Cloud Dust: RD-1 (R-D #1)(61)



"That means that some of those dead guys could have been sent by him?"

"Yes, although it would be difficult to say how he received the information that I live."

"What if Cutter managed to get a message to him—through Mary Evans and her boss?"

"Such information would command a very high price. I suspect that the Ambassador's death is tied to the same information. He paid guards and cleared the way for my escape from prison."

"He was a friend?"

"Yes. Unlike others I have been forced to associate with, he was trustworthy."

"I'm sorry your friend is dead."

"Many others have died searching for the truth of this, and even with your formidable talents, we have not found an answer," Ilya said. "We have the secondary players, but the primary? We have no clues. We do not know what he wants, other than to create fear and panic."

"What will Cutter's backers do with the information locked in Becker's blood?" I asked. "If Nick gets to him tonight, will it be too late? I worry that they have a large enough sample to do whatever they want and no longer need him or Gene."

"Gene should have realized that he was worthless to them, except to convince Becker to defect from the Program. He is no longer useful." Ilya's hands were back and lifting my top. His fingers went to my breasts, where they tweaked my nipples through the thin fabric of my bra.

"Wow, espionage and foreplay at the same time," I said.

"Shhh," he whispered and pinched my nipples carefully while kissing my neck. "You will let me know if your head hurts. Immediately."

"Are you the boss again?"

"Very much so."

*

Notes—Colonel Hunter

I'd been worried that it could happen for a while, but now the evidence was presented in a private e-mail from her hired attorney. Laci wanted a divorce, citing incompatibility.

I realized that a spouse should expect their partner to be a partner. A part of me felt relief—we'd been growing apart for a while. Another part felt anger—I always provided for her. She never wanted children, so we didn't have any.

I needed a lawyer.

I didn't mind letting her have the house or most of the other things, but it needed to be as civil as we could make it.

Divorces are always messy.

A friend told me that, once.

I didn't have time for this.

I'm sure Corinne could have told me how many complications swirled about us, and I'd never told Laci how close we'd come to getting killed in London and Edinburgh. She only knew that she'd been forced out of the house and sent to her mother's in Pittsburgh.

Maybe she didn't care that my life was in danger. I wanted to pick up the phone and ask her if she still loved me.

I couldn't do that.

"Fuck," I muttered and started a new file on my computer, simply labeled Divorce.

*

Nick

The house was on fire. Gene and Becker were dead inside it. Cutter and two guards managed to shoot their way out and escape in a bulletproof SUV. I had a graze on my shoulder to show for it.

The problem? Cutter knew I was alive. Probably guessed that reports of my death, along with the others, was just a sham—an attempt to fool him and his cronies. I watched as the roof caved in with a crash and another, lower-level window blew out, raining glass on the lawn.

I smiled grimly. The property was located far from any town, didn't have a fire hydrant close and would burn to the ground before anyone could arrive to help. Gene and Becker would be blackened, useless corpses when they were pulled from the debris.

"Ready?" Davis gave me a nod when I spoke. We loaded into his Range Rover and took off in the opposite direction. I figured we'd need Corinne's help to get Cutter, and I didn't want to place my friends in more danger than they already were by trying to track him myself.

I'd call Jeff first, to see whether I'd be welcomed back to the villa or if a cell waited for me, instead.

*

Corinne

I knew the minute he showed up in the downstairs kitchen for dinner, instead of going to the one over the garages.

Auggie's wife had asked for a divorce.

"Here," I set a plate of spaghetti in front of him and went to get another plate for myself. Rafe gave me a slight nod and placed a generous slice of garlic cheese bread on Auggie's plate.

We ate in silence for the most part. I didn't tell Auggie that the house where Becker, Gene and Cutter had been staying in a remote area of Utah was burning, or that Cutter managed to escape but Gene and Becker never made it out. That could wait until later.

Actually, I expected Nick to give Jeff a call, which would be transferred to Auggie afterward. Nick would tell Auggie that most of the job was finished and then ask if he could come home.

I figured Auggie would say yes, with the promise of a stern talking-to when Nick got back. Nick probably expected that much at the very least.

Ilya, I thought at him, Cutter just became more of a liability.





Chapter 14

Notes—Colonel Hunter

"Nick, are you sure they're dead?" I asked.

"Yes, Colonel Hunter. I made sure of it. The guards there protected Cutter and got him out of the house, but I think I winged him before they drove off."

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