B00MV3HMDW_EBOK (26 page)

“Partners. Lovers.” Taryn closed her eyes on the last word, as if the reality of their choice was finally setting in. When she raised her lashes, her brown eyes sparkled with life.
This
was why he’d given them a moment. “Now let’s finish this case so that we can get back home.”

Chapter Twenty-One

“B
owers has made multiple landline calls today, several of them to government officials.” Taryn looked up over her monitors to see Ethan, Jax, Connor, and Crest all sitting around another table that had been brought in under Crest’s instructions. Fallon still sat on the couch typing away at her laptop, but Taryn’s words made her stop and also pay attention. Kevin, along with Lach’s assistance, had been left behind to protect the assets of CSA as well as oversee the safety of their families. “It was easy enough for me to trick out the local digital phone network and intercept those conversations. He wants the disinterment of the body stopped. Art is trying to figure out a way to prevent the media from finding out that another body is buried where Travis Bowers should be.”

“What about the number I gave you?” Ethan asked, tossing the crust of his pizza back onto his plate. They had all been given tasks throughout the day, some involving scouting locations where Ryland could have been and others trying to locate Neonni. The assassin could be anywhere in the world and Jax was now kicking himself that they’d let the man slip through their fingers at the beginning of the year when he’d shown his face in Minneapolis. “Did that pen register lead to any person in particular?”

“It’s bouncing of several satellites, some not even over the country.”

“Neonni?” Crest inquired as he stood from the table and walked over to where he’d had a coffee maker brought in. He poured himself a mug before facing the group. “If we’re piecing things together correctly, then it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s who the number belongs to. The question remains: how did Bowers gain access to such a high-priced contractor? Fallon, are we seeing too many coincidences here?”

“Not necessarily,” Fallon replied, tucking her long blonde hair behind her ear. Taryn tried not to think of the fact that this woman had sex with Ethan, but those images had appeared in her mind a couple of times that afternoon. Taryn wasn’t the jealous type by nature, but it certainly ground dirt into her face and she didn’t like being around the profiler. “Ryland and Neonni run in the same circles, yes…but technically anyone with a government connection would be able to get a hold of their names. They both rate the higher paid and more selective jobs than their counterparts. I’ve drawn up a profile for Arthur Bowers, and from the information that I’ve had access to so far there isn’t any length as to how far he would go. He’s always been jealous of others and the fact that his brother was graced with the intelligence to build an empire only made him more envious.”

“Intelligence?” Taryn asked sharply, taking the pencil out of her mouth and stared pointedly at Fallon. “You saw those pictures and what he did to Sabrina Bowers. That man was a pedophile and didn’t deserve a dime of the money he made.”

“I’m not arguing that,” Fallon said, raising an eyebrow, and the coughs from the men made Taryn realize that she’d overreacted. Call it what you will, but the more information that they found on Sabrina Bowers, the deeper Taryn became in this case. “I’m merely stating that Charles Bowers had the intellect to do what his brother couldn’t.”

“I’m sorry.” Even Taryn could hear the exhaustion in her own voice. She’d been staring at the screens all day, running program after program, and wanting nothing more than to wrap this up so that she and Ethan could go home. Fallon hadn’t done a thing other than give her opinion on the people involved. “I shouldn’t have snapped.”

“We’re all on edge.” Crest walked back to the table and took a seat. “Fallon, give us something that we can use.”

“Oh, if only it were that simple,” Fallon replied with a real smile. She rose from the couch and walked over to where Taryn was situated at the table. “Is there a way to pull up the footage from when you originally arrested Ryland at the train station?”

“Of course.” Taryn shoved the pencil behind her ear and within moments had the footage up on her screen. She hated watching this over and over, but Fallon seemed hell bent on thinking that moment meant something. “Where do you want me to start rolling the feed?”

“When Ryland sees you for the first time.”

Taryn clicked a few keys and within seconds the material played on the monitor. It didn’t get any easier to look at the man who’d made her life hell for the past couple of years. Fallon indicated that she wanted to pause the picture, so Taryn made the video stop. She zeroed in on Ryland’s face.

“Do you see it?” Fallon asked, pointing at the screen. “Ryland spent years trying to save his sister, and when he couldn’t you took her place. Look at the recognition in his eyes when he sees you.”

“You keep coming back to your alleged statement that Ryland wouldn’t attempt to hurt Taryn, but can you guarantee that?” Ethan rubbed his eyes in frustration and then ran a hand in the air over the papers that were strewn across the table. “Ryland has never hesitated to eliminate anyone and honestly he didn’t seem too distraught over Yvette’s death.”

“Because she technically wasn’t Sabrina anymore.” Fallon stood and walked back to the couch. She took a seat on the edge, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees to make her point. “Ryland’s emotions are what you would think of as compartmentalized. He doesn’t connect the personal with the professional. He doesn’t feel things the same way an average person would. Notice I didn’t say normal. That’s for another conversation. Back to what Ryland feels or doesn’t feel…he’s got his own moral code. He views taking a contract to eliminate a person as work and distances himself from the intimate act of killing. Those who wronged him in the past are nothing to him. Due to what he does, he refuses to allow anyone close and—”

“Why?” Taryn asked, picking up her own empty coffee mug and walking over to where the pot sat on the burner. Fallon was finally making some sense and saying words in a manner in which Taryn could relate. “Is it because of what he does that he doesn’t want to get caught?”

