Out of the Storm (29 page)

“We’ve got four weeks till they execute their plan.” Carson stared back. “If you think I like doing this, you’re as crazy as the guys we’re trying to find. But we’re out of options, so yes, I don’t like it but we’re going fishing. And we’re using Ashley as bait.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

The Director sat in his office, staring absently out at the landscape of his nation’s capitol. The cradle of liberty, hallowed ground for which so many of his brothers in arms had sacrificed their lives. What would they think of our nation today? Embassy bombings, the Cole, 9/11, two more endless wars they could never win? Was that what their lives had bought?

No! He’d dedicated his life to service. Enlisting as a youth, working his way up the chain of command from private to the rarified status he now occupied. For what? So the bureaucrats and bean-counters could hamstring the country once more? His family had served America since the days of Lexington and Concord. His grandfather many times removed had stood on that green, outnumbered and outgunned, facing down British regulars. Over the intervening centuries he and his family had lost countless friends, family members, and fellow patriots too numerous to count.

Now, on the eve of his greatest triumph…his graphic, frightening demonstration that would awaken his countrymen to the ever-present threat that confronted them had been placed in jeopardy. And by whom? A world-class intelligence operation? A crack team of capitol insiders? No! An upstart girl. An arrogant and irreverent young woman whose frightening skills had all but destroyed his years of planning and work.

No matter.

The Director had no intention of abandoning his grand scheme. Postpone it until a more fortuitous time? Maybe. And if his plans were laid bare he would not go down without a fight. He knew the price. It was a devastating one—sacrifice his fellow leaders, take their vast war chest, and live to fight another day.

He pulled himself to his feet and turned toward his long window one last time, studying the magnificent obelisk of the Washington Monument. The Director picked up his briefcase and the tools he would require from behind his desk and headed to the door. Firestorm would have to wait for a better time, but his identity could never be revealed. He must survive. And for her whimsical treachery, the Fitzhugh bitch would pay the price for her interloping. As a bonus he would take down her new guardian angel and her spawn.

When he got to the limousine that would take him to the airport and Boston, he took out a disposable cell, dialed the number he knew well.

“Hello. I’m calling to make you aware of a deadly threat to national security. I have only a few minutes, but this is a matter of life and death and I must speak with your supervisor…”

When he had finished betraying his most trusted companions, he opened the window. The phone fell casually from his hand at Dupont Circle, where the steady stream of traffic guaranteed its life would be measured in seconds.

He smiled.

One more task to complete and like all the others it had fallen to him to bring it to fruition.

Tomorrow at this time he’d be on a jet to safety and Ashley Fitzhugh and company would be close to death.

Chapter Forty

Eric headed toward his house on a deserted Route 28. An occasional vehicle passed, but he took only casual notice. His mind was fixed on the task at hand. He knew what he had to do—first go home and make sure that Lu and Kylie were safely tucked in for the night. Pick up a selection of weapons and then head back to the hospital ASAP. No matter what the “Admiral” said, Eric would be the primary protection for Ashley.

When Eric had asked about Ralph, the older man shrugged noncommittally. There was an ambivalence when he thought about his brother, the ne’er-do-well, the bad seed who’d turned out to be living a double life, had uncovered a sinister plot and more importantly, had probably saved Ashley and Kylie from torture and death. The sudden transition in his brother’s status was complicated to say the least. Ralph a hero and one of the good guys. Maybe he’d gone dark but perhaps these people were keeping him under wraps, which brought Eric to the question of Lip. Was he all right? Had he given up thinking this was a wild goose chase, a misadventure? When he talked to Carson next, he’d try and find out what had happened to his friend. Lip would never abandon a friend and teammate in trouble. Worry gnawed at Eric.

The warm, damp breeze blew in through the open window as he sped along at fifteen miles per hour over the speed limit. The trail car was a hundred yards behind, populated by two of Carson’s team.

He reached the back road that led into his street and took the turn onto the dirt road. The house was lit up like it was Christmas. Every window and all the outdoor spots were blazing brightly.

