Last Chance (3 page)

Shea and Ethan. All three had regaled him with accounts of her bravery.

Problem was, she'd disappeared as soon as the rescue was complete.

The second time she had assisted was in Paris. Based upon the

description he'd been given, Noah had known this was the mysterious

rescuer he'd been told about. He had cornered her before she could

disappear. She hadn't liked being trapped. Had been almost feral in her fear.

They'd talked--or at least as much as he could get her to talk. That's when

he'd learned her name, McKenna. He'd also learned enough to know that not

only was she incredibly brave and surprisingly skilled, she was also the most

alone person he'd ever met. And he'd met a lot of alone people since starting

LCR.

Though McKenna had never officially become an LCR operative,

most of his people thought she was. Noah gave her that support and allowed

her the anonymity for one very important reason: McKenna needed to feel

that she was part of this organization, whether she realized the fact or not.

Even though she turned him down every time he asked her to become an

operative, he had high hopes that someday she would change her mind.

When LCR operative Gabe Maddox's wife, Skylar, had been

abducted, McKenna had contacted Noah with the offer to assist. It was

during that operation that she learned that Lucas Kane had been abducted by

the same man. McKenna had assisted in Skylar's rescue and then stayed

back to rescue Kane, too.

No one knew where McKenna came from or even where she lived.

Though Noah was more than aware that he could do his own investigation,

he continued to refrain from it. At some point he might have to. For right

now, he wanted to allow McKenna the anonymity she obviously needed.

Samara had gotten to know her better than anyone at LCR. One of the

many reasons he wanted his wife to meet Lucas Kane. The man had not

stopped looking for McKenna from the moment he arrived home after his

rescue. Noah wasn't about to give up any secrets on McKenna, but he

wanted Mara's opinion on Kane. He trusted his wife's judgment over

anyone's.

18

Christy Reece

"So McKenna has no idea he's looking for her?"

"She knows he's looking. As you know, she's got good instincts about

that." He and Samara both believed McKenna was hiding from someone.

But until she was ready to ask for their help, all they could do was wait until

she chose to trust them. "I just don't think she knows how determined Kane

is to find her."

"Why do you think he is so determined?"

Noah shrugged. "Could be as simple as he wants to thank her;

somehow I think it's more. With his contacting LCR, he either suspects we

have an association with McKenna or he's desperate and wants us to do

something we don't do as a rule. He knows we only search for people who

are endangered in some way.... I'm interested in your observations. What

you think he's looking for."

The buzzer sounded, alerting them that Kane was on his way. When

he'd called Noah, requesting LCR's assistance, the man had given the

vaguest of descriptions and reasons why he was searching for the young

woman. When pressed for more information, Kane had insisted on a face-toface meeting. Since Noah was more than aware that Kane didn't have

additional information to give him, he'd agreed without much argument.

Discovering why Kane wanted to find McKenna was Noah's primary

concern.

That he was being allowed to come to LCR headquarters was almost

unprecedented. Only LCR operatives, or those Noah knew he could trust,

were aware of this location. But Noah had an instinct for people. He'd met

Kane years ago at a social event and had never forgotten that meeting. There

was more to Lucas Kane than the man allowed most people to see.

Noah didn't worry that Kane knew where LCR headquarters was.

What did concern him was his unusual fixation on McKenna. He wasn't

known to be obsessive...so why this time?

McKenna had given Noah the barest of facts on her rescue of Kane,

just that all three men holding him were killed. She'd reported that Kane was

shot, but only slightly wounded, and she'd left as soon as Dylan Savage,

another LCR operative, had picked him up. She also indicated that Kane had

assisted in his own rescue.

Noah hadn't pressed McKenna for more details. If she were officially

with LCR, he would have. However, with McKenna he treaded softly. Yes,

he wanted to hire her as a full-time operative when she was ready, but that

wasn't the biggest reason. He greatly feared that if he pressed she would just

up and disappear. The young woman needed LCR even if she wasn't aware

of it.

19

Christy Reece

After the rescue, Dylan had dropped Kane at a local hospital before he

regained consciousness. The story had been that Kane had been in Brazil on

business and had been jumped by some thugs. Having no publicity was

better for LCR and, for that matter, Lucas Kane.

If one ignored nuances and went only on words, McKenna's rescue of

Kane had taken less than an hour. Noah sensed there was more. Something

had happened in that time frame that had her even more skittish than usual.

Even more reason to want to meet with the man.

At a knock on the door, Noah went around the desk and stood by

Samara.

The instant Lucas entered Noah McCall's office, he knew he'd get

little or no cooperation from the head of Last Chance Rescue. And the petite,

dark-haired woman at his side looked just as reticent.

Didn't mean he wouldn't try to persuade them otherwise. Lucas held

out his hand. "Thank you for seeing me, Noah. It's been a few years."

As Noah shook his hand and introduced him to his wife, Lucas felt

Samara McCall's eyes assessing him. He was being given some kind of test,

and apparently the lovely Mrs. McCall would be issuing the final verdict.

Interesting
.

He settled onto the overstuffed chair McCall indicated, and waited. As

expected, Noah led the interrogation, while his wife observed.

Seated across from him, McCall leaned forward. "You said you were

looking for a young woman?"

"You may have heard that I had a bit of trouble in Brazil a few months

back."

McCall's expression didn't change as he nodded.

