All three women gave him puzzled looks. It was Mac’s turn to comment.
“If you don’t know where to find him,” Mac suddenly asked, “how are we getting there?”
†
Agent Falcone’s SUV pulled through the junkyard gate with the police cruiser trailing only a few feet behind. A man in dirty overalls sprang into action and pulled the metal gate shut behind them. Both vehicles approached a large clearing and stopped. All four got out of the SUV and looked around. Both women looked at Holden with shared surprise.
“You’re leaving us in a junkyard?” Tonya gasped with horror in her voice.
Holden looked at his watch then to the sky. They heard the faint pulsating sound of a helicopter approaching. The three women looked to the sky in the same direction. A six-passenger helicopter approached and landed nearly dead center in the clearing before them. An attractive woman in her mid-twenties with long, dark mussed hair removed her sunglasses and climbed out of the helicopter as the rotors slowed. She glared at Holden with annoyance and took several aggressive steps toward him.
“You’ve got some nerve with that five minute notice bullshit,” the young woman snarled at him. “I was briefing a room full of admirals when you called.”
Holden smirked and cocked his head casually to the side, apparently doubting the young woman’s story.
“Oh? So that’s how we’re spending our Saturday afternoons, Jackie?” he announced then raised his brows demandingly. “Playing poker with a bunch of retired Navy men?”
“No, of course not,” she announced sternly. “Some afternoons we shoot a few hundred rounds at the shooting range.” Jackie smiled slyly. “I like to mix things up.”
Mac grinned and gave Jackie a quick once over then looked back at Holden. “I like her.” Mac approached Jackie with her hand extended. “Deputy Macbeth, U.S. Marshal. You can call me Mac.”
Jackie shook her hand. “Jackie Falcone.”
All three women appeared surprised then looked back at Holden. He smirked and shrugged.
“What can I say? I don’t get enough adventure in the field,” he informed them.
“Okay, whoever’s going, let’s go,” Jackie announced firmly. “AIS.”
“AIS?” Tonya queried.
Mac snorted a laugh and grinned at Tonya. “Ass in seat.” She gave Holden a quick once over as she passed him for the helicopter. “You’ve got a keeper there, Agent Falcone.”
Tonya and Lee turned to follow Mac toward the awaiting helicopter. Lee looked back at Holden.
“You’re not coming?” she suddenly asked.
“I think it’s in my best interest to remain behind,” Holden informed her. “You’re in good hands.”
Jackie grinned at Lee. “He’s avoiding all contact with Monroe right now,” she announced. “Holden rolled Monroe’s Ferrari last month and the emotional wounds are still fresh.”
The three women climbed into the awaiting helicopter and securely belted themselves in. Jackie approached Holden and smiled seductively.
“So, once I drop off the kids, do we have the rest of the weekend to ourselves?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” he replied and hid his smile.
Jackie smoothed his tie and gave him an approving, quick once over. She winked at him an allowed her hand to slide down his chest.
“Bring your handcuffs, Agent Falcone.”
He smiled his response and kissed her quickly but warmly on the lips.
“When you see Monroe,” he began then immediately frowned, “tell him you haven’t seen me.”
Jackie laughed and returned to the awaiting helicopter. The helicopter no sooner started before lifting off. Holden watched it lift into the sky and fly away.
†
The helicopter set down on a private stretch of beach not far from a luxurious, two-story beach house with a wall of windows facing the ocean. Within the detached two-car garage, one bay door was open to reveal an expensive, red Ferrari. Sand swirled into a mini sandstorm as the helicopter landed. Once it shut down, a neatly dressed man appeared on the lower deck. Monroe Dallas was a tall, lanky man in his mid to late thirties with a stylish flare to his expensive wardrobe. His light brown hair was neatly trimmed, although not nearly short enough to constitute a buzz cut. All four women climbed out of the helicopter. It had been a lengthy helicopter flight, taking the better part of six hours to reach the remote island off the coast of Florida. The three newcomers immediately looked around while marveling at the secluded beach and gorgeous beach house.
