by Jody Klaire
“Aeron Lorelei, but then I thought you’d read it on the notes.”
Oh that was just cheeky. “Is this the way it’s going to be, Aeron?”
“That depends on you, Tess.”
Renee’s stomach lurched.
Lorelei smiled a smug smile.
Yannick flashed through her mind. His taunting, his anger. “Get out. Now.”
The guard heard the strangled demand and dragged Lorelei out.
Renee couldn’t breathe. Her heart pounded.
“Doctor Llys, are you okay. Did she hurt you?” Renee looked up and shook her head at the secretary. She got up, slowly, closed the door, controlled. Slumped against it. Yannick had called her Tess. How did Lorelei know? She fumbled her phone out of her handbag, she didn’t care if Frei would be angry. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t be an agent anymore.
“Frei.”
“Get me out.”
“What’s happened?” Frei’s tone always sounded so bored. It calmed her and irritated her but right now she was thankful for it.
“She called me Tess.”
Frei sighed. “With her last name, she’s probably reading you. You know that. This is no ordinary POI.”
Renee bit her lip. “I can’t do it. I’m sorry. I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. I trust you, I believe in you. Get her released, I’ll pull you out then.” Frei’s tone meant there’d be no change of tactic. Her statement of faith washed over Renee, calming her. If Frei thought she could, she could.
“Thank you.” She was close to tears; she knew she was.
“Don’t thank me, just prove me right.” Frei cut the line and Renee placed her head in her hands.
She needed to stop reacting, she needed to find a way to block her fears out. She pulled open the bottom drawer. Her predecessor had a fondness for one way. She slid the drawer closed again, remembering her brush with the assault course and smiled.
Maybe best she do this sober.
Renee smiled at the memory. It had been such a rough journey but Frei had been there every step. In all her time as an agent, Renee hadn’t talked to anyone on an assignment as much, ever. Each time she called her, Frei reset the emotions, calmed her with few words and clear instructions. She’d given Renee the support she’d needed. More than she deserved. It had been the same with Aeron in Caprock. Frei was like that, a constant rock.
She wiped the tears from her eyes as they approached the gated community. Icy cool head and a big warm heart. Renee was going to tell her that when she saw her. In fact, she was going to hug her. A really big hug which Frei would protest about but she didn’t care. She’d do it because she could and because she adored the arrogant, irritating, know-it-all. She chuckled. Yeah, it would be worth the nonchalant comment just to see the twinkle in her eyes.
Whether Renee believed in herself, or her faith, she knew she did believe in Aeron’s heart and Frei’s courage. She believed that both women were incredible in more ways than she could ever comprehend and she believed they trusted in her to protect them.
Frei told her she was the best. That she could live up to her family name, that she could be good enough to keep VIPs safe. Well, she was going to do better than that. She was going to keep Aeron safe, Aunt Bess, a pair of kittens, and yes, Frei herself.
She was going to because Frei believed she could, because Aeron believed she could. In spite of her doubts, her failings, her scars, she hoped she could find the ability to believe in herself along the way.
Chapter 56
LILIA WIGGLED HER finger in her ear as they got into the waiting car in Kentucky. Flying always made her ears pop. She tried sweets and bubble gum, she’d even resorted to ear plugs but no, they still popped. She’d be hearing herself ten decibels louder for hours.
“No team?” Lilia asked, fighting the urge to waggle her finger in her ear again. It was itching now.
“No. The only reason I’m not launching this officially is I want to make sure Renee is fine.” Fleming fiddled with her wedding band as she drove them down the highway.
“She’s not.”
Fleming glanced at her. “What do you mean?”
“What I said.” Lilia looked out at the Kentucky landscape. Part of her wanted to take an RV, Eli, and the girls and explore. Maybe he’d go for it when they retired?
“You don’t look at all concerned.”
She smiled at the comment. “Years of practice.”
“So you’re not at all curious why they irritated one of the most powerful judges in the state?” Fleming tucked her hair behind her ears. She used to wear it down more around Renee. Lilia supposed that had been for her. Perhaps Martin preferred it up.
