Secrets of the Dead

by Kylie Brant

  “I’m interested in the specifics of your needs.” He waited for the waitress to collect the menus and move swiftly toward the kitchen before continuing. “If it is to bring Raiker to you, I’m afraid I can’t deliver that. As I indicated earlier, I have no influence with the man, especially now. If, instead, you would like to go to him…that’s where my area of expertise would be helpful.”

  “Once I am able to reach the man, he will be persuaded to speak with me.” There was something chilling in the other woman’s smile. “Unfortunately, I am told his security is even tighter in the past few months. How can you be certain your information remains current?”

  The waitress was back with a small plate of assorted cheeses and crackers. Declan responded, “I still have friends in Raiker’s employ. Friends who are…ah…as disenchanted as I’d been with the terms of my employment. I would of course use my contacts in Raiker’s network to be certain I have the most up-to-date information.”

  Eve forced herself to enthusiastically choose some snacks, but her usual appetite had vanished. Whether Shuang was working for herself or here on behalf of another, it was all too clear what the woman was after. And Declan was playing his part of a mercenary ex-employee harboring a grudge to perfection.

  “Ah, but do you have similar information about the whereabouts of his family?” The words sent a chill trickling down Eve’s spine. “I have always found that a man becomes more reasonable when concerned for his loved ones’ welfare.”

  “No one knows for sure where Raiker hid his wife and son after the boy was almost kidnapped,” Declan said bluntly. He reached over a pluck a piece of cheese off the plate in front of Eve. Bit into it. Swallowing, he added, “But I do know that the man doesn’t trust any other security in the world like he does his own. He can’t afford to rely on others to protect him—he has too many enemies. So that leaves one place for him to be holing up.” His gaze did battle with Shuang’s.

  “You mean his home in Manassas?”

  “You know he’s not there.” Unperturbed he polished off the rest of the cheese. “You would have checked before ever approaching me.”

  The woman clenched her hands together on her lap. “So he is on his compound?”

  “That would be the most likely place, but it will take money to persuade my contacts to part with the knowledge. And once I have that, I’m the only person who could get you inside.” He quickly glanced at Eve, who was nibbling on a cracker. “Raiker would know exactly who had given him up and he’ll come after me with all his considerable resources. Eve and I would have to disappear abroad. So as you can imagine, my assistance will be costly.”

  _______

  “She seemed shocked.” Eve huddled inside her coat as she walked beside Declan down the sidewalk blocks away from the hotel. “I hope you didn’t price yourself out of the market.”

  “Xie Shuang—if that’s her real name—would expect to pay for the kind of help she’s requesting. And she doesn’t expect to meet the asking price. I’m sure I’ll find an email shortly beginning the negotiation.”

  “She mentioned Royce only obliquely.” And that was certainly by design.

  “On purpose, I’m sure.” He led her to the curb and threw a quick look up and down the street. “She risks losing my sympathy if she brings the boy into it. I’m conditioned to not give a damn what she might have in store for Raiker, but I might have a sudden attack of scruples if she mentions his son.”

  “Or you may be tempted to sell details of her interest to the man she’s hoping to find.”

  He gave her an approving nod. “Exactly.” Grasping her elbow in his hand he led her into the street once the light changed. “We’ve got an escort. Two blocks back, light colored ski jacket. Jeans. Black boots. Recognize him?”

  With only a slight turn of her head she spotted the man he described. A ripple of recognition went through her. “One of our friends from yesterday. The driver.”

  “Yep.”

  She hurried to keep up with his stride. “They already know where we live, so what’s the point of a tail?”

  “To see where we stop. Whom we talk to.” His smile was fierce. “He’ll report back that we went directly home, speaking only to each other.” They stepped up on the opposite curb and turned toward their apartment, thankfully away from the wind this time. “So what did we learn? Do you really think she’s Japanese?”

  “No, she’s almost certainly Chinese and not a native English speaker.” She didn’t know whether to be amused or offended at his double-take. “Her name, whether it’s real or not is Chinese, as is her accent, which is slight, but still barely noticeable on the short Is and Ns. I offered a simple Japanese phrase. How are you today? And she was unable to respond. If I could actually hear her speak in her native tongue I’ll be able to pinpoint a province or part of the country she grew up in. There are many dialects in China, despite the government’s attempt at a unified language. I’m familiar with all of them.”

  “What’s the first language you learned?” He steered her around a homeless man who was slouched against a building. Perhaps because he’d already learned she was prone to reach into her purse whenever she passed one. “Besides English, I mean.”

  “It really was Japanese. That much was true, although we didn’t have a cook. She was my au pair for a time. We went through several, and many of them were immigrants. I seemed to pick up a little from each of them.”

  “Is that when you learned your acting ability?”

  “At least you realized I was acting,” she muttered, shoving her gloved hands in her pockets as she walked. The cold snap that held DC in its grips was one for the record books. It was just her misfortune that it coincided with an assignment that had her walking in it daily. “Shuang would certainly have heard about my using the knife yesterday, and I wanted to convince her I wasn’t a threat.”

