On Her Master's Secret Service (Masters and Mercenaries #4)(16)

She held up her hands in supplication. “Whoa, there, big guy. Let’s not jump to conclusions. Take a look at the research and my plan and then make a decision.” She reached into her big bag and pulled out a thumb drive. “Here it is. I’ll be in town all weekend. I would love to bring you back to St. Augustine with me. I promised Chazz I would try to fill the empty positions. He trusts me, but if I don’t he’ll do it himself and I’ll lose out on the chance to put my own people into place.”

She picked up her sandwich and dropped what was left in the trash before shoving her book into her bag. “I sincerely hope you’ll reconsider. I think Evans is going to move soon, and I don’t know that I can do it alone.”

“Why not bring the feds in?” It was the only thing that made sense. If she really had all the information she said she had, then they would be all over the case.

She was quiet for a moment, as though trying to decide just how much to say to him. “The minute we bring the feds in, we lose control of everything. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve studied all their case files. I have them back at my place.”

“Those files are confidential.” And wasn’t it interesting that she had them?

Kristen grinned and shrugged a little. “Nothing is confidential if you have the right skills. I need those files. They’re important. I keep studying them because they might tell me what Evans is planning next. I also worry that Evans maybe had someone on the inside. Maybe at the prison, but I can’t discount that he might have had someone in the government, too. His prison break had to be expertly timed.”

His brain rejected the notion immediately. Evans was smart. He could have handled everything on his own. He had a legion of crazy minions willing to do just about anything to please him. He could have talked to other prisoners. One of them could have known about the routine maintenance.

“Think about it,” Kristen said with a grim nod of her head. “Call the feds if you like, but I have zero use for them. They’ll just muddy things up and then I won’t get a story out of this. You caught him once without their help.”

It had been a little more complex than that. “I still had access to the case files and the databases. I don’t anymore.”

She winked. “Then aren’t you lucky you have me? You can reach me at the e-mail address I gave you.”

“Why can’t I just call you?”

She wagged a finger at him. “No, no. This girl doesn’t just give out her number to any guy who comes along. It’s best we keep things nice and easy until you decide if you’re in or you’re out. And even then, I don’t want to meet with anyone but you and your sub. I don’t want to be exposed to the rest of your team. I understand you’ll bring backup with you, but they’re yours, not mine, and I can’t risk getting in close contact with them. This is a dangerous story I’m working on.”

“All right, but it would help if you would come in and meet the team. You don’t have to be involved once we get there, but they would feel better meeting you.”

“I’m not here to make your guys feel better. No contact with anyone who isn’t working in the club. That’s a deal breaker.” She nodded and started to walk off before turning back abruptly. “I’m going to be waiting for that e-mail, McKay. And in the meantime, I’ll try to find the last member of the team. Cuffs is down a cook. I don’t guess you know anyone who can play chef? Chazz is trying to spruce up the kitchen staff. The last guy barely knew how to work a fryer. I think it would be great to have someone in the kitchen. Those guys love to talk.”

Alex felt a smile slide across his face. Oh, he would feel so much better with that backup. Little Tag was retired from active duty, but he bet Sean would come back for a brief reappearance. “Yeah, if I go in I think I can work something out for you.”

She gave him a thumbs-up, and he watched her walk away, her hips swaying. She was a complete enigma. If he had to guess just from looking at her, he would say she was likely married with a couple of kids and a career doing something that involved service to the people around her. The minute she opened her mouth, he was pretty sure she was capable of taking over the world and not batting an eyelash. She bought a cake pop from the vendor and winked as she disappeared from sight.

And he was left with a problem. Could he trust her? Did it matter? He was so hungry to go after Evans, he might not care if she was trustworthy or not.

“She’s very attractive,” a clipped British voice said from behind him.

Damn it. Simon was better than Alex had given him credit for. He hadn’t gotten even a hint that he was being followed. “How long?”

Simon straightened his tie. He normally stood out when he was in one of his suits, but here he just looked like he was taking a break from work. “Have I been following you? Since you left the office. Don’t worry. Jake and Adam finally gave up and went to lunch. They were right where you told them to be. Such good lads. Not me. I know a desperate man when I see one. I also know your tell. I’ve only played poker with you three times, but you tap your left hand when you’re bluffing. You slapped your leg when you told Ian where you were going. I was watching through the glass.”

Alex turned to him. “And you decided to follow me why?”

“You need backup. You’re far too close to this. What did she offer you? A way into Evans’s inner circle?”