Explosive Force

A lump formed in her throat.

Her parents had argued late one night. She’d come over for dinner and fallen asleep on the couch. When she’d awakened, she’d heard the harsh whispers coming from the kitchen. She’d stayed still and listened, hearing her mother begging her father to stop looking, to “give it up.” Her father had been adamant. “I’m not looking the other way, Kate. I can’t.”

“I’m afraid, Richie,” she’d whispered. “I’m truly afraid something will happen to you.”

And it had. Not even two weeks later, a jogger had found his body washed up against the shore of a nearby lake. Her father had taken a bullet through the back of his skull. Executed. She lifted her chin. But his work would live on through her. The men who’d killed her father had been captured, tried and imprisoned—including the best friend who’d put the hit out on him. But it didn’t bring her father back. It was up to her to carry on his work.

Truth, baby girl. Nothing’s more important than exposing lies and bringing truth to light. Keep your focus where it should be. Don’t step on people to get to the top. Don’t excuse people who do wrong no matter who they are—and you’ll do just fine.

Her father’s words ringing in her mind, she watched as Nick finally stood from the last place Annie had alerted on and tucked a small bag into the larger one he carried. “All right,” he said. “I think I’m done here for now.”

“Did you find anything else?”

“I’ll have to let the lab decide that.” He dug a hand into his front pocket and rewarded Annie with a treat and a “Good job, girl.”

His gaze slid to her and he opened his mouth as if to say something, then snapped it shut and gave her a grim smile.

He wasn’t going to tell her anything. He didn’t trust her. She gave a mental sigh and shrugged off the hurt. What did she expect with everyone thinking she was the anonymous blogger, posting about everything going on in the investigation of the Red Rose Killer? Things no one but the investigative team should know. The blogger had everyone on edge and pointing fingers.

While it was true she was upset she hadn’t been assigned the story, that didn’t mean she was going around shooting off her mouth about things she shouldn’t. The fact was she didn’t know anything. Other than what was reported in the papers—and by the anonymous blogger.

But Nick didn’t know that. He didn’t know her other than from a short snippet of conversation here and there. They often ran into each other at the Winged Java café and he always made a point to speak to her—but he kept himself at a distance. Like he didn’t want to get too close. For some reason, she wanted to change that.

His eyes narrowed on a spot over her shoulder. She turned to look. “What is it?” she asked.

“I thought I saw something move.”

“Everything’s moving around here. What are you talking about?”

“In the reserve just beyond the tree line.” He strode toward it, Annie on his heels.

Heidi went after him, not about to miss out. Had the guy that set the bomb off stayed behind to watch the action?

But that wouldn’t be smart.

Then again, where was the rule that said bombers had to be smart? “You think it could be one of the missing dogs?” she called after him.

Several months ago, after killing two trainers in the Military Working Dog program, Boyd Sullivan had opened all two hundred and seven kennels and released the animals. While the more highly trained dogs had stayed put, one hundred ninety-six dogs, some PTSD therapy dogs—and dogs with PTSD themselves—had escaped. Most had been found and returned to safety, but there were still twenty-one missing.

Nick reached the tree line and stopped, planting his hands on his hips. Heidi caught up and he shook his head. “No, it wasn’t a dog. This shadow had two legs.”

“Okay. You see him?”

“No.” He sighed and rubbed a hand at the back of his neck. “Maybe I’m just imagining things. Like my nerves are so tight it’s causing hallucinations.”

“But you really don’t believe that, so you want to keep looking, right?”

He slid a sideways glance at her. “Yes.”

“Then I’m going with you.”

“It’s probably nothing.”

“I’ll just tag along and make that decision myself, okay?”

“No, not okay. Stay here.”

“The longer you argue with me, the less likely you are to find out if you saw something.”

He shot her a black look and turned on his heel to go after whatever it was he thought he saw.

She shrugged and fell into step beside him, doing her best to ignore the pain in her knees. They were going to be sore for a few days, so she might as well get used to it.

