Dangerous to Love

by Sally Tyler Hayes

  “Geri and I argued about the Section 123 report. Tanner and I argued. I got a copy of the report...” she paused, remembering, stunned. “I know who it is. Rob Jansen.”

  “Who?”

  “Rob Jansen. He’s with the FBI, some kind of computer wizard. I asked him to look through the FBI computers for any inquiries about unidentifiable weapons or bullets. I met him that day to ask him in person.” She frowned. “Wait. Why would he tell me about the liquor store robbery if he was part of this? If he knew that information would lead us to the two men he hired to help Hathaway get away?”

  “Maybe he knew you were trouble, at that point. That they’d have to deal with you. Maybe he figured if he fed you that information, you’d go down there. They were probably waiting for you. I doubt they intended to let you out of there alive.”

  Sean walked out of the interrogation room and joined them. They filled him in on what they believed happened. Sean asked if Jansen had the kind of access it would take to find out Hathaway’s whereabouts.

  “He was inside Division One for months last year,” Jamie said. “There’s no telling what he had access to in that time. And if he set up the link with the FBI... who’s to say what else he might have done when he was inside our computer system.”

  “Or what he might have been able to get out of Tanner’s secretary without her knowing it,” Dan added. “They’re engaged.”

  “She was in the office that Saturday when we were briefed on the assignment at the warehouse,” Jamie remembered. “I doubt her security clearance is high enough for her to know much about what was going on, but if Rob knew we were getting Hathaway, I bet he could have gotten enough out of Amanda to piece everything together.”

  “Okay,” Sean said. “Let’s pick him up.”

  They picked up Rob Jansen without incident. Jamie simply called him and said she needed to see him. If he was surprised that she was still alive, he didn’t show it. Or maybe he came to get rid of her once and for all.

  Whatever the reason, he showed up at the meeting place she suggested. He looked nervous and not terribly surprised to find himself being taken into custody. Jamie and Dan stayed a bit while he was questioned, heard strange mutterings about things they simply wouldn’t understand, about secret missions and higher callings and protestations of innocence.

  And then he shut up and demanded to see a lawyer.

  Sean was making arrangements to search Jansen’s car, his apartment, his banking records, phone records, etc. Jamie was exhausted. She’d been on her feet all day, and she didn’t argue when Dan insisted on taking her home.

  They went back to her apartment. He filled the tub for her, scrounged through her cupboards and found something for a late dinner while she soaked. Then he fed her and put her to bed.

  She slept for a few hours, woke shortly before midnight when the phone rang. Dan was beside her in the bed and grabbed the receiver. Shivering, she pressed closer to him and waited. He finished his conversation and replaced the phone receiver.

  “Tanner’s coming over to fill us in on what he found out,” he said.

  She sat up gingerly, her ribs a little sore, and reached for her bathrobe. Dan made coffee. She was sipping her first cup when her boss arrived. If he was surprised to find them together, at this hour, at Jamie’s apartment, he kept it to himself.

  He looked over the fading bruises on Jamie’s face with some concern. “Couldn’t leave it alone, could you?” he said with a faint smile.

  “I’m told that’s a particular failing of mine.”

  Tanner laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ve already forgotten the fact that you disobeyed a direct order from me.”

  Dan stepped closer, slid his arm around her waist. “You should thank her for that. You wouldn’t have Jansen in custody if it weren’t for her.”

  “I know,” Tanner said. “Believe me, I’m grateful.”

  “What did Rob tell you?” Jamie asked.

  “Not much yet. We’ve broken off questioning for the night, but we got our search warrants. At his apartment, he had a half-packed suitcase on his bed and a passport issued under a fictitious name. The passport shows he was in the Middle East a few weeks before Hathaway disappeared, in a real hot spot for terrorist activity. We checked departing flights using the name on the passport. Jansen had an airline ticket waiting for him at National. He was going back to the Middle East in the morning. He also had a bank account in the Cayman Islands under the same name. Somebody in Zurich wired him three million dollars today.”

