Love Inspired Suspense September 2015 #2 (51 page)

“I know there's a risk. But I assume that there would be some type of surveillance on me the entire time. Law enforcement would then capture Rick before anything really happens.”

“And what if something goes wrong with the surveillance team? What if you're separated somehow? Then no one will know where you are and you'd be good as dead.”

She offered up her best idea. “What if I wore a tracker?”

“You watch too much TV, Syd. If Ward has any sense, the first thing he'd do is search you and all your belongings.”

“What if we put it under my skin?”

“Are you crazy?”

“No, I'm serious. I've seen that done on TV shows, but it can be done in real life, too. Right? There's no way Rick would think I'd do something like that.”

“You're right. I think I do need to lie down. I'm not feeling that well.”

“You're just trying to avoid confrontation over this.”

“I don't want to argue right now, Syd. Let's get some rest and talk about it with Tom in the morning.”

She didn't want to relent, but she did, anyway. Mainly because he was injured. And the fact that he was fighting back so hard let her know she was on to something.

* * *

Max awoke to voices. He jumped out of the bed and groaned at the pain that shot down his left arm. It was then he realized that the voices belonged to Tom and Sydney.

He took a deep breath to compose himself and walked down the stairs. They were seated at the kitchen table deep in conversation and drinking coffee.

“Good morning,” she said. “How're you feeling?”

“Sore, but I'll make it. You should've woken me up when Tom arrived.”

“I haven't been here that long,” Tom said. “Sydney was just catching me up on the conversation the two of you had last night.”

“Yeah, about that,” Max began. “I think I was a bit too foggy from the pain medication to even consider it.”

“I think she's got a good idea.” Tom took a sip of coffee.

Max couldn't believe he'd heard that. “It's far too dangerous.”

But Tom defended his position. “She's right, you know. We can implant a tracker just under her skin. Won't be any big deal and that way there's no way we can lose her.”

Max shook his head. “No, the only way we're certain we won't lose her is if we don't allow her to be taken in the first place.” He ran a hand through his hair. “This is far too risky to put her out there like this.”

“I've thought about it,” Tom said. “All we need to do is to be able to catch him. We have Sydney's testimony from the assault against her the other night. That's enough for an assault charge. And hopefully Brian will regain his memory soon, as well.”

“So your plan would just have Sydney be used to lure him out but catch him before he takes her.”

“Exactly.”

“Then why does she need the tracker?”

“Just in case anything goes wrong. It's purely an insurance policy—an extra layer of precaution. The plan would be to apprehend Ward and anyone else with him when he makes the move on Sydney. We'll have a team in range.”

“But the team can't be so close as to tip off Ward.”

Tom laughed. “This isn't my first rodeo, Max.”

“Any ideas on what would be the best type of location?” Sydney asked.

“We would need to think about that.” Tom replied.

Max paced around the kitchen for a minute. He knew when he was beat. But if he was going to participate, it had to be run his way. That was the only way to protect Sydney.

“This can't be a one-time operation. Ward will know something is going on if we just send Sydney out by herself. We need to ease into it. The Marshal presence is already gone except for me. The FBI presence needs to go away, too. Then it will just be Sydney and me. We have to make them believe that we're all going back to our normal lives. Rick will just assume Sydney and I have developed a relationship and that's why I'm around. Then after that is set up, Sydney can start going places by herself. But we will need to have an operation plan for each outing. Eventually he'll pounce.”

“This will take some planning,” Tom said. “And a bit of resources.”

“Do you have a better idea?” Max asked him.

“Not really, but I'll keep thinking.”

“It's not like you'll need a lot of people,” Sydney said.

“No, not many, but it's a commitment over time. At least a few days,” Max said. “But if we want this to work, and for you to be safe, then we need to do it right. And that means having the appropriate FBI surveillance and backup team in place.”

“I'll authorize the resources, but if we don't have anything after three days, then we'll need to reassess.”

“I need you to handpick the agents, Tom. They have to be people you can trust with this.”

