Spying
on Love was inspired when I was getting on a plane, heading to Kansas
City a couple years ago. Brick's a unique character. Since he's an
airline executive, most people expect him to be a useless “suit”.
People underestimate Brick, to their peril. He's in town of his
brother's funeral and finds out there is more to Stony than meets the
eye—with dangerous consequences.
There
was a knock at the door. Brick got up to answer. He checked through
the window before opening up. It was Jeremy and he held a laptop.
“Hi.
Sorry to come by so late, but thought you might need this. We got
what we needed off it.” He handed the laptop to Brick.
“Thanks.
I can sure use it. Mine died.”
Jeremy
nodded, backing quickly off the porch. Brick's phone rang as he
closed the door.
“Hello?”
“Brick,
it's Tovah.”
“Yeah?
Hi. Oh, thanks for sending Stony's laptop. I've got to buy a new
one....”
“What
are you talking about? We didn't send it back.”
“I'm
holding it in my hands.”
“That's
not Stony's. It's been dismantled. Get rid of it. Now.”
“How?”
“Throw
it in the pool.”
Already
on the move, he told David to open the door, glad that his
brother-in-law didn't argue. Brick sprinted to the pool, holding the
laptop like it would bite him. At the last minute, he decided that
wasn't safe. Courtney's room was just above the pool. Instead, he put
on a burst of speed and ran to the golf course. It was deserted this
time of night. A water trap glittered in the moonlight. Brick changed
direction, nearly falling. He hurled the laptop toward the water as
hard as he could. He was ten yards away when the pond bulged, blowing
water and mossy golf balls in every direction.
The
explosion lit the night. Motion sensors, car alarms and voices
created a chaotic morass around him. Ears ringing, he clawed his way
up the embankment. David met him, beating him on the back. It wasn't
until David pushed him into the pool that Brick realized his coat was
on fire. David hauled him out. Dripping and furious, Brick moved with
a purpose. He was out the door, heading to the surveillance house
before David could stop him.
The
team across the street was already on the move. Brick zeroed in on
Jeremy. He grabbed the sandy haired man by the collar, roaring as he
slammed his face into the side of the stucco house. Lucas tried to
get between them, but Brick was a man possessed. He wanted to kill
Jeremy, but he wanted information more. Jeremy tried to fight, but
Brick was a strong man fueled by fury. Hands gripped shirt, elbow
slammed across shoulders. His full body weight pinned Jeremy to the
wall.
“Who
sent you?”
“Brick!”
He
hit Jeremy with his forearm. “Tell me! Who wants us dead?”
“I
don't know. You have to believe me!”
“Who?”
Slam. “Who?”
“Stony—not
dead—dangerous—Jesus, Brick! They have my wife!”
“The
kids are home! Did you know that? Aubra's pregnant. There are five
children in that house! You could have killed us all.” He body
slammed the other man once more, roaring his anger.
“I'm
sorry! I didn't know about the kids.”
“But
it's okay to kill a pregnant woman?”
Spinning
the other man around, Brick punched Jeremy in the gut.
“My
wife,” he gasped.
Brick
gut punched him again. “You'd have sacrificed ten people to help
her. I get that. I'd give anything for Danai to still be alive.”
“You
understand?” There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“I
understand that Danai would have gladly died to protect even one
child. I wonder how your wife will feel when she finds out.”
Jeremy
wilted, sobbing. “Don't you get it? She died the second that bomb
went off.”
“Then
I'm sorry for your loss,” Brick replied coldly, letting him drop.
Colleen
ran up to his side. Maverick and Tovah rushed to cuff Jeremy.
“Someone
kidnapped his wife,” Brick said. Looking around at the confusion,
he sighed. “This is gonna be hard to explain.” He nodded at the
conflagration on the fifteenth hole.
Colleen
threw her arms around him, kissing him desperately. “Are you okay?”
“Charred
and wet, but alive. Dammit. I really like this suit.”
“I'll
buy you a new one, I promise.” She kissed him again.
“Mr.
McMillan?” A tall policeman walked over.
“Yes?”
“I'm
sorry to intrude, but there are a few questions.”
“Okay.
Sure.”
“I
need you to come with me, sir.”
“To
the station? What for?”
“Little
matter of a bomb on the golf course.”
“I'm
coming with him,” Colleen insisted.
“Sorry,
ma'am. Unless you're his lawyer—”
“I'm
better than that.” She flashed her badge.
He
became very cooperative. “Of course, ma'am. My apologies.”
“I
showed you mine,” Colleen said, holding Brick's arm as she pushed
him behind her. “You show me yours.”
The
officer handed her his identification. Glancing from his face to his
ID, she took her eyes off him a second too long. Brick saw him move
before she did. The officer clipped her on the side of the head and
lunged at Brick. Taking advantage of the reach, Brick grabbed the
officer instead. He yanked forward, pushing the police officer's arm
down at the shoulder as he pulled back at the elbow. The man screamed
as his elbow popped.
Colleen
recovered enough to grab the other man's wrist, hitching his injured
arm behind him. He howled as she cuffed him.
“Nice
move, McMillan,” she said with an impressed grin.
“Aikido—ten
years now.”
She
raised an interested eyebrow.
©
2016 Dellani Oakes
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