Attracted to Fire Read online

  Dave watched Lindsay twirl a finger on Victor’s chest. “She’s trying to find a spot of happiness in her unhappy life. I can’t take that away from her right now.”

  “I understand her history.” She moistened her lips. “I respect all I’ve seen you do with Lindsay, but I intend to speak to her with or without your permission.”

  He glared at her, then inhaled. “I gave my word to the vice president that I’d work with all the agents. I’m not going to the mat over a difference of opinion unless I feel her health is threatened.”

  “Thank you. I’d expect nothing less. We’re all on the same side.”

  “She might feel threatened if we’re together. I’ll leave you two alone.” He stood from the poolside chair. “Lindsay, Agent Connors would like to talk to you.”

  Lindsay smiled at Victor and touched his cheek. He took a step back, and she giggled. “We’re having a conversation. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Lindsay stretched out on a lounge chair beside Meghan. “This must be serious since you ran Dave off.”

  Meghan leaned back on a chair beside her. “I’ve been trained to be intimidating.”

  “Ash should have told you I rarely cooperate.”

  “Has your life been at stake before?”

  Lindsay grasped a bottle of sunscreen. “Every time I get high.”

  “That’s of your own choosing.”

  Lindsay squirted the lotion onto her hands. “You sound like Ash packaged in a sweet voice.”

  “We’re trained by the same people.”

  Lindsay stared at the lotion in her palm. For a moment, Meghan saw the frightened little girl from this morning. “What do you want to know?”

  “Who did you meet at a party two weeks ago at Dominic’s?”

  “Friends.”

  “Not a new guy?”

  She glanced out at the pool but not at anyone. “No. I’d have remembered.”

  “You’ve received an e-mail and a text from a guy who says he met you at Dominic’s party and wants to get together. Didn’t leave a name, and the e-mail and text can’t be traced.”

  Lindsay’s lips quivered, and she took a deep breath. “I can’t help you.”

  “I think you can.”

  “The stakes are too high.”

  “Lindsay, if you’re concerned about the ten grand you owe for drugs, we can take care of it and get this guy behind bars.”

  “I wish money could take care of the problem, but it won’t.” Lindsay rubbed the lotion onto her leg. “I’m in too deep. Give it up.”

  “What are you afraid of? Look around you.” Meghan gestured. “Six Secret Service agents are here with the sole purpose of keeping you safe. Have you been dealing?”

  “No. Haven’t gotten that low yet.”

  Meghan wanted to shake her. “I need for you to tell us about this guy so we can stop what’s going on.”

  “All right, Meghan. I didn’t meet anyone at Dominic’s party. It’s a bogus e-mail, and I have no clue why you can’t trace the sender. That’s all you get.”

  Meghan weighed telling her about the bombing. Dave would be furious, but she had to take that chance.

  “Excuse me, but this is for Miss Lindsay.” Pepper stood with a frosted mug in her hand. “A raspberry medicine meal with frozen raspberries.” The woman had impeccable timing.

  “Thank you.” Lindsay reached for the mug. “Gotta do what the doc says if I’m ever to be released from this prison.” She narrowed her gaze at Meghan. “I’m finished answering questions. Oh, and tell Ash I had a wonderful time spending all those silent hours with him last evening. He should have stayed for the show that you got.”

  “Would you like something, Meghan?” Pepper wiped the perspiration beading her forehead. “A cold bottle of water or blackberry iced tea?

  Lindsay toasted Meghan and Pepper. “Never trust a skinny cook.” She took a sip of the raspberry smoothie. “You know, this ranch wouldn’t be such a bad place if it didn’t belong to Scottard Burnette.”

  Chapter 18

  Wednesday morning, Ash felt miserable. He reached for a tissue and sneezed. Once. Twice. Three times. He set the tissue box onto the back-porch railing. At this rate, he’d get nothing done today. He squinted at the horses grazing in the pasture and fought the urge to scratch his eyes. They burned and were swelling shut. The sinus pain coupled with the pounding in his ears made him want to crawl into bed.

