Читать книгу Killer Harvest - Tanya Stowe - Страница 13

Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

Sassa Nilsson stopped in her tracks as her mentor, supervisor and close friend, Dr. Sam Kruger, slowed his pace. All she wanted was to grab their car from the San Francisco airport parking lot and head home to her baby. Instead, Sam halted...again. He pushed his glasses on top of his gray head and stared off into the distance—a nervous habit Sassa knew quite well.

She dragged her suitcase around him then stopped and looked back. “For someone anxious to get home, you are stalling.”

He nodded as if jarred from a serious thought. “Stalling...yes. Yes, I am.” He pulled his glasses down, straightened his spine and headed toward the elevators.

This “trip of a lifetime” had turned into a nightmare. Sassa had been Sam’s assistant for almost five years but she’d never attended even a local meeting with him. Life always seemed to get in the way. The international conference in China with the world’s leading plant biologists and agriculture experts was supposed to be a dream come true. But soon after they’d arrived, Sam received a phone call. His wife, June, was ill...so ill that his incredible focus was shot to pieces. Sassa had not seen him this disturbed since he’d received word last year that his son, Christopher, had been killed in Afghanistan. That loss had almost destroyed Sam. He might not have recovered if Sassa hadn’t had her baby.

Keri’s birth six months ago had put joy and meaning back into Sam’s life...as well as Sassa’s. This trip was her first away from the baby for any length of time and it was supposed to be a crowning achievement...for both of them since she helped put together Sam’s presentation. Instead she’d watched in horror as Sam bumbled through his lecture on plant viruses and bio-terrorism—meant to be the highlight of the conference. He’d managed to pull it together and make his point of how easily a plant virus could wipe out the world’s crops and food sources, but he hadn’t come across as the expert he was. He was brilliant, even gifted, which was why, as a professor at the relatively midsize California State University at Fresno, he’d still been awarded a massive grant to study plant pathogens.

Sassa knew Sam too well. Either June was gravely ill or something else was seriously wrong.

The elevator doors opened to an almost empty luggage area. With dawn just peeking over the horizon, crowds were light. Sassa and the professor were among the first of the flight passengers to arrive at the luggage carousel. Sam’s nervous gaze bounced around the empty baggage area as if searching for something. At last the machine clicked on and the carousel began to spin around.

“Sassa.” Sam took her arm. “My dear, I might not be driving home with you.”

“What?” Sassa spun. “You’ve been desperate to get home and see June. What do you mean?”

“A young man is coming to meet me. His name is Jared De Luca. He’s a friend. It’s just...he’ll probably be in uniform. A border patrol uniform.”

Sassa stared at him. “Sam, what is going on? What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “It’s best you know nothing. I want to protect you and precious Keri.”

“Protect us from what? You’re scaring me, Sam. Tell me what’s going on. Is June really ill?”

“No. I’m not sure where June is. I haven’t been able to reach her since we left.”

“What?”

She stared at her mentor. June was missing? Sam was afraid for Sassa and the baby? He stumbled over his words, searching for a way to explain.

Over his shoulder, Sassa spotted a man walking toward them. Was this Sam’s Jared? He wasn’t wearing a uniform. He wore a black leather jacket, black pants and sunglasses, even though the sun had barely risen. He looked odd. Something about his hair...it looked fake. Even his skin appeared almost waxen as he marched toward them relentlessly, like a robot.

A walking, live robot. Like the terminator from the movie.

Sam noticed her distraction and turned. He gasped and stepped toward the stranger.

“No...”

Without hesitation, the robotic newcomer pulled a knife from beneath his leather jacket, lunged and stabbed the older man. Sassa stood frozen as Sam cried out and bent over into the man’s leather-clad arms. The terminator man pulled his knife from Sam’s chest. As the professor sagged to the ground, the guy grabbed the strap of Sam’s laptop bag, cut it free of his shoulder and spun, marching for the sliding-glass doors of the exit. Sassa watched the whole scene, frozen and speechless. She wasn’t able to make a sound until Sam hit the floor.

She screamed his name and dropped beside him. Blood flowed from her friend’s chest and bubbled from his mouth. Sassa cried out again, knowing Sam was mortally wounded.

“Call 9-1-1!” she screamed at the other passengers moving toward them. “Someone call for help!”

Sam struggled to speak to her.

“Don’t talk, Sam. Help is on the way.”

He shoved his wrist at her, the one holding his ID bracelet.

