SEVERAL MINUTES LATER they’d reached the edge of the woods overlooking the cabin.
Lynch pointed to a stretch of flattened brush. “Freshly trampled,” he whispered. “Stay sharp.”
Pow! A branch exploded next to Facey’s head.
Lynch and Facey ducked behind a tree as bark flew from a barrage of bullets.
Lynch cocked his head toward a shallow gully behind the row of trees. “Follow me.”
He led Facey down to the gully and ran alongside the cabin.
Blam-blam-blam-blam!
A wall of bullets blocked their path.
Lynch and Facey ducked behind a large rock.
“What now?” Facey asked.
Lynch pulled out his phone.
Blam-blam!
Shredded bark rained down on them from the trees above.
“I think it’s too late to call in the cavalry,” Facey said sarcastically.
Lynch stared intently at the phone screen. “Maybe not. We just need a distraction.”
“From who?”
Lynch slid his thumbs across the screen. “Get ready to run around to the back porch of the cabin.”
“When?”
“When those guys start shooting.”
“Seriously?”
“They won’t be shooting at us.”
At that moment there was movement on the other side of the clearing. Branches snapped and the brush rustled.
Blam-blam-blam-blam-blam!
The shooters took the bait, shredding the branches with their gunfire.
“Now!” Lynch said. He and Facey sprinted toward the cabin and threw themselves on the back porch.
Blam-blam-blam-blam!
Still distracted by the movement on the other side of the clearing, the shooters continue their assault on the trees. They fired until splintered branches fell away to reveal the source of the movement.
Lynch’s drone.
It sputtered crazily until it crashed in the middle of the clearing.
“Too bad,” Lynch said regretfully, as he and Facey watched from their vantage point on the back porch. “I was kind of fond of that thing.”
He turned away and started trotting down the porch.
“The trees…” Facey murmured.
Lynch looked over his shoulder. Facey was no longer behind him but was climbing off the porch and obviously going to try to run toward the woods.
Lynch swore beneath his breath. “I told you to stay close.” Lynch launched a tackle and brought Facey down.
“Why did you do that?” Facey gasped. “I could have made it.”
“Not likely. I’m trying to keep you alive, dammit.” He jerked him to his feet. “You kept your word and I—” Another bullet struck the porch next to him. “They’re moving closer. Shit, they’re getting impatient. I thought we’d have a little more time.” He grabbed Facey’s arm and dragged him after him.
Another series of bullets sprayed the porch in front of them. “We have to keep away from the trees for the next couple minutes. They can see us. From where they are, they’d have a clear shot.”
“I might have made it,” Facey muttered. But he obeyed Lynch and was staying on the porch for the time being. “And they’re not firing any more right now. Maybe we could try—”
Lynch went still. He put out a hand to silence Facey. “No, they’re not firing anymore. Why not?”
Then he realized what that answer had to be.
“Jump! Hit the ground!”
He dove off the porch.
But it was too late! He felt the first heat even before the blast.
The cabin’s explosion lit up the night sky!
3:40 A.M.
San Diego
Lynch should have called her by now.
Hell, he should have called her long before this, Kendra thought as she turned over in bed. Lynch might think that this kind of surveillance was totally commonplace, but he knew she didn’t. And he hadn’t thought this stakeout would take this long.
And he kept his promises.
Dammit!
She sat up in bed and reached for her phone.
The light illuminated the screen as she punched in Lynch’s number.
It went direct to voice mail.
She drew a shaky breath. Okay, he might have it on vibrate while he was on stakeout. It didn’t have to mean anything particularly dire. But it didn’t mean that everything was fine either.
And he had made her another promise.
She quickly punched in Griffin’s home number.
He answered in three rings and did not sound pleased. “Between you and Lynch, I might manage to get an hour’s sleep tonight. I don’t know why I ever gave you my home number. I must be a masochist. What’s wrong now, Kendra?”
“You tell me. Lynch did call you tonight? He told you about Facey?”
“You know he did. He said that he’d promised you he’d request an agent be sent up to those woods in the back of beyond. Do you think I’m at your beck and call?”
“So you didn’t do it?”
