The Shadow of Mudflap (A Foxtrot Team Novel #1) (13 page)

Mudflap really didn’t want a fresh beer. He wanted to catch up with Shanae and Riley, but they’d disappeared from sight. He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck as he searched the room trying to spot that red hair again. What the hell? He hadn’t just imagined that, had he? Maybe he was wrong about the freckle, but what were the odds that two completely different women could have the same, identical freckle and that he would have the same physical reaction to both of them?

Shanae

Crap! How had she managed to walk straight into a conversation with Mudflap while working Riley Banks? At least she’d had the forethought to wear full disguise tonight. With the polymer skin attached to her face, her own sister wouldn’t recognize her. The mask gave her an entirely different looking bone structure. Add in the blue contacts and red wig and she didn’t even recognize herself, so she didn’t think he did either. But he’d definitely been fishing. She could see the confusion as he talked to her. He suspected something.

Thank God for Michael, who’d recognized her plight and saved her by diverting Mudflap. Now she needed to get out of here before he caught up with her again. But she hadn’t had enough time with Riley yet.

She gave him an encouraging smile as he turned and handed her the new drink from the bar. “Thank you. It’s become so stifling in here suddenly. This is perfect.” She ran one manicured nail along the edge of the cold condensation on the glass as she scrambled to think up an alternative plan.

With Mudflap here, she couldn’t continue to hit on Riley like Mudflap didn’t exist. Her conscience wouldn’t allow that, but she still had a job to do. She turned to him, rubbing the top of his arm. “Riley, I need some fresh air. Let me go grab my wrap and maybe we can step out on the terrace. Can you hold my drink while I go to the coat check?”

“Sure.” He took her drink from her. “That sounds good. I’ll be here waiting for you.”

As she headed toward the coat check, she sent a text to Andrew to stand by, because she would need some assistance.

Handing the claim stub to the attendant, she searched her purse for the vial and palmed it. She took her time wrapping up and then headed back to Riley, now in deep discussion with Andrew when she stepped back into the ballroom.

They were debating the college football standings when she reached Riley’s side and took the drink out of his hand. He gave her a distracted nod and wrapped his arm possessively around her. As she pretended to take a sip of the drink, she emptied the vial into it.

“I’m sorry, Riley. I think you gave me the wrong drink.”

He frowned at the two glasses before giving her a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t paying attention to which one you grabbed.”

“That’s no problem. You two seemed deep in discussion.” She reached across to Andrew and shook his hand, slipping him the now empty vial. “Hi, I’m Madison.”

Riley stammered, “I’m so sorry, Madison. I get to talking about football and completely forget my manners. This is Dr. Andrew Ward. He works for the medevac service here in Lubbock.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Ward.” She shook his hand and turned back to Riley. “Don’t worry about it. I know how it goes with college football. We aren’t quite as fanatical as you all here in Texas, but Louisianans like their football, too.”

Andrew shook his head ruefully. “Nobody is as obsessive as Texans about their football, but that’s just part of our charm. And speaking of charm, now that your charming lady is back, I see someone over there,” he waved his hand to someone across the room, “that I need to go say hello to. It was nice meeting you both.”

They exchanged pleasantries as Andrew walked away, and then Shanae turned to Riley. “I think you promised me a stroll out on the terrace.”

“That I did. Just let me finish this.” He drained his glass, placed it on a passing waiter’s tray, and then cupped her elbow to lead her out the French doors.

The terrace of the club included a large deck looking out over the golf course of the country club. As they exited the French doors, Shanae was relieved to find the area deserted. She chuckled low as she led Riley over to the darkened corner. “Well, we appear to be all alone, Mr. Banks. What are we going to do now?”

“Oh, no worriesh…” His words began to slur together a bit and Riley shook his head, as if to clear it.

She reached up to hold his arm as if to steady him. “Riley, are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he shook his head again, “um, wow. I guesh I should have eaten shomething more before drinking that lasht bourbon.” He pressed his hand up against his eyes, and swayed at the same time.

“Riley?”

He swayed toward her again.

“Do you want me to go get you something to eat?”

