Cold in the Shadows 5

by Toni Anderson

  Her work cell rang, and she put it on speaker.

  “The idiots haven’t got a fucking clue where their people disappeared to.” He sounded on the verge of losing it and needed to calm down or he’d get them both caught.

  “I have a lead on something,” she said.

  “Seriously?”

  “I’m shocked you have so little faith,” she teased.

  “Sometimes I forget how amazing you are.”

  “This is true. You do.”

  He laughed, sounding calmer. “I should have let you take care of her the way you wanted to last month.”

  “Yes, you should have,” she said primly.

  “Next time I’ll listen. I promise.”

  No, he wouldn’t. It was part of the reason she loved him. The other was he knew her darkest secrets, but accepted her anyway.

  “Maybe you and I can sneak away for a vacation when this is over,” he said, surprising her.

  But if everything went to plan they’d be too busy for a vacation. Didn’t matter. They’d be together eventually.

  “I just want to be alone with you,” she told him honestly, “just for a few hours.”

  “As soon as you get home,” he soothed.

  They were both so busy having sex with other people for the sake of this scheme she’d almost forgotten how good it felt to be held in his arms.

  “Come to the office as soon as you get back. I feel a very important meeting coming on.”

  Her heart stuttered. He rarely touched her at the office. Said it was too risky, but she craved those stolen moments. He had a way about him. Genius, good looking, and rich. If it weren’t for his general lack of conscience he’d be the perfect man—and wouldn’t look at her twice.

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “What would I do without you?” He sounded calmer now. Less on the edge of losing it. She’d done that for him. She’d done much more than that for him.

  Tracey was behind Crista at the lights, but she carried on straight through when the woman hooked a left. She drove to the next junction and doubled back to where Crista had turned off. A few hundred feet into a nondescript housing estate, Crista was unloading shopping bags and walking into her neat little bungalow.

  Tracey never slowed. She’d be paying Crista a visit in the near future. Wouldn’t take long to find out everything the analyst knew.

  She smiled. This would hurt Killion. He had such a soft heart beneath that cynical smile. It was probably bleeding all over poor little Audrey, right now. She hoped he fucked her every which way, so that when he ditched her Audrey would be devastated. She’d hate him.

  But every woman should have a man like Patrick Killion at least once in her life. It was only fair, especially when death was just around the corner.

  * * *

  AUDREY FOLLOWED KILLION into a small rustic-looking lodge down one of the side roads in a small tourist town. They’d walked past gift shops, bars, and restaurants all plying their trade as if the world hadn’t gone to hell in a hand basket. She just wanted to find a safe spot to curl up and sleep. The last thing she wanted was to watch people going about their normal business while her life disintegrated around her in ruins.

  This lodge was quaint, not one of the big chains. Potted ferns grew profusely outside the entrance. Inside the reception area, a desk and computer sat on the left side, and a wicker love seat bracketed the right. Dimly lit for ambiance, with racks of brochures on the walls, promoting zip lines and horseback riding, scuba and snorkeling trips. Normal things for vacationers. Safe, healthy adventures. A bit of an adrenaline rush before they returned to their everyday lives. She wondered if there was a brochure that contained information on what to do when evading the authorities while running for your life.

  Killion probably knew it all by heart anyway.

  Through the window, a dark blue swimming pool glistened through iron railings and she wanted to slide into its depths and forget her troubles. But her troubles weren’t the kind to go away if she ignored them. The longer she ran, the more whoever was behind this shored up their position and made her look like a criminal.

  But right now she was too tired to fight.

  She waited near the door while Killion sweet-talked the girl behind the desk.

  Exhaustion ate at her, making her vision blurry, her balance off, and her thought processes slow. She and Killion had spent most of last night each taking three hour shifts to pilot the boat so they could put as much distance between themselves and Gómez’s thugs as possible.

