Redeem My Heart (33 page)

“Ryland could save an entire third world country full of starving children, and it still wouldn’t be enough for any of us to forgive that bastard for everything he’s done. E.D.A. created monsters—one of those loathsome creatures is Ryland. This became personal when he involved many of our team into his twisted, evil life. We’ll do what we have to in order to bring down E.D.A., but our primary focus is getting Derrick back. I’m not going to waste my time sitting here listening to you defend a snake like Ryland.” Connor stood and then pointed to a northern part of D.C. “We’ve got roughly four and a half hours left before we have to be at the swap at Lafayette Park. I’m joining Jax in the search for Grahn. He’s holding Derrick somewhere until just before noon. We need to figure out where that is before this shit gets real tight.”

“I’m right behind you, buddy,” Kevin said, giving Fallon a look that signified he felt the same.

“We’ll contact you the moment Taryn has a location on Ryland that actually produces results,” Crest responded, having already shed his long dress coat along with his suit jacket. He was rolling up his sleeves as he studied the map in front of them. Lach remained where he was and Fallon wondered if his presence indicated he’d been debriefed and was working the case, or if he was here because his future father-in-law had just become President of the United States. “We’ll give Ryland until eleven hundred hours to make something happen and then we’ll make a grab for him.”

Fallon dug her fingers into her scarf to keep from saying something she’d regret. Couldn’t they see that Ryland had just as much to lose? Should Ryland run out of time or CSA not be able to pinpoint Grahn’s location, Schultz couldn’t allow E.D.A. access to Ryland. The damage he could do would be irrevocable. She understood all of this and yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to go wrong. She took off her leather jacket and tossed it on one of the many conference chairs, ready to do whatever needed to be done.

“What do you know about Agent Grahn?” Fallon asked, reaching for some of the files that were on the table. There had to be something in them that would point them in the right direction. “Is there a way to expose him to the media without linking him to E.D.A.? It’s Washington. The news is spun on different angles when needed and no one bats an eyelash. Hell, the FSB, DGSI, MI6, MSS, BND, Mossad and God knows who else is probably right on our heels. Outing Grahn to them might very well work if we play our cards right.”

“A federal agent on the verge of retirement kidnaps a child in exchange…for what? Ryland’s contracts cannot be made public, which is why those other agencies are watching this go down on the sideline. How could you possibly attempt to spin the crimes that man has committed?” Crest asked, having already made up his mind. Fallon needed to think outside the box if any of her ideas were going to get taken seriously. She was coming up on a rather high and wide wall though and she had no idea which direction she should take. “We’ve pinpointed properties around the city where he might have taken Derrick and are searching them one by one. Schultzy is only sending in those he knows personally. While he is taking care of that, Taryn is electronically following every move Ryland makes. Something has to give sooner or later.”

Fallon had spent the most of the last thirty minutes pushing aside any emotion. It was the only way she could get through this torturous morning, but she had to believe that this would end well before noon. She couldn’t think about the future and honestly didn’t know if she and Ryland even had one should things work out in their favor, let alone if this thing went sideways. Love didn’t always conquer all. Life tended to do that, but she wouldn’t accept the outcome lying down. She’d known from the first moment she’d laid eyes on Ryland that he wasn’t evil incarnate. She could admit to having become infatuated with Travis Bowers and the personality he’d been forced to take on was not of his own doing, but it had evolved into so much more than that. She wouldn’t quit now.

Crest had yet to tell her what the plan would be for the exchange, but she couldn’t see Schultz handing over Ryland to be used against the allies of the United States. Jax and CSA would have opposing views on that. She also didn’t see a way around it if they were to get Derrick back. CSA was probably devising an after action plan should it need to go down with Ryland being handed over on a silver platter. She understood all too well how this would end should things head in either direction. Schultz would personally order the execution of Ryland before he allowed a highly skilled, extremely successful contract killer to end up in the hands of E.D.A. once again. The outcome could only end in bloodshed—Ryland’s blood.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

R
yland wasn’t a man accustomed to not succeeding, but his streak of bad luck lately appeared to be continuing. He’d run out of time and there was only one move left on the game board that could effectively be played in multiple ways. The victor was still as yet undetermined, but there were a few players who needed to fold their hands and bow out gracefully.

“I’m feeling gracious, Cy.” Ryland scanned the area, easily spotting Schultz Jessalyn’s team of men and women who were currently posing as pedestrians in Lafayette Square. No amount of training could take away a law enforcement officer’s stature of arrogance. In part, it was most likely the cause of Ryland’s success. He was a killer—by nurture or nature, it didn’t matter. “Grahn won’t allow this exchange to be handled by a lackey. He’ll see to it himself and while I’d originally speculated he’d kill the kid, I think he’ll most likely allow Christensen’s kid to live. It would almost be a gift, in a sense, to acknowledge his ability to walk away from this untouched. Nothing that can be presented before a court has happened. He is Teflon and very powerful within the intelligence community. I’ll be there to put an end to him and all that is his. So take this free pass while you can.”

“You can’t get close,” Cy advised, picking at a crack in one of his knuckles from when he’d worked over the three agents. “Did you ever think about why you were given a new identity? Moza and I were ass-deep in criminal activities well before E.D.A. got a hold of us. Our names already had a reputation and Grahn managed to take advantage of that traction. You? Even I can admit that your talents exceeded mine and Moza’s put together. I have no idea where they found you, but you were the fucking face of Grahn’s creation and his reputation. You still are, which makes you just as dangerous as Grahn.”

