No Place to Hide (20 page)

“Got it.”

Ian and Jackie slipped from the cab.

“I hope this works,” Ian breathed.

“It has to.” Jackie grabbed her purse and the black briefcase she’d brought and strode to the glass doors of Wainwright Labs. Ian shook his head and took a deep breath even as he admired the confidence she emitted. He followed her, prayers on his lips that they would get what they needed and get out without trouble.

Somehow he didn’t hold out much hope of that.

10:50 A.M.

Jackie and Ian rode to the fourth floor and stepped off the elevator. A woman in her early thirties, seated behind a mammoth desk, complete with three flat-screened monitors and a bookshelf crammed with binders, stared at them over the rim of her glasses. Her red lips pursed as they approached.

Her nameplate read Brenda Newall.

Jackie forced a small, mysterious smile to her lips. Aloof, she hoped. “Hello.”

“May I help you?”

“I’m Sharleen Howard.” She flashed the fake ID Ron had provided. “This is my associate, Joseph Terrell. We represent the Johannsen Estate and are here to see Cedric Wainwright.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Yes, of course. He said he would be able to meet with us at eleven.”

The receptionist looked at her computer screen and her face brightened. “Ah yes, there you are. You’re the investors Mr. Wainwright was so excited about this morning.”

Ian lifted his nose a fraction and kept the haughty expression on his face. “I suppose five million would go a long way in the R&D department,” he said in a perfect English accent.

Jackie did a double take and hoped the receptionist didn’t notice.

“Absolutely. If you could just wait a moment, I’ll let him know you’re here.” She pressed the button on her earpiece.

“Before you announce us, do you mind if I use your facilities?” Ian asked.

She paused and pressed the earpiece again. “Of course, of course. Follow me. I could use a bit of a break myself. It will take a few minutes. The restrooms are at the very end of the hall.”

“I’ll just wait here, take your time,” Jackie said. She walked to the sofa.

Ian shot her a look that said he was worried, but he’d do his part. Jackie gave a slight nod. The adrenaline flowed and her hands held a faint tremble. But she was ready. Ready to stop this nightmare and put whoever was responsible behind bars.

Jackie settled herself on the couch and waited.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Newall,” Ian said.

She smiled. “It’s Ms.”

“Have you worked for Wainwright Labs for a while?”

“Twelve years,” she said.

Ian stopped in front of the restroom door. “Is Mr. Wainwright a good boss?”

Her eyes flickered. “He can be a difficult man to work for, but I know it’s just because he’s so busy running the company and needs to make sure everything is done exactly like it’s supposed to be done.”

Ian cleared his throat and gave a light cough. “Why stay?”

She gave a light snort. “Jobs aren’t exactly growing on trees, you know.”

Ian coughed again. “But twelve years? Surely that’s enough
time to—” He stopped and coughed, a deep hacking cough that had Ms. Newall backing up, concern etched on her face.

“All you all right?” she asked.

“Yes, yes. Do you think I could trouble you for a bottle of water?”

“Of course. I’ll have to run downstairs and get it.”

Ian nodded, coughed again. “I’ll just meet you back at your office. Thank you.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Ian watched her go, cleared his throat, and took a deep breath. Now that he had her out of the way, he could get busy.

Even though she’d been expecting it, when the alarm sounded, Jackie jerked, then she stood and walked behind the desk to crouch. And wait. She peered around the edge, her heart thudding.
Please let this work.

Within seconds, the door to her left opened and Cedric Wainwright came out, his expression clearly unhappy. Another man followed him. Cedric stopped and looked toward the desk. Jackie eased back. “Brenda? Brenda!”

“She probably left the minute the alarm sounded,” Cedric’s companion said. Cedric cursed. His buddy took his arm. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“It’s probably some stupid false alarm. Let’s just wait it out.”

Jackie tensed. If they stayed, it was over.

Sirens sounded and Cedric strode to the window, the one nearest Jackie. She held her breath. If he looked down and to his left, he’d see her. Adrenaline pumped, her breath caught in her throat, and she stayed as still as possible.

Another curse slipped from the man’s lips. He spun on his heel. “Let’s go. This better not take long.”

