Page 42 of Delivering David

“Is he good?”

“Bailey Mills is the first person you want to have by your side going into fight and the last you want to piss off. I’m good with several kinds of weapons, but he’s f’ing amazing. I think his dad put a rifle in his hand as soon as he was old enough to keep his mouth shut and to hold his water.”

Suzanne choked on a laugh as the image of a much younger, much smaller Bailey Mills in hunting gear rose in her mind. “Oh, dear,” she gasped. “That’s too funny. But what do we keep saying? I’m glad he’s on our side?”

“Amen to that.”

“Where are you going when this is all over?” she asked. “This mission, I mean.”

“Hank has been briefing us on a possible mission in Central America.”

“Us? You mean you and Bailey.”

“That’s right, Miz Bennett.”

How she was going to miss hearing him call her that. “Doing what, exactly?”

“Can’t say, ‘exactly’. Top secret and all that. But it’s still in the planning stages, so I’ll probably be around for a while longer.”

“Can you at least tell me where?” Suzanne insisted. “Surely not Romania.”

“I think I’ll have a price on my head in Romania for a long time, even when this is over. I doubt I’ll ever get to go back there. Shame, because it’s a beautiful country. There’s a chance it will be in Central America. And no, I don’t know where, and even if I did, I couldn’t tell you. But he’s warned us that as soon as this mission is over, we could be called up at any time.”

“Such is the life of a Brotherhood Protector,” she said. “I’ll miss you.”

He looked up from his study of the board. “You’re wearing a dress and heels. Do you have to work today?”

“Yes. Elaine asked me to come into the office to go over some grant proposals we’ve written for the new year. Hard to believe that’s hours from now. We’ll probably be there most of the day. What about you?”

“Waiting for a development.” He’d been very quiet since he’d told her about Sydney, and she hoped sharing it with her had relieved some of the old pain and guilt.

His phone buzzed and Kristopher released a good-natured sigh. “No rest for the wicked.” Hitting accept and putting it on speaker, he said, “Hey, Miller. What’s up?”

“Break out the champagne, boys and girls, for tonight we’re going to celebrate.” Miller’s voice was triumphant. “Or at least I think we will. Can you come to where the Langley’s are staying? I’ll text you the address.”

“After I take Suzanne to work,” Kristopher said, and she nodded. “Again, what’s up?”

“The officer I posted at the Langley’s house just arrested that son-of-a-bitch Henry Tate for breaking in with a gun.”

later that day.

So that’swhere you’ve been hiding, you little bastard.Bogdan trained the binoculars on the figure mounting the bicycle in Mercy Phillips’ driveway. He didn’t recognize the kid, but it didn’t matter. He would deal with that brat later. Bogdan really ought to thank the kid before he killed him because he’d led Bogdan right to where David Phillips was hiding. In his own house. So simple. Hiding in plain sight.

And once Bogdan had taken David Phillips to the Braford, it would be child’s play to finish off Suzanne Bennett. Maybe Bogdan would let Toby pepper spray her face before he killed her. Or worse.

And later tonight, after taking David Phillips to the Bradford, Bogdan would take down Kristopher Brower after he showed him Suzanne Bennett’s body. His screams of heartbreak would be almost as satisfying as the ones of agony while Bogdan very slowly tortured him to death. Bogdan had no doubt they were lovers. For now, he must tap down the excitement rising inside him before he became careless. He must stay in a dispassionate controlled state of mind. No emotion, just logic.

After all, revenge was a dish best eaten cold.

CHAPTER 31

“Henry Tate,you are under arrest for breaking and entering, the kidnapping of four minor children for the express purpose of exploitation and immoral purposes,” Grant Miller intoned. “And that’s just the beginning. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford–”

“I wave my rights!” Henry Tate shrieked. “I can do that, can’t I?”

“I think you’ve been watching too many police procedural programs,” Miller said coolly. “What do you think, Officer Kristopher?”

Kristopher chuckled. “I think you’re enjoying this way too much, Sergeant Miller.”

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