The Fugitive's Secret Child

by Geri Krotow

  “But if you hadn’t been there, hoping to catch Vasin for yourself, I could have been killed while I was still trying to get away on the ATV. Remember, while I could have hot-wired them if I had to, I would have been hard-pressed to drive one with my rib and arm injuries.”

  “We always did work well together.” Did he remember the way they’d briefed the admiral and generals in their chain of command during the war, and then executed each mission? She’d never felt more in sync with her fellow sailors and Marines than when she’d worked on the missions that had involved Rob’s SEAL team.

  “And apparently we still do.” Gruff but not grudgingly. He remembered.

  “I’m going to have to do a debrief Monday morning. Besides what I’ll tell Corey, my boss, in the next few hours.”

  “He won’t have you come in on a Saturday?”

  “Normally, yes, but since I had to be out overnight he’ll let me stay home until Monday.” It was what she liked about the smaller units. All US marshals worked as a team, but the more closely knit offices provided more of a familial support system that she needed as a single parent.

  “I’ll call you soon.” He disconnected, and she kept knitting, not wanting to stop and think about how she felt too deeply. It was better this way. If she could somehow manage a little emotional distance from Rob, it would be better for Jake. She’d be able to tell how stressed he was or wasn’t around Rob. Especially after they told him Rob was his father.

  She put down her needles and laughed softly to herself. The time for emotional detachment would have been about ten miles before the turnoff into the Poconos campground.

  Chapter 10

  “I appreciate you coming in to talk with us, Marshal Lopez.” Colt Todd, chief of the Silver Valley Police Department, spoke from across the conference table at SVPD headquarters.

  “Thanks for having me.”

  Trina sat next to Detective Rio Ortego, with whom she’d worked in the past. Rio was the official Silver Valley PD contact between the US Marshals office and Todd. Trina hadn’t had much prior interface with Chief Todd, but it was clear from how Rio spoke about him and how the department hummed with positive activity that he ran a solid outfit and was respected by his officers.

  “I understand that you had a routine apprehension that went sour up in the Poconos.” Colt eased back in the leather chair. “We’ve been tracking more Russian organized crime activity here over the last six months. Just when we thought we’d rooted out the remaining perpetrators in a human trafficking scheme, one of my detectives was called out to the home of a Silver Valley resident. His neighbors reported unusual activity. Turns out he had all the makings of a weapons storage facility in his garage. But by the time we got there, along with the ATF, his building and basement were empty, and he’d disappeared.”

  “‘Disappeared’ as in, took off and you haven’t been able to locate him, or as in you think someone kidnapped or killed him?”

  Colt shook his head once. “We don’t know. It makes sense to me that he’s still around, just off the grid, so to speak. ROC has unlimited funds at its disposal. If an active member wants to disappear for their own protection, it can easily be done. And since the neighbor didn’t have any family members living with him, he’d be the perfect candidate to have taken off. Odds are he’s set up shop in a new city, biding his time until he can move whatever his limits are on weaponry.”

  “I’ve read a lot of reports on ROC lately, but what kinds of weapons are we talking about?” Trina couldn’t keep up with all the law enforcement developments in the area any longer. She focused on her assignments and what she needed to know for each one. Most officers and agents did the same.

  “Handhelds. Pistols, rifles, a few specialty knives thrown in. The ammunition is very dirty, as well. Always the hollow point bullets. Not armor piercing, but they explode upon impact, doing way more bodily damage than a normal bullet. They make head or limb wounds more likely to be lethal.” Rio spoke in his usual professional manner.

  “You had help from ATF and the county, from what you said.”

  “Yes, but we can always use more.” Colt leaned forward. “I’ve asked your boss if I could speak to you about a couple of things. First, we’ve had a rash of heroin overdoses.”

  “Who hasn’t?” Trina didn’t want to sound unsympathetic, but the opioid epidemic showed no signs of slowing down and had reached all corners of American life.

