Pandora's Box Read online

  The jerk was actually accusing her of setting him up! Okay, she understood paranoia. All spies suffered from it. She was probably one of the worst. But Tyler looking at her through suspicious eyes cut her to the quick. His lack of faith hurt more than she cared to admit.

  “Well I certainly didn’t tell anyone.” Hands on hips, she stared him down. “How could I? I was with you the entire time.”

  He compressed his lips into a tight line, saying nothing.

  He didn’t believe her. Well too damn bad. She was sick and tired of having to defend herself to everyone under the sun. Big jerk!

  They got off the elevator. No one had bothered to take a second look at them. The huge automatic glass doors loomed before them. They were almost home free. Madison began to smile, feeling more confident by the second.

  “Stop!” someone behind them yelled. “Stop right there!”

  ******

  Chapter Eight

  “Stop!” the uniformed policeman said in a booming voice.

  Madison exchanged a look with Tyler, silently asking if they should make a run for it. The glass doors loomed a few feet ahead. Tyler shook his head. They turned as a single entity. Madison started to raise her hands, expecting to find a gun aimed at her chest.

  The policeman’s weapon remained holstered. Her heart-shaped locket dangled from his fingers. Her mother’s locket. Madison’s hand automatically went to her bare throat. Her raging pulse drummed against the pads of her fingers.

  “You dropped this, ma’am.” The cop smiled at her, semi-flirtatious despite Tyler’s hovering presence.

  She’d almost lost her mother’s locket. The officer handed it to her with a wide smile. “Thank you,” she said, momentarily forgetting her frantic rush to escape the hospital.

  He winked. “Pretty thing like you should be more careful.”

  Tyler stepped forward.

  “Don’t worry, officer, I’ll take care of her,” he said with a biting note of hostility.

  The cop’s gaze swung to Tyler and recognition dawned in his eyes. He lifted his hand and pointed the way someone points when they see a famous person and they’re immediately in awe. “Hey, you’re the president’s son.” Then the happiness left his expression. “Wait a second. We’re supposed to be looking for you.” His eyes widened as they returned to Madison and he made yet another connection. “You! You’re the terrorist they’re searching for.”

  “I am not a freaking terrorist!”

  His hand went to his holstered firearm.

  His mouth opened, probably to yell for security.

  Madison jumped, aiming a flying kick at his face. She did it reluctantly, not wanting to hurt the guy, but he gave her little choice. Her or him. Unfortunately she had to choose self-preservation. Her boot connected with his jaw. He flew backwards. His head smacked against the linoleum floor with a resounding crack.

  Tyler nodded at her, his eyes glowing with admiration, but she felt terrible. The young officer had returned her mother’s necklace to her. She certainly hadn’t wanted to harm him or make him look bad to his superiors. When she got her hands on the person or persons behind this mess, she vowed she was going to hurt them a lot worse.

  “Sorry,” she said weakly to the unconscious officer before heading to the exit.

  “Did you see that, Mommy?” asked a child at the far corner of Madison’s vision, her voice high and loud with excitement. Madison couldn’t stop herself from looking at them. The woman grabbed her child in a protective embrace, her eyes wide with fear. She took a couple steps backward and Madison knew the woman would sound the alarm at any moment. She was about to shriek at the top of her lungs.

  “We’d better hurry,” Madison told Tyler, nodding at the near-hysterical woman. She restrained from rolling her eyes. The woman had looked at her as if Madison had just killed someone in cold-blood. She’d kicked him, for Pete’s sake. A woman like that wouldn’t survive ten seconds in her world.

  Sadly, Madison knew she wouldn’t fit into the other woman’s world either. Not anymore. She’d forgotten how to play nice.

  Remembering the gum wrapper in her pocket, she dipped her hand inside and pulled it out. After carefully unfolding it, she stared numbly at the private phone number for her father’s cabin. Either her father had been hiding Grainger or Grainger had been using her father’s cabin without his knowledge. Didn’t matter which. It was worth checking out.

