29° (Twenty-Nine Degrees) (Twenty Nine Book 3)

by Nancy Pennick

* * * *

  Monday morning I drove straight to my parents’ house. The front door flew open as soon as I pulled in.

  “I made a little breakfast for us,” Mom said, face flushed with excitement. “Let’s sit in the dining room. I have everything you asked me to find on the table.”

  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted me. A carafe sat on the side board with various kinds of cut fruit in bowls. Large slices of bakery bread rested in a basket next to the toaster. “Just coffee, Mom.”

  “I know you started eating fruit in the morning when you were pregnant with Zak and hoped you’d continued.”

  Aw, she remembered. I pulled back a dining room chair and sat as Mom poured coffee into my cup. Old yearbooks and scrapbooks were spread out at the end of the table. “Is it okay if I take the yearbooks home with me?”

  “Of course it is.” Mom covered my hand with hers. “I’m so pleased you want to help Doug.”

  I reached for a stack of pictures and flipped through them. Most were of Doug and his high school girlfriend. In the earliest pictures, she had the short, shaggy haircut like Doug’s wife, Katrina, had when I saw her at the STF complex.

  I sorted through the photos. As time went on, the girlfriend’s hair grew longer. By senior prom, it hung in long dark locks down her back. “She’s beautiful, Mom. What did you say her name was?”

  “Kimmie, Kimmie Wells. She was a cute, perky girl and a high school cheerleader.”

  “Was she Doug’s girlfriend all through high school?”

  “They started dating in ninth grade.” Mom wrapped her hands around her cup and gazed at the ceiling as if recalling good memories.

  “And you said she broke up with him after he enlisted.”

  Her face changed to sadness with a hint of melancholy. “She just couldn’t handle the idea of him being in the service. Kimmie wanted a fulltime boyfriend. She went off to college and married a year after she graduated.”

  Damn! If Kimmie was married, it changed my plans. I came across a picture of Doug wearing a uniform with his arm around Kimmie. Her hair was chopped short again. “Mom? I don’t get this. Doug’s in uniform.” I held it up for her inspection.

  “Oh, they tried to be a couple one more time. I think it was Kimmie’s sophomore year of college.” She chuckled. “Doug didn’t like that she'd cut her hair.”

  I wanted to say, “like Katrina’s?” But Mom didn’t know I'd met her. “What does it matter how she wears her hair?”

  “He likes long hair. What can I say? Men.” Mom patted my arm. “You’re very lucky to have a man like Lucas. He seems quite smitten with you.”

  “Mom, that’s weird. We’re married and in love.”

  “Well, you know what I mean. He’s very in love with you.”

  I shifted in my chair. “So are you going to volunteer at headquarters?”

  “Of course, just tell me when and where.”

  “First I have to get it up and running, but I’ll let you know.” I gathered the books in my arms, getting ready to leave.

  “Allie, can you stay just a bit longer? Katrina’s dropping Colton off, and I want you to meet them. I thought you’d stay through lunch.”

  “I’ll wait till they get here, but I’m sorry I need to go after that. I need to work on Doug’s campaign.” I didn’t really want to come face to face with the woman who'd planned on becoming my son’s mother, but figured I didn't really have much choice.

  “Now don’t stare when she comes in. Katrina has a slight limp. She had some sort of accident right before we met her.”

  Oops. The limp was courtesy of me. I had marked the side of her leg with my weapon, then instructed my gun to shoot when the time was right. She dropped Zak, and Lucas had caught him. I never planned to shoot out her knee, but I wasn't entirely to blame. I hadn't gotten any practice time with the Niner weapon. Instructions had been brief. Lucas literally handed the gun to me before we'd entered the complex.

  I heard a car door slam, and Mom ran to the front door. I followed after her.

  “Grandma!” A mini version of Doug, except with darker hair, came bounding into the house. His gray blue eyes came to rest on me. “Who’s that?” Colton crinkled his nose like he smelled something bad.

  “Now where are your manners, Colton? That’s your Aunt Allie.” Mom took his hand, but he pulled away.

  “My dad’s gonna kick your ass.” He made some kung fu moves, and I backed away.

  “He always talks like that,” Mom whispered to me. “Now Colton, your dad wouldn’t like to hear you talked to his sister that way.”

