Author's Note: So sorry for the late update today! I had a medical appointment this morning for some health issues I had. Thankfully, they all turned out to be of no concern.

Gingerjam: Thanks for your review! As you can imagine, the story is getting ready to wrap up. There's still a bit more adventure and action, though, so I hope it lives up to your expectations.

As always, hope you enjoy! ~lg

oOo

"Where's Travis now?" Will felt the shift in the room. Jane had straightened when he put the pieces together about Travis's intentions, and she now huddled over Benji's other shoulder.

"Uh. . ." Benji typed furiously. "He just used his credit card at a gas station in Ephraim."

Will cursed. "He's going back to see Noelle." He reached for his gun and keys.

Jane stopped him. "Brandt, you can't."

"He's going after her."

"You can't go in there guns blazing," she insisted. "Think this through. He's headed back to Ephraim, yes, but he'll meet up with someone there who can stop him. What about local law enforcement?"

Will turned to Benji, who seemed to have all the answers. The Englishman frowned. "What're you looking at me for?" Still, he started typing. "The sheriff is a man named Dane Winters, but. . . ." Like in Dubai, when he realized they'd have to get to the server room from the outside, Benji's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

Will frowned. "Benji?"

"Dane Winters is clean, but his deputy isn't." He spun his computer so the other two could see it. "We couldn't identify this man back in Washington even though we had him on surveillance images from the CIA. This is Winters' deputy, and he's in the Coalition. He's one of their go-to guys for infiltration."

Jane blinked. "You're saying the Coalition still has people in Ephraim."

Will thought for a moment. "Benji, run Axel and Greta Wolff through those files we've built on the Coalition. Find out everything you can about them." He reached for his phone and dialed a number on the screen. "Sheriff Winters, please."

oOo

Dane Winters wasn't an idiot. When he received a call from William Brandt, he knew something big was happening. Brandt didn't talk like an accountant or even a member of the Department of Transportation. He spoke like a cop, someone who knew the danger on the streets. Winters had listened to Brandt outline his concerns for Noelle Blake and the coming confrontation with Travis Gilbertson, his own anger rising. Noelle had already filed for that temporary restraining order, but men like Gilbertson just didn't listen unless someone stopped them. Sometimes, they didn't listen at all. Winters was torn between which type he wanted Gilbertson to be.

Still, he reached for his hat and jacket, murmuring something about checking in at the Wolff place. Brandt had stressed the need for secrecy, that everything seem normal so they didn't let Gilbertson know something was wrong. Winters was all for that, but he had the insane desire to just lay into the guy. Travis Gilbertson had terrorized his ex-wife long enough, and Noelle deserved to live her life freely. That was why Winters joined the military and later became a cop: to fight battles others were unable to fight for themselves. It was cliché and his personal mission in life.

The restaurant was busy today, a testament to the news of Greta Wolff's death spreading through town. Winters paused as a moment of sadness washed over him. He'd known Axel and Greta Wolff for a lot of years, ever since taking the post as sheriff, and they'd always welcomed him with open arms. Retirement age since his arrival, the Wolffs had never given Winters a moment's concern. And he'd had moments of worry about other members of the town. A few times, he'd discovered records where his predecessor looked the other way. He'd learned to keep his mouth shut, though, as most townspeople clammed up when he mentioned it. Now, he sensed that all those secrets were about to be unveiled.

Noelle greeted him when he walked inside. "Sheriff."

Winters took off his hat. He could see the grief on her face and felt his heart go out to her. If having her boss die unexpectedly wasn't bad enough, she now faced the worry of her ex-husband returning at any time. "Ms. Blake. How you holdin' up?"

She gave him a brittle smile. "Not good. But. . ." She sighed. "I'm doing okay."

And she was. He could see the strength behind the emotion in her eyes as she escorted him to his usual table. After ordering coffee and a chicken salad sandwich, Winters sat back and began to watch everything.

oOo

Noelle was incompetent and stupid. That assessment ran through Travis's mind as he watched Ephraim's sheriff enter the restaurant. Did she really think a restraining order would keep him away? His man in the sheriff's office had called him that morning after finding the paperwork, asking him what he wanted done. Travis had been so angry he'd hung up on the guy.

Now, he waited. Noelle would be vulnerable soon, and he'd push his advantage. Besides, the restaurant was full of people as more arrived with every hour. Greta Wolff had a large family, and Travis had taken the chance that it would cause Ephraim's population to swell. But it would also draw William Brandt out of whatever hole he'd crawled into, and that was Travis's goal.

