Page 88 of Fatal Mistake
Max spoke the truth, but Cal couldn’t go racing off. He had to think of Tara. With Keeler setting a bomb not far from the safe house, Cal didn’t want to leave her behind. He was confident that Keeler didn’t know the safe house location, but still, a bomb this close by couldn’t be a coincidence.
Max cleared his throat. “We’re wasting valuable time, here.”
“Fine, I’m on my way,” Cal said, already jogging down the hall to Tara’s room. “I want you to have one of the officers who saw the device call me. I’ll walk him through procedures and have him put the bomb squad commander on the phone, too.”
“The local squad will know how to handle this until you get there.”
“Maybe, but I’m not taking any chances. Nerves cause people to make mistakes, and this woman can’t afford any mistakes.”
Cal hung up, and his brain whirred as he searched for what to tell Tara. Rendering a bomb safe was always a risky proposition. Keeler’s intricate bombs were even more so, and Cal had no idea if he’d be coming back, so he had to make every moment with her count.
He knocked on her bedroom door.
She pulled it open, and her eyes locked on his. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s another necklace bomb, and it hasn’t gone off. If I leave now, I have a chance to save the woman.”
“You have to go, then.” She acquiesced so easily that it momentarily stunned him into silence.
Did she not get that he would be in danger? Did she not care about him as he’d thought?
“Okay.” He tried to keep his confusion from his voice. “Agent Ward will stay here with you.”
“I’ll be fine.” She suddenly threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “Be careful, Cal. Please. Please be careful.”
Her frantic, whispered plea touched his heart, and he drew her closer. She pushed back and looked up at him. Pain radiated from her face. She was afraid for his life.
Shoot, he was afraid for his life, too, and if this was the last time they were together, he would make sure it was memorable.
He lowered his head and didn’t wait for her encouragement, but settled his lips on hers. The touch and taste of her sent a shock zipping through his body. He’d known kissing her would be beyond anything he’d ever experienced, but he hadn’t begun to grasp the extent of how she could tangle his emotions into a knot.
Stunned by his response, he lifted his head. He waited for her to comment on the kiss, but she kept her eyes closed. “Take care, Cal. Things may not be as they seem.”
She acted like she had insight into the situation, but that was impossible, and he couldn’t stay here to decipher her mysterious mood when a bomb was waiting to claim another woman’s life.
* * *
Tara opened her window and listened for the sound of Cal’s car revving to life. Cal. Caring, compassionate Cal.
How could she have let him go? Especially after the kiss cemented in her mind how much he meant to her. She’d manipulated him to get him to go, playing on the very thing that drew her to him. His sacrifice for others.
Had she just sent the man who’d broken through all of her fears and defenses and made her want to love again to a callout where he could be hurt, or worse yet, killed?
She touched her lips and remembered his final look holding so many emotions. She’d met his gaze, but then her role as traitor came rushing back, and she’d had to look away. Still, if she had to do it all again, she’d do the same thing. Of all the people in danger, he was the most qualified to handle it. If only she could have warned him.
A car engine roared to life and tires crunched down the driveway.
Good-bye, Cal. Be safe. His life was now in God’s hands.
She closed the window and glanced at the clock. Five minutes had passed. She had to go now.
She ran for the door, stopping at the desk to write, I’m sorry, Cal. So sorry! on a piece of paper. She flipped it over. Hopefully after she was gone, Agent Ward would find it and pass the message on to Cal.
She crept down the hallway to find Agent Ward. He sat in the dining area reading a paperback mystery. His keys were lying on the table. His phone sat next to them.
Perfect. She hurried back to her room and left the door open.
“Agent Ward, hurry,” she called out. “I think something moved outside my window.”
