Confusion leapt to Tessa’s eyes pooled with tears when he grabbed her by the right arm. A year earlier, Chase saved her as she slipped off a bridge. She’d dislocated her shoulder in the process and suffered periodically with pain as a result of the captain’s quick fix. Even before Jake yanked, she knew what was coming; the jolt of white hot pain followed by blackness that would overtake her. A fleeting question of how Jake knew this weakness entered her mind when he gave it a jerk.
~~~
Kneeling down next to his friend, Chase felt for a pulse. His eyes never stopped scanning the immediate area, looking for the two people who held the key to tonight’s impending disaster. Even as Carter regained consciousness, Chase alerted the others of the situation. Without giving the order he knew security would shift into overdrive.
Carter moaned as his eyes fluttered open. Placing a hand on his forehead, he moaned. “You’re not going to kiss me are you?” Blinking away the fog, he tried to sit up with Chase’s assistance. “Sorry, I thought you were Tessa.” Even injured and in dire circumstances Carter made jokes.
“You’re bleeding.” Chase said turning his friend’s head. “Guess your head isn’t as hard as I thought. What happened to Tessa?” Chase looked over his shoulder then transitioned to a hunched position, not wanting to become the next target.
“I had to fight her off me, Buddy. Sorry.” Lifting a pecan smeared with blood off the floor, he frowned. His eyes narrowed when he looked around for his Beretta then Tessa. The big picture started to come into focus. “I was shot with a nut?”
“He’s a country boy. Slingshot is my guess.”
“He could’ve put my eye out,” he said incredulously.
“He also could have shot it out.” Chase frowned. “But he didn’t. The question is why?”
“It was dark. Maybe he was afraid he’d hit Tessa.”
“Did you see anything? Anyone?”
“No.” Anger began building inside Carter knowing he’d been outsmarted by a Tennessee hillbilly. He touched the back of his head feeling a trickle of blood. A throbbing had already begun, but he pushed it aside to concentrate. “I think I remember hearing a man’s voice. Southern. Must’ve been Wakefield. Crying. Yeah. I heard someone crying.”
“Then he’s got Tessa. We need to find her before guns start blazing and she gets caught in the crossfire.”
Thundering applause rose up from below as the prime minister took the podium. Moments earlier both he and the president took the stage together, shook hands and pretended to make a joke which resulted in everyone laughing. When the president motioned for Gilad to go first more welcoming applause followed.
Chase could hear Gilad begin to speak, enunciating his words with care so everyone could understand his thoughts on the friendship his country shared with the United States. The prime minister was well aware how his deep, hypnotic voice affected an audience. Unlike his brother, Gilad loved the spotlight.
A crash at the far end of the balcony drove down the agents instinctively. Their bodies, already tense, froze mere seconds as they scanned the area. Moving with stealth precision both men rose just enough to focus their attention on the possibilities of what lay ahead. The dim light prohibited a swift forward assault. As they neared the source of the commotion, the movement of a metal chair tipping over, followed by a groan, forced Chase to level his weapon at the figure awkwardly trying to stand.
“Get up!” Chase ordered when he saw the surprised suspect stumble back against the wall. Without another word he rushed forward and lowered his gun. “Tessa,” he managed to say as he pulled her to a standing position. Yanking the rag out of her mouth, Chase worked to free her hands.
She rubbed her wrists before pushing the dangling curls away from her face. When Carter hobbled up to join them she couldn’t resist giving him a hug. “You’re alive!” Her hand gently touched his forehead before turning back to Chase. “When Carter fell, I saw blood and thought he’d been shot.”
“We think your uncle used a slingshot. Carter found a pecan on the floor. When he fell he busted his head open. Where’s your uncle now?” Chase couldn’t mask the impatience he felt.
“He tried to dislocate my arm, but I managed to jerk free.”
