His thoughts ran back to the flight attendant. Leaving her in his townhouse, unsupervised when the car arrived to take him to work wasn’t going to work for him. Bringing a tray of blueberry muffins and cranberry juice on a silver tray, he sat down beside the sleeping form and gently rocked her awake by resting his hand on her buttocks. Pleased at his simple gesture, she enticed him into the shower with her where she managed to satisfy him yet again. By the time she’d dressed and nibbled on a muffin, the congressman grew anxious for her to be gone. Her quiet demeanor made him nervous.
The night before, the woman voiced how impressed she was with him. Could it be in the bright light of day she’d noticed his expanding stomach or the receding hairline? Dismissing such an outlandish possibility, the congressman decided the sex, wine and late night partying could take a toll on a twenty something woman too. Putting her in a cab, the congressman promised to call her that evening. At the rate she was going that pretty body of hers wouldn’t last long. He decided to take advantage of it as time permitted. Making a mental note to call the doctor for another prescription, the congressman planned to keep up with the young woman who clearly enjoyed trying new delights of the flesh.
Sitting the China cup down, it rattled with a soft tinkle. Gault opened the files his investigator had compiled. Attached to a typed letter was a picture of a woman; a very attractive woman who looked vaguely familiar. Releasing it from the paperclip, he brought it closer to his face. He pushed back his chair to carry it to the light of the window. In that moment, he remembered. Once again he reached for the file folder. Squinting at the information, he shoved a pair of narrow rimmed reading glasses on his nose before scanning the contents. Shifting his tired eyes back to the picture, he remembered the woman from the plane. She hadn’t looked so appealing yesterday with her mouth open, emitting an occasional snore and a bobbing head. Turning the picture over the congressman read the name; Tessa Scott.
~~~
Tessa ran only because Zoric half dragged her as they fled down the street, away from the café. The screech of brakes, impatient horns and the distant piercing sound of sirens kept her feet moving faster than she thought possible. The Serbian’s savage grip around her wrist felt like handcuffs meant to torture rather than restrain. After a two block escape, he hailed a cab and motioned it on, as well as three others before forcing her inside the fourth. She knew speaking, and certainly protesting, was of no use. The look on Zoric’s face had morphed back into that unapologetic killer she knew him to be. He kept glancing behind them and insisted on the cab drive down various streets before letting them out at the National Cathedral.
“I don’t understand.” Tessa couldn’t keep her voice from trembling as Zoric rushed her up to the doors of the church. “Who was that?”
Zoric pushed open the door looking first toward the street then inside with caution before allowing Tessa to slip inside. “You tell me.”
His voice demanded rather than questioned. The Serbian accent thickened. She found it appealing until it reminded her of Dracula.
“I don’t know.” Her voice, although a whisper, echoed with a kind of strange desperation against the walls of worship. “Maybe it was the same person who came in my room last night.” Tessa’s breathing started to slow as Zoric led her to a corner.
Zoric frowned. “Someone came in your room last night?”
“While I was in the bath.” Tessa sighed and felt better by resting her hand on Zoric’s bony arm. “I think whoever it was hid on the balcony so I never noticed them when I came in. It was late. I thought maybe it was someone from Enigma since I talked to that creepy guy at the W Hotel.”
“I assure you it was not one of us. Tell me about this man you met.”
Zoric led Tessa into the sanctuary and down a few row of seats before indicating she needed to find a spot to sit. She couldn’t help but be swallowed up by the beauty of God in such a holy place; another planned distraction, she reasoned. The man she once feared now edged close enough his breath moved a wayward curl that fell across her forehead. The smell of cigarettes and coffee on his breath forced her to look toward the altar. His close proximity raised the question whether this was a safer alternative that being shot at in a coffee shop.
“Last night at the W Hotel my friends and I had dinner. Around midnight a man came over and dropped a picture on the table for me.”
“A picture of what?”
