Rancher On the Line Page 9

  It was possible. People got comfortable. Let their guards down.

  If he was going to let his carefully constructed walls down with anyone, it would be someone like Catalina.

  “It’s clear. Just in case, we’ll leave our belongings here. We can take a walk through the trees, possibly find cell reception. There was a place over by the lake but we’d have to hike back toward the cabins and there’s a chance the kids who left behind the chest will come back.” He got to be the best by taking everything into consideration. “On second thought, it’s probably safer to stash these in my vehicle.”

  “You think it’s okay to go back there?” Panic widened her eyes.

  “We’ll know when I get cell coverage. Eric planned to stick around and keep his eyes on the vehicle,” he said.

  “Did he have a description?” she asked.

  “An SUV with blacked out windows and temporary plates is all he said. I didn’t wait around to find out if he got a description of the driver and possible passengers.” Dane figured Eric would have reached out to him by now. There would be no reason for the SUV to stick around considering there was no trace of Catalina at the cabin. For a split second, he thought about Jacob’s parents. Were they in danger? No. Eric would never allow the SUV to do anything to the older couple. Besides, the driver would want to stay under the radar. Even if he saw Jacob’s parents, he wouldn’t risk hurting them. If he was really good, they would never know he was around.

  “That gives me the chills just thinking about someone like that looking for me.” She shook like she was trying to shake it off. “This whole thing is new to me. It’s awful.”

  “You get used to it,” he said.

  “Do you?” Her eyebrow shot up like she really wanted the answer.

  “When you know what you’re fighting for, it gets easier.” He climbed down and ensure the area was clear before motioning for her to toss down the bags. He caught them and set them to the side before helping her down. “Our team did a lot of strategic rescue work, which generally meant we were the guys you sent in when a consulate had to be evacuated. When innocent lives were at stake, your focus becomes clear.”

  “Much like what you’re doing for me right now,” she said so low he almost didn’t hear her.

  “Yes, to a point,” he said. “I never knew the people I helped before. This is different. I know you.”

  The look she gave him next told him she felt the same way. “Most people would think I’m crazy for saying this, considering we’ve only been around each other for a matter of hours, but the minute I saw you, it was like I’d known you my entire life.”

  He nodded, not wanting to put too much stock into the comment. It was true for him though. Dangerous, but true.

  “I haven’t really thanked you for everything you’re doing for me. I’m guessing it has a whole lot to do with your friendship with Lucas and less to do with me personally. I appreciate it anyway. Because of you, I have a hope that I’ll actually go home to my son in a few days.” She reached over and clasped their hands together. Her hand was small in comparison to his. Hers was soft, whereas his proved he worked outside.

  Dane refocused rather than go down the path of how well the two of them fit together. He needed to find a few bars for his cell phone. Eric might have already found a lead.

  11

  Dane located a small cave near the lake where he’d spent countless hours exploring as a kid. The only person who knew this area better than him was Jacob. Speaking of whom, Dane owed his friend a thank you. Without Eric to take point, Dane and Catalina wouldn’t have had nearly as much time to escape the cabin. In their rush, a critical identifying piece of information might have been left behind. Jacob must’ve had a sixth sense after their conversation.

  If the SUV driver ID’d Catalina, this place would most likely swarm with criminals. A guy like Kal Sutton would go all-in to protect his name, his company’s reputation, and his freedom. He would lose all three if his plans came to light.

  Dane would never understand folks who believed they could hide the truth. Eventually, everything done in darkness came to light. All the more reason the promise he’d made his father to keep a secret had been eating away at him for decades.

  The suitcase fit into the small opening, as did his rucksack. Catalina gripped her backpack so hard her knuckles turned white.

  “Mind if I hold onto this?” she asked.

  “Be my guest.” He gathered a few sticks and fallen branches to cover the mouth of the cave. He’d anticipated Catalina not wanting to part with her laptop. Wearing it as a backpack shouldn’t slow her down and she could always give it to him if they needed to run. He was used to carrying three times the weight.

  Once the luggage was secured, he reached for her hand. She met him halfway like the move was normal, automatic. The minute their fingers linked, the hum of electricity pulsed through him.

  “What exactly did Kal Sutton say?” he asked, keeping his voice low as he led her toward the cabin using the long way around. There were no roads on the south side of the lake.

  “That this app would give its owner an advantage like no other,” she said. “They would be able to track Spec Ops soldiers and the government would never know what hit them.”

  “The military is becoming more surgical with attacks. Independent contractors are being used in many cases,” he supplied. “What about those?”

  “They could be followed as well.” She shrugged. “It would probably even be easier.”

  “How long did Sutton think it would take for the US government to figure out what he was doing?” The intelligence community would have sniffed this out.

  “He said something about it being applied strategically. That if this person overused it, he would be caught,” she informed. “I have no idea who he was speaking to.”

  “What language did he speak in?” he asked.

  “English,” she confirmed.

  “Did he use his regular voice or speak with any type of accent?” he continued.

