Scent of Danger

by Judith Rochelle

  At last, spent, Rick lifted her to her feet.

  “I think we’d better shower for real,” he teased, hisbreathing still uneven, “or Mike will come in here looking for us.”

  Kelly leaned her head against his chest, her hand resting onthe scar and breathed a prayer of thanks for whatever Fate had brought themtogether.

  * * * * *

  Mike already had coffee brewing and was fixing breakfastwhen they came out of their room. They were both freshly showered and somewhatrested and there was no mistaking the glow surrounding them. Mike was happy forhis friend. Rick needed someone like Kelly who could keep him anchored.

  But Kelly’s eyes held a haunted look and Mike could see thebanked rage in Rick’s eyes.

  “Thought I’d make myself useful.” He indicated what he wasdoing and grinned. “Just don’t expect a caterer every day.”

  “Let me give you a hand.” Kelly began opening cupboards anddrawers, searching for plates and silverware.

  “You can set the table but that’s all. You guys have had arough couple of days and after we eat we’re going to have an intense skullsession. So take what you can get when you can get it.”

  One corner of Kelly’s mouth turned up. “Yes, sir.”

  No one said a word about the previous night until they wereseated at the table. Mike pulled his cell phone from his pocket, pushed thebutton for pictures and handed it to Kelly.

  “I debated about showing these to you but you’re entitled tosee them.” He touched her hand briefly. “It’s bad but try not to freak out,okay?”

  She nodded and began scrolling through the pictures. Shesaid nothing as scene after scene of destruction rolled across the screen butfat tears leaked from her eyes and ran unheeded down her cheeks. Rick leanedcloser to view the shots with her, the rage in his eyes growing more and moreintense.

  Kelly’s hands were shaking by the time she’d finished.

  “There’s nothing…” She swallowed hard and tried again.“There’s nothing left. Nothing. Everything’s gone.”

  “It’s okay, Red. When this is all done, we’ll build it againas good as new.” Rick slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightagainst him.

  “Be careful,” she told him. “You almost skewered yourself onmy elbow.” Even in her grief her first concern was for him.

  He rubbed his chest lightly with his free hand. “I’m good.Didn’t you see how good when we showered just now?”

  Mike swallowed a grin as he looked from one to the other andKelly cursed out loud at the blush that rose to her hairline.

  When they came to the picture of the note, the look in hiseyes was close to murderous.

  “That tears it,” he said in a tight voice. “We need to getthese bastards right now.”

  “Don’t even think of starting that business about sending meaway from here,” she warned. “I don’t want to waste time arguing about it,okay?”

  Tactfully changing the subject, Mike pointed to the sheetsof paper on the table.

  “I see you two were busy while I was gone last night.”

  “Busy but maybe not too productive,” Rick told him. “I laideverything out for Kelly from the day GC hired us to set up their security inIraq. Threw everything on the table, hoping she could spot something I hadn’t.”

  “And?” Mike prodded.

  Rick rubbed a hand over the stubble on his chin. “I justdon’t know, Mike. There’s so much information out there I can’t make sense ofit but no answers.”

  Mike’s jaw tightened. “I know Greg Jordan’s the key to this,so don’t spare my feelings. Somehow along the way I missed something about him.The question is, did he have a contact in his pocket all along, waiting forsomething like this, or was he approached by someone who sensed he could behad?”

  “How would they know?” Rick mused. “You can’t just walk upto someone and say, hey, I’ve got a quick way for you to make a lot of money.You’d have to be pretty sure that person would be amenable and not toss you tothe authorities.”

  “There’s gotta be something in his history. Some littlething that’s a clue. And we have to find it.”

  “And what about the Iraqi who’s been helping him? What’sgoing on with him?”

  “Amin?” Mike shrugged. “Ken says he’s still working, helpingwith the few locals that stayed on. He says he gets strange vibes from him buthe can’t pin it down. Right now he feels better keeping him close and knowingwhat he’s doing all the time. But he’s doing his own checking there.”

