by Laura Acton
“Yes, I did. How is Saint?”
A sad expression crossed Dan’s face, and he quietly shared, “Brody died. It’s the reason I left the military.”
Clara didn’t miss the grief in Dan’s eyes. “I’m so sorry for your loss. You two were so very close. Inseparable. Saint and Sinner, two halves of a whole.”
“Two gay pansies,” Settimo said hatefully, under his breath.
Dan ignored the jerk. “Yeah, it was hard, but I’m moving forward. This year is easier than last. I’m going to Ottawa to visit my family for Christmas.”
Clara dimly recalled Dan never spoke of family before. “Perhaps when you return we could catch up and rekindle old times. That is if the Sinner hasn’t settled on a Mrs. Right and is still interested in Ms. Right Now.”
Oh, how Clara loved being the Sinner’s Ms. Right Now. Dan was the best lover she ever had … not that she had many. Ballet was her life, and most of her waking hours and many sleeping hours focused solely on dancing. But the nights she spent with Dan had been magnificent and pleasure filled. His rugged, handsome looks, hard body, those hands, and oh those eyes had driven her wild with passion.
“Haven’t been called Sinner in years. Sorry, I’ve found someone, but the relationship is complicated, so I’m not sure where it will lead. Though we could have a friendly drink for old time’s sake.”
“Allie said you knew each other,” Bram said as he sidled up next to Dan. He witnessed the growing agitation in Settimo and wanted to be closer if Dan needed any assistance. That thought almost made him chuckle. Dan wouldn’t need help dealing with a light-weight like Settimo.
Dan made the introductions, “Clara, this is Bram De Haven one of my TRF teammates. Allie, Emilie, and Leslie are his daughters. Bram, this is Clara Preobrajenska. Clara and I met while I was in Special Forces training.”
“Pleased to meet you, Clara,” Bram replied. So Dan has a history with this woman. Interesting. She called him Sinner. Dan’s sure a lady’s man.
“Likewise. You are blessed with three lovely girls.”
Bram corrected with a smile, “Four girls, Sharlie is too young to attend.”
“How wonderful. You are a lucky man.” Clara beamed and then turned to Dan. “So when do you return from Ottawa so we can set a date? I dance most evenings, but I could arrange a night off and let my understudy have a chance to dance.”
Settimo fumed. This pansy was horning in on his woman. His voice filled with exasperation, Settimo ground out, “Clara, I’m tired of waiting, let’s go.”
Clara eyed Settimo. She wearied of him and his unwanted attention. It was time to put him in his place and make it known she was not interested in someone as vapid and self-absorbed as him. “Go then if you are so much in a hurry. I was not expecting you this afternoon. You’re not liked in the least bit by any of the ladies at Pilates. I only agreed to go out with you tonight because I drew the short straw.
“Despite my intentions to honor my pledge to my sisters, I realize now it isn’t worth it. As for tonight, you can forget about that. You are a shallow, vapid, narcissistic, and crude man with no clue that women find you repugnant. You need to leave, or I’ll request you be escorted out. Oh, and it would be the best for all concerned if you didn’t bother returning to class.”
Enraged, Settimo pulled back his hand to slap Clara. His wrist yanked to a halt mid-swing, held in a tight grip.
Dan powerfully grasped Settimo’s wrist. The tone of his voice would make his father proud—filled with icy authority as he commanded, “Do not ever strike a lady. If you attempt to do so again in my presence, you will find yourself picking your teeth up from the ground. That is after you finally come around.”
He released the jerk’s wrist and stepped in front of Clara to shield her from any further attack Settimo might try. “The lady told you to go. I suggest you don’t try anything like you did two days ago. It will not be a simple dunking in a pool and ride home in a squad car this time.”
Explosive Crowns
36
December 20
Outside Grand Palace Theater – 3:15 p.m.
Alpha Team pulled to a halt, exited the SUVs, and converged outside the theater. Units anticipating the request set up a perimeter and began evacuation. Nick directed, “Rob and Ray, go assist with the clearing of the building.”
Jon nodded agreement, and the guys trotted off. He turned to Nick. “So how do you want to do this, Boss?”
