by Lisa Harris
She stepped out of the bathroom, surprised to see Jack standing there. “I wasn’t sure if you were still here.”
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“How do you like my battle scars?” She pulled back her hair to reveal three even stitches.
“Let’s just say I’d hate to tangle with you in some dark alley. You always could hold your own and today proved that.”
She chuckled. “What about you?”
“Beyond a couple scrapes on my legs from the fish hook, I’m fine.”
Her smile faded. “Have you heard an update on Papps? One of the nurses promised to check for me, but I’m still waiting.”
“I spoke with the nurse liaison on my way here.”
Her pulse picked up. “How is he?”
“He’s out of surgery and in his own room. They recovered the bullet, repaired the wound, and made sure there’s no further internal bleeding. The next twenty-four hours will be telling, but the doctor is optimistic that he’ll make a full recovery.”
She sighed with relief. “He’s a fighter. He’ll make it.”
Because he had to. Grant McKenna was the closest thing to family she had. And losing him . . . well, that just wasn’t an option.
“Can I see him?”
“I asked about that as well, and you can, but only for a few minutes. I’ll also see if he recognizes our shooter at the same time, since they’re wanting to limit his visitors for the next twenty-four hours.”
“Thank you for finding out for me.”
“Of course. His family is gathered in the waiting room up on the third floor right now. You can see them after you visit Papps.” Jack cupped his hand around her elbow as they started for the row of elevators. “They wanted me to assure you if you needed anything else to let them know, and that you’re welcome to stay at the house as long as you want.”
“I appreciate that. They’ve always been so good to me.”
Jack pushed the button for the third floor, and she leaned against the elevator wall, facing him.
“How are you doing?” she asked him. “This has been a tough few hours for you too, even though it could have been a lot worse.”
“I know. For both of us. And I’m fine.”
“I almost lost both you and Papps.”
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “But you didn’t.”
She blinked back the tears, hating the feelings of vulnerability she was trying to combat. “It’s strange being on the other side. I’m used to being the one helping the victims. Now I am the victim, trying to work out in my mind what just happened, and why they took me.”
“I know you’re strong, Bree, but don’t dismiss the impact of what just happened. It’s easy to suppress trauma in our profession. If we do, it will end up affecting our lives, our careers, and the lives of those around us. And when it’s personal, like this was . . .”
She glanced at him and met his gaze. “I know, and I won’t.”
“One other thing. As soon as we’re done here, I’ve been asked to escort you down to the police station so they can get an official statement from you.”
“You know I want to do anything I can to find out who did this, but an FBI escort?” She shook her head. “Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
“You can call this an unofficial escort if you’d like, but you were kidnapped, Bree. Even if the senator was the target, you’re still involved. And until we know what’s going on, I, for one, am not willing to take any chances. Besides, once you’re done there, I thought it might give us a chance to go out for lunch and catch up under more . . . normal circumstances.”
Normal. She let out a low laugh. Today had been anything but normal. “I’d like that.”
But she couldn’t shake what he’d said. People who dealt with trauma on a daily basis—like law enforcement, the military, and emergency personnel—often struggled to erase the images they’d seen, only to find themselves replaying the violence over and over in their minds. Still, it was hard to interpret her own feelings. Her nerves were on edge, and she couldn’t press down the adrenaline that was still running through her. But just because this was personal didn’t mean she could let fear take hold.
The doors opened on the third floor. She stepped out of the elevator and followed Jack down the hallway. It was a fine line she was determined to stay on the right side of—the one that separated being a victim from being a survivor.
She glanced at Jack’s lean profile. There was an added air of confidence to the strong, down-to-earth personality she remembered. She’d always known he’d go far, and he’d clearly excelled. She still wasn’t sure how they’d grown so far apart after all the years they’d spent as best friends. Her memories of high school and college were late-night study sessions and hanging out on weekends when he always managed to make her laugh so hard she snorted.
And then she’d started dating Adam.
That was when the shift had begun.
At the time, she wondered what Jack would think about her decision and even confronted him about it one afternoon over a box of macaroni and cheese. He shrugged any concerns off like it was no big deal and told her she’d always be his best friend, and who she dated wasn’t going to change that.
But he was wrong. Nothing was ever really the same between them after that. He decided to move away, and eventually their communication became less and less. She broke things off with Adam, but while she and Adam managed to salvage their friendship, she always felt as if she lost Jack in the process. Something she always regretted.
She stopped next to him in front of Papps’s room, knowing she was going to have to leave the past where it belonged. All of what happened between her and Jack had taken place years ago, and while she was thankful for a chance to catch up with him, he would make sure she got to the police station safely, then go back to work on the case that had brought him down to Corpus in the first place. And that’s the way it should be.
