Suspicion At Sea

by Nichols, Amie

  “I love you,” he whispers in my ear before trailing kisses up my cheek to my lips. I place my hands on either side of his face, kissing him back.

  “I love you, too,” I whisper back, feeling like I could start crying again. God, this man has made me an emotional mess.

  He settles in beside me, pulling me into his strong arms and kissing the top of my head. I wrap my hands around his waist and lay my head on his chest. I can hear the hard thumping of his heart. It starts to slow to a steady rhythm as he relaxes.

  “Can I ask you a few things?” he whispers. These are going to be uncomfortable questions by the way his voice sounds. I will tell him whatever he needs to know. I will not hide anything and hopefully it will make him more at ease.

  “Yes,” I whisper back.

  “I have to confess something,” he says. The way I am lying on his chest I can't see his face so I stay silent and let him talk. “I looked up Chico Alverez on the internet. He was a very attractive man,” he says like a question, pretty much asking me if I agree.

  “Yes, and he was also suave. He had a way with words. That is how he got so many followers. Men and women worshipped him,” I respond honestly.

  “So when you were...having sex,” he stumbles with his words, “Did you enjoy it?”

  “Do you know that when you kiss me, Justin, I am instantly aroused? My body aches, my insides turn to mush, and my panties are usually soaked within seconds.” I'm trying to explain the difference the best way I know how. “With Chico, it was not like that at all. It was like a chore, something I didn't want to do but had to. It was uncomfortable and totally one sided. I shut my emotions off and was a robot.”

  “Did you spend the whole night with him, actually sleep in the same bed, I mean?” I crook my neck so I can see his face. It's dark enough that I can't see his eyes. His head is back against the pillow and his arm is around me, his hand squeezing my shoulder.

  “Chico usually fell asleep as soon as he was done. I would sneak out every time,” I answer, laying my head back down on his chest. “I had my own room in his mansion. When I could I would leave, especially if there was something that—” I stop suddenly, hating the thought of this and don't want to tell him.

  “What?” Justin asks, hearing in my voice that there is something else.

  “I planted a camera in Chico's room. Every time I was with Chico there were agents watching.” Justin now knows that every sexual encounter I had with Chico is on tape in evidence.

  “Jesus...” I hear it in his voice. The fear, the same fear I struggle with, that those tapes could be used someday, used in a court room, used against me. There was more than one agent at the Bureau who hated me. Cody’s and my work on LDR made us. We attracted attention of a lot of high ranking officials who were saying the only reason I got deep into the group was because I was a woman and I used my body; that I was no better than a whore and that any woman could have done what I did. Which is true to a point, but only a very small point. Our consistently hard work building evidence and intel for two years is what took down LDR.

  “How many have seen them?”

  “Only the two agents who were on the case with us.”

  “Who?”

  “SSA Lyle Burdock and Diane Griffin.”

  “They are in evidence now?” Justin asks.

  “Yes. I have petitioned for those portions of the tapes to be destroyed, but I've been denied,” I admit to him, telling him that it bothers me that those tapes are there.

  “Did Cody ever see them?” I can hear some anger coming back in his voice.

  “God, no.” I would die if I ever thought Cody had seen me like that. He is a brother to me. I would never be able to look him in the eyes again. Just him knowing what I did was horrible enough without the visual.

  “But you don't know if he ever went back and watched them?”

  “I don't know for a fact, but I don't know why he would have. He hated what I was doing, I doubt he wanted to see it in living color,” I answer. I can feel his body tensing under me. I want to put a stop to the questioning, but I don't. These are things he thinks he needs to know, and not telling him will only make it worse.

  Chapter 36

  Justin

  My whole body is on fire as I question Ellie who's naked in my arms. I don't know why I keep asking these questions, but every answer leads me to another question. She's being honest and not fighting me on them. Will I be this honest when she starts questioning me about my past? I have no choice, I have to be.