“I did it,” he said testily. “Brian Nolan, local field office. He reported back to me when he made contact with Lynch. I don’t know why I even bothered. Lynch is probably just pissed off at Brock for wrecking his damn car.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“Only partially. I don’t like the idea of Brock being involved in this case. They complicate things. Now can I get back to sleep?”
“Not yet. I haven’t heard from Lynch. Have you?”
“No. But when does Lynch contact me except when he wants something? That’s not his M.O. He disappears sometimes for weeks on those missions he does overseas for the Justice Department and then surfaces to collect all the money and accolades.” He paused and then said reluctantly, “But Nolan will have to call me if Lynch doesn’t. I’ll phone you as soon as I hear from either one of them. But don’t expect it anytime soon. I’ve seen Lynch like this before and he gets absorbed when he’s on the hunt.”
“I do expect it,” she said curtly. “He promised me.”
“Like I said, I’ll call you.” He cut the connection.
She sat there and gazed down at the phone.
One more time.
She punched in Lynch’s number.
Straight to voice mail.
She put the phone back on her night table.
Go to sleep.
No one could take care of himself better than Lynch. He’d probably found out something from Facey that had led him in another direction. He’d call her when he could.
Close your eyes.
Go to sleep.
* * *
“YOU LOOK LIKE HELL,” Jessie said when she got in Kendra’s car the next morning. “Mega circles. No sleep?”
“I got a little.” Kendra backed out of her parking spot and headed for the exit. “Did you find out anything from your friends at the base?”
“Just a lot of fuming and ugliness,” Jessie said. “And the feeling that Brock was trying to expand all over the damn planet.” Her lips tightened. “That can’t happen. They’re too powerful now. What did you hear from Lynch?”
“Nothing. Except that he thinks that Facey is on the run and that he can tap him for information.” She drove onto the street and turned left. “And Lynch was supposed to call me back last night and didn’t do it.”
“Hence the mega circles. You can’t contact him?”
“Griffin says it’s no big deal. He said he’d call me when he heard from him. That he’s a bloody superstar and runs his own show.”
“He’s probably right,” Jessie said quietly. “From what I’ve seen of Lynch, you don’t have to worry about him being able to take care of himself.”
“I know that’s true. It’s just that I can’t stop—” She broke off. She had to quit talking about this. “Where are we supposed to be going? Where does Ivan Campbell live anyway?”
“234 Sunset Way. It’s a condo near the airport. I called him on the way here and told him we were coming.” She smiled. “I used your connection with the FBI to make it happen. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. He seems to be pretty broken up.”
“Why shouldn’t he?” Kendra asked as she turned toward the airport. “He’s probably just waiting for word that his wife is dead. This must seem to be a nightmare to him.”
“Yeah, I hear you. But maybe we’ll get lucky. Or maybe that butcher will change his pattern and hold her until we have a chance to find him.”
“You’re full of optimism today.”
“I think maybe you need a little of that commodity today.” She looked at the notes on her phone. “Ivan Campbell married Barbara Labkan three years ago. They seem to be the perfect couple, probably because they were seldom together. He travels a lot with his job for a pharmaceutical company and she worked with her sister starting up a business. She was described as warm and outgoing, and he as very quiet, but polite and likeable.”
Kendra was remembering Barbara Campbell’s speech at the reception. “She seemed to be very fond of the bride. I only have a vague memory of her husband.”
“See? The perfect marriage, she soaked up all the attention. I imagine that he was grateful to let her shine. Introverts usually take comfort from not having to compete. They tend to fall apart when they lose their alpha partner.”
“Maybe. Sometimes it doesn’t work that way.”
But when Ivan Campbell let them into his condo, Kendra had an idea that Jessie had been right. Thin, dark-haired, moderately good looking, yet his expression was so tense and tortured that he looked like a holocaust survivor.
“You still haven’t heard anything?” were the first words he spoke after they’d introduced themselves. His voice was sharp, angry. “How that can be? All the technology. All your resources and experts and you still can’t find one woman?”
