In Harm's Way (Heroes of Quantico Series, Book 3) (26 page)

After six minutes, Claudia decided she'd waited long enough.
Her fingers were getting numb, and whoever was in that car
didn't seem inclined to move.

Slinging her purse strap over her shoulder, she settled her
notebook in the crook of her arm and slid out of her car.

She'd gone no more than a dozen feet when the door opened
on the other vehicle and a slender woman stepped out. Claudia slowed her pace, watching. The woman adjusted her coat,
smoothed her hair, tucked a clutch bag under her arm. Crossing
the street, she headed for Rachel's house.

She seemed familiar, though the ornate streetlights were more
decorative than practical, leaving her face in shadows. Wanting
a closer look, Claudia picked up her pace.

Not until the woman stepped from the street onto the sidewalk in front of Rachel's house did she notice Claudia. She stopped, twisted away, fiddled with her handbag. Claudia, on
the other hand, didn't falter. She kept on walking, directing an
innocuous smile at the woman as she drew close.

"Cold night, isn't it?"

The woman lifted her chin, offering a return smile that seemed
forced as the dim glow from the streetlight illuminated her face.
"Yes. Very."

Claudia almost had apoplexy.

It was Rebecca O'Neil.

The kidnapped baby's mother.

She recognized her from the newspaper photos she'd seen
less than an hour ago.

Somehow, Claudia managed to rein in her shock and keep
walking. She couldn't turn around until Rebecca O'Neil entered
the house. That might raise suspicions.

But in three minutes, she planned to run, not walk, back to
her car.

Because this was the scoop of a lifetime! Rachel Sutton and
the FBI could say they didn't believe in psychics, but as far as
Claudia was concerned, actions spoke louder than words.

St. Louis Scene readers would eat this up.

Rebecca checked her watch. Six-thirty on the dot. It was time
to meet her sister.

She lifted her hand, preparing to knock. Hesitated. Tried to
regulate her breathing. Failed.

What if they didn't like each other? What if this reunion
disrupted both their lives? What if ...

The door was pulled open, interrupting her panicked musings. Special Agent Nick Bradley stood on the other side, as if
he'd been watching for her. As if he'd suspected she'd get cold feet. As if he'd guessed she might need a final nudge to walk
over the threshold and into a different future.

"Hello, Mrs. O'Neil. We've been waiting for you:" He smiled
and leaned closer, dropping his voice as he winked. "And Rachel
is just as nervous about this as you are"

Some of Rebecca's tension melted away. It was going to be
okay. She'd prayed about this, and in her heart she knew she was
doing the right thing. Meeting Rachel might not restore Megan
to her arms-the FBI agent had already explained that there was
little chance the link Rachel felt toward her would extend to her
daughter-but sisters should know each other.

Taking a fortifying breath, she stepped inside.

From her spot next to the fireplace, beside their mother's
picture, Rachel watched Rebecca O'Neil-her twin sister-enter
her home. She'd searched out her picture on the internet after
Nick dropped his bombshell, so she'd known what Rebecca
looked like. But a photo couldn't compare to seeing the living,
breathing person.

As Nick slipped the coat off Rebecca's shoulders and took her
purse, the sisters locked gazes. In unison, they moistened their
lips with the tips of their tongues and tucked their hair behind
their ear. Startled by the mirror-image gesture, Rachel stared at
Rebecca. Rebecca stared back.

Unsure if her unsteady legs would support her, Rachel managed a tremulous smile. She walked toward her sister and held
out her hand. "Welcome"

Instead of taking her hand, Rebecca enfolded her in a hug. "I
think sisters can do better than a handshake, don't you?"

The tears in Rebecca's voice paralleled the ones welling in
Rachel's eyes as she returned the embrace. "Absolutely. I'm just
sorry our meeting was under these circumstances"

"Me too:" Rebecca stepped out of the hug but took both of
Rachel's hands in her own. "But I haven't given up hope. I know
everyone is doing everything they can to find Megan. Just like
you did, by going to the FBI with the doll. That took a lot of
courage. I can imagine the reaction you got:"

Rachel flicked a glance at Nick over Rebecca's shoulder. "To
be honest, I was shown a lot more consideration than I expected"

"I'm glad for that, anyway." She blinked again and swiped
the moisture out of her eyes, managing a shaky laugh. "You
know, even if we didn't have the paperwork to prove we were
identical twins, this is pretty powerful evidence:" She gestured
toward their attire.

Now that Rebecca had pointed it out, the striking similarity in
their choice of clothing for the evening registered. Like Rachel,
Rebecca wore black pumps, a slim black skirt, and a silk blouse
in the very same jacquard pattern and style. Hers, however, was
teal blue instead of teal green.

Rachel shook her head. "Wow. This is weird"

"Here's something else weird." Rebecca walked over to the couch
and fingered the wool throw. "Is this from Pottery Barn?"

"Yes"

"I have the exact same one in our family room."

