“Leo knows how to do it right,” Tessa said. “What can I say? If they catch me, I’m dead. If the police find me, I’m locked up for life.”
“I hate to continue with the bad news, but your face is on the news right now, also,” Zach continued. “It says you’ve been going by an alias.”
She squeezed the skin between her eyes as despair tried to bite deep. Maybe she should just turn herself in. That might save a lot of people heartache, including Trent and Zach.
“Leo knows how to play a sick game,” Tessa said. “He’s managed to trap me, no matter which direction I try to run.”
Trent squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll get through this.”
She shook her head. “You should just let me go out on my own right now. I’ve already caused you both enough grief and upheaval. This was never either one of your problems to begin with.”
“We can’t let you do that,” Trent said. “We’re in this together.”
“But you have a choice. You can get out.”
“I choose not to,” Trent said, no room for argument in his voice.
“Same here,” Zach said. “You need all the support you can get. You’ll never survive this alone. Men like these... They’ll just keep coming after you until you’re destroyed.”
“Besides, I have an idea,” Trent said.
Tessa turned toward him, her full attention on him. “Okay.”
“You said when you downloaded all the information, you dropped the jump drive, right?”
She nodded. “Yes. After I copied it, I deleted it from their server so they wouldn’t have access to their contacts. Unfortunately, the information I hoped to take to the police also disappeared in my moment of klutziness.”
“Where did you drop it?”
“One of the vents in the office building.” Her eyes widened as she realized what he was getting at. “You want to see if it’s still there?”
He nodded. “I do.”
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“I’d like to dress like an HVAC guy and say I came to look at their system.”
“That sounds risky.”
“It’s going to take some planning, but I think it’s feasible. However, I will need some help.”
“You know my hands are kind of tied here, Trent. After Baltimore, I can’t exactly run around like a free agent anymore,” Zach said.
Trent raised his hand. “I would never ask you to do that. No, I need you to stay here and keep an eye on Tessa.” He shook his head as Tessa started to object. “I know that’s not what you want to hear, but it wouldn’t be wise to leave you alone. You know what these men are capable of.”
She couldn’t argue with that. “You can’t do it alone, though, Trent. Maybe I can help—”
“That’s out of the question. One glance at you and we’ll be made.”
She couldn’t argue with that, either. “Then, who? Who will help?”
“I know some guys,” Zach said.
Trent and Tessa turned toward him, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“You know Eyes, that private security firm I told you about? They do freelance work. My friend works for them now. He might be able to assist.”
“Let’s see what we can put together, then. Tessa, you remember anything about the HVAC company they used?”
“At the gallery they used Thomas and Sons. They had for years. It used to be that Tom or one of his boys would come out personally. Of course, now that it’s grown in size, I’m sure they have various employees that they send out. I can’t guarantee the gallery still uses them, but it’s a good guess.”
“Zach, why don’t you get on the phone with your friends and see if they can offer any assistance. Explain that this is a matter of national security. I’ll research this company and see about putting together a van, a uniform—basically a cover story.”
“Absolutely.”
Tessa tried to remember the details of the gallery. Trent would need that information if he sneaked inside. He’d need the names of contacts if he wanted to appear legit.
She could hack into their server and find out that information for sure.
But there were risks involved. She had to weigh everything before making a decision.
But the possibility that she could do more to help continued to linger in her mind.
* * *
Trent put the finishing touches on his plans for tomorrow and stood. Normally something like this would take at least a week to put together. But they were on the clock and needed to move fast. God must have been watching out for them, because they had been able to get everything they needed in place at lightning speed.
Tessa had been a huge help today. It was more than her knowledge; he actually found himself finding comfort in her presence. They worked surprisingly well as a team. It was when they were on opposite sides of the field that things got complicated.
He made some coffee, grabbed two mugs and carried them both into the living room, where Tessa sat. He extended one to her. “Thought you might need a drink to warm up.”
Her bright smile in return was all the thanks he needed. “Sounds like just what I need.”
He sat down beside her—probably closer than he should have. He watched as she wrapped her hands around the mug, practically hugging it, and then she stared into the fire.
“I feel a little as though this is the calm before the storm,” she said, glancing at him.
He let out a slow breath. “Maybe it is. But maybe after the storm has passed, this will be the norm and not the exception.”
A light smile feathered across her face. “That would be nice. You seem so peaceful, even in the midst of all of this.”
Suddenly, the weight on his shoulder seemed to press down harder. “I haven’t always been like this. You asked me about why I became a PI?”
She nodded, a silent encouragement for him to continue.
“About three years ago, I put some pretty bad guys behind bars. They were gang members and responsible for the deaths of uncountable people. Mostly rival gang members, but there were a few who were simply innocent civilians who’d been caught in the cross fire. It was a really proud day for me.”
“I can see why.”
