by Geri Krotow
None of your business. She needed to talk to Annie or her therapist about this.
“There will be plenty of time to discuss your theories on the case over the next month.” Colt interrupted them, a bemused expression on his face. Kit had noticed that Colt’s handsome face had become more deeply lined as the ROC case ground on. Silver Valley had lost too many people to heroin ODs, and the demands on SVPD and all law enforcement agencies were overwhelming on the best days.
“You said there was a gap in our op?” Luther quietly prompted Colt, and Kit had to admit he did it in a respectful manner without any of the arrogance she’d witnessed other, invariably less capable, men emit.
Colt ran his fingers through his silvering hair. “Yes. The latest intelligence indicates that Ivanov is holed up not very far from here. We’d assumed he’d left the state after we recovered the data Markova had stolen from him. We’re still not certain if Ivanov knows what she stole.” Colt referred to last summer, when SVPD and FBI had discovered that Markova, a former Russian FSB agent and now the right hand to Ivanov, had stolen key overseas account information from the ROC kingpin. It appeared Markova was looking to either take over ROC herself, or make a break from it with the billions she’d be able to take from Ivanov. But the FBI and the Treasury Department, along with Homeland Security, had frozen all of the accounts that Markova’s stolen data revealed. It left ROC and especially Ivanov incredibly vulnerable.
“It doesn’t make sense that he’d stay anywhere near Silver Valley.” Luther spoke, and Kit took the chance to check him out. He sat back, his black slacks tightly stretched against his lean thighs. He’d crossed his ankle on his knee and his hand rested on it. A very strong, capable hand. Because he’d rolled his sleeves up, she saw the controlled strength in his forearm, another stamp of his masculinity.
What was going on with her? This had to be the insta-lust that Annie spoke about with the other girls when they all had Friday night Girls’ Night, after the knitting circle. It shouldn’t shock her so much, as Kit was twenty-six and had sexual needs. Her therapist insisted she would eventually be comfortable with a man after the years of abuse. But wouldn’t that happen more slowly, over months? Not this intense awareness of the man sitting on the sofa next to her.
“Kit, what do you think?” Colt’s query jolted her out of her confusion. Heat rushed to her face, and she knew her pasty white skin radiated beet red.
“I...ah, I don’t think we can be sure about anything.” At Colt’s raised brow, she shook her head. “Sorry, I drifted there.”
“Luther’s point that Ivanov would most likely move heaven and earth to get far away is valid, but the reports that came through last night and early this morning have him in an area approximately twelve miles from here, in the middle of the Cumberland Mountains. It looks like our worst fears.”
Kit gripped the chair arms. “Ivanov is going to force the meeting with the remaining ROC hierarchy?”
“That’s what Claudia thinks, and I agree.” Luther interjected. “It appears to me that Ivanov must still have hidden accounts, resources that the FBI and Treasury didn’t seize. Or maybe Markova’s the one who has them. It would explain why she hasn’t made her escape—even with Ivanov’s cruel streak, she’s well trained and would have no problem killing him.”
“You think they’re planning for Ivanov to regain control of ROC, with Markova as his second, instead of only being his best operative?” Kit reasoned aloud. “That makes sense to me.”
“Do we have an exact GPS loc?” Luther pulled out his phone and started tapping in notes.
“No.” Colt shook his head. “If we did, I wouldn’t need you two for the assignment.” Colt turned to the large chart on his wall that depicted the entire Susquehanna and Cumberland Valley area, in the middle of which sat Silver Valley. He pointed to a small valley. “The report caught a burner phone’s signal here. There are at least forty or so hunting cabins, but it’s impossible to know which one he’s in, if any. For all we know he was just passing through.”
“Men like Ivanov don’t casually pass through a remote hunting location.” Kit couldn’t hold back. “You are planning to go in and apprehend him, right?”
