Let the Hunt Begin

by Alex Ander

  He fast walked to the sleeping chamber and put a hand on the doorknob. “It’s just a bedroom...nothing special.”

  She brought the shirt’s sleeves together and flattened the collar. “I’m curious as to what the previous owners left behind for you.”

  He held a half shrug. “Just a bed and some furniture…the usual.”

  “Is that so?” A foot away from him, she finished folding the apparel, held it in front of her white blouse, and confronted him. “Because I’m kind of thinking you never really know what surprises you’ll find in a bedroom.”

  His heart thumping, he regarded her. That sweat bead that had been tracing its way down his back finally hit the waistband of his jeans.

  Her jaw set, her face stoic, her spine straight, Devlin stared at him.

  For the next ten seconds, the two marshals squared off against each other in a silent game of ‘chicken.’

  Randall pursed his lips. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”

  She cocked her head. “And what would I be thinking?”

  He let go of the knob and took a step backward.

  She opened the door just enough to hold the folded garment in the gap. “That my sister left her shirt on your couch?”

  A hand snatched the blouse.

  Ten seconds later, Devlin pushed the door inward.

  Her unlaced hiking boots on, her undone jeans up to her waist, Faith worked at buttoning the shirt she had been given.

  Randall eyed his partner. “We didn’t do anything, Jess.”

  Devlin eyed the thin strands of Faith’s red thong. “But could you have said that if I had pressed the doorbell two minutes later than when I actually did?”

  “Two minutes? Yes. Five?” Trying to ease the tension, he teetered a flat hand and added a quick grin.

  “Glad you find this so amusing.” She stormed away.

  Well, that joke bombed. He went after her. “Jessica, I’m telling you that absolutely nothing—”

  “You,” she whirled around and leveled a finger at him, stopping him in his tracks, “made me a promise.” Her eyes included Faith. “You both made promises to me.” A tick later, she left the apartment and slammed the door behind her.

  Buttoning his shirt, Randall continued his way across the living room. “I’m going after her. I’ll try to explain—”

  “No.” Faith caught his elbow. Fully clothed, her boots tied, she put on her leather jacket and flipped out her hair. “She and I need to hash this out. She’ll either be fine with you and me seeing each other...or pissed. But, either way, this needs to come to an end right now.”

  “Should I come along?”

  “No. This is between sisters.” Faith threw open the barrier, stopped in the archway, pivoted, and half closed an eye at him. “That five-minute remark, earlier. That was a joke, right? I mean I’m hoping to get more than just five minutes of stamina from you.”

  “Ordinarily, I’d say definitely, but,” he gave her figure an exaggerated look and hiked his brows, “with the way you look,” before he shook his head at her, “I can make no such promises.”

  She half smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  Randall nodded once. “As you should.”

  “I’ll also keep that in mind and try to,” she paused, “tone down my sexiness.”

  “Please.” He raised hands in surrender. “I want no special favors.”

  “No special favors, huh?” Still smiling, Faith backpedaled into the hallway. “I’ll remember that, too, when the time comes.” She did a one-eighty and was gone.

  Picking up on her sexual innuendo, he sniggered and hung his head. You need to learn to shut your mouth a little sooner, Noah.

  ∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞

  .

  Chapter 6

  I’m Such a Fool

  The heels of her shoes thumping off the concrete with every step, Devlin marched down the driveway. Her thoughts were a disordered array of images of her sister and Randall. Her feelings bordered on betrayal and naivete.

  Reaching the F-150, she yanked on the driver’s side door handle.

  The thick entry point flew open, reached its limit, and bounced back.

  Catching the door, I don’t know what I was expecting, she dropped one foot onto the running board, propelled herself into the front seat and wrenched the door shut again. I should’ve known better. She clutched the steering wheel with both hands. The way they were carrying on. She huffed. I’m such a fool. The signs were there all along.

  A half-minute passed.

  Devlin closed her eyes and shook her head to clear away the thoughts. She dug out her phone and quickly thumped the screen to bring up the information Thorn had sent her.

