Witness Pursuit

by Wadsworth, Joanne

  “In a safe-house.”

  His blue eyes twinkled. “Okay, keep your secret. I’ll find out, my way.” He released her and headed for the door. “I’ll go get Brigs.”

  She straightened the room while he was gone then plopped onto the pinstriped couch. Shoving her hands under her knees, she gripped the cushioning. He was impossible, and insinuating himself into her life with such determination she wasn’t sure she could stop him.

  What would she do?

  Brigs strode into the room, his brows drawn together. “Hey, you look worried. We’ll sort this. I have the newscast, so let’s get a start on that.” He placed a slim digital device on her lap as he sat beside her and set it to play.

  Tyler eased in on her other side and tucked her under his shoulder.

  The footage rolled, and Johnny’s father, John Taita Senior, stood before several journalists with microphones. Taita wore his customary suit and collared white business shirt, his eldest daughter behind him with her head bent. Surrounding them, more family crowded.

  Her heart cried out for them, for their loss.

  “Are you listening?” Tyler picked up her shaky hands, laid them on his leg, and pressed his hand over top.

  Giving a nod, she focused on Taita Senior who said, “I come before you today, more than twelve months after my son’s murder, to plead with the people of New Zealand. If any of you bore witness to Johnny’s hit-and-run, or have any information which could lead to the arrest of my son’s murderer, then come out of hiding and see that justice is done.” He paused to stare straight into the camera. “No more shall you flee.”

  She shuddered, for it was as if he spoke directly to her. “Does he know I’m the witness?”

  Tyler squeezed her hand. “Information regarding eyewitnesses is strict. He can’t get it.”

  “Perhaps you missed what I said about the news headline. A reporter’s fairly given my name away. How did the journalist find out who I was? Who leaked the information? Taita must know it’s me. That message was personal, although what more he thinks I can do, I have no idea.”

  Brigs sat forward, balled his hands and thumped his knuckles together. “When people grieve, they don’t always think straight, and Taita could know who you are. He visited the location of his son’s hit-and-run afterward, along with his daughter and other close family. Lydia didn’t enter The Program until ten days following Johnny’s death after we knew her life was on the line. Whether intentional or not, Tyler, Taita’s words were a direct threat to her. Lydia has name suppression, but that’s no longer enough.”

  Tyler snorted. “Then we run checks on Taita and each of his family members. We’ll see if the leak to the reporter came from them. Perhaps they’re that angry.”

  “It’s an angle we should look at.” Brigs glanced at her. “Ben won’t stop until he finds who leaked your information, but those journalists are tight-lipped on their sources. Ben told me he has to look at sending you deeper within The Program. The killer came after you a year ago, uncaring who he took out to get to you. If it was done once, it can be done twice, particularly after what’s happened today. If the killer wanted your name, after the newspaper article, it just got a whole lot easier.”

  “I understand.”

  Tyler swallowed. “Is Ben talking re-identification?”

  “Yes. It’s the only way to give Lydia and Saria complete anonymity. To physically change their appearance, and then have them assume the life of another in a safe location. It’s the only avenue remaining.”

  She closed her eyes and dragged in a deep breath. She could do this. After a year, it was time to move on. Being Lydia Sands wasn’t an option with a killer on the loose who had direct access to her name.

  She eyed Tyler. “I’m so tired of running. This past year, there hasn’t been one detective who’s discovered any motive for Johnny’s murder. My life is stagnant. It goes nowhere. So does Saria’s. She’ll have a degree soon, and nowhere to go to use it.”

  His fingers dug into hers. “The option has only just been put before you.”

  “There are seven billion people on this planet, and I could live just about anywhere on it. I’ve always held off on the thought of a new name and undergoing full re-identification because I thought Taita’s case would be solved.” She turned to Brigs. “I’m with Ben on this.”

  His gaze held deep compassion. “Twins are too noticeable together. You and Saria would be separated.”

