aHunter4Ever

by Cynthia Clement

  She started to dial her office number when a hand grabbed her phone away. She frowned and reached for her cell, but stopped when she saw who was standing there. It was her supervisor, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Carter.

  “Sir?” Grace raised an eyebrow. “Is there a new development?”

  “That’s why I’m here.” Carter’s eyes narrowed. “Have you listened to the news?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve been waiting for the surgeon.”

  “What’s the prognosis?”

  “He thinks the prisoner will survive. He’s in Intensive Care right now.” Grace pointed at her phone. “I was just going to let the guard detail know.”

  “I’m glad he’ll live.” Carter handed her the phone. “The guards are more important now than before.”

  Grace had been working in the FBI too long not recognize the serious tone of Carter’s voice. Something had happened while she was in the waiting room and from the look of ASAC Carter’s face, it wasn’t good. She straightened her shoulders and readied herself for bad news. She’d been in charge of the operation to recover the Walters’ child, so she’d be the one who’d take the fall for anything that had gone wrong.

  The problem was nothing had gone right since she’d been assigned the kidnapping. There was no deflecting blame in the FBI. She knew that going into this assignment. A celebrity case like this was seldom a career booster.

  “What’s happened?”

  “Sit.” Carter motioned to one of the chairs. “We have to talk.”

  Chapter 3

  “The Walters have given a press conference.”

  Grace’s stomach sank. “How bad is the damage?”

  Carter shook his head. “It doesn’t look good. According to them, you wilfully thwarted the actions of a group of men they hired to find their son. Some group called aHunter4Hire. Is this true?”

  “They’re vigilantes and I didn’t stop them from doing their own investigation.” Grace fought to keep her voice low. How dare the Walters complain after all the work her team had done to find their son? “Did they happen to mention that their nanny’s boyfriend was one of the men?”

  “They did their best to make certain we looked like the bad guys.” Carter’s voice was dry. “Now we have to prove them wrong.”

  Grace nodded. “That should be easy enough. We took a gun from the prisoner and I’m certain he used it in other shootings.”

  “I’ve got ballistics looking into it.”

  “What about the men who are alive in Caliente?” Grace stood and started to pace. “Have they said anything?”

  “They’re refusing to speak without lawyers.”

  Grace snorted. “That’s wise considering the evidence I had emailed to me from their laptops.”

  “Who sent it?”

  Grace bit her lip. “The prisoner.”

  Carter leaned back in his chair. “That might be a problem. It’ll look like he was working with us.”

  “I had no idea what they intended.” Grace hugged her arms close to her body in an attempt to maintain self-control. “I did everything in my power to stop them from interfering with the investigation.”

  “You should have arrested them.”

  “They did nothing illegal.” Grace bit back her exasperation. “Even when I told them to stay away, they would show up. If I arrested them, then I’d have to detain all the journalist who follow us because they had a lead. Partlan and his men were careful not to cross the line.”

  “Then how did they find the boys and kill people in the process?”

  “They didn’t share information with us, so I had no idea that they were looking at the Gordon brothers for the kidnapping.”

  “Why weren’t we looking at them?”

  Grace swallowed back her indignation. Her team had done everything possible to find those boys. “The Gordon’s weren’t identified as being at the park that day.”

  “Somehow this group of unknowns were able to hijack our investigation and find the kids. Explain.”

  “The nanny, Selena Duarte hired them.” A muscle in Grace’s jaw twitched. “She was familiar with these men from her days in Colombia.”

  “So they’re mercenaries?” Carter’s eyes narrowed. “What possessed you to let them have free rein?”

  “I didn’t sir.” Grace took a deep breath. Experience had taught her that getting defensive with Carter only made things worse. She needed to take control and make this situation right. “We can only assume that they hacked into our computers. They also had the nanny feeding them information.”

  Carter sat back and crossed his arms. “Was the nanny involved?”

  Grace shook her head. “No. It turns out one of the mercenaries was the father of Tarrin, the other boy kidnapped along with the Walters’ son.”

  Carter pursed his lips. “And we shot one of them.”

  “He gave us no choice.”

  “Let’s hope not.” Carter stood. “I’ve already arranged for a guard this evening. You need to get back to the office and get your report to me ASAP. I’ll give a press conference in the morning to repair the damage the Walters did.”

  Grace shifted her gun and put her phone in her jacket pocket. She pulled out her car keys and walked with Carter outside. It was going to be another night spent at the office, so she’d hit a fast food restaurant for something to eat. Not that she felt much like eating. Her stomach was still uneasy and she had to force herself to look straight ahead when she left the hospital parking lot. There was an invisible connection with Partlan. She wanted to stay there with him.

  An hour later, she was sitting at her desk munching on French fries and sipping a chocolate milkshake. She had Bakker and Smythe’s reports in front of her. There was nothing in them that was a surprise.

  “You must be really upset.” Smythe came into her office and plopped down on a chair.

  Grace raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

  Smythe pointed to the fry in her hand. “Junk food. You never touch the stuff unless your mind is in overload.”

