Risky Rescue, page 6
part #1 of Finnegan First Responders Series
The coyotes, not so much.
Casting another glance over his shoulder, he went down on the ground and aimed the beam of light along the underside of the car. He felt a bit vulnerable in this position but forced himself to take his time.
He didn’t want to miss anything.
Starting at the front, he slowly worked his way to the rear. That’s when he saw it. He froze, his pulse kicking into high gear.
The intruder had planted a bomb beneath his SUV!
Chapter Five
Voices in the hallway woke Sami from sleep. Her headache was slightly better, but she winced as she rolled out of bed. Sudden movements were not her friend. She couldn’t make out the words from the hallway, but the sense of urgency was impossible to ignore. She opened her door to hear better.
“I need everyone to get in the basement.” Rhy’s voice was tense. “I’ll get my team here ASAP.”
“Okay.” Quinn glanced at her. “Sami? Stay here with Devon, I’ll get Elly.”
“What’s going on?” Sami could tell by the grim expressions on the men’s faces that something was amiss.
Rhy had turned away to make a call, so Aiden answered. “A bomb has been planted beneath Quinn’s SUV.”
“A bomb?” She stared at him, wondering if she’d heard correctly. Then thought about the boat explosion that had brought the Coast Guard to her rescue. Had that been the work of a bomb too?
“Now what?” Elly sounded cranky as she joined them.
“Down to the basement. Hurry.” Quinn ushered them toward the stairs.
“Is there a tornado?” Elly frowned. “I didn’t hear a siren.”
Sami felt sick at knowing danger had followed her to the Finnegan homestead. Quinn led the way down to the main level, then took a second stairwell to the basement.
She’d expected to find a typical dank, concrete type of space, but there was a large section that had been finished off with drywall, paint, furniture, and even a television. Canned ceiling lights let out a soft glow.
“Sit on the sectional,” Quinn said. The three women did as he asked, Devon in the middle between Elly and Sami. Just thinking of Devon being pregnant made Sami feel even worse. “This is not a tornado, Elly. There’s a bomb under the SUV. Rhy’s team is on their way to take care of it; that’s his area of expertise. But I need the three of you to stay down here until we give the all clear, understand?”
“A bomb?” Elly’s eyes were wide. “Who would do something like that?”
Sami felt Quinn’s gaze bore into her, but then he turned away. “Stay put,” he threw over his shoulder before taking the stairs two at a time to return to the main level.
A long silence hung between them in the wake of Quinn’s leaving. Sami braced herself, half expecting to hear the bomb exploding above them.
But thankfully all was quiet. Sami swallowed hard, hoping no one would get hurt by the bomb intended for her.
No one broke the silence, each waiting for news from the Finnegans. But Sami knew what Elly and Devon were probably thinking, and she didn’t blame them.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know this is all my fault. I wish I could remember what I was doing before Quinn found me in Lake Michigan. I assume the way my boat engine exploded was no accident either. As soon as this bomb has been removed, I’ll leave the homestead to go somewhere else. I hate knowing you’re both in danger because of me.”
“This isn’t your fault, Sami.” Devon’s hands were pressed protectively over her abdomen. “Back in January, I was in your shoes. I know all too well what it’s like to be in danger. If not for Rhy’s strength and courage, I wouldn’t be here, much less married and pregnant.” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I love being a Finnegan, and one thing I’ve learned over the past seven months is to never underestimate any of them. I have complete trust in Rhy and his team.”
A shaft of envy hit hard, but Sami ruthlessly pushed it away. It didn’t make sense to wish for the same type of happiness Devon and Rhy shared. Eliminating the danger surrounding them was far more important. Still, Quinn’s handsome features flashed in her mind, making her wonder why she’d broken things off with him.
And why she had the feeling she’d been crazy to do such a thing.
“I agree with Devon, this isn’t your fault, Sami.” Elly’s words were kind, but there was a hint of reservation in her brown eyes. “I trust my brothers to keep us safe.” She hesitated, then added, “I just hope you don’t hurt Quinn again, the way you did two years ago.”