Nick surveyed the area a moment. “Mr. Stahlbaum said the note he received at two fifty today said nine premiere ballerinas are the targets if the demands are not met. He doesn’t possess two million to transfer. He and his wife live very modestly because they funnel the majority of their profits into funding dance schools for low-income children around the country.”
Trevor asked, “How can the subject target and blow up only nine?”
Loki came forward carrying his bomb kit. “Probably something on their costumes is my guess.”
“Why do you think that?” Jon trusted Loki but wanted his reasoning.
“Remember the call a few years ago. The guy who hated his boss but liked his co-workers. He rigged a small explosive in the boss’ lanyard. That way it was a directed threat which wouldn’t result in mass causalities. The Nutcracker has a lot of costume elements. I’m sure it would be easy to rig something up.”
Lexa agreed. “What would be the most likely items?”
A look of concentration came over Loki’s face. “Necklaces, tiaras, crowns something around or near the head. A miniature charge would be most effective on the head or neck.”
Jon turned to the laptop sitting on the hood of the truck and examined the blueprints again. “The back is bigger than the front with multiple rooms and storage areas. We need a way to narrow our search down before the deadline passes. How much time remains?”
Nick checked his wristwatch. “Forty-five minutes. The note said the first ballerina dies at four followed by another one every five minutes until the two million is transferred.”
Loki shared his thoughts out loud, “If the bombs are small enough to be embedded in costumes, assuming they are, and the letter implies that once they transfer the money, the killings will stop. I think the explosives must be remotely detonated instead of having a timer attached to them.”
A short, lean, bald man exited the hall and saw the TRF team. He rushed over with his backstage manager in tow. Reaching them his voice panicked, he said, “I’m Mr. Stahlbaum, who is Sergeant Pastore?”
Nick lifted his chin a bit. “That would be me.”
The theater owner stated, “This is Ms. Andersen. She knows the backstage areas like no other.”
“Hello, Christiana.” Nick grinned.
Anxious and concerned, Christiana said, “Hi, Nick. You need to know that Bram, Kellie, their daughters, Dan, and a few others are backstage. I wouldn’t have taken them back if I’d known about this.”
Putting a hand on Christiana’s arm, Nick said calmly, “We know. We were about to call and warn them to leave. Can you tell us which ballerinas might be wearing crowns, tiaras, necklaces?”
Nervously tapping her fingertips together, Christiana thought a moment. “Let’s see. The headpieces worn by the sugar plum fairy and snow queen are rather sizeable crowns. The snowflake dancers all wear smaller tiaras. No one wears necklaces. They only detract from the graceful neck movements. Several wear little wreaths of flowers. Is that what you are looking for?”
Thinking the best way to start checking out Loki’s theory would be with the larger crowns, Nick nodded. “Yes. Where would we find the women who dance those the plum and queen roles?”
Christiana answered quickly, “With Bram and Dan. I took the little girls to meet the premiere ballerinas.”
Jon lifted a brow at the specific wording which was in the ransom note. “Premiere ballerinas?”
Christiana turned to Jon. “It’s what we affectionately call the nine nicest ballerinas. All nine are excellent
dancers, but more importantly, they’re the most kind to little fans we take back for short meet and greets. They share an oversized dressing room because it makes it easier to do the visits.”
Nick didn’t like the sound of this. The wording in the note matched with an inside naming, which meant whoever was behind this had inside knowledge. “Loki, call Dan to alert him about the bombs. He’s familiar enough with explosives, direct him to check a crown before we arrive. Jon, call Bram. Tell him to evacuate his and Trevor’s families from the building.”
Loki and Jon both pulled out phones to comply.
Turning to Mr. Stahlbaum, Nick asked, “Have you been able to think of anyone who might hold a grudge against you? Anyone in the dance company or who works at the theater, even part-time. Any disgruntled guests or contractors?”
The owner shook his head. “No. There’ve been a few dancers in the past, but they’ve all gone on to bigger and better things. Um … no, no one comes to mind.”
Christiana spoke up, “There were a couple of employees who were upset when I got the manager position.”
Nick glanced at Lexa, and without him having to say a thing, Lexa stepped forward. “Mr. Stahlbaum, Christiana, please come with me to the command truck. I need to obtain the names of those people.”
