Protector's Honor. Kit Wilkinson

pen behind his ear and took the seat next to her. “Try to relax, Ms. Beaumont. The details will come back to you.” He laid the pad aside and removed his jacket. “You’re shivering. Here. Take this.”

      “Thank you.” She placed the tan sport coat across her chest and tucked her arms underneath.

      “You mentioned the men wanted something from you,” Hines said. “Any idea what?”

      “I don’t—” She shook her head. “I don’t think they said exactly.”

      “But they named your brother?” Greenwood asked.

      “I thought so. But my mind was on Max anyway since he’s been coaching me for the race.”

      “And your brother’s a dentist?”

      She nodded. “Yes. In Richmond.”

      “We’ll need his number and address.”

      “Sure. He’ll get a kick out it if you call him.” She rattled off the numbers while Hines recorded them in his notebook.

      “Hope I didn’t miss much.” Rory appeared at the table. Greenwood and Hines gave him hearty handshakes.

      “We miss your pop,” Greenwood relayed. “The new chief is good, but he’s no James Farrell.” Hines nodded in agreement.

      Tabitha’s heart sank as she watched Rory’s jaw tighten. His dad had been chief of police. No wonder everyone fussed over his absence.

      Stepping around the detectives, he pushed toward her.

      She returned Hines’s coat and checked Rory’s arms for her clothing. But his hands were empty. “You couldn’t get into my room, could you?”

      “No. I got in.” Rory turned his head so that the detectives could hear. “I went up with Terri Patton, the manager. When we got there, the door was already open and most of your things were—I’m sorry, Tabitha—they were missing.”

      Tabitha’s sick stomach and throbbing head intensified. She could barely swallow. “Room two-zero-seven? Are you sure?”

      Rory nodded. “The room was ransacked. Basically cleaned out.” He turned back to the detectives. “Terri’s waiting for you to take a look.”

      “Sure. I think Ms. Beaumont could use a break now, anyway. You two stay here,” Greenwood instructed, as he turned for the inn. Hines followed.

      “My car,” Tabitha whispered as she leaped from her seat.

      The ice pack tumbled to the ground and she hopped on her good leg toward the edge of the tent. The idea of being trapped on that mountain, not able to get home, suffocated her.

      “Ms. Beaumont, don’t trouble yourself. We’ll check it out,” Greenwood called after her.

      Tabitha didn’t stop. She slipped past Rory’s grasp and continued until she reached the grassy area in front of the parking. If someone had taken almost everything from her room, then they could have the keys to her car. She searched through the hubbub of activity, scanning the small gravel lot.

      “Is it there?” Rory’s voice sounded behind her low and stern.

      She shook her head then turned to face the three men who had moved in behind her. Biting her lower lip to hold her tears at bay, she hobbled to the nearest table for support.

      “A blue Toyota 4Runner. North Carolina plates.” She took in a ragged breath. Then to Hines, she gave a full description of her SUV. Afterward, she glanced across the lot again, but the car was gone. She had nothing—no money, no phone, no car. She could feel what little bit of inner strength she still possessed fading away.

      Oh, Lord, why is this happening? Please give me Your strength.

      As the detectives headed up the stairs to the inn, Tabitha hopped back to her table still trying desperately not to cry. Rory moved beside her but didn’t offer his help. She propped her foot up and replaced the ice pack, wishing he’d leave her alone. She felt too aware of him.

      “Shouldn’t you go with them?” she asked. “Since you’re an agent and all that.” Please go, so I can think and not cry in front of you.

      “I’m not going anywhere,” he said. His frown deepened as he took the seat beside her. His eyes, the ones that had warmed her a few minutes earlier, had turned cold.

      He leaned back in the chair. With a slow deliberate move, he folded his arms across his broad chest. “So, Ms. Beaumont, it seems some pretty serious people are after you. I think you should tell me why. I mean, up until now you’ve been fairly calm, but you find out your car’s gone and you kind of lose it. Why is that? Why don’t you tell me what’s in your car that those men want so badly? After all, I have a right to know what I risked my life for this morning. Wouldn’t you agree?”

      “My car? I don’t have anything in my car. I just—” Tabitha stopped midsentence. Why was she explaining herself? Just because he helped her didn’t mean she had to share her deepest fears with him. They had nothing to do with what had happened today. She took in a deep breath. “Are you interrogating me?”

      Rory stretched his neck and glared at the roof of the tent. “Of course not.” His voice came out in a growl. “I don’t interrogate victims.”

      “What a relief.” She attempted a smile, but it was pointless. The man had transformed into cop mode and apparently wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d probed her for answers. Too bad she had none. She chewed on her bottom lip.

      Rory rubbed his eyes and sighed. “Tabitha, I know you’re frightened. More so than you’re letting on and I want to help you. Really, I do. But I can’t if you don’t tell me what you know.”

      Pressing her lips together, Tabitha inhaled slowly, determined to answer him with a steady voice. “I promise you I don’t know what’s going on. I have no idea what those men are after. If I did, I would tell you. I’m just praying my way through this. Otherwise I’m sure I’d be completely hysterical by now.”

      His brow lifted. “I saw Hines’s note about someone named Max. Is he involved in this?”

      Tabitha frowned. She didn’t like the hint of suspicion in his tone. Did he really think she had something to hide? “Is this what you do as a federal officer? Intimidate people who are scared? I’m not impressed.”

      Tears continued to press at the corner of her eyes. She lifted her hand to her forehead to scratch an imaginary itch and shield herself from his hard gaze.

      “Look,” he said, “I’m trying to help. I’m not intending to upset you. This is what I do. I’m an investigator. Now, tell me about Max B. I read that name in the detective’s notes. Is that Bristow? Is that the person you booked a room for? This could be important.”

      Tabitha narrowed her eyes on him. He’d obviously done more than check her room inside the hotel.

      “Come on, Tabitha. Talk to me. Let me help.”

      “Fine,” she mumbled. “Bristow and Max are two different people.”

      “Okay. Let’s start with Max. Who is Max?”

      “Max B. is Max Beaumont. My brother.” Tabitha glanced down. She did not want to repeat the entire story. But when she looked back at Rory, it was obvious that small dose of information wouldn’t hold him. “I thought the men who attacked me mentioned him. But I’m not sure. In fact, the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems. I think maybe I imagined it.”

      Knots tightened in her stomach. Each time she mentioned her brother, she felt more and more like she might be getting him into trouble. But why? No way her brother had anything to do with those thugs on the mountain. That was impossible.

      Rory’s look softened a bit. “How did they mention him?”

      “I don’t know. They wanted something from me. Something Max gave me…I