Night Watch--A Novel

by Iris Johansen

  A barrage of gunshots erupted from the top of the rim. Spitting sand only inches from Jaden.

  “Dammit.” He dove back behind the rocks. “Only a minor interruption. I’ll be right with you.”

  He returned the fire from the rim.

  “What are you doing?” Dyle was crawling toward him from the embankment. “I told you we have to get Waldridge out of here. Now do it. I wasn’t able to get him up that embankment.”

  “And I’ll take care of it,” Jaden said. “Don’t I always take care of everything for you?”

  “Talk’s cheap. Get us out of here.”

  “Too late,” Lynch called down from the rim. “I wanted to spend a little time with you, Dyle, but Jaden shot Kendra, and I don’t have that choice now.”

  “Kill him,” Dyle shouted at Jaden. “Now.”

  Jaden was already firing a round at the rim.

  “I’ve got cover and a clear view,” Lynch said. “I see you, Dyle. Enjoy the next minute while I line up my shot.”

  “Kill him,” Dyle screamed again. “You heard him.” He was trying to get closer to the protection of the boulder. “Take him down!”

  “Time’s up,” Lynch said softly.

  A bullet tore through the center of Dyle’s skull. His head jerked back, a thin ribbon of blood ran from his lips.

  He slumped over, dead.

  More bullets tore down from the rim, pinning Jaden behind the boulders.

  Jaden returned the fire. “Well, Kendra, it appears the situation has changed. I may have to assess the situation and change with it. Would you like to take a little ride with me?”

  “Screw you. You’re beaten, Jaden.”

  “I’m never beaten.” He crouched low, moving slowly toward the bank of rocks where Kendra lay. “Let’s go.”

  “A hostage? Seriously?”

  Jaden whirled around. Lynch was standing less than ten feet away, holding his rifle in front of him.

  “You should rethink that strategy,” Lynch said.

  “It’s worked before.” Jaden spoke in a lazy drawl that belied the intensity in his eyes and movements.

  “Not this time. Drop your gun.”

  Jaden nodded up to the ridge. “I thought you were up there.”

  “That’s what I wanted you to think.” Lynch shrugged. “I brought a friend.”

  Jaden nodded. “You’re good.” He paused. “So … how good are you?”

  “You don’t want to find out.”

  Jaden gripped his rifle. “The way I see it, I have a definite advantage. I’m wearing Kevlar. You’re not.”

  “That’s why I’d put a bullet in your head as I did Dyle. Drop your gun.”

  “Look, you just killed my employer. Somehow I don’t think I’m getting paid for this job.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  “So why don’t we call it a day? I’ll pull my men out, and we can—”

  In a blur of motion, Jaden raised his gun.

  Blam!

  The shot was Lynch’s. Jaden went down with a single bullet in his forehead.

  Lynch didn’t even look at him, he immediately whirled and strode toward Kendra.

  The next moment he was kneeling beside her, pushing the shirt off her shoulder to reveal the wound. “Why the hell did you decide to take on Jaden? I was here, dammit. All you had to do was let me—”

  “It didn’t work out that way. Waldridge might have been—”

  “I don’t want to hear about Waldridge right now. Is this the only wound?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is she going to be okay?” Jessie was running down from the ridge. “I’m pretty good a dressing wounds. Why don’t I—”

  “No.” Lynch put a hand out to stop her. “She’s not bad. I’ll take care of her.”

  “Waldridge is down the embankment,” Kendra said. “Jaden hurt him. He needs help, Jessie.”

  “Yes, by all means, go down and help Waldridge,” Lynch said roughly. “Or she’ll be going down herself.”

  “Right away.” Jessie was already running down the embankment. “I’m on it.”

  “Satisfied?” Lynch asked curtly. “Now let me get a better look at this wound.”

  Satisfied? She couldn’t sort out her emotions at this moment. Too much had happened in too short a time. And most of it had happened since Lynch had erupted on the scene. She couldn’t get her breath as she looked down at Dyle. Dead. Brutally, horribly dead. Jaden, who had tried to kill her, with the bullet hole in his forehead … So many dead …

  She looked down at the fiery wreck of the helicopter engulfed in flames on the desert floor. There were almost certainly dead down there, too.

