by Kathy Ivan
“Mr. Drury, this is not an interrogation, it’s an informal inquiry into an accident and attempted kidnapping in Central Texas. I’m sure you understand the gravity of the situation. We have to cover all angles and investigate any facts to determine the guilty parties involved.”
“Kidnapping? Now you’ve definitely piqued my interest. Who’d they attempt to snatch?”
The smirk on Drury’s face made Antonio’s hand itch to slap it right off his smug face. With his wife corroborating his alibi, Drury knew Antonio couldn’t touch him. Yet. He’d have to sit tight and wait for the evidence from the car search. SAC Williamson was having somebody check with the car rental agency to see if they could get a description of the person who’d rented the sedan, but until then, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“I’m afraid that’s privileged information. Do you have any idea why someone would want to implicate you in this situation?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“What about Big Jim Berkley’s case? I heard he’s eligible for a new trial thanks to you. Congratulations.” It left a nasty taste in his mouth, saying those words, but he needed to make the little weasel think he was off the hook, even if only temporarily. “Any chance this could be related?”
Drury seemed to think about his question for a moment. “Doubtful. It wasn’t announced until yesterday, so nobody outside of the Department of Justice was aware of the reversal of the previous decision. Afraid I can’t think of a single reason why somebody would think I’d be involved, Mr. Boudreau.”
“Well, I had to ask. Cover all the bases, you understand. Mrs. Drury, were you at home all day yesterday as well?”
Corinne nodded, her arms still wrapped around her husband’s waist. She hadn’t torn herself from his side since the moment he’d rocketed through the door. Antonio didn’t believe for one nanosecond either was telling the truth, but without any corroborating evidence, he had to walk away. But this wasn’t over, not by a long shot. He’d have Drury in handcuffs for what he did to Serena, and it looked like his wife might be right by his side in a jail cell for perjury.
“You’ve answered all the questions I have at this time.” He pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to Drury. “If you think of anything, give me a call. I’d like to get this case settled and find out who’s behind the attempted kidnapping.”
Drury took the card and shoved it into his pocket. “We will.”
Antonio gave Drury one final look, reading the satisfaction in the other man’s eyes. He honestly thought he’d gotten away with trying to abduct Serena. Let him believe that, because his days as a free man were numbered.
It was a promise.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Serena elevated the bed higher so she was partially sitting up. Flipping through the channels on the TV wasn’t helping. She couldn’t stop thinking about Antonio. He’d kissed her! Did it mean something more than a simple kiss or was she reading way too much into the simple gesture?
A quiet knock on the door drew her thoughts away from the kiss to the man standing inside her room. He was tall, with sandy brown hair and a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes. A Stetson in his hand, along with his formal bearing, told her more than words he was some kind of fed. Either FBI or maybe Texas Rangers, but he was definitely government.
“Ms. Berkley?”
“I’m sorry, but no, I’m Serena Snowden.”
He walked further into the room and closed the door quietly behind him. When he pulled off the sunglasses, his startling green eyes speared her, telling her he saw straight through her lie. “I’m Derrick Williamson, FBI. I’m the Special Agent in Charge from the Austin office. I’d like to talk to you about your uncle, James Berkley.”
“I told you—”
“Don’t bother to lie, I have all the proof I need to know you are Sharon Berkley, but if it makes you more comfortable, I’ll call you Ms. Snowden.”
Serena threw her hands up. “Fine, call me whatever you want. You obviously know everything.”
He pulled a chair up beside the bed and eased his lanky frame onto the seat. “How are you doing? I heard about the accident.”
“Antonio called you?”
Williamson shook his head, a lock of hair falling across his forehead. It gave him a younger, more approachable look. “I was already on my way here. Antonio and Rafe convinced me to let the Boudreaus protect you at their ranch. I agreed, since they assured me you’d be safer there than in witness protection.”
“Oh.” Guilt speared through her, remembering how she’d disobeyed the one thing Antonio asked, and left the ranch without taking anybody with her. It was her fault he was in trouble, and she couldn’t let him take the rap. “Antonio’s not to blame. I’m the one who didn’t listen, who left the ranch without backup. He’s not responsible.”
She watched Williamson’s lips turn up at the corners, but couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He was a hard man to read. “Ms. Snowden, Mr. Boudreau isn’t in trouble. He’s doing his job, like I’m doing mine. Which is why I’m here on a Sunday, instead of at home with my son, watching football.”
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s enough blame to go around. I have to admit, I admire your ability to stay off the grid and under the government’s radar. Not a lot of people can. I’m impressed.”
“It wasn’t like I had a lot of choice,” Serena mumbled under her breath.
“You’re right.” Her head jerked up at his response. He’d heard her muttered comment, and she felt heat rush into her face. “Witness protection failed you not once, but twice, and for that you have my sincerest apologies. I’ve been assured the party who leaked your information to an outside source is now spending quality time behind bars. But I’m a skeptical man by nature, and like Boudreau, I can’t be one hundred percent confident all the holes have been plugged, which is why I agreed to his proposal for you to stay at his parents’ ranch.”
“And I pulled a rookie stunt and blew everything to smithereens.”
