Imposter (20 page)

“You have come a distance,” Burke said.

   “I didn’t realize just how far.  Set out early this morning. Thought I’d take in some fishing.  I’m not much of a fisherman.  Been a military man all my life and now find myself retired.”  Sanderson shrugged.  “The wife thought it would be a good idea if I got a hobby.  Said I was driving her crazy being under foot all day.  I thought I’d give fishing a try.”

“How are you liking it?”

Sanderson scowled. “Not so much.  I didn’t have one bite and I ran out of gas.”

Burke smiled at that.  He reached the old wooden shed and swung the door open. Sunlight lit the interior and Burke didn’t bother with the bare bulb dangling from the low roof.   He bent to retrieve the can of gas he kept under a small work bench, his muscles tense.  If Sanderson were going to make a move to take him out, now would be the time.  But Sanderson remained outside of the shed, with his back to Burke, seemingly taking in his surroundings.   He faced Burke only when Burke left the shed.

Back at Sanderson’s boat, Burke filled the tank.  “That should get you back.”

“Appreciate it.”  

Sanderson took out his wallet and extracted a twenty.  Burke glimpsed a drivers’ license with a name that matched the one Sanderson had given him and a picture of a couple of teenagers flanking a woman about Sanderson’s own age.  

Sanderson took in a deep breath. “Nice and quiet here.”

Burke kept his gaze on the other man.  “No one around for miles.”

Sanderson handed Burke the twenty then the older man got back into the boat.  He untied the rope, yanked the engine cord and the motor roared to life.  With a wave, Sanderson backed away from the dock. 

Burke watched Sanderson until his boat was a speck on the horizon, then he turned and went back to Eve.

“Well?” She grasped his forearms.

“Appears to be nothing more than a fisherman who ran out of gas.”

But as he relayed that information, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

“Yeah.  Lanski,” Burke said an instant later.  “I need you to ID an Edward Sanderson.”  Burke recited the address on the drivers’ license.  “I have a print.”   At Eve’s frown, Burke held up Sanderson’s twenty.  “I’ll be sending you a scan of it in the next couple minutes.

* * *

“Do you think Sanderson could be the man we’re looking for?”  Eve asked.

Only a few minutes had passed since Burke had sent the scan of Sanderson’s print to Lanski.  Eve was wound tight, waiting for Lanski to call back with his findings.

“No, I don’t.  If he were the one, he came here to get the formula, and to take you out, he would not have left without getting his job done. I was hoping Sanderson would make a move on me in the shed. Try to neutralize me so he could get to you.”  Burke blew out a breath ripe with frustration. “But he didn’t.  I think he’s just what he said.”   

Burke’s cell phone rang.  “It’s Lanski,” he said.  He listened briefly than disconnected.  “Sanderson is who he claims.  Lanski ran him through our data bases.  No red flags.”  Burke rubbed the back of his neck.  “I need some air.  Feel like a walk?” 

Eve shook her head. “I’m going to make tea.  Want a cup?”

“Too hot for tea.”

Eve went to the kitchen, filled the kettle then set it on the burner.  As she lit the flame, her cell phone rang.  Her phone was clipped to the waistband of the jeans she wore.  She hadn’t had a call since this nightmare began and the ringing startled her. 

Eve flipped open the phone.  “Hello?”

“Eve!”

It took an instant for the harried voice to register. “Matt?”

  “Eve, I know who the accomplice is.  Tell me where you are and I’ll come and get you.”

“Matt--”

“Eve, where are you?”

“I’m with Burke. Who is the accomplice, Matt?”

“With Burke?  Eve, is he near?  Can he hear you?”

“No. Matt--”

“Listen to me, you have to get out of there.  I will come and get you. Eve - you have to get away.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The accomplice is Burke.  Eve, it’s Burke.  I know about the bomb at the cottage.  I know about the insulin switch.  He’s the one who’s trying to kill you.”

Eve had felt euphoria that Matt might have identified the man they were after.  “Matt it isn’t Burke.”  

There was a long pause.  “I’m sorry, love.  I wish I were wrong.  But he is not the man you think he is.  He’s sold out to the highest bidder. He’s made two attempts on your life already. He’s had opportunity and he certainly has motive.  Since he hasn’t killed you, he must think there are too many eyes on him at the moment.  His people know that you’re under his protection and your death can’t look like his doing.  He’s waiting for another chance to take you out when he won’t be implicated and when he thinks the time is right, he will strike.  Burke will kill you, Eve.  Make no mistake about that.”

Eve shivered at the chill in Matt’s voice and his words.

“You have to get out of there,” Matt went on.  “Tell me where you are?”

   Matt’s urgency in learning where she was sent alarm bells ringing in her head.  Could he be the accomplice? No. Of course not.  He was with British Intelligence. One of the good guys, sworn to defend and protect.  But how many agents sold out to the other side . . .  

