Driving Force

Gus was all for putting a stop to selling children into slavery. He’d seen too many atrocities toward children during his deployments as a Force Reconnaissance marine in the Middle East where little girls of six and seven years of age were married off to grown men.

His stomach clenched at the thought of what those little girls endured. But tonight was about glitz and glamour. Yeah, he would be completely out of his element. Give him an M4A1 rifle, camouflage paint and a mission to take out some terrorists and he would be more comfortable. Dressed in a black tuxedo that made him look like a really tall penguin with his face shaved to within an inch of his life, he wasn’t feeling it. And the damned tie...

“Here, let me.” The team’s benefactor, Charlotte Halverson, didn’t ask them to play bodyguard to her very often, but when she did, she wanted them to blend in, not stick out. Thus, the tuxedo at a black-tie event. The older woman tugged and pulled at the bow tie until she was satisfied. Then she patted his cheek with a smile. “You look magnificent.” She turned her smile to the team leader, Declan O’Neill. “Both of you look wonderful. I’ll be the envy of the ball. The gossiping old biddies will be jealous that I have two very handsome men escorting me.” She winked. “We don’t have to tell anyone that you’re my bodyguards. Although, I’m sure they’ll figure that out.” Charlie chuckled. “I haven’t gone to many galas since my husband’s death, but this is one I can’t miss. This organization meant a lot to John. He would want me to continue to support their efforts.”

“We don’t mind going. You’ve done so much for our group we can’t begin to repay you,” Declan said. He hadn’t had any difficulties at all with his tie. He stood straight and tall in his tuxedo like he owned it, though it was rented.

“Oh, shush. You and your men are helping me realize a dream. One my husband had, as well. What you’ve done so far to help others is phenomenal. Declan’s Defenders is exactly what I’d hoped for. I’m just sorry I’m using you for bodyguard duty tonight.”

“Since we aren’t otherwise assigned, we’re glad to do it. Heck, we’re glad to do it anytime.” Declan lifted her hand and stood back. “You look stunning.”

Charlie’s cheeks reddened. “Thank you. We should get going. Arnold is chauffeuring us tonight. I don’t want to keep him waiting.”

Gus followed Charlie and Declan out of the widow’s mansion to the waiting limousine. Mack Balkman would lead in a dark SUV and Jack Snow would follow to make sure nothing happened on their way to the Mayflower Hotel.

Charlie had already been the target of a kidnapping attempt in DC. Declan had been there when it happened and saved her from being taken. That incident had led to all six of the former Force Recon team being employed, forming Declan’s Defenders.

The timing could not have been better. After being processed out of the marines with dishonorable discharges for disobeying a direct order, they’d been basically unemployable and out on the streets. Charlie had given them jobs and hope.

Gus would do anything for that woman. Including dressing up in a tuxedo to go to a black-tie gala in DC. She’d saved them all from being homeless veterans living on the streets.

Forty minutes later, after navigating traffic into the downtown district, they arrived at the Mayflower and handed off their vehicles to the valet. Gus and Declan would go inside with Charlie, while Mack, Snow and Arnold guarded the outside perimeter.

Gus counted four guards at the entrance to the hotel. A red carpet had been rolled out for the arriving guests. Ahead of them, reporters leaned over the cordon ribbon to snap pictures of a pop rock singing sensation who’d brought her latest boyfriend to the event.

Charlie waited for the young woman and her date to move on before she moved closer.

As before, the reporters leaned over the tape and snapped photos of Charlie, one of the city’s leading benefactors. Gus understood that in DC, Charlie was as much of a celebrity as the singer. She and her husband had given so much to many of the nonprofits and helped hospitals and communities with their generosity.

Gus stood beside her, trying not to blink at every camera flash, watching the crowds for anyone who might pose a threat to his boss.

Behind them, another limousine pulled up. The reporters abandoned Charlie for the latest celebrity sighting.

Finally, they were able to move into the building. Just inside the door stood two more security guards and a woman with an electronic tablet checking names against those on her list.

“Good evening, Mrs. Halverson. We’re so very glad you could make it to the gala this year.” The woman glanced up from her tablet and smiled. She looked from Declan to Gus. “Which one of you is Mr. O’Neill?”

