Holiday Mountain Conspiracy

by Liz Shoaf

  Hensley’s face literally turned red with anger. “I don’t know what’s going on, and I wouldn’t give credence to anything you’re saying if it weren’t for the man standing beside you, but I’ll play along for the time being because I don’t want my reputation torn to shreds.”

  Mary Grace smiled, but the tone of her words ensured he understood she meant business. “I said I’ll make sure everything works out right for you.”

  Hensley’s face went from red to white. “ I’ll do my part to help with anything you need. I’m a man of the people.”

  Mary Grace said briskly, “Good.”

  Ned was very impressed, and he realized if her brother were anything like his sister, it was no wonder the CIA had recruited him. Mary Grace was the epitome of intrigue.

  Behind the men, Krieger stood at attention and pointed his nose toward a bare tree line. Ned didn’t see anything, but he trusted his dog’s instincts. “Krieger, check the perimeter.”

  Their visitor was visibly shaken when he realized a huge German shepherd had been sitting behind him the entire time.

  “I want everyone to casually walk to their cars and leave quickly. My dog gave me an imminent danger signal.”

  They dispersed swiftly. Ned kept his eyes trained on the wooded area Krieger had pointed out while herding Mary Grace to the car. As he scanned the tree line, the setting sun glinted off the long barrel of a gun. He looked closer and saw an unusual lump about midway up the tree. A sharpshooter. Ned moved fast, just as the first bullet barely missed them and pinged off the car.

  “Mary Grace, get in the car. Now!” he shouted as he whipped his pistol out and started running across the parking lot while firing toward the guy hidden in the tree. Hensley turned, saw what was happening and pulled out his gun. Ned prayed Hensley was innocent in all of this, because if the shooter was someone he’d brought with him, Ned and Mary Grace were in deep trouble.

  * * *

  Mary Grace dove into the driver’s seat. Her hands shook as she turned the key in the ignition. It would be her fault if Ned got shot. She berated herself for always being so stubborn. She had set up this meeting and if someone got killed, she would carry the weight of that for the rest of her life.

  The car roared to life and she hit the gas pedal right when Hensley lifted his gun. She’d have no qualms about running the man down if he dared to turn his weapon on Ned, but when she got closer to them, she realized Hensley was trying to help. Both men were shooting toward the trees.

  She whooshed out a breath of relief as she slammed on the brakes, skidding to a halt right behind Ned. His gun still in his hand, and his eyes scouring the area, he opened the driver’s car door.

  “Scoot over.”

  She wanted to argue that she was perfectly capable of driving the car, but decided this wasn’t the time to argue. She slid into the passenger seat and yelped when Krieger leaped through the open door and landed in the back seat. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Hensley running toward his car, then climbing in to safety.

  Gun still in hand, Ned slid into the car, put it in Drive and drove with one hand, his eyes never leaving the surrounding area. He didn’t slip the weapon into his jacket until they were well clear of the park.

  Both cars had escaped without anyone getting hurt and Mary Grace closed her eyes.

  “Thank You, dear Lord, for protecting us.” She breathed the prayer out loud.

  She lifted her lids and stared out the front window. That had been a close call. Too close. She laid a hand on Tinker Bell’s head, as much to soothe herself as her dog and released a nervous chuckle.

  “Well, I’d say Hensley is in the clear. Bobby’s information must have been wrong.”

  Without saying a word, Ned lifted his brows and glanced at her before looking at the road again. She blew out a breath of frustration.

  “I know what you’re thinking.”

  He didn’t say a word. He was going to make this hard on her, but she really didn’t blame him.

  “Fine, maybe Bobby was wrong about Finn, too, but we still need to follow up on that money in the offshore account in Finn’s name.”

  The man-of-few-words only nodded, and it was maddening.

  “Aren’t you going to say something? Anything?”

  He stayed quiet.

  “Fine, I was wrong to put the two of us and Hensley at risk like that and I want to apologize. It’s just that I’m so worried about Bobby and I really want to find whoever is after us. I have to follow every lead, but I could have handled this differently. Safer.”

  She stared out the window, expecting his condemnation, but was shocked when she sneaked a peek in his direction, unable to believe her eyes.

  Mountain Man was grinning.

  He shocked her when he finally spoke. “The meeting was the right thing to do.”

  Her first reaction was relief that Ned didn’t think she’d messed up big time by placing them in danger, but then she slumped in her seat, thinking about what she planned to do. Her gut declared that Finn was involved, but it was also screaming another name, and if Mary Grace was right, things were about to get much more dangerous than she’d ever dreamed.

  This time she refused to accuse anyone Ned trusted without proof. She prayed he wouldn’t be angry when he learned what she was really preparing to set in motion, but what did it matter? It was very unlikely they’d ever have any kind of a relationship, anyway. There were too many things standing between them.

  It was also the story of a lifetime. She glanced at Ned and wondered where they’d be after this was all over. Would he learn to trust her, or would he walk away forever when he found out she’d once again withheld information?

  EIGHTEEN

  Ned gripped the steering wheel harder as snowflakes swirled and darkness descended, relieved only by the streetlights as they crossed the bridge over the Potomac River.