Colt’s eyes widened. “No, no, nothing like that. We can’t take any chances with either of them. Which is why I need your expertise in comms and you need Luther with you. FBI will do the eventual arrest, with a lot of backup from us, S.W.A.T. and other LEAs.” Colt’s gaze moved to Luther and the men exchanged some kind of silent message. Kit shifted in her seat, knowing that as an unsworn officer she wasn’t always privy to all the details of such a sensitive case. And she certainly wouldn’t be part of the actual takedown, when it was planned. It didn’t make her desire to be fully cut in on all the information any less, though. Not for the first time she silently damned the mental illness that limited her participation in taking Ivanov and ROC down once and for all.
“What do you need from us, Colt?” Luther spoke with familiarity. Kit assumed he and the police chief had worked together before and ignored her feelings of being left out. Another fallout from her trauma, needing to be in control of everything. She was a professional colleague, not some young girl whose friends were purposely cutting her out.
“We need constant monitoring of the area. We’re looking to determine if Ivanov is there, and if he is, which cabin he’s in. We want to know if Markova is with him, and if she is, is it willingly or is he holding her hostage?”
Luther nodded. “Although it’s hard to believe Markova would stay anywhere unwillingly. Her prison break last winter was a feat only the most highly trained FSB pro could pull off.” As she observed him, Kit was struck by his outward calm and professionalism. It reflected in his eyes, too, but she still detected that hint of guardedness toward her and possible concern that she was his competition. Maybe he was an agent used to working on his own and thought a local police officer, especially an unsworn one, was a pain in the butt.
“What do you need me to do, sir?” She spoke up, wanting them both to know she’d do whatever tasked with.
Colt paused and looked at her. She had the distinct feeling he was reluctant to tell her. He’d shown signs of being a bit fatherly toward her when SVPD had rescued her from her ex, but had displayed nothing but pure professionalism since she’d been sworn in.
“Kit, this is where your expertise with the Russian language comes in. Luther has rudimentary language training but your skills are impeccable. Luther is going to be running the op, and while you’re fully capable of handling all and any sticky situations that arise, I want you to fully focus on keeping Luther informed on whatever Ivanov and Markova, if she’s there, are saying.”
“No problem. Will we be using the unmarked comms van?” She’d been trained in how to operate the equipment in the back of the nondescript white van that was SVPD’s workhorse and communications headquarters during undercover and other operations. It was her favorite place to be during an op, where she knew she was helping as much as anyone else in her position, freeing up a sworn officer to knock down doors.
Colt scratched his head. “Ah, no. You will have the top equipment with you—” again, another quick glance at Luther “—and Luther here will bring you up to speed on any of the tech you’re not familiar with. But you’ll both be staying in a hunting cabin. I need you to go undercover as hunters.”
“Perfect timing with deer season opening next Monday.” Luther referred to the Pennsylvania State holiday that was ten days away and took place the Monday after Thanksgiving. Schools were out to encourage children to spend time with their families. Indeed, many hunted, and many more spent the day doing early holiday shopping.
“As long as you’re sure I won’t become a liability to Agent Darby, I’m in. We have almost a week to prepare, unless you need us out there sooner?” She wasn’t authorized to use a weapon in the line of duty. Not until she was completely cleared by her
psychiatrist. Truth was that she enjoyed being unsworn, a nonuniformed SVPD employee, more than she’d ever imagined she would.
“That should be fine. You both need time to get to know one another. I’ll leave you to work out your abilities between the two of you.”
“I have zero undercover experience. But if you want me to hole up in the cabin and monitor comms, that I can do.” She spoke up to make sure Luther knew what he was getting into, working alongside her.
“You’re being too modest, Kit.” Colt looked at her for a long moment, and when she remained silent, he spoke to Luther. “Kit was a key player in bringing in Ivanov’s top henchman in Silver Valley just a little over two years ago. Without her courageous actions we might be fighting a lot more than Ivanov and Markova at this point.”
“I’m impressed.” Luther’s compliment was like receiving a special treat from a teacher, back in her hometown in Ukraine. It was always nice when someone saw her for her intelligence and capabilities and not as a piece of meat, like Vadim had.
