Aftershock: A Donovan Nash Novel (A Donovan Nash Thriller) (36 page)

Lauren closed her eyes. She hadn’t had any sleep for what seemed like days. When she opened them, Donovan was standing in the aisle. His long hair was still damp, but his clothes were fresh and his beard was gone.

Donovan ran his hands over his freshly shaved face. “That part’s taken care of, the haircut will have to wait until tomorrow.”

She smiled—her old husband had emerged from a hairy, dust-covered cocoon ready to face a different world.

Eva did a double take, then nodded her approval as she slipped past him to take her turn in the lavatory.

Lauren yawned and stretched. The flight attendant brought several blankets and used one of them to cover Marie, who was sound asleep. She took drink orders, and when she returned, she brought a tray of small sandwiches. Donovan put several on his plate and leaned back to eat.

“How long since you’ve eaten anything?” Lauren asked.

“It must have been yesterday,” Donovan replied between mouthfuls.

“We won’t have much time to talk in private until we get back to Virginia,” Lauren said. “You do want to go to Virginia, right? I guess I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I suppose we could make arrangements to get you back to Montana.”

“I’m going to Virginia. I want to see Abigail.” Donovan looked at his watch. “It’ll be really late when we land. Do you want me to get a hotel room?”

“No,” Lauren said, as she took a sip from her bottle of water and helped herself to a sandwich. She’d put a great many wheels into motion, and she wasn’t going to tell Donovan until the very last minute. What he needed now was rest, and, if she explained her actions ahead of time, he’d never be able to sleep.

“William said he’d talk to General Porter, Buck’s uncle,” Donovan said. “Tell him what happened.”

Lauren nodded as her husband’s eyes grew moist at the thought of the former Navy SEAL. The two men had forged a friendship out of a work environment, and Buck was a member of the inner circle of a tight-knit, Eco-Watch family. “Did William say anything else to you?”

“He mentioned that the two of you had a little dustup,” Donovan replied. “He also said he thought you both were good.”

“Yes.” Lauren was relieved that Donovan seemed in no mood to hear all the details. “The FBI put some things in motion, but we have the proof that should shut down their investigation of William.”

“It’s not the first time he’s caught their interest,” Donovan replied. “You’d think they’d learn by now.”

“Was I right about Eva? Was she there?”

“Yes.” Donovan set down his water and looked at Lauren. “She told me some things.”

Lauren nodded. It was obvious that Donovan wasn’t yet in a place where he could talk about what he’d learned. She, herself, needed to understand that he’d talk about it when he was ready.

“So, we’re taking Eva all the way back to Washington with us? What’s the play? I don’t want her to spend any time in jail.”

“The deal brokered with the FBI was immunity for Eva, in exchange for everything she knows about Vargas and his cronies.”

“Who are all mostly dead at this point. Does the FBI know about her connection to Meredith? Is her knowledge of that part of the deal?”

“I think that’s between you and Eva. Did you tell her what your relationship was to Meredith?”

“I did. I had to, or she would never have told me what she
knew. For twenty-two years she carried a message for me from Meredith. She never told a soul until today.”

“Then you need to talk to her. I’d say you both need each other right now. I think she could easily make the FBI happy with a detailed account of Vargas’ activities, beginning with Marie’s abduction.”

“I do need her right now,” Donovan said. “I can’t just thank her and send her on her way with a suitcase full of cash. That’s a recipe for disaster.”

“Not that you need it, but you have my full blessing to help her in any way you can.”

“That’s important to me. In fact, I’m going to need your help and advice with several other things I’ve been thinking about.”

Lauren heard the words she’d longed to hear. Donovan needed her and was reaching out to her first, instead of telling her after the fact. Perhaps it was a start?

Eva opened the lavatory door and stepped into the cabin. She was wearing the same clothes, but she looked remarkably fresh and clean, the dust and ash were gone. At the sight of the food, she grabbed a plate and helped herself, then sat down next to Donovan. “What are you two talking about?”

“You,” Donovan said, then stood as he pointed toward the couch that ran along the wall. “Now, I need to grab a nap.”

In the quiet hum from the engines, it didn’t take long for Donovan to drift off to sleep. Lauren unbuckled her seat belt and motioned for Eva to follow her to the front of the plane. Lauren took a seat and offered Eva the seat across from her.

