Actual Stop (Agent O’Connor #1)(49)

“So why were you ignoring me again?” my sister demanded, not leaving me the space of a breath to sneak in even a word.

My smile widened into a full-fledged grin. “Rory, where did you just call me?”

“Huh?”

“What number did you just dial?”

Her end of the line was quiet for a long moment. “You’re in the scow, aren’t you?”

I chuckled. “It’s a SCIF, Rory.”

SCIF stood for Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility. Basically, it meant my office had a lot of classified, secret, and top-secret information floating around in it and wireless devices of any and all kinds, whether capable of transmission or not, were strictly forbidden. Cell phones, pagers, PDAs, cameras, iPods. All of them had to be left outside. Rory could call my cell phone a thousand times for all the difference it made. When I was in here, I was more or less on an island, reachable only by the landline telephone at my desk.

“Skiff. Scow. Whatever. It’s some sort of boat.”

“Yes. You’re absolutely right. I’m on a boat. I decided to give up my job and try my hand at piracy. You know how I feel about those eye patches.” I had to bite my lower lip to keep from laughing out loud. My sister was a trip.

She was also not amused, if her tone was any indication. “Stop being an idiot. I don’t even know why I bother checking up on you sometimes.”

“I’m such a bitch.”

“Tell me about it.”

I laughed again as I attempted to ignore the pangs of loneliness that reverberated within me at hearing my sister’s voice. I desperately wanted to talk to her, to pour my heart out regarding everything that’d happened the past few days. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time right now. I sighed wistfully.

“Listen, sweetie, I know you’re gonna kill me, but I’ve gotta run.” My computer was now dark, and I was shoving all my notes and the envelope containing the pictures Meaghan had taken into my top desk drawer and locking it.

“Oooh, hot-shot federal agent too busy for her big sister now. Fine. I see how it is. Hmph.”

I couldn’t see her, obviously, but I was willing to bet she was pretending to pout. “Rory, you’re only like three-and-a-half minutes older than I am.” It was a recurring argument, one we’d had at least a million times and would probably have a million more. “I’m not sure that qualifies you as ‘big.’”

“Four. And the difference in our maturity levels is apparent.”

“Three minutes and forty-three seconds.”

“I rounded up.”

“I know.”

“So am I going to see you any time soon?”

My mood fell. I had so many things I wanted to talk to her about and get her take on, but I simply didn’t have the time. I grimaced, knowing she wouldn’t like my answer. “Um, well, I’m pretty tied up the next few days…Two weeks maybe?”

“Seriously?” Now she sounded aghast.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Well, who the hell am I supposed to confide in while you’re off saving the world or whatever it is you do? By the time you get back, Caleb and I will probably already be out of the honeymoon phase of our relationship, and you’ll have missed all the best parts.”

That made me pause. “Caleb? What happened to Landan?”

“See what happens when you get all wrapped up in your own world of international espionage?”

I rubbed my forehead against the headache gathering behind my eyes. I definitely didn’t like that I was missing important changes in my sister’s life. I also didn’t like that I couldn’t vent to her about the occurrences in mine, but if I began that conversation now, she’d never let me off the phone, and I really needed to leave.

“Tell you what. The second my boy’s wheels up, I’m all yours. How’s that?”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” she warned me.

“I’m good for it,” I promised.

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter if you are or not. I know your boss. I’ll get him to make you make time for me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Right. Because the SAIC of the New York Field Office has nothing better to do than indulge you and your whims.”

Rory laughed. “Somehow, I don’t think he’ll mind. You know I’m his favorite.”

I winced at the thought of her calling in that favor. “Well, let’s make sure it doesn’t come to that. Seriously, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.”

“All right, honey. Be careful. Call me when you can, okay? In the meantime, I’ll dole out little teaser tidbits via text to whet your appetite.”

“I can’t wait. La-val.” Love you.

“La-val, tow.”

I hung up quickly and hauled ass out of there, praying the traffic gods would be merciful today.





Chapter Sixteen


As luck would have it, I made it to the office just in time to administer the PT tests. Mark was milling around in the gym when I arrived—most likely hoping I wouldn’t make it, so he could yell at me or try to get me fired or something—but as soon as I breezed in, he left. I guess he didn’t want me overseeing his test. Or maybe he’d skulked off to find something else he could be mad at me for. I hardly cared.