Danny Mac hesitated. That alone scared him. “What about her?”
“You’re stalling.”
“She is my friend.”
“I’m asking what you feel.”
“What is this? Dear Abby. Drop it.”
“Ooh, we seemed to have touched on a tender spot.”
Danny Mac’s mouth was poised to tell Andy what he could do to himself before he stopped. The realization that he could so easily slip into the old behavior pained him deeply. Andy saw his expression.
“Hey, I’m just messing with you man. She’s a great kid.”
Danny Mac sighed. “That’s the operative word, Andy. She’s a kid.”
“She’s the same age as Judy.”
“Oh, there’s light years between those two.” Glad to change the subject, “I’m going up to take a shower. You’re on watch.”
Danny Mac came down a few minutes later towel drying his dark hair. “I’m going over to the office. You keep watch from here. If anything goes down, don’t move in.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Let him play out his hand. We need to see what kind of manpower he has. Besides, I’m wired with that minuscule transmitter you brought. Trust me.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about.”
* * *
Much to Danny Mac’s dismay, nothing happened. He called Jake that afternoon to ask if he would take Kenann to Mrs. Gage’s party and had to leave the message on his answering machine. What he didn’t know was Jake had spent the day in his car watching the church building from a discreet distance. He figured the boys wouldn’t object to a little help if and when the trouble started. They were both on high alert no matter how casual they tried to act.
Kenann went shopping after work and was late getting in. She had made a habit of running over to Danny Mac’s side of the house for a few minutes after work just to say hi. Tonight, she slipped in quietly with her packages. She was putting the last few bricks in her emotional wall and needed time for the mortar to set. She made her weekly call to Granny who immediately asked her what was wrong.
“I’m just tired, Granny.” She changed the subject to Mrs. Gage’s party. “I bought this great dress tonight. Black and slinky.”
“Good for you girl.”
“I also found these great dangly earrings and sexy high heels.”
“Wear your hair up.”
“Why?”
“Just trust your ole Granny on this.”
“Oh, alright. Hey, I see my first client Monday.”
“Are you excited?”
“Nervous. I spent the day pouring over the case file and being grilled by my clinical supervisor.”
“You’ll do fine, honey. Are you sure everything is alright?”
“I’m fine, Granny. What’s got you so edgy?” The image of the black car came to Kenann unbidden.
“I’m just uneasy. I’m probably just missing you, honey. You kick up your heels and have a great time at the party tomorrow night.”
“I plan on it. I’ll call you Sunday night and give you all the juicy details.” They hung up with words of love. They both were only too conscious how quickly one of them could be gone.
* * *
Danny Mac spent the next morning again alone in his office. He was getting edgy and he began to pray.
“Lord, I don’t see any way I can walk away from this. Father, protect the innocent. Keep me from the shedding of blood. And if there is any way to soften Angelo’s heart, I pray that You will. It is hard for me to fathom that you love him.” He sucked in a chest full of air and expelled it before he could bring himself to pray, “Help me to love this enemy too.”
Kenann took Granny’s advice and pulled her thick curls up with a decorative clip at her crown and let them flow down her neck. She allowed other errant wisps of curls to frame her face. She took extra care with her make-up and when she zipped up the side of her new black dress with its mid-calf length and its soft scoop neckline she twirled in excitement.
When she heard the knock at her door her heart lurched. She took a steadying breath and splaying her hand across her stomach to steady her nerves. She checked her emotional fortification before swinging the door open with a broad smile. She squelched the feeling of disappointment to see Jake standing there.
“You look lovely, Kenann.”
“Thank you. Are you going with Danny Mac and me?”
“He had something come up. He said he would meet us there.”
She kept her smile firmly in place and offered her arm, “Shall we go?”
“You betcha.”
“You look very handsome in that tux, Jake.” And he did. His tall, broad chested frame filled out the suit to its best advantage.
“It was delivered this afternoon. I guess Mrs. Gage didn’t want me to show up under dressed.”
“Or she wanted to show you off in grand style.”
A few minutes later they were winding up the curved drive to Mrs. Gage’s spacious home. The first to arrive, they pulled into the parking area across the drive from the front steps.
