Shattered Rules (3 page)

He stared
at her but didn’t answer.

Again s
he resisted the urge to touch him. Instead, she moved away. He wasn’t going to agree. He wanted the authorities involved ASAP.

He
stepped closer to her, so near she thought he might kiss her. With lips parted in anticipation, she waited.

With a
grunt, he walked to the window and glanced out. “I don’t want you or Carrie to get hurt.”

Astonished
by her feelings of disappointment, she stood transfixed. He wanted to kiss her. She saw it in his eyes. Yet he didn’t.
Why?

“
The ransacking of your home is a matter for the local police. Eventually you're going to have to talk to them,” he said his voice stern.

“
I’ll I just need to see Carrie first.”

“
Don't wait too long.”

“
I won't. I promise.”

“
We better get going.”

We?
Was he planning to stay with her until she talked to Carrie? She couldn’t allow that. “Take me home to get my car. I'm going to drive to the cabin.” She blinked twice to make sure the room was still in focus and she could drive.

“
It's over a four-hour drive to Lake Tahoe. After what's happened to you, it's not a good idea to go alone. Too many places you could be waylaid.”

“
I'll be fine. I've driven to the cabin many times.”

“
Damn it Kelly. It’s different this time. Don’t you realize the trouble you’re in? Grow up.”

“
Damn it Brick,” she said
mimicking his tone of voice. “I owe it to my sister to talk to her alone without the police or FBI, she said pointedly. “I can’t get her on her cell, but Carrie is coming to the cabin. Don’t
you
get it? Give me a chance to talk to her.” Her voice rose and her back muscles tensed.

“
Hey, I care about you and Carrie too.”

“Do you?
I’m surprised. After the way she broke off the engagement I’d think you’d hate her.”

He
winced. “What happened between your sister and me was a long time ago. It’s not important anymore.”

He said it didn’t matter but she saw
his expression hardened as he talked about her sister.

“
I’m going home to get my car with or without your help. You can’t keep me here.”

“D
on’t push me Kelly or you’ll find out what I can do.” He glared at her.

“
Would you arrest me when I only want to warn my sister?”

Silence filled the room.

“Okay.”

“
What?”

“
I'll take you to get your car, if you're sure that's what you want. But if you run into trouble on the way to the lake, you’ll be on your own. I won’t be there to save your ass.”

Chapter Four

Princeton
Street lined by two and three bedroom cottages with well kept gardens appeared quiet. A neighbor washed his SUV in his driveway and a couple of young boys walked toward the park. It looked like any US residential street on a Saturday. No one would guess her life had been threatened and her house ransacked on this idyllic lane.

The small single story white stucco house with beige shutters and
a terracotta stone driveway looked normal. Daisies smiled a welcome from a green ceramic pot on the front porch and a small silver wind chime tinkled hello. Instead of her usual feeling of comfort, her heart pounded and her breathing was ragged.

Brick drove slowly by he
r house and continued around the block. “See anything unusual, anything out of place in the neighborhood?”

“
Everything looks fine.”

He
continued around the block and parked the sedan in front of her home. “Stay here while I check out the house.”

“
The keys to my car are hanging on the hook in the entry hall closet,” she said.

“
Okay.”

Impatient,
while she waited for him, she drummed her fingers on the armrest. What was taking him so long? A car backfired and she jumped as fear slashed her. She scanned the neighborhood. The guy across the street continued to wash his car and didn’t even bother glance in the direction of the noise.

She
sighed. Maybe when she got to the cabin at the lake she’d feel safe again.

Brick came out of the garage and walked toward her
, leaving the garage door open.

He opened her door.
“Walk in front of me, straight into the garage. I’ll be right behind you.”

H
e shielded her. She didn't see his gun, but his body language told her he had one.

Did he think
someone was watching the house?

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light
in the garage she noticed the shelves were empty. The contents lay strewn on the floor.

Damn the intruders. Damn Johnny
. Damn my stupidity for getting involved with him
.

“
Your car’s alright. I checked,” Brick said.

“Thank
God.” She got into the driver's seat. “I had it tuned up last week and filled the gas tank.”

He
put her bag in the trunk and then came around to the driver's side of the car.

“
Here’s my card. If you need anything, call me anytime, day or night.”

