“Did I use the phrase correctly?” Jason frowns but I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile.
“Please continue.”
Jason nods, then blinks twice. “To be precise, I can only tell you the identity matches the person who logged in and made the transaction.”
Jenna adds. “He means someone could have stolen a password or made someone else make the transaction so the actual buyer could appear innocent.”
“True, but at least we get a little closer.”
A three dimensional image of a gray-haired woman pops up in front of us. Other images appear of Mrs. Amanda Graham, including her home, her Facebook home page, and her grandchildren.
Nothing about the images would lead me to believe she hired a gunman to kill a United States Congressman’s wife. “Are there any anomalies in her personal accounts?”
“None. I would suggest, with eighty five percent accuracy, that this woman did not knowingly purchase a hitman.”
Jenna jumps in, face flushed from the finding. “But she probably knows who asked her to transfer funds. What is her position at Agro-grow?”
“She is a contracted accountant.” Jason stands and emulates Jenna’s excitement but it comes off looking feminine and somehow, creepy.
“Can you send me her phone number?” I can’t wait to share the news with Suds until I remember we’re not friends anymore.
My phone pings and I quickly add the employee’s contact information.
Before I can hit dial, Jason adds, “She is currently vacationing in the Bahamas.”
“Do you know where she’s staying?”
“No.”
“Do you know when she is supposed to come back?”
“It is unclear.”
Jenna asks, “Please expound, Jason.”
“Although there is some correspondence she won a contest, there are conflicting internal emails, and she resigned. I surmise, with eighty-percent accuracy, this accountant is in grave danger. Should I alert the authorities?”
Jenna shakes her head. “No. We have nothing legal on which to base our concerns and it could get all of us arrested.”
“Is this an ethical dilemma?” The avatar frowns, too.
“Yes, Jason. It is.” Jenna stands, paces, and turns to me. “Can you get Patten to send you to the Bahamas and find her before it is too late?”
“Definitely.” I think about inviting Suds, then remember how both he and Slate feel about my undercover skills. “I need to prove to everyone, I am perfectly capable by myself.”
Jenna Jones shakes my hand. “Good luck and keep in touch.”
Jason adds, “Could you place your phone on the table?”
I do and wait while the hologram scowls even more than before. “Your applications have been copied by a Mr. Sebastian Sutcliff. Were you aware?”
“Shit.”
“I will take that as a no. Would you like me to remove his spyware?”
“Yes please, but keep the GPS tracker. And is there a way to let me know if someone tries again?”
“Of course. Executing now.”
Jenna pats my hand. “He was probably trying to keep you safe.”
“Would you also like me to block the incoming calls from a Will Peterson?”
“No, no. He’s harmless enough. Eventually he’ll give up.”
I turn to Jenna’s raised brows. “My ex. He’s been calling constantly. I figure if I ignore him, he’ll eventually get the idea.”
Not wanting to delay any further, I rush out while Jason calls me an Uber and books me a flight. On the way, I write a short list. I’ll need a passport, a change of clothes…
Chapter 21
Suds
When I arrive at Doctor Jones’ building, Jason lets me in.
Upstairs, I’m greeted by Jenna, tapping one signature red sneaker, standing with her arms crossed over her chest. “You copied her phone?”
“Yeah, I did. Company policy.” It’s not exactly true, but close enough.
“Well, she’s gone.”
When Wonder Woman dolls stare down at me from her conference room wall, I get this feeling females all over the world are about to gang up on me.
“Where?”
A miniature Jason avatar stands on the glass table, mimicking her stubborn stance.
“Listen, Doctor… Jenna. She’s a damn fine analyst but has no field experience.”
Her face flickers from anger to worry and she sighs deeply. “If you hurry, you should catch her at the airport. Jason?”
Her avatar hologram pops up beside me and I’m so startled I reach for my gun.
“Hello, Sebastian.” His grin is so human, I swear he knows he rattled me.
“Call me Suds.”
“Suds is not a proper nickname. I have checked my databases. Can I ask how you acquired it?”
“Not right now. Can you tell me where Samantha is?”
“Yes, I can.” The bastard blinks and waits for Jenna’s approval.
She glares at me one last time. “Go ahead, tell him.”
Jason’s voice sounds as if it comes from his moving mouth. “Ms. Russo is currently in an Uber with a destination of JFK airport. Would you like her flight information?”
“Can you email it to me and book me on the same flight?”
“Certainly. Do I charge it to Patten’s account?”
“Please do. Quickly, and can you tell me what she knows?”
Jenna grabs my arm. “She purposefully didn’t ask you to go with her. She is quite capable on her own. Did you know she practices at the firing range almost daily?”
“It’s still not field experience, Jenna. You need quick instincts or you never get the chance to get your gun out of your holster. Someone fired a shot at her, did she tell you?”
Jason pipes in. “That information is not available in the police data base. How is that possible?”
“I’ll explain later. Please, I’ll give her all the credit, if she’s worried. I’ll even promise to help set up her private detective business.”
Finally, I hit pay dirt and Doctor Jones smiles. “Fine. She’s going to the Bahamas. Jason, send Suds everything we showed Samantha.”
