CrossFire (Love & Lies #1) (14 page)

“You must be Jillian Sandro.” Jillian nodded. “I’m Director Rollins,” she said, quickly flashing a badge. “I understand you’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

Jillian nodded again and Director Rollins snapped her finger. A man rushed over.

“This is Brent Riker,” said Rollins. “He’s going to drive you back to headquarter, where you’ll give your statement, and then we have some paperwork we’re going to need you to fill out.”

“What about Reid?” Jillian asked.

“Agent Jackson will be along shortly.”

Jillian reluctantly climbed into the back seat of the sedan with Rollins’s lackey and as they were driven away, she turned back to watch the whole scene shrink away.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

After telling Riker everything that had happened, he asked her to write it down. Then asked her to tell him again as he went over it.

“Just being thorough,” he told her.

A lot of questions about Reid’s involvement were asked, and Jillian began to wonder how much trouble he was in.

When he was finally done with the interrogating, Riker brought in a lawyer who sat down next to Jillian with a non-disclosure agreement. They assured her she could go home as soon as she signed it, but also politely explained what the consequences would be if she breathed a word of the agency’s involvement to anyone outside of the agency. There was no hesitation. She wanted to forget about it all as much as they did.

Riker and the lawyer left as Director Rollins walked in with another gentleman who wasn’t dressed nearly as sharply as everyone else.

“We thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Sandro,” she said. “Agent Gavin Maxwell here will escort you home. If we need anything else, we know how to reach you.” She turned on her heel and left.

That was it, Jillian had been dismissed.

“If you’ll follow me, Ms. Sandro,” said Gavin.

They walked down the hall not far behind Rollins and as she entered another room, Jillian caught sight of Reid. Their eyes met for a second before Rollins shut the door behind her.

“What’s going to happen to him?” she asked.

“Hard to say,” Gavin said with a shrug.

Reid stared at the door for a few more seconds before turning his attention to Director Rollins.

“Where is Maxwell taking her?” he asked. “Ma’am,” he added after seeing the icy expression on her face.

“Home.”

Aaron kicked him from under the table, reminding him what he should be worried about right now.

“Now let’s go over this one more time, gentleman,” she said.

It was late when Director Rollins finally let Reid leave. He pulled into his driveway, feeling the familiar exhaustion, but immediately walked across the street to Jillian’s house. As he stood on the front step listening to the doorbell echo through the house, he told himself that she had succumbed to fatigue and didn’t hear, yet couldn’t help feeling that she was simply avoiding him.

Deciding to try again first thing in the morning, he walked back to his house with both hands in his pockets. As he approached his darkened porch, Reid could just make out something, or someone, lying across the swing. He walked up to discover Jillian, fast asleep.

“Hey,” he said, crouching close to her face and her eyes fluttered open. “What are you doing here?”

She sat up while he kept the swing steady. “I couldn’t go inside.”

“A team has already done a sweep,” he said. “I promise there’s no more surveillance equipment.”

“That’s not it,” she said, shaking her head. “Even if they’re not watching me, that was never my home. It wasn’t even my father’s, it was
his.
”

“Come inside,” Reid said, taking her hand. “It’s chilly out here.”

She nodded and let him lead her into the house. Her hand in his felt good and Reid resisted the temptation to pull her into him.

“I didn’t know where else to go,” she said. “All I have left is my aunt and I didn’t know what to say.” She stifled a sob. “How do I tell her that her brother-in-law was… What am I supposed to say to them?”

Reid wiped away a tear that was sliding down her cheek. “Of course you can stay here. I want you here with me.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“And we can worry later about what to say to everyone. You should get some sleep now. You’re exhausted.”

“Sleep does sound good.”

She followed Reid upstairs and he found a t-shirt for her to sleep in.

“Will you stay here?” she asked as he pulled back the covers and she crawled into his bed. “Next to me?”

Reid stripped down to his boxers and slid in next to her.

“There’s nowhere I need to be but right here,” he said and she curled up into his arms.

“Reid?”

“Hmm…” he answered, gently stroking her back.

“I love you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I love you too.”

Jillian woke the next morning to sunshine peeking into the bedroom and Reid’s arms around her. For a precious moment, it was easy to pretend everything else had been a horrible nightmare. But then she saw the bruise on her arm and knew it had indeed been very real.

“Good morning,” Reid said into her neck.

She rolled over to see the smile on his face and felt one growing on her own.

“Good morning.”

“How’d you sleep?” he asked.

“Very well, thank you,” she said propping up on her elbow to look down at him.

His smile faltered. “That’s good. But don’t be surprised if some memories spring up over the next few days.”

“You’ll be here to protect me from them, won’t you?”

“I hope so.”

Now her smile faded. “Are you in trouble?” she asked.

“Yes. But they haven’t decided what to do with me. There’s a hearing next week.”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“I’m not,” he said, caressing her face.

Jillian took the hand and kissed his palm. Without warning, Reid rolled her onto her back and she felt a charge as he straddled her.

“No matter what happens,” he said, staring right into her eyes, “I’d do it all over again.”

She arched up to meet his lips and kissed him.

For the past hour, Reid had been sitting at a table listening to the Disciplinary Board run through everything he, Jillian, and Aaron had told them, pointing out every wrong choice he had made along the way. This was not looking good for Reid.

