Power Play (An FBI Thriller)

by Catherine Coulter

  Luis turned smoothly onto High Leaf and gunned the limo. Three dark buildings later, he pulled into a parking lot and around to the back of a darkened building with ACME BLINDS in big aluminum letters across the front.

  Natalie lowered her window. “He’s got to know I’m not alone.”

  Whoever it was, Davis thought, really wanted Natalie Black dead. He felt no fear from her, no panic, like yesterday with Jitterbug. She was ready. What the driver was doing, chasing her down in a truck, when, like Natalie said, he had to know she wasn’t alone, was foolhardy. Luis cut the lights. Both Davis and Luis lowered their windows as well. They were all quiet, waiting. Thick black clouds scuttled over the quarter-moon. Rain was on its way, probably later this evening.

  “Davis,” she said in an urgent whisper, “I can see you’re still arguing with yourself about getting out of here to keep me safe. But no, let’s get this guy. This is our chance. We’ve got to get him. Promise me.”

  He knew he shouldn’t ever jeopardize a civilian, but she was right, and that’s exactly what he’d been thinking. If they could catch this guy, then it would be over. He nodded. He’d keep her safe. One look at Luis and Davis knew he was as committed.

  They waited, breathing in the silent air, seeing no one, all the office workers long gone. The black truck drove slowly by.

  Natalie shouted, “Get him, Luis!”

  The limo lights went on bright and the big Mercedes shot out from behind the Acme warehouse, blinding the driver of the black truck.

  Davis leaned out the window, took careful aim, and shot out the driver’s-side front tire. The truck screeched out, rubber flapping around the wheel, but the guy didn’t slow.

  Both Davis and Luis continued shooting, emptying their magazines, but the truck was moving too erratically for any of the shots to count. “He’s heading back to Marlow,” Natalie shouted.

  But no, he strong-armed the truck left and accelerated into the empty parking lot behind a trio of warehouses, the truck now riding on the rim, the limo not twenty yards away.

  Luis slammed on the brakes when they saw the truck with the driver’s-side door open.

  Silence: sudden, absolute silence.

  Luis pulled up behind the truck and both men carefully made their way toward the front cab. The smell of burned rubber and scorched metal hung in the air. The truck was empty.

  Natalie was right on their heels. “He’s gone,” she said. “We’ll never find him, too dark, and too many warehouses along this route.” She nodded to Luis and Davis. “Well, we tried. I’m glad Perry wasn’t with me, she’d have jumped out of the limo and leapt through the cab of the truck and torn the guy apart.”

  Savich home

  Georgetown

  Tuesday night

  Gabriella watched Sean downstairs while Savich washed Sherlock’s arm, applied antiseptic cream thickly over the thin red gash, and covered it with a wide adhesive bandage. It had taken only ten minutes, but when they were back in the kitchen, ready to start dinner with Sean, he was too excited to sit because of a big problem at school that Gabriella couldn’t help him with. This last part he told them in a whisper, believing Gabriella couldn’t hear him, though of course she could. Turned out a girl had hit Sean in the shoulder because Sean had beaten her in an Inspector Milo Bork on Planet Tubor computer game. Marty from next door, whom Sean considered his future wife, had jumped on the girl’s back and pulled her hair. Sean said, “Sammy didn’t hit me hard. I mean, I get mad if someone beats me, too, but I suck it up like you told me to. Now Sammy and Marty are mad at each other and mad at me. It’s not fair.”

  Ten minutes later, after Sean had called Marty and Marty had called Samantha, and all the respective parents were happy again, all was well in the kingdom.

  Sherlock grabbed Sean up when he handed Dillon’s cell back to him and kissed him all over his face before tossing him to his father, who squeezed him until he squeaked, laughing like a loon while Astro barked and jumped manically at Savich’s legs. Her arm didn’t hurt at all. Finally, the eggplant came out of the oven and they sat down for dinner.

  Later that evening, once Savich had sung two country-and-western songs for Sean, three verses each, and Sean was down for the count, Sherlock took Savich’s hand and led him to their bedroom.

