There were ways in which that could be achieved. He’d already taken some steps in that direction.
Then there was Nike Tallent and her involvement with the NIO.
Undoubtedly, that had been another part of Evan’s crisis of conscience, giving her a positive outlet for her talents and reuniting her with Ty Connor. Victor was a good enough psychologist to pick up the undercurrents there. Her voice had changed whenever Ty Connor had been mentioned. Conner’s kindness to her in Santiago’s camp had had a powerful effect on her. No surprise.
Victor’s own decision not to contact Connor had been deliberate on the off chance the man might have tried to make contact in return and thereby interrupt or even tried to end her training.
Evan had always been uncomfortable with their procedures. It had been one thing, though, for Evan to take such measures when everyone around him agreed, another when the winds had changed. He’d been a fair weather patriot, Victor thought in disgust.
To make this situation go away, unfortunately, he’d also have to make Nike Tallent go away as well. If she couldn’t be brought back into the fold, then she would have to be retired, with prejudice.
She’d been a valuable asset.
He’d thought it would be different; he hated the waste of one of his agents, although truthfully he’d trusted that Tony Ormond would have been more efficient. Perhaps it had been a mistake burying him so deeply with them. There’d been the risk of personal involvement. It might have slowed his reactions, made him hesitate just that second too long. , but it had been important and too good an opportunity not to place one of his people within the new organization, especially given its mandate. It had been a near certainty, even without Nike Tallent’s involvement, that his goals and those of the NIO would clash. Neither Nike, though, nor any of the others in the Unit knew exactly how extensive the organization was, how deep it went. In that event, Victor had wanted to have a man in place – to nip that problem in the bud before it had a chance to grow.
Once again, he was back to Nike.
He’d hoped she could be turned and Tony had been instructed to take advantage of the opportunity if it had presented itself. Which was how Evan had learned of Anita Brubaker’s interest.
The only reason Victor had allowed Evan to send the file was as a way to insert a wedge, a way to separate Nike from the people at the NIO and particularly Ty Connor. Unsettling that relationship would have left her isolated, caused her to withdraw into herself again. It had nearly worked.
What he hadn’t realized was how much information Evan had sent.
There’d never been any question as to how much information would be released. None., but instead of sending the heavily doctored file now in circulation, Evan had sent the whole thing.
Victor wasn’t certain what Evan’s goal had been. That was the only question he had.
Evan might have thought Victor had held back at Nike’s request, but Victor would never have allowed him to release so much, if only to protect himself and the Unit. Their work was too important. When the requests had come in, each one more difficult to ignore, raising questions, it had become clear. Consciously or unconsciously, Evan had been trying to bring down the Unit. That couldn’t be allowed.
Victor sighed. A waste, and the loss of one of his better people.
With so many looking for him, though, he’d have to be careful and move more indirectly. Drawing attention to himself again would only heat up a hunt that had cooled. Fortunately, there were always plenty of opportunities.
First though, he’d have to remove a few impediments. Once he’d accomplished that, given a certain period of time and with no proof of his involvement, he’d be able to return.
After he closed that door, he would return to his real mission of safeguarding the interests of the country.
Next, he needed to find out where the Hoods were, and then there was the Secretary of Homeland Security. His temper flared at the thought. Moving against him. He shook his head.
To do that, though, he needed some assistance, a specific set of skills, and those with a vested interest in helping him.
The transmissions and chatter across and between the cartels to some of their associates in South America had increased, Anita noticed, scanning the reports her boys had put together. Not surprising, considering the situation in Texas. Law enforcement was having a field day cleaning up in the wake of the operation down there.
In the last twenty-four hours, though, the transmissions had grown more frequent.
Some of those communications were coming from within the U.S.
Given the circumstances, it was enough to worry her. Enough to call Jerry over to consult with her about it. She wasn’t taking any chances any more. She knew she was walking a very thin line. One more mistake and she wouldn’t have a job, nor would she be likely to get as good a one as this anytime soon.
Jerry took one look at what she had and took a deep breath.
This time Anita had gotten it right. There was a sudden burst of activity. He didn’t know what it meant.
Ty and Niki had gone to get Buck at the hospital.
Anita should have said something sooner. It would have to wait now until Ty and the others got back.
“Tell Ty as soon as he returns,” Jerry said worriedly. “Something’s going on, but what it is I don’t know.”
Chapter Thirty Eight
Ty stood at the windows and looked out onto the beautiful sunlit day, glancing at Niki with a smile as Buck moved restlessly around the room, waiting for word about when they would release him.
The last few days everything had been quiet, but Ty didn’t trust it. There was the chance that Victor Torrance had gone to ground and was staying there. It didn’t seem likely from everything he’d read in Torrance’s file, but he could hope.
The search was ongoing, discreet inquiries being made through his and Byron’s high-level contacts, but so far there had been nothing.
He’d been forced to call in one of the D.C. teams to stand in Delta’s place.
Watching him standing there at the window, the sunlight glowing in his silvery hair, Niki’s heart gave a little flip. She loved to look at him, especially today. The pale blue polo shirt made his eyes brilliant and let enough of the muscle show to have more than her heart going pitter patter.
