Conceal (Omega Sector)

by Janie Crouch

  They’d be going in blind, with no way to contact Omega for support. They’d be totally on their own.

  And Evan, instead of trying to figure a way of gracefully bowing out, had just enthusiastically agreed to be the first ones on the ship.

  Things had just gone from iffy to downright impossible.

  * * *

  EVAN DIDN’T LIKE the yacht idea, but there wasn’t any way around it, so he decided to at least make it look as if he embraced the concept.

  Cady was smart. This abrupt change put everyone on edge and changed all the game plans. Including Juliet and Evan’s. On the yacht Cady would have all the advantages.

  They’d found the transmitter where Evan and Juliet had left it, but hadn’t identified it as law enforcement equipment. It could just as easily belong to someone who had more nefarious purposes in mind.

  Juliet hadn’t reacted to the transmitter’s appearance, thank goodness. Vince and Christopher had both been watching everyone, looking for a reaction. Evan knew Juliet couldn’t be happy about this change of plans. The safety net, feeble as it was, had just been yanked right out from under them.

  But there was no time to talk about it, no time to get a new game plan together. They just had to go with it and watch each other’s backs.

  “When do we head out?” Evan asked Cady. Hopefully, keeping up the bravado would remove all suspicion from them.

  “If you will just provide your luggage to my staff, we have cars ready to take you all to the ship.”

  Evan nodded and led the way out of the room, arm wrapped around Juliet’s waist. Others followed, while a few stayed behind to press for further details from Cady, or maybe even to bow out altogether. Good. Anyone leaving now would be one less problem for him and Juliet to deal with, while also strengthening their cover.

  Evan walked with her out to the Jeep. Her pinched expression tugged at his heart, but he couldn’t stop to reassure her. Too many ears around.

  He got their luggage out of the trunk. Immediately, one of Cady’s staff members appeared to assist. Evan freely handed them over, but knew the contents would be thoroughly searched before he and Juliet saw them again.

  It was all part of Cady’s plan, and it was a good one. He would now control what went onto the vessel, including weapons. This would eliminate anybody planning to double-cross him. Also, once they were out in the Chesapeake Bay, cell phone reception might be sketchy, and most certainly monitored by Cady’s people.

  Calling in the cavalry wasn’t going to be an option.

  They needed to get a message about the change in situation to Omega now, but Evan couldn’t figure out how to do it without being obvious. Any call they made would be heard; texts would be monitored.

  “I’m going to text Aunt Mildred and let her know that we may need her to watch the dogs a couple extra days. I don’t want to take a chance on being out at sea and not being able to get a message to her. You know how she would worry,” Juliet said to him, already getting out her phone.

  Evan could’ve kissed her. As usual, Juliet was one step ahead of everybody with the plan-making. Thank goodness for the Branson family and all their crazy codes with each other.

  “She’ll like that we’re going on a boat. You know she just went on a cruise last fall.” Juliet spoke as she typed. “I need to mention to her how to turn the satellite television on, too. Just in case she wants to watch while she’s there, you know, since the transmitter isn’t working anymore.”

  It looked as if Juliet would be able to get the important info out to her brothers. They would be on a ship, Omega needed to use the satellite to locate them, and the transmitter was no longer an option.

  This was a perfect example of what made Juliet such a great agent. She thought out of the box and acted quickly.

  She slipped her phone back into her purse. “Okay, sent. I hope it makes it through.”

  “Everything will be okay, either way.” Evan took her hand and she slid closer to him.

  Three black limousines pulled up to take the guests to the yacht. Evan helped Juliet into the closest one.

  There was no going back now.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The yacht was everything Evan would expect of a criminal of Vince Cady’s caliber. Large, able to easily sleep the twenty guests he had invited, plus the staff and security Cady had on board.

  The limos had taken them to a private boatyard near Annapolis Harbor. Everyone had been shown on board and soon they were on their way into the Chesapeake Bay, with champagne served as they sailed away.

  As if they were going on some sort of pleasure cruise rather than an auction of items that could potentially cost the lives of thousands of people.

  Evan had to admit he was impressed by the ship’s luxury. He and Juliet had been shown to their plush stateroom. A bed filled the space, surrounded by tasteful mahogany woodwork and trim. Under any other circumstance, he would be delighted to be here with Juliet.

  But the fact that the room was most definitely bugged, that all their belongings had been searched and they were in the middle of a dangerous situation with little or no backup tended to kill the romance.

  Evan still hadn’t been able to talk to Juliet about this new change in situation. He was sure that was part of Cady’s plan: keeping everyone on edge and giving them very little privacy.

  “Hey, baby, we’re on a cruise. Just like we always wanted to be.” Evan walked over, hooked an arm around Juliet’s waist and began kissing her neck, working his way up to her ear. Her shivers delighted him, but this embrace was business.

  “Room is bugged. Audio, maybe visual,” he whispered.

  She tensed, but then nodded and kissed him. “Well, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. I was thinking more along the lines of the Bahamas,” she said out loud.

  “If we secure this deal with Cady, I promise to take you there. The commission on the drone override codes will be outrageous.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ve heard all that before, Bob.”

