American Heroes Series - 01 - Resurrection (9 page)

Joseph thought back to the woman that morning at the security briefing; she had been a beautiful woman with long, layered blond hair and big hazel eyes.  If that was Cydney Hetherington, then he was okay with the directive. It could prove a more pleasant part of this entire undertaking although he was more reluctant than he was interested.  Unfortunately, he just didn’t have the win-at-all-costs instincts like his comrades did. What he did, he did because his family demanded it; nothing more, nothing less.

“All right,” he said after a moment. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Good,” Nat said. “Meanwhile, we’ve found an address for her. She lives in Arcadia, about fifteen miles from the museum.  I’m heading over there now.”

“What are you going to do?”

Nat laughed softly. “I’m not sure yet.” 

Joseph didn’t like the sound of that, either.

***

Ethan and J.D. were on the roof of the museum. They saw the woman in the bright pink pantsuit leave just as they saw many other people come and go. There was nothing unusual about anyone’s actions so far. But there was quite a crowd lining up to get into the museum so they kept an eye on the masses as they gathered around the well-pruned juniper trees in the entry. Above them, the Southern California sky was already heating up and the old roof was becoming increasingly hot.

J.D. was scanning the parking lot and nearby main boulevard with binoculars. He wore a dark pinstripe suit and expensive designer sunglasses. Ethan stood next to him in his standard dark gray suit, casually watching the crowd below. From the angle of the roof parapets, they could not be seen by the people milling about below.  Two other agents roamed the roof, back in the shade where enormous eucalyptus trees grew around a lily pond that had been designed to look like a Monet painting.

As J.D. scanned, Ethan shifted on his long legs and unwound his arms.

“I’m going to head down to the main gallery to see what’s going on down there,” he said.

“All right,” J.D. lowered the binoculars. “Talk to museum personnel. See if they have noticed anything unusual. They’ll know the crowds better than we will.”

Ethan nodded and went to the small spiral stair that led into the attic of the museum. From there, a narrow staircase led down in an Employees Only area near the elevator.  Ethan removed his sunglasses and emerged into the main cupola area, heading towards the western gallery. 

Already, he could see a roped-off queue area stuffed with eager patrons patiently waiting their turn to enter the gallery. As he continued on, the golden hues of the western gallery came into view and the magnificent relics of the Resurrection exhibit filled his field of vision.  Strategic spotlights made it appear as if the light of God was shining down on all things holy and ancient.  He passed lingering glances at the anklebone with the spike through it and a tablet inscribed with Latin as he made his way down the gallery. 

As he rounded a case that contained part of pillar from an ancient temple just outside of Jerusalem, his dark eyes came to rest on a woman in a Navy dress that fit her body like a glove. He took a moment to appreciate the curve of her buttocks as they ascended into a narrow waist.  The spiked pumps made her beautiful legs look even better.  He was looking at her calves when she turned and caught sight of him.

Slightly embarrassed that he had been caught appraising her figure, Ethan smiled weakly as he drew close.  Cydney smiled back.

“Mr. Serreaux,” she greeted pleasantly. “What can I do for you?”

He stood just a few inches from her, his muscular height in sharp contrast to her petite curves.

“Don’t call me Mr. Serreaux,” he muttered for her ears only. “That’s my dad.”

She lifted an eyebrow at him; he was fairly close as he leaned down to talk to her and she found herself watching the way his mouth moved. “Sorry. I meant Agent Serreaux but I didn’t want to say that too loud.”

“It’s Ethan,” he informed her, “and you can tell me how it’s going in here.”

She shrugged and looked back over the crowd. “No problems whatsoever.”

“Good,” he looked over the crowd, too, but he really wanted to look at her. “Notice anything out of the ordinary?”

She shook her head. “Not a thing.  Have you?”

He peered down at her. “Nope,” he said. “But you might have a better idea of what is extraordinary around here than I would.  Where’s Mr. Longe?”

“He went to check on his personnel,” she turned to him. “I’m thinking I might as well go back to my office. There doesn’t seem to be any reason for me to be here. Everything is under control.”  