“Okay,” Tonya announced while nodding her approval and barely containing her grin. “I can spend the next four to six months roughing it here.”
Monroe jogged down the deck steps while eagerly smiling as he approached Jackie. They enjoyed a warm embrace and a quick, friendly kiss on the lips. Jackie pulled away and her pleasant smile turned into a stern glare.
“We need to talk about Atlantic City,” she remarked firmly.
Monroe groaned and rolled his eyes as he stepped away from her. “I told you,” he announced firmly and without concern. “That’s your problem, and you need to deal with it. I’m not getting involved.”
“Not getting involved?” Jackie cried out with hostility. “It’s your fault I’m in this position!”
“So?” he remarked almost mocking her. “You’re a big girl. You can get yourself out of it.” Monroe gave her a stern look. “I’m already doing that crash test dummy husband of yours a favor by babysitting a few kittens for a week or two.”
Mac folded her arms across her chest and cast a look at Lee standing alongside her. “Did that flamboyant mamma’s boy just call me a kitten?”
“Well, us in general,” Lee replied.
“Please, let’s not upset our host,” Tonya muttered to both women. “If I have to be incarcerated, I want to do it here and not some dirty, dingy warehouse.”
Jackie threw her hands in the air with disgust at her friend. “Fine,” she scoffed, clearly irritated at Monroe, and then pointed a warning finger at him. “Be that way, but this isn’t over.”
She stormed back through the sand to her helicopter and the three women standing nearby with their bags. Jackie eyed the three women then glared back at Monroe and smirked.
“He cheats at poker, his upper lip sweats when he’s sexually aroused, and he screams like a little girl if he sees a spider,” Jackie snarled.
“Jackie!” Monroe scolded with some surprise to the comment and immediately appeared embarrassed by her words.
Jackie grinned at the three women. “Enjoy, ladies.”
All three women hurried away from the helicopter as it started, shielded their faces from the blowing sand, and watched through squinted eyes as the helicopter took off, racing into the horizon. The women glanced at Monroe, who could only shake his head while frowning with disgust.
“Let me guess,” Mac announced while grinning slyly. “You two used to date.”
“Thankfully, I didn’t marry that,” he muttered. Monroe managed a pleasant smile and nodded to the steps. “Come on, I’ll show you to your rooms.”
Chapter Ten
Monroe’s beach house was just as amazing on the inside as it was on the outside. It was two stories of detailed wood, stone, and marble. The open floor plan gave it a roomy feel, and the sections of floor to ceiling windows stretched up to the second floor of the cathedral ceiling. The sun shining through the massive windows gave the home an island appeal. Monroe led the three women upstairs to the second floor while carrying Tonya and Lee’s bags. Mac brought up the rear, carrying her own bag, and seemed to case the house for every possible entrance and exit.
“There are only three bedrooms,” Monroe informed them while glancing back as he scaled the steps. “Despite Jackie’s vulgar description of me, I’m the last of the true gentlemen. The three of you can take your pick of the bedrooms, and I’ll sleep on the sofa in the living room.”
Mac stopped by the first bedroom at the top of the stai
rs. “I’ll take this room,” she announced. “It gives me access to anyone attempting to sneak up the stairs.”
Without awaiting a response, she entered the first room, leaving Monroe alone with Tonya and Lee in the open hallway overlooking the first floor.
“I can tell the U.S. Marshal and I are going to get along fantastically,” Monroe announced while maintaining his smirk. “Who wants bedroom number two?” he asked while indicating the door closest to them.
Lee and Tonya exchanged looks and shrugged.
“I’ll take this room,” Tonya announced without care, collected her bag from Monroe, and entered the room.
Monroe smiled at Lee and indicated the last room. “Then you’ll be stuck with my room. I just have to remove a few things before you get settled.”