Declan nodded. “I am.”

“Thank you.” She turned to Gus. “And you must be Mr. Walsh.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Gus said.

The woman chuckled. “Please, don’t call me ma’am. I’m not that old.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Gus said again. “Miss.”

She smiled again and backed up a step. “We hope you enjoy the evening, and thank you for supporting the children who need it the most.”

Mrs. Halverson swept past the woman and the guards.

Gus and Declan had to hustle to keep up with her. Once they cleared the spacious foyer, hotel staff directed them into the grand ballroom.

Already, there were hundreds of guests mingling and visiting with each other, all dressed in their finest. Men in black tuxedoes and women wearing sparkling dresses in silver, gold, blue, red and more.

The crush of people made Gus nervous. How were they supposed to keep Charlie safe when any one of the guests could easily get close enough to jab a knife into the widow?

Gus found himself stepping in front of Charlie every time someone approached.

“Gus,” Charlie said. “It’s okay. These people are harmless. They were all screened by the event coordinator. Now, scoot back and let me mingle with the people who paid a lot of money to support the charity. It’s the least I can do to ensure this organization gets the funding needed to help the children.” Charlie marched forward to a group of men and women, smiling and greeting every one of them by name.

Declan touched Gus’s arm. “She should be okay,” he said, though his attention continued to be directed at Charlie and the people surrounding her.

The widow laughed at what someone in the group said. Another man with a black tuxedo and a crooked bow tie approached Charlie.

The hairs on the back of Gus’s neck spiked. He started forward, expecting Declan’s arm to shoot out.

His leader didn’t slow him down a bit. Instead, he stepped out with Gus and swung wide around the man heading for Charlie.

Gus headed straight for the man and clamped a hand on his shoulder.

Declan stepped in front of him at the same time.

The man frowned. “Excuse me—is there something you want?”

“We’re here with Mrs. Halverson,” Declan said.

“Exactly who I wanted to speak with.” The man looked past Declan. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just have a word with her.”

Gus didn’t loosen his hold on the man’s shoulder. “You won’t mind if we check you for weapons, will you?”

The gentleman’s eyes rounded. “What?”

Gus ran his hands down the man’s sides, patting his tuxedo jacket for bulges.

“I beg your pardon.” The guy backed out of Gus’s reach. “I do mind being treated like a criminal.”

“Gus, Declan, what are you doing?” Charlie’s voice sounded behind Declan.

“The man was converging on you at a high rate of speed,” Gus explained. “We’re making sure he isn’t carrying a weapon.”

“Good Lord.” Charlie stepped between Gus and the man. “This is Joseph Morley, the event reporter. He always features me in his account of this gala.” She turned to Joseph. “Please excuse my overzealous bodyguards. They don’t know everyone.”

Morley straightened his jacket and gave Charlie a tight smile. “At least they have your best interests at heart.”

“Yes, they do. I can’t fault them for that.” She gave Declan and Gus each a narrow-eyed glare. “But they can stand back and let me have a little space while we’re here.”

Heat rushed into Gus’s cheeks. How was he supposed to know who was friend and who was foe?

Declan and Gus took the clue and stepped back, allowing Charlie a chance to visit with Morley.

“I don’t like how close everyone is to Charlie,” Gus admitted.

“I know what you mean.” Declan pressed his lips in a tight line. “But we can’t smother her. She’s already angry with us for assaulting the reporter.”

“I didn’t assault him,” Gus said. “I only patted him down.”

Declan’s lips twitched. “Find anything?”

“No,” Gus admitted.

“Then we should just stand back and let Charlie do her thing. As long as we keep an eye on her, she should be all right.”

Gus nodded. “Sounds like a plan that will work for her.”

For the next hour, they followed Charlie around the ballroom as she spoke with everyone, laughed, joked and talked about the need for funds to help keep children from being sold and trafficked in the US as well as abroad.

“Gentlemen, I shall be retiring to the ladies’ room for a few minutes.” She held up her hand. “I will not need your services in that area. Feel free to get a beverage and some of the appetizers. I don’t plan on being here more than another hour.”