“Believe me, I fully understand the ramifications. One of my own guys is still laid up in the hospital bed.”

Max winced. “I didn't mean it like that, sir. Sorry, I overstepped.”

“No, no. Don't worry about it. I know you've been through a lot.” Then Tom looked at Sydney. “And you've been through the most. I'll do everything I can to catch Ward and Davies and whoever else in East River might be involved.”

“Thank you,” Sydney said.

“I'll go get the agents picked out and come up with a general plan of attack. Be ready to leave the house this afternoon.”

“Thanks, Tom,” Max said.

“I'll be in touch soon.” Tom started to walk out of the kitchen when his phone rang. He answered it. After a second of listening, he said. “Are you sure?”

“What's going on?” Sydney asked Max.

“We'll have to wait until he gets off the phone and see.”

Tom ended the call and turned back to them. “We've got ourselves a dead body.”

TWELVE

S
ydney's heartbeat raced. “Who's dead?”

Tom looked down and then back up. “They think it's Davies.”

“Davies?” Max asked. “How?”

“I'm about to go find out. I'm meeting representatives from the Marshals on the scene.”

“Where?” Max asked.

“A jogger found him on one of the trails in Riverside Park inside the city.”

“Wow,” Sydney said.

“Yeah, I'm not sure what all of this means, but I'll keep you two posted. We may have to delay our plan for a bit. Just hang tight here while I figure out what's going on. We need to determine how Davies was killed.”

Tom walked out the front door, and Sydney turned to Max. “You're thinking something.”

“Yeah. I'm thinking that I don't like any of this. I've got a sinking feeling that we're missing something important.”

“Like what?” She walked over to where he stood.

“I don't know.”

“Come sit with me for a minute.” She took his hand and guided him to the couch.

“I have so many thoughts going through my head right now,” he said.

She nodded. “I feel the same way. But we can only do what we can from here right now.”

“I'd like to go see Brian at some point, but I'm not going to risk it. We'll wait until your security situation gets resolved.”

“If it gets resolved.”

“It will, Syd.”

Did she dare to believe him?

His eyes seemed to darken a shade as he spoke next. “Once this is all over, I want you to give us a shot.”

“What do you mean?”

“I hope that we can see each other like normal people do. Go out to dinner, watch a baseball game, that kind of thing.”

She wanted nothing more than that, too. But she wondered if it could ever happen. “We're a good match as friends, Max. But once this is all over, I think you'll realize that in the real world we'll never work as a couple.”

“But why?”

“I still don't think I'm ready for that. Not just with you, but anyone.”

“Don't you think I have my own baggage, too? The fact that I can even consider asking you this is a huge step for me.”

“And I appreciate that it's difficult for you, too.”

“But?”

“There's also your reservations about my career as a sketch artist.”

“I don't question your career.” He pulled his hand back and ran it through his hair. “Look, in a perfect world do I prefer scientific approaches to law enforcement? Yes. But we don't live in a perfect world. Watching you testify against Kevin Diaz really showed me what a true expert sketch artist was like.”

“Even with the bad result?”

“The jurors made their decision, but that wasn't a reflection on you. Can't you accept my apology about what I said when we first met?”

“I can, but I just I don't know, Max. I don't want to mess up one of the only true friendships I have.” Her heart was filled with excitement and trepidation over her feelings for Max. But the dark cloud hanging over everything had to be resolved before she could even entertain any thoughts about a relationship with Max. “Can we table this for now? We've got a lot ahead of us. Let's get through that first. All right?”

She saw the reluctance on his face, but after a moment he nodded. “That's fair.”

“I just want to be free of that man, Max. Anything I can do to make that happen once and for all is worth it. I'm willing to take some risks. And you heard Tom today. His idea of the operation would be for me never to get taken by Rick in the first place. Just to be there to help the FBI apprehend him.”

“And I hear all of that. I'm sorry. I just can't adequately express my apprehension about all of this. I don't want something to happen to you. I don't think I'd be able to have that on my conscience.”

