Angel on Fire

by Jacquie Johnson

  Chase tugged her closer, seeing through the calm façade that she wore. He hoped that Zach would hear the strain in her voice and transition from angry boss to comforting godfather but something told him Zach didn’t have much experience handling women. He relaxed slightly when he heard Zach’s reply. “I’m working on it. For now, I want you to listen to Chase and stay safe. He’s one of my best men. Let him protect you, okay?”

  “He’s a good man, Uncle Zach,” Angela agreed, kissing Chase on the cheek. “He’s taking excellent care of me, I assure you.”

  Chase tensed, hoping Zach hadn’t caught the slight change in Angela’s tone. No such luck, Chase realized when Zach growled, “Let me talk to Chase again. I need to clarify some instructions.”

  Angela handed over the phone with a slight shrug. Chase turned away from her, hiding his grimace. “Sir?” Chase placed the phone against the ear farthest away from Angela. She didn’t need to hear Zach’s comments.

  “You’d better not be fucking with my goddaughter, Romeo!” Zach snarled, using Chase’s well-earned nickname. “Keep your paws off her. She’s not one of your damn women!”

  “I’m not, Sir,” Chase rushed to assure his boss even as he held Angela on his lap. “I understand how special she is. I promise I will treat her with the utmost respect.”

  Chase held his breath and waited for Zach’s response, aware that Zach would pick up on what Chase had left unsaid. “If you hurt her,” Zach vowed after a brief pause, “I’ll drop you in the middle of that Sheik’s harem in the Middle East naked and without a weapon.”

  Chase cringed at the threat. During a mission a few years ago, they had rescued a soldier who told them about the man whom the sheik had found hiding in the midst of his harem. The sheik had tortured the man for 75 days before killing him. The man had begged to die daily. Chase agreed that having little pieces of his body cut off and served up on a platter sounded like a fate worse than death.

  “Understood. I won’t hurt her,” Chase promised, silently adding the word intentionally. “We’re moving. Angela has an idea and wants to check it out.”

  “Fine,” Zach agreed. “Mac was handling security for a software engineer. Both the software and the engineer disappeared the day Mac died. See if Angela has any idea where Mac might have hid it.”

  “I’ll ask. What’s the software do?”

  Zach groaned and Chase tensed. “Remember that dip in the market we had a few months ago?”

  Chase made a sound of agreement. “The one they called a flash crash?”

  “Yes. Apparently, the guy we’re looking for wrote that program and uploaded it to the exchange. The government tracked him down and had him modify the program. Now the program allows the operator to control the market. Whoever owns the software can make the market go up or down at whim.”

  “Shit! Any idea who wants it?”

  “Who doesn’t? From the chatter I’m hearing, someone put it up for bid a few weeks ago. The highest bidder was supposed to take delivery the day Mac died. I’m thinking he found out and hid both the software and its creator. Everybody agrees Angela is the key and wants to get their hands on her.”

  Chase agreed. “Keeping Angela safe is my primary responsibility, right?”

  He heard Zach blow out a breath. “Yes, but if you can find the software or the designer too….”

  “Yeah, yeah, it’ll help keep us in business. Before you go, Mac bought Blakely’s share of the company and kept it a secret. When Angela confronted Blakely, he insisted it was a loan, instead of a sale.” The image of Derrick Blakely threatening Angela on the front porch entered Chase’s mind, and he tightened his grip on her. No one would get through him to hurt her again.

  “Speaking of Blakely, they found his car in the ocean.” Zach let Chase absorb that information for a moment. “My instincts are screaming that Blakely was involved up to his shoulders in this whole mess. It’s possible he has the software and the designer and is on the run. I feel like I’m digging around in the dark. Hopefully, I’ll find the thread that will help me unravel the whole ball of yarn.”

  “They didn’t find him though?” Chase kept the question vague and his voice bland, hoping Angela wouldn’t ask. There was no need to upset her at this time with the news. It simply wouldn’t serve any purpose. Besides, without a body, they had no proof that Blakely was actually dead.

  “No body. They’re still dredging.” Chase could practically see the wheels in Zach’s head turning as he moved the puzzle pieces around the board and planned his next move.

  “Touch base with Johnny B if you need anything. Otherwise, I’ll be in touch.” Zach disconnected and Chase sighed, feeling relieved. At least Zach hadn’t taken him off the case. Not that he would have left her without a fight.

  Chapter 21

  As Chase merged the Accord onto the interstate, he filled Angela in on his conversation with Zach. Angela stared at him when he mentioned that the software permits the user to manipulate the economy. “Okay, but even if someone gets ahold of the program, can’t we just re-create it and fix whatever the other people do to the markets?”

  Chase thought for a moment. “I suppose, but I’m guessing we can’t recreate the software.”

  “Why not?”

  “Probably because the guy who wrote it was a secretive geek and he’s the only one who knows what he did. He’s the real prize, not the software. If another organization gets its hands on him, it will force him to re-create the program. Then it will make him modify it. That way, even if we located the original copy of the software, we still wouldn’t be able to fix things.”

  “Surely there are other people with this guy’s skills who can do the same thing?”

