Tessa felt a prickle at the back of her neck as she leaned forward to stare out the window at their car. She reached over, touched Honey’s arm, and whispered, “That’s not a state issued Highway Patrol car. The new ones are silver. The white ones were sold at auction last summer. Made the news.”
“Who’s your friend up there?” The officer didn’t wait for an answer as he backed up and stretched his neck.
Honey offered a smile. “My sister. If you call this in, I’ll get fired. Not supposed to have anyone ride along. I didn’t want to be out the first time by myself.”
“License, please.” The officer moved closer to the truck. “Maybe you should get out of the truck while we check you out. I want to see your sister’s license, too.”
“We’re screwed,” Tessa mumbled in a panic.
“Sure thing. Let me see. Where did I put that? Oh, here it is.” Honey leaned down and grabbed something under her seat.
“What is that? Honey, what are you going to do?” She lifted a dark object into her lap before passing papers through the window to the officer. “What are you doing? Honey…” she warned as the officer instructed them again, to get out of the truck. Both women unbuckled their seat belts, Tessa ready to scoot over to join her on the ground.
Without warning, Honey swung the door open at such speed the officer took a step back. Next, she leaped onto the door, holding herself up by propping her arms through the open window, and went with the door as it propelled outward. Before the officer could step back again, Honey moved her body out at an angle then kicked the man in the head, sending him spinning facedown in the snow. The door bounced back in, and Honey grabbed the iron bar lying on the seat before hopping down in the snow.
Another man ran around from the back of the truck, pulling his gun. Honey stood still as a mouse as he ordered her to raise her hands. Tessa knew that would be unlikely.
“I said, hands in the air!”
Honey slowly turned her head toward the new threat. Her profile mimicked a hero from a video game where all the characters were hell-bent on killing pretty much everyone. Shoulders pulled back, eyes glassy with determination to take down the enemy, Honey had moved into her killing zone.
Tessa had inched closer to watch when she accidently fell on the airhorn, startling the man into jumping and lifting a hard glare at her. The next instant, Honey hurled the iron bar at the man, knocking the gun out of his hand. Even as it connected, she ran toward him then jumped so that her body went sideways, landing both feet into his gut.
Scampering out of the truck, Tessa ran to retrieve the weapon. A bullet whizzed by her ear as a shot rang out. Without thinking, she turned and returned fire at the other man coming out of the car ahead of them.
“Let’s go,” she shouted. By now she knew for sure these men weren’t official Nevada Highway Patrol. This new one wore desert camouflage and called for the other men on the ground to kill them. She fired again and again until Honey joined her. Without hesitation, Honey chanced relieving the first downed man of his gun then shot at the car ahead of them while Tessa climbed back into the cab and she scooted across the seat. Honey scrambled up to join her.
The engine had never been turned off. Honey put it in gear and raised the plow enough to shield against the automatic gunfire pelting the truck. She picked up speed and headed right for them, plowing into them so hard their SUV flipped over on its side. The men jumped out of the way and reloaded.
“Back it up and bury them with the plow,” Tessa said.
“My thoughts exactly.”
In seconds, Honey had backed up and lowered the plow blade. She hit the gas, sending a mountain of snow over the men.
Tessa spotted the first two men inching up behind them. She grabbed Honey’s arm without taking her eyes from the side mirror.
“I see ’em,” she growled.
The road in front of them was now blocked, and a fire flared in the overturned SUV. Turning such a big piece of equipment around quickly would be impossible. Throwing the rig into reverse and backing in top speed caused the other two to jump to the side of the road. They staggered forward. Tessa gasped at the realization they had both returned to their vehicle and retrieved shotguns, now aimed at them.
The first blast hit the front of their truck. Honey slammed on the brakes then once more put it in drive and lowered the plow before barreling toward them.
Both women burst into laughter when the men ran away like scared rabbits. Honey didn’t stop until she’d thrown enough snow to neutralize them. She braked and let the truck idle a few seconds before turning to Tessa. “I don’t know when I’ve had this much fun.”
Tessa tried to contain her grin. “I’ll have to agree.”
They high-fived and then carefully turned the truck around to head back out to the interstate and wait out the real cops. Finding a map in the glove box, they planned another way back to Grass Valley. It wasn’t impossible.
By the time they’d pulled over at an abandoned gas station, it was obvious they weren’t going any farther. Steam clouds seeped out from under the hood, and the dashboard instruments indicated they were almost out of fuel.
“Hope they don’t have reinforcements,” Tessa said, looking out the window in the direction they’d left.
“I doubt it. No need to see if they’re tracking us. Left them with few options, and they’re hurt. We need another ride.”
Tessa felt exhausted. Maybe this was an adrenaline rush for Honey, but all the excitement had left her drained, confused at her own behavior, and terrified of what lay ahead. Why couldn’t she have listened to Chase and minded her own business at the airport? It wasn’t as if he couldn’t take care of himself. But the thought of her kids being in the crosshairs of a vigilante drove her to be momma bear again. Now here she was, an accomplice in at least one murder, disposal of a corpse, grand theft auto, assault on what may have been law enforcement, in possession of government property, destroying government property, and the unlawful use of a firearm. How would Christmas be spent locked up with other thugs and felons? What did it matter? Soon she would be caught, and her family would realize what a horrible person she’d become in the name of national security the last few years. Maybe President Austin would grant her a pardon.