She bent over him. “Please don’t move.” Tears fell onto his wrist and the bracelet, tears she didn’t even know she was shedding.

Sam shook his head again and tried to form a word. She leaned forward to hear him whisper, “Yours.”

Then his head fell back against the cement floor with a jarring thud.

Jared De Luca stood in a corner of the interrogation room while FBI Special Investigator Daniel Kopack put Sassa Nilsson through the ringer. Jared kept his promise to remain silent, but crossed his arms tightly to hold in his frustration. He was fortunate they’d even let him in the room. Speaking up would get him tossed out.

All the while his mind ran through one refrain: if only... If only he’d convinced his superiors at the border patrol to take the threats against Dr. Kruger seriously when he’d contacted Jared a year ago. If only he hadn’t taken leave, been away from his office when Sam had tried to reach him during the China trip. Sam and Sassa were three days into the conference before Jared learned that June Kruger was missing.

If only there hadn’t been a struggle over jurisdiction before anyone had taken action. Was it the border patrol, the FBI or Homeland Security’s job to investigate Sam’s claims? Well, now that he’d been murdered, the job obviously fell under the FBI’s rule and the capable hands of Agent Kopack. In spite of all Jared’s words to the contrary, the man continued to assume Sassa knew about Sam’s involvement with the Black Knights.

She didn’t. Over the months and the multiple phone conversations he and Sam had shared, the good doctor had assured Jared time and again that Sassa knew nothing. Absolutely nothing. Sam couldn’t keep the fact that he was being harassed by the environmental terrorist group from his wife, but he’d done everything he could to keep Sassa and her “precious Keri” safe. Sam had always referred to Sassa’s baby as “precious Keri.”

Sam had also stated that Sassa should have been called Sassy instead. She had spark and fire. She wouldn’t have sat by silently, waiting for the Black Knights to act. Those were the instructions issued to Sam by Jared’s superiors. The doctor had assured Jared that Sassa would have made something happen. Another reason he’d kept the information from her. He didn’t want her getting into trouble with the authorities. All to no purpose.

Now she was right in the middle of this disaster and definitely didn’t look sassy.

Her round face seemed hollowed out. Dark circles, leftovers from a twelve-hour flight, rimmed her eyes. Tears had washed all her mascara into smudges beneath. Add to all that a red nose, puffy lips and long blond hair tied in a messy knot on top. The woman was bedraggled, exhausted and in shock. She didn’t deserve what Kopack was putting her through and it was all Jared could do to keep silent. He couldn’t give them a reason to kick him out.

The entire situation was beyond frustrating. Not to mention the fact that Kopack asked all the wrong questions. No wonder Sassa appeared to have mentally checked out.

In her hand, she clutched an ID bracelet. Sam’s, of course. He’d seen it on the man’s wrist many times during their phone/video chats. When had Sassa unhooked it from her boss’s wrist? Why was she clutching it so tightly her knuckles turned white and her fingers red? Those were the important questions, not the accusatory ones Kopack kept throwing at her.

The agent leaned back in his chair. His self-assured manner grated Jared’s nerves. He stared at Sassa for a long time before leaning forward. “What do you know about the Black Knights?”

For the first time life came into Sassa’s blue eyes. She studied Kopack awhile before she drew her tongue over chapped lips. “I know they’re not what they say they are.”

“How’s that?”

Now a real spark came into her gaze. “They say they’re an environmental group, concerned with the future of the planet. But they’re really environmental terrorists.”

Kopack nodded. “What connection did Dr. Kruger have with the Black Knights?”

Another spark flashed in that blue gaze. Sassy Sassa had finally showed up but Jared feared her timing was all wrong. “He contacted them with questions about their organization, but he had no long-term connection with them.”

“I beg to differ. We have emails. He exchanged emails with the group’s leader for several months.”

She nodded. “He did, a long time ago. Right after his son died in Afghanistan. Sam went through a rough patch. He was angry at the government...at the world. He wanted to do something, be part of a change. But as soon as he discovered the group’s real goals, he broke contact with them.”

“Not true. We have emails from two months ago.”

“They were harassing him. He promised me he’d report them. Surely you know that.”

Kopack shrugged. “They wanted the formula.”

Sassa’s lips parted and her gaze widened even more. Smart girl. She caught on faster than most. Sam had said she was one of his brightest students.