Usually Heidi didn’t notice how small she was in comparison to the men she worked with on a regular basis, but being next to Nick made her feel positively tiny. And feminine.

Which was stupid. Okay, not necessarily stupid, but seriously—why was she so hyperaware of him? Why did she notice every little thing about him? Like the way his blue eyes crinkled at the corners when he was amused. Or the way his jaw tightened and his lips flattened into a thin line when he was annoyed. Or how his dark hair was never allowed to grow too long. She shouldn’t notice those things. But she did.

Nick was no more attracted to her than he was to the tree they’d just walked past, so she really needed to get over whatever it was she felt for him. The last thing she needed was to set herself up for heartbreak.

“I think he went this way,” Nick said, pulling her from her thoughts.

She followed even though she didn’t see what he did.

The farther they got from the kennel and all of the action, the more she thought he’d seen a bird or something. She hoped so, anyway. The adrenaline crash was coming now that the danger was over. It was over, wasn’t it? “You see anything else?”

“No. I’ve lost sight of him.”

“So it was definitely a him?”

“Yes.”

Before she knew it, they were standing in front of her home. “Wait a minute, he came this way?” she asked.

“Yeah, that’s what it looked like.”

“This is my house, Nick.”

“I’d better check the area. Stay put.”

“You keep saying that.”

“And you keep ignoring me.”

This time she listened and let him do his job. With Annie at his heels, he walked around the left side of her home, then the right, which was next to the home that Staff Sergeant Felicity James shared with her husband, Master Sergeant Westley James. Felicity was still a target of the serial killer, but at least she had her husband to keep an eye out for her. Westley was part of the investigative team looking for Sullivan. A team Heidi really wanted to be a part of.

Nick returned with a frown.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. I thought I saw some footprints in the grassy area along your back fence, but I didn’t see anyone.”

“I see. That’s a bit concerning, but it could be from anyone walking back there, using it as a shortcut.”

“I suppose. Could be.”

“Okay, well, I’m ready to call it a night,” she said.

“I don’t blame you. I’ll wait here and make sure you get inside safely, then I’ll head back to the training center. I don’t think Annie and I can do much of anything else, but I’ll see if OSI wants us to.”

“I’ve given my statement, so they know where to find me if they have any more questions for me.”

“Perfect.”

He stood there a moment longer, looking down at her as though hesitant to leave. “Are you going to be all right?” he asked.

“I think so. Why?”

He glanced around one more time. “I don’t like that we wound up here while we were following him. He disappeared too easily. Too quickly. If what you say is true, that guy got a good look at you.”

“If it’s true? Really?” She sighed. “I’ll be fine, Nick. Good night.”

A scuff of a foot just ahead and around the side of her house stopped her.

Nick turned toward the noise. “What was that?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Probably nothing.” Maybe. Without thinking, she slipped her hand into his.

He squeezed her fingers, then released them. “Stay behind me.”

Not quite ready to argue with him, she followed his order as he and Annie led the way. They walked down the sidewalk in front of Heidi’s home and were almost to the end of the small property when she saw the shadow skirting around the side of her house. “Hey! Can I help you?” she called.

The shadow took off.

Nick and Annie followed. The fleeing person wove in and out, between the houses, down alleys. Heidi fell back slightly as she realized there was no way she could keep up with Nick’s long stride.

She didn’t realize he’d stopped until she was almost next to him. Nick had the guy close to being boxed in a corner with no escape. There were buildings on either side of him and an open parking lot too far away from him to flee. He must have realized it the same time she did.

Because he spun and lifted his arm.

“He’s got a gun!”

The words were barely out of her mouth before something heavy slammed into her, and she hit the pavement.

TWO

Nick rolled off Heidi and leaped to his feet. He placed himself in front of her as he faced the armed man, disgusted that he’d had no time to pull his own gun—and it was too late to do so now with their attacker’s finger on the trigger. “Drop the weapon,” Nick ordered.

