An Unlikely Hero (1) (29 page)

The Equinox approached the orange vested men at work too fast. The vehicle swerved then over corrected as it crashed into the left side of the bridge, flipping it over the top like a child’s toy. The workers ran to the side, in time to see it crash below. Chase and Zoric braked hard and exited the Hummer and rushed just as the Equinox exploded.

Zoric paled as he pulled out a cross that hung around his neck and kissed it. “Dear God in Heaven,” he said incredulously.

The two Enigma men didn’t wait around for the proper rescue workers to arrive on the scene. Both knew there wouldn’t be anything left to find with a full tank of exploded gasoline burning below. Vernon had heard everything and solemnly voiced concern about telling Tessa’s family about the accident. Chase did not respond as he glared out the windshield of his Hummer, heading back toward Auburn. Zoric informed Vernon they were going to check out the other vehicles on the parking lot where Tessa sent her last communication. Maybe someone witnessed the kidnapping and could fill in the gaps. As they slowly rounded the corner of the street where Tessa had spotted Essid, the flashing lights of a fire engine, ambulance and police blocked off the parking lot. The two Enigma men parked the Hummer and slowly crossed the street to see if maybe Essid’s vehicle had also been torched during the escape. Several officers were gathering spent shells left by the spray of bullets.

He heard an officer questioning someone in the back of the ambulance then a voice he recognized; a soft frightened voice that had been a source of irritation for the last three days. Both he and Zoric froze and looked at each other in shock. Another officer stopped them until both flashed a badge and were motioned on toward the ambulance. Sitting on the step of the rescue vehicle, Tessa nodded when the officer spoke to her as she looked at Mr. Crawley sitting on a gurney behind her. She reached back patting his leg and smiled sweetly before taking a sip of bottled water.

“And you have no idea who these men were?” the officer questioned with a glum face.

“None, officer,” Tessa lied like a pro, Chase noticed as he stopped some five feet from her. When her blue eyes glanced his way then locked on him, Chase felt that hammering pain in his chest again. He folded his arms tightly across his muscled chest in mock displeasure as the paramedic applied a bandage to her forehead. A bruise had begun to form over one eye and a small cut on her bottom lip showed traces of dried blood.

“And you say there were three of them?”

Chase noticed Mr. Crawley reach out and put his hand on Tessa’s shoulder.

“Yes. Three men. Looked like college age boys.”

The officer shook his head in disgust. “Probably had too much to drink on the river and looking for a little thrill with all their fake courage. Booze and guns. Dangerous combination.”

“And your name?” another officer readied his pencil.

Her eyes went to Chase. “Melanie. My name is Melanie Glenn. I’m sorry. I have no identification. It was all in the car.”

“Thank you, Ms. Glenn. We’ll take you to the emergency room if you’re ready.”

Chase and Zoric stepped forward, flashing their badge. “We’ll take it from here, officer.”

The officer looked at the badge then at Chase and only briefly at Zoric. “You boys from Sacramento don’t usually get up here. What’s up?”

“We’ve been following a few leads on some punks from Sac causing problems up this way. They made the mistake of harassing the governor’s daughter.”

“No explanation for stupid.”

“Got that right,” Chase said slapping the officer on the back as he looked at Tessa. “If these two feel up to it, we’d like to take them with us. Sounds like they had a run in with our guys. We’ll have someone retrieve the car too. Could be evidence. The governor wants this resolved ASAP. I’ll mention you in my report.”

The officer pulled his chest back and straightened his shoulders. “Sure. Go ‘head. Hope you get your man.”

Chase offered his hand to Tessa which she grabbed eagerly and scooted off the step. Zoric assisted Mr. Crawley and together they all walked toward the Hummer. Tessa shook Chase’s hand from her elbow and growled: “I want to see my family now! You have an assassin watching over them and she doesn’t even work for you! I was such a fool to trust you.”

“Your family is safe. If you would have just waited I could have…”

Tessa stopped short as he opened the car door. “Wait for what? Another fabricated story? Another reason I have to stay?”

As Tessa buckled herself into the passenger side of the vehicle, Chase leaned in inches from her face. “I thought you were dead.” It was hard to read such a calm voice.

Tessa sniffed and rolled her eyes. “Well if I left it up to you to rescue me I would be!”

Chapter 20

Benjamin Clark stood staring out his six story office window. The sun beat down on the students walking to and from class among the manicured landscaping and red brick pathways. Although he couldn’t hear the outside, Ben knew their voices probably were light and carefree as they chatted about an upcoming test or local coffee house where they could study later in the day. The movement of leaves and branches spoke of a summer breeze; one that was much needed on such a hot day. He laid his hand on his stomach, as if by doing so the ache would vanish. He tried to remember what he’d eaten at lunch that soured his stomach. The movement of fluffy white clouds across a sharp blue sky distracted him long enough for the pain to ebb. Lost in the common, every day movements of the world outside his office, Ben pretended nothing ever changed, people were basically good and students were actually here to improve themselves. He spotted a lost dog meandering along the walkway below, looking for someone to pat him on the head or be offered some kind of snack. Ben watched the dog stop wagging its tail and find a shady spot to lie down.

“Don’t give up, buddy,” Ben said aloud.

“Sorry?” Vernon closed the door behind him. “I knocked.”