  Her finger tapped the photo application icon by mistake, and several images from the mission in Norway scrolled by.

  “Damn it.” She backed out of the photo app and aimed her digit at the app that contained the files from Thorn. Her forefinger hovering above her cell, she frowned while envisioning one of the pictures that had just caught her eye.

  Devlin opened the photo app again and swiped the screen a couple times.

  An image of her sister and Randall on the ski slopes in Norway greeted the marshal. The two were hugging each other and beaming at the camera. In the background, sat a cabin he and Devlin would soon be raiding.

  She squinted at the twosome. After studying the looks on their faces, she shut her eyes. A long sigh escaped her lungs a moment later, as her head fell back against the headrest. “You idiot.” You selfish, selfish id—

  The passenger door opened.

  Devlin righted her head.

  Faith climbed into the vehicle. “We need to talk.”

  Devlin flipped over her phone and set the device on her lap.

  Faith slammed the door and swiveled in her seat to face her elder sibling. “Look. The first thing you need to know is,” she sliced a flat hand across the air above the center console, “nothing happened in there. Okay? I don’t know how many times you need me or Noah to say that, but it’s true.”

  Her emotions a jumble of anger and guilt, Devlin set her jaw without realizing it.

  Faith noted the gesture. “You know me, Jess. I’m many things. But a liar?”

  Her forearms tensing, Devlin noticed she had gone back to squeezing the steering wheel. She let go.

  “So, trust me when I tell you...nothing,” Faith paused, “happened...between Noah and me.”

  Devlin’s features softened a bit.

  “And it wasn’t for lack of trying on my part, either.” Faith glanced away then confronted the driver. “Your partner’s insanely devoted to you. You know that?” She huffed. “In the heat of the moment, presented with,” she flipped a hand toward her upper body, “this, he still couldn’t keep from thinking about you...and not wanting to betray your trust in him.”

  Devlin’s spirits brightened.

  “That makes at least three now. What is it with you and men, anyway?”

  Devlin scowled at her. “With me?”

  “Yes. You.” Faith raised her thumb. “First, you marry a super guy in Jonathon, and the two of you create a wonderful kid in Cassie. Then,” her index finger went up, “you land another great guy in Curt whose,” she paused, “top-notch in every way.”

  Devlin glanced down and smiled.

  “And now Noah. Can’t you let me have a shot at that same kind of happiness with just one good man?”

  Devlin met her sister’s gaze.

  Faith thrust out her palm. “I know what you’re thinking. I’ve had my fair share of men already. And I agree,” a beat, “however,” her hand still loitering in the air, she gawked through the windshield, her mind transporting her to several mini moments with Randall, “I...I’m not sure why, but I feel like this time it’s different...in,” she shook her head, “in some way.”

  Devlin glanced at the mobile phone resting on her thigh. Her cheekbones ticked higher.

  “And before you say, ‘I�
��ve heard that one before,’ just...”

  The marshal lifted her cell and showed the screen to her relative.

  “...know that—” Faith saw herself in Randall’s arms. A tingle raced from her brain to her fingertips when she ogled his handsomeness while recalling how she had felt that day. “What’s this?”

  Devlin pumped the phone at her passenger to emphasize her words. “In all my life...in all our time together growing up, I have never seen you smile like this.”

  Faith shot a look at the image and beamed.

  Devlin launched a finger toward her kin. “Right there. That’s exactly what I’m talking about.” She pivoted the mobile to see the screen. “You two were supposed to be pretending to have fun that day; however, in reality,” regarding the picture, she saw what her sister had been seeing the whole time, “in reality, you’ve been enjoying each other’s company all along.”

  The siblings said nothing for the next fifteen seconds.