When she took it, h
er hand brushed his. She pulled back as if she’d touched hot metal. If he noticed he didn’t say anything.

“
And I mean day or night.”

What could she say
to him? Thank you seemed inadequate. Confused feelings tore at her. Half of her wanted to stay with him and half of her wanted to get away as soon as possible.

T
his might be the last time she’d see Brick. He’d go back to his current life, whatever that was and she’d never hear from him again. All she’d have was a memory of a girlhood crush and a debt she could never repay.

“
I don’t like this Kelly. I should go with you.” He paused. “Watch yourself.”

“
I will.”

S
he drove out of the garage and down the driveway. Before turning left, she looked in the rear view mirror. Brick stood in the driveway watching her, the garage door closing behind him, his expression serious.

***

The intruder noticed the girl drive by his parked truck. Kelly didn't see him, didn't even turn her head in his direction. But he saw the fear that gripped her features. He smiled.

H
e drove the pick-up truck from the curb, and followed her car, careful not to get too close to the old Honda.

He rememb
ered the kiss he'd stolen and ran his finger over the cut on his lip. She owed him. His body tightened. He’d make her pay. The boss promised him a bonus when he delivered the flash drive. The only bonus he wanted was the girl.

***

Brick watched the Kelly’s Honda disappear down the street. She meant nothing to him, just an insignificant person from his past. Yet watching her drive out of his life, a feeling of loss washed over him.

“
Damn!” He remembered her slumped on the entryway floor. When he first saw her, he’d thought she was dead. Later, bruised and confused she lay on the bed in the motel helpless and more fragile than he’d ever seen her, a sudden need to protect her spiked in him.

A pragmatist, he spent his days working with facts and figures, right and wrong. He didn't
get personally involved in his cases, but she was personal and too damned close to the past he wanted to forget.

Hell.
He should have demanded he drive her to Tahoe. He rubbed his chin. If the intruders were watching the house she’d be in danger if she were seen driving off with a known FBI agent. She must be seen driving alone.

He
reassured himself knowing that if the intruders had wanted her dead, yesterday he would have found her lifeless body.

The people threatening her were casting her out with enough line to give her the
sense of freedom so she’d get what they wanted. When she had it they’d reel her in. He wished he knew just where and when that would happen.

During
his engagement to Kelly’s sister, he’d spent a weekend at the Shaw’s Tahoe cabin. He’d be there before Kelly arrived.

I
n the driver's seat of his BMW, he pulled out his cell and punched in his boss’s number.

On
a Saturday morning Don would be at home with his wife and two kids. The man often complained about the hardship of raising a family on an FBI salary, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area where the cost of living was one of the highest in the nation. However, he always complained with a smile. Don doted on his wife and family. A twinge of envy pricked Brick.

Don
answered his phone on the second ring.

“
I made contact.” He gave him a quick rundown of recent events, including the descriptions of the intruders and the license plate of the van seen in her driveway. “Send a team to her house and bag and tag anything you find. You've got the address on Princeton Street, Palo Alto right?”

“
Yeah, I got it and your wish is my command.” Don laughed and then became serious. “Something’s up. I got a memo saying the Bureau opened a PI file on Kelly.”

“
Why? I thought Johnny Vega was the person of interest.”

“
Guess somebody thinks she may be involved in his deals not just in his bed.”

The
thought of Johnny Vega touching Kelly sent anger charging through him. It was disgusting enough she was Johnny’s girlfriend. Could she really be involved with his shady deals as well? If she were, it would break her sister's heart.

“
Look the sooner you find out what Vega is up to, the sooner we can make some sense out of all this,” Don continued. “And be careful. The people after her are playing for keeps.” He paused. “Did you hear Jack Anson one of our agents working undercover on this case is dead. His bullet riddled body was found floating face down in the Truckee river this morning.”

“Shit
.”

“
The Reno police are keeping it under wraps. There calling it a drowning.” Don cleared his throat. “He was in somebody’s way. Watch yourself.”

“I hear you.”

“Online chatter says something big is going down. Reno is the epicenter and Johnny Vega's name keeps coming up. Right now, Kelly is our only way of getting information on him. I need you to stay with it. Do whatever you have to, but get her back in your sights and don’t let her out of it. She knows something. I want to know what.”

“
Okay.”