  But not Waldridge or Lynch or Jessie. Safe. All these people she cared about were safe.

  She moistened her lips. “You really know how to make an entrance, Lynch. I’m impressed.”

  Lynch didn’t answer, his hands swiftly bandaging the wound.

  “You were…” She didn’t have a word to describe that savagely efficient carnage. “Unusual.”

  “Not really. I was angry, and I wanted it over fast, or you would have seen unusual. I wanted to cut Dyle’s heart out.” He’d finished putting the temporary bandage on the wound. “I think this is just a flesh wound. The bullet seems to have gone right through it. We’ll get you to a hospital to confirm it.”

  She looked at Waldridge, who was leaning on Jessie as they topped the embankment. “I have to go see if Charles is—”

  “No. He wasn’t the one who was shot. You worry about you. You can bond with him later.” He helped her to her feet. “Right now, we’re out of here before Griffin arrives and keeps you here answering difficult questions.”

  “I can answer questions.” She looked at the bodies. “I think.”

  He shook his head. “No.” He called, “Jessie!”

  Jessie looked across at them. “Waldridge is okay, Lynch. Cut on his head. And just a little bruised and stiff.”

  “Take care of him. Griffin will be here any minute and will be whisking him away. Go with them and make certain he goes to a hospital and gets a clean bill of health.”

  Jessie’s gaze shifted to Kendra. “You’re certain she’s all right?”

  “Fine,” Kendra said. “Dyle injected Charles with something. Make sure they didn’t do any damage.”

  “I told you they didn’t, Kendra,” Waldridge said. “Believe me, dammit.”

  She smiled. “It doesn’t hurt to check.”

  “They’ll check,” Lynch said curtly as he slid his arm around her waist and propelled her up the ridge to the helicopter. “Call me later and report, Jessie.”

  “I will. Last duty, Lynch.” She grimaced. “Actually, a freebie since I’ll be out of the desert by that time. No orders after I leave the desert, remember?”

  “I remember.” He glanced over his shoulder. “But while you’re here, you might rush Griffin along so that he won’t dwell on what happened here. I’ve been trying to convince him that I’ve mellowed since the time when I worked at the Bureau.”

  “Mellowed? I think you’ve blown that. I’ll do what I can.” She looked down at the desert floor. “I hear them coming. You’d better get out of here.” She turned to Waldridge. “Come on. I’ll give you a hand, and we’ll go meet them. It will give Lynch a little extra time.”

  A few minutes later, Lynch was lifting Kendra into the passenger seat of the helicopter, then jumping in himself.

  She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. The adrenaline of the past day was ebbing away, and she felt weak, shaky.

  “What’s wrong?” Lynch said fiercely. “Tell me. Was I wrong about that wound? You’re not going to leave me now, Kendra.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m just having a few aftereffects from one hell of a day.” She opened her eyes. “The wound isn’t anything that—” She stopped as she met his eyes. She inhaled sharply. “But I’m not the only one who’s having aftereffects, am I? God, I’m sorry, Lynch.”

 
“You should be.” His voice was uneven. “About a lot of things you’ve done recently. We’ll eventually go into all of them in detail. But right now I need a few moments to realize that you’re alive and not dead. Come here.” He took her in his arms and held her tight, his face buried in her hair. “Just be quiet, okay? Let me have this time.”

  She didn’t want to speak. She felt so close to him in this moment. She’d had no time to dwell on the thought of life or death since the moment she’d been taken. It had been all action and survival. But the people who cared about her had that time. Lynch had that time. Her arms tightened around him. She wanted to give to him, take away those bitter hours of worry. She couldn’t do it.

  All she could do was hold him through this terribly vulnerable moment for him.

  “That’s all. I’m done.” He cleared his throat and released her. “Now I’m back to normal.” He started the helicopter. “Which might or might not be good for you. We’ll have to see, won’t we?” The helicopter lifted off. “But you don’t close your eyes again until I get you to that hospital. I’m not having it.”