“But don't you see, Max?” She looked up into his big green eyes. “I have to do this. I
need
to do this in order to move on with my life. And I'm frankly ashamed that I was ever with a man like Rick. I don't want you to think less of me because of that. I'm a different person now.”

“I would never think less of you because of that. We all make mistakes, Syd.”

“And mine just happened to be of the huge variety.”

“That's in the past now.” He gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. “Weren't you the one who talked to me about change and redemption and all of that?”

She smiled. “Yes. It's just that...over the last few days I've had to relive all of this, and it really pulls me back to a dark place I don't want to go. Then I start thinking about who I was then and how lost I was. I never want to feel that way again.”

He cupped her cheek with his hand. “You don't have to. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere.”

“I know I've said it before, but thank you, Max. For everything. Not just for putting your life on the line for me, but for your friendship through this awful time.”

“I'd do it again in a heartbeat. And I should be the one thanking you for leading me back to my faith. I didn't even realize how tired and drained I was from being so hard-hearted. I've been doing a lot of thinking about and it, and I realize now that I shouldn't have ever linked my parents and their problems to God. To know that I'm moving past that is huge for me. And I never would've started down that path without your example.”

She took his hand in hers. “It's God who was at work in both of our lives.”

* * *

Max anxiously awaited Tom's return. Tom had called to say he would be back at the house soon and would be bringing a couple of agents with him. Maybe Tom had decided not to slow down the plan they'd discussed just because Davies had been killed.

Tom came barreling through the front door with two men by his side. After introducing FBI agents Clive Roberts and Shay Hall, Tom took a seat at the head of the dining-room table. Sydney, who had insisting on being involved in the initial meeting, sat across from him with her hands folded on the table and her eyes on Tom.

“First, let me update you on what we know so far about Davies,” Tom said. “He died of a single gunshot wound to the head. Looks like a professional hit. We're working the scene and will have more information about ballistics soon. At this point, we're working with the theory that things between Davies and East River started going south. That's the best motive we have right now, and when you think about it for a minute it seems the most plausible.”

Max nodded. “Any time you have a situation like that, it's bound to go sour. It's only a matter of when not if. And Davies served his purpose. East River has plenty of other thugs who can do their dirty work. Once Davies's cover was blown with the Marshals, he really lost his usefulness.”

“So what do we do now?” Sydney asked.

“I think it's time to move forward with the plan we discussed,” Tom said. “Clive and Shay will have you under surveillance from this time forward. I know we'd talked about having you go home, but I don't think that makes a lot of sense. Max would still assume you were in some danger, and he'd want to keep you on the move. So after I thought about it, it seems the better play is to have you keep moving around. Hopefully, this won't take that long. You two will need to get out and about but not be overly conspicuous about it.”

Sydney leaned forward. “What about the tracking device?”

“That's totally up to you. I have an FBI tracker here with me. Basically it's given to you like an injection. It inserts the chip right under your skin. The removal would require you to be cut open just a little and then stitched. I think it's overkill, but I brought it. I'll do whatever you're comfortable with.”

“I want to do it, but can I just have a minute?” Sydney asked.

“Sure, we can go over some of the logistics.”

“I'll be back in a few.” Sydney stood up from the table and walked out of the room.

Max thought for a moment about going after her, but he wanted to give her some time alone. If it were purely up to him, she'd definitely have the tracker for his own peace of mind.

“All right,” Max said. “We'll leave here in a bit and go grab some food in public. Then we'll drive around for a little while and head to the first hotel. I'll text you guys the hotel address before we leave the restaurant.”

For a few minutes they reviewed the plan, until Sydney walked back into the room.

“Let's move forward with the tracking device. I'm not worried about having it removed afterward. I'm hoping that it will be overkill just like you said. But the last thing I want is for something to go wrong and be alone with Rick with no way of anyone knowing where I am.”

“We won't let that happen,” Tom said. “But I think you're making the right decision. If nothing else, it will give you peace of mind.”

