The Enigma Series Boxed Set

by Tierney James

  Chase realized Tessa had made eye contact with him. That sudden jolt of pain hit his chest again as he raised his hand to rub the spot over his heart. “Vernon?”

  “On it, boss!” he said tapping away at his key board.

  Chase tore his eyes away from the Grass Valley housewife to look at his watch. “Let’s take a break and do dinner. We’ll meet back here tomorrow. It’s been a long couple of days.”

  Ben agreed. “I’ll call Claudia and see how she’s doing.”

  Tessa couldn’t help but notice that Ben seemed to be giving some visual message to the captain. She sucked up her courage and ask: “When can I go home?”

  “Soon,” Ben replied as he turned his back on her. “You’ll need a place to stay tonight. We’ll find you something near here provided any of us get a chance to sleep.” Ben casually waved a back hand at the Enigma team as he disappeared into his office. “Chase?”

  “I’ll take care of her.”

  Within minutes, Chase and Tessa were in his Hummer steering into the darkness, carefully obeying stoplights and pedestrian crosswalks. Tessa realized how close they’d been to Old Town, Sacramento at that point. She noticed a sign coming out of the underground parking lot that said, Sacramento University of Science and Technological Research. How many times had she’d seen that sign on the highway, watched promo commercials on television and even walked near there on her way to Old Town? People of Sacramento had no idea what lay just beyond the entrance to these halls of learning.

  Casually, Tessa tried to steal a look at the stoic Captain Chase Hunter. Even in this semi darkness, his rugged good looks made her swallow a little harder than she wanted. His dark eyes indicated some ethnic heritage from a generation or so back. A scar just over his eye appeared more pronounced under the pale green lights of the dashboard. Several times in the last two days she’d experienced the strength in those strong arms that she now admired. Even though Chase smiled little, the few times he’d looked at her with that amused grin had given Tessa a kind of calm and warmth that she’d never experienced. Who was this man? What exactly was Enigma?

  “You’re staring at me,” he said so suddenly that Tessa jumped.

  “Sorry. I’m just a little tired. Where are we going?”

  Captain Chase Hunter turned his dark eyes on her and smiled, revealing straight white teeth. Something about that smile reminded her of the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. With indifference Chase said: “My apartment. You can stay with me tonight.”

  Chapter 16

  W ith a devilish smile, Essid moved toward the cot where Jericho Crawley now sat, drinking a cup of McDonalds coffee. The old man’s left eye was swollen nearly shut and a large bruise, the size of a man’s fist, covered the other cheek. A hint of dried blood around his nostrils gave Essid some satisfaction, knowing that his means of persuasion had been justified. After all, now the old man would help him with the Molybdenum 99 after it had been safely removed from Global Navigation. The containers would be rigged with explosives, rendering Global Navigation the biggest waste of American tax dollars the world had ever seen. Leading scientists of isotope recovery would cease to exist. And with any luck he’d be able to kill a few Russians for dessert.

  Global Navigation planned a congratulatory dinner in two days after the delivery process had been completed. Production would begin the following day. The dinner would be held on location in the conference center followed by dancing and entertainment. It was a black tie affair and many in the medical research industry had been invited. Due to the possibility of increased security on such an occasion, procedures were now executed to cancel the event. Essid and his people planned to destroy the life-saving isotope material before it had a chance to be put to good use.

  Essid closed his eyes with thoughts of the heavy water leak at Los Alamos where he’d sent his cousins. They weren’t the brightest, but oh so gullible and loyal. The isotope reactor would be shut down for months because of their acts. That would slow down the isotope production even further. After hearing from the oldest cousin, Essid felt reassured of their success in transferring the research data he required.

  His call came just before the lab had been stormed by some security organization. The sound of gunshots and screams preceded the line going dead. Nothing to do about it now; their father would be told they died for the cause. Surely they would grasp some comfort from that ridiculous idea. The only cause he cared about for now was undoing the tedious negotiations between the Russian and American medical community. What did he care if thousands of cancers would go undiagnosed until it was too late, or that crop disease might leave millions of people starving in third world countries? Revenge was sweet medicine for the disease that had eaten his life away for so long.

