“Wait a minute, what’s CONUS?” Conroy queried.
“Continental United States,” Liam and Addison answered in synch.
“Where was her overseas assignment?” Addison wanted to know.
“Germany,” Liam answered. “As for her family, she grew up in foster care. She got married while she was in Germany, but it didn’t work out. That’s why her C.O. figured she wanted to go back home. She really didn’t have anyone.”
“Do you think she was targeted?” Addison asked as she made a note. “I mean, she didn’t have a family and it was a perfect time in her rotation for her to fall through the cracks.”
“Yes. That’s what we’re thinking,” Conroy said. “There are similar stories with five other women I’ve been able to research so far.”
“So far?” Addison felt those words down to the soles of her feet. “Just how many women are we talking about?”
When Conroy opened his mouth to answer, Liam held out his hand. Conroy nodded. Who knew he could be silenced?
“We found eighteen dog tags amongst many other souvenirs,” Liam started.
“Bodies?”
He hesitated.
“This won’t work if you’re trying to protect me from reality. Trust me, I’ve seen it.”
“Not like this, you haven’t,” Laird interrupted. “I’m still having nightmares.”
“Laird—” Addison started.
“I’m serious. I was hours away from losing the daughter of a friend of mine. She almost ended up decomposing on a meat hook in the middle of the jungle.” His voice trailed off.
Addison’s overactive imagination saw images of women’s bodies swaying from trees in the sweltering heat of the jungle, becoming bloated, tempting all of the predators. Sweat bloomed on the back of her neck. She badly wanted to pull out her tin of mints from her purse but couldn’t bring herself to show any sign of weakness.
“But you saved her?”
“Thank the Lord. But that’s where we found the dog tags. All Navy.”
“Was she Navy?” Addison asked.
“No,” Laird answered.
“Then I don’t understand.”
“We’re dealing with many different victims, but DHS is involved, and we specifically brought you in because of the dog tags we found amongst the other trophies,” Liam answered this time. “Like our friend Mr. Lake here has explained, he’s identified the background of the five female sailors and found very similar backgrounds.”
“So, these women weren’t targeted at random,” she said.
“Not in our opinion. Of course, it could be the next thirteen are different, more checking needs to be done,” Liam answered as he watched her closely.
“But explain to me Laird’s friend’s daughter, how does she fit in if she’s not a sailor? I need to understand.”
“We had two perpetrators. One was an arms dealer named Eduardo Riaz—he was kidnapping women throughout Mexico and we knew of at least four American women he kidnapped from Cancun. The last of whom was Heather Reading. He raped, tortured, and killed these women down in the Yucatan. He was doing business with whomever this other killer was. We rescued Heather and for a moment we had Eduardo, but he died.”
“How do you know Eduardo wasn’t killing the female sailors?” Addison asked.
“He and Brannon spent just a little quality time together before he had a heart attack. He taunted Brannon and told him that he was just a demon and we should be looking in our own backyard for the actual devil.”
Brannon started speaking—it was almost as if he were reliving the conversation. “He said that at least he wasn’t evil enough to kill his own.”
“And this man had a heart attack?” Addison asked slowly.
Brannon looked at her with deep black eyes. “Yes,” he said solemnly.
“Trust me, Addison, I would have been much happier if he was alive,” Liam said. “We needed to know who was supplying him with the weapons.”
“Got it. It’s making sense now. Okay, so back to Catherine and the other four girls that you’ve researched. I’m assuming the original search for them went through the normal protocol? Master at Arms? They took all the formal steps to find out her whereabouts?”
“Let’s focus on Catherine,” Liam suggested. “Yes, they took the normal thirty days before declaring her AWOL, but because she didn’t have a family, and what few friends she did have were in Germany, she fell through the cracks. But the other four women had situations that were eerily similar.”
She returned his stare as she easily took notes. After years of questioning victims, she knew how to keep eye contact and still write her notes. “And the other souvenirs?” she asked.
“Those are going to take longer to track down,” Liam said, his voice solemn. “We’re going through NamUs, but that only handles the United States. Since these souvenirs were found in Mexico, and a lot of them were rosaries and gold crucifixes, we’re thinking that they were Mexican natives.”
“Why didn’t the Navy notice they had a pattern of disappearances?” Addison asked.
“This has been going on over a fifteen-year period, and the women were taken from all over the United States. We haven’t found out if they were all as isolated as Catherine and the other four, Conroy is checking,” Liam answered.
“Seems to me like you already have enough to establish a pattern, and it’s an inside job.” Addison jabbed her pen into her notepad. She saw Liam watching her reaction.
“Conroy is saying he just needs two more days. I want to do this by the book,” he said.
“You’re being this careful so that you can build a case. I get it.”
“Bullshit. This fucker needs to die,” Laird bellowed.
Addison glanced over her shoulder at Laird and saw both anger and anguish.
“Laird, we need to make sure we find out everything before we move. We don’t want to let anything that will allow this case to fall apart.” Liam’s voice was soothing.
