Love & Redemption (14 page)

“What’s going on?” Rick stood from his chair, glaring at Gavin like this was somehow his fault. “Who’s Terrance and what the hell is MG-37?”

“I honestly don’t know, sir,” Gavin answered, “but if you know what’s good for you, I wouldn’t mention it to anyone.”

He glanced at Shelley, who had turned down the television and plugged her free ear to listen intently to whatever Nick said.

Gavin turned back to Rick. “As soon as your daughter gets off the phone, we’ll be leaving. There are a few things you and Janet should know first.”

He led the way into the dining room, sure they would follow. Even if Shelley didn’t get along with her parents, even if Rick was a jerk who needed some sense beat into him, Gavin would do what he could to make sure they didn’t suffer for letting him and Shelley hide out in their home.

While Rick and Janet chose to sit at the table, Gavin paced in front of them. Words like stampede and terrorist attack ran through his head. From Shelley’s reaction, he was sure S.A.T.O. must somehow be behind the attack. Whether it was to get more diamonds or to incite terror in the general population, Gavin had no clue.

“What’s happening, Gavin?” Fear was heavy in Janet’s voice.

“There are a few things Shel—uh, Felicia and I haven’t told you.” Gavin really had to quit slipping with her name. He wasn’t any better equipped to handle the stress of this attack than regular people. Hell, he
was
a regular person. “Felicia works for an anti-terrorist organization, and the reason you guys are safe is because no one knows about you.”

“Anti-terror? And she doesn’t talk about her parents?” Janet sounded offended.

“No.” Better for him to be blunt. “People think Grandma Haddy was the only person in her life, and she keeps up that fiction. If you know what’s good for you, you won’t talk to anyone about her being here or the phone call she just received.”

Rick slammed his fist on the table. “Don’t tell me what to do, boy. I do what I want, when I want.”

Gavin refrained from snapping at him and took a calming breath before speaking. “You’re certainly free to do whatever you choose. I’m just trying to save your life. Some very bad people are out there. They won’t hesitate to kill you if they discover your connection to Felicia. I thought you should know. You’ll be safe if you keep quiet.”

Janet patted Rick’s arm. “Of course we won’t say anything, but will you and Felicia be okay?” Her eyes held all the motherly concern that Gavin wished Shelley could recognize there. “I just barely got her back. I don’t want to lose her.”

Though he knew he might regret interfering—like when Shelley ripped his head off about it later—he couldn’t dash Janet’s hopes about having a relationship with her daughter.

“She’s going to be okay, so try not to worry,” he answered. “Write down your phone number, and I’ll keep you informed when it’s safe to do so.”

Janet stood, wiping tears from her eyes as she circled the table. She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tightly. “You’re such a great son-in-law. I’m so happy Felicia found you.” Janet kissed his cheek. “Once everything is sorted out and you guys catch these criminals, work on grandkids, okay?”

She smiled and left the room humming, presumably to get a paper to write down her number.

Rick didn’t share his wife’s easy-going nature or excitement for grandchildren. “I knew something was fishy about that slut coming back in my house.”

Gavin took a deep breath and raised his head, looking down his nose at Shelley’s father. “No one talks about my wife that way. For the sake of Janet, shut your mouth, before I shut it for you. We’re leaving now, so just let Janet be happy about seeing her daughter.”

Turning without waiting for a reply, Gavin went to the bedroom and packed their belongings. If he spent another minute with Shelley’s father, he’d do something he’d later regret. Not having an idea what sort of danger he and Shelley headed for, the least he could do was protect her mother and keep her happy.

Now all he needed to do was keep himself and Shelley safe from whatever S.A.T.O. tried next.

Chapter Fourteen

A little over six hours later, Shelley woke up when the car slowed. Gavin pulled off I-278 onto exit 5, making a decision about which way to turn without a problem, then taking another turn shortly after that.

Shelley was completely lost. “I’m glad you know where to go.” Even after nine on a Thursday night, the traffic was pretty congested, and she never expected to need to navigate around Queens. Nick told them which precinct to head to, but Shelley was glad to have Gavin along.