“No.”
Fleming tapped the wheel. “Well, I am.”
“No, you’re curious as to why Renee didn’t come back and marry you or offer an explanation.” If Fleming thought she was fooling anyone she was mistaken. “You want a confrontation so you can demand answers.”
Fleming tapped the wheel again.
“Won’t make you feel less guilty for marrying him.” Lilia ignored the glare. “You’re happy. You have children. Let it go.”
“My personal feelings have nothing to do with this.” Fleming’s voice disagreed. “I have an agent who is meant to be MIA, a lead agent, who ismissing but is supposed to be on vacation, and another agent who is actually an ex-convict.”
Lilia frowned at the term.
“If you think I hadn’t copied the pages you shredded, you’re not as wily as I’d assumed.” Fleming met her eyes for a moment. “How am I doing so far?”
Far too well but then Lilia would have been disappointed at anything less. “Wrongly convicted. Her record is expunged.”
Fleming blew out a breath. “No, it’ll be that way when they convict the man arrested. Don’t think I haven’t seen the defense case.” She frowned. “And for the record, it looks like they have a great way of dragging her back into it.”
“They do. Sam has money.” Lilia couldn’t say much else to that. Sam had a way of convincing most people and his lawyer, one of the brightest in her field, had succumbed to Sam’s charm. She was convinced he was innocent and had been framed.
“For the record. I think he’s lying through his teeth and she’s a hero.” Fleming let a small smile through. “Lilia, I don’t know what is going on. I’m hurt but I know if you’re shredding files and putting your liberty on the line, there’s a very good reason.”
Fleming would have made an incredible card player. Lilia couldn’t help but smile at that. Most people would have blurted out exactly what Fleming wanted.
“Serious charges,” she said instead. “It’ll be interesting to see how worthwhile his complaint is, hmmm?”
She could see Fleming’s jaw flex. She could see the thought pattern. Ah yes, she had scheduled a plane, dragged a lead agent from base, and was charging in to listen to a judge who, by the sound of it, needed less ego and more humility. Expensive knee-jerk reaction to finding out her ex-fiancé was still alive.
“Nice try.” Fleming eased the speed up. “I’m not buying it.”
“You don’t have to.” She smiled a pleasant smile as they reached the ridiculously oversized mansion. “I think he did.”
LILIA SMILED AS the judge sat nursing his drink. It hadn’t been his first by the ruddiness of his cheeks.
“So you called in the FBI because someone filled your tank for you?” Fleming raised her head to glare at him. She’d taken notes, diligently.
“She tried to damage my tank. She told me it was a fake.” He let out a “hah.”
“But your car is a genuine car and your tank is filled with the right fuel, yes?” Fleming’s tone was icy at best. Lilia fought the urge to smile. It was one way to delay her from finding Frei was missing that was for certain.
“She said it wasn’t. I had to call out a mechanic.” He folded his arms.
“But the man at the station told you it was the right fuel.” She rubbed her nose. “In any case,
no offense was actually committed was it?”
The judge waved it off.
Fleming got to her feet. “You reported a federal agent to the IA for no reason.” She narrowed her eyes. “You’ll be waving from a cell in a minute.”
He fixed her with a stare. “I reported the plates. The police called you in.”
“But your version of the plates wasn’t the same as the man at the station and your description doesn’t match his.” She read down the list. “You said the second woman was overly tall and muscular when he said she was no taller than him and skinny.” She folded her arms. “So one of you is either blind or lying.”
“You take his version over mine?”
“His didn’t involve an investigation into why someone filled your tank for you.” Fleming met Lilia’s eyes.
“I reported a crime. It was a crime. If I’d driven away, my car would have been ruined.” He narrowed his eyes. “It costs more than you make.”
“But not as much as the fine I’m going to issue you.” Fleming looked like she may smack him with her handbag.
