by Debra Webb
She blinked, remembering that Jeffrey was waiting for her to return.
“I should go.” She stood before she could change her mind.
“You’re welcome to stay the night, Vanessa.” Hamilton rose from his chair, his movements a little slower than she remembered. “Get some sleep. Let me check into this. I’ll get you and your friend to a safe house.”
She shook her head. “You do your thing and I’ll be in touch. Is there a secure line I can use to contact you?”
He rattled off a number and she entered it into the address book of her cell.
When she would have walked away, he drew her attention once more. “Stay under the radar, Vanessa. Whoever started this could be an extremely dangerous enemy.”
She let him have a good long look at the determination she felt before she spoke. “So can I.”
“Touché.” He laughed softly. “I wouldn’t want to lay odds on either side, especially if Landry is the one. Just give me twenty-four hours to ensure that the Agency or Interpol isn’t up to something we don’t know about. There may be a legitimate reason he’s drawing you out.”
She doubted that, but she had no proof either way. “Twenty-four hours.”
This time she got all the way to the front door when the guard named Smith stopped her. “The clothes.” He gestured to the garb she wore over her own.
“No problem.” She stripped off the uniform she’d borrowed. As tired as she was, it gave her immense pleasure to watch Smith’s indifference turn to interest, then disappointment, as her fully attired body was revealed beneath the baggy uniform.
She tossed the bundle at him and left. “My weapons.” He returned her Beretta and the knife. She tucked both away, noted the time and hoped Jeffrey hadn’t started to get nervous. If she moved quickly enough she could be back at his position in twelve or thirteen minutes.
Jeffrey had just checked his watch and heaved a worried sigh when she reached him.
“I’m back,” she announced.
He whipped around at the sound of her voice, gun drawn, and she was enormously grateful he didn’t fire off a round. Maybe she should have warned him of her approach a little sooner.
“Are you all right?”
He looked agitated and very pale, even in the near-total darkness. He had been worried, worried sick. Guilt weighed heavy on her shoulders.
“I’m fine. Let’s get out of here.”
“Did you find the man you needed to see?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Olivia kept walking, assuming he would follow. “Nothing I didn’t already know.”
“So what does that mean? What do we do now? Is it safe to go back to L.A.?”
Waiting until they were in the SUV and on their way to tell him what came next was totally necessary. If she told him now, she’d likely be out here until daylight convincing him to go along with her plan.
So she did what she’d always done best, at least up until three years ago. She lied.
“Yeah, we can go home now.”
“Thank God. I still think you should have the authorities look into this. This has been a nightmare for you. You can’t just let it go.”
“You’re right,” she agreed solemnly. “I can’t let him get away with this.”
And that, she reiterated silently, was the truth.
Chapter 6
The entire journey back to the Explorer, Jeffrey remained silent and stayed very close to her. Olivia was pretty sure he was afraid that she might launch into some other strange behavior and wanted to be prepared to restrain her. Or maybe he was just so happy with the prospect of going home that he didn’t dare speak for fear she’d change her mind.
She’d known Jeffrey nine months now and not once had she considered what he would think about her old life. Strange. So much of her life had been spent in covert operations, climbing mountains, hunkering down in jungles, watching a target through a scope. She’d known, of course, that she could never tell him because he surely wouldn’t understand. But she hadn’t considered what he would think if she had to tell him for one reason or the other.
She’d never expected to have to tell him.
When they reached the copse of trees and bushes where she’d parked the SUV, she stopped. Something felt wrong.
“What is it now?” He moved up right behind her, close enough that she could feel the heat of his body.
“Let’s just listen a moment.”
It was still dark but she found herself doing a three-sixty as she peered into the night. The special night-vision goggles helped but not as well as a nice ray of sunshine would have.
Nothing moved. No sign of warm-blooded creatures, human or otherwise, in the area.
Yet she had the overwhelming sensation that something was out of sync.
“You think someone is watching us?” Jeffrey spoke quietly, as if he understood the need for caution just now.
“I don’t know.”
Her instincts nudged at her but she couldn’t pinpoint precisely what the problem was. She tugged off her night vision and climbed into the vehicle. Jeffrey slid into the passenger seat, his own instincts on alert now.
She started the engine, the very hair on the back of her neck standing on end. Something was definitely wrong.
“Can you tell me how it went back there?” Jeffrey snapped his seat belt into place. “You said you didn’t learn anything you didn’t already know.”
“It was a very productive meeting in some ways.” She pulled the gearshift into Reverse and backed out onto the highway. She braced for his reaction to what she had to do next. Shifting into Drive, she roared forward, needing to put as much distance as possible between her and Hamilton. Not that she didn’t trust Hamilton—she did. At least as much as any player could trust another. There was always the risk that he would double-cross her for reasons unknown to her. The greater good. In this business it was all relative. It was nothing personal.
“Since we’re both been dragged into this,” Jeffrey ventured, apparently set on having more information, “I should know what exactly that means. It’s inconsiderate of you to keep me in the dark like this. I understand the concept of privilege, but there are clearly extenuating circumstances here.”
