They stayed for half an hour. Charles relaxed like Joe did, completely, and his smile was never far away. She liked the fact that when he asked questions, he really listened to the reply. He made her laugh, and that was rare with a stranger.
When they left, Kelly settled back against the pillows, still a little overwhelmed. Charles Raines would not have crossed her path under normal circumstances. She had made an unexpected friend.
Kelly reached for her Bible and opened it again but soon found herself struggling to keep her eyes open. She finally closed it, accepting reality. Tomorrow, Lord.
Seven
* * *
“Charles, it’s gorgeous.” The rose was a perfect match for the vase. “Thank you.” Kelly moved the vase to the middle of the table, pleased with the gift. In anticipation of his visit, she had risen early and was reading the Saturday San Diego newspaper when he arrived. She wasn’t surprised he was alone; it was early for Ryan to be allowed up.
Charles indicated the chair across from her. “May I?”
“Please.” She moved aside the newspaper inserts. “Did Ryan have a good night?”
“Fine. I left him eating breakfast and watching music videos.”
She laughed at his bemused expression. It was obvious he didn’t share his son’s music tastes. He had brought his own coffee with him, and she relished the aroma as she sipped ice water. “Will he be released today?”
“I expect so. It was incredibly quiet around the house last night. Are you also able to leave today?”
“As soon as the doctor makes his rounds.”
“I’m glad.” Charles set down his coffee. “I wanted to ask you, Ryan’s going to need to learn how to surf safely. He and Tony were supposed to be going to the beach, but not to surf. I’m not willing to risk such an accident again, and I don’t think grounding him for life is going to work.” He grimaced at that. “Do you know a good instructor?”
“A few. Greg Peterson is good. He does a lot of work with the park district, has classes scheduled for most of the summer.”
“What about private lessons? I’d like to get Ryan scheduled for something in the next week, ten days.”
“Outside my purview, I’m afraid. Greg would know.” Kelly was aware the world was different when money was not a problem. She hesitated. “I could give him a few pointers until you line something up.”
“Would you?”
He looked pleased with the offer and she relaxed, for it had been a bit presumptuous to offer. “I’d enjoy it.”
“I’ll gladly take you up on it. Ryan thinks you’re neat, so he’ll listen to you.”
Neat. It sounded like a direct quote. “Tell him thanks. I like your son.” She sipped at the water and saw him glance at the newspaper. “Would you like the financial page?”
He looked back at her and gave a lazy grin. “I look like an investment banker?”
“Just guessing.”
“Nothing so glamorous. My firm is a dealmaker for military hardware between the U.S. Navy and the British Navy.”
“Really?”
“I had to do something once they tossed me out of Hong Kong.”
“What were you doing before?”
“Keeping my ear to the ground. Hong Kong presented some unique security concerns both for the British government and the British companies based there. My firm helped fill in the gaps when the military needed some civilian expertise.”
A civilian who understood the military. Kelly tucked it away to ponder later. She didn’t ask about that area of his life, for she had lived with the reality of military secrecy too long to even raise the questions. “Ryan sounds like he misses living abroad.”
“We’d go back in an instant if it were possible. Hong Kong is a fabulous place to live and work.”
“What do you miss the most?”
“Besides the food? Almost everything. The people, the pace, the potential around every corner. My wife was born there.”
As she listened to Charles talk about Hong Kong, Kelly could hear how much he loved it. She leaned back in her chair, peppering him with questions when he paused.
He stopped midsentence and gave her a rueful look. “Kelly, tell me to shut up. You don’t need an encyclopedic tourist guide.”
“I’m a little envious; I’ve never been outside of California.”
“Really?”
She smiled at his shock. “It’s not that bad. It is a very big state.”
“Maybe I’ll get a chance to show you Hong Kong sometime in the future.”
She started to say something, stopped, and blinked. The guy was serious. She was still trying to formulate how to reply when she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Joe was here. She turned, pleased the men would get a chance to meet.
She had decided one thing early this morning—she was going to get her feelings about Joe back under control. Yesterday had been nothing but unchecked emotion, spurred by events. She was thinking more rationally today. They were friends. She wasn’t going to let anything mess that up, didn’t dare. His friendship was the best thing she had in her life. It wouldn’t work for them to be something more. She was rather proud of the fact she could look at him this morning and not have heart flutters. How long that control lasted was another matter. He would have to show up in his summer whites, not his usual desert cammies. He looked sharp and in command.
“Joe, I’d like you to meet Ryan’s father, Charles Raines. Charles, Lieutenant Joe Baker.”
Charles got to his feet. They were an interesting match—Charles with his smooth charm and easy smile, Joe with his innate confidence and sense of presence.
“It’s good to meet you, Lieutenant.” Charles held out his hand.
Kelly was startled by the hesitation before Joe offered his and shook hands. “Mr. Raines.” His voice was cool and his expression anything but welcoming.
What was his problem? She pushed back her chair. “Charles was just telling me about Hong Kong, where he and Ryan used to live.” She could hear herself rushing her words, for the tension in the room was palatable.
