Witness Protection Breach Read online

  The flashlight beam glanced off her disheveled clothing and bloodied lip.

  “What happened?”

  “Someone grabbed me from behind and dragged me here.” She brought her hand to her mouth and winced. Her moss green eyes were stark in her pinched face.

  “You all right, Jade? Do you need a ride to the clinic?”

  Her arms still wound tightly around her upper body, she shook her head. Pale threads of hair had escaped her braid. “I’m fine.”

  The sleeve of her black coat had been ripped free of the shoulder seam, evidence of the force of the man’s grip.

  Cruz worked hard to bottle his anger. He suspected what the perp’s likely intent had been, and he was grateful Jade had been spared. She was a good person, a model citizen who’d probably never brushed shoulders with the criminal element. She shouldn’t have to live with this haunting her for weeks, maybe months, to come. He would do everything in his power to run this guy to ground and make sure he didn’t hurt anyone else.

  Karen Kirst was born and raised in East Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. She’s a lifelong lover of books, but it wasn’t until after college that she had the grand idea to write one herself. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom and romance writer. Her favorite pastimes are reading, visiting tearooms and watching romantic comedies.

  Books by Karen Kirst

  Love Inspired Suspense

  Explosive Reunion

  Intensive Care Crisis

  Danger in the Deep

  Forgotten Secrets

  Smoky Mountain Defenders

  Targeted for Revenge

  Smoky Mountain Ambush

  Mountain Murder Investigation

  Witness Protection Breach

  Visit the Author Profile page at LoveInspired.com for more titles.

  Witness Protection Breach

  Karen Kirst

  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

  —1 Peter 5:10

  To my mom, Dorothy Kirst. I couldn’t have asked for a better mom and friend. I love you.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from Abduction Cold Case by Connie Queen

  ONE

  Serenity, Tennessee

  Somewhere in the square, a truck engine backfired, and Jade Harris choked on her steamed vanilla milk. The gunfire-like blast hauled her back in time to the seedy streets of Gainesville, Florida, and a life the US Marshals had erased in exchange for testimony against her drug-trafficker boyfriend. Jenny Hollowell—college cheerleader turned drug addict dropout—had been declared dead.

  She wiped the whipped cream from her nose and resumed her stroll past the festive window displays that lit up the night. Serenity’s town square had been transformed for the holidays, and residents and tourists alike had come out for the Victorian Christmas Extravaganza. What wasn’t to like about twinkling lights, free treats in every shop, hayrides and carolers dressed like Charles Dickens’s characters? She had about twenty minutes to finish her shopping before her five-year-old son, Henry, returned from the hayride with his part-time babysitter, Tessa Reed, and her daughter, Lily.

  She crossed to the central, picturesque square. Wreaths hung on the lampposts. Lights sparkled like fireflies in bushes of various sizes and shapes, and tree trunks had been wrapped with bulbs that winked red and green. There were fewer people here, but those she passed smiled in greeting. Thanks to her job at Serenity’s only vet clinic, she was a familiar face to many in town.

  The brick path took her into an isolated, shadowed copse, and unease pinched her spine. She picked up the pace even as she scolded herself. The path curved, and she almost collided with a stranger. She yelped and jerked away. The man lifted his brows and, sidestepping, continued on his way.

  There’s nothing to fear here, remember?

  Axel Ward was locked away in a Florida prison. What was more, he thought she was dead, taken out by the car bomb he’d had one of his associates plant.

  The path curved again, and she emerged into an open area facing another line of shops. She stopped and inventoried her surroundings. Some people conversed outside the general store, enjoying the fudge and hot cider owner Bill was giving away. Others walked with purpose, shopping bags swinging from their arms. No one paid her any attention. In the distance, near the courthouse and library, she glimpsed a mounted police officer astride his horse. Could’ve been Mason Reed or Cruz Castillo. The shadows made it impossible to discern the horse’s coloring.

  Her irrational fears calmed by the sight, she entered the bookstore and found a book about trains for Henry. After making the purchase, she walked to the spare lot at the end of the complex to stow the gifts in the trunk before meeting up with Tessa and the kids.

  Because she was envisioning Christmas morning and her little boy’s reaction to her gifts, she didn’t perceive the impending danger. By the time she heard the gravel dislodge and smelled the pungent odor of sweat and cigars, it was too late. There wasn’t time to turn and confront whoever was behind her. A man’s wide, callused hand smothered her mouth and nose. His other one clamped around her waist, one muscled arm lifting her off the ground and half propelling, half dragging her between the nearby trees.

  * * *

  Mounted Police Officer Cruz Castillo wasn’t paying attention to the rumbling tractor near the courthouse or the families waiting for the next hayride around town. He had his eye on a group of rowdy teenagers whose playful shoving and taunts threatened to become a real brawl. He arched his back to relieve the stiffness brought on by a day in the saddle. His partner, Renegade, shifted his bulk and flicked his ears as if to say he, too, was ready for the event to end. The harness bells jangled as Cruz nudged the Tennessee Walker in the teenagers’ direction. Sometimes all it took to ward off trouble was the arrival of a thousand-pound horse in official police gear.

