Part 11 (1/2)

”It forced me to get out of my rut and learn how to do some things that I would have never done. I...I got stronger.” She looked up quickly and added, ”Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that I'm glad for what happened to Eli. I'm just saying that I'm glad I didn't fall apart and not work to survive.”

Luke set his empty gla.s.s on the coffee table, twisting his body around, clasping her face in his hands. ”No apologies, Charlie. That just means you're resilient. You're a survivor. And I know what you mean...because if this had never happened, I'd probably not be sitting here with you right now. And I can't think of a better place I'd rather be.”

Her eyes melted as he leaned in further, his lips strong and warm against hers. He tasted of wine and something that was intrinsically Luke. Sinking into his embrace, she scooted over so that she was perched on his lap, her hands clutching his shoulders.

He stood easily and she wrapped her legs around his waist. With one arm under her a.s.s for support and the other enveloping her middle, he stalked back into the bedroom. The fears of the day gave way once more to the pa.s.sion of the night. By the time they lay once more entwined in each other, Charlie fell into a deep sleep.

Penny looked around the room at the few beds in the hospital dormitory. Uncertain as to the situations of the other women now fast asleep, she noted that they did not appear to be sick. All young. All hungry. All like her. They had been warned that one of the rules of the clinic was not to discuss their situations, but to simply heal. But heal from what?

Desperate to find David, she slipped quietly from her bed and to the door. Peeking out, the hall appeared empty. Moving stealthily down the hall, she realized she had no idea where she was going. After a few minutes of wandering around several winding halls with no luck, she came upon one with smaller, individual rooms. Looking into each one, she finally saw David lying in bed. He startled when she entered but, seeing her finger on her lips, he kept quiet.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, she said, ”How's your cough?”

”Not as bad,” he replied. ”They gave me some medicine and said it would help me heal. The doctor that came by and checked me out said that I looked to be in good health, except for the cough.”

Glancing around at the small, but private room, she wondered aloud, ”Why do you suppose they give us homeless people special treatment?”

”Who knows?” he replied. ”But I'm not complaining. Some lady came around to ask me questions about where I'd been living and how long I'd been on my own.”

”What'd you tell her?”

Giving a rude snort, David said, ”The truth. That my folks were dead and as soon as I could I got away from the foster system. She seemed to want to know if there was anyone who'd be looking for me, but I told her no. Well, with the exception of you, that is.”

His words should have made Penny feel warm inside, but something about the clinic chilled her. Giving herself a mental shake, she offered him a smile. ”Well, I'd better get back. I'll come see you tomorrow.”

With that, she slipped unnoticed back to her bed.

Lin w.a.n.g sat at her computer, the room illuminated by the streetlight coming from outside her condo. Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard as she pondered her next move. Tucking her sleek hair behind her ear, she thought carefully about the situation.

How much do they know? What all can they find out? She hated the partners.h.i.+p the FBI had with the Saints. Everything could come cras.h.i.+ng down. Everything I've been working for. I cannot let them find out what's going on!

Sucking in a deep breath, her slender fingers began typing the message to her contact, Xia Wu, at the clinic.

Anything new for me?

A few new ones came in. Could be real possibilities.

Medical or other? Lin typed.

Both. One medical excellent candidate. The other perfect. Should be lucrative. Expect things to move forward. Came the reply.

How soon?

Medical needs time to heal. Other with him. Together for now. That will be the bait used.

Lin sucked in a deep breath, a smile playing about her lips as her fingers rested on the table. Standing, she walked over to pour another gla.s.s of wine. Taking it to her balcony, she stepped out into the cool breeze of the evening. Her sleek bob blew back from her shoulders as she lifted her face upwards, watching the full moon high in the sky. Taking a long sip of wine, she closed her eyes for a moment, knowing what she needed to do.

Chapter 16.

With Charlie safely ensconced in the Saints' compound, Luke traveled with Monty and Patrick to Was.h.i.+ngton D.C. to meet with Monty's new contact.

”We're old friends,” Monty explained. ”We never worked together as closely as I did with Mitch, but Nick's a good guy.”

