Had the woman been wearing a fleece vest to the White House? Gabby was impressed.
“We’re trying to track down the car that picked her up, but as you can see, the license plate is not visible. Neither Uber nor Lyft has been able to identify the person at the wheel as one of their drivers.”
“Why was she meeting the president?” Gabby was on the edge of her seat. Maybe Sheridan Lane was a fundraiser, and all the funds had gone missing, or she was advising the president on environmental practices, and an oil company had intercepted her on the way to deliver the news.
“She’s his psychic, Agent Greene.”
“What?” Gabby tried to wrap her mind around that. “The president has a psychic?” Some of the moms at parent pickup had a psychic. Justin regularly saw a psychic because of course he did, but the president… Shouldn’t he be dealing with facts and figures? Not to mention, shouldn’t a psychic look more like a grown-up Luna Lovegood? Sheridan Lane looked like a federal judge.
Valentina forged on without even looking up. “The president’spsychic—don’t ask questions right now. Save them for the field.”
“What kind of things does he talk about with the psychic?” Gabby had nothing but questions.
“Why do you think we’re worried, Agent Greene?” Valentina asked. “Ms. Lane, or someone with access to her accounts, posted earlier today that she would be taking a social media break for a couple of weeks with a promise to return refreshed and more insightful soon.”
It was a lot to take in all at once. She decided to grab a coffee. “Does anyone else want one?” Gabby asked as she poured a cup from a carafe at a side table.
The way Valentina said no made it sound like Gabby shouldn’t have wanted one either.
All business, Markus asked, “Do we have any ideas where to start looking?”
Gabby mopped up some creamer and looked for a trash can. When she didn’t see one, she left her stir stick and creamer in a shameful pile by the coffee things.
Valentina clicked on another screen, bringing up a globe. Google Maps–style, she zoomed in on a location, a string of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Gabby’s adrenaline spiked. She’d never been to Europe. She’d never even been to an island other than Catalina, where she’d gone on a school field trip with Kyle, and she’d spent most of her time there taking kids to the bathroom.
“Ms. Lane’s cell phone pinged off a tower near Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island.” Valentina indicated one of the islands.
Markus exhaled as if that meant something to him.
“Ponta Delgada?” Gabby leaned forward, peering at the map while gripping her coffee like a lover’s hand.
“Ponta Delgada is the capital of the Azores, a chain of islands located a thousand kilometers off Portugal’s coast. It’s not acountry, but an autonomous region of Portugal known for its dramatic landscapes and fishing villages,” Valentina explained like she was giving a fifth-grade report on the region. Gabby was familiar with fifth-grade reports. She’d helped Kyle do a last-minute one on Venezuela, capital Caracas, population: twenty-eight million, largest export: crude petroleum.
“The Azores are known as the Hawaii of Europe.”
Well, that sounded nice.
“I assume she’s at Inner-G,” Markus said, looking like he already knew a lot more about this assignment than Gabby did.
Valentina confirmed with a nod. Looking directly at Markus, she said, “Before we do anything, I want you to chat up Genesis and see what you can get out of him. Maybe they’re not hiding anything.”
“Genesis?” Gabby was officially on the last-to-know list. “What am I missing? Can someone catch me up?”
“Inner-G is a yoga and wellness brand run by Genesis and Jasmine Love.” Markus waited for her to recognize the names. “It’s basically goop but run by The Rock and his swimsuit model wife.”
Gabby was all ears.
Markus continued his report. “Inner-G is a known security risk and has been for some time. On the surface, it appears to be nothing but a yoga and wellness retreat, but there are a few red flags, which is why I’ve gotten involved. Number one: the money. Genesis and Jasmine are living well beyond their means. The luxury resort, the yacht, the private jet. Mr. Love claims that all Inner-G’s wealth comes from member tithing, but the numbers don’t add up. Number two: The retreat has been tied to several major leaked news stories. We’re concerned they’re selling member secrets.”
Pop Princess Sunbathes Nude!
Congressman Marries Nanny on Beach!
Oscar Winner Snorts Coke Off Sex Worker!
On her last mission, the bad guys had been Russian Mafia. This time it was Hollywood. Talk about leveling up!
Valentina cut in. “Sheridan Lane has spent countless hours in private audience with the president. Whatever secrets she has heard, it’s a matter of national security that they stay in the vault. She’s not the person we want on gossip island.”