“I’m hopeful we can salvage things. Can you tell me about your accident? How much do you remember?”
“I went over all this with Antonio and again with Rafe.”
Williamson nodded. “I know, and I’ve got copies of their reports, but I’d like to hear your version. Now some time has passed, maybe you’ll remember something you didn’t before. Let’s start from the beginning.”
Serena told him exactly what she’d told Antonio and Rafe, about getting the phone call from Mr. Olson and heading out to meet him. Explained how she’d been hit by the car and pushed off the road. The shock at finding out her uncle’s lawyer, Jonathan Drury, was the driver of the other car. Williamson listened intently, not interrupting, which was a rarity because both Rafe and Antonio had stopped her throughout the retelling with a myriad of questions.
“You mentioned Drury said you were his ticket to freedom. Any idea what he meant?”
“Not a clue, but that’s what he said. I was his ticket to freedom and he was going to cash it in.”
Williamson leaned back in the chair, and stared out the window, not saying a word. Serena wondered what she’d said, because it was like he was turning something over in his mind, putting all the puzzle pieces together. Maybe he’d be able to figure out something from Drury’s odd comments. She’d wracked her brain for the answer, and all she’d come up with was Drury holding her for ransom and blackmailing her uncle. She knew that wouldn’t work. Big Jim would as soon kill him as pay him, and Drury should know he’d never get away with trying to bamboozle Big Jim Berkley.
“Mr. Williamson?”
His attention snapped back to her. “Sorry, toying with a couple of ideas I need to check. Is there anything you need, Ms. Snowden?”
“Call me Serena. What’s going to happen now? Am I going to Austin or D.C.?”
A brief smile tugged at his lips and was gone so fast, Serena wasn’t positive she’d actually seen it. He stood and picked up his hat, placi
ng it atop his head and pulled his sunglasses out of his pocket.
“I think you need to stay exactly where you are, Serena. Boudreau can take you back to his family’s ranch once the docs discharge you. The sheriff assures me he’s got officers lining up for bodyguard duty, and I’m going to make sure we’ve got a couple of FBI agents here as well.”
The knot in the middle of Serena’s chest loosened, and she felt like she could breathe again. “Thank you.”
“I know it’s got to be hard, knowing your uncle is getting another trial and you’re probably going to have to testify again. For what it’s worth, I think you’re an extremely brave young lady.”
Serena huffed out a laugh. “Funny, I don’t feel brave.”
Williamson pulled a card out of his pocket, wrote something on the back, and handed it to Serena. “My personal cell number is on the back. If you need me for anything—anything—call me. I can be here in less than two hours.”
“Thanks.” She tapped the card against her bandaged hand. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“How long do you think it’s going to be before my uncle goes to court? I don’t want to impose on the Boudreaus for any longer than needed.”
At her words, Williamson chuckled. “I doubt they look on you as a burden. Especially Antonio. As for your question, the DOJ is pushing for an early date. But, and this is only speculation on my part, if Drury is up to his neck in behind-the-scenes machinations, like your accident, it could push the date back by several months. Possibly years.”
She leaned back against the pillow, grimacing. “Great. My life is never going to get back to normal, is it?”
“It will. I promise.” He started for the door. “I’ll call you or Antonio as soon as I hear anything. Get some rest, and this time stay put.”
She watched him close the door behind him, leaving her to wonder if her life could get any suckier. As much as she loved Douglas and Ms. Patti, she couldn’t live with them for months, much less years.
It was time to bring out the big guns. The one secret her uncle thought nobody knew. Too bad she knew, and she had enough dirt for the Great State of Texas put a needle in his arm.
She didn’t intend to fold and walk away. Not this time. She had the winning hand, and intended to play it. Picking up the phone, she started dialing.
Serena listened to the ringing on the other end of the phone, half hoping nobody answered. This was the day she’d dreaded, knowing deep in her gut, she’d one day make this call. Even with everything she’d been through—Big Jim’s trial, witness protection, and being on the run—she’d always held something back, because once it became known, the life she’d built in Shiloh Springs would be over.
“Hello?” The male voice on the other end of the phone sounded like she’d woke them. A quick glance at the clock, and she winced, having forgotten the time difference. Viktor worked odd shifts, and usually slept during the afternoons. He’d probably only been asleep for a couple of hours.
“Sorry, Viktor, I forgot about the time difference.”
“Sharon? Girlfriend, is that you?”
She gave a shaky laugh. “Yeah. Long time, right?”
“I haven’t heard from you in over two years. Means something bad happened, right?”
“You might say that. He found me.”
A vicious string of curses followed her words, and she eased the phone away from her ear, silently waiting for Viktor’s rant to end. Viktor knew exactly what it meant for Big Jim to have found her, since he’d been one of the men instrumental in helping her escape from his clutches more than once, after the last time relocating to Alaska, to be as far away from Big Jim as possible and still be in the States.
“You finished?”
His gruff growl was answer enough. “What happened? Besides somebody screwing up, that is.”
“It’s too long a story to go into right now, and I’ve got a concussion, so if I sound kinda loopy, that’s why.”
