Agent Undone

by Cassidy Reyne

  Letting his mind wander, he drove the long route back to his house and pulled into the driveway. After switching the engine off, he stepped out and took a deep breath of the sea air coming off the ocean. There was something so fresh about the breeze from the Atlantic, he couldn’t help taking several deep gulps to fill his lungs. He was home. Finally. He felt as if he’d been away for three years, not three months. Carter opened the rear passenger door and pulled out his bag before unlocking the front door and walking into the house. It smelled a bit musty and stale, so he threw open a few windows and the back door to the porch that overlooked the beach. It was a nice sunny afternoon, and he figured he’d spend a couple of hours in his favorite chair on the deck before heading over to Nate’s for the evening. He’d only just got comfortable in his chair on the porch with a cold beer when his cell rang. He groaned when he saw the name on the display. Fuck. This was not gonna be a good phone call. It never was when the boss called only minutes after he’d returned from a mission.

  “Boss, good to hear your voice. Just got back from Texas and was enjoying a beer. What’s up?” Carter winced, expecting to hear Kampeche’s voice explode in his ear.

  “Sorry, Carter. I know you’re just back, but I need you in the office first thing in the morning. Don’t drink too much with your buddy Cross, tonight. He’s coming in as well.” The click echoed loudly in his ear. After a few seconds of staring at the screen, he swiped it off and tossed it on the seat next to him. What the actual fuck? He’d never heard Don Kampeche so subdued and calm when dragging him in to the office. He normally reserved that voice for the Director of the DEA or other higher-ups in Washington. Something serious had to be going on that he couldn’t talk about on an open phone line.

  Carter stared out across the water. His mind was racing, trying to work out what could possibly be up. It had to be a new assignment, one that had the boss rattled. At least he’d have Nate with him this time. They’d worked together for years and made a good team. After a few minutes, he picked his phone up again and punched in the number for Nate. He’d still go round there later that evening, but getting laid and shitfaced was no longer an option. Damn it! He’d really looked forward to at least a week of doing nothing. He’d already spent the best part of the year away from his home with his time in Florida, the mission in Mexico and then straight onto Seattle. Add the last three months hanging around in El Paso and it had been over a year since he got shot in the leg. He really fucking hoped whatever DK had up his sleeve wasn’t going to take another big chunk of time away from here.

  “Hey, Nate. Best laid plans, huh? Damn it, I was looking forward to a few drinks and some gorgeous women. Did the boss tell you anything about what’s going on?”

  “I agree. I’m kinda pissed at DK’s shitty timing, but what can we do? He wouldn’t tell me anything, just said to be in early tomorrow morning” Nate grumbled.

  “Yeah, that’s all he would tell me, as well. I’m still coming over for a beer, though. I gotta make sure my second-in-command is up to whatever assignment we’re being sent on.” Carter chuckled.

  “Shit, man. It was a hole in my leg, not fucking brain surgery. I’m good so shut up, will ya’?”

  Carter stayed on his porch for a long while after his conversation with Nate, mulling over his life in the last year. So much of it was colored by memories of a petite, dark haired beauty with a sparkling smile and glittering green, eyes. He lowered his head in his hands and tried to force the images away. He couldn’t help wonder where she was and what she was doing. He’d tried to search her name in the DEA databases and asked a couple of the Feds he’d worked with in Seattle if they had any information, but no one seemed to know anything. He’d come to the conclusion she was most likely in federal custody, maybe even in witness protection until the trials of everyone involved in the Seattle crime organization were over. Then she’d probably face her own punishment, unless she’d been given immunity in return for her testimony. Whatever, Carter thought angrily. It wasn’t as if he cared. If you got yourself involved in drugs and sex trafficking you only had yourself to blame. There was no way he’d waste any time feeling sorry for someone like that.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The days passed slowly with a never-ending stream of medical staff moving in and out of her room on a set schedule. Most of them would give her a sympathetic smile, and they would never know how much she appreciated it, even though she knew it only masked their true feelings and contempt for her. They were professionals, after all. It had been over three weeks since Konrad was arrested, and he was now facing a lifetime in prison. It would be her turn any day now.

  As much as the days were tedious and seemingly never ending, they were infinitely better than the nights. She dreaded the inevitable waning of the light and drew a breath of relief every morning when dawn sent rays of comfort to her soul.

  “Miss Ward? I’m from the FBI and I have a few things I’d like to discuss with you, if I may?” The man standing in her doorway looked just like all the others. A dark suit, white shirt and plain colored tie. His shoes were polished to a high sheen and the suit pants had sharp creases running down the front.

  Her breath caught in her throat as panic shot through her chest, making it constrict painfully. This was it. They were going to arrest her and put her on trial in front of a jury which would surely convict her.

  Her heart hammered in her chest, and her pulse thundered in her head. She struggled to focus as her vision tunneled. Another panic attack was about to engulf her, and she tried desperately to pull air into her lungs. She could see his lips moving, but no sound reached her ears.

  “Miss Ward? Do you need me to call for the nurse? Miss Ward?”

  She blinked furiously and shook her head, trying to dispel the ringing in her ears and make her eyes focus.

