An Unlikely Hero (1) (24 page)

Tessa Scott followed Chase into the building that held the Enigma organization as the sun was just coming up. It had not been a restful night. Anger still clouded her eyes, and her jaw muscles flexed over and over again in irritation at not being allowed to go home or call her family. After heating a couple of frozen meat and potato dinners in the microwave, Chase had eaten without saying a word to her as they sat at his black granite topped bar. He cleared away their disposable dishes and stuck their water glasses in the dishwasher which was nearly full. After telling her he was going to take a shower, Chase disappeared behind the closed door of his bedroom. Minutes later Tessa heard the shower start.

Sitting in a frozen-like state at the bar, Tessa surveyed the captain’s eighth floor apartment. One whole wall was glass that overlooked the city of sparkling lights. Black leather furnishings and cherry stained bookcases on each side of the contemporary style fireplace filled the loft style living room. Open to the kitchen, done in the same cherry cabinetry with stainless steel appliances, the apartment was void of any personal touches. The look of a hired decorator existed with the few pieces of art hanging on the walls for a shot of color. Nothing too revealing about who Captain Chase Hunter might be outside of Enigma jumped out at her as she eased off the tufted, leather barstool to investigate further. The floors were stained dark with only an ivory shag rug in front of the couch to break up the monotony of the sterile room. A flat screen TV had been installed over the fireplace.
Boys and their toys,
thought Tessa without emotion.

Only the dozens of books gracing the shelves next to the fireplace indicated a new layer to the captain. Tessa, drawn to books of any kind, quickly crossed the room to read the titles. Shakespeare, Chaucer, Marlowe, Johnson and several books with “sir” before the author’s name looked old and worn as Tessa ran her fingers across the binding. A violin case next to a music stand, rested precariously on angle in one corner. The case appeared to be worn and a little rough around the edges; like the captain, she thought in seriousness. She wondered about the possibility of his ability to play such a delicate instrument with such deadly hands.

Her eyes had then gone to the front door. Should she try and leave? Would the captain come after her? Did she owe it to Mr. Crawley to see this thing through? Hadn’t she done enough already?

“Planning your escape?” Chase had entered the room without her knowing it. He’d caught her standing before the door, staring at the possibilities. Dressed now in sweats and a tee shirt, he looked like an ad for Ralph Lauren; instead of Soldier of Fortune.

“Love what you’ve done with the place,” she said flippantly as she turned and moved back to the bar, which seemed like miles away from Chase. “My place is such a disaster. You’ll have to give me the name of your decorator.” She offered a condescending smile.

Chase approached Tessa slowly as if stalking prey, forcing her to retreat around the bar into the kitchen. “What makes you think I didn’t decorate this place?” He brushed past her and opened the refrigerator, reaching in for two beers.

“Oh please,” she chuckled nervously as she cautiously moved back to the other side of the bar. “Do you play the violin?” Her eyes darted to the violin case.

Locking eyes with his unwilling hero, Chase nodded. “My mother insisted I have a well-rounded education. It was one of the few things I managed to bring out of China when I left.”

He popped one lid off a beer and offered it to Tessa. When she refused with a shake of her head, Chase smiled broadly then gulped down the cold liquid before speaking. “Afraid I’m going to get you drunk and take advantage of you?” When she didn’t answer he waved the bottle gently at the room. “Claudia did all this for me.” Tessa’s nervousness was almost amusing. “And so you can put your mind at ease, I don’t sleep with married women. I’m keeping you close because for some strange reason you’ve become a part of all this. I feel obligated to make sure nothing happens to you until this is over.” Finishing off the beer, Chase sat the bottle on the bar and disappeared into the bedroom only to return with a pillow and blanket. “I’ll sleep on the couch. The bed has clean sheets. Towels are in the linen closet. You’ll find them I’m sure.” He tossed the blanket and pillow on the couch.

Trying to back toward the bedroom door casually, she tripped over the edge of the rug and nearly fell. When she looked at Chase he looked amused as he worked on the second beer. “And for your information I don’t drink alcohol,” she said off handedly.

Chase took another sip of the cold liquid. “Let me guess. You’re one of those holier-than-thou Evangelicals that doesn’t drink, dance, swear or anything else that could be remotely fun. Since you have three kids I assume you’re okay with sex.”