  Burnette had a medicine cabinet in the guest half bath filled with every allergy, sinus, and cold remedy possible, but they’d all knock him out for the next two hours, even the non-drowsy kind. But he craved relief.

  Victor walked out onto the porch. “Have you taken anything yet?”

  “No. Thinking about it though. Drinking lots of water, and I popped eight vitamin Cs this morning.”

  Victor chuckled. Over the years he’d experienced Ash’s bouts with allergy problems. Dry climates made them worse. Unfortunately, Ash had never found a product that worked, prescription or over-the-counter. As a kid, he’d taken allergy shots. Hadn’t helped a bit, and he had no intentions of injecting himself with the same stuff causing his problem ever again.

  “Why don’t you take something and sleep it off?”

  “Not on your life. Besides, then I’d be groggy the rest of the day.”

  “If you don’t feel up to it, I’ll take your shift.”

  What a guy. “Thanks, but I need to carry my own weight. Even if half of it is the junk pouring from my head.”

  Victor shrugged and walked inside. No doubt he didn’t want a taste of Ash’s bad mood as the allergy symptoms persisted. They always worsened as the day wore on. By nightfall, he’d be a raving maniac, begging for anything to get him out of his misery.

  A few moments later, the door opened. Who had invaded his suffering? Great, it was Dave, the nutrition expert, aka miracle worker.

  “Heard you were having problems with allergies. Brought you a few things to help battle this dry air.”

  Ash frowned. “Name a product, and I’ve tried it.”

  Dave smiled, an irritating, confident smile, which made Ash feel like he was in grade school again. “I have a tablet here that will help open your sinus passages and clear your eyes.” He opened his palm to reveal half of a gray tablet. “Let it dissolve in your mouth. You’ll begin to feel the difference. And I advise taking sips of water with it. You’ll need it.” He handed him a bottle of water.

  At least Dave warned him about the taste. Ash shook his head. “Trust me, it won’t work.”

  “Then what do you have to lose?”

  He was right. Ash popped the tablet into his mouth. “What’s in it?”

  “Different herbs, one of which is cayenne.”

  “As in the pepper?”

  “The same.”

  Ash reached for the water. “You and Pepper must be related. Nasty. I think I’ve found the cayenne. And this will help? Or is your remedy a practical joke?”

  He grinned. “Keep going. While you’re working on it, I’ll bring you a cup of tea. The taste is more pleasant.”

  Dave disappeared, and Ash considered spitting out the horrible-tasting mess dissolving on his tongue. He startled. The herb was beginning to work. He sensed his head clearing.

  Dave returned with the tea. “How are you doing?”

  “It’s potent.”

  “I agree. When you can’t handle it any longer, swallow it. Then begin the tea.” He unwrapped a soft substance that looked like a piece of candy. “Keep this in your mouth while drinking the tea. It’s ginger.”

  Ash swallowed the tablet and took the ginger. The tea had a menthol aroma. Not bad. Reminded him of being a kid and having his mother rub his chest with Vicks VapoRub. The ginger and the hot drink were definite improvements from the tablet. “What’s in the tea?”

  “Different things. You’ll recognize licorice, ginger, thyme.”

  “And this will make me feel human again?”

/>   “I doubt if any of my remedies can help your personality. But we can always hope there is something in nature that will make you human. If all fails, we can try counseling.”

  “Ouch. Have a little pity on an ailing man.”

  “I’ll try.” Dave sat in a chair beside him and talked about the ranch, the garden, the horses . . .

  Ash startled. “It worked.”

  Dave shook his head. “And you’re surprised?”

  Why hadn’t he noted Dave’s quirky sense of humor? Guess he needed it to work with mentally unstable people. Ash heard a chuckle and turned to see Victor, Wade, and Rick behind them.

  “How long have you guys been there?”

  Victor crossed his arms over his chest. “Since the tea. Are you a new man?”

  Ash frowned but couldn’t resist the grin. “Maybe. Any requests while I’m in a good mood and not blowing my nose?”

  Bob raised his hand from his position on the other side of the pool. “No requests, except I’d like to be next in line for the treatment. I’ve never experienced problems with allergies until we got here. My eyes are killing me. If we were invaded by bad guys, I wouldn’t be able to see to shoot.”

