Dead End

by Susan Sleeman

“They couldn’t track it because they’re not me.” Nick grinned and dropped his feet to the floor. “And I’m positive I’ve got it right.”

  Sierra was studying the paper. “Vasily Kuznetsov. Name’s Russian, right?”

  “Right,” Nick said. “A nationality common for hackers, but also common for our city. We have many law-abiding Russian immigrants living here too.”

  Sierra nodded, and Reed could see she was thinking fast and furious. “Have you run background on Kuznetsov?”

  “I was getting started when you showed up. All I know at this point is he’s not one of those law-abiding citizens. He’s been hauled in for racketeering and extortion, but the witnesses who were scheduled to testify suddenly changed their minds and none of the charges stuck.”

  Sierra’s eyebrows drew together. “I’m heading out to check in with my dad. I’ll visit this building on the way back, so could you text me if you learn anything?”

  He nodded and looked at Reed. “You going with her?”

  “I am,” Reed said feeling defensive and sounding it as well.

  Nick held up his hands. “Hey, man. Chill. I just wanted to make sure Sierra wasn’t stepping into a potentially dangerous situation on her own.”

  Sierra glanced between them. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

  “Not if you run into gun-toting criminals, you can’t,” Nick said. “At least not until you decide to carry, too. Then maybe I wouldn’t worry about you doing something like this.”

  “You know I’m never going to carry.”

  “Then I’m glad you have super-agent with you.” Nick laughed, but Reed could still see his lingering concern.

  The same concern left unease roiling in the pit of Reed’s stomach.

  “Text me if you learn anything about Kuznetsov.” Sierra spun on her heel and exited.

  On the way to his vehicle through a spitting rain, Reed knew he needed more information on Kuznetsov—criminal background and activities that were available only to law enforcement. Information that even Nick with his superhuman research powers couldn’t find. Reed opened his phone to text the best analyst in his office.

  Get me everything you can on a Vasily Kuznetsov of Portland. I need it yesterday. Lives could depend on it.

  18

  Reed drove them to the hospital and tried several times to start a conversation, but Sierra didn’t feel like talking. And she got tired of listening to the pitter-patter of rain on the windshield as the wipers scraped the moisture away, so she clicked on the radio. A news program came on, and when the announcer mentioned Ira Caulfield’s name, Sierra turned up the volume.

  “Authorities are looking for a man with an Army Ranger tattoo on his right forearm. According to a witness who spoke to him on scene, he’s six feet tall and muscular. He has dark hair in a military cut and a wide jaw. His eyes are blue. The witness said he claimed to be a former Army Ranger, but authorities believe he could still be an active duty soldier. A sketch of the suspect can be found on our website along with the number to call if you should recognize this man. In other news—”

  Sierra turned down the radio. “It’s good to hear that the media jumped on Blake’s press release and even radio stations are carrying the news.”

  Reed nodded. “Hopefully the phone line will light up with legitimate callers, and we won’t have too many crazies to weed through to find them.”

  “Hopefully,” she said as she knew that such a plea would bring people out of the woodwork who had no connection to this man nor legitimate information to provide.

  Reed pulled into the hospital’s entrance, and she started praying. She asked for God to be with her. To give her that strength that Reed said He would provide. But as she rode the elevator toward her dad’s room, she didn’t feel strong. She felt like punching the main floor button and waiting for the elevator to take her back down to flee this difficult situation.

  Reed stepped close to her and took her hand. He didn’t speak. Just held it warmly in his. That comfort she sought warmed her to her soul. Had God put Reed into her life to show her His love and support in human form? No matter the reason for Reed’s presence, she was deeply grateful that he wanted to be here for her.

  They exited the elevator to the smell of antiseptic and a strong cleaner that a janitor was using to mop the hallway. She carefully skirted his wet floor sign and knew Reed was behind her.

  At her dad’s door, she turned to him. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait in the lounge or downstairs even?”

