Special Agent

“I’m keeping my eyes open,” he vowed soberly.

“It’s not your eyes I’m worried about,” Katerina countered, “it’s your closed mind.” She turned her face to the window and added, “‘There is none so blind as he who will not see.’”

Max knew she was quoting scripture, although he couldn’t recall exactly where in the Bible that phrase was found. He didn’t mind her doing that. What bothered him was the slim possibility she might be right.

* * *

Katerina’s apartment was a tiny space above a boarded-up, vacant storefront on a side street in South Fork. It had been all she could find when she’d been ousted by her father and, although she was now employed, anything else was still beyond her budget. If she hadn’t worked at a diner, eating might have been, too. Not that she wanted anyone to know. The way she looked at it, as long as she had a roof over her head and enough to eat, she was blessed.

If the K-9 cop/agent was surprised by the appearance of her current dwelling in contrast to the posh Garwood Ranch he hid it well. That pleased her. She’d already had so-called friends from her ranch days turn up their noses at her efforts to make a home out of a veritable hovel. This handsome man with his perfectly pressed uniform and gleaming car never batted an eye.

“I’ll get Opal.” He eyed her scrubs and smiled. “That shade of green sure isn’t your color.”

Katerina returned his grin. “Oh, I don’t know. It matches my skin whenever I move too fast and get dizzy.”

He was chuckling to himself as he opened the hatchback and released his dog. Katerina waited to see what a boxer in uniform looked like. Since the idea was ludicrous she assumed the image would be, too. Opal, however, jumped down on command and stood at the ready, a picture of the perfect canine standing at attention as if she were a seasoned soldier ready to do battle.

“Can I pet her?” Katerina asked. “I don’t want to mess up her training.”

“Glad you asked. When our dogs are wearing their vests or special harnesses like this it’s best to keep your distance. I’ll let you play with her later. Okay?”

“Okay. She really is beautiful and impressive. I’m sorry I made fun of her breed.” Katerina continued to smile, only this time she was focused on the dog. “Please convey my sincere apologies?”

“Opal never holds a grudge,” Max said with a slight smirk. “I think you’ll enjoy watching her work. She’s intense when she’s on the trail of dangerous substances.”

“Wonderful. Well...” She eyed the building. “I’ll go on up and change before we go back to look at the ranch. That was what you wanted to do, right?”

“Right. After Opal and I have scoped out your apartment.”

It was hard for Katerina to stifle an unladylike snort. “I don’t think there’s much danger of anybody even finding this place, let alone wanting to blow it up. It will probably fall down on its own soon enough.”

“Still, we should go with you. Opal can always use the practice and there’s no lead on whoever was in your hospital room yesterday.”

Reminded of this, Katerina was willing to let him accompany her. After her recent close calls she was unsteady in more ways than one. Her nerves were firing like kernels of popcorn in a pan of hot oil and she didn’t like the feeling one bit.

“Okay. I have an outside stairway in the rear. That way I don’t have to bother opening the old hardware store to get in.”

“It looks unique.” Max squinted to peer through the dusty windows. “I almost expect a prospector to step out carrying a pickax and a gold pan.”

“You aren’t far wrong. The date over the doorway says the building goes back to the mid-1800s. I suspect it was expanded as needed during the gold rush.” She paused when she reached the base of the wooden stairway in the rear. “Single file from here. Be my guest.”

Max hesitated and raked her with a solemn stare. “If I didn’t have Opal to alert me, I might wonder if you wanted me to go first because you already knew it was dangerous.”

“Oh, for...” Katerina pushed past him and stomped up the stairs in her loose boots. The door wasn’t locked. Almost nobody in South Fork locked their homes. She straight-armed the door and barged in. One gasp and she skidded to a halt.

Max caught up. “What’s wrong?”

“Look! It’s awful!”

He took one peek and agreed. “Wow. I take it you’re usually a neater housekeeper than this.”

“Well, duh.” Katerina rolled her eyes cynically. “I never tear the stuffing out of my only chair just for fun. And I don’t have a pet tiger, so those slashes must have been made with a knife.”

He drew Opal closer with the leash and placed his other palm on the grip of his sidearm. “Wait here.”