“There is no formula.” Her tone hardened like bronzed steel.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded again. “Yes, I’m sure. I helped Sam destroy all our notes and information after the accident. We were working in a closed container. Sam was so cautious—he always insisted on closed containers. We had a strain of Xylella Fastidiosa and he was attempting to apply another strain of staph—” She halted and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Our equipment failed. The arm broke, dropped a large quantity of one strain onto the virus plate then the arm fell to the bottom of the container. Sam sealed off the arm, then went back to sterilize the plate. The virus had multiplied so fast you could see it with the naked eye. It scared us.”

“Why?”

Kopack was playing dumb. He knew exactly why.

Sassa’s sigh sounded frustrated. “It was a pathogen. A virus that kills plants. It had multiplied with nothing to feed on.” Kopack’s blank look frustrated her more. “Don’t you understand? The virus was growing, even without a host or a carrier. That meant it could attach to any plant, any crop and destroy it in hours or days. Airborne, it could travel the world and kill every living plant in its path. Sam tried to eradicate it. Nothing worked. Finally, he was forced to fry the equipment, everything in the container, with a blowtorch. It frightened him so much, he ordered me to wipe out all of our files so it couldn’t be repeated. We hadn’t recorded much, but I personally wiped most of what was there off the computer systems in the lab.”

She leveled her gaze on Kopack. “I know there’s no formula because it was an accident. We couldn’t repeat it because we shredded what info we wrote down and what was online, we deleted. I did it myself.”

Kopack shook his head. “Oh, there’s a formula...and the Black Knights knew your mentor had found it. That’s what they were after when they killed him. They stole his computer bag. Didn’t you wonder why, Ms. Nilsson? By the way, what is your real name? Up until a year ago you were known as Sassa Larsen.”

Her jaw stiffened and Jared winced.

Don’t lose your cool now, Sassa. Don’t you see he’s baiting you?

“I’m divorced. I preferred to go back to my maiden name.”

“Where is Mr. Larsen?”

“I haven’t a clue. Probably at the closest casino. He’s not my problem anymore.”

“On the contrary, he might be your biggest problem. As you noted, your ex is always looking for money. Is it possible he offered to get the formula for the Black Knights for a price?”

Her lips parted. “I haven’t seen Erik in over a year. He has yet to lay eyes on his own daughter.”

“Then how did the Black Knights discover the formula?”

She closed her eyes. “There...is...no...formula.”

Slowly, Kopack turned in his seat and leveled his gaze on Jared.

“What do you say, Officer De Luca? Is there a formula?”

Thanks, man. Way to put me on the spot.

Jared sighed, hooked his thumbs on his gun belt and met Sassa’s wide-eyed stare. “Yes. There is.”

Sassa stared at the tall stranger in the corner. Black hair, slightly wavy. High cheekbones and dark eyes. A chin that looked carved from granite and a perfectly trimmed goatee with a little five-o’clock shadow behind it. Maybe he’d had a rough night, too, as rough as hers. But those wide shoulders looked like they could handle anything that came his way, and he was handsome. Too handsome. She’d learned all about handsome men and their oh-so-charming ways from her ex.

“Excuse me. Exactly who are you?” The you came out with all the scorn she had for his type and her gaze scoured down the green uniform to the gun belt wrapped around his waist.

Green uniform. “Wait...are you Sam’s young man? The border patrol agent he was watching for?”

“Yes, I am.”

She was exhausted, worn to a frazzle, and now she was angry. Ready to lash out.

“You were late...too late.”

He winced as if in pain.

Good. At least one of these cold, brusque men with their blank faces had the decency to feel something for Sam...kind, gentle Sam. Tears pricked her eyes and she looked down, refusing to cry again, especially in front of the man who had failed Sam in so many ways.

“You’re the ‘official’ he contacted regarding the Black Knights. You’ve been talking to him since all this started. Why didn’t you stop that man from killing him? And why on earth did he contact the border patrol in the first place?”

That verbal dart seemed to strike a chord. He straightened his broad shoulders. “I head up the border patrol’s bio-terrorism section in Riverside. Sam and I had a previous connection regarding a species of plant coming in from Mexico. I’m a biologist. He knew I’d understand the pathogen’s danger.”

His words didn’t mollify Sassa. Sam was dead. No amount of credentials, connections or degrees would change that. Besides...

“There is no formula.” She grated it out, determined to make her point.

“Yes, there is, Sassa. You were right. The pathogen’s potential terrified Sam. He wanted to develop a cure. We provided him with the equipment to work from a secret lab in his home.”

