The Consequence (11 page)

“No, can’t risk the target looking for one.”

“And he will,” Katy said, her voice nervous. She shivered when she realized Evan would touch her and she’d have to be felt up to prove she wasn’t wired. “He’ll pat me down.”

Simon growled. Strangely, so did several others on his team. She’d hate to be on the bad side of that.

Katy grinned despite knowing what lie ahead, and looked past Rigatti to the assembled group. Most of the men were in formal wear, the ladies dressed beautifully. Support officers were dressed as event security as well as servers and management. They were all armed, dangerous and wired for sound.

As Simon, Katy and Special Agent Jack Thornton exited the back of the vast building to the waiting limo, Simon pulled Kat into his arms. “I’ll be right outside, Cinderella.” He kissed her softly then handed her off to Special Agent Thornton who settled her into the back of the town car and slid in beside her.

He squeezed her hand and smiled. “It’ll be over before you know it.”

Katy exhaled loudly. “I hope so.”

She clutched her small purse with the flash drive and her new burner cell in it like it was her lifeline. Once they were in the building, she gazed in appreciation at the architecture and decor of the grand structure. She’d always wanted to go to the opera, but felt funny going it alone. Evan could never be bothered to take her. Of course, she knew now that he had been a lie, and lies didn’t care about other people’s feelings. Maybe Simon would like to go? But, even if he didn’t, she decided she would. Gone were the days she needed someone to hold her hand.

She smiled to herself. But she was happy to have Simon’s hand to hold.

Special Agent Thornton tucked her hand into his arm and steered her toward the bar. “Would you like a drink, Kat?”

“No thank you, Special A—”

“It’s Jack.”

“—Jack, I’m afraid if I have a drink I might not stop.”

He chuckled. “Simon just told me no drinks and to take my hand off you.”

Katy smiled and giggled, touching Jack’s forearm. With his out of the box cop look, he was the perfect choice to be her date. “Oh tell him to stop being so silly. We have to look like we know each other and like each other.”

Jack’s eyes smiled. “That’s what I say.”

She was just about to agree to that drink offer when she saw Evan making a beeline for her.

“Evan at my twelve o’clock and closing fast,” she whispered, digging her nails into Jack’s forearm. “Now kiss me like you mean it.”

e slid his arm around her waist, pulled her passionately to him, and laid one on her. She could just hear Simon sputtering obscenities and threats in Jack’s ear piece, but she had to hand it to Jack, he was a good kisser. In character, she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

It wasn’t a chore either. Jack Thornton exuded the same sensual power as Simon. He was damn good looking with his suntanned skin, dark soul patch and easy smile.

When enough time had passed to be sure that Evan should have witnessed their kiss, Jack broke first; his deep green eyes, so much like Simon’s yet so indelibly different, danced.

“West, you’re a lucky mother fucker,” Jack softly said.

Jack winked at Kat who shook despite the warmth of the man holding her. “Easy does it, sweetheart.”

Protective and playing his part, Jack brought her in close. Katy locked stares with Evan. Hatred ruined his handsome face. Her body shook more as she realized there was nothing she could do or say to soften Evan toward her now. It was just as well because if he showed the slightest bit of remorse she might feel sorry for him and stumble.

“Relax,” Jack’s soothing voice softly said. “We’ve got this.”

She nodded and in total character, she lifted up on her tip toes and whispered in Jack’s ear. “He’s coming straight for us, now laugh and do something sexy.”

Jack chuckled deeply, and spun her around dropping a kiss on the curve of her shoulder. “Let’s get a drink, baby girl,” he cheerfully said.

Smiling she looked up at Jack who scowled as Evan approached. Evan dropped his mask of indifference even though it was obvious to her he didn’t like that she was with someone and a very hot someone at that. Not because he had any designs on her. No, she was not alone and, therefore, not as vulnerable.

“Katrina,” Evan said, his voice light, his smile so conniving she wanted to rip it off his face.

“Evan,” she saccharinely said with an equally saccharine smile. “What a coincidence bumping into you here, since you said you deplored opera. Are you here with your wife?”

Evan looked up at Jack who didn’t have to say one word to alert Evan to the fact that he would kick his ass if he misspoke.

Evan actually blushed as he looked down at his feet in perceived shame. “No, we—we split up.”

