The Daughter's Return

by Unknown

  His expression sobered. “I presume Frankie said something crucial that could have a bearing on your sister’s case.”

  “Not without a lot of negotiating. Thanks to you, I had a few surprises for him.”

  “What leverage did you use?”

  “After discussing everything with Agent Kelly, I had a talk with Frankie. I told him we knew the names of his family all the way back to the Burics in Bohemia. When I rattled them off, he didn’t bat an eye. Not that I thought he would.

  “But then I told him we knew he had an elder brother Antonin who was a criminal, too.”

  “That must have been a shocker.”

  She nodded. “I informed him that the police had proof the two of them had worked in the laundry onboard a cruise ship out of San Pedro. I went further and explained that it was the same New Year’s cruise my parents took when he and his brother planned the elaborate abduction of their baby who would be born three months later.

  “I warned him it was only a matter of time until the authorities caught up to Antonin. Who knew the lies he might tell on Franz to add more years to his life in prison.”

  “You must be dynamite in the courtroom. How did our Frankie Burke react?”

  “Just the way Kit described when she told him she was going to find his grandmother. He got angry and tried to get out of the chair to go back to his cell. To calm him down, I told him I had a proposition for him that could get his sentence reduced by another two years. But he had to promise to sit still and hear me out.”

  Jake cocked his head. “Two more years lopped off means he would only have four more years before his release from prison. He could be out of there by the age of fifty-two. Obviously he went for it, or you wouldn’t be here.”

  Yes, I would, Jake.

  All those lectures she’d given herself about not getting involved with him had gone out the window the night he’d come to the penthouse.

  “So don’t leave me hanging. What was your proposition that turned the corner for him?”

  “I told him that if he would help me to find Antonin before the authorities did, I would make certain he only served two more years in prison. But if he gave me false information, then all bets were off and he would still have six to go.”

  Jake whistled.

  “I explained that we knew his father and grandfather once ran an engraving business in the South Bronx where he and his brother were first arrested. What I wanted from him was particular information. First I needed the address of his grandmother’s house. Secondly, if she no longer lived there, I wanted the names of any neighbors or friends who might know what happened to her, where she went or if she died.

  “At first I didn’t think he was going to respond. When I started to leave, he told me to wait.” She opened her purse and handed Jake a piece of paper. “This is the information he finally gave me.”

  He studied it. “Forty-two East Thirty-third Street, Fordham.”

  “It’s in the Bronx. Frankie only gave me the name of one neighbor. A Mr. Corelli who lived in the house next door on the right.”

  Jake’s dark blue eyes shot to hers. “Let’s check it out. What are you doing this weekend?”

  She’d been holding her breath, hoping he would say that. “I was about to ask if you would fly to New York with me in the morning. We’ll conduct our own investigation and see if we can learn something new. I know it’s a long shot, but I have to try.”

  “If Frankie didn’t make up this address, then he gave you a lot more than you know, Maggie. We can check stores and businesses in the area. There’s all kinds of information we may be able to pick up. It’s possible Antonin’s still hanging around there.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Maggie was already enjoying being with Jake too much. She got up from the chair.

  His gaze traveled the length of her body. “When you were down in California, did you do any other sightseeing besides visiting the men’s maximum-security facility?”

  “Not unless you count my flight-safety recertification in Long Beach. It’s an annual thing. Now I have to run. I’ll be by for you at six in the morning.”

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  “Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”

  Maggie rushed away so there’d be no possibility of physical contact. She needed all her powers of concentration to get through her heavy workday.

  When she arrived at the law firm, Steve was already doing some research in her private library. She poked her head in the door and said she’d be with him in a minute.

  First there was an important phone call to make to Agent Simpson. Maggie had an urgent request.

  Eight hours later, she felt confident that Steve could handle any problems if she and Jake ended up having to be gone longer than the weekend.

  To her parents’ delight, she dropped by the house and ate dinner with them. During dessert she told them her plans to try to find Antonin’s grandmother. They were overjoyed.

  Her mother’s face was awash in tears. “Kit was found alive. I have to believe Kathryn’s alive, too. Go with Jake, darling. Find out everything you can.”

  “He’s a brilliant detective, Mom, the kind who won’t leave a stone unturned.”

  “I believe you two have met your match.” Her Dad winked at her. “I’m glad you’re going with him. He’ll keep you safe. He’s the kind of man who can take care of himself and anyone else.”

  It sounded like Agent Simpson had talked to her father. At this point, he probably knew Jake worked for the CIA.

  THIS TIME WHEN MAGGIE drove them to the airport on a clear, quiet Saturday morning, a sleek white-and-blue Cessna CJ2 with gold striping had been tugged from the McFarland hangar.

  Before they got out of the car, Jake turned to her. “I should have known you’re a jet pilot, too. You’re spoiling me, Maggie.”

  “Dad taught me early that if you want to get something done, you need to learn how to do it yourself.”

  The ex-senator’s daughter was in a class of her own and would always intimidate those around her less confident in themselves. That fact, plus the driving inner need to find out what had happened to her sister, had kept her single and preserved for him all this time. Jake had made his mind up about that.

