Devin had been so adamant about protecting their location from everyone, she was surprised he had shared their address with his parents. “You didn’t tell me your parents were coming.”
“I didn’t know.” His eyebrows drew together the way they always did when he was concentrating.
Quentin reached out with his free hand and took Grace by the elbow. “I’ll get them inside for you.”
“Thanks,” Devin said and then jogged back down the steps and approached his parents.
Grace let her grandfather help her inside and wondered if her in-laws’ unexpected arrival could threaten their safety.
* * *
“Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?” Devin nodded to Maureen.
“Your mother wanted to come meet her grandchildren,” his father said.
“And you?” Devin straightened his shoulders, wanting to hope his father had experienced a change of heart but afraid to let that hope take seed. “Why are you here?”
Boyd shifted his weight slightly before looking Devin in the eye. “I’m still not happy about how this marriage of yours came about, but your mother made a good point.”
“What was that?”
“There are children involved now, and it’s clear you want to make a life with this woman,” he said. “We decided to try to make the best out of the situation.”
Though his father’s comment was a long way from what he would have liked to hear, Devin forced himself to remain civil. “I think if you give Grace a chance, you’ll realize she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
All of them gasped as a gust of wind bit through their coats.
“Come on. Let’s get in out of the cold.” Devin motioned them toward the house.
Boyd nodded in agreement and put a gloved hand on Devin’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you’re doing well.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“How are the babies?” Catherine asked.
“Adorable.” Devin couldn’t keep the grin from spreading across his face. He climbed onto the porch. “Come see for yourselves.”
* * *
Grace couldn’t help but smile when Jun rushed down the stairs expectantly. Grace shifted the babies’ blankets so they were no longer over the top of their car seats and tucked them over them as an extra layer of warmth.
“Oh, they are beautiful,” Jun said.
Molly, Caleb, and Sean offered similar sentiments before Quentin said, “We should probably let you get these little ones settled.”
“Here, let me take her.” Jun reached out to relieve Molly of the carrier she held.
“Grace, we’ll stop by later. The guys wanted to hit the slopes for a half day,” Molly said.
“Go ahead.” Grace waved toward the door. “Have fun.”
After they left, Jun and Quentin carried the infants upstairs to the nursery.
Her grandpa set Lydia’s carrier on the babies’ bedroom floor. “I’ll go out and get your bag. I don’t think Devin brought it in.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Where is Devin?” Jun asked, squatting down on the brightly colored throw rug Grace had chosen for the babies’ room.
“He’s outside with his parents.” Grace wondered how Jun felt about her former employers. Since her arrival, she had rarely spoken of them, and when she had, her comments had been decidedly neutral.
“Mr. and Mrs. Shanahan are here?” Jun asked.
“Yes. I’m not sure what to think about it,” Grace admitted. “Devin called from the hospital to tell them about the twins, but the last time I saw them was when they showed up for Devin’s graduation. The minute they saw me there, they left.”
“Maybe these little ones will help them see what’s really important.”
“I hope so, although I wonder if they’re really here just to visit or if maybe Devin’s father had some work in the area. I can’t think of any other reason he would bring his secretary with him,” Grace said.
“Maureen is here?” Jun asked.
“Yes.” They could hear the door opening downstairs, followed by voices. Grace was torn with wanting to stay with her daughters and going downstairs to greet Devin’s parents properly. She reminded herself that Jun had raised her husband. “Do you mind staying with the twins for a minute? I want to go say hello.” Jun got an odd look on her face, so Grace quickly reassured her. “I’ll be right back.” Turning, Grace walked out of the babies’ room into the hallway and then gingerly started down the stairs.
Devin met her halfway and helped her the last few steps.
“Mr. and Mrs. Shanahan, it’s good to see you again,” Grace said.
“Congratulations on the babies,” Catherine said.
“Thank you.” She looked over at Devin’s father and his secretary standing right behind him. Boyd stood stiffly, as though he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do now that he was here. “Would you like to see your grandchildren? They’re up in their room.”
“I would like that very much,” Catherine agreed.
“As would I,” Boyd said.
Grace motioned in the direction she had come from. “It’s this way.”
“Grace, those stairs aren’t easy on you,” Devin said. “Do you want to wait here?”
She looked at the thirteen steps. Reluctantly she nodded. “Maybe I will rest here for a minute.”
Devin led his parents upstairs. A moment later, he called down, “Grace, which room is theirs?”
“The one at the end of the hall,” she said.
Grace heard footsteps sound upstairs, and in the back of her mind, she didn’t understand why they didn’t stop when they reached her daughters’ room. Then the sound picked up at an almost frantic pace.
Devin rushed back down the stairs, panicked. “Grace, did you leave them upstairs by themselves?”
“No, of course not. Jun is with them.”
“Jun?”
“Yes. Devin, what’s going on? How could you have been up there and not seen Jun?”
“She wasn’t there,” Devin said tightly. “And neither were Lydia and Madeline.”
