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“No!” Her voice rose to a hysterical pitch. “Trina told me to call you. Only you. No one else. There was a man with a gun. I need your help, please!”
Alex blew out his breath, sensing the woman was teetering on the edge and one wrong word would send her tumbling over. His gut also told him she wasn’t involved in the criminal activity surrounding the shipyard. He couldn’t deny the possibility of a setup, but too much caution could be dangerous. Trina must have given her phone and the code phrase to this woman because her life was in jeopardy. The panic in this woman’s tone was too good to be faked.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
There was a brief hesitation. “Shelby.”
“Where are you right now?”
“Near a town called Shawano.”
Shawano was almost two hours away. Perfect. He’d have plenty of time to arrange a backup plan in case this woman wasn’t who she claimed to be. “Okay, I’ll give you directions to a truck stop in another town. From there, call me again to get further instructions.”
He rattled off the directions, satisfied when she repeated them back correctly.
“So you’ll meet us—me at the truck stop?” she asked.
“Not exactly.” He knew if he mentioned his plan to have Rafe check her out first, she’d get upset again. Rafe would be discreet. She’d never know he was there. “I need to make sure you’re not followed.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Trust me, we’ll be in touch soon.” He hung up and immediately called Rafe.
“Yeah?” His partner sounded half-awake.
“I need backup. Can you be here in an hour?”
“What’s up?” Rafe sleepy voice disappeared.
“Something has happened to Trina.”
“Trina?”
Rafe’s voice had sharpened and Alex knew his partner was finally awake. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll call you back.”
Alex picked up his foam ball and squeezed rhythmically with his left hand as he waited for Rafe to return his call. What had happened to Trina? He hoped she was all right. He couldn’t help feeling that he should have been there with her. He hated being on the outside of the case, instead of working it from center stage. It was already mid-March and the ships would hit the water the first of April. He only had two weeks to get his left arm in shape to be his dominant hand.
For now, once he’d determined the woman, Shelby, was legit, he’d have no choice but to turn her over to Rafe.
Driving on the highway toward the truck stop with a clear destination in mind helped Shelby keep her rioting emotions under control. She could do this, one step at a time.
While Cody slept, Shelby battled grief as her thoughts dwelled on Trina. She knew, with gut wrenching certainty, that her vibrant, live-life-on-the-edge sister was dead. When they were younger, opposite personalities kept them from being close. Shelby was Christian and had never embraced her sister’s freewheeling lifestyle, but in the past five years Cody had managed to bring them together.
Shelby was grateful for that time when they’d been closer, but the truth was she hadn’t really known Trina, and now she never would.
Their father would be devastated by the loss. He thought the sun rose and set in Trina. He’d always ignored her mistakes, the bad choices that had time and again landed her in trouble. Shelby sniffed loudly and blinked back tears. Trina had gotten in trouble again, but this time she’d made the right choice. Trina had sacrificed her life for her son.
How would the little boy deal with losing his mother on top of meeting a father he didn’t know? Now that she knew Stephan wasn’t his father, she understood why Cody had spent more time with her than Trina and Stephan over the past few years. It was no secret her sister and her husband were having marital problems. Stephan and Cody had never been particularly close. Now Cody’s whole life had been turned upside down.
And he was in danger. She could only hope and pray he didn’t realize how much.
Cody stirred, waking up after his short nap. Sleep had been the best thing for him after all the trauma of the morning’s escape from the marina. Pushing her steep exhaustion aside, Shelby smiled at him reassuringly. “Hey, are you hungry?”
He rubbed his eyes with his fists and nodded.
There was another small town coming up and she’d noticed a sign for a fast food place. “We’ll pick up some breakfast in the next town, all right?”
After making a quick bathroom stop inside, they placed their order in the drive-through lane. Shelby fastened Cody back into his toddler seat, and watched him munch on his breakfast sandwich through the rearview mirror. She wasn’t sure how much of Trina’s conversation about him being in danger he’d picked up on, so she tried to distract him. “Guess what? We’re heading into the north woods.”
Cody’s eyes widened, his interest piqued as she’d hoped. “Are we gonna see bears?”
“Nah, they’re hibernating for the winter. But we might see deer.” She took a sip of her coffee, hoping the caffeine would jump start her system now that the adrenaline rush had worn off.
“What about wolves? Or coyotes?”
Shelby shook her head, grinning wryly at Cody’s fascination with wild animals. “I don’t know, maybe.”
Cody loudly slurped his chocolate milk through a straw. Steady green eyes regarded her in the mirror. “Aunt Shelby?”
“Hmm?”
“Am I gonna live with you now, forever?”
Shelby sucked in a harsh breath and tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Yes, she wanted to shout. Yes, you’ll stay with me forever. But the words clogged her throat. Did Cody sense the truth about his mother’s death? Did he know he was in danger? What was the best way to have this conversation?
Lord, give me some guidance here. How should I tell him? Please, Lord, help me find the best way to explain this.
“I don’t know, Cody. Maybe.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “First we’re going to visit your other dad.”
“My other dad?” Confusion wrinkled his brow.