  They sat side by side on their bed, Sherlock looking straight ahead. “It started two days ago. I didn’t tell you because it was so stupid, really, not much of anything, only something a little out of the ordinary.”

  “What, exactly, do you mean by ‘not much of anything’? Apparently it wasn’t that because a guy tried to kill you today.” He kept his voice low and calm, hard even though hours had passed since they’d gotten home. He kept looking at her arm, remembering his gut-wrenching fear when she’d been shot in San Francisco. It brought it all back, made it seem like yesterday.

  When she only stared at him, he said, “I’m not going to throw a fit like Sammy did with Sean’s computer game. Sweetheart, come on, tell me what you mean.”

  She said, “Okay. I was in Chad’s Market, for heaven’s sake, two afternoons ago buying some vegetables. You know that feeling you get that someone is looking at you, checking you out? Well, that’s what I felt. I was deciding between two heads of lettuce when I knew to my gut that someone was staring at me. I looked around at the dozen or so people in my immediate vicinity but didn’t see anyone paying any particular attention to me. I mean, the guy behind the meat counter sometimes flirts with me, called me the hot lady with the badge once, but he wasn’t even around. I forgot about it.

  “Yesterday, when I was at the Olive’s Baby Boutique over on M Street buying a present for Lily’s baby, I felt the same thing again—eyes on me. It spooked me this time, and I turned around fast to see who it was. There were four mothers, three of them carrying babies, and one older gentleman inspecting a blue baby blanket. I didn’t see anyone else. Then I looked out the big front glass window and saw a shoulder moving out of sight. I ran out of the store, but whoever the shoulder belonged to was gone. I assumed I was overreacting, Dillon. To be honest, though, I was ready to tell you I might have a budding stalker on my hands.”

  “And you didn’t tell me about this budding stalker yesterday because?”

  “Because after what happened in San Francisco, I knew you’d lock me in a closet to keep me safe and only let me out to go to the bathroom. I needed time to weigh things out in my mind, Dillon, and decide whether it was worthwhile to worry you about it.”

  “It’s definitely a closet for you now, and guards outside the door who’ll have Uzis all around.” She felt his fingers lace through hers. She looked down at their hands. “I was going to tell you over tacos at lunch, but Davis started telling about how he was going out with Natalie Black to that function this evening, and I decided not to push it, to wait until tonight. Big mistake.

  “What I don’t understand is why this person gave up staring at me and decided on a drive-by on a motorcycle. That doesn’t sound like a stalker to me. It’s too soon for that kind of escalation. I mean, two days of watching, then kill me?”

  He hugged her close. “No, not a stalker, but he was casing you out for a hit, and it was a clumsy one at that, so he’s not a professional. It’s obvious he had to be hanging around the Hoover Building today, watching for you, following you. You never noticed anyone while you were driving?”

  “No. But you know, I was thinking about Lily and Simon and how it’s so great Ethan was born healthy and how over-the-moon both of them are—and how your sister deserves happiness. I wasn’t concentrating on anyone possibly tailing me. I mean, why would I?”

  “He was at the grocery store, then outside that baby store. We’ve got to figure out what changed between yesterday and today to make him go after you. And in a busy spot with lots of people around.”

  “Maybe he was waiting for a chance, and today was his first opportunity. He must have followed me from the service station, thought I was an easy target and thought, Wo
wee, rev up the cycle, cruise right up to her, shoot her down.”

  He pressed his face against her hair, breathing in slowly, getting control of himself. He said against her ear, “So who have you pissed off lately?”

  She spurted out a laugh, pulled back in his arms. “Well, there’s Alex Benedict, Esquire, isn’t there? That smarmy lawyer has been threatening me he’d have my job for harassing his thug client, Tommy Cohen.”

  “I can’t see either Teflon Tommy or his lawyer calling for a hit on you. Bad for business. And they wouldn’t have hired a bozo like the guy who shot at you today.”

  Sherlock leaned into him, resting her cheek against his shoulder. “I was sort of joking. I’ve given this a lot of thought and I can’t come up with anyone, Dillon. If you want the truth, that’s depressing. I mean, I’ve been a special agent for a good amount of time and yet I don’t have anyone in my past who hates me so much they’d go out of their way to put me down. There’s only Marlin Jones, and that was a long time ago. You’d think I could at least come up with a couple of enemies.”