  ~ ~ ~

  The wagon bumped along on a narrow dirt road among the pines surrounding Lake Tahoe. The cowboy rode a dark Appaloosa alongside the wagon as he led the group of tourists in a song of “Ole Suzanna”. The air, crisp and clean, made the beauty of the mountains and meadows opening up before them appear surreal and tranquil. The smell of coffee and biscuits swirled upon the morning breeze that greeted the cowboy wannabes as they arrived for their breakfast at the Ponderosa Ranch.

  The ranch had been used for the wildly popular television series in the 1960s called Bonanza. Reruns on the Western Channel and other cable networks had continued its popularity. Everyone attending had tried to dress the part by wearing cowboy hats, vests, and boots. Some of the ladies wore fancy western style shirts with their overalls or jeans.

  Besides the Scott family, there were only two other kids with their parents. Visiting from a small mining town in Missouri, the father sang robustly with the cowboy. Robert smiled to himself when he overheard the teenage girl say that no way was she going to eat a Hoss burger later in the day if they went back to the old west town of Virginia City. The boy laughed and teased his sister that she was in for a tough day with that kind of attitude.

  Robert wondered if his children would enjoy each other when they became teens. He really hoped so. Watching his children climb down from the wagon and surround him with excited chatter swelled his heart with love and pride. All this time, he’d been missing out on the symphony of laughter and love. He realized what a gift he’d been given, a wife who adored him and took care of them, children that were so amazingly smart and funny, that he shuttered to think he’d almost missed it. All this time, Tessa had not been complaining he never spent enough time with the family, but had been begging him to experience this miracle before it passed him by.

  One thing for sure, Robert vowed when they returned home he would put his wife on a pedestal and make her life a lot easier. Although this trip had not been the relaxing vacation he’d desire/d, Robert acknowledged it certainly had been entertaining. For a brief moment Robert felt regret that he’d made such a mess of things at home. But then again, if he hadn’t, he would never have gotten to know his rascals.

  The kids helped themselves to seconds on the pancakes. They proclaimed them to be the best in the world and wanted a copy of the recipe to give their mom. Biscuits, gravy, bacon and scrambled eggs went along with the pancakes and warm maple syrup. A long table covered with a red checkered tablecloth seated twenty visitors. Everyone chatted between bites of food, sharing where they were from and why they chose the Ponderosa to visit.

  “I hear you had a bear visitor a week or so back,” Robert said thinking about Honey’s story of shooting her gun in the air to protect the breakfast visitors. He couldn’t help but wonder why she hadn’t joined them.

  The singing cowboy poured Robert more steaming coffee in his tin cup. “I’d remember if a bear had visited us,” he said looking over at the cook. “Hey, Bill, hear anything about a bear being around here?”

  The cook shook his head and flipped another pancake in his big iron skillet. “Nah. No bears around here. Incline Village had one about two months ago wandering around, getting in trashcans, but the rangers trapped him and hauled h
im off somewhere remote. I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you.”

  A wave of unease washed over Robert as he recalled Honey’s story she’d told the kids. Was she just trying to create an exciting adventure for the kids? He remembered the way her eyes had met his with that come hither look. “Did I hear some guys escaped a jail in Carson City a few days ago?” Robert asked offhandedly.

  The cook shrugged as he poured the last of the batter into his skillet. “Donno. Maybe. Don’t watch TV much. All bad news these days.”

  “Don’t look at me,” the singing cowboy smiled. “I don’t even have a TV. Besides those cops in Carson City always get their man. If they got out they’re back in by now.”

  Robert sat his cup down. Something wasn’t right about Honey Lynch. Maybe she’d not join them later today as she’d promised. But if she did, Robert began compiling a mental list of questions to cross examine her. After all, he was a lawyer.

