Fourth Day

by Lisa Phillips

Ally grinned at Sal. “Smooching? I don’t recall any of that.”

  Niall was still bent over the phones. “Appreciated.” As though they needed his input on kissing.

  Sal turned to the phone. “And what is that, Talia?”

  “Kennowich’s location.” She was about to say something else when there was a muffled crackle on the line. Then Talia spoke low, as though to someone else there with her. After she was done she said, “Special Agent Billings agrees with our assessment that the entire team of FBI agents are dirty rotten scoundrel liars.”

  “That isn’t what I said.” Billings bit the words off. “I want a picture of that dead agent, and then you all can get on the road.”

  “We have to walk back to the car first.” Niall took the picture, and they headed out toward the fire road where they’d left the car.

  The agent kept talking as they walked. “I’ll need you to ID each one of them. Get it all squared away, who was there and who wasn’t. If you’re saying they were all present to help Kennowich get free...”

  “They all were,” Sal said toward the phone Niall still held out. His hand had to be getting tired by now. “The whole team from San Francisco, at least the ones who didn’t go to the house to meet Daulton, were there for Kennowich.”

  Talia blew out a breath that crackled against the phone’s microphone. “Okay, I’ve got a thread of a lead in the phone that connects to an app. The kind where you send a message and it’s gone two seconds after it’s read.”

  “And you can read it?” Sal was impressed.

  “Well,” Talia made an embarrassed noise. “Your dead guy back there was taking screen shots of conversation about coming there to get Kennowich. Maybe he wanted to protect himself, but now I’ve got all their usernames. I’m running a search in the app to see if any of them are connected to it.”

  “You can get their locations from that?” The FBI agent on the line was the one who asked.

  “Uh…yeah.”

  Sal chuckled as they reached the car. Even he knew that stuff was child’s play for someone like Talia. “So where to?”

  He climbed in the back with Allyson and sat close to her while Niall drove. As he’d said, there was no way he was about to let her go. However, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t rule out leaving her in the car, safe.

  Niall handed the phone back to Sal, who took it off speaker and held the warm device to his ear. He said, “I can’t believe that the entire team was there, as part of Kennowich’s operation. Could he really have turned that many FBI agents?”

  The agent on the line was the one who answered, “I have the photo your colleague took of the deceased man. I’m running it through facial recognition, specifying employees of the Department of Justice.”

  “Thank you.” Sal did feel bad. The guy seemed genuine, as though corruption within the ranks of the FBI would be a source of grief for him. A reason to lose faith in his agency.

  “They’re headed to the airport,” Talia said, her voice softer than he’d heard in a long time.

  Sal relayed the information to Niall. Allyson’s head lolled on his shoulder. She was asleep? That was good. She needed to heal, and her body could do that while she slept, better than at any other time.

  He held her, unwilling to contemplate the fact he’d nearly lost her. And she’d also nearly lost him and would have if those corrupt FBI agents had decided to give up all sense of right and wrong. They could have easily put a bullet in his head and simply walked away. But they hadn’t.

  Thank You, God.

  He had kept her safe when Sal had been unable to do it. Something he would be eternally grateful to the Lord for. Help me to never take You for granted.

  Niall drove them to the airport, and they took a side entrance for freight transport closest to the collection of cell phones registering on Talia’s GPS search, all connected to the same app with their usernames. No way would a man like Kennowich board a plane on a day like today as though he were any other real person. He probably had a private plane chartered to take him to some non-extradition country where he would attempt to flee justice.

  Sal said, “Drive faster.”

  Niall pulled away from the security booth where they’d shown two badges because Allyson didn’t have hers. Sal needed to get her badge and gun for her so that she could have them—something important for a cop to have in order to feel like themselves again after a terrorizing ordeal like the one she’d been through today.

  “Found them,” Talia announced to him just as car brakes squealed behind them. “That’s Daulton and his guys. I called them and they’re here to back you up along with a bunch of local ATF special agents.”

