you guys not to do extreme sports on your days off. Anyway. So, you’re in?”

“You said
trip
. Where am I going?”

Wilson chuckled. “Can’t tell you. It’s a mystery jaunt. Only Ryan Mills and I know so far.”

“Ryan’s in on this?” Dave sat a little straighter. The young detective had been on Blaine House duty since the inauguration. His curiosity was keener than ever now. “What’s going on, Lieutenant?”

Wilson’s lips twitched for a moment before he responded. “This is strictly on the Q.T. The governor needs a minivacation.”

Dave arched his eyebrows, but said nothing. He couldn’t believe that Wilson meant for him to be in Jillian’s proximity again.

“Hey, I tried everyone else who’s eligible. Most of the others never held a canoe paddle in their lives.”

“Canoe paddle?” Dave’s adrenaline jump-started an erratic pulse pattern. The one time he and Jillian discussed canoeing,
she’d said she didn’t like white water. Half a dozen possible destinations came to mind. Most likely northern Maine. He grinned at Wilson. “Who else is going?”

“Two of the governor’s old law partners and their spouses. You’ve probably met Margaret Harris and Jon Scribner?”

“Yes. Is that it?”

“Besides the EPU, yeah. Governor Goff invited Naomi Plante, but she’d already made other plans and won’t be back until Sunday. The governor thought about postponing the trip, but the others could make it, and she didn’t know when she’d have the chance again, so we’ve gone ahead and made arrangements. No one will know the ultimate destination until after you leave Friday afternoon.”

“Who are the other officers onboard?”

“Penny—she’s got a little experience kayaking and canoeing. And Jerry Knott. He’s only been with us a few months, but like I said, I’m desperate. And he grew up on Moosehead Lake.”

Dave nodded. “Good.” He didn’t know Jerry well, but what he’d seen of the young man he liked. “It’s a good team.”

“Think so?”

“Sure. Ryan’s in charge?”

“Yes, but you have more wilderness experience. I sounded him out on how he’d feel about us tapping you after Mike broke his leg, and he’s good with it. He’ll be responsible for the governor’s safety. You’ll handle the logistics of the trip—moving the gear, making sure your campsite is safe. And you’ll report in by radio regularly. Penny and Jerry will each be assigned to one of the couples. Of course, if it comes right down to it, you’re all there for the governor. But if the Harrises or the Scribners need help, Penny and Jerry will handle it.”

“Sounds good.”

“The lawyers have to return late Sunday, but the governor
wants to stay out until Monday. One of you will have to escort the Harrises and Scribners to the jumping-off point to make sure they get out safely. Not Penny—she doesn’t have enough canoeing experience.” Wilson sighed and slapped the folder shut. “I wish we could send a couple more men, but we’re stretching the budget as it is.”

“We’ll be fine.” Dave smiled at him. “Thanks for giving me the chance.”

“Colonel Smith doesn’t like it, but the truth is, I leaned on the officer who turned you in, and the allegations have been withdrawn.”

Dave’s heart lurched. “Really?”

“Yes. I can’t give you the details, and the colonel is still skeptical, but if you behave yourself, maybe you’ll be off his bad list after this.”

“I wish.”

Wilson shrugged. “Hey, you got a raw deal. But if anyone asks, I never said that.”

Friday evening’s caravan included three vehicles. Ryan drove the SUV carrying Jillian and the Harrises, while Penny rode with Jon and Bette Scribner in their Jeep. Dave and Jerry followed in a Chevy Blazer borrowed from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It lacked the bulletproof glass and other features of the SUV in which the governor traveled, but was more practical and less conspicuous than the Lincoln would have been. It was loaded with gear and carried a canoe on top, as did the other two vehicles.

Dave hummed along with the radio. He’d have to be careful about his contact with Jillian, but he couldn’t deny the anticipation that rose in his heart. Ryan had told the security team their destination only minutes before they left the Blaine House. Instead of Aroostook County, they headed for northern
Somerset, where a small, secluded lake bounded by paper company land nestled between mountains.

They rolled through Caratunk about seven o’clock. The sun dropped behind the distant pines and spruces, and when they arrived at their overnight stop an hour later, the light had faded. A snug cabin, sided with knotty pine boards, squatted on the verge of a small, calm lake.