Perching on the arm of the couch, Rachel folded her arms. "Nick
told me you're into music too. What's your favorite musical?"

"Camelot:" At Rachel's grin, Rebecca smiled. "Let me guess.
Yours too?"

"Yep. Do you like chocolate?"

"Love it"

"Dark or milk?"

"Milk. Is there any other kind worth eating?"

I agree' Rachel tipped her head, beginning to enjoy this.
"But I hate coconut"

"Me too. I can also live without peas. Unless we're having
them tonight .."

"Not a chance. I put peas in the same category as castor oil.
Now broccoli ... that's another story."

"I love broccoli:"

"Good. Because it's on the menu. And speaking of food, dinner
is served. I thought you might be hungry after your long drive"

"Starved. May I freshen up first?"

"Of course. First door on your right, down the hall:"

As Rebecca disappeared, Rachel turned toward the kitchenand caught sight of Nick by the front door. He stood with one
shoulder propped against the wall, arms folded, one leg crossed
over the other, toe planted in her carpet. With a smile, he pushed
off and ambled toward her. "Looks like you don't need me to run
interference after all. The ice has not only been broken, it's melted.
How about I make a quiet exit and leave you two to catch up?"

"No way. I promised you dinner" She took his arm and drew
him toward the dining room. "Besides, there might be a lag in
the conversation and we'll need you to step in"

"Okay. You don't have to twist my arm. The food smells
great"

But in the end, Rachel had to admit his presence was superfluous. She and Rebecca gabbed nonstop during dinner, as if
they'd known each other for all of their thirty-five years, often
finishing each other's sentences. Periodically they remembered
Nick's presence and tried to include him in the lively exchange,
but she wasn't surprised when he set his napkin on the table
after dessert and rose.

"I think I'm ready to call it a night, ladies"

Both women checked their traditional-style gold watches.

"I can't believe it's nine o'clock already" Rebecca shook her
head.

"You're sure you can't stay a little longer?" Rachel asked Nick.

"Not tonight."

"I'll walk you out, then. Excuse me for a minute, Rebecca?"

"Don't hurry. I'm loving this Irish cream coffee. Nick, thank
you for setting this up" She extended her hand.

"It was my pleasure." After taking her fingers in a firm grip,
he followed Rachel to the living room. She already had his coat
out, and he grinned. "Anxious to get rid of me, I see"

"Not at all." She lowered his coat. "Would you like to stay
longer?"

He touched her cheek, his eyes softening. "I was kidding. I'm
happy you two hit it off."

She leaned into his touch, and at the pressure against his fingers
he cupped her chin and smoothed the hair back from her forehead.
When he spoke, the husky cadence in his voice told her she wasn't
the only one affected by the simple contact. "Enjoy the moment,
okay? These kinds of special nights don't happen often"

"Rachel, is there any more cream in ... oops, sorry." Rebecca
took a step back and gave them a rueful smile as Nick dropped
his hand. "I'll find some in the kitchen. Don't rush your goodbyes on my account"

"I have a feeling I'm going to get teased about this later. Siblings are like that, from everything I've heard" Rachel smiled,
liking the sound of that word. "But you know what? I don't mind
in the least"

"What will you tell her?" Nick took the coat and slipped his
arms into the sleeves.

She gave him an assessing look. "What should I tell her?"

"How about the truth? That we're dating"

"Are we?"

"Count on it. As soon as this case is over."

A delicious tingle zipped through her. "Too bad I can't speed
the process along. I wish this telepathy thing extended beyond
Rebecca" Some of her happiness dimmed. "She's put up a good front tonight, Nick, but losing a child to kidnapping ... it has to
be awful. When I hugged her, I could feel her bones. She's way
too thin. And even makeup can't camouflage the dark circles
under eyes'

"I noticed. But we don't have a lot to work with. The leads
have pretty much dried up"

"Rebecca hasn't given up"

"I know"

"Has the FBI? Please, Nick ... tell me the truth"

He searched her face, and she could tell he was weighing his
response.

"It's been eight weeks, Rachel. The kidnapper could be anywhere by now. Megan may not..." He stopped for a moment.
"Let me put it this way. We don't often see happy reunions after
such a long time"

She appreciated his honesty. But she wasn't going to give
up. Not yet.

"Rebecca and I had one after thirty-five years, Nick. That
was a long shot too. I'm on Rebecca's side. I have a feeling the
kidnapping will end well also. And soon"

"I agree it's an outcome worth praying for. Good night, Rachel:"

As Nick strode down the walk toward his car, Rachel eased
the door shut, her spirits dipping. While she was deeply grateful
she and Rebecca had found each other, perhaps a reunion of
mother and baby as well might be too much to hope for.

Yet she had the oddest feeling that something big was about
to break on this case.

"Debra? Is that you?"

Heart pounding, Debra clicked Danielle into the safety seat,
shut the door, and turned, blocking the view into her car. What
in the world was Warren Peterson doing in St. Louis? She'd chosen the city because no one here knew her. To avoid encounters
like this one.