He told her about General Murphy in Germany and how he cleared the way for him to get the funding and his intense interest in every aspect of his research project. Then he told her about the Marines, Trevor’s voice full of emotion when he described how he felt seeing their bodies in the morgue.
“Jae, I interviewed and assessed those men individually. I monitored them closely for any behavioral, emotional, or physical changes and none of them, not one, exhibited even the slightest hint that would lead me to believe they were suicidal.”
Jae listened without interrupting and although she empathized with him, she still had lots of questions. “Weren’t you suspicious about the general and why he was so interested in your research?”
Running a hand through his short hair, Trevor nodded. “Yes, of course I wondered about it and yes, I probably should have paid more attention and listened to my gut. But in that moment I chose to ignore it because all I could think about was how many soldiers I would be able to help. Everything else was incidental except for the research and the formula, which is up here.” Trevor tapped his forehead.
“Okay, so, some idiots have stolen your formula, tried to duplicate it, and failed and now these people are after you to get the final piece of the formula out of you by any means possible. If that’s the case, and I have no reason to dispute that, they won’t stop until they get it.” Jae’s mind was tripping over the thoughts swiftly running through her head. “When was the last time you spoke with Dr. Harold Sinclair?”
“I hadn’t talked to him since I went into the witness protection program, so maybe five years? Then about three months ago I called the last contact number I had for him. He believed my life was in danger and told me that he was going to reach out to someone to help me. I didn’t know it would lead to the FBI’s protection program. Why do you ask?”
“He was found dead three days after you called him. It appeared to have been a suicide, but it does raise some suspicions, don’t you think?” What Jae couldn’t tell him was that as a result of that intercepted call, a trail of bodies started dropping and the lack of personal information on him was what led the FBI to put his lab and office under surveillance.
Trevor controlled his expression as he recalled the doctor coming to see him at his base office in Afghanistan. “I was shocked to discover evidence of a synthesized version of my formula in their samples. The high dosage is what killed them. The best I can figure is that whoever stole my notes tried to recreate my formula by supplementing other pharmaceutical components and administered it to them. Those slugs tried to cover up the deaths by claiming the Marines had committed suicide. I became a walking target, particularly from the members of the military. Going into the witness protection program was supposed to keep me safe and allow me to continue my work,” Trevor said. “It wasn’t my idea to run and hide. I was ready to defend myself and my actions as their treating physician, but the price was too high to do even that.”
Jae weighed what he’d told her. His body language was that of a man racked with guilt. “Listen, I believe you. And I know you weren’t responsible for those five Marines’ deaths, either.”
Trevor’s shoulders slumped with relief. “So what happens now, Agent Randall? Where do you go from here and what about your team and your supervisor? Have you been in contact with them yet?”
Jae’s worry resurfaced as it had when she’d opened her eyes that morning. Having not gotten a response to her calls, she was positive that something was going on with her department. And after hearing Trevor’s side of the story, another worry surfaced. He wasn’t meant to be killed, most likely just incapacitated. But what about her? Was she meant to die in that safe house?
“Do you know Special Agent Dan Willow?” Trevor asked
“No, who is he?” Jae swallowed away her troubling thoughts.
“He’s the agent who set me up in the witness protection program. He was my only contact. I hadn’t heard from him in years, but about six months ago out of the blue he called me. The way I see it, somebody way up the brass has pulled me out of hiding for a reason.”
“Did this Agent Willow ever give you a way to contact him if you had a problem? A cell number or field office location? Anything?”
Trevor wanted to trust her. He wanted to tell her everything, but he couldn’t chance it. Still, he needed her. She had connections inside the Bureau that could be useful and possibly help him get his life back. Jae Randall was no lightweight. She was smart and would be able to see right through him if she thought he was bullshitting her. He had to win her trust and to do that he had to tell her some truths. Reaching inside his backpack, he pulled out an item on a chain, leaned forward, and dropped it into her hand. “He gave me this.”