“I’m sorry,” Kendra said gently. “I know Special Agent Griffin is doing everything he can to locate your wife. We’re sparing no effort. We’re just here to make certain we’re not missing even one step.” She handed him her tablet with the wedding video. “I wonder if you’d just look at this wedding video and see if there’s anything that strikes a note with you. Perhaps something not as it should be?”
He stared at the video as if it was a snake ready to bite him. “I don’t want to see that damn wedding video. It just makes me remember how beautiful and funny Barbara could be. Why do you even think it’s connected?”
“One of the first victims sent it to Kendra,” Jessie said. “It’s what drew us into this case, sir. It might have taken much longer and many more victims if Kendra hadn’t become involved. So you can see that it’s important that we make sure that we don’t miss anything it might tell us.”
“It was sent to you.” Campbell whirled angrily on Kendra. “Then why didn’t you catch what it meant? Why didn’t you stop all this before it began? Why didn’t you stop it before he took Barbara?”
“I wish I could have known what it meant,” Kendra said quietly. “It wasn’t clear at the time.”
“Why not?” he said sarcastically. “You’re obviously so clever. Why couldn’t you save Barbara?”
“Easy,” Jessie said. “She’s doing everything she can to help your wife. But you need to help, too. Will you look at the video for us?”
“What else can I do?” He gestured in frustration toward Kendra. “Since she’s already made blunders that might have gotten my Barbara murdered.” He turned on the video.
Jessie gave Kendra a faint shrug and they both were silent, waiting, while Campbell finished watching the video.
“Nothing,” Campbell said sharply as he handed the tablet back to Kendra. “Was I supposed to recognize someone? Pick some bastard out of that crowd so that you wouldn’t have to do your job and catch that murderer? I’m afraid not. Now get out of here and find my wife.”
Jessie took a step forward. “I told you not to—”
“We’ll go.” Kendra put her hand on Jessie’s arm. “Just one more question. Everything on that video is exactly as you remembered it that night?”
“I told you. Nothing is different.” He opened the door. “But if there is, you should have noticed what it was. I’m beginning to think all of this is your fault. Get out.”
“We’re going.” Kendra had to quickly pull Jessie into the hall before the door slammed behind them. “Let it go, Jessie. He’s in pain. He has to have someone to blame.”
“Not you,” Jessie said grimly. “I’ll show him pain.”
“I was convenient. I was the first one to get a clue in this case.” She added wearily, “And maybe I might have been to blame for not putting all this together. Who knows?”
“I do,” Jessie said as she stepped into the elevator. “You’re not psychic, Kendra, and you shouldn’t let that jackass make you—”
“Just a minute.” Kendra’s phone was buzzing and she glanced down at the ID. “Yes. It’s Griffin, Jessie. Go ahead and wait for me in the car. I’ll be right down. I’ve got to take this. I left him a message to call me back.”
Jessie nodded as she pressed the down button. “It’s about time he got around to it. You’ve been on pins and needles all morning. I hate bureaucrats.”
“Griffin isn’t usually one. Though he can be a complete asshole.” She picked up the call, “What have you heard, Griffin?”
“It’s not Griffin,” Metcalf said. “I’m calling for him. He asked me to get hold of you. He’s on the other line.”
“Since when have you been his errand boy?” Kendra asked. “I thought you were climbing the FBI ladder pretty steadily, Metcalf. You shouldn’t let him use you like this.”
“I didn’t mind,” he said quickly. “I could see that it was important. He’ll be right with you, Kendra.” He put her on hold.
She found herself tensing. He hadn’t sounded like himself. And she couldn’t remember when he hadn’t taken a few minutes to just shoot the breeze with her when he had the opportunity.
She had to wait for almost four minutes until Griffin came on the line. “Hello, Kendra.” His voice was brusque. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I just needed to double-check something before I spoke to you.”
“Double-check what?” Kendra asked. “Why are you calling me, Griffin?” She paused. “Have you heard anything from Lynch?”
“Nothing definitive.” He was silent. Then he said roughly, “I’m lying. And you don’t deserve it. It’s about as definitive as it gets without a final ME report. I’m sorry, Kendra.”