  Even when it had been her turn to rest she’d laid in the cot and stared at the rough wooden boards above her, thoughts of Mario running through her head. A young man. Beautiful, dedicated, and smart, really smart. He’d only been with her since September. He was her grad student and she’d somehow managed to get him killed.

  Emotion threatened to overwhelm her.

  As if sensing her impending meltdown, Killion slipped his arm around her shoulders. “It’s just for one night.” He worked the receptionist, who was a pretty teenager with dark skin and eyes the color of bitter chocolate. “Actually make it two. Just while I sic my lawyers on the hotel we booked our honeymoon with. Trust me, they’ll be begging to give us the presidential suite by the time we’re done, won’t they, baby?”

  “Even then I won’t go back.” Audrey produced a mechanical smile as his fingers massaged the knots in her shoulder.

  “The snooty woman at reception was a bitch and I’m going to make sure she doesn’t treat some other poor sucker the same way. We should have come to a place like this instead of some anonymous hotel.”

  “I don’t care where we stay as long as it doesn’t have roaches. You don’t have roaches, do you?” she asked the girl, more sharply than she’d intended if Killion’s tightening fingers were any indication.

  “No, ma’am.” The receptionist gave her own shudder. “I hate them, too. My father sprays regularly to make sure we don’t have them around here.” Her smile was warm and welcoming. “We have one vacancy.” Her eyes ran over her computer screen. “And it just happens it’s the honeymoon suite, which has its own hot tub.”

  “Perfect.” Killion’s eyes glowed as he smiled at her, and Audrey would give anything to know what he was really thinking. But with a man who could lie as easily as Killion, how would she ever know for sure?

  The girl behind the desk gave them a price, and Killion handed over the cash.

  “Where’s the best place to get a meal around here?” he asked, although the last thing Audrey wanted was food, or to go out. “We haven’t explored much, yet. It’s actually the first time we’ve left the hotel room—pretty much the first time we’ve left the bed.” He winked.

  Audrey elbowed him in the gut, but his grin was Cheshire cat wide. The man was truly irredeemable.

  The receptionist blinked rapidly and her cheeks flushed.

  “That’s because he tires easily.” Audrey scooped up the key the girl placed on the counter. “Thanks so much.” She headed off in the direction the girl had indicated, along a path decorated with shells.

  The greenery was lush and hung over the fence surrounding the property. The honeymoon suite was around the corner from all the other apartments, in a secluded bay filled with potted plants, and enough vegetation to make it very, very private. The hot tub sat on one side of the deck. Killion moved like a panther but she could feel him following behind her. In fact she was achingly aware of every move he made. She unlocked the door into a beautiful room that looked like a tropical paradise. A massive four-poster bed occupied the center of the room, its sides draped with mosquito netting. The floors were a dark wood that matched the bed frame, but everything else was blindingly white, from the walls to the linen, to the towels she could see in the en suite bathroom.

  Hands pushed her forward. “Go grab a shower. I’m going to make a phone call and come back with something clean to wear and warm to eat.”

  “We’re not going out?” Reli
ef filled her.

  “I’ll make it up to you some other time.”

  “No, you won’t.” She turned to face him and her mouth went dry. “Once this is over, you’ll move on and I’ll never see you again.”

  He flinched, but didn’t speak. Answer enough.

  “Go make your phone call,” she said tiredly. “Would you mind bringing back some deodorant and toothpaste? If you have enough cash…”

  She knew he wouldn’t use a credit card.

  He avoided her gaze and looked at the floor. “No problem. Lock the door after me. I’ll take the key.”

  “Okay.” She frowned.

  This tension between them had come out of nowhere. His expression suggested he wanted to say something, but he remained silent. He simply left and Audrey fought the urge to cry. Moving slowly she forced herself into the bathroom and stripped off the disgusting reminder of the men who’d tried to kill her. Under the hot spray tears came and she let them—for Mario, for her stolen life, for the shock and horror of being stabbed and almost dying, for being shot at and accused of murder. But most of all for the loss of a man she should never have met. She didn’t really know anything about him, but he’d saved her life, over and over again. It wasn’t surprising he’d wormed his way into her heart. It would be more shocking if he hadn’t.

