Operation: Reunited

by Linda O. Johnston

  Alexa had done her job well.

  “Why did you betray our country? And my father—”

  “Your father was a worthless bastard who couldn’t see the truth when it hit him in the face.” The bitterness in Vane’s shout was almost palpable.

  Cole blinked, absorbing it. “What truth was that?”

  Vane stood before Cole, regarding him coldly. “I joined his elite little group three years before you did. I threw myself into it because I believed in it. But then, you got out of school and he insisted that the Unit take you in. No nepotism, though, he said, so he allowed himself to be promoted to another Special Forces Unit. But he still had power and authority. Even though your friend General Forbes Bowman was put in charge of our unit, my dear mentor General Carter Rappaport, your father, made certain that you, his flesh and blood, were given the most prestigious assignments, that you were promoted on the fast track. I’d been there longer. I was more highly trained. I liked the old man. Loved him like a father. And yet, you—” His voice had risen until it was an octave higher than normal. He calmed it suddenly. “I was easily recruited by my current employers.” Again he regained his evil smile. “More money and more power than you could ever dream of, and revenge to boot. Who could ask for more?”

  “Did you kill him yourself?” Fury raged within Cole, but he kept his voice utterly toneless.

  “Of course.” Vane leaned carelessly against the counter, crossing his legs at the ankles. “But that was your fault, you know. You’d been given the assignment of finding out what all those foreigners from unfriendly countries were doing in Kenner Hotels throughout the country. I was given the assignment of preventing you from finding out. But you were getting too close. You had to be stopped, and so you were warned.” He put his face right in front of Cole’s, so close that Cole could smell the garlic Alexa had put in their chili at supper.

  Had they been doing something so mundane as eating dinner, only a short while ago?

  “But you didn’t heed the warning,” Vane finished, drawing back. “So I had to show that my threats weren’t idle. And it felt good, very good, to demonstrate to Carter Rappaport at last who was better—his dear, inept son or me. He didn’t believe I would actually kill him, you know—not until I pulled the trigger. His look of astonishment was priceless.”

  Pain threatened to turn Cole into a howling mass of anguish, but he squashed all emotion. He forced himself to stare over Vane’s shoulder toward Alexa. She looked pale, the beautiful demon who had betrayed him once again. But her expression was neutral, as if Vane had merely been giving a weather report.

  “You killed him.” Cole’s voice was hoarse. He made himself clear his throat. “And you damn near killed me.”

  Cold fury washed over Vane’s face. “If only I had, we wouldn’t have had to go through this miserable scene today. I knew you’d convinced Warren Geari to spill what he knew, that you were meeting him in the Kenner Hotel garage. He’d been vital to our plan, in its incarnation at that time. As business manager of all the Kenner Hotels, he’d been in an ideal position to make rooms and other amenities available to our guests, while we trained them and before we sent them off on their well-armed covert assignments all over the country. I figured a well-timed explosion would get rid of both that squealing rat and you.”

  “But thanks to Forbes Bowman, I survived.”

  Vane did not reply for a moment. “That was a damn shame,” he finally said.

  Cole knew he had to keep Vane talking as long as possible. The moment he stopped, he was likely to shoot. “But tell me why you got involved with this plot to overthrow our government. What’s in it for you?”

  Vane approached Cole, his gun still leveled at his chest. “You believed that? I knew Alexa would help you hack into my computer. It was part of the plan. But you can’t really think that what you found there is actually what’s going on.”

  Cole’s heart sank. He had at least believed that the information he had imparted to Forbes was correct. If so, Forbes could get the military on alert and stop the entire plot.

  But if they were sent off on a wild-goose chase instead…this time Cole would be killed, and his death would be for nothing.

  Forbes had suspected another ruse. Had Cole convinced him otherwise? He sure as hell hoped not.

  “Tell me,” Cole said as nonchalantly as possible. “Since you’ve managed to fool me in so many ways, won’t you let me die knowing the real goal of your ingenious scheme?”