“This camp belongs to Fish and Wildlife,” Ryan said as they climbed out of the vehicles. A woodpile leaned against one side of the cabin, and an open porch with a rough railing jutted out before the front door. “We’ll have it easy tonight. A gas stove to cook on, bunks to sleep in. In the morning, we’ll paddle the length of the lake and take the river at the other end a few miles up to the next pond. There’s one campsite on the far end of it. We’ll start roughing it there.”

“Great,” Eric said.

“We get a lake to ourselves?” Jillian asked.

“That’s right. A paper company owns it, and the only campsite is waiting for us. No one will bother you, Governor.”

Jillian exhaled and hugged herself. “Thank you.” She looked around at Penny, Dave and Jerry. “Thank you
all
. I appreciate your giving up the holiday weekend to make this possible for me and my friends.”

They all smiled. Dave thought Jillian looked beautiful in dark pants, a striped T-shirt, zippered navy sweatshirt and hiking boots. Her golden hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He made himself look away before the others caught him staring.

“Hey, we’re having fun, too,” Jerry assured her.

Margaret clapped her hands. “So! What have we got for supper? I’m starved.”

“Steaks,” Ryan said. “Let us make a quick inspection of the camp, and then you can move in.”

Five minutes later, Dave and Jerry carried two coolers inside,
while Eric Harris and Jon Scribner began to ferry in the sleeping bags and other gear.

Jillian, Margaret and Bette took over the kitchen with Penny. They cooked supper while the men unloaded the canoes and made preparations for an early-morning departure. Dave radioed headquarters to tell Wilson they had arrived safely.

When Penny called the men inside, Dave told Ryan, “I’ll keep watch out here while you all eat. Just save me something, okay?”

The other men went in, and Dave walked slowly to the water’s edge. Aside from the low murmur of voices from the cabin, the only sound was the sigh of a light breeze in the evergreens. A slap on the water drew his attention to a ripple spreading near one edge of the pond. Must be a beaver lodge over there near the western shore, Dave thought.

He turned and walked stealthily around the cabin, beneath the dark evergreens, then to the front again. He paced between the vehicles and looked down the access road. Leaning against the smooth trunk of a beech tree, he lifted his eyes to the glittering stars.
Lord, thank You for letting me come on this trip. Help us to keep her safe, and let her have a good time. Give her some rest, Father.

The breeze caused gentle waves that lapped against the rocky shore. Again he made his solitary circuit of the cabin.

When he came around to the front, someone stood on the porch, leaning on the railing and looking toward the water. The golden hair told him it was Jillian, though the jacket she’d donned camouflaged her figure. His pulse picked up, but he made himself keep walking slowly, deliberately, until he was just below her. She stood above him, resting her forearms on the rail.

“Beautiful night,” she said softly.

“Yes.” He leaned against the porch. They stood for a long time without speaking. From inside, Dave could hear occa
sional bursts of laughter and muffled voices. “How have you been?” he asked at last.

“Fine. I’m tired, but…I’m getting things done, Dave.”

“Yes.” He turned and looked up at her.

She met his gaze with the light of the newly risen moon playing over her delicate features. He ached all over.

“I’ve missed you,” he said.

Her mouth softened into a near smile. “I was hoping that you…I can’t believe you’re actually here.”

“Me either.” He decided to ask what he’d wondered for the last week. “You didn’t ask for me, did you?”

“No.” Her laugh was like music. “I didn’t know you were coming until today. I tried not to show my shock, but Bette’s been needling me a little. She must have seen something in the way I looked at you.”

A warm glow started deep in Dave’s chest. “Lieutenant Wilson said they were desperate. One of the men who should be here broke his leg. The lieutenant arranged it, but I’ve got to be on my best behavior.”

She nodded soberly. “I understand. But we’ll have times to talk, won’t we? Times like this?”

He hesitated. “I hope so.”

“I’ve missed talking to you more than anything, Dave.” She bent toward him and extended her hand. He reached up and took it, enveloping her small, warm fingers in his clasp. Jillian exhaled and looked out over the smooth lake.

He didn’t trust himself to speak. A loon laughed far down the lake. “Listen,” Jillian said. “I haven’t heard that sound in years.”

