Reckless Whisper KO PL B

by Barbara Freethy

  He'd spent a lot of time in that role for his mother and his sister. Not that he wouldn't throw himself in front of a fist or a bullet to save Bree's life, but he also knew she would do the same for him.

  Their relationship was the most honest one he'd ever had. She knew him, really knew him, and after he'd shared his one last secret with her, he'd felt as if a huge weight had fallen off his shoulders, that the last brick in the wall between them had come down.

  They'd made love for the second and third time with nothing in the shadows: no secrets, no lies, no misunderstandings.

  And he wanted to be with her again and again.

  He smiled, remembering her overuse of that very same word. Maybe they could get in one more round before they had to get up. But her phone buzzed on the bedside table, chasing that hopeful thought right out of his head.

  Bree lifted her head, giving him a sleepy, happy smile, and he wished he could have captured that brief moment before she became aware of all the problems surrounding her.

  He tipped his head toward her phone, which continued to buzz.

  She jerked upright, pulling the sheet over her breasts as she reached for her phone. "Hello?" she asked, clearing her throat of the last bit of sleep. "Dan?"

  She listened for a long moment.

  "Oh, my God," she murmured. "But I guess I'm not really surprised."

  He could hear a man's voice on the other end of the phone, and he assumed Dan had to be an FBI agent. Judging by the emotions playing across her face, there was news of some sort, and it wasn't good.

  "Yes, I know I have a lot to tell you. Everything has been happening really fast. And this terrible news makes total sense now, because the case here is clearly a copycat. I wish I could help you, but I can't leave Chicago until I find Hayley." She listened once more. "I miss you guys, too. Keep me updated on your end, and I'll do the same." She set the phone back on the table.

  "Who was that?" he asked, sitting up.

  "Dan Fagan, my boss in New York, and one of my closest friends. There was a kidnapping this morning in Brooklyn, a ten-year-old girl taken from a before-school program, a white rose left at the scene."

  His body tightened. "That's terrible."

  "It is, and it's another confirmation that Hayley's kidnapping was done by a copycat. I wish I could help my team find this girl in Brooklyn, but—"

  "You need to find Hayley first."

  "Yes. And I have a lot of respect for Dan and my fellow agents in New York; they'll do a great job even if I'm not there. I just really want to catch that guy, too."

  He stared at her, a niggling feeling in his head that he couldn't quite shake. "It's so strange that Johnny went to such lengths to lure you back here. It seems like a very roundabout way to do it. Why impersonate this other kidnapper? How would he know for sure that you would come, that the Chicago agents wouldn't just handle the case?"

  "Because I was on the national news during the last incident—I would assume. Maybe that's when he saw me, when he got the idea."

  "But he'd have to have known about Hayley and then seen you and then concocted this plan."

  She frowned. "You've been the one pushing for Johnny to be the kidnapper all along. Now you're having doubts?"

  "Not doubts exactly. I still think, in light of Baker's appearance on the scene yesterday, that Johnny is involved. The setup just doesn't quite make sense to me."

  "It has always felt off to me; that's why I was slow to jump on the Johnny bandwagon. The threatening phone calls were one thing, even the girl on the train. But why send me to the shelter, why give me that photo of me at the charity fashion show? What did that mean?"

  "Well, the photo was ripped, which was threatening, too. He wanted you to know he knew a lot about you, where you came from, where you lived, what you did."

  She nodded, but there was still serious doubt in her eyes. "I would have thought Johnny would be more direct."

  "Maybe someone else brought the creepy creativity to this plan."

  "Someone else…" she murmured, grabbing on to part of his statement with a new light in her eyes.

  "What are you thinking?"

  "Sierra. You said she's with Johnny now. She definitely hated me at one point."

  "She hated a lot of people. I was fairly high on the list of enemies as well."

  "That's because you didn't want to sleep with her."

  "I definitely did not," he agreed. "But I have to say that Sierra was not a particularly smart girl."

  "She could be cunning and sneaky. I need to find her, Nathan. Sierra could be our way in."

  "If she's with Johnny, she'd never turn on him."

  "That might depend on what we have to offer."

  "What do we have to offer?"

  "I don't know yet. I have to think about it. But since I can't confront Johnny directly without going against agency orders, I have to try someone else, and she's a good choice."

  "She'll go straight to Johnny."

  "It's a risk. But at this point, I have to take it. I have to trust my instincts, and unfortunately, so do you."

  "I do trust you. I let you drive my truck, didn't I?"

  A slow smile spread across her face. "I think I took that decision out of your hands."

  "Yeah, and my truck will never be the same."

  "It needed a good, fast run," she said with a laugh. "Blow out the cobwebs."

  "You are a very good driver now."

  "I was one of the best at Quantico."

  "What was training like?" he asked curiously, still having a little trouble seeing how she'd gotten from the girl she'd once been to the woman she was now.

  "It was intense. I didn't expect them to get into our heads the way they did. There were a lot of mind games, a lot of ripping down of emotional barriers. And when you're living and working with people twenty-four seven, you get to know them really well. It's an incredible bonding experience. My best friends in life right now are from my training class."