  Warm tears continued to flow down her cheeks as sadness enveloped her. When this was over he would walk away, and no matter how deeply he affected her, she’d have to let him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  KILLION SCANNED THE area as he walked through one of the big hotel complexes to the beach. Part of him didn’t want to make the call to Jed. He trusted the guy but what if he was wrong? What if there was a security breach in the FBI’s BAU-4? What if Alex Parker wasn’t as shit-hot with cyber-security as he thought he was?

  It wasn’t just his life at stake, it was Audrey’s too.

  Trouble was Killion didn’t really have a choice. He was down to five hundred bucks cash and even though he had the means to disappear he didn’t have the means to take Audrey with him. She probably couldn’t wait to get rid of him. Sure she’d kissed him, but she knew he wasn’t good for the long term. Once this case was over he would move on and never see her again. It shouldn’t have cut so deeply that she knew it too.

  Bob Marley sang “I Shot the Sheriff” on the patio. It jerked him back to the moment.

  Killion wandered down to the water, the sand warm against the soles of his feet. Stupidly, he’d made a promise not only to keep Audrey alive, but to restore her reputation with the authorities, which might be at odds with completing his mission as ordered. Trapped between a rock and a hard place, he dialed the number on his encrypted sat phone.

  Jed answered straight away. “Acting SSA Brennan.” Which suggested he wasn’t convinced someone couldn’t be listening in on their conversation either.

  “We’re here.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” And Jed hung up.

  Killion stared at the phone. “A little light on instructions there, pal.” Well, hell. He stuffed the cell in his pocket and caught the aromatic scent of baked fish on the night air. His stomach growled. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until his stomach threatened to rip out his throat. Time to get some supplies and plan their next move.

  * * *

  IT WAS LATE when Tracey knocked on Crista’s door. It was pitch black outside. She could have bypassed the pathetic alarm system installed in Crista’s house, but she had a different plan in mind for now.

  The sound of footsteps and then a flicker in the lights behind one of the glass panels in the door told her someone was approaching. The lock turned and the door opened.

  “Hi?” Crista asked. “Can I help you?”

  Tracey held up her collector’s badge. “I’m collecting for heart disease.”

  Crista’s face cleared. “Oh, okay. Hold on a moment.” The woman turned and walked down the corridor, presumably to get her purse. Tracey let herself in and closed the door quietly. Quickly she planted a listening bug under the hall table.

  “It’s freezing out there. You deserve a medal for collecting in this kind of weather.”

  “Actually, I lied.” Tracey stood by the door and pretended to be nervous.

  Crista froze.

  “Look, I’m sorry. I, uh, I have something really embarrassing and private to confess.”

  Crista picked up her cell and let her finger hover over what had to be emergency services on speed dial.

  “I didn’t know what else to do.” Tracey let tears fill her eyes. “The thing is, I’m pregnant.” She let her hand cup her empty belly. “And I don’t know how to get hold of the father because he’s blocked my calls.”

  “What’s that got to do with me?” Crista had a glint in her eye that said she didn’t believe her. The woman better believe her.

  “We were only together for a month, but I know you guys are friends.”

  Crista rolled her eyes. Not as stupid as she looked.

  “I looked at his phone one day while he was in the shower and saw your name and number.” Tracey looked at the floor as if ashamed. “I was jealous of all his secrecy, but when he found out I’d looked at his phone he left the same night.” She swallowed tightly. “I thought at first he was married and you were his wife.”

  “Who was it?” Crista demanded, her hand still hovering over that damned button.

  Tracey reached behind her for the doorknob and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. He wouldn’t be interested anyway.”

  “Not interested in his own kid? What kind of asshole were you dating?”

