Chapter Twenty-Eight

Dealing With The Past

Ian Bridges sneezed suddenly in the chill darkness of the very early morning air as he moved slowly down the sidewalk. He must have been trying to keep to the deeper shadows between the widely spaced streetlamps, skirting the pools of betraying light.

I hadn't been paying close attention at that very moment to what was going on outside my doors. I almost missed seeing him, but he stopped right next to me. That noisy exhalation of breath betrayed him.

I quickly scanned his facial profile into my database, and it came back as an exact match. Dressed all in black, to any casual observer, he could have been taken for another shadow among the many cast by the waxing moon that was riding low in the ink-black sky. A steady night wind was moving nearby tree branches around, confusing his human outline.

But he cursed long and low beneath his breath when the raucous sound gave him away. He immediately drew backwards into the deepest shadows and walked on beyond me, sweeping his gaze quickly from right to left.

I switched to night vision and continued to watch his furtive movements. I had been using the last few hours, while the other members of the Knight Investigations team slept, to review my files and download everything I could uncover about Bridges and his dealings.

The IRS data files had been very easy enough to break into. Their digital protection was almost non-existent.

I'd made a note. That was something I would need to attend to at a later date. Michael was always looking for new ways to expand our thriving business. Government contracts were always lucrative since the protections required for such sensitive material were constantly changing and updating.

And Bridges' company files had become an equally open book to me. He was arrogant and foolish enough to think himself secure. He was the sort of man who kept a second set secreted away in his office safe. Everything pointed that way. I was working on how to access them, as well.

That was where the answers we needed would reside. A further tip-off to the IRS should secure them for closer investigation. I just needed the proof or some rash impetuous action of Bridges in breaking the law. It appeared that he was about to do so.

I had assisted Michael with compiling the IRS report on the man. I was deeply disappointed that I had not been thorough enough in covering up my investigation. I disliked the fact that my snooping into his affairs had finally galvanised the man into the rash and unwise actions he now appeared to be pursuing. He seemed determined to exact some kind of revenge on Carolyn for whatever imagined slights he'd dreamed up.

I had taken up my close surveillance position just around the corner from Carolyn's house. I was aware the hour was now very early, and the desert's nighttime chill had yet to lift. It was that breathless time between the end of the night and not yet dawn, where many creatures die, and more are born. It was no time to be walking the streets alone unless you were intent on doing someone harm.

In the last four years - spent almost exclusively in Michael Knight's brash and devil-may-care company - I had become more sentient and aware, despite my initial, deeply logical training from Devon. I had never been programmed to think for myself. Without realising it, at first, I had slowly absorbed what vivid human imaginations could make out of this pre-dawn hour.

It seemed to be a very curious place where many demons and goblins were said to dwell. A time when many a foul deed could be done beneath the cover of darkness. Now it seemed there was about to be another such added to a very long list of wrongdoings.

I kept silent watch and scanned my quarry again as he walked toward the corner ahead of me and paused beneath the streetlight. His jacket collar was turned up and his shoulders were hunched. He appeared small and mean.

Of course, he was completely unaware that I was watching him. But then, who would suspect any parked car of being awake and sentient?

I waited and watched for his next move. As he turned around the corner and passed into the darkness beyond the reach of the streetlight, I noted the large, black hold-all he was carrying over one shoulder. He held it close to his body as if seeking to hide it from any casual glance. But the street was deserted and all the houses on either side were shuttered and quiet.

By his very furtiveness, I knew Bridges was intent on making a much bolder and far riskier move than merely snooping in the mailbox this time. From his burden, it appeared that breaking and entering was now on his mind. It was the perfect time of the morning to do so.

I eased slowly out from my kerbside position between two other parked cars and crawled up the street to the corner. I inched out as far as I could, not daring to go any further down the street until I discovered Bridges's ultimate target.

Which I had already guessed. The very moment I was certain of his destination, I switched on the comms link and sent out an urgent distress signal.

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"Devon…"

I jerked awake from an oddly restless sleep to the sound of my name being called quietly. Someone was shaking my shoulder in a hard grip.

"Devon?"

"What?" I demanded to know, rolling over and opening my eyes.

Our bedroom was in semi-darkness, but I could just make out the bulk of Michael's familiar shape leaning over me. It was his hand tugging urgently at my shoulder. He waved the other at me, urging me to lower my voice.

"What is it?" I asked in a low whisper.

Beside me, Carolyn stirred and woke up. "What's going on?" she demanded to know, pushing herself up onto one elbow to peer at Michael. "What's happening? What's the matter?"

