by Ciana Stone
It was she who knew what it was to fall in love. And to lose the one you love.
She was the one who deserved to live and damn it all to hell, Brody suspected her.
That brought up another challenge. How to get rid of Catherine and Trina and keep Brody from finding out.
Almost immediately a plan popped into her mind and she smiled. “Do you have to go back to the training center?”
“Not today, why?”
“I was thinking if you helped with the rugs, maybe after we could take a swim and later we could cook those steaks you bought. There was a grill in the storage room and we cleaned it up.”
“We?”
“That’s how we refer to our self.”
“Oh, okay, well it sounds good. You ready to get started?”
“Absolutely.”
*****
Etta leaned back in her chair and stared at the laptop screen. It hadn’t been easy to convince Admiral Angel to go to bat for her with his contacts at the CIA, but in the end, he came through and got her the information she wanted.
What she’d read about Sadie Rockler raised concerns. And not just about Sadie. She wished she could talk to Jasper about it. Not simply because he was her husband, but because she valued his opinion. Jasper never jumped to a conclusion. He examined all the facts then offered an informed opinion and nine times out of ten, she agreed with him.
This time, however, she couldn’t share with him. His clearance level was not high enough. Nor was Deacon’s. The only person she could confide in was the one person she didn’t want to bring into her confidence. Mason.
Etta hated feeling this way. She and Mason’s wife, Savannah were good friends, and she had come to value Mason as a friend, too. But his past and Sadie’s were entwined, and she feared he didn’t really have Sadie’s best interest at heart.
That wasn’t a surprise, at least not after what she’d read. The question was, how did she handle it?
The answer came to her, and she picked up her cell phone to make a call. Just then her receptionist tapped on her door. “Dr. Whitestone? Mr. James is here.”
“Send him in.” Etta closed the lid of her laptop and stood. A moment later, Mason walked in.
“We need to talk.”
“We as in you and me, or we as in you, me and your friends from the CIA?” She knew it was catty, but she couldn’t stop herself.
“Low blow.”
“Maybe, still what’s the answer?”
“You and me.”
“Fine. Have a seat.”
She was tempted to stay seated behind the desk, but since she wanted to get as much information from Mason as possible, she sat in the chair facing him. Both chairs were in front of a window, with a small table between them. It was intimate and the view from the window always seemed to put people at ease. The landscape rolled and sloped, green grass giving way to natural ground covering, trees and cool shade.
“What can I do for you, Mason?”
“I want to talk to you about what happened at Sadie’s house.”
“Okay.”
He leaned forward with his arms propped on his legs and his hands clasped. She noticed that the clasp was tight rather than relaxed which told her a lot about his mental state.
“Are you sure you didn’t know the man who rendered me unconscious?” he asked.
“I already answered that question. For you and the CIA interrogators you sent to speak with me.”
“They weren’t interrogators.”
“I don’t want to start a fight, but I beg to differ. I know a bit about interrogation and they were definitely interrogators. But that’s beside the point, isn’t it? Like I said, I already answered that question.”
“That he was about six-two, a hundred and ninety pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.”
“Yes.”
“And you don’t know him.”
“Correct.”
Mason flopped back into a slump and turned his head to stare out of the window. Etta could feel his frustration mounting and she hated that a rift was forming between them. Granted, she had to take responsibility for some of it, but Mason played a part as well. What she needed was to find a way for them to migrate closer rather than farther apart.
“Why is this woman so important, Mason?”
“She’s not.”
“Look, we’re friends and you have to know that I’m not trying to antagonize you, but she seems pretty important. And I know about the Mossad agent, Baruch Narkis.”
Mason’s posture straightened. “That’s not possible.”
“Come on, you know anything’s possible with the right contacts.”
“So, you read Sadie’s jacket.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“And I’d like to hear it from you. How did it go so wrong, Mason?”
This time when he slumped back, he looked tired and depressed. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked myself that question. And no matter how many times I ask, I can’t pinpoint the start of it and you know there had to have been something that started the spiral that led to Sadie and Narkis being taken. But I can’t find the starting point.”
“Well, maybe I can help you. When you think back, did Sadie change at all before you and she met Narkis?”
He shook his head. “I’ve thought about that and no. I can’t say she changed any. It was only after she and Narkis got personally involved that she started to become irrational.”
“Irrational? How exactly?”
“More… emotional, less eager to rush toward action, particularly action that might have a lethal outcome.”
“That’s interesting. Was she in love with Narkis?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Not at first. At first it was the same as it always with her. Lust over love. She wasn’t the kind of woman to become emotionally involved.”
“But she obviously did. With Narkis.”
“Yeah, she did.”
“Why? What was it about him that inspired such a drastic departure from the norm for her?”
“Beats me. I mean, he was a handsome enough guy and like her, loved the game and the danger.”
