Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32

G rinding his teeth, Connor walked Duke back up the street to the EIS headquarters, already having gone two blocks in both directions, looking for anything suspicious and trying to calm his temper. After hearing that Zoe'd nearly been killed by some corrupt former spy and traitor to the country he went to war to protect, not to mention the man she'd trusted for years, he'd needed to get out of that house. Thankfully it wasn't one of those little tract houses built after World War 2 all over the Midwest, but a bit sprawling Victorian, but it still felt cramped with all the people in and out of it.

"Zoe tends to have that effect on people," Dave said, sitting on one of the cushioned chairs on the wide porch.

"She intentionally put herself in danger," he said as he walked up the porch steps and took the other big chair. He signaled Duke to lay at his feet.

"It's her job," her cousin said.

"Not this time. She said it was personal."

"She's an Edgars."

Connor shifted to shoot the man a glare. "What the hell does that mean?"

"We see protecting this country, protecting innocent people, protecting our family as a duty, not a just a job."

"I got that from all the former law enforcement in the room and on the TV." He reached down and scratched Duke's head. "Seems like Zoe picks the most dangerous jobs, with little backup."

Dave nodded. "Even as a kid she was a risk taker. Luke has at least two broken bones going along with her daredevil escapades."

"Let me guess, Zoe went unharmed."

Dave chuckled. "Yep. After the second one, a broken collarbone that kept Luke from playing baseball one summer, he started using his brain even when she'd dare him to do something. Well, until they started hopping trains as teens. Got in major trouble for that and finally quit following her lead." He paused a moment. "There's no talking her out of going to DC to take this guy down."

"That's what's got me all pissed off," Connor admitted. "The woman should be taking it easy if she wants that leg to heal. Not participating in a dangerous operation."

"Right now, all she's going to do is drive back to DC with our team. Other than Luke's driving, she isn't going to be in danger for that."

They'd decided while Abby formulated a list of who the people were in those images and determined what Louden and his group were up to the team would join Jake, Castello and Ben back in Washington.

"Want to tell me why you were in prison?"

The question surprised him. Zoe knew and so did Katie, but otherwise he hadn't mentioned it to anyone else.

"Katie tell you?"

Dave shook his head. "It was your hesitancy to use a gun back at your cabin. Not knowing how much danger we might be bringing to your doorstep, you met my family out in the dark armed only with an ax. You kept your back to the wall when we stopped for breakfast and when we got here. Pretty much prison behavior."

"I went in for running a drug ring while stationed in Afghanistan." That was the official verdict. Easily obtained through an internet search.

"Did you do it?"

He looked the other man in the eyes. He wasn't judging.

"No."

Dave nodded once. "Did you fight it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I reported the ring to my commander, assuming he'd look into the matter and have the members of the ring arrested. What I didn't know was he was the leader of the whole thing."

"Damn. He set you up to take the fall."

"Left nothing out. Even had other members of my unit that I thought were friends and weren't part of the drug ring testify against me." He paused. It still hurt to remember how they'd testified without ever meeting his eyes, and he'd stared so hard at them as they spoke he should've bored holes through their skulls. "That's when I knew there wasn't a fighting chance in hell I'd be found not guilty."

They sat in silence as snow flurries blew in the fading winter light.

"You coming to DC with us?" Dave asked after a while.

"Someone has to keep an eye on Zoe."

"If you're part of our team, I'm going to have to fill in Jake and the others about your situation."

"Figured you would." He gave a scoffing laugh. "What's that old adage? No good deed goes unpunished ." Yeah, that seemed to fit his life.

Dave leaned forward, elbows on his thighs to look him in the eye. "You're going to be with us when we take on this Markus-Quintus guy. He's going to be armed. You're going to be armed."

Connor shook his head. "Y'all can't do that. You'll be putting yourselves in jeopardy. It's illegal to give a felon a weapon. Y'all know that."

"I do. So does everyone in our company. We also won't send anyone into the field on a dangerous mission without them being armed. You go with us, we arm you." Dave held up one hand when he started to argue more. "We also protect you from any fall out."

Connor cast him a scathing look. "Don't get me wrong, but I don't see how you can keep that information silent. The after action is going to show I'd used a gun. That's a minimum year back inside for a felon." It was his turn to hold up a hand to stop the other man's comments. "I plan to do whatever it takes to keep Zoe safe or I wouldn't be here. I just want you to know I'm aware of the consequences."

Dave didn't try to reassure him with more empty promises, just leaned back in his chair crossing one leg over the other at the knee. "She got under your skin didn't she?"

He sighed. "Yes, but there's never going to be anything more between us. My life is in the mountains, hers is all over the world."

Before Dave could argue with him a car pulled up out front and he stood. "Get ready for some serious invasion of your personal space."

