Chapter 10

10

W ill kept watch over Gwen and pulled his phone. Head wounds bled a lot, and his handkerchief pressed to her forehead fast became red. He should have met Clay alone. His chest pinched. Now, Gwen had paid the price.

"Hotel security, how may I help you?" a woman answered his call.

Will explained the situation and where he was. "The gunman may still be in the hotel. Have someone bring a first-aid kit. The woman he was holding hostage is hurt." He covered his phone and looked at Gwen. "Do you need an ambulance?"

She gazed at him with those beautiful blue eyes, which thankfully weren't dilated. "I don't think so."

"She's mobile, just has a bleeding cut." He smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. He would be sure to get her checked out at an ER, though, when they left. Which would take a while.

He called Clay, and the FBI agents at the training seminar helped comb the hotel with the in-house security, but nobody could find Evan Winston. A staff member bandaged Gwen's forehead and suggested she get stitches. All this had happened in the last hour, and now Will tucked the shopping bags under his arm and waited for Gwen to finish giving her statement.

When she reached him, he put an arm around her and pulled her close. She asked, "Did anyone find the car Winston said was waiting?"

"No. No cars idled at the curb. Or at the back of the hotel. I expect Winston told them to leave."

"After I fell, why didn't he come after me? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he didn't."

"Too many people noticed. He wanted to save his own skin so he disappeared." Clay checked the time on his watch. "I've got to get out of here. You guys stay safe."

"Will you let me know when you arrest him?" Gwen asked, frowning.

She couldn't be more worried than he was. Will didn't like loose ends, and Winston wasn't just loose, he was dangerous.

Clay shook hands. "That goes both ways. If you discover an ID on the man in the business suit, let us know."

Will watched him get lost in the lobby crowd then studied Gwen. "How's the head?"

"Okay." She sighed. "I'm glad that's over. This was totally my fault. If I'd let you come along, this wouldn't have happened. Then I was in a hurry to get back to you and not paying attention."

He tucked her hair behind one ear. "I'm not letting you out of my sight from here on out."

"At least I didn't fall apart like yesterday. I stayed calm, like you did when we were hiding in the subway." She gave him a soft smile. "You've been a good influence on me."

"I need to get your cell phone number."

"My phone!" She eyes went wide. "Winston ran off with my tote. The phone was in the side pocket."

"None of the witnesses who recognized his photo mentioned Winston having a bag."

"Then he must have ditched the tote somewhere around here." She scanned the lobby in the area near the escalators.

Will did a slow three-sixty. A trash cannister clung to the wall near the store selling souvenirs and drinks. The handles of a blue tote bag hung out of the top opening. He steered her in that direction. "I see it, I think." He pulled her bag through the hole. "Is this yours?"

"Yup." She showed him the side binding. "See where this is fraying and the red spot on the bottom from Leslie's lipstick? This is mine, all right."

He led her into the lobby bar area, stopping on the way to a table to ask the waitress to bring them two ginger ales.

"And a couple bags of peanuts, please." Gwen turned to him. "How'd you know about the ginger ale?"

"That's what you were drinking for lunch."

"You don't miss anything." She sank onto a stool.

"I try to pay attention." He stowed the shopping bags at their feet.

Gwen sorted through the contents of her bag. "Yay. He didn't take my cell."

"Be careful." Will scowled. "He might have planted a tracker on that."

"While he was running toward the exit?" She stared at him. "I sort of doubt that."

"All right, probably not, but let me check to be sure? For my own peace of mind?"

She handed him the device. "I'd be indebted."

He ran through the apps and settings. He couldn't find anything but he didn't like her using this. "You should probably get a new one."

"Maybe." She sagged and continued to search her bag. "When he appeared, I thought we'd missed a second tracking tag, but I don't see one. He did take my wallet. That's no big loss. I was only carrying some small bills."

"After hearing what you told the cops, I'll bet he'd been after the lab keys."

"They aren't metal keys, but cards. And I don't carry them in a big tote bag. That would be tempting fate. I carry them on my person whenever I leave the building. I need to know exactly where they are at all times. When I visited Ireland with Leslie, I discovered underwear with hidden wallets." She ran a finger under her breasts. "I expect you didn't notice last night."

He cocked an eyebrow. "You sure you're not a spy?"

"It's not listed in my job description, but my boss is entrusting me with the security of the lab and the virus. I'm willing to go the extra mile."