He frowned at her as if trying to get her face to come into focus. “Um, no. No… shitsh!” he stumbled a bit. “I’m really shorry, but I shink I should jusht go home.”

“Okay, here let me help.” She put herself under his arm to help support him. Just then, Andrew came out the doors.

He frowned and rushed over to Riley’s side to help prop him up. “Mr. Banks, are you okay?”

“Um…” Riley rubbed a hand over his face again and blinked at them a few times. “Bad reashtion to my…” He scowled at the ground and swayed.

Shanae took over. “Dr. Ward, I’m so relieved to see you. Can you help me get him out to my car? I think he’s had a bad reaction to his drink for some reason.”

“Sure.” Andrew glanced around the deserted terrace. “I think we can go around this way and it will lead us to the parking lot. There’s no reason to drag Mr. Banks through the club again.”

Between the two of them, they managed to get Riley to the car. He was still somewhat conscious when they poured him into the passenger seat of his Porsche, but Shanae doubted he would be that way by the time they arrived at his house. Just for pretense they had the discussion within earshot.

“Madison, why don’t you let me drive him home? There’s no way you’ll be able to get him into the house when you get there all by yourself. Besides, I’m a doctor, so I’ll make sure that everything is okay with him.”

She glanced warily back at Riley as if to debate it. “Are you sure? I hate to put you out.”

“Absolutely, I don’t mind at all. Just let me take care of him tonight. I’ll be sure to leave him a note so he knows to call you tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much, Dr. Ward. This is above and beyond and I really appreciate it.”

After she shut Riley’s car door with a promise from him that he’d call her tomorrow to let her know how he was feeling, she met Andrew around the back of the car. “Are you going to be okay to handle him at the house?”

“Yes, Cord is supposed to meet me there to help. He should be fully unconscious then and we’ll be able to search his house to see what we can turn up.”

Shanae nodded. “Okay, I’ll send him a text in a few hours so he should be able to piece together what happened tonight without suspicion. Thanks for your help tonight, Andrew. I owe you one.”

“And don’t worry,” he chucked her gently under her chin, “I will collect.”

That’s what she was afraid of…

* * *

When Shanae pulled her Shelby Mustang into her driveway, she groaned. Seth was here, his flashy sports car parked on the street in front of her house. She didn’t want to deal with him tonight.

Entering her living room, she wasn’t at all surprised to find he’d made himself at home, despite her state of the art security system. It was definitely one of the major pitfalls of having an ex who was a top CIA operative. There wasn’t much that was going to keep him out.

She glared at him as she took in his relaxed state on her couch, eating. He’d found her stash of chocolate Milano cookies. It was just one more reason to kick the bastard out. Mudflap would know better than to eat her chocolate.

“What are you doing here again, Seth? I told you last time I didn’t want to see you anymore.”

“I’m in town for a job. I couldn’t very well come into town without dropping by to say hi.” He polished off that cookie and reached for more.

She scowled at him. “It’s okay. Do that from now on. I promise not to take offense.” She slipped off her incredibly high and uncomfortable shoes, but didn’t let her guard down.

He lifted one eyebrow as he took in her disguise. “Undercover tonight, huh? You look gorgeous and I’m sure your mark thought so, too, didn’t he? Did you get to screw this one? Does your new boyfriend know about your job yet?”

Shanae shut her eyes at the hurt in his voice. She wasn’t up for this tonight and sighed deeply. “No, you know that’s not possible.”

She knew it, too. Relationships where agents had to hide their jobs never worked out. But on the other hand, letting their loved ones know what they did was never a good option, either. Then they ran the risk of exposing their loved ones to torture and worse. Regardless of her personal feelings about Mudflap and relationships, the fact remained that a relationship would never work between them, not if she wanted to remain an agent for the federal government.

Desolation resonated through her soul. No matter what happened, she knew the outcome of a relationship with Mudflap would be nothing but bad.

Seth stood and stalked over to stand in front of her. Lifting her chin, he muttered, “Damn, you’ve fallen for this guy, haven’t you?”

She yanked her chin out of his grasp. “You know me better than that. I don’t fall for anyone. Now, you need to leave. I’m tired and it sounds like you have work to do, so go do it and get out of my town.”

