Jack traded a glance with the woman in question. “She’ll be fine. After all, she has a guardian angel watching over her.”
When they left the hospital several hours later, it was with a full escort from the local commandery. Jack wasn’t about to take any chances of getting attacked again with Maddie still reeling from the effects of her concussion and Claire still out in the open. He’d been texting with Will to apprise him of the situation and how the local team was planning to spin events at the hotel, but he’d held off calling him, not wanting to be on the phone with his friend, in Claire’s presence—it just seemed like an unnecessary torture for both of them.
When they reached the hotel to gather their things, he escorted Claire to her room and waited just inside the door as she gathered them up. She kept sending glances his way as if she wanted to say something, but didn’t speak a word.
Finally, he sighed. “What is it, Claire?”
She slung a well-worn leather satchel over her shoulder and straightened to her full height. “This is bullshit. You know that, right?”
Here we go . . .
“Not my call,” he told her. “You’re going to be in danger as long as our enemies think you know something.”
She huffed and put her hand on her hip, her cheeks flushed with indignation. “So protect me. That’s what you guys do, right?”
Jack inclined his head slightly. “Yes, that is what we do. But we can only protect you if you follow instructions. Think of it as a witness protection program. Relocating you is necessary to keep you safe. Perhaps at some point you can resume your identity.”
“So will I be able to retrieve any of my things from Beacon Hill?” she snapped. “Those are the only memories of my parents that I have. You can’t just waltz in here and uproot my entire life without giving mesomethinghere.”
Jack nodded. “Of course. I’ll see to it personally. All of your belongings will be sent to you wherever you’re placed.”
“What will I tell my friends? My boss?” she pressed. “They’ll wonder what happened to me.”
Jack shoved his hands into his pockets, trying not to be irritated that he was the one having this conversation with Claire. Will should’ve been there. He should’ve been the one explaining everything to her. “There will be an accident. Something plausible. But they won’t recover a body. Your friends will have a lovely memorial service for you, I’m sure.”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “So my life dies today.”
“Well, you do,” Jack corrected. “But this is only so that you can go on to live a normal, happy life as someone else.”
They stood in silence for several long moments before Claire spoke again. “Could you do me a favor after I go wherever it is you’re sending me?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
“Tell Will he’s a goddamned coward,” she spat. Then she shook her head again. “C’mon. Let’s just get this over with. You have your own issues to deal with. You certainly don’t need to be worrying about mine.”
Jack opened the door and held it as she stormed past him. Maddie was waiting for them in the hallway, looking tired and pale but otherwise okay.
She offered Claire a sympathetic look. “They’re waiting for us downstairs.”
The three of them rode the elevator in tense silence—or at least that was Jack’s take on things. Maybe he was just projecting his own sense of guilt. He’d never had any second thoughts about an order before now, so why did it bother him so much that they were planning to deliver the vibrant, intelligent reporter to a trusted associate who was planning to interrogate her to find out everything she knew about the Alliance before they made good on the promise of relocation?
He hadn’t been lying when he’d said it was for her own protection. When the Alliance took someone off grid, they did a damned thorough job of it. And yet Jack couldn’t help grinding his teeth in anger as they stepped off the elevator—because Claire had been right about one thing. Will should’ve had the balls to break the news to her personally.
“Hello, Mr. Smith.” Meghan greeted him cheerfully when he approached the front desk. “We’re sorry to see you go!” She glanced at Maddie and Claire as if she felt much different about the two women with him.
“Thank you for all of your assistance, Meghan,” he told her sincerely, shaking her hand and slipping several hundred dollar bills into her palm. He offered her a wink that made her blush. “Truly, you were a trusted ally.”
“My pleasure,” she assured him. “Please visit us again.”
He gave her a nod and glanced around the foyer. “Is Manny available? I’d like to thank him again before I go.”
Her grin widened. “Oh, yes, he’s working today. In fact, I believe he was pulling your car around for you.”
Jack’s brows twitched together. “My car? My car was in the parking garage of the Liberty last night when the explosion occurred. Some of my local colleagues were going to take care of it for me after the police finished at the crime scene.”
Meghan frowned. “I don’t know what to tell you, Mr. Smith. I guess they released it early. A gentleman came by earlier this morning and dropped it off. He left the key with the valet attendants and told them it was for you.”
Apprehension made Jack’s muscles tighten, his fight or flight response kicking into overdrive. “How did you know the car was for me? Did he use my name?”