“I don’t remember doing that, but I can promise that’s not my intent.” She turned in her seat so she could face them. “I owe Quinn a debt of gratitude for saving my life. The last thing I want to do is to hurt him.”
Elly bit her lip, then smiled sadly. “I know you won’t intend to hurt him, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen, Sami. I think Quinn still has feelings for you.”
Feelings for her? She frowned. “I don’t think so. Quinn had been extremely reserved around me.”
“Yes, to protect his heart,” Elly said.
“That’s not the impression I get from him. Please know that I’ll be out of the way soon enough.” Although where she’d go and what she would do was unknown. Sami could probably find a low-budget motel to stay under the radar, but for how long?
Until her memory returned? And what if it didn’t?
She couldn’t bear to consider that possibility.
The sound of footsteps overhead caught Sami’s attention. Sitting down here where it was safe didn’t feel right. Quinn had mentioned she was a cop, and the way she constantly reached for a nonexistent weapon on her hip made her realize that must be true. As a cop, she would normally have been upstairs with the others, helping to evacuate the area while the experts disarmed the explosive device.
The footsteps grew louder as Quinn came down the stairs. “Rhy’s team has secured the device. As soon as they get it away from the area, you can come back upstairs.”
“What do they know about it?” Sami asked. “Is it a basic pipe bomb or something more sophisticated?”
Quinn looked at her for a long moment. “More sophisticated than a pipe bomb. Rhy’s team doesn’t have all the specifics yet, but I suspect the goal was to scare me into taking you somewhere else and that the movement of the SUV would trigger the bomb.”
She nodded, having come to the same conclusion. Horrifying to realize what might have happened if Quinn hadn’t been smart enough to check beneath the vehicle. Her gaze darted to Devon and Elly, two innocent women who’d almost gotten hurt because of whatever she was involved in that she couldn’t remember.
Why couldn’t she remember?
Waves of frustration washed over her. Quinn turned and headed back upstairs. It was all she could do not to follow him, wishing she could see the device for herself.
“See? I knew Rhy and his team would take care of this.” Devon’s voice rang with satisfaction.
Sami just nodded, knowing the bomb was just the beginning. Obviously, she couldn’t stay here at the homestead any longer. Quinn wouldn’t allow it, even if she wanted to.
“All clear,” Rhy called down the stairs.
Devon and Elly popped up off the sofa, while Sami followed more slowly. She had nothing but the stash of cash and Elly’s clothes. She’d need a cell phone and a way to get around the city.
As she reached the main level, she saw Rhy talking with a tall stranger. When Elly arrived, the tall dark-haired man turned to smile at her.
Elly smiled shyly in return. “Thanks for all your help, Joe.”
“Ah, of course. Any time.” Joe quickly averted his gaze. “Always here to help the boss.”
“Well, I appreciate you.” Was there a hint of flirtation in Elly’s tone? And why did she care? Elly’s love life was none of her concern.
Sami tugged on Quinn’s arm, drawing him off to the side. “I need help getting some supplies together so I can get out of here.”
Quinn’s expression was grim. “I’ve already arranged to have a rental car waiting for us as the SUV has been compromised. I’ve asked Rhy and Aiden to get my SUV taken away from here too. I need this guy to believe we’re not here so that my family isn’t in danger. I wish I hadn’t brought you in the first place, but there’s nothing I can do to change that.”
The words stung, even though she completely understood where he was coming from. She wasn’t happy about Elly and Devon being in danger either. “Can Rhy have officers stationed here for the next day or two?”
“I have a feeling his team leader, Joe Kingsley, is going to do that regardless. Even if that means going against Rhy’s orders,” Quinn said, glancing at the guy next to Elly. “No one on the team is happy about the bomb. Especially the fact that it was planted here at Rhy’s home.”
His comment put her teeth on edge. “I know this is my fault, Quinn. You don’t have to keep harping on it.”
