Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
So he moved past Lucas and Hunter and back toward the showers where he was absolutely certain no one would hear him. He slid his thumb across the cell to answer the call. “This is Reed.”
Captain Zachary Reed. Soldier. Operative. Liar.
“Hey, Zach.” Lacey’s British accent came over the line. She’d been born in Liverpool and kept a house there. From what he could tell, Lacey Rook came from wealth, but she’d rebelled against her traditionalist parents and joined all kinds of activist groups. “I wanted to let you know I got in touch with a contact who swears he’s seen our friend.”
His gut tightened. “Where was she?”
“He wouldn’t say. I’m working on him. He doesn’t trust me,” Lacey replied. “Not yet, but you know I can calm the most paranoid conspiracy theorist. Personally, I think she’s here in Europe somewhere. The man I talked to is what I would call a procurement specialist.”
So he basically worked logistics for underground groups and criminals, which often were a perfect Venn diagram. “He trying to buy something from her?”
Always her and she. He never said her name or called her mother. Lacey wouldn’t either. He’d been working with her for over a year, and she was the closest he’d come to actually getting in the same room with his mom.
“You know everyone loves her pottery.” Lacey followed their code words even though he trusted she would be on a somewhat secure line. “I’m sure he’s trying to make a sale to a high-value client.”
He didn’t want to deal with this tonight. Whenever he tried to handle his mom, he felt fucking helpless. Likely because he was helpless. His mother was excellent at hiding. She was even better at building bombs that could shake the world—precisely the reason Emmanuel Huisman was looking for her. “Is it for the Canadian gallery? I know she wasn’t interested in showing there.”
His mother was terrified of Huisman, hence her going to ground for the last couple of years.
“I can’t be sure. It was a hurried conversation,” she replied. “When do you think you can get back across the pond? There are a few spots I’m looking at that might be a better fit for her.”
So she had some places to check out. The problem was if he left now, it would be noted. “I’m afraid I’m pretty deep in the weeds at work. I’ve got a new project. I’ll be in Canada next week.”
Aidan O’Donnell had been invited to a medical conference by one Dr. Emmanuel Huisman. Aidan was a resident in trauma surgery, and the Huisman Foundation sponsored a whole lot of research in the medical world. Unfortunately, they also sponsored terrorism.
“Then I’ll check it out myself,” she replied.
“Hey, you need…” he began.
“I’ll be careful. And you do the same. I’m worried about some movements I’ve seen recently, but we can talk about that later. I’m sure it’s late where you are,” Lacey said.
“It’s almost dawn where you are.” If she was in Liverpool, it would be five in the morning. “Are you up early or late?”
A husky laugh came over the line. Lacey was a gorgeous woman with long hair she changed as often as the twins did. The last time he’d seen her the long tresses had ended in a beautiful jade green color. And yet he didn’t feel a pull her way. They’d worked together for months, and he’d never made a move on her. He wasn’t even sure she liked guys, but it was weird he’d never felt anything for her when she was very much his type.
A vision of Devi brushed across his brain.
Maybe she needed to get to know him better. Or she didn’t want to get involved with a guy who worked with her brother. He couldn’t fix that. He might be able to convince her though. He just had to get some time with her.
Why was he thinking about this when he should be getting dressed and heading back to Cooper’s, where he was staying for the week? He could get on his laptop—the encrypted one—and get some work done. Maybe track down some of the leads Lacey was offering.
But he wasn’t going to do that. He was here. He was going to spend a couple of damn hours being the man he wanted to be. And if Devi wouldn’t play with him, maybe she would let him buy her a drink at the end of the night. There was so much to catch up on. He’d missed the wedding where helicopters sent by Huisman nearly took out the wedding party. All he’d gotten was a stupid report that left out all the fun stuff. He would bet Devi had some stories.
Yeah, that might be his in.
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead, mate,” Lacey said over the line. “Well, I’ll let you know if I come up with a workable plan for our friend. Until then, keep me up to date on whatever I need to know. If you find yourself in Liverpool, I’ll buy you a drink.”