The bigger man saw her. His face was red with exertion, but he turned to her just as he was reaching up to help his team mate.

  He said something to the other man and pointed. They both stared toward her and Macy. The first man grabbed what looked like a cell phone and held it to his mouth. Hallie did not wait around to see more. She turned in a whirl, slapped the pistol back in place under her arm and grabbed Macy.

  She ran for the main intersecting street. The plan that formed in her head started with: get away and hide, call Evers, and get Jake here. Her pride got in the way of her plan. She could handle them by herself. Despite her confidence in her abilities, Hallie knew her weakness. If she allowed her fear for her daughter to paralyze her at the wrong instant, it would cost them both their lives.

  She felt the pavement warm under her feet.

  She heard the roar of an engine and the screech of tires. She fought the temptation to turn and look. A black Ford Expedition raced past her and turned sideways in the road at the last second. Its tires barked and the big vehicle skidded to a stop.

  Hallie set Macy down. She was screaming. Who could blame her, poor thing? Hallie shut it out. She needed to concentrate on keeping them both alive. She could not allow Macy’s screams to dampen her resolve.

  The gun was back in her hand in an instant. A woman with raven hair got out of the driver’s side and began walking toward them. She had no weapon. She held her hands in front of her.

  “I know you are frightened. We are here to help you. Jake is in trouble. We need to get you to safety,” she said.

  She sounded completely convincing, but Hallie had been trained to see through a ruse.

  “Stay right there,” Hallie said loudly, her gun trained on the woman’s abdomen.

  Two shots would put her down. Three would kill her. Hallie was prepared to do either. In all her hours on duty, she had never had to actually discharge her firearm. She knew she could. Knew she would.

  The woman, to her credit, smiled and held out her hands.

  “I know you are a mother protecting her cub. Just put the weapon down, Hallie. We are here to help you and Macy, not hurt you,” she said.

  She continued to be soothing and logical. It was a good act, Hallie had to admit.

  “Bull. I want you to put your hands on the vehicle. You, inside, get out and put your hands where I can see them or I will put two bullets into your partner!” Hallie could hear footsteps coming her way. The men from the roof.

  “Hallie, my name is Violet. I worked at Galbraith. I am an undercover agent for the CIA. We need to talk. Please. Put the gun down,” she claimed.

  Hallie had tried to stay out of the briefing room while Jake had tried to recall all his actions at Galbraith. Much of it they already knew. But, Hallie remembered Jake talking about Violet and Lars. He did not trust them.

  She did not trust them, either. In fact, there were less than a half dozen people in the entire world she trusted. Was it Lars behind the wheel? That would figure, according to what Jake had said.

  “I don’t care who you are. You are not taking us anywhere,” Hallie said.

  “Mommy, I’m scared!” Macy complained. She hugged her chest with one arm and had one thumb in her mouth. She had not sucked her thumb in over a year.

  As irrational as it seemed, Hallie was angry that this woman would make her daughter suck her thumb after Hallie had spent countless hours learning how to correct her daughter’s habit.

  Just then, she felt an object pierce the air near her right cheek. Instinctively, she turned to that side and brought her pistol around, both hands gripping it, her eye trained to focus on the rear sight and line it up with the front sight. Easy, peasy.

  She pulled the trigger. She had forgotten how loud the pistol could be. It bucked in her hand, the .357 SIG brass cartridge ejected high beside her and her periphery vision caught its trajectory and her ears picked up the ring of its clatter as it hit the pavement. She followed up with a second shot that entered through the man’s collar bone. Blood peppered the air behind his back.

  She pulled on the trigger again from the first set point, a smooth, eight pound pull. The shot went into the meaty part of his shoulder. Hallie watched as the slug tore the fabric of the man’s shirt.

  The man in the lead lurched, his eyes registering the impossibility of his death. He dropped his pistol and pitched forward. The big man behind him was slow to react. He looked up at her, shock and dismay on his face.

  “You killed him! You…”

  He never finished his statement. Hallie shot him in the neck. She had seen the outline of the Kevlar vest he wore beneath his Bermuda shirt.

