Chapter 32
With only slightly more bravado than fear, Kendall asked, “What have you got planned?” Her eyes grew wide as she watched in terror as Tariq slowly unzipped his jacket. The bulge she had thought was in his pocket was actually an object taped to his waist. She swallowed hard as her mind raced to accept what her eyes were latched onto. “Wh…”
“Oh, I’m not planning on using this unless I have to,” he stated, his gaze dropping to his belt. “I only plan on you dying and…” he cast his gaze around, his sneer back in place, “burning this place to the ground. I’ll be long gone and this will just seem like an unfortunate accident.”
“I thought you were supposed to make a statement,” she bit back, the thought of his plans twisting around in her stomach.
“This is just in case there’s no way out,” he said, patting the object gently. “Unlike you, I’m not afraid to die. But as I said, that’s not my intent. I still have much to do for my cause.”
“Your cause?” Kendall asked, forcing her gaze to stay steady on his as her mind raced to think of a way to get away. If I can get out of here, he’ll have to follow me. I’m the one he wants.
“I’m becoming necessary for my group,” he bragged. “My skills with software, plus my family connections, made me the perfect person for this. And now,” he waved his arm around, grinning, “killing you and then getting rid of your father will give me the perfect opportunity to stop the research.”
“Even if Dad and I are gone, Fahdil will never help you,” she exclaimed, her brow furrowed. “Surely you know that.”
“Hmph, who needs him? You forget, I already have an ace in the hole there. Someone who has helped me in the past and will continue to assist.”
Biting her lip as she allowed her gaze to drop slightly to keep an eye on his hands, she asked, “Who? Who is helping you?”
“Nope…told you, that was my secret. Enough talk—”
Tariq’s phone vibrated and his gaze faltered as he moved to pull it out. Not recognizing the number, he hesitated before answering. “Yeah?”
Just as he brought the phone to his ear, Kendall shoved his shoulders, forcing him backwards over the coffee table.
Whirling around, she raced to the front door, fumbling with the deadbolt. Hearing Tariq cursing as he scrambled to his feet, she threw open the door. Making it to the front porch, his voice shouted right behind her.
“Stop, bitch, or I will use this!”
She halted, her face contorted in frustration at her inability to get away. Just then she heard her name called and she lifted her head to look straight ahead. Heaving a gasp, she cried, “No! Marc, go away! He’s got something strapped to him!”
Tariq’s eyes darted around but he stayed in the doorframe, protected by the house behind and her body in front. With a satisfied smirk, he called out, “I’ve got it all planned out. You fools are too late.”
Marc’s weapon, raised toward Kendall who was in the direct line of fire between he and Tariq, watched as her anguished face never left his. She mouthed I love you as a tear slid down her cheek.
Shaking in fright, she wished she were braver, or at least knew what to do, but standing and staring at Marc’s hard face was all she could accomplish. Hearing Tariq right behind her caused her to lose all thoughts except of the man who wanted her dead.
“Kendall?” Marc called out, but with a glance realized shock had rendered her slow to react. Sucking in a breath in an attempt at calm, he tried a different approach. “Hey, sweet girl?”
He watched her blink in recognition, her focus back on him. “That’s it, sweet girl. You wanna know what I was just thinking of?”
She barely shook her head as Tariq screamed, “Shut up!”
“I was thinking about grizzlies in Canada. Remember?” He watched as her eyes lit and her breathing increased. Atta girl. You’ve got it.
With a quick blink, she flung herself down onto the hard wood of the porch, heedless of the pain flaring in her wrist and knees as the immediate sounds of shots whizzing overhead filled her ears. Then a thud behind her. Squeezing her eyes tight to brace for the explosion, she panted as her ears roared.
In an instant, Marc was scooping her up in his arms, racing back up the driveway toward Blaise as Chad approached the front. Monty and Jack escorted the FBI toward the house.
Her arms wound tightly around his neck as she buried her face in his neck. His warm skin with the scent of sweat felt familiar…and comforting. She was barely aware of Marc sitting down as he kept her safely tucked in his embrace.
“Kendall?” Blaise said gently. “Can you let me look at you?”
Raising her head slightly, she replied, “This is getting to be a habit, isn’t it?”
Chuckling, Blaise said, “You’re cracking a joke? Girl, you are something special if you can joke about this now!”
Swallowing back a nervous laugh, she loosened her arms but found Marc tightened his in response. “I’m fine, honestly. It’s just my wrist and knees again. He didn’t touch me. He just talked.”
Jack, standing over them with several of the Saints around, added, “Very smart. You kept him talking. That gave us enough time to get here.”
Blaise added, “Then, I’d say you’re very lucky too, but I want to check your wrist again.” He frowned as he unwrapped the bandage and saw more swelling. Shaking his head, he advised, “Marc, I think you might want to get this x-rayed, just to make sure this time did not break it.”
Marc nodded, his face tight with anger. “Damn, Kendall,” he growled, “I’m so sorry.”
Eyes wide, she held Marc’s face in her hands and confessed, “I just knew you’d come for me. I knew you’d save me.”
Forgetting their audience, Marc leaned in, his breath warm against her lips as he said, “Always, sweet girl. Always.”
*
As the group from the NCBRT stood at the luggage pick-up in the Baton Rouge airport they chatted among themselves.
“Anyone hear from Fahdil?” Will asked.
Karen stood next to him but a respectable foot apart as her eyes cut over to his and she fought to keep a flirtatious smile from her lips.
Estelle, her lips in a typical pinch, said, “I simply got a text that said he had something come up and he would be taking a later flight.”
Cliff, tapping his foot impatiently, glared at the luggage belt. “How long does it take to get the luggage off the plane,” he grumbled.
“What’s your hurry? You got somewhere important to be?” Will laughed. “For me, I’m going to grab something to eat, hit the shower, and then fall into bed.” Cutting his eyes toward Karen, he grinned as she blushed.
“Dr. Kowtowski?”
As the group turned toward the speaker, they saw four men in dark suits. All serious. No smiles. And all four holding out FBI badges.
Will’s eyes darted to the side but he realized all avenues of escape had been cut off. Facing the speaker, he said, “Yes?”
“You need to come with us.”
“What is this?” Estelle cut in, her attempts at superiority coming through. “I’m with Homeland Security for the National Center for Biological Research and Training. Dr. Kowtowski works at the center under me.”
“Ma’am, then you’ll be interested in our findings. We have evidence of Dr. Kowtowski illegally tampering with your security system, hiring the persons who broke into your center last week, and selling information to a known terrorist group.”
“Will?” Karen stood shell-shocked, her mouth open.
“What the hell?” Cliff said, turning toward Will. “You goddamn traitor!”
Estelle’s shoulders slumped at the realization her career was over with a traitor under her nose, her eyes closing for a moment as she pulled herself together. With a final sigh, she straightened her shoulders, casting her glare toward Will.
“I want a fucking lawyer,” Will stated, his easy demeanor gone, defiance in its place.
“You’ll get your chance,” the agent said. “Now, if you’ll come this way.”
The luggage conveyor belt had started and passengers all around grabbed their bags, but Karen, Estelle, and Cliff stood frozen in place as they watched Will being escorted away.