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Liberty was furious that Addy had been released into the deputy’s custody the day before. No longer able to question her suspect, she focused on the environmental aspects of the case. After all, that was her primary concern, not the reporter’s death. Addy had definitely committed the crime and her brother was mixed up in it as well, but Liberty needed to reexamine the radioactive waste in the Chesapeake and determine its components precisely. If she could tie that situation in with what had gone on at Addy’s former workplace, she could get a solid conviction.
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” rang from the cell case on her hip, and she flipped open her phone.
“Liberty.”
“We just got a call from the EPA. Radioactive levels around Deale have spiked. They’re on their way via the scientific vessel Ship of Fools and will use all the resources available to examine the waters around Deale and give us immediate answers.”
“When did this happen?”
“Very suddenly, within the last twenty-four hours, but they won’t know for sure until they examine the waters and begin cleanup activity. If this isn’t stopped right now, and word leaks out to the press, it will cause a major panic in the area. If the terrorists plan to poison the watershed that provides drinking water to DC, we can’t do a lot to stop them.”
“I’ll stop them. I know exactly who’s responsible. I just need to get the proof. Book me a flight to Oakland, California.”
“We have to find out who the men are, so let’s have Tommy look at some photos.”
Karen sat at the kitchen table with Cheatham and Grassley, who had been at the station late that afternoon when Karen called in. They had tried to contact Liberty but were only able to leave a voice message. It wasn’t like her to be unavailable, and no one knew exactly where she was. But they were certain she was investigating clues about the perpetrators.
Cheatham and Grassley had listened to Tommy’s somewhat convoluted story and said they weren’t sure what to believe, but if Tommy was right, they were trying to locate three Caucasian males, possibly the Gripps. The crime was taking on a whole new dimension. They said they would quit interrogating Addy and Tommy and instead focus on the three men in the house across the inlet. The theory that the Gripps were involved was plausible.
Addy was making a pot of coffee and occasionally stared out the window to the red oak. Tommy was on the deck, his binoculars focused toward the inlet. She had allowed the agents to talk with Tommy, but all he would say was that one was a snipe, one a pelican, and the other a sandpiper. She didn’t think the information would help them find the suspects. They should be showing Tommy a book on Maryland wildlife instead of mug shots.
“You can bring the photos here, right?” Addy asked. “Tommy doesn’t have to go to the police station, does he?”
Karen shook her head. “No. It’ll be fine, I promise.”
She rose and approached Addy at the kitchen sink. Though Karen acted like she wanted to touch her, she only said that she better stay around because the publicity surrounding Addy’s arrest had made the papers. If those guys were still in the area, they might want to pay Addy and Tommy a call tonight.
“We’ll make a game of it,” Karen said. “Tommy will have a good time and not suspect a thing. But, Addy, we need his help desperately. One man has already been killed, and we don’t know what we’re up against.”
The men seated at the table waited with expectant looks on their faces. Meeting Karen’s gaze, Addy nodded, so the agents rose and said they’d be back in the morning with the photos.
After they left, being in the kitchen alone with Karen made her nervous, so she busied herself with the coffeemaker, flipping the off switch to on, and the coffee began to drip. Karen hadn’t moved away and heat waves emanated from her, but Addy tried very hard to ignore them.
“Just sugar, right?” she asked.
“Right.”
As Addy scooped two spoonfuls of sugar into a mug and poured the coffee, her hand shook, and she gripped the handle tight.
“Here, let me get that.” Karen put her hands over Addy’s to steady the pot.
Addy wished she hadn’t done that. What began as a slight tremble in her hands turned into uncontrollable shaking all the way to her knees. She was simply tired, she decided, raw and vulnerable—still recovering from Liberty’s stinging betrayal.
And even though her relationship with Karen appeared to be improving, she wasn’t sure where they were headed. They couldn’t simply pick up where they left off, but maybe they could start anew. She wasn’t sure if that was the right thing to do, but her body sure liked the idea.
She released the coffeepot and Karen poured them both a cup. But neither of them paid any attention to it. Addy tried to look everywhere but at Karen, knowing if she did look at her, she wouldn’t be able to control her reaction. She had too much to do and worry about. But when she finally met Karen’s steady gaze, she was lost.
“I’ve missed you so much, Addy.” Karen stroked her cheek. “Please, let me love you the way you need to be loved. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Addy closed her eyes at the touch. She had no strength to resist it anyway, and she simply gave in. Even with her eyes shut, she could feel Karen drawing closer until their lips met. Their kiss was so much better than she remembered, and she floated away on a cloud of euphoria. Suddenly, Karen lifted her and carried her into her bedroom, their connection not breaking until she laid her on the bed.
