Renner (In the Company of Snipers Book 19)

by Irish Winters

  God bless America. Renner refused to dwell on all that would mean for McCormack Industries, the nation, every man and woman in the service.

  Mark had his arm around the old guy’s shoulders now, leading him very much like a lost child. “There she is,” Mark said when they spotted Kelsey.

  “Oh, I know her,” Jed exclaimed. “That’s... that’s… umm...”

  “Kelsey, look who wandered in from the cold,” Mark called out graciously.

  “Jed,” she cried as she ran to him and took his hands. “I am so glad you’re here. What a stormy night! Is the fog still rolling in? We’ll sure be in trouble if it gets cold enough to freeze, won’t we?”

  “Ah… well… umm…” He looked up at Mark who still had a tight hold on his elbow. “I’m afraid you made a mistake. That’s not my Lois, young man.”

  Young man? My Lois? Renner forced his eyes off the too-tender scene. He couldn’t bear to witness the great man crumble, not when Montego had just stalked into Raymond’s Kids like a long-legged movie star with paparazzi stuck to her ass, calling out, “LuAnn! LuAnn! Look this way. Smile!”

  Bright red Angelina lips twisted with what had lately become her famous fake smile. Even a dumb grunt like him could see through that conniving mask, but not the self-aggrandizing press. Beckam was glued to her six, but still she stopped the procession to pose for a selfie with some idiot male reporter who’d stuck his cell phone in her face. Laughing like they were besties. Strutting up the hall like she and the media were BFFs. Signing another moron’s brand-name purse with bright red marker: LuAnn.

  Renner growled at his team. “Heads on swivels, people. Let’s end this fuckin’ show once and for all.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Alex woke slowly. Still dragged out. Still sick enough to stay in bed all day and night and...

  Hell, no. He launched to his elbows, wiped his eyes with the heels of both palms, and blinked the drugging influence of that damned flu out of his head once and for all. It took a couple minutes to wake up enough to get his bearings. Kelsey’s side of the bed was empty again. The house was too quiet, the hallway leading from their bedroom, too dark. She wasn’t home. Neither was Lexie.

  He recognized the thoughtfulness of his sweet wife in the single red rose she’d left in a crystal bud vase on his nightstand. Kelsey was always conscious of little stuff like that. She’d tuck ‘I love yous’ in his shirt or suit pockets, other love notes to be found when and where he’d least expect them. Folded inside a sock when he was a long way from home. Stuck to a dollar bill in his wallet on long days at the office. Or simply taped to the visor in his car where he’d find it on his drive to the helo-pad. She always found a way to be there with him.

  But the neatly scribbled artwork beside it was Lexie’s doing. She’d drawn a stick dad with a grumpy face inside a big red Crayola heart, then covered the rest of the sheet with a mess of Xs and Os. Yeah, that was him all right, always too grumpy and short on time. Always leaving…

  Made him smile and remember. Abby used to leave masterpieces like this. Little girls… He’d never understand what on earth he’d done to deserve two perfect daughters.

  “Kelsey,” he called out in case he was wrong. “You home?”

  No ‘Be right there, honey!’ came back to him.

  Well, damn. She must be swamped at work again. Alex pushed to his feet. That’s okay. It’s time I surprise her for a change.

  Renner couldn’t stop looking at Montego, his sharp eye tracking every gesture and sideways glance, every barely noticeable nuance of the treacherous woman. The way she stuck her manicured nails in her thick black hair and pushed it off her face. The way it always fell back over her shoulder to cover her face and hide those lying eyes. The way her facial features changed from big-smile schmoozing to cold-blooded focus in the blink of a heavily-lined eye. The way her gaze shifted with slick, practiced ease to the kitchen every time she turned to speak with someone sitting behind her. It was as if she knew she were being watched, as if she enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game.

  From the moment she’d waltzed through Raymond’s doors to the second she sat her ass in her assigned seat and crossed her long legs at her knees—not at her ankles like a lady would have—she’d acted giddy at the media attention. But Renner knew better. Thanks to Seth, who had thoroughly documented Montego while he’d all but lived undercover in Cuba, Renner had studied her for months. The entire TEAM had. She wasn’t a star like the press believed. She was a poisonous snake, again poised to strike at the heart of America.