  They climbed in behind the pilot’s seat. Nice interior. He put their luggage on the banquette at the rear of the plane and strapped them in tight.

  Once again he’d be playing copilot. If he had one regret, it was that their seats weren’t as close together as in the 185. He’d liked the feel of her arm brushing against his, lighting his fire. But there was always New York. He was living for it in more ways than one.

  Closing in on Antonin meant he was a step closer to reining in the elusive Ms. McFarland, who hadn’t been the least elusive while she’d kissed him senseless the other night. That was an experience he wanted to repeat for the rest of his life, even if now she was pretending it had never happened.

  He loved flying with Maggie. Always full of surprises, she put them down in Detroit.

  “There’s this great restaurant that serves the best steak sandwiches you ever tasted. I don’t know about you but I’m starving.”

  She was a woman after his own heart.

  Later, when they’d been flying for at least an hour, he looked over at her. “Shouldn’t we be landing in New York about now?”

  “We’re not going there yet.”

  He smiled. It sounded like she had another unexpected treat in store for him. He couldn’t wait to find out what it was. “Let me guess. Some place in eastern Canada.”

  “No. Reykjavik.”

  Iceland? “Don’t tell me they have the best roast salmon you’ve ever tasted.”

  “They probably do, but I’m more interested in getting the jet refueled there.”

  What was going on? “Why Iceland?”

  “It’s on the way to Prague.”

  Prague? His thoughts reeled. While he was still speechless, she pulled somethi
ng out of her pocket and handed it to him.

  A U.S. passport. He opened the cover. There was his face. A younger version of himself, when he’d been in the navy.

  “Through Agent Simpson’s intervention, you’ve been given a new name. Paul Ames Hillman. Blue eyes. Black hair. I asked her to make you thirty-two instead of thirty-five, along with a few other changes. You’re now six foot two instead of three, and 195 pounds though I would guess you’re closer to 205. Address, Bountiful, Utah.

  “We’re flying into Prague under diplomatic immunity of the Kathryn McFarland World Wide Foundation for Missing Children. If anyone asks, we’re looking for two women, Kathryn McFarland and Dana Miller, who were kidnapped years ago and probably brought here by Antonin Buric.

  “He’s a wanted felon from the U.S. The FBI has reason to believe he’s living with relatives in the area of Kutna Hora. If we find either woman, the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic will meet us at customs to clear one or both of them for flight back to the States.

  “If you ask, I’ll deny that I know anything about a special favor done for the Czech government by the U.S. in exchange for their cooperation in allowing the women to leave the country.”

  Wow.

  The Daughter’s Return

  CHAPTER NINE

  Manitowoc, Wisconsin

  August 21

  MILLIONS OF PEOPLE bought cars every day and didn’t think about it, but Anna had never owned anything before. The red Nissan Sentra with thirty-eight thousand miles on it she’d bought outright for twenty-four hundred dollars was the most thrilling thing that had ever happened to her.

  Classes started on Monday. Before the next week was out, she would hear if she’d gotten the job at the hospital lab. Right now she was glad she had the weekend to take her car on the ferry across Lake Michigan. She’d catch it in Manitowoc, north of Milwaukee, and take it to Ludington. She could drive around there, stay all night and come back tomorrow.

  Anna had never been in a rowboat, let alone a ship. She’d never been up in a plane or ridden a train. There was a whole wide world out there to be explored.

  When she’d voiced the thought to Josef, he’d slipped her fifteen hundred dollars. “This is my gift to you. Fun money. Spend it on something you want, Anna.”

  “You mean it?”

  He nodded solemnly. “I know you haven’t had a lot of fun in your life. Promise you’ll do as I say?”

  She hugged him. “Thank you. I promise.”

  Since then, she’d decided she would use the unexpected extra money for a couple of short vacations. One to southern California next summer, where she could lie out on a beach for a week.

  The other vacation she would take this winter. After she and Nelly had watched the Salt Lake winter Olympics on their TV in the bakery kitchen, Anna had wanted to go there so badly she could still taste it.

  With two hours to wait until she boarded the ferry, she decided to drop in at a travel agency and see what she could arrange. This far away from the holiday season, she might be able to purchase a cheap round-trip airfare.

  “There are dozens of ski packages with bargain flights,” the employee said a few minutes later. “From the feedback we’ve gotten, this one in Alta is the best.

  “None of the Olympic venues were held in Alta because it would have created too much congestion in the canyon. But the best skiers in the world claim it has the greatest snow on earth.”

  He handed her a brochure with summer and winter photos of the fabulous mountains. She greedily read the contents.

  If you are looking for reasonable ski packages in Utah, look no further than the Alta Peruvian Lodge in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. The Alta Peruvian Lodge is located at the base of the Alta ski resort, giving you the absolute best location for your ski vacation.

  The Alta ski resort receives over 500 inches of snow annually. You can ski dry, fluffy powder from November to April, making Alta one of the most incredible resorts around. For more information about ski packages in Utah, the Alta ski resort and the Alta Peruvian Lodge contact us.