  She decided not to share the wrapper with Tyler. He’d probably want to go back inside and yell at Betsy some more. She’d keep it to herself until they were clear of the hospital.

  The automatic doors parted for them and they rushed outside. Madison stopped abruptly. She grabbed Tyler’s forearm, halting his progress with a sharp jerk. “We need to get to the airport, fast.”

  “Why?” Tyler’s eyes narrowed on her face. “I thought you wanted to prove your father’s innocence—and your own.”

  “My father has a cabin overlooking Lake Tahoe in Nevada. If he knew who Grainger sold his invention to, he might have written it down somewhere or he might even have a file on the man. My father was ultra-organized.”

  Tyler nodded. A small smile tugged on the corners of his mouth. “Brilliant. I love the way your mind works. But I hope you don’t think you’re going to tell your buddy DeMarco where we’re headed. I don’t trust him.”

  “Well, maybe I don’t want you to tell your Navy buddy. I don’t trust him.”

  “Now you’re just being childish. You don’t even know him.”

  “You don’t know DeMarco.” Hands on hips, she stared him down. “I would trust DeMarco with my life.”

  After doubting DeMarco the day before, she felt he deserved her unshakable confidence now. She would defend him with her last breath.

  Tyler sighed.

  “You aren’t going to trust him with mine,” Tyler said. He rolled his eyes heavenward, obviously exasperated with her. “I’ll tell you what. Neither of us will tell anyone. Deal?”

  She stuck her hand out to shake on it.

  Instead of taking her hand, Tyler grabbed her upper arm and pulled her with him. They raced across the parking lot, searching for a car that wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. Within seconds they settled on a four-door sedan, plain brown in color with a Baby on Board sign in the rear window.

  Tyler tossed the sign before climbing in beside her, a smirk on his handsome face. Her gaze turned to the passenger side window. She watched the scenery pass by as if fascinated. Small talk wasn’t her thing.

  ******

  Half an hour later they were waiting for the plane to start loading passengers. Tyler and Madison sat facing each other in a corner of the waiting room, huddled together like lovers who had just discovered each other. If they were recognized, either of them, someone would call the authorities. Then what? Madison wasn’t sure if she’d be arrested or simply questioned again.

  She didn’t intend on finding out.

  Tyler absently stroked her cheek.

  She said, “We’ll fly into Reno, rent a car at the airport, and drive up to the lake.”

  “Sounds good to me.” He cupped her face between his hands and turned it in his direction. “There are three suits at nine o’clock traveling south. We can’t let them make us.”

  “Any suggestions?” she asked breathlessly.

  Being this close to a man, even a man as gorgeous as Tyler shouldn’t have such a profound affect on her, but it did. The closer he got, the faster her heart beat. At the moment she was more frightened of her growing attraction to him than she was of the three suits headed their way.

  “Kiss me,” Tyler said.

  “What?” Had she heard him right?

  “Kiss me like you haven’t seen me in months.”

  Tyler’s mouth covered hers, parting her lips with ease. His hands continued to cover both sides of her face. In a strategic move he insinuated himself between her and the wall and turned her head in his direction. If the men glanced their way, they would
only see a redhead kissing her lover.

  She forgot why they were kissing.

  He deepened the kiss until she couldn’t breathe or think. He wiped her mind clean with his skill. Their bodies turned to molten desire, fusing them together. It wouldn’t be possible for them to get closer, not with clothes on. His hands roughly moved down the arch of her back, molding every curve and his tongue darted between her parted lips, sending a shockwave of emotion throughout her entire body.

  Oh she wanted more.

  An electric current pulsed from head to toe, tingling, transforming her idea of what a kiss could be. She pushed against him with her mouth and tugged at him with her hands, craving harder, deeper, longer. The men in suits were forgotten in a blissful moment of shared heat.

  If this was the way he kissed a woman after a short separation, his future wife would need to travel frequently.

  Tyler tore his mouth free. They both gasped for needed oxygen. Her hands continued to cling to his powerful arms. She couldn’t let go if her life depended on it. Her legs felt weak and her head spun in dizzy, crazy circles. This couldn’t be happening to her. Madison Grey did not shiver or shake for any man.

