Chapter 10: Haley

Thursday. Learning Center, Arlington, VA.

HALEY'S LEGS AND LUNGS burned as she ran clear across the campus.

Zasha loved the playground under the trees.

How many times had Haley brought her there while Ivana went to the car to rest and sleep?

Haley squinted and counted the small figures scaling the equipment ahead under the shade.

Six.

None of them were Zasha. None of them had on the right clothes or the hair was wrong. Still Haley went a few yards farther, peering into the cool shade.

No Zasha.

"Shit," Haley muttered and turned in a circle.

She had to find Zasha and Ivana first. The look on Konstantin's face? The death stare? Haley feared for Ivana's life if Konstantin found them first.

There had to be a logical reason for all of this.

Where else could Zasha and Ivana be?

Campus security had mobilized to cover all entrances and a few to the main parking lot, but until police arrived-if they came at all-there was still too much ground to cover.

Calling Konstantin was the right thing to do. It's what she was supposed to do in an emergency like this. But she'd never seen him so angry.

Haley jogged back toward the main building.

Where else could Ivana have gone?

Security cameras could have missed them walking off campus.

They could be anywhere by now.

Haley passed by the other playground, but there were no children there.

She pulled out her phone.

No calls or texts or anything. Not from Konstantin or Zasha or Ivana. Haley had tried to locate both devices, but they were turned off.

Haley kept going, following the path around the building. She spied one of Konstantin's security in a window at one point. She waved at the man and he nodded at her, but his face was grim.

Shit.

What was Konstantin doing to put his daughter in so much risk?

Haley knew there was some inherent danger just by being who they were. The family connections made them targets. But Konstantin's businesses were all above-board. Haley had asked about that before taking the job and Zain had vetted the guy. Which left Konstantin's consultant work for the government. Haley knew nothing about that and wasn't cleared to know. Was Konstantin doing something with the feds? Had they pissed off the wrong people?

Haley swung her head left, then right, always looking.

She was passing between the two newer buildings when she peered into the courtyard. The space had been designed as a sort of sheltered area for outdoor meals. There was a fountain and flowers.

Her heart felt as though it stopped.

She skidded to a halt and stared.

An elegant, older woman sat on the edge of the fountain. Zasha was directly in front of the woman, both hands clutched around her Mother Goose stuffed animal. Her body language at this distance was tense, uncomfortable. And standing just a little behind Zasha was Ivana.

Haley shoved her hand in her pocket and pulled out her phone. She didn't dare say anything and draw attention to herself, so she fired off a text to Konstantin alerting him that she had eyes on Zasha.

Since Haley had her phone out, she snapped several quick pictures of the moment.

The elegant woman leaned forward and said something to Zasha, who just nodded.

The child didn't appear to be in immediate danger. There were no guards with guns. Ivana was too frail to be a threat. Zasha was physically fine. She wasn't bleeding, her clothes were still clean and tidy.

Haley took a step forward between the two buildings, then another.

The trio still hadn't noticed her.

Did she draw her weapon and escalate the situation? Or did she wade in and act calmly?

Chances were Zasha didn't even realize what was going on. Haley wanted to maintain that. She'd managed to keep Zasha from realizing how close they'd come to dangerous situations by staying calm. That had to continue.

Haley was halfway to the fountain when the woman sitting on the fountain glanced at her. It was a quick look, and then Haley was dismissed.

"Hey, guys," she called out and pasted on a bright smile.

The woman reached out and caught Zasha's hand in hers. She said something, but Zasha was already looking at Haley.

Her little face was lined with confusion.

She knew something wasn't right.

Haley widened her smile. "Hey there, big girl."

The elegant woman stood and said something to Ivana before turning and walking away from Haley.

"Haley!" Zasha sprinted for her the moment she was free.

"Whose your friend? Ivana?" Haley braced herself as Zasha ran full tilt into her and wrapped her arms around Haley's waist, clinging tight.

Ivana followed behind the unknown woman. She ignored Ivana completely, walking away at a brisk clip with her camel colored trench coat flaring around her knees.

