by Dani Pettrey
The knowledge of her past didn’t alter his impression in the least, though he now understood why she resisted his overprotectiveness. She wasn’t being reckless. She possessed the skills to take care of herself in those situations. Now he really felt foolish.
He turned down Mira’s street, blue and red lights whirling in the distance, his mind rattling with so many thoughts and unasked questions. Had Tanner’s dad wanted her to remain in the army, or had he wanted her to follow in his footsteps by joining Mossad? And what about Tanner’s faith? She was most certainly a Christian. A strong one. What about her parents? When had she come to accept Christ as her Savior, and had that caused a fracture in her relationship with them? His gut said yes, but that was her business. Hers to share if and when she wanted to. He prayed one day she’d feel comfortable enough and trust him deeply enough to share all of that with him, but for now he’d wait.
They pulled to a stop outside of Mira’s building, and he offered his hand as Tanner climbed off the bike, her cold fingers intertwined momentarily with his before Agent Barrows called his name.
He and Tanner exchanged a look—one that spoke so much more than words could express. They, for better or worse, were in this together.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded, not looking the least bit confident, but taking a deep breath, she moved in stride with him toward Tim.
He gave her hand a squeeze before letting go as they reached Agent Barrows.
As anticipated, local units were on-site, and according to Tim, the SUV had been stopped just north of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, the men thankfully in custody. However, a battle between local authorities and the Bureau was brewing. Given the nature of the case and participants, it was the Bureau’s jurisdiction, but local cops had been very helpful in nabbing the SUV, so Declan believed it was best to tread carefully.
Relief filled him as he spotted Parker’s Land Rover. The more people Tanner had on her side, the better. She had a lot to answer for with the unknown suspect’s death, but it had been a warranted kill, and he could attest to that. He just needed to keep his head in the game, but after that kiss . . .
A tremor of delight shot through him at the memory.
“Can you run us through what happened here?” Tim asked as they stood by the cordoned-off front door of Mira’s building.
“Why don’t we step inside?” Declan suggested.
“Of course.” Tim nodded.
They climbed up to Mira’s apartment, Tim huffing a little at the end. While not exactly out of shape, Tim had let his physical performance slide a little over the last year. After his wife left him, he’d turned to food for solace. Declan was all for self-control, but losing a wife in any manner had to be gut-wrenching. He was placing no judgment, had only sympathy for the pain Tim must be going through. Not that they ever spoke of it.
Fellow agent Matt Greer greeted them, as well as Parker, Avery, and the rest of the Bureau team that Tim had brought with him. Two local police officers remained, the two teams needing to work together until the case was fully shifted over to the Bureau.
Tanner’s eyes welled with tears as her gaze shifted to Mira, her body illuminated by Avery’s camera flash. Avery’s gentle gaze conveyed her depth of sorrow for what Tanner was going through. Though conveying emotion wasn’t his strong suit, Declan hoped he could provide some solace as well.
“Let’s step into the bedrooms,” Tim said, “so Matt and I can get your statements.”
“I’ll take Declan in this room,” Matt said, pointing to the second bedroom. Declan had expected their separation, but he didn’t like it. He watched Tanner disappear with Tim into the first bedroom, his mind racing through all she’d have to explain, and wondering how Tim would react.
His time with Matt went quickly. He got straight to the point, hoping to be back out with Tanner as quickly as possible, but the other bedroom door remained shut.
Parker stepped to his side. “What on earth happened here? Looks like professional hits,” he murmured in his low Irish lilt.
Mira’s definitely was. Her attacker’s, in a manner of speaking, was as well. But the truth about Tanner wasn’t his to share.
“I’ll let Tanner explain back at Kate’s.” Meaning Charm City Investigations, where the gang was planning to share an early dinner. While this was Bureau business, he still wanted to employ the talents and expertise of his friends, even if only in a consulting manner.
“Dude, what happened to your back? It looks shredded.” Parker gaped at his blood-covered, glass-sheared shirt.
“One of the suspects shot the window while I was climbing out.”
“You should have that looked at.”
His gaze fixed on Tanner as she exited the bedroom followed by Tim, a bewildered expression on his brow. “I already did.”
Parker followed his gaze, and a slight smile crossed his friend’s lips. “She okay?”
“I hope so.”
When Tanner stepped back into the living room, Declan’s gaze fastened on hers. He, to her utter shock and amazement, had been her rock in this storm. Biting her bottom lip, she glanced back to Mira. She’d promised to keep her safe, and now she was dead. How was she going to live with the guilt and sorrow?
She swallowed and stepped to meet Avery as she moved in to hug her.
“You okay?” Avery asked.
No. She nodded.
“Declan said she was your friend.” Avery glanced back at Mira as Parker covered her body now that his exam and Avery’s photographs of the crime scene were complete.
Tanner nodded again, afraid if she spoke, the tears would flow.
Avery rested her hand on Tanner’s arm, her touch warm against Tanner’s cool skin. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks.”
“Any luck with prints?” Declan asked Parker.
“All unknowns. Sorry. Other than Mira’s, Tanner’s, and yours, of course.”