“Yes. You’re a very special boy, Cody, because you have two dads. The dad you’ve been living with and your other dad.”
“After the visit, then I’m gonna live with you?” he persisted.
She wanted him to. Very much. Not right after the visit, as Cody had said, since they were still in danger. But once all of this was over… Still, she had no way of knowing if Alex, his biological father, would have other plans. Stephan wasn’t listed as Cody’s father and he’d married Trina after Cody’s birth, which meant Alex would have the edge, if he wanted custody. The idea made her stomach hitch. She didn’t know anything about Alex. Would he be a good father? Maybe she should find a way to disappear, keeping Cody with her forever.
As much as she wanted to do just that, her conscience wouldn’t let her. The thought of the bad man knowing Cody saw him scared her to death. Would the man know Cody was with her? Was that why Trina had told her not to go back to her apartment over the day care center? She couldn’t take a chance. No matter what the future held, Cody’s safety had to be her first concern.
And regardless of who Alex was, he had a right to know about his son.
“I don’t know, Cody. I hope so. We’ll see.”
Instantly his face crumpled. “I don’t wanna go back to the marina! I don’t like it there. I wanna stay with you.”
“Shh. Hey now.” Shelby reached her arm back around the seat to rub his leg. Trina and Stephan had lived near the marina. It didn’t make sense that he was so afraid of going back there. “Cody, don’t cry. I love you. I’ll stay with you no matter what. I promise.” She wished she could pull him into her arms, inhaling the sweet scent of his baby shampoo. But they needed to get to the truck stop as soon as possible. “I love you,” she repeated. “I’ll stay with you always. Okay?”
Cody swiped at his eyes and nodded, stifling his tears.
It was a rash promise but she didn’t care. Because even if Alex claimed custody of his son, she wasn’t leaving Cody. Alex would just have to deal with her being an important part of Cody’s life, whether he liked it or not. She was not letting this boy go without a fight.
At the truck stop, she called Alex again on Trina’s phone.
“I’m sure I wasn’t followed,” she told him. “No cars stayed behind me and I passed the exit, before doubling back.”
“I’m sure you weren’t followed, either.”
She frowned, wondering how he could be so certain, but listened intently as he gave her specific instructions on how to get to the bed-and-breakfast where he was staying.
“I’ll see you soon.” Shelby snapped Trina’s phone shut.
The sun was high in the sky when she turned onto Oakdale Road. Covered with freshly fallen snow, there were no recent signs of a snowplow. She hoped her lightweight, fuel-efficient car wouldn’t get stuck.
She pulled into the bed-and-breakfast driveway, winding through the trees until she saw the house. She gaped in surprise at a huge log home lined with numerous windows. A massive deck encircled the house giving rooms on the second floor access to the outside. The grandness of the place intimidated her. This was a bed-and-breakfast in the north woods? She’d expected something smaller. Quaint. Cozy.
With a sigh, Shelby hefted Cody into her arms since he was without snow boots. Her jeans were quickly covered in snow up to her knees as she trudged up to the house.
A tall, rugged, dark-haired man answered her knock and seemed surprised to see her standing there with a child. His piercing green eyes weren’t at all welcoming.
“Alex McCade?” She shifted Cody’s weight on her hip.
“Yes.” A deep frown furrowed his brow.
“I’m Shelby.”
He hesitated, his eyes darting to the boy before he opened the door wider. “Come in.”
A welcoming scent of pine surrounded her as she stepped into a warm great room with a huge stone fireplace lining one wall. Through an arched doorway to the right, Shelby saw several tables draped with bright red and white checkered tablecloths. For a bed-and-breakfast, the place was notably vacant.
She stomped her feet on the braided rug, trying to dislodge as much snow as possible. Cody wiggled impatiently in her arms, so she set him on his feet beside her. Now that she was face-to-face with Alex McCade, she couldn’t seem to find the right words to tell him about his son. Especially since his tall, broad presence was more than a little intimidating. She cleared her throat. “My name is Shelby,” she said again. “And this is Cody.”
Cody suddenly clutched her leg, hiding his face against her jeans as he wailed. “No! I don’t wanna visit my other dad!”
She winced and tried to untangle Cody from her leg, casting Alex an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.”
For a heart-stopping moment, the man stared at Cody. Then his cold, furious gaze cut to hers. “Is this some sort of sick joke?”
Swallowing hard, she thrust her jaw defiantly. “No, this isn’t a joke. Cody is your son and I need your help to keep him safe.”
TWO
His son? Alex stared at the woman, seconds stretching into a full minute. His heart froze in his chest. His stunned gaze fell to the child clutching the woman as if his life depended on her. The woman moved gracefully as she bent toward the crying child, quietly beautiful in a wholesome way, he noted as he continued to stare in shock.
Rational thought quickly soothed his initial panic. Her claim couldn’t possibly be true. Tall and reed thin, with long curly blond hair and bright blue eyes, she looked familiar. But not to the point where he could have possibly fathered a child with her.
“You’re lying.” He glared at her, as if willing her to tell the truth. “Was this why you called? To make these ridiculous accusations? I thought you needed help?”
