Presumed Dead

“Holly.” He couldn’t help reaching for her.

She knocked his hand down. “That was supposed to be us. Don’t you care?”

He folded his arms. He wouldn’t tell her how he’d been glad at first when his old buddy Caleb looked out for her after his “death.” Or how he’d broken a couple knuckles punching a tree when she’d finally said yes to the man’s proposal. Or that he’d bought her an engagement ring before he left, and it sat in the loft above them collecting dust.

“I’m here because I care. I’m sure it would be easier for you if you didn’t know I was alive, but I saw someone plant a bomb in your cabin, and I had to save you.”

She glanced out the window. “Why would someone want to kill me?”

The question should rock him as well, but having played dead for the past few years, he’d found out more about murder than he’d ever wanted to know. “It could be a recently released prisoner whose case you lost. It could be a current criminal whose guilt you are about to expose in court. It could be a jealous coworker.” Preston sighed. “Have you received any threats? Do you have any enemies?”

Her eyes rolled up to look at the ceiling as she thought, and Preston had a pretty good idea of who she was thinking about. Finding her fiancé with the other woman had been an accident. Preston had simply planned to drop off a Bible and couple’s devotional at Caleb’s house as an anonymous wedding gift—a symbol to himself of wishing the best for Holly’s marriage. But instead he’d stumbled upon the fact Caleb was cheating. No way could he let Holly unknowingly form an alliance with a traitor, so he’d snapped a couple photos with his phone and stuck them in her mailbox. Of course, being a philanderer didn’t mean the man was capable of murder...

“No. I don’t think so.” She looked to him, fear etched like stone in the gray depths of her gaze. “What do I do?”

Well, she couldn’t die. He wouldn’t let her. His family had already lost too much. She’d already lost too much. “I’m going to have to go back into hiding, Holly. But I’m here for you until I figure out who planted that bomb. You’re going to be safe.”

She stepped toward him. Probably wanting a hug for support, now that she was momentarily in the acceptance phase of shock. Whether it lasted or not, he couldn’t be there for her like that. They would have to sever their connection soon, and it would be better if there was less to sever.

He grasped her hands to hold her at arm’s distance. “You can trust me, but we can’t be friends. I’ll be leaving again, so I can’t get close to you.”

Footsteps thudded outside the front door. The doorknob rattled.

Preston didn’t have any more time to worry about staying aloof. If he was going to consider himself a bodyguard, then he’d have to protect her. He wrapped one arm around her waist and dived behind the couch as the windowpane next to the door shattered.

TWO

Holly’s muscles throbbed against the hardwood floor as the lock on the door clicked and the hinges squeaked. Someone was breaking into Preston’s cabin. She held her breath, igniting fire in her lungs.

Footsteps thudded toward them, then stopped in the middle of the room.

She swallowed and looked at Preston to gauge his reaction. His blank expression hid all emotion, but his lack of fear gave her confidence. Did he have a gun? A knife? Experience in hand-to-hand combat? She’d thought she’d known him so well, yet this side of him was completely foreign to her.

He focused past her, looking underneath the couch. She turned her head to see what he saw.

Familiar tan leather boots. But probably just familiar because everybody wore outdoorsy boots in Tahoe. The kind of boots that would have no problem chasing her if she ran for the water or the woods. She’d head for the water. Being barefoot, she couldn’t outrun the intruder. She’d have to outswim him.

The boots turned in a circle, as if the man were studying the small cabin. They tromped into the bathroom, then disappeared as he climbed up the ladder to check out the loft.

Had he gone all the way into the loft? Would she and Preston be able to sneak out without him seeing? She lifted her chin to visually measure the distance between her feet and the sliding glass door. If she could turn herself around, she might be able to slide the door open without making a sound.

But what if the rusty doorframe didn’t cooperate? Or the intruder wasn’t all the way up the ladder and he saw the door move? That was where Preston’s military training would have to come in. Though if he had the survival skills she imagined he had, he should be the one planning their escape. She didn’t know what she was doing.

She sent him a look of panic.

His fingers found hers. Gently squeezed. As if that was supposed to be comforting.