Curious at that comment, Connor slowly rose as an older couple climbed out of the car. The woman waved and hurried up the walkway as the man behind her carried a large box.

"You must be Connor," the woman said heading straight at him, her arms up to hug him. He had to bend to give her access. "Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving our girl."

Connor met Dave's amused eyes over her shoulder.

"This is my mother and father, Mary and Benjamin Edgars. Let me have that, Dad," Dave said reaching to take the box from his father who was grinning at Connor and the little lady who'd let go of him to pet Duke.

"Nice to meet you, sir," he said offering his hand to Zoe's uncle.

"We are in your debt," Benjamin said, shaking his hand. It was a strong, firm grip.

You can always tell what kind of a person a man is by how he shakes your hand. Never trust a man whose hand feels like a limp fish, Grandpa had said when he taught him how to grip and shake hands.

"No, you are't, sir," Connor said.

"Nonsense," Mary said, fixing him with a don't-pull-the-wool-over-my-eyes look. "If you hadn't found our Zoe?—"

"Actually, Duke found her. I just carried her down," he said, shifting her attention away from him.

"Thank you, Duke. You're a very smart dog," she said patting Duke again, then lifting a knowing look at him. "And you might not think you did much, Connor, but I was praying hard for her to be found and safe. God sent you and Duke and I'll never forget how lucky we all are."

Uncomfortable with the praise and being thought of as answered prayer, Connor moved to open the screen door, so Dave could take the box inside. The older couple followed him inside, with Connor and Duke at the rear.

"Did you make lasagna, Mom?" Dave asked.

Mary took off her coat and handed it to her husband to hang on the large coat rack by the entrance. "Of course. It's Zoe's favorite. And I brought two cherry pies."

"Did someone say cherry pies?" Abby asked, coming around the corner to greet her in-laws with hugs.

"Luke told me you two were staying here and working tonight," Mary said looping her arm in her daughter-in-law's and walking towards the kitchen, "And I know that you crave my cherry pies."

Something in that comment seemed to startle Abby. "Crave?"

"You know what I mean. You love them, so I thought I'd make enough for you to snack on while you work."

Connor avoided the kitchen and all the family domestication going on inside, taking Duke to the lounge area in the back of the house where he'd left Zoe on the sofa's extended chase section with her leg elevated on a pillow. He removed Duke's leash, and the hound padded over to curl up on the floor near the fire in the fireplace. Suddenly exhausted, he settled down on the sofa next to the sleeping Zoe. The urge to touch her was almost overwhelming, but he shoved it away, forcing himself to simply enjoy being near her.

When he came out of prison, all he'd wanted to do was be alone, away from people, not getting messed up in their lives or their drama. Then Zoe literally dropped into his world. Now he was messed up in her drama, hanging around with people he didn't know, but who all seemed to just accept him as one of them. And somehow keeping Zoe safe through this had become an all-consuming need.

Beside him, she shifted, laying her head on his shoulder. Her touch relaxed him.

"You're thinking too loud," she murmured.

He reached up to lightly brush her hair from the side of her face, relishing the feel of her soft cheek beneath his fingertips. "Your aunt and uncle are here and brought dinner."

"Did you let her hug you?" Zoe opened her eyes and stared at him with a grin.

He wanted to kiss her, but didn't trust himself to stop at just one. From the moment he'd given her that one brief kiss before leaving the cabin with the ax in search of whoever, he'd only wanted to repeat it. Only longer and slower. He was afraid if he gave in, he'd become as addicted to it as a druggie always wanting their next fix. That's how much he wanted to kiss her.

"I don't think I could've stopped her," he said instead and was rewarded with a soft chuckle.

"I should've warned you. Aunt Mary's family are all huggers. Doesn't matter if she just met you or known you her whole life. You're getting a hug in greeting or when she leaves, often both."

"She said she brought lasagna and cherry pies."

Zoe lifted her head. "Aunt Mary's lasagna is the best."

"And Luke's going to eat your portion if you don't get in the kitchen," Dave said, coming around the sofa and putting on his gloves. "I'm going to go see my family, but I'll be back by ten tomorrow to pick up Luke and you two. Matt and Katie will meet us and caravan to DC in case we need more vehicles there." He glanced at Duke watching him intently by the fire. "Is Duke coming with us?"

Connor considered the question. "We've been focusing on blood scenting in a rural setting. He's not ready to try an urban one yet."

"He can stay here with Abby, then."

"She's really not going with us?" Zoe asked as she sat up and lowered her leg.

Dave glanced at the door as if trying to be sure no one would hear him. "Luke and Abby think we don't know yet, but Abby's pregnant. We're playing along that no one but them knows. We have a pool on when they'll spill the beans. Because of that, Jake is keeping her out of the field per Luke's request."

