Trapped In Shadow (Shadow Walker Romance Series Book 4) (2 page)

“Sure. Speaking of mail, a package came for you today. I’ll get it.” Jim hurried into the house.

“Where are you going on your vacation?” Judy asked.

“I’m meeting some friends who have a timeshare at the beach.” The lie rolled off her tongue so easily. Her whole life was a lie.

“It’s kind of cold for the beach,” Judy said.

“I don’t like to swim, so it works for me.” Stacey shrugged.

“Here you go,” Jim said, handing a padded envelope to Stacey.

“Thanks,” Stacey said.

“Sorry, you can’t join us,” Judy said.

“Me too, have fun and I’ll see you when I get back.” Her neighbors always looked out for her. They even brought her soup when she was sick last winter.

“Sure thing,” Jim said, picking up Lucy and swinging her in the air.

Lucy giggled and Judy once more put her arm around her husband as they walked to the people sitting around the barbeque.

Stacey sighed, wishing for a moment she could join them, have what they had, a normal happy life. She turned and walked into her cold dark cottage and flipped on a light. The warm colors of her décor couldn’t lift her spirits tonight.

Tossing the package on the couch, she went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine. She poured herself a glass and took a drink before falling onto the cushy seat. She picked up the package and looked at the return address. In bold handwriting, it read Hugh Thunder Hoof, Isanti, Inc. New Mexico.

How the hell did he figure out her latest alias? Did he also know that Stacey Johnson was really Anastacia Holland? It was a good thing Hugh was on her side. He’d be dangerous if he wasn’t, but Hugh was always on her side.

She ripped open the package and a small book of poetry fell out along with a card.

Picking up the card, she read the inscription.
To the one woman meant for me. Give me a chance. I don’t want to go back to the lonely world without you, Love, Hugh.

Stacey felt her lip tremble as her eyes watered. The small heart tattoo on her left breast warmed, reminding her the Shadow Dimension marked her as Hugh’s mate.

If only she could walk away from this life and start over. Closing her eyes, she let the tears fall. Sobs shook her. Her father said she was strong, so why did she feel so brittle?

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Stacey retrieved an old wooden box off a shelf. Inside was a picture of her mother holding Stacey’s hand on her first day of Kindergarten. Stacey smiled. She’d been so scared. She ran her finger over her mother’s face remembering the au pair she saw tonight. They must be related, a cousin maybe?

She grabbed a tissue before hurrying into her room to retrieve her laptop from the desk. She quickly started the machine, then inserted the drive she took from her father’s house. Pictures of her parents soon flashed across the screen. Stacey cycled through the images and documents until she noticed one from a government agency. It was a birth certificate. Her mother gave birth to a girl, Nadezhda Konstantinov, three years before she’d married the general. The father was listed as unknown.

Stacey gasped. She had a sister. Was that who she saw? And if so, what was her sister doing working for an arms dealer?

Later that night, Stacey tossed and turned in bed, her nightgown twisted around her. She kept picturing her sister’s face, which looked so much like her mother’s. She glanced at the clock: 3:20 in the morning. Sighing, she got up and started pulling clothes out to take to New York. Before she closed her bag, she put the little book of poetry Hugh had sent on top. It was a long drive to the cabin. Since she couldn’t sleep, might as well start now.

“So there are no more leads on who put the microchips in the Marines? Do we know if any other services were targeted?” Raven Darkwood, CEO of Isanti, Inc. asked. “Hugh, are you even listening?”

Hugh reached for his mate, using that special sense he figured linked to his telepathy. He could feel her in the east and thought she’d probably gone back to Washington DC. He turned from the window showcasing the New Mexican desert. “What? Sorry, my mind is on a personal problem.”

“The Marines?” Raven shook his head.

“Oh, right.” Hugh smiled sheepishly. “I found a serial number on the device we took out of Lindy. I looked into who makes them and found a pharmaceuticals company called Acta in Brazil. I’m trying to follow the money trail to whomever bought the chips, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I haven’t been able to find who owns the company, yet.”

“Okay, I’d like you to check on Acta and see what other items they are making.”

“I’ve asked Charlie White Owl to look into that and help out in the tech department. I’ve put in for some leave.”

“That personal problem you were talking about?” Raven asked. Hugh nodded.

“It’s that agent you used to work with, Stacey Johnson. She left rather abruptly, kind of like how she showed up. She helped with Derek’s problems. The tribe owes her.”

“Shadow marked her as my mate, Raven. I want to go after her. I’ve been running some key word searches and I think I found one of her aliases. Once I’m sure, I want the time off.”

“You got it. I want to repopulate the tribe so we can pass our knowledge of Shadow Walking onto our children. Finding your mate is a top priority.”

“I heard a rumor that you and Cara are doing your part. Is it true she’s pregnant?”

“Yes, though I wanted to wait for a more opportune time to share it with the tribe. With Lindy getting married, I didn’t want to steal her thunder.”

