Chapter 4:Tempted
Maggie watched as emergency vehicles made their way through the wreckage. She watched as Sterling got on the phone to call his team. He couldn't investigate anything out in plain view incase some of Erick's people were watching. She sighed and brushed her hair from her face as she looked at the frightened guests of the hotel and anyone in the area.
"Let's get you out of view," Sterling said grabbing her by the arm.
He guided her into the hotel and got her away from the windows. She leaned against the wall nearest to the elevator and looked at Sterling. His phone rang and he answered it.
"She's alright, a few bumps," Sterling said. "I've got her with me."
Maggie glanced outward and watched as emergency crews helped the wounded and cleared the scene. She breathed deep in shock that someone wanted her dead. Her mind was swirling with ideas and she closed her eyes tightly.
"Maggie, come with me," Sterling said. "You'll be safe upstairs."
He gently grabbed her hand and led towards the emergency stairwell. She watched him glance around before following behind him. He pulled his phone out and radioed to someone in the hotel. Maggie stared at him as he led her to the fifth floor. He walked out first then led her out and down the hallway.
She looked at him as he slid the keycard in the lock. He opened the door and let her in first then he followed behind her. She watched as he took precaution for her safety.
"What is going on, Jim?" Maggie asked as she looked around the room that wasn't his. "Whose room is this?"
Sterling glanced at her and she stared at him with fear in her eyes. She took a seat on one of the double beds and Sterling walked towards her.
"I wasn't completely honest about this job," Sterling said.
"You think." Maggie looked at him.
He grabbed her hand into his and Maggie looked down at his hand. She was scared of what was going to happen next. Why was she a target?
"Can you explain to me what is going on?" Maggie asked glancing up at him.
The door opened and they glanced up.
"What the hell happened down there?" a feminine voice broke through.
A young woman in a skirt suit walked in and Maggie's eyes became wide.
"Hello, Maggie," she said.
"Nina?" Maggie questioned.
"It's Katarina actually," she said.
Maggie rubbed her head and Sterling stood up.
"What's going on?" Maggie asked as she turned to face them.
"Why don't you let me handle this," she heard Sterling say.
"Oh, because you did such a great job downstairs," Katarina remarked. "You need to readjust you focus, Sterling."
Maggie stood up and walked towards the surveillance equipment set up. She stared at the view of her office and the theater that she was working on. Maggie turned to them as they were bickering.
"What is going on? Why do you have surveillance on me?" Maggie ran her hand through her hair.
They looked at her and Sterling walked to her. "Just to keep an eye on you. You were hired by a dangerous man, Maggie."
"So, I've been told. What else, Jim?" she asked.
"Wait a minute; you two personally know each other?" Katarina walked over. "Oh, this keeps getting better. I was told you had not connection to her."
Maggie looked at her and looked at Sterling.
"A word, Sterling," Katarina remarked
"One second."
"Now!" she snapped.
He glanced at her and Maggie sat down folding her hands in her lap. Sterling walked towards the door with Katarina. She couldn't focus on the confusion that was taking control. She glanced at the surveillance footage and sighed.
The door opened and Sterling walked in. She glanced at him and he leaned against the wall.
"Why didn't you tell me, Jim? Why didn't you just tell the truth about what I was getting into?" Maggie stood up and walked to him. "You promised I wasn't going to be put into danger and now I have no car. Now I'm a target."
She looked at him and shook her head in disappointment. There was hope that he wouldn't be holding back anything more. If he was she didn't know if she could handle the next surprise that he had up his sleeve.
"I didn't tell you, Maggie, because I thought it would keep you safe. I didn't expect this to happen. I didn't expect Ivanovo to go this far."
Maggie took a seat and glanced at the monitors and sighed. She didn't know what to do anymore. Her gaze glanced at the man who took a risk to use someone outside the law to help draw out answers from a crook.
"What happens now?" Maggie asked.
She heard Sterling sigh and she turned and looked at him. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. How was she supposed to have faith in him now that he didn't know. She stood up and walked towards him and he looked at her.
"Why would I be targeted? Erick would have no reason to believe I am a spy."
Sterling looked at her. "He's a criminal; they don't have to have a reason."
Maggie looked away and stared over the surveillance equipment and out the window. She stared at her reflection looking a little rough from being almost killed in a bomb. But she also looked at Sterling as he looked twice as rough.
"So, much for being like the old days," Maggie light heartily said.
Maggie turned to him and gave a weak smile. She was trying to get her mind away from the idea that danger lurked around the corner. She drifted towards him and he looked at her.