  He saw a hint of sadness in her eyes and remembered her friend who had died. "Do you see much of them?"

  "Damon works out of the New York office, so I do see him. Wyatt used to be there, but his cover was blown, and he had to move on. Although, I guess he's back in New York this weekend. There was a memorial celebration for Jamie on Thursday night. I wish I could have been there. I talked to Parisa on the phone, but it wasn't the same."

  "So, there's four of you now?"

  "Five. Diego is the fifth. He's been working in South America the last year. We're spread out all over the world. But if any one of us is in trouble, the others try to show up. Last summer, that happened with Wyatt and Damon, and I was able to help them through their situation."

  "Well, maybe we should call them and get them out here."

  "I have thought about it, but I didn't want to take them away from Jamie's celebration. I know his family would have been very upset if a majority of the group didn't show up. Although, I'm sure they didn't mind that I wasn't there. Jamie's dad was never a fan of mine. He thought I distracted Jamie while we were in training, that Jamie wasn't completely focused on becoming an agent worthy of following in his father's footsteps."

  "You can be a distraction."

  She tucked her hair behind her ear. "You can be, too, Nathan."

  "Want to distract each other awhile longer?"

  "I do, but…"

  "We need to get started on the day," he said.

  "Rain check?"

  "You got it." He pulled her toward him for a quick kiss. "I'll even let you take the first shower."

  "Such a gentleman," she said with a laugh. She started to get up, then stopped. "I have a feeling today is going to get crazy, and I just want to say before it starts that last night was wonderful."

  "It was."

  "Whatever happens next…"

  "Yeah," he said, knowing this wasn't the time to think too far into the future. "We'll figure it out. While you get dressed, I'm going to call Lindsay and see if I
can get any information on Mark's condition."

  "Good idea. I wonder if Lindsay told him I'm Hayley's mother yet."

  "She might wait until he's stronger, but then again, he's her rock. She might not be able to keep it from him."

  "I know she was shaken up by the news. I wish I'd spent another second reassuring her that I do think she's done a good job as Hayley's mom."

  "I'm sure you'll have another chance to speak to her. Just like I'm sure she'd like another chance to thank you."

  "Thank me?" Bree asked in surprise.

  "She told me yesterday, when she first mentioned the adoption, that she'd written a letter to the biological mother a few days after they took Hayley home. She wanted to thank her for the beautiful gift she'd been given—the daughter she already adored. She wanted to express her gratitude. She knows how lucky she was that you gave up your daughter to her."

  Shadows filled Bree's eyes. "I wish I could have read that."

  "You might still be able to. She never sent it. She said Mark talked her out of it. He didn't want to open any communication in case it changed things."

  "I can understand that."

  "Bree, I have to ask you a tough question."

  "A tough question?" she echoed warily. "Okay, give me what you got."

  "Can you be objective? Can you make smart moves knowing your daughter's life is on the line? Would it be better to let your agency make those moves?"

  "That's three questions," she said with annoyance. "And I don't think being objective is going to be helpful in this case, because it's not like the other kidnappings. It's different and it's personal and it's about me. I don't actually believe anyone else will be able to find Hayley but me."

  "You think the kidnapper is going to tell you where Hayley is?"

  She nodded. "Yes. When he's ready. He wants me to see Hayley. And if I can't find her on my own, he's going to keep dropping clues until I figure it out."

  "And lure you straight into a trap."

  "Not if I find him first."

  "All right. Let's do it. Let's find him." He saw the sudden worry in her eyes. "Don't even think about trying to get rid of me. You may not have agency or police backup, but you have me, and where you go, I go. I helped save your child once from Johnny; I'm going to make sure she's safe now, too."

  * * *

  Nathan's protective and loyal words rang through her head as Bree showered and dressed. She'd never felt so loved as she'd felt the night before. And she was very grateful that Nathan was back in her life. She was also very, very aware of the bittersweet and probably short-term nature of her happiness. But she wouldn't regret the night she'd spent with Nathan, whether it was the first of many or just once in a lifetime.

  When she walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, she smiled. "Bacon and coffee—my two favorite aromas."

  "I made eggs, too," he said. "Have a seat. It's all ready."

  "It looks great." She slid into a stool at the kitchen counter.

  "Don't get too excited. I'm not in the running for any Michelin stars and breakfast is probably my best meal of the day," he said dryly, as he buttered toast. "What about you? Do you cook?"

  "I can make a few things, mostly salad and the occasional soup. I work long hours, and frankly, take-out in New York is fabulous. You cannot believe the different kinds of food you can get at any hour of the night."

  "So, you like living there?"

  "I do—for now."

  "For now?" he echoed, as he set a platter of bacon and toast on the counter and took the stool at the end of the counter.

  "Manhattan has a frenetic energy that I like, but sometimes it's a little too much. I still dream about my house by the sea. One of these days…"

  "You'll get there," he said confidently.

  "Maybe sooner than I want. Who knows where my career will be at when this is all over? I may have plenty of time to lay by the ocean and work on my tan."

  "There are worse things in life."

  "As we both know," she agreed, helping herself to some eggs. "Is Chicago going to be home for you forever?"

