More Than a Mission (18 page)

“And if we're not?” Shaw pressed, but Elizabeth didn't get to answer as all three of their cell phones went off at the same time, creating a noisy cacophony in her front parlor.

Shaw was quickest on the draw and, as the other two waited, he listened quietly. His expression grew darker with each second that passed. When he hung up and slipped the phone back into its holder, he shot an uneasy glance between Aidan and Lucia.

“We've got major problems. Lord Southgate will brief us back at the hotel, Lucia. Aidan, I think it's wiser for you to stay here. If the Sparrow's back in town—”

“She's bound to turn up around here. Brief me once you know more,” he said and rose, walked the other two to the door. Once they had left, he faced Elizabeth and said, “You're not telling us everything about Dani.”

“What?” she said, uncertain of what information Aidan thought she might have. “I've told you everything I know.”

He strode over and suddenly loomed before her, his arms on either side of her on the back of the couch, effectively trapping her. “No, you haven't.”

She tried to bat his arms away, but he held firm. With a sigh, she said, “What else could I possibly tell you?”

He knelt before her until there was no way she could avoid looking at him. Finally he said, “You can start by telling me where Dani is.”

D
ani hurried along the coast road, intent on reaching the cottage. She had to find out who the man was making moves on her sister.

She thought she had seen him today, after she had dropped by Kate's to get the scoop on what was up. Kate was always the one in the know and things hadn't changed. Their old friend had been able to tell Dani about Mr. Tall, Blond and Dangerous who had appeared in town right after Lizzy's bartender had deserted her. A man who had made his attraction to Lizzy clear.

An attraction that even Kate had noticed was reciprocated by her younger sister.

Dani knew that well from what she had seen the night before from outside Lizzie's cottage.

Now she had to figure out who he was and what he wanted. Even more importantly, for whom he worked. Not, she hoped, the man who had hired her to kill the prince. If that was the case, Lizzy might be in danger and Dani had to make sure her sister was safe.

She hurried up the central road until she was past the docks. Then she cut down a shallow footpath through the dunes and grasses. The tall grasses hid her at times, but could also camouflage someone else along the path. She moved along with caution, therefore.

The path dipped toward the beach, and, once there, she hastened her pace, breaking into a slow jog so that she could reach her grandparents' cottage and start searching for more information on Mr. Aidan Rawlings.

That was the name Kate had provided, although Dani had no doubt it was an alias. Still, there were ways to get around that and secure more information.

Didn't she know it. She'd gone from Danielle Elizabeth Moore to Elizabeth Cavanaugh and most traces of her existence had been blotted out from official papers and computer databases. She had even been excised from the high-school yearbook that the Leonia Public Library kept as a record of every graduating class.

She was a ghost now. Nonexistent except to those people who knew her personally, and of course, to her sister.

Her sister who might be in danger, she thought and hurried onward.

About half a mile up the shore, there was another footpath leading to the base of the bluffs where her maternal grandparents had a cottage—her safehouse. The climb up this path was more arduous as it inclined sharply from the rocks and beach below to the start of the bluffs.

She was slightly out of breath from the climb as she entered the cottage and flipped on the light.

“So good to see you again,” she heard from behind her and whirled, reaching for her gun.

A blow like an iron fist struck her, powerful enough to send her reeling backward. Searing pain erupted through her midsection. Her legs failed to cooperate, buckling beneath her. She fell back heavily onto the couch in the middle of the room.

The pain was like a white-hot poker driving deep into her. She could barely breathe. When she finally did, her breath was shallow. Almost inconsequential.

This wasn't possible, she thought as the man approached, his voice and shape familiar from the night he had hired her to kill the prince. From the night they had fought on the docks when he'd failed to provide her the promised information on her parents' killers.

“Such a shame,” he said as he finally stood before her, his face protected by a black ski mask. A slimy smile slicked across his lips as he trained his gun on her. “The Sparrow won't elude this trap.”