  “I don’t think so.” Vane laughed. “And you’re not going to die just yet. I suspected all along that you had survived the explosion. And I knew who you were the moment you arrived. Do you realize, I’ve purposely disobeyed orders to keep you alive this long? Minos was trying to speed things up. He’s the one who shot at you, you know. I’ve had to rein him in over and over.”

  “Why did you bother?” Cole growled.

  Vane shrugged. “After all you did to me, I wanted to see you suffer. And the best way to do that was to make sure you saw exactly what Alexa and I mean to one another. I figured you’d show up here eventually, since I had her. You’ll die soon, but not just yet. As soon as Minos returns to keep an eye on you, Alexa and I are off to Las Vegas to be married. When we get back, that’s when you’ll die. I’ll make certain that Minos understands that.”

  Cole glanced over his shoulder at Alexa. Her smile was fixed on him. She didn’t deny a thing.

  Without thinking, and notwithstanding the way his hands were fettered behind him, he leapt toward her, dragging the chair with him. “You damn—”

  He didn’t finish that thought. Pain exploded through his head, and the world went black.

  PHANTOM BARKED AND SNARLED, but his lunges did not budge the gate that held him in the pantry.

  Ignoring Vane’s angry commands to back off, Alexa knelt at Cole’s side. Blood trickled from the side of his head, into the silvery edges of his dark hair. She touched his neck, felt his pulse. It was strong. He was still alive.

  Thank heaven.

  That meant she had to continue with this awful charade, but she would do it. For Cole. Even though he believed all that Vane said and despised her for it.

  For if she hadn’t gone along with it, Vane had made it very clear that he would shoot Cole the moment he came back into the house, or the first time Alexa failed to agree with something Vane said.

  “Get up!” Vane raged, and dragged Alexa to her feet.

  She whirled to confront him. “We had a deal. I would do as you said, and you wouldn’t hurt him.”

  “Wouldn’t kill him. There’s a difference.”

  “Not to me.” Her hands were on her hips, and her entire body trembled with anger. “If you hurt him any more, I won’t go along with you at all.” She paused. “You’re going to kill us both, anyway.”

  Vane didn’t deny it. So much for his obsession with her. He was more obsessed with obtaining revenge against Cole for being better than him, for having a loving father. Alexa knew that all she could do was to buy Cole and her some time.

  Buy Cole time. For she would do anything to get him out of this. No matter what he thought of her, she loved him. And even though she wasn’t sure what the purpose of Vane’s plot actually was, she knew it was evil, and Cole had to stop it.

  She just prayed he would also do as he’d promised: protect her parents. For as part of Vane’s coercing her to play along with him, he had begun to threaten not only her family’s freedom, but their lives as well.

  She turned her back on Vane and went to the sink. There, she dampened a paper towel and returned to Cole’s side. She gently sponged off the blood. “I’m so sorry, Cole,” she whispered low. But he was still unconscious, couldn’t hear her.

  A cell phone rang behind her. Vane answered. “Hi, Minos. Where are you?”

  He listened, then said, “Good work. Then they’re all on their way? Great.” Another pause, then he said, “I’ll have to go upstairs to get that information.”

  Alexa
didn’t look up until Vane kicked Cole’s side. Cole did not awaken but moaned slightly.

  “Why did you do that?” she demanded.

  “I just wanted to make sure he was still out. And he’d better still be there when I get back. This’ll only take a couple of minutes.”

  He turned and left the kitchen. His voice grew muted as he continued to talk on the cell phone.

  Alexa grabbed a knife from the butcher block near the sink and quickly but carefully sliced at the ropes around Cole’s wrists. Then she shook him gently. “Cole? Cole! Wake up.”

  He stirred, but just barely.

  She stood and drenched a paper towel at the sink. When she got back, she squeezed water over his face. Would this work? It had to.

  Cole’s eyes opened slightly. “Thank heaven,” Alexa exclaimed. “Get up. Now.”

  He shook his head, then flexed his hands and raised one to the wound.

  “You’ll be fine,” Alexa said. “But you have to get out of here before Vane comes back.”

  That apparently spurred Cole to come fully awake. “Where is he?” he spat, pulling himself to his feet. Alexa helped him.

