Wrong Number (12 page)

“No,” Jason answered and pointed to the other nurse. “She was about to give Aubree a lethal dose of morphine.”

The nurse wiped her eyes. “I promise I didn’t know she was allergic. I was just following orders.”

Jason typed rapidly on the laptop. “Someone’s tampered with her medical chart.” He pulled out his cell phone and pushed a few buttons. “Agent Edwards here, we need tech control at the hospital on the Stewart case now.” He paused and shook his head. “Either someone’s hacked into the system or entered it from the premises.”

Scarlett’s cries escalated, and Aubree’s heart pounded as she listened to several different conversations. The nurse in pink told Sanderson that Aubree needed to feed the baby, the other nurse kept apologizing between sobs, and Jason finished his phone call with an expletive and clenched his fist. He looked at Sanderson. “We’re out of here.”

“Get the doctor up here—Aubree’s checking out,” Sanderson barked at the nurse in pink scrubs. He glared at the other nurse. “Come with me. I need a statement from you.”

“Give me my baby.” Aubree’s voice rose above the commotion, and Jason stepped toward the bassinet. He lifted Scarlett carefully and handed her to Aubree.

“Go ahead and feed Scarlett, and then we’ll leave as soon as the doctor gets here.”

The tension in the room had charged Aubree’s nerves until her hands shook, but she held Scarlett and took a deep breath. Jason pulled a curtain around Aubree’s bed, and she tried to quiet her screaming infant.

The nurse in pink scrubs helped calm Scarlett by rubbing her feet. “It’s okay now,” she said. “I’ll help you. Don’t cry.” She seemed to speak to both mother and baby. Aubree listened to the soothing note of her voice and focused on feeding Scarlett.

By the time Aubree finished nursing Scarlett, the hospital was in a state of high alert, with FBI officials swarming the nurse’s stations and checking every computer port. They left the hospital in a rush as Aubree’s body protested every movement.

When they pushed her out in a wheelchair, Aubree noticed Sanderson’s brow creased with tension. Scarlett slept peacefully in her car seat, and Aubree continually pushed down the hysteria that threatened to bubble over at any minute. They took an indirect route to return to the house, with Jason worrying constantly about getting there safely.

When the house had passed a full sweep, and Scarlett was tucked into her bassinet, Aubree curled up on her bed and stared into the darkness. She was too exhausted to cry, but the raw fear coursing through her body kept her awake. Focusing on thoughts of her mother’s arrival the next morning finally helped ease her to sleep.

Madeline arrived just after eleven that morning and couldn’t take her eyes off her new granddaughter. She rocked the infant and nuzzled her soft skin. “She is absolutely gorgeous!” she exclaimed for the hundredth time. “Aubree, I think she has your mouth. Look at those rosebud lips.”

Scarlett slept with a peaceful smile in her grandmother’s arms. Aubree watched her and hoped her own smile would be peaceful again someday. After she told her mom about the incident at the hospital, Jason felt the wrath of Madeline’s fiery temper.

“After all she’s been through, you couldn’t even keep her safe while she was having her baby? You promised me.”

He pursed his lips and shook his head. “I know. I’m sorry, but Aubree and the baby will be safe now.”

“How can I be sure of that?” Madeline asked.

Jason frowned. “Part of the reason I agreed to let you come visit is because I knew Aubree would be leaving the area soon.”

“What?” Aubree’s eyes immediately began to water.

“Oh dear,” Madeline said. “I knew it was coming, but I kept hoping.”

Jason licked his lips. “I know. We were all hoping, but with this happening and the other activity going on with your case, headquarters have heightened security again.”

Aubree wiped at her eyes with the baby’s burp rag. “What other activity?”

“I’m not sure. All I know now is you will soon move to a more permanent protective location.”

“When will I have to leave?” Aubree passed the baby to Madeline with shaking hands.

“I’m going in tomorrow to be briefed on more details.” He smiled as he looked at Madeline holding her tiny grandbaby and then stepped
closer to Aubree. “I know you’re upset, but this will be the only real chance you’ll have at a normal life for now. You’ll be able to take Scarlett for walks without looking over your shoulder.”

Aubree clasped her hands together. Would she ever stop looking over her shoulder or hearing that gruff voice echo through her mind? She shook her head and resolved to concentrate on her mom and Scarlett—to savor every moment they had together.

The information Jason brought back from his briefing the next day wasn’t good. He asked Aubree to sit in the office adjoining the kitchen of the home. Madeline rocked Scarlett in the next room because she wasn’t allowed to hear the report. Sanderson paced by the computer and waited for Jason to speak.