  “And the house?”

  “Locked down for now,” Talia said. “So go get Kennowich, yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good.” She paused. “Because his plane is on the runway, and it’s about to take off.”

  Chapter 27

  Niall hit the gas. Allyson came awake, swaying in the backseat. She braced a hand on the seat, but it wasn’t the seat. It was Sal’s knee. She blushed and pulled away, noticing him smile at her. The action took years off his face, but didn’t completely erase the worry lines or the stress.

  Niall swung the wheel hard to the right and said, “Still got that gun on you, Ally?”

  “Yep.”

  “Sal?”

  “I’m unarmed.”

  She grasped for the one Niall had given her, so Sal could have it. “I’ll just—”

  “Duffel bag,” Niall said.

  It was by her feet, behind the driver’s seat. She tugged it over, but Sal caught it. “Let me.” He pulled it onto his lap, rummaged inside, and came out with a shotgun and a box of shells. He eyed her. “I have a vest, but you don’t.”

  “Didn’t matter last time.”

  He made a face and dragged one from the bottom of the duffel, which he shoved at her. She blew out a breath. “Fine, I’ll put it on.”

  Sal said, “You’d better be joking.”

  “I don’t want to die.”

  “Good.”

  Niall chuckled as he drove like a crazy man across the airport. “Pretty solid, as far as life goals go.”

  Allyson smiled. Sal leaned forward and touched his lips to hers while the car careened wildly. She laughed. “Try not to kill us before we get there, Niall.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She would let that slide. For now.

  Allyson glanced back and saw her team was right behind them. She could make out their faces in the front seat and sent them a jaunty wave. All she saw was Carl’s head shake. Like she was the crazy one.

  No one else she’d rather be racing through an airport with, backing her up on the biggest take down of her life. Especially on a day when she was nowhere near one hundred percent and neither was Sal.

  “There it is.”

  She looked where Sal indicated, the phone quiet now. Talia was probably on the phone with air traffic control, or the airport’s manager person—while she also planted a virus in their systems that would down all planes. Or some other “Talia-style” plan designed to save all their bacon from being overcooked in the nick of time.

  The plane ahead was one of those tiny ones rich people flew around in so they didn’t have to mingle with the normal folks who lined up for the bathroom and didn’t want to pay for the in-flight sandwiches. The same one he’d flown her to California in? Maybe. She didn’t want to think much about it.

  The plane rolled slowly across the blacktop, headed for the runway where it would take off at full speed. Bound for somewhere exotic where Kennowich could disappear.

  “Get in front of it.” She patted Niall’s shoulder, so he would know she was serious.

  “What do you think I’m doing?”

  Sal was loading the shotgun, deep in his own thoughts. Still, he said, “Watch it, bud.”

  A muscle in Niall’s jaw clenched. He kept driving, racing alongside the airplane. The car engine roared a
s it picked up speed.

  Allyson heard the whir of police sirens behind them. “I’m guessing airport police aren’t super happy with us?”

  Sal leaned over to look out the window, where the airplane nose was now right above them. “I guess it’s not really copacetic to play chicken with an airplane.” He motioned to the pilot with two fingers, swiping them down. “Like that was what we’d planned on doing today.”

  Allyson had to smile. There was so much tension. This was incredibly dangerous, and yet neither of these men showed their fear outwardly. Her team also used humor to blow off steam in situations like this. Sometimes it was grim, but it was a coping mechanism.

  Niall pulled the car directly in front of the airplane. She carefully turned to look out the back window. Enough so she could see the nose and the two angry pilots waving their arms, but not so far it hurt too badly. Did the pilots recognize her from the last time she’d been taken on their aircraft? Did they even care?

  The NCIS agent hit the brakes a few times, lighting up that red display at the top of the back window. The plane got dangerously close. Enough she couldn’t hold back the fear. “Whoa.”

