Michelle eyed the shoreline. “How far do you think that is?”
“About a hundred yards. Why?”
“I’m thinking about entering a triathlon.”
“Gee, why am I not surprised?”
“I’ll race you,” she said.
“It won’t be much of a race.”
“Pretty cocky, huh?”
“No, I mean you’ll kick my ass.”
“How do you know that?”
“You’re an Olympian, I’m a middle-aged attorney with bum knees and a bad wing where I got shot doing my public service stint. It’d be like racing your grandmother with lead weights on her feet.”
“We’ll see. You might surprise yourself. One-two-three-go!” She took off, her strokes cutting cleanly through the warm, flat water.
King swam after her and surprisingly made up the distance fairly easily. In fact, by the time they drew close to shore they were neck and neck. Michelle started laughing when he reached over and playfully grabbed her leg. They reached land in a tie. King lay on his back and sucked in air like there wasn’t enough in the entire atmosphere to satisfy him.
“Well, I guess I did surprise myself,” he said between gasps. Then he looked over at Michelle. She wasn’t even breathing hard, and the truth struck him.
“You shit, you weren’t even trying.”
“Yes, I was. Well, I mean I had to allow for the age difference and all.”
“Okay, that does it.”
He jumped up and went after her as she raced screaming away. Yet she was laughing so hard King had no trouble running her down. He lifted her over his shoulder, carried the woman out into waist-deep water and ceremoniously dumped her. She came up sputtering and still laughing.
“What was that for?”
“To show you that while I may be over forty, I ain’t dead.”
Back at the dock as he was raising the Sea-Doo up on its lift he asked, “So how did you go from basketball and track to Olympic rowing?”
“I liked track better than basketball, but I missed the team element. In college a friend of mine was a rower, and I got into it through him. Seems like I had a natural talent for it. Out on the water my motor never seemed to quit; I was like a machine. And I loved the high you got from leaving everything you had out on those oars. I was the youngest member of my team. When I first tried out, no one gave me much of a chance. I guess I proved them wrong.”
“I think you’ve probably spent a good part of your life doing that. Particularly in the Secret Service.”
“It hasn’t all been wine and roses.”
“I’m not that familiar with the sport. What was your rowing event called?”
“Fours with coxswain, meaning four women pulling for all they’re worth and a coxswain calling out the strokes. The focus is absolutely complete.”
“What was it like to be in the Olympics?”
“The most exhilarating and most nerve-racking time of my life. I was so stressed I threw up before our first heat. But when we took the silver and came within a hair of the gold, there was no greater feeling in the world. I was still basically a kid and felt like I’d reached the pinnacle of my life.”
“Still feel that way?”
She smiled. “No. I’m hoping the best is yet ahead for me.”
They showered and changed into dry clothes. When Michelle came down, King was going over some notes at the kitchen table.
“Interesting reading?” she asked as she combed out her wet hair.
He looked up. “Our interview with Jorst. I’m wondering if he knows more than he’s telling. And I’m also wondering what we might learn from Kate Ramsey.”
“If she’ll talk to us.”
“Right.” He yawned. “We’ll think about it tomorrow. Long day.”
Michelle looked at her watch. “It is late. I guess I better be going.”
“Look, why don’t you just stay here tonight? You can stay in the guest room where you just showered,” he added quickly.
“I have my own place. You don’t have to feel sorry for me. I’m a big girl.”
“I do feel sorry for you because all the junk that was in your truck is now in your room at the inn. Something might be alive in there. It might come and get you in the middle of the night.” He smiled and then said quietly, “Stay here.”
She graced him with her own smile and a look in her eyes that seemed very suggestive. Although that might have just been the wine he’d had.
“Thanks, Sean. I’m actually pretty whipped. Good night.”
He watched her go slowly up the stairs. The long, muscular legs slid into the nice, firm butt, and then her body continued into the Olympic shoulders and up the long neck and, well… Hell! As she disappeared into the guest room, he let out a sigh and tried desperately not to think about what he was so desperately thinking about.
He went around to all the doors and windows and made sure they were locked. He was planning on having an alarm company come out and wire his house. He’d never thought he’d need that here. Half the time he didn’t even lock his doors. Boy, that had changed.
He paused at the top of the stairs and looked toward the guest room door. Inside, a beautiful young woman was lying in bed. Unless he was seriously mistaken, if he opened that door and went in, he’d probably be allowed to stay the night. Then again, with the way his luck was running, if he opened the door, Michelle might just shoot him in the balls. He stood there for a few moments more, thinking. Did he really want to start something with this woman? With all that was going on? The answer, as much as he didn’t want to accept it, was pretty clear. He trudged down the hall to his own room.
Outside near the bottom of the road leading up to King’s house, the old Buick, lights out, stopped, and the engine was cut off. The rattling muffler had been fixed because the driver no longer desired to be noticed. The car door opened, and the man climbed out and looked through the trees at the silhouette of the darkened house. The rear doors on the Buick opened, and two more people emerged: it was “Officer Simmons” and his homicidal female companion, Tasha. Simmons looked a little nervous while Tasha seemed ready for adventure. The Buick Man just appeared focused. He glanced at his companions and nodded. Then all three moved toward the house.
