by Beth Abbott
“No crime being committed is a red flag?” Tulli asked.
“When it comes to the cartel, yes, most definitely.” Tuck nodded. “It means that the trucks that were stopped were the decoys, because the real mischief was going on somewhere else.”
Tulli could see some logic in Tuck’s explanation.
“Like a magic trick.” She nodded. “Distracting you with one hand while the other one picks your pocket?”
Tuck smiled at her simplicity.
“That’s a good analogy.” He agreed. “Anyway, we have reason to believe that Lucky Vega crossed the border into the US some time yesterday, and from there, made her way to Los Angeles.”
Gregor leaned forward.
“Why would she go there?” He wondered. “If she’s coming after me, and we have to suppose she is, then why didn’t she head straight for Philly? Every man, woman and child with an internet connection knows I relocated here with my business. I have never had anything to do with Los Angeles.”
“Ok, people, this is the part where the ladies might want to start holding hands with the guys sitting next to them. It’s gonna get a bit scary, and the guys could do with a bit of reassurance.” Tuck smiled sadly.
Tulli knew he was only teasing, but she took Gregor’s hand, nevertheless.
“It appears that yesterday, a blog site ran a story about the rescue.” Tuck glanced at the screen. “It didn’t name any of you specifically, but it gave a fairly accurate outline of what happened, even explaining that the blogger had been told that Luis Castille had come to a very bloody end.”
“Who would do something so stupid?” Sophia asked. “Everyone was there when your FBI friend told us to keep it under wraps. I swear, I haven’t even told my mom what went down in Colombia.”
“Well, someone obviously didn’t get the memo.” Hannah murmured, turning her tablet around to show the gathering. “Your friend Hilary appears to have posted it all over her website. Including pictures of herself in Colombia, visiting different villages.”
Tulli watched Sophia lean forward to see the screen better.
“That stupid bitch!” She growled. “Are there any pictures of the rest of the team?”
Hannah scrolled through the report, until she seemed satisfied.
“No, there are only one or two pictures of other people, and they’re either locals, or so blurred that you wouldn’t make out any faces, no matter what you tried.”
“Small comfort!” Sophia scoffed.
“So, do you think the Vega woman spotted the blog online?” Danny asked.
“Oh, I’d say it’s beyond any doubt.” Tuck nodded. “From Hilary’s Facebook page, it seems she was excited to be having a meeting with a journalist from the New York Times, who wanted the full and exclusive story from her.”
“And did she?” Gregor asked. “Have a meeting with a journalist, I mean.”
“Well, from the FBI report, she had a meeting all right. But not with anyone from the New York Times. They’ve never heard of her, or her story.” Tuck shook his head. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Sophia, but unfortunately, whoever Hilary did meet with, they obviously didn’t like the story she had to tell them. Housekeeping found Hilary’s body this morning when they went in to clean the room. She’d been shot in each kneecap, and then multiple shots to the face. We have grainy CCTV footage of the so-called journalist and her accomplices entering and leaving the building at about eight o’clock last evening, but the general description fits Luciana Vega perfectly.”
“Oh, dear God!” Sophia groaned, as she dropped her head into her hands.
Tulli watched as Alex tried to wrap his good arm around her and hold her steady.
“How awful.” She whispered. “The poor, stupid girl.”
“What we can only guess at is whether they might have tortured her to get information, which is why she was shot in the kneecaps.” Tuck explained. “How much did she know about who was involved in the rescue, Sophia?”
Sophia sat up slowly, and Tulli watched Gregor lean forward to assess how his daughter was coping with the news.
“Umm, well, she obviously knew who I was, and the guys who were part of the medical team who were held captive with us.” She sniffed. “She would probably know Alex’s first name, but beyond that, I very much doubt if she’d have known any specifics. She was aware that there were military personnel on the ground, but her curiosity wouldn’t have led her to check which branch of the military. She would have known there were Russians there as well, but only because of their connection to my dad. I’m pretty certain she would have no clue who the Alpha-Stalwart family were.”
“Ok, well, that gives us a clue where we need to focus our energy.” Tuck nodded. “Alex, I don’t see any need for your plans to change. We’ll increase your security team by two, but that’s purely precautionary.”
Alex nodded.
“Sure, dad. That’s plenty.” He agreed. “CJ’s place already has top notch security anyway.”
“Tulli, you and your sisters will stay with us as planned.” Tuck smiled at her. “The further you stay away from Gregor the better, at least for the moment, I’m afraid.”
Tulli glanced at Gregor.
“I don’t like to think of you being the target for this woman’s wrath.” She shook her head. “It’s not fair, especially when you were only trying to help us.”
Gregor squeezed her hand gently.
“I have a great security team of my own, and with all the agencies involved as well, I have no doubt the Vega woman will be apprehended before she ever gets close to my property.” He said confidently.
“I’ll liaise with Cole at the FBI.” Hannah nodded. “I’ll also get hold of a friend at the Federal Aviation Authority and see if I can find any trace of a private plane coming out of LA and heading for anywhere close to Philly in the last 16 hours. The flight would have to be logged, and at least we’ll know if she’s definitely in the area.”
