The doctor quickly began assisting the others, some struggling to stand. “No.” He nodded toward the leader who began to moan. Chase had made his shots carefully so as to severely injure, not kill. “He said he would have my wife killed if his man didn’t hear from him in the next ten minutes,” Dr. Haskins said looking nervously at his watch.
Chase nodded. “Your wife is safe. She’ll be waiting for you at the airport.”
“Thank God,” he sighed in heavy relief.
There was God again; getting in Chase’s way of grim reality.
Carelessly Chase rolled the leader over with his foot so he could look up at the man who shot him. “Who are you?” Chase growled as he pointed his weapon down at his heart.
“Help me,” he whispered.
“Just as soon as you help me,” Chase responded coldly.
“Go to hell, infidel,” he groaned.
Chase kneeled down next to the bleeding terrorist. “Ben?” He touched his earpiece to access Benjamin Clark back at headquarters. Chase wanted an ID.
“Not in our data banks, Chase. I don’t recognize him from any of our Intel. He’s new. Not Middle Eastern by the looks of him.”
“Go to hell,” he whispered again.
“Yeah. That’s probably inevitable, but you’ll be there long before me if you don’t start talking. And just so you know, my men and I all wipe our ammo with pig fat before loading up. So don’t think you’ll be spending eternity with a bunch of virgins.”
The look of intimidation finally sprang to the wounded man’s eyes. “Okay. I’ll talk. Just don’t let me die,” he begged. Chase nodded at one of his men to take over as Zoric came to stand at his side.
“You better get in there, Chase.” Zoric tilted his head toward the office where he’d left Tessa and the pregnant woman. “There’s another situation.”
Chase slung his weapon and hurried to find Dr. Haskins helping Tessa kick glass away from the center of the floor. His eyes fell on Penny breathing hard with her hand on her stomach, eyes wild with terror. She let out a cry as she doubled in pain. Penny was in labor.
“We need an ambulance and medic team now!”
~ ~ ~
Tessa didn’t know who the captain was talking to; someone in cyber space she guessed. All she knew was that help would not come in time. “Captain, her water broke. She’s having the baby now!”
“What?” Dr. Haskins spoke as if in a fog as he straightened. He began backing out the door, for the first time truly afraid. He didn’t like blood if it weren’t on a lab slide under a microscope. Suddenly Dr. Haskins looked out at the downed leader being attended to and the cuts and bruises that were now evident among his colleagues.
“Get him out of here, Captain Hunter,” Tessa ordered as she grabbed a lab coat hanging on a hook behind the desk. She watched the captain roughly grab the doctor by the front of the shirt and shove him backwards through the door without taking his laser like focus from her hurried activity. She spread the starched white coat on the floor before moving to help Penny.
“Captain, have you ever delivered a baby?” Tessa asked as she began stroking Penny’s head.
Chase propped his weapon in the corner and kneeled down next to the frightened woman. “As a matter of fact, I have,” he smiled with a kind of disarming charm. “Penny, we’re going to have a baby, sweetheart.” He patted her exposed leg, feeling the warm blood meet his fingers.
“My baby!” she cried.
“Your baby will be just fine, Penny.”
Tessa found herself breathing calmly at the silky tone the captain now used with the terrified mother-to-be.
He gently positioned her legs so they were bent at the knees and spread apart. Like magic, Zoric appeared with a first aid kit and handed Chase a pair of scissors. “I’m going to remove your panties, Penny,” Chase smiled devilishly. “You can tell your husband about that any way you like when this is all over.”
Penny smiled and began to breathe normally just as another contraction gripped her body.
“Breathe like this, Penny.” Tessa imitated the breathing exercises she no doubt learned in her own birthing classes. Penny quickly followed and soon was at rest again.
“I think we’re going to have a baby, sweetheart,” Chase coaxed calmly.
“Oh!” she grunted.
