Page 22

CHAPTER 22

December 29 th .

Late Sunday Morning

“Where do you think Bailey found that delivery truck?” Suzanne asked, re-filling their coffee cups. “Do you really think it’s bullet-proofed all over?”

After they’d returned from Lucinda’s office yesterday, they’d found the oversize white van painted with pictures of fruits and vegetables and the words Mills’ Farm Fresh Produce painted in red on the side, parked in the safe house garage.

“Count on it,” Kristopher told her as he cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. “And yes, that winning word was really a word.” After getting back to the safehouse yesterday, they’d spent the afternoon alternately playing cards and then Scrabble, each winning three games until Kristopher earned an astronomical points-with triple letter values and triple word. Dinner was warmed up leftovers, but they agreed, leftovers always made for the best meals. But Kristopher really needed to convince Patrick to rescind the ban on Kristopher cooking. “Do you want to go for a ride later?” he asked.

In the four days they’d known each other, they’d fallen into a comfortable rhythm. Kristopher could not remember the last time he’d felt so at ease in a woman’s company. Of course, the women in his life these past five years were colleagues, and their mission too great to become emotionally involved. One of Kristopher’s hard and fast rules was to never to do that. Too messy.

But this mission was different and his feelings for Suzanne Bennett were growing stronger. He needed to find something to keep them busy, at least for today. No more kisses.

She cocked her head to regard him. “Is it safe for us to do that? I know the van is, but–”

“I think so.” Kristopher returned to the table. “Who’s going to bother a delivery truck hauling fruits and vegetables on Sunday morning? And it’s wired so we’d be tracked wherever we go. Don’t think it could be safer and I doubt whoever threw that bomb is going to try again so soon.”

His cell phone’s vibrations rattled their cups, and he hit accept and turned on the speaker. “It’s Hank,” he told her. “Hey Hank, what’s up?”

“We have reason to believe Gregori Bogdan is in Knoxville.”

Apprehension shuttled down Kristopher’s spine. “Is he now? Is this something Suzanne needs to know?”

“Since the son of a bitch put a price on your head?” Hank’s snort was loud and clear. “Yeah, I think she needs to know everything, especially since we suspect he’s working with or for The Cadre. Double your efforts in staying safe. I need to go.”

The phone went silent. Kristopher pushed it aside and propped his elbows on the table. “That may explain some things,” he said. “Damn. Gregori Bogdan.”

“This sounds serious,” Suzanne said softly.

“Very,” Kristopher said. “Damn serious.”

Suzanne looked over her shoulder. “Where’s Bailey?”

“He’s in the garage with our tech guys, going over the surveillance equipment and checking the tapes,” Kristopher explained. “We’ll know in seconds if someone is following us. And we’re sure not going to leave the van unattended, not even for a minute.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Suzanne sighed. “If we hadn’t left your old black and white alone when we went to talk to T.J.–”

“Hush up, Miz Bennett.”

“Yes sir.” She gave him a quick salute and said, “Let’s take our coffee to the living room. I think you telling me about this Bogdan guy is going to require a softer place to sit than these chairs.”

When they’d settled themselves on the long sofa, Suzanne asked, “Does this Bogdan guy have anything to do with your last hitch in the Army?”

“My last hitch ?” Kristopher repeated and despite Hank’s news, laughed. “What old movies have you been watching?”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “‘C’mon, Sergeant Brower. Give it to me straight.”

“Okay,” Kristopher said. “But that was a good guess.”

He took a sip of coffee to order his thoughts. She needed to know everything. Both their live, and the lives of the Campbell and Clark sisters–and who knew how many more kids–could depend on it.

“Because a great deal of my work with KPD involved child protection, both my ‘hitches’ in the army took me into locating and stopping child traffickers,” he began. “The last Army posting, I was almost exclusively in Romania.”

“I’ve heard that’s one of the worst spots in the world for that kind of activity,” Suzanne commented.

“It is,” Kristopher agreed. “And it’s a damn shame because it’s one of most hospitable places I’ve ever visited. The people are friendly, welcoming and throw a great party. It’s also one of the prettiest places I’ve ever seen. But like most places in the world, it has a darker side. Child trafficking is rampant there. That sick desire to use kids and teens knows no borders. Hell is too good for them, Suzanne. All of them.”

She watched the past darken his eyes. “Go on,” she said.

“Because a great deal of this is still classified, I can only tell you so much,” he warned. “Let’s just say, my unit took down Balaur, the most highly successful and well-organized child trafficking ring in the country and probably in Europe. It took most of the five years we were there to do it, but it cost Balaur millions in revenue. One of the few operatives that escaped arrest was a very bad man named Gregori Bogdan. He let it be known that there was a price on my head, and when he found me he would personally send me to hell, after lots of torture of course. That was one of the reasons Hank Patterson arranged for my separation from the Army. Easier for Bogdan to track me if I were still in service after I got back to the states. He did the same for the other members of my team as well. And don’t ask me where they are, because I don’t know.

“Arranged for your separation from the Army?” Suzanne repeated. “That means you left active duty, right? At his silent nod, she asked, “Because you had a price on your head? Good Lord. You’re a dangerous man, Kristopher with a K Brower.”

He shrugged. “I’m used to people being pissed with me. It goes with the job.”

“Humph! I’d say having a price put on your head is more than someone being pissed,” Suzanne snorted. Then she considered his description of Bogdan, she asked, “Do you think we’re in more danger than before?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Probably. But my mission is to keep you safe at all costs. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do, Suzanne. Word of honor.”

She put her cup on the coffee table and leaned forward to palm his face. “I’ve never doubted for a minute that you would,” she whispered. “Hank Patterson couldn’t have sent anyone better.”

He moved so he could wrap his arms around her. “He could have sent someone who knew how to cook so you wouldn’t have to eat leftovers all the time.”

“I told you I like leftovers,” she answered, her mouth within kissing distance of his. “Better leftovers with friends than fancy meals in a five-star restaurant with strangers.”

“Is that an old proverb?” he whispered.

“All of five minutes,” she said. “I made it up.”

“I like five-minute proverbs,” he assured her. “Almost as much as I like leftovers.”

“Good,” she said and kissed him. The gentle pressure of her mouth moving over his pushed Kristopher’s heart into a mad gallop and he pulled her closer. Beneath her oversized UT sweatshirt, her heartbeat matched his and her soft sigh was like the song Kristopher had waited all his life to hear. To hell with his past resolution of getting emotionally involved. He wanted Suzanne Bennett in the worst possible way. And–

A persistent buzzing interrupted them and once again they pulled apart. Suzanne reached into her front jean pocket to take out her phone. Staring at the screen, she frowned. “That’s weird,” she said. “It’s Barry Collins.”

“Who’s that?” Kristopher asked, savoring the taste of her mouth on his.

“He’s the owner of Daisy’s, ” she explained, hitting accept. “Barry? What’s up?”

“Suzanne, we got a problem,” Barry sounded as if he were choking on his anger. “I need for you to get down to Daisy’s right away. It’s Alex Langley.”

“Oh my God!” Fear pushed Suzanne to her feet. “Has something happened to him? Where is he?”

“He’s here, and he’s okay,” Barry said quickly. “Sofia is here too, but you need to come as soon as you can. The police are already here.”

“Why do you need the police if everything is okay?” Suzanne watched Kristopher move to the closet and return with their coats. “Just tell me what’s happened.”

“Suzanne, someone has bugged my restaurant.”