“Killed my family,” he whispered. “Gonna kill me.”
“What’s your name?”
“Mickey F—” Nausea hit him and he turned his head, looked through the glass door, and straight into the eyes of the killer. The man turned and walked away.
And Mickey surrendered to the darkness.
Caden hadn’t realized she’d meant an eight-hour road trip. “We’ll need a place to spend the night.”
“If you’d rather not go, I understand. I can drive myself.”
He hesitated. “This has to do with the case? You think you know someone who can tell us your father’s real name?”
“Yes.”
“Then I might be able to get a chopper. Personally, I like three hours versus eight.”
“Sure, if you can arrange it. That would be great. We’ll also need a car once we land.”
“Already thought about that.” He opened the truck door. “Climb in and I’ll get the ball rolling.” He hesitated. “Do you want to call and let your mystery person know we’re coming?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know he’ll be home?”
“She. And today’s Monday. She’ll be home. And if it’s only three to four hours from now when we get there, she’ll be either playing bridge with her ladies’ group or working in her garden.”
He gave a slow nod and lifted his phone to dial.
Ava waited in the front seat while Caden made his calls. It took some convincing, but he got what he wanted.
When he finished, he slipped into the driver’s seat and placed his phone in the clip on the dash. “All right. I got approval. Grudging approval, but I got it.”
“Grudging?”
“It’s a slim lead to justify the chopper, but I convinced the SAC, so it’s all water under the bridge.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry. I can just drive, get what I need, and be back tomorrow.”
He reached for her hand and held it. It surprised him how fragile it felt in his. She was so strong and capable, fragile wasn’t a word he’d think to associate with her now. “It’s all taken care of, Ava. I’ve even called Zane to let him know what’s going on, and he’s going to keep working the case from this end.”
She released a slow breath and nodded. “All right.”
“So, who is this person we’re going to see?”
“A longtime family friend who’s adored me since she met me when I was about fifteen years old, but she’s known my father much longer. If anyone knows his name before he entered the CIA, it will be her.”
“Childhood buddies? High school friends?”
“That is the million-dollar question. I’m not sure, but I think the high school angle is true. Neither of them has ever said, but I think my dad dated her before she married her husband.” She shrugged. “They stayed good friends, and for whatever reason, she’s taken an interest in me from day one.”
“What does she do in Washington?”
“She refers to herself as arm candy, but I call her the wife of a friend. Her husband has a very visible job, and she thrives on her role of supporting him and making him look good.”
“And her husband?”
She hesitated, then said, “He’s also involved in the CIA and was best friends with my father.”
“But they both dated the same woman?”
“I think so. Like I said, that was just me reading between the lines when we were all together—which was only on occasion until I was older.” She paused. “And they didn’t think I was listening. Or would understand what they were saying should I happen to overhear them.” A sigh slipped from her. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Interesting.”
“No kidding.”
She fell silent while he drove to the airport, and Caden pondered the connection between the Fields family and Ava’s father. He had a theory, but nothing he could prove. Had Jesse Fields also been involved in working with the CIA? It would explain why the man appeared to be hiding something and had refused to talk about it. But it did lead him to wonder if someone had discovered that and retaliated by killing his family.
Maybe they needed to look at the other families from that angle? He used voice commands to call Zane.
“What’s up?” Zane asked, answering on the first ring. He sniffed and blew his nose.
“Dude . . .”
“I know. I know. What is it?”
“I have a theory.”
“I’m glad someone does. Hit me with it.”
While Ava listened, Caden laid out his thoughts. “So, if Jesse Fields is actually CIA, it would explain a whole lot.”
“Yeah . . . and the wrong person found out?”
“That’s what I’m wondering.”
“What about the other families, though?”
“Again, it’s just speculation, but the families killed are young. Are their parents still alive?”
“I don’t have any idea,” Zane said, “but I’ll call Daria and get her working on finding that out—along with whether any of them were spies. I did find out that the parents of the family killed this morning are alive. They’re devastated, of course, but like all the others, claim to have no idea who could have done such a thing. And truthfully, just a surface background check reveals nothing. However, we’re digging deeper. We’ll see if something turns up.”
“Okay. Interesting.” Caden spun the wheel into the small private airport parking lot. “We’ll catch up in a few hours.”
“Have a safe flight.”
Caden hung up just as Ava’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen. “It’s your sister.”
“You talk to her and I’ll go sign the paperwork.” He parked in front of the double glass doors.
She nodded. “I’ll be there in just a few minutes.” She swiped the screen. “Hello?”
Caden climbed out of the vehicle and shut the door. Ava chatted with Sarah while he let his gaze sweep the area. As far as he could tell, no one had followed them to the Fields home or to the airport, but he wasn’t planning on relaxing his vigil any time soon. The more he thought about it, the more he felt certain someone had targeted Ava and it had to do with her father.
At least their visit to the Washington area would throw off anyone for the time being. Unless someone was able to get their hands on the FBI flight plan, they should be good.
Once he had the paperwork ready, he turned to find Ava standing behind him. “We’re set.”
She nodded. “Good.”
“Sarah okay?”
“Just checking on me. She said to let Gavin know if you needed his help or any kind of backup.” Gavin was Caden’s soon-to-be brother-in-law and one of his best friends.
“I think we’re all right for now.”
“Yes. For now. Might be a different story in a few hours.”
Caden was still debating whether or not he should ask her to clarify that statement, even while he followed her into the chopper.
CHAPTER
TEN
The flight seemed to take forever, but while they whipped through the air, Ava leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and plotted. Julie Sparks was John’s wife. She was a woman he loved and trusted more than any other human in the world, and she adored Ava. Julie had become a second mother to Ava once her father had introduced them, and Ava fought with her conscience, even as she planned how to approach the woman in order to get what she needed.