Falling in Love on Willow Creek by Debbie Mason

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The moment Gabe turned his SUV onto Willow Creek Road, Sadie had to stop herself from jumping out and running home. The fear that had held her hostage for the past several hours disappeared knowing that within minutes she’d be with Chase and her daughter. This nightmare of a morning would be behind them.

Except it hadn’t all been a nightmare. There were moments of exquisite beauty, moments she’d cherish for the rest of her life. Like waking up to Chase sleeping beside her with Michaela between them and Finn stretched out on the end of the bed. It had been a snapshot of the family she’d always wanted and dreamed of.

When her heart was breaking over Drew’s rejection of Michaela, Chase had put it back together again with his declaration that he was her father in every way that mattered. Sadie hadn’t thought it possible but his love for her and her daughter had somehow healed the lingering hurt of her mother’s rejection and abandonment—a hurt that Sadie acknowledged had played a hand in her poor choices of the past. She hadn’t felt worthy of the love of a good man or trusted that every man she met didn’t have an agenda. Until the gorgeous man throwing open the cottage’s door had come into her life.

“Sadie, wait—” Gabe began.

She jumped out of the SUV before Gabe had pulled completely to a stop, running around the front of the vehicle to throw herself into Chase’s arms. He held her in his strong, protective embrace, kissing her with a passion that matched her own.

Gabe cleared his throat, reminding them that they weren’t alone. Chase eased her away from him to search her face and then her arms. His jaw hardened as he took her hands in his and examined the thin red lines encircling her wrists.

She squeezed his hands. “I’m okay. Thanks to Gabe, and Eden. She never left my side.”

Chase released her hands to put his arm around her shoulders. “Thanks for everything you did, Gabe. You have good people working for you.”

“They were impressed with you too.”

“Yeah, I didn’t have much choice but to tell them I was a special agent when I brought Drew in. He would have blown my cover as soon as I took the gag out of his mouth.”

Sadie blinked. “You gagged Drew?”

“He’s lucky that’s all I did to him.”

“You sure that’s all you did?” Gabe’s lips twitched as if he were holding back a grin.

“Okay, so I brought him to town in the trunk.” He looked at Sadie and shrugged. “I didn’t want him anywhere near Michaela. Even the trunk was too close. I brought her to your grandmother’s. I know you want to see her, honey, but right now it’s the safest place for her. Colin’s there, and so is Finn.” He glanced at Gabe. “We have to keep Drew locked down until this is over.”

“I can hold him for forty-eight hours but even that will be pushing it.”

“If we have to, I can bring charges against him to keep him there. Legit charges,” he said at Gabe’s raised eyebrow. “But right now, he’s the least of our concerns. There’s been an uptick on Google searches of Michael Knight and Nathan Black. I’m worried Nate’s cover has been blown. I haven’t been able to reach him.”

“I’ll get Hunter and Boyd to head over the mountain to check out what’s going on at the Whiteside Mountain Gang’s camp. But the searches aren’t our only problem. The sheriff wasn’t happy the DA cut Sadie loose. You have friends in some pretty high places to get her off that fast. But it won’t deter the sheriff for long. Best guess, we have twenty-four hours to get something on him that will stick or he’ll come after Sadie again. And, if I’m not mistaken, you.”

Gabe smiled, looking happier than he should, given the news he’d just delivered. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Chase. “As tough as this morning was for you and Sadie, this just might make it worth it.”

“What is it?” Sadie glanced at what looked like a handwritten note.

“Just before you were released, the dispatcher asked me if I wanted a coffee. I was about to say no, but something about the way she was looking at me made me say yes. When she handed me the coffee, she slipped me that note.”

“Don’t trust the sheriff or his deputies. They’re dirty. Meet me tonight at Dot’s Diner at nine o’clock,” Chase read, and then looked at Gabe. “Are you sure she’s not setting you up?”

“She could be, but I don’t think so. She was scared. And it wasn’t just her. I could feel the desperation in the air as soon as I walked into the station. If she does have intel that can bring the sheriff and his deputies down, I think others will follow her lead.”

“Make sure you take backup just in case,” Chase said.

“You sound like my wife.” Gabe smiled, then grimaced. “Who is not happy with me at the moment. She knows something’s up. Do me a favor, Sadie, don’t take her calls.”

“I can’t do that, Gabe. You know what Highland Falls is like. She’s probably heard that I was arrested. She’ll be worried.”

“Yeah, you’re right. And it’s gotten a whole lot worse since Spill the Tea opened. Just keep your conversation brief. Don’t give her a chance to question you. The woman is too smart for her own good, and mine.”

“I’ll keep it short. I’ll pretend Chase and I are busy making up for lost time.” She grinned up at him.

“On that note, it’s time for me to say goodbye.” Gabe shook Chase’s hand and then pulled Sadie in for a hug. “You did great today. Stay safe and keep an eye out for the sheriff and his deputies.” He walked to his SUV and opened the door. “Call if you need me. One of my officers will be here to cover you within the next twenty minutes.”