He parked, descended, and made his way quickly to the porch and the back door. Save the light show, the house was a picture of normalcy. No extra vehicles, no agents with MAC 10s or shotguns burst out at him as he trotted up the stairs and knocked lightly on the door.

Louise appeared in the casual outfit she wore to bed—loose gym shorts and a faded T-shirt extolling the Red Sox 2004 World Series Championship. Her pleasant face grew a wary smile when she saw him. Lu opened the door and ushered Eric inside.

As soon as he was safely into the kitchen and the door was double locked, she threw her arms around Eric and gave him a hug that took his breath away. The faint aroma of something Italian and spicy hung in the air. When he pulled free, he saw a trail of tears from her large, pale-blue eyes.

“Thank God you’re all right,” she whispered emphatically and hugged him a second time, resting her head on his chest.

“I’m fine, Lu, and so is Ashley,” he assured her, searching the downstairs for signs of the protection he expected. “We just have to stay calm. I know it’s asking a lot but I need you to…”

She pressed her fingers to his lips. “Don’t you dare apologize. I think of the girls as family. So whatever you need, I’m with you. Already called the hospital and told them I needed time off.”

Louise,
he thought. How would he have ever travelled the long, bitter months since Elaine’s death and the weeks since the girl’s arrival without her? Eric had no idea.

She searched his eyes. “The people here couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me anything. What’s happening—with Ashley, with you?”

He directed her to one of the kitchen chairs and took her hands. “We both figured that Ashley had a…a history. You spoke about it the other day.”

Louise sat and nodded, eyes wide and fixed on him.

“Well,” he continued. “We were right. But we couldn’t have imagined how much trouble she was in.”

Lu squeezed his hands as her face took on a wary expression. Eric caught sight of a shadowy figure in the hallway. Ian. He nodded. Eric returned the gesture.

“Ashley is very smart. She’s a whiz at computers. Some time ago, by accident she found some information about a project that was secret and threatened our safety.”

“You mean like…like 9/11?”

Eric nodded. “The men who planned the operation found out about it and are trying to frighten her into revealing what she discovered. And you were right. Someone was here last night.” He nodded toward the hallway. “There are some high-level government security people who want to find and arrest them.” He sighed deeply. “In the meantime, while they’re looking for these men, there will be plenty of people to protect all of us.”

He took her hands and rose. “I’d like to see Kylie.”

Lu wiped her cheeks and nodded.

He headed upstairs and tiptoed into Kylie’s room. She slept restlessly, pulling at her covers and holding her giant pink teddy bear as if her life depended on it. Eric sat on her bed and studied her angelic face, brushing stray strands of her unruly hair reminiscent of her mother’s. He bent and kissed her cheek tenderly, then squeezed her tiny hand, and picked it up, laying it on the sheet.

Eric rose with a purpose and headed to the basement and his workout room where his weapons were kept. He unlocked the door and studied the array before him. The Glock and two boxes of hollow points, the eight-inch commando knife with the serrated blade, the twelve-gauge and shells he’d keep in the back of his Jeep.

He locked up and took his arsenal to his Jeep before Lu could see him, then ran back inside.

“Planning on starting World War III, mate?” asked Ian, in his thick Scottish accent.

“Something like that,” Eric offered defiantly.

Ian put his hands up. “No argument from me, laddie. We’re dealing with some real bad people,” he said.

Lu appeared and Eric gave Ian a cool look. No need getting his mother-in-law in any more of a frenzy than she already was. Ian nodded and backed away.

“Lu, I’m going to sit with Ashley. They should have some preliminaries on the explosives soon, too, so I may be gone for a while.” He took her by the shoulders firmly. “But if you need anything, anything at all or if Ian needs help. Call me. Right away!”

She pulled him close and held him tightly for a split second. “Promise me this will all be over soon. Real soon.” Her words had the ring of a plea.

He gave her a squeeze then backed away, finding her eyes, the ones that recalled Elaine’s. “Promise,” he whispered, crossed his heart, took Ian’s hand and shook it firmly, then ran out to his Jeep, wondering how he would keep that promise.

