“You have insurance, don’t you?” Smoke said, trying to sound positive.
“Sure, I’ll just tell them I lost my car to an exploding bullet.”
“Well, it should qualify as a catastrophic accident.” He cleared his throat. “You can use my Camaro while I’m back in prison. No problem. But I only have liability on it, so be careful.”
She turned and gave him a deadly look. “Be careful? You turned my life upside down by being stupid. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“At least the assassins are off the street, and we unveiled another one of their secret lairs.” He pushed his hair back. “I think those ships are loaded with smuggled goods. It’s going to cause them a problem with distribution.”
“It’s under water. Don’t you think they’ll just flood it?”
Smoke shrugged. “I guess that’s what I would do.”
“Hey, I need you guys to make a phone call for me. Just one,” she said to the agents driving the van. “I’m begging you. Please.”
“You need to keep silent,” said the agent in the passenger side, a woman. She flashed a Taser that zapped with blue light. “I’m dying to use this.”
Sid’s chin dipped. She couldn’t let Megan wind up with Child Protective Services. It would take weeks, maybe months to get her back. Megan would be distraught. Hands cuffed in front of her, Sid balled up her fists and started hitting Smoke. “You idiot! You idiot! You idiot!”
“Hey, I told you to shut it!” said the female agent. She came back at Sid, Taser ready.
Smoke grabbed the Taser and zapped the woman. Smooth as a cat, he slid into the passenger seat and slugged the driver, knocking him out cold, unbuckling him, and flinging him back at Sid. He took command of the van. “Unlock yourself and let’s roll.”
Sid found the keys and uncuffed herself. She checked the agents. Both were breathing easy. “Have you gone mad?”
“You know this doesn’t feel right,” he said, looking at her in the rearview mirror. “Right?”
She couldn’t ignore the pit in her gut. Cyrus, stiff necked as he could be, wasn’t himself. “Wrong!” She jumped into the passenger seat. “Stop breaking the law!”
“Sure. Look, let’s go get Megan, all right? It will be a great field trip.”
“I’m sure the FBI will be expecting us, once these two fail to check in,” she said.
“We’ll find a way.” He ran the van up the highway entrance ramp.
Sid settled back in her seat, picking at her lip. All her plans had turned to disaster. She was a better planner than this. Who cares about the Buffalo Brothers? Who cares about any of this? “So, you know what school Megan’s in?”
“Uh, yep. Unless it’s changed recently.”
“Fine.”
Flying down the road, it took twenty agonizing minutes to make it to the school. Sid, still wet from head to toe, rushed inside. Megan was waiting in the gym. Ignoring all the strange looks, she signed Megan out, saying to the lady, “I left my umbrella at home.”
Outside in the parking lot, Smoke pulled up in the FBI van.
“Where’s the Hellcat?” Megan asked.
“Somebody killed it,” Sid said. Looking the confused little girl in the eyes, she added, “Megan, you trust me, right?”
“Of course.”
“Well, get inside and don’t ask any questions.” She opened up the passenger door and pushed Megan inside. Smoke pulled out of the parking lot and shot out onto the main road.
“Hey, Smoke!” Megan said.
“Hey, Megan.”
“So, what’s up with the van?” the girl said, looking everywhere. And then she saw the bodies in the back and screamed.
CHAPTER 25
They ditched the FBI van in a hotel parking lot and caught a ride on a city bus. Sidney had done her best to explain to Megan everything that was going on. The little girl, somewhat distraught, quietly nodded. It had taken some convincing to show her that the FBI agents in the back were alive and just knocked out.
“I’m hungry,” Megan said. She sat with her backpack clutched on her lap. Sid sat beside her, and Smoke sat across from them, staring out the windows. “Can we eat soon?”
“Sure. Just a little longer,” Sid said. I’m a horrible aunt. Horrible. She didn’t have any of her gear. No gun. No phone. No connections. Nothing. She felt powerless. Across from her, Smoke looked at ease. He caught her staring at him. “The bus was a good idea,” she said.
