Exposed, page 15
She faced Salah, smiling. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, strands falling around her face. An angry roar went up. The group on the walkway was hidden as the crowd stood en masse to dispute the referee’s latest decision. When they settled back down, Diana was speaking to Salah, her arms outstretched, nodding, smiling, her eyes glowing. She was offering to take the boy. She was trying to help him. Dear God, why did she do these things?
The boy leaned forward, but Salah pressed his hand against the boy’s chest, a shake of his head communicating his refusal. His right hand was deep in his pocket. Peter knew that in the seconds it would take for his shot to travel, the scene would change. He considered his options.
Diana was closer to Salah and Dean now. She was coaxing the boy who was tearful, her arms still outstretched, a hand cupping his face. She looked directly into Dean’s eyes. The eyes of the boy in the bunker in the middle of the desert floated into Peter’s mind, followed by the image of the man who had raced back to save them, and the terrible choice Peter had faced. Here was a different boy, a different man, another tough choice. And he still had no clear shot.
Salah’s eyes widened. A commotion erupted. A man was rushing the crowd on the walkway. Diana half-turned, but collapsed face first as Salah pushed her against a wall. The boy in his arms leaned forward, reaching out to the man who pushed toward them. The bomber’s right hand rose to the ceiling.
Peter inhaled. He squeezed the trigger, his eyes unblinking.
Salah shouted. Peter waited.
The sound of the crowd roared in his ears.
3…2…
Salah convulsed. He crumpled. Red spray erupted in a puff behind him.
Dean fell, instinctively turning from the bullet as it striated Salah’s skull.
Diana threw herself backward. She crashed to the floor. She curled up to cushion the explosives as Salah’s body collapsed onto hers.
A small box flew in the air. It climbed, spinning, the light catching as it turned on its axis. It peaked and changed course and began its descent, gaining speed as it hurtled to earth.
Diana pushed Salah’s body off her and kneeled, looking up, shielding her eyes, searching, unseeing. The floodlights blinded her eyes. She caught sight of the switch. It was barreling toward her. She waited, watching, following its trajectory.
On the other side of the stadium, Peter froze. Seconds passed, time slowed. The crowd still roared.
The switch dropped smartly. Diana’s hands closed around it. There was no flash, no smoke, no sound, no wind. All was good.
Peter exhaled. He pulled back from his gun’s sight. He lowered the rifle. His mind was blank.
He pushed on the gun’s safety and stepped down from the platform. His job here was done.
Malcolm swept his son up and cradled his body, huddled against the wall. Dean was scared but unharmed and he wanted his mama. For Malcolm, that couldn’t come a moment too soon.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“CAN’T I DRIVE for once?” Diana said.
“Nope,” Peter replied. ”You’re not registered. You’re a consultant, remember, not a member of VPD proper.”
“Funny how I can lay my life on the line for VPD but not drive one of their cars.”
“Yep, one of the great mysteries of life.”
Diana walked around to the passenger side.
“They haven’t found Kloch yet,” Peter said.
“Huh, interesting. I wonder where he’s got to.”
“He’s probably run for the hills now that his mate, Greene, is in the clink.”
They took the ride in silence. They were tired. It had been an eventful few days.
“Well, we’re here.”
“Already?” Diana asked, looking around in surprise. “That was fast. More grandpa than granny this time.” Diana often complained that Peter drove too slowly.
“Now you’re just being sexist.”
She chuckled, “Speak tomorrow. I might go into the office for a bit if I’m not needed.”
“Why do you keep working for that magazine? Why don’t you come work for VPD full time?”
Diana sighed. “Donaldson did offer me the hours, but I’m not ready to give up writing just yet.”
“You spend more time with us than at the magazine, you know. And what you do for them hardly compares to what you do for us.”
“I know. I’ll give it more thought now that this crisis is over.” Diana opened the passenger door. “Thanks for the lift. I appreciate it.”