"Shhh…" Michael waved his hand again as he bent nearer. "It looks like we're going to have an unwanted visitor very soon."

He held out the comms link on his wrist. The red light was blinking. "I couldn't sleep. I was up and dressed when Kitt pinged the link to say that Ian Bridges is right now working his way up the street. He'll be here at any moment."

Carolyn gasped indignantly. "He wouldn't dare!" She gripped my upper arm. "Surely he isn't that stupid?"

"I thought so too." I shook my head as I tossed back the covers and got out of bed. "It seems we're all wrong. He's becoming desperate to get what he wants. Any information on your whereabouts."

I was aware that my state of restlessness had communicated itself to my love. Neither of us had managed more than a couple of hours of rest. Now we knew the reason why.

"Oh, this is too much!" Carolyn whispered angrily as she threw back the covers and got out. She thrust her feet into her slippers. "I'll go outside and give him a piece of my mind!" She pulled on and tied the belt of her dressing gown with urgent fingers.

Michael reached out one hand to stop her headlong rush from the bedroom. "Oh, no, you won't. That's exactly what he wants. To confront you and make you pay for all his problems."

He drew her back to my side and pushed her quickly into my tightly protective hold. "We're going to wait and see what he does. Kitt said he was carrying a holdall. So, my educated guess is, that he's come equipped to deal and for all we know he's also armed. He's become tired of waiting."

"Oh, God…" Carolyn sagged against me. "Do you really think so? That's insane."

Michael shrugged. "Kitt said the man looks like he means business this time. He wants answers. Of course, he thinks he's only facing Maria, a defenceless woman. No doubt, he thinks he'll be able to get to you before the cops can get to him. He's not thinking rationally."

His grin was hard and menacing in the soft darkness. "He doesn't know that Maria now has guests. We're going to make sure he gets the shock of his life."

"It's the only way. No lights…" I warned, keeping a hold of my wife before she did something rash. "We need him to go through with whatever he's planning. Then we will have him bang to rights for breaking and entering. He won't be able to wriggle out of that one since we'll all be witnesses."

I shook my head. "I can almost hope he's armed."

"Yeah…" Michael nodded quickly. "Kitt's keeping track of him. He'll alert us the moment he gets close enough to the house." His hard grin widened. "This is just like old times." He punched the air with one fist. "In a crazy kind of way, I've kinda been missing all the action we used to get."

"Hold on. Shouldn't we call the police?" Carolyn worried, placing her hands flat on my chest. "Surely that would be safer. You can't face him alone. I won't let you."

"If he's as close as Kitt says he is, then the cops wouldn't get here in time," I replied softly. "Bridges has planned this well. Now get dressed and don't make a sound. We want him to think he can act with impunity."

I could feel the adrenaline starting to course through my veins. It lifted me and overrode my state of tiredness. Like Michael, I didn't think I would ever miss the dangers and hair-raising adventures from all the years I worked for FLAG. My hands clenched into fists against my thighs.

Beside us, I saw Michael draw his handgun from the holder beneath his arm and check the weapon. "We're going to throw him a welcome home party he won't forget in a hurry," he said as he flipped off the safety catch and held the gun close to his thigh.

"All we can do now is wait and watch," he continued, with that same simmering tension in his voice that I could now feel singing in my blood.

I was well aware of how addictive adrenaline could be. My hand unclenched and clenched again at our need to be quiet. I could privately admit I did sometimes miss that need for action.

Michael's shadowed eyes gleamed in the darkness. Of course, he wasn't afraid. I hadn't forgotten what a lethal weapon he could be when he was aroused by anger or injustice. We'd once been a very formidable combination.

I could feel the tension tightening every one of my muscles. The years rolled back and now I wished I had a weapon in my hand, as well. I didn't like feeling so naked and exposed.

"Give me your backup," I demanded brusquely, holding out one hand.

"I guess you can still remember how to shoot straight…" Michael whispered as he bent down and drew the second piece, he always carried in his ankle holster.

I hefted it with satisfaction. "Aim for the centre mass and pull the trigger," I replied grimly as I checked the weapon quickly.

"I really do hope it doesn't come to that…" Carolyn whispered. "I don't want Ian to get hurt, just made to see reason. I wish there was another way."

Michael shrugged. "The man has brought this on himself. He'll be the loser for it. I'll go and wake up Edward. He'll want in on this…" he said as he silently left the room, closing the door behind him.

"To make anything stick well enough to the man we have to allow him to break in," I said as I put the handgun down and quickly got dressed. "Then he won't have a leg to stand on. The judge will have no choice but to throw the book at him. It's the only way."

"He must be truly desperate to find me." Carolyn sighed as she dressed.