Dani tried to go for her weapon, but her body wasn't responding. Still, the man wasn't taking any chances. He reached under her jacket and removed her gun from its holster.

She had the Sigma tucked behind her. Could feel its presence against her spine, but knew she would be unable to draw that weapon.

He inspected the HK and smiled. “Nice piece. Seems a shame to waste it, don't you think?”

He tucked it into his belt with one hand and raised his gun with the other. Pointing the barrel at her head, he sighted the shot.

Dani met his cold eyes along the matte black of the barrel and stared him down. If she was going to die, it wasn't going to be like a coward, pleading and begging for her life.

His hand trembled for a moment and she mustered enough breath to say, “What's…matter? Not man enough to do it while…I watch?”

He laughed harshly, his dark eyes glittering through the slits of the black ski mask. “Actually, no. Just taking time to appreciate that you broke your own rules. You let yourself get distracted. A fatal mistake, wouldn't you say?”

Dani gritted her teeth against the pain and struggled for another breath. He was right. She had been so worried about Lizzy, she hadn't noticed that the fine wire she had rigged on the door to the cottage had fallen off, as it should have if the area was compromised.

And he was also right about another thing—she was dying. She could tell from the way the warmth was fleeing from her fingers and toes. Trying to pull into the center of her as her body battled to hold onto life.

She risked a glance downward. So much blood. Oozing down the front of her shirt. Too much.

“That's right, my dear. You're dying. And of course, I could spare you the pain and end it now, only…” He laughed with malice once again. “You've caused me too many problems. Better you should suffer a little before you go.”

“Bastard,” she spat out with a rough breath.

“Payback's a bitch, isn't it, Sparrow? And guess what? Little sis is next. Never leave anyone behind who can come in your place.”

She tried to speak, causing a swirl of blackness to cloud her sight before she blessedly passed out.

 

There was no way Elizabeth was going to help him find her sister. Using more force than before, she broke past one of his arms, rose and braced herself for action. “Even if I did know, there's no way that I'd—”

He was on her before she knew it, his hands gripping her arms tightly. She reacted out of anger and out of frustration. Freeing one arm, she turned, dropped a little before flexing with her hip and sending him flying over her shoulder.

He landed with a satisfying thud, but not before upending an end table by the sofa and sending a lamp and some knickknacks flying. As he lay there, recapturing the breath driven out of him by the fall, he muttered, “Learn that from big sis?”

“Yes. After…she insisted we take self-defense classes. In case they came back for us.”

“She protected you then. Don't you think it makes sense to protect her now?” he posed, and in her mind's eye it was unfortunately too easy to see a full-scale manhunt for her sister. One in which Dani could be injured or killed.

She glared at him, hands on her hips and asked, “Promise you'll give Dani a chance to explain?”

He leaned up on his elbows, considered her proposition and agreed to her request with a nod. “Promise. Do you know where she is?”

With a hesitant hunch of her shoulders, she admitted, “My grandparents had a seaside cottage about a mile and a half away. Dani always loved going there to think things through.”

He did a little jump/flip she had to admire and was immediately on his feet before her. “Let's go get a car.”

She shook her head. “It's faster on foot. The coast road makes too many turns near the bluffs.”

Without waiting for his reply, she whirled and raced out the door, alternately eager to see her sister and worried that Dani would not have an explanation for Aidan's allegations. She didn't hesitate, however, for she was sure about one thing: better they find Dani and not someone else.

Her steps were quick, nearly a jog as she hurried through the garden and up the path to the main road. She never paused to look behind her, sensing he was near as a tingle of fear grew swiftly. Gripped her. Urged her to rush.

Something was wrong with her twin. She was certain of it now as surely as she suddenly knew Dani would be at the cottage.

Increasing her pace, she weaved in and out by the pedestrians at the docks. She was at the farthest end of the wharf when she first noticed the car bearing down on them, racing along the coast road. There was something familiar about…

Loud pops, like those from a large firecracker, peppered the air before Aidan tackled her from behind. She hit the ground hard, his weight covering her protectively for just a moment.

