He’s telling the truth, so far as he knows, and I don’t think he’s been tampered with.A faint line etched between her eyebrows.
“What’s the catch?”And don’t lie to me.He kept the last bit from her with an effort.He paced to Rowan, took the wallet, and glanced through it.If it was a fake, it was better than any he’d ever seen.Lie to me, and not even your own mother will recognize you.
“Some of the Sigma infrastructure is still operating; lots of the operatives were taken by the private sector.We want you to hunt down whoever bought them.We’re recruiting Daniel Henderson, too.”
I doubt Henderson would give these guys the time of day.Del didn’t bother to shieldthatthought from her.He dropped the wallet, dispelling the urge to strip the cash.They weren’t hard-up yet.And if they ever were, a few nights in the underside of any city, a few drug dealers relieved of their bankrolls, and they could move on to the next town.Rowan didn’t like it… but she wasn’t the naïve idealist she used to be either.Get what you want, angel.We’re leaving.
Her shoulders slumped.I’m so tired of this.“So now everything’s supposed to be all right?”she asked, softly.“Now that you need us, that is.Where were you when Sigma was killing innocent people and turning others into animals?”
Holgrave didn’t even have the grace to look ashamed.He simply blinked rapidly as if she was speaking a foreign language.“I wasn’t a part of it, ma’am.I didn’t know.”
I’ll deal with this,Del reminded her.Go on, sweetheart.He eyed the man, heard Rowan padding away behind him.She would get the bags packed for emergencies, but probably not the briefcase.The risk was just too high.She moved very quietly, and he reminded himself she was armed and as well-trained as he could make her.
Besides, her mind was linked to his.If she ran acrossanythinghe would know.
“We’ll see if what you’re saying is true,” he said finally, tearing off another strip of duct tape.Holgrave’s eyes widened.“We’ll even call the cops to come rescue you from your little throne.You can tell them whatever you want, but you take this message back to whoever you run for, dog.If I even sense another one of you behind us there won’t be any warning.Clear?”
“What are you going to?—”
Del smoothed the duct tape over the man’s mouth.“You can breathe?”
Holgrave nodded frantically.Sweat beaded on his forehead, and the rank smell of fear was suddenly overwhelming.Fear, and a sweet chemical scent he recognized.Idiot deadhead, thinking he could sneak up on wary psions.Just as idiotic to wear Aramis on a job like this.
“Now, do you fucking understand what I told you?Don’t send anyone else unless you intend to lose ’em.Clear?”Delgado grinned into the man’s face, a hard delighted smile that didn’t reach his eyes.“‘Cause I want it clear ascrystal.”
More frantic nodding.Delgado nodded as well, studying the man.Holman obviously thought he was contemplating murder, because the agent shook his head frantically, sweat rolling down his face.Pale gray light from the window fell over the entire kitchen, the dishes Rowan had bought, a copy ofLeaves of Grasslying open on the table where she had been reading before leaving the apartment this morning.
Justin?Let’s go.She sounded sad.
He took the time to pick up the African violet from the sill.It might not survive the trip, but if anyone could keep it alive, she could.
When he got to the entry hall, stepping around the knocked-over table, he saw the two duffels.Rowan ducked through the strap of her kitbag and settled it on her hip, then pulled on her gloves.Set near the door was a neat leather briefcase with gold clasps.
Dammit, there could be something in there.No heat to the thought, since she wouldn’t have picked it up without scanning it.
She shrugged.Curiosity, my besetting sin.Come on, let’s go.It’s a shame, I really liked this place.
Del privately agreed.He, too, was getting a little tired of constant motion.Oh, well, at least we won’t hear the neighbors anymore.I’d rather have you safe, angel.
That night, hours away in a motel room with snow-promising winter wind moaning at the window, the briefcase sat between them on a rickety table.Rowan settled in a chair, unwinding her scarf with a sigh.
“We could call in,” she said, the line between her eyebrows deepening.“Or string some code.They’d be glad to hear from us.”
Del nodded.He finished the last of the scans, slipping the small handheld instrument into his kitbag.Second scan, standard procedure, but not likely to come up with anything.“Well, it’s not going to explode and kill us, and there’s no tracker.You want to do the honors?”
“If we…” She gazed at the table, dark hair falling softly over her face.It was a sweet piercing feeling, knowing he could look at her as much as he wanted, rediscovering the curve of her cheek and the shape of her flawless mouth.“If we open that, it’s as good as admitting we want to go back.”
I wondered when you were going to realize that, sweetheart.You’ve been itching to do something useful for a while now.Don’t think I haven’t noticed.It felt strange not to automatically share the thought.
She gave him a wry smile.“I can feel you thinking, even if I can’t hear the content.”She stretched, gave the bed a longing glance.“What doyouwant, Justin?Do you want to go back?”
He considered the question, carefully.The pink-and-brown curtains over the window stirred.The weather-stripping wasn’t up to code, but they both needed rest.Besides, this place was in the perfect location, easy to escape without notice, and that was worth a little chill.
He might even wake up to her cuddling into his warmth, and that was always pleasant.
“Sex fiend.”She shifted uneasily in the chair, and he sighed.
“Goose calling the gander, sweetheart.”He gave her a smile that felt natural, treasured the quick grin she flashed in response.“You really want to know what I want?”Folded his arms, the familiar sensation of dampers giving a subliminal crackle.