After resting a few more minutes, they caught a cab to urgent care for an X-ray and a better when his cell rang. He pulled Gwen back into the clinic's waiting room and found his cell. "Strongbow."

"Will? Is that you?" a breathy female voice asked.

He hadn't had a relationship in a while and had no idea who this could be calling. "Who's this?"

"Leslie Black. You met me last night? Talked with my dad?"

Right. He relaxed and glanced at Gwen. Her cousin must have gotten his number from her father. "Of course, I remember."

Leslie sounded breathless. Will stiffened, automatically alert to a problem. "Is Gwen with you?" she asked. "She's not answering her phone."

"I'm standing right beside her. "You want to talk to her?"

"Yeah. If you don't mind."

"Don't mind at all." Will covered the microphone and leaned closer to Gwen. "You up to talking to Leslie?"

Gwen reached for his phone. "Hey, Leslie."

"Where have you been?" Her cousin demanded. "I've been sending you messages all day."

"Why?" She glanced at Will. No way was she telling Leslie she'd been detained by a mercenary. That word would conjure photos of a guy in camo, draped with guns. She picked at a fingernail. "Is there something wrong?"

"Not that I know of. Dad and Mom wanted to know if you wanted to come to dinner. You and Will. I'm assuming you're still seeing him."

Gwen smiled at Will. "You could say that."

"What's that mean? Never mind. So do you two want to come over for dinner tonight?"

"Tonight?" She glanced at Will and mimicked eating, raising her brows.

"That's fine," Will whispered. "Get them to meet us somewhere away from their house."

"Good idea." Gwen put the phone back to her ear. Voices and music came over the connection. "Leslie?" She paused, waiting. "You there?"

"So, are you coming?" her cousin asked.

"Let's meet somewhere." Gwen rubbed her palm down her hip. At some point she'd have to come clean about what was happening, but not now. "I don't want to put Aunt Kathy out."

"She loves to cook, you know that."

"She cooks all the time. I'm sure she could use a break. What about the Cheese Barrel? Aunt Kathy and Gran like that place, don't they?"

Gwen heard Leslie talking with the others. "Okay," she told Gwen. "Uncle Tim says that's fine, but can you get there early? Like five-ish? He wants to get be here to watch something on TV."

"Five o'clock?" Gwen looked at Will.

He gave her a thumbs-up. Gwen spoke to her cousin and disconnected, catching sight of the blood on her shirt. She wouldn't mind stopping by her apartment first. "When do you think we can leave?"

He checked the time. "If we leave now you can stop by your apartment if you want to change clothes."

He read her mind again. "I'd appreciate that. I can pack a bag, too."

"While you're doing that, I'm going to check around the area where the black SUV parked. You never know." He pushed open the exit door and led her into the warm summer night. A siren, far off at first, grew louder. "There might be something useful."

* * *

"Nothing," Will muttered to himself. He'd been looking for discarded trash or a receipt in the matted weeds across from Gwen's apartment. They were no closer to identifying the man in the vehicle. Uneasiness settled in Will's gut. He had to be prepared if that dude showed up again.

Will crossed the street to Gwen's apartment and rang her bell. After confirming who he was, she let him in. He slid his gaze over her red shirt and the white pants that showed off her legs to advantage. She wore strappy sandals as well. "You look nice."

"Thank you." She walked to the window and looked out at the street. "What did you find outside?"

He'd checked her window and door locks before going outside and confirmed everything was secured. "Nothing helpful as far as the identity of the driver or passenger. I could only tell a heavy vehicle had parked there, nothing else." He looked around the living room. "Where's your case?"

"Still packing. Do I need work clothes?" she asked, and he nodded. "We're going back to your place then."

"Actually, no. My building is already known to Winston."

She heaved a sigh. "I hate that you're involved in this."

I want to be involved . "Don't worry." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "We don't want to stay here, either. How's the forehead?"

"I can tell I've got a bandage there, but it only hurts if I press close. Hey, don't look so distressed, Will. I take full responsibility."

That was something else he liked about Gwen.

She crossed her arms. "What are you going to do about clothes if you avoid your apartment?"

"I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Tomorrow's Sunday. With luck, you won't need to worry about Winston after that. If he's caught, the FBI can get him to cough up the name of the man in the dark suit."

While she gathered a few other items, he studied the bookcase where biology college texts and finance books shared space with novels stuffed in here and there.