  “His sister?”

  “Yes, she's your aunt.”

  “Then why didn’t you say so?” He pushed past us and headed for the kitchen. “Got any ice cream?”

  “It’s still breakfast time, sweetie. How about a bowl of cereal?”

  “Yuk!” He spun around and pointed at my mom. “Unless it’s sugar coated.”

  I was so busy watching my nephew, I never noticed Katrina standing in the doorway.

  “It’s okay, Clair. He can have ice cream.” Her eyes darted toward me, shooting daggers. “You must be Allison.”

  “Yes, hello, nice to meet you.” I refused to touch her so I nodded a greeting. Her hair had grown out to one length, parted to one side, just past her chin. I couldn’t help compare her to Kimmie. The same dark hair, but her face was less round. Katrina’s features were sharper and her chin had more of a point. “I was just about to leave. Have you ever seen these?” I couldn’t help myself as I held up one of Doug and Kimmie’s photos. Being around Doug’s family brought out the evil teenager in me.

  Katrina glanced at the top picture, Kimmie and Doug at senior prom. She shook her head. “Never saw that before.”

  I held the picture up, looked at it then her. Katrina’s eyes were more slanted, nothing like the girl’s in the picture. “Doug sure has a certain type, doesn’t he?” I gave Mom a quick kiss on the cheek and slipped past Katrina. “I’ll talk to you later, Mom,” I said on my way out the door. I felt bad leaving her with Colton and the ice princess.

  Instead of driving into town, I headed in the opposite direction toward home.

  “Lucas?” I called when I stepped into the house.

  Zak and Lucas both appeared surprised to see me. “He better not be eating ice cream for breakfast!” I pointed at the bowl Zak held. Lucas gave me a look as if to say I was crazy.

  “Sean! I need you, too.” Wherever he was in the house, I knew he heard me.

  Sean stepped inside from the deck. “I’m here.” He waved.

  I got Tobias up on the screen while I waited for them to assemble. He sat at his kitchen table, sipping tea.

  “Okay, everyone’s here.” I glanced around the room. “You all know I had a plan, and it still might work. I need to get Kimmie in Doug’s orbit, married or not. He dated her through his high school years, and I think he might still have feelings for her. We need to find out more about her, find out if she’s in the area. Is she still even married? Would she be willing to work on Doug’s campaign? I know it’s a long shot, but it’s the best I have. I was stupid to think that she hadn't moved on. Darn!” I ran my hand through my hair. “And, Katrina and Colton showed up at Mom’s as I was leaving. The kid’s a brat!”

  “What did you expect?” Lucas laughed. “Like father, like son.”

  “Guys,” Sean pointed to Zak. “Someone’s listening.”

  “Well, thank goodness, I don’t have a brat for a son!” Zak clapped his hands. “I don’t know if I want Zak around Colton. He could get hurt, physically hurt. I don’t trust that kid.”

  “Zak can hold his own,” Sean said. I gave him a quizzical look then turned my attention to the screen. I watched Tobias work in his kitchen as if he wasn’t part of the conversation. “Tobias? Have you been listening? My plan won’t work because Kimmie’s married. I wanted to recruit her to work at headquarters to distract Doug, confuse him, but now my plan is ruined.”

  To
bias held up his hand. “I heard every word, Allison. It’s really too bad about Douglas’ son. Parents should not spoil their children to the point where they are disrespectful. But he’s not our problem, is he?”

  “No.” I wrinkled my nose. Is that all he heard?

  “Kimberly Wells is divorced,” he said, still turned to the stove.

  “Why didn’t you say that before?” I slapped my forehead.

  “You had other things to discuss and sort out. You now can set your sights on your original plan without other distractions.”

  “Does she still live in town?”

  “Just moved back.”

  “Tobias, I love you.”

  Zak ran up to the screen and kissed it. “Toby!”

  Tears filled my eyes as Tobias acknowledged him. The two interacted on a level no one else understood. Zak was surrounded by so much love, the complete opposite of his cousin. Suddenly my heart ached for Colton. What did I expect? Doug was his dad.

  But I came to Virginia for only one reason, to keep Doug from being elected to Congress. I had to focus on that. I couldn’t worry about Colton no matter how much I wanted to help him. My first order of business was to find Kimberly Wells as soon as I could.