Behind her, the cabin door opened and Ryan stepped out. Dave released her hand, quickly crossing his arms.

“All right, ma’am?” Ryan asked.

“Yes, thank you.” Jillian glanced over her shoulder at him. “Detective Hutchins is here, too, so I’m safe.”

Ryan stepped forward, but stopped when he caught sight of Dave standing below them. He nodded, and Dave returned the acknowledgment. “I’ll make another round. See you later.”

“Did you want to stay out here for a while, ma’am?” Ryan asked. “I could bring you a chair.”

“No, I think I’ll go in. It’s getting a little chilly.”

Dave heard the door close behind them as he rounded the corner by the woodpile. His heart still hammered. He ran his fingertips over his scratchy cheek, remembering how guilelessly she’d reached for him. The suspension and the weeks of dejection and loneliness—that one moment was worth it all.

T
he early sunlight sparkled on the water as they set off on Saturday morning. Jillian paddled steadily, reveling in the glory of the day. Her muscles would ache tomorrow for sure, but she didn’t care. She didn’t mind that Dave was in another canoe, either. With Ryan and Jerry, she guided their craft along swiftly, flipping water playfully at Jon and Bette as her canoe glided past theirs. The race was on. Dave’s paddle dove deep below the surface as he helped the Scribners try to regain the lead.

Soon Penny and the Harrises joined the competition, and all three canoes raced toward the far end of the lake with the paddlers laughing and trading good-natured jabs.

“Hey, Bette,” Jillian called across to her friend, “you paddle like a girl.”

Bette hiked her chin up. “You talk big, Goff.”

“Cat fight!” Jon hit the water with the broadside of his blade, sending a shower of water toward Jillian, but her canoe was moving so fast that the splash hit Jerry.

By the time they reached the landing place at the lake’s tip, all of them had slowed down, fighting for each stroke. Dave and the Scribners’ canoe hit the gravel beach first. Jon stood in the bow and crowed, hefting his paddle over his head.

Jerry laughed. “Big buncha kids.”

“Oh, yeah.” Jillian turned to smile at him. “Get ’em away from the law books, and they can really cut loose.”

Dave built a fire on the beach, and they took their time fixing hot coffee and eating sandwiches, raw vegetables and cookies.

As the others finished their coffee, Jillian rose and walked along the shore, stooping now and then to pick up a dry stick. When she’d gone perhaps fifty yards, she swung around to look back. Ryan pulled up two paces behind her.

“Sorry, ma’am. I know you like your privacy, but…”

“That’s okay, Ryan. I’m getting used to it.” She looked toward the woods that came to the verge of the lake, the vast blueness of sky and water. “This is just what I needed.”

“I’m glad we could give it to you.” He looked over his shoulder. “It’s probably not a good idea for you to get too far away from the others.”

“All right.” She turned back and walked beside him. “We’re going up the river this afternoon, right?”

“Yes, ma’am. It will be a tough pull up the stream, and it’s a rocky stretch. We’ll be fighting a swift current, but I don’t think it will take more than an hour to get to the other lake.”

She considered that. “Do you think it’s better to rest a little longer here, or to get to the campsite and set up early?”

“Whatever you’d like, ma’am.”

“Oh, stop it.” She laughed. “You’re in charge on this trip, so forget my office. I left that in Augusta.”

“Well, then, I’d say let’s head upstream,” Ryan said. “If we need to, we’ll have time to portage. Once we’re at our campsite, you can rest or fish or do whatever you want.”

“Okay, let’s go.” As they walked back toward the campfire, she noticed Dave gazing at her. Jillian smiled, and his sober expression at once lifted into one of expectation. In this setting, he was more handsome than ever. His olive-drab shirt, with the
sleeves rolled above the elbows, reminded her that Dave had a past in the military. She sent up a prayer of thanks that he had come home safely to the achingly beautiful wilderness of Maine.

Ryan quickly organized the packing of the gear. Jillian filled a pan full of lake water to douse the fire and met Dave at the fire pit as he laid a small pile of kindling nearby for the next campers.

“Hi.” Immediately, she thought how silly that sounded. They’d been within yards of each other all morning, but hadn’t spoken to each other.