They made love well into the night, slowly, as though now would last forever. Addy had dreamt so often of this, of being with Karen again, and had wondered whether it would feel the same as she remembered. Her memories didn’t compare to what she was experiencing—the way Karen touched her, how their bodies fit like they were made for one another. Karen stroked her gently when she needed it, withholding pleasure to heighten her need, then giving her all to push Addy to climax. Karen played Addy’s body like a virtuoso, and Addy hummed in tune.
“We can’t go back there, Frank,” Abel said. “They’re looking for us right now.”
“They’re looking for someone, but not us, and certainly not on this boat,” Frank said. “They don’t have the film, but the boy has it and we have to get it back.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” Abel whined.
“My gut knows it, and that’s good enough for me.”
“Well, it’s not good enough for me,” Clarence said. “You’re as fruity as the kid if you think I’m going back up that tree. I’ve loaded up my car with my stuff and I’m heading to Canada. If you want to come along, that’s up to you, but either way, I’m outta here.”
“And they’ll catch you at the border,” Frank said. “If we don’t get the film back, they’ll track you down like a dog. You won’t last a minute out there. But if we get our hands on it, we’re safe. They’ll never know who did it.”
Clarence studied Frank skeptically, but a glimmer of doubt flashed across his eyes.
“I don’t know…” he said slowly.
“Either you’re with me or you’re dead. Take your pick. It doesn’t matter to me if they catch your lazy ass. But I know you, Clarence. You’ll squeal like Ned Beatty in Deliverance if they get hold of you. So you’re coming with me whether you like it or not. Now, grease up your face and let’s go.”
Frank finished blackening his face, then checked to see if they were following suit. Abel and Clarence gazed nervously at each other, but slowly picked up the can of grease and smeared some on their faces. Frank grinned. They’d do as he said, because they knew he was right. Abel would obey, even if he didn’t really like the plan. But Frank still wasn’t sure he could trust Clarence.
If he did anything he wasn’t supposed to, Frank might have to stop him—in any way he felt necessary.
When their faces were dark, they dressed in black and steeled themselves for the night ahead. Frank took the stern of the boat and headed inland to the inlet that led to the Coopers’. The running lights were off so no one would see them. The sky was overcast, so even the boat’s outline against the horizon wouldn’t be noticeable. Only the diesel engines were audible, and he hoped no one would be outside this late, because the noise carried a great distance across the water. As if in answer to his prayers, a bolt of lightning briefly lit up the sky, followed moments later by a rumble of thunder. The storm would cover their approach, and Frank smiled broadly.
Liberty was about to board her plane at BWI for Oakland when “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” jingled at her side again.
“Liberty.”
“Get your ass back to Deale,” her handler yelled. “There’s a new lead, and Cheatham and Grassley are on the move. They did a background check on the Gripp family. Seems Francis James Gripp is former Special Forces with more than a grudge against the military.”
“That can’t be. They’re crazy. It’s the Cooper woman, I tell you. I’m sure of it.”
“Then go on to Oakland if you want. But the two agents just paid a visit to the Gripps, who apparently cleaned house and left. No one knows where they went.”
“Shit. I’m on my way.”
Liberty ran out of the terminal to the median, where she managed to hop on a shuttle leaving for the rental-car agency. If Cheatham and Grassley got the collar and it turned out that the Gripps were involved, she’d wind up with egg on her face. That couldn’t happen. This was her case and nobody was taking it away from her.
The Gripps were probably Addy’s means to an end—in on it to help her achieve her goals. Liberty just knew Addy was the brains behind this whole mess.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Addy marveled at Karen lying next to her, the light from the hallway streaming through the cracks around the door. The window was slightly open and the breeze rocked the blinds in and out. The impending storm had stirred up a damp, dank odor from the vegetation and made the salt air heavy and thick.
But Karen commanded her attention, and for the first time in a long while, Addy felt at peace. Karen was still as beautiful as she remembered, with only a few minor lines around her eyes, signs of the sun rather than of age. And if Addy concentrated very hard, she could almost imagine that it was six years earlier and Karen was her entire world.
“What are you thinking?” Karen murmured.
Addy had believed Karen was asleep and that she observed her unknowingly. Should she tell Karen the truth, or were her feelings too new even for her to completely understand?