  “Where are we going? I know it’s not safe to go to my town house.”

  He glanced in the rearview mirror, but didn’t see anyone following them. “I have a small town house in Washington I keep available for whenever I’m in town. Excluding family, no one knows about it, so we can regroup there.”

  Curiosity laced her next question. “Do you spend much time in Washington?”

  After the close call at the park, Mary Grace didn’t seem upset. The woman was pretty remarkable, but Ned ignored the tiny spark in his heart robustly trying to grow into a flame and broached a subject Mary Grace wouldn’t be happy to hear instead of answering.

  “I have a proposition.”

  She slid him a sideways glance. “I don’t like the sound of this.”

  He plowed forward, even though he knew it was probably futile. “The further we get into this thing, the more dangerous it becomes, and I think you should stay behind, where it’s safe.”

  She twisted sideways in her seat and exploded right on cue, the gold in her eyes sparking fire. “Oh, no, you don’t. You might live like a Neanderthal on that mountain of yours, and you might think like one, but I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time and I refuse to hide in safety while you take all the risks. Taking risks is part of my job description and you need me to put my plan into action.”

  Mary Grace reminded him of a frontier woman, soft on the outside but tough at the core, able to endure just about anything thrown her way.

  He grinned, knowing it would drive her crazy. “It was worth a try.”

  He wasn’t surprised when she socked him in the arm and followed that with a fierce glare.

  “Just what exactly is your plan? You were pretty vague with Hensley.”

  She plopped back in her seat and became quiet. Ned sensed her plotting. He was becoming so attuned to her, it was unsettling.

  “I want to do some interviews that will hopefully prompt those responsible for this mess to make a move. We
’ll refine it when we get to the town house.”

  For some reason, Ned couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t telling him everything, but he ignored it because he wanted to trust her as he hadn’t trusted anyone in a long time.

  He pulled into a middle-class neighborhood and pressed the automatic garage door opener he kept on his personal key chain as he guided the car into the driveway of a benign town house, built identical to the others surrounding it. That’s why he’d bought the place. Nothing about it stood out and the neighbors kept to themselves.

  The garage door closed behind them and automatic lights flicked on.

  Mary Grace shifted in her seat. “Somehow, I just can’t imagine Mountain Man living in a town house.”

  Her humor had his lips twitching and his mind shifted gears. He didn’t want to think about someone trying to kill them, or about Finn being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, or the gut feeling that she was plotting again. He’d hidden it, but the shooting at the park had shaken him to the core. He was comfortable with danger, but the thought of anything happening to Mary Grace, the possibility of a world without her in it, even if they weren’t together, was unthinkable.

  Even though he knew it was a mistake, because after this was over they’d go their separate ways, and he wasn’t ready to admit that his feelings might be something...more for Mary Grace, he wanted to kiss her—right here, right now, as affirmation of their survival after the shooting. When she’d driven the car toward Hensley at the park with fierce determination blazing in her eyes, Ned’s heart had almost jumped out of his chest. First in fear for her, and then because he realized she was risking her life to protect him.

  Her eyes widened when he slowly reached across the seat and pulled TB from the dog carrier pouch. He placed the dog in the back seat with Krieger and twisted back around. Mary Grace didn’t move a muscle until he lifted her chin with a finger.

  He was very seldom surprised or caught off guard, but he was startled when she jerked forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head forward. When she placed her lips against his, Ned felt as if he had come home. The world was no longer filled with evil and betrayal, but...possibilities. His heart beat wildly as her kiss brought hope for the future. A future he never dared dream possible for a man like him, a man who’d seen too much of the depraved side of humanity.

  Even in the middle of an impossible dream, Ned’s subconscious instincts stayed focused and he immediately sensed another presence. In one swift move, he pulled away from Mary Grace, shoved her head down, whipped his pistol from inside his jacket and pointed it at the man standing beside his car window.

  He immediately recognized the person and so did Mary Grace. She grabbed Ned’s arm and forced the gun down.

  The joy in her voice reflected a far different reaction than Ned’s.

  “Bobby!”

  * * *

  Mary Grace scrambled out of the car and ran around the hood toward Bobby. She threw her arms around him and squeezed tight. “Thank You, Lord! Thank You for protecting my brother.”

  She pulled back and studied him intently. He was tall and lanky, and although he was twenty-five years old, he still only managed to grow what resembled peach fuzz on his face. He had unkempt dark blond hair and he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose in a familiar, endearing way. Some might call him a nerd, but to Mary Grace he was one of the sweetest, most honest people she knew.

  A blush worked its way up his neck and spread over his face when he reached behind him and tugged a woman forward. With a mixture of shock and confusion, Mary Grace said, “Fran?”

  During their short reunion, Ned had slipped out of the car and was leaning against the driver’s door. He gave his niece a hard stare.

  “Yes, Fran, what are you doing with Mary Grace’s brother?”

  Before Fran had a chance to answer, Bobby stepped forward and squared off in front of Ned, who towered over him, reminding Mary Grace of the large, immovable mountain he lived on. Bobby surprised Mary Grace, first with his bravery, because Ned wasn’t the type of person most people would directly challenge, and second by the accusation in her brother’s voice.

