Promises to Keep

by Kathryn Shay

  “You’re not responsible, Joe.”

  When she started to cry again, he pulled her back in his arms. Seeing her overwrought was his punishment, he guessed, for being so pigheaded. And now, three people he’d come to care about had been hurt by his decisions.

  Eventually, Suzanna calmed. He held her until he realized she’d fallen asleep. Gently, he eased away and stretched her out on the couch. Covering her with a lap blanket, then kissing her forehead, he left the den and had just pulled out his cell phone when the doorbell rang. Outside he found Luke.

  A sharp pang shot through Joe at the sight of the young man’s face. It was then that Joe realized Luke felt about Kelsey the way Joe felt about Suzanna. He also became aware that he’d come to care about the kid, too. How had years of avoiding relationships been overturned in such a short time?

  Luke said hoarsely, “I didn’t know where else to go.”

  “Come on in.” When he closed the door, Joe went over to Luke and put his arm around his slumped shoulders. “Suzanna’s asleep in the den. Come in here.”

  Silently Luke accompanied Joe into the living room. Sinking down onto the couch, the young agent bowed his head and linked his hands between spread knees. Joe sat across from him.

  “My father was right.” Luke’s voice was flat. “I fuck everything up.”

  The friend, the part of Joe that would have been a good dad, surfaced. “If your father said that, he was a fool.”

  Luke’s head snapped up. “I thought you’d agree.”

  “Why? Because you came to care about Kelsey?” He glanced in the direction of the den. “I’d have to be a major hypocrite to get on you about that, wouldn’t I?”

  Luke gave a self-effacing smile. “I guess.” His eyes narrowed. “You serious about Suzanna? ’Cause I think she’s a lot more fragile than she lets on.”

  Always playing Sir Galahad. “Yeah, she is. I’m serious, Luke. But this won’t be going further. With me and Suzanna. Or you and Kelsey. STAT has to continue, and we’ve compromised the program already.” The thought of leaving here and never seeing Suzanna again gutted him. Still, he said, “It’s nonnegotiable.”

  Leaning back against the couch, Luke seemed to accept that. “I can’t believe how upset Kelsey was. First at me. Then Suzanna. Her world’s been shifted.”

  “Tell me what she said.”

  As he listened to Luke’s stark recitation, an idea came to him. Maybe, just maybe, he could help the kid and Suzanna. After Luke was finished, Joe stood. “I want to talk to Kelsey.”

  “I don’t think that’s such a hot idea.”

  “It is.” He jammed a hand through his hair. “I was the one who insisted on the silence. I should take the blame. But I have a plan, too.” He headed for the foyer.

  Luke followed him. “Joe, are you sure?”

  Shrugging into his jacket, he said, “Yes. Stay with Suzanna. And call headquarters. See if they’ve got anything new, especially on Smurf’s instant message. They’re having a hell of a time finding out what PBB stands for. They’ve got to crack it soon.”

  At the desperate look on Luke’s face, Joe reached out again and squeezed the younger man’s arm. “I won’t make it worse, I promise.”

  “It couldn’t be worse,” Luke said bleakly.

  Unfortunately, Joe saw what Luke meant when Kelsey opened her front door ten minutes later. Her face was ravaged, and for the first time since he’d known the young woman, she did not look good. He was astounded by all the lives he’d affected by one simple decision.

  “I don’t want to talk to you.” She gripped the doorknob as if it were holding her upright.

  “I’m a member of a law enforcement agency. I can have you hauled to the police station for questioning, if you’d rather.”

  Her jaw gaped. “Are you always such a bastard?”

  “When lives are at stake, I am.”

  She paled even more.

  “I don’t relish upsetting you further, Kelsey, but if you could see what Luke and Suzanna are going through, you’d—”

  “I won’t discuss Suzanna.”

  Hmm. Just Suzanna. Though he was in over his head here, he’d be damned if he wouldn’t give fixing her relationship with Suzanna his best shot. Barging his way inside, Joe shed his coat. Kelsey took it, hung it on the coat tree, and limped before him into the living room. They sat at opposite ends of the couch.

