Imposter

by Karen Fenech

  Eve Collins reached Richard Patterson’s vehicle and got inside. Eyes narrowed now, his attention returned to her. Eve’s role in his plan was almost complete. There was just one more thing for her to do and that was to - die.

  * * *

  Burke was quiet on the drive back to the cottage. Eve welcomed his silence. She was too upset for conversation. With him for his refusal to consider her innocence. With this latest development in her situation.

  Was it the buyer who’d contacted Burke? If so why hadn’t he gone ahead to the hotel room? Had he stayed away because he discovered that his plan with Richard had gone wrong? She had no way of knowing. She did know that the failure of whoever had made contact to appear in Richard’s hotel room had reinforced Burke’s notion of her guilt.

  Richard’s accomplice had not shown up in the hotel room either. The one person she desperately needed to make an appearance. Was that because Richard hadn’t been alive to let him know about the plan to meet at the hotel? That made sense since Richard was the contact to the buyer.

  Eve released a frustrated breath and leaned back against the head rest. Round and round she went with no answers. Bottom line: the accomplice hadn’t revealed himself which meant she was no closer to proving her innocence. Until she did, she would remain under suspicion of treason.

  She shuddered. Frustration gave way to the true emotion driving her: fear.

  Burke stopped at the restaurant they’d breakfasted at. While she waited in the car, he went inside. He returned with two take-out meals which he placed on the console. The aroma wafting from the containers revealed that he’d bought chicken.

  At the cottage, Eve left the car, striding quickly over the mowed grass. She’d almost lost it with Allie. The last thing she wanted was to break down in front of Burke.

  When he opened the door to the cottage, she moved to precede him inside. He clutched her arm, halting her.

  Eve turned on him. “You think I have the buyer in here ready to spring an ambush on you?”

  “I can’t discount the possibility.”

  She didn’t know if he was deliberately trying to bait her or truly believed what he said. “You’re unbelievable.”

  “You want to know what I’m really thinking?” Burke crossed his arms. “Your buyer has gone to ground. He won’t show for tonight’s meeting either. He knows that this is a bust and he’s better off to cut his losses and move on.”

  Burke’s prediction sent a chill through her. “I hope you’re wrong.”

  Burke’s gaze hardened. “I hope so too, Doctor.”

  * * *

  Burke confirmed that he and Eve were alone in the cottage. He needed to phone Lanski and went outside where the signal would be stronger for his cell phone.

  The fresh air was welcome. He needed it to clear his head and cool his temper. He’d lost his temper with Dr. Collins. Again. Unheard of for him when dealing with suspects. He made sure to keep his emotions in check when on the job.

  He wouldn’t have to worry about her much longer. By this time tomorrow, whether or not they apprehended the buyer, she would be out of his life.

  That thought didn’t give him the satisfaction or pleasure that it should have.

  Burke made the call to Lanski. Two rings later, his second in command picked up.

  “Our people are in place, boss,” Lanski said. “At your signal, we’ll move in. We’ll get the buyer when he shows.”

  Burke grunted. “If he shows.”

  “You don’t think he will?”

  Burke left the question unanswered. “There’s been no activity from Dr. Collins’ cell phone, I take it?”

  “No, sir. I would have let you know immediately. I’ve been hoping that the lady doc might have named the buyer by now and we can just round him up.”

  “She’s still saying she doesn’t know what Patterson was up to. We know that Patterson never met his buyer, so we have no reason to think Dr. Collins would have. She doesn’t know who is supposed to show up here tonight any more than we do.”

  “So she says.”

  “Something’s not right,” Burke said quietly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This afternoon, if it was the buyer who contacted me, he didn’t ask if I had the formula with me. He just went ahead and set up the meeting.”

  “An oversight? Or maybe he assumed Patterson would have it with him at all times.”

  “The people we’re dealing with don’t leave things to chance. This guy would make sure.”

  “Maybe he realized that he hadn’t confirmed you had the formula and that’s why he blew off the meet.”

  “No.” Burke shook his head. “This guy has been on the ball since the start of this.”

  “Dr. Collins must have tipped him off somehow.”

  “That was my first thought.” Burke narrowed his gaze at a squirrel perched high on a tree limb. “Now, I’m not sure. Since he didn’t ask about the formula, makes me think it wasn’t the buyer at all. That we have another player in this game.”

  “Doesn’t sound likely.”

  “Something else is going on here. I don’t know what.” Burke didn’t add that the not knowing had his stomach churning. “The buyer doesn’t want to play games. He wants to do business. What happened today wasn’t about getting the formula.”

  * * *

  The midnight hour came and went. Eve stood waiting for a knock on the cottage door that did not come. Burke had been right. The buyer was a no -show.

  Still when he said it aloud, the words struck Eve hard. “So what are you going to do about that?” she asked. “All right, the buyer hasn’t shown himself. Fine.” Eve flung her arms out from her sides. “Onto Plan ‘B’.”