  Chapter Seven

  Lucas set up work stations at lightning speed while I finished decorating headquarters. Sean wired the phones, but just for show. Volunteers at the Montana compound agreed to answer the calls and say they’d vote for Doug, one of our ideas to thwart the campaign. Zak pushed chairs around the tables, trying to help.

  “There, I think that should do it.” I brushed off my hands. “Doug can bring in the rest of the stuff. He needs some laptops or tablets and maybe one for my back office. I’ll shoot off a text to Randolph.”

  “I liked it better when you call him Rathbone.” Lucas laughed as he put the last table in place.

  “Let’s call it a day,” I said. “I promised Mom we’d come for a family dinner. I’ll give Doug a set of keys to this place when we see him.”

  I was still waiting on a call from Kimmie Wells. I’d left a message on her phone Monday night, and it was already Friday. Maybe she wanted nothing to do with Doug or this campaign. Obviously she didn’t want to keep America safe. She probably saw his TV ad and couldn’t stand the thought of being around someone so pompous.

  When we arrived for dinner, Doug’s SUV already sat in the drive, and we pulled in behind it. Lucas thought it was appropriate to bring some Bella wine as a gift. Only we knew the true meaning of the gesture. Poor Levi! He’d still be here if Doug hadn’t put a tracking device on Zak and bombed Spanish Village, but I had slowly come to terms with what had happened in California thanks to Rosanne.

  We still had our weekly session, and Rosanne knew all my secrets and how much I hated being around Doug. He, of course, answered the door. Nostrils flared and the corners of his mouth twitched. “Well, if it isn’t the happy family.”

  “Hi, Doug.” I pushed past him and dropped the keys in his hand. “You better appreciate what we’ve done.”

  He followed us into the family room where Colton and Dad sat at the chess table. Katrina and Mom chatted on the sofa.

  “More of them?” Colton screamed and pointed a finger at us. “What are they doing here?”

  “They’re family, Colt. That’s your little cousin, Zak.” Dad motioned for Zak to come to him. Zak ran and climbed into Dad’s lap. “We’ll all play chess for a while.” Dad informed Colt.

  “I remember him!” Colt pointed at Zak. “He couldn’t walk then.”

  “Did you see pictures of him as a baby?” Dad asked innocently.

  So they did meet. I crossed my arms waiting for someone to intervene and stop Colt from revealing any more information.

  “You’re right, Jim. Colt’s seen pictures of his cousin,” Katrina said. “Nice to see you again, Allie.” She gazed up at me, her eyes cold.

  “Katrina, I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk last time.” Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Randolph standing in the same place. “Isn’t that a little creepy?” I pointed to him.

  “We’re used to it, Allie,” Mom cast her eyes down at the floor. “You know, Doug’s work.”

  “So Allison,” Doug said as he settled into Dad’s recliner like he was king of the house. “Randolph swung by the store and said you did a great job. He’ll deliver the computers on Monday, and we can open for business.”

  I wasn’t surprised that Randolph had gone to the store. I hoped he wasn’t able to get in and had to peek in the windows. Being a Niner, he might figure out the phones were connected to our compound if he’d gotten inside. I glanced over at Lucas who remained calm. Our Niner technology had to beat four Niner guys working for the STF. “So he approves?”

  “Very much so, I’m surprised to say.” Doug looked genuinely pleased.

  “I’ll open for business on Monday then,” I said. “Don’t expect too many volunteers yet, but we’ll see what happens. Lucas has been making calls.” I turned to him. “How many did you say are coming?” Lucas really did make calls to people from Doug’s yearbook. We needed to fill the place with unknowing volunteers.

  “Ten people should show up the first day. I’ll give you the complete list when we get home.”

  “And where is home exactly?” Doug raised his eyebrows causing a chill to run down my spine.

  “We’re renting,” Lucas said. “Farther out of town. I like the country.”

  A scream erupted from the chess table. “He cheats!”

  “Calm down, Colt. It was a lucky guess. Zak’s only a baby.” Dad chuckled. Colton didn’t look like he’d calm down any time soon.

  “He prides himself on being a good player like his father.” Katrina rose from the sofa and took her son out of the room.

  My heart pounded. Zak had learned how to play chess very quickly. If I figured it out, so did Doug.