“Not a chance.” The low voice trembled, but Nick couldn’t tell if it was from fear or sheer determination not to be caught. The low ball cap and hoodie kept the man’s features well hidden. “I’m getting out of here. And if you set that dog on me, she’ll take the first bullet. Understand?” He slid sideways, toward the street.

“What are you doing here?” Heidi asked. “Did you blow up the training center?”

But the man wasn’t interested in answering, just escaping past Nick. And as long as the man held a gun on him and Heidi, Nick wasn’t moving. Also, with the threat against Annie, it was clear the man knew how dogs and their handlers worked. Nick wouldn’t knowingly send Annie after him only to have the guy keep good on his threat to shoot her.

Two more steps brought the man to the edge of Heidi’s house. He darted past Nick and Annie, his feet pounding on the sidewalk as he headed toward the parking lot. Nick pulled Heidi to her feet. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I think that’s the same guy I saw run from the training center. I couldn’t see his face thanks to the hat and hoodie, but it looks like the same one my guy was wearing.”

“Stay here. I’m going after him.” He left Heidi as he turned and took up the chase once more. He followed on the man’s heels. They would soon be at the fence on the other side of the lot and the guy would have nowhere to go.

But he was also armed.

Nick reported his whereabouts into the radio on his shoulder, requesting backup as he pounded the asphalt in pursuit. Heidi stayed behind him, yelling details to the Military Police dispatch.

Was this guy the bomber? Had he been hanging around to watch the chaos his explosion had caused? To gloat? Or was this someone else altogether?

Determined to catch him, Nick pushed himself harder. Annie stayed right with him, lunging at the end of the leash.

The guy disappeared around the building that backed up to the fence.

Nick followed, rounded the building...

And the guy was gone.

Nick skidded to a stop, slightly winded, but he would have gone a little farther if he could have seen who he was chasing. A piece of cloth on a bush caught his attention. He noted it, his eyes darting, looking for any sign someone might have a gun trained on him, while chills danced up his spine.

Footsteps sounded behind him. He whirled, weapon ready. Only to come face-to-face with Heidi. She flinched and he lowered his gun. “Sorry.” Nick spun back to the area where he’d lost the suspect. Annie whined and shifted. “What is it, girl?”

Annie looked up at him, her soft, sad eyes asking permission. He glanced at Heidi. “Keep your eyes and ears open, will you? Let me know if anything catches your attention.”

She nodded.

Nick slipped his weapon back into the holster and pulled a pair of gloves from the bag on his shoulder. He snapped them on, then reached for the piece of cloth and studied it. Had this been snagged recently? Or had it been there awhile? It didn’t look like it had weathered much. He held it out to the dog. “Annie, seek.” She sniffed, lowered her nose to the ground, then lifted it to check the air.

“She can track, too?” Heidi asked.

“Sure. It’s the same concept, and she’s a smart dog. You can hardly train a bloodhound to sit, but tracking is so natural for them, the only training needed is for the handler.” A slight exaggeration, but not much. He followed the dog cautiously while he spoke, scanning the area. His radio alerted him to backup closing in behind them and on both sides. The base had been shut down and security was tight. There was no way anyone would be able to get off or on the base for now.

But if whoever had been loitering around Heidi’s house lived on the base, Annie would find him.

Annie padded her way to the fence at the far side of the parking lot and sat, looking back over her shoulder at him.

Nick squatted next to the animal and eyed the heavy-duty chain-link fence. “It’s been cut.” He sighed in disgust at the large opening. “This was his way out. He came prepared. He knew exactly where he was going.”

“But where was he hiding? You checked my house.”

“I’m guessing he jumped the fence into your backyard when he heard me coming. Once Annie and I left, he simply hauled himself back over.”

“My backyard? Nice.” She grimaced. “But why would he wait so long to leave the base after setting off the explosion?” she asked. “He should have been long gone by now. Why would he be so stupid as to hang around and take a chance on being caught?”

He glanced at her and shook his head. He had his theories on that, but would keep them to himself for the moment.

“You said he knew his way around the base,” she said. “That he was familiar with it. I would agree with that. So, why go this way? Why not simply run back to his home?”

