Shielding Instinct, page 27
It was a long wait for the gun toting, actual badge wearing special agents to show up.
Prescott was back with the family and the other kidnapper.
Finley and Rowan climbed from the car.
Rowan was shaking his head at her. “Spot on,” he called as he walked over.
Herb and the kidnapper lay side by side on the ground, knees bent, shoelaces tied together, hands laced behind their heads. Cooper—who was thoroughly pleased with the way the evening had gone—sat guard.
Gun or dog? Petra would probably choose the dog every time.
After all, you can’t snuggle with a gun at night.
And the dog came attached to a wonderful man.
“Checking on you,” Rowan said, stopping in front of her. “This was genius. But I told you to step away.”
“I—”
“You were saving a child. I know.” He gave her a hug. “How are you?” Rowan turned to stand by her side and observe.
“A little wigged out, thanks for asking.” Her eyes were on Hawkeye and his on her. “Cooper’s happy.”
“Cooper’s always happy when he gets to eat the bad guy.” Rowan chuckled.
“You’re not arresting Herb, are you?” Petra asked on an exhale.
“This is a big case. We think it’s best if we turn the Johnsons. Having informants on the role might help us figure out what the Prokhorovs are building next in terms of their psyops.”
“Herb’s been over there processing his life and his choices out loud. Seems like the Prokhorovs have figured out how to leverage doomsday cults. Not just big money to pay for the family’s psyops endeavors. There’s an army of adherents who no longer think. It’s like those gamers using Taylor Knapp's video games only on steroids. The fast videos you gave me to process work really well. Too well. It’s insanity. We can’t let this happen.” Petra said. “Tax-free church money and a variety of First Amendment rights protections. I think the Prokhorov Family has landed on the legal means to leverage America against itself.”
Rowan kicked at the ground. “A goal that they have been pursuing for generations.”
They stood silently side by side while the kidnapper and Herb were moved to the back of Finley’s car.
“The brain is a magnificent thing. It looks like all of this magically fell into place, but it can be traced from one step to the next,” Petra said.
“Walk me down that path.” Rowan crossed his arms over his chest.
“From Hawkeye’s point of view, this will probably look too neat. Too coincidental. The world doesn’t work that way.”
“Let’s go through this logically.”
“I’d prefer that,” Petra said. “Because I wasn’t sent down here on fairy dust to take down another Prokhorov cell.”
“You weren’t at all.” Rowan insisted. “You were going with Tamika to spread her parents’ ashes. It had nothing to do with work.”
“No?”
“Petra, this wasn’t an op. Tamika’s parents got married down here, and she didn’t know what to do with the ashes. She figured she’d do it here.”
“Why did Tamika land on the idea of spreading the ashes in St. Croix? I would postulate that it was because, about six months ago, your team suspected some activity was going on in the United States Virgin Islands.”
“We couldn’t find it,” Rowan said. “Now we know from Jenny Johnson it was the jump-off spot. They asked their adherents to commit crimes. If caught, they pled guilty, and then The Family moved them to safety and gave their followers a new name. Exactly as you suggested, no passport, no worries. Go to the islands and get a boat. From that boat, jump to a new boat, and everyone vanishes. Pockets get lined. Kudos. That was some masterful speculation. You were dead on.”
“That’s fine. I don’t need kudos. Just back to my list. We can both agree this area was on Tamika’s mind and probably influenced her to come. Once we were here . . . me. Once I was here, I found that St. Croix is a small island. Visitors are grouped in hotels and guest houses along the shore. There are only so many restaurants. There are only so many places to go and only so many tourist things to do.”
“To make the Petersons look like they were here on family vacation they’d have to do those things, right? Go to the beach. Take the family to the tidepool,” Rowan agreed.
“In this case, that was part of the Johnsons’ escape. But before that, sure, they probably did things to blend in. Because the Christmas Winds were unusually strong, a lot of the tourist things—hunting lionfish, snorkeling, swimming with horses—were unavailable, tightening an already limited number of things to do. That’s how I ended up in the vicinity of the Johnsons. And then there’s you.”
“Me,” Rowan said.
“Why are you here? Because of Avery.” Petra answered her own question. “Avery was talking to me on the phone when I was at the airport. And when I think of Avery, I think of you.”
“Thank you,” Rowan said with a smile.
“When I saw Herb there, that necklace bothered the shit out of me. It made me feel vulnerable, and I didn’t know why. But I felt compelled to tell you about it. And up until the moment you and Finley pulled up in this parking lot, I didn’t know why.”