  He turned from the window to face her. “There is no Plan ‘B’.”

  “Then let’s come up with one. Maybe you weren’t convincing as Richard and your cover was blown. Maybe the buyer and accomplice were tipped off. If so, we need to find out who did that.”

  Burke gave her a steady look.

  “You can’t still be thinking that I alerted anyone because if you are--”

  “It doesn’t matter at this point.” Burke loosened his tie, the movement jerky, laced with anger, belying his words.

  “What do you mean it doesn’t matter. This guy poses a threat to our security and you’re just going to let him go? Just like that?”

  Burke went still and his gaze bore into hers. “Oh, we’re not going to let him go. Make no mistake about that. We will continue to search for the buyer. You, however, will no longer be involved in the search.”

  Eve’s stomach plummeted. “So this is it? You’re now going to send me to Washington where I’ll be charged?”

  “I’m not going to send you. I’m going to escort you. And, yeah, you’ll now have to answer to the claims against you. Get yourself a good defense lawyer, Doctor, you can play this out in the courts for years.”

  Years. She could be in custody or with her life on hold for years.

  “That’s unacceptable, Burke. I’m not ready to give up looking for Richard’s accomplice.”

  “Well, you can hire investigators to do your digging for you through your lawyer. We’ll be leaving for Washington in the morning.”

  Eve shivered. She could see there was no way to convince him otherwise. It was over. Just what the government had to make a charge of treason stick, she didn’t know, but would soon find out.

  The cottage suddenly felt stifling. Eve went to the door.

  “Where are you going?” Burke asked.

  “Outside,” she said and before he could ask anything further, hurried out.

  Would he follow her? She was in his custody, after all. But, when he didn’t she figured he must have reasoned, just where would she go? The cottage delivered on its promise of seclusion. She’d never find the road on foot at night and Burke had the keys to Richard’s car. Eve closed her eyes, fighting despair. She wrapped her arms tight around herself and headed for a small stand o
f trees and shrubs that made up a garden.

  A scattering of stars and a quarter moon lit her path. She still wore the suit and strappy sandals she’d put on for the conference and the shorn grass chilled her bare feet.

  A wooden swing was placed among the trees. As she approached it, she was grabbed from behind.

  Chapter Five

  A large hand closed over Eve’s mouth. An arm wrapped around her waist, scooping her off her feet.

  She fought panic, and stiffening her elbow, reared back, striking her captor in the sternum. He let out a whoosh of air and released her. She turned toward her attacker, prepared to deliver another blow, then stopped.

  “Matt?”

  “Eve.” He paused for breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Another pause. “Did I hurt you?”

  Since he was the one on his knees in the grass, clutching his chest, the question seemed ridiculous.

  “Matt, what are you doing here? How did you find me?”

  He held up a hand, the large hand that an instant earlier had covered her mouth and she saw that the metal she’d felt against her lips was a class ring.

  “I’ll explain. Just let me get my wind back.” He exhaled a breath that wheezed. “Hot damn, woman, you pack a punch.” One side of his moustache lifted in a smile.

  Eve wasn’t in the mood for his charm. “I’d like some answers, Matt.”

  He sat back on his haunches and jerked his tie until it hung below his breast bone. It occurred to Eve that for a large man he couldn’t take a hit well.

  “It’s like this,” he said slowly. “I got worried about you when you ran out of Abernathy’s lecture today. I did some checking. Found out that you weren’t registered at the hotel. Allie remembered that you mentioned you were staying at a cottage in the county. I got the address from him.”

  “And just why did you do that?” Burke asked. His tone was lethal.

  Eve hadn’t heard Burke approach. At the sound of his voice, she whirled around. He was now standing behind her.

  Deligne got slowly to his feet. His eyes sharpened on Burke and Eve saw that he, too, had registered a threat from Burke. Judging the speed she’d taken Matt down, Burke would wipe the ground with the chemist. Matt stood no chance against him. She couldn’t let Matt be hurt.

  She faced Matt, giving Burke her back again, and remaining between the two men. Burke gripped her forearm and moved her behind him.

  “I already told Eve,” Matt said. “Maybe you missed it. I got worried about her when she ran out of Abernathy’s lecture today. With you, Rick. And didn’t come back.”

  Eve stepped out from behind Burke. “I didn’t tell Allie where I was staying, Matt.”

  Matt met her gaze and held it for a heartbeat, then exhaled deeply. He winced and ran his hand back through his hair. “Okay. Truth time.”

  His Stetson lay in the dirt. He bent to retrieve it, then struck it against the leg of his jeans. A puff of dirt rose in the air. He placed the hat carefully on the wooden swing behind him.

  “I tracked you because I’ve been keeping you under surveillance, Eve,” Deligne said. “I’m not a Texas rancher. I’m with British Intelligence.”

  Gone was the Texas drawl, replaced by an aristocratic British accent. Eve sucked in a breath. Burke’s gaze narrowed further.