  Tracey hesitated and let her lip wobble. “He told me his name was Killion, but I’m not sure if that was his real name.”

  Crista’s eyes went wide.

  Tracey opened the door as if to leave. “I’m not expecting anything from him. I can support myself and the baby financially.” Her voice broke. “I just thought he should know.” She began to slip out into the cold night.

  “Hey. Stop!” Crista rushed toward her. “Come in. I’m sorry. I’m pretty suspicious by nature.”

  Tracey forced a laugh. “Me, too.” A couple of tears streaked her cheeks and she swiped at them. “I can’t believe I let the guy charm me into bed. I really can’t believe the damn condom broke.”

  Crista took her by the arm. “There are a lot of condom babies out there.” She drew her into the immaculate white kitchen. “I’ll call him for you.”

  “No!” Tracey swallowed hard and shook her head. She needed time to get a fix on his GPS coordinates. “No. I mean this is huge news. I really need to tell him face-to-face.”

  Crista stared at her, hesitating. “So what do you want me to do?”

  “When I last saw him he said he was leaving the country. I know he could be gone months.” In reality he’d be back very soon to pick up his search for the person who killed Burger. “I want the chance to tell him in person that I’m having his baby. See if we can maybe make this thing work.” She pulled her card out of her pocket. “When he gets back to the country would you call me? Help me arrange a meeting?” She wore wool gloves and had made sure there were no prints or DNA on the card, just the number of a burner cell. If Crista got suspicious she’d probably assume Tracey was CIA or NSA. “I grew up without a father”—she knew Crista did too—“I’d like my baby at least to have the chance to get to know his or hers.”

  Crista nodded.

  “I won’t put you out any longer. Thank you.” Tracey turned and headed back to the front door.

  “He’s a good guy, you know.” Crista’s voice made her pause. “He’ll be there for you and the kid.”

  “I hope so.” Tracey smiled tremulously and let herself out. The bitch was so fucking sentimental and stupid. She got in her rental and decided to head home. Everything was set up for her plan. There was nothing to do except wait, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she wanted to be wrapped in the arms of the man she loved.
r />   * * *

  WHEN KILLION GOT back to the honeymoon suite, the place was cloaked in darkness. He knocked on the door, announcing himself though it went against every instinct to make a noise. He unlocked the door and went inside.

  A sliver of moonlight showed Audrey stretched out beneath the sheet, seemingly fast asleep. Crap. She looked so pretty lying there. Funny how some women managed beauty without the aid of makeup or fancy clothes. Audrey pulled off “natural” with an unconscious grace and she probably didn’t realize most men preferred women that way.

  He turned away. He’d wanted her to eat a decent meal but she was completely out of it and no way was he waking her up. He went over to the small kitchenette and put the take-out boxes inside the small refrigerator.

  Then he stretched out his arms over his head and heard his back click into place. Damn, he was stiff and sore and fucking exhausted.

  As quietly as possible, he moved a heavy chest in front of the front door. Nothing he could do about the windows except close the blinds.

  Still in the dark, he took stock of his weaponry. He had his SIG, the captain’s old colt ’45, and another 1911 he’d taken from the boat. All locked and loaded with several clips of spare ammunition for each. He put one handgun on each bedside table—if Audrey had wanted to shoot him she’d have done it days ago—and kept his SIG with him.

  In the bathroom he eyed the tub. It was tempting, but considering how tired he was he’d probably drown. While most days he’d take his chances, he had Audrey to think of. So he turned on the spray in the glass shower and tried not to imagine his pretty biologist in here earlier. The knowledge that he was going to have to sleep next to her made the memory of her naked body more arousing and he gritted his teeth as his dick went stiff as a police baton.

  He bumped his forehead against the glass in defeat.

  No way was he getting any sleep like this.

  He slid soap over his body and, unable to resist, slid it over his own length, trying not to imagine Audrey’s hands on him, or her legs wrapped around his hips, but doing it anyway.