Justice Undercover Read online

  Keeping her true identity a secret

  is the only way to stay alive.

  Going undercover as a nanny brings presumed-dead ex-US Marshal Kylie Stone closer to catching the man who murdered the witness in her protection—and also killed Texas Ranger Luke Dryden’s sister. When someone tries to kidnap the twins in her care, Kylie must tell their uncle the truth...and convince Luke to help her. But will revealing her identity put all their lives at stake?

  Had her identity been compromised?

  Everyone believed she was dead. If someone knew she was really Melody Garner, what did they have to lose by killing her for real?

  “You all right?”

  She looked at Luke and found concerned eyes staring back.

  He directed his gaze back to the road, a frown firmly in place. “I shouldn’t have hired you as a nanny. Or anyone to watch the kids. This is my fault. I should’ve known I could put you in danger.”

  “What? No.” She wanted to tell Luke the truth. Tell him everything. Not having anyone—no family, coworkers, a significant other or anyone—was excruciating. “We don’t even know who’s targeting us. Or if someone is after the kids or just me.”

  “I appreciate you saying so, but I doubt anyone would be after you unless it has to do with you working for me. Why would anyone want to hurt you?”

  How could she answer? If she told him the truth, would he tell the rest of the Rangers? How long until everyone knew she was alive? Was she ready to take the chance?

  Until recently, Connie Queen has spent all of her life in Texas, where she met and married her high school sweetheart. Together they’ve raised eight children and are enjoying their grandchildren. Today she resides with her husband and Nash, her Great Dane, in Nebraska, where she’s working on her next heart-throbbing suspense.

  Book by Connie Queen

  Love Inspired Suspense

  Justice Undercover

  Justice Undercover

  Connie Queen

  Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

  —Psalms 85:10

  For Bruce...my husband, real-life hero and biggest fan. My kids...Jeb, Andi, Connor, Cooper, Jessi, JP, Savannah and Hayden, every one of you is special. A lady couldn’t ask for a better family and cheer team.

  To Tina James, my editor—thanks for believing in my work. I’m so thrilled you welcomed me into the Love Inspired family.

  To my mentor, Tina Radcliffe, for making me use my emotions even when I didn’t want to.

  To all my unbelievably supportive critique partners, past and present, who have trudged through horrible first drafts, endless typos and rejections. Lana, Angie, Rhona, Sharee, Sherrinda and Jackie.

  Thank you to my writing sisters for your continual encouragement.

  God bless you all.

  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

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from Deadly Connection by Lenora Worth

  ONE

  Kylie Stone glanced over her shoulder, unable to shake the feeling she was being watched. No one was there except an elderly couple feeding the flamingos. No suspicious person lurking nearby.

  Would the day ever come when she could truly relax? Or a day when she wouldn’t think about the sweet mother and two precious children that had perished under her care in the Witness Protection Program?

  It’d been three long years since she had disappeared, abandoning her job at the United States Marshals Service, and had become Kylie Stone.

  The huge Texas flag waved lazily in the warm afternoon breeze, and a red bird hopped from limb to limb in the pecan tree above. By all appearances, everything was peaceful at Rocky Creek Zoo.

  The uneasiness still lingered. Her instincts were normally spot-on. Maybe they should’ve stayed home today. She held out her hands. “Time to go.”

  “No,” two-year-old fraternal twins, Braden and Zoe, cried in unison.

  “Now, come on. I told you we were leaving after we saw George.” The gorilla knuckle-walked across his spacious enclosure and climbed up a large leaning tree. He wasn’t nearly as interested in the children as they were in him.

  Kylie dropped down to one knee between the blond-haired, blue-eyed sweethearts. “Tell him ’bye.”

  “Unca Luke is coming.”

  Zoe’s hopeful expression twisted Kylie’s gut. A glance at her smart watch told her their uncle, Texas Ranger Luke Dryden, was almost ninety minutes late. She couldn’t wait any longer for him to join them. “It’s time to go.” She gave them both a quick peck on the head. “Don’t forget we have cookies waiting for us.”

  The twins reluctantly waved to the five-hundred-pound gorilla. “Bye-bye.”

  Kylie fastened the toddlers into the stroller and surveyed her surroundings once more. Then, when she was satisfied no one was there, they headed toward the exit.

  Braden glanced up, his expression hopeful. “Too-kie.”

  “When we get home,” Kylie told him and continued moving quickly.

  “Two too-kies.” Braden kicked his cowboy boots against the footrest. “One for Unca Luke.”

  Kylie smiled, not wanting to discourage the toddlers, but their uncle had worked late almost every night since Kylie had been babysitting for him. Being in law enforcement, she knew, made it difficult to be a single parent with his niece and nephew, but he needed to find more time.

  Zoe stared silently into her lap. Kylie wished she’d show half the enthusiasm as her brother. She didn’t know whether the girl had always been shy, or the quietness was brought on by the loss of her mother.

