“Good. You’re waking. It’s about time.”
That voice gave her the jumpstart she needed. Her eyes opened. Everything came rushing back …the gems, Brian’s treachery, the men in the bushes and the prick in her arm.
“You…what have you done?” She didn’t recognize her own voice. Was this man insane?
“I’m a man who goes after what he wants. Right now I want you.”
Kat struggled to sit up. She couldn’t move. For a moment she panicked, until she realized that straps across her chest held her arms immobile. “You don’t want me. You want the lodge.” As befuddled as she was from whatever drug he’d injected in her arm, she managed to spit her hatred at Carl Winter. “You won’t get away with this.”
“Ah, a woman with fire. I like that.” Carl stretched his legs, leaned his head back on the seat and gave her a Cheshire cat smile, then laughed. “We’ll see, Katherine, we’ll see.”
“Where’s my sister? Is she in on this…this abduction?” Her tongue had difficulty forming the words.
“Elizabeth?” He laughed again, louder this time. “Unlike you, Katherine, Elizabeth has no spunk.” His fingers trailed down her face in a caress that made her want to gag.
“Elizabeth’s beautiful, no doubt about it. I found myself attracted to her, even though all I wanted was access to the lodge. But compared to you,” he gently pinched her cheek, “she’s nothing but a mannequin. You’re a real woman, and I’m eagerly anticipating the fun times we’ll have together.”
Kat pulled her head away from his touch. “In your dreams. You think I’d ever let you touch me?”
“Katherine,” he sighed. “Accept that you won’t have a choice.”
Her fingers curled into her palms. She desperately wanted to wipe the smug look from his face.
“Does Elizabeth know what you’ve done?”
Carl’s face turned ugly. “What’s this fixation with your sister?”
A shiver of unease ran through her. She’d have to tread lightly with this man. Not her style at all. She shrugged and leaned back against the seat, closed her eyes, and tried not to flinch when Carl’s fingers once again feathered down her cheek.
He leaned close and whispered, “Forget your sister. She’s history.”
He’d been drinking. Kat smelled wine on his breath. “You killed my sister?” She opened her eyes, her heart thumped in double time.
“Of course not. I meant she’s out of my life.” He turned in his seat crossing one expensively clad suit leg over the other. “I used her to get to you. You’re the key to my desires.”
“Knock off the act, Carl. You tried to get the lodge from my parents. I wasn’t your key to anything at that time.” Was this man the mastermind of the smuggling operation? Something didn’t make sense. Carl Winter didn’t have the skills to carry out the military operations she’d witnessed. He had a partner lurking somewhere. Or perhaps he was only a key operator in someone else’s plan.
He smirked. “You’re right. But you weren’t around. If you had been, my plan would have changed.”
“Did you kill my parents?”
His eyes narrowed. “No. I sincerely regret that occurrence. The men who pulled the trigger took matters into their own hands.” A calculating look crossed his face. “Enough of the past. Let’s focus on the future…our future. Now that I’ve got what I want, there’ll be smooth sailing ahead.”
This man had an ego she doubted few could match. “Which did you want? The lodge or the gems?”
Kat gaped in surprise when Carl threw back his head and howled with laughter. “You believe that hogwash Willie Card spouted?” He laughed again. “The man’s a lunatic.”
“He’s a dead lunatic now. Your men must have killed him, too.”
“Really?” His eyebrows rose slightly before he shrugged. “No great loss. He was only another pawn. A link to your family and the lodge. I never believed his story about the gems.
“Then the joke’s on you. They exist. I’d just found them when your goons showed up and tranquilized me.”
The shocked look on his face was priceless.
He grabbed her face, squeezing her jaw. “Is this true?”
She nodded and fought the urge to bite his hand. The scent of his strong cologne lingered on his fingers.
He lowered his hand. “Where are they now?”
Kat snorted. “My guess is Brian Richardson has them. As you well know, he followed me. He saw me find them, and then your men showed up.”
