“Lanski,” a sleepy voice said after the fourth ring.
“It’s Burke. I need you to set the wheels in motion to smoke out the buyer. Put the word out that Dr. Collins has been cleared of all charges. Send a message through the channels Patterson was using. Mimic his means of making contact. Reveal that Richard Patterson is dead but the formula is available.” Burke’s voice tightened. “And I want you to leak where Dr. Collin’s can be found.” Burke gave Lanski the location of his cabin. “Do this right away, Lanski. We’re running out of time.”
“Got it,” Lanski said. “What about back up? How do you want to play this?”
“No back up. I’ll run this one solo. We can’t risk spooking this guy. We can’t blow this.”
“I’ll get the word out immediately.”
Burke ended the call and placed the phone slowly on the nightstand.
“Now we wait?” Eve asked.
Burke nodded. “Now we wait.”
* * *
They were having breakfast, both moving the food around on their plates, eating little of it, when Eve heard the buzz of a boat motor drawing near. Burke heard it as well. He dropped his fork onto the plate. His chair skidded back and he crossed the room to the window in the living room.
Eve followed him. “What is it?”
“Company.”
Burke swept his arm out, placing her behind him, but she’d taken in the scene outside and glimpsed the new arrival. An aluminum fishing boat was docking beside Burke’s own small vessel. A man was tying a rope to a pole on the dock. Fifties. Salt and pepper hair cropped military short. The man cut the engine and climbed onto the dock.
Burke’s eyes remained narrowed on the newcomer. “Stay here while I greet our guest.”
* * *
Outside, Burke approached the dock and the man who stood hands on hips, eyeing the cabin in the bright sunlight. Burke’s service weapon was at his back, tucked into the waist of his jeans, covered by the loose T-shirt he wore.
“Hello,” Burke called out.
“Hello, there. Sorry to intrude. I didn’t realize I was short on gas when I set out this morning. I don’t have enough to get back. I was hoping you might have some to spare. I’d pay you of course.”
Burke nodded. “I have a spare tank in the shed.”
The man stepped off the dock and extended his hand. “Ted Sanderson.”
Burke clasped his hand. “John Burke.”
The two men fell into step. The ground was damp from the rainfall and a slight breeze carried the scents of dirt and worms. Mud sucked Burke’s shoes.
“Pretty place,” Sanderson said.
“I like it. Are you staying near here?”
“No. Not much out this way. Just your place and one or two others great distances apart. Nothing for rent. I’m all the way on the other side of the lake at Salt Pines Cottages.”
“You have come a distance,” Burke said.
“I didn’t realize just how far. Set out early this morning. Thought I’d take in some fishing. I’m not much of a fisherman. Been a military man all my life and now find myself retired.” Sanderson shrugged. “The wife thought it would be a good idea if I got a hobby. Said I was driving her crazy being under foot all day. I thought I’d give fishing a try.”
“How are you liking it?”
Sanderson scowled. “Not so much. I didn’t have one bite and I ran out of gas.”
Burke smiled at that. He reached the old wooden shed and swung the door open. Sunlight lit the interior and Burke didn’t bother with the bare bulb dangling from the low roof. He bent to retrieve the can of gas he kept under a small work bench, his muscles tense. If Sanderson were going to make a move to take him out, now would be the time. But Sanderson remained outside of the shed, with his back to Burke, seemingly taking in his surroundings. He faced Burke only when Burke left the shed.
Back at Sanderson’s boat, Burke filled the tank. “That should get you back.”
“Appreciate it.”
Sanderson took out his wallet and extracted a twenty. Burke glimpsed a drivers’ license with a name that matched the one Sanderson had given him and a picture of a couple of teenagers flanking a woman about Sanderson’s own age.
Sanderson took in a deep breath. “Nice and quiet here.”
Burke kept his gaze on the other man. “No one around for miles.”
Sanderson handed Burke the twenty then the older man got back into the boat. He untied the rope, yanked the engine cord and the motor roared to life. With a wave, Sanderson backed away from the dock.
