Next Exit, Use Caution

by CW Browning

  “Stephanie said you don’t think you can guarantee her safety if she stays here for a few days,” Michael said. “Why?”

  Viper glanced at him and pulled out a Maglite as they reached the trees. She switched it on and the bright beam illuminated the dark woods around them.

  “You know why,” she answered. “It’s not safe for you to be here, but you know that. She doesn’t.”

  “You don’t think that, between the two of us, we can protect her?” he demanded, following her through the trees to the first target.

  “It’s not a question of protecting her physically. It’s a question of keeping her out of the reality I have to live in. It’s only a matter of time before someone finds me. I don’t need her getting dragged into the kill box too.”

  Michael shook his head and started to the right, heading towards the next target.

  “You’re being obstinate,” he said over his shoulder. “The odds of someone getting through your virtual security fence is slim. Even if they did, you’d have them tagged before they got anywhere near the house. There’s no reason Angela would be compromised.”

  Alina pulled the target off the stand she’d driven into the ground and turned to cross deeper into the trees to her right, heading for the nine hundred yarder.

  “There was also no reason for her to get shot by a sniper a year ago, but she was,” she retorted as she passed within a few yards of where Michael was taking down a target. “That was also a shot meant for me.”

  Michael looked up.

  “What?” he asked, startled. “When was this?”

  “When I was hunting Topamari. The Engineer missed me and hit her. Well, he didn’t miss me, but the bullet was seriously slowed down,” she called over her shoulder. “It went through her shoulder and shattered her collarbone before lodging in my side.”

  Viper continued on her way, missing Michael’s shocked reaction to her matter-of-fact explanation.

  Michael glanced down at the target in his hand and noted the perfect grouping in the center before turning to follow her. He pressed his lips together grimly. He hadn’t known about Angela’s injury, but he was well acquainted with the toll inflicted on both Stephanie and the SEAL when Regina Cummings went after Viper. For that matter, he hadn’t been exactly unscathed in that whole debacle. Now Damon was shot. No wonder she was so reluctant to allow any of them near her these days.

  He followed the glow from her Maglite and weaved through the trees, frowning. Short of going to stay with Angela himself and abandoning his post as Viper’s impromptu security detail, he couldn’t see any way around the current dilemma.

  “What if we kept her in the house, like we did last fall?” he suggested a few minutes later when he caught up to her, taking down the last target. “If she’s not coming and going, the chances of her getting caught up in anything are significantly lowered.”

  Viper glanced at him.

  “Do you really think she’ll stay put?” she demanded. “She barely stayed put last time and someone was actively trying to kill her.”

  “I don’t know,” he said thoughtfully. “I saw her tonight. She’s pretty shaken up.”

  Alina turned to head back towards the house and Michael followed. Even weighing the cons, he still believed the safest option was here. Then he could keep an eye on both of them.

  “Where is she tonight?” Alina finally asked as they broke out of the trees and into the back yard.

  “When I left, she was still at Stephanie's,” he answered. “She was planning on going back to her house, but she was in no rush.”

  Alina stopped in the middle of yard and looked at his truck for a minute, then sighed loudly.

  “God, I miss the mountains,” she muttered. She turned to him and Michael found himself staring into the unyielding face of Viper. “I’ll make the call. You go pick her up. Her car stays at Stephanie's.”

  Michael smiled.

  “That’s a good decision,” he said.

  Viper made a sound suspiciously like a grunt and turned to stride towards the house.

  “First thing tomorrow I’m adjusting the GPS mirrors on your truck and phone,” she said over her shoulder. She bent down to pick up her rifle case and scoop up the ear protection. “If I extend the GPS perimeter to five miles, we just might have a chance.”

  Michael followed, raising an eyebrow.

  “What difference will that make?” he asked. “You already have me off-grid at three miles out.”