I pulled her back into my arms and hugged her tightly. "You filed for divorce and walked away from him. His wounded pride has never allowed him to get over that. He's got it into his warped brain that somehow, somewhere, you're laughing at him. That we all are. He's all twisted up inside with hate."

"Then Kitt's right." Carolyn brushed her hand across my cheek. "His mind is becoming quite unhinged."

"Yes, and a madman won't listen to any reasoned argument we have to offer." I kissed her temple. "So, we must deal with him on his own terms."

I took her shoulder in one hand as she started to walk toward the door. ""No, Carolyn… You need to stay in here."

"No…" She threw up her head in immediate denial, her eyes blazing with a mix of fear and determination. "I won't have you all putting your life in danger because of me. This is my fight too."

"There are three of us and two of us are armed," I returned quietly, pushing her gently back against the wall beside the closed door. "Your part in all this is to go to Maria. Then both of you will go down to the basement, where you'll be safe. I need to know that I don't have to worry about you being hurt by a madman."

She tossed her head at me, trying to escape my grasp. "I'm not a coward. I can stand up to Ian. I have before."

"I never thought you were a coward," I replied steadily, knowing we were wasting precious time arguing. "Come here…"

I pulled her close and kissed her long and hard. "You are the bravest woman I have ever known…" I finally said against her parted lips. "But to know you're safe would mean everything to me…"

"Everything?" She whispered brokenly against my mouth.

"Everything…" I drew back to rest my forehead against hers. "Bridges will not win this battle. We won't let him. And if we all play our parts right, he will be spending a considerable part of the rest of his life held securely behind bars. Where he can't reach any of us. We will finally be free of him and his poison."

"Very well…" she agreed, pressing a swift kiss to my lips. "If it will finally put Ian away for good, I will go and get Maria and we'll go down to the basement."

"Thank you, my Luciana…" I kissed her again before I let her go. "I love you…"

"I love you too…" she replied as she put her hand on the doorknob.

"Come on…" I picked up the handgun again and eased out of the room ahead of her. I checked the way was clear before she hurried away down the hall to Maria's room.

I knew I was shaking and that she had felt it too. It was that heady, intoxicating mix of anger and adrenaline that steeled my resolve to somehow get my hands around Ian Bridges' throat and slowly squeeze the life out of his worthless hide for all the pain and anguish he was putting us through...

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I was instantly aware the very moment the door to my bedroom opened silently. I'd been dozing in the darkness of the pre-dawn, debating if I should finally give up and get up to make myself a cup of strong, black coffee.

I'd slept fitfully, tossing and turning throughout the night. The heady fumes of the whisky I'd consumed had long since dissipated, leaving me with a dull headache and a restlessness I couldn't identify.

"Edward?" Michael's tense whisper carried. "Are you awake?"

"I'm awake," I replied softly, tossing back the patchwork quilt that covered me.

Ever since I'd come to bed, something had been gnawing at my vitals, making sleep almost impossible. Some unknown prescience of imminent danger. I'd decided not to get changed for bed and lay down beneath the cover of the quilt instead. The minutes and hours had ticked slowly by.

Michael approached my bed on silent feet. "You can feel it too?" His white teeth flashed in the darkness. "Something's about to happen."

"It's Bridges, isn't it?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "He's decided to make his move while he thinks Maria's asleep and vulnerable. The coward."

I no longer thought of the man as my father. Now I didn't even think of him as my mother's ex-husband. He no longer meant anything to me but an obstacle to be removed from our lives finally and for good.

"Yeah, it's him all right. Kitt confirmed it by facial recognition." Michael's grin widened. "He has no clue we're here. I'm looking forward to dealing with that bastard once and for all. I'm sick of dancing around, boxing with shadows."

"Me, too," I noted the handgun he was holding close to his body. I nodded quickly toward it. "I don't suppose you've got another one of those somewhere?"

"Sorry…" He shrugged. "Devon's already taken my backup."

He eased back toward the door. "But that old Winchester rifle hanging above the fireplace in the living room looked serviceable enough. If you're willing to trust it."

"I cleaned and oiled it the last time I was here at Christmas," I replied, pushing my feet into my boots and tying the laces. "And yes, before you ask. I do know how to use it. I went hunting in the desert with it all through my childhood. I'm not as citified as you seem to think I am."

"Good to know. And I never doubted you for a single second," Michael replied quickly as the red light on his comms link blinked and he put it to his ear.

He frowned as he listened to the message Kitt was relaying. Then he looked up. "It seems our unwanted guest has arrived and he's working his way around to the back of the house. Let's hope his courage doesn't fail him at the last minute."