  Still grasping her phone, Devlin plopped crossed hands onto her lap and sighed at her sister. “I was wrong to get between you two.” Her mood darkened as she dipped her chin. “I was only thinking of myself...and the grief you’d cause me if—” she looked up and waved a dismissive hand. “I’m sorry. Forgive me. I should have told you from the start...if you’re happy, Fay, then I’m happy for you.” In the next instant, a sliver of a grin played out over her face. “I’m a little late, but,” a beat, “I’m saying it now. I’m glad you’re happy.”

  Faith mimicked her sister’s expression, “Thank you,” before examining her fingernails while dragging out her next word. “So. Does this mean...”

  Devlin nodded. “We’re good. I’m not mad at you, anymore.”

  “No,” Faith snorted out a half laugh and wagged her head back and forth, “no. I don’t care if you’re mad at me.” She faced Devlin. “You’re stuck with me no matter what. Family first, remember?”

  Hearing the Mahoney family motto, Devlin chuckled to herself.

  “I want to know if you’re okay with me and Noah.”

  “Not that you should’ve ever needed it in the first place, but,” Devlin took Faith’s hand, “you have my blessing to date Noah.”

  Faith smiled. “Thanks, Jess. That means a lot to me.”

  She nodded. “Do me a favor and let Rand—” a moment went by, “I mean let your boyfriend know we need to leave.”

  The younger woman cocked her head at the windshield, a slow grin dawning on her features. “Boyfriend. I like the sound of that.”

  “I’ll bet you do. Now, go tell him he and I have a plane to catch.”

  “New case?”

  “Bank robbery in Oregon. Not many clues to go on, so I thought we’d—” Devlin half closed one eye at her sibling. “How long are you staying in Alexandria, anyway?”

  Faith looked away, “Few more days,” before coming back to her sister. “Why do you—” she saw Devlin squinting and tapping her lips with her index finger. “Uh-oh. You’re getting an idea.”

  The marshal lifted a corner of her mouth. “How would you like to put those computer skills of yours to good use while you’re here?”

  “Doing what?”

  “I need someone to run down leads, dig up information on people, find things.” Devlin half shrugged. “You know...all that,” she held out her hands and wiggled her fingers, “computer stuff.”

  “Don’t you have a whole agency of people who can do that for you?”

  “I do, but I’d like someone working for me full-time, not splitting time between this case and however many other cases an IT person might have. And I know you’re good with computers.”

  Frowning, Faith bit her lower lip.

  “Plus,” Devlin leaned over and squeezed her sister’s leg, “we’d get to work together one last time before you head back to Seattle.”

  Faith’s eyes twinkled, as she recalled the time spent in Northern Europe with her kin and Randall. “That was fun.” Her attitude dimmed in the next moment. “But I’d be stuck here while you two are in the thick of the action.”

  Devlin put on a fake pout. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  Faith’s eyes lit up. “Would you be making me one of those special deputy marshals?”

  “I believe I already did that,” a tick, “before we went to Norway, remember?”

  “I thought that had an expiration date attached to it.”

  Devlin chuckled to herself. “Consider the date extended. And as a special deputy marshal, you’ll also have clearance to access whatever agency databases you need.” She took the next few seconds to watch her sister ponder the job offer. “So, what do you say? I could really use you on this one, Fay.”

  “Well, then,” Faith nodded, “you have me.”

  “Excellent.”

  “First things first, though. I’ll need a computer...a fast one, too. And what kind of Internet connection do you have at the house? It at least needs to be—”

  Devlin raised a hand. “Slow down. Slow down. I’ll call my boss and have her set you up with anything and everything you need at the office.” She lifted her cell and tapped the screen a few times.

  Randall’s voice came through the speaker halfway through the second ring. “Are we still friends, or do I need to buy you some flowers?”

  Devlin snickered.

  “Or do you get in trouble for buying a married woman flowers these days? I’m not sure. I’ve been out of the game for a while.”

  Another snicker. “We’re still friends. But I’ll never turn down a nice bouquet of red roses, though.” A beat. “Listen, we have a jet waiting for us at the airport, so you need to pack a bag and get out here.”

