Read Online Triple Threat by H. L. Wegley - Free Book Online

you won’t take it, will you?”
    “I told Peterson five years ago I wanted to work for the FBI, at least part of the time in the field, maybe on the Seattle Division Computer Analysis Response Team.”
    “But you couldn’t have been more than fifteen or sixteen back then.”
    “I was fifteen. That’s when Jenn and Lee rescued me from the traffickers.”
    “Was that in the papers?”
    “Most of them.”
    “I think I remember reading about that. Three girls were rescued.”
    “It was the first time I had to—” she pictured the man with the automatic trained on Lee. Katie flinched as she recalled the burst of shots that split the silence of the night.
    “Kate, what’s wrong?” Josh’s hands squeezed her shoulders.
    “I…I shot a man with an AK-47 to save my dad’s life.”
    “Whoa, dude. You really—but you said the first time.” Josh’s mouth clamped shut. He obviously was reluctant to intrude further.
    “A few weeks later, the international trafficking syndicate captured Jenn. When I moved in too close, they caught me. I may have killed one of their guys. At least I knocked him out, then the explosion…” The noise, the flames, and the pain of the bullets hitting her back were vivid memories.
    “Are you sure you want to be an FBI agent?”
    “Hurting or killing people aren’t things you ever want to do. But I can do the job. I want to do the job.”
    Josh’s arms slid from her shoulders around her back and he drew her into a gentle embrace.
    She laid her head on his shoulder and let it rest there until the memories faded, replaced by an acute awareness of Josh’s arms around her and the comfort they provided.
    Katie raised her head, brushing Josh’s cheek with her lips. She took a step back. “Thanks, Josh.”
    Josh studied her face. His gaze darted between her eyes and the vicinity of her lips. He didn’t move any closer, but what was on his mind was crystal clear.
    “So now you know all about me, killer Katie.”
    “You’re no killer, Kate. You’re a brave, good woman. If I was Peterson, I’d have the FBI flooding your mailbox with job offers.”
    She smiled at Josh’s words. Then she smiled because her gaze rested on Josh’s face. She reached out and squeezed his well-developed biceps. “The FBI could use a few geeks, too, you know.”
    He chuckled. “We can do geek work, but you know something?”
    “Yes.” Kate burst into belly-shaking laughter. “Neither of us fit the geek mold. I played on a national championship softball team, and you played on a state championship football team.”
    “I thought jocks and geeks didn’t mix.” He grinned and shook his head.
    But maybe two jocks who did geek work could mix. She looked up into Josh’s smiling face. “Would you mind taking me home? I rode the bus in today.”
    He squeezed her hand. “I’d like that.”
    “Me, too. We’ve got a few more honeymoon details to work out.”
    “Like I said, you’re a beautiful, scary woman, Kate.”
     
     
     
     

10
     
    The house was quiet as Katie, purse in hand and netbook in purse, stood looking out the living room window at the brightening sky in the east. Only a silhouette of the Cascades showed against the red horizon. The red quickly gave way to deep blues and purples above. As she looked at the sunrise, Katie twisted the fake wedding band on her ring finger, hoping it wouldn’t turn green before the day ended.
    The lights of a vehicle turned onto the street and rolled slowly her way. 4:55 AM. Dependable Josh.
    The day had started serenely. She prayed it would end that way.
    Katie slipped outside, locking the door behind her, with Grace, Grady, Lee, and Jenn inside sleeping and safe. She prayed again while she walked toward Josh’s car, a prayer that what she and Josh accomplished today would help keep her family safe. That it would keep her country safe.
    And please…keep Josh and me safe.
    Josh got out and circled the car, smiling as he opened her door. He was wearing