“Oh that’s too bad.”

Katy glanced up at Jack’s stalwart face. “This is my,” she smiled flirtatiously at her date, praying Evan believed her line. “My very good friend Jack, Evan, he’s my Karate instructor.”

Jack extended his hand.

“Jack, this is Evan, I dumped him when I found out he had a wife.”

Katy knew Simon was probably blowing a gasket or two because she was totally off script but damn it, she wanted Evan to squirm as much as humanly possible.

Jack dropped his extended hand, refusing to shake Evan’s. Evan’s color rose. Katy smiled smugly at him. “Was there a reason you came by, Evan?”

“Yes,” he pointedly said, glancing at her brooding date.

“Would you like a glass of champagne?” Special Agent Rigatti, dressed as a server, asked.

Jack took two flutes from the tray and handed Katy one. He raised it and smiled then said, “Here’s to kicking this cheater’s ass to the curb.” They clinked glasses and turned to look at Evan who was fighting the urge to put his hands on her.

“Katrina,” Evan carefully said. “I’d like a private word with you.”

“Not happening, asswipe,” Jack said.

Katy giggled at Evan’s stunned look. They were not making it easy for him. His hazel eyes narrowed dangerously, but he turned and stalked away.

Katy let out a huge sigh of relief. Evan wasn’t going far. He knew she had the goods, he’d circle and come in again for another try. And when he did, she would be ready.

An hour passed and they maneuvered themselves around to the quieter part of the floor. “I’m going to the ladies room as planned,” Katy said. When she exited the restroom, it was expected Evan would be waiting and likely pull her aside to a private alcove and demand the flash drive.

As Katy broke away from Jack who had not left her side and who she found highly intelligent and entertaining as he regaled her with tales of dumb criminals, she knew Evan would follow her just as one of the female undercover officers would follow her into the ladies room.

She had to go so bad she didn’t wait to see if the officer had followed her in, but breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the restroom door open and shut just as she locked her stall door.

A few minutes later stepping out of the stall, Katy smiled about to thank the officer when she stopped short catching her breath.

Standing just inside the restroom at the door with the trashcan wedged beneath the door handle was not a female undercover cop, instead it was the man they were protecting her from. Her heart rate accelerated. She could do this.

“Hello, Katy,” Evan purred, the glint in his hazel eyes triumphant.

“Evan, really, you followed me into the ladies room?” She sounded irritated, not terrified.

“It’s the only place that gorilla won’t follow you.”

“He’s not a gorilla. Jack is a very nice man. And he’s not married nor is he using me.”

“He’s your rebound guy?”

“He serves his purpose.”

“You’ve turned into a little whore, Katy.”

She smiled and owned it. “I never thanked you for daring me to bring a man into my bed who could do it for me, Evan. So thank you for that. And after him I found another guy who could do it for me too. Who knew the world is full of real men?” Okay so that was a little off script, but damn if she as going to allow him to call her names and get away with it.

His face reddened. “Give me the flash drive.”

Katy shook her head. “Not until we strike a deal.”

“No time for deals.”

“Is Mr. Sung waiting for you?”

At the mention of Sung’s name, Evan’s face blanched white.

Katy chuckled. “I thought that might get your attention.”

“How do you know that name?”

“My proposition first, then maybe, if you accept, I’ll tell you.”

Evan checked his watch then said, “Make it quick.”

“It’s simple. I want my half of what you sold my patent for.”

His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“That was my work you stole, Evan. You sold
my
work. I want half of the money you got for it!”

He strode toward her and grabbed her, manhandling her roughly as he ran his hands above and below her dress.

“Jesus, Evan!” she gasped, twisting out of his grasp. “What are you doing?”

He pushed her away. Thank God. “Do I have stupid stamped on my forehead?” he spat.

“What does that have to do with feeling me up?” she asked knowing exactly why he did it. According to plan.

“Checking for a wire, baby.”

“A wire?” she dumbly asked.

“Wire as in the cops listening in.”

Katy shook her head making a disgusting sound. “I learned my lesson with cops, Evan.”

He smiled nastily. “That captain really took you for a ride.”

“Yeah, but I took him for one last ride and got a hold of his case files. Dumbass kept them on his laptop.”

He held out his hand. “The flash drive.”

“We strike a deal first.”

“No deal.”