  “Why how considerate of you...to allow me to take a change of clothes this time.”

  “Yeah-yeah.” Devlin remembered how she had dragged him to Seattle on the last assignment with only the suit he had worn to her former partner’s funeral. “And I bought you new digs to make up for it, too.”

  “Correction...your husband bought them for me. And, honestly, I’m still a little weirded out by that.”

  Devlin huffed out a short laugh. “Just get a move on, will you?” She clicked off and turned toward her passenger.

  Faith eyed her sister. “What?”

  “Oh, nothing.” She inwardly smiled while envisioning how unnerved Randall had been when he had discovered her husband had picked up some new duds for Randall. Devlin cocked her head at Faith. “And you’re sure he’s the right man for you, huh?”

  ∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞

  .

  Chapter 7

  Our Witness is Home

  2:32 P.M. (LOCAL TIME)

  EUGENE, OREGON

  The Gulfstream V had taken off from Ronald Reagan Airport at 11:03 in the morning (Eastern Daylight Time). Figuring in a three-hour time difference between Virginia and Oregon, the jet had landed at Eugene Airport four-and-a-half hours later at 12:32 in the afternoon (Pacific Daylight Time).

  During the flight, Devlin had worked the phones to meet Faith’s computer needs, get the woman an office, and start the process for establishing her sister’s deputy marshal credentials and security clearances.

  Once those duties had been completed, Devlin had then briefed Randall on what she knew about the bank robbery before the twosome spent the remainder of the flight reviewing the files Thorn had sent to the agents via their phones.

  On the ground at Eugene Airport, the marshals had found the silver Chrysler 300S rental car Thorn had waiting for them. Per Randall and Devlin’s driving agreement, he had slid behind the steering wheel, and she had claimed the passenger seat after both had stowed their luggage in the trunk.

  Two hours later, after having spent the previous ninety minutes at the site of the bank robbery—interviewing the bank manager and employees, speaking with local law enforcement, and reviewing the bank’s security footage of the crime—Devlin and Randall had driven to North Springfield, the second-most populated city in the Eugene-Springfield M
etropolitan Area.

  Now navigating the 300S through a budding subdivision, bypassing construction equipment on vacant lots of dirt and sand, Randall pulled into the driveway of one of three homes situated at the back of the cul-de-sac. He ran the gearshift to ‘Park’ and shut off the motor.

  Devlin pulled on her door handle while eyeballing the rear bumper of a car parked inside the two-story home’s garage. “Looks like our witness is home.”

  “Before we go in,” Randall removed the keys from the ignition and began twirling them around his right middle finger, catching them every so often, “I think we should clear the air…between you and me,” a beat, “about your sister and me. We never had time on the plane to discuss—”

  “There’s nothing to discuss.” Devlin smiled. “I’m sorry. I probably should’ve said something before now, but,” she paused, “like I told Faith, I’ll tell you. I was wrong to pitch a hissy fit over this. I had my reasons, but I shouldn’t have let them stand in the way of her—and your—happiness.”

  He tossed her a brief smile. “Thank you. I’m glad to hear you say that. I don’t want this to be awkward…for you and me, I mean.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s not. I’m okay with it.”

  He nodded and reached for his door handle.

  “As is customary, however…”

  Randall turned toward her.

  “…I must give you the usual heads-up.”

  He frowned.

  “If you hurt my sister, our partnership is toast.”

  His brows rising higher, he drew upon his CIA skills and tried to read her, find a chink in her stoic facade. He observed nothing lighthearted.

  “And I’ll probably wind up hurting you as well.”

  Randall pursed his lips, his pulse quickening. In the next instant, he wetted his parched lips. “Look, Jessica,” he squirmed in his seat and showed her his left palm, “I have no intention whatsoever of hurting…”

  Devlin let a slow grin wash over her face.

  “...your sis...” his voice trailed off.

  She lifted a corner of her mouth.

  He leaned back and looked down the length of his nose at her to see the other side of her mouth rising. “Why you rat bast—”