He didn’t have to tell Katerina twice. Her boots felt nailed to the floor. Trembling, she watched the dog put its nose to the carpet and lead the handsome agent toward her bedroom. Was it simply searching for a scent or had it picked up the odor of an explosive? What if there was another bomb? What if it went off? She shivered involuntarily. The old hardware store was rickety at best and there was no telling what kind of combustibles might be stored below. She had never wondered before. Now she wished she’d been more paranoid.

Taut nerves insisted she not linger despite the agent’s orders to the contrary. Checking to see if he was visible and not seeing him or his dog, she began to sidle out the open door. One step. Two...

Max’s shout of “Hey!” startled her and she thought he was yelling at her until he added, “Federal agent. Freeze.”

Katerina tensed. A darkly clad figure came barreling toward her. There was no time to move before the onrushing man lowered a shoulder and smashed into her like a quarterback trying to make a touchdown. She spun. Fell. Heard more shouting and sensed someone jumping over her prone figure.

Wood cracked. Splintered. The outside railing gave way. A dog yipped. Opal!

Katerina flipped over and scrambled for footing. Her head was pounding. Her vision blurry. Unsure, she blinked rapidly, astounded.

Max was hanging from the remains of the broken railing by one hand while his canine partner clung to the partially collapsed stairway edge, legs splayed and claws digging in.

The moment Katerina peered over at him he shouted, “Get the dog!”

It never occurred to her to argue or hesitate. Only after she had hold of Opal’s harness and was hauling her to safety did she wonder why she hadn’t been bitten. As soon as the K-9 was out of the way, the agent swung a foot onto the edge of the step Opal had vacated and pulled himself up.

All three sat there, catching their breaths. Only the dog seemed unperturbed.

“Thanks,” Max said. “You okay?”

Katerina began to nod, then thought better of it. “Just peachy. I have a pounding headache, the whole county thinks I’m a crook, somebody is out to make an even bigger mess of my life than it already is, my ex sent a thug after me and we all could have been killed just now, even poor Opal. Otherwise, I guess I’m fine.”

“You guess?” His tone was gruff.

“Hey, don’t snap at me. I just saved your partner.”

“Did you get a look at the guy? Was it the same man as at the hospital? All I saw was a black hoodie and jeans.”

“I have no idea,” Katerina insisted. “He rushed me so fast I hardly knew what was happening. Where was he hiding?”

“Beats me. Must have been in the kitchen. He wasn’t in the living room or bedroom.” Standing, he reached for her hand. “Come on. You need to go in and see if anything’s missing. Since he was still here, I assume he didn’t find whatever he was looking for, but you should take a look.”

“I’m not going to like what I see, am I?” she asked warily as he pulled her to her feet.

“No, you’re not. Watch your step.”

Max kept hold of her hand as he led her back into the apartment. Opal followed, no longer acting concerned or even interested. That was a relief. Katerina was actually feeling pretty good until she saw her bedroom. Or what was left of it.

* * *

Max was impressed by this young woman’s inner strength. Most would have wept over the mess the thieves had made. Someone had destroyed her thin mattress down to the box springs, then torn the covering off it, too. There was no way she was going to be able to sleep there until replacements were found, and even then it wouldn’t be safe with the only easy exit missing part of its railing.

“We should leave the evidence as is until a crime scene team can look it over,” he said. “I’m not sure how much of your clothing is usable anyway.”

“It better be okay. I can’t afford to buy new.”

“I’m sure your father—”

“Don’t even go there,” she snapped. “My dad made it very clear that he wanted nothing more to do with me. I am not asking him for a thing.”

“Then how about appealing to your fiancé’s friends? I’m sure they have plenty of money.” Max hated to keep needling her but necessity and training insisted. All he’d need were a few new names and the investigation could head in a fresh direction. Making a seemingly nice young woman spitting mad was a small price to pay considering what he eventually hoped to get out of her.

During the course of most investigations he had no qualms about stirring up volatile emotions. In Katerina’s case, however, he found the method personally objectionable. Necessary, but distasteful.

The fire in her gaze and stubborn set of her jaw told him he might have hit the bull’s-eye. Instead of telling him off, however, she merely went to the dresser, stuffed a few things into a pillowcase and walked stiffly past him to the door.

