Conceal, Protect - By Carol Ericson Page 0,56

hair, while her gaze skewered J.D. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

Tara sobbed against her shoulder and then pulled away. “I was carjacked or hijacked or something.”

Noelle gripped Tara’s shoulders. “Someone stole my truck?”

J.D. cursed under his breath—not that anyone could hear him since Tara decided to let loose with another wail.

“No. I have your truck here.”

J.D. wiped a hand across his mouth, where his upper lip sported beads of sweat. So she still had the truck and she seemed safe. Had something happened to her mother?

“What happened, Tara? Are you okay?” Noelle drew her in for another hug.

Tara continued in a muffled voice, “I dropped Mom off and decided to save you a trip and drop off the truck and your prescription and to see if J.D. could give me a ride back to my ranch, but you weren’t home. I called Ted to see if he knew where you’d gone, and he told me you were up here talking to Sheriff Greavy.”

An officer handed Tara a box of tissues.

She grabbed a handful and mopped her face, then took a shuddering breath. “When I got back into the truck, two men came at me.”

“Oh my God. Did they hurt you?”

J.D. moved behind Noelle to see Tara’s face. Had Zendaris’s men believed they had Noelle? Another case of mistaken identity?

“They roughed me up.” She looked down at her jacketed arm, where the men had probably grabbed her. “And they had a gun.”

Sheriff Greavy had been listening to Tara’s story, hanging back by the door to his office, but he stepped forward when she mentioned the gun.

“Hold on, Tara. A couple of men held you up with a gun? Do you have a description? What did they take?” His gaze skipped to the purse slung over her shoulder.

“They were wearing ski masks and dark jackets. They could’ve been anyone.” Her eyes darted around the room; the officers had gotten back to business.

“Vehicle?” Greavy crossed his arms.

“It must’ve been parked on the road because I sure as hell didn’t see any car drive onto Noelle’s property. They came at me on foot and then made me lie on the ground when they took off.” She brushed at her snow pants as if just remembering she’d been lying on the ground.

J.D. put a hand on Noelle’s back. Zendaris’s men had been on her ranch again. He should’ve put cameras up before fixing the porch.

Greavy cleared his throat. “Two men accosted you with a gun at your truck, um, Noelle’s truck, at gunpoint. They didn’t harm you, and they didn’t steal the truck. Then they made you lie on the ground while they took off. I guess I’m missing something here. What did they take?”

Tara blew her nose. “I’m so sorry, Noelle.”

Noelle took a step back from Tara, leaning against J.D.’s chest. “What? Why?”

The air felt heavy, and J.D. held his breath.

“Noelle, they stole your laptop.”

Chapter Fifteen

Noelle stumbled back farther, and J.D. held her against his solid chest. When hadn’t he been there for her in the past few days?

A selfish thought skimmed across her mind—now they’ll leave me alone. She didn’t allow that thought to take root. As crazy as it sounded to her, the theft of her laptop had serious consequences for her country. This transcended her petty issues and even her safety.

If the plans were even on the laptop. She and J.D. didn’t know for sure and neither did Zendaris.

“I’m so sorry, Noelle. I know you kept a lot of ideas for your art on there.” Now in the role of comforter, Tara sniffled and patted Noelle’s arm. “I-is there any chance you have one of those backup services?”

J.D. tightened his grip on her shoulders, but Noelle had to disappoint him. That would’ve solved their problem if they could’ve retrieved those plans from a backup server. Is that why Abby hadn’t recommended one along with all her other security recommendations?

“I don’t have one of those services. But don’t worry, Tara.” She straightened the back that might no longer have a target on it. “I backed up a lot of my work on flash drives and CDs. The important thing is that you’re unharmed.”

“The important thing is to nail these thieves.” Sheriff Greavy jerked his thumb toward the open door of his office. “I want a statement from you, Tara, from the beginning. I’m not going to tolerate masked men roaming through Buck Ridge committing armed robbery.”

Noelle squeezed Tara’s hand. “Go ahead. We’ll wait for you at the lodge, and I’ll give you a