“But we both know the only people who know where you live, who know who you are, come from the Business. I had a friend in admin do some quiet research for me. Four names popped up. Hammer’s one, for that mix-up in Madrid. But I don’t think he’s in on this at all. He’s one of us.”
“Is he?” Hammer had been quiet while on his trip to Pennsylvania. Maybe too quiet? “That excursion to Madrid cost the Business two agents and nearly had me and Hammer killing each other.” A rogue handler had tried to take out several contractors, Hammer and Noel being two of them. Only Noel’s keen sense that something was off had kept him from shooting Hammer. Hammer had seen the truth andbacked down as well, questioning orders when others would have simply pulled the trigger.
“Yes. I’d stake my life on it.” Deacon nodded. “But the other three names are potentials.”
“Who are they?”
“We have another we can scratch off. The Prince had a problem with me and Hammer in Mexico. You remember Jonas Hood?”
Noel thought for a moment. “Oh, right. He was betterlooking than you are and more skilled with the ladies.” And a man who’d always put Noel on edge. Jonas had been one of the contractors who seemed to revel in death and destruction.
“Bullshit.” Deacon scowled.
Noel smirked. “Whatever you say. But Jonas died in a fire during the Diablo Blanco Cartel bust. That had nothing to do with me or you two. Did it?”
“No. But he died,so he’s off the list. Though he might have had friends who could have blamed us if they had the right intel. I did have contacts in Sinaloa at the time. I could have prevented Jonas’s death if I’d been told. Not that that’s the case, but it could be made to look like I didn’t care.”
“Something to look into. The other two names?” The kettle whistled, and Noel poured the water. As he andDeacon stirred their hot chocolate, they both eyed the marshmallow bag.
“Five left. Three for me, two for you,” Deacon suggested. No question of splitting that last.
“Yeah, right. My house. I get three.”
“I’ll shoot you for it.”
Noel raised a brow.
“I meant in the basement. We shoot for the last one.”
“You know you can’t beat me with a gun. A knife, maybe.Not a pistol.” He tapped his Jericho, which remained tucked in his belt holster at all times—when I’m not with Addy, that is.
“Shit. Fine. Have it.”
But Deacon looked so dejected, Noel handed it to him. “Baby.”
“Waaa.” Deacon bit into the treat and sighed. “Ah, this is the life.”
Noel shook his head. “The names?”
“Oh, right. Burleigh and Vasquez. Burleigh, youremember, is a British expat who hates your guts.”
“The rapist.” Noel seethed, remembering Burleigh’s favorite pastime—hurting underage girls in the name of “gathering information.”
“He hates that name.” Deacon chuckled. “He earned it, but still. Because of us, he was let go and had to hide for fear of getting the ‘axe’.”
“The bastard.”
“Well, hear-tell he still hatesthe three of us. So even though he’s been living it up in Jaipur, I think he’d be happy to kill us all slowly.”
“I agree, except the sloppy nature of the hits isn’t his style.”
“Yeah, that bugs me too. Plus, he wouldn’t know where you go when you’re not at work. The house isn’t in your name, and you don’t file taxes. There is no Noel Ridgemont anywhere but in Washington, D.C.” Afalse trail the Business had for all their employees. Fake last names and fake addresses of record. “And you know he’s hated by everyone in admin. Rape ain’t pretty by any means, and especially not to the ladies working with our files.”
“Right. So our last possibility?”
“This one makes the most—and least—amount of sense. Angelina Vasquez.”
Noel paused from dumping his marshmallowsin his cocoa. “The Angel. Also dead. The same name in a locket sent with the baby. A code, a name, the locket, a baby. And attempts on my life. You know, they have to be related.”