Did he know who had broken in? Did he know why? He’d said he had enemies of his own. Was this guy after him or her?

Help, Lord.

A phone jingled.

She jolted at the sound, clutching Preston’s hand like a stress ball. Okay, now she was glad he’d made the connection.

Where was the noise coming from? Maybe she should let him go to silence the cell phone in case it was about to give away their hiding place. If it did, he’d definitely need his hand free so he could leap up and pop the bad guy in the jaw.

She uncurled her fingers and retracted her arm to give him room to fight.

The phone jingled again, the sound growing louder. But at least it was on the other side of the couch.

Preston shook his head. Not his phone?

“Yeah?” A gruff voice demanded.

Holly froze. Who answered their phone in the middle of breaking and entering? And had she heard that voice before?

“The woman got away on a Jet Ski.”

Holly bit her lip to keep from gasping. This had to be the bomber. And he was talking about her. Had someone hired him to kill her? Someone like her ex’s new girlfriend?

“Yeah, I’m sure. A guy just showed up at her dock and took her to another cabin. I had to drive to get here, and it looks like they’ve already left. No car in the driveway.”

She searched for Preston’s eyes. He’d just gone from being dead to being “a guy.” This could mean trouble for both of them. But at least the bomber didn’t know they were still in the room.

Preston squinted toward the direction of the phone conversation as if it took all his concentration to make out the words.

“I’m inside the cabin.”

Pause.

“I broke in through a window.”

In place of the silence, a muted but angry voice yelled something in return. Could Preston tell if it was a man or woman on the phone? Because she couldn’t.

“Well, since I’m already here, I’ll just plant another bomb.”

Another bomb? Preston’s cabin was going to be destroyed the way hers had been? All out of a jealous rage?

Her fingernails bit into the flesh of her palm. Maybe Preston wouldn’t have to fight the bomber after all. She was angry enough to take him.

More jumbled yelling.

“I won’t use a time bomb again.”

What other kinds of bombs were there? Holly had seen electronic detonators in movies. Or there were car bombs that ignited when the key was turned. Then there were the terrorists who strapped bombs to themselves. But it was ridiculous for Caleb’s new girlfriend to send someone after her with a bomb. She was the only person Holly could think of who would be after her. Preston had mentioned a few other reasons someone might want her dead, but they all seemed so abstract.

Her skin grew slick with a cold sweat. She shivered.

“No more bombs? Fine.”

Holly closed her eyes. Thank You, Jesus.

“Yes. I can do that. I’m on my way.”

Holly watched the tan boots pivot toward the door. Her skin itched in anticipation of the man’s departure. Was he moving in slow motion, or did it just feel like it?

Finally his feet stomped out onto the front step. The door snapped shut behind him.

She could breathe again. Her muscles melted toward the floor like snow tracked into the cabin in winter.

* * *

Preston’s muscles sprang into action. He leaped from behind the couch and raced toward the shattered window. He needed to know for sure if the intruder was the same perp he’d seen at Holly’s house.

A dark, lanky man climbed behind the wheel of a Jeep Cherokee. Same guy. What had Holly gotten herself into?

The engine revved. The SUV pulled away.

Preston grabbed a pen and scribbled down what he could catch of the license plate number before the vehicle disappeared into the trees. Because there was no way he was going to keep playing hide-and-seek with Holly. The Jeep’s driver needed to be locked behind bars. That was the only way to keep Holly safe. Preston could find somewhere else to hide out if needed.

“Did you know him?” he asked Holly. She hadn’t seemed to recognize the man when she’d passed him on the road earlier, but that was a completely different situation from being in the same room with him and overhearing a conversation about killing her.

“I...I don’t think so.” Her feet flopped out to the sides behind the couch. Apparently she wasn’t planning to get up anytime soon. But they couldn’t stay here.

He leaned over the back of the couch. “We’ve got to get you back to your cabin before the police think you died in the explosion. They’ll find your car there and believe you were inside.”

She sat up, eyes hard. “Why does it matter?” she challenged him. “You are letting everyone think you died.”