  Feeling a gentle tug at his elbow, Robert twisted his body on the picnic table bench to see his little daughter. He hadn’t noticed her slip off her seat across from him. Swinging his legs over the bench he pulled her into his lap with a hug and a kiss. “Having a good time?” he said enthusiastically. She nodded happily and reached around him to take the last piece of his bacon. Robert then realized his boys were not next to him. “Where’s your brothers, sweetie?” Robert said beginning that built in panic scan parents obtain with the birth of their children.

  “Gone,” she said softly.

  ~ ~ ~

  Tessa Scott followed Chase into the building that held the Enigma organization as the sun was just coming up. It had not been a restful night. Anger still clouded her eyes, and her jaw muscles flexed over and over again in irritation at not being allowed to go home or call her family. After heating a couple of frozen meat and potato dinners in the microwave, Chase had eaten without saying a word to her as they sat at his black granite topped bar. He cleared away their disposable dishes and stuck their water glasses in the dishwasher which was nearly full. After telling her he was going to take a shower, Chase disappeared behind the closed door of his bedroom. Minutes later Tessa heard the shower start.

  Sitting in a frozen-like state at the bar, Tessa surveyed the captain’s eighth floor apartment. One whole wall was glass that overlooked the city of sparkling lights. Black leather furnishings and cherry stained bookcases on each side of the contemporary style fireplace filled the loft style living room. Open to the kitchen, done in the same cherry cabinetry with stainless steel appliances, the apartment was void of any personal touches. The look of a hired decorator existed with the few pieces of art hanging on the walls for a shot of color.

  Nothing too revealing about who Captain Chase Hunter might be outside of Enigma jumped out at her as she eased off the tufted, leather barstool to investigate further. The floors were stained dark with only an ivory shag rug in front of the couch to break up the monotony of the sterile room. A flat screen TV had been installed over the fireplace. Boys and their toys, thought Tessa without emotion.

  Only the dozens of books gracing the shelves next to the fireplace indicated a new layer to the captain. Tessa, drawn to books of any kind, quickly crossed the room to read the titles. Shakespeare, Chaucer, Marlowe, Johnson and several books with “sir” before the author’s name looked old and worn as Tessa ran her fingers across the binding. A violin case next to a music stand, rested precariously on angle in one corner. The case appeared to be worn and a little rough around the edges; like the captain, she thought in seriousness. She wondered about the possibility of his ability to play such a delicate instrument with such deadly hands.

  Her eyes had then gone to the front door. Should she try and leave? Would the captain come after her? Did she owe it to Mr. Crawley to see this thing through? Hadn’t she done enough already?

  “Planning your escape?” Chase had entered the room without her knowing it. He’d caught her standing before the door, staring at the possibilities. Dressed now in sweats and a tee shirt, he looked like an ad for Ralph Lauren; instead of Soldier of Fortune.

  “Love what you’ve done with the place,” she said flippantly as she turned and moved back to the bar, which seemed like miles away from Chase. “My place is such a disaster. You’ll have to give me the name of your decorator.” She offered a condescending smile.

  Chase approached Tessa slowly as if stalking prey, forcing her to retreat around the bar into the kitchen. “What makes you think I didn’t decorate this place?” He brushed past her and opened the refrigerator, reaching in for two beers.

  “Oh please,” she chuckled nervously as she cautiously moved back to the other side of the bar. “Do you play the violin?” Her eyes darted to the violin case.

  Locking eyes with his unwilling hero, Chase nodded. “My mother insisted I have a well-rounded education. It was one of the few things I managed to bring out of China when I left.”

  He popped one lid off a beer and offered it to Tessa. When she refused with a shake of her head, Chase smiled broadly then gulped down the cold liquid before speaking.

  “Afraid I’m going to get you drunk and take advantage of you?” When she didn’t answer he waved the bottle gently at the room. “Claudia did all this for me.” Tessa’s nervousness was almost amusing. “And so you can put your mind at ease, I don’t sleep with married women. I’m keeping you close because for some strange reason you’ve become a part of all this. I feel obligated to make sure nothing happens to you until this is over.”

