Sealed with Justice, page 7
“Okay, thanks.” He had no idea why he was grinning like a fool. He’d told Kendra to call him. It wasn’t as if this was the beginning of some sort of personal relationship.
Hudd didn’t do relationships. He preferred living alone, with only Echo for company. The dog was all the companionship he needed.
“So, you’re going to call me when you get into town, right?” Kendra asked. “I wasn’t sure what to tell my dad about my car, so I only mentioned a flat tire, not that all four tires had been slashed.”
“Yes, I’ll call you. We can fill him in on the whole story later. In the meantime, stick close to your dad, and if you see or hear anything suspicious, do not hesitate to call 911.”
“I will. And you be careful too. See you later.” She ended the call without waiting for a response.
He felt bad she felt it necessary to lie to her father. Should they tell him about the danger? Or go with Kendra’s plan of pretending to head back to Portland while going to a motel instead? The latter may be better for her dad in the long run.
The deep rumble of a car engine reached his ears. Not a sedan like Kendra’s but something bigger. Remembering the black SUV that had nearly run them off the road, he moved back from the road, taking coverage in some trees. Ironically, not far from the location the shooter had used.
“Sit,” he whispered to Echo.
The dog sat at his side, looking alert. Hudd was glad the car engine appeared to be coming from the right, his good eye catching the glimmer of sunlight bouncing off the silver frame.
Not a black SUV but a gray one. He didn’t move, watching and waiting for the driver to get closer. The little he could see through the tree branches obscuring his good eye.
The vehicle rolled slowly down the street. Too slowly, well below the posted speed limit. A warning tingle raised the tiny hairs on the back of his head. It seemed as if the driver was looking for something.
Or someone.
Like him. It wasn’t a stretch to believe the shooter had discovered Kendra had returned to her father’s house without him. He was beginning to think the shooter had an inside track of information. He couldn’t accuse anyone without evidence, but if Andrew Barkley was involved, he could easily have his cops be on the lookout for him and Kendra.
As the vehicle drew closer, he could see it wasn’t a police-issued car. But it did have a large spotlight mounted on the dashboard. Not that unusual in the hunting community, many hunters went out to shine deer, flashing them with light at dusk to find where they bedded down for the night.
Seconds later, he dropped closer to the earth, bringing Echo with him. The driver of the gray vehicle had flashed the spotlight at the area where he was hiding.
There wasn’t a doubt in Hudd’s mind that the driver was searching for him. To finish the job he’d botched so far.
He barely breathed, waiting with infinite patience for the SUV to move on. Which it finally did.
Still, he didn’t move. Echo was stretched out beside him, looking up at him with curious dark eyes. Hudd stroked him reassuringly. The dog didn’t mind lying in the dirt any more than he did.
He decided to act as if he were in hostile territory in Afghanistan. He and the rest of their SEAL team had not taken the enemy lightly. The Taliban were very skilled at the art of deception. He stayed where he was, waiting with infinite patience.
A long fifteen minutes later, the gray SUV returned from the opposite direction moving just as slowly as before. He knew the driver, and for all he knew a passenger too, were searching for him. He wished he could see the interior of the car better, but his view was limited.
Yet it wouldn’t surprise him to find out the killer had help.
The light played over his hiding spot again. Hudd held his breath, waiting for the vehicle to move on.
It wasn’t until he heard the louder engine of the tow truck that he pushed up from the ground and signaled for Echo to join him.
He needed to figure out a new plan and soon. Because whoever had killed Zoey was clearly growing impatient.
It was only a matter of time before he struck again.
Chapter Six
Kendra told her father about the vandalism to her car mentioning only one tire, not all four, as being slashed, while keeping the attempts to kill her and Hudson to herself. Her father was on medication for high blood pressure, and she didn’t want to add to his stress. And he would absolutely go off the deep end if he learned about the attempts against her.
