Detect Me (17 page)

Please
, Nikki’s heart answered, and she arched up into him, sealing their lips together in an unequivocal yes.

Even though Mark had initiated it, part of Nikki worried that he would push her away like he had after their first kiss. That rejection had hurt so badly. But she was willing to risk it again - couldn’t not - because there was nothing in that moment that she wanted more than this. She pushed closer to Mark, her whole body singing with the feeling of him against her.

This time Mark didn’t let her go; didn’t back away. His arms tightened around her back. One of his hands splayed across her shoulder blades and the other slid lower to press possessively against her lower back. He angled his head, deepening the kiss, and Nikki lost herself in the soft wet heat between them.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathing raggedly, gasping for air as they came back to earth. Nikki glanced around the hallway, slightly abashed. She’d forgotten where they were. She started to move away but Mark didn’t let her go. He left one hand on her back and brought the other up to trace gentle fingertips across her cheek.

“You are the most incredible, intelligent, resourceful woman I have ever met,” Mark whispered in her ear, the heat of his breath spilling down her neck and tingling through her body.

There was nothing Nikki wanted to do more than to sink into this delicious moment and cherish the way that Mark was looking at her. But his words reminded her of what had just happened. If she wanted to be the woman Mark thought she was - the woman she wanted to be - she needed to focus.

“We… are going to talk about this later,” she said, reaching up to hold Mark’s face between her hands, stretching out the moment just a little longer. His stubble scratched lightly against her palms and she wondered what he’d neglected in order to find her. What he would have tossed aside if it was necessary. Mark’s light eyes watched her carefully and he nodded in agreement. Nikki sighed.

She dropped her hands and stepped away so as to remove herself from temptation. Mark let her go though he was still watching her like a hawk.

“Ghost is headed to the MoMA,” she said. “We need to get going, now. She’s probably there already.”

Nikki headed for the door and Mark followed hot on her heels.

“I’m up to date at least that far,” he said, holding the door even as they rushed through it. His long legs easily kept pace with hers as she all but jogged down the street. “The police are already on the way. Are you alright? We don’t need to go. Did Ghost hurt you in any way?”

Mark’s hand shot out and he grabbed her shoulder, spinning Nikki around to face him. His expression was dead serious. It was obvious that Nikki was relatively fine or she knew that she’d never have gotten this far without the interrogation, but of course, there were many ways to cause someone pain.

She smiled up at him as reassuringly as she could and laid a hand over his. Mark jumped a little at the contact but didn’t budge.

“I’m fine, honestly. She just tied me up and left me in my apartment. It wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I expected. Oh - except she did choke me. Uh, a little. But I got better.”

Mark’s face darkened. His hand went slowly to her collar, his eyes seeking permission, and he tucked it aside. When he caught sight of the bruises that marred Nikki’s skin his fingers tightened in the fabric and something frightening passed fleetingly over his expression.

Nikki swallowed. Mark loosened his fingers and stepped away. His face calmed so that he looked normal again. She wondered if maybe she had imagined it. Mark was such a polite, good-hearted gentleman that is was hard for Nikki to imagine him as anything harsher.

“She won’t do that again,” Mark told her, and the way he said it, Nikki believed it.

They resumed walking, weaving through the crowds of people unerringly toward the MoMA. All of their work with the map had given Nikki a familiarity with the city that she’d never felt until now.

“How did you get away?” Mark said, glancing over as they pushed past a group of tourists. “You said she tied you up - Ghost is usually quite thorough.”

Nikki nodded. “Yeah,” she said, rubbing absently at her wrists. Then she brightened. “But Ghost didn’t count on Charm.”

It clearly took Mark a second to follow. When he did, he looked bemused.

“Your lizard?” he asked. “Forgive me, but I’m having trouble believing that reptile slithered out of its cage and untied you.”

Nikki’s grin widened. She winked at Mark, emboldened by her daring and high on that kiss. Mark raised his eyebrows and slowly mirrored her smile.

“Yeah, Charm is still totally useless,” she said cheerfully. “But he does have a bunch of equipment that I store behind the couch.”

Darn his memory… “There’s nothing behind your couch,” Mark said after a moment. She rolled her eyes.

“Okay, fine, I shoved it under the couch. Details! The point is, I have this hook you’re supposed to use to wrangle the thing out of the cage or pull the stuff in the tank around so you can make sure it’s not dead or whatever.”

“Ahh.” The corners of Mark’s mouth quirked and he shook his head in obvious admiration. “You got over there and used the edge of the hook to cut yourself free.”

Her nod of assent was interrupted by the fact that they’d actually reached the MoMA. It seemed like the museum had snuck up on them. A chill crept over Nikki and her steps slowed, a fact that didn’t escape Mark.

“We don’t have to go. I meant what I said. The police are here already. There’s no shame in going home.
Starry Night
will be safe, thanks to you.” He stopped in front of the first step and looked at Nikki, his expression open and sincere. Nikki knew without a doubt that he would turn back now and not respect her any less for it.

But would she be able to face herself if she ran away?

Nikki shook her head and curled her hands into fists at her side, willing strength into herself.

“We can’t,” she said. Worry fizzed in her stomach, but Nikki grounded herself with the knowledge that she was doing the right thing. “It’s not about the painting anymore. It’s about… Well, it’s about you.” Mark’s face turned wary and Nikki steeled herself to keep going. “Look, if she gets away again, and we… You’ll always be looking over your shoulder. I will be too, but you…” Nikki swallowed.

“I don’t want that for you,” she said, low and earnest.

Mark was silent. Nikki reached out for something to hold onto and wrapped her hand around the nearby railing. She wondered if Mark would try to force her to turn back for her own good, or if he’d take her desire to help as pity and reject it.

