Love Inspired Suspense April 2015 #2 (51 page)

“No, I'd rather we go get the other one,” Lexie said. “It wouldn't do to leave radios lying around.”

The typically quiet Reed laughed. “We do it all the time in the staff areas. It's not a big deal.” He whacked Josh in the arm. “Get one from here.”

“Sure,” Josh said with a shrug. “I was going to pick it up in about twenty minutes, but whatever.”

Lexie snuck a questioning glance at Shaun, whose attention snapped between Josh and Parsons. If only she hadn't allowed her emotions to take over after Maria's call. She should have formulated a plan of approach with Shaun instead of heading in blind and leaving him to do the talking. She didn't usually operate that way—trusting someone else to take the reins—but Shaun had the kind of strength and confidence to make her comfortable enough to trust his judgment. Did that mean she should extend that trust to other things...like the events of the past?

“We need to get searching,” Shaun said, casting a glance back at Lexie. She caught the meaning behind the look—he'd developed his own suspicions, but now wasn't the right time to address them. Not yet. “We'll take the lower passenger decks, you guys take the top two. Sound good?”

“I'll go with you two,” Josh said, crossing the distance to stand by Lexie. “Then we'll have enough muscle on each team in case we run into trouble.” The man patted his empty radio case and snuck a look at Parsons.

With a grunt, Parsons unlocked his office again and disappeared inside, closing the door behind him. He emerged with another walkie-talkie and shoved it into Josh's outstretched fingers. “Keep track of this one or it's coming out of your paycheck.”

“Told you, I didn't lose it.”

“You know what I mean.”

Lexie's intuition nudged her, suggesting that Josh's company might not be the best idea. “He can't come with us,” she said, soft enough for only Shaun to hear.

Shaun's nod of agreement was almost imperceptible. “It doesn't make sense to have a team of three and a team of two,” he addressed the waiting men. “Our strategic advantage will come from the element of moving quickly and with surprise. I recommend teams of two, plus one person back here on middeck to respond immediately as backup for either team as needed. If we need further backup, whoever is farthest from the incident location can retrieve medical or other staff.”

“I really think—” Josh began.

“The man's right,” Parsons interrupted, glaring at his team. “You and I will go together. Reed stays back—you're light on your feet, son.”

Lexie took careful note of the color draining from Josh's cheeks. Should they have paid closer attention to the man's whereabouts during the trip? If he was the one they were looking for—be it the Wolf or another accomplice, despite the impossibility his role in several of the scenarios—would he make a move against Parsons? The burly head of security sure looked as if he could take on Josh, but the way Parsons continued to glare at his officer, it appeared he might take out the man first for showing up without his radio.

“Sounds good.” Shaun interrupted Josh's protests. “Stay in contact. Keep the channel open at all times, and check the ones around it, too, in case the girl tries to contact us again.”

Shaun placed his hand on Lexie's back and ushered her away from the three security men. She felt an urge to look back at them and see what transpired as when they left, but Shaun grunted beside her. “Don't. Let it play out.”

“But what if—”

“Trust me.” He guided them toward the nearest set of stairs. “If my suspicions are correct, we'll find the girls and be long gone before they've dealt with whatever's going on there.”

FOURTEEN

L
exie winced at the noise they made trampling down the metal staircase. Though she couldn't fathom what Shaun had planned, she felt confident in his judgment. Quite the change from a little over twenty-four hours ago, when all she'd seen in him had been a wannabe hero with a penchant for getting himself into trouble.

How had this man worked his way into her heart in such a short period of time? Shaun's offer to check his sources for information about Nikki had been the kicker—she couldn't deny that the offer went above and beyond any involvement she'd expected him to have in her life. After all, when they found the girls and finally made harbor, she'd head back to small-town Ontario and he'd go back to Langley...or maybe he'd head overseas for a new mission.

Regardless of where he went, she couldn't follow. And why would he want her to? Allowing herself to feel anything beyond trust in the immediate situation simply didn't make sense. They had no possible future together. Certainly Shaun had to realize that, despite his flirtatious nature. She'd already seen that more than once, and hadn't done much to discourage it. Maybe that was her mistake.

Yet he'd also been nothing but a perfect gentleman. Had she read him wrong? Maybe she'd become delusional out of fear, or maybe her subconscious was attempting to connect dots that weren't there. Still, his earnestness drew her like a moth to flame...so how long until she got burned?

The air suddenly felt thick and electric. She couldn't shake the memory of Shaun on the parking deck when they'd met again for the first time. His tender touch on her injured palm had said more than words ever could, and the very fact that he'd remembered how she liked her coffee—twice!—made her throat tighten with an unbidden sense of longing.

“Lexie?” Shaun pivoted on the staircase, eyeing her with curiosity. “You realize you've stopped moving, right? Is something wrong?”

Heat flooded Lexie's cheeks as a whole migration's worth of butterflies exploded in her stomach.
Get a grip, girl. Now is not the time, and maybe not ever. He's so wrong for you, and you know it.

