Atomic Beauty

by Barb Han

  On some level, she realized that she needed to go in to Sanctuary for a full checkup. In the meantime, she’d swallow a few Advil and hope the storm passed long enough to get to Jace. He’d said he needed backup he could trust, she’d agreed, and she had every intention of following through on that promise.

  He danced in the shadows just like she did, and shadows traveled alone. He wouldn’t bring company to the meet up. Jace was lethal. A man like him asking for help sat hard in her stomach. A man as lethal as Jace wouldn’t need it. He had to be involved with people skilled at taking down officers. Was he meeting with someone from Exacto?

  Maybe there was some hidden meaning in the words he’d said to her before. He’d told her she was his angel. That she was saving him. What did that mean?

  There was the guy from Berlin. What did he have to do with anything? Had Murdock sent him? She hadn’t seriously considered the idea originally because Berlin had tried to shoot her.

  When she really thought about it, he could’ve been firing sedatives instead of bullets. Maybe he hadn’t been there to kill her, but to bring her back to Sanctuary. She wouldn’t put it past Murdock to pull something ridiculous like that. And the other uglier possibility surfaced. Murdock was somehow connected and was trying to erase her.

  No way would he betray her father, her.

  Her heart wanted to believe in Jace, too.

  Hold on… Thoughts fired in Erika’s brain faster than rounds of an AK-47. Jace wanted her there for backup. If she could believe him, and it was a big if, then it stood to reason that he feared the people he was meeting with enough to ask for support. To say Jace was good at his job was a lot like saying kids liked to eat candy. Sam Carter was tied to her father in some way. And her father had been Sanctuary’s best officer. Was it possible that the men Jace was about to meet were connected to the ones who’d killed her father? Jace had mentioned before that they were from the eastern bloc. It would explain why he’d been so cryptic before. These men had been smart enough to kill Sanctuary’s best officer. Jace had to know that. She’d dismissed the idea the two could be connected before. But now? Her hands fisted.

  The cashier waved her toward him.

  “I’d like to rent a boat.”

  He nodded and then turned his head to the side, shouting to one of his workers.

  A college-aged guy in flip-flops and board shorts stepped into the room from the office, smiling. “How can I help you?”

  “I need a boat.”

  “What are your plans?”

  “Cruise around. Get a little sun. Fish.” She shrugged. “Took the day off from work and I want to unwind.”

  He smiled his approval. “Follow me. I’ll hook you up.”

  She thanked the attendant for helping her with the boat and gripped the tiller, leading the vessel out onto the dark blue waters.

  Her satellite phone beeped.

  When she’d cleared the dock and put a safe distance between her and the world, she checked her phone. It was Stacy.

  “What did you find out?”

  “A lot.” Stacy had an extra charge in her voice, excitement that said she’d found something interesting.

  “Who is Sam Carter and why is he important?”

  “You already know he was CEO of CorMeds. It’s a private company so that’s why it’s taking me longer than usual to find any goods on them. And, boy, did I ever.”

  “Go on.”

  “For one, Carter wasn’t just the CEO of the company. He started the whole thing with a couple of partners based on grant money from the DOD fifteen years ago. The official contract says something about developing medicine for soldiers but when I dug a little deeper into their financials, I couldn’t find any shipments or invoices.”

  “Couldn’t they just be an R&D facility?” An ominous feeling settled over her.

  “That was my first thought, too. But, the job bid they submitted to the government during the bidding process was more specific. Said they’d deliver a few thousand pills to various VA hospitals around the country and to several military bases overseas.”

  “I’m guessing that didn’t happen.”

  “If it did, there’s no paper trail.”

  “So, they’re a front for something else. What?”

  “I don’t know, but whatever it is, your boy found it.”

  “Mitchell?”

  “They are somehow tied to the government, ours and a few in the eastern bloc, but they don’t work in pharmaceuticals.”

  Not surprising to Erika. Many shell companies had similar covers and most of the time the reason they were kept secret had to do with national security. The government couldn’t funnel large sums of money to shell corporations without sending it through Congress. Appropriations needed something to go on before making such big awards, therefore phony companies and documents were created. “How much money were they getting?” That might narrow possibilities.

  “Tens of millions. Some of it came from men tied to an organization called Exacto.”

  “Guess that’s one of the reasons Carter could retire to one of the most expensive cities in the world. He was doing business with some bad guys from the eastern bloc.”

  “Retire or flat out disappear. This guy was there on the books, signing checks one day. Then, not. He went off the grid around the time your father was killed. Carter’s address in Paris was difficult to find, even for me. His death made news because of the nature and the fact he was American. But, if it hadn’t been written about, we might never have found him again.”

  “Which means someone knew how to hide him.” Someone Agency. The fact he’d gone into hiding around the time of her father’s death sat like acid in her stomach. Carter might have been her father’s target, only the wrong person ended up dead. Or whoever killed her father was after Carter, too. “Could he have been escaping after my father’s murder?”

  “It’s possible. Plus, his financials revealed large cash infusions and I couldn’t find any correlating payments from our government. There have been unexplained deposits from overseas banks since they opened their doors fifteen years ago. I tried to track the deposits and kept running into dead ends.”

