Look Behind You

by Iris Johansen

  Her head fell back as she arched and cried out. Her arms clutched blindly at him.

  The scent of him …

  The feel of him …

  Oh, my God …

  Then he was dropping her back on the bed. “Get up and get dressed,” he said hoarsely, gazing down at her. “I’m too angry with you right now. I might hurt you. We have enough problems, and I’m not going to let you add to them.”

  She was still hot and shaking. “I don’t believe I was adding to anything in this situation.”

  “The hell you weren’t. You know better.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked dazedly.

  He turned and said over his shoulder, “I’ll go make coffee. You get dressed and join me in five minutes. If you’re not out here by then, I’ll consider it an invitation and I’ll be back here and inside you.”

  She lay there for a moment, trying to get her breath. Everything had happened so fast that she hadn’t been able to think, only react, but that wasn’t unusual with Lynch. They had been walking a tightrope between being partners and lovers for the past months, and the sexual tension was white-hot at times. This was clearly one of those times, and if she didn’t want to have the decision made for her, she’d better take control of the situation.

  But she clearly did want it decided for her. She wanted him. Her breasts were taut, swollen, the muscles of her stomach clenched. She wanted to lie here and wait for him to be inside her.

  But that would mean that she had no choice and she couldn’t accept it. It was too dangerous to allow anyone that close to her right now.

  Move.

  Go to him.

  Don’t let him come back.

  She swung her legs to the floor and got to her feet. The next moment she was in the bathroom and reaching for her toothbrush.

  It was ten minutes, not five, by the time she was dressed and walked into the kitchen.

  “You’re late,” Lynch said as he handed her a cup of coffee. “But I cut you some slack when I heard you in the bathroom. Though I had to think about it. Shower sex can be damn good, too.”

  “Cut me slack?” She was trying not to stare at him. He might see what she was still feeling. It had been dim in the bedroom and this was her first real glimpse of him in weeks. He was wearing a black leather jacket and, as usual, he was overwhelming. Those blue eyes, the movie star good looks, the sheer charisma …

  “You’ve got a hell of a lot of nerve.” She sat down at the table and lifted her coffee to her lips. “No way, Lynch. You come busting into my condo without invitation.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “At five in the morning. And tell me how angry you are with me. I should be the one to be pissed off.”

  “Because I invaded your space? I still have a key from when I occupied your spare room, remember?”

  “I never invited you then, either.”

  “You have a habit of attracting death and mayhem. It was either the spare room or your bed. You were backing away from me. So I didn’t push it.”

  “Like this morning?”

  “No, it was very close this time. I’ve been extraordinarily patient for a long time. You wanted a partner, I’ve been a partner and friend. What you’ve wanted, I’ve given you. I’ve even spent weeks setting up a safe haven for the doctor who gave you your sight because you thought he might be in danger.” His lips twisted. “Though I’m still not sure that he doesn’t feel more for you than I’ll permit. But I did it anyway because you asked me.” He met her eyes. “Because you’re worth it. I think you’ll always be worth it. And that’s why I’m willing to put up with all this bullshit you’re causing me. But you can’t expect there not to be repercussions.”

  She looked down into the coffee in her cup. “I don’t want anyone having to put up with me. Maybe it’s time you stepped away, Lynch.”

  “Stop it,” he said curtly. “I didn’t travel for twenty hours to have you give me this crap. You don’t get rid of me, Kendra.”

  “What if I don’t want you?”

  He smiled. “Then I’ll make you want me. You’re halfway there already.”

  More than halfway. Any way and all ways. She took another sip of coffee. “Twenty hours. That must mean you took a flight almost immediately after you texted me. Who told you what was happening?” She remembered how Griffin had avoided speaking directly to her at the session. “It was Griffin?”

  “Yes. Though he did hold out until I bribed him.”

  “Bribed him? With what?”

  “What it always is. A favor whenever he needs one.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that. He’ll take his pound of flesh.”

  “I was in a hurry. I knew something was wrong. You weren’t yourself.”

  “I’m glad you think so,” she said wryly. “Because everything I’ve said and done lately has been clumsy and verging on stupidity.”

  “So I’ve heard,” Lynch said. “You’re lucky Jessie and Olivia have forgiving natures. I’m still not sure Jessie has given you a pass.”

  “You’ve heard?” She frowned. “How the hell did you know anything about that?”

  He shrugged. “I woke them up and spent an hour hearing it all before I came up to see you. I wanted to know what Olivia knew about this Zachary and her take on how you were handling it. I only expected to see Olivia, but Jessie was an interesting surprise.”

  “You woke them up in the middle of the night?”

  “My flight had just landed and I wasn’t cool enough to go to you yet, and it was information I needed.” He leaned back in his chair. “They appeared much happier to see me than you do right now. Though your initial response was just what I thought it would be. Olivia was right, you’re definitely off-balance and not thinking straight.”

  “I won’t deny that I’m not quite up to par. I got a tremendous shock, and I’m working on bouncing back. I’ll get there.”

  “By trying to spread protective wings over your entire world?”

  “Why not?” She smiled with an effort. “First things first.”

