Smash and Grab: Action-Packed Thrilling Romantic Suspense (Callahan Security Series Book 2)

by Lori Matthews

  “Shit,” he mumbled. Two ladies walking by eyed him and gave him a wide berth. He circled back behind the table and tried to come up with a plan. The men were between him and the elevators, so he couldn’t get in one without being seen. His gaze landed on the stairs. He could run down a level and grab one of the elevators there, but it would be just his luck if it stopped on this level and the men were waiting to get on.

  He peeked around the tree again. They were talking to Cecil, who was shaking his head no, bless him. “Thank you, Cecil,” he muttered. Have to tip him more next time. He watched as the men headed over to the concierge desk. Movement caught his eye. Cecil was staring straight at him, gesturing toward the sign for the stairwell. He felt his shoulders droop. The suite was on the twenty-first floor, but he really didn’t have a choice. He made the dash to the stairwell and went inside. It was a long way up, but he didn’t waste any time.

  When he finally reached their floor, he took a few seconds to catch his breath. More time at the gym, he promised himself. If they got out of this. He opened the door a crack and, seeing no one, slid out into the hallway. He walked into the suite and stopped short. Lacy was standing there in jeans and a white tank top. She was wearing wedge sandals and her hair was curling around her shoulders. The recent time in the sun had really brought out the blond highlights in her chestnut hair and the freckles on her nose. She was gorgeous.

  “Hey,” she said. “Ready to go?”

  “Um, yeah, about that. Scar’s henchmen are in the building.”

  “Oh, my God. Now what?” She grabbed his sleeve. “We need to get out of here.” She was already heading for the door, which he’d closed behind him, when the phone rang. He gestured for her to wait, then picked up the phone. “Yes?” he said in a neutral tone.

  “Mr. Callahan, you have some unwanted visitors on their way up.”

  “Thanks, Cecil. I owe you one.” He put down the phone and gazed absently at her. While he didn’t want to take the stairs again after the endless run up, at least it would be easier to go down.

  “What?” she asked.

  “They’re on their way up. Let’s go for the stairs. I know where they are.”

  He moved across the room past her and checked through the peephole in the door. “The hallway is clear. Let’s go.” He opened the door and started toward the stairwell. When they were adjacent to the elevators, Logan heard a faint ding. The elevator had arrived at the floor below theirs. He grabbed Lacy’s hand and started running. They hit the door to the stairwell at full speed and started down.

  Lacy took the lead. Definitely need more time at the gym, Logan repeated to himself, trying to keep up with her. She moved quickly and efficiently. And while he was gasping for air, he couldn’t help but admire her ass. A grin split his face. It was official, he was losing it.

  It took forever, but they finally hit the lobby floor. Lacy’s hand was on the knob to enter the lobby when he stopped her. There was another flight down. “Let’s go,” he huffed as he took her hand.

  They headed down the last flight and came out into a sort of parking garage. It was half under the building. One wall was open to the night sky. The other three had a few doors scattered about but no windows. The hotel was built into a hill. That was helpful. Now they only had one direction they had to watch. Of course, they only had one way to exit as well. There were all kinds of vehicles parked. Cars, SUVs, even golf carts.

  “Now what?” Lacy asked.

  “Now we go over there,” he said as he pointed to the open section of the garage, “and try to hail a cab.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Do you think the coast is clear?”

  “I’m guessing it is. The guys I saw were a two-man team, but it’s possible more of Scar’s men are lurking around. Let’s just keep our eyes open,” Logan said as he stood on the sidewalk.

  She watched him search for a cab but come up empty. She hated standing outside on the sidewalk like this. She was exposed. Any minute Scar’s men could find them, and then it would be all over. “Do you have any idea where we can find Trenthom?” Logan asked.

  “So, being that it’s Sunday, my guess is that Trenthom will be at his golf club, which is on the other side of the island, for family night.”

  “Trenthom’s married?” Logan asked surprised. “I never thought of CIA agents as the marrying kind.”

  “Best cover ever. Who would think a nice, married detective with two kids would actually be a CIA operative?” She shrugged.

  “I don’t even know if ‘operative’ is the correct word. Maybe ‘handler’ would be a better term? Anyway, Sunday night is a de facto family night here, so there’s a good chance he’s at his club. I know which one he frequents because he and my dad used to bicker about it. Trenthom’s club isn’t a true country club, more of a family club with lots of stuff for the kids. A lot of locals belong to it. He and my father argue about who has better food. Anyway, he should be there tonight. If I’m wrong, they’ll at least have his address on file.

  “We’ll figure it out,” Logan said, “but first let’s find a cab.” He grabbed her hand and walked back toward the resort.

  Lacy stopped. “Wait! Where are you going?” It had taken them forever to get out of the garage and off the property without being seen. Why was he heading back?

  “We aren’t having any luck here. We need to go back to the cab stand.”

  “But what about the guys that are after us? We spent all this time trying to get away from them. I don’t want to go back and run into them.” She pulled her hand from Logan’s.

  “We don’t have much of a choice. We’ll be careful. And if Scar’s guys find us, we’ll raise holy hell so everyone comes running.”