After what felt like far too long, Mark cleared his throat.

“If you’re sure, then full steam ahead,” he said.

Nikki grinned helplessly and he smiled back, just a tiny thing, but enough for her.

CHAPTER TWELVE

He really hated this plan.

Mark wouldn’t have said it to Nikki for the world, but all he wanted to do right then was scoop her up in his arms and run home with her. He wanted to hide Nikki away somewhere that the world couldn’t find them and take care of her. He just wanted to be with her.

But reality was that Nikki was right. As long as Ghost was walking free they would never really be safe. Neither of them could be truly free until Ghost was safely shut behind bars.

So Mark followed Nikki up the museum steps and into the same back entrance that they’d used that first night. It still opened easily. When he gave it a sideways glance, worrying about sabotage, Nikki grinned and shook her head.

“I asked Rob to leave it open again. A little favor,” she whispered.

“We’ll have to send him a thank you card,” Mark mouthed back, thinking privately that really the MoMA deserved whatever they got if this was the security they hired.

The two of them crept down the hall. In spite of the danger Mark felt oddly at ease. Nikki was by his side and Mark was where he was supposed to be - on the trail of someone dangerous. The threat of panic fluttered uselessly at the edges of his mind, unable to gain a steady hold over him.

“Is
Starry Night
going to be in the same room as last time?” Mark asked. Nikki nodded and Mark’s mouth set in a grim line. He’d been afraid of that. The repair room was far too big and open for his taste. He really hated the idea of Nikki in that room with Ghost, vulnerable to a hundred different angles.

He held out a hand to stop Nikki and she halted obediently. Mark tilted his head and listened hard.

There was no noise of shouts or gunfire coming from the room, but that meant little. For all Mark knew, Ghost could have already hit up the museum and gotten out of Dodge. He wished he could call Julian and ask, but he couldn’t risk compromising his friend’s position.

“If Ghost hasn’t already taken the painting, we’ll hear when she arrives because the cops are waiting. Once they stop her from grabbing the painting she’s going to bolt for the door. We need to station ourselves by the most likely exit.”

“Split up?” Nikki suggested. “You take this door, and I’ll take the one that the cops burst through last time?”

Mark crooked an eyebrow at her. She smiled ruefully, clearly taking his meaning.

“Like hell I’m letting you go again,” he said.

A deep blush spilled over Nikki’s cheeks. Mark pretended not to notice. He turned to study the door, but didn’t really see it.

Maybe he shouldn’t have said that. Did he really mean it? Of course he did; even right now he wanted to grab Nikki and hold her close. He couldn’t remember ever wanting something so much, not even when he was 18 and struggling to get his feet under him, scrambling for the money to advertise in any magazine that would take his ad.

The feel of that kiss still tingled against his skin like a phantom. Having that every day, seeing Nikki’s smile… Mark had a hard time even imagining what it would be like to be that happy.

But was he capable of deserving it?

Before Mark could come to any conclusions or make any decisions, a large bang resounded from the next room and shouts and screams erupted past the metal door.

Mark swore and rushed for the door with Nikki only a second behind him. Their hands closed over the handle at the same time. Mark paused just long enough to question her with his eyes.

Nikki nodded, her face resolute. Mark wished that he could make her stay where she was. He wanted to protect her.

But that wasn’t his place. Mark nodded back and they pulled open the door together.

The restoration room was in total chaos. Nikki paused and hung back in the doorway as Mark rushed forward, taking it all in.

Ghost stood in the middle of the room with a gun in one hand and a knife in the other. A sick feeling hit Nikki when she realized that Ghost was holding the knife to the painting. The sharp edge of the knife hovered dangerously close to the canvas.

Five police officers were grouped in front of her, just yards away but frozen in place with hatred written all over their faces. Some of them had weapons drawn and some were just glaring. All of them were frozen in place by the blade wavering barely an inch away from the priceless masterpiece.

“Even more company,” Ghost said. Nikki knew firsthand how keen her ears were. But she didn’t turn her head; her gaze remained fixated on the officers that she had the gun trained on.

The sight of the light glinting off the dull chrome of the gun made Nikki’s stomach turn over. The last time she’d been in this room Ghost had thrown a knife at her without hesitation. A gun in her hands was terrifying.

Frantic motion caught her eye. Nikki looked around to see Mark waving at her, pointing between her, Ghost, and himself. Mark inched closer to the area behind the painting - behind Ghost - on silent little cat feet. He made a wide-eyed face at her and motioned again to Ghost.

Nikki got it.

Her heart quailed, but she straightened her shoulders and forced herself to come up with words, any words.

“Bet you didn’t think you’d be seeing me again,” she said, her voice echoing too loudly around the high ceilings of the room.

She saw Ghost’s body jerk with recognition, though the thief didn’t dare look away from the police officers gathered in front of her. Mark tiptoed closer to the back side of the painting.

“No, I didn’t,” Ghost said evenly. “But unless you’re here with a sniper, I don’t particularly care, either.”

Forget snipers, Nikki just wished she had a plan.

There was a loud click and for a moment Nikki wasn’t sure where it came from.

A collective inhalation of breath issued from the group of cops, and awareness hit Nikki in the gut. That was the noise of a gun being cocked, she realized. That was the sound of someone getting ready to shoot.

Mark obviously knew this better than she did, because his face went pale and taught, and he rushed forward.

A tall, dark officer stepped out in front of the others with his hands held high. He looked serious but not frightened.

“Let’s just calm down now,” he said in a low, soothing voice. It calmed Nikki a little just to hear it. “Don’t make any rash actions. You have the chance to walk away from all of this. Just put the gun down and step away from the painting.”