He’d done his best to suppress and deflect his feelings for Sophie, but hope had become a persistent weed, springing up through cracks in his resolve now that Connor’s desertion was clear.Sophie’s attachment to the man seemed to be fraying.The way she’d said his name—like touching a bruise to test if it still hurt.
“Plus ça change,” he murmured to his cat, “plus c’est la même chose.”The more things change, the more they stay the same.
He stood, carrying Lisette to her favorite perch by the window, and then returned to reach into the refrigerator for another Perrier.The bottle was cold against his palm, sweating in the humid air, as he freshened his glass and came to stand beside Lisette’s carpeted sun spot.
The bright light outside reminded him of his wife.Gita had painted with her whole body, dancing in front of her canvases as if creating art was a celebration.She would have liked Sophie.
“Watch over Sophie,ma chérie,” he whispered to the empty air, the words a prayer.“She has children who need her.“
Pierre sat back down and opened a new browser window.He began online research into the background of the Yam Khûmk?n, and another file pulling together provenance on the artifacts.
Anything he could do to prepare for what was coming their way—and to fill the void of his loneliness.
10
SOPHIE
The Federal Building’slobby hit Sophie with its aggressive chill, the air-conditioning set to support computers rather than humans.She shifted a paper bag of sandwiches to her left hand, warm oil from her Italian sub already starting to seep through the white paper.
The security guard’s nostrils flared at the scent of garlic, aged provolone, and the particular blend of oregano and red pepper flakes that made Marcella’s parents’ sandwiches legendary.
“Smells like someone’s having a good lunch,” the guard said, waving her through after checking her ID.
Sophie’s heels created a rhythm on the hard tile floor, each click echoing until she got on the elevator.The doors closed; odors of cleaning solution and someone’s cologne (probably the suited businessman who exited on the third floor) surrounded her.
The FBI offices on the seventh floor carried their own distinct atmosphere: gray walls and nothing but flags and seals decorating them.Marcella had once joked that the whole floor felt like justice and bureaucracy had a baby.The space was very familiar from her five years working there, though she’d spent most of her time in the basement where the tech heart of the agency resided.
She signed in and then was buzzed back to Marcella’s small office.Once shared, Marcella’s partner had returned to the Continent, leaving her solo on her cases.Three empty paper coffee cups decorated Marcella’s desk, and her chignon, perfect this morning, was unraveling around her face and neck as she looked up with a smile for Sophie.
Outside, the sun beat down on downtown Honolulu, making heat mirages shimmer off the surrounding buildings’ windows.But here in Marcella’s arctic office, Sophie was grateful for the blazer she’d grabbed at the last minute.
“Thanks for coming to the Bureau,” Marcella said, standing up behind her desk.“I wanted to get started strategizing with you the minute I got the go-ahead on the case from SAC Waxman.And ...”Marcella’s large brown eyes lit with an almost religious fervor as her gaze landed on the bag in Sophie’s hand.“Tell me that’s my mother’s hot sub sandwich special and I’ll name our next child after you.”
“If Marcus ever sleeps with you again.He seemed upset this morning.That you took over the case and dropped him from it.“ Sophie walked over to set the bag on the small conference table by the window, careful to avoid files spread across its surface.
Marcella flapped a hand dismissively and locked her file drawer away with a definitive metal thunk and practiced efficiency.“He’ll get over it.There’s always a new one down at HPD and plenty to go around.”
“Meanwhile, extra peppers, oil on the side, lettuce shredded not chopped.Your mama sends her love.”Sophie took two sandwiches out of the bag, along with a stack of napkins.“She was delighted when I told her I was bringing you lunch.Then she lectured me for ten minutes about how we’re both too skinny.”
“She thinks everyone’s too skinny.Feeding people is her love language.That and guilt.”
Sophie unwrapped her own sandwich, the paper crackling, releasing a fresh scent wave of vinegar and herbs as Marcella joined her at the table after fetching a couple of bottled waters from a box in the corner of the room.
“So.”Marcella bit into her hot sub with predatory satisfaction, a drop of oil escaping to glisten on her chin before she caught it with a napkin.“Let’s talk about Connor.”
Sophie’s hands stilled as she picked up her sandwich.“What about him?”
“Come on, Soph.”Marcella spoke in her investigator tone, friendly but inexorable.“The man compartmentalized his life like a digital vigilante, which he was.Multiple identities, hidden assets, connections to international terror groups ...and you took him back.After he faked his death and broke your heart.”She tore a huge bite off her sandwich as if it were a piece of the man himself.
“I did.”Sophie took a deliberate bite, using the chewing time to formulate her response.The sandwich tasted like comfort and nostalgia—she’d been eating the Scatalinas’ subs for years since they opened their cute little Waikiki restaurant.“He made it up to me for that, and he’s always been good to me.”
“Good in bed, you mean.”Marcella winked.
Sophie rolled her eyes, smiling.“That too.”
“What’s he been up to?Late nights, unexplained absences, mysterious phone calls?”
“He’s moved out.We’re not together now.It’s been six months.”Sophie kept her tone level, focusing on the texture of the bread, the way the oil had soaked just far enough into the crust without making it soggy.“I haven’t kept you updated because ...it’s been hard to talk about.At first I thought his departure was temporary.That he’d be back.But things kept coming up.He’s working overseas.International business.”She met Marcella’s penetrating gaze.“Don’t forget, he’s the founder of Security Solutions, even though he signed the company over to me.”
