Double Danger

by Trilby Plants

  Will’s voice faltered and he blinked back tears.

  “It’ll always be with you, but it will be get easier. Someday all this will seem like a dream. And you’ll meet somebody else you can spend a lifetime with. Just treasure the time you had together. And don’t cry for what might have been. Remember the good things, the smiles. Cry for your grief and move on.”

  Mutely, she nodded.

  Two hours later, after a vet had given Bella a thorough exam, finding only a sprained front leg and a couple of scratches, Alyssa sat in Will’s office. A man in a dark suit who would provide no information about Nick, explained to her what witness protection meant. First, she would be in protective custody. If she chose the Program, she would become someone else. She would be safe, but she could never go back to her old life and could never contact anyone she knew.

  She asked for their opinion of any ongoing threat to her. The man in the suit didn’t think she was at risk now that Hood and Hunter were in custody. There were no guarantees.

  Hunter had provided some information before he went into surgery. He had been working with his partner, paid by Frank Hood. The Marshals couldn’t guarantee someone wouldn’t show up at her door in a week or a month or a year to finish what Hunter had started. The NSA had the flash drive with the numbered accounts. There would be a substantial finder’s fee for recovering the money. The paperwork would be expedited, and she should have a check within a few weeks.

  Alyssa listened as carefully as she could while bombarded by distracting thoughts. There were too many loose ends.

  “I just can’t,” she finally said.

  “Be sure, Alyssa,” Will said. “You only get one chance at this.”

  She reached down to pet a purring Bella, then turned to him. “I want to go home.”

  Another man in a dark suit, so average looking she knew she would never recognize him if she saw him on the street, spent two hours debriefing her. Again, he could provide no information about Nick’s condition.

  She was instructed to say she had chosen to go with Nick Trammel when they’d been shot at. To the press she would say, “No comment.”

  “Don’t furnish details,” the man in the dark suit said. “They can be refuted. Say nothing beyond the simple facts. The more you make up, the easier it is to get confused. You can never divulge the whole story. You can’t share it on social media. Never talk about the details over drinks with a friend.”

  She signed a nondisclosure agreement, promising she would never reveal what had happened to her. In exchange, she would receive the reward money.

  Finally, the suits left her alone with Will. He gave her his own jacket and showed her out the back to a big, black SUV. He held the door while she and Bella settled themselves in the backseat.

  Will leaned in. “The driver and the other man are Marshals. They’ll take you to your front door, so get some sleep. There’s the cat’s litter.” He pointed to the floor. “And here’s some cat food and a bottle of water.” He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “The van’s evidence, Alyssa. Sorry. The reward will cover that ten times over. There’s a company at your house right now putting it back together. Trust me, by tomorrow ‒ well, this afternoon, now that it’s after midnight ‒ all will be taken care of. It’ll be on the news, local and national how you went with a man, but it was a case of mistaken identity, and the person let you go. Don’t worry.”

  That wasn’t what was worrying her.

  Sighing, she leaned back in the seat. Will closed the door. The tinted glass shut out the darkness and the world. Tears she had held back now flowed down her cheeks. She curled up on the seat with Bella against her stomach and was asleep before the driver turned onto US 2.

  Epilogue

  The snowstorm started before dawn the Wednesday before Halloween. Alyssa perched on a stool in the shop where she’d been glued to the Weather Channel on her laptop computer.

  “You should go home, Carl,” she said. “It’s almost noon.”

  Carl looked up from where he’d been dusting shelves. “Almost done.”

  “Really.” Alyssa rose and arched her back. “We haven’t had a single customer and aren’t likely to get any. Now they’re saying a foot or more.”

  Carl came over and set the duster on the display case. “I guess I should.”

  Alyssa’s gaze found his wedding ring. He and Kate had been married in early September. It was a small, private affair, and Alyssa had bravely smiled and joined in the festivities, despite her heartbreak.

  It seemed far longer than four months since the Marshals had driven her home and sat with her in her driveway until the cleaning crew left. Except for glass that had been broken and some furniture pieces that had been replaced, Ellen’s home ‒ Alyssa’s home now ‒ looked nearly as good as new.