Sassa wanted to snipe and argue, but what he said struck deep. His words made sense and rang with truth. Sam had been distracted, preoccupied for months, like he behaved when working on a project. She’d thought he was spending more time with his wife. June deserved the attention, so Sassa never questioned the time off or the extra hours.

A thought hit her like a blow. “He had no resources. He had to access the internet. These people could have hacked the computer in his home and discovered he was working on a formula.”

De Luca shook his head. “He wasn’t hacked. We supplied him with a private server connected directly to ours. He had the best computer protection our government could provide. And...he wasn’t working on the formula. He completed it.”

“The virus is real. And now they have it,” she whispered. Cold swept over her, so deep and chilling, her hands trembled.

“How...how could you let this happen?” Her tone was harsh. The dam holding her emotions in check had burst. “Why didn’t you stop him from developing it? Why weren’t you on time?”

Her words seemed to reach their target. De Luca winced as if she’d actually struck him.

“Don’t be so hard on Officer De Luca, Ms. Nilsson.” She turned toward the lead agent, ready to lash out at him, too. “The Black Knights created a very complicated diversion—a bomb scare in the airport precisely at the right moment. Besides, we didn’t leave Dr. Kruger unprotected. We had a man following you both throughout the trip. We found his body in a bathroom stall on the upper floor, not far from where you exited the plane.”

Sassa stared at Kopack. The hot flames inside her died out. A man had been following them, watching them everywhere they’d gone on the trip, and she had no clue? She should have known. Should have been more aware, more cautious. Paid more attention to Sam. Instead she’d been focused on herself, her own problems and her ambition to gain a name for herself at the conference.

And she had the audacity to blame De Luca for his faults. The heat of shame tinged her cheeks. She’d failed Sam. The truth swamped her and threatened to drown her. A familiar sinking feeling trickled through her but she fought it. She might have failed Sam in his last days, but she wouldn’t fail him in his death. She’d make the people responsible pay. Her mind kicked into overdrive.

“These so-called Black Knights... They seem to be everywhere. Know everything.”

Kopack agreed and opened a file. “They are one of the most technically competent terrorist groups out there. All thanks to their leader, Nikolai Chekhov.” He pulled a photo out of the file and handed it to her. “Do you recognize him?”

She studied the man in the photo and noted the waxy complexion. “Yes, he looks like the man who stabbed Sam. I recognize the strange appearance of his skin. But he had black hair.”

“He was wearing a wig. We found it on the ground in the parking lot.”

“He can’t hide that skin. It looks half dead.”

“That’s because it is. Chekhov’s parents were brilliant nuclear physicists working at Chernobyl. His family survived the accident and immigrated to the US. In the subsequent years, Chekhov watched his parents and his older sister die from different forms of cancer, all due to radiation exposure. Chekhov didn’t escape their fate. He has severe nerve damage. It’s killing him, too, but at a much slower rate.”

“He wants vengeance.”

“Yes, and he’s very good at getting what he wants. Five years ago he joined the rather benign Knights and slowly but surely began to recruit brilliant sociopaths like himself. Eventually they took over the group and changed the name to the Black Knights, with a different goal. They don’t want to protect the environment but to destroy mankind’s destructive technological progress.”

Sassa pressed a hand to her forehead. In spite of her determination, her overworked mind was beginning to spin. “But they neglected to change their web page and include that little piece of information. That’s why Sam thought they were safe.”

“Chekhov believed he’d found another conversion with Dr. Kruger. He wasn’t happy when he found out he was wrong about the good doctor’s intentions...and Chekhov doesn’t like to be wrong. He sent his right-hand man to watch over the professor.”

He pulled out another photo and handed it to her. “My people spotted him on security film in and around the campus.”

Sassa stared at the agent, unable to move. At last, she looked at the picture of a stocky man with a long black beard and a ponytail. She had to work hard to get her eyes to focus. Finally, her blurred vision cleared. She closed her eyes, dropped her forehead to her hand and shook her head. “I don’t recognize him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him. Sam developed the formula and I didn’t know... Men have been watching us on campus and following us...around the world, and I’m clueless. I’m sorry, Agent Kopack, but I’m useless to you.”

She was no longer able to fight the familiar feeling of failure, and it moved over her in a wave that dragged her body down. Tears came again. She couldn’t stop them this time and didn’t try. She covered her eyes with one hand and let them fall. “I just want to go home and hold my baby.”