Loki dialed Dan for the third time as Lexa led Christiana and Stahlbaum to the truck. “Come on Dan. Answer the phone,” Loki muttered as his phone continued to ring. “Dan isn’t answering.”
Jon pinched the bridge of his nose as his friend’s phone rang and rang, ending up going to voicemail. “Neither is Bram. Text them the details, Loki.”
Loki’s fingers flew, sending instant messages to both.
Grand Palace Theater – Dressing Room – 3:20 p.m.
Settimo glared at Dan. He could take this pansy in a heartbeat.
Dan felt his cell phone buzzing but ignored it. He could tell Settimo was still deciding if he would make a move or not. Dan was not about to be distracted by a phone.
Bram’s phone vibrated several times, but his attention was on Settimo. The man appeared close to the boiling point. “Settimo, don’t make us escort you out. Go now under your own power.”
A frantic, stout built, older man with graying hair rushed into the room slamming the door closed after him and locked it. Dan’s and Bram’s attention were drawn away from Settimo and to the man who now leaned against the door with a panicked expression.
Clara turned seeing the kind prop manager. “Achbor, what is going on?”
Achbor’s eyes scanned the changing room, dismayed to find more than the ballerinas in here. What am I going to do? TRF showed up. I didn’t plan on that. How the heck did that young pup officer know about the tiaras? I need to force Stahlbaum’s hand. Looking around the room again and seeing little girls he decided that just might do it. Stahlbaum was a tightwad but had a soft spot for children. He would follow through with transferring the money with kids in the room. This might be better than my original plan.
Thinking fast, Achbor came up with a plausible lie. “A police officer told me to secure the door. There is a situation out there. Not sure what, but I overheard something about a crazy person had a gun and tried to rip-off the box office. We’re safe in here with the door locked. The police said they would let us know when it is safe to go out but to sit tight and not to worry.”
Bram and Dan exchanged glances, neither carried their off-duty weapons. They gave slight nods to one another as they wordlessly agreed the best option would be to remain in this locked room and allow the armed police handle the situation. If a subject entered the room, they would take action to protect the innocents.
Lacey, one of the dancers, asked, “Achbor, did they say how long? I had dinner planned with my sisters.”
Achbor shrugged his burly shoulders. “Unsure, Lacey, but I don’t think it will be too long. We’ll all be fine in here. Just go about your business.”
Dan’s phone buzzed again, and so did Bram’s. Both retrieved them and read the text message sent by Loki. We’re outside. Evacuate from the theater now. Bomb threat. Possible explosives in crowns of nine dancers. Might be a remote detonator and tripwires. Be careful and covert, no idea who the subject is yet. Could be anyone.
They stared at each other again, Settimo forgotten entirely. Their heads turned in unison and gazed at the nine women in the room, noting each one wore a crown or tiara. Oh shit!
Scarcely above a whisper, Dan said, “Girls first,” as he texted Loki, Copy.
Bram agreed as his stomach plummeted. Causally he strolled over to Kellie though tension and adrenaline coursed through his body. He pulled Kellie into a hug. He murmured in her ear, “I’ll gather our girls, let Diane know she needs to collect her girls and come to me. I’m getting you all out here.”
Kellie twisted her head to stare at Bram searching for the reason in his eyes and reading dread. “Why?”
“Later. Tell Diane discreetly. Make it appear normal.”
Hearing the utter calm but severe tone in Bram’s voice Kellie only blinked and sucked in a slow breath. Brightly smiling, she spoke in a normal voice, “Love you too.” Unhurriedly, she went to Diane as Bram began to assemble Emilie, Leslie, and Allie close to him.
Kellie caught Diane’s attention. As the wife of another TRF officer, she hoped Diane would remain calm. “Gather Faith and Destiny and follow me.”
Diane inquisitively considered Kellie and saw the almost imperceptible shake of her head as Kellie kept an overly bright smile plastered on her face. Gazing about her, Diane noted Bram unobtrusively collecting his girls. Then she glimpsed Dan skimming the room, much like Trevor did when he worried there might be a threat to the family.
