Blink of an Eye

by Roy Johansen

  “The next step is to keep trying to find these sons of bitches before we have to pay this ransom. That hasn’t changed. We’ll keep investigating. And we’ll have a meeting tomorrow to go over every bit of evidence we’ve gathered and see what we can put together.”

  “And can we be there?” Jessie asked.

  He looked impatient and then shrugged. “Why not? You two seem to get to most crime scenes before I do.” He smiled crookedly. “To hell with protocol. Who knows? Maybe you can help me keep Calderon in check.”

  * * *

  FBI Regional Office

  Next Day

  “The meeting is in conference room two,” Kelland said curtly when he ran into Kendra and Jessie as they were getting off the elevator. “I’m running late but I’ll join you as soon as I can. Things aren’t going as well as I’d like.”

  Kendra and Jessie both stopped short. “Why not? Dee? Something’s gone wrong with the ransom delivery?” Kendra asked. “But they’re still going to go through with it?”

  “As far as we know. We haven’t received any word to the contrary since the cemetery. I’m surprised they allowed us this much time for delivery. Evidently they realize twenty million can’t be found on every street corner and we’d need a little time.” He grimaced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that this is such a big case, I’m running into all kinds of bureaucratic interference from the director’s office.”

  “Well, you did scare us,” Jessie said coldly. “And I feel like decking you. Next time I might do it. Don’t talk to me about your office politics when we don’t know from minute to minute whether Dee is still alive.”

  “I apologized, and I’ll do it again if you like,” Kelland said. “But I live in a world where I have to occasionally bow to bureaucracy, and I won’t apologize for that. It allows me the power and influence to get my way when I want to invite people like you here who ordinarily would never be permitted to attend a closed meeting like this.” He nodded down the corridor. “Conference room two. Noah Calderon has already arrived. If you want to make yourselves useful, you can stall him until I get this problem sorted out and can start the meeting. I’m sure you’ve noticed that he believes the sun rises and sets to please him and he can be difficult. But you’ll probably only have to listen to him tell you how wonderful he is to keep him in line.” He punched the button for the elevator. “All I’d need is for him to withdraw the offer to front the ransom and have to scramble to get it from the banks.”

  “He wouldn’t do that,” Kendra said. “Even if he didn’t care anything about her, he values what the public thinks about him.”

  “Sharp,” Kelland said as he got on the elevator. “Good thinking, Kendra. I agree, but it never hurts to soothe the beast on a day when everything else is going wrong.”

  “He’s in a nasty mood.” Jessie watched the elevator door close before she turned and started down the hall with Kendra. “Not that I helped. I’m used to him being all smooth and diplomatic, and that remark terrified me. I didn’t expect him to let loose on me.” She made a face. “Though I actually respect him more for it.”

  “So do I. It was honest. And we should have expected that reaction. Metcalf said he was the complete agent, and everyone was betting on him to become director someday.” She shrugged. “Dealing with the political bullshit connected to the job would become second nature.”

  “Not one that pleased him today,” Jessie said dryly. “I wonder what ticked him off.” She opened the conference room door. “Beside the fact that his turf is being invaded by Noah. Though that might be enough to—” She broke off as they saw Noah Calderon sitting at the conference table surrounded by three of his executives buzzing around him. Papers and documents were spread out in front of him. He was on the phone and as he caught sight of Jessie and Kendra, he didn’t stop talking but beckoned to them imperiously to come to him. “Never mind,” Jessie murmured. “He’s turned this official FBI conference room into his own corporate boardroom. I can see why Kelland might be annoyed with him.” There was a reckless smile on her face as she started across the room. “Shall we go and see what the great Calderon requires of us?”

  “Easy,” Kendra said quietly. “There’s a reason Kelland is putting up with him. We need everything to go smoothly until we get Dee back. And you said yourself that Calderon seems to be doing his best to make that happen.”

