by Aimée Thurlo
“Bad idea,” Handler said. “I know you’re hoping to follow the trail of the fake and identify the players that way, but the second they realize you’ve conned them, they’ll come after you. They’ll know you played them—and that you know about the real journal. More importantly, they’ll know you haven’t turned it over to the authorities or they would have heard about it. They’ll either assume it’s a trick to identify them—remember, they know you’ve been searching for the man who tried to kidnap your godmother—or that you’re angling for a big payoff.”
“It doesn’t matter what they think. The important thing is that they’ll know I still have it and they’ll come after me. What happens after that is up to the FBI and this agency.”
Burke saw the response in the agents’ eyes. Courage was always respected by people who all too often put their own lives on the line.
“Okay,” Wylie said. “You two will be our bait. Go back to Miss Santos’s place and carry out your normal routines while we work out the rest of the details. Be sure to wait for word from us before you make that phone call and set things in motion.”
Laura walked out of the agency with Burke ahead of her and Wolf beside her. She wasn’t afraid for herself, but it terrified her to know that Burke would be in the line of fire along with her.
“We’ll be ready when they come, Laura,” he said, almost as if in response to her unspoken thoughts.
“I hope so, because there’s no turning back now.”
Chapter Eighteen
By the time they reached her house, Agent Wylie had telephoned Burke, and now Laura understood the other half of the plan. The agents, and support personnel gathered from the local police, would remain out of sight, watching the house. She would be guarded day and night, and whenever she left the premises. The moment Enesco made his move they’d be there.
“Are you sure you’re ready to set this plan in motion?” Burke asked, letting Wolf out first to keep watch, then opening the car door for Laura. Handler had arranged for the vehicle to be returned to the gas station owner later.
“I’m scared, I won’t deny it. But I won’t back down,” she said as they went inside the house. “Let’s just do what needs to be done,” she added, and, somehow, her voice stayed even.
BURKE WATCHED HER GO to her room, her head held high, after asking for a few minutes alone. He needed her in his life. But not at any cost. Maybe the highest proof of his love would lie in letting her go. He thought about the work he did. The danger was there, even when he was coordinating the other operatives, because he was usually working on a case himself at the same time. That was why he strapped on a gun every morning.
Cops’ wives put up with a constant state of fear, and many learned how to handle it. But it was different with Laura. She’d already had too many losses in her life. Yet the thought of living without her left him feeling hollow inside.
Later. There would be time then to sort all this out in his mind. Right now he had to watch out for her—and for himself.
When she came out of her room several moments later, she looked composed. She went to the phone, turned and nodded to him.
“I’m ready.”
Burke called Agent Wylie, then gave Laura a thumbs-up. The conversation would be monitored and they’d have officers to protect her. But setting the trap would be her job. She was at the center of the operation.
Bracing herself, Laura made the call. “Hello, Nicole. This is Laura Santos. I need a favor from you.”
“What can I do for you?” the woman asked in a guarded voice.
“I received something in the mail a few days ago. It appears to be a leather-bound document of some sort—like a book, really, but not very long. I can’t tell what it is because it’s not in English. I did some checking and I think the text is written in Rumanian. Then I remembered that you said you’d come from West Medias, and I was wondering if you could help me by looking through it and telling me if it’s a translation of one of my books. I get foreign editions all the time, but they’re always in book form, the same as those sold to readers in other countries.”
There was a long pause at the other end. “Sounds interesting. When can I see it?”
“Well, it’s late right now, and I’m going to bed soon. Why don’t we meet tomorrow?”
“I don’t mind the time. I could come over to see you tonight and save you a trip.”
“No, let’s wait till morning. I’m really beat, and I’m going to bed early. But thanks for the offer. I’ll call you first thing tomorrow and we’ll set up a time then,” she said. “If for some reason you can’t make it, I’ll check with the local branch college and see if one of their language teachers can read it for me.” She hung up before Nicole could respond. “How was that?” she asked, looking up at Burke.
“Fine, and that touch about the language teacher will put even more pressure on them to act fast, before you go to someone else. But now you’re going over to my place. The call was made from here, something she’ll be able to verify with caller ID, and she’s been led to believe that the journal’s here. Let them make the next move. A team of officers will be waiting and watching.”
The two-way radio clipped to his belt crackled, and Burke pressed the commmunication button.
“Someone just drove up in a green pickup,” Wylie said. “It’s an adult male, dark hair and medium build. He’s walking up to the house.”
“You think Nicole sent him? But how could he have reacted so quickly?” Burke asked, noting that Wolf was already standing by the door, alert.
“I don’t think this is connected. Just sit tight. We’re on top of it,” Wylie responded.
Letting Burke know in advance that he was about to enter the house, Wylie, who’d been hiding in the garden, used the back door and slipped into the kitchen. “I’ll cover you from here,” he said, removing his handgun from the holster, then ducking back out of sight as the doorbell rang.
Burke answered it while Laura hung back, Wolf now sitting in front of her.
“I came to see Laura,” a man’s voice boomed. It was an order, not a request.