“Lindy wouldn’t want you to wait to announce the baby on her account.”

“Babies, Cara is carrying twins.”

“Twins? Man, are you in trouble. Boys? Girls?” Hugh walked over to stand in front of Raven’s desk.

“We don’t know yet, though as long as they’re healthy, we’ll be happy.”

“Congratulations, Chief! You’re manifesting your dream already. Thank the Great Spirit!” Hugh shook Raven’s hand.

“It’ll take more than one pregnancy to repopulate the tribe. I expect all the Shadow Walkers to do their part.”

“Well, then, I guess I better get back to work and find my woman. I’ll let you know when I’m ready to leave. I’ll get with Charlie first and figure out what’s up with Acta.”

“Roger that. Good luck.”

Hugh smiled and waved, already on his way out. He headed to the tech department and his office. He returned the file on Acta to his “In Progress” box and then rifled through the papers on his desk before he noticed a bill for the hanger where he kept his plane.

After his accident five years ago that prevented him from working for the general, he’d rewarded his progress of learning to walk again by taking flying lessons. Now he only limped on rainy days. When the frustration of being less than perfect overcame him, he took to the skies.

Charlie White Owl hurried over from one of the nearby workstations easily seen through the glass partition separating Hugh’s office from the rest of the department.

“I need you to see this. Remember when you asked me to look into your girlfriend and General Holland? I think they might be related.”

“What?” Hugh asked.

“The general married and had a daughter. If she had survived the accident, she’d be turning twenty-six.”

“What do you mean, if she survived? Stacey’s alive.”

“I know, but get this,” Charlie was so excited, he bounced up and down on his toes. “Twenty years ago someone forced Akilina Holland and her six-year-old daughter off the road and then shot Akilina three times in the chest. The reports state that Anastacia Holland was killed in the car crash. When you look at the pictures of the wreck, the car wasn’t that damaged. Then when I looked into Stacey Johnson, I couldn’t find any record from before she enrolled in first grade at six years of age. I know that doesn’t seem like much, but look at this.” Charlie pulled up a picture of Akilina Holland.

Hugh stared in surprise. He knew those blue-gray eyes and the tilt of the nose, not to mention the blond hair. The features were Stacey’s.

“Wow, I can’t believe it. Stacey Johnson is the general’s daughter.”

“Yeah, it looks that way.”

“Wait. If we can find this information and put two and two together, then our enemies can too. I’ve got to talk to the general. Stacey’s cover could be blown. She’s in danger. Send your report to Raven and tell him I’m leaving ASAP. You’re in charge of the tech department while I’m gone.”

“You got it, buddy. Call in if you need back up.”

“Will do,” Hugh said.

He hurried to the elevator and punched the number four to take him to his apartment at Isanti, Inc. He’d need the proper clothes to Shadow Walk. Anything not one hundred percent natural would disintegrate. He hurried into his room and put on leather pants, a silk shirt with shell buttons and a long leather jacket. Next he pulled out a mini crossbow with two sets of bolts and an obsidian bladed knife. He stowed the gear into different pockets inside the coat. Finally, he picked up his corn resin made cell phone. He was especially proud of the design since it was one of his own.

Turning off the light, he found a shadow that wavered, marking an opening into the Shadow Dimension. Placing his hands palm to palm, he pushed them into the shadow. When he felt the bite of cold, his fingers disappeared. He pulled his hands apart to make an opening and stepped into the darkness.

Black mist swirled around him, covering his face and body. He waited for Shadow to recognize his right to be there. Once the mist fell from his face, he could see his room through what looked like a dirty window. Walking the Shadow Dimension was the one reason the Nuni Nagi Tribe made good spies. He closed the opening and began to visualize the general’s office.

He shut his eyes and pictured the window facing the Potomac River, the warm toned wooden desk, as well as the American flag standing proudly in the corner. When he opened his eyes, he looked out at the exact room in the Pentagon.

General Holland walked in the door and sat at his desk. He was an older man in his mid-fifties, but he still moved like a man in his prime. Unlike Hugh, who limped occasionally when his old injury gave him trouble. Hugh opened a portal and stepped into the light, appearing in front of the general’s desk.

“Dammit! I hate it when you do that.” The general frowned and slammed his hand against the desk. “One of these days you’re going to give me a heart attack.”

“Sorry, General, I need to talk to you immediately. Stacey’s cover could be blown. I looked into her background and yours as well and found the article about her mother’s accident. Stacey is a dead ringer for your deceased wife. If I can find the information, then our enemies can too.”

“You just had to snoop, didn’t you? You’re right, though. I noticed last night how much Stacey looks like her mother.”

“Where is she? She needs to be brought into safety. I’m going to ask Stacey to marry me.”

“I sent Stacey up to a cabin in the Adirondacks. Here’s the address. Bring her in and let me know when you’ve got her secured.” The general handed Hugh a piece of paper with the address scribbled on it.

