The Line: The Complete Series

by Nikki Rose

  “Okay. Thank you,” I forced a smile and hoped he would think I was just nervous about the dangerous man and not at getting caught with that man in my trunk.

  “You have a good day, now. Stay safe.”

  “You too,” I rolled up my window and pulled away once the policeman up ahead waved me on.

  I glanced back in my rearview mirror and watched as they stopped the next car. I was finally able to let out a sigh of relief when the traffic stop faded out of sight.

  “Damn that was a close one,” Mason’s voice from the backseat startled me and made me swerve into the oncoming lane. Luckily, there were no cars coming and I was able to easily correct myself.

  I glanced into the backseat to see Mason peeking out of the trunk through the pushed down middle console. My pulse pounded in my ears and I felt dizzy. My poor heart couldn’t handle so much adrenaline at once.

  “What the hell? You scared me to death,” I gripped the wheel tightly and took a deep breath. “I could have killed us both.”

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. You did well back there with the cops.”

  “Thanks. But we can’t go to the marina. It will be crawling with cops."

  “Oh, I was never going to risk showing my face there. You're going in for me. I can’t be seen until we get some proof.”

  “I'm—whoa, I did not sign up for this. I'm not a detective or anything. I don’t know what I’m doing or what I'd be looking for. This is a bad idea.”

  “It’s a shot in the dark but, just go to the marina. You can talk to me on the phone while you walk around. Maybe you’ll see or hear something if you can get close to the police. Just pretend that you are a curious onlooker.”

  "I don't know about this."

  "We could always just go back to your place and wait it out there. I'm sure the truth will come out... eventually. But, you're okay with me hanging out there for a few weeks, right?

  "Weeks?" I asked with exasperation.

  "A few months, tops."

  "Months?" I gasped, glancing back at him in the rear-view mirror but he just shrugged.

  “Okay,” I sighed and headed toward the marina.

  “Do you have a Bluetooth?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Wear that and keep me on the phone. That way it's not so obvious that you are on the phone but if someone seems suspicious, just say you're on the phone with your boyfriend. Pretend you are telling him about some accident at the marina.”

  “My boyfriend?”

  “Yeah. A hotty like you? They’d suspect more if you said you were single.” I glanced back at him in my rearview mirror and he was smirking at me in that sexy way he did but I just rolled my eyes.

  I found a parking spot away from the security cameras at a shopping center near the marina like Mason told me to. I’d have to walk a block and a half but it was worth it to avoid getting caught. I unbuckled my seatbelt, placed my Bluetooth on my ear, and took a deep breath.

  “Just remember to keep calm. Breathe. And, if you have to use your cover story, believe it yourself and they will believe you. Don’t give too many details, but try not to be too vague either.”

  “Oh sure. That sounds simple enough,” I let out a nervous chuckle.

  “It’ll be fine.”

  I glanced back at him in the mirror and nodded before climbing out of the car. As I was walking down the sidewalk, Mason’s deep voice rumbled in my ear.

  “Can you hear me?”

  “Yes,” I mumbled quietly, trying not to be too obvious.

  “Good. Remember to relax and stay calm. I’m right here.”

  “Yeah, stuck in a trunk and unable to show your face. I’m sure you’ll be a lot of help.”

  “I can help talk you through things and keep you calm.”

  “I’m not sure anything could keep me calm right now. I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my chest.”

  “Try to take your mind off of everything. You are just out enjoying the marina. Think of something else, while keeping an eye and an ear out for anything about Friday night.”

  “Think of something else? That’s easier said than done.”

  “Should I talk dirty to you?”

  “What?” I stumbled on the curb but caught myself. I could hear Mason laughing on the other end of the line.

  "Are you okay? What happened?”

  “Your little comment about had me face planting on the sidewalk,” I mumbled irritably.

  “Well that’s definitely convincing that you aren’t up to something. Most spies don’t stumble over their own feet. Or blush like crazy when someone brings up the idea of talking dirty.”

  “What makes you think I’m blushing?”

  “I can hear it in your voice.”

  “How can you hear blushing?”

  “Special training.”

  “Oh, they spend time training you how to hear if someone is blushing? That seems like a waste of my hard-earned tax dollars to me.”

  “They teach us how to hear various voice afflictions. They also teach us how to read micro expressions, body language...” his voice dropped lower to almost a seductive tone on the last part and I swallowed hard.

  “Body language really comes in handy in all aspects of life, though, not just work. For instance, when I’m making love to a woman, knowing how to read her body language means she never has to tell me what she wants. Her body does the talking for me.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yes. So, if I do something like kiss that soft spot just behind her ear and her body trembles, I’ll notice. Even if it's the smallest tremor. And, I’ll know she likes it which gives me the green light to move my kiss down ever so slightly, trailing kisses down her slender neck and over her collarbone. All the while, running my hand slowly up her thigh, letting my touch warm her skin. And as I do, I’ll notice the way her breathing changes as she becomes aroused. That will spur me on, knowing she wants me to continue my path on her body. My lips trailing down, my hand trailing up...”