  “He’s upstairs. But he’ll be back, and Minos is on his way, too. You need to get out of here.”

  “What the hell kind of new ruse is this, Alexa?” He was entirely conscious now. In his fury, he grabbed her arm and squeezed, hurting her. “I’m sick of your mind games.” He stared into her face, his expression furious and feral.

  She swallowed. She wanted to explain, but there was no time. “Fine,” she said. “Now shove me away, quickly. Preferably against a wall. I need to say I thought you were unconscious and tied, but you were faking, and somehow already free. I mustn’t have tied the ropes as tightly as he and I thought. You overpowered me, then ran out of here.”

  “The plot, damn it. I’m not leaving until I get the whole story.”

  “You’ll never figure it out if you’re dead.”

  He didn’t move, didn’t release her now-throbbing arm. “Cole, leave. Quickly. Vane killed your friends, and he’ll kill you, too. Please take the rope so he can’t see I cut it.”

  He glanced toward the kitchen door. “Is someone out there ready to shoot if I try to get away?” His voice was little more than a growl.

  “No. Minos isn’t back yet.”

  “Why should I believe you?” He stared down at her coldly.

  His iciness made Alexa shiver. She wanted to cry. She’d done the only thing she could to save the man she loved: she had made him hate her. But it would be for nothing if Vane caught him now.

  “You have no reason to,” she agreed pleasantly. “But think of your options—stay here and wait for Vane to shoot you, or make a break for it and see if you can get away.”

  “You’re coming, too.” He dragged her a few steps toward the door. “I want to hear the rest of the story from you.”

  She wanted to go with him. God, how she wanted to. But she couldn’t. Not now. “I’ll only slow you down,” she whispered. Then, more strongly, she insisted, “Now push me.”

  “No.”

  “Then just leave.”

  He hesitated just one moment more. “I suppose I should thank you for letting me go—assuming I’m not shot the second I step out the door.”

  “No need—” she began, but it was too late. He couldn’t hear her. He was gone.

  At least he had grabbed the severed rope.

  She glanced outside in time to see him hurry off toward the property next door, and its stand of sheltering white pine trees.

  Were those the last words she would ever hear from Cole? Probably, Alexa thought, her grief threatening to overwhelm her. Unless, someday, he was the one to arrest her for treason—assuming she survived that long.

  She had to try, at least. Steeling herself, she threw her body against the nearest kitchen wall, gratified at the loudness of the thud. She screamed, made herself crumple to the floor—in time to hear Vane’s running footsteps as he reentered the kitchen.

  She whirled. “Oh, Vane, he was faking, after all. His hands weren’t tied tightly enough. He jumped me just after you left the room.”

  “You expect me to believe that, especially after I was careful to check the way you tied him?” Vane said. He had no compunction about shoving her. He knocked her, once more, against the wall. “You liar. I’ll take care of you and your parents as soon as I get back.”

  Phantom snarled again and hurled himself at the gate. Thank goodness, it held, for Alexa had no doubt that Vane would shoot the dog in his frustration.

  “Which way did he go?” Vane demanded, towering over her menacingly.

  Wincing from the pain in her side, Alexa thought fast. Vane wouldn’t believe what she said, for he knew she would be trying to protect Cole. “Toward the trees,” she said.

  As she suspected, Vane ran down the path to the lake.

  This was her opportunity! She had to get out of here, then call her parents. Warn them.

  Alexa let Phantom out of the pantry. She ran upstairs for her purse, then down the steps toward the reception area.

  And stopped. Minos was there, his gun pointed at her. Of course. Vane must have known he was this close, or he would never have left Alexa alone in the house.

  “Where are they?” Minos demanded.

  “Outside,” Alexa said. “Cole got away.” She heard the triumph in her voice and hoped that what she said was true. Vane hadn’t returned yet. That just might be a good sign for Cole.

  Minos grabbed Alexa’s purse from her hand and took her arm, the same one that Cole had squeezed. “Let go of me,” she demanded loudly through her pain, unwilling to show Minos any sign of weakness.

  Phantom leaped on Minos, and he kicked the dog away. Phantom yipped and curled up on the floor.