"Truth is...I was in Peru on business, abducted from my hotel room

there, and ended up in Brazil. With help from the authorities, I kept it

quiet...conducted my own investigation. The people who assisted in the

abduction were caught. However, there was a young woman there. She

rescued me, but disappeared before I could thank her."

"This young woman...what was her name?"

Frustration and admiration dueled within Lucas. Going on nothing but

instinct, he was almost certain his ghost had some sort of association with

LCR. McCall was apparently going to pretend otherwise.

"She gave no name...other than Ghost."

McCall's mouth quirked slightly. "Ghost?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, I lost consciousness before I could inquire

further. When I woke in the hospital, she was nowhere to be found. I was

told a man brought me there, leaving no information other than my name."

20

Christy Reece

"I'm surprised you came to us. You know we only search for those

who have been abducted or are missing."

"I'd like for you to make an exception in my case."

"And why would I do that?"

"I think she may be in trouble."

McCall's expression didn't change, but his wife's shoulders stiffened,

confirming Lucas's suspicions. They did indeed know her.

"What sort of trouble?" McCall asked.

Lucas shrugged. Even as much as he wanted to find her, he felt an odd

loyalty to his ghost. Describing the expression in her eyes...how do you

describe a look that on one hand had the innocence of a fawn but at the same

time revealed a stark hell?

His innocence was long gone; he had a familiarity with hell. That look

was something he'd seen in his own eyes from time to time. Along with

hollowness, emptiness. Extreme sadness. He would mention none of these.

Odd, really, but he felt as if a secret had been shared between them. He was

loath to break their silent bond. Those naked moments with his ghost would

remain theirs alone.

Aware that McCall was waiting for an answer, Lucas shrugged. "She

looked as though she needed a friend. I'd like to be able to help her in

whatever she needs."

"I'm sure you've hired your own investigators to find her. Why come

to us?" McCall asked.

"For one, LCR is the best at finding people. My investigators have

come up dry."

"And the other reason?"

"I thought perhaps she was affiliated with your organization."

"Why would you think that?"

Lucas shrugged. "She rescued me."

McCall frowned. "We are hired to rescue. We rarely become involved

unless asked."

While Lucas knew that was true, he also knew that LCR would and

had rescued when they saw a need, whether they would be paid for it or not.

"How did your rescue go down?"

This was the first time Samara McCall had asked anything. Her

question surprised him. He had figured Noah would be the more direct

interrogator. So far, McCall had been subtle; Samara McCall cut to the

chase. Did her question hold a secret agenda?

Nevertheless, he described how he'd been abducted from his hotel

room while he was on business. He glossed over the disgusting details of his

21

Christy Reece

sickness and the infuriating information about the beatings he'd endured

while he'd been ill. He explained his first meeting with the young woman

who had rescued him, along with her apparent association with Victor.

"Could this woman have not just decided that she'd had enough of

Victor and turned on him?" McCall asked.

That's exactly what he'd told himself many times since then. She was

just one of Victor's people who'd decided to betray him and Lucas happened

to benefit from that. None of that rang true. She'd let him go instead, saved

his life. Seemed genuinely concerned for his welfare. And she'd asked for

nothing in return.

Lucas lifted his shoulder in a casual shrug. "It's possible. However, I'd

like the opportunity to talk with her, ask her myself."

McCall shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I don't think LCR can help

you."

With a nod, Lucas stood. Noah McCall wasn't known for changing his

mind once a decision had been made. Lucas saw no point in trying to

persuade him. However, he'd gotten at least a piece of the answer he'd been

searching for. This woman did indeed have some sort of connection with

Last Chance Rescue. Unfortunately, that was apparently the only thing he

was going to get.

Holding out his hand, he shook Noah's hand and then Samara's. As he

walked to the door, Samara McCall's soft voice stopped him. "Mr. Kane, if

you don't mind my asking...if you were given a chance to see this young

woman again, what would you say to her?"

He turned and gave her the truth, hoping that it would get to his ghost.

"I would thank her and tell her that if at any time she ever needs my help in

any way or for any reason, I would be there for her."

With a slight smile, she said, "Very nice to meet you, Mr. Kane. Have

a good trip home."

Lucas nodded again and walked out the door.

Noah waited several seconds until he was sure Kane had gotten on the

elevator, then turned to Samara. "So what do you think?"

"I think he'll keep looking until he finds her."

"Did you also get the impression he knew we weren't exactly

truthful?"

She scrunched her nose. "My fault. He surprised me when he said the

words that you and I both feel about McKenna. That she needs help in some

way."

"Don't worry about that. His knowing she has some kind of

association with LCR won't get him any more information than he had

22

Christy Reece

before."

"Something else is bothering you, though. What?" Samara asked.

"I just think it's interesting that Kane picked up on McKenna's

vulnerability. When she's on an op, she's excellent at hiding her true self.

Which makes me even more curious about what really happened during the

rescue. When she gave me the details, I sensed she was disturbed about

something."

Samara nodded. "I talked to her a couple of weeks after it happened.

She glossed over the entire event, but I got the feeling she has a distinct

admiration for Lucas Kane."

"He's done some admirable things since he took over his family's

dynasty. Did you get a feel for why he's so intent on finding her?"

A smile curved his wife's mouth, and Noah couldn't resist the

opportunity to feel it under his. After several breathless moments, he pulled

from the kiss and said, "Sorry, got distracted...you were saying?"

Her smile now even bigger, she said, "I think in the short amount of

time that Lucas and McKenna spent together, they both felt a strong

attraction for each other."

"You may be right." He picked up the phone. "Now let's see if