Sandman (Unknown Identities #3)

by Regan Black

  It wasn’t unlike a diplomatic mission with all of the security and posturing and she understood. The man had interests and secrets he didn’t intend to risk.

  Welcome to the club, she thought. At least this time it was two against one, since she and Matthew were operating as a team. Without going into classified or gory details, Matthew had admitted much of what he’d done for UI had been for the good of the general population, but that didn’t mean it had all been legal.

  He’d been clearing the air, giving her the option to turn him away. She wasn’t about to desert him no matter what he told her. It just wasn’t a viable option.

  They’d arrived separately, but she’d felt him keeping watch until she was safely seated inside. As she watched him, she was relieved beyond words that they would have a second chance. And grateful he appeared calm despite everything riding on this one conversation.

  If the man in the gray suit wouldn’t accept Matthew’s proposal or her terms, they would find another solution. Between her connections and his, there would be options. Even if those choices posed a bigger risk than this one. She would not stop until he was free of the system that had nearly destroyed both of them in different ways.

  “Pardon me.”

  Renata glanced up, distracted by the stranger who had suddenly appeared at her table. His suit, also an understated gray, looked eerily similar to that of the man meeting with Matthew, right down to the colors and pattern of the tie. His sable hair was swept back from his face, his mouth tilted in a cagey half smile, and his eyes were brown. He leaned close enough that she could see flecks of gold in his irises.

  “A woman so lovely should not dine alone.”

  She swallowed, not at all certain what to do with this unexpected development. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m waiting for someone,” she said, opting to play it like a pick up effort gone bad.

  “I know.” He snickered and flashed a wide grin that made her shiver. “For now, that someone is me.”

  “You.” Ah, this was the man who’d been in the barn. The invisible man who’d helped them escape and provided them with the bed and breakfast reservation. She watched, a cold fear rendering her mute, as he pulled out the chair across from hers. Was he still on their side or was he working against them now?

  Her unwelcome guest cleared his throat. “You are aware your friend there is dealing for his life. And yours.”

  “Yes.” Her hand shook slightly as she raised the water goblet to her lips.

  “Good. I won’t stay long, I promise.”

  “Good?” she echoed.

  “Let’s play a game.” He rested his forearms on the table and leaned forward. “I will ask you questions. Yes is the only acceptable answer, but when you mean ‘no’, touch the stem of your water glass. Do you understand?”

  She nodded.

  His eyes darted to her hand, perfectly still on her napkin. “Very good.”

  “Do you have the evidence to protect Sandman?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is it on your person?”

  “Yes,” she said, running her finger down the stem of her glass.

  “Good.” His smile didn’t ease her fear. “Are you prepared to use it?”

  She brought her hands together, adjusting her ring. “Yes.”

  “You impress me.” He leaned back from the table. “I expected you to be scared, but you’re tough. It might be some time before you have to expose that evidence. Will you hesitate?”

  Never. Her answer sang through her system, restoring her courage. From this moment forward, Renata knew she would always do whatever it took to protect Matthew, their relationship, and their future. She reached for her water glass as she nodded an affirmative reply.

  “Excellent.” This time his smile lit up his eyes in a way that made him look almost friendly. “You’ll do. I had to be sure. He’s one of my favorites.”

  Renata gaped at him. “Who are you?”

  “Doesn’t matter.” He pulled a small white envelope from his pocket and slid it across the table. “Keep that little gem safe with the evidence you hold. If I get caught with it, they’ll kill me. Oh,” he tipped his head toward Matthew and the man in the gray suit, “his name is Gabriel. Be sure you use it. And when you’re done, have him check his phone.”

  She was surprised her hand was steady as she tucked the envelope into her purse. Whatever the trouble, she and Matthew would face it together. No turning back, not that she wanted to make any kind of move without him by her side.

  “As my gift to the two of you, Gabriel will be hip deep in a new crisis far from New York within two hours.” He stood, pausing for a moment longer. “We should all be so lucky as Sandman. Happy New Year, sweet lady.”

  He was striding away before she found her voice, but there was no time to dwell on it as she got the high sign from Matthew. He’d made a case for his separation from the program and been denied. No surprise there.

  She crossed the restaurant with steel in her spine and determination in her step. Matthew stood and pulled out a chair for her. The other man remained seated, hardly sparing her a look.

  “Gabriel,” she extended her hand to him. “A pleasure to meet you. Officially.”

  His eyebrows twitched, but it was his only reaction. “Ms. Vaccaro.” He raised a finger toward the man on the second floor landing. “A shame our acquaintance will be short lived.”

  “Oh, I do hope so.” She smiled sweetly. “But before you do anything drastic to hurry things along, I wanted to make our position and terms absolutely clear. Won’t you call off your dog?”

  Gabriel looked past Sandman, then back at her before assuming an absolutely bored mien. He adjusted his cufflinks. “What is clear to me is this appalling breach of security,” he said to her. “I’ve just explained the consequences to your old friend.”

  Renata folded her hands on the table. “You remember Matthew’s team, I’m sure. One young man by the name of Rafe survived a combat zone only to fall to senseless violence right here on the streets of New York City. Or so the papers reported.”