  The boys noticed their approach, and the roughhousing began to subside. Cruz’s attention shifted to a pint-size figure off to their left, and his gaze narrowed. A towheaded boy darted in between the cluster of people, his elfin face twisted in worry as he stopped and turned first one way and then another.

  Henry Harris, the only child of his closest neighbor, Jade.

  Although much of Cruz’s police work was accomplished from the saddle, he dismounted and guided Renegade to the boy.

  “Hey, buddy.” Cruz crouched down and touched his shoulder.

  “I can’t find my mommy, Mr. Cruz.”

  Jade must be out of her mind with worry. She was devoted to Henry, attentive and nurturing while being firm in discipline. In that aspect, she reminded Cruz of his own mother.

  Beneath the mop of tousled blond hair, Henry’s big gr
een eyes were shiny, a sure sign waterworks were inevitable if Cruz didn’t act fast.

  “I’ll help you search. Wanna ride with me?”

  The boy sniffled and tilted his head to get a good look at Renegade. “Is he nice like Gunsmoke and Old Bob?”

  Henry had ridden Cruz’s personal horses on several occasions. His pasture abutted Jade’s rental property, and, shortly after they’d moved in, Henry had sneaked in to get a closer look at the horses. Cruz had been inspecting the paddock gate and had spotted him. He’d introduced him to the horses and given him a ride.

  “Renegade’s sweeter than baby’s breath.” Cruz lifted the boy onto his partner’s back and climbed on behind him. He took the reins in hand and curled his arm around Henry’s middle. “Did your mom go for a snack? Or to the bathroom?”

  He shook his head vehemently. “She’s shopping.”

  Henry’s fingers clamped onto Cruz’s wrist, and he was struck by his size and vulnerability. Good thing they’d crossed paths. The event was packed. A long-standing tradition, the Victorian Christmas Extravaganza drew people from surrounding towns, as well as tourists visiting the Smoky Mountains for the holidays.

  Cruz searched the crowd for the petite vet tech, whose long snow-blond locks, pale skin and vivid green eyes made her stand out. “Do you remember what color coat she’s wearing?”

  Henry thought about it. “Uh-uh.”

  “That’s all right.” Cruz signaled Renegade forward. They hadn’t gone far when he heard his name being called. He turned his head and saw his sergeant’s wife, Tessa, hurrying toward them with their four-year-old daughter, Lily, in tow. Her stricken expression crumpled when she spotted the boy.

  “Henry!” Her breath came out in a whoosh. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

  “I have to find my mommy.”

  Beneath the halo of black curls, Tessa’s hazel eyes were troubled when she looked at Cruz. “I took the kids on a hayride. There were a lot of people waiting to take the next ride, and I lost track of Henry. I thought maybe he’d gone to the courthouse steps to meet Jade. She’s not there. I’ve texted and called her several times.”

  He patted Henry’s middle. “Change of plans, buddy. I want you to go with Tessa and Lily.”

  He stiffened. Tessa must’ve noticed the brewing protest, because she placed a hand on Henry’s leg. “Let’s go get those gingerbread cookies we talked about. We’ll pick one out for your mom, too.”

  The starch went out of him, and Cruz lowered the boy into Tessa’s waiting arms.

  “Text me her contact information, will you?”

  Tessa fished her phone from her coat pocket. His phone chimed, and he attempted to reach Jade as he and Renegade passed a group of carolers and entered the square. He used his police radio to alert his sergeant, Mason, and the other unit officers of his plans. While there was no reason to suspect trouble, his partners agreed to join in the search. Raven Ferrer was near the Black Bear Café and would have a look around as soon as she handed off an inebriated customer to a patrol officer. Silver Williams and Mason would start at opposite ends of the square and work their way along the shops.

  From his vantage point, he could see Mason near the Mint Julep Boutique, but the trees in the center blocked his view of the daycare and the shops on the other side. He continued on, looking through the store windows for a glimpse of Jade. Had she decided to duck into Spike’s for a burger? Or gotten caught up in conversation with someone?

  He observed a pair of adult males conversing outside the restrooms, which capped the end of this row. He would ask if they’d seen Jade and, failing that, knock on the women’s restroom door. Next on his list was the temporary parking area roped off behind the shops.

  A shout broke into his thoughts, and Renegade was leaping into action almost before he gave the cue. The men raced into the trees. He couldn’t make out their words, but he sensed their urgency. He activated his heavy-duty flashlight and navigated to the other side. The chaotic scene he encountered in the thickest part of the copse hardened his gut and released a flood of adrenaline through his system.

  There was no denying the woman the two men were helping off the ground was Jade. Her hair gleamed like an iridescent pearl against black sand. The flashlight beam glanced off her disheveled clothing and bloodied lip. Heat flushed through his veins, and his muscles quivered with the need to avenge her. Violence against women and children never failed to trip his temper. He scoured the area for a target to zero in on.