Parker looked at Tanner. He’d run her prints, so now he knew too. Soon they’d all know she used to be a killer. She glanced at the sheeted body of the man—now she was again.
“Did you find anything useful?” Declan asked.
“Two things,” Parker said. “First.” He held up a listening device.
“Her place was bugged?”
Parker nodded. “In three rooms.”
“That’s how they knew she was talking to us,” Tanner said. Talking to them had gotten Mira killed, but not in the way she’d imagined.
“Any idea on the tech?” Declan asked.
“I’ll have to examine it better back at the lab, but it’s not American issued. My guess would be Russian,” Parker said.
“Russian?” Declan’s brow furrowed.
“Russia’s black market supplies a lot of terrorist factions with arms and surveillance materials,” Parker explained.
“Well, that adds another layer to this case.”
“And so does this.” Parker handed him an evidence-bagged slip of paper with an address scrawled across it. “John Doe had this in his pocket. And according to Tim, the men in the SUV had a duffel bag with clothing and toiletries in it. It appears that John Doe, or at least one of the men, was about to take a trip.”
Declan examined the address. “Houston?” he said.
Steven Burke, the FBI agent killed on the Hiram two months ago, had lived in Houston. “Any chance . . . ?”
“Already ahead of you,” Parker said. “It’s Steven Burke’s address. Looks like you’ll be taking a trip yourself.”
“So we’re going to Houston?” Tanner said. She prayed Declan didn’t fight her on this one. Alan had said they were a team until Lexi returned.
Parker’s brows arched, his lips twitching with a smile. “We?”
Declan cleared his throat. “Tanner is now a crisis counselor with the Bureau.”
Parker’s lips twitched again. “Is that right?”
Declan nodded.
“Well, congratulations.” Parker patted her on
the back.
“Thanks.” But it was her first day on the job and she’d already gotten two people killed—one by her own hand. It didn’t bode well.
7
On the way over to Charm City Investigations, Declan had made a call to the Houston Bureau office to talk with Chuck Franco, Burke’s former partner. Declan hadn’t shared much, but hearing his side of the conversation had given her the distinct impression he hadn’t gotten a lot of cooperation from the man.
The evening air was cool as Declan walked beside her to CCI’s entrance, and then held the front glass door open. She stepped inside to the scent of tomato sauce and cheese wafting down the hall.
Entering the main room, her heart wobbled at the sight of everyone seated on the sofa and chairs. It was time to share her past with them. In hindsight, it hadn’t been fair to ask Kate to keep her secret, and now that Declan, Parker, and Avery knew, or at least suspected, it seemed pointless to keep it from the rest of them.
Before she could utter a word, Griffin’s wife, Finley, raced over and engulfed her in a hug. “I’m so sorry about Mira.” Concern blanketed her face. “I know how close you two were.”
“Thanks.”
Everyone expressed their sympathies, and right when she was on the verge of tears, Declan stepped to her side. “You must be famished,” he said. They’d both been so distracted, and she heartbroken, that they’d neglected to eat.
“We’ve got pizza,” Parker said, gesturing to the kitchen.
“And salad,” Finley added.
Avery smiled. “And cheese sticks.”
Tanner’s favorite, but she still had zero appetite—whether more from the events of the day or her anticipation of the discussion to come, she wasn’t certain.
She blinked as the terror in Mira’s eyes right before she was shot sped through her mind. She doubted the sight would ever leave her entirely. Sweet Mira was dead.
“Are you cold?” Declan asked.
“Huh?” She glanced up him.
“You just shivered.”
“Oh.” She rubbed her arms, trying to hide the gooseflesh rippling up them. “I’m fine.” She was far from it, and all she wanted to do was nestle back into the security of his strong arms, but instead she strode toward the kitchen. “Let’s eat,” she said, despite her lack of appetite.
He followed her into the small galley kitchen where she grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza and a can of Coke before returning to the front room and taking a seat on the sofa.
Declan sat next her, exuding a sense of comfort but also one of concern. He was worried about her. She could read it in his eyes. But to be fair, she was worried too. The entire day, the vast spectrum of emotions—sadness, comfort, terror, along with the engagement of skills she hadn’t practiced in years—all bordered on dizzying.
“Should I take you home so you can get some rest?” Declan asked, clearly sensing her unease. He was good at that—reading her. Though she’d previously pictured him as stiff and always logical, he had a strong intuitive and compassionate side. She’d been seeing more and more of it lately, and she liked what she saw.
Surprise hit her as she realized what he was really offering. He was offering to take her home, rather than expecting her to explain her past and today’s events to the whole group.
The softness of his expression made that clear.
While she greatly appreciated the lack of pressure, it was time. “Thanks,” she murmured, “but I need to do this.” She should have a long time ago.
Taking a deep breath, she scooted forward. “I have something I need to share with you all.”
Before she lost her nerve, she jumped straight in—explaining how she’d grown up in Israel with her father serving with Mossad, how she’d done her mandatory service and excelled at shooting skills, and how she’d had twelve kills during her tenure—thirteen, counting today’s. She finished by explaining why she’d wanted to keep that part of her past in the past, and how Kate had been kind enough to let her, but that she was glad they all knew. Then she waited anxiously for their response.