  “I’m fine. Thank you. I’m just… I’m sorry. When will I be transferred from here?” She held her breath waiting for the answer, knowing that her next destination was a prison cell.

  “Transferred? I don’t think you heard me correctly. We have concluded our investigation and the FBI is satisfied you had no part in Mr Peeters’ activities. You are free to go whenever the doctors decide to discharge you. We would, however, ask that you to stay in the area for the time being. You will be called as a witness at Mr Peeters’ trial.”

  “I — I… I don’t understand.” Madison’s head was spinning. “You’re not charging me? But I was right there the whole time. Konrad put my name on everything. It’s on the business contracts, purchase orders, indemnities, loans, tax returns. It’s everywhere! That proves how it’s my fault all those girls suffered so horrendously, and the drugs reached the streets. I should have done something.” Her voice was just a whisper and the agent cocked his head to catch what she was saying. His brows knitted in confusion.

  “How does that prove any of this your fault? As far as the FBI and the DEA are concerned, you were as much an innocent victim in all of this as those other women. Are you worried any of Peeters’ associates are going to come after you?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe?”

  “The Seattle Police and the FBI are confident we have identified all those involved, so the likelihood of anyone trying to harm you is minimal. Do you know where you will stay while you’re in Seattle? We need an address where we can contact you.”

  Madison stared out of the window while she processed what was happening.

  “No, I don’t have anywhere to go. I guess I could use Konrad’s house. It’s technically mine as well, but… I’m not sure I can set foot in there again.”

  “I understand. Let me see if we have any safe houses available in the area. I’m sure we could put you up in one of them for the time being. I’ll make some enquiries and get back to you.”

  After the agent had gone, Madison felt restless and anxious. She wasn’t sure it hadn’t been some kind of trick to lull her into a false sense of security, only to pull the rug out from under her feet once she rel
axed and let her guard down. It couldn’t be this easy.

  A couple of days later, an envelope was left on her bedside table while she napped after another sleepless night. Today was the day she was being released from the hospital. A big knot had formed in her stomach at the thought of leaving the cocoon she’d encased herself in. A set of keys fell into her hand as she opened the envelope. Her eyes were drawn to an address at the bottom which she knew was in downtown Seattle. Madison stared at the keys for several minutes before reading the rest of the note.

  It was from the agent who had visited her, telling her she could stay at that address for as long as she needed to. According to his instructions, all she had to do was keep a low profile and be available to the FBI and the police during their continued investigations into Konrad’s activities. After she’d read the note several times, she clutched the key tightly in her hand. At least now she wouldn’t have to go back to the house she’d once lived in with Konrad and where her torment had begun. It felt like a lifetime ago, but in reality, only four years had passed.

  “Hi, Madison. Ready to get out of here? I have your discharge papers.” Dr. Raj appeared in the doorway to her hospital room.

  “Yeah, I guess. It feels a bit weird after spending over a month in this room.” She tried to keep her voice steady, but the truth was that she was scared, terrified, even.

  “I’m sure it does, but you must be excited to get back to a normal life again, right? You’re fully healed and don’t need to be under further observation. Your discharge papers are waiting in the nurse’s station and an orderly will wheel you down to the exit.”

  “Thank you. For everything you and the rest of the staff have done for me.” Madison managed to plaster a small smile on her lips, but even she could tell it didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Look after yourself, Madison, and follow the recommendations I’ve given you. Remember, you’ve had major surgery, and even though it’s all healed, there will be some tenderness and weakness in your abdominal muscles. Good luck.” Dr Raj gave her an encouraging smile and disappeared down the corridor to look in on her next patient. She rose carefully from the bed to avoid getting lightheaded. After so much time spent lying down, her legs felt a little unsteady. Slung across the bed was a brand new coat, and what she was wearing was all new, as well. Someone had taken pity on her and provided her with a set of clothes to wear as her own had probably been burnt after she was brought in. Not that she would have wanted to wear them anyway. They’d been grimy and ripped, and she would have rather walked out in a set of hospital scrubs than put those rags on again. Konrad had chosen them for her, and she shuddered at the thought of what had gone through his mind every time he picked out the outfits he’d made her wear.

  Madison took a deep breath as the orderly helped her out of the wheelchair and then left her to it with a quick goodbye and a wave of his hand. She was on her own. Her whole body vibrated with apprehension, loneliness and nervousness. She found it hard to process the fact that she was finally free. The wide glass front doors of the hospital whooshed open, and she hesitantly stepped out onto the sidewalk facing a large parking lot. She held her breath, waiting for alarm bells to ring and the police swooping in to drag her back in handcuffs. She stood frozen to the spot as she braced herself. Nothing happened. People stepped around her on their way in or out of the hospital with some casting her a funny look for standing there like a statue. Another couple of minutes passed and the panic slowly seeped out of her body. Several small steps took her to a wooden bench to the side of the main doors. Madison sank down and pulled some air into her lungs to calm herself down. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest and she could feel her pulse pounding in her ears. She didn’t know how long she sat with her head lowered and hands in tight fists on her thighs, but eventually she straightened up and slowly focused on her surroundings.