“That’s part of it,” Fallon replied, using her hands as an emphasis. “But also subconsciously he knows it would make him realize that he really
is
the monster that hides in the dark recesses of his mind.”

“So where do we go from here?” Connor joined Taryn for some coffee and she poured him the last drop of the brewed content. “Someone needs to keep a close eye on Art Bowers along with the comings and goings of his residence. I’ll take that duty, although I think Jax should be the man’s shadow.”

“Agreed,” Crest stated, tapping his finger on the table. “I’ve called in additional reinforcements who are keeping an eye on the situation from afar. Taryn should remain inside the hotel until the disinterment.”

“We’ll head out.” Connor looked pointedly at Jax, who seemed to be waiting for Crest to say more. Taryn had noticed as well that Crest had omitted Ethan’s assignment over the next two days and her hand tightened around her mug to prevent herself from asking
why
in front of everyone. “Jax? Let’s roll.”

“Fallon, I need a moment with Ethan and Taryn.” Crest remained seated as he made his request, not giving away what he was thinking or feeling. “Why don’t you go to your hotel room and get settled in. We’ll meet here at zero seven hundred unless something occurs between now and then.”

“Of course,” Fallon replied, gathering her items and then heading for the door. “Good night.”

Taryn finally forced herself to look at Ethan, who remained sitting across from Crest and not looking concerned in the least. She knew it was a possibility that Crest would let one of them go. It certainly wasn’t common practice for team members to be engaged in an intimate relationship. She didn’t regret these last few days, but she certainly wasn’t ready to lose the team that she’d come to think of as family. She steeled herself exactly where she stood for what Crest was about to say.

“The two of you changed the dynamics of the team.”

“Crest—”

“I don’t want you to misinterpret me in any way,” Crest interrupted Ethan, holding up a hand. His stare pinned both of them into place, although he directed his next words toward Ethan. “This isn’t a two way conversation. Let me spell this out for you. You picked a hell of a time to dip your dick into the company inkwell. The members of this team think of Taryn as a sister and all of them would lay their lives on the line for either of you. I can’t even fathom what the two of you were thinking to get involved in the middle of a case with people’s lives on the line.”

Crest rose from his chair, leaving his coffee on the table as he took a few steps away. He slipped his hands into his pockets as he looked between the two of them, obviously taking his time in gathering his thoughts on what to say next. Taryn cringed at the lecture but understood where Crest was coming from. It didn’t alter the fact that she and Ethan had acted on their feelings and it certainly wouldn’t change the future. She straightened her shoulders and waited for the verdict to be handed down, just as she would have had she been standing in front of her commander back in the day.

“You can’t change the past or the choices that you made. All I can ask is that the two of you act like the professionals that you are and keep your shit together. Don’t compromise the integrity of this agency or the team. If this thing ends for whatever reason, it’ll end badly because both of you will be looking for another job. Is that clear?”

“Understood.” Ethan was the first to speak, but the pride in his voice was evident. Taryn felt her confidence rise at knowing that Ethan had faith in them and the path they’d chosen. “You have my apologies for the bad timing on my part.”

“All right,” Crest said, gesturing toward the door with his head, “go. Get some rest. Ethan, it goes without saying that you don’t leave Taryn’s side. She’s not only working this from an agent’s standpoint, she’s also the target which we are all here protecting.”

“I—” Taryn had started to give her opinion on what had just taken place, but Crest shook his head. He’d already made his position clear and there was no reason rehash it. Point taken. “We’ll be back here at zero seven hundred.”

“Ethan, Taryn.” Crest had waited until they were at the door before calling their names. Both Ethan and Taryn turned, seeing that he’d already walked back to the table for his coffee. “On a personal note…”

Crest let what he was going to say slide and lifted one side of his mouth up in a half smile. He silently raised his cup before turning and walking toward the bedroom. Taryn felt her heart jolt at the unspoken support, for she really did value Crest’s opinion. She slid her hand into Ethan’s and squeezed slightly. If they lived through this, there was hope waiting for them on the other side.

*   *   *   *

“The disinterment takes place in two days at nine o’clock in the morning. I don’t care how it gets done, but take her out before it’s done so that it causes a distraction. I’ll handle things from there.”

“The target’s not alone and there are new complications. My fee has tripled.”

Art felt his blood pressure rise at everything that had gone wrong this past week. His entire kingdom was starting to crumble piece by piece, and unless he did something about it he’d lose everything. The monetary value of what this would cost him wasn’t near what it would be if he lost his claim on his brother’s estate. He tried to relax his hold on the glass tumbler in his hand but it was useless. There was no reason to negotiate. This man was Art’s only way to eliminate those in his way.

“I’ll make the transfer first thing in the morning. Same numbered account?”

“Yes.” There was a brief pause. “After this you won’t be able to contact me.”

Art knew he’d just been told that he’d used up his chips. He didn’t like knowing that he was losing an asset that had been very useful in the past. Unfortunately he didn’t have a choice. The federal authorities would rip everything away from him if it turned out that Travis’ remains weren’t genuinely in the family plot. This was a twist that Art hadn’t seen coming.