  The cafeteria had filled with the District’s finest, from politicians Jed worked with to his wealthy business friends and associates. All were decked out in their finery. And all were soon either going to love pizza and punch, or they were going to leave Raymond’s disappointed and hungry.

  The kitchen screen was nearly all the way down and Seth and Beckam were lying behind that screen, watching Montego through their scopes. Poor Kelsey seemed flustered, as if it took all her nerve to be courteous to the barely dressed and downright bawdy woman as she seated her in the front row. Pillows would have been so much more fun, watching Montego plant her barely covered ass on the floor.

  But when she grabbed Kelsey’s hand and pulled her close after she’d sat down…

  When she said whatever she told Kelsey, so low it didn’t come over Kelsey’s hidden mic, every nerve in Renner’s body jumped in alarm. “Mark! Don’t let her get—”

  But Mark hadn’t needed to be told. He was already on his feet, angling his body between the women while he tugged Kelsey away from Montego.

  “What’d she tell you?” Renner asked once Kelsey was safely seated at the end of the row beside Mark and away from Montego.

  “That I have no idea how happy she is to finally meet the beautiful lady behind the great Alex Stewart.” Kelsey tossed her head as she mimicked Montego’s smoky voice. “The liar. I met her the morning she nearly killed Beau. I was there when he died in my kitchen! On my floor. I cleaned his blood off that floor. God, I hate her.”

  “You and me both, Kels. Take a deep breath.” Because I sure am. By then Renner’s heart was hammering up his throat at what could’ve easily been a close call. “Let’s remember this night may not be what we think it is. It could really be just another stupid publicity stunt. And the press is watching. We don’t want to do anything too crazy.” Like kill her. “Just don’t go near her again, okay? And don’t forget to call her LuAnn.” Instead of you raving bitch.

  “But that’s not all, Renner.” Kelsey sounded like she was grinding her teeth. “She asked where Alex is tonight. She actually thought I’d tell her.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” Mark whispered, his arm around her shoulders but his face turned to the podium as if everything were normal and she wasn’t having a quiet meltdown. “This will be over soon.”

  Renner had no doubt Mark would fall in the line of duty before he let anything happen to Kelsey. But things still happened, and this was no ordinary serial killer they were dealing with. Renner was glad to have Mark at Kelsey’s six.

  Because Montego didn’t think like other people. As hard as it was to admit, there was a certain evil genius behind people like her. Serial killers were extremely adept at seizing opportunities most people didn’t see and would never think of. They used the simplest opportunities to hurt, maim, or kill. Like Ted Bundy, they operated outside the law, but they also thought outside the boundaries of ordinary comprehension and perspective. They saw the world differently. Everything was a tool to be used and discarded. Even people.

  Renner knew damned well this trumped-up media circus had nothing to do with McCormack and everything to do with Montego. “Is she wearing gloves?”

  Mark shook his head, signaling he’d heard.

  “Damn, that’s too bad.” But she wouldn’t be wearing gloves. She was barely wearing anything. Which should’ve eased the out-of-control sense of dread slithering up Renner�
��s spine. But damn, it didn’t. Something was very off about this foolish, risky spectacle he was witnessing.

  All was not as it appeared, but what was he missing? What other mistakes had he made, and what was he not seeing? Montego was damned near naked. She had no place to hide a gun or a knife. Poison, yes, which was why he’d panicked when she’d grabbed onto Kelsey. But Kelsey was fine, and everything seemed perfectly normal. Which meant something was very wrong.

  “Kelsey, it’s time,” Renner prompted, his throat tight and dry. “Go be a shining star.”

  “Oh, that’s real funny, me a star,” Kelsey muttered in his earpiece as she lifted to her feet from the seat beside Mark and walked to the podium. “All I need now is to trip and fall on my face in front of everyone. I can see the headlines…”

  Her audience couldn’t see her talking, not with her thick, brown hair cascading over her shoulders, her head up and her shoulders back. She’d stuck with casual tonight, wearing brown pants and a light-yellow blouse. The black casual suit jacket made her look professional and sharp, yet still laid back. When she turned and faced everyone, she looked tired and nervous. Shy. But the moment she leaned into the podium’s built-in microphone, her countenance changed. She smiled. Her face brightened. And there she was again, Alex’s girl.