  “This is still so hard to believe,” Jamie said. “He’s practically one of us.”

  “I know.” Tanner said.

  “Why would he use the kids from the gang to help him get Hathaway out?” Dan asked. “ It seems like a foolish risk to take.”

  “I don’t think he planned to use them,” Tanner said. “I did some double-checking with the CIA. They knew someone was after Hathaway, and they were watching a number of known terrorist organizations. Twenty-four hours before Hathaway disappeared, the CIA detained two people we think were working with Jansen as they tried to enter the country. The CIA couldn’t do more than hold them for forty-eight hours and send them back to the Middle East. I bet those two were supposed to get Hathaway out. When they couldn’t get into the U.S., Jansen had to scramble for help at the last minute.

  “Remember, Division One was only supposed to have Hathaway for two days or so. I’d say Jansen thought that was his best chance at Hathaway. Afterward he thought he’d be in a position to monitor the search for Hathaway, that if anyone got too close to figuring things out, he’d know and be able to get away in time.”

  “And I went to him for help,” Jamie said.

  “We got him because you wouldn’t give up on this,” Dan said, then he turned back to Tanner. “Why do you think Jansen did it?”

  “Three million dollars, that’s why. From what we’ve found so far, other than the money just wired to the Caymans, he was broke, which would explain why he hadn’t been able to pay off the gang kids he hired.”

  “But he got Hathaway away from us months ago. Why wouldn’t he have the money before now?”

  “The explosives haven’t surfaced anywhere yet. Before Hathaway disappeared, he claimed he was having trouble perfecting the chemical formula. The government thought he was stalling, that he didn’t want to turn the explosives over to the U.S. But maybe he wasn’t lying about that. Maybe he hadn’t perfected the design yet or he wasn’t able to do it right away. Who knows? Maybe we got lucky, caught them in time and we can keep those explosives off the market.”

  “What’s so special about these explosives?” Dan asked.

  “He added a chemical base that renders them virtually undetectable to any existing security devices. If somebody wanted to blow up a plane? A government building? We’d be at their mercy.”

  Dan swore. Jamie felt dizzy at the implications.

  “I know,” Tanner said. “Takes your breath away, doesn’t it?”

  Jamie nodded. “So, this is it? You think Rob’s the only one on the inside involved?”

  “With the kind of access he had, I think he could have easily done it alone. He probably got some information through Amanda, but I believe he took advantage of her and their relationship. I don’t think she was a part of this. We don’t have any information to indicate anyone else on the inside was involved.”

  “What about Hathaway?” Jamie said. “Do we know where he is?”

  “I’m sure Jansen does. And with the evidence we have against him, he’s going to talk. I think this whole thing’s going to be over in the next twenty-four hours,” Tanner said. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you posted.”

  “Thanks,” Dan said.

  Tanner turned to Jamie. “Good work.”

  “Both of you.” He looked back at Dan. “I’m still trying to smooth some ruffled feathers with the D.C. police, the U.S. Marshals Service, St. Mary Margaret’s... that’s everybody, isn’t it? I don’t have any mor
e surprises waiting for me, do I?”

  “I don’t think so,” Dan said.

  “We need to talk. About the reprimand. Given how this turned out, I can probably make the reprimand go away, if that’s what you want,” Tanner said.

  Dan shook his head.

  “Hate to lose you,” Tanner said. “What are you going to do with yourself?”

  “I’ve got some ideas.” Dan looked at Jamie and smiled. “And she is going to need some time off.”

  Tanner nodded. “Take it, Jamie. As long as you need. We’ll be here when you get back.”

  Jamie walked him to the door, locked it behind him. Dan came to stand beside her. His hands encircled her waist.

  “You’re trembling,” he said.

  She sagged against him. “I can’t believe it’s over.”

  “You heard Tanner. It’s done.” He kissed the side of her face.

