Hidden Sins

by Bolton, Karice

  “Absolutely,” Mitch said, following me down the hall. “I apologize for interrupting.”

  I laughed. “You did the right thing. I’d like to think someday there won’t be these kinds of interruptions, but until then…”

  Mia was in the kitchen sipping a cup of coffee. She looked at me and smiled until she saw my expression.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Hannah got a letter delivered to your house,” I replied. “From her mother.”

  “Dear Lord.” Mia shook her head and sighed. “You think it’s legit?”

  “Hannah recognized the handwriting immediately,” I hollered over my shoulder.

  I took a seat at my desk as Mia brought in some coffee.

  “Think Hannah would like some?” she asked.

  I nodded. “I’m sure she’d love some.”

  I picked up the phone and dialed Sam’s number.

  “Sam, it’s Fletcher. Yet another piece to the puzzle.”

  Hannah

  I looked at the piece of paper with my mom, Bethany’s, handwriting sprawled on it. Of course, the NLC could’ve coerced my mom into writing it, but I still held hope for my mom. I didn’t want to believe that she’d be so willing to turn her back on her children. If the letter could be trusted, she’d left the NLC and was in California. I wanted it to be true so badly it hurt, but my mind couldn’t justify the sudden change of heart. She’d spent over three decades of her life involved with the NLC, which was also what pointed to why this was probably a trap. The only way she could’ve found me was through the NLC. That, again, would point to this being a setup. The thought that she had Mia’s address was frightening. If my mom knew where Mia lived, the NLC knew where she lived. I just wondered who she got the information from, how she got the information. The answer worried me, but not finding out worried me more

  I let out a sigh and trudged up the stairs. Gripping the letter tightly, I held it close to my heart. It was my only connection to my mom, no matter how tenuous. I walked through the family room and opened the French doors to let the sea air in. I sat on the couch and watched as the sheer curtains blew gently in the breeze.

  Luke was in the office with Mitch. He’d already placed a call to Sam, and then I heard them discussing some other cases, and I let them be. I didn’t want to be anymore of a distraction than I’d already proven to be.

  The place where my mom wanted to meet was close to where she was staying. It was in the middle of a busy open market with a café surrounding the center square. If she wanted to cause harm, wouldn’t she pick a more isolated location? Maybe she didn’t know how I’d respond. I looked at the letter carefully and tried to ignore my gut reaction, which was to burn it and pretend it never existed. I got up and walked over to my bag and fished out Sam’s card. I knew he’d tell me what needed to be done that wouldn’t jeopardize the case. I couldn’t count on Luke for that right now. He was too focused on keeping me safe to worry about how this could help or hurt in the larger picture.

  I folded the letter, slid it back into the envelope, and shoved it in a magazine. I grabbed the phone and card and walked out onto the deck, dialing Sam’s number.

  “Sam Fredricks speaking.”

  “Sam, this is Hannah.”

  “Yes, Hannah. What can I help you with?” His tone sharpened.

  “I’m calling about the letter.”

  Sam was silent so I continued. There was something about silence that always drove me to say more than I intended. I needed to work on that bad habit.

  “It states that she’s left the NLC and wants to meet me.”

  “I’m assuming Luke didn’t tell you that we wanted you to take her up on the offer,” he replied.

  “No. He didn’t mention that yet,” I sighed.

  “I see. Are you contemplating actually meeting her? You know there’s a high probability that it’s not your mom, correct?”

  “I know. But I don’t want to jeopardize anything with the case. I’m worried if I don’t show up they’ll know that I feel like I don’t need to be scared of them.”

  “And you knew Luke wouldn’t want you to meet whoever would be waiting for you, regardless.”

  Sam let out a deep breath and I was met with more silence. “We already have a team on it and in place.”

  “Is that so...” my voice trailed off.

  “Luke knew that even though he wasn’t in favor of this meeting, you would be.”

