“Why is Maureen trying to kill you?”
“Because the Chinese wanted me to spy on my dad. I refused,” Devin said. He motioned to the baby carriers. “Where are Madeline and Lydia?”
“I promise they’re safe.”
Chapter 46
Grace hadn’t thought anything could be worse than not knowing where her husband was. The constant worry, the never ending questions, the unanswered prayers. Those long months had been nothing compared to this.
How could she have trusted Jun so completely only to be betrayed like this? How had she not seen any sign of a problem? Why had she brought her into their home?
The questions continued through her mind, tears streaming down her face. Her mother-in-law sat on the couch beside her, holding Grace’s hand to both gain comfort and receive it.
The house phone rang, and her grandfather rose from the chair across from her to answer it. She could hear his muted voice in the kitchen. A moment later, he returned and held out the receiver.
“Grace, the phone is for you.”
Grace shook her head. “I can’t talk to anyone right now.”
“It’s about Lydia and Madeline.”
Her hand shot out to take the phone he offered.
“If there’s a ransom, I’ll pay it,” Boyd said quickly. “Anything to get them back.”
Grace’s eyes met Boyd’s, and gratitude filled her before she spoke into the phone. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Shanahan, this is Reuben from Vail Valley Medical Center. I’m calling to tell you your daughters are safe and in our custody here.”
Her shoulders instantly relaxed as she let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.” She tried to comprehend what had happened in the past hour and asked, “How did they get there?”
“Your nanny brought them in. She said they were in danger and asked me to call you so you wouldn’t worry.”
“We’ll come pick them up right now.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we can’t let you do that.”
“What? Why not?”
“We have a live shooter situation here at the hospital. No one can come in or out.”
“What?” Her shoulders tensed again. “My husband? Is my husband there?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have that information.”
“But my nanny dropped the babies off,” Grace said.
“Yes, she did,” he confirmed. “I will call you back as soon as the police tell us it is safe for you to come here.”
“Thank you.” Grace hung up the phone and looked at her grandfather and in-laws. She drew a deep breath. “The babies are okay,” she told them, her emotions churning. “But I think Devin is in danger.”
“What’s going on?” Catherine said.
“Jun dropped the babies off with hospital security, but Devin was chasing Jun,” Grace said, trying to put her suspicions into words. “The security guard said there’s a live shooter situation. I’m afraid Devin might be right in the middle of it.”
Boyd pushed out of his seat and headed for the door. “I’m going over there.”
“They said they aren’t letting anyone into the hospital right now,” Grace called after him.
He didn’t slow down until he stepped outside. Then he stopped and turned to look at them, confused. “Where is our car?”
“It should be right outside.”
“It’s not here.” He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. “Where is Maureen?”
“I don’t know.”
* * *
Devin waited an extra two minutes before he pressed the emergency-stop button in the elevator. The moment he did, the car resumed its upward movement. He waved for Jun to take cover in the right front corner of the elevator while he took the spot opposite her.
The doors slid open, and Devin cautiously peeked out, leading with his weapon.
“It’s just me,” Chee called out to him.
“Where is she?” Devin asked.
Chee’s attention immediately shifted to Jun when she edged forward and looked out into the third-floor hallway. “What’s going on here?” Chee lifted his gun and took aim. “Hand over the babies.”
“It’s not what you think,” Devin said quickly. “I sent you a text. Jun isn’t the one who was stealing secrets. It was—”
A door creaked open behind them, and Devin looked just in time to see Maureen aim her weapon at him. “Look out!” Devin dove to the ground. “Jun, go back down!” Devin rolled to his left, barely escaping a second shot.
“Where’s the shooter?” Chee asked from where he had pressed himself against the wall, effectively hiding him from Maureen’s line of sight.
“Across the hall, first door on the left,” Devin said.
Behind them, the elevator doors closed.
“You said it isn’t Jun. Who is it?”
“Maureen. She’s my dad’s secretary.”
A door opened and closed in the direction Devin had indicated. From the corner, Chee leaned out to look, then stopped instantly.
“Drop it.” Maureen’s voice was like steel.
Devin shifted ever so slightly, now able to see the gun barrel pressed to Chee’s temple.
Chee dropped his weapon, but his voice was surprisingly calm when he said, “Stay back, Devin.”
Devin lifted his own gun, praying for a clear shot. But it wasn’t to be. Maureen remained concealed behind the wall, only the smallest part of her hand visible from where she held it against his coworker’s head.
“Come out, Devin. No one else has to get hurt.”
“Stay where you are, Devin,” Chee said, moving ever so slightly so he would remain between them.
“Do what I say, or he dies,” Maureen said.
“Don’t do it,” Chee demanded. “She’ll kill you.”
“Devin is going to die regardless,” she said. “It’s up to him if you go with him.”
“Why would you do this?” Devin asked. “You don’t have to hurt anyone.”
She didn’t respond except to shift around the corner enough to take aim.
Chee immediately put himself between them more fully.
