Page 45 of Beachcomber Danger

Chapter 13

Dane didn’t watch the ambulance drive away with Goodley. Instead he turned away from the street and took stock.

“You’re a man down, Andrews. How about if I fill in.” He had no intentions of staying out of this now.

“What was that crack about Jane and John Doe?”

“You know what it’s about. You may as well read me in on everything.”

Andrews looked at him and Shana. “You two are too hot. You’re targets. You’ll have to lay low. We’ll assign guards—”

“You have to be shitting me. You set us up as targets all along. That was the point. To draw out Jane and John Doe.”

“Stop calling them that. We know their real names now.”

“Well?” Shana asked.

“Preston and Emeline Chambers. They’re Eastern European but they’ve immigrated and taken up their new identity with gusto, gaining citizenship last year. They’ve even registered to vote.”

“How do you know they’re our Jane and John Doe hired assassins?” Dane doubted Andrews would tell him, at least not now.

Andrews waved a hand. “NSA shit. No one can hide from them.” Andrews gave him a look, like he knew a secret. Dane held his breath, hoping the secret he knew was not named Acer. Then the agent shrugged.

“Let’s get you two under wraps.”

“Not on your life,” Shana said. “Sassy is out there with these people and we’re going to find her.”

“I’m not so sure they have her.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Andrews?” Dane spoke before Shana had a chance.

Dane wondered then where the hell he and Shana would be staying. Glancing at his battle-worn beach shack, he didn’t know if they’d let them stay at the scene of the crime.

Andrews never answered his question.

“I’m heading to the President’s vacation house—our new headquarters. I suggest you two come with me. We need to regroup for the next outing.”

“I’ll come with you, but Shana is going to stay behind and see if she can get any leads on where Sassy might be.”

“You’re not going to put yourself out there for bait,” Shana said.

“You bet your ass I am. And you’re going to figure out where the Chambers are staying. But don’t make a move without letting me know.”

Shana said to Andrews retreating back. “Are you calling the FBI about the kidnapping?”

Andrews turned, “They’re already listening in along with DHS. Don’t get in their way. They have the full attention of NSA and if anyone can find the Chambers, they can. You’d be smart to go with Cap and the boy and lay low.” Andrews turned to Dane.

“You’re a sick son of a bitch. But I’m glad you’re still willing to play bait. We need to catch these f—ers.”

*****

As soon as Dane the shithead who hadn’t given her so much as a wink, let alone a kiss good-bye, disappeared into the Secret Service agent’s unmarked sedan that may as well have a neon sign with arrows broadcasting that it was a federal agent’s car, she headed for the Jeep.

“Hold on there,” Cap said. He jogged over from his car with Ronnie trailing behind him.

“I thought you two left?”

“Where are you going?” He and Ronnie met her at the Jeep’s side in the middle of the small front lawn. An agent from God only knew what agency was plastering yellow crime scene banners across the front door as she watched.