“Why are you here?” Brick’s voice seemed to boom in the stillness.
“To warn Kelly.” He ran his hands through his unruly hair.
“Jamie what could you possibly warn me about?”
“Does he have to know?” He stared at Brick.”
“He’s a friend, just like you’re my friend.”
“Shit Kelly, he’s an FBI agent.”
“I know.”
“Damn,” Jamie said.
Brick didn’t say anything. Let the two of them work out who he was. It didn’t matter to him what either of them thought as long as he got information he needed.
“Kelly, you know I work in room service at the Big Top.”
“Yeah.”
“I was in Johnny Vega’s suite picking up food trays after one of his parties when I overheard him talking. He didn't know I was still there.” He exhaled slowly and rubbed his hands together in a nervous jester.
Brick saw Kelly’s impatient expression, but she didn't interrupt him.
“Johnny was pissed as hell. He told his men to snatch you and haul you back to him. Johnny said, ‘I could kill that bitch. She stole my system and I don't care what you have to do, you bring that little bitch to me!’ James swallowed hard. “When I heard that, I just got out of there.”
“Oh God,” Kelly whispered.
“Did you overhear anything else?” Brick asked.
“No, I just got out of there as fast as I could and I'm not going back.” He took a quick breath. “Can I have more water?”
“Sure.”
She filled his glass and then Brick watched her walk up and down the living room in a random pattern going nowhere.
James finished the water and stood. “I want to get out of here.”
“I’m going to have to hold you as a witness. You’re lucky, because I’m going to put you in custody. That will keep you alive.”
“The hell—” James twitched. “I didn’t do anything.”
“It’s about keeping you breathing.” Brick stood away from the wall he’d been leaning against and came closer to James. “You’re Kelly’s friend. You admit it. And Johnny wants to kick her ass. You get in the way and your ass is the trash. I’m offering you a way to stay alive. I’d take it.”
The guy’s shoulders slumped under the weight of the information. “Shit.” He looked up and for the first time fear shone in his widened eyes. “What have I got myself into?”
An hour later a cab pulled up to the cabin’s front door. The cabbie got out and rang the doorbell. Brick answered. An FBI agent he had worked with in the LA and who had recently transferred north stood at the door.
“Hey Mike, how is it going?” He shook the man’s hand at the door.
“Can’t complain. Got my package?”
“Yeah. I’ve arranged for James to be delivered to the FBI Sacramento office. You okay with that?”
“No problem. It’s a nice day for a drive.” Mike smiled.
Neither of them spoke of their concern that someone in the bureau had turned to the dark side.
Brick watched the taxi sped away. His back crawled as if someone was still watching him. He scanned the area and saw nothing out of the ordinary. He rubbed his temples and shook off the feeling. It was just residual feelings from earlier in the day.
Back in the kitchen, the throb of his head and the growl of his stomach fought for attention. His stomach won. He rummaged through the cupboard looking for food. Kelly joined him and sat at the table.
He glanced up from the cupboard and peered into her bleak eyes. “You knew Johnny was after you.”
She nodded. “I couldn’t stand his cruelty anymore. I told him it was over. I was leaving. But he wouldn’t let me go. I was terrified of him. I waited until he trusted me again and went on a business trip. I took a chance and ran.”
She paused. “He said I belonged to him. That’s how he thinks of people. He owns them.” She frowned. “He’ll do whatever it takes to get me back. If he can’t, he’ll kill me.”
Her fear was almost palpable.
“Is there something else you’re not telling me?”
“What else could there be?”
What better way for her not to answer the question than to ask another question? “There’s nothing else?”
“What can I say?”
Another question, he’d been sympathetic but now she was beginning to annoy him. He watched her squirm under his gaze. She was hiding something.
“I was an immature kid when I met Johnny. I grew up when I saw what a brute he really is.” She swallowed hard and blinked back a tear.
A pang of guilt rocked Brick. She thought he was protecting her. Again he was reminded he was only using her to get to Vega.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
“What else could there be?” She looked away from him.
She was terrible liar. An experienced lair could’ve looked him straight in the eye with their eyes wide open and unflinching. Still, it seemed more and more likely Kelly was up to her pretty little neck in some dirty business.
He pushed back the memory of the sweet, naive teenager she’d once been. The most likely scenario was that he’d eventually be forced to arrest her.
An FBI agent had been murdered. Johnny Vega was somehow involved. He now believed Kelly was too, but how? He faced her and she glanced at him a plea for understanding in her expression.
He didn’t speak. She didn’t move. Silence filled the room.
A drip of blood ran down his neck. He brushed it away.
“You’re bleeding!”
He reached up and felt blood oozing from the cut on his ear.
“Come into the bathroom. I'll bandage it.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’ll only take a minute. It could get infected.”
“Forget it.”
“Please.”
It was obvious she wasn't going to let it go until she gave him first aid. Reluctantly, he walked into the bathroom.
“You’re so tall. Sit down, so I can clean the cut.”
He sat on the edge of the tub. She came close to inspect the wound. Her slim leg brushed his thigh and her soft breast touched his shoulder as she leaned toward him.
