“She doesn’t…” The words tapered off. Booker pursed his lips whenever he needed time to find his words. Was it unprofessional to think it cute? “Everything she just said… did it feel manufactured? It feels like she’s burying us with false leads.”
“Manufactured? I don’t know about that.” I replayed the conversation. “It sounds like she doesn’t want to lose her job. Something about her rubs you the wrong way.” If anything, I thought we were finally seeing the woman and not the executive. “She’s on our side.”
“I guess,” he said. “It irks me when I can’t get a read on a person.”
I couldn’t help but crack a smile. “So it’s less to do with her and more to do with you. Got it.” He didn’t find it nearly as amusing. “Shake it off. She’s on our side.”
“It’s a feeling. I wish I could explain it.”
I held up the manila folder. “We’re going to get our bad guy.” Flipping open the folder, I pointed at the first staff photo. I was surprised to see Tia. Was she evil? Undeniable. Did I think she could wreak havoc on Synergy? Could the answer have been sitting in front of our faces this whole time? I had been saying it since the first day.
“You’re right,” he said. “I need to let it go.” He said it like somebody who wasn’t going to let anything go. “We can get through these interviews in no time tomorrow.”
The photo had Tia posing like a model at some sort of party. It might have been an audacious photo for the office, but it was her right forearm that caught my attention. Barely noticeable, I had seen the three-pointed spear before. Had a Trident assassin infiltrated Synergy?
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I couldn’t tell him the truth. “Just imagining what Janet would say about Tia.”
What were the chances that Synergy had an assassin from the same group trying to kill Hellion? Catherine didn’t realize she had given me a clue to more than corporate espionage. I couldn’t tell Janet without her connecting me to the assassins. I couldn’t tell Booker about Hellion. The isolation crept. Secrets built walls, keeping everyone in my life at bay.
“Free tonight?”
I glanced up to see his expression had softened. Work Booker vanished, and I couldn’t help but remember him staring at me from between my legs. Just as the isolation settled in, Booker threw me a lifeline. For him, I’d make time. “I might be available.”
“Expect a text.”
I couldn’t worry about my secret identity and hired killers when his smirk appeared. There were no disastrousconsequences after our night together. We had found a balance between work and what happened. Instead, the assurance of another rendezvous gave me butterflies.
“Okay.” What secret identities? Hellion could wait another night.
While he backed out of the alcove, he blew me a kiss like we were in primary school. My worries melted away. He headed for the elevator, and I watched his backside. Would it be another sweaty night in bed? Or would we finally go out somewhere other than a pizza joint?
I had always wondered what I would tell a boyfriend about my extracurricular activities. Would I let them know I had powers? What about my costumed excursions in the evenings? Maybe I’d tell them about Tint, but Hellion? I couldn’t imagine them staying after they discovered the whole story.
Booker wasn’tanyman.
For the first time, I wondered if I had met someone who might see more thanjustDrew. It was a fantasy I had never entertained… but with Booker? Maybe he could handle the truth?
I clutched my pocket, feeling for my phone. I’d count the minutes until it vibrated.
Booker: 17 Concord Ave.
Booker: 30 minutes?
Drew: On my way.
Wyatt: Friend, Nexus and Obsidian are hijacking an armored car.
Janet: Again.
Orion: They have lasers.
Janet: I’m not saying we can’t handle it… but…
Orion: Hurry.
I eyed my phone as something around the corner exploded. When the request for help came in, there wasn’t a decision. As much as I wanted to rendezvous with Booker and discuss the case, I couldn’t let the others down.
