by Rachel Dylan
“Yes,” she picked up the phone.
“We’ve got an issue. A big problem.”
“What’s wrong?” She sat up in the bed. Jay was never one to dramatize a situation. If he said they had a big problem, what that actually meant was they had a huge problem.
“Someone from the FBI hacked into your sealed file.”
“What? Who?”
“I don’t know, but I had one of our consulting technical experts trace the IP address back to the FBI field office in El Paso. And whoever it was has stellar computer skills. It would take someone at the highest level of hacking ability to crack into a Witness Protection file.”
Her mind raced. It couldn’t have been Kip. He was in New York with her. But someone in the FBI field office knew the truth. She shivered. “How is that even possible?”
“They were able to get past the initial firewalls because of their other clearances. But the fact that they got in there in the first place made me think they were suspicious of you. It’s not something you just happen upon. You have to be looking for it. Maybe they ran a background check on you. When they weren’t satisfied, they started poking around.”
“What do we do now?”
“I’m hoping and praying that since this is FBI, that you will be safe. But I have a sinking feeling about this. We have to assume the worst. And the worst is that this is connected to Igor somehow. I certainly don’t believe in coincidences. It would be foolish to do so in my line of work. You know my motto—Trust No One.”
He’d drilled it into her head when he’d been assigned as her contact five years ago. “Don’t go back to El Paso. Stay put in New York, but I don’t want you in that hotel anymore. You need to get out in the morning. Go to populated areas where you can blend in, like stores or museums. I’m going to do some more digging, and I’ll let you know as soon as I figure out the next move. Sadie, I hate to say this, but this is the exact reason why you never should’ve gotten involved in this investigation in the first place.”
The last thing she wanted right now was a lecture. “Call me when you know more.”
She hung up and lay back down. This was not good. Assuming the FBI agent who looked into her past was one of the good guys, he would be bound to report to Kip what he found out. Lord, what should I do? she prayed. She knew that her past was going to come back to haunt her at some point, but she wasn’t ready to deal with it now. Could she just pretend like all was fine tomorrow until she heard more from Jay? She would have to make sure she followed Jay’s directions on where she could go. How would she explain that to Kip?
Morning came, and she’d had a fitful rest of the night. By the time she’d showered and gotten dressed, she felt a little better. But still on edge. She ordered breakfast up to the room and invited Kip to join her. He looked well-rested and very handsome. She was scared that she looked a bit frightful. If she did, he knew better than to mention it.
“What are we going to do all day while Artur is at the office?” she asked. “I don’t want to sit around the hotel.”
“I thought we might explore the city a bit.”
“All right.” She was relieved he suggested that after hearing Jay’s directive to stay in populated areas.
She felt awful. When Kip found out the truth about her, he’d see her just like he saw his ex-fiancée and Brad. It killed her to think about it. She knew she didn’t have much more time with him before her cover was completely blown.
“Any ideas?” he asked.
“I don’t suppose you’re into museums?” Metal detectors would help keep guns away.
“What?” he asked mockingly. “Do I seem that uncultured to you?”
“I didn’t mean it that way. Just that most guys aren’t really into that stuff.”
“Truthfully, art isn’t my thing.”
“What about natural history? I’d love to go to that museum.”
“Dinosaurs are very manly. That I can handle.”
She thought the museum would satisfy Kip’s urge to go out, and provide some level of safety. Given what Jay had told her, she didn’t want to be out in the open. She preferred crowded areas, where it would be easier to blend in or shake a tail. She’d text Jay where they were going just in case.
They walked out of the hotel and into the busy New York City streets. He grabbed her hand. “We’ll need to get on the subway.”
“Guess you can’t be in New York and not go on the subway.” As soon as she stepped out of the hotel, she felt goose bumps on her arms. It definitely wasn’t cold. She couldn’t help the feeling that someone was watching her. She turned around quickly and saw tons of people bustling down the street. There was no way she could spot a threat right now. Which would mean it would be difficult for anyone to find her, too. She felt overwhelmed.
The nearest stop was just a few blocks from their hotel. They read the map and figured out what direction they needed to go to get to the American Museum of Natural History. The subway was full of people. She cringed as she saw a furry rat run by on the tracks. This was it. This really was New York.
She felt her heartbeat speeding up, but she was trying to play cool. When someone bumped into her arm, she instinctively went for her weapon. The weapon she didn’t have. Then she realized that there was no threat. Just a teenager not looking where he was going.
They stood up in the crowded subway car until they arrived at their stop and it was time to exit. She’d suggested the museum before she had fully thought it through. But it seemed like the best alternative. Jay had told her they couldn’t stay in the hotel. If Igor was on to them, he would know exactly where they were if they stayed. She wished that things were different, and that she could tell Kip what was going on. Inform him of the very real threat. Someone knew her real identity. Someone knew about Lydia.
