Copyright © 2013 Nancy Ann Healy
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 0615934188
ISBN 13: 9780615934181
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013922511
Bumbling Bard Creations, Manchester, CT
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
gent Alex Toles sat at her desk wiping the sweat from her brow. “What the hell is it with this place?” She griped to her partner. “The air conditioning never works.”
“Guess they’ll just have to raise taxes again,” the man across from her joked.
“As long as it’s not MINE they are raising,” the woman answered raising her eyebrow. She pushed out her chair and stretched her back, rising to her feet.
“Your back again?” Her partner inquired.
She sighed and turned her side back and forth attempting to release the knot in her back. “Nah…it’s fine, Fallon, just stiff.”
“You working out too much, or just working out too much with that new redhead down the hall?” He goaded.
“Jealous?” Alex laughed.
“A little,” her partner conceded with a grin.
Alex walked to the water cooler and started to fill a cup. She raised the cup to her lips and shook her head in disgust, “Uck….it’s like freakin’ bath water.” Her partner laughed. “Listen, Fallon,” Alex began, “I would love to find a nice woman like Kate. You’re the lucky one.”
“Yeah? You settle down? Who are you kidding?” He rolled his eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, even if you could sit still long enough to actually have a relationship, no woman could ever put up with all your antics.”
“Antics?” She asked, feigning surprise while her partner just shuffled some papers and laughed.
“Hey…Toles…Fallon,” a voice called from the hallway outside the office. “My office – now.”
“Great. See that?” Alex pointed to the door and tossed her cup in the trash. “You insult me and now we have to work. Karma’s a bitch, huh?”
Fallon stood and walked to the door opening it for his partner to walk through. “Well, at least you’ll get that air conditioning,” he offered as they began walking down the hall.
“Hey Toles,” a woman greeted.
Alex smiled seductively. “Brackett,” she acknowledged.
“See you later,” the redhead flirted as the pair of senior agents passed by.
Alex smiled to herself and took a short breath of satisfaction. Her partner scratched his head and smirked as he opened the door for her. “Let’s get you cooled off,” he joked.
Walking through the door, agents Fallon and Toles were immediately met by the cold stare of FBI Assistant Director Joshua Tate. Tate was a veteran of the agency and had mentored both Agent Toles and her partner Brian Fallon. “Sit,” he instructed. The partners took their seats in front of the large pine desk. Alex shifted in the chair to make room for her legs. “You all right there?” The director inquired.
“Yep.”
“Okay then,” he looked at the pair and sat back in his chair. “I’ve got a case for you.”
“What kind of case?” Fallon asked as Alex continued to squirm about.
The director rubbed his chin and frowned. “Look, this case is sensitive.”
Alex stopped her movement and looked squarely at her boss, “Serial killer?”
The director pushed his chair out with some force and paced to the window behind his desk. He rubbed his chin again and sighed so heavily that both Alex and Fallon saw his shoulders rise and fall. “No,” he answered flatly before turning to face the pair. “Are you both familiar with Christopher O’Brien?”
“The congressman?” Alex asked.
“That would be the one, yes.”
Fallon looked at Alex and then at the director. “He’s New York’s new golden boy.”
Assistant Director Tate frowned. “Yeah. And, in spite of his very public divorce, he is indeed a golden boy. So much so that the president is aware of this case.”
Alex and Fallon were puzzled. “Should this be under Secret Service jurisdiction?” Fallon asked.
“Mmm,” Tate stood behind his chair gripping it. “No. The president specifically requested your assignment.” Fallon’s shocked look prompted further explanation as Alex placed her hand over her mouth thoughtfully. “The president and Toles here go back quite a long way.”
“You never told me you knew the president,” Fallon said with some resentment.
“It never came up,” Alex said plainly. “So, why me? Why us?”
“He trusts you,” Tate sat in his chair and grabbed a large manila envelope, pulling out a small stack of photos. “The congressman started receiving these earlier this week.”
Alex began thumbing through the photos slowly. Each was of a letter. Some of the letters appeared to be handwritten and some were pieced together from clippings but all had a similar tone. Alex stopped and brought one up to her face, studying it carefully while Fallon began exploring the pile left behind.
This and that
I know you
Can you find me?
Back and Forth
Hide and Seek
I’ll find you
Before you see.
Alex studied the picture carefully. Her partner sought more clarification from their director. “Does he have some idea? Enemies? Some legislation,” Fallon began asking.
“No,” Alex shook her head. “This isn’t political.”
Tate’s jaw tightened. “Why do you say that?”
Alex kept her eyes on the picture. “Whoever it is… There is something personal here, an obsession. ‘I’ll find you before you see’. It’s a game, cat and mouse, a challenge.”
Tate scratched his head and smirked. “Well, this needs to stay quiet.”
“We need to talk to the congressman,” Fallon said.
“Yes, and you will but not as FBI agents, at least not to the rest of the world.”