“Any time.”
Diana leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek before getting out of the car. “Good work today,” she whispered.
“Thank you. You too.”
She sat back and looked at him curiously. He’d been efficient but distant since the shooting. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. I just need to go home and get a good’s night sleep.” He turned to her and gave her a tired smile.
“Yeah, me too.” She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze before opening the door and getting out. It was a warm night. She didn’t like the idea of Peter going home to an empty apartment. Not after what he’d done.
“Sure you don’t want to come in?” she tried.
“I’m sure. Thanks for asking. You have a nice night.”
It seemed an unsatisfactory, perfunctory parting.
She got her bag out of the trunk, and made her way into her apartment building, pausing at the entrance to wave to Peter, who was still waiting by the curb. Was he making sure she got in safely? She shook her head and smiled again.
“Ms. Hunter.” Larry, the doorman, greeted her enthusiastically the moment she set foot in the lobby. “Good evening, did you have a good day?”
“Busy, Larry, busy,” she replied. “How’s things?”
“Everything’s been quiet here. Ms. Jenkins is upstairs.”
“Thank you, Larry,” Diana said with an appreciative smile. “I’ll see you later.”
“Of course, Ms. Hunter.”
A minute or two later, Diana unlocked her front door to Max’s excited yipping and barking. As soon as she was inside, Max jumped on her, doing his best to climb up her leg in excitement.
“How’s my wonderful boy?” Diana cooed, dropping her bag to the floor. She kneeled and picked up her ball of fluff. He happily proceeded to lick her entire face.
“He’s been going crazy for the past half-hour,” Terri said with a chuckle. “I swear he’s psychic.”
Diana laughed. “I don’t know about psychic, but he’s definitely Mommy’s smart boy, isn’t he?” She scratched between Max’s ears, but that didn’t deter him from his goal, which seemed to be to lick her from head to toe. “Everything okay?” she asked Terri.
The girl nodded. “Everything’s been peaceful. I haven’t gotten this much studying done in months.”
“That’s great,” Diana replied. “Because I’ve got a proposition for you. But first, I need a shower, a glass of wine, and something to eat,” she said as she got to her feet.
Fifteen minutes later, Diana was in the kitchen, sipping a nice red wine while Terri threw together some dinner for both of them.
“So, you were saying something about a proposition?” Terri asked as she chopped vegetables for a salad. Two steaks were sizzling in a pan and the smell made Diana’s stomach rumble.
“I’m joining VPD full time,” Diana began.
“You’re going to leave the magazine?” Terri asked in surprise.
Diana shrugged. “It’s time. I’m tired of dealing with all the administrative work that comes with it.”
When Diana had joined Crime & Punishment, she had hoped the position would offer her access to resources that would make the investigation into her parents’ death easier. But working with VPD was more valuable for that, and all around more beneficial.
“But I thought you loved to write,” Terri said.
“I do, but I don’t do much writing anymore. Anyway, working for VPD is a lot more fun.”
Terri cocked an eyebrow and grinned. “Only you would find spending the day intercepting suicide bombers ‘fun.’” She saw Diana’s mouth fall open. “Just guessing,” she added quickly.
“Hey, I’m wired differently,” Diana said. “It’ll mean really odd hours and being away from home a lot so, I was wondering if you’d be interested in more work? Regular hours. If you’re here, I won’t have to worry about Max. And maybe you can help out with a few chores like picking up groceries, a bit of cleaning, and stuff like that. I’d pay you a salary.”
Terri hadn’t said much about her home life, but Diana had gleaned enough to know that things weren’t all rosy for her there. Terri had a multitude of brothers, several of whom operated over on the wrong side of right while the others sounded as though they would make the jump soon. They appeared to rule the roost too, with Terri and her mother doing all the chores as well as making all the money, at least that from legal sources. In an unguarded moment, Terri had told of hiding cash from her dog-sitting jobs in a box of dog treats only to have one of her brothers find it and use it to buy a bag of cocaine. He’d shared it with his brothers, doing lines of it on the living room coffee table.