  She had given Carl a brief version of events, revealing nothing sensitive.

  To those who asked about her experience she said, “I helped a friend,” and to reporters she added, “No comment.” She hung up when representatives from Dateline and 60 Minutes and talk shows called. After a few weeks, they stopped bothering her.

  Nick Trammel’s image filled her thoughts and her dreams. In the first month, she had called Will dozens of times, asking about Nick. His answers were evasive. Alyssa finally understood that even if Nick were alive, he must once more be a protected witness and lost to her.

  Despite her resolution to get past her grief, she could not banish the memories. She saw a counselor for a while, but the few sessions she attended told her time would heal her.

  Near the end of July, a courier delivered a cashier’s check payable to Alyssa Mallory. The reward for finding the money. It was a life-changing amount. She bought a new van and focused full time on the antique business, which, when Ellen’s will was read, she discovered was more lucrative than she had thought.

  She hired a financial advisor, and she followed what she thought was the most prudent path. She could live frugally on the reward money for the rest of her life. It felt like a payoff for losing Nick.

  Like a patient big brother, Carl gave her time and space to work out her sadness and grief.

  And then there was the other situation. Again, Carl and Kate were more than supportive. They treated her like family, including her in their activities.

  Two weeks before school began she called Carl into the front of the shop.

  “I quit my job,” she said. “I like being my own boss.”

  “I know it wasn’t an easy decision,” Carl said.

  Alyssa gave him a wry smile. “They weren’t too thrilled about my going back anyway. So now you’re stuck with me.”

  She and Carl learned a new computer system. The bank provided help with Ellen’s financial records, and the accountant helped reconstruct that aspect of the business. Alyssa discovered Ellen had bought online backup. The database of names and addresses of Ellen’s contacts in the world of antique and gem dealers was easy to restore.

  September had been hectic. Besides the wedding of her dear friends, the shop was busy, and Alyssa worked behind the counter, while Carl made buying forays. Profits were promising.

  Now Alyssa looked out the window at the snow piling up on the sill. She put her hands on her hips and gazed at Carl. “Well?”

  He glanced at the clock. “I think I will go home. Kate’s got the day off, too. Her office didn’t even open this morning. You coming to dinner tonight?”

  “No, thanks. I appreciate the offer. I think I’ll heat up leftovers and curl up with Bella and a movie.”

  Carl pulled his parka off the coat rack.

  “Wait,” Alyssa said. “Tell me again about the man who bought the ring yesterday.”

  Carl groaned. “Oh, come on. I’ve told you four times.”

  “Don’t be a spoil-sport, Carl. It’s not every day we sell something for five grand.”

  Carl stepped toward her, shrugging into his coat. “Okay. This man came in ‒”

  “Describe him again.
”

  “He was dark haired and tallish ‒ taller than I am by maybe three inches. Kind of a Yooper accent. He was wearing one of those parkas that’s good in the Antarctic. He asked for you by name, so I thought he knew you from school or something. I said no, that you’d gone to the doctor. We chatted a while, and when he spotted the ring, it was like something went off in his mind. He had to have it, said the love of his life would adore it.”

  “Then what?”

  “He didn’t even haggle. Paid for it with a MasterCard. And yes, for the fourth time, I asked him for ID.”

  “Martin Frederick,” she said.

  “Yeah,” Carl said. “That was the name. The credit card company approved the charge, so I sold him the ring, and he left happy.”

  “I loved that ring,” Alyssa said softly. “Someone very lucky is going to get it.”

  “Someone like Lady Smythe?”

  Alyssa grinned and waved an imperious hand. “Yes. It was a ring made for a duchess.”

  Carl leaned over the counter and took Alyssa’s hand in his. “It’s nice to see you smile. It’s been too long.”

  Carl had bought a cardboard box a few weeks previously at an estate sale in upstate New York. Inside the box was a locked box that, when forced open, revealed a dozen pieces of gold and silver jewelry, including The Ring.

