by Tanya Stowe
Of course He would show her now. What better way to open her eyes? She’d been dead set against marriage ever again. She knew Keri needed a male figure in her life, but she always believed her father would be enough. Yet the little scene she’d just witnessed told her there was more, much more, to a father. She’d been in denial...not willing to admit that Keri needed more...simply because she’d been so hurt. Erik had never showed the slightest interest in his daughter. Sassa had covered all of that hurt with attitude and anger.
But now in the dark shadows of her room, she could finally admit the truth. She wanted a father for Keri. A good man who would love her daughter like his own. She’d been struggling to get out of the morass for so long, she hadn’t even dared to think of what might be possible, what hope she could have for the future.
So the Lord’s timing was perfect. He’d opened her eyes and for the first time in a long time, forced her to realize what her future could look like. At least, part of it. Jared wasn’t the man for her. They were opposites. They had different ideas on just about everything...what kind of houses they liked, where they should live, what success meant. Sassa had never in her life felt that success meant a high-powered job in some trend-setting town like Miami. All she’d ever wanted was a secure job in her little hometown, helping farmers keep the land that had been in their families for generations.
But if she was being truthful, Jared’s arm around her at the funeral had been the only thing holding her up. Without his support, she might have fallen into a sobbing pile. He seemed to know just what she needed, when she needed it. So far, he’d been a good partner. Just like he’d suggested. Partners. That’s all. Nothing more.
Good thing. The way she was feeling right now, she’d have him halfway to the altar simply because her daughter needed a father.
Sassa shook her head. Worry over the Black Knights’ constant threats and frustration over her failure to figure out the formula was impacting her. She was more of an emotional mess than she realized. Marriages weren’t made like that. A marriage was a promise between a man and a woman. She couldn’t afford to allow other emotional responses to enter into that equation. Besides, this man was still in love with this wife!
No. The Lord had opened her eyes to the realization of her daughter’s need for a father. Jared was a good partner. That’s all. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she opened the door.
Jared looked up. “It’s about time. We were just starting to get hungry.”
“We? I didn’t hear a fussy baby. In fact, all I heard was laughter.”
Jared grinned. “Yeah. Me and Miss Keri have some fun, don’t we?”
Keri answered by trying to stick the block in her hand into his mouth. He grasped it and shook his head. “But for the life of me, I can’t figure out her fascination with my mouth.”
Sassa studied his full lips and the slight five-o’clock shadow surrounding it. She understood. His mouth was pretty fascinating. She swallowed and turned away. Hadn’t she just admonished herself for those kinds of thoughts?
She took a deep breath. “I think I have some eggs and bacon in the fridge. Does that sound good?”
“Sounds great. I’m starved.”
Jared followed Sassa into the kitchen. He put Keri in her high chair and gave her blocks to keep her occupied. “Can I help?”
“Sure. You can make the toast. It’s in the cupboard.”
Jared pulled out the toaster and a bag of bread. Sassa couldn’t stop the feeling that this felt normal, like a happy family. That was the last emotion she needed to have.
“I don’t think we’re going to have toast.” Jared held up a piece of bread covered in mold.
Sassa gave a little laugh. “That’s what happens when you sleep in the lab. I told you takeout is my specialty.”
Jared chuckled, bundled up the bread bag and tossed it in the trash. He pulled plates out of the cupboard, shoved the files he’d been working on to a seat and set out forks. By the time he finished, the eggs and bacon were done.
Sassa set a plate in front of him. “That’s the best you’re going to get in this kitchen.”
“And I’m happy to get it.”
He lifted his fork and took a bite. Sassa slid into her seat and bowed her head. When she finished her prayer, she looked up to see him frozen, his fork halfway to his mouth.
He lowered it and shook his head. “Sorry. My manners have gotten a little rusty.”
She shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. Prayer is a conversation between two friends. I don’t think you consider Jesus a friend.”
His lips thinned and he chose not to make a comment. Part of Sassa was glad. Her comment was meant to break up their quiet little domestic scene that made her feel things she was better off not feeling.
Keri began to fuss. Sassa tested the peaches and found them soft enough to eat. She spooned the fruit into her daughter’s mouth. While Sassa waited for her to chew, her gaze dropped to the pile of photos sitting on the chair beside her. In between bites, she picked the pile up and placed it on the table. She recognized the top photo of Heiser, Chekhov’s right-hand man. Another photo showed a person all in black, the head and face shielded by a hoodie.
“Tell me about this guy,” she said, pointing to the black hoodie. “Why is this photo so blurry? You can’t even tell who it is.”
“It’s the only known picture of someone we suspect might be ‘The Spyder’—the Black Knights’ IT guy. We don’t know much about him, but we think he’s very young and British. He’s a legend on the dark web.”
“If they don’t know much about him, how do they know he’s young and British?”
“His work didn’t appear on the black web until about three years ago. His handiwork is pretty distinctive but untraceable. The way he programs, it seems to indicate some habits commonly taught in British schools. But we don’t know anything for sure.”
She held up another photo.