Jack waited in the doorway while she walked inside the room where Papps lay. Machines beeped quietly behind him. His face and lips were pale, and they’d put him on oxygen. But he was alive. It was hard to believe that only a few hours ago they’d been sitting out beneath the night sky, talking about the past and looking forward to a morning of duck hunting. Now he was lying here, fighting for his life. I need to find out who did this, Jesus. Please show me what to do.
She sat down on the bed and took his hand, noticing the age spots and prominent veins. He’d always been a rock to her. Someone who knew how to stay grounded no matter what was going on around him. Today reminded her that he was as vulnerable as anyone else.
He looked up at her and smiled.
“Papps . . . I’m so, so sorry.”
“Me too.” He drew in a slow breath. “Thankfully, they were able to patch me up and they told me I should make it, but what about you? I heard you scream—”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“You don’t look fine.” He reached up and brushed her hair away from her forehead where the stitches were. “What did he do to you?”
“There was a fight, but I won.”
“Did you find out who he is?”
“The authorities are still looking for answers, but he’s in custody.” She was worried what would happen if Papps started getting worked up. In order to recover, he needed to rest, and getting agitated wouldn’t help. “They’ll figure out what happened.”
“I talked to the police right before I went into surgery,” he said.
“You don’t need to worry about that right now.”
“But I do. I’m to blame for what happened out there to you. This is my fault.”
“This is anything but your fault.” She shook her head. “I’m heading down to the police station right now to give my statement. I’ll be back later. I promise.”
“I just don’t want anything to happen to you. You’re like a daughter to me.”
Aubrey blinked back the tears. “And you’ve been
a father to me. You’ve always made me feel like I was a part of your family. Always made me feel like I had a place to belong. But for now, all that matters is that you’re alive, and that the doctors are expecting a full recovery.”
“Senator McKenna?” Jack had stepped up next to her, holding his phone. “I’m glad to see that you’re out of surgery and recovering, sir.”
“It’s good to see you again, Jack. I heard from someone that you’re an FBI agent now?”
“Yes, I am, sir. I wondered if I could ask you a couple quick questions.”
“Of course.”
“I understand you spoke briefly to the police before you went into surgery, but that you weren’t able to remember much of anything.”
“That’s true.”
“Have you been able to remember anything more since then?”
Papps shook his head. “I wish I could have told them more, but I never saw anything. One moment we were enjoying the sunrise and the next moment I realized I’d been shot.”
Jack nodded. “I understand. They’re not going to let us stay much longer, so I just have one more question. Do you recognize this man?” He handed the senator his cell phone.
“Is that the man who shot me?”
Jack nodded.
Papps studied the photo. “He doesn’t look familiar. I’m typically good with names, but I’ve come into contact with so many people over the years . . .” He shook his head. “No, I don’t recognize him.”
Jack slipped the phone back into his pocket. “That’s okay. We’ll figure out who he is.”
Papps caught Aubrey’s gaze. “You’ve never seen him either?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“My sons are working to provide the police with a list of potential suspects, but it’s going to take a while.”
Jack held up his hand. “The authorities have a couple of leads and are searching for whoever is behind this, so all you need to think about right now is getting better.”
“I agree.” One of the nurses stepped into the room and stopped at the foot of the bed. “I’m sorry, but I have to ask the two of you to leave. The senator needs to rest.”
Aubrey glanced at Jack. “Of course.”
Papps reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Just promise me two things before you go.”
“Anything.”
“Be careful, and until they find out what’s going on, don’t take any risks.”
She kissed him on the cheek, then smiled. “You know I’ll do both.”
“Take care of her, Special Agent Shannon.”
“Yes, sir. I will.”
They left the room and headed toward the waiting room where the family had gathered. Aubrey sighed. “It’s hard seeing him so weak. He’s always been such a rock to me and now . . . and now he almost died.”
“You were right. He’s a tough old man. I have a feeling this isn’t going to stop him for long.”
“Jack . . .” Adam strode through the waiting room door toward them.
“Hey, Adam, what have you got?”
“I have some news. We’ve just identified the senator’s shooter. His name is Thomas Hwang. It’ll take some time, but we’re working to identify the contacts in his phone.” Adam handed Aubrey a piece of paper. “In the meantime, I need to know if you recognize any of these names. I’ll have the senator look through them as well.”
She scanned the page, then shook her head. “I don’t recognize any of them, but I would like to cross-reference them with my recent cases so I don’t miss something.”
“Of course. You can keep this and get back to me if you find a connection.”
Jack took a step forward, his hand out. “Can I look at them?”
“Sure.” Aubrey handed him the paper.
“You said Thomas Hwang?”
“Yes,” Adam said.
“His face wasn’t familiar, but I recognize the name.”
“Who is he?” Aubrey asked.