  “How tragic society has become.”

  “Yes. What you failed to consider while you were burying all the men who knew the truth, is Rafe’s father, Renaldo Vaccaro. Does the name ring a bell?” His narrowed gaze proved to her that he did indeed know the name. “My uncle still deeply mourns the death of his only son.”

  “Many families lose loved ones to senseless violence.”

  “True,” she agreed. But her family’s suffering stopped here. Today. “I might not be able to halt your ongoing enterprises, but should anything happen to Matthew or me, my uncle will learn what really happened to his beloved son. He will know you killed him.”

  “I did no such thing.”

  “I don’t suppose your word will be much good against a sworn statement from me, a member of the family, delivered through the family lawyers.” She stared him down.

  Gabriel blinked first. “What assurances do I have from you?”

  She nodded thoughtfully, drawing all of her uncle’s skill for intimidation around her like a cloak. “I can assure you we have no interest in seeing you or any of your associates ever again. I can assure you my uncle will make your life hell, so you suffer as he has suffered. I can assure you his reach is long and he strikes fear in his enemies for good reason. I can assure you he will start with your business interests and progress through your life like an unquenchable fire until he has dismantled and dismembered every last bit of you and your special interests. Are those the assurances you need?”

  “That’s hardly a reasonable arrangement.”

  “Did I misunderstand?” She turned to Matthew. “Did he offer you a reasonable arrangement?”

  Matthew shook his head, his eyes shining with laughter and pride. It made her bold. They’d taken a chance and were going to walk out of this situation as winners.

  “Then I believe our business is almost done.”

  “Almost?”

  She fe
lt the look Matthew slid her way at the deviation from the plan and did her best to ignore it. “Check your phone.” With no idea what the strange man had planned, she hoped she hadn’t just overplayed her hand.

  Gabriel looked at her oddly, reaching into his pocket as the device in question rattled with incoming messages. His complexion suddenly resembled the crisp white collar of his shirt as the blood drained from his face.

  She leaned closer and saw a snapshot of his current bank statement, followed by the cover sheet of his most recent physical exam, and finally something that must have hit a bit closer to home.

  She ignored the chill dancing down her spine and kept her voice even. “Is that your son? It looks like he’s enjoying the holiday break. What a handsome snowman he’s made.”

  Gabriel tucked his phone away. “We have an understanding.”

  “How lovely,” she said, getting to her feet, sending out silent thanks to the stranger who’d helped them along. “Don’t forget that long reach.”

  She didn’t breathe easy until they were out of the restaurant and into a taxi, heading out of the city.

  “Well played,” Matthew said, giving her cold hand a squeeze. “You were brilliant.”

  His praise chased away the last of the nerves and filled her with the warmth of security and promise. “I think the pictures sealed it.”

  “Do I want to know where you got those?”

  She shrugged. “Your invisible friend told me to play it that way.” She reached into her purse. “He also gave me this.” She pulled out the envelope. “He said he’d have Messenger out of the city in less than two hours.”

  “Huh.” Matthew opened the envelope and showed her an invitation to a New Year’s Eve party at a pub in Times Square. “Must be nice to be invisible.”

  “He’s strange, but I’m glad he’s on your side.”

  “Our side,” he said. “Are you ready to call your family?”

  Definitely, but she couldn’t decide where to go or who to speak with first. Selena who knew she’d been in trouble or her brother who’d only give her crap for not calling on Christmas Day? She could stop by Uncle Torry’s deli or head for Little Italy and let the rumor mill handle the rest. “I think we might as well keep the cabbie on retainer.”

  Matthew laughed. “If that’s what it takes, fine by me.”

  “What should we tell them about you?”

  “The truth.” He kissed her. “I was lost until you rescued me.”

  * * *

  Times Square, New Year’s Eve, 9:48 p.m.

  Matthew watched the crowd with a wary eye, as if Messenger would emerge from the woodwork and renege on the whole deal. Despite what Renata had told him, it would take time to come to terms with it all and he was more than a little relieved they planned to head to Italy tomorrow.

  It felt precarious to him, balancing the rest of their lives on something as delicate as the veil of blackmail she’d draped over the head of the man in charge of Unknown Identities. Matthew wasn’t without additional resources, he just hoped he didn’t have to call them into play. For the first time, he was grateful he didn’t need sleep and that Renata was strong enough to stand guard during the short times when he would be forced to rest.

  Across the street, he spotted a familiar face, the same face he’d seen at the farm and he set down his beer mug with a thunk against the table. Not a hallucination, Renata had seen him too, and yet he had to wonder if Messenger had already put some new threat in motion.

  Renata covered her hand with his. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said, following his gaze outside. “If this is too much, we can leave.”

  “No.” He shook his head, turning his attention to her and distracting himself from the uncomfortable thoughts. Her cousin Selena would join them soon, having also received an invitation to this party earlier in the day and he knew Renata was looking forward to meeting Selena’s new boyfriend, Adam. “No,” he repeated, trying to smile, but apparently he’d failed, based on her worried frown. “It will take some time to shake off the past.”