  It didn’t sound like much of a plan to her, but she had to agree they weren’t having any luck otherwise. “Fine, but be very careful.”

  Logan nodded and grabbed her hand again. They made their way through the paths around the property to the cab stand. They quickly hailed a cab and set out for the country club.

  Logan hadn’t explained his sudden source of money, but she’d decided to let it go for now. She tried to relax, but all the cab rides they’d taken lately had been fraught with danger.

  He must have sensed her trepidation because he linked his fingers with hers and held her hand for the whole ride. It was silly how much comfort she took from that small gesture, but this was a moment she wanted to remember. God only knew what the next few days were going to bring.

  They exited the cab and walked up the steps of the club house. Logan asked, “What’s our play?”

  She shrugged. “Play it by ear. See what happens.”

  “That’s the plan? I thought you were organized.”

  She shrugged again, suddenly feeling exhausted. By now, Trenthom had no doubt heard that Markus had had a fight with a woman on the yacht. He was a very good detective by all accounts, and she would be surprised if he didn’t know that woman was her. So, how hard could it be to find him if he was already looking for her? She walked across the lobby to the woman at the dining area podium. “Hi.”

  “Hello. How can I help you?” The woman had given them the once over, and her tone made it clear she knew they weren’t members.

  “We are here to see Detective Trenthom.” She used her official court room tone, and it got the desired results. The woman behind the podium immediately reassessed them. She could tell the hostess had written them off as tourists who were looking for a place to dine, but her direct request had recast them as Trenthom’s professional colleagues.

  “Let me check.” The woman ran her eyes down the page. “Yes, he’s here. Would you like me to take you to him?”

  “It would be better if you could just tell him we’re here. We’ll wait over there.” She pointed to a couple of formal-looking Chesterfields sofas in the foyer.

  “Of course.” The woman nodded. “Who should I say is here?”

  She paused for a second and glanced at Logan before r
eturning her gaze to the waiting woman. “Tell him Hazel Fontaine is here to see him.”

  His jaw clenched. “Was that wise?” he asked as soon as the woman was out of earshot. “What if Trenthom doesn’t know you are Fontaine’s daughter?”

  “Honestly, I don’t care. It was going to come out eventually. Might as well be today. Besides, now he’ll come for sure and not just call some of his cronies to question me about Markus’s murder. He’ll listen to us and hear our story.”

  “It’s a hell of a gamble.” His eyes narrowed when she shrugged.

  “I’m tired of running and hiding, Logan.”

  They stood in front of the Chesterfields for about three minutes before the woman and Trenthom came around the corner. He was wearing dress pants and a purple linen shirt. His dark eyes showed no surprise when he saw her. His only movement was running his hand over his bald head. So, he already knew. Now she was sure of it.

  He walked over to them. “Mr. Callahan, Ms. Carmichael. Good to see you.” He hadn’t blinked an eye while saying her assumed name, and he knew Logan’s name. She was starting to feel more confident in asking him for help. “Won’t you step this way, please?” He led the way down a hallway and then opened a door on the left. After gesturing them both inside, he closed the door behind them.

  It was a small conference room, a table and some chairs with one small window at the end. Trenthom gestured for them to sit, and once they were all seated—him on one side of the table, them on the other—he stared at them silently for a minute. “So, you’re alive,” he finally said. “We weren’t sure. We found a cab all shot up. The driver is alive, by the way.”

  “Good to know.” Logan’s voice was cool.

  Trenthom leaned back and studied both of them. “Why are you alive?”

  “Good question,” she responded. “Not really sure. When they shot up the cab, I thought they were going to kill us, but apparently they wanted us alive because they kidnapped us instead.”

  “I have a theory,” Logan said quietly. She turned to look at him. He hadn’t mentioned this theory to her. “I think there was some confusion about what they were supposed to do. When Scar arrived on the scene, he stopped the shooting. I don’t think they were supposed to shoot so much. Just enough to make it look good. They got a bit carried away. Scar wanted her alive.”

  “Scar?” Trenthom cocked an eyebrow.

  “The man that kidnapped us. We don’t know his real name,” she said. “He has a big scar on his face.”

  Logan, glancing at her, continued his thought. “They kept me alive so they could threaten me to control her.”

  Trenthom nodded. “What about Markus, Ms. Carmichael? I know the two of you argued on the yacht. How did he end up dead?”

  “He wanted me to go with him. I told him I wasn’t going to the house until Monday.” She stopped and took a breath. “I think he was plan A. He’d flipped to Scar, and he was supposed to bring me to him. When that didn’t work, they killed him. A show of force and cleaning up loose ends, all in one shot.” Oh, my God, did I really just make a pun? “I didn’t mean to be flippant.”

  Trenthom nodded. “Stress does interesting things to people. So, what now? Why are you here? If you were kidnapped, why not go to the station to report it?”

  She took a deep breath. This was it, the moment of truth.

  “You know why. You know who I really am.” She took a deep breath. “I think you’re my father’s CIA contact. He told me that he works with someone from time to time. I’m pretty sure it’s you.” She stared at him, willing him to give her some indication that she was right. She could feel Logan tense beside her. If they were wrong, if Trenthom was just a local cop, or if he worked with Omar…well, she didn’t want to think about it.