“He’s wanted for questioning by the FBI. He’s suspected of being part of a network that recruits US citizens in order to steal intelligence and military secrets.” Jack’s brow furrowed as he handed the list back to her. “Thomas Hwang is a spy, and one of the reasons I’m here.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
JACK’S MIND SCRAMBLED to put together the pieces of the bizarre coincidence as Adam pulled them into the empty prayer room filled with a dozen padded chairs and a stained-glass window in the front. The connection between his case and Bree was something he wanted to dismiss, except the facts were staring him in the face. Thomas Hwang was the man who’d shot the senator and snatched Bree. And he was on the list of suspects he’d come here to find.
Jack had worked the case for the past thirteen months. Two days ago, they finally caught a solid lead, and he ended up flying here in order to chase it down. So while he had no idea how the two cases were related, there had to be a connection.
“Jack . . . Jack?”
Jack’s attention shifted to his brother. “Sorry.”
“I’m just trying to figure out what you’re saying. You believe there’s a connection between the case that brought you here and what happened this morning?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but yes. He’s part of what we call the Albatross File.”
“What’s that?” Bree asked.
“We’ve been working on a series of threats where the Chinese are targeting US intelligence. We discovered a spy ring that’s using a secure source-messaging browser to share files and documents. The setup is actually a bit old school, but they create a chatroom and have other users join them. The chat names and usernames are always birds.”
“Thus the Albatross File,” Adam said.
Jack nodded. “Once we discovered how they were communicating, we started working on a way to decode what they were doing. Tracking them down has been difficult, but a couple days ago I got a lead that several of them were here in Corpus. The problem is, we don’t have real names or any photos.”
“So you came here to see if you could track them down,” Bree said.
“Yes, but when I met up with Adam for breakfast, and he told me you were missing . . . I couldn’t exactly leave when I found out.”
“Have you thought that it could simply be a coincidence?” Bree sat down on one of the cushioned chairs and rested her arms against her thighs. “There’s got to be dozens of Thomas Hwangs. And you mentioned selling secrets, and spies, but I can assure you the senator is no traitor and would never get involved with someone like that.”
Jack paused before continuing, not ready to make any assumptions at this point. “I’m not implying he’s involved, but I do believe it’s possible he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe both of you were. I’m just looking at the facts. Just like we can’t yet rule out the possibility of Nico being involved. But if there is a connection with the Albatross File, and if we can finally get our hands on a list of names through Hwang’s phone . . .”
He hesitated again, the worry in Bree’s eyes evident. He knew how much the senator had meant to her and her mother growing up, and she’d never believe he could betray his country unless the facts were indisputable. He just needed to ensure they looked at all the facts before coming to any conclusions.
“Let’s look at what we do know.” She leaned back in the chair, clearly exhausted, and yet not ready to back out of the fight. “All of this has seemed targeted and planned. Shooting Papps, my abduction, and even the drive-by at the dock.”
“I have to agree,” Adam said. “You were off the beaten path when the senator was shot, but it definitely seemed planned.”
“What about the boats?” Jack asked.
Adam frowned. “Unfortunately, both boats they used were stolen.”
Jack could tell Bree was trying to distance herself from the situation and look at it objectively, but that wasn’t possible, and they both knew it.
“What about the photos Jack took?” Bree asked. “Were you able to iden
tify the men?”
“Not yet. The pictures are being run through facial recognition software.”
Jack made a quick decision. “I need to talk to Hwang. Alone.”
Adam shrugged. “I’m not sure I’m the one who can arrange that. Technically, I’m not in charge anymore.”
“Then I can arrange it.” He pulled out his FBI badge and held it up. “If there’s even a hint that he’s connected to my case—which there is—the FBI is officially getting involved.”
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, Jack walked into the room where their prisoner was handcuffed to the metal frame of his hospital bed. The intended kill shot had missed its target and was going to leave a nasty scar, but at least he wasn’t going to die from it. Which Jack was thankful for. He also hoped that any pain medicine the man had been given wasn’t going to impede his memory or his judgment.
Jack sat down beside the bed. There was a bandage covering the spot where the bullet had struck and a bruise on Hwang’s cheek where Bree had managed to hit her target. After his day, the man was lucky to be alive.
“I’m FBI Special Agent Jack Shannon. We met out on the boat a couple hours ago after you kidnapped Detective Grayson.”
The man’s jaw twitched, but he just continued staring straight ahead.
“Here’s the thing,” Jack said. “You might believe, like you did earlier on the boat, that keeping silent is somehow going to make all of this go away, but you’re wrong. We know you shot the senator, and we know you kidnapped Aubrey Grayson. There’s no question about either of those. On top of that—you’re going to think this is humorous, or at the least a crazy coincidence—I’ve been looking for you in connection to a Chinese spy ring. So if I were to do a bit of calculating, I’d say that the charges that are about to be brought against you will probably add up to life in prison. Not to mention the fact that someone tried to assassinate you this morning. With all that against you, I’m not sure silence is your friend right now.”
Piercing black eyes stared straight ahead. “You don’t know anything.”
