Long Road Home(62)

“And three, Sanderson realized some of the other operatives might balk at killing a U.S. senator. Sanderson counted on Jules’s hatred of what the senator had done to her to make her carry out her mission.”

Manuel’s jaw tightened in rage. “He raped her.”

Tony nodded, his expression grim. “The bastard kept a detailed journal in his safe. Recruiting Jules was personal. Payback for her parents deserting the cause. He also wanted to keep very close tabs on her. He was afraid of what she might know, what her parents might have somehow passed down to her. Apparently the Pinsons planned to blow the NFR wide open, taking the senator with it.

“Jules disappeared from the NFR for a time. Just before she surfaced in Colorado. I think that scared the senator. He ordered her killed. Only Sanderson was interested in keeping her alive so she could complete her mission. Basically she was caught in the middle of a huge power struggle. The senator wanted her dead, and Sanderson wanted her back in. Sanderson killed the Trehans to force her hand.”

“Using me as bait,” Manuel said, his voice shaking.

Tony nodded.

Manuel pounded his fist on the chair. “How far does this go up, Tony? How far is the CIA into this? Is our whole agency up to their necks in it?”

Tony handed him a piece of paper. “Names of those involved in the NFR’s operations, either having knowledge of the group or having direct participation in the operations. The FBI is out making arrests now.”

Manuel scanned the list, his stomach knotting as he passed over familiar names. His entire career at the CIA had been a facade. His only purpose was to be a puppet to dangle in front of Jules. Any good he’d thought he’d done evaporated under what his presence had accomplished for Jules. And the Trehans.

He didn’t think he could become any more disillusioned than when he’d discovered Jules had lied to him. He was wrong.

“Why don’t you get some rest, Manuel.”

Manuel looked up to see his partner staring at him, his expression one of regret.

“Yeah, I think I will,” he muttered, standing up from his chair.

“I’ve got some more hacking to do. The FBI wants a solid case against the senator before they march down to the hospital and arrest him.”

Manuel nodded and trudged toward the spare bedroom. He didn’t care what happened to the senator or the CIA. Not anymore. The only thing he cared about was lying in a hospital bed ten miles away fighting for her life.

Chapter Thirty

Jules floated in a sea of pain. She could hear voices, hushed tones, but they seemed miles away. She tried to open her eyes, but it felt as though someone had taped her eyelids shut.

What had happened to her? There wasn’t a part of her that didn’t hurt. Her throat felt sore and swollen, and her chest burned like the fires of hell.

She concentrated on the fuzzy images burning through her brain. The senator. He’d shot her. Manny’s voice. She’d aimed at the senator. Had she fired? She didn’t remember. Was she even alive?

Again she tried to open her eyes then whimpered in pain as a shard of light pierced her skull.

“Jules! Jules! Can you hear me?”

Was that Manny? Why couldn’t she see anything? She blinked a few times, trying to draw focus.

“Squeeze my hand, baby. Squeeze it if you can hear me.”

She didn’t know where her hand was. For that matter, where were her feet? All she could feel was her chest. Pain consumed her.

A hand, Manny’s hand, brushed across her palm. She latched onto it with all the strength she possessed, but only felt a flickering of movement in response.

“That’s it, baby.”

She could hear the excitement in his voice. Shouldn’t he hate her? Why was he here? And where was here? But hearing his voice was such sweet relief. He was alive. But what of the senator? And Northstar. He was out there.

A few more blinks and she managed to make out Manny’s large form standing over her. The room came into focus. She was in the hospital. Again.

“Jules?”

There was such relief on his face. She could make out the barest rim of moisture pooling in his eyes.

Tears stung her own eyes. He was here. He hadn’t left her.

“Oh baby, don’t cry. Do you hurt?”

She felt him leave the bed for a moment, then he returned with a woman. The nurse?

“Ms. Trehan, can you hear me?”

The nurse’s voice was quiet and soothing. Jules tried to nod and pain lanced down her spine.

“You’re in the hospital.” The nurse smoothed a hand across Jules’s brow. “You’ve been in ICU for two days now. Do you remember any of it?”

Two days? Hadn’t it been a few minutes ago? She wasn’t sure she remembered anything. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

“Don’t try to talk,” the nurse said. “You were on a respirator until a few hours ago. Your throat will be sore.”

The nurse’s cool hand rested on Jules’s. “I’ll get you something for pain, would you like that?”

Jules squeezed.

“I’ll be right back.”

The nurse spoke to Manny, and the two of them conversed in low tones. Soon the nurse was back. A few minutes later, Jules gave herself over to the medication. She felt Manny’s hand wrap around hers, and she gripped it tight, not wanting him to leave.