  No wonder he had been sweating and laboring to keep up. He must be carrying another ten pounds around his torso, Hallie thought.

  The man gurgled once, his hands grasping at the holes in his neck, blood spurting out in all directions.

  Hallie regretted the shot as soon as she made the decision. She should have taken his knees out. It would have served better. She could hear Macy screaming over the din. She could hear Violet running toward her.

  Hallie groaned, knowing what she had to do. She had already fired four rounds. She had six left.

  She wheeled around and shot Violet in the thigh. Violet spun, and lunged at her. Hallie simply brought the pistol down in a vicious arc. It connected with Violet’s temple and she fell forward, limp, to the road.

  Hallie grabbed Macy’s hand and dragged her to the passenger side of the Expedition. She looked in the open door at a large man staring at her curiously. He held a Beretta FS 9 mm pistol. He was aiming it at the floor.

  “Are you Lars?” she asked. Macy stood at her knee, sobbing and sniffling. Part of her hated them all for this.

  “Of course I am, Hallie. We have met before. Perhaps you do not remember. Violet was right. We need to talk. We...”

  “Don’t presume to tell me what we need to do. I need to get away from you all. Let us go or I swear to you I will put a bullet in both of you,” Hallie said. She could feel the spittle on her lips. She knew she probably looked crazy. It was fine with her. If crazy got the job done, then she was prepared to be crazy.

  “I am afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Mrs. Monday.” He released the magazine from the Beretta and set it on the seat beside him.

  He opened the door and dropped the pistol to the pavement. He stepped out. Hallie held the SIG Sauer steady. She picked Macy up quickly and deposited her on the front seat. She was sobbing and staring ahead. Her eyes were tinged with red. Hallie guessed she was in shock.

  Children were resilient, but an ordeal like this would leave a lasting effect. Macy’s mom had killed someone on the street beside their house. She concentrated on the task at hand. Regrets and self-flagellation were for later.

  The vehicle was too tall, she realized. Going around it would allow him to be out of her sight.

  It was a risk she had to take. The pistol was on the ground. She had heard it hit.

  “Stay there. I will come around. Move and I will kill you,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “We are friends, Hallie. You need to trust us,” Lars said softly. His voice grated on her nerves. His accent and the harsh rumble of his words were like nails on a chalkboard.

  “You need to shut up, Lars. Get around to the side of the vehicle and put your hands on it,” she commanded. She glanced over at Violet, struggling to get up. She did not hold a pistol. Only a phone. She was staring at it. The screen was busted, the glass shattered on the pavement. Hallie heard Violet curse softly.

  “We will be back, Hallie. We cannot allow them to get to you. We cannot allow them to get to Jake. If they get to Jake, it is all over,” he said. He actually sounded desperate.

  “Stop talking. Another word and you will not have to worry about breathing through your mouth. I will make a hole through your chest to breathe through,” she threatened. She did not really want to shoot him. She was being tough because she was scared.

  He nodded and put his hands against the Expedition. Hallie came around the front of the vehicle and opened the door. She hopped in and shut it.

  She sat in the front seat for a moment with her eyes closed and exhaled sharply through her nose. She had just killed two men. They might just be CIA or FBI agents. She doubted it. It was more likely that they were mercenaries. Regardless, they were dead. Macy had witnessed it all. Hallie glanced over at the seat where her daughter sat, her bottom lip tucked out and her nose running clear snot. Hallie resisted the urge to wipe her nose. Instead, she reached across and put Macy’s seat belt on. She scooted the discarded 9mm magazine onto the floorboard. She checked the side mirror and saw Lars putting his hands on the rear bumper, his jaw working in anger and frustration.

  She put the big SUV in gear and gunned it. She turned right at the intersection and left the scene of the crime. She could hear sirens coming closer. She slowed to the speed limit and pulled onto the Bronx River Road. She followed it south, hoping to slip onto the Bronx River Parkway before she was pulled over.