Chapter 45
The front door opened, and Devin whirled to see Quentin walk through the door carrying Grace’s overnight bag.
“Did you see Jun outside?”
“No, why?”
“She took the babies.”
“What?”
“Devin, I don’t understand,” Grace said, now heading for the stairs. “Why would Jun take our daughters? She’s practically family to you.”
“I can’t explain right now.” Devin turned to Grace’s grandfather. “Does Jun have a car here? And how could she have gotten out of the house without us seeing her?”
“There’s a secondary staircase that leads from the upstairs bedrooms to the garage.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when Devin heard the garage door opening.
“That way!” Grace pointed toward the side hallway that led from the main level to the garage.
Devin sprinted down the short hall and out the door just in time to see Jun behind the driver’s seat of her old car, the handles of two car seats visible in the back seat.
“Jun! Stop!” Devin shouted.
Quentin rushed up behind him. “Come on. We’ll take my truck.”
“No. Stay with Grace. Make sure she stays safe.”
“Is she in danger?”
“They all are.”
“Here.” Quentin tossed the keys to Devin. “I’ll call the police.”
Devin raced toward the vehicle and quickly started it. He was halfway out of the garage when he saw his parents appear in the doorway. Not able to think of anything but the safety of his family, he shifted from reverse to drive and stepped on the gas.
One way or another, he was going to find his children and bring them home safely.
* * *
This can't be happening, Grace thought over and over again. Five minutes ago, she had been standing in the newly decorated
nursery with her two precious daughters and the woman whom she had trusted them with. Now her children and husband were gone. Surely this must be a bad dream.
The doorbell rang, and Grace prayed Devin would be on the other side with Lydia and Madeline.
Her grandfather opened the door, and fear spiraled through her. She had never seen the Chinese man at the door before, but memories of her apartment in New York resurfaced with a vengeance.
Her grandfather must have shared her thoughts because he held his rifle. “I suggest you introduce yourself and state your business here.”
The man held his hands out to his side. “Devin. I’m looking for Devin.”
“He’s not here.”
“Where is he?”
“Why should we tell you? For all we know, you’re one of the people responsible for this mess.”
The newcomer’s phone rang. The man’s eyes remained on Quentin, and he moved slowly when he reached for his phone.
“Hello?” He paused. “Devin, where are you?”
At the mention of her husband, Grace stood and crossed to stand beside her grandfather. The man continued to listen to the person on the other side of his phone conversation, his gaze shifting to Grace. She saw the moment when the man’s concern heightened. “Okay, I’m heading your way.”
The man hung up the phone and spoke to Quentin once more. “I’m going to help Devin track down his daughters, but I want you to call the police. Tell them you need a protection detail for the next few hours.”
“Who are you?” Grace asked.
“My name doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m on your side.” He took a step back and spoke to Quentin once more. “Keep that rifle close by, and call the police.”
Grace watched him turn and hurry out to the SUV he had arrived in. For the third time in less than ten minutes, she listened to an engine roar to life and rubber screech on the pavement.
* * *
Devin fought the instinct to pull up beside Jun and force her to the side of the road. The possibility of the newborns being injured in such an endeavor was too real and forced him to bide his time.
He had been following her for the past fifteen minutes, and though he had limited knowledge of the area, he could tell she was heading toward town. But where in town, he had no idea.
Jalen had claimed the Chinese would insist on vengeance. Would Jun really hurt his children to get back at him? Or was she using them as bait to draw him out of hiding?
She took a corner a little too fast, and her car went into a skid.
Devin’s heart jumped into his throat.
The car fishtailed to the right and back to the left before Jun managed to control it.
They reached the roundabout leading into the medical center, and Jun looked like she was trying to circle through it, but again, she lost traction with her speed. She had little choice but to continue straight through the roundabout and onto the road leading to the hospital.
He kept a safe distance while still keeping her in sight in case she skidded again. He was almost to the intersection when an ambulance approached from the other direction. One car was already in the roundabout, and it pulled to the side, effectively blocking Devin’s forward progress.
Frustrated, he kept his eyes on Jun’s car, watching her turn into one of the parking lots near the main entrance. As soon as the path was clear, he revved the engine and blasted through the intersection. He could see Jun in the distance, each arm hooked through the handle of a car seat.
Devin didn’t bother with the parking lot. He headed straight for the main entrance, pulling up right in front moments after Jun disappeared inside with his daughters. Jumping out of the car, he raced inside to find the lobby deserted except for an elderly woman sitting at the information desk.
“Did you see a woman come in here holding two babies?”
She reached up and fiddled with her ear. “Sorry. Couldn’t hear you. What did you say?”
He noticed the hearing aids now and repeated his question.
“Why, yes. She seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.”
“Which way did she go?”
“I believe she went right over that way, by the elevators.”