“Then I'm ready,” Sydney said.

But was Max?

* * *

The next two days passed by slowly as Sydney and Max struggled to get into a routine that wasn't exactly routine.

Sydney knocked on the adjoining hotel room door, ready to go on her next outing—this time to the park for a jog.

He opened the door and gave her a smile.

“How long do you think we're going to have to go on these fake trips until Rick decides to act?” she asked.

“I told you before that I didn't think it would happen immediately.”

She nodded. “I know I need to be more patient, but it's difficult.”

“You ready for our jog?”

“Yes.”

He grabbed her hand. “And you remember the plan? I'm going to fake pain in my arm from getting shot the other day. I'll stop and take a breather, and you'll keep running. Our surveillance team will be in place, and I'll be there. So there's no need for you to be concerned.”

She laughed. “Weren't you the one just the other day talking about how dangerous this was?”

“Well, I feel better now that we have a concrete system. The FBI guys are on top of things. I'm impressed with Clive and Shay.”

“I hope you have fun feigning shoulder pain while I'm the one doing all the work.”

“Hey now, don't give me grief.” He smiled. “Although at some point it will feel pretty good to get back into my gym routine.”

Suddenly she felt the seriousness of the situation. She couldn't pretend to find any humor in it. Her smile faded, replaced by sadness and regret.

She lowered her gaze, “Since I came into your life you're not doing anything that you would normally do.”

With his index finger he raised her chin so that she could see the look on his face. “But since you came into my life, it's gotten a lot better. In pretty much every way.”

“You're sweet to say that.”

“I'm saying it because it's true. I know you're hesitant about moving into any relationship. Based on everything you've gone through, it's totally understandable. And before I met you I thought there was almost zero chance that I'd ever find anyone that I really wanted to have in my life.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “But what we have going on here between us, Syd, is real. I feel it in my gut. I feel it like I've never felt anything before. I'm pulled toward you. And not just because you're so talented and witty and beautiful. It's much more than that. You're so much more than that.”

She was so moved by his words that she couldn't form any of her own. She looked up into his eyes. It wasn't as if he hadn't made his feelings known before, but in that moment, she was swamped with emotion, feeling both excited and fearful. She honestly didn't know if she could ever let a man back into her life in a romantic way. She was certain that the Lord had sent Max into her life. But that didn't mean they were supposed to be a couple. If all she had was his friendship, then she could probably live with that.

While she hesitated to reply, Max went into marshal mode. “While I'd much rather stay here with you and act like nothing was going on in the world out there, we both know that isn't the case. So we should probably go now,” he said.

He was right. Unless they put their plan into action, this nightmare would never end.

To the world they looked like just an average couple dressed in T-shirts and sweatpants ready to take a jog in the park. But they were anything but average at this point.

That very thought sent a chill down her arms.

He noticed her shiver. “You can't be cold?”

“No. It's just a little case of the nerves. I'll be fine, though.” She walked out of the hotel room with him right by her side.

By the time they got to the park, she was actually ready to run. “Getting out and breathing the fresh air is actually just what I need,” she said.

They walked up the running trail and stretched for a minute. Then she touched his arm. “I'm ready. Let's go.”

He laughed. “All right then, boss. You lead the way. Set the pace.”

“Sounds good to me.” She looked around and saw a few other people in the park with children and dogs. A couple of other people were running. But it definitely wasn't crowded since it was a weekday. This was the second day in a row they'd gone running. The hope was that Rick or his people from East River would notice a pattern. Her concern was what if she was wrong? What if he didn't come after her now? The thought of waiting for some undetermined time for him to strike made her crazy.

She started jogging down the trail, and Max was right beside her step for step. The only sounds were the pounding of their feet against the ground. They kept a steady pace that was comfortable for her. The wind blew lightly and the sun was out and shining brightly down on them.

For a moment she allowed herself to think that this was like any other day. And that she was on a nice jog with her friend. Max may want more, but did he understand what it would be like to be in a true relationship?