The Shadow of Mudflap (A Foxtrot Team Novel #1) (12 page)

Daniel reached inside his briefcase and withdrew an envelope on heavy parchment. “Here’s your invitation. Andrew and Michael will both be there as back-up if you need them, but don’t make contact with them unless it’s absolutely necessary. The dress is formal. Take the normal precautions.”

Normal precautions meant armed to the teeth with weapons that would never be discernible to a civilian, but were deadly in the right hands. Since this was someone who knew Mudflap, she could either go in deep disguise, or as Shanae, heavily made-up. Shanae thought deep disguise would probably be the way to go for this one. She didn’t want anything blowing her cover with Mudflap.

Game 6 Results:

Texas Tech (12): 68

vs.

University of Kansas: 14

Week 7: When the Play Fake Doesn’t Work

Mudflap

Mudflap entered the house, flipping through the mail as he walked. It looked like some of TC’s mail was beginning to catch up with him, as he had several pieces in the pile. Mudflap threw it all on the counter, deciding there wasn’t anything urgent.

He headed toward the fridge and grabbed a beer. As he twisted off the cap, TC walked in. Tilting his beer toward the mail pile, he said, “You have a few things in there.”

“Okay, thanks.” TC began to sort through the mail. “Were you watching Benny and Ridge’s passing drills today?”

Mudflap nodded. “They’re looking good. The two of them are really starting to develop a good rhythm.” Ridge was a walk-on freshman for the team and had quickly shown amazing skill as a receiver. Whatever Benny threw at him, he could catch.

Mudflap began digging in the refrigerator for something to eat, but at TC’s prolonged silence, he glanced over at him. His brother turned pale as he looked down at the paper he held in his hand.

Mudflap strode over and examined the paper. His heartbeat began to pound in his ears. “Drop it, TC. Don’t touch it anymore. There might be fingerprints or DNA on it.”

The paper fluttered to the countertop, and TC clenched his hands into fists, obviously working to control the emotions rolling through him.

It was a photo of a Texas Tech football helmet with blood and gore spilling out of it. At the bottom, in large letters was:

GET OUT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT!

He gritted his teeth as nausea built, knowing those were probably animal entrails, but the thought of someone disemboweling TC or one of his players like that was beyond horrifying. He grabbed his phone and dialed the phone number the colonel had given him for emergencies. This qualified.

Fifteen minutes later, the kitchen was taken over by two military techs, Colonel Barr, Corporal Timms, and another man Mudflap had never met but he was introduced as a consultant on the case. All of them wore civilian clothes, but even with that there was no denying their formal military bearing, especially when they conversed directly with the colonel.

When they’d come in, they’d swept the entire house for bugs and then set up a descrambler in the kitchen to interfere with transmission just in case something was missed. Derek was out for the evening so they didn’t have to worry about being overheard. The techs bagged up the note and envelope, while the consultant interviewed TC.

Colonel Barr frowned at the activity as he spoke to Mudflap. “The good news is this appears directed specifically at the football team and not the stadium in general. I don’t have to tell you how difficult an attack during a football game would be.”

“No, sir, you don’t.” There were security measures in place at the stadium to prevent attacks and they’d been stepped up with the threat this year. But with that many people in one place, it was impossible to cover all possibilities. That job was made even more difficult because a major highway ran right beside the stadium and a parking garage and high-rise hotel were within sniper distance. With his experience, Mudflap knew those two places were the most likely place for a shooter during the games.

TC came over to join them and the colonel went on. “We’re going to place civilian-dressed military police in an unmarked car on the street. They will shadow the coach as an extra layer of protection as he moves around town.”

“What about my players?” TC interrupted. “Will they get extra protection?”

The colonel shook his head. “Not at this time. I need you to do a quick briefing tomorrow morning at practice to let them know there is a general danger. Hopefully, they will stay more aware of their environment, but so far, we don’t have enough of a threat to outlay that kind of manpower.”

