Ranger Guardian

He clicked on his phone, stared at the picture of Kendall holding a super pink baby girl and swiped to dial. He would talk to his wife face-to-face. Tonight, he’d read to his daughter.

“Hey there. How’s my favorite munchkin?” He reached for the children’s version of The Wizard of Oz.

“Daddy!”

* * *

“JERRY, I KNOW it’s Sunday night. That’s why I’m calling. I need more people. I know I’m close to a breakthrough.” Kendall Barlow didn’t back down. Her supervisory special agent should know that. She heard the house phone ring in the background, as it did every night like clockwork.

In six months’ time, Heath hadn’t missed calling his daughter once. And not one time had he made a serious effort to reconcile. He was a man of few words—for everyone except Skylar Dawn.

“Kendall. It’s been months and you’ve got nothing to show for it. You know we’re shorthanded. Dallas Police Department is worse off than we are. You aren’t going to get more qualified personnel for the joint task force than the people already assigned to it.”

“If I had another competent person who knew their way around computers, I know I could prove that Public Exposure is fraudulent. We’re close. Very close.”

“Oh furgle. Our resources have been tapped out. Run with what you’ve got, and get me something to show for your time. Of course, there is one person already on your task force you haven’t tried.”

“Special Agent Fisher, I’ve asked you not to use that word. I’ve looked it up and it’s inappropriate. It was fine in Catch-22, but come on. You know it doesn’t mean what you think.” She was tired of this conversation. Or was he trying to distract her? Did he really think that she needed something to justify the investigation? Couldn’t he think of one more possible agency to check? “Jerry?”

“Yes? I promise I’ll behave. I just love that word.”

“Please don’t—”

“You should talk to your ex. Ask him if he’s heard anything about your case.”

“That’s a clear conflict of interest. No one would allow him on the team.”

“Seems like that’s my decision now. I’ll allow him to help out until the Rangers can find a replacement. Use the taxpayers’ money wisely. See you in the office.”

The line disconnected, and she could once again hear the exclamations of surprise from her daughter as her father read about flying monkeys and sparkly red shoes. Had she mentioned to Heath that their daughter had outgrown two pairs of those red slippers while he’d been gone?

Skylar Dawn was sitting on the couch holding the main phone extension. Her grandmother listened on an additional handset just outside the door. Heath knew about the eavesdropping even if her mother thought it was a secret. He accepted it as part of his “punishment for whatever he blamed himself.”

As if living away from their precious little girl wasn’t punishment enough. Why he thought he needed to be punished, she didn’t understand. And no matter how she tried, her mother wouldn’t stop.

Constant jabs at Heath kept an undercurrent of tension in the air. Kendall wanted to avoid the subject and leaned toward avoiding her mother in the evenings when she helped out with Skylar Dawn.

Heath wasn’t her ex, and finalizing their separation wasn’t high on her priority list. So far there hadn’t been any squabbles about how to do anything. He’d taken only a few of his things and the horses.

Other than a picture or two of Skylar Dawn, he’d managed to leave everything looking exactly like it had been when he’d walked away. Or when she’d driven him away. She could remember exactly when things had come to a pivotal breaking point. Most of that argument had to do with her mother.

Her mother’s standards had been high her entire life. Heath had a father exactly the same way. But what had turned Heath into a strong man who held his opinions to himself—or himself and his horse—seemed to be turning her soul bitter.

I can’t be my mother. I can’t do that to Skylar Dawn.

“Do you have to say goodbye, Daddy?”

Kendall waited for the familiar “Good night” and “I love you.” Her daughter clicked the red button on the phone and her mother followed a second afterward. She crossed her arms, enveloping the phone between a breast and a well-toned limb.

Her mother, a woman of sixty, made good use of the money she’d gathered over the years. Three stepfathers and three settlements later, Kendall had a college education and two letters of recommendation for her Bureau interview.

Getting along with the men in her mother’s life had never been the problem. More and more recently, she’d been realizing how sad her mother had become. And how demanding.

