Casting the Dice Read online

  Take it easy. Try again.

  The green light finally glowed, and he charged inside.

  Annie sat on the edge of the bed already dressed and pushing her feet into her tennis shoes. He reached past her to unplug and stow his cell.

  She gasped. “Where were you?”

  “We need to leave.” He grabbed his car keys and stuck his Glock in his waistband.

  “What did you—”

  He pressed a finger to his lips and tugged her to the door.

  “I have to tie my shoes.” She slipped her fingers loose.

  “Hurry.” His pulse revved. If the men had found what they needed in the elevator bay, he and Annie had mere seconds to escape. “Danger.”

  She laced her shoes while he scanned the hallway. The men hadn’t reappeared, which must mean they’d gone to the lobby. He squeezed Annie’s hand. “We need to go to the car.”

  They stepped out of the room. She took off. He closed their door and dashed after her.

  “Oh, no.” Her face scrunched. “My aids.”

  He spun, ready to go back, but male voices stopped him, male voices getting louder every second.

  Hal shook his head and signed, “No.”

  He pulled her to the garage entrance. The exit door wheezed open, and he grimaced.

  “You hear that? Better find out where it came from,” the familiar voice said. “We don’t want to get caught.”

  The men’s voices sounded louder. Closer. Hal pulled Annie through the door and raced into the aisle.

  A spotlight shone over the exit behind them, illuminating the cars, pickups, and sport utilities parked in every available spot.

  “Our car’s the other way,” Annie whispered.

  Right. He’d parked on the exposed side, six cars away. “Not good.” He signed, “No.”

  The door opener hissed behind them. He pulled her down between two cars. She looked a question at him, and he tapped his ear to indicate he listened.

  Oil drips on the parking pads soured the clammy night. Sweat dripped down his face. He swiped a hand under his bristly chin and watched the aisle. Two shadows stretched from the entrance where they’d been standing twenty seconds ago.

  She mouthed something to him and raised her eyebrows. He shook his head. They’d talk once they got out of this situation. If they got out of this situation.

  “How do you know they’re in here?”

  Hal gestured to Annie and duckwalked toward the wall. They’d be better hidden behind the car hoods while they worked their way to the up-ramp at the end of the aisle.

  “They left the room in a hurry,” the smooth voice answered. “We didn’t pass them, and they have to be here somewhere.”

  The driver of a compact had left only inches between his grill and the concrete wall. Hal took Annie’s hand and squeezed through the gap moments before footfalls neared.

  The stocky man stood a car’s length away. He pivoted their way, and light flashed on his pistol barrel.

  Hal balanced on his heels, hunkering lower. The hard edge of his cell bit into his thigh, but he couldn’t chance shifting to pull it out. His boot might scrape, giving away his position.

  “We know you’re in here.” The words ricocheted off the walls.

  Hal and Annie exchanged looks. Bluff, he mouthed.

  “Give it up,” The more confident voice called, and Hal caught the shadow of another pistol. “There’s no place to hide.”

  “What kind of car are we looking for?”

  “Don’t know.” The shadow in the aisle disappeared. Footsteps receded. Hal rose and caught glimpses of both moving toward the opposite end of the aisle.

  They needed to get off this floor. Annie watched him, and he pantomimed climbing stairs. She beckoned for him to follow her.

  They crept past cars and wrenched open the stairs exit, gaining the first landing in seconds. Annie pressed a hand to her chest and looked over her shoulder. “We lost them.”

  The door above crashed open. Shots rang out.

  “Hurry.” Hal took her hand and dashed to the next parking level.

  More shots exploded behind them. He dived around a sedan, pulling Annie with him, and peered beneath the cars.

  Black running shoes appeared three cars away on the other side of a pickup truck. “We’ve got you covered.”

  The ramp from the first floor entered this level at the farther end. The up ramp was closer, but they’d be exposed if they made a run for it. He couldn’t count on the shooter missing again.

  Annie pointed to the street façade and bolted around the hood of the car on the left. She led him past two more vehicles to the end of the row. He wanted to pull his cell now, but the low murmur of voices told him the men would overhear.

  A neon sign on the street shone through the slats of the fancy grill on the exterior wall. She mimicked climbing, hand over hand.

  “No,” he signed. Climbing was her thing. Not his. He repeated the sign. “No, no, no.”

  “They’re in here. Take the left side,” the familiar voice said.

  Footsteps approached. Hell. Annie watched him closely. This was not a good idea, but he spelled, “O.K.”

  She mimed throwing sideways before slapping her coin purse into his hand.

  Good idea. They could create a distraction. He pitched the wallet under four vehicles. The snap on the pouch popped open, and coins spilled across the concrete.

  “What was that?”

  “Find out.”

  Their pursuers crept through the cars searching, and Annie sprinted to the wall and swung onto the grill with ease.

  He raced after her, jumped and jammed his fingers through a slat.

  One boot slipped. He glimpsed the sidewalk a very long way down. His lungs stopped working. Somehow, he managed to get his foot back in place and pull his cell. “Punch in 911.”

  15

  The scents of frying oil and fresh brewed coffee wafted to Annie the instant she opened her door at the curb of one of the French Market’s all-night coffee stands.