“There had to be something different about him. Was he married? Did he have a family?”
“No. He was divorced.” Mason’s posture straightened. “But he had a child. A little girl. She lived with her mother, but he saw her now and then. I remember Sadie saying they had spent an afternoon at a park with the child.”
Etta had nothing more to go on than a gut reaction, but his answer prompted the start of a theory.
“Can I ask something personal, Mason?”
“Sure, what?”
“You said that you and Sadie weren’t lovers?”
“Right. We had sex, but we weren’t lovers and that was before Narkis entered the picture. Back then Sade was like I said before. Lust over love.”
“Does Savannah know?”
“No, why? It wasn’t like it meant anything.”
“Maybe it didn’t but until now Sadie was just a name from your past. Not someone living here. What if Savannah were to find out?”
“From who? You? Sadie?”
“Not me, no. But what if Sadie told her? Just for spite. You and she aren’t exactly on friendly terms at the moment.”
“What’s your point, Etta?”
“That maybe you should tell Savannah and save her and yourself any potential problem.”
“You’re probably right and I’ll give it serious thought but, in the meantime, Sadie’s out there, somewhere.”
“Which brings me back to a question I’ve never gotten answered. Why do you want her put away so badly? Does she have something on you or did she do something to you to make you hate her?”
“Fuck.” Mason’s expression turned to one of anger.
“Care to elaborate?”
“Just thinking. I didn’t have hard feelings against Sadie. Ever. Not until she was taken into custody after her return
. I was called in and questioned for several days.”
Etta suddenly got it. “Days in which there was ample time to drug or sedate you and employ behavior modification techniques that just might color the way you felt about Sadie.”
“Exactly. Shit. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Why would you? As far as you knew, her psyche had fractured, and she was in a place where she could get help. Which reminds me. Is Sadie Rockler her real name? Her records—in terms of birth certificate and school records up through high school are sealed.”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure. All she ever told me was that her father had walked out on her and her mother. She said that her mother was too weak to stand on her own, so she married the first man who asked, and he was an asshole.”
He paused and looked out of the window. “I did care about her, once. As a partner. And a friend, too, I guess. She was really talented, you know. With a camera and as an artist. It’s a shame she got into Intelligence. If she’d just used her talents maybe she could have had a happy life.”
“Maybe she still can.”
Mason returned his gaze to her. “No. They’ll find her. Sooner or later she’ll slip up and they’ll find her.”
“Maybe, but I hope not. I hope we’re the ones who find her.”
“Us?”
“Yes. I think I can help her, Mason. I believe that. If we can find her and keep her hidden, I can work with her.”
“That’s taking a big risk, Etta. Are you willing to put everything on the line for a woman you don’t even know?”
“I wouldn’t be. I have friends, too, Mason and they have contacts in the highest levels of power. I can get clearance to have her remanded to my custody. But not until I find her and convince her I have her best interest at heart and I can help.”
“And what if she doesn’t want help?”
“Then all bets are off, I guess, but I’d be willing to put money on her wanting help.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would she want help from another shrink?”
“Because I suspect that it’s no accident she’s here and that maybe that reason is strong enough to make her want to heal, to have a future.”
“I don’t know, Etta. I swear to God, I just don’t know, but it’d be nice for you to be right about her.”
“And what are you going to do now?”
“Talk to Savannah, I think. And tell the Feds that as far as I know Sadie is in the wind and we’ll never see her again.”
“Do you believe that?”
“I want to.”
“Thank you, Mason.”
“Thank you. You have a way of making me see the worst in myself, you know.”
“I’d like to think it’s you seeing the best of yourself. After all, here you are, thinking of Savannah’s well-being, and even Sadie’s, over your own comfort level. I think that says something, don’t you?”
Mason smiled. “I hope so. Okay, I’m gonna get out of your hair and go home and see my wife and daughter. I’ll talk with you soon.”
Etta stood when he did and took his hand to give it a squeeze. “Thank you.”
He nodded, smiled and left. Etta waited until he’d gone then she returned to her desk and picked up her phone to place a call. It was not answered, but when to voice mail.
“Hey, Brody, it’s Etta Whitestone. Remember that project we were talking about? Give me a call or stop by when you have time and let’s talk. Thanks.”
She put her phone down and opened her laptop to access Sadie Rocker’s file again. “Okay, Sadie, talk to me. Tell me who you really are.”
Chapter Eleven
Brody thought of himself as a grounded fellow. Sure, he liked extreme sports, but he recognized his addiction to the high danger provided and never let it control him. Contrary to what some thought, he never took on anything he didn’t feel he could control.
Until now.
Dealing with Sadie was something that threatened his control. She was obviously a personality accustomed to taking the lead and not being questioned, which he found trying. As someone who’d made his career in the military, and particularly the SEAL’s, he thought of teamwork as essential.