He’d saved her life, and she wanted to argue? Of course, after finding out her fiancé cheated, her summer cabin blowing up and someone wanting her dead, it might be easier for her to focus on his problems rather than her own. Not that his were any easier to fix. But she obviously wouldn’t understand unless she tried it out for herself. “You want to play dead, too?” he offered.

“No.” She ignored his extended hand and grabbed on to the back of the couch to pull herself up. “I want you to stop playing dead so we can go talk to the police together.”

“Let me know when you uncover the real saboteur, and I will be happy to go to police with you.” She seemed to think he could reveal himself without causing any more death. In the best-case scenario of turning himself in, a lawyer much like her would pin sabotage on him and he would live the rest of his life in prison with no chance of ever finding the evidence needed to arrest the real criminals.

Since she didn’t need his help, he climbed the ladder into the loft to pack all the personal belongings he could fit into a drawstring bag.

“Okay,” she said.

Okay what? He scanned the gathered items. It was a shame he didn’t have time to haul it all down to the old pickup on the property at the end of the street. Hank, the older man who lived there, had started a new helicopter tour business and let Preston use his Chevy LUV in exchange for mechanic work. Unfortunately, the vehicle would probably have to be Preston’s new home for a while.

“Okay, I’ll find your saboteur.”

Preston looked in her direction, but then had to step to the top of the ladder so Holly could feel the full intensity of his stare. “I was joking.”

“I’m not.” She stared right back.

Her determination was cute, but surely it would dissipate when she got back to the mess that was her own life. He scaled down the ladder rungs to lead her toward the sliding glass door so she could return to reality.

“One killer after you isn’t enough?”

She stopped in front of him and lifted her chin. “All criminals deserve to be in jail. And it’s my job to put them there.”

It would be hard to do her job from the grave. Besides... “You’re a defense attorney.”

“Exactly. I’ll defend you in court so the authorities can go after the real bad guys.” She narrowed her eyes at his amusement. “You tell the world what you just told me, and I’ll make sure they believe it.”

He sighed. She had no idea how many times he’d considered such an option. But what would keep the same person who’d staged Sergeant Beatty’s suicide from killing her? Or what if she lost the case and felt guilty that he had to spend the rest of his life in prison? He would never do that to her.

At least this way, everyone believed he’d died a hero. It was better for his family. And for Holly.

“I wish it were that easy,” he said. Especially now that Holly knew he was alive and stood so close and cared so much.

She huffed and preceded him out the door. Nix on the “stood so close” part. And quite possibly the “cared so much” part.

He squeezed his fingers into fists. Too bad he didn’t know the identity of the person who belonged at the end of his cross and uppercut. He’d settle for either the person who’d sabotaged his operation or the bomber who’d broken into his cabin. Or even Caleb. The man was an idiot for not protecting Holly the way he should have.

How many times would Preston have to give vengeance over to God? Always once more?

This is getting worse, Lord. He’d point out the obvious. Make sure God knew he still needed help. Help me stay strong because I’m feeling pretty weak right now.

His weak spot waited on the Jet Ski.

He shouldn’t have even let her go out there alone. He needed to get her to the police as quickly as possible. She’d be safer with them than she was with him. He’d be safer, too.

He avoided looking at Holly directly as he joined her on the watercraft. And she held on to seat handles to avoid touching him as they made their way back across the lake. Or maybe she held on to the handles because he had the drawstring bag on his back.

Either way, God was giving him the help he’d needed. But it felt hollow somehow. Empty. Lonely. Though he should be used to that.

He cut the engine a few cabins down to stay out of sight of the emergency workers swarming the smoke-scented rubble. Turning halfway around, he spoke over his shoulder. “You’re not going to tell police about me, are you?”

She bit her lip. “I will investigate the SOAR sabotage, but as that’s not connected to this bombing, there’s no reason for me to mention your existence to police today.”

That would have to do for the moment. “Fair enough.”

She lifted her eyes to his. “Where are you going from here? Don’t you know anyone in the military who could help clear your name?”

Preston met her gaze. “I do have an old friend who used to be a JAG attorney.”

Holly looked away. She wouldn’t know he was already aware of her broken engagement, and she obviously didn’t want to tell him about it. “I’ve got my bathing suit on underneath my jeans. I’ll swim back to the cabin, and I’m sure investigators will never imagine I’ve been riding around on a Jet Ski with you.”