She couldn’t breathe. What was he saying? She must have misunderstood. “What are you sorry about? I only asked you to check on Lynch. I was worried because I hadn’t heard from him. What the hell are you sorry about, Griffin?” He wasn’t answering and she was beginning to panic. “Talk to me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “This is the last news I wanted to give you. That’s why I had to double check.” He paused. “No mistake. He’s dead, Kendra.”
She jerked back as the words struck her. The hall was spinning. She was dizzy and sick. “That’s crazy. No, he isn’t. Not Lynch. Don’t tell me it’s not a mistake.”
“I wish I could.”
She swallowed. It took her a minute to get the words out. “You’re telling me Lynch is really dead, Griffin?”
“I’m telling you that two hours ago a body was found at that cabin that answered to his general description as far as we could determine. There was also another body that was probably Ryan Facey.” He added, “Though the remains were difficult to identify since the place was blown to smithereens and so were Lynch and the second victim. That was why I was on the other line. I was checking to see if they’d managed to get enough DNA from Lynch for a match.”
DNA. It was always about DNA, she thought dully. “And did they?”
“Yes. Preliminary match of 98.7 percent. As I said, they’ll know more after the ME gets through with—”
“I don’t believe it,” she said flatly. “It’s a mistake. Men like Lynch don’t just—” She stopped. “It has to be a mistake. We don’t even know if he actually went back to that cabin. He was just going to stake out the area.”
“He was in those woods outside that cabin when he called me to get me to send that agent.” Griffin’s voice was gentle for him. “He called me from there, Kendra. He had photos of those Brock goons and wanted me to run checks on them. He was in a hurry because he wanted to get out of there in case he’d been followed.” He added, “He was joking about the fact that he’d promised you that he wouldn’t let Brock kill him. He said he’d hate like hell to have to rely on me.”
That did sound like Lynch. “But you’re saying they did kill him?” Kendra said hoarsely. She was still too dazed to take it in. “Not Lynch, Griffin,” she said desperately. “He was too smart.”
“Everyone dies, Kendra. It’s just a matter of time. Yes, he was smart, but he didn’t walk on water.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Kendra. I realize you were close. Look, as soon as I get the final, you’ll be the first to know. But I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t tell you that the results are almost certain to be identical.”
“You’re that sure?” Tell me no. Give me hope. Just a little hope, dammit.
“I’m that sure. I wish I could say I wasn’t.” Another silence. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No,” she whispered numbly. What could Griffin do in a world where an extraordinary man like Lynch could be blown away in a heartbeat. What could anyone do? “Goodbye, Griffin.”
She pressed the disconnect.
Pain.
She stood there, leaning against the wall, while the waves of pain and loss swept over her. Darkness. It was like being dragged down into a whirlpool where there was no light, no sound. She had never been afraid of darkness, it was familiar, it could be a friend, but this was different. Because Lynch was lost in that darkness and she would never be able to find him again. But she had to find him, because he was alone, and no one was there for him.
No!
She pushed herself away from the wall and stumbled toward the elevator. She couldn’t remember taking the elevator to the lobby. But then she was out in the parking lot and heading for her car.
Jessie looked up from her phone as Kendra came toward her. “That Griffin must have been chatty. I was going to come back and—” She broke off and straightened in her seat. “What the hell is wrong?”
Everything. No light. Lost. Alone. “Lynch,” she said unsteadily. She opened the driver’s side door. “Griffin said Lynch was killed last night.” She got into the car and just sat there. She should be doing something. Turning on the engine … “An explosion. He said the DNA was 98.7 percent positive.”
“No way.” Jessie murmured, her gaze on Kendra’s face. “Not Lynch.”
“Griffin says everybody dies.” Kendra was trying to keep her voice from breaking. “But I have to be sure. So I’m going back to my apartment and grab a bag and then I’m going to Portland. I’m going to stay there with Lynch until I know for certain that all of those FBI statistics aren’t bullshit.”
“But you don’t think they are.”
“Griffin doesn’t usually make mistakes like that. I’ve never known him to do it.” She swallowed. “He double-checked. And he thinks he’s right. Hell, he was being nice to me.”
“Imagine that,” Jessie said dryly. “Just because you’re pale as a ghost and you look as if you’re going to shatter into a million pieces when you take your next breath.”