Then he was on his feet, more gunfire shattering the stillness of the afternoon air as he returned fire.

She rolled onto her side. The car—it was a big black Hummer—fishtailed as it sped away from them. “That's the same car from the other day.”

Aidan held his free hand out to her to help her rise. “It sure is.”

In his other hand was a large black gun which he holstered in order to grab his PDA. “Come in, Red Rover.”

“Copy, Blender Boy. We heard the noise. What's up?” she asked over the walkie-talkie, making the conversation audible to Elizabeth.

“Same perp in the Hummer. Can you get the locals to put out an APB?”

“I'm on it. Do you need backup at the cottage?”

Aidan glanced at Elizabeth for a second, hesitated, but kept his earlier promise. “That's a negative, Lucia. I think we can handle it for now.”

A long silence filled the air before Lucia came back on. “Aidan. You need to hurry. The shit's hit the fan here.”

“Copy, Lucia.” With that, he popped the PDA back onto his belt and looked at Elizabeth.

Her gaze skipped away from his knowing one since there was no denying it any longer. Whoever was in the van was likely after her sister and had mistaken her for Dani. There could be only one explanation for why so many people were after her.

Cold settled inside her. And the fear that something else was wrong returned, even stronger than before. Aidan was still holding her hand, and he must have sensed the change that came over her.

“Lizzy? Are you okay?”

She finally met his gaze. His concern for her was clear. Heartwrenching since they were on opposite sides right now. “We have to hurry. Something's wrong with Dani.”

He didn't question her. Just inclined his head in the direction of the path down to the beach. “This way?”

She nodded and they raced down the path together, hands still joined.

T
he cottage, its outline stark against the skyline at the top of the cliff, was not as large as Lizzy's. Tall grasses almost hid it from sight as they approached, but then it was there, a lonely dark silhouette in the fading light of dusk.

There were no signs of life. No movement besides those of the grasses as they approached the door.

Aidan pulled out his gun and, standing to one side, motioned Lizzy to the other.

“Call her name,” he mouthed and Lizzy did so. “Dani? It's Lizzy Bee. Are you home?”

At the silence, Aidan reached out and threw open the door.

Nothing happened, but he wasn't about to risk either himself or Lizzy. And above all, he didn't want to trade fire with her sister. He crouched down and cautiously stepped inside the doorway, hit the switch.

Lights flared to life inside the cottage.

On a sofa in the middle of the room, Lizzy's twin lay slumped. The front of her white T-shirt from her midsection down was soaked in blood. The T-shirt, jacket and jeans were those he had seen that morning on the woman he had called to. That had been Dani and not Lizzy, he realized as he lowered his gun.

Lizzy stepped inside and, seeing Dani, exploded from his side to that of her sister.

“Dani,” she said as she took hold of her twin's limp, bloodstained hand and stroked a lock of hair back from Dani's ghostly face.

Dani's eyelids fluttered open. She smiled weakly. “Lizzy Bee. I didn't think…” She stopped and grimaced, but fought back the pain to finish. “I wanted to see you.”

Lizzy stroked Dani's hair once more and smiled tearily. “I'm here, Dani. I'm here. You'll be okay, Dani. I know you will.”

Dani nodded, but shot a look at Aidan as he approached and stood watching. A look that told him she knew she was dying. Not if he could help it. He picked up his PDA and called Lucia with the walkie-talkie. “We need EMTs, stat. A cottage on the coast road about a mile and a half up and off toward the bluffs.”

“Got your location already with the GPS chip. I'm on it,” she acknowledged, and with that, he sprang into action, pulling a tea towel from a nearby caddy. He kneeled beside the sofa, folded the towel and applied it to Dani's wound—a gunshot. Fairly large caliber and close range based on the damage done. He applied pressure to staunch the blood still pouring profusely from the wound. The blood was a dark color, causing him to suspect the shot had caught her liver. Not good. She might bleed out before help arrived.

