Surrender (5 page)

She wondered if he’d known John. But before she could ask, Brett gestured for Lauren to be quiet and placed his hand over her mouth. He moved in closer and whispered against her ear.

“Stay close to me. We’re not alone.”

She stood frozen in time and awaited his direction. She was consumed with fear.
Not again.

Brett took her hand and slowly led her across the terrace to the steps that led to the beach. The alarm had been set, but Brett seemed to think they were not alone. She wondered if he had a sixth sense. Brett motioned for her to crawl along the side of the house toward the front. There were bushes that hugged the front corner of the house. He pointed for her to hide in behind them. Crouched down below window sight with his back against the house, he drew his gun. Lauren watched in horror. Brett tossed her back a look of reassurance, then disappeared around the corner.

****

“Don’t move,” Brett told the man, his gun against the man’s head. He reached around and disarmed the stranger in his house. Brett quickly put the gun under the belt on his jeans and pulled the man back onto the terrace. Within seconds, Brett knocked the stranger unconscious and handcuffed him to a rail on the terrace. He re-entered his house quietly. Brett knew Mendez would have sent two men as he did to the motel. He headed upstairs slowly and discovered the other man. Brett knocked him out before the man realized what happened to him.

He heard Lauren gasp when he pulled her out of the bushes.

“Come on, we have to hurry,” he told her as he dragged her toward his garage.

He knew they could no longer take Kevin’s car. Brett wondered how they could have found them here. There was no one on their tail since the motel. Kevin was the only one who knew they were headed to the beach house. Brett suddenly wondered about Kevin.
Had they found him and forced it out of him?
Brett needed to quickly put a plan together.

He entered through the farthest garage door. And went straight to his motorcycle covered with a tarp. He bought it before he took the assignment in Mexico. He hadn’t even had a chance to take it on the road or license it. No one knew he’d purchased it. On the shelf beside the bike were two helmets, one smaller than the other. Lauren threw him a questioning look but he ignored it. He didn’t have time to explain that either. She’d been right. He had secrets. Brett handed her the smaller helmet and put his on. He reached for two leather jackets that hung on the wall and helped her put one on. She asked no questions. Brett figured she must be scared and trusted him to keep her alive. Brett tried Kevin’s cell with no answer. He left a message they’d been discovered. He worried that Kevin had been too. This time he didn’t say where they were headed. He needed to protect Lauren. Brett took notice of a black sedan parked across from his driveway. He assumed the car belonged Mendez’s men so he flattened the tires with a knife he kept in his boot. Seconds later they traveled down the shore road on his bike. Lauren held onto him tightly as tears poured relentlessly down her face.

There had been one person Brett trusted besides Kevin. He pulled into a coffee shop on the outskirts of Washington and made a call from the phone booth inside. He gestured for Lauren to have a seat in the booth beside the phone. She shook her head.

“Rick, I need your help.”

“Brett? Is that you? Are you still in Mexico?”

Rick had been Brett’s partner in the Secret Service. He hadn’t heard from Brett since he took the undercover assignment.

“Yeah it’s me. I need a place to stay for the night. ” He didn’t want to get into it over the phone.

“Of course partner. I’m home.”

  Chapter Six

“Three years and you didn’t call me once.” Rick stood in his driveway as Brett removed his helmet and extended his hand. The two men shook hands.

“I’ve been undercover,” Brett explained.

Rick looked over Brett’s shoulder at Lauren and then back to him with a raised eyebrow.

“Rick, this is Lauren. There’s a hit out for her from Nick Mendez. Think you could put us up for the night?”

“You bet. What are partners for?” Rick walked over to Lauren and held out an arm to escort her into his home. Once inside, Rick offered them a drink.

“Something smells great,” Lauren added after she thanked Rick for the drink.

“Dinner will be ready shortly. I wasn’t expecting company so it’s nothing elaborate,” Rick informed them. Lauren remained in the living room with her drink. Brett followed Rick into the kitchen.

“So what’s the deal partner?” Rick’s smile referred to Lauren. Brett could read him better than anyone. They were close for a few years in the Secret Service. Rick had been there for Brett when Lisa died; another terrible tragedy that drove Brett straight into the Narcotics division. Lisa and Brett had only dated a few months but anyone could see how they were drawn to each other. Her love of motorcycles made Brett purchase one. She’d been killed in a car accident before she even got to see it. Brett was about to propose while showing her the motorcycle when she received the call about her sister. Lisa’s sister had overdosed that night. She left in such a hurry she didn’t give Brett time to say he’d drive. The curvy shore road, high speed and the emotional devastation on her mind took her life that night. Brett spoke to no one for a couple of weeks except Rick. Then the narcotics posting came up and Brett applied. Between his parents and Lisa, he was more than determined to stop the drug operations that had taken the three people he loved.

