Mind Game (GhostWalkers, #2)(106)

Dahlia bit down hard on her impatience. “It does seem rather ridiculous, unless someone is out to kill him.”

Louise opened her mouth and then snapped it shut again. She studied Dahlia’s face for a long time. “Out to kill him? Deliberately? Dahlia, you’d better tell me what’s going on.”

“Someone destroyed my home and killed my family, Louise. And they tried to kill Jesse. It was a setup from the very first. I walked into trouble. They didn’t follow me home, they were there ahead of me. I don’t exist to anyone except the NCIS. And even there, only a few people know about me.”

Louise shook her. “That can’t be. Only a handful of people know about you, Dahlia, even at the office.”

“So my guess is, the director is protecting Jesse even from the other agents until we find out who is behind this.”

Louise’s faded blue eyes met Dahlia’s squarely. “That’s why you’re here. You think maybe I had something to do with it.” There was great dignity in her voice and a wealth of pride. “I’ve served as Frank Henderson’s secretary for over twenty years, and long before that I served in positions of trust. I’ve never divulged a secret in my life. And you can’t count Jesse’s condition, as nothing has crossed my desk calling it classified information.”

“I’m just trying to keep from getting killed, Louise,” Dahlia said. It was hard not to believe the woman. The energy coming from her was not that of pretense or subterfuge.

“Does Frank think I’ve betrayed him?” When she asked the question her voice wavered and cracked, but her expression was one of pride and dignity. “Do you?”

“I honestly don’t know what to think, Louise. I was hoping you might have a few ideas. The person has to be NCIS. There’s no one else.”

Louise was quiet for a few minutes, obviously giving it some thought. “I can’t imagine anyone in our office being a traitor, Dahlia. The agents are close, but they’re very professional. Most have served in the military, all of them are intelligent and dedicated.” She rubbed her forehead, looking dismayed.

“Maybe someone slipped up and told a girlfriend or wife.”

Louise shook her head. “They wouldn’t do that, Dahlia. Their lives are at risk. They know that.” Her head went up. “You mean me. You have the mistaken idea that I’m an old lady with a young boyfriend. You believe I would trade information for a chance to have him in my bed? Martin Howard is totally dedicated to his job. He’s a decorated officer and a wonderful man, and he certainly isn’t my lover. He would never betray his country, and I certainly wouldn’t do so either.”

“I never said that, Louise.”

“You were thinking it.” She put a hand to her throat. “Is that what everyone is thinking of me?”

Dahlia forced herself to touch the other woman. She laid her hand on Louise’s wrist, wanting to calm her. Needing the gathering energy to give her a respite. The more Louise became upset, the more the heat rose and the pressure in Dahlia’s chest increased. Outside, an owl hooted—once, twice. Dahlia breathed a sigh of relief. “Louise, I don’t think the director would ever believe for one minute you would betray him. He’s protecting Jesse. Are the NCIS offices routinely swept for bugs?”

“You’d have to ask the director.”

It was a standard Louise answer and one Dahlia had heard more than once over the years. “We’ll find whoever is doing this. I know there are all kinds of very sophisticated ways to bug an office or listen to conversations. I’m going now. One last question. Did Martin ever tell you who told him the news about Jesse?”

“No. I didn’t ask. I just presumed that all the agents had been told. In fact, I was a little hurt that the director hadn’t informed me as well.”

“I wouldn’t mention it again, Louise, not to anyone.” Dahlia patted the secretary’s hand and stood up. She was desperate to get out in the open, away from the woman who was feeling a mixture of confused emotions.

“I won’t.”

Dahlia went out of the house the same way she’d entered, swinging through the window onto the roof and running fast to the corner of the house where she somersaulted onto the ground. She hurried to the waiting car. Nicolas pulled away from the curb the moment she was safely inside and headed for the airfield.

“Did you find anything?” Dahlia asked, breathing slow, drawing the spheres from her pocket so she could begin to dissipate the energy. “I don’t think she has anything to do with it.”

“Dahlia, she’s the only one who knew about Jesse’s legs,” Nicolas pointed out gently. He reached across the seat to wrap his fingers around her thigh, to help draw the energy from her.

“That’s not exactly true,” she said thoughtfully. “Martin Howard told her.”

“If she was telling the truth.”

“I don’t think she was lying,” Dahlia replied stubbornly. “It isn’t her.”





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN


Dahlia sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor, several rose quartz spheres spinning beneath her fingertips. She ignored the men gathered around her, particularly Max, who was staring in shock as she levitated the balls beneath her palm.

“Look at that. Can any of you do that?” he asked.