  “The extra two miles will encompass Shamong and Tabernacle,” she replied. “Trust me. It adds enough real estate to make tracking your GPS a bigger pain in the ass than it’s worth.”

  “What about Stephanie?” Michael asked, following her up onto the deck.

  “I’ll take care of her tomorrow.”

  Alina stretched and opened her eyes. The gray light of dawn filtered into the room and she laid there for a moment in a hazy place between sleep and full wakefulness. Raven stirred on his tall perch in the corner, then settled down again, closing his eyes and returning to a state of dozing. Alina yawned, stretched again and sat up. She was just reaching for the cell phone on her bedside table when a soft knock fell on her bedroom door.

  “Yes?”

  The door cracked open and Angela peeked inside.

  “Are you awake?” she whispered.

  “Yes,” Alina said with an imperceptible sigh.

  The crack widened and Angela slipped into the room, pushing the door closed behind her. Her honey-colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she was dressed in black yoga pants and a tee-shirt borrowed from Alina. She looked as if she hadn’t slept a minute.

  “Oh good,” she said, advancing into the master bedroom. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  Raven lifted his head and watched suspiciously as she crossed the room to the bed and plopped down on the foot of it. Once he was satisfied that she wasn’t attacking his mistress, he hunkered down on his perch, watching them through half-closed black eyes.

  “That’s understandable,” Alina murmured, moving her feet out of Angela’s way under the covers. “It’ll get better the further away from it you get.”

  Angela looked at her.

  “I’ve never been so terrified in all my life. Thank you for inviting me. Stephanie doesn’t have room with Blake and his dog there. She did offer, but I would have to sleep on the couch and Buddy sleeps in the living room.”

  Alina grinned. While Angela loved her cat, she had never been much of a dog person.

  “I don’t see that working out so well.”

  Angela hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath.

  “Look, I know you don’t want me here. Stephanie said you have a lot going on and you weren’t sure if you could take another house guest. I’ll stay out of your way, I promise.”

  Alina rolled her eyes.

  “Stephanie shouldn’t have said anything. You won’t be in my way. That’s got nothing to do with it.”

  “But you do have a lot going on,” Angela said. “I can tell. You’re distracted.”

  “Yes, but it’s got nothing to do with you.” Alina paused and sighed in resignation. “Angie, I’m sorry if you feel...unwanted. You’re not. I’m just worried I won’t be able to...keep you as safe as I would like.”

  Angela stared at her for a moment, clearly surprised.

  “Why do you think you need to keep me safe?” she asked, bemused. “My house was broken into, that’s all. It’s not like I’m being stalked again.”

  Alina was silent and Angela suddenly sucked in her breath.

  “You think I am?” she demanded. “Why?”

  “Let’s just say I’m being cautious,” Alina said. “It’s not normal for a housebreaker to ignore all the big ticket items downstairs and go straight for the master bedroom.”

  Angela was quiet for a moment.

  “That’s why the police were asking about the flat tire and everything I’ve done since I got back from Florida,” she breathed. “Bu
t...who? Why? And how? I’ve only been back a few days!”

  “I don’t know. That’s what Stephanie and the police are going to find out.”

  “Well if that’s what’s really going on, I’m in the safest place I can think of,” Angela announced. “You have a whole security system and a Federal Agent staying here. How much safer can I possibly be?”

  “This does come with conditions,” Alina warned her gently. “You’re not going to like it, but it’s necessary.”

  “What?”

  “You can’t leave, for one. Until we know who this guy is, you can’t leave this property. Michael is positive he wasn’t followed last night, so if you are being watched, they don’t know where you are right now. You step foot off this property and they can easily pick you up again.”

  Angela wrinkled her nose, but nodded reluctantly.

  “If you get in some easy to prepare food, I’ll stay put,” she agreed. “Last time I was here you didn’t have a thing in the house to eat!”

  Alina resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

  “I did. You just don’t cook,” she said. “If it will keep you happy, make a list of food and I’ll arrange it.”