“Thank you.” He exhaled in relief. She may not be happy with the situation, but hey, neither was he. “Hopefully, they can figure out who set the bomb, and you won’t need me anymore.”

She searched his eyes before twisting away to pull her sweatshirt over her head.

“Tell the detective you passed a navy blue Jeep Cherokee with California plates as you pulled in. I didn’t get the full plate number, but it starts with a 5AO.”

“5AO,” she repeated dutifully.

This wasn’t how he’d imagined a reunion with her. But it wasn’t really a reunion. He was only there to keep her safe. He focused on the scene she’d be heading back to. Fire engines sprayed water onto smoldering log remains. Police questioned neighbors. An array of boats slowed so passengers could rubberneck. A silver Jaguar pulled down the drive.

Preston’s stomach warmed. His gaze swiveled toward Holly to see if she’d noticed the vehicle.

She scanned the beach as if in a daze, and he knew the moment her gaze hit the Jag. She dropped back down onto the seat behind him, but she didn’t say anything.

If she didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t mention Caleb’s arrival, but he hadn’t forgotten the man’s presence. And there was no way he could let Holly spend time alone with her former fiancé on what should have been the weekend of their wedding. What if Caleb took her roller coaster of emotions for another ride?

“After you talk to the police, I want you to go stay at that lodge where our parents used to take us for barbecue ribs. I will come check on you.”

No response.

Preston looked over his shoulder.

Holly watched Caleb park. It hurt to think that she’d gone from trying to help Preston to focusing on the other man so quickly. Even though Preston hadn’t wanted her help in the first place. He’d wanted her to forget him so she could move on with her life. But the reality of it all stung like shrapnel.

“Holly?”

She blinked and turned to him, though her eyes remained distant.

He shouldn’t blame her. She’d had quite a day. “Where are you going after you talk to the police?”

She stared. Maybe she hadn’t heard him. Maybe she was going into shock. “Cedar Glen.”

Good. He tilted his head toward the water, indicating it was time for her to dive in. The sooner she answered police questions, got rid of her ex and was safely at the lodge, the sooner he would be able to see her again. But that didn’t make letting her go any easier.

THREE

Holly stumbled up the beach, her body trembling and dripping from the swim. She didn’t want to talk to anybody. Especially not Caleb.

Preston’s return had hit her like the force of water from a fire hose. And his dismissal had left her feeling much like the crumbling remnants of the cabin. Not to mention the attempts on her life.

“Holly.” Caleb’s brand-new, colorful hiking boots slipped in the gravel as he rushed to her with a fireman’s blanket. “You’re alive. Do you know what happened here? I was scared to death. How’d you escape?”

Holly tensed at his attention. She wasn’t his to worry about anymore. “Calm down, Caleb. I’m fine.” Fine. Ha. Who was she kidding?

“That is such a relief.” He wrapped the scratchy blanket around her shivering shoulders, which would have been nice if he hadn’t kept his arm around her, as well. “I’m just thankful you weren’t in the cabin. Did you go swimming as soon as you got here?”

She shrugged out of his grip and ignored the question. But at least Caleb had been concerned for her welfare and was now acting thoughtful. She would have expected him to take off on their honeymoon with his new girlfriend.

“Thanks for the blanket.” Her teeth chattered. It may be June, but the lake temperature only varied eight degrees from winter to summer.

Caleb tried to wrap his arms around her again.

She shook him off. Not happening. “What are you doing here?”

“The neighbors called your parents when the cabin exploded, and they called me to see if I knew where you were.”

Holly eyed him. Mom must have been really worried about her if she’d asked Caleb for help. Though how had he gotten to her cabin so fast?

“I’m so thankful you weren’t injured. I never got the chance to tell you how horrible I feel about what happened between us, Holly. It was a mistake. And actually I was planning to stay on my boat in hopes you’d call me so I could drive over here, and we might work this out.” He gripped her hand. “Please.”