  Jamie sighed.

  “Tired?” he asked.

  “No. Just shaky.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Take me to bed,” she whispered.

  He did, held her for a long, long time, until she wasn’t shaking anymore, until she made a tearful confession.

  “I was so scared today. I was sure something would go wrong. Because every time I thought you and I were finally going to be together, something happened.”

  “Hey—” He turned her in his arms, until she was lying on her back and he was leaning over her. “You don’t have to be scared anymore. It’s over.”

  She shivered in his arms. He held her for a long time, then pressed his lips to hers. Long, deep, drugging kisses followed. She wound her arms around his neck as he worked his magic on her body, taking the fear away.

  There was such heat in him, such strength. She couldn’t seem to get close enough, though she fought each time they came together to take him closer, until he was a part of her, until they could never be completely separated again.

  She’d never felt this way about a man before, never completely understood the power of the bond between two people, the need that rose like a fever, consuming her and pushing every other thought out of her head, except him.

  He soothed her, stroked her, stripped her bare and slid his naked body against hers, until she was begging him to come to her. He went to pull her on top of him, but she stopped him.

  “Like this,” she said, rolling onto her back and pulling him to her instead. “Please.”

  One of his thighs slid between hers and then the other, but he was careful to kept his weight on his forearms, not on her. She pulled him down, until her breasts were nestled against his chest, until she felt him, big and hard and strong, teasing against the opening of her body.

  “Are you sure?” he groaned, kissing her again.

  They hadn’t made love this way yet, because of her ribs. But she thought it would be okay now. Besides, she wanted him this way, wanted to feel surrounded by him, wanted to feel his big, solid body on top of hers, wanted to find herself pinned beneath him with him thrusting into her.

  “Yes,” she said, moving against him, opening her body to his, and taking him inside. “Just like this.”

  She was indeed surrounded by him, consumed by him. She loved the power, the determination that drove him on. She loved the sensation of being taken by him, filled by him. She loved that he pushed her to the point where she would let him do anything he wanted to her, where she could do nothing but hang on to him and go where he led her. She loved trusting him enough to let him do all of those things to her.

  She let her thighs fall open, as wide as she could, and used the muscles in her legs and abdomen to arch her body against his, taking him even deeper. She felt sweat dampen his chest, saw the straining muscles in his arms. She wanted him to let go, too, wanted him to think about nothing but his own pleasure this time, wanted him to take for a change, not give.

  She pulled his mouth down to hers, rocked her body against his. Her arms went around his back, pulled at him, her nails sinking into his back.

  “Please,” she said. “Dan, please.”

  He moved faster, pushed harder, until she broke right through that steely control of his, and she had him. He groaned out her name and what she thought was an apology, and then he was moving against her, as he never had before. Fast and furiously, in quick, deep strokes. He was in a frenzy, and she had a second or two to concentrate on the look of pure need in his eyes, the immense concentration on his face, before she was too caught up in her own sensations to do anything but feel.

  The feel of him, moving this way inside her, was amazing.

  Dan groaned out her name. He went rigid for a second, and then started thrusting again. She felt the rippling climax move through him and into her, until she shuddered and cried out his name, as well.

  She lay beneath him shivering and struggling for breath.

  He rolled off her, lying flat on his back beside her. She heard a string of curses, and then he was leaning over her, running his hands over her ribs, whispering urgently to her.

  “I’m fine,” she reassured him.

  “God, Jamie, I can’t believe—”

  “What?”

  “That I did that to you.”

  “I think you were provoked,” she said, smiling. “At least, I’d like to think I managed to provoke you.”

  “Provoked? Lady, you make me crazy.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes. I don’t lose control like that. At least, I never have before.”

  She smiled wickedly.

  “You’re sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m sure. I wanted you. Just like that.”

  He settled her against his side, kissed her lazily, soothingly, until her heart rate was back to normal and she could breathe again. Then she was snuggled against his big, warm body, wrapped tightly in his arms.

