Love Inspired Suspense September 2015 #2, page 44
“When do we go back to Atlanta?” she asked.
“Tonight.”
“Okay.”
“And one more thing. Davies said the FBI hasn’t found anything current on Ward and his ties to East River, even though there were definite affiliations in the past. He thinks Ward’s probably out of the picture.”
“I hope so.” She paused. “But there’s no way that I’m letting down my guard.”
“As you shouldn’t. There’s too much going on for you to do that.”
“I’m ready to get this over with.”
*
Sydney hadn’t slept much last night in the Atlanta hotel room. She was on edge and running on the pure anticipation of testifying at the trial. Now only a few miles away from the courthouse, Max was on the phone with Davies coordinating her security.
Testifying was important to her. It was one thing she could do that was in her control. What she couldn’t control were the threats—or the ramifications of her testimony.
“We’re stopping and Davies will be over here in a minute.” Max pulled the car into a parking lot a good ways from the courthouse. “We’ll both take you inside with the assistance of the other marshals working security. And there’s a team securing the perimeter, as well.”
She looked over at him and could almost feel the tension radiating off his body. “If it’s so secure, why are you gripping the wheel so tightly?”
He shook his head. “I think you know my opinion, Sydney. I want you as far away from here as possible.”
“It’s going to be all right.” She closed her eyes for a moment.
“Are you praying?” he asked.
“Yes.”
The air thickened in anticipation. But nothing was going to make her change her decision to testify against Diaz.
“Davies is here,” Max said.
She was a bit relieved to see her additional security pulling up in a black sedan. The rising tension between her and Max was making her nervous.
“Stay in the car for a second while I talk to him,” Max ordered.
Not waiting for her to argue, he opened the door and stepped out. But it wasn’t long before he returned and Davies slid into the backseat.
“Not to worry,” Davies told her. “We’re going to get you in and out of the courthouse today with no problem.” He smiled.
Davies was obviously feeling more confident than Max as they drove toward the courthouse.
“We’re parking around the back. There’s more security waiting there for us. They know we’re coming,” Max said.
Her heartbeat sped up when the car stopped. She saw the additional marshals all in suits awaiting their arrival. She was as safe as she could possibly be, she told herself. Just look at all the extra security.
“It’s time,” Max said.
Davies got out of the car and opened her door, ushering her out. He was on her right and Max was on her left, while the throng of marshals provided cover as they entered a back door to the courthouse.
“You’re going to be in one of the conference rooms with the two of us until they’re ready for you to testify. Additional security will be surrounding the courthouse. No one is getting in without being screened.”
She nodded as they guided her through the courthouse corridor. Max opened the door to the conference room and looked around, then he motioned her and Davies in. The room held nothing but a single table and a few chairs.
“So we’ll have to wait a few minutes, but it was better to get you in here and settled,” Max said. “Once the judge brings in the jury, then we’ll get you in the courtroom for your testimony.”
Davies spoke to the marshal outside the door and then closed it. “Sorry that things have been so hectic for you, Sydney. I’m guessing Max told you, but no one in the FBI gang unit has been able to come up with any recent connections between Ward and East River. Maybe that can bring you a small measure of comfort.”
“It does, thank you. I’d rather take my chances with East River without Rick Ward involved.” She took a seat and drummed her fingers on the table. Nothing to do now but wait. At least she was safely in the courthouse. The hardest part was over. “Where’s Elena?”
“She running point on the general courthouse security,” Davies said.
They sat in silence for a few minutes while she tried to get back into expert witness mode. After all, that was why she was there. To testify in a murder trial. To provide evidence to assist the jury in determining the guilt of Kevin Diaz—something she had no doubt about, even if Max had inadvertently questioned the reliability of her work.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a blaring alarm. “What’s that?” she asked, trying to cover her ears. The sound was almost at a deafening pitch pulsing through body.
Davies held a hand to his ear, obviously getting information from an earpiece. “It’s a bomb threat. We’ve got to move now.” He pushed his earpiece again. “We’re moving the witness. Everyone stick to code-red protocol.” Then he tapped his earpiece.
“Wait,” Max said. He stood protectively beside her. “Think about it,” he yelled over the sound of the alarm. “A bomb makes absolutely no sense. Kevin Diaz is in the courthouse. He wouldn’t want to die. This would be an act of suicide on his part.”
“We don’t have a choice, Max. This could be an unrelated threat. There is specific procedure for this. I know you’re new on the job, but as a marshal we don’t break protocol.”
“You’ve got to think outside of the box sometimes when facts dictate it,” Max said.
“In the event of a bomb threat, we evacuate the witness. Period.” Davies pulled Sydney up from the chair and walked toward the door.
Max blocked their path. “No. It’s a trap to draw her out. I can feel it.”
“We don’t operate by intuition,” Davies snapped.
The two men stood facing each other, neither wanting to back down. What was going to happen? The alarm kept sounding, and she could hear yells and screams from the corridor.
“I’m not letting you take her out of here.” Max grabbed Davies’s arm.
“You’re going to get fired for this,” Davies said, shaking free of Max’s grip. “Your career will be over.”