  “He did speak slower now that you mention it but no accent,” she said.

  “So, Sutton wants these guys to stay one step ahead of our Spec Ops. Interesting,” he said, thinking about the damage this could cause.

  “It would give them an unparalleled advantage,” she agreed. “Imagine what they could get away with if they saw you guys coming or knew your location at all times.”

  “I don’t want to live in a world where that is a reality, if I’m honest.” He couldn’t imagine having his every move tracked. The implications to soldiers were far reaching. There would be dozens of ways to manipulate the data to bring unfair advantage to the opposing side. Not to mention every soldier’s life would be at the mercy of an enemy. It was anyone’s guess what else the enemy would do with the data once it was in their hands.

  “Sutton isn’t getting anything now. But for how long? I can finish this code and sell it to Hanson, as planned. Once Kal Sutton knows it’s possible, what’s to stop him from hiring another person like me and going after this again?” She blinked a few times before she answered the question for herself. “Nothing. He’d have free reign.”

  “Which is why he needs to be caught and thrown in jail for the rest of his life where he can’t betray his country. This is treason.” Dane fisted his free hand thinking about it. Flexing a few times, he stopped and crouched down. He retrieved his cell from his back pocket and checked the screen. “Three bars.”

  12

  The coast is clear.

  Pls come home.

  Mom left Dad.

  Those three messages from Eric caused Dane to issue a sharp sigh. He immediately texted his brother. On my way.

  “I’m needed at the ranch.” The thought his mother would ever walk out on his father was unimaginable, so he had to get home and see what this was really about. This most likely had to do with the recent revelation about Brax and not the secret Dane had been harboring. And yet, guilt assaulted him anyway. “I’d like to bring you with me.”

  “I didn’t think going home was an option for you,” she said, arching her brow.

  Rather than explain, he showed her the screen of his cell.

  Her face muscles relaxed when she read the first text. As she continued, her eyebrows drew together in concern. “Sounds serious.”

  “You don’t know the half of it. This goes against everything she believes in,” he said. “I need to go see for myself why she would do this after all these years, what the breaking point is and be there for her to show support.”

  Her gaze dropped to his free hand, and he realized he was fisting it. Yeah, a few of his demons reared their ugly heads. He had a good mind to tell his father what he really thought of him, as well as what he’d thought of the Marshall.

  “Is there a place where I can be safely tucked away on property without anyone knowing I’m there?” she asked.

  “I’d rather keep you close to me,” he admitted. The thought of her being out of sight, vulnerable, raised his blood pressure. “Is that okay with you?”

  She seemed to take her time thinking about it.

  “As long as I can work on these last two bugs and finish the code without putting anyone else in jeopardy,” she said.

  “Let’s head to my rental,” he said. “Yours will most likely already be at the ranch.”

  “Won’t people notice a random car?” she asked.

  “Not at my family’s ranch. People come and go all the time. Besides, we have top-notch security to keep anyone we don’t want out.” He searched her eyes for signs she was comfortable with the plan. “We could arrange to have your son brought there if that would help.”

  Her eyes lit up at the suggestion. She twisted her hands together. “It sounds too good to be tr
ue, even though it also sounds like heaven.”

  “But?” He picked up on a hesitation in her voice.

  “I don’t want him anywhere near this situation. Kal knows what my son looks like. He would make him a target. If we’re together and he finds me, game over for both of us,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t risk it.”

  “What if we bring him on the property but put him in someone else’s care? We have multiple properties on the ranch, or I could even pass him off as my own son. No one would know the difference. Not even my family unless I told them otherwise.” He figured she would think a whole lot clearer if she could take a break and peek in on her son. At the very least, she could relax a little bit knowing he was on the property and being well cared for.

  “How would that play out with your family, Dane?” She looked at him with so much compassion in her eyes. “They seem to be going through quite a bit right now and your visit would be a complete surprise, coming out of nowhere. Plus, the thought of placing anyone else in the line of fire doesn’t sit right with me. What if Kal shows?”

  “Those are all realistic concerns, but my family is aware I’m making my way home,” he said, thinking pawning her child off as his own had sounded a little too right. Dane dismissed the idea he could get attached to someone he hadn’t even met yet. Although, he wasn’t too far off doing the exact thing with Catalina. “I don’t think there are any easy answers here. Only a menu of options with the least amount of pain.”

  “Moving him might be risky,” she said.

  “So is staying put. It’s possible Kal or his people—and he would have people given everything at stake for him—could locate Luke anyway.” He would feel better if he could keep eyes on the kid.

  “He might have already staked out my grandmother’s but that’s where the trail ends,” she said.

  “He will dig into your background. He’ll use social media. He’ll have someone dig into your e-mail and possibly cell records in order to find you and your son,” he said.

  “How do you know?” she asked but seemed to already know the answer.

  “Because it’s what I would do,” he said, guiding them to his rental car, ever aware there could be someone waiting, watching.