  “Governor Tillis. My good friend, Jed McCormack. And the lovely media giants who showed up, I don’t know why...” Kelsey said with dramatic affectation. She paused then to let the round of applause and laughter die down. Everyone knew why the press was there. Ratings.

  Renner didn’t miss that she hadn’t acknowledged LuAnn, aka Catalina, hadn’t even glanced at the murderess, or called her bitch. Which would surely have made front page news. Kelsey was definitely better than him. He couldn’t help thinking, ‘You go, girl!’

  “It’s my unique pleasure tonight to welcome each of you into my home away from home, to Raymond’s Kids, an innovative concept of integrated care that the most vulnerable segment of our society needs. I’d take you on a tour, but as you know, one of the District’s free clinics resides at the front of our building, and I never disturb them unless it’s urgent. They’re the frontline heroes in our fight against homelessness. The work those men and women do there is what brings most of our kids to us here.”

  Another round of applause. Kelsey went on to explain the gentle giant behind the naming of Raymond’s Kids. She talked about how she and Raymond had met during the precarious kidnapping she’d endured a couple years back. How she—of all the least dangerous people in the world—frightened him—a monster of a man/child afflicted with a rare pituitary disorder that had ended his short life.

  Man, she was a natural at this. The audience grew silent when she described how she’d grown to love Raymond during those few trying days, and how he’d been sorely used by the truly wicked woman who’d kidnapped Kelsey. She told her audience how that woman had used hamburgers to bribe poor, sweet Raymond, how she’d beat him when he was scared and bullied him when he’d cried. How he’d died helping Kelsey, and how losing him that night broke her heart.

  “That was when I decided to do something for all the Raymonds in the world. All my lost boys and girls. But I couldn’t save everyone, could I? I’m just one person, right?” she asked, drawing her listeners in.

  By then the cafeteria had stilled. Necks craned forward. Everyone waited.

  Kelsey’s gaze moved slowly across the rows and rows of Jed’s and Tillis’ admirers, smiling at some, winking at Jed, but not for one second making eye contact with Montego.

  At last Kelsey shrugged and murmured into the mic, “But I am one person, and I could save one lost child.” She cleared her throat and licked her bottom lip. “And if I could help one homeless child, why not two? Or three? Or another and another until…?”

  She performed a flawless Vanna White maneuver, her hands lifted and her eyes bright as she gestured toward the artwork covered wall to her right. “I give you Raymond’s Kids and the person who made all this possible, my dearest friend, the man who should be president, Mr. Jed McCormack!”

  The audience erupted, every last one of them up on their feet, cheering as Jed stood. For a second there, he almost looked presidential. Renner blinked at the transformation in the man. The reporters went wild, they were everywhere. Snapping pictures while Mark escorted Jed forward. Capturing Kelsey’s beaming smile as she stood front and center and clapped for Jed.

  But damn, Montego was good, on her feet and clapping along like she cared about Jed—when it was doubtful she cared about anyone. Smiling as if her sharp black eyes weren’t peeling Kelsey’s skin from her body, slice by bloody slice. And that get-up she’d worn tonight—holy shit. Hard to miss those voluminous, mocha colored breasts spilling over her too-tight glittery spandex tube-top, or the tanned thighs her mini-mini-skirt barely covered. Montego made Madonna look like a chaste virgin. If there were a way she could’ve looked coarser, or more like a two-bit hooker, Renner didn’t know it.

  He scanned to the barely lifted rolling divider from where Seth and Beckam watched over Kelsey. They would soon vacate their station after McCormack finished whatever he was going to babble about. Which seemed another one of Renner’s glaring errors tonight. Jed was in no condition to speak coherently, much less handle the media glare or any reporter’s leading questions. He had no idea where he was. So why the hell was he here?

