“Wow,” she exclaimed as they pulled up the long drive toward a spacious plantation-style home with ten white columns spread majestically across the front entry.
Tucked beyond a privacy shield of pine and oak, it was nothing less than breathtaking. A red barn and other outbuildings completed the idyllic setting. Closer to the house, the gravel drive gave way to massive stretches of artistically laid red brick wrapped around the north side to the rear of the home.
They climbed the three steps to the wide front porch in awe. After keying in the security code Alex had given him, Rory opened the front door. It swung into an enormous entry hung with stained-glass cathedral windows. The gold-toned glass with contrasting white doves caught in upward flight cast a gentle glow across the black marble floor. From the high peaked ceiling, an enormous crystal chandelier rained down glints of glittering sparkles. Wooden beams enhanced the arched cathedral ceiling.
“Wow,” Ember murmured at the extravagant display. A wide stairway circled the entrance leading upstairs, its polished wooden banister glowing from the chandelier dangling in the center. “This is Jed’s summer place?”
“I take it you’ve never been to his home in Georgetown?” Rory asked quietly.
“Uh, no. Have you?” She craned her neck as she turned around in a full circle in the middle of the room. A carved wooden eagle gleamed from a sturdy table set to the right of the entrance. The gold plaque beneath it was inscribed with eloquent scrolled handwriting, thanking Jed McCormack for his service to his country. The etched signature on the plaque belonged to the previous President of the United States.
She couldn’t shut her mouth in amazement. “Wow,” she said, for the third time.
“I’ve never been invited to any of Jed’s homes, but I think Alex, Murphy, and Roy have. You can put Nima down now,” Rory said with a smirk. “She’s a big girl. She can walk.”
Ember set the toddler gingerly on the polished floor. “Wow,” she repeated as she made another circle around the room. “I feel like I’m in a castle. Did you wipe your feet?”
Rory knelt to the child’s level, ignoring Ember’s barb. “Nima. Are you okay?”
He finally looked into the special little girl’s ghostly blue eyes. The person behind them seemed eons older. She reached for him. Obediently, he took her tiny fingers in his hand. It was as if she’d told him to, as if he had no choice but to accept her kind gesture. His breath hitched. The world shuddered to a startlingly abrupt halt.
He gulped. Nima was not looking at him within the boundaries of time and space that he understood. For an unsettling moment, the planet shifted in a tectonic plate kind of a shift that left him off balance and dizzy. Vulnerable. It was as if she was looking at the moments of his life at once, all of them spread like a roll of carpet unfurled through the years before and the years ahead. Somehow he sensed she could see his birth twenty-eight years ago, his childhood and school years, every football game he’d ever quarterbacked, all of his graduations, military assignments and deployments.
The oddest smile tugged at the right side of her mouth. The memories of his winnings and losses, his fears, accomplishments, and failures shimmied through his mind in the twinkling of an eye. He was nothing more than a book she had instantly read from cover to cover. The sheer magnitude of her power clamped his windpipe closed.
She whispered, her fingers tightly clutching his, “If you keep hiding, no one can find you.”
Ember’s raucous voice broke the magnetic spell. “She talks? In English?”
Rory blinked, his eyes still riveted to Nima’s. An image of Tyler’s bright, smiling face resonated in his mind. A sweet feeling of truth spoken and received burned in his heart. As if in a dream, he sensed Ember kneeling at his side—like she’d always belonged there—with him. For him.
His heart stopped beating. The oddest sensation of stepping out of his body settled upon Rory. Now was the defining moment when he could leave the mayhem of mortality behind, when he could drift away to a higher sphere. If not for Tyler....
Ember’s fingers on his arm pulled him out of the amazing child’s eyes and back to the hard marble floor. Drawing in a long gasping breath, air filled his lungs. He sat back onto his butt with a thump, not realizing he’d been holding his breath. Nima climbed onto his lap as if nothing extraordinary had just happened.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ember asked from somewhere very far away.