  “I’d like to play him sometime,” Doug said. “What do you think, Pop? Do you think he can beat the master? Or was he lucky?” He made the joke to break the tension in the room, and everyone laughed, but I knew Doug would play my son to test his abilities.

  “Well, I better start the grill. Clair, why don’t you let these young kids talk business and us old folk do the cooking.” Dad stood with Zak in his arms. “Okay if this young fella comes with me? He needs to learn his grandpa’s secret to grilling.”

  “Sure, Dad, it’s fine.” Lucas and I sat on the loveseat together and I got a vibe it was fine with him, too. After they left, Doug, Randolph, Lucas and I remained.

  “Let’s get down to why you’re really here.” Doug snorted. “You can’t be here to help me.”

  “Have you heard the saying ‘let bygones be bygones’?” Lucas asked.

  “Of course. You’re willing to start over?” Doug rubbed his face then stared at us. He’d let his brown hair grow out from the military cut he usually wore, making him look less harsh, but his gray blue eyes were like steel, cold and hard.

  “Yes, if you are,” Lucas said, and even I was convinced. “Niners are men of their word and men of peace. Ask your friend.” He nodded toward Randolph, the secret service agent turned campaign manager.

  Doug looked at Randolph, and he nodded.

  “Does he ever talk?” I asked.

  “Allie!” Doug growled. “Of course he talks.”

  “Just wondering since I have to work with him. Don’t be so sensitive, Doug.” I got up, and Lucas joined me. “I’m going out to the deck. It’s such a beautiful night.”

  “I’ll pour the wine,” Lucas said. “Bella Red okay for you gentlemen?”

  We swept past them and rushed into the kitchen, high-fiving each other. I grabbed some wine glasses from the cupboard. Lucas removed the corks from two bottles of wine. He'd brought Bella grape juice for the boys so they wouldn’t feel left out.

  Colt immediately spied the stemmed glasses and two plastic cups as I stepped onto the deck.

  “I want one like that.” He crossed hi
s arms and made a pouty face. I wondered if he was holding his breath.

  “Hmm, better ask your mom or dad because it’s okay with me.” I said with a smile. “Really?” His little arms came down to his sides.

  “You don’t even have to huff and puff to get one.” I teased him and gave a light poke to his belly. He laughed and clapped his hands as I poured the sparkling juice into a wine glass. His eyes lit up when I handed him the glass.

  “That’s pretty,” Colton said.

  “It tastes good, too. I drank it all the time when I was pregnant with Zak.”

  “You did?” He took a sip, trying not to spill.

  “Take it very carefully and sit down over there.”

  Surprisingly, he did what I said. Colt walked to a child-size deck chair and sat down. I poured some juice into a plastic cup and handed it to Zak along with a carrot stick.

  “I want one of those, too!” Colt called from his seat. I carried the veggie plate over to him and let him choose. “Thanks,” he said and gave me a toothy grin.

  Doug and Randolph came out to the deck, and Colt held up his glass. “Look, Dad!” He had a smile so wide I wanted to pinch his little cheek. “I got a glass like you. Watch me.” He took a sip, the wine spilling over the edge onto his shirt.

  “Be careful!” Doug shouted. “Now look, you ruined your shirt.” Colt’s face went ashen and a darkness overtook over his eyes.

  “It will wash out, Doug.” I swung around to face him. “He’s just a little boy.”

  Katrina rushed to Colt with a napkin dipped in water and scrubbed away at the shirt. “There, Colt, it’s fine. Mommy fixed it. Maybe we should pour this in the other cup.”

  “No!” He pulled away from her as the glass crashed to the deck, breaking into pieces.

  “Colton!” Doug’s voice boomed.

  “It’s okay, Doug,” Katrina said as she picked up the shards of glass. “Colton, you just have to be careful.”

  Watching the show, I began to feel ill. I hadn’t cared if he used a good glass and dropped it, but now I did. It didn’t take much to realize Doug wasn’t particularly loving toward his son, and Katrina compensated by over-indulging him. Poor kid didn’t know which way was up, so he yelled to get his way. We somehow got through dinner without any more drama. I started counting the minutes to a reasonable departure time. Finally, the two boys had enough of sitting at the outdoor table and became fidgety.