  Sal squeezed her shoulder. “It’ll be okay. They just need to pull over.”

  She wanted to laugh, but didn’t figure it would come out right. “Done this before?”

  “My pit maneuvers are famous,” Niall said. “Planes just make it more interesting.”

  “He’s decided he’s going to retire and be a race car driver.”

  Allyson wasn’t exactly sure how that would work out, being a retiree who also screamed while going hundreds of miles an hour around a track—or whatever speed those cars went. It seemed kind of boring to her, going around and around the same track for hours. But if that was what he wanted to do, she supposed it was all down to him. “Uh…best of luck to you.”

  Sal barked a laugh. “That was nice. Very cordial.”

  She leaned over and hissed. “I couldn’t think of anything else to say.”

  He seemed to think that was also very funny. Niall tapped the brakes again, and she nearly hit her head on Sal’s chin.

  She glanced out the back window to see the airplane now surrounded by vehicles. “It’s slowing.”

  Five minutes later the airplane was at a full stop.

  They surrounded the door as it flipped down and two men climbed out. Badges for the FBI were on display on their belts. “I’m sure we can figure this out.” The one who’d spoken was huge. T-shirt tight on his shoulders and biceps, with tattoos poking out from under the hem on his arms.

  Allyson’s teammates gathered around them. She glanced at Daulton, considering at least six people had this FBI agent and his friend in their crosshairs.

  He nodded. “Good to see you, Sanchez.”

  She nodded back, not sure what to say that wouldn’t sound lame or make her start crying. She’d never live that down.

  Sal said, “Send Kennowich out. That’s who we’re here for, and you don’t want to be caught protecting him when it’ll cost you more than you bargained for.”

  The FBI agent grinned. “Malcom Kennowich is a businessman, and he is under our protection.”

  “Send him out.”

  “So you and these ATF agents you’ve hoodwinked can continue to harass him?”

  A police car pulled up, followed by another. Multiple uniformed cops climbed out. Officers. A sergeant, even a captain. The captain strode over. “One of you fellows care to explain what this is?”

  Sal lifted his chin. “Wanted man on that plane. Can’t let him leave.”

  “That remains to be seen,” the FBI agent said. “You got a warrant? Evidence?”

  “He kidnapped me,” Allyson said. She glanced at the police captain. “Malcom Kennowich told me he was going to harvest my organs to recoup his losses.” She twisted slightly and lifted the hem of her shirt so everyone could see the bandage. “And he nearly succeeded.”

  “Send him out,” Sal ordered. “Unless you’re determined to aid him since he is under your protection.”

  Was it more than he-said-she-said? It had to be. She was the evidence, the witness to many of Kennowich’s crimes. If these FBI agents were trying to protect him, that meant they were dirty. Right?

  “You can’t let him get away.” She sounded desperate, but what other choice was there? There was one truth she understood right now.

  Allyson wasn’t interested in Kennowich being taken to jail.

  She wanted to be the one to kill him.

  . . .

  “Send him out,” he asked again.

  Sal kept his cool. He had to. Despite the cops’ reactions to Allyson’s obvious desperation to catch this guy, they had to get the result they needed instead of being forced into either waiting or backing down. They might not know what she’d been through, but it was clear this was personal.

  Not necessarily a point in her favor right now.

  He didn’t take his gaze from the two armed FBI special agents in front of him, despite being aware the cops were moving closer.

  This could go real bad real fast if he didn’t play it right.

  Movement in the doorway preceded a man stepping all the way into view. Kennowich stood in the doorway.

  He moved all the way to the top step of the dozen or so that would get his feet on the tarmac. “I’m sure the airport staff would appreciate us wrapping this up quickly. I know I would.”

  It was the first time Sal had seen him up close, in person.

  On the surface, Malcom Kennowich appeared every bit the high-powered businessman, if tired, at the end of a long day.

  Or after a hike through mountains.

