by Serena Zane
“You okay?” Killroy asked concerned showing on his face.
“Fine, just fine.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
The cab pulled up to the pier and screeched to a halt. Conner opened the yellow door and eased himself out. Reaching for Lucy with his free hand, he helped her out of the vehicle. He grinned at the cabbie and handed him the money for the fare. Conner turned and took Lucy’s elbow to lead her toward the yacht waiting at the end of the pier.
Lucy looked around her and took in the scene with a great deal of interest. She wondered how Killroy and Kevin could miss seeing such a beautiful piece of work as Conner’s yacht as it floated in the water near the warehouse. The size alone would draw her attention. The expanse of its white body took over most of the small outlet where it was harbored. She stared at the tinted windows, curious about what lay behind the dark panes.
Immediately, thoughts of her brother soared to the surface when she boarded the boat. An overwhelming sense of urgency filled her. She fought to control her breath and steadied her thoughts as Conner led her up the plank. The decking, the smooth lines of the beautiful polished wood, helped her concentrate as she walked. If she could get to Chase somehow they might be able to organize a way to get him off the yacht without her being suspected.
Lucy noticed two men patrolling the deck in white uniforms. The bulge underneath their right arms told her they packed small side arms. They would be easy enough to disarm. She dismissed them without another thought and forced her gaze to take in the whole situation.
Conner led her up top and conversed with the captain. He spoke so softly she could not hear what they said. She could only guess.
Lucy looked at the man at the wheel and noticed he wore a small pistol under his uniform jacket. Turning to face her as he spoke with Conner, the man looked at her like a prime steak. She shivered and flipped her hair back from her shoulders in agitation.
Conner came to where she stood waiting for him, took her hand, and without a word, led her into the ship.
Lucy broke the silence.
“Oh, how lovely.” The deep mahogany interior took her breath away. Conner smiled at her as she took in the rich textures surrounding them. The hunter green upholstery matched the dark colors and made the room look as though it belonged to something out of an earlier century.
“This is one of my favorite rooms,” he stated with an air of superiority. “I thought you might appreciate it.”
“I do.” The statement came out in a breath as she continued to take it all in. He’d really outdone himself decorating both his apartment and this yacht.
“I’d like for you to stay in this room until we get out into international waters. I don’t want the coast guard to think anything suspicious is going on.” His eyes roamed over her body in approval when she stayed in place.
She watched as he went out the door and firmly shut it behind him. Hearing a lock click into place, she sat down on the velour-covered sofa. Apparently Conner didn’t trust her as much as they thought he did.
Lucy looked at her watch and gave a mental sigh; only five-thirty in the morning. She glanced with longing at the soft cushions of the sofa and decided a nap would be in order. She couldn’t do anything locked up in this room. Laying her head down on the comfortable surface she began to plan.
***
“Wave bon voyage to Lucy for a while,” Killroy said as they watched the yacht pull out of the small harbor. “If things go as planned, she should be in with their accomplices fairly soon. Come on. There’s a boat waiting for us with our name on it right over there.” He motioned to a speedboat harbored one pier over.
“You’re sure full of surprises.” Kevin’s mouth turned up at the corners.
“I noticed that yacht out in the bay at the warehouse. I took all precautions. That’s what I’m here for,” he said and looked full of his own importance for a moment.
Kevin knew if he hadn’t been so worried about Lucy he would have burst out laughing.
“You really do have everything down to the last detail.” They climbed aboard and released the tie-downs.
“We need to stay far enough behind them that they won’t notice our craft.” Kevin watched as Killroy scanned the monitor on the dash. It was a twin of the one in the van. Cindy had been busy. The two blips came across in bright red and green signals. Kevin started up the engine and began to follow at a discrete distance.
Three hours remained before they would reach international waters. Conner would make certain any deals would happen there. Kevin’s leg stung from the short jump into the boat and he thought of Lucy.
She’d learned a lot in her short time with the Agency. They were concerned she would not be able to handle this situation. She was tough, but she was also very small and only one person. Kevin remembered how she’d stuck her chin out in defiance when he asked her to step out of the assignment. Kevin felt a wave of warmth surge through him.
In the next moment his eyes turned to slits as he thought of what Conner wanted to do with her. Just how far would she go to save her brother? His glare focused on the yacht in front of them. Kevin’s anger level rose with each thought of Conner’s hands on Lucy’s soft skin. His fingers gripped the steering wheel and it was all he could do to stop himself from going after her that minute.
The blackened waters of the Atlantic seemed to well up and increase his fears. He didn’t like being this far out of contact with any partner, and Lucy was much more than just a partner—she was everything he cared about.
He watched her walk around agency headquarters the last year, torturing his senses. Each time he spotted her, his pulse sped up and he felt heat rush through his body. He leaned his head back and groaned as he thought of how much time he spent during that first mission trying to keep things professional. He shook his head at the thought of all the wasted time.