  Trenthom shifted in his chair and studied them both. “Say you are correct. Say I am your father’s contact.”

  She let out the breath she was holding.

  “Why come see me?”

  She leaned back in her chair. “They want my father dead, but obviously I’m part of their plan. Maybe they want to use me as leverage to make him do something first. I need your help to get word to him that his own people are plotting against him. I need your help to get him out safely.”

  “Why would I help you? If I am, as you say, his CIA contact, helping you would likely expose me.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You have a relationship with my father that affects what happens all over the globe. As fabulous as I’m sure you are, that relationship is important. The CIA would be willing to sacrifice your cover if it means maintaining the ability to direct arms wherever you want them around the world.”

  Trenthom smiled. “You are very much like your father. Pragmatic. And yes, you are correct. The relationship between your father and my people is important, but of course I’m not willing to admit which people. I do like to think t I am a big part of that work, but you are also correct in assuming it would be continued without me.” Trenthom got up and went to the end of the room. He retrieved bottles of water from a small mini fridge that she hadn’t noticed. He offered one to each of them and they both accepted.

  At his seat, he asked, “So, what do you know?”

  “Not much,” Logan replied. “We know that Scar and his guys want Lacy, presumably to use against her father. We don’t know for sure that Armand is still alive, but it wouldn’t make sense if he were dead.”

  “He is alive,” Trenthom stated matter-of-factly.

  She almost burst into tears, the relief was so acute.

  Logan leaned over and squeezed her hand under the table. “We aren’t sure if Scar is the top guy or if he works for someone else, but I’m inclined to think he is the top guy. And we are pretty sure that at the end of this, they’ll kill both Lacy and her father.”

  Trenthom nodded. “I agree with you on that. There’s no way they plan to keep them alive.”

  She inhaled sharply.

  “So, you just want to get to your father and warn him of the plot?” Trenthom asked. “And you want my help in case it all goes south. Does that sum it up?”

  She nodded. “I have to let him know he’s in trouble if he isn’t already aware. And now that I know some of the people from his inner circle have been compromised, I don’t know how to do that without getting taken again, or worse. I need your help.”

  Trenthom studied them for a minute and then nodded once. “Scar, as you call him, is Viktor Voloshyn. He is a leader of a pro-Russian rebel group in the Ukraine. When it comes down to it, he’s more of a warlord. Comes from the Debaltseve area.” Trenthom took another sip of water and then continued, “Are you aware of the civil war that broke out in the Ukraine in 2014?”

  “I am familiar with it,” she said, nodding. “It’s important to be aware of this type of thing, given my father’s career choice.”

  Logan nodded as well. “Slightly.”

  “Good. Voloshyn and his people received backing from the Russians until the original Minsk Protocol was signed in September of 2014. Following the agreement, there were some more flare-ups, and the warlords took control of different pieces of land in and around Debaltseve, which meant everyone had to come back to the table to sign Minsk II. After the signing of the document, the Russians ended their support—they could no longer actively supply guns and equipment to the insurgents.

  “We don’t know for sure, but our assumption is Voloshyn tried to buy from your father. I have no idea what happened after that. We weren’t involved in this deal, although we would have loved to know about it. Your father is good at keeping secrets, even from me.”

  She reached for the bottle of water, hoping the water would help her swallow.

  “So,” Logan started, “do you think Voloshyn is after equipment?” He reached under the table and squeezed her hand again.

  “No. There’s got to be more to it, but we’re not sure what. My people are digging around now to see if we can come up an explanation for what’s going on, but our intel is spo
tty.”

  Lacy finally found her voice. “But why would any of my father’s people support Voloshyn?”

  Trenthom shrugged. “Money.”

  “What else?” she asked.

  “We think Omar is helping because he plans to take over once your father is gone.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but Trenthom cut her off. “Think about it. He knows the players and the ins and outs of the business. Your father’s customers trust him. All he has to do was wait for the right time. Your father always has a skeleton crew around him when you come home for a visit. It’s the perfect time for your father to get toppled. Then Omar can tell the world he warned your father of the dangers of short staffing, but he didn’t listen, and the two of you paid the price.”

  At her swift intake of breath, he nodded. “Yes, you need to die, too. Otherwise you’ll be a threat to his claim on the family business. He’ll probably make sure to get hurt in the battle just to sell it. It’s a dangerous world your father lives in. Omar can totally pull this off.”

  Logan shifted in his seat. His hand was still gripping Lacy’s under the table. “And the CIA doesn’t give a shit because they can work with whoever has the connections, right?”

  Trenthom turned his palms up and nodded his head. “The CIA would prefer to keep your father in the position he occupies currently, but working with someone new is not out of the question.”

  “So what do we do?” she asked with trepidation. “Are you going to help us?”

  “I like your father, and I don’t like Voloshyn. I am not a huge fan of Omar at the moment either.” He tapped the table with his fingers for a second. Then nodded again. “This is what we’re going to do. There’s a shack on a private beach. I’ll take you two there. You should be safe enough. I’ll make some calls, and when I get back, we can work out a plan.”