Her mother didn’t allow Skylar Dawn two seconds to linger or even to put the phone back on its charging station. She immediately clapped her hands, and her granddaughter jumped to her feet.

Oh my God! She’s reacting like a trained puppy.

Kendall swooped in and picked up her little girl, who should need a bath from playing in the dirt. But she was perfectly clean.

“Wow. Let’s go for a ride. What do you think, sweet girl?”

“Kendall, I was just getting ready to run her bath. Isn’t it late to go out?”

“Actually, Mother, you might be right. But we’re going anyway.” Kendall smiled and steadied her daughter back down on her feet. “Let’s go see if we can find some flying monkeys.”

Skylar Dawn giggled as they skipped down the hall and out the front door.

It was clear that changes needed to be made for her and her daughter. She’d set paperwork in motion the next day. She’d find out the possibilities before she approached Heath.

Six months of living with her mother instead of her husband was long enough. Five minutes down the road, she realized she’d pointed the car east toward Heath. She slowed and turned into a drive-through. Then they got ice cream and played at the park until they both really needed a bath.

It was fun. Spontaneous. She used to be those things. It was the whole reason Skylar Dawn had come to be.

It was time to find that person again.

Chapter Two

Wade Hamilton shoved the last file into the back of the box. It represented months of work and the official end of his desk duty. It had taken him almost as long to heal from the beating he’d received six months ago. But everything worked again. Both with his body and his status as a Texas Ranger Company B lieutenant.

Ready to take his place at his partner’s side. Ready to get out from behind his desk. Back to handling things by the seat of his pants instead of the rule book. Doing so had landed him in this desk chair. He’d learned his lesson to slow down and think a little. He liked fieldwork...not paperwork.

Unfortunately, Major Clements had discovered Wade was good at paper shuffling. He’d been allowed to assist with a few cases as backup for Company B brothers. But the paperwork grew while he was gone.

It seemed like the rest of the office had grown accustomed to him shuffling their requests, too. Coming in early and staying late was second nature now. Why not, since he had no life?

That’s where he was bright and early on a Monday morning. At work before the rest of the staff or other Rangers finished their first cup of coffee, he was shuffling papers. Almost done, the latest request for his company’s support caught his eye. He knew the name of the FBI agent heading the task force. He’d attended her wedding just over five years ago.

Kendall Barlow was the new team leader of a cybercrime task force and asking for computer and field support on the joint task force. Heath—her husband and the logical choice—had already been assigned to cybercrime. Now their relationship would need to be reviewed and disclosed. He’d been on the task force since it was headed by Jerry Fisher. But still, Murray was the best geek Company B had.

It was up to Wade to recommend someone else or okay Heath for a couple of days in the field with Special Agent Barlow.

It was also an opportunity to resolve his friend’s problem. He’d been listening to Slate talk about his temporary roommate for six months. How he worked the horses, cleaned the stalls, never missed a phone call with his daughter and never—ever—spoke to his wife. Heath, on the other hand, never said a word. Wade held on to the paperwork and grabbed a second cup of coffee.

Who was he to jump in to the middle of a man’s business? Especially marriage problems? But the more he tried to talk himself out of it, the more his gut told him to assign Heath to work with his wife.

Slate and Jack were both standing at his desk when he returned from the break room. Before he asked their advice, Jack pointed to the request.

“What’s this?”

“You’re sending him, right?” Slate asked. “It’s exactly what they both need to force them to figure out what’s going on.”

“You think so?”

“Damn straight,” they answered together.

“The man’s turning into a bear,” Slate said. “I might take his head off if he snarls at Vivian again.”

“If the FBI put in the request, you should accommodate it,” Jack stated, hanging his jacket on the rack.

“What if she doesn’t want it?” Wade asked, already knowing that he would recommend Heath.

“Then she has a friend who is thinking along the same lines we are.” Slate took his seat opposite Wade. “Maybe she’s as cranky as he is.”

“Who’s cranky?” Heath asked as he walked through the door.