  After relaying his status over the radio, Cruz nudged Renegade closer.

  “What happened, Jade?”

  “Someone grabbed me from behind and dragged me here.” She brought her hand to her mouth and winced. Her moss-green eyes were stark in her pinched face.

  “Officer, we heard the scuffle and came running.” The taller of the two men spoke up. He pointed in the direction of the main road. “The guy took off that way.”

  “Did he speak to you? Communicate his intent?” Cruz asked Jade.

  “No.” She wrapped her arms around herself, and he noticed her knuckles were cut up.

  Mason arrived on his horse, Scout, and radioed the suspect’s possible escape route to the others. The patrol officers would take charge of the search.

  “You all right, Jade?” Mason inquired, his brown eyes somber. “Do you need a ride to the clinic?”

  Her arms still wound tightly around her upper body, she shook her head. Pale threads of hair had escaped her braid. “I’m fine.”

  The sleeve of her black coat had been ripped free of the shoulder seam, evidence of the force of her attacker’s grip.

  “I’ll take these gentlemen’s statements.” Mason gestured to Jade. “Cruz?”

  They’d worked together long enough to develop a sort of nonverbal shorthand. He understood his sergeant’s wishes without being told.

  Cruz dismounted and approached Jade. She dropped her arms and took a step back, lips parted, eyes wide. He stopped, surprised by the reaction. He wasn’t a stranger. He certainly wouldn’t ever hurt her.

  He took his time scooping up her discarded packages and held out his other hand.

  “Walk with me?”

  She glanced at the spot on the ground where she’d been attacked, and a shudder racked her body. Ignoring his hand, she started walking. “I need to get to Henry.”

  Cruz took Renegade’s lead rope and used the flashlight to illuminate their path. “Henry was worried. I found him searching for you. He slipped away from Tessa.”

  “What?” Her stride lengthened. “Where is he now?”

  “With Tessa and Lily.”

  She would’ve burst into a jog if he hadn’t lifted his arm as a barrier. “Hold up a second. I know you’re eager to see him, but I have to get your full statement. More importantly, we need to address your wounds.”

  “But—”

  “You don’t want him to see you like this, Jade.” He lightly touched the rip in her coat sleeve, and she jumped. “We’ll get those scrapes bandaged, okay?”

  Her fingers worried the silver cross dangling from a thin chain at her neck. “Okay.”

  Cruz worked hard to bottle his anger. He suspected what the perp’s likely intent had been, and he was grateful Jade had been spared. He would do everything in his power to run this guy to ground and make sure he didn’t hurt anyone else.

  TWO

  Jade couldn’t stop trembling. This wasn’t the first or even the second time she’d been roughed up, but it had been years since she’d escaped Gainesville’s criminal underbelly. She’d gotten used to people treating her with kindness and respect. She’d gotten soft. The attack had rattled her to the core, a harsh reminder that violence exacted a mental toll. She felt as if the stranger’s hands were still on her, his breath on her neck, his malicious intentions infusing her with dread.

  The hair
that escaped her French braid dangled limply around her face. Her attempts to weave the strands into place failed, so she removed the elastic band and used her fingers to comb out the tangles.

  Cruz crouched beside the folding table closest to the police tent’s entrance and riffled through a duffel bag. It was impossible not to notice the ripple of taut muscles beneath his blue-black uniform shirt. Her gaze moved upward to the tanned, smooth skin above his starched collar. He’d removed his helmet, and his short black hair was damp at the temples, the longer top strands in disarray. He retrieved a navy blue Serenity Mounted Police sweatshirt and brought it to her.

  When they’d entered the white canvas tent, he’d set a metal chair next to the snack table for her. Now he placed a second chair facing her, lowered his body onto it and slid the first aid kit closer to himself.

  She murmured her thanks and, after shucking her torn coat, pulled the sweatshirt over her head. His cologne clung to the material—a sultry, musky scent perfect for a heart-stopping cowboy type. But she couldn’t separate his Texas roots from his current career. Police in general made her antsy, even though she was no longer on the wrong side of the law.

  Cruz Castillo’s profession wasn’t the only reason he got under her skin. Over six feet tall with a strapping build, he was the kind of man you didn’t dismiss or forget, whether in uniform or in his usual shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. His jet-black hair and short goatee enhanced his wide forehead, defined cheekbones and angular jaw. His cocoa-colored eyes were sharp with intelligence and seemed to cut through lies like a laser.

  Twisting the lid off a water bottle, he reached for her hand. She sucked in a breath when his warm, callused fingers wrapped around her palm. A pleasant sensation tickled her skin. The contact was nice.

  His eyes flashed an apology. “I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

  Holding her hand above the grass, he poured water over the busted knuckles and pressed a clean cloth to them. She stared at his bent head, at the hint of wave in his thick locks. This was the closest she’d ever been to him.