“You may be able to lie to yourself, Shanae, but you can’t lie to me. I know you too well. You’re falling in love with him.” For a moment, his eyes filled with pain. Then he turned and strode out of the house.

She followed him to the door, dead bolted it, and reset the alarm system. Overwhelmed, she slumped to the floor up against the hard, cold door. What had Seth seen in her eyes? She couldn’t be falling in love with Mudflap, could she?

Game 7 Results:

Texas Tech (11): 58

vs.

Oklahoma State University: 24

Week 8: An Explosive Defense

Shanae

Sunday morning. Shanae stepped out of her house ready for a day of relaxing, not thinking about her job, not thinking about her responsibilities, not thinking about Mudflap…at least not yet.

After running into him at the Gala Friday night, he’d spent the day yesterday calling and texting. Luckily, she’d been busy with her job so she had avoided calls. Then last night at the football game, they’d both been too busy, although he did try to catch her several times.

She needed to call him today, but first she needed to clear her head. Unfortunately, as she stepped out her door, she realized Mudflap had other plans for her. He stood there, leaning up against his motorcycle and looking too damn sexy in those tight jeans and leather jacket.

He didn’t move as she walked over to him. “Hi.”

His look was controlled as he handed her a helmet. “Will you go for a ride with me?”

Suddenly a lump pressed against her chest making it hard to breathe so she just nodded. She pulled the helmet onto her head and Mudflap adjusted her straps, his thumb lingering for a moment under her ear. He pressed his lips there in a soft caressing kiss that sent tingles all the way to her toes. But he didn’t say a single word as he drew back and studied her for a moment before swinging a leg over the motorcycle.

He reached a hand out to her and she climbed on behind him, holding him tight around his waist as they took off down the driveway. Michael had said he was armed at the poker game. She could feel the evidence of that shoulder holster and gun now digging into her arm. Pressed against him like she was, his muscles were taut and rigid beneath her, more so than should be. This was not a leisurely drive. Every warning bell within her pinged that something wasn’t right with him.

Of course, she had her own weapons, throwing knives strapped inside both wrists, a gun holstered at the small of her back, and another in her boot. Not that Mudflap was a threat to her, but she never ignored her instincts when it came to these things.

After riding for a little over an hour, Mudflap pulled off onto a dirt road that ran along a creek in a small canyon. He slowed and pulled up under a huge old oak tree at the edge of the creek. While they had ridden, he’d barely acknowledged her at all besides threading his fingers through hers on occasion or rubbing her knee pressed onto the outside of his thigh. She had no idea what was going through his head. Hell, he might even be dragging her all the way out here to kill her and dump her, but her instincts said he wasn’t a threat.

Turning off the motorcycle, his shoulders slumped forward for a moment like they carried the weight of the world, before he turned leery eyes toward her. She climbed off the back of the motorcycle, and removed her helmet as he did the same. He continued to straddle the bike, watching her.

“What’s going on, Mudflap?” she finally asked when he didn’t say anything.

“That’s what I’m hoping you’ll tell me. See I met this gorgeous girl with my friend, Riley, Friday night.”

Her stomach climbed into her throat.

“Something about her seemed just so damn familiar and that’s when I saw it.” He grabbed hold of her wrist and tugged her hard up against his chest. His hot breath warmed her neck in the cool fall air. “She had this heart-shaped freckle right here,” he trailed a finger lightly up the side of her throat, stopping to rest just under her ear, sending shivers down her spine, “just like yours. In fact, it was identical. But you know, she really didn’t look anything like you.”

He leaned back to gaze into her eyes, his own reflecting hurt and confusion.

“Mudflap,” she began, but he rested his finger up against her lips to stop her from speaking. The other hand still held her right wrist firmly.

“No, wait, there’s more. See, I called Riley yesterday to see what I could find out. But you know, he doesn’t remember getting home Friday night, although he swears he only had two drinks. Not near enough to cause a black out. It just doesn’t add up.” Now a little bit of anger filtered through his gaze. “In fact, he couldn’t even remember enough to know if he got lucky or not Friday night.”