“That’s right,” Daniel said. “Princess Joy. We can’t forget that. I know your mama will be glad to hear all about it when we go see her this afternoon.”

  “Yeah!” The little hands clapped, scattering bits of dry cereal onto the floor where Dakota faithfully scooped up each crumb.

  “How is Serena today?” Aurora asked aside.

  Sobering, Daniel shook his head and leaned closer to speak privately. “No change.” Hospice nurses had numbered Serena’s days down to a few. Part of him wanted her to remain for Joy’s sake and part of him hoped she’d pass peacefully. Some people thought it was terrible to think such thoughts but he too trusted the teachings of his Christian faith for Serena’s future. Without that, he’d have been devastated. God had reunited him with his half sister in time to help her and assume the responsibility for her daughter. Now that Serena knew Joy would always have a stable home with him, she’d told him she was ready to go. More than that, he couldn’t ask for.

  “I’m sorry. Should you see her this morning instead of waiting?”

  “No. She’s sedated. Her nurses have arranged to let her wake up to visit at two. We’ll go then.”

  Nodding, Aurora nibbled at a strip of bacon and ate a few bites of scrambled egg before she pushed away from the table. “I’ll go put on my regular clothes. I’d like to stop by my apartment and pick up a few things too, if we can.”

  “I’ll have Officer Jenna Morrow do that for you. Makes sense to send a woman.”

  Aurora blushed. “You’ve got that right. Thanks.”

  From the high chair came a piercing echo, “Tank you.”

  Laughing lightly, Aurora blushed more. “Right. Thank you, Agent Slater.”

  He stood and bowed with a broad sweep of his arm as if they were acting in an Elizabethan drama. “A pleasure, m’lady. Anything for a member of our princess’s court.”

  It pleased him to note the high color in Aurora’s pale cheeks as she turned to leave. Her hair and eyes were a lot like Joy’s and also reminded him of his half sister, although Serena’s hair was now gone because of the harsh chemo treatments. Thankfully, Joy never seemed to notice. She’d certainly never asked about it. Maybe that was just how children were. They accepted things without thinking them to death the way adults did.

  Like going to Heaven, he added to himself. Joy had immediately seen the beauty Aurora described and stopped fretting about it. Maybe that was why Jesus had said believers needed to “come as a child.” It made sense. Children’s hearts were pure enough to take in the wonders of eternity without spoiling the picture with their versions of reality. Perhaps children were given a special insight that adults somehow lost as they lived life.

  There were times, like when he visited his ailing half sister, when he dearly wished he didn’t know how badly their father had treated her and her late mother, not to mention his own mom. If there was one person he was determined to never emulate, it was that hard-hearted, selfish man. The only good thing Daniel could see that had come out of his father’s sins was Serena and the sweet little girl with big blue eyes and hair like spun gold who was currently pitching pieces of her breakfast at Dakota and laughing as the dog tried to catch them.

  He would always be there for her, he vowed. Always.

  A tiny voice inside reminded him of the dangers of his chosen career and he acknowledged that truth. Would he give up a job he loved and was good at for the sake of the little girl’s happiness? If it came to that he thought he could do so. In the meantime, he intended to rely on his DGTF team to get him through the rough patches.

  An image of Aurora as a beautiful bride coming toward him as he stood at an altar flashed into his mind. No. Not her. And certainly not now. He didn’t need the distractions of a romance pulling his thoughts from his job and weakening his focus. The longer the gun traffickers were in operation the more innocent civilians would die and it was up to him to give full attention to leading his team. They were all superb officers with amazing K-9 partners but even they needed proper direction and it was his job to provide it.

  Besides, he and Catherine were providing all the love and support the soon-to-be orphan needed. His gut clenched. It was going to be tough losing his sister so soon after finding out he had one at all but he’d cope. He owed it to the people his father had hurt to make up for the man’s perfidy. It was the least he could do.

  And while he was at it, he had a gun trafficking operation to break up and murders to solve.