“Is there anything else anyone can think of that needs to be done in the meantime?” Tuck asked.
“Just get all the security teams into position, well-armed, and ready to rock and roll.” Danny suggested.
Hannah rolled her eyes, climbing off Danny’s lap, and holding her hand out to pull his giant frame up off the chair.
“Come on then! If we’re gonna be any help to Tuck and the guys, it’s time to head back to the Stalwart offices. I need to get Sacha and Abbey working on the tracking system, so we can catch this woman before she starts a war she’s destined to lose.”
Tulli smiled as they headed out of the door, and off to goodness knows where.
Alex and Sophia signed off next, with Sophia blowing her dad a big kiss, and Gregor pretending to catch it.
Tuck excused himself to speak to Candy, leaving the two of them all alone.
She loved the way everyone sounded so confident, but then they weren’t the ones having to walk away from Gregor, not knowing if she’d ever see him again.
“Everything Ok?” Gregor whispered, holding her small hand in both of his.
“Not so you’d notice.” She admitted, trying hard not to cry. “What if something happens to you? I think that would be the hardest thing to bear, out of everything I’ve been through.”
Gregor gathered her into him, wrapped his arms around her and held on tight.
“Everything I can do to keep my men and I safe, I will do.” He promised her. “After all, I have more to live for now than I can ever remember having. You don’t think I’d be reckless and throw all that away, do you?”
Tulli could feel the tear break free from her lashes and slide down her cheek.
“Besides, I have something promised to me, that nothing will ever make me give up.” Gregor murmured, and Tulli could guess that he might be smiling.
She leaned back to look into his face, and sure enough, his eyes were crinkled at the edges.
“What do you have promised that could be so important?” She frowned.
Tulli blushed, still unable to believe she had actually said those words to him.
“Well, seeing as we’re about to be separated for goodness knows how long, and kisses blown down a video link are nowhere near as satisfying, don’t you think you’d better stock up on a few before you have to leave for home?”
Gregor leaned forward until their lips were almost touching.
“I thought you’d never ask!” He whispered, just before he stole her breath away.
Chapter 22 – Charlie
Charlie sat on the sofa with Lara, watching Joel chatter away to Mischa.
“She’s been so much better since he visited with her yesterday.” Lara smiled shyly. “We haven’t had any tears or screaming, and she actually co-operated with Tulli and I last night when we took her in the shower.”
“She doesn’t like showers?” Charlie frowned. Who didn’t like a hot shower?
“She doesn’t like having her clothes removed.” Lara clarified. “That’s what caused her meltdown at the hospital, when the doctor tried to examine her.”
Charlie nodded. He could understand why that kind of thing would cause Mischa to freak out, especially after what she’d been through.
“Well, all Joel could talk about when we got to the hospital was Mischa. My mom said it feels like she knows her already.” He grinned. “As soon as she’s well enough, you’re all invited to come over and have dinner with us.”
“How is your father doing after his surgery?” Lara asked quietly. “He had a big heart operation, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, he’s doing really well, thanks. He’s three days post-op, so he’s already getting out of bed and taking short walks.” Charlie smiled. “Which means he’s already starting to get bored. He’s nagging my mom to ask when he can go home.”
“And how is your mom coping with having him in hospital?” Lara wondered.
“She’s doing fine.” Charlie nodded. “She didn’t like being so far away from him, so she booked into a hotel right by the hospital. I’ve been taking care of Joel for a few days, thanks to Tuck being so accommodating. He should have had a few drama rehearsals this week, which would have freed me up to get some work done, but unfortunately they were cancelled.”
“But that freed you up to come here, and Joel has been a godsend.” Lara pointed out.
Charlie nodded but didn’t speak. How could he admit to Lara that his visit with her yesterday and today had been the highlights of an otherwise uneventful year for him.
“Do you look after Joel a lot?” Lara asked. “I mean, when your dad isn’t in hospital.”
“When I left the military, I got an apartment not too far away from my parent’s house.” Charlie explained. “It’s a bit closer to the office, which cuts down on the commute time, but is close enough so I’m right there if anything happens and they need me. If I’m not away working, I take Joel for the day on Saturday and then he stays at my place until Sunday, when I take him back in time for dinner.”
“Doesn’t your girlfriend mind Joel spending so much time with you?” Lara asked casually. Too casually, maybe?
“No girlfriend.” Charlie was happy to confirm. “I’ve never been in a position to nurture that kind of relationship, thanks to my career in the Marines. And since I left, well, there’s been little time to look for the right sort of person.”
Lara regarded him curiously.
“What sort of person are you looking for?” She frowned.
“Someone who understands that at some point in my life, I will have to take on full time responsibility for Joel.” Charlie explained. “When my parents are no longer able to care for him, or no longer with us, Joel will come and live with me. That’s a given. So, whoever I was to be in a relationship with, would have to understand that and accept it, one-hundred-percent. That’s not the easiest thing to have to explain to someone on a first date. It rarely leads to a second date, anyway.”
Charlie watched Lara closely, looking for any subtle change in expression.