“Hmmm…interesting.” He rose from his seat. “I’ll be right back.” He walked down the aisle toward the cockpit.
Kat rested her head on the back of the seat. By now Jude and Cody knew she was missing. Would Jude be angry because she’d gone off on her own instead of waking him? No, he’d understand. He loved her. Between Jude and Cody, they’d leave no stone unturned. Her hopes of being rescued went up a notch.
Within minutes Carl returned. “Seems your friends called in the big guns.” The anger in his voice warned her to be careful.
“What do you mean?”
“My sources tell me that the FBI arrived at LoonLake this morning.”
Heart soaring with hope, she kept her face impassive.
“Well, I’m not surprised. Jude Callahan works for them. He came to the lodge to specifically to find the gems.”
Carl’s skin turned a patchy-red, and his eyeballs practically protruded from their sockets. “He’s FBI? That’s impossible. You said he was an army friend.”
“I lied. He’s FBI.”
“You’ve got to be mistaken,” he muttered. “I would have been told.”
“By who?” Did he mean Brian? What was going on here? Carl’s partner must have connections.
“Never mind. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
“I’m thirsty.” She didn’t need to fake the dryness in her throat. The straps loosened enough when she held in her breath that she could slide down in the seat and free herself. Not for the first time, she gave thanks for her petite size. The question was what she’d do when she got loose.
“Here you are,” he said reaching around to the seat in front of them.”
He handed her a bottle of fresh spring water. Just her luck. She’d hoped he’d have to go to the galley for the water.
Kat summoned all her willpower to keep from spitting in Carl’s smiling face as he held the bottle to her mouth. When her tongue wet her lips, a raw sexual look spread across his face. Kat’s initial revulsion turned to glee. Perhaps she had a weapon more powerful than a gun. She’d use her new found sensuality to defeat the enemy.
Smiling in gratitude, she took a small sip and gazed into his lustful eyes. God, please let the water stay down. “Thank you,” she murmured, leaning her head back on the headrest. No need to fake exhaustion either.
“More?” He held the bottle in front of her.
She controlled a cringe when his hand once again caressed her cheek. Instead, she turned her face toward his palm and smiled. “No, thank you. Where are we headed?”
“It’s a surprise. Close your eyes and get some rest.”
Excellent idea. She’d rest now so that when they reached their destination, she’d have the strength to kick his ass all the way to the nearest jail. She felt a sharp prick in her arm. What the…She opened her eyes in time to see Carl withdraw the hypodermic needle. “You…you…bast…”
“Sorry, sweet thing. Can’t have you awake when we arrive.” Once again, Kat spiraled down the familiar black tunnel into eventual oblivion.
*****
“I didn’t expect you to show up, Frank,” Jude commented, helping the middle-aged man from the seaplane now anchored to the wharf. “Thought you’d send someone.” Jude’s stomach did a quick roll at the serious expression on Frank’s face. “Did you search the border?”
“Yeah. It was deserted, which didn’t surprise anyone. We found plenty of signs of recent activity. Forensics is checking it out.” Frank stretched his body, bef
ore moving toward Cody.”
He held out his hand in greeting. “Frank Rowe.”
“This is Agent Munson,” Frank waved a hand toward the man still inside the plane. “He’ll wait here and keep his eyes open.”
“Cody Sparks. Glad to meet you, sir.” Cody grasped the older man’s hand firmly. “I’m anxious to get moving. We need to find Kat Tenney.”
Frank looked at Jude, then Cody. “She’s missing? When did that happen? Where’d she go?”
Jude filled Frank in on the Kat’s disappearance as they walked toward the lodge.
Frank sighed. “Let’s go inside. I need some coffee.” He rested his hand on Jude’s shoulder. I’ve got news that’s not going to make you happy.”
“Want some breakfast?” Cody asked as they stepped off the wharf and trailed across the lawn to the lodge.
“No, thanks. Just coffee.”
Jude’s stomach churned. He’d seldom seen Frank in such a negative mood. The news must be bad.
“I have the gems, Frank.”
