by Andrea Kane
“You mean more than we can say,” Claire replied, gently squeezing Emma’s hand.
“Yeah, we missed your mouthy quips,” Ryan informed her. “It was way too dull around here.”
“I’ll remind you of that when I’m myself,” Emma responded, her lips curving into a smile that hadn’t come for two weeks.
The welts on her face had gone down, the cuts on her body were rapidly disappearing, and her bruised ribs were healing. She was sore and shaky but physically on the mend. Emotionally, she was, and would be, going for counseling for months, dealing with the deep-seated scars of her trauma.
Still, little by little, Emma was starting to be Emma again.
Over the past two weeks, the team had taken turns sitting with her at her apartment, helping her through her recuperation period—a period that had been ordered by Emma’s doctor and by Casey. Madeleine had visited, too, both as a friend and as a nurse, checking out Emma’s wounds and refreshing her bandages as needed.
The FBI, of course, had come to interview her, both at the University of Vermont Medical Center and here in New York. With the help of Marc’s coaching, she’d told them everything—except the identities of her rescuers. To that question, all she said was that the two men who saved her were dressed totally in black with night goggles and hoods, and that they hadn’t spoken to her, only brought her to the hospital and vanished. She assumed they were heroic FBI agents.
No one at the Bureau had countered that.
“Are you up to cake slicing?” Casey asked now, gazing uncomfortably at the knife. “Or do you want me to do the honors?”
For a moment, Emma eyed the slicer. Then, she said, “I’ll do it.” With a determined look, she stepped forward and cut generous helpings for everyone, her hands steadier than expected. “Go for it, gang,” she urged.
They all complied, beaming as they watched Emma scarf down her piece of cake and cut a second. Finally, her appetite was returning.
“This is the absolute last thing I’m eating until the wedding,” she declared. “It’s only a few days away. I have to fit into my dress.”
“Why does every woman say that?” Patrick asked, shaking his head in bewilderment. “I’ve heard Adele utter those same words a thousand times over the past thirty-five years. And she’s never had a problem fitting into anything.”
Casey laughed. “It’s a female thing.”
“Yeah, Marc,” Ryan said cheerfully as he polished off another forkful of cake. “Get used to it. You’re about to enlist for life.”
Marc put down his plate and wrapped his arm around Maddy’s waist. “I’m a willing recruit.”
“Even if you have to give up lap dances?” Maddy’s eyes danced, as she reminded Marc of the unexpected and unappreciated part of his bachelor party—a part that he’d been bitching about all week.
“No comment.” Marc glared from Aidan to Ryan to Hutch.
“Kudos to us, Aidan,” Ryan said. “He’s still pissed off. “Yeah, the arrangements did have their benefits. Which reminds me…” Aidan dug around in his shirt pocket and produced a slip of paper. “The lovely Yvonne—lap dancer number one—asked me to give you this.” He offered the paper to Marc. “It’s her cell phone number. She said that anytime you get bored, give her a call, and she’ll give you more than a lap dance.”
Maddy reached over and snatched the scrap of paper, tearing it into a dozen pieces and tossing it into the trash. “Problem solved.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
“Pardon me, Casey.” Yoda’s voice echoed through the room. “My data scanner has just alerted me to a national press conference that’s about to air on all major networks. It’s being held by the FBI and pertains to Maxim Lubinov. Shall I display it for you?”
“By all means.” Casey’s brows rose in interest. “Put it up on all screens.”
“Of course.”
An instant later, a visual appeared on the enormous, centrally located conference room TV, as well as the panorama of screens surrounding it, providing a perfect view from every angle.
Breaking News flashed in red at the bottom, along with the caption: FBI and local authorities break up national drug trafficking operation.
Three official-looking law enforcement representatives in suits stood there—a stocky gray-haired man and a slim blonde woman positioned on either side of the dais, and a broad-shouldered African-American man, who was up at the podium. On the front panel of the podium was the customary imposing seal that read: Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The authoritative spokesman at the podium stepped closer to the microphone and addressed the TV audience.
“Good afternoon. I’m Special Agent in Charge Rodney Bloom of the FBI Albany Division. With me today is United States Assistant District Attorney Roberta Elden and Captain of the Chicago Police Department William Regis. We are here to announce the results of an extensive, ongoing multi-law enforcement operation that has led to the indictment of Dr. Maxim Lubinov, a renowned Russian-born microbiologist, who is formally being charged with drug trafficking, manufacturing and distribution of illegal PEDs, kidnapping, murder, and attempted murder.
“In addition, the Department of Justice, along with the Albany division of the FBI and the Chicago Police Department, has evidence tying the above crimes to the murder investigation of a young woman, Julie Forman, who was allegedly killed as a result of uncovering incriminating information on Lubinov’s drug ring. On Lubinov’s property was found the body of James Robbins, an employee of Lubinov’s, who’d been missing from his Chicago home for over four weeks.”
The SAC went on to detail the part that Russian Organized Crime played in the cartel, and then went on to name names, including all of Lubinov’s employees.
The list was endless.
No mention of Emma, Lisa, Miles, Shannon, or any outside investigative source was made.
Casey glanced around the table and raised her coffee cup. “Good news all around. The FBI and DOJ get the credit, we get to stay clean, and we have the pleasure of making yet another ADA’s career skyrocket.”