“My Uncle Jake. He was standing on the USS Liberty.”
“Can you describe this man, Tessa Scott?”
Although a little timid, she slipped her hand onto his and squeezed then withdrew it. Was it possible to disarm him by a feathery touch? She knew Enigma men didn’t like to be distracted by such outward shows of affection.
“He stayed in the shadows and I tried not to make eye contact. Dark hair, mustache, and he smiled like a Cheshire cat. Middle Eastern but spoke with a definite British accent. Narrow shoulders, well dressed, and he wore a gun.” She realized her words sounded rushed, as if under interrogation at the local police precinct.
“For someone who couldn’t see him very well you have a great deal of information. How do you know he carried a gun?” He offered a patient smile as if her imagination might be running away with her.
“I saw the gun bump under his jacket. When he sat down he unbuttoned his jacket and it showed a little.”
“Maybe you’re mistaken. You said he sat in the shadows.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. “You guys showed me enough guns to last me a life time. He wore a gun,” she insisted.
Zoric slipped his arm on the back of the pew and let his hand touch her shoulder. She tried not to flinch at his sudden familiarity. “Okay. He had a gun. Then he left? Did he say anything?”
With a shrug she met his eyes. “Told me to convince my uncle to stick to the plan, abandon his folly. It didn’t make any sense to me. He tried to take back the picture, but I slipped it in my purse.”
“Do you have the picture with you now?
“I laid it on the couch in my room. I was beat so I went in to take a bath. When I came out the French doors were open and the picture was gone, along with the new cell phone number for my uncle.”
Zoric withdrew his arm and faced the front of the sanctuary. “I told the director we should just come out and tell you.”
“Tell me what? Do you know how hard it’s been this last year for me, dealing with the terrorist attack and losing Mr. Crawley?” The old man had been her neighbor who tried to warn her of danger.
“I was sorry to hear of his passing. He was a good man.”
“I’ve just got where I feel comfortable going to the grocery store without taking a different route every time I leave the house.”
This brought a laugh from the Serbian’s mouth which drew a grin from Tessa. “I forgot how funny you can be, Tessa Scott. You were the only one that could make our captain laugh. We didn’t know he knew how until you came along.”
The heat of a blush forced her hands to cover her cheek. Thoughts turned to the captain; dark and foreboding at times, warm and safe at others. The nearness of him turned her into a stuttering imbecile on more than one occasion. Then there were the dreams; passionate, dangerous and forbidden. “Is he well?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth she realized how ridiculous it sounded.
“Sometimes he is tolerable. Other times,” he waved his hand in question, “demanding and obsessed with his job. Many times I wanted to call you and have you put him in his place for the sake of our sanity.”
“Me? What could I do? He was harder on me than anyone. At one point he would have gladly shot me.” She pushed her hair away from her face. “He even threw me off a cliff.”
“It was to save you.”
“I drowned.” The truth hurt.
“He revived you.”
That was one of the recurring dreams; Chase bending over her, applying CPR after she’d died. Bringing her back to life changed their relationship; feeling the warmth
of his mouth on hers, the breath of life, the realization her world would never be the same. Working with him carried consequences.
A year had passed without seeing him. It was part of the deal; no contact with Enigma. At the time it seemed like a perfectly reasonable idea. No Enigma and no Captain Hunter putting her life at risk. Except the captain restored her desire to live life to the fullest and never sit on the sidelines. There wasn’t a day she didn’t wonder where he hid and if he was safe from those who terrorized the world. Each morning Tessa breathed a prayer for his safety, knowing he lived in the shadows, protecting the country from the monsters who hated freedom.
“Why have you approached me after all this time?” Tessa turned her face to meet the Serbian’s eyes, noticing the whites were not as red as they once were. Maybe they just no longer surprised her. Seeing his yellow smile made her body tense as he laid his lizard-rough hand on her pale one.
“In 1967 the USS Liberty sailed off the coast of Egypt. It was a mission to collect data about the Six Day War against Israel.”