“I won’t shatter. But I’m having a little trouble keeping myself pulled together. I can’t seem to think.” She reached out to start the car. “I’ll be better when I get on the road and start doing something.”
“No, you won’t,” Jessie said flatly. “Not on this road and not in this car.” She opened her car door and got out. “Change seats. I’ll drive you home. I want us both to make it through this day without ending up in an ambulance.”
“I’m fine, Jessie.”
“No, you’re numb. And you’re trying to stay numb until the pain stops.” Jessie was opening Kendra’s door and holding out her hand. “But neither of us knows how long that will be. I have an idea that you could break at any moment.”
“I won’t break.”
“Yes, you will.” She was holding Kendra’s gaze. “You’re strong, but whatever was between you and Lynch was powerful as hell. It’s going to hit you and blow you apart. I don’t want to be collateral damage.” She added gruffly, “And I don’t want to have to pick you up and put you back together again. Let me get you back to your condo. Okay?”
She wasn’t going to give up, Kendra knew. Jessie never gave up, Kendra thought wearily. “Okay.” She let Jessie pull her out of the car. “I know you’re just being kind, but I’m really all right. I’ll accept the lift home, but then you can leave me.”
“Can I?” Jessie started the car. “Get in. We’ll talk about it when we get there. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re starting to shake. That numbness might be on its way out.”
She was shaking, Kendra realized. She was suddenly cold. Cold as death.
Death.
Everybody dies, Kendra.
“Get in,” Jessie repeated. “Now, Kendra.”
The next moment she was in the car and Jessie was backing out of the parking space.
Jessie was silent for the first five minutes of the trip. Then she said, “Okay, we’re going to Portland. What are we going to do there?”
“I told you, I have to make sure,” she said. “And I don’t want him to be alone. He should have someone with him. He always seemed to be so alone, Jessie.” Then her words struck home. “We? You’re not going with me, Jessie.”
“Yes, I am. Why not?”
“Because I don’t want you.” She closed her eyes. “I don’t want you worrying about me or taking care of me. I can do this by myself.” Her eyes opened. She added unevenly, “Lynch was my very good friend and I want to do this alone.”
“Very good friend? He might have been that to you, too. But he was a hell of a lot more. Anyone could see it.”
Could they? Half the time Kendra hadn’t known what she was feeling toward him. Yet everyone else could see it? “I still want to do this alone. I don’t need you.”
“Look, you don’t know what you’re going to find in Portland. If Lynch was murdered, then what’s to keep you from being a target? You should have someone with you.”
“Griffin will have agents up there investigating.”
“They’re not me,” Jessie said flatly. “Lynch trusted me to take care of you.”
I like you to be surrounded by friends and people who care about you. It makes me feel safer about leaving you.
Oh shit, her eyes were stinging. “But no one took care of him, did they?” she said shakily. “Not ever. He always took care of himself. And those bastards found a way to kill him because there was no one there for him. But they’re not going to get away with it. You’ll stay here and keep working on finding out who did this. I’ll do the same thing in Portland … after I find out what happened there.”
But Griffin had said he already knew. Ninety-eight point-seven percent. Everyone dies, Kendra.
Jessie was silent. “I don’t like it.”
“Too bad. It’s the way it has to be.” She wished Jessie would stop arguing. Her shaking wasn’t getting any better and she was praying for the numbness to return. She could tell the pain was waiting, hovering. “I’ll be fine. I’ll keep in contact.”
“How comforting.” Jessie was pulling up in front of the condo. “Not good enough.” She sat there for an instant and then turned to face Kendra. “Here’s how it’s going to work. I know I’m not going to be able to talk you out of this, but I’ve got to make certain you’re as safe as I can make you. But you’ve got to cooperate.” She met her eyes. “Listen, you’re almost in shock and it wouldn’t take much to send you over the edge. I’m going to park your car down in your parking spot, but you’re not going to drive it to the airport. You’ll take a cab. I’m going to call Griffin and tell him to have an agent meet your plane and chauffeur you around in Portland. You’re going to call me when you get there and then once a day and let me know what’s happening. Do you agree?”