  “So you’re telling me in two hours I won’t be alone when I go to meet her?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

  The more I verbalized what had been written, the more foolish I felt. This had to be a trap. The NLC knew where Mia lived and they told my mom so why was I driven to see her?

  “Your hunch is right. This needs to be played carefully. I’ll be in touch on how to proceed.” He hung up, and I leaned against the railing watching the waves move in and out. There were several tiny dots on the beach. The longer I watched, the worse I felt. People who cared about me were in the house, and yet I was aching to cling to a family that wanted nothing to do with my sister or me. I was too impulsive, and now I was left with the mess of feelings that often settled around me. I wished I had spoken to Luke sooner.

  “Hey, baby,” Luke said, walking up behind me. His hands slid around my waist and a surge of emotion pulsed through me. “You doing okay out here?”

  I nodded as I felt his lips press against the back of my neck.

  “You smell so good,” his voice lowered, as the guilt flooded through me. “I’d like to take you out to dinner tonight. Somewhere quiet, romantic.”

  “Before my shift?” I asked, pushing away the tears.

  “Mmhm,” he murmured.

  “I’d like that.” A tear escaped as I thought about meeting my mom or meeting the trap that awaited.

  Luke gently turned my body to align with his. His fingers softly landing on my chin as he lifted my face. “You’re crying?”

  “I’m sorry. There’s just been a lot. I know the FBI’s closing in on them, but I’m just worried it won’t all fall into place. I don’t want to continue living like this.”

  Luke smiled, pulling me into his chest. “I know, sweetie. It’ll be over soon. All of it.”

  The longer he held me, the more I wanted to believe he was right. “I called Sam. I’m going to meet my mom.”

  “I know. I figured you would,” he sighed, his hands running along my hair. “I would too.”

  “So you don’t think I’m crazy or foolish?” I asked.

  “I think you’re human.” He cradled me in his arms as I let my self-doubt slip away.

  “Do you think it’s really her?”

  “I do. I think she’ll be there, but I don’t know her motives.”

  I let out a sigh. “It’s awful that a daughter can’t trust her own mother, isn’t it?”

  “It happens more than you probably realize.”

  I nodded, feeling comforted by the strength of his embrace. “What was your mom like?” I asked.

  “She was a beautiful woman. Strong, bullheaded,” he laughed, as he held me tighter. “Her spirit was kind, her soul enchanting. Mia takes after her.”

  “Was she around all the time?”

  “She travelled a lot with her job, but she was there mentally all the time. We were really close and distance never stopped her from being there. She was very direct and no nonsense, but at the same time loving and soft, at least when it came to her kids.”

  “She sounds lovely.”

  “She was.”

  “My mom was around all the time, physically, but she was never there mentally. I understand what you mean about your mom being present. I never had that with my mom. There were times where she was sitting right next to me, but halfway through a conversation, I realized she wasn’t even listening. Sometimes she’d actually get up and walk away mid-sentence. It taught me not to bother. Mentally, I also stopped calling her mom. I called her by her name, Be
thany.”

  “Well, maybe that will change,” he said.

  “Maybe.”

  “Sam’s sending a team,” Luke said, as he took a step back.

  “He said they’re already in place. Will I be able to spot them?”

  Luke shook his head. “Not if they’re doing their job.”

  “I’d like to go early.”

  “That’s not a bad idea. There’s a coffee shop on the second floor where we could sit. It would give you a good viewpoint. Hopefully, you’ll spot her beforehand.”

  I nodded. “I think that’s the way to go.”

  Luke squeezed my shoulder and glanced at his phone. “Well, we should probably get going if that’s what the plan is. I’ll call Sam and give him a heads up. I’ll have a couple guys with us. And I want to put a vest on you.”

  “A vest?”

  “Yeah. You can wear it under that sweatshirt.”

  “Hope they don’t aim for the head, right?” I sighed, pushing down the apprehension.

  Luke’s expression hardened as the words escaped my lips.

  Mia popped her head through the French doors. “Everything okay?”

