Married To The Mob
Married To The Mob
Ginny Aiken
A spitfire wife of a recently slain mob boss was much more than FBI agent Dan Maddox had bargained for when he signed on to protect Carlotta Papparelli.After turning state's evidence, Carlie was at the top of the mob's hit list, and it was up to Dan to keep her alive long enough to testify. From the streets of Philly to the sun-drenched Florida coast, Dan and Carlie were running for their lives, and only their faith in each otherand the Lordwould keep them safe
Married to the Mob
Ginny Aiken
Daniel answered, O king, live forever!
My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.
Daniel 6:21, 22
This book is dedicated to the caring and talented
physical therapists at Lancaster General Hospitals
Columbia Medical Center, without whose
help this book wouldnt have been written.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
ONE
Somewhere in New Jersey
What part of The mobs got a contract on you do you not understand?
Dans whispered question didnt faze the stunning blonde at his side. She shrugged. I understand youre trying to do your job, Mr. FBI Special Agent Maddox, but you should remember Ive lived with these people all my life.
He went to press his point, but she cut him off.
Do you really think they dont know where to find me? She tossed her tawny mane. They have more arms into more places, people and things than a family of octopusesoctopi?
Dan looked around at the innocent bystanders, busy pretending not to listen. Why did he always get the nutcases? How about this, Carlotta
Hold it right there! Your memorys not so hot, is it? Ive asked you and asked you not to call me that. Carliethats what you want to call me. Its not so hard, is it? Try it, you might like it.
Her wink nearly sent his patience over the edge. Do you ever take anything seriously?
Yes, she said, her eyes intent, her voice warm and vibrant. I take God seriously. And then I leave the rest to Him.
Dan had heard this kind of crazy illogic before. David Latham, one of his closest friends and a fellow agent in the Philadelphia Organized Crime Unit, was a gung ho religion sellout. Then, after a recent case, his partner, J.Z. Prophet, went and married another one. To really throw him for a loop, J.Z. succumbed to the lure of false confidence in the same philosophical game of mirrors, and was now one of them.
You go ahead and do that, Dan said, in a low voice. But while youre in the Witness Protection Program, you better leave the driving to meso to speak.
She rolled her large brown eyes. Speaking of driving
Would you please lower your voice? People are staring, and we dont want to draw attention to you.
CarlottaCarlielaughed. Here he was, trying to keep the crazy woman alive, and she laughed.
He tried again. Dont laugh like that. Keep it quiet. I just told you we dont want to draw attention
Just lookat where, she gasped between laughs, we are. Then you tell me whos causing the commotion.
Dan pressed his forehead against the aggressively pink door frame. I know, I know, I know. But thats the whole point. Why did you feel the need to come
Simple, she said. I love nice nails, and mine looked like fence posts after a dust storm. So where did you want me to go? A drive-in lube shop?
From the corner of his eye, Dan caught the fascinated stares of the nail techs, noses and mouths covered with baby-blue dust masks, and the dozen or so women in various stages of acquiring lethal prongs on the tips of their killer claws.
He took a deep breath. Okay. Lets go. Weve overstayed our questionable welcome.
But Im not done yet.
Oh, yes you are. Dan grasped her upper arm and urged her toward thewhat else?pink door. And I dont mean the paint on the nails either.
But I have no color
Believe me, you dont lack in that department. He glanced at the talons on her hands. Even when your nails look like the glow-in-the-dark fake ones kids wear.
How dare you? These are the finest acrylic
You want to die for plastic nails?
That finally made her pause. Well, no. Of course I dont. She took a step toward the bubble-gum-colored front door. But Im not willing to live a shadow life either.
Dan took advantage of her forward motion and took hold of her hand. Carlie confounded him when she called out over her shoulder, Bye, Dianna. Take care of little Davey, Sarah. Shonna, remember to tell your mom to try the echinacea for that cold. And Trish? Dump the jerk. Hes not worth it
What are you doing? He turned to stare at her. Who are all those women? How do you know them all?
Im saying goodbye. Dont you do that when you leave?
Why did you come to a place where youve been before? Dont you realize thats the quickest way for your brothers pals to get you?
I didnt come back to where anyone knew me. This is the first time Ive been here.
Why me? So how do you know about the mothers cold or the other ones jerk?
I dont know. I said hi, and we got to talking. Its not just about the nails, you know.
But you still risked your life for them.
I told you I dont want to die for my nails.
He led them out of the shop and to his Bureau-issue car. Im glad youre not ready to die for plastic. And that shadow life you mentioned isnt a forever thing. All we need is a conviction on your husbands killers.
Carlie yanked her hand from his and stuck her fists on her slender hips. And you really think that after my brother Tony, Joey-O, Larry Gemmelli and my dad are behind bars Ill be free to roam wherever I want?
Pretty much. At least, thats when my job ends, as far as youre concerned.
Think again, Cop Boy. Larrys got more family than Giant Stadium has seats. And they wont be too happy with methey arent already. Then there are all of good old Dads zillion business associates. Think theyll like visiting Dad at the pokey? Not hardly.
What makes you think we wont get them all?
Thats the dumbest thing youve said
A loud, appreciative wolf whistle cut her off and jerked him back to reality. Come on. Get in the car. Before the next obnoxious idiot shoots a bullet instead of a whistle out his window.
She didnt budge. Umtheres just one teeny, tiny, teensy-weensy problem here.
Yeah, her. Whats the problem now?
Thats your assigned car, not mine. Do you figure youll telepathetically drive mine back to the apartment?
This was pathetic, all right. Woman, you could drive a man right into a loony bin. He ran a hand through his hair. No, I cant drive both cars back, nor can I come back by myself later. Go ahead. Drive yourself.
He looked around for his cars clone, but didnt see it anywhere. So whatd you do with it?
I parked it out back, in the salons lot. Whatd you want me to do with it? Stick it in my pocket?
Nothing fit in the pocket of her slim linen pants. All right, Carlie. Ill walk you back to the car.
They began the trudge back toward Nail It. Dan looked up at the marquee, and shook his head. How much more ridiculous could a place get than to advertise its work with a gargantuan neon fingernail decorated with a hammer andyes, of coursea nail, the pointed steel kind?
While were at it, Carlie said as they reached the parking lot, how about a better set of wheels? I mean, really. It barely moves. Do I look like I want to be a moving target in a poky-slow car?
Against his better judgment, Dan looked at his gorgeous charge. From the top of her fabulous lionesss mane, to the satiny cream skin over models features, to a curvy, feminine figure encased in the latest light green silk and old-gold linen, and all the way down to the feet in strappy, high-heeled green leather sandalstoenails coated with chipped polishCarlotta Papparelli, mobsters widow, looked nothing like any target hed ever seen.
And yet, at the same time, beautiful as she was, she was a target.
Get real, he said. A peacock car would be like waving a red cape at an angry bull. You need to blend in. Thats the reason for the plain agency car, since theres not a lot we can do about youunless youre ready for plastic surgery and a hair makeover.
She rolled her eyesagain. She was quite proficient at it, too. Get over it, Danny Boy. Im a blonde, not a boring bland, bland, bland, like the car.
Thats for sure, that trouble-making corner of his head retorted. Lets get something straight. Youre no boring bland but a bottle blonde
Ouch! Thats not nice
Neither are the guys after you. Would she ever get it? He went on as if she hadnt interrupted him. And in the second place, no one calls me Danny Boy and lives.
Wow! I never thought Id ever see itdidnt know you even had it. A sense of humor, that is. Is it an FBI requirement to be grim, gloomy and glumeeeeek!
She couldve busted a windowmaybe she did, but Dan didnt bother to check. He grabbed the shaking woman and shielded her body with his. Thats how he approached the beige car.
He realized this might be Carlies wake-up call. The formerly boring midsize model now sported a particularly realistic portrait of a massive rodent, and in case the observer didnt quite get the message, under the critter, it read RAT.
Dan pulled out his gun, held it in front as he approached the graffitied vehicle then gestured for Carlie to stay where she stood. When he circled the car, he noted an even more grisly message across the back window. The artist had detailed a skull and crossbones severed from a stick-figure skeleton. Again, the creative creep had titled his work RAT.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh! Gross!
Dan turned and saw Carlies face glued to the passenger side windowthe woman didnt listen worth a dime. Before he could yell at heragainshe resumed her wail.
Yuck! Theres a big, fat, repulsive rat in the front seat. Oh, would you look at that? She looked at Dan and pointed. Did you know their tails were that long? And hairless?
Yes
And whats all that white fuzz all over the placeoh, that is so sick. She shuddered. Its built itself a nest.
Dan shrugged. Rats need homes. What can you do?
You are crazy. She headed back toward the front of the nail salon. Ill have you know, Super-Duper Agent Daniel Maddox, thats no longer my car. As of right now. We can go back to yours, and you can have your pals from the Bureau pick up the rodent palace. Im outta here.
Dan ran to her side, slid the gun back into the holster under his jacket, and reality slipped away. Slipped away? Yeah, right. It was zipping down the sanity highway, but what could he do? Hed been saddled with a beautiful but crazy witness.
She beat him to the car and stood at the passenger door. She crossed her arms. She tapped the toe of her stiletto-heeled sandal, as if shed been there forever.
He unlocked the door. Get in.
Yes, Mr. Gracious.
Okay. It wasnt the nicest thing hed ever done. But he was frustrated, they hadnt taught him how to deal with this kind of witness at Bureau training, much less law school, and she took too much pleasure driving him nuts. He slammed the door shut the minute her rear hit the seat.
And he had to keep her alive long enough to get convictions on her family and their dubious friends? He shook his head, rounded the vehicle, sat behind the wheel and peeled away, all without another word.
While he drove in silent mode, he continued to fume. Now he had to call Eliza, his supervising Special Agent. Not something a mananyonein his right mind would want to do. But from where he stood, he had no choice.
To be more accurate, Carlie had left him no choice. He didnt know if he could keep her alive much longer. She refused to cooperate.
The next light turned against him. He sat and watched seconds crawl by. At his side, Carlie began to hum.
Dan hated humming.
And everyone had always called him laid-back. He scoffed. They oughta see the man hed become post-Carlotta Papparelli.
She slanted him a look.
He ignored it.
The light turned green, so he drove on toward the safe house the Bureau had set up for Carlie in a massive, Lego blocktype apartment complex.
Moments later he heard the faint whee-uhn, whee-uhn, whee-uhn of an emergency vehicle approaching from behind. He glanced in his rear-view mirror. The cherry light on the roof of the squad car strobed closer by the second. Dan pulled over to the shoulder.
I hope no ones hurt, Carlie murmured.
Dan glanced her way. Shed closed her eyes, clasped her hands in her lap. Her expression, for once, was serious, intent. Somehow he knew shed begun to pray.
Who for? The unknownand only possibly injuredparty?
Strange.
He merged back into the heavier-by-the-minute late-afternoon traffic. Carlie didnt speak. Neither did he.
Then sirens started up again. They approached from his right, so he eased up to the left shoulder. This time, an ambulance zipped up and rounded the corner. In less than three minutes, three more squad cars, an additional ambulance and two fire trucks raced by.
Must be big, he murmured.
Im afraid so, Carlie answered, her voice softer and more serious than hed heard it yet. She really wasnt that bad.
Im sorry.
She made a startled sound. What for?
I acted like a jerk back there. I didnt need to slam the door on you.
Thanks for the apology, but Im not totally innocent either. I tend to have a smart mouth, and I gave you a pretty hard time. I know youre trying to do your job, and I understand you want to keep me alive, but Im not used to all these restrictions. Besides, if the Lord wants me home at His side, then Im ready to go.
A chill went through Dan. Dont be so ready to croak, okay? Youre very young. Youve a long life ahead of you. By the way, how old are you? I mean, I have all that information in your case file, but I dont remember everything thats in it.
I prefer to keep that piece of data private. A touch of humor came back into her voice.
Not for long. When I get back to my place tonight, youll be busted.
Ill take what scrap of privacy I can get these days.
With an air of comfortable companionship between them, they turned the corner three blocks away from Carlies apartment complex. As they approached, a nasty feeling took root in Dans gut.
A hideous orange glow tinted the blue sky, and clouds of smoke spread and hovered on the light wind. Right over the complex.
Dan slowed the car. At his side, Carlie caught her breath. His pulse pounded through him, throbbed in his temple.
Every one of his internal alarms detonated.
Which is what seemed to have happened to the structure, a detonation of some sort. All the emergency vehicles that had passed them no more than ten minutes earlier were lined along the backside of Carlies apartment building. A HAZMAT team had joined the party, too.
That nasty feeling morphed into a ravening certainty. Still, he had to know. You stay here, he said. And I mean it, Carlie. Dont move.
She nodded, her eyes glued to the scene. Firefighters in their yellow suits ran around the trucks, some climbed the giant ladders, others helped people to the ambulances. Uniformed cops talked to a throng of civilians.
Dan approached an officer. What happened?
The woman turned to him and shrugged. Were not sure. Thats what were trying to figure out.
A burly man in a white muscle undershirt and tan shorts walked up. You wanna know what happened? I know what happened.
Officer Shenise Davis turned keen hazel eyes on the guy. So tell me what happened, already.
Easy there. The guys bearded jaw pushed out. Dont get your feathers all ruffled up, you know? He shook his shaggy head. Kids! Anyway, theres this blond broad who lives across from me, and either her gas line went nuts or something else did. Alls I know is the place went kaboom! The whole building shook like one of them California earthquakes. Smoke started to stink up my place, and I opened the door. Well, the babe dont have much to go back home forif she wasnt home, know what I mean?
Dan knew. Too well.
The walking, talking wealth of information ran a massive paw through the wild thatch on his head. Either the explosion busted her place to pieces, or else the fire ate it all up.
Although sure he already knew, Dan asked, What floor was this?
Tenth, over in the middle section. He pointed an arm heavy with dark hair. See? The ladders up to the window to the right of the babes place. Mrs. Schulz is seventy-five. Sure, shes got more vinegar to her than I got hair, but she cant go running or nothing like climb down on her own. I figure theyre gonna have to carry her down.
Dan gave what he hoped the officer and the verbose bear read as a nonchalant shrug, then walked back the excruciating distance between him and Carlie. He got in the car, turned the key, then shot her a sideways look.
Were outta here. Your friends and family came calling, and they left you a calling card. Of the exploding kind.
What do you mean?
Dont ask me where were going, because I dont know. I have to call in, report this, check out whats available and then get you there. We cant stay here anymore. Someone bombed your apartment.
And then she threw Dan for a loopagain.
Carlie chuckled. And you gave me grief about my nails. Just be glad I wasnt here. Face it, Danny BoyerDan. Id better get a manicure more often. Its good for my health. My nailsyou know, the ones you said were going to get me killedjust saved my life.
TWO
Yes, she should be scared.
And yes, she was in serious danger.
But what could she do for herself? Nothing. So Carlie blocked out Dans griping and turned to the Lord.
Father, Im not so good at this yet, but I dont want to die. Dont get me wrong. If You want me, Im there. But if its not urgent, then Id like to hang around here a little longer. The deal is, I dont know what to do, how to avoid Dads and Tonys slimy friends. And Dan? Well, he tries, but theres a lot more of them than of us. So help us out here. Okay?
You! Did you go deaf or something?
Carlie shook herself. No. I just had to He didnt share her new faith, but with this latest developmentHed asked. I had to pray.
Okay. He looked way uncomfortable. Well. Thats fine. Ahwere going to have to pull over long enough for me to make some calls, get an idea what we should do next.
Fine. What do you want from me?
Ahnothing. I just figured youd want to know why I was stopping when we need to get away ASAP.
Carlie peered at her companion, but couldnt read him, and she really did try. Oh-kay, Mr. Secret Agent Man. Ill be right here, seat belt on, ready for takeoff whenever youre ready.