Jae stared at it then glanced at him. “Okay, dog tags, what about them?”
Trevor removed them from her hand and snapped the metal apart. “This is a data storage device and it contains the data components of my research.”
“So much for keeping it all up here.” Jae snorted, tapping his forehead with her index finger.
Ignoring her sarcasm, Trevor continued. “Agent Willow asked me to put everything on this device. He also said he would contact me to retrieve it. It’s encrypted, but I think the FBI’s software is compatible with it. Until I received that check-in call six months ago, I hadn’t heard from him. Keeping this data device with me puts a bull’s-eye on my back and I’m tired of being a target. I’m tired of running and looking over my shoulder, always on the defensive, unable to trust or to live and it stops now.”
“Whatever you’re thinking about doing, stop. You’ll just get yourself killed.”
Trevor shook his head no. “I’m not thinking. I’m doing it and I’m leaving.”
“Oh, no you’re not. And please, don’t make me pull out my weapon and shoot you.”
Trevor laughed, picking up a small Post-it Note pad and ink pen from the desk. He scribbled on the tiny sheet before sticking it to the data drive. “You probably would, too, but in your weakened state, I think I could take you on and you’ll have to shoot me because you’re not going to stop me, Jae. Look, I really came here this morning to check on you and to give you the data drive. So, I’m leaving this in your very capable hands, sweetheart. When you find Agent Willow, give it to him and tell him I said thanks.”
Jae stood up. “First, don’t call me sweetheart,” Jae said, pointing her finger and blinking. “And second, my assignment is to get you to safety. I’ll get you a secondary location, where you’ll stay put, you got that?”
Trevor stood also. “Forget it, sweetheart,” he retorted and dropped the data device into the breast pocket of her pajama top. His hand drifted to her upper arm and lingered there for several seconds before he stepped around her.
Jae hesitated but recovered and grabbed the sleeve of his denim shirt, stopping him. “You think I’m joking with you, Dr. Grant? Well, I’m not. If I have to cuff you to the cast iron tub in the bathroom I will do just that.”
Trevor couldn’t hold back a chuckle at her stern threat and the firm set of her lips. “Hmm, well as interesting as that sounds, much like your offer of a dance in the hotel lounge, I’ll have to pass. I also came here to say thank you, Jae. In this, I don’t have a choice if I want my life back.” His hand covered hers on his forearm. “I have to backtrack also. I have to find out whoever it was that set me up.”
“No, you listen, Trevor. Whatever plan you think you have, you need to rethink. Those folks in those high-ranking positions have the power to pull rank and you could very well end up dead. That is, after you’re tortured for the information up there.” She again pointed to his head. “Or in here,” she said, pointing to the pocket where the data device was. When he slowly shook his head with unwavering resolve, Jae’s exasperation showed. “Do you have a death wish? Because that’s what will happen if you attempt to go anywhere without protection!”
&
nbsp; “You mean, your protection, Jae?” Trevor lifted doubtful eyebrows. “I won’t risk something happening to you. Besides, you’re Ronnie’s maid of honor. She’ll kill me herself. But thank you for your concern.”
“Your ‘I’m outta here’ stunt won’t work,” Jae said, pushing past him to open the closet to pull out a change of clothes, but he blocked her path.
Tugging on the fabric of her pajama top and pulling her closer, Trevor smiled. “Sweetheart, I knew I was ‘outta here’ the second you introduced yourself as my contact in that hotel lounge.”
With barely six inches between them, Jae lifted her eyes to his. “I’m not failing in this assignment, Trevor.”
“You haven’t failed, Jae. It’s because of you that I want my life back. I’m tired of looking over my shoulder. I want a life,” he said quietly.
“Look, Trevor…I-I can imagine what it’s been—”
“No, you can’t imagine what it’s been like. I miss me and I’m going to find me.”
