She watched as he took the exit that would lead them off the interstate they’d been on for more than three hours. “My network is made up of a group of guys I served with in the military. Like me, they all started their own security companies.”
She remembered him saying something about his time in the service earlier. “What branch of military?”
“The Air Force. I joined right out of college. When I left Savannah State University, the last place I wanted to return to was Charlottesville.”
“Why?”
He paused a minute before answering. “I wanted to put as much distance between myself and the Connelly family as I could.”
When he didn’t say anything else, she figured his relationship to the Connellys wasn’t up for discussion. “How long were you in the Air Force?”
“Two years.”
“I thought there was a four-year minimum,” she said.
“Not if you sign up to be a reservist for another six years. Luckily, I had no problem doing that. In fact, I welcomed those weekends away from my job as a cop. The training and simulated tactical maneuvers kept me in good shape.”
Lennox could believe that. The man was still in incredible shape.
A few moments later, Roland turned off the two-lane road they’d been travelling on, once again glancing into his rearview mirror, as if to make sure they hadn’t been followed.
Finally, Roland brought the SUV to a stop in front of what looked like a cottage sitting next to a huge lake. In the distance, she could see other dwellings that had been built closer together, but this particular one was isolated from the others.
“How did you find this place?”
He checked the rearview mirror again, then turned to her. “I didn’t. My network team did. You’ll meet one of them tomorrow.”
Just like when he’d mentioned his connection to the Connellys, he was evasive. But she figured he had every right to be. Hopefully, now that they’d be sharing the place alone, they would have some time to talk and get to know each other better. It was either that or let her mind wander to other things they could do…and that wasn’t a good idea.
• ••
“Stay here, Lennox, while I check out the place,” Roland said, opening the door and getting out.
When Lennox nodded, he let out a deep breath. He was glad she wasn’t questioning anything he had asked her to do so far, but he knew those questions would be coming.
The plan was for the two of them to stay here for a while, likely a week to ten days. That would give the FBI plenty of time to get a decoy in place. He really hoped it worked and the bad guys took the bait. The next few weeks would be a lot easier if they were searching for Lennox in another part of the country.
He entered the cottage and glanced around. He had requested a place that was isolated and that was exactly what he’d got. The cottage looked as if it was mostly used as a honeymoon destination or a lovers’ getaway.
There was only one bedroom. He figured that meant he would be sleeping on the sofa. But at least there were two bathrooms—a bedroom ensuite, with both a shower and a tub, and a smaller bathroom with just a shower, off the living room. There was also a kitchen and a separate dining area to eat. That would work for the two of them. And though he’d be sleeping on the sofa, at least it was close to her bedroom. He would be able to hear any sound she made.
Although Roland knew Lennox was safe sitting in the SUV, he kept the door open as he looked around. His Air Force friend, Byron Hill, had been here earlier and had set everything up nicely, including placing security cameras around the perimeters of the cottage. The bedroom hada window, but Roland was certain Byron had installed an alarm on it, in case anyone tried to get inside.
He glanced at his watch--they’d left Charlottesville seven hours ago. It would be getting dark soon and he needed to check in with his team before he and Lennox got situated for the night. He had picked up the aroma of delicious food the minute he’d entered the cottage—Byron had obviously thought of everything. He and Lennox would eat well tonight.
Walking out of the cottage, he went over to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. “You can go on in. I’ll grab our bags.”
She nodded, then quickly made her way inside. He figured she likely needed to use the bathroom, since they hadn’t stopped since lunch.
A few minutes later, he walked inside the cottage with their things and saw her standing in the living room, looking around. She smiled. “Roland, this place is beautiful.”
He glanced around too, thinking it was beautiful if a person appreciated the rustic look. Personally, he thought it was way too cozy. Because they’d been running for their lives over the past thirty-six hours, they had pretty much put that pesky attraction they had for each other on the back burner. But it had returned, full force, when they’d gone through the car wash. The intimate setting, and the sound of water, had stirred his passions. And he’d seen the same awareness in her eyes.
“Glad you like it. I’ll put your luggage in the bedroom and you can go ahead and dig in.”
When he returned a short while later, Lennox had all the food containers opened up, but hadn’t started eating. “Is something wrong?”
“No. I just wanted to wait for you.”