  “For someone who has no living relatives—that I know of—it’s ironic those gunmen found out our room number by pretending to be mine.”

  The cops had arrived within minutes of Hal’s call, and not a moment too soon. The gunmen had continued to search between cars and had stopped right in front of the grill. They would have only needed to turn their heads to discover her and Hal’s hiding place, but the sirens had sent them rushing to the stairs.

  They’d escaped, probably with the help of a third person in a getaway car, and remained at large. While searching for them, the police had taken her and Hal’s statements and asked them to meet the sketch artist later today.

  She rolled her shoulders, exhaustion hovering like the smoke from the aquarium explosion. Ornery contractors, car chases, and men wielding guns were exactly the kinds of bad consequences her mother would have predicted if she’d been alive to issue warnings. Scattered in there were some wonderful moments, though, things she could never have imagined ever happening to her—things that almost all involved Hal Guidry.

  She could probably spend a lifetime dissecting all the ways what they’d shared had been so good. But like a bright, shiny diamond, she didn’t dare examine last night too closely for fear it would turn out to be fake.

  A week ago, she would have thought a guy with normal hearing would never want to associate with someone with her problems. But Hal told her the truth, even when it was brutal, and had supported her when she’d told him how Darryl had treated her. He’d listened and valued her suggestions—even if they might involve dangerous risks.

  With dawn rapidly becoming day, she had no time now to think about Hal—or a relationship. They needed a plan of action.

  He joined her at the entrance of the coffee stand and inside pulled a chair out for her. “This place always reminds me of those theater dressing rooms in old movies.”

  “I can see why.” A wooden arch studded with bare light bulbs spanned a marb
le counter in the middle of the small space. A yawn struck, and she covered her mouth. “Sorry. I really need this coffee.”

  “I knew what you needed last night.” He gave her dark look.

  Warmth swirled through her even though cold air blasted her from ceiling vents. She smiled. It would be nice if…

  The waiter, white apron tied at his waist, placed glasses of cold water on their table and took their order. Within minutes the server had filled their cups simultaneously from two big aluminum kettles, one for hot milk, one for coffee. He delivered their coffee and a plate of freshly fried beignets.

  The aromatic steam rising from her cup slapped her senses awake.

  “You want powdered sugar, right?” Annie reached for the tin shaker next to the condiments. Hal gave her a thumbs-up, and she sprinkled the doughnuts, filling the air with heavy sweetness.

  Hal’s cup clattered against the saucer, the noise sharp in the subdued atmosphere. “Why were you already dressed after I left?” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you were.”

  “I woke up. When you weren’t in the room, I got worried. Where did you go?”

  “To the ice machine.” He touched her cheek. “You worried about me?”

  She gaped at him. “Of course, I worried.”

  “I’m flattered.” He beamed her a smile.

  “I saw you take your gun. Why didn’t you use it?”

  “That would have escalated the situation.” He wrapped a hand around his cup and sipped. “I am not like those impulsive men who killed your father.”

  “I didn’t say you were.”

  Dark brows arched. “You were thinking it.”

  She crossed her arms. “How do you know what I was thinking?”

  He took a beignet. “Do you know how to shoot a pistol?”

  She frowned. “Won’t you be around when I need a trigger man?”

  “You never know.” His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Anything could happen.”

  The thought of facing another emergency without Hal chilled her straight to her bones. Time to change the subject. “At the hotel you acquitted yourself like a professional climber.”

  He took a bite and wiped the sugar clinging to his beard scruff. “There… professional…bers?”

  His voice crackled, fading in and out. Annie adjusted her hearing aids and leaned forward. “I’m not positive what you said, but professionals are climbers who usually make dangerous climbs, sometimes without ropes.”

  Hal shook his head. “That’s what we did, but I’m not looking to get any better at that.”

  “It’s not like rock climbing is as useful as swimming might be.” She wound her fingers through the thick cup handle and sipped the fragrant coffee. “I keep meaning to get some lessons, but so far I haven’t done anything about that.”

  Next time Hal took on a woman being stalked he’d doubtless require her to qualify with a swim test.

  “If you really wanted to learn you would have by now. You’re one of the most decisive people I’ve ever met.” Hal set his cup on the thick, porcelain saucer. “Water is where I…at…om.”

  Annie turned the volume higher on her right aid. She should be hearing the sharp clinks of cups and saucers, but she wasn’t. “Would you repeat what you said?”

  “Water is where…at….”

  “You said you feel at home in water?” She waited for his nod. “What about when you meet sharks?”

  He replied, but she couldn’t understand. There was definitely something wrong with one of her aids. She raised the volume on the one most of the static seemed to come from and lowered the other. “Say ‘hello,’ Hal.”

  He did, but still all she got was static. She changed the battery and had him speak again. “Weird. Before I was missing parts of words, but now I can’t even hear your voice. The important thing is I’ve still got one and it seems to be working.”

  She put her damaged aid in a zip pouch and turned to face him more directly.

  “I’ll get the name of Kurt’s hearing aid supplier.” Hal dug out his cellphone. “This could be him now. Yeah?”