  “Do they give ski lessons?”

  “They have everything, ski rentals, the works. There’ll be a shuttle from the Salt Lake International Airport to the resort.”

  After checking out the price, she said, “Will you book me a flight for December 24 to January 2, and arrange a single room for me at the lodge?”

  “Be happy to.”

  She handed him her new credit card issued to students at the university. Whatever part-time job Anna ended up with, she would make certain she got those days off.

  While she waited for him to finish up, she studied the rest of the brochure. One of the pictures showed a high alpine meadow in summer. It was full of wildflowers surrounded by rugged mountains. Albion Basin, she mouthed the words. The scene was so glorious, she couldn’t believe such a place really existed.

  Maybe that’s where she’d move after she became a doctor.

  Prague, Czech Republic

  August 22

  “THIS IS THE STREET where we used to live. Pull over to the curb behind that black car and wait for me, Maggie.”

  She did his bidding without saying anything. Since they’d flown into Prague after their overnight stay in Frankfurt, the tension coming from Jake was palpable.

  When he got out, he leaned back inside, searching her face and eyes relentlessly. “So far so good. Customs went without a hitch, but you never know. Lock the car doors after me. I won’t be long.

  “Kamila’s best friend Maria lives in this building. Ours is at the end of the block, but I’m not going near it. If anything frightens you, lean on the horn and I’ll come running.”

  Maggie nodded.

  After Jake had disappeared inside the building, she looked around, taking in the beauty of Romanesque, Gothic, baroque and Renaissance architecture more fabulous than anything she’d seen on her other trips to Western Europe.

  Jake had explained this was the oldest part of Prague. It was a city of over a million people, built on seven hills, with the Vlatava River running through it. He’d pointed out Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge on their way in from the airport, but she was very aware this wasn’t a sightseeing trip.

  It killed Maggie because she thought it the most romantic place she’d ever seen. She wished she could be here with Jake enjoying its history and beauty like all the other tourists who’d flocked here for the last month of summer.

  With the temperature in the high seventies, she yearned to stroll with him through ancient, picturesque walkways they’d passed in the car. Jake had lived here four years, and knew its many secret delights.

  But his choice of career had guaranteed he could never come here again except for a desperate mission like this.

  Last night over dinner, before they’d gone to their separate hotel rooms, he’d told her the kind of work he’d been doing when the explosion had occurred.

  His job had been to track the sale of Czech munitions to countries supporting terrorist groups in exchange for oil. Once discovered, he blew them up. His work had taken him around the globe. The horrific planned accident that almost cost him his life had happened in the Middle East.

  She shivered to think of the dangers he’d faced for close to a decade. It was a miracle he was still alive. After Christmas, he’d be going back to that life. She wished she had the right to beg him not to go anywhere. To stay with her indefinitely.

  Her watch said 11:10 a.m., Czech time. He’d been in that apartment close to an hour. Though not normally a person to panic, she was starting to get nervous imagining the secret police lying in wait for Jake at every turn.

  When she thought she couldn’t stand to sit there another second not knowing what had happened to him, he suddenly emerged from the building. She undid the locks. To her surprise he came around to her side of the car. That meant he wanted to drive.

  After moving the seat back as far as it would go in the rental car, she eased herself over the gearshift
to the passenger side. He climbed in without a word and started up the motor. In seconds they’d pulled into traffic.

  Even though only an hour had passed, he looked older. He didn’t speak until they’d joined the E65 headed north on the outskirts of the city.

  “If nothing has happened to Kamila, then I think I know where she might be. The day after I left Prague, Kamila told Maria it was too painful to stay at the apartment with my father gone, so she was going to take a little trip. That was the last time anyone saw her.

  “When she didn’t show up for work the next week, the police paid Maria a visit, wanting to know if she’d seen Kamila. Sensing something could be wrong, Maria, who’s a smart lady, told them she hadn’t seen or talked to her since the funeral.”

  Maggie was putting two and two together. “If she’s gone into hiding on her own accord, then that means she wasn’t kidnapped!”

  “Not at that point, anyway,” he muttered grimly. “Something tells me that before Dad died, he told her to get away as a precaution because of my undercover work.

  “If she’d left the country, I would have heard from her by now through an address where she could have written me. The fact that there’s been no word means she didn’t dare call attention to herself by trying to cross the border or make contact through the mail.”

  Maggie shook her head. “Does she have relatives living here?”

  “No. She’s Polish. Her family’s in Warsaw. When we met her, she was working in Prague for the summer with another Polish girlfriend to brush up on her Czech. She speaks excellent English, of course. They worked for a travel agency in Warsaw and wanted to improve their language skills with a view toward promotion.

  “Dad was thirty-six when he met Kamila. She was twenty-four, only six years older than me. For obvious reasons, he fought his attraction to her, but she had her heart set on him. I was happy for him and knew he felt the same way about her.

  “At the end of the summer, her friend went back to Poland, but she stayed behind. One thing led to another. Dad got her a job at the Steiner company so they could be together all the time. Within the year they were married. I was at the university and gave them as much space as possible because I was doing my own thing in the female department.”