“It’s not your fault, Sami.” He sighed. “I just wish I understood what we were dealing with.”
“Me too.” She turned away and headed upstairs to change, raking her fingers through her hair, wishing desperately she could remember who hated her enough to kill her.
“Joe will give you and Sami a lift to the rental agency once they’re open,” Rhy said. “In the meantime, we’ll continue keeping watch.”
“I don’t like this, Rhy.” Quinn watched Sami disappear up the staircase. The close call was unnerving. What if he hadn’t thought about checking the SUV? He and Sami would both be dead. He turned his attention back to his brothers. “I wish we could get away from here now.”
“Look, my guys have swarmed the neighborhood and did not find anyone hiding out nearby. It makes sense that our perp would have taken off, not wanting to be anywhere near a bomb set to detonate once you drove away.” Rhy rubbed his jaw. “I think you’re safe to stay for a while. We’ll have breakfast, then come up with a plan.”
“We?” Quinn shook his head. “I won’t drag you and Aiden into this mess. Not when I have no clue what Sami’s involved in. My only plan is to get Sami away from here so that you and the rest of the family are safe.”
“Hey, we’re here for you, Quinn,” Aiden chimed in. “I have one more day off before I have to report in for duty.”
He appreciated his siblings’ willingness to help, despite the threat level. “The only thing I really need is cash. And maybe one more change of clothes for me and Sami. Once we have secured a clean vehicle, I’ll find a safe place to stash her.”
“We’ll happily give you whatever cash you need, clothes too,” Rhy agreed. “But I still think we need a plan. Hiding out is fine, but you also need to prod Sami’s memory.”
“I had hoped being here would help,” Quinn admitted. “Based on the way my SUV was targeted, I don’t dare take her back to my place. The only other option is to revisit the places we visited as a couple.”
“That’s a good place to start,” Aiden said. Glancing at his watch, he added, “And since it’s already going on five in the morning, we may as well make a pot of coffee. I doubt getting more sleep is an option.”
Quinn nodded. A few more hours of shut eye would be nice, but not a necessity. He put a hand on Aiden’s shoulder. “I’m going to help myself to more of your clothes.”
“Go ahead. I’ll give you all the cash I have on hand too.” Aiden was known to be the most fiscally responsible of the Finnegan siblings. The main reason he hadn’t moved into his own place was because he was saving for a house and wanted a sizable down payment. The fact that Aiden was offering his stash of cash was humbling.
“I’ll pay you back,” Quinn said.
A grin creased Aiden’s face. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Quinn chuckled as he headed upstairs. In Aiden’s room he helped himself to a duffel bag, then grabbed more clothes and some toiletries. Then he headed to Sami’s room. Her door was open, and when he peeked inside, the room was empty.
Then he heard the shower running and realized she was in the bathroom. Hopefully not getting her stitches wet. Leaving the duffel near her bedroom door, he made his way back down to the kitchen. Devon and Elly usually did most of the cooking, but he figured he might as well get breakfast started.
Devon was already there, breaking eggs into a bowl. “Hey, Quinn. Coffee is almost ready.”
“Why don’t you let me make breakfast?”
“Thanks, but I’m better with something to do.” She flashed a smile and paused long enough to nibble on a slice of toast. “Morning sickness is a bummer, but keeping busy helps.”
“Ah, sure.” He knew nothing about pregnancy and morning sickness. Other than the first aid he’d learned in the military. His older brother Brady had recently discovered he had a son, who was already six years old. Grace and Brady had recently gotten married, officially making their son, Caleb, the first in the next generation of Finnegans.
Devon and Rhy would soon add to the next generation, too, once their child was born. It made him smile to think about how much fun the cousins would have hanging out together. Which only reminded him of the Callahan cousins—technically second cousins—he and his family hadn’t known about until earlier this year, when Elly and Maddy Callahan had each worked on creating a family tree on a popular DNA website. When their trees had connected, they’d learned they shared the same set of great-grandparents.