“All this isn’t necessary. I’m not in shock. I’m just very, very sad.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ve seen al-Qaeda torture victims who were in better shape. Give me your word or I’ll be on that plane to Portland with you.”
It would be easier just to give in and handle this later. “I give you my word.” She opened her car door. “Thank you, Jessie. I know you mean well.”
“I’m not finished. Remember, Olivia will be here for you if you decide to stay here and you need someone besides me.” Her lips tightened. “Because I’m going on record telling you this idea of you going to Portland sucks.”
“I know Olivia is always there for me.” Now Kendra only wanted to escape. Jessie’s eyes were too sharp and she felt as if she could see right through her to the pain that was beginning to stab again. She was feeling very vulnerable as she almost ran toward the front entrance. “And I have to go to Portland.”
“Then you might consider letting go before you get on that plane,” Jessie said quietly. “It’s going to happen soon and you’re not going to be able to stop it. You’re usually one very cool customer. The last thing you’re going to want is to lose control of yourself thirty thousand feet up.”
“Right. Anything you say.” Then Kendra was inside the building. She stood there, breathing hard, trying to regain composure. One very cool customer? Not cool. Cold.
She was cold again. Ice cold. What was wrong with her? Get moving. Get on the elevator. Get upstairs to her condo and grab a bag and then get to the airport. She’d be fine once she was on the move. Jessie was wrong. She could hold on as long as she had to. She had to get to Portland. She had to get to Lynch.
She was unlocking the condo door. Only a few more steps and she’d be inside and allow herself a few minutes before she started packing.
Because she was feeling very strange. Was this what Jessie had meant about letting go? Because she had no choice in what was happening to her. The ice inside her seemed to be splintering. Not melting, but stabbing her with sharp, cruel jabs of feeling … of memory.
I feel … valued, Kendra.
She could feel the tears running down her cheeks as she pushed open the door. Get inside. Hide away for a little while. She’d be all right once she regained control. She had to be strong. Because she had to get to him …
“Kendra?”
She froze, her gaze flying across the room.
Lynch was coming out of the kitchen with a glass of wine in his hand. He was frowning, his gaze on her face. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Then the wine glass was on the bar counter and he was across the room. His fingers were reaching out to touch the tears on her cheek. “Talk to me.”
She couldn’t talk. She could only look at him. She could only feel him.
Alive?
Alive! He was alive. This was no hallucination. His touch on her cheek was just as she remembered. Warm and caressing … and Lynch.
“Shut up.” She buried her face in his chest. “Just shut up and hold me.”
He stiffened. Then he relaxed and his arms slid around her. “Delighted.” His cheek was pressed against her temple. “But I think we’re going to have to discuss this soon. I’m worried about you.”
“Why?” The ice was just beginning to melt, but she didn’t want to let him go. She couldn’t do it. She didn’t know if she’d ever want to let him go. “I’m not the one who’s dead, dammit.”
He went rigid again. “Okay, that’s a remark that requires explanation.” He pushed her back to look into her face. “And that might deserve my being very pissed off when I get that explanation. You thought I was dead?”
She nodded jerkily. “What was I supposed to think? You were in that explosion. They killed you.” She knew how crazy that sounded, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want to ask or answer questions right now. All she wanted to do was hold him and feel the strength and the life of him.
He was swearing softly beneath his breath. “Griffin was supposed to tell you. Didn’t he call you?”
“He called me. He said that you were dead. Ninety-eight point-seven percent probability that it was you.” She buried her head back on his chest. “I don’t care about any of that. Shut up right now, Lynch. I’m not in very good shape. I need a little time.”
“I can see that.” His arms tightened around her. “And it’s making me homicidal. Okay, you’ll have your time.” He was moving her toward the couch across the room. “But you don’t mind if I spend that time plotting pain and mayhem?” He pulled her down on the couch and cuddled her close. “And you’re still crying, dammit…”
“No, I’m not. There would be no reason…”
“There’s not been anything reasonable happening since you walked into this condo today.” He was gently stroking her hair back from her face with a featherlight touch. “I thought I’d cook up some lasagna and we’d have wine and talk and plan our next move. I didn’t think that I’d end up aching like this. You’ve got to stop, okay?”