  He looked back at the crowd outside and the face he thought he’d seen was gone. It didn’t make him feel better.

  “New scenery will help. You’ll love Italy.”

  “I will love wherever you are,” he agreed, catching her hand and brushing his lips over her fingers.

  “We can …”

  Matthew didn’t hear another word over the sudden buzzing in his ears. The face, the entire man, who’d haunted him this past week stood directly behind Renata, his arm around a redheaded woman who beamed back at him with a wide, happy smile.

  What the hell? Having a breakdown when he was finally free of UI had to be the worst sort of timing.

  “May we join you?” the woman asked, stepping close enough to be heard over the boisterous crowd packed in for the party. “For a moment?”

  “It isn’t safe to stay much longer than that,” the man added.

  So his hallucination spoke. Uncertain how he felt about that, he deferred to Renata.

  “I don’t mind,” she said, looking around for an empty seat. “I’d say pull up a chair, but…”

  Matthew stood abruptly, offering his chair to the woman. With any luck, Renata wouldn’t hear the questions Matthew needed to ask.

  “I’m Amelia,” the redhead began, introducing herself to them both and beaming at Renata. “It seems you and I have something in common.”

  “Handsome men?”

  Matthew caught Renata’s diplomatic smile. She wasn’t sure what was happening either.

  “Well, that too,” Amelia replied with a laugh. “Matthew did me a great favor last week and to say thanks, I insisted on letting you know you won’t be alone if something goes wrong. Please take my card.”

  “How could you know –” Renata stopped short, looking up at Matthew.

  “Don’t ask,” he said around the lump in his throat. “Take the card.” He turned to the man beside him. “I’m glad I missed.”

  “We both know you didn’t.” He held out his hand. “John Noble.”

  Matthew hesitated, reluctantly accepting the handshake, half expecting the situation to deteriorate into a brawl. He’d shot the man in a small Boston town simply to follow an order. “Why are you here?”

  “Don’t worry, we weren’t followed.” John dipped his chin toward Amelia. “It was her idea. She said you needed to hear it from me that you can’t feel guilty about following orders.”

  Matthew scanned the crowd behind John. “It wasn’t right.” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

  “Turned out right for us,” John said with a hitch of his shoulders. “Can’t say it was easy, but I owe you a debt and I wanted to say thanks.”

  “Thanks?” Matthew stared at him, incredulous.

  “Yeah. You did your job well. If you hadn’t, Amelia might have been killed. That would have been a tragedy.”

  “I’m done with UI,” Matthew said. “Done with all of it.”

  “We heard.” John glanced at Renata. “Would’ve loved to see the bastard’s face when you told him.”

  “He barely flinched,” Matthew said. “He did the cufflink thing.”

  “Huh.” John smiled. “Still, if you have any trouble, don’t hesitate to call.”

  “We’ll be leaving the country. It’s time for a fresh start.” And, potentially, they would investigate some old documents, but only after some time to get settled with each other again.

  “All the same,” John said.

  Matthew nodded. This wasn’t the time or place to argue. He knew Messenger had global resources, and what John was implying didn’t make him happy, but the underlying threat hadn’t changed. It wasn’t anything he and Renata hadn’t already discussed. The difference between their situation and John’s was that he had a loaded gun of sorts aimed at Messenger. He assumed John’s advantage was Messenger thought he was dead.

  “If he doesn’t stay on his side of the playground, I’ll let you know.”<
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  John’s lips twitched. “If I learn he’s looking in your direction, you’ll get a head’s up from us.”

  “Thanks.” Matthew sipped his beer, searching for the right words. It would help if he knew what he wanted to say. Finally, he just blurted it out. “What are you after?”

  John arched an eyebrow. “After?” He planted his feet, hooking his thumbs in his back pockets. “My experience says the system is corrupt. Too much leeway, not enough oversight. What may have started with valuable intentions has gone off the rails and good men and women are in more danger than they realize.”

  “Systems often go that way,” Matthew said.

  “Are you saying your experience was different?”

  Matthew sensed the tension in the other man and knew he was treading on thin ice. His eyes strayed to the perfect, unmarred skin where there should have been a terrible wound thanks to a bullet that he’d put through John’s skull.

  Matthew couldn’t contradict anything John had said, not that he wanted to. The UI system had changed him, beyond the physical results. The program had run roughshod over the fine line between willing service and forced servitude. After taking the shot at John, he knew he couldn’t blindly follow orders anymore, but without Renata’s viable threat he would have been stuck, staring at suicide as the only workable exit strategy.

  She’d given him new life. He thought of Tisdale and the few people he knew through his small section of Messenger’s program and wondered about their future. Getting out wasn’t something any of them discussed. Getting out wasn’t part of the standard-issue UI deal.

  “Whatever you need, count us in.” It was the only answer he could give in good conscience, the only answer he wanted to give. “I don’t know exactly what we can offer at this point, but we’ll do whatever we can.”

  “That wasn’t why we came by, but I appreciate it.” John patted his shoulder as Amelia rose from the table, smiling. “Happy New Year to you both.”