Covered in Darkness

by Heather Sunseri

  “Thorough?” I pulled away from him and crossed my arms. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying, Director Fairfax, that this situation is looking more and more like a terrorist situation, which means it’s a matter for federal agents. For the FBI, more specifically, as we are the lead cyber terrorism authority. But we appreciate your help.”

  “Ah. And I’m not FBI.” I cupped my hand over my mouth in an attempt to wipe the smile from my lips. “You’re shutting me out because your feelings are hurt that I quit FBI to work for Homeland Security.”

  “Kentucky Homeland Security,” he said. Clearly he viewed this as an insult.

  “Well, Director Waller, since my fusion center and all it has to offer are not good enough for the likes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, by all means, take my assessment and head on back to Louisville. How did you get here, by the way?”

  He smiled down at me.

  “I drove him in my car,” Ty said, sheepishly.

  “Oh. Well, unfortunately for my father, I need you here now.” I kept my eyes pinned to my father’s. “If you’d like to call a car service, feel free to use my office.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I have an agent on his way to pick me up.” He smiled. “It’s good to see you, Brooke.”

  He leaned in to kiss me on the cheek, but I pulled away.

  His lips thinned. “You should call your mom. Better yet, you should go visit her.”

  Chapter 22

  By the time Declan and Ty had talked me into returning to Shaughnessy Farm—if for no other reason than to shower off the rest of blood, body tissue, and bomb residue, and change my clothes—I had worked up an enormous attitude.

  Though I wasn’t happy about it, they’d been right. There was nothing I could do for the investigation at the moment. LMPD was already looking into everything related to Sam’s disappearance. They’d been to her house, fingerprinted the hell out of everything both there and at the barn, and they were also searching for any Russian travelers, going on the assumption that these terrorists had only recently flown here.

  I paced in front of the wall of windows at the back of Declan’s living room. “How dare my father come in and insinuate that I had no business investigating cyber terrorists attacking my state,” I yelled to Declan, who was in the kitchen.

  He muttered an “uh-huh” and said “you’re right” while I ranted.

  “Are you even listening to me?” I got a whiff of something and headed toward the kitchen. “And what is that smell?” I stopped just inside the doorway.

  He had somehow, in a matter of minutes, begun sautéeing vegetables. He placed a large pot on another burner.

  He smiled up at me. “You need to eat.” He pulled a couple of jars from the fridge, then reached into a cabinet for several spices.

  Relaxing a bit, I sauntered over to the island and sat on a stool. I watched him combine ingredients to create some sort of sauce much the same way I suspected he combined chemicals in his laboratory.

  “Thank you for being there today,” I said. “Especially when those assholes tossed me out of their van.” Anger seeped into the second sentence.

  He stopped mixing and looked up at me. “Why did you stay with Blake when you knew she had a bomb?”

  “What was I supposed to do? Leave her?” I said. “Clear the building, but leave her to fend for herself? I saw the terror on her face. She needed my help.”

  He started mixing again. His eyes lowered, but I was sure I saw a flash of anger before they did. “No, I guess not.” He set the bowl aside to tend to the sautéeing vegetables again. Without looking at me, he said, “Would you like a glass of wine? Might help you relax.”

  I slid off the stool and skirted around the island. His back was to me. He tensed when I slid my good arm around his waist. I lay my head against his back. “I’m sorry I worried you today. But you know—”

  He turned toward me. “Don’t tell me it’s part of your job. I already know that. And I’ve told you many times that I’ve accepted that. Doesn’t mean I can’t take a moment to work through the panic it created inside me.”

  With my hands linked together at his back, I looked up at him. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  He kissed my forehead. “How about that wine? I’ve got a lovely Pinot Grigio chilling in the wine fridge.”

  I nodded to what he was cooking. “Will that keep?”

  “Of course.”

  “In that case, I’d really like to go for a jog before I eat. I have way too much negative energy—I’d like to purge it by pounding the pavement. And then a glass of wine and food sounds great.”

  “Want company? Wouldn’t be my first choice of methods for releasing pent-up energy… but I’d do it for you.” His lips curved into a sly grin.

  I returned the smile. “I’m pretty sure I’ve got plenty of energy to release. After a jog, some dinner and wine, and maybe a bath? I think I’ll still have plenty of energy left over for whatever you have in mind.”

  “You gonna use the gym?”

  “No, I think I’ll get some fresh air. I’ll stay on the farm, though.”

  Worry lines formed between his brows, and I knew he was thinking of how Romeo had come onto the property. I didn’t think Romeo would harm me—that would take all the fun out of the games he was playing—but those games themselves were enough cause for concern.

  “I’ll be fine,” I said. “Your alarms will alert us to any movement on the perimeter of the farm. And I’ll take my new phone.”

  “Fine. I’ll keep dinner warm.”

  I stood on my toes and gave him a soft kiss. “I won’t be long.”

  I ran at a faster clip than usual along the one-lane roads around Shaughnessy Farm. A few workers were on duty this late in the evening, mainly night watchmen who tended to the broodmares. One of them drove past me in a pickup truck with Declan’s signature jockey silk painted on the side of the door. He gave me a small wave as he passed.

