Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Four days later, Angie was at home and working on the cover for a new novel from Red Rose Books.
The publishers had received the final drafts for Kristen’s novel, and her editor, Jillian, called Angie with high praise from her employers.
They loved it and asked her to design the cover of another anticipated book from a different author.
While she worked, she talked on her cell phone with her friend Mandy, who had called her all excited about a new guy she’d met.
Angie had just finished centering the title where she wanted it when her doorbell rang a little before two in the afternoon. Figuring it was her UPS man dropping off some new work for her, she clicked the save icon on her laptop and ended her call with Mandy.
Leaving her phone next to her computer, she got up to answer the door.
Looking out the oblong side window, she frowned when she saw two men dressed in off-the-rack suits.
One man spotted her and held up a wallet-sized folder containing a badge and an ID that read “United States Drug Enforcement Administration” in gold letters.
Panic assailed her. The only reason someone from the DEA would be ringing her doorbell was if something happened to Jimmy. She punched the security code into the alarm panel and unlocked the doorknob and deadbolt before throwing open the door. “What happened? Where’s Jimmy? Is he hurt?”
The shorter of the two men, who’d shown her his ID through the window, spoke in a calm but commanding voice. “Are you Ms. Angelina Beckett? May we come in to talk to you for a minute?”
“Yes, yes, please.” She stepped back to allow them to walk into her home even though a warning bell sounded in her brain. Ignoring it, she shut the door before spinning around to face them. “Please tell me what happened.”
The two agents walked into her living room while looking around.
They seemed satisfied with what they did or did not see, and again, the shorter one spoke.
“Ms. Beckett, I’m Agent Jackson, and this is Agent Holstein with the Atlanta office of the DEA.
” The taller man with a stern face gave her a curt nod but remained mute.
“We’ve been instructed to take you into protective custody. ”
“Protective custody? Why? Who told you to do that?” The alarms in her brain were getting louder by the second.
“Agent Athos, otherwise known as Agent Austin, is worried about your safety. He thinks his cover has been blown, and as I said, he wants us to take you into protective custody and bring you to one of the DEA’s safe houses.”
The warnings were now screaming at her. “Is that all he said?”
Both agents’ eyes narrowed in confusion. The taller one seemed to be getting impatient, but it was still the shorter one who spoke. “Isn’t that enough?”
Shit! She never should have let them in the house. Now, she had to think of a way to get out of there in one piece. “Um, yes. I mean, I thought maybe there was a specific threat or something.”
Angie jumped at the sound of a loud knock at her sliding glass door and glanced over to see who it was.
Oh, thank God.
Brody stood on her patio, curiosity and a bit of concern in his eyes as he eyed the two men in her living room and then her. He motioned for her to unlock the door, and she dashed toward it as Agent Jackson spat out, “Who the hell is that?”
She saw the man reach for his holstered gun out of the corner of her eye but was relieved when he didn’t draw the weapon. Somehow, she had to warn Brody something was terribly wrong.
As she opened the slider, she responded, hoping he would catch on fast to her dilemma. “Oh, this is my boyfriend, Brody. We’ve only been dating for a few weeks. Brody, these men are from the DEA. This is Agent Jackson, and I’m sorry I forgot your name.”
The taller man spoke for the first time. “Agent Holstein, and I’m sorry, Ms. Beckett, but we must get going. The sooner we get you to the safe house, the better.”
Brody had clearly caught on because his arm went around her waist and pulled her closer to his side.
Although he acted calm and convincingly confused, she felt the tension rolling off him.
She prayed he was good at the bodyguard thing he did for a living.
When he spoke, he thickened his Texas drawl.
“DEA agents? Safe house? Darlin’, what’re these men all talkin’ about? ”
She played along, hoping they would get out of there alive.
“I’m sorry, honey. I know we had plans for this weekend, but do you remember my best friend, Jimmy, who I told you about?
” He was still eyeing the other men but nodded, so she continued.
“Well, I didn’t tell you that Jimmy is with the DEA and does undercover work for them.