  “We know about the formula,” Deligne went on. “And we know that Richard Patterson is dead.” Deligne looked pointedly at Burke. “So just who the hell are you, mate?”

  When Burke didn’t respond, Eve said, “John Burke. He’s with a covert department of the CIA.”

  “American Intelligence.” Deligne nodded. “I should have guessed that.”

  “A spy, Matt?” Eve asked. “You’ve been spying on me?”

  “Couldn’t be helped, love,” he said softly. “My orders were to secure the formula and to bring both you and Richard in. I fought the order about you. I know you’re not a terrorist, Eve.” His jaw tightened. “I planned to confront Patterson about that when he showed up at the hotel. To beat the fact that he lied about your involvement out of him.” Deligne’s gaze shone with conviction.

  Eve felt lightheaded at the thought that someone believed in her innocence. Matt couldn’t know what his words meant to her, especially now, on this night. Her throat clogged with tears and for a moment she couldn’t speak. She swallowed then said, “Thank you for believing in me.”

  Matt focused on her. He reached out slowly and touched her wrist. “No need to thank me. I could no more doubt your innocence than I could my own. I care mightily for you, Eve. I’ve made no secret of it. I’ve cared for you long before you became an assignment. When we were just two chemists talking shop.” He smiled. “It was talking with you, being with you that drew me to this conference every year. It can’t come as much of a surprise to you that I made the trip every year to see you, Eve.”

  “Very touching,” Burke said. “What do you know about a meeting between Patterson, Eve, and the buyer that was scheduled for tonight?”

  Red spread across Deligne’s cheeks. His jaw tightened and he remained silent.

  “You don’t have a problem answering my questions do you, Deligne?” Burke crossed his arms. “Seeing that you care mightily for Eve?” Burke’s tone was thick with sarcasm.

  Deligne met Burke’s gaze. “I know all about the meeting and that whoever was supposed to make an appearance to purchase the formula did not.”

  “And what do you know about our guy failing to show up?” Burke said.

  Deligne sidestepped Eve and moved to Burke. His gaze hardened. “Have you not heard one word I’ve said? I did not give myself away. I want Eve’s innocence proven, so I would not risk a chance to do that. I am very good at what I do. I was not detected. I am not the reason the buyer knew not to come here tonight. I am as disappointed as you are at the outcome of this event.” Deligne’s lips curled in an expression of disgust. “That said, however, what’s done cannot be undone. Listen to me, mate. My government wants the same things yours wants - the formula secured and the buyer apprehended. I propose that we work together to that end.”

  Burke kept his gaze on Deligne, watching the man steadily. “A partnership? You’re proposing a partnership between our two agencies. Between you and I?”

  Matt’s face tightened in what looked like annoyance at Burke’s comment. “We both want the same things. An exchange of information, an agreement to keep each other in the loop would benefit us both and prevent us from treading over the same ground.”

  Burke’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen then stepped away to take the call. Eve watched him. He walked until he was almost to the cottage. There he stopped and put the phone to his ear. She could not hear his conversation which was obviously as he’d intended.

  Regardless, her gaze and her attention remained focused on Burke. Whatever Matt was presently saying didn’t register. Her attention was on Burke. Was his caller Lanski? Since Burke was frowning, did that mean he’d received bad news? Though, as she considered that - she was suspected of treason - the appointment to find Richard’s accomplice - the one man who could prove her innocence was a bust. Really, how much worse could the situation get?

  “Eve, we need to get you out of this mess.”

  Eve forced her gaze from Burke and focused on Matt. “I couldn’t agree with you more. The question is how.”

  “I have some ideas about that.”

  Her pulse picked up. “I’d love to hear them. At the moment, I’m fresh out and Burke is content to take me to Washington in the morning and let me take my chances with the government.”

  “Yes, well, it isn’t his life on the line is it?” Matt’s mouth tightened briefly. “Once he delivers the formula, and you to his superiors, his job is done. To him, you are no more than an assignment. Your fate means nothing to him.”

  Eve could not deny that.

  “I can’t stand that you’re being persecuted,” Matt said. “What you’re facing is killing me, Eve. I can’t
do a thing about it. We don’t have any proof and we have no leads to getting any.”

  “But you said--”

  He looked up at the stars and shook his head sadly. “I know what I said. All a bluff. The truth is all evidence points to you and Patterson. With Patterson now unable to refute his claim and exonerate you, you alone are here to face prosecution.” He made a sound of disgust. “My government feels the same way as yours. You’re guilty in the eyes of my superiors and my orders are to prevent you from selling the formula. Even if that means using deadly force.” He released a deep breath and said softly. “I would more easily use deadly force on myself.” His eyes lowered to hers. Very slowly his hand came up to stroke her chin. “In case you haven’t guessed it by now, I’m in love with you, Eve. There, I’ve said it. It feels good to finally get that out in the open.”