“Always thinking about yourself…”
“Self-preservation. And my plan was much better. Besides, you’ll be angry later that I saw you like this and you’ll punish me for it.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Yeah, you can’t punish me any more than you’re doing right now.” He cuddled her closer. “But you might not realize that and give it a try.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” She didn’t want anything in the world to hurt him. He was alive and the scent of him and his warmth … “But I will, if you don’t shut up for just five minutes.”
He chuckled. “Now I know you’re better. Five minutes.” He pressed his lips to her temple. “I promise.”
And he always kept his promises to her. That was why she had been so upset when she had not heard from him. Don’t think about it. Take this time. Just hold onto him and heal …
Seven minutes later she straightened against him and then pushed him away. “You did that very well.” She took a deep breath and then swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. “I realize what a hardship it always is for you to not dominate every scene and conversation. Silence is not your forte.” She reached up to touch her cheek. It was still wet with tears. She got to her feet. “I’ve obviously got a few repairs to make.” She headed for the bathroom. “Why don’t you get me that glass of wine? And then we’ll talk and I’ll let you gloat over the fact that I behaved like such an idiot.”
“That’s not fair, Kendra.”
She looked over her shoulder. He had gotten to his feet and was gazing at her with those electric-blue eyes and those movie star good looks and neither of those things made a bit of difference in who he really was. What mattered was the gentleness with which he had held her and the empathy she had felt surrounding her during those moments. “No, it wasn’t fair.”
She went into the bathroom and closed the door.
She looked in the mirror over the vanity. Repairs, indeed. Red, swollen eyes, and her cheeks and nose were little better. She ran cold water and washed her face, ran a brush through her hair and left it at that. It would have to do. She still felt shaken, open and terribly vulnerable, but she looked decent enough.
Lynch was turning away from the bar when she came out of the bathroom. He handed her a glass of merlot. “Feel better?”
She nodded. “Yes.” She took a sip of wine and noticed he didn’t have a glass. “You’re not drinking?”
“I’m very carefully balanced at the moment. I thought I’d pass on anything that might shift me either way.” He nudged her back toward the couch. “Are you ready to listen to me now?”
She plopped down on the couch. He hadn’t seemed to notice that she was still not entirely normal. That meant she was doing okay. Don’t blow it. “Oh, yes, I insist on it. Start with Facey. I’m still too shaky to delve into your death scene. I’ll have to work up to it.”
She listened quietly to everything he’d learned from Ryan Facey. “You did well. At least we have a grasp on what’s been happening.” She shivered. “And it’s worse than I dreamed. Either a serial killer or Brock’s team of military gangsters seemed bad enough. But now we know it’s both.”
“But the key word is know,” Lynch said. “What we know, we can fight.”
“I appreciate that word ‘know’ very much.” She took another sip of her wine. “Because it’s a concept that none of you wanted to share with me last night.” She concentrated and managed to keep her voice steady. “I’m still not good, but I think I’m ready to hear why Griffin was talking about you blowing up.”
He shrugged. “We were in a kind of a bad spot and I was looking for a way to get Facey and me away from Brock’s people and that cabin. I’d noticed from my drone surveillance earlier that those two Brock goons had taken out insurance at getting Facey by planting explosives in the cabin. Since we had to get to Facey’s car on the other side of the cabin, I thought that I’d attract enough gunfire to make them impatient enough so that I could shape the situation to my advantage.”
“Advantage?” She stared at him in disbelief. “You have to be an idiot, Lynch. By all means, tell me what advantage that could possibly give you?”
“They were planting a lot of C-4. It was going to be a fairly big explosion. I thought it would be safer to let Brock think that both Facey and I were permanently out of the picture. Facey is giving us all the information he has about Brock. We needed to keep him safe and make certain Brock wouldn’t get nervous and start hiding evidence. And having me dead would make them feel even safer and let me work behind the scenes until it was time to move. So I … arranged it. No problem. The cabin ended up completely destroyed.”
“And how close did you come to being completely destroyed?” she asked carefully.
“Not that close.” He met her eyes. “Okay, I did lose my leather jacket.”