“Okay, I’ll bite,” Rowan said.
“I was in your office last July. I was running in and didn’t knock.”
Rowan pointed at her. “I remember that. You ran in. The image was on my monitor. I flipped it off immediately. You must have seen it.”
“Not seen it,” she corrected. “Clocked it.”
“How’s that?”
“If you left the image there and acted like it was a nothing burger, it wouldn’t have stood out to me. That your reflex was to hide the image meant my mind tagged it as significant.”
“You’re a thousand percent right. I’ll have to figure out how never to do that again.”
“Lock your door?” She shrugged.
“I see the whole thing unfolding just the way it would for a brain wired like yours. From the beginning, the necklace bothered you. You knew it was associated with something bad—which it is. Your conscious brain kept looking for the answer, so you went and pressed the mom. You followed the child. You got the necklace. You tucked it into your pocket and kept thinking about Avery, who is tied in your brain to me. All of this makes perfect sense. You had all the steps, but you just didn’t have enough information to put them together. And as you and I know so well, the brain is an incredible thing.”
“It is that. But here are the things that were starlight and pixie dust,” Petra held up a finger, “the unexpected seismic activity.” Another finger went up. “A young girl who was not putting up with that mess. A third finger, “Hawkeye and Cooper.” She smiled over at them so they knew she was still okay, and Hawkeye started over to her.
“Looks like you two are getting on,” Rowan said as he stepped aside. “I need a word with Finley before they take off.”
“Everything okay?” Hawkeye asked as Cooper thrust his head under Petra’s hand.
“Rowan and I were just going over how this all happened, how we got to this place.”
He leaned down and gave her a kiss. “Destiny?” he asked.
Petra snuggled into his arms, laying her head on his chest where she could hear his heart beating strong and steady. “Yes, that’s exactly what I told him. Destiny.”
Epilogue
A man stood at the podium. “And so, a year ago, we were all hard at work pulling people from the water. It took a lot of brave men and women, citizens, all working together to save lives. We honor each and every one of you.”
A woman took his place. “As we call your name, please come forward and accept your plaque.”
The local government had arranged for the citizens who survived to hand the thank you plaque to the person who made it possible.
Seeing Melissa balancing Terry on his arm crutches, wedding rings on their fingers, was an enormous sob that sat in Petra’s chest.
Petra knew Hawkeye was feeling his emotions too when Roy—whom he pulled out of the rip current—and a guy named Tony—whom he’d pulled from a deadman’s float and given artificial breath—stood up. Tony held a beribboned dog bone for Cooper, who, apparently, dove into the water and pulled them to safety.
The only one that was missing who Petra really wanted to see was Amanda Johnson. She was returned to her parents after Jenny and Herb became FBI informants.
Petra wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
Not good.
But she wasn’t going to let that mar this day. It was a day of celebrations.
They all went outside to a lovely cocktail party on the beach.
Hawkeye came over. “I hope you’ll forgive me for what I’m about to do.”
Petra froze.
“I try never to surprise you,” he said, taking her empty glass and handing it off to a server.
“I appreciate it.”
“But you mentioned that while you were down here last time, you wanted to swim the horses.” He reached for her hands.
“That’s true,” Petra said. “I’d met a guy named Mitch.”
Hawkeye nodded toward the beach where Mitch held the reins of two horses. “We can’t swim them because of the—”
“Christmas Winds.” Petra smiled. “This surprise I don’t mind because I already imagined having this experience, and I’ve met Mitch. So, thank you.”
“Good. Will you go for a ride with me?” He held a hand out to usher her to the horses.
As they were leaving, Hawkeye waved at Halo to let him know they were going.
Cooper ran beside Petra’s horse as they rode along the beach. The sky was painted with a tangerine sunset. The warm air was magical.
Petra thought she might even look the part of a romance heroine, since she’d worn a flowing sundress to the ceremony.
Hawkeye pulled up on the reins and dismounted. He walked over and lifted her down.
Kissing her gently, he said, “This is the part you need to brace for a little bit. We’re going to round the corner. And some people are there. People you know. No strangers.”
“But why?” Petra asked.
“Because I wanted them to share this day with us. This celebration is meaningful not just because of the lives saved but also because of the life we started together. I invited them down to mark this time. But if it’s too much, we turn around.”
“I think I’m okay.”
Hawkeye had the reins in one hand, leading their horses; he held her hand in the other, and Cooper danced at her feet as they turned the corner.