“I’ve reported this incident,” Max said. “You can’t leave until the police get here.”

Katerina wheeled. One hand was clenched around the opening to the pillowcase and the other was fisted at her side. “I’ll be in the car.”

“Fine. And while you wait, think. What are they looking for? And who blew up the stable? Nobody becomes the focus of continuing attacks without reason. You must have a good idea who’s doing this, and the sooner you tell me, the sooner I’ll go away.”

Her nostrils flared, her cheeks turned red and she glared at him. “Maybe the same criminals did it all.”

“As a profiler, I find that highly unlikely, Ms. Garwood. Whoever set the bomb in the barn couldn’t have been looking for something you’d hidden there because they’d have taken a chance of losing it forever in an explosion and fire. This apartment, however, was ransacked but not destroyed. That tells me they didn’t find what they were searching for.”

“They’ll be back?” She chewed her lower lip. “Of course they will.” Color drained from her face, leaving her so pale Max worried she might be ready to keel over. There was only one thing to do. He phoned Dylan and briefed him, then asked, “Can you get me another room at that hotel where I’m staying? I need a place to put Ms. Garwood, at least for one night.”

Dylan’s response wasn’t as positive as Max had anticipated but the young woman’s wide-eyed astonishment helped him decide on an alternative. “All right. Do what you can. If I have to, I’ll give her my room and Opal and I will crash in the car. It won’t be the first time.”

Meeting Katerina’s gaze, he was startled to see unshed tears and even more surprised when she said, “You’d do that for me? When you still blame me for the bombing?”

“Let's just say you're a person of interest. Dylan will wrangle another room. Don’t worry. He always comes through for the team.”

A tear slipped silently down her cheek. She brushed it away. “You’re not nearly as tough and mean as you pretend to be, are you, Special Agent West?”

His “No comment” brought a soft laugh from her that reminded him of joy-filled times he’d thought he’d forgotten, times when life had seemed easy.

A few moments of looking into her eyes was almost more than Max’s heart could take. He turned away. If an impartial observer had accused him of emotionally closing down he would not have argued.

Katerina Garwood was as dangerous to his mental and emotional stability as the deadliest of criminals. The only thing that would save him was that he knew it.

FOUR

“I hope you’re going to tell me that your agency is picking up the tab for both hotel rooms,” Katerina said as Max concluded his business with the police and joined her with Opal. “Because if not, I’m going to be the one sleeping in the car.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

She rolled her eyes. “How can I not worry? I’ve been living from paycheck to paycheck and hoping for good tips ever since the ranch was raided and Vern was arrested. I’d expected my life to change but not the way it has.”

“Can’t you get a training job at another ranch?”

“Not around here. Not with my undeserved reputation.”

“Maybe your dad will mellow and invite you to come home?”

“Maybe. When it snows in Death Valley,” Katerina countered. “I’m not holding my breath.”

Max started the SUV. “The police don’t think the burglar left any clues. Neither do I, but they collected possible clues anyway. Are you sure the guy in your hospital room mentioned Kowalski’s name?”

“Yes. And no.” Katerina pulled a face and slowly shook her head. “At the time it happened I was positive. The more I think about how implausible it sounds, the more I doubt myself. I’m sorry. I know it’s hard for you to take anything I say at face value so it must be driving you crazy that I can’t tell for sure. Believe me, it isn’t easy being me right now.”

“That I can buy,” Max replied, with a twinkle in his eye. “I’ve made arrangements with a local sheriff’s deputy to deliver more of your clothing to the hotel after they finish going over the apartment. It’s the best I could do.”

“Female deputy, I hope.” Katerina felt her cheeks warming. “I guess I shouldn’t be picky but I’d feel better if a woman did it.”

“She’s a she.”

Katerina sighed and sagged back against the seat. “Good.”

“While you’re relaxing,” the agent said, “Why not close your eyes and try to picture the hospital room incident. Take it slow and let’s talk it through. You were sleeping and something woke you, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Her sleep-heavy lids lowered. The motion of the vehicle began to lull her. “I remember thinking how the nurses kept coming in to check on me. I heard that whooshing sound of a door opening and sensed a presence.”