  The Ring was special. The appraiser said it was made during the early 1900s, judging by the way the diamonds were faceted. The stones were high quality. The setting was platinum, and the oval emerald in the center was nearly flawless, a perfect, deep green.

  She had thought about keeping it. Then someone had waltzed in and bought it before she could claim it.

  Oh well, she told herself. It’s just a thing. Not nearly as important as memories. The counselor was right. Pain faded with time, and the good memories remained.

  “You okay?” Carl said. She nodded. “Want me to lock up?”

  “No,” she said. “I’ll do it.”

  “Then I’m off. See you when they get the streets plowed.” He headed for the back door.

  After she locked up she would go upstairs, put her feet up and rent some sappy movie that would probably make her cry. A long afternoon loomed before her.

  An indistinct shadow moved on the porch beyond the glass door. Alyssa caught her breath, then told herself it was just a customer she would have to turn away. The door opened, jingling the bell above it. A cloud of wind-blown snow ushered in a familiar figure: Will Stevens.

  “Hey.” His voice boomed in the confines of the shop. He pushed the door shut against the wind. Snow cascaded from his parka as he strode toward her, and he grabbed her in a bear hug. “I came for my jacket.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, Will. It’s so good to see you. I totally forgot about it.”

  He patted her back. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t think I’ll need it today.”

  He drew back, and she brushed snow and tears off her cheeks.

  “Did you drive down in this?” she said.

  “Nah. Came to Lansing yesterday morning for a conference. Thought I’d swing by here on my way home. Looks like I’ll need a room somewhere.” He gave her a sheepish look. “Sorry I didn’t call.”

  “Stay with me,” she said. “I have a guest room.”

  “I couldn’t impose.”

  “I insist. It’s no trouble at all. I’d like the company.”

  He stepped back and studied her. “You look good. But a bit different.”

  “Everything’s fine. Sometimes I feel sad, but ….” She shrugged. “It was an awful time, but I’m better now. So what brings you here?” She wanted to ask about Nick, but she was afraid of Will’s answer.

  “Sort of a semi-official visit.” He winked. “Besides getting my jacket back.” His expression turned serious. “I thought you might like to know you’ll have no more trouble from Hunter.”

  “Is he ‒?” She couldn’t say dead.

  Will shook his head. “No, he’s alive. He and Frank are in a federal maximum security prison. They’ll never get out. Frank’s charged with treason. He’s turned state’s evidence hoping to avoid the death penalty. Fourteen states and five other countries have filed extradition requests on Hunter. He’ll never be a free man again. It’s over.”

  Alyssa let out her breath. “Thank you, Will.”

  “There’s one more thing.” Will turned toward the door as the bell again jingled its cheery greeting.

  Alyssa followed Will’s gaze and froze. There stood Nick Trammel, with a shadow of a beard, dressed in khaki slacks, boots and an LL Bean parka. Melting snow gleamed in his dark hair.

  Alyssa went numb, and then the shock of seeing him hit her like a blow in the pit of her stomach. Queasiness roiled in her belly.

  Nick looked incredibly handsome and desirable. Heat crept into Alyssa’s cheeks, and she could not speak.

  Will held up a hand, and Nick stayed by the door.

  “Since I came to get my jacket,” Will said, “I picked up my buddy here at the airport. There are some things you should know. Like, he convinced the papers to print the revised articles about your noninvolvement in the shooting. And also, well, he has a few more things to tell you.”

  Will stepped aside. Nick moved toward her, a tentative smile on his face.

  ‘‘Hi,” he said.

  Alyssa swallowed and found her voice. “Hi, yourself.”

  “I like your hair,” Nick said. He rolled his eyes. “Lame, wasn’t it?”

  She nodded. Her hair had grown past her shoulders, so most days she pulled it up with a clip. Today it was down.

  Alyssa still wanted him so badly it was a physical ache that consumed her. To touch him, feel his body against hers.

  She flashed him an accusatory look. “Why didn’t you call?”