As his footsteps carried him further and further away, Jackie
wilted. She waited until she knew they were in the stairwell, then dashed for the office door. Her fingers curled around the handle and pushed.

Locked.

Ian held the stairwell door open and directed people to it. They muttered their thanks as they hurried past. No one made eye contact. The smoke drifting up convinced them their lives might actually be in danger.

At last, he was alone. He raced back down the hall, checking the rooms. Soon the firefighters would be in the building. He found Jackie kneeling on the floor, her face at doorknob level. “What are you doing? We don’t have a lot of time.”

“He locked the door behind him,” she growled. “And I can’t pick the lock.”

Ian froze for a millisecond. “It’s got a key card slot too.”

“Yep, but I don’t have the card.”

Ian bolted to Brenda’s desk. He opened the large drawer in the middle.

Nothing.

Slammed it shut.

The sirens grew louder.

He tried the next drawer, then the next. He stopped and ran a hand down his face.

“What are you doing?” she asked, head tilted, fingers working.

Ian looked at the phone, the stapler, the bin with the Post-it notes.

And a small item that looked like a credit card. He grabbed it and loped back to the door. “Let me.”

Jackie moved out of his way and Ian swiped the card.

The lock gave a soft snick and Jackie pulled the handle down. “Nice job,” she whispered.

“Anytime.” Ian pushed the door open and ushered Jackie into the office.

She went immediately to the tablet on the desk.

Ian went to the items on the desk, papers. He read notes Cedric had written to himself on the legal pad next to the phone. “He was expecting us,” he murmured. “Has big dollar signs next to our names.”

“Of course,” Jackie said. “Money always talks. Now hurry.”

“I don’t even know what I’m looking for.”

“You’ll know it when you see it.” She tapped on the tablet screen and it jumped to life. She slapped the desk and Ian jerked. “Password protected, of course.”

“Of course.” He tossed the stack of papers onto the desk and moved to the next drawer.

Jackie folded the screen protector over the tablet and jerked the cord from the wall.

“What are you doing now?” Ian asked.

“Taking this with us.”

“Hello? That’s stealing.”

“It’s evidence collection. Just a little before the warrant is issued.”

She shoved the tablet into her purse and started helping him go through the drawers. “It’s too much,” she whispered. “We don’t have the time.”

Ian dumped the trash can and dropped to his knees to pick through the papers. He shoved aside a paper coffee cup, found a sticky note, a business card. “Something,” he muttered. “There’s got to be something.”

The door slammed open.

Ian spun, Jackie whirled.

To face Cedric Wainwright holding a small gun like he knew how to use it.

11:10 A.M.

Jackie’s heart raced even while her mind flashed twenty different scenarios in less than a second. “Mr. Wainwright? Why do you have a gun? We came looking for a way out.” She played innocent, knowing he wouldn’t fall for it, but hoping it would buy her a little time.

“Which explains why you’re going through my trash and have my tablet in your bag.” He held out a hand. “I’ll take it back, please.”

The alarm still blared. She couldn’t tell if the sirens had stopped or not, but figured the fire trucks were right outside. She decided to try the direct approach. “You’re setting us up to take the fall to keep us from stopping you from whatever it is you’re doing. At least have the decency to tell us what it is,” she yelled and covered her ears. How long would it take for the firemen to clear the first three floors?

Wainwright’s eyes narrowed and his finger tightened on the trigger. Jackie ducked as the bullet smashed into the wall behind her. Ian gave a yell and tackled the man, sending his weapon
spinning across the hardwood floor to the edge of the expensive oriental rug.

Jackie grabbed the gun and rammed the barrel against the side of his head. “Don’t. Move.” She spoke loud enough to be heard.

Cedric froze. Ian grabbed her bag. Jackie removed the weapon from the man’s head, but kept it trained on him center mass. Three firefighters came into sight of the office and she tucked the gun behind her.

“Go!” Jackie yelled at Ian.

They turned as one and burst from the office. The firefighters stopped and waved them toward the exit stairs. Jackie and Ian darted past them, hit the stairs, and shot out the door at the bottom.