  He laughed at her outrage.

  “I really thought we’d get a good description from the Thompson couple who were right there close up when the guy jumped off that Kawasaki after I shot out his tire.” She sighed again. “I was sure they’d be able to give us at least a flash of something about the man while he ran past them. How could they say they didn’t see him? How’s that possible?”

  “They’re both nearing ninety, Sherlock. One has macular degeneration and the other is swimming in cataracts. They’re really a nice old couple,” he added, “and they wanted to help, but the fact is I don’t even think the Thompsons even realized you were shot at, from what they said.”

  “I wish I’d gotten a better look at him myself. I’ve been going over what I saw of him all evening, and there’s nothing more. Like I told the officers, he was on the tall side and kind of thin. A really nice camel wool coat, khakis, and boots. I couldn’t tell his age because he was wearing sunglasses and had his head all bundled up. That’s all I’ve got.” She sighed again. “Well, the forensics team might find some fingerprints on the motorcycle or DNA, if the gods are smiling on us. With any luck, he’ll be in the database.”

  “We’ll check the street cameras outside the Hoover Building, and any along Prospect Street near the service station. If you’re right, and it was an old Colt M1917, but I doubt he bought the gun on the street. I wonder how he got hold of such an old weapon.”

  “He probably didn’t know how to buy a throwaway. Maybe it belonged to his grandfather. Hey, where are you going?”

  Savich turned to look down at her. He saw the slight bulge of the bandage beneath her nightgown sleeve and felt a spurt of fear. “I was going to put a brighter lightbulb in the closet so you won’t strain your eyes reading when I lock you in.”

  Secretary of state’s home

  Caldicott Road, Washington, D.C.

  Tuesday night

  It appeared to Davis that Arliss Goddard Abbott’s second husband was a booze hound, but then he supposed he’d have to consider that Brooxey Wallingford, of the Philadelphia mainline Wallingfords, could support one or two third-world countries. Davis thought the elder Wallingford seniors must have hated him to pin such a ridiculous name on him. He’d obviously drunk one too many shots of Glenfiddich that evening and was ogling the women, particularly Natalie, that or her diamonds, Davis wasn’t sure which. He and the secretary of state, who’d kept her own name, had been married less than a year, Natalie had told him, and said only, “He was always nice and charming the half-dozen times I was with him socially. He was a prince at their wedding.” She looked from Arliss to Wallingford, sighed. “I wonder if Arliss knew he was such a drinker before they got married.”

  Cynical to the bone, Davis said, “It may be a huge mitigating factor that he and his family are almost as rich as Bill Gates.”

  Natalie shook her head. “Doesn’t matter, it’s none of my business.”

  When they reached Arliss Abbott in the receiving line, she cheek-kissed Natalie and gave Davis a cool smile and a firm handshake. She was a tall, elegant woman in her long black designer gown, similar in age and as beautifully presented as Natalie. She was, Davis thought, the undisputed queen of her kingdom. It was odd though, that Natalie seemed to radiate warmth and interest, whereas Abbott gave off an “I’m in charge and don’t you forget it” vibe. Maybe, he thought, she had learned to project that image on the job, but he doubted it. He rather thought she’d learned it in the cradle. He saw her give a nearly imperceptible nod to one of her aides. Davis watched the young man discreetly lead second husband Wallingford away, with some practiced excuse, no doubt. What would the aide do? Put him in his jammies and tuck him in bed?

  He felt her powerful intelligence focus on him. “Natalie tells me you’re a special agent with the FBI. I understand you work for Dillon Savich, and everyone is impressed with him, the president included.”

  Maybe Davis was impressive by extension? “Yes, ma’am,” he said, and left it at that.

  “However did you hook up with Natalie?”

  Hook up? Well, she was sitting in a smoky bar over on K Street, drinking alone, and I—“Natalie tells it better than I do, ma’am. I guess you could say I protect her from unwanted attention.” Davis kept his eyes firmly on her face, not about to see if Mr. Brooxey Wallingford was still in sight. It was Madame Secretary of State Abbott who snuck a look toward the door her aide and her husband were currently negotiating, Brooxey swaying a bit, the aide speaking to him quietly.