Eve willed her voice to be calm, to stick with the plan she’d devised.  Except, she didn’t know exactly where she was.  She certainly couldn’t ask Matt to hold while she went to ask Burke.  She had to improvise. 

“I don’t know exactly.” Eve licked her lips  “At a cabin in West Virginia.  The nearest town is Crowley.”

Matt exhaled a short breath.  “I’ll meet you in Crowley.”  She heard the click click of computer keys being struck. “There’s an abandoned warehouse on the south side of town.  On Little Street.  Number Ten.  I’ll wait for you there.  Come when you can.  When it’s safe.  Wait until you’re alone before leaving.  Don’t let Burke know that you’ve found him out.  Don’t let him suspect that you’re leaving him.  Bring the formula.  We can’t let Burke sell it.  Eve, can you hear me?”

Of course he wanted the formula. Any hope she’d had of his innocence vanished.  She nodded, then realizing Matt couldn’t hear her, said, “I hear you.”

“I’ll be waiting at the warehouse.  Burke is dangerous. Eve, I implore you, don’t delay too long.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Eve ended the call and set the phone down on the counter.

He’s already made two attempts on your life already.

When he thinks the time is right . . .  Burke will kill you, Eve.

Matt’s words replayed in her mind.  Burke was outside.  Through the window in the living room, she could see him, chopping wood.  He’d removed his shirt.  His impressive shoulders and back, well defined with muscle, glistened.  The muscles on his arms rippled as he brought the ax he held, up for another swipe of the log he’d set on the ground.  Could the man who’d held her in passion, and in sympathy when she’d cried her eyes out over her daughter, mean her harm?

He must have felt her gaze on him because he glanced up from the log and to her.  He smiled and winked at her.  She could imagine the picture she made.  Dressed in only his shirt which fell to her mid-thigh, her hair tousled from their latest lovemaking.   Her lips swollen from his kisses and her eyes filled with the love she was feeling for him.  Oh, God, did she sound like every blind, naive woman, defending the criminal she was so in love with - Eve exhaled a deep breath.  There it was.  She’d fallen in love with Burke.  Like a sneak attack, her feelings had crept in.  The question though remained, Was she being naive?  Was she wrong? 

How many agents sold out to the other side?

She’d thought that about Matt.  But why not, Burke?  He was an agent, too . . .

And Matt had told her at the cottage that he wanted the formula to destroy it.  Had he asked her to bring it to him for that reason?  Or was his request more sinister than that...      

She linked her hands together in a tight grip.  Could she be so wrong about Burke?  

The kettle whistled, startling her.  

Eve blinked back tears.  No.
No.
  She wasn’t wrong about Burke.  She turned off the burner and went out to him.

“Hi,” he said when she reached him.  His gaze became scrutinizing.  “You okay?”

“I just got a phone call.”

He stopped in mid-swing.

“It was from Matt Deligne.  He told me that he knows who the accomplice is.  He says it’s you.”

Burke set the ax down on the ground slowly.  He reached for his T-shirt on a tree stump and swiped it across his brow.  “Since you’re here calmly telling me about it, I don’t have to ask if you believed him.”   

Their gazes locked.  “No, you don’t have to ask.” 

Burke nodded.  “Was that all Deligne had to say?”

Eve shook her head. “He wants me to meet him.  He wants to take me someplace safe away from you.”

“I’ll bet he does.  He expects to lure you to him.” A muscle throbbed in Burke’s jaw.  “So he’s the one. Finally this will be over.” He reached out and brushed his thumb across her cheek.  “I’m sorry it’s Deligne.  I know you considered him a friend.”

Eve nodded, saddened at the realization that Matt was not a friend at all.

“Where does he want you to meet him?” Burke asked.

She told him.  She glanced at her watch.  “I’ll get dressed and then I’d better be on my way.  It’s going to take me a while to find the warehouse.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.  I’m meeting him.”

“What about me?”

“You’ll wait here.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

She shook her head.  “I won’t sit on the sidelines like some helpless female.” 

Burke tipped up her chin.  “You’re not helpless.  I respect you as a strong, capable woman.  This isn’t about you, Eve.  It’s about me.  I can’t finish this if I’m worried about you.  I need to know you’re safe.  Stay here.  Wait for me here.  Do this for me.  Please.” 

Eve held his gaze for a long moment, then nodded slowly.

He reached out and took her in his arms, holding her close.

Fifteen minutes later, Burke emerged from the shower, Eve sat on his bed while he dressed.  He strapped on his shoulder holster, shrugged into his jacket and it was done.  She followed him to the door.  He turned and kissed her.

“Be careful.”

He nodded.

When he was about to turn away, she latched onto the sleeve of his jacket.  She was reluctant to let him go.  She recalled the day at the cottage Richard had rented when she’d thought Deligne didn’t take a hit well.  All a ruse, she realized. Deligne was also an agent, was as well trained as Burke.  She didn’t diminish Burke’s capabilities, but Deligne would not be an easy take-down and she was afraid for Burke. 

She pulled him close once again.