  She stole a glance at Macy. Macy looked up at her.

  “Mommy, I’m hungry,” she complained.

  “I know, honey. I know Macy-baby,” she said. A tear ran a path down her cheek as she checked the rear view mirror. The morning sun glared into her gaze but she could see no pursuit. Satisfied, she turned her attention to getting her mad on.

  Chapter 10

  Take One for the Team

  “I will NOT calm down,” Hallie shouted. Her hair was matted and her clothes clung to her. She was perspiring so much she tasted salt on her lips. She had sprinted up the stairs carrying Macy with her to get to the office. It was necessary because she had to bypass security. She did not have proper identification. It did not matter that she had known Howard, the security professional for the building, for months. He would not allow her to go on the elevator, especially with a child in tow.

  “Hallie, we will have Bronxville PD shut the case down. We will call it a national security threat. We will handle that part. No one blames you for protect--.” Kyle Evers stammered.

  “Don’t placate me, Kyle. I discharged my weapon off duty. I did it in a residential neighborhood in front of my own child! I want these bastards who are ruining our lives! So don’t stand there patting me on the head. Do your job or get out of my way!”

  Kyle looked exasperated. He glanced over at Jake who sat on a leather chair playing “Cut the Pickle” with Macy.

  “Don’t look at him! Look at me, Kyle,” Hallie said, her anger getting the best of her.

  “Hallie, calm down,” Kyle began, trying to sound gentle.

  Hallie sprung at him, grabbing his shirt in her hand.

  “Don’t tell me to calm down. First you endanger my family by sending Jake off to one of the most dangerous assassin organizations in the world and then you stand here doing nothing while a four man operation goes directly to my house to kidnap me and my child. Don’t tell me to calm down,” she said. With her anger spent, her voice dropped and she let go of Kyle.

  Hallie figured that the Special Agent in Charge of the Brooklyn field office of the Secret Service, Kyle Evers, was not used to being bullied by an agent. He stepped back. Hallie was already sorry for her outburst. She knew she had pushed him too far.

  “Hallie. You are on leave as of this morning. I think you need time to re-evaluate your career choice. Perhaps this is too much for you,” he said, his voice level. He glanced over at Jake, who wore a look of resignation. “Maybe it is too much for both of you,” Kyle said pointedly.

  Jake looked up at that.

  “Say what you mean, Kyle,” Jake said, allowing Macy to slice his fingers. “Pow!” He exclaimed.

  Macy giggled.

  “Kyle, I am sorry. I have been through a lot...” Hallie began. She regretted her actions. She had let her fear and her anger lead her to this.

  “Hallie. I am not firing you. You two need to get out of town. I just happen to have an assignment in Washington that needs a delicate hand. You two are welcome to accept it in lieu of the leave,” Kyle offered.

  “That feels too much like you trying to manipulate us, Kyle,” Jake accused. He set Macy on the carpet and got out of the chair.

  Hallie noticed that Jake had lost weight since Galbraith. He did not seem to be eating well. Hallie was not much of a cook, but even when they ate together at a restaurant, he picked at his food.

  “I merely want what is best for you. And for the Service. I cannot have an incident where you and Macy are taken. That would compromise this office, the Service, and more importantly, it would be a dereliction of my duties, knowing what I know now,” Kyle explained.

  Jake put his hands on his hips.

  “What do you have in Washington that the Uniformed Division isn’t able to handle?” Jake asked.

  Kyle frown deepened.

  “Like I said, this is a touchy assignment. It needs a softer, less visible presence than UD personnel can provide. You two would make a great team. You can even fly practically solo on this one. You can report directly to Deputy Director Nance in Baltimore,” Kyle explained.

  “I thought you said the assignment was in Washington,” Hallie reminded him.

  “Yes. The game is in Washington, but the Senator’s son plays for the Orioles,” Kyle said.

  “Wait. You want us assigned to Washington to protect a baseball player?”

  Kyle shrugged.

  “Not just any baseball player. Todd Swane.”