“Mario Rojas. Started out forging immigration papers for folks to get into the US. He branched out from there. Interpol wants him for counterfeiting money from five different countries.”
She dropped the photos and spooned more fruit into Keri’s mouth. “I’m sorry I asked. How did Chekhov convert all these international criminals to his cause?”
“He’s passionate and committed. He chose them carefully, found people with a reason to hate. Heiser lost his whole family to a suicide bomber. Rojas rose up from the Mexico City ghetto. Each of them had lost someone or something—except Spyder. No one knows anything about him other than the fact that he’s dangerous.”
“All of these crazy people here in quiet central California. It’s hard to believe.”
“It’s not only hard to believe, it’s a sin. People here are just trying to live, to make every day work, sending their kids to school, planning their futures. You expect this in LA or...”
“Miami?”
Jared studied her, his dark eyes reaching deep inside, like he was so capable of doing. “You remembered I wanted to be stationed there. Yes, I guess you’d expect this kind of activity in Miami but not here. It’s so peaceful, so...comfortable.”
“You almost sound like you like my hometown.”
“I like what it represents. A rich heritage. Good families. Hardworking men and women doing their best, struggling day after day to do right. No one knows better than me how easily someone can fall off that hard road. It happened to my mother.”
They were both silent. Jared obviously lost in his memories, and Sassa...her heart bleeding for the little boy Jared had once been...the one she couldn’t help, hold or even love. At last, a thought came to her.
“There’s one thing to learn from all of this, Jared. It just proves that your skills are needed everywhere. I hope you remember that in the future.”
Surprise filtered through his features. Did he understand what she
meant? That Jared was the right man for the job, too, just like his grandfather had said?
After a moment, he nodded. “I’ll remember. And I promise you, I’m going to do my best to find them. These men don’t belong here and I’m going to see that they don’t ‘belong’ anywhere.”
* * *
Voices rose in the other room. Seated at Sam’s desk, Jared looked out the window of the office. Sassa and Sam’s lab assistant exchanged words. The encounter was not heated. In fact, Matt put an arm around Sassa and gave her a one-armed hug. Probably one of encouragement.
Sassa still had no breakthrough in her research. The strain was beginning to wear her down. The Black Knights had not stopped their constant distractions. A student rally outside the lab building almost developed into a riot.
After several tense hours, campus security was able to break it up, but they could not determine who started the fight or even trace the organizers of the rally.
Jared knew exactly who the mysterious organizers were and so did Sassa.
Fear and frustration were apparent in her body movements, and especially in her permanently clouded features. Her brilliant mind seemed to be churning continuously. Often, Jared would see a look of concentration on her face and she would be miles away, silently turning equations over and over again.
He wished he could help. He tried, even sent Sam’s ID bracelet to a jeweler to have several links removed so Sassa could wear it. She was very thankful and never took it off, but strain was still evident in her every move.
She’d hardly eaten in the last two weeks. He suspected she’d lost weight. Her cheeks had a gaunt look that hadn’t been there before. The only time she lost that haunted look was when she held Keri. But even then, she’d touch the baby’s face, trace a finger down her cheek like she was trying to memorize it. Jared could almost sense her thoughts running to the children who would suffer if she didn’t find the equation for the pathogen.
He paused. Was that where her occasionally snarky comments came from? A truly sensitive heart trying to protect itself?
Jared suspected that was true. One thing he knew for sure. Every strong emotion she had was reflected in her features. Frustration. Fear. Love. Empathy. Anyone who looked at Sassa knew what she was feeling.
So different from Jessica, who hid her emotions behind a cool, aloof wall of no response. Frankly, he’d rather face Sassa’s snarky comments than Jessica’s cold wall. At least he knew where he stood with Sassa. With Jessica, he was always guessing. Always trying to figure out what he did wrong.
He stopped. He hadn’t thought of Jessica in days. And now he waited for the wave of hurt and sadness that usually swept over him.
It didn’t happen. He took a deep breath of surprise. Perhaps he was finally beginning to heal. Or maybe he had more important things on his mind than his failed marriage...like trying to be a good partner to a woman on the edge.
One change he’d noticed: some of Sassa’s snark was gone. He wasn’t sure exactly when she’d dropped that protective mechanism. It seemed to fade away as she began to trust him. And she did trust him. He’d worked hard to earn her faith and he intended to live up to her expectations. At least, that was the plan...which brought him back to the file in his hand.
He’d read and reread the report on Jacob Heiser for the sixth time, hoping he’d catch some hint, some clue, as to the man’s weakness. He found nothing. Heiser’s planned attacks were nearly faultless. In fact, the only clue they had to most of his suspected crimes was that they had been executed flawlessly, like the incident at the airport. Jared was certain Heiser was behind the bomb scare that distracted Kopack’s team, leaving a minimal guard on Sam.
Glass shattered and Jared looked up to see Sassa standing in the middle of the floor, her hands in the air like she’d dropped something. He set the photo down and hurried out. Matt and two of the other lab assistants had already reached Sassa by the time he did. She stood for a long while, not moving, her eyes closed, while they began to sweep up the shards of glass.