“I-I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Trevor smiled and leaned forward. “Nobody knows me anymore, not even me. It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Agent Randall. Do me a favor, in exactly ten days, go to your doctor and have him remove those sutures because they’re not the dissolving type and continue taking the medication. You have a slight temperature. Keep monitoring it for the next couple of days, but if it persists or gets worse, go to the ER,” he said, running a hand over her injured side. “Hey, Jae, there’s something I knew I was going to do the second I saw you,” he said, slowly closing those six inches between them by tugging the fabric of her top a little more.
Then Trevor’s lips descended upon hers. And she didn’t stop him. As his lips swept across hers, teasingly, he was shocked she hadn’t protested.
Trevor only intended to give her a brief goodbye kiss. But since meeting her, he’d wondered more than once if her lips were as delectable as they looked. They were that and more, he thought. Her lips were intoxicating. The hand that previously covered hers was now circling her waist, as the not so brief kiss intensified and became even more exhilarating. The kiss was real. She was real, and not like the dream he’d found himself having in the early morning hour that forced him out of bed to pack his belongings and leave that motel.
Careful of her injured side, Trevor slowly backed her to the wall. She didn’t hesitate or stop him. He took that as permission to fully explore her mouth more intimately and the heat coming off her body warmed him throughout. He didn’t think it was due to her elevated temperature. He also didn’t think it was the pain medication that allowed him to kiss her—and kiss him she did, with a hunger and desire that caused his knees to buckle.
The realization of what she was doing, kissing someone she most certainly shouldn’t, came and went through Jae’s mind like a bolt of lightning. It was immediately replaced with a thousand mini electric shocks running up and down her back, ending and beginning right at the spot where his hands massaged and stroked her.
Jae wondered if he’d lifted her off her feet because she was floating, amazingly and beautifully in his arms. She could only steady herself by tightening her hold on him—her hands were tight around his neck and yes, her legs were around his waist because he had indeed lifted her up in his arms. Jae couldn’t say when he’d done that.
Fleeting seconds turned into minutes. The sounds of their raspy breathing filled her bedroom as did their moans, unleashing a want and need each held in check for their own reasons.
“So…this is him, huh, Jae?”
Hearing her Aunt Maggie’s voice, Jae felt herself nose dive to earth, like a bird that had suddenly lost its wings. Adjusting her top after Trevor slowly released her until her feet touched the floor, she sidestepped around him on shaky legs to greet her aunt who’d been standing inside the doorway to her bedroom.
“Hi Aunt Maggie, um, you made it in early, how nice.” She struggled to keep her voice even; a hard task to do with a red-hot flame burning inside her—almost as red as her lips.
To make matters worse, as her aunt came into her room and they embraced tightly, Jae could feel Trevor’s eyes burning a path through the back of her pajamas.
“Yes, my flight arrived early so I went on over to the church. Jae, my dear, you’re gorgeous,” Aunt Maggie said, caressing her niece’s flushed cheek
“Oh, that’s nice. So you saw everybody, huh?” Jae managed.
Aunt Maggie laughed. “Yes, I sure did and your father was snoring on the front pew as usual,” she said, smiling broadly up at Trevor. “Well, hello,” she said.
Trevor smiled at her aunt, who bore a resemblance to her niece. “So you’re the Trevor I’ve just gotten an earful about in church, hmm? I’m Maggie, Jae’s aunt,” she said, lifting her hand, wrist bent with exaggerated graciousness.
“Hello, Maggie,” Trevor said, taking her delicate hand in his and bringing it up to his lips and kissing the back of it. “My pleasure,” he said, smiling at Jae as her eyes rolled behind her aunt’s back.
“So, this is your young man?” she asked turning to Jae.
“What? No! He…um, well, he’s…” Jae said, looking at Trevor. She was at a loss for words.
“We’re acquaintances, Maggie,” Trevor offered, smiling at both aunt and niece.
“That’s Aunt Maggie to you,” Jae bristled.
“Oh, hush up, Jae,” Maggie said, glancing from one set of eyes to the other. “Trevor, how did the two of you meet?”