His shoulders became even heavier. “Unfortunately, my name wasn’t kept hidden. It made the news. There were a few gang members that didn’t go to jail—we didn’t have any reason to hold them. I mean, you can’t go to jail for being in a gang, only if you do illegal things while a part of it. Those men came after Laurel.”
“Who’s Laurel?”
“My fiancée.”
All of Tessa’s attention was suddenly focused on him. “Oh.”
Even she seemed to sense that this story wasn’t going anywhere pleasant. “I thought she was safe, but they found her. Before I could get to her, they put a bullet through her head.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He couldn’t stop now or he’d never tell her the whole story. “I became obsessed with finding out who exactly had killed her. Made some bad decisions. Eventually they put me on desk duty. I reached one of the lowest points of my life. That’s when my friend introduced me to Jesus, and I really found peace and purpose through that. I decided to become a PI so I could take on the cases that mattered the most to me.”
“That makes sense. I know this probably doesn’t mean much, but I’m so sorry, Trent.” She put her hand on his biceps, her eyes an endless pool of compassion, kindness...and something more?
In a moment of decision, he leaned toward her. She didn’t pull away. Slowly, certainly, he pressed his lips to hers. Emotions he hadn’t felt in a long time hit him at full force.
“I hope you know not every guy is like Leo,” he whispered.
Her eyes fluttered open, and a steady look of joy and trust filled them. “I know.
”
With that proclamation, he leaned toward her again, stealing another kiss. This one was longer, deeper and less tentative. He was enjoying being with Tessa a little too much.
He pulled away and stood. “We should probably say good-night. We need our rest for tomorrow.”
“Good idea.” He only prayed the hopeful feeling in his chest remained long after tomorrow was over.
* * *
Tessa couldn’t deny the mix of exhilaration and fear that coursed through her. She didn’t know where these feelings for Trent had come from or how they’d come on so fast. She felt a much deeper connection with him than she’d ever felt with...well, anyone. Even Leo.
And when she’d heard Trent talk about his fiancée, suddenly he made sense. His protectiveness made sense. His determination. His drive.
She didn’t dare to tell him what she’d done earlier while he’d met with Zach. She’d sneaked upstairs and onto the internet. She’d hacked into Leo’s server just long enough to confirm the name of the HVAC company, the lay of the building and the name of the new assistant at the gallery. She couldn’t send Trent in without being certain.
She’d managed to scramble the servers, and it would be at least twenty-four hours before Leo’s tech guys could trace where she was located. By that time, they’d have the information and could go to the FBI. She knew Trent wouldn’t approve. But she’d done it for him. She’d own up to it once he got back.
She’d also looked for information that she could use against Leo, but his firewalls were too strong. He must have made them stronger after everything had happened with her. There was no way she could pull any new evidence from the reinforced system.
She’d thought about hacking into the system many times over the past eight months. But she knew she couldn’t do that while she was living in West Virginia. It would have led Leo right to her. Plus, she’d had no one on her side. But now with Trent and Zach backing her up, maybe she had a fighting chance.
Trent...
Now, somehow, their lives were intertwined. But what happened when all of this was over? Would their lives ever return to normal? And what exactly was normal for Tessa? Would she actually be able to go home, to see her family? Could she look for a new job and start her life again?
The idea of all of this being over almost seemed too good to be true. There were so many things that could go wrong.
But for a moment—and just a moment—she dreamed about what it would be like to actually put this behind her. To actually trust again. To believe in someone. To put her faith in God.
She closed her eyes. Lord, I want that peace that Trent has. I want to trust. I want to be a rock that doesn’t move in the middle of a storm, instead of being tossed by every hardship that comes my way. I want to get right with You again.
When she opened her eyes again, she felt renewed. She was going to get through tomorrow, one way or another.
NINETEEN
Trent tugged on his uniform: blue pants and a button-up blue shirt with the name of the HVAC company—Thomas and Sons—proudly displayed on a label. He had to make sure everything was in place before he stepped inside the annals of the art gallery.
The McAllister Gallery was no mom-and-pop storefront. No, it was a grand building located in Arlington, and no expense had been spared. The exterior appeared to be marble and stone, the shrubs were well manicured and the entrance had a pricey-looking statue out front.
Trent slammed the door of his van. It was a plain, nondescript white one that could easily pass as one of the HVAC company’s. He had the van for his PI work, and it had come in handy on more than one occasion. Thanks to an old friend, he’d also been able to collect some of the basic heating and air-conditioning supplies, including an anemometer to test airflow. He’d picked them up last night and gotten a rundown on HVAC basics.
Now it was time to put his plan into action. This was where the rubber met the road. This could blow everything open or end very poorly.
He prayed it was the former.
Adjusting the bag on his shoulder, he approached the back door. Even the back of this place looked nice and well kept, with not a speck of dirt in sight.