Haley wanted to follow the woman. She wanted some damn answers. But her first and only priority would always be Zasha.

Haley went to a knee and stroked her hands down Zasha's face, shoulders and arms. No scratches. Her clothes weren't dirty or even wrinkled. She was perfectly fine, except her face said she had sensed danger.

"Hey there. Guess who decided he wanted to see you?" Haley mentally scrambled for a way to explain her father's presence.

Zasha's lower lip trembled and suddenly there were tears.

"It's okay, sweetheart. Everything's fine." Haley reached out and pulled Zasha to her, while staring daggers at Ivana.

The elderly nanny stood in the shade staring off after their mysterious visitor.

What the hell was Ivana thinking?

After a few moments, she turned and walked toward them.

Haley bit her cheek to keep from saying anything, all while Zasha cried.

First Ivana stole photographs. Now she was putting Zasha at risk. Just what the hell was going on here?

"Zasha? Haley?" Konstantin's voice echoed off the brick.

"Here," Haley called out.

"D-Daddy?" Zasha sobbed, yet her hold on Haley didn't loosen.

Ivana edged closer and reached out her hand. "Everything's fine, child."

Haley scowled and pulled Zasha just a little bit closer.

Ivana pulled her hand back and turned to face Konstantin, flanked by two of his bodyguards as they came into view.

Konstantin's tie was askew and his hair wild.

His gaze landed on Haley and his daughter. "Zasha!"

"Your dad's here," Haley whispered.

Konstantin dropped to his knees next to Zasha, but the little girl wouldn't let go of Haley. Her little sobs shook her body.

"What happened?" Konstantin twisted to look at Ivana. "What did you do?"

Haley reached out and grabbed his hand. Just for a moment. "She's fine, just scared. She's fine."

Take it down a notch or ten.

Konstantin looked at her for a long few seconds, pulling in deep breaths of air. She'd never watched a man reel himself in like that. The effort it took Konstantin to calm himself was visible.

"You don't want to say hi to your dad?" Haley asked Zasha.

In response, Zasha's arms tightened.

Well, shit.

"Is everyone here, or is anyone going to join us?" Haley asked. She needed to know if the cops were coming.

"No. Just us," Konstantin replied, catching her meaning.

"Then, why don't we go home?" Haley suggested.

They needed to get to the bottom of this, but that had to happen somewhere safe. The condo was the obvious choice. It was nearby. They had security and that was where Zasha would feel safest.

Konstantin jerked his head in a nod, then rose to speak to the men at his back. One of them took Ivana by the arm and turned her.

Haley watched the elderly woman hobbling away.

What had she been trying to do?

"Come on, kiddo, we're going home, okay?" Haley tugged on Zasha's arms, but she wasn't budging.

Haley drew in a deep breath. If she needed a reminder that Zasha was getting bigger, this was it. Haley wrapped her arms around Zasha's waist and legs, then lifted. Like a good little monkey child, Zasha wound herself around Haley as if she were five again.

Konstantin opened his mouth, his hands twitching at his side. No doubt he wanted to take Zasha, to reassure himself she was okay, and here Zasha was clinging to Haley.

"Car's coming around, sir," the remaining guard said.

"Great. Haley?" Konstantin fell into step beside her.

They all had questions, but no one dared to ask them. Not yet.

Haley, Zasha and Konstantin slid into the back seat of his white SUV. Zasha immediately curled up, clinging to Haley's arm while Konstantin leaned back and watched his daughter, a tortured expression on his face.

I can't leave.

Haley stared straight ahead.

She'd planned to leave for this very reason. Zasha was too attached. Haley felt like she was family, and she wasn't. Things were too muddled. But Haley couldn't take Zasha's entire safety net away. Not with Ivana likely on a fast track out of the house.

Haley was stuck and she wasn't entirely unhappy about this development. She knew she should be, but as she stroked Zasha's soft hair part of her was relieved to get to stay for just a little longer.