  “Aw, don’t say that, baby.” He pulled her in for another hug. “Let’s take a shower together so we can get ready for tonight.”

  Juliet nodded. “I definitely feel like I need one, especially with some of the people Cady invited. Go turn the water on.”

  The bathroom was just as opulent as the bedroom. Evan switched on the shower, knowing it would be their only chance to talk privately.

  Not that he minded getting in a shower with Juliet for any reason.

  He undressed and entered the stall, a large walk-in one with granite tiles and a clear glass door. Evan turned the water to hot to make the glass steam. He wasn’t sure if the surveillance was just audio or had a visual component, and he wanted to protect their privacy as much as he could.

  Evan tried to stay focused on the case, but found it difficult when Juliet opened the shower door a few minutes later.

  “Wow, this is nice. We should get something like this at home,” she said, loudly enough to be overheard.

  “I know. Get in here.”

  Evan wrapped his arms around her and brought her flush up against his body. He couldn’t control his reaction to her, but forced himself to concentrate on the business at hand. This might be the only time they could talk freely with one another.

  “Surveillance in the room, without a doubt. Cady wouldn’t bring us all out here otherwise,” Evan whispered in her ear, at a level that couldn’t possibly be overheard with the water falling all around them.

  Juliet nodded, but he felt her stiffen. She didn’t like the thought of someone watching her naked. Neither did he. “Sorry.”

  “Our plan is still the same, right?” she asked. “We make sure we have the highest bid when the codes become available.”

  “Yes.”

  “What about Heat
h Morel?”

  Morel complicated things, especially since Juliet was right—it seemed most likely that he was behind the emails to her.

  “We can’t let him distract us.”

  The water rushed down over both of them for long moments. “This is all hard enough for me. I’m not sure I can do it with him around. Just seeing him, knowing he has those sick details…”

  Evan skimmed his fingers up and down her spine. “I know, but you’ll have to, baby. You have to just push it aside.”

  He could feel her sigh against him. He didn’t blame her. The whole Cady case was difficult enough without Morel thrown into the mix.

  “We’ll get him, Jules. I promise. Within twenty-four hours of being back on shore, we’ll make sure Morel gets picked up for questioning. We’ll put an end to all those emails. But it will have to wait until after. Can you do that?”

  Juliet nodded her head against his chest. They stood in silence for another moment, water pouring around them. Then Evan felt her hands slide up his arms to his shoulders and link behind his neck. “I don’t want to talk about Heath Morel anymore.”

  Her body brushed up against him. Evan’s body responded in kind.

  “Do you think there’s any chance of cameras being inside this shower?” Juliet asked, planting kisses along his chest.

  “No, not with all the steam. They wouldn’t be able to see anything.”

  “Good,” she murmured, and pulled his lips down to hers.

  * * *

  AFTER THEIR SHOWER, Juliet and Evan got dressed and walked around the yacht. They strolled as if they were just enjoying being out on the Chesapeake Bay, but they really wanted to glean as much intel as possible.

  As far as Juliet could tell, the ship had five levels. The bottom one seemed to be staff quarters, the galley and the engine and maintenance areas. She and Evan hadn’t been able to get down there at all. They’d been met by an armed guard at every entrance they’d strolled by.

  The other floors held guest rooms, a large dining area, multiple decks to sit out on and enjoy the views, even a swimming pool. There was also a lounge with couches and seats. Juliet concluded that’s where the auction would probably be held.

  All and all, their walk gave them lots to see and admire, but very little info in terms of strategy.

  Now they were back in their room, dressing for dinner. Juliet tried not to let the thought of cameras spying on them from somewhere in the room bother her, but it did. She changed clothes as quickly as she could.

  Her dress wasn’t formal or particularly fancy, but Juliet knew she looked good in it. The quintessential little black dress, but in a rich plum color instead, the perfect foil for her blond hair. The dress fell to just above her knees and had a slightly naughty V neckline. Nude-colored, high-heeled sandals completed the outfit.

  “Wow.” Evan was slowly looking her up and down. “I’m not sure we’re going to make it out of this room.”

  Juliet smiled. “Too much?”

  He shook his head slowly. “No. Definitely no. Just enough.”

  Juliet loved the hungry look in Evan’s eyes. She never thought she’d let someone close enough to see that look again.

  Evan himself looked dashing in his jeans and black T-shirt, coupled with a stylish beige sports coat. He offered his arm. “Shall we go to dinner?”

  Juliet hooked her arm through his. It was almost as if they were on a date, except for the being on board a ship miles from land, with over a dozen known criminals.

  The plan while they were at dinner was for Evan to corner Morel and make some barely veiled threats about the emails. After all, Bob was Lisa’s husband. He wouldn’t like for her to be receiving emails of that type from anyone.

  She’d already received three more since her arrival at Cady’s house this morning. The emails were escalating in number, in tone, in desperation. Juliet had turned off notifications for when she received an email, but she was still able to check them manually, which she’d done just before dinner.

  She and Evan had gone over them together. And while they no longer caused that sick feeling of dread to course through her, she still hated reading them. Especially hated the word sweetheart.