She had no idea what was going on but put on a cheerful smile of her own and nodded. Diane moved first to Faith who was chatting with one of the snowflake ballerinas. Taking her hand and then Destiny’s, Diane strolled to meet Bram and Kellie near the middle of the dressing room.
While Bram had sauntered over to Kellie, Dan scanned the room. The older but muscular man who locked the door appeared nervous and was sweating. Settimo had moved back to sulk and to leer at the dancers. A disgusting man with no respect for women, Dan briefly thought. He dismissed both as unlikely subjects, reasoning a bomber wouldn’t lock himself in the same room.
Dan’s priority at the moment … exfil Bram’s and Trevor’s families swiftly. To do so, they needed another exit. His mind worked and landed on an idea. Clara could tell him if there was another way out of this room. He needed to be close enough to whisper without being heard. Turning to Clara, Dan gave her another WOW smile. “Clara, it has been way too long. If I remember, you had the sweetest kisses.” He moved in for a hug and then a kiss.
When the hot kiss ended, Clara tilted her head and smiled, bemused by the change in Dan but enjoying it nonetheless. “Sinner, my goodness. Oh, those kisses. So hot, they melt my core. And that smile, wow! I missed you so much when you deployed. Sometimes, I wished I could’ve hidden in your duffel bag and gone with you.”
Settimo steamed watching them.
Dan hugged her body close to his, nuzzling her ear and whispering, “Clara, this is vital. I must get the angels out of here. Is there another door?”
Clara tensed in Dan’s embrace. So his kiss isn’t him wanting to rekindle things. I should’ve realized. Sinner would never cheat on a woman, and he said he was in a relationship. Darn.
“Stay relaxed. Please. Just kiss me back,” Dan instructed in a low voice.
Gazing into his reliable sapphire blue eyes, Clara was a little scared, but she believed Dan would always protect her. He and Brody were among the few men she trusted wholeheartedly. A nervous giggle bubbled out.
“That’s it. Act like I said something funny.”
Hoping her voice sounded normal, but knowing it came out higher pitched, Clara said, “Fair’s, fair. One fantastic kiss deserves another. This one is my treat.” She pressed her lips to Dan’s enjoying the sensation a
s she felt herself melt in his arms. Dan’s kisses always did that to her.
As their lips parted slightly, Dan’s voice a mere breath of a whisper he said, “Perfect. Now is there another way out?”
Drawing back a touch more, Clara nodded. Her eyes slipped sideways to the little angels wondering why Dan needed them to leave. She tilted her head to an area about midway in the room and quietly purred, “Behind the rack of clothes is a door to the next room.”
Dan leaned down and kissed her again, whispering, “Tell Bram. He will get them out.”
Clara withdrew from Dan’s arms. “Stay for the evening performance, and afterward we can go someplace private. Here isn’t the best place for our reunion. Too many impressionable eyes. Now let me go talk to my little fans.” She winked, giving him an alluring smile and sauntered towards Bram and the others.
Dan glimpsed the back of her crown, and his heart stopped. If he didn’t know what to look for, he would be none the wiser. Unfortunately, or fortunately, he did. Sweet Clara wore a crown with an explosive attached to it. Damn! Damn! Damn! Why does everyone I care about end up in harm’s way? Can’t for once fate give me a fucking break?
He spun frustrated, and his attention landed on the gray-haired man. He studied the man carefully and reassessed his actions. He said police told him to lock the door. TRF would be evacuating not locking people in if there is a bomb. He’s sweating, nervous, his hands are in his pocket.
A huge red flag popped up over the man’s head as Dan stared at him. Shit! Dan averted his gaze and took out his phone. He texted Loki rapidly, hoping he would understand his shorthand message.
Settimo stalked Clara with his eyes. She rejected him and then kissed the pansy. He turned his eyes on Dan and hatred burned in them. The pretty-boy won’t take what’s mine. No gay pansy will best me. Clara will change her mind after kissing me and drop the blond wimp.
Grand Palace Theater – Near Dressing Room – 3:25 p.m.
Loki’s phone buzzed, reading it as he jogged with the others towards the dressing rooms, he came to a stop. “Wait.”