  “Because you’re showing Zachary how valuable they are to you. The more you concentrate on protecting them, the more reason he’ll have to take them down. You know that, Kendra. You’ve done all you can do. Now we have to go after him.”

  “We?” She shook her head. “I have plenty of help. I never asked you to leave your Olympic star and come back here. You told me you couldn’t leave China for another week or so. Go back there. I don’t need you.”

  “Too late. I wrapped up things early and hitched a ride on a transport plane four hours later.” He grimaced. “Though I’m going to have to make adjustments and find a way to keep anyone from knowing Ling Po has left his village for at least a week.”

  “Your gymnast? I thought her name was Yun Shuli.”

  “No, that was a lie. You didn’t expect anything else from me when you asked that question. You were just trying to distract me. You surely wouldn’t believe I’d be wasted on a gymnast? With all due respect for the sports world, none of my clients are willing to pay my fee to acquire their services.”

  “I found it a little strange. Then who is this Ling Po?”

  “A fifteen-year-old genius who is on his way to being the most brilliant computer hacker in the world. He likes the idea of the American way and I managed to persuade him to hop on that plane with me.”

  “Just like that?”

  “I had him primed and ready. His parents were whisked out of the country to be resettled twelve hours after we boarded our flight.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” Lynch was known in the U.S. intelligence community as the “Puppetmaster” due to his powers of manipulation. “And what adjustment do you have to make now that you’ve pulled him out early?”

  “Give him time to get used to heightened security until he becomes familiar with the lifestyle. I’ll settle him with someone who might be as brilliant as he is so that he won’t feel lonely. I thought I’d have you call your friend, Sam Zac
koff, and ask him if he’d take him under his wing.”

  “Ask him yourself. I’m not reaching out to any friends right now.”

  He nodded. “Okay, no problem. It just means a little more time than I wanted to spend on Ling Po at the moment. We’ll be pretty busy.”

  “I don’t need you. Back away, Lynch.”

  “It’s not going to happen. You’re not going to get rid of me.” He looked her directly in the eyes. “I can see that you wouldn’t want Zachary to know that you cared for me as a friend. And it would probably terrify you for him to know that I might be a lover. But you’re just going to have to live with it.”

  “No, I don’t.” The idea was already terrifying her. “It’s my choice.”

  “Not this time.” He smiled and said coaxingly, “It will be fine. We’ve played this game before. We’re such good friends that sometimes you even forget what else is there waiting for us. It’s possible Zachary will think the same thing.” He shrugged. “Though I’d prefer that he didn’t. I’d enjoy sharing your spotlight. I’m beginning to really want this son of a bitch.”

  “And I don’t want you anywhere near him. He’s after me, Lynch. This is my battle.” She could see she wasn’t getting through to him. “You won’t give up?”

  “You know the answer.” He finished his coffee. “And now we’ll go downstairs and have breakfast with Olivia and Jessie. Olivia promised me French toast. Then we’ll be on our way to the FBI war room, where I’m sure you’ve been spending entirely too much time.”

  She made a last attempt. “I don’t want this, Lynch.”

  He stood up. “And I don’t want you in this without me.” He held out his hand to her. His voice was suddenly soft and infinitely persuasive. “This is a battle you can’t win, Kendra. So give it up and concentrate on winning the battle we can win against Zachary. You know we can do it together.”

  She stared down at his outstretched hand for a long moment and then slowly reached out and took it. His hand felt warm and strong and alive and the touch filled her with fear … and hope.

  “Lynch, this isn’t a good—”

  “Shh.” He pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go get Zachary. Okay?”

  “Okay.” Her hand tightened on his as she took a deep breath. “But don’t think it’s all going to be your way, Lynch. You just stay out of my spotlight, do you hear me?”

  “I hear you.” He pulled her toward the door. “Maybe we’ll talk about it…”

  * * *

  KENDRA PUSHED OPEN THE main door of her complex and then shook her head at the sight of Lynch’s Ferrari idling on the street. He had left her at Olivia’s condo after breakfast to go down and get his car.

  “Get in,” he called out to her through the open passenger-side door. “What are you waiting for?”

  “Principally, for you to grow up.” She shook her head and climbed in. “You’re still driving this ridiculous car?”

  “I wondered how long it would take you to disparage my ride. It took you all of four seconds.”

  “I must be slipping.”

  “FYI, this car comes in handy when you need to get someplace in a hurry.”

  “But perhaps not quite as handy when you’re trying to remain somewhat inconspicuous while on the trail of a psychopathic killer.”

  He flashed his patented high-wattage smile. “Remember, I do have a boring car at home for when the occasion demands it.”

  “The occasion has demanded it quite a bit in the last couple of years, but I still haven’t seen you driving it.”

  “Maybe someday. Buckle up. There’s coffee for you in the cup holder, just the way you like it. I picked it up at the deli. You didn’t seem to want to wait for a second cup at Olivia’s.”

  No, she had been too on edge about this decision Lynch had talked her into and that she knew she’d probably regret.

  Lynch gunned the engine and headed north toward the freeway.

