by J. C. Fields
“That’s over five days ago. What the hell does that mean?”
“The owner was, uh, indisposed for a few days.”
“Drunk?”
With a nod, Knoll answered, “Yeah, DUI and a guest in the Greene County jail.”
The FBI agent stared down the hall. “He checks to see who’s been arrested, then determines who’d have an appropriate vehicle to use. Pretty smart.” He returned his attention to Knoll. “We’re dealing with someone who’s done this before.”
He looked back at the door to Stephanie’s room. “He’s still here somewhere. This isn’t over.”
“I would agree.”
“Okay, it’s time to get Brian, Michelle and the kids to somewhere they can’t be found.”
“I have somewhere,” Knoll smiled.
“Oh, where?”
“We have a place at the Lake of the Ozarks.”
Shaking his head, Kruger returned Knoll’s smile.
“You are full of surprises sometimes.”
The large man shrugged and said, “My wife volunteered to help. She’s flying into Springfield and offered to take everyone there.”
“That puts her in danger, too, Sandy.”
Knoll laughed out loud as he put his hand on Kruger’s shoulder. “Sean, she’s a retired Marine. She’s tougher than I am.”
***
Kruger found his son and daughter-in-law sitting in Stephanie’s room. He noticed his wife’s eyes appeared closed so he turned to his son, “Is your mom asleep?”
Stephanie answered without opening them, “No, the light was bothering my eyes. I’m awake.”
“Good, you need to hear this.” He turned to look at his grown son.
Brian Kruger was the spitting image of his father: just over six feet tall, slender and muscled like a swimmer. Currently working as a computer programmer with a local tech company, he wore his dark brown hair longer than current fashion. Where Kruger had crystal blue eyes, Brian’s were hazel and changed shades with the prevailing light. The father and son looked more like twins, except for the age difference. Kruger’s hair was short, which allowed a growing amount of gray to show at his temples. He also possessed worry lines on his forehead and around his eyes.
Michelle stood five inches shorter than Brian, with a slender body, now featuring the effects of being four months pregnant with their first child. Her long brunette hair and emerald green eyes enhanced her oval face. She was pretty in a subtle way, an honest beauty, not enhanced with make-up. Her smile lit up any room she occupied, displaying a natural confidence in herself.
With as stern a voice as he could muster, Kruger said, “Brian, it’s not safe here for you and Michelle. Your first priority is to protect yourselves and your unborn child. Plus, I have to ask a favor.”
“Sure, Dad, what?”
“I need you to take your sister and brother plus JR’s son, Joey, to a place at the Lake of the Ozarks. Sandy has a condo there, plus his wife is on her way and will help with the kids.”
Brian blinked several times, as Michelle held his hand. He looked at her for several moments and returned his attention to his father. “Is it that bad?”
“Yes, I believe it is.”
The couple did not respond immediately, but eventually both nodded in agreement.
“I have to find JR and let him know what we have planned. Sandy will be arranging transportation.” Smiling and placing a hand on each of their shoulders, he said in a relatively calm voice. “Don’t worry. Spend a few days at the lake and try to relax.”
“Sure, Dad. Fat chance.”
The FBI agent turned and left the room.
Kruger found JR sitting in the waiting room next to the intensive care unit. With his head leaned back in a cushioned chair, he looked asleep, but Kruger knew he wasn’t.
“How is she?”
“Improving,” JR answered. “They’re running some tests right now and told me to wait out here.”
Kruger sat in a chair next to him. “We’ve arranged for the children to spend some time away from here under the careful supervision of an ex-Marine.”
A small smile came to JR’s lips, but he did not open his eyes. “Sandy’s wife?”
“How’d you know?”
“I’ve known about her for a long time. Looked up her military record once.”
“And?”
“Let’s put it this way, she probably runs the house with Sandy standing at attention and shouting, ‘Yes, ma’am’ a lot.”
Kruger chuckled, glad for a brief amount of humor.
JR opened his eyes, lifted his head and stared at his friend. “This is now personal, Sean.”
Leaning his head back in his chair, Kruger closed his eyes and nodded. “Yes, it is. But I have to blame myself at this point.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t anticipate Orlov lashing out this way.”
“How’d you think he’d react?”
Taking a deep breath, the FBI agent slowly shook his head. “That’s the problem, JR, I didn’t think it through. Whoever did this isn’t finished. He’s still out there, waiting for me to make a mistake.”
“Then don’t make a mistake.”
Smiling, Kruger opened his eyes and focused them on JR. “That’s the plan.”
Chapter 28
Springfield, MO
Kruger arranged with the local police department to be spirited away from the hospital in the back of an ambulance, his Ford Mustang left in plain sight in the hospital parking lot. The ambulance deposited him on the third level of a parking garage in the south side of town next to two identical dark gray GMC Denalis. After thanking the ambulance driver, he exited the vehicle and rushed into the front passenger seat of the closest SUV.
As the ambulance pulled away, Kruger turned to the driver. “Thanks for doing this, Sandy.” He turned in his seat and looked at the woman sitting behind him. “I assume you are Linda Knoll?”
