California Schemin' - Kate George [48]
“If you don’t mind my asking, who are you?” I tugged off the foul-smelling coat and hat.
“Agent Madison Truefellow, abducted female rescuer. I’m far better at it than Hambecker, although to give him credit his objectives are different than mine.”
“As far as I can tell he’s a female abductor, not a rescuer at all. What are your objectives?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I was driving along with a gleeful, self-proclaimed alien shape-shifting, what? FBI agent? She hadn’t shown me a badge or anything, and although I was glad to be away from the grasping senator, I was pretty sure I was the only one who had my best interests at heart.
“I’m supposed to keep you safe until the whole Lily Carver Wallace thing has been solved. I have to say I thought it would be a hell of a lot easier than it is. I nearly shit my pants when you disappeared. I figured you were pretty safe as long as you were holed up at home.”
“Are you telling me that Hammie is a Fed?”
“Richard Hambecker has divided loyalties, and I don’t trust him. His number one priority is known only to himself and maybe to his boss, although I have to say having him in the senator’s camp has been incredibly useful.”
“Wait, I thought Hammie was an ex-Navy Seal. Are you telling me he’s a special agent?”
“Oh, he was a Navy Seal all right. Came right out of the service and got attached to Wallace. Not sure who he’s working for or if the whole thing with his dad is real or not. What I do know is that Hambecker Sr. is as straight as they get, but the whole blackmail thing gives Hambecker Jr. a reason to be less than squeaky clean.”
“Which is good for his standing with the senator, which gives Hammie more access to what’s going on.”
“You got it.”
“So how come you didn’t know he was going to come get me? Shouldn’t you two be communicating?”
“I’m not positive we are on the same side. I’d say we’re probably on the same side but with different objectives. He hasn’t really had much to say since he’s been in the senator’s camp.” Madison looked over at me. “How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”
“I’m not sure. I think I ate something yesterday.”
We took the next exit, and she pulled into the drive through at a fast food place. Three bites into a breakfast sandwich, grease dripped out the bottom of the wrapper and landed on my chest. I looked down at the blue dress. It was a little worse for wear. It was wrinkled, and the greasy smear was sitting next to what looked like a toothpaste stain.
“Do you think we could stop somewhere and get me some clothes? I’ve been wearing this dress for ages. It stinks. Literally.”
“I shouldn’t take the time,” Madison looked at the dress, “but I wouldn’t want to be stuck in that dress. It’ll be a while before we get this chance again.”
Thank God I was with Madison. I can’t imagine Hammie understanding my need for clean clothes and comfortable shoes. I pulled the blue shoes onto my feet as we pulled into the mall across from the burger joint.
An hour later we came out through the big mall entry. I was wearing jeans, a white, girl-cut long-sleeve tee, clean undies, socks and bra, and sneakers courtesy of the FBI. At least I think it was the FBI. I wasn’t sure Madison had ever really cleared that up. I was carrying a new jacket, still in the bag, in case it got cold. The blue dress and shoes were in a bag under my other arm. We’d picked up some stain stick and treated the fresh stain, hoping that it would come out when we finally got the dress cleaned.
Madison was striding along ahead of me, leading me back to the car, when I noticed her hair looked like it was changing color again. The ends were starting to look a little pink. I was trying to convince myself I was seeing things, which is why I walked right into her when she stopped.
“Oh, shit,” Madison said and stared at her car. I followed her gaze.
Richard Hambecker was leaning against the driver side door, arms crossed, eyebrows raised.
Chapter Eight
“Oh, hell no.” For the first time since I’d met her on the plane, Madison had her cop