Jason blinks and hops into the monitor. “Done. Your Uber is waiting downstairs, Sebastian.”
I don’t even ask how it knows I didn’t drive the SUV.
I kiss Jenna on the cheek. “Say hi to Colin and the kids.”
“Stay safe.”
The elevator is waiting for me in the hall and opens out to where a car waits.
“Goodbye, Sebastian.” Jason calls out from the doorway.
“Goodbye, Jason, and call me Suds.”
“Apologies, I will try to remember.”
Seriously, it will try? Jenna’s app is screwing with me now?
Inside the Uber, I call Sam and when she doesn’t answer, I text.
Me: Sorry
Me: Pick up
Me: Dammit, Sam, I care about you
I know I invaded her privacy and I know she’s angry but she needs to understand. I take care of the people I love.
Shit. How the hell had I let it happen? And when? Sure, I’ve had this knot in my gut since I almost killed her but that doesn’t cause people to fall in love, does it? Now, I can’t think straight. I need to get my shit together or I could get us both killed.
It takes the fucking Uber forever to get out of Manhattan and a traffic jam keeps us at a dead stop where the highway divides for Long Island.
Finally, we get moving again and when the driver slows in front of the terminal, I jump out and run like hell, getting to the gate as they’re about to close the door. However, I had to check my weapon and hope I didn’t just make the biggest mistake of my life.
Inside, I sit in first class and turn to find Sam sitting directly behind me.
“You don’t have to babysit me.” She rolls her beautiful brown eyes at me.
“I’m not. We’re partners. Slate always sends his people in pairs. It
’s safer that way, especially when someone is shot at.”
The tops of her cheeks blush. “He knows?”
“That we’re off to the Bahamas? Yeah. That we’re fighting, no. That we’re sleeping together? Probably.”
The steward walks by and points to the empty seat next to me. “Miss, would you like to move up to sit next to your friend?”
I say yes at the same instant she replies, “No.”
His eyebrows raise as his lips purse. “Seatbelts please.”
Ignoring him, I strain my neck as I look over the back of my chair. “Sam, would you please come up so we can talk?”
“Fine.” She bumps my seat from the back and as I scoot next to the window, she plops down beside me.
We both stop and stare when our hands touch as we reach for our seatbelts. For the longest time we hold our breath and neither of us move.
My brain cells are the first to fire so I pull her strap out from under me and hand it to her, gliding my fingers over hers. “Sam, let me explain.”
She nods but we have to wait because the flight attendant begins his lecture on what to do in the event of an emergency.
Then, the engines rev up, and while the airport rolls by outside, I give it my best shot.
“I care about you.” In my humble opinion, it’s a damn fine start but her eyes don’t soften and her lips remain tight.
“You think your sweetness excuses your spying on me?” She tries to cross her arms but my biceps get in the way and I don’t budge.
“Patten keeps tabs on all of his field agents.”
“I’m not an agent. I’m an independent contractor.”
“I just want to keep you safe, darlin’. Is that such a bad thing?” I grab both her hands in mine, kiss her knuckles, and when she doesn’t pull away, I figure I’m making headway.
The pressure inside the cabin drops, the engines roar to life, and the cabin rattles. A small plane, it makes a whole lot of noise as we take to the air.
Her eyes widen, and she pales. “Is this normal?”
“I’m guessing you didn’t fly much in your previous job?”
She shakes her head, no. “Only in a jet… a way much larger jet. This thing shakes like a broken down bus.”
She glances over my lap and out the window. “At least we’ll crash into the water.”
Then, she checks the emergency card in the pocket in front of her and reaches to see if a life preserver is actually under her seat.
I wait until the plane levels off and she settles to get down to business. “Once we land, we stick together, understand? We work as a team.”
I tuck up her chin and damn if those pretty lips don’t part.
Don’t kiss her, dude.
I can’t help but brush my mouth over hers. I’ve told her I care, twice now and she hasn’t responded but the center of her eyes darken and the sides leak.
Fuck. She’s crying.
Quickly, she turns her face out of my hold, grabs her purse, and dabs at the water dripping down her face.
“We… I… can’t do this.” She blows her nose and studies her lap as if it is the most fascinating thing in the world.
I put my hand on hers. “I should’ve told you.”
“You’ve said it plenty of times. You don’t think I’m capable of doing field work.”
Huh? “No. I’m not talking about your career. I mean what happened after we made love when I woke up and… if I’m startled, I’m trained to kill. I never want to hurt you.” My throat gets tight. “That’s why I can’t be with you.”
“You idiot! I’m not mad about you strangling me… I need someone who can believe in me.” Her eyes lift to mine.
“My whole life people have been telling me I am less than what I am. It’s the main reason I left home and went to work in DC. I was good at my job, damn good, better than anyone else, even Jason. Sure, he can help, but it takes a human mind to understand the human mind, you know? And I’m good. Not only that, I can fire a weapon, too.”
“Sugar, I believe everything you said. I do. And, if you want to be a detective, I will help you all I can, okay? On one condition. You got to let me help keep you safe.”
