“Yes, I found that out last night while I stood on the dock looking like an idiot,” she replied. “It’s okay; I’m at a friend’s house.”
There was an odd silence. “What? No, no, Jackie! They know your friends,” he suddenly cried out through the phone. “You shouldn’t be there. Get out; get out now!”
She didn’t understand his concern, although, Monroe did tend to be overly dramatic at times. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t thought it through with extreme care. He could be such a worrier.
“It’s okay, they don’t know about Shannon,” she explained and hid her amusement. “No one does. I only knew her for one semester at college before she dropped out. We weren’t even roommates.”
“I don’t like it, Jackie,” he said firmly. “My flight is preparing to land. I have to go. I don’t want to miss my connecting flight, or I’ll be stuck in this shithole overnight. After I land, I’ll secure you a helicopter, and you can fly to the island.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she chirped. “The ferry will be leaving in three hours. I’ll be at your place before you’d even secure a chopper. We’ll meet up at your place later this evening, I promise.” Jackie looked toward the house and saw an unfamiliar car pull up. She suddenly felt alarm sweep through her. She attempted a calm voice into the phone. “Listen, I’ll call you back once I’m on the ferry.”
Jackie disconnected the call and hurried for the house, being careful to remain out of view of the deck and any windows. It wasn’t possible that they’d found her. No one knew about Shannon. Sure, there had been the occasional email, but she corresponded with a lot of acquaintances. Even Shannon didn’t know she was visiting until an hour prior to her arrival. Jackie reached the side of the house and peered around the corner at the newer car by the curb. She could see someone enter the house but couldn’t see his or her face. She couldn’t risk it. Jackie climbed through the bedroom window and into the guestroom. She hurried across the bedroom to the open door and peered into the hallway. She heard voices coming from the living room. Jackie silently shut the door, pulled her duffle bag out from under the bed, and dropped the bag out the open window. She was about to follow her bag through the window when she heard a tap on the door as it opened. Jackie turned, leaned against the windowsill, and appeared casual. Shannon stood in the doorway while grinning.
“Oh, great, you’re up,” she announced cheerfully. “I know this is awkward, Jackie, but I want you to meet one of Wayne’s friends from work. He’s cute and has no plans for breakfast this morning. I hope you don’t mind.”
Jackie felt her entire body suddenly sag with relief. “Oh--” she announced softly and laughed. “Uh, yeah, that would be great.”
Jackie followed Shannon from the bedroom and down the hall. They crossed the living room into the kitchen and approached the deck doors. Wayne could be seen sitting on the deck, his back to them, with a glass of scotch in his hand. Jackie was puzzled. It seemed a little early for him to be drinking, especially the hard stuff. What sort of man had Shannon gotten involved with this time? Shannon stepped onto the deck through the glass doors and unexpectedly shut them behind her, surprising Jackie.
“Hello, Jackie,” came Holden’s familiar voice from behind her.
Jackie quickly turned to see Holden standing only a few feet from her. Her entire body twitched. How did he know where to find her? How had he managed to sneak up on her like that? A thousand thoughts rushed through her mind; the first being the closest exit.
“I’m impressed,” he announced and offered a moderately charming smile. “You almost had me convinced you fell overboard at the lake.”
Holden approached her. Jackie quickly shot looks around the kitchen for an exit. Holden suddenly stopped as if attempting not to frighten a wild animal.
“Don’t even think it, Jackie,” he said firmly. “I’m placing you back into protective custody.”
She was stunned by his words and had to keep from laughing. “Protective custody? Your protective custody cost three marshals their lives,” she suddenly lashed out then turned hostile. “I didn’t even last three weeks in your so-called safe house. How many people need to die before this goes to trial?”
He appeared to tense then turned sympathetic. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You have to trust me.”
Shannon and Wayne watched through the glass deck doors. Jackie glared at them with a venomous look. She wouldn’t mind punching her former friend in the mouth. They quickly minded their own business. She looked back at Holden.