He gave her another of his exasperated looks. She had come to identify and catalog 37 flavors of weird looks Dan Maddox used on hershe wouldve preferred the ice cream. Pulling over to the side of the road wasnt the smartest thing to do. And yeah, yeah, shed figured Dan as the Boy Scouttype right from the start. Hed never cell phone and drive. But the New Jersey Turnpike was no lonely country lane. Anyone could come along here and pop the two of them with the greatest of ease.
Ever since shed helped Maryanne Wellborn, now Prophet, save her elderly father from dear brother Tonys murderous intents, Carlies world had turned into a surreal series of images, each one weirder than the last. All because shed agreed to testify against her father, her brother Tony and a bunch of their mob pals.
Shed also acquired her intense, good-looking blond shadow.
Carlie had never been so squeezed into a box. Shed called her father a tyrannical spoilsport during her high-school years. Then, after she married, Carlo gave her complete freedomas long as she stayed out of his business.
That business, the same as her fathers and brothers, was what landed her smack in the middle of this mess. Shed done everything she could during those years of marriage to ignore the signs, the same ones shed ignored at home. What woman wants to admit her family, and the handsome, debonair older man her father insisted she marry, were all mobsters?
The drivers side door opened. Okay, Dan said once behind the wheel again. Were on our way.
On our way where?
Some other place over in Pennsylvania.
Could you be a little more specific? That covers a big chunk of ground, you know?
He gave her another of those worried looks. Its probably safer for you not to know too much about our plans.
Oh, sure. I might telepathetically transmit the location to Dads pals. Give me a break. What do you think Im going to do? Hop out of the carwhile its zipping down a highwayflag down some unsuspecting soul, then run and tell on you?
Its telepathically, Carlie. And its safer for you not to know too much in case someone takes me out and they snatch you.
I like telepathetically better. And what you just said made no sense. If they snuff youthats so cool! I feel like Im reading the script for a TV cop show. Yeah, if they snuff you, dont you think theyll just grab me from the passenger seat? Ill be no more than a memory.
His knuckles went white on the steering wheel. Sorry. Youre right. I dont know whats wrong with me. I dont usually get this rattled on a case. I guess it doesnt help that I didnt get much sleep last night.
Are you an insomniac?
No. Just working a tough caseyou.
Takes one to know one.
The corner of his mouth tipped up. What is this? Elementary school?
Beats me. Its your game, remember? Im just along cause you agency guys insisted I play. So where are you taking me? And I dont mean that little piece of ground out on the back forty of New Jersey some call Pennsylvania.
Lancaster County.
She turned as far as the seatbelt let her to better look at him. Oh! Can we stop at the outlets? Please. I love shopping there. You get the best deals on just about everything with a label.
Another weird look from Mr. Intense. A bargain hunter mob wife? One whos become their number one target?
Hey! They can get me just as easily in a store as in this car. And just because I could get my hands on Carlos and Daddys money, doesnt mean Im ready to pay more than I have to. Thats just stupid.
Okay. So youre a thrifty mob wife
Widow, remember? The hit on Carlo is what started all this.
You think I could forget? He clamped his lips shut, swerved to avoid a maniac driver who cut them off from the right, then, once the nut was far enough away, changed lanes back to the right. Carlie clung to her seatbelt for dear life.
By the way, he went on. What was the deal with that empty coffin you guys shipped to Italy? He was supposed to be inside, but when Italian customs agents X-rayed the thing, it was empty aswell, you get my drift.
She sure did. Hed probably been about to say your head or pay her some other similar compliment, but she let him get away with the near-smear this time.
Theres no you guys, Dan. I never knew what went on day-to-day, and I absolutely, positively had nothing to do with the funeral home, the funeral and why or for what reason they shipped off the empty casket for an Italian burial. I just knew Carlod died. His uncle Louie handled all the details.
He shot her a look Carlie didnt like. He didnt seem to believe half of what she said, but there was nothing she could do about it. The guy was the most suspicious critter shed ever met.
He pushed the gas pedal, and the speed shoved her back into the seat. What are you doing?
Getting off the Turnpike. This rush hour traffic is not my thing.
But you live and work in Philly.
Doesnt mean I have to like the traffic there.
Carlie studied his profile as they crossed the Delaware Memorial Bridge. So far, she hadnt found a thing Dan liked. What really threw her was that when hed first been assigned to protect her, J.Z. Prophet, Dans usual partner at the Bureau, had described her shadow as an easygoing, laid-back kind of guy.
This guy didnt have a laid-back hair on his blond head. And she was stuck with him. At least, until the trial was over and the verdict came in. After thatwell, she didnt know what came after that, but she wasnt about to give it much thought. She still had to live long enough to get to after that.
Then allow me the pleasure to distract you from the horrors of after-work traffic, she said with a grin. How about you tell me where youre taking me? I really, really want to know.
Were going to a safe place just outside Bird-in-Hand.
Huh?
He shot her a smile. So you dont know everything. Bird-in-Hand is a sleepy little town with the best Amish bakery and a huge quilting shop.
You know about bakeries and quilt shops?
Im a multifaceted kind of guy. He turned just enough for her to see his wink. Actually, my moms crazy about quilting, so she knows every one of those stores in the eastern half of Pennsylvania.
So youre from that area.
I grew up in a suburb of Harrisburg.
Okay. Sounds good. By now hed relaxed enough that his fingers didnt remind her of the color of overcooked macaroni before the cheese was added anymore, a food group she now knew too much about thanks to her underground existence. So how about you tell me where youre taking meexactly where youre taking me? I mean, I have nothing against road trips, but really. This is just too weird.
Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Carlie. He slowed down for a red light. But Ill go ahead and tell you. My mom knows a Mennonite family whos willing to let us stay at their farm.
Farm, huh?
Yes, the Millers own a dairy farm, and I remembered them when I tried to come up with a quiet, inconspicuous place to stash you. My mom and Mrs. Miller shop for their quilting supplies at the Bird-in-Hand store. Over the years theyve become friends.
What was he getting them into? The Mennonites, theyre not the ones with the buggies and no electricity, are they?
No, those are Old Order Amish, but Mennonites are still very, very conservative.
She shrugged. Ill figure it out as I go. I can handle anything as long as I get a decent nights sleep, a shower in the morning and a blow-dryer for my hair.
He squirmed in his seat, looked very, very uncomfortable. We can do the sleep, and the shower shouldnt be a problem. But the blow-dryer might not be so easy. Because the women wear their hair twisted up in the small white kapps, Im not sure the Millers own one, and yours is
Carlies stomach sank. Mines a blob of melted plastic and a couple of blackened wires. So we need to look at this as a new life experience. Okay. Im sure itll come in handy someday.
From the way Dans shoulders shook, she knew he was trying to hold in his laughter. At least she was good for comic relief. They had enough grim to survive. And Mennonites were Christians, so staying with the Millers couldnt be too bad.
Theyd ditched the Pennsylvania Turnpike at around four oclock. They pulled into the Miller farm at around six. The white farmhouse stood at the end of a long gravel drive. A huge oak tree spread its full, green branches in front of the home and shaded the wide porch. A big red barn flanked the rear of the house to the right. Various other smaller structures spread out toward the left rear. A bunch of black-and-white cows crowded each other on their way to what must have been dinner.
Speaking of dinner, she said, what are we doing for food?
Trust me, he answered with a smug smile.
Oh, fine. Have it your way.
Im planning an experience youll never forget.
Her stomach flipped. That easy smile made Dan look more human. And a million times more attractive. She wondered what he was like when not on the job.
Come on, he said.
Carlie blinked. Saved by the bellor something like that. She really couldnt afford to find her keeper appealing. So shed better think about these people whose quiet life they were about to invade.
The woman who opened the door looked like a storybook grandma. This one, though, wore an unusual gray dress with sleeves that poufed a little on the shoulders then snugged down to just above the elbows. The dress made Carlie think of something one might have seen decades ago, if not way more than that. The plain top had a flat-over thingy that ended at the waistline. A skirt generous enough for the woman to do just about any kind of farm chore came down to the shin, where legs covered with dark cotton stockings led to old-fashioned black lace-up shoes.
Mrs. Miller shook her head when Dan told her a gas problem had left Carlie temporarily homeless. So sorry to hear, she said, her voice spiced with a slight accent. But please, make yourself welcome.
Carlie was charmed, but she felt like an impostor, lower than a slug. Thank you so much, Mrs. Miller. I do appreciate your hospitality.
Their hostess smiled and gestured for them to follow her. Come, come. Supper is served.
Pay attention, Dan whispered close to her ear.
On their way to the kitchen, Carlie asked Mrs. Miller about the farm. She learned all kinds of details the woman gladly shared. And when they entered the enormous kitchen, Carlie understood what Dan had meant. A huge oak table filled the center of the room. Spread out over its surface was a feast, a banquet, a smorgasbord of sights and smells. Carlies stomach growled.
Dan chuckled. Told you.
No, Mr. Close-mouthed Secret Agent, you did not. All you said was another of your enigmatic trust mes. That didnt even give me a hint.
You cant fault a guy for wanting to surprise a girl.
You surprised me, all right.
This is Richard. Mrs. Miller indicated the oldest boy. Beside him is Jonas, then Ruth. On the other side, Rachel and Stephen
In minutes, Carlie asked and learned the childrens ages, where they went to school and their usual chores around the farm.
Finally, they joined the Millers, all seven of them, for the meal. Mr. Miller said grace in what sounded kind of like German, and after resounding amens, everyone dug in.
Evidently, Mrs. Maddox had let her friend know shed soon have guests, and Mrs. Miller had put on what she called a little more into the pots and pans. To Carlie, it looked like shed gone a whole lot further than that. A gentle prod with her fork broke the pot roast into tender morsels. Parsley and butter coated the potatoes, a colorful variety of homegrown veggies filled another third of her gargantuan plate, home-baked bread melted in her mouth, and cinnamon-dusted applesauce tasted more refreshing than Carlie remembered from her childhood.
What do you think? Dan asked.
Wow! Nothing but wow.
Just when Carlie was sure she couldnt possibly swallow another mouthful, Mrs. Miller brought out two different pies. One was apple, and the other the well-known Pennsylvania Dutch shoofly pie.
Which one? their hostess asked.
Oh, Im going to try the shoofly, Carlie answered. Ive always wondered what it was like.
With her first bite, she fell in love, as she told her hostess, and thanked the kind woman for the best meal shed eaten in years. Afterward, she insisted on helping Mrs. Miller and the girls in the kitchen, and when the last plate was put away, Carlie found herself more tired than shed ever thought she could be. She yawned, and Dan caught her.
Time to hit the hay, he said with a wink and a grin. Say good night to our hosts, Carlie.
Good night, she said like a dutiful child. But instead of heading upstairs, where she figured the bedrooms would be, Dan led her to the back door. Where are we going?
I told you. Youre going to hit the hay.
The glee in his face told Carlie more than she wanted to know. You mean that literally, dont you?
Yup.
How can you do that to me? Ive been shot at, bombedmore than once, I might addburned out of my apartment, and now you want me to sleep with the cows? You never told me about the perks of this deal, Danny Boy.
Give me a chance to explain. Mrs. Miller didnt understand why I wanted you in one of the older outbuildings either. But think about it. If your familys pals follow us out here, and Im not saying they will, but you never know, do you want to put the Millers at risk?
I never thought of that, and I should have. She sent a silent prayer heavenward. Thanks, Dan. Im so glad you did think it through.
Unless she was much mistaken, a hint of a blush warmed up the tan over his chiseled cheekbones. To her amazement, he looked embarrassed. By a simple thank-you. Go figure.
To defuse the awkward moment, she said, Lead on, fearless leader. Where do you want me? Roosting with the chickens?
He pointed toward the left field. There.
Oh, yeah. It was the one shed feared he would choose. Tell me why you decided we needed to occupy the frumpiest, dumpiest, most dilapidated pile of boards here?
Because the Millers are about to tear it down plus a couple of the other outbuildings, now that they put up the big red barn. If something happens while were here, I dont want them to suffer any major loss.
Again his thoughtfulness surprised herfor the Millers, that is. Lets go, then. She began to sing Away in a Manger.
You are just too much.
She snickered. Too much what? Too much trouble? Too much fun? Too much of a good thing? Or maybe too much effort?
No way. Thats the problem with you women. You lay traps for us guys to trip into. Im not touching that one even if Im drowning and its the only thing that floats.
In a good mood, they reached the old structure. Dan held the wide, warped door open for Carlie. Rich, the Millers oldest son, brought out some pillows and bedding, he said. You should be pretty comfortable.
She frowned. What about you?
Im keeping an eye out for trouble. Naps in the car arent so bad.
Great. Another guilt trip. Im kinda tired of all the extra travel youre taking me on.
Forget it. Its my job. Im used to stakeouts.
She tilted her head and gave him a long look. One of these days youre going to have to tell me all about being an FBI guy. Its not your everyday kind of job.
Neither is being married to the mob. So once you tell me, Ill tell you.
Carlie held out her hand. You got yourself a deal, Mr. Secret Agent Man.
He gave it a brief shake then let go as if burned. Well. Ahgood night, Carlie.
You, too.
She went inside, and on a pile of fresh-smelling hay against the rear wall Rich Miller had spread out the bedding. At one end, a pair of fluffy pillows were piled one on top of the other. All of a sudden, the strain of the recent upheavals overcame her.
Exhaustion claimed Carlie. She plopped down onto her makeshift bed, pulled the lightweight quilt over her shoulders, and dropped off faster than she thought possible.
A while later, she woke up. She had no idea what roused her, but she opened her eyes, her heart beating a frantic, furious pulse. Instead of her cozy quarters, she found herself in Dantes vision of Hades.
Tongues of flames licked toward the roof, the walls, her nest of hay. Smoke made it hard to seeworse, to breathe. The billows swirled before, beside, behind the flames.
Oh, Fatherdear God. Your will be done.
As she finished her scrap of prayer, she heard Dans yell.
Hang on, Carlie! Im coming for you.
Everything went black.
THREE
Bit by bit, sound penetrated the thick, heavy darkness around Carlie. People jabbered, but she didnt understand a word. A rushing noise whooshed behind the chatter, and the smell of a barbecue gone bad stung her nose.
Then she remembered the fire. She remembered the meal, the Millers, the bombed apartment. Did Tonys slimy buddies get the farm, too?
She groaned. Everywhere she went, disaster and devastation followed.
A man called her name. He demanded that she breathe deeply. He commanded her to wake up. He ordered her not to die. Come on, come on, come on!
Carlie fought her heavy eyelids and tried to sit up.
No dice.
She needed someone to help her. The elephant who sat all over her body had to find a new seat, and the pins that held her eyes shut had to go.
But help didnt come. At least, not the kind she wanted. Instead, she was lifted upward, through the air, a frightening experience eased somewhat by the firm support at her back. A woman spoke, but Carlie still couldnt make out the words. Then she was poked, prodded, jostled, lifted, lowered, and thenfinallybreathing wasnt quite so hard anymore.
A weird wail started up, and Carlie fought against the weight of her eyelids. After a superhuman effort, she got them pried apart and wished she hadnt. What she saw stunned her. Faces hovered just above her, weird gadgets hung beyond the faces, lights blinked, things clinked, and everything jerked and jolted to the tune of the ongoing wail.
Carlie? Can you hear me, Carlie?
She tried to answer, but her throat wouldnt work. She tried to nod, but her head wouldnt movethat scared her, so she tried to talk one more time.
Dont, the female voice said. Just blink if you can hear me. You have an oxygen mask over your nose and mouth, and thatll make speech difficult.
Oxygen mask! She blinked up a storm, but couldnt ask the million and one questions that buzzed in her head. What had happened between Dantes Inferno in a Mennonite barn andwhere was she now? A hospital?