  “At first I thought you were putting on the empty-headed blonde act too thick, but she bought it. Almost too easily, I thought. Wherever she’s come from, she doesn’t have a high opinion of her own gender.”

  Eve had noted that, too, but was surprised he’d caught it. “I agree. And let’s face it. People see what they want to. I’ve found it’s sometimes easier to play on their preconceptions, especially if it gives me an advantage.”

  His regard was a little too intent to be entirely comfortable. “I’m beginning to realize you’re more adept at that than I ever would have thought.”

  Because his words arrowed a little too near the truth for comfort she shrugged. “Me? I’m an open book.” But she knew without looking at him that he remained unconvinced. She’d have to work on that. The problem with close proximity assignments was with what could be revealed without one even being aware of the disclosure. Eve was no newcomer to such tasks, but this case required a whole new degree of closeness.

  And it was imperative that she return to her job at the State Department with her cover firmly intact.

  The frigid outside was the only thing that could make Eve grateful to reach the shabby apartment. Heat greeted them when they stepped inside, which wasn’t always the case so she didn’t take it for granted. She went directly to the vent next to the couch and stood over it for a couple of minutes, thawing out. Declan went immediately to the closet and withdrew the detection device to begin the same methodical search he enacted each time they returned to the place.

  Finally warming enough to take off her gloves, Eve removed them and crossed to hang up her coat. Halted in her tracks when Declan turned toward her, one finger to his lips.

  The device in his hand had a small red light that was blinking rapidly. He took a couple of steps toward the bedroom and the flickering slowed. He turned and took a few strides toward the kitchen area and it sped up.

  “Bug or camera?” she asked in Scottish Gaelic.

  “This device would pick up either, but it’s
definitely a bug.” He lowered the instrument to scan the small space with his gaze.

  An icy finger traced down her spine. Someone had been busy today while they met with Shuang. Declan had assured her that the security measures taken with the door and windows would ensure that no one could enter without them being alerted. Which made her wonder how a listening device had been planted.

  Declan moved toward the ancient stove and peered above it. Going to his side the first thing Eve noticed was the light sprinkling of plaster dust on the appliance. Raising her gaze she saw a small dime sized spot she might have thought was a water hole in the wall a few feet above the stove.

  “How did they get in?”

  “They didn’t.” She followed him to the door, which he unlocked and they moved into the hallway. Saw the electrical plate screwed into the wall in a spot that would match up with the bug they’d found. White plaster dust on the floor was as telling as a shout.

  Declan surprised her by heading back into the apartment. Trailing after him, she shut the door behind her and relocked it. Somehow securing the multiple locks no longer made her feel safe. “Aren’t you going to remove it?”

  “Finding it gives us the advantage.” He returned the surveillance detection device to the closet shelf. “It’s doubtful the listener speaks our language, so there’s no danger of us giving anything away. And the detector has jamming capabilities if there’s ever a time we need more privacy.” His grin was just a bit ruthless. “Our new business partner doesn’t trust us, it seems. Which means she’s smart and careful. So are we.”

  His words had a familiar adrenaline punching through Eve’s trepidation. The game of cat and mouse had begun. And from the looks of Declan’s smile he was looking forward to the challenge. The recognition had her feeling a sort of affinity with the man. Because she was more than ready start the assignment that would guarantee Royce Raiker’s safety.

  _______

  The property boasted two attached garages, each large enough to house half a dozen vehicles. Adam had deliberately left the one on the far end of the house empty, and Jaid had soon learned why when a truck full of lumber had arrived shortly after they had. The mini half pipe ramp had taken less than a day to construct, but she’d often thought the structure had saved her—and Royce’s—sanity numerous times over the past weeks.

  She watched him now, her nine-year bundle of energy, doing dazzling spins, Ollies and stall combinations on his skateboard. He wore a helmet and protective pads, although they hadn’t spared him a broken arm when he’d attempted a homemade ramp just over a year ago.

  “Nice tail stall!” she called out as he executed a move he’d been practicing for weeks.

  “You wanna try one?” came his response as he whizzed by again.

  “I’m good on feet. Not necessarily on wheels.” When her cell vibrated in her pocket, she drew it out of her jeans while keeping an eye on her son. Sarah, the tutor they’d brought along, was taking a much-needed break, and Royce was not above trying an aerial move if he thought no one was watching.

  “When’s Grandma gonna get here?”

  “Soon.” She had to pitch her voice above the sound his board made on the ramp. “A couple more days probably.” Jaid moved away from the source of the noise as she brought the phone to her ear.

  “I can tell from the background noise exactly where you’re at.”

  “Adam.” There was a quick clutch of pleasure at her husband’s voice, despite the fact that they’d been married nearly a year after their relationship from a decade earlier had been rekindled. Given their history, the man knew her better than anyone else did. Perhaps too well. “You haven’t even been gone six hours. We’re really okay. I’m assuming you’ve made it to Atlanta all right.”

