Double Blind--A Novel

by Iris Johansen

  “You’d be surprised. And I used the word very selectively. Just as I choose my jobs and the way I perform them selectively. There’s a certain … brutality to their methods.”

  “Isn’t that what you want from a security firm?”

  “They have the reputation of using a pile driver when a feather duster will do. I’ve known some of the guys who went to work for them. Kind of a nasty bunch.”

  “You’ve yet to convince me that you wouldn’t fit in there.”

  “Trust me.”

  “It’s hard to trust you when no one ever knows what you’re doing once you disappear undercover.”

  He smiled. “You can trust that I’ll get the job done. What else is important?”

  Kendra shrugged dismissively. “Brock Limited.” Kendra remembered the woman’s trembling fingers curled around her phone, flashing that message. “What does it mean?”

  “You could always ask her.”

  “I don’t even know who she is.”

  “Don’t let that stop you.” They approached Lynch’s parked car. Lynch crossed around to open the passenger-side door for Kendra then he climbed behind the wheel himself.

  He reached under the seat and pulled out his tablet computer. “Collins said she was a partner, didn’t he?”

  “Yes.”

  Lynch navigated to the Collins, Collins & Levinsky website. “What do you know? There’s a tab here that says ‘Our Partners.’ Probably bios and photos.”

  “It’s a big firm with offices all over the country. There are probably hundreds of partners.”

  “You’re right.” Lynch handed her the tablet. “You find her.”

  He started the car and pulled onto the busy street.

  Kendra scrolled through the web page scanning the partner photos. “It’s amazing how much alike the men in this firm look. Same haircuts, same suits, same ties, even the same square jawlines. At least the women show some individuality.”

  “Any sign of yours?”

  “Not yet. But she has flaming red hair so she shouldn’t be too tough to— Wait!” Kendra stopped.

  “Success?”

  “Yes. Misha Watkins. That’s her, I’m sure of it.”

  “Good. We’ll contact her at home tonight.”

  “Hate to break it to you, but they don’t include home addresses on this website.”

  He smiled. “Don’t worry about that. I have other sources for that.”

  She wasn’t surprised. Lynch had contacts everywhere. “Ones that aren’t tainted?”

  “I didn’t say that. I never object to dealing with anyone who hasn’t made the choices I have, as long as they’re productive. But I don’t believe that I’ll have to dive too deep in the mire just to get an address.”

  * * *

  MISHA WATKINS LIVED in a sleek, modern house in a subdivision in Encinitas.

  Lynch found a shady spot under an oak tree down the street from the house and they spent the next two hours waiting for her to appear.

  “Stop being so edgy,” Lynch said. “You’re burning up calories and adrenaline. You don’t need that after fighting off that damn allergy.”

  “I’m fine. I just wish she’d get here. I hate waiting.”

  “So do I. But sometimes the prize is worth waiting for. You have to make a decision and then just suck it up.”

  There was something in his tone. Her eyes flew to meet his. “Are we still talking about Misha Watkins?”

  He smiled innocently. “What else?” His gaze switched from her face to a BMW roadster driving up the street. “And speak of the devil, I believe I see a redhead at the wheel of that car.”

  “We don’t know that she’s a devil. Probably the opposite if she was trying to help us.”

  But the driver was undoubtedly Misha Watkins, she saw as the woman pulled into the driveway and then jumped out of the car. Kendra watched her go into the house before she turned to Lynch. “I want to go in to see her by myself. Okay?”

  “Why?”

  “I was the one she contacted. I think I’d have better luck alone. You can be … disturbing.”

  He chuckled. “Only to you. I can be anything I want to be. I’m sure our Misha would find me both soothing and comforting.”

  Kendra made a rude sound as she opened her door and jumped out of the car. “No way.”

  “I’m hurt. Didn’t you find me comforting last night?”

  His hand holding hers in the darkness, just knowing he was there keeping all the terrors of the day at bay.