  “What else?”

  “I don’t want you contacting anyone outside this house or telling anyone where you are.”

  Angela frowned.

  “That’s fine for the next few days. I already took Monday and Tuesday off for the funeral, but then I have to tell my boss something. He’ll need to know why I’m working from home.”

  “Tell him you’re sick. You came down with the flu.”

  “What about Annabelle?” Angela asked suddenly. “I have to go get her, and some clothes, and my laptop and charger...”

  Alina did roll her eyes this time.

  “Angie, seriously?”

  “What? I do! I’ll get those, then I can hole up here for as long as it takes,” she assured her. “Michael can take me. I’ll be perfectly safe with him.”

  “For the love of...what part of you can’t leave don’t you understand?” Alina demanded. “Someone else can get your stuff, but I’m not being responsible for your cat’s safety in a house with a hawk. You remember what happened last time Raven caught sight of her.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Angela replied. “Now I know to be more careful about latching the doors. I have to go. I don’t think Anabelle will get into a carrier for anyone else. And besides, I know where everything is. It would be quicker for me to go. Why can’t Michael take me?”

  Viper felt her eye beginning the twitch. It was way too early for this argument.

  “Right now, we know you weren’t followed here. If some psycho is stalking you, he has no idea where you are. Where do you think is the most logical place for him to watch?”

  “You’re assuming I am being stalked,” Angela muttered. “We don’t know that I am. I say let Michael take me to get my stuff. We can drive around all day and lose anyone who might be following.”

  “Drive around all day?”

  The twitch was getting worse.

  “Sure. Michael wanted to see where the funeral is going to be, so I can take him around and show him...oh my God!” Angela exclaimed suddenly, cutting herself off. “I completely forgot about Joanne! I have to meet her at the funeral home to check flowers, then go with her to the church to meet with Father Angelo!”

  Alina stared at her for a minute and pinched the bridge of her nose as a dull headache started behind her twitching eye.

  “Stephanie?” she asked after a moment.

  “She has to run some other errands. That’s why I’m going.”

  Alina shook her head. It was pointless to say Angela couldn’t go. That was a fight she would never win, especially if Angela was doing it to help Stephanie.

  “What a mess,” she muttered. “I’ll talk to Michael. If he agrees, he can take you.”

  “And if anyone does start following us, I’m sure he’ll know. He’s a Federal agent, after all.”

  Alina shook her head, defeated.

  “Yes, he is,” she agreed tiredly, humoring her. “After the church, you’re coming right back and staying put.”

  “Fine.”

  Angela got off the bed and left the room happily. As soon as the door closed behind her, Viper sank down into the pillows again and stared at the ceiling. So much for keeping Angela off-grid. How on earth was she going to keep her secure with all the coming and going?

  More to the point, how was she going to keep her own location secure with all the coming and going?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Harry sipped his coffee as a bus lumbered by. He stood at the corner, waiting for the light to change. At mid-morning the rush hour was over, and the foot traffic was fairly light in the nation’s capital. The light changed and Harry stepped off the curb, starting across the side street towards a small park on the other side. A brisk spring wind whipped around his bald head, and Harry breathed deeply as he reached the other pavement and started towards the park entrance.

  “You’re late.”

  The voice spoke behind him and Harry grinned, turning his head to look at his old friend.

  “I know. I got held up by a singularly obtuse barista,” he said. “He was simply unable to comprehend the words ‘large black coffee.’”

  Charlie’s gray eyes crinkled at the edges as his face broke into a rare smile.

  “He’ll be traumatized for the rest of the day,” he said, falling into step beside Harry. “Thank you for meeting me here. I’m on my way to the airport and don’t have much time. Our usual place was out of the question.”

  Harry grunted and they stepped into the small, wooded area nestled in the bustling city.