Lee entered the room with Monroe trailing after her. She looked around the large, well-appointed master bedroom with its own balcony. She looked back at Monroe as he hurriedly stuffed some personal belongings into a bag. He wasn’t the most handsome man by any means, but he had a certain schoolboy appeal. That he was a snappy dresser possibly added to his appeal. Lee didn’t doubt Tonya would be sizing him up for evening entertainment. Despite Monroe’s relaxed disposition, Lee suddenly felt vulnerable in the room with double glass doors leading onto its own, private balcony. She glanced back at Monroe.
“Is it safe here?” she asked, unable to hide the concern in her tone.
He glanced at her and smiled more naturally. “Unless there’s a hurricane, it’s perfectly safe,” Monroe replied. “I mean, not like that prison they probably stuffed you into originally. This place is safe because it’s on a small island and located far enough from any populated areas.”
“Agent Falcone seemed to think you’re our safest option,” she announced. “Your little tiff with his wife wasn’t exactly encouraging.”
“Ah, Jackie’s always been like one of the boys,” he informed her. “She was my commander’s daughter. Trust me, putting up with the team while growing up made her the way she is today. She had to be tough to survive us.”
“You were in the military?”
Monroe straightened and stared at her as if he’d been offended. “You say that like you find it hard to believe.”
“Sorry,” Lee replied and attempted to hide her embarrassed smile. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“No, it’s okay,” he announced and sighed. “I’m not offended. Frequently misjudged--but never offended. I guess I’m more of the brains of the operation than the brawn, you know.”
Lee smiled and nodded. She wasn’t about to say her thoughts aloud, but she had the feeling the fear of spiders might be true. Monroe finished placing things into his duffle bag, offered a timid smile, and then left the room. Lee groaned softly and shook her head.
“Oh, Agent Falcone,” she remarked softly under her breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
There was a soft tap on her door as it opened, revealing Tonya. She stepped into the room and looked around with amazement then nodded her approval.
“Well, you certainly did well with the room assignment,” Tonya remarked then grinned at Lee. “I’m thinking cocktails on the beach in twenty minutes.”
“I don’t know that we should be on the beach,” Lee announced and tossed her bag onto a nearby chair. “I feel so exposed here. What’s to stop Jericho from walking through the front door and popping us off one-by-one?”
“Monroe, I suppose.”
Lee snorted a soft laugh. “If bullets start flying, I’m hiding behind Mac. Monroe is all yours.”
“I don’t know,” Tonya remarked and raised her brows seductively. “He’s kind of cute.”
Lee glared at her friend and shook her head. She couldn’t believe she’d been right in her assumption.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Lee huffed and folded her arms across her chest. “After what we’ve been through, you honestly think this is the time for a romantic interlude?”
“We’re isolated, Lee,” Tonya announced while looking around. “There’s no way Jericho will ever find us here. It’s a teeny tiny island. I’m guessing we’re somewhere off the coast of Florida. We’re a long way from Chicago.” She collapsed onto the bed, reclined casually, and studied her friend. “Besides, there’s an arrest warrant out for Jericho. It’s not as if he’s boarding a plane anytime soon. We’ll ask Mac if it’s okay to hang out on the beach.”
Lee inhaled deeply and groaned while releasing her breath. “As long as Mac says it’s okay.”
†
Two days had passed without incident, allowing Lee and Tonya to relax for the first time since their nightmare began. Both women entered Monroe’s beach house in their swim attire after a lengthy afternoon on the beach. They were already a lovely shade of bronze after just two days of sunning themselves. Monroe had been right; it was a secluded beach with no one else around. It was the first time Lee had felt safe since she found Wiley dead in his chair. Both women changed for dinner, which would be another evening of Monroe showing off his grilling expertise. His personal attachment to his grill was slightly unsettling, but Lee did have to admit, he was a grill master. Despite another relaxing dinner on the deck while watching the sunset, Lee was restless. Tonya easily seemed to forget they weren’t on the island for a vacation getaway. Lee couldn’t overlook the fact that someone wanted them dead, and there was a distinct possibility they’d eventually be found.