He flashed a smile. “Good thing you hooked up with a thief from the area. I’ve spent more time in the different police precincts in this town then I care to admit. The hundred and tenth is a good one.”

Once the shock had worn off from the attack on Queens Center, Shelley had agreed with Nick completely. This wasn’t a random attack by an outside terrorist group. The more text updates she got from him, the more convinced she was that S.A.T.O. figured out a way to make Terrance Couch’s special knockout drug—code name MG-37—into some sort of aerosolized formulation.

Early indications showed the gas infiltrated the lower half of Queens Center containing the jewelry store, but many people affected were inside the shop itself. That suggested S.A.T.O. didn’t dump the drug into the ventilation system of the entire mall. Whether that was because they were targeting that shop only or because they hadn’t made enough MG-37, Shelley couldn’t guess.

“I’ve got good news.” Gavin parked on a tree-lined street across from a worn-looking, several-story building.

Shelley glanced around, noting a few police vehicles in front of the station. “What’s that?”

“No parking garage to deal with.”

She shook her head and exited the car, meeting his eyes over the roof of it. “That’s a weak attempt at humor.”

“I know, but I’m trying to ease your stress.”

Shelley adjusted the strap of her purse across her shoulder and shut the car door, circling the vehicle to stand next to him. “Then let’s catch these bastards.”

They crossed 43rd Avenue and walked into the lower level of the precinct. Though the room buzzed with activity, Shelley knew the discussion of interest to her would take place wherever Jenessa had ended up.

She marched through the people to a desk near the back of the room, Gavin close on her heels. “Excuse me, sir, I know you must be busy, but can you help me?” She flashed her most-winning grin when the officer looked up from the papers in front of him.

He returned her smile. “It’s always busy, miss. What can I do for you?”

“I’m Shelley Daniels.” She held her hand out and he shook it with a nod, appearing to recognize the name. “I’m searching for the FBI agents and team working with Jenessa Jones.”

He grimaced. “Nasty case, that one. I sure hope you catch the perps.”

“So do I.”

His gaze flicked to Gavin. “He’s the other agent with you? Hart?”

Shelley nodded, glad the officer expected them.

“The elevator’s over there.” He pointed to the back of the room. “If you go to the second floor and turn left, you’ll find their war room. Sergeant Travers is coordinating the case. His office is the second door down.”

“Thanks, sir.” Shelley turned and led the way to the elevator, stealing herself for a bumpy ride given the age of the building. After revisiting the memories of that day trapped in the rowboat, her anxiety was at high alert.

Gavin caught her arm and steered her to the right. “Stairway’s over here.”

He didn’t say anything else, but Shelley squeezed his arm briefly in thanks before letting go. It wouldn’t do to seem clingy or close to him, but hopefully he understood her gratitude.

She’d never dealt with police officers or FBI agents before, other than Jenessa. They couldn’t be too different from the men and women who had worked at S.A.T.O. headquarters. Shelley had figured out how to deal with them the last few months before learning the truth about Paul Billings. If she showed any attachment to Gavin other than professional, they would zero in on that and use it against her.

One thing was certain, a woman was still at a disadvantage in this man’s world. While Nick couldn’t be here himself because of Carlie’s stay in the hospital, he counted on her and Jenessa to take the lead. She wouldn’t let him down, and wouldn’t give anyone a reason to question her right to be here.

Once at the top of the stairs, it wasn’t hard to figure out which room was the correct one. A group of obviously frustrated men and women sat restlessly in chairs facing a blank screen. Jenessa Jones paced in front of them, watching the open doorway.

Relief spread across her features when Shelley walked into the room. Jenessa was a few years younger than Shelley, and although she had more experience with investigations and crimes, she looked a bit lost.

“I’m glad you’re here.” The blond highlights in Jenessa’s brown hair glinted in the artificial lights when she walked toward them. “Did Nick give you any orders?”

Shelley shook her head. “He told me you’re in charge, Jen. Just tell me what to do. We’re here to help.”

Jenessa nodded and waved them to the front of the room. A table with three remaining empty chairs sat near front of the room. “Sit here and I’ll start the meeting.”