“After you make sure you’ve caught all the cockroaches, you look the other way, and let me handle it.” She saw all of the other men nod.
“You’re going to do what I tell you, because you trust me.” Liam looked each man in the eye. They all eventually nodded. She was surprised, and yet not surprised, that Liam was holding the others back. She really wanted to get to know this new Liam, but she couldn’t do it. She knew that a second time in his arms that ended in failure would break her beyond repair.
She would concentrate on the mission.
Liam turned to his nephew. “Declan, didn’t you say your company had a couple of other cases in the hopper?” Liam asked.
“Yes, but this is our number one priority,” Declan answered. “You point us in a direction and we’ll jump.”
“Conroy, you sent me the list of names, right?” Addison asked.
The man nodded without looking up from his computer.
“I’ll run these through some of the different databases I have available and see what I can find out,” Addison said as she slipped her portfolio back into her tote.
“Sounds good, can you send me updates as you find them?” Conroy asked.
Liam cleared his throat.
“And, of course, keep Liam in the loop?” the man added.
Addison looked at Liam underneath the veil of her lashes and saw both irritation and amusement in his gaze. It was amazing what he could accomplish by just a small cough.
“I need to get back to the office and get to work,” she said. Before she got up, she turned to Laird. “Thank you for the cookie. How is your friend’s daughter doing?”
She saw his eyes soften with both joy and pain. “Physically she’s doing fine. But she’s not talking.”
That hit her right in the solar plexus. She couldn’t imagine something happening to Brody and then having him not being able to talk to her. “How about your friend, how is she doing?”
“Clarissa?” Laird asked. “She’s holding strong. She’s going t
o see Heather through this.”
Addison took a shot in the dark. “How often have you visited her?”
“Twice so far. Hopefully, I’ll see her again tomorrow.”
“You’re a good man, Laird Campbell.”
“Have another cookie,” he said gruffly.
Once again, all of the men stood as she picked up her over-sized purse and got ready to stand. Who knew she would have missed military men when she left the Navy? She nodded at everyone around the table. Conroy rubbed the back of his neck and then gave her a wan smile.
“Sorry I was a prick. I can’t stand any of this. When they told me what they saw… Look, just let me know any way that I can help you out, okay?”
Hmmm, maybe he wasn’t a prick after all.
“Sure,” she smiled.
“Let me walk you out,” Liam stood back and let her leave first but he still pushed the door open for her. He was even closer than he had been when they were sitting next to one another. It was a lot to handle.
Liam didn’t say anything as they passed the empty reception desk, he just opened that door as well. Damn his manners. She loved them, but she hated the fact that she got so close that she could smell his clean masculine scent that had memories swamping her.
Get it together.
Maybe if she told herself that forty times in a row, she would get her mind, her body, her hormones, herself, under control.
“Are you leaving, too?” she asked in a normal tone of voice.
“I’m walking you to your car.”
“That’s really not necessary.”
“Yes, it is.” Her step faltered for a brief second. What was it about his take-command attitude that still did it for her?
Bad Addison. This is not and never has been the man for you.
“Why?” Was that her breathy voice?
He didn’t answer, instead, they walked down the short hall to the bank of elevators, then he pressed the down button. “Are you in the parking garage or the parking lot?”
“Parking lot. You didn’t answer my question.”
He smiled. “I should have guessed the parking lot. You never liked the indoors when you could be outside.”
“Liam, this is ridiculous. Do you have more information to give me?” she asked as they stepped into the empty elevator.
“Is it so hard to believe I wanted a little time together to find out how you’ve been?” he asked in that rumbly voice.
She didn’t know how to answer so she looked up and willed the numbers to move faster.
“Seriously, Addison, it’s been fifteen years, how are you? Who are you? How have you been?”
“I’m Addison Sanders and I’m fine now. I survived you.” She looked up at the numbers.
Down. Down. Down.
Faster. Faster. Faster.
“Sweetheart.” He breathed the word. She heard the regret in his tone.
The doors slid open. He put his hand on the small of her back to escort her out of the elevator. She felt his touch all the way to her toes. Part of her wanted to step away, another part wanted to lean in.
She was a mess.
A mess.
3
Liam saw the way she stiffened when he put his hand on her back, but he couldn’t help himself. Touching Addison was a compulsion. Her words reverberated through his head. The fact that she’d had to survive him was a blow. Is that how it had been? Had he hurt her that badly?
Sure, he’d thought of her often. In the last couple of years, he’d thought of her a lot more as he’d seen his friends pair up. Then he’d really started thinking about her after his big ‘talk’ with his brother. But had he really been that much of a bastard that she’d had to survive him?
He pushed open the glass door to the warm spring day and realized she didn’t smile at the sight of the cherry blossoms. Damn, she really was unnerved by his presence—she’d always loved flowers.
“When did you move to D.C.?” Liam finally asked. He was desperate to bring the conversation back to an even footing.
She hesitated, then she swallowed and turned. “I moved here twelve years ago.” She dipped her hand into her tote bag and brought out her key fob and pointed it at a white sedan. “I’m here, thanks for walking me to my car. I’ll let you and Conroy know what I find.” She went two more steps and turned to wave. But he was right there and she almost hit him when she raised her hand.