“Goddammit! That is a photo of one of my player’s helmets. How can you possibly say there isn’t a threat here? Does it take one of them getting hurt before you do something to make sure every single one of them is safe? They’re just kids who want to play football. This is not what they signed up for.” TC’s jaw flexed as he worked to control his temper.

Mudflap could sympathize with his frustration. The thought of any of those young kids getting hurt was appalling on the most fundamental level. “Colonel, is there a way we could work it so the bodyguards were at the practices rather than sitting out in the parking lot in a car? Or maybe even one of them inside and one of them watching the parking lot? That would provide at least a couple more eyes and guns if something does go down.”

The colonel rubbed his thumb across his chin as he considered it. “I don’t see why not. Good idea, Davidson.” He redirected his attention to TC. “Don’t worry, Coach, we’re going to keep you and your team safe.”

“You better. There will be hell to pay if one of these kids gets hurt and I will be right there at the front of the lynch mob.”

Mudflap’s job was to make sure it didn’t come to that. God, the stadium was huge and the amount of people there on game day, mind-boggling. How could they possibly keep everyone safe?

Halftime Texting

Mudflap
: What are you doing tonight?

Shanae
: Washing my hair.

Mudflap
: Ouch! Blowing me off, already? It’s a good thing I already have plans tonight.

Shanae
: Sorry, I just think maybe it might be better if we cool it for a while.

Mudflap
: Hmm, I think we should discuss this in person.

(silence)

Mudflap
: You’ll be hearing from me soon, darlin’.

Mudflap
: In the meantime, I want to talk more about that spanking.

Shanae
: You’re incorrigible.

Mudflap
: That’s just one of my many charms. I like you, Shanae. Don’t push me aside just yet.

Shanae
: Okay.

Shanae
: I like you, too.

Mudflap

Mudflap took a drink of his Scotch as he glanced around the crowded ballroom. How he’d gotten wrestled into being TC’s plus one for this shindig was still a puzzle. This was the last place he wanted to be, but TC was still reeling from all the events of the past couple of weeks. There hadn’t been any more threats or incidences, but Mudflap had to agree with TC. It wouldn’t be right to pull a random female into his world right now, even if it was just as a date to a Lubbock formal event. So Mudflap was stuck here instead.

As the tuxedoed military body guards fidgeted next to him, he was happy to know he wasn’t the only one uncomfortable with the situation. The room was filled with the upper crust of Lubbock society, dressed in their finest. It was definitely not his, or these guys’ normal crowd. Damn, looking at the two of them, he honestly wasn’t sure they were old enough to even be drinking the alcohol they each held. That was the great thing about the military, they grabbed and trained them to be lethal while they were still young.

“So are you guys permanently stationed in Lubbock, or are you just considered to be here on temporary assignment?”

He knew they weren’t even related, but they were both young, with buzz-cuts, and physically fit guys. Add to that, their names were almost identical, and it was basically impossible for him to keep straight which one was which.

Mark answered, or was it Mike? “This is considered a temporary assignment, but we both jumped on it. We’re out of the DFW office and knew Shadowfox was stationed out here.” The two men exchanged a sly look. “We’re hoping to catch a glimpse of her, or even better, catch her eye.”

Mudflap frowned. “Shadowfox?”

“Hell, yeah,” the kid continued. “Only the finest, sexiest agent the US govern—” His partner elbowed him in the ribs.

“He doesn’t have that clearance,” Mark or Mike hissed to his partner, whose eyes widened.

“Crap, I wasn’t thinking. Sorry, sir.”

“No problem. I get it. Whoever she is, she’s hot and in Lubbock and you’re hoping to get a chance to connect with her. No, I totally get it.”

“Not that he’d ever have a chance with her.” His partner gave a good-natured shove to Mike or Mark. “She’s legendary. They say she can and has killed a man with just her thighs.” The kid’s eyes glazed over.

Mudflap groaned internally. What were they feeding these kids that the thought of a girl killing them with her bare thighs was a turn-on? Although, that kind of strength could be good for other things…

Mudflap shook his head. This whole conversation was ridiculous. Seriously? Sexy, top secret agent here, in Lubbock, TX, who could kill men with only her thighs? Whatever. He chuckled softly. They’d tell these young guys anything to get them to these remote locations. He scanned around the room again, hoping to spot TC. Ah, there he was, chatting with a member of the City Council and his flamboyant wife. Maybe Mike and Mark weren’t such bad company after all. 

