“Got it.” Kent made a note on a piece of paper. “Driver’s license, new social security number, the works.” He glanced up at the men. “All of them do, when you think about it. I’ll have the secretaries get on that today.”
“I’d like a tough name when you do,” I said. “Not a pansy name like Brittany. Something tough and cool, like Alexa, Megan, Sierra, or Kate if that’s not asking too much.”
“Got it.” Kent began writing, watching what he wrote.
“Are there any other requests?” Dr. White asked.
Jim scoffed, glancing over at me. “Unreal. You have Kent tied around your little finger.”
“No.” I leaned over to Jim. “Kent is still angry at me, I think,” I whispered.
“What was that comment?” Dr. White asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing that needs to be discussed. Ever.”
“Yes, it does.” The man was so snotty, I wanted to jump up and smack him, but he kept talking. “If we don’t work out all interpersonal issues when they first arise, they’ll fester. Tell us, Harley, what’s on your mind?”
“No, sir. This meeting’s too important right now. There’s information that needs to be discussed about the case.”
Kent looked up from his paper. “What’s going on? What did I miss?”
“Harley thinks you’re angry with her,” Dr. White muttered.
He stared right at me. “I’m not angry with anyone. What makes you think that?”
“Nothing,” I said. “Let’s continue with this meeting, please?”
“I want to talk to you after this is over,” Kent said, and turned to Jim. “Alone.”
Jim moved his head so he could only see me, sporting a smirk. He’d pay for that.
We went through what we knew and what was happening in the town. Kent and Dr. White made notes, and Kent finally made closing remarks. “Harley, I want you at that funeral. If they’re going to get you, they’re going to get you, and we’d rather be on this. I’ll be showing up, and I know Dr. White wants to see this place, first-hand. Do we know what water has been tainted?”
“Not yet,” Jim said. “Everything’s been tested in town, and no water is showing up as drugged. We’re stuck on that one.”
“Find out,” Kent said. “It sounds like it’s going to be delivered before four, so I want to know what’s causing it before that, even if it means going to every faucet and finding out. Maybe checking at the main water supply would be a good idea. I also want to know where the terrorists are staying. I heard from Jordan today and he’s been making new friends. Tilvin’s invited him to a party tonight, to some sort of indoctrination into his group, whatever that means.”
“Where’s he working?”
“I think he’s at the grocery store,” Kent said. “Working for Peter Arsenic.”
“Is Peter working?” I asked.
“Nope,” Dr. White said. “According to Jordan, he’s drunk all the time and now thinks people are following him. He’s gone over the deep end.”
“I can talk to him,” Damon said.
Dr. White nodded. “Good. The deputy need to see if he’s a threat to society.”
Kent looked over at Jim. “Get everyone out there, and I want answers today. Harley’s going to be kidnapped at six, and I’m not sure where they’ll lure her before that.” He turned toward Chris. “You need to help Harley. Bring her in to help with the funeral, since she quit. But in no way do I want her alone.” He turned toward me. “I don’t want you on the books at the funeral home, but your flight has been delayed out of town or something. You can stay at the funeral home, because I want these guys tipping their hands.” He faced Jim again. “Is the tracking device operational?”
“Not yet, but as soon as we get back, I’ll give it to Harley.”
It made me wonder what he was talking about.
“Fine. Any other questions?” Kent asked.
No one said anything.
“Dismissed, except for Harley. Go get lunch at the diner next door. Jim, order Harley something. She’ll be a few minutes.”
He nodded, glancing at me as he stood up. Everyone left except for Kent and me.
“Come up here,” he said, pulling out a chair. “I need to talk to my old and new employee.”
“Yes, sir.” I stood up and walked toward the front of the room.
“Oh, no,” he said. “No sirs. You never called me sir at the U.N., and you’ll not call me that now. We’re equals.”
“I don’t think so. I’m a rookie and you’re the boss.” I moved the chair away from him slightly and sat down, crossing my arms.
He stared at me for a moment. “Something’s going on and I want to know what it is.”
“The last time I spoke with you, you blamed me for the problems in New York and the problem at the hospital. It was me they were after. I had risked many lives, just by living. Those were your words to me, and you never spoke to me afterward. What would you think if you were me?”
He was quiet for a moment. “I see. I wasn’t happy that day, but it had nothing to do with you. I’m sorry I took it out on you, though. The hospital was being surrounded by DHS agents, and we’d blocked off the entire floor. But the Russians seemed determined on getting to you. I didn’t know why, and figured you must be holding some sort of secret from us. That’s why you were in holding for six months, to see if you’d crack. That’s why you were hypnotized more than once and forced to do a year’s worth of training in six months. That’s why we put you through the paces, more than anyone else.”
“Including the sleep deprivation?”
“Yes. We studied you around the clock, but you never told us anything, even when we tortured you.”
“But that torture was to prepare me for being an agent.”
He shook his head. “Not like we did it for you. You know nothing. There’s no reason they’d be following you, and your real alliance is with the United States. I couldn’t apologize at the time, because I was sure you were a sleeper for the bad guys. But now, I think I was wrong. No one knows what I suspected, not even Jim. So I don’t want any of that information going to him or anyone else. If you are a sleeper, you don’t even know it yourself.”
