Page 101 of A Shot at Love
It was Ky’s turn to nod. He reached across the seat and folded her hand into his own. When he brought it to his lips, Gemma’s insides vaulted even more. Such a gentle gesture. So filled with…everything.
They drove without speaking for the remainder of the ride.
The arranged meeting place had been Ky’s idea. Just north of Manhattan, the safe house was well known to the bureau, surrounded by woods and far enough removed from civilization that no one would unexpectedly come upon them.
Perfect, he’d told her, for what they needed to do.
“I think we’re the first ones,” Gemma said, when Ky turned up the winding drive.
A log cabin was situated at the end of a dirt driveway, buried deep behind a copse of trees. It hadn’t been visible until they’d driven for a few minutes after coming off the county road. If the situation weren’t so dire, Gemma knew she’d like to photograph the house and surroundings. Stark, bare, and barren, it would make for a surreal shot.
“Let’s hope so,” Ky said, parking and shutting the engine. He pulled her hands into his and squeezed. “You ready for this?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He peered at her, his eyes that stormy mix of dark blues and greens she knew meant his emotions were high. “When this is over,” he said, “when everything is settled and clear, I want—”
She could only guess what he’d been about to say.
“Papps?”
Jon Winters stood in front of the car. He was wearing a shoulder sling, securing his hand and arm to his torso. He looked pale and a few pounds thinner than the last time Gemma had seen him.
Ky squeezed her hands once more and then freed them. “Let’s go,” he said softly while alighting from the car.
“Jon. Thanks, buddy, for meeting us.”
“Where have you been, Papps? The team’s been going nuts for days with worry.”
Ky slanted a glance at Gemma. “I know, but it couldn’t be helped. I couldn’t trust anyone close to the investigation. Like I told you last night, someone knew from the beginning where to find Miss Laine and I had to figure out who it could be. I needed time to find the mole in the department.”
Winters’ gaze shuttled from Ky to Gemma and then back to his partner. “Yeah. You mentioned that on the phone. How could you find something like that out when you were off the grid? No computer access or phone?”
“Let’s just say I had some help.”
Winters started at him, his face blank, his body seemingly relaxed. “Help? Who?”
“I can’t tell you, Jon. I don’t want to put my source in danger before this is all resolved.”
“Smart. But you always have been. And resourceful. I’ve admired those traits in you.”
Ky stood, silently.
“So, did you find out who the mole is?” Jon asked.
Ky nodded, his eyes trained on Winters. “Yeah. I did.”
Before she could blink, Winters drew his gun.
“Jon? What are you doing?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know Ky. The minute you called me you knew where this was going.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Stop. Just stop. I know you’re the leak in the department. I know it. I have proof. And I’m taking you in.”
Gemma didn’t have a chance to breathe before Ky’s gun was pointed at his partner.
“Jon,” he said, his voice deathly still and calm, “you know that’s not true. You know me.”
“What I know is that I trusted you,” Winters spat, his face hard, his eyes focused on Ky. “You betrayed that trust, Papps.”
“What are you talking about?” Ky took a solid stance, his gun poised at his partner.
“You got four of our men killed. Four. And for what?”
“Jon—”
“Why did you do it? Did Ritandi pay you? Did he have something on you? What?”
“Jon, you know I’m not responsible for anything that’s happened,” Ky said. “You—”
“Drop your weapon, Pappandreos!”
Gemma spun around to see SAC Tiege and five men dressed in tactical gear move from the bushes surrounding them, guns drawn and pointed at Ky.
“No!” She ran toward Ky. “Stop! Don’t shoot him!”