“Thanks. And don’t worry about money. I borrowed from those agents.” He looked at Megan. “So we’ll get you whatever you want to eat.”
Even Sid was relieved. And hungry. She put her arm over Megan’s little shoulders and kissed her head. Taking the bus was a good idea. It took them off the grid. Away from the cameras and other prying eyes. It also gave them something they needed: time. She scanned the bus again. There were only a handful of other people on it. A young woman with two toddlers and a sack full of groceries. An older black fellow who mumbled a lot. A pair of old women wearing scarves on their heads and speaking Italian.
It didn’t make for bad company. But the bus driver, a heavy fella with nervous eyes, stared back at them in his mirror from time to time. She and Smoke certainly weren’t his typical fares. Soaked, cut, bruised, and swollen, they looked far from their best. She’d be suspicious, too.
“What are you thinking, Sid?” Smoke said.
“I think I should call Ted.”
“It’s your play. If I were in your shoes, I’d do the same, but …”
His conditional word jolted her. She knew what was coming.
“… they’ll probably expect that.”
“They’re going to find us. I need some kind of dialogue with somebody, and it has to be Ted. He’s the only one I can trust. I think.”
“You can trust me,” Megan said, looking up into her eyes.
“I know I can.” She stroked the little girl’s hair. “I know I can.”
They remained on the bus until the first wave of passengers got off and another one got on. That’s when the bus driver said to them, “This isn’t a tour. Are you going somewhere or not?”
“Are we committing a crime?” Smoke said to him.
“No,” the driver answered.
“Then shut up and drive.”
The bus driver stiffened in his seat.
“Aunt Sid, I’m really hungry. Really bad.”
“Okay, Honey. Here’s fine!” she said to the bus driver.
They all exited the bus into the rain and dashed up the sidewalk and into a café. It was humid inside, and plenty of people were in there avoiding the rain. The three of them crammed into a small booth made for two people. A waitress came by and said, “I’ll be with you soon. Sorry, I’m the last one on duty.”
“So, did you borrow any change?” Sid asked Smoke.
He slid some coins over.
“Get her something to eat.” Sid got up and made her way toward the back, down the corridor to the bathrooms. A pay phone hung on the wall in between them. She dropped the coins in and dialed.
A young woman with pretty nails walked by and gave Sid an odd look.
She probably doesn’t know what this thing does.
The phone rang. “Uh, hello?” said a woman on the other end of the line.
“Sadie, it’s Sid.”
The woman’s voice was very excited. “What are you doing? I was wondering if you were ever going to call me. So, let me guess, no let me hope, you found a man and you want me to be the maid of honor in your wedding.”
“No.”
“Oh, well then I have to go.”
“Wait, Sadie, this is important.”
“It is? So you’re calling to apologize, then?”
“Apologize,” Sid said, “for what?”
“That’s what I thought. Click.”
“Did you just fake hang up on me?” Sid asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I should have called. Stopped
by. Please forgive me.”
“Hmmm, well, that’s better. So, what do you want?”
“You don’t know I’m back in the thick of this stuff?”
“What stuff?”
“My old stuff. I’m an FBI liaison now. Supposedly, but things are a bit upside down.”
“Go on.”
“Listen carefully. Being discreet, I need you to get a message to Ted. Avoid Jane, his secretary—and avoid Cyrus and Rebecca if they happen to come in.”
“Oh, that won’t be a problem,” Sadie said. “I’ll tell you what, ever since you left, that Rebecca acts like she’s running the place. She has most of these three-legged hounds wrapped around her finger.” She huffed. “They act like a bunch of horny puppy dogs.”
“Sadie!”
“It’s true. Now, I’ll get the message to Ted. What is it?”
CHAPTER 26
Two hours had passed since Sidney had gotten off the phone with Sadie. Three empty plates sat on the café table flanked by four empty milkshake glasses. Sid picked at her lip. Megan was asleep against her side.