“How could I be a sleeper terrorist?”
He grinned. “You’d be amazed. This mind control they’re using on Señora Bonita is child’s play, compared to what the terrorists use overseas. You wouldn’t know anything happened until it was too late.”
“So why make me an agent? I thought you were keeping me in that room to protect me.”
“We were, but also to test you. We made you an agent to keep you close to us. But I was wrong. You’re right…you can get a job somewhere else and I understand your frustration.” He leaned closer, his face growing determined. “But Harley, if you look at what you’ve done for us in this town, it’s far greater than anyone else on the team. You’re an asset, and with your language skills, a double asset. I want you to learn more, and eventually, want you to be on the same level with Jim. The DHS hasn’t been in existence that long, compared to the other agencies, but we’ll be forming teams and you and Jim will be together. You work well with him, and even if you are pregnant, it won’t hinder either of your performances.”
“He told you I thought I was pregnant?”
“He tells me a lot.” He sat back. “He suspected you in New York, but after he got to know you, he told me you’re solid. Otherwise, he never would’ve married you and he would’ve disappeared.”
“But if you want to keep your enemies close, wouldn’t he?”
Kent shook his head. “Jim doesn’t work that way. He never keeps his enemies close, because he’d always be studying them. But with you, he trusts you, or he’d never be able to sleep. Just know this. You’re an asset to this team, probably more than anyone realizes. Now today, I want you to play the helpless female when you’re kidnapped. I don’t want them thinking you’re an agent. Got it?”
“But they already think I’m an
agent.” Duh. They used my name when they called me.
“Maybe, but maybe not. I don’t want them thinking you are. Even if your life’s in danger, play the dumb female. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“No sirs and I’m not angry. I want to take you and Jim out to eat sometime, just to prove it to you.”
That would never happen, if I had anything to say about it. I didn’t trust the guy, because I knew he still didn’t trust me. I was still the enemy to him.
“Is there anything else?” I asked.
“No.” He stood up with me and put his hand on my shoulder as if consoling me. Hardly. But I couldn’t be mean.
He moved his hand away and we both headed to the diner next door. He made small talk along the way, but my mind was a million miles away. I was a threat to national security, with no way of proving otherwise.
Chapter 32
I was quiet at lunch, still trying to deal with not being trusted. The other guys were talking strategy, but I just listened. I wasn’t involved in what they were doing, but was more interested to know if I had something stored in my brain that I didn’t know about. I didn’t like not knowing and keeping it all from Jim. I wanted to see what he thought, but if I did, he’d suspect and I’d get in trouble. The best thing I could do would be to put it all out of my mind—but that was impossible.
After I’d taken a few bites, I was done. My stomach was doing flip-flops, thinking that the entire United States government was studying my every move. I sat back with various problems resting on my shoulders while everyone else laughed and had a good time.
“Remember when we met you in Vermont?” Jim asked Dr. White.
“Yes, I do.” He looked over at me. “You were really angry that night.”
I said nothing, but just studied each person. What did they all know about me? Was it common knowledge that I wasn’t to be trusted?
Jim leaned toward me. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.” My eyes went toward Kent, watching him laugh with Damon and Chris. How could he be so nonchalant when he knew I was upset and suspected me of something I could never do? What kind of evil person was he? I couldn’t even talk to Jim about it.
A hand flew up and down in front of my face. “Earth to Harley.”
I turned toward Jim. “Huh?”
“Are you okay?”
Dr. White stared at me, his eyebrows lowered as if analyzing me.
“I’m fine.” I checked my watch. “We need to get moving if I’m to get kidnapped.”
“It’s only noon,” Kent said. “You have a few hours.”
“Not really. We have to get dressed and set up for the thing.” I stood up and looked over at Chris. “Are you ready to go?”
He chugged his soda and stood up. “Sure. I hate to eat and run, but we have a job to do.” As he approached me, I shot Kent a dirty look and he noticed. At least he’d better notice. No one messed with my life like that and got away with it. I intended to get my life back, regardless of what the government thought about it.
Chris and I went out to his car, and he sat in the driver’s seat.
“Aren’t you going to check for bugs?” I whispered, still standing outside the car.
“In Hachita?”
I nodded. “Yes. Definitely.”
He sighed, got out of his seat, grabbed a wand from the trunk, and waved it all over the car and both of us. When he got closer to me, the thing beeped, and I just shook my head. Kent had done it again.
Chris’ eyes met mine and he nodded. He moved it toward my shoulder and picked off a small bugging device. He stepped away from the car and put it on the ground. Once he returned, he ran the wand over me and back over the car once more, but nothing beeped. We both got inside and shut our doors.
As soon as we were away from the restaurant, he glanced over toward me. “What was that all about?”
“It was one of ours, I’m sure. It’s a long story, but it’s going to be an uphill climb proving myself to these guys.”
“Are you sure?”
“Kent told me himself.”
“Does Jim know this?”
“No, and I’m not allowed to tell him. I shouldn’t even be telling you. For all I know, this car’s bugged with some new technology.”