“I know you are busy, but would you tell me why the green blip seems to be floating away from the yacht?” Cindy motioned to the computer screen and waited for Killroy and Kevin to take a look.
“It appears as though our man lost his cane.” Killroy glanced at Kevin and shrugged. “So, he isn’t as predictable as I thought. Cindy, we follow the diamond. Since we’ve got sight of the yacht from here we can tell that is the correct signal. I wonder how he knew. I need to think about this. Kevin, will you take over the controls for a while? I need to determine what this means.”
Kevin nodded.
“What do you think happened, Kevin?” Cindy looked at him with suspicion in her eyes, but waited to see how he responded.
“I’m not altogether sure. To be honest, I’ve no idea why Conner would choose to throw his cane overboard. Maybe Killroy is right. Perhaps he did just slip and lose it over the side.”
Cindy seemed doubtful and Kevin directed his gaze back at their target. Did they have a mole? He thought of each member of the team and quickly dismissed the idea.
Killroy handpicked this unit. That being the case, Kevin tried to think of other scenarios, which might lead to the cane going overboard. Kevin didn’t believe that Conner would ever make a mistake like letting loose of his precious cane near the side of the yacht where it might fall into the waters churning beneath the ship.
The sun slowly crept into the sky, and the darkness of the night gave way to colors streaking the horizon. Kevin kept the boat farther back from the yacht to stay out of notice. He glanced at Killroy occasionally and read the lines of worry on his weathered face. The director saw a lot of action in his time and Kevin knew it wasn’t a good sign when his boss took on an expression like the one he wore on his face at the moment. Kevin’s hand rubbed the leather grip of the steering column and focused on remaining calm.
She’s a trained agent. She can handle herself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lucy glanced up as Conner came through the heavy oak door with a tray balanced in one hand. She inhaled the smell of fresh coffee and sausage. Her mouth started to water at the thought of a
proper meal. She lay down on her side and watched him with hooded eyes as he quietly crossed the room and placed the tray on the coffee table in front of her. He strode over to her and gently brushed a stray hair off her cheek.
“Time to get up Valerie. You’ve slept through the day,” His voice dropped as he looked over her lounging form.
Lucy opened her eyes all the way.
Conner held his breath as their eyes met. “I thought you might appreciate a nice breakfast when you first woke up even though it is dinner time.” She moved slowly, aware that he watched her as though she was on the menu.
She repressed a shudder.
“Mmmm, smells good.” Lucy stretched and leaned forward to take the lids off the plates on the silver-serving tray, and examine the contents. As she looked over the delicious array of pancakes, eggs, and sausage, her stomach growled. She laughed, pretending to be embarrassed. “I better get some of this wonderful food in my stomach, otherwise, I may die of starvation.”
“We wouldn’t let that happen, I promise you. If you die of anything on our little excursion it will not be from a lack of food.” Menace flashed in his eyes for a moment and made Lucy wonder if she imagined it.
He smiled at her and sat back to watch her eat.
“Aren’t you going to eat anything?” Lucy inquired.
“No, I ate my dinner earlier this day. There’re many things I need to accomplish before I’m able to spend time with you.” He leaned over and brushed a finger against her thigh. “I didn’t want anything to get in our way when we spend time together.”
Lucy tried not to pull away from his touch and forced herself to remain on the sofa. She took a bite of her pancakes and listened to him talk about the yacht. Lucy used the time to figure out how she could distract Conner enough to make him leave the door unlocked, the only way out of the room.
No way could she get through one of the portholes without being seen. Even the door was a risky proposition. If she could slip out without being noticed, she might be able to locate her brother. Their connection felt stronger here. She knew he would be on the yacht, stashed away. She just needed to find him.
Lucy ate almost everything on her tray as Conner talked about boating as his favorite hobby. She couldn’t help but think he didn’t sound like a hardened criminal. Conner’s face looked angular, but soft around the edges, like several car salesmen she’d met. Again, she thought of a weasel. “Is there a restroom I might use aboard this vessel you love so much?” For some reason the sight of his beloved yacht being blown into tiny little pieces popped into her head and she suppressed a chuckle.
“It is right down the passage and to your left. I will take you.” He placed a hand possessively on her elbow and guided her down the narrow passage. “Here we are.” He gestured to a smaller door hidden within the paneling. “Sorry it is a bit small, but that is how they come on yachts like this one.”
Lucy shrugged and made her way into the small cubicle to use the restroom and said thank you as she shut the door. She leaned her head back against the stall door. Lucy tried to think of a way to get rid of Conner without him being suspicious of why she wanted some time alone. She didn’t arrive at any answers by the time she finished in the restroom.
Conner led her back to the study area. As they entered the room, someone called him topside. He rushed out the door and left it open.
Well, that was easier than I thought it would be, Lucy mused.
She slipped out and headed farther down the passage past the restroom. Lucy took in all the details of the small hallway and made a mental note that she would need to be careful while she made her way into the darkened interior of the yacht. Her fingers brushed the sidewalls and connected with a door on her right.
