The Knight Before Chaos

by Tierney James

  Now he realized even doing an innocent activity like picking up her parents at an airport could get her into trouble. The live feed she sent him was of an Irish assassin named Honey Lynch. She was not supposed to be in the country. The two women had tangled when Honey threatened her family after being put in charge of their care. Tessa never got over the horror and how the woman nearly killed them. There was a chance his junior agent might take it upon herself to hand out a little payback.

  Chase pursed his lips after dialing Enigma and left a message about the new development and the current predicament. The sound of muffled laughter alerted him to the prospect of some serious ribbing in the days to follow.

  “What are you kids looking at?” Chase asked then slipped the phone inside his vest pocket.

  They glanced over their shoulders in synchronized apathy before turning back to stare out the window. The calm and beauty of the room washed a peace over him when he came to stand behind the kids. He spotted activity across the street.

  “What is going on over there?”

  Several adults dressed in dark clothing appeared to be trying to jimmy the front door while a van waited in the driveway. Another person stood outside the driver’s side door and lit a cigarette. The sudden flash of light highlighted a white man, but not much else could be distinguished.

  “You know them?”

  Sean Patrick frowned back at him. “Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are in Houston visiting their daughter. We were supposed to keep an eye on their place. They have security—like us.”

  “How long have they been gone?” Chase bent down and followed their line of sight.

  “Brought cookies over three days ago,” Sean continued. “Said they were going to have work done on the house when they got back after the New Year. Maybe they decided to have it done while they were gone.”

  Chase chewed the inside of his lip. Why had he returned Tessa’s gun to the hiding spot? He noticed another white minivan several doors down with an exterminator logo on the side. “What about the van? Belong there?” Who killed bugs at night?

  “Nope. Their van is red. That’s my friend Jose’s house. The lights are all on timers, but Jose told me at school they were going to a Christmas movie and dinner tonight. Kind of a tradition for them.” Sean squinted and looked up and down the street.

  “We used to go with them,” Heather confessed.

  “How nice,” Chase mumbled.

  “Guess we won’t have any traditions since Daddy moved out,” Heather sighed and turned her pretty brown eyes to him with longing.

  He straightened like he’d been bee stung. “Moved out?” Did his heart skip a beat? He knew they were having trouble, and had even separated, but he’d thought he was still in the house.

  “Mom says things are fine.” Daniel reached over and hugged his little sister. “Don’t worry. He’ll be here for Christmas. You’ll see.”

  “I think I see another van, Chase. Sorry. That is the Martins. They live around the corner. They’re teachers, like Mom,” Sean Patrick announced, breaking his reverie.

  Chase could feel his brow pinch with confusion at this new information about Robert and Tessa’s marital situation. He tried to pretend it was of no importance by bending down and forcing himself to assess the ongoing puzzle outside.

  “Guess the Bennetts are getting a new TV since that guy is carrying the one to the van.” Heather’s voice held the same tone of innocence as her mother.

  “I think I’ll go see what is going on, but I’ll call 911 first.”

  “I’ll do it. Hearing a kid’s hysterical voice will put the police into motion a little faster.” Sean stepped back and grinned.

  “We’re going to have to have a conversation about your propensity for drama.”

  Heather joined her brother and nodded. “Yeah. What he said.”

  “You don’t even know what he said.” Sean Patrick tugged at one of her curls and laughed.

  “Neither do you,” she insisted.

  “Okay, kids. I’m going over there, and I want you to lock the door behind me. Understand?” All three gathered around him and nodded enthusiastically. “Call 911 and tell them what is going on. I’m going to check things out. Tell them I’ve gone there so they don’t shoot my as—”

  “Ass off?” Sean Patrick twisted his lips in a way that made him appear a lot older than ten.

  Heather gasped and covered her mouth. “I’m telling Mommy you have a potty mouth.”

  “Maybe she’ll wash your mouth out with soap,” Chase suggested with a smirk, liking the image forming in his brain.

  Daniel shoved at his glasses on his nose. “Mom is big into timeout.”