Ethan lifted his eyebrow as he scanned the crowd once more. “Give it a few more minutes. The museum has only been open an hour. Shouldn’t it busier as the day goes on?”

“Usually.”

“Then why don’t you walk with me and pretend we’re just admiring the artwork when what we’re really doing is checking out the crowd.”

She looked at him with a grin. “I’m not security. I don’t normally walk the floor checking on the crowd.”

“Then how about if you just accompany me as I check them out?”

“Why?”            

“Because I want to hear more about your genius daughter. And I’d like to hear more about you, too.”

Cydney’s grin faded as she stared up at him. Ethan’s dark eyes glimmered warmly.  As she realized what he meant, her first reaction was to refuse. She was almost outraged. But that reaction was tempered by genuine, delighted interest. Still, she’d been in self-preservation mode for so long that it was difficult to think otherwise.

“Uh…,” she cleared her throat softly, suddenly unable to look at him. “I… I don’t know. I think it’s better if we keep our conversation strictly business related for now.”

His heart sank a little but he nodded. “You’re right,” he tried to make it sound like it was no big deal. “I wasn’t trying to suggest anything inappropriate. I apologize.”

Cydney suddenly felt very bad for turning him down. She very much wanted to get to know him but she was torn. She hadn’t even thought about another man since Brad was killed. But Ethan Serreaux had changed that from almost the moment she met him. After an awkward pause, she grasped his elbow.

“Come on,” she said.

He noticed she was still holding on to him as she started to walk. “Where are we going?”

“To walk the gallery so you can check it for assassins.”

Fighting off a grin, he followed.

They didn’t say anything to each other for a few moments as they paced the massive gallery.  Soft voices of thrilled museum visitors filled the air around them, but the air between them was silent.  The dull sound of shoes hitting wood laminate floors was nearly the only audible resonance in their world.

“I was born and raised in Pasadena, California and I have a younger brother,” Cydney finally said in a quiet voice. “I got married, had Olivia, went to California State University at Northridge, and received my degree in Civil Engineering.”

He looked down at her. “You’re a civil engineer?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you choose that field?”

“Because I have a knack for math.”

“You don’t look like any engineer I’ve ever seen.”

“Seen a lot of engineers, have you?”

Ethan grinned. “I just meant you’re very pretty. I must not be very good at giving compliments if you didn’t get that.”

It had been a long time since she’d heard a compliment that she actually cared to hear and her cheeks flushed delicately. “You’re doing okay,” she said.

“Really?” he was enjoying the art of the gentle flirt; it had been ages since he’d played that game. “Are my pick-up lines working?”

She laughed softly and shook her head, flushing brighter when he bent over and tried to look her in the eye.

“If that is an example of your pick up lines, then I think you’re in trouble,” she said, avoiding his grinning gaze. “I can tell you must not use them too often.”

He shook his head. “No, not too often,” his smile faded. “Not often at all. I’m a little rusty.”

She looked up at him now that he wasn’t trying to deliberately fix her in the eye. “Me, too,” she admitted. “How long has it been for you?”

He lifted an eyebrow thoughtfully. “At least seven or eight years,” he said. “To be honest, I really wouldn’t want to date a woman who is a sucker for a pick up line.”

Cydney clasped her hands behind her back as they neared the end of the massive gallery. “I know what you mean,” she said. After a moment, she cast him a long look. “
Quid pro quo
, Agent Serreaux.”

He looked at her, the smile returning to his face. “All right,” he agreed softly. “I’ll tell you something about me and you tell me something about you.”

She paused at the end of the gallery, standing before the massive floor to ceiling windows that faced the serene Monet water garden beyond. Soft light filtered in around them as they stood a foot or so apart, inspecting one another.  It was the first time they had openly done so.

“I’ve already told you about me,” she said. “It’s your turn.”

He nodded in agreement. “Okay,” he thought a moment. “I was born in Australia but grew up in Virginia, went to college at the University of Michigan and at Stanford, and have been employed with the FBI for thirteen years.”

“You were born in Australia? You don’t have an accent.”

“I came to America when I was two years old.  I never really had one.”

“And your family?”

His smile faded slightly. “I have a mother, father and two younger brothers,” he said. “I was also married years ago and I have a son who is fourteen.”