“Hello.”

The memory of his gentle touch the previous evening sent a wave of blood to her cheeks. “Is your brother still in Iraq?”

His eyebrows arched. “Yes.”

“Sorry. That wasn’t really out of the blue. I was thinking about him. About…all our troops. And about you being home. I’m glad you’re here and in one piece.”

“Thanks. He’s got three months to go.”

“I’ll keep praying for him.”

“I appreciate that.” Dave’s deep brown eyes lingered on her face.

“Are you ready?” Ryan called from near the water.

Penny, Margaret and Eric had shoved off and were paddling toward the mouth of the stream.

Dave threw her a quick smile and went to join Jon and Bette.

Jillian took her place in the center canoe with Ryan and Jerry. The orders must be followed—Jillian in the middle of the pack at all times. She didn’t mind, though it meant Penny and the Harrises were the first to see the moose that stood in the water up to its flanks, chewing on aquatic weeds. The giant stared balefully at them as they paddled past. Jillian got her camera out in time to snap a couple of pictures.

Ryan was right—the trip upstream was tough but exhilarat
ing. They reached their destination around three o’clock. Jillian and Penny would share a tent, and Jillian insisted they could erect it themselves.

“Wouldn’t want you guys to think I’m helpless outside the office,” she told Jerry.

Twenty minutes later, she wished she’d kept her mouth shut. The tent was large enough to sleep six—and needed about as many people to raise it.

“Hold it,” Penny called. Jillian strained to keep one of the poles steady while Penny stretched the material out. The whole thing came loose and billowed down over her. She batted at the dark nylon, laughing as it folded about her.

“Have you ladies had enough?” Dave’s deep voice asked. “I wouldn’t want to barge in where I’m not wanted, but it seems to me you could use some extra manpower.”

“Hey, I’m not the one who said we could do it alone,” Penny retorted. “Get over here!”

“You sure?” Ryan asked.

“If you ever want to see the governor again, you’d better help me get this stupid tent off her.”

The others laughed, but Jillian heard Ryan’s quiet voice close by saying, “Easy, Penny, you’re not supposed to say the
G
word, remember? We’re just a bunch of friends on a camping trip.”

“Oh, right,” Penny muttered. “Friends carrying guns and keeping watch 24/7.”

Bright sunlight reached Jillian as they lifted the tent off her.

“Thanks, guys.” She smiled at them. “I admit I was overly ambitious.”

“That’s okay,” Jerry assured her. “We enjoyed the entertainment.”

Jillian helped them finish the job, while Margaret and Bette set up their camp kitchen. After supper, she and Margaret
cleaned up while the others prepared their tackle for an hour of fishing before sunset.

“You hit the jackpot on handsome security guards.” Margaret grinned at her as she scrubbed the frying pan.

Jillian shrugged and smiled. “They’re great guys. I don’t know Jerry very well—he’s new. But Ryan’s been with me since January, and Dave…” She hesitated, not sure how to describe her nonrelationship with the rugged EPU officer.

“You mean he’s the one?” Margaret stared at her wide-eyed.

Jillian caught her breath. “Margaret! Hush. There was nothing to that. It was a stupid rumor, is all.”

Her friend eyed her sagely. “But you wish there
was
something to it.”

Jillian glanced toward where Dave patrolled between the tents and the forest. “Please be careful. If you say something like that in Augusta, it could cost him his job. He’s done nothing unethical. Nothing.”

Margaret’s eyes narrowed as she followed Jillian’s gaze. “He’s gorgeous.”

Jillian felt her cheeks flush. “Will you stop?”

“What’s he doing on this expedition? I thought there was some disciplinary action.”

“Dave was the officer who briefed me on the investigations of the attempted shootings, nothing more. But someone started a vicious rumor, and he was suspended for a short time and placed on other duties.”

“I repeat, why is he here?”

Jillian sighed. “He’s a last-minute replacement for some poor officer who broke his leg.”

Margaret studied her face. “Are you uncomfortable having him around?”