A dumbfounded Tessa frowned. “My uncle was on that ship. If it weren’t for him several men would have lost their lives. Israel attacked a virtually unarmed ship clearly marked as an American vessel.”
“Yes. We know.” He watched confusion spread across her face. “Your uncle deserved the Medal of Honor. But that would have meant he had to come to the White House for a photo shoot with the president and the press asking a lot of questions. The administration didn’t want Israel to be put on the spot.”
“American lives were lost and a twenty million dollar ship crippled almost beyond repair. Israel covered up their soldiers killing Egyptian POWs then burying them in the sand. They decimated the Egyptian Air Force in a matter of hours. Maybe, just maybe, I can understand the way they attacked their enemies after what happened to the Jewish people during World War II, but to attack an American vessel…” her voice trailed off as she tried to compose herself. “But that’s not even the worst of it. The American government virtually turned their backs on those men who suffered the attack. They accepted a pitiful apology that ‘it was a case of mistaken identity, a tragic event, a--”
“I take it your uncle has spoken to you about this on several occasions since you seem to be well informed.” Zoric tore his eyes away to scan behind him then to his left and right. Tessa waited for him to continue. “When did you speak to him last?”
So this had something to do with her uncle and USS Liberty. “Why?”
Zoric frowned as he cut his small eyes over at her. “Listen to me, Tessa Scott. Your uncle has gotten mixed up with some very bad people. He is missing.”
“Missing!” Tessa shook her head as if clearing newly formed cobwebs, then ran her fingers through her tangled locks. “I donno. Maybe a couple of weeks ago. He was at my parents’ house for Sunday dinner, like always. I always call home then so I can talk to everyone. He asked to speak to me, which wasn’t unusual, but he sounded a little concerned.”
“What was he concerned about?”
“About me,” she said flatly. “Said he’d be here for some hearings when I came for the conference.” Tessa’s eyes widened. “Wanted to meet with me to go over his will. I teased him about it and he changed the subject.”
Zoric no longer resisted touching Tessa as his hand moved to rest on her leg, just above the knee. She couldn’t repress a startled flinch, but she did not pull away.
“A year ago I wondered what touching such a beautiful woman would feel like again. Did you know I watched you, memorizing your facial expressions? The way you manipulated Captain Hunter with those sky blue eyes of yours, caused him discomfort. I liked that.” He nodded as if admitting to some kind of sadistic joy. “That’s why I painted you the way I did. It was a reminder of good in the world.”
Tessa knew Zoric felt no romantic intentions toward her, although he wasn’t the kind of man that would rebuff any interest if she offered. His paintings reflected an interest in events that occurred between the captain and herself.
Zoric cleared his throat then patted his jacket, looking for a cigarette. “Has your uncle tried to contact you since you arrived in D.C.?”
“No.”
“You must convince him to come to you for his own protection. We need to talk to him. It isn’t too late.”
“I don’t understand. Why is he missing? Is someone after him? Was it the man who shot at us?”
“I do not have all of the answers. But for now, here, you are safe. Enigma will be watching you.” Zoric’s knees popped as he stood then edged out into the aisle. “I will make sure everything is as it should be before leaving.”
Tessa followed him into the aisle. “You’re leaving me?” She couldn’t hide the panic in her voice.
“Someone comes for you.” Zoric patted her on the cheek. “You are in God’s house. I thought you of all people would feel safe here.”
“When will I see you again?” Tessa grabbed his arm as he started to leave.
Narrowing his eyes he appeared to contemplate the answer. “It is more important that I stay hidden so my eyes watch out for you. Do as you are told, Tessa Scott. I remember your stubborn streak.” This time he grinned. “Go talk to your God. He seems to listen to you.”
Tessa withdrew her hand from his arm. “I’ll mention you by name.”
“I hope He remembers me. Take care.”