  Her hands shook, and she clasped them together, thinking only of her sister. “But we’d have a life to live as we don’t have now. Saria would want that, as I do.”

  “You can’t come into contact with anyone who knew you in your past life. You’d have to be absolutely certain this is the path you want to take.”

  Tyler caught her shoulders and turned her toward him. “It’s too sudden.”

  “No, whether I’ve had a year to consider this, or a day, my desire remains the same.” She eased up and paced the room. “My sister’s life is precious to me. Both of us want to live. I’ll speak with her.”

  Tyler let out a low growl as he joined her and took her elbow. “Excuse us, Brigs. This won’t take long.”

  “You can’t change my mind.”

  He led her from the room, pulled the office door shut and checked both directions of the passageway. “I need more time to see if I can expand on your options.”

  “I’m out of options.”

  He stroked her cheek. “I’ll come up with something, and in the meantime you’ll stay here. I want you to move in with me.”

  “What? Tyler, you can’t ask me that. You have your family to think of. No.” She stepped back. “I won’t pull you into my problems. We’ve already discussed this.”

  He took a jagged breath. “Will you give me some time?”

  “Don’t ask that of me. I’m going to make that call now, and you can’t stop me.” She fled. Her decision was made. She’d speak to Saria and Ben, and set into motion what had to be done.

  * * * *

  Tyler returned to the office, ticking over all possible avenues open to him. “She’s very stubborn.” He sat with Brigs, and dropped his head into his opened palms. “I have no recollection from the time she and I first met, except emotionally I’ve retained what was forged between us. I can’t let her go.”

  “You’re in deep with her.” Brigs squeezed his shoulder. “Mate, I’m sorry.”

  He raised his head. “Then arm me with as much information as you can. Whatever you haven’t told me about her case, I need to know.”

  “Let’s start.”

  An hour later, his mind reeled with all he’d taken in. Brigs had warned him throughout the telling that so far, no concrete leads had come from any of the information he and Ben had gathered, although with the new information at least he had a wider grasp.

  “Why don’t we break from this until morning,” Brigs offered as he rose to his feet.

  “Sure. I’ll show you to your cabin.” As it was, he needed to see Lydia. She hadn’t agreed to move in with him, but she was.

  After entering her deserted room, he grabbed her bag, which she’d tossed her clothes into that morning then left Brigs to settle in so she couldn’t escape back to it.

  Down the hallway, she walked toward him then slowed as her gaze dropped to her case in his hands. “What am I going to do with you?” She shook her head, tut-tutting under her breath.

  “You’d already packed.” He slid a hand around her waist and led her to his room. “I’m simply moving your belongings from one room to another, and I’ll show you exactly what you can do with me.” He closed his bedroom door and flicked the lock.

  She set her hands on her hips. “Ah, is that to keep me in, or others out?”

  “Both.” He dumped her bag beside his drawers and unzipped it. “What did Saria say?”

  “We had a long talk, and she said yes. She’ll let me go through re-identification first, and follow as soon as she sits her finals. They’re in
just a few weeks.” She stepped up to him. “Ben will place my application tomorrow, although he said it might take a few days for all the arrangements to be made. He told me to hold tight and wait.”

  Gritting his teeth, he opened his bottom drawer and piled her clothing in. “He approved of it all, this fast?” He’d have words with Ben. She should be with him.

  “Of course. It was his idea to start with.” She gripped his arm. “I never said I’d move in with you, and now you’re unpacking for me?”

  “Lee.” He dragged her into his arms. “I want you here, no matter the length of time.” He lifted her and laid her on his bed. Stealthily, he moved in to lie over top.

  “I know you do. Oh, do you feel that? The ship’s moving.” Cranking her head to the side, she peered out the windows where the lights of the resort flickered.

  “We’re sailing to the far side of the island. There’s a quiet cove, and it’ll be the safest place for you.”

  “I hadn’t forgotten.” She slid her hand down his chest and played her fingers over the ridges of his abs under his shirt. “As long as we’re all safe, I can deal with it, for a short while.”

