Chapter 26
SHAWN
The brewery had endured heavy Allied bombing during the war, and now this.
The fire hadn’t spread, thanks to the updated sprinkler system my mother had the foresight to install.
I’d been told retrofitting the old brewery with modern technology had been difficult and costly, and tonight it had saved the jewel of Osterh?gen’s headquarters.
I couldn’t stand still, couldn’t stay here. The fire chief was giving a report on the damage, but my mind refused to retain the information for more than a few fleeting seconds. I knew I should remain calm and composed as the commander of my company. People would be looking to me for leadership.
Schei?e, how was I supposed to do that? Every hour that ticked by was worse than the last.
Black sludge flowed like a sick fountain from the windows down the east side of the building where they believed the blast had originated. Media had arrived, not far behind the authorities. Everyone assumed this was a terrorist attack.
No. There was no political motive here.
Jason called it a “smash and grab” job on a much larger scale.
Kara.
“Mr. Dunn?” It came from the man approaching. The dark figure was extremely tall, at least five centimeters taller than I was. Intense, furious eyes set above a determined look. “Where’s the marshal?”
The guy’s German was good, barely an accent, but it was there. American. Since he was referring to my brother that way . . . it could only be one person.
“You’re Ethan?” The worry for Kara had my emotions too jumbled to process how I should feel about the man before me. I switched to English. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to help, in any way I can. Whatever resources you or your brother need, you’ve got them.”
Earlier, Jason had gone off with the police, but he appeared now through the crowd of people. He charged toward us, a dark look on his face and his gaze locked on the tall man beside me. His right hand tensed into a fist.
I’d seen it before and knew what was coming.
But Ethan must have sensed it, too. He leaned back from the powerful right hook that would have laid him out if it had landed, leaving my brother swinging into the air.
And with the follow-through, it exposed Jason’s back to the CIA operative.
Powerful arms hooked him, one around his chest and the other around his neck, immobilizing him instantly.
It happened so quickly it was stunning.
“Get your fucking hands off of him,” I ordered.
“Okay,” Ethan said to Jason, who struggled against his confinement. “I understand why you wanted to do that, but don’t.” He released him with a slight shove, his guarded eyes watching for another attempt. “As I was saying, I’m here to help.”
“This is your fault.” Jason’s voice was thick with anger.
The tall and dangerous-looking American man’s face didn’t change. “I know.”
“You can lay blame later,” I said, because we didn’t have time for this bullshit. “How can you help us?”
“We’re going to Ettringen,” Ethan said.
“What’s in Ettringen?” we asked at the same time.
“Two bodies, one of them fitting the description of the triggerman. The car has a matching plate to the security footage.”
I couldn’t breathe. “The other body?”
“Another man. Not Juric.” Ethan combed a hand through his dark hair. “You coming?”
“Yeah,” Jason replied, not even glancing at me. “We are.”
Because my brother already knew this was what I wanted and it was pointless to argue against it.
There was a collection of police and BKA, the German equivalent of the United States’ FBI, wanting more information who stopped us when we tried to leave, but we’d already given our statements.
“These are US citizens,” Ethan said. “I’m taking them to the Embassy so they can speak with their government.”
It was a lie on so many levels, but I kept my mouth shut, and thankfully it worked. I was seated in the back of Jason’s BMW a few minutes later, my long legs turned sideways so my knees weren’t up against the driver’s seat. There was no time to argue, I kept reminding myself.
The car drove fast, barreling down the A96. I wasn’t going to say a damn thing about the speed. We couldn’t get there fast enough.
“What the fuck happened?” Jason said. “How did this happen?”
“The decision was made, over my head,” Ethan replied, “that Juric was more valuable as an informant. They thought they could turn him, and when that failed, they tried to contain him.”
Jason swerved around a slow-moving car. Anger was heavy and thick in his voice. “And when that failed?”
“Several good people went dark, and he vanished.” Ethan had his phone out, scrolling through a map.
“When my handler received confirmation the AISE had him in custody, I was sent to collect Juric. Only it wasn’t him.
He’d been planning the bombing ever since his escape, and this patsy was a way to make sure you’d feel comfortable out in the open. He wanted you and Laurel there.”
“You knew he was planning the bombing?” My hands clenched into aching fists.
I was going to strike and empty my rage at this man. Kara never would have had the chance to volunteer to take L’s place if Ethan had stopped the bombing. The injury to my staff, the destruction of my brewery—
“I didn’t mean it like that. I didn’t know this was Juric until I heard about the bombing.
There was chatter about C-4 and stolen Osterh?gen trucks yesterday, so I’m assuming now.
I had no way of knowing those were connected.
” Ethan’s gaze lifted from his phone so he could glance at both of us.
“I’m not authorized to tell you this, but if there’s a chance it will help, I’m going to. ”
When we arrived at the scene, it was already corded off with yellow tape, and an ambulance was parked nearby.
The weathered barn’s doors were open on both sides, and floodlights streamed out through them.
A step led into the front, and several officers were examining the set of tire tracks in the mud leading out the back.
Ethan turned in his seat, facing me.
“Someone may recognize you. I’ll be able to talk my way in and maybe the marshal, too, but you’ll need to stay in the car.”
No, that was unacceptable. I threw my door open when Jason’s voice cut into me. “She’s not in there, Shawn. Don’t slow us down while we’re trying to find her.”
“I’m supposed to sit here and do nothing.” I’d never sounded more bitter in my life.
“Yeah.” He’d been there, so his words were raw. “I know it’s hard, believe me.”
I watched my brother go with Ethan, and after a short conversation, the men ducked under the tape and disappeared into the barn.
It got hot and uncomfortable in the car, and I shed my jacket and tie. I needed to be in that barn, knowing what they knew so I could start organizing a plan.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
I was going to snap. The chime on my phone of an incoming email distracted me. I didn’t recognize the email address, but clicked it open anyway.
No. I exhaled loudly then flung open the door and sprinted toward the barn. Fuck the men trying to stop me. I would get to Jason if it killed me. The commotion outside drew both my brother and Ethan from inside.
One look at me tangled in the officers’ arms, shouting to get off me, and my brother came running. I hurled the phone at him, wanting to hurl the image away just as easily. It struck him in the chest with a thud and my phone fell to the grass, where he hurried to retrieve it.
He’d never been one to wear emotion, unless it was anger. That was what Jason was good at. But now, as his gaze studied the screen, there was a look of familiar horror darkening his expression.
The image was of Kara sitting upright on a bed, a bruise blooming across her cheek and a startled expression in her eyes. She wasn’t wearing anything but a tiny bra and a sheet around her waist. The subject of the email pounded in my brain like a war drum beating relentlessly.
Mine.