  Chase shrugged. “Probably but it could take them years to catch up to where this guy is in terms of writing the code. By then, the whole world will be a mess. Can you imagine what the world would be like if one person or a single organization could control the entire economy? With the click of a mouse, that person could destroy an entire nation.”

  Angela frowned as she contemplated the possibility. “I’m still hoping that Cat knows something about this.” Angela wiggled in her seat. Her butt was numb from sitting in the car for so long.

  “Why don’t you tell me more about your friend Cat, and why you’re so sure no one knows you’re friends with her?”

  Angela shot him a bright smile. “Cat, well, her name’s actually Catalina. Maddie and I call her Cat.”

  “Maddie?”

  “Yep.” She smiled, thinking about how she had met her closest friends. “When I was eleven, Dad decided I needed to spend more time with other kids my age, so he sent me to summer camp in Michigan.” She wrinkled her nose as she recalled the first few days of camp. “I didn’t like it at first. I was an only child, and my life had always been quiet and orderly. I guess part of that came from living alone with my dad. Anyway, I was real quiet and shy at camp. One of the other girls was a big bully, and she dumped a tray of food on my head at lunch. I just sat there stunned. Dad had taught me how to protect myself, but he had always told me I couldn’t use what he taught me unless I had been physically threatened. I didn’t see a tray of food as a genuine threat.” She shrugged. “Anyway, as I sat there, with spaghetti on my head, another girl approached and called the first girl a bully. She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the shower.”

  Angela smiled at the recollection. The tall red headed girl had shaken her head ruefully at her appearance and shoved her into the nearest stall before ordering someone to find her some clean clothes. Twenty minutes later, she sat at the end of the dock with her newfound friends who explained that being picked on by Chris, the bully, was practically a rite of passage. Even now, in the car, she could almost smell the lake as she dipped her toes in the refreshing water, talking to the two girls who’d quickly become her best friends.

  Angela suddenly realized that she had been silent for quite some time so she offered Chase a quick “sorry, got a little lost in the
past there,” before continuing her story. “Cat was the one who rescued me, and she introduced me to Maddie. It takes a lot to rile Cat, but boy, when you do, she has quite the temper. Anyway, our lives were polar opposites, but somehow we became friends: Friends who only spent time together in the summer at camp. Well, at least until college. Then, even though we didn’t attend the same schools, we were close enough to visit once in a while. Along the way, our friendship became a secret, except from a select few like Dad.”

  “Why was it a secret?”

  Angela had asked herself that very question a few years ago. To this day, she wondered whether some sixth sense had urged all three of them to remain silent, knowing that they would need each other one day. Finally, she admitted, “It wasn’t intentional. At least, not in the beginning. But over time, we became more protective of our friendship. Maddie and Cat’s families wouldn’t have approved, and we were afraid we would never see each other again if they found out.”

  “Explain,” Chase commanded.

  “Mad is Madeleine Montgomery.” She paused, waiting for Chase’s reaction. When he didn’t respond, she sighed. “Madeleine’s Candies?”

  “The candy company heiress?” Chase asked. “What kind of camp was this?”

  “Normal camp. You know, riding horses, swimming in the lake, crafts, that kind of stuff. Anyway, Mad lived a glamorous life, but she hated it. She always said the people were pretentious and shallow. She loved the dressing up part but couldn’t stand the rules and restrictions. Cat lived at the opposite end of the spectrum. She was a scholarship kid.” Angela ran her hands anxiously through her hair, sending her curls flying. “Cat’s dad was an abusive drunk. He killed her mom and then committed suicide when Cat was seventeen.” Silence descended while Angela sat lost in the past full of regrets.

  “I’m sorry,” Chase’s soft words broke into Angela’s thoughts, and she stared out the window, unsure how to handle the sympathy she heard in his voice. When he reached for her hand, she squeezed his, letting him know without words that she appreciated his comfort.

  Nothing could ease the pain she felt as Cat’s loss reminded her of her own. Now she was just like Cat – alone. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes and she exhaled loudly, trying to regain control of her volatile emotions. “Anyway, I didn’t learn about Cat’s mom until summer when she didn’t show up at camp. When the director refused to give us any information about Cat, Maddie and I broke into the office and, umm, Dad would say ‘appropriated’ Cat’s new address and phone number.” When Angela cast him a sheepish look, Chase chuckled softly.

  “Mac taught you to pick locks?”

  “Of course. That was the first time I really used my skills outside of his presence, but I knew he would understand. Sometimes doing the morally right thing is more important than following the letter of the law.” Angela peeked at Chase out of the corner of her eye, hoping to gauge his reaction to her confession. After all, she worked for the FBI, an agency that was known for its strong adherence to the letter of the law.

  As if he sensed her concern, Chase squeezed her hand once again before allowing his thumb to caress her soft skin. “Morally right, legally gray,” he announced. “Our unit follows the same code. I don’t know if it originated with Mac and Zach but, based on some of the stories I’ve heard, it’s pretty clear that they both have a strong moral code.”