After a short pause, Kopack cleared his throat. “I think we’re finished for now. Let’s—”

“Hold on.” Officer De Luca interrupted whatever Kopack meant to say. “You said Sam told you his ID bracelet was yours.”

Surprised, Sassa wiped the tears from her cheeks, sat up and opened her hand. She’d forgotten Sam’s gift. She’d clutched it so tightly during this interrogation that deep imprints grooved her skin. In fact, a small, slightly bloody spot showed where the latch had pierced the inside of her palm.

“May I see it?”

Officer De Luca’s request jarred her. Numb, she handed it to him with a jerky motion.

He ran his fingers across the numbers engraved on the face of the ID plate. “These numbers look like they could be a code of some sort, or maybe a combination.”

Sassa shook her head and lowered her forehead back onto her hand. “No. It’s nothing like that. Sam’s grandfather was a pastor in Germany during World War Two. Like many other Christian leaders, he protested the treatment of the disabled and the mentally ill so loudly, he ended up in a concentration camp. That’s the number assigned to him. Sam was very proud of his grandfather’s actions. He put the number on that bracelet to honor him. He meant to give it to Christopher. After his son died, Sam told me he wanted me to have it. It has nothing to do with the formula. I’m sorry. Like I said, I’m no help.”

She looked up and tried to focus on Agent Kopack. “Can I go home now?”

The agent nodded. “Yes. We’ve arranged for transportation. You’re in no shape to make the three-hour drive back to Fresno.”

She sighed with relief. “Kingsburg. My home is in Kingsburg.”

Now Kopack looked blank.

“It’s a small town a short drive out of Fresno.” Officer De Luca supplied the information. “I’ll take her there.”

“My agents are perfectly capable—”

“I’m taking her.” De Luca’s tone allowed for no arguments. He came around to her side of the table and assisted Sassa from her chair. She wasn’t certain she wanted him to make sure she got home safely but the grip on her arm was steady. In fact, his big, broad-shouldered body seemed to be the only thing holding her up. Her legs refused to work. She leaned on him as he half carried her out the door.

“My bag and my luggage.”

“I’ve got it, Sassa. Don’t worry.”

Don’t worry? If only.

Jared glanced at Sassa in the passenger seat next to him. The minute they’d climbed into his government-issued SUV, she’d pushed the seat back and fallen asleep. Three agents followed behind them; two in her car and another in a government car. Two of the agents would stay to guard Sassa at her parents’ house near Kingsburg. As soon as they dropped her off, Jared and the other agent would return to the small office in downtown Fresno.

They’d set up a temporary office four days ago when Sam had notified him that June was missing. The FBI had mobilized and was on site quickly. He’d been impressed. The same day he’d returned from Los Angeles and retrieved Sam’s message, they had him traveling to Fresno. Still, it hadn’t been fast enough to save his friend.

Jared stumbled over the thought of Sam’s death. The Black Knights had moved like lightning. After months of no activity and no contact with Sam, they’d snatched June off the street and attempted to blackmail Sam into handing over the formula. If the Black Knights couldn’t force Sam to hand over the formula, they had a “Plan B” to steal it.

Whirlwind fast. Jared would never underestimate them again—or rather, he’d never underestimate Nikolai Chekhov. He was the mastermind. A brilliant sociopath. Sassa had called him the Terminator, the robot-like creature from the movie of the same name. She’d referred to the unusual look of his skin and the emotionless features, all caused by the nerve damage that was killing him. But his mind, his brilliant mental capacity, was as robotic as his physical features. Like a computer, the man seemed ten steps ahead of the authorities. At least, he had been so far. They would have to scramble to get ahead. That was Jared’s sole purpose now. He would think further ahead, move quicker and never underestimate Chekhov. He wouldn’t fail again.

Sassa stirred and groaned. He glanced over. Her neck was in an awkward, twisted position. She groaned again, quiet and soft. A nice sound. Kind of personal. He liked it. In fact, now that he’d finally met Sassa, he’d discovered he liked a lot of things about her.

She was bright. Jared should have realized that. Sam wouldn’t have chosen an assistant who wasn’t extremely capable. In the interrogation, Kopack had intentionally left out information. Sassa had put the pieces together with skill. Sam’s murder had devastated her. That was obvious. But she hadn’t let emotion control her. She’d responded with a calm balance most people could not have summoned.

Those capabilities, combined with some nice features—eyebrows with little pointed peaks and bow-shaped lips—made it look as if she was always on the verge of a smile. Her appearance exuded likability. Usually, he didn’t go for curvy women. He preferred them tall and slender like Jessica...