“Really?” Cydney showed interest in the part about the son. “What’s his name?”

“Tyler.”

“What grade is he in?”

“Ninth.”

“Does he go to school locally?”

Ethan shook his head. “He lives in Washington D.C. with his mother.”

“Oh,” Cydney sensed that Ethan wasn’t particularly happy about that. His mood seemed to sink when discussing his son. “And you? Do you live locally?”

“Glendale; about ten miles west of the museum.”

The sun was shining in through the coated windows, creating a glistening effect as the rays fell upon the wood floor. Ethan gazed at Cydney, watching the way her hair glittered in the muted light; the more he talked to her, the more he liked her.  She was smart, witty and good conversation. She was also extremely hot. He hadn’t felt this much attraction to a woman since he first met his ex-wife, and even then, he wasn’t sure he felt what he was feeling now.  In all places and during the course of a job, he knew it wasn’t entirely appropriate. But he really didn’t care.

“I didn’t find any assassins,” he dipped his head in the direction of the gallery. “We have to walk back through just to be sure.”

She gave him a very sweet smile and turned to retrace their steps. Enchanted, Ethan followed.

“I have to ask you this even though I’m pretty sure what the answer is,” he ventured.

Cydney was walking with her hands behind her back, watching her navy pumps hit the floor. “What?”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

She looked up at him as if surprised by the question. “No.”

“Would you like to?”

She came to a halt and stared at him. After a moment, her grin returned. “Your pick up lines are getting better.”

“I’ve had a lot of practice in the past several minutes. Are they working yet?”

She laughed softly. “Maybe.”

She had a beautiful smile, one he found extremely alluring. “What more can I say to close this deal?” he asked quietly.

She continued to laugh. “Deal, is it? Don’t you think that whatever happens ought to happen without high-pressure sales?”

He gave her a lop-sided grin. “Absolutely. Sorry; I got carried away.”

Her hazel eyes twinkled as she gazed up at him. “No harm done.”

“I hope not,” his dark eyes were riveted to her. “Maybe we can discuss it over dinner if that would make it easier for you.”

Her smile, the laughter, continued. “You’re certainly persistent.”

He scratched his head. “I’m not sure how else to be,” he admitted. “This doesn’t happen to me very often.”

“What’s that?”

His expression made her heart leap. “Meeting a woman I’d like to get to know.”

It had been years since she had been out to dinner with a man who wasn’t her husband, brother or father.  The thought was thrilling and a little intimidating. Ethan Serreaux was succeeding in charming the socks off of her and she was a little frightened to think what the man could talk her in to if she had a couple of drinks in her. Thoughts of self-preservation were still there but they were fading fast.  A greater part of her was ready to move on with her life under the right circumstances so she threw caution to the wind.

“All right,” she agreed softly. “Providing those assassins you are on the look out for don’t strike, I think we could do dinner.”

A smile of genuine pleasure spread across his face. “Good.”

They resumed walking through the gallery.  Ethan couldn’t ever remember feeling so light of heart; he almost felt giddy. It had been years since he had experienced such joy. Every few steps he would look at Cydney, who would look back at him, and they would both grin like fools. 

He never did find any assassins.

***

Olivia missed her usual three o’clock call.  Cydney had been in her office for a couple of hours, trying to finish up some paperwork, and she called her daughter three times between three pm and three-thirty.  She called twice on the house phone and once on the cell phone.  There was no answer.  She wanted to tell Olivia that she was going to be late because Ethan had talked her into dinner that night.  But when Olivia still wasn’t picking up the phone by four-thirty, Cydney called Mrs. Marquez.

Mrs. Marquez was the neighbor that lived down the street and picked Olivia up from school daily. Mrs. Marquez wasn’t answering her phone, either, and the woman didn’t own a cell phone, so as the clock neared five, Cydney went in search of Ethan. 

She found him up in the main gallery with Stu.  Surprisingly, Stu didn’t seem to be posturing like a territorial caveman and actually seemed to be holding a decent conversation with the agent. When she approached them as the security personnel were ushering the last museum visitors from the gallery, both men turned to her with a smile.