  “Did you actually know my dad?” Angela wondered. She had avoided talking about her father because it hurt too much, but the quiet intimacy of the car ride bolstered her courage. She wanted to know more about the man who loved and supported her and, since Zach wasn’t available, she thought Chase might be able to help.

  Chase shook his head. “No. I heard stories about him over the years though. He and Zach made quite the team when they were younger.”

  “What kind of stories?” Angela asked, intrigued by this side of her father she had never known.

  “Let’s see.” Chase paused, and Angela imagined him sorting through stories he had heard over the years, trying to find one he could share with her. “Now remember, I can’t verify the accuracy of any of these stories. Special ops missions are usually classified.”

  “Okay, okay, just tell me the story,” Angela encouraged, her hands making the go on motion.

  “Once upon a time,” Chase teased, and Angela giggled. “There was a fighter pilot who was shot down in territory officially not part of a conflict.”

  “Don’t you mean war?” she interrupted.

  Chase shook his head. “A fight is only a war if Congress officially declares war. The U.S. has fought in lots of places where war hasn’t been declared. Sometimes it’s referred to as peacekeeping or police action. Anyway, the U.S. forces were engaged in fighting, and the plane landed in territory where the pilot wasn’t supposed to be. The enemy knew the plane had crashed and was actively searching for it. Our military wasn’t permitted to participate in an official rescue for political reasons. Instead, four men stepped up to the plate and initiated an independent operation. Zach, Mac and two other members of their unit entered enemy territory, stole a chopper, and flew to the last known location of the plane. Three men parachuted into the area and located the hiding pilot. The use of their own chopper confused the enemy long enough for them to land and pick up the injured fighter pilot. Once the enemy realized what was happening, they started firing. Two of the team members were hit. Your dad jumped out of the chopper, grabbed one man while returning fire and got him safely into the chopper. An enemy soldier shot him just as he was loading his teammate. The pilot shouted for him to get on board, but Mac refused and ran back for the second man. He was hit a second time before he managed to get back to the chopper carrying the wounded soldier. Your dad saved three lives that day: the fighter pilot’s and two of his teammates’. Very few people have that kind of courage.”

  “Wow,” Angela breathed. She knew her father was a good man, an honorable man, but she couldn’t imagine ever being that brave.

  Chapter 22

  Angela woke slowly, her cheek resting against the cool glass. When she opened her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Chase’s reflection in the window. His expression was pensive so she remained silent wondering what was running through his mind. What was it that drew her to this man? She felt a deep connection to him even though they had only known each other for a brief time and in the worst of circumstances. Was it the danger she was in that made him so appealing? She didn’t think so.

  Chase made her feel safe and secure. He seemed to appreciate her, flaws and all. When they were together, he actually listened to her - unlike most men she had dated. He didn’t always agree with her and certainly hadn’t liked the fact that she had ditched him at the motel. But instead of yelling at her for being careless, he had taken care of her. Sometimes, it was nice to let someone else make the decisions, at least for a little while. With Chase nearby, she didn’t always have to be strong.

  The corners of her mouth tilted up in a small smile as she realized that Chase reminded her of her father. Her dad had always listened to her, encouraged her and, when she failed, given her the boost of courage she needed to try again. She always felt safe in her father’s arms. Chase’s embrace offered the same comfort along with some physical yearnings she had never anticipated.

  Angela shifted in her seat as Chase pulled off the highway. “Where are we?” She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

  “On I-80, just at the Ohio-Indiana border,” he replied. “I need a break from driving for a bit. I thought we’d look for a hotel for the rest of the night.”

  “Actually,” Angela glanced around the exit, trying to get her bearings. “I think we’re only about two hours away from Cat’s place. I could drive for a while.”

  “Maybe.” He shrugged, pulling into a service plaza and turning off the engine. “Why don’t you stretch your legs while I’m filling up the car? Just stay where I can see you.”

  Angela rolled her eyes. “That’s not possible.” When he lift
ed an eyebrow in question, she blushed. “I have to use the bathroom.”

  Chase simply shook his head. “Let me get the pump started. Then I’ll walk you inside and check the bathroom.”

  “What are you checking it for? Creepy crawlies?” Angela crinkled her nose distastefully.

  “Yes, the two-legged kind,” he replied. “A beautiful woman like you makes the perfect victim.”

  Conceding defeat, Angela leaned against the car and waited for Chase. Her eyes traced his physically powerful form, while her body hummed as she recalled being held against his strong chest, cradled in his muscular arms. Her eyes lingered on his lips, evoking memories of the delicious kisses they had shared. Feeling a sudden rush of heat, she dragged her eyes up upward, meeting Chase’s hungry gaze. Slowly, he stalked toward her, like a predator afraid to spook his prey, and pulled her into his arms, his body pressing her against the car door. She could feel every hard inch of him as his lips lingered a breath away from hers. Rising on her tiptoes, she closed the small distance between them, tracing his lips with her tongue before Chase took over the kiss, delving deep into her mouth with his tongue while fisting his hands in her curls to hold her in place. Chase pulled back once they were both breathing heavily and after dropping a final quick kiss on her wet, swollen lips, escorted her to the bathroom.