“There is no deal,” Brett answered.

“Yeah right, buddy. I’ve seen that look in your eye before. She’s not just an assignment is she?”

“Not now Rick, I need to keep her alive.”

Brett’s tone told Rick that it was not up for discussion. There were more important things to discuss. Rick respected his partner’s request and changed the subject.

“How long do you think you can dodge Nick Mendez single-handed?” Rick inquired.

“Not long on my own.”

Brett ran his hands through his hair in frustration and filled Rick in about the attempts on Lauren’s life in the past twenty-four hours and John’s death with the brief fact that he knew John in college but didn’t keep in touch.

“Sounds like you got yourself in a tight spot buddy. What can I do to help?”

“My superior, Kevin Williams in the Narcotics division, is now MIA. I saw him this afternoon to switch cars about fifty miles from my place and now I’m not sure where he is. He’s the only one that knew we were headed to my beach house. Can you look into his disappearance for me?”

Rick handed the stir spoon to Brett and motioned for him to take care of the sauce.

“You stir. I’m going to begin a trace on Kevin’s phone.”

While Brett stirred the sauce and thought about what to do next, Lauren entered the kitchen.

“Brett, I know you told me there was no contact allowed and I’ve trusted you so far to keep me alive, but we’re running out of options. I called my father. He’s sending the private jet that will take me to a safe place until this is all over. It’s best. I know you have a case to close and arrests to make. I’m just in your way and it appears I’m taking up your time that would be best put to making those arrests.”

“What!” Brett dropped the spoon and sauce splattered across the kitchen floor.

Rick ran into the kitchen.

“Is everything okay in here?” Rick asked cautiously.

“No, it’s not,” Brett announced sarcastically and stormed into the living room.

Rick looked at Lauren and she simply shrugged her shoulders. He followed his friend and motioned his arms in the air. Brett ignored him and changed the subject.

“Did you find any trace of Kevin?”

“His phone is turned off or has become obsolete.”

Brett worried it was the latter.

“I’ve traced the vehicle’s FBI GPS to an abandoned warehouse on the east side. Up for a little investigation my friend? That is if your little domestic dispute is finished.” Rick chuckled.

“It’s not a domestic dispute. She called her father against my orders. I said no contact. Apparently daddy’s jet is on its way to get her.”

“What do we do with her?” Rick asked.

“We take her with us for now.”

Brett walked into the kitchen, turned the stove off and grabbed Lauren by the arm.

“You’re coming with us now.”

“I told you my father’s jet is on its way!”

Lauren tried to struggle free from Brett’s hold but was unsuccessful as they passed Rick on their way to the front door. Rick grabbed his keys and remained quiet.

“Daddy can wait. My job is to keep you alive. That means you stay with me.”

Rick drove while Brett sat in the backseat with Lauren. She didn’t speak. She sat and looked out the window. Rick filled Brett in on the warehouse. He had quickly looked at the blueprints he brought up on his computer so he would know all entrances. The warehouse had been abandoned for years and there were no apparent crimes in or around it since it sat empty.

Rick turned off the car lights as they entered the gravel road that led up to the warehouse. There were no lights on or around the warehouse except for a few dimly lit street lights, and no signs of anyone within the vicinity. As they drove closer to the warehouse, Brett noticed the car. He confirmed to Rick that it was the one he had switched with Kevin. They pulled up beside it and Brett got out and searched the car. He came back to Rick’s window and informed him it was empty and there was no sign of foul play.

“Let’s check inside the warehouse.” Brett opened the back door and motioned for Lauren to get out.

“I’m not going in there. It might be dangerous!” She crossed her arms.

Brett reached in and pulled her out of the car. “You think it’s safer to stay here without me?”

“You really want to throw me into a possible line of fire?” Lauren barked at him.

“No. I want to keep you alive. You’re safer with me. Now shut-up and come on.”

Rick kept quiet. He definitely didn’t want to get into the middle of this one. But he knew Brett was right. She had to stay with them.