Jake said, “Sit still and let me do this right.”
He came around and opened the door extending his hand. Kenann laughed, trying to look languid and graceful as she swung her legs out and rose from the seat.
“Wow, get a load of this place!” It could only be described as Gothic. Lots of heavy gray stone. They rang the bell at the over-sized front door expecting to be greeted by a manservant. To their surprise the diminutive Mrs. Gage opened the door wide extending her arms in the same manner. She clasped both their hands and squeezed.
“I’m so glad you are here first.” She was wearing her signature flowing silk and smelled of exotic places. Jake was consumed by her presence as she was in his.
“Where is Danny Mac?”
“He’ll be along later.” Jake responded absently.
“Lovely,” her eyes rested on his.
Kenann drifted toward the sound of the band warming up leaving her hostess and escort in the foyer still holding hands. She could see through the large arched doorway into the ballroom that its ceiling reached easily to 20 feet in height. She looked up from the foyer to the second story. The grand staircase went wide and straight to join the stone balustrade walkway that framed the second level of the main hall. The light grew thinner, but she could see an identical balcony walkway on the third level as well. Were those gargoyles looking down at her through the shadows? She sensed intrigue in this massive home. She vowed yet again to learn Mrs. Gage’s story. Jake and Mrs. Gage continued their intimate conversation near the front door. Kenann wandered through the archway into the ballroom. The back wall consisted of a succession of French doors opening onto a terrace and stone balustrade. Potted plants and vines softened the Gothic ambiance. The food table was loaded with delicacies for every taste bud. Mrs. Gage obviously loved to entertain.
People of all ages, shapes and sizes began to arrive. No Danny Mac. She mingled and nibbled from her plate and was surprised to find herself being flirted with by some very attractive men. She was going to have to socialize without Judy more often. The dancing began to start in earnest, so she escaped onto the balcony. She hadn’t seen Danny Mac enter the ballroom a few seconds earlier. Andy had followed Danny Mac from a discreet distance to the entrance to Mrs. Gage’s estate. As Danny Mac walked up the main driveway Andy decided to explore the grounds.
Danny Mac caught a glimpse of Kenann leaving through the terrace doors and was stunned by her transformation. By the time he made it out to the balcony she had walked down the steps into the large garden that served as the backyard. She stopped at a small alcove to admire a statue. Danny Mac took the opportunity to admire her, without restraint, under the soft lighting. She was so sweet and yes, innocent. Despite that, he felt the knot of desire growing in his gut. That dress wasn’t helping. He permitted himself the luxury of allowing his gaze to linger along the line of her neck and shoulders when he saw the figur
e step from the shadows. Everything happened in seconds.
The man lifted Kenann and turned to run. From her vantage point over her abductor’s shoulder she saw Danny Mac leap one handed over the balustrade and land on the path at a dead run. In that instant, she filled her lungs and expelled an ear-splitting scream meant to shatter eardrums. The man faltered from the assault on his senses and Kenann’s last image before being catapulted into the bushes by the impact, was Danny Mac in mid-air, his feet connecting with the other man’s spine.
By the time Kenann gathered her wits to come to her feet, Danny Mac had the man pinned against a tree. He held the man’s arms at an unnatural angle behind his back with one hand, the other appeared to be curled around the man’s windpipe. Danny Mac spoke in a rapid tongue Kenann did not recognize. The man’s eyes flickered. Angelo had said to be careful of this man. Andy appeared from the shadows dressed in jeans and T-shirt and pressed a gun behind the man’s ear. Jake and Mrs. Gage hurried down the back steps. She never missed a beat at the scene before her.
“Would you like a private place to continue your discussion with this man?”
Danny Mac gave her a sidelong glance.
“I have seen and done many things, my dear. I am not so naive as you might think.”
“What I really need is some crowd control.”
