Chapter 1 #2
“Nope. Harley needs this, and he’s family.” The door was closing. “But I’ll be interested to hear his explanation. Come down when you’re finished and I’ll give you lunch and you can tell me what Lynch is up to.” The door slammed shut behind her.
Lynch’s private line was ringing and Kendra impatiently waited for him to answer.
But he didn’t. No answer. No voicemail. It just kept ringing . . .
Which probably didn’t mean anything except that Lynch was working another case and he’d call her when he was free.
But she still didn’t like it.
True, it very likely had nothing to do with that other weirdness that had been happening to her today.
Except that weirdness had been connected to Lynch.
Farm?
Inoculate the livestock?
Think about it.
Find a key and see what door it opened.
Assume it wasn’t weird but a puzzle . . .
It wouldn’t hurt to look at all this from another viewpoint.
She hung up and then dialed Lynch again.
Still no answer.
She settled back in her chair. Okay, figure it out . . .
Find the key . . .
TWO HOURS LATER
“What’s happening? Olivia asked when Kendra finally answered the phone. “You were supposed to come down here for lunch. That conversation with Lynch couldn’t be taking that long.”
“Sorry. It really didn’t take any time at all. Because he didn’t answer. But by that time, I was working on another idea, and I forgot about you. I even still have your phone. I just got on the road and started moving.”
“It’s a good thing I had another phone at the apartment or I’d be pissed off. You have a habit of doing that a lot,” Olivia said. “May I ask where you’re moving toward?”
“I thought I should try to interpret that email and see where it takes me. If it really was from Lynch, he mentioned a farm and livestock that I’m supposed to take care of.”
“And?”
“Lynch is no farmer, and the only property that he owns in this area is that palatial safe house that the Pentagon would envy.”
“I remember he invited me to a party when you were settling those seals in the pool area when they needed a temporary home because their habitat was being threatened.” She stopped. “The seals? Those are the livestock? But you already returned them to their natural habitat.”
“Except for two that were injured and still had to be under veterinary supervision. Lynch arranged to have a doctor keep an eye on them in the back garden pond area until they healed.”
“Because he knew it would make you happy?” Olivia asked. “My, how the mighty have fallen.”
“Not fair. It was his idea.” Kendra added dismissively. “But that has nothing to do with that email. I’m just following the clues that have been presented to see where they lead.”
“Or maybe you’re being led,” Olivia said suddenly. “What if it wasn’t Lynch who sent that message? You’re alone, and it’s not as if you haven’t made a few enemies in the past. I don’t like this.”
“Easy,” Kendra said soothingly. “I’m just going to take a look around and see if I find anything interesting that might answer a few questions.
I’ll take my gun out of my glove box, and you know I can take care of myself.
Not to mention, I know the interior of that place like the back of my hand, and I could get lost in there if I chose. ”
“I still don’t like it. How close are you?”
“Another fifteen minutes.”
“And I can’t talk you out of it?”
“No, he didn’t answer his phone. It could be nothing.
But what if he wanted me to come here and I didn’t do it?
I know if it was me, he wouldn’t even question being there if I needed it.
” She paused. “Don’t worry. I’ll be safe.
” She said quietly, “It’s not as if I don’t run into this kind of thing fairly frequently.
If it was Lynch, he wouldn’t send me there if there was a threat. If it’s anyone else, I’m prepared.”
“The hell you are. You should have called one of your police or FBI buddies. Listen to me. Call me when you get inside the house.” Olivia hung up the phone.
Kendra flinched. She hated to upset Olivia.
That was probably why she’d “forgotten” to let her know when she’d decided to go to what she’d sometimes teasingly called Lynch’s lair.
But she had to block that out now and just do what was important.
She pressed on the accelerator and concentrated on getting to that blasted safe house of his . . .
“You can relax. I’m inside the house now, Olivia.
” She was pressing the combination on the lock on the front door.
