“You’re going about this the wrong way, you know.” He pivoted his body and stood up. He began to gather the refuse from their picnic, and she wrapped up her unfinished gyro.
“What do you mean?” She grabbed the edge of the table and swung her legs over the bench to stand. She brushed any dirt off her skirt.
“My motivation to help you. You should appeal to my baser instincts.”
Glancing behind her, she brushed the back of her skirt too. “I fed you. It doesn’t get more base than that.”
“It definitely could be more base than that.”
His silky tone snagged her attention, and she looked at him. His lips turned up in a sexy smile that curled her toes. She tamped down the teen yearning and shot him her best I-mean-business glare. “The charm doesn’t work on me. I’ve had my heart stepped on too many times.”
“I suppose I have to work harder then.”
“Or give me what I want.”
“Can I give you a rain check? I need to go.”
“Go?”
“Yes.” He reached into the pocket of his slacks and pulled out his cell phone. His face turned to the screen then at her.
“All right.” She began to walk toward the car.
“I’m not going to ride back with you.”
Bonnie turned to him. “Why not? Did I offend you?”
“No. I need to take care of a few things. Close by.”
“Oh.” Bonnie ran through a mental list of buildings close by and what business he might have in any of them. There was a federal building two blocks up.
“You don’t mind taking the doughnuts back, do you?”
Bonnie shrugged and headed toward the car. “I suppose not. I hate to take credit for your bribe though.”
“Funny. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Sure.”
Bonnie unlocked the car and opened the door. Sitting down on the driver’s seat, she craned her head over her shoulder and saw the doughnut boxes. But that wasn’t all. Brandt’s jacket and his tablet were also back there.
She exited the car. “Hey, you forgot—”
Where was he? Bonnie looked around the park. He had been standing just beyond the picnic table. The floodwall separating the park from the rest of the town was at least fifty yards away. He couldn’t have walked there that quickly. Could he?
Oh, well. She eyed the tablet and couldn’t keep the grin off her face.
He’d show up again when he realized he left his jacket and tablet with her.
In the meantime, it might be fun to see how secure his security was.
Chapter Nine
Brandt eased through a stairwell door seconds before it clicked shut and sprinted up three flights of stairs to another door. He passed his phone over the electronic pad, and the lock clicked. He had four minutes to change clothes and get to the roof. Slipping into a storage room, he toed off his shoes and slipped on the scrubs neatly folded on the shelf. With his shoes back on, he grabbed two disposable shoe covers and a cap.
With a minute to spare, he was in the helicopter attending a no-publicity patient who needed security more than she needed the EMT even if the hospital didn’t agree. He nodded to the pilot, and they lifted off. Shielding her with his body, he scanned the nearby buildings and the tree line as they continued their ascent. By air, they’d be at their destination in an hour, then he’d be flown back to Andersonville—at his request.
His unscheduled lunch with Bonnie Moore had made him really scramble to keep to his timeframe. Her unexpected picnic location had been providential. He couldn’t have planned it better, actually. Because he was still driving the Spyder, and as much as he loved the car, it stuck out like a sore thumb. But not when she insisted on driving so he was able to leave it on the street in a much busier location. He’d get a ticket, but if anything, that just provided an alibi for where he was if it ever came up. All he’d have to do was show back up at her building and kill a little time with her in her office.
Once his project was complete, he sat in the copilot chair and scrolled through his cell phone while they flew over the wooded landscape of rural Ohio.
What was this?
Four alerts that someone was attempting to access his tablet. The fifth notice acknowledged she’d gotten in.
Wow. She’s good.
She’d never get past the second firewall—not unless she somehow could mimic his encoded biological rhythm and had a perfect replica of his palm print with the embedded chip, a technology his company used for added security.
Still.
He wouldn’t have thought she could have been able to get as far as she’d gotten. Sheri kept telling him he needed to be more careful. Guess she had a point.
