Targets Entangled (11 page)

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F
errin was relieved
when they finally pulled
The Promised Land
into Panama, but the questions she’d had to answer from Agent Joel had brought back all of the shock and grief she’d experienced upon finding Tami’s body earlier that morning. She had no idea what time it was, but she was definitely on the verge of collapse from no sleep. Agent Joel had made the decision to question the crewmembers on board instead of at the embassy, keeping Lieutenant Irvine in attendance. Ferrin could appreciate the professional attitude, but the agent came across as if this was just another body in a long line of bodies. It wasn’t. This was Tami who’d died and Ferrin tried her best to maintain her composure throughout the interview.

“If you can think of anything else, please notify Lieutenant Irvine immediately,” Agent Joel said, resting her pen on the pad of paper in front of her. She had a similar haircut to Nina, with the longer black strands along the left side of her face and the right side tucked behind her right ear. Nina pulled it off better, but she also had thicker hair. For some reason the hairstyle made Ferrin think of Tami and her short blonde cut. Did she fight her attacker until the end? The question brought another wave of despair over Ferrin and all she wanted to do was curl up into a ball and sleep for as long as she could. “I think that’s all for now.”

“What will happen to Tami now?” Ferrin asked, needing to know the answer. She had a lot of questions but that took precedent. “Have you notified her family and will they be able to bury her properly?”

“Yes to both questions, but not until a coroner’s request is performed. The six jurors will, in this case, consist of embassy staff.” Agent Joel pushed back her chair but didn’t stand. For the first time since the interview started, Ferrin witnessed a tiny bit of compassion. “If Chuck Farrell is guilty, he’ll be charged with murder on U.S. soil.”

“And what if he didn’t do it?” Ferrin couldn’t help but think they were making a mistake. “I worked with Chuck for months and I just can’t picture him doing something like this.”

“We’re not saying he did, but seeing as Mr. Farrell had a personal relationship with the victim and was seen leaving her room minutes before you discovered her body…the captain and the ship’s owner are not willing to allow this ship to continue on its sensitive mission with him aboard.” Agent Joel stood up and pulled her suit jacket down an inch. “Lieutenant Irvine will continue to investigate during the remainder of Red Starr’s assignment on
The Promised Land
, informing me of any developments while she’s underway and then I’ll follow up with him once the ship returns to U.S. soil.”

“Well, I guess that’s it then,” Ferrin said, trying to maintain her composure as she stood. She didn’t let on that the room spun a little and she didn’t bother to take the bottle of water they’d given her a couple of hours ago. She’d finally worked herself into an exhaustion that would be most welcomed. “I take it I’m free to stay aboard and see this mission through?”

“Of course,” Agent Joel replied, sharing a look with Lieutenant Irvine. “As I said, if you remember anything else please let us know.”

Ferrin made her way to the hatch and was even out in the passageway when Agent Joel called her name. Ferrin turned, her mind already on whether or not she would return to her cabin or seek out Daegan as he’d requested. She wasn’t up for the five minutes they’d talked about and honestly she just wanted to cry herself to sleep.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

Ferrin nodded, unable to swallow around the newly formed lump in her throat. It had been gone for hours and now it had suddenly returned. She found herself walking down the passageway somewhat numb to her surroundings before she’d consciously made a decision. The bulkhead and the floor were magnified due to the tears in her eyes, but she made her way to where Daegan’s stateroom was located. She was glad when she didn’t see anyone she knew or recognized in the corridor. Knocking softly on the hatch, she finally felt a tear slide down her cheek. When Daegan finally appeared, he remained silent and took her by the hand, pulling her into his embrace.

Ferrin wasn’t sure how long she let him hold her, but her eyes now burned as if they’d had acid poured into them. She hated crying, having been taught at a young age that it didn’t help the situation. It didn’t help now either and she wasn’t so sure it made her feel any better. What she did know was that if she didn’t lie down soon she was going to fall into a heap on the floor.

“Let’s get you into the rack,” Daegan said softly, seeming to understand she’d reached her limit.

He led her to his cot and once she was seated, Ferrin leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She hadn’t known it when she’d instinctively come here, but she wanted to be taken care of if only for a little while. Daegan unlaced her boots, removed them, and then did the same to her uniform. She was left in nothing but her matching bra and panties, which were based on comfort and nothing else. He unfolded his frame and then leaned down to kiss her forehead before guiding her head to his pillow. It smelled like him and she slid her hand underneath the pillow to bring it closer to her face. The woodsy and seductive fragrance enveloped her as she let the darkness do the same.

*

Ferrin awoke with
a jolt, sitting up on the thin mattress as she struggled for air. It took her a moment to realize that she wasn’t in her own cabin. When it finally penetrated, she looked around the dim room to find Daegan sitting at a small desk similar to those that were in her cabin as she gathered her loose hair. Her hairband must have come out but she couldn’t find it.

Daegan’s stateroom was slightly larger than the size of hers; however, his only had the one rack, a lot more storage space, a partitioned area with a toilet, a shower stall, and a small sink with a mirror. He’d thrown a Persian rug over the nonskid surfacing on the deck of the main room and added a contemporary Edison desk lamp that reflected a certain amount of his own unique style to his accommodations.

“Good morning,” Daegan said with a question in his blue eyes. She knew what he was going to ask before he verbally did so. “How are you feeling?”

