The Mercenaries by Lindsay McKenna

Author:Lindsay McKenna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Special Release
Published: 2017-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Uneasy, Killian walked the now-quiet halls of Marshall Elementary School, which was located near the edge of the small town of Glen. All of the children, from grades one through six, were in their classes, the wood-and-glass door to each room closed, and the teachers were busy with their charges. Killian’s heart automatically swung back to Susannah, who was happily back at work. The meeting with the principal had gone well. Killian had actually expected him to turn down Susannah’s request after hearing about the possibilities.

The principal obviously didn’t believe there could be a contract out on Susannah. Nor did she. They didn’t want to, Killian thought grimly as he padded quietly down the highly polished floor of an intersecting hall lined with metal lockers.

Dressed in jeans, a tan polo shirt and a light denim jacket that hid his shoulder holster, Killian had a small blueprint layout of the school and its adjacent buildings. He’d already been in Susannah’s room and met her ten handicapped students. The children ranged in age from seven to twelve. He hadn’t stayed long—he was more interested in the deadly possibilities of his trade.

At lunch, he planned to meet Susannah and her class in the cafeteria. A story had been devised to explain Killian’s presence in Susannah’s classroom: He was monitoring the course, a teacher from California who was going to set up a similar program out there. Everyone, including the faculty at the morning meeting, had accepted the explanation without reaction. Killian had discovered that Susannah had, from time to time, had teachers from other states come and watch how she conducted her class, because the children had developed more quickly than usual as a result of her unique teaching methods.

The lunch bell rang as Killian finished circling on the map in red ink those areas where a contract killer might hide. Luckily, there weren’t many. He missed Susannah’s presence, and he hoped to meet her on the way to the cafeteria with her charges.

Susannah’s heart sped up at the sight of Killian moving slowly through the hall, which was filled with hundreds of laughing and talking children. She saw his dark eyes lighten as he met and held her gaze, and she smiled, feeling the warmth of his heated look.

Killian moved to the wall of lockers and waited for her.

“Hi,” she said breathlessly.

Susannah’s eyes shone with a welcome that reached through Killian’s heavy armor and touched his heart. An ache began in his chest, an ache that startled Killian. How easily she could touch him with just a look and a soft smile. “How you doing?” Killian fell in step just behind her.

“Fine.” Susannah beamed. “It’s so good to be back, Sean! I feel like my life’s finally coming back together again.” Susannah looked tenderly at Freddy, a seven-year-old boy with Down’s syndrome who walked at her side, his hand firmly gripping hers. “I really missed my kids,” she quavered, looking up at Killian.

Killian had his doubts about Susannah returning to work, about how it might affect her, but he said nothing.

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