Spy Games (Tarnished Heroes #1)(56)

“Okay, well, I’m headed into the office so I can put everyone on notice you’re fine. How long are you staying for?”

“Just until I can arrange a flight back. Maybe a night or two?”

“Don’t rush it. If you can get a better flight in a few days or a week, we can manage.” Julie’s gaze flicked back to Rand.

“Thanks, Julie.”

“All right, I’ve got to go. You know the code for the house still?”

“Yes.”

“There’s food there, help yourselves. You’re family.” Julie pulled Sarah in for a squeeze and whispered, “Seriously, take a little vacation.”

God, everyone was going to know about Rand in the next ten minutes.

This was a disaster.

Rand walked Julie to the door and waved her out, which was likely to make her day. Julie loved the idea of romance, but at her heart she was a workaholic married to her cause. It wouldn’t stop her from perpetuating the idea that Sarah and Rand were a couple. All she’d needed to see was Rand. The shirt and loosened belt were just icing on that piece of brain cake.

“Did you really have to do that?” Sarah groaned.

“Just selling the story a little.” He fastened his belt and peered out the window, no doubt checking the perimeter or whatever he’d called it.

“We have to leave.”

“Why?”

“Because the first thing Julie is going to do when she gets in her car is to call Amanda and tell her she just found me here with a guy. Amanda will tell whoever is in the office, and then they’ll talk about it. Rand, this just became a disaster.” She buried her face in her hands.

“Does Wishing Well give a status update on their employee’s locations?”

“No. So if someone called and asked where I was by name, they’d refer them to Julie, who would refer them to the director, who would stonewall them until there was some sort of legal request for the information. We just have so many people in highly dangerous areas it’s not the kind of thing they give out unless they have to.”

Still, Sarah had nightmares of someone hanging around the office, listening to the gossip.

“Look, we need a base of operations for the moment. Somewhere the company doesn’t know about. If we can keep our stuff here for a day, maybe two, I think I can get us some reliable support.”

“Reliable support? What’s that supposed to mean?” She rubbed her face, exhaustion still weighing on her.

“How’d they find the surveillance suite? How did they know to come looking for us?”

“Because we were obvious. I told you it was a bad idea to let them see me.”

“If that was the case, why wait so long? Why let us hear what we did?” He shook his head. “I don’t think they knew. I think someone told them to look at us.”

“The mole. You think we’re still being sold out.”

“I do.”

“God, Rand, this is too much.”

“Hey. Look at me.” He cupped her shoulders, running his hands up and down her arms. “Just focus on right now. What we’re doing next. Let me worry about everything else. I’m going to reach out again to my guys. See if we can’t find someone who knows something.”

What would she do without him? He was her life preserver. Her safety net.

…

Irene’s stomach churned as she read the news blip.

Chinese national found dead at hotel.

The Carlyle Hotel.

Why was she just now finding out about this?

Irene pushed to her feet and stalked down the hall toward Hector’s office. They’d agreed to be in on this together. It was both their asses on the line.

Hector’s office was empty, the lights off. There wasn’t even a cold cup of coffee on the desk.

She turned on her heel, pulling out her phone. The last thing she wanted to do was distract Sarah in the field. Hector would have to answer for them. She grabbed her purse and keys and hit dial on her cell, opting to take the stairs instead of the elevator.

“Yeah?” Hector said.

“What’s going on?”

“Too much. I’ll have to brief you—”

“Now, Hector.”

“I can’t.” His voice was low, a warning.

“Are you at the hotel now?”

“I am.”

“I’m on my way to you.” She hung up and picked up the pace.

What the hell could have happened in the last twenty-four hours that’d led to this?

She wasn’t nearly awake enough yet. After spending several hours last night on a video call with Anna’s doctors and her sister once she woke up, Irene had hoped for a slower day. She wasn’t going to get her wish.

The drive to the hotel didn’t take as long as Irene feared. She entered through the back of the hotel, making use of her credentials to avoid the main areas and media that would no doubt be drawn to a murder.

Just what they needed.

The sixth floor was buzzing with activity. It wasn’t hard to find Hector observing the scene from the hall. Irene peered into the closet, noting the blood on the floor and the evidence markers.

“Well?” she asked.

“Not good,” Hector muttered. “Come on, we’ve got to squash this.” He led her to the stairwell, where they seemed to have some privacy.