Good, the woman said. You can hear me. Let me explain a few things for you.
In a clear, soft voice, the woman told Carlie how Dan had axed a hole in the old, brittle wood walls of the small barn then dragged her out before the entire structure went up in flames. Shed passed out while in the burning building, and the Millers had called for the ambulance, which was now on its way to Lancaster General Hospital. The EMT wound up her explanation by insisting that Carlie was lucky to be alive.
But Carlie didnt call it luck. She called it another of Gods many mercies. She couldnt quite see a family like hers as any kind of luck, other than maybe the worst.
But where was Dan? Did he get hurt?
Carlie couldnt stand the thought of her shadow being harmed because of her. But she couldnt ask, and her head weighed about a ton. Her eyelids drooped again, and she slipped off for a nap.
Green and purple cows and orange and blue nails danced through her dreams.
How much longer is she going to sleep? Dan asked, frustrated.
Dr. Wong retained his calm. We dont know, Agent Maddox. It depends on how she reacts to pain meds, plus a number of other variables.
I have to get her out of here. Dan began to pace. They nearly got her this time.
This time?
Thats why shes in the Witness Protection Program. When theyd first brought Carlie into the hospital, Dan had no alternative but to reveal his identity and their situation. It was the only way he could get adequate protection for his charge.
Then Id better not ask you more questions.
Relief felt good. I appreciate that. And I appreciate the care youre taking with her.
Its all in a days work, the young doctor said with a grin. Ill alert the rest of the staff. Im sure theyre dying to know about Carlies vast and professionally serious extended family.
Thanks. Dan hadnt known how he was going to disguise the crew his boss, Eliza, had sent. The doctors understanding would go a long way in keeping things under some kind of control.
But, Mr. Maddox? the doctor said. You yourself need to rest. You took in a big wallop of smoke, almost as much as Carlie did. And those burns of yours can get infected very easily.
Dan shrugged. Its all in a days work.
Tripped up by my own words. Dr. Wong punctuated his words with a wry grin. He tapped his forehead in a salute, then turned and left the room.
Dan returned to his sentry post on the nasty green pleather chair next to Carlies bed. But his patience wasnt much to write home about, and before too long, he paced again from the foot of the bed to the large window that looked out on congested traffic.
Noooooooo!
The ear-splitting scream shocked him still for a moment. Then he spun, ran to Carlies side, and found her scooted up hard against the headboard, her legs bent at the knee, her medicine tree tipped partway over the bed.
Horror contorted her beautiful features, and the slight smudge of soot under her right eye, one the nurses missed when theyd cleaned her, added to the atypical, weirdly tough-girl look she now wore.
Get out of here! she yelled. With her non-IVed hand, she scrabbled through the pile of sheets and blanket at her side. It didnt take a genius to figure out what she wanted to find, who she wanted to summon.
Its okay, Carlie. Its me, Dan Maddox. Youre fine. The hospital and I are taking good care of you.
A bulldog expression replaced the horror on her face. I dont know what your game is, bub, but youre not Dan Maddox. He has gorgeous blond hair. You dont have any.
Something in Dan leaped when she admired his hair. But it soon settled down thanks to reality. Carlie, it is me. They shaved my head because so much of my hair got singed when I went after you in the barn.
She wrinkled her nose, and drew close. You sound like Dan, but you look a little alien, kind of like that weird guy on the bottle, that Mr. Clean on TV commercials.
Gee, thanks. Ive always wanted to make a beautiful woman think of floor cleaner.
Now I know youre not Dan Maddox. Hed never tell me Im beautiful. Hed call me trouble, a pain, crazy and who knows how many other snotty names.
What could he tell her? That he had to force himself to think of her along those snotty lines to keep him from thinking of her as the drop-dead gorgeous woman she really was? That he didnt want to admit her quirky sense of humor made it tough for him to keep from laughing? That he was scared to death he might fall for her over the duration of his assignment?
Not in this lifetime.
Im sorry you think Im snotty, but you are a handful, is what he went with. And you dont make my jobkeeping you aliveany easier.
Oh. She seemed to melt into her pillow. You are Dan after all. Well, I guess thats good. You really look scary, though. Wouldnt want to bump into you in a dark alley.
Maybe thatll help us. Just think. Maybe Ill scare your brothers buddies away.
She snorted. Thats not even funny. Theyre pretty determined. She settled down under her blanket again. So whats our next move?
Its not all sewn up yet, but one things for sure. Were leaving the mid-Atlantic area ASAP. They got your apartment, and they followed us to the Millers place.
Before Carlie had a chance to comment, a knock at the door drew their attention. Dan slipped his hand inside his jacket then nodded for her to answer.
He never would have guessed the identity of her visitor. Fourteen-year-old Jonas Miller walked in, his steps hesitant, his face flushed, his old-fashioned button-down shirt and dark navy pants an odd contrast to his youth.
Jonas! she exclaimed. How are you? Do your parents know youre here?
Pure misery filled his adolescent face. Ja. They know. They made me come. They even brought me.
She blinked. I see. And why would that be?
The boy looked down at his feet and mumbled something Dan didnt catch. Obviously, neither did Carlie, since she asked him to repeat himself.
Im sorry, miss. I didnt mean for this to happen.
Carlie looked more puzzled than ever, but her voice came out soft, gentle, caring. What are you sorry about, Jonas? What is the this that happened?
He shrugged. Didnt mean for the old barn to burn.
And that means?
That it was all my fault. Jonas looked ready to cry. II know it was wrong, but the guys are always mocking me, so I figured Id better practice for the next time after school.
Dan knew what was up, but Jonas had to do this on his own.
What were you practicing? Carlie asked.
Jonas shifted his weight from foot to foot. He shoved his hands in his pockets. Then he seemed to come to a decision, squared his shoulders and stared straight at Carlie.
I dont want to choke when I smoke again!
Carlies reaction was a quick blink. Dan had to fight the laugh on its way out. Then his mob widow surprised himagain.
Thats the easiest thing, she told Jonas. All you have to do is not smoke. Youll never choke that way. And those friends will be the ones to worry about lung cancer and emphysema while youre still healthy as a horse. Youll have the last word.
But these guys already tease me becausewell, II
The poor kids face turned redder than pizza sauce.
He shrugged. I get good grades. Its not so hard. I just go to class, do the homework, and thats it. But they think Im some kind of sissy.
Jonas, my man, Carlie said, a smile on her lips. Come on over here. Have a seat in Dr. Carlies office. You and I need to have us a chat.
Dans admiration grew as each one of the next fifteen minutes went by. With her sense of humor and brilliant smiles, Carlie soon had the teen laughing with her. By the time she was done, Dan knew Jonas Miller would never pick up another cigarette. And he genuinely regretted the fire hed caused. Then Carlie threw him for a loop.
She held her hand out to Jonas and invited him to join her in prayer. For some strange reason, their earnest expressions did something to him. He didnt back off as he normally would have, but instead he stayed and watched them, their heads close, their hands clasped, their voices low and intense.
An odd pang hit him, a sudden loneliness, nothing hed experienced before, something he hoped never hit him again. It was a restless sensation, an urge for some unknown something, a sense of need.
After they said amen, Jonas headed for the door. Bye, Miss Carlie.
Now you just wait one cotton pickin minute there, Jonas Miller. Carlies fake scolding dripped with her trademark humor. You dont think you can leave here without giving me a hug, do you?
Dan watched the boy, one whose background inspired reserve, bend down to Carlie and give her the hug shed asked for. It was an awkward, stiff hug, but a hug is a hug is a hug.
Amazing.
A nurse came into the room as Jonas left and she shooed Dan away. She insisted he had to go so she could take Carlies vital signs. He left, went to the snack shop downstairs, and bought himself a bucket of coffee and a gooey sticky bun. Of course, as soon as he bit into the pastry, his cell phone rang.
Yeah, he mumbled around the mouthful of delicious dough.
Hows it going? asked his partner, J.Z. Prophet.
If I said bad to worse, it wouldnt begin to give you a clue.
Whats the deal? The familys after you again?
They never stopped. Dan gave J.Z. a brief rundown of the latest events, even told his partner about Jonass ill-fated attempt at being cool. That made them both laugh, but didnt ease their concern.
You know whats got to happen, dont you? J.Z. asked.
Yeah. Weve got to hit the road again. Im just waiting for Eliza to let me in on the secret of our destination.
And shes no more cooperative than usual.
You got it.
Well, Maryanne and I will keep you both in our prayers. Be safe.
The prayer bit made Dan squirm on his stool. He ignored that statement, and said, You, too.
He hurried to finish his pastry and the transfusion of caffeine. He had to get back to Carlie. Who knew what kind of trouble shed kicked up by now? The woman needed a keeper, and unfortunately, the Bureau had picked him for the job.
The second he stepped into the elevator, his cell phone rang again. This time, the caller wasnt quite as welcome as his previous one.
Yes, Eliza. Do you have instructions for me?
In brief, his boss gave him a laundry list of steps to follow. When she finally disclosed their ultimate destination, Dan couldnt stop his groan.
Youve got to be kidding, Eliza. Thats inhuman.
Live with it, Maddox. Its the best solution for a difficult situation. Or to be more accurate, the best solution for a difficult witness.
He didnt much care to hear his snippy boss refer to Carlie that way; it was different when he did it. He knew Carlie, while Eliza had just met her once or twice during the investigation into Carlo Papparellis murder.
Fine, he said. Well take off as soon as the doctors let her go.
You might not want to wait that long, Agent Maddox. I wont tell you how to do your job, even though I can, and you know it, but dont think time is on your side.
The elevator door opened just as Dr. Wong walked out of Carlies room. I hear you loud and clear, Eliza. And now I have to go meet with Carlies doctor. Ill let you know as soon as we hit the road.
Dan hurried to catch up with the doctor. He explained the need for speed, the urgency of the situation.
But Dr. Wong refused to commit. Ill discharge her as soon as shes ready to go.
He wouldnt budge from that stance, no matter what Dan said. So, more frustrated than ever, he retreated to Carlies room.
Hey, Sunshine, she called when he walked in. Whats with the joy and happiness?
That was all he needed: Carlie in one of her more outrageous moods. How was he going to break the news to her?
How are you feeling? he asked.
Im a lot better. But it still feels like I breathed in a bunch of mascara brushes.
Mascara brushes? Then I hope you cough out the little porcupines faster than you breathed them in.
What do you mean?
I mean that youre going to have to feel well enough to sneak out of here sometime tomorrow. We have to get going while we still can.
Her eyes widened, and she swallowed hard. Where are we going? Or cant you say?
I shouldnt say anything, but I know how hard this has been on you. Prepare yourself. Were headed for the steam bath better known as Florida in August.
Once again, Carlie took his words and turned them upside down. Really? she asked, excitement in her voice. Ive always wanted to go to Florida! Promise me one thing.
Im not promising anything. Tell me what you want, and Ill tell you whether we can work it out.
She sat up and crossed her arms. Work it out, nothing. You owe me, Secret Agent Man. You wouldnt take me shopping at the outlets, so now you have to take me to see the Mouse. We, Danny Boy, are going to Disney World.
Dan had the sinking feeling hed lost control of his assignment. And the loss was all because of a beautiful blonde, her killer smile and his growing desire to please her.
He was in trouble. And it had nothing to do with the mob.
It was the mob widow who posed the danger, to his health.
His hearts health.
FOUR
That bruise on Carlies forehead was going to drive him nuts. How long did bruises last, anyway?
Against his better judgment, he stole another glance across the width of the front seat of his Bureau car.
He had to face the truth. Her beauty exerted a pull on him. It was shallow of him, but with a woman as attractive as Carlie Papparelli, a man would have to be totally blind not to feel it.
He wasnt blind.
The small bruise over her left eyebrow stood out from the near-perfect background of her looks and underscored her vulnerability. It made him more aware than ever that her lifeliterallywas in his hands. Hed never shied away from responsibility, and he wasnt about to start now, but for some reason this assignment weighed more heavily on him than most others did.
He almost couldnt recognize himself.
Everyone he knew commented on his easygoing nature, his lighthearted view of the world, his ability to cope in tough circumstances with ease and poise. That all changed the day hed met the mobsters widow.
He didnt like it. Not one bit.
Another glance.
Carlie had closed her eyes, leaned her head against the window and appeared to nap. The slightest hint of a smile curved her lips, and her peaceful expression nearly stole Dans breath away. How could she stay so calm?
Mobsters wanted to make mincemeat out of her, yet she still slept with the trust of a child.
Maybe she did trust him. He hoped so, because otherwise their circumstances would be grimmer than even he thought them to be. He knew his job; he had an excellent track record with the Bureau. Hed yet to lose a single witness under his care.
One more look at her reminded him of the scale of his task.
He usually handled mousy paper-pushers whod blown the whistle on crooked colleagues. Hed never had to worry about making the subjects of those assignments inconspicuous; they were inconspicuous. But Carlie?
He needed someone to show him how to turn a stunning Cinderella back into a frumpy maid. He didnt have a magic slipper to take from her foot.
The thought of her footgear made him smile. Carlie struck him as a firm supporter of the more, the merrier approach. That is, when it came to her heels. Hed never seen anyone handle stilettos, even while wearing jeans, quite as expertly as Carlie Papparelli did. The most irritating part? She looked great while doing so.
He chuckled. Shed better hope they didnt have to hoof it to safety any time soon, because if they did, shed be in major trouble. Those spikes werent made for running.
When he realized how indulgent his thoughts were, he forced his attention to the matter at hand. He couldnt afford to expend many warm and fuzzy thoughts on Carlie as a person. That would spell danger.
So he drove on in silence.
She slept on.
Hey! she said about two hours later. How about we hit a fast food joint or something? Its way past time for me to use the little girls room.
And here I thought you just loved the little toys.
Watch it, Secret Agent Man. If I get a squirt gun, youre in trouble.
Dan cringed when, as they walked into the burger place, every head turned their way. All its patrons stared at Carlie, who, oblivious of the attention, headed for the ladies room.
Yeah, he had trouble on his hands, all right. The biggest part of that trouble was to convince Carlie that something had to be done about her looks.
Aw, come on, she wheedled moments later. Why cant we eat at least one meal a day at a table? Im really tired of squeezing stuff out of foil packets and decorating my clothes with it because you hit yet another bump.
He almost broke. Almost.
Be glad thats the only kind of bump weve hit on the road to a long and healthy future for you. Those bombs and bullets werent figments of our imaginations.
She shuddered, and an infinitesimal pang of guilt hit him. But then, in a subsequent moment of reason, he banished the pang to where it belonged: far, far away from his thoughts.
I intend to get you to that witness stand in one piece. If that means youre going to wear a mustard-ketchup-and-barbecue-sauce tie-dye job, then youd better get yourself a new perspective on stains.
She rolled her eyes, grabbed her bagged meal, turned away, and click-click-clicked her way to the door. There she paused to give him a glare. So, Danny Boy, are you just going to stand there? If my memory serves me right, youre the one who finished reading me the riot act about the dangers of exposure not two seconds ago.
He shook his head and followed.
Outside, he yielded just a bit. They ate in the parked car. In silence.
When Carlie was done, she turned to face him. How long is it going to take you to get me to Florida? All I know is that weve been driving for ages, and I dont see any sand or palm trees yet.
Thats because it takes more than a couple of hours to drive from Pennsylvania to Florida. Especially if we want to make sure none of your familys friends are on our tail.
She sighed. So how much longer do you want us to live out of your car?
As long as it takes. He ran a hand through his hair. Actually, I dont think itll be more than three or four days.
Are you kidding?
The horror on her face almost made him laugh. He controlled the urge. Okay, okay. Tell you what. Well take the scenic, tourist route, and go through quaint little towns with well-maintained Victorian cottages. That way youll be able to enjoy the picturesque views.