  “Maybe.” She started walking down the street toward Misha’s house. “But then I was drugged out of my mind. Stay here.”

  Misha Watkins’ eyes widened when she opened the door and saw Kendra. “What are you doing here?”

  “Why, weren’t you expecting me? Did you think I’d just let it go when you tossed that name at me, Miss Watkins? You must have known I’d regard it as an invitation. May I come in?”

  Misha didn’t move. “It was an impulse.” She made a face. “And I had second thoughts immediately. I should never have done it. I was hoping you’d just accept it as a hint and run with it.”

  “That’s what I’m doing,” Kendra said. “But I prefer facts to hints, so I came to the source. I’m sure that as an attorney yourself, you’ll understand that philosophy.” She repeated, “May I come in?”

  “I guess you might as well. You appear very determined.” She reluctantly moved aside. “Dr. Michaels, was it?”

  “Kendra Michaels.” Kendra came into the house. “I won’t take much of your time. I just want to ask a few questions. The manner in which your ‘hint’ was presented was rather odd. And I admit to being curious about those second thoughts.”

  Misha shrugged. “I was impatient and irritated that no one had mentioned Brock Limited when there was no reason not to tell you about them. I’m not always a team player and I thought I’d throw a wrench into Collins’ corporate wheel. Which is probably why I’ll end up getting tossed one of these days.”

  “What did Brock Limited have to do with Elena Meyer?”

  “The same as the rest of us on the team. Elena worked on the wrongful death suit involving Brock’s private security personnel overseas. We did a stellar job and were successful in defending them. It didn’t make sense to not mention Elena was part of the team.”

  “Did she have a particular role to play in the victory?”

  Misha doubtfully shook her head. “Not that I’m aware of. We were a team. Maybe Collins just didn’t want you to bother one of the firm’s top clients.”

  “It could be you’re right,” Kendra said. “But lies usually come back to haunt you, and if it wasn’t important, an intelligent man would tell the truth.”

  “Look, you’re not going to go back and tell Collins I told you about Brock, are you? He’s my boss and I’m not ready to move on to another job yet. He wouldn’t be pleased I didn’t go along with his bullshit.”

  “Have you told me everything you know about Elena Meyer?”

  “Of course. I didn’t know her that well.”

  “Then there’s no reason to go back to Collins and mention you. I appreciate you taking time to talk to me.” She paused. “Providing you take a little more time and watch a video for me. I need to know if you know any of these people, or if this wedding means anything to you. If you’ll do that, then I won’t bother you again.”

  “Wedding?” Misha frowned. “What the hell?”

  Kendra dialed up the video and handed her phone to her. “Please.”

  Kendra thought she was going to refuse. Then she shook her head and pressed the button.

  Kendra carefully watched her expression but saw only confusion and impatience. However, she stuck it out until the end and then handed the phone back to Kendra. “Total waste of time. I didn’t know any of these people. Though the bride’s gown was kind of awesome.”

  “Yes, it was lovely. Thank you for watching it for me.” She handed Misha a card. “If you happen to think of an
ything else that might be of interest, please call.”

  “I will.” Then she grimaced. “Maybe. The more I think about it, the more I’m sure Collins would be pissed off about me opening my mouth to you. He must have had some reason for not mentioning Brock Limited. Remember you promised you wouldn’t go back and tell him that I told you.”

  “I remember.” She turned to go. “Mums the word. Good day, Miss Watkins.”

  As she closed the door behind her, she saw that Lynch had pulled up to the curb in front of the house. He was leaning against the driver’s door with his arms crossed. “How did it go? Were you able to wrest her deepest secrets from her?”