  I became lost in the sensual image he painted with his words. I ran my tongue over my lips. My mouth felt dry, my heart beat harder but my body was relaxed.

  “Are you almost there?” He rumbled low.

  “Huh? What?” I blinked and shook my head. I’d been walking down the sidewalk, lost in a haze.

  “To the marina. Are you almost there?” I could have sworn I heard a smile in his voice.

  “Yes,” I breathed out. “I’m here.”

  “Good. Are you more relaxed than before?” he was definitely smiling.

  “I don’t know, maybe a little.”

  “Good. Now, hold on to that relaxed feeling. We should try not to talk too much right now so you can focus on what you hear or see. Keep it to short observations if you see anything noteworthy.”

  “Okay.” I managed to bring my focus back to the mission. It wasn’t lost on me how easily I’d been drawn in to Mason’s words, his sensual deep voice. I didn’t have time to contemplate the fact that I hadn’t been with anyone in over a year or that I was wound so tight that if someone ever caressed me the way he talked about, I’d probably snap like a rubber band.

  CHAPTER 6

  Hana

  There was a lot of commotion going on at one side of the marina. Police tape took up the space of three boats and several official looking people with scowls, studied the remains of the charred boat. I walked down the steps that brought me to the walkway in front of the water and tried to listen to what they were saying.

  “I’m near the explosion site,” I whispered into my Bluetooth.

  “Okay, good. Try to listen in for any information we don’t already know.”

  “Okay.”

  “Remember to stay calm. You are just a curious observer.”

  I nodded, like he could actually see me and walked a little closer to the crime tape.

  “It looks like a pretty simplistic explosive,” a very official looking man in a navy-blue suit told two men who looked more
like bodybuilders than detectives one dressed in all black, the other in jeans and a casual white shirt. I turned to the side, trying not to look too interested as I listened in on their conversation.

  “Seems he placed the bomb near the rear of the vessel which was an odd choice.”

  “How so?” the more intense looking man in all black crossed his arms and listened intently.

  “Well, obviously the bomb was strong enough that no matter where a person was on the ship, they weren’t going to make it out alive but if he had been going for maximum damage, it would have been more efficient to place the bomb at the front, closer to the cabin space and the bridge. If the bomber had done that, we’d probably need dental records to I.D. the victim. Instead, he was killed but DNA and even some fingerprints were still intact even after the fire.”

  “Carlile is an explosives expert. He would know exactly where to place a bomb for maximum impact. This couldn’t have been him,” the second man interjected.

  “Who is Carlile?” I whispered into the Bluetooth.

  “Me,” Mason answered quickly. “It’s my last name.”

  “Unless he knew exactly what he was doing,” the official looking detective spoke confidently. “Maybe there’s something here he wanted us to find, or maybe he intentionally made it look like something he wouldn’t do to throw us off his trail in which case you guys are playing right into his hand.”

  “What would his motivation have been?” the man in all black almost growled.

  “Could have been money, maybe blackmail? Or maybe his CI found out something he didn’t want him to know.”

  “That’s a bit of a reach,” the second man argued. “Excuse me for a moment.”

  I listened, relaying back the details until a voice close by startled me.

  “Excuse me ma’am?”

  I whirled around to see the man in jeans standing close to me.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I noticed you hanging around. Have you seen this man by any chance?” He pulled up a photo of Mason on his phone. The same one the officer at the traffic stop had shown me.

  “No, I’m sorry. I can’t say that I have.”

  He ducked under the police tape and stepped a bit closer to me. “What brings you out to the marina today?”

  “I was just out for a walk. I saw all the commotion and thought I’d see what was going on.”

  “I see. And, were you talking to someone a moment ago?”

  “Uh, no. There’s been no one around me.” I looked around nervously, hoping he would drop it and let me go.

  “I mean on the phone. Are you wearing an earpiece?” He moved my hair out of the way, exposing my Bluetooth which was still lit up on the call with Mason.

  “Oh, yeah. I called my boyfriend to tell him that there was some kind of accident down here. But I should probably go get out of the way so you guys can do your work.”

  I tried to turn away but the man grabbed me by the forearm and pulled me back close, whispering angrily in my ear, “What are you up to? Who do you work for?”

  I tensed as fear rushed through me. I glanced around but no one seemed to notice us. “Nothing. I’m not up to anything. I was just curious.”

  “You’re lying. I can tell you are lying. What do you know?”

  “Nothing,” I spoke desperately and prayed he’d let me go.

  Mason’s voice broke through on the earpiece. I’d almost forgotten he was listening in. “Chris?”

  “Chris?” I questioned Mason without thinking about the other man being able to hear but he froze.

  “How do you know my name?”

  “I—uh,” I wasn’t sure how to answer but luckily, I had Mason in my ear.

  “It’s okay. Chris is a friend. He’s part of my unit. Get him to come with you back to the car. We need to talk.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay? I asked how you know my name,” Chris demanded.

  Knowing Chris was a friend of Mason’s helped to calm my nerves. My voice calmer now, I whispered so only he could hear, “I need you to come with me. Mason needs to talk to you. Privately.”