She grimaced at his touch. There was nothing to work out. Particularly not now that the first man she’d ever loved had shown up alive again. As dishonest as Preston’s death was, his presence reminded her how good they’d had it once upon a time. And Caleb was not once-upon-a-time material. She pulled away.

An officer with a receding hairline strode over. “You’re Holly Fontaine? This is your cabin?”

“My parents own it.” Good, a distraction. Except now she would have to answer a bunch of questions in a way that would somehow leave out Preston’s existence. Maybe she should be the one asking the questions. She’d take on her attorney persona. “What happened?”

“Ma’am, I’m glad to see you survived. My name is Officer Shaw, and I hate to tell you this, but a bomb went off in your cabin earlier today.”

“A bomb?” The idea still shook her.

“Yes, ma’am. Do you know of anyone who’d want to harm you?”

She looked at Caleb. Pretty convenient he just happened to be in the area. The bomber had been talking to someone on the phone. Could it have been him? No. It was more likely the other woman wanted her dead, now that Caleb seemed to want to make things work with Holly.

“What’s your girlfriend’s name?” she asked.

Caleb reeled. “No. That’s ridiculous. She’s not my girlfriend. And she wouldn’t do this anyway.”

Officer Shaw pulled his sunglasses lower on his pockmarked face to look at the other man. “I will check her alibi. What’s her name?”

Caleb shifted his weight side to side. “Denise Amador. But make no mistake, she didn’t do this.”

Holly lifted her chin. “She obviously wasn’t above having photos taken of you two together and sending them to me.”

Caleb’s voice lowered. “You still think she did that?”

The officer chewed at the fingernail on his thumb. “I’m going to need to interview you both separately.”

Holly blew air into her cheeks. None of their old relationship stuff even mattered anymore now that Preston was in the picture. Because Preston was the only one who should have ever been in the picture—the old Preston anyway.

The old Preston never would have left her to talk to police by herself. The nickname “doll” came from the way his parents said he used to like to play with her as much as his little sister liked playing with her dolls. She smiled sadly at the memory. Preston had called her “doll” to get her on the Jet Ski, but not because he wanted to rekindle their friendship.

She focused on Shaw. “That’s fine, Officer. I’m not planning to talk to Caleb anymore anyway.”

“What? Why not?” Caleb held his hands out as a different cop motioned him away. “Is there another man in your life?”

No. Just the shadow of a man. “Goodbye, Caleb.” Preston or no Preston, her main regret with the lawyer was that she hadn’t said goodbye sooner.

Shaw led her toward the police car next to her totaled vehicle. Debris had smashed into it, and the heat had melted everything from her purse to her computer to her luggage. She’d need to go shopping, but could she even get money out of her bank without a license and debit card? Maybe Dad could wire her some cash for the rest of the weekend. She’d hole up at the lodge, waiting for Preston to show up again.

Or had she been knocked unconscious by the blast from the explosion and dreamed the whole Preston thing? That would actually make more sense than his sudden appearance after four years.

“What’s your relationship with Mr. Brooks?”

Blech. Holly didn’t want to even think about Caleb. Had he been cheating on her the whole time? “We were supposed to get married this weekend, but I found time-stamped pictures of him with someone else in my mailbox last week.”

Officer Shaw scribbled notes. “You don’t suspect Mr. Brooks set the bomb?”

She leaned back against the seat. “No. He obviously lacks morals, but he’s not stupid.”

The policeman gave her a hard look.

She shrugged. “We’re defense attorneys. If he’d planted a bomb, he would have made sure he had an alibi far away from here.”

Shaw scratched his head with the back of his pencil. “We will check out his alibi. You really think Ms. Amador would go to such lengths?”

Up until twelve days ago, Holly hadn’t even known the woman existed. “I don’t know.” She thought back to Preston’s suggestions that a former client might be after her. Would he have considered Denise a suspect had he known of Holly’s broken engagement? It didn’t matter now. The police were looking into it. She told Shaw about the blue Jeep before asking for a ride to Cedar Glen.

* * *

The resort had been remodeled since Preston’s last visit. It was a nice change, though it made him sad how easily life went on without him. Holly probably wouldn’t need him around for long, either. Hopefully, she’d kept her word and hadn’t mentioned him to authorities.