Save it for the therapist.
“I don’t have a weapon, you should know. I’ll be dependent upon you if there’s any kind of shoot-out.” She smiled, trying to inflect the American humor she so adored, but it was hard to tell if Luther caught it.
“I’m a fast draw.” His reference to Western cowboy culture infused her with a sense of well-being, and she laughed.
Colt spoke up. “You’ll be safe, Kit. Luther is tops in this business, and he’ll have a small arsenal of weapons. My hope, of course, is that you won’t be needing anything but the comms gear, and that you’ll sit tight while the FBI arrests Ivanov and Markova.”
“How many federal agents are in the area?” Luther kept tapping notes into his phone.
Colt shook his head. “That’s just it. We’d normally already have their full support but they’ve had to send help to the northwestern part of the state.”
“The white supremacist cult?”
Colt nodded. “Yes. It’s bigger and badder than the one that tried to take over Silver Valley a few years ago, and LEA statewide has their hands full with it. We’re going to have to commit several SVPD officers to it soon, but I was able to buy more time in order to get the last of ROC out of here.”
“Thank goodness for Trail Hikers.” Kit was in awe of the agency that had helped bring Vadim to justice and give her life back. Not to mention providing her with a job that gave her life purpose and a deeper meaning. An ability to give back to the community.
“You sound like you’ve worked with TH a bit, then?” Luther’s question was for her.
“Yes, during the op that Colt already mentioned, and as needed for different cases more recently. My language ability and understanding of cultural references is my specialty.”
“It sounds like we’ll be well matched, then. I can read Russian and speak it conversationally, but some of the more subtle references to Pushkin go over my thick skull.”
Kit laughed. “If you even know who Pushkin is, you’re doing okay.” Pushkin was to Russian language and storytelling what Shakespeare was to English.
“Who the hell is Pushkin?” Colt looked like the one who was left out of the conversation, and Kit sat up straighter as she briefly explained Pushkin’s significance to Russian culture.
“Okay, well, I’ll let you worry about that.” Colt’s mind was on bringing down ROC without losing any officers, not Russian literary history. “Do you have any questions for me?”
“How long will the operation take?” She needed to make sure she filed her current reports before she left and make arrangements for someone to watch Koshka, her beloved tuxedo cat. Another great thing about getting rid of her ex—she could have whatever pets she wanted in the tiny apartment she rented in downtown Silver Valley.
“Undercover means as long as it takes.” Luther answered, and when she looked at him, his eyes were clear but she saw a shadow that made her mental hackles spike again. Did Luther Darby resent her presence in this operation?
Chapter 4
Luther fought against his impatience as he locked gazes with Kit Danilenko. He’d worked as an FBI agent for ten years and an undercover agent for Trail Hikers the last two years. A case took as long as it took. It didn’t go by any preconceived timelines, no matter how much experience an agent had. He should know—he’d worked on cases from Moscow to Mumbai, Afghanistan to Alabama. They’d all played out differently and over varied lengths of time, from a few days to months on end.
He didn’t want to have to explain anything to Kit—time spent on anything but taking down their ROC targets was wasted. Why now, in the most important case of his career to date, was he being assigned a damn unsworn? Frustration warred with common sense. He didn’t doubt her language abilities and knew he needed them. But to go into the woods where Ivanov lurked with anyone but another officer capable of handling weapons wasn’t high on his list of desirables. Not when they were running against the clock with Ivanov’s planned attempted takeover.
“I understand that undercover can take weeks, months, even longer. I want to make sure I plan appropriately.” Kit raised her chin, emphasizing her high cheekbones, and he saw the flash of defiance—aimed directly at him—in her deep sapphire eyes. Her moon-pale hair was pulled back into a professional French braid but he imagined it was long, straight and silky when down.
What the hell was he doing, thinking about how her hair would feel in bed? In bed? He let out a long sigh. It’d been so long since he’d had time to even think about going on a date, or better, bedding a woman, that he was easily distracted.