As they expected. Greedy bastard. So Katy nodded, dug the drive out of her purse and handed him it to him. Evan pulled out a small tablet from his tux jacket and plugged it in. She watched his face go from gloating to furious to terrified in less than five seconds. His eyes bored into her.

“How did you get this?” he hissed.

“The how isn’t important, Evan; the fact that I have it is. And given that I do have it and you’re being so uncooperative, I’ve just changed my mind. Not only do I want half of the fifty million you were paid for my patent, but I want in on the deal you’re about to broker with Sung for the bacterium.
Half
.” Not according to script but this way she could show him she was greedy too and with that hopefully buy into what she was selling.

He threw the drive onto the tile floor and crushed it with his heel. Katy laughed just as he had laughed at her when she destroyed his cellphone.

When he stared daggers at her, she taunted him further. “I might be naïve when it comes to men, Evan, but my IQ shits on yours when it comes to insurance policies. Now, do we have a deal or not?”

“Yes,” he roughly said.

“Good, now tell me who you’re playing with.”

“That’s information you don’t need.”

“Oh, there you are very wrong.” She sauntered toward him. “See I don’t have a job any more, and my reputation is ruined thanks to you. My income has been seriously compromised. I like nice things, really nice things that require a lot of cash. You fucked me once, Evan, you’re not going to fuck me again. I’m in one hundred percent on who, what, where and how, and for half the take.” She smiled. “I’m not going to be a selfish bitch about it, I’ll do my fair share of work, but I want complete disclosure from this moment on or you can take your little video and share it with the world because the cop and I are history, and I have nothing left to lose.”

She slipped her cell phone out of her purse and wagged it at him. “You think you’re so smart? I could have been recording you the entire time on my cell phone.” She tapped a few icons then extended it toward him like a microphone. “Names, companies, what you stole, who you sold that information to and for how much.” When he hesitated, she sternly said, “I’m not going to make my offer twice, Evan. Now or I walk straight to the nearest precinct with your poorly encrypted texts.”

She watched as her insults penetrated. His cheeks flushed angry red, and his eyes sparked hatred.

When he was done rattling off the details of more than a dozen thefts as well as his accomplices, she was shocked at the depths of his duplicity and greed.

“No one ever suspected you of any of this?” she asked dumbfounded.

He smiled blithely, and shook his head.

The restroom door jerked. Someone pushed from the outside, but the trash can held it. “Hello?” a woman’s voice called. It was Rigatti. “Can someone please open the door? I have to pee!”

Katy moved past Evan to let the cavalry in. He grabbed her arm, spun her around, and squeezed her hand holding the cellphone until she dropped it. Then he proceeded to step on it, crushing it to pieces. “What are you doing?” she gasped reaching down for the destroyed phone.

He yanked her hard against him and sneered, “I didn’t give you all those details because I need a partner, I told you all of that so you could see that even though you might have a bigger brain, I’m smarter.” He shoved her hard against the sink. “It doesn’t matter what your cop has on me, Katrina, and it doesn’t matter what you have on me.” He grasped her around the neck and squeezed. “Because I’m going to stuff you into that trash can and walk out of here.”

Panic exploded in her brain. Evan was going to kill her! She choked trying to say the kill word, but his grip was too tight.

As the panic tore through her, Katy fought to maintain her composure. Simon had prepared her for this. Taught her how to defend herself. But in the heat of the moment it all went out the window. She tried to drop like he taught her, but Evan’s hold was too tight. She tried breaking his hold and twisting, but he was too strong. She kicked and pushed at his legs and chest as his hands tightened around her neck, cutting off her breath. She was suffocating. Couldn’t breathe.

It infuriated her that it was Evan’s murderous eyes and vindictive smile that would be the last things she saw before she met her maker.

“Si-mon…” she rasped as the room dimmed.

Evan’s maniacal laugh as she continued to struggle against him infuriated her. But she had barely enough strength to—

“Kat!” Simon’s desperate voice yelled above the pounding on the door. “Dig his eyes out!”

Remembering how Simon showed her, with her last bit of strength, she closed her eyes, and dug her nails into Evan’s eyes. He screamed. She dug deeper. He screamed again, shoving away from her, finally giving her air.

The trash can was just about bent in half, hands grasped it from the other side trying to completely dislodge it.