  “You could tackle them.” Wade gave his best defense pose. “I’d run.”

  “Very funny. I’d still have to see who I was chasing.”

  Dave waved at Bob. “Sir, you and any of your cronies are welcome to follow me into Miss Pepper’s kitchen for your own herbal cure. Since Wade’s the football wannabe, he could relieve you for a few minutes.” He picked up Ash’s Diet Coke. “I’ll toss this for you.”

  “I just opened it.”

  “It’s not on the allergy plan.”

  “You have no mercy. Bob, I’ll give you a break. No one should have to go through these allergies.” Ash waved at them. “But it works, and you know how stubborn I can be.”

  None of them answered, and he laughed. Some reputations were hard to live down.

  Chapter 19

  Thursday morning, Ash carried a pot of coffee into the operation room and set it on a small corner table with cups, creamer, and sugar. A platter of warm cinnamon buns scented the air. At last, something Pepper baked that didn’t set his stomach on fire. He closed the door behind him, mindful of Pepper’s tendency to overhear conversations. Not that he didn’t trust her. As Scottard Burnette’s private cook at the ranch, she’d overheard many discussions from high-ranking people within the government. But she had no business listening in on Secret Service conversations.

  “Listen up. I called this meeting so Meghan and Bob could be here before taking over their shift. I’ll talk to Victor and Rick later. I appreciate all of you and your dedication to our assignment. Yes, I agree it gets boring, but we’re managing okay.” Ash poured Bob a cup of coffee and handed it to him.

  “Media got wind of President Claredon’s medical report before an official White House statement was made. The president is stepping down. His cancer has spread to his brain, and he’s been given six months. In short, the Shield is being sworn in as of 0900 ET.”

  Bob stirred two spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee. “Does our situation change with Lindsay? Will we be reassigned?”

  “Nothing’s changed at this point. I’ll let you know as soon as I learn about a new plan. As you’d expect, the security here will ramp up now that our protectee is the president’s daughter. Media are scrambling as usual to find her location, all the while bashing Claredon for waiting so long to step down from the presidency. They are also working overtime to discredit the VP, using Lindsay as leverage. Nothing we haven’t heard before.”

  “How long before they discover where she is?”

  Ash understood Bob was as concerned as the rest of them about Lindsay’s safety. The media’s interference meant more problems for all of them. “We’ve done all we can to keep her whereabouts secret, but we have civilians in on this too. The county sheriff has given us his support, but we have no guarantee that our position won’t leak to the public. The First Lady wanted to visit Lindsay next week, but I doubt if that will happen now. I’ve heard Lindsay’s sister, Kelli, wants to see her, but that means another risk of exposure. With the VP taking over the country, all those associated with him are high profile. They’d be followed for certain, and the Dancin’ Dust would then be another hot spot on the news.”

  He could almost hear the wheels turning in the agents’ heads.

  Ash poured a cup of coffee for Wade then Meghan. “Meghan, you have more patience than I do with Lindsay, and I see you’re securing her confidence. Bob, I admire the way you use humor to keep me from killing Pepper. Wade, you’ve done a dynamic job of showing the Leonards that we’re not the enemy. I’ve seen you playing horseshoes and engaging them in conversation while enduring this relentless heat. Saw a good show of archery the other night too. We’d all be lost without Victor’s computer skills, and Rick’s a complement to the team.”

  Agents offered thanks, but Ash waved away their gratitude. “All of you follow the rules, and that makes us a good team. I hope we’re able to stay together, but that’s our new president’s decision.” He wondered if he’d be promoted to the president’s protective detail. What if Meghan . . . ? He pushed the thought aside to continue business.

  “As the Shield takes his oath of office this morning, I’d like to think our country will rally behind him.” He huffed. “I’d also like to think we could get our hands on Lindsay’s stalkers. Any questions or comments?”

  “I’d like permission to tell Lindsay about the car bombing.” Meghan reached for half a cinnamon bun. “I believe it falls under our jurisdiction as a safety issue, although Dave may not approve. I want her to know about the man killed at her parents’ home too. With your permission, sir, I’d like to inform her about her father’s new role. She may want to call and congratulate him. A definite step in the right direction for reconciliation with her parents.”