“Step aside.” She waved her gun at Chee. “You don’t have to die.”
“I can’t just stand by and watch you kill him,” Chee said.
“You have a choice. It’s either him or all of you.”
That was an odd word choice. All of you. It was then Devin realized Jun was standing behind him.
He felt her hand on his back, and his shirt shifted, then he felt the pressure of his secondary weapon being pulled free of his waistband holster.
“We can protect you,” Chee said. “Tell us what you know about the Chinese, and the government can hide you from them.”
“That’s not how it works, and we both know it.” She spat the words at him. “Now move!”
“How do you expect to get out of here?” Chee continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “You won’t be able to get through security.”
“I have a plan.”
“Don’t do this here,” Devin said, speaking in Mandarin rather than English. “I’ll come with you. Just don’t hurt them.”
“What?” she said.
He repeated the words in English.
“Why should I believe you?” she asked.
“I’ll give you my gun.”
“Don’t do it, Devin,” Chee said.
“Take care of my family,” Devin said. “And do what she says.”
Chee looked over at him and must have sensed that everything wasn’t what it seemed. He shifted slightly but not quite enough for Maureen to get a clear shot.
“Drop the gun,” she demanded.
Devin engaged the safety and dropped the gun to the floor. He spoke again in Mandarin, his comment directed to Chee. “When I say now, get down.”
“Speak in English!” she demanded.
“Now!”
Chee and Devin both dropped to the floor, both reaching for their
weapons. Three rapid gunshots sounded.
Devin turned to see Jun beside him, her face pale. It took him a moment to sweep over the rest of the scene to realize the lack of color wasn’t from a wound but from what she had done. A short distance away, Maureen lay on the ground, her eyes open and lifeless.
“It’s okay,” Devin said, gently prying his gun out of Jun’s hand. He pulled her into his arms and felt her shudder.
“She was going to kill you,” Jun said.
“You didn’t let her.” Devin pulled back and held both of her arms. “You saved our lives. And you saved my daughters.”
Chee collected the weapons off the floor and handed Devin his. “Where are the babies?”
Devin turned to look back at Jun. “I was wondering the same thing.”
Chapter 47
Where were they? Grace sat by the window, staring out at the drive. The hospital had called to tell them her family was okay and should be heading home anytime. That was thirty minutes ago.
“I wonder what could be taking so long,” Catherine said, voicing everyone’s thoughts. She stood beside Grace, too restless to sit still.
After the call came, Boyd had occupied himself by standing near the window and staring impatiently.
The rumble of an engine sounded, and everyone strained to see who was coming. A sense of relief flowed through her when she saw her grandfather’s truck. What she hadn’t expected was to see Jun’s car right in front of it. Both vehicles headed for the garage.
“Grace, I’ll go help them bring the girls in. Why don’t you wait here?”
“I can’t wait.” Though she was still moving slowly, she stood and made her way to the door leading to the garage. It opened before she reached it, and Devin stepped inside holding one of the baby carriers. Jun followed right behind them carrying the other.
Tears sprang to her eyes, and Devin moved the car seat so he could pull her close.
For a moment, no words were said. They both struggled against their emotions, the unspeakable fear for their children and each other, and the relief that hadn’t quite sunk in yet.
One of the babies cried, interrupting the silence.
“I was so worried. Are you okay?” She looked down. “Are they okay?”
As if on cue, the cry grew louder and was joined by another.
“I think they’re getting hungry.”
“That’s not surprising.”
Devin ushered her into the living room, where he and Jun set down the baby carriers. Devin lifted Lydia out of her seat, and Jun unbuckled Madeline.
When Jun gently picked her up and handed her to Grace, Grace looked at Jun, confused. “I still don’t understand what happened.”
Lydia’s cry grew more impatient.
“Come on,” Devin said. “I’ll help you get them upstairs. The police are going to be here in a little bit to question Jun and me.”
Reluctantly Grace let him lead her to the nursery. As soon as she was settled in the rocking chair with Lydia, she lowered her voice and said, “Tell me what happened. Why did Jun take the babies? And why is she here now?”
Devin closed the nursery door to ensure some privacy. “Someone has been trying to get me to spy on my father. He works with classified contracts, and some leaks were discovered.”
“Seriously?”
Devin nodded.
“What does that have to do with our daughters?”
“The Chinese were threatening you to get me to work with them.” Devin paced across the room, trying to pacify Madeline while she waited her turn to eat. “Jun realized who had been sent to find me. She was worried the girls would be used against me, so she took them to keep them safe.”
“I get the feeling there’s a lot more to this story.”
Madeline’s impatient cry grew louder. “Let’s get these two settled, and then we can talk some more.”
“I just need to know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Are they still in danger?”
Devin shook his head. “No. The CIA is making sure of that.”
* * *
Devin walked downstairs thirty minutes later holding Lydia. Quentin was trying to entertain his parents. Devin sensed his father’s underlying frustration, but he ignored the questions illuminated on his face and crossed to where his mother was sitting on a couch.