  As I ran, it was refreshing to let my mind wander to less stressful topics. I thought of the very expensive colt Declan had bought as a gift for me. Most men gave their girlfriends flowers or something else simple, but not Declan. I smiled as I thought about Aidan’s face when I told him I would consider using his training services. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he knew how special the colt out of Lily’s Blossom was. He couldn’t wait to train him.

  It was still near ninety degrees, and the sun was just touching the edge of the horizon as I rounded a corner by the main broodmare barn and headed for the cottage on the back of the farm—the cottage Declan said had storm damage. If I were to keep going, I would dead-end at one of the back gates—a gate that could only be opened with a secure phone app.

  I slowed in front of the cottage, then came to a complete stop. I bent over at the waist, placing my hands on my knees to steady myself. Running away my stress had worked, mostly. By running so fast I could barely breathe without intense concentration, I had forced myself to block out everything that had happened today. Even though it was only a temporary reprieve, it was nice to push away the anger I felt at my father over his condescending behavior toward me. He had undermined my abilities in front of Ty, Jude, and Declan.

  I completely understood that this was a case for federal agents, but to act like I couldn’t be a beneficial part of the team was insulting, and my father knew it. And that was exactly why he did it. He was punishing me for leaving the Bureau. Just like he had punished me when I changed my name before applying for the Academy. He had made sure that every instructor inside the Academy knew that I was his daughter—and he told them to be especially hard on me. Though he would never admit it, his feelings had been hurt, and he made sure I knew it.

  To keep my muscles from tightening, I straightened and walked toward the cottage. This was one of three guesthouses on Shaughnessy Farm, including the house for Declan’s farm manager, and David’s modest home. The cottage was the farthest away from the main entran
ce and the main house.

  The final moments of the sunset reflected off the front windows as I approached. A gutter hung loose, probably damaged in the storm, and paint was chipping on parts of the trim. The porch could use a makeover, but for the most part, it was a quaint farmhouse with strong bones. It just needed some love and attention.

  Curious, I stepped up onto the covered front porch. The wood was rotting in places, so I stepped carefully as I moved to one of the front windows. Cupping my hands against the glass, I looked in. It was too dark to see much of anything. So I turned and leaned against the windowsill and admired the view to the west. The sky reflected a canvas of pinks and oranges, painted by the master artist.

  As I watched the sun sink farther out of sight, I thought how much this house needed a porch swing for sunsets like this, or to watch approaching storms from the same direction.

  A sound to one side of the cottage made me flinch. I straightened, then eased along the front of the house, staying against the brick so that I could look around to the side.

  When I peeked around the corner, I glimpsed a figure darting behind the house. Because he or she was in the shadows, and because I only saw the figure for a split second, I saw nothing more than its human shape, but of course my first thought was Romeo. Had he snuck onto the property unnoticed?

  I jogged to the opposite side of the porch.

  My phone vibrated in the special pouch I used for running, but I ignored it as I peered around the opposite side of the house. I saw no one. I stepped off into the grass and eased along the side of the house.

  The phone vibrated again. I pulled it from my pouch. Of course it was Declan.

  I swiped at the screen and had just put the phone to my ear when a voice spoke behind me. “Don’t turn around. I have a gun pointed at your back.” A male voice, southern accent. Not Romeo.

  “Brooke,” Declan said from the phone, but I held it and my other hand out to the sides to show the man behind me that I was unarmed.

  “I don’t know who you are,” I said over my shoulder, “but you’re trespassing on private property.”

  “Brooke?” the male voice said, except now his accent sounded British.

  I whipped around to find Dimitri wearing nothing more than a towel tied around his waist. And he did not have a gun.

  I brought the phone back to my ear. “I’m okay. Your nutcase friend just scared the shit out of me. He’s lucky I left my gun at home.”

  “I forgot to tell you he was staying in the guest cottage.”

  “I’ll be back soon, and I think I’ll have that wine when I get back.”

  I slid my phone back into its little pouch. “Nice attire for an evening sunset,” I remarked, looking down at the towel barely hanging on Dimitri’s hips.

  His lips curved, and the arrogant smile reached all the way to the amused glint in his eyes. “If you’d like, I’ll go change, and we could watch the remainder of the sunset together.”

  I angled my head. “Are you serious?”

  “Of course. You’re obviously running from something, and I’ve been told I’m good at helping people run from things. Declan is good at finding people, but I’m the master at running and hiding.”

  “What makes you think I want to run or hide?”

  “You’re drenched in sweat right now. I suspect you ran harder than you’re used to.”

  I hated that he was right.

  “Did Declan tell you that this was where Romeo was hanging out the night he and David saw him on the security feeds?”

  I couldn’t stop the look of surprise that must have crossed my face.

  Dimitri pointed. “Right over there.”

  “Inside the fencing?”

  “Apparently.”

  “How did he breach security?”

  “He didn’t. The alarms sounded like they were supposed to. I’d say that Romeo was testing the security system.”

  “Or drawing Declan to him.”

  “It worked.”