Dani moaned, closed her eyes, and ground her teeth as he applied the pressure.

“Sorry, but—”

“S'okay,” she said, her voice weaker than it had been just moments earlier.

“Why did you do it?” He needed to know not only to accomplish his mission, but to also to protect Lizzy from whoever had tried to kill her. From whoever had shot Dani.

Lizzy glared at him. “Shut up, Aidan.”

“S'okay, Lizzy Bee. It's not what you think,” Dani offered, each word more frail than the one before.

“You didn't kill the prince?” he pressed, hating that he might be ruining Lizzy's last moments with her sister, but having little choice.

“I dangled…” she began, but squeezed her eyes shut against the pain before continuing, each word expelled with a rough breath. “The bait. Left…coke on…table.”

“And Mr. Party Boy swallowed the bait,” he finished for her. “Who hired you?”

Dani's gaze fixed on her sister as she said, “Let…personal interfere with…job.” Every word was a struggle.

“What job, Dani?” Lizzy asked and comforted Dani by stroking the side of her sister's face lovingly.

“My…job. Made a…mistake,” her eyes rolled back in her head and she sagged against the cushions of the sofa.

“Dani,” Lizzy said and shook Dani's hand, trying to revive her. When she didn't rouse, she repeated her name again, more urgently.

Aidan continued to apply pressure to the wound in Dani's midsection, but with his free hand, he felt for a pulse along her neck. Weak. Too weak. He didn't have much time left to get the complete story from the Sparrow.

“Dani,” he urged and stroked the side of her face gently, a face so much like Lizzy's that it hurt.

Once more Dani's eyelids fluttered open, her gaze slightly unfocused for a moment while she struggled to regain consciousness.

When she was with them again, Aidan forged ahead, time too short for delay. “Who hired you?”

“Man named Donovan.” Each word was laced with anguish and fear. Each breath more shallow. Less substantial. “Said Reginald…not…true prince.”

Lizzy looked up at him, her gaze as confused as he was. As far as he knew, Reginald was the one and only heir to the throne, but that question was for another day.

“Is that why you did it?”

She shook her head with more force than he thought her capable of. “Donovan…pictures.” She paused, fighting for a breath. Trying to hold onto consciousness.

Winning the battle for the moment, she continued. “Reginald with drug dealers…The ones who killed Ma…Da.” As she finished, she stared at her sister and tears slipped unbidden down her cheeks. “Did it for them.”

“I understand, Dani,” Lizzy said and leaned forward, slipping an arm around her sister to hold her close. She kissed the side of Dani's face and in soft tones repeated, “I understand.”

“What did Donovan look like?”

“Mask…didn't see. Nothing else…distinguishable.”

Her eyelids drifted downward again as she battled for awareness.

Aidan checked her pulse once more. Thready and barely noticeable. He had to act fast. “Lizzy, give me your hand.”

She released her sister's hand and he took hold of Lizzy's, placed it over the blood-soaked towel. “Keep pressure on here. Hard pressure. Understand?”

“Aidan?” she questioned and he stroked the side of her face.

“I'm going to check on that help.”

Elizabeth watched as he stepped away, grabbed his PDA and once again called someone.

“Lizzy?” her sister said and her voice seemed stronger than before, giving her hope that Dani would be all right.

She bent close to her, stroked the side of her face with her free hand. “I'm here, Dani. I'll always be here for you no matter what.”

Dani's eyes, a greener shade than her own, darkened with dismay. “The prince—”

“Chose his own poison. I know,” she said and leaned her forehead against his sister's. “But the rest—”

“It's not what it seems….” Dani began, but immediately began to struggle for air.

“Dani?” She applied more pressure and wrapped her one arm around her sister's shoulders, trying to comfort her. “Hang on, Dani. Please. Just a little longer.”

Dani bit her lip, drawing blood. She gulped in a breath, forced a rush of words out with her exhalation. “Doing a job…Not what they think…Didn't kill…”

Aidan stepped over then, crouched down so Dani could look into his face.

