Authors: Jacquie Johnson
“What!” She demanded, her voice rising.
“Who else?
Are they still there?” She made a move to look behind her, and Chase grabbed her arm, preventing her from turning.
“Looking goes totally against tradecraft rules. Surely the FBI taught you that. Find a reflective surface if you want to check. Otherwise, you can trust that I ditched your shadows on the way into the city.”
Angela shrugged lightly, curls cascading over her shoulder. “Well then, I suppose I’ll just trust you. It sounds like you’ve had my back longer than I thought. Honestly, I haven’t used much of my field training. I can shoot though. Dad taught me when I was younger.”
“From what I’ve heard, your dad was an amazing soldier,” Chase offered as he weaved his way through the crowd, heading for the structure labeled Doctors Office Building.
“Doc mentioned that the other night. I feel bad that I never knew. I mean, I knew he was a soldier, but he never talked about his time in the military so I just thought he put in his time and left.”
“Very few soldiers like your dad talk about their experiences with those outside their unit,” he revealed. “First, a lot of the details are classified, and second, most people can’t understand what we’ve done.”
“We’ve?” Angela caught his slip of the tongue. “Were you in the special forces like my dad?”
Chase inclined his head affirmatively. Angela opened her mouth to ask another question but stopped when he shook his head. “Maybe later, Angel,” he promised opening the door to the physician pavilion and guiding her inside.
Twenty minutes later, Angela stood in front of the reception desk alternately arguing, cajoling, and pleading with the office manager to release Nick McKenzie’s medical records. Even when she presented her father’s obituary, the middle age woman stood firm, claiming that releasing the records would violate Mr. McKenzie’s privacy rights.
“He doesn’t have any privacy rights!” Angela protested furiously. “He’s dead, damn it, and I want to know why!”
“I’m
sorry,
Miss,” the officious woman intoned, “but those are the rules. Now, if you refuse to leave, I’ll have to call security to remove you.”
Angela clenched her fists, all her grief and anger surging to the surface. Bracing her hands against the counter, she took a deep breath and prepared to verbally attack the woman across from her.
“Easy, tiger,” Chase breathed in her ear, wrapping both arms around her waist and holding her in place. “You won’t win this one. We’ll have to find another way.” He tugged Angela toward the door, gripping her arm firmly when she planted her feet and tried to object.
“Angela, not now!”
He dragged her toward the exit.
Pulling away, she turned and slammed into a young woman with light caramel skin, carrying a stack of file folders. The files flew across the room, and Angela gasped, clapping a hand across her mouth, aghast by her actions. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized, dropping to her knees and trying to gather up the papers. “I didn’t mean to….” She gestured to the papers.
“It’s all right,” the girl assured her, continuing to collect and reassemble the documents. Before she stood, the girl whispered, “Meet me at the swan boats when they open tomorrow.”
As Angela walked toward the exit, she heard the woman behind the desk complain, “Cripes, Jaida, you really should be more careful. I don’t know what the doctors see in you.”
“Angel?” Chase murmured, but she only shook her head and hurried to the nearest exit with Chase on her heels.
Once outside, Angela rushed to the parking garage and waited for Chase to unlock the doors to the Mercedes. Tears fell, drop by drop, from Angela’s eyes while he eased the car smoothly out of the garage, the high performance engine purring.
“Angela?” Chase probed as he merged into the heavy traffic. “What did she say?”
“I was right,” she announced, tears trickling down her cheeks. “Something’s wrong at that office.”
“I’ll admit the manager is a bitch, but that doesn’t mean anything,” he reasoned, keeping his voice soft and low.
“It’s not that, although you’re right. She was bitchy.” She wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. “No, the girl who dropped the files whispered that I should meet her at the swan boats tomorrow morning.”
“You think she knows something about Mac?” Chase raised one eyebrow.
“Why else would she ask me to meet her?” Angela demanded, her lower lip jutting out because he appeared not to believe her.
Chase glanced over at her, a small smile gracing his face.
“Well, there’s no harm in staying in Boston for the night. I’ll buy you dinner, maybe take you out dancing. What do you think?” Reaching over, he tousled her hair before tucking a wayward curl behind one ear.
“Seriously?”
Angela shifted in her seat, turning to face him.
“Sure. What’s the harm? Besides, I’d enjoy spending a night on the town with a sweet, young thing like you.” He winked at her before returning his attention to the traffic.
Angela giggled at his playful behavior. “You’re such a charmer,” she teased.
“Sweet, young thing?
Yeah, right.”
She rolled her eyes. “I love the idea, Chase, but I’m not sure I’m the best of company right now.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he assured her. “I’m serious though, Angela. I’d really enjoy taking you for dinner. My life doesn’t lend itself to dating so it’s been a long time since I’ve spent time in the company of a beautiful woman like you.”
Angela quietly contemplated his words as Chase threaded his way through the heavy later afternoon traffic. Nibbling on her fingernail, she finally admitted, “I’m not really dressed to go out and, if we have to drive home and change, it kind of defeats the point.”