“I said he was familiar with it. Doesn’t mean he lives on it.”

“True.”

“Plus think about it...”

“What?” she asked.

“The dogs.”

She raised a brow. “Of course. The base is full of them. He figured a dog like Annie could track him. If he left through the fence and had a car waiting...”

“Exactly. There might be some security footage, but since he kept his face covered, that won’t help much.”

“He took his mask off right before he turned and spotted me,” Heidi said. “But even with the hoodie covering part of his features, I’d still be able to pick him out of a lineup. The guy you just chased? I don’t know.” She sighed. “Think your forensic people could find some prints or something?”

“On what?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. The fence maybe?”

“He had on gloves, I think.” He tucked the piece of cloth into an evidence bag. “They’ll try, but I’m not holding my breath.” He stood.

His frown deepened and he remembered whom he was talking to. “This better not show up on the front page tomorrow.”

Heidi stiffened and her lips turned down. “It’s a story, Nick.”

“And we don’t have the facts yet so don’t go printing that we chased the bomber. We don’t know who we chased.”

“I never said he was the bomber. But I do know we chased a guy with a gun.”

“Heidi...” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Backup arrived then, cutting him off, but he held her gaze for a moment longer before turning his attention to the OSI investigators clamoring for answers.

* * *

Standing back from the fence so she didn’t trample any evidence, but close enough to watch the action, Heidi drew in a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. She was glad Nick’s attention was off her for the moment, but it did little to calm her.

She’d nearly been killed in an explosion, and someone had been lurking at her house and then held her at gunpoint—all in one night.

She ran a hand over her ponytail, hoping she’d hidden how shaken she’d been, how frightened. Pushing the residual fear aside, she pulled her voice-activated recorder from her pocket and hit Play. Holding the device to her ear, she heard herself call out to Bobby, then the explosion, the aftermath, Bobby begging her to hold his hand, her reassurances.

A tear slipped down her cheek and she sent up a silent prayer for the young man. She’d make her notes, then turn the recording over to OSI.

“Heidi?”

She stiffened at the sound of John Robinson’s voice. Great. Of course he would show up. And of course, even in the midst of all of the chaos surrounding her, he would hone in on her like Annie on a bomb. No offense to Annie. She grimaced, then smoothed her features before turning to face her nemesis. John, the lead reporter for the Red Rose Killer case—and the bane of her existence at the moment—hurried toward her. She couldn’t seem to escape the man.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. “You’re supposed to be covering the break-ins and medal thefts.”

“I am, John. I was on my way home when...things happened. What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you.” He pulled out a pad and paper. “What did happen?”

Oh, no. No way was she letting him steal this story from her. “John, you’re covering the Red Rose Killer, not everything else.”

“I’m covering anything that could be related to him. I heard a couple of MPs speculating that Sullivan was back on base and causing trouble. So, see? This is my story. So...give me details.”

“I’m still sorting it all out.” She shoved a stray hair from her face. “I’m heading home. I’ll see you tomorrow sometime.”

“Heidi—”

She waved and started walking away from him.

“What’s the rush?” he called. “You got to go get your blog post ready?”

Heidi froze, did a one-eighty and marched back to the man who’d been a thorn in her side from the day he stepped onto the base and into the newspaper office. She stopped in front of him, ignoring the stares from those who’d heard his comment. “Once and for all, John Robinson, I am not the anonymous blogger. So stop spreading that lie before I sue you for slander.”

A hand curled around her right fist. A fist she didn’t even remember making. Looking sideways, she found Nick beside her.

“He’s not worth it,” he said softly.

Drawing in a deep breath, she made a conscious effort to push down her anger. Nick was right. If she punched John, her career would be over. And she’d worked too hard to let him provoke her into losing everything. But she would not let him stand there and accuse her of being the anonymous blogger who was plaguing the investigation.

She pulled her hand from Nick’s, and leaving John with his jaw hanging, she executed another about-face and headed toward her house. She was tired. Beat, actually. So exhausted it was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other. Not even the adrenaline sputter from the confrontation with Robinson did much to help her energy level.