Tessa jerked her head up as if he were trying to insult her beliefs. “Maybe. Is that a problem?”

His smile faded a bit. “My parents were Evangelicals.”

“Are they really medical missionaries?”

The obvious interest Tessa showed made Chase eye her with a little regret. “Not anymore.”

“Why?”

“The Chinese Red Guard killed them.” With that he turned toward the couch. “There’s a lock on the bedroom door if that makes you feel safer. See you in the morning.”

When morning came Chase had knocked on her door saying they needed to get to Enigma. Tessa felt rushed and still half asleep when she’d joined him in the kitchen. Styrofoam cups filled with coffee, just like she took it, and a Little Debbie cake to eat on the way tasted wonderful. She frowned at such a breakfast but ended up wishing she had another as they’d driven down the street toward Enigma.

Anxiousness about the upcoming day made her feel on edge and exasperation toward the captain. He’d asked her a couple of civil questions of no particular importance;
how’s the coffee, did you sleep well, did you pack all your things, how long have you been married.
That last question had nearly sent her over the edge. She snapped that if he needed to know any more personal information about her he should just ask Claudia. After that, the two had ridden in silence until they’d reached Enigma. Tessa had not budged when Chase exited the Hummer as she considered what her options might be to change her circumstances. Without resolution, Tessa soon found herself tagging along after Chase; two steps to his every one; another source of frustration.

Once in the elevator, Tessa felt the sensation of going down. Had she done this yesterday? Where was she being taken? Chase stood straight, almost at attention with his hands clasp in front of his body. Today he dressed casually, jeans, dark colored tee shirt and tennis shoes. He looked normal; although that seemed a little trite considering what the captain was capable of doing.

Moving forward when the door swished open, Chase stepped aside and held the door, waiting for Tessa to decide to join him. His eyes did not look inside the elevator to coax her to decide. Finally, Tessa sighed in surrender and stomped out and kept going forward, even though she had no idea where she was. It looked similar to where she’d try to escape the day before only to be stopped by that Amazon, Sam. She felt Chase behind her even though his steps were stealth-like. Chase reached for the doorknob to open the door for her when Tessa stopped and turned to face her captor. She looked up into his dark eyes and searched his tan face for something; she didn’t know exactly what.

“Did you shoot those men in the van that first day?” Tessa ask accusingly.

Chase felt an urge to rub that painful spot again above his heart. He needed to make a doctor’s appointment. “Yes.” Her eyes widened a little revealing more of their blueness. “But they were already dead. If I had needed to kill them in order to get the information to stop whatever this is, make no mistake, Tessa, I would have killed them.” He was aware that he had swallowed and held his breath.

A soft smile stretched her lips slightly; enough to give her face brightness. “Okay. I believe you.” This time she smiled broadly. Confusion leaped to the captain’s eyes and his hand tightened on the doorknob. “You called me ‘Tessa’.”

Chase nodded and felt his mouth turn up in his own smirk. “I apologize, Mrs. Scott. It’s been a long couple of days.”

His hand started to turn the knob when she reached out and laid her palm over the back of his large, rough hand. She felt him flex slightly as if wanting to pull away. “Please call me Tessa. And,” Tessa took her free hand and touched his arm, “thank you for everything you’ve done for me, letting me stay with you, not treating me like I’m a nut case when I told you about Azerbaijan, for trusting me and most of all for saving my life several times over the last few days.” She patted his arm before removing her touch from him, “Thank you for being nice to me this morning when I was so…” she paused.

“Difficult?” Chase said as he opened the door with a chuckle.

A light laugh floated in ahead of her as she nodded, then took a sip of her coffee only to choke on the liquid as Sam stood before them with her killer looks baring down on them. Her eyes went to Tessa with disdain and then to Chase.

Even in jeans and a loose cotton blouse, Sam was stunningly beautiful. Long black hair fell down her back, straight and shiny. Her skin, a lovely olive, had never seen a blemish or sunburn. The large round eyes were pools of green, maybe hazel. Thick black lashes and a wide, sinuous mouth gave her heart shaped face the look of a goddess. Toned and slim, Sam’s body left Tessa wishing she’d not eaten the Little Debbie cake or had sugar in her coffee.

Sam stepped forward and slipped her long fingers into Chase’s hand and pulled him forward so that he was nearly touching her generous breasts. “I tried to call you last night, Chase.”

