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Ten feet inside the gate, a row of lights flashed on, illuminating the outline of a snow-covered road. Kane spotted CT cameras set high on the light posts and swept his gaze in all directions. The land surrounding the old ranch-style house was devoid of trees to give an unexposed three-sixty-degree view of the road and surrounds. He pulled up on a gravel driveway recently cleared of snow and shot a glance at her. “Have you lived here long?”
“Two years or so.” Alton pointed to a substantial cottage set about thirty yards from the main house. “You’ll be staying over there. I’ve stocked the refrigerator with enough food to keep you going for at least the weekend. I’ve left your uniforms and badge on the kitchen table.” She dug a set of keys out of her jacket pocket and handed them to him with a flourish. “Welcome to Black Rock Falls County.” She slid out the door and strode toward the ranch house without a backward glance.
“Oh, this is going to be a blast.” He turned the SUV toward the cottage.
Snatching his bags from the back seat, he headed toward the front door, found the key, and turned on the lights. The house smelled of furniture polish with a hint of bleach. He glanced around, taking in the plain, furnished sitting room comprising of one single chair, a coffee table, and a sofa set before a flat-screen TV. The room was surprisingly warm. He shucked his coat and dropped it over the back of the sofa, then pulled the bug catcher from his bag. Using the earbuds, he made a room-by-room sweep of the house. I’ll see if you are paranoid enough to have installed surveillance devices.
After a systematic search, he shook his head in disbelief at the pile of listening devices and cameras collected from strategic positions throughout the house. He strolled down the passageway then turned into the dine-in kitchen area complete with granite bench tops and aluminum appliances. He cleared the room of devices and placed the pile of bugs on the table beside three neat stacks of uniforms, three winter jackets, boots, and a shiny new shield.
His commander had given him zero intel on Black Rock Falls County or Sheriff Alton, yet it seemed Alton had information on him right down to the size of his pants. Sure, she had his cover story of a cop injured in the line of duty, but it would be impossible for her to discover the truth of his identity. The agency had sealed his service record and she would require his real name and a presidential clearance to get a hint of his last position. Depending on her reason for being in Black Rock Falls, she may have perceived him as a potential threat. If so, she had an excuse for the listening devices and cameras. You’re not on my hit list.
Then again, if Alton had not planted the devices, he could have marched slap bang into a trap. He pulled off his woolen cap and ran a fingertip over the six-inch scar on his head. The hairs on the back of his neck tingled and he rested one hand on the butt of his pistol. His razor-sharp survival instinct had saved his life many times, and right this moment it was firing on all cylinders.
Four
Jenna Alton shot bolt upright in bed and blinked at the light coming through the curtains. One hand went for the pistol on the nightstand. The Glock slid into her palm, as familiar as breathing. She fixed her attention on the bedroom door and listened. Someone had found her. Three years had passed since giving evidence against underworld kingpin Viktor Carlos. The thug had threated to kill her during his trial for trafficking in sex slaves. Believing she would be safe once he was behind bars had been a stupid mistake. Like an octopus, Carlos had long arms, and following the brutal murder of her fellow undercover agent, the FBI had relocated her to Black Rock Falls. Although her new identity should be rock solid, Carlos had hackers and she remained on alert waiting for the other shoe to drop. Seeing Kane’s black SUV and a man running toward her after a near-fatal accident had convinced her a paid assassin had found her. On instinct, she had reached for her weapon, and although he appeared to be legit, the incident had shattered her nerves.
The noise came again, and fully alert, she slid from the bed and crouched in combat position. When a loud hammering came on the front door, relief shot through her. Someone must be dead for one of her deputies to disturb her on a Saturday morning before seven. All of them had the sense to call first and not arrive on her doorstep unannounced. All of them except Kane.
Pushing her feet into her favorite pink slippers, she dragged on a dressing gown and pocketed her weapon. Glancing down the hallway, she sucked in a breath at the sight of blinking green lights on the security panel. Stupid. I didn’t set the alarm. She slipped into her office and turned on the bank of screens. The black views inside Kane’s residence matched the furious expression on his face. He glared into the camera mounted on her front porch with one arm resting on the doorframe.
She moved down the hallway and threw open the front door. “Yes?” She looked up, way up, into his strained expression.