  CHAPTER

  19

  Sharp Memorial Hospital

  San Diego

  HER MOTHER AND OLIVIA WERE outside the ER with Lynch when Kendra was wheeled out into the hall by a nurse.

  “Stupid,” her mother said shakily as she came toward her. “Completely stupid. I don’t know how I raised such a total idiot.” She bent down and slid her arms around Kendra. She held her tightly for a moment. “Lynch tells me that you’re not being punished for that idiocy. You’re going to be okay?”

  “I’m okay now. The wound isn’t going to be a problem.” She gave her a quick hug. “They’d let me go home now, but I got a little dehydrated in the desert, and they want to pump me full of fluids. They’ll release me first thing in the morning.”

  “I would think they’d keep you longer. Running around that desert, then—” Dianne stopped and drew a deep breath. “Don’t do this kind of thing again. It’s not permitted from now on.”

  “Hush.” Olivia pushed her aside and gave Kendra a hug. “I agree completely with the spirit of her message, but not her delivery. I’ll chew you out myself, but not until you get out of the hospital, and I have you at my mercy.” She turned to Dianne. “Now let her go to her room, Dianne. And we’ll go to a bar and have a stiff drink and swear at her, then maybe give the tiniest prayer of thanksgiving. Sound good?”

  “Excellent.”

  “I thought so.” Olivia brushed a kiss on Kendra’s forehead. “I’ll see you at the condo tomorrow morning. Gird your loins, kid. You’re going to hear from me.”

  “I’m shivering in my boots. Sorry I put you through it.”

  “Me, too. But I’ll find a way to get back at you.” She turned to Dianne. “Now give her another hug and come along. That drink is calling my name.”

  “Presently.” Dianne thrust an overnight case at Lynch and stood frowning at Kendra. “I meant it, you know.” She paused. “But perhaps I’m not entirely angry that you were such an idiot. I was proud of you, too. It was good what you did for Waldridge.” She turned away. “But that’s after the fact. You should have been smart enough not to have had to risk your neck for him. Next time, keep that in mind.”

  “I will,” Kendra said gently. “I promise.”

  “See that you do.” Dianne turned to Lynch. “Okay, get her to her room and see that they give her those fluids.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lynch said. “Though I believe my job will just be to tag along with this nice nurse.” He smiled, his gaze on the nurse’s ID badge. “Marty? Sorry to keep you waiting, Marty. I know you have your job to do.”

  “No problem. Take your time.” The nurse was smiling back at him with the slightly dazzled look that Lynch usually managed to elicit, Kendra noticed wearily. Sometimes it amused her, but now she was just grateful Lynch’s charisma almost automatically guaranteed that things would go smoother.

  Lynch turned back to her mother. “Good night, Dianne. I’ll call and give you a report when I leave here.”

  “Tag along?” Dianne repeated dryly, her gaze on the nurse as she joined Olivia and started down the hall. “I doubt if you know the meaning of the phrase.”

  “Of course I do. I’m a real team player.” He waved the nurse to go down the hall. “Let’s go, Marty.” He fell into step with Kendra’s wheelchair. “Good night, ladies,” he called back to Dianne and Olivia. “I’ll keep you informed.” He looked down at Kendra, and said in an undertone, “And you do know they’ll both be on my ass if they don’t receive a call that meets with their approval? So you’d better have a good night.”

  “You won’t know if I do or not.” She looked up at him as the nurse wheeled her into a room at the end of the hall. “Go home, Lynch. They cleaned me up in that ER, but you still look like you’ve been through a war.”

  “When I see you tucked in.” He leaned against the wall and watched the nurse help her onto the bed. “I made a promise.”

  “Yes, you did.” She leaned back wearily against the pillows. She was suddenly aware of the weakness she hadn’t permitted herself to acknowledge before. “Thank you for bringing them, Lynch. I was going to call both of them, but I might not have gotten around to it right away.”