As Gabe’s SUV faded from view, Chase said, “I wish we had time to make up for the last three hours you were out of my sight, but we don’t. We need to find your brother’s stash in case Gabe’s lead doesn’t pan out.”

“We’ll be together. That’s all that really matters.”

He took her hands and raised them to his lips, kissing the abraded skin that circled her wrists. “You’ve ruined me for any other partner, Sadie Gray.”

An hour later, Sadie stood at the edge of Deadman’s Gorge with her partner looking on. He wasn’t as happy with her now as he had been earlier.

“Are you crazy? Get away from there. It’s not safe.”

“It just looks that way from where you’re standing.” She put her hands on her hips. “You told me you weren’t afraid of heights.”

“I’m not, but I’m also not stupid. You’re standing on shale. It’s unstable.”

“Elijah and I came here all the time when we were younger, and nothing ever happened to us.”

“Your parents were idiots.” He walked carefully to her side. “Sorry, but they were.” He looked around. “I don’t like this. We’re out in the open.”

“I know. But it’ll just take me a minute to check if he hid his stash here.” She stretched out carefully on her stomach, ignoring Chase’s muttered curse. He fisted his hand in her T-shirt but otherwise didn’t try to stop her. She reached over the ledge, feeling around in the deep crevice between two boulders. She had just gotten her hand in as deep as it could go when, around the other side of the gorge to the right of them, there was a mini-rockslide.

“We need to get out of here, and we need to get out of here now,” Chase whispered, yanking her to her feet by the back of her T-shirt without warning.

She was about to give him crap when she realized the urgency. The rockslide hadn’t been a natural occurrence. Someone was on the other side. Chase grabbed her hand and ran, bending over to pick up their packs without stopping.

As they reached the tree line, Sadie glanced over her shoulder and blew out a breath, tugging on Chase’s hand to get him to stop. “It’s okay. It’s not a someone. It’s a something.”

He stopped and turned, shielding his eyes with his hand. “Is that a mountain lion?”

“No, it’s a bobcat.”

“Good. I like the sound of a cat more than a lion.” His eyes narrowed. “You’ve scraped your arm.” He opened his pack, taking out a first aid kit. “Sit on the rock, and I’ll clean the wound.”

She didn’t think it was necessary but did as he directed. She could use a rest. She’d barely been able to keep up with him, and it had nothing to do with his longer legs. “How are you not even winded after running that fast and that far?”

“I run every day, or I did when I was in DC.” He crouched in front of her with a disinfectant wipe in his hand. “It’ll sting a bit.”

“Not any worse than coming up empty-handed again does. I don’t know where else to look.”

He gently dabbed at the scrape. “We’ll go back to the cottage, get something more substantial to eat than a couple of granola bars and fruit, and regroup. Something might come to—”

“The cottage. We haven’t searched the grounds. It’s the only place I can think of that we haven’t looked.”

He wrapped the used wipe in plastic and returned it to the first aid kit. “Don’t worry about it,” he said as he placed the kit in his backpack. “It’s not the end of the world if we don’t find it.” He told her about Nate and the young man who wanted out of the Whiteside Mountain Gang and then reminded her about Gabe’s meeting with the dispatcher tonight.

“You’re worried about Nate.”

“I am. Someone’s looking into us, and if the sheriff and his deputies didn’t have a problem taking out Brodie, they won’t have a problem taking out Nate.”

“Or you.”

“Nate doesn’t have a partner looking after his back. I do.” He smiled and helped her to her feet. “Now let’s go find your brother’s stash. We can celebrate with tiramisu later.”

“Nice. Did you get lasagna or pizza?” Her stomach growled in anticipation.

He grinned. “Neither. I’m making it my business to expand your very limited palate.”

“Ugh, don’t tell me you ordered something with smelts or snails.” She wrinkled her nose.

“Trust me, you’ll love it.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I also brought Finn and Michaela to see Nessa.”

“That was sweet of you,” she said as they took the shortcut through the woods to the cottage.

“I have to admit I had an ulterior motive. Now that I think about it, I probably should have asked you. Are you interested in keeping Finn?”

She pressed a hand to her chest. “I didn’t even think about Nessa wanting him back once she’s finished rehab. Does she?”

“She did. But for a price and visiting rights, she agreed to let us adopt him. Zia Maria put in a good word for us, but Michaela was the clincher. Nessa thinks every child needs a dog.”

“So we’re the proud owners of a kleptomaniac.” She laughed at the face he made. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll grow out of it.”

“I’m not so—” He broke off, putting out his arm to hold her back.

“What’s wrong?”

“I heard something. It sounded like a door closing.” He lowered his arm, retrieving his gun from the waistband of his jeans. “Stay here. I’ll check it out.”

“Wait,” she whispered, grabbing his arm. “If you think someone’s at the cottage, I’m coming with you.” Sound traveled, and other than the cottage, there was nothing around them for miles.