“Was either woman in trouble of any kind,” Lilia said, keeping every bit of amusement out of her voice. “Did they threaten you in any way?”
He shook his head.
“So as I see it, no crime was committed, no agents are unscrupulously filling judges’ cars and we are wasting our time here.” Lilia motioned to a seething Fleming. “Therefore, I propose you drop your accusations against both the man at the station and these very rude gas tank fillers.” She held up her hand before either could argue. “In return, we won’t fine you more than your house is worth and we can wipe this messy little incident off the record.”
She met them both with her best mother’s stare. “Hmmm?”
The judge nodded. Fleming sighed and did the same.
“Lovely. Well, we best be on our way.” She motioned to Fleming, knowing a hint of the laughter inside might just be twinkling through her eyes.
“The man was a buffoon,” Fleming snapped as they got into the car.
Lilia stared out the window.
“Don’t think I don’t know he was telling the truth.”
She turned to raise an eyebrow at Fleming.
“I may not have known the true nature of her job but I knew Renee.” She smiled. “And the woman I knew would have done exactly what he said she did.”
Renee did have a spark or two in her. “May we call off the alert on them now? It wouldn’t be pleasant to spoil their vacation.”
“I’ll have to—” Fleming’s phone buzzed. She pulled over and answered it. “A what?”
Lilia tensed.
“We’re on our way.” Fleming hung up. She turned to meet Lilia’s eyes. “Reports of gunfire, oddly the same number plate.”
“Ever thought someone may just have similar plates.”
Fleming smiled. “How many women over six foot do you know?”
Ah. “Actually quite a few.”
Fleming started the car. Her phone rang again. “Fleming.”
Lilia tensed once more.
“Cincinnati . . . say that again . . .” Fleming frowned. “It’s at the airfield . . . we’ll head there, schedule the plane.” Fleming hung up and stared at her. “Anything you want to say?”
“I am intrigued.”
“A woman in,” she waved her hand, “some small town just reported that a woman over six foot went into the drugstore she worked at and left one hundred thousand dollars, in bills, in her bag.” She folded her arms. “The man in the airfield reported that three women, in the same car, saved his wife’s life by,” she held her hand up as Lilia opened her mouth, “telling her that she had broken vertebrae in her neck.”
Lilia felt the glow of pride but kept her mouth firmly closed.
“They were bickering apparently and two of the women were well over—”
“Six foot,” Lilia said.
“Yes.” Fleming started the car. “Any ideas?”
Lilia shook her head. “Still, it’s best we stop these unscrupulous people before they help anyone else.”
“They stole drugs from the store,” Fleming shot back.
Lilia smiled. “I’d say they more than covered it, don’t you think?”
Fleming said nothing.
Lilia looked up at the stars, hoping that they were closer to finding Frei. She prayed they could get to her. Frei needed them.
Chapter 57
FREI COULD HEAR Jessie talking to herself but her body wouldn’t let her wake up enough. She needed to help her, to reassure her but her mind kept taking over and dragging her inside.
Harrison. The house matron. She’d stopped Jäger back then. She’d carried Frei to the medical wing but she wasn’t someone Frei knew much about. Jäger had taken over discipline. Harrison’s office was big though. Green walls and a rug that looked like it had seen better days.
Frei sat there in the chair in silence. Jäger glowered from the side while Harrison handed the expulsion notice over to Huber.
“Our insurance will just about cover it,” Harrison muttered. Frei fought the urge to smile. She bet Jäger’s big brother had been happy. “Seventy million dollars, Huber.”
Huber looked at her with his usual bored expression. “If you will poke at a sleeping lion, you can’t expect it to ignore you.”
“She’s a useless, pathetic slave, Huber.” Jäger sounded beyond enraged. He had a sore on the left side of his face. Looked like he’d argued with a blowtorch. Her sister was now with his letch of a big brother. A big brother who had a temper.
“She’s a locksmith, Jäger. Which makes her more useful than you.” She was shocked at Huber’s words as he scribbled on the expulsion contract. “We all know how valuable they are now, don’t we?”