Chapter Forty-One

Eric sat, eyes closed in the reclining chair next to Ashley’s bed. The slow rhythmic hum of the air conditioning sounded pleasant, restful. He’d been here for—Eric opened his eyes and studied his watch—two and a half hours. One forty-five p.m. The duty nurse had brought him a blanket since the rooms in ICU were kept cooler than most—the result of the additional technology needed for the patients.

He leaned back and studied Ashley. After her earlier outburst the nurse assured him she’d slept deeply. Now, as he stared at her face, half covered by the mop of unruly dark hair, he smiled. Despite all the threats, the endless sinister possibilities, Eric was at peace as he heard her softly purring, keeping time with the electronics that monitored her vitals.

Eric had spent the last hour working out why he loved Ashley so deeply and so unconditionally. He needed her, of course. Needed her desperately, like a cool spring to a man dying of thirst. And finally, he’d understood why. Elaine was the embodiment of perfection itself. Beautiful, brilliant, beloved. Ashley was flawed. As a result she needed him. It was that simple. She was pretty, full of life, and held an appreciation for everything around her that Eric had never seen in anyone. But it was her vulnerability and her need for him that made him want her so much.

Eric took one more look, letting his gaze wash over her face as his lids grew heavy. The slow regular beeping of the monitors, Ashley’s deep breathing, the peaceful murmuring of the air conditioning, then a small noise behind his chair, a sudden prick in the neck and…

Ashley stood next to him, walking on the beach, her hand warm in his. Turning toward him she found his eyes. It began slowly, starting as the corners of her mouth turned up, growing into a smile, then a grin.

She laughed, letting her slender arms surround his waist, pulling him close as their shoulders bumped.

“Eric, we’re free. No one will ever bother us again.”

“Free?” Could they be.

“Of course.” Ashley nodded and tightened her grip on his hand. He prayed she was right.

“Uncle Eric.” He turned toward the voice calling from the shoreline.

“Kylie,” he called to the child in the flowing white dress as she ran through the surf.

Ashley pulled him to a stop and waved at the little girl. “Come up here, you, before you ruin that new dress.”

The child’s face mirrored her mother’s: pale, flawless skin, enormous eyes, picture-book smile surrounded by deeply carved dimples.

Kylie ran, shoes in hand, heading toward them, squeezing into the small space between them as she giggled. Her laugh was lyrical—intoxicating.

She snuggled tightly between them. The three joined as if they were one.

Eric laughed.

Ashley released her hold on Eric and ran a hand through the child’s flowing hair.

“Eric.” Suddenly, another voice called from the bluff above. He shaded his eyes, looking into the sun.

“Eric.” The voice called again. He felt more than heard it.

When he squinted he could just make out her face. She stood on the shallow rise. He scrambled up the dunes. From this distance he could see her. He moved toward her, taking hesitant steps while looking back at Ashley and Kylie.

Waves of emotion engulfed him as she drew close. Her hand reached toward him but suddenly drew away. A delicate smile came to her lips—the special one he loved so much. Eric closed his eyes. He could almost feel her embrace.

She whispered in his ear. “I always loved you. I always will. The first time I saw you something took hold of me. It never let go.” She sighed deeply. “But please, I’m begging you. Move on. Don’t spend your life worshipping someone who only exists in memories.”

The wind blew her sweet fragrance around him. He inhaled deeply, wanting to hold it and her inside him forever.

Eric opened his eyes. She backed away slowly. “I know how much you loved me. It’s all right, Eric.” Her eyes looked past him to where Ashley and Kylie laughed, chasing each other, unaware of the reunion a few yards above them. She smiled softly. “It wasn’t your fault. It was simply my time to leave.”

She turned.

Tears filled his eyes and burned.

She stopped, facing him for the last time. “The most difficult person to forgive is yourself,” she said as she blew him a kiss and waved, looking toward the beach. Eric knew he’d heard that somewhere before. Her lips parted. “Time for both of us to move on. Good-bye, Eric.”