At his look, she smiled back, lifting an eyebrow and shaking her head in amusement as Buck paced restlessly.
“It’s almost noon. What’s taking so long?” Buck demanded. “Never mind. It’s a hospital, So what’s going on? Fill me in.”
“You need to relax, Buck,” Ty said, “or they won’t let you leave.”
Buck shot him a look of feigned horror. “They can’t do that.”
Ty chuckled, then took a breath before doing as Buck asked.
“We’re still trying to find Torrance. So far no luck. Byron and Melody Hood are still in a safe house until we’re certain Torrance is no longer trying to kill them. The CIA are searching through the records at the Agency, trying to trace his funding and the people involved in his operation, with surprisingly little success.”
Buck narrowed his eyes. “Torrance still has people in place?”
Ty said. “The files on Niki that we saw in the Secretary’s office have disappeared, so at a guess that would be a yes.”
Niki wasn’t certain how she felt about that. On the one hand, she hoped the files had been destroyed so no one would ever see them again; on the other, they had been evidence against Victor Torrance
Looking at Buck, she added, “So far, they’re not finding his records on the other members of the Unit, either, so we don’t know who’s involved and who isn’t, but it’s early days yet. They’re looking at release dates, tracking the most likely candidates.”
“Who’s they?” Buck asked.
Folding his arms, Ty said, “Right now, both the CIA and the FBI. It’s their job and what they’re good at.” His expression grim, he added, “The Agency is taking a hard
look at their recruitment, to see if they’ve been infiltrated and purge anyone questionable. As we are.”
That was the part Ty hated, looking at their own.
Niki slid a hand down his back.
Settling on the end of Buck’s bed, she picked up Buck’s chart in idle curiosity. Buck eyed her warily as she flipped through it.
Then she straightened and her eyes lit up.
Buck went stiff, cautiously, his eyes narrowing at her expression. Which was all the encouragement she needed. Ty watched the interchange with a smile.
“Is your first name really Bernard?” she asked, delighted.
Buck attempted to snatch it back, but she spun away nimbly, an exercise Ty appreciated, watching her flashing legs beneath the skirt of the sundress.
“Oh, no,” she said. “You’re not getting this back…So is it true?”
Her green eyes were alight with mischief, looking to Ty.
Buck shot him a warning look.
Ty, of course, already knew. He grinned, but shook his head. “I promised never to tell.” Knowing perfectly well that was an admission in itself.
Niki’s eyes sparkled.
With a growling sigh of resignation and a roll of his eyes, Buck said, in disgust, “Yes. Bernardo to my mother. I was named for someone in a western movie her father loved. I changed it to Buck when I was seven and beat up any kid that called me different.”
Niki choked back snickers, smothering a grin.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “And I will personally hunt you down and hurt you if anyone else finds out.”
Green eyes sparkling, Niki shook her head and crossed her fingers over her heart before holding them up in the air. “No one will find out from me, I swear. Scout’s honor.”
“Wrong fingers,” he said, scowling at her as he tried not to laugh.
Knowing that perfectly well, she just sat cross-legged on the bed, tucking her skirt between her knees and grinned.
Some things were definitely changing, Ty reflected. Like this. The more Niki relaxed around them, the more she opened up, the more he caught glimpses of what Callie would have been like. And who Niki was coming to be. He was enjoying the blossoming.
Her playfulness when they’d made love that morning had been a real pleasure, turning showering into a new experience. At the memory, his body tightened, remembering how she’d looked with her long reddish brown hair streaming with water as his hands slid over her creamy skin.
It had been a pleasure to watch her dress, to know that beneath the pale green sundress with its little white dots was a lace bra nearly the same color, and a matching pair of panties. A part of him anticipated taking them off her again that night. They’d rarely been apart since they returned, so watching her come alive again had become a daily experience.
As was making love to her.
He’d begun to think he wouldn’t ever find this kind of pleasure or passion again, or after what had happened in Qatar, that he wouldn’t be capable of it.
Niki had shown him different.
She still showed him different, as her eyes met his mischievously.
Buck looked from Niki on the bed to the considerably relaxed look on Ty’s face and made his own assessment of the situation.
“And, just so you know,” Buck said, “I’m going back to HQ from here. I can sit at a desk just as well as in my apartment and there’s food at HQ.”
If there had been any hesitation on Ty’s part it was dispelled when Niki said, giving Ty a look, “And Delia will be there to mother you, unlike at your apartment. She’ll love it.”
That was true, Ty conceded.
Buck gave her a grateful look for the support. “And I’d go nuts there. At least I can do something useful at H.Q.”
A nurse came to the door, her face a careful study, but her eyes were sparkling.
At first, Buck’s face fell at the grim expression, but then Niki began to laugh and the nurse grinned.
“You’re free, Mr. Porter,” she said, “We’re processing the paperwork. A wheelchair is on its way.”
“I’ll go get the car,” Ty said, smiling, “I’ll meet you downstairs.”
He gave Niki a quick kiss as he went out, dodging the attendant with the wheelchair.
“Come on, Bernie,” Niki teased, “here’s your ride.”