“Our tech guys found the source of the entry. One of the computers in the nurse’s station was left unattended for three minutes, and that’s all it took.” Jason rubbed his eyes and continued. “Whoever entered that information was only a few yards from your room.”

Aubree gasped and covered her mouth.

Jason cleared his throat. “That’s not all. The FBI finally traced a connection between Tidmore and the man who killed Secretary Walden. A known illegal arms dealer is linked to both of them.” Jason paced the room in frustration. “He’s big-time, Aubree. He has a lot backing him and possibly more fire power than the FBI.”

“So what? If he’s that powerful, why would he be looking for me?” Aubree folded her arms and scowled.

“He knows who you are, and someone
is
looking for you,” Jason said. Then he glanced at Agent Sanderson.

“What? What aren’t you telling me?” Aubree asked Sanderson directly.

“Your picture’s been passed around in some of our monitored circles. Someone’s looking for you.” Sanderson sighed and wrinkled his brow. “We don’t know why. We only know they want to find you.”

Aubree sat back in her chair and looked at her hands. They were puffy and bruised from the IV. There hadn’t even been time for her to heal from giving birth yet. She wished she didn’t have to think about any of this.

She didn’t want to believe what they were telling her—that her life was still in danger. Her skin prickled with fear. “How could they even get a picture of me?”

Sanderson shook his head. “I wish we knew how these criminals managed to do half the things they do.”

Jason stood still and rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. “I feel like we’re still missing something. It seems like Aubree can’t possibly know anything to threaten these guys, but they think she does.”

“It’s okay. I’ll do it. I’ll go wherever you tell me—whatever I need to do to keep Scarlett safe.” Aubree spoke quietly, but with a firm resolve. It was time she quit fighting against those who were trying to protect her.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s not fair, but it’s the only kind of life we can offer you.” Jason folded his arms, and Aubree watched his fiery tattoo move with the twitch of his muscles. She bowed her head and angrily wiped her eyes.

“It’s going to be a few weeks. You need time to recover, and we need time to get everything set up,” Jason said.

Sanderson stood and offered her his hand. “Now go take care of that baby, and try not to worry.”

Aubree stepped onto the cold tile of the kitchen and heard the office door shut behind her. She shuffled to her room and collapsed on the bed. It took some time for her to calm down enough to tell her mom she was entering protective custody permanently.

Madeline cried with her and then blew her nose and said, “That’ll have to be enough crying. We’re not going to worry about your uncertain future right now. We’ll enjoy Scarlett and the time we have together.” She rubbed Aubree’s back and stroked her hair. “And when it comes time, you’re going to take hold of that life they’re offering you—no matter how upside-down and turned around it may seem—and live it.”

E
LEVEN

J
ASON POPPED THE BACK
off the cell phone and slid the battery out. He flipped over the tiny transmitter and inserted it in the phone, and then he replaced the battery. Working quickly, he programmed a few numbers into the phone and nodded. He would be able to track every phone call and text message from this phone without looking into the FBI’s mainframe. He hoped it would be enough.

“Mom, it’s coming too fast. I’m afraid to be alone.” Aubree folded a brand-new pink sleeper and put it in a box. She was packing clothing to be shipped to their new destination. Four-week-old Scarlett slept in her bassinet, ignoring the bustle of activity surrounding the preparation for their departure.

Madeline tucked some of her clothing in a suitcase. “I keep praying they’ll find whoever did this and put them in jail so you can stay,” she said. “But I know this won’t last forever.”

They continued to pack their belongings in silence. Scarlett’s soft breathing blended with the rustle of clothing. Madeline would leave in the morning, and Aubree knew she would be next. Glancing at the freckles on her arms, she wondered if she would ever return to California. Her life as she had known it—the life she was supposed to be living with Devin and their child—didn’t exist anymore.

“I’ll wait this out a few more months, Mom. If they haven’t found any more evidence on my case by then, I’ll come see you.”

“Promise me you’ll be careful and do what they say.” Madeline zipped her suitcase shut. “I trust them, and if they say you’re in danger, I’d rather not see you if it means you’ll stay safe.”

Aubree continued folding clothing. “I’ll try, Mom. Did you get a security system installed?”

“Yes, Jason suggested I go with Platinum, and they set it up right after Devin’s funeral. You don’t need to worry about me. I’ve got round-the-clock surveillance, and Jason said the FBI is keeping tabs on me.” She held out a spiral-bound notebook. “I made this for you.”

The brown cover was decorated with pink polka dots, and Aubree could tell the pages had all been written on. “You made me another notebook?” Aubree took it and held it to her chest. “Thank you.”