A Latina woman and her fair-skinned husband entered the restaurant, wearing appropriately dark clothing. Travis cocked his head to one side. Greta did have family down in the Southwest, so it was possible one of them had come up to Wisconsin. His eyes cut across to Greta's son, leading another Latina woman by the hand. While he didn't necessarily believe in multicultural families, he didn't condemn others for it. Not overtly, anyway.

Sitting back in his car, Travis sipped his coffee and rolled his head on his shoulders. His moment would present itself, and, when it did, he'd be ready. Until then, he had an ex-wife to make incredibly uncomfortable until she spilled everything she knew about her landlord.

oOo

Noelle recognized Benji the moment he walked through the door of the restaurant. The Latina woman on his arm seemed curious about the place, but Benji headed in her direction. For just a moment, Noelle toyed with the idea of blurting out everything both Will and Travis had told her, but common sense got the better of her when she opened her mouth. Instead of revealing information, she simply smiled and said, "Benji! It's good to see you again."

The Englishman's eyes betrayed a shrewdness that his manner didn't. He knew she was lying. "Noelle. I am so sorry to hear about Greta. Will called me yesterday about it."

Noelle's smile instantly faded, and she glanced at the woman, introducing herself rather than replying to Benji's comment. She met Jane, learned that Jane also worked with Will, and then settled them at a table.

It really shouldn't have surprised her that Benji turned up now, of all times. Axel and Greta had already made arrangements for their passings, so the funeral would be held the next day. The various members of the Wolff family had poured into Ephraim, filling the bed and breakfast and other homes as they grieved. But something else was off, something deeper. She couldn't put her finger on it, but Benji's presence in the area at the same time as Will's told her that things were about to get really ugly really quickly.

Maybe it was her distraction. Maybe it stemmed from the argument she'd had just the previous morning with Will. Or maybe she just didn't expect him. But, when the door opened, the last person Noelle thought she'd see again stepped through. He stood tall and straight, just as he had the last time she'd been in his presence. His hair was a bit more white but still had streaks of dark brown in it. And he wore a jacket against the coming rain.

Noelle blinked. "Dad!"

Jonathan Blake turned slowly to face her. "Francesca. Somehow, I'm not surprised to find you here."

Noelle barely kept herself from cringing. "What brings you back to Ephraim?"

"Did you think Axel and Greta knew just you?" Her father eyed the place. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here." Noelle stared up into his eyes, seeing the same brown that reflected at her in the mirror every morning. "In case you don't remember, I don't have a choice whether I work or stay home and sit around all day."

Jonathan glared at her for a long moment. "I thought I'd drop by your place, but I didn't see that junk-heap you call a van. So, I came here."

Noelle bit down on the angry words that wanted to spring to her lips. Up until she'd divorced Travis, her father had tried to support her in anything she said or did. He didn't always succeed, but she never felt hostility from him before. Now, she wanted to get away from him almost as much as he wanted her out of his sight. Reminding him that she'd had no choice but to purchase that van—and that she actually liked the van—would only prolong the encounter. "Unfortunately, the bed and breakfast has filled with family."

"I'm staying at the old Blake house." The look of censure he gave her told her just how upset he really was that she lived in the old Hayes beach house. "I just thought you should know I'm in town."

He turned on his heel and walked out the door then, leaving Noelle more frazzled than before. She stared at the door after he disappeared. Just how was she supposed to get through the rest of this week if, every time she turned around, her father or ex-husband made themselves a nuisance? Her father had disowned her two years ago. Since then, she hadn't spoken to anyone in her family, not even her cousins. The entire Blake clan turned their backs on her. Travis's family had done the same thing. It wasn't until Will came back into her life that she actually felt somewhat accepted.

Pushing thoughts of Will Brandt away, Noelle walked to the hostess station and tried not to collapse. She had at least two more days of this, and she honestly didn't know how she'd get through it.

oOo

The sleepless night was catching up to him. Will reached for the strong coffee, kept warm in a Styrofoam cup, and sipped at it. The gas station's machine put out good cappuccino, and he couldn't stomach anything else outside of Noelle's coffee.