Devin sprinted in the direction she’d indicated. If Jun made it onto the elevators, he didn’t know how he would find her. He could have security lock down the facility, but first he would have to find a security guard. The muted cry of a newborn sounded, but he couldn’t determine the direction it was coming from. With a sense of determination, he continued in the direction the receptionist had indicated. He heard the elevator door chime and raced around the corner just in time to see Jun stepping toward the doors of the nearest elevator.
“Jun, stop!”
With the burden of the baby carriers, Jun wasn’t as fast as Devin. He managed to jump in front of her and block her path.
Jun shifted away from him, shielding the infants behind her, each of them covered by a thin baby blanket.
“Jun, please don’t hurt my babies,” Devin said, speaking in Mandarin.
“I would never hurt them. And I would never hurt you,” Jun said.
“Then why are we here? Why did you take them from us?”
“It was the only way to protect them.” The elevator doors slid closed, and Jun hit the up button to call another elevator.
“What?”
“Your father didn’t understand either,” Jun said.
“Did he know you were stealing secrets from him?” Devin asked. “Is that why he let you go?”
“I never stole anything,” she said. “When your father accused me of betraying him, I learned that he worked with government secrets. I didn’t share any of them, and I didn’t have any way of proving who did.”
“Who?” Devin asked. “Who was stealing from my father?”
“Devin!” Jun lunged to grabbed his arm an instant before a shot rang out. She jerked him forward, out of the oncoming bullet’s path.
He reached for the gun holstered at his ankle and turned toward the threat. Whoever had shot at him must have recognized his intent because he saw only a blur of movement as the shooter ducked behind the corner.
An elevator door slid open, and Jun quickly lifted the baby carriers. In tandem, she and Devin backed into the elevator, Devin keeping his gun aimed and ready until the doors closed once more.
“Who was that?” Devin asked.
Jun set one of the carriers down and punched the button for the second and third floors. Slowly the elevator car started upward.
“Jun. Who was that?” Devin repeated. “If you weren’t the one stealing information for the Chinese, who was?”
“Maureen.”
“What?” Devin looked at her in disbelief. As far as he knew, Maureen didn’t have ties to anyone in that region of the world. How could she have been involved in espionage? Looking at the woman he considered a second mother, he realized his instincts had been right. Jun could be trusted.
“You have to hide,” Jun insisted. “You’re the one she’s after.” As though she wasn’t completely sure of her words, she set the baby carrier on the right side of the elevator, shielding it from the door.
Devin picked up the carrier Jun had set down. “The babies . . .”
“Are safe.”
Devin didn’t have time to process her words or the certainty with which she spoke them. The doors slid open again, barely making it halfway across their tracks before another shot pierced the air, this one impacting the elevator’s back wall.
Both Devin and Jun jumped to the side of the elevator, Devin taking a quick glance to make sure his daughters were still okay.
Gun still in hand, Devin sent a warning shot into the ceiling and quickly pressed himself to the side of the elevator car once more. Jun had already hit the close-door button, and the stainless steel once again closed around them and protected them from the woman determined to kill him.
“You need to hide until the police get here,” Jun insisted
. “Let me take care of the little ones.”
Devin shook his head, unwilling to release possession of the daughter he carried. He pulled the blanket aside, his whole world shifting once more when he saw the car seat was empty.
“Where is she?” He pulled off the blanket on the second carrier and discovered the same result. “Where are they?”
“They’re safe.” Jun took his hand. “Trust me.”
She reached out and took the empty carrier from him, tucking it beside the one already on the floor. She then draped the blankets over the top again.
He looked at the bullet hole behind him. “This elevator’s too slow. We’re going to be pinned down as soon as the doors open again.” He looked around, considering the emergency hatch above him. It didn’t have internal access, so he opted for the next best thing. He pressed the emergency stop button.
The elevator ground to a stop.
“Now what?” Jun asked.
Devin retrieved his phone and called Chee.
“Where are you?” Chee asked in lieu of a greeting.
“In the hospital. I’m trapped in the elevator.”
No response.
“Chee?”
Again nothing.
Devin held out his phone and saw that the call had dropped. He dialed again.
“Dev—” Chee’s voice cut out. “Almost—” The call disconnected again. Devin shifted position and hit redial.
“Third floor,” Devin said the moment the ringing stopped. “Can you hear me? Check the third floor by the elevators.”
“Coming.” Chee’s voice came through clearly this time. “I’m at the hospital now. Give me three minutes.”
“We’re in the elevator right now,” Devin said. He looked at Jun. “It’s not Jun.”
“What?”
“It’s—” The call cut out again. “Great,” he muttered. Rather than try to call him again, he typed a text message. It’s not Jun we’re after. It’s my dad’s secretary, Maureen. She’s armed and waiting for me on the third floor.
“Who was that?” Jun asked.
“A friend who’s here to help us.” Devin looked at his watch. “We’ll give him a few minutes, and then we’ll unlock the elevator. He’ll make sure the landing is clear.”
Kept Secrets Page 26