Pushing those thoughts out of her mind, she tried to focus on Kip. He looked over and smiled at her. She loved museums—especially ones that had planetariums. A childhood memory flashed through her mind. Her father taking her to the planetarium when she was in first grade. He was one of the lead parents on the field trip. Since he was a scientist, he’d loved every minute of it. Her heart broke reliving the loss. And the still unanswered questions about what her father could’ve been involved with that led to his death and the death of her mother.
“What’re you thinking about?” he asked.
“Everything I want to see here. I’d love to see a show at the planetarium. What do you think?”
“As long as I get to see the dinosaurs. That’s my only request.”
They walked up the many steps into the museum and stood in line to buy tickets. The first stop was getting tickets to the planetarium. A tall man with a baseball hat stood by the entrance. He made eye contact, and a shot of fear went through her. When she looked back over toward him, he was gone. Trying to shake it off, she focused her attention back on Kip.
She had no idea what they were showing, but she didn’t care. The dark room would provide her with some level of comfort. It wasn’t like the enemy was just going to pop up in the seat next to her.
“Let’s do the planetarium show first. Then we’ll see whatever you want.”
He grabbed her hand into his own and it felt so natural. Like they were on a real date. Unfortunately, nothing about this was a regular date. When Kip found out the truth, he’d never speak to her again. She so didn’t want to be the one to cause him pain. Not after he’d told her everything he’d been through. But she wasn’t sure there was any way to prevent it.
They walked into the planetarium and took their seats. As they waited for the show to begin, her heart was heavy. Why couldn’t she share just a little bit about her past with Kip?
“Kip,” she said.
“Yes.” He looked over at her. His eyes were as blue as the ocean.
“Ther
e’s a lot from my past that you don’t know about me.”
“We all have issues in our past, Sadie. You’re the one who told me that’s it’s important to move forward.”
She nodded. “I know, but I’d still like to talk to you about some of it. Soon.” She couldn’t do it now. While it would be much easier to blurt out her biggest secret, something held her back.
“The show’s about to start. But any time you want to talk just let me know.”
The show was about stars, and she settled in as the narrator’s smooth voice began. Kip held her hand throughout. A simple sign of affection that warmed her heart. She took it all in and enjoyed the presentation. With the darkness surrounding them, she wished she could take Kip and disappear to a faraway place. Somewhere away from all of the violence and pain that surrounded them both—in their past and in their present.
When it was over, she dreaded the lights coming back on. It meant back to reality. And back to the threats. She looked over at Kip, and he was all smiles. How she wanted so badly to confide in him. He’d be her support system. But it wasn’t possible now. She forced a grin, and they walked out together.
Glancing over her shoulder, she thought she saw the same man with a baseball hat pulled down low. But she could tell he was staring at her. Was it just her imagination? She couldn’t take the risk. They needed to get out of this area and lose this guy. She grabbed Kip’s hand and practically dragged him away. “Now you get your dinosaurs. As much as you want.”
They found the dinosaur area, and she marveled at Kip’s sincere interest. He was really into it. Much more than she ever expected.
“When I was little, I used to be dinosaur crazy,” he said. “They still fascinate me. Even after all these years.”
He looked stuck in his thoughts staring at the huge T. rex that was the focal point of the room. She decided to let him take it in, and she wandered the room looking for the mysterious man in the hat. She was on high alert.
A hand touched her shoulder. She spun around and standing there was Jay.
“What’re you doing here?” she asked.
He grabbed her arm. “You have to come with me.”
“No. I can’t just leave Kip.”
His grip tightened. “You can and you will, Sadie. You’re in real danger. I’ll explain once we’re out of here. I have to get you to safety. Now.”
She stole a glance back over at Kip—still standing by the T. rex. She couldn’t believe she was about to do this. But in the end, she knew she had to. It was better this way. Conversations, sad goodbyes and recriminations would be too much for both of them.
“He’ll think something has happened to me.”
“He’ll know the truth soon enough.” He tugged firmly on her arm. “We have to go. I’m sorry. There’s no more time to argue about this.”
She didn’t want to leave him. What would he think?
Then she heard a rapid succession of gunshots that sounded like they came from right outside. The next thing she knew she was facedown on the ground with Jay on top of her back.
“Are you okay?” he asked with ragged breath.
“Yes. I’m not hit. Are you?”
“No. We’ve gotta move now.”
“Sadie!” Kip yelled.
Mass chaos ensued as museum patrons fled the room. People were screaming and grabbing their children in their arms. She looked around for the man in the hat but didn’t see him.
Kip ran over to her and Jay. Kip pulled her up off the floor.
A flash of recognition sparked in Kip’s eyes. “You,” he said.
“We’ve got to get out of here now,” Jay barked at them both.
“But...” Kip said.
Sadie grabbed on to Kip’s arm. “Listen to him. I’ll explain everything when we get out of here. I promise you that.” Police sirens were already blaring. If they didn’t get out soon, the entire place would be on lockdown.