  Kendra picked up the cup and took a swig. She did want that coffee. It was hot and good and just the way she liked it as Lynch had said. But then he always knew what pleased her, which was one of his most dangerous qualities. “Thanks for the coffee. And the ride. If you hadn’t left so quickly, I would have told you we should take my car. We’re not going straight to the FBI office. I guess I can give you directions to the—”

  “I know where we’re going.”

  “Oh. I didn’t know you were on the task force email.”

  “I wasn’t, but I will be from now on. I had a talk with Griffin last night.”

  Kendra slowly turned to face him. “What kind of talk?”

  He slanted a grin at her. “I stressed that you were a precious resource that needed to be protected.”

  “Protected? You really said that?”

  “I just pushed the buttons that needed to be pushed.”

  “Or pulled the strings that needed to be pulled. That’s more like it, isn’t it, Puppetmaster?”

  “How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not crazy about that name.”

  “Too bad. It’s the price you pay for having such an unsavory reputation.”

  “Unsavory? That’s a little harsh, isn’t it?”

  “You forget that I’ve spoken to your colleagues.”

  “True.”

  Kendra smiled. “The Puppetmaster” was a name given to Lynch for his uncanny ability to manipulate people and events to his own ends. He generally employed subtle psychological approaches, but when those failed, she knew he wasn’t above more brutal methods to get what he needed. “Why in the hell did you tell Griffin that I needed to be protected?”

  “I wanted in on this case, and I needed to give him a reason to include me.”

  “You couldn’t have just said, ‘please’?”

  “No. Surely you jest? After my last phone conversation with him where blackmail and intimidation were the rules of the day, it would have been ludicrous. At least I allowed him the courtesy of consenting to what I was going to do anyway. The guy isn’t terribly fond of me. We didn’t even get along when I worked for him.”

  “So I’ve heard. But you’ve sure helped him out enough since then.”

  “On a freelance basis. Usually at the behest of someone else higher up in the chain. I had to give him a compelling reason to include me in this investigation and your safety and well-being fit the bill.” He shrugged. “You’re a valuable resource to him. He has a strong reason to see that you’re protected. Since Zachary is fixated on you, it became clear that some protection is needed. Griffin saves on manpower if I’m here volunteering for the job.”

  “Did you think to ask how I felt about this?”

  “Of course. And then I thought better of the idea. Wiser to tell you this after everything had been arranged.”

  Kendra’s first instinct was to resist his plan, to pull back. But when she responded, it was with a simple “Fine.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, fine.”

  “Could it be that I’ve finally worn you down?”

  She took another large swallow of coffee. “I’m used to working these cases pretty much on my own, but this one has gotten complicated in a hurry. Three murders have become twenty-six, in five different cities. And now we have four investigators in town, trying not to trip over each other.”

  “And you figured, what’s one more nuisance thrown into the mix?”

  She smiled. “Something like that. You made it pretty plain you weren’t giving me a choice. I’m saving my objections for the big fights.”

  “I guess I should be grateful.” His smile faded. “I don’t believe I am. You’re much too subdued. It’s not like you. I knew you were upset. I didn’t realize it was this bad.”

  “I was scared about Olivia,” she said simply. “He made me feel vulnerable. It’s going to take a little while for me to get over it.” She made a face. “But don’t get comfortable. I will get over it, Lynch.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He was silent a moment. “That son o
f a bitch.”

  She nodded. “And he’s damn good at it. With almost every victim it involved making them feel helpless and without power. I told you he was a monster; once you read the case histories you’ll see what I mean.”

  “I’ll read them,” he said grimly. “I’m going to know everything there is to know about our Zachary.”

  “My Zachary,” she said. “I told you to stay out of my spotlight. No focus on you. I meant it, Lynch. If he made me feel less than I am, it’s only another reason why I have to be the one to confront him.”

  “I said we’d talk about it.”

  “We’re talking about it. Back off.”

  He was silent. “I’ll see. I didn’t realize exactly what he did to you. That would be worse for you than almost anything. I think I’m going to have to slit his throat.”

  “Back off.”

  “I’m thinking about it. Not very hard, but the process is there.” He smiled. “In the meantime, I’m open for persuasion. Maybe Zachary will give you time enough to save him. And just think how much we can accomplish while you try to change my mind. We’re so good together we might wrap this up before slaughter even comes into play.” He added coaxingly, “Come on, you’re not going to let a little homicide interfere with a great working relationship.”

  His determination was only lightly veiled by that familiar charisma, and she wasn’t going to be able to budge him right now. And she was too tired and edgy to devote the energy to it at the moment. She’d just have to deal with Lynch as the case progressed. “I’ve told you how I feel and I’m not going to change. I’ll get my way. Remember that, Lynch.”

  His brows rose. “Is there a ‘but’ to follow?”

  “But actually we always worked well together. I think I can use your help on this one.”

  “I’m not sure, but I think I’ve just been relegated to the role of a…” He made a sour face. “… sidekick.”

  “If the shoe fits…”

  “Nice,” he said edgily.

  “Relax. You’ll never be anybody’s sidekick. You’re not wired for it. But I think I can use some extra help with Zachary. I already have Jessie working on an angle. We’ll see where it takes us.”