“It’s safer for you to stay—”

“What if I was wrong? What if it wasn’t a bobcat? I’m safer with you.”

He looked around, then nodded. “Okay. But stay behind me.”

They continued walking through the trees in silence. Every few minutes, Sadie glanced behind her. As they reached the edge of the meadow, they had a clear view of the cottage.

“Someone’s been inside, and Gabe’s officer isn’t here.”

“How do you know someone’s been inside?” she whispered.

“I wedged a piece of yellow paper at the base of the door. It’s on the front lawn.” He scanned the yard. “But they’re not in the house any longer.” He nodded at the weeping willow tree.

Someone was hiding behind it. Someone who was wearing a familiar camo jacket.

“Elijah!” She raced past Chase, running through the meadow.

“Damn it, Sadie.” Chase grabbed her before she reached the gravel road, shoving her behind him.

Her brother came out from behind the tree with his hands up, the fingers of his right hand closed around her gun in a white-knuckled grip. He was unkempt and looked exhausted, and defeated. “I know who you are. Let my sister go. It’s me you want, not her. She had nothing to do with it.” His gaze moved from Chase to Sadie. “I’m sorry, Sis. I never meant for this to blow back on you.”

“You heard that they arrested me, didn’t you? That’s why you’re here.” And this is the reason she’d gone to him that night in the woods. Deep down she’d known that the baby brother she loved was still inside there somewhere.

“Yeah, and I know he’s FBI.” His face hardened. “I’m sorry, Sis. But he’s been playing you to get to me.”

“Elijah, he’s the reason you’re still alive. It wasn’t me covering you from up on Lover’s Leap. It was Chase.”

He lowered his hands, looking confused. “Why?”

“Before I tell you,” Chase said, “I need to know if you’re the reason we no longer have a Highland Falls police officer sitting on the cottage.”

He nodded. “I put out an all-points bulletin on their radio. Pretty sure they’re all on Honeysuckle Road right now looking for two armed and dangerous men who robbed a convenience store.”

Chase pulled out his phone, no doubt to text Gabe, telling him to call off the search. “I also need you to confirm that you didn’t blow my cover or my partner’s to anyone else.”

“You were the one doing the searches on Chase and Nate?” Sadie asked.

“Of course I was, but someone else must be too if you picked up on it.”

She sighed. “It’s true. He is that good.”

A fleeting smile crossed her brother’s face before he returned his attention to Chase. “So why am I supposed to believe you’re not playing my sister to get to me?”

“First, because I’m in love with her, and she’s believed in your innocence all along. And second, it’s become evident that the sheriff and his deputies were behind Brodie’s murder and that they’ve used Ms. Howard against you.”

“What are you talking about? Payton wouldn’t turn on me. She loves me. We’re having a baby together.”

“Chase could have handled that better, but it’s true.” She glanced at Chase. He shrugged, and then he lowered his arm to let her go to her brother. But he didn’t lower his gun and remained very much on alert.

“I’m sorry.” She hugged her brother before stepping back to show him the photos on her phone. She explained everything they had uncovered that night at Payton’s and what had come to light in the interim.

Her brother stared at the screen. When he finally lifted his gaze from her phone, he looked heartbroken. “So there never was a baby?”

“I’m sorry, Elijah, but I honestly don’t think that there was.” She didn’t tell him it was for the best, not now. He wasn’t ready to hear it.

He sat down on the rock under the willow tree and buried his face in his hands, just like he used to as a little boy when he was upset or things didn’t work out…

“Elijah, I think I know where you buried the drugs and your phone.”

He scrubbed his face and looked at her. “Where?”

“There.” She pointed at the rock.

It took them less than fifteen minutes to discover that she was right, but they didn’t have time to celebrate.

The sheriff stepped out from behind the cottage with a menacing grin, his gun in his hand and his black cowboy hat pushed back from his forehead. “Now what do we have here?” He slanted a glance at Chase. “Drop your weapon or I’ll shoot your girlfriend and then I’ll shoot you.”

Chase slowly lowered the gun, but the sheriff was distracted by her brother and didn’t notice that Chase hadn’t straightened. His fingers were a hair’s breadth away from his weapon. Elijah dove for the gun behind him on the ground.

The sheriff scoffed. “We know your sister is the only one who knows how to shoot so don’t even bother trying to play—”

Chase shot the gun from the sheriff’s hand. The man bellowed, clutching his bleeding fingers. “You’ll pay for that, you son of—”

Chase walked over and kicked the sheriff’s gun out of reach. Then he pulled his wallet from his back pocket, flipping it open to show the sheriff his badge. “What was that you were saying?”

The sheriff went pale, and Chase gave him a lethal smile. “I thought that might shut you up.” He glanced back at her. “Sadie, grab his gun and then call Gabe. Tell him to come in quiet. Elijah, pick up your sister’s gun.”

She didn’t understand why he was acting like they still had something to worry about, and then it came to her. Dwight and his partner might not be far behind.