“Nothing to worry about, dear. This ain’t my first rodeo,” he chuckled as he stroked her leg. “My parents were medical missionaries in China when I was growing up. I assisted on my first appendectomy when I was ten.” His eyes drifted from Penny’s face to Tessa who openly stared at him in disbelief. “Then I went on to be the medic when I joined the Rangers.”
~ ~ ~
His comments were telling her something, Tessa knew. Sharing this information could be a clue to what kind of man Captain Chase Hunter really must be. He was a good man cloaked in a dangerous roll of ultimate hero. Those dark eyes reached out to her like a drowning soul. “You’re lucky to have him, Penny.”
“I don’t even know your names,” she said trying to lick her lips. She watched the scary man, who had brought in the first aid kit, come stand behind Tessa. He handed her something. In seconds Tessa had lifted Penny up enough to sip some water from a bottle. “Who are you?”
“I see the baby’s head, Penny. You’re going to have to be a good girl now, and really push.” He watched her nod and she scrunched up her face to push. “Good! Breathe with my friend,” he paused as he looked at Tessa. “Breathe with Agent Melanie. Now push!”
Another agonizing push, a breath and another push. “One more, Penny!” Chase encouraged. “Prettiest baby I ever saw. Come on! Push!”
Chapter 14
R obert watched the children gobble down their burgers and fries followed by ice cream which he immediately regretted, having forgotten that Daniel was lactose intolerant. After his son let out a huge belch and his siblings started laughing with loud gusto, Robert quickly ushered them out of the restaurant under the glare of several sour faced customers.
“Your mother is going to have to work on your manners,” he scolded crossly as he swung Heather up into his arms so they could cross the street to their parked SUV. “Look both ways, boys. Mom would kill me if anything happened to you.”
Sean Patrick sniggered. “The thought of mom getting angry enough to swat a fly off her is the about the only deadly force you’ll see, Dad.” He grabbed Daniel’s arm to pull him along. “Daniel, come on!” Sean Patrick yanked Daniel forward just missing a tourist watching a pretty lady walking along the sidewalk instead of the road. “Hey! There’s Honey!” Sean Patrick said happily as he waved to the forest ranger, dressed in blue jeans and a tight U2 tee shirt.
Robert followed his son’s waving hand and saw Honey smile and wave back at his son. Something inside him warned to stay clear of the flirtatious ranger, but before he could unlock the car, both boys ran to her side and started talking about their morning. Robert carried Heather far enough to set her feet on the sidewalk and she too ran to Honey.
“Hi, Robert. I see you’ve been entertaining the troops like the good dad you are,” Honey smiled seductively and she cocked her head at him and winked playfully. “Your wife is a lucky girl. Most men wouldn’t let their wives stay at home for a much needed break. I hope she appreciates you.”
Robert thought there was some implication as to her interest level, but remained confused as to what he should do about it. It wasn’t like he knew many single women. From what one of the attorneys at work had said, women today like to be the aggressor. Even though the attorney was married, he enjoyed straying and being “eaten alive” as he like to say, by anyone other than his wife, whenever possible. Robert frowned at betraying a woman like Tessa.
He’d fallen head over heels in love with Tessa the first time he’d seen her in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was playing with two young boys in the park, instructing them on how to hit a baseball. At first he’d thought the children were hers. The next day he’d accidently on purpose
ran into her again and offered to help her in the training of the boys. When he discovered she was their nanny, Robert’s heart would not be appeased until he made Tessa fall in love with him.
Intelligent and beautiful, Robert had never thought such a woman could love him. But she did and with her whole heart and soul. Having just passed the bar in California, Robert had been offered a position with a prestigious law firm. When Tessa had accepted his marriage proposal, a wave of relief had washed over him. On the day of his wedding, before God, he’d promised to love and cherish her forever.
Now, here he was looking at Honey Lynch like a little boy in a candy store, wondering if he was still desirable to someone other than his wife.
