Surrender by Angela Ford Page A

slowly walk toward the door and unlock it.
    “It’s safe to come out now.” He spoke calmly.
    She wondered how he could be so calm as she shook uncontrollably.
    “Perhaps a drink will calm your nerves.” He suggested to her.
    “Great idea, I could use a double.” Lauren walked out of the bedroom and motioned for him to follow. She led him downstairs and into her husband’s cigar room.
    “Would you like me to mix the drinks?” He offered. She watched him eye the selection of her husband’s cigars after mixing the drinks.
    “Help yourself. Take them all if you’d like. I never did like the smell when John…” She paused and a tear formed in her eye. For a moment she wished she could smell the scent. At least then John would be alive.
    Agent Donovan politely declined, “No thank you, I don’t smoke. I know it’s a lot to digest Mrs. Reynolds.” Brett handed her a drink.
    “Thank you,” she said and took the drink.
    Agent Donovan’s phone rang. “I’m sorry, it’s my superior. I have to take this.”
    Lauren listened to the agent’s side of the conversation. He mentioned to his superior that he’d arrived at the Reynolds home. She heard him reiterate the attempt on her life and he’d fired a shot but the man got away. He pressed the end button on his phone and turned to face Lauren when the doorbell rang. Lauren attempted to leave the room but he stopped her.
    “It’s not safe. Allow me to answer the door.” He strongly suggested she remain in the cigar room.
    Lauren stood at the entrance to the cigar room. From there she saw him open the door to two police officers and could hear their conversation.
    “Agent Brett Donovan, FBI.” He extended his hand to each officer.
    “Officer O’Brien and this is Officer Taylor. The 911 operator mentioned an agent onsite. She also mentioned an intruder. Is this correct?”
    Agent Donovan nodded. “Yes, that is correct. Please come in.” He motioned the officers toward Lauren and introduced her.
    “This is Lauren Reynolds and this is her home. I came for her husband’s funeral today. Family and friends just left when we heard a noise. I fired my gun when I saw a dark shadow in the kitchen but did not hit him. Once the intruder realized he wasn’t alone, he fled through the back door.”
    Lauren couldn’t believe what she heard. Why the hell is he not telling them about the assigned hit and my husband’s murder?
    “Is this correct Mrs. Reynold’s?” Officer O’Brien asked. Lauren looked at Agent Donovan who slightly shook his head. She figured he didn’t want her to mention anything about the hit out for her. Brett made it sound like a simple break-and-enter. Confused she nodded. “Yes Officer.”
    The officers then asked if they could check the kitchen and the remainder of the house. Agent Donovan offered to show them around.
    “Let me take you. It’s been a long emotional day for Mrs. Reynolds. She needs to rest.”
    He led Lauren to the sofa and handed her drink to her. Questions raced through her mind. She decided to wait until the officers left before she drilled the agent. She lifted the glass to her lips. The alcohol soothed her anxiety. The officers came back to the cigar room and reminded her to alarm the house after they left. She nodded in agreement. Agent Donovan informed the officers he would take her to her family’s home and walked them to the door.
    “Why did you tell them it was a possible robbery? Why didn’t you tell them what you told me?” Lauren finally spoke sharply at him.
    “Our investigation has been undercover for the past year. The local police have no clue about your husband’s business. For now we are going to keep it that way,” he told her in a warning tone.
    “For now” She stormed across the room, inches away from him. She stood eye-to-eye with Agent Donovan at five-foot-ten.
    He didn’t move and didn’t say a word.
    “Some man just tried to kill me. You’re the one who just told me there’s a hit