She said nothing, not trusting herself to speak in the moment. She clanged down the stairs ahead of him, putting him out of her field of vision, and pushed open the door to passenger deck two in silence. But of course, Shaun stepped in front of her, checking both ways down the hall. She'd forgotten about that part of their agreement. Why did he have to stand so
close
?

An elderly couple exited their room about twenty feet down the hall, waving at Shaun and Lexie in greeting.

“Maritimers,” Lexie commented, grateful for a neutral topic to focus on. “Must be locals. They're too calm and casually dressed to be tourists. That's a fisherman's hat he's wearing.”

Her observation brought a tiny curve to Shaun's lips. “You'd make a good superspy yourself, Miss Reilly.”

She warmed at the compliment, though warmth was the very thing she'd been trying to avoid. Maybe she should take a break from the search, step outside. Away from him. Permanently.

“Follow me and stay close,” Shaun said, oblivious to her internal struggle. He tilted his head to listen to the sounds around them, then pulled the walkie-talkie off his belt and handed it to Lexie. “If anything happens, I want you to run. Find a safe place and call for help. Understand?”

“I can handle it,” she snapped, feeling quite overwhelmed. Couldn't he just...leave her alone for a little while? Her guilt spiked at the confusion on his face. He didn't deserve to be snapped at because she had feelings for him. How middle school of her. “You're right. We're in this together. I'll get help, but I'm not going to leave you behind.”

Shaun frowned and focused on her with the ferocity of a lion. “I'm not going to let you get hurt again, Lexie. You've been through enough already, and the next time we're attacked, I may not be so fortunate.” He tapped where the bullet had grazed his shoulder the night before. “We're dealing with someone incredibly dangerous, and we may be walking into a trap. It's taken me three years to get this close, and I can't have the repercussions fall on you.”

Lexie swallowed, her throat growing dry. Why hadn't he moved out of the way? “I know what I'm getting into. I'm just as much a part of this as you are now. Plus, you need me—you said as much when you brought my breakfast.”

His expression grew thoughtful, the intensity calming to that of a mild summer storm. “I did, didn't I?”

Lexie's breath quickened as Shaun leaned closer, every ounce of his intent directed at her being. Why hadn't she moved out of the way? Why weren't her feet working? Her brain screamed at her to get away, to stop this nonsense while she still could, but her heart pushed her closer and closer to the scruffy agent she'd become so attached to in only a matter of a few short hours.

His strong hands gripped her shoulders and pulled her closer. She didn't resist as they were drawn together like magnets. Time stood still as his head descended to hers with a cautious optimism. Their lips brushed, a tender and soft gesture as he tested her willingness. When she didn't resist, his mouth lingered over hers, building Lexie's anticipation for the inevitable connection.

Just as she felt herself relax into the moment, he suddenly pulled back, frowned and walked away.

* * *

Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Shaun's head buzzed with the frustration of letting himself get too deep, too quickly. They both had a job to do, and this would help neither of them.

But then, hadn't he been thinking about what it would be like to kiss her since the moment he'd realized that they were actually perfect for each other? Perfect in every way except timing. Another time, maybe...except that when this was all said and done, he'd be on another assignment and she'd be back to her job in Ontario. They didn't even live in the same country. How could he lead either of their hearts astray when a future together was an impossibility?

Despite all the opposition she'd given him since that first moment on the parking deck, Shaun had no doubt that they had almost shared a kiss that would have been incredible. Enthralling. Consuming. And totally, utterly distracting to both of them at a time when distraction meant the kind of failure they couldn't afford.

Still, he'd be a fool to assume he didn't have a very angry, hurt woman following several feet behind him. They trekked in silence, but the tension in the air had grown thick and stifling. He'd try to explain himself later—she deserved an apology—but right now he needed to focus on the mission.

The passenger deck they'd entered sounded much quieter than the upper decks, save for being closer to the noises made by the ferry's inner workings. Almost too quiet. Too empty. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he sensed Lexie draw close behind him.

“I think I heard something,” she murmured. Shaun grimaced but didn't turn around. He hadn't heard anything, and they'd been walking together this whole time. Then again, he'd also gotten lost in his thoughts, going a little deeper than acceptable for the present situation.

“Stop for a second, please,” she said, louder this time. He did, acknowledging her request with a nod over his shoulder. Dismissing her hunch at this late stage in their search would be folly, especially when they'd been working together so well—
working
being the key word, here—but he had his doubts on this one.

“I don't hear anything,” he replied, after a few moments of silence.

Lexie pursed her lips and backed up a few paces. “I heard it here, a little closer to the bank of elevators on this deck.” She kept walking backward, eyes closed and hands cupped around her ears to focus sound. She stopped just in front of the elevator doors. “Here. It sounds like...beeping? Like an alarm clock.”

A chill swept through Shaun and he bounded across the short distance to where Lexie stood. He copied her, closing his eyes and using cupped hands to locate the sound she'd heard. In an instant, the chill turned into a full tidal wave of cold terror.

The soft beeping she'd heard had changed from an occasional blip to a full-on constant buzzing. The closest passenger rooms were twenty feet away in either direction.