“I’ve been thinking about how much my life has changed so quickly. I’m back home in Deale, with this house and Tommy, and a new life. I thought things were going so well, and then this whole mess with the reporter and Liberty and God knows what else happened. Sometimes I can’t imagine ever getting my life on track, and then something miraculous occurs. You step in and make everything all right again.”
She gestured to the two of them in bed together. Never had she dreamed this would happen again, yet it felt as natural to be with Karen as if time had never passed. She sighed, wishing she could close out the rest of the world and not move from this warmth and tranquility.
“I didn’t always come to your support,” Karen said.
“But you always believed in my innocence, and you never gave up on me. Not many people did.”
“Fern and Chauncey were always there. And Dee-Dee has been too. She misses you and would love to see you again. But she’s afraid you don’t want her around.”
Addy averted her eyes. “I know. I was hard on her. It wasn’t fair of me to judge what happened in the past. It’s over and done with. We all need to move on. I’ll go see her tomorrow and try to make amends.”
Frank cut the engines on the small fishing boat and let it glide close to shore. After Abel quietly lowered the anchor in about fifteen feet of water they prepared to go ashore. Frank wanted to search the tree house for the film, and if they found it, they’d get rid of the crazy guy. If not, they’d take him with them and force him to tell them where it was. Either way, they’d eliminate the only witness. Frank had done it before, and he’d do it again. He wasn’t about to give up now that he was so close to getting his revenge on the government.
“Let’s go,” he said.
He slipped into the water first and Clarence and Abel quickly followed.
“Holy shit, this water’s cold.” Clarence’s teeth were chattering.
“Shut up. I told you, no talking until this is over. Sound carries over water.”
“Oh, oh, I think I’ve got a leg cramp.” Abel splashed noisily.
“Jesus Christ.”
Frank grabbed Abel by the collar and dragged him to shallow water.
“Stand up, you idiot. Now everybody shut up and let’s get this thing done.”
They waded to dry land and squished their way toward the Cooper house. A fl ash of lightning made them duck and drop to their knees. When a crack of thunder followed, they used the noise as cover to race inland to the safety of the woods. Following the tree line, they approached the red oak tree thirty yards away.
Frank led the way up the tree and, to his surprise, found the door to the tree house unlocked. Signaling them to silence, he slowly turned the knob and went in. It was even darker inside, but he didn’t dare turn on a light. Anyone could be watching from the main house, and he didn’t want to draw attention. Feeling his way toward the back of the room, he was almost where he remembered the bed to be when something crashed behind him.
He spun around, but as he did, he knocked over a floor lamp that also clunked to the floor. Somebody shouted, and Frank began to run.
A muffled crash from outside distracted Addy from Karen’s tongue, lazily tracing a line from the inside of her thigh upward.
She didn’t want Karen to stop, but perhaps she should find out what had caused the sound.
“Karen.”
“Hmm?” Karen didn’t slow in her path to victory. “Too fast?”
Her tongue came dangerously close to the point of no return, but more noises from outside concerned Addy. She gently pushed Karen’s head out of the way and sat up.
“What was that?”
“What was what? I didn’t hear a thing. Come on, baby, we’re so close.” Karen was reaching for Addy when a definite yelp sounded from the tree house.
“Something’s wrong with Tommy.” Addy crawled out of bed and reached for her robe.
They raced into the living room as Fern came stomping down the stairs, wire curlers in her hair and a baseball bat in her hand.
Right behind her was Chauncey, clad only in an undershirt and boxer shorts. Fern wore a revealing nightgown that left nothing to the imagination, and Addy had to look away.
“What in Sam Hill is going on?” Fern shouted.
“It’s Tommy,” Addy tossed over her shoulder as she ran out the back door.
Before Karen could add anything, a loud pounding at the front door caused them all to jump. Karen flung the door open, not really caring who it was in her hurry to get to the backyard.
She was shocked to see Liberty on the front porch, whereas Liberty seemed to be surprised that the entire household was up and awake, but she stepped into the house anyway.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Karen said.
“I need to talk to Tommy again.”
“Come on, then,” Karen called as she ran to the back of the house.
“What’s going on?”
“I think it’s burglars.” Fern tapped the baseball bat in her open palm. “But I’ve dealt with my share of scoundrels before.”
“The Gripps,” Liberty said.
“What?”
“Come on, Fern.” Liberty ran toward the back of the house, and Fern and Chauncey followed her. They burst into the yard just as several dark figures scrambled down the tree.
“There,” Fern shouted, then tripped over her nightgown, sending her headlong into Chauncey.
Liberty and Karen ran after the intruders while Addy headed for the tree. She raced up and into the house, flipping on a light.