Gus clamped down on his tongue to keep from saying thank God. He’d read that the gala started around 6:00 p.m. and didn’t end until well into the wee hours of the morning.

At least Charlie didn’t feel the need to dance into the night. She’d made that clear up front. They’d stay for a couple hours and then head home.

One hour down, one to go.

The patent-leather shoes he’d rented with the tuxedo were chafing at his ankles. He’d love it if he could kick off the shoes and walk barefoot through the crowd.

Gus and Declan followed Charlie through the throng of beautifully dressed people toward the hallway where the facilities were located. They gave her just enough room that she wouldn’t feel crowded but stayed sufficiently close to get to her should someone try to jump her.

Out of the corner of his eye, Gus noticed a woman dressed in a long figure-hugging black gown standing near a giant potted tree. She had hair as black and silky as her dress and deep, dark eyes almost as black as her outfit. Striking was the word Gus would use to describe her. But what drew his attention to her was that her gaze never left Charlie. It followed her all the way into the ladies’ room.

“Wanna go for that drink or appetizers while I stay and guard the door?” Declan asked.

“No,” Gus said, his attention on the woman in black.

Declan must have heard something in Gus’s voice. He frowned, glancing around. “Something bothering you?”

“My gut is sending up warning flags,” Gus murmured.

Declan stiffened. “About?”

With barely a lift of his chin, Gus motioned toward the woman in black. “Her.”

“Wow. She screams black widow in that killer dress,” Declan said. “You are talking about the black-haired beauty near the potted tree, right?”

“I am.”

The woman looked left, then right. She spotted Declan and Gus and the slightest frown appeared and then disappeared on her brow.

“Did you see that?” Gus asked. “She frowned when she noticed us watching her.”

“I thought I imagined it, but yes. I saw it.” Declan turned his attention to Gus and smiled. “I’ll pretend we’re having a manly discussion about sports or something while you continue to watch.” His grin broadened, and he spoke a little louder. “How about those Patriots?”

“You know I’m an Alabama fan,” Gus said, also in a conversational volume. In a whisper, he added, “She’s moving.”

“Which way?” Declan asked. “Alabama is college football. The Patriots are a real team.”

“Toward us,” Gus muttered without moving his lips. Then he snorted. “I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”

“Yeah. You watch your team. I’ll watch mine.”

The woman in black sailed past them, her head held high, her silky black hair flowing around her shoulders, her chin tilted upward, displaying a long, regal neck.

Damn she was beautiful. But something about her didn’t fit in with the other women in the room. She was thin, but athletic, and she walked with confidence and purpose.

Perhaps it was the purpose that made her different than the other women in the room. Most were content to socialize and mingle. Not the woman in black. She appeared to have something on her mind and was in a hurry to get it off.

“Passing you now,” Gus said, his gaze remaining on the ladies’ restroom as the woman in black walked away.

“Got her in sight,” Declan affirmed. “Appears to be in a hurry.”

“Unlike every other woman in the room.”

“Maybe she forgot to let the dog out at home.”

“Yeah.” Gus relaxed a little, since the woman in black appeared to be leaving and, as such, no longer seemed a threat.

Charlie emerged from the ladies’ room laughing and talking to another guest similar in age to the wealthy widow. When she spotted Gus and Declan, she nodded, letting them know she was okay. Then she walked away with the other woman, rejoining the crowd in the ballroom.

Gus and Declan followed, not too far behind.

Several men came between Charlie, Gus and Declan.

Before Gus or Declan could work their way around the group of men, the woman in black appeared beside Charlie and hooked her elbow in her grip.

“She’s back, and she’s got Charlie,” Gus said to Declan.

Gus shoved his way through the men, without excusing himself. He didn’t have time for pleasantries when someone had Charlie and was leading her toward an exit door.

Caught in the group of men, Declan fell behind.

Trying not to stir up panic, Gus half walked, half ran after the two women who disappeared through the exit door into another part of the grand hotel.

His heart beating faster, Gus gave up trying to keep it cool and broke into a sprint, hitting the exit door hard, just seconds behind the two women.