“We do need your help. Cody’s in danger. But I wouldn’t lie. Not about this. I’m sorry, I know this must be a terrible shock to you.” The troubled expression in her eyes bothered him, as if she really cared what he thought and how he felt. “You have to believe Cody is your son.”
He didn’t have to believe anything. Alex’s steely control over his anger slipped. “Look, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not amused.”
“No game.” The woman sighed and placed a protective arm around the boy. “Let me start at the beginning. My name is Shelby Jacobson and this is Cody. We live in Green Bay and…”
“Wait a minute.” The pieces to this jumbled puzzle were finally sliding into place. He should have realized it sooner. Shelby Jacobson was Trina’s sister. He knew Trina and Stephan had a son but he didn’t know Shelby had a child, too. Not that he’d paid much attention to Trina’s younger sister, since Shelby wasn’t involved in the marina or the shipping business. She ran some sort of Christian day care center. “You’re Trina’s sister. That’s why she gave you her phone to call me, right? Did she tell you she was in trouble?”
Shelby nodded, looking relieved. “Yes. But we’re all in trouble, now. Trina promised you’d keep us safe. And she said you’d tell me what’s going on. Trina mentioned you’re her contact. What is she involved in? What’s going on at the marina? Exactly what is the source of the danger?”
He curled the fingers of his injured hand experimentally. The pain was better now. He wasn’t completely useless but he’d probably need to call Rafe if they were in danger. “I’ll answer your questions the best I can but right now, you might know more than I do.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but he quickly interrupted. “Don’t worry, you’re safe here,” he assured her gruffly. “I’d never turn away a woman and her child, no matter who the father is.”
Her gaze narrowed with annoyance, but he pivoted and gestured toward the great room. His eyes fell once more on the boy, who stopped crying long enough to stare at him with wide green eyes, identical to his own. A sick feeling settled in his gut. Irritably, he thrust it away. “Come in and take off your coats.”
“Thank you,” Shelby murmured helping Cody remove his bulky jacket before shrugging out of hers. She tossed them over a nearby chair and then crossed over to the wide sofa facing the tall fireplace.
Alex sent Rafe, his coast guard liaison, a quick text message telling him that he’d be in touch soon. Rafe was on standby, after having checked out Shelby at the truck stop to make sure she hadn’t been followed, but Alex wouldn’t require backup yet. He needed time to figure out what happened to Trina that forced her to give her sister the code phrase and her phone.
The boy climbed up next to Shelby on the couch and pressed against her. She put a protective arm around his shoulders. The two shared the same golden shade of blond hair and the same stubborn chin.
His sister Kayla came into the great room, sending him a wary glance before greeting Shelby. “Hi, I’m Kayla. I don’t want to interrupt, but I just finished making a batch of chocolate chip cookies.” She flashed Cody a warm smile. “Are you interested in sampling a few?”
Cody eagerly looked up, then hesitated and shook his head, scooting closer to Shelby. Alex frowned. What was the boy so afraid of? He tried to wipe the scowl from his features. “Kayla’s cookies are the best. And you’d better get a couple, before Clyde finds them.”
Cody threw him a puzzled look. “Clyde?”
“Our new cocker spaniel puppy, although no matter how many times we tell him that he’s a puppy, he still thinks he’s a boy, spending his entire day trying to eat people food.” Alex wrinkled his face in mock disgust as he sat in a nearby chair.
The lure of a puppy who liked people food was too much to resist. Cody’s gaze shifted between Alex and Shelby, his tiny brow furrowed as if leaving Shelby’s side was a monumental decision.
“It’s okay, Cody. I promise I won’t leave without you. Go ahead and see the puppy.” She let him off the hook, seemingly relieved at having him out of the way. Alex understood she was scared and wanted answers. But what exactly did Shelby have to gain by claiming the boy was his son?
She’d claimed they were in danger, but he needed to know exactly what happened, what had brought them here. After all, Trina had been his inside contact, not Shelby.
“Okay,” Cody agreed readily enough but moved reluctantly away from her.
Kayla held out her hand. Cody trustingly took it. “You know, I have a daughter about your age. Her name is Brianna and she’s spending the day with her grandmother. Maybe if you’re still here later this afternoon, you’ll get to meet her.” Kayla chatted to the boy as she led him into the kitchen.
Shelby turned toward him with a look of abject horror etched on her face. “You have a daughter about the same age as Cody?”
Alex hissed a long breath between his teeth. “Kayla is my sister, not my wife. And let me make one thing perfectly clear. You and I did not create a child together.”
Her eyes widened in frank dismay. “Of course we didn’t. Cody is Trina’s son.”
For a moment he was taken aback. Then he scowled. “You mean he’s Trina and Stephan’s son.”
“Trina told me you were his biological father.” Shelby twisted her hands in her lap although he admired how she kept her voice steady. “Cody was born September tenth, roughly four years and six months ago. And Trina gave me this.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled slip of paper.
Alex took the scrap of paper from her and stared at his own handwriting in shock. This was the initial note he’d given Trina all those years ago, after their night together.