Thinking of his wife—ex-wife now—was not a good idea. That whole situation had sent him into a tailspin and caused this disaster. If Jared hadn’t been forced to attend his divorce court date in LA, he might have received Sam’s call. He’d have been able to alert the authorities earlier and his friend might be alive today.

Jared’s jaw tightened. Now he could add that to his list of mistakes. He’d spent the last year of his separation from Jessica going over what he’d done wrong, wondering how he might have changed things to make his marriage work. He still didn’t have the answers and hanging on to a dead marriage had only made him seem pitiful in Jessica’s eyes. She didn’t understand how or why making it work mattered so much to him.

Sometimes he didn’t understand himself.

Maybe it had something to do with his grandfather and his Christian values...values Jared wasn’t sure he shared anymore. He’d lost faith in a God that didn’t seem to care. He’d learned that early in life with his alcoholic mother. But he’d been so busy trying to prove himself worthy of all the kind people who’d tried to pull him out of the mess and mire, he’d forgotten who had allowed him to be there in the first place. In fact, he wasn’t even sure if he believed God existed anymore.

One thing was for certain. If He did exist, He didn’t care about Jared De Luca. That was apparent. Everything he’d ever wanted and worked for had been taken away. His marriage with Jessica was only the latest example of that.

They’d had such plans for their marriage. They were going to go so far, him with his high-profile position in some exotic place like Miami, and Jessica with a PR firm representing big names. Jess had kept up her end of the plan. She’d made a name for herself in Hollywood. He couldn’t blame her for dumping him when his career fizzled and he ended up in the backwater station of Riverside, California.

Still, the divorce papers had been a shock and had put his life in a nosedive. He’d faced the fact that they were never going to be the power couple they’d envisioned, but he always thought they would work it out...until she told him she’d found someone else. Someone she worked with in the PR firm. A man “much older and more established” she’d said. What she’d meant was the “perfect power partner.”

Like a fool, he’d gone to Hollywood hoping to convince her to give it one more try before the court session. Their meeting was a pointless, painful debacle that ended in their divorce being finalized...and him not being there to answer Sam’s call when he’d needed him. He’d failed. He should have been there to protect Sam.

End of sentence.

Sassa jerked and raised her head, her eyes blinking rapidly. Her hand shot to her neck.

“Owww.” She rubbed the spot then scooted up in the seat and looked around. Cities and freeways had given way to the flat, open, golden hills of California’s Central Valley.

“We’re still an hour away from Kingsburg if you want to go back to sleep.”

“No. My body hurts in every possible way. I’ll sit up now.” She pushed the button on the seat and the back popped forward. Scrubbing her face, she released a heavy sigh.

Jared felt that heartfelt sigh to the bottom of his toes. “I know.” His voice was quiet. “I still can’t believe he’s gone, either.”

She turned to face him. “You liked Sam a lot, didn’t you?”

“He was a great man.” No matter how sincere he sounded, Jared’s tone couldn’t match the feeling of loss inside him. It was like the day he’d lost his grandad, the only male parental figure he’d ever known.

What a shame he hadn’t realized how much Sam had meant to him until now. A tight feeling clutched at his chest. “It may not seem like it, but I tried to protect him.”

“You didn’t try hard enough.”

The hotheaded woman Sam had described—Sassy Sassa—was back. Her attitude even showed in her features. Those pouty lips thinned. Just a little, but enough to notice.

He wanted to say something, to come back with a smart remark, but he couldn’t. What she’d said was true. He should have fought harder. Demanded more of...everything. Protection. Resources. Everything. Instead, he’d tried to go along with the program. Tried to be the dutiful agent, the good department man. He hadn’t wanted to rock the boat or to make enemies of his superiors. Once again, trying to prove himself worthy. It was an ugly truth but one that needed to be faced.

Jared was about to admit that truth to Sassa when she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m guilty, too. I was close to Sam. I was his assistant. I should have known something was wrong. But I was wrapped up in my own issues.”

A little surprised, he glanced her way and then quickly back to the freeway. “He worked hard to keep you out of it. He wanted to protect you and precious Keri.”

She jerked in surprise. “That’s what he called her.”

Jared smiled for the first time in hours...or was it days? “I know. Sam talked about her a lot...and you.”

He saw the glisten of tears before she turned her face away. “He was trying to save the world and I just wanted to save myself.”

Her words gave Jared pause. “Did you need saving?”