Damn his treacherous body. Her closeness sent a shard of desire through him, more painful than the cut on his ear.
“Oh God, there's blood all down your neck!”
He felt her fingers tremble as she cleaned the area with a cotton ball and peroxide.
“It's still bleeding. You need stitches.”
“I'm fine.”
“But—”
“Put a damn bandage on it.”
“You need stitches.”
“Do it. I can't sit here all day.” He sounded harsher than he’d meant to sound.
She bit her lip and pain registered in her expression. He hadn't wanted to hurt her feelings, but his ear throbbed, his head pounded and his knee ached. He was frustrated at his lack of progress in getting information and he wanted to take Kelly in his arms and make passionate love to her. He never would.
“It’s my fault you were hurt. I'm so sorry.”
“It wasn’t you,” he said still sitting on the edge of the tub.
She was too near. There it was again, her soft vanilla scent, sweet and delicate. Almost against his will he pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers.
Her mouth opened and his tongue entered.
Sighing, she pressed against him. Her legs wrapped around his thigh.
He groaned. He shouldn't kiss her, shouldn’t want her, but he felt so bad and she felt so good.
She aligned her body with his and he felt her body heat. She clung to him as he ran his hands down her back to the perfect curve of her buttock. She trembled and her lips parted further, allowing his tongue to flirt with hers. He heard her ragged breath as his hands ranged over her body. She seemed to melt into him. He continued his exploration, deepened his kiss and allowed his hands t
o caress her thighs.
She moaned softly.
Chapter Sixteen
Brick tensed. If he didn't manage his urges Kelly would understand the powerful feelings she’d awakened in him. She’d know how much he wanted her. He couldn't allow that. She was the wrong woman in the wrong place at the wrong time. A mobster’s girl, involvement with her would end his career. He pushed her away.
Her eyes flew open. Raw desire still blazed in her wide eyes and her look of disappointment was unmistakable. He turned his back and walked out of the room.
In the hallway, pain throbbed in his temple. Penance no doubt for wanting her. He rubbed his forehead. The throb in his head and the growl of his stomach fought for his attention. The stomach won. He limped into the kitchen and put a cup of cold coffee into the microwave.
As he gulped down the hot liquid, he rummaged through the cupboards. A can of mushroom soup and a can of tomato paste was all he found. He opened the soup and dumped it into a saucepan, added water and waited for it to warm on the stove.
The liquid tasted like mildly flavored water. He needed a real meal, steak or chicken, French bread and something green. The Tahoe City super market was only a few blocks away. He didn't dare leave Kelly alone. His stomach growled again. She’d have to come with him.
“Soup?” he offered when she entered the kitchen. He didn’t mention their kiss and was relieved the desire he’d seen in her expression was gone replaced by irritation.
“James was stressed,” she said ignoring his question about the soup.
“He has good reason to be. But if he stays cool, he'll be fine.”
“I'm worried about Carrie too. I thought she’d be here by now. Where is she?”
“Could be she has business to take care of.”
“No. She should be here like we planned. Why didn’t she call?” She stared at him. “God help me, I'm beginning to think my sister is dead. The intruders found her or she’d be here by now.”
He looked into her bleak eyes and wished he could give her a reason to believe everything was okay. He couldn't.
“I don't think Carrie’s dead. We’d have heard something. The police would’ve notified you.”
That was almost true. Most bodies turned up soon after they were killed. But there were a minority of cases where the victim wasn’t discovered until months or even years after their death.
“Carrie’s working,” he said. “You know what a workaholic she is. You’ll get a call when she takes a breather.”
“If anything has happened to her it’s my fault.” Kelly eyes glistened with moisture.
He resisted the urge to comfort her.
***
In the rare atmosphere of the Lake Tahoe basin, Brick’s appetite had come alive and now demanded to be fed. Even tired and bruised, he was forced to shop. He drove the Volvo toward the Tahoe City Supermarket. Kelly sat beside him. She didn’t want to come along, but he’d insisted.
In the clear night, the lake reflected the moon’s image. If circumstances had been different he’d have parked beside the shore so they could enjoy the view, but tonight he drove without stopping. She didn’t speak, He didn’t either.
It was nearly closing time when he pulled into the food mart’s parking lot. Last minute shoppers rushed to make it through the supermarket doors before the store closed for the night. Tourists, purchasing goodies they probably wouldn't allow themselves to eat the rest of the year, filled their carts with as much junk food and booze.
She didn’t take any interest in the choices, so he arbitrarily bought food he liked. He filled the cart with enough to supplies to feed them for three or four days. He picked a huge sirloin steak, a whole chicken and red meat for burgers, milk, cereal, and salad makings and French bread. On his way to the check stand he grabbed Brie and Cheddar cheese and water crackers, then took anything that caught his eye. He wanted beer but decided to be practical. He needed all his wits to stay alert and on guard. He settled for a twelve pack of coke, lots of caffeine to keep him awake.
On the way back to the cabin, Kelly’s expression told him not to make polite conversation. Again he drove in silence.