“She asked me to dance,” he said, giving Jae a wink.
“Really, our quiet little Jae did that? I’m delighted.” Maggie beamed.
Trevor walked over to the window seat and collected his backpack and the bag of chips. “Well, I’m outta here,” he teased before turning to leave. “Thank you, Jae, for everything,” he said.
Jae bet he was referring to that kiss and made several attempts to pick up her jeans from the chair. Lightheaded and feeling somewhat off balance, Jae searched Trevor’s face, which was suddenly level with hers. “What’s going on?” she demanded.
“Sweetheart, the pain medication the doctor gave you was a tad bit stronger. You need to rest, Jae.” Trevor smiled as he practically carried Jae to her bed.
“Oh, that’s right! Elaine told me you had a fender bender,” Maggie said, coming forward to assist him in getting her into bed. “Can I get you something, dear?”
Trevor was quick to ask Aunt Maggie to get Jae a cup of peppermint tea. The second she hurried from the room, he turned back to Jae and she was pointing her weapon at him. “I no longer need your protection, Jae, and in your condition, you couldn’t keep up with me if you tried,” he said, sitting on the side of her bed.
“Don’t worry about my capabilities. You’re not going anywhere,” she said, using her feet in an attempt to move him aside so she could get up. Problem was he wasn’t budging.
“Jae, I knew at some point, your only option is going to be to lock me up and I can’t let you do that. I’m going back to square one and if I’m lucky, I get me back,” Trevor said, moving closer and stilling her feet. Searching her face, his eyes settled on the firm set of her lips. Raising his hand, he let his thumb trace the outline of her bottom lip.
When his mouth swooped down over hers, she told herself not to kiss him again but she did.
Only this time, she kept her weapon low and angled at his thigh. A well-placed bullet will have to suffice, she thought as a mixture of anticipation and dread filtered through her mind. That is, until she heard Aunt Maggie coming up the creaky stairs, forcing Jae to slide her weapon beneath her pillow.
Both of them ignored Aunt Maggie as she entered the bedroom and walked over to Jae’s nightstand. Jae wanted to throw up when she saw Trevor angle his head and send her aunt a sly wink before finally releasing her mouth. Then Jae watched him leave. Truthfully, that was all she could do because the
full force of the medication hit her and all she could remember thinking was that Trevor owed her a bag of potato chips. Next, she heard the opening and closing of the back door, just as Aunt Maggie pressed her head to the pillow and adjusted the blanket over her.
And she couldn’t stop her fingers from reaching up to touch her still warm lips.
Chapter Eight
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Darius Hall and Special Agent Mike Coleman were once again complaining about their latest assignment. As the only Black men on the team, they often spoke more freely when by themselves, and out of earshot of McGuire Webster, Iverson Banner, and Amil Barrett, their White team counterparts.
Darius and Mike had a continuing complaint about their current assignment. It wasn’t the fact that they’d been sent to the mountains of Montana, which resulted in Darius developing sinus issues. It also wasn’t that they’d had to spend almost three weeks there. It was because they couldn’t reach Luke Grainger.
Granted, there was some suspicious activity surrounding the three men who’d been hiding in the mountains and detained for domestic terrorist activity. But as Darius had surmised minutes earlier, it wasn’t anything the local FBI agents couldn’t handle. He classified it as a bullshit assignment.
Mike held up his fingers and started counting, snapping Darius out of his thoughts. “Okay, first, we’ve done nothing more than stand around watching these mountain folks eat buffalo cooked thirty different ways. Second, we’ve had no contact with Grainger, third—”
“Third is, you haven’t been able to reach Jae,” Darius said and shot Mike a pointed look. Darius had discovered a while back that Mike had a thing for Jae, but Mike had been warned that she was off limits. “I’m sure she’s enjoying time with her family. Besides, Jae can take care of herself and if something was going down and she needed us—” Darius stood up and thumped Mike on the back, “—she would’ve called.”
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