“That’s impossible.”
“It is if she’s on the up-and-up. I don’t know who she was before or where she came from. All I know is she’s not who she implies she is.”
* * *
There had been a time when Daniella had tried to keep close tabs on her jailed father. Then, as the years had passed, she had slowly stopped worrying about him and had gone on with her life, content to have a purposeful career and to be a truly new person.
Now, however, she felt it was vital that she know more about the man, if only to set her mind and heart at ease. There was no sense panicking and going on the run if it wasn’t necessary. For all she knew, he might have died in prison.
One phone call would tell her everything. The question was, if she did contact the emergency number her original US marshal contact had provided, would she be opening Pandora’s box?
She hesitated, her cell phone gripped tightly. Then, before she could make up her mind whether or not to call for information, the phone rang. Caller ID was no help. All it showed was Unknown.
Could it be the marshal’s office taking care in case the call was being monitored? Logically, that might be possible, particularly if she were at work. There was only one way to find out.
She clicked the green button and pressed the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
A low menacing chuckle was followed by, “Well, well. Remember how I always taught you to finish what you started?”
She knew instantly who was on the line. Her father had tracked her down. “How—how did you get this number?”
“I have friends in many places.” He laughed again. “I’ll see you soon, girl.”
Daniella was speechless. That awful voice! Not only did he have her cell number, he probably also knew her address!
Staring at the tiny screen, she noted that he’d ended the call.
Her hands shook and her legs were close to collapse. Every sense insisted that she flee. Immediately. She glanced around at her cozy home. The mere thought of leaving all this behind made her sick to her stomach. Not only would she be in limbo once more, she’d have to give up her friends and career and maybe even her pet, since Puddy was microchipped and might be traceable via his former veterinarian.
She sank into the closest chair and cradled her head in her hands. Although she would have welcomed the release brought by tears, there were none. Numbness and disbelief filled her to overflowing, leaving room for nothing else.
Her first change of identity, when she’d fled Florida as a teen, had been easy compared with what she was facing now. She had often tried to imagine what it would be like to have to abandon nursing and relocate again, but nothing had prepared her for the chilling reality she now acknowledged.
Her murderous father had tracked her down. Life as she’d known it was over. Period.
* * *
Isaac was driving himself toward headquarters when his captain radioed Daniella’s home address.
“That’s right on my way,” he replied. “Okay if Abby and I make a stop there, first?”
“Officially?”
“Not exactly. Our mysterious woman may be more willing to fill in some information gaps if I approach her casually.”
“It’s worth a try. I’ve already checked with the hospital. She stayed on duty all night so she should be at home now. Just keep us posted. I don’t want you going off the grid.”
“Who? Me?”
McCord laughed. “Yes, you. Remember that case last fall when you forgot to radio your position and almost got yourself killed before backup could reach you?”
“That was an exception. Getting hurt at the scene last night was not my fault, either,” Isaac insisted, noting the dull throbbing in his injured calf. “I followed all the rules precisely. Somebody obviously breached the police security lines after Abby and I checked. If she hadn’t acted funny we might have ended up with a lot more casualties.”
“You’ll get no argument from me on that score,” his captain said.
“Good. Listen. I’m almost to the nurse’s. I’ll have my cell and Abby with me but I’m leaving the rest of my gear in the unit.”
“You sure that’s wise?”
“Hey, you didn’t find any connection between her and terrorists, did you?”
“Not in the last ten years, no.”
“Then I’m not taking much of a chance.” Besides, I kind of like her, he added silently. If there had been anything nefarious about her he figured he would have sensed it—and if he hadn’t, Abby would have. Of all the partners he’d ever had, human or otherwise, it was the little beagle he trusted the most. People could be swayed by appearances. Dogs looked beyond the obvious and into a person’s true heart.
Slowing as his GPS led him to the address, Isaac pulled into the driveway of an apartment complex. McCord had told him Daniella Dunne lived on the first floor. A mailbox check showed names posted for the other occupants but not for her. That, alone, would have struck him as strange. Coupled with the information he’d gotten from headquarters, it stood out like a red flag.
Her apartment sat at the end of a long interior corridor, next to the rear exit door. Isaac called Abby to heel and limped toward it, mentally preparing an opening line to relax the nurse.
He’d paused at her door when he heard a voice inside. Good. The woman was home. If she failed to respond to his knock he’d have further proof that there was something odd about her.
Isaac raised his fist.
At his side, Abby edged backward.
He was frowning and looking down at his dog when the door was yanked open and Daniella barreled into him so hard he almost lost his balance.
His arms flew out to steady them both. All he managed to say was “Hey...” when she let out a screech that could have made her the star of a horror movie!
“Whoa,” Isaac said, grabbing hold of her upper arms while Abby’s leash went flying. “Take it easy. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
The emerald eyes that were staring into his dark gaze reflected so much raw fear he was taken aback. Her scream had become a whimper and tears were beginning to slide down her flushed cheeks.
As unexpectedly as she’d crashed into him, she flung both arms around his neck and held on as if he were her only lifeline from a sinking ship.
Astounded, he nevertheless embraced her gently. “Easy. I’ve got you. What’s wrong?”
All the answer he got was the sound of her gasping for breath, so he turned to place himself between her and the open apartment door. “Is there somebody else inside?”
Daniella shook her head emphatically, then seemed to come to her senses. “I—I have to get out of here.”
“What’s the hurry?” he asked, holding her away by cupping her shoulders.
She blinked rapidly and swiveled her head to look up and down the hallway before she said, “Because he’s coming.”
“Who is?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“Whoa. Slow down and start from the beginning. Why are you so scared?”
“He—he threatened to kill me.”
“When? Why?”
“A long time ago. I put him in jail.”
That was enough information for Isaac to make a sensible decision. He slipped an arm around