Chase remembered causing the original injury a year earlier. Unconsciously he reached out and touched her bare shoulder. The warmth of her silky skin created a memory he’d retrieve later when there would be time to savor the experience. “Are you hurt?”
~~~
Even though his voice sounded gruff and unforgiving, he genuinely cared about her well-being. Her hand instinctively went to rest on his. Noting its roughness forced her to lift her eyes to find him eyeing her with intense scrutiny. She felt the color begin to rise up her neck then onto her face as his hand slid dangerously down her arm, as if exploring for injuries. Did he notice the quick intake of breath she took? Could he see her heart beating through the pale skin shrouded slightly in darkness?
Pushing his hand aside, she cleared her throat. “Except for the fact that was the first time my uncle ever raised a hand to me, I’m fine. I don’t know how he found out about my arm, but he knew, Chase. He tried to dislocate it so I’d be out of commission. I never told anyone about the accident, not even my husband. Even he thinks I fell off a chair or something stupid.”
“Is he armed?”
“Yes. A rifle was hidden in that dark spot below the railing.”
Having no idea that the mention of her husband pulled Chase back to reality, she watched as turmoil brewed in his eyes. It wasn’t his style to chase after married women. The flirtation confused her earlier considering how many women found him desirable. There was no way of knowing he fantasied about her lying in his arms or that the pain in his chest resulted from his perilous fascination he held for her.
Scowling, Chase snapped, “The gun he took from Carter?”
Tessa smiled weakly as she shifted her eyes to the wounded agent. Turning, Tessa reached down to the floor and lifted the Beretta her uncle took earlier. “When he tried to stop me I managed to pull the gun out of his waistband. He saw you coming so there wasn’t time to…”
Chase grabbed for the gun which she pulled away quicker than he’d imagined possible. His glare made Tessa pucker her lips rebelliously. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Why, because I’m a woman?” Tessa found his attitude a little high and mighty for her taste.
“Because you don’t know what you’re doing,” Carter groaned as he turned to see more agents and paramedics enter the balcony. “Besides it’s my gun.”
“Not anymore,” Tessa smarted. She liked having the upper hand on Carter for a change. “I’m not sure you need a gun by the way your eyes are crossed.” She cringed as Chase moved toward her. “Trust me. I know all about this gun.” His frown confessed an impatience Tessa knew would be dangerous to tease.
With one swift movement Chase relieved her of the Beretta. “No doubt something you memorized from the handbook at the gun range you’ve been sneaking off to for the last year.”
She couldn’t hide her surprise.
“There isn’t anything you haven’t done for the last year that Enigma doesn’t know about, Tessa. I’m well aware that you’re comfortable using this handgun, but not in a situation like this. You’re not ready.”
A paramedic pushed Carter into a chair to begin his examination. “We’ve got to find your uncle. What did he say?”
The rapid eye blink started in spite of trying to hide her true feelings.
“Don’t lie to me, Tessa.” Chase pushed his face into hers knowing the effect of his intimidation. “I’d hate for you to see me kill him, so if he has the slightest chance of surviving you’d better stop covering for him. Remember what he just did to you. Does that sound like the man you grew up with?”
Tessa watched other agents combing the area for clues, taking orders through their earwigs. The scene felt like it’d gone into slow motion as her eyes turned to Carter, clear
ly dazed by his fall.
When she looked back at Chase she realized he resembled an apocalyptic hero out to wreak havoc on those that would do the earth harm. A fleeting thought occurred to her that perhaps video designers had the captain pose for their promotional advertisements.
Squaring her shoulders, Tessa admitted the captain was right. Jake was not the uncle she loved so long ago. “He plans to kill the Israeli Prime Minister too.” She nodded with her head to an area behind Chase. “He disappeared into the darkness that way.”
Even as Chase turned to head the direction indicated, Tessa rushed to his side. With disapproval, he turned to scowl at her. “Don’t even think you’re leaving me behind. I could be the one thing that stops this madness and you know it.”