“I’m glad you and I finally have a chance to talk,” Lauren said.

“How did you figure out who I was?”

“It started with some photographs, and ended with the FBI, the NSA, and your angel tattoo. I have a friend—in fact, she’s the one who worked out your deal with the FBI—she’s a brilliant detective. We know you didn’t kidnap Stephanie on purpose. Then, when we figured out you were the one who grabbed Marie,
but never asked for a ransom, we knew that you had no intention of returning her. You were working for Marie’s mother, and blackmailing Vargas into eliminating everyone who had anything to do with the death of your family.”

Eva nodded.

“It worked, because you’d figured out who they all were.”

“I always knew who my kidnapper had been, but he was untouchable, or at least in the eyes of a young girl. I was willing to kill him, but I wasn’t willing to go to prison. So, for years, I watched and waited. I discovered he had a son living in Los Angeles and I began to dig into his life. That was when I found his wife and daughter.”

“Did you kill Hector’s son?”

“No. He was violent like his father, but without the brains. His stupidity got him killed.”

“And then Hector came and took Marie away from her mother.”

“At the time, Marie’s mother was having problems. She had gotten into trouble with prescription painkillers. Hector viewed it as a weakness and decided that Marie would be better off with him, so he had her abducted. I came into the picture after Marie’s mother had cleaned up and was actively trying to find her daughter.”

“So you offered to help.”

“Yes, I thought I could exact my revenge and return a young girl to her mother,” Eva lowered her head. “Something I never had.”

“So it was you that demanded the death of Gordon Butterfield and Elijah Knight?”

Eva nodded. “There is also a man who currently works with the FBI. His name is Curtis Nelson—he’s Butterfield’s inside man at the Bureau.”

“He’s dead,” Lauren said.

“Good,” Eva replied.

“Why not go after William VanGelder?” Lauren voiced the question just to hear the answer from a completely different point of view.

“At first, the evidence pointed toward him. But, as I dug deeper,
he seemed to be destroying the men who’d hired Hector to do their bidding. I finally ruled him out.”

Lauren felt a wave of relief wash over her. Eva had just confirmed what William had said, and this from the perspective of a woman who had been digging for years.

“You still haven’t answered my question. When did you know I was part of the Rocha family?”

“I didn’t for sure, until you told me. I had a hunch. Your age was about right. Your motivation fit. Then there’s the fact that you shot my husband in the back to keep him from being killed.”

“So, based on a hunch, you kept him from killing me?”

“If I was wrong, I suppose he could have shot you later.” Lauren shrugged.

Eva’s expression softened, and she reached out for Lauren’s hand. “I know your secret. I know who he used to be, and I think what I was able to tell him was…helpful.”

“In what way?” Lauren asked, desperately wanting to know more.

“From the moment I met your husband, I knew he was a troubled man. You could see it in his eyes. I’ve watched as he drifts off into deep thought, it’s as if he goes to a different place or time. He once said Meredith’s name aloud. Which is why when you called his room and identified yourself as his wife, I thought your name was Meredith. I didn’t make the connection to
that
Meredith until he told me.”

“Exactly why were you in his room?”

“Hector’s men had found me. It was my own fault. I’d trusted the wrong man. They were going to remove me from Guatemala so Hector’s men could break me and find Marie. I was a dead woman, but Donovan stopped them. Donovan took me back to the hotel, where he kept me safe while they figured out what to do next.”

“Is that when you dreamed up your plan to run the ransom drop from the inside?”

“No, that was always the play. The first night I met Donovan was at the hotel bar. There was a plan for one of my men to make it look like someone was trying to kill me. I was going to play the
victim to gain attention and sympathy, but Hector walked in, and everything went wrong.”

“That was a pretty gutsy move,” Lauren said, impressed.

“It was actually Stephanie who helped me fine-tune everything. I needed a way to get Marie out of the country, but I wanted Stephanie to be safe. She knew what would get Donovan’s attention and allow me to control events from the inside. The outcome depended on me being long gone before Donovan and Stephanie were rescued at the lake. I had no idea a drone was being used to follow my every move.”