  “All that money had to come from somewhere. Any ideas?”

  “Could be from foreign interests. I found something else. Carter had another partner, but don’t get too excited because he’s dead.”

  The flicker of hope died out before it had a chance to take seed. “Hard to get answers from ghosts.”

  “He drowned in a boating incident last year.”

  “I’m guessing that’s where the trail gets cold.” Erika would have liked to interview at least one of the men.

  “There haven’t been any deposits in the past year, but CorMeds hasn’t shut its doors, either.”

  “If both partners are dead then who’s keeping shop now?”

  “There’s at least one more person involved, always has been, but that’s where the trail ends. I just know there’s another person somewhere in the shadows. And someone is going to great lengths to keep his identity and this company a secret.”

  “So, someone is still working with Exacto?” There were several possibilities rolling around in Erika’s head. One of the original two could’ve decided to blow the whistle on the operation. Or, the third person could’ve gotten greedy and decided to keep all the profits. He was most likely connected to whatever Jace had discovered. “Keep looking for the shadow for me, will you?”

  “You bet.”

  “And, Stacy, be careful with this one. Something’s got my radar up.” Everything about this had Erika off balance.

  “I hear you. And I feel the same way.” She paused. “You should know that Murdock reached out to me this morning.”

  “Why would he do that?” Erika made a mental note to run through the data again with the new keywords, tamping down her fear the answer would lead her right back to Sanctuary.

  “Asked me if I’d spoken to you.”

  “And?”


  “I told him no, of course. But he sounded stressed.”

  “When has he ever sounded relaxed?” she joked, trying to ease the tension. The thought of Murdock following up on her didn’t do good things to her brain.

  “Good point.” Stacy laughed.

  “I spoke to him earlier. He said there was a lot at stake.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.” Stacy paused. “You need to be careful.”

  The line went dead silent.

  “What is it, Stacy?”

  “Your father’s name came up when I poked around about Carter.”

  Erika already knew her father was connected, but did that relationship have something to do with his murder? Lead sat in the pit of Erika’s stomach. Was that why Murdock had been so cryptic before? His instructions had been explicit: find out what Jace knew and send it back to Sanctuary. She’d been ordered not to review the contents.

  And the files?

  Did they house the reason her father had been killed?

  “Do me a favor?” she asked, working to keep the anger out of her voice. She fisted her right hand and dug her fingernail into her palm, itching for a cigarette.

  “Anything. Name it.”

  “Don’t mention any of this to Murdock.” Had he known all along? And what about Jace? He’d wanted her to find this. Did he know?

  “I’m insulted that you think I’d do that to you.” Stacy blew out a puff of air.

  “I don’t. He can be persistent to the point of pushy. If he suspects you’re working on anything with me, he’ll be intrusive. Plus, he ended my assignment already.”

  “Well, he can seize my computer if he wants to. He won’t find a thing.”

  “I appreciate it. I owe you dinner when this is all said and done,” Erika said, forcing a light tone she didn’t feel, digging deeper into her own flesh with her fingernail.

  “I’m planning to hold you to that.” She issued another pregnant pause. “And, Erika, take care of yourself. I know how hard this time of year is for you.”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “Not really. But I know you.”

  “Point taken. I’m fine.” She would be, too. Just as soon as she put the son of a bitch who killed her father into the ground.

  Erika spent the next half hour navigating the waters she’d already memorized from satellite pictures, seething, working to control her anger. It was crucial to ensure there were no more surprises. The puzzle pieces didn’t fit, but they would. Soon.

  As she trolled the waters, she thought about what Stacy had discovered. Of the three who were involved in CorMeds, only one was alive. Presumed to be alive. Erika didn’t know for sure. The mystery person might be the key to figuring this out and a starting point to finding her father’s killer.

  If this was linked to her father, Murdock’s insistence she walk away made more sense. Erika wondered what else he’d found out or if Murdock himself was involved. Surely, he’d investigated. Or, had he been forced to walk away all those years ago?

  * * *

  Maybe Sam Carter had wanted out? Maybe he threatened to expose the whole operation and had to be silenced. Either way, Erika didn’t like that this story involved Exacto and so many of her own.

  Sanctuary existed to clean up messes and, therefore, avoid bigger battles. Large-scale battles. Most of the US’s military was farmed out to contractors these days, which also made everything harder to track.

  “Did you find the mystery person, Jace Mitchell?” Erika asked aloud, briefly considering the possibility that the third person could be him. She dismissed the idea quickly.

  Another thought struck her. Had he found something that the government would be ashamed of? Is that why she’d been given the order to kill him?

  And the thought she didn’t even want to acknowledge assaulted her. Was the third person Murdock? Her brain screamed, No!

  If he was, then she’d sent Jace’s data straight to the devil himself. The magnitude, the implications of what Jace had found out had to be enormous. She pulled binoculars from her pack, idling the boat engine.

  Keeping low, she surveyed the area. It was a quiet morning on the island. An occasional boater passed by and waved. She returned the gestures as she pulled out a fishing pole and set up the line on the side of her boat that she’d tossed anchor on. There was no good place to hide, except around the corner from the boathouse.