Buck growled.
Laughing at the banter, Ty headed down the stairs.
Watching him go, Niki grabbed the bag with Buck’s things in it as the nurse and attendant got Buck settled in the chair. She scooted around to the side as they took the short ride in the elevator down to the first floor.
A breeze was blowing as the doors whooshed open and they stepped out into the patient pick-up area. It was almost too bright outside, the day warm, a throw-back to high summer.
Niki stepped out into pick-up area to look for Ty, spotting the sun glimmering on his distinctive hair, sparkling white, blowing lightly in the breeze.
She saw movement, unmistakable in its intent.
The men stepped out from hiding, weapons leveled. All of them moved with military precision. Ty checked his instinctive gesture to reach for his own weapon. He was outmanned and outgunned. They’d caught him completely off guard. He hadn’t seen himself as a target, not so soon, and yet he knew he should have expected it. Victor Torrance wasn’t going to go down easily.
“Make a wrong move and you die now rather than later,” one of the men said, evenly, confirming his guess.
The Dies Irae. The DIU, Direct Intelligence Unit, or Dies Irae as Victor Torrance had called them. The Day of Wrath. The Unit. Torrance’s vision of revenge for what had been done on 9/11.
A lot of information went through his mind very quickly.
Only a limited number of people had seen Niki’s file, had seen the names in it. Those few knew what Torrance had done to her, knew what she and these men had been trained to do. He was one of them. And there was Byron. Perhaps Torrance hadn’t been able to take Byron Hood out, but there were other targets, other ways, until Torrance could get to him.
Like Ty himself. One of the few people who knew where Byron Hood and his wife were hidden. With nothing written down, no paper trail, none of the endless reams of paperwork necessary to file for concealing witnesses.
Which meant he had a pretty good guess they wouldn’t kill him…not right away…or they would already have done so. Victor wanted to know where Byron was. He also wanted Niki. This way Victor could kill two birds with one stone.
Ty would be the bait in a trap for Niki, if they didn’t kill her here. She and Buck were on their way down. For all her Parkour skills, her speed and agility, the open parking lot would be a killing field for her and any innocent bystanders when these men opened fire. She’d know that, too, but she’d still try because he knew he would if their positions were reversed. Torrance hadn’t chosen this place, this time, by accident.
If he didn’t surrender, she’d die here, and possibly Buck as well. As would he in time.
These men were well armed, and this time they’d be prepared.
Vividly, Ty remembered waking that morning curled around her.
Niki and Buck would come for him; he knew that. Niki knew Victor Torrance, she’d be prepared. She was smart. He’d have to trust that. At least this way they’d have a chance.
He knew Victor was gambling on that, seeing it as a win/win situation. A bird in the hand.
Behind him, Ty heard Niki shout his name. If he’d ever wanted to know how much she loved him, he heard it then in her voice, it was there in the fear and horror in it.
Slowly he raised his hands and locked them behind his neck.
The blow came sharp just behind his left ear. Darkness took him.
Chapter Thirty Nine
There were a few sounds that Buck never wanted to hear again in his life. One of them was Niki’s voice as she screamed Ty’s name. She was already moving, drawing her weapons. He saw the men close around Ty even as Buck cursed that he himse
lf wasn’t armed as he tried to escape the wheelchair.
Niki watched as Ty clasped his hands at his neck, knowing the multitude of considerations that must have gone through his mind, the decision he was inexorably coming to, even as she fought it herself. She couldn’t move fast enough, knew she couldn’t possibly reach him in time, but she had to try.
She saw him go down as an engine roared, knowing she was too far away to stop it. A white panel van shot out of hiding from behind a huge SUV. She knew Ty had accepted what was coming even as he fell and her heart broke as they shoved him inside.
This was Victor’s doing and she knew it. He’d planned it. They wouldn’t have moved if they hadn’t been sure they could take him. And that she couldn’t stop them.
Even so, she had to keep trying, keep fighting.
Leveling her weapon, bracing it, she aimed for the tires as the van was thrown into gear and then sped for the exit, its tires smoking.
She fired; knowing as she did that it was a long shot. As good a marksman as she was at that distance there was only a remote chance she could puncture a tire, no matter what they showed on TV. Shifting direction, she sped for her car, vaulting into the driver’s seat of her little convertible.
Firing it up, she threw it into reverse, knowing that every passing second lessened her chances of catching them, that it was a fool’s errand anyway, but as with everything else she had to try.
It was Ty.
Just the thought of losing him made her heartsick. She pushed the thought away.
She dropped the little car into gear and put it on an intercept course with the van, slowing only long enough for Buck to fall into the passenger seat.
Swiftly buckling his seatbelt, Buck braced himself, reaching for the dashboard bubble as Niki turned on her grill lights. With both flashing, she sent the little car shooting down the ramp, eyeing the on-coming traffic.
Buck pulled his cell phone out of the bag, speed-dialed for backup from the local police.
It was like watching a seated ballet. Niki manipulated the pedals with both feet, up-shifting and downshifting, changing gears, using every ounce of evasive automobile maneuvers to try to find the white van.
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