Harry was already out on the limb and testing its weight.
“Drop, tuck in your legs and roll. Go!”
Harry was gone in the blink of an eye. Jack followed just as quickly. Together they raced across the compound to the kitchen door of Myra’s house. It took only seconds to unlock the door and deactivate the alarm system.
With only a low-beam flashlight, Jack headed to the secret panel, opened it and together the two men ran down the ancient, moss-covered steps. Jack rang the bells at each intersection as he did his best to remember Myra and Nikki’s instructions. At one point, he shouted out, “Judge Easter! Judge Easter! It’s Jack Emery. Myra sent me to get you. Come out. We’re by the cells. Hurry, Judge, we don’t have much time.”
A thin, reedy voice could be heard from far off. “Jack, is it really you?”
“It’s me, Judge. C’mon, c’mon, hurry up.”
“The cats are slowing me down,” came the response. “They’re heavy.”
Jack shoved his finger under Harry’s nose. “Go!”
Harry escorted her to Jack through one of the tunnels and she fell into Jack’s arms. “What happened?” she gasped.
“There’s no time to explain now. We have to get out of here, Judge. Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
Harry hefted the two carriers, each with a pair of hissing, snarling cats, as the little parade made their way to the first floor of Pinewood.
There was a moment of indecision on Jack’s part when he looked at the control panel that activated the security system. Arm it or not arm it? Did Riley have a line into the alarm company? Probably. He ignored it, opened the kitchen door and then locked it.
Outside in the hard, driving rain, Jack picked up the judge before she could say a word. Together they sprinted through the rain to the barn where the Mercedes was parked. Jack prayed the high-priced car’s engine would turn over after being stored so long.
It did, without a squeal or a grind. Harry locked the barn, stashed the cat carriers on the backseat and ran to hop in the car that was already moving. Jack pressed the code to the gates on the control panel. They swung open and he sailed through at ninety miles an hour. The gates closed just as Harry tumbled out of the car. The judge struggled to close the door as Jack sped down the road and out to the highway.
“What in the name of God is going on, Jack?” As Nellie talked, she tried to calm the cats who were meowing and fighting with each other in the plastic carriers.
“Not yet, Judge. I have to pay attention to the road. We’re going to meet up with Harry shortly. This car is probably on someone’s radar screen as I speak. I will tell you this: Myra, Annie, Nikki and Kathryn, along with Lizzie Fox, are at a safe house. That’s where we’re going. Alexis, Isabelle and Yoko should be arriving around dawn if their flight is on time.”
“Is there any news on the director? He’s a good man, Jack. I’ve had dinner with him many times. Mitchell Riley is a rogue agent. I can’t believe no one has reeled him in. Now, it’s too late.”
“It’s never too late, Judge.” Jack slowed the car as he swerved to the right into the auto body shop. “Don’t move, Judge. I’ll be right back.” He doused the headlights and ran to the rear of the car. Within two minutes, Jack had the license plate on the Mercedes off. Then he headed to the back apron where several battered cars waited to be restored. He worked quickly in the driving rain to remove the plate from one of the cars. He heard Harry before he saw him. The minute that license plate was attached to the Mercedes, Harry and Jack both proceeded to dirty up the pricey car with mud and debris they found at the end of the lot.
“Looks like a bubba set of wheels now. Yank off the hood ornament and we’re in business.” Jack obliged by tossing the hood ornament into the bushes alongside a broken-down fence. Five minutes later they were back on the road driving at a sedate sixty-five miles an hour, ten miles under the speed limit.
The clock on the console said it was 4:20 A.M. “Now we can talk, Judge.”
Nikki closed the last box and shivered. “This is all so incredible. What are we going to do? Our cover as monks is blown, we have no plan of action, and to my way of thinking, we’re sitting ducks. It’s another way of saying we’re back to square one. Safe house or not, I’m not feeling particularly safe right this minute. We need a plan of action here as our clocks are ticking. Loudly. C’mon girls, I need some input here.”