“Do you honestly think you stand a chance against the governor’s men?”
“Yes, and I should have been the one protecting you from the start,” he announced firmly. “I’m not going to let him get to you, you have my word.”
“Your word when you’re dead doesn’t mean a whole lot,” she muttered under her breath. Jackie finally groaned with defeat while subconsciously running her fingers through her hair. “But seeing I have little choice, my things are in the guest bedroom.” She gave him a cold look and nodded toward the couple sitting on the deck casting curious looks into the house. “How much did they get for selling me out?”
“They’re not being compensated,” Holden informed her. “I’m sure they know that.”
Jackie suddenly snorted a laugh. “Wanna bet? I’m sure that’ll come as a shock to them.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I guess that explains why Wayne kept staring at me last night. I should have seen the dollar signs in his eyes.”
She turned toward the glass doors and again caught the two peering inside. Jackie mocked them with her smile, rubbed her fingers together symbolizing money, and shook her head. Their expressions immediately dropped as they exchanged looks. A heated debate quickly ensued. Jackie chuckled then looked back at Holden.
“We can go now,” she announced and nodded toward the hall. “The guestroom is that way.”
Holden stepped aside and allowed her to walk past him. She wasn’t exactly surprised that he didn’t trust her. Even she didn’t trust herself not to do something stupid. She walked past him without comment. He followed her down the hall and into the guest bedroom. As he stepped through the bedroom doorway after her, Jackie kicked out behind her, striking Holden in the chest, and sent him backwards into the door. The door slammed shut as his body struck it. As he straightened from the surprise attack, she spun into a roundhouse kick. He caught her ankle, surprising her, and threw her backwards onto the bed. She hadn’t been expecting his quick reflexes to her attack, nor the pain it had caused her previously injured leg. As she lie on the bed, she clutched her injured thigh with agony and appeared unable to move. Holden casually approached her and removed his handcuffs.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Jackie,” he announced in a calm tone. “I’m sorry I have to do this, but you give me no choice. We have to do this the hard way. I’m placing you under arrest for striking a federal agent.”
Jackie remained lying on the bed while gingerly rubbing her sore thigh. Holden reached for her wrist. Jackie suddenly grabbed his arm, kicked him in the side, and pulled him to the bed alongside her. She jumped on top of him and swiftly cuffed his wrist to the brass bed rung. He appeared stunned by her amazing reflexes. She pinned his free wrist to the bed, straddled his waist, and hovered over him. It wasn’t as if her leg didn’t hurt, but it didn’t hurt as much as she made it seem. She stared into his stunned eyes with an unusual calmness.
“It’s nothing personal, Agent Falcone, but the only way I’m going to survive until the trial is by looking after myself,” she informed him.
He remained stunned by his predicament then stared back at her and assumed a more authoritative tone. “I can’t let you do that, Jackie. Now unlock the cuffs.”
Her expression didn’t change, and she didn’t look away. “I wasn’t asking permission; I was making a statement,” she casually informed him. A sly grin crossed her face. “Now don’t take this personally--”
While keeping his
left wrist pinned to the bed, Jackie felt around his waist behind him. He bucked beneath her in an unsuccessful attempt to throw her off him. She’d only momentarily lost her balance but remained on top of him. Jackie revealed the second pair of handcuffs and smiled while dangling them. Holden wasn’t humored and again attempted to toss her off him. He managed to free his left wrist from her grip and attempted to reverse their roles by trying to pin her to the bed with his body. He made an effort to subdue her wrist holding the second pair of handcuffs. She had to admit that his body pressed against hers while he attempted to get her beneath him was almost as pleasant as it was distracting. She kept her leg securely wrapped around his hip while attempting to keep him from pinning her to the bed beneath his body. Her free leg was her only leverage against his weight and gravity. Anyone walking in on them would almost certainly get the wrong impression of their activities.