Burke watched Sanderson until his boat was a speck on the horizon, then he turned and went back to Eve.
“Well?” She grasped his forearms.
“Appears to be nothing more than a fisherman who ran out of gas.”
But as he relayed that information, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
“Yeah. Lanski,” Burke said an instant later. “I need you to ID an Edward Sanderson.” Burke recited the address on the drivers’ license. “I have a print.” At Eve’s frown, Burke held up Sanderson’s twenty. “I’ll be sending you a scan of it in the next couple minutes.
* * *
“Do you think Sanderson could be the man we’re looking for?” Eve asked.
Only a few minutes had passed since Burke had sent the scan of Sanderson’s print to Lanski. Eve was wound tight, waiting for Lanski to call back with his findings.
“No, I don’t. If he were the one, he came here to get the formula, and to take you out, he would not have left without getting his job done. I was hoping Sanderson would make a move on me in the shed. Try to neutralize me so he could get to you.” Burke blew out a breath rife with frustration. “But he didn’t. I think he’s just what he said.”
Burke’s cell phone rang. “It’s Lanski,” he said. He listened briefly then disconnected. “Sanderson is who he claims. Lanski ran him through our data bases. No red flags.” Burke rubbed the back of his neck. “I need some air. Feel like a walk?”
Eve shook her head. “I’m going to make tea. Want a cup?”
“Too hot for tea.”
Eve went to the kitchen, filled the kettle then set it on the burner. As she lit the flame, her cell phone rang. Her phone was on the counter. She hadn’t had a call since this nightmare began and the ringing startled her.
Eve flipped open the phone. “Hello?”
“Eve!”
It took an instant for the harried voice to register. “Matt?”
“Eve, I know who the accomplice is. Tell me where you are and I’ll come and get you.”
“Matt—”
“Eve, where are you?”
“I’m with Burke. Who is the accomplice, Matt?”
“With Burke? Eve, is he near? Can he hear you?”
“No. Matt—”
“Listen to me, you have to get out of there. I will come and get you. Eve—you have to get away.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The accomplice is Burke. Eve, it’s Burke. I know about the bomb at the cottage. I know about the insulin switch. He’s the one who’s trying to kill you.”
Eve had felt euphoria that Matt might have identified the man they were after. “Matt it isn’t Burke.”
There was a long pause. “I’m sorry, love. I wish I were wrong. But he is not the man you think he is. He’s sold out to the highest bidder. He’s made two attempts on your life already. He’s had opportunity and he certainly has motive. Since he hasn’t killed you, he must think there are too many eyes on him at the moment. His people know that you’re under his protection and your death can’t look like his doing. He’s waiting for another chance to take you out when he won’t be implicated and when he thinks the time is right, he will strike. Burke will kill you, Eve. Make no mistake about that.”
Eve shivered at the chill in Matt’s voice and his words.
“You have to get out of there,” Matt went on. “Tell me where you are?”
Ma
tt’s urgency in learning where she was sent alarm bells ringing in her head. Could he be the accomplice? No. Of course not. He was with British Intelligence. One of the good guys, sworn to defend and protect. But how many agents sold out to the other side . . .
Eve willed her voice to be calm, to stick with the plan she’d devised. Except, she didn’t know exactly where she was. She certainly couldn’t ask Matt to hold while she went to ask Burke. She had to improvise.
“I don’t know exactly.” Eve licked her lips “At a cabin in West Virginia. The nearest town is Crowley.”
Matt exhaled a short breath. “I’ll meet you in Crowley.” She heard the click click of computer keys being struck. “There’s an abandoned warehouse on the south side of town. On Little Street. Number Ten. I’ll wait for you there. Come when you can. When it’s safe. Wait until you’re alone before leaving. Don’t let Burke know that you’ve found him out. Don’t let him suspect that you’re leaving him. Bring the formula. We can’t let Burke sell it. Eve, can you hear me?”