How about that nice, quiet place in Florida you told me about? Im looking forward to a regular homeat least, for a while.
He could understand how she felt. Hed worked for the Bureau long enough that hed come to hate the anonymity of hotel rooms. He also hated to sleep in his car during a stakeout. His nomadic lifestyle got to him at times, even though it came as a result of his chosen career. Carlie hadnt chosen any of this.
Look, I know youre in a rotten situation, he said, his tone conciliatory. But it would be even more rotten if anything happened to you
Get real! What you mean is that it would be rotten if they whacked me. Youd lose your prime witness, and your oh-so-important case would go down the toilet. Theres nothing about me in your plan.
Its all about you, Carlie. I dont want to see you dead. I joined the Bureau to protect my country and its people. Last time I checked, you were a citizen. I dont think anythings changed that.
There you go again. Im a citizen. She crossed her arms. Thats garbage. I know what Im facing, and I still have an identity. There is still life ahead of me. Spending whats left locked inside this rolling tin can she pounded the car door is not what Im ready to do.
His frustration reached the boiling point. Well then, I guess that choice is out of your hands. You may have some weird kind of death wish, but Im not going to play. Buckle up. Were out of here.
She yanked the seat belt down to the latch, and once he heard it click, he turned the key in the ignition.
He pulled to the parking lot exit then waited for traffica single school bus full of kindergarteners.
I dont suppose youre going to tell me where were headed next, she said.
You suppose right. Your best plan is to get some more of that beauty sleep youve been catching up on. Who knows whats going to happen even ten minutes from now.
They drove again in that uneasy quiet hed come to expect. How could he tell her he was winging it? That he didnt have a plan besides making sure no one followed? That wouldnt reassure her. It didnt make him feel all that great either, but under the circumstances, it was the best he could do.
When he couldnt stand the stony look on her face and her shrieking silence for another minute, he turned on the radio. Although hed never gotten into the sports-over-the-radio dealno visualshe found a station that offered kick-by-kick coverage of a soccer game somewhere in the Hispanic world. Even the loud, heartbeat-like drumming in the background was better than the thick, uneasy stillness.
The hysterical cries of Gol, gol, gol when either team scored provided a weird kind of punctuation for the afternoon. When the game ended, he frantically searched for a classical music station.
Then the sun finally began its descent toward the horizon. That simple reality forced him to face the need to come up with another meal option and overnight choice. He couldnt drive all night after driving all day. Hed only snagged about three hours sleep the night before. The way he saw it, he had no choice but to find an out-of-the-way motel, nothing like the famous chains that everyone recognized.
Um
Carlies murmur caught his otherwise-engaged attention. Whats up?
Youve worn this fierce expression for hours now. Tell me it has something to do with my next meal and a place to take a hot shower.
He chuckled. Believe it or not, thats exactly whats been on my mind.
How so?
More than food, we need to find a safe place to stay the night. I have to catch some sleep so I can continue driving
Ive told you Im a great driver, but you just wont share. You could have taken a nap anytime today.
Youre getting over a concussion. How can you drive long distance? He gave her an exasperated glare. Id rather drive till I drop than nap and find myself wrapped around the nearest lamppost. Your rattled brain could wig out on us anytime.
Id rather trust my rattled brain than ride next to a guy whos sleep deprived. Doctors have proved that a sleep-deprived brain behind the wheel is the equivalent of an intoxicated brain.
He sighed. Were not going to discuss the merits of medical studies. Were going to focus on finding a motel.
Fine. I know weve passed a couple of cute ones along the way. I just hope we havent run out of luck on that regard
Nope. Look to your right. And the best part about it is that across the road theres a
Wow! A real diner. The kind with the shiny metal building! I didnt know those still existed.
He clicked on his turn signal. You never know what youll find along a back road. There are still diners in Pennsylvania. I suppose North Carolinas the same.
So thats where we are. She grinned. You let the cat out of the bag. Uh-oh! Carlie now knows where she is!
Dan had never rolled his eyes this much in his whole life. It was contagioushed caught it from her. Im going to trust you to keep your mouth full of food. That way you wont blab. Then sleep should do the trick for a few hours overnight. After that, Ill have you so lost, you wont know what hit you.
Im going to assume you think youre being cute.
No. Just dealing with you the best I can.
Lets eat.
Well, well, well, Dan said as he parked in the diners lot. We have to mark this moment. Our first agreement so far! I hope its a sign of more harmony to come.
The truce of sorts lasted through dinner. Carlie oohed and aahed over meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn, buttered peas and apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Dan had to agree that the meal came close to Mrs. Millers supper. And he did love comfort food.
Then they drove across the street. In the motels tiny lobby, they both endured the owners scrutiny. After all, how many couples their age asked for separate rooms in an out-of-the-way place? The discomfort, however, was nothing compared to what hed feel if Carlie were harmed.
Once in his room, he enjoyed every second of a quick shower. And then he collapsed on the surprisingly welcoming bed.
Nothing woke him until the alarm rang. Tendrils of sunlight slipped around the blue and gold curtains on the window.
He dressed, threw his few belongings in the duffel bag he always kept in the trunk of his Bureau-issue car, and headed out. He fully intended to knock on Carlies door, but the sound of laughter out in the parking lot derailed his intentions.
What he saw left him stumped. Three children, all of whom appeared to be under the age of ten, two girls and a toddler boy, had drawn a chalk hopscotch on the asphalt. The oldest girl threw a round rock to one of the squares then hopped one-legged in the traditional steps of the game.
But the kids werent the ones whod caught his attention. The woman cheering the girl, however, was. Carlie had pulled her long, blond mane into a ponytail, and despite her high heels, looked more like a young babysitter than the widow of a shady character.
Her eyes sparkled in the morning sunshine; her cheeks wore a soft rose tint; her voice rang with enthusiasm; her slim body looked ready to take on the gameand win.
There was something about that womansomething that drew him and scared him in equal measure. If he were a smart man, hed listen to his fearful side. He had to constantly remind himself that they werent on vacation, that she had the mob on her tail, that she would have died had the Bureau not put her into the Witness Protection Program.
Morning!
Her radiant grin hit him square in the gut and stunned him for a moment. She took his brief silence and continued.
Drop that bag and come join us. Were having fun!
Fun? They were supposed to be on the run. Once again, Carlie seemed able to find something to appreciate in even the direst situations. He didnt know another woman who would cope as well.
Dont be a party-pooper! The teasing look on her face tugged at him. Come on, Danny Boy, be a sport.
The three little ones stared at him in fascination. The younger girl took a step forward. Yeah, mister. You can play with us. Its not so hard. Ill show you.
A small hand reached out for him. A car drove down the road past the motel. His professionalism returned with a vengeance, but he found himself unable to deny the childor the woman.
One time, he said, dropping his bag. Only one time, okay?
The kids clapped.
Carlie murmured, Thanks.
He hopped, and memories of his childhood flooded him. It had been a long time since hed thought of things like hopscotch on a summer morning. The games hed played recently involved expensive equipment and far-flung locales. He enjoyed golf and tennis, but the simple pleasure of tossing a rock and bounding from square to square on one leg touched a different corner of his being.
Bang!
His instincts took over at the blast. He reached behind his back and drew his pistol.
Run! he yelled, and aimed.
But no one moved. The kids stared at him, their eyes wide open, their mouths forming perfect Os. Carlie also stared, but her stare came full of fascinated horror.
What are you waiting for? he cried. Run for cover.
She dropped to the childrens level and opened her arms. The boy toddled to her. She held the little guy close, murmured something soothing to the girls and then gave him the glare hed come to expect from her.
You owe them an apology, she said, her voice quiet. Youve scared them for no reason.
No reason? He shook his head and pointed to the plain car with his weapon. Get in there before they come back for another try.
Carlie shook her head. Her look turned pitying. Have you lost all touch with reality? Is that what your job does to you?
Reality, lady, is that youve got a bulls eye on your back.
Reality, Dan, is that you overreacted to a cars backfire.
What?
Dan She patted the boy then stood and approached, exasperated. That old truck backfired when the driver pulled into the diner while we played, and it did the same thing a minute ago after the guy finished his breakfast or cup of coffee. Get real. Were in the middle of nowhere. My familys not about to show up here. Put that thing away, okay?
He scanned the road, and when he saw nothing to arouse his suspicions, he realized how ridiculous he looked. Not to mention how frightening he appeared to three little kids. His outstretched arm suddenly weighed more than the average tree trunk, and his face heated up.
Ahwell, if youre sure that was a truck
Listen up, Secret Agent Man, wed better get out of here before the motel owners come out, see you in spook mode and call the cops. That wouldnt help our cause any, would it?
With one quick move, he shoved his gun into his waistband and grabbed his duffel bag. Youre right. Lets go.
She grinned. Can I have that in writing? That youre right thing? Its the first time. We need to mark the event.
He chuckled. Against his better judgment. But instead of commenting, he unlocked the car, threw his bag into the back seat, placed the gun on the console, where he always kept it while driving on assignment, and then turned to the kids.
Sorry, guys. I figured we could maybe play cops and robbers, but Carlie is right. We have to go. Maybe next time well play some more.
He slid behind the steering wheel and waited for Carlie to buckle up. Through the windshield, he watched the little boy run to his oldest sister and bury his face in her belly, while the younger girl reached out and patted him on the back. The air of vulnerable innocence hit him hard.
Do you have any idea how stupid that stunt was? he asked, barely leashing his anger.
What stunt? All I did was play with a couple of kids.
Exactly. In an open parking lot, with no protection, in full view of the road. You know were being followed, yet you just hopped around out there.
But nothing happened
They couldve picked you off!
That could happen any time, Dan. I have to continue to live.
And how about innocent bystanders? Like the kids? Do you think your brothers pals would spare that little boy? Or the girls? Not if they thought those children could identify them.
Carlie gasped. Out the corner of his eye he caught her expression. Shock etched her face. All color drained from her cheeks, the sparkle left her eyes. She began to shake.
Oh, Lord Jesus, she murmured. Forgive me.
On the tail of her prayer, the tears began to fall. They didnt come as a surprise. What stunned Dan was his pain at every drop that rolled down Carlies cheeks.
He didnt want this.
He didnt want to be this vulnerableto her.
But he was.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her, hold her until the last tear dried, to promise her shed be safe, that hed make sure of that. But he couldnt do that, none of it.
So instead he continued to drive, his feelings in a kind of tangle hed never experienced before.
FIVE
Dan had never felt so incompetent in his life. Up till now, hed always been confident in his abilities, but now, when faced with Carlies contrite misery, he had no idea how to proceed. Was there anything he could do? Could he offer comfort? How?
And her faithhow did he deal with that?
That faith seemed to be her greatest source of strength, ofwell, yes, comfort. Shed kept her head down while she wept, and although he didnt hear any proof of it, he knew she was deep in prayer. Any word he might offer seemed inadequate in this circumstance.
What did he know about faith?
Nothing.
All he had on which to put his trust was his training, experience and instincts. He couldnt see the point of relying on some vague being out there somewhere.
Her words broke into his thoughts. I cant begin to tell you how sorry I am, she said, her voice soft and sad.
He tightened his hold on the steering wheel. I know that. But you cant go on beating yourself up about it. Whats done is done, and you have to look at the upside. No one was hurt.
Of course, I see that. What bugs me most is my thoughtless behavior. Id rather think Im more aware of whats happening around me. Oblivion isnt a good thingat least, not in my case.
He kept his eyes on the road, even though everything inside him urged him to look her way. If it made you more aware of reality, then in the end, it was worth it.
But those kids
The shudder that racked her reminded him again of her extreme vulnerability. He reached out to place a hand on her forearm. Carlie, forgive yourself. You made a mistake. Youre human. We all make mistakes.
Thats going to be tough, she said. I know God forgives me, but Im not nearly strong or wise enough to see how I can forgive myself.
Now what did he say? Where was J.Z. when he most needed the guy? Since nothing came to him, Dan offered a soft, wordless, hopefully sympathetic murmur, and continued to drive.
After a while, she turned toward him. You know, Im not afraid for myself. Im serious, I dont want to die, but more than what I want, Im interested in what God wants. If He wants me to go home to His side, then Im ready to go.
Shed done it again. What could he say to that? He didnt have that kind of belief.
So he just said what came to his mind. I cant quite get my head around that attitude of yours. Dont get me wrong. Im familiar with it. J.Z. and David, another agent at the Bureau, believe as you do. But II dont get it.
She stared at him for a moment, her gaze piercing and, he suspected, perceptive. He wriggled in his seat.
I was in that place not so long ago, she said. And it wasnt all that great an address. The loneliness hurt more than any other pain Ive known.
But Im not lonely, he argued. Ive got friendsDavid and J.Z., for instanceand Im always surrounded by people, suspects and colleagues.
Her smile spoke of secrets. Um-hmm, I know what you mean. But what happens when you go to bed at night, when you close the door to all those friends and colleagues, when its just you in the dark?
The question hit a private corner of his heart. He shrugged, somewhat defensive. Im like everyone else. Were all alone when you strip away the outside world.
Oh, no. Were not all alike. This time she reached out, put her hand on his shoulder. Not if we realize we dont have to be alone.
If youre suggesting marriage or a dog, you might as well forget it.
Dont be so blind on purpose. She shook her head. You know where Im going, and I wont let you pull that kind of dumb act. You have Christian friends. You know theyre where I am on this. Were not alone in the dark.
Now youre going to tell me I have to come to Jesus, to be born again, to fall on my knees, a broken-down man.
If you would just cut out the sarcasm, maybe then wed get somewhere.
Dont you understand? He spared her a sideways glance; her irritation made him even more uncomfortable, more resistant, more determined to get his point across. Theres nothing out there for me to see, to cling to when the loneliness hits.
Another shake of her head, this one accompanied with a look filled with pity. Have you even tried? Have you ever reached out to God, to see if He did or didnt answer?
Of course not. Id feel ridiculous talking to something I couldnt see or feel.
She chuckled. That, Danny Boy, is whats called faith. We reach out and trust that something we cant see or feel. And thats exactly when God comes and meets us, at our most fragile moment, when we have no safety net under us.
He shrugged. Im not ready to take that fall.
He wont let you fall. God will catch you in the palm of His hand, and never let you go.
It must be nice to have that kind of image to hold on to. Somewhere inside him, an even greater gaping hole than that of the private loneliness made its presence known. Ill admit I sort of wish I could believe. And I get what makes you tick these days. But I cant join you on this. I can only count on myself.
And you think you canoh, lets say, go into the lions den, armed only with your self-reliance and your gun, and beat my family and all their connections? One other Daniel didnt think that was so smart.
He blushed. Well, if you put it that way, it does sound kind of arrogant.
Yep. Thats just a teeny-tiny little bit like seeing yourself as equal to God.
Hey, I never said that.
No, but thats the attitude that, like you said, makes you tick.
His squirming got worse. Hed never thought of himself as arrogant, just a confident, self-sufficient man. Look, all I know is that the federal government spent a bundle to train me. Im an expert at what I do, and Im highly motivated. Not only is success the goal in the job I love, but Im personally sold out here, in your case.
What do you mean?
I owe you for what you did. You saved J.Z.s wifemy partners future wife back then. That means a lot to me.
So you only see me as a job, a duty to repay a debt.
A crucial job, one that demands commitment at a higher level than most, and its an obligation Ill gladly undertake, no matter how great the responsibility. After all, its in my hands, my alertness, my response to danger, whether you live or die.
.
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, (https://www.litres.ru/ginny-aiken/married-to-the-mob-39921738/) .