Holden’s sheer weight alone was working against her, and if he managed to get on top of her, she’d never be able to toss him off without physically harming him. They continued to wrestle in their compromising position for only a minute or two when Jackie felt she was losing ground. Soon he would be on top of her, and he’d have her at a disadvantage. She was left with only one option. Jackie kissed him passionately and aggressively on the mouth, momentarily freezing him. In the split second he’d been taken by surprise, she snapped the handcuff to his left wrist, broke off the kiss, and threw her body into his. She propelled him onto his back, with her again on top, and snapped the cuff to the brass headboard. Holden immediately pulled against his cuffed wrist. Jackie half collapsed on top of him while panting with some exhaustion. She’d never cuffed a man to a bed before, and considering the effort it took, it was almost sexually satisfying. Holden appeared equally worn from the wrestling match and panted heavily as well.
She took a deep breath and slowly sat up while straddling his hips, allowing her hands to touch his chest as she straightened. She grinned while looking down at him, enjoying a lustful thought or two. She interrupted her sexual fantasy, realizing she needed to focus on her task at hand. Jackie playfully reached within his blazer and removed his gun from its shoulder holster.
“Don’t do it,” Holden firmly gasped as he helplessly watched her take his weapon from him.
Jackie gave him a reassuring smile that conveyed her intentions and then tossed the gun to foot end of the bed. She grinned playfully.
“Sorry, but I have to frisk you.”
“Jackie, I mean it!”
Jackie searched his jacket pockets then caressed his side as she leaned over him and reached behind him to feel his back pockets. The heat of his body felt good against hers, and she wasn’t ashamed to admit it. Her hand behind him found something of interest. She straightened and revealed a revolver from a concealed belt holster in the small of his back.
“My God, it’s like disarming Germany.”
Holden was furious or embarrassed. It was difficult to tell.
“This isn’t funny, Jackie.”
Of course, that was just his opinion. She was actually enjoying herself. Jackie tossed the revolver to the bed with the first gun, grinned her response, and seductively slid her body down his hips to search his pants pockets. She hesitated, looked down with surprise at the firmness contained within his pants, and then met his gaze with a lustful smile.
“Well, I see you’re enjoying being frisked.”
His face conveyed hostility despite his body’s reaction. “Get off me and unlock the cuffs,” he said firmly.
She was now enjoying her ‘search and seizure’ a little too much and grinned in response. “Who knew the big, tough fed would be turned on by a little rough play?”
Jackie searched his front pants pockets while maintaining her cheap grin. She couldn’t help but take in several eyefuls of the enthusiasm his pants were sporting. Perhaps it was just their wrestling match, but she was almost surprised at her own rising desire. Her search of his pockets produced its intended result, sadly, too fast. She removed his rental car keys and casually dangled them in front of him.
“Do you mind if I borrow your car?”
“If you unlock the handcuffs, I’ll forget everything else,” Holden growled in a failed attempt to sound convincing.
Jackie moved up his body, again straddling his hips, leaned over him, and placed her hands on either side of his head. She hovered just inches from his face and smiled her lustful intentions. He immediately tensed beneath her. Despite his attempt to remain in control, the bulge in his pants beneath her throbbed its own intentions. Jackie couldn’t pretend she didn’t feel his reaction and fought to resist her own impulses to act upon it.
“Might be more fun if you just admit what you really want,” she cooed softly while brushing her lips past his.
Holden tensed while breathing heavily and allowed a soft groan to escape involuntary in response. Jackie kissed him quickly but passionately on the mouth. In that split second, Holden jerked against the handcuffs keeping him from her and thrust upward against her. Before he could return the kiss, she quickly broke it off, realizing her actions could be considered sexually assault against a federal agent. She slowly sat back up while fighting her own sexual desires and seductively ran her hands along his chest. Holden tensed beneath her and watched her with possible anticipation to her next move. She couldn’t deny how badly she wanted to feel his naked body against hers, but she was sure that feeling would pass quickly. Besides, she had more important things to do. She quickly and secretly collected her emotions, so she could maintain control of the situation. She smiled sweetly and pushed all sexual feelings aside.