  He opened the passenger door for her and then removed the branches he’d placed behind the vehicle the other night. It felt like he’d stashed the car here a week ago but it had only been two nights.

  Catalina secured her seatbelt as he claimed the driver’s seat. With the branches gone, he backed out of the spot and headed down the lane and toward the ranch.

  “If you think it’s safe to bring Luke to the ranch, I’d love to see my baby.” Her tone of voice and the care in which she’d taken to make sure her son was safe meant she was an amazing mother. Lucky kid. Dane knew firsthand what it was like to have a mother who would trade her own happiness for her child’s. It made keeping the secret all that much more horrendous. So much so, he’d blocked it out as a teenager. It resurfaced, though. That was the thing about inconvenient truths. They always cycled back around.

  “Then, we’ll figure out the best way to go about it once I know you’re secured on the ranch,” he reassured. If he had to extract her son by himself, he would do whatever it took to ease some of her pain and put a smile on her face.

  “I have no idea what I did to deserve your kindness, Dane, but I’m grateful for it.” She reached over and touched his arm, firing all kinds of electrical current through his body. The heat in the few kisses they’d shared imprinted his thoughts. He shook off the memory as best as he could. They couldn’t afford another distraction. “And I’ll figure out a way to repay you somehow.”

  “You don’t owe me anything,” he countered. “It’s been a while since I felt useful. You’re doing me a favor.”

  She shot a look of disbelief at him, but it was as true as Texas heat in August.

  “Tell me everything you know about Kal Sutton,” Dane said, figuring they could use the time it took to drive to the ranch productively. Plus, focusing on Sutton would keep Dane’s thoughts on track and off Catalina.

  “Personally?” she asked.

  “The more I know everything about him, the better I’ll be able to predict his behavior. If I can find the pattern, I’ll know how to anticipate his moves,” he explained.

  “Kal gets up and runs every morning at six a.m.,” Catalina had worked for Kal Sutton going on four years. She’d been shocked to overhear his conversation and couldn’t believe he would betray his country. “He’s married. His wife is from Canada but grew up here in the States. They have two children, both girls, ages seven and nine.”

  “What about health concerns?” he asked.

  “With his family? None as far as I know,” she said. Didn’t mean there weren’t any.

  “Financial concerns?” he asked.

  “Again, nothing that he would share with me. I think his parents-in-law run an exporting business; they moved back to Vancouver sometime while their daughter was in college.” She recognized the track he was on. He was looking for a reason, like medical bills or a sick child, for Kal to suddenly need an infusion of cash. It would make sense and certainly explain some of Kal’s recent behavior. “He’s close with her family so their business could be in trouble but don’t quote me. From all appearances, they look solid.”

  Ideas were already clicking in Catalina’s mind. Could she hack into the system and check out his e-mail? She could get a sense of his relationship with his wife based on the way they communicated with each other. Was Kal in some kind of trouble? Trouble he couldn’t find a way out of? It would make sense as to why he would have a need to sell the app to the highest bidder or someone he knew would pay big money for it.

  “Other than a morning run, does he have any other rituals?” Dane asked. There was a whole lot of curiosity in his tone.

  “He always left the office at six o’clock no matter what else was going on at work. Meetings could run over but he never failed to leave on time,” she remembered. “On the rare occasion we had to stay later, he would return around eight p.m. I always figured he ate dinner with his family so I never asked about it.”

  “Would you classify his behavior as unusual lately?” Dane asked.

  “He definitely kept his office door closed more but then he sometimes did that whenever a new government project was kicking off. He would keep quiet until he could discuss it with us.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what might have been happening while I was on maternity leave.”

  “Did he seem different when you came back to work? Moodier?”

  “Everything seemed different. I figured out it was probably the fact I’d changed so much after having Luke,” she admitted. “The funny thing is that I thought I’d have children someday way in the future when Lucas came home and got his mind right again. And then I lost Lucas before finding out I was pregnant with Luke. I was angry at first that he would never know his son. Lucas always wanted a boy and now he didn’t even know he had a child. Now, I realize it all worked out the way it was supposed to. Lucas would have been even more miserable if he’d known he had a child on the way. Plus, I changed so much with the pregnancy.”

  “In what ways?”

  “Climbing the ladder didn’t appeal to me any longer. I wanted to put down roots somewhere and settle in.” She shook her head. “If I’m completely honest, I wanted to stay home with Luke. He already lost his father and I didn’t want him to be brought up by babysitters. I’d planned to ask Kal about the possibility of working from home at least a few days a week, but I’d been putting it off because he liked everyone at work and in the office. Face time was a big deal with him.”

  “And when you returned to work, you felt different so his changes didn’t strike you as quite as odd as they might have,” he said.

  “He was taking more closed-door meetings,” she admitted. “Like I said. Before. I didn’t think too much about it. I did notice, though. Plus, he did seem different but, again, I chalked it up to me and not him. I think I even went in early one morning to reassure him I was committed to my job because I picked up on a vibe.”