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Ginny Aiken
A spitfire wife of a recently slain mob boss was much more than FBI agent Dan Maddox had bargained for when he signed on to protect Carlotta Papparelli.After turning state's evidence, Carlie was at the top of the mob's hit list, and it was up to Dan to keep her alive long enough to testify. From the streets of Philly to the sun-drenched Florida coast, Dan and Carlie were running for their lives, and only their faith in each otherand the Lordwould keep them safe
Married to the Mob
Ginny Aiken
Daniel answered, O king, live forever!
My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.
Daniel 6:21, 22
This book is dedicated to the caring and talented
physical therapists at Lancaster General Hospitals
Columbia Medical Center, without whose
help this book wouldnt have been written.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
ONE
Somewhere in New Jersey
What part of The mobs got a contract on you do you not understand?
Dans whispered question didnt faze the stunning blonde at his side. She shrugged. I understand youre trying to do your job, Mr. FBI Special Agent Maddox, but you should remember Ive lived with these people all my life.
He went to press his point, but she cut him off.
Do you really think they dont know where to find me? She tossed her tawny mane. They have more arms into more places, people and things than a family of octopusesoctopi?
Dan looked around at the innocent bystanders, busy pretending not to listen. Why did he always get the nutcases? How about this, Carlotta
Hold it right there! Your memorys not so hot, is it? Ive asked you and asked you not to call me that. Carliethats what you want to call me. Its not so hard, is it? Try it, you might like it.
Her wink nearly sent his patience over the edge. Do you ever take anything seriously?
Yes, she said, her eyes intent, her voice warm and vibrant. I take God seriously. And then I leave the rest to Him.
Dan had heard this kind of crazy illogic before. David Latham, one of his closest friends and a fellow agent in the Philadelphia Organized Crime Unit, was a gung ho religion sellout. Then, after a recent case, his partner, J.Z. Prophet, went and married another one. To really throw him for a loop, J.Z. succumbed to the lure of false confidence in the same philosophical game of mirrors, and was now one of them.
You go ahead and do that, Dan said, in a low voice. But while youre in the Witness Protection Program, you better leave the driving to meso to speak.
She rolled her large brown eyes. Speaking of driving
Would you please lower your voice? People are staring, and we dont want to draw attention to you.
CarlottaCarlielaughed. Here he was, trying to keep the crazy woman alive, and she laughed.
He tried again. Dont laugh like that. Keep it quiet. I just told you we dont want to draw attention
Just lookat where, she gasped between laughs, we are. Then you tell me whos causing the commotion.
Dan pressed his forehead against the aggressively pink door frame. I know, I know, I know. But thats the whole point. Why did you feel the need to come
Simple, she said. I love nice nails, and mine looked like fence posts after a dust storm. So where did you want me to go? A drive-in lube shop?
From the corner of his eye, Dan caught the fascinated stares of the nail techs, noses and mouths covered with baby-blue dust masks, and the dozen or so women in various stages of acquiring lethal prongs on the tips of their killer claws.
He took a deep breath. Okay. Lets go. Weve overstayed our questionable welcome.
But Im not done yet.
Oh, yes you are. Dan grasped her upper arm and urged her toward thewhat else?pink door. And I dont mean the paint on the nails either.
But I have no color
Believe me, you dont lack in that department. He glanced at the talons on her hands. Even when your nails look like the glow-in-the-dark fake ones kids wear.
How dare you? These are the finest acrylic
You want to die for plastic nails?
That finally made her pause. Well, no. Of course I dont. She took a step toward the bubble-gum-colored front door. But Im not willing to live a shadow life either.
Dan took advantage of her forward motion and took hold of her hand. Carlie confounded him when she called out over her shoulder, Bye, Dianna. Take care of little Davey, Sarah. Shonna, remember to tell your mom to try the echinacea for that cold. And Trish? Dump the jerk. Hes not worth it
What are you doing? He turned to stare at her. Who are all those women? How do you know them all?
Im saying goodbye. Dont you do that when you leave?
Why did you come to a place where youve been before? Dont you realize thats the quickest way for your brothers pals to get you?
I didnt come back to where anyone knew me. This is the first time Ive been here.
Why me? So how do you know about the mothers cold or the other ones jerk?
I dont know. I said hi, and we got to talking. Its not just about the nails, you know.
But you still risked your life for them.
I told you I dont want to die for my nails.
He led them out of the shop and to his Bureau-issue car. Im glad youre not ready to die for plastic. And that shadow life you mentioned isnt a forever thing. All we need is a conviction on your husbands killers.
Carlie yanked her hand from his and stuck her fists on her slender hips. And you really think that after my brother Tony, Joey-O, Larry Gemmelli and my dad are behind bars Ill be free to roam wherever I want?
Pretty much. At least, thats when my job ends, as far as youre concerned.
Think again, Cop Boy. Larrys got more family than Giant Stadium has seats. And they wont be too happy with methey arent already. Then there are all of good old Dads zillion business associates. Think theyll like visiting Dad at the pokey? Not hardly.
What makes you think we wont get them all?
Thats the dumbest thing youve said
A loud, appreciative wolf whistle cut her off and jerked him back to reality. Come on. Get in the car. Before the next obnoxious idiot shoots a bullet instead of a whistle out his window.
She didnt budge. Umtheres just one teeny, tiny, teensy-weensy problem here.
Yeah, her. Whats the problem now?
Thats your assigned car, not mine. Do you figure youll telepathetically drive mine back to the apartment?
This was pathetic, all right. Woman, you could drive a man right into a loony bin. He ran a hand through his hair. No, I cant drive both cars back, nor can I come back by myself later. Go ahead. Drive yourself.
He looked around for his cars clone, but didnt see it anywhere. So whatd you do with it?
I parked it out back, in the salons lot. Whatd you want me to do with it? Stick it in my pocket?
Nothing fit in the pocket of her slim linen pants. All right, Carlie. Ill walk you back to the car.
They began the trudge back toward Nail It. Dan looked up at the marquee, and shook his head. How much more ridiculous could a place get than to advertise its work with a gargantuan neon fingernail decorated with a hammer andyes, of coursea nail, the pointed steel kind?
While were at it, Carlie said as they reached the parking lot, how about a better set of wheels? I mean, really. It barely moves. Do I look like I want to be a moving target in a poky-slow car?
Against his better judgment, Dan looked at his gorgeous charge. From the top of her fabulous lionesss mane, to the satiny cream skin over models features, to a curvy, feminine figure encased in the latest light green silk and old-gold linen, and all the way down to the feet in strappy, high-heeled green leather sandalstoenails coated with chipped polishCarlotta Papparelli, mobsters widow, looked nothing like any target hed ever seen.
And yet, at the same time, beautiful as she was, she was a target.
Get real, he said. A peacock car would be like waving a red cape at an angry bull. You need to blend in. Thats the reason for the plain agency car, since theres not a lot we can do about youunless youre ready for plastic surgery and a hair makeover.
She rolled her eyesagain. She was quite proficient at it, too. Get over it, Danny Boy. Im a blonde, not a boring bland, bland, bland, like the car.
Thats for sure, that trouble-making corner of his head retorted. Lets get something straight. Youre no boring bland but a bottle blonde
Ouch! Thats not nice
Neither are the guys after you. Would she ever get it? He went on as if she hadnt interrupted him. And in the second place, no one calls me Danny Boy and lives.
Wow! I never thought Id ever see itdidnt know you even had it. A sense of humor, that is. Is it an FBI requirement to be grim, gloomy and glumeeeeek!
She couldve busted a windowmaybe she did, but Dan didnt bother to check. He grabbed the shaking woman and shielded her body with his. Thats how he approached the beige car.
He realized this might be Carlies wake-up call. The formerly boring midsize model now sported a particularly realistic portrait of a massive rodent, and in case the observer didnt quite get the message, under the critter, it read RAT.
Dan pulled out his gun, held it in front as he approached the graffitied vehicle then gestured for Carlie to stay where she stood. When he circled the car, he noted an even more grisly message across the back window. The artist had detailed a skull and crossbones severed from a stick-figure skeleton. Again, the creative creep had titled his work RAT.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh! Gross!
Dan turned and saw Carlies face glued to the passenger side windowthe woman didnt listen worth a dime. Before he could yell at heragainshe resumed her wail.
Yuck! Theres a big, fat, repulsive rat in the front seat. Oh, would you look at that? She looked at Dan and pointed. Did you know their tails were that long? And hairless?
Yes
And whats all that white fuzz all over the placeoh, that is so sick. She shuddered. Its built itself a nest.
Dan shrugged. Rats need homes. What can you do?
You are crazy. She headed back toward the front of the nail salon. Ill have you know, Super-Duper Agent Daniel Maddox, thats no longer my car. As of right now. We can go back to yours, and you can have your pals from the Bureau pick up the rodent palace. Im outta here.
Dan ran to her side, slid the gun back into the holster under his jacket, and reality slipped away. Slipped away? Yeah, right. It was zipping down the sanity highway, but what could he do? Hed been saddled with a beautiful but crazy witness.
She beat him to the car and stood at the passenger door. She crossed her arms. She tapped the toe of her stiletto-heeled sandal, as if shed been there forever.
He unlocked the door. Get in.
Yes, Mr. Gracious.
Okay. It wasnt the nicest thing hed ever done. But he was frustrated, they hadnt taught him how to deal with this kind of witness at Bureau training, much less law school, and she took too much pleasure driving him nuts. He slammed the door shut the minute her rear hit the seat.
And he had to keep her alive long enough to get convictions on her family and their dubious friends? He shook his head, rounded the vehicle, sat behind the wheel and peeled away, all without another word.
While he drove in silent mode, he continued to fume. Now he had to call Eliza, his supervising Special Agent. Not something a mananyonein his right mind would want to do. But from where he stood, he had no choice.
To be more accurate, Carlie had left him no choice. He didnt know if he could keep her alive much longer. She refused to cooperate.
The next light turned against him. He sat and watched seconds crawl by. At his side, Carlie began to hum.
Dan hated humming.
And everyone had always called him laid-back. He scoffed. They oughta see the man hed become post-Carlotta Papparelli.
She slanted him a look.
He ignored it.
The light turned green, so he drove on toward the safe house the Bureau had set up for Carlie in a massive, Lego blocktype apartment complex.
Moments later he heard the faint whee-uhn, whee-uhn, whee-uhn of an emergency vehicle approaching from behind. He glanced in his rear-view mirror. The cherry light on the roof of the squad car strobed closer by the second. Dan pulled over to the shoulder.
I hope no ones hurt, Carlie murmured.
Dan glanced her way. Shed closed her eyes, clasped her hands in her lap. Her expression, for once, was serious, intent. Somehow he knew shed begun to pray.
Who for? The unknownand only possibly injuredparty?
Strange.
He merged back into the heavier-by-the-minute late-afternoon traffic. Carlie didnt speak. Neither did he.
Then sirens started up again. They approached from his right, so he eased up to the left shoulder. This time, an ambulance zipped up and rounded the corner. In less than three minutes, three more squad cars, an additional ambulance and two fire trucks raced by.
Must be big, he murmured.
Im afraid so, Carlie answered, her voice softer and more serious than hed heard it yet. She really wasnt that bad.
Im sorry.
She made a startled sound. What for?
I acted like a jerk back there. I didnt need to slam the door on you.
Thanks for the apology, but Im not totally innocent either. I tend to have a smart mouth, and I gave you a pretty hard time. I know youre trying to do your job, and I understand you want to keep me alive, but Im not used to all these restrictions. Besides, if the Lord wants me home at His side, then Im ready to go.
A chill went through Dan. Dont be so ready to croak, okay? Youre very young. Youve a long life ahead of you. By the way, how old are you? I mean, I have all that information in your case file, but I dont remember everything thats in it.
I prefer to keep that piece of data private. A touch of humor came back into her voice.
Not for long. When I get back to my place tonight, youll be busted.
Ill take what scrap of privacy I can get these days.
With an air of comfortable companionship between them, they turned the corner three blocks away from Carlies apartment complex. As they approached, a nasty feeling took root in Dans gut.
A hideous orange glow tinted the blue sky, and clouds of smoke spread and hovered on the light wind. Right over the complex.
Dan slowed the car. At his side, Carlie caught her breath. His pulse pounded through him, throbbed in his temple.
Every one of his internal alarms detonated.
Which is what seemed to have happened to the structure, a detonation of some sort. All the emergency vehicles that had passed them no more than ten minutes earlier were lined along the backside of Carlies apartment building. A HAZMAT team had joined the party, too.
That nasty feeling morphed into a ravening certainty. Still, he had to know. You stay here, he said. And I mean it, Carlie. Dont move.
She nodded, her eyes glued to the scene. Firefighters in their yellow suits ran around the trucks, some climbed the giant ladders, others helped people to the ambulances. Uniformed cops talked to a throng of civilians.
Dan approached an officer. What happened?
The woman turned to him and shrugged. Were not sure. Thats what were trying to figure out.
A burly man in a white muscle undershirt and tan shorts walked up. You wanna know what happened? I know what happened.
Officer Shenise Davis turned keen hazel eyes on the guy. So tell me what happened, already.
Easy there. The guys bearded jaw pushed out. Dont get your feathers all ruffled up, you know? He shook his shaggy head. Kids! Anyway, theres this blond broad who lives across from me, and either her gas line went nuts or something else did. Alls I know is the place went kaboom! The whole building shook like one of them California earthquakes. Smoke started to stink up my place, and I opened the door. Well, the babe dont have much to go back home forif she wasnt home, know what I mean?
Dan knew. Too well.
The walking, talking wealth of information ran a massive paw through the wild thatch on his head. Either the explosion busted her place to pieces, or else the fire ate it all up.
Although sure he already knew, Dan asked, What floor was this?
Tenth, over in the middle section. He pointed an arm heavy with dark hair. See? The ladders up to the window to the right of the babes place. Mrs. Schulz is seventy-five. Sure, shes got more vinegar to her than I got hair, but she cant go running or nothing like climb down on her own. I figure theyre gonna have to carry her down.
Dan gave what he hoped the officer and the verbose bear read as a nonchalant shrug, then walked back the excruciating distance between him and Carlie. He got in the car, turned the key, then shot her a sideways look.
Were outta here. Your friends and family came calling, and they left you a calling card. Of the exploding kind.
What do you mean?
Dont ask me where were going, because I dont know. I have to call in, report this, check out whats available and then get you there. We cant stay here anymore. Someone bombed your apartment.
And then she threw Dan for a loopagain.
Carlie chuckled. And you gave me grief about my nails. Just be glad I wasnt here. Face it, Danny BoyerDan. Id better get a manicure more often. Its good for my health. My nailsyou know, the ones you said were going to get me killedjust saved my life.
TWO
Yes, she should be scared.
And yes, she was in serious danger.
But what could she do for herself? Nothing. So Carlie blocked out Dans griping and turned to the Lord.
Father, Im not so good at this yet, but I dont want to die. Dont get me wrong. If You want me, Im there. But if its not urgent, then Id like to hang around here a little longer. The deal is, I dont know what to do, how to avoid Dads and Tonys slimy friends. And Dan? Well, he tries, but theres a lot more of them than of us. So help us out here. Okay?
You! Did you go deaf or something?
Carlie shook herself. No. I just had to He didnt share her new faith, but with this latest developmentHed asked. I had to pray.
Okay. He looked way uncomfortable. Well. Thats fine. Ahwere going to have to pull over long enough for me to make some calls, get an idea what we should do next.
Fine. What do you want from me?
Ahnothing. I just figured youd want to know why I was stopping when we need to get away ASAP.
Carlie peered at her companion, but couldnt read him, and she really did try. Oh-kay, Mr. Secret Agent Man. Ill be right here, seat belt on, ready for takeoff whenever youre ready.