She reappeared with a small carryall. "I need to be careful nothing I do will boomerang on the safety of my workplace."

Will took the bag from her and pulled aside the window curtain. He hadn't heard a vehicle pass and everything looked as it had been. "Don't the university cops provide that?"

"They have to cover the entire campus. I'm concerned about leading someone to the lab."

He cupped her shoulders, rubbing his thumbs in the hollows beside her collarbone. "I don't see what you could have done differently. We can find a motel after dinner or maybe your aunt and uncle know of one."

"They've arranged for out-of-town guests to stay at a hotel in Mt. Vernon for Leslie's upcoming wedding, but I don't know the name and I don't want to ask. Leslie will give me a hard time until I tell her what we're doing and why."

"As far as I'm concerned, we're not doing nearly enough." He slipped his arms around her and gave her a long, thorough kiss.

* * *

Another day, another restaurant in Westchester. Will studied the lot before pulling into a spot. Before too long he'd know all of Gwen's favorite places to eat. Which was terrific. Not complaining.

He'd been so focused on building his engineering career, he picked up food here and there, usually taking the carry-out back to his office or his apartment.

He turned off the motor and smiled at her, doubting he'd ever get tired of looking at her. bandage or no bandage. "Are you recovered enough to face the interrogation squad?"

"As I'll ever be." Gwen smoothed the dressing. "That's what family is for."

"Right. Probing until you reveal all your secrets." He pulled the key.

"Their first question is going to be what happened. I need to come up with an explanation that won't worry them." She pressed her fingers to his arm. "Hey, you don't happen to have a hat I can pull down to my eyes, do you?"

"Sorry, I don't pack around my hiking hat." Will put on the overhead light and turned her face. "Be aware that you're getting a bit of a bruise now just below the cut. Your story had better be a good one."

Her seatbelt rewound with a click. "I'll tell them I ran into a door."

"Or some jerk slammed a door in your face," he offered.

"That's a good one." She pointed a finger at him. "Puts the blame on someone else."

He leaned close, inhaling her sweet scent. Was it lilac? Something like that. He kissed her quick. "Whatever you say, remember you are not to blame."

Turned out, they arrived a few minutes before Gwen's family. Smells of French fries and grilling beef tormented him while they waited. Will studied all those entering, not recognizing any of them. "We've probably lost Winston."

"I'm not missing him." Gwen stared out at the lot. "I see them parking now."

After hugs, her aunt snagged the hostess and asked for a big, round table. There was one being cleared, and they took that one. Gwen told them part of the truth, explaining she'd tripped going down a hotel escalator. That was enough to distract Leslie. "You're going to look terrible at the wedding."

Gwen shrugged. "I didn't do it on purpose, but you can always find another bridesmaid."

"This late?" her cousin wailed. "Gran would kill me."

"The nurse thought any bruises would heal in two to three weeks, and there's always makeup."

Aunt Kathy nodded. "So true."

Several hours later Will folded his napkin and pushed the edge under his plate. Uncle Tim nudged him and leaned close to whisper, "Follow me outside."

Gwen sent him a nervous glance. He squeezed her hand under the table. "Be back in a minute."

He followed Gwen's uncle outside and off the sidewalk to the entrance. Uncle Tim pulled his cellphone. "I saw a car you might be interested in." The older man showed him a photo. "He stopped in front of our house."

"Did anyone get out?"

"There's a stop sign on that corner." Uncle Tim swiped through several more.

Will stared at the photo. "There's a person sitting in the back seat."

Uncle Tim stared at it. "Swipe the screen. I've got more. I caught the person in back looking out the window."

Will's pulse quickened. He didn't recognize the rider, heavyset with thick dark hair and a moustache. He looked a lot like an actor who'd played the bad guy in many gangster movies, but the important thing was that Clay could enlarge the photo and pick out facial details. "Can you shoot all of those to me? These could be helpful."

Uncle Tim sent him the photos and propped his reading glasses on the top of his head. "Do you know who he is?"

"No clue, but he's definitely someone to avoid. Don't confront either him or the driver." Will's cell pinged and he saved the photos. "Is this the only time he drove past?"

"Yup, that was it. As far as I know, anyway."

"Thanks." Will went ahead and forwarded the shots to Clay. "I'm hoping a friend can identify him."

"On the police force?"

"No, FBI," Will explained.

Uncle Tim's face sobered. "This is getting serious."