“Concussion? He hurt you? Son of a—”
“Stop! He didn’t do it, not personally. Jonathan Drury ran me off the road and then I hit my head. Like I said, I don’t have time for all the details now. I’ll explain everything when I can. I need…” She trailed off, knowing what she asked for next would change everything, because the information she’d kept hidden spelled disaster not only for Big Jim, but for her.
“Sharon. You okay, girl? Tell me where you are and I’ll be on the next plane.”
“No, don’t. I—I need you to get something for me, though.” She hated asking Viktor to do what she couldn’t. Being stuck here in the clinic, with an FBI guard, severely limited her options, and she was down to her last one.
“Anything. You know you can ask me anything and you’ve got it.” The affection in Viktor’s voice was unmistakable, and she felt it wrap around her like a snuggly blanket she wanted to burrow beneath and never come out. That was impossible now. Big Jim had gone too far. While she was afraid for herself, all she could think about was her uncle going after the man she loved. She’d do anything to protect him.
“I need you to get something for me. Something I hid when I went into witness protection.”
“I’m assuming since you’re calling me, contacting the government is out of the question?”
“I kind of ran away from them after my neighbor was killed when my uncle’s men found me the first time.”
Another string of curses echoed over the phone. She smiled at Viktor’s colorful use of language. She’d forgotten how much he cussed when he got upset, and he’d definitely learned some new words since the last time they’d spoken. Funny, even though she rarely cursed herself, she’d sort of missed Viktor’s outrageous turn of phrase.
“Stop. I don’t have much time.” She lowered her voice to a whisper, even though the guard stood outside her partially-open door. “Do you remember the picture I gave you before the trial? The framed one of you and me?”
“Of course. It’s sitting on my dresser right now.” Viktor’s voice was tinged with curiosity, and a little bit of why-in-the-world-are-you-asking-me-about-a-picture.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, Serena rubbed at her forehead with one hand, the headache she’d been fighting roaring in with an unexpected fierceness. She needed to ask the nurse for some pain medication, but it would have to wait until she finished her call. This was too important now, she was too close to taking down Big Jim.
“Get it. Please.”
“Okay, hold on a sec.” She heard the bedsprings squeaking, and Viktor’s grumbling the whole time, until he came back on the line. “Now what?”
“Sorry, but you’re going to have to bust the frame. In the bottom piece, there’s a small thumb drive.”
“Wait, what? You’re kidding me. Alright, hang on, I have to put down the phone, because I need two hands.”
The silence on the other end seemed to last an eternity, even though it was mere seconds. She caught herself chewing on her thumbnail, and thrust it under the blanket. Darn it, she’d broken that habit years ago, and didn’t need to start again.
“Got it. What ya want me to do with it?” Viktor paused and then his voice grew louder. “Don’t tell me this has something to do with your uncle on it? Sharon, I swear, have you lost your mind?”
“Viktor, I needed insurance. If for any reason my uncle had gotten off, I needed leverage with the feds, something big enough that my uncle couldn’t sweep it under the table, or use his influence to get out from under. That drive is the only thing I have left, and it’s enough to keep him behind bars for a very long time.”
“I don’t get it. He’s already behind bars, isn’t he?”
“His lawyers have gotten him an appeal. I—I can’t let that happen. He’s a monster, and he’s hurt too many people. He’s still hurting people. My uncle’s reign of terror ends now.”
Viktor sighed. “What do I do with your thumb drive?”
Serena glanced at the doorway befor
e answering. “I need you to fly to Texas as soon as you can. Whatever it takes. Get to Austin. Take that drive to the FBI, and give it to Special Agent in Charge Derrick Williamson. Nobody else. Promise me, Viktor. Promise me you won’t even look at it. Guard it with your life, because that’s the only copy I have, and if anything happens to it, Big Jim will crucify me.”
“Whatever this is, you’re sure it’s enough to take him down for good?”
Serena felt a tingle sweep down her spine, remembering the videotape contained on the hard drive, the one she’d risked everything to make. “I’m sure.”
“Alright, I’m going to catch the next flight I can get to Texas. Derrick Williamson, that’s who you said?”
“Yes. I trust him. Tell him—tell him I trust him to do the right thing with it.”
“Okay, you’ve got my word. I want this over—for you and for me. I’m still looking over my shoulder, waiting for somebody from Berkley’s group to catch up with me. If he even suspected that I’m the one who fed you information, he’d have a bounty on my head faster than I could turn around. I’m scared and feel stupid because I actually believed all the snake oil he pedaled as gospel.”
“A whole lot of people did, Viktor. But you helped take him down once, and getting that thumb drive to Agent Williamson will be the final nail in Big Jim’s coffin. You’re a good friend. I’ve missed you so much.”
Viktor cleared his throat, the sound audible though he tried to muffle it quickly. “You too. Okay, I’m going to get a flight scheduled and get my butt to Austin. Love you, girlfriend.”
“Love you too, Viktor.”
With a softly whispered goodbye, she hung up the phone and prayed Viktor got the information to Williamson, and that she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Hey, Rafe, find out anything about the rental car?” Antonio tapped his fingertips on the steering while, while he inched along in traffic.