By five minutes after four, he was back in his suit and was climbing the stairs to her floor. He dialed her office number, and it rang twice before she picked up.
“Hello, Ms. Moore.”
She paused before responding. She was still working on getting in his tablet. He’d bet his Spyder on it.
“Hi.”
Brandt had yet to hear her call him by his first name.
“Do you know who this is?”
“I know who you’ve told me you are… Brandt Sherrod.”
Bingo.
“I’m on my way to your office.”
“All right. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
“Try again, Bonnie. I’m about twenty feet away from your office.” He exited the stairwell passage way and strode across the carpet. Her door shut ahead of him, and he chuckled before hitting end on his cell. He stopped and knocked. A minute went by before she opened it.
Guilt flushed her cheeks, and she didn’t quite meet his eyes. “I thought I told you not to come into secure sections of our office building without an escort.”
“Well, you didn’t say that exactly.” He leaned against her doorframe, and she took a step backward. “I left some things in your car. Did you happen to see them?”
She turned on her heel and marched to her desk. Skirting its corner, she settled on her chair and straightened some papers then set them aside. Brandt walked into the room. “Is it okay if I shut the door?”
“Sure.”
The door snicked closed behind him, and he held the back of the chair in front of her desk and pushed it back a few inches before sitting on it. “Are there any doughnuts left?”
“I… I haven’t checked lately.”
I’ll just bet you haven’t. You’ve been too busy, you little sneak.
“So, did you find anything of mine in your car?”
She squirmed a bit, then he saw her shoulders straighten. She was composing herself.
“As a matter of fact, yes. Your jacket.” She raised her hand and pointed to the corner, where it hung from a hanger on a coat tree.
He nodded but didn’t follow her gesture with his gaze. Instead he watched her and waited.
The blush staining her cheeks deepened. She opened her desk drawer and withdrew his tablet. “This too.”
He dropped his gaze to it, then back to her face.
“Great. I’m glad it was in good hands.”
“Does it really matter?”
“What do you mean?”
Her gaze flicked to him, and the tension dropped from her expression. A self-deprecating smile creased her mouth. “I tried to get into it, okay? But I only got as far as your games, so good job on your security. It was dumb of me to think I could access it. You being a self-proclaimed ninja, and all.”
“Ninjas haven’t been about digital and electronic security until the last few years or so. I’m a little too set in my ways to be on the cusp of this cloud information security. You know what they say about old dogs and new tricks.”
“You’re a has been,” she said in a disparaging tone. “At forty-one.”
“Apparently.”
“So, what will you do?”
Brandt shrugged. “Work until they put me out to pasture, or I get too old and crippled to slip
in and out of places. I have to stay limber for some of these jobs, and it’s not as easy as it used to be.” He stood and approached her desk. “So, you want me to show you how I accessed the Commonwealth files?”
Her startled gaze flew to his. “Really?”
“I’d like to set a couple of conditions first.” Coming to the side of the desk, he perched on the edge of it. “Make a deal, as it were.”
“What?”
“I want you to help me with something.”
Her eyes flashed at him. “I’m not doing anything illegal.”
“Not illegal. I want to find someone. You’re really good at that.”
“Who is it?”
“I only have a copy of a birth certificate. I know the last time I saw him. He might have been adopted.”
Bonnie shook her head. “It could be impossible to find him. It’s a start that you have the birth certificate, but unless the adoptive parents and the child have registered with some of the adoption contact sites, you’re probably not going to have any luck.”
“You could find this person.” Brandt tried to temper his excitement, but she was good at finding people. She had found him.
“Who is this person to you, Brandt? Because I’m telling you, if this is something dangerous that’s going to put my family in harm’s way, I just can’t be a part of it.”
“It’s not. It’s just this little project that I’ve been working on, and I keep hitting dead ends on it.”
She sighed and reached over she put her hand on the computer mouse, moving it across the desk’s surface.