He gave her another of his exasperated looks. She had come to identify and catalog 37 flavors of weird looks Dan Maddox used on hershe wouldve preferred the ice cream. Pulling over to the side of the road wasnt the smartest thing to do. And yeah, yeah, shed figured Dan as the Boy Scouttype right from the start. Hed never cell phone and drive. But the New Jersey Turnpike was no lonely country lane. Anyone could come along here and pop the two of them with the greatest of ease.
Ever since shed helped Maryanne Wellborn, now Prophet, save her elderly father from dear brother Tonys murderous intents, Carlies world had turned into a surreal series of images, each one weirder than the last. All because shed agreed to testify against her father, her brother Tony and a bunch of their mob pals.
Shed also acquired her intense, good-looking blond shadow.
Carlie had never been so squeezed into a box. Shed called her father a tyrannical spoilsport during her high-school years. Then, after she married, Carlo gave her complete freedomas long as she stayed out of his business.
That business, the same as her fathers and brothers, was what landed her smack in the middle of this mess. Shed done everything she could during those years of marriage to ignore the signs, the same ones shed ignored at home. What woman wants to admit her family, and the handsome, debonair older man her father insisted she marry, were all mobsters?
The drivers side door opened. Okay, Dan said once behind the wheel again. Were on our way.
On our way where?
Some other place over in Pennsylvania.
Could you be a little more specific? That covers a big chunk of ground, you know?
He gave her another of those worried looks. Its probably safer for you not to know too much about our plans.
Oh, sure. I might telepathetically transmit the location to Dads pals. Give me a break. What do you think Im going to do? Hop out of the carwhile its zipping down a highwayflag down some unsuspecting soul, then run and tell on you?
Its telepathically, Carlie. And its safer for you not to know too much in case someone takes me out and they snatch you.
I like telepathetically better. And what you just said made no sense. If they snuff youthats so cool! I feel like Im reading the script for a TV cop show. Yeah, if they snuff you, dont you think theyll just grab me from the passenger seat? Ill be no more than a memory.
His knuckles went white on the steering wheel. Sorry. Youre right. I dont know whats wrong with me. I dont usually get this rattled on a case. I guess it doesnt help that I didnt get much sleep last night.
Are you an insomniac?
No. Just working a tough caseyou.
Takes one to know one.
The corner of his mouth tipped up. What is this? Elementary school?
Beats me. Its your game, remember? Im just along cause you agency guys insisted I play. So where are you taking me? And I dont mean that little piece of ground out on the back forty of New Jersey some call Pennsylvania.
Lancaster County.
She turned as far as the seatbelt let her to better look at him. Oh! Can we stop at the outlets? Please. I love shopping there. You get the best deals on just about everything with a label.
Another weird look from Mr. Intense. A bargain hunter mob wife? One whos become their number one target?
Hey! They can get me just as easily in a store as in this car. And just because I could get my hands on Carlos and Daddys money, doesnt mean Im ready to pay more than I have to. Thats just stupid.
Okay. So youre a thrifty mob wife
Widow, remember? The hit on Carlo is what started all this.
You think I could forget? He clamped his lips shut, swerved to avoid a maniac driver who cut them off from the right, then, once the nut was far enough away, changed lanes back to the right. Carlie clung to her seatbelt for dear life.
By the way, he went on. What was the deal with that empty coffin you guys shipped to Italy? He was supposed to be inside, but when Italian customs agents X-rayed the thing, it was empty aswell, you get my drift.
She sure did. Hed probably been about to say your head or pay her some other similar compliment, but she let him get away with the near-smear this time.
Theres no you guys, Dan. I never knew what went on day-to-day, and I absolutely, positively had nothing to do with the funeral home, the funeral and why or for what reason they shipped off the empty casket for an Italian burial. I just knew Carlod died. His uncle Louie handled all the details.
He shot her a look Carlie didnt like. He didnt seem to believe half of what she said, but there was nothing she could do about it. The guy was the most suspicious critter shed ever met.
He pushed the gas pedal, and the speed shoved her back into the seat. What are you doing?
Getting off the Turnpike. This rush hour traffic is not my thing.
But you live and work in Philly.
Doesnt mean I have to like the traffic there.
Carlie studied his profile as they crossed the Delaware Memorial Bridge. So far, she hadnt found a thing Dan liked. What really threw her was that when hed first been assigned to protect her, J.Z. Prophet, Dans usual partner at the Bureau, had described her shadow as an easygoing, laid-back kind of guy.
This guy didnt have a laid-back hair on his blond head. And she was stuck with him. At least, until the trial was over and the verdict came in. After thatwell, she didnt know what came after that, but she wasnt about to give it much thought. She still had to live long enough to get to after that.
Then allow me the pleasure to distract you from the horrors of after-work traffic, she said with a grin. How about you tell me where youre taking me? I really, really want to know.
Were going to a safe place just outside Bird-in-Hand.
Huh?
He shot her a smile. So you dont know everything. Bird-in-Hand is a sleepy little town with the best Amish bakery and a huge quilting shop.
You know about bakeries and quilt shops?
Im a multifaceted kind of guy. He turned just enough for her to see his wink. Actually, my moms crazy about quilting, so she knows every one of those stores in the eastern half of Pennsylvania.
So youre from that area.
I grew up in a suburb of Harrisburg.
Okay. Sounds good. By now hed relaxed enough that his fingers didnt remind her of the color of overcooked macaroni before the cheese was added anymore, a food group she now knew too much about thanks to her underground existence. So how about you tell me where youre taking meexactly where youre taking me? I mean, I have nothing against road trips, but really. This is just too weird.
Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Carlie. He slowed down for a red light. But Ill go ahead and tell you. My mom knows a Mennonite family whos willing to let us stay at their farm.
Farm, huh?
Yes, the Millers own a dairy farm, and I remembered them when I tried to come up with a quiet, inconspicuous place to stash you. My mom and Mrs. Miller shop for their quilting supplies at the Bird-in-Hand store. Over the years theyve become friends.
What was he getting them into? The Mennonites, theyre not the ones with the buggies and no electricity, are they?
No, those are Old Order Amish, but Mennonites are still very, very conservative.
She shrugged. Ill figure it out as I go. I can handle anything as long as I get a decent nights sleep, a shower in the morning and a blow-dryer for my hair.
He squirmed in his seat, looked very, very uncomfortable. We can do the sleep, and the shower shouldnt be a problem. But the blow-dryer might not be so easy. Because the women wear their hair twisted up in the small white kapps, Im not sure the Millers own one, and yours is
Carlies stomach sank. Mines a blob of melted plastic and a couple of blackened wires. So we need to look at this as a new life experience. Okay. Im sure itll come in handy someday.
From the way Dans shoulders shook, she knew he was trying to hold in his laughter. At least she was good for comic relief. They had enough grim to survive. And Mennonites were Christians, so staying with the Millers couldnt be too bad.
Theyd ditched the Pennsylvania Turnpike at around four oclock. They pulled into the Miller farm at around six. The white farmhouse stood at the end of a long gravel drive. A huge oak tree spread its full, green branches in front of the home and shaded the wide porch. A big red barn flanked the rear of the house to the right. Various other smaller structures spread out toward the left rear. A bunch of black-and-white cows crowded each other on their way to what must have been dinner.
Speaking of dinner, she said, what are we doing for food?
Trust me, he answered with a smug smile.
Oh, fine. Have it your way.
Im planning an experience youll never forget.
Her stomach flipped. That easy smile made Dan look more human. And a million times more attractive. She wondered what he was like when not on the job.
Come on, he said.
Carlie blinked. Saved by the bellor something like that. She really couldnt afford to find her keeper appealing. So shed better think about these people whose quiet life they were about to invade.
The woman who opened the door looked like a storybook grandma. This one, though, wore an unusual gray dress with sleeves that poufed a little on the shoulders then snugged down to just above the elbows. The dress made Carlie think of something one might have seen decades ago, if not way more than that. The plain top had a flat-over thingy that ended at the waistline. A skirt generous enough for the woman to do just about any kind of farm chore came down to the shin, where legs covered with dark cotton stockings led to old-fashioned black lace-up shoes.
Mrs. Miller shook her head when Dan told her a gas problem had left Carlie temporarily homeless. So sorry to hear, she said, her voice spiced with a slight accent. But please, make yourself welcome.
Carlie was charmed, but she felt like an impostor, lower than a slug. Thank you so much, Mrs. Miller. I do appreciate your hospitality.
Their hostess smiled and gestured for them to follow her. Come, come. Supper is served.
Pay attention, Dan whispered close to her ear.
On their way to the kitchen, Carlie asked Mrs. Miller about the farm. She learned all kinds of details the woman gladly shared. And when they entered the enormous kitchen, Carlie understood what Dan had meant. A huge oak table filled the center of the room. Spread out over its surface was a feast, a banquet, a smorgasbord of sights and smells. Carlies stomach growled.
Dan chuckled. Told you.
No, Mr. Close-mouthed Secret Agent, you did not. All you said was another of your enigmatic trust mes. That didnt even give me a hint.
You cant fault a guy for wanting to surprise a girl.
You surprised me, all right.
This is Richard. Mrs. Miller indicated the oldest boy. Beside him is Jonas, then Ruth. On the other side, Rachel and Stephen
In minutes, Carlie asked and learned the childrens ages, where they went to school and their usual chores around the farm.
Finally, they joined the Millers, all seven of them, for the meal. Mr. Miller said grace in what sounded kind of like German, and after resounding amens, everyone dug in.
Evidently, Mrs. Maddox had let her friend know shed soon have guests, and Mrs. Miller had put on what she called a little more into the pots and pans. To Carlie, it looked like shed gone a whole lot further than that. A gentle prod with her fork broke the pot roast into tender morsels. Parsley and butter coated the potatoes, a colorful variety of homegrown veggies filled another third of her gargantuan plate, home-baked bread melted in her mouth, and cinnamon-dusted applesauce tasted more refreshing than Carlie remembered from her childhood.
What do you think? Dan asked.
Wow! Nothing but wow.
Just when Carlie was sure she couldnt possibly swallow another mouthful, Mrs. Miller brought out two different pies. One was apple, and the other the well-known Pennsylvania Dutch shoofly pie.
Which one? their hostess asked.
Oh, Im going to try the shoofly, Carlie answered. Ive always wondered what it was like.
With her first bite, she fell in love, as she told her hostess, and thanked the kind woman for the best meal shed eaten in years. Afterward, she insisted on helping Mrs. Miller and the girls in the kitchen, and when the last plate was put away, Carlie found herself more tired than shed ever thought she could be. She yawned, and Dan caught her.
Time to hit the hay, he said with a wink and a grin. Say good night to our hosts, Carlie.
Good night, she said like a dutiful child. But instead of heading upstairs, where she figured the bedrooms would be, Dan led her to the back door. Where are we going?
I told you. Youre going to hit the hay.
The glee in his face told Carlie more than she wanted to know. You mean that literally, dont you?
Yup.
How can you do that to me? Ive been shot at, bombedmore than once, I might addburned out of my apartment, and now you want me to sleep with the cows? You never told me about the perks of this deal, Danny Boy.
Give me a chance to explain. Mrs. Miller didnt understand why I wanted you in one of the older outbuildings either. But think about it. If your familys pals follow us out here, and Im not saying they will, but you never know, do you want to put the Millers at risk?
I never thought of that, and I should have. She sent a silent prayer heavenward. Thanks, Dan. Im so glad you did think it through.
Unless she was much mistaken, a hint of a blush warmed up the tan over his chiseled cheekbones. To her amazement, he looked embarrassed. By a simple thank-you. Go figure.
To defuse the awkward moment, she said, Lead on, fearless leader. Where do you want me? Roosting with the chickens?
He pointed toward the left field. There.
Oh, yeah. It was the one shed feared he would choose. Tell me why you decided we needed to occupy the frumpiest, dumpiest, most dilapidated pile of boards here?
Because the Millers are about to tear it down plus a couple of the other outbuildings, now that they put up the big red barn. If something happens while were here, I dont want them to suffer any major loss.
Again his thoughtfulness surprised herfor the Millers, that is. Lets go, then. She began to sing Away in a Manger.
You are just too much.
She snickered. Too much what? Too much trouble? Too much fun? Too much of a good thing? Or maybe too much effort?
No way. Thats the problem with you women. You lay traps for us guys to trip into. Im not touching that one even if Im drowning and its the only thing that floats.
In a good mood, they reached the old structure. Dan held the wide, warped door open for Carlie. Rich, the Millers oldest son, brought out some pillows and bedding, he said. You should be pretty comfortable.
She frowned. What about you?
Im keeping an eye out for trouble. Naps in the car arent so bad.
Great. Another guilt trip. Im kinda tired of all the extra travel youre taking me on.
Forget it. Its my job. Im used to stakeouts.
She tilted her head and gave him a long look. One of these days youre going to have to tell me all about being an FBI guy. Its not your everyday kind of job.
Neither is being married to the mob. So once you tell me, Ill tell you.
Carlie held out her hand. You got yourself a deal, Mr. Secret Agent Man.
He gave it a brief shake then let go as if burned. Well. Ahgood night, Carlie.
You, too.
She went inside, and on a pile of fresh-smelling hay against the rear wall Rich Miller had spread out the bedding. At one end, a pair of fluffy pillows were piled one on top of the other. All of a sudden, the strain of the recent upheavals overcame her.
Exhaustion claimed Carlie. She plopped down onto her makeshift bed, pulled the lightweight quilt over her shoulders, and dropped off faster than she thought possible.
A while later, she woke up. She had no idea what roused her, but she opened her eyes, her heart beating a frantic, furious pulse. Instead of her cozy quarters, she found herself in Dantes vision of Hades.
Tongues of flames licked toward the roof, the walls, her nest of hay. Smoke made it hard to seeworse, to breathe. The billows swirled before, beside, behind the flames.
Oh, Fatherdear God. Your will be done.
As she finished her scrap of prayer, she heard Dans yell.
Hang on, Carlie! Im coming for you.
Everything went black.
THREE
Bit by bit, sound penetrated the thick, heavy darkness around Carlie. People jabbered, but she didnt understand a word. A rushing noise whooshed behind the chatter, and the smell of a barbecue gone bad stung her nose.
Then she remembered the fire. She remembered the meal, the Millers, the bombed apartment. Did Tonys slimy buddies get the farm, too?
She groaned. Everywhere she went, disaster and devastation followed.
A man called her name. He demanded that she breathe deeply. He commanded her to wake up. He ordered her not to die. Come on, come on, come on!
Carlie fought her heavy eyelids and tried to sit up.
No dice.
She needed someone to help her. The elephant who sat all over her body had to find a new seat, and the pins that held her eyes shut had to go.
But help didnt come. At least, not the kind she wanted. Instead, she was lifted upward, through the air, a frightening experience eased somewhat by the firm support at her back. A woman spoke, but Carlie still couldnt make out the words. Then she was poked, prodded, jostled, lifted, lowered, and thenfinallybreathing wasnt quite so hard anymore.
A weird wail started up, and Carlie fought against the weight of her eyelids. After a superhuman effort, she got them pried apart and wished she hadnt. What she saw stunned her. Faces hovered just above her, weird gadgets hung beyond the faces, lights blinked, things clinked, and everything jerked and jolted to the tune of the ongoing wail.
Carlie? Can you hear me, Carlie?
She tried to answer, but her throat wouldnt work. She tried to nod, but her head wouldnt movethat scared her, so she tried to talk one more time.
Dont, the female voice said. Just blink if you can hear me. You have an oxygen mask over your nose and mouth, and thatll make speech difficult.
Oxygen mask! She blinked up a storm, but couldnt ask the million and one questions that buzzed in her head. What had happened between Dantes Inferno in a Mennonite barn andwhere was she now? A hospital?
Good, the woman said. You can hear me. Let me explain a few things for you.
