“This is pointless,” I said, pushing back from the dining room table where we’d established our operations center. “There’s not enough information. We need to get on site.”
Lives were at risk. And here I was, once again, working with incomplete intel. How was I on the stunning Amalfi Coast of Italy, a bastion of history and innovation, but I was still suffering the same challenges as when I was battling against an uncooperative Syrian government or insurgents plotting my demise in Afghanistan?
“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered, pacing away from the table.
Drew took my seat, scanning the inadequate maps. “We should contact Brie and see if her team can find anything.”
I gripped the collar of my turtleneck, rubbing the fabric between my fingers. Today was a light merino. It always irritated the scars for the first hour. “The article I found suggests the drainage system should extend throughout the entire city, including the amphitheater, but I can’t find any specifics. What would Brie be able to do that we can’t?”
“She can find a needle before you even know there’s a haystack,” Emmett said from the other end of the table, where he was doing his own search.
I didn’t need the Reynolds team for this. I needed my own team.
Bobcat’s contingent in the city center might have been under surveillance, but Pendragon was far larger than that, with all the resources I needed.
If I flew this intel up the flagpole, and we had another mole, they might send us back something completely fabricated to interfere with our work. Or maybe the other mole would tip Fenix off about Noah, and we’d lose our own mole.
I paced to the window and stared out at the olive grove across the road, which blocked only part of the sea view.
Keyboards clacked quietly, and everyone’s breathing grew too loud. There were too many people in this room, waiting for the rest of their team to return, and Scarlett told them all what to do. We’d heard the entire conversation over their comms system, but they’d been radio silent since they left the meet.
Somewhere outside, a gull screeched.
“We should talk to Mario,” I said, turning back to the room. “He works at the archaeological park. He’d have access to the actual excavation records.”
Malcolm shook his head immediately. “We can’t involve him. The less he knows about what we’re doing, the better.”
“He already knows we’re looking for something,” Drew countered, still sitting at my laptop. “If Noah’s right about thethree-day timeline, we need that information now, not after days of hoping Brie can find something.”
Emmett frowned. “Can we trust him?”
“Your mother wouldn’t have arranged for us to stay here if we couldn’t,” Drew said.
“You realize she went through an antiquities smuggler for the recommendation, right?” Malcolm chuckled. How was he so flippant at a time like this?
“From the smuggler to Antonio Ferraro,” corrected Emmett. “And we trusted Ferraro in Monaco, right? He’s vouched for Mario, which means?—”
The door to the study opened, and Mario appeared, dressed in khakis and a button-down blue shirt. He was fastening a black watch.
The tension in the room vanished in an instant, as though our mission were precisely on point. Jayce was slower to react and cover her frustration than the others, but followed their lead.
Drew stood with the mug he’d been toting around this morning. “The coffee is fantastic. Honey and chocolate notes, if I’m not mistaken?”
Apparently, they’d decided not to loop Mario in, without stating as much.
“It is, but don’t ask where I get the beans from. Old family secret.” Mario winked at Drew. “I’m heading to work, but wanted to make sure everyone has what they need before I go. Fresh beans are ready for the coffee, and there are more pastries on the counter. Make yourselves at home.”
“We appreciate everything.” Drew shifted his weight, subtly blocking the laptop from Mario. “But I’m going to search for those beans anyway.”
Mario tilted to look around Drew, as though he’d spotted something on the laptop before Drew moved. “Interested in our drainage systems?”
I exchanged glances with Emmett, who shook his head slowly.
This was ridiculous. We didn’t have to tell him everything.
“Mario,” I said, “we need your help.”
His eyebrows rose, and he stepped around Drew. “Of course. What can I do?”
