Page 41 of No More Lies
“Dex is on his way over.”
“You told him? Why?”
“I didn’t tell him. It seems this Volkov guy is somehow connected to an op.”
“What? How?” He heard the alarm in her voice.
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out when he gets here.”
“And there’s someone watching the house?”
“Not sure, but I'm not taking any chances.”
“Steve, if Volkov sees your team here, he might come after...”
“Diane, you’re still my wife and Megan is my daughter. I love you both. No one is going to hurt either of you. Ever. Understood?”
She nodded, lowering her head.
The two people he loved most in this world were in danger. He would do whatever it took to protect them and keep them safe. What happened after that? Could they get past this, still be a family? He pushed the thought from his mind. His focus must be on keeping them safe, so for now, he had to keep his shit together and stay calm. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Why don’t you go and see Megan? Dex will be here shortly, and I’ll need to speak to him alone first.” He forced his voice to be normal. A mean feat, considering he felt nothing remotely like normal.
Diane nodded and they both stood. “I’m sorry. For everything, Steve.”
“Me, too.” He sighed. “I shouldn’t have lashed out at you. The thought of anything happening to you and Megan kills me.”
She nodded and turned away. He watched her go downstairs, then he sank onto the couch, head in hands, giving himself a moment before facing his boss. He wasn’t proud of the way he’d talked to Diane. But, Christ, he was angry and hurt. She had kept this from him, and now he was wondering just what else she was keeping from him.
Twenty minutes later, the rear gate opened. Dex, Sam, and Donnie walked up to the back door. Steve let them in, locking it behind him.
“Where are Diane and Megan?” Sam asked.
“Downstairs in the den.” He walked toward the kitchen, the others followed, settling around the island. The pictures from the envelopes were laid out. The three men stared at them in silence, then up at him, their faces filled with concern.
“Fuck, Steve.” Dex’s earlier anger had dissipated.
“I think you better tell us exactly what’s been going on,” Sam said.
Steve told them what he knew, repeating everything Diane told him.
“I was about to call the police, and then you were going to be my next call, Dex. I had no idea about any of this until tonight.”
“I don't doubt that.” Dex said.
“How does this fit into your op?”
“We’re tracking missing sarin. It’s made its way from Russia and landed in Nevada. It could be on the road, but we don’t know where,” Sam said.
Steve looked between them confused. “OK, that’s not good. But I don’t see the connection.”
“The transportation company used to get it here was VV Transportation, owned by Vladimir Volkov.”
“Holy shit. He’s behind the sarin?”
“Unsure just how deep his connection goes, but his company is clearly involved.” Sam told Steve what they knew about Volkov and his business so far.
“When Kelly got the name, that’s when we made the connection. The same guy behind the numbered company that owned the plate you asked Mackie to run,” Donnie explained.