The noise came from inside the elevator.

Shaun grabbed Lexie's forearm and pulled her toward him. “Run!”

Lexie's bewilderment lasted only long enough for her to find her footing. Shaun sprinted down the hallway, half dragging Lexie behind him as the elevators exploded with a deafening boom.

The floor underneath them shook and they tumbled to the ground, Shaun summoning his strength to pull Lexie alongside him and encircle her in his arms. He winced at the impact of his knees against the floor. Shaun covered Lexie's head and neck, holding her tightly against his chest as paint, plaster and metal debris rained down around them. He prayed that no dislodged live wires would land on or near them.

The world went from the loud noise of devastation to the muted thrum of temporarily damaged hearing—they'd been too close to the blast to avoid it, and it would take some time for their hearing to return. The scent of burned plastic and sharp chemicals filled Shaun's nostrils, reminding him of the missing cleaning supplies.

Shaun gritted his teeth at the realization. Why hadn't he considered a homemade bomb a possibility and put all the supplies on lockdown after the gassing incident?

Breathing through his nose, Shaun squinted into the haze of the hallway. Dust floated in the air, obscuring his vision. The hall lights made several valiant attempts to revive themselves, but after a shower of sparks flew from the damaged elevator shaft, the lights and power failed with an anticlimactic flicker. If his hearing hadn't been muffled, Shaun imagined he'd have heard the buzz of failing electricity, followed by the thud and click of emergency power generators kicking in.

Seeing it was safe enough to unfurl themselves from their place on the floor, Shaun loosened his grip on Lexie. She lay still in his arms.

Shaun's heart squeezed as though placed in a vice.
Please, God. Don't take her from me. Not like this.

Emotion took over as he struggled to recall the Agency's bomb protocol training. He drew blank after blank, all logical thought replaced by fear that the motionless woman next to him might stay that way. Why had he let his last hour with her be one of rejection and anger?

“Lexie,” he whispered, taking her head in his hands. “Can you hear me? Please wake up.”

He pulled her back into the safety of his arms and kissed her forehead as a ringing in his ears grew louder. Faint screams sounded in the distance. Other passengers? He should call for medical assistance. And security, too, to let them know where he and Lexie were, that they'd survived the blast. Why hadn't anyone tried to call him yet? Surely they'd heard the bomb go off and were no doubt evacuating the remaining passengers from these lower decks as quickly as possible.

Coming to his senses, Shaun reached for his walkie-talkie, but it was no longer on his belt. Had it fallen off when he hit the floor? He scanned the area around them, hope sinking as he spotted pieces of the device scattered across the floor, about five feet away. From where he lay, the damage appeared mostly superficial, but he couldn't be sure until he had it in his hands again. If the main components inside hadn't been too badly damaged—

Beside him, Lexie moaned. Shaun's heart tightened again. “Lexie? Talk to me. Can you hear me?”

She pressed a palm to her forehead and coughed, eyes squeezed shut. “Barely. You sound like you're shouting at me from a mile away. What happened?”

“Someone set off a bomb in the elevator.” And they'd done an excellent job of it, too. The more he contemplated the sequence of events that had to have happened to place them in this position, the angrier he grew. “Perfectly timed, down to the wire.”

Lexie peered up at him. “In the elevator?” She paused, realization dawning. “Oh, of course. The beeping. Apparently, I need to watch more spy movies. How naive of me.”

“Not naive at all. Think about it. What kind of person sets off a bomb on a boat?”

“Are we going to sink?” Stark terror crept into her voice, and Shaun clasped her a little tighter. He loosened his grip when she coughed, hoping she didn't see the redness creeping into his cheeks.

The ship creaked and groaned around them. Footsteps pounded on the deck above, but no one had yet ventured into the blast hall. The blast damage appeared to have been contained to around fifteen feet or so on either side of the elevators.

“I don't think so,” he finally said, hoping his voice sounded steady enough to be reassuring. “I think this was localized. Specific to this hallway, I mean.”

Lexie groaned and rolled away from him, both hands on her temple. “To this hall? But that doesn't make sense. Why set off a bomb down here, where there's barely anyone around? And next to the elevator? The only people around are—”

“You and me.” Shaun pushed himself up onto his elbows, wincing at the sharp jabs of pain throughout every part of his body. Yesterday's bullet graze on his shoulder burned with the agony of a reopened wound. “We were the only people around at the time of the blast.”

“That doesn't make sense. How could the bomber know?”

“That's exactly what I'd like to find out.” Setting off a bomb inside an elevator with no one else around would require careful calibration and some very specific circumstances falling together perfectly. “It's a lot of trouble to go to, pulling off something like this. I agree it doesn't make sense.”

“Why not just shoot us?” Lexie said, echoing his thoughts.

Downed electricity. Lack of civilian casualties. Limited blast radius. How had they been targeted? The whole thing spoke of careful, professional planning. He'd thought the Wolf would be feeling desperate and start making mistakes by now. Shaun had underestimated their opponent, and it had almost cost them their lives.