“I’d love to stay and corrupt that little Boy Scout in you, but I have a prior engagement.”
“Don’t do this, Jackie,” he suddenly warned with less conviction in his voice.
She wasn’t sure, but she felt he was more disappointed than irritated. She managed a playful grin and enjoyed one last twitch from his body beneath her.
“Don’t worry,” Jackie cooed. “Next time you can handcuff me to the bed.”
Jackie flashed a lustful smile, winked, and swiftly jumped off him, landing gracefully alongside the bed. She dangled the handcuff keys before him then dropped them on his chest.
“Later, love.” Jackie headed for the open window, paused with reflection, and looked back at him with all seriousness. “Oh, and tell Shannon she won’t be getting a Christmas card from me.”
Jackie blew him a kiss, took in one last eyeful of his aroused state, and left through the open, bedroom window. Holden groaned softly and allowed his head to fall back on the pillow. He then looked at the handcuff keys on his chest and frowned.
“Great.”
Chapter Seventeen
Holden’s stolen rental car sat near the ramp in the crowded airport parking lot late that afternoon. Seemingly, out of nowhere, several police cars with flashing lights surrounded it. Four armed police officers jumped out of their cars with guns drawn and cautiously approached the vehicle. They peered inside then lowered their weapons. The car was empty. All four officers appeared disgusted and shook their heads. One radioed their findings. Within the airport terminal, Holden and a security guard walked at a fast pace through the crowded terminal. He briefly looked at every woman they passed and appeared disgusted each time it wasn’t Jackie. Holden’s cell phone chirped. He pulled it out of his inner pocket with some hostility and placed it to his ear.
“Falcone--”
“We found your rental car. It’s in the parking garage on level four,” a police officer said from the other end. “She couldn’t have gotten far.”
Holden suddenly snorted a soft laugh while looking around the terminal. “With a fake passport, she could be anywhere in the world,” he snapped hotly. “Check with security. See if they found anything on the tapes. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
As Holden disconnected the call, his phone rang again. He pressed the button with disgust and answered slightly gruffer than unusua
l.
“Falcone--”
“Hey, babe. Miss me?” Jackie chirped cheerfully from the other end.
Holden suddenly stopped and looked around, although, it was unlikely she was calling from nearby. “Where are you?” he demanded.
“Somewhere where you’ll never find me,” she replied casually. “I’d like to live long enough to testify.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and seemed to hold his breath. “Look, I’m willing to forget about this morning,” Holden announced while attempting a gentler tone. “Just tell me where you are, and I’ll come and get you.”
“Hmm--? I don’t think so.”
His frustration quickly surfaced. “I’m starting to lose my sense of humor, Jackie.”
“I’m doing you a favor,” she announced firmly. “If you can’t find me that means the governor’s henchmen won’t have a reason to kill you.”
“You might enjoy it if they did,” he remarked lowly.
There was an awkward silence. “How could you even think something like that?” Jackie snapped with irritation in her voice. “You may be a prick, but I wouldn’t wish that on you. After what happened to Harris, how could you even suggest something so depraved?”
Holden immediately fidgeted and started pacing a small area near the guard. “You’re right. I was out of line, and I’m sorry,” he said gently. “Forgive me?”
There was a moment of hesitation from her end. Her tone immediately softened as well. “Yeah, I forgive you.”
Holden followed the security guard to a restricted area while keeping his cell phone to his ear. A massive wall of security monitors revealed the entire terminal at a single glance. A police officer watched security footage leading up to the time Holden’s rental car was discovered. Holden sat on the nearby console with his cell phone still to his ear.
“Harris was my friend, you know,” he attempted to reason with her. “I want to put those bastards away, but I need you alive in order to do that.” He carefully considered his words. “I know you wouldn’t deny Harris retribution.”
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