“The old man, Major Clements,” Jack said, jumping in. “We’re coming up with reasons he might be out of sorts. I say he’s getting ready to retire. Wade says his wife might be cranky.”

“My bet’s on the wife.” Heath winced as he took off his jacket, holding his side. “The old man’s never going to retire.”

The guys nodded in agreement. Slate mouthed “Bear,” while pointing to Heath behind his hand.

Wade recognized Heath’s movement. When his own ribs had been cracked, he’d held his side the same way. Heath had probably injured himself at the rodeo this weekend. But he’d never admit it.

Wade agreed with hiding it from the boss. If he hadn’t been unconscious with an eye swollen twice its size, he probably would have taken a couple of days off and never admitted anything about the beating. Or about the woman who’d saved his life by alerting Jack to his whereabouts.

Time to put his own fantasies to rest and find the woman who haunted his dreams... Therese. If he couldn’t work on that, the least he could do was help get Heath and Kendall back together.

He reached for the request, ready to recommend his friend and submit it to Major Clements. The old man would make the final decision if Company B would waive the conflict of interest. Maybe Heath and Kendall could find mutual ground and resolve their differences.

If not, then this assignment would at least help them reach that decision, too.

He completed the paperwork and sent it on its way. Assignment made.

Chapter Three

Heath held his side as he carefully lifted his arm into his suit jacket and then set his white Stetson on top of his head. The required Texas Ranger uniform wasn’t what people expected when they saw the star on his pocket. Traditionally they all wore white Stetsons, but with suits rather than jeans. He even wore a white shirt and black tie today.

Good thing, since he’d been assigned to work with an FBI task force regarding potential cybercrime. The agent in charge thought a research company had some type of ulterior motive for collecting the data.

Cybercrime had a broad definition—it referred to any crime committed with a computer or through a computing device. The slim file he’d received held just the basics and an address where to meet the agent. He was curious to learn what had tipped the FBI off and what the specifics of the case were.

Why meet here in the field? It wasn’t the norm. Neither was getting a last-minute request for field backup on a task force he hadn’t been active with for a while. Jerry Fisher—his wife’s old partner—had been promoted to group leader overseeing several teams in cybercrime. What was different now?

He waited for this mysterious agent at his truck. The older neighborhood was nicely kept up. The homes were on the smaller side for this section of Dallas. They’d eventually be sold and torn down to make way for larger lots.

It was a shame. Some of them looked really nice and were perfect starter places for couples. Or to house mothers-in-law. He’d been thinking about his wife the entire trip across town.

Only natural that he’d start thinking of her mother, since he half blamed her for egging on their arguments. He’d gone back and forth long into the night about calling Kendall. Even picked up his phone a couple of times. But the chicken part of himself won.

What if that phone call ended everything?

This morning he watched the sun rise while riding his mare and resolved to call Kendall today to make a date to talk. Not over the phone. Not around Skylar Dawn. Certainly not around his mother-in-law. The promise gave him peace of mind. Six months was enough time apart. He needed to try again. Speaking face-to-face would allow him to gauge her reaction. And if she called it quits?

Well, he wanted her to look him in the eye if she did.

There were several cars on the street of the address he’d been given. None of them were a government-issued sedan. He glanced at his watch—only a couple of minutes early.

If he was working with the FBI, he’d eventually have to visit their Dallas field office. He wasn’t excited about running into Kendall accidentally. Or her supervisor, Jerry Fisher.

Whoever his partner from the FBI was, they were late. Unless he was supposed to meet them inside. He walked around the truck, calling Wade to see if there’d been a time adjustment to the appointment. When a black sedan pulled up behind his truck, he disconnected. He leaned on the tailgate while putting his phone away, waiting.

“Heath?” A familiar voice rang from the far side of the government car.

The car door shut, and he stood at attention for some reason. The face came into focus while his body charged out of control.

Kendall?

Dammit. He’d almost dove into the truck bed. Hard to do with his heart galloping up his windpipe like a stampeding mustang. He wanted to leap on its back and get the hell out of there.