“What did you see?”

“Nothing, at first. My eyes were closed. I told the person I was tired and wanted to be left alone.” She shivered. “That was when he put a hand over my mouth and pressed so hard he made my lip bleed again.”

“Could you have bumped it in your sleep, instead?”

“I had one arm strapped down with an IV and was lying on my back. It would be difficult to hit myself accidentally.”

“Okay. Go on.”

“I already told you the rest. The guy said Vern had sent him and wanted to talk to me.” Sensing Max’s attention, Katerina opened her eyes and looked toward him. He was scowling. “What?”

“That can’t be right,” Max said. “Kowalski’s in jail. There’s no way this so-called friend of his could have been taking you to him. Besides, why would he? All he’d have to do was tell you Vern wanted you to visit him.”

Puzzled, she mirrored his expression of doubt. “You’re right. Not that I want anything more to do with Vern or his buddies.”

“Are you sure he mentioned your fiancé’s name?”

“Former fiancé.” She grimaced. “Why would anybody pretend to be associated with a criminal? Do you suppose the man thought I was on the wrong side of the law, too?”

“He could have. That does seem to be the accepted opinion around here.”

“Don’t remind me. If I had the money I’d pack up and move away. Far away. I’m never going to escape my mistake otherwise.”

“And what mistake would that be?”

Max’s tone was even but the portent of his question chilled Katerina to the bone. “Falling in love, okay? I’m not talking about anything else and I really wish you and everybody else would quit gawking at me as if I were about to steal the family silver. I thought my dad was the worst offender until I met you, Agent West.”

To her chagrin her companion quirked a smile. “Glad to be of service.”

* * *

As he drove leisurely toward the historic hotel, Max made little further conversation. He wanted to grill his lovely passenger but decided to bide his time and let her fill the silence as most folks tended to do naturally. A lot of criminals were their own worst enemies in that regard. Either they couldn’t help boasting or they got to rambling on about something inconsequential and their subconscious led them to reveal clues before they realized they were doing it.

He chanced a sidelong look at Katerina. Sleep seemed to have overcome her. Her eyes were closed and she appeared totally relaxed. Little wonder. Now that the adrenaline rush from encountering the fleeing prowler had worn off he was weary, too. If there had been a café or gas station along the narrow, winding country road, he would have suggested they stop for coffee.

Katerina stirred. Yawned. Stretched, then winced as her bruised muscles obviously objected. “Where are we?”

“GPS says we’re halfway to the hotel. Is there any place along here to grab a decent bite to eat? I think we both need a break.”

She studied the bright dash screen and pointed to a section of road. “There’s a little hole-in-the-wall place there, in Fish Camp. Hard to know if they’ll be open, though. It’s more likely on weekends when long lines of tourists drive past on their way to Yosemite.”

“I understand it’s a pretty park.”

“Pretty?” Katerina shifted sideways and stared at him. “It’s amazing. You’ve never been there?”

“Nope. It was part of my briefing for this assignment but thankfully I’ve had no reason to go there on business.”

“You never get a vacation?”

“I could if I wanted time off. It’s not a top priority.” He didn’t have to be looking at her to interpret the sound of disgust she made.

“I don’t believe it,” Katerina huffed. “You face death on a daily basis, yet you don’t take the time to smell the roses. What kind of life is that?”

“The kind I prefer,” he replied, sobering and clenching the wheel more tightly. There had been a time when he’d had plans to start a family, to behave the way so-called normal people did. That idea had ended abruptly when a traffic accident had claimed his fiancée’s life. Max had then thrown himself into his work and found the solace that otherwise escaped him. He saw no reason to rethink a lifestyle that had been working well for the past three years.

“Up there.” Katerina distracted him by leaning forward and pointing toward his side of the road. “See the weathered red-and-white building? That’s it.”

Incredulous, he nevertheless slowed and signaled for a left turn. “It’s still in business?”

“Last I heard. I don’t get out here much these days. Which reminds me. You never said anything about my pickup. Is it totaled?”

“Probably. The local police had it towed into South Fork to clear the scene. I’ll find out for you.”