  He listened a few moments then slapped some bills on the table. “Jack needs me to go on an arrest. Have you heard anything yet from the contractor who padlocked the shop?”

  She shook her head. “Why?”

  “I have a suggestion.” His dark eyes studied her as if he weighed whether or not to continue. “You may not like it, but the best thing for you now is to come home with me.”

  To the house with all the bounty hunters. Her breath hitched, but she slung her bag over her shoulder. “That actually sounds like the best solution.”

  He’d told her all his brothers were in the business. When they got outside, she asked, “Exactly how many brothers do you have?”

  “There are four of us, but only two others live at the house with my Aunt Edi. You’re met both of them already.”

  Three hunky men still sounded like a lot of testosterone in one place, but she sure didn’t want to check into another hotel. “Just don’t tell me Aunt Edi’s a retired bounty hunter.”

  Annie braced a hand on the half-open cypress panels and peered into the room Hal had referred to as the library. He wanted her to take things easy while he was off with Jack—or get some sleep—but it was her turn to contribute to their mutual aid society.

  While the police would be on the trail of the gunmen from last night, she could help find Randolph Lemoyne. At the rolltop desk across the room, Kurt worked on an open computer laptop. She knocked on one of the twin pocket doors, but he continued typing, and he ran the bail recovery business.

  She should go away and not ask him to turn over the computer, but he suddenly spun around, the old-fashioned swivel chair squealing. His gaze met hers, and he stood and beckoned her over. “Do you want something else to eat?”

  “I had plenty, thanks.” Kurt had made breakfast and both she and Hal stuffed themselves. “Would you mind letting me use your computer when you finish? I want to do some research for Hal.”

  Kurt remained silent, though he’d been watching her closely. “I’m wondering if I can use your computer,” she repeated. “When it’s convenient.”

  “When it’s—?” He frowned.

  “When you finish.” She rephrased because he might have trouble hearing certain consonants.

  “Be my guest.”

  “Thank you.” She took his place in front of the keyboard. The research she had in mind would be more time-consuming on her phone, time she and Hal didn’t have. “I’m going to try and find other addresses for Hal’s fugitive. His sister said he didn’t live in the family home so he must be set up somewhere else.”

  While studying for her library sciences degree, she’d worked for a real estate lawyer, but that had been five years ago. “I haven’t done this sort of search for a while so I might fumble around. You’re welcome to watch, though, if you want.”

  Kurt pulled a chair over, his gaze bright with interest. She found the website for land transfers and entered a search.

  “I noticed when you gestured to Hal this morning,” Kurt said.

  “Gestured? What do—Oh, you mean the signing? Yeah, I taught him a few signs.” Hal had even asked to see more at breakfast. She checked the computer screen, but the search still ran.

  “Will you show me, too?”

  “If you want.” Lines of text began to fill the monitor. “Let me get these addresses first.”

  “The only reason I brought Annie home is because she’s locked out of the bookshop.” Hal stretched his legs into the Cherokee’s footwell and tried to assess Jack’s attitude. The sun slanted through the windshield, but at this early hour they should still be able to surprise his skip.

  “I thought you were keeping one of the keys?” Jack set his coffee cup in the console.

  “The contractor who has a lien on the property padlocked the doors last night, but she shouldn’t be staying at the house too long.”

&nb
sp; His brother lifted a shoulder. “How long she stays is up to Aunt Edi, not me. I thought you said she’s helping you find your fugitive?”

  He hadn’t used those exact words, had he? Hal shifted in the passenger seat. “If she did that would be lagniappe. I’m hoping she’ll point me to whoever blew up my car, but she’s not bad company, really. Even fun.”

  Jack stared at him, eyes wide. “You just called a woman ‘fun.’”

  “Just realized.” Hal rubbed his shoulder scar. He’d accomplished his mission and proved to her how sexy she could be, but now, he needed to stop thinking about her.

  “I saw the way you were watching her.” Jack steered his vehicle with one thumb while sipping more coffee. “Hope you weren’t planning on keeping your feelings secret because you failed big time.”

  “You herded me out of the house before you could see anything.” He’d barely had time to grab some breakfast. “I know you think she’s a distraction, but she isn’t.”

  “Hope not. We both need to focus this morning.” Jack slowed the car to study street names. “You like her and seems like she’s been in your pocket pretty tight.”

  “It’s an impossible situation.” Hal ran a hand over his head. “She’s a librarian. Real smart. Why would she want anything to do with a dyslexic guy?”

  Heat climbed his neck, and he turned away to study the scenery.

  Jack clapped him on the shoulder. “I doubt the Navy would have handed you those commendations if you hadn’t been valuable to them.”

  “I guess,” Hal shrugged but smiled. He had played a part in some major campaigns.

  “Our father’s been dead years now.” Jack halted at a stop sign.

  Hal flashed a look at him, gut clenching. No one in the family should know what Jack hinted at. “Why would you mention that?”

  “I know he gave you a hard time.”

  Whew. His brother didn’t mention any details, which he would if he knew about the threats.

  “What about Mom?” Hal asked. “You think she noticed?” Please don’t let that be true.