“And if I could take care of that issue, would you join me for dinner and dancing, Ms. McKenzie?” Chase inquired, and Angela laughed.
“Why, I do believe I would, Mr. Romero.”
A dazzling smile spread across Chase’s face, and Angela’s heart leapt.
Good gravy, he’s gorgeous – truly gorgeous. And that smile – it could stop traffic.
Chase immediately dialed a number on his cell phone.
“
Tonio
, my good man.
It’s Shane Kirkpatrick. Good, good. Actually, I need a favor. I have to spend the evening in Boston with a lovely companion due to unforeseen circumstances.
Truly stunning.
Special.
Precisely.
Reservations at eight?
Excellent.
Thanks,
Tonio
. I owe you one.”
“Who’s
Tonio
?” she demanded the moment he hung up. “And why did you tell him you were Shane Kirkpatrick?”
Chase threw his head back and chortled. “Tonight, we are Shane Kirkpatrick and his lovely companion. It’s an old cover of mine and one few people know about. I met
Tonio
while undercover a few years ago, and he only knows me as Shane, an international businessman.
Tonio
is the manager of a small, exclusive boutique hotel in Boston. He’s holding a room for us and making dinner reservations in the North End.”
“A room?”
Angela’s mouth dropped open.
The corners of his mouth tipped up slightly, and she bristled slightly.
“Relax, Angel. I just thought we’d be tired and, at least for now, it’s a good idea to keep your head down until I can get in touch with Zach, and we figure out what’s going on. Plus the hotel is near the park so you won’t have to get up as early tomorrow if we stay in Boston.”
“Okay,” she replied, drawing out the word. Chase’s brow wrinkled and she sighed, realizing that he had picked up on the fact that she was suspicious of his motives.
“Shopping first, then dinner,” Chase promised as he parked in a garage near Newberry Street. “Come on,” he urged, after rounding the car and opening her door. He held out a hand and uttered words Angela lacked the will to resist.
“Time to shop.”
Two hours later, Angela’s laughter rang through the store as she twirled in front of Chase. He had been an excellent shopping partner, encouraging her to model items they had selected together and openly expressing his opinion of each one. She couldn’t recall the last time she had such fun shopping with someone. Finally, she decided on a blue watered silk dress which fit tight at the waist and then flared out to finish a few inches above the knee. The dress made her feel sexy and delicate at the same time.
After finalizing her selections, Angela helped Chase find his attire for the evening. After selecting a dark gray pair of slacks, silk t-shirt and navy blue sport coat, they headed to the hotel. Angela felt like she was floating on a cloud of happiness. For the moment, she set aside her worries and allowed herself to enjoy the time with Chase, aware that reality would intrude all too soon. Just as Chase parked, she reached into the glove compartment, removed the box she had picked up at J & J Jewelry, and shoved it into her purse. Tonight might be the perfect time to open whatever her father had given her. This was the closest thing she was going to have to a birthday celebration. With a heavy heart, she followed Chase into the brightly lit, marble lobby, the peacefulness of the hotel as stark contrast to the bustling Boston streets.
“Shane!” A loud voice boomed across the lobby as a slim Latino man with thick, shoulder length dark hair tied back in a ponytail strode toward them. The two men greeted each other with backslaps followed by handshakes. With a brilliant smile and a mischievous glint in his eye,
Tonio
reached for Angela’s hand, kissing it and giving Angela a wink Chase couldn’t see.
“Hands off,
Tonio
,” Chase demanded, removing Angela’s hand from his grasp and tugging her into his own arms.
Tonio
chuckled, his laughter echoing throughout the marbled lobby.
“A little possessive, man?
Well, you certainly are a beauty.” His eyes traced her curves, and Chase glared. When Angela blushed under his admiring gaze,
Tonio
relented. “Come on, you two. I’ve put you in the honeymoon suite,” he murmured to Chase. “I thought you might need the help.”
“Fuck you,” Chase replied under his breath as Angela wandered away to inspect the rest of the lobby. “Ready, babe?” he called out when
Tonio
finally handed over the room key.
“Reservations are at eight at Al Dente,”
Tonio
advised him. “It’s the hottest Italian place in town right now.”
One hour later, Angela slipped into a pair of blue four inch heels that matched her dress perfectly. She clutched the small white box with the initials J & J engraved on it. Taking a deep breath, she opened the box, revealing a perfect solid gold heart. With a trembling hand, she removed the necklace and carefully placed the pendant around her neck.
After pasting a smile on her face, she sauntered to the elevator, perfectly coiffed and dressed to impress, her newly purchased clutch in hand. She pushed the lingering sadness aside, determined to enjoy the evening, and strolled up to the bar where Chase waited, her hips swaying.
“Wow!” A wide smile spread across Chase’s face as he jumped to his feet. “You are truly enchanting. You always look beautiful, but tonight….” He leaned in and brushed his lips lightly against hers. “Exquisite.” His green eyes darkened, and he smiled devilishly before running a fingertip along her cheekbone. “Thank you for agreeing to accompany me to dinner, Angel.”