  “Imagine that.” He watched the nurse move around the room. “You only had to contend with bullets and dehydration and hired killers chasing you down. Hardly worth mentioning.” His gaze shifted back to her. “Anyway, they knew how much you cared about them. You called your mother, and she found a letter to Olivia when she went to your studio after she flew back here. So I knew that those were two people I had to make certain to bring up to date.” His lips twisted. “Of course, I might not have had the entire list. Did you send out any other touching good-bye’s to anyone else?”

  “No, thank heavens. Those were the only two. At the time, I felt as if it was something I should do, but I obviously made a complete mess of it.”

  “I wouldn’t say that, but you clearly made some mistakes.”

  “Now that’s diplomatic,” she said dryly. “I can always count on you, Lynch.”

  “Yes, you can. Not that you’ve demonstrated any degree of faith that you could lately.”

  His voice was without expression, but she could sense the edge beneath it. He was definitely not pleased with her. How could she blame him? She had known this would be his reaction when she had deliberately not told him what she was planning to do. “You would have found a way to stop me.”

  “Yes, I would.”

  “It was the only thing I could—”

  “No, it was what you chose.” He inclined his head. “And I have no intention of discussing it with you when you’re lying in that hospital bed. When I attack, I prefer an opponent to be on their feet.”

  “So you can knock them down?”

  “It has a certain appeal at the moment.” He turned to leave. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Kendra.”

  “Yes.” But she had to say one more thing. “You saved both me and Waldridge today. I haven’t said thank you.”

  “No, you haven’t. You’re welcome.” He smiled recklessly. “But I didn’t give a damn about Waldridge at the time. I still don’t. If I’d had to go in another direction, Waldridge would have just been collateral damage.”

  She felt a ripple of shock. “Charles Waldridge should never be considered collateral damage.”

  “Maybe not to you. I’m having a few problems with him. Good night, Kendra.” He went out the door.

  She lay there, only vaguely aware of the nurse dimming the lights, putting the burner phone her mother had brought on the nightstand, and leaving the room.

  Lynch’s words had been disturbing and so had been the leashed emotion she had sensed since she had left the ER. It had probably been present since he’d brought her from the desert, but she’d been too wired and profoundly relieved to notice.

  And now she wasn’t in any shape to probe the mental a
nd psychological mysteries of Adam Lynch. The pain medication they’d given her was taking effect, and she was having trouble keeping her eyes open. She’d have to deal with Lynch in the morning …

  2:35 A.M.

  Her phone was ringing, she realized drowsily. The hospital room was still dark, but she could see her phone screen flickering on the bedside table. Who the hell would be calling her at the hospital in the middle of the night?

  Something must be wrong.

  She reached for the phone. No ID. Maybe a wrong number? But she couldn’t take a chance of not answering after what she’d just gone through.

  “Kendra Michaels.”

  “You sound half-asleep,” Charles Waldridge said. “And so you should be. Yes, it really is two thirty in the morning. Just another bit of blame to heap upon my head, Kendra.”

  She was suddenly wide-awake. “Why on Earth are you calling me at this hour, Charles? Are you all right?”

  “Yes and no.” He paused. “But I had Griffin call and check on you, and he said you were doing splendidly. I asked him to get your burner number so that I could check on you later myself. How is that wound?”

  “Practically nothing. Why is it yes and no?”

  “The physical checkup I went through showed that I was in the pink of health considering what I went through for the past week. Everyone was particularly happy that my brain functions were positively normal.”

  “That’s wonderful.” She paused. “What’s the no?”

  “The fact that I’m disturbing your sleep and calling you at two thirty in the morning.” He added soberly, “Because I may not be able to talk to you again for a long time.”

  She stiffened. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I’ve spent the last six hours being debriefed on Night Watch by Griffin and his boss, John Howell, the director, plus several members of congressional committees who are very interested in the progress I’ve made. It seems I’m an asset who can increase their political clout because I can give their voters a gift they can’t get anywhere else. They’ve scheduled another round of talks with more committee heads this afternoon.”