“Thank you for trusting us enough to tell us,” Finley said.
“We all have a past,” Avery said. “I totally get wanting to leave it in the past. That’s where mine is now.”
All the guys agreed, and a bit of relief Tanner hadn’t anticipated swelled in her chest. How could they be so understanding, so forgiving, so nonjudgmental? Yes, she’d been doing her duty while serving in the army, and today she’d saved Declan’s life, but she still remembered each kill—all thirteen of them, today’s included.
Despite everyone’s kind reaction, her chest felt compressed, like a lead weight was squashing it, stealing the breath from her lungs.
Please, Father, help me to release this burden to you. It’s too heavy for me to bear anymore.
It was crushing her. She could see that now—the toll it was taking on her. The weight of guilt and emotions she’d shouldered rather than turning them over to her Savior. She’d felt it wasn’t fair to give Him her burden—she deserved to carry it. But she also knew He’d already borne it on the cross for her. Why was it so hard to let go of pain sometimes? Especially when she had such a loving Savior waiting to bear the agony for her?
Thank you, Jesus.
She swallowed back the tears salting in her eyes and covered them with a cough and a quick swipe of her eyes. She prayed Declan hadn’t seen, but there was little he missed. “Parker said you’re heading to Houston,” Griffin said, casually shifting the topic of conversation and, along with it, thankfully her thoughts.
“Yes,” Declan said. “John Doe had Steven Burke’s home address on his person and a duffel in the SUV. Seems Steven might still hold a key to the Hiram case, and possibly the terror threat that seems to be building in Baltimore.”
“When do you leave?” Finley asked.
“First thing tomorrow morning.” He looked to Tanner. “I took the liberty of booking our flight.”
She nodded, and Declan proceeded to explain Tanner’s new role with the Bureau—for which she got full congratulations, though given her first day on the job, she was second-guessing whether it was where God wanted her, despite the peace she’d had going in. Much more prayer was required.
“We’re all leaving in”—Griffin looked at his watch—“a half hour.”
Declan looked around the room and frowned. “Where to?”
“Haywood’s retreat. Kicks off with the usual dessert and cocktail party.”
“Oh, that’s right. Since I couldn’t attend, I totally forgot it started tonight. Tell him I’m bummed I can’t make it.”
“Will do, but it seems we’ll be doing more than just attending.”
Declan’s brow arched. “Oh?”
Griffin exhaled. “I had a weird meeting with him today. He believes his partner Lowell is skimming money from his clients’ accounts and setting him up to take the fall.”
“What?” Declan leaned forward. “You’re kidding.”
Griffin shook his head. “I wish I were.” He went on to relay the entirety of his and Haywood’s conversation.
Declan exhaled as shock sifted through him. He’d never have seen that coming. “Keep me posted.”
“Will do,” Griff said. “And Katie’s coming along.”
Declan glanced at Kate. “He hired you to investigate?”
“Yep.” She nodded.
Declan frowned. “I know you’ll all do an excellent job, but why doesn’t he just report it—have someone in the police fraud department look into it? Or the Bureau fraud department, for that matter?”
Griffin shook his head. “He came to me as a friend, said if he went to law enforcement now, everything points to him. He wants us to find the proof of his innocence and the truth about what his partner is doing before he officially goes to the authorities.”
“Sounds like we’ve all got an interesting weekend before us,” Parker said.
“Why don’t we take a minute and pray f
or safety and guidance?” Finley said.
Griffin clasped his wife’s hand, and Tanner remembered the feel of Declan’s hand in hers as they’d stood outside of Mira’s apartment.
“Great idea, babe,” Griffin said. “Why don’t you start?”
Finley closed her eyes and bowed her head. “Dear Father, you are sending us out among wolves. Please keep us safe. Please guide us to the truth, and help us to see justice done.”
A few others added their prayers, and then “Amen” rounded the room.
“Ready to go?” Declan asked Tanner.
She nodded, having ridden with him from the Bureau. “We’ll need to pick up my car.”
“I’ll just take you home and pick you up bright and early in the morning for our flight. It leaves at six. Your car will be safe at the office while we’re away.”
“Six?” She was a night owl, not an early bird.
“It’ll give us more time on the ground.”
“Gotcha.” But . . . ouch.
Declan held the door for her as they exited CCI, and her heart fluttered. She still couldn’t believe they’d kissed. Now, as things had settled down and they were alone, it really hit home. He held his SUV door open for her, and she climbed in, her heart racing as she watched him walk to the driver’s side, taking in his athletic physique in the brick building’s floodlights. He was gorgeous. She’d always recognized it, but something had shifted today. Seeing him drive that motorcycle, feeling his lips on hers . . . She felt as if she were on the top of a stopped Ferris wheel, her feet dangling in the air high above the ground below, anticipation soaring for what would happen next.
“How you holding up?” he asked. “I know you’re blaming yourself, but it wasn’t your fault.”
She frowned. His sentiment was kind, but totally false. “How was it not my fault?” She shifted to face him better, readjusting her seat belt to hit lower across her chest. “If I’d paid attention to who was helping move furniture, if I hadn’t been questioning her . . .”