Knowing that his job took a great deal of time from his family, Robert’s justification was always that he needed to provide a good life for the ones he loved. The truth, he had begun to realize, was that he just liked his job more than being home for important events. That seemed like woman’s work to him. And he just didn’t know what to do with the kids most of the time. It seemed so easy for Tessa to be the hero with the kids. They thought of him as the strict disciplinarian. Sometimes they even seemed shy around him. Granted, he wanted and needed to be proud of the children, but taking the time to participate interfered with the ladder of success he chose to climb.
Why couldn’t Tessa just continue to raise their kids like she’d always done? After all, she was good at it, loved it even.
His love for Tessa had never wavered, but her constant reminder of his lack of input to family construction, grated on him at times. In his opinion the years she worked at school she had the entire summer off to decorate, play with the kids, chat with her lazy girlfriends and volunteer at the soup kitchen? He’d even given up going to church with them most of the time. “Have to work,” he’d say but was back in time to watch the 49ers or the Chargers play football. At least the boys liked to watch the game with him. Tessa couldn’t let the moment pass without mentioning the boys knew they would at least get to breathe the same air as their father for a few hours.
Tessa had returned to a part time teaching job when Heather had turned three. “A little spending money would be nice,” she claimed. The lady across the street had volunteered to watch Heather for free since her daughter had been the same age. It actually had given the neighbor a few hours of freedom while the girls played dolls. In return, Tessa watched the girls if her neighbor had a date night with her husband or needed a day off in the summer. Heather would be four by summer’s end so Tessa had decided to return to work full time. The preschool was a block from her teaching position and Heather had eagerly wanted to attend so she could be “big” like her brothers. Now the money would really be rolling in, Robert thought happily. More money to invest and plan for the future made him feel he could better protect his family.
A little guilt rolled over him as he smiled timidly at Honey Lynch. Tessa often accused him of being flirty or overly friendly to the ladies, but he hadn’t meant anything by it. Mostly Robert was just working the crowd for clients. His Tessa was always the prettiest one in the room, the most thoughtful when someone was in need and the sexiest girl he’d ever known; at least when she wanted to be.
Tessa could also be stubborn and horribly right at the most inopportune times. It would be just like her to pout if he’d set his foot down about the budget or her spending unnecessary money on the kids. Taking up for the kids when they were obviously out of line was another pet peeve of his. Of course, now, after spending just two days alone with his three little monsters, Robert was beginning to understand the dynamics of parenting.
“Can we, Dad?” the kids chorused loudly.
Robert snapped out of his reverie. “What?”
Honey laughed warmly and patted Robert’s arm with her tan fingers. His muscle flexed instinctively at her fingertips. “I said I have some extra passes to the Ponderosa if you and the kids would like to join me. The old television set for Bonanza is still there with a Wild West town. You can dress up like gunfighters and get your picture taken. There’s a chuck wagon that will take you out in the early morning, rustle up some breakfast and show you the beauty of Lake Tahoe.” Honey looked back at the kids. “Two weeks ago a bear tried to join them.”
The children gasped. “What happened? Did he eat the people?” Daniel shivered with hope.
Honey smiled. “Nope! Luckily I tagged along because there had been a few sightings.”
“Wow,” Heather cooed.
“What did you do?” Sean Patrick asked as his brow wrinkled in skepticism.
“I shot my gun in the air a few times and he ran off. We set a trap and caught him the next day.”
“Cool!” Daniel nodded. “Where is he now?”
“We tagged him with a radio collar then released him far into the mountains. He’ll be happier there, away from humans.”
Robert ruffled Sean Patrick’s hair. “I don’t know,” he said with hesitation.
Sean Patrick looked up at his father with pleading eyes. “Please, Dad! Mom would never let us do something like that if she knew a bear had been around. She’s afraid of her own shadow.”
Honey put her arms around Daniel and gave him a slight squeeze. “I wouldn’t offer the passes if I thought you’d be in danger. Most of the time you’ll be in the old west town. It will fill up your day,” she promised sheepishly. Did she notice Robert was struggling to keep the kids occupied?