  He met her gaze squarely. “All of the secrecy is my fault. I’m in charge of this operation. I insisted Suzanna keep it from you. I threatened Luke with loss of his job if he let you in on the undercover. Even last week, when you told Suzanna how you felt about Luke, I bullied them into silence.”

  She bit her lip. “I feel so violated.”

  He knew the meaning of that word. And the scars that could result from violation. “I’m sure you do. But do you realize what’s at stake?”

  “Lives, you said. It seems convenient to fall back on that.”

  “It isn’t. You’re upset and not thinking clearly or you’d see the danger schools are in these days.”

  “I see the danger,” she said, fire lighting her eyes.

  “Do you understand how at risk your school is?”

  She rubbed her leg. “Because of kids like Webster?”

  “Not just them. Let me tell you all of it. Then, if you still can’t understand that we needed secrecy, I’ll leave and not bother you again.”

  Her inner integrity surfaced. He was counting on that. “All right.”

  It took an hour to fill her in...Zach’s suicide, the hit list, the risk factors, Ben Franzi and his depression, the bullying Smurf suffered, Max and guns, Rush’s angry outbursts.

  She got paler, but paradoxically, she seemed stronger as he cataloged the reasons the Secret Service had targeted Fairholm.

  “Given her beliefs, you can imagine how Suzanna felt, having this forced on her.”

  “I can’t talk about Suzanna now.” Kelsey held his gaze. “But I understand why you’re here. It frightens me.”

  “It should.”

  “How did you get involved in all this?”

  The slow twist in his gut came, as usual, when he thought about Josie. He knew if he told Kelsey about his niece, she’d be more sympathetic, more willing to forgive the other two. Could he do that for Suzanna? For Luke?

  “My niece was killed in a school shooting three years ago.”

  Her big brown eyes clouded. “Oh, Joe, I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry, Kelsey. Help us to stop this senseless violence. You’re in an ideal position to assist us.”

  “Assist you? How?”

  “You have all these at-risk kids in class. We can work with you now to throw them together with Luke. And you can ferret out information on your own.”

  She glanced at the table where Suzanna had dropped her resignation. “I’m quitting.”

  “I’m asking you not to.”

  “Surely you can’t think that I could have Luke in my classes. That I...”

  The doorbell rang. She rolled her eyes.

  “Are you expecting someone?”

  “I’m expecting the sky to fall next.”

  He grinned. She returned it weakly. Then they heard pounding on the door. Joe tensed. “Let me see who it is.”

  Hurrying out to the foyer, he was surprised to find Luke and Suzanna on the other side of the door. He’d told Luke to stay put, to watch her. She’d been sleeping.

  He yanked open the door. “What happened?”

  Luke stormed in, and Joe pulled a shaky Suzanna inside after him. Closing the door, sliding his arm around Suzanna, Joe said, “Tell me.”

  Gone was the battered young man Joe had left earlier. Now, Luke was every inch the agent. “I talked to Mack.” Mack the Hack was the website expert who’d been tracing online information for them. “PBB stands for Pipe Bomb Builders. He finally got into the Coliseum. It doesn’t look good, Joe.”

  o0o

  Kelsey’s head was spinning
and her knee hurt. It didn’t help that she felt like she’d been thrust into the middle of a spy novel. Her eyes were glued to Luke, and she was shocked to see the changes in him. Even his body language was different. It brought home how much he’d deceived her. But something important was going on here, and she kept quiet.

  “Let’s go into the living room,” Joe glanced past Luke’s shoulder. “All of us.”

  Luke whipped around. His gaze focused on her. She held it, still amazed at the transformation. “Are you all right?” he asked tenderly.

  “I’m fine.”

  In charge, Joe shepherded them into the living room. They sat. He turned to Kelsey. “You can stay for this if you’re willing to help us.”

  “Help us?” Luke’s parroting made Kelsey smirk. “I thought you were quitting.”

  She raised her chin. “Joe had some convincing arguments. I might stay the rest of the year. Maybe work with you.”

  “Think fast, Kelsey,” Joe prodded. “We have to move on this.”

  Suzanna said nothing. Just stared at her.

  “I’ll help,” Kelsey finally said.

  “Good girl.” Joe’s voice was firm, fatherly. She felt good about pleasing him.