Her little laugh was rueful. “Always. My life has been a series of setbacks. I had a full-ride scholarship for college, but no, I had to be one of the original teen moms. Pregnant in my senior year of high school. Then I married the guy.” She shook her head.

“Kopack mentioned your ex has a gambling addiction.”

She laughed again. “The appropriate question would be what isn’t he addicted to? Women. Alcohol. I lost my first baby worrying over his addictions. Then Erik disappeared. When he came crawling back, I gave him a second chance.”

She gave her ex a second chance? The one he never got. He turned to study her. “Why?”

Blue eyes widened and perky shaped brows rose into cute peaks.

“Why did you give him a second chance?” Jared repeated the question. The answer was important.

“I...guess I still loved him and... I believe marriage is a sacred vow.”

Not the answer Jared had expected and a sound, almost a chuckle, slipped out.

Sassa turned to him. “Are you laughing at my beliefs?”

“No. I’m laughing at myself really. Do you know where I was when Sam called? I was in Los Angeles trying to convince my wife that we needed to give our marriage one more chance.”

Sassa studied him for a long, silent moment. “Did it work?”

He gave his head a shake. “Just before we went into divorce court, her new boyfriend assured me there was nothing sacred about our vows...at least not for her.”

“I’m sorry. That must have hurt.”

She was quiet for a while. “I always felt that if Erik knew God, we would have had a better chance. But you can’t force someone to see God...even if He’s standing right in front of them.”

“It would be better if He made Himself easier to see.”

“It’s not supposed to be easy. It’s something we have to work toward.”

“Is that why Sam’s dead? To make life unbearably hard for you and me?”

Her lips parted then hardened as she faced forward, her eyes back on the road.

They drove for miles in silence.

Jared called himself several choice names. In her eyes, he’d just placed himself firmly in the camp of “those who can’t see God.” He couldn’t afford to be there. He and this woman needed to be united. To stand together.

He shook his head. “We don’t have time for this.”

“For what?”

“Airing our different beliefs or indulging our...insecurities. Out of all the people in the world, Sam chose you and me to be his friends. He put his faith in us. We need to rally, to work together to save his legacy and maybe life as we know it. If the Black Knights release the virus, it will destroy crops around the world. Economies will collapse. People will starve. It will be a disaster.”

“What can I do? You heard your boss, Kopack. I’m practically a suspect in Sam’s murder.”

Jared shook his head. “First, Kopack is not my boss. He’s FBI, and he was just doing his job, which is to find the people who murdered Sam and stop them. Now we have to do our job.”

She took a deep breath before asking, “And what exactly is our job?”

“I’m a border patrol officer. My job is to stop bio-terrorism. You’re a scientist. Your job is to find the problems and solve them.”

“What do you mean?”

He glanced at her quickly. “Kopack is focused on finding the Black Knights and stopping them. He might not succeed. Then what happens?”

“They create the virus and release it.”

“And it’s our job to stop that from happening.”

He saw her jerk before turning to stare at him. “You want me to find a cure for the virus.”

He nodded. “Let Kopack find Chekhov and the Black Knights. You and I need to work on the cure. Sam started the job and I have access to his notes on our server.”

“If you have the formula, you can put the best biologists on it. You don’t need me.”

He shook his head. “Yes, we do. After the breach to the computer system, Sam never trusted it. He refused to put the complete formula on our system.”

“Then where did he put it?”

“We assumed he put all his final findings on a private computer, one he didn’t hook up to the internet...ever.”

“That’s why Chekhov marched in and stole his computer bag. The formula is on that computer. But how did he know? If Sam was so careful, how did Chekhov know the formula was completed?”

“As far as I can tell, Chekhov didn’t know Sam had completed the formula. I’m not sure he even knew Sam was working with us. I think Chekhov decided that Sam’s trip to China was the perfect time to snatch June and then blackmail her husband into completing the virus. Once he kidnapped her and Sam alerted us, the FBI and Homeland Security came into the investigation. Information shot across multiple networks. That’s where we made our mistake. Until then, I don’t think the Black Knights realized Sam had the formula. Once they did, they changed plans rapidly and devised a way to snatch it.”

Sassa gave a little gasp. “June’s dead, too, isn’t she?”

“Kopack ordered a search warrant of their house as soon as he found out June was missing. Everything was in order. No broken furniture or anything else to indicate a struggle. We shouldn’t assume she’s dead.”