  “We should’ve called this off, Mark,” Renner whispered, knowing full well he’d just broadcast that second-guess to everyone with an earpiece.

  “I thought he’d snap out of it,” Mark murmured even as he escorted Jed to the podium. “He has before. He might still.”

  “Trust me,” Kelsey whispered. “I’d rather accept the fake check from Jed, or whatever he needs to give me, than that woman. I’ll help him get through this. You’ll see. I won’t leave him. We’ll be fine.”

  “No,” Renner said, his gut churning out a definite storm warning. “Get him and Kelsey out of there, Mark. This is all wrong. We can’t go through with it.”

  Renner saw his final error then. Saw her. A slender woman with long, sleek, chocolate brown hair had just stepped out from the third row, walking with purpose. Dressed exactly like Kelsey. Same color pants. Same suit jacket over the same light-yellow blouse. Her head down. She walked quickly. Too quickly. Straight for the podium.

  “Everyone down! Montego’s got help, Mark!” Renner yelled as his pistol snapped into his palm.

  In that same instant, someone on the front row popped yellow smoke, and the stampede commenced. Women screamed. Men bellowed. But they all turned tail and ran for the exit where Renner was standing, knocking over chairs and stepping on each other in their haste to save themselves. Coughing. Choking. Shoving him out of the way as they fled into the hall.

  By then, dense yellow smoke completely concealed Kelsey and the first ten or so front rows.

  “Mark!” Renner bellowed. “Everyone! Save Kelsey and Jed! Can anyone see her?”

  “Copy that,” Aaron growled. “I’ve got her.”

  “Where’s Jed?”

  “Safe,” Mark hissed. “He never left my side.”

  Thank God! “Then where’s the bitch?” Renner growled as he fought against the panicked crowd, leading with his shoulder, butting men and women, reporters and senators and senators’ wives out of his way. “Where’s Montego? Seth! Beckam! You seeing her?”

  “Negative,” both men replied in unison.

  “Can’t see anything in this shit, Renner,” Seth replied. “Coming your way as soon as we pack up.”

  “She has to be here! Move it,” Renner ordered the last teary-eyed reporter as he cleared the front row. “Shit, someone open the front doors. Aaron, you got any fans?”

  “In the supply room, but I’m not leaving this lady.”

  “Kelsey?” Renner cried out.

  “I’m okay, Renner. I’m good. She did it again, didn’t she?”

  “Hell, I
don’t know what she did other than create panic…” Renner spun on his heel, his brain working to understand what had just happened. “Shit. Where’d she go?”

  By then visibility was partly cloudy to clearing.

  “Did anyone see her? Did she leave the building?”

  “Negative,” Zale reported. “None of us saw anyone leave, and we’ve been watching, sir.”

  Which meant she was still inside somewhere. She had to be.

  “Guys, get Kelsey and Jed out of here,” Renner ordered.

  “Let’s go to my office,” Kelsey said.

  “Copy that,” Mark replied. “On our way.”

  Adrenaline poured into Renner at the seemingly perfect puzzle Montego had created. He watched dutifully while Mark ushered Jed across the hall. Aaron and Kelsey followed.

  But if Montego was the only one missing, if she truly had fled the building for some unknown reason, even if she was still inside, who cared? Renner could track her now that the main players were safe. She’d missed her prime objective tonight. That was something to be proud of until—he knew who he wasn’t seeing.

  “Tara!” he bellowed, his heart racing as his boots carried him back to the kitchen. “Have you seen Tara?” he asked Seth and Beckam. “Was she here?”

  Both men looked up from where they were packing their rifle cases. “She was until we set up shop, then she split,” Beckam replied.

  “Where’d she go?”

  Seth’s shoulders lifted. “Said you were cute, that she was going to stand by you, that she didn’t want to miss the show.”

  “Then where is she now?”

  “I left Jed and Kelsey together. She’s armed now,” Mark said calmly from behind him. “Don’t worry. Tara can take care of herself. We’ll find her.”

  But Renner knew better. Tara was that dark-haired woman who’d come out of nowhere at the last moment. She’d purposely dressed like Kelsey tonight. She’d meant what she’d said, that she’d do anything to help her friend.