The door to my room opened and my father put his head in. "Come on, I just heard someone walking past outside, heading around the back…" he whispered tersely. "The game's finally afoot..." He grinned hard as he ducked back into the hall.

"I'll go and get that rifle," I whispered as Michael, and I eased our way out into the darkened hallway.

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"That man is nothing but a blasted cobarde!" Maria snapped in a harsh whisper as we made our way down the gloomy basement steps. "I spit in his eye! Does he think I'm nothing but a helpless woman?" Her hands clenched into fists against her long skirt.

"He doesn't know any better…" I gave her a quick hug. "He's a total cobarde," I agreed softly, shaking my head. "But Devon's right. They can't be worrying about us while they're finally dealing with Ian. We must be quiet down here."

"Bah!" Maria muttered as she moved quickly across the basement to a tall, narrow metal cupboard that stood beside the washing machine and dryer. I frowned at it. I'd never seen it before.

Faint fingers of dawning light were starting to penetrate the gloom of the basement through the high, ground-level windows. I watched my friend as she unlocked and opened the cupboard. She took out a gleaming, twelve-gauge, double-barrelled shotgun.

I couldn't help my gasp in total surprise. I pressed my fingers to my mouth as Maria handled the lethal weapon with ease.

"It was my grandfather's," she replied to my look of astonishment. "He fought against Geronimo with this beauty," she continued proudly. "He taught me how to shoot it when I was very young."

She smiled grimly. "My sweet Miguel insisted that I bought a gun safe for it when you went away to live in California. He wanted me to keep it down here in case of any emergencies. He said I was now a helpless woman who was living alone and he worried for me."

Her dark eyes danced with determination. "Helpless? I only managed to hold my tongue because I knew he said it out of his love for me."

"If only he knew how wrong he was," I marvelled, as I watched her check the weapon.

She reached into the cupboard and flipped open a box of ammunition. She broke the shotgun and inserted a shell into each of the twin barrels. "Let that nasty man come on down here. He'll rue the very day he was ever born."

She snapped it shut and shook the weapon at the heavily beamed ceiling. "Cobarde!"

"Maria…" I gasped in laughing astonishment. "I never knew you were this bloodthirsty."

"I also have this…" She shrugged in reply, reaching back into the cupboard to take out a very serviceable-looking handgun from a small wooden box. "I'll load it and then all you need to do is aim and shoot."

Her brow creased. "If you think you can handle it, that is." She stared at me doubtfully as she stood the shotgun aside to load the smaller weapon.

She turned back and held it out. "See if you can hold it. Be careful. The safety's off."

"I know I can handle it…" I remembered Devon's deadly comment to Michael. "All I have to do is aim for the centre mass and pull the trigger," I replied as I took the weapon and tested its deadly weight in my palms.

It had been more than thirty-five years, and a whole ocean away, from the last time I'd held or used such a handgun. Devon had very patiently taught me how to shoot and I had been a very keen student.

Now, in my heightened state of tension, my hands instinctively remembered what to do and how to grip the weapon. They also trembled slightly with reaction.

"Keep it aimed at the floor," Maria instructed softly as she picked up the shotgun again. "Just in case it goes off accidentally."

"Okay…" I whispered. "But I do know what to do. Devon taught me when we lived together in London. When we were spies for the government."

All the while, my heart felt as if it was beating its way out of my chest. It had been over thirty-five years since I'd felt so alive and scared all at the same time. I could well understand how people became addicted to the rush of sheer adrenaline that was now coursing through me. My blood felt as if it was singing in my veins.

I caught my breath and shook my head. It was almost as if one of my crime novels had suddenly sprung into vivid life. Which made no sense at all.

"Get a grip…" I shook my head. "Concentrate…" I could now hear stealthy movements overhead.

Of course, I knew such a notion was totally absurd. This was real life and now it had become deadly serious. A mentally unbalanced man was about to break into my house. I had no time for lurid fantasies.

But as I turned toward the basement stairs, and closed both palms around the butt of the deadly weapon in my hands, I could almost swear I glimpsed my fictional hero, Edward Grainger, standing back in the shadows. His white teeth gleamed in the darkness of his face as he nodded to me with confidence. My racing heart skipped a beat as I blinked with shock.

Then the vision of him changed and became a tall, bearded man wearing a sea cap over his dark curls. The gold of his cap badge seemed to gleam in the slowly dawning light. That unexpected apparition also nodded as he smiled confidently at me.

"Crazy… I'm damn sure I'm going crazy…" I inhaled sharply in disbelief as Maria and I waited impatiently for whatever awful commotion that was about to break out next…

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