There was none. She simply nodded, silently, staring intently at her sister.
After a few moments, she turned and smiled in understanding.
“I think you and I have more in common than I thought we did.” Lara admitted. “I haven’t said as much to Tulli yet, but I’ve decided to take on responsibility for Mischa.”
“Really?” Charlie said in surprise. “What do you think Tulli will say about that?”
“Oh, she’ll argue, most definitely.” Lara smiled. “But she’s already given up a career and her youth for us. I won’t let her give up anything else. Especially not a relationship.”
“Relationship?” Charlie smiled. “You mean with Gregor?”
“There certainly seems to be something special going on there, don’t you think?” She blushed. “I mean, Gregor certainly seems to like Tulli. And I don’t think she’s immune to him, either.”
Charlie watched Lara’s embarrassment trying not to laugh.
“Are you match-making, Lara?” He asked. “Because I have to tell you, if that is the case, you’ll fit in just fine with the Alpha-Stalwart ladies. Those ladies can sniff out a romance at a hundred paces, in the dark, wearing a blindfold, and eating liquorice!”
Lara snorted a laugh, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.
“I don’t think there’s any need for me to match-make in this instance.” She shook her head. “When we landed at the airport in Colombia and climbed out of the helicopter, I was watching Gregor the moment he first caught sight of Tulli. His head swung around twice, like he was doing what you’d call a ‘double-take’. He noticed her before Tulli’s feet had even hit the ground. Of course, I didn’t know who he was at the time, and he certainly had no idea who she was. In fact, I’m amazed he could see her face at all under all the dirt and grime.”
“And you want to look after Mischa to allow Tulli and Gregor to have a chance together.” Charlie clarified. “Because Gregor doesn’t seem to me like the sort of man who would walk away from a woman simply because she had responsibilities.”
“No, he’s not that sort of man. He’s decent and honourable and good.” Lara agreed. “But Tulli is the sort of woman who would walk away from Gregor, if she thought her responsibilities would leave her unable to devote as much time to a relationship with Gregor as she thought he deserved.”
“Aah, now I see why you want to look after Mischa.” Charlie nodded. “So that does leave the two of us in a very similar situation, as you say.”
“There’s one big difference between us, though.” Lara said quietly.
Charlie stared into her grey eyes, noticing how dark and cloudy they’d become.
“What’s that?” He frowned.
“You seem like you’re in a place where you’re ready to look for that special someone to share your life with.” Lara looked down at her hands, where she was twisting her fingers together nervously. “I’m not in that place, Charlie. I don’t know when, or if, I’ll ever be there.”
Charlie stared at Lara, who if he wasn’t mistaken, had just told him quite plainly that she wasn’t ready for a relationship with him. Whether she meant yet, or ever, he wasn’t sure.
“You know what, you’re right about me being ready to find someone.” He nodded. “I am ready.”
Lara winced, as though he’d pinched her.
He lifted her hand gently, as much to stop her twisting her fingers and hurting herself further.
“What I’m not, is in a hurry.” Charlie added. “I don’t care if it happens this week, or next month, or even next year. It’ll happen when the time is right. And if she’s the right person? Boy, will she be worth waiting for.”
He watched the range of emotions cross Lara’s face, unable to interpret even one of them.
Unwilling to push her, or frighten her i
n any way, he turned back to watching Joel and Mischa.
He’d just leave Lara to think about his words.
He didn’t need to spell anything out any more than he already had, especially after they’d only just met.
After all, he’d managed to be quite happy living alone all these years. A few more weeks or months were hardly going to kill him.
Chapter 23 – Hannah
“Ok, ladies.” Hannah looked across the table at Sacha and Abbey, or as she preferred to call them, her protégés. “Are you both ready?”
Sacha was watching her intently, but Abbey was leaning off her chair at a forty-five-degree angle, with a pained expression on her face.
“For goodness sake, Abbey! What the hell are you doing, sitting like that?” Hannah sighed. “If you fall off that damn chair, I am not taking the blame!”
“Sorry.” Abbey panted. “The baby has his foot stuck up under my ribs, and he’s making it hard for me to breathe.”
“Try standing up and walking around.” Sacha suggested. “Maybe do a few squats until he starts feeling sea-sick. If he’s anything like my Rocco, he’ll wind that foot back in fast, you see if he doesn’t!”
“Ladies!” Hannah sighed. “We have a very time-sensitive job to do here! Can we leave the pregnancy advice until later? Work first, hmm?”
Sacha stared at Hannah as though she’d grown a second head. She leaned towards Abbey and covered her mouth with her hand.
“Is she trying to make out like she’s a grown-up?” She whispered very loudly. “She’s acting all bossy and parental and shit!”
Abbey leaned towards Sacha, mirroring her movement with her hand.
“I’m not sure.” She whispered. “Do you think we need to start calling her ‘mom’?”
Hannah jumped up.
“I am not that much older than you two!” She scowled. “And just because I’m using up my daily ten minutes of being sensible to show you two muppets how to use this new satellite imaging unit, does NOT mean that I am anywhere near being a GROWN-UP!”