  Chase arched an eyebrow. “Well that explains a lot.” He zeroed in on the oldest. “I’m not into timeout, so next time I hear inappropriate language come out of your mouth, I’m going old school on you.” He purposely lowered his voice to emphasize each word as if it were a blow to the head. “Got it?”

  “Got it.” The boy smiled. For whatever reason, Chase wasn’t having any luck intimidating this brat, but at the same time he admired his spunk. There was some of his mother showing through him as well.

  “You’re in charge, tough guy. Lock the door. Call 911. Tell the cops not to shoot me and give them a description. I’ll probably be back before they arrive.”

  “Got it,” the children said in unison.

  Chase narrowed his eyes, slipped on a cap and coat then pointed to the fireplace. “Turn off the fireplace while I’m gone, and the tree. I don’t want any lights on where they’ll see you watching. Matter of fact, don’t watch. Go to your rooms.”

  Sean Patrick saluted with two fingers. “Yes, sir.” Chase wasn’t sure if he was showing respect or mocking him. He could feel his bottom lip jut out in irritation but saluted back nonetheless.

  The thought occurred to him as he closed the door and heard the lock snap, he should have called the police himself and let those guys make the collar. Probably the same perps who broke into this house. But that would mean he wasn’t in charge, and he didn’t know any other way to solve problems.

  The snow muffled his approach, but he managed to stay out of the bright spots given off by brilliant light displays in neighboring yards. Normally, his black coat and hat would lend itself to being invisible, but, against the snow, even his dark skin felt like a liability.

  He managed to hide behind a tree and watch the uninvited guests of the Bennetts. Strange their security alarm failed, similar to Tessa’s. The two men had finished loading the TV and spoke to the driver as he dropped his cigarette in the snow, followed by shoving his bare hands into his coat pockets. All three headed back into the house and flipped on the foyer light after going inside.

  This might be the easiest capture he’d ever made. What a bunch of stupid crooks. Even though the snow continued to pile up, Chase remained vigilant to approach with a kind of stealth silence he’d used many times in Afghanistan. You never knew where your enemy might surprise you.

  “Looking for something?” came a gravelly voice behind him.

  Chase turned nonchalantly and appraised the smoker he’d seen at the van earlier. He’d thought he followed the other two back inside the Bennett house a few minutes ago. This was someone new. Maybe from the white van at Sean’s friend’s house.

  “Yeah. The kids got a Pyrenees puppy for Christmas. Let her out a minute ago, and now I can’t find it. Resembles a baby polar bear. Have you seen it?”

  The man was shorter than Chase and looked more like the Michelin Tire Man than a threat. Chase cocked his head and smiled, all the while searching for an indication of a pistol bump in the man’s coat.

  “No. Haven’t seen it. You live around here?”

  “Hell no. I couldn’t afford to live here.” Chase smiled. “My sister asked me to babysit the kids while she went to pick our parents up at the airport. She’s stuck in Reno,” he sighed, “which means I’m stuck with the lollipop kids, if you know what I mean?”

&n
bsp; One corner of the man’s mouth turned up and nodded. “I’ll keep an eye out for the dog.”

  “Care if I look around for myself? She’s pretty shy. I’d hate for her to be out on a night like this. Wouldn’t make for a very good Christmas.”

  The man took a threatening step forward. “Yeah. I mind.”

  Chase gritted his teeth and smiled. “I thought you might say that.”

  Before the man could react, Chase grabbed his wrist and twisted so fast, he almost missed hearing the snap. As a scream lifted out of his mouth, Chase rammed him headfirst into the tree, knocking him out. He slid down the trunk face-first.

  “Well that is going to hurt in the morning,” he mumbled.

  Chapter Six

  Tessa felt torn. Wait at the gate for her parents or figure out why Honey Lynch had slipped into the country. She watched her look up at the flight boards, exchange glances with a few people around her then meander toward a coffee shop. Chances were good she wouldn’t get far. All the roads over the mountains remained closed, and driving anywhere this time of night on slippery roads didn’t sound like an option Honey would be willing to chance.

  “Excuse me.” Tessa located the information center for the airline her parents used when she didn’t see them come through the gate. The attendant didn’t have good news for her. “I’m sorry. What?”

