Special Agent

by Valerie Hansen

  “I’m going to lay a larger sheet of clean plastic on this hay bale, then open the note with tweezers. Before I do, I’ll need your promise to not touch it.”

  “I promise.” What choice did she have? He was the federal agent with all the authority. She was a mere civilian. Besides, she didn’t want to contaminate possible evidence. Each opportunity took them one step closer to solving the mystery of her stalker.

  “Okay. Shut those sliding doors at the end of the aisle so the wind doesn’t blow through. It’s getting nasty out there.”

  “Right.” Katerina ran to follow his instructions. He was right about the increasing wind. Rain was now being blown against one end of the long, rectangular building and making a staccato patter.

  She returned to him. “We should have parked your SUV inside so we wouldn’t get wet.”

  “It wasn’t raining when we got here.”

  “Are you always so logical?”

  “I try to be.” Although he was concentrating on unfolding the note, he took time to add, “You should try it sometime. It might simplify your life.”

  She huffed. “Nothing will ever fix my life. You know it and I know it. Vern’s lies have ruined my past, my present and probably my future, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

  Expecting him to argue, Katerina was disappointed when he didn’t. What he did do was smooth the note with another baggie and hold down the closest corner so they could both see the text.

  I want the goods, it said. Turn them over or you’ll end up like your boyfriend.

  Katerina took a backward step. “They must think I hid drugs for Vern.”

  “I’m going to phone the jail and see if anybody was with Kowalski to hear his last words.”

  “Besides his killer, you mean? Do you think that’s why he was murdered? Could he have been tortured for information?”

  “If the Duprees think he was double-crossing them, then yes, it’s a possibility. He may have tried to skim or steal and died before he revealed where he’d stashed the loot.”

  Katerina felt woozy. She leaned against the half door of Moonlight’s stall and stroked the horse’s velvety nose, drawing comfort from the contact while she mulled over her dilemma.

  “This drug cartel thinks I know.”

  “That’s how it looks,” he said on a rough exhale. “Are you sure he never said anything about keeping some deep dark secret?”

  “Not a peep. No clues, no hints, nothing. I thought he sold insurance, remember?”

  This time, when Max nodded and looked steadily at her, Katerina could tell he was on her side. That was huge. She had a true ally. A defender. They might not yet be friends, nor were they romantically involved despite her covert appreciation of Max’s many fine attributes. But that didn’t matter.

  God had answered her fervent prayers. She had been sent a special agent who had finally seen the truth and believed in her innocence. She no longer had to stand alone.

  EIGHT

  As far as Max was concerned he’d remain in California until all threats to Katerina were neutralized. Higher-ups in the FBI, however, disagreed. He was ordered back to Billings when a credible lead to the whereabouts of Jake Morrow was texted to headquarters.

  “Are you sure this isn’t another wild-goose chase?” he asked when Dylan O’Leary contacted him. “I want to find Jake as much as the next guy but it’s really iffy to leave here now.”

  “Afraid it’s out of your hands, Boss. We’ve had several reliable sightings of Agent Morrow in the past few days besides the latest tip.” The tech guru sounded a lot more somber than usual.

  “Okay. I trust your judgment. Tell me again what the message said.”

  Dylan read it verbatim.

  “Daddy’s home but not for long. Catch him if you can.”

  “What makes you think that pertains to Jake?” Max demanded. “It could mean anybody.”

  “True. But think about it. The only daddy directly involved in the Dupree case is Jake and he was supposedly spotted by several witnesses. It all fits.”

  “People claim to have seen him all over the country. Prove to me that text has anything to do with the Duprees and I might take it more seriously. Have you been able to trace the source of the message?”

  “Not well. It came from a burner phone but the signal did bounce off a tower near the Dupree estate. They may have a snitch in their midst.”

  “That would be too good to be true.” Max made his decision. “All right. I’ll fly back and leave my vehicle here. That way I’ll have to come back for it.”

  “Unless they decide to have it transported. When shall we expect you?”

  “Book me a direct flight. My closest airport is probably San Jose.”

  “Affirmative.” O’Leary lowered his voice to a personal level. “Listen, buddy, I understand how you feel about leaving Cali right now. It almost killed me when Zara went off to Quantico. And then when her friend went missing, it was worse.”

  Max’s forehead knit. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Sure you do. I’ve been handling all your special requests, remember?” A chuckle. “You’ve got a thing for that Garwood woman and you know it.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Suit yourself. You can deny emotional involvement all you want but I’ve never known you to hesitate one second to follow orders before. If she’s not the reason, what is?”

  “Opal is being utilized here almost daily. As long as bombs are being set, this is where she belongs.”

  “Yeah, well, we haven’t been napping, either. Harper has canvassed neighbors in the coverage area of the cell tower and she’s come up with a few strong leads. We haven’t called for a full-out police action because we don’t want to tip anyone off.”

  “I suppose it’s possible that whoever placed the call is near where Jake’s being held captive.”