  He lowered his forehead to hers. “Since you insist on going through re-identification, I need to be able to track you once you go under. I’m giving you fair warning now.”

  “Ah, excuse me. That sounds highly illegal. The whole point of re-identification is so no one can find me.”

  “Yes, but I’m not a threat to you, and only you and I will know what I’ve done.”

  “And what will that be? Ex-act-ly?”

  “By track, I mean I’ll place under your skin a very small tagged chip. It’s like a GPS system, but it’ll have a direct signal to me.”

  “And…” Her gaze narrowed.

  He rubbed his cheek against hers. “I’ll be able to check in with you, no matter where you are in the world. We can hardly have an exclusive relationship without there being some form of relationship.”

  “Sooo, you’re asking me to go against the rules of re-identification?” She gave him a look that said she wasn’t going to agree.

  “You’re very stubborn, but I happen to be twice as bad. Whether you agree or not, I’m going ahead with it.”

  “Hmm, and how do you propose to source this chip and then imbed it?”

  “Bodyguards use tag and trackers when necessary, so I’m more than familiar with them. The device I’m speaking of can be ordered and delivered to the resort.”

  “And the imbedding part?” Her gaze was sharp, incredibly watchful.

  “I won’t lose you, and I’ll be careful. It’ll be a small spot near your hip, with one or two butterfly stitches to hold it until it heals.” He pushed off the bed and drew her to her feet. “Which means I need to use the sat phone and place an order to the American firm I’ve used in the past. We’re in the middle of the back-waters of the South Pacific, and I want that package pronto.”

  “You do realize I’m not going to agree to this, right?”

  “I’ll bring you around.” He kissed her on the lips.

  No one would take her from him. Not ever again.

  He’d make certain of it.

  9

  Tyler was impatient, pacing the pristine white sand of the curved cove after finally receiving notification his courier package had been delivered to the resort.

  He should have had it forty-eight hours ago. Five days they’d been here. It was unacceptable he’d had to wait so long.

  For miles either side, the land was all high, jagged cliff faces with only one single track leading inland through the jungle. Near the beginning of the track, Liam had slung a colorful hammock and rested, his straw hat drawn low over his head as he rocked in the gentle breeze.

  He raised a hand and saluted to Brigs as he finished his swim. With the package ready to pick up, he had to go.

  “What’s up?” Lydia glanced sideways at him as she rose from helping Nico collect a bucketful of shells for their latest sandcastle. She walked toward him with her purple string bikini peeking through the white cotton of one of his long, white shirts.

  Tapping the sat phone in his hand, he said, “If I leave now, I’ll be back within the hour, with the you know what.” He dragged her against him and her silky hair slipped over his arms.

  “You’re still serious about this?” She wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “More than ever. It’ll be painless.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “I promise to make it up to you afterward.” He nuzzled her neck, aiming to sway with seduction. “So, is that a yes?”

  “The only embedding that will occur between us will not be by chip.” She arched her neck for more. “You never take no for an answer. I’ll have to train that out of you.”

  “You can’t do that if I can’t find you.” He smiled. “Which sounds like an actual agreement to me. Brigs is almost here. I’ll have him watch you.” With a quick kiss, he left her before she could object again. After jogging over to one of the two beached inflatables, he removed the stowed basket of food and towels and passed them to Brigs.

  “I take it you’re off somewhere?” Brigs set the basket on the sand then used one of the towels and dried himself.

  “Yeah, to the resort. I’ll only be an hour. I need you to watch Lydia for me.”

  “Of course. You don’t even have to ask, except this is not like you. We’ve been here five days, and you haven’t left her once. Why are you heading to the resort?”

  Tyler heaved the inflatable further into the water, jumped in and revved the motor. “Shipping business. Nothing to worry about.” He cringed at his lie, but he couldn’t spill the details to Brigs. What he was about to do was private and between him and Lydia, and there would be no stopping him. He needed his woman tagged. He wouldn’t have her undergo re-identification without some way of finding her. It’d never happen.