She offered her hand and Kruger shook it. Linda Knoll was nothing like Kruger imagined. Brown hair, showing streaks of gray here and there, average height and build, she possessed a round face, tanned like her husband’s and eyes betraying innate wisdom and knowledge.
She smiled with a disarming grin, nodded and with a slight Texas drawl, replied, “I am. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Agent Kruger.”
“Please, call me Sean.”
Another grin. “Very well, what kind of trouble have you gotten my husband into this time, Sean?”
Feeling a momentary spasm of guilt and concern, he took a quick glance at Sandy Knoll sitting in the driver’s seat. The large man displayed a wide grin and a sparkle in his eye. Realizing the situation, he turned his attention back to Linda, relaxed and said, “Oh, nothing too complicated. Just trying to save our country from the grips of suppression and political corruption.”
Knoll laughed out loud and his wife chuckled.
“Sandy said you had a good sense of humor when you chose to show it.” Her smile disappeared. “Seriously, how can I help?”
Kruger explained.
***
Jimmie Gibbs watched from the front porch as two GMC Denalis parked, one behind the other, in the circle drive of Joseph Kincaid’s Christian County home. The dark tinted windows hid any passengers inside from outside observation.
Alexia Montreal stood next to him, her hand on his back displaying, in full view, the growing affection each felt for the other. A woman Gibbs immediately recognized stepped out of the driver’s side of the rear Denali and waved to him. He smiled and waved back. Turning to Alexia, he said, “That’s Sandy’s wife, Linda. She’s an amazing woman. I’ve spent a lot of time at their house over the past few years. She’s kind of turned into a substitute mom to me.”
He paused as he realized what he had said.
Alexia placed her head on his shoulder. “You’re lucky. Those are hard to find.”
Gibbs nodded and briefly wondered if their growing feelings for each other would lead anywhe
re. Those thoughts did not last long as Sandy Knoll and Sean Kruger exited the front Denali. With a grim smile, he said, “Babysitting’s over. Time to go to work.”
Linda entered the house, followed by Sandy and Kruger.
Kristin Kruger ran to her father and he scooped her up in a big hug. “Where’s your brother, Kristin?”
She pointed toward the back of the house. “Playing with Joey. I was babysitting.”
Kruger gave her a smile. “You’re neglecting your duties, aren’t you?”
She frowned and shook her head. “No, I’m with you.” He squeezed her tighter. She laughed and buried her head on his shoulder. She looked up and frowned, “Where’s Mommy?”
Not sure how to explain what happened to a five-year-old, he chose not to lie. “Kristin, Mommy’s been hurt and has to stay in a hospital for a few days.”
Tears welled up in the little girl’s eyes. “Can I see her?”
Shaking his head slowly, he looked at his daughter with a sad smile.
“Not right now. You’re going to spend a few days with Brian and Michelle until Mommy feels better. Okay?”
Her sad look disappeared and she nodded her head rapidly. He returned his daughter to the floor. “Now, go back and make sure your brother and Joey aren’t getting into trouble.”
She ran off to the back of the house to find her brother.
While Knoll showed his wife around the massive home, Alexia said, “I’d better go check on the kids.”
Once out of earshot, Kruger turned to Gibbs, “Can I speak to you on the back deck?”
The retired Seal nodded and followed Kruger out the sliding glass door in the kitchen.
Gibbs spoke first when they were on the deck. “How’re Stephanie and Mia?”
Kruger could see his friend seemed afraid of the answer. “They’ll both be okay, but Steph is doing better than Mia.”
Gibbs visibly relaxed and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Will Mia be okay?”
Kruger nodded, not taking his eyes off Jimmie. “How’s Alexia doing?”
“Pretty good. I think she’s been starved for human contact. She hasn’t stopped playing with the kids since Sandy left.”
Hesitating to ask his next question, Kruger said, “Uh…” He paused for a heartbeat. “How are you and Alexia getting along?”
“You noticed?”
He nodded.
“She’s a remarkable woman, Sean.”
Kruger gave him a half-smile but remained quiet.
“I don’t think she realized how isolated and alone she was until we brought her here.”
“Kind of like yourself?”
Gibbs stared at his friend and then slowly nodded, “Yeah, kind of like myself.”
“Jimmie, can I offer some advice?”
Gibbs just looked at the FBI agent.
“Be careful. Situational relationships can be…situational.”
“I know.”
Placing his hand on Gibbs’ shoulder, he responded. “Jimmie, just remember, she’s been hiding from the world for over a decade.”
He nodded, but did not respond.
Kruger blinked several times, his smile gone. “There’s someone here who may be working for the Russians. I believe he’s the one who ran Stephanie and Mia off the road and he may not be done yet.”
“Why?”
“He’s here for me.”
Remaining quiet, Gibbs turned to stare out toward the tree line.
“We’re going to send the children to a safer place and then lure him here. I need you to do what you do best.”
A half-smile came to the ex-Seal’s mouth as he turned toward the FBI agent. “I’ll need some equipment.”
“Sandy anticipated you would. He ordered them yesterday.”