He'd been in this car for three hours, watching Travis watch Noelle. He knew he could call Winters and report the man for stalking, but he couldn't risk Winters's deputy learning that they were on to him. Then, not long ago, a third man exited the restaurant. Jonathan Blake had stood in front of the restaurant as he turned up the collar of his light coat, the disdain he felt for the place evident on his face. It made Will wonder if there was more to Axel Wolff than what even Benji had found. Was Axel part of the Coalition, or had Blake come to town for another reason? The funeral? He didn't strike Will as the sentimental type, though Will knew better than most just how much it meant to men to pay their respects to the dead.

Will keyed the comm mic he wore. "Heads up. Noelle's father's here, and he's a confirmed member."

"We saw him," Jane replied. "Things are calm in here if you want to follow."

"You can't stay for long without arousing suspicion."

"Actually, Benji struck up a conversation with Dane Winters about the town and his previous visit, so we'll be here for a bit." Jane's voice held a note of amusement. "I think he's planning his retirement."

Will snickered at the thought. Benji did seem the type to wish for a quiet existence in a beach house where no one knew who he was. For that matter, Will had started wishing for that himself.

About that time, Travis started his car. Will tensed, speaking as he did so. "Gilbertson's on the move."

"Go." Jane sounded confident. "We'll keep an eye on Noelle."

Will didn't answer that, just eased his vehicle onto the road. When Travis turned toward the lake, he knew where the man was headed. Instead of following directly, he took a round-about way to get there, arriving in time to see Travis saunter out of the house and onto the back deck like he owned the place. Will figured that, since he did own the place, he'd prevent Noelle from facing her ex when she got off work. She might not appreciate it, but he hoped Travis would be gone before she knew.

He parked his car and got out, letting his keys fall through his fingers almost unintentionally. Instead, they formed a weapon he could use. Wandering around the house, he stared up at Travis. "I believe you're trespassing."

Travis laughed. "Ah, the overprotective landlord. I was wondering when you'd show up."

Will watched as Travis walked down the five steps it took to get off the deck. He didn't say anything, just noted every move that Travis made. The other man was loose, as if relaxed, but Will knew better. Those reflexes kicked in only when a fight was about to happen. He subconsciously answered by letting his own stance loosen and prepare.

Travis snorted. "To tell the truth, Brandt, I've been looking for you. Noelle's nothing. Just a means to an end."

"She's a friend of mine, and I take that very seriously," Will replied.

"Yes, well." Travis shrugged. "If you like having idiots who can't live their lives without someone telling them what to do as friends, then more power to you. But you're a smart man, very smart. It took me a while to track you down until I realized what it would take to get you back here."

Will met Travis's sneer with a tight smile of his own. "I'm actually here to arrest you."

"You?" Travis laughed. "A Department of Transportation trainer. Oh, wait! I forgot. That's just a cover." The teasing expression disappeared as quickly as it ever did with a deranged bad guy. "William Hayes Brandt, secret agent. I was just going to kill you until I realized what Noelle thinks of you. So, I thought I'd have a little fun with both of you."

Will's concern climbed a bit higher. He'd known for a long time that something was off with Travis, but he just assumed it was the stereotypical need that men like him had to control everyone around them. Now, he reevaluated his position. The absolute glee that Travis had at the thought of torturing both him and Noelle revealed a psychosis reserved for interrogators and assassins.

And everything snapped into place.

Of course the Coalition would need their own assassin. Too many people who had stood in the Coalition's way were dead. Amy Rastenburger, an analyst who organized and researched missions related to the Coalition. Bill Hanigan, an agent who met his wife while under deep cover in the Coalition. And Michael Winslow, an agent tasked with stopping Coalition weapons deals. All three of them had to know Travis's face somehow.

Travis nodded, his expression serious. "Now you understand."

"So, harassing Noelle was. . .what? Fun? Intended to draw me out?"

"Don't go getting too big for your britches, Brandt," Travis sneered. "Noelle's mine. She's always been mine, from the day I met her. Whatever happened between you two. . . .It's just something for me to use after you're gone."

Part of Will understood that Travis was trying to draw him into an emotional fight, but the bigger part of him—the part that cared about Noelle—just wanted to lay into the guy. "Why now? Why'd the Coalition come after everyone now?"

"You're a smart man, Brandt. Think it through."

"Hit us when we're weakest."

"Exactly." Travis shrugged. "You coming back to Ephraim just made my job easier. Once I had your face and knew who your family was, I only needed to track you down. You did one better by being here when I first visited Noelle." He shook his head. "She has no idea how deeply involved she is."

