Tough As Nails

by Jackie Manning

  Well, Gibraltar was crumbling and all common sense flittered away with one of Mike’s crooked grins that turned her heart to mush. Her emotions were riding Coney Island’s tallest roller coaster and she didn’t know what to do about it.

  Dear God, she’d felt like a woman scorned when Lorna had flirted with Mike. Brianna had wanted to throw that iced pitcher of martinis over Lorna’s head, and she might have if she’d stayed a minute longer.

  Yet, whenever she was with Mike, she’d always been emotional. Passionate, he’d once called her. For the first time, she really understood. Because when she was with Mike, she could be herself. She could let down her guard and be however she felt, because she knew he’d understand.

  When she was with Mike, the world seemed so much more. Rain was wetter, sunshine was brighter, laughter was sweeter…

  Her eyes smarted with the threat of tears. Hell, she had only thought she’d gotten over him.

  She blinked them back and stared out the side window at the slower lanes of traffic. She would get over him, dammit!

  His warm hand pressed upon her knee, and she forced herself not to flinch. No need to alert him to how much his touch really affected her.

  “I’m trying very hard not to let any loopholes get past us, Bria.” His deep voice was a husky whisper. “If you were just another client…” He let the words drift in the silence between them.

  She blinked back another threat of tears. If I were just another client, what, Mike? She dare not speak, the question lay buried inside her tightened throat.

  “Bria? Look at me.”

  She swallowed, her head turned away from him. “Keep your eyes on the road.”

  She heard his soft huff of laughter; the sound made her want to throttle him.

  “There’s a seafood restaurant at the next exit.” When she didn’t answer, he continued, “On the drive down here this afternoon, I noticed their sign. I thought we might be hungry on the way home and you’d like to stop.”

  She took a deep breath. Maybe she needed food. Maybe she was having a low blood sugar reaction from not eating. The idea gave her hope. Maybe there was a practical reason for her foolishness instead of the impossible idea that she was still in love with him.

  Maybe she didn’t love him. Lust was what she felt. She sagged with relief. Yes, that was it. She was feeling lust, nothing more serious than intense physical attraction.

  No, a tiny voice said in her mind. Practical women don’t lie to themselves.

  Blurred halos ringed the headlights outside the window, and she realized her eyes welled with tears.

  She took a long deep breath. Regardless of what she felt for Mike, she was a practical woman. She would act like one. “Seafood would be great,” she managed to say, relieved that her voice sounded almost normal. With her head turned away from him, she closed her eyes and forced her mind to be still.

  Chapter Ten

  “Nothing typical about this baby,” Liam said to Brianna and Mike the next morning. Liam pulled out a square device no wider than a CD case from his jacket pocket and placed it carefully in the middle of the polished mahogany table of the conference room. “I’ve already checked it for prints,” Liam added. “It’s clean.”

  They were at the TALON-6 Building in midtown Manhattan, where earlier Mike and Brianna had met Liam in the coffee shop downstairs. Mike had insisted that Liam show them the latest information he’d put together so far on the case.

  “It looks like a worthless piece of metal.” Brianna stared at the tiny gadget that Liam had found behind her car bumper. Although Mike had told her about the device, she had wanted to see it. She needed to see it to believe something so small could be so sinister.

  Mike picked up the object. “With this tracker in the vehicle, when you’re in the car, you appear as an electronic blip on the stalker’s video screen.”

  She let out a whoosh of noise.

  Mike studied the device. “This baby was put in by no rank amateur,” Mike said, turning it over in his fingers. “This is the same toy the CIA boys use.”

  She covered her face with her hands. “Dear God, what have I gotten myself into?”

  Mike took her hand. “It’s all over, Brianna. We’ve put an end to his games. You’re safe here. Liam did a full sweep of your car, your apartment and your office. Everything is cleared of any surveillance bugs.”

  She pushed the hair from her face. “I can return to my office today?”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  “Well, that’s a relief.” She smiled at Liam. “I’m sorry for being so edgy. I’m very grateful. Thank you. Mike said you had left your sister’s wedding party earlier than planned. I’m sorry that you were inconvenienced on my part.”