  “There’s another one headed this way,” he said. “We can’t fool them forever. We need disguises quick.”

  Madison bit the inside of her lower lip, still numb from the kiss, and forced her mind back into professional mode. Her father had almost killed the president and there were people who believed that meant she was a traitor, too. Only cold hard evidence would change their minds.

  “We need to split up,” she said abruptly. “Find a disguise and meet me on the plane. If I don’t make it, proceed without me. If I get arrested, I’ll need you more than ever.” She gazed into his stormy green eyes, praying he wouldn’t let her down. “And if you don’t make it, I’ll leave without you. Don’t mistake me for the sentimental type.”

  Tyler nodded curtly.

  They walked in separate directions without a glance at each other. Madison ducked her head low. Unfortunately she hadn’t had time to tell Tyler that she’d been prepared for this. In her line of work it was important to be paranoid and have something set aside for emergencies.

  She stopped at a wall of airport lockers and swiftly opened a combination lock on number 362. A familiar black leather bag waited for her inside. Grabbing it, she headed for the nearest restroom. Her eyes darted around, taking in everyone’s appearance and their positions should they choose to rush at her. No one even seemed to notice her.

  Madison slipped into an empty stall in the bathroom and opened her bag. With a self-satisfied smile she gazed at the contents. No one would recognize her in this thing.

  ******

  “I’m so glad to see you on this plane, Sister.” A middle-aged woman smiled down at Madison as she maneuvered her way down the plane’s narrow aisle in an attempt to reach her seat. The woman walked sideways, a friendly smile on her face and a bulky carry-on in her hand. She admitted, “I’m usually afraid to fly, but I know this plane isn’t going down, not with a nun on board.”

  I wouldn’t be so sure about that. “God bless you, dear.” Madison smiled easily, hoping God had a sense of humor and wouldn’t hold her playing a nun against her.

  The woman moved on and Madison adjusted her habit, pulling the black and white headpiece over a bigger portion of her exposed, cosmetic free face. She opened a small bible in her lap. Instead of reading it, Madison took inventory of the other passengers from beneath lowered eyelashes. No one seemed to be watching her. That was a good sign.

  However, the seat next to her remained empty. Where was Tyler? Fearing he’d been caught, Madison held her breath, waiting for the plane to take off. Any second the men in suits could sweep down the aisle and arrest her for treason. Or whatever other unfounded charge they could dream up.

  Finally the plane began to move slowly away from the building, and she released her pent-up breath. They taxied down the runway, picking up speed, and Madison tried to relax. She settled back in her seat. Her hands clenched the unused bible. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she felt the G-force push against her chest.

  The pilot, dressed in a crisp clean uniform, left the cockpit. He casually walked the aisle. Madison wondered if he was making a last minute check on things. Perhaps he needed to use the restroom. She didn’t expect him to zero in on her.

  He stopped next to her and spoke in an Irish accent.

  “Will you be praying for us today, Sister?”

  She had wanted to avoid looking directly at anyone, but he’d left her little choice. Madison glanced up, serene smile in place, ready to assure him that indeed she would be praying for a safe journey. Her smile quickly died at the sight of Tyler in uniform. He looked incredible, she’d give him that, but how did he think he was going to get away with impersonating an airline employee?

  “What in the hell are you doing?” She nearly knocked the bible from her lap in her startled state.

  Several interested eyes snapped in their direction. Most of them wide with shock, including the woman who’d spoken to her earlier. For a moment she’d forgotten she was playing the part of a nun. She clenched her jaw tight, unable to let go with the string of curses currently floating on her tongue like tiny germs. Surely Tyler wasn’t going to attempt to fly the Boeing 727.

  She lowered her voice and asked, “Are you crazy? Where did you get that uniform?”

  “I could ask the same of you.”

  “What did you do with the real pilot?”