“Shouldn’t we have heard from Agent Falcone by now?” she finally asked while shifting in her deck chair. “How hard is it to locate one man?”
“I guess that depends on the man,” Monroe casually informed her. “I’ve known a few who are tough to find when they don’t want to be found.” He considered then grinned. “You’re looking at one of them.”
“Hopefully, he can stretch it out until Sunday,” Tonya remarked. “I wouldn’t mind a full week in paradise. I haven’t had a real vacation in years.”
“I just want this over with,” Lee announced and frowned while watching the waves gently crash to shore. She was feeling almost defeated. “I want my life back.”
“What life?” Tonya practically proclaimed. “You’d be at home cooking some sad little meal for one before going to bed to start yet another day at work. Let’s face it, Lee; our lives suck at home. This is living.” She looked at Monroe and smiled warmly, desperate to change the subject. “Are you self-employed, Monroe? I mean, what sort of work could you possibly conduct on a secluded island like this?”
“I’m an independent contractor,” he replied casually. “I run imports and exports to and from Panama.”
Mac suddenly glared at him and raised her brows in silent question. Monroe caught her look but didn’t comment. She suddenly smirked, shook her head, and looked away.
“Oh,” Mac muttered softly and held back her laugh. “This just keeps getting better and better.”
“What?” Tonya suddenly asked and looked between Monroe and Mac.
Lee eyed both as well while equally curious. Her eyes suddenly widened as she stared at Monroe.
“Are you a drug runner?” Lee suddenly gasped.
Monroe sat up straight in his chair and appeared immediately offended by the question.
“No, I’m not a drug runner!”
Mac gave Lee and Tonya firm stares. “Let’s drop the subject,” she announced casually. “What Monroe does isn’t any of our business, and as long as we’re guests here, I’d like to keep it that way.”
Lee knew that the normal response of an innocent man would be to announce exactly what his operation consisted. Instead, Monroe let the subject drop, seemingly unwilling to defend himself. Lee suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Who the hell was this guy?
Chapter Eleven
Romano’s office building was eerily silent after the employees from all twenty floors had gone home for the evening. There was no one around and the lobby appeared empty. A strange snarling sound broke the silence. Jenner sat r
eclined in the leather chair behind the front desk with his feet propped up and his eyes closed. His snoring again sounded like a snarling beast. A loud thump alongside the desk woke the large man, nearly causing him to fall from his chair. He lurched forward and looked to the left of the desk. A neatly dressed man wearing a light leather jacket and baseball cap stood on the other side of the desk. His unusual briefcase set on the counter above the desk, which explained the loud thump. Jenner stared at the man with surprise or possibly disorientation from abruptly waking.
“I’m with ComServe,” the repairman announced. “I’m here to fix your computer.”
Jenner continued to stare at the man then finally stood, although his expression didn’t change.
“How did you get in here?” Jenner demanded.
“Through the parking garage entrance,” the repairman casually replied.
Jenner looked at the security monitors. Several were filled with static. He again looked back at the man.
“The door was locked and the alarm set,” Jenner announced suspiciously.
“Sorry to disagree with you, but the door wasn’t locked,” the man informed him.
Jenner remained puzzled and continued to stare. He finally looked away from the man and removed his PDA tablet from the desk. He scanned the screen then looked back at the repairman alongside the desk.
“You’re not due for another two hours,” Jenner informed him.
“I had a cancellation,” he replied and became impatient with the security guard. “Does your computer have a prior appointment that it can’t see me early?”
Jenner sneered at the man, apparently irritated with his snide comment.
“Let’s see your company identification,” Jenner snapped as he locked eyes with the arrogant man.
The repairman rolled his eyes with annoyance and felt his pockets. He seemed unable to find his badge. He removed something from his pocket and flashed it at the guard. Jenner eyed the ComServe badge. Despite the terrible picture, it appeared genuine.
Witness Protection 2: The Return of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Page 6
