Love in the Shadows

by Caryn Moya Block

  Katherine poured coffee into the mugs, and they were passed around.

  “All right, Stacey. Tell us what the problem is,” Derek said.

  “The problem is you blew your cover. You know better than to carry a picture of your girlfriend while on assignment, especially not one with the Isanti building in the background. Now, anyone who wants to know can find out that the legendary spy “Red Hawk” is in truth Derek Darkwood.”

  “What difference does it make? Derek is done with the spying business.” Katherine spoke quickly. The doctor in the Amazon mentioned finding her picture in Derek’s wallet.

  “The spying business isn’t done with Derek. There are a lot of disgruntled people who would like to know how Derek got his hands on the information he’s collected for the government. Now, there is this group of doctors from that lab in the Amazon who want a piece of him. What exactly happened down there? Why did the doctor kidnap you?”

  Derek looked at Raven. Katherine was sure they were talking to each other telepathically. No one could reveal Quiet Thunder’s healing potion without bringing dangerous attention to the Shadow Walker tribe.

  “The doctor was a nutcase, Stacey. That’s all I can tell you,” Derek said.

  “All you’re willing to tell me, right? I know there is something weird about you Shadow Walkers. You proved it again when I arrived. How did you all get here so fast? I know Derek and his girlfriend were the only ones in the house. Don’t you think I scouted the area before I came in?”

  “Fiancée, Miss Johnson. I am Derek’s fiancée.” Katherine wanted to scream. How many times did this woman need to be told? Derek’s hand squeezed her knee. His touch calmed her ire. It didn’t really matter what this woman thought. Derek was hers.

  “It’s on a need-to-know basis, Stacey. Right now, you don’t need to know,” Hugh replied for the group.

  “How did you find out this information, Miss Johnson?” Raven sat forward in his chair.

  “I was assigned to take out a known assassin. When I caught up with him, he had both Derek’s and Katherine’s pictures on his person. I immediately contacted General Holland, and he ordered me to investigate further. The general is very fond of Derek, and when I gave him my report, he sent me to find Derek and warn him. The hardest information to find was this house. Derek buried its existence pretty deep. If I can find it, so can the assassins.”

  “Why would they want Derek killed?” Katherine asked, confused. Derek sat quietly in his chair. Why did he seem unconcerned?

  Of course, I’m concerned. Derek’s voice echoed in her head. I put you at risk. I was a fool to carry that picture.

  Katherine covered his hand with hers, threading their fingers together. I chose to come save you. I was already at risk, Katherine sent telepathically.

  “I’m not sure killing him is what they want to do,” Stacey said. “I couldn’t ask the assassin I took out. I found the pictures after I killed him. But, he did occasionally kidnap someone if the money was good.”

  “I think she’s right about the mole.” Joe Running Bear grimaced. “I take full responsibility. I should have known we had a security breach.”

  “Why do you think we have a mole?” Raven asked.

  “There has been some weird computer activity,” Joe said. “It triggered one of my alarms on the system. I looked into it and wanted to speak to you about it this morning. The computer used to access the encrypted files was Katherine’s.”

  “Katherine has been on leave, first to the Amazon and then with me for over a week.” Derek pointed out.

  “I know that. I’m not accusing her,” Joe said. “Someone used her computer or routed the search through her station. Hugh and Charlie are looking into it.”

  “What was the mole after?” Raven asked.

  “Mostly, it looks like information on Derek,” Joe explained. “There were a few searches looking for Shadow Walker assignments for General Holland. They didn’t find anything, of course, because we don’t keep that information on the network. It worries me that there may have been a way to track information through Katherine’s computer. Doesn’t she send the billable hours report to the general’s office for payment?”

  “I do, but that’s all it is,” Katherine said. “There are no dates. Just the number of hours and which account should be billed. The accounts are coded. The general’s office is the only one who should be able to decode them.” Katherine wrung her hands. Did she do something wrong?