Laura recognized the voice immediately. She went toward the door, but before she could get there two men came rushing up from behind Al Baca and shoved him inside. They held his arms by his sides.
“Let’s see some ID, please,” Miller, who was one of the men, ordered, easing his grip.
“What?” Al, wild-eyed and confused, looked at Laura, then at Burke and the others. Wylie, who’d been in the kitchen, came out, pistol in hand.
“Your identification please, sir,” Miller repeated, watching Al’s expression carefully.
“It’s all right. He’s kind of a relative of mine,” Laura said, then looked at Al. “What are you doing here?”
“I stopped by…to tell you I’ve decided not to file a lawsuit contesting the will,” he blurted. “If you’ve hired all this security to protect you from me, you’re just wasting your money now. Call them off.”
“Okay, you’ve delivered your message, Baca,” Burke said. “Now I suggest you leave.”
“Maybe we should talk some more,” Miller said, grasping Al’s arm again. “Sir, I’m afraid we’ll need to interview you downtown.”
“Why? I haven’t broken any laws.”
“If that’s true, you don’t have anything to worry about. We just need to clear up a few things.”
As Miller led him away, Wylie, who’d come up beside Laura, spoke. “We’ll have some deputies take him to the station. Then we’ll arrange to hold him for twenty-four hours, just to make sure he doesn’t blab what he saw here tonight.”
“Do you think Enesco will make his move before then?”
“Oh, yeah. There’s little doubt in my mind about that, especially after you suggested you might go to the college for a translation. Nice touch. Enesco has been making some bold moves lately, and I expect that to continue. He must be working on a tight deadline from his superiors. So let’s cover our bases. Righ
t now, Ms. Santos, I need you to go out the back and head to Silentman’s house. We’ll stay here and close in on them when they make their move.”
Burke led her quickly out of the house. She unlocked her back gate and entered his backyard through a similar gate.
Wolf, ready for action, stayed a few steps ahead most of the way, his ears pricked up and alert.
Once they got inside, Burke breathed a little easier. “Stay away from the windows and doors,” he told her, checking once more to make sure the curtains were closed.
“Neither one of us will get any sleep tonight,” she observed, feeling the tension of the operation setting in.
“I’ll have to stay on guard, but there’s no reason you can’t try to take a nap.”
“How will you stay alert if you can’t get any sleep tonight?”
“I’ll catch an hour here and there while the others are keeping watch outside.”
Weapon in hand, Burke stayed near the window that faced her home.
Sensing that he didn’t want any distractions, she took a book from his bookcase, then went to the room she’d used before. She tried to sit down, but then got up and began to pace.
The tension in the air was as palpable as the cold desert wind blowing outside. Wolf had followed her, but even the dog couldn’t relax. He’d lie down, then get up and wander around the room before doing so again.
Trying to force herself to relax, Laura stretched out on the bed with Burke’s book, a thriller, but she couldn’t keep her mind on anything except what was happening outside.
Hours passed slowly. She turned off the lights, but sleep wouldn’t come. At long last she heard Burke come down the hall, on a break, and head to his room. She knew he needed a chance to be alone and relax, so wouldn’t let herself go talk to him.
Thirty minutes later, unable to stand the total silence in the house anymore and too nervous to stay still, she went to find him. If he was sleeping, she wouldn’t bother him, but if not, maybe he could use some company, too.
The door to his room was open, so she went right in. Burke stood by his bed naked, a damp towel on the floor.
“I thought you were asleep,” he said, looking up. “Did the pipes make too much noise when I took a shower? I needed something to help me stay alert.”
Even naked, he was supremely confident. His body was lean and strong—a play of textures ranging from rough to smooth. He grew aroused as she looked at him, but this time he didn’t ask her to turn around, as he had a lifetime ago when she’d first caught him coming from the shower. She didn’t offer to, either.
“We’ve come a long way, you and I,” he said softly.
She nodded, her mouth too dry to speak. The urge to step into his arms was nearly overpowering.
“You shouldn’t stay here,” he murmured, his deep voice reverberating with unspoken needs. “I can’t touch you—not tonight—no matter how much I want to. It’s more important that I get back on duty and do my best to protect you.”
“One kiss,” she said breathlessly. Their time together was running out, and she desperately wanted one more memory.
Laura stepped into his arms, feeling his hard body against her, and reached up to kiss him.
She’d meant it to be gentle, but the fire inside both of them was too hot. His mouth took complete possession of hers, ravishing her, loving her. Then with a groan, he let her go.
“Tonight you need me to protect you, Laura. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. No one will ever harm you while you’re under my care. You may choose to walk away from me one day, but when that time comes, the road before you will be free of danger.”
She wanted to say something, but could barely breathe.
“Go now. I have to get dressed.”
Though she wasn’t sure how her legs actually managed to hold her up, she walked out and closed the door.
Alone in her room again, Laura found her body trembling with desire. But what she felt was so much more than that. She loved Burke Silentman more than life itself. And his words, his sense of duty, the depth of his feelings for her, had touched her heart, bypassing her fears and all the barriers she’d placed between them. Burke was a part of her soul. Yet with that knowledge came an almost overpowering sense of vulnerability.