"I need to go back home," Maggie said.
"You can't go back to your apartment. We can't have the risk that someone from Ivanovo's team following you." Sterling reached over and pushed some of her hair off her shoulder.
She glanced at his hand and gave a weak smile.
"Well, should we go?"
"I can't take you, Maggie, I'll have Katarina take you. It would look more legit."
Maggie gave a disappointed sigh and Sterling looked at her. He obviously picked up on her disappointment, but said nothing to acknowledge it. Instead he walked towards the door and let Katarina know she could come back in.
Maggie sat down and waited for the younger woman.
"I want you to take her back home and get a few things, but bring her back here," Sterling remarked. "I have an image to keep up if we continue this investigation."
Katarina looked at Maggie and nodded. Maggie stood up and Katarina glanced back at Sterling.
"We'll be back within the hour," Katarina remarked.
Maggie looked at Sterling as he remained silent. She turned away and followed Katarina out.
They walked down to the elevator and Maggie sighed.
"So, how long have you known Sterling?" Katarina asked.
"For awhile, when he started with insurance." Maggie looked at her.
"Was he just as much of a bastard back then as he is now?" Katarina asked.
"One of the endearing qualities Jim possesses." Maggie gave a smile.
She looked at the younger woman who was posing as her secretary. It was strange how Sterling never mentioned who he worked with. But then again it wasn't like the old days where they were often working together. So, there was the absence of time between their odd friendship if she could call it that.
The ding of the elevator brought their attention to it and the doors opened to let guests off. Maggie stepped to the side as she watched each person and Katarina walked in first. She gave Maggie a nod and she walked on.
The doors shut and the younger woman leaned against the back wall of the elevator. Maggie watched her fold her arms and look straight ahead.
"So, where am I going to stay if my apartment isn't safe?" Maggie asked.
"We'll set you up here until this is cleared up. For your safety I would recommend that you aren't seen with Sterling. Being that he's undercover."
Maggie nodded slightly disappointed and Katarina looked at her.
"The other day when he came into the office to speak with you it seemed like you two were not on friendly terms, why suddenly is he so intent on keeping an eye on you?"
Maggie shook her head and let her eyes dart away.
"Don't tell me, you and Sterling are…"
"No," Maggie quickly objected.
"Very interesting." Katarina smiled a little. "It would explain some things."
Maggie looked at her. "I assure you there is nothing going on between Jim and me."
Katarina shook her head.
"I've seen the way he looks at you. And I've seen even the way you look at him."
Maggie smiled and shook her head.
"Nothing's there."Maggie looked away again.
The elevator came to the lobby and opened, but to their surprise an unexpected guest was stopping by.
"Maggie," Erick's voice remarked with slight surprise.
"Erick," Maggie replied.
He glanced around and back at her. "I thought you weren't staying at the royal."
Maggie smiled lightly. "I'm not; I came up to get a contract from one of my out of town clients. They insisted that I met them here. Erick you've met my secretary, Nina right?"
Katarina gave a smile.
"I've spoken to her on the phone. Maggie, I hope no one is trying to steal our time together. I would be disappointed to see you distracted from making my theater look breath taking." Erick swept Maggie's hand and kissed it.
"Of course not, each client gets my full attention." Maggie smiled. "I really do need to head to the office, but I'll see you early tomorrow to discuss the grand hall."
"I look forward to it," Erick said with a smile.
"And where are you off too?"
"I have a contract for Mr. Markevich. I tried calling, but it seems he's been a very busy man." Erick smiled. "But I must get these contracts signed."
Maggie gave a nod and looked at Katarina.
"Well, let me let you ladies go about your business and Maggie, I will see you tomorrow." Erick kissed her hand again.
He walked to the elevator and Maggie glanced at Katarina. She was already sending a text that Erick was heading up.
"I'll have another agent bring you by. I don't trust Erick just dropping by." Katarina stepped away from Maggie. "Wait for one of the other agents to escort you. I'm going to go back Sterling up."
Before Maggie could object Katarina had already rushed to the stairs. Maggie sighed and walked towards the middle of the lobby. Chaos was still taking control from the bomb and Maggie tried to stay clear.
When she finally got an escort and went to her apartment she packed enough for a few days. She was use to packing up at a moment's notice, but it was different. It seemed that her life was in danger.
"Dr. Collins, are you ready?" the agent asked.
Maggie looked at him and nodded. She grabbed the suit case and grabbed her back up files for other clients. She glanced around to make sure she had everything. She grabbed her keys and walked out her apartment with the agent and locked up.