  Rick rubbed the back of his neck. “You know, there’ssomething lodged in my brain that I can’t knock loose. I have this gut feelingthat if I could we’d have the answer to everything.” He sipped his coffee, thenslapped the mug down, his eyes suddenly alight. “What a dummy I am. I am sototally stupid I need a keeper.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Where’s the phone. I need to call Faith. Her Aunt Vivi willknow someone from The Lotus Circle who will be able to help me.”

  Kelly looked skeptical. “From this distance? Without beinghere with you?”

  “I hope so. Let’s give it a try.”

  “Fine. I want to talk to her too. Go ahead and call.”

  * * * * *

  The man sat in his car, deep in thought. Unpleasant thought.Everything was coming unglued and what he’d learned just made it that muchworse. How did a man work all his life to reach the pinnacle of his business,his profession, his career and suddenly see it dissolving beneath him like snowturned to slush.

  For whatever reason, no matter what they did no one was ableto locate Rick Latrobe. The man knew all about making himself disappear.Apparently Latrobe was as good at it as he was. But the knowledge that he wasout there running around loose, with the ability to blow everything to kingdomcome, made his ulcer burn and his head throb.

  He should have had better sense than to do this. Temptationhad always been his downfall. Nothing was surefire. But when he had the wholepicture in front of him he realized how enticing it had been. And his ego hadblinded him to the pitfalls.

  Stupid, that was the word for it. Just plain stupid. He hadto find a way out of this and come out clean but nothing seemed to be working.

  Since he couldn’t find Latrobe, then he had to get rid ofGreg Jordan. He’d have to find someone to do it just as he had the incident inMaine, someone more afraid of him than the police or the government. Someonewho could do the job so it would never come back to him. That meant the bodywould have to disappear completely and all traces of the man be erased. Withenough money, he mused, anything was possible.

  Although, on second thought, this might be something hesupervised himself. He was tired of other people’s incompetence.

  He’d never be able to get rid of al-Dulami but that wily oldArab wouldn’t open his mouth, anyway. His son was another matter. A caraccident might be in his future. That one he could handle himself.

  He sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing on himlike a mountain of concrete. At least it would be worth it for the money. Hecould walk away from everything and never have another worry in his life.

  He hoped.

  * * * * *

  “Tell your friend the arrangements are being made,”al-Dulami told his son. “But first we have to locate the elusive Mr. Latrobeand that he can do better from there.”

  “He won’t like that,” Zarife pointed out.

  “I’m beginning not to care what this man likes. Tell himthere is no sign of the target and he should put out his feelers.”

  “I’ll tell him,” Zarife agreed with a distinct lack ofenthusiasm.

  “On the other hand, perhaps this is something you cando for us.”

  Zarife held the phone away from his ear and looked at it.What was he supposed to do now? “I don’t understand. How am I supposed to finda man who doesn’t want to be found?”

  “Use the people you’ve met. Your sources. Whoever was theconduit to bring your name to this man. Someone will know something.�
��

  “Just like I told you before, I could be killed sticking mynose in where it doesn’t belong,” he protested. “You don’t know these people.”

  “Use your contacts,” his father insisted. “Use that fancycomputer you have. Use the brains I spent so much money educating. And do itquickly. There’s a clue there somewhere. Find it.” He paused. “None of us canafford to have this man alive. It could be the end for everyone.”

  “But why? He’s no one special. He’s just the man who ferriedthe shipment.”

  “In Rick Latrobe’s head are the pieces of the puzzle if heever puts it together. None of us can afford that. So do this. And quickly.”

  Zarife would have argued again but the call had been disconnected.The old man was gone leaving him only empty air and a sick feeling.

  * * * * *

  Kelly had done her best to concentrate on helping Rick butnow he was busy at the computer, emailing with Andy and doing his own research.By late morning her nerves were rubbed raw. She paced, Xena paced with her andRick, glancing at her every so often, watched through narrowed eyes.