“You understand that if we get married, Stacey Johnson won’t work for you anymore.” Hugh crossed his arms. His future father-in-law needed to get the message Stacey was no longer under his control.

“You think I’m going to let you take my best operative?” The general glared at him from behind his desk.

“No. I expect you to give me your daughter’s hand in marriage. I’m not letting her go, General. Not now, not ever. You do want your daughter to be happy, don’t you?”

“Well, it’s about time. I thought you two would never get your act together.” Holland walked around his desk to stand next to Hugh.

“You do understand Stacey Johnson is dead. Anastacia Holland will become Anastacia Thunder Hoof.” Hugh wanted it spelled out for the old man.

“Yes, yes. Now you understand something. You keep my daughter safe and happy or you won’t live long.” The old man patted Hugh’s shoulder, like the fact he’d threatened Hugh’s life was a given. Hugh felt his body start to relax.

“That’s all I want to do. I love her.” Hugh smiled as feelings of warmth filled his chest.

Holland chuckled. “I know you do, son. Go on, get to her before she changes her mind and runs off again or someone else finds her and tries to use her against me.”

“She’s not running or hiding any longer. It’s time to drag your daughter out of the shadows and into the light.”

Holland shook his head. “A Shadow Walker talking about coming out of the shadows. Just get this marriage done. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“Now that’s an order I can follow.” Hugh turned and found a shadow near the door. He couldn’t wait to tell Stacey that her father had blessed their nuptials. Now he needed to ask her to marry him.

Picturing the inside of JFK International Airport, Hugh Shadow Walked and came out next to the car rentals. Once he got a vehicle, he headed north toward the cabin. He wished he could stop at a jewelry store and pick up a ring, so he could get down on one knee as soon as he saw Stacey, but time was against him. He had no idea how she traveled or when she’d arrive at the cabin. Since he had never been to the Adirondacks before, he couldn’t use Shadow to travel there until he physically visited the place and knew what to visualize.

He entered the address into his phone’s GPS and winced when he saw the travel time listed four and a half hours. Pushing his foot against the accelerator, he increased his speed. He needed to get to Stacey now. At least the weather cooperated; it was a sunny day with cool temperatures in New York State.

His stomach grumbled, reminding Hugh he didn’t have any supplies with him. Hopefully Stacey would be well equipped. He’d take her out to dinner once they Shadow Walked back to Isanti, Inc. The main office of the Nuni Nagi tribe conglomerate was a secure building. Stacey would be safe there if she didn’t blow his head off when he walked in the door.

His heat rate began to increase just thinking about seeing her again. He shook his head. He’d never felt this way about a woman before. When she’d walked away after his injury, he figured she wasn’t interested in having a relationship. This last time she popped into his life, one touch was enough to realize they had both been lying to themselves.

Stacey was the one for him. He couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms and tell her how much he’d missed her, needed her in his life. Shadow marked her as Hugh’s. This time, he wasn’t letting her ignore what was between them. What had been between them since the first operation they performed together. This time she would listen, even if he had to tie her up.

He smiled at the thought. Stacey was lethal. She could probably take him out without breaking a sweat. The question was whether she wanted to listen. If she let him in the door, he’d know she held feelings for him, the same feelings that crossed her face when she ran away this last time.

Frowning, Hugh picked up his cell phone and called Charlie. The in-dash speaker picked up the call.

“Charlie, any chatter on Stacey?”

“No. There’s been a mention of Stinger, that assassin you’re after. A hit went down last night in Washington DC. An arms dealer collapsed in a hotel lobby. He was poisoned. No one saw anything remiss.”

“An arms dealer? Was it a deal gone bad?”

“It doesn’t look that way. I also found more information on Akilina Holland. Before the end of the cold war, she was suspected of being KGB. The general was in Moscow, stationed at the Embassy before they were married. I wonder if that’s how they met.”

“Only Holland would know and I’m not going back to his office to find out. Right now, we need to concentrate on finding Stacey and getting her into protective custody. I hope she doesn’t fight me about it.”

“The way she looked at you the last time she was here, I doubt it. She wanted you.”

“Yeah? I hope so because I’m about to try and take charge of a trained operative. If she doesn’t want me, I could be in big trouble.”

Charlie laughed. “We can put that on your tombstone. She didn’t want me.”

“Very funny. Call me if you learn anything else.”

“Will do.”

§

Hugh turned onto the last road listed on the map. The driveway to the cabin was somewhere ahead. He glanced at the houses, noting some were huge vacation homes while others were small, probably one or two bedrooms. Cell phone service was iffy, with only one bar that faded in and out.

The road ran atop a ridge with canyon views that went for miles. He almost missed the nondescript dirt road that acted as a driveway to the cabin. If he could miss it when looking for it, others could too. That might work in their favor.

The narrow drive between huge trees opened to a small wooden building with a small metal garage behind it. Hugh pulled up to the garage and turned off the car. Stacey would have heard the vehicle and he hoped she wasn’t waiting somewhere to ambush him.