Chapter 3
CHAPTER
TWO HOURS LATER
KENDRA’S CONDO
Metcalf grimaced as he watched Jessie wave goodbye to both of them and roar off down the street on her motorcycle.
“That was awkward. When she rides off into the sunset like that, I always feel like I’m part of a presidential parade and should stand at attention.
I thought she’d back off when you told her she didn’t have to escort you. I’m not exactly menacing.”
No, not menacing at all, Kendra thought. Just a good-looking, intelligent FBI agent who was always likable and helpful. “Jessie grew up as an army brat, and she has an obsession about duty. She knows you’re no threat.”
He smiled dryly. “You mean, unlike Adam Lynch? Everyone takes a step back when he’s around.
How is he these days? Whatever he’s doing, Griffin has been told to make certain that we give him our cooperation.
” His lips twisted. “That can be hard to do when we don’t know what the hell the great man is up to at any given moment.
” He was suddenly frowning. “But he shouldn’t involve you.
Even Griffin wouldn’t approve of you being forced to help him with his plots and plans. ”
“He doesn’t force me.” She shrugged. “Sometimes things just happen.” She smiled. “And then I have to call on my friend to help me when the going gets rough. I’ll appreciate you putting names to the faces on those photographs. I’ll feel more comfortable if we can put them away soon.”
He nodded. “I’ll get right on it.”
“Thank you for being there for me.” She opened her front door and headed for the elevators. “I’ll see you soon.”
She got on the elevator and punched the button for Olivia’s condo.
She drew a deep breath as the doors closed.
It had been a strange, wild day and it was not over yet.
She still had to tell Olivia only enough so she wouldn’t worry, yet try to be honest as well.
Anything else would be a violation of their relationship that had withstood so many years.
She looked down at the handbag she was carrying and slowly shook her head.
There was no way to make this situation easier for Olivia.
She had to give the same honesty that they had always shown each other.
When the elevator door slid open, she hesitated for just an instant and then walked over to the door of Olivia’s condo. She heard Harley start up his usual howling uproar and said quietly, “Put Harley on the patio, Olivia. We have something to talk about.”
A moment later, Olivia threw open the door and was pulling Kendra into the foyer. “What is it? Lynch? I thought something might be wrong when Jessie phoned and said there could be a delay. Is he dead or just hurt?”
Kendra stared at her, stunned. “Neither, I hope. We just don’t know. This morning, you were the positive one. Now you’re jumping to the worst possible outcome.”
“Because that’s the life he lives.” Olivia paused. “That’s what I’ve been afraid of for you since the first time I met him. I could see it happening and you being hurt.” Her voice turned suddenly fierce. “You’ve been hurt enough. I don’t want it to happen again.”
“Well, I won’t bury my head in the sand because I’m afraid that something might happen. I’ll do what I should do and fight to keep him safe, which is what he’d do for me. Now, do you want to know what I found out today?”
“Of course I do. There’s no way I can help you otherwise. Do you think I’d let you go into this without me?” She went to the bar and poured them both a bourbon. “Sit down, have a drink, and then tell me how I can keep you from screwing this up.”
Kendra took the glass and sat down on the couch. She took a sip of bourbon. “My case. My rules. Agreed?”
“Within reason. As long as Lynch doesn’t cause any problems.”
“You mean like dying?”
“That would definitely be a problem, so you’ll have to avoid it. Now talk to me.”
And so Kendra talked to her for the next thirty minutes and then answered questions for another ten, which Olivia found totally unsatisfactory because Kendra knew so little.
“There should be some way to find out more from Griffin.” Olivia was frowning. “Can’t you do an information trade of some sort?”
“There might be if I knew anything of value,” Kendra said. “The only thing I have to trade is the package that I found in the seal fountain, which Lynch must have hidden.”
“Isn’t it time you looked inside that package? You don’t even know what you’re dealing with.”
Kendra looked at her purse. “I will. But whatever it is, I’m not turning that package over to anyone but Lynch. According to Griffin, this mission was highly important and ultra-sensitive. I can’t be sure that Lynch trusts anyone in the FBI or Justice, so I’m not taking the chance.”
“Then you’d better find him damn quick,” Olivia said curtly. “Because those guys are taking potshots at you already.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Kendra said dryly. “I doubt if he’s anywhere nearby, or he would have contacted me in person instead of going through you.”