DNA? Fingerprints? Instantly his mind darted toward Sami and the boat. He hoped it wasn’t too late to get forensic evidence off the vessel. A clue would go a long way to figuring out what in the world was going on.
He poured himself a cup of coffee, then used his phone to call his commander. Thankfully, he answered. “What is it, Lieutenant? Do you have information from the victim?”
“No, sir, not yet.” Quinn quickly explained about the intruder and the bomb. After a long silence, he added, “Sir, I won’t make it in for my shift today. I need to protect this victim until her memory returns. However, I am wondering about testing her vessel for forensic evidence.”
“We plan to check the boat later today for evidence. What if this woman’s memory doesn’t return? Or if she’s playing you?” Commander Calderone asked.
“I understand your concerns, but she’s obviously in danger. And frankly, so am I. The bomb was placed beneath my SUV, which means whoever has come after Sam—er, Ms. Lopez—knows where I live and what I’m driving.” Quinn knew he was pushing his luck; the military was all about following orders, and the Coast Guard was no exception. “I would like to formally request a five-day emergency leave to ensure my safety and that of my family.”
The long pause made Quinn’s stomach knot with tension. If his lieutenant commander refused his leave, he’d be expected to report for duty as assigned or risk being declared AWOL, absent without leave.
“I’ll grant your request, but I expect you to keep me informed on any intel you receive regarding the boat explosion and whatever activities your victim is involved in,” Commander Calderone finally said. “Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir. And thank you. I appreciate your support.”
“Hrmph,” his commander grunted. “Summer is our busiest time of year, Finnegan. I’ll expect you to put in some extra time once this is over.”
“Yes, sir,” he repeated. That part wasn’t a problem, Quinn had been working extra shifts and volunteering for additional assignments since his breakup with Sami. “I hope it’s okay if I reach out to Cal.”
“Go ahead. And remember, keep me informed!” The last sentence was uttered in a curt tone as if Quinn might have already forgotten his promise.
After a quick call with his younger recruit, who sounded disappointed to be reassigned to someone else, Quinn was satisfied he’d done what was needed for the moment. His nerves were still on edge, and he knew they would likely remain that way until he was able to get Sami away from the homestead and stashed someplace safe.
The sooner the better.
As if conjured from his thoughts, Sami stepped into the kitchen carrying the duffel bag. She was wearing a different set of Elly’s clothes, looking refreshed from her shower. Her dark hair was soft and wavy around her face, the way he liked it.
“I hope you didn’t get your stitches wet,” he said by way of greeting.
“No, Elly gave me a clear bandage thingy to put over the incision. I had to wash my hair; it smelled like fish. She also loaned me more clothes and gave me toiletries too. Your sister is sweet and generous.” Sami frowned. “Time for us to get out of here, Quinn. I hate knowing I put Elly and Devon in danger.”
He was touched by her concern for his family. “We will, after we eat. The car rental place isn’t even open yet. I submitted a rental request online, but there’s no way to get a key until eight o’clock.”
Her frown deepened. “That’s too long to wait. Maybe we should find a place to hang out near the rental car company. I’m sure there’s a café or coffee shop nearby.”
“Oh, please stay,” Devon said from where she was manning a large fry pan. “Breakfast will be ready soon.”
The beeping sound of their alarm being deactivated had Quinn spinning toward the front door. “Get Devon out of here,” he tossed the order to Sami who was already taking Devon by the arm and escorting her to the other room.
Quinn pulled his weapon but then relaxed when the door opened revealing his younger brother Colin. The Finnegans didn’t curse, their mother had made sure of that, but he was tempted to toss a few expletives toward his brother. “What are you doing here at this hour?”
“What’s this about a bomb?” Colin shot back. “I have to hear about that through the radio? You and Rhy don’t bother to call me?”
“Sami, Devon, it’s just Colin,” he called. “I guess you must have been on duty last night?”
“Yeah, Quinn, I was.” Colin scowled. “Sami? As in . . .”