  “I’m not going to explode. I just don’t have much patience for arrogant assholes right now.” She stopped before Noah. “You summoned, master?”

  He stopped talking on the phone, took one glance at her expression, and pressed the disconnect. “I guess it seemed that way.” He smiled ruefully as he jumped to his feet. “Sorry, Jessie. I’m just swamped trying to pull this deal together so that nothing will happen to Delilah. We only have another twenty-four hours to deliver, and I showed up here almost an hour ahead of time this morning to show my support and eagerness to help.” He shook his head. “But Kelland didn’t appear to appreciate the urgency and is dragging his feet. He kept saying that we had to wait until he was able to talk to his superiors before we could make any plans. I almost got up and walked out.”

  “Which would have accomplished nothing,” Kendra said. So much for her cautioning Jessie to be discreet. For a moment she’d been drawn back into that same warmth and appeal that she’d experienced that first time she’d seen Noah on TV. But his last remark had been too similar to that of a small boy who had wanted to take his toys and go home because he hadn’t gotten his way. “I vote we wait and see why the FBI thinks we should let them consult to find the best way to do this. Do you suppose it might even save lives? Wouldn’t that be amazing?”

  “I don’t appreciate your sarcasm, Dr. Michaels.” He actually sounded hurt. “Jessie realizes that Delilah is my very dear friend, and I’m only trying to do what’s best for her. It’s obvious you have a relationship with this Agent Kelland and these other FBI people, and it’s getting in the way of your objectivity.”

  “Yes, you mustn’t let your objectivity be put in question, Kendra,” Kelland said from behind her. He was at the door and entering the room with several agents trailing behind him. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Calderon. But we’re ready to go forward now. We had to come to an important decision about the handling of the ransom and then we had to wait for the courier.”

  “Courier?” Kendra repeated. “What courier?”

  “I told you that this is a big deal to the director.” His expression was totally noncommittal. “There were several strategies from Quantico about how it could be brought to a successful conclusion. I thought we were doing very well and making progress keeping it within the Bureau. But the director let himself be influenced to go in a different direction. He wanted to indicate to the media and public that we were going all out in every department with no holds barred.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He involved the Justice Department. They brought in a black ops expert to do the delivery of the ransom.” He gestured to the door. “He just arrived. Naturally we’re very eager to work with him. I believe you know him, Kendra.” He paused. “Adam Lynch?”

  She froze in shock as Lynch walked into the conference room. She heard Jessie inhale sharply beside her.

  For an instant Kendra couldn’t speak. “Yes, both Jessie and I have worked with him before.” She couldn’t take her eyes from him. Lynch was smiling and nodding politely at her as he crossed the room to stand beside Kelland. “Though the last I heard he was busy in Asia. I had no idea he’d be available to take on an assignment like this.”

  “Always glad to go wherever I’m needed.” He met her eyes. “I found I had a break in my schedule. I’ll look forward to having you fill me in on all the details of the case later.” Then he smiled gently at Jessie. “Good to see you again, Jessie. Sorry it’s under these circumstances.”

  “I’m not sure I am,” she said slowly. “Hello, Lynch.”

  “Mr. Lynch?” Noah wa
s on his feet and reaching across the table to eagerly shake Lynch’s hand. “Noah Calderon. I’m glad to meet you. I was getting a bit worried about how the case was progressing under FBI direction. I’m sure if the Justice Department is involved it will give us an even greater chance to rescue Delilah.”

  “I wouldn’t be concerned,” Lynch said. “As far as I can see, the FBI appears to be doing a very good job. And I’ve just been designated as a glorified errand boy at the moment.” He turned to Kelland. “Now if you’ll run down what you want from me, then tell me about my backup and how you want me to handle any snafus.”

  “There won’t be any snafus,” Noah interrupted. “I’ll deliver the cash to you in an armored car tomorrow morning and you’ll take it to the kidnappers. We should have Delilah free by evening.”