  "I've thought about leaving a lot, but Josie is here, and I adore Grace. She's a great kid. She's funny, stubborn—like her mother, but much stronger than Josie. That kid is tough."

  "I could see that during my first interview with her. She was a very composed nine-year-old. Josie has done a great job with her."

  "Josie is a really good mother. I wasn't sure she would be, to be honest. But she's very attentive, and it's great that Kyle's career allows her to stay home."

  "That is nice. I always wanted a mom who would be home when I got out of school, but mine was rarely there, and when she was, I never got the response I wanted. I know she cared about me, but she was absorbed in her own problems. And my aunt struggled from the same battles. I feel sorry for them now. I wish they'd both had better lives."

  "Do you ever talk to your aunt?"

  "No. I haven't seen or spoken to her since she bailed on me and social services swept me up. I don't even know if she's alive. What about your mom, Nathan? I asked you about her before, but you didn't answer."

  "She's in Texas. She moved down there a couple of years ago. She had a friend from high school who had a big house and her husband had just died, and she invited my mom down for a vacation. She never came back. She has visited a few times, but I think she likes being out of Chicago. If we want to see her, we go there. She's a different person now, too. She rides horses, for one thing. Who would have thought my city-raised mom would get on a horse? But she does."

  "Well, I'm glad. She deserves to be happy. So, do you."

  "I have been happy the last several years."

  As he said the words, she realized that the one thing they hadn't talked about was the woman in Nathan's life, but she didn't really want to bring her up. Then she'd have to deal with the fact that she'd slept with another woman's man, and that Nathan had cheated on his girlfriend with her. Maybe they weren't as new and improved people as they thought.

  "What are you thinking?" Nathan asked.

  "Nothing," she said quickly. "Actually, I was wondering if you still run every morning."

  "I don't believe that's what you were thinking, but yes, I still run. That's how Mark and I met."

  "That's right. You were training for a triathlon. I guess that means you swim and bike, too."

  "I'm a triple threat," he said with a smile. "What about you? Do you work out?"

  "I run more now than I used to. I have to stay in shape for my job. You never know when you're going to have to chase someone down."

  "Do you do that a lot?"

  "I wouldn't say a lot, but I've definitely done it."

  "I'm surprised you became an agent, knowing you'd have to run."

  She made a face at his teasing comment. "It's not my favorite part, I'll admit, but I'm actually pretty fast."

  "That's because you're trying to get it over with."

  "You know me too well," she said with a laugh.

  "I do know you well. I like that about us, Bree."

  "I like it, too," she admitted. "I don't think I've ever been with anyone who knew everything about me. Not that we've been together in recent years. I'm sure there are still some things to find out about you, Nathan."

  "Nothing that important," he said, finishing his eggs. Then he got up and took his plate to the kitchen. "Can I get you anything else?"

  "No. I'm full. Thanks for breakfast."

  "Any time."

  "Were you able to get a hold of Lindsay?"

  "No. Her phone went to voicemail."

  "I hope Mark is hanging in there."

  "Me, too." He set their plates in the sink. "I'm going to hop in the shower. What are you going to do?"

  "I'm going to get on my computer and see what I can find out about Sierra."

  "I thought you didn't have access to agency resources."

  "I don't. But I can still get on social media, and if Sierra is anything like I
remember, I'm betting she's online somewhere. She always loved attention."

  Sixteen

  Bree found Sierra's profile on three different social media sites in less than five minutes. As she'd predicted, the attention-getting Sierra, was still in the business of getting attention. She now ran a hair salon in Logan Square and when she wasn't styling hair, she was taking selfies of herself in lingerie and bikinis, with sometimes nothing more than her hands strategically placed over her very large breasts, which had to have been enhanced at some point.

  Sierra had also transformed herself into a confident woman with black hair that hung down to her waist, dark eyes, and olive skin. She was also into jewelry: multiple rings on her hands, several piercings in her ears, and a nose ring. She looked nothing like the skinny, needy girl she'd once been—the girl who'd always been hanging around Johnny, wanting him to notice her, and sleeping with his friends when he didn't.

  She was a little surprised that Johnny had finally hooked up with Sierra, but then Sierra fit Johnny's lifestyle more than she ever had.

  Maybe she had been the anomaly in Johnny's life and Sierra was the kind of woman he'd always been meant to be with.

  She typed in Johnny's name and while mentions of the gym on Hayward and the auto shop on Hudson came up, as well as some information on the Hawke family in general, there were no current photos of Johnny. Had he changed as well? She wished she had looked him up before she lost access to the FBI database. She'd been so determined to keep him out of her life, out of her thoughts, that she'd refused to go there. Now it was too late.

  Thinking about Johnny made her wonder how his conversation with the FBI had gone the night before. Pulling out her phone, she called Tracy.

  "Did you get another text or call?" Tracy asked, not bothering with a hello.

  "No, nothing. I was wondering if you got any information from Johnny Hawke."

  "I can't tell you anything, Bree. You're off the case."

  "You can tell me something. Did he seem surprised that he has a daughter, that his daughter was kidnapped? That his former associate was killed at a ransom drop for that child?"