“Giselle had no issues with Mila, but my wife didn’t particularly like her.”
Daniel looked between us. “I’m trying to decide if my agent has gone rogue. She’s not answering her phone, she’s not following protocol, and I need to know if she’s under duress or who’s at risk.”
“I think Giselle is under duress from Sergei, and I’m worried for Mila’s safety and hers.”
“I think that’s a reach,” Yuri cut in.
I wanted to hit him.
Daniel looked at me. “I need you to check out your home and see if anyone is there. I’ll send someone to Giselle’s apartment again and see if she’s been back.”
I broke almostevery traffic rule driving home. The driveway was empty, but I noticed as soon as I drove up that the police tape from this morning was already ripped off. The front door had been left ajar and, as I approached, I could see the dark shadows of the inside hallway. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I unholstered my weapon and stood silently in the doorway to listen.
I heard nothing.
I quietly inched into the silent house. I crept toward the kitchen, pausing with resignation when I found Giselle. She was propped up in the corner of the pantry, her neck at an awkward angle and her eyes growing cloudy as she stared lifelessly at the ceiling.
Goddamn it. Regret and anger washed over me as I turned away from her and took a couple of deep breaths.
At the back door, Bandit was nearly losing his mind as he fought to get into the kitchen.
I checked upstairs, terrified of what I’d find.
Please don’t be up here.
Please don’t be up here.
To my relief, Mila hadn’t met the same fate as Giselle. The house was empty. I stood in the kitchen and took in the beer that was half empty on the counter and the chair pulled away from the kitchen table. Then something caught my eye.
It was the key I had given Mila. It didn’t look like it had been ripped off in a scuffle. It looked like it had been dropped carefully beneath the table. As if she had been trying to give me a clue.
Bandit was still barking frantically at the door. I opened it, and he completely ignored me. Immediately he stuck his nose to the ground. First he ran to the kitchen table, and then he ran down the hallway to the front door. I opened the door and followed him outside. With his nose to the ground, he followed the scent to the driveway before he sat down. Then he looked back at me and whined.
I needed to call this in, but first I needed to find my own evidence and come up with my own plan. I went back to the guardhouse so I could watch the security footage.
I watched from the time that Giselle showed up with Mila until the moment Sergei walked out the front door with my wife.
I picked up my phone, not even giving Yuri the courtesy of calling him first.
“Daniel speaking.”
My voice sounded flat when I spoke. “Sergei killed Giselle.”
“How do you know this?” He sounded scared, almost as if he didn’t want to know the truth.
“I found her body and then pulled up security footage from my house. He also just kidnapped my wife.”
“Stay there. We’re on our way.”
An hour later,Yuri and Daniel stood on my front lawn and watched as the forensic team moved inside. Bandit was safely locked in my truck.
They had both watched the security footage of what had transpired at the house, and then we were asked to leave the premises. I was so pissed at both of them for not letting me protect Mila that I almost couldn’t hide it, but they were the ones with access to traffic cams and public BOLOs, so I worked to stay cool and professional.
I knew the Canadians would be spending a lot of manpower to find the man who had murdered one of their own, and I wanted to be part of that chase. I needed to find Mila.
Daniel’s phone pinged. His face looked grim as he read the message. “Richard just passed away from his injuries.”
Which meant that Sergei was responsible for murdering two Canadian agents.