  “Really? But I’ve seldom run across any crime involving big money when I didn’t run across a snafu or two. I understand that there have been a few problems with these kidnappers, and I’m wary of problems.” He looked back at Kelland. “So let’s pretend that snafus might occur and prepare for them. Then let’s go step by step when we get the final directions and see if we’ve missed anything. Would that be okay, Kelland?”

  “Absolutely. Exactly what I would do anyway.” He gestured at the other agents who had followed him into the room. “That’s why I brought my team to give their input.”

  Kendra couldn’t take any more at the moment. Shock on top of shock, and now Lynch was in the process of taking over the investigation within minutes of walking into the conference room. “Well, this sounds as if you’re in agreement, and so I believe I’ll opt out while you get down to FBI strategy. I have something else to do.” As she stopped at the door, she met Lynch’s gaze. “And I’m sure one of you will let me know what’s happening later if you think I can be helpful.”

  “Count on it,” Lynch said quietly. “You don’t need to be involved with minor details.”

  Then Kendra was out in the hall and taking a deep breath.

  “Okay?” Jessie had come out in the hall and was standing behind her. “I thought you might try to escape being caught between Lynch and Kelland. There might be a little tension. Lynch can always read you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said curtly. “There’s nothing to read, and if there was, it wouldn’t apply to this situation. I was just shocked and didn’t want to deal with past history when there were more important things on the agenda. We both know I won’t miss anything by leaving now. Lynch will make it his business to come after me and clarify and convince me he was right all along.”

  Jessie made a face. “I admit he can be very controlling, particularly when he’ll be having those FBI guys agreeing with everything he says before the morning is over. But I can take it, so I’m going to go back and stick it out. I want to make certain I won’t miss anything since Lynch won’t be running after me with answers when this is over.” She gave her arm a quick squeeze. “And you should go away somewhere you can forget all this for a few hours. It’s been a rough couple days. Clear your mind and maybe you’ll come up with something brilliant that will bring Dee back to us. Will you do that for me?” She didn’t let her answer but turned back to the conference room. “Get out of here. I’ll see you later, Kendra.”

  Then she was gone, leaving Kendra to stare after her.

  Clear her mind? Come up with something brilliant? Forget for a few hours? How was she supposed to do any of those things?

  But Jessie had asked her to try and she would do it. Forget Lynch. Forget everything else and let herself drift away for these few hours…

  * * *

  The FBI meeting didn’t break up until midafternoon and Lynch was in the center of everything. But if Jessie thought she was going to be able to slip away without a confrontation, it wasn’t going to happen.

  “Jessie! Wait!” She stopped at the door to see that Lynch had broken away from the other agents and was striding toward her. “No ducking out for you,” he murmured as he took her arm and pushed her gently out of the room. “You hardly spoke all day in that meeting, and that’s not like you. So I might have to mend fences with you before I even get to Kendra. Let’s go pick her up at your place and I’ll take you both out to lunch and we’ll talk.”

  “I could hardly get a word in edgewise if I’d wanted to,” she said dryly. “Between you and Kelland, you managed to dominate the conversation. Not that I felt left out. You saw that everyone who wanted a voice had one. But I wasn’t there to chime in. I just wanted to make certain that I had a grasp on what was going to happen tomorrow.” She added wryly, “And that you had control of the ransom drop. I don’t want anything to go wrong and get Dee killed.”

  “Neither do I. Then I take it that you trust me to do my best for her?” He grimaced. “I know my showing up like this looks like an ego trip, but it was the only way I could do what I needed in the fastest possible time frame. After I was free to leave Tibet, I had to scramble to find out all I needed to know. I tapped as many sources as I could to bring me into the picture so that I’d be of value.”

  “I could see that by the way you were interrogating everyone in that room today. I don’t believe anyone else realized that you weren’t totally knowledgeable about every facet of the case, and by the end of the session they thought you could walk on water.”

  “Except Kelland.”