The cold metal of the door handle chilled her skin as she opened it into a room full of crates. She squished her narrow frame through the crack she’d made in the door and let her vision take an inventory of the things in the crowded room, noting the label on each crate stamped with a South American customs label. She went to the crate nearest to where she stood and lifted the lid.
Strange, she thought, it’s not nailed down.
She peered inside and gasped as she looked at a priceless Monet. Her breath almost stopped as she realized what she’d inadvertently stumbled upon. The room was loaded with artifacts stolen over the past few months from top museums around the world.
What were they all doing there? Her mind raced with all the possibilities. But this wasn’t the time to stand around and gape. She turned to head back out into the passage when she heard voices close to the room.
“That’s right. It’s all here. After you look over the merchandise perhaps we can agree on a price.” Conner’s voice drifted to where she stood.
Lucy glanced quickly around, and found a closet on the far side of the room. She breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to in the tight space. Lucy closed the sliding door just enough to be able to see through a small crack, settling into her hiding spot as they opened the room door wide to admit the entrance of a small entourage.
One rather tall man walked to the center of the room. She could tell by his arrogant stance that he was the man Conner would do business with. She searched him from head to toe, and her eyes raked every inch of his clothing for the distinguishing bulge of a gun. She couldn’t find a thing and guessed his two henchmen were in charge of his protection when he went unarmed.
Conner stepped over to the crate to his left and lifted the lid. She couldn’t see inside, but by the look of pleasure that crossed the stranger’s dark features, Lucy could only guess it was another one of the world’s most valued gifts. His rich Latin accent permeated the air.
“When do you believe we can complete the transfer?” The deep tones played havoc with her ears and she forced herself to concentrate on the scene in front of her.
“Soon. I want to make sure everything is in order. You do realize that you can never show these to anyone outside of your own circle?” Conner sounded doubtful.
“You’ve got my word, Mr. Conner. To have them in my possession is quite enough.” His dark features twisted into a mask of pleasure as he opened another case. “Shall we go discuss our future then?”
“Yes, please follow me.” Conner led them out of the room.
Lucy let out a sigh of relief. It would make this whole thing so much easier. She could get her brother out and get the goods all in one fell swoop if she played her cards right. A smile lit up her face as she wiggled back into the room.
Now, where’s Conner hiding my brother? She wondered as she looked farther down the passage and thanked her lucky stars no one was about. She snuck down the hall until she found a third room. Without opening the door she pressed her ear to the paneling and listened. The voices within warned her not to approach the room until later.
She continued farther down. Her hand contacted with yet another door, this one smaller than the others. She doubted anything was in it. She hesitated for a moment just outside and pressed her hand against the doorknob. It creaked open. She stood there for a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dark. She didn’t want to take any chances that a light could be seen farther down the hall. As her eyes focused on the room, at first all she noticed were more crates.
A low groan sounded from inside.
Chase sat slumped over in a wooden chair in the center of the room, his limbs tied to each leg as though he’d have the strength to undo them if they’d been tied together.
Lucy forced herself to keep control. She closed the door behind her as quietly as she could and made her way over to where her brother sat entrapped. Kneeling down next to him, Lucy slowly raised a hand to his face so she wouldn’t startle him when he came to.
“Chase? It’s me,” she whispered gently into his ear.
His lids lifted slowly and his head came up, “Lucy? I knew you would find me.” He gave a short laugh and she heard him suck in a breath.
“Are you hurt?”
“Just my
ribs. Everything else is just bruised.” Lucy reached down, and using the knife she concealed on her leg, she sliced through the bindings that held him to the chair. Again, Chase sucked in his breath as they fell from his hands. She could only imagine the pain as blood rushed back into his starved veins.
“Thanks.”
“Hey no problem, what are sisters for?” She tried to keep her tone light. “We need to get you off this yacht. Kevin and the team are following in a small craft behind us. They’re just out of sight. You’re going to go without me.”
Chase caught her chin. “No, Luce, I won’t leave you here alone.”
She laughed softly, and pulled her chin out of his hand. “And what exactly are you good for at the moment? You can’t even stand up straight. I’ve got to stay and be here onboard. I’m not wearing a bug. Jag has got no idea that Conner brought the goods with us. You need to escape and let them know everything that’s going on here.”
He raised a hand to rub at his neck. “I understand, but I don’t need to like it. When do we make our move?”
She listened to the uneven breathing of her twin and felt his pain. He needed medical assistance soon.
“Conner and his buyer are in the next room. I’m going to try and distract them. You can sneak out quietly while I’m in the room talking and take the life raft from the side of the yacht. Be careful. There are five of Conner’s men up on deck, all armed. I’m not sure how many this new guy brought with him. We need to make our move soon if we want to get him with the merchandise.” Lucy studied the profile of her brother.
“You sure you’ll be safe?”
Lucy knew if she didn’t reassure him that she would be fine, he wouldn’t leave the yacht. Damn fool.