  “Just left the briefing.” It had taken her days to convince him to accept the job consulting on a case for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He could fly back and forth as he wished, doing much of the work from this estate. There was no reason for both of them to stay here around the clock. Regardless of the luxury of the surroundings, being holed up for weeks on end was like being trapped in a state of suspended animation. Jaid eyed her son. Which was very close to the state Royce was attempting on the ramp. “Warning one,” she called out to him. He shot her an irrepressible grin, but did a quick kick turn and began to coast.

  “It sounds like an intriguing case.” There was a black widow killer at work in Georgia, who had already left behind a trail of six dead men in her wake. From the little he’d told her about the case she’d predicted two women might be working as a team. She could admit, at least to herself, how much she missed the constant mental stimulation of working intriguing investigations, even though there was none as critical as the one that kept her glued to her son’s side.

  “You may be correct about a pair of killers. There was something in the case files I’ll have to dig deeper into. But that’s not why I called.”

  A layer of ice sheeted her stomach. “Gallagher made contact?”

  “He did, yes. Their meeting was with a female. Xie Shuang. Chinese, according to Eve, although at this point there’s no way to know whom she may be working for. I was able to run the photos two of my people took through the international databases. No matches. Prints might be a better bet, but that may come later when Eve and Declan actually begin working with the woman.”

  Jaid considered the information. Tiny steps toward the plan they’d put in place. It was likely only her imagination that progress was being made in infinitesimal increments. She throttled back her impatience. She wanted her son safe. Their lives back. Before she’d get either, they needed to catch the people who would put him at risk.

  “Well, at least things are moving forward. Thanks for the update.” Her tone was wry. “It’s a special kind of hell to have to hear about the progress from afar.”

  “There should be more to report in the next few days. With any luck they’ll try to move on the compound within a couple weeks.”

  She heard something in his hesitation then that had her all her instincts alerting. “What else?”

  “Nothing about the case. I did hear from Stephen Mulder today.”

  “The man who owns this property.” Adam had rescued Mulder’s daughter from kidnappers not once, but twice in the past several years. Little wonder that all the man’s homes had been turned into fortresses. “Don’t tell me he has a hankering for the ocean?” Mulder’s Virginia Beach property had been put at their disposal. It was located on a secluded wooded peninsula with a private beach. Its large helicopter pad allowed Adam the freedom to move between here and the agency compound. Or further, as was the case this morning.

  “I don’t want to alarm you. But he’s received some intelligence regarding a threat against his family that he’s taking quite seriously. He has no idea at this point in what manner it might present itself, but he’s upping his security on all his properties. He advised me to take precautions.”

  She gave a humorless laugh. “It would be difficult to imagine this place with more security.”

  “Even so. Your mother will be joining you there soon, and that will free up a couple more team members to join the security. It’s a distant possibility, but I’m already looking into alternate sites to evacuate to if it becomes necessary.”

  The words hit her with the force of a left jab. “It all just keeps getting more complex.” She couldn’t prevent the bleakness from sounding in her words. Her mother could be difficult under the best of circumstances, but the trials she’d been having with a hip replacement, then a subsequent fall and follow up surgery would try anyone’s patience. Patricia Marlowe’s recovery and necessary therapy had caused constant delays in reuniting the woman with the rest of the family here. And her presence on the property would also complicate a rapid response in case they were compelled to leave this compound quickly.

  “Jaid.
” His voice softened a fraction. “At this point it’s merely a safeguard.”

  “Just another few weeks,” she murmured, her gaze on her son. “Maybe three. We’re so close.”

  “Keep thinking that way. And Stephen will update me as new intelligence comes in. If we need to clear out, we have options.”

  Of course they did. They said their goodbyes, and she tucked the cell back in her pocket. But they’d spent a great deal of time discussing it and thought this property was the best option available. Royce slowed, and jumped off his skateboard. “I’m thirsty. Can I get a Gatorade?”

  Jaid forced a smile. “You may.”

  “Sweet.” He unstrapped his helmet and set it on the board. “By the time I get all this gear off, I’ll probably need two.”

  “By two I assume you mean a Gatorade and a water.” She trailed behind him as they entered the house. Surely the property could be secured for the next few weeks. Because as much as she was coming to hate the constant confinement, she was just as reluctant to change hiding places when this ordeal was so close to coming to an end.

  _______

  “There’s been an incident.”

  Xie Shuang looked up from the computer she was using to communicate with Gallagher. Like most men, he believed that his assistance was worth far more than what she was willing to pay. She pressed send to email her latest offer before focusing on Malsovic.

  “Now what?”

  “You need to come quickly.” He stepped aside as she got up and rounded the desk, checking the clock on the wall. It was past twelve. If his tone hadn’t been enough of a warning, the time would be. In her experience nothing good happened in a hotel after midnight.