  A cab pulling up to drop some people off caught her attention and before it had a chance to pull away, she slipped into the backseat. She would go straight to the apartment that had been provided for her by the FBI, she decided. Gary — no, Jackson, she corrected herself, had helped her get replacement credit cards, driver’s license and a cell phone. It was now all in a plastic bag clutched tightly in her hand. She looked at the note in her hand with the address scribbled on it. She had no idea what kind of place it was, only that it was somewhere in Belltown, close to the waterfront, and all she cared about was that it wasn’t the apartment she’d shared with Konrad.

  “Where to, lady?” The cab driver didn’t even cast a glance in his rearview mirror.

  “Pike Place Market,” she said before sinking low in the backseat, trying to hide from anyone who might be looking for her. The FBI agent had told her they were certain she’d had no hand in Konrad’s operations, but she still found it hard to believe. Until she felt safe, she would keep her head down and stay out of sight.

  As the cab wound its way through the busy Seattle streets, she found herself straightening up, but she was still wound tight as a drum. The hospital was not far from where Konrad’s apartment was located, but luckily, the cabbie took a route that didn’t go anywhere near it.

  It was close to rush hour and already the streets were getting clogged up with commuters heading home. The skies were dark, but all the shopfronts were brightly lit, and Madison suddenly realized it was nearly the holidays. A glance at the brand new cell phone in her hand told her Christmas Day was only a week away. Not that she cared. She was just going to hide away in her temporary home till the New Year and forget all about the festive season.

  “This is as close as I can get to the market, lady.” The voice of the cab driver startled her back to the present. She got out and paid the fare. The cabbie muttered something about change, and she told him to keep it. He quickly revved the engine and disappeared into the slow-moving traffic.

  Madison looked up at the building where the apartment was. The keys were in her hand and she carefully put one of them in the lock of the glass front door and turned it. She was almost surprised when the lock clicked open and she stepped through the doors. The apartment was on the 5th floor with no elevator, so she made her way up the stairs, treading slowly like an old lady. After the second flight she was already out of breath and had to stop for a minute. She hadn’t realized how out of shape she was and resolved to get back to how she was when she lived in Florida. An image of bright sunshine on a sparkling blue ocean and a white, powdery soft beach stretching as far as the eye could see hovered like a mirage in front of her. With it came the vision of a sculpted male body, a lopsided grin, dimpled cheeks, and the warmest, kindest, most passionate brown eyes she’d ever known. Madison shook her head to dispel the vision and kept climbing till she reached the top floor.

  It was easy to find the apartment. With shaking fingers, she opened the door and walked into the darkened hallway. There was enough light filtering through from outside to allow her to see the light switch and as the recessed spotlights came on, she drew in a breath. The apartment was decorated in soft, muted colors and furnished with modern but comfortable furniture. It was elegant and expensive. Madison couldn’t believe she could stay there for as long as she wanted. A small kitchen lay to her right and the spacious living room contained a large sofa, a couple of armchairs, a coffee table and a dining area. It even had a fireplace. There were two bedrooms, each with a bathroom, and the master also had a walk-in closet. To her delight, she found a fireplace in the main bedroom as well. When she flipped the switch in the closet, she was stunned to find a good selection of clothes, all in her size, and even lingerie and sleepwear. It made her wonder who usually stayed in the apartment and where they had moved to.

  Madison stood in the middle of the living room and just looked around her. After what she’d been through, this place seemed like heaven. Her gaze landed on a folded piece of paper perched against a vase with fresh-cut flowers on the coffee table. Her eyes widened as she read the neat handwriting.

  Dear Madison, I�
��ve had the apartment stocked with food, drink and some clothes I hope will fit you (I didn’t do that bit of shopping, I promise.) You are welcome to stay here for as long as you want. All the FBI asks for is that you let them know if you’re leaving the city, or state, at any time, and inform them of where you’ll be. You will be asked to testify at Konrad’s upcoming trial, but the courts move slowly so it can take a while. The agent in charge might call you for further information but will keep it to a minimum. I hope you will be comfortable here. Please make use of the building’s amenities and services. If you have any questions or need any help, please do not hesitate to contact me. I took the liberty of entering my cell number into the phone I gave you.

  Take care of yourself and have a happy life.

  Jackson Reeves

  Tears welled in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks unchecked. She was overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness. It had been a very long time since anyone had done anything like that for her. Not since Florida and Car… She didn’t even want to think his name. It hurt too much. Swiping at the tears still clinging to her lashes, she put all thoughts of soft brown eyes and large planes of hard, sexy muscles out of her head and got herself settled into her new home.

  The sun was rising on another beautiful day, but Madison barely noticed. She’d just crossed the state lines into Florida and her heart was beating at a frantic pace. Ever since leaving Seattle six months ago she’d been on the move. Every day, it reminded her of when she first escaped Konrad’s clutches. Back then, she’d never stayed longer than necessary in any one place, only just long enough to get a temporary job and earn some money. This time, things were different, yet so similar. The fear of being caught by Konrad was gone, only to be replaced with a crushing sense of desolation and loneliness, and an urgent, driving need to constantly be on the move.