Sean Patrick frowned. “But there might be danger, right?”
Honey met Robert’s eyes and smiled in that seductive way she had when her words were only for him. “Danger indeed,” she promised mischievously.
“Why not?” His surrender carried a twinge of guilt, knowing that part of his decision came from knowing the lovely park ranger would be tagging along.
The kids jumped for joy and started talking all at once as they moved toward the car. Honey helped Heather into her car seat then came around the car to double check Sean Patrick’s seatbelt in the front seat.
“Can’t be too careful, Sean Patrick.” Her eyes met Robert’s as he slid behind the wheel. He felt his cheeks grow hot. “Your passes will be at the gate. I’ll catch up with you.”
~ ~ ~
They said their goodbyes as the SUV slowly pulled out into traffic. Honey waved and laughed as she heard them begin singing The Ants Going Marching One by One. Watching them disappear toward their road to the cabin, her cell phone began to buzz. The fake smile disappeared so quickly from her face that she squeezed her cheeks to make them loose again.
“Yeah. They just left. Man, I hate kids.” Honey switched the phone to her other ear. “They’re where?” she snapped. “I thought you said those boys were at Stanford,” she said impatiently, realizing the voice at the other end expected something more of her special talent. “And when I find them?” she quizzed, but already knew the answer. “I’ll be in touch. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Dr. Haskin’s boys.”
Honey returned the phone to her pocket and looked up at the breathtakingly blue sky. Inhaling deeply, she placed her hands on her hips and smiled wickedly.
“What are you smiling at?” Mansur questioned when the truck door opened and Honey hopped in almost gleefully.
Without giving her partner a second glance she sighed. “This job is turning out to be more interesting than I thought.”
~ ~ ~
Director Benjamin Clark stood facing his expansive window, staring out over Sacramento. Pondering the unfolding scenarios of the last two days, he evaluated the possible solutions and outcomes, none of which gave him comfort. He would never understand the need to destroy innocent people for the sake of your beliefs, even if it were falsely claimed in the name of God. That included Allah, Buddha, Hari Krishna or any other known deity. It boiled down to power and control in his mind.
He’d grown up in two worlds: North Carolina and Israel. His mother, a political science major in college, had earned an internship at the American Embassy in Tel A
viv her senior year. During one of her weekend trips to explore Israel, she had been caught in a hostage situation in Jerusalem by a Palestinian group called Eternal Death. A young army captain came through the doors, guns blazing and killed three of the four terrorists. The fourth managed to hide until Ben’s father secured the room. He’d just ushered a young American girl out of her hiding place when he saw the fourth Palestinian rise up and aim his gun. To protect the American, the captain jumped in front of her to take her bullet, but not before emptying his gun into the final terrorist.
His father had nearly died. The young American girl never left his side during those dark days. When he began to recover, the warm smile of his saved hostage gave him encouragement. One day when he’d awaken, he saw that the girl he’d come to know as Bethany Clark, held his young son Gilad. They were playing patty-cake.
His wife had died the year before; not by the hands of terrorists, but from a car accident. Authorities thought she’d fallen asleep at the wheel after working an extra shift for a sick friend. Ben’s father buried his heart in his work the same time he’d buried his wife. Later he would tell Ben that his mother had healed him that day as he’d watched little Gilad fall asleep in her arms.
Bethany’s family, never keen on their daughter’s thirst for adventure, couldn’t accept that she might some day stay in Israel. The romance between the genteel southern girl of North Carolina and the rugged, often times brash, Israeli army captain flourished even though the relationship continued in a long-distance format.
After eloping, Bethany quickly became pregnant with Ben. To reassure Bethany’s family, Captain Benjamin Levy insisted his young wife and child remain in the U.S. as he continued his work in Israel. Every holiday, both Jewish and American, the Israeli captain tried to visit. He even let his oldest son remain with his wife’s family six months out of the year. But the remaining six months both boys were to be with their father.
The Enigma Series Boxed Set Page 15
