Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [315]
Tully rubbed the soot from his face and eyes. O’Dell sat down on the ground next to him. She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her chin on the tops of her knees.
“We don’t know for sure that it’s them,” she said without looking at him.
“No, but who else would it be?”
“Stucky doesn’t seem like the suicidal type.”
“He may have thought the bunker was fireproof.”
She glanced over at him, not moving from her position. “I never thought of that.” She looked almost convinced. Almost.
The firefighters came out of the wreckage, hauling a body on a gurney. It was draped with a black canvas. Two more followed with another gurney. O’Dell sat up straight. Tully heard her suck in air, and he thought she was holding her breath as she watched. The second gurney approached the FBI’s truck, when suddenly the dead man’s arm slipped out from under the canvas. The arm slipped off the gurney, hanging down, clothed in what looked like a leather jacket. He felt O’Dell stiffen. Then finally, he heard her breathe a deep sigh of relief.
CHAPTER 73
If it hadn’t been so late, Maggie would have offered to take Gwen out for dinner. However, she had spent too much time at the hospital making sure Tess was comfortable and that Agent Tully had no permanent damage to his leg.
Though she should have been completely exhausted, for the first time in a very long time she felt like celebrating. So she searched and discovered a Chinese place that was still open on the north side of Newburgh Heights. She could finally stop by a restaurant again without worrying the waitress would end up in a Dumpster the next day. She picked up kung pao chicken, sweet-and-sour pork and plenty of fried rice. She asked for extra fortune cookies and wondered whether Harvey liked egg rolls.
Maggie arrived home to find the two of them curled up in the recliner watching Jay Leno on the portable TV. The cartons reminded her once again of the carton Stucky had stolen, now gone forever, literally up in flames. The photo album had contained the only pictures she had possessed of her father. She didn’t want to think about it right now. Not now when she was enjoying what felt like some sort of liberation.
Gwen saw the bags of takeout and smiled. “Thank God! I’m starved.”
She had called Gwen from the road, filling her in on most of the details. Her friend had sounded relieved not only for Maggie but for herself as well. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about Walker Harding ever again.
“Why don’t you spend the night here?” Maggie suggested over a forkful of chicken.
“I have an early-morning appointment. I’d rather drive tonight. I’m worthless in the morning.” She was examining Maggie while she scooped out more rice. “How are you? Honestly?”
“Honestly? I’m fine.”
Gwen frowned at her as though that was too easy an answer.
“I came close to getting Tully and myself killed,” she said, now serious. “I panicked with the fire. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. But you know what?” She smiled. “I survived. And I got us out of there.”
“Very good. Sounds like you passed some major personal test, Maggie.”
Harvey shoved his nose under Maggie’s arm, insisting on another egg roll. She gave him a half-eaten roll and patted his back.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to feed dogs egg rolls, Maggie.”
“And how would I know that? Is there a book with all these rules?”
“I’m sure there are several. I’ll pick one up for you.”
“Might not be a bad idea since it looks like Harvey and I are going to be permanent roommates.”
“Does that mean you were right about his owner?”
“Tess told us there was another woman. A woman named Rachel