  The Ranger had agreed to take off early today to meet them at the small city zoo for the afternoon. He’d texted a couple of hours ago that he’d be late. Since then, they had already seen all the exhibits once, some twice, and now the twins were missing their naps.

  If she was a real nanny, she would’ve set their uncle straight from the beginning and let him know she wouldn’t stay late. But she had sought this job in hopes of getting closer to Luke, so she could learn if there was a connection between the death of the Texas Ranger’s sister and Hal Alcott, the man who’d killed Kylie’s witness and made it clear on that fateful day three years ago that he intended to kill her, as well.

  So far, she hadn’t found a link.

  The nanny service had warned her that Luke had gone through two previous sitters the month before she took the job, and he had been fined multiple times for being late.

  She returned the rented double stroller to the self-serve island and grabbed her backpack. Holding the twins’ hands, they exited between two giant giraffe statues on the way to the almost empty parking lot.

  Kylie assessed the perimeter before they stepped onto the sidewalk.

  Her gaze narrowed on the rusty minivan parked next to her blue Jeep Cherokee in the second row. Her breath hitched as she studied the vehicle. A woman sat behind the wheel. The van backed out and left, little heads bobbing in the back seat. Just a mom and kids. A smile spread across her lips. She was extra jumpy today. />
  “Carry me.” Zoe wiggled out of her grasp and thrust her tiny hands in the air.

  She gathered the little girl into her arms and gave her a slight squeeze, savoring the closeness. She missed protecting families. Missed her job.

  The protective instincts were difficult to hide after years of service. No one knew her identity, and evidently, no one was after these kids. To everyone around her, Kylie was simply the nanny.

  She took Braden’s hand once more. “Come on, let’s go.”

  The boy took leaping steps, never seeming to tire.

  Luke Dryden’s white pickup pulled in at the far end of the premises and stopped at the parking attendant’s booth. Finally. At least he would be able to share cookies and spend a little time with the children today.

  Relieved at seeing his truck, she almost didn’t notice the silver SUV barreling down the lane toward them. Warning bells went off in her brain as fear crawled up her spine. This wasn’t just a guy ignoring the fifteen-mile-per-hour speed zone. She picked up Braden, and with a child in each arm, ran for her vehicle as fast as she could manage.

  The SUV came to a screeching halt as she reached the Jeep. Time slowed as her heart raced—she needed a weapon.

  Kylie set down the kids next to her vehicle and pulled a hairbrush from the backpack. “Stay here.”

  A hefty man jumped out of the SUV and rushed toward her. Curly brown hair protruded from under a red baseball cap. Though he didn’t have a visible weapon, her heart seized. On impulse, Kylie dropped the backpack and put her hand on top of Braden’s head to make sure he stayed behind her.

  “Ky-ee,” Braden yelled.

  Please, God, help me protect these kids.

  The attacker’s gray eyes connected with hers and there was triumph in his gaze, before he swung a fist.

  She slapped down his punch while simultaneously stepping forward to generate more power as she struck him in the jaw with the blunt end of the hairbrush. His head snapped back, a curse blasting from his lips, but he didn’t go down.

  He was large and slow. Before he could recover, she advanced and executed a sharp jab to his ribs.

  “Ugh.” He bent over, wrapping his arms around his middle.

  The kids cried and clung to the back of her capris.

  She regripped the brush and eyed him, noting the disbelief in his expression. Gently shoving the twins behind her once more, Kylie stepped forward with her left foot and put her arms in an on-guard position, ready to strike again.

  “You think you’re pretty tough,” he shouted. “Well, stop this.” He whipped a KA-BAR knife from his waistband.

  Tires squealed. A blur of white flashed to her right, but she kept her eyes trained on the man in the red hat, prepared in case he decided to throw the knife. He turned, scrambled into his SUV and peeled out of the lot.

  “Are you okay?” Luke Dryden’s baritone voice boomed through his open door.

  “Yes.” But, of course, she wasn’t. Her voice was shaky, and her chest heaved with each runaway breath. She willed her body to stop trembling. The kids were crying, but safe.

  Luke grabbed his cell phone. “I need backup. Possible attempted child abduction...” The words drifted away as he slammed the door and took off in pursuit of the SUV.

  Kylie picked up the kids. “It’s okay. Don’t cry.”

  “Unca Luke...” Braden’s lip puckered, and he held out his hands toward the disappearing truck.

  “He’ll be back, honey.” She clung to the little fellow. She had saved them. This time. What if she couldn’t the next time? What if, just like the Coffey family, she failed to protect them? Another family would be devastated.

  “Scary bad man.” Braden’s face scrunched. “Me don’t like him.”

  Still trembling from the close call, Kylie pulled the twins closer. “Me, neither. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  Minutes later, Luke pulled back into the parking lot and stopped beside her Jeep. Decked out in his Texas Ranger attire of jeans, white shirt and red tie, he took the frightened kids from her and pulled them into his arms.

  Kylie’s own arms dropped to her side, and she relaxed her stance. After all, she was just the nanny.