“Did you live there for long?” Joe asked, never turning his attention from the man.
“Ten years. Have you ever been?”
“I’ve visited. How’s your son?”
“Doing well. I would like to offer my thanks for your help in a tangible way.”
“I’m sure the naval base would appreciate a contribution to the family fund.”
Charles nodded, then glanced over at Kelly. “I should let you get packed.” He reached for his coffee mug, keeping one eye on Joe even as he spoke to her.
“Thanks for the rose.” She hated to see him leave but couldn’t blame him given Joe’s reaction. She had never known Joe to take such an immediate dislike to someone. She didn’t understand it and there was no reason for it.
“It was my pleasure. I’ll call you this evening, see how you are doing.”
“I’d like that.”
She walked with Charles toward the door. “Tell Ryan I said hello.”
Charles smiled. “I’m sure he’ll want a few minutes on the phone tonight. See you later, Kelly.” He turned slightly. “Lieutenant.”
Joe nodded tersely.
Kelly made sure the door was closed behind Charles before she turned on Joe. “What was that all about? You were rude.”
“Guilty.”
Joe was in full grizzly bear mode this morning, but she wasn’t going to let him off the hook. “Why?”
“I don’t know, Kelly.” It wasn’t an angry denial as much as a frustrated one. “Call it instinct. The guy put my back up.”
“Well, that doesn’t give you the right to be impolite.”
“What was he doing letting his son go surfing anyway? The sea was churning.”
“Joe!”
He strode over to the window, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. Picking up her sweater, Kelly folded it and placed it in the open suitcase on the bed. Joe acted like he had
been up all night. Had he dealt with a page? It would at least explain his surly mood. Great. Now she was worried about him as well as irritated with him.
She sat down on the bed and slapped the mattress beside her. It was time to find out if she could still be that friend. “Sit down.”
He gave a rueful smile and then did so. Tentative at first, she dug her hands into the tense muscles of his shoulders, working out the knots. The feel of the tension in him was a bit of a shock. It wasn’t like him to react this way. He rolled his neck, silently asking her to tackle where the muscles had tightened the most. She smiled as she complied; it felt good to be able to help him out for a change. She used the heel of her hand to apply pressure between his shoulder blades and wondered how she could ask without stepping across a line she tried to avoid. “Anything happen last night you can’t tell me about?”
“No.” He rotated his shoulder and he finally began to relax. “I’m sorry I growled.”
She wrapped her hands around his waist and hugged him from behind, resting her chin against his shoulder. He was such a solid man, durable. It felt good to have the friendship back on its old footing, if only for the moment. “You’re forgiven. But you owe Charles the apology not me.”
“I’ll think about it.”
His reaction puzzled her. “Go find the doctor and help me check out of here. I’m ready to go.”
“In a minute.” He reached into his pocket. “Hold out your hand.”
She moved to sit beside him and did so. He closed her hand around what he held. “Your wedding ring.”
Kelly was relieved the swelling had gone down enough she could wear it again. “Thank you.”
“Your hand looked bare without it.”
“It felt bare. I’ve worn this ring for over ten years.”
“It belongs there.”
She slipped it on. “Yes. Losing the ring would have been a disaster.”
Joe squeezed her hand, then set a manila envelope down on her open suitcase. “Nick’s eagle medallion. Are you sure you’re ready to leave?”
“If I’m going sailing with you tomorrow, I’d better be.”
“Seriously.”
She still had a low-grade headache, but it was one caused by a lack of caffeine. She was gutting it out, deciding now was probably as good a time as any to cut back. The room felt cold, and the second-day muscle soreness made her grit her teeth, but she was going to bury it rather than admit it. “I’m fine, Joe. Not even a sniffle.”
He wasn’t totally buying it, but he finally nodded. “I’ll go find your doctor.”
Kelly watched the door close behind him.
What was Joe going to say when he brought up those three fateful words she had said? She couldn’t contain the jitters in the pit of her stomach. One of the things she liked about him was his willingness to be kind to her after she had made a blunder. And she had blundered by saying those words. They were friends. It was going to be a difficult conversation to have.
Lord, I’m asking a favor. Please don’t ask me to deal with this subject today. I’ve got enough to worry about just thinking about sailing and facing the sea again. And I need some time to sort out with You all my past problems. I lean on Joe; please don’t let my words shake that relationship at a time when I need it the most.
She let go of her wedding ring and got up to finish packing. It was time to go home.
Eight
* * *
Charles took the return call on the encrypted line in his home office. “Your device has been found,” he said tersely.
“How soon can it be delivered?”
“Eight days.”
“No sooner?”
“Patience,” he cautioned. “There is more paperwork with this one.” He was already far out on a limb. Arranging to smuggle a nuclear warhead out of a secure Russian weapons lab took the finesse of a negotiator and a deep pocket of cash. He was a thief, a good one, but this was one deal he wished he could walk away from. “Eight days. It’s the best I can do.” He could see his son in the backyard and fear coiled in his gut.