  Natalie said, “Arliss, I’ll tell you about it later. Oh, yes, Perry told me she’s coming with Day.”

  Arliss Abbott placed a beautifully manicured white hand on Natalie’s arm and moved in close, her voice pitched low. “We need to talk. I don’t think in my office, it would invite speculation. Some afternoon we can both get away?”

  Natalie kept her voice steady. “Of course. We need to discuss this—situation.” She drew a deep breath, her head very close to the secretary’s. “I need to hear your advice about what I should do.”

  Arliss Abbott nodded, beamed a practiced, smooth smile at Davis, and turned to greet a plump older woman with a smoker’s wrinkled face, a congresswoman from Connecticut, Natalie whispered to him.

  Natalie moved gracefully from one small conversation group to another, all in all about thirty A-list men and women, as jeweled up and beautifully turned out as she was. Davis noticed when Natalie neared, conversation stopped for half a second, all eyes focused on her, until the guests remembered their manners and responded as naturally as they could to her greeting. Davis kept a bland smile planted on his face. He was sure they were burning to know what the secretary of state had said to her and what they were planning. He wondered if she would still be ambassador if the two women hadn’t been best friends since college, along with the president of the United States. Davis had a feeling that despite that fact, this roomful of politicians would bet their galoshes that Natalie would end up thrown under the bus.

  Davis stood a little behind her, aware of everyone who came near her. Of course, information was the currency in Washington, and everyone wanted a big chunk, but they weren’t rude enough or honest enough to ask Natalie directly. She smiled and nodded, ignored the covert stares, and her voice was cultured and beautifully pitched, but she wasn’t saying what they really wanted to hear. She deflected supportive comments about the events in England with great skill and charm—events—as if that was the only polite word for a man’s death and Natalie’s attempted murder. If her laughter was a bit thin at times, no one let on that they wondered why, but of course they did. She continued from one group to another and neither her conversation nor her expression revealed that her reputation, and her life, in fact, was in the balance.

  She always carefully introduced him whenever she came into a new group, referring to him only as her “friend.” She’d been right about how he’d be perceived. He’d never consi
dered what it would be like to be a boy toy. It was a novel experience, particularly since he was the youngest person at this fancy party, except for a couple twentysomething trophy wives. He was given sideways looks by some of the men, who apparently wondered what he had going for him. The women were assessing him, too, in a different way, maybe wondering if he was good in bed. But always, everyone’s gaze returned to Natalie, the poor beleaguered woman they seemed to think would be cut loose long before the midterm elections.

  He might have known there would be talk about football, too, an easy subject for Natalie and everyone else. From a congressman he learned Perry had rocked the football world that very day with the actual facts about the Tim Tebow rumors flying around.

  And then, speak of the devil, Biker Babe waltzed in, not in a black leather jacket, black jeans, and boots, but in a long shimmery dark green gown that left her tanned shoulders bare. Where’d she get that tan? Her thick brownish-red hair was loose, pulled back with gold clips, a mess of lazy curls falling to below her shoulders. Black dangly earrings nearly touched those very nice shoulders. He realized she was as tall as her mother, those skinny-heeled stilts shooting her up to nearly six feet. Perry was on the arm of a man he assumed was Day Abbott, the secretary of state’s son. He was about Davis’s own age and looked quite the bruiser, like he might have played football in college. He was thick through the chest and shoulders, fit and toned, with a strong, stubborn jaw and dark eyes that never left Perry’s face. His look wasn’t brotherly. It was odd, but Davis knew on the spot he and Day Abbott wouldn’t ever be best buds watching a hockey game, sharing a beer. He saw Perry give him a little finger wave, her eyebrow arched in question.

  Evidently, her mother hadn’t told her he would be her bodyguard tonight.

  Natalie lightly touched his arm as an older gentleman quickly walked up to her and embraced her without much enthusiasm. “Davis, this is my half-brother, Milton Hinton Holmes.” Now, that was an impressive handle. “Milton is one of the senators of the General Court—in Massachusetts the General Court is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.”