Frank’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? How? Where? By the way, we found what was left of Willie Card’s body and another body.”
“The one behind the lodge would be Brian Richardson. A local from the area and friend of Kat’s. There’s a third body across the lake, unless his cohorts have removed it.”
“The gems?” Frank prompted.
“They were in an old stump near his body. I’ve no idea how they got there.”
Frank puckered his brows and opened his mouth to say something, but Jude cut him off. “I do know,” he leveled his look at Cody, who watched the two other men with interest, “Kat Tenney had nothing to do with either Brian’s murder or the gems.”
Frank raised his eyebrows in question, but didn’t contradict Jude. “At least the operation didn’t turn out to be a total fiasco.”
“Until I find Kat, I consider it a fiasco.”
No one responded to Jude’s statement.
A few minutes later, they sat at the table, the smell of coffee permeating the room. Frank ended the silence. “Remember that satellite phone you used to call me the other day?”
Jude nodded.
“It’s one of ours.”
Jude sat forward on the edge of his chair, almost tipping it over. “What? Are you serious? How could that be?”
“It’s one of several that went missing from our inventory and can’t be accounted for.”
“That explains Brian’s last words,” Cody murmured.
At Frank’s puzzled look, Jude explained. “I asked Richardson where Kat was, and he stammered FBI right before he died. The man honestly believed he was working for the FBI. There’s a rotten apple in the Bureau, Frank.”
“Looks that way.” Frank eyes were troubled. “I’ve been going over a list of agents since I found out about the phones. I’m coming up empty.”
Jude reached for his cup with unsteady fingers. “I’ve been thinking about it, too. What about Dave Perkins?”
Frank’s forehead furrowed, and he shook his head. “He’s a kiss ass, but it never occurred to me that he might be a traitor.” His eyes widened. “Wait a minute. Pieces are falling into place. Originally, I’d made plans to send Simmons on this assignment because he’s a wilderness freak, a regular Grizzly Adams. Perkins convinced me to send you.”
“Me? Why me? And why would you listen to anything he had to say about me?”
Frank cleared his throat, loosening his tie. “Perkins told me you’d developed an attitude problem. Said you were getting stale, not concentrating on the job. He suggested a change of scenery would be good for you and ultimately for the Bureau.”
“An attitude? Me? He’s the one with the fucking attitude. He seldom showed up at work for the past month. Said he was having personal problems at home.”
Cody interrupted. “So this Dave wanted Jude at LoonLake, figuring he’d screw up and be oblivious to what was happening on the border.”
Jude clenched his teeth. “Gee, thanks, Cody. Great vote of confidence.”
“It’s starting to make sense.” Frank’s sour mood had brightened. “I’ll call the Bureau and tell them to keep Perkins under wraps until we get back.”
Jude fidgeted in his chair while Frank put through the call.
“Hogan? It’s Frank. Is Perkins there? No, I don’t want to speak with him. I want you to make damn sure he stays put until I get back. I’ll be there sometime this afternoon. I don’t care how you do it, damn it. Tell him I’ve got an important assignment for him. Don’t tell him where I am. Another thing. I want some information on him. How many days he’s missed work in the past year. Check his credit cards, business and personal. I want to know everything he’s charged and everywhere he’s traveled for the last three months.” Frank put his phone away and stood. “Let’s go.”
In his haste to leave Jude stepped back landing on Red’s foot. The dog yelped. Jesus, he’d forgotten Red. “Frank. We have to take the dog.”
Frank looked down at Red, who stared back at him with his soulful eyes.
“I don’t think…”
“It’s Kat’s dog. We can’t just leave him here.”
“We’ll drop him off at a shelter somewhere.” Frank dismissed the matter.
“No, Frank, he’s staying with me until we find Kat.”
Cody laughed. “You’d better listen to him Frank. If it weren’t for Red, Jude would still be wandering around in the woods right now.”
Frank opened his mouth to argue, but caved at Jude’s frown. “Fine. Whatever. Bring the dog.”