The crowd milled. Jackie slipped Cedric’s weapon into her purse next to the tablet. They pushed through the chaos. Jackie gripped Ian’s arm and he steered her to where they’d left the cabbie. He was gone, of course.

“Keep walking,” Ian said.

“You have any idea where we are?”

“Yes. A vague one. When we were here for a seminar not too long ago, we walked to a nearby restaurant. I think this is the right way.”

Several shops lined the street. Traffic had been redirected so no cars passed them. They walked and Jackie’s nerves continued to twitch. Sirens sounded in front of them.

“The cops aren’t going to be the only ones stepping up the search,” Ian said. “Cedric is going to double his efforts to find us now that we have his tablet.”

“I know. We need to get off this street.” Jackie saw a cruiser turn their way and she gripped Ian’s arm to propel him onto a side street. The tall buildings offered some shelter and com
fort, but she knew they were being caught on camera. The FBI would track them in no time. The side street opened up onto another busy avenue. They were far enough away from the lab that life moved as usual.

Which meant cabs.

Jackie raised her arm and waved. The taxi pulled to a stop and she and Ian slipped into the back.

“Where to?” the cabbie asked.

“Where’s the nearest quiet restaurant where you can get good food and have a little privacy?” Jackie asked.

The cabbie smiled in the rearview mirror. “I’ve got just the place.” He pressed the gas and Jackie pulled Cedric’s tablet from her purse. “Call Ron for me, will you?”

Ian didn’t ask questions, just dialed the number. He handed her the phone. Ron answered on the second ring. “Are you all right?”

“For now.”

“What do you need?”

She glanced at the cabbie, bent her head close to Ian’s, and kept her voice low. She hoped the cab driver just took them for lovebirds who were snuggling. “I need for you to arrange a meeting with Special Agent Elizabeth Miller and I need you to do it without giving her enough notice to have backup waiting.”

“Consider it done.”

“We’re going to give her the tablet?” Ian murmured in her ear.

“We are.” His lips brushed her ear and she shivered, pulling back and clearing her throat. “Thanks, Ron.” She hung up and shook her head. With another glance at the cabbie who didn’t seem to be paying them one bit of attention, she leaned even closer to Ian. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. She breathed in his unique scent, musky
cologne, and hotel soap. “This is bigger than us. This has something to do with a smallpox virus being delivered, the rest of that code, you—us—being set up as terrorists. This is so huge.”

“That guy who was killed, we saw him on the news.”

“Who?”

“You were pointing out the news scroll going across the bottom of the screen and I thought you wanted me to watch what was on the television. I don’t remember the guy’s name, but he and his family were killed. Remember?”

Jackie frowned. “Yes, actually, I do remember that.”

“So, he was killed, the government issues statements that the public needs to get a smallpox vaccine. And Holly decodes ‘Smallpox delivered.’”

Jackie swallowed and rubbed her forehead. “Someone’s getting ready to release the smallpox virus somewhere.”

“That’s what I’ve come up with.”

“Then we’re on the same page.”

“But where?” His frown deepened.

“New York on standby,” she whispered. “Right here in New York obviously. Just like we suspected, but
where
in New York?”

“And when?” They fell silent for a moment. “So how do we stay out of jail and stop them?” he asked.

“We’re out of our league. We need to invite the big boys to the party.”

“The FBI.”

“And whoever else wants to get in on the action,” she murmured.

James Walden paced while the fires burned at their hottest. Two thousand degrees Fahrenheit would take care of the wood
coffin and the body. He glanced at the clock. About another hour and the cooling process would begin.

His phone rang. He picked up the handset for the cordless phone and began his ascent that would take him up to the main level. “Walden’s Mortuary.”

“They’re moving again.”

“Where to?”

“Looks like they’re headed back to Virginia. At least that’s what the dog’s GPS says.”

“Follow them. The dog will lead the way.”

“We’re on it. Oh, and one more thing.”

“What?”

“There was some commotion at Wainwright Labs.”

James stiffened. “Commotion?”

“There was a small fire. Or some kind of smoke bombs that were released. Wainwright said Lockwood and Sellers were in his office.”

James swore. “How did that even happen?”