Since her mother’s passing seven years ago, she and her dad had grown closer. She couldn’t bear the idea of anything happening to him.
“Why are you rubbing your shoulder?” he asked with a frown.
She immediately dropped her hand. “Oh, I tripped over a rock and fell on it.”
He lifted a brow. “Maybe you should go to the hospital for an X-ray. What if you injured it worse?”
She was very much afraid she had done exactly that. Yet she managed a smile. “I may have to head back to Portland to talk to my surgeon. There isn’t anything a doc here can do for me.”
“You know best, Kendra,” her father conceded.
She didn’t like keeping secrets from him. She managed a weary smile. “Thanks, Dad. I hate to leave so soon after coming home.”
“Well, you’ll still come back to recuperate, right?” He waved a hand. “Best that you get checked out by the experts. And maybe hiking near the creek isn’t a smart idea. You can’t risk hurting yourself again,” he chided. “You were a cheerleader, I’d have thought you could stay on your feet.”
“I know, I guess I’m out of practice.” Her cheerleading days were long ago, and being dragged to the ground by Hudson to avoid being shot wasn’t exactly her fault.
“Are you hungry?” Her dad looked chagrined. “I can order carryout pizza.”
“Dad.” She tried not to roll her eyes. “How many times have I told you that you should watch your salt intake?”
“Bah, Doc says I’m doing fine.” Her dad picked up his cell phone. “I’ll grab your favorite, okay?”
She caved, partially because she wasn’t the greatest cook on the planet and also because Hudson had asked her to stay here to wait. Ordering carryout pizza was the best way to do that. “Sure, but do me a favor and get two pizzas. I ran into Hudson Foster in town and invited him for dinner.”
“Foster?” Her dad frowned. “A bit of a troublemaker, wasn’t he?”
“Not really. He worked two jobs all through high school, and the only time he got into arguments was when people treated his mother poorly.” She felt guilty for being one of the crowd who’d looked down on him at the time. As if his mother’s drinking was his fault. “He’s here in town for a short while, so I invited him over.”
Her father’s frown deepened. “Why would you do that?”
“Because he needs a friend.” She was annoyed with his attitude and propped her hands on her hips. “Since when are you so judgmental? Hudson joined the navy after graduation and became a SEAL. He was injured in his last deployment, losing vision in his left eye. I think he deserves respect for the service he provided to our country.”
“Well, that’s true, and very impressive that he was a SEAL.” Her father eyed her curiously. “Quite the coincidence that he showed up here at the same time you’ve come home to visit.”
She couldn’t deny it was a huge coincidence. But then again, God was the one in charge, and for all she knew, this was part of God’s plan. “Maybe. But I didn’t meet up with him in Portland if that’s what you’re insinuating. We both just happened to come home at the same time.”
“Uh-huh.” She could tell her dad wasn’t convinced. “Okay, I’ll order two pizzas. What time is he coming?”
She stared at her silent phone, willing it to ring. “Hopefully soon.”
“Should I wait to place the order?” her dad asked. “Wouldn’t want to serve your, ah, friend cold pizza.”
“No, go ahead.” She forced a smile. “It will take at least a half an hour to get the food, and I’m sure he’ll be here soon. Oh, and I should mention he has a German shepherd named Echo too.”
Her dad held her gaze for a moment before turning away to place the order. As she listened to him, her phone rang. When she saw Hudson’s name on the screen, her heart did a weird little staccato beat. She quickly answered it, heading toward her room for privacy.
“Hi, Hudson. Everything okay?”
“Mostly. Echo and I will be heading over to your dad’s house soon. Did you tell him anything else?”
She frowned, wondering what he’d meant by being mostly okay. “No, I didn’t want to worry him.”
“Okay.”
“I told my dad you’d be here for dinner, he’s ordering pizza.”
There was a brief pause before Hudson said, “Sounds good, thanks.”