“We’re clever like that,” Lauren replied. “I know it’s none of my business, but, for my husband’s sake, do you think you were able to pass anything along from Meredith that might make it easier for him in the future?”

“I think it already has.”

“So, is my husband’s secret safe?”

“Yes,” Eva said, without hesitation. “Robert Huntington and I have a shared past, an event that forever changed who and what we were. It’s why I had to hide. If it was known I was alive, I believe a great many people would have wanted to silence me. I vanished, and, in a way, so did he. If anyone understands what that’s like, it’s me. Our continued safety and freedom depends on keeping that secret.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” Lauren said. “I do have a favor to ask.”

“Name it.”

“We’re not landing in San Jose.”

“I don’t understand,” Eva said, as she pointed up to the moving map display on the bulkhead. “It shows San Jose.”

“The crew is in on the deception,” Lauren said. “I don’t want Donovan to know until we arrive.”

Eva leaned closer. “What do you need me to do?”

The sound of the Gulfstream’s landing gear locking down into place woke Donovan from a sound sleep. He sat up, groggy, and tried to orient himself. Lauren and Eva were talking. Marie was awake, sitting next to Lauren. He peered out the window and guessed there was another two hours of daylight remaining.

Tree-covered hills flashed below them. He was confused, where were the nonstop buildings and crammed freeways of the Bay area? He turned and looked at the flight display on the bulkhead. Instead of San Jose, the screen showed them on final approach for Monterey, California. Had they diverted?

“He’s awake,” Eva said.

“What are we doing?” Donovan asked, his mouth dry from sleep. “Why are we landing here?”

Lauren unfastened her seat belt and joined him on the couch. “I lied about San Jose. Everything is taking place in Monterey. Just be patient. We’re about to be met by the FBI. Once Marie is reunited with her mom, and they’re on their way, I’ll explain.”

Donovan felt the Gulfstream flare and the main gear kiss the pavement. The airplane slowed and turned off the runway. Moments later, they came to a stop in front of Monterey Jet Center. For Donovan, it was a strange sensation to once again be in Monterey. He thought of his former house on 17-Mile Drive, bordering the back nine at Pebble Beach. The peninsula was also where Meredith had spent the majority of her childhood.

The engines were shut down and the cabin door lowered. Heavy footfalls told Donovan they were about to have company.

“Mr. Nash.”

Donovan turned at the sound of his name and found FBI Special Agent Christopher Hudson standing in the aisle. Lauren was the first to react. She and Hudson shook hands. Donovan stood and shook Hudson’s hand as well. It had been almost four months since he’d met Special Agent Hudson, first in Hawaii, then in Laguna Beach, California. He remembered the man as being smart and capable. “What brings you to Monterey?”

“I’m still on the West Coast, and, since I know you, as well as former FBI Agent Montero, I was invited to assist with the transition. I wanted to come aboard and say ‘hello.’” Hudson went to where Eva was standing and reached out a hand. “Ms. Rocha, nice work. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Eva stammered, hesitating before returning the handshake.

“And you must be Marie.” Hudson knelt and took the young girl’s hand in his own. “My name is Christopher, but you can call me Chris. I’m one of the people who helped find your mother. She’s waiting inside. Would you like to go to her?”

Marie nodded.

Hudson stood as Marie slid out of her seat. Lauren gave her a hug and wished her good luck, as did Donovan. Marie waved goodbye to Eva as she turned and followed the FBI agent off the plane.

Donovan was fully awake now and turned to his wife. “Montero? Did Hudson really just say her name? What have you been doing?”

“Investigative things.”

“She’s your FBI insider, isn’t she?” Donovan asked. “You called her! You called her the moment I left for Guatemala.”

“When I made the call isn’t really important.”

“So, this is over? No Customs, Immigration, anything?” Donovan asked, still unsure of all the wheeling and dealing his wife and Montero must have engineered.

“Not quite,” Lauren said.

“Hello,” a familiar voice called out from the open door. “I have someone here who’s pretty excited to see you two guys.”

Donovan spun at the sound of Montero’s voice, just in time to see the former FBI agent set Abigail down. His daughter let out a squeal of delight, ran down the aisle and jumped into Donovan’s arms. She gave him a big hug and a kiss, then touched his face where his beard had been.