“He has your contact info, you know. Why go through me?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. If Lynch thought my phone, text, and email communications are monitored, he might not want to reach out to me directly. I see you every day, and he knew you’d pass along any message from him.”
“But who has he been hiding from?” Olivia said.
“Your guess is as good as mine. Since the FBI was staking out his house and grounds, they probably still have no idea where he is.”
“Well, he was last seen near a jet plane at an airport in Scotland,” Olivia said. “But you said that agent who contacted him had questioned everyone in the vicinity the next day and found out zilch.”
“Considering Lynch’s contacts, that means he could be anywhere in Europe by now,” Kendra said. She wearily reached up to rub her temple. “Not too promising.”
“You’re getting tired,” Olivia said. “It’s been quite a day for you.” She got to her feet. “Come on, I’ll feed you dinner and then you’ll be ready to make a decision. I think you’re almost ready now.” She pulled her toward the dining table. “You’re just tired and worried about Lynch.”
“I’m not worried. He’ll be fine. He’s always fine.” Kendra sat down at the table and started to eat her salad. “But maybe I’m a little tired.”
“Maybe,” Olivia said. “And maybe that’s why you keep avoiding looking at your handbag where you told me you tucked away that waterproof package.”
“How do you know that?” Kendra asked. “You’re blind, dammit.”
“But I know you,” Olivia said. “I can read you like a teenager does her diary.”
“Now, that’s an insult,” Kendra said. “Though it’s perfectly natural to be curious under these conditions.”
“Then finish eating so you can show us both a way to find Lynch and stop fretting.”
“I’m not fretting.”
“Bullshit. Eat your dinner.”
“I’ll eat later.” She pushed back her chair; getting to her feet, she went back to the couch and picked up her handbag.
“You’re right, as usual, and I should see what Lynch entrusted to George and Matilda.
” She heard a distinct rude sound from Olivia.
She ignored it and opened the handbag, pulling out an envelope.
“It looks like a document of some sort.” She removed a card.
“No, it’s some kind of advertising postcard. It’s sort of . . . charming.”
“Describe it.”
“It looks like something from another century. Rosy-cheeked, big-eyed children, and there are books on shelves everywhere. It looks kind of like an outdoor library.” She turned the card over. “No, it’s a postcard. Up in the corner there’s a name: E. J. PORTER—QUEEN’S WALK BOOK MART.”
“Nothing else?”
“Not that I can tell. Not unless it’s written in invisible ink or something.
” She was frowning. “I’ve never been to Queen’s Walk.
The only time I’ve ever been to London was when I had the operation on my eyes, and I was a little busy at the time.
I rarely left St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.
I went back a few times later when Dr. Waldridge, my surgeon, asked me to come and give other doctors a look at his work, but by that time my life was zooming and I was trying to make up for all the lost years.
I always just did my duty and then took the first plane back home.
The only thing I wanted to do was get back home and keep living every moment of my life.
Remember? I called those first years after my operation the wild years. ”
She nodded. “I remember you telling me about it. I was so happy for you.”
“I know you were,” Kendra said softly. “It wasn’t right that I could get that operation and not you. I wanted so badly not to leave you behind . . . I wanted you right there beside me, just as we were all the years growing up.”
Olivia shrugged. “I’ll have my day. Until then, I’ll just find a way to be better than anyone else and constantly show you all what you should aim for.”
Kendra laughed. “Yes, you do that. But then you always did so anyway.”
“I’m glad you recognize that.” She stiffened. “So you’re going to be heading for London?”
“Looks like that’s where I’ll have to go to find Lynch.” She was trying to smile. “That might be the only reason he wanted me to go visit the seals.”
“I doubt it. If he was in trouble, he wouldn’t want to draw you into it, too. That’s not his modus operandi.”
“Unless he had a good reason. Unless it was some kind of emergency and he needed the help of someone he could trust.”
“You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you? I can’t talk you out of it?”
Kendra nodded. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“I don’t like this idea. Are you sure I can’t talk sense into you?”
Kendra shook her head. “It’s as close to sense as I can manage after all that’s gone on today. I just know I have to do it. Don’t ask me not to. It hurts me to say no to you.”