Merry Christmas to me, she thought woefully.
“Might as well take a nap.” Honey sighed.
“Who were those guys? Were they after you?”
“Not sure.” She smiled, scanning the surroundings. “I make friends wherever I go.”
Tessa could only groan at the response.
There was still enough juice in the truck for Honey to back it in on the far side of the gas station where they wouldn’t be so easily found. Tessa stared out the window for a long time, thinking about the future without her family and how they would be disgraced and hate her. They would be raised by a father who put them second to his job, rarely get to Tennessee to visit her family, and would seek out her neighbors, the Ervins, to be the loving support they craved.
The last thing she remembered before dozing off was praying Chase could protect her children. Several hours later, she awoke to banging on the side of the truck. Both women jolted upright, grabbed their weapons, and blinked the sleep fog from their brains.
“I don’t see anything.” Tessa twisted in her seat to look into the night now cloaked in white snow.
Another round of loud banging, this time on Tessa’s door, spiked her curiosity. She’d pushed her face against the window when a man’s face appeared. With a scream, she dropped her weapon and tried to push toward Honey. Later she would remember Honey squealed in surprise, too. Heart racing, she leaned toward the window to get a better look. A certain amount of moisture on the glass prevented her from seeing clearly, but the face was familiar. She reached out and cleared the fog to see Reverend Angelo.
“Ladies, do you need a ride home?”
Chapter Nineteen
Chase knew this day would come. The man who wanted him de
ad had finally surrounded himself with enough wealth and fame to feel invincible against the outside world. The protection was real in today’s world. Money could do almost anything.
Frosty the Freakin’ Snowman had been carted off to jail. When the snow stopped and the heavens cleared, Chase had managed to reach out through regular channels to get them to send a chopper to pick up the prisoner. They faced hoops to jump through to get that accomplished, thanks to the Grass Valley PD. But, in the end, they gave up the prisoner to Enigma agents who took him to the warehouse where interrogations would happen. It didn’t take long to find out what he needed to know.
Goliath, as he was known in the world circles of power and influence, wanted him dead. Chase was a pesky fly in his ointment of indulgence and shady deals. The world saw him as a philanthropist, business giant, and a man who nearly walked on water. Chase knew him to be a murderer and planned to prove it. In the last few months, the captain had come across damning information to start him on his quest of revenge and justice.
He figured Goliath now knew trouble brewed for him. Better to take out the one man who wasn’t afraid of him, who carried a reason to never give up. Chase’s baby sister had died at the man’s hands. The plan wouldn’t happen overnight. Such an idea would need a lot of moving parts. For tonight, all remained safe. The man wouldn’t try anything in the near future. Dealing with him would be a calculated mission for the future and through Enigma to give it justification.
For a few seconds, he thought of Tessa and whether or not to tell her about Goliath. Would the secrets he’d withheld from her from the beginning of their relationship force her to resign from Enigma? She didn’t even know yet how he planned to use her in seeking revenge. This was too close for comfort tonight. If Goliath found out about Tessa, if he saw her, then all would be lost. He needed to do a better job at keeping her hidden and safe. He decided to wait to fill in the details for her. Maybe this time next year he could finish what he’d promised to do long ago.
After the police left, he went back outside and climbed in the upstairs window to find the children sound asleep. He returned the dresser to its original position before going back downstairs to finish cleaning up. It was five a.m. before he returned upstairs and found a spot on the love seat to stretch out and fall asleep. Their soft breathing and occasional mumbles lulled him to sleep. This was the best Christmas present he’d ever had.
~ ~ ~ ~
Angelo posed as a saint might stand before his God when the women joined him on the ground. Although he didn’t smile, a certain amount of mischief and satisfaction danced in his hooded eyes. A few flurries drifted down to rest on hair peppered with gray. The priestly collar showed clearly since his long coat was unbuttoned. Except for his hands being locked in front of his body, for a second, he reminded Tessa of a gunslinger from the Old West, ready to do some street justice.
She stopped in front of him, and the twinkle in his eyes disappeared. He cocked his head to the side, letting his eyes go over her from top to bottom. When he straightened and dropped his hands to his side, she considered the man only posed as a man of God.
“Trouble finds you.” The deep voice indicated he might know all about her past.
“Who are you?” Tessa asked when she sensed Honey come up behind her and stand quietly.
“Tonight, I’m your guardian angel.” A slow narrow smile formed on lips that looked blue in the shadows of the night.
“My car…” Her words faded as Honey moved toward the white sedan.
“Nothing to worry about. It will be in your driveway by midmorning, good as new.”
“Why did you damage it?”
He fanned out his hand toward their new ride. “Who says I did? You of all people know God works in mysterious ways, especially at Christmas.”
“I call shotgun. Tessa, you’re in the back seat,” Honey declared as she jerked the door open. “Want to make sure I keep an eye on this guy.” She peered inside then looked back at Angelo, pointing to the back seat. “Who is that guy?”