  Grace grimaced. “We still haven’t heard from ballistics about Partlan’s gun. In my gut I know it was used before.”

  Smythe shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if he’s a mass killer. All the public is going to see is that we shot a man who found two kids that were kidnapped. He’s a hero.”

  “Don’t remind me.” Grace leaned back in her chair and took a sip of her shake. “What’s the report from Caliente? Are any of the victims talking?”

  Agent Smythe snorted. “Victims. You’ve seen the video evidence those mercenaries sent us. They make Jack the Ripper look like a saint.”

  “They turn my stomach, but we have to follow the law.”

  Agent Bakker walked in at that moment and threw some papers on her desk. “Looks like the Caliente fiasco can be called self-defence. Forensics isn’t finished, but both sides were shooting. Bullets from our prisoner’s gun match a couple of slugs that were taken out of two of the victims.”

  “That might be enough to hold him.” Grace sat forward and pulled the reports toward her. “Is there anything else?”

  “We got a lead on a couple of the kids that were being held by the Caliente group. It seems they showed up at their parent’s houses a few hours ago. Each was escorted by one of the mercenaries that Selina Duarte called in.”

  “Have we got statements from the kids?”

  Bakker pointed at the papers in her hands. “They all claim that it was men called Hunters that saved them. The other men who were holding them, forced them into a hiding hole in the floor and then started to fire. It looks like self defense.”

  “Damn.”

  Nausea rolled in her stomach. The last thing she needed was to have her team accused of shooting an innocent man, even if it looked as if he were reaching for a weapon. She’d spent too many years moving her way up the ranks of the FBI to end up at the bottom of the heap again.

  Life had taught her to expect the unexpected.

 
It had also shown her that she was the only one who could make things right.

  She went through the statements from the kids, but they all said the same thing. They were being held in an underground cellar with guns aimed at them. When the Hunter had opened the trapdoor, the Caliente men had fired first. That meant everything would be explained as self-defence. As long as everyone stuck to that story, there was no way they could hold Partlan on any deaths at the clubhouse where the children were being held. Smythe was right. The man was a hero.

  “How did they find the gang in Caliente?” That was the only piece that wasn’t clear. Grace frowned. “They emailed us about the Gordon brothers. Did they send us anything else?”

  Grace turned to her computer and booted up her email. She scrolled through the information sent to her from Caliente. There were pictures, files, and a brief note to check out the Gordon brothers, but no information about how they had found the Caliente group.

  “Who interviewed the Gordon brothers?”

  “I did.” Bakker cleared his throat. “All they did was complain about the rough treatment they’d received at the hands of the Hunters. They were especially upset with the leader.”

  “Partlan.” Grace pursed her lips. “It’s not enough to hold him. What else did the brothers tell you?”

  “They apparently sold the boys, but no names were exchanged.”

  “Something must have led Partlan to Caliente.” Grace tapped her fingers on her desk as she flipped through the papers. Somewhere in these statements were the answers she needed.

  “I found a storage unit that the brothers had and sent a team over to investigate. There was video of the brothers talking with a man. Michael’s was trying to enhance it for clues.”

  “Is he back yet?”

  Bakker shrugged. “I’ll check.”

  When Bakker left the room, Smythe shifted in his chair. “What are you thinking?”

  “The missing link must be important, or they would have taken the time to email it to us.”

  Grace continued to shift through Bakker’s paperwork until she found the interview with the Gordon brothers. They had originally kidnapped the boys and then sold them after they’d made a successful escape with the ransom money. Partlan’s mercenaries had found the brothers and retrieved the money. Bakker’s report went on to describe the numerous complaints the brothers had made against Partlan, but none of them would be enough to justify holding him, especially since the Walters’ press conference.

  She was certain he’d broken the law.

  She just needed evidence.

  Bakker rushed into her office. “Michael enhanced the license plate of the car in the video. It led to a David Hendry. You’ll never guess what he found when he went to speak to Mr. Hendry.”

  “He was handcuffed to the radiator like the Gordon brothers?” Smythe’s voice was bored.

  “Better.” Bakker grinned. “He was dead.”

  “Tell me Michael ran the ballistics.” Grace held her breath.

  Bakker nodded. “The bullet matches the gun we took from Partlan.”

  “Bingo.” Smythe snapped his fingers. “What does forensics say about the scene?”

  “They’re still processing it, but who cares. The gun matches.”

  Grace couldn’t contain her smile. “That’s good enough for now. We have grounds to arrest Partlan for suspicion of murder.”

  Chapter 4

  Partlan wrestled his way through the fog that clouded his brain. There was a loud beeping noise near his head and his mouth was dry. He needed water and to stop that incessant noise. He tried to lift his arm to shut the racket off, but it would not move. His hand was locked in place. He forced his eyes open and saw the handcuffs holding him to the bedrail.

  He sensed her near.

  He scanned the room and saw her.