  * * *

  “He got away.” Luke Dryden had wanted to continue pursuit of the Tahoe, but fear for the twins’ safety won out. Anger pulsed through his veins, but he reined in his emotions for the kids’ sakes. They were upset enough. Megan’s kids. His sister hadn’t been gone three months and already he was failing as a guardian. Every muscle in his body tensed as he thought of how easily he could’ve lost them.

  “Are you two okay?” he asked. Tears lined Braden’s blue eyes, but at least he’d stopped crying. Zoe continued to sob even as Luke held her close. “It’s okay, Zoe girl. Uncle Luke’s got you.”

  Had the man been after the twins or Kylie?

  His gaze landed on his nanny—she had a hairbrush clutched in her hand and her face was red. Sweat beaded above her lip. Her breathing was still not quite back to normal. “Did you know that guy?”

  Kylie licked her lips as though she was considering the matter. “No, I didn’t recognize him. I saw you pull into the lot, but then this SUV came speeding toward us. I didn’t know what else to do except try to get the kids in the vehicle. But I didn’t have time.”

  “Did you hit him with that?”

  She fidgeted with the brush. “Uh, yeah.”

  “I’m glad the man didn’t have a weapon.” He stared at her as the kids settled their heads on his shoulders.

  “He pulled a knife, but thankfully you drove up and scared him off before he could use it.”

  “I didn’t need to hear that.” Luke shook his head.

  At barely five feet, she wasn’t as big as a mite. She had big eyes and a high-pitched voice. She looked scared, but something in her expression caused him to doubt his initial analysis. Dressed in a pink T-shirt and denim capris, she appeared sweet, and non-threatening. His dad would’ve called her cute as a button. His gaze went back to the brush. She hadn’t screamed. That’s what was bothering him. Her cool confidence. When she’d swung at the guy, he thought she was the one with a knife. “A brush? Really?”

  The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and a dimple formed. “I didn’t have anything else. I thank God I even thought of it.” Grabbing the backpack from the pavement, she quickly stuffed the brush inside.

  “Nice job” was all Luke could say. He didn’t reply to the God comment. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in God, or was even mad at Him for not saving his sister. His faith, though, wavered. Guilt tugged at him, but no matter how much he prayed, his faith seemed to be growing weaker. He simply didn’t know how to get it back.

  Kylie held her hands out toward the toddlers. “You want me to put them in their car seats?”

  Even though Braden leaned toward Kylie, Luke pulled back, not wanting to let them go just yet. “I’ve got them.” Zoe clung to his neck, and his chin dropped to the top of her head. He inhaled the clean scent of baby shampoo. The little girl was the image of his sister at that age. “What I need to know is...did the man attack you or was he after the kids?”

  “I’m not certain. When he first jumped out of his vehicle, he eyed the twins. I felt sure his intention was to take them since he didn’t go for my backpack.”

  Luke’s chest constricted. She confirmed his speculations. The SUV had partially blocked his view and the attacker had kept his head down. Luke hadn’t seen his face. “I need to call this in. Can you give me a description of this guy or what he was wearing?”

  “Brown curly hair. Gray eyes. Approximately six foot and two hundred pounds. Red baseball cap. Jeans.” She looked heavenward, as if trying to picture him. “Brown or beige shirt. Boots. The guy was thirtyish. The vehicle looked like a late-model silver Tahoe.”

  How had she recalled a
ll those details? Most witnesses had to be coaxed into remembering. “I don’t suppose you happened to notice the license-plate number, too?”

  “Sorry.”

  He eyed her. “You sure you didn’t recognize him?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Is there anyone who’d want to hurt you?”

  She hesitated. “No.”

  Okay, why the uncertainty? He’d have to question her more later.

  An older couple lingered on the sidewalk. Luke handed the twins to Kylie and then strode over. “Good afternoon. Did you see what happened?”

  The man sporting a T-shirt that read Great Dads Get Promoted to Grandpa regarded his Ranger badge. “We walked out just as the lady hit him with the brush. I didn’t get a good lo—”

  “We saw her and those two adorable kids in the park several times,” his silver-haired wife interrupted. “I thought that truck was going to hit them, as fast as it was traveling. What is this world coming to? Pure shame people can’t enjoy an outing at the zoo without being robbed.”

  “Now, Earlene, you didn’t see anyone get robbed.”

  “I didn’t say they were.”

  Luke smiled at the couple—they reminded him of his grandparents. He took the rest of their statement and jotted down their names and phone number. There were no other people in the parking lot, so he went back to Kylie.

  They buckled the kids in before he called his boss. He had only gotten the first three digits of the license plate and had called it in to Sergeant Jamison with the local police while chasing the vehicle out of the park. The sergeant put out a Be On the Lookout on the Tahoe and agreed to interview him and Kylie at home.

  Using his phone, Luke snapped several pictures of the parking lot, the Jeep and the tire marks left by the Tahoe. A glance at the light poles and the corners of the building showed only one security camera at the entrance gate. He’d get the number of park security on the way out and give it to Jamison to see if the SUV was caught on tape.