“Better to get fired than to get my witness killed.” He took another step toward Davies. “You’re going to have to get through me before you can take her out of here. And I don’t think you’re prepared to do that.”
“Enough,” Sydney said. “I should get a say in this.”
“That’s not how it works,” Davies replied. He tried to push Max aside and reached for the door. “She’s coming with me.”
“No,” Max said, not backing down.
Then Davies wrapped his arm around her neck, squeezing tightly. She gasped for air. What in the world was he doing? He was hurting her.
“I didn’t want to have to do this, but you’re forcing my hand.” His left arm was squeezing her neck, choking off her air supply and the other hand held his gun. “Sydney is coming with me. And you’re going to back off before something bad happens to your witness.”
Sydney tried to take a breath but her air was being cut off. She watched the recognition flash through Max’s eyes as the truth hit her squarely, too.
“You’re working for East River,” Max said.
“I’ll kill her right here if you don’t step aside now,” Davies commanded. “Handcuff yourself to the leg of the desk.”
What was Max going to do now? She prayed for God to help save her from this man.
Max moved slowly back toward the desk, his hands up in the air. “I’m doing what you say. Just don’t hurt her.”
Thankfully, she felt Davies’s grip loosen around her neck. She focused her eyes on Max. She couldn’t believe that he would let the rogue marshal take her. Did he have a plan?
Max glanced down quickly at the weapon at his side. That was all she needed to see. He was going to take a shot. She just had to be ready. She gave him the tiniest of nods.
And then Max made the move for his gun, and she flung herself quickly to the floor, hitting it hard.
The gunshot hit Davies in the shoulder. He howled and fell to the ground beside her.
Max ran to her and grabbed her up off the ground. “We’ve got to move. I don’t know how far the marshals have been compromised.”
Because of the bomb evacuation, the halls were already empty.
“Stay as close as you can to me.” He pulled her into him as they ran down the corridor toward the back door. “Whatever happens, don’t stop running. Don’t stop for anyone.”
Her mind flooded with thoughts of Davies’s stinging betrayal. As a US Marshal, he was supposed to have protected her. Instead he’d sold her out to East River.
Max pushed through the back exit of the courthouse that they had come in from and the scene was mass chaos. People running and screaming.
“Agent Preston,” a female voice rang out. It had to be Elena. But Max didn’t show any sign of stopping as he pressed forward.
“Don’t look back. Keep running,” Max told her.
Elena’s voice sounded again, but they got lost in the crowd of people running away from the courthouse. When they reached his car he ordered her to get in.
They sped away before she could even buckle up.
“We’ve got to get another car, and we’re dumping our burner cells that Elena got us.” His eyes scanned the road.
“You don’t really think she’s working with Davies, do you?” she asked.
“I hope not, but we can’t take that risk. There’s only one person I know for certain that I can trust. A former FBI colleague. I’ve got to get another burner phone and contact him. But first we’ve got to get out of here.”
She felt the car accelerate even faster as he made his way quickly to the highway. “I have a feeling this isn’t exactly standard operating procedure for the US Marshals.”
“Well, it’s not every day that one of our own is a traitor, either. East River must have something big on him. Or they’re just offering him a ton of money and he couldn’t resist.”
“He would’ve killed me.” The realization hit home and chills shot down her arms.
“Yes, or handed you over to East River for them to do it.” He paused. “But what’s important is that you’re out of there. It didn’t happen.”
“What do you think his plan was?”
“To take you out in the evacuation chaos and then hand you off or disappear with you. He didn’t count on me challenging him. That threw a wrench into everything because he needed the crowd to cover his moves.”
“But you knew something was off.”
“Bombs don’t make sense when the perpetrator would also be killed. Unless it was a suicide mission, and I know that’s not how Kevin Diaz operates. He wouldn’t die by his own hand. His ego is far too big for that.”
“I guess Davies was willing to sacrifice his job.”
“He probably thought he could do it without getting caught. Claim that he got ambushed and you got taken. Then he’d still be working on the inside. That would be the perfect plan for him and for East River.”
“But one that you foiled.”
“We foiled. He miscalculated trying to play it safe by not taking me out. He probably assumed killing me might solve one problem but just create another.” For the first time he glanced her way, and he smiled. “You were great. Kept your cool and reacted quickly to my cues.”
“I have to admit for a brief second I wondered if you were going to cuff yourself to that desk and let me walk out of there with him.”
“And what changed your mind?”
“I know we haven’t known each other long, but in that time I feel like I’ve grown to understand you. You made the calculated risk to act because if you hadn’t, you knew I’d be dead if Davies took me. Thank you for taking care of me.”
He glanced over at her again, and she felt the warmth emanating from his eyes.
This man was not only her protector. He was becoming a friend. But that was all she would ever let him be.
FIVE
Max had told Sydney there was only one person he knew he could trust. And that was Brian Jenkins, the man standing before her now in a house outside the perimeter of Atlanta. Brian had picked them up at a gas station where they’d abandoned their car.
“You can stay here as long as you need,” Brian said.