“In light of recent events,” one of the board members concluded and Reid prepared himself for the blow, “we still could not overlook your exemplary service to this agency and the fact that your actions led to the apprehension of a known terrorist. After one month’s suspension without pay, you shall be re-instated to full active duty.”

“Thank you, Ma’am,” said Reid, hardly believing what they were saying.

“This hearing is adjourned.”

Reid stood up and exited the conference room to find Jillian and Aaron seated on a bench.

“How did it go?” Aaron asked as he and Jillian both stood.

“One month’s suspension,” said Reid.

“Really? That’s great!” Aaron gave him a hearty pat on the back.

“But I’m handing in my resignation this afternoon.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

Reid looked at Jillian then back to Aaron, who looked pissed. He didn’t expect him to understand.

“Because I don’t feel I’ll be able to carry out the missions to the best of my ability anymore.”

Now Aaron looked at Jillian.

“This is your doing, isn’t it?” he asked and Jillian’s jaw dropped.

“I had no idea,” she exclaimed.

“This decision is mine and mine alone,” Reid said. “Don’t blame her.”

Aaron crossed his arms over his chest. Reid knew his partner well enough to know that he was trying not to blow up at them. Aaron opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Riker rushed up to them.

“Rollins thought you should see this,” he said, handing a letter to Aaron.

Aaron read it and Reid watched his jaw tense up even more.

“What is it?” Reid asked.

“Based on what Jillian told Riker,” he said, “we think it was Morozov at the cabin before you arrived. But as always, there isn’t enough to bring him in.”

“What?” Reid and Jillian said together.

“His lawyers came in and said that everything was circumstantial,” Riker explained.

“But he was there,” Jillian cried. “He told me everything.”

Reid put an arm around her and could feel her starting to shake. From fear or anger, he wasn’t sure.

“Did he ever tell you his name?” Riker asked.

“Well, no.”

“But she was on his god damn boat,” said Reid. “We know that for a fact.”

“Morozov admits that he let his cousin borrow his boat,” said Riker, “but claims he had no knowledge what Casimir was doing with the vessel. It’s your word against his. There’s no hard evidence. The man didn’t even leave any fingerprints at the cabin.”

“But my father…” said Jillian.

“He’s not talking,” Riker told her. “I think he’s too scared.”

“I want to talk to him,” she said.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” said Riker.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Reid asked, “Why not? She’s the one person he might listen to.”

Riker rubbed his temple. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll go talk to Rollins.”

“Should we be worried?” Reid asked as Riker walked away. And by we, he meant Jillian.

“I don’t know,” Aaron said with a frown. “He’s just made a clean escape. I don’t imagine him doing anything to jeopardize that. But somebody needs to take this bastard down and soon.”

Aaron’s phone went off, and Reid recognized the tone.

Aaron looked at it. “I have to go.”

Reid nodded as Aaron rushed off.

“Now what?” Jillian asked with worry written all over her face.

“If I know Wells, he won’t let this go. But that’s not something you and I need to worry about anymore.”

“Are you really resigning?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“Because I don’t want to be out there in the field worrying about you,” he said. “Or know that you’re here worrying about me.”

“You don’t have to quit because of me.”

“I know. But I want to. It just feels like the right step.”

Jillian tried to control the shaking in her hands as she sat in the stiff chair, waiting for her father to appear on the other side of the plexiglass. She hadn’t seen or spoken to him since he’d been restrained at the cabin and wasn’t sure if she wanted to now. But at the moment, he was the only one keeping Morozov out of jail.

The door buzzed and Jillian watched a guard bring her father in. The sight of him in orange overalls and chains around his hands and feet broke her heart. How could this be the same man who had chased away her nightmares when she was a little girl?

His face brightened at the sight of her, but the smile only accentuated the sallowness. Had he aged that much in the last week, or had she simply not noticed before? The burden of his guilt must have taken its toll on him over the years.

“
Tesoro
,” he said into the phone that enabled them to communicate across the barrier. “They didn’t tell me who my visitor was. It’s so good to see your face!”

“Why won’t you tell them it was Morozov you were working for?”

He closed his eyes and shook his head.

“I can’t,” he said.

“I don’t understand,” she said. “What could you possibly have to gain by saying nothing?”

“I do it for you, to protect you!”

“But if Morozov is behind bars, what is there to worry about?”

Again Jacob shook his head. “The man is too smart. Even if he went to jail, someone in his family may come after you. I can’t risk that.”

“So you would rather rot in jail.”

“It is to protect you,” he said. “I love you, Jillian.”

Her eyes stung from the tears threatening to break free, but Jillian refused to cry here for him.

“I loved the man you were before mother died,” she said. “Now, you’re just a coward.”

She hung up as her father began sobbing, but she couldn’t hear it, could only see his body shaking while he buried his head in his hands. The guard took him away as she exited the visiting area to where Reid was waiting for her by the sign-in desk.

“Will he talk?” he asked.

Jillian shook her head.

“It was worth a shot, right?”

She shrugged as they walked out to Reid’s SUV. He let her sit in silence on the ride home. As they neared Renton, a thought struck her.