  “Been better,” I laughed.

  “I hear that.” She smiled. “Is there anything I can help with?”

  Luke’s phone rang. “It’s Sam.” He clicked the phone on, greeting the man on the other end.

  “Okay.”

  A pause.

  “I don’t agree.”

  Another pause followed by a sigh from Luke.

  “I’ll speak with her about it.” Luke disconnected the call.

  “He wants you to wear a wire.”

  “A wire?”

  Luke nodded. “I don’t think it’s necessary, but it’s your choice.”

  “That’s assuming it’s even my mom showing up.”

  “True.”

  “I’ll do it. I guess. Do I need to meet with them?”

  Luke shook his head. “I’ve got some. There’s one that looks like a pendant that you can wear. I’ll grab it along with the vest.”

  “A vest?” Mia interrupted.

  I nodded and her expression fell as I followed her into the house.

  Luke

  I didn’t like this one bit, but I had very little choice in the matter. I knew Hannah would want to see her mother, if it was her mother. I also knew the NLC was well aware of that and wouldn’t hesitate to use that to their advantage. We pulled into the parking lot and I glanced at Hannah. For a woman who was about to face the unknown, you’d never guess it. She was calm without a hint of nervousness. She glanced at me and squeezed my knee.

  “I’m going to be fine.” She smiled and touched my cheek, reminding me I still hadn’t shaved.

  “I know. I’m just in awe.”

  “In awe?” Hannah asked.

  “Your composure is something that can’t be learned,” he whispered. “I recognize it.”

  “From where?”

  “My mom had it. So did my dad. They understood that worrying did nothing but dilute the ability to solve problems.”

  “I’ll let you in on a secret. I’m not calm. I’m numb.” She smiled and laughed.

  “Same difference.”

  Hannah nodded and reached for the door handle. “Let’s get going. I just want this over with.”

  We both got out of the car and closed our doors. I scanned the parking lot, not seeing any of my men or the Bureau’s, which was a good thing. Neither would be doing their job if they could be spotted from the parking lot. The building was a replica of a town square with worn timbers and ropes along the railings to give a sea-worthy appearance. We walked over to the outdoor staircase and climbed slowly. Hannah looked around every so often, but she generally kept her stare straight ahead.

  The coffee shop’s doors were wide open and, as I remembered, would give us an ideal vantage point. We took our seats along the windows, our line of sight centered on the meeting place in the square below.

  Hannah glanced at the bakery case. “I’d like a black tea and a blueberry muffin.”

  I nodded and walked over to place the order at the cashier’s, keeping an eye out in the mirror’s reflection.

  Grabbing the plate and drinks, I took a seat across from Hannah.

  “Thanks.” She took a piece of the edge of the muffin and popped it in her mouth, but her gaze didn’t leave the square below. “This thing is suffocating.”

  “We’ll get it off you as soon as we can.” Wearing the vest wasn’t a favorite of mine either.

  Hannah nodded and took another bite. I noticed her body tense and followed her gaze. We were fifteen minutes away from the meeting time, but I watched as a woman dressed in very plain clothes wandered to a concrete bench in the middle of the square. She wore a soft floppy hat that made it impossible to see her face. She had a large bag with her, which she set down next to her.

  “She’s here,” Hannah whispered. “I didn’t believe it was really her contacting me. I thought it was a trap.”

  “It still could be one,” I said, my voice low.

  “No. I know. You’re right. I just didn’t even think she’d be here.”

  I watched the woman look around the square. Her hand searched for something in the bag. Hannah was mesmerized, her gaze not leaving her mother’s location.

  “Are you going to be okay?” I asked.

  “I am.”

  Her mother had a book in her hands that she had fished out of the bag. She cracked it open and laid it on her lap, but she didn’t read it. Instead, she watched the location around her very carefully, very nervously. She looked like a woman who expected to be alone, but who was worried she wasn’t.