The wind picked up blowing away the clouds and the silver hue of the moon made the lake even more beautiful. He glanced at Kelly. Her eyes were closed. He shrugged. Maybe that was best. She needed rest.
His back crawled. Someone was following them. In the rear view mirror, he couldn’t see any unusual traffic. A white pickup truck and a light green SUV drove behind them. A couple of blocks later, the two cars were still with him.
He drove to a gas station, got out. Though the car didn’t need a fill up, he pretended to put gas in the tank. He cleaned the windshield as both vehicles rolled by without slowing down. He made a mental note of each car as it passed.
After five minutes, he headed toward the cabin. The vehicles he’d seen were nowhere in sight.
Kelly continued to sleep.
***
The sound of the garage door opening woke Kelly. Home at last. That used to mean something, but now the cabin was just another lonely place. She missed Carrie and wanted to search for her sister, but had no idea where to start. The business conference she’d attended was over. Her sister could be anywhere in the whole country.
Kelly strained to remain positive, but as time passed it was harder and harder. There was nothing to do but wait for her sister to arrive at the cabin.
She watched Brick check the side door to the backyard, apparently it was still locked. In the trunk of the car she picked up a bag of groceries.
A phone rang. Not Brick's smart phone, the landline in the cabin rang once, twice. Fumbling to get her keys out of her pocket, she dropped the grocery bag, ran to the backdoor and put the key into the lock. Her grandparent’s old answer machine started.
By the time she got into the kitchen all she heard was, “The battery's going dead.”
Carrie. She ran to the wall phone in the kitchen and grabbed the receiver. Too late.
“Damn it!” She wanted to hit the phone in frustration.
Brick entered the kitchen carrying the bag of groceries she’d dropped and set it on the kitchen table. “Who was it?”
“Carrie.”
Her heart beat so fast, she could hardly speak. “She called. I thought—” She grabbed a quick breath. “I was beginning to think I'd never hear from her again. I was afraid.” She tried to calm down. “Afraid the men who attacked me had somehow found and killed her.” She rested her head against his broad chest. His muscled arms closed around her, protecting her.
He cleared his throat. “What did Carrie say?”
“I didn't talk to her. I just heard her voice. I tried to get to the phone, but I was too late.”
He pushed the button on the answer machine and let the message play.
“Kelly, why the hell can’t I go home? What have you done now? Stay at the cabin and keep out of trouble until I get there. I'll try to be on—Damn it! The battery's going dead.”
“Why couldn't she have called five minutes later, when we were here?”
“Either way her phone’s battery would’ve gone dead. She's okay, that's the main thing and she’s on her way to the cabin.”
“Then why do I feel so afraid for her?”
His strong arms flexed, giving her a squeeze. “Relax. Carrie is all right.”
“Yeah.” What was Brick’s reaction, hearing her sister’s voice after all these years? Or had he been in contact with her all along? Was that the reason he turned up on the door step in the middle of the night-To see Carrie?
He released her.
She shivered as cold air replaced his arms.
“I’ll bring in the rest of the groceries.” She felt the void when he left the room.
Later, she helped put the supplies away, showing him where everything belonged. It felt right to be working in the kitchen together. Almost like an old married couple. Where did that thought come from? She’d better not forget he’d once b
elonged to Carrie, and he’d always be her sister’s man.
They didn't talk but worked as a team, each sensing what needed to be done. A comfortable silence descended on the room with only the aroma of good food to interrupt her thoughts. She watched him season the chicken with ground thyme, garlic and bay leaves before putting it in the oven. She set the table and made a Greek salad, water crackers, French Brie and red seedless grapes were set out for hor d'oeuvres.
When she and Carrie were children they’d spent many summers here at the cabin. Fresh from swimming in the lake and still in their bathing suits, they’d run into the kitchen to help set the table for dinner. Then the kitchen had been hot and filled with the glorious aroma of buttermilk biscuits and fresh baked apple pie.
She could picture her grandmother standing at the stove, fanning herself with her brightly colored apron, her gray/blonde hair tied up in a bun, beads of perspiration on her brow. How wonderfully simple those days had been. Now she wished life was that clear-cut.
“Dinner,” Brick said as he carved the chicken he’d taken from the oven.
They sat at the table in the big country kitchen.
“Good to see you eat.” He smiled. “I was getting worried.”
“When I was a little girl I told my mother I didn’t need to eat because I lived on sunshine.”
“You were solar powered.” He chuckled.
She laughed too and realized it had been too long since she’d found anything funny.
Without turning on the lights in the living room, she opened the drapes and watched the full moon shimmer on the dark waters of the lake. The birch trees swayed in the gentle breeze, casting shadows and the only sound was the rustle of the leaves on the tree branches.
She put a tea set on the table, poured a cup of tea and handed to him. In the moonlight, his eyes appeared to be a silver blue.
He sniffed the tea and wrinkled his nose.
“Peppermint tea.” She smiled. “Try it. You’ll like it.” She sat on the sofa next to him.
He took a sip. “Not bad.” He took another sip, then put the cup on a nearby table.
A sense of pleasure, she hadn’t felt in many years, washed over her. “Why can't life be easy?” she asked.
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