  “That might be our fault. The Shadow Walkers caught the general’s aid selling secrets to the terrorists last year. The codes could have been compromised.” Stacey shrugged her shoulders.

  How do you want to handle this?” Joe asked. Everyone turned to look at Raven.

  “I think we need to set a trap.”

  Chapter Six

  “I can’t believe you’re letting that woman stay in our house,” Katherine fumed as she looked out at the lake from the master bedroom. So much for her first day back to work. Even now, her boss and the other tribal members conferred in the dining room with Stacey—that lying deceitful agent.

  Derek showed her a special panel in the closet that led to a safe room. If someone attacked the house, she was to go there immediately.

  “Her being here is another layer of defense, Kate. She’s here to protect us.” Derek’s voice sounded concerned. Katherine was too mad to take much notice. She turned as Derek rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Stacey and I worked together on a couple of missions. I trust her, Kate.”

  “Well, I don’t. She tried to come between us. She knew I was more than your girlfriend.”

  “It was a test, and you passed beautifully. If her lies convinced you to leave me, then you might have been the mole. You stayed, calling her bluff quite beautifully, if I may say so. Katie, you have nothing to be jealous of. I was never interested in Stacey.”

  “Why can’t she go stay with Hugh? He can’t seem to take his eyes off her.” Now she was whining.

  “Hugh is staying here to guard us as well. When he can’t be here, Joe will send Charlie or one of the other members of the tribe. Now tell me: What is really upsetting you?”

  “I looked forward to going back to work today. Cara and I were going to meet with the wedding coordinator. Life was supposed to be getting back to normal. Now this…”

  “I can only say I’m sorry, tehila, for bringing this to us. I promise to keep you safe.” Derek turned and left the room.

  Katherine wanted to call him back. He looked so dejected. This wasn’t his fault. It was wrong to blame him. Still, she stood there mute. Tears filled her eyes. Why was she pushing Derek away?

  She angrily brushed away the tears and stiffened her spine. She had chosen this man and his tribe. She would stand with him.

  Katherine went down the back stairs that entered the kitchen. She hoped to stay unseen while starting dinner for everyone. Tribe members had been in and out all day, setting up security cameras and alarms around the house and the perimeter of the tribe’s landholdings. No one would get in without their knowing about it. She entered the kitchen and was surprised to see Stacey peeling potatoes at the sink. She looked up and smiled in welcome. But Katherine noticed that Stacey looked sad.

  “I found a roast and put it in the oven. With all these men to feed, I thought you could use help.”

  Katherine didn’t know what to say so she stood looking at her nemesis.

  “I’m sorry about earlier,” Stacey said as she turned back to the potatoes. “I needed to know your true feelings about Derek. I’m glad he has you. He so often feels unworthy.”

  “Unworthy? Why would he feel that way?”

  “He has always portrayed himself as the playboy, the drunk, the womanizer. After a while, you believe the lies you weave.”

  “What lies do you believe, Stacey?”

  “We don’t know each other well enough to go there, Katherine. Maybe one day I’ll tell you. Now should we boil the potatoes or roast them?”

&n
bsp; Katherine stepped forward and pulled a baking dish out of the cabinet. “Let’s roast them, and then I’ll help you make the salad. Have you seen Derek?”

  “I think he’s talking with Raven.”

  “Well, then tell me how you met Hugh?”

  §

  “Derek, the evidence looks so damning.” Katherine and Derek sat in Raven’s office at a table next to the window. Katherine leaned her head on her hands as tears sprang to her eyes. She blinked rapidly while trying to hold it together. She hadn’t slept well the night before, knowing Stacey and Hugh slept down the hall in the two guest bedrooms. Spending time fixing dinner had brought about a peace accord between her and Stacey, at least for now.

  Katherine loved her job and had been excited to come to work today. Here she felt appreciated, as if she really made a difference. Joe had left a few minutes ago after checking the space for listening devices. This room was clear.