36
King awoke from a dead sleep as the hand went over his mouth. He saw the gun first and the face second.
Michelle put a finger to her lips and whispered in his ear. “I heard some noises. I think someone’s in the house.”
King pulled on his clothes and pointed out the door with a questioning look.
“I think at the rear of the house, lower level. Any idea who it could be?”
“Yeah, maybe somebody’s bringing me another dead body.”
“Anything of value in the house?”
He started to shake his head and then stopped. “Shit. The gun from Loretta’s backyard. It’s in my lockbox in the study.”
“You really think…?”
“Yeah, I really do.” He picked up the phone to call the police but put it back down.
“Don’t tell me,” she said. “It’s dead?”
“Where’s your cell phone?”
She shook her head. “I think I left it in my truck.”
They slipped down the stairs listening for any more sounds that might pinpoint where the intruder was. It was dark and quiet. The person could have been anywhere, watching, waiting to pounce.
King looked at Michelle and whispered, “Nervous?”
“It is a little creepy. What do you do when it gets dicey?”
“Go get a bigger gun than the other guy has.”
The bang came from the direction of the staircase leading to the lower level.
Michelle looked at him. “Okay, I say no confrontation. We don’t know how many or how well armed.”
“Agreed. But we have to get the gun. You have your car keys?”
She held them up. “Way ahead of you.”
“I’ll drive. We’l
l call the cops once we’re out of here.”
With her covering him, King slipped into his study, got the lockbox and made sure the gun was inside. They went quietly out the front door.
They climbed into the Land Cruiser’s front seat, and King put the key in the ignition.
The blow struck him from behind, and he fell against the horn, which started blaring.
“Sea—” yelled Michelle, but her voice was cut off, along with most of her wind, when the leathery garrote went around her neck and ripped into her skin.
She desperately tried to dig her fingers under the leather, but it had already sunk in too deeply. Very quickly her lungs were bursting, her eyes bulging in their sockets; her brain felt like it was on fire. From the corner of her eye she saw King slumped against the steering wheel, the blood running down his neck. Then she felt the rope twist and tighten and a hand reached over the front seat and grabbed the rusty gun. The rear truck door opened and then closed, and footsteps moved away, leaving her to die.
The garrote kept tightening, and Michelle put her feet up against the dashboard to try and arch her body, to get some leverage and separation from the person who was doing his best to kill her. She dropped back down, her breath nearly gone. The sound of the horn was exploding in her ears; the sight of the unconscious and bloodied King only added to her hopelessness. She arched again and slammed her head into the face of the person strangling her. She heard him cry out, and the rope loosened, but only a bit. Next she reached back, trying to seize hair to pull, skin to tear or eyeballs to gouge. She was finally able to grip her attacker’s hair and pulled as hard as she could, but the pressure on her throat kept up. She scratched and clawed at the face, and then her head was ripped back, almost pulling her over the seat. She thought her spine had cracked, and Michelle went limp and slid forward.
She could feel the breath of the person who was killing her, exerting every ounce of strength to finish her off. Tears of desperation and agony slid down her face.
The breath was right in her ear. “Just die,” he hissed. “Just die!”
His mocking tone suddenly revitalized her. With her last bit of energy Michelle’s fingers closed around her gun. She pointed it backward, against the seat, her index finger finding the slender bit of metal. She barely had any strength left, and yet she found the small reserve of will she needed to do it. She just prayed her aim was true. She wouldn’t get a second chance.
The gun fired, and the bullet ripped through the seat. She heard the impact with flesh and next the grunt, and the garrote immediately loosened and then fell away. Free, Michelle sucked in huge amounts of air. Dizzy and sick to her stomach, she pushed open the truck door and fell out onto the ground.
She heard the rear door open. The man climbed out, holding his bloodied side. She raised her gun, but he kicked the door fully open and it slammed into her, knocking her down. Beyond furious now, Michelle bounced back up and aimed her pistol even as he turned and ran.
However, before she could fire, she dropped to her knees and was violently sick to her stomach. When she looked up, her vision was so blurred, her head pounding so hard, that there seemed to be three men running away. She fired six shots; all were placed in a tight bunch at what she thought was the real flesh and blood of the man who had done his best to murder her.
All six missed by a wide margin. She’d picked the wrong image to shoot.
The footsteps hurried away, and a short time later a car started up and raced off, spewing gravel and dirt.
With a final gasp Michelle dropped to the ground.
37
The blaring truck horn finally attracted the attention of a passing deputy who discovered the unconscious King and Michelle. They were taken to UVA Hospital in Charlottesville. King recovered first. His head wound was bloody, but his skull proved hard enough and he’d suffered no serious damage. Michelle’s recovery would take a little longer, and she was sedated while her injuries were worked on. When she woke, King was sitting next to her, his head bandaged.