Burke came into her room a short time later, dressed, with his handgun at his belt. “We’ll be facing a great deal of danger in the next few hours. I don’t know what’ll happen and, because of that, I need you to know how much you mean to me.” Placing his palm against her cheek, he gazed steadily into her eyes. “I want to give you something no Navajo ever yields to another easily. My secret name—what gives me power and makes me who I am—is Hashké. It means fierce warrior. By revealing it to you, I willingly place myself under your power.” He leaned over and kissed her gently. “This warrior will protect you—tonight and always.”
Before she could gather her thoughts and respond, he walked out.
The importance of what had just happened stunned her. She felt more connected to him now than ever before.
Laura walked out of her room and found him standing by the mountain lion fetish. He was sprinkling something over it.
Although she hadn’t made a sound, he must have felt her presence because he turned around. “I’m feeding corn pollen to the fetish to keep its medicine strong. In turn, it’ll strengthen me.” He took the fetish from the bowl and placed it inside a leather pouch, then fastened it to his belt. “Now I’ll watch and wait until they come.”
He walked into the darkened den and took his position beside the window again.
Deeply touched by everything that had happened between them, she gave him the privacy he needed to concentrate on his job, and she went into the kitchen and fixed herself some tea. Hopefully it would help her get through what promised to be an endless night.
IT SEEMED TO LAURA that she’d only just drifted off to sleep when she was suddenly startled awake. At first she wasn’t sure if she’d dreamed the explosion, but the glass of water she’d placed on the nightstand was still vibrating.
Fear shot through her, and without thinking, she ran to the window. It was dawn outside, and she could see flames shooting out of the roof of her house.
With a strangled cry, she ran through the living room, past Burke. He tried to grab her, but she rushed outside, into the lightening day, before he could stop her.
“Laura, no! Wait!” Burke yelled, rushing after her.
She glanced back, but didn’t stop. “My things! My work! I’ve got to save what I can!”
She was halfway down the sidewalk to her home when Burke caught up to her and pulled her beneath an evergreen tree. “Think, Laura! This must be a diversion. And by leaving the house, you’ve done precisely what they wanted. You’re out in the open, and they know exactly where you are. I’ve left Wolf back at my place to make sure the house stays secure, but we have to get back inside right now.” He stopped speaking the second he heard a fire truck coming up the street.
“Wow. They sure got here fast,” Laura said, staring at the flames on her roof. They didn’t seem so bad as before, but she didn’t know if that was good or not.
“Yeah, way too fast,” Burke said, taking her hand and running with her back to the house. Seeing Agent Miller standing behind a tree in Laura’s front yard, Burke yelled, “Don’t trust the firemen. They could be ringers.”
They rushed to Burke’s house and, as Laura dashed inside, Burke remained in the doorway, making sure they hadn’t been followed. Laura walked to the center of the kitchen, then stopped. Wolf was lying on his side on the living room floor directly ahead of her. He wasn’t moving.
As she turned to warn Burke, she saw him stop in midstride and pull out what appeared to be a dart imbedded in his neck.
“Laura…” Before he could say another word, he collapsed to the floor.
With a strangled cry, Laura went toward him, but before she could reach him, someone grabbed her from behind and held a damp cloth o
ver her mouth and nose.
She fought hard, but her strength ebbed quickly, and soon an all-encompassing blackness descended over her.
SHE WOKE UP TO PAIN, blinding pain. It filled her head and throbbed through her body, making her feel disjointed and disoriented.
“You’ll be okay soon,” Laura heard a woman’s trembling voice say from someplace close by.
Laura tried to open her eyes and then realized that they were open. The room was encased in almost total darkness except for a little bit of light leaking under a door. The floor felt cold and hard, like concrete. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the gloom.
“Where are we?” Laura asked, biting back the wave of panic that filled her as she realized that her hands and feet were securely tied.
“I have no idea whatsoever,” the woman answered. “But I’m glad I’m not alone here anymore.”
Laura struggled against the ropes that bound her, but they didn’t give. Feeling a wall behind her, she tried to use that for support as she wriggled to a sitting position.
“It’s been a nightmare. I can hear sounds of something scuttling across the floor, but I can’t see anything.”
“Probably lizards, or maybe it’s a cat,” Laura answered, trying not to think too creatively right now.
“No, not a cat. But yeah, maybe a lizard. I hope it’s just a lizard.”
The voice sounded familiar. “Nicole?” Laura asked.
“Yeah?”
Laura swallowed back her fear. Was Nicole a prisoner, like her, or just a plant? She’d have to be careful. “How long have you been here?”
“Since after I spoke to you last night.”
“What happened?”
“Michael Enesco happened,” Nicole said, then began to cry softly.
This was no game. Every instinct Laura possessed assured her of that now. “Where’s Karl?” Fear pried into Laura. If Karl was dead, Burke might soon follow. The last time she’d seen him… Terror slammed into her, but she forced herself to ignore the string of what-ifs that suddenly filled her mind. She couldn’t afford to panic now. She had to think clearly.