Once she reached her home, she slipped the key in the lock, opened the door, and stepped inside.

Peace washed over her as she shut the door behind her. She drew in a deep breath and let the atmosphere calm her. Heidi loved her home. It may look boring and ordinary from the outside, but the inside was all her.

Blues and tans, with a splash of orange here and there, her home allowed her to breathe and cast off the worries of the day.

Except she couldn’t stop thinking about Bobby and wondering if he had known the man who’d run from the training center only moments before it had exploded. Or was Bobby just an innocent caught up in a dangerous incident?

A knock on the door sent her temper spiraling.

She yanked it open. “I told you—” She snapped her mouth shut when she saw Nick standing there with Annie at his side. “Oh. I thought you were someone else.”

“Robinson?”

“What makes you think that?”

A corner of his mouth tilted up. “Sarcasm looks cute on you.”

This time it was her jaw that hung.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

She closed her mouth. “Of course.” Stepping back, she let them enter, then shut the door. “Den is to your left.”

“Thanks. Your place is similar to mine. Smaller, of course.” Base housing for those who didn’t live with family members was small. Hers was a one-bedroom residence, but at least she didn’t have to do the dorm-style living other airmen were stuck with. “But it sure is nicer than mine. It’s...calm and soothing. I like it.”

“Thanks. That’s what I was going for when I picked out the colors. The days around here can be so long and hectic that I wanted something that reminded me of the ocean. Peace and calm.”

He settled on her tan couch and Annie curled up at his feet. “Are you all right?”

“I’m—” She stopped. “I was going to say ‘I’m fine,’ but I’m not sure that’s true. I’m actually stressed and annoyed beyond everything with John Robinson. That man pushes me to the very edge.” She shot him a look through her lashes. “Just in case you didn’t pick up on that.”

“I think I might have.”

“Thank you, by the way, for keeping me from slugging him. I don’t think I would have, even as much as I wanted to, but I can’t say for sure that I would have walked away had you not been there.”

“I don’t think anyone would have blamed you, but yeah. You’re welcome.”

“I’ll also admit I’m shaken from the explosion and the possibility of being shot, but mostly, I’m extremely tired of everyone thinking I’m the anonymous blogger.” She let the last word out on a huff and sank into the recliner opposite the couch. At his startled expression, she wished she could retract the words, but it was too late now.

“And you’re not? The anonymous blogger, I mean?”

She didn’t have the energy to do more than scowl at him. “No, I’m not. I wouldn’t do that. And besides, I don’t even have the facts that are being reported in the blog. Every time I read it, I learn something new.” She laughed. “That blogger is someone who has access to information I only wish I did.”

His eyes searched hers and he gave a slow nod. “I think I believe you.”

She wilted. “Really? You think?”

“Yes.”

“Well...thanks. I think.” She sighed. “If you believe me, do you have any thoughts on who it could be?”

“No.”

“Not that you would tell me, anyway, right?”

He raised a brow. “I knew Boyd from basic training, but I didn’t have much contact with him. I don’t know who he hung out with other than what we’ve managed to dig up during the investigation—and, of course, the victims.”

“That’s probably a good thing. Not knowing him too well, I mean. You don’t want to be on his radar.”

“No kidding. So...” He cleared his throat. “Now that we’re away from all the craziness, would you tell me one more time what you saw tonight?”

Gathering her strength, she nodded. “I can tell you, but you can also listen to it.”

“What do you mean?”

“My voice-activated recorder picked up most everything. I mean, the guy who ran out of the training center didn’t say anything, but—” She stood. “Hold on and let me get my laptop. I’ll start transcribing while you listen.”

“You recorded it?”

“Not on purpose. I was walking and talking into it when I spotted the trainer coming out of the building. And then the explosion...” She waved a hand. “Just listen.”

She brought up a blank document on her laptop, then hit the play button on the recorder. He listened while she typed as fast as her fingers could fly. If she missed something, she could always go back and fix it.