Page 19 of Rescuing Sara

“And of course you lost the syringe,” The Man accused. “You idiot! Did you at least remember to wear gloves?”

“Of course I did,” Frank snapped, running his hands through his hair. “I always wear gloves. There’s no fingerprints on that syringe. And why do you want that woman killed anyway? She’sjust a reporter, right? What’s she done that she deserves to be killed?”

“You’re an assassin for hire,” The Man said, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. “And obviously not a very good one. You’re supposed to do what you’re hired to do without asking questions. Failing in your assignment to kill Danni Blake not once, but twice was your first mistake. “Questioning the why of your mission was your second and last.”

“Listen,” Frank argued. “She hangs out with cops, so I’m watching her closely. Next time–”

“There won’t be a next time,” The Man said. Taking the snub-nosed revolver with the specially fitted designer silencer, he fired twice into Frank’s chest and watched him fall to the ground. Hard to miss at point-blank range.

The Man leaned over, checked for a pulse and found none. He’d wasted good money on Frank, and he had no one to blame but himself. He should have remembered the two lessons his grandfather had taught him. Trust no one and never get anyone to do something you can do yourself. No mistakes that way. Frank Sullivan had been a mistake.

Now he needed to find another assassin for hire and soon to get rid of Danni Blake. Before Soli Deo Gloria found out what he’d done.

And so, with the sun’s rays beginning to break through the bank of clouds, he picked up Frank Sullivan’s body, carried it over to the bushes overlooking the bluff and tossed it in. Then he returned to his car and drove away.

CHAPTER 7

Thursday morning

“I had a text from Stanley Harris,” Danni announced over breakfast. He wants to talk about my future trafficking articles at nine o’clock but wants me to come to the office. Do you think it’s safe to do that?Excelsior’soffice is about five minutes from here.”

“I don’t see why not,” Patrick said, taking the last bite of the breakfast casserole he’d pulled from the freezer last night. Kristopher, to his surprise, had put together a nice fruit salad but had left the baking of the casserole to Patrick. It was a good man who knew his talents and limits. Watching Danni enjoy her meal, he wondered if she really did know how to cook or survived on microwave frozen dinners.

But she certainly knew how to dress. Her oversize russet sweater brought out the colors of her hair and added a golden depth to her eyes. Simple but sophisticated at the same time.

And beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.Breathe, man. Just breathe.

“As am I,” Kristopher said. “Since both your cars are at Roy’s Body Shop, I’m your chauffeur. As I should be. After I clean up the kitchen of course.”

“My turn to do that,” Danni announced. “I’ve not helped with the meals since we’ve been here, and I’d like to do that unless I’m banned from the kitchen?”

Kristopher laughed but Patrick affected a serious expression. “I’ll ask your editor what he knows about the level of your culinary skills. If you have any, that is. Then we’ll see.”

When the kitchen was clean, and they’d descended to the underground garage, Kristopher drove the short distance toExcelsior’soffice in downtown Knoxville. Christmas decorations hung from streetlamps and the streets were already crowded with pedestrians who lived downtown and walked to work as well as shoppers. Christmas was almost here.

An unexpected apprehension curled over Danni, and she shivered. The holiday crowded streets matched the scenario when she’d been with Leo just days ago and the apprehension turned to sadness, knowing she would not be spending Christmas with him this year.

But please dear God. Let her be spending it with Sara.

“Are you okay,” Patrick whispered under Andy Williams’ rendition ofIt’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Yearpouring from the radio.

She patted his gloved hand. “I’m fine. Turn here please, Kristopher. That’s the service entrance and we’re not as likely to be seen here than if we went through the front door.”

“That sounds like a safe plan,” Kristopher said, maneuvering the car in that direction. When he’d stopped, he asked, “Should I wait here?”

Patrick looked at Danni. “Your call,” he said.

“We’ll text you,” Danni decided. “I’m not sure how long we’ll be but hopefully not all morning.”

“You got it,” Kristopher agreed and when they’d exited the car, he drove away. At the back entrance, Danni opened the door with her keyed ID card and led the way through alabyrinth of hallways to an elevator that quickly took them to the newspaper’s top floor. Anne Hamilton was waiting for them.

“Didn’t expect to see you,” Danni said after they’d exchanged hugs.

“Blame your BP dude here,” Anne laughed. “He texted me this morning about your visit and I’ve been wanting to see you. C’mon. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

Danni frowned at her ‘dude.’ “You didn’t tell me you did that.”

His slow grin was a toe-curling thing. “A trick I learned from Griff Tyler. The ability to surprise comes in handy.”

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