Deep Under (Tall, Dark and Deadly #4)(57)

“We’re all fully aware that just pulling you out of here does not achieve any of our goals, including making you and Kara safer.”

“You better be right about him, but okay. Send it to him, because doing nothing isn’t saving anyone’s life.”

That’s all I need to hear to go into action. I turn to the scanner I’ve set up on the desk, and insert the documents, pulling them up on my disc drive before I recall the secure chat room I created last night. “Can’t other people see you online?” Myla asks.

“It’s set up with special firewalls that can’t be hacked,” I explain. “The same kind that terrorists use to avoid being listened in on.” I dial Royce, who answers with a, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sending you some documents from Myla. And Royce. Hold onto your chair, man. She’s given us a comprehensive list of all the places and ways Alvarez recruits women for the sex trade operation.”

“How comprehensive?” he asks, showing no other reaction.

“Dozens of locations.”

“I’m heading to my computer, but I’m going to have to compare these locations to the FBI database and do some research before I weigh in on this. How good do you feel about this?”

“Very,” I say, frowning as Myla stands and leaves the room, when I was certain she’d want to know what was happening.

“I’m at my computer,” he states. “Can you speak freely?”

“With caution,” I say, anticipating what comes next. “And before you ask. Yes. She knows who I am, but you should know that she gave me this list, before she knew.”

“I’m confused. Why would she do that?”

“She wanted me to take it to the FBI after she pissed off Alvarez, got herself killed, and ensured her sister was no longer important to him.”

“Holy hell. We need to get her out of there now.”

“You yourself told me why that’s not an option.”

“We’ll make him think she’s dead.”

“That won’t help rescue the women in captivity,” I say. “She’s not going to let that happen.”

“But if she’s suicidal-”

“She’s not,” I say. “She’s selfless, the way most agents should be and are not. There’s a difference.”

“That’s your professional opinion?”

“Yes,” I confirm. “That’s my professional opinion.”

“She sounds pretty damn affected by all of this to me.”

“No more so than I was every time I was under as long as she has been, Royce. Does Kara know she’s alive yet?”

“I haven’t heard from Blake.” I’m not sure if that’s good or bad news and seeming to read my mind, Royce adds, “They both know what’s on the line. Kara will not repeat yesterday.”

“I hope not, because this is about more than Myla getting rattled. Myla is convinced that Alvarez sees Kara as a threat, and now that Myla’s out in the open, he plans to kill Kara, just to be done with her.”

“Why does she think this?”

“Aside from him all but telling her?”

“That’s enough,” he says. “I’ll give Blake and Kara a heads up.”

“What happened to the Ella case in Italy?”

“We have a possible sighting of Ella, but nothing solid,” he says. “Blake sent our contractors to check it out.”

“Send Blake and Kara.”

“I’ll try, but Myla is Kara’s sister. It’s going to be a hard sell to get her out of the country.”

“Fuck,” I say, scrubbing the newly formed stubble on my jaw. “And I’m about to make that sale harder too by getting Blake involved. I need a hacker. The only one I know better than me.”

“What do you want him to do?”

“Tell him to look for Alvarez in Honduras, returning to the States in a week.”

“I’ll get him on it. Anything else?”

“Aside from getting Myla out of here,” I say. “Nothing. I’m sending the files.” I end the connection, and hold down my Siri button, “Clear call log, Siri.” And the instant I hear, “Clearing call log,” I slide my phone into my pocket.

Refocusing on the chat room, I send the documents, confirm receipt, and concerned about Myla’s extended absence, I push away from the desk to go on the hunt for her. Stepping into her open bedroom, I find her sitting on the ground, the couch of her sitting area at her back, her sketchpad on the coffee table, her long dark hair draping her pale face and my t-shirt. My t-shirt. I could get used to this woman in my clothes, in my life. Hell, I feel like I’ve had her there already, and I have to remember I’m new to her, even if she isn’t new to me.

Seeming to sense my presence, she glances up. “Hey,” she says, nothing about her demeanor suggesting that she’s upset. “All done with Royce, I guess?”

“I am,” I confirm, crossing to sit on the couch next to her, catching a glimpse of a drawing she’s begun. “Why’d you leave?”

She twists around to face me more fully. “He was going to ask you questions about me, like how mentally stable I am and other things I didn’t want to hear and you couldn’t answer when I was there.” She taps her pencil on the pad. “And I have to do what I can do to help and right now, that’s keeping those models away from Ricardo and Juan, which means I need an advertising idea that doesn’t require models.”