Harrison and Jäger stared at her.
Frei bit her lip to stop from smiling.
Neither had ever had a clue.
“Well, now I have nothing to do with the academy anymore. I will happily wash my hands of it.” He turned and motioned to her. Frei got up to stand at his side. “Probably wise you don’t attempt to recuperate any lost revenue.”
Harrison sucked in her chin. “You withheld her value, Huber.”
He shook his head. “Actually, I didn’t.” He smiled at Jäger. “I requested she be moved to the silver group, twice, if you remember. Someone declined it.”
Jäger’s eyes glinted.
Huber strolled toward him and Frei tensed. She had a feeling Huber wanted to skew him after Suz and her sister. If he’d known the truth, he would have. “Wouldn’t want your brother finding out about that, would you?”
Jäger’s eyes clouded with fear.
Stick that, creep.
“Didn’t think so.” Huber turned and snapped his fingers.
Frei was happy to follow. They got into the waiting car. Fahrer sat behind the wheel. He tried to meet her eyes but she couldn’t bear the sight of him. She knew he’d tried to save Suz and she wasn’t angry, not with him, but it hurt too much.
“You blew up the visitor center,” Huber said, pulling up his trousers not to crease them.
Frei looked out at the rubble being cleared. “Yes.”
“You destroyed a priceless sculpture.”
She fought the urge to smile. “Yes.”
“You let three entire year groups escape.” Huber’s voice was serious, almost irritated. “They are still trying to round them up. That kind of embarrassment could have closed the school entirely.”
“Yes.”
Huber patted her knee. She fought the urge to flinch at contact, any contact. “You have quite the temper.”
Frei nodded. “If I ever have cause to come back to Caprock. I will shut it down.”
Huber’s eyes glinted. “You think that’s your decision to make?”
Frei met his glare without flinching. “Yes.”
His face relaxed into a smile. “Good.”
They drove out without a backward glance. She met
Fahrer’s eyes and he nodded. He’d tried to help Suz. He’d only fled when his presence would have put Huber in danger. Some part of her still loved Fahrer. He seemed to understand that, his smile gave her the feeling that he was relieved she still felt that way.
“Where do you wish to go, Mr. Huber?” Fahrer asked.
Huber looked out and then smiled. “To relieve some of my fellow colleagues of their hard earned money.” He tapped Frei’s knee again. “We have a lot of work to do.”
Frei tried to push the memory away. She had to fight somehow. She had to get out of her mind and into reality. Her body sapped at her, sucking the energy from her. She needed to fight. She had to. She still had work to do.
Chapter 58
I KNEW WE’D stopped but I couldn’t hear talking and I was pretty sure we hadn’t gotten to Huber yet. I managed to open my eyes and saw Renee staring out over the steering wheel. Her tears twinkled in the streetlights as she read something over and over on her phone.
“Hey?”
She broke from her thoughts and met my eyes, attempting a smile. “They won’t let us in.”
“You asked for Huber?”
She nodded. “He’s in Baltimore.”
I looked at the gate to some kind of suburb. A suburb of really fancy homes. “How many guards are there?”
Renee stared down at her phone again. “Three. All with semi-automatic weapons.”
“You darted them, didn’t you?”
She shrugged. “Shouldn’t take long for it to work. Had to use the usual CIG stuff, doesn’t act as fast.”
I looked into the back. Aunt Bess was out cold and snoring. “You dart her too?”
“It’s been like driving with a pride of lions.” She rubbed at the bridge of her nose.
“My mother?”
Renee sighed. “Yes. Fleming is onto us. I rang Grimes and he’s starting a search but he said there’s a lot of abandoned warehouses.”
“I think she married a guy ’cause no woman could live up to you,” I whispered, hating how much her heart ached.
I didn’t really know what had happened to Renee after Frei found her but it must have really hit her watching someone she loved forget her so fast. I wasn’t sure how Fleming had done it. Renee felt like she was attached to me, part of me somehow.