  * * *

  Aurora was both surprised and impressed when she was led into the immense garage through a secret side entrance and driven out via a rear exit camouflaged by bushes and a cut into the hill on which the house was built.

  “Well, it’s almost a moat,” she remarked. “I can’t believe all the special features of your home.”

  “I told you. My father needed to take precautions because of the twisted life he led. I was going to sell the place when I first inherited it. Now I’m glad I didn’t.”

  “So, am I. It has to be safer than those houses you tried to get me to move into.”

  She started to scowl when he disagreed with her. “Not necessarily. Remember what happened last night.”

  “You saw the prowler coming because of your cameras.”

  “Yes, but he found me, found us, easily. That’s a problem if that guy is part of the gang we’ve been tracking.”

  Daniel glanced over at her and she quickly looked away, hoping he hadn’t noticed her studying his profile. There was something unusually compelling about this man, this businesslike federal agent who had taken in a waif and was helping a sister he’d only recently met. And Catherine. What a lovely older lady she was. So wise and gentle. Given the familial connection, it was easy to assume Daniel possessed those same qualities in spite of his masculinity and aura of command.

  As she watched him drive, she noticed how often he checked the mirrors and kept track of traffic behind them as well as to the front and sides. Nothing missed his scrutiny. That was comforting to see.

  They were approaching downtown Plains City with its quaint Western charm interspersed with modern businesses like the pizzeria. “We should treat Catherine and Joy to pizza one of these nights.”

  “Not from that place,” Daniel said quickly. “I’m not exactly welcome there and I wouldn’t trust the food.”

  “Wow. What did they do, add anchovies?”

  An arch of his brows was all the explanation she got. That was enough to remind her of an operation back in the spring involving a couple of men who had worked out of the restaurant and ended up dead.

  Aurora nodded. “Sorry. That’s right. I’d forgotten.”

  “Catherine makes better pizza anyway,” he said. “I called the DA’s office and your cousin is off today so I figured we’d stop by her condo if that’s all right with you.”

  “Fine.” Aurora was nodding and thinking of the austere office where Maddie worked. Catching her at home would be better and more private too.

  “You’re familiar with her apartment building?”

  “I’ve been there visiting. We don’t get together often though. My family was never close and after Mom died… Well, you get the idea.”

  “You don’t see your dad often?”

  She wanted to curl up in a ball and disappear. Instead, she crossed her arms and shook her head. “Never, if I can help it.”

  Hoping that Daniel would change the subject she was disappointed when he asked, “Do you suppose he’s just really lonely?”

  “Of course he is. So am I. But you don’t see me adopting a new mom, do you?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. You seemed to get along well with my nana.”

  “She’s easy to like. So what?”

  “Nothing. I get it,” Daniel said. “If my father was still alive, I doubt I’d be speaking to him either.”

  Aurora sighed. “We’re a pair, aren’t we?”

  “Not good examples of forgiveness, if that’s what you mean.”

  “I’m not ready,” she said flatly. “Are you?”

  Chuckling under his breath, he gave her a lopsided smile. “How did we get off on this subject anyway?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Me either. Let’s lighten the mood and talk shop.”

  “Sure. Nothing like theft and smuggling and an occasional murder to liven up a conversation.” Aurora couldn’t help returning his smile. “At least we have one informant who confirmed Brandon Jones/Murray killed his poor girlfriend. That’s going to be a big help.”

  “Only if we can come up with hard evidence.” He leaned and pointed at a nondescript two-story brick building to his right. “Is that your cousin’s place?”

  “Yes. She has a covered parking spot around back.”

  Daniel continued to smile. “Well, it won’t have her car in it because it’s still impounded so we may as well park there.”

  She made a face at him. “Don’t remind me,” she said as they got out of the car and he released Dakota.

  The impressive dog was dressed for work in her heavy vest and identifying harness and she stood as if ready to take on any and all threats.

  Aurora shuddered. Investigating cases as a CSI was far different than being so close to the action. Or, worse, feeling like a target.