Terri stopped chopping, her knife frozen in mid-air. She stared at Diana, eyes wide and mouth agape. “Are you serious?” she croaked.
Diana nodded. “I don’t expect you to be my maid or anything, but I figure this way you can drop your other pet-sitting clients, which will make it easier for you with school. And you’ll be doing me a massive favor. Win-win.”
Terri squealed and went to hug her new boss. “Whoa, put that knife down first please,” Diana said, taking a half-step backward.
“That would be fantastic, thank you.” Terri’s eyes sparkled. “I would love that.”
Later, after Terri had gone home, Diana took Max out for a walk. Her dog sitter had offered to take him, but Diana wanted a bit of fresh air to clear her mind. She did some of her best thinking when she walked Max.
As she took her usual route along the promenade, she had the feeling that she was being watched. When Max stopped to investigate a bush, she turned slowly, pretending to study the shoreline. But there was no one there. She turned back feeling uneasy.
As she continued to walk Max, the feeling stayed with her. She continued to check, but every time, there was no one.
Diana’s phone rang. “Hey Amanda, what’s up?”
“We have an active hostage situation. Le Caïman. The Sheikh.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
LE CAÏMAN WAS an upscale French restaurant and virtually an institution in Vancouver.
“He was having dinner with his son and daughter in the restaurant,” Amanda told her.
“Damn!” She texted Peter.
“Have they made any demands yet?” Diana asked Amanda who was still on the phone.
“He wants to talk to you,” she replied.
“Who does?”
“Kloch.”
“What? Bernard Kloch? Of Blue Panther?”
“He’s on the scene.”
“Kloch’s taken hostages? Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack,” Amanda replied.
“Why does he want to talk to me?”
“I don’t know. That’s all he’d say. Until you get there, he’s not saying another word.”
Diana switched to Peter’s incoming call. “How long, Peter?”
“Ten minutes, tops,” he replied.
“Okay, Amanda, we’ll be there in ten. I’ll let you know more when I’m on the scene.”
Amanda hung up. Diana ran home to drop Max off. Back in the apartment, she grabbed her bag and went down to the lobby to await Peter.
“Hello again, Ms. Hunter,” Larry said.
“Hello, Larry,” she sighed.
“Going out again?”
“Yup, no peace for the wicked, right?”
“You don’t seem terribly wicked to me, Ms. Hunter.”
“It would appear that not everyone agrees with you there, Larry. Today has been quite the day.” Peter’s car pulled up outside. “And here I go again. ’Night, Larry.”
“Kloch’s taken the Sheikh hostage, and the only demand he’s made so far is that he must talk to me,” Diana explained the situation to Peter as she clambered into the car. She’d barely closed the door before Peter accelerated away.
“Any idea what he might want?”
Diana shrugged. “All I can think of is that he’s heard about Greene and wants out of the country.”
“The guy is a security expert. He’ll have contacts all over the world. He didn’t need to pull a stunt like this to get out of the country. He could have just disappeared. We’d never have found him.”
“Exactly. So, what could he possibly want?”
The forecourt of Le Caïman was full of vehicles and armed Emergency Task Force personnel. They were all very quiet and still.
Diana and Peter jumped out of their car and headed over to the ETF van.
“Who’s in charge?” Peter asked.
“I am,” said a familiar voice. “Glad you’re here, Major. And very glad to see you again, Ms. Hunter.”
“Stockton,” Peter said in greeting. “Thanks for the gun earlier. Very helpful. What have we got?”
“Bernard Kloch along with five masked gunmen have taken over Le Caïman. Shots were fired, and as far as we can determine, the Sheikh’s bodyguards are dead.”
“Are there any other hostages?”
“About fifteen people or so, customers and staff. We think there are two other people in the Sheikh’s party in there with him.”