  Liam chuckled. “You’re most welcome. I’m blessed with six sisters and the last of them has finally tied the knot. But whenever we get together, they gang up and try to marry me off to their friends. I was rather glad to escape, if you know what I mean.” His deep laughter was contagious.

  “Well, I’ll be in my office,” Liam said. “Before you leave, Mike, I’d like to go over the rest of my reports. Shouldn’t take long.” He started to rise, then glanced at Mike, “Or do you want me to stay while you ask her?”

  “Ask me what?” Brianna turned to Mike.

  Mike gave an uneasy glance to Liam, then turned to Brianna. “Before you say no, I want you to think over what I’m about to suggest.”

  She tried not to smile. “I might surprise you. What do you want me to do?”

  Mike’s expression was somber. “What do you think about talking to our profiler about your clients. She’s a crack agent for the FBI and we’ve used her on past cases with great success.”

  Instead of the immediate refusal he’d expected, Brianna looked thoughtful. “Okay, Mike.”

  He tried to hide his surprise. “You’re agreeable?”

  She nodded. “I trust you. Besides, we have to get this guy. He’s overheard private conversations, not only from my clients, but my secretary, my partner, even Aunt Nora. Everyone who has been in my office and home.” She shook her head. “He’s tracked my whereabouts, even when I’ve visited clients at the hospital and shelters. I’ll do anything to catch him.” She turned to Mike. “We must catch this guy.”

  A FEW MINUTES LATER, Brianna put down her athletic bag, shook out her umbrella and hung it on the coatrack inside the TALON-6 suite hallway. When she opened the doors of the chrome and glass reception area, the delicious aroma of Colombian dark-roast coffee greeted her.

  The young receptionist looked up from her computer screen and smiled. “’Morning, Brianna.” Bailey looked around expectantly. “Isn’t Mike with you?”

  “Hi,” Brianna said. “We met Liam downstairs in the coffee shop as we came in. Mike wanted to introduce me.” She picked up her bag and crossed in front of Bailey’s desk. “We had no sooner said hello when Mike asked Liam to bring us up to date on his latest reports.” She glanced at her watch. “That was over an hour ago.” She smiled. “When I left them down the hall a few minutes ago, they were on their way to Mike’s office, their heads together, going over more strategies.”

  “Sounds like business as usual.” Bailey got up from her desk and stepped around the counter. “The fax from Erickson, from hospital security, was waiting when I came in. Still haven’t found Leonard Braewood, I’m afraid.”

  Brianna bit her lip. “I was hoping…”

  A look of sympathy crossed Bailey’s freckled face. “How about some coffee?”

  “Sounds great. Thanks.”

  Bailey disappeared into an alcove where a coffeemaker sat on a counter. When she came back into the room, she held a steaming porcelain mug in each hand. “Finding Braewood may take a while, Brianna, but Mike will get him. Don’t worry.” Her face shone with a confidence that heralded her unshakable belief.

  Brianna felt a surge of respect for Mike and the team who garnered such trust. “I hope so, Bailey.” She sipped the aromatic brew. “Mmm
, wonderful. Just what I needed.” She watched Bailey take her seat in front of the monitor. “Say, what time did you get here this morning?”

  Bailey took a gulp from her mug. “During the week, I stay in the TALON-6 apartment one flight down. On weekends, I usually drive to Vermont and stay with my mom. But this weekend I’m up to my ears with finals.”

  “You go to college here in the city?”

  “Yeah. Columbia.” Bailey brushed an auburn tendril away from her cheek and rolled her eyes. “Two more weeks and I’ll have my degree.”

  “Congratulations.” Brianna was impressed. “Working here and going to school. That’s quite a load.”

  Bailey pursed her lips, her blue eyes narrowing. “I owe a lot to Mike and the guys. Working here is small payment for what they’ve done for Mom and me.”

  Although she was curious, Brianna didn’t want to appear nosy. “Mike mentioned there was an exercise room on this floor.” She pointed toward the corridor. “Is it down the hall?”