Alex set the picture down. She was well versed in the issues of the day and clearly understood why the president was concerned about keeping this quiet. The congressman was a point person on several key pieces of legislation for military funding initiatives and domestic policy. He was also a likely senatorial candidate in the next election. The president certainly did not want any public distractions. “So, you want us undercover,” she said. Tate nodded.
“As what?” Fallon asked.
“Well… This will be an easier one for you Fallon.”
“Why is that?” Fallon asked while Alex began exploring the other photos.
“You, Fallon, will go in as Secret Service and liaise with the Secret Service and the D.C. police. All of the letters have been received here in his Washington office… All except…”
“This one,” Alex said as she read it aloud:
This time apart
Breaks a heart
Who takes mine
I’ll take his
I’ll keep watch
Until you see
What you have
Belongs with me
“What the hell does that mean?” Fallon asked in complete bewilderment.
“It either means he is infatuated with the wife or in love with the congressman,” Alex surmised, slowly placing the photo back on the pile and looking directly at Tate. “And me?”
Tate poked his cheek with his tongue and scratched his nose. “That came to his house. You’re going to New York....The Big Apple…As a P.R. Assistant to the congressman’s ex-wife. Who is quite popular in the press these days, I understand.”
“A P.R. assistant?” Alex questioned.
Fallon’s eyes bulged. “That’ll be great when she drop kicks some poor paparazzi dude,” he joked, receiving an icy glare from his partner.
“Well, it was either that or a nanny to their six year old. Take your pick.”
“Great,” Alex sarcastically agreed.
“Hey… I’d pay to see you play nanny,” Fallon laughed. “Looks like you’re trading in Brackett for servant to a school teacher,” Fallon gloated. “Guess everybody’s luck runs out sometime, Toles.”
“Funny, who’s the comedian now?”
“Well, it’s not funny,” Tate said breaking up the partners’ banter. “And for what it’s worth Fallon, Mrs. O’Brien has a reputation for being…well…”
“Opinionated,” Alex said standing up and placing the pictures back in the envelope.
“Yes, exactly.”
“Great,” Alex said again. “How do we communicate?”
“The congressman picks up his son on Saturday mornings. Fallon will be assigned to travel with him. Until then secure lines across the boards. Understood?” The two nodded their understanding and began to head out the door. “Toles,” Tate called and the agent turned. “Do me a favor, will ya’?”
“What’s that?” She asked holding the door slightly ajar.
“Don’t corrupt Brackett.”
Alex laughed. “Doesn’t look like I’ll have time for much corruption, Assistant Director. She winked and closed the door behind her.
Alex rolled over and out of the bed leaving the tall redhead entwined in the sheets. She walked slowly to the large chair in the corner of the room to gather her clothes. The redhead watched the senior agent as she made her way across the room. Alex was an amazing specimen. She was tall and muscular but still feminine in a way that was almost indescribable. Her skin was neither olive nor fair and her long black hair seemed to cascade perfectly over her shoulders when she allowed it to fall freely. “Where are you going?”
Alex stepped into her pants and put her arms through her white blouse. She turned to face the woman in the bed, buttoning her shirt at the same time. “Assignment.”
“Just….assignment? What kind of assignment?” The woman asked.
Alex kept her eyes on the buttons of her blouse. “Just assignment, Brackett.”
“Claire….how about Claire?”
Alex looked up at the younger woman in the bed. “I’m not sure we’re ready for THAT,” she teased.
“Well, why don’t you delay your flight to wherever you are headed and come get better acquainted?” The redhead patted the bed. “Unless, of course, you have a better offer?”
Alex laughed as she fastened the holster for her sidearm and reached for her blazer. “Oh, I don’t think there’s much danger of that where I am headed.”
“When are you going to be back?”
Alex shrugged, “no idea.”
“Call me.”
Alex pursed her lips. “Yeah….listen, Brackett….you know…. I’m not really…”
“Yeah, I’ve heard,” the redhead climbed from the bed and stood in front of the agent. “I didn’t ask for a ring, just a phone call.”
Alex laughed. “If you talk to Fallon he’ll tell you it’s the same thing.” She kissed the redhead and smiled. “I gotta’ go.” With that the agent headed for the door.
“Are you kidding me? Chris… this is not…..No… I do understand…I don’t want some agent hanging around here… around Dylan…..What? Don’t tell me that you….. Unbelievable, Christopher….fine….yes…. yes… I do hear you...I said fine… No, Chris, fine actually means fine. I should know, I do teach English….When?....Great…..yep….. Yeah… Saturday…..okay… ….I will….you too,” Cassidy hung up the phone with a sigh.
“What was that all about?” Rose McCollum asked her daughter.
“Oh, Chris is worried, you know him. Some FBI woman is coming here tomorrow… to watch over us, I guess.”
“Cassidy, I know things are not exactly, well, happy between you two, but I’m sure it is to protect you and Dylan,” the woman’s mother offered.
Cassidy walked to the kitchen island and opened a bottle of wine. “I’m sure that’s true, Mom, but I hate this. I want my own life.”