  Hallie watched Jake scratch his head. When it came to baseball, he was clueless. Politics were even worse. She came to his rescue.

  “You mean Senator Bob Swane’s son, the right fielder for the Orioles who is in a slump?”

  Kyle smirked. He knew Jake had no idea of either man, even if his memory had not been wiped. Hallie’s father had worked for years as a scout for the Cleveland Indians. She had learned to love the game as a kid.

  “Yes. Those are the Swanes.”

  “You want us to protect Todd Swane? For how long? Why, and who from?”

  “Well, first of all, this is off the books, officially. It is a favor we are extending to Senator Swane as part of our agreement. We were assigned to Bob during his campaign. Our inspectors allowed a package through that turned out to have explosives.” He shrugged; his smirk served to be both self-effacing, and ironic. “They failed to ignite. We risked a black eye. Senator Swane knew that there was not much we could have done differently outside of opening the package ourselves, but he had us over a bad press barrel. We agreed to provide protective services for him during his term as a demonstration of good faith,” Kyle said.

  “So, his son is getting death threats from angry fans?” Hallie guessed.

  Kyle nodded.

  “I am afraid so. They aren’t happy with his production.”

  Hallie put her hands on her hips.

  “Fans are so fickle. They were clamoring for the Orioles to fork out the cash to keep him in Baltimore and then when he goes through a slump, and now they want the bum out of there,” Hallie complained.

  “They have a short memory,” Kyle agreed.

  “So, a crazy fan wants Todd dead, the Senator has called in his favor, and you want us to babysit this jock for how long?” Jake asked. Hallie knew he was uncomfortable enough just trying to piece back his memory. He had always hated spectator sports.

  “Just this one game in D.C. The Nats have a double header scheduled with the Orioles this Tuesday. I have your tickets ready for tomorrow and hotel accommodations. I only got one room, so…”

  Hallie waved him off.

  “Don’t worry, Kyle, Jake and I are fine in a single. But what about Macy? She can’t go with us.”

  “I was hoping you would leave her here with your Aunt Mary,” Kyle admitted.

  “Mary? She hasn’t seen her since she was born,” Hallie pointed out.

  “It is better that way. No one will make the connection. No one will expect you to be in Washington. I booked the rooms under TSD auspices, different names of course.”

  “If they are actively searching for us, they will find us,” Jake reminded.

  Kyle nodded.

  “I know. But, if you stay here, the risk of that happening is even more likely,” Kyle reasoned.

  Hallie furrowed her brow. Although it sounded as though Kyle was trying to help them, he had already booked their flight, had already reserved the room. He was assuming they would not refuse. In his mind, he had planned this out before she had blown up at him, had set the plan in motion before they had been threatened.

  “Just a second, Kyle. You are saying that all this is ready for us. How did you do that on such short notice?” Hallie asked.

  Kyle squirmed.

  “He had this planned since Wednesday, haven’t you Kyle?”

  “Yes.”

  “You can’t protect us. That is the truth. You knew they would make a move on us. You put this assignment together to get us out of danger.”

  Kyle swallowed and nodded.

  “I wanted to present it to you earlier but I had not spoken to the Senator to confirm. You understand, right?”

  “You are protecting your own backside. Yeah, I understand,” Hallie chided.

  “You don’t have to take the assignment. It is open for you, it is perfect for you, but we can re-arrange some things here and get the local police to assist us,” Kyle offered.

  Macy sat on the chair, her feet dangling in the air. Hallie watched Jake look down at her and smirk.

  “We will take it,” he said.

  Kyle looked relieved. He became animated.

  “Great. I am glad you see things the same way I do…” Kyle began.

  “No, we don’t, Kyle,” Jake challenged. “I see things completely different than you.” Hallie saw a gleam in Jake’s eyes that she had not seen since he had discovered Galbraith’s organization.

  Kyle’s back stiffened. That had hurt him. Hallie looked at him curiously.

  “Fine. I will fill you in with more details in the dossier. I have sent it to the location. You will have two days to do your pre-scouting and your surveillance,” Kyle said.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11