  Erika brushed her hair back from her face and stared for a long moment. It was cool and the water would be frigid. Her head throbbed from her last headache. A rock to her temples would’ve hurt less.

  She hadn’t expected Jace to be sitting out in the open waiting, but there was no hint he’d been there and no guarantee he’d show.

  The spot where her mother’s necklace usually rested itched. She missed the heavy metal chain around her neck, the weight of the locket nestled close to her heart.

  She wiped down the boat for fingerprints just in case she didn’t make it back. She slipped into her short-sleeved wetsuit, and pulled her facemask over her mouth. She repeated her mantra, never let them see your weaknesses, picturing what she’d be doing tonight. Sticking around the area might be interesting. There’d be plenty of fresh seafood and she could use a cold beer when this was done.

  When she’d finished putting on her small tank, she slipped into the cold water.

  The swim around the island shouldn’t take more than ten minutes and would warm her cold limbs. She’d intentionally parked the boat nearby figuring she might need a quick getaway. By the time she swam to the boathouse, her headache began a light tap in her ears.

  The last thing she could afford would be to drop again in front of Jace. She still hadn’t figured out why he hadn’t killed her when he’d the chance.

  There was another thing bugging her. After Jace had figured her out, why had he kept on pretending not to know who she was? He’d played the part in that hallway so convincingly she’d almost doubted herself.

  Or was this a simple game of cat and mouse? Moves and countermoves?

  Erika broke the surface, climbed the post leading to the boathouse and surveyed the area.

  No sign of Jace.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jace had to know Erika would arrive at first light. She pulled her weapon, ready for action, ignoring the blinding pain stiffening her neck as she climbed into the boat house.

  A creek sounded from her right. She spun around and saw a dark figure in the corner exactly Jace’s build.

  She readjusted her aim but said nothing.

  “I have something that belongs to you.” He held the necklace into the light on the flat of his palm. His voice was a deep rumble in his chest. Damned if she could stop it from wrapping around her, warming her.

  “Toss it over here.” She didn’t want to acknowledge her heart’s fluttery reaction at hearing his voice. Or how much she missed the feel of his arms around her.

  “I know how important it is. I’m sorry I held on to it for so long, I guess it was my only piece of you.” He tossed the peace offering toward her.

  She caught it effortlessly, ignoring the chills running up her arm. She didn’t want to show her weakness. She didn’t want Jace to see how much getting that necklace back meant to her. And maybe she didn’t want to admit to herself how much it meant that he’d brought it back.

  “Catching that condom so quickly was how I confirmed you weren’t in Vancouver for my ability to make good coffee.” He motioned toward her hand. “It was the only crack in your facade.”

  Jace would know better than anyone that officers were trained to notice subtlety in everyone around them and especially with their handlers. Catching nearly imperceptible static on a call or the slightest hesitation meant the difference between life and death. Their skills had been honed in the field and their refined instincts kept them in the game.

  She held the necklace in her fist, keeping her gaze trained on him. “Now what?”

  * * *

  “T
hat’s up to you.” Jesus, she was a sight for sore eyes. He’d wanted to come clean before, to tell her everything. Once he’d realized who she was, who her father had been, he knew she’d bolt. Jace hadn’t appreciated the pile of shit he’d stepped in when he’d accepted the assignment a year ago to terminate Sam Carter. Rogue agents, ruthless killers, millions of dollars at stake. And especially what would happen to the agency if the information leaked. It was a fucking nightmare and all trails led to his boss.

  And Jace was about to see if Murdock was dirty.

  Erika was skittish. Scare her again and she might disappear. He stabbed his fingers through his hair. How much could he tell her?

  He’d been in hiding for a year when she’d waltzed in. So fucking beautiful, he couldn’t turn away. He hadn’t been completely sure of whom she was until the condom. But she hadn’t tried to kill him so he’d danced, too.

  Giving up his password had been meant to gain her trust. They could look at the picture files all fuckin’ day and wouldn’t find anything except the message he’d sent to Murdock. The one that said Jace knew what Jack Nile had done and had proof. All hell was about to break loose for Sanctuary.

  “Who’s the third partner of CorMeds?” she asked, impatience clipping her tone.

  Jace took a step toward her, out of the shadows. “That the only reason you came? To talk about work?”

  I’m not here to play games. Start talking or I’m out.”

  He stood there staring at her for a long moment. God help him she was beautiful when she was being stubborn. He loved everything about her—especially her imperfections. The healed slashes marking her arms and legs made her even more real to him. She’d been in pain and hadn’t been afraid to show it on the outside. Erika was the most real person he’d fuckin’ ever met. And he’d been drawn to her the second she walked into that bar.

  “The headaches. You’ve had more, haven’t you? And they’re getting worse.” She needed medical attention. She’d refused to let him take her to the hospital in Vancouver and he’d known why. She didn’t want to leave a trail, not that she would’ve used her real name anyway.

  She took a step back, watching him wearily, and that look of distrust nearly caved his chest. “I got what I came for.”