Winterfall (8 page)

As he took a backstreet around the regular checkpoint, he saw another one up ahead where he’d never known one to be before.
Odd.
He didn’t know why, but something didn’t feel right. And he always, always trusted his gut.

“Juliet.”

The man’s urgent voice penetrated the fog in Juliet’s brain, and she jerked awake. She remembered where she was with a jolt. In Mark’s car. Mark’s grim expression, even in the semi-dark of the car, caused an instant bolt of alarm. He was slowing down at an intersection off the beaten path, and what she’d call a Bubba truck was stretched across the intersection. Correction. Two Bubba trucks.

“What’s happening?” she asked. “That’s not a regular roadblock.”

“No it isn’t. There’s a gun in the glove compartment. You know how to shoot?”

“Barely.”

“Get it out of the glove compartment and put it on the console between us.”

She did as he asked, fear rushing up her throat. Juliet placed the weapon on the console, her fingers releasing the metal delicately, as if it might bite her if she moved too fast.

“What are we going to do?” she asked, feeling all her muscles tighten in anticipation.

“Keep cool as we can. If bad shit goes down, you run as fast and as hard as you can.”

She didn’t know what to say and there wasn’t time, as he glided to a stop nearby the trucks. Two men stood outside the trucks, and she couldn’t see if they had weapons.

“Shit. Shit,” he said. “Stupid. I shouldn’t have taken us this way.”

“You didn’t know.”

“I
should
have.”

“This is Briarwood. Houses are expensive in here. You wouldn’t think anyone would set up an illegal roadblock.”

“True. But it looks like they have anyway. The Sentry Security sign on the SUV will either help or hurt us.”

Rain had thinned to a light splattering, just enough to put spots on the cars. As the headlights splashed over the men, she could see two men dressed in sock hats, flannel coats and jeans for cool weather. Oh, and the large semi-automatics over their shoulders looked lethal as hell. Both men were middle aged, with pleasant smiles.
Please let those smiles be real.

“Evening sir. Everything all right?” Mark asked as he rolled down the window.

The first guy leaned down and peered in at them. “Howdy. Sorry to stop you like this, but we’ve had a lot of problems lately in this neighborhood. We got permission from the city to set up our own checkpoints.”

She relaxed only a little.

“Understandable.” Mark handed the man his identification. “Mark O’Day, Sentry Security. We’re passing through on the way home.”

She tensed and waited. One of the men crossed to her side of the car, and he leaned down and smiled at her. She grinned, but knew she probably looked more afraid than comfortable. The guy looked around sixty, and he nodded and left her side of the car after he got a look at her.

The man who’d taken the identification read it and handed it back with a nod. “Sentry Security eh? I’ve heard of you guys. You’ve got a good reputation.”

She caught a glimpse of Mark’s reassuring smile. “We aim to please.”

“Say, I heard you guys up there are all ex-Special Forces or something.”

“Some of us. We’re not too shabby.”

“What did you do?”

Oh, goodie. Men in a chest pounding contest.

“I was an Army Ranger. A sniper.” Mark quoted what he’d done without bragging.

“Damn.” The man sighed. “Well, that’s impressive.”

Mark’s charming smile came out. “We’ve had some heavy duty training. Sorry we’ve invaded your area, but I decided to skip the block on the main drag. It’s ten cars deep.”

The man shook his head. “Probably not a wise move, Mr. O’Day. You never know who might stop you.”

“You’re right.” Mark took the chastisement without rancor. “My bad.”

The man laughed, his chuckle filled with genuine good humor. “Well, you have a good night.” He waved. “Sir. Miss.”

“Goodnight,” Mark said. “Stay safe gentlemen.”

Tension flowed out of her in a whoosh as Mark rolled up the window and they proceeded.

Mark glanced over at her as he continued through the neighborhood. “All right?”

“Now I am. God, I was so worried.”

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t one of my brightest moves.”

She’d seen him in action and knew he was highly competent at his job. “Don’t beat yourself up.”

“Yeah, well, I am. If it was just me in the car, no biggie, but I have a passenger. I felt something was off, and I used this route anyway. I usually go with my gut and I screwed up.”