Of course he wanted the formula. Any hope she’d had of his innocence vanished. She nodded, then realizing Matt couldn’t hear her, said, “I hear you.”
“I’ll be waiting at the warehouse. Burke is dangerous. Eve, I implore you, don’t delay too long.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Eve ended the call and set the phone down on the counter.
He’s made two attempts on your life already.
When he thinks the time is right . . . Burke will kill you, Eve.
Matt’s words replayed in her mind. John was outside. Through the window in the living room, she could see him chopping wood. He’d removed his shirt. His impressive shoulders and back, well defined with muscle, glistened. The muscles on his arms rippled as he brought the ax he held up for another swipe of the log he’d set on the ground. Could the man who’d held her in passion and in sympathy when she’d cried her eyes out over her daughter mean her harm?
He must have felt her gaze on him because he glanced up from the log and to her. He smiled and winked at her. She could imagine the picture she made. Dressed in only his shirt which fell to her mid-thigh, her hair tousled from their latest lovemaking. Her lips swollen from his kisses and her eyes filled with the love she was feeling for him. Oh, God, did she sound like every blind, naive woman, defending the criminal she was so in love with? She exhaled a deep breath. There it was. She’d fallen in love with Burke. Like a sneak attack, her feelings had crept in. The question though remained. Was she being naive? Was she wrong?
How many agents sold out to the other side?
She’d thought that about Matt. But why not John? He was an agent, too . . .
And Matt had told her at the cottage that he wanted the formula to destroy it. Had he asked her to bring it to him for that reason? Or was his request more sinister than that . . .
She linked her hands together in a tight grip. Could she be so wrong about John?
The kettle whistled, startling her.
Eve blinked back tears. No. No. She wasn’t wrong about John. She turned off the burner and went out to him.
“Hi,” he said when she reached him. His gaze became scrutinizing. “You okay?”
“I just got a phone call.”
He stopped in mid-swing.
“It was from Matt Deligne. He told me that he knows who the accomplice is. He says it’s you.”
Burke set the ax down on the ground slowly. He reached for his T-shirt on a tree stump and swiped it across his brow. “Since you’re here calmly telling me about it, I don’t have to ask if you believed him.”
Their gazes locked. “No, you don’t have to ask.”
Burke nodded. “Was that all Deligne had to say?”
Eve shook her head. “He wants me to meet him. He wants to take me someplace safe away from you.”
“I’ll bet he does. He expects to lure you to him.” A muscle throbbed in Burke’s jaw. “So he’s the one. Finally this will be over.” He reached out and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “I’m sorry it’s Deligne. I know you considered him a friend.”
Eve nodded, saddened at the realization that Matt was not a friend at all.
“Where does he want you to meet him?” Burke asked.
She told him. She glanced at her watch. “I’ll get dressed and then I’d better be on my way. It’s going to take me a while to find the warehouse.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m meeting him.”
“What about me?”
“You’ll wait here.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
She shook her head. “I won’t sit on the sidelines like some helpless female.”
Burke tipped up her chin. “You’re not helpless. I respect you as a strong, capable woman. This isn’t about you, Eve. It’s about me. I can’t finish this if I’m worried about you. I need to know you’re safe. Stay here. Wait for me here. Do this for me. Please.”
Eve held his gaze for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
He reached out and took her in his arms, holding her close.
Fifteen minutes later, Burke emerged from the shower. Eve sat on his bed while he dressed. He strapped on his shoulder holster, shrugged into his jacket and it was done. She followed him to the door. He turned and kissed her.
“Be careful,” she said.
He nodded.
When he was about to turn away, she latched onto the sleeve of his jacket. She was reluctant to let him go. She recalled the day at the cottage Richard had rented when she’d thought Deligne didn’t take a hit well. All a ruse, she realized. Deligne was also an agent, was as well trained as John. She didn’t diminish John’s capabilities, but Deligne would not be an easy take-down and she was afraid for him.
