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“Agent Copeland misspoke, Lonnie. We can arrange whatever you need.”
“That’s more like it. You’re starting to grow on me, but I’ll be taking my gun back.” Jennings held out his hand to her, and she put his gun in his palm. He pushed the weapon into his waistband and moved cautiously toward the crate with furtive glances over his shoulder. While he had that detonator switch in his hand, any moves would have to be strategically calculated. He picked up one of the bars. He was smiling at first, but the expression quickly faded. In a swift movement, he turned on her and wrapped his arm around her neck. Her airflow was instantly restricted, and she responded on instinct. She used combat training she’d taken and managed to duck and throw Jennings over her head. A move that was made on instinct and could have been a fatal one. Thankfully he retained a hold on the detonator switch.
Nolan came over and straddled Jennings. He pulled a gun from an ankle holster and held it on him. “You forgot a spot. Now carefully hand over that detonator to me.”
Jennings’s face scrunched up and next thing, he kneed Nolan in the groin. Nolan was stunned for a moment and groaned in pain. His gun was knocked out of his hand and skittered acrossthe floor. All of this created just enough distraction for Jennings to butt Nolan off and do what he could to get to his feet.
What Jennings failed to notice was she had collected Nolan’s gun. “Stop right there, or I’ll shoot you and take my chances with the bomb.”
Jennings turned around. He said nothing, but he pierced her gaze with his.
Had she called the situation wrong? Did he have a death wish? Before she had a chance to make an appeal, Jennings smiled and released his thumb from the button.
Nolan grabbed Sandra, and they ran for the door. She cringed expecting to hear the blast and feel the concussion, but neither came. The only sound she heard was Jennings wailing out in defeat. He should be running himself. The situation was certainly unstable. Just because the bomb hadn’t gone off yet, didn’t mean it wasn’t going to.
She found everyone was on scene as Jennings had told her, including an ambulance where Olivia was being seen by a paramedic, but they were positioned far off from the building. Same too for everyone else. Fire rescue was also on scene. Sandra looked at Nolan.
He shrugged. “I have a wire tucked into the laces of my boot,” he said to explain why everyone was bracing for an explosion.
“Good, but everyone needs to continue to stay back. We need to talk Jennings out.”
“Everyone knows their jobs, Sandra.”
She’d have to trust they did because she needed to get to Olivia. She ran to her with Nolan not far behind.
“I can’t believe you’re here, Dad. Aren’t you supposed be in Turkey?”
“My girl needed me.”
Sandra would let him have this one. He did come through in the end. Maybe he wasn’t all bad, just better handled in smalldoses. They took turns hugging Olivia, and when Sandra had her back in her arms, she didn’t want to let go. Ever.
“Lonnie Jennings, this is the FBI. Come out with your hands laced behind your head,” Brice called out over a loudspeaker.
In response, a blast rocked the ground. The warehouse became an inferno, and debris hurled from the structure and rained down.
EPILOGUE
THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY
Sandra’s doorbell rang, and she excused herself from the rest of her guests to answer. She found Eric already in the entry and hanging up his leather jacket. He was wearing a collared shirt, pleated pants, and dress shoes. He smelled as amazing as he looked. She smiled at him. “You have a key. Why do you insist on ringing the bell?”
“We’ve been through this. To respect your privacy, but I also like to keep you guessing. It’s good for a relationship.”
“I could handle fewer surprises, if it’s all the same to you.” She laughed, and she pulled him farther into the home and greeted him properly with a hug and a deep kiss.
“Well, then,” he said, licking his lips. “Happy to see you too. You look beautiful as always.”
“Thank you.” She did a little dip, the amount her cranberry body-hugging cocktail dress would allow.
“And it sounds like everyone else beat me here.”
There was a lot of chatter making its way to the door. “That they did.”
Olivia came into the foyer and hugged Eric. Sandra swept a strand of her hair back as she did. She’d taken the week off work, wanting to spend every possible moment with her girl.She had her seeing a therapist already to help her process what she’d been through. Thankfully, aside from a few slaps, Jennings hadn’t physically hurt her. He’d even fed her and gave her water. Her injuries were mental and emotional, which would take far longer to heal.
The timer on her oven buzzed.
“I better get that, or we’ll be eating delivery pizza.” Sandra went into the kitchen to take the roast beef out. Everything else was ready to go and set in serving dishes in the warmer oven.