“Bonnie?” he murmured, allowing the appeal in his heart to color his tone. “You could find this guy, and in exchange, I’ll help you close the security holes here.”
He watched her fingers toy with the mouse, caress it.
“I’d really like to work with you.” He dropped his voice a little more, and her lips parted. Her blue eyes met his, and he saw there her capitulation.
Oh, yes. He had her. Right where he wanted her.
Brandt leaned toward her, moving in to seal the deal. It was slight, but she swayed in his direction. It was going to be sweet, he knew.
Movement from the computer monitor drew her attention, and her back straightened. Her chair squeaked as she focused on whatever was happening on the screen.
“Ooof! I knew it. I knew it!” She balled up her fist and pounded it on the desktop, and with the other hand, she moved the mouse and clicked it rapidly.
“Bonnie? What’s wrong?”
She wrenched open a drawer and pulled out her purse.
Standing up, she hoisted her purse straps over her shoulder. “I can’t play spy with you. We’re out of toilet paper, and I’ve got a juvenile delinquent trying his best to make me a grandmother at forty-one.”
She shoved back her chair and marched across the office and didn’t even look back at him as she headed for the door. Fury rolled off her, and Brandt wondered what in the world had turned her madder than a wet hen so quickly.
He settled in the chair Bonnie had just vacated watching with interest the computer screen. Three pictures of the inside of a house—two entryways and a bedroom.
From his evening spent with her, he recognized the inside of her home.
Brandt grinned as two teenagers walked into the bedroom, shut the door, and immediately started kissing. Bonnie Moore, you conniving mother, putting a video camera in your daughter’s bedroom. The woman’s brilliance impressed him. Not an easy thing to do in his line of work.
Yes.
He had found the woman who would help him find his brother.
****
That lying little….
Even in her mind, Bonnie couldn’t finish the sentence.
Her daughter! Her daughter was probably having sex with that little piece of crap right now. In Bonnie’s house! What if she gets pregnant? No way that jerk would even think about practicing safe sex. He’d have to actually have a brain in his head instead of in his….
Had she already been having sex with him?
No!
The images on her computer screen played over in her mind. That wasn’t a first time kind of interaction. Maybe she was pregnant already. What if she had some kind of venereal disease? Rex had probably slept with half of the school. Oh, Kayla, what are you thinking? You used to have some common sense, girl.
Blue lights flashed at her from behind, and a siren invaded her brain.
Great! This is all I need. I don’t have time for this. I’ve got to get to my house now.
Bonnie pulled to the side of the road and jumped out of the car even before the police officer had opened his door.
“Please!” she said as he opened his door with his hand on his holster. “My daughter. She’s at my house. If you want to give me a ticket, okay, but can you just wait until I get home?”
“Is your daughter in danger?”
“She and her…boyfriend are…were… She’s only fifteen. They’re at my house, and he’s…he’s… I can’t… I’m sorry. Can you just follow me and let me get there? I swear, I’ll pay the ticket, but—”
“Where do you live?”
Bonnie rattled off her address to him.
“Okay. Follow me.”
Then Bonnie was back in her car following the police car with lights and siren going. The officer pulled in front of the house, and Bonnie swerved into the driveway nearly hitting the pole in the carport. Somehow she was already at the front door. She turned the knob, but it was locked.
Where are my keys?
“Ma’am? Calm down.” The policeman stood next to her. “You’re here now. We’ll get your daughter.”
Bonnie took a shuttering breath, then another. She nodded and walked to the car. It was idling, and the driver door was open. Bending inside, she turned the ignition and pulled out the keys. She grasped the handle of her purse and stepped away from the car, shutting the door as she did so.
The uniformed man knocked loudly on the front door. Bonnie surmised he did this because it was some protocol he was following.
Allow the horny teenagers to get dressed before he busts down the door.
He waited on her porch watching her. He was young—around twenty-five, she guessed. She could be his mother.