“I don’t like this,” Smoke said. His eyes were narrow and wary. “He should have been here by now.”
“I’m sure he’s being cautious,” Sid said.
The waitress walked up to the table and refilled her coffee. “Aw, how sweet,” the woman said, glancing at Megan. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, we’re fine,” Smoke said. After the waitress left, he added, “I don’t suppose we can consider this a date.”
“After you destroyed my car? No, I don’t think so.”
“I didn’t destroy it.”
“Let’s not get into it.” She locked her eyes on his. “I need you to tell me something. The truth.”
He leaned forward. “Okay. What?”
“How did you dodge that bullet?”
“Oh.” He leaned back. “Well, that’s just really good anticipation. I have a knack for it. And it wasn’t point blank. I was fifteen yards away, at least.”
His answer didn’t satisfy her. She grabbed his forearm and squeezed. “Look, John. I don’t have a lot of faith in people. Not lately, anyways. I need you to be straight with me. Are you like them?”
“Like who?”
“You know who. People with powers. Extra senses. I’ve seen you do some things that seem superhuman.”
He made a smile. “I am pretty impressive, aren’t I?”
“I’m not toying around with you, John.”
“I’m not toying around with you, either. Sid, you can count on me. I swear I’m not one of those freaks.” He sucked some residual milkshake out of a straw. “Sure, I’m gifted. I’ve always been. And sometimes I get carried away and venture a little too close to danger, but I can handle it. At least I think I can. And I’m sorry that I put you and Megan in danger. But I’m not one of those people. Let God strike me down if I am.”
Her breathing eased. If anything, she felt a little sorry for Smoke. He was odd. Not one to fit in easily, even though he had his charms. He probably saw right through people. He probably knew exactly what they were before they even opened their mouths. Staring into his dark eyes, a thought occurred to her. I feel like he knows what I’m thinking. She let go of his arm.
He caught her hand in his. It was warm. Strong. Just what she needed. “Sid, I’ve come to a conclusion about something.”
She tried to gently pull away, but he held her fast. His handsome eyes were caught up in hers. “About what?”
“Us. The truth is, every day I think about you. And when I saw you again yesterday, I realized that I didn’t want to go another day without seeing your face.”
She swallowed before she found something to say. “Now’s not a good time for us. I mean, this. Don’t do this to me, John.” Her heart tapped like a hammer inside her chest. She wanted him, and he’d just confessed he wanted her. “We have to get out of this mess first.”
“Life will always be a mess. And without this mess, I never would have met you.”
She squeezed his hand. Her body became hot, her breath bated. “Not now. The timing’s bad. And you’ll be going back to prison. I’ll probably be going to prison. Please, Smoke, don’t make my life harder than it already is.”
“You can count on me. Let me help make it better.”
She wanted to curl up in his muscular arms and bury her face in his. Her body was a flame. It was clear now, in her heart, in her mind, that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. “I-I need time to think.”
“Go with your heart.”
“I—”
Smoke released her hand. The connection was broken. He leaned back in his seat and eyed the entrance to the café.
She turned.
Section Chief Ted Howard was coming. There were deep creases in his forehead, and he was sweating. He pulled a chair up to their table. “I don’t know what in the hell is going on. I swear it.” He touched Sid’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”
She filled Ted in on everything, from the time he’d left that satellite office up to now. Glancing at Smoke from time to time, she noticed a lonely expression on the hardened soldier’s face. He seemed lost. Almost alone.
“Sid, I’m going to make some calls and get this cleared up. In the meantime, go rest. Go home. Take care of the little one.” He eyed Smoke. “As for you, well, I don’t know. The Buffalo Brothers are in custody. I can only imagine interrogations will begin soon. At least they’re secured, but we need their target. There’s a lot of people still nervous about it. Rumor is the Buffalo Brothers might have been a decoy.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Smoke asked.
“You’ll probably be going back in the hole. Sorry for the expression.”
“My time better be shortened.”