  “I mentioned Smurf is one of the kids we’re afraid could be on a pathway to violence. Luke was playing on his computer last week and Smurf got an instant message. Seems he’s part of a group called PBBs. Threat Assessment had a hell of a time tracing it.” He faced Luke. “What kind of group is it?”

  “A support group for building bombs. They give instructions on how to make all kinds of explosives, sites to order material, even offer phone assistance.”

  “A regular Weapons R Us network.” Joe’s tone was disgusted. “Well, this changes things. It’s an imminent risk factor.”

  “What will we do?” Luke asked.

  “Not we, kid. You. You’ve got to get to Smurf. See how serious he is about building bombs.”

  “That shouldn’t be too hard.” Suzanna spoke for the first time. “Smurf’s got a bad case of hero worship.”

  “He could do worse.” Joe looked at Luke. Something passed between the two men. Out of the corner of her eye, Kelsey saw Suzanna smile at it. Kelsey felt out of the loop.

  Joe finished, “You should get in touch with him right away.”

  “I can’t. His parents took him to Hilton Head for spring break. He’s gone until Sunday night.”

  Kelsey remembered something. “Smurf wasn’t doing well the day school got out. Some of Webster’s buddies stuffed him in a gym locker. I found him crying just outside the boys’ locker room.”

  “Damn it. That’s the last thing he needs.” Joe faced her. “See, Kelsey, no one else on our team knew about that incident.” He smiled at her. “You’re going to be a big help to us.”

  o0o

  Before Kelsey could comment, two cell phones rang. One was Luke’s; the other, Suzanna’s. Luke shot off the chair and strode to the foyer. Suzanna knew he wouldn’t want any kid who might be calling him to hear them all in the background.

  “Answer yours.” Joe’s voice was grave.

  She flicked it open. “Suzanna Quinn.”

  “This is Lieutenant Latham at the police station. We have a line on Raymond Webster. Kids apparently call him Rush.”

  “Webster’s in town?” She could hear her own voice quaver.

  Joe tensed.

  “Yes. Two patrol officers spotted him near Pickles, then followed him to Max Duchamp’s house.”

  “Did you arrest him?” They’d filed formal charges.

  “No, he dodged us. Long story how. The Duchamp boy won’t talk. I thought you and that young teacher should be warned.”

  “Thanks for the heads up.”

  She ended the conversation just as Luke returned. He waited for her to go first.

  “Webster’s back in town. They didn’t get him. He’s loose.” She turned to Kelsey. “You’re in danger, sweetie.”

  Luke ran a hand through his hair. “Jesus Christ! What next?”

  “You’re in danger, too, Suzanna,” Joe said. He faced Luke. “Was your call important?”

  Luke sighed. “It was from Ben Franzi. He was really jonesing, like he was on something. This week is the anniversary of his father’s death. I’m afraid he’s coping with drugs.”

  Suzanna saw Kelsey’s gaze fly back and forth between the two men. She wasn’t used to this intrigue. Hell, it still amazed Suzanna that she was living through it.

  Once again, Joe assumed control. “All right, we have to do a couple of things. First, Luke, you go see Ben.”

  “I’m meetin’ him at Pickles in fifteen.”

  “Then get over to Duchamp’s. See what you can find out about Webster’s plans.”

  “I’ll call him on the way to Pickles. Set something up.”

  Kelsey frowned. “Isn’t that dangerous, going to Max’s? What if Webster’s still around? He hates you.”

  “Worried about me, babe?” Luke asked hopefully.

  With fear crowding her heart, she couldn’t think of a retort.

  Suzanna said, “Kelsey shouldn’t be left alone here with Webster back in town.”

  “She won’t be.” Joe faced her. “Kelsey, go pack some things. You’re staying at Suzanna’s.”

  “I–”

  “Don’t protest. It’s a fait accompli. You need protection.”

  “Suzanna’s going to protect me?”

  “No, Luke and I are. We’re all moving in together.”

  o0o

  Lines of grief etched themselves out in every pore of Ben Franzi’s face. In a dim corner of Pickles, at eight o’clock at night—near where the hit list had been found, Luke thought ironically—Ben toyed with the straw in his Coke and stared off into space. He was on a downer now, instead of seeming high, as he had on the phone. His hair was in tiny little braids—and dyed an inky black. His clothes were like the night.