  “True. Plus, Harper has a name and possible location for Morrow’s baby mama. She’s requested Opal as backup in case there’s a problem.”

  “Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” Max was pacing, throwing clothing into a pile on the bed while Opal watched. “I’ll be packed in a few minutes and on my way. Allow me three or four hours to drive to the airport.”

  “Copy. What’re you going to do about the Garwood woman?”

  Hesitating, Max looked toward Katerina’s room as if he could see through the solid wall. “I’m not sure. She’s going to want to go back to work soon so I wouldn’t be able to watch her 24/7 anyway. I’ll need to arrange transportation for her while I’m gone. Something inconspicuous with a powerful engine. See what you can do, will you?”

  Dylan chuckled. “You give me a lot of credit. Anything else? Bodyguards, maybe?”

  “No, but that is a good idea. I’ll speak to the local sheriff and see if he can spare a unit to escort her to and from work. It’s not far.”

  “You are so transparent,” the techie said, laughing more. “How many other crime victims have you decided to protect no matter what? One? Two? None?”

  “I would have if I’d thought it was necessary,” Max argued. “While I’m in Billings I want you to be tracking down leads to who is responsible for offing Kowalski in jail. Find out if the guy lived long enough to have spoken to anybody and see if you can tie that person to the Duprees.”

  “You think it was more than random prison violence?”

  “Absolutely. I’ve sent the warning notes Ms. Garwood received to Quantico. Find out what they discovered and be sure the report reaches me. Even if there are no readable fingerprints on the paper there may be trace evidence that will help.”

  “Okay. I’ll get back to you as soon as I book your flight.”

  “Thanks.” Max realized he was concerned beyond normal, yet refused
to consider that Dylan might be right about his personal involvement. Katerina was not only from a different world, that of wealth and privilege, she was too young for him. Still, he worried about her despite mental arguments to the contrary. It may be the human thing to do but it certainly was not a professional response. Not only was she on his mind almost constantly, he kept having to squelch the urge to pick up the phone and call her for no reason.

  Well, now he had one. He pushed the button to speed-dial the phone he’d given her and prayed she’d understand why he had to virtually abandon her.

  * * *

  The unfamiliar ring startled Katerina. “Hello?”

  “How are you this morning?” Max asked cautiously.

  The tone of his voice was off somehow. “I’m okay. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, really. Why?”

  “Because you don’t sound normal. Have you figured out who is stalking me and what they want?”

  “I have our best people working on that,” he reassured her.

  “Good. I want to go back to living my life. First I have to see if they can fix my truck, then I need to either find a new apartment or ask the landlord to repair the damage to my old one.”

  “I’d like you to stay where you are for the present. I’m making arrangements for a rental car.”

  She was both astounded and adamant. “No way. I can’t afford it. You know that.”

  “I know. But I have to fly to Montana for a few days and I’d like to know you’re safe, with plenty of people around you.”

  “You’re leaving?” Part of her heart felt lodged in her throat while the rest plunged into her stomach and lay there like a boulder.

  “Orders,” he said flatly.

  “I—I thought you were the boss. Special agent in charge and all that.”

  “There are higher-ups who can override my decisions. You’ll be fine while I’m gone. I’ll speak to the sheriff and have a deputy escort you to and from work.”

  What could she say? What could she do? She had no real hold on him other than an intense desire to remain in his company. Of course he had to follow orders. That only made sense. What was far less plausible was the ache developing within her as she contemplated his absence.

  Katerina pulled herself together. “Of course. I understand. Do you intend to return to South Fork?”

  “Definitely. We have the bombing at the ranch to keep looking at, plus the personal threats you’ve received. This is one time when your connection to the Dupree cartel is working in your favor.”

  “I guess I could look at it that way. Might as well have something good come out of my mistakes.”

  “Everybody makes them,” Max told her gently.

  Cradling the phone against her cheek she pretended he was speaking directly to her and was standing close, letting her draw on his strength the way she had before.

  “Is it all right if I use this phone to call you while you’re gone?” Katerina held her breath, hoping he’d say yes.

  “Of course. I’ll be checking in with you on a regular basis, too...” he cleared his throat “...in case you can remember any names or receive further threats. I doubt you’ll be bothered with a visible police presence. When I get back we’ll dig deeper into the mystery of where Vern hid whatever the stalkers are after.”

  “Promise?” It galled Katerina that her voice sounded weak at that moment. She was strong and capable. There was no reason to feel so lost while contemplating Max’s absence. Yet she did. It was as if someone had blasted away the foundation of her stability, of her courage, and left her trying to stand on loose sand that kept shifting beneath her.

  His “I promise” seemed sincere as well as heartfelt. That helped. So did the idea of going back to work soon. Her current situation required gainful employment and her psyche insisted that she make her own way despite obstacles. That was the mindset that had helped her succeed at training hardheaded horses and it would sustain her now.

  “When do you leave?” she asked thickly.

  “In a few minutes.”

  “Meet me in the hall so I can say goodbye to Opal?”

  “Sure.”