He still couldn’t believe it had evolved to this point. Several years ago, a similar deal had gone bad and men had died. He had gotten out of the stolen arms business after that, retired abruptly, relieved to be able to walk away. Now he was being pressured into coming out of retirement to pull together a similar deal.
The general was using a very effective weapon. Fear. Charles knew he wasn’t the only one watching his son.
The device would be ready to move in four days, but the general didn’t need to know that. Charles needed the extra time to get precautions in place—he wasn’t going to let anything happen to Ryan.
He turned the gold pen in his hand. “My money is ready?” Getting to the warhead was an expensive proposition. He might not be able to refuse the deal, but he was going to make it as costly as possible. The general wasn’t in a position to quibble over details. He wanted a nuclear warhead smuggled into Taiwan territory. If it could be done, and Charles had his doubts that the general could maintain the necessary secrecy at his end, it would not be a cheap endeavor. Charles planned to pay enough to ensure there was silence among thieves. It wasn’t his money he was spending.
“Yes.”
“Begin assembling your team. I’ll put the shipment in motion as soon as the money appears in my account.”
“You are confident this delivery will not be intercepted?”
His hand tightened on the pen; the threat was less than subtle. They had been having this conversation too often. “I’m inside with more than one resource. I’ll know before they move.”
He’d been forced to involve his son to make that second contact, and when it had gone bad Charles nearly had a coronary. Ryan was not supposed to be surfing. He was supposed to just hang out at the beach where Kelly worked, playing Frisbee with his friend. Charles had planned to swing by after work, then ask Kelly a couple casual questions as he collected the boys. The door to a later conversation when they just happened to bump into each other at a local bookstore would have happened without her thinking anything about it. Instead there had almost been a tragedy of epic proportions.
It wouldn’t have been necessary to try and get that second contact for a means to monitor the SEAL teams if he had made a better original choice. But his first source was becoming too chatty, too . . . attached. He had made that contact too early, kept it too long, chosen poorly—in hindsight all those facts were obvious. He had no choice but to stop seeing her and go with a new source at this late date. While he regretted who he had been forced to select, he accepted it as necessary. He needed a way to keep track of Lieutenant Baker and his men, and Kelly was the only way to accomplish that with any degree of certainty. He’d been pushed into a corner and there wasn’t another option. “There are contingencies in place.”
“We will need time for the assembly.”
“And I’m staying put to give you that time. You’re getting a bargain considering the risk involved.” When the device was stolen and shipped, he would have a hard time creating an airtight alibi when he couldn’t catch a plane and be occupied elsewhere. He wasn’t making this deal happen only to get caught and have Ryan pay the price of losing his father.
“Considering our last attempted purchase, you owe us.”
If the Americans were good enough to intercept a shipment occasionally, it was inconvenient, but from Charles’s perspective not a disaster. It only made the asking price on the black market higher. Before his retirement, he had even been known to help the Americans out on occasion with a nudge in the right direction. This man would not appreciate that insight. “You’ll get your device.”
“Call when the shipment is ready.” The call was abruptly terminated. Charles returned the phone to its cradle.
Eight days.
He would be relieved when this was over.
He had considered going to the authorities early on, but he had secrets to hide that went back three deca
des. He could handle the general. It was a business deal, a nasty one, but he could deal with it. The threat to his son arose only if he didn’t deliver the device, and this was one deal he was going to make certain went off without a hitch. He would deliver.
He had seriously considered sending private security after the shadows watching him, then reluctantly dismissed it. The general would only send others to replace them.
And putting a bodyguard with his son—Charles wanted to wrap Ryan in a cocoon of security, but he knew reality. If the general decided to make good on his threat, a bodyguard would merely be an annoying pause in the hit. And one bodyguard or ten, it would change his son’s image of him forever. For the illusion of safety it would offer, it wasn’t worth the price. He had managed to get out of the business before without Ryan knowing he had ever been in it. He wouldn’t allow this crisis to change that.
He had begun stealing arms to pay for his wife’s cancer treatments, so nervous about the first transaction he sweated over the stealing of a single stinger missile. She thought the money was coming from a promotion and a series of good investments. The illness let him cloud the details; the job he held allowed him to cover the travel. His wife had died. And the anger had become a willingness to take risks, to make money and stash it away for his son should anything ever happen to him.
It had been a foolish time in his life, and fools eventually paid the price. He just hoped he gained a little wisdom in the intervening years. He would need it to get himself and his son out of this spot.
He had never been caught because he had infiltrated the network of arms dealers before he stole his first weapon. His clearances and past in-depth security checks had held against the few things that might have otherwise raised interest. The men he had stolen weapons for were the same men who on another day he sold weapons to with his government’s blessing.
He had been inside the business long enough to understand the circles and subcircles necessary to protect his identity. His networks evolved and disappeared afresh with each deal. Compartmentalizing information was second nature and served him well.
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