“My best talent,” and turned to the group gathering on the balcony. With consummate skill she had everyone back inside enjoying the party again in no time. Andy had the man bound with zip ties like a rodeo calf. He was lying on his stomach as the police arrived. When Andy pulled his ID from his pants pocket, the officers came to attention and made no comment about the weapon tucked into the back of his jeans. Danny Mac took off his tuxedo jacket and put it around Kenann who stood shivering quietly on the sidelines. Her dress had been torn on one side and her hair had been shaken loose from its clip.
“Jake, can I borrow your car?”
“Of course, son. What do you need me to do?”
“Stay with Andy and help these black and whites cage this guy. I’m taking Kenann someplace safe. Jake handed Danny Mac his keys and went to stand with Andy. Mrs. Gage returned and placed her palms on either side of Kenann’s face and smiled a reassuring smile.
“You will be fine, dear. You go with Danny Mac now.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
They drove in silence for several blocks. Danny Mac continually checked his rearview mirror for a tail.
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t know. I’m thinking.”
“What in the world just happened?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Well I suggest you start telling it.” The anger in her voice surprised them both.
“I never wanted you to be a part of this.”
“A part of what?”
“Someone is after me. It looks like they planned to grab you to get to me.” He was pulling into a hotel parking lot. “I’ll get you a room here till I can figure out what to do with you.”
“What to do with me? Look Buster, take me back home. This is ridiculous!”
“I’ll grant you that, but until I know more of what is going down, I want you out of the way. Please don’t argue, okay? I think you’ll agree that guy who grabbed you wasn’t playing games.”
“I want some answers and I want them soon.”
“Agreed.”
They walked into the lobby to book a room for Kenann. As soon as the words were out of his mouth and he saw the smirk on the desk clerk’s face, he realized how it must look. His tuxedo jacket around Kenann’s evening dress - no luggage. Kenann realized it at the same instance and flushed. As soon as they had the room card and were walking down the corridor, Kenann whispered sarcastically, “Well, that was awkward.”
“Sorry for putting you in this position.”
“It’s a good thing one of your church members wasn’t working behind that desk. How would you have explained yourself?”
“I guess they would need to have some faith in me.”
Danny Mac held the door open for Kenann and locked it behind them. Kenann chided herself for suddenly feeling nervous about being alone in the hotel room with Danny Mac. She crossed the room and looked out the sliding glass door onto a small patio attached to the rear parking lot. Danny Mac was pacing and seemed to have forgotten her altogether.
Guess he’s not too concerned about being in a hotel room with me. Kenann knew she was being petulant. She had resolved herself to the possibility that Danny Mac was attracted to Judy. She knew what she saw when she walked in on them. There had been enough electricity in the air to peel the wallpaper. And she couldn’t blame Judy if she secretly desired Danny Mac. Just watching him move was exciting. He had such controlled strength. She had never given lust much thought, but she had a suspicion that the feelings churning in her at times bordered on just that. Her face flushed at the thought and she turned again to look out the glass. The only consolation is that she felt sure she had been successful in hiding these feelings and once again found great solace in retreating into that little world known only to her. She was not sure how long Danny Mac had stood transfixed in thought in the middle of the room. His mind was reviewing and analyzing all known data points. She doubted he would have heard her if she had spoken to him at that moment. She finally sat at the table by the sliding doors to wait him out.
Suddenly Danny Mac’s head shot up. He growled, “Stupid, stupid.”
“What?!” Kenann squealed as he grabbed her wrist and propelled her toward the door.
“My credit card! This room will be registered in my name. They’ll have my information tagged. Come on.” He jerked the door open and froze, pulling Kenann up tight behind him.
Standing in the doorway was a man with a Beretta aimed at Danny Mac’s chest. The man waved them into the room with the barrel of the gun and shut the door behind them. Kenann looked around Danny Mac’s shoulder. The man was as tall as Danny Mac but more heavily built. He was dark but not Middle Eastern. She guessed from her travels that he was Bulgarian or Romanian. For what seemed forever, both men simply stared at each other.
“Looking for scars?” Angelo sneered.
Danny Mac did not answer.
“Oh, believe me there were plenty. But I was pieced back together by the best money could buy. It was weeks before I was able to leave the hospital.”
“What do you want?”