His hands itched to wrap themselves in her wild strawberry blond mane. But no wild mane flowed down the back of FBI Special Agent Kendall Barlow. It was pulled smoothly against her head into a ponytail. A few short tendrils escaped in front of her ears, the lobes pierced with the small diamond studs he’d given her.

“Nice to see you,” she said, before smiling a strained grin.

“Hey.” It felt awkward. He hadn’t been alone with her in a long time. He deliberately eased his shoulders, trying to relax. “Nice earrings.”

She fingered a stud, as if figuring out which pair she wore. “Oh, these? I can’t remember where I got them.” She teased with a genuine smile now. She remembered exactly who had given them to her... Him.

The awkwardness was worth it for the smile he hadn’t seen in months. “I... No one told me it was your task force.”

“Can we sort through the conflict of interest after Mrs. Pelzel’s interview? She’s watching us out her window.”

“Would you like to work with someone else?”

“Of course not.” She stopped on the sidewalk, head tilted to the side to look up at him. Physically only an arm’s length away, but completely out of his reach. “We can be professional about this. At least I can.”

Professional? Sure. Why the hell not?

Her task force. Her lead. Her knock on the door. He turned sideways on the porch to let her pass. The slight scent of ginger and orange filled him with memories. He recognized the smell of her lotion and was getting sentimental. Instead of pulling her into his arms and kissing her until they were both senseless, he tugged off his dark shades and tucked them in his pocket.

He could be professional. If he had to.

Kendall explained who they were when Mrs. Pelzel came to the door. She introduced him as Ranger Murray. No one was the wiser that they were married, since she’d always used her maiden name professionally. Once they were invited inside, Heath quickly discovered Kendall had been on this case for several months. Sitting on one of the most uncomfortable couches in the world, he concentrated on Mrs. Pelzel preparing large glasses of iced tea. A suddenly dry throat couldn’t wait to be quenched.

Kendall looked at a message on her phone, and he wondered how they’d drifted apart. More than five years of his life had been devoted to this woman.

How could it all be gone over one wrong question? He didn’t want it to be. But getting back to her wouldn’t be easy.

Once again, he was close enough to touch his wife, but promise bound to keep it professional. Reminding himself to stay professional. He’d kept that way back when they’d first met. He could do it again now.

Mrs. Pelzel brought the glasses in on a tray. He popped off the couch to help, but she shrugged him off. “Please sit. I have never had a real Texas Ranger visit before. This is so exciting.”

She handed them each a glass. He downed his in record time and could only blame it on nerves.

Kendall set down her glass after taking a sip, then straightened her jacket. Time for business. “Mrs. Pelzel, would you be willing to let my computer forensics team take a look at the PC?”

“Can they do that from here? I don’t think I could live without my computer for a long period of time,” the home owner replied. “That’s how I stay in touch with my grandkids, you know.”

“We could have someone out here in a couple of days,” he answered. “They could check it right here.”

The older woman shook her head. “Oh, wait. You know, I should have told you when you first arrived. There’s really not a problem, so you’d be wasting your time.”

Kendall gave him a look he should have been able to interpret. Maybe she’d just been surprised that he’d given an answer she didn’t like. Maybe she thought it strange that Mrs. Pelzel had changed her mind. He didn’t know, and that was disappointing since he should, being her husband and all.

“Mrs. Pelzel, what happened that made you call the FBI?” Kendall asked. Her notebook was open. Her pen was clicked to a ready position, but her casual body language told him she wasn’t expecting a real answer.

That hadn’t changed, at least. He could still read her mannerisms, it seemed.

“I’m afraid I’m just a silly old ninny who made a mistake,” the older woman said.

Kendall turned a page in her notebook, sliding her finger across the handwriting as she skimmed the page. “You told us you had a feeling that someone was watching you through the computer’s camera.”

“I did,” the older woman whispered.

To her credit, Kendall the FBI agent didn’t roll her eyes or make any facial movement that indicated she didn’t believe the older woman. “You also mentioned that the computer seemed to be running slower since they installed the Public Exposure gadget.”

