Spy Games (Tarnished Heroes #1)(67)

Rand could name a few models he’d use to get a visual like that. The shop he’d left her in would force someone to reveal themselves to get an eye on her.

“Irene had us go out the back door. We walked down the side street and the car was there again. So we ducked into this shop and watched. After a couple of minutes, she buys two hats, has us change coats. She gave me her keys, said to walk to where she’d left her car while she’d go out the back. Oh my God, Rand, I was so scared. I just knew I was making a mistake, that he was going to be behind me.”

“It’s okay. Breathe, Sarah. Breathe.”

“By the time I got to where I was supposed to pick Irene up, she wasn’t there. I guess, from what she said, he caught up to her right before she got to the street, saw it wasn’t her, and stabbed her. Why?”

“You two need to go,” Hector said.

“Where? Where can we possibly go?” Tears streamed down Sarah’s cheeks.

Rand hated the fear, hated what he had to ask her to do, but he had to. To protect her, they had to go into hiding. Just for a few days. Until they could get the case back and cut off the head of the snake.

“We’ll get our things from the house, tell your friend we’re headed out of town, then we’ll find a place.” Rand would think of something, and in a pinch he could call on Andy or Noah for help. The problem now was that their presence put not only themselves at risk, but anyone who came into contact with them. They had to go back and leave a trail to protect Julie, Sarah’s coworker and friend.

“Take my car.” Hector pressed his keys into Rand’s hand.

“Thanks, man.”

“I’ll report it stolen in two hours. That gives you time to dump it. I’m going to check on Irene. When I get back, you better not be here.” Hector pushed out of the door, leaving them alone.

Rand stared into her eyes, and he hurt for her.

Sarah was at the end of her rope, as far as she thought she could go. And now he’d have to ask her to push on.

“Hey? Deep breath. We’ve got to walk out of here, and if you’re crying that’s going to draw attention. We need to leave quietly. Got it?”

She nodded and wiped at her cheeks.

Rand stood and offered her his hand. She took it and let him pull her to her feet. She was so much stronger than she realized, he just wished she never needed to be. That she’d had a normal life, far away from all of this.

He walked them toward a side exit, pausing for a moment to snag a couple sets of gloves from a box mounted on the wall for hospital staff before exiting into the parking lot.

First things first, he needed to get Sarah in the car and them on the road. After that, they could sort out their next move, but not until after they dumped the vehicle. It was too dangerous to have another face-to-face with anyone they didn’t have to.

It could so easily have been Sarah instead of Irene.

“In.” Rand nudged Sarah toward the car. “Gloves on first.”

He’d have to wipe down the passenger side, just in case. If Wei was this close to them, so were others. North Korea and China wouldn’t be the only ones interested in the information, much less Sarah.

Rand guided the car out onto the road, then the highway, going in the opposite direction of the rental house. He backtracked a few times, winding his way through the city until he was satisfied. Sarah was content to stare out the window, shoulders slumped, so much defeat etched into her posture and face.

They were going to come through this. He was certain of it. But they had to be willing to fight.

“You still have the gun?” Rand asked.

“Yes.”

Good. If push came to shove, he hoped she remembered to defend herself. “When I stop the car, I want you to get out and walk to that bus stop, okay?”

“What are you going to do?” Sarah peered at him.

“Clean the car. Go. Now.” He pulled into a parking spot at a paid lot with no intention of paying.

Sarah got out, never glanced back. Rand used the arm of his coat to wipe down the dash, the center console, the passenger side door. Anywhere he might have touched. Satisfied, he got out, following after Sarah. He stripped off his gloves and tossed them. Sarah fell into step with him, removing her gloves as well.

“Now what?” she asked.

“Get on the metro, brainstorm our next move, then clear out of your friend’s place. Sound good?”

“Yeah.”

“Hector’s going to put a protective detail on our families. Now that the Chinese know who we are, they’ll be searching for pressure points. Things they can use against us.” It’d be a Hail Mary with the auction coming up, but it wasn’t unheard of. Especially with someone like Wei in the picture.

“I hadn’t even thought about that. Do you think Matt and Emily will be okay?”

“They’ll be top of the list.” The kids would be highly motivating if they wound up in trouble.

“What will we tell them?”

“Nothing. They won’t even know they’re being watched.”

They walked the block, down another street, and back again before descending the stairs to the metro. Now more than ever, caution mattered.

Someone had found out where Sarah was when he’d been positive they weren’t followed. Which meant either someone had tailed them, Irene was the mole, or someone had followed Irene. There was no telling at this point, because they couldn’t trust anyone.