  There was not a whisper of doubt in Katerina’s mind that she wanted to give her staunch protector a parting hug. Whether she would be able to muster the courage to do so or whether Max would accept the gesture was the real question.

  She had often pictured herself close to him the way she had been when he’d helped her leave the hospital. Every second he was near she wanted to lean on his broad shoulder or step into his embrace. The desire was more a matter of needing support than anything else, including romance, she insisted. That would be nice, of course, but at this point she mostly craved something that had been sorely lacking in her recent experiences. True moral support.

  She did not intend to wilt like a delicate flower on a hot day and throw herself at him. After all, she was much stronger than that. But she also didn’t intend to let him leave without conveying a hint of her growing affection. If she scared him away, so be it. He’d probably leave anyway. Eventually. So what did she have to lose—except her self-respect, and there wasn’t a whole lot of that left over after recent events.

  Grabbing the door handle she twisted the latch and stepped into the hall.

  Max was waiting with Opal by his side. The sight of him was so endearing, so incredibly special, Katerina almost ran to him. Supreme effort slowed her pace. She began to smile.

  As if they had both read the same script and were acting their parts, he pivoted to face her and opened his arms slightly.

  That was all the invitation Katerina needed. Stepping up, she slid her arms around his waist, laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Words were unnecessary. Actions said all there was to say.

  * * *

  The flight to Billings was uneventful. By keeping Opal in uniform Max was able to walk her into the passenger compartment at his side without question. They were about to land when he received word from Dylan that Agent Harper Prentiss had verified the name and current location of Jake Morrow’s girlfriend and was waiting for him at the airport.

  Since he hadn’t checked any luggage he was able to deplane and join her without delay.

  They shook hands as their dogs sniffed each other and renewed acquaintance. “I hear you think you know where Jake’s family is,” Max said.

  “Yes. It looks good. I’d just rather have Opal check the premises before Star and I go in, especially since the Dupree family is involved.” She passed him a white paper sack. “Here you go. Fresh from Petrov’s bakery. I know how meager airplane food can be.”

  Max pulled out a sticky bun and dug in. “My favorite. Thanks.” As soon as he’d swallowed, he asked, “Didn’t you date Jake at one time?”

  “Not exactly. He and I didn’t mesh.” She shook her head pensively. “He was persistent there for a while, but there was no way. Not for me.”

  “Interesting.” Max tossed his bag into the back of her SUV and instructed Opal to get in one side as Harper put her German shepherd, Star, in the other. The handlers met in the front seat. “Bring me up to speed,” Max said. “What all have you managed to put together?”

  “Neighbors near the target house where the woman and toddler live have been shown Jake’s photo. Some think they saw him inside. A few insisted his hair was darker. They said the man in question was usually wearing dark glasses, even in the house, so they weren’t sure about his eye color.”

  “What can you tell me about the mother and baby?”

  “Her name is Penny Potter. She’s a single mother raising a toddler son, Kevin, whose father’s name is not listed on the birth certificate. That’s why we had so much trouble tracking her down.”

  Max’s jaw clenched. “Assuming you have the right woman. And that she knows somethi
ng that may help us track down the men who kidnapped Jake. It’s iffy that their sightings were accurate.”

  “I know. But I wanted Opal along to make sure we’re not walking into a Dupree trap. Other units are going to stage down the street and stand by until we give the all clear. We’ll also have overhead coverage from our chopper. If Jake is in there, like some of the neighbors have said, whoever has been holding him may be present, too. I don’t understand why Jake would be with the woman, but we can’t ignore possibilities, no matter how far-fetched.”

  “Fair enough.” Max drew his fingers down his cheek. “I left in such a hurry I didn’t have time to shave.”

  “Too busy with Ms. Katerina?”

  His head snapped around. “O’Leary has a big mouth and a wild imagination.”

  Harper was smiling. “Hey, don’t knock it. There’s nothing wrong with romance, especially at our age. The clock is ticking.”

  “Not for Katerina. She’s a lot younger than I am.”

  “So?” the female agent retorted. “You can’t be after her fortune now that she’s been disinherited. If you two hit it off, I say go for it.”

  “It’s not that simple. She was mixed up with the wrong crowd. Even planned to marry one of them.”

  “One little mistake,” Harper said with a wry smile.

  Max stayed sober. “Her little mistake was murdered while in police custody where he should have been safe. Apparently, before he was arrested, he stole something the Duprees want back.”

  “Secret files, maybe? Cooked books?”

  “Possibly. I had assumed it was drugs until somebody tossed Katerina’s apartment and looked in places far too small to conceal a valuable stash. It could be a flash drive, I suppose. Whatever it is, it’s not bulky like the packages of drugs or stacks of money she thinks they’re after.”

  “Interesting. You know, if the father of this baby really is Jake Morrow and we can get Penny Potter to talk, she may be able to shed light on a lot of unknowns in this case.”

  Nodding, Max said, “Remember, Jake is a victim, too. As for the Potter woman, she may have been fooled and taken advantage of just like Katerina was.”