  Hurrying ahead, she punched in the code for the outer door and entered the brick building. Maddie’s unit was on the third floor, rear, with a spectacular view of the Black Hills range. Sunsets lit it up and colored the early snow like a magnificent aurora, something Maddie like to kid her about because of her unusual name.

  “Elevators are over here,” she said, taking the lead.

  “Staircases?” Daniel asked, clearly task-oriented, as was his K-9.

  “There and there.” She pointed.

  He joined her at the elevator. The change in his working persona was so distinct it made her anxious.

  Dakota boarded the elevator without a qualm and stood tall at Daniel’s side. The ride was over in seconds. As the doors slid open and she prepared to step out, the agent stopped her.

  “We’ll go first,” he said. “Left or right?”

  “Right.”

  “Stay close.”

  “Nobody followed us did they?”

  “Not that I saw. Standard procedure for entering unknown areas is to use the dog. That’s what she’s here for.”

  To Aurora’s relief, the distance to Maddie’s apartment was short. She knocked. No one answered so she called, “Mads? You home?”

  Still no answer. Casting a concerned look at Dan, she reached into a thin recess behind the jamb and pulled out a key. “Safer than leaving it under a mat or a flowerpot,” she said, unlocking the door.

  Again, Daniel stopped her with an extended arm before she could enter, so she stepped aside for him. Dakota entered slowly, nose in the air, hackles showing slightly above the vest where it crossed her shoulders by her neck.

  Ears pricking forward, she stopped. Growled. Stiffened.

  Daniel reached for the sidearm holstered beneath his jacket.

  Aurora froze, afraid to breathe, let alone move or speak.

  He signaled her to duck behind a group of white sofas arranged in an L to facilitate intimate conversations. When she didn’t move immediately, he turned and ordered, “Get down,” without waiting to see if she obeyed.

  Then he and Dakota were gone and she was all alone in the silent living room, listening to the sound of her heart pounding in her ears and her breath shuddering as she tried to quiet it.

  Time stopped.

  Dakota’s sharp bark rattled the windows.

  There was a thud. Sounds of a scuffle.

  Then a gunshot. Just one.

  And silence.

  SEVEN

  Daniel had been in a crouch thanks to Dakota’s alert and the bullet zinged harmlessly over his head. He heard it impact the wall. An acrid odor of gunpowder filled the small bedroom as a whiff of smoke from the shot lingered.

  He’d commanded his K-9 to hit the floor and kept her there for her own safety while he assessed the situation. The gunman had fired while hiding inside a closet and as far as he could tell was still there. Bracing, he started to rise to peer over the bed.

  Something loomed on his right. Dakota pivoted as best she could without breaking orders. A shoulder rammed into Daniel, driving him to the floor. Hard.

  Dakota lunged and snapped, barely missing the thug’s ankle as it passed. A harsh voice cursed. Daniel scrambled to his knees preparing to rise when a second shot rang out. He could tell the caliber of this gun was larger than those that had been used against them previously. Larger and more deadly. Whoever had fired at him was on the move toward the exit. Toward Aurora.

  “Stay down!” he shouted, hoping and praying she’d listen and take heed.

  Shadows dressed in dark clothing filled the doorway, then were gone. He gave chase as far as the hallway, keeping his K-9 at his side rather than sending her after the assailants alone and making her an easy target.

  Using his body and Dakota’s to block the doorway, he reported to headquarters. “Yes, Agent Slater… That’s right… In ADA Martin’s apartment… No, I don’t know where she is. I’ll stay in control of the scene until local PD arrive. Then we’re going to the courthouse to try to find out who might be involved in shooting up Martin’s car and breaking into her condo.”

  He noted Aurora peeking over the back of the sofa and signaled to her to wait as he continued speaking into his radio. “Copy. ETA five.”

  With one arm extended toward Aurora, he motioned for her to join him.

  She was hesitant. “Are you sure they’re gone?”