“God, you look awful,” she said in a weak voice.
“That’s all I get after sitting in this damn chair for hours waiting for the princess to awaken? ‘God, you look awful’?”
“I’m sorry. It’s really wonderful to see your face. I wasn’t sure you were alive.”
He studied the marks on her swollen neck. “Whoever it was did a number on you. Did you see anybody?”
“No. It was a man, that’s all.” She added, “I shot him.”
“You did what?”
“Shot him, through the seat.”
“Where’d you hit him?”
“In the side, I think.”
“The police are waiting to take a statement. I’ve already given them mine. The FBI and Deputy Marshal Parks are here too. I filled them in on finding the gun and my theory about Loretta blackmailing someone.”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell them much.”
“There must have been at least two of them: one to flush us out of the house and the other waiting in your truck. They were counting that I’d grab the gun. Saved them from looking for it. Someone must have been tailing us when we were at Loretta’s house. They could have seen us discover the gun, and decided to get it back.”
“There were three of them, then, because there were two in the car.” She paused and then said, “They got the gun, didn’t they?”
“Yes. Stupid when you think about it. We should have taken it right to the FBI, but we didn’t and that’s that.” He sighed and put a hand on her shoulder. “That was a close one, Michelle, way too close.”
“I fought as hard as I could.”
“I know you did. You’re the only reason I’m alive. I owe you.”
Before Michelle could answer, the door opened and a young man came in. “Agent Maxwell?” He held out credentials that identified him as Secret Service. “As soon as you’re discharged from the hospital, and have talked to the police, you’re to accompany me back to Washington.”
“Why?” asked King.
The man ignored him. “The doctors say you’re lucky to be alive.”
“I don’t think luck had much to do with it,” King pointed out.
“Why am I going back to Washington?” Michelle asked.
“As of right now, you’re being reassigned to a desk at the Washington field office.”
“Walter Bishop’s handiwork,” said King.
“I really can’t say.”
“I know. That’s why I said it.”
“I’ll be here when you’re ready to go.” The man nodded curtly at King and left.
“Well, it was fun while it lasted,” said King.
She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it. “Hey, I’ll be back. I’m not going to let you have a good time all by yourself.”
“Just rest for now, okay?”
She nodded. “Sean?” He looked at her. “About last night, the swim and everything. It was fun. I think we both needed that. Maybe we can do it again someday.”
“Hell yes, I loved dumping your butt in the water.”
King was walking down the hallway after leaving Michelle when a woman stepped in front of him. Joan looked both anxious and upset. “I just heard. You’re okay?” She looked at his bandaged head.
“I’m fine.”
“Agent Maxwell?”
“Fine too. Thanks for asking.”
“You’re sure you’re all right.”
“I’m fine, Joan!”
“Okay, okay, calm down.” She motioned to some chairs in an empty room off the main corridor. They sat, and Joan looked at him, a serious expression on her face.
“I heard you discovered a gun at that woman’s home.”
“How the hell did you find that out? I just told the cops.”
“I’m in the private sector, but I didn’t turn in my investigative skills when I left the Service. Is it true?”
He hesitated. “Yeah, I found a gun.”
“And where do you th
ink it came from?”
“I have my theories. But I’m not in a sharing mood.”
“Well, let me jump right in with one of mine. This woman was a maid at the Fairmount Hotel, she had a gun hidden in her garden and she meets a violent death with money stuffed in her mouth. She was blackmailing the person who was the owner of that gun. And that person may have been involved in Ritter’s assassination.”
He stared at the woman in amazement. “Who the hell are your sources?”
“Sorry, I’ve used up my sharing spirit too. So you get the gun, lose the gun, and you’re almost killed in the process.”
“Michelle actually got it a lot worse than I did. They just knocked me out. Apparently they did their best to kill her.”
She looked at him strangely when he said that. “Do you think this has anything to do with Bruno’s disappearance?” she asked abruptly.
He looked surprised. “How could it? Just because Ritter and Bruno were both presidential candidates? That’s quite a stretch.”
“Maybe so. But things that look complex tend to have very simple cores.”
“Thanks for the detective lesson. I’ll sure remember that one.”
“Maybe you need some basic lessons. You’re the one running around with the woman who let Bruno be kidnapped.”
“She didn’t let Bruno be kidnapped any more than I let Clyde Ritter get shot.”
“The fact is, I’m investigating Bruno’s disappearance, and at this juncture I can’t assume anyone is above suspicion, including your lady friend Michelle.”
“Great, and she’s not my ‘lady friend.’”
“Okay, what exactly is she?”
“I’m just following up some stuff, and she’s helping me.”
“Wonderful. I’m glad you’ve teamed up with someone, since it appears you’ve blown me off completely. Is Maxwell also offering a million-dollar payday if you crack the case, or just a kick-ass adventure between the sheets?”
He eyed her closely. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“Maybe I am, Sean. But regardless, I think I at least deserve an answer to my offer.”
King glanced in the direction of Michelle’s room but turned back when Joan put a hand on his arm.
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