Dating colleagues wasn’t necessarily off-limits, but one he was working with in an operational capacity—most definitely forbidden in his mind.
Focus on her uniform. The problem was that her “uniform” was a white blouse, black jacket and black dress pants. Plain enough, and appropriate for an unsworn official. But he sensed that Kit Danilenko was attractive no matter what she wore, because even in this otherwise nondescript suit it was impossible for her to hide her feminine curves. Which he’d noticed the minute she’d walked into Colt Todd’s office. Tight but curvy ass, the kind a woman who knew her way around a gym might have. Full breasts that her button shirt did little to hide. And under that blouse he’d bet she had a tiny waist, with tight abs to match.
Fuuuudge.
“The deal is this, folks. I want you in place well before hunter’s Monday, and it’ll have to be over Thanksgiving. Sorry to bust your holiday plans, but this is critical. You’ll head out to the area no later than early next week. Since Luther has a Jeep, you’ll use that, to prevent the risk of the station’s unmarked cars being a giveaway to ROC. We can’t underestimate their operational intelligence at any point. Plan on being there for at least two weeks, but realistically I hope to hell it’s not that long. It might take a while for Ivanov to show his face again, though. In the meantime, narrow down where the cell phone hits are coming from, and if you can do it, where he’s staying. Determine if Markova’s with him, on her own or otherwise. See if any other ROC are there. You know what’s expected.” Colt looked at Luther, and he nodded at the law enforcement veteran. Luther respected Colt immensely, not in the least because Colt’s wife, Claudia, was the director of Trail Hikers. The woman was as much of a powerhouse as Colt, even more so in reality.
“How...how big are the cabins?” Kit licked her lips and Luther forced himself to return his gaze to the notes on his phone. This could end up being a very long two weeks. If she was as good as he suspected, because Claudia and Colt wouldn’t send anyone less into the field to conduct surveillance against Ivanov, it wouldn’t be more than seventy-two hours. He’d done enough of these types of missions in the past.
None with a woman as mysterious as Kit.
“Most are one room, with bunks or several twin beds. They’re made as places to drop off food and clothing while you spend
all day in the woods, hunting. You’ll both need full hunting gear, rifles, you know—all that makes you appear as the average Central Pennsylvania hunter.” Colt’s explanation kept Luther’s thoughts from going totally into the sexual fantasy realm. “But I’d suggest that, unlike a regular hunting trip, you go light on the Yuengling.” He smiled as he spoke of locally brewed beer that was a nationwide favorite. “Although you might need a break here and there. There’s no telling how long it may take.”
Great. So not only was he going to be working with an unsworn, but Colt thought they were going to be indefinitely in a one-hundred-square-foot room.
“Have you ever fired a weapon?” He was compelled to ask the question. It was fair, but the guarded look in her eyes had an effect he never expected.
He felt like the lowest form of dog crap.
“I’ve fired weapons before, yes. But as an unsworn, it’s not in my job description.” Claudia’s words came back to him. The part about Kit still climbing out of ground zero. Kit might not be an operational agent with his experience, but he didn’t know half the hell she’d lived through, could only imagine it. She deserved his respect.
“Kit’s not authorized to use a weapon in her administrative position here, Luther. Although since she’s with you, I wouldn’t expect her to have to.” Colt Todd’s meaning was clear. Kit was to work comms, period. She’d translate the nuances Luther might miss in any conversations or activity they monitored. He’d protect them both if need be.
Luther nodded. “Got it.”
“Now that you’ve ‘got it,’ where do I meet you?” Kit’s gaze was still on him, and he gave her points for not losing any sense of authority because of his query. His awareness of her was on hyperdrive even as he mentally acknowledged she was his law enforcement partner for the next several days or even weeks.
This was absolutely ridiculous and grossly unfair. Why, when he finally met a woman who turned him on so elementally, did she have to be not only an operational partner but such a young one?