“Okay,” he nodded. “Just do as I say so you don’t get your head shot off.” He gave orders for the Secret Service to move in closer to protect the president.
“I’ve done this before, Chase. I know how things work.” She didn’t mean to sound cross.
“As I remember it, you weren’t good at taking orders.” His voice was low as he raised his gun and stepped in front of her. “I’m hearing that no one came down the other exit or staircase.” He continued to whisper as they made their way around the balcony.
“We’ve completed the entire loop.” Tessa stood at the end of the balcony closest to the stage where the president now spoke. She looked behind her. “Is there a dumbwaiter? Wouldn’t there have to be a way to get food up here when it was used for banquets?”
Chase lowered his gun. Moving to an alcove shrouded in darkness, he ran his hand along the upholstered wall. A small knob that blended with the fabric met his fingers. With a quick jerk, the door swung open with a creak as he raised his weapon, ready to eliminate any threat.
“Empty,” he exhaled as Tessa stepped forward sniffing the air. “What is it?”
“Cherry pipe tobacco. My uncle’s favorite. I used to love to sniff his shoulder when he hugged me. He used to say that was the reason he couldn’t give up smoking.” There remained a heavy sadness in her voice Chase noticed that seemed to force her to clear her throat to keep emotions in check. If Chase saw so much as one wet trail on her face he’d banish her to a safer place. Focusing on her words helped him avoid the pain in his chest. “He took this down, maybe returned it so we wouldn’t suspect anything. I think he’s trying to get out of here.”
~~~
Chase mumbled something in cyber space as his eyes bore into his temporary agent. “I know it’s hard, Tess, and I’ll do my best to keep him alive.” It was difficult for him to feel empathy for a killer even if Wakefield meant something to Tessa. Just like always her eyes touched a spot inside him he believed to be dead and withered.
A nod of understanding and a slight smile forced a heavy sigh through her lips. “He’s down there. Maybe you should move the president off the stage.”
The orders were given. Chase knew the president would not budge in the middle of his speech.
“Chase, how would he get a weapon pass security?”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing. Someone is helping him.”
“Are we looking for more than one shooter?”
Chase shrugged as he motioned for Tessa toward the dumbwaiter. “Looks that way. Or maybe there’s just an inside man.” He nodded at the dumbwaiter. “I’m too big to get in this.” He swung the door open as wide as it would go. “I need you to take it down now. Agents are on the way so they’ll help you out.”
“How will that help,” she asked even as she moved closer to the dark space that would carry her down.
“Tell me the first thing you see, how you feel, does your legs cramp?” He looked down at her bare legs and couldn’t repress a wolfish grin. “I can help with any cramps.”
“I just bet you can,” she frowned not wanting to admit the thought occurred to her. “This is embarrassing.” She groaned as she let him lift her up into the enclosure.
Scooting back then pulling her legs up, careful to keep her knees together, she became aware of Chase’s smoldering examination of her body. She turned sideways and pulled up her knees so the door would shut. “I don’t know how he could walk after this. He has some arthritis in his knees. This would be painful for him even after a few seconds.”
“We’re done under estimating your uncle.”
Tessa reached for the door. “Someone will be waiting to get me out of here?”
He touched his earwig. “Just pretend you’re Jake. I’ll head that way.” After shutting the door he pushed the button for her to descend.
Starting down the stairs, Chase held his gun down at his side. Five seconds. It shouldn’t take long. At the bottom of the steps he made a turn to find the back entry to the food service area where several agents were already waiting.
Twenty seconds.
A chime sounded just as Chase entered the small service area.
Thirty seconds.
“How long should it take?” The other agents shrugged and let Chase push closer.
Another minute and a half ticked by.
“Open it,” he ordered as he rushed up.
The two agents blocked his view as one pulled open the door. When they stepped aside, Chase could clearly see the dumbwaiter.
It was empty.