Sassa eased back in her seat with a shudder. “The Black Knights have no reason to keep her alive if they have the formula and Sam is dead.”

Miles and miles passed in silence. At last, Jared said, “You’re the closest person to Sam’s work. Now that it’s in the hands of those maniacs, you’re the only link we have to recreate it. You have to try.”

He glanced over and met her wide, blue-eyed gaze. “Sam had faith in you. So do I.”

Her lips parted in surprise. He kind of liked the look...a lot. The last thing he needed right now was to be distracted by pretty lips. He steeled his resolve and focused on the road ahead.

What he needed was to find a way to convince her he was right. To get her to agree—and that meant bridging the gap between them...the one he’d created.

They traveled the last few miles in silence before the Kingsburg water tower, quaintly formed in the shape of an antique Swedish coffee pot, came into view. It reminded him of Kingsburg’s heritage...and Sassa’s name.

“Your name...is it Swedish?”

She nodded but her voice was pitched low. “My family comes from a long line of Swedish settlers here in the valley.”

“Sassa... It’s very different. What does it mean?”

“It’s a nickname really...for Astrid. But my mom likes it just the way it is.”

“So do I. It suits you.”

She made no response.

Well, that went well.

Ignoring the small frown that wreathed her features, he pulled off the freeway. They passed through the small town. The main street boasted a ton of Swedish motifs. Peaked roofs. Signs with Swedish names in curly, blue, geometric patterns. Bakeries offering delectable, unpronounceable delights. They drove past houses and stores into a predominantly agricultural area. Miles and miles of vineyards were broken only by orchards of pale peaches, plump apricots and bright oranges, leftovers from the summer season. Just enough fruit left from the harvest made the colors stand out against the dark bark and green leaves. A beautiful sight—and a stark reminder of what would be lost if the formula was developed.

They drove for miles out of town before Jared pulled into a large horseshoe driveway in front of a sprawling ranch-style house. Even before he shut down the engine, a couple exited the front door. Jared had called ahead to let the Nilssons know he was bringing their daughter home.

Sassa leaped out of the car. Jared followed as she ran to her mother, who carried an infant. The instant Sassa took the child into her arms, all the tightness and hard edges eased from her features. She smiled and Jared almost stumbled. Her brilliant, beautiful smile transformed her. Golden sunshine slid out from behind a cloud and turned the somewhat dowdy, bedraggled creature into a glowing one. She exuded happiness and was more lovely than Jared had imagined she could ever be. He’d always heard motherhood did things to women, but he’d never witnessed it. Now that he had, he’d never forget it.

As he approached, the most beautiful small creature he had ever seen turned to look at him. Little blond curls nestled on top of her head. The biggest, bluest eyes peered at him with the kind of open curiosity only the very young can portray. He noted the pretty, pouty pink lips just like her mother’s...then she smiled at him with the sweetest, most innocent look.

Precious Keri. That’s what Sam had called her and now Jared understood why.

“Thank you for bringing her home to us.” Sassa’s father, Paul Nilsson, held out his hand.

Jared jumped to respond, trying desperately to shake off little Keri’s charming ways. “You’re welcome. It was the least I could do.”

The FBI agents parked Sassa’s car behind Jared’s SUV and the other government vehicle pulled up behind it. One agent exited her vehicle and carried Sassa’s luggage to where they all stood. Paul accepted the bag, stuffed the keys into his pocket, and thanked him. The man gave a terse nod then turned and headed back to the SUV. That was Jared’s hint to move on.

“We need to go.” He shook Paul’s hand once again and turned to Sylvie Nilsson. She looked much like her daughter except that her blond hair was pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head. She’d kept one hand on her daughter from the moment Sassa was close enough to touch.

That’s where Sassa gets her mothering instincts...from a woman who loves her unconditionally. A pang of something like envy swept through him.

Sylvie caught him staring and murmured her thanks.

Jared nodded and met Sassa’s gaze. “The agents in that SUV will be keeping an eye on things around here. You’ll be safe. I’ll be in touch.”

Understanding sparked between them. She nodded her head. “I’ll be ready.”

Relief swept through Jared and he dipped his head in recognition. Sassa was on board. Now they could get to work. He turned and walked back to his vehicle, but as he climbed in, he couldn’t get the image of the three females—mother, daughter and baby—out of his mind. What would it be like to grow up in a loving family like this one? How would it feel to have such a rich heritage? He had no idea. But he knew one thing.

That kind of goodness needed preserving and he’d do everything in his power to make sure it happened.