He couldn’t speak. Spiraling dizziness swirled up from the floor. When it seemed the mini-cyclone would lift him off the floor and fling him upward, Ember cupped his chin and made him face her. “Talk to me, Rory Dennison. You’re scaring the hell out of me.”
“Language,” he muttered weakly. “Please. Don’t swear.” Coughing and trying to understand what had just happened, he blinked into Ember’s worried gaze. She felt his forehead with the back of her fingers, like a mother checking a feverish child. He pushed her hand away. “I said I’m fine.”
The dizzy feeling left. Ember’s worried face came into clearer focus. “You looked into her eyes, didn’t you?” she asked intently, her gaze still fixed on his.
There was no word to describe what he’d experienced. Fortunately, Ember knew one. “Wow, huh?”
Nima closed her eyes and began rocking while she hummed that crazy tune Ember had taught her in the car. Once more, Rory was a covert operator, not a stark raving lunatic who’d seen a benevolent sorceress in a four-year-old’s eyes. And yet he had seen something. The world had changed. The magnificent McCormack mansion now appeared sterile, crude and coarse. Mortal. Full of decay.
“Alex is right,” he whispered in the silence of the great hall.
“Why? What did he say?”
“Sorry, I forgot to tell you what he said last night. Some Tibetans believe Nima is destined to be the next Dalai Lama.”
“I can see why.”
“Me, too,” he whispered.
Ember was back to her usual animated self. “I know what you mean, Rory. Wow, when she looked at me in the car yesterday, I had this peaceful feeling, like all of a sudden I was totally calm when we’d just left the scariest shootout I’ve ever been in. Weird, huh?”
“No. Yes. No. Umm, I don’t know,” he murmured as he got to his feet, still processing what he’d felt and seen. The words of Nima’s message had clicked deep inside of him, as if the combination lock to his failures had been breached and the doors flung open wide.
Ember stood next to him. “We can’t stay here. There’s no way the two of us can defend a place this big.”
“Umm, no. I mean, right,” he muttered, his legs feeling like jelly.
She bumped him with her hip. “Come on. I’ll take Nima. You lead the way. Find us a safe place, Boss.”
He couldn’t release Nima. Her words left a feeling of peace he didn’t want to relinquish. Not yet. He pressed her to his hip where she straddled comfortably like a baby orangutan.
“Hey, Dennison, are you with me?” Ember asked kindly. “You’re kinda spooky-looking right now.”
“I’ve, umm, got her. I’ll carry her,” he said, more to himself than to Ember. He felt spooky all right, like he had one foot in Jed’s mansion and the other in the Twilight Zone. He took a few steps down the hall next to the grand staircase, glancing behind to make sure Ember followed. By the time they entered the next room, he’d caught his equilibrium again.
This room was as huge as the last, only circular and lined with sheer gold curtains along the entire outside wall. A dining table stood solidly in the center of the room with a stone fireplace at the opposite end. Three golden candelabra divided the linen tablecloth into four equal sections. The formal place settings divided the table into another twenty seats on each side. Rose-colored silk flowers decorated the center section. Oddly, they reminded him of the rose on Ember’s bra. And of course that thought led him to think of her nipples. Again.
“I’m tempted to call Alex and tell him thanks, but no thanks,” Ember whispered in awe
.
“No kidding.”
“But wow. Wouldn’t you love to live here?” Her reverent whisper changed to gushing.
He didn’t answer. She was obviously enamored with the wealth she saw displayed on every side. He was not. He’d learned a tough lesson about wealth and all its glory a long time ago. Five years to be exact.
At last they were at the rear of the home, in an extravagant sitting room. Between the extra-long leather couches and numerous easy chairs, a crowd could comfortably sit and chat the night away. Everything in the home spoke hugely and eloquently of their wealthy host’s love of entertaining friends and family.
“Look out there.” Ember stood at the back window. Across from the elaborately bricked driveway and courtyard stood a smaller home. “That’s more our style.”
“Let’s find out.” He opened the back door and together they ventured forth.
“How does one man get this rich?” she asked, bewildered.