“That’s a good idea, Olivia. Let’s not keep the man in the dark.”
Deep, smooth and rich like the finest Merlot. His voice.
The recognition crashed into her like a 747 dropping from the sky. Her gaze shot to the rearview mirror at the same instant that her right foot slammed on the brake.
The Phantom.
“Who the hell are you?” Jeffrey demanded.
If the man in the backseat answered him Olivia didn’t hear it. She was a little busy.
The SUV slid sideways. She struggled to right it.
How the hell had he found her?
When the vehicle was parallel with the road once more, she cut sharply to the right and bounced onto the shoulder. Jeffrey shouted for her to be careful but she ignored him. Ramming the gearshift into Park with her right hand, she wrenched her door open with her left and jumped out of the vehicle.
The back door flew open and Landry was on his feet, but she had a bead right between his arrogant eyes before he could straighten to his full height.
“Well, well. Looks like we have ourselves a small dilemma,” Landry said.
The SUV’s interior light was dim but not so much so that she couldn’t see the Glock in his hand as he stepped beyond his open door. He’d always favored that family of weapons.
“What do you want, Landry?” Her heart thudded unmercifully against the wall of her chest and breathing was practically impossible. She told herself it had nothing to do with those devastating blue eyes or those perfectly formed lips. No man should be allowed to look this good. She wanted to hurt him—no—she wanted to kill him. For three years ago…for now.
“Olivia? Who is this man?”
Dammit. Jeffrey made his way around
the hood of the SUV and came up behind her. Why hadn’t he stayed in the car?
“What do you want?” Jeffrey demanded before she could answer his first question.
The smile that cut across Landry’s face at the question made her want to slug him.
“This is a private conversation, Jeffrey.” Landry made the smug remark without taking his eyes off her, allowing her no window of opportunity to make a move. “You should get back in the vehicle before you get hurt,” he tacked on as if he gave one shit what happened to an innocent bystander.
“Olivia, we should call the police—”
“Get in the car,” she urged. “I’ll explain everything in a minute.”
Her fingers tightened on her weapon. Instinct had taken over when she’d jumped out of the SUV, ensuring that she adopted a firing stance. It would be so easy…but then Landry would shoot and if he survived and she didn’t he would kill Jeffrey just to tie up any loose ends.
“We have two choices, Nessa—”
“Don’t call me that.” Something on the order of hatred seared through her veins. It was all she could do not to squeeze the trigger. That he would intrude into her life again after what he did made her crazy angry. But the other thing—those stupid, sentimental feelings of yearning that somehow awoke from the dead the instant she heard his voice—wouldn’t allow her to pull that trigger.
Jeffrey sidled up a little closer to her. “Olivia, do you really know how to use that weapon?”
“Get in the goddamn car, Jeffrey, before you get us both killed.” When he still hesitated, she pressed, “Please, Jeffrey.”
The sound of his hiking boots wading through the ankle-deep grass and then the door slamming on the passenger side of the vehicle signaled that he had deferred to her wishes without her having to look away from the enemy.
“As I was saying.” Landry leaned against the open door, his aim steady. “We have two choices. We can either kill each other or we can figure out who the hell started this thing and do something about it.”
Fury exploded inside her, bigger, harder than before. How dare he! “I already know who started this, you bastard. You did!”
There went any chance of remaining calm.
His gaze narrowed, which was his only visible concession to whatever was on his mind. “You think I started this?”
Disbelief joined the fury. “You gave that creep Soderbaum or whoever the hell he was my number. My code name. You started this.”
“Someone activated your code name?”
What was he up to? “You know that’s why I’m here. That’s why you’re here. Soderbaum approached me about a target.”
“What target? Who is this Soderbaum you keep talking about?”
Olivia blinked, suddenly unsure of how she should proceed. Some rogue part of her wanted desperately to believe Landry wasn’t the one—that betraying her once had been more than enough. “Soderbaum, the client who contacted Sheara, wanted Jeffrey eliminated. He said you were his reference.”
“We’ve been set up.”
Yeah, right. “Like I’d believe anything you said. Just tell me what you want and let’s get this over with, shall we?”
He shook his head. “We’ve been had, Vanessa. We were both drawn out for a reason. I came here because I got an anonymous tip that you’d be here.”
It was her turn to shake her head. “Do you really think I believe that crap? You betrayed me once, Landry. I won’t be falling for any of your lies this time.”
“That’s something else we fail to agree upon.” He surveyed the deserted highway, giving her ample opportunity and showing once and for all that she was an even bigger fool than she’d thought when she didn’t shoot him dead. “Let’s just get in the vehicle and get out of here. We can talk about this when we’re not sitting ducks.”
Maybe it was the dim moonlight, but she would swear he suddenly looked nervous. Then again, she would cling to almost any hope that might disprove her own stupidity.
“You get in first.” She wasn’t about to turn her back on Landry.
But there wasn’t really any choice just now.