“Mom, would you like to hold her?”
“Is this Lydia Catherine?”
“It is. Grace is still feeding Madeline, but she’ll be down in a minute.” Devin passed the sleepy baby into his mother’s arms. “She’s already been burped and changed, but you might want this just in case.” He set a burp cloth on the arm of the couch.
“She’s beautiful,” his mom said.
“Just like her grandmother,” Boyd said, sitting beside her. He stared down at the infant for a moment before he looked back at Devin. “Can you please tell me what’s going on? Why did Jun take the babies, and why is she back here now?”
“She didn’t talk to you already?”
“I sent her upstairs to rest for a bit,” Quentin said, answering for him.
Devin looked over at Grace coming down the stairs, Jun beside her carrying Madeline.
“Well?” Boyd asked impatiently.
“Maybe everyone should sit down for this,” Devin said. As soon as Jun and Grace sat on the couch opposite Devin’s parents, Quentin lowered himself into his favorite arm chair.
Devin opted to remain standing and took a moment to gather his thoughts. He chose his words carefully, deliberately not revealing his true employer. “While I was in Hong Kong, a Chinese national tried to recruit me as a spy.”
“A spy?” Catherine said in disbelief. “Why would they approach you? You work in finance.”
“Let him finish,” Boyd said, his own expression unreadable.
“Specifically, they wanted me to spy on Dad.”
“That trip to Tokyo wasn’t coincidence, was it?” Boyd said.
“No.” Devin let out a sigh. “Apparently the Chinese had someone feeding them information on your work. That flow of information stopped around three years ago,” Devin said. “Or at least it slowed down.”
Boyd’s jaw tensed, and he glance at Jun.
“Because Jun moved out of our house around the same time, the government thought Jun was the source,” Devin continued.
“If she is sitting here now, I assume you believe it was someone else,” Boyd said.
“Yes. It was Maureen.”
“What? Are you sure?” Catherine asked. She looked over at her husband. “She’s worked with you for over twenty years.”
“We’re sure. She made her allegiances very clear when she tried to kill me at the hospital today.” Several faces in the room paled, and he felt his own face drain of color as he thought of how close he had come to dying today. He motioned to Jun. “Jun realized Maureen was a threat to us. That’s why she took the twins.”
“I was going to take them to the police station,” Jun said. “The car skidded, and I accidentally turned toward the hospital, so I took them there instead.”
“I accused you unjustly,” Boyd said. “I’m so sorry, Jun.”
“It’s okay, Mr. Shanahan.”
“What I don’t understand is why the flow of information slowed after you let Jun go.”
“One of the contractors I was working with discovered a breach. I saw Jun coming out of my office a few days later and assumed it must have been her.”
“I noticed the door was open and went to see why,” Jun said. “That’s when you saw me.”
“What I didn’t realize was that Maureen must have been the person who had unlocked the door. She was probably inside my office when I fired you.”
“But Maureen would still have had access after Jun left.”
“She would have except that I changed the lock on my office door and started carrying my laptop with me everywhere. I also had a contractor put a lot of security in place in case it w
as accessed by someone else.”
“That makes so much more sense,” Devin said. “Maureen would have only had access to what she overheard you talking about or what limited documents she saw.”
“Exactly.” Boyd looked down at baby Lydia. “What happens now? Will you go back to Hong Kong?”
“No. I’m changing jobs.” He motioned to Grace. “We’ve talked about a few options, but for now, we’re planning on staying here in the States.”
Catherine shifted Lydia in her arms. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”
“Me too,” Quentin added. He stood. “I’m going to get started on dinner. I thought we could throw some steaks on the grill.”
“I’ll come help.” Jun gave Madeline to Grace and stood.
As soon as they left, Boyd turned to Grace. “If you don’t mind, we would like to stay and visit for a few days.”
“We don’t mind at all,” Grace said, and Devin could see his father melting a little when she added, “You’re always welcome.”
Chapter 48
Devin stretched out on the bed beside Grace, both babies finally asleep and settled in their bassinets. He expected they would sleep for only about two hours. At least he hoped they would last that long.
He pushed up onto his elbow and looked over at his wife, feeling as though he had finally reached the light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel. A wave of love cascaded through him, and he reached out and brushed a lock of her hair off her cheek. “It’s hard to believe that three days ago I didn’t even know how I was going to find you and now here we are, a family of four.”
“I was so scared today.” Grace glanced over at the bassinets at the end of their bed. “I never want to go through anything like that again.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Are you sure we’re safe now?” she asked. “What if Maureen told the Chinese where to find you?”
“I’m supposed to hear from my friend at the CIA anytime now to let me know what they’ve found out.”
“I don’t suppose you can call him, can you?” she asked. “I don’t know that I’ll be able to relax until I know this is really over.”
“I can try.” Devin rolled over and picked up his cell phone from the night table. He dialed Chee’s number.
Kept Secrets Page 27