  Ash had been thinking along those same lines. “Go ahead. I’ll check with you later about her response. Uh . . . don’t tell Dave what you’re doing. He’ll probably want to fill her full of vitamin C first.”

  Chuckles rose from the group, easing the tension if only for a moment. Ash knew the men had varied responses about being reassigned—and most of them wanted as far away from the Dancin’ Dust as possible.

  Minutes later, in the empty operation room, Ash savored the coffee and a mean cinnamon bun dripping with frosting. What was he doing thinking about food when he wanted a shot at the presidential protection detail? The VPPD had been a possible step up in his career, an opportunity to eventually be a part of the presidential team, but now the Shield would be in charge.

  He sighed. His responsibilities and priorities were right here on the ranch, keeping Lindsay safe. If a promotion was in his future, it would happen after he completed this assignment. He didn’t want to think of the media showing up. The headaches of dealing with reporters trying to crawl all over the ranch would be miserable.

  Another thought of higher priority kept his mind occupied. The threats to Lindsay had him baffled. The Shield’s role in leading the country, the bombing, the shooting, and Lindsay’s untraceable communications were a part of the same conspiracy. Warrington indicated he felt the same way. Ash hated sitting on a dirt ranch in West Texas while someone else worked the clues.

  Once Ash dismissed the team, Meghan walked up the stairs to relieve Victor. Exhaustion circled his eyes.

  “Long night?”

  Victor walked to the stairs and sat. “Humor me for a moment.”

  Meghan handed him a cup of coffee. Black, like he preferred. “I’m fresh out of jokes. What’s going on?”

  “The worst. Lindsay cried for hours. Started about 0200. Said the demons were laughing at her. Begged me to help her leave the ranch. Offered me money. Stood in the doorway wearing nothing but a tear-stained face.” He lifted a bruised cheek, a circle about a half inch in diameter. “Used her stiletto to make a point.”

&n
bsp; Meghan groaned. “Did Dave intervene?”

  “He tried to calm her but couldn’t get anywhere. Carla did her soothing routine, but Lindsay was hysterical. At one point Dave asked her if she wanted you.”

  “What did she say?”

  “I don’t want to repeat it. Dave gave her a couple of supplements called serenagen, and I think it helped.”

  Meghan nodded. “I’m familiar with that herb. It’s used to help alleviate stress. I can’t believe I didn’t hear her.”

  “Volume wasn’t the issue. I’ve seen her this way before. So has Ash. But I can’t remember her condition ever being this . . . well, desperate and pitiful.”

  Like she was spooked. Meghan wanted to research withdrawal symptoms. She thought she had a working knowledge of how a body reacted when denied drugs and alcohol. But no two cases were alike. Lindsay had exhibited the confusion, inability to sleep, tremors, and it looked like tonight, she’d experienced more hallucinations.

  “I’ll try talking to her. At times, I’ve been able to get through. One minute she responds logically, and the next she’s angry and refuses to talk. Everything has to be on her terms. According to Dave, she’s providing all the right answers to get out of here and nothing we can use to keep her safe.” Meghan didn’t mention Lindsay’s comment about enjoying the peacefulness of the ranch, if only it didn’t belong to Scottard Burnette. Of course, everything connected to her family sent her into a tantrum.

  “Good luck. She trashed her room. Thought I’d warn you. Better duck, too. She’s throwing everything she can get her hands on.”

  “I’ll be all right.” She started to add she’d been through this before with another addict, but that part of her life was personal.

  Victor glanced at the door. “You’ve gotten farther with her than Ash or I ever did. Must be the female bonding thing.”

  “Who knows? I just want to see her healthy and using Dave’s tools to stay clean. Oh, Ash wants to see you.”

  “How bad?”

  “Not bad. Just more for us to consider.”

  “You’re no help at all, Meghan.” He stood from the stairs and finished his coffee. “Did you hear about the guy who used to skate ten miles a day, then he found a shortcut?”