Kathryn picked at some stray crumbs on the cake plate. “Plan? I think we need to kick some serious ass. The original mission was to come here and take out the assistant director of the FBI. The plan is still the same, isn’t it? The man is framing the judge for his own personal gain. We came here to stop it. In that sense, nothing has changed. As sad as it is to say, the current director’s terrible accident is a road bump in our plan. Or am I wrong?”
Lizzie Fox looked around at the group. “If my opinion counts, you’re right, Kathryn. The only problem is this: the minute the Director was taken to the hospital, Riley stepped up and has so much security he can hardly draw a breath. If you have a plan to get through that cordon of agents I’d like to hear it.”
Annie wiggled her rump on the floor, her eyes sparkling. “How about this idea? We photocopy a few of these files and messenger them to Mr. Riley along with a note signed by the vigilantes. You know, a Zorro-type letter, that kind of thing. Even the lowest of underlings will understand what he has in hand and make sure Riley gets it.”
Kathryn tilted her head to the side as she stared at Annie. “Now that’s a thought. One of us can go to a messenger service or one of the guys can do it. Great idea, Annie.”
The others agreed, even Myra. Annie preened.
Lizzie Fox threw her head back and laughed. “Mitch will go nuts trying to figure out who the mole is. Unless, of course, it’s someone he knows, and then it’s not going to be pretty.”
“Like who?” Myra asked. “Would it be someone who loves him or hates him?”
“Either or,” Lizzie said smartly. “He not only tried to intimidate me, he outright threatened me. He said he would ruin me professionally, smear my reputation, make sure I’d be disbarred if I didn’t help him frame the judge. He didn’t use the word ‘frame’ but I got his message. You girls really have to get that bastard.”
Nikki massaged her temples. “What’s with that ‘you girls’ stuff? You’re one of us now, Lizzie. There’s something clicking around inside my head in regard to Riley, but I can’t put my finger on it. It’s making me crazy because I know it’s important. Don’t ask me how I know this, I just do.”
“Always pay attention to your instincts, dear. Always. Isn’t that right, Myra?” Annie asked cheerfully. “Maybe we should think about Mr. Riley’s wife. Sometimes husbands and wives hate each other. You did say Mr. Riley cheats on his wife. Being in her position, I would think she might be afraid to leave or to make waves with such a powerful man if that is indeed the case.”
Nikki’s jaw dropped. For one wild, crazy moment, she thought she was going to black out.
“What? What’s wrong?” Kathryn shouted.
Nikki blinked and then blinked again. She licked at her dry lips. “That’s it! That’s what I couldn’t remember. Annie, you are the marvel in ‘marvelous.’”
If Annie had been a bird she would have flapped her wings at Nikki’s praise. Even Myra and the others looked impressed.
“Take a deep breath, dear,” Myra said, patting Nikki on the arm. “Tell us what it is you remember.”
Nikki took a great, heaving breath. “Mrs. Riley came to see me…I want to say at least two years ago. She wanted a divorce but was scared out of her wits. I think her name was Alice. Yes, yes, it was Alice. I gave her my home phone number and told her if for some reason she couldn’t reach me, to call you, Lizzie. I wrote your number on the back of my business card along with my home phone number. I never do that, give out my home number, but she was so agitated. She was afraid to make a decision. I told her to go home, to think
about it. I told her what I thought she could expect in the way of retaliation. Now that I think about it, I probably frightened her even more because she never came back. She never called, either. I did see her the day we were arraigned. It could be her.”
“How strange,” Lizzie said thoughtfully, a frown building on her face. “I had a phone call on my court-issued cell phone. I could hear breathing but no one said anything. I never get strange calls on the court cell. I don’t know why but I had a bad feeling when that call came in. Knowing that bastard Riley like I do, you better find a way to get her someplace safe before you go after him. The man can cover up anything. Remember, he was willing to frame a federal judge to get his way.”
Annie looked at Myra, her eyes wide.