“Thanks. Again.” She pulled a face. “I’m getting sick of having to thank you for helping me when I know you have ulterior motives. I suppose, when you figure out I really am innocent, you’ll hit the road and I’ll never see you again.”

“That is likely. My headquarters is in Billings, Montana.”

“And you were sent clear down here? Weren’t there any bomb-sniffing dogs in California?”

“I really can’t discuss it.”

“Can’t, or won’t?” she asked.

“Both. Let’s just say it’s classified and drop it, okay?”

Max was concentrating on his rearview mirror as he made the left turn. To his surprise, a battered old dump truck behind them turned and parked by the weathered building, too.

Katerina pressed him. “Well, what can you tell me?”

He chose to refrain from explaining his elite FBI unit but he did shrug and try to divert her attention. “Do you recognize that truck? I think it may be following us.”

“What do you mean, following us? When did you notice it? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Don’t panic. Most criminals prefer better, faster wheels so I doubt it’s a problem.” He saw her shade her eyes and squint at the rusty, dented truck. If its engine was as decrepit as the rest of it, they had nothing to worry about.

“I don’t...” Katerina began before a sharp inhalation. “Oh, no.”

“What? What is it?”

“Shadowed like that, the driver reminds me of the man in the hospital. Doesn’t he look like the prowler we chased, too?”

“Maybe. There’s one good way to find out. Stay here.”

Max undid his seat belt and the safety on his holster with one fluid motion, then opened the door on his side and stepped out. Keeping the SUV between himself and the much larger truck, he pivoted toward it and studied the vehicle silently. If the other driver had ignored him he wouldn’t have grown more apprehensive. However, instead of proceeding into the snack shop the way a normal traveler would, the man behind the wheel froze and returned Max’s steady stare.

That was not a good sign. He started to circle the front of his own vehicle, intent on confronting the truck driver.

A second man occupied the passenger seat. Max rested his palm on the grip of his sidearm. No one spoke.

The engine of the old truck revved, proving that it was far from ancient. The hair at the nape of Max’s neck prickled. Something was very wrong. If both men got out and rushed Katerina, could he protect her? He and Opal probably could, although he was loathe to endanger his K-9 partner unless it was absolutely necessary.

Max raised one hand, palm out and open. “Afternoon. Can I help you fellas?”

Neither man responded. Max reached for his badge. “Federal agent. Please keep your hands where I can see them and get out of the vehicle slowly. One at a time. Driver first.”

Instead, the men ducked out of sight. Because the cab of the older truck sat so high off the ground, Max was no longer able to see them from where he stood. He started to draw his gun. The engine roared, drowning out his shouted order to stop. No officer of the law would discharge his weapon under those circumstances and apparently the men in the truck knew it. The driver backed into the road, quickly reversed and ground gears to start forward.

Max ran back to Katerina, slid behind the wheel and grabbed his radio to alert local police, then commanded, “Fasten your seat belt.”

“We’re not going to chase them, are we? I mean, how fast can they possibly go in that old truck? It’s on its last legs.”

“Don’t be so sure. It sounds as if they have a new engine under their hood. Until reinforcements catch up to us we’re going to keep them in sight. If they really are connected to Kowalski I don’t want to lose them.”

She braced herself as they took off in a squeal of rubber. “You think they are, don’t you?”

“What I think is unimportant. It’s what we discover after they’re pulled over and searched that counts.”

“I’d rather walk,” Katerina yelled. “Let me out.”

He couldn’t, of course. If the men knew her by sight he’d be able to tell by observing their initial expressions when confronted. If they were merely unrelated lawbreakers he’d see that, too. Katerina had to be with him when the stop was made. This was too perfect a scenario to waste. Besides, if he let her out, she’d be vulnerable.

“We’re staying together,” Max yelled back at her. “It’s safer.”

“Doesn’t look like it to me!”

Her blue eyes were wide, one hand fisted on the grip above the passenger door, the other grasping the edge of the seat. Yes, Katerina was fearful, but there was also a sense of wild adventure about her. Under different circumstances he might have guessed she was having the kind of fun a lot of folks experienced on a roller coaster.

Had their current situation not had the potential to turn deadly, Max might have chuckled out loud.