  * * * *

  “Thanks for bringing the food basket. Right here is fine, Brigs.” Lydia pointed to a nice dry spot near her and Nico’s sandcastle. She squeezed Nico’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go and wake up Daddy. He’s had a long enough nap.”

  With a grin, Nico sprinted to the tree line. Liam had one foot dangling over the side of the hammock, and Nico grabbed his toes. Liam chuckled, snagged Nico up and dragged him in with him. Liam adored his son, and her heart lightened, bubbling with joy at witnessing such devotion. It was another precious moment she couldn’t get enough of. Being around Tyler was wonderful, but sharing this time with him and his brothers, even better.

  “Do you miss your family?” Brigs sat on the navy and red striped blanket which he’d spread for them. “It has to be hard.”

  “Yeah, but I’ve handled it.” She sat and twiddled her fingers. “It’s better knowing they’re alive and safe, than never seeing them again because something bad happened.” Like it had with Tyler. She would never place him in the firing line again.

  “Ben will never give up trying to find the killer.” Brigs rested his elbows on his propped knees.

  “I know. Living with Ben for this past year has taught me he never stops until he gets what he wants. Tyler’s the same.”

  “It comes with the business. Bodyguards like to protect what’s theirs.”

  “Do they ever.” She smiled and glanced out at sea. Dylan and Luke skimmed around the cove on their Wave Runners. They’d been in and out all morning, exploring along this side of the island.

  They came in, beached their machines, and then strode their way.

  “Hey guys, where’s Tyler?” Dylan fell to the ground beside her. Sand stuck to his black wetsuit, as it did Luke’s when he dropped in to take a place on her other side. Tyler’s brothers were as protective of her as he was. It was as if they all fed off the same emotions.

  “He’s gone on a quick trip to the resort.” She rubbed her chest, missing him more than she liked. Goodness, he hadn’t even been gone ten minutes and she was stressing over it.

  D
ylan eased his sunglasses up with one finger and eyed her. “It must have been urgent for him to leave.”

  “No, just shipping business. He’ll only be gone an hour.” To affect calm, she raised the lid of the basket and pulled out some food. “Help yourselves, guys.”

  With a grin, Luke snatched the container of chicken legs. “Ahh, with Tyler gone, there’ll be all the more for me to eat.”

  She made a space for Nico as he skipped over, tugging on Liam’s hand. Liam halted mid-step as he checked over his shoulder toward the bush. “I think I hear something. A chopper?”

  Brigs was on his feet, tilting his head in the same direction. “I hear it too.” He scrutinized her. “I’m sorry, Lydia. It’s bad timing Tyler had to leave, particularly since I had to keep this piece of information from him, but Ben confirmed with me your extraction team would arrive at 1200 hours.”

  Liam snarled under his breath. “Why does Lydia need an extraction team? What the hell’s going on?”

  “I’m sorry, Liam. I hate to let you down, but you know I can’t speak of my circumstances. This is just what has to be.” She stood as the chopper flew over the bush line. It swept out and circled The Idle Dream anchored in the deep. Chills raced down her spine. No. She could deal with this. She stepped up to Liam and the little boy she completely adored. “I’ll miss your birthday, Nico, but I won’t forget. You’ll always be in my thoughts.”

  Tears welled in his eyes and he turned his head into Liam’s side. “I don’t want Lydia to go, Daddy. She has to stay. Tell her to stay.”

  His sobs squeezed her heart. “You mean the world to me, Nico.” He threw himself into her arms. She held him tight, their tears mingling. “I want you to look after Uncle Tyler for me. That’s really important.”

  With a sob, he clutched her closer, and her chest near caved in on itself. Like Tyler, Nico had weaved his way into her heart.

  “Time to go.” Brigs rubbed her arm.

  She handed Nico over and backed away from them all. The chopper hovered in, cleared the water line, and landed. Two men dressed in black on black jumped from the cab and motioned her and Brigs over.