  “Dakota tells me everyone left and she’s never wrong.”

  “Oh, good.” The slump of her shoulders showed how affected she was by the frightening events. “What about Maddie? She was supposed to be home. You don’t think…”

  Left unsaid was the same question Daniel had asked himself as soon as he’d realized there were unknown people in the apartment. He gestured at Aurora. “Grab your cell and give her a call at the office. Who knows. She may have decided to go to work after all.”

  “If she did go in on her day off, I’ll give credit to God,” Aurora said. Although her hands were trembling, she managed to punch up the listing and dial Maddie’s private line. Daniel could tell by the astonishment in her expression that she’d made the connection. “Maddie, it’s me! We came by your place and somebody shot at us.”

  The reply was almost loud enough to understand. “Hang on. I want Agent Slater to hear this too.” She pushed a button, then said, “Okay. Go ahead. You’re on speaker.”

  “What are you doing over there? And why is the ATF with you? I haven’t tried any smuggling cases lately.”

  “It’s complicated,” Aurora said. She thrust the phone at him. “You tell her.”

  “Your possible involvement goes back to the bullet holes in your car, ma’am,” Daniel said. “Have you been able to recall anyone else who may have a grudge against you?”

  “There’s quite a list, actually,” Maddie said. “Is Aurora all right? She sounds scared silly.”

  “I’ll look after her. Right now we’re trying to sort out the members of the Jones/Murray organization from all the other low-life thugs in Plains City. Like you said. It’s a long list.”

  “There is one old case in particular,” Maddie said. “I’ll send over the files on Kyra Fellowes and her boyfriend, Tim. They gave me some grief after Kyra’s drug conviction about three years ago and she was recently released on probation. Still, it’s a big jump to go from selling drugs to attempted murder.”

  Daniel had to agree with her there. If anything, most criminals went out of their way to keep a low profile. “Were either of them ever linked to Brandon or Hal Jones, aka Murray?”

  “Not that I know of but it’s been years. That might be a lead worth checking. It’s possible Kyra made some new friends while she was serving time.” She paused. “Plus, we’re about to start a high-profile murder trial. Derek Carlson has been charged with the murder of his wife.”

  “That prominent South Dakota businessman? I remember the arrest. You’re prosecuting?”

  “We are, Maddie said. “I’m looking forward to seeing justice done.”

  “Right.” Sirens in the street echoed through the open hallway. “Sounds like the PCPD has arrived here. We’ll go back to the station. You stay at the courthouse and don’t take any chances until we find out who and what we’re up against.” Maddie’s laugh sounded to him like Aurora’s and made him smile.

  “Good advice,” Aurora drawled. “I’m getting a personal tutorial on staying safe. See you later.” Ending the call, she looked to Daniel. “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  “I think we’re long past plan B or C. What’s next?”

  “Like I told your cousin, we’ll go back to the station. I have reports to write and I want to check on the tips Maddie just gave us.”

  “Do you really think it’s two separate cases?”

  “That makes as much sense as thinking the shootings are linked. We know Brandon killed Lila but we don’t know if that’s connected to the times you’ve come under fire.”

  “Or who was hiding in Maddie’s condo just now. I’m afraid for her too.”

  “I’ve been giving that some thought,” Daniel said. “The smartest move would be to separate any of the people who have apparently been targeted and place them in safe houses.”

  “I told you how I felt about taking up space intended for helpless victims.”

  “Yes, you did. And I took you to my house, which was then attacked by the gunman we took into custody. Not my most lucid decision.”

  “You think he was after me?”

  “Beats me. The only one who knows is the guy in custody and he immediately asked for a lawyer so we haven’t been able to get anything out of him.”

  She opened her mouth, probably intending to argue. Rather than do so, he put Dakota on a Sit/Stay next to the doorway and stepped forward to greet the arriving police officers.

  “Stand down. The fun’s over,” Daniel told them, waving his hands for emphasis. “The shooters got away. I stayed to turn the crime scene over to you and your people.”