The sun sets, and though Domina has answered every one of my texts, it’s clear she wants nothing more to do with me.
Are you surprised? You were an ass.
Half a dozen times, I’ve gotten all the way to my front door, determined to check on her. To apologize. Grovel. But if I piss her off more, she might leave for the rally without me tomorrow, and the VIP pass is still in her briefcase.
My back aches. When I get up for another cup of coffee—my fourth since lunch—my ankle pops and cracks with each step. Too much walking—and running—today.
I’ve spent hours analyzing the photos I took, and I found three different men in several of the shots.
Since I’mretired, I don’t have a whole team at Langley to run facial recognition. Even if I still did have contacts at the agency, I have no authority to question anyone. No protection. No backup.
With half an hour before I need to text Domina again, I bring my coffee cup to the couch and get mostly horizontal to give my back, hip, and leg a break.
He’s going to hate me, but I don’t have a choice. I need help, and Trev’s the only person I trust.
“Three times in one week? This is a record,” he says when the call connects. “Do I need to pick you up at the airport?”
“Ferrier hasn’t kicked me out of the country. Yet. But I do need a favor. A big one.” Taking a sip of coffee, I wait for him to tell me I used them all up yesterday when he managed to keep the Chief of Station from throwing me in the smallest, dirtiest jail cell in Panama.
“Name it.”
The coffee burns a path down my windpipe. Sitting up, I cough and wheeze until Trevor asks if I’m all right.
“Fine, man,” I choke out. “Hot coffee isn’t supposed to end up in your lungs.”
“Coffee this late at night? Now I know it’s serious.” A woman’s voice floats over the line. “It’s Leo,” Trev says quietly.
“Leo?” Dani asks. “Put him on video.”
I should protest. What I need from Trevor is so illegal, either one of us could go to jail for it. But Dani’s wicked smart, and after working the political desk for theWashington Postand theBoston Globe, she has enough experience with foreign elections to give me a read on Cortez and Muñoz.
“Dani. How are you?” Despite working together to get Trevor out of La Crypta, we’ve only had half a dozen conversations, and most of those were strained at best.
“Better than you, from the sound of it. What’s going on?” She sinks down on a beige couch next to Trevor, practically snuggling into his side.
I tell them everything. From the attack at Domina’s apartment to the break-in at Cortez’s campaign offices, to the three guys I thinkmighthave been following us today.
“What do you need?” Trevor asks. “I might be able to get Vasquez to fly down there for a few days. Assuming Dax hasn’t assigned him to any other cases by the time we get off the phone.”
“I don’t need Vasquez. Not yet, anyway.” Running a hand through my hair, I wince at the headache that’s starting behind my eyes. “But I do need help with facial recognition on half a dozen photos I took today. I don’t suppose Wren—?”
“Nope. She’s in the middle of another case, and Ry’s a goddamn mess. He doesn’t want her working more than five hours a day, and keeps threatening to lock up her computer.” Trevor chuckles, and even Dani’s smiling. “You can imagine how well that goes over.”
“Is there a lock Wren can’t open?” I ask.
“Nope. But she’s exhausted.” Trevor snorts. “She still regularly checks in at 3:00 a.m., but she istryingto cut back.”
“Shit. I don’t suppose you can access her tech?” I should be more concerned with Wren’s health—she’s Trev’s family, even if I barely know her—but how the hell am I supposed to protect Domina if I can’t figure out who’s after her?
“He doesn’t have to,” Dani says.
“What?” Trevor and I both ask at once.
Dani’s tone bleeds exasperation, and I’m pretty sure she rolls her eyes. “TJ, what exactly do you think my brother does with his time these days?”
“Fuck me.” Trevor slaps his hand to his forehead. “Of course. Zephyr.”
I sit up, wondering if I’m suddenly delirious. “Exactly what is a zephyr?”
