She twisted to look over her shoulder and found McKenzie standing way too close. He was wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt, and a blood red tie that screamed federal authority and competence.
He gave her the side eye when the guard turned away to pick up the phone.
Tess avoided his gaze and her nails cut into her palms. She couldn’t believe he was here. Couldn’t believe he was trying to help her get inside. Something must have happened—did it involve Cole? Had someone else died? The idea made her stomach pitch.
After a moment, the guard returned and spoke to McKenzie. “Warden says you can come in, but no one else.”
“Get us in to see the warden and I’ll talk to him about Ms. Fallon. Then he can make the final decision.” McKenzie and the guard seemed to be in a pissing contest. Tess had learned from a young age that when one dog lost face it usually took out its ire on the nearest potential victim. The guard indicated McKenzie walk through. She watched anxiously as the FBI agent handed his weapon into a side booth in a secure area and the bag he carried was searched.
When the guard waved Tess through, he stopped her just past the counter with a heavy hand on her shoulder. “I need to search you.”
Her spine went rigid. It wasn’t that she hadn’t expected to be searched—contraband was clearly a problem in any prison. She’d stowed her belongings in one of the available lockers and wasn’t carrying anything on her person. She raised her arms, and the guard slowly but firmly slid his hands all over her body, being a little bit too thorough. He was punishing her and she pushed down her instinctive desire to bolt. None of it was obvious to the casual observer, but the malicious gleam in his annoyed stare told her all she needed to know about how much he enjoyed his job. She felt violated from those few basic strokes of his hand, and was grateful to be wearing jeans.
Then he opened his mouth and she knew he was about to order an even more intimate search. Her knees wobbled and she fought the urge to scream. This was too important to run away from, but she wasn’t sure she could endure a stranger seeing her naked and touching her intimately just to ask someone she detested a few questions he probably wouldn’t answer. And now McKenzie was here, maybe she didn’t need to. McKenzie could confront Eddie and she’d go home. A wasted trip but, hey, at least her dignity would remain intact.
“The warden doesn’t have all day.” McKenzie tapped his wristwatch impatiently. He’d observed the search with an impassive expression, but Tess could read the storm clouds in the tornado green of his eyes.
The guard’s shoulders dropped and his chin raised. He stood back and let her through. “I’ll see you on the way out, Ms. Fallon.”
Great.
McKenzie took her elbow and steered her toward another guard. This guy was bigger and his eyes seemed kinder. He introduced himself as Officer Pennington.
He smiled at Tess, spoke to McKenzie. “Some of the guards are still pissed about the FBI investigating the prison a couple years back. Might not take too kindly to a federal agent poking his nose in.”
Fantastic.
“That was here?” McKenzie said with a grimace.
“Sure was,” the tall guard told him with a smile. “You want to talk to Prisoner Hines?”
Not really.
“That’s right,” McKenzie said in that easy way he had. People instinctively liked the guy. He no doubt used it to his advantage.
“You know him?” she asked the guard.
The flash of white teeth against dark skin almost blinded her. “I make it a point to know where the white supremacists are housed.” Pennington laughed. “Plus, he’s been here longer than I have—since this place opened.” Those dark eyes turned hard. “Knock on wood he’ll be here long after I’m gone.”
“We can hope,” she agreed.
The guard’s eyes rested on her face as if weighing each of her features. Did he see the family resemblance? Eddie had always favored their mother. With the exception of Tess’s hair and eyes and the occasional killer glare, she had her maternal granddaddy’s features.
“What’s your business with him?” Pennington asked as they ambled along.
“I’m afraid I can’t discuss that until after I’ve spoken to the warden,” Mac said with obvious regret.
The guard assessed them both with a cool nod before showing them into an office. Inside, a tall, wiry man turned to look at them over half-frame glasses. He held a sheaf of papers in his hand.
A secretary with a benign expression was busy at a PC.
“Warden Flowers, you’ve got visitors,” said Pennington.
“Thanks, Hal,” Flowers said to the guard. “I’ll let you know when I need you again.”
Hal Pennington nodded and sauntered slowly away.
“Thanks for seeing us at such short notice, Warden.” McKenzie shook the man’s hand. “And for giving permission for the interview.”
Tess was surprised McKenzie needed permission. She’d thought the FBI would be able waltz in and do what they wanted. Apparently not.
“Can you tell me what it’s regarding?” the warden asked.
“No. Sorry. It’s part of an ongoing criminal investigation.”
“And you also want to see Eddie Hines?” Warden Flowers regarded her thoughtfully.
Tess nodded.
One side of the warden’s mouth pulled back. He examined the papers in his hand. Tess saw her photograph. He was reading the visitor’s application form she’d filled in last night.
The man looked up and nailed her with a piercing stare. “This is the first time you’ve seen your brother in twenty years?”
She cleared her throat. “Yes, sir. I had no desire to be involved in Eddie’s kind of lifestyle.”
“He doesn’t have a lifestyle, he’s imprisoned.” His curt tone seemed reprimanding.
Her spine stiffened to steel. Was he judging her?