There, Petra found a heart made of flickering votive candles in the sand. At a distance, sitting quietly, were Avery and Rowan, Tamika and Diamond, Hawkeye’s parents, his brother, and Cora, both Hawkeye’s sister and now Petra’s dear friend. The Team Charlie brothers were there with their K9s.
And Petra started to cry.
“Happy tears or stress tears?” Hawkeye asked.
“Very happy, thank you.”
Hawkeye led her into the center of the heart.
When he knelt in front of her, Cooper came to a dignified sit beside him.
“Petra.” Hawkeye pulled a ring box from his pocket.
“Yes,” Petra said. “The answer is yes. I’m full now. You can say more later. Okay?”
“More than okay. Perfect.” He quietly slid the ring on her finger.
Hawkeye stood and was enveloping Petra protectively in his arms when Tamika called out, “Okay, y’all. I know we were told to sit still, and all. But we got to clap. That’s some beautiful romance right there.”
The laughter of their loved ones rode the breeze and wrapped around them.
Hawkeye was right, this was more than okay. This was perfect.
The END
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WORLD of INIQUUS Novel
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Weakest Lynx (Lynx Series)
Missing Lynx (Lynx Series)
Chain Lynx (Lynx Series)
Cuff Lynx (Lynx Series)
WASP (Uncommon Enemies)
In Too DEEP (Strike Force)
Jack Be Quick (Strike Force)
Relic (Uncommon Enemies)
Mine (Kate Hamilton Mystery)
Deadlock (Uncommon Enemies)
Instigator (Strike Force)
Yours (Kate Hamilton Mystery)
Open Secret (FBI Joint Task Force)
Thorn (Uncommon Enemies)
Gulf Lynx (Lynx Series)
Ours (Kate Hamilton Mysteries)
Cold Red (FBI Joint Task Force)
Even Odds (FBI Joint Task Force)
Survival Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Alpha)
Protective Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Alpha)
Defender’s Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Alpha)
Danger Signs (Delta Force Echo)
Hyper Lynx (Lynx Series)
Danger Zone (Delta Force Echo)
Danger Close (Delta Force Echo)
Fear the Reaper (Strike Force)
Warriors Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Bravo)
Rescue Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Bravo)
Hero’s Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Bravo)
Striker (Strike Force)
Marriage Lynx (Lynx Series)
Guardian’s Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Charlie)
Beowolf (Iniquus Certified Cerberus Tactical K9)
Red Line (CIA Color Code)
Sheltering Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Charlie)
Shielding Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 Team Charlie)
Radar (Iniquus Certified Cerberus Tactical K9)
With more Iniquus novels to follow!
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Acknowledgments
My great appreciation ~
To my publicist Margaret Daly
To my cover artist, Melody Simmons
To my editor Rossana Tarantini
To my Street Force, who support me and my writing with such enthusiasm and kindness.
To all the professionals who shared their knowledge of working K9s, especially the various Virginia search and rescue teams.
To all the wonderful professionals I called on to get the details right as I conducted my research, especially M. Carlon for her medical expertise.
Please note: This is a work of fiction, and while I always try my best to get all the details correct, there are times when it serves the story to go slightly to the left or right of perfection. Please understand that any mistakes or discrepancies are my authorial decision-making alone and sit squarely on my shoulders.
Thank you to my family for your love and support.
I send my love to my husband, thank you for sharing my exploration of St. Croix and all of the adventures.
And, of course, thank YOU for reading my stories. I always smile joyfully as I type this sentence. I so appreciate you!
About the Author
Fiona Quinn is a USA Today bestselling author, a Kindle Scout winner, Amazon Top 40, and an Amazon All-Star.
Quinn writes suspense in her Iniquus World of books, including Lynx, Strike Force, Uncommon Enemies, Kate Hamilton Mysteries, FBI Joint Task Force, Cerberus Tactical K9 Series: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Certified Cerberus Tactical K9, the Delta Force Echo series, CIA Color Code Action Adventure, and now, an Iniquus cookbook!
She writes urban fantasy as Fiona Angelica Quinn for her Elemental Witches Series.
And, just for fun, she writes the Badge Bunny Booze Mystery Collection with her dear friend, Tina Glasneck, as Quinn Glasneck.
Quinn is a Canadian author rooted on the shores of the Atlantic where she lives with her husband. There, she pops chocolates, devours books, and taps continuously on her laptop.
Facebook: Fiona Quinn
Copyright
Shielding Instinct is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
©2025 Fiona Quinn, LLC
All Rights Reserved
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Fiona Quinn, Shielding Instinct