  He shook his head. “I want to be here so if you need me, you can find me right away.”

  “If you’re trying to get me to like you, you’re very much succeeding.” She smiled at him.

  He grinned. “And here I thought I was being subtle and masking it in concern for you.”

  She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Reed. It helps a lot to know someone is waiting for me.”

  He reversed their hands, holding hers between his warm fingers. “Remember, I might be out here waiting, but God is going into that room with you.”

  She nodded and extracted her hand to straighten her T-shirt and pull back her shoulders. She knocked lightly on the door and entered.

  Her mother sat at her father’s side, but Sierra almost gasped at the change in his appearance in the two days since she’d seen him. Today he looked like a shell of himself with dark circles under his eyes and sallow skin.

  Had the stress of their estrangement added to his health issues? She couldn’t bear the thought.

  She’d led such a blessed life until now. Her whole family had. Until her dad got sick, she hadn’t had to face any real difficulty. Sure, she thought along the way that many issues were big and unsurmountable, but in hindsight, none of them were even a blip of difficulty until this.

  She rushed across the room, giving her mother a tight smile on the way to the other side of the bed. She was careful to avoid all of the cords and tubes and took her father’s hand. She dug deep for a smile. “Hi, Dad.”

  “Sweetheart,” he said and his eyes brightened. “I’m so glad you came.”

  “Of course I came. I hear Aiden’s a match. That’s such good news.” She tightened her grip on his hand and rested on the side of his bed. “Now tell me you have the surgery scheduled.”

  He frowned. “I needed to see you first.”

  “Well, now you have.” She worked hard to control those tears that seemed to linger near the surface lately and looked at her mother. “You can find the doctor and get this scheduled, right?”

  Her mother bit her lip. “I…”

  Sierra knew what they were both waiting to hear, and she closed her eyes for a moment. God, please show me how to forgive them. Not in a month, or week, or even a day. Now.

  The thought of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross and forgiveness of the thieves hanging there brought her eyes open. She found both parents looking at her with such expectation on their faces. Memories of childhood and growing up flashed before her eyes. Falling. Getting hurt. Band-Aids and hugs. Kisses. Meals around the big table. Laughter. Joy. Love. Unconditional love. Unconditional acceptance and forgiveness. Nothing expected in return. Just two loving parents being there for her no matter what.

  “I’m not mad anymore,” she said and meant it. “I can’t really understand why you didn’t tell me, but I do know that you did it out of love. Everything you do for me is out of love, and I forgive you both for not telling me.”

  Her mom started crying, and her dad pulled her down for a hug. She went willingly into his arms. Even in the hospital, he smelled of the spicy aftershave he’d worn since she could remember, and she felt at home resting against him. Tears threatened again, but they were tears of joy over being able to let go of the hurt and anger.

  Because of you, God. Thank you.

  Her dad’s arms relaxed, and his breathing quickened. Holding her took too much for his limited strength. She stood up. Her mom got up to rush around the bed and draw Sierra
into her arms.

  “God bless you for your generosity,” she said and pulled back to kiss Sierra on the cheek. “Now I’m going to go find that doctor and get the surgery scheduled.” She rushed across the room and jerked open the door to come to a stop. “Oh…oh.”

  Sierra saw Reed standing in the middle of the hallway facing the door. “Mrs. Byrd, I presume.” He held out his hand. “I’m Reed Rice. I’m working with Sierra on an investigation.”

  “Looking for Eddie?”

  He nodded.

  “Thank you for helping her with that. I sure do hope he’s okay.” She looked back at Sierra. “You should invite Reed in instead of leaving him in the hallway.”

  And just like that, her mother was taking charge again. But with Sierra’s recent flashbacks, she’d seen what Reed was trying to convince her of. Her family only wanted what was best for her. Didn’t mean she had to like it or even do as they suggested, just understand their motives. She might still bristle inside, but she could try understanding.

