“You think that’s a problem this far away?”
He shrugged.“I don’t know.This house is registered under a name not connected to either of us.Unless Deschamps, or whoever’s afteryou, knows exactly where to look, security cameras shouldn’t be a big threat.They’re not as ubiquitous here as some other countries.We’ll just have to hope there aren’t any Swiss super-recognizers on vacation in Aubagne or Marseille who saw any of the news over the last few weeks.”
Natalie wanted to laugh like it was a joke, but she actually knew a super-recognizer, the rare one or two percent of the population who basically never forgot a face, even when seen only once, even in a photo.
Because their skills rivaled—and sometimes surpassed—facial recognition software, several law enforcement agencies in the UK were now famous for having teams of people with the special ability.They were so good, they could often spot a target wearing a face mask, hat, or wig, and some could recognize the back of a person’s head.Cool, but scary for anyone in her line of work, or current position.
Super-recognizers aside, a change in appearance was probably a good idea.
“Either way, now that someone’s actively looking for you,” Ford said, “we need to be even more careful.To start, I figured if they can’t find me, then there’s no link to either of you.”He took a deep breath, looking more uncertain than she’d ever seen him.“How do you guys feel about having another roommate?”At Blitz’s whine, he added, “And a dog?”
She looked to Henri for his reaction, but the man just shrugged.In general, he’d lightened up since confronting her for snooping in his room.
Making him laugh or smile had become her new personal challenge, a feat she’d only managed a few times.He was more difficult to crack even than Ford.Hehadbeen great about speaking English, though.He’d even shared a few stories about growing up in Belgium.The grumpy old man had become a friend of sorts.
She still hated being stuck here, but having someone to talk to and pass the time with had made her confinement bearable.Certainly easier than whatever Ford had experienced in jail.
“I don’t mind,” she said, meeting Ford’s gaze, “but how long are you thinking?We can’t hide out here forever.”
“A few days.Maybe a week.I need time to come up with the next step.”He gave her a conciliatory look.“Preferably with your help.”Smart man.
“What about your job?”Didn’t he have a business to run?
He absently stroked the fur on Blitz’s back.She should’ve expected that any dog of his would be remarkably well behaved.Much better than the yellow lab she’d grown up with.
“My sister will handle any emergencies from San Francisco.”He downed half his glass of tea.“Day-to-day, the office pretty much runs itself.Sabine, my assistant, has been there longer than me, and she’s the real brains there.I trust her one hundred percent.”Apparently, he was also humble.
If he wanted to be truly kind, he could reveal a horrible flaw that would quell her minor obsession with him.But then doing so would probably just make her like the damn man even more.
“Where will you sleep?”Henri asked the question she hadn’t wanted to put voice to.“There are only two bedrooms.”
“Couch.Floor.I don’t really care.”He dragged a hand down his face.“I could probably fall asleep in this chair right now.”
Natalie’s heart softened.Outside of when he’d been injured, she’d never seen him so vulnerable.It stirred some protective instinct inside of her that she didn’t want to examine, and the heavy mood started to drag her down.“I don’t mind having a hot guy share my bed,” she said, with a saucy wink.
“I’m not sharing your bed,” Ford said, color rising in his cheeks.“You’re injured.”Sure, that was why.
“So if I wasn’t, you’d be fine with it.”
He made a frustrated noise in his throat.
With a glance at Henri, the little devil inside made her say, “Iamcleared for moderate activity, but I was simply offering a place to sleep.”
He spluttered.“I wasn’t insinuating—”
“Oh, trust me.I know.”She gave him an innocent smile and he glared back.Sometimes pushing his buttons was too easy.And, if she wasn’t mistaken, Henri’s eyes twinkled at seeing Ford so out of sorts.Bonus point.
“Let him sleep on the couch,” the older man said, rising from his seat.“He made this mess.”
“No problem,” Ford said.“Thank you.”
Looking placated, Henri stood.“I will make dinner.”
“How can I help?”she asked.Normally she and Henri worked side by side, chatting, but with Ford here, the dynamic had changed.
Henri waved off her offer and strode around the couch to the kitchen.“Be ready to eat in forty-five minutes.”He flipped on an old CD player, and the bouncy rhythms of a man singing while strumming an acoustic guitar filled the air.
“What the hell is that?”Ford asked in a low voice, his eyebrows rising.