“You need to Google Jed McCormack sometime. The man’s a genius, no two ways about it. He’s made millions, maybe billions. He bankrolled Alex when he started his business. Did you know that?”
“Mother told me,” she answered, “but it’s different when you see it person.”
Rory handed Nima off to Ember while he keyed in the same security code and opened the door with a small flourish. “Shall we, ladies?”
The home was definitely more their style. Most likely built to accommodate guests, the front entry displayed a second story loft built toward the back of the home. Built in an A-frame style, the stairs to the loft were covered in hunter green carpet, while the entire lower level was gray stone tile. A low wall enclosed the loft.
The open floor plan included a full kitchen, separated by a butcher-block island from the rest of the room. A leather couch lined the wall opposite two easy chairs and a spacious coffee table, while the gas fireplace at the far end of the room completed the cozy ambience.
“This is better,” he said.
“I could stay here for awhile.” Ember settled Nima onto one of the easy chairs.
“I’ll move the car. Let’s fix something to eat.”
“You got it,” she replied.
He made sure the larger home was locked and secure before he took a quick tour of the grounds. The brick driveway extended around the back of the bungalow, ending in a comfortable two-car garage, which he chose not to use. The freedom to move quickly should the need arise had saved their lives before. He pulled David’s car alongside the back door of the bungalow instead—just in case.
A large barn stood behind the two homes, but no farm animals came into view. He tried the barn door latch but found it locked. Peering in the grimy windows, he saw why. Old Jed McCormack had a sizeable collection of antique farm implements and vehicles. Several old tractors occupied the center floor. Machinery Rory recognized from back home surrounded the outside walls: a horse-drawn sickle mower, a hay rake, various iron tractor wheels and plows, plus several of the old-time milking machines. A rusted harrow stood at the far end. The turn of the century threshing machine in the corner made him smile. His grandfather in Nebraska had one just like it.
He turned to the peaceful panorama of the countryside. No wonder Jed liked the country. Beyond the barn lay nothing but fields and trees. The air smelled of earth and life, a breath of Nebraska in the middle of an extremely hectic workday. Tyler would love it. But not today. Precautions had to be taken. Rory meant to strike a defensive position instead of running away like they had last night. He might not win the war, but whoever had attacked them back at the safe house would know they had a fight on their hands if they showed here. He pulled the backpack from the Taurus. It held more than food items.
He was on his way back to the bungalow when his phone rang. Alex.
“You sure Jed doesn’t mind us staying on his home?”
Alex chuckled. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I take it you’ve been here?”
“Once or twice. He’s invited me and Kelsey to spend a few weekends.”
“Man, you’d have to spend more than a few weekends. This place is huge.” Rory scrubbed a hand over his head, hating the situation. “Anyway, we’re in safe and sound.”
“Let’s hope you stay that way. Mother and David are working on the latest satellite images, but she’s having trouble with the digital feed. She’s gotten nothing but static and interference since last night.”
“You don’t think you’re being scrambled?”
“That’s exactly what I think,” Alex growled. “I’m sending Maxwell and Fred for support.”
“Thanks,” Rory replied. Two more TEAM agents on scene would be a welcome addition. “What do you want us to do? Hide out here until the coast is clear?”
“Yes. I’ll have David call you later to share what he learned at the temple last night. Settle in for the night. Jed keeps his place well stocked. Use what you need. Expect Maxwell and Fred in four hours.”
“Copy that.” Rory hung up, allowing a measure of relief. Both new to The TEAM, Maxwell and Fred came as highly qualified snipers, both Army Rangers and ready to rock and roll. He held no bias against Ember, but he and she needed help against whoever the assassins were.
She was standing at the open refrigerator when he unlocked and re-entered the front door to their new digs. Her nose twitched. “Hmm. Do I smell C-4? What have you been up to, Agent Dennison? Are you planning a surprise party for anyone in particular?”
“Only if they show up like they did last night. Hope McCormack knew what he was getting into when he said we should come here.”
“Cool, company. I’ll fix a big lunch. Do you have anything particular in mind?”