“I’ll find out. I’ll find out.” Ted took out a handkerchief and mopped the sweat off his head. “I swear, I’m having the worst time figuring out where the orders are coming from. I’m told to do one thing and Cyrus and that little witch do another.”
“Get rid of her, Ted,” Sid insisted. “You know what effect people like that have on the team. She’s a cancer. It might be hard, but you have to get rid of her.”
“I know. I know.” He shook his head. His hands clutched in and out.
The waitress walked up and asked if he wanted something.
He said, “No thank you.” He gazed at Sid. “I don’t think there is anything I can do to her, Sid. I don’t even know how she got hired. Her personnel file’s nonexistent, but she’s on the payroll somehow.”
The little bell on the café door rang.
Smoke rose to his feet.
Sid looked around the booth.
A tall blonde woman in leather pants and a black jacket stood with her back to them. She locked the door and turned the Open sign around. Then she started closing the blinds. That’s when Sid realized they were the only ones left inside the café except for the waitress and the man behind the grill.
“Hey,” the waitress said to the woman. “What are you doing?”
The woman turned around and stuck a gun barrel in the woman’s face. “I’m here for a reunion.”
CHAPTER 27
“Deanne!” Ted said in astonishment.
Deanne Drukker. The imposing blonde was striking, her voice full of authority. “Have a seat, princess,” she said to the waitress. The woman scurried into a booth, hands up. Deanne said to the man behind the kitchen counter, “Don’t make me say it, dough boy.”
The man scurried into the booth alongside the waitress. “The money’s in the regist—”
Deanne stuck the gun barrel on his nose. “I’m not here to rob you, stupid. Didn’t you hear? It’s a reunion. And listen, boy, don’t think I haven’t killed people for being stupid.” She kept the gun on him and turned her attention to Ted and Smoke. “And the rest of you sit tight. I talk. You listen.”
“It’s good to see you, Deanne,” Ted said, gathering his composure. “W
hat’s on your mind?”
“You look older, Ted. Older and fatter. What did I tell you about all the snacks?”
“You said ‘They’ll make you old and fat.’”
“And I was right,” she said. She rapped the butt of her gun on the table. “Wasn’t I?”
“Yes! Yes!” said the waitress and grill cook, nodding their heads feverishly.
“Boy, it sure is a nasty day out there. I hate coming out on nasty days. Now I’m all wet and sticky.” She took off her jacket, revealing nothing but a tank top. She was built, with well-defined muscles. “It pisses me off. I don’t like coming out into the city. Especially to do shit like this.”
“Maybe you should have brought an umbrella,” Smoke said.
“Shut up, John. Pain in my ass number one. Well, actually, in today’s case, it’s number two.” Deanne looked at Sidney. “You know, you had a good thing going, girl, but you had to stick your big nose back in it. You even got your sister’s little girl all involved. Stupid. Plain old stupid. And I was beginning to think you were smarter than that.” She waved the gun around. “But I have to hand it to Allison. She was right. You had a way out, and you jumped right back in it.”
“So my sister’s doing well?” Sid said.
“She’s doing great.” Deanne moved through the room and lined up on a view of Megan. The little girl was fast asleep. “She’s longing for her baby, though. It’s tough.”
“You aren’t taking her, Deanne.”
“Oh, if I want to, I will, but be at ease. That’s not why I’m here.” She moved over to the counter and hopped up onto it. “You see, our boys, Warren and Oliver. Well, they won’t talk. In less than twenty-four hours, they’ll be out. And soon after that, someone is going to die. And you all need to let them do their job or else there will be more casualties. Take those two nitwits that work here.”
The waitress let out a sob.
“Oh, don’t cry. You aren’t worth the bullet,” Deanne said.
“What happened to you, Deanne?” Ted said. “You were one of us. One of the good guys. Now you’re a megalomaniac.”
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files: Special Edition Fantasy Bundle, Books 1 thru 5 (Smoke Special Edition) Page 50