  “Yes. Your parents were delayed in Denver a second time. It was overbooked. They’ll take the first flight out in the morning, but it goes to Sacramento.”

  A groan escaped her throat.

  That left finding out what mischief Honey Lynch might be plotting.

  Tessa stared down the concourse thronged with holiday travelers. Pushing her way toward the coffee shop, she hoped the Irish assassin was involved in a normal activity, like eating a bear claw and drinking a cup of tea. The idea faded once she stepped inside and scanned the crowd for the redhead.

  “Looking for someone?” came a male voice at her elbow.

  She glanced down at the man sitting at the table with a to-go cup and a newspaper. Tessa showed him the picture of Honey she’d snapped moments earlier. “Thought I saw my friend come in here. Dressed all in black.”

  He nodded his shaggy head then took a sip of an iced drink. “Yeah. I think she went into the ladies’ restroom,” he said, pointing with his cup to the location across from the coffee shop.

  “Thanks.” Tessa offered a smile.

  “Merry Christmas,” he countered.

  “What?” Tessa felt her eyes narrow.

  “Merry Christmas. Feliz Navidad.” His white smile almost sparkled on such a light-brown face.

  “Oh. Same to you.” Tessa moved away, but not before she noticed the white clerical collar.

  He spoke again. “Glad I could help!”

  Tessa hurried out of the coffee shop and into the restroom. Two elderly ladies hobbled out and smacked into her. With apologies exchanged, she slipped inside. A teenager and her mother argued about her choice of friends as they washed their hands then left. Tessa noticed a cleaning cart outside the restroom and went back to grab the closed sign. She placed the cart and the sign to block the entrance.

  The silence gave her pause, knowing being alone with a deadly assassin who tried to kill her once before may have required a plan. This was the exact kind of thing Chase warned her about time after time. Don’t go in blind. Have a way out. Expect the unexpected.

  Her rubber-soled boots wouldn’t give her away as she moved down the row of stalls. Out-of-order signs were taped onto a few doors while a few stood slightly ajar. The one on the end appeared closed.

  Standing there with her hands at her side, Tessa slowly reached into her purse to grab her pepper spray. Honey was a crazy, thrill-seeking maniac who got her jollies from being a hired gun for the highest bidder. The name both amused and confused her as she pulled the thumb-size cannister from the hidden pocket of her shoulder purse. Why wasn’t her name Vinegar or Sauerkraut? Did she give the name to herself?

  “Ahh. A pink pepper spray container,” Honey cooed as she rammed something hard into the middle of Tessa’s back. “What will they think of next? Such a cute little thing for a Grass Valley housewife.”

  Tessa whirled around and raised her hand, but Honey smacked it out away with a gun the size of her palm. She shifted her eyes from Honey to double-check the stall doors.

  “Oh. I switched a few of the out-of-order signs.” One eye closed and the corner of her mouth tilted up. “I saw you back there talking on the phone. Guess you took my picture and sent it to someone important.”

  “I did. Captain Hunter.”

  Her eyebrows lifted, and her lips pooched forward. “So, he’s still letting you play secret agent. He must find you amusing.” Tessa put on her blank face in hope she showed no fear. “What has our handsome captain been up to lately?”

  “Oh, you know. Same old stuff. Kill a terrorist. Save the world. He never tires of it.” Tessa dared smirk. Honey took a step closer. “I’m sure he’ll be curious as to why you’re back in the States. Aren’t you on a no-fly watch list?”

  Honey smiled big enough her cheeks puffed out. “That I am.” The Irish accent sounded thicker than Tessa remembered. “Guess my wit and charm are better than I thought.”

  For every step Honey took to invade Tessa’s space, she’d move two steps back until finally she was up against the wall. In seconds, Honey pushed against her and used her free hand to move Tessa’s wayward curl from over her eyes.

  Tessa took the opportunity to grab her hand and snap it back so the woman fell to her knees. She found the pressure point on the opposite arm and applied force, releasing the gun into Tessa’s hand. But before she could jump away, Honey rolled onto her hip and fanned out her leg to knock her sideways into one of the stalls.