Tessa pushed in front of her to take a look. In seconds, she jerked the back door open and slipped inside next to the man in handcuffs with a gag shoved in his mouth.
“Agent Martin,” Tessa said, removing the gag. A bruise darkened his cheek. “Are you all right?”
“You know him?” Honey asked.
“Remember I said I recognized a man at the airport. Meet Special Agent Dennis Martin.”
“Great. A conman, an FBI agent, and an assassin. Does anyone else feel like we’ve become the three wise men? I mean wise persons,” Honey said sarcastically. “Guess you’ll play the part of Mary.” She reached in and slapped Tessa on the back of the head.
“And you are?” Agent Martin asked.
“Honey Lynch.”
Tessa watched him roll his eyes upward and lean back against the seat. “Another one of Enigma’s junkyard dogs.” She was glad he said it under his breath. It would be like Honey to take offense and come over the seat at him.
“How are you involved with this, Dennis?” Tessa couldn’t remember ever calling him by his first name. Maybe it would take the edge off their past encounters.
“Get me out of these cuffs now, Tessa,” Agent Martin demanded.
She eased back out of the car. “Why?” she asked, looking at Angelo who stared into the distance like a demonic creature evaluating the pits of Hell. A wave of panic engulfed her.
“We need to go. They’re coming.” Angelo hurried to the other side of the car and quickly slipped behind the wheel.
“W-who’s coming?” Tessa stuttered even as she rejoined the FBI agent in the back seat.
Honey buckled up as Angelo spun out and headed back toward the interstate then took a surprising turn away on a side road.
“Who are we running from?” Tessa tried to touch the back of Angelo’s seat, but the seat belt held her tight.
“Angelo stole a lot of money from a drug kingpin and now is running for his life,” Agent Martin interjected.
“It was for military families who needed a little extra help.” His voice sounded like he might be practicing for an interview on the evening news. “Agent Martin had the misfortune of getting in my way. After I saw him getting out of your car at the casino, I had to bring him along before he notified the authorities. I wasn’t sure I could trust him.” He gave a jovial laugh. “Funny how things work out. Now here we are, one big happy family.”
Tessa had been in similar circumstances with Agent Martin. Shifty eyes, blank expression when he talked to you, attempting to rid the world of corruption, one bad guy at a time. There wasn’t much wiggle room with him. Black and white were his favorite colors in everything he did, especially concerning his work. He was part of her history now, thanks to Enigma, and felt obligated to protect him.
“When I told him I had to help you tonight, Agent Martin decided he would be more than happy to tag along.”
“Do I look happy to you?” the agent snarled.
Tessa reached over and laid her comforting hand on his arm, only to have him shake it off.
“You know the police are looking for you, right?” he continued.
“Not to worry, Tessa.” Angelo adjusted the rearview mirror and adjusted it to see her image. “I will get you to your children.”
“Wait. How did you know about my kids?”
Honey raised her gun and jabbed it into Angelo’s arm. “I was wondering the same thing.”
“Maybe a little Christmas music will relax everyone,” he said turning on the radio.
“Maybe if you stop driving like a bat out of hell, we’d all relax.” Honey poked him again.
“We Three Kings” performed by the New York Philharmonic, started him singing at the top of his lungs. Tessa had to admit he sang quite well. She glanced over at Agent Martin who glared at her with the slow simmering rage she’d seen before when they had tangled.
“Why were you at the airport, Dennis?”
“It’s Agent Mart
in to you, and none of your business.”
Angelo turned down the radio and glanced to the mirror at his passengers. “He was looking for me. You caused a stir in the airport looking for your best friend—”
“She’s not my best friend.”
Honey turned back to look at her. “Why do you continually try and hurt my feelings, after all we’ve been through?
“You’re kinda the reason we went through it,” she snapped, making eye contact with Angelo again.
“Anyway, you provided me with a chance to slip away. I spotted Agent Martin getting out of his car. He saw you and actually crossed the street, I guessed to follow you.” Angelo made the sign of the cross on his chest. “Thank you, baby Jesus, for helping me escape.”
“Baby Jesus had nothing to do with your escape,” Agent Martin fumed. “You recognized me because I’d been on your tail for a month. Nearly caught you in LA two days earlier. I did follow Tessa because I got word a woman had been seen with you minutes before. When I saw her crossing to the parking garage, I figured the way trouble follows her around, the two of you had to be connected.”
“Yes. But you lost her in the garage.”
“And you tried to run me over.”
“I didn’t see you.” Angelo smiled up at the rearview mirror.
“Whatever, Angelo.” He turned back to Tessa. “I hurried back to my car and spotted you leaving and noticed someone else was with you. I thought it might be Captain Hunter, so I caught up with you. When you parked at the casino, I realized my mistake and had my men go back to the airport.”
“And you followed me inside.”
“No. I waited to see what you might be planning. When it looked like you were leaving. I found your car.”
Tessa gasped then slapped his thigh.
“Sorry, by the way, for the damage on your car. I thought you might get away. Imagine my surprise when I saw Angelo with you. That’s when I knew I had to delay your departure.”
The Knight Before Chaos Page 12