Will narrowed his eyes. The only bad guys he'd ever known to monologue like this were those who had an upper hand. Glancing around, he noted all the different places Travis's backup could be hidden.

Travis attacked in that moment, laughing the entire time. Will, slightly unprepared for the sudden move, landed on his back in the sandy path. He barely got his arms up in time to block Travis's quick blows and heard Benji and Jane through his earpiece. Benji said something about heading his way, and Will shook his head. "No," he muttered. "I'm good. Go after Blake. Stop Blake."

With that order given, he got one foot between himself and Travis, flipping the Coalition assassin over his head to land in the grass. Rolling onto one knee, he launched himself into a low tackle designed to keep Travis down. They tumbled for several feet, coming out on the beach and both struggling to their feet. Will blocked another punch from Travis and delivered one of his own to the other man's gut.

The two men traded blows, Travis with the speed of a boxer and Will with his characteristic deliberateness. For the first several moments, Will analyzed how Travis fought and took advantage of it. He took several hard punches in the process, but he managed to keep from underestimating his opponent. He'd done that in Mumbai, when he assumed that Wistram wasn't in the power room of the relay station. He wouldn't do that with Travis.

He'd just ducked another punch when he heard the sound of a boat headed his way. He glanced at the lake, seeing the sheriff's deputy behind the wheel of a speedboat. Travis had hesitated, too, but he grabbed a bunch of sand and threw it in Will's face. Will fell backward, trying to blink the sand out of his eyes so he could see.

Travis pounced. Will landed on his right shoulder, arms up over his head to keep from taking another punch to the face. He could still see—sort of. He saw shapes and enough to know that Travis wouldn't back off until he was dead.

Opening himself up to one more punch while pushing Travis back, Will jumped to his feet, desperately trying to clear his eyes of the sand while defending himself. He swung but encountered nothing but air. Travis laughed again, seemingly taking enjoyment in his frantic flailing. Will stopped himself from blinking too much or rubbing his eyes, forcing his vision to focus. He straightened and kicked, his foot going over Travis's head but throwing the other man off balance enough for Will to gain the upper hand. He again tackled, this time getting behind Travis and placing him in a choke hold.

The gunshot shattered his concentration and sent him diving for cover.

oOo

Noelle knew something was up when Dane Winters rose and left the restaurant, followed closely by Benji and Jane. Will's friends looked concerned and focused at the same time, and Noelle wished she had the right to ask them what was happening. But she couldn't. In spite of her anger at Will, she understood the need for secrecy. There were things about his job that she didn't want to know, much less need to know. Never before had she understood that phrase. "Need to know" had always been a plot device in spy and cop movies to keep the innocent or guilty in the dark. Now, she found herself on the opposite side of it and suddenly grateful.

But she couldn't be grateful for what Will faced. He'd given enough away that she knew his entire life was beyond complicated and beyond dangerous. Men like Will Brandt lived with the knowledge they could die at any time. That left him no room for anything other than friendship, a fact she was painfully aware of now that she knew the truth. Will's reactions were too genuine to be faked, and they lined up with what Travis had said while proving just what a twisted liar her ex-husband really was. If Will had ever needed proof of just what Travis was capable of, he now had it.

But what had Travis done to learn this about Will? What was he involved in that allowed him to know Will's true occupation? And why would he know about the Coalition? Unless he was one of them.

The truth slammed into Noelle almost as harshly as the phone call telling her Greta had died. She took a deep breath and held it, unable to let it out for fear she'd fall apart. She couldn't fall apart. She couldn't let anyone see the turmoil she was under right now, not when Greta's funeral was tomorrow and Axel depended on her to keep it together.

The vague sense of panic exploded inside, though, and she knew she had to get out of the restaurant. If she wanted to keep things together, she had to leave. Rushing into the kitchen, she found the cook and pulled him aside. "I gotta go."

"What's going on?" The cook had worked for Greta and Axel for years and often filled in as manager. "Hey, slow down. Breathe."

Noelle forced herself to take a deep breath. "I'm sorry. It's just. . .I've really. . . .I have to get out of here!" Thankfully, the full force of her emotions struck right then, tears coming to her eyes and threatening to escape.

"Okay, it's alright. Take the time you need." The cook leaned over and peered at the dining room. "Axel's here, anyway, and he'll want time with the family."