“Surprise me.” He passed through the home to double-check the rear exit and make sure it was bolted and secure. Nima still sat where Ember had set her. She watched solemnly as Rory climbed the stairs to check out the loft. He gave her a small wave from the landing overhead. She waved back.
The loft was smaller, but as nicely furnished. A queen-size bed stood off to the left, a luxurious bathroom on the right. The bathroom was as big as the bedroom area. It included an oversized sunken tub, glassed-in shower, and two elegant crystal bowl-sinks on the black granite counter. The cabinets were gloss white; the floor tiles ebony with white grout.
Plush black towels sat folded and ready at the edge of the sunken black tub. A brass ice bucket with a bottle of champagne completed the setting. The only thing missing was the ice—and a happy couple to enjoy the rendezvous. The place said ROMANCE with a very loud outside-voice. Me and Ember? Not going to happen.
He leaned over the wall of the loft to view the scene below. Ember stood busy at the kitchen sink. Something smelled good. A wok warmed on the stove. Nima still watched him. He winked at the little girl like he would with Tyler. Only Tyler couldn’t wink back yet. He’d try, but just end up squeezing both eyes shut. Rory winked again. She winked back.
“What do you want?” he asked softly from his lofty position. She patted the chair cushion next to her. He came down the stairs and scooped her up into his lap and sat with her. “You are an amazing little girl,” he whispered.
By then she’d wiggled around to face him and patted his cheek. “’Kay?” she whispered in the softest baby voice, not at all the adult voice she’d used to bestow those words of wisdom earlier. He smoothed his hand over her head and placed a kiss in her hair. The fact that she’d witnessed her father’s death pained him. She had already lost her mother to a suspicious heart attack, yet here she sat orphaned and asking if he was okay?
He peered into her pale eyes. “You do know I will keep you safe at all cost, don’t you?”
She snuggled into him then, but it seemed she snuggled because he needed it, not her. She patted his arm, soothing him while he’d thought he was soothing her.
Ember hollered from the kitchen sink. “Hey, Rory.”
“I’m right here,” he answered quietly.
Sh
e turned to him and Nima. “Oh, there you are. You guys are so quiet. I thought you were still upstairs.”
He didn’t respond. When Nima relaxed against him, that familiar fatherhood habit kicked in. He began to rock the orphaned little waif in his arms.
“I had an idea.” Ember said, running water over the colander of raw shrimp while she munched a carrot stick. “How about we eat like royalty tonight? The refrigerator is stocked with some yummy food. I thought we’d start with a Szechuan stir-fry. Would you like that?”
For a fraction of a second, the sensation where a child lived happily-ever-after with both a mother and father intruded again. He shook his head to chase it away.
“What? You don’t like Szechuan?” Ember frowned at his headshake, her eyes full of energy and sparkles and— ARGH! How could she be annoying, charming, and sexy at the same time?
“That’s not what I meant. Whatever you fix, I’ll eat.”
“Cool. Then get your butt in here and chop some cabbage for me.”
“No.”
She glanced up from her work. “But there are vegetables to chop and shrimp to clean and—”
“No, I’m rocking.”
“You’re rocking?”
“Yes. When my mom rocks Tyler to sleep, she sings him a song about how cobwebs and dust needed to take a number and wait for more important things like little boys and girls. It’s a good song.”
Ember cocked an eyebrow, a question in her puzzled greens. She had no husband, no children and no clue what was important in life. But he did. Not very long ago he’d been no smarter than she was now, but life had brought him Tyler, and now Nima. The world needed to step back and give him and Nima some quiet time.
She’d cuddled in under his chin, her little hand splayed over his heart and patting him like he needed it. He might look like a sap, but he didn’t care. If only Ember would quiet down along with the dust and cobwebs of his mother’s wise lullaby.
As if on cue, she lowered her voice. “Okay. I can fix lunch myself.” Ember looked content standing there at the sink, chopping vegetables while the wok warmed on the stove. The fleeting sensation of a happy family taunted.
Rory (In the Company of Snipers Book 6) Page 7
