Deadly Deception - By Andrea Johnson Beck Page 0,38
find socks and shoes, and began digging through the pile strewn against the baseboard. The warmth of thick cotton felt comforting to Anne’s battered feet. She laced up a pair of white canvas shoes and floated down the hallway to Adam’s office, where she had once before searched for evidence against him, believing every word that fell from Carter’s deceitful lips. She had lost close to two full days of her life thanks to Rita and Carter. Adam could have been anywhere right now, even half-way around the world faking his own death like his counterpart. Somewhere burning in the depths of her soul, she knew Adam wouldn’t leave her like that, wouldn’t throw her to the wolves like Carter had.
Anne shifted a heap of papers sitting atop the wooden desk. She accidentally knocked over a newspaper headlining the Leeds family and a partially torn bank slip. It showed a withdrawal dated yesterday but the amount had been removed.
“Anne?”
She whirled around to find a feminine outline in the doorway. Anne felt a shock of fear travel her spine. She squinted, trying to make out who was blocking her in. The figure took a step forward.
“Victoria?” Anne gasped.
Why was the law firm succubus in Adam’s house, lurking in the shadows?
“Yes, but its Agent Victoria Mason.”
Victoria flashed a badge at Anne. She could barely see it in the darkness of the office. The only light came from a nearby street lamp.
“Agent…how…when?”
Anne stammered, trying to comprehend this new blindsiding development.
“Yes, agent. I’ve been with the FBI for seven years. Adam was brought on board for intel. I was placed as his assistant to keep him alive and to take down Carter Leeds and his associates. Mr. Leeds does a very good job of keeping his hands clean. He’s made my job quite difficult. Adam took a deal.”
“To use me?” Anne snapped.
“No. To gather information about Mr. Leeds and his family, to possibly lure him out of hiding, to locate the money and to keep you safe.”
“Like I said, to use me.”
Victoria inhaled in a fashion that emanated annoyance.
“Look, he wasn’t supposed to fall in love with you. He jeopardized this case and many lives…”
Before Anne could interrupt, Victoria held a hand up, requesting the opportunity to let her finish. Anne nodded.
“However, I can’t fully fault him. I may be in the FBI, but I don’t have a heart of stone. What I’m going to tell you is off the record.”
“OK.”
“Adam did what he did to protect you and he was sworn to not breathe a word of this to anyone, especially you. He couldn’t tell you even though he begged so many times, but my superior vehemently denied his request. We knew Mr. Leeds was alive and unfortunately he has gained some very powerful and dangerous allies. They will not hesitate to kill.”
Anne could barely fill her lungs with enough oxygen to hold herself up. She leaned her trembling frame against the desk. Her mind continued to whirl.
“Anne, are you still with me?”
“Yes,” she breathed out.
“Adam is MIA. Do you know where he is?”
“You’re the FBI, for god’s sakes, and you don’t know where he is? Christ!”
“We assumed he was with you.”
“I was fucking kidnapped by Carter! I’ve been held against my will for…I don’t even know for how long because I don’t even know what day it is. Everything is a blur!”
Anne unleashed her fury on Victoria. How the hell would she know where he is? Isn’t that their job? Anne remembered the bank receipt.
“Didn’t you know he pulled money from a bank account?”
Anne grabbed the paper, holding it up to Victoria’s face. Her face scrunched to read the small print.
“Shit!” Victoria barked.
“Leeds Imports.” They spoke in unison.
Adam planned to meet Carter.
“He’s going to give Carter the money in exchange for our lives,” Anne whispered.
“That’s not enough, Anne. He wants him dead and Adam walked right into it.”
Anne pushed past Victoria, ignoring her questions about where she was going. She had to get to Adam before Carter did. Victoria gripped Anne’s arm, halting her mid-stride.
“Where are you going, Anne?”
Anne yanked her arm free. FBI agent or not, she was tired of being man-handled.
“I’m going to find Adam before Carter. This has to end.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Watch me!”
“Anne! Do I have to arrest you?”
“Only I know what to say to Carter. He’ll listen to me. Please, Victoria. I need to do this. I know what I’m doing, trust me,”
Anne pleaded, as the FBI’s Kate Moss doppelganger stared at her, gnawing on