Although he was beginning to wonder about their bodyguard abilities. TC had managed to wander quite aways from them and they didn’t seem to notice or care as they continued to debate Shadowfox’s many alluring attributes.

He scanned the room again, but didn’t see anything that could be perceived as a threat. What he did see was an extremely sexy redhead with toned, curvy legs that seemed to go to her neck in that form-fitted dress. Her back was to him, but a dizzying current raced through him as he watched her. He’d never had that kind of immediate physical reaction to any other girl besides Shanae. Maybe Derek was right. Maybe he did just need to get laid.

Regardless, he was fascinated. He needed to get closer. Excusing himself from the guys, he worked his way around the edge of the room, exchanging light pleasantries and smiles along the way, but always keeping her in focus. As he came around from behind, he suddenly realized who she was talking and leaning into so intimately. He scowled. Damn. Riley looked entirely too pleased with himself and his gorgeous companion.

Mudflap eased over to the bar just a few feet from where the two spoke. He watched her body language. She definitely seemed interested in Riley, but something about her seemed so familiar and it wasn’t just the arousal zinging through his system. He’d yet to work his way to the point where he could see her whole face, though.

Riley said something that made her laugh and she pressed the flat of her hand against his chest and took the opportunity to step even closer to Riley. Jealousy zipped through him, shocking him. Where the hell was this jealousy coming from? He didn’t even know her. At least he didn’t think he did. He needed to get a good look at her face.

Deciding the only way to answer his question was to ask it head-on, he worked his way toward the two. Riley spotted him first and scowled his displeasure. The woman followed Riley’s gaze and swung around with an open smile.

If Mudflap hadn’t been watching her so closely, he would have completely missed the slight widening of her blue eyes. Regardless, there wasn’t the slightest glimmer of recognition on his part.

The woman was beautiful, high cheekbones, flawless skin, and full pouty lips. Her eyes were almost startling in their clarity, the color of the sky on a clear summer morning and topped off by those long full red tresses, she was like a supermodel come to life. But that didn’t change the fact he had no idea who she was or why he was having this extreme reaction to her. Damn, he was already half hard and he didn’t even know her. But she’d also reacted to him. Why?

He put his hand out to Riley, but never took his eyes off the woman. “Riley, fancy seeing you here and with an attractive woman, too. Ma’am, are you sure you know who you’re chatting with?”

She laughed lightly, but it was a low, throaty laugh that went straight to his dick. “Mr. Banks has been a wonderful companion this evening. He’s been the perfect gentleman to keep me company since I’m new in town.” Her voice was low and husky and had the twang of the south to it. She reached her hand out to him. “I’m Madison.”

He grasped her hand. “Mudflap. I’m happy to meet you. You said you’re new in town. I think I detect a Louisiana accent.”

“And that would mean that you have a very good ear.” She gave him a soft smile as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

As she did so, he caught a glimpse of a heart shaped freckle just below her right ear. He stilled. He knew that freckle. In fact, he was pretty sure he had nibbled on that freckle just the other day.

His eyes flew to hers, but she wasn’t meeting his gaze any longer. She’d turned back to Riley and placed her hand back on his chest. “Riley, I really could use a fresh drink. Would you mind accompanying me back to the bar?”

“I’d love to,” the asshole demurred as he sent a victorious smirk at Mudflap.

“It was nice meeting you, Mudflap.” That fake twang already grated on his nerves as he tried to stop her, but Michael from the fire department stepped into his path.

A growl rose out of his throat as they walked away. What the hell was Shanae doing here, disguised, and hitting on Riley? He planned to find out.

“Mudflap, is everything okay?” Michael asked.

“Not really. In fact, something is very, very wrong.”

Michael took him by the elbow and guided him over to the bar. “Let me buy you a fresh beer.”