When Jared touched her arm, she took a deep breath and gave him a rueful smile. “Imagine what would have happened if that tray had been full of viruses.”
He glanced down at the shattered empty vials and looked up. The smile had faded.
“Sam insisted on everyone being well rested and calm when they entered the lab. He always said, ‘leave the world’s troubles at the door.’” She shook her head. “I don’t think he took into account that the world might be waiting just outside that door, depending on me.”
She was close to tears. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, Jared knew it was true. He glanced at his watch. “It’s 4:00 p.m. Time to call it a day. Matt and the others can finish this. Let’s go get Keri and have an early dinner.”
She shook her head, but Matt took her hand. “Let us finish, Sassa. We can handle this. Go home. Get some sleep. We’ll start fresh tomorrow.”
Finally, with four heads bobbing in agreement, she capitulated. Smiling, she said, “You all just want me out of here so you can stop cleaning up my messes.”
Matt smiled. “How did you guess?”
Sassa chuckled. Jared was extremely glad to hear the sound. She needed to let go, even if it was just for a few hours. He’d order pizza to be delivered and maybe play some old movies. Sam had once told him she loved old black-and-white films. He’d stream four old slapstick comedies, and make her sit through all of them.
He helped her out of her lab coat and handed it to Matt. Then they gathered their things from the office and drove across campus to pick up little Keri.
Jared’s step was lighter as they stepped out of the SUV. Frankly, a night of old movies sounded very good to him. He wasn’t usually one for that type of entertainment, but right now it sounded pretty close to perfect.
A crowd was gathered in front of the child-care center.
“Oh, no.” Jared barely heard Sassa’s murmured words, but they matched the pounding in his heart.
He reached for her hand. “I’m sure it’s all right. Keri’s guard is with her.”
Pulling her forward, they jogged to the crowd and pushed their way through. Agent Edwards, Keri’s guard, stood just outside the fragmented front window of the center.
Jared’s pulse picked up another notch. “Edwards! What happened?”
“Someone threw a brick through it. I’ve called for backup and campus security. They should be here any minute.”
“Where’s Keri?”
“In the backyard. Fortunately, this is past the usual pickup time for most of the children. The few remaining ones were in the back, so no one was hurt.”
Usual time... The children still here were in the back...
It was a diversion tactic. Heiser’s usual ploy.
“Keri!”
Dropping Sassa’s hand, Jared spun and ran through the front door. Near the entrance, across from the broken window, was a check-in desk. Jared ran past to the large playroom. This main area opened onto the backyard. Jared dodged piles of toys and a low, small shelving unit.
Jared recognized one of the center’s workers. She stood just outside the sliding-glass door, holding Keri in her arms and talking to a toddler. Her gaze was focused on the youngster at her feet. Behind her, at the back of the large yard, Jared saw a man’s head pop up as he climbed over the brick fence. Strapped to his back was an empty child carrier.
Heiser! And he was headed straight for Keri!
The young worker looked up. Obviously remembering Jared from previous visits, she started to wave as he leaped over buckets of toys, kicked a small scooter, tripped and stumbled, but managed to keep his feet.
When he looked up, the young woman’s smile of greeting had faded and she stared at him, a puzzled expression on her features. Behind her, Heiser was over the fence and pulling a long knife out of a sheath attached to his leg. He strode to
ward the unsuspecting worker. He was going to attack the poor young woman!
Jared shouted. His voice was muffled through the door, but the young woman turned. Jared pulled out his gun and slammed open the sliding door so hard, it bumped against the side and bounced back.
They young worker turned, screamed and stumbled away, cradling Keri and dragging the young toddler with her. Jared aimed his gun at Heiser and steadied it with his other hand. Another worker shouted and began to herd the children toward the door.
With Heiser’s quarry so close to the door and Jared standing between them, he sheathed his knife and spun, running back to the fence he’d just climbed.
Relieved he didn’t have to use his gun around the children, Jared shoved it back in the holster.
“More officers are on the way,” he shouted to the workers. “Get these children inside and lock the door behind you.”
They both nodded and Jared ran for the fence. It took him two leaps to get his long legs over the top, but Heiser had done it in one. For a moment, he wondered what he was doing chasing after a professional killer in such good shape. But only for a moment.
The man had threatened Keri. He was going after him no matter what.
Jared rolled over the top of the fence and landed on his feet. Heiser was running down the campus sidewalk, along a small interior road meant only for carts. Heiser had planned his escape route ahead of time. No police or security vehicles would reach them on that path. If Jared was going to catch him, it would have to be on foot. He lunged into a run and followed the killer.
Jared had refused to let his desk job bog him down, so he’d established a strong, solid workout routine and maintained it for years. But apparently it wasn’t the same caliber of training as Heiser’s. The man moved like a sleek cat. Fortunately, Jared had long legs and was a good runner.
Suddenly, Heiser made a sharp turn, leaped over a small cement divider and ran straight through the middle of a group of students, shoving as he went. One young woman fell to the ground. Several of her fellow students shouted and two young men started after Heiser.