“So he no longer holds white supremacist views?” Mac asked, which was not what the guard, Pennington, had insinuated.
The warden’s eyebrows bobbed up. “I didn’t say that. But he’s been a model prisoner and has found God. He appears genuinely repentant about his crime. He was only eighteen at the time of the offenses. It’s hard to change the core ideology we are raised with.” The look he sent Tess suggested she must be full of hatred and prejudice. She opened her mouth to correct that impression but McKenzie beat her to it.
“Tess was only ten when her brother was arrested. She never shared his beliefs,” he told the man. “You can’t blame her for wanting to leave that part of her history behind.”
She swallowed the unfamiliar sensation of someone defending her.
The warden’s expression reserved judgment. “So why the sudden and urgent change of heart?”
Because she was worried Eddie had somehow influenced their little brother and got him involved in a murder plot? She didn’t want McKenzie to hear about the file in Cole’s drawer, not until she found the slightest proof Cole might have had something to do with the judge’s murder. Then she’d go to the Feds. Not before.
Tess looked at McKenzie but he raised a brow, not helping her with the warden’s question.
“Did you hear about the murder of the federal judge in DC on Monday this week?” she asked.
The warden nodded.
She glanced at McKenzie—did he already realize this? “Monday would have been our father, David Hines’s, birthday. I wanted to make sure my brother wasn’t involved in something that might get him into trouble.”
She didn’t say which brother.
The warden glanced at her application forms again. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt to allow you to talk to him for a few minutes, but if you’re questioning him about a murder he should probably call his lawyer.”
“He’s not being questioned about a murder, Warden Flowers,” McKenzie told him. “He’s just talking to his sister who he hasn’t seen for years and I’d like to listen in to what he has to say.”
The warden drew his slight fr
ame upright and narrowed his eyes. “You want to record their conversation?”
McKenzie nodded. “I have a warrant.” He fished a piece of paper out of his bag.
Tess swallowed uneasily.
“I think Tess might be able to pry information out of him I can’t. And if he has nothing to hide it might help at his next parole hearing if he’s cooperative.”
“You’d speak for him?” the warden said with a raised brow.
“If he’s changed the way you’re suggesting, yes, I would. First, I need to ascertain he had nothing to do with this latest crime so I can concentrate on other lines of investigation. Can you send me a list of everyone he’s had contact with via either visitation or correspondence?” He pointed his last request toward the secretary who smiled as he handed her his card.
The guy had more charm than was legal, and evidently used it to get his own way.
Warden Flowers nodded his consent. Then he cupped his right hand over his left cheek and massaged his jaw with his thumb. “You can talk to him,” he said to Tess. “Visitation just started so you only have five minutes to prepare. I’ll send someone to bring Eddie up, but remember, he doesn’t have to talk to you if he doesn’t want to.”
“Five minutes prep is all we need,” McKenzie assured him.
Tess’s mouth went so dry she could barely swallow. The idea of facing Eddie wearing a wire didn’t seem so smart. What if he implicated Cole? Nerves rose up but she pushed them back down. If Cole was involved she couldn’t shield him forever. She was done being held accountable for the actions of others. McKenzie took her arm and pulled her into a bathroom across the hall. It was the ladies but he didn’t seem to care.
He whirled her around and pressed her up against the door. She stared at him in shock at this sudden change from good ol’ boy to hard-ass. Her pulse skipped a few beats.
“You made me look like a damn fool in front of the task force for not realizing these murders started on your daddy’s birthday.” His expression was stern, but for some reason it wasn’t fear she was feeling.
“And looking like a damn fool is unusual?”
Something sparked in his eyes. “Why the hell didn’t you mention it last night?”
She tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let go. She glared. “I only remembered after you left.”
His lip curled. “Says the girl who remembers how I take my coffee after two decades.”
She gritted her teeth. She didn’t like the fact all her nerve endings had come alive now he was touching her. She wasn’t about to tell him she’d memorized everything about him back then. Her childish heart had been in love.
“Look, ASAC McKenzie, I’ve spent most of my life actively pushing thoughts of my parents out of my head. I have made it my mission to forget everything I can about my family.”
He was unconvinced. “You could have called me once you figured it out. Pretty sure I gave you my card in case you had any epiphanies.” His voice held an edge of sarcasm. “Instead you got on a plane. Tell me why that doesn’t look suspicious.”
She stared pointedly at where his large hands gripped her upper arms. She had enough taekwondo training to make him let go if she had to, but she didn’t want to be charged with assaulting a federal agent or something equally lame. With her background, she’d lose every time it came down to a case of he-said, she-said.
He relaxed his grip but didn’t let go.
“Why did you come here today?” he demanded.
“Once I remembered it was Daddy’s birthday I had to come. I needed to know if this is connected to my family. Eddie’s the only one who can tell me that.” She raised her chin, held his probing gaze as he assessed her for lies. “I’ve built a decent life, ASAC McKenzie. If the Pioneers are involved in these murders that could all be destroyed.” She specialized in working for non-profits and civil liberty groups. If they found out who she really was they’d never trust her with their financial information again. Her fledgling business would be dead before it ever got started.
