Chapter 5
IVY
“Witness protection,” I whisper. My voice is so low, I barely hear it, so I wonder if the others were able to.
My stomach rolls and sweat breaks out across my forehead. “I think I’m going to be sick,” I say an instant before I jump up from my chair and rush to the bathroom, without waiting for permission from anyone.
The bright fluorescent lights hurt my eyes as I hurry over to the sink and lean over it.
I dry heave a couple of times, but thankfully don’t throw up.
What the hell am I going to do? No one can force me to testify or to go into witness protection, but what are my alternatives?
From what Agent Thomas said, the guy I saw shoot that man in cold blood is a very dangerous man.
But to leave my family and friends? Not that I have much of either, but still.
From what I’ve seen on TV, and granted, that doesn’t mean it’s the gospel truth, but once you’re in the program, you can never go home.
Never see anyone from your old life. I will have to change my name, move to some unknown place, and start all over. Alone.
A shiver runs down my spine. Turning on the sink faucet, I cup my hands together and fill them with water, then bring it to my mouth and drink. My mouth feels so dry, it’s like I caught an entire dust storm inside it.
Straightening, I grab a couple of paper towels and dry my hands and mouth, my gaze caught in the mirror, and my horrified expression.
My blue eyes are wide, my pale skin even paler than usual.
Tonight had been a good hair day, but I can’t tell from the mess it is now.
Blonde strands stick up all over my head, a few damp from drinking water stuck to my cheeks.
There’s no color in my face, and even my lips seem bleached of color.
My gaze travels down and I notice my cell phone tucked into the waistband of my skirt. My pulse quickens and I yank it free and stare at it. This may be my only opportunity to talk to my friends and family, to let them know that whatever they hear, I’m okay.
I glance quickly at the bathroom door, then call Mom.
We don’t have the best of relationships, but I don’t like the idea of her never knowing what happened to me.
The phone rings three times then goes to voicemail, but her mailbox is full, so I can’t leave a message.
Sighing, I try to send her a text message, but it doesn’t go through.
Next, I call Frank. He answers on the second ring, which is pretty amazing considering how late it is.
“Ivy?” His voice is rough and breathless, proof I woke him. “It’s late. What’s wrong?”
I open my mouth to talk but a sob bursts out instead. Tears track down my face and I’m breathing so fast, I start to get dizzy.
“What the hell? Ivy, you’re scaring me.” Frank’s voice loses its gruffness and shakes with fear. “Where are you? I’ll come get you.”
“You can’t,” I finally manage to get out. Taking a deep breath, I try to get my emotions under control. “I-I… oh, Frank, something happened tonight, but I can’t tell you what. Not yet, at least.”
“Did someone hurt you?” he interrupts. “Was it your stalker?”
I blink, confused, then shake my head even though he can’t see me. “No, no one hurt me. But it’s bad, Frank. I’m not even supposed to be talking to you—or anyone.”
“Ivy—”
“I don’t have much time. I just wanted to call you and tell you that no matter what you may hear, I’m fine. I’m safe. But I won’t be able to see you for a while.”
Forever.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he says, his voice high with fear. “Is this about spending Christmas at the cabin? We don’t have to, you know. We can—”
“No, no, it has nothing to do with that,” I hurry to tell him. My heart clenches with sorrow that I’m hurting him. That I can’t explain. But I know, again from watching TV and movies, that to tell him anything could put him in danger.
A knock sounds at the bathroom door and I spin around to look at it.
“Miss Andreev? Are you okay?” a female voice calls out.
“I gotta go,” I whisper urgently into the phone. I don’t wait for Frank to respond and quickly disconnect the call and tuck the phone back into my skirt.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I call out.
“Can I get you anything?” the female asks.
Instead of answering, I open the door and paste on a wobbly smile. “No, but thank you.”
The female cop looks at me with a frown, her gaze traveling from my head to my toes, before she finally nods. “Okay, if you’re sure. Let’s get you back to the FBI. They are anxious to get you somewhere safe.”
“A police station isn’t safe?” I ask. I try for light and funny, but it comes out a bit sarcastic.
The officer doesn’t answer, and we walk quietly back to the desk where the FBI agents are waiting.
But we don’t stop there. She leads me across the area to a small room, and the agents soon join me.
For the next hour or so, Agent Thomas explains the program…
and that I will need to start immediately.
First, they’ll keep me in safe houses until I testify.
During that time, they’ll set up a new life for me.
I will begin that new life as soon as I’m done in court.
The whole time we’re talking, my phone vibrates against my waist, and I know it has to be Frank trying to reach me.
“Isn’t anyone even going to ask me if I want this?” I demand quietly.
Agent Thomas raises his eyebrows. “I’m sorry, Miss Andreev.
I thought you realized the seriousness of this, the danger you’re in.
” He pauses, studying me with a serious yet oddly understanding look.
“I’m not trying to frighten you even more than you already are, but your life is on the line.