“I promise he won’t grill you about your intentions,” she teased, trying to ease the sudden awkwardness between them.
“I’m not worried. We’ll be there soon.” He disconnected so quickly she winced. Her attempt at humor had failed miserably.
She took a few minutes to wash up in the bathroom and to change her clothes. It was surreal to realize it wasn’t that long ago they were hiding from gunfire in the cave where Zoey’s body had been found twenty years ago.
When the doorbell rang, she hurried over to answer it. Hudson stood there beside Echo, who wagged his tail at seeing her. Hudson’s expression was far less friendly, his features appearing as if carved in stone. “Steve said he’ll have new tires placed on our vehicles first thing tomorrow.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She stood back, waving him in. Her dad rose from his favorite rocker recliner chair. “Hudson, this is my dad, Wayne Pickett. Dad, Hudson Foster and his dog, Echo.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.” Hudson offered his hand.
“Likewise. I hear you served as a Navy SEAL,” her father said, shaking his hand.
“Yes, sir.” Hudson stood straight and tall without trying to hide his injury even though her father was clearly staring at his left eye prosthesis. “Medically discharged a little over three months ago but served twenty years total, so I’ve earned my full pension.”
“Well, we thank you for your service.” Her father gestured toward the sofa where Hudson had slept the night before. “Come in, sit down. The pizza will be here shortly.”
She glanced at Echo. “Do you need to feed the dog first?”
Hudson hesitated, then shook his head. “I took care of that before I headed over.”
She frowned. Hadn’t Steve dropped him off here at the house, the same way he had Kendra? “Will you help me set the table?”
“Uh, sure.” He seemed to realize she wanted to talk to him.
Kendra led the way into the kitchen. In a whisper, she asked, “What happened after I left?”
“A silver SUV drove by searching for us.” He opened cupboards until he found the plates.
She swallowed a gasp. “How do you know they were searching for us?”
“They swept the area with a large spotlight. Not unlike those used by the police.”
A shiver rippled down her spine. Instantly the image of Andrew Barkley’s smirk flashed in her mind. “That’s not good.”
“No.” He set the plates on the table, then looked at her. “I really wish you would go back to Portland.”
“I really wish you’d stop saying that.” She did her best to keep her tone low so her father wouldn’t overhear. “We can talk more later about our next steps, okay? And please don’t worry my dad with all this. He’d only try to get involved.”
Hudson didn’t say anything as she pulled out the silverware. When the table was set, they headed back into the living room.
Kendra followed more slowly, her mind reeling with this latest news. She couldn’t shake the possibility of Andrew being involved in his sister’s murder.
Not that she believed he’d killed her, but maybe he knew more than he’d acknowledged all those years ago.
Which led her back to the football players Andrew hung out with. Including her old boyfriend, Corey Robinson.
She shivered again. The way Corey had sauntered over to talk to her in the café had given her the creeps. She’d wanted nothing to do with the guy, but that alone didn’t make him a murderer. Andrew’s animosity had been strange too. They’d planned to talk to Joe Jamison, but Hudson’s migraine and the tire slashing had put a dent in that plan.
Andrew, Corey, Joe . . . how many others were still around?
They needed to find out, and soon.
She’d been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized her father was giving Hudson the third degree. She inwardly sighed as she sat on the sofa beside him.
“I came to visit my mother’s grave,” Hudson said. “I was deployed overseas at the time of her death and couldn’t make it back.”
“They don’t give you a leave of absence when you lose a parent?” her father demanded.
Hudson shrugged. “If they can, yes. Depends on what is going on. The missions I was involved with are classified.”
“Oh, sure. I understand.” Her dad nodded. “What are your plans now that you’re back? Are you looking to get a job?”
“I’m considering my options,” Hudson said evasively.
The way her father frowned she could tell he wasn’t thrilled with that response.