  “Why would Declan allow me to run out here, knowing this?”

  “If he had forbid you from going for a run on the farm, would you have listened? Would you have chosen to use the treadmill in that fancy home gym of his?”

  He had a point. I wanted the fresh farm air.

  “I’m pretty sure Declan would fancy locking you up and never letting you out of his sight until Romeo is put behind bars. However, I think Declan also knows that even if we eliminate the threat of Romeo, you’d waltz right into other dangerous situations.”

  “It’s my job.”

  “And Declan is doing everything he can to respect that.” Dimitri crossed his arms, and I think he knew just how well that movement accentuated the muscles in his chest and arms. “That’s why he let you destroy the tracer I put on you today.”

  “Where did you put the second tracer, by the way?”

  “I’ll tell you if you promise to leave it where it is for now.”

  “And why would I let you track my every move?”

  “I wouldn’t normally expect you to, but until we learn more about the situation you’re investigating, I think it would be wise.”

  “Fine. Whatever.”

  He stepped to me, lifted a hand to the side of my head.

  It took everything in me not to pull away, but I let him touch the diamond earrings Declan had recently given me. “The tracer is wedged inside one of your diamond earrings.”

  I stepped back, touching my fingers to the earrings. I found myself saying, “I’ll leave it for now.”

  “You are still in a very dangerous situation, Brooke.”

  “Am I? The FBI has forbidden me from investigating any further.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to stop?”

  I smiled.

  “I didn’t think so. And even if you stop looking into these cyber attackers, that doesn’t mean Romeo won’t be lurking in the shadows everywhere you go.”

  I really had nothing to say to that, so I changed the subject. “Why are you in a towel on the back of the farm?”

  He looked down, then grinned at me again. “Declan might be giving you freedom, but since Romeo chose this spot to appear on his security cameras—the one house on his farm that is not occupied—he decided it might be good to move someone into the cottage.”

  “I thought he said this house was in disrepair.”

  Dimitri looked up at the house. “I’ve definitely stayed in worse.” He turned back to me. “I’ve stayed in better, too.” He winked, and I had no idea what he meant by it. “Declan had someone move out a lot of the junk, and David hired a cleaning crew to scrub one of the bedrooms and bathrooms. Want to see?”

  “Uh… no, thank you. I need to get back.” I glanced at the dark house—even darker now that the sun had completely disappeared below the horizon. “Do you usually move around in the dark?”

  “Well, it wasn’t dark when I started my shower. And when I heard someone stepping up onto the porch, I thought it would be easier to sneak up on him… or her… if I didn’t alert them to my presence by turning on the lights.”

  “You thought I might be Romeo,” I said.

  “It crossed my mind. Does it bother you that I’m here because Declan wants an extra pair of eyes on you, hoping that by watching you, I’ll discover Romeo?”

  I had decided a while ago that I wouldn’t object to his help in identifying Romeo. My stalker’s crimes had escalated. And the moment he opened On Liam’s Watch’s stall door, he had targeted Declan. That was unacceptable.

  Also, if I couldn’t pin him down, I would never get the chance to find out what he knew about my husband’s murder.

  “It did at first, but…” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “I’d like to see Romeo captured. And with my mind occupied on another case… let’s just say that he tends to stay hidden in the shadows. So no, it’s not currently bothering me that you’re watching my back.”

  “Good to know.”

  I opened my mouth to say
something more, thought better of it, and closed my mouth.

  “What?” Dimitri asked.

  I took in a breath and let it out slowly. “I was just going to say, I don’t want Romeo harmed before I have a chance to interrogate him myself.”

  “Won’t that be difficult now that you’re not FBI?”

  “Why does everyone keep assuming that I’m worthless somehow, now that I’m no longer a federal agent? What’s so special about that particular badge? I’m still the same analyst and investigator I always was.”

  “Indeed, I would argue you’re better off without the badge,” Dimitri said.

  “You have something against the FBI?”

  He tilted his head side to side. “Not specifically. I’ve just always enjoyed my freedom outside the constraints certain government entities impose.”

  “Constraints.” I laughed. “You mean laws?”

  “Yes. I find them… limiting.” Dimitri slid a hand down to touch the towel where it was secured. “However, if Romeo is captured by the feds, won’t it be difficult for you to interrogate him?”

  “Maybe. I have enough contacts that I will find a way. But if I were to get to him first…”

  Dimitri’s grin came quickly this time. “Sounds like you might have an appreciation for my lack of legal impediments.”

  “It might prove useful to me if I want to have a conversation with Romeo before we turn him over to the authorities.”

  I watched Dimitri’s face for a reaction. I wasn’t sure I could trust him yet, but I had gotten the sense that Declan trusted him completely, and that was a step in the right direction.

  “Which brings me to another subject,” I said. “I want to know everything you know about the Russian organization you think is behind this attack on the electric grid.” Maybe if Dimitri proved helpful with understanding these Russians, I would be one step closer to trusting him in other areas.

  “Okay. But just know that things don’t end well for people who get too close to these people.”

  “I think I got that message loud and clear when Blake Saltzman was blown up right in front of me.”