She pulled him close once again.
Burke kissed her hard, then left.
* * *
Burke made good time to the warehouse. He’d considered then dismissed the notion of calling in back up. Deligne would spot an ambush.
Deligne. There would be payback for what he’d put Eve through. Badge be damned. He had to remind himself to keep from killing Deligne.
He wanted to arrive before Deligne and get into position before the other operative realized that he’d been duped and it wasn’t Eve who was meeting him. Eve had not asked where Deligne was calling from. It would have been helpful to know just how far away Deligne actually was and how much time Burke had before Deligne’s arrival. Lanski was monitoring Eve’s cell phone. He would know about Deligne’s call, but it was likely that Deligne’s phone was secure as well and had masked his location. Lanski would not be able to track Deligne’s location either.
Burke pulled into the warehouse parking lot. The old building had suffered a fire years back. The brick was scorched. Jagged glass remained in window frames, blown apart from an explosion that had rocked the building. There were no vehicles on the lot. It appeared that Deligne had not yet arrived.
Burke parked the car then crossed the lot to the building. The warehouse backed onto a wooded area. He took up a position among the trees to wait.
About thirty minutes later, he spotted a compact sedan pulling into the lot. The driver parked then emerged from the vehicle. Deligne.
The operative went to Burke’s vehicle, peered in the windows then turned away from it and looked about the lot.
“Eve!” Deligne called out.
Burke took his weapon in hand and stepped out from the trees. He walked at a leisurely pace to Deligne. The agent’s eyes widened on Burke, then narrowed and Deligne lunged at Burke.
“What have you done to her?” Deligne shouted.
Burke raised his weapon. “Easy.”
Deligne stopped, but just barely, Burke thought. The agent rocked back on his heels. His body was visibly straining to leap. Blood lust raged in Deligne’s eyes. The urge to kill was there.
Deligne’s reaction gave Burke pause and started his heart pounding. Clearly his interest wasn’t in the
formula, but in Eve. Something wasn’t right . . .
“What have you done to Eve?” Deligne repeated.
“Eve is fine.”
Deligne scoffed. “I don’t believe you. My one regret is that I’ll be going to my grave without having killed you for what you’ve done to her.”
“Believe what you will, but it’s the truth. Now I have a question for you. Who is your buyer for Patterson’s formula?”
Deligne laughed. “Oh that’s rich, mate. Turning the tables on me? Why don’t you just shoot me and get it over with. Stop playing games. It’s what you came here for.”
Burke frowned. “Something isn’t right here.”
“That’s the first thing we agree on. Give me your gun, Burke, and I’ll make it right. I’ll put a bullet in your head.”
“Don’t you want the formula first?”
Deligne gritted his teeth. “I don’t give a damn about the formula. My country wants it. I’m of a mind to leave it with you. Let whoever finds your body take it. Let you all kill yourselves with it.”
Burke’s gaze narrowed further. “Why did you tell Eve that I’m Patterson’s accomplice?”
Deligne crossed his arms. “Don’t play me for a fool. Since she’s been with you, there have been two attempts on her life. You are the only one she’s been in contact with. It has to be you.”
Burke rubbed his jaw as another thought came to him. “Why did you ask Eve to meet you here? Why didn’t you go to her?”
Deligne gave Burke a look of pure hatred. “I would have gone to her if she could have told me where she was. But she couldn’t do that since you’ve gone to great lengths to keep that information from her. She thinks, no doubt, you have her in protective custody, but you’ve isolated her. She doesn’t know that she’s been abducted. Tell me Burke, how are you going to explain her death to your superiors? You going to say that you killed her when she overpowered you while attempting to escape? A big bloke like you? Do you really think that will wash, mate?”
But Burke had tuned out the latter part of Deligne’s monologue, focused on one thing: Deligne hadn’t known where to find Eve.
Holding Out For A Hero: SEALs, Soldiers, Spies, Cops, FBI Agents and Rangers Page 57