  “Do you want to tell me why you are scared to death of Fausto?” I've had more than enough of Chico talk for now, I want to know about the threat at hand.

  “What makes you think I'm scared to death of him?” she asks, making me chuckle. Is she going to pretend that I can't read her like an open book?

  “You're not?” I have a smile on my face when she looks up at me and I lift my head so I can see those gorgeous eyes.

  “I don't know if I love or hate when you do that,” she says, referring to the fact I can tell what she is thinking almost before she does. It is not a talent I have, I just have it with her.

  “Spill it.” I move my hand lightly up and down her arm, letting my head fall back on the pillow again.

  “Fausto is a totally different story than his younger brother. For reasons unknown to me, Fausto took a liking to me. He told me he was in love with me and asked me to leave with him. To get even more on Chico's good side, I told him what his brother asked. Chico had known because there was a letter Fausto had written to me that was intercepted by Chico. Their relationship wasn't the best in the first place, but this made it all the worse.

  “I was trying to get their guard down, hoping that in one of their many fights they would reveal something that they normally never would. It worked with Chico because he was cocky and feared nothing. Fausto is way more reserved, smarter, not a hot head.”

  “Which is worse, because you can never tell what they are going to do,” I add, knowing exactly why Ellie is scared.

  “Yes, but my going to Chico with what Fausto said did not change his feelings. He said I was a queen, and that with him I could rule his kingdom. I was so focused on Chico that I didn't listen to what he was saying. That was one of my biggest mistakes.” She stops talking, and is silent for a second.

  “Fausto was in charge the whole time, Chico was just a front?”

  “Yep, I had him. I could have had the most powerful and feared Alverez. But I didn't see it, I was so focused on bringing down the slave trade that all I could see was bringing down Chico. He was very good, I thought what everybody else did.”

  “Why didn't Fausto put a stop to it if he was in charge? If he loved you so much, why would he let his brother have you?” I know I would have, be damned everyone else.

  “Appearances. If he did he would have exposed Chico. Chico and his men were all Fausto's front to protect him if something ever went down, like the raid that killed half of LDR and sent the other half to jail. It was better for him to bide his time, he would have me in the end. But then I ‘died’ in the raid, and Fausto was livid. Not that his brother was killed, but that I was killed. That was when we realized just how powerful he was.” I feel her body shiver, and I don't think it is because of the cold.

  “Cody was the one that killed Chico, didn't that blow his cover?”

  “No, he killed Chico because Chico used me as a shield, at least that is what it looked like to the survivors and what got back to Fausto. Our confidential informants at that time told us that Fausto was inconsolable, that he retreated into South America where he mourned my death. He didn't start moving until about three months ago. This vacation,” she half laughs, “This was going to be the end of my leave before I tracked down Fausto and put him behind bars.”

  “How were you going to do that?” I'm not sure I want to know the answer to this, but I have to ask.

  “Not that way, if that is what you are thinking,” she growls, upset at my t
houghts. “You have to trust me and trust when I say that will never happen again.” She leans up on her elbow to stare at me.

  “You're right, I'm sorry. It was a fleeting thought.” She narrows her eyes, and even through the darkness I can tell she is shooting me unsure daggers. “Honestly.” I put my hand over my heart. I chuckle at her which earns me an even dirtier look.

  “This is not funny!”

  “You're right. The subject is not funny, but you, sexy girl, can read me just as well as I can read you. I, for one, love it.” I take her cheek in my hand, leaning in for a kiss.

  “I like it, too, I guess,” she whispers when our lips part. “But seriously, this is a dangerous situation. It's not just Suzy who's in danger...” She stops, biting her lower lip.

  “He comes close to you or Suzy and he is dead.” I tense. Being here in bed with her post amazing sex and her telling me she loves me, I seem to have forgotten about the danger aspect for a moment. I will die before I let him get his grimy hands on either one of them.

  “I know that you are no one to mess with, but you are not a SEAL anymore. This is not your fight, this is not your mess. This is FBI business—” I hold up my hand to stop her from finishing.