“Well, you married a politician.”
Cassidy poured two glasses and handed her mother, who was seated on a bar stool, one of them. “Yes, and I divorced that politician.”
Her mother took a sip of her wine and set the glass down slowly, “Mhmmm…but the public did not divorce YOU.”
“Please don’t remind me,” Cassidy said as she took a rather large sip from her glass.
“Mommy….”
Cassidy turned to see a small toe headed boy looking up at her and rubbing his eyes. She squatted down to meet his gaze and brushed his bangs out of his face, “What is it sweetheart? Did you have a bad dream?” He nodded his head and kept rubbing his eyes. A floppy stuffed rabbit lay tucked under his left arm, its ears drooping toward the ground. Rose smiled as she watched her daughter pick up the boy who willingly wrapped his legs around her waist and his right arm around her neck. “Do you want to sleep in my room tonight, buddy?” Cassidy asked. He nodded and put his head on her shoulder falling asleep again.
“Still having nightmares?” Rose asked.
Cassidy sighed. “Not as much. He’s over tired. I’m going to go put him down. Mom, are you staying?”
“No,” Rose answered taking one last sip from her glass and leaving it half full. “I’ll clean this up and show myself out.”
“So much for a relaxing evening with a glass of wine, huh?” Cassidy laughed.
Rose smiled. “Good night, Cassie.”
“Night Mom…I probably should get some rest anyway. Company tomorrow, you know!”
“Cassie,” her mother cautioned. “Play nice with the FBI,” she laughed.
“Yeah… I love being told what to do. Can you pick Dylan up tomorrow? Maybe bring him home around dinner, just let me get….”
“Of course,” Rose stopped her daughter’s thought. “Get some rest,” she advised watching her daughter walk away. “I hope this FBI woman does too. God knows she’ll need it,” she mumbled as she set about cleaning the kitchen.
“I heard that,” Cassidy called back.
“How does she do that?”
“That too….Night mom.”
“I hate planes,” Alex mumbled as she hurled her baggage into the trunk of her rental car. She cracked her neck and climbed into theToyota Corolla, stretching her long legs as best she could. She reached into her briefcase and pulled out her GPS and typed in the address. “Cherry Circle? This oughta’ be GREAT.” The ride to New Rochelle was irritating the agent. Traffic was slow and Alex liked to travel fast. She fiddled with the radio, the windshield wipers, the defroster, the overhead lights, anything to break up the monotony of sitting in stand still traffic. A short distance away her irritation was shared by her soon to be host.
“This is ridiculous,” Cassidy griped at she picked up a toy truck and put it in the large wooden toy box that sat behind the living room couch. “Ouch!” She cried stepping on a Buzz Light Year action figure. “Ohhhh…. FBI and a six year old … yeah…. This should be FABULOUS.”
A
lex took a right onto Cherry Circle and was met with the sight of what she considered mini-mansions. “What the? Big Apple my ass…. 1215…”
The GPS spoke “You are nearing your destination.”
“Holy crap.” Alex looked out the windshield as she slowly pulled into the driveway of 1215 Cherry Circle. It was a large white colonial style home on the end of a cul-de-sac. “How many people live here?” She muttered to herself as she turned the key off in the ignition. She pulled a file from the passenger seat and opened it. Clipped to the top was a small picture. She slid it out from underneath the paperclip and studied it for a moment. The picture showed the congressman, on his hip sat a small boy with blonde hair smiling broadly. Next to him stood a shorter woman with blonde hair similar to the boy’s, a stark contrast to the congressman’s dark brown waves. She was attractive and there was a gentleness in her smile that made Alex sigh unknowingly. “Here we go, Cassidy O’Brien.”
The agent stepped out of the car, grabbed her briefcase and headed for the front door. She took a deep breath and let it out before letting her finger press the doorbell. As the door opened the agent caught sight of the short blonde woman who was immersed in the task of peeling a chunk of what appeared to be blue Play-doh from her bare foot. “Uhh….Dylan…” the woman grumbled. She picked her head up and her hair fell slightly in her eyes before she finally extended her right hand to greet the agent. Alex looked at the woman before her as she offered her own hand, suddenly finding it difficult to move. Cassidy O’Brien was beautiful. As their eyes met, the agent felt the breath leave her body. “Sorry, about that,” Cassidy said shaking her head as she crumpled the Play-doh in her left hand. “Kids….Please, come in.”
Alex smiled finding herself momentarily stunned by the woman’s piercing green eyes. Cassidy tilted her head slightly, looking at Alex curiously. The agent had a presence that Cassidy could not describe. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as the afternoon sun hit them. “Oh Lord, where are my manners! I’m Cassidy,” she said leading the agent through the door. “You’d think I’d be better at that after being married to a politician,” she mused.
Alex smiled at the earnest statement. “Alex, Alex Toles… nice to meet you Mrs. O’Brien,” she said as they entered the home.
Intersection Page 1