She, apparently, was someone who had been accustomed to working alone and making decisions on a moment to moment basis rather than working a plan. At least that’s the impression he got from her.
It annoyed him. It had taken them far longer than he thought was necessary to get the rugs out of the house, beat the dust out, hose them down and leave them to dry. He’d suggested a plan of action, but she’d have no part of it and insisted on running two lines, or ropes, one for her to work from and the other for him.
Being bigger and therefore more equipped to lug the heavy rugs, he offered a suggestion. Team up.
No, sir. She would do half and he could do the other half.
He’d shrugged and gone along with it, but then gotten annoyed at the fact that it took her longer and she refused help when he offered. By the time they were finished, he didn’t give a hoot in hell about going for a swim, but he’d promised so he changed into shorts.
That’s when the strain she placed on his control was from a whole other source. She didn’t bother to change, she just stripped down to her underwear. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop the affect it had on him. She might be the bitchy Sadie in personality, but in appearance she was Red with curves in all the right places and sweet Jesus, nearly naked.
She left her clothes lying on the grass and walked to the water’s edge before she stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“Yeah.” Brodie sat to take off his shoes. By the time he stood, Sadie had waded out and disappeared beneath the surface of the water.
Determined that he wouldn’t be affected by her appearance, he walked to the water, waded in waist deep and then dove. When he surfaced he saw her, standing in the shallows. Her lace bra was practically transparent. Had it not been for her long hair flowing over her shoulders and chest, her breasts would have been completely visible.
He wondered if that would have been as sexy as the sight she presented now, however. A mermaid, teasing a poor mortal. Shit on a stick. This was a mistake. Brody kicked toward the shore and when his feet touched bottom, kept moving.
“Hey, hold up!” Sadie caught up with him and grabbed his arm, but Brody shook her off.
“Don’t be like that.” She splashed water at him. “Come on, Brody. Let’s play.”
The look she gave him explained everything. She was trying to seduce him. That annoyed him. She knew full well that if he did anything with her, it would hurt Trina. And maybe that was her plan. Turn Trina against him.
That wasn’t going to happen. “Leave me alone, Sadie.”
“Aww, what’s the matter? Big bad Brody afraid of little ol’ me?”
He shook his head and would have kept wading for the shore had she not gotten in front of him and placed both hands on his chest. “Come on, Brody. Let’s have a little fun. God knows you won’t have any with Trina, and she doesn’t have to know.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“You sure?”
“Positive. Now either get out of my way, or better yet, let Red out.”
“Not gonna happen,” she mimicked him. “Unless…”
When her left hand drifted down to his groin, he grabbed her wrist. “I said no.”
“Then you can kiss your chances of ever talking to Trina again. I’ll keep her locked up in the dark until we’re all dust.”
“You bitch.”
“That’s it, get mad.” She taunted him, leaning in to press against him.
“Red, you need to fight.” He said, looking directly into her eyes. “You hear me. Fight her, Red.”
Sadie laughed and trying to touch him with her right hand, but he grabbed that wrist as well. “Oh, yeah, get rough with me. I like it rough.”
“Red,
you gotta help me.” Brody worked to keep Sadie from touching him and tried to ignore the sexual feelings it roused with her writhing against him.
“Come on Red. Fight,” he pleaded.
Sadie’s smile seemed firmly fixed, triumph clear in her eyes, then suddenly that expression flickered.
“You can do it, Red. Come on.” Brody tried to will Trina to emerge.
“Brody.” The voice that came from her lips was strained and the expression on her face bespoke of struggle. “Drown me.”
“What?”
“Drown me.”
“I can’t.”
“Do it. Now.”
Brody knew without any doubt that he could bring her back, so he did as she requested and shoved her under the water. She kicked and thrashed and struggled until finally her strength and air were gone.
It wasn’t but a couple of seconds before it was over. Brody yanked her out of the water, gathered her in his arms and hauled her to shore. Bringing someone back from drowning was a technique every SEAL learned early in their training.
In less than thirty seconds she was spewing water and gasping. It took a lot longer than that for her to fully catch her breath but when she finally did, she smiled at him.
“Red?”
She nodded and took his hand in both of hers. “She always retreats when she thinks she’s about to die. Sadie is strong, but she’s really afraid.”
“You’d think with what she did, she wouldn’t be.”
“No, quite the opposite. She has a lot to feel guilty about so she’s extra scared.”
“And you don’t so you can take control?”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t scary. I just don’t have all that darkness on my soul that she does.” Her smile vanished just then, and she added. “Or do I? Are her sins mine?”
“No.” He believed what he said. “But back to Sadie. She let me talk to you before, so what’s changed?”
“She wants to get rid of me and Catherine.”