Kathryn stood up. She smacked her clenched fist into her open palm. “Why don’t we call her when Jack gets here so he can listen to her voice. If she’s the one who delivered these boxes to the cemetery, we have to help her. People, are we out of our league here?”
“Momentarily, Kathryn,” Myra said quietly. “I’m going to call Charles to see if he can make some…uh, arrangements in case Mrs. Riley turns out to be our informant. Does anyone know if there are children involved?”
“One daughter,” Nikki said. “She was very concerned that he would find a way to take her child away from her.”
Suddenly, a muted, alien sound could be heard. In a nanosecond Kathryn and Nikki had their Glocks in hand, the hammers pulled back. Both motioned for Annie, Lizzie and Myra to lie flat on their backs as they scrambled on their knees to the doorway leading to the kitchen. Nikki mouthed the words, “On the count of three, I’ll kick the door open. One, two, three!” The door swung open as both Kathryn and Nikki hit their stance, their guns at navel level.
“Jack!”
“Judge!”
Nellie’s hands went to her chest. “Dear God, I am too old for this! Girls, put those guns away!”
“Why didn’t you call me?” Nikki shrilled. “We could have killed you! Do you hear me, Jack? We were going to fire first and ask questions later.”
“Shhh, it’s okay,” Jack said, taking Nikki into his arms. He led her into the kitchen. He gently pried the gun out of her hand and laid it on the kitchen counter.
Nikki calmed down immediately. “We came up with something, Jack.” She kissed him quickly and knew it was a mistake. She didn’t want to move. What she wanted more than anything in the world was to drag him upstairs and into bed. She drew a deep breath, grinned and said, “Later.”
“Promises, promises. Listen, Harry and I have to get out of these wet clothes. Tell me there’s stuff upstairs. Please tell me that.”
This was the Jack she loved, chattering teeth and all. “There’s clothing upstairs. I’ll send Harry up right away. Hurry, Jack, this is important.”
“Any news on the director’s condition?” Jack asked, looking down at his watch.
Nikki shook her head from side to side. She pushed open the swinging door that led to the living room and motioned for Harry to go upstairs.
Myra was still on the phone with Charles while the others whispered among themselves.
Nikki could feel her stomach muscles tighten up. It always happened like this right before they hit the streets for a mission. She jammed her hands into the pockets of her sweatpants and crossed her fingers the way she did when she was a kid.
Outside, a lightning bolt ripped across the sky, followed by an ominous roll of thunder. Nikki shivered as she sat down on the floor to hug her knees to her chest.
It was an omen, she was certain of it.
Chapter 22
The women sitting in the circle on the floor squirmed to make room for Jack and Harry when they thundered into the room. They quickly brought them up to date.
Jack’s jaw dropped. “The wife! If you’re right, the lady must have one kick-ass, hard-on hate for her husband. If it’s true, we’re going to be trampling in some heavy-duty crap here, ladies. If Mrs. Riley is the person who called and delivered these boxes, she’s taking one hell of a chance. If she is the one, that has to mean Riley has a home office and keeps his files there. It makes sense. It also means there will be some kind of hidden, top-of-the-line security. If the plan is to go there, think again. You have to get the wife and kid out of there as quickly as possible. Start thinking!” Jack ordered.
“It’s all we’ve been doing, Jack. We’re coming up dry. It’s almost five o’clock. Mrs. Riley will probably still be sleeping.” Nikki looked at Jack and said, “Do you think there is a tap on their home phone number?”
“You can count on it.”
“Then I have to call Maddie and have her go to my office to get Mrs. Riley’s cell phone number. When she came to see me two years ago, she told me if I wanted to get in touch with her I was to call only that number. I think it’s one of those track phones where you buy cards that are untraceable. I think. I’m not sure, Jack.”
“If you’re right, it makes sense that she would be cautious. You realize, of course, that the phones at your old firm and probably your office manager’s home numbers are monitored. Riley wouldn’t miss something like that. How do you propose getting to Maddie?”
