She had never seen anything like it. When he’d told her they were headed to the Rockies, she’d thought they would stay at another cabin in the mountains. She’d never envisioned this.
For the past two days, they had driven practically non-stop. They’d made pit stops along the way, to grab something to eat and take potty breaks, and thanks to his network, they’d had safe places to crash for the night. Then, the next morning, they were on the road again. Roland had wanted to put as much distance between them and the bad guys as possible.
Seeing how tired and exhausted Roland was, she had finally convinced him to let her help with the driving. That had given him a chance to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
Roland had been in constant communication with Stonewall, Quasar and Striker. According to them, the FBI had made numerous arrests. Clearwater had been killed in a shoot-out with law enforcement that night. However, the ring leader, Samuel Meadows, was nowhere to be found.
Roland let her in on what Special Agents Warner and DuBose had told him, that after an assassination attempt had been made on a rogue retired FBI agent’s life, he had sent the Bureau the names of other MEs, medical doctors, politicians, FBI agents and CEOs connected to the crime ring, out of revenge. They’d suspected some of them of being involved with DeWalt’s murder, as well as human trafficking.
“I still don’t know why DeWalt was killed, Roland. Special Agents Warner and DuBose never did get around to telling me, but I have a feeling that you know something.”
He nodded. “Before we leave here, I’ll tell you what I know.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
When things got quiet between them, she said, “This place is beautiful.”
“Yes, it is,” Roland said, tightening his arms around her shoulder. “I understand Dak purchased forty acres and started building this treehouse for his father. It overlooks a waterfall--his father had a thing for them. But when his father died, Dak lost the desire to finish it and for years, he never came back here.”
Lennox glanced over at him. “What motivated him to finish?”
“Mellie. He decided to finish it and present it to her as a surprise wedding gift. This is where they came and stayed a few weeks after their honeymoon.”
He pointed to several video cameras posted on nearby trees. “The security here is phenomenal--all state-of-the-art and high tech. The windows are ricochet. If someone shoots this house or tries to blast it, the bullets or missiles will go back to the person who sent them. In addition to that, uninvited guests--animals or humans—can’t make it past the electrical fencing surrounding the place. We’re safe here. I promise.” He smiled. “Come on, let’s get our things out of the Jeep.”
“Okay.”
It amazed Lennox that after crashing through a cabin wall, being shot up by a ton of bullets, and plunging into a lake, the Jeep didn’t have a single scratch or dent. Roland had explained it was a model being developed by Dak’s corporation to use in American warfare and covert operations abroad. It had been built using a special type of steel.
While they pulled the luggage out the trunk, Roland told her more about the treehouse. “It has one bedroom and three baths--one on each floor. There’s a hidden elevator at the base of one of the pine trees and a hot tub on the roof. There’s also an eat-in kitchen and laundry room.”
Riding up in the hidden elevator was fun. It opened into the third floor where the living room and bathroom were located. The glass roof and walls provided plenty of light, as well as a majestic view of the mountains and a huge waterfall.
What she liked most were the wrap-around-decks on every level. The stairs down to the second floor led to a spacious bedroom and a master bathroom And on the main floor, they found the eat-in-kitchen—fully stocked-- another bathroom and his-and-hers offices.
They would remain here for at least two weeks, longer if needed. Hopefully that would be enough time for the FBI to round up everyone involved and make more arrests.
Lennox was just looking forward to spending time with Roland.
When she eventually returned to Charlottesville, the danger would be over. Roland would resume his life as it was before--without her. And she too would pick up where she left off, but she knew that nothing about her life would ever be the same.
After they’d taken everything up to the treehouse, Roland suggested that they take a shower and she was all for that. Tugging her to her feet from the sofa, he led her down to the second floor.
“This has been quite an adventure,” she said as they made their way down the stairs.
“It’s not over yet. I won’t feel safe until Meadows is captured.”
Neither would she. “Most of his men have been caught, so it’s likely he will be, as well. I can’t keep running forever.”
He didn’t say anything and she wondered what he was thinking. In three weeks, it would be the fifth anniversary of DeWalt’s death and she’d planned to go to New Orleans for closure. Since there’d been so much attention on the box, she decided to go through it before she left, instead of taking it with her. There was no need to keep the FBI in suspense any longer.
Neither she nor Roland wasted any time undressing and getting into the shower stall where warm water sprayed down on them. They had showered together a number oftimes already and making love with Roland in the shower had become one of her favorite things to do. He lathered her body up and she did the same to him. She loved touching him all over and enjoyed having his hands on her.
He put his arms around her waist and met her gaze. She noticed a solemnity in his eyes and wondered if something was bothering him. “Are you okay, Roland?” she asked.
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “You’re looking way too serious.”