  “Do you mind, Dad?” she asked.

  “Of course not.”

  She curled her finger at Reed, but kept her gaze on her father. “I’m not able to stay for long. I need to get back to work.”

  “Your mom told me about Eddie going missing.” He seemed to be unfazed by talking about her birth father.

  “It doesn’t bother you to talk about Eddie?” she asked.

  “Maybe once upon a time, but then you were born and I didn’t care one bit. I had you.” He smiled and shifted his focus to the door. “Now introduce me to your friend.”

  “We’re working together, Dad.” She glanced at Reed who’d barely stepped in and was leaning against the wall.

  He pushed off and came closer to the bed. “Reed Rice.”

  He shook hands with her dad. “I’m sorry to interrupt when you likely want to be alone with Sierra.”

  Her dad waved a hand. “I’m always glad to meet her friends, though I have to say, she doesn’t encourage that. Our little girl is all grown up and living her own life. Giving her all to her career.”

  That sounded terrible to Sierra. Like she was neglecting them. And maybe in her quest not to feel overpowered she had been absent in their lives until her dad got sick. She had to change that. “I promise to visit more often. And once you get out of here you can drop by my work at any time.”

  He looked at Reed. “Do you work at the lab, too?”

  “No, sir, I’m an FBI agent.”

  “Figured with that suit you didn’t work with our Sierra. Never seen one of her coworkers in a suit.”

  “You’ve never been there when one of us has to go to court,” she said, feeling like she needed to defend her partners.

  Her dad didn’t seem to notice her comment as he was assessing Reed. “Being an agent must be an interesting job.”

  “It is. Nothing I’d rather be doing.”

  “Not married I see.”

  “No.”

  “You another person who lives for your work?”

  “Just haven’t met the right woman is all.” He glanced at Sierra, his gaze lingering.

  She blushed.

  “Oh, right. Oh.” A wide grin brightened her father’s face.

  Sierra was so thankful her mother had left the room, or she would be planning her wedding to Reed.

  “We’re going to head out, Dad, so you can get some rest. Have Mom call me when she knows a date for your surgery.” She bent down and kissed her dad’s cheek, and when tears pricked at her eyes again, she stepped around Reed to the door.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Byrd,” Reed said, sounding sincere.

  “You too,” her dad said. “Keep an eye out for my little girl. We’ve given her quite a shock this week, and I want to be sure she’s okay.”

  “My pleasure, sir,” Reed replied.

  Sierra cringed inside, but she didn’t say anything, just marched down the hall to the elevator. The doors opened, and Aiden stepped out.

  “Sis,” he said and ran his gaze over Reed who’d come to a stop close to her and reached out to hold the elevator door open.

  Her brother was tall with black hair like all of her brothers except the baby, Erik, who inherited dishwater-blond hair from their mother. As an ATF Agent, Aiden pumped iron to keep in shape, and women flocked to him. To all of her brothers, for that matter, and they took it for granted.

  “Did you do the right thing so Dad can have the surgery?” He held her gaze like he could make her behave according to his plans.

  She stiffened at the word right as she really had a huge reason to be upset with her parents, but she nodded. “Mom’s looking for the doctor to get it scheduled. Now I have to go.”

  “And you are…?” Aiden asked Reed who introduced himself.

  She was about to jerk Reed into the elevator and out of her family’s realm, but that would be rude. She might not want her family all up in her business, but she wasn’t rude.

  “Reed’s an FBI agent who’s helping on my current investigation, and we stopped in on the way to another location.”

  Aiden’s dark eyebrows rose toward equally dark hair. “You mean your investigation to find Eddie Barnes.”

  “Yes,” she said, knowing her mom had filled everyone in on what was going on.

  “I hope you find him.” He frowned. “Just so you know, I think it stinks that Mom and Dad never told you he’s your biological father, but it doesn’t change anything for me or the others.” He grabbed her in a bear hug and knuckled her head. “You’re still one hundred percent our sister.”