“Better actually,” Ferrin admitted, although she felt grungy as she sat here covered in her own perspiration. She gave up on her hair and let it hang over her right shoulder. She didn’t like how he was studying her, so she shifted until her back was to the bulkhead, pulling the soft camouflage poncho liner he used as a comforter over her body to protect her modesty. She wasn’t quite sure why, considering that he’d already been with her in an intimate way. She also didn’t know what to say, considering that she’d come here for solace more than anything. “Thank you for letting me sleep here.”

“Anytime.” Daegan repositioned his chair until he was facing her. She studied him and wondered if that five o’clock shadow was any indication that he didn’t sleep last night. He spoke before she could ask him. “You slept a good ten hours, but your body needed the rest.”

Ferrin rubbed her face with her fingers, trying to erase the dream she’d just had where she was struggling against large hands that were wrapped around her throat. She could still feel the impressions around her neck, so she inhaled deeply to prove to herself that she was fine. It brought many questions to the surface and she met his gaze.

“Is there any news?”

“No,” Daegan replied, slowly shaking his head. He reached over and closed the binder that was on the desk before leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “The feds removed Tami’s body and every crewmember of interest has been interviewed. Chuck Farrell was taken to the U.S. Embassy under guard, where he immediately requested an attorney to represent him during any questioning. As for
The Promised Land
, Starr’s decided to stay in Panama for the evening while we are replenished and refueled. She has granted Cinderella liberty to anyone who feels the need to go ashore and enjoy the local flavor.”

“Does that include me or did I miss my opportunity?” Ferrin could use a few hours off of this ship before embarking to spend long hours steaming circles in the ocean off the coast of Nigeria. She needed to take a moment where she wasn’t thinking about Tami. What she really wanted was a shower, but that would have to wait until she made her way back to her cabin and the shared facilities in the crew’s compartment. She threw back the poncho liner that had been covering her and remembered that she was wearing nothing but her bra and panties. She tried to act nonchalant as she reached for her pants that were folded up nicely at the end of the bunk. “What time is it anyway?”

“It’s ten hundred and I’ve already told Starr that I’m taking you inland for a few hours.”

His words had Ferrin turning on her bare heel and meeting his direct gaze. She had to have heard wrong and the humor in which he was looking at her only added fuel to the fire. She dug her fingers into the material as she brought the pants to her chest and demanded answers.

“You told Starr what exactly? Weren’t we in agreement that we would be discreet about whatever this is between us?” Ferrin tried to keep her voice on a lower octave, not wanting anyone to hear her through the bulkhead. “You said—”

“I told her that you and I are friends—which we are—and that I thought you could use some time to yourself with my added protection. She didn’t ask questions and I didn’t offer up any other information.” Daegan stood, his six-foot frame taking up much of the breathing space. At least that’s the way it felt. “We’ll spend a few hours in Panama to clear your mind and then return to our jobs. Do you have any objections?”

Ferrin slowly shook her head in answer his query as she watched him close the distance between them. The very thought of them spending time together where people didn’t know them sounded wonderful and yet they were walking into uncharted territory in the public eye as a couple. This was casual and she had to remember that. She was in her bare feet and she had to tilt her head back to look up at him. It was at that moment that she realized she’d forgotten all about her dream.

“No objections,” Ferrin whispered before clearing her throat. His blue eyes were darkening like they did when he kissed her. “I’ll take a shower and change into appropriate civilian attire before we go.”

Ferrin’s heart rate doubled when his fingers closed around the edge of his shirt. It was over his head before she could blink and his broad chest filled up her vision. She remembered it well and her fingers itched to touch him again, but she couldn’t force them to let go of the fabric in her hands.

“What are you doing?” His warmth surrounded her as Daegan reached behind her and had her bra unfastened with a flick of his well-practiced fingers. She flushed at the sight of her hardened nipples as he drew the straps down her arms to reveal her breasts. “Um…I better go back to my cabin if we’re going to take advantage of the liberty hours ashore.”

“Don’t worry about the time,” Daegan said, slipping his large fingers into the waistband of her panties. He knelt as his hands and fabric slid down her thighs. He leaned forward and put his mouth directly on her clit, kissing her intimately until she had to reach for his shoulders to steady herself or collapse. She almost begged him to keep repeating that special thing with his tongue when he pulled away and stood in front of her. “Remember those five minutes you wanted earlier?”

Ferrin nodded as Daegan took her hand and pulled her toward his private shower. Her body came alive in a way it hadn’t since they’d been together months ago and he was now offering her more of what she’d been missing. She wasn’t about to turn him down. The cold deck underneath her feet didn’t bother her as she knew that they would be in a warm shower in under a minute. She reached for the button on his jeans the moment he turned back to her after having turned on the water.

“I do remember those five minutes I wanted, but you promised it would be more than that. I’m game if you are. You don’t have a problem with me undressing you now, do you?” Ferrin asked, loving the blue hues swirling in his eyes as his pupils dilated. She yanked on the material until it gave way and then slowly pulled down his zipper over the bulge that appeared to be gaining strength behind the heavy cotton fabric. She took her time peeling his jeans off of him and then she went about slipping her hand inside his briefs. “For how rock hard you feel, Daegan, I’m thinking six minutes might be the max after so long.”