  “He’s been in protective custody since that night,” Will said. “He couldn’t call you, and I couldn’t tell you. Or anyone.”

  Nick pointed toward her eyebrow. “No scar?”

  “Barely noticeable.” She swallowed hard. “And you?” She didn’t like to think about having shot him.

  “Will didn’t tell you?” He turned to Will who shrugged and shook his head. To Alyssa Nick said, “You did great shooting me. The vest saved me. Have you ever been shot?”

  Alyssa’s expression must have shocked him, because he quickly said, “Of course not. The first round you fired hit me in the right side of my chest. Packed a hell of a wallop. Smacked me back into Hunter. Knocked me out and cracked a couple of ribs. The second round winged my arm and hit Hunter’s neck. My head hit his nose and broke it. That was where some of the blood came from. Most of it was from the cut I got from Hunter’s knife as he fell backward.” He pulled down his shirt collar a bit. A two-inch scar with plainly visible suture marks marred the skin on the left side of his neck just under his ear. “Doctors said I was lucky. Another quarter of an inch deeper, and, well ….

  “I was out cold. The paramedics thought I’d been shot in the neck. I came to in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, but the state trooper had orders to hold me until the Marshals could talk to me. They decided to let me be dead a second time in case there were others after me.” He frowned. “I had no choice in the matter. They had to be certain the conspiracy didn’t go any further than Frank. And I wanted to be sure you were safe before I put in an appearance.”

  “I shot you,” Alyssa said.

  Nick drew in a quick breath. “If you hadn’t shot me, I’d be dead. Really dead.” He raised a hand. “I trusted the vest. Had to take the chance. If you’d done nothing, you’d be dead, and I couldn’t have lived with that. You did the right thing, Alyssa.” He grinned. “Even though your second shot wasn’t perfect, it worked.”

  A plaintive meow came from the back room. Bella trotted into the shop, headed straight for Nick and rubbed against his legs. He reached down and picked her up, and the cat nuzzled his chin.

  “Hey there, furry friend,” Nick said. “Thanks for the
diversion. If Hunter hadn’t stumbled over you, he might have hurt her.”

  He set the cat back on the floor and brushed Alyssa’s cheek with his fingers. She tried to quell the shivers that coursed through her at his touch.

  “I also came to apologize,” he said. ”For putting you through hell, and for not telling you the whole truth.” He grasped her hands and looked down at the floor. “I just couldn’t talk about Caroline. I was waiting for the right time, and then everything went sideways.” He looked up at her. “I hope you can forgive me.”

  For a moment, Alyssa couldn’t speak. She nodded once, and then found her voice. “Will explained it to me.” She patted his cheek. “You and I both have some things in our past to think about and talk about. I understand.”

  Relief flooded Nick’s face. “I also want to apologize for not being here with you during all the craziness. I want you to know I meant every word I said to you.” He lowered his voice. “And everything we did, I meant it.”

  He took her hand in his. “One more thing. I turned down the new identity. I was granted tenure at U of M here in Flint. Nicholas Trammel, Professor of Computer Sciences. I start after Christmas. And I still have my consulting company. I’m here, and I’m going to stay.”

  “Here?” She gaped at him.

  “I couldn’t be anywhere else but with you. You were very brave, Alyssa. I’m trying to live up to that. So I’m wondering now about commitment, marriage, everything. If you’ll have me. I love you, Alyssa.”

  She looked up into his eyes. Deep brown, velvet eyes. Making promises that now he could keep.

  “Commitment?” she said, unable to stem the flow of tears.

  Will came over beside her and put an arm around her. She leaned against him. It didn’t seem odd that he was her support at that moment instead of Nick.

  “You and me together forever?” Alyssa said.

  Nick nodded.

  Alyssa hesitated. Her heart thudded as she considered what to say. Maybe he wouldn’t be so sure. “There’s something you should know,” she said and stepped away from Will, pulling her bulky sweater tight across her belly. She patted the bump. “It’s yours. I couldn’t end it. It was all I had left of you. So you have to want both of us.” She tilted her chin and gazed directly at Nick.