  “Of course, you caught that. He might have a few issues on a personal level with you. Two alpha males who instinctively gravitate toward the desired female.” She added dryly, “I even told Kendra it would amuse me to see you go up against such an attractive, intelligent guy who could give you maximum competition.”

  “Oh, did you? What did she say?”

  “She said for me to mind my own business.”

  “Excellent idea.”

  She shrugged. “That sounded edgy. But I knew you’d be able to handle him. And he won’t let it interfere with getting Dee back.” She said coldly, “If it does, then I’ll expect you to step out of the way and let me take care of him. I like him, but not enough to take a chance on losing Dee.”

  “I believe you can rely on me not to let that happen.”

  “That’s what I’m counting on. I told Kendra that I wouldn’t object to having you around to spread a little of your razzle-dazzle if it meant you’d help Dee.”

  “That’s all I want to do, Jessie.”

  “I could see that today, and I wasn’t sitting there judging you.” She smiled. “If anything, I was admiring your technique. So I’m not one of the obstacles you’re going to have to jump over to get to Kendra. That’s her business. The only problem you’re going to have with me is if you get clumsy and rush in and hurt her more than she’s already been hurt by trying to help me find Dee. That would royally piss me off, Lynch.”

  He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “The fact that you had to hurry so much that you might have gotten all the facts, but you didn’t have time to examine them and realize what they meant.”

  “It wasn’t that bad. Go on.”

  “Adrian.”

  He made the connection instantly. “The man who was killed when you went after him.”

  “Very good. Did any of those efficient FBI agents mention that we’d made a deal with him to try to get Dee back? That Kendra had promised to protect him? Did they tell you that she was still trying to resuscitate him even though I told her that the back of his head was blown away?”

  “Oh, shit.”

  “I didn’t think so. It wasn’t something that would be important to the case. But it was important to Kendra.” She stared him in the eyes. “And you know how it would affect her.”

  “Hell, yes.”

  “Because Kendra’s not like either of us. She didn’t go through two tours in Afghanistan as I did. And everyone knows your kill record is a complete cipher. Kendra can be tough. She’s even had to kill the bad guys every now and then. But it was always the very bad guys, and there were no
promises involved. Adrian was flawed, but very human. She thought she’d persuaded him to save Dee by making him that promise. It hurt her to realize that in the end she wasn’t able to save either of them. It’s still hurting her.”

  “And you couldn’t talk her out of it.”

  “You know I couldn’t. You won’t be able to, either. She has to get over it on her own. Just don’t be clumsy, and if you can find a way to make it easier for her, take it.”

  “I hear and obey.” He smiled crookedly. “Now can we go to your place and pick up Kendra? I can hardly demonstrate my lack of clumsiness if I’m not allowed in the same room with her.”

  “You can go to my house if you like. But I’m sure she won’t be there.” She got on the elevator. “I asked her to go somewhere she could relax and clear her mind of all this business and maybe get some fresh ideas on the case. Since your appearance had obviously disturbed her, I believe she probably took my advice and is doing just that.”

  “So where is she?”

  “You know her as well as I do.” She punched the DOWN button as the door started to close. “Figure it out for yourself.”

  CHAPTER

  7

  Pantoja Park

  San Diego

  4:40 P.M.

  Kendra should have known when she heard Harley’s joyous howl.

  Olivia had spent weeks training her dog not to give voice to that terrifying howl. Now he only lost control when he was confronted by special individuals. Adam Lynch was definitely in that category. Kendra tensed and then forced herself to turn on her bench to where Harley was raising such a ruckus. Lynch was standing several yards away with Harley’s paws on his shoulders and a frown on his face.

  “Down, Harley. Dammit, not now.” But he gave the dog an affectionate rub on his neck before pushing him off. Then he quickly used the hand signals he’d taught the adorable mutt who’d taken over their lives when Olivia had first been having discipline problems. Harley obeyed immediately but gave one final joyous howl as he followed Lynch down the path toward Kendra.