Brett motioned to the door beyond Kevin’s car. He kept one hand on Lauren’s arm and forced her behind him. He drew his gun and flashlight with the other hand and stayed to one side of the door. Rick drew his gun and flashlight too, and then reached for the door handle. It was unlocked and he opened it quickly. Brett went in first with Lauren behind him and Rick followed. There wasn’t a sound or sign of anyone present in the warehouse. They walked down a darkened corridor into the open abandoned warehouse. It was then they heard a sound. It was Lauren’s shriek. Brett quickly put his hand over her mouth to quiet her. She nodded to Brett. She began to shake. Brett’s flashlight gave them enough light to show a man hanging in the middle of the warehouse, a stool knocked over below the hung man. It would appear the man had taken his own life. Brett knew better. It was a staged death. One that Nick Mendez was famous for but never proven. Brett let go of Lauren and walked toward the man. It was indeed Kevin. Rigor mortis had already set in.

“Sorry buddy.” Rick patted Brett’s shoulder.

“How could I have missed someone on our tail?” Brett wondered aloud.

“It happens to the best of us Brett, don’t beat yourself up,” Rick encouraged his friend.

“She’s probably safer with
daddy
.” Brett stressed his last word and turned to Lauren who was far enough away not to hear him.

“It’s an option but I think you should go with her. She’s safer in your hands,” Rick suggested strongly.

Brett looked at Rick, “Maybe you’re right. I’ve run out of options. Perhaps her father has a safe place to buy some time to get my head straight
.”

Brett took Lauren by the arm and led her out of the warehouse.

“Where are we going now? What about Kevin? You can’t just leave him.”

Lauren rambled and Brett ignored her questions. He opened the back door to Rick’s car and motioned for her to get in. He may have appeared cold and emotionless to her, but he had too much on his mind. He couldn’t think straight. She definitely had become a distraction. He knew he had to focus to keep her alive. He knew he had to bury the feelings he felt for her. The only option left was the one he had refused since the beginning. He turned around to Lauren.

“We’re going to meet your father’s jet. My job is to keep you safe and alive. I’m coming with you.”

Lauren just sat quietly and nodded.

Rick stopped at his office on the way to the airport. He handed Brett an untraceable phone so they could keep in touch. Rick informed Brett he would continue to help him solve the case.

The Vanderholm jet waited on a private runway for them. Once Rick stopped the car, Lauren quickly jumped out and ran into her father’s arms.

“You’ve got your hands full. Don’t worry buddy, I’ll help you crack this.”

Rick waved good-bye as Brett walked toward Lauren and her father.

“Charles Vanderholm” Lauren’s father extended his hand.

“Agent Brent Donovan”

Brett announced and looked Charles straight in the eye. Brett still had his doubts about the man’s involvement. Now he had one more life to protect while he figured out who was hiding Nick Mendez’s drug money.

“Lauren filled me in briefly. I still can’t believe my son-in-law was involved with this. Are you certain, Agent?”

“Yes, sir, I am.” Brett’s tone held no hesitation.

“Thank you for keeping her safe, but I can take it from here.”

Charles’ words sounded more like an order than respect. Brett thought of his father for a moment. He chuckled to himself. The two men were so alike.

“I’ll be joining you, sir. Lauren is still in my protective custody,” Brett told him and without hesitation led Lauren to the stairs of the jet.

Charles did not look impressed. Charles said nothing and entered the jet. After the jet took off, Charles excused himself.

“I’ll be in my office. The staff aboard the jet will take care of any need.”

Brett looked at Lauren after Charles left them.

“That’s about the extent of the time we spend together. Business has always been more important.” Lauren’s tone spoke loud and clear. Brett didn’t remark. He knew personally what she meant. His father had been the same. Lauren grabbed a pillow and reclined her chair. She looked completely relaxed. Brett felt differently. Something in Charles’s eyes told him the man was not to be trusted. He didn’t trust this man to keep Lauren safe. Brett got up quietly and did not stir Lauren. He walked down the aisle and noticed the staff busy in the kitchenette preparing a light snack. He moved further down the aisle and stood outside Charles’s office door and listened.

****

“Yes Nick, I have my daughter. The man with her is Agent Brett Donovan with the FBI Narcotics division. My daughter confirmed the agent told her of John’s connection to you, his death wasn’t an accident and you have a hit out for her. I have a lot at stake here. Finish the job.”

Charles heard a dial tone and pressed the End button. For a long moment he sat and stared at the files on his desk.