  “True. We think the most recent shipments have come from ROC. The last one was tainted, killing eight in our county in one weekend. Silver Valley had two deaths.”

  The math gave Trina pause. Silver Valley was a medium-size town that was classified as a suburb of Harrisburg. Two deaths in Silver Valley and three times as many in the surrounding county was significant.

  “What do you want the Marshals to do for you, Chief?”

  “Pick up the phone when we call. One of my officers was in the middle of a routine traffic stop when he realized he had pulled over a suspected ROC member. We couldn’t get through to anyone in your office quickly enough to verify for your apprehension.” Colt looked annoyed, and Trina didn’t blame him.

  “That doesn’t sound right, Chief. There’s always someone available 24/7.”

  “Right. So what I want to know is if ROC is also hacking our systems. Is it possible they already had the coding in place to reroute our calls, or any calls, for that matter, that came into your office?”

  “I’ll find out. But it wouldn’t be surprising, would it?” She’d ask Corey, who would talk to IT, but whatever the outcome it would most likely be something she’d never be able to reveal to a local law enforcement entity. But the thought of ROC even trying to meddle in official communications made her see red.

  “No, it wouldn’t be a surprise, unfortunately. Thanks for checking, though. I appreciate it.” Colt looked at his phone. “We’ve got something else to talk about. It appears our other meeting attendees are here. Rio, will you bring them in?”

  “Sure thing, Chief.” Rio was out the door and back in under ten seconds. Trina didn’t recognize the woman who followed him. She was tall and trim, with a chic silver bob. Her smooth skin and the light in her eyes belied the age her hair indicated. She was immediately followed by a very familiar figure. Rob.

  “Marshal Lopez, this is Claudia Michele, the social media director for SVPD. And I believe you know Rob Bristol.”

  Trina shook Claudia’s hand and nodded at Rob, who sat next to Rio, directly across from her. She noticed that Colt and Claudia exchanged warm smiles, more than what she’d expect from usual LEA colleagues. Rob’s gaze was on her, his mouth neutral but his eyes warm and intent.

  “Hello, everyone.” Claudia looked at Trina. “Marshal Lopez, I’ve spoken to your supervisor, Corey, and he’s aware of what we’re about to brief you on.”

  This was all news to Trina. Rob’s presence indicated that maybe Claudia had something to do with what or whom Rob really worked for, but Trina wasn’t going to ask. The obvious elephant in the room was something all LEAs knew to stay silent about, in case there was a chance of breaking another officer’s cover.

  If Rob had one cover, he probably had dozens. This should frighten her, or at the very least make her concerned. A man who could change identities like she changed her clothes wasn’t necessarily the best father material. But this was Rob, and she had no doubt about his sincerity. He wanted to be the best father for Jake.

  “Go ahead.” Trina worked hard to stay composed. Had Rob sold her out somehow? Was this all a ruse to tell her she was completely off the case since Vasin was behind bars and Ivanov had escaped?

  “Trina, Rob and I work for a clandestine agency whose headquarters happens to be here in Silver Valley. Rio and Colt have been read into our program, as has your boss, Corey. He knows the rudimentary functions of our agency, but not any details. What I’m asking from you i
s if you’re willing to come in to our offices and allow us to read you in, and give you full access to our ROC files.”

  Trina knew what “read in” meant. She’d sign an agreement and take an oath to never divulge what she learned or saw while in contact with whatever this super secret agency was.

  “I have no problem participating in whatever programs you need me to, Claudia, but the obvious question is, why? And why me? I did my job in the Poconos. I’m not used to remaining on a case for any extended length of time. You know our job description, I’d imagine. We apprehend and then leave the rest to other experts.” Trina referred to intelligence, stakeouts and other regular enforcement activity. “I’m trained to do just about anything, but it’s not a US marshal’s style to infringe on another office’s territory.”

  “Copy that.” Claudia’s crisp reply was very familiar.