“I ran into Lynch’s caretakers outside. But they only check in once a day to take care of the seals and make sure there aren’t any problems. They’re gone now, and I’ve just locked the door that Lynch assured me was more foolproof than Fort Knox. Knowing Lynch, I believe it.”
“So do I,” Olivia said. “With all his enemies, it would have to be.”
Kendra chuckled. “Now may I take my look around and then get back to the condo? I’ve missed lunch, but I think you owe me dinner.”
“You’ll get it,” Olivia said curtly. “I only have one more request. When you get back to your car, call me when you start home.”
“Done. Now let me get to work. Bye, Olivia.” She pressed the disconnect and headed toward the French doors leading to the south garden and the lake pond where the two seals were kept.
If they were the livestock Lynch had mentioned, it would be smart to check out that area first. Anyway, she had always loved coming here and watching them play; they were so joyous and rambunctious.
They’d even been given names: The male was George and the female, Matilda.
They were now healing and getting much better after their illnesses. Their vigor was almost back to where
it had been. They’d soon be ready to rejoin their herd.
She laughed as she watched them wave their fins in greeting when they saw her.
“So you’re the livestock? I don’t think so.
I can see I’m going to get very wet before this is over.
But I came prepared. I wore my bikini.” She slipped off her clothes and took a moment to appraise the concrete structure that Lynch had built for the seals.
It had a lower level that was underwater while the dual upper level had a cave-like access where the seals were protected from heat and foul weather.
Whatever Lynch had wanted her to care for would probably be hidden near here.
Which level should she try first? Oh, what the hell.
It didn’t matter. She’d be soaked regardless.
And she’d just have to trust that Lynch had protected whatever he’d hidden out here.
But when he showed up, she’d definitely have a word or two with him . . .
She stood on the rim of the concrete surround and jumped into the pond. She had the seals with her in seconds wanting to play. She gave them a few minutes and then pushed away and started to swim underwater, trying to see if the concrete wall was sheltering anything even a little interesting.
No luck. Grime and floating leaves and plants were the only things clinging to the sides of the pond.
Try the upper level, which was more like a fountain.
She avoided the seals and hoisted herself to the concrete upper level, then had to push back one of the seals who wanted more playtime.
“Sorry. Matilda. Maybe next time.” She began to crawl around the concrete barrier, searching every indentation and larger cavity that she ran across.
There were at least a dozen, and she was getting frustrated until she found what looked like a shelf balanced on the next concrete cave.
“Yes!” She began to scramble up to the shelf. It took her another ten minutes to get her hands on the shelf and then another five to get a small package wrapped in waterproof material off the shelf.
It had to be Lynch’s “inoculation,” she thought jubilantly.
He’d taken very good care to make sure that it would survive air, water, and the seals.
Now to get it out of here and back to Lynch.
She was already climbing down from the upper concrete level and jumping to the ground outside the pond.
She gathered up her clothes from the ground and ran back toward the house.
A quick shower and then she’d dress and get out of here . . .
And then what? She didn’t know. She’d see what was in the package and decide then.
No, she wouldn’t. It wasn’t her case, and the only one who could make a decision on it was Lynch.
His cases were usually top secret and she wasn’t about to interfere with them.
Lynch would surely be in contact with her soon, and she would give it only to him.
There had to be some reason why he’d played this weird game to make certain that she was the only one who knew where to find this blasted package. She had to honor his wishes.
Besides, all these shenanigans weren’t her kind of game. She’d never wanted to dedicate her life to saving humanity or fighting the bad guys to bring them down like Lynch. She was happy taking care of her special clients and helping them cope with the world around them.
She just wished he hadn’t deposited this particular responsibility on her, dammit . . .
But it had happened, and she had to adjust. So she’d be a caretaker for Lynch’s property until she could throw it back to him.
But first, she had to get back to Olivia before she got so nervous that she decided to come out here and try to rescue her.
She was fully capable of it if she didn’t approve of the way things were going at any particular time or place.
She hurriedly finished dressing and tucked the waterproof wrapped package into her handbag. She flew down the staircase to the front door, unlocked it, and threw it open.