“Oh, you’re still here.”
He looked down at her and smiled. “Yep.”
“Huh.”
He waited for her to say something. Yeah, he was pushing her, but he really wanted to keep her talking. “So…when is our next meeting?”
“Tonight.” Liam didn’t know who was more surprised by his answer, Addison or him.
Her eyes flew up to meet his. “What?”
“I want to take you to dinner.” He opened her car door for her and admired the way she smoothly sat down in the driver’s seat.
At twenty-seven she’d been a beauty, all California golden tan, white teeth, and long legs. But now?
Now, she was like wine that had aged to perfection. She’d put on a couple of pounds that had her filling out her suit in just the right way. She was paler than he remembered, which only made her gray eyes smolder and her dark hair look richer.
“Liam?”
“It’s a good idea. We need to smooth things out between us. I don’t want it to interfere with the investigation. You’ve met the team. They’ll pick up on any nuance. We need to get comfortable with one another again.”
He saw her hesitate. He pressed his advantage.
“What’s more, I want to get your take on some of the things that Conroy’s found out. I know I said that I want to ensure that all the details are flushed out. But let’s face it, there’s a good chance that this pattern will play out. I’d like to get a jump on it. You’re Navy. I can talk to you.”
“Actually, neither of us are in the Navy anymore.” She took her hands off the steering wheel and gave him her full attention. “I can’t believe you really left. I thought you would be there for life.”
Liam gave a hollow laugh. “Things change. What about you? CIA?”
Her mouth ticked up into a half-smile. “Things change.”
“Addison.” Liam put everything he had into that one word. He saw her hesitate. That was good. Real good. “These women deserve as much care and attention as we can give them. Is there some reason you can’t meet with me tonight? Someone?”
“No, Liam, there’s not a someone who’s waiting for me.”
A tidal wave of relief poured through him.
“So tonight? I’ll pick you up. Seven o’clock?”
“I suppose you know where I live, huh?”
“You met Conroy, right?”
Her mouth tipped up into a wry grin. “Yes, I had that dubious pleasure. Okay, seven o’clock.”
Addison drove away, taking note of the intense way Liam watched her car as she pulled out of the parking lot.
What in the hell was going on?
This meeting was not what she’d pictured at all. She’d really thought she’d mapped out every possible scenario before arriving, but boy, had she been wrong. The first time he’d said her name and looked at her with those ocean blue eyes that she’d love beyond belief, she’d been back in time. She could have pushed down her emotions. Hell, she’d done that for years, but he looked at her like he was dumbfounded, then he looked at her like he wanted her. Like he cared.
“No!” she yelled in the confines of her car. “I will not let Liam Herne McAllister hurt me again. I’m older and smarter.”
She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the lines around her eyes that confirmed she was older. “I am smarter.” She gritted out the words. “I am.”
At the stoplight, she yanked her phone out of her tote and plugged it into her car. She brushed her thumb through her playlists and pulled up the one from fifteen years ago. She hovered over it.
“Don
’t do it. Don’t do it.”
The sound of Liam’s favorite song came through her speakers.
Her heart lurched. She should have deleted this playlist years ago.
Dammit, don’t listen to the words. Don’t think of the times he’d taken you sailing, don’t think of him captaining that boat, or making love on the deck.
“Addison, it’s time for a Cool Change. Listen to the title.”
A horn honked.
She moved easily through the intersection, listening to songs that brought up memories that were better left buried. But how could they be, when she had seen Liam looking even better with his silver hair and deep blue eyes.
How could she possibly go to dinner tonight and not melt into a puddle?
He pulled into her driveway in Damascus, Maryland. It was charming and it not only had a cherry blossom tree in full bloom in front but a damned magnolia tree. She had to have been pretty uncomfortable earlier today not to have enjoyed the sight of the pink trees at Declan’s office.
Dammit.
He really had a lot of ground to cover tonight. Hopefully his offering would help. He got out of his car and started up the walkway to her door. The paver stones were a mix of blue and pink. Kind of whimsical. But as he looked closer he saw that each stone had a little saying etched in it.
Every Goodbye is the Birth of a Memory
You Are In The Arms Of Angels
The Song Ended But The Melody Lingers On
Your Love Made Me Better
Mothers Make The Best Angels
Before he was even close to done reading them all, the door opened.
“I can’t believe you still have that car.” She stepped out onto the porch and shook her head. “Did you have her shipped from California?”
“I drove. I needed some time to clear my head.” He pointed to the walkway. “Those are interesting quotes. What are they all about?”
“It’s a long story. You can tell me why you needed to clear your head, and I’ll tell you about the quotes at dinner. I’ll go get my purse.” She started to turn.
“Wait a second.” He went back to his car and leaned into the open driver’s side window. He grabbed a small white box from the middle console. “I thought you might like this.”
SEAL at Sunrise (Silver SEALs Book 12) Page 3