  “Nobody thinks you had anything to do with this.” Derek ran his hand down her hair.

  “I know that. But how can they not? Two of my passwords were used to gather sensitive information. How did they get my passwords?” This was a disaster. She was careful. How did this happen?

  “I don’t know, baby. Joe and Hugh are working on it now. You are a Shadow Walker’s mate. I share your mind. Everyone knows you are innocent.”

  The door opened, and Joe walked back in. “Where did you get this, Katherine?” He held a small figurine of a hawk in his hand.

  “I found it on my desk one morning before the wedding. I thought it was a gift from Derek like the others he used to leave on my desk in secret.”

  “It’s not from me. Why do you ask, Joe?” Derek reached over and squeezed Katherine’s hand.

  “It had a listening device inside it.” Joe turned the figurine over and showed them the sliding door in the bottom. “Whoever is behind this has been planning this for a while. He knew that you left anonymous gifts on Katherine’s desk. He even used a hawk.”

  “Can’t you use the security footage to see who put it on her desk?” Derek asked.

  “There are no cameras in her office. Don’t forget that Raven lived here until after the wedding and still maintains an apartment on this floor. He didn’t want to take a chance of one of us coming out of Shadow up here. This floor is camera-free. There is a camera in the elevator.”

  “So you see who came up to this floor and try to triangulate that person to the computer being used,” Katherine said.

  Joe nodded at her and smiled in approval. “That’s exactly right. It may take a few hours, but Hugh is already going over the footage. Until we figure this out, I need you to act like everything is normal. Take note of anyone coming up here. The rest of the floor has been swept for listening devices and is clear. Be careful anyway.”

  “I can do that,” Katherine said.

  “I’m going to stick around, Joe. I don’t want Katherine left alone,” Derek said.

  “She’s safe here in the building, Red Hawk. No one can get in or out without us knowing. You are supposed to be resting at an unknown location.”

  “Someone has already gotten in.” Derek pointed at the hawk figurine. “I’ll slip into Shadow if someone comes to this floor. I don’t want her alone.”

  “All right. Hugh is going over the footage now. Charlie and Stacey are at your house. They’ll let us know if someone shows up at the cabin unannounced.” Joe ran his hand over his shorn head, a sure sign he was worried. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.” Joe turned and headed for the door.

  “Thanks for having so much faith in me, Joe,” Katherine said.

  He stopped, his hand on the door. “Derek is lucky to have you.” Then, he headed for the elevator.

  “Finally, we are alone again.” Derek pulled her onto his lap.

  “Derek, I have to get to work. I can’t monitor who comes in the elevator if I’m not in my office.” Derek gave her a pout and his famous puppy dog eyes. Katherine laughed. “You are so bad. Come sit in my office with me. If you hear the elevator ding, you need to disappear.”

  §

  Derek watched as Katherine flipped through files and worked at keeping Isanti going smoothly. Raven hadn’t exaggerated when he said he couldn’t run the company without Katherine. Could that be why the spy targeted her?

  Derek heard the elevator chime and quickly ducked into the Shadow Dimension. This wasn’t the first time someone had come to the top floor. Both Raven and Cara had walked in this morning. Their offices were the only ones besides Katherine’s on this floor. Derek had complained to his brother about not letting him know telepathically that it was Raven and Cara in the elevator. The cold of Shadow made his latest bullet wound ache.

  The elevator door opened, and Nurse Eschbach walked out. She went over to Katherine’s desk, carrying a bundle of flyers.

  “I thought you might be able to distribute these. The Annual Race for the Cure is coming up in a few months, and Dr. Rick suggested the women should get a team together to represent Isanti, Inc. Would you be interested in running?”

  Derek pressed forward, and Katherine shivered in her chair. Could she feel him in the Shadow dimension?