Gibbs smiled and returned his attention to the tree line. “I hate being predictable.”
“You’re not,” Kruger chuckled. “Just professional. There’s something else.”
Turning, Gibbs lost his smile. “What?”
“As long as Mia is in intensive care, JR won’t leave her side. We won’t have his assistance for a few days. Do you think Alexia could help us?”
Jimmie Gibbs surprised Kruger with an expression he could only describe as pride.
“I’m sure she would be happy to.”
The FBI agent nodded and explained the plan.
***
The assassin found a room in a hotel room across from the hospital parking lot. The eastern window allowed a clear and unobstructed view of the Ford Mustang owned by Sean Kruger. Instead of keeping the car under surveillance in a parked car, which would eventually draw unwanted attention, the hotel room provided an excellent alternative. The one problem the location presented was the time consumed getting to his car to follow the Mustang. The solution was a small GPS tracker unit, now hidden in the rear passenger wheel well. This would give him an advantage of following at a distance.
Twenty-four hours after he located the car, the FBI agent remained inside the hospital. The assassin, after several two- and three-hour naps, maintained his vigil on the parked Ford. So far, no one approached it and no one tried to move it.
He settled in for more waiting.
***
Gibbs’ pace, as they moved through the tree line behind Joseph’s house, reminded Alexia of a casual stroll in a Paris park rather than a purposeful walk. He would stop every ten or fifteen feet and look at the back of the house. Every third or fourth stop, he knelt down and stared for several minutes. Then he would walk further into the thicket, then reemerge.
“What are you doing, Jimmie?”
“Looking for spots that offer the best tactical position for a sniper.”
She blinked several times and stared at Gibbs, her mouth open. “You’re kidding?”
“No.”
“A sniper?”
He nodded. “Sean believes Orlov sent someone to silence him.” He looked at her. “The car wreck was not an accident.”
“Does he know about this place?”
“We don’t see how he could. The plan is to lead him here.”
Her eyes grew wide and she covered her mouth with one hand. “Is that not dangerous? What if he is not a sniper? What if he plants bomb?”
Gibbs chuckled. “Rifles are easy to get, bomb material, not so much. Besides, a sniper shot is his best bet for a clean escape.”
“What if he does not use the spot you pick?”
“I’m looking for more than one. When I find them, we’ll put a 4G Trail Cam with night vision and motion detection near the locations to monitor any movement. We’ll also place one at the entrance to the property to watch anyone who drives by. This place is so isolated, any strange vehicles will be suspect.”
She was quiet. “How are you going to monitor them?”
“JR is out of commission until Mia gets out of intensive care. We were hoping you could help set it up so all of the cameras can be monitored from one computer screen.”
She smiled. “I would love to. How many cameras?”
“After Sandy drops Sean off at the hospital, he’ll pick up ten he arranged to be delivered to a FedEx store. My job is to determine where to place them.”
“What if you do not pick the right spots?”
Gibbs shrugged. “I’ve got a little practice finding hides.”
Pursing her lips, she tilted her head. “What if you make mistake?”
“Let’s hope I don’t.”
She fell quiet as they continued his search for locations to place the cameras. After ten minutes of watching him, she asked, “How long will you be staying here?”
Without taking his eyes away from his quest, he answered, “About a year. I’m watching the place for Joseph and Mary.”
“I know. What then?”
Gibbs smiled and looked at her. “I really like this part of the country. It’s not as crowded as California and the cost of living is a lot cheaper. I have some money my father left me. Plus, I get to live
here practically rent-free while they’re gone so I can save a few more bucks. There are a lot of lakes in this area. I like the water, so I was thinking about finding a place like this, only smaller and closer to a lake. What about you?”
“I have no home at the moment. I do not know where I can go to be safe.”
“You can stay here with me until you decide.”
Tears filled her eyes as she wiped them with the back of her hand. She stepped closer to him and pinned him against a tree. Their embrace lasted until she stopped sobbing.
Chapter 29
Southwest Missouri
“Are we being paranoid, Sandy?”
Knoll kept his eyes on the road as he maneuvered the big SUV through Springfield traffic.
“No, I don’t think we are. Too many variables. The pickup that ran Stephanie and Mia off the road was stolen. Stolen from a man in jail at the time. Kind of hard to report a stolen vehicle if you don’t know it’s missing.”
“True.”
“Then the truck is abandoned in a crowded parking lot right after the accident.”
“Did anyone bother to view the parking lot security camera tapes?”
“SPD did. One of the detectives told me whoever it was knew where the camera blind spots were. There isn’t a clear picture of him after he exits the truck.”
“I kind of remember someone telling me that when I first got to the hospital after the accident. I just didn’t pay much attention to him.”
“Well, you had something else on your mind.”
“Yeah, I did.”
Sandy made a left turn into the north parking lot of the massive Mercy Hospital complex and drove into the circle drive in front of the hospital entrance.
“Your car is on the opposite side of the building. I doubt he has the resources to watch this side and the south side.”
“I would agree.”
The big man handed him a small object resembling an old cell phone.
Kruger looked at it and asked, “What’s this? I’ve got a phone.”