She couldn’t help smiling herself. “Well, if you’re determined…I could punish you.”

Oh. That came out sounding a bit kinky.
And she couldn’t believe she’d said it.

He let out a half-strangled noise. “Do I get to pick my punishment?”

“Nope.”

“Damn.”

They turned onto the main road and headed straight for her neighborhood. In the increasing darkness, a glow lit up the horizon.

“Oh, God, what is that?” she asked, but knew what she was seeing the minute she spoke. “Fire. And it looks like it’s coming from my neighborhood.”

“Yep. That’s what it looks like.”

Apprehension prickled up her spine. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed 911. She got a busy signal. “911 line is busy.”

They came to yet another roadblock.

“Oh, what is this?” she said, trying not to sound whiny.

“This is official. Cop cars and military everywhere.” He threw her a glance, his eyes filled with teasing. “See if I take you anywhere again. Look what happens.”

She groaned. “Yeah.”

Cars streamed out of the neighborhood in both lanes, and Mark had to pull off the side of the road. They definitely weren’t getting into the neighborhood. People gathered outside the perimeter. She peered into the gloom and noted the horizon alight with a telltale glow and the definite scent of smoke in the air.

“If that’s a fire I need to help,” she said.

“Not in those clothes.”

She threw him an exasperated look. “Of course not, but I can throw on some turnouts if responders have extras.”

She half expected him to object to the idea.

“First we have to get in there,” he said. “That could be the challenge.”

Before they could get out of the car, a police officer walked up.

“What’s wrong, officer?” Mark asked.

“We’ve got a major fire in the neighborhood. People are being evacuated.”

She leaned across to show the officer her volunteer credentials. “I’m a volunteer firefighter. I need to get in there and help.”

“You assigned to this fire?” the man asked.

“Not specifically, but I live in this neighborhood. I can help.”

“Sorry, no can do. We’re under orders not to allow anyone in that isn’t already there fighting the fire.”

Desperation gripped her. “Can you call Station Three dispatch and let them know I’m here? They’ll let me in.”

The cop hesitated, and right then her phone rang. She grabbed the phone from her handbag and saw Captain’s Detmer’s number flash on the screen.

“Captain Detmer? I’m here on Phillips at the roadblock,” she said.

“Yeah…stay out there.” She identified the noises in the background. Shouting, mechanical noises, water spraying, other sounds. “The Chief said you shouldn’t come in here.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s on Denby Street.”

Juliet thought she’d choke right there and then. “That’s my street.”

“Yeah and the fire involves four homes across from your place.”

Her mind froze, the implication stunning her. “Oh God. You’ve got to let me in there.”

“No. We didn’t call you in because you’re on mandatory leave. The rest of the week. Don’t try and come in here. You’re lucky you were out when it started.”

She almost argued, but she knew Captain Detmer well enough to know she wouldn’t get anywhere.

She glanced at Mark and the police officer, both of whom wore curious expressions. “All right.”

“I mean it.”

“Right. I’ll call you guys later.”

“Van Pelt, we’re going to make sure your home is safe. Don’t worry.”

After she disconnected the call, she relayed what the Captain had told her.

“Shit,” Mark said, his voice low and grave.

“This is gonna take a while,” the cop said. “I suggest you find somewhere else to be for the rest of the night.”

She nodded, unable to find her voice.

As Mark made a U-turn and merged back into traffic, he said, “Don’t even think about it.”

“What?”

“We’re not finding another way to sneak into the neighborhood. Your captain is right.”

Surprise made her pop off with, “How did you know I was thinking of that?”

His big shoulders moved in a shrug. “I’m good at reading people. It’s probably what I’d want to do if I was in your position.”

“My house could burn.” Traffic crawled and impatience took hold. “Great. What do I do now?”

“Come home with me tonight.”

She blinked, a little surprised. “I could go to a hotel.”

“You could, but we have plenty of room at Sentry Security.”

She recalled his explanation of how General Alexander had turned the complex into a sort of secure compound within city limits.

“Are you sure your boss would approve?” she asked.