Arriving at the restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, the three walked inside the quaint interior and were pleased to see the lunch crowd diminished. Monty bypa.s.sed the hostess, seeing his friend already in a back corner booth. Luke observed the dark haired, square jawed man with the slight smile stand to greet Monty. Wearing khaki pants with a white s.h.i.+rt, his herringbone jacket gave him a professorial appearance.

”Nick,” Monty greeted with a handshake-hug and made the introductions. ”This is Nick Stone. Nick, meet a few of my co-workers, Luke Costas and Patrick Cartwright.”

The four men sat down, making small talk until their order arrived. As the food was consumed, Monty got down to business. ”I've already filled Nick in on what we need from him.”

Nick ran his hand over his jaw, his eyes focusing on each of them. ”Well, I might as well get this out in the open to begin with. When Monty approached me about being a contact, I was intrigued. I know Mitch and have always had the highest respect for both him and you,” he said, nodding to Monty. ”But, I've got to tell you, the idea of working with you to possibly take down a dirty FBI agent...h.e.l.l...” Letting out another deep breath, he pinned the Saints with his stare.

Nick rested his forearms on the table next to his plate and sighed. ”But the honest to G.o.d truth is that I've got no love for any agent that may be crooked. So, my answer is yes. I'll help.”

Luke let out a breath he did not realize he was holding and smiled. Glancing to the side, he observed Monty and Patrick's responses to be the same.

”I wanted to have your agreement first,” Monty said, sliding a file over to Nick. ”Here's what we have so far. After you look this over give me a call. Luke, our computer expert, will get in touch with you to set up a secure way to have a video-conference.”

Nick skimmed through the information in the file, his jaw ticking as his eyes moved down the pages. Sucking in a quick breath, he looked over at the Saints. ”And this witness...they're somewhere safe?”

Luke, immediately p.r.i.c.kling, nodded and answered with a curt, ”Yes.” Not willing to give the agent any more information, he sat tight-lipped.

The meeting ended as the meal was finished, and the group said their goodbyes. In the SUV on the way home, Luke asked, ”You trust him?”

Monty twisted to peer at Luke. ”I know what you're thinking but, yeah...I trust him.”

Luke was quiet for a moment, pondering Monty's response. Finally he said, ”Then that's good enough for me.”

Charlie spent the day in the compound underneath Jack and Bethany's house. Looking around she smiled, knowing this was where Luke devoted much of his time. She even noticed his coffee machine on the counter. Standing, she lifted her hands over her head, stretching her back before fixing a cup of the strong brew.

Jude and Cam entered the area from one of the back rooms and grinned at her. ”You look at home there where Luke normally sits,” Jude joked.

Returning their smiles, she sipped the coffee, allowing the caffeine to kick in. Turning back to her computer, she continued to pour over the data Eli had given her. Incomplete...why can't I figure out the missing information? From her previous investigating, she knew the client, Jun, was in the Was.h.i.+ngton D.C. area. There were hundreds of doctors in the entire northern Virginia and eastern Maryland area surrounding D.C., and she had no way of knowing if she were looking for one with a Chinese last name. Just searching Jun had not produced any positive leads. Uncertain how to narrow the field, her own work had come to a halt. But, having listened to the Saints working the problem, she now focused on anyone with a Chinese background. Why had I never thought about the murderer speaking Chinese as a clue? She grimaced, irritated at her inefficiency.

”What's causing that look?” Cam asked, observing the play of emotions crossing her face.

Blus.h.i.+ng, she replied, ”I'm embarra.s.sed that I never thought to check any Chinese possibilities before. I've been trying to figure out Eli's information for several months.”

Jude sat down next to her and said, ”Before I became a Saint, I didn't know how to investigate a crime.” Seeing that he had her undivided attention, he continued. ”I had been trained as a SEAL, but an injury cut that career short. Sabrina's family had a problem and I asked her cousin, Bart, to help and, with the a.s.sistance of the Saints, we got the guy. Honestly, without their knowledge, I'd never have been able to do it on my own.”