“I think we need to talk.” Kane opened his hand to reveal a pile of surveillance devices.
Jenna blocked the doorway and gave him a look to stop normal men in their tracks. “Later, when I’m dressed and I’ve eaten.”
“Now.” Kane pushed one large hand on the door and eased his wide shoulders past her into the hallway. “I want to know the reason you have me under surveillance.” He cocked one dark eyebrow. “And you’d better have a good one.”
“Fine, come in if you want to talk. The kitchen is the second on the left. I’ll put on a pot of coffee.”
As Jenna filled the coffee pot, she shot a glance at Kane over one shoulder. The colonial-style kitchen chair creaked under the weight of him. He appeared bigger than her memories from the previous evening, with a rugged, handsome appearance and piercing blue eyes. Anger stirred the air between them; without doubt, criminals would fold immediately under his glare. You are one mean son of a bitch.
After reading his impressive qualifications, she had wondered why he had taken a position in Black Rock Falls County. Now that he had discovered her well-hidden surveillance devices, her suspicious mind went into overdrive. The weight of the Glock in her pocket gave some comfort and she forced her face into a neutral expression. Trusting people did not come easy and she had a nagging voice in the back of her mind telling her to be wary of him. She took two mugs from the overhead cupboard and placed them on the table. “Sugar and cream?”
“Information.” Kane dropped the surveillance devices on the table, leaned back in his seat, and glared at her. “I don’t know too many local sheriffs who go to the trouble of bugging their deputy sheriff’s residence or answer the door carrying a weapon—unless I’m mistaken and you are carrying a particularly heavy bundle of tissues in your pocket. I want to know what is happening here and why you think I’m a threat to you.”
Jenna straightened and deliberately hardened her expression, although she couldn’t quite exert seniority over him wearing a robe and pink slippers. She cleared her throat and glared back at him. “I don’t need to give you an excuse. I’m the law in Black Rock Falls County.”
“Perhaps, but you don’t have the power to change the U.S. Constitution.” A nerve in Kane’s cheek twitched and his steel-hard gaze did not leave her face. “I have the right to read the warrant you obtained to contravene my Fourth Amendment rights.” His wide mouth twitched into a wry smile. “Don’t have one? Well, maybe instead of sitting here I should be visiting the mayor and writing up a complaint against you.” He went to rise then leaned toward her. “Unless you want to come clean about the attempt on your life last night and the need for all the surveillance?” Placing both large hands on the table, he met her gaze. “If you’re not a voyeur, and you think I’m a problem, why didn’t you set the alarm? I could have broken in and slit your throat in seconds.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I guess the accident shook me up more than I thought. I forgot to set the alarm, okay?”
“Have you been threatened?”
“Not lately.” Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Jenna turned toward the refrigerator. She took out a jug of cream and placed it on the table then collected the coffee pot and sat opposite him with her professional persona firmly in place. “I’m fully aware of the law but I had a good reason to suspect you.” She poured two mugs of coffee and pushed one toward him.
“We only just met. How could you possibly form an opinion about my character in such a short space of time? Or is there something we need to discuss?” He flicked her an angry glance, reached for the sugar and scooped four teaspoons into his mug, then reached for the cream. “I’m sure you’ve read my qualifications and references for this position or you wouldn’t have accepted my application.”
“I have and you came highly recommended but not many men of thirty-five with your previous rank would take a demotion, not to mention half the pay rate, and move to a town like Black Rock Falls.” She shrugged. “It wasn’t personal. I was just being careful.”
“I’m sorry but that excuse doesn’t come close to an explanation.” He shook his head, and his wide shoulders slumped. “If we’re going
to work together we need a modicum of trust between us.”
She needed a plausible excuse in a hurry. “Did the mayor headhunt you to take my job?”
“No. I haven’t met the mayor. I answered the advertisement in the newspaper. I took this position because I received a gunshot wound to the head in the line of duty. The nice titanium plate covering the hole in my skull sets off security scans and precludes me from working in my chosen field.” He dropped dark lashes to cover his eyes. “I wanted to remain in law enforcement and Black Rock Falls seemed a nice quiet place to work.” He snorted. “Obviously I was mistaken. Now, why don’t you explain what is going on here?”