  “Let me go to him,” Alexa said, her panic obvious in her shrill tone.

  But Minos ignored her, dragged her up the stairs. He locked her in one of the guest rooms. “You’ll stay here till one of us lets you out.”

  FROM BEHIND ONE of the thickest of the young white pines, Cole watched the inn. He’d seen Vane race down the path toward the lake and been pleased that he had a little more time.

  But then Minos had pulled up in the missing SUV. Damn! One against one would have been easier.

  At least Vane hadn’t taken his cell phone. “Forbes,” he hissed into it. “Listen. I need more backup. Bradford and Maygran are dead.” He quickly related all that had happened.

  “But you’re all right?” Bowman demanded.

  “For now. Hurry.” Cole pressed the End button.

  If only he had his Beretta. But he could survive without it…he hoped.

  His head ached like the devil. But he hadn’t time to pamper himself. Too much was at stake.

  He saw Minos exit the kitchen door. He talked on a cell phone—to Vane, Cole presumed.

  He headed directly toward Cole.

  Cole scanned the area toward the lake. There was no sign of Vane now. At least he was unlikely to show up at this moment. Maybe it would be one against one.

  But the wrong one was armed.

  At least Phantom wasn’t with him. Cole wouldn’t have a chance if the dog, no matter how well-meaning, pointed him out.

  He crouched, his shoulder hard against the tree. He remained absolutely still, clutching the trunk, feeling the bark scratch his skin. He inhaled the scent of fresh mountain air mingled with pine. Perhaps for the last time.

  He had always believed he would speak Alexa’s name with his dying breath. Now, he wondered whether, if he did, it would be because she had killed him.

  No. He didn’t dare allow himself to think about Alexa and her duplicity now. He had to concentrate.

  But Alexa…she had released him.

  Apparently Minos wasn’t concerned about being seen. He stomped into the thicket, his footsteps crunching on dead needles.

  Cole waited, holding his breath. It was around 8:00 p.m., not yet dark outside on this su
mmer evening. If only he had worn camouflage. Would he stick out, be entirely obvious in his jeans and jacket? Probably. His plain white T-shirt would be even worse.

  Minos hadn’t shot at him yet, but he did draw closer. Too close…

  “Might as well give up, Rappaport.” Minos pointed his Smith & Wesson, tipped with a long silencer, directly toward where Cole knelt. “It’s over.”

  “Is it?” Cole remained cool, though he started to rise.

  Minos drew closer. The gun was leveled right at Cole’s gut. “What do you think?” He laughed.

  “Maybe.” But Cole ducked and lunged forward, all in one motion. The gun went off with a low thudding sound. The shot missed him.

  But he didn’t miss Minos. He tackled the short, muscular thug. It was as if he dove into a cement-filled swimming pool. But he had aimed at Minos’s legs, and the goon fell to the ground, lashing out with his arms and the gun.

  Sitting on Minos’s knees, Cole used a karate chop to his unprotected throat. The smaller man gasped, but he grabbed Cole’s wrist and began twisting until Cole feared it would break. He hit at Cole with the gun clutched in his other hand. It struck Cole’s shoulder, causing pain to shoot through his body.

  And then Minos hit him in the head, in the same spot Vane had struck him before.

  Cole’s vision grew blurry and black at the edges. No, he commanded himself. This time, he had to stay conscious—or he would never wake up.

  He shook his head briefly. Fortunately, his vision cleared. But Minos had not ceased his struggle. He was trying to roll out from under Cole. His knee was free now, and he was trying to damage Cole’s privates.

  Cole used his left hand to gouge at Minos’s eyes until Minos screamed. Then, abruptly, Cole rolled, tugging his wrist away and grabbing at the gun. He wrestled for it, but Minos, still clutching it, had the advantage. Ever so slowly, he got it pointed toward Cole’s face.

  Cole swallowed hard. He paused, as if awaiting his fate. And then he lunged, grabbing the gun and planting one foot firmly on Minos’s throat once more. This time, he was able to get the gun, as Minos tried unsuccessfully to throw him off. He pressed hard for a moment until the man was still.