  She could hear his heart still pounding heavily, heard the sound of the wind kicking up outside. It could storm tonight, and she wouldn’t care. He’d be right here with her. Then she heard a strange scraping sound—a tree against the side of her apartment?

  “Did you hear that?”

  “What?” he said, the sound rumbling up from deep inside his chest.

  She waited, tense and edgy all over again, but heard nothing.

  “What did you think it was?” Dan said.

  “Maybe a branch scraping against the bedroom wall? I don’t know.”

  “Want me to check?”

  She hesitated, thinking she was being silly, thinking she was comfortable and didn’t want him to move. “I’m getting paranoid.”

  He tugged on her hair, until she lifted her head from his chest and looked him in the eye. He was grinning, an endearingly sexy grin unlike any she’d ever seen from him.

  “Maybe you are. Maybe you aren’t,” he said, giving her a quick kiss. “Roll over. I think I need to check this out.”

  She rolled away from him, pulling the sheet around her, watching as he took three awkward steps to the window and looked outside.

  When he turned around, he was still smiling. “All clear.”

  “You’re up to something,” she said.

  He sat down on the side of the bed. “Maybe.”

  Then she heard a strange whimpering sound from the next room and her heart started pounding. She reached for the gun she kept in the nightstand. “Someone’s in here.”

  “Hang on.” Dan took the gun from her hand and returned it to the drawer. He pulled on a pair of boxer shorts and grabbed his cane. “I think I know what the problem is.”

  She watched in disbelief as he walked to the bedroom door without her gun and disappeared.

  “Dan!”

  “Close your eyes,” he ordered.

  “What?” Her heart started pounding even harder, but from somewhere came the realization that she didn’t have to be afraid.

  “I’m not coming back in there until you close your eyes,” he insisted.

  Oh, God. She thought she knew what the w
himpering sound was.

  “Are they closed?”

  “Yes,” she said breathlessly.

  She was sitting in the middle of the bed, her back against the pillows and the headboard, the sheet wrapped tightly around her, her heart hammering so hard she could hardly hear anything else, except—whimpering. Pitiful, fussy whimpering.

  She felt the bed give with Dan’s weight. He settled in beside her on the bed, put a basket in her lap, kissed her softly, sweetly on the lips. “Open your eyes, babe.”

  She felt something warm and wet and smooth sliding against her fingertips, which were curled around the edge of the basket. Opened her eyes and found a trembling, little ball of fur huddled against one corner of the basket, licking her fingers and pawing at the edges to try to find a way out. Its eyes were barely open, its hair long and curly and golden, its ears long enough to drag on the ground when it walked.

  Jamie couldn’t breathe.

  He’d gotten her a puppy.

  “Sean said you had a cocker spaniel one time, when you were living in Germany.”

  She nodded, unable to speak, then looked more carefully at the bottom of the basket. It was lined with rose petals, a half-dozen shades of pink mingling with creamy whites.

  “I wasn’t sure what color you liked. So I ordered some of each,” he said. “Climbers, right?”

  She nodded. Vines to entangle themselves to the house, from the foundation up. Her puppy was still whimpering and licking her fingers. She could smell the roses now.

  “They won’t ship the rosebushes until spring. We need to have a place to plant them by then,” Dan said, handing her a glossy magazine with one corner nearly chewed off. “Sorry. The dog and I had an eventful evening while you were off in dreamland.”

  Dreamland? She laughed weakly. This was dreamland. He was about to make it all come true.

  Dan opened the book, a real estate book, she realized, to a page near the middle where the corner had been turned down. She saw lots of trees, a wide porch, a big fieldstone chimney on one side, a roof that went this way and that at all sorts of interesting angles.

  “It’s in Maryland, near the Bay. You can pick whatever you want, of course. I just flipped through the book a few times and I thought you might like this one. I thought you might like being on the water.”