“Really, you should believe me when I tell you I made a mistake,” Mrs. Pelzel said, her fingers twisting into the loose long-sleeved shirt she wore.

“Will you confirm that you have one of the PE monitoring systems?” Kendall’s enthusiasm moved her forward to the edge of the couch. Both sets of law enforcement eyes moved toward the desk, where the older model computer sat.

“They seem like a legitimate company,” he said, attempting to get Mrs. Pelzel to share more information.

“I’m not a helpless old woman who doesn’t know how to research a product or service. I didn’t think it was anyone’s business how much time I spent online. But the money they offered was enough to buy a new roof. I just couldn’t pass that up.”

He’d heard of Public Exposure and their controversial social media monitoring system. The file he’d been sent from the task force stated a strong belief the group was involved in more than the good of the common man.

“I sound old and kooky about someone watching me. But I swear that the camera light comes on by itself while I’m cooking or watching television. I hear a click, and the red light pops on and off.” She covered her mouth like she’d said something wrong and then looked at her computer.

Warning bells sounded, and he couldn’t help glancing over to see if the light was on.

“It doesn’t sound kooky at all, Mrs. Pelzel,” Kendall comforted. “In fact, we’ve had several other residents report the same thing. But we need to take your computer to our forensic team and have them check—”

“I’m sorry. Maybe I’ll have my granddaughter look at it. I was wrong to bring you here. There’s nothing weird going on.” Mrs. Pelzel stood and lifted her hand toward her front door. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.”

“Mrs. Pelzel, I believe you,” Heath said. “A start to resolving this issue would be to make certain you log out of your Wi-Fi. Turn everything off before closing the lid and unplugging it. And ask your granddaughter to verify your router has an encryption key. You might want to change your password.”

“Thank you. I’ll try to remember, and I’m very sorry to have wasted your time.”

Kendall stood, defeat written clearly on her face. She flipped her notebook closed and stowed it away inside her suit jacket. They both stopped on the front walk when the door shut. Heath squinted at the noon sun and put his glasses on while she made a couple of more notes.

“The precautions won’t make any difference,” Kendall told him, following with her sunglasses dangling from between her fingers.

“You don’t think this is someone trying to steal identities, like that file sitting in my car states.”

“It’s bigger than that.” Kendall continued to her car.

“How many reports have you taken?”

“Dozens.” Kendall leaned on the government-issued sedan, appearing more defeated now than she had inside the house. “And for every person who reports that their camera light is sporadically coming on, there are probably another dozen who don’t.”

“It’s a shame she wouldn’t let an expert search her computer. But if you have had that many complaints, why haven’t your FBI computer whizzes found what you need from those victims?” He crossed his arms across his chest and leaned his hip against the sedan, close to her.

“What did you think of Public Exposure before this morning?”

“I’ve seen their public service announcements. They’re a group that promotes kids playing outside instead of hanging on social media. How are they involved in potential identity theft?”

“First, no accounts have been affected—bank, credit card or otherwise. None of these complaints go further than what you witnessed. Mrs. Pelzel doesn’t realize that it was me who she spoke with when she called. I take the complaints, but by the time I get to an interview, something has changed their minds and they’ve all made a mistake.”

“All of them?”

“This makes over twenty. Oh, and they all use the word kooky.”

“They can’t all be saying the same thing. You think Public Exposure is threatening them?”

“Yes. Sometime between when the resident calls me and when I get here. All of these people withdraw their complaints or concerns and I can’t move forward.”

Mrs. Pelzel watched them from her window. Heath saw her drop the curtain back into place. Without moving his head, he looked at the windows of the neighbors. More than one resident peered through the blinds.

“I kind of understand about that feeling of being watched.” He barely nodded, but Kendall picked up what he was throwing down.

“There’s also a white van at the end of the block.” She pointed a finger behind her.

He glanced in that direction. “Two men in the front seat. Just sitting like they were when I arrived.”