Shelley frowned at Gavin while taking one of the seats. They looked out of place with the others sitting in the room. All the men at the table wore three-piece, well-pressed suits. She and Gavin had their inexpensive jeans and t-shirts, plus Gavin hadn’t shaved all week.

Nick impressed upon them the urgency of this situation, so they hadn’t stopped anywhere to buy nicer clothing. It was probably a good thing. Jenessa had obviously waited for them before briefing the officers. Everyone in the room seemed on edge. Knowing they made the right choice in coming straight here didn’t make Shelley feel less grungy. Too bad her nice pants suit was ripped when Gavin pulled her off the ledge at the parking garage.

Gavin scanned the other men at their table as he sat next to her, and then he winked at her with a knowing grin. Apparently he wasn’t intimidated by their lack of proper attire.

“Attention, everyone.” Jenessa walked to a podium at the left of a large screen, and the agitated murmurs of conversation stopped. “Thanks for your patience. Now that Special Agents Daniels and Hart have arrived, let’s get down to business.”

Jenessa tapped an electronic tablet in front of her, pulling an image of the Queens Center mall onto the large screen. “As you all know by now, Queens Center was robbed this afternoon. No suspects were apprehended. Five people are confirmed dead and six more are in critical condition at Elmhurst Hospital.”

“Sick bastards,” muttered the man sitting to Shelley’s right.

She glanced at him, nodding her agreement.

“Did you hear two of the deceased are children?” he asked.

Shelley looked away from his piercing blue eyes to stare at her shaking hands. Her stomach twisted.
Children?
“Trampled or killed from the gas?”

“They were found in the jewelry store. We think it was the gas.”

Closing her eyes, Shelley tried to stay objective and not think about that too closely. Back when the government really did sponsor S.A.T.O., the President put a stop to trials of MG-37. It was unstable. Shelley heard rumors that a dose capable of knocking out some people might kill others. Children breathing in the same amount as adults wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Gavin, you should have let me open fire on the elevator and take those assholes out,” she whispered, blinking back tears. She wished she hadn’t run away. What was her life in comparison to everyone else’s? To children?

While she had no desire to be a special agent, she did understand why Nick was so driven to the job. He’d almost given up the woman he loved when he thought it meant protecting children. It was because they needed saving from dickheads like Terrance and Stephen.

Gavin covered her shaking hands with his, but she slid her fingers away.

He obviously hadn’t figured out showing affection was off limits. She should have warned him. Raising her eyebrows, she shook her head very slightly, hoping he picked up the clue.

“We don’t know,” Jenessa was saying in response to an officer’s question about the reason for the gas. “The special division of the FBI I work for speculates that it is, in fact, a terror tactic to incite fear.”

They were telling these cops Jenessa worked for the FBI? That was smart, actually—probably a safer bet than a secret government agency who was chasing a rogue secret government agency.

“That brings me to the reason Special Agent Daniels is here,” Jenessa said, surprising Shelley. She hadn’t known she would participate in the briefing. “Shelley Daniels worked undercover inside the organization we think is responsible for the events today at the mall. She has knowledge of the man who made the gas and also the man in charge of their group if, in fact, they are who we’re dealing with.”

Shelley sat, flabbergasted, as all eyes in the room turned to her.

The blue-eyed man next to her leaned close, capturing her attention. His overwhelming presence seemed to suck the available oxygen from the room. “I wondered why we had to wait for you. I don’t like working with FBI, and I certainly don’t like turning my investigation over to some woman I’ve never even heard of.” He raised his head, looking down his too-straight nose at her. “But if you have a way to catch the assholes who came to my town and hurt my people, let’s hear it.”

“Sergeant Travers, I presume?” Shelley asked. Not many other people would talk like that in this room. While she had assumed from his clothing this guy was with the feds, his haughty attitude made more sense for a local. He resented the federal interference in his town, but not so much that he was willing to turn away help.

He stuck out his hand and shook hers. “Ken.”

First name basis. He must have high hopes for her cracking the case, even if he wasn’t sure about working with her. “Shelley.”

She stood and approach Jenessa’s podium, not entirely comfortable with the way everyone watched her. She tried to pretend it was just a modeling shoot. After all, people always stared at her. Then again, lives were involved today.