“Of course. Besides, he set a precedent when the other men brought their women to stay with them.”

Their women?
There it was. A tingle threatened to blossom inside her in a girly way she didn’t want. She wasn’t
his
, but the idea sent a primitive thrill straight into every fiber of what made her a woman.
Get a grip. He isn’t asking you to sleep with him.

Traffic came to a crawl on the street, and when they stopped at a light, he looked over at her. “You don’t want to pay for a hotel, even if you can find one with vacancy. You don’t know how many days they’ll have the neighborhood evacuated.” When she stayed silent, trying to think of a way to argue her way out of his logical suggestion, he continued. “Do you trust me?”

She realized she did—one hundred percent. “Yes.”

He turned his attention back to traffic, which started to flow again. “Good. Don’t worry. We’ve got supplies there like toothbrushes, soap, you name it. Mally and Penny probably have clothes you could borrow. If you can’t get back into the neighborhood tomorrow we can go shopping for what you need.”

What argument could she make that didn’t sound ungrateful and ridiculous? She could say no, but finding a vacant hotel room in Buckleport didn’t seem likely. She could call the Chief or Captain and ask to stay with their families, but that would feel even more like imposing. Neither man had large homes and both had kids. She wouldn’t call any of the single men and ask to stay with them.

She conceded. “All right. If you’re sure.”

“Absolutely.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

She sent a text to the Captain telling them him where she’d be staying the night.

The Captain’s text came quickly, and she read it out loud.
Fire still going. Down to three houses. Your house is good. Stay safe. We’ll keep you informed.

She bit her lip. Worry gnawed at her even though he’d said her home was safe.

“It’ll be all right.” Mark’s voice was soft and reassuring, and it brushed across her worries and soothed them slightly.

“Isn’t it a little too coincidental there’s another fire and it happens to be across from my house?” she asked.

“Yeah, it is.”

Traffic picked up and before long he’d pulled into a neighborhood known for shabby trailers and lower income housing. On one side of the street was a high wall and a gate with no signs on it. The top of the wall was covered with concertina wire.

“Scary place,” she said, injecting only a little humor.

He pushed a button on the dash and the large double gate opened. “Yep. That’s the intention.”

He drove through the gate and took the long driveway toward a sizable steel and concrete two story building. Four other black Sentry Security SUVs sat in the parking lot in the back. They exited the car and went toward what would be considered the back door. Mark used the keypad on the door to let them inside. They were in a back hallway with large rooms on either side. The rooms had computers and other office equipment.

“I’d show you around.” Mark led her down the hall toward an atrium like front area. “But I’ll bet you’re tired.”

“Actually, I’m a little twitchy.” She rubbed her arms. “I’m not ready to sleep.”

“You’ll crash soon. Take my word for it.”

Juliet threw him a doubtful smile. “Okay, then you’d better show me everything fast.”

Mark did as she requested. The first floor had offices, what he called a war room, kitchen and break room, and an area for people to change clothes and shower. An exercise room was connected to the shower and dressing area. Lighting was muted, and no one else appeared to be around.

“Impressive,” she said. “Looks like everyone’s asleep.”

“You haven’t seen the upstairs yet. Come on.”

They bypassed the elevator in favor of stairs, and when they reached upstairs they proceeded quietly down a long hallway until they reached a door at the end. He unlocked it and flipped on the lights. She followed him inside.

“Wow,” she said softly, hoping sound didn’t carry in this building. “This is even more impressive.”

“It is. There’s six apartments up here and each one has a master bedroom and bath, kitchen, small den or office. We even have a man cave up here.”

“These headquarters are huge.” Before she could formulate another thought, she yawned. “Oh God. I’m sorry.”

“Told you that you’d want to sleep soon.”

“Just because I’m tired doesn’t mean I’ll sleep.”

He glanced at his watch. “It’s ten o’clock. Someone has got to be up. I’ll text them and see if we can round up some stuff for you.”

She almost objected, but he’d already retrieved the phone. She headed into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to look around while he tapped away on his phone. She sank into a chair at the table within the small kitchen nook. Moments later a text came back.