John stopped in the middle of the kitchen doorway. Grant was sitting at the table, munching his way through a gigantic bowl of cereal.
“I didn’t think you were ever going to wake up. Late night?”
John wasn’t going to get sucked in by the gleam in his brother’s eyes. “I was home by four o’clock.”
“So early? Must have been a good night. How’s Rachel?”
John poured himself a hot coffee and leaned against the counter. “Good.”
Grant’s spoon paused halfway to his mouth. “How did chapter one work out for you?”
“Good.”
“I suppose the smile on your face means that you had a good night’s sleep, too.”
John sipped his coffee.
“The silent treatment doesn’t work anymore.”
Bella ran into the kitchen. “Hi, dad. Have you seen the snow outside? Tank’s going to build a snowman with me.”
Tank walked into the kitchen behind Bella. “We’ll build the snowman after breakfast.” He helped himself to a coffee and looked closely at John. “Tough night at work, boss?”
Grant choked on his cereal. Tank looked suspiciously between the two brothers.
There was a reason John hired top ex-military staff, only now he was regretting it.
Tank’s eyes narrowed. “Tanner called. Said you were at Tess and Logan’s house when he finished for the night. Is everything all right?”
Bella put two slices of bread in the toaster. “You saw Rachel? Did she like my Christmas present?”
A smile pulled at Grant’s lips. “Good question, Bella.”
John ignored his brother. “She didn’t open it. She wanted you to be there, too.”
Bella looked suitably impressed at Rachel’s thoughtfulness. John felt slightly guilty about stretching the truth for his daughter.
Grant wasn’t fooled.
Tank touched the microphone on his headset. “A police car’s coming through the front gates, boss. Connor said it’s the Chief of Police.”
Bella’s toast popped. She opened the refrigerator door and found the butter. “Mrs. Daniels has some cake and cookies in the pantry.”
John poured the rest of his coffee down the sink and rinsed his mug. “It’s probably too early for cake, but thanks for the reminder. Make sure you eat your toast before going outside.”
John looked at Tank before he left the kitchen. He knew Tank wouldn’t let Bella outside until they’d all heard what Dan had to say. It was too early for a social call. Whatever the Chief of Police had to say was either related to Bella’s runaway antics or part of their ongoing investigation into the Oracom Corporation.
John stood on the front porch and watched Dan park close to the house.
He got out of the vehicle and shook John’s hand. “I’ve got news about the Oracom investigation. Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“Sure, follow me.”
John led the way into his office. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” Dan sat in one of the leather chairs and took off his hat. “We’ve just heard from the CIA. At six-thirty local time, four top-ranking Oracom officials were arrested in Prague. They’ve been charged with conspiracy to murder, fraud, international espionage, money-laundering, and intent to harm. Your case isn’t the only one that the CIA has been investigating.”
“What’s going to happen to them?”
“The US Department of Justice has filed extradition papers with the Prague High Court. It’s too early to know whether they’ll be brought back to the United States for a trial, but that’s the plan.”
“Who has the final say in extraditing them?”
“The final consent can only be authorized by the Czech Justice Minister. The officials that spoke to us don’t think it’s going to take long to sort out, but we don’t have a very precise time line to work with.”
John took a deep breath and tried to think rationally. “Are the US officials sure that the people they’ve arrested are the same ones that sent me death threats?”
“Positive. They have evidence that links three of the four people to your company. You don’t need to worry about extra bodyguards. You’re safe.”
John leaned back and closed his eyes. After more than a month of thinking every second person was about to kill him, he could finally relax. Sam and her Technical Development Team wouldn’t have to live in fear of their lives, and Rachel could go back to her teaching job without Tanner following her everywhere.
It was the kind of outcome he’d dreamed about, but now that it was a reality he was having a hard time believing it.
Dan stood up. “It’s going to take a while to sink in. You can go about your normal business and not worry about Oracom. The Managing Director of their company is going to release a statement this afternoon. As soon as I have a copy, I’ll email it through to you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”
Dan shook John’s hand. “That’s what we’re here for. It’s not often we get to work with the FBI and the CIA on the same case. It’s been an interesting few weeks.”
They might have been interesting for the Chief of Police, but John never wanted to repeat them again.
Dan put on his hat. “Are you comfortable updating your staff about the arrests?”
John nodded. “I’ll do it now.”
“What about Rachel McReedy? Would you like me to head over to Tess and Logan’s home and tell her?”
“I can do that.”
“Well, in that case, my job here is done. I’ll send that email through from Oracom when I get a copy. The CIA will contact both of us when and if the extradition is confirmed.”
After Dan had left, John sank back into his chair. The people that had threatened to kill his family were finally behind bars. He could breathe a little easier, and not worry about midnight kidnapping attempts, or carjackings that could go wrong.
He picked up the phone and called Rachel’s number. She could go back to living a normal life. She wouldn’t have to check every detail with Tank or Tanner.