“Only a jacket. As you said, no problem. And Facey?”
“He was fine. Though he was a little pissed off I hadn’t told him what I’d planned. Everything turned out all right. The cabin was such a disaster Brock’s men thought they’d done their job and took off. Griffin’s agent, Brian Nolan, showed up and took care of all the details about getting us out of there. I called Griffin to stage the bogus medical proof. That went off very well.”
“Yes, it did.” She drained the rest of her wine in two swallows. “I noticed.”
“But I also told him to call you and tell you about what we were doing. I was supposed to meet you back here. I told him I’d go through the building next door and then up to the roof that connects so I wouldn’t be seen. I don’t know what went wrong.” His lips tightened grimly. “But I’m going to find out.”
“I’m sure you will.” She got to her feet, went over to the bar, and poured herself another glass of wine. She was holding herself together with all her strength. All she could see before her was that destroyed leather jacket he’d told her about. So casual. No problem. “But it will still be a little late, won’t it?” She leaned back against the wall and sipped the wine. “That little mistake had ramifications. I’d probably better call Jessie and tell her not to get on Griffin’s case. She was worried about me and she was planning to make Griffin assign agents in Portland to hold my hand when I arrived there.”
“You were going to Portland?”
“Did you think I’d stay here?” She took another drink of wine. “They’d told me someone had killed you. I had to be certain.” She lifted her glass to her lips. “And even if it was true, I couldn’t stand the thought of you being alone there. It bothered me. You know how weird I can be.”
“I know how you can be,” he said softly. “And weird doesn’t come into it. Thank you, Kendra.”
“You’re welcome.” She finished the glass of wine and set the glass on the bar. “It was a learning experience. I suppose I’m lucky, I’ve never had to go through anything like that before. I didn’t hold up too well. I’ll be better next time around.” Then she suddenly lifted her gaze to meet his. “No, I won’t,” she said fiercely. “Because you’re not going to let this happen again. You broke your promise. You said you wouldn’t let them hurt you.”
“I didn’t. It was just a mistake that—”
“A mistake that hurt me and made me feel things that I didn’t want to feel.” She was coming across the room toward him. “Terrible regret. Pain. All kinds of other crazy mixed-up emotions.” She stopped before him. “And I’m still feeling them. I look at you and I can’t shut them down.” Her eyes were blazing up at him. “You do it, Lynch.”
“What are you asking?” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “I know you’re upset. I know you believe I’m somehow to blame. Maybe I am. Just tell me how to make it right.”
She reached up and unbuttoned her shirt. “No one needs to tell you anything, Lynch.” She stripped off her bra. “I’m sure you’re an expert. It’s simple.” She pressed her naked breasts against him as she started to unbutton his shirt. “Just do what we’ve both been wanting to do.”
“I’m not sure—” A ripple undulated through his body as she lifted his undershirt and pressed her nipples against his bare flesh. “This isn’t a good idea.”
“Then why have you been telling me it was good all this time?” She ran her tongue in the hollow of his shoulder. So warm. She could feel his heartbeat. So alive … “You’ve convinced me.”
“Wait.” His hands grasped her bare shoulders. “Not the right time. Not fair to you.” He was breathing hard. “Man, that was hard to say. But it’s true. I’m trying to tell you that—”
“I know what you’re trying to tell me. Now stop arguing when I’m trying to fuck you.” She had taken a step back and was tearing off the rest of her clothes. “The next thing you’ll say is that I might be drunk because I had two whole glasses of wine. That won’t float either, Lynch.”
“I can see it won’t.” He was smiling recklessly as he jerked his undershirt over his head and threw it aside. In the next moment he was naked and reaching for her. “This is probably a mistake, but it’s too late now. I’ll have to repair it later…”
He lifted her and sank deep!
She cried out, her nails biting into his shoulders. Her legs curled around his hips.
She buried her face in his shoulders as she took him and took him and took him.
Then they were on the floor and he was over her.
Crazy …
Deep.
Hot.
Fast.
So fast.
Her head was moving from side to side as the intensity grew and grew …
How long …
It went on and on.
Deeper.
Faster.
Full. So full.
Heat
Heat.
Heat.
Heat!