  “This is my fight, it became my fight as soon as those dirt bags drove by my sister's house. Besides, I love you, which means that anyone who threatens you, FBI business or not, it is my fight.” Her mouth opens and I'm not sure what she is going to say, but I have the feeling it's going to be an objection. I stop her words by turning her around so fast that she is taken off-guard. Her back to my front, I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her soft hair. “Good night, babe,” I whisper, and she gets the hint that the conversation is over. Settling into me, we fall asleep.

  Chapter 37

  Ellie

  I'm awakened by Justin who's still asleep, but is twitching and mumbling and drenched in sweat. I turn to face him. “Justin, baby,” I whisper, not wanting to startle him. His eyes fly open and he sits up instantly, breathing hard as he realizes he's having a nightmare.

  “Baby, it's okay, it was just a dream.” I sit up next to him, holding the sheet to my chest and putting my hand on his clammy back, lightly, to try and comfort him. His muscles are tense and hard, and he jerks at my touch. I kiss his shoulder when he looks over at me, his eyes wide and frightened.

  “I'm sorry,” he whispers, not sure what he is saying sorry for.

  “That must have been one hell of a nightmare, do you want to tell me about it?” I ask, sitting cross-legged so I am facing him, with one hand on his back and the other on his chest. His heart is pounding so hard I can feel the thumps on my palm.

  “Not really.” He takes my hand on his chest, bringing it up to his mouth, kissing the back then holds it as he stares off in the distance.

  “Do you have these often?” Whatever the dream was, it has visibly rattled him even after he's awake.

  “It was just a dumb dream.” He turns to me, forcing a smile. His arm goes around my waist as he forces me to lie back down in the bed, his lips on my neck. He is obviously trying to change the subject. His stubble tickles my neck as he sucks lightly under my ear. Just as a tiny moan escapes my throat, we are interrupted by my phone.

  “Damn,” Justin groans, falling on his side next to me with a humph.

  “Hey,” I answer, seeing that it is Cody.

  “We are twenty minutes out, can we set up there?” he asks. This place is so secluded I had assumed we would, I just haven't asked Justin yet.

  “Hang on,” I reply, putting the phone to my chest and turning to Justin. “Can we set up here temporarily?” He nods with a look that says, well duh. “Yes, do you have the coordinates?” I ask Cody.

  “Yep, you know I have your phone linked to mine.” He used to hide it, but now it's like he is proud of it. As long as I have my phone, Cody will always be able to find me. It is a state of the art GPS system that Tommy made. My phone is untraceable by anyone except him and Tommy.

  “Oh yeah, I forgot. See you when you get here.” I end the call and get up out of bed to get dressed.

  “Where do you think you are going?” Justin pulls my naked body back down. Justin's eyes roam up and down my body and one eyebrow rises as a wicked smile comes across his face.

  “Justin they are going to be here any minute.” I laugh at the expression on his face, it looks like he wants to eat me alive. I would let him if there wasn't who knows how many FBI agents about to descend on us. I get back up and barely dodge his grab for me again. I snatch my bag and get into the bathroom, shutting the door before he can catch me.

  “You are going to pay for that later,” he yells through the door and I imagine the smirk on his face.

  “Looking forward to it,” I yell back.

  When I get done showering and dressing, I come out of the bathroom to find Justin gone. Commotion in the main part of the cabin tells me they've arrived. I tie my hair back in a ponytail and tuck my white button-up shirt into my dark gray dress pants. Looking around, I find my badge and hook it on the waist of my pants. I realize my gun is out in the main room on the table. That was just stupid, it was there all night.

  “There she is,” Cody says when I emerge from the bedroom. I spot my gun and place it in the hip holster at my waist. Just as I knew they would be, the three agents standing in the main room are wearing dress pants, shirts, and ties.