He reached forward and pressed the door bell, then knocked again. When Bonnie reached the door, she inserted the key in the lock and turned it. The policeman stepped in front of her and walked into the foyer.
“This is Officer Patton of the police department. Is anyone home?” he called. Turning his head toward Bonnie, he asked, “What’s your daughter’s name?” He continued walking into the living room, and she followed.
“Kayla.” Bonnie said, then, “Kayla? Where are you?”
Kayla stepped into the living room from the hallway door. Bonnie noted her round eyes and startled expression. “Mom? What’s wrong?”
“What are you doing home?”
“I… I didn’t go to band.”
Bonnie marched past the officer. “Obviously. Where is he?”
Something flashed in her eyes. “What?”
“Rex. Where is he? Still in your bedroom?” Bonnie stalked down the hall to her daughter’s room. The door was open. The rumpled covers on the bed drew her gaze. Grrrr.
“Mom! Are you kidding me? You called the police because you thought Rex was here?”
“He was here. I can smell his stench.” Bonnie rounded on her daughter. “What did he do, run out the back door when he heard the siren?”
Hatred marred her face. “I can’t believe you called the cops!”
“I should have him arrested for having sex with a minor!”
“You always think the worst of us. You’re crazy, and I hate you!” She brushed past Bonnie and attempted to shut the door.
Bonnie stepped in the way. “I want your phone. Now.” The door ricocheted off her arm and hit the wall.
“No!”
Bonnie walked in the room and looked around
for the cell. There it was on the dresser. Bonnie headed toward it, but Kayla beat her to it and grabbed it.
Bonnie held out her hand. “Give it to me right now.”
Kayla raised her hand and threw it, hitting Bonnie under her eye. Then the policeman was in between them, his back to Bonnie. “You’re coming with me.”
Bonnie touched her throbbing cheek. “You’re not arresting her.”
He didn’t reply as he escorted Kayla out of the room.
“I hope he does. I’d rather be in jail then put up with you!” Kayla yelled from the hallway.
Bonnie bent down and picked up the cell phone. She heard a short tone, then Officer Patton’s voice. “Request a 24 for teen or adult male in vicinity of 1808 Hoover’s Mill Road and a possible escort from the same address after the sweep.”
A voice responded. “Can you give a description?”
“37.”
“10-4.”
“He’s not here!” Kayla shouted. “He’s nowhere around here.”
My God. He might actually arrest her.
Officer Patton spoke, but Bonnie couldn’t make out his words, only his low tone.
“No! I won’t!” Kayla said, desperation lacing her voice.
Bonnie sat down on the carpeted floor and leaned her back against the dresser. She brought her knees up and hugged her legs for a moment before letting them sprawl out in front of her.
How had they gotten to this point? What had she done wrong?
Kayla’s phone dinged, and Bonnie looked at the screen.
Rex.
All clear?
Bonnie put in her override code and texted him back.
Yeah
“Come out. Come out wherever you are,” she murmured.
In a moment, he texted back. No good. 2 cop cars. 2nite?
Yeah. Come by.
Usual time?
Fury bubbled in Bonnie. Yep.
It would seem she’d be spending the night in Kayla’s room to await the date. Other thoughts ran rampant through her mind. Vivian’s plan for Bonnie to find out how Brandt had gotten into their security system. Her picnic lunch with him. His disappearance. Then his reappearance outside of her office door as she frantically hid his tablet. His amusement when she admitted she’d tried to break into it. His proposal to her if she helped him find someone. Crazy. He made his living in covert operations. What made him think she could help him, unless he was playing games with her. Was he? And could she help him, or was it something that might get her in trouble, or worse, put her family at risk? He said it wouldn’t, but she couldn’t trust him, could she? He made his living lying and sneaking around. At least, it seemed he made his living that way.
Unforgettable Heroes II Boxed Set Page 100