“Tired. Went to bed early.”

Sam smiled and cut her eyes over to Tessa who seemed to be feeling a little embarrassed by the attention the captain received. “I could have come over and helped you relax.”

“Oh, I did that!” Tessa said with a fake smile and patted Sam on the back. “But, gee, thanks!”

Sam jerked away from Tessa’s touch. “Ha! And where did you spend the night, Betty Crocker?”

Tessa wrinkled her nose and smiled sarcastically as she walked away. “I spent the night in his bed,” in a ‘oops, you caught me’ voice.

Chase removed Sam’s hands and started to laugh loudly from somewhere deep inside. “I think you’ve met your match, my beautiful Sam!” Walking away, Chase laughed again and in two strides he’d caught up with Tessa. “You really do have a death wish, don’t you?”

Tessa looked up at him then over her shoulder at Sam, who glared murderously at her. “I have a feeling terrorists are the least of my worries.” She looked back at the captain whose mood had definitely improved. “Are you two…?” Tessa let her question fall incomplete.

“No. Another rule of mine besides no married women is no Enigma women. Makes life too complicated.” Chase pulled out a chair with wheels for her to sit down at a table then he did the same. The windowless room seemed small compared to the one used two days ago. The soft purr of air conditioning and the smell of freshly brewed coffee permeated the room.

Tessa smiled again at Sam who had taken a position across the table from her. “Guess I’ll have to double trust you now,” she said to Chase as her eyes locked with Sam’s. Women like Sam knew their power over the human race; whether it is a man or woman. Tessa figured Sam usually got her way with everyone, except for Chase of course. That probably made him all the more desirable.

The steel doors opened again as Vernon, Zoric and Carter strolled in casually, all carrying their own empty coffee mugs. Each poured an amount of hot brew into their cups before finding a seat at the table. While nods of greetings passed between the team, Benjamin Clark entered calm and stoic. His appearance caused a quiet attentiveness to take hold of his team. Sitting down at the head of the oblong table, Benjamin laid a plain file folder before him. He locked his hands into a fist atop the table as another woman entered the room carrying a stack of folders. She quickly began passing them out to the Enigma team, smiling at times when their eyes met hers, except for Sam who ignored her completely.

“Tessa, this is my assistant, Ms. Coleman.” Benjamin’s voice, matter-of-fact, did not indicate whether she might be another team member. The two exchanged nods and a quick smile, before the assistant exited as quickly as she’d appeared. “It appears,” Benjamin spoke calmly as he opened his file folder which signaled everyone else to do likewise, “that Essid has been a very busy terrorist over these last few years.” Ben looked at Tessa with his eagle sharp eyes and smiled patiently. “Tessa correctly identified the mosque in Azerbaijan.”

For some unknown reason, Tessa felt a surge of pride. Zoric, sitting across from her, gave her a wink with his bloodshot eyes. “It seems there was indeed a woman involved. Again,” Benjamin raised a hand Tessa’s way, “our unwilling team member was correct about Essid’s motive for terror.”

Sam narrowed her eyes at Tessa in contempt before swiveling her chair toward Benjamin Clark. With a slight straightening of her body, Ben’s focus temporarily left Tessa and fell on Dr. Samantha Cordova who met his eyes boldly, as if reminding him not to be so stupid as to forget her presence.

Benjamin casually placed a pair of black glasses on his nose, adjusting his head slightly to bring things into focus. Frowning at Sam, he tore his eyes away to look back at the file. Sam irritated him on a regular basis, what with her sexy mind games she practiced on his people. The only one that appeared to be immune to her charms was Chase Hunter, and he wasn’t one hundred percent sure about him. Perhaps Chase felt confidence in knowing that he could have the beautiful Samantha Cordova whenever and however he chose. Ben noticed, on occasion, their eyes meeting with a kind of smoldering effect. Nothing beyond those glances indicated anything romantic might jeopardize the work at Enigma.

Turning a couple of pages of information, Ben spoke so matter-of-factly that he could’ve been reading a stock market report. “Essid married a Chechen girl he’d met in Azerbaijan while he traveled throughout the region. He took her home to Libya where his wealthy and political family resided. In 1995 she returned to Chechnya to visit her family before the birth of their first child.”