  Hannah took a sip of the tea and moved closer to the window as if those few inches would provide the answers she needed. I scanned the top level and saw a man in shorts, searching a magazine rack, with a rolled-up newspaper under his arms. He was with the Bureau.

  I glanced at the phone. We had seven minutes until meeting time. Taking a sip of my coffee, I kept my gaze on Hannah’s mother and then it happened.

  A crack echoed into the air followed by another and Hannah’s mother fell forward, her book falling from her fingers.

  Hannah jumped up, her mouth dropping open as she attempted to scream. I lunged for her, wrapping my one arm around her chest and the other covering her mouth as I took her down to the tile floor. Her body flailed under my weight as she attempted to get away. She wanted to run to her mother. I watched the man who’d been browsing the magazines make his way down the stairs as others descended on the scene to help. As instructed, my men stayed back. Their instructions only included keeping Hannah safe.

  “You can’t go down there, babe. You can’t go out in the open.”

  “I need to help her. She’s my mom. I need to help her,” she whimpered. “I didn’t know this would happen. I thought it would be me. Not her.”

  “Help’s on the way, baby.” I slowly moved off of her when I felt her body collapse in exhaustion, and I knew she wouldn’t run. The workers in the bakery were all huddled in the corner as they watched the scene unfold outside. Sirens could already be heard pulling into the parking lot as I helped Hannah to her feet, her hands trembling.

  She looked outside only to see a group huddled around the spot her mother had been.

  “Can we go in the backroom?” I asked the cashier who’d helped me earlier.

  She nodded as I received a call from Sam.

  “We’ve got the gunner and accomplice in custody,” he replied. “Hannah safe?”

  “Affirmative,” I replied. “I’m in the backroom of the coffee shop, floor two.”

  “Good. I’ll be there in one minute.” Sam disconnected the call as Hannah slid down to the floor, holding her head in her hands.

  “Sam’ll be here in a minute.”

  “What for?” she muttered.

  “To brief us on the situation,” I replied, kneeling next to her. All I wanted to do was hold her, take the pa
in away. But I couldn’t afford it. I needed to be on alert and having her in my arms was like kryptonite.

  I heard Sam’s voice in the front and the workers pointing him our way.

  “How’s the girl?” Sam asked, his voice gruff.

  “The girl is fine. My name is Hannah,” Hannah replied, wiping the tears from her face as she stood up. “How is my mother?”

  “My agents found a pulse. They’re transporting her to Valley Gen,” Sam replied. “We got the gunner and his buddy. They’re already talking.”

  Hannah’s gaze was icy as she looked at Sam. “You knew they weren’t after me this time. You knew my mom wanted to see me.”

  “We did.”

  “She was setup alright but not by the NLC.” Hanna’s eyes flashed with a fury I’d never seen.

  “We knew Bethany had purchased a plane ticket out here.”

  “You knew that and didn’t tell me?” Hannah’s voice trembled with fury.

  “We don’t divulge information that isn’t deemed necessary,” Sam replied. “But the NLC did set her up. We didn’t. We hoped to bring whoever we could into custody.”

  “Did you know she was a sitting duck too?” Hannah tried to keep her voice a click away from a yell.

  “No, we didn’t plan on that. We thought—”

  “Like hell you didn’t,” Hannah muttered.

  “We are very close—”

  “Close to what?” Hannah seethed.

  “From all appearances they don’t know you were here. We need you to go about your day. Go to your job. We’re close. We’re really close on this,” Sam replied.

  “Like I asked. Close to what?” Hannah asked.

  This wasn’t the moment, but seeing this side of Hannah was something to behold. The fire in her eyes and the heat of her tongue as she put a seasoned FBI agent on warning was brilliant.

  “Close to making your life a lot easier,” Sam replied.

  Hannah glanced at me, but I didn’t provide any answers. This was her decision and I knew she’d do what was in her heart regardless of my input.

  “I want to see my mother,” she whispered.

  “We can’t let that happen. Not at this moment.”