“I am safe.”
“But my gut says otherwise.”
She glances down at my abs. “It speaks to you?”
“Damn straight. Deal?” When she smiles and holds out her hand, my cock crams against my jeans.
“Deal.” I’m not one hundred percent sure of what we agreed upon but it has to be good because something new is there when she stares into my eyes.
After a bit she leans over, her lips reach to my jaw, and she whispers, “I care about you, too.”
Chapter 22
Sam
I shouldn’t let my heart get in the way of my dreams but it seems to have a mind of its own. I also shouldn’t let Suds off the hook for copying my phone. However, he didn’t lie. When I check Patten’s contract, it says they can monitor my personal devices. At the time, I was so excited to be hired, I never read the fine print.
Sitting here, holding my hand like this, it’s hard to believe he thinks he might accidentally kill me. I tried to research it online but other than finding a few sites about basic training, I see nothing. How can anyone be so well trained they react before waking?
I want to ask him but admitting he has a problem was probably as far as he could go. Do I love him enough to wait to see what happens?
Love? Where had that thought come from?
Do I? Love him?
His eyes gaze at me with an intensity making me want to weep.
Yup, I care. I care a whole lot more than I ever did about Will. However, me and Suds have only known each other for a couple of weeks. Love takes time, right?
For now, our sex is awesome and it feels real good to have him at my side
When he puts his arm over my shoulders, my heart flutters and my face heats. I’m glad he believed me when I promised to be there for him. It was an easy thing to say and it felt right but already I’m second guessing myself. I’ll figure out something, even if I have to handcuff one hand to the bed.
The thought makes me smile.
I can do this.
I don’t remember falling asleep but I must have because we’re landing and I’ve drooled on his shirt.
He grins as I try to wipe it away but doesn’t say anything. After catching a cab to Paradise Island, we check into a small hotel on the far side of the island.
“My dear friend, Mrs. Amanda Graham is in room two-twenty-four. Could you ring her for me?”
I pull up her picture on my phone and show it to the front desk manager who calls on the phone and shakes his head, “I’m sorry, miss, she’s not answering.”
Our room isn’t quite ready, so we search for the accountant in the hotel restaurant, the pool area, and then walk past the palm trees onto the beach.
“Do you think we’re too late?” Unable to resist the warm sand, I pull off my sneakers.
“Possibly… I hope not.” Suds scratches at the short growth on his chin as he slowly scans the scantily-clad sun-bathers and those swimming in the clear blue water.
Holding my hand, he glances up at the clear blue sky, then out at the still ocean. “Damn beautiful here. Nice place for a honeymoon.”
We share a longing look as we wander off the beach to the hotel’s outside bar where we show a picture of Mrs. Amanda Graham to a man who’s started his drinking early.
Wiping the sweat from his face, Suds leads me to the air-conditioned lobby. “We need to blend in better. Let’s find some lighter clothes, a few necessities, and head upstairs. Our rooms should be ready.”
He picks a pair of sunglasses from a rotating display and models them for me. “Are these good?”
“Perfect.” I grab some too, but he shakes his head, no. “Darker. You want to hide your eyes. You don’t want anyone guessing your intent.”
“Gotcha.” Happy he is finally taking my career seriously and willing
to train me, I do as he says. We buy toothbrushes, tooth paste, deodorant, bathing suits, shorts and t-shirts. I find a light shift and some costume jewelry in case we need to go out.
In our room, we eye each other as I change into a short cotton dress and flip flops. He pulls me into a heated kiss and I forget not only our mission, but everything else as his cock swells.
“Later, sugar. Just making sure you’re still interested.” He smirks and sweeps his lips over mine then pulls us apart and opens our door part way.
Poking his head out the door, he scans up and down the hall. “Let’s hurry and find the accountant.”
We wait and watch for about an hour, taking turns either resting on the bed or on surveillance.
Suddenly, Suds hisses out his breath and his body goes taut. “There she is. C’mon.”
My sandals snapping, I follow him past the row of doors and stop with him outside room two-twenty-four.
Suds knocks. “Room service.”
He shrugs at me when my brows raise. I guess lying is part of the job. No doubt I need to get better at that, as well.
A smart woman, Mrs. Graham cracks the door open, chain in place.
“What do you want?” Her voices quivers.
Suds pulls out a leather wallet and flips it open real fast. “Hotel security. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“I, ah. Let me call the front desk and confirm.”
I put my face in front of her nose. “Amanda? Agro-grow wants you dead.”
Her face pales. “Who are you two, really?”
“I’m Samantha Russo and this is my partner, Suds, ah, Sebastian Sutcliff. We’re investigators for Patten Securities and I can assure you, your life is in danger. Two people are already dead.”
“I knew it!” She slides open the chain, quickly glances both ways, then lets us in. “If something sounds too good to be true, it is. That’s why I won the trip here, isn’t it?”
“We believe so.” I usher her to the bed, the only place to sit and ease her down.
“Can I get you something?”
“A water, no… get me something stronger out of the bar.” She points to the small built-in cabinet next to the tiny refrigerator.
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