  “I’m not sure. I’ll have to check my calendar with the dates. Leave me a couple of flyers, and I’ll make sure they get posted,” Katherine replied.

  “So where is the playboy of Isanti hiding? You two sneak off to some love nest? Rumors are flying that you and Derek are a couple now.”

  Katherine stiffened. Derek hoped she didn’t give her suspicions away. Was Nurse Eschbach the mole? Tell her I am visiting with Quiet Thunder, he sent telepathically to Katherine.

  “Derek hasn’t fully recovered from his injuries. He is visiting with Quiet Thunder at his ranch in Montana,” Katherine said.

  “I heard that the doctor performed emergency surgery. The people who work here sure get injured a lot. I wasn’t on duty the night they brought Derek in, though I did assist the last time he was injured. That’s another strange thing about the people here. They seem to heal extremely fast.”

  “Healthy eating and lots of exercise, I would expect, is behind their fast healing. Nurse Eschback, I really have a lot to do to catch up after being out so long. Just leave the flyers, please.”

  “Of course, here they are. Have a nice day, Mrs. Sloane.”

  “You too, nurse.”

  Derek waited until Nurse Eschbach entered the elevator and the doors closed before slipping back out of the Shadow dimension. He leaned down and kissed Katherine’s temple.

  “Did that seem strange to you?” he asked.

  “She always makes me uncomfortable. She comes up here on a regular basis. I’ve walked into my office and found her leaning over my desk. Do you think she’s the one?”

  Derek sat down in the chair in front of her desk. “I’m not sure. Joe can have a chat with her and find out. He’s really good at getting into other people’s heads. If she is, we’ll know who to feed the false information to. Why don’t you call him and have him come up.”

  §

  “I’m telling you, it’s not Nurse Eschbach,” Joe said. “Believe me, I didn’t enjoy poking around in her head. She doesn’t have any knowledge of spying or espionage. It’s possible that the real mole is pumping her for information. But she isn’t the mole.”

  Raven sat behind his desk while Cara and Katherine sat in the chairs in front. Derek stood behind Katherine’s chair, while Joe stood next to the desk, his hip leaning on the edge.

  “Well, if it’s not her, who is it?” Raven asked.

  Derek wanted to know that, too. He wanted this whole mess to be over so he could get on with living with Katherine as his wife.

  “From what we can see on the security footage, it’s a man or woman, somewhere between five nine and six foot,” Joe said. “The elevator lights are dim, and the person is wearing dark pants and a hoodie. I’m going to assume it’s a man. He never looks directly at the camera, as if he knows it’s there. The man
has come up here only three times in the last seven months, and he always comes at night when the lights have been lowered. The first time he came, he carried a small package in his hands. I would venture to guess that is when the hawk was delivered to Katherine’s desk.”

  “Seven months, so right around the time of the wedding?” Derek asked.

  “Two days before, actually,” Joe said. “Katherine, Hugh will be coming up to go through your computer. We want to make sure he hasn’t tampered with the hardware.”

  “For a minute, I thought this had to do with my shooting Amanda at the wedding. If he planted the listening device before that, how could it be?” Derek asked.

  “It could still have something to do with Amanda. Didn’t she get arrested right before the wedding?” Cara asked.

  “That’s correct, and then she was allowed out on bail. It was her first offense,” Joe said.

  “Well, if this man is getting in the building, he has to be an employee,” Raven said. “Katherine, call the clinic and have them send me the records of all employees with a height of five nine or above. To keep the real reason we want the files secret, tell them we are making a study of persons’ heights compared to the height of office furniture and back pain.”

  “Raven, that could be a huge amount of people,” Cara pointed out.

  “We’ve got to start somewhere,” Raven replied. “I planned on doing a similar study this year, anyway. All the tribal members are tall, and I keep hearing complaints about their backs.”

  “Okay, boss. I’ll get right on it.” Katherine rose from her chair.

  Derek took her hand and walked her out of the office.

  §