“I’m in complete control here,” Ryland stated coldly, refusing to allow Cy to believe anything else. Derrick Christensen’s life depended on things going according to plan. “I’m not the one who was found and subsequently needed to feign my submission. That was you and Moza, one of you already facing the death penalty for his crimes. I have this handled and I’m offering you an out.”

“An out?” Cy scoffed, picking up his binoculars to getter a better visual of the park. He took his time and finally lowered them, a doubtful look crossing his face. “Grahn needs to be dead for that to happen. Do you think they’ll just let you walk up to the man and shoot him?”

“I’ll complete my assignment, just as I have with every other one I’ve ever accepted.” Ryland refused to debate or give Cy any reason to doubt he’d get the job done. He was careful not to push Cy too hard. The man was more likely to end up staying and spoiling the last chance Ryland had to end this once and for all. “I’m pointing out the fact that if you’re caught by Jessalyn, you’ll never feel the sun on your face again. Me? My pardon stands, so I have zero to lose.”

Cy sighed in indecision, but it was enough to indicate he’d been swayed. Ryland rested his forearm on the mirrored pane of glass as he continued to watch the comings and goings of the park while waiting for Cy to come to his final decision. He’d chosen this building specifically because it would ease Cy’s concern and still give Ryland the ability to enter the park without being detained by Jessalyn or CSA. In essence, he was giving all of them what they wanted—with the possible exception of Fallon.

“You’ve made your point.” Cy tapped the window with his index finger in a final tribute and then stepped back. “The world belongs to those brave enough to take what they want. Stay strong, my friend.”

Ryland was finally alone, leaving him to ponder Cy’s theory as to why Grahn was so intent for Travis Bowers to stay buried. Why not just erase all of Travis’ memories? Had it been too difficult of an undertaking? He did remember being an expert marksman, his one true God-given talent. It had become his preferred method and he’d thrived on those types of long-range assignments. Had he become such a success due to the fact that he’d embodied both identities?

It was time for E.D.A. to come to an end. Ryland debated on whether or not he should palm his weapon and eliminate Gene Cyril as he took his leave. There should be no loose ends. Four test subjects—one dead, two taken out of society, and then Ryland. Jernigan’s statement regarding someone further up the pecking order having more clout hadn’t been about seniority. It had been about money and power. Grahn had spent years building up his own task force, most likely on his own payroll from those willing to pay for unique services outside of his own agenda, and his time left on this earth was ticking down. But what about Cy and himself? Shouldn’t they too be eradicated? Ryland allowed Cy to leave as insurance should things not go as planned. It was always better to have a back-up in place should he need it.

Ryland glanced at his watch, seeing that he had roughly fifteen minutes. He straightened and then smoothed down his tie before ensuring the button on his suit jacket was secure. He brushed a small amount of lint that had been fixed to his sleeve before turning on his heel. He reached down and grabbed hold of the handle attached to his go-bag. It was now time to decide what move would be consistent with his opponent’s checkmate.

*   *   *   *

Fallon was standing fifty feet from where the exchange was to take place. She was aware of the white clouds above sprinkling tiny snowflakes over the still green grass, but the scene in front of her might as well have been grey. She was already cold, so the chilly weather didn’t faze her in the least. What she did have to do was fight back the nausea that had settled in her stomach, sick over not being able to locate Ryland. She’d argued her case for being here at the park, convincing Schulz and Crest that her presence stood a greater chance of drawing Ryland to Lafayette Park. Would it? She had complete faith in him that he wouldn’t allow Derrick to be harmed, but he was taking it down to the last minute. He obviously hadn’t been able to locate Grahn, just as Schultz and Crest’s teams hadn’t, but that meant things were coming down to the wire.

Schultz and Crest had taken a good thirty minutes and stepped away, causing Fallon to fear what they were discussing as last resort measures. Derrick was their first priority, but after that…Grahn wouldn’t be allowed to get away with Ryland and everything was most likely being put in place to assure that.

“My entire family has someway, somehow served for their country,” Townes said, his arm causally wrapped around her waist as they strolled through the park posing as a couple in love. Fallon had never personally worked with Agent Grahn, so it was doubtful he knew who she was. She was sporting a cream knit cap to match her leather jacket under which she’d concealed her weapon and type III vest. She didn’t want to take part in any conversation and even though she’d pulled the hat lower over her ears…there wasn’t a whole lot she could do about it. “I was in Afghanistan this one evening and we were being overrun by Taliban fighters. We needed to retreat to the extraction point, but we’d already started to set up a temporary base. We had special all-terrain vehicles, crew served weapons, several helo loads of equipment including ammunition and communication electronics…you name it. Some of the items were controlled cryptographic material.”

“Townes, I really don’t need—”

“I think you do,” Townes argued, reaching over and brushing a strand of hair that had escaped her knit cap. It was a familiar gesture to keep up appearances and one that Fallon was surprised he could do so easily. He had dressed very similarly to her, in denim and a knit sweater that did little to hide the tattoo on his neck. She would catch a whiff of fine hand-rolled cigars lingering on his jacket, although she’d never seen him smoke one. Regardless, he appeared to be an all-American male walking in the park with his significant other. “We could not under any circumstance leave anything behind for them to exploit. The items we couldn’t take? We dropped thermite grenades on the lot. Millions of dollars worth of equipment had been reduced to molten metal and ash because we couldn’t take it with us, yet it would have been catastrophic for the enemy to get their hands on it. It was the lesser of two evils.”