  That, more than anything, made her weepy again.

  “Thanks,” she said, but rushed into the elevator. “Catch you later.”

  Reed released the door and joined her. She looked up at the bright light overhead to stop those tears.

  “I like your family,” he said.

  For some reason that made her unreasonably happy, but she wouldn’t stop to analyze it. Too much introspection these past few days, and she couldn’t handle one little bit more.

  Reed got eyes on the old warehouse where the Internet transfer of Barnes’s money occurred. The single-level building was made of cinder block in a dirty beige color with the trim and large address numbers painted a bright turquoise. Most windows were cracked and some were covered with plywood sprayed with colorful graffiti.

  His phone dinged, and he grabbed it from the holder to look at the message.

  Too many past investigations on Kuznetsov to note here. He’s currently under investigation for murder. Graham’s case. Call him for details.

  Reed swallowed hard and sent a reply. Need a business address for Kuznetsov.

  “What’s wrong?” Sierra asked.

  “Vasily Kuznetsov is suspected of murder, and we have an active investigation open on him right now.” He stowed his phone. “You should stay in the car.”

  “Doesn’t look like anyone’s here. And it’s not like if he’s here that he’s going to start shooting at me for no reason.”

  Reed felt like demanding she remain in his vehicle, but he knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t. “But I’d feel better if you stayed here.”

  She crossed her arms. “You know how that makes me feel, right?”

  “Yeah. Like I’m treating you like one of your brothers might do in this situation.”

  “You are so not like a brother to me, but…”

  He loved hearing the first part of her response, but not the last. “But you feel like I’m trying to tell you what to do.”

  “Yes. And honestly, if I thought there was any danger here, I’d listen to you and stay, but I think you’re overreacting.”

  “Yeah. I am. But I just told your dad I’d look after you.”

  “And if you hadn’t done that?”

  One side of his mouth tipped up. “I’d still be asking you to stay here. But it’s your choice.”

  “Fine.” Her arms uncrossed, and she gave him a tight smile. “Go have a look, and I’
ll wait here.”

  He returned her smile, making sure it wasn’t a victorious or gloating smile. Or one that said he’d gotten his way, but a genuine smile with a hint of thanks in it. Hers widened, and he’d never been so smitten by a smile in his life.

  He started to lift his hand to touch her face. Maybe to pull her close for a kiss, but he didn’t want to freak her out. If he wanted to persuade her to change her mind about a potential relationship, he needed to take things slow. Her willingness to let him have his way when it came to her safety and not be mad was a huge victory and the first step.

  “I’ll be back in a few.” He pushed out of the SUV and jogged across the street.

  He really didn’t like leaving her behind, but he felt she would be safer in the SUV than scoping out the building with him. He walked around the exterior and tried to look in the windows, but they were too dirty. He moved toward the back of the building, taking a quick look at his SUV to make sure all was okay with Sierra.

  She sat watching him, and he gestured his intent to disappear behind the building. She nodded her understanding, and he rounded the corner. He found the back door boarded up, but the plywood had been pulled loose, leaving an opening. As a law enforcement officer, he had no right to enter a secured building, but the opening gave him leeway, and he slipped in. His jacket snagged on a nail on the way in, and he could only hope the tear was repairable.

  The building consisted of a large open room. It had large spiderwebs clinging to the corners and contained a strong musty odor that was stirred up by a cool breeze sliding through broken windows. He flipped up a light switch and dirty overhead lights came on. So there was power. Not surprising, he supposed. There would have to be power to send the wireless transmission.

  Hand on his sidearm, he made his way across the space to the only inside door. He jerked it open to find a small utility closet that was warmer than the main room. On a broken chair sat a wireless router, the lights blinking. A black cable ran from it to a cable connection in the wall.

  He took pictures of the device front and back in hopes that Nick could tell him something just by looking at it.