They arrived back at the hotel and management was escorting guests out the hotel. They had made reservations for everyone at other hotels that had room. Maggie glanced at the agent as he guided her back to the car.
"I'll have you set up at another hotel, Dr. Collins. I'm sure it won't be a problem." The agent told her.
She looked at him as he lifted his phone. She grabbed her phone seeing a missed text message from Sterling. She opened it found it was coded and mentioned to pass the message to the agent who was keeping an eye on her.
"I got this message from Jim," she told the agent.
The agent glanced down at the phone and scrolled down to read the code. He handed her phone back and gently grabbed her by the arm.
"They were able to get a hotel just up the road. I'll get you to the hotel and your room, but Agent Sterling will be checking on you." The agent escorted her to the car.
They headed up the street about two blocks from the Royal Hotel. Maggie looked back at the hotel and the rubble that still remain. She was scared now and things seemed to only get worst.
They arrived to a hotel just as nice as the Royal and headed up to the fourth floor where they had a room ready for her. Maggie glanced down the beige walls that were decorated with photographs of some of the landmarks in the city. She glanced at the agent as he stopped at a room and knocked twice.
The door opened and Sterling looked at them. "I see you found us."
He stepped to the side and grabbed Maggie's suit case. She looked at him seeing that Erick's visit didn't end in violence. She stared at Katarina as she sat comfortably at the table in the room.
"I want you to know that I don't agree with these arrangements," Katarina said standing up. "But I believe you are in good hands with Agent Sterling, Dr. Collins."
Maggie glanced at Sterling as he leaned against the wall. He didn't seem to show much expression towards this arrangement. But perhaps he was trying to be professional about it. She turned back to Katarina as she handed Maggie a cheap phone.
"We will call you or text you on this phone. It's a secure line so it can't be tracked. If you need assistance send a text to Sterling with a number code. I've made a list of them so make sure you look over them and burn them into your mind. Anytime you are around Ivanovo you can record anything that might be important. We will analyze it later." Katarina looked at Maggie. "We'll be close by."
Maggie nodded and Katarina walked towards the door with the other agent. Maggie glanced down at the phone and slipped it into her purse. She listened for the door to shut before she waited for Sterling to say anything.
"You better get some rest, tomorrow is a busy day," Sterling said.
"Where are you going to be?" she asked.
"I'm just next door." Sterling looked at her.
Maggie's eyes went soft and she gave a nod. She was scared, but didn't want to burden him with her fear. She took a seat on the bed and he looked at her.
"I'm sorry," Sterling said.
Maggie glanced at him slightly surprised to hear the words escape his lips. It had been a very long time since she had heard those words from him. She nodded and sighed.
"Apology accepted," Maggie replied.
She looked down at her hands in her lap. It was then she felt the bed move and she looked over at him.
"I'm sorry about last night," he said.
Maggie wrinkled her brow at him. She leaned away from him confused about what he was saying. Sterling just stared at her.
"Why?" Maggie whispered.
"It was a mistake. We both had too much to drink last night and that clouded our judgment."
Maggie sighed and looked away from him.
"We all are tempted and sometimes some people act on those tempted feelings," Sterling remarked.
Maggie snapped her gaze and stood up. "Tempted? You believe what happened between us was because we acted on temptation?"
Sterling stood up and wrinkled his brow. "What do you want me to say, Maggie?"
"I don't know, Jim." Maggie walked towards the window.
Maggie had had a similar discussion about being tempted with Nate the last job she was recruited for. She had told Nate that every once in awhile there was temptation that tested a relationship. He was tempted with Sophie and she admitted she had been tempted with Sterling. Now to hear the words from Sterling about what had happen last night, it just made her realize why she never acted on those tempted feelings.
"I'm tiered, Jim, please leave." Maggie walked towards the door and looked at him.
"Maggie."
"Don't, Jim. You might be tempted," Maggie remarked as she opened the door. "But I believe there is someone else that you might have in mind. Someone younger."
She saw him narrow his eyes. He walked towards her and she turned her head away from him.
"Good night, Maggie." Sterling walked out.
She shut the door hard behind him not caring if it slammed in his face. She locked the latch and leaned against the door. She felt like an idiot now, expecting that someone like Sterling would let his guard down without a drunken state of mind.
Maggie walked towards the mini bar and grabbed a bottle of Vodka. She tossed the top and downed the bottle like it was water, feeling that at that moment it was the only comfort she had.