They made a run for the emergency exit and pushed through it. The hot air hitting her face. Her feet pounded against the pavement as she ran a block or two with Kip and Jay right behind her. The hammering of her heart radiated through her body. Jay stopped her and hailed a cab. Jumping in the cab first, she let out a breath. Jay hopped in the front seat and gave the cabbie an address and signaled to her and Kip not to talk yet. Things had escalated, that’s for sure. Jay wouldn’t just grab her like this if it hadn’t. Had he known the shooter was there? Was it the man in the hat?
The cab dropped them off at a hotel parking garage. Sadie wasn’t quite sure what was next.
“I’ve got a car in the garage.” He guided them through the ground floor to the elevator. He pushed Six, and they rode up. Her heart pounded. She needed answers. She needed information. What had happened? And how in the world was she going to make Kip understand?
Sensing her apprehension, Jay touched her arm. “I’ll explain everything in the car.”
Kip shot him a look.
She nodded and Jay stuck right beside them as they walked through the rows of cars to a nondescript mid-size gray vehicle. He crouched down and checked under the car, which was one of the first major signs that this was even more serious than she had expected.
“Get in,” he said as he opened the passenger door for her. He pulled a bag out of the backseat and gave it to her. “There’s a wig in there and glasses. Please go ahead and put them on. Kip, you take the backseat.”
She opened the bag as he started the car. Sure enough, there was a curly blond wig and a pair of designer sunglasses. Whipping her hair back into a bun, she put on the wig as he had instructed.
Once they were out of the garage, she looked over at Jay who had his eyes on the road and a tight grip on the wheel.
“Wait a minute,” Kip said, leaning up to the center console. “I see some silent communication between the two of you. What’s going on?”
“Can I?” she asked Jay.
“Under the circumstances, we have no choice.”
Sadie turned around facing the backseat and felt tears well up in her eyes. “Kip, I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
“About what?”
She took a deep breath and prayed that she’d be able to do this. Hold it together, she told herself. “I’m in Witness Protection.”
“You’re what?”
“Sadie has been in Witness Protection since she was eight years old,” Jay added.
“Why? What happened?”
Here it goes. “I was born Lydia Mars. And I was Lydia for only eight years. Until the day that Igor Vladimir walked into my house and shot my parents. I saw him pull the trigger.”
His blue eyes widened in disbelief.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t tell you. I haven’t ever told anyone, given the protocol. But things have changed.”
“And I hate to bring more bad news to the situation,” Jay said. She watched as his grip on the wheel tightened, and he glanced over at her. “He knows about you.”
“Who knows?” she asked but already knew the answer.
“Igor.”
“How?” She had to force herself to breathe. Panic squeezed at her heart. Now was not the time for an anxiety attack. She had to focus. Too much was riding on this.
“That FBI agent I told you about. The one who tapped into your files. He’s dirty. He flipped for fifty grand.”
“What agent?” Kip asked.
“My sources tell me that Igor started getting increasingly paranoid. Another call came in from Mexico late last night, and one of the guys swore to him that you two were the ones who busted out the girls. Apparently, he was already getting suspicious of you, Kip, because he put some feelers out at the FBI to recruit someone into his camp. When the price was right, he found a dirty agent—a guy by the name of David Berkowsk
i who has been digging around. Once Berkowski had the money wired to him first thing this morning, he sold Kip out. Told Igor all about the FBI’s investigation and how Kip was undercover. Of course, Igor went ballistic. Then Berkowski told Igor about you, Sadie. He used that piece of information to try to get Igor to give him more money.”
“How do you know all of this?” she asked.
“Someone else at the FBI had started growing suspicious of Berkowski before this even happened. He had been acting strange, and it raised some red flags with some more seasoned members of the team. Turns out he had a gambling problem and really needed money. They tapped his phone. So we have the whole conversation between him and Igor on tape. And that’s what did it. He’s put out a million-dollar bounty on you, Sadie.”
“Whoa.” The thudding of her heart was almost too much to bear. She was good as dead. “What did Igor say to Berkowski about me?”
“You can imagine that he was very upset about being duped. He’d assumed that you were long out of the picture, given your young age when you testified. He clearly hadn’t forgotten you, but maybe you weren’t in the forefront of his mind, since you’d stuck with the program so closely. That is up until now.”
“And what about Kip?”
“I’m sure the FBI is going to want to take action on this. They would normally take you into protective custody, Kip, since Igor’s put a bounty out on you. But now you’re with us. We have to stick together. The shooter outside the museum was probably one of Igor’s thugs.”
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she said softly. Her worst nightmares were coming true. And now she’d put the man she’d fallen in love with in danger. Wait. Love? Yes, that had to be what it was. She couldn’t let him die because of her. Tears fell down her cheek. Kip would probably never forgive her. He sat silently in the backseat.
“Keep it together, Sadie.” Jay looked at her for a second before turning his attention back to the road. “I’ll get you two set up somewhere safe where Igor will not be able to find you. Then we can plan the next move from there. I’m not going to let Igor get to you. I promise. Take a few deep breaths. We’ll work through this. I totally understand that right now things seem dire. And they are. You know I’ve never lied to you over the years. Igor and his network have a far reach. But I’ll get you to safety, and we’ll figure it out.”