  “No, it was a little harder than I thought.” She came toward him. “She’d had second thoughts. And I don’t believe she had any deep secrets, but she eventually told me what I needed to know.” She amended, “Well, not what I needed, but all she thought she knew.” She frowned. “But maybe there is more. Why else would she have made contact with me, unless she had an instinct that something was distinctly rotten in Denmark? And the way she scurried back to hide when she realized what she’d done…”

  “You’re jumping all over the place.” Lynch opened her passenger door. “I don’t doubt that something could be rotten if it concerned Brock Limited, and I approve of instinct, but I won’t be able to judge until you tell me what she told you.”

  “Not much. Only that Elena was very definitely a member of the team that recently worked on a case that involved defending Brock’s personnel team overseas on a wrongful death suit. They won the suit and Elena had no special interaction with Brock as far as Misha knew.” She got into the car. “And she got me to promise that I wouldn’t squeal on her to Collins in exchange for looking at the video.”

  “You wouldn’t have done it anyway.” He ran around the car and jumped into the driver’s seat. “But perhaps you’re getting less transparent if she believed you.”

  “I’m not transparent.” She leaned back as he started the car. “I was very tough and professional. I just didn’t see any sense in being unpleasant when she had tried to help us.” She added sourly, “I don’t have your insatiable drive to come in first in every race.”

  “Yeah, sure.” He glanced at her with a grin. “Only when it concerns your kids or anyone else you care about. Besides, you knew that you could rely on my competitiveness to fill in the blanks.”

  She was silent. “You seem to know a good deal about Brock Limited. I think you’ll enjoy exploring the situation yourself. It seems your cup of tea. If I’m wrong, then I’ll be glad to do it by myself.”

  “No way.” He was no longer grinning. “You don’t go anywhere near them without me.”

  Her brows rose. “You’re afraid they’ll taint me?”

  “You seem to have adopted that word. It’s not the one I’d use in this case.”

  Kendra turned toward him. “You say you know people at Brock Limited?”

  “Several.”

  “Anyone you can reach out to?”

  “Would one of the company vice-presidents do?”

  She looked at him in surprise. “He’s on your speed dial?”

  “Practically. His name is Josh Blake. He’s head of acquisition and training. He calls me every six months like clockwork, trying to get me to join the company. I have a standing invite to visit their training facility in Jacumba.”

  “Near the hot springs spa?”

  “Yes, it’s not far from here. The facility is in the desert, just a couple miles from the Mexican border. I hear they have quite an operation out there.”

  “Think he would agree to meet with us?”

  “I know he would if he thinks I might join their company.”

  Kendra was thinking quickly. “And would he know about this case that Elena Meyer was working on?”

  “I’d bet on it. He’s working on moving up in the company and spends half his time at the San Diego office trying to persuade his boss, Vivianne Kerstine, how valuable he’d be if she made him a director.”

  “Then let’s do it. Let’s talk to him. How soon can you get us a meeting?”

  As if in response, Lynch pulled over and stopped at the curb. He pulled out his phone, browsed his directory, and tapped a name. He raised the phone to his ear and listened. Seconds later, he was speaking.

  “Josh, it’s Adam Lynch. Good. Very good. I understand we almost ran into each other in Vilnius last spring.” He smiled. “Well, you can’t win ‘em all. Listen, I thought I’d take you up on your offer. I’d like to visit your training facility in Jacumba and maybe get a personal tour. How about tomorrow? Noon? Perfect. See you there.”

  He cut the connection, winked at Kendra, and pulled back onto the busy street.

  “Just like that,” Kendra said. “He really must want you to work for him.”

  “What can I say? I’m a rock star. I told you. Every six months like clockwork.”

  Kendra checked her watch. “I suppose we should check in with Griffin to make sure the FBI is kept in the loop.”

  “Must we?”

  “Yes.” She shook her head. “I suspect Mr. Blake wouldn’t be so eager to hire you if he knew about your complete aversion to authority.”

  “It’s a two-way street. Authority figures tend to have a strong aversion to me.”

  “Not as long as you keep delivering for them the way you do. But I can see why you’re better off as a free agent.”

  “Infinitely better off.”