  “Hey, Benjy boy, talk to me.” Luke lounged in the booth, scrambling for an answer for Ben, though he knew there weren’t any. Still, he had to help the kid somehow.

  For a half-hour, they’d been shootin’ the shit. Ben had mumbled one-syllable responses to all of Luke’s overtures. His eyes were glassy.

  Finally, Ben said, “I’m losing it.”

  “Losin’ it?”

  “Yeah, like I can’t control my feelings. What I do.”

  Luke’s agent instincts kicked in. He forced himself not to stiffen. “You aren’t thinkin’ about doin’ anything, are ya?”

  Ben nibbled on a fry. “Like?”

  “Like Zach Riley?”

  Hopeless eyes stared back at him.

  “Jesus, Ben.”

  “There were pills. I took a few.” His expression got even more desolate. “I wanted to take them all.”

  “Hey, man, that is so not okay.”

  He shifted his gaze. “Who cares?”

  “Morgan. Your mamma, and your sister.”

  Wearily Ben leaned against the vinyl and closed his eyes. “Yeah, but they’re not enough since...”

  “Since your daddy died?”

  Eyes still shut, Ben nodded.

  “I know how it is, buddy.”

  His head still back against the booth, Ben opened his eyes and spoke haltingly. “I can’t stand this stuff inside of me. Sometimes I feel like it’s gonna explode right out of me. I don’t want it to take anybody else down.”

  Shit. Luke was in way over his head. “You need to talk to somebody, man.”

  “I’m talking to you.”

  “I don’t know what to do with this stuff. You need somebody trained.”

  Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Like?”

  “My uncle.”

  “Hey, man, I told you if you shared this with him, I’d...”

  “Kill me.”

  “I haven’t shared nothin’. But you should. He’s a dickhead as an uncle, but the kids at school say he’s a good counselor.” No response. “You were in one of his groups
, weren’t you?”

  “Yeah. But he hasn’t done anything for you.”

  “I’m a lost cause.” He smiled weakly. “It’s like, you know, doctors can’t treat their families.” Luke had to push. Please God, let me find a way to get help for Ben. “What you got to lose?”

  “Nothing,” Ben finally whispered.

  Ben’s tortured acquiescence broke Luke’s heart. Quickly he pulled out his cell phone and punched in Joe’s number.

  Joe answered after the first ring. “Stonehouse.”

  “Uncle Joe. This is your long-lost nephew. My buddy Ben would like to talk to you.”

  “He’s not all right, is he?” Joe’s voice was concerned.

  “Give the man a cigar,” Luke said in his best teenage voice. “We’re at Pickles. Can you come down?”

  “I don’t want to leave the women alone. Is it that urgent?”

  “Clock’s tickin’.” It was their code for urgency, and taking pills—thinking about taking more—was definitely urgent.

  Joe thought for a minute. “Skip going to Max’s. Hustle back over to Kelsey’s after I get to Pickles.”

  “You betcha.”

  “I’ll leave now.”

  “Thanks, Unc.”

  Luke made small talk with Ben, mostly about music, until Joe burst through the door ten minutes later. “The cavalry to the rescue,” Luke joked.

  Ben gave him a weak smile. “I’m embarrassed.”

  Luke squeezed Ben’s arm. “You should talk to him alone. You don’t wanna spill your guts in front of me. I might cry.”

  “Fuck you.” But it was said with affection.

  Joe crossed to their table. “Hi, guys.”

  Ben looked down at his soda. Luke slid out of the booth. “I’m goin’. I hear enough of your advice, Unc.”

  As Luke stood up, Joe sat down. “Get out of here, boy. Go do your homework.”

  Luke mumbled good-bye to Ben and headed out the back door of Pickles. He needed to hurry to Kelsey’s. It was already getting dark, and if Webster was in town, the punk could do anything. Reaching his battered truck, worrying about the bleakness in Ben’s eyes, Luke fished for his keys in his pocket.

  An arm went around his neck and pressed against his windpipe. Luke bucked; other arms grabbed his, and yanked them behind his back. A hand slapped across his mouth. Somebody said, “Gotcha, city boy.”