"How long are you keeping this ruse going?" she asked, taking the hand Connor offered her to help her stand and steady herself on the walking boot. Releasing his hand she cast him a little smile in thanks.

"Until they have the fun of revealing her pregnancy to the rest of us," Dave said quietly, then came forward to hug her. "Glad we found you, cuz. I'd tell you to stay here, heal and let us take this for you, but I know it's a lost cause with you. But get some rest tonight."

"I will, I promise."

Dave shook hands with Connor before heading for the front of the house.

"Ready?" Connor asked since Zoe hadn't made any movement towards the kitchen, where he could smell something delicious.

"I don't like sympathy or pampering," she blurted out.

"Somehow, I figured that. But I don't think your aunt means to do either." He leaned closer. "I think she needs to know you're okay. When you walk in there, mostly intact, she's going to be relieved. Feeding you? My grandma always showed her love by feeding people."

Once again Zoe shot him that disgruntled look he found charming, and didn't that say how screwed up his head was these days? "For a hermit, you're pretty people observant."

He shrugged. "Had a lot of time to watch people in prison. It was important to quickly recognize their movements and their motives. I'm pretty sure, other than a hug, you're safe with your aunt. And your uncle? He looked just as anxious to see you. So, how about we go get some of that lasagna." Offering his arm for her to lean on, he motioned for Duke, who'd sat up expectantly, to follow.

The three of them made a slow, but steady walk into the kitchen where they were indeed welcomed with hugs, some tears and a very enjoyable meal. Everyone laughed and told stories about Zoe and Luke's childhood exploits. Duke was rewarded with rolls under the table, by Luke's parents when no one thought Connor was watching, because they were so grateful the hound had found Zoe. And no one commented when Abby had a second helping of cherry pie.

When the elder Edgars headed out for the night, after hugging everyone yet again, the foursome settled in front of the fire once more, Duke taking his spot near the warm hearth.

"Will Duke walk on a leash for me? Or should I just let him out inside the fenced yard in back?" Abby asked, sitting sideways in one of the overstuffed chairs so she could use her laptop on the end table.

Connor measured his answer, taking into consideration secretly knowing her condition and Duke's age—he was just a little over a year, so sometimes excitable. "I'd let him in the yard for the next few days. You might put his leash on him and walk him around until he gets used to being here. Then he might be good for a walk once a day."

She typed on her laptop, apparently making a list of how to care for Duke. "How often do you feed him and how much should I give him?"

They'd picked up food and two bowls for him on the way back from the orthopedist's office.

"Just once a day in the evening. You can fill his bowl. He needs water probably three times a day. He'll let you know by sitting by the bowls, just like he sits at the door to go outside."

Abby typed that in, then smiled at Duke, who happily wagged his tail, but didn't leave his spot. "He's very well behaved."

"Thank you," Connor said. "He's training to do a very important job."

"All work, no play for him? Sounds like a dull life for a pup," Luke said.

Connor leaned back a little, having taken the previous spot beside Zoe who once again had her leg elevated. "Not really. Just like you, he only has to be alert when he's on duty. Part of his training is knowing when he can play and relax, and when he can't. He loves to play fetch with a rope throw toy I have. I toss it into the woods, and he retrieves it. If I'd let him, he'd play the game all day."

"Sort of like Luke when he played Dungeons and Dragons in high school," Zoe teased.

"Hey, when you're on a quest, you have to stick with it no matter how long it takes," her cousin said from the other chair near his wife. "D and D was way safer than some of the quests you took me on."

"You should thank me for those adventures, Lucifer."

Luke choked on the water he was drinking. "Thank you? For what? The two different broken bones? Missing an entire summer of baseball or the scout camping trip? The concussion? All the scrapes, cuts and bruises? Or maybe I should thank you for all the times I got grounded?"

"All of it," Zoe said with a smug smile. "You learned how to take risks and know you'd survived, even when you got hurt. You learned there were consequences for the decisions you made. You learned some things were worth going against the rules for," she said with a pointed look at Abby.

Connor wondered what rules Luke went against for his wife. As for Zoe, he'd figured out that she used her need to push the boundaries to help take down bad guys who bought and sold weapons, to help victims with no hope like trafficked women and kids.

"What's got you looking so serious?" Luke asked and Connor realized he'd been frowning into the fireplace.

"Something Zoe said when she was semi-conscious back in the cabin that first night."

She looked confused. "I said something? You didn't tell me that."

"At the time I was worried about you injuring yourself worse. I assumed they were delirious ramblings."

"What did she say?" Abby asked.

"That she needed to warn them and that people were going to die." He shrugged. "That was it."

"Zoe?" Abby prompted.