The tall, blond FBI agent stood across from her. He had a formidable presence and muscular build, but kind brown eyes. She felt especially distrustful of anyone new right now, but if Max believed in this man, then that was good enough for her.
“Thanks for letting us use this house,” Max said. “I don’t know how long we’ll be able to stay, but we needed something safe for the immediate future.”
“Can you give me the full rundown now?” Brian asked. “Let’s go sit in the kitchen. I’ll get some coffee going.”
They walked into the spacious and bright kitchen decorated in a pale yellow. Brian looked over at Sydney as he started the coffee. “I know it doesn’t look like a bachelor pad in here. My late wife decorated it.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said. She could still see the pain in his eyes.
“Thank you. It’s been three years, but after she passed away I just couldn’t live here anymore, so I got a small condo in the city. I couldn’t bear to sell the place, and I come back from time to time.” He paused. “But don’t worry. No one will look for you here.”
“I really appreciate your help.” She took a seat at the kitchen table across from Max.
“So tell me what’s going on,” Brian said as he sat down.
Max proceeded to give him a brief summary minus the Ward angle of what happened up until the encounter with Davies in the courthouse. He didn’t want to get into Ward issues at this point and thought it better to focus on the current problem with Davies.
“We’ve got a dirty US marshal. A guy named Phillip Davies that I thought was one of the good guys. I shot him. Not life threatening or anything. He tried to use a fake bomb threat to kidnap Sydney, or at least that’s my theory.
“The problem is that now I’m not sure who I can trust on the inside of the marshals. And for all we know, Diaz told them that I went rogue and kidnapped Sydney. Also, Davies claimed he was working with the FBI on various things, but now I don’t know if that was all a lie.”
Brian nodded. “I’ll try to use my sources to figure out what is going on.” He stood and poured coffee into a cup. He handed the first one to her along with the sugar bowl. “I’ve got powdered cream in the cabinet if you want some. Sorry, I don’t have fresh. I don’t keep a lot of perishables here.”
“I just take sugar,” she said.
“And I’m good with black,” Max said. “If the marshals believe Davies’s story, then we’re really in trouble. We’ll have to avoid them and the East River gang until the truth comes out. And the problem is that I fled the scene with the witness. Because he’s the seasoned marshal it would be logical for them to take his side. Not to mention the fact that I did shoot him.”
Brian leaned forward in his chair. “You’re right, though. You can’t trust the marshals. You don’t know how far the corruption has spread. And even if it is isolated, Davies will have the upper hand since he will use his injury to prove his story. And as long as they believe him, he’s still in play for East River.”
“Exactly. We’re going to need your help getting a car,” he told his friend.
“No problem. I’ll get you a rental sent over. I’ve got a relationship with one of the local dealers. He always hooks me up, no questions asked.”
“I hate to do this to you, but you can’t tell any of the other agents in the gang unit about this right now. We can’t take the risk that other agents have been compromised by East River.”
“I understand. You’ve got my word on that.”
“I guess this means I won’t be testifying any time soon,” she said softly after she sipped her coffee.
Max looked up at her. “I know you really want to, but given the circumstances that just won’t be possible. And after what happened today, the judge may even issue a continuance to get the security situation stabilized.”
“But you don’t really think Elena could be in on this,” she said. “Do you?”
“Who’s Elena?” Brian asked.
“My boss. Elena Sanchez.” He let out a breath. “With her integrity I can’t see her doing something like this. But I can’t be blind to dangerous scenarios even if they are remote. I know you like her, Sydney. In the end I hope my initial instincts—and yours—will prove to be right, but in the meantime we’re off the grid.”
“Good call,” Brian said. “The plan will be for you to stay here until you feel like you have to move. I’ve got plenty of nonperishables, but I can bring over some fresh groceries, too. And I’ll get you that rental.”
“Great,” Max said. “But I don’t think we will be here too long, and we can just make do with whatever food you have.”
“You do realize that if Davies has convinced the marshals you’re the bad guy and have kidnapped the witness, there will be an all-out manhunt for you.”
“Which is why I understand how much of a risk you’re taking by helping us.”
“You saved my life, Max. I know that you’re only trying to do what’s best to protect Sydney. I’m here for whatever you need.”
Max stood up and gave Brian a strong pat on the back. “I appreciate it, man.”
“I’m going to get going,” Brian said as he rose. “I’ll do some recon and get you that car. I’ll be back.”
Brian walked out of the house leaving the two of them sitting in silence. Sydney didn’t know what to say, but Max reached out across the table and touched her arm.
“I’ve got your back, Sydney. I don’t want you to have any doubts about that.”
“I don’t have any. Not about you.”
He stood up and walked over to her, taking her hand as she got out of the chair. “And you certainly shouldn’t have any self-doubt. You’ve been handling everything better than most people would in this position.”
Hearing him say that meant a lot to her. She’d struggled all these years to gain strength—not just on the outside but on the inside, too. She looked into his big green eyes and felt a pull toward this man. Unlike anything she felt before. Yes, he was undoubtedly handsome, but that wasn’t it. There was a growing connection between them.