  “Anyway, I’ll send Griffin and Metcalf an email after you drop me off at my condo.”

  “About that … I’d prefer it if you stayed with me at my house tonight.”

  Her brows rose. “I’ll bet you would.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “I’m sure you are.”

  He let out an exasperated sigh. “Do I need to remind you that you were attacked in front of your building less than twenty-four hours ago?”

  “Believe me, I haven’t forgotten. It would have such been a humiliating way to go. Death by dog leash.”

  “It’s not funny.”

  She shrugged. “It’s a little funny. And even your doctor friend doesn’t think they were trying to kill me.”

  “But he did say it was an unusually sophisticated attack. You don’t know what you’re up against and you shouldn’t take chances.”

  “I’ll be careful.” She grinned. “But if you want to show me a new martial arts move, I’ll accept that.”

  “You still want to know how to break someone’s wrists?”

  “Under the circumstances, I’m now more interested in learning to break someone’s neck.”

  “Brutal. The head-grab and twist, like in the movies?”

  “Yes.”

  “It takes an incredible amount of strength plus the element of surprise.”

  “You sound like you’ve done it before.”

  Lynch drove in silence.

  Kendra’s jaw went slack. “You have?”

  Lynch shrugged.

  “You’ve actually grabbed a man’s head and—”

  “It’s nothing I’m proud of. It had to be done.”

  Kendra couldn’t help it. She started to laugh. “Of course! Of course it had to be done! Because sometimes one’s only option is to spin a man’s head a hundred and eighty degrees.”

  “It’s wasn’t the only option. Just the best one.”

  Kendra’s smile faded. “Who was he?”

  He was silent for a moment. “Well, actually there’s been more than one.”

  “No freakin’ way.”

  “I’m not at liberty to say more, but each of them deserved it,” he said quietly. “And they certainly would have killed me if they’d seen me first. I hope you believe me when I tell you that.”

  She was scrambling to gather her composure. It wasn’t often she received a glimpse of the Lynch that agencies and governments fought to acquire. She knew she sometimes deliberately avoided looking at that shadow figure. She had an idea th
at if she did, she would see an entirely different man than the one who was her Adam Lynch. No, that wasn’t fair, she thought quickly. He would still be the Lynch who had saved her life, been her friend, and kept drawing her closer with every encounter. There was just so much more about him that she was afraid of learning because it would mean that she’d be pulled into those shadows that surrounded him. But if she didn’t take that step, then she would have to trust him or let him go. That was not an option. She couldn’t let him go. “I believe you.”

  The corners of his lips were turning up. “That took you a long time to decide.”

  “Not really. I’m certain there are all kinds of people who want you dead. I’m sure you were very selective about which ones you decided to separate their heads from their bodies.”

  “Very selective,” he said solemnly.

  “Did you tell me all of this so that I’d feel safer staying with you?”

  “Or safer having me stay with you.”

  “That’s not going to happen either.”

  “Too bad. But no, I seldom resort to such tactics. It would devastate my ego. And as you know, my house is fortified against almost any attack. No head-twisting necessary.”

  Kendra nodded. Lynch was right. His home was a beautiful Tudor located north of the city and most passersby had no idea that it was equipped with motion sensors, steel shutters, and iron-reinforced walls that could withstand a military-style attack. Before she had come to know him well Kendra had often wondered what Lynch had done to necessitate living in such a fortress. He’d only given her the vaguest hints, but the longer she knew him, the more it became clear that there were times that he needed a safe house just to survive.

  “No, thanks.”

  “I was afraid you would say that.” He sighed. “Okay. As soon as you find the time, I’ll show you some of my favorite fighting techniques.”

  “But not the head twist?”

  “Let’s work up to that, shall we?”

  She smiled. “If you insist.”

  In fifteen minutes they were back at her condo. Lynch slowed to a stop in front of the building. “Last chance for a secure and restful night at my place. It could mean the difference between a good night’s sleep and keeping one eye open all night.”