“Hear that Red? Let’s go find Kat.” Red took off, opened the screen door with his nose and ran to the end of the wharf. He looked back at the three men coming behind him and jumped in the plane.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Frank murmured.
Chapter 13
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk rapidly gathered speed as it taxied across the choppy water. Jude and Cody sat in the two back seats. Red was on the floor, his head resting on Jude’s thigh.
“Are we flying all the way to Washington in this thing?”
Cody’s comment jarred Jude from his worries about Kat. He looked at the other man and laughed. Cody’s hands clenched the sides of the seat. His forehead was covered with beads of sweat.
“What’s so damn funny?”
“You’re pale. Need a barf bag?” Up front, the other two men snickered.
“Very funny, Callahan. I’ve got an aversion to small planes.”
“There’s a Lear jet waiting for us in Bangor,” Frank informed them. “This will be a short flight.”
“This plane equipped with wheels, as well as the pontoons?”
“Be hard to land at an airport if it didn’t have wheels. Hang on,” the pilot warned. “Here we go.”
The plane lifted, banking along the shoreline before heading toward the mountains. Cody’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. Jude opened his mouth to rib him again, but made the mistake of looking out the window. The plane flew low and quickly gained on the mountains.
“Jesus Christ, Munson. Pull up the damn plane.”
“Amen,” Cody whispered.
“Relax.” Frank turned around. “Agent Munson’s been flying for years.
Neither Jude nor Cody took another breath until the Cessna cleared the top of the mountains and gained altitude.
“Do either of you have any ideas where to start looking for Kat Tenney?”
“I say Texas,” Cody spoke up.
“Why Texas?”
“The night we explored the border we overheard the guards say they were pulling out and going to Texas.” Jude leaned forward as far as his seatbelt allowed. “Call Washington, Frank. We need a list of every property owned by Carl Winter.”
Snapping open his cell phone Frank dialed the number. “Hogan, it’s me again. I need information as soon as possible. Compile a list of all properties owned by Carl Winter. While you’re at it, check to see if Perkins owns any property other
than his house.” Frank paused. “No, I don’t want it tomorrow. I want it this afternoon. By four o’clock to be precise. Where’s Perkins? Well, let him holler. Keep him confined to one room, and don’t let him make any phone calls. See you at four.” Frank ended the call and looked over his shoulder. “They’re on it.”
“What’s with Dave Perkins?” Agent Munson asked.
“I’ll fill you in later.” Frank answered.
Why was Frank withholding information from Munson? Trust no one? Jude settled back in his seat and gazed out the window at the vast wilderness below. Nothing but coniferous forests, with splashes of blue lakes and long snaking rivers. Red whined, and Jude reassured him with a pat on the head. The dog had his own ideas of comfort and climbed on Jude’s lap. By the time he settled into a comfortable position, Jude had his shoulders and head, and Cody ended up with the other half.
“Sorry,” Jude muttered.
Cody grunted. “The dog better not fart.”
The plane landed in Bangor within the hour. Before boarding the Agency’s Leer jet, everyone bought something to eat. Settling in for the flight, Jude opened the wrapper of his breakfast sandwich. Red’s tail thumped hard enough to put a hole in the floor of the jet. Man, he’d known from day one that tail was dangerous.
“Did you feed Red today?” he asked Cody.
“Nope. Thought you did.”
Jude looked at his sandwich and then at Red, sitting there with drool dripping from his chin. “I’ll share, but that’s it.” He tossed the dog half of the sandwich. Red caught it in mid-air and swallowed it whole. Jude turned away from the dog and ate the other half.
Once his hunger was satisfied, Jude leaned back on the headrest and surrounded himself with memories of Kat and their last night together. He imagined her warmth cuddling into his body, and the funny little noises she made in the back of her throat when she climaxed. He wanted to share Cody’s optimism that Kat could take care of herself. But the soft, petite woman he’d held in his arms was a world apart from the rough self-sufficient soldier that Cody knew.
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