“You should see how well-trained Echo is,” Kendra interjected, trying to change the subject. “Hudson’s been working with Echo the past few months, and he’s amazing. If I didn’t work twelve-and-a-half-hour shifts, I’d consider getting a dog just like him.”
“He’s a good boy.” Hudson reached down to stroke Echo’s fur. The dog was stretched out at his feet, but the way his large ears swiveled from side to side, she could tell he was on alert for his next command.
The doorbell rang. Kendra jumped up to answer it. “Pizza’s here,” she called.
Hudson rose and took the boxes from her hands, carrying them into the kitchen. Echo was his shadow, and her father soon joined them. The spicy tomato sauce and melted cheese smelled amazing, and her stomach rumbled, reminding her they’d only eaten a PowerBar for lunch.
Moments later, they were seated around the table.
“I—I’d like to say grace.” She glanced at her father. As far as she knew, he still hadn’t attended church since her mother died. “Lord, we ask You to bless this food and the people seated here this evening. We ask for You to continue to watch over us. Amen.”
“Amen,” Hudson echoed.
Her father hesitated, then softly added, “Amen.”
For a moment, tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. Memories of her mother praying before meals were something she’d forgotten about until Olivia had gotten sick. She and her father hadn’t talked much about God and faith in those last few days when Olivia had taken a turn for the worse. Her father had arrived shortly after her daughter had breathed her last.
A good three hours before Don had arrived, smelling of heavy perfume with makeup stains on his shirt. It was all she could do not to punch him in the face.
Thankfully, her father had held her close, giving her the support she’d needed.
Maybe there was a way to return the favor. To help her father return to his faith and the support of their church.
But when she caught Hudson’s serious gaze, she knew that would have to wait until they’d figured out who was trying to kill them.
Hudd had never been good at small talk, even back when he was younger. Kaleb had been the chatty one, while he’d been more content to sit back and watch.
That strategy wasn’t working here. Especially since Wayne Pickett was asking him questions as if he were a potential suitor to his daughter. A situation that would be comical if not for the real threat hanging over them. And if not for the way he was inexplicably attracted to her.
Twenty years ago, he would have jumped at the chance to date Kendra. Now, he knew he needed to keep her at an emotional distance if he was going to succeed in keeping her safe. He’d purposefully asked Steve to take him to a motel so that he could make a point of checking in. He’d gone to his room and taken a few minutes to feed his dog, before sneaking out the back with Echo. He’d taken less-traveled side streets to get to Kendra’s place.
Hopefully no one would know he was there. After the way the SUV had searched for him, he’d felt on edge. As if something bad was about to happen.
As if they hadn’t had enough bad things going on.
Hudd ate quickly, needing to get Kendra alone for a few moments to discuss their next steps. Since they were both without vehicles, the earlier plan of her pretending to head back to Portland wouldn’t work. He figured she’d insist on staying here for the night.
Which wasn’t the worst idea, except that he needed to get some sleep. The four hours he’d gotten last night, along with the intense migraine, had already taken their toll. He couldn’t protect Kendra or her father if he wasn’t functioning at full strength. And he didn’t dare leave the two of them alone.
At least he had Echo. The dog was once again sitting at his feet, waiting patiently for them to finish their pizza. He’d been hungry and could tell by the way Kendra was downing her food that she’d been famished too.
“I ran into Corey and Andrew earlier,” Kendra said, glancing at her father. “I was surprised they were living here. Do you know if any others from my graduating class are still around?”
“No, but I haven’t paid much attention,” her father said. “I knew about Corey and Andrew, though, since they’ve both made big names for themselves.”
“Yeah, Corey mentioned he’s a lawyer, and I know Andrew followed in his father’s footsteps into law enforcement and is now the chief of police.” Kendra finished her slice of pizza and pushed her plate away. “I thought I saw Joe Jamison too.”
“I don’t remember Joe,” Wayne said with a frown. “Why all the questions about your old high school friends? Are you thinking of planning a reunion?”
