Page 19

CHAPTER 19

Later that afternoon. BP Safehouse.

“What do you mean, my car was bugged?” Kristopher shouted.

He’d called Bailey and Hank Patterson after calling Grant Miller who raced back after calling KPD’s bomb squad and the Fire Department. Fire Chief Masie Flores had said the device had failed to detonate properly but had still destroyed the car’s back windows and burned the seats. Someone, Chief Flores said, must have had very bad aim because in her mind, whoever threw it, was trying for the front seats.

And now the news Kristopher’s car had been bugged.

“The mechanics at our garage found a listening and tracking device in the windshield wipers.” Bailey shook his head in disbelief. “This is looking more and more like The Cadre. You two have really pissed off somebody, and I mean bad.” He poured and handed Suzanne a glass of water from the pitcher on the coffee table. She and Kristopher sat side by side on the living room sofa, still wearing their smoke saturated clothing.

“But who would have access to your car?” Suzanne demanded “Hasn’t it always been here at the safehouse in the underground garage?”

“Yes, and our surveillance cameras there go 24-7,” Kristopher said flatly. “No way in hell anyone could have made it into the garage without us knowing.”

“We still need to check the tapes,” Bailey argued. “I don’t know if someone could have screwed them up remotely, but anything is possible.”

“What about when you came to Families United yesterday?” Suzanne paused to sip her water. “Did you park on the streets or in their parking lot?”

“The lot,” Kristopher answered. “But since Elaine became involved with BP, we’ve had security guards there during working hours and in the building overnight. They know everyone who works here on sight and take every possible precaution. Griff Tyler believes that The Cadre could still come after Elaine. If someone went near my car while I was inside, our people would have stopped them.”

“Maybe while you were at the shelter?” Bailey suggested.

“Impossible,” Kristopher argued. “We would have heard someone pull into the parking lot. No, it had to be before so they would know where we’d gone.”

“Well, whoever it was, they sure as hell won’t be following your car anymore,” Bailey said. “I’m going to call the lab again. And then I’m going to work on finding you a set of wheels ‘cause your old black and white is going to be in the shop for a good long while. Holy crap. Someone bugged your car.” With a disgusted snort, Bailey lurched to his feet and headed for the office.

Only when they heard the office door close, did Kristopher ask, “Are you really alright?”

“If they followed us to the shelter,” Suzanne said slowly, putting her glass on the table, “then they were waiting for us to leave so they could throw that bomb, hoping the car would catch fire and explode. Good Heavens. What kind of people are we dealing with?”

“Monsters from your worst nightmares,” Kristopher answered. “Monsters who prey on little kids and teens for their own sick, twisted purposes. Hell is too good for them.”

“Good heavens,” Suzanne gasped. “I think I know how they did it. Bugged your car.”

“How you figure?” Kristopher leaned in to brush a strand of hair from her face and for a moment he imagined running a brush through it. Slowly, gently, deliberately until it shone like the best silk.

“When we were talking to T.J.,” she said, realization widening her eyes. “We left your car unattended, and standing down there, we wouldn’t have seen anyone. How hard could it have been for someone to slip it on the wipers? That’s the only time someone could have done it. No one would dare do it while we were at Mercy’s because Officer Jackson was still there. Kristopher, I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Kristopher managed to swallow his shout of impatience. “None of this is your fault! Do you understand me?”

“But if I hadn’t suggested we go to the skate-park–”

“It was a good idea,” Kristopher argued. “A damn good idea. Because I’ll bet you ten to one, T.J. knows something, or will go looking for it. So, we’ll just have to go find him again. But just get the idea of any of this being your fault out of your head right now.”

“But you think I’m right, don’t you?” Suzanne challenged. “It could have happened then.”

“Yeah,” Kristopher agreed. “It’s likely. More work for Miller, poor guy.”

“And thank goodness we asked him to join us at the shelter,” Suzanne released a relieved sigh. “How else would he have gotten back to us so quickly? Poor guy. I think he was angrier at himself for not staying us than going ahead.”

Kristopher reached for her hands. “You never did answer my first question. How are you doing, Miz Bennett?”

She couldn’t hold back her laugh. “You seem to be favoring me with that title.”

“Just good old-fashioned manners,” he said, his fingertips tracing over her cheeks. “You’ve got some smudges on your face from the smoke.”

“I do?” She covered his hand with her own. “I must look awful.”

“Just a bit dirty,” he said, leaning closer. “But there’s not a trace of it on your mouth.”

“Are you sure?” she whispered. “Maybe you should–you know–check?”

“I can do that.”

His mouth hovered over hers and his body’s heat radiated over hers, all earlier thoughts about holding back forgotten. She moved her hands to palm the sides of his face, heart tangoing in anticipation of his kiss–

Her phone rang.

They sat back, sighed and then laughed together. She took the phone from the sofa’s arm and hit the speaker button. “Hi, Elaine. What’s up?”

“I know it’s Saturday, but are you and Kristopher available?” Her friend’s tone held a note of unfamiliar urgency.

“We are.” Suzanne met Kristopher’s questioning look. “When and where?”

“In an hour at Family Services of Tennessee,” Elaine told them. “Mercy’s supervisor came back to town and wants us to meet her there. And she’s found Charles Tattersall, regional CEO of Tennessee Cares. Get ready, girlfriend. This may get ugly.”

“It can’t get any uglier than it already is,” Suzanne told her and chuckled at Kristopher’s exaggerated eyeroll.

“Has something else happened?” Elaine asked quickly. “Are you and Kristopher okay?”

“Let’s just say it’s been an interesting day,” Suzanne said dryly. “We’ll see you in an hour or less.”

She ended the call and looked at her bodyguard. “Well?”

“I don’t think we should go to a meeting with your boss and all those big wigs, covered in smoke and soot,” he said, raising her to her feet. “Especially if it’s going to get ugly. We should look our best.”

“Absolutely,” she said, enjoying the feel of his hands in hers. “So–?”

“Whoever finishes showering first has to set and clear the table,” he announced. “And I’ve got less hair than you do–”

“You’re on,” she challenged, pulling her hands away and racing for the hall.