Sworn to Protect (Vows of the Heart) (14 page)

“Why do I have the feeling this isn’t going to be good news?”

“Because it’s not.”

Ethan sat next to Bethany. He picked up the remote in one hand and tangled her fingers in the other. By the time he found the channel, Captain Edwards and Ethan’s psychiatrist had already started the interview. He turned up the volume.

“I understand,” the reporter said. “There is great concern over Agent Lancaster’s emotional health.”

Ethan’s jaw dropped as his captain nodded. “Working so long undercover can be very destructive on the emotional level. Agent Lancaster was beaten and tortured, then witnessed the murders of his two best friends who were also his team members, as well as the death of the informant he was supposed to protect. He suffered career ending injuries, as well as ostracism from his friends and colleagues in the department. He has been on medical leave for the past three months. When Cordova escaped, we knew this might be enough to send him over the edge. We hoped putting him in protective custody right away would prevent that. Unfortunately, we were wrong
and it cost the lives of four Deputy Marshals.”

Why in the hell was his captain spouting this crap? Ethan had a terrible sinking feeling deep in his gut. But on the phone his captain had said he was dancing the dance the brass expected of him. Ethan knew all too well how politics worked. Deep down, the captain believed in him. Didn’t he?

“Doctor Hendon,” the reporter asked. “Was Agent Lancaster’s breakdown caused by Cordova’s escape?”

“Most certainly,” Ethan’s shrink replied. “Being so unstable, I fear Cordova’s escape from justice and the corresponding threat to Mr. Lancaster’s life, tipped the scales.”

“But why would an agent of Mr. Lancaster’s caliber, suddenly go on a killing spree against the people trying to help him?”

“It is difficult to understand without being priv
y to all the details of what Agent Lancaster suffered,” the doctor said. “I can’t tell you everything, doctor-patient privilege of course, but I can tell you that Agent Lancaster is reacting in a predictable behavior. You see, in his mind, he is doing nothing wrong and is acting only to protect the remaining witness as well as his own life.”

“The remaining witness being Miss Kress whom he has taken hostage.”

Ethan’s jaw dropped, he looked at Bethany at the same time she stared at him in horror.

“I thought Holly and Jefferies were exaggerating when they said you kidnapped me.”

“Apparently not.”

“Yes,” the doctor continued. “Because he witnessed the violent death of the woman he was supposed to protect, he has set himself as Miss Kress’ defender, resolving he will not fail again.”

“What, if any, role has Miss Kress played in this? Do you believe it’s possible she is helping him?”

“We strongly believe Miss Kress is being held against her will,” Captain Edwards said. “Although she is suspected of stealing cars and transporting drugs for Cordova, she has never been arrested and has no history of violence. We doubt she acted in any capacity to cause injury and is only cooperating with
Agent Lancaster to preserve her own life.”

“Why did Agent
Lancaster kill the Deputy Marshals?”

“Unfortunately,” Doctor Hendon said, “his mental instability is causing him to see threats where there are none. He perceived those Marshals as ones Cordova bribed to kill Miss Kress.”

“So he killed them before they could harm her.”

“Exact
ly. I must caution everyone. Agent Lancaster is extremely dangerous right now and if cornered could react violently. His mental state is fragile and if it disintegrates further he could easily kill anyone he perceives as a threat, even Miss Kress.”

“That was proven by his slaying of his fellow ATF agents at the safe house?”

“Yes.”

“Oh God,” Bethany whispered. “How can they blame that on you? Anyone with a brain in their head could see the house was attacked.”

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Ethan said tightly.

“But what is he trying to accomplish by this?” the reporter continued.

“His motivation is simple. He wants to keep his witness alive and he wants to kill Cordova.”

“But you just said he might kill Miss Kress.”

“He might if his faculties continue to disintegrate. In his mind, he would be protecting her from the torture she would suffer at Cordova’s hands - the same torture he suffered. Because of his history, failure is not an option for him.”

“I understand Agent
Lancaster is also extremely skilled in the martial arts.”

“He is.” This time his captain spoke. “And he was also in the military.”

“Martial arts?” Bethany asked, astounded.

“Tae Kwon Do, second degree black belt,” Ethan muttered.

“I must say it is a shame to see a man who once worked so hard for our citizens and country become just as evil as those he fought to bring to justice.”

“Unfortunately,” Captain Edwards said, “men like Ethan Lancaster are so highly trained, they walk a thin line every day of their lives, they become targets just because they put on a badge to go to work. What Agent Lancaster suffered at Cordova’s hands was intolerable. He gave everything to keep the citizens of this nation safe, that’s why we are trying so hard to bring him in alive and unharmed. We want to help him recover from this. We owe him that much at least.”

“Unfortunately, I doubt if the families of the people he murdered would agree with you,” the reporter said. “Captain Edwards, Doctor Hendon, thank you both so much for your time. Best of luck in finding Agent Lancaster and Miss Kress.”

The two murmured polite words as the camera shifted and the reporter faced it directly, shuffling through his notes. A p
icture of Ethan, from his ATF ID and of Bethany from her driver’s license appeared on the screen beside him. “You have just heard from Captain Edwards of the New York division of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms along with ATF psychologist, Doctor Hendon, regarding Agent Lancaster’s mental state—”

Bethany abruptly snatched the remote from Ethan and turned off the TV. Ethan couldn’t move. Although the screen was blank, the words and images replayed in his mind over and over. His shoulders slumped and he covered his face with his hands.

“Ethan,” Bethany whispered, crouching in front of him. One hand gripped his leg while the other stroked his hair. He shivered at her wonderful touch and marveled at her courage. After watching that report, she should hate him.