She stared at Connor as if trying to either remember what she'd been so scared about or how much information to reveal. He wasn't sure which.

"When I followed Markus to that lodge outside Roanoke, I didn't stay on the periphery. I infiltrated their outer security and worked my way around to the back of the house, looking for some sort of unguarded entry."

"What the hell were you going to do if you got caught?" Connor asked, his voice low, but intense as he fought off the anger that hit him like a sucker punch to the gut.

"I wasn't planning on getting caught," she said, blinking in surprise at his barely leashed anger. "And I didn't."

"Because you were lucky," he said, almost at a low growl.

"Because I'm good." She narrowed her eyes at him, but this time he didn't find it amusing or sexy. She'd put herself in danger, risking her life for who knows what.

"Ahem," Luke said, over a fake cough. "Did you get inside?"

Zoe blinked first, breaking off the heated stare-off with Connor. "No. When I got to the rear of the lodge, I quickly realized the group was meeting in a large room back there. There was no security and no cameras. So, I got as close as I could behind the bushed landscaping beneath one of the windows, hoping I could open it slightly and record what they were saying."

"Geeze," Connor muttered.

"What?" she asked, surprised at his hostility to her plan.

"Why didn't you just stand in front of the window and announce you were spying on them?"

"Believe it or not, I've been working undercover for years. I knew what I was doing and how to keep my presence there undetected."

"Ya'll had no idea what kind of security they had. How armed they were." Then he arched one brow at her in skepticism. "If y'all were so good at hiding from them undetected, how did y'all end up shot and unconscious on a ledge on the mountain in my holler?"

"I made a mistake. When the group broke up, I hurried back the way I'd come to where I'd parked my car. It was slightly hidden behind some trees, but when I got there, I wanted a pictures of the people leaving, so I moved to where I had a direct line of sight to the main entrance and snapped pictures with my phone. The last to come out and shake hands with the owner of the lodge was Markus. I stood a moment longer than necessary and that's when he saw me. I jumped into my car and headed west, hoping he'd assume I went the opposite direction towards DC, only he tailed me into the mountains, and the rest you know."

"What did you hear outside that window that made you think people were going to die?" Connor asked quietly, still digesting how close she'd come to getting herself killed. It was stupid of him to be so upset. If she hadn't done what she did, she never would've been on the mountain, and he wouldn't be with her now. She'd done what she thought best and survived the attack.

"I only caught bits and pieces. Something about a summit meeting, Washington, this week and gas." She shifted her attention to the other couple. "Luke, can you find any summit meetings going on in DC this week?"

"Already looking."

"Any luck with those photos from my phone, Abby?" Zoe asked.

She shook her head. "The distance from where you took them, makes them hard to identify anyone. I've enlarged them, but the pixels are grainy."

"Can you fix it?"

Abby smiled. "I have a new program that can, but that's what's taking time."

"How long do you think it will take?"

"I'd say at least half a day to make them recognizable. I have to enlarge the image, re-pixel it, enlarge it again, re-pixel until I can see the actual facial features."

"Then what?" Connor asked, amazed at how much technology these two could do with their little computers. The world had changed so much since he went into prison twelve years ago.

"Once my wife can actually see the faces of the men, she'll recall the images stored in that beautiful brain of hers until she finds one that matches each one. If she's seen them before, she'll remember where she saw them, when it was, and who they are," Luke said with a proud smile at his wife.

"Impressive," Connor said. "No wonder you were trying to get your phone here that night."

Zoe laid her head on his shoulder, looking sleepy. "I didn't want to send pictures over the internet. I didn't want to put anyone in danger. I thought if I brought the phone here Abby could download just look at the images. And I needed to search for these men and women without someone tracing it through the internet. No one can access Abby's brain for a search history."

She stopped to yawn. Abby did the same.

Connor stood. "We need to get some sleep before the trip to DC tomorrow." Before Zoe could argue, he scooped her up in his arms, saying, "You can practice coming downstairs on that boot tomorrow. We'll take the same room we had this morning, if that's okay, Luke?"

"That's fine. Abby and I are in the front one on the left."

As Connor carried Zoe out of the room with her head lying against his shoulder, Abby met her husband's eyes. "That's interesting."

"That he just picked her up without asking permission or she didn't fight him?"

"Both," she said with a grin, plugging her laptop into the charger before setting it aside to continue the image enhancement program over night.

"Want me to carry you upstairs?" He leaned in close to leer at her suggestively.

"No, I want your back to stay in good shape. I missed you last night." She leaned closer to kiss him. "I think you should let Duke out for the night and lock up. By the time you come upstairs, I'll have the bed nice and warm."

Standing, he pulled her into his arms for a long, hungry kiss. "Have I ever told you how much I love the way your brain works?"