  Bailey put down her mug. “Here, let me show you.”

  “The gym has a handball court and swimming pool, too,” Bailey said a few minutes later when they came to a set of bronze doors. She pressed a numeric pad that was clipped to the waistband of her jeans. The doors slid open; indirect lighting, hidden along the ceiling, flicked on.

  Brianna stepped into the room and gasped in surprise. The room was cavernous; she was sure her voice would echo to the rafters. “Why all this?” she asked. “Why don’t the guys go to one of the gyms?”

  “Security, for one thing,” Bailey explained. “Often we have clients, such as political leaders, celebrities and everyday people, who need a safe-house stay with us. Here at TALON-6, they can enjoy the lifestyle they’re accustomed to, yet feel safe.

  Brianna glanced around, understanding TALON-6 with new eyes. No wonder Mike showed such empathy and compassion for the work she was doing at the women’s center. Their work was very much the same.

  “As you can see, this is the rappelling area,” Bailey said as they walked past walls of ceiling-to-floor granite. “Great way to keep in shape. Mike and the team have little choice, considering their dangerous professions.”

  Danger. Challenge. Adventure. Of course, how could she have forgotten? TALON-6 was formed from Mike’s Special Forces team. Even though Mike wasn’t officially in Special Forces, she knew he still considered himself a professional soldier, ready to fight, even kill, if his country called. The thought gave her chills.

  “Where does that door lead?” she asked, hurrying toward the next set of doors.

  “That’s the swimming pool.” Bailey motioned to another doorway. “And over here is the equipment room.”

  “This is more my speed,” Brianna said as she stepped inside the mirrored room and took a seat on a recumbent bicycle. Several treadmills, a StairMaster and three rowing machines stood nearby.

  “The air temperature and humidity automatically adjust to our outer body temperatures,” Bailey explained. “Cool, huh?”

  “Decidedly cool,” Brianna agreed, pushing herself off the bike to catch up with her guide.

  “An indoor track is on the left.” Bailey punched a button from the device at her waistband. “The area lights automatically turn on once you step inside, but I like to play with the gadgets,” she said with a grin.

  “I can see why,” Brianna said, amazed.

  “The weight room is straight ahead, the dressing rooms, showers and Jacuzzi are to the far right.”

  “I think I’m lost,” Brianna said, only half joking.

  “No problem.” Bailey pointed to a small panel along the wall. “Each room has one of these. It’s also a security device, recording movement, sound, temperature and more things than I can remember.” She glanced back at her. “Just press this button and…” Bailey’s finger barely touched the panel when a diagram of the floor plan appeared. “See, you can’t get lost.”

  Brianna noticed that the route they had each taken was outlined in fluorescent green. She didn’t fail to notice that if anyone else had been in the area, the device would have automatically exposed them, too.

  “Amazing.”

  “Another one of Mike’s gadgets,” Bailey said with a hint of hero worship in her voice. “And look at this.” She pressed another button. “The music panel.” She grinned at Brianna. “You wouldn’t be a fan of ’N Sync, would you?” she asked hopefully.

  Brianna laughed. “How did you guess?” In a microsecond, the room was filled with pulse-pounding music. She shook her head. “Wow, living here must be fun.”

  “It is.” Bailey returned her smile. “I’d love to live here full-time but I can’t leave my mom.”

  Brianna sensed that despite Bailey’s outgoing manner, there was an elusive sadness about the young woman that even her whimsical charm couldn’t quite hide.

  “Well, I better get started on my workout.” Brianna turned toward the changing room then paused. “Say, do you think your boss would mind if you joined me?”

  Bailey’s face lit up. “Yeah, I’d like that.” She clicked a button at the keypad at her waist. “Hey, Brianna. Watch this.” A video monitor appeared from a recessed area beside the door. Views of the reception area flashed across the screen. Several seconds later, Bailey’s desk area appeared, followed by a view from the hallway outside the TALON-6 suite entrance, then the scene changed to each partners’ offices. “Way cool, huh?”