“You may not be allowed to tell him, but I can. What exactly did he say to you?”
“He thought I was a sleeper terrorist. He doesn’t trust me, which is why they put me through the ringer for the past six months with hypnosis, torture, and everything else. I thought it was normal stuff and just put it out of my mind. But it was nasty.” I paused for a moment. “If your employer didn’t trust you, what would you do?”
“Well, you and Jim could quit and start a nice doctor’s practice somewhere. I think he’d be happier, but I know none of us would. You’re an integral part of this team, and without you, we’d be so far behind in this mission, it wouldn’t be funny. I think Kent’s an idiot for thinking what he’s thinking and shouldn’t have mentioned a thing.”
“If you tell Jim, explain that I can’t discuss it. Someone sees it as necessary to bug me and I don’t like it one bit.”
“Got it.”
He drove us to the mortuary and I approached Mr. Moody. “My flight’s been delayed, so I can stay to help you out.”
“Good.” His smile grew. “I know of some people who’ll be very happy you’re at their funerals.”
“Really?”
“Sure. The sheriff thought you were a great asset to the team.”
“But I never met the man.”
“He knew who you were.” He took me upstairs. The place had been turned into a huge room, with a stage for the casket at the far long side, and the stairs in the middle of the back.
Mr. Moody pointed toward the stage. “The casket will be there and the flowers need to be placed on each side. I need chairs set up for the audience. Can you handle that?”
“Sure.” I headed to the side of the room and started to set up the chairs. It was a boring job, but at least I could think and be alone.
“Busy?” I heard.
I turned around and saw Jim at the doorway. He winked, walked over to me, and pulled a wand from his pocket. After he ran it over me, he put it away. “Talk to me.”
“I’m not allowed. Did you talk to Chris?”
“Yep. And you are allowed. Kent should know that, too, because I’m not only your husband but your boss.” He ushered me to a chair and sat beside me, leaning closer. “What exactly happened?” he whispered.
I told him everything, even what had happened while I was held in captivity. “Kent’s going to make life miserable for me.”
“I’m not sure it’s all coming from Kent. Dr. White would’ve ordered some of it,” he said. “I have friends over Kent’s head. Want me to initiate an investigation?”
“No. It’s not worth it. They’re going to keep bugging me until I prove my loyalty.”
“You’ve never shown anything but loyalty. What do they want from you?”
“I’m not sure.” I had to know. “Do you think I’m a sleeper?”
“No. You’re too stubborn to be a sleeper. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You’re working with me, so I’m the one who decides what happens to you.”
“But you couldn’t do anything about when I was in training. You could barely get in to see me.”
“No, I couldn’t, because you were training. But when you were assigned to me, you became my responsibility. You’re doing a great job and I’m going to have to take action somehow.”
“Don’t get me in trouble. You’re not supposed to know about any of this.”
“No, but I have to protect you from two different angles. And if you’re pregnant, that makes three. So let me handle this, Harley, and you worry about your job. I love you and I’ll do my best to keep you out of the line of fire.”
“Got it.” I stood up and continued setting up chairs. “I want to get a shower and get dressed befor
e these funerals. Can you take me to your place so I can do that?”
“Sure.” He helped me with the chairs and we headed downstairs.
“Chris, I’m going to get a shower and get ready for the funerals,” I said as we passed the front desk. “I’ll be back.”
“Good. This place will be hopping soon.”
Probably literally when nightfall came.
We drove to the house, where Vic was eating a sandwich. “Busy?” Jim asked.
“All morning. What’s up with these people? They’re going through withdrawal or something.”
“Is that right?” Jim grabbed some bottled water from the refrigerator and handed it to me. “I want you to drink that and then drink another one. I saw what you didn’t eat at lunch and you need to at least drink something.”
“Yes, sir.” I opened the water and drank the whole thing as I went upstairs. Jim stayed with Vic, and I entered the bedroom, shedding clothes as I went. After a nice warm shower, I dried myself off and dressed in a black dress with black heels. I brushed out my hair and let it hang on my shoulders. If I was going to be kidnapped, I wanted to look good, at least. Since there were going to be a bunch of funerals, I packed a bag with another dress, matching hose, and shoes, just in case I poured flowers and water on myself or something. It was always good to be prepared.
Jim entered the bedroom and handed me another bottle of water. “Ready to go back? It’s almost one-thirty.”
I downed the bottle in one long gulp. “Sure.”
“Nervous?”
“Not really. Am I overdressed?” I asked, looking down. “What do I wear to a kidnapping?” I lifted the bag in my hands. “I have another outfit if I need it.”
“You’re fine. You shouldn’t know if you’re being kidnapped, so anything goes. Now, remember, act like a girl. I don’t want any heroics from my sweetheart, especially since you’re dressed like that.”
We went downstairs and he steered me toward the doctor’s office. “One last thing.” He took my hand and we both entered an examining room. He left, returning a few moments later with a syringe in his hand. He wiped my skin, shot me with whatever was in the thing, and put a bandage over the wound. “That’s your tracking device. We’re hoping the bad guys won’t take you, but if they do, we’ll know where you are.”
Murders on the Edge Page 19