“No,” Jillian said quickly. Margaret’s immediate smile caused her flush to deepen. “I mean…” Jillian looked toward
Dave again. In his wide circuit of the camp, he’d made a loop and was now headed back toward them. “He’s not supposed to have contact with me, but—”

“Even on this trip?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” Jillian shook her head. “No one said anything to me about it. I didn’t even know he was coming. Ryan told me about two hours before we left the Blaine House. But I know Dave is determined not to raise any suspicions this weekend.” She glanced again toward him. He was only a dozen yards away. “Can we please not talk about this now?”

“Sure.” Margaret put the frying pan in the box of cookware. “I guess we’ll need this again for breakfast. What about the food boxes and coolers? We can’t leave them out tonight.”

Dave was close enough to hear her last remark, and he stepped toward them briskly. “That’s right, Mrs. Harris. We’re in bear country. Ryan and I will cache the food containers.”

Margaret looked up at him with a broad smile. “Hi, Dave. Please call me Margaret. No formality on this trip.”

“Okay.” He grinned back, and Jillian looked away before he could turn his endearing smile on her. She would melt if he did. “We plan to anchor a canoe off shore with the coolers in it. It should be calm tonight, so I don’t think there’s any danger of losing our rations to the deep.”

Jillian felt him watching her.

“Are you going fishing?” she asked.

“No, it’s my turn to…stay alert.” He chuckled, and she made the mistake of looking into his eyes this time. She felt as though a bear had come along in broad daylight and squeezed the air out of her lungs.

“Oh. Somebody’s got to, I guess.”

Margaret giggled as though Jillian had said something extremely witty. She picked up her wet dish cloth. “I’m going to hang this on that bush over there to dry.”

Jillian watched her walk away, feeling a rush of panic. Margaret had obviously left them alone on purpose. Last night, with Dave standing below her in the moonlight as she leaned on the porch railing, everything had seemed right. But now, in brilliant sunlight…

“I thought Ryan was my watchdog for the weekend,” she said.

“He is, but since everything’s quiet, we agreed he could go fishing with the others and I’d keep an eye on things until dark. Then we’ll swap off a double guard all night.”

“That’s a lot of trouble for the unit.”

He shrugged. “We’re enjoying it. I should scout around some more, though. Why don’t you go fishing with the rest?”

“I…”

“Don’t tell me you don’t have a license.”

She chuckled and pushed back a stray lock of hair. “I do. Ryan got it for me when he got the fire permits. Maybe I will.” But neither of them moved.

Margaret called from near the Harrises’ tent, “Hey, Jill, did you bring a swimsuit?”

Jillian stared at her. “You’re joking. Didn’t you feel that water? It’s ice cold.”

“Yeah, I’m kidding.” Margaret ducked into the tent.

Jillian looked up at Dave again. His mouth twitched, as though holding back a laugh was major work.

“I’ll see you later,” she said softly, smiling at him.

“Right.” He turned and walked toward the beached canoes.

The next morning, Jillian woke early. Penny’s regular breathing told her the officer still slept, and Jillian was glad. She felt a smidgen of guilt for causing four people to lose the better part of a night’s sleep to make sure she was safe.

The rising sun bathed the tent wall with glowing light, and she rolled out of her sleeping bag. At the end of her air mattress
she found her duffel bag and boots, and in a matter of minutes she crept out of the tent and zipped the flap down. Dave crouched at the fire pit, feeding a small blaze, and she walked over and extended her hands toward the flames.

He looked up at her and smiled. “You’re up early.”

“Actually, I’m usually up about this time. I guess you’re on duty.”

He nodded. “Ryan and me. He’s off down the beach.”

Jillian could just see Ryan walking slowly along between the trees and the rocky shore.

“I’ve got the coffeepot ready to go,” Dave said.

She picked it up from beside the woodpile. Dave lowered the metal grill over the fire and she set the pot on it. She pulled over a canvas folding chair and sat on the upwind side of the fire. Dave lingered, poking at the burning logs with a stick.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about Naomi,” he said, not looking at her.

“Oh? I hoped she’d come with us.”

“You invited her, didn’t you?”

Jillian sighed and leaned back in the chair, looking out over the placid lake. “She wanted me to go on a cruise with her, and I told her I couldn’t. But when I thought of a way she and I could have some fun together, she’d made other plans. I feel as though I haven’t paid her much attention lately.”

“You’ve been busy.”