These guys, these Russian Mafia, are not someone you want following you, or worse, getting a hold of you.
We can put a protective detail on you, but only until you testify. Then you’re on your own.”
He leans forward in his chair across the table from me and pins me with his eyes. “The only way we can protect you is to put you in the program.”
I know it’s the truth even though I don’t want it to be true. “How much time do I have to decide?” I ask.
Agent Thomas looks at his watch. “About five minutes. We’ve been here too long as it is. The longer we stay here, the more likely Antonov will have his men waiting to ambush us.”
I actually feel my face drain of whatever little color it had. Bile rushes up my throat, and I have to swallow hard several times to keep from vomiting. A loud noise fills my ears and I realize it’s my rapid breathing.
“Take it easy,” Agent Thomas says calmly. “You’re going to be just fine. We just really want to get you somewhere safe. The sooner, the better.”
I nod. It’s the only thing I can do. Trying to talk seems like an impossible task right now.
My phone vibrates again, and Agent Thomas looks pointedly at it. “I’m sorry, but we’ll need to take that.”
I shake my head. I don’t want to get rid of the only tie I have left to my soon-to-be old life. He’s patient, though, and just sits there with his hand held out.
Reluctantly, I retrieve my phone, but don’t hand it to him right away.
Ten missed calls from Frank and another seven text messages.
I want to listen and read my messages, respond to them, but I know the agents will never allow it.
Very slowly, I hand my phone over to Agent Thomas, my stomach churning as I do so.
The next several minutes pass by in a blur as we get into a car and they take me to my temporary new home, where I will stay locked in and guarded until after I give my testimony.
Everything feels so surreal, like this is happening to someone else and I’m on the sidelines watching.
Just a few hours ago, my biggest worry was how not to go with Frank to the cabin for Christmas.
Now my entire life is changing faster than I can catch my breath.
The car slows as we reach a long gravel driveway and turn onto it.
The sound of the wheels crunching over the gravel is loud in the quiet car.
I haven’t been paying attention to where we’re going, so I have no idea where we are.
Nothing looks familiar to me, but then it’s dark outside with only a little moonlight to see.
After a couple of minutes, we reach a small house tucked back and surrounded by shrubs and a couple of tall trees.
Maybe it’s just my situation and the fear and disbelief I’m feeling, but the house looks foreboding and eerie to me.
All I can really see is the outline of the building since we’re driving alongside the house instead of straight at it.
If we were driving toward it, the headlights would have given me a view.
I can’t tell what color it is or even if there are any curtains on the windows. Not that any of that really matters.
Agent Thomas puts the car in park and turns the engine off. The other two agents with us get out of the car and go ahead toward the house.
“They’re just going to check everything out and then we can go inside,” he says, and I nod.
I don’t know how much time passed, but it seemed like the other agents just stepped out of the car and were back before I could blink.
One of them opens the back door of the car for me and I step out.
The air is cool, but I don’t know if I’m shivering from it or from everything that’s happened. Probably a little of both.
I don’t even bother looking around the house when we step inside and light floods the area. I turn to Agent Thomas. “Where will I be sleeping? I want to lie down.”
He points at a small hallway. “Second door on the right. I and Agent Gentry will be here with you tonight, so try to get some sleep. You’re safe.”
Nodding, which seems to be the only thing I’m capable of at the moment, I go to my designated room. It’s small but serviceable with a bed, closet, small desk, and dresser. I drop down on the bed and close my eyes.
I don’t even have a change of clothes.
How can this be my life now? How did this even happen?
I must have dozed off because when I open my eyes, the moonlight coming through the small window is at a different angle. Sighing, I get up and walk over to the window. A set of dingy white blinds covers it, and a flowery curtain over that.
The house must have been sitting unoccupied for a while because it smells a bit musty. Pulling the curtain to the side, I reach between the blind slats and unlock the window. The cool night air feels good as it seeps in between the blinds, plus it will help get some of the stale air out.
The moonlight isn’t bright, but it gives me a little light to see that we’re off the main road without any nearby houses. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, but I have to trust that the FBI knows what they’re doing.
Off to the side is the car we came in… a dark sedan that resembles every law and crime show I’ve ever seen. But what is that? My eyes narrow as I try to make out another shape, one that looks suspiciously like another car.
Did someone else come out here to relieve the agents? My heart kicks up beneath my breasts as a chill slides down my side. What if it’s him, the murderer? What if he’s followed us?
I shake my head and go back to the bed. My nerves are stretched too tightly, and my fear is trying to take hold. No one is outside waiting to murder me. I’m safe here with the agents, and I need to relax and try to get to sleep. Who knows what’s in store for me tomorrow.
Just as I pull back the blankets and crawl into bed, something on the small nightstand captures my attention. I stare at it for a stunned moment, then slowly reach out to grab it.
Another carved wooden figurine, this time what looks like a cat. First, the bear at the club, and now this?