Two seconds of thickening silence passed. “Fine.” He shoved the Glock into his waistband and climbed into the backseat.
Olivia stood there for three or four more seconds before she could move. Her legs felt rubbery when she did. She slid behind the wheel and shifted into Drive. She dispatched Jeffrey a look that left no question as to exactly how serious she was. “Don’t ask any questions right now. I’ll explain everything later.”
Evidently stunned speechless, he remained silent as she drove back the way they had come. She needed a plan. She’d intended to form one. But now, with him in the backseat, she couldn’t think.
How had he followed her here? Anonymous tip. Bull. He had to be the one who’d set this game in motion. Of course he’d know she’d come to Hamilton. That was exactly how he’d ambushed her. Her former boss was her only option for support. The reason for his decision to ruin her life all over again wasn’t so easy to deduce. Only he could answer that one.
Her teeth gritted together, her fingers fisted on the steering wheel. Holt Landry was right behind her, barely two feet away. Another wave of anger erupted to the surface. Why wasn’t he off playing James Bond somewhere? Why did he have to come barging into her life again? What did he want?
And why the hell had she turned her back on him? She’d sworn she wouldn’t and here she was with him right behind her.
The questions pounded away at her brain, making her want to scream.
“We have a tail.”
She glanced in the rearview mirror. Headlights glowed in the distance.
“How long has he been following us?”
“He showed up right after you took off.”
She definitely should have noticed him before Landry did. A perfect example of how easily he distracted her. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
She studied the headlights reflected in the rearview mirror. It was four o’clock in the morning. She supposed it wasn’t totally impossible that someone would be on this desolate back road at that time of day, but she wasn’t about to chance it. Her foot pressed harder on the accelerator. The Explorer rocketed forward taking the curves in the road far too fast. The other vehicle did the same.
Oh, yeah, definitely a tail.
The headlights bobbed closer.
She bit her bottom lip. Could she outrun him?
The Explorer went off the edge of the pavement and bumped along the shoulder. Olivia’s heart lunged into her throat. She fought to right her mistake. With one careful cut of the steering wheel the SUV jerked back onto the pavement. She didn’t take another breath until the vehicle had stopped swaying and she had regained the speed she’d lost.
“You keep your eyes on the road,” Landry ordered. “I’ll take care of the tail.”
Jeffrey leaned forward, both hands braced against the dash. “Olivia, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Hell, no rushed to the tip of her tongue but she bit it back. “Yes.” The single word sounded damn hollow and utterly unconvincing but Jeffrey didn’t argue. He no doubt understood that this was very bad.
The headlights bore down on her. The other vehicle was practically on her bumper now.
“You’re going to have to move a little faster.”
The urgency in Landry’s tone sent adrenaline charging through her limbs. If he was worried, they were in real trouble. She floored the accelerator, kept it there.
“Oh, God!” Jeffrey pressed back against the seat.
She saw it coming and still Olivia wasn’t prepared for the impact. The other vehicle whipped into the left lane and rushed up next to her only to slam sideways into her. The Explorer lurched. She fought to keep it out of the ditch.
“Hold her steady, Nessa.”
The other vehicle fell behind them again.
Landry pressed his back against her seat and thrust his arm out the window and took aim. The expl
osion of gun blasts startled her though she’d known they were coming.
Olivia heard Jeffrey’s sharp intake of breath. Her attention rushed back and forth between the road ahead of her and the vehicle bearing down on her once more.
Another blast of gunfire. The passenger-side mirror flew apart. Jeffrey made a strained sound.
Landry returned fire.
Olivia’s heart thundered but she ignored it. She had to drive. Had to get the hell out of the line of fire.
The rear window exploded. A bullet lodged in the dash, splitting the face cover of the digital clock.
Jeffrey yelped this time.
Enough.
“Buckle up, Landry.”
She barely recognized her voice. Low, guttural.
“What?”
He twisted around and their eyes met in the rearview mirror. “Buckle up.”
He didn’t argue.
The instant she heard the click of his safety belt, she checked the vehicle behind her one last time. The vehicle was charging toward them again.
She waited, kept her speed steady.
Until he was almost on her bumper.
She stomped on her brake.
The vehicle rammed into the Explorer’s rear bumper. The SUV fishtailed but she’d been ready for it. She cut the front wheels against the momentum of the rear, forcing the vehicle back under control without ever slowing her forward momentum.
The other car spun off into the ditch, the deployed air bags blinding the driver just long enough to ensure loss of control.
Olivia didn’t realize she was smiling until she felt the muscles of her face straining with the effort.
“Stop this car!” Jeffrey, his eyes wide with terror, had twisted around to stare at her. “Stop now, Olivia!”
She took a breath, only then noticing how her body was shaking. “I can’t do that. You’re going to have to stay calm and trust me.”
He shook a finger in her direction, his expression dark with fear and anger. “No. I want you to stop this vehicle and tell me what the hell is going on. Those people may be injured back there! We should call someone…or…or do something!”