“Kloch wants to talk to me. Did he say why?” Diana asked.
“No, ma’am. Just said he’ll only speak to you. No one else.”
“Then let’s get him on the phone.”
Stockton waved her into the van. Inside was a mobile command station. There was a bank of three computer screens, cameras, and communication equipment. They were all against one wall. Two members of the ETF sat with headphones watching the screens that were broadcasting the scene outside from different angles.
“Get Kloch on the line,” Stockton said, as he handed Diana a headset.
“Is she there?” Kloch asked the moment he answered the call.
“I’m here, Mr. Kloch. What can I do for you?” Diana asked.
“Not like this. I want you to come inside,” he demanded.
Diana was tempted, but one look at Peter’s scowl told her she’d have a fight on her hands. “Mr. Kloch, you know I can’t do that. Why don’t you tell me what you want?”
“If you don’t come in here, I’m going to start shooting hostages. One person every minute. I’ll work my way through them and end with the Sheikh himself,” Kloch said. He cut the call.
“Call him again,” Stockton ordered the operator. Kloch didn’t pick up this time.
“I have to go in there,” Diana said.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Peter growled. He’d been standing quietly in the back.
“Peter, I don’t have a choice. Did you hear his voice? He’s serious. He will kill those people if I don’t go in,” Diana’s words were strong but she said them gently. She sensed an unusual fragility beneath his usual gruffness.
“There has to be another way,” Peter countered, but Diana could see he knew there wasn’t.
“Let’s talk outside,” she said.
When they were out of earshot, “I’ll be okay,” she said with a small smile.
“Okay? Walking into a situation like this? Captives at gunpoint? No idea why he wants to talk to you? Unarmed? After today?”
“I don’t have a choice,” she repeated. “Remember, this is the life we have. Our options are often terrible and worse.”
Peter blew out his cheeks and walked away a few steps. He wanted this day to end. Diana continued to watch him evenly. He spun around, his eyes flicked up at hers.
“You’ve got ten minutes, then I’m coming in after you,” he said as he walked back to her.
“You?” Diana asked.
“Yes, me. You think I’d trust anyone else with your safety?”
Diana couldn’t help the smile that curled her lips. If she’d had any doubts about it before, she was certain of it now. She was absolutely, head over heels in love with the blunt but very attractive Peter Hot-kinson. Unfortunately, now wasn’t the best moment to dwell on it.
Stockton jumped out of the van and came over. We need a decision, Ms. Hunter.”
“I’m going in Commander. Peter will lead backup,”
Stockton nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Diana went back in the van. “Put me through to Kloch again.”
The operator put through the call.
“What?” Kloch answered.
“I’ll come in, but on one condition. You release the hostages, first.”
“No!” Kloch said. “Of course, I won’t do that.”
“Look, you already have the Sheikh. I’ve said I’ll come in. The additional hostages don’t strengthen your hand. They are a liability. A distraction. All that moving, crying, and wailing. You don’t need the distraction of fifteen other people.”
“No!” Kloch yelled again.
“Then release the Sheikh and his entourage. Do you really want to cause an international incident?”
“I don’t care about international incidents.” There was a pause, and Diana could hear heavy breathing down the line.
“But you know what?” Kloch was sounding hoarse and breathless. “You’re right. I just need you and the Sheikh and his family members. I’ll let everyone else go as soon as you’re standing in front of the door. No wires. No gun. Only you. Understand?”
“Deal,” Diana said quickly.
She jumped out of the van. Peter was waiting for her. “Ten minutes, okay? And then we’re coming in,” he warned.
She smiled. “I know. Don’t worry.”
She turned, but before she could take a step, Peter grabbed her hand. She turned to look at him, frowning.
He looked torn, but indecision was quickly replaced by determination. He yanked her against him and in a moment, he was kissing her. Diana froze, then softened and kissed him back, hard. They broke apart, both of them breathing heavily.