He hit the back doorbell, a tremor of anxiety rushing through him. Some nerves were healthy, he reminded himself, especially in situations like this. A touch of fear kept a person sharp and alert; it helped the fight or flight kick in.
A trim woman wearing a stylish black business suit pulled the door open. She held a clipboard and pushed up her dark plastic-framed glasses when she spotted Trent. “Can I help you?”
“Ms. Clark, I’m here with Thomas and Sons HVAC. We had an appointment.” It paid off that Tessa had done her research and discovered this woman’s name. It lent credibility to him being here.
The woman tilted her head, studying him for a moment. “I don’t recall an appointment.”
“We come out twice a year to check out your system as part of your service plan. We scheduled this in advance, but our secretary, Barbara, should have called to confirm the appointment.”
“Right, Barbara.” That seemed to appease the woman a moment. She stepped back and allowed Trent inside.
Obstacle number one: check.
He only had about fifty more to get past before he could breathe easy again.
“You must be new. I haven’t seen you before.”
Trent flashed what he hoped was a charming smile. “I am. I’ve never been here before, but my girlfriend loves this place. I’ve been meaning to bring her here sometime.”
He glanced around, hoping that he wouldn’t see anyone he recognized—or anyone who recognized him, for that matter. Even with his hat on and the uniform covering him, there was little else he could do to conceal how he looked.
“Well, there’s not much to see here behind the curtain except a lot of boxes and cleaning supplies.” She spread her hand to showcase the back office area around them. “But beyond this area is fantastic. We feature some world-renowned artists, including Alejandro Gaurs.”
She tucked a hair behind her ear. “Anyway, the thermostat is over there.” She pointed to the wall next to an interior door.
“I’ll need to check each of the vents, also.” He raised the anemometer. “I run the meter over them so I can make sure they’re running at full capacity. This harsh weather we’ve had already can overtax heating systems. It’s better to discover it now than to wait until something goes wrong. Then you’ll just have a lot of cold visitors to the gallery. No one wants that.”
“Of course. No problem. Is that where you’d like to start?”
“That would be great.”
“This way,” Ms. Clark said to him.
Trent followed her out of the back office and into a hallway. Four doors were located there. The offices, he realized. This was exactly where he needed to be.
As he passed one of the doors, he heard someone talking on the other side. Two or three voices. All men. At least one seemed to have an accent. Could it be Leo and some of his cohorts?
Any relief he’d felt earlier disappeared. This could get sticky, and fast.
Ms. Clark opened the door. “This is my office. How about you start here?”
“Sounds great.”
“I’m just going to step out to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Sounds great.” He walked over to the vent and held his meter over it.
As soon as she disappeared, he put his equipment down and quickly pulled up the vent.
If this didn’t work, then Trent didn’t know what they would do. This was their only lead and at times it seemed like their only chance.
He pulled out a flashlight and shone it down into the dark recesses of the vent.
He saw nothing.
Wasting no time, he reached his hand down into the metal shaft. He felt around carefully. If there was so
mething down there, he didn’t want to send it deeper into the duct.
Nothing.
He reached a little farther, knowing he was on borrowed time.
His fingers connected with something.
Could it be...?
His hand emerged from the vent. A flash drive was wedged between his fingers.
Bingo! The device had still been there, and Leo had been clueless about it the whole time.
Just as he slid it into his pocket, he heard movement behind him.
He turned in time to see Ms. Clark standing there, staring at him with obvious distrust. “What are you doing?” she demanded.
Trent had to think quickly.
* * *
Tessa was walking on eggshells. Her mind wouldn’t stop racing as she thought about what Trent was doing at the moment. She paced the house, ran through scenarios in her mind, prayed.
It felt good to pray, especially since her life had been so absent of faith recently. Giving her cares to a higher being brought great comfort. But even with her renewed trust in God, there was still the human aspect of living—the fear that wanted to creep in, the uncertainty and the anxiety.
Lord, please watch over Trent.
Best she could tell, she’d gone onto Leo’s server undetected last night. Trent was risking his life for her, and she wanted to do whatever she could to ensure his safety.
A small niggle of doubt still crept into her psyche, though. There were so many uncertainties, so many things she couldn’t be sure about.
She allowed herself to dream for a moment about what life would be like without living under this kind of strain. Even more so, how much safer the world would be without a family like the McAllisters out there, smuggling out blueprints for weapons that would destroy lives. This whole thing was bigger than her. Bigger than her family. Bigger than the McAllisters, even.
With the right evidence, maybe the authorities would believe her. Maybe they would take her off the wanted list and actually take action against this powerful crime family.
Then there was a chance she and Trent could truly explore a relationship together. The idea of beginning something like that in the midst of all of this craziness seemed like a bad idea. Their emotions were just too heightened and enlarged.
Deadly Mountain Refuge: Mountain Ambush ; Mountain Hideaway Page 36