  “He isn’t feeling well enough to fly, so I had to take over at the last minute. Now I need to get back up front before the co-pilot takes over completely.” Tyler straightened his hat and winked at her. “Enjoy your flight. I’ll meet you in baggage when we land.”

  In baggage?

  Madison stared after him, mouth agape. He couldn’t be serious. She expected him to turn around and settle in the seat beside her, joke over. She leaned across the vacant seat, watched his polished shoes as they vanished behind the curtain. Beyond yelling for them to let her off the damn plane, she didn’t know what to do.

  The plane began to lift off the ground, and Madison cringed. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. White-knuckled, her fingers dug into the arm rests. Her stomach did a sickening somersault. She hated airplanes, because she had to give up control, trust another human being with her life.

  The plane reached cruising altitude and leveled off.

  “Are you all right, Sister?” The friendly stewardess beamed a smile at her, bending over the empty seat so she could speak in a low voice and not disturb anyone else. “Is there anything I can get you?”

  “Vodka. Straight up.” Madison forced her hands off the arm rests. She tried to regulate her breathing and somehow managed a small smile. “Make it a double.”

  The flight attendant’s own smile wavered. She nodded slowly, giving Madison an odd look. “Okay.”

  After the woman walked away, Madison remembered she was in a nun’s habit. It wasn’t like her to forget the part she’d assigned herself. Oh well. Give the stewardess something to gossip about at the end of a long day. Madison relaxed a bit. She planned to get plastered before they reached their destination and had to land. Her thoughts returned to Tyler. Did the man have a pilot’s license?

  A feminine hand, long slender fingers with silver-tipped manicured nails gave Madison the glass of vodka she’d ordered. She looked up with a smile neatly in place, prepared to thank the flight attendant, but the words stuck in her throat. The Blonde Assassin hovered over her. Her ice blue eyes glittered with malice.

  Madison reached for her gun. Nothing. It took half a second for her to remember she didn’t have one with her. Getting it past security would have been next to impossible.

  The blonde settled in the seat next to Madison with a heavy sigh as if she’d been on her feet all day and finally had a chance to rest.

  Madison asked, “How long have you been following me?”

&nbs
p; “Long enough to know you aren’t even close to the prize. I have to admit I’m disappointed in you. I expected more. Yet here you are chasing a cold trail and you still have no idea what’s going on.”

  “Why don’t you tell me then?” Madison turned sideways in her seat and pinned the other woman with a cold glare. She set the drink down on the provided tray connected to the seat in front of her.

  “And ruin the ending for you? I don’t think so. Watching you run in circles is amusing.” She made a sound of disgust. “Must suck having old friends hunting you down. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the news bulletin. The FBI didn’t waste any time. Personally, I think your old buddies at the CIA are behind it. All these years you’ve wasted, working your butt off, doing your duty, and they turn on you so willingly.”

  “Why are you here? What do you want?”

  The assassin leaned close until they were shoulder to shoulder and she could whisper. To the average eye they would look like two girlfriends enjoying a private conversation. But on the inside, Madison was coiled like a snake. She mentally prepared to defend herself if attacked.

  “That’s an interesting question,” the assassin said. “I want a lot of things. I wanted a real family, my real mother, a nice house, and a person I could trust and confide in, but that was a long time ago. Now I just want blood.”

  “What did I ever do to you?”

  The assassin spoke slow and deliberate. “You were born. You were loved. You make me sick.”

  Madison sighed. “Why do I get the feeling you’re talking in code? Am I supposed to understand what you’re talking about? Try English.”

  “You were always so superior. You haven’t changed, not at all.” The assassin bent forward again and whispered, “We used to play together when we were kids. I guess I should ask how little Sally is. You remember your favorite little doll, don’t you? She was so pretty… until I got done with her.”

  The assassin’s elbow remained on the armrest, but her fist flew up and slammed Madison in the face. Caught off guard, she reeled from the blow. She tentatively touched her nose. Her fingers found a spot of blood at the corner of her left nostril. By the time she recovered enough to react she realized the seat next to her had been vacated.