  “You were kissing my sister.”

  Ned growled back, “What are you doing with my niece?”

  Mary Grace had always been the one to protect Bobby, not the other way around. She appreciated his standing up for her, but Ned could squish her brother like a bug if he chose to. Determined to get everyone settled down, she stepped between the men.

  “Let’s take this inside. I’ll make some coffee and we can talk.”

  Bobby looked like he wanted to punch Ned and Ned looked like he wanted to wring answers out of Bobby’s thin neck, which would easily snap under Ned’s large hands.

  She was grateful when Fran stepped forward and grabbed Bobby’s hand. She led him toward a door Mary Grace assumed opened into the town house. Ned’s eyes flared hot when he saw Bobby’s and Fran’s interlocked hands.

  Mary Grace knew she had to defuse the volatile situation. They followed Bobby and Fran through the door Fran had opened after punching in a code. Ned must give his family access to his properties.

  They entered through the kitchen and Mary Grace was disappointed to find nothing personal in the area. The inside of the town house was just as bland as the outside. The living room sat across a small hallway from the kitchen and it appeared as if two bedrooms and baths made up the rest of the small space.

  Bobby and Fran sat on the sofa and Mary Grace winced when she noticed they were still holding hands. Not because she didn’t like Fran, but because of Ned’s reaction. It was obvious he was protective of his niece and Mary Grace had experienced his fierce protectiveness.

  Ned took a seat in a cushy chair, leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest like a big grumpy bear. The two men glared at one another and Fran looked miserable.

  “Let me make some coffee and then we’ll talk,” Mary Grace said.

  Mr. Man-of-Few-Words laid down the law. “No coffee. We talk now, and it better be good.”

  Mary Grace knew when to gracefully give in. She took the only other chair in the room. Tinker Bell jumped in her lap, Krieger lay on the floor beside her and she started the ball rolling. Better coming from her than Ned.

  She managed a wobbly smile. “Bobby, I’m so glad you’re alright. I was worried.”

  Bobby tore his gaze away from Ned. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. You know I would never intentionally put you in danger.”

  “Of course you wouldn’t,” she responded swiftly, knowing in her heart that his words were true. Bobby was naive and too trusting and at times people tended to abuse that sterling quality.

  Bobby glanced at Fran, tightened his grip on her hand and sat up straighter. “I know you’ve had to pull me out of a few scrapes over the years, and I appreciate that, sis, but I’m a man now. I’m responsible for my own actions.”

  Mary Grace wanted to cheer and cry at the same time. Bobby had grown up and she had to accept that fact. It was no longer her job to look out for bullies and people who might hurt him.

  Ned leaned forward in a threatening manner, placing his elbows on his thighs, and Mary Grace forced herself not to jump into the fray again. Bobby was right. He was twenty-five. Time to stand on his own. She suspected Fran had something to do with Bobby’s newfound courage and she applauded the woman for bringing her brother out of his timid shell.

  “I suggest you start at the beginning, and I advise you to leave nothing out because not only have you placed your sister in danger, somehow you have dragged my niece into this mess.”

  Ned’s words hung in the room like shards of ice, but Mary Grace settled back in her chair. She sent up a quick prayer that this would end well, because judging by the way Fran and Bobby were gazing at each other, she just might be involved in Ned’s life whether he wa
nted her there or not. She felt a momentary pang at the thought, but focused her attention on Bobby’s explanation.

  He gazed directly at Ned and Mary Grace’s heart burst with pride.

  “As I’m sure you know, I was recruited straight out of college by the CIA based on certain aptitude tests I took. They offered to pay off my school loans if I agreed to work for them for five years.” He smiled at Fran before continuing. “I only have one more year left, and after that I’d like to create Christian video games based on Bible stories.”

  “I’m not interested in what you do in the future, but what you’ve done in the past. Your future will be determined by that,” Ned interjected in a harsh voice.

  Mary Grace gave her brother credit, instead of squirming in his seat, he faced Ned like a man.

  “My job is to analyze information and occasionally assist with missions that require help with computerized security cameras and such. They never explain what, or where, the mission is, just what my small part of the job will be and when I should do it.”

  Ned gave him a hard look and Bobby’s words came out faster.

  “What no one is aware of is that I have another talent. I love puzzles and I can pretty much decipher any code. Everything I worked on had information they didn’t want me to see in code.” He shrugged. “I guess they assumed it was safe from prying eyes.”

  Ned nodded. “Go on.”

  Bobby took a deep breath and continued, “They put me on standby—which means I had to be at my desk, ready to move—to disable some security cameras in a certain art gallery. I got curious and searched for the file that fit the timeline of my assignment. I found it, and when I realized what I was looking at, I was shocked. Everyone I work with had heard of Ned but no one knew his true identity. I’d heard all kinds of stories about the man, but didn’t believe half of them. It was impossible for one man to have done all that.”

  Ned leaned back in his chair in a relaxed position, but Mary Grace knew him well enough to know he was strung as taut as a bowstring. She watched both men, willing Bobby to move it along. Curiosity was eating her alive.