  “Mason? You know where he is?”

  I nodded and motioned with my head for Chris to follow me. He turned back to the man he was with and gave him a nod before following me. We walked as casually as we could, trying not to draw attention to ourselves as I led Chris to my car.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To my car.”

  “Which is where, exactly?”

  “I parked a block away to avoid the security cameras. We’re almost there.”

  “And how do you know Mason?”

  “He broke into my house and held me captive last night,” I spoke casually about the event that had in the moment, terrified me, but now, knowing who Mason was and what he was doing, made me feel like I’d blown the whole thing out of proportion.

  Chris’s steps sputtered to a stop on the sidewalk just outside the parking lot.

  “He did what?”

  I let out a small chuckle, “he needed a place to hide out for the night while we figured things out.”

  “So, you just let some stranger into your home to hide out from the cops?” Chris asked suspiciously.

  “No, he didn’t give me much of a choice since he zip tied me to a chair.”

  “He zip tied you?”

  “I guess I didn’t give him much choice to be fair. I did attack him with a lamp.”

  “A lamp? I’m still trying to get my head around him breaking in and holding you captive. Are you sure we are talking about the same man?”

  “I guess we’re about to find out. He’s just over there,” I motioned to my car and Chris followed.

  We got to the car and Chris glanced through the windows and eyed me suspiciously. “There’s no one here. What kind of game are you playing here?”

  “Tell him that people could be watching and to get in the backseat so we can talk.”

  “Mason said that people could be watching. You need to get in the backseat so you two can talk.”

  “You must think I’m an idiot. I’m not getting in your car.”

  “He’s not—” I started into the Bluetooth but Mason interrupted.

  “Give him the earpiece.”

  “Okay,” I took the Bluetooth off my ear and handed it to Chris but I could only hear one side of the conversation.

  “Hello? Mason? Damn boy what is going on here? Okay, okay.” Chris handed the earpiece back to me and climbed into the backseat of the car while I took my spot in the driver seat.

  Mason pushed open the middle console from the trunk and Chris nearly jumped out of the car.

  “Shit. Asshole. What the hell are you doing in there?”

  “Hiding.”

  “Obviously. What the hell happened?”

  “Try to act casual and don’t keep looking down at me. Listen, Chris. You know I didn’t do what they are saying I did.”

  “Yeah, I know that but I don’t know how to prove you didn’t. Hunter and I are working on it but whoever set you up did a good job of it and the police have your name now.”

  “Shit. Our best bet is to try to find the look-a-like. If we can find him, we can prove that it wasn’t me who placed the bomb.”

  “I’ll get the guys to canvas the area. Maybe someone saw something from the night he planted the bomb.”

  “They said it was a simple design?”

  “How’d you—oh, the little bird in the front seat told you.”

  I glanced back at them using the rearview mirror but they continued.

  “We sent the scraps to the lab for analysis but I’m afraid there’s not a lot to go on.”

  “I’m sure a fingerprint would be too much to ask for.”

  “Chances are if someone went this far to set you up, they’d think to wear gloves when assembling a bomb but maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  “You know I don’t like to depend on luck.”

  “Me either. But listen, you ca
n't be here like this. You either turn yourself in and let us handle things or you hide out until we figure it out but you can't be interfering with the case or you'll put us all at risk. Let us do our jobs. Trust that we will take care of it.”

  Mason sighed loudly, the frustration rolling off of him like waves.

  “I need to go. It’s not safe for us to be talking like this for long. If you need to get in touch, get a burner phone. They haven’t started tracing your work phone yet but it's just a matter of time.

  Mason nodded but didn’t say a word. It was as though I could see the wheels turning in his mind. Chris climbed out of the car and shut the door. I waited until he stepped out of the way and pulled out of the parking spot to head back home.

  CHAPTER 7

  Mason

  The next morning, I woke up extra early after finally having gotten a good night’s sleep. After Hana had heard from Chris, she seemed to doubt my innocence less and so I didn’t feel the need to tie her to the bed before going to sleep. That also meant, giving her privacy to sleep in her bed while I slept on the couch. It was amazing how well I slept when I wasn’t riddled with guilt at having to tie up a poor innocent girl to her bed so I could stay in her house. Hana walked into the kitchen while I was finishing my first cup of coffee.

  “Morning,” I said with the most genuine smile I’d given in far too long.

  “Good morning. Sleep well?”

  “Surprisingly.”

  “Me too.”

  “You hungry? I could fix breakfast.”

  “That sounds great. I’ll help.”

  Usually I cooked alone but it was nice having her help me cook. I enjoyed being around her. It was something I’d tried to fight because I didn’t want to make things complicated while I was stuck in her home. While the idea of being free to go where I wanted when I wanted again was enticing, I was disappointed at the thought of never seeing Hana again but, I’d cross that bridge when I got to it.

  I went to the fridge and gathered the ingredients to make breakfast. Hana looked at the pile of ingredients with surprise.

  “What are we making?”

  “A roasted red pepper and spinach frittata.”

  “Oh, that sounds delicious.”

  “It will be.”