The room was in shambles, with broken glass and a lamp strewn across the floor.
“Tommy,” Addy yelled, beginning to sift through the wreckage. “Tommy, where are you?”
She panicked as she tossed objects out of her way. The place was too small to hide anyone, and when she finally looked under the bed and still couldn’t find him, she collapsed on the floor in desperation.
Chauncey entered the kitchen. “Tommy?” he asked, his face betraying his bewilderment.
Addy shook her head, unable to speak for the choking sensation in her throat. But she didn’t have time to cry. She had to find him. She struggled from her place on the floor and stumbled to the door. Fern waited below, baseball bat still in hand.
“Is Tommy okay?” she asked.
“He’s gone.”
Liberty flew through the woods, trying to keep the intruders in sight, and periodic flashes of lightning helped. She vaguely recollected the layout of the Cooper property, recalling the path that wound to the shore. But racing through the unknown terrain left her uneasy. She had no backup save the deputy, who wasn’t even armed, and she didn’t know for certain how many bad guys they were chasing. At any moment, one of them could circle around behind them and take them down. Karen was stumbling along behind her, barefoot and barely dressed, and Liberty realized she would be no help whatsoever. What a hick.
The thunderclaps covered the intruders’ escape, and after several minutes of running, Liberty lost them in the darkness.
She stopped behind a stand of pines and motioned the deputy to her side. Panting, she gestured that she wanted to sweep around the last spot she’d seen them, trying to encircle them and flush them out of hiding. Karen nodded and fanned out toward the water while Liberty headed deeper into the woods.
Clarence was on his knees, his arm flung around a fallen tree trunk, trying to catch his breath. Frank stared at him, disgusted.
If he had his druthers, he’d leave the moron behind. But his half-baked cousin wouldn’t last two seconds in the hands of an interrogator, and Frank wasn’t about to let any of them be captured. Abel was no better, gasping against an oak tree. His two-pack-a-day habit had left him badly out of shape.
“Get up. We’ve got to get back to the boat.”
“They’ll see us in the water without the trees to hide us,” Abel protested.
“It’s our ticket out of here,” Frank said. “We can’t run in the woods forever. We don’t know how many of them there are. If you want to stay here, fine. But I’m getting on that boat.”
Clarence and Abel peeked at one another, then followed Frank toward the water. At the same time, the skies opened and a deluge began. Soaked and miserable, Frank was actually glad that it had finally started raining. It would decrease visibility and cover the sound of their movement. Once in the boat, they were home free.
“Tommy,” Addy shouted, running as fast as she could toward the water. She had no clue where he could be, but she stumbled blindly in the direction of the only place she guessed he might go.
What if he wasn’t alone, if he was hurt or being hurt by someone involved in the Vinson murder. If she hadn’t been so determined to find him, she would have fl own apart in a million pieces. She ran faster, her legs burning with the effort, but she refused to stop.
She was approaching the spot where Tommy had tried to bury the reporter when someone tackled her from behind. Screaming, she fell headlong into the tall grass, the damp ground cushioning her fall. Tight arms held on to her waist, and she struggled to escape her attacker’s grip.
“Shh, Addy, it’s me,” Karen rasped.
Addy was so relieved it wasn’t a criminal but rather someone she could trust that she sobbed and clutched at Karen’s shoulders.
“Tommy’s missing,” she wailed. “Where is he, Karen? Help me. I’ve got to find him.”
She started to get up, but Karen pinned her to the ground.
“Stay down. We don’t know how many of them there are, and they could be armed.”
“But I’ve got to help Tommy. Please, don’t let them take him.”
“I won’t, but you have to stay put.”
Karen held on to Addy, not wanting to release her. She was afraid Addy might get hurt, and the possibility tortured her. Now that she had Addy back, she couldn’t lose her again. Knowing she had to get up and help Liberty, she reluctantly climbed to her feet.
“I’ll be back,” she said.
As she disappeared into the weeds and grass, Addy’s anxiety increased. She couldn’t bear for Karen to expose herself to danger.
She had finally rediscovered her love for the one person who had ever meant anything to her, and the possibility of losing Karen overwhelmed her. For a few heartbeats Addy lay in the wet grass, the moisture from below and the pelting rain from above chilling her.
She was frustrated that she couldn’t do anything and impatient to be merely waiting. Surely she could help. Rising to a crouched position, she peeked over the tops of the weedy grass but couldn’t see or hear anything. With a burst of adrenaline, she ran toward the water.
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