Burned Hearts by Calista Fox Page A

snakes on the patio. All of it.”
    â€œI highly suggest we don’t underestimate him,” Daugherty said. He was of medium height, solidly built, with a shock of red hair against a pale complexion. “But he’s not our main concern at the moment. We’ve got to wrap up our investigation on Admiral Bent. We want all five members going down—no one slips through the cracks. In fact—” His cell buzzed, interrupting him. He spared a quick glance at the screen. “I need to take this. I’ve been waiting on some information related to Bent’s whereabouts. This might be it.”
    Daugherty stepped away from us. Strauss continued the conversation, though both Dane and I paid more attention to Daugherty and the way his casual strolling about the cavernous room turned agitated, along with his tone. He nodded sharply and then he swore under his breath.
    Dane and I exchanged a look. My blood turned to ice in my veins.
    Finally, Daugherty jammed his phone into his pocket and returned to our small group.
    To me, he asked, “Would you mind turning on CNN, Mrs. Bax?”
    I usually got a thrill out of Dane calling me that—any reference to my being his wife, actually. But right now nothing registered beyond the apprehension gripping me.
    â€œCertainly.” I reached for the remote on one of the end tables and flipped on the flat screen mounted above the fireplace. I found the proper channel and quickly read the Breaking News ticker at the bottom. “Holy fuck.”
    â€œRight,” Daugherty said. “Our search for Bent’s whereabouts is over. A couple of D.C. agents found him about an hour ago, hanging from the rafters of a vacant building in Georgetown.”
    â€œSuicide or homicide?” Dane asked, angst seeping into his tone. I surmised he wasn’t pleased Admiral Bent might have taken the “easy” way out of all of this.
    â€œEvidence currently points toward suicide, but of course there will be an investigation and an autopsy.”
    â€œIt’s not really his style,” Dane offered. “He was an admiral, after all. Tough as nails.”
    â€œWhen the heat’s on…,” Strauss merely said. “Desperate times and all that—people do what they have to. He wouldn’t have fared well in prison. Clearly knew it.”
    â€œWhat does this mean?” Kyle asked. “Related to the indictments?”
    Daugherty said, “My guess is the trials are going to be moved up—they’ll be starting soon. Which means you need to come with us, Dane. We’ll have two more agents stake out this property.”
    Amano scowled. I knew what he was thinking— not on my turf . But he said nothing.
    â€œI don’t like this,” I suddenly said to Dane, panic seizing me. “I know we’ve talked about it and the FBI wants you sequestered so no one can get to you, but what if they do? This has all turned so sinister that—”
    â€œAri,” he said as he clasped my hand and stared into my eyes. “It’ll be okay. You stay here with Amano, Kyle, and Rosa. Let the two other agents do their thing. Keep calm; decorate the nursery; come up with baby names. Do whatever you have to to get through the day. Do you hear me?”
    I gazed up at him. “This is all happening so fast.”
    â€œThat’s the way of it when the dam breaks. All of the indictments have been made, since Bent is dead. It’s time to move forward. And if we’re really lucky, this will all be wrapped up quickly. It’ll be all right.”
    I tried to breathe.
    Daugherty said, “I assure you, Mrs. Bax, your husband will be well protected. We need him alive—nothing’s going to keep us from finishing this case.”
    I could understand that in my head. My heart, however, did not reconcile the fact that Dane would be tucked away somewhere, likely going crazy over me as much as I did over him. That