  “Have you served, Claudia?”

  “Claudia’s a decorated combat Marine, retired major general.” Colt spoke up as though he took personal pride in Claudia’s past achievements.

  “Thank you for your service, ma’am. I’m a former Navy pilot myself.”

  “Yes, Rob told me. And I’m aware of the work you two did together overseas. That’s why I’d like you to consider working with Rob more permanently on the ROC issue. I’ve spoken to Corey and he’s in agreement with me that between the two of you we’d stand a better chance of getting ROC out of Silver Valley. I know your history, all of it, and I trust that you’ll both keep business, business. Whatever is going on between you two personally is exactly that. If you find it’s interfering in your ability to do your job, I expect you to let me know ASAP.”

  Trina appreciated Claudia’s candor but it was still a bit of a shock to realize there were truly no secrets that Trail Hikers didn’t uncover.

  “It’ll take a lot longer than a short-term op, Claudia. I know you understand this. And this isn’t what I do—I’m a marshal. Why me?” Concern over Jake’s safety made her pulse pound in her head.

  “As I said, it’s your proven ability to work well with Rob that we want. Rob’s asked repeatedly to take a broader role in our anti-gang and organized crime mission, and he needs a partner.”

  “I guess it would help to know who exactly you and Rob work for before I make any commitments.”

  Claudia smiled. “That’s fair.” She turned to Rob. “Would you mind bringing Trina in to our office?”

  “Not at all.” Rob stood. “Trina?”

  * * *

  Rob’s Jeep felt too familiar, and Trina couldn’t help thinking about the last time she’d been in it with him, and what they’d done when he’d driven them into the campground. What had she been thinking? In the harsh glare of daylight and in the middle of her normal workday, she questioned her judgment. Until she remembered how exquisite their lovemaking had been.

  You acted with your heart.

  “Thanks for agreeing to this.” Rob started the engine.

  “I don’t feel I’ve agreed to anything, Rob.” In fact she felt she’d been bamboozled into something bigger than herself. “I should have said no to Corey when he told me to go to SVPD instead of the office this morning.”

  “He let you think it was your decision, but if you ask me, Claudia had already requested your presence. Did you ever get any rest this weekend?” Rob eased around a huge semitruck, a common sight in Silver Valley as the town sat in the crossroads of logistical operations for all of the eastern seaboard of the United States. Three major highways converged from points north and west, and fed into southern routes that went all the way to Key West, Florida. Silver Valley was set in a beautiful rolling countryside, bordered by mountains that the Appalachian Trail cut through. Since Silver Valley was also bordered by the Susquehanna River, it was an ideal location for distribution centers, countless numbers popping up over the region as more and more manufacturers and online businesses discovered the need to be close to the country’s main highways.

  “Rest in terms of a break from work, yes. Sleep, not so much.”

  “Is it the ROC op that’s keeping you up?” Rob shot her a concerned glance as he idled at a red traffic light. They were at the largest intersection in town, where a country highway crossed the main pike that twisted through the commercial area. Silver Valley’s more quaint, historical district was a mile away, far from the noise where two six-lane highways intersected.

  “Partly.”

  “Am I the other part of that?”

  “No. Yes, no.” Dang it, she didn’t want to talk to him about any of this. Not until she had it straight in her head.

  “How’s Jake?” He drove onto the main thoroughfare.

  “He’s great. I know other parents struggle to get their kids ready for school, but that’s never been a problem with him. He’s so excited to have his own place to go to. And he really enjoys the other kids, for the most part.”

  “Funny that we’d have such a social son.” Rob’s observation made her laugh.

  “I know, right? We’re lucky we stopped long enough to have a conversation with each other outside of work, back on the base.” She wasn’t sure if it was her comment or Rob’s that made her acutely aware of how damn strange their situation was. They’d once known each other so intimately, every nuance of each other’s conversation or body language. What they’d shared on Friday had been physical intimacy and possibly a kind of spiritual cleansing, at least on her part. But the fact remained that they hadn’t spent any normal time together for over five years.