Ben shrugged as he sat down in his leather and chrome chair. Pulling himself up to the desk, Ben looked sternly at Vernon. “Yes? What is it, Vern?” He eyed the young computer genius and realized again that even though Vernon Kemp got on his nerves, Captain Hunter had chosen wisely for the Enigma team. Having a loose cannon like Vernon among the masses made his heart skip a beat. At least here Chase could keep all that youthful energy channeled toward the greater good.
He looks like a hippy,
Ben thought with exasperation. Knowing Vernon had often crossed swords with the Pentagon both amused and frustrated Ben. When Vernon infuriated the brass, it was he who had to run interference. Being a military man himself, Ben found Vernon’s shoulder length, deep red hair, sloppy clothes and sandals all a little insolent.

Vernon pushed his hair behind his ears. “Essid stole another car off the parking lot while his men lured Chase and Zoric away with Mrs. Scott’s Equinox. He then ditched the car not more than a mile from Auburn. We think he then stole another and disappeared off the radar.”

“And Mrs. Scott?” Ben scowled up at Vernon.

“A little banged up. Considering what Crawley went through he’s not too bad. They’re stopping some place to interrogate the old guy. Maybe we’ll know how to proceed then.”

“And just how is it that Mrs. Scott is still alive?” Benjamin had been raised as a Messianic Jew, practicing a blend of Christianity and Judaism, but wasn’t sure how to fit a higher power message into his life. At Enigma you didn’t wait for divine intervention.

Vernon shrugged. “I donno. A miracle?” He watched a disapproving frown form on Ben’s angular face. Vernon excused himself quickly, breathing a sigh of relief as he closed the door behind him. Benjamin Clark could be one intimidating dude. If it weren’t for him the Pentagon goons would have locked him up a long time ago. Aloof and guarded, Ben rarely revealed his feelings other than an occasional outburst of anger. No mystery in how he regarded Vernon; he could no longer count the number of times Chase had run interference on his behalf. Still, Vernon craved a little positive recognition from the head of Enigma.

Chase wondered repeatedly how all these events kept leading back to Tessa Scott. Everything appeared to be a coincidence at first but after three days the innocent housewife from Grass Valley was over her head in trouble. She’d stared straight ahead after he’d secured her in the Hummer, silent, hands folded tightly and breathing heavier than normal. Was she hiding some important information, or planning another way to get to her family? Either way, Chase now knew better than to trust her. He’d made that mistake for the last time; suckered by blue eyes and that sweet innocent southern drawl she conveniently dropped on him from time to time.

They drove for nearly ten miles north to the small town of Apple Valley. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, the town rested at an elevation of over two thousand feet. Entering the quaint, outdoorsman-like town that tourists found irresistible, Chase spotted several motel chains that catered to travelers, but chose one on the outskirts. He parked in the back after checking in.

Zoric made a quick trip for some sandwiches and drinks while Chase and Tessa gently assisted Mr. Crawley into one of the rooms. Casually, Chase retrieved Tessa’s bag she’d secured the first day into the nightmare. There were two other backpacks belonging to the two men which were carelessly dropped on the floor by the door. The room was nondescript, like so many motel chains across the country: two double beds, dresser and TV stand, a digital alarm clock that blinked red numbers next to a black phone on the nightstand. A swivel chair and footstool sat next to a small round table beneath the window covered in dated pin striped curtains. Located at the back was the bathroom, small but efficient. A four cup coffee maker rested on the vanity with a selection of Earl Grey tea and some off brand coffee, both regular and decaffeinated. It could’ve been a room anywhere in America that travelers stop and rest before continuing on with their holiday.

Tessa realized she would never look at another motel quite the same way for the rest of her life. So far this little respite from Robert and the kids was turning out to be the vacation from hell. She stood in the doorway watching Chase sit Mr. Crawley down in the only chair before removing his San Francisco Giants baseball cap and laying it on the table. He looked over his shoulder at her and motioned to move away from the door with his stern, chocolate eyes. Tessa met his gaze with her own narrowed eyes, pretending to show contempt before coming inside, closing the door behind her with her foot. She needed to make him feel as off centered as she felt.

“Where would I go?” she snapped, knowing the captain thought she’d try and escape again. He hadn’t shown one ounce of surprise, relief or outrage when discovering she’d not been taken hostage by Essid. The only moment when she’d known the gravity of her actions was when Chase had pulled over on the bridge then pulled her roughly from the Hummer. He’d forced her to look over the side at the burning wreckage below, remaining silent long enough for the seriousness to sink in to her thick skull. Grabbing her arm, Chase pushed her back toward the car and waited for her to buckle herself in.

“Don’t ever do that again!” he growled before slamming the door shut.

Tessa had been shaken to the core. What if those thugs had forced her in the Equinox? What if Essid had made good on his threat to shoot Mr. Crawley if she didn’t cooperate? What if he’d taken her to lure Captain Hunter to a secluded spot in order to kill him? After all Chase had done to protect her, she had nearly made it possible for a very evil man to murder him without remorse or hesitation.

Only by focusing on the road ahead and gripping her hands tightly did she keep from breaking down into a sobbing idiot. She hadn’t known the mighty Captain Chase Hunter very long, but she already knew he had little patience with weakness, disobeying of orders and compromising a mission. In a matter of a few minutes she’d managed to accomplish all of those things. His menacing dark eyes landed on her like a hammer when he’d seen her talking to the police in Auburn. Maybe he wished she’d been in the Equinox. Now here she was in a remote part of California with Enigma agents, Mr. Crawley and confusion as to why they were holed up in a motel.