Turning, she started down the aisle toward the front of the church. She didn’t want to watch Zoric disappear. Pretending he remained somewhere nearby, gave a great deal more comfort than thinking she’d been left to her own devices. Her eyes looked around at the grandeur of the church as she found a pew to wait. Leaning forward she folded her hands on the back of the next pew before closing her eyes in prayer and solitude. The act gave her clarity. This would invite peace to wash over any safety concerns.
God always protected her. Always. She wasn’t so sure Enigma could promise the same.
~~~
Zoric backed down the aisle until Tessa leaned forward in prayer. Something about that simple act pleased him. He didn’t know many people who prayed and knew no one who prayed for him. Becoming a hollow being with the deaths of many on his black soul felt normal. Closing his eyes after reaching the back of the church, he imagined her pouring her heart out for his well-being and protection against the forces of evil. The smell of her remained on his hands as he lifted them to his nose to inhale. An urge to paint her in this setting momentarily distracted him until he saw a movement to his right.
Slipping around to the side of the sanctuary, he saw a tall man watching Tessa. The figure, muscled and lean, almost stood as one of the statues throughout the church. He stood with his large hands down at his side. The back of his neck looked dark above his Grateful Dead tee shirt. Zoric’s stealth-like steps moved to intercept. He noticed the man’s short black hair made his neck look thicker than most men. With each light step, Zoric began to make out the profile of the man’s face. Even in the shadows, the narrowed eyes the color of dark chocolate displayed danger. So intent on the man’s observation of Tessa kneeling in prayer, he failed to notice when Zoric approached like a determined killer. The man clenched his jaw several times. The nostrils flared in some kind of mental control. Not once did he bat his eyes or move a muscle as if by doing so would reveal his imposing presence.
The Serbian slipped his switchblade from his pocket to his hand. With a knowing touch the knife sprung open as he slipped it under the chin of the man who was several inches taller than himself. With surprise on his side, Zoric forced his weight against the watcher, pushing the man against a pillar.
“You should not be staring as such at this woman,” Zoric growled in the man’s ear. When the man did not respond the Serbian withdrew the knife and placed it back in his pocket.
Captain Hunter turned around and leveled a dangerous glare at his Enigma friend. “Do that again and I’ll use that knife to turn you into a eunuch.” He let his eyes return to Te
ssa.
Watching Chase place a thumb on his chest to rub a spot over his heart, Zoric knew this was the first time in over a year his partner felt a familiar stab of lightning pain. It happened the very first time he saw Tessa and several times after when he nearly drowned in the woman’s blue eyes. Zoric wondered if Chase welcomed the pain, proving he was alive and capable of emotion. The rumors of him being nothing but a military robot dissipated once he involved Tessa in a terrorist plot.
“I could have killed you. Again you let the woman get to you.” Zoric looked at Tessa talking to her God as if there was only good in the world.
“Shut up,” was Chase’s only mumbled response.
“We need to talk, my friend. She is in danger and doesn’t even know it. Someone came into her room last night while she was bathing.”
Chase turned narrowed eyes back to Zoric. “Who?”
Zoric shrugged. “She thought it was Enigma, maybe even you. But…” he let his sentence fall.
“Did she see who it was?” Chase didn’t like someone prowling around in Tessa’s hotel room in the middle of the night. He’d had her watched from a distance until she’d entered the hotel lobby, but after that it was assumed she’d be safe.
Zoric told him what little information Tessa relayed to him. “I did not tell her if it had been you, perhaps you would’ve stayed to make passionate--”
“Stop it. She’s a happily married woman with a family. Your fantasies have nothing to do with me.” Chase bit his words off as if they were bitter.
“Then why were you staring at her like a love sick puppy?”
Chase turned from watching her and strode away with Zoric grinning as he followed. “Making sure you behaved yourself. Between you and Carter it’s a full time job. We’ve got work to do.”
Winds of Deception (Enigma Series Book 2) Page 5