“Mitch? Why did you kill Mitch?” he asked, needing to understand why his friend had died by her hand.

Tears blurred Elizabeth's vision as she pulled away from her sister. She still held Dani in her arms while she was applying pressure, but beneath the palm of her hand, the warmth of her sister's blood was too real a reminder that these might be her last moments.

“Aidan, please,” she pleaded, but Dani whispered, “Oh, God. Mitch.”

Tears flowed harder from Dani then and her gaze was unfocused as she stared ahead, labored for another breath, a hesitant, almost nonexistent one, and yet she somehow managed to whisper, “Didn't…kill. Loved Mitch.”

A breath came. Like the hiss of air escaping a balloon. A last breath. Her body went limp and her eyes lost their life before they closed.

Elizabeth continued to hold her as Aidan searched for a pulse.

“Shit,” he cursed and called Lucia again. “Damn it. What's the ETA on those EMTs?”

“Two minutes.”

“Shit,” he cursed again. When his gaze met hers, she finally understood Dani was gone.

“No,” she said softly, but then it grew into a wail as she repeated it over and over, and cradled Dani in her arms, rocking her lifeless body back and forth.

Aidan couldn't just stand there, watching Lizzy's heart break. Knowing that with every second that passed, there was less and less possibility of bringing Dani back.

“Lizzy, please. Give me room.”

He slipped his one arm between Lizzy and her sister, pried Lizzy away so he could pick up Dani and carry her over to a free spot on the floor. Laying her out, he knelt beside her and began to do CPR. Lizzy knelt opposite him and took hold of Dani's slack hand.

He kept up the CPR for what seemed like hours until the wail of a siren grew closer and closer.

The EMTs arrived barely a minute later and urged them to the side so they could immediately get to work on Dani. Walker was with them, but as he observed from afar, Aidan could see in the other man's eyes that Dani's condition was not improving.

The EMTs were still working on her as they wheeled the gurney from the room. Lizzy went to go with them, but Walker shot out his arm and blocked her way. “I'm sorry, but that won't be possible.”

“What?” Aidan shouted and advanced on the other man, grabbed his arm and yanked it down, but Walker immediately blocked their way once more when Aidan would have led Lizzy to the ambulance.

“Get out of the way, Walker. Lizzy should be with her sister.”

Walker shook his head and faced Lizzy. “I'm sorry, Ms. Moore. But given who your sister is—”

“The Sparrow,” Lizzy said weakly, her arms wrapped around herself as she gazed beyond Walker to the ambulance outside as it pulled away from the cottage.

Walker nodded stiffly. “Yes, the Sparrow. She's being taken to a secure location where she can be treated. If she should survive—”

“You cold-hearted prick,” Aidan said and forcefully shoved Walker out of the way. “Let's go, Lizzy.”

She laid a hand on his arm. A hand that was cold and covered with her sister's blood. Despite that, she was calm. Much calmer than he. He finally realized his anger on her behalf was only causing her even more grief. He reached out and dragged her into his arms. “I'm sorry, Lizzy. I really am.”

“I'm…okay. Now.”

He stepped away, but not before he caressed the side of her face and said, “She'll be okay.”

Lizzy confronted Walker. “When can I see her?”

Walker seemed truly uncomfortable about his answer, which made Aidan only a little less angry. Maybe he wasn't as big a prick as he seemed. “I'm not sure, Ms. Moore. Things are a bit…unsettled right now. If we all return to our hotel, I'll be able to tell you more and we can wait for news on your sister's…condition.”

With a gracious nod, Lizzy walked out the door, her arms wrapped around herself once again as if that grip was all that was keeping her from breaking into pieces.

Walker was about to follow her out, when Aidan snared his arm.

The other man stopped, looked down at Aidan's hold and then up to his face. “You've let this get way too personal.”

“You bet I have. You get Corbett on the line. You tell him that this business about a secure location is a load of crap.”

“I'll do one better, Spaulding. I'll get him on the line so you can tell him yourself.”