Chapter 17
The wind rocked the small sedan as it came to a halt in front of the partially boarded up building. It looked like it may have been a garage in another life for city vehicles. The speaker sat motionless for a few minutes as did Amon, waiting for an impossible pause in the onslaught of wind and rain. With the car still running, Amon inched closer to the entrance. The metal door swung open, revealing a short man cringing in the wind. He appeared to force himself between it and the door frame as if it were giant jaws ready to snap shut.
The speaker tried to get out of the car only to have the door knock him back into the front seat. Amon struggled as well, but managed to pull himself around to the passenger side of the vehicle. Another man joined him from inside the building and pried the door back open so Amon could pull the speaker to shaky legs.
It was no surprise the speaker allowed Amon to cover him with his own raincoat or that he leaned into the younger, stronger body for protection. The speaker had grown accustomed to being pampered and shielded from the ugliness of the world. Why would this be any different?
Debris swirled around them like frantic dancers of destruction. With every step, the wind pushed them back two. Amon felt the pelting of something sharp against his face and heard the speaker yelp as they managed to shove him inside the building. Taking a deep breath of relief, Amon motioned for one of his men to pull the door shut. He sat aside his instinct to shake the water from his ebony hair at the sight of blood trickling down the speaker’s face.
“You are hurt.” Amon turned to one of the men who had assisted moments before. He nodded back toward the rear of the room and the assistant scurried off. “Let me look. I was a nurse in Cairo during Arab Spring.” He gently touched the cut over the speaker’s left eye causing him to flinch.
“This is your fault,” the speaker complained. “You should’ve driven me closer.” He threw off Amon’s coat to the oil stained floor, but kept his own on with a shiver.
Amon withdrew his hands and frowned. “It is not deep. I will let you clean it. No stitches, I think.”
“You think!” he barked. “Since you’re the nurse, you clean it.”
“I am not one of your mindless interns that perform upon command, Mr. Speaker.” His voice was cool and calm considering the weather outside. “You’ll do it yourself if it is done.”
One of his men returned with a first aid kit. Amon nodded toward the speaker. It was tossed so quickly the speaker missed. The sound of the small kit clattering to the floor created a wicked smile on Amon’s face. “I hope you are better at strategy than you are at receiving first aid.”
When Amon pivoted to walk away the speaker retrieved the plast
ic box then hurled it at the Egyptian. As it caught the back of his neck, Amon stopped shortly and looked over his shoulder at the speaker. His men looked down and stepped back as Amon causally walked up to his co-conspirator. The speaker realized too late, he’d pushed his luck too far.
Standing close enough to the speaker he could smell the liquor on the politician’s breath. He felt disgusted. With a swiftness that surprised the politician, Amon grabbed him by the throat using one hand and began to squeeze. The speaker pawed at the hand wildly, resulting in a tighter grip.
“Listen to me old man. I do not like you and you clearly do not respect me. Let’s get through this night without killing each other.” Amon released the speaker and slid his hand down the lapel of the London Fog raincoat. His voice took on a softer tone. “You should get out of this. You will catch a cold. The next president of the United States needs to appear fit for duty when the time comes.”
The speaker masked his fear by stepping back and jerking off his coat before throwing it to the concrete floor. “Watch yourself, Amon.” His voice sounded garbled as he rubbed his throat.
“Your advice, as always, is invaluable, Mr. Speaker.” He turned to walk away. “Clean yourself up. It is past time for prayers.”
~~~
Covering her nose, Tessa hoped to avoid breathing in the faint smell of stale food. Her stomach ached. The tension disagreed with her digestive system. Squirming, she felt the dumb waiter bounce gently as if it’d caught on something. The thought of being stuck in such a confined space with her knees practically under her chin compelled Tessa to spread out her arms and push against the side. Something gave way under her finger tips, causing the door to fly open.
Winds of Deception (Enigma Series Book 2) Page 18