“That should be easy with Lubinov representing himself in court, the arrogant bastard.” Marc rolled his eyes in disgust.
“An ugly combination of narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.” Hutch reiterated his earlier evaluation. “Good thing he’ll be locked up for good.”
“That scene he made prior to his Grand Jury hearing was a media circus, with Lubinov raving on the front steps of the courthouse about his research and about how one day the world would recognize his genius.” Marc gave a humorless laugh. “He really believes the courts will value his scientific advances over his crimes, and that he’ll be exonerated. And that’s even knowing that his assistant, Dmitry Gorev, is cooperating with the authorities. It seems the kid finally grew a conscience.”
“Better late than never,” Patrick pointed out. “It’ll help the ADA’s case.”
“True.” Marc nodded.
“I wonder what the government will do with Lubinov’s research,” Ryan mused aloud. “Will they destroy it or have their pharmaceutical resources alter the formula until it’s safe for use?”
“We’ll probably never know,” Casey replied. “But I can live with that. The important things have all been resolved, including keeping our clients safe and giving them back their lives. Case closed.”
“Giving them back their lives how?” Emma asked. “You said you were working on legal options to keep Lisa and Miles out of jail.”
“And we did,” Casey replied. “We’ve had talks with the right attorneys, who have subsequently made the right deals. And, before you ask, yes, our clients are totally on board with everything. Documents have been signed and dated. In fact…” She glanced at her watch. “Lisa and Miles should be arriving at the brownstone any time now, just to see you. Shannon is back in Chicago with her parents, but she sends you her love and the promise to stay in touch.”
&nbs
p; “All of that sounds awesome.” Emma sighed in relief. She shot Casey a quizzical look. “What does ‘right attorneys’ mean?”
“It means a few top-notch lawyers with whom we have good and mutually beneficial relationships,” Casey clarified. “They’ve been able to work out a deal whereby Lisa’s and Miles’s jail time will be converted into one year of stringent community service—providing that Lisa repays Julie’s inheritance and testifies at her murder trial. Since Julie has no living relatives, Lisa chose to pay back the inheritance by converting the vacant building a block down from Excalibur into a gym and café for foster kids.”
“What a great idea,” Emma exclaimed. “That way, Julie’s dream stays alive in Excalibur, and Lisa’s dream to help other foster kids is realized.”
“Yup.” Casey nodded. “The deal is contingent, of course, on Shannon’s testimony, which she’s ready and eager to give. So stop worrying. It’s all going to be fine.”
“This time,” Hutch qualified. Despite the celebratory mood, he was less than thrilled with the team. “Look, I ran the necessary interference with the Bureau regarding Emma’s capture. I backed up her story, and I kept my mouth shut about FI involvement. But, Casey, you gave Marc and Ryan the go-ahead to act without law enforcement, knowing that SWAT was on its way. In turn, they went ahead and put themselves in a life-threatening situation.”
“If they hadn’t, I might not be alive today,” Emma reminded him. “Every second mattered.”
Hutch couldn’t argue that one, and he didn’t even try—especially because it would make him an utter hypocrite, given the rules he’d broken in the past to save Casey’s life. “I know, Emma. And I’m more than grateful that you’re okay. But this constant vigilante stuff worries the hell out of me. One of these days, FI might not be so lucky. And I couldn’t live with myself if any of you was hurt—or worse.”
“It won’t come to that, Hutch.” Casey gave him a tender look, fully aware of how torn he was—and why. “We’re the best there is at what we do. You know that. And you also know that we always stay within the confines of the law—unless we can’t.” Her wink was playful. “But thank you. Your concerns have been duly noted.”
“Yeah, right, and you’ll take them under advisement.” Hutch rolled his eyes. “You’re going to make me old before my time.”
“I’ll keep you young, I promise.”
Hutch couldn’t help but thaw. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Maddy gave him a sympathetic look. “Our job, it seems, is to love them and live with them—but not always happily.”
“I’ll take the job,” Hutch replied. “God help me, but sign me up.”
*****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’m fortunate enough to work with an amazing, dedicated group of people who are the best consultants any author could ask for. They possess not only specialized knowledge and experience that make them the experts that they are, but also the generosity of spirit to share that expertise with me and help me create the best book possible.
Specifically, I want to thank:
Angela Bell, Public Affairs Specialist, FBI Office of Public Affairs, who quite simply defines the word “awesome.”
SSA James McNamara, FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, retired, Behavioral Criminology International, former Captain United States Marine Corps, whose vast knowledge of criminal human behavior is a fascinating counterpart to his firsthand knowledge of the skills and character of a US Marine.
Debbie D’Alessio, Personal Trainer, who spent hours teaching me everything from professional training techniques to the basics of using state-of-the-art training equipment.
Shannon Wojnar, who introduced me to the world of competitive gymnastics.
“JP” and “his daughter”, who brought Chicago to life for me, and gave me an insider’s view of the city and its surrounding suburbs.
Dr. Paul Sedlacek, who combines extraordinary veterinary expertise with overall medical knowledge (along with a dash of creativity) to lend understanding to the human/animal anatomical similarities and differences.
As always I want to thank the following:
My readers, who inspire me, cheer me on, and love my characters as much as I do.
And to my family, who are my heart and my champions—I feel eternally blessed to have you. I love you, always.
Table of Contents
The Murder That Never Was
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
EPILOGUE