“I’m not sure of the details, but they grabbed his tablet and he wants it back.”

“What do I need to do?”

“Be ready with the fire when we bring them to you.”

James swallowed. “Fine.”

“Also Red Peters. I had to take care of him yesterday.”

“Take care of him?”

“He’s dead. He got into an argument with two inmates at the prison. Poor guy came out on the losing end and had his throat slit. He won’t be talking anymore.”

For a moment, James couldn’t breathe. Red had taken care of a lot of the details of the plan. If he’d talked before he’d been silenced—

He struggled to keep his cool. “Look, if anything else goes wrong, I’m—”

“You’re what? Bailing?” The voice on the other end let out a laugh. “Right. Try it and see how long you live.”

Click
.

James lowered the handset onto his desk and leaned his head against the back of the leather chair. He could leave now. Leave the country and never look back.

But the money. What if they actually pulled this off and he’d run to safety? He would be out millions. And if they got caught, he would know in time to escape anyway. He rubbed his chin and considered his options.

The millions.

And knew he’d stay.

6:00 P.M.

Jackie pulled in a deep breath and picked up the phone to punch in a number. After grabbing food they’d eaten on the run, she and Ian had managed to hide out in a small hotel off one of the side streets for the past six hours. Long enough for David and Adam to fly to New York. Ron was busy at the cabin in Virginia with Holly and she needed outside help.

David answered. “I’m here.”

“Good. You have Elizabeth’s number?”

“I do. Ron gave it to me.”

“Okay, you set up the meeting with her and call me back.”

“I’m on it.”

“Have you heard from Ron?”

“He and Holly are tucked away. She’s still working on the code.”

“The FBI is too. I wonder if they’re any closer to figuring it out.”

“Haven’t heard.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Stand by,” David said. “Hope to have something for you soon.”

She hung up and leaned back against the sofa of the common room in the hotel suite they’d managed to snag. She’d tried to rest, but sleep had eluded her and now she felt punchy with exhaustion.

The door to the hotel room opened and Ian stepped into the living area. “I’ve got food,” he said.

Jackie swung her legs over the side of the bed and walked to sit at the table. Ian held up a huge bag of fast food. Jackie’s stomach rumbled its anticipation and he smiled. A real smile. Not forced, not strained.

“Glad I could do something right today.”

She shot him an answering smile. Thank goodness, money wasn’t an issue and they could afford the large suites with two or three rooms. It made it so much easier to have each other’s back—and not worry about the awkwardness that sharing a hotel room would bring on.

Ian distributed the food and took the chair opposite her. “Do you think this is going to work?”

“It has to.”

He took a bite of his hamburger and studied her. She sipped on her milkshake. “What?”

“What?” he echoed.

“You’re staring at me.”

“I was just wondering about your husband.”

She froze for a second before reaching for a French fry. Chewing slowly, she finally swallowed and managed to nod. “What do you want to know?”

“He must have been special. He would have had to have been in order to capture your heart.”

“He was special.” She sighed and closed her eyes for a brief moment.

“You’re still in love with him.”

She thought about that, then opened her eyes. “No. I’m not.”

Ian stilled. “Really?”

“Really.” She pursed her lips. “It’s been over six years. I think about him, I miss the way things were, and I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for him, maybe even a special love, but no, I’m not
in
love with him anymore.”

“Then why does it look like you’re in agony when you talk about him?”

“Agony?” She gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “No, that would be guilt, not agony.”

“Oh.” He took a bite of his hamburger. “Guilt because he died and you didn’t?”

“Yes. Among other things.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

Jackie’s mind spun. “He was a great guy. I already told you the story of how we married and how he was killed at a convenience store.”

“Yes.”

“What I didn’t tell you was that . . . I sent him there. I sent him to the convenience store in the middle of the night for an ice cream sandwich.” She cleared her throat at the sudden tightness. “I was pregnant,” she whispered. “And I wanted ice cream. And John wanted to give me anything I desired. To satisfy my every craving. And I was happy to let him do it.” She drew in a shaky breath. “And he died because I made him go out in the middle of the night when he should have been home in bed next to me.”