  Hopefully, Bob’s talk with Morel would eliminate the email problem altogether, or at least while they were working this case.

  Dinner went smoothly, with Vince Cady announcing that the auction for the different items, including the drone codes, would take place the next afternoon. After dinner, they were herded, gently and tastefully, of course, by the staff into the large sitting room. It opened out to the water and people milled around with their drinks and desserts.

  Juliet spoke with Maria Cady for a while, mostly just polite chitchat. The woman seemed very tight-lipped. Juliet wondered how much she knew about her husband’s business. Did she know what was really going on here? Did she deliberately turn a blind eye? Ultimately, it wouldn’t really matter.

  Juliet noticed Evan talking to Morel across the room. Part of her wanted to go over and stand by Evan while he let Morel have it, but the bigger part of her wanted to stay away from the man completely. Just looking at him brought up memories of the Avilo brothers, making her stomach turn.

  Juliet gave a polite excuse to Maria and went to stand outside near the railing. It was peaceful out here, darker and cooler, with no need to talk or even listen to other voices. Juliet breathed in the fresh night air and her stomach settled. She could handle this.

  The sound of a match being lit just a few feet away startled her. She turned and saw Christopher Cady’s face as he brought the flame up to his slim cigar. He took a couple steps toward her.

  Juliet started to back up, but forced herself to stop.

  Don’t panic. You’re fine.

  “Enjoying the peace and quiet out here?” Christopher asked.

  He’s just a man talking to a woman. Making conversation. Don’t panic.

  But tension suffused her body. “Yeah, it’s a nice night and it got a little stuffy inside. So I decided to come out so I could be alone.” Juliet hoped he would get the hint.

  But no. Instead, Christopher took a step closer. “It’s beautiful out here, isn’t it? I love boats. They can take you to lots of private places, romantic places.”

  Juliet just stared at the man. Lisa Sinclair was married, for heaven’s sake. Was Christopher hitting on her? She took another step farther away. Unfortunately, this led her into a little more darkness.

  Even more unfortunately, Christopher took another step toward her. Juliet looked over to the main room where everyone was talking and mulling around. No one, not even Evan, was looking this way or paying her and Christopher the slightest bit of attention.

  “I think I’m going to go back inside,” Juliet said. She didn’t want to be rude to Vince Cady’s son, but didn’t want to stay out here alone with him, either. He gave her the creeps, and the sweet smell of his thin cigar soured her stomach. “Bob will wonder where I am if I stay away too long.”

  Christopher leaned forward and grabbed her arm where it rested on the railing. “Bob is a fool to allow you to be out here alone at all. No one should leave a woman as beautiful as you unattended.”

  Juliet’s panic spiked at the feel of Christopher’s hand on her. But she forced herself to ease away rather than yank. “I have to go.”

  “I would like you to stay and talk to me. I can tell you more about the boat. There’s lots of interesting facts about it you don’t know. Of course, some are better shown.”

  Juliet turned away. “No, thanks.”

  But Christopher wasn’t interested in taking no for an answer. He grabbed her arm again, just above the elbow. Juliet cringed, her flesh crawling. She forced herself to take a cleansing breath in through her nose and out through her mouth. “I’m really not interested. Please just lea
ve me alone.”

  Christopher’s darkly handsome face took on a cruel look. “I’m Vince Cady’s son. If you want any sort of chance at winning the auction tomorrow it would be in your best interest to be nice to me.”

  What he said was probably true, but Juliet didn’t care. She couldn’t stay there with him even a minute longer without retching all over the place. She twisted out of his hold. “I have to go.”

  This time Christopher grabbed her shoulder in a painful grip. Juliet’s reflexes took over. She turned slightly into the stronger man’s grasp, then rammed her elbow into his solar plexus. She heard the breath whoosh out of him, but didn’t stop. Instead, she grabbed his arm with both hands, pulled him closer and, with a yank and shift of her body weight, flipped him over her back.

  Before Juliet even realized what she was doing, Christopher Cady lay gasping on the yacht’s wooden deck, staring up at the sky.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  It happened faster than she thought possible. Juliet still held Christopher’s wrist, now in a grip that would allow her to break bones if he tried anything else. Reflexes still in full-alert mode, she looked around for any potential threats.

  But all she saw was Evan rushing toward them. And a dozen concerned faces behind him. And the Cady security team.

  “Hey, what’s going on here? Lisa, is everything all right?” Evan asked her.

  She immediately let go of Christopher’s hand. Awareness of the situation crept into her brain. Oh no, what had she done? Probably just cost them the case, maybe worse.

  Evan stepped around Christopher and stood right in front of Juliet, offering them a little bit of privacy from the prying eyes with his body. “You okay, honey?”

  He trailed a finger down her cheek, but didn’t try to embrace her. Juliet appreciated the distance. “He grabbed me and instincts just took over. I’m so sorry.” She stared down at her feet.

  Evan tipped her chin up with one finger. “It’ll be fine. He shouldn’t have grabbed you.” Evan took his sports coat off and wrapped it around her shoulders. Juliet didn’t even realize she had been trembling. She snuggled into the warmth.