His fingers squeezed tighter and for a second his knuckle brushed the side of her breast. She jolted. His nostrils flared and he swallowed tightly. He released her but didn’t step away.
“Look, call me Mac. Everyone does.” He ran his fingers over his skull, making his short hair stand up on end. One silver strand of hair stood out amongst the warm brown. Up close, his face had more lines than she remembered. Faint creases fanning out from the corner of his eyes. His brows were short, dark slashes of personality. A small scar etched his right cheek.
She met his gaze.
“What do you want from me, Mac?” The short version of his name rolled too easily off her tongue. “An apology for existing? Or to grind me into the dirt along with the rest of my family?”
His hands rested on top of her shoulders and squeezed. “Just be the person I hope you are.”
What did that even mean?
He pulled something out of his computer bag. A tiny microphone.
“Did you know I was going to be here?” she asked.
“First I knew about you being here was when I walked through the prison’s front door,” Mac told her. “But this works better. I was going to pretend to be Kenny Travers. Tell him I escaped after the raid and went off radar and wanted in on any new action against the government. If that didn’t work then I was gonna confront him and tell him I was actually an undercover cop and that I single-handedly brought down the Pioneers. Pretty sure the resulting explosion might have revealed a few home truths. But this is better. He might trust you. Here.” He handed her the short piece of wire. “Attach that to the inside of your bra.”
“He’ll figure something’s up.”
“Just act natural. Forget it’s there. You’ll be fine.”
She took it and undid the top few buttons of her blouse, then slid the listening equipment up under her shirt and camisole, positioning it beneath the underwire of her bra, adjusting the position from the top. Thankfully she was wearing dark colors which helped hide the thing.
“What makes you think he’ll talk to me?” She glanced up as she tucked her shirt back into her jeans.
His pupils were large and his nostrils flared as he drew in a breath. Damned if his cheeks didn’t hold a touch of fire.
His hand closed over hers when she went to do up the top buttons. “Leave those undone. It might distract him. Sure as hell distracts me.”
The fact her brother might be interested in her body was disgusting, but she knew Mac was right. Eddie had always been an animal. She couldn’t imagine prison had improved him any.
“Can you see it?” she asked.
His fingers clenched as he took a step back. “Nope, you can’t see it.”
She frowned at him. “They’re just boobs, Mac. Snap out of it.”
He mumbled something unintelligible and turned away, watching her in the mirror.
“What if he won’t talk to me?”
Annoyance hardened his features. “Why wouldn’t he?”
“He is nearly nine years older than me. We didn’t have much in common even when we lived in the same house. He didn’t know I existed except as someone who cleaned up his dishes.”
He frowned at her. “I’m nine years older than you and I knew you existed.”
She eyed him from under her lashes. “You were different.”
His expression grew serious as he turned to face her again. “Be grateful Eddie didn’t notice you.”
She frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”
Mac’s lips pressed together and his expression looked torn. “Did you know Ellie was pregnant when she died?”
All the blood drained from her head and she steadied herself against the wall. “No.”
He observed her carefully, though she didn’t understand why. “Ellie was sixteen weeks pregnant when she died.” With that he left the restroom.
What? Sixteen weeks? Four months pregnant? That was impossible. It didn’t make sense. Ellie was only married
for two months and had never had a boyfriend. She hadn’t even liked Harlan Trimble…
Oh, God.
Tess hugged her stomach as rage and grief competed for control of her body. That meant Ellie had gotten pregnant when she’d lived at home, and no one in the Pioneers would have been foolhardy enough to mess with David Hines’s girl.
That bastard. That fucking bastard. Heat spread through her body like fire. She followed Mac into the hall.
“Did you know?” she asked.
His lips were a thin line. Eyes pained. “No. I didn’t know. Did you?”
Her eyes widened and her throat closed. Mute, she shook her head. After that day in the barn with Walt she should have realized, should have guessed he’d done the same to Ellie. How could she have been so naïve?
Because you were ten, Tess.
“Was it both of them, or just Walt?”
“I don’t know for sure, but looking back I think they were both involved.”
How she loathed them all. Eddie, Walt, her parents. They must have suspected and yet they’d done nothing?
“What do you want me to ask him?”
Mac shrugged. “Find out if he knows anything about what’s going on in DC. Who’s doing this. See if you can get a slice of the action.”
She nodded. “I doubt he’ll fall for it though. Me turning up like this for the first time?”
“Try your best, Tess. Lives might depend on it.”
She gave him a look. She wasn’t one of his lackeys. Then she caught Officer Pennington’s eye and followed him down a long corridor. Mac stayed where he was, out of sight, reminding her she was on her own. Not exactly unusual, but the loneliness stung today. She was worried about Cole. The idea of losing him to this sort of hatred was almost too much to bear.
She was led to a large, open room with lots of small tables set up. Inmates wore orange jumpsuits and sat opposite their visitors. She searched around for her brother but didn’t spot him anywhere. Then he walked through the holding area opposite and slouched into a seat at one of the empty tables. Did he know who was here to see him? Did he care?
Officer Pennington led the way between the tables. “You have a visitor, Hines.”
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