  “A lot changes in five years, Rob.”

  “That goes both ways. We’ve both changed, and yet the most important thing we ever did together is constantly changing.”

  Jake.

  “Your point?”

  “We could make a conscious decision to accept where we are today and move forward, for Jake’s sake.”

  “Why do I feel you mean, for your sake?” Why was she being argumentative? He wanted to be involved in his son’s life. If she were in his shoes, wouldn’t she do anything to make that happen?

  “Of course I do. I’m not trying to hide my desire to be here for Jake. It’ll be your call when we tell him, Trina, but we will tell him. And I’m not going to leave him again.” His voice was steady, his hands firm on the wheel but not tense as he pulled off the road and into the parking lot of some kind of corporate building. Trina counted at least seven floors, their uniformly tinted windows all sparkling.

  “I thought this was the global headquarters for that online news source.” The name escaped her; she’d read about it in the local paper.

  “No, that’s the building we just passed, about a half mile ago. This is meant to look similar, but we do far different things here.” Rob pulled into a parking spot behind the building, under a tree.

  Trina wondered why she’d never noticed this before, but in reality there were so many office buildings and corporate headquarters in the Harrisburg area that it was an easy oversight. And from what little she’d put together about this secret agency, it was an oversight it cultivated. She wasn’t ignorant to the fact that other law enforcement agencies existed, and that she had no clue what they all did. She didn’t have to; her job was to be a US marshal and carry out her duty as such. But she was still taken aback that the headquarters for something so secretive, and probably just as powerful, was located in Silver Valley. Silver Valley was the epitome of an all-American medium-size town: big enough to have all the diverse benefits of a city and small enough so that everyone still said “hello” when they walked past one another on the street. They all held doors open for one another, too.

  Rob stood at the entrance, holding the glass door open as he waited for her. Trina smiled and Rob’s eyes narrowed. “What’s so funny?”

  “It’s an honor to have the same agent who took on an entire arm of ROC last week be nearly human.”

  H
e returned her smile. “I thought I made it clear that I’m very human.” His eyes smoldered, and she wanted to turn and run.

  “Wait, Trina, I was kidding. If that was inappropriate, I’m sorry.”

  “Not inappropriate as much as too true.” She walked ahead of him into a very ordinary front reception area, where they were immediately ushered back into another waiting lounge. Trina noted that both the escort and Rob provided their retina scans, and she was asked to place her fingers on another scanner. “This is until you get your biometrics completely uploaded.” Rob spoke as the escort remained quiet and disappeared back to the entrance.

  “Have a seat and the director will be with you shortly.” The receptionist spoke to Trina.

  “This is where I leave you.” Rob’s hard tone made her stomach do a jig. Trina couldn’t help it—she always felt a shot of adrenaline course through her veins whenever Rob spoke so definitively, with nothing to soften the edges. It reminded her of wartime.

  “Okay. Will you be the one to give me a lift back to SVPD to get my car? If you can’t, don’t worry. I can call someone to pick me up.”

  Rob leaned in, speaking quietly even though they were the only two in the waiting area. “First, you never, ever bring anyone else here or have someone meet you here unless it’s part of a preplanned deal. Second, of course I’m the one taking you back to SVPD. Claudia will let me know when you’re ready. I’ve got a lot to catch up on, so I’m heading up to my office. Good luck.”

  They stared at each other for a heartbeat and the skin on her cheek tightened, her back arched into a slight lean, as if expecting a kiss. Rob winked and walked away, around the reception desk to a back hallway.

  Trina forced her wobbly legs to walk over to a chair and sank down, needing the comfort of the soft cushions. Rob had her off her game. As well as she and Rob worked together, her hormones weren’t about to follow suit. They danced to their own beat—and it was a tempo set by the incredibly hot chemistry she and Rob shared.