Chapter 3 #2
Olivia’s lips twisted. “And I can’t even go with you to help.
This is one time that my being blind might get in your way.
” She was trying to smile. “I hate to admit that since everyone knows my mind is far superior to that of almost everyone else in your circle. So you have to promise me that if you find something I can do, you’ll let me know and not leave me out entirely. ”
“I promise.” She got to her feet and gave Olivia a fierce hug. “I’ll give you so much to do, you won’t have time to work on any of your podcasts.”
“Good. Now go out on the patio and say goodbye to Harley. And tell him that you’re going to bring back Lynch to give him his training.”
Kendra’s laugh was a little husky. “You never give up, do you?”
“Never. You know that. Take care of yourself and make certain that you give Lynch my orders about Harley.” She was clearing her throat as she headed for the kitchen. “Enough of all this sentimental crap. You probably have things to do. I know I do. See you later, Kendra . . .”
“Later . . .” Kendra left Olivia’s condo and made her way to the elevator. Stop it. No time to get all weepy. She had to pack and find her passport and see if Metcalf had learned the identities of the bastards who had been following her.
The minute she was in her own condo, she checked the locks on the terrace door and shot the lock on the front door before she started to pack.
There had been occasions when a few undesirables had gotten into her condo, but the locks Lynch had insisted on installing after the break-ins were foolproof, and so was the alarm system that notified both her and the wristwatch that Lynch usually wore.
She’d told him that he was being overprotective, but he only grinned and changed the subject.
He was overprotective, but on days like this it was like a warm hug to realize that he was still protecting her even from thousands of miles away .
. . Or lost in some dark and dangerous shadow land that he’d never told her about.
Olivia was right, he never wanted her anywhere near the missions that he was given by Justice.
She had thought she understood and was helping him by not questioning him.
But was that true? Or was it just more comfortable for her to not have to worry about his missions?
Because at this moment her heart was beating hard and her palms were clammy and cold as she thought about what he could be facing.
Should she just hide the terror and force herself not to think about the possibility that Lynch might not come back from one of those impossible jobs they sent him on?
Stop thinking. Just do what she could.
Metcalf. Call Metcalf. She quickly dialed his number.
He picked up after three rings. “Is everything okay, Kendra?”
“Fine. I don’t mean to be a nag. But I just finished dinner with Olivia and thought I’d check in. Do you have any news for me?”
“No problem,” Metcalf said. “I’m glad you let me help. When I saw your wrecked side panel and knew what had happened, it kind of scared me. Lynch deals with some pretty vicious bastards, and he shouldn’t let you anywhere near them.”
“I’m not exactly fragile,” Kendra said. “And I manage to take pretty good care of myself, Metcalf. Right now I’m a little bit worried about Lynch. Evidently, so are Griffin and the Justice Department. What did you find out about either of those men whose picture I showed you?”
“The fair-haired guy with the crew cut is Hans Bremmer, and he has a nasty record in Amsterdam for dealing in drugs and human trafficking. He also has a history of working for Vlad Korkil, who got his start in illegal narcotics but now runs an international security firm that has half a dozen third-world dictators on its client list. They provide a wide range of services, legal and illegal, to whoever is willing to pay their price.”
“And the gray-haired man who was with Bremmer?” Kendra asked.
“We’re not sure of his connection,” Metcalf said.
“He doesn’t have a record. He’s Professor Gregor Dekker, and he appears to be a brilliant and respected professor at Netherland University in Amsterdam.
He’s a physiological chemist. His specialty is pain management.
Our agents have photographed him a number of times with Vlad Korkil.
At the moment I guess he’s what we term a person of interest.”
“How very curious,” Kendra said sarcastically. “And how convenient that a drug kingpin would make a dear friend of a brilliant professor whom I’m sure would have access to the many ways those drugs could be created and used.”
“Anything is possible,” Metcalf said. “All I can tell you is no record. And he’s a person of interest. The car was rented from a dealer in town, but the ID info given was false, of course.
I’ll keep probing and see what I come up with.
” He paused. “But I did have to give Griffin the result of my investigation.”
“Of course you did. This is your career. I’m grateful that you also agreed to help me.”
“I’m just worried what you intend to do with it.” He was clearly troubled. “I realize that Griffin isn’t one of your favorite people. But he’s good at his job and I hope you think I am, too. All you have to do is call.”
“And that’s what I did. Thanks for all your effort. Good night, Metcalf.” She cut the connection and gazed down at her notes.
Drugs and crime kingpins and ugly thugs who thought nothing of shooting at her on a public highway. It might have just been to intimidate her, as Jessie had thought, but one of those bullets had come very close . . .
Just what are you up to, Lynch? I’d better try to keep them from getting any closer to you. But how the hell am I supposed to do that if I don’t know where you are?
Which meant getting the hell away from here very fast before anyone tried to stop her.
Ten minutes later she had finished packing, grabbed her documents, and headed down to the parking garage.
But instead of taking her car to the airport, she went out the street exit from the garage level, checked her surroundings for anyone suspicious, and then took off down an alley that would lead her three blocks away from the condo.
There she could board the 992 bus that would get her to the airport in less than fifteen minutes.
She boarded the bus a few minutes later, paid the fare, and settled back in her seat.
First step taken.
No hits. No runs. But no errors, either.
She took out her phone and navigated to the American Airlines app.
TWO HOURS LATER
SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The steward was closing the jetway door, and Kendra unconsciously relaxed as she fastened her seat belt and leaned back in her coach seat.
She’d been afraid up to the very last minute that she’d see one of those creeps from earlier today come barreling onto the plane.
But it hadn’t happened, and now she only had to find a way to change planes and get to London once she reached Seattle.
Yes, even now, the flight attendants were hurrying through the cabin and preparing to take off.
“Excuse me, would you mind if I sit next to you? That nice stewardess is prepared to knock me down if I don’t get out of the aisle.”
Kendra’s gaze flew to the smiling woman standing in the aisle beside her seat. Her eyes widened. “Jessie? Oh, shit!” That last word was said with profound disgust. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’ll take that for a yes.” Jessie squeezed down into the aisle seat beside Kendra. “Though not a very welcoming one.”
“Because you’re not supposed to be here.
You weren’t invited.” She sighed. “It had to be Olivia. She was probably on the phone to you the minute I walked out of her condo. But I’m not sure how you found me here.
I was deliberately vague about any plans to her.
I knew she was upset that she couldn’t come herself. ”