"Thanks." Noelle didn't stop to say anything to Axel. She just grabbed her things, climbed in her van, and drove away.

oOo

Benji and Jane caught up with Jonathan Blake as he left his home headed for the beach. Both of them heard the sound of a speedboat and knew they couldn't let the man disappear. Beyond being Noelle's father, he was a member of the Coalition and their key to finding who had ordered all the hits. Jane saw just how much Will cared about Noelle and how badly Benji wanted to save her from the pain of knowing just what her father had done. But Jane also knew that some hard knocks in life were unavoidable. Civilians got hurt, and they could do nothing to stop it.

Blake had just slipped out his back door and pulled on a light coat when Benji and Jane rounded the corner. Jane spoke first. "Jonathan Blake. We need you to come with us."

Blake turned, a sneer on his lips. "You carry no identification, and you expect me to come with you?"

Jane had to admit he had a point. The IMF used the Department of Transportation as a cover, not the FBI. So pulling out a badge and having jurisdiction over men like Blake got really sticky at times like this.

Thankfully, someone else made the call for them. Gunshots rang out from the lake, combining with the sound of a speedboat, answering gunfire, and shouting. Blake vaulted off his porch, landing with his knees bent and running toward the beach. Over their comms, both Benji and Jane heard Will hollering for them to get to Blake before he got away.

As far as Jane could tell, Benji never really thought about his actions. He just ran after Blake, launching himself into a full-body tackle that ended up with both men tangled together on the ground. Jane moved in quickly, pulling a pair of zip-tie cuffs from her pocket and slipping them around Blake's wrists. "Jonathan Blake, you're under arrest."

oOo

Will watched from the beach as Noelle pulled into her driveway and just sat in her car. She had tears streaming down her face, and she obviously tried to stop them before they got worse. Unfortunately, what he had to tell her wouldn't make things any easier.

Turning from the heartbreaking scene, Will looked out over Lake Michigan. "Jane? Benji?"

"We got him, Brandt." Benji sounded breathless and slightly thrilled. "Blake's in custody. Where's Gilbertson?"

"Gone." Will glared at the water, now smooth and showing no sign of the speedboat's passing. His eyes still watered from the sand Travis had thrown in them. "He had backup."

"So what do we do with Blake?"

"Take him to the sheriff's office. I want to talk with him." Will sighed. "First, though, I've got a bit of a mess to clean up here."

Jane spoke this time. "Go easy on her, Brandt. Her world's upside down."

"I know." Will pulled the comm link from his ear and pocketed it. He didn't want to overhear Benji and Jane telling Dane Winters what had happened and why they needed to use his jail. Not when he had to face the woman now standing on her deck and frowning at him.

Noelle watched as he limped toward her, and Will hated that he wasn't able to hide just how badly he hurt. His ribs ached, though he didn't think any were broken. But he'd taken several strong blows to his face and knew he had a bloody nose, split lip, and possible concussion. All in all, he'd come out of this fight alive, and that mattered more than anything else. He just wished he didn't have to let Noelle see him like this.

He knew when she saw the severity of his injuries. A hand flew to her mouth, and she ran down her back stairs. "Will! What happened?"

He stared at her, trying to tamp down the emotion that her worry stirred. She shouldn't be so concerned for him, not with the argument they'd had just the previous day. She had all but kicked him out of her home, and for good reason. What he had to tell her now would probably destroy any last vestige of friendship they might share. "We should go inside."

His tone brought her up short. She frowned. "Will?"

"Noelle, just. . .Please. Let's go inside."

She led him back to her home and into her house. Will sat while she insisted on treating his wounds. She had a gentle hand, even if she could only butterfly a cut and apply a cold compress to some of his bruises. It helped. She also used an eye dropper with cool water to rinse the sand from his eyes. And it made what he had to do even harder.

Finally, he reached for her hand as she tried to, yet again, make certain he wasn't bleeding anymore. "Noelle. Remember how we talked about the Coalition yesterday?"

"Yes."

"Well, we've been after a killer who targeted various agents who somehow got in the Coalition's way. My name was on that list." Will took a deep breath and let it out. "We found the identity of their hit man, and we made one arrest toward bringing their operations in the United States to a halt."

She straightened, a blank expression coming over her face. "Travis?"

"He's the hit man." Will couldn't stop how hard those words hit her. She gasped and drew back from him, shaking her head. "And the man we arrested was your father."

~TBC