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IT’S BEEN OVER AN HOUR that I’ve been sitting on this bench on the dock waiting for some kind of signal from Patrick. I’ve made sure to not go past the Sea-more, such a stupid name for a boat, or the fourth slip. Underneath Owen’s shirt, I’m wearing is a bulletproof vest. These suckers are heavy and hot. How do cops wear these things all day?
Agent Newberry gave me a key that looks similar in size and color to the one Patrick wants back. It’s in a small box that I’m supposed to open and show Patrick. If he ever shows. I’m starting to wonder if he will. There’s no boat in slip seven, which is the one he told Owen to meet him at, and there’s been no activity at the marina since we got here.
Agent Newberry insists that I’m safely surrounded by other agents, although I have seen none of them around. He’s either lying to me or they’re that good. I’m choosing to believe the latter.
“Okay, Mallory. You’ve done great so far. We’re going to give it fifteen more minutes and then we’re going to call it a night. Okay?” Agent Newberry says in my earpiece. “Scratch your right arm, if you understand.”
I pull up the sleeve of Owen’s shirt and scratch my arm.
“Good. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”He says.
I’m not doing anything, really. Just sitting here playing chicken with a madman. This was a pretty stupid thing to do. Owen’s going to lose his shit when he finds out I’m here instead of him. But he was busy. And I’m a grown-ass woman who can take care of herself. Plus, I’ve got the FBI here with me. I’m safe, right?
Keep telling yourself all this, girl. You’re going to need all these reasons when he finds out you’re out here alone on a dock waiting for Patrick. Yeah. This was a stupid idea.
“Okay, Mallory. We’re going to call it. It looks like he’s not coming. What I need you to do is to calmly get up and casually walk towards the SUV. That’s it. Take your time. We don’t want him to be suspicious if he’s watching you. You’re almost there. Good. Now, get in the SUV and drive it around the corner to the utility truck parked on the corner.”
I put the vehicle in gear and drive over to the innocuous-looking truck. Immediately, I notice two things.
First, how scared I actually am over doing this because my hands won’t stop shaking.
Second, a very pissed off Owen standing outside of the utility truck. He walks over to the driver’s side of the SUV I’m driving, pulls the door wide open, and grabs me by the waist, out of the vehicle and into his arms. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” His hold on me is tight and I can feel his fear. It’s stronger than the humidity in the night air.
“I’m fine, Owen.” I whisper in his ear, hoping to convince him everything is okay. Although, I’m shaking like a leaf and the emotions I’m feeling seeing him are about to take over me. I fight the tears that are threatening to spill down my face.
He pushes me back so that he can see my face. “Are you okay? What were you thinking? Are you wearing a vest? Is that my shirt?”
I smile, “Yes. I’m okay. Patrick didn’t show. I thought that I had to do this so that they can put him behind bars where he belongs. Yes, I’m wearing a vest under your shirt. Does that answer all of your questions?” He pulls me back into his arms and holds me.
We stand like this for a few minutes when Agent Newberry clears his throat. “Ahem. See? I told you she’s fine.”
I look up at Agent Newberry. “I thought you wanted to wait fifteen more minutes. That was, at best, five minutes.”
“I told him to pull you out, or I was going in to get you.” Owen says, kissing my forehead. “You should never had been in there in the first place. That’s my fault. I’m sorry. I got so tied up at the office.”
“This is my fight. It’s not your fault. You have enough going on with the heist. Besides, he never showed.” I look at Agent Newberry. “So, now what?”
“Now, I go back to the office with all the great information you gave me and see if I can find him. And you go home and live your life. Just make sure to be careful. And if he contacts you, call me right away.”
I nod, “Okay.”
“I normally would put security on you, but I think you’ve got that covered.” He smiles at me and tilts his head towards Owen.
“You’re fucking right, she does.” Owen tightens his grip around my waist. “Are we free to go? I want to get her out of here in case he’s watching.”
Agent Newberry nods, “Yep. Just be careful.”
Owen looks at me. “Let’s get out of here.” He steers me to his truck, that’s parked only a few spaces away.
I turn around and call out to Agent Newberry, “Thank you for all you did for me tonight.”
He waves back at me. “You’re welcome.”
“In you go.” Owen tells me as he holds the passenger side door open.
I climb in and buckle my seatbelt as I watch Owen come around the front of the truck and climb in on the driver’s side. He buckles his seatbelt and then turns to me. “Are you really okay?”
“I’m really okay, although I’m exhausted. Someone kept me up late last night and then got me up early this morning.” I smirk.
He takes a deep breath. “I can’t explain to you the fear I felt when I realized you were doing the meet. I couldn’t get here fast enough.”
I take his hand in mine, knowing he’s reliving the time of Alana’s kidnapping and murder. “I would never have done this if the FBI didn’t have it all planned out and was watching. I knew I was safe. It’s the only reason I did it. Besides, Agent Newberry’s a good guy. He’s been great to me all day. I felt safe.”
Owen stares at our two intermingled hands and nods. He lifts our hands and kisses the back of mine. “I’m sorry I let you down. It won’t happen again.”
“You didn’t let me down, Owen. Please believe me.”
He just nods and turns the truck on with the hand not holding mine. “Let’s go home.”
~~~
The ride home is quiet and I’m dozing off when I hear a ringing over the speakers of the truck. Owen pushes a button on the steering wheel with the hand that’s still holding mine.
“Hughes.” He says in a greeting to the caller.
“Don’t go home. It’s not safe. We’ve got the girls, kids, and the three dogs and we’re bringing them to the condos. We’ll be there in five minutes. Meet us there.” Matt tells Owen.
“Understood.” Owen replies and pushes another button to disconnect the call. He lets go of my hand so that he can steer the truck in a U-turn.
“What’s going on?”
He sighs, “I don’t know. We’ll know more when we get to the condo.”
“Did you guys figure out what happened at the gem show today?” Owen is rubbing the day-old beard he has, while resting his hand on the steering wheel, and he looks really sexy like that. But I can’t let my mind wander.
“Not really. Someone stole the gems and then left them at the front steps of our office this afternoon with a note saying that they want their company back. We have no idea who did this, why, or what they meant by that note. It’s all weird. Then, when I realized what time it was, I found that we had no signal on our phones while we were in the office. It’s all not adding up.”
I nod, “So that explains why none of you answered your phones and the answering service couldn’t get a hold of you.”
“Yeah. I didn’t get the messages until I was away from the building. That’s how I knew to find you at the marina.”
We’re almost at Owen’s condo when the phone rings over the speakers again.
“Hughes.”
“Hotel. India. I repeat. Hotel. India. Ditch your phone.” It sounds like Gabriel’s voice, but I can’t be sure.
Owen pushes a button on the steering wheel and hangs up the call without a word. I watch him push the button on the door to open his window and then he throws his cell phone out. He then pushes the same button to close the window. He turns erratically from the left lane to turn right. Fortunately, there’s no one there to cut off.
“What’s happening right now?” I’m scared and I don’t know why, but the air in the truck is suddenly thick with tension.
“Everything’s okay, Mallory. Do you trust me?” Owen glances at me, then back to the road.
“Yes.” I watch his eyes bounce back and forth between the front windshield and the rearview mirror and then to the side mirrors. “But what’s happening?”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I promise to keep you safe.”
“Are we going to your condo?”
“No. We’re not.”
“Then where are we going?”
“Mexico.”