  Still, there was something else about him. Darkness in his eyes, the gaze of someone who had seen much and done even more to others. This wasn’t a man who tricked people into being convinced of his purity. This man had a core of evil inside him.

  “I’ve done nothing wrong.” He linked his hands in front of him as he descended to stand behind the FBI agents.

  “You’re really going to protect him?” Sal asked the one closest. “What does he have on you that makes you so eager to betray your oath?”

  Sal figured he could guess. The top sellers were indiscretions he was blackmailing them over, or the need for cash for whatever reason. Didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

  The police captain stepped forward. “Right. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Everyone is going to head over to the police station. We’re going to sit down and figure this out.”

  “I’ll bring my lawyer.” Kennowich’s eyes glinted. Not a smile as such, but the effect was there.

  “I have no doubt about that.” The police captain took another step. “Because I happen to know exactly who you are.”

  The FBI agent shifted. The tiniest movement, but Sal caught it and spotted the shift toward his gun. This guy was prepared to shoot a police captain for Kennowich? That wasn’t coercion against his will. The agent was sold out to the cause, or he’d been the recipient of the “benefits” of an arrangement with Kennowich for long enough that he wouldn’t give it up. Like the supplier of a drug addict’s favorite substance, whatever that might be.

  Allyson closed in as well, closer to the second man guarding their suspect. “He’s going to jail.” She addressed all of them who close enough they could shoot each other at point blank range. That was the last thing Sal wanted, but he had to be prepared.

  Sal said, “Malcom Kennowich, you’re coming with me.”

  “Actually, he’s coming with me.” Victoria stood just beyond the police captain. “Malcom? We had an arrangement.”

  Chapter 28

  Allyson gaped. Victoria could not be serious. She’d made an arrangement with Kennowich, the man who’d hurt so many?

  Kennowich said, “That we did.”

  “One you broke.” She didn’t even acknowledge Sal or Allyson standing there, but kept her attention on Kennowich. “When you had an FBI agent abducted.”
>
  “You wanted evidence the FBI is dirty? I got it for you.” He grinned, which came out looking more like a sneer. “Widespread corruption.”

  The FBI agents started to spin around, reacting to what he’d said.

  Sal apparently couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Because you corrupted them.”

  Kennowich laughed.

  Sal walked past the two FBI agents, tugged on one of Malcom’s wrists and asked the police captain, “Do you have cuffs? I seem to have lost mine.”

  Allyson would like to have had hers. That would have been satisfying. She glanced at Victoria, trying to see some expression of emotion on the woman’s face. There was nothing. Did she feel nothing?

  Kennowich protested. “Director Bramlyn, we had an arrangement.” He twisted to look at Sal. “You do not have the authority to—”

  His bluster was lost in the confusion as the police captain moved for his gun. “No!” Allyson brought hers up.

  One of his officers—the sergeant—reacted before Sal even realized the FBI agent had spun as well. Weapon first.

  He fired.

  Sal fired.

  Allyson fired.

  The man beside her fired.

  Everyone hit the ground. Sal heard a number of thuds, and groans, but managed to get Kennowich rolled over onto his face. His knee smarted where he’d landed on it earlier.

  The sergeant’s gun still smoked, the FBI agent he shot lay on the ground. His gun had fallen from his hand.

  The other agent also lay dead.

  Victoria had hit the deck.

  “Ally?”

  She winced. “I’m good.” Her voice was barely above a groan. “But that really hurt.”

  The sergeant moved to her and helped her up. “Thanks.”

  Sal said, “Cuffs?”

  The police captain frowned at him. “Not sure you’re going to need them.”

  She looked down at Kennowich and saw the blood pooling on the concrete underneath him.

  “I guess not.” Sal walked to the captain and stuck his hand out. “I really appreciated your assistance with this. We never would’ve been able to do this ourselves.” He all but completely ignored Victoria, who was now standing. He didn’t even acknowledge her existence.