In a clear, soft voice, the woman told Carlie how Dan had axed a hole in the old, brittle wood walls of the small barn then dragged her out before the entire structure went up in flames. Shed passed out while in the burning building, and the Millers had called for the ambulance, which was now on its way to Lancaster General Hospital. The EMT wound up her explanation by insisting that Carlie was lucky to be alive.
But Carlie didnt call it luck. She called it another of Gods many mercies. She couldnt quite see a family like hers as any kind of luck, other than maybe the worst.
But where was Dan? Did he get hurt?
Carlie couldnt stand the thought of her shadow being harmed because of her. But she couldnt ask, and her head weighed about a ton. Her eyelids drooped again, and she slipped off for a nap.
Green and purple cows and orange and blue nails danced through her dreams.
How much longer is she going to sleep? Dan asked, frustrated.
Dr. Wong retained his calm. We dont know, Agent Maddox. It depends on how she reacts to pain meds, plus a number of other variables.
I have to get her out of here. Dan began to pace. They nearly got her this time.
This time?
Thats why shes in the Witness Protection Program. When theyd first brought Carlie into the hospital, Dan had no alternative but to reveal his identity and their situation. It was the only way he could get adequate protection for his charge.
Then Id better not ask you more questions.
Relief felt good. I appreciate that. And I appreciate the care youre taking with her.
Its all in a days work, the young doctor said with a grin. Ill alert the rest of the staff. Im sure theyre dying to know about Carlies vast and professionally serious extended family.
Thanks. Dan hadnt known how he was going to disguise the crew his boss, Eliza, had sent. The doctors understanding would go a long way in keeping things under some kind of control.
But, Mr. Maddox? the doctor said. You yourself need to rest. You took in a big wallop of smoke, almost as much as Carlie did. And those burns of yours can get infected very easily.
Dan shrugged. Its all in a days work.
Tripped up by my own words. Dr. Wong punctuated his words with a wry grin. He tapped his forehead in a salute, then turned and left the room.
Dan returned to his sentry post on the nasty green pleather chair next to Carlies bed. But his patience wasnt much to write home about, and before too long, he paced again from the foot of the bed to the large window that looked out on congested traffic.
Noooooooo!
The ear-splitting scream shocked him still for a moment. Then he spun, ran to Carlies side, and found her scooted up hard against the headboard, her legs bent at the knee, her medicine tree tipped partway over the bed.
Horror contorted her beautiful features, and the slight smudge of soot under her right eye, one the nurses missed when theyd cleaned her, added to the atypical, weirdly tough-girl look she now wore.
Get out of here! she yelled. With her non-IVed hand, she scrabbled through the pile of sheets and blanket at her side. It didnt take a genius to figure out what she wanted to find, who she wanted to summon.
Its okay, Carlie. Its me, Dan Maddox. Youre fine. The hospital and I are taking good care of you.
A bulldog expression replaced the horror on her face. I dont know what your game is, bub, but youre not Dan Maddox. He has gorgeous blond hair. You dont have any.
Something in Dan leaped when she admired his hair. But it soon settled down thanks to reality. Carlie, it is me. They shaved my head because so much of my hair got singed when I went after you in the barn.
She wrinkled her nose, and drew close. You sound like Dan, but you look a little alien, kind of like that weird guy on the bottle, that Mr. Clean on TV commercials.
Gee, thanks. Ive always wanted to make a beautiful woman think of floor cleaner.
Now I know youre not Dan Maddox. Hed never tell me Im beautiful. Hed call me trouble, a pain, crazy and who knows how many other snotty names.
What could he tell her? That he had to force himself to think of her along those snotty lines to keep him from thinking of her as the drop-dead gorgeous woman she really was? That he didnt want to admit her quirky sense of humor made it tough for him to keep from laughing? That he was scared to death he might fall for her over the duration of his assignment?
Not in this lifetime.
Im sorry you think Im snotty, but you are a handful, is what he went with. And you dont make my jobkeeping you aliveany easier.
Oh. She seemed to melt into her pillow. You are Dan after all. Well, I guess thats good. You really look scary, though. Wouldnt want to bump into you in a dark alley.
Maybe thatll help us. Just think. Maybe Ill scare your brothers buddies away.
She snorted. Thats not even funny. Theyre pretty determined. She settled down under her blanket again. So whats our next move?
Its not all sewn up yet, but one things for sure. Were leaving the mid-Atlantic area ASAP. They got your apartment, and they followed us to the Millers place.
Before Carlie had a chance to comment, a knock at the door drew their attention. Dan slipped his hand inside his jacket then nodded for her to answer.
He never would have guessed the identity of her visitor. Fourteen-year-old Jonas Miller walked in, his steps hesitant, his face flushed, his old-fashioned button-down shirt and dark navy pants an odd contrast to his youth.
Jonas! she exclaimed. How are you? Do your parents know youre here?
Pure misery filled his adolescent face. Ja. They know. They made me come. They even brought me.
She blinked. I see. And why would that be?
The boy looked down at his feet and mumbled something Dan didnt catch. Obviously, neither did Carlie, since she asked him to repeat himself.
Im sorry, miss. I didnt mean for this to happen.
Carlie looked more puzzled than ever, but her voice came out soft, gentle, caring. What are you sorry about, Jonas? What is the this that happened?
He shrugged. Didnt mean for the old barn to burn.
And that means?
That it was all my fault. Jonas looked ready to cry. II know it was wrong, but the guys are always mocking me, so I figured Id better practice for the next time after school.
Dan knew what was up, but Jonas had to do this on his own.
What were you practicing? Carlie asked.
Jonas shifted his weight from foot to foot. He shoved his hands in his pockets. Then he seemed to come to a decision, squared his shoulders and stared straight at Carlie.
I dont want to choke when I smoke again!
Carlies reaction was a quick blink. Dan had to fight the laugh on its way out. Then his mob widow surprised himagain.
Thats the easiest thing, she told Jonas. All you have to do is not smoke. Youll never choke that way. And those friends will be the ones to worry about lung cancer and emphysema while youre still healthy as a horse. Youll have the last word.
But these guys already tease me becausewell, II
The poor kids face turned redder than pizza sauce.
He shrugged. I get good grades. Its not so hard. I just go to class, do the homework, and thats it. But they think Im some kind of sissy.
Jonas, my man, Carlie said, a smile on her lips. Come on over here. Have a seat in Dr. Carlies office. You and I need to have us a chat.
Dans admiration grew as each one of the next fifteen minutes went by. With her sense of humor and brilliant smiles, Carlie soon had the teen laughing with her. By the time she was done, Dan knew Jonas Miller would never pick up another cigarette. And he genuinely regretted the fire hed caused. Then Carlie threw him for a loop.
She held her hand out to Jonas and invited him to join her in prayer. For some strange reason, their earnest expressions did something to him. He didnt back off as he normally would have, but instead he stayed and watched them, their heads close, their hands clasped, their voices low and intense.
An odd pang hit him, a sudden loneliness, nothing hed experienced before, something he hoped never hit him again. It was a restless sensation, an urge for some unknown something, a sense of need.
After they said amen, Jonas headed for the door. Bye, Miss Carlie.
Now you just wait one cotton pickin minute there, Jonas Miller. Carlies fake scolding dripped with her trademark humor. You dont think you can leave here without giving me a hug, do you?
Dan watched the boy, one whose background inspired reserve, bend down to Carlie and give her the hug shed asked for. It was an awkward, stiff hug, but a hug is a hug is a hug.
Amazing.
A nurse came into the room as Jonas left and she shooed Dan away. She insisted he had to go so she could take Carlies vital signs. He left, went to the snack shop downstairs, and bought himself a bucket of coffee and a gooey sticky bun. Of course, as soon as he bit into the pastry, his cell phone rang.
Yeah, he mumbled around the mouthful of delicious dough.
Hows it going? asked his partner, J.Z. Prophet.
If I said bad to worse, it wouldnt begin to give you a clue.
Whats the deal? The familys after you again?
They never stopped. Dan gave J.Z. a brief rundown of the latest events, even told his partner about Jonass ill-fated attempt at being cool. That made them both laugh, but didnt ease their concern.
You know whats got to happen, dont you? J.Z. asked.
Yeah. Weve got to hit the road again. Im just waiting for Eliza to let me in on the secret of our destination.
And shes no more cooperative than usual.
You got it.
Well, Maryanne and I will keep you both in our prayers. Be safe.
The prayer bit made Dan squirm on his stool. He ignored that statement, and said, You, too.
He hurried to finish his pastry and the transfusion of caffeine. He had to get back to Carlie. Who knew what kind of trouble shed kicked up by now? The woman needed a keeper, and unfortunately, the Bureau had picked him for the job.
The second he stepped into the elevator, his cell phone rang again. This time, the caller wasnt quite as welcome as his previous one.
Yes, Eliza. Do you have instructions for me?
In brief, his boss gave him a laundry list of steps to follow. When she finally disclosed their ultimate destination, Dan couldnt stop his groan.
Youve got to be kidding, Eliza. Thats inhuman.
Live with it, Maddox. Its the best solution for a difficult situation. Or to be more accurate, the best solution for a difficult witness.
He didnt much care to hear his snippy boss refer to Carlie that way; it was different when he did it. He knew Carlie, while Eliza had just met her once or twice during the investigation into Carlo Papparellis murder.
Fine, he said. Well take off as soon as the doctors let her go.
You might not want to wait that long, Agent Maddox. I wont tell you how to do your job, even though I can, and you know it, but dont think time is on your side.
The elevator door opened just as Dr. Wong walked out of Carlies room. I hear you loud and clear, Eliza. And now I have to go meet with Carlies doctor. Ill let you know as soon as we hit the road.
Dan hurried to catch up with the doctor. He explained the need for speed, the urgency of the situation.
But Dr. Wong refused to commit. Ill discharge her as soon as shes ready to go.
He wouldnt budge from that stance, no matter what Dan said. So, more frustrated than ever, he retreated to Carlies room.
Hey, Sunshine, she called when he walked in. Whats with the joy and happiness?
That was all he needed: Carlie in one of her more outrageous moods. How was he going to break the news to her?
How are you feeling? he asked.
Im a lot better. But it still feels like I breathed in a bunch of mascara brushes.
Mascara brushes? Then I hope you cough out the little porcupines faster than you breathed them in.
What do you mean?
I mean that youre going to have to feel well enough to sneak out of here sometime tomorrow. We have to get going while we still can.
Her eyes widened, and she swallowed hard. Where are we going? Or cant you say?
I shouldnt say anything, but I know how hard this has been on you. Prepare yourself. Were headed for the steam bath better known as Florida in August.
Once again, Carlie took his words and turned them upside down. Really? she asked, excitement in her voice. Ive always wanted to go to Florida! Promise me one thing.
Im not promising anything. Tell me what you want, and Ill tell you whether we can work it out.
She sat up and crossed her arms. Work it out, nothing. You owe me, Secret Agent Man. You wouldnt take me shopping at the outlets, so now you have to take me to see the Mouse. We, Danny Boy, are going to Disney World.
Dan had the sinking feeling hed lost control of his assignment. And the loss was all because of a beautiful blonde, her killer smile and his growing desire to please her.
He was in trouble. And it had nothing to do with the mob.
It was the mob widow who posed the danger, to his health.
His hearts health.
FOUR
That bruise on Carlies forehead was going to drive him nuts. How long did bruises last, anyway?
Against his better judgment, he stole another glance across the width of the front seat of his Bureau car.
He had to face the truth. Her beauty exerted a pull on him. It was shallow of him, but with a woman as attractive as Carlie Papparelli, a man would have to be totally blind not to feel it.
He wasnt blind.
The small bruise over her left eyebrow stood out from the near-perfect background of her looks and underscored her vulnerability. It made him more aware than ever that her lifeliterallywas in his hands. Hed never shied away from responsibility, and he wasnt about to start now, but for some reason this assignment weighed more heavily on him than most others did.
He almost couldnt recognize himself.
Everyone he knew commented on his easygoing nature, his lighthearted view of the world, his ability to cope in tough circumstances with ease and poise. That all changed the day hed met the mobsters widow.
He didnt like it. Not one bit.
Another glance.
Carlie had closed her eyes, leaned her head against the window and appeared to nap. The slightest hint of a smile curved her lips, and her peaceful expression nearly stole Dans breath away. How could she stay so calm?
Mobsters wanted to make mincemeat out of her, yet she still slept with the trust of a child.
Maybe she did trust him. He hoped so, because otherwise their circumstances would be grimmer than even he thought them to be. He knew his job; he had an excellent track record with the Bureau. Hed yet to lose a single witness under his care.
One more look at her reminded him of the scale of his task.
He usually handled mousy paper-pushers whod blown the whistle on crooked colleagues. Hed never had to worry about making the subjects of those assignments inconspicuous; they were inconspicuous. But Carlie?
He needed someone to show him how to turn a stunning Cinderella back into a frumpy maid. He didnt have a magic slipper to take from her foot.
The thought of her footgear made him smile. Carlie struck him as a firm supporter of the more, the merrier approach. That is, when it came to her heels. Hed never seen anyone handle stilettos, even while wearing jeans, quite as expertly as Carlie Papparelli did. The most irritating part? She looked great while doing so.
He chuckled. Shed better hope they didnt have to hoof it to safety any time soon, because if they did, shed be in major trouble. Those spikes werent made for running.
When he realized how indulgent his thoughts were, he forced his attention to the matter at hand. He couldnt afford to expend many warm and fuzzy thoughts on Carlie as a person. That would spell danger.
So he drove on in silence.
She slept on.
Hey! she said about two hours later. How about we hit a fast food joint or something? Its way past time for me to use the little girls room.
And here I thought you just loved the little toys.
Watch it, Secret Agent Man. If I get a squirt gun, youre in trouble.
Dan cringed when, as they walked into the burger place, every head turned their way. All its patrons stared at Carlie, who, oblivious of the attention, headed for the ladies room.
Yeah, he had trouble on his hands, all right. The biggest part of that trouble was to convince Carlie that something had to be done about her looks.
Aw, come on, she wheedled moments later. Why cant we eat at least one meal a day at a table? Im really tired of squeezing stuff out of foil packets and decorating my clothes with it because you hit yet another bump.
He almost broke. Almost.
Be glad thats the only kind of bump weve hit on the road to a long and healthy future for you. Those bombs and bullets werent figments of our imaginations.
She shuddered, and an infinitesimal pang of guilt hit him. But then, in a subsequent moment of reason, he banished the pang to where it belonged: far, far away from his thoughts.
I intend to get you to that witness stand in one piece. If that means youre going to wear a mustard-ketchup-and-barbecue-sauce tie-dye job, then youd better get yourself a new perspective on stains.
She rolled her eyes, grabbed her bagged meal, turned away, and click-click-clicked her way to the door. There she paused to give him a glare. So, Danny Boy, are you just going to stand there? If my memory serves me right, youre the one who finished reading me the riot act about the dangers of exposure not two seconds ago.
He shook his head and followed.
Outside, he yielded just a bit. They ate in the parked car. In silence.
When Carlie was done, she turned to face him. How long is it going to take you to get me to Florida? All I know is that weve been driving for ages, and I dont see any sand or palm trees yet.
Thats because it takes more than a couple of hours to drive from Pennsylvania to Florida. Especially if we want to make sure none of your familys friends are on our tail.
She sighed. So how much longer do you want us to live out of your car?
As long as it takes. He ran a hand through his hair. Actually, I dont think itll be more than three or four days.
Are you kidding?
The horror on her face almost made him laugh. He controlled the urge. Okay, okay. Tell you what. Well take the scenic, tourist route, and go through quaint little towns with well-maintained Victorian cottages. That way youll be able to enjoy the picturesque views.
How about that nice, quiet place in Florida you told me about? Im looking forward to a regular homeat least, for a while.