  Honey jumped up and plowed toward her. Tessa grabbed the handicap bar and jumped up enough to kick her in the stomach. Unfortunately, Honey grabbed Tessa’s foot as she fell against the swinging stall door, pulling her forward in an awkward hop. Tessa realized she’d dropped the gun in the toilet, and Honey now had the pepper spray. To make things worse, the woman could easily snap her leg, leaving her at the assassin’s mercy.

  There was no love lost between them. The last time she’d seen her had been deep in the bowels of Enigma after her first mission with Captain Hunter. Honey had a professional history with her boss along with a romantic connection. Tessa had wondered about their relationship more than once over the last couple of years.

  Honey raised her chin and tightened her grip. Tessa waited for the pain that would drop her, helpless and alone.

  “I see you’ve learned a few tricks since last we met.” She shoved Tessa back and released her foot.

  Tessa’s heart pounded as she tried to catch her breath. Why wasn’t Honey in the same physical distress? Maybe because she hadn’t had three kids and baked cookies for what felt like the entire town of Grass Valley. Dear God, send an angel to protect me from this maniac, she thought.

  “How did you get the gun through security?” Tessa slipped out of the stall to stand before Honey who now reminded her of the cover of a Tomb Raider video. Her skin-tight outfit appeared sinew-strong and deadly.

  No wonder Chase Hunter hooked up with her. A fleeting thought of giving herself a gym membership for Christmas faded in and out of her thoughts same as last year at this time. Probably why Agent Samantha Cordova called her Betty Crocker.

  “A friend left it in the housekeeping cart outside the facilities. No good to me now since you dropped it in the toilet.” She stepped inside the stall and fished it out then tossed it to Tessa who fumbled it midair before managing to get a good grip. Water dripped onto Tessa’s boots while Honey moved to the sink to wash her hands.

  A hurried passenger rushed into the restroom, searching through her carry-on bag. She lifted her head long enough to see Tessa holding the gun aimed at the Irish assassin. Honey jerked her hands up in surrender and whimpered.

  “Pleas
e. Don’t shoot. I don’t have any money.”

  Tessa spotted the woman and started to explain, but she hightailed it out, nearly dropping her bag.

  Honey lowered her hands and nodded toward the door. “I’m out of here. Good luck,” she said hustling away. “Follow me, and I’ll make you look like a crazed gunman. You’ll be dead by the time I reach the front doors.” She was almost to the exit when she stopped and turned to smile wickedly. “Be sure to tell your good-looking husband I still think of him on cold nights when the moon is full.” She ended with a growl, followed by a laugh.

  The thought of Honey Lynch and her soon to be ex-husband, sparked a surge of jealousy she hadn’t thought possible. Although she and Robert were having issues, that didn’t mean she’d stopped caring for the father of her children.

  Tessa ran after her nemesis and managed to drop the gun back in the housekeeping cart. Since she wore her gloves, there wasn’t a concern about fingerprints. But as she rushed out into the concourse, she could see security headed her way, along with the terrified woman who had interrupted their confrontation moments earlier. The crowd parted as the woman pointed at the restroom, but a strong arm looped inside Tessa’s, and she jerked around to look into gold-flecked eyes.

  “Let me help you.” It was the reverend from the coffee shop who had identified Honey. “I believe some problems are brewing. Let’s stand over here out of the way.” He tugged her to stand up against the glass wall of the coffee shop. His voice remained calm and deep. Tessa immediately felt at ease and let him turn to stand in front of her.

  The woman and security stopped in front of the restroom. The crowd slowed while others got ushered back or into shops. With guns drawn, they eased into the unknown, leaving the frantic woman to enter the coffee shop and wait.

  Tessa feared she’d be recognized, but once again the reverend stepped to her side, blocking a clear view of her face. “Would you like to turn your jacket inside out? I believe it’s one of those reversible kinds that are so popular these days.”

  “What?” Tessa mumbled and glanced down at her red ski jacket. She quickly did as he suggested and slipped the jacket, white side out, into place. “Thanks. I like white better anyway.”