“
And buddy, I’ve seen her photo. She’s a tasty piece of ass, but lay a hand on a gangster’s bitch and you can kiss your FBI career goodbye.”

Brick gripped the smart phone so hard he thought it might crack
but he didn’t respond.

“
I didn’t tell you Brick, but after you were ambushed and in the hospital, the brass wanted you riding a desk,” Don continued. “I went to bat for you then. Don’t let me down now.”

“
I won’t.” He relaxed his grip. Don had no right to talk about Kelly like that. But his boss was right about one thing, if he got involved with her he
could
kiss his FBI career goodbye. She was sexy but not so sexy that he’d let her destroy his career. Nothing and no one was going to prevent him from doing his job.

“
And Brick I don’t want to get a memo telling me you’ve been found floating face down in Lake Tahoe.”

“
You and me both.”

Damned irritating
Don hadn't asked him to stay with Kelly earlier. Still, this made it easier for him because he’d never had any intention of letting her handle the situation alone. He wouldn’t touch her but he’d protect her.

H
e drove toward the Oakland Airport. An image of the dead agent flashed in his mind. Jack, a quiet man with a quick smile, was killed while checking into Johnny Vega’s dealings. Brick would damn well watch his own back and he’d get Kelly’s back too.

He wondered if she
really understood the danger of her circumstances. She seemed to reject the truth, driving off alone. He’d seen too many crime victims live in denial until it was too late. As far as her taking part in Johnny’s crimes, he didn’t believe it. The young teenager he’d known wouldn’t become involved in anything criminal. But she was all grown up now. He sucked in air. Was he living in denial too?

The
intruders told Kelly they’d kill her and her sister. He stomped on the gas pedal and sped toward the local airport.

A
chartered plane would get him to the Truckee, California Airport. While he waited for the flight, he made arrangements to rent a Volvo from a small company that didn't mark their rental cars. A nondescript car would be waiting for him when he arrived at the airport.

***

The gray Volvo took the mountain turns with ease. Away from the bustle of the San Francisco Bay Area, Brick breathed in the pine fresh air. He blinked against the intense colors of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The forest green of the Sugar and Ponderosa pine trees stood out against the deep blue sky. A damn shame he wasn’t here to enjoy what the resort area had to offer.

In a mini mart restroom, he donned black ski pants and a teal ski sweater
. A down parka and a Mylar blanket waited in his pack.

It took less than thirty minutes to reach Tahoe City. Though he hadn
’t been to the Shaw Cabin in five years, he found it easily.

A small graveled road overlooking the cabin led to Lake Tahoe. Fisherm
en used it to launch their boats. From the graveled road he could keep an eye on the cabin without being seen. Sheltered by a grove of Ponderosa pines, he backed onto the road leaving the sedan facing the cabin.

The
arts and crafts structure with its redwood walls and weathered copper roof jutted up through a grove of birch and pine, the lake just a few steps from its boundary. The last time he’d visited the cabin it had been in pristine condition. Now the green trim around the windows was faded. The front steps, weathered by years of snow, looked as if they might give way. A cord of firewood lay beside the driveway waiting to be stacked. The place cried out for a man's attention.

T
he memory of making love with Carrie on the deck overlooking the lake flashed. He shook it away and pushed down the lost dream of a wife and kids. He got out of the car and walked toward the home.

At the
cabin, he glanced through the cobweb covered garage window. The interior was empty. At the front stoop, he pulled on the wooden screen door. It squeaked open. The black wrought iron knocker on the front door made a hollow sound. He knocked again and waited. No answer.

He turn
ed the front door handle, locked.

It took
less than two minutes to find the extra house key hidden in a small metal box above the front door. Would people never learn?

“
Hello, anyone home?” he shouted as he entered. “Anybody here?”

The interior look
ed as it had years earlier, when he’d been engaged to Kelly’s sister.
Home
. It wasn't his home. It never would be. A twinge of regret jabbed him.
Forget it. It doesn’t matter now.

H
e glanced at the aged wooden paneling and the plush forest green carpet. In the great room the hearth of the huge river rock fireplace was cold. Undisturbed by human hands, a layer of dust covered the cotton fabric that draped the mission style furniture.

He
searched each room careful not to leave a trace of having been there. There was no sign the rooms had been used recently.