  “If you’re looking for an update on Kasim Jamal, I have to disappoint you,” he said as they walked along a nearly deserted running trail. “He’s proving to be surprisingly elusive. We lost him after he left the old factory in Maryland, and so far, he hasn’t resurfaced.”

  Charlie looked at him sharply.

  “That was two days ago!”

  “I know.” Harry sipped his coffee. “I’ve got people working around the clock. We’ll find him.”

  “And the other one?”

  “They’ll be together. They have no reason to separate now. In fact, just the opposite after losing Asad and Nasser.”

  Charlie was silent for a long moment.

  “What about the other issue?” he finally asked. “Last week you were making progress on the questionable agents inside DHS. What’s new on that front?”

  “It’s very slow,” Harry said glumly. “I think it goes much deeper than we originally thought. Regina Cummings and her crew were just the beginning. I’m working on it, but it’s taking time.”

  “We don’t have time.” Charlie stopped walking and looked at Harry. “Information is leaking out and I need to know which agency is responsible.”

  “Has something happened?” Harry asked, his brows snapping together.

  “An operative in Brazil was killed last night,” Charlie said grimly. “They were waiting for him at his entry-point in the favelas.”

  Harry scowled.

  “Are you sure it wasn’t just a bad op?”

  “Yes.”

  Harry sighed heavily.

  “Understood.”

  Charlie nodded.

  “I know you’ll do your best.”

  “How’s Viper?” Harry asked as they resumed walking. “Has she shown any signs of strain since John Smithe’s death?”

  Charlie smiled faintly.

  “Just the opposite,” he murmured. “She’s more focused than ever.”

  “And the funeral?”

  “I understand it’s tomorrow. Once that’s over, I don’t think we need to worry anymore. If she has any...lapse, it will be there.”

  “You know, she never ceases to amaze me,” Harry said thoughtfully. “I was sure there would be problems when he died. She’s so damned attached to those people. I thought I’d tra
ined her better than that.”

  “It is only because of your training she’s come this far. She has emotional attachments, but they haven’t weakened her. If anything, they’ve made her stronger, so I won’t complain.”

  “Hm.” Harry sounded unconvinced, but let it drop. “I got a call from Agent Walker’s boss today. He needs her back. She’s on LOA now because I pressured it, but with John dead, I can’t justify continuing it. Not when her boss is getting antsy. You asked me to take her out of play, but I can’t keep her sidelined for much longer.”

  “The circumstances remain, but I think Blake Hanover has been distracting her,” Charlie said slowly. “Go ahead and release her back to work. If she starts to dig into things above her pay grade, we’ll deal with it then.”

  “It might not be a bad thing for her to get pulled into all this,” Harry said after a moment of thought. “Our initial concern was if something happened to those people, Viper would lose focus. John died, but you say she’s more focused than ever. Perhaps our concerns were premature.”

  “Perhaps.”

  Harry glanced at Charlie.

  “The sooner I find Kasim, the less we have to worry,” he said. “Once we find him and who brought them into the country, we can work to eliminate the threat to Viper. Agent Walker will become a non-issue. Is Hawk still stateside?”

  “No.”

  “That could work to our favor. If he isn’t around to be threatened, Viper will be even more focused on her target.”

  “Yes. So do me a favor? Find her target.”

  Harry grinned.

  “Knowing her, she’ll find him first.”

  Stephanie watched as the bank manager left the small cubicle, leaving her alone with the safe deposit box sitting on the desk before her. She sighed and sat in the single chair, pulling the box towards her. Wayne was sitting in the bank lobby, waiting. The lawyer was true to his word. When they arrived half an hour before, the manager had the forms ready and waiting for them. All that was left now was to clean out the box, take the last of John’s earthly possessions, and distribute them accordingly.

  She sighed again, loathe to open the box. Cleaning out his desk at work was an emotional process that Stephanie hated having to do, and now here was another necessary act of invading the privacy of her partner. Another opportunity for her to shed tears over the man who had been like a brother to her over the past couple years.