  “Hey, you,” I greet once I am put together, and walk to Cody, giving him a hug. Justin is in the kitchen, shirtless and wearing jeans. He looks absolutely amazing as he makes coffee. “So you met Justin?” I ask after I've said hello to the other agents in the room.

  “Sort of,” Cody says, shaking his head.

  “Justin, this is Cody Reed,” I introduce them when Justin comes over, putting his arm around my shoulder as if he's staking his claim.

  “Good to meet you.” Cody nods politely when Justin doesn't act to shake his hand. This should be very interesting.

  “Lyle Burdock.” I point out the man sitting on the sofa with papers and files in front of him. He is staring at a map of the area, but turns to us when he hears his name. Just as suspected, I feel Justin tense at the name. Lyle was one of the two agents that watched me with Chico.

  “Splendid,” Justin says with disdain.

  “You're the SEAL and the brother.” Lyle stands, leering, catching the contempt in Justin's voice. He is a big guy, tall and wide, and very intimidating to those who don't know he is really just a big teddy bear. Unless you cross him, then watch out. Justin doesn't seem intimidated at all, not that I would expect him to be.

  “Yes, I am the SEAL and the brother.” Justin smirks at his description.

  “This is SSA Denny O’Brien,” I introduce the other agent in the room. Denny has red hair, fair skin and freckles. He looks like a little boy, but is also a retired Navy SEAL. He is lethal. Denny, going through a file, looks up at the sound of his name.

  “Yes, Justin Bennett, I've heard of you,” Denny says, coming over, extending his hand to shake Justin's.

  “Have you?” Justin's eyebrows rise as he takes Denny's hand. “I can't say that I've heard of you, though.”

  “Denny was—” Denny places his hand up in the air towards my face as if to shush me. I don't know him well, but it seems the asshole persona I've heard so much about is true.

  “Operation Talamarin, was on the rescue team,” Denny says, and I turn to Justin whose eyes widen as he realizes who Denny is. I can't tell if it is a good thing or a bad thing because there are no smiles, just stares.

  Chapter 38

  Justin

  Operation Talamarin was my last mission and I was the only survivor. And by the look of hate on his face, he thinks the same of me as so many others do.

  “Do you recognize this man?” Denny says, walking around the couch to the table, picking up an eight by ten and holding it up for all to see.

  “Yes, that is Alejandro Galvon.” I move in front of Ellie having the n
eed to protect her from this information.

  “No, Justin, that is Fausto Alverez,” Ellie says, stepping beside me again, a look of confusion on her face that must match mine.

  “Wait...” I turn to Ellie then to Denny who lays the picture back down on the table. “That man is dead,” I exclaim with certainty.

  “No, he's not, and it wasn't until all of this that we realized that they were indeed one and the same,” Denny explains, just adding more questions.

  “We believe the whole reason for Fausto using your brother-in-law is, in fact, to get back at you,” Cody interjects.

  “Wait a minute. So he's coming here for Justin, not Suzy?” Ellie says.

  “That night you lost your whole team, that night you thought Alejandro Galvon was on the ship that blew up, it wasn't him. It was his son. That bomb killed his son, along with the five members of your team.” Denny adds the last part about my team for no other reason I can see but to get under my skin. I wince, remembering the explosion that haunts my dreams.

  “What?” Ellie puts her hand on my bicep. I glance down at it, so tiny against my arm. I move my eyes to hers and there's no judgment in them, just concern and love. This whole time I've judged her, pushed her to tell me more about her when I've had one of the worst secrets there is.

  “Fausto had a son?” Ellie exclaims at Cody.

  “Apparently,” Cody shrugs.

  “How did we not know this?”

  “Well, obviously there was a lot we didn't know,” Cody answers the bore-a-hole-through-you stare Ellie is giving him.

  “We need to question Justin about his involvement with Fausto,” Cody says softly as he puts a hand on Ellie's shoulder. If ever I've wanted to punch a man, it is right now.

  “What are you talking about, question him? Like he's a suspect, question him?” Ellie spurs, her cheeks becoming red with anger.