The woman in black was hustling Charlie toward another door at the end of the hallway, talking in a low tone as they moved.

Charlie skipped to keep up.

Her abductor shot a glance over her shoulder, spotted Gus and glared.

“Stop!” Gus shouted.

The woman didn’t follow his command, just kept moving, dragging Charlie along with her.

Unencumbered by another person, Gus caught up to the two women as they reached the exit door to the outside.

“Gus,” Charlie looked over her shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Let go of Mrs. Halverson,” he demanded.

“Not until I have some answers,” she said. “She’s the only one who can help.”

Gus pulled the gun from beneath his jacket and pointed it at the woman. “Let go of Mrs. Halverson.”

The black-haired woman released her hold on Charlie and raised her hands. “I don’t want to hurt her. I need to talk to her.”

“Then set up an appointment when she’s not at an event and when we can properly vet you,” Gus said. “For all we know, you could be a criminal. Perhaps you should come with me and talk to the security guards. Are you even a registered guest?”

The woman’s eyes widened briefly. Then as if a shutter slid down over her face, she became completely expressionless. “No.”

“No, you’re not a guest?”

“No, I won’t go with you to the security guards.” She backed up a step, then another.

“Charlie, get behind me,” Gus warned.

“It’s okay. She said she wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Please, do as I say,” Gus insisted.

Charlie frowned, but moved behind him.

“Now, either you come with me willingly, or my partner and I will take you there unwillingly. Your choice.”

She shook her head. “I can’t.” In a flash, she turned and slammed against the door, pushing it outward enough to slip through and out into the night.

Declan came running down the hallway. “Charlie, are you all right?”

“I’m fine, but I don’t think that woman is.” Charlie shook her head.

“Stay with Charlie,” Gus said. “I’m going after her.”

“I’ve got her,” Declan said. “Go.”

Gus raced through the door and out into the night. Two guards caught him before he’d gone three steps. They pulled his arms up behind him and disarmed him. “What the hell. Let me go. There’s a woman I need to catch.”

“She said you’d come flying out the door after her,” the guard holding his right arm said.

“She also said you had a gun and you were going to kill her.” The man on the left held his pistol.

“I have a conceal carry license. I’m here as bodyguard to Charlotte Halverson. That woman tried to abduct her. You should have captured her, not me.”

“Right. And I’m Santa Claus.” The guard on the right snickered.

Two men raced around the side of the building and ground to a stop, silhouettes in the darkness.

“Gus?” one of them said. “Did you find her?”

“Mack? Snow?” Gus called out.

“Yeah,” Mack responded. “What’s the problem?”

“She got away, thanks to these guards.”

“Don’t come any closer, or I’ll shoot,” said the guard holding Gus’s Glock.

Mack and Snow held up their hands. “Don’t shoot. We’re here as bodyguards to Charlotte Halverson.”

“I told them the same, but they’re not buying it,” Gus said. “Call Declan. Tell him to notify the man in charge of security that their guards are holding up the wrong person.”

The guard holding his arm up between his shoulder blades pushed it up higher.

“Hey, you don’t have to break it,” Gus said. “I’m not fighting you.”

Gus could hear Mack talking to Declan through his headset. A moment later, the radios clipped to the belts of the guards holding him hostage both squawked.

“Peterson, Rawlings, check the identification of the man you’re holding,” the voice said. “If his name is Augustus Walsh, you can release him. He’s here with Charlotte Halverson and needs to get back to her.”

The man holding his arm gave it one last shove up between his shoulder blades before he released it. “Sorry,” he said, though he really didn’t sound sorry at all. “Just doing our jobs.”

“I get it,” Gus said. “I was, too.” He rubbed his sore arm. “If you see that woman again, detain her. She tried to take off with Mrs. Halverson.”

“We will.” The guard holding his weapon handed it back. “No harm, no foul.”

“Yeah.” Gus holstered his Glock and straightened his tuxedo jacket. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to get back to work.”

“By all means.” The guard who’d jacked up his arm waved him by. “You’ll have to go back around to the front of the building. The door you came through doesn’t open from this side.”