They think his cover may be blown, and I might be a target, so they need to take me into protective custody. ”
“Really? Like in the movies?” Good Lord, the man could act “aw-shucks” dumb when needed. And she was positive it was an act. “Well, if y’all have to keep my baby safe… can I go with her?”
It was Jackson who answered while his partner glowered at the new arrival. “I’m afraid not, sir. I promise we’ll take good care of her for you. She’ll only be gone a few days, a week at the most, until we can ascertain she’s in no danger.”
Brody shrugged his shoulders as if this entire scenario was no big deal. “All right, if you think it’s best. Darlin’, why don’t I help you throw a few clothes in a bag, and I’ll say goodbye to you in private.”
“We don’t have time for that. Once you're safe, we can get you some clothes and anything else you need.”
Plastering on a fake pleading smile, Angie jumped at the opportunity to distance them from the two agents, if that was even who they were.
All she knew was Jimmy hadn’t sent them, nor did his handler.
“Oh, please. It’ll only take a few moments to throw a few things into my duffel bag.
I’d feel more comfortable with my own stuff.
And I really want a minute to say goodbye to Brody. We’ll be quick.”
She was halfway to her bedroom door with her boyfriend-for-the-minute in tow but stopped and grabbed her cell phone and laptop from her makeshift office desk against the wall in her dining area. “I’ll just throw these in with my clothes so I can work while you keep me safe.”
Both men appeared beyond annoyed, but Agent Jackson reluctantly nodded as she and Brody entered her bedroom.
The instant they were over the threshold, Brody grabbed her around the waist as he closed the door behind them and said loud enough to be overheard, “Com’ere, baby-doll, and give me some sugar.
I love you so much. I’m gonna miss you.”
As soon as the door was shut, he quietly locked it and dragged her toward her bedroom sliding door leading out to the lanai. She kept her voice to a whisper. “I’m sorry, Brody, but I’m in big trouble. Jimmy didn’t send them.”
He glanced back at the alarm control panel next to the door leading to the living room, making sure he wouldn’t set off the alarm when he opened the slider.
His Texas twang had faded, along with the volume of his voice, although there was still a hint of the drawl.
“I kind of already understood that, darlin’. ”
His gaze dropped to her feet, and relief came over his face when he saw she had sneakers on.
“As soon as I open the door, we’re going to run through the backyards away from my place.
I wish we could get one of my guns, but we’d have to pass by your living room.
Head for the wooded area two houses down.
From there, we’ll cut through to the next street over.
Ready?” She nodded anxiously but remained silent. “Here goes nothing.”
He silently slid the door open, and they took off across her other next-door neighbor’s yard, running as fast as they could…
well, as fast as Angie could. They were almost at the second yard when they heard the agents kick in her bedroom door, and as they neared the edge of the woods, she heard one of them yell, “Hey! Fuck!”
Brody glanced over his shoulder, but Angie kept running forward.
Thankfully, the denser foliage provided them with more coverage within a short distance.
He weaved them through the vegetation, and as they reached the clearing of another backyard, she heard someone crashing through the brush behind them, followed by more cursing.
Even though Brody moved faster than her, she urged him on. “Hurry, I hear them.”
“This way.” He tugged her arm, and she almost lost her phone and laptop she was still clutching.
They rounded the house and ran diagonally across the street past another dwelling into a backyard with a wooden four-foot fence separating it from the rear parking lot of a small strip mall.
As they approached the fence, Brody grabbed her by the waist and just about threw her over it, vaulting the barrier himself a second later.
Angie was shocked she’d landed on her feet and still had her electronics in her hands.
Thank goodness she ran three miles four times a week.
Otherwise, she would’ve passed out by now.
As it was, her panic was making it hard for her to catch her breath.
Brody clasped his hand around her upper arm and took off running again.
As they came around the side of the building, she stumbled, but his grip kept her from falling.
When they reached the sidewalk, he turned right and kept sprinting as he hauled her past stores and businesses.
She had no idea if they were still being followed and didn’t dare look.
On the other hand, he glanced back several times but didn’t slow them down.