  They had both talked to Faith’s Aunt Vivi. She’d given themthe name of a woman who could give them mental exercises to do that would helploosen the block in Rick’s brain.

  “I’m delighted to finally get to speak with you,” she toldKelly. “Emails can be so unsatisfactory.”

  “That goes for me too,” Kelly told her, suddenly shy.

  “I’ve talked to the others about you and as soon as thisnasty business is wrapped up, we’d love you and Xena to come to San Antonio.Meet all of us. Let us help you learn more about how to harness this gift.”

  “I’d love to. Thank you very much. I’m looking forward toit.”

  They decided they’d try the exercises after Mike left andthey had the cabin to themselves again. Rick went back to the computer andKelly resumed pacing. She nearly threw herself at Mike when he finally returnedfrom Blue Fork.

  “Well? Did you find out anything? Does the sheriff know anymore? What’s happening at the farm?”

  Mike’s chuckle was dry as he held up his hands. “Whoa,honey. One thing at a time.”

  Kelly backed up, a blush heating her cheeks. “Sorry, Mike.”She blew out a breath. “I didn’t mean to attack you. It’s just I’ve beenso…so…”

  “Edgy. And I understand it. If you can pull Rick away fromthe computer, let’s have some coffee and I’ll tell you what I found out. It’snot much but it’s something.”

  He had very little news to relate as far as the situation atthe farm itself. Nothing they didn’t already know.

  “It’s completely gone,” he repeated to Kelly. “I’m very,very sorry about that. But they were able to contain the blaze so it didn’treach any of your trees. The land is intact.”

  “I just wish I could see it.” She squeezed back the tearsthat kept hovering near the tipping point.

  “Tell you what. In a few minutes how about if I fly you overthe scene. I’ve got a camera here you can take pictures with for yourself, ifyou want to.”

  “Thank you. And again, I’m sorry I leaped on you like astarving lion.”

  Mike winked at her, breaking the tension. “I understand howyou feel. Now. I do have a few things to report. Business first. I called Danand he’s got our attorney on top of it with your insurance company.”

  Kelly’s jaw dropped. “But I didn’t even get you theinformation.”

  “The Dragon knows all,” Rick told her. “Andy pumps in yourname and all your secrets are revealed.”

  “No privacy with you guys, I guess.”

  Rick had the good grace to look uncomfortable. “Sorry, Red.I didn’t think about the fact we’d be invading your privacy. We just thought itimportant to get on this right away. Our attorney will have his owninvestigators on it, just in case the locals miss anything.”

  Kelly fiddled with her coffee mug, then the tension in herbody eased visibly. “That’s okay. I have nothing to hide, anyway. It’sjust…weird.”

  “Back to the news,” Mike broke in, defusing the situation.“Blue Fork is a small enough town that everyone knows what everyone elsedrives. If a strange vehicle shows up at all, people will wonder who it belongsto.”

  “And one did?” Kelly’s voice was edged with excitement. “Didanyone find out who it belongs to?”

  “Not yet. But a black panel truck that no one recognized—”

  “Around here,” Kelly interrupted, “that means it didn’t havethe requisite number of bumper stickers.”

  “An unfortunate oversight for our unsub. Whoever it wasstopped at Henry’s Gas-and-Go yesterday for gas and food, then again for coffeelast night. We got a little lucky here. Henry’s got a kid working for himnights and Saturdays that apparently he doesn’t trust too much so he installeda hidden camera.”

  “Only inside?” Rick asked.

  “Yes but it also catches activity through the big glasswindow.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a mini-computer disk,handing it to Rick. “We may or may not get something but it’s worth a shot.Let’s take a look.”

  Kelly and Mike watched over Rick’s shoulder as he insertedthe disk, typed commands into the computer and instantly a video came up on thescreen.

  “It’s fuzzy,” Kelly complained. “How can we see anything?”

  “Hold on, Red.” Rick’s fingers danced over the keyboard. “Wecan fix that a little bit.”

  The end result wasn’t a whole lot better and the drivermanaged to keep his face away from the camera, even when he was inside thestore. But kissed by a stroke of luck, they were able to make out part of thelicense plate.