Gus took off, jogging. He met up with Mack and Snow.

“Did you see a black-haired woman in a long black dress?”

Mack and Snow both shook their heads.

“If you do, keep an eye on her. She tried to take off with Charlie.” Gus moved past his teammates, hurrying back to the entrance of the hotel. Declan was capable of handling Charlie’s safety on his own, but Gus wanted to be there in case the woman in black returned for a second attempt.

Chapter Three

She should have known Charlotte Halverson would have multiple bodyguards protecting her. A woman of her wealth and status might as well have a target on her back at all times. A person could collect a significant amount of ransom money if he successfully abducted her.

Money wasn’t her goal with the Halverson woman. Answers were worth much more to her. Why did she have those coordinates on her wrist? Why did she have a Trinity-knot tattoo? Why had she been detained and tortured in Syria? Why had she been there in the first place?

More than anything...who was she?

All the effort she’d gone to in order to gain access to the gala had been a bust. All she needed was to talk to the Halverson woman and no one else. At this point, she wasn’t going to risk interaction with a single soul other than Halverson. If the woman’s bodyguard hadn’t been so attentive she might have gotten her alone long enough to figure out the puzzle of her existence. Now she was back to square one. Not even square one. The bodyguards would think she had tried to abscond with the rich widow. They wouldn’t let her anywhere near her now, and she still didn’t know if she could trust anyone other than Halverson.

Once she’d made it past the guards, she’d circled the entire building, counting the number of security personnel on the outside at every entry or exit point. The only reason she’d gotten through the first time was she’d gone in as one of the housekeeping staff, with her dress and shoes tucked beneath the uniform she’d pilfered from the back of a laundry van. She’d helped clean rooms, stating she was new.

Eventually, she slipped out of sight and hid in one of the unoccupied rooms until close to time for the gala to begin. She’d showered, dressed and applied the makeup she’d borrowed from one of the rooms. The shoes had belonged to one of the guests at the hotel. Appropriately dressed, she’d found her way down a staff elevator to the kitchen and from there into the ballroom after a majority of the people had already arrived. She’d mixed and mingled as if she belonged until she’d spotted Charlotte Halverson.

Thankfully, by the time she’d made it to DC, her bruises had faded enough that makeup covered them. The swelling around her eye had all but disappeared.

Now, standing outside the Mayflower Hotel, frustration ate a hole in her gut. The only keys she had to her identity were the tattoo on her wrist and the woman inside, and she was stuck outside. Without a coat, the cool air wrapped around her, raising gooseflesh on her skin. She wrapped her arms around her middle and stared at the Mayflower Hotel wishing she had one more chance. Just one more chance was all she needed with Charlotte Halverson.

THE WOMAN IN the black dress haunted Gus. All the way around the massive hotel he searched the shadows for her. Damn the security guard for stopping him from capturing her and getting answers about why she’d tried to take Charlie.

Did she want to take Charlie away and hold her for ransom? Had the Halversons wronged her or someone in her family, requiring retribution? Was there another reason she’d tried to get close to Charlie, to give her something, tell her something?

Mostly, he couldn’t forget the brown-black eyes filled with mystery and a touch of sadness.

Who was she?

Once again, he had to run the gauntlet of the security personnel at the front door and the woman holding the tablet with the list of names of persons who were allowed inside.

Gus wondered if the woman in black was on that list. If not, how had she managed to get past the security personnel? And if she was able to get past them, who else had done the same?

That thought made him worry that much more. Once his ID had been compared to the names on the roster, he hurried to find Declan and Charlie.

Making a beeline for the ballroom, he searched the faces, finally finding Declan, who stood with Charlie at the far end of the ballroom. Declan was easy to spot. He was a good head taller than most of the women and many of the men in attendance.

Gus worked his way around the side of the room, refusing to make eye contact with anyone, in case they waylaid him and tried to strike up a conversation. He wasn’t in the mood to talk to strangers. Except maybe the woman in the black dress.

Ten minutes had passed since he’d left Charlie and Declan inside the hotel to chase after the woman who got away.

“Everything okay?” he asked when he finally reached them.