  Finishing off the beer, Chase sat the bottle on the bar and disappeared into the bedroom only to return with a pillow and blanket. “I’ll sleep on the couch. The bed has clean sheets. Towels are in the linen closet. You’ll find them I’m sure.” He tossed the blanket and pillow on the couch.

  Trying to back toward the bedroom door casually, she tripped over the edge of the rug and nearly fell. When she looked at Chase he looked amused as he worked on the second beer. “And for your information I don’t drink alcohol,” she said off handedly.

  Chase took another sip of the cold liquid. “Let me guess. You’re one of those holier-than-thou Evangelicals that doesn’t drink, dance, swear or anything else that could be remotely fun. Since you have three kids I assume you’re okay with sex.”

  Tessa jerked her head up as if he were trying to insult her beliefs. “Maybe. Is that a problem?”

  His smile faded a bit. “My parents were Evangelicals.”

  “Are they really medical missionaries?”

  The obvious interest Tessa showed made Chase eye her with a little regret. “Not anymore.”

  “Why?”

  “The Chinese military killed them.” With that he turned toward the couch. “There’s a lock on the bedroom door if that makes you feel safer. See you in the morning.”

  When morning came Chase had knocked on her door saying they needed to get to Enigma. Tessa felt rushed and still half asleep when she’d joined him in the kitchen. Styrofoam cups filled with coffee, just like she took it, and a Little Debbie cake to eat on the way tasted wonderful. She frowned at such a breakfast but ended up wishing she had another as they’d driven down the street toward Enigma.

  Anxiousness about the upcoming day made her feel on edge and exasperation toward the captain. He’d asked her a couple of civil questions of no particular importance; how’s the coffee, did you sleep well, did you pack all your things, how long have you been married.

  The last question had nearly sent her over the edge. She snapped that if he needed to know any more personal information about her he should just ask Claudia. After that, the two had ridden in silence until they’d reached Enigma. Tessa had not budged when Chase exited the Hummer as she considered what her options might be to change her circumstances. Without resolution, Tessa soon found herself tagging along after Chase; two steps to his every one; another source of frustration.

  Once in the elevator, Tessa felt the sensation of going down. Had she done this yesterday? Where was she
being taken? Chase stood straight, almost at attention with his hands clasp in front of his body. Today he dressed casually, jeans, dark colored tee shirt and tennis shoes. He looked normal; although that seemed a little trite considering what the captain was capable of doing.

  Moving forward when the door swished open, Chase stepped aside and held the door, waiting for Tessa to decide to join him. His eyes did not look inside the elevator to coax her to decide. Finally, Tessa sighed in surrender and stomped out and kept going forward, even though she had no idea where she was.

  It looked similar to where she’d try to escape the day before only to be stopped by that Amazon, Sam. She felt Chase behind her even though his steps were stealth-like. Chase reached for the doorknob to open the door for her when Tessa stopped and turned to face her captor. She looked up into his dark eyes and searched his face for something; she didn’t know exactly what.

  “Did you shoot those men in the van that first day?” Tessa ask accusingly.

  Chase rubbed the spot again above his heart and winced as if it gave him pain. He needed to make a doctor’s appointment, she decided.

  “Yes.” One corner of his mouth turned up as she felt her eyes widened. “But they were already dead. If I had needed to kill them in order to get the information to stop whatever this is, make no mistake, Tessa, I would have killed them.” He appeared to be holding his breath. Did her opinion matter?

  A soft smile stretched her lips slightly; enough, she hoped, to give her face brightness. “Okay. I believe you.” This time she smiled broadly. Confusion leaped to the captain’s eyes and his hand tightened on the doorknob. “You called me ‘Tessa’.”

  Chase returned the smile. “I apologize, Mrs. Scott. It’s been a long couple of days.”

  His hand started to turn the knob when she reached out and laid her palm over the back of his large, rough hand. She felt him flex slightly as if wanting to pull away.