  “I’m sending this to Andy,” Rick told them. “He can run thisfaster than I can. Hold on.”

  In seconds the email with the information had been sent. Inless than a minute an animated dragon flashed on the screen at them, waving itstail. A text balloon carried the words, “Got it.”

  Rick typed back, “I need it yesterday.”

  The dragon replied, “Would I expect any less? Running itright now.”

  “I found some other things,” Rick said, swiveling around inhis chair, “while Red was pacing and Xena was guarding the door. Mike, about ayear before you contacted Greg Jordan he was working a long stretch as securityat a private resort on Camellia Cay in the Caribbean.”

  Mike raised his eyebrows. “And?”

  “And, using a program Andy sent me, while he’s trying totrack the money I’m going to run through the list of guests for the entire timeGreg was there. Let’s see if anyone we know shows up. That could be where theoriginal contact was made.”

  “That long ago?”

  “Some things simmer for a long time, waiting for the rightopportunity. Anyway, why don’t you take Kelly for her look-see and I’ll seewhat I can find. I’m hoping this is where Jordan also chose to go to groundwhen he disappeared. It’s a place he knows and where he’d feel secure.”

  “Good idea. Maybe we’ll have more to work with when I getback. Ready, Kelly?”

  But as they headed toward the door, Xena stepped in theirpath. “Oh, oh.” Kelly smiled at the huge animal. “You want to go too, right?”

  The dog snuffled at her hand.

  She turned to Mike. “Is that okay?”

  “Why not. She behaved better on the trip up here than someof my human passengers.”

  Five minutes later they were airborne, leaving Rick totallyabsorbed at the computer.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Greg Jordan looked at his watch. In an hour he’d be safelyout of here. He couldn’t stay here, although Camellia Cay was beautiful,secluded and very well guarded. He should know. For a long time he’d been oneof the people guarding it, at a very hefty salary.

  “One day there will be an opportunity,” the man had said,“for you to make a great deal of money. When that time comes, it will be worthwhatever it takes to do it.”

  He’d certainly been right. But a live Rick Latrobe made itimpossible for Jordan to enjoy
the fruits of his labors the way he wanted to.

  He still couldn’t figure out how the hell everything hadgone so wrong. Rick Latrobe wasn’t any superman. Killing him should have been asimple matter but the man had more lives than a cat. Somebody needed to finishthe job. As long as Rick was alive, Greg would still be looking over hisshoulder.

  Meanwhile he had a new identity, money in an untraceableaccount and another place to stay on his way to a permanent location. Hesupposed things could be worse.

  He was just closing his laptop, having yet again checked tomake sure his money was safe, when a light tap sounded at the door. He crackedit open a few inches to find one of the guards standing there.

  He kept his face bland. “Yes?”

  “He says to be ready in fifteen minutes. I’ll be the onecoming to get you.”

  Greg dipped his head. “Thank you. I’ll be ready. And thankhim, also, very much.”

  “No problem. He gives the orders, we just follow them.”

  He locked the door again and checked to see if he hadeverything he needed. He wasn’t taking much with him. Clothes wouldn’t be aproblem. He could live in jeans until he felt it was safe enough to shop. Orsend someone to do it for him. He had his laptop, which contained all theinformation he would ever need. And it was all backed up to a flash drive thathe’d had couriered to his brand new offshore bank.

  Camellia Cay’s owner was obsessive about secrecy. His guestswere carefully selected and vetted and received absolute privacy. But inaddition to that, the man had purchased four other uninhabited islands andconstructed homes on each of them. In his colorful career he’d offended notjust his own country but others, so he wanted enough bolt holes to crawl intoif the time ever came. He repaid his debt to Greg by giving him the use of oneof those islands for as long as Greg needed it, until he made his permanentarrangements.

  When the knock came at the door, he hung the strap of hiscomputer case over his shoulder and lifted his suitcase. He was ready. Morethan ready.

  * * * * *