He could understand how she felt. Hed worked for the Bureau long enough that hed come to hate the anonymity of hotel rooms. He also hated to sleep in his car during a stakeout. His nomadic lifestyle got to him at times, even though it came as a result of his chosen career. Carlie hadnt chosen any of this.
Look, I know youre in a rotten situation, he said, his tone conciliatory. But it would be even more rotten if anything happened to you
Get real! What you mean is that it would be rotten if they whacked me. Youd lose your prime witness, and your oh-so-important case would go down the toilet. Theres nothing about me in your plan.
Its all about you, Carlie. I dont want to see you dead. I joined the Bureau to protect my country and its people. Last time I checked, you were a citizen. I dont think anythings changed that.
There you go again. Im a citizen. She crossed her arms. Thats garbage. I know what Im facing, and I still have an identity. There is still life ahead of me. Spending whats left locked inside this rolling tin can she pounded the car door is not what Im ready to do.
His frustration reached the boiling point. Well then, I guess that choice is out of your hands. You may have some weird kind of death wish, but Im not going to play. Buckle up. Were out of here.
She yanked the seat belt down to the latch, and once he heard it click, he turned the key in the ignition.
He pulled to the parking lot exit then waited for traffica single school bus full of kindergarteners.
I dont suppose youre going to tell me where were headed next, she said.
You suppose right. Your best plan is to get some more of that beauty sleep youve been catching up on. Who knows whats going to happen even ten minutes from now.
They drove again in that uneasy quiet hed come to expect. How could he tell her he was winging it? That he didnt have a plan besides making sure no one followed? That wouldnt reassure her. It didnt make him feel all that great either, but under the circumstances, it was the best he could do.
When he couldnt stand the stony look on her face and her shrieking silence for another minute, he turned on the radio. Although hed never gotten into the sports-over-the-radio dealno visualshe found a station that offered kick-by-kick coverage of a soccer game somewhere in the Hispanic world. Even the loud, heartbeat-like drumming in the background was better than the thick, uneasy stillness.
The hysterical cries of Gol, gol, gol when either team scored provided a weird kind of punctuation for the afternoon. When the game ended, he frantically searched for a classical music station.
Then the sun finally began its descent toward the horizon. That simple reality forced him to face the need to come up with another meal option and overnight choice. He couldnt drive all night after driving all day. Hed only snagged about three hours sleep the night before. The way he saw it, he had no choice but to find an out-of-the-way motel, nothing like the famous chains that everyone recognized.
Um
Carlies murmur caught his otherwise-engaged attention. Whats up?
Youve worn this fierce expression for hours now. Tell me it has something to do with my next meal and a place to take a hot shower.
He chuckled. Believe it or not, thats exactly whats been on my mind.
How so?
More than food, we need to find a safe place to stay the night. I have to catch some sleep so I can continue driving
Ive told you Im a great driver, but you just wont share. You could have taken a nap anytime today.
Youre getting over a concussion. How can you drive long distance? He gave her an exasperated glare. Id rather drive till I drop than nap and find myself wrapped around the nearest lamppost. Your rattled brain could wig out on us anytime.
Id rather trust my rattled brain than ride next to a guy whos sleep deprived. Doctors have proved that a sleep-deprived brain behind the wheel is the equivalent of an intoxicated brain.
He sighed. Were not going to discuss the merits of medical studies. Were going to focus on finding a motel.
Fine. I know weve passed a couple of cute ones along the way. I just hope we havent run out of luck on that regard
Nope. Look to your right. And the best part about it is that across the road theres a
Wow! A real diner. The kind with the shiny metal building! I didnt know those still existed.
He clicked on his turn signal. You never know what youll find along a back road. There are still diners in Pennsylvania. I suppose North Carolinas the same.
So thats where we are. She grinned. You let the cat out of the bag. Uh-oh! Carlie now knows where she is!
Dan had never rolled his eyes this much in his whole life. It was contagioushed caught it from her. Im going to trust you to keep your mouth full of food. That way you wont blab. Then sleep should do the trick for a few hours overnight. After that, Ill have you so lost, you wont know what hit you.
Im going to assume you think youre being cute.
No. Just dealing with you the best I can.
Lets eat.
Well, well, well, Dan said as he parked in the diners lot. We have to mark this moment. Our first agreement so far! I hope its a sign of more harmony to come.
The truce of sorts lasted through dinner. Carlie oohed and aahed over meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn, buttered peas and apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Dan had to agree that the meal came close to Mrs. Millers supper. And he did love comfort food.
Then they drove across the street. In the motels tiny lobby, they both endured the owners scrutiny. After all, how many couples their age asked for separate rooms in an out-of-the-way place? The discomfort, however, was nothing compared to what hed feel if Carlie were harmed.
Once in his room, he enjoyed every second of a quick shower. And then he collapsed on the surprisingly welcoming bed.
Nothing woke him until the alarm rang. Tendrils of sunlight slipped around the blue and gold curtains on the window.
He dressed, threw his few belongings in the duffel bag he always kept in the trunk of his Bureau-issue car, and headed out. He fully intended to knock on Carlies door, but the sound of laughter out in the parking lot derailed his intentions.
What he saw left him stumped. Three children, all of whom appeared to be under the age of ten, two girls and a toddler boy, had drawn a chalk hopscotch on the asphalt. The oldest girl threw a round rock to one of the squares then hopped one-legged in the traditional steps of the game.
But the kids werent the ones whod caught his attention. The woman cheering the girl, however, was. Carlie had pulled her long, blond mane into a ponytail, and despite her high heels, looked more like a young babysitter than the widow of a shady character.
Her eyes sparkled in the morning sunshine; her cheeks wore a soft rose tint; her voice rang with enthusiasm; her slim body looked ready to take on the gameand win.
There was something about that womansomething that drew him and scared him in equal measure. If he were a smart man, hed listen to his fearful side. He had to constantly remind himself that they werent on vacation, that she had the mob on her tail, that she would have died had the Bureau not put her into the Witness Protection Program.
Morning!
Her radiant grin hit him square in the gut and stunned him for a moment. She took his brief silence and continued.
Drop that bag and come join us. Were having fun!
Fun? They were supposed to be on the run. Once again, Carlie seemed able to find something to appreciate in even the direst situations. He didnt know another woman who would cope as well.
Dont be a party-pooper! The teasing look on her face tugged at him. Come on, Danny Boy, be a sport.
The three little ones stared at him in fascination. The younger girl took a step forward. Yeah, mister. You can play with us. Its not so hard. Ill show you.
A small hand reached out for him. A car drove down the road past the motel. His professionalism returned with a vengeance, but he found himself unable to deny the childor the woman.
One time, he said, dropping his bag. Only one time, okay?
The kids clapped.
Carlie murmured, Thanks.
He hopped, and memories of his childhood flooded him. It had been a long time since hed thought of things like hopscotch on a summer morning. The games hed played recently involved expensive equipment and far-flung locales. He enjoyed golf and tennis, but the simple pleasure of tossing a rock and bounding from square to square on one leg touched a different corner of his being.
Bang!
His instincts took over at the blast. He reached behind his back and drew his pistol.
Run! he yelled, and aimed.
But no one moved. The kids stared at him, their eyes wide open, their mouths forming perfect Os. Carlie also stared, but her stare came full of fascinated horror.
What are you waiting for? he cried. Run for cover.
She dropped to the childrens level and opened her arms. The boy toddled to her. She held the little guy close, murmured something soothing to the girls and then gave him the glare hed come to expect from her.
You owe them an apology, she said, her voice quiet. Youve scared them for no reason.
No reason? He shook his head and pointed to the plain car with his weapon. Get in there before they come back for another try.
Carlie shook her head. Her look turned pitying. Have you lost all touch with reality? Is that what your job does to you?
Reality, lady, is that youve got a bulls eye on your back.
Reality, Dan, is that you overreacted to a cars backfire.
What?
Dan She patted the boy then stood and approached, exasperated. That old truck backfired when the driver pulled into the diner while we played, and it did the same thing a minute ago after the guy finished his breakfast or cup of coffee. Get real. Were in the middle of nowhere. My familys not about to show up here. Put that thing away, okay?
He scanned the road, and when he saw nothing to arouse his suspicions, he realized how ridiculous he looked. Not to mention how frightening he appeared to three little kids. His outstretched arm suddenly weighed more than the average tree trunk, and his face heated up.
Ahwell, if youre sure that was a truck
Listen up, Secret Agent Man, wed better get out of here before the motel owners come out, see you in spook mode and call the cops. That wouldnt help our cause any, would it?
With one quick move, he shoved his gun into his waistband and grabbed his duffel bag. Youre right. Lets go.
She grinned. Can I have that in writing? That youre right thing? Its the first time. We need to mark the event.
He chuckled. Against his better judgment. But instead of commenting, he unlocked the car, threw his bag into the back seat, placed the gun on the console, where he always kept it while driving on assignment, and then turned to the kids.
Sorry, guys. I figured we could maybe play cops and robbers, but Carlie is right. We have to go. Maybe next time well play some more.
He slid behind the steering wheel and waited for Carlie to buckle up. Through the windshield, he watched the little boy run to his oldest sister and bury his face in her belly, while the younger girl reached out and patted him on the back. The air of vulnerable innocence hit him hard.
Do you have any idea how stupid that stunt was? he asked, barely leashing his anger.
What stunt? All I did was play with a couple of kids.
Exactly. In an open parking lot, with no protection, in full view of the road. You know were being followed, yet you just hopped around out there.
But nothing happened
They couldve picked you off!
That could happen any time, Dan. I have to continue to live.
And how about innocent bystanders? Like the kids? Do you think your brothers pals would spare that little boy? Or the girls? Not if they thought those children could identify them.
Carlie gasped. Out the corner of his eye he caught her expression. Shock etched her face. All color drained from her cheeks, the sparkle left her eyes. She began to shake.
Oh, Lord Jesus, she murmured. Forgive me.
On the tail of her prayer, the tears began to fall. They didnt come as a surprise. What stunned Dan was his pain at every drop that rolled down Carlies cheeks.
He didnt want this.
He didnt want to be this vulnerableto her.
But he was.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her, hold her until the last tear dried, to promise her shed be safe, that hed make sure of that. But he couldnt do that, none of it.
So instead he continued to drive, his feelings in a kind of tangle hed never experienced before.
FIVE
Dan had never felt so incompetent in his life. Up till now, hed always been confident in his abilities, but now, when faced with Carlies contrite misery, he had no idea how to proceed. Was there anything he could do? Could he offer comfort? How?
And her faithhow did he deal with that?
That faith seemed to be her greatest source of strength, ofwell, yes, comfort. Shed kept her head down while she wept, and although he didnt hear any proof of it, he knew she was deep in prayer. Any word he might offer seemed inadequate in this circumstance.
What did he know about faith?
Nothing.
All he had on which to put his trust was his training, experience and instincts. He couldnt see the point of relying on some vague being out there somewhere.
Her words broke into his thoughts. I cant begin to tell you how sorry I am, she said, her voice soft and sad.
He tightened his hold on the steering wheel. I know that. But you cant go on beating yourself up about it. Whats done is done, and you have to look at the upside. No one was hurt.
Of course, I see that. What bugs me most is my thoughtless behavior. Id rather think Im more aware of whats happening around me. Oblivion isnt a good thingat least, not in my case.
He kept his eyes on the road, even though everything inside him urged him to look her way. If it made you more aware of reality, then in the end, it was worth it.
But those kids
The shudder that racked her reminded him again of her extreme vulnerability. He reached out to place a hand on her forearm. Carlie, forgive yourself. You made a mistake. Youre human. We all make mistakes.
Thats going to be tough, she said. I know God forgives me, but Im not nearly strong or wise enough to see how I can forgive myself.
Now what did he say? Where was J.Z. when he most needed the guy? Since nothing came to him, Dan offered a soft, wordless, hopefully sympathetic murmur, and continued to drive.
After a while, she turned toward him. You know, Im not afraid for myself. Im serious, I dont want to die, but more than what I want, Im interested in what God wants. If He wants me to go home to His side, then Im ready to go.
Shed done it again. What could he say to that? He didnt have that kind of belief.
So he just said what came to his mind. I cant quite get my head around that attitude of yours. Dont get me wrong. Im familiar with it. J.Z. and David, another agent at the Bureau, believe as you do. But II dont get it.
She stared at him for a moment, her gaze piercing and, he suspected, perceptive. He wriggled in his seat.
I was in that place not so long ago, she said. And it wasnt all that great an address. The loneliness hurt more than any other pain Ive known.
But Im not lonely, he argued. Ive got friendsDavid and J.Z., for instanceand Im always surrounded by people, suspects and colleagues.
Her smile spoke of secrets. Um-hmm, I know what you mean. But what happens when you go to bed at night, when you close the door to all those friends and colleagues, when its just you in the dark?
The question hit a private corner of his heart. He shrugged, somewhat defensive. Im like everyone else. Were all alone when you strip away the outside world.
Oh, no. Were not all alike. This time she reached out, put her hand on his shoulder. Not if we realize we dont have to be alone.
If youre suggesting marriage or a dog, you might as well forget it.
Dont be so blind on purpose. She shook her head. You know where Im going, and I wont let you pull that kind of dumb act. You have Christian friends. You know theyre where I am on this. Were not alone in the dark.
Now youre going to tell me I have to come to Jesus, to be born again, to fall on my knees, a broken-down man.
If you would just cut out the sarcasm, maybe then wed get somewhere.
Dont you understand? He spared her a sideways glance; her irritation made him even more uncomfortable, more resistant, more determined to get his point across. Theres nothing out there for me to see, to cling to when the loneliness hits.
Another shake of her head, this one accompanied with a look filled with pity. Have you even tried? Have you ever reached out to God, to see if He did or didnt answer?
Of course not. Id feel ridiculous talking to something I couldnt see or feel.
She chuckled. That, Danny Boy, is whats called faith. We reach out and trust that something we cant see or feel. And thats exactly when God comes and meets us, at our most fragile moment, when we have no safety net under us.
He shrugged. Im not ready to take that fall.
He wont let you fall. God will catch you in the palm of His hand, and never let you go.
It must be nice to have that kind of image to hold on to. Somewhere inside him, an even greater gaping hole than that of the private loneliness made its presence known. Ill admit I sort of wish I could believe. And I get what makes you tick these days. But I cant join you on this. I can only count on myself.
And you think you canoh, lets say, go into the lions den, armed only with your self-reliance and your gun, and beat my family and all their connections? One other Daniel didnt think that was so smart.
He blushed. Well, if you put it that way, it does sound kind of arrogant.
Yep. Thats just a teeny-tiny little bit like seeing yourself as equal to God.
Hey, I never said that.
No, but thats the attitude that, like you said, makes you tick.
His squirming got worse. Hed never thought of himself as arrogant, just a confident, self-sufficient man. Look, all I know is that the federal government spent a bundle to train me. Im an expert at what I do, and Im highly motivated. Not only is success the goal in the job I love, but Im personally sold out here, in your case.
What do you mean?
I owe you for what you did. You saved J.Z.s wifemy partners future wife back then. That means a lot to me.
So you only see me as a job, a duty to repay a debt.
A crucial job, one that demands commitment at a higher level than most, and its an obligation Ill gladly undertake, no matter how great the responsibility. After all, its in my hands, my alertness, my response to danger, whether you live or die.
.
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Ginny Aiken
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: A spitfire wife of a recently slain mob boss was much more than FBI agent Dan Maddox had bargained for when he signed on to protect Carlotta Papparelli.After turning state′s evidence, Carlie was at the top of the mob′s hit list, and it was up to Dan to keep her alive long enough to testify. From the streets of Philly to the sun-drenched Florida coast, Dan and Carlie were running for their lives, and only their faith in each other—and the Lord—would keep them safe…