“When Alexis and the others get here, we’ll have her work some magic and we’ll brazen it out. The red bag is due at first light, thanks to Charles. Unless you can think of something else. It’s the weekend, Jack. Mrs. Riley may or may not be going to her shop. I have no idea what Maddie does on the weekends. We just might need these two days to come up with a workable plan.”
“Will Mrs. Riley be safe?” Myra asked. “I worry about her daughter.”
“As long as we don’t go public, she’ll be okay,” Jack said. “Providing Mrs. Riley hasn’t tipped her hand in some way to her scumbag husband. We have to snatch her and the kid and get them someplace safe before we go after Riley. Has there been an update on the director’s condition?”
“They give updates at the top of the hour. The last one said Riley was keeping his vigil outside the ICU but the director’s vital signs weren’t good,” Kathryn volunteered.
“Do you think we could get something to eat?” Harry asked as he paced the confines of the room.
“I’ll make some more sandwiches. The girls should be here in about twenty minutes. They’ll probably be hungry, too,” Kathryn said. She turned in the doorway and called over her shoulder. “What about those two reporters? Let’s figure out a way to use them before we squash them like bugs once and for all. Let’s give some thought to making them work for us. For a change.”
Myra reached over to pat Jack’s hand. “You look worried. Do you know something you aren’t telling us?”
Jack forgot all about being respectful of his elders. “Well, hell, yes, Myra, I’m worried. We’re diddling with the goddamn FBI here.” He looked over at Judge Easter, who was trying to comfort two of her cats. “Tell them, Judge, what happens when you mess with those guys.”
“You don’t want to know, Myra. Trust me. I cannot believe that man is trying to frame me. I hate to use a cliché but I wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of coming out whole if he presents what is in those boxes. No one will want to hear what I say, nor will anyone believe me. I could have Clarence Darrow representing me and I’d still go to prison. You can’t win against people like that bottom-feeder Riley. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve seen fair, honest people fall under his sword, their lives and their families’ lives in ruins.”
Annie leaned over to put her arm around the judge’s shoulder. “Well, guess what, Nellie, those people don’t know us. We number ten now, with brain power to match. Kathryn was just saying we need to make those reporters work for us. I think we should let them do a full-court press while we stand back and watch. I believe it’s called stirring the pot.”
“That’s a splendid idea, Annie, really splendid,” Myra said. “I think that just might work.”
Suddenly the air stirred. The women moved as one. Harry was out
of the door so fast, they could only gasp.
“I think the rest of your little group is here,” Jack said as he sprang up, gun drawn. He sprinted past the women who were hot on his heels.
The garage door slid up and then down as Alexis, Isabelle and Yoko hopped out of the battered van. Harry swung his love high in the air while the others smiled and Yoko squealed her delight.
Isabelle tripped over a bale of pink insulation but righted herself at the last moment. Nikki hugged both her and Alexis. “Things are moving fast,” she whispered. “You guys must be tired. Go on upstairs and get into some comfortable clothes. Kathryn’s fixing some sandwiches. We have all the time in the world right now. A few hours from now is up for grabs.”
Thirty minutes later, the circle in the middle of the Lewellen house—and as Myra explained it, it would always be Marie Lewellen’s house—widened considerably. Two of Nellie’s cats curled into balls and were sleeping peacefully in the center of the circle. Myra held one of the other cats while the smallest one nestled in Nellie’s lap.
The newest additions to the circle were quickly brought up to date.
“That’s our situation now,” Myra said briskly. “If any of you have anything to add, I’d like to hear what it is.”
Alexis, Isabelle and Yoko simply shook their heads.
A moment later a bulletin flashed across the wide-screen television set. The group grew quiet as the early-morning anchor, in solemn tones, announced the death of Josh Carpenter, director of the FBI. A picture of Mitchell Riley, tears puddling in his eyes, his shoulders drooping, appeared on the screen. He waved away reporters who were intent on shoving a microphone into his face. His other hand swiped at tears in his eyes.
Hide and Seek (The Sisterhood: Rules of the Game, Book 1) Page 14