  Brianna shook her head in amazement. “Way cool.”

  MIKE LEANED BACK in his leather chair and propped his long legs on the desktop while he speed-read Liam’s report. When he finished the last sheet, he looked up at his partner.

  “So you think the stalker lives in the city?”

  Liam raked his large hand through an unruly shock of black hair. “He must. The type of tracking device I removed from the bumper of Brianna’s car has a range of about fifteen miles.” Liam’s brogue was always more pronounced after spending a week with his Irish family. “Of course, the stalker might use a mobile receiver in a van.”

  “Parking would be a bitch. Besides,” Mike said, “following her car in and out of traffic would be hard to do in Manhattan.”

  Liam nodded. “Maybe the stalker works near her building.”

  “Or he has access to a receiver, one already installed and readily available to him, like a police car, or another municipal vehicle.”

  “You think this guy is a cop?”

  “Ex-cop, maybe. With the skill he’s using, I’m guessing he’s ex-military, or maybe he’s been in the pen. He’d meet plenty of contacts who could steer him to black-market equipment.”

  Liam thrust his hand through his thick hair. “If he was an ex-con, that would tie into your theory that he’s connected with one of Brianna’s clients. Has she given you the names of her clients yet?”

  “We’re heading over to her office from here. I should have them by this afternoon.” Mike tossed the report on his desk. “What chance do you think the stalker might be a woman?”

  Liam’s thick eyebrows lifted. “Anything’s possible. A woman could have knowledge of sophisticated equipment, too. Or maybe the woman’s got a boyfriend.”

  “Leonard Braewood?”

  Liam shrugged. “I don’t think we should rule it out.”

  Mike swung his feet to the floor and spun to face Liam. “Logically, I agree. But my gut tells me it’s a man. Don’t ask me why. But male or female, the stalker is close by.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s around. I can sense it. He’s so up to date on her whereabouts. He must be within eyesight of her every day. Hell, we might have passed him on the street. In the elevator. He might even work in her office building. I think he’s someone who’s inconspicuous.”

  “You won’t get an argument from me.”

  Mike ran a hand along his chin. “Dammit, Liam. Ordinarily I can trust my hunches. I also keep my emotional distance while on a case. But this time…”

 
Liam studied him, his blue eyes glinting. “She’s the one that got away, eh?”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “I’ve known you since we were in basic training, Mike. I’ve always thought that there was some woman you’d never gotten over. And one look at the two of you this morning and even Ray Charles could see you’re in love with her.”

  Mike glared at him. “Well, the lady isn’t interested, if it’s any of your damn business.”

  Liam held up his hands. “Look, Mike. You’re the guy with the sixth sense, not me. But if those electrical sparks that were arcing between you two had been any hotter, I’d have singed my eyebrows.”

  “You’re lucky I don’t singe more than your eyebrows, O’Shea!”

  A soft rap on the door caused Mike to look up. “Yeah?”

  The door opened and Brianna poked her head inside. “Liam, Bailey’s on another line. She asked me to tell you that a courier just arrived. He needs you to sign for a package.”

  “Thanks, Brianna.” He glanced at Mike. “I’ll be back in a minute, and I’ll bring a fire extinguisher.”

  After he left, Brianna turned to Mike, a quizzical look on her face. “What did Liam mean by that?”

  Mike shook his head. “Pay no attention to him, Brianna. He thinks he’s a comedian.”

  She took a chair by the window. “I think he’s charming. I’m a sucker for an Irish brogue.” She looked over at him. “He seems so easygoing. He’s a nice contrast to your, shall we say, intensity.”

  “Not you, too?” He grinned at her as he broke away from studying the stack of papers on his desk. “Did you have a good run?”

  Her face lit up with pleasure. “Yes, thanks. I got rid of a lot of tension. You have quite a place here. Bailey showed me around. We’d still be working out, except when we saw the courier arrive on the monitor, Bailey recognized him from the police department. She thought the package might have information about Leonard Braewood.”

  “I sure hope so.” He let out a short breath that sounded impatient. “We could use a break in this case.”