  Agent Kelly. She had been his last thought before he lost consciousness. His heart beat in rhythm with the beeping near his ear, but he ignored it. All that mattered, was that she was here with him. Her golden hair was tied away from her face, not a strand out of place. She was sitting with her hands clasped in her lap and a notebook and pen ready. He wanted to shout for joy. Instead, he said the one thing most important to him at that moment.

  “Water.”

  Agent Kelly frowned. “I don’t know if you should have liquids.”

  “Water.” Partlan did not care if it was permitted. His throat was as dry as the desert winds on Beligia.

  Agent Kelly looked over her shoulder and then picked up a glass of water. It had a straw and she held it up to Partlan. He took a sip and then another until the glass was empty. He leaned back against his pillow and watched as the FBI agent refilled the glass. When she held it up to him, he shook his head.

  As much as he craved her nearness, he could not take another sip.

  “Why are you here?”

  “I still have questions for you.” Agent Kelly pulled her chair closer to the bed and sat. “What did you do to David Hendry?”

  Partlan grimaced as he fought to remember. The medicine they had given him was wreaking havoc on his thinking and movement. The last thing he recalled was being in the ambulance and looking at Agent Kelly. He knew he had been dying, so why was he still here?

  “How come I am alive?”

  “Your heart stopped in the ambulance.” There was a flicker of emotion that crossed Agent Kelly’s face. “They brought you back.”

  “That would explain it.” Partlan’s words faded out.

  “What?”

  “I did not expect to wake.” Partlan shook his hand that was cuffed to the bed. “Or to be forced to face your interrogation.”

  “I only need a few things clarified.” Her voice was defensive. “I’m sorry about the shooting. Bakker thought you were reaching for a weapon.”

  “I would never hurt a woman.” Partlan’s gaze was steady. “It is forbidden and against the code I live by.”

  “I’m your enemy.”

  Partlan shook his head. “You could never be that.”

  A wary look came into her eyes. “I don’t understand you.”

  “It is very simple. There is a connection between us.”

  She inhaled a sharp breath. “I have arrested you. That is the only connection we have.”

  He looked at her for a few seconds before answering. “It is as you wish. I will answer your questions now.”

  “David Hendry?”

  Partlan had almost forgotten Hendry. He was the man who had brokered the sale of the boys. Hendry had enjoyed hurting children and had refused to help his team find Gates and Tarrin. He had broken the Sacred Code that all Hunters lived by. The first rule stated no harm was to come to women or children. Execution was the penalty for breaking the code. Partlan felt no remorse in the man’s death.

  “He is not my concern.” Partlan had learned not to admit anything to police officers because it would be twisted by their laws. “The man had no honor. He abused and sold children. He had to die.”

  “So you killed him.”

  “He reached for my gun and when I resisted, he was shot.” Partlan’s jaw clenched. “Honor demanded that he die.”

  “Are you nuts?” Agent Kelly jumped up from her chair and started pacing. “We could have learned more about his network if he were alive. Now all of those monsters will go free.”

  “We left his computer for you.”

  “That’s encrypted.” She threw her arms up in the air. “You may have gotten the children back alive, but the real criminals will go free.”

  “That is why it is best to kill them.”

  She opened and shut her mouth before sitting down again. “You can’t be serious.”

  “A Hunter does not lie.”

  “So you’re saying that you shot Hendry in self-defence.”

  “The man was an abomination. If he had not reached for the gun, I would still have killed him.”

  “I’m only interested in what actually happened. Not what you wanted to
do.”

  “He deserved to die.” Partlan watched Agent Kelly’s eyes narrow. “You do not like my words, but you cannot deny that it is more logical than letting him live.”

  “That is for the courts to decide.”

  “What if they had let him go free?”

  “Then it is my job to uphold their decision.”

  “So you understand honor.” His voice held a note of satisfaction.

  Finally, common ground. Partlan had been fighting the need to be with this woman since they had started their investigation into the kidnapping. It was illogical and dangerous to be near her. Already he had been shot and was lying in this hospital without defenses. It made no sense, but he could not stop the joy that filled his heart when he spoke with her.

  He needed to keep her near.

  Everything else was forgotten.

  “I have always lived by honor, which is more than I could say about the men I’ve met.”

  Partlan watched the shadows cross her face.

  Pain, anger, and resentment were evident.

  “Men have hurt you.” It was a statement. Her whole demeanor told him it was true.

  Agent Kelly turned her head away. “We’re not talking about me.”

  “I am unused to conversing with women.” Partlan’s tone was apologetic. “I did not mean to offend you.”

  Agent Kelly’s eyes sparked fire. “Don’t try that one on me.”

  Partlan frowned. “Try what?”

  “There’s no way a guy who looks like you isn’t familiar with the opposite sex. All you have to do is snap your fingers and you can get any woman you want.”

  “It is forbidden for a Hunter to mate.”

  Her eyes widened. “I thought you didn’t lie.”

  “It is the truth.” Partlan sat up higher on his pillow. “I am a warrior. We do not have mates.”

  “Why, because it would interfere with your thinking?” Her voice was sarcastic.

  “Hunters mate only once. Our bond with our mates is strong enough that we will do anything to protect them, even disobey our orders.”