“Many things, many things. All in good time. Let me see your little girlfriend.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, Angelo.” He tried to sound as convincing as possible. “She’s just some dumb kid who had the bad luck to move in next door to me. She’s nothing to me.”
Kenann’s head shot up as she searched Danny Mac’s face for confirmation.
His eyes never left Angelo’s face. Angelo noted the wounded look. Oh yes, there was something here he could use.
“Well, you won’t mind if I have a go at her then.” Instinctively Danny Mac drew Kenann closer.
“No, I think not. You like to gather the little wounded birds, eh my friend. This time she must be our, shall we say, security.”
“Who is we?”
“You will know soon enough.” Danny Mac had edged Kenann slowly to a chair as he spoke tugging her to sit down. He moved away from her listening for signs of reinforcements. Angelo seemed to be alone. Then Danny Mac began baiting Angelo to make a move on him.
“What’s the matter Angelo? You still playing second fiddle? Somebody’s flunky? Of course, you never were good enough to be top man.”
“Shut up!”
“Why don’t you try me, Angelo? Man to man once and for all. Best man wins. Or are you afraid you already know who the best man is?” The challenge was too much. Despite his strict orders not to touch Danny Mac - just bring him back - he threw his gun on the bed and lunged with a guttural roar. Danny Mac sidestepped slightly to deflect the impact of the larger man and used his forearm to deliver a forceful chop to Angelo’
s windpipe as he stumbled forward. In another swift move, Danny Mac wrenched Angelo’s arm back and up slamming him onto the floor with his knee in the middle of Angelo’s back. He used the small needle in his ring to administer the sedative. He jerked the lamp off the night stand using its electric cord to bind Angelo in the same fashion Andy used in the first attack.
Kenann had just reached the bed and retrieved the gun when two men stepped into the room through the terrace doors. Kenann gasped. Danny whirled just in time to see the gun butt that knocked him unconscious. The men did not see Kenann slip the pistol into the pocket of Danny Mac’s tuxedo jacket. She kept her eyes warily on the two men but knelt beside Danny Mac and laid his head in her lap. The men spoke in Arabic.
“Angelo was a fool to challenge this man alone. He wanted to be a hero for Katerina. Look at him. Trussed up like a pig. Take him to the van. I will sedate this lion and deal with the girl.”
Angelo was very lethargic but starting to gain consciousness. The second man released his bonds and dragged him to his feet. Angelo shook off the other man’s hand and staggered out the terrace doors. The man who had spoken pulled out a needle and reached to plunge it into Danny Mac’s neck. Kenann reacted instinctively and blocked the man’s thrust. He knocked her back and successfully injected the already unconscious Danny Mac with a sedative to ensure his complete cooperation. Kenann quickly returned to Danny Mac’s side but was hauled to her feet as the man threw Danny Mac across his shoulder. Carrying Danny Mac’s dead weight as if it were nothing, he dragged Kenann by the forearm to the terrace door. He stopped long enough to check the parking lot. Kenann could see a van was parked directly in front of them with its side door open. The man had them loaded swiftly. They pulled away slowly and quietly. No one would remember hearing anything unusual that night. She had considered screaming but realized they would only drug her or knock her unconscious. She wanted to remain alert in hopes of seeing an opportunity to escape or at least witness something that might help Danny Mac later. The man dumped Danny Mac into a long box in the back of the van. He turned to Kenann speaking in rapid Arabic and gestured for her to get in. She hesitated a moment too long and found herself hoisted by an arm and leg over the box and dropped unceremoniously on top of Danny Mac. She looked up and the man gestured not to make a sound. The quick slashing movement across his throat was a universal gesture. She nodded her acceptance. A sense of panic welled up in her throat as an insert loaded with textile goods was settled on a ledge over them. As her eyes adjusted, she saw small points of light in the box around her giving her some reassurance of air to breathe. But her panic returned when she heard the sound of the insert being locked in place. She began to breathe through pursed lips to control the rising hysteria. A few minutes later she recognized the sounds of an airport as they were unloaded and placed on a moving conveyor rising steadily into a cold cargo hold.
Once, a Long Time Ago Page 5