He gazed at her bleakly. “So, now you know what sort of monster you just welcomed into your bed.”

“Stop it,” she snapped, taking his hands in hers. “I know exactly the man I welcomed into my bed and he is not a monster. Ethan, we know the truth and it’s nothing like the lies they spouted on TV. I’m alive right now because of you.”

He squeezed his eyes closed and wrapped her in his arms.

She returned his embrace without fear or reservation and Ethan rejoiced in her courage. “Bethany, don’t you see what they are doing? With Cordova framing me, it’s very possible one of the good guys will shoot me, leaving you without protection.”

“Well, they went to so much work to set me up as a hostage, maybe you should use me as one.”

He recoiled and stared at her, horrified she would suggest such a thing. “Bethany, hostage taking only works if you are willing to kill. I am not. They will see right through me. And even if I did, using you as a shield would only expose you to the men Cordova bought. Their goal is to kill you. They would pretend to try to shoot me, but hit you by mistake.”

“Damn,” she muttered. “What about your captain? I thought he was on your side.”

“I did too. He said this was all a ruse but honestly....”

“Honestly, you don’t know who to believe any more.”

“Yeah. There’s too much riding on this, Bethany. Even though Captain Edwards worked to give us this safe house without anyone at the ATF knowing it, it will be possible for the mole to find us, eventually. We can’t stay here very long.”

“With this stuff all over the news, we can’t go to a motel. Someone will recognize you.”

“Damn, I didn’t want to do this, but we don’t have a choice.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I have an idea, but it means driving to upstate New York for a short time.”

She flinched. “Talk about going to the lion’s den.”

“True, but there’s someone I have to contact. If he will help us, then I know you will be safe. The problem is, I haven’t talked to him in a couple of years and we didn’t part on very good terms. It’s possible he might turn me in rather than look at me.”

“Who is he? Some informant you worked with once?”

Ethan rubbed his eyes and gazed at her miserably. “My brother.”

****

Ethan had decided to stay one more night only because of Bethany’s head injury. They would leave first thing in the morning, take what food they could with them and drive straight to his brother’s only stopping when they absolutely had to.

Ethan made love to her again that night and while he no longer resisted his desire, his actions possessed a note of desperation that worried Bethany. But again he granted her a glory she had never experienced. She had known pleasure before
, but nothing like the shattering orgasm Ethan provoked within her.

It was late before Bethany finally fell asleep in Ethan’s arms. But tonight, her nightmare returned. She relived the torture of Aaron’s murder. Her dream remained true to life exactly as she had experienced it and then saw Aaron’s spirit. But this time, as the DEA agent dragged her out of the building, she saw Ethan running toward her.

“Bethany!”

Never had she been so glad to see anyone in her life. “Ethan! Oh God, help me! He killed Aaron.”

Ethan ran hard toward her, but suddenly was no longer wearing a shirt. He stopped and looked down at himself. She clearly saw the scars on his chest. Shots rang out. The bullet scars in Ethan’s chest erupted in blood. His eyes widened in confusion and fear. He sank to his knees. Bethany saw Cordova standing behind him, gun in hand.

“No! Ethan! God, no!” The agony she had suffered witnessing Aaron’s murder was nothing to what she experienced now. She tore herself away from the DEA agent and ran to Ethan.

He reached for her and toppled face first into the pavement. Bethany, choking back sobs, ran to his side and gently turned him over.

All the scars on his body were now raw, bleeding wounds as if he had received them only moments ago. Ethan’s left arm and hand were shattered, the limb useless and bleeding terribly. The burn scars on his
chest were open and weeping, the stench of burnt flesh assailed her.

“No, Ethan!” She sobbed uncontrollably. “No, I can’t lose you...please! I can’t….”

He opened his mouth, trying to speak but coughed up blood instead. His mercury eyes dimmed and glazed over as he died in her arms.

“Ethan!”

****

Bethany sat up in bed, screaming his name.

Ethan nearly vaulted from the bed, his gun in hand. He swept the room, but there was nothing. No one trying to gun them down, no one trying to break in the house…nothing. He looked at Bethany, her eyes were wild with terror, she gulped air into her lungs so terribly she sounded as if she was strangling.

“Sweet Jesus,” he whispered and grabbed her. He held her tightly in his arms as his pulse finally started to slow. But her shaking did not ease and she could barely breathe.

“Bethany, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nightmare,” she gasped.

Since she awakened screaming his name, he could only assume it was something very bad and it involved him. He tucked her head against his neck whispering soft reassurances, rocking her slightly. His hand brushed her arm and he again felt the hairs standing on end and the gooseflesh prickling her skin. Only then did he realize it was ice cold in the room.

He scowled, looking around. The temp had been comfortable so he hadn’t turned on the air conditioner. Besides, it made too much noise and would obscure sounds of someone trying to get into the house. But now a bone chilling cold had settled in the room and it didn’t make a lick of sense.

“Oh God,” she whispered. “Ethan, we have to get out of here.”

“Bethany
—”

“Now! We can’t stay!”

He glanced at his watch 4:45 a.m. They were going to get up in fifteen minutes anyway.

“Please, Ethan,” she moaned. “We have to leave now.”

“Bethany, what’s wrong?” Damn it, why was it so cold in here?

She planted her hands on his chest and tried to push away. He slowly, reluctantly released her. She nearly flew out of bed, grabbing a clean set of clothes.

He blinked in shock